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I had high hopes for this place but my experience left me feeling pretty underwhelmed and disappointed. Several mishaps occurred that definitely need to be fixed before grand opening. This restaurant is incredibly limited in seating. It's pretty much Kazunori style with bar seating around the open kitchen where you are side by side with the people dining next to you. There's maybe 20-24 spots? They also had some outdoor seating but I honestly don't know how the front of house was managing the wait list. The expected wait times are way off. We were told to be seated around 7 but we actually got seated closer to 9; we waited almost 2 hours. The person managing the front of house was running around like a headless chicken, but not effectively managing the list. We were next on the waitlist and told to check in with the host. They ended up giving our seat away to a party behind us. We were willing to break our group into doubles but not sure if our point got across. We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes after - it was just super chaotic and disorganized. The other issue is that they need to be more specific about being a member of Chubby to get the discount and unlimited rice and soup. If you're a member of Chubby Cattle, that doesn't extend to this restaurant. But we were told at the end of the night that points could be transferred? The host said we could transfer points later after the app was downloaded. When we tried to clarify what the host meant, she said actually we had already paid so the points could no longer be transferred. Was pretty miffed about that. As for the food, it's okay. Skewers were tasty, especially the finger meat. The patty itself is super tiny. Adding cheese is not really worth it. They also serve the patties at different times, so sometimes you can be done while someone else is still waiting for their piece. Overall, didn't feel like it was worth the price. You also have to account for luck and timing. After we sat down, a bunch of people ended up leaving. However, earlier in the night people were sitting and drinking. So account for longer wait times when it's earlier as people might not want to leave. In summary, I would not return to this place again. Food was okay. Not worth the almost 2 hour wait.
Been wanting to try this place for a while now since it reminded me of Hikiniku to Come in Japan so I wanted to experience the same nostalgia. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I had expected. 1) They recently took away the reservation option, so you have to get there early and put your name down on the waitlist. My friends put their names down around 4:40 pm, but we weren't seated til ~ 7 pm due to the limited number of seats inside. 2) Upon ordering, I learned that they don't do free refills on rice or soup unless you have a Chubby membership. Otherwise it's an extra $3. So when I was eating my patties, I felt like I was trying to save my rice to last the entire meal. 3) I ordered the combo/package with 3 patties. I was a bit surprised by how small the patties were. Additionally, I didn't get my 2nd patty until my friends already received their 3rd patty. After they finished their meals, they had to wait an extra ~10-15 min for me before I received my 3rd patty. Even though I didn't have a great experience, the staff were super nice. But overall, I think I would rather go to Hikiniku to Come in Japan.
The overall experience still has some room for improvement, particularly when it comes to the speed of service. The meat portions felt quite small compared to the price, especially when compared with the original concept in Japan. There was also a rather long wait between the first and second servings of meat, possibly because the grilling station was having difficulty keeping up with the orders. I completely understand that the restaurant is still in its early stages, and I hope this feedback will be helpful as the team continues to improve and refine the experience. I look forward to visiting again after the grand opening!
Chubby Don is such a fun and delicious dining experience! It feels like you're in Japan. The charcoal-grilled Wagyu hamburger patties and kushiyaki skewers were all delicious and it's fun watching them grill everything in front. We loved cheese Wagyu hamburger patty, the uni bowl (weekly special), and the sirloin paired with uni and caviar! There's so many topping to try too. Definitely give them a try when you're at the Santa Anita mall.
Food: 3/5 Food was ok. Wagyu patty was ok as well. Lychee sparkling water was great! Service: 3/5 Server are nice, but Food took way too long to come out. Ambiance: 4/5 Nice location, awesome decor.
Soft opening. Fifteen minute wait for counter seating and tables. No take out orders allowed The wait is bearable if I really really wanted to try it but I already know the absence of a pickup/takeout option would eliminate 75-80% of my visits so why bother? Not convinced a sit down visit would be worth it
Yummy yakitori and beef hamburger patties! This place is finally open and they are currently doing soft opening. first come first serve. The wait can be long since the place is very small with limited seating. However you can add yourself to the wait list in person before they open, this actually saved the waiting time. The ordering process is easy and fast. You order online through the QR code on your table. The yakitori I had for beef tongue and chicken were both tender and juicy! The soup was also very flavorful. The hamburger patties were juicy, it was not seasoned but they provide many different sauces to dip. Overall it was a great experience and brings me back to Japan!
