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    Kozu Izakaya

    4.3 (83 reviews)
    ModerateIzakaya
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kozu Izakaya Photos

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    KOZU IZAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Kozu Izakaya

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    Tammy T.

    Absolutely LOVED my dining experience at Kozu Izakaya! I recently joined a wine club at a nearby bar in Claremont and went on a quest to discover surrounding places to eat. Kozu Izakaya was one of the places that I bookmarked and went on a weeknight to try out. The restaurant was small but intimate. I was lucky enough to get a spot at the bar where I had front row view of where all the action took place. I ordered different items and my favorite was the Chicken Skin! Prices are very reasonable and the service was excellent! Definitely will be coming back. Highly recommended!

    Whitney W.

    Cute yakitori restaurant nearby. Service is good, long wait time. Their skewers are very average. I've just had much better ones but they are all so far away. I can't really recall a favorite dish from the night, maybe next time I'll try more of their dishes than yakitori. Fried eel is better than their skewers. Very good ambiance, I do feel like it's a great place for friends to hangout.

    Maria J.

    Its a really cute restaurant. Its kinda pricey for the skewers. Each item is anywhere between $4-8 per stick of meat or veggie. We also ordered the hamburger steak and it was ok. It came with carrots, brocolli, beans and rice. Servers were friendly and kept our waters filled. Its in a really nice complex that you can walk around.

    Eel
    Mirrella B.

    Two of my friends took me here to celebrate my birthday. One of my friend's recommended this place and said we just had to try it. We were greeted and seated after we arrived. They have a bar seating area, tables, and another seating area. They provided menus and then came back to take down the food order. We ordered several things. Some of my favorites were: negima with green onion, chicken breast, prime beef skirt, eel, shishito, asparagus, eggplant, shitake mushroom, oyster mushrooms, and spicy salmon oinigiri. Everything we had was tasty and flavorful. They also have some salts on the table to sprinkle on the yakitori. Overall, I would definitely come back to get a yakitori fix!

    Elizabeth S.

    They do get busy, but I was able to get in since I came right at opening time. I got a bar seating since the seating area is small. I got their omurice ($15.50) along with skewers of grilled oyster mushrooms ($3.50), tongue ($4.95), chicken hearts ($3.50), chicken livers ($3.25), and negima with green onions. The meat were seasoned nicely and not overcooked. Their omurice is good, the ketchup based fried rice had a good amount of vegetables. They had little jars of pickled mustard greens, matcha sea salt, and wasabi salt. No reservations or online ordering. The staff is nice and the place is clean.

    Vintage Japanese movie and animation posters decor
    Lucia S.

    Visited Kozu Izakaya on Valentine's Day -- they don't take reservations, so expect a wait, but it was worth it. The place is small and cozy, and you can really tell they focus on fresh ingredients. The skewers are grilled over hard stick charcoal, which gives everything a nice smoky flavor. The grilled eggplant was a pleasant surprise -- super creamy and flavorful. The grilled shrimp were cooked perfectly, and the quail eggs were surprisingly big. The marinated cucumber portion was huge, and the sauce was interesting and refreshing. We ordered a highball, but honestly it tasted more like juice than whiskey. Service was polite, though I wish the servers would mention the dish name when placing plates down. Besides skewers, they also offer items like omurice, soup rice, and other dishes, so there's a good variety. Bonus points for a clean restroom -- though there's only one. Overall, a nice casual spot with solid food, just come prepared to wait.

    Lisa C.

    My boyfriend and I came back from a trip to Japan recently and I was craving Japanese food. Upon yelping "Japanese food" on a Wednesday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see this restaurant pop up. The skewer concept reminded me of the street markets in Japan. Parking- We found street parking easily on a Wednesday. There are also some lots nearby. Wait time- thankfully, there was no wait. We were seated almost immediately. This restaurant is very much a small Japanese tavern style with a few tables of 2-4 seats- definitely not recommended for large groups. They don't take reservations, walk in only. Ambiance- I absolutely loved the decor! It was such a vibe. Food- We shared a chicken zosui and tried a wide variety of yakitori (skewers)- wing, heart, gizzard, tail, negima, flap, tongue, Wagyu beef, belly, bacon enoki, and quail eggs. I was disappointed that they ran out of tsukune two hours into opening, so if you are wanting to try the meatball on a skewer, I'd recommend you going early otherwise you'll be disappointed like me. My boyfriend and I both agreed that the chicken zosui was delicious. It was a very comforting dish. The skewers were ok. Nothing "out of this world". We also prefer the chicken skewers over the beef. Each skewer was about $3-4, with the exception of the beef, priced at $12.50. Our bill came out to a little over $100 before tip. Service- The service was very, very poor. There was one male and one female taking orders and clearing tables. I suggest the manager give their employees a lesson on customer service. Especially at a restaurant establishment where if