Haiku Kitchen

I always end up going here after i deposit my paycheck as a treat. they have really yummy ramen and nice staff!!! but last time i went it was REALLY cold in there, so maybe i should bring a sweatshirt next time. anyways… i will be back soon for some ramen: D

I gave 4 start cause fish taco pricy.
Salmon teriyaki good and Taco are good.
Please, keep the kitchen clean cause open wide.

I went here yesterday and found it has gone out of business. The sign directs you to go to Mako bowl around the corner to get curry or ramen.

Great curry and tacos for the price. It fast and cheep, but the place is too small.

I was in the mood for some quick Japanese and Unilocal was there. Mako bowl was nearby but I wanted to try something new, something different.
As far as menu selection goes, they cover all the main cooked Japanese dishes of curry katsu, ramen, chicken/​beef teriyaki, and their healthier fresca menu. It’s a order at the counter and sit down type of restaurant and is quite small.
I shared a beef ramen and beef & chicken teriyaki bowl with my gf. Both were decent but not great. The teriyaki bowl was the less impressive of the two as there was little rice and only two pieces of broccoli. The chicken didn’t seem to be cooked fresh but the beef wasnt bad, more of a yoshinoya style but no onions. Bmans definitely beats it out hands down.
The beef ramen was a slight improvement, though that could be because it was a chilly night and I wanted something hot n soupy. The beef was the same as the rice bowl, some pickled ginger, sesame, seaweed, half egg (which just came out of a fridge), a basic tonkotsu broth, and noodles that were probably instant. Really not the best and you could easily find better in the Sgv.
Haiku kitchen tries to fill that healthy Japanese food void that is lacking in the Pasadena area. It’s not impressive but it does get the job done. Probably a good spot or a work lunch.

Place is very nearby and I like to stop by. Used to get the fresca bowl every time but have recently switched to the chicken curry. It’s nothing special but if you’re in hurry need not worry :-P I have yet try B-man’s so hard for me to compare. I shall soon and update my review.

I was starving today while waiting with my son for his hair cut and decided to pop in to see if I could find a semi-​healthy lunch option. I decided on the Fresca Chicken Bowl. My to-​go order was $ 5.18 which is inexpensive for a hot lunch. IMO.
I was pleasantly surprise when I opened up the container, the chicken, veggies, avocado, and pico de gallo were plentiful and the sauce was fresh and gingery, tangy without being cloyingly sweet, the chicken was juicy, and the broccoli was perfectly cooked.
When I need a quick, flavorful meal while out and about in Hastings Ranch, I will definitely stop by again.

Sorry wonderful Haiku employees I’ve been out of town on business. Got back and the third thing I needed to was eat some tofu ponzu with brown rice.
Thanks for reminding me why I miss home.

I came here a couple of days ago and ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl with a side order of gyoza.
I LOVED IT! Everything was spot on.
–Gyoza was nice and crispy
–Plenty of rice, chicken, and broccoli
This will probably be one of my fav places to come get a bowl mainly because the side of veggies isn’t just cabbage. I LOVE BROCCOLI!!!

Everything kind of mediocre:
Ramen
Edamame
The place is super dirty
Didn’t finish the food
That means it wasn’t very good.

Haiku Kitchen has a surprisingly decent chicken katsu curry for a fast-​food/​take-​out type of establishment. It’s better than any other chicken katsu curry in the area (but it’s no Curry House if that’s what you’re expecting). The large sized portion is almost enough to feed two (or just one really hungry person).
The restaurant is clean and the staff is incredibly friendly.
They also have spam musubi if that tickles your fancy.

I’m so glad they are a 5 minute drive from my house! They take phone orders, prices are so reasonable and they accept credit card?! Jackpot! The small chicken curry bowl was almost too much for one person and it comes out to less than $ 5 with brown rice!
I only wish they were open a little later, other than that this place is awesome!

Nice local bowl of Ramen!

I’ve been in the area on business lately and whenever I get a hankering for some quick eats, I end up here. The Gyoza is nice and savory. I believe they even deep fry them? Oh so bad, but so good! The rice bowls are always flavorful, as well.
Solid, simple menu with no frills and consistently good service. Gotta love consistency!

