Visited with friends from Hong Kong X3 times last year, who loved the special menu items and casual atmosphere. They're back and want to dine here again! read more

Drunken Monk is one of my favorite Japanese spots, especially for their oyako don. It's the dish I keep going back for, but I've also tried quite a few other items on the menu and have enjoyed the variety. The space has a cozy, casual izakaya feel, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner or date night. It's not exactly a cheap eat, but the food feels fresh and thoughtfully prepared, so it's a good spot when you want something a little nicer without being too formal. The corn karaage is also amazing and definitely worth ordering. Crispy, sweet, and so easy to snack on. I've also tried dishes like their sashimi, mini uni don with ikura, grilled skewers, and clam dish, and everything has been comforting and well done. read more

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We visited Drunken Monk for my husband's birthday last month and we had overall a great lunch with our family and friends! We were lucky enough to get a reservation for 8 on a Saturday at 12pm. We called the restaurant and the recording said to text them and they were super fast with replying. All the dishes were delicious but a bit on the pricier side. One of our favorite yakitori we all enjoyed was the beef tongue! The meat was so juicy and the lemon, salt, and garlic all went well. The kiddos split a oyako don. It was a perfect size to share for the kids. Lots of flavor and you can't go wrong ordering them. We also ordered Sukiyaki which quite smaller than expected but still had a good flavor. I wish they served more meat for the price. We went with the $135 combination one and it was barely enough for 6 adults. Overall portion size of each dishes were on the smaller end but every dish was good. Service was great and would love to try other things on the menu next time we're in the area! read more

Drunken Monk - Beef tongue - Izakaya Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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we ordered the skewers and udon which were very flavorful and delicious , seasoned well service was super quick and waiters were really nice kind of expensive but was worth it kind of free highchews (4, one for each person i think) area was super clean and ambiance is very chill with warm lighting and lots of squares "i like the chairs" - anonymous customer read more

Overall: 3 stars Comforting Japanese Izakaya that brings all the elements of Japan to Menlo Park, with a few subtle notes of Western influence such as the truffle salt. At this price point, I was expecting a little more consistency in the seasoning of the food, and not having to wait several minutes to get seated, but these are minor critiques that do not overshadow how well the menu was conceived and the mastery of the cook of the food. Corn Kakiage - Delicious appetizer that with beautifully saline forward and mildly spiced seasoning to pair with a crisp and tender corn. Matcha Nigori - Interesting drink with lots going on. On the bottom is a thicker mixture that gives yuzu yogurt, and that is topped with a nice blend of green matcha and toasted marshmallow. Oyakodon - Classic home comfort dish of chicken and egg served on top a bed of rice with some colorful additions for plating. Gizzard - Cooked well to maintain a tender chew such that it has texture without completely overly dominating. Wagyu Skewer - Very tender and pairs well with both the fresh wasabi and the truffle salt; I do think the skewer would benefit from a more generous portion of the salt. Wing Skewer - Petite and tender, but of course naturally more difficult to eat when the sticks form a hashtag. I like that there are different layers of flavor coming from the bone, skin, and sauce to empower the fowl. Pork Cheek - Very tender and flavorful coming from that layer of alternating fat and meat. Chicken Thigh Skewer - tenderly grilled chicken full of flavor, with the daikonified sauce adding a supplementary palette of brightness to the dish. Food: E Presentation: +1 Price: -1 Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +1 Insta/Yelp/Beli: @amei_eats Insta/TikTok: @ameizing.race read more

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SUNAGIMO 3 Chicken Gizzard, super crunchy TSUKUNE 5 Chicken Meatball w/ marinated egg yolk, juicy, slightly sweet, savory SORIRESU Chicken Oyster 4 sansho pepper, juicy, tender, crispy skin WAGYU BEEF 2 American Wagyu w/ Fresh Wasabi, Truffle Salt, slightly dry Beef Tongue 4 with garlic, lemon, salt, chewy, juicy OCHAZUKE 2 Nishiki Rice in Genmaicha, topped w/ Pickled Ume Plum, Unagi w/ Furikake, rice soaked in bitter tea, topped with small piece of unagi MAPOTOFU OMELET DON 4 Egg omelet over steam rice, topped with spicy tofu and minced wagyu beef, green onion, flavorful Butterfish Nigiri 5 seared, smoky, crunchy, smooth read more