Chubby Don has been all the social media hype as of late. Having seen so many photos and viral reviews, I had to try Chubby Don for myself. Actually, I've never had Hikiniku to Come or other similar hamburg restaurants in Japan or Asia, so this is my formal first time trying hamburg by the grill in this fashion. Being so viral, there is still quite a wait. I came at 5:30 and still had to wait a half hour to be seated. But the staff are super attentive. The restaurant is small but super clean. Bar seating only but we got to watch all the grilling right there. I ended up ordering a kushiyaki and hamburg combo and sharing with my wife. For the kushiyaki, we got beef tongue, lychee pork, and zucchini with mentaiko. I loved the lychee pork and mentaiko zucchini, both were extremely flavorful. Chubby Don comes with a wide array of sauces. I ended up prioritizing the hamburg sauce and the daikon with ponzu. I put both sauces on rice and they were amazing. For the hamburg, I asked them to add the cheese and cheese snow, as that was popular. The cheese was nothing special, but the hamburg was amazing. Apparently it was 70% A5 wagyu and 30% angus. The beef was super juicy and soft. Amazing restaurant, with amazing service. Worth the hype. A bit expensive, but worth the investment. I would come back.
A delicious spot for hamburg rice. I was most impressed by the lychee pork belly skewer, hamburg patty, and the friendly workers. The only thing is the wait can be pretty long, but I think the wait will decrease as they become more efficient. -Hamburg Patty: The meat here is seasoned perfectly. Can also add cheese to this. There's also different sauces you can try with this. I personally enjoyed both the ponzu sauce the most with this patty. -Beef Tongue Soup: There is a strong pepper flavor. -Lychee Pork Belly Skewer: A fantastic skewer. You can really taste the lychee in this. The lychee is fresh and juicy despite being grilled. -Beef Tongue Skewer: Very impressive beef tongue. I liked the thickness of this as well. Probably the most tender skewer I had during this meal. -Asparagus Skewer: Asparagus was fresh and had a nice fresh crunch to it. -Zucchini with Mentaiko Skewer: Pretty good. -Oyster: Juicy oyster.
First of its kind in the U.S. and soft opening so there's bounds to be issues with a concept like this. I'm gonna compare what it attempts to copy in Hikiniku to come. Service: Servers were attentive and nice throughout the process. Food would take a while to come out, but that's due to the logistics of figuring out what should serve out first. Food: I thought the food was good, but not as good as the original Hikiniku. Price: I knew that once this spot would open in the U.S. it would be significantly more expensive than the dupe. I paid $29-$30 for 2 people in Japan. Whereas I paid $85-$90 here in the USA. Obviously over here is much more expensive, but paying $15 a meal then paying $30-$35, then having to add tip just sucks. Overall: I think the food is good to try since it's the first of its kind here, service was kind of attentive. It's worth trying once.
Thank you April for a wonderful meal and excellent service! I was able to dine in during soft opening today - I ordered the 2 hamburger patties with 3 kushiyaki (picked a5 Wagyu, thick cut beef tongue, caramelized pineapple) combo and additional negima (chicken and scallion) and lychee pork belly. The lychee pork belly was probably my favorite (tip: add a little bit of yakiniku salt to balance the sweetness of the lychee and it's perfect)! The lychee is sweet and juicy and compliments the cooked pork belly so well - I let it sit on the hot plate a little longer and it crisped up one side so nicely. Probably added that I really like lychee! I never imagined it in a dish with meat before, but I loved it! The wagyu broth is a nice refresher throughout the meal, it is very light. I did prefer the plain patty over the cheese patty - only because the American cheese was too "cheeseburger" to me and I thought the original patty I ate first was so perfectly flavored and juicy that the cheese one in comparison, overpowered the patty! I did try to put my pasteurized egg over the original patty (and failed) but it complimented the course with having it mixed into the rice. I enjoyed all the skewers, especially the nice caramelized pineapple, like a sweet treat to end dinner with. I'd be perfectly content coming back for another combo or just order tons of kushiyaki! It was nice being able to watch everything be cooked and prepared while dining- even watched them top the pineapples with sugar and add the mentaiko to the zucchinis before grilling. It's like watching them work like a well oiled machine! Can't wait to come back for some late night eats (I heard they're planning to be open until 1-2am!). I really want more lychee pork belly skewers as I type this.
