Cha-Ya Reviews

This place is entirely dedicated for vegetarians! Even though I'm not a vegetarian I went there with a friend and it was great. We had the sushi with different variations such as eggplant, avocado and spinach. 5* for this location! Note: the place accept cash only, definitely bring enough cash, if not, there is an ATM inside!

There's been a viral video going around social media lately of a restaurant that employs grannies as their chefs. The reason it's such a lovely thought is because don't we all remember our grandmas cooking for us fondly? The food was always the best, the richest and the most perfectly attuned to your particular tastes. Well guess what? At Cha-Ya, sweet Japanese grandmas are cooking your meal! Maybe that's not totally true, I couldn't see all the way into the kitchen, but that's who I saw coming out of there every single time I looked. That alone makes this restaurant extremely endearing to me. Our server was one such granny and she was wonderful--very kind and explained everything to us thoroughly when we asked questions. The menu is another pleasant surprise--there are pages of delicious-sounding items that go far beyond the standard sushi and udon offerings of your typical Japanese restaurant. This is a much more authentic and thorough representation of actual Japanese fare. I loved seeing actual Japanese ingredients represented too--you won't always see kabocha, oshinko and umami in so many dishes. The prices are entirely reasonable, especially if you get the lunch or dinner combos--for dinner my husband and I paid $28 for two good-sized meals that came with miso soup and salad. They also have a good sake list, but if you're not sure about which sake you'd like to try you can also do a $10 flight which comes with three sake shots--for me this was perfect and I enjoyed trying the different types for such an affordable price. As far as the food, my husband and I both got very healthy dinners--one with rice, veggies and tofu and the other a soba noodle roll--both were tasty, but a bit plain for our tastes. That's definitely not on the restaurant, of course, there are plenty more less healthy things to try as well. The table next to us had some beautiful gyoza! So there is just more to try next time. But there will definitely be a next time in the future! Another important thing to note--the restaurant calls itself Vegetarian but it is actually also all Vegan. So for all you vegans and vegetarians, order freely!

There are many great places to dine in San Francisco, but when I am especially concerned about my waistline I think of Cha Ya. It’s a place where I can choose food that is so satisfying, delicious and filling without a lot of extra carbs that I may not need.

A little gem... Very relaxing atmosphere & delicious Japanese vegetarian food. Had some excellent seaweed salad and a mushroom based main course. Balanced flavourful & light. Will definitely go back.

Four of us ate here and we shared a variety of things: Kinoko Miso - mushroom soup; a Garden Roll which is a large roll filled with asparagus, spinach, avocado, cucumber, broccoli, pickled burdock, and kaiware sprouts; a Summer Green Roll which is a large reverse roll filled with avocado, cucumber, and kaiware sprouts, topped with sea vegetable salad. We also had 2 kind of Hosomaki rolls: eggplant and avocado. Everyone loved what we received except the eggplant Hosomaki roll - just wasn't our favorite. We had a few more items but it is hard to recall all of them - the rest were all good. I would recommend this restaurant - just be aware that it only takes cash but if you are not prepared there is an ATM conveniently located right in the restaurant itself.

I love this place, with its very healthy and delicious food. It is way ahead of your average vegetarian restaurant, with a great range of dishes. I especially was fond of the more simple items on the menu but all packed with flavour and taste. This is a must experience for vegetarians and vegans, yet also an excellent option for non-vegetarians.

I ran into this place by accident and was plesantly surprised. It was a simple restaurant but packed at lunch time, clearly a hot spot. The menu had good variety, was all vegan and the prices, especially with the lunch time deals, were fair. The service was polite and helpful. I stuck around for 5-10 minutes after finishing my lunch during a bust Friday afternoon and wasn't rushed out.

Outstanding vegetarian (vegan) Japanese food. This restaurant has consistently good food & variety. The service is ok. The restaurant is simple inside.

Really delicious food! The green tea we ordered was amazing and the broth in the Miso soup & Udon was amazing. So good we ordered food to go!

First, I have to say I am NOT a vegetarian. But second, and most importantly this place is a great place to go if you are or if you just want to take a break from eating meat or fish. If you stay away from the deep-fried stuff on the menu (which is delicious), you can eat an extremely healthy meal. Everything I have had there was either excellent or at least wonderfully adequate. The service is good, but if it is busy (as with anywhere), it can be a bit on the slow side - get there early.