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The food here is solid, but the two things I wish were that the portion sizes were a bit bigger and the parking was easier to find. Other than that, the taste was right on. Tsukune - 10/10. I love getting chicken meatballs whenever I go to yakitori restaurants but this one takes 1st place. First off, these balls are not small. I love how the sauce is quite literally an egg yolk which is so savory. I love the texture and the flavor as well. Mapo Tofu Omelet Don - 10/10. This bowl was so saucy and flavorful. Definitely something I would recommend to omurice lovers. The mapo tofu was spicy but not overwhelmingly so. Scallop Carpaccio - 8/10. I think the portion sizing on this one could have been bigger, I felt like they skimped out on it. BUT the flavors of this dish were so refreshing and the yuzu was such a nice addition to the freshness. Teba-saki (chicken wing) - 7/10. I love how juicy the wings are and they were so tender that they are fall off the bone. I do think that this is the standard though so while it was good, it was not out of this world. Matcha drink - 7/10. It looked super aesthetically pleasing but I wish the matcha was stronger. Huge shoutout of the waiters and waitresses though because everyone was so friendly and the food came out super efficiently too! read more

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The food here is all prepared pretty well. The portions are actually much bigger than I thought they would be. The chicken karage had a think coating of batter and was super moist and paired so good with the yuzu sauce, I only wish the chicken was a little crispier 8.5/10. The corn karage was a great surprise! It was sweet corn and crispy and fun to eat 8.8/10. Fried oysters were fried to perfection 7/10 (I'm not a huge oyster fan). Fried shrimp was pretty standard 6.5/10. Chicken oyster skewers were grilled perfectly and super juicy with a crispy skin 8.5/10. Sausage was flavorful and smoky 7.8/10. Chawanmushi was soft and smooth with nice crab and shrimp 8/10. Fish collar was what you be would expect, it was a hair over grilled 6.5/10. Sushi was good a bit on the pricy side 7/10. read more

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One of the best japanese restaurants we've been to in the south bay. We ordered some of the popular dishes, like chawanmushi, corn kakiage, chicken karaage, and many many skewers (gizzards, chicken hearts, shishito peppers, chicken meatball and scallops. Everything was delicious. The standouts were the corn kakiage, chicken meatball, and chawanmushi. It is very expensive for the serving size, but the food is excellent and the staff was extremely accommodating and attentive. The ambience is also really cute, feels like a great place for date night. We will definitely be back! read more

Food is quiet good but quiet expensive. Really liked the uni don - has 2 kinds of uni, one sweeter than the other but both fresh and tasty. Scallop was ok. Server was pretty friendly. read more

Drunken Monk - Uni don - Izakaya Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Our family of 4 came to celebrate both our kid's birthdays. We did not make reservations since there is a hefty penalty for no shows, just in case. Upon entering, we felt relaxed by the soothing ambiance. From the small decors to the dishware, everything projects zen. Since they are known for their grills, we ordered a variety: pork cheek, scallop, chicken cartilage, chicken heart, chicken thigh. We also had their Niku Udon as well as their Kaisen Don (chef's choice of sashimi over rice) For drinks we had Lychee Oolong, Strawberry Matcha, and Suntory Beer. Everything was delicious, price was high but worthwhile for special occasions. read more

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I've been coming here for dinner every now and then over the years. It's never quite made it into my regular rotation mostly because the prices are on the higher side, but the food has always been consistently good. This visit was actually my first time trying out their lunch service. ​If you come here, you absolutely have to order the chicken meatball (tsukune). It is hands down the best item on the menu, period. A close second for me is the chicken oyster--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. On this trip, we also tried the corn kakiage, which was quite good and had a nice crisp to it. We rounded things out with the chicken hearts and beef tongue (gyutan) skewers. Both were solid and well-executed, but honestly, nothing touches that tsukune. ​Service was exactly what you want: the waitresses were efficient, attentive, and helpful throughout the meal. It's a bit of a splurge for casual dining, but the execution on the skewers keeps it worth coming back to. read more