Great food, excellent service, the staff was very attentive. the spaces are a bit tight but it accurately captures the vibes of Japan. The sirloin combo is freakin bomb, highly recommend splurging for it. Their mushroom skewers have the mushroom lovers "funk".
Tried Chubby Don during a tasting event! Got the $35 combo (member rate). It came with 2 hamburger, rice & soup (unlimited refills with membership), pasteurized egg, and one veggie and two protein skewer. Also got the $2 add on for cheese. The seating surrounded the kitchen so that you can see your food being made fresh. There is also a mini grill for each seat so that your hamburger and skewers will stay warm and toasty. However, do wish the AC system circulated a bit better as it was quite hot inside even in the evening. Service was friendly but, as expected during a new opening, they are still figuring out how things work and getting orders correctly and promptly. Food was tasty and the quality speaks. - Hamburger: nicely seasoned and made fresh daily. - Zucchini with mentaiko skewer: I'm happy that they actually put more fish roe on it than their stock photo. - Lychee pork belly: sweet, the pork is wrapped around the fruit. Unique and i liked it - beef tongue skewer, wagyu skewer: standard. the latter was actually on the drier side. - pickled radish: free! and very tasty with a kick~ unfortunately ran out on my side of the table so i only managed to grab some after the ppl next to me left. - lemon sparkling water: had a bitterness to it since it marinaded with the peel/lemon slice inside. I'd get the lychee one instead next time. the two have the same calories anyways!
One of the most best don I had in a while! Loved their don burgers, their patties cooked to perfection with their mushroom sauce is great combo! Loved their service too! read more
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Jasmine L.
Thank you so much, Feng! We’re thrilled you loved the hamburg don and…
1 month ago
Let's put it this way. Spent $170 for 3 people (before tax and tip) and felt like going to In N Out afterwards. I've enjoyed most of the Chubby restaurants and looked forward to this one. Sure, service was sub par due to the soft opening and there's a lot of improvements both with service and logistically needed. Food wise, it tasted good but it couldn't make up for the shortcomings. Let's see if they can fix it. It's mostly barstool seating. 12 high barstools and 7 low seats at the bar. After you're seated and if you're in a group, you'll each order individually with the menu code that's in front of you. Your server will merge all the orders at the end. Some of the issues that added to the chaotic feel: 1) The music is too loud and because of the noise of the grill and people in close proximity, it's difficult to hear what the server is saying. 2) The food comes out sporadically. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how/when the food comes out. I was nearly done eating before the rest of my party got their food. 3) we had a reservation for 6:30 but didn't get seated until nearly 7 pm. 4) the price point for the food does not justify the food. Should've just gone to Chubby Cattle instead. 5) Asked for additional radish at the start, never got it. 6) They do not have a restroom inside. At the end of the day, expected a lot more and left disappointed. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Jon, thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback…
20 hours ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Andy, thank you for visiting us. We are glad April was helpful…
12 days ago
Service was on point but waitlist is a horror. Expect 3 hour wait times and the waitlist closing.Besides that the food is yummy and the price is affordable. Being a chubby club member also has its added perks! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Chloe, thanks for the kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed the…
1 month ago
Pretty good first visit during their soft opening! The hamburger steak was tender and well-seasoned, and honestly good even without sauce. I liked the original and Ponzu the most. The skewers were good too, especially the chicken gizzard. The set was $42 before tip for 2 hamburger steaks + 3 skewers. Staff was super friendly, although there was a bit of a wait due to the reservation system. Overall, I'd come back! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Vicky, thank you for joining us during our soft opening. We’re…
17 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Kate,…
3 days ago
11 days ago
First time here and the service was great! Host and server Alina was helpful, friendly, and welcoming; she thoroughly explained the concept and menu, being very communicative about our order's status despite delays due to soft opening. The food was great, I definitely left full and satisfied! My party and I had a wonderful time and we hope to be back soon read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Naomi, thanks for giving us a try! We’re glad Alina kept you…
11 days ago
Great service! Shout out to Iiya, she was super attentive and funny. Food was good! Patties seemed a tad smaller than I expected but they tasted good. I got one with cheese but I think plain was really good. I liked the vibe but not that many seats, maybe 30 max? We also waited about 45 minutes but its located at the mall so wasn't hard to find something to look at. Would recommend a try. read more
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Jasmine L.
Thank you, Sharlen! We’re glad Iiya brought some fun energy to your…
2 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi June, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the…
4 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Tom,…
4 days ago
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Jasmine L.
