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Gombei (Japanese cuisine)  $

 9
JaT Rating

3533 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, 95051  (Directions)


408-260-0880


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Family style Japanese with a large sushi boat


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1020
Reviewed: 7/24/2008
Rating: 9
My photo gallery 		I think Gombei is our new once a week spot. Having been to the Japantown location ages ago, I wished for a rematch and my wishes were answered with a location closer to work. I've been 2 times this month and each visit is better than the next. On our 1st visit, we sat at the sushi boat (which btw used to be Sushi-Go-Round) and ordered lunch plates.

I had no intentions of eating sushi but watching Dominic pile on the sushi plates one after another, I had to do what I had to do. I picked 2 plates.

hamachi nigiri - fantastic piece of fish, melted like butter, oooh sooo good.

shrimp tempura roll - average in taste, tempura wasn't warm and rice had too much vinegar which left me with a sour aftertaste.

For my lunch, I ordered the curry chicken cutlet combo. That brown mess might not look appetizing but you have to believe me when I tell you, it's one heck of meal where you'll enjoy every bite. They might have overdone the sauce a tiny bit as you can barely see any white rice. Carrots were hidden under this brown goop and was hoping for cubes of beef but no luck. Overall the curry wasn't too sweet nor too spicy. It's one of the better curry cutlets I've had in the area.

Here's my current list of curry favorites, yes a 3-way tie for 2nd. I wonder how many of these places uses pre-made curry.

1. Hotaru
2. Sushi Maru
2. Kaita
2. Gombei
3. Curry House
4. Sushi Coast
5. Mitsuwa

Overall, another successful lunch. I can't complain about the service, food, or prices. Gombei is jatbar gold. The tables are limited so try to beat the lunch rush. There's ample space at the sushi boat and no one will give you the stink eye if you order plate meals.

P.S. Don't forget to try the Salmon Teriyaki Donburi. Sooooo good.

P.S.S This makes my 1000th review. Woohoo for me.
 


Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 738
Reviewed: 7/3/2008
Rating: 9
My photo gallery 		I was teetering between 8.5 and 9 here. Which to me is a big surprise, considering how low I rated the other Gombei location....

My hopes were a bit low when we walked in. The huge expansiveness of the place lead me to believe that perhaps it wasn't really a hardcore type of Japanese joint. I mean, usually I would expect the really good places to be these tiny establishments that you have to shoe-horn yourself into.

The fact that we were seated at the very back corner near the kitchen didn't help things either. It was a bit loud and cramped back there....

My mood improved, however, when I had a chance to sit down, to scan the menu, and see the sushi boat. The sushi boat was loaded with these beautiful big rolls. That gave me a smile. The menu was larger than the other Gombei establishment with a decent selection of non-meat items. That gave me a smile. The waitstaff was actually quite extensive on this Wednesday and milled around quite hurriedly and very attentive. That gave me a smile. The low prices on the sushi boat and the menu itself gave me yet another smile.

Its not often I smile at restaurants - and this place was full of them today. It was pleasant surprise after pleasant surprise. Sure nothing I saw was the best of the best - but it was better than I anticipated - and the prices were quite cheap. If this place delivered on the food quality, then we could have a winner here.

I couldn't wait to look over the menu and had california rolls off the sushi boat. The rolls were full and flavorful yet not the crab salad I prefer (more the imitation kind) but still it was solid and very enjoyable. And $2. Bargain. Same with the shrimp tempura roll. Bargain! And quite filling. I was surprised I only went with 3 rolls of the sushi boat. I was starting to feel like I wouldn't be able to eat my entree.

And today I went with the Curry with vegetables. And to be honest, my hopes were even a little low here too. I have had enjoyable curry but it just didn't strike me as something that would fill me up.

I was wrong.

The curry was a tremendously sized plate with way more food than I could possibly finish. My one complaint about the dish was that perhaps they gave too much curry and not enough rice and vegetables. The flavor was fantastic though and I was slurping it up big time. Veggies could have been a bit more crisp than the soggy mess within the curry- but they were still quite flavorful.

I would easily return here. I spent a bit (my entree was $7.50 and the rolls another $8) but really for the kind of stuffed I was experiencing it was well worth it - and the food was awesome. I will easily return here any day, any time.
 
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Bippy ate...

Lunch, every week.

“The curry is great, also the don (rice bowls topped with good stuff) are huge with lots of meat. They also have a very simple Kitsune Udon, which is the best I've ever tasted. The sushi is fine, and many bargain plates can be found on the menu.”

9/30/2008 4:17:47 PM