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A gem in Menlo Park! After a day of work and flying in, I was able to get a table for two on a Friday night at 9:30 PM without a problem! It is a cute restaurant. This is definitely upscale compared to other izakayas, and the price reflects that. The skewers melted in our mouths, especially the beef tongue! I liked that the chef had an accompaniment for each skewer, whether that be wasabi, fancy salt, etc. This was probably the best scallop carpaccio I've had in a long time - smooth with delicately layered flavors. The yuzu cocktail was good, so was the soju. I'm unsure if they offer dessert, but we were handed the check right after dinner (perhaps because they wanted to close?). You can tell the staff are proud of their craft and we're all lovely. It seems like they are a tight knit crew. read more

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My husband and I came here for an early dinner on Valentine's Day and had such a lovely experience. The space is very cute and cozy and it really gave us that authentic Japan izakaya vibe. They offer a great variety of sake with no cocktails, so keep that in mind. The sake paired perfectly with our meal. We ordered the Valentine's Day special nigiri, along with shishito peppers, beef tongue, wagyu, scallop carpaccio, firefly squid, and fried chicken skin. Everything was flavorful and nicely prepared, especially the chicken meatball. Service was fast and friendly, which made the evening even more enjoyable. It's definitely a cute spot if you're ever in the Menlo Park area and craving a casual, cozy Japanese dinner. read more

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Came here to celebrate my friends birthday and it's a small intimate restaurant but definitely packs a punch with their dishes. Our server was kind and knowledgeable and would love to come back again. read more

One of my FAVE newly found foodie places, well worth the trip & $$! Located in downtown Menlo Park (which I never knew even existed lol) - the restaurant is a cute little corner spot sure to catch your eye. Being in the quaint downtown menlo area - parking can be difficult...the parking lot for the restaurant is tiny/limited so we usually opt for street parking which can be quite a walk depending on how lucky you are getting a spot. Once inside the restaurant, the ambiance is welcoming - the interior is warmly lit, modern, and lively. A host will appear & ask if you have reservations (which is highly recommended at least 1-2 months in advance if you're doing peak dinner time/weekend). I've always made reservations & never had to wait, but have seen a few others had to wait a while. Service has always been super quick, nice, and efficient as well. The staff do a great job at explaining daily specials and making recommendations. Menu overall consists of Japanese Tapas, Izakaya, Sushi, and one of my comfort faves (Sukiyaki). The drink menu has a variety of sake, beer, and a few cocktails/mocktails/vino - BUT obvi if you're getting sushi you should 100% opt for SAKE and BEER! Let's Dig In: APPS: - Corn Kakiage, crispy yummy sweet corn tempura that is legit soooo addicting. - Tori Kawa, crispy fried chicken skin with the perfect amount of seasoning. - Karaage, juicy tasty fried chicken with a light batter + seasoning. - Scallop Carpaccio, fresh delicate slices of scallop + a tasty yuzu sauce. - Sake clams, juicy clams in a delish sake broth that you can't stop sipping. Izakaya: - Wagyu Beef, super tender and well seasoned + optional truffle salt on the side. - Teba Saki, charred crispy chicken wings still juicy & lightly seasoned. - Pork belly, charred but a bit tough, wouldn't order again. - Tsukune, chicken meatball + egg yolk to dip, bit too mushy & my least fave. - Shishito Peppers, beautifully lightly blistered + touch of lemon & salt. - Okra, deliciously charred for great texture (no slime) & lightly seasoned. Sashimi - Daily Specials are highly recommended! We've had Red snapper, Flounder, Hamachi, and a few other white fishes that were all fresh & tasty! - Chef's choice nigiri (6 pcs), variety of fresh fishes with different textures, taste, & toppings fresh overall but wouldn't order again. - O Toro nigiri, sooooo delicate & literally melted in my mouth. A must! - Kinmedai, got this lightly seared which had a nice smokiness to it, would def. order again! - Uni bowl, beautifully presented but also so fresh & rich + many accompaniments to make your own perf. sushi wraps. A must for me! Sukiyaki American Wagyu is 100% worth here! One of my fave comfort dishes overall & they do it oh so well - with a tasty broth, variety of veggies, Udon (to cook after), + a tray of beautiful quality wagyu beef for you to dip one at a time and cook to your desire. read more

