Cha Ya Vegetarian Japanese

Great food! Often busy but the wait is well worth it. more

This place is so good you'll forget its vegan. I was skeptical at first but now I am a convert. Try their... more

This place is so good you'll forget its vegan. I was skeptical at first but now I am a convert. Try their mushroom soup, the cha-ya roll and the su... more

This place is so good you'll forget its vegan. I was skeptical at first but now I am a convert. Try their mushroom soup, the cha-ya roll and the su... more

I have eaten at the Berkeley location for many years, which is more cozy and has better ambiance but the food here cannot be beat! I am so happy at last not to be left out of eating Japanese food because I am vegetarian. (I don't even like nori because it tastes like fish to me.) There is so much to choose from on this menu: Sushi, noodles, salads, soups, potstickers (gyoza), tempura. My faves are the taku-sui, a big bowl of soup with broccoli, cauliflower, kabocha squash, potstickers, clear noodles and many more yummy vegetables served with a delicious ponzu sauce. My husband is crazy for the senroppon salad, a six inch tall mound of delicately shredded long strands of carrot, daikon radish, turnip, sprinkled with edamame and julienned fried tofu, pinenuts and dressed with a light sesame soy dressing. Other dishes like the cha-ya delight (brown rice with steamed veggies and tofu) are hearty and satisfying if somewhat bland. Another favorite is the hearty soup, more like a bean stew with something like 11 different types of beans. I \r am enthralled with how artfully everything is presented and served on beautiful Japanese ceramic dishes. They have rotating seasonal specials. \r I usually don't have room for dessert but I finally planned ahead and had the Yellow Moon, chunks of banana dipped in tempura batter, fried and arranged on a plate with drizzles of red bean sauce and green tea sauce and little crunchy rice nuggets. So yummy and not too sweet. \r The decor is the only drawback. Look to the ceiling and it will bring you back to the days of being bored out of your skull in highschool math class, staring at the same type of textured tiles. The walls are stark white. and the lighting is overly bright track lighting. The art work isn't bad but it is so bright and sterile in there feels more like a cafeteria. Cash only accepted but there is an ATM machine on the premises! Can get crowded and you may have to wait, be sure to put your name on the list when you walk in. Pros: Artfully prepared satisfying dishes Cons: Cafeteria style sterile white walls, bright lighting more

Cha-Ya is one of those vegan restaurants that has been hit or miss with me. Sometimes I'm very happy with... more

Cha-Ya is one of those vegan restaurants that has been hit or miss with me. Sometimes I'm very happy with the healthy and simple dishes here. Oth... more

Cha-Ya is one of those vegan restaurants that has been hit or miss with me. Sometimes I'm very happy with the healthy and simple dishes here. Oth... more

I just started veganism about a month or two back, came back from college, and heard of this amazing restaurant. I've lived in the Mission my entire life and can't believe I haven't eaten here before!!\r The food was fresh, rich in flavor, and the menu is enormous. Anybody can find something that suits their taste buds. The food is REALLY cheap also! \r A super hipster crowd goes there, and other Missionites, which makes it a great place to people watch and feel comfortable while dining. Other reviews write about how the ""bland atmosphere"" makes it a Con, but it was nowhere near detrimental to my dining experience.\r Bottom line: the food is cheap, is great ( and ALL VEGAN! ), and is extremely satisfying.I left feeling soooo full for only about $17 per person. And that's cause we ordered tons!\r Make sure to get the gyoza with edamame--incredible! more

Vegetarians who are tired of ordering kappa maki will be *thrilled* by Cha-ya. The dishes are both simple and sublime; the presentation excellent. I dream about their tenpura udon on chilly nights ^_^ Pros: the best vegan Japanese ANYWHERE (except for their Berkeley location ^^) Cons: parking in the Mission is always bad; decor is a bit bleak more

This place is Japanese food heaven for vegetarians. The staff is super friendly and do a good job. The only downside is that the ambience could be better, the lighting is too bright and they don't play any music. Worth going for the food though. Pros: FOOD Cons: Ambience more