I recently became vegetarian (long story) and of course thought, "where will I find a decent meal that's not just tofu or salad?" ... Several friends recommended Cha-Ya on Valencia and I went to try it out! Let's just say I have been there at least once a week for the last 2 months and have yet to try a dish I didn't find absolutely delicious! The soups are awesome ... the sushi rolls are fantastic, and the tempura vegetables are beyond!

I'll start by saying I'm not a vegetarian, so this would not have been my first choice of places to go, and I was a little skeptical (I like my veggies, but I'm usually a meat and starch kinda girl for dinner). But this place was really a pleasant surprise and fun. It's very small but obviously very popular because there was quite a crowd and continual flow for a Tuesday night. The menu is very creative and everything we ordered was delicious - we were a group of five and just ordered a bunch of things to share, which was perfect. My client didn't think he'd be able to find ANYTHING to eat because he's definitely a steak-house man, but even he enjoyed it. The staff is extremely friendly and gives good advice for ordering, which I always appreciate. I also recommend going right next door to Dandelion Cafe for an awesome chocolate dessert afterwards!

My vegan sister was in town so I decided to take her to Cha-ya in the Mission. The atmosphere - bright fluorescent lighting that makes the place feel like a cross between a doctor's waiting room and the DMV. I can get past the plain appearance, I have eaten in hole in the wall places that had some of the best food so I try not to judge restaurants on how they look. Cha-Ya offers a variety of Soups, salads, sushi, rolls, entrees, combination dinners, noodles and desserts.I was amazed at how much variety they had on their menu. I was pretty excited to try vegan sushi. Cha-ya Roll ~ asparagus, avocado, yam and carrots, is lightly battered and deep-fried, tempura style. Served with a special house. The fried batter making it crunchy. Interesting but nothing to rave about. A bit disappointing, but I was glad to try it to satisfy my curiousity. Agedashi Tofu ~ deep-fried tofu in a special sauce, garnished with kaiware, green onion, grated daikon, ginger, and nori. The special sauce is quite tasty and the mix of seaweed, onion, ginger, and daikon was just right, not strong enough to overwhelm the flavor of the tofu. Ok but didn't wow me. Soba Salad ~ plate of soba noodles was covered in a mish mash of fruit and vegetables that didn't seem to go together at all: strawberries, onions, tofu, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, and edamame. Seriously who thought of this dish? Does that sound tasty to you at all? Surprisingly it was refreshing and light, the more I ate it, the taste started getting more appealing. Taka-Sui ~ Steamed veggies, veggie gyoza, broth and noodles. Simple. Broth was delicious, was a bit sad to see that they weren't generous in adding vegetables with the soup, it was more noodles than soup. Veggie Gyoza fell apart in the soup.They give you a soba dipping sauce which wasn't very good it tasted like old apricots left in the sun too long. Vege-Tofu Curry Curry Soup ~ topped with tofu, pearl onions, kabocha, celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms, and sugar snap peas. The menu description sounded positively enticing, and our server said it was one of the more popular dishes, but curry was very mild, soup seemed watered down. When you hear curry you want a strong flavor but another disappointing dish. Cha-Ya is cash only restaurant, but kindly places an ATM in the doorway, from which they will happily cream off another $2 from you as a service fee (and your bank will probably take another $1.50 as well), so remember to take lots of cash with you, as the place is expensive and cash only. Was not too happy with the meal, everything was on the bland side. I wanted more oomph, more flavor that would satisfy my taste buds. Three stars!

Ate here recently for the first time & was very pleased. I'm skeptical of vegetarian restaurants but not after eating here. Everything was well prepared, presented & served. Split the broccoli side, Cha Ya roll and miso soup with my companion & were full. Will be going back for sure.

Cha-Ya is the best vegetarian restaurant in SF, serving fresh ingredients which are creatively and deliciously prepared.

So good, I ate here 2 nights in a row while on vacation. Both times I had to wait, but it was never too long. The food is incredible. Both nights I ordered way too much cause I wanted to try as much as possible.

Great food and for a pretty good price. My wife and I got two combos, which meant we could just share four items on the selection menu instead of just two. The soup, the salad, the sake, and all of the food items were awesome. Delicious! It was packed though - got in right before the rest of the neighborhood. Great vegan options for sushi lovers! Cash only.

Chy Ya is very unique and offers great food. I always enjoy their spinach dish

Vegetarian food that doesn't leave me pining for meat! I always get the mushroom soup with udon noodles, and i'm never disappointed.