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Came here to celebrate my birthday with my partner during their lunch break, and what a treat! The servers were kind and attentive, even with the restaurant nearly full. I'd been craving yakitori for a while, and this meal absolutely hit the spot. We ordered the lychee amazake and matcha yuzu amazake. Both drinks were the right amount of sweet and were refreshing mocktails to pair with our food. The highlights for me were the corn kakiage and the negima skewers (we loved them so much we ordered three!). The tare sauce had just the right balance of sweetness and umami, which complemented the juicy chicken thigh and slightly charred green onion. The special lobster yakitori was an unexpected hit. I'd been skeptical since the shell might block the meat from the binchotan's smoke, but they split the lobster down the middle so it absorbed that smoky flavor. It paired nicely with the wasabi-based dipping sauce that came with it. Overall, the food was outstanding, though a bit pricey as many reviews mention. Still, it's worth it for a special occasion like this. Next time, I'd love to come back for dinner and try more from their menu. read more

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Our meal here was quite average. Everything tasted fine, just didn't blow me away or entice me to return again. Many reviewers complain about the price and portion and they are absolutely right. The American wagyu sukiyaki is $78 and only comes with 5 pieces of meat. The skewers only come with one stick. The price wouldn't be a problem if the value was there, which it isn't. There are many other izakayas in the Bay Area with better quality and better value in my opinion. The parking here isn't great - street parking on a very busy street. It appears they have a small parking lot but is easy to miss. Overall, I likely would not return. What we ordered: Chicken skin - very crispy American Wagyu sukiyaki - meat is good, broth is kind of plain Chicken meatball skewer - very good, but $12 for one skewer Pork cheek skewer - good, but again $8 for one skewer Mapo tofu don - very comforting, but not super special. Portion is smaller than it appears in photos read more

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This is a great spot for small bites, though getting full here can get pricey. The chicken karaage was excellent, especially with the yuzu kosho--we liked it so much we ordered two rounds. There aren't many places nearby that I know of that truly specialize in yakitori, and this one does it right. The charcoal flavor on the skewers was outstanding, and everything came out moist and tender. Each skewer was cooked very well, and the sides that accompanied them were thoughtfully paired and complemented the meat nicely. The meatball skewer was surprisingly unique, and my favorite overall was probably the beef tongue. read more

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Drunken Monk is a great spot if you appreciate high-quality yakitori and a cozy izakaya vibe. Their skewers are grilled over binchotan charcoal, which really shows in the flavor -- smoky, clean, and perfectly cooked. We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was prepared: Mono chicken thighs ($8) - juicy with great char Soriresu / chicken oyster ($9) - tender and flavorful Sasami with ume ($8) - light, delicate, and refreshing Corn Kakiage ($12) - crispy and addictive Wagyu skewer ($14) - rich and satisfying Beef tongue ($14, off-menu) - tender with a nice bite Ochazuke ($23) - comforting and perfect to end the meal The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, making it a great place for a date night or a chill evening with friends. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, especially when explaining different cuts and off-menu items. Definitely a spot to come back to if you're into authentic yakitori and charcoal-grilled flavors. read more

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I have nothing bad to say about drunken monk - I've been here 3 times and every time it's amazing! I always get it sukiyaki nabe and some yakitori skewers. The mapo tofu omelet don is delicious as well. The staff greet you right when you walk in and they are attentive throughout your meal. Parking can be a bit tricky since the lot is small, but I believe there's parking not too far of a walk away. read more

Drunken Monk - Sukiyaki nabe - Izakaya Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Great place for date nights! The ambiance was relaxing and intimate. The instrumental music was spa-like and upbeat. The interior design had a good balance of traditional and modern -- which matches their mission. Food was delicious all around. The Wagyu skewer and pork skewers stood out most along with the tuna nigiri and chefs' specials from Japan. Service was paced and servers communicated well. read more

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Great ambiance and amazing service. Food is good, but I would consider it very overpriced for skewers. My favorite was the chicken oyster skewer. Corn ribs were interesting; they fried and flavored it well. Gyudon was too oily for me at the restaurant; I enjoyed it more when I heated it up for leftovers at home. read more

