Between Us

I passed by this place a while ago and wanted to try it, but the wait was too long so we ended up leaving. This time we got lucky and didn’t have to wait. We ordered the mushroom chazuke and the shakshuka. The chazuke was light and comforting, and the shakshuka had really rich flavors. The bread that came with it was nice and crispy. The service was very friendly and welcoming. One small downside was that the utensils and napkins didn’t seem very clean, which was a bit disappointing. Also, parking around here is pretty difficult, so be prepared to spend some time looking for a spot. Overall, still a nice place to try if you’re in the area.

Our party of 4 ate here for Sunday brunch. We didn’t have a reservation so we waited about 30 minutes to snag a table. I recommend making reservations ahead of time. Between Us is located in North Park with no dedicated parking lot— give yourself extra time to look for street parking. Vibes: All the tables are technically indoor but the large open doors/windows gave a patio feel to the tables in the outskirts. Unfortunately we got seated towards the back where there was less sunlight. There were many 2-4 person tables, some bar seating, and a big table by the entrance that could fit a party of 8. Food: -Beignets ($12): comes with 5 pieces served with black sesame mascarpone and matcha cream. They’re limited quantity so we ordered one for the table right away. The beignets weren’t anything special but the creams were unique and tasted good. -Bacon Scone ($11): also limited quantity and only available on the weekends. Two scones served with salted yolk butter and raspberry chili preserves on the side. I enjoyed the consistency of the scones and the dips. -Cookie Crunch French Toast ($17): the server asked if we wanted the blueberry or banana brûlée. She recommended the banana brûlée, which I didn’t know was an extra $3. It was honestly alright and could’ve done without paying the extra for the banana. Wouldn’t get again. -Mushroom Chazuke ($20) + add poached egg ($4): a variety of mushrooms served with rice and garlic chips. The mushroom broth is poured in the bowl. It was a unique dish that I enjoyed. The serving was big enough for me take home half. Overall: I enjoyed the vibes and location of the place. The dishes were certainly unique but it truthfully didn’t wow me as much. Next time I’d like to give the other menu items a try!

Happy that they take reservations! We had a party of 4 on a Saturday afternoon at 12:30 PM and were seated immediately. The staff was really friendly, even as you walk through the restaurant you’re greeted with a friendly hello. I love the Japanese influenced menu, it’s really fun and lots to choose from. Having lived in Japan for 5 years, I was eager to taste the curry. It didn’t fully hit, it was lacking the rich umami flavor and was definitely on the sweeter side. However, I quickly forgot about the curry after relishing on the duck confit and waffle. Man, the crunchy skin and tender, moist meat was divine and pairs perfectly with the waffle and guava sauce. The beignets were good, but the matcha and sesame dipping sauces that came alongside didn’t have much flavor. My friend said the shokupan and candied bacon was amazing. Although the beverage list was abundant and matcha-focused, I was looking more for a specialty espresso drink that didn’t contain matcha. I think there was a maple latte, but it’s almost spring so I wasn’t prepared to have something fall-like. Overall, I’m happy that Between Us is part of the North Park community. I’d highly recommend!

I saw this place on instagram and decided to try it this weekend. They seem pretty popular with a long wait but they do take reservations via phone. Make sure to leave 20 min to find parking. Do not use the vons parking lot or they will tow. We really enjoyed the food. The beignets were delicious and came out piping hot! Give them some time to cool. I really liked the matcha cream dip. Both of our dishes were also amazing and felt very unique. I had the duck and waffle which had a nice little chili sauce on top that wasnt spicy, just flavorful, and I loved the passionfruit/guava sauce on the duck and waffle. The dish felt like a more gentle version of the classic chicken and waffle dish. My partner got the shakshuka and wow this BLEW ME AWAY. I have to be honest I was not excited when he ordered it but I like to try everything on the table and the waiter had highly recommended it. It was the most delicious shakshuka I have ever had. Im not normally a tomato sauce person but between the spices and the fish and the GARLIC AIOLI mmm it was delicious, I almost stole the whole dish from him. The inly thing that could use some improvement is the drinks. I had the matcha latte with mango puree and my partner had the yuzu-ade and both were not sweet almost at all. They had fresh fruit which was probably the only sweetness in the drink. I think a heads up and/or offering a few levels of sweetness would be helpful.

Saw this place on Instagram and it looked inviting. Food was immaculate, service was spot-on, and the ambience was airy and lively. I found street parking fairly quickly on a Friday during late brunch time. The Curry Hamburg was their take on a loco moco but with better ingredients. I'd come there again and try some of their other dishes. They're known for their beignets... definitely give them a try.