I order here pretty often after working at the office and not having enough time for a real sit down lunch. While working with a big crew, you fortunately get to try everything on the menu at least once. To my satisfaction, every item on them menu has a great mix of flavors. (Given that it is a fast food joint)
The food is not too greasy. They are great with to go orders. To go boxes are surprisingly presentable unlike some places where they slack off and hope you don’t notice.
My favorite is the Chicken Fresca Bowl.
(Grilled chicken with salsa, avocado, and rice drizzled with their teriyaki sauce.)
It comes with a side of miso soup or side salad. It may be a bit heavy on the rice but what do you expect… it is a bowl.
The alternative for this is the Bento box Chicken Fresca which gives a smaller portion but in return gives a side of edamame, salad, and the choice of Chicken Gyoza, Chicken katsu, or Sesame Chicken Wings. (What’s not to like for a chicken fan?)
Well if you are wondering… you can swap the chicken for beef for $ 0.50. But the chicken is still better.
The curry here is moderate. If you every tried japanese curry, the sauce tends to be thicker and has chunks of veggies. They have a choice of chicken, chicken katsu, beef, salmon and tofu for vegetarians.
Good price for a well fed meal. I can’t complain. :]

Quick, tasty, basic.
And that’s what it is. No one should walk into this strip mall and expect a gourmet meal. You pay less than $ 10 for lunch, you get exactly that.
That being said, I really enjoy this fast food/​comfort food joint.
Being a creature of habit, I get a bento box: Chicken curry and gyoza. Comes with a salad with house dressing and white rice. Well under $ 10 and I ALWAYS have leftovers.
Yum!

Haiku Kitchen is a good choice for lunch when you’re in the mood for some Japanese comfort food. They offer various Curry bowls, Fresca – which is a play on teriyaki with a twist of healthy Latin, Teriyaki, or Ponzu Picante – a mix of Peruvian and Japanese flavors.
I tried the Chicken Curry bowl with brown rice which was pretty standard. There wasn’t anything too special about their curry but it was nevertheless a fast place to have a quick warm meal. The curry certainly does not compare to Curry House but give it a try, it’s a decent and speedy alternative.

Picked up a seaweed ramen to go. While it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t exactly something I would have been happy eating in, since I’ve had better. However, for $ 5.50, I was cured of my ramen fix and was able to enjoy it in my own home.
They seem to have lots of options of vegetarians, so I’ll probably be back the next time I have a craving like that.

Blah!
I came to have lunch with my girlfriend here because she wanted katsu. I ordered a large Chicken Katsu Curry plate (photo included). It was basically the normal rice with chicken katsu on top and curry on the side. The curry just tasted like normal curry mix powder. There was nothing special about it. It tasted and looked like it was thrown together quickly and there was nothing else in it. No carrots, potatoes, nothing. The chicken katsu was good. I just hated that they were stingy with their sauce and did not leave it out for you to get some. Instead they stash it in the back until you come asking for it. Annoying! As for the rice… they give you tons of it. Rice is a filler and obviously because I ordered a large, they just give you a bunch of rice to fill. I should have just stuck with ordering a smaller size and gotten as much katsu and curry.
For my large plate of chicken katsu curry, my total was $ 7.50. The restaurant is tiny and the tables and chairs are packed near each other. The guy working forgot to give me back my change until I asked for it. I also waited forever to get my food, while my girlfriend was eating hers. Yep, not coming back.

Was on another search to find a Japanese fast food place comparable to Tae’s Teppanyaki
. Sadly, the best way to describe Haiku Kitchen is just a hybrid of Yoshinoya and El Pollo Loco… well plus curry and their signature ponzu picante sauce creation.
Their rice bowls are customizable with choice of meat (chicken, beef, salmon, tofu) and the style/​sauce (fresca, ponzu picante, teriyaki). A chicken bowl al la carte $ 4.95, add $ 2 to make it a meal (drink with soup or salad). I tried the fresca bowl with chicken, but should have tried the ponzu picante bowl instead. The side salad was tasty, the dressing had a hint of onion so be sure to ask them what’s in the dressing if you can’t stand onion or are allergic to it!
Things to note:
–No root beer for fountain drinks, but they have manzanita (apple) soda.
–The outdoor seating is literally two tables with two chairs each.
–They accept cards without a minimum balance
–There’s a restroom in the kitchen, but you need to ask to use it