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Drunken Monk 1438 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025 Finally visited this place after living next door for over a year! Perfect timing -- caught their 2nd anniversary 15% off deal (85% price)～We didn't make a reservation, waited around 30 mins on the spot.The chicken yakitori were all pretty solid, plus we ordered the uni + ikura rice. Toward the end we saw the sukiyaki at the next table and couldn't resist adding Japanese wagyu... After eating it, totally get why this place is always packed 住在旁邊超過一年終於來造訪了！剛好遇到店家兩週年獲得85折的優惠～ 我們沒有訂位，現場等了半小時左右！ 雞肉的串燒都蠻好吃的，還有點海膽鮭魚卵飯，吃到最後看到隔壁的壽喜燒，加點了日本和牛，吃完不難理解為甚麼每次生意都這麼好 SUNAGIMO Chicken Gizzard OTSUKUNE Chicken Meatball w/marinated egg yolk SORIRESU Chicken Oyster (limited) w/ sansho pepper SUKIYAKI NABE【すき焼き］ (Recommend for two people, Served with Two Onsen Eggs, Rice/Udon (Extra Onsen Egg +3) CHOOSE YOUR MEAT: JAPANESE A5 WAGYU M. P. (Limited) with napa cabbage, carrot, firm tofu, shiitake mushroom, shimeji mushroom, chrysanthemum greens, daikon 壽喜燒雖然貴但肉的品質很好，直接融化在嘴裡 #winnie_bayarea #winnie_eat #japan #japanese #japanesefood #duck #duckbreast #tofu #sukiyaki #mushroom #napa #cabbage #menu#hotpot #skewer #weekend #anniversary #wagyu #meat #winter #灣區 #灣區美食 #壽喜燒 #日式 #吃貨 #美食 #海外生活 read more

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I actually liked it better the first time I came. The food is still good overall, but the prices make it harder to justify a return. - American Wagyu Sukiyaki Nabe: The highlight of the meal. The wagyu practically melts in your mouth. - Chef's Choice Nigiri (6 pc): Good quality, but not worth the price. - O-Toro: Decent, though I've definitely had fattier, richer cuts elsewhere. - Cork Kakiage: Delicious starter. - Momo / Negima / Teba-Saki: All three were excellent. Great flavor and perfectly cooked. - Niku Udon: Fair. Not bad, but nothing particularly memorable. Overall, a solid meal with a few standout dishes, but I left feeling that the pricing was a bit steep for what you get. read more

Easily made a reservation online for 3 on Sunday at 6pm. Their parking lot is a tad small, so you can also just park down the street a bit. Service was good, although it got a tiny bit slower once the restaurant was packed (around 7pm). All the food was tasty (and reminded me of Japan), but the standouts that I would get again: Corn tempura - crunchy, and the corn was juicy as well Scallop carpaccio - fresh tasting and the yuzu is refreshing Chicken meatball - great with the marinated egg yolk. Very soft. Chicken thigh - soft but juicy. Even better with the shichimi condiment that they have at the table Beef tongue + American wagyu - nice and beefy. Goes well with lemon (tongue) and dipped the wagyu in the leftover egg yolk from the chicken meatball. Definitely a pricey meal but they are tasty skewers. Would be interested in coming back and trying the sukiyaki or some of the fish. read more

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After passing this spot every week while driving down El camino, I finally got to try it!!! Came with a friend for a 6pm dinner reservation and while it wasn't too crowded when we sat down, it quickly became very busy as the hour ticked by. Menu is pretty straight forward, but definitely more extensive than I expected! Didn't expect so many non-skewer items for some reason. Drinks: we got the yuzu and plum highballs and they were delicious! Refreshing and hot the spot! Scallop: Super yummy yuzu ponzu sauce and just such a bright dish that complements the rich scallops so well! Drunken combo: seaweed salad, takowasa, and marinated tomato! very flavorful tomato and liked the super wasabi forward takowasa, but the seaweed salad was nothing special Sashimi + ankimo: Very fresh fish and lovely creamy ankimo! Chicken oyster: so juicy! Came with sancho pepper on the side! Overall the ambiance was lovely, the food was great, and service was good. I think others have said this though, the price is a tad high for what it is. While I can appreciate the flavors and the quality of the fish, I can see why it would be hard to justify coming here often or if it weren't a special occasion. read more