My daughter and her boyfriend are regulars here and invited my wife and I for dinner. I'm not a vegetarian, but I was guided to a number of dishes that were well prepared and tasty. The wait staff was particularly friendly and helpful -- that went a long way in contributing to a lovely evening. This place is always busy so you should get reservations.

My wife and I loved this place. It has a nice vibe to it and the food was delicious. I especially liked the Cha-Ya Nabe soup dish but everything we ordered was really good, Highly recommended. It's cash only, but they have an ATM.

My spouse and I love this restaurant. It's casual, friendly, calm. The wait staff are polite. We love the food. My advice is to try the less traditional dishes. At my last visit I tried the tofu custard. It was outstanding. I also the cellophane noodles with mushrooms. Again, outstanding. It's one of those places where you feel healthier after eating your meal than before you entered the restaurant. I sometimes ask myself why we don't eat here every time we eat out. We love it.

Always crowded but great lil' hole in the wall.

This is one of my favorite restaurants... People always are curious how Japanese cuisine can be vegetarian, given the emphasis on fish, but you definitely don't miss the meat here. The cuisine here is based on the vegetarian Buddhist Monastery traditions, and it seems very well developed, not like someone just removed the meat from the recipe. And there's also a lack of meat-like substances- the use of vegetables is well-rounded, and the dishes are dependably excellent. The service can be a little inconsistent, especially when it's busy (which is most of the time), but the food definitely makes up for any issues there. I always leave here full, yet not weighed down- it's a great feeling!

Visited Cha-ya during my visit to the Mission district upon a recommendation of a friend. My lunch was delicious and fresh. The tempura vegies I ordered we're cooked perfectly. And the waitress was very friendly and attentive. Also love that it's fully vegetarian! Will be back next time I visit San Francisco!

Food was delicious. We had few items on the menu and all of them were fresh and tasty. Service was excellent! Make sure you come and put your name down as the restaurant is always really busy!

The food at Cha-Ya is authentic and delicious. We tried the saki sampler, and it was quite good. Their udon soups are outstanding. There is a lot of fried stuff, some of it excellent. I really liked the pumpkin soup.

I had high expectations of this place and left feeling disappointed. Very little of what they offered stood out or was better than what I could get at home. The salad and miso that came with our food was tastier than the rolls we ordered. My girls loved their gyoza.

I've lived in San Francisco over 40 years and go out to eat more often than not and Cha-Ya is my favorite restaurant. Cha-Ya is unpretentious and a good low key place to have a great meal with always very friendly service. It is Japanese vegetarian but I can't imagine anyone (including carnivores) not finding a number of dishes they would love on the extensive menu. Being vegetarian there is no sushi or sea food but, if you haven't been, you'll be amazed at how many other great dishes there are. It's located in the now hip Valencia Street in the Mission and the neighborhood is very active and upbeat. The crowd comes from all walks just sharing an enthusiasm for the food. I've come regularly with my wife as well as friends, solo and with business associates. No credit cards so, if you don't have the cash, there is an ATM right inside the door.

Oh, my little paws were quivering with excitement as I was escorted down Valencia Street on our way to Cha Ya, a vegetarian Japanese restaurant. But this in not any ordinary restaurant, oh no, this place is a slice of heaven. The staff is always friendly and attentive. The food is prepared fresh upon ordering, so some dishes may take some time to arrive at your table, but oh is it worth the wait. I’ve been here numerous times over the last five or six years and have tried countless menu items, nothing is brought to your table that isn’t a perfect harmonizing blend of flavors and presentation. Last night I decided to try something different and I’m glad I did. It is now my favorite on the menu. Taku-Sui is served in a stainless-steal pot that is filled with vegetable gyoza, glass noodles and an array of vegetables. All of this deliciousness is gently swimming in one of the most delicate broths I’ve ever tasted. Cha Ya is in a class by itself. I will leave you today with one word of caution. This place gets busy quickly and it stays busy, so go early or plan on waiting for a table. But don’t fret you won’t be disappointed. With love from my dog bowl to yours….Happy Eating. shatasdowbowl.wordpress.com

what a find ! Many sushi rolls and a few soups to choose from. Great lunch deal (maybe $10.95 ?)with soup and 2 entrees choices. I wish I had found one of these in Tokyo. Bountiful, clean, friendly, and freshly made. will return.

good vegetarian and healthy food, maybe a little too healthy... ;-)

Restaurant is a nice 7 min walk from the 16th Street BART station so easy to get to. Right next to a bunch of other decent eateries. We came on a Sunday afternoon so the place was pretty. Service was outstanding and the menu options were amazing. Everything from vegeterian miso to sushi and udon noodles is served. Food comes out fast and servers are always on hand to assist. Make sure you bring cash as this is a cash only establishment.

