Xiaoyu’s Kitchen

Very good food in a hole-in-the-wall location. Katsu curry was especially good. We got dinner to go, which was reasonably priced and quick. Highly recommend if you’re in the neighborhood.

Ordered the dinner bento with beef teriyaki, mixed tempura, and pork gyoza. Everything was tasty. The takeout was also packed super neatly. Really liked the chile vinegar sauce for the gyoza too.

This is my first time I ordered here to go. I ordered the tempera and it was very good. I also ordered avocado roll and Brussels sprouts all delicious. I love my Udon the broth has a lot of flavor. The teriyaki chicken is excellent. I forgot to take pictures of the other dishes. I will definitely come back here again.

TL;DR: Get takeout. Really good food, questionable experience.

On Saturday, I arrived minutes past noon; it seemed like I was the first customer of the day. I'd read the menu online and knew exactly what I wanted to order: The "combination lunch box (2 items)" with chicken katsu and pork gyoza. My total was under $16. There was also a promotion going on, free edamame, gyoza, or egg rolls with any order. I asked for the edamame because I've never actually tried it. I had to say my order three times, once when I came in, once to confirm, and one more time after I had sat down, because the cashier wanted to confirm again.

While waiting for my order, the cashier approached me again and offered me a free drink. I was sitting on a stool behind photos of menu items and saw "matcha milk tea," so that's what I asked for. The person didn't know how to make it, so I asked for the "classic boba milk tea" instead. I received the edamame and drink with no napkins. The edamame was how I expected it to taste. The tea wasn't too sweet and the pearls were nice and chewy.

I soon received my lunch box. Still no napkins though. I looked around and didn't see a single napkin dispenser or and the cashier had gone into the kitchen. The miso soup was great, the rice was perfectly cooked, and the half of a boiled egg was a boiled egg. However, the salad had too much dressing for me. The chicken katsu was fantastic. The chicken was ultra-tender but the breading was crispy. Probably the best chicken katsu I've had. The pork gyoza was also wonderful. The filling was tender and flavorful while the outside was crisped and toasted. Both items tasted great with the dipping sauce. There was also a container of chili oil, but I didn't use it.

I'd recommend getting takeout. There isn't much distance from the kitchen to the seating area, so not the best spot for a conversation because of the noise. Also, there isn't a restroom for customers. Finally, the cashier, who also seems to be the drink maker, should receive more training or ask someone how to make something instead of replying "I don't know how to make it." If the food wasn't as good as it was, I would've given two stars.