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We were able to walk in and get a seat on a Thursday night pretty quickly. It wasn't too busy but we would have definitely had to wait if we came even 5-10 minutes later. They have a decent variety of food with some pretty special items. Corn Kakiage - a favorite. Anytime there's some sort of fried corn, I always get it. Very light and crispy batter m Mapo Tofu Omelot Don - the flavors! Deep umami. I admit I don't love Mapo tofu but I really liked this one Ochazuke - they used unagi, and I feel like you can't go wrong. While it didn't wow me, I find comfort in Ochazuke. Decent dashi broth Skewers - Sasami was my favorite. I'm usually a Hotate fan but dare I say to skip this one? That's the only bummer. Pork cheek and mushroom were good too. Sparkling Soda - I know it's from a can but it was so refreshing during the meal. Waitresses were very attentive and came often to check in on us. I think it'll be good for a decently large party if you plan ahead. Parking does suck, but we got lucky and got street parking really close. Plan accordingly. Service - 5 / Ambiance - 4 / Food - 5 / Price - 4 read more

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My friend and I decided to try Drunken Monk after seeing the high ratings, and it definitely lived up to the hype! We arrived around 6:45pm on a Friday, and the restaurant already had a decent crowd. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better. We ordered the sukiyaki nabe with american wagyu and rice, hatsu (chicken heart) skewer, kurobuta sausage skewer, tsukune (chicken meatball with marinated egg yolk) skewer, and the gyudon (sliced beef donburi). We also got one more skewer but I forgot which one. Everything was delicious, but my personal favorites were the kurobuta sausage and tsukune skewers, the tsukune was super juicy and paired well with the egg yolk. The sukiyaki nabe and gyudon also stood out with perfectly balanced flavors and a generous amount of beef in the gyudon. Overall, this spot is solid! The flavors lean on the sweeter side, which was a little different for me, but it worked well with the dishes. I'd definitely come back for the sukiyaki nabe~ read more

Drunken Monk - Sukiyaki nabe and gyudon - Izakaya Near Me - Menlo Park, California

We went there for Saturday lunch, and I'm honestly not impressed. They charge a fairly high price for every dish, with very small portions. The service is nothing to write home about either. Their shop is small, and they staff only two waiters for the entire restaurant on a weekend afternoon. Those poor waiters were sprinting the entire time we were there. The food also took forever to make. Skewers had a 20-30-minute wait. The Sukiyaki hotpot entree took 40-50 minutes, and all they needed to do was slice the meat and arrange the veggies. We still had to cook the raw meat ourselves, mind you. I don't understand why it would take them 45 minutes to prep. Not being able to get a hold of the server to check on the status of our dish didn't help either, as they were busy zooming around because the restaurant was understaffed. Overall, there is a mismatch between the price they are charging and the overall experience we got. They either need to increase the portion or significantly increase the service to match the pricetag. read more

love the ambiance ! came for a friend's birthday dinner and the staff was super friendly. we shared some dishes but the standouts for us were the scallop carpaccio, chicken meatball skewer and the amazake drinks read more

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Beautiful restaurant with terrible parking, best to park on the street instead of their tiny parking lot. The chicken skin was my favorite dish, perfectly crunchy, not oily, and had a light sauce at the bottom. The nabe sukiyaki was a little sweet for me but the quality of the beef was good, just wish we were given more than 5 pieces... Would pass on the mapo egg omelette over rice, nothing special about it. The chicken meatball and pork cheek skewers were good but not worth the steep price. read more

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I haven't had an izakaya experience this good in some time. Absolutely phenomenal and the sashimi special and lobster specials were some of the best I've had too. Service was top tier as well and they always checked on us. Coming back here again 100% read more

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Food was just ok.......with their price tag, their food could be better.... It was an invite with family and was expecting some higher quality fish read more

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Stopped here for dinner on a Thursday. It wasn't busy, but the parking lot is very small and was pretty full. Ordered the corn and tofu appetizer and both were really yummy! For skewers- the chicken meatball was the best, would definitely order again! Also got the shishito peppers, beef tongue, and momo (chicken thigh) . All were good but not super impressive. Also got the oyakodon & it was also very yummy, would order again. Having the rice made us feel more full and it ended up being the perfect amount of food. Overall, a bit expensive but definitely worth trying for a nicer yakitori and skewer restaurant. read more

