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    Drunken Monk

    4.2 (297 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Drunken Monk Photos

    DRUNKEN MONK ATMOSPHERE

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    Corn kakiage
    Julian L.

    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.

    Cindy L.

    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

    Connie W.

    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.

    Valerie C.

    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.

    chicken meatball skewer
    Maggie C.

    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

    Jessica V.

    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.

    Sukiyaki nabe
    Christine B.

    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.

    Izakaya - Okra & Wagyu
    Saleen L.

    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.

    tsukune - chicken meatball w/ marinated egg yolk
    Geanna T.

    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.

    Jessica N.

    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

    Chicken Meatball
    William S.

    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.

    Ochazuke $23
    Uni C.

    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.

    Scallop Skewer
    Tammy N.

    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.

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    Drunken Monk Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Drunken Monk

    Where can I make the reservation?

    You can make reservations by visiting our website, Tock, Google, or by calling or texting us directly.

    Can they accommodate big groups (over 20 ppl)?

    We can accommodate groups of over 20 people. We'll need some details about the event or occasion, such as date, time, and any specific requirements, to ensure we can provide the best service for your group.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    This place is amazing! It was worth the 30min wait. It's a small cozy Lille restaurant. Please make…read moresure you make a reservation!! We made the mistake of not making one and were glad they took us in. We ordered... Appetizers Chicken karaag- crispy, juicy. Shiitake tempura- lightly battered and dipping was sauce was Chien fritter- skip or ask do no sauce if you can't handle wasabi Quattro mushroom tempura- a must get!!! Entree Katsu Don - the pork was tender and the egg was so delicious. Wagyu Curry Rice with Tonkatsu- we thought the pork in the katsu Don was tender, the pork here was even more tender!!! Wagyu Steak with Garlic Rice- this dish was why caught my eye on IG. It's very flavorful but definitely really oily. All these dishes reminded my of Gonzalo Barin Tonkatsu in Hawaii and the Wagyu Steak Garlic Rice reminded me of Japan street food at the night market

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    Gochi - Mountain View

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    Drunken Monk - izakaya - Updated June 2026

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