Kukai

Kukai is consistently delicious!We are so lucky to have Kukai downtown, its fresh, thoughtfully made, and a great option for lunch or dinner. I have a business in the district and this is one of the perks of being in the neighborhood. I usually order to go, but it is so nice to stop for a delicious meal when you are out shopping or just craving some top notch sushi, ramen and other great options. There are also vegan and veggie options of course. I LOVE The Mount Fuji Don, but you really cant go wrong with anything on this menu.This is outdoor dining, within the Mercado Annex, and is next door to Westbound, where you can grab a cocktail or beer to accompany your delicious meal!

Kukai has changed over the years. Food is pretty good, however overtime it seems like portions have gotten smaller, prices have gone up (understandably), and food seems to take longer to obtain. Most recently, we ordered a spicy tuna bowl, waited 20 minutes and when we went up to ask about it, it had already been waiting in the queue to be handed out...not sure for how long since there was a pile of orders and it seemed like the person in the front didn't know where our order was, despite having been handed a buzzer...Seating is limited at MSA annex, so just be aware of that. Not a bad place to grab some lunch and food taste outweighs some of the negatives.

On our never ending quest to find good vegan ramen we stumbled across Kukai. Since then we've come back multiple times for the spicy vegan ramen. This place has a real hipster vibe and outdoor seating but don't let that discourage you from giving them a shot. The staff is friendly and the ramen is amazing. The spicy vegan ramen has a fried mushroom that is ridiculously delicious and an amazing broth with just the right amount of spice. My daughter got the regular ramen and loved it too. My only complaint was the ramen could come with more noodles but the last time we went I found out you can order extra noodles for a small charge. I was thrilled!

This place is not that good. The hot food (fried or ramen for example ) was OK. The "sushi " generically meaning anything with raw fish was awful. The scallops (which is one of my favorite raw fish items) looked to be previously frozen and sourced from Trader Joe's. Really all the cold items were tasteless and bland. Getting Sake from Westbound 5/5 place was fun. There is one that's actually served in a kid's juice box!

I have come here dozens of times and I'm never disappointed. My favorite items are the vegan spicy miso ramen and the Mt. Fuji don, but you can't go wrong with the rolls or the curry as well. We love Kukai and are so lucky to have great quality Japanese food in the area!

Came here for lunch a while ago and I enjoyed all the food that I ordered. I highly recommend this place if you're ever at the Annex. Ordered: chicken karaage, pork belly onigiri, and gyu don!

I love, love love Kukai. Their onigiri (all of them!) are my favorite with a bowl of tonkotsu ramen. They never seem to have slow periods these days. So it's best to arrive early and be patient. Food doesn't usually take too long to turn out. And it's always so delicious! I wish I lived closer. Love this spot

First time trying and ordered to go. The salmon hand roll was perfect ratio in ingredients.The Tuna Mayo Onigiri had alot of rice. More rice than I expected...But other than that it was delicious. There are some things I've seen on the menu that I'd like to try so I see myself ordering from them again and order different things.

Kukai is our go to place for the best Ramen and sushi. They also make the best shrimp tempura that is super crunchy and oh my God ever so good dipping sauce. Their entire menu is simply delicious and well prepared! I am always welcomed with a huge smile and wonderful attentiveness!We always grab a spot over at westbound and take our grub there to enjoy. Those peeps at Westbound are our people as well but that's another review. You can't beat the beautiful weather, great cocktails and amazing Food from Kukai!Love love love!

Quite possibly the best ramen I've ever had. I got the shoyu ramen and it was delightfully light but full of flavor