Drunken Monk - Tofu - Izakaya Near Me - Menlo Park, California

WORTH THE DRIVE: My favorite all-around Japanese spot in the entire Bay Area! I've been dining at Drunken Monk since about a month after they opened, and I'm finally writing the review they deserve. I am the "will drive for good food" type, and this has quickly become my ultimate destination. It is a rare miracle in the restaurant world, but despite being a newer spot, they have been 100% consistent since day one--I have yet to be disappointed! Usually, you are lucky to find a restaurant that masters just one specialty, but here, everything is top-tier. Their yakitori, appetizers, sushi, donburis, and sukiyaki nabe are all incredible. The sushi chef never ceases to amaze me with his latest creations based on whatever fresh ingredients he has on hand. Check out the photos of my "must-orders". A note for true foodies: the chefs take great care to highlight the natural taste of the ingredients. They use seasonings and condiments to complement and highlight the food, never to overpower it. If you prefer super salty or heavy-sauced dishes, this might not be your speed--this is for those who appreciate pure, high-quality flavor. The vibe is casual, cute, and cozy; it's a place where you can really be yourself. It's perfect for a relaxed date night or a fun gathering with close friends. Pro Tip: It gets very crowded! Be prepared for a wait if you don't have a reservation. I rave about this place so much that all my friends now line up to dine here with me. It's worth every mile of the drive! read more

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Okay. This place is pretty expensive. It's like over $200 for 2 people. There are cheaper (and I may argue better) Izakayas in the bay. e.g. Yakitori Kokko The food at Drunken Monk is decent (pork checks were good), but things take a while to come out. Sit around the enjoy the nice ambiance you paid for. I would pass. But, I guess if you wanna splurge to impress a date, go for it. read more

We ate here for our anniversary. The food was good but we ended up paying over $250 for 2 people including tip, which is a bit steep for what it is imo. Even factoring Bay Area inflation. First of all like everyone said, this parking lot is bad. It's the old Gombei space. It's extremely small and pretty much one way in and out. Try to park on the street if you can. Corn kakiage: 10/10 would get again lol. Fried corn tempura I guess it's fairly simple but so yummy. $12 for 4 large pieces 6 piece nigiri sushi ($56): fine, nothing super amazing and we did select the specials of the day which included scallop, and a kind of yellow tail Kampachi kama (collar): also good but $36 for a smallish piece. Skewers: momo (chicken thigh $8), kashira (pork cheek $8) and beef tongue ($14). Pricing is PER skewer and we got two skewers each aside from the beef tongue so it added up fast. They were yummy though but I think we could've just gotten one and split it. Mapo tofu omlette rice ($25): got it for the "novelty" of the omelette part. I can make mapo tofu at home. It was good and filling due to the rice, but the ratio of rice to sauce was off. too much rice. The service was fine but I feel like our waitress was trying to upsell us like upgrading our nigiri to the items "from Japan" and said it was only a few dollars more (ended up being $8 more total). It was fine because these pieces were probably better and more unique but the vibe I got was salesy. Overall, good to fill the void of Izakayas in the area, and next time we'd cut back on skewer orders. read more

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Was able to walk in at 9p without a reservation on a Friday night! Love the vibe here. Spacious, warm tones, nice soft lighting at the tables and comfortable seats. Food was delicious and wanna come back to try their sushi and nabe. read more

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I've been wanting to go to this place for a while and it's my day off so here I am. I came for dinner time and I started off with their Matcha Yuzu Amazake w/marshmellow drink. It had a nice decadent sweetness to it and I found the marshmallow topping pretty intriguing. For food I ordered the corn kakiage starter, the mini uni don, and their 10 piece omakase special. Everything tasted amazing! The highlights of this meal for me were the corn kakiage, the chutoro and otoro nigiri, and mini uni don. The corn kakiage was very crispy and well seasoned. The chutoro and otoro had a nice texture to it. The mini uni don was so creamy and I really liked that they had Hokkaido uni. The staff here is very kind and knowledgeable of their menu. They also frequently checked in and refilled my water. The restaurant is very elegant and stunning. The parking situation here though can be a little bit challenging. I recommend coming early because this place gets packed pretty fast. I definitely recommend checking this spot out. Try it out if you like. :) read more

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