So glad you enjoyed your first visit, Stephanie! Thanks for the kind…
1 month ago
Just had my dinner there. Gotta say it is very amazing that they can turn this little corner of the mall to something so special with vivid vibe. I I did enjoy the meat patty but I enjoy more on the special dishes . The staff told me that's the first day rolling them out and with all sorts of expensive add ons like Uni and Caviar and Foie Gras, I tried the Wagyu with Uni, it is very good! I don't knot this combo is actually a thing. Sake selection is good, but some were out of stock. Overall, good experience and rather affordable price for a little luxury. I mean worst case, I can just come in and get a quick bite on the meat patty and can still be full after all for about 35 dollars Will come back for sure! They need to open up the late night! Me homies and I will come for sure! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Jay! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the food and some of our new…
2 days ago
Emma and alina were so nice at chubby don and helped us and the food was so good and it was so good they changed my view of dining and I really felt like I deserved to live. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi John, thank you for coming back to Chubby Don. We are glad Emma…
11 days ago
I had a great experience here, came around 6pm and the wait was not too bad, food was a bit pricey but it was for sure worth the money! I was reccomended the pineapple skewer by my server, Tracey, and it was amazing, I would reccomend this to anyone else who is thinking of dining here. The bar seating style was unique, a bit more tightly squeezed than I'd prefer, but still cozy. They serve your patties and skewers atop of these skillets for you to keep it warm or--if you'd like--cooked a bit more. They also have a membership for discounts for here as well as other locations, which I didn't sign up for it, but I definitely plan on coming back and doing that next time! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Kim, we’re glad you enjoyed your visit! We hope you’ll come back…
12 days ago
This place is amazing! I got served such high quality food, and everything came out fresh, hot, and smoking. I especially loved the oysters. they were SO good. I had Tracey as my server, and wow... she was AMAZING. I came with my boyfriend, but I forgot he was sitting next to me because Tracey was so cute, sweet, and attentive. She was checking on me so much that I started wondering if I came here for the food or for Tracey. Tracey truly made my experience at Chubby Don even better. The food was 10/10, the service was 11/10, and Tracey deserves a Chubby Don trophy. Would absolutely come back again! For the oysters and definitely for Tracey. I left with a full stomach, a happy heart, and a new favorite person. read more
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Jasmine L.
Thank you, Sydney! We’re glad you loved the fresh oysters and that…
26 days ago
The crew was very well organized and explained how the dinner experience was laid out. Our waitress and waiter were there every step of the way and were polite and friendly. The small amount of seating reminded me of Japan and its restaurant culture. Great job, guys! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Peter, we really appreciate the thoughtful review! It’s great to…
5 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Veena, thank you for visiting us. We are glad Dylan was helpful…
2 days ago
The service here was amazing. Alina and Emma were the best servers we had in our lives. Thank you so much for your service. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Lynn, thank you for dining with us. We are glad Alina and Emma…
28 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Zoulaika,…
The service was ok. The waitress was doing the best she could given the chaotic environment (there were only 2 servers who were scrambling around trying to give everyone their plates, sides, etc. They could definitely use more workers to help ease the craziness. This also caused our food to come out at uncoordinated times. My bf received all his food, however I had to wait 25 minutes for my 2nd burger to come out. There was also a bug on our table and a fly inside the restaurant flying around. Anyways, the burgers were dry. They claim to mix Angus and wagyu beef into the burgers , but it's probably more like 90% Angus than anything. The burgers are meant to be cooked medium rare, according to our server, but mine came back almost well done. Also, it gets really hot inside, given that the flames are right in your face. So just be prepared for that. The only thing I can say truly enjoyed was the candied pineapple. I'll be generous and give them a 3 star rating, keeping in mind they are still in their soft opening phase and we went day 2 of opening. Will I be back? Probably not. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Leslie,…
4 days ago
Really enjoyed my meal here! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The grilled skewers were especially delicious. Great food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Definitely coming back! read more
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Zilei! We’re glad you enjoyed the food, especially the…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Christopher! We’re glad you enjoyed the food, especially the unagi…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Ronnie, thank you for dining with us and for being patient during…
13 hours ago
Evan and Emma are great! Love the food. Great service, made a reservation so there is no problem and no wait at all. Will def be back! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Julie, thank you for visiting us. We are glad you enjoyed the food…
22 days ago
Food was so good, service was IMPECCABLE (shoutout Josh, our server), and the speed at which the food comes out was perfect. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Bree, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
1 month ago