We got some on the Go Thai Tea at Cha-Ya and it was really delicious. The server was cheap on the Soy creamer we asked for but still, the drink was good. Price was a bit over the top,. We paid almost $10 for two Thai Iced Teas.. WOW The server was rushed and didn’t even look at us while processing the entire transaction, something we find rather rude.

It was very hard to decide what to eat when there are so many choices. Went with the Cha Ya roll and it was good but the Summer Green Roll was wonderful. The only issue I had was not where was it posted that it does not open for lunch on Mondays.

Stumbled upon this Vegan Japanese restaurant and was immediately impressed upon entering the front door. The place was tables were filled with diners at lunch time and the wait to be seated was well worth it. A beautiful dining room with large modern rice paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and very friendly waitresses dressed in kimono were attentively serving and taking orders. The place is immaculately clean and a very calming environment with soft neutral colors on the walls. The extensive menu offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian options including tools, rice bowls and noodles as soups and stir fry. I had the Cha-Ya brown rice bowl that was very much like a macro meal. On top of a mound of brown rice was an assortment of artfully cut carrots, lotus root, burdock root, seaweed, peppers, fresh soy beans, cabbage all beautifully positioned and some cut to look like flowers. Simply delicious. Also recommend the stuffed fried eggplant, unusual but delicious with a creamy stuffing. Cash only - no credit cards, but there is an ATM cash machine inside the restaurant for your convenience.

CHA-YA : Japanese Vegetarian Cuisine .. Name attracted attention n curiosity of this Mission district Eatery .. as per Menu Five pungent spices, strong n sharp in taste & Leading to anger n passion, like onions, garlick forbidden by Buddhist sects .. it's similar to ancient old Jain philosophy followed largely in India .. Vegetarian cooking in Japan originated from 13 th century as meals of Temple monks, adds menu ..preparations are made out of seasonal vegetables,sushi, tempura, noodles etc .. Soba salad was an mixed veg salad n vege tofu curry noodle soup both were nicely decorated n tasteful .. garden sushi roll of avacado, broccoli, asparagus dressed n served well with sauce .. Pear compote desert was very tasteful .. pleasing n quick service .. was an memorable dinner ..

Cha-ya is a small storefront restaurant in the MIssion specializing in vegan and vegetarian Japanese food. It is a cash-only enterprise with an ATM inside the dining room. The menu is long and complex with, frankly too many good choices, and each table sports a cheat sheet with recommendations for those who don't want to think it over. They would do well to feature fewer choices on a rotating basis. I happened to be visiting with a group of friends who wanted to sample a variety of choices around the table. Across the board, everything was prepared with great care and the customary Japanese reverence for the unique freshness of each vegetable and for the presentation on the plate. I wouldn't call the presentation fancy--it was not histrionic--just serenely pleasing. Most notable were the Moon Garden, a "custard" made from tofu with an array of vegetables. It reminded us all of delicious mashed potatoes--with a lot more protein. There was also a stuffed eggplant that was rather bland, a soba noodle salad with all kinds of exotic and pickled vegetables, a soba noodle soup with fern fronds and wild mushrooms, and also a very nice miso soup. There are a number of sake choices; we opted for the green tea which was absolutely first rate. It was a lovely evening and surprisingly affordable--$58 for four of us.

We have some pretty darn good vegetarian restaurants down here in Southern California (including two vegan Vietnamese places), but we have nothing that compares with Cha Ya (in the Mission)! The soups are terrific, and we even had a tasty curry dish, but it's the creative vegetarian sushi that won us over!! The only issue, we had to wait for 45 minutes to get a table! - so arrive early and get ready for a vegetarian culinary adventure!

Outstanding vegan Japanese food. It took ages to decide what to order as the whole menu looks fantastic. Definitely try the mushroom miso! Even my mushroom-mistrustful husband loved it. The gyoza hot pot was delicious, and we enjoyed our vegan and cha-ya rolls as well.