This review is for during their soft opening, so there may be changes that i am unaware of. I will update the post once I visit the place again. Yes, this is a place I would go again, and I recommend you try it at least once or even more. I will start off adressing 2 things that I think most reviewers will mention and maybe 1 minor. The first is the seating capacity. Seating is limited and people will complain about the wait time. This is not a full blown restaurant, and it just opened, so there will be many people trying out the place. They are also in their soft opening. People also don't realize many of the other food stores at the mall are even smaller and have less seating. So please ignore those reviews of people who don't understand that and base their reviews on anger. The 2nd thing you should skip is their reviews of high pricing. Yes, up front the price may appear very steep, and will steer people away. What those reviewers need to keep in mind is the location, and the materials used. You're at the mall, food prices will be higher. If you take into consideration of the type of food you are eating, the quality meat they are using, the amount of food you're getting, add that with high class table service, with a discount if you have membership, the price is very competitive. Service As mentioned, service was top notch. You have someone near you to help you with any questions or service that you need. You also have a very enthusiastic host Alice, who is nonstop making sure everyone is satisfied. Ambience The ambience is nice, classy, clean, trendy, bar style dining and a place where you can take a date on. I love that they have so many variety of condiments and sauces to cater to most people. I also love that there is a drawer that has extra napkins, chopsticks, plates, spoons, etc. No need to wait or ask a waiter. It's right there!! Food This is a place you have to try at least once, and if you want to impress your date. There are several food choices, from vegetables to pork, beef, chicken. You can order from scanning a QR code. You can order items individually, or get a combo. I got the 2 patty combo, with 3 skewers. The patty were so juicy and flavorful. Those that do not like the rarity can have their patty sit on the warmer plate they have in front of you for a little longer. The lychee pork belly is amazing. I had to order 2 more to go. The other skewers were amazing too, but I enjoyed that one the most, besides the patty. What you may not know is you can ask for more soup and rice as needed. What a bonus. The soup may be bland for most people, but I think it is a good tongue cleanser and it's something that feels light and refreshing. The quantity and quality you're getting is worth the price. You will definitely leave feeling full. Is it something you can eat daily or once a week may be not, but it is something you can definitely go again, yes!! Lastly, 1 minor thing that you may encounter is, there are no restrooms. You will have to step outside. It is a little inconvenient, especially when you're eating a hefty meal. But again you're at a small dining place at a mall, so it should be expected. The restroom is around the corner, so it's not too bad. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Huy, we really appreciate such a thoughtful and detailed review!…
9 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Chretien, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad Dylan was…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Geoffrey, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed…
14 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Saphire, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the…
6 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Evelyn, thank you for visiting us for the first time. We are glad…
6 days ago
Super yummy food! Long wait though, we came at 12:30 for a party of 4 and the wait was 2 hours. So many people, they need more staff. Was worth the wait. The sauces are all amazing and the patty is delicious. I liked the cheese, soup, and the rice. Tracey was our server and she was very kind and attentive! She gave us free dessert too. Highly recommend read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Janine, thank you for visiting us. We are glad you felt the wait…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Li, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the beef…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Kimf! We’re glad you had fun with the unique skewer…
18 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Eric! We’re glad you got to enjoy the patio and had such a…
17 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Christine, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed…
17 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Eric, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
2 months ago
Really enjoyed everything we ordered! The original Wagyu hamburger steak was super juicy and flavorful, with just the right amount of richness. The beef tongue was incredibly tender and seasoned perfectly. My favorite was definitely the shishamo--it had so much flavor and was nice and plump. Overall, the whole experience felt warm, cozy, and welcoming. Huge shoutout to our server Tracy for the great service--she made the experience even better. Would definitely come back again! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Ye, thank you for such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled the…
More info about Chubby Don
400 S Baldwin Ave
Store No 2335
Arcadia, CA 91007
Directions
(228) 641-0941
Call Now
Visit Website
https://chubbygroup.com/project/chubby-don-arcadia/
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Ask the Community - Chubby Don
What are the perks of being a chubby club member for this restaurant?
You get member pricing instead of paying regular price.
Is it only going to be open 5PM to 10PM as shown on Yelp?
Yes, they're pretty good about showing their true hours and updating them when needed
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
18 reviews that are not currently recommended
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