This was our second choice as the original restaurant we planned to go to was closed, but we were extremely happy here. Beautiful clean food, lovely place, helpful waitresses. We'd definitely come here again

The service at this establishment is possibly the best I've experienced. Incredibly friendly without being overbearing, and efficient to boot. The food is simply fantastic. Very simple, packed with flavour and ridiculously good value for what it is. I was a little hesitant about what I was going to find. Part of me expected basic sushi rolls with a selection of different vegetables. Instead there is a wide range of choices including some great noodle dishes and some tempura offerings, including the Cha Ya sushi rolls. The Cha Ya rolls are nigirizushi deep friend in tempura batter, which sounds horrible but in fact tastes fantastic. Try them, they're utterly moorish. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and wish I lived nearby as I'd be here regularly. The restaurant is a credit to the San Francisco restaurant scene and everything that good vegan food should be.

I read about this place in a blog and I'm grateful I did so. The waiters are kind and efficient, the food is delicious and not expensive at all. Eating vegan Japanese is a treat. I had the lunch special and was a lot of food, very good. Oh and the Gyokuro tea is excellent. I want to come back and try the "Moon Garden"!

Had a delicious bowl of soba noodles with tofu and veggies this time. In the past, I enjoyed a large selection of veggie sushi including luncheon specials. Decor is very plain, and very calming. Minor downside is their cash only policy. Food is always fresh and delicious.

Excellent Japanese food, you hardly notice the lack of fish and meat. We had gyoza (we didn't miss having pork in it at all), goma ae (not the traditional green beans, but broccolini and spinach - tho there was a bit too much sauce - would ask for it on the side next time), sushi combo (pretty standard kappa, inari and veggie California roll), and agedashi tofu (outstanding, served with sprouts, daikon, broth and scallions-delish!). The lunch set was $10.50 for two appetizers, miso and rice. Absolutely loved the sake flight, and ordered a second serving of the Kinpaku, which really does have lots of gold flecks in it. Great value for $8. We aren't vegetarian, but thought the freshness of the food was outstanding. Would go there again in a heartbeat.

We didn‘t know very well vegetarian japanese kitchen and liked to try out. It was a surprising experience. I had first a Miso Soup and than rolls in californian style. The cucumbre and avocado mixture inside was great. The matcha ice was tasty. The interior is japanese style and simple with warm colours on the wall. The service was attentive and fast. The place is a good alternative to the common sushi places and you will not miss the fish. Marcello M. Switzerland

i was excited to find a vegetarian Japanese restaurant. I have always wanted to try Japaneses food but being a vegetarian made it hard to find a place elsewhere. The food portions were small and the pricing was appropriate. However, the food was okay nothing too mouth watering. Would definitely visit again to try more dishes but the different Sushi's we tried and tempura weren't earth shattering.

This is a lovely little vegetarian restaurant. They were able to accommodate our party of 5. The serving staff is very friendly and attentive. We ordered noodle soup and vegetable tempura. Both were excellent! We would definitely eat here again.

I suspect that it's better to order sushi and tempura-fried items here. Our rice bowls featured carefully prepared vegetables on rice, plain or with a curry sauce that tasted like curry powder and cornstarch. Maybe the point is to taste the pure flavors of the veggies, but personally I prefer a little garlic and oil in the mix.

Always good food, cheerful service and a multigenerational crowd. Soups are great and. All ingredients are fresh.

We'd noticed this little place on Valencia was always busy so dropped in for dinner last night. It's completely plant based and absolutely delicious. The staff were gorgeous, welcoming and very helpful. We can recommend the gyozas, the agadashi tofu, asparagus tips with Sesame sauce and the braised eggplant with Portobellos and tofu dish. Clean, subtle flavors which left us feeling lighter and healthier than when we walked in the door!

As a vegan, my choices at a Japanese restaurant are often limited. Was extremely excited to try this spot after reading the rave reviews, and it didn't disappoint! The decor was simple yet homey, accentuated by the beautiful paper lanterns dangling from the ceiling. Service was excellent, and the food was superb. I ordered the cold soba noodles and vegetable tempura combo, which was fantastically priced for the amount of food that arrived. The soba was delicious, dipping sauces as well, and I loved the tempura. Had that delectable fried taste without being greasy. My boyfriend ordered the cha-ya rolls and another combination roll platter. All the rolls were excellent, but the cha-ya was a standout with its flavorful sauce. Again, the amount of food included in each dish was really impressive and very fairly priced. Loved the meal but couldn't even finish it all. This restaurant is a definite standout among all the fantastic Asian spots in San Francisco, especially for vegetarians and vegans. Will absolutely return!

If you are a vegetarian and still wanted to try a Japnese food, visit Cha Ya! You safely start with a soup and a starter, followed by a couple of sushi, you will get to know the taste of the food. If you like it, the order a main course, with some white rice and noodles. The place is clean, the service women are very cautious and you will enjoy your food.

While the service isn't what I prefer, I love vegetarian food (I'm not a vegetarian) and Japanese food so this place is right up my alley. I feel healthy and satiated after eating here. If I lived closer I might eat here daily. This isn't a contemporary menu rather an edited and modified traditional Japanese menu.

The menu is totally vegan and offers so many different choices ! everything what we decided to try was so delicious and so authentic. The chef and hosts are very friendly and happy to make talk you through the menu to help to make your choice! We just love it! and will be there again soon.

Actually, between very good and excellent rating. Very high quality as you'd anticipate, great selection, excellent pricing. Perfect for lunch--It would be a bit simple and quick for dinner (unless you were looking for a delicious, quick casual dinner) Particularly great tempura and sea vegetable salads. Nice locale, friendly service. Would certainly return.

Cha Ya has great soups, hot pots, and more. The food is good! We had the Cha Ya Nabe - veggie hot pot with clear noodles, and a couple of special rolls. We really enjoyed our meal. The service was great! FYI - cash only. There is an ATM in the restaurant.

I wanted some sushi, but my daughters are vegetarian so we compromised and went to Cha-Ya. I have to admit I thought going to a vegetarian sushi place seemed pointless but I have to admit I was wrong. It was all so nicely prepared and tasty that I really didn't mind there was no raw fish. Cha-Ya is quite a simple place, like your normal local restaurant, the staff is very friendly and attentive. We tried a little bit of everything (as you can see from the photo) and it was all delicious. They have a very nice range of saki as well...

the food was excellent, the service very good and setting was good..... the menu is not not only vegetarian and I had an excellent steak! the wine is list is very good and and excellent of selection. Open Kitchen is interesting and I all ways enjoy the action...

We went to this restaurant recently based on the recommendation of a cousin.. wow.. it was such a good experience for us. we have never been to a Japanese restaurant as most of them don't offer much for vegetarians. But here the menu is only Vegan and the choices on the menu were nice. we got a very helpful waitress who explained in detail and helped us choose and order. We tried some Sake also.. Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and we will look forward to visiting again soon..

Excellent vegetarian Japanese meal. The team will take care of you. We feasted. A true delight. THANKS

Vegan sushi a little on the bland side. Was disappointed by recent visit to Cha-ya because the salad and rice bowl with veggies were on the bland side. The staff is very respectful and attentive. It's a good date night option for vegans and Japanese food lovers alike. But i wish the chef was as attentive to food flavors.

I'm not someone who usually feels the need to photograph their meals and post to social media, but I admit to doing so after a fabulous lunch at Chaya. Imagine a typical Bento Box gone gourmet, each little compartment a perfect gem. A standout was a piece of lightly browned sole over a perfect summer corn risotto...I'm still trying to duplicate that dish! The wine list was nice, predictably imaginative for such a hip/cool place, but the non-alcoholic drinks (flavored lemonades, yum) were especially nice at lunch on a warm summer day.

People call this the vegan sushi place, but don't be misled - the menu is quite large and varied, and frankly we rarely order any sushi. The food is excellent quality and always beautifully presented; every vegetable cut in a specific way to enhance the overall experience. And the prices are unbelievably low! We usually start with the Goma Ae; spinach and broccolini with sesame dressing YUM! Try the Tonchi Nasu, stuffed eggplant -- I'm not crazy about eggplant, but this dish is wonderful! The Senroppon salad is another beautifully presented dish, fresh and delicious. The noodle dishes are fabulous, although my favorite is the Vege Tofu Curry - full of fresh veggies & noodles, and the sauce is so rich and delicious. They even have tempura and gyoza that are very good and will satisfy anyone. And don't forget dessert . . . that's right dessert in the vegan Japanese restaurant! We have to share the vegan ice cream sundae and the chocolate moose cake. Just try it, you'll love it. We have been going to the Cha Ya in Berkeley for years, so we were very happy when they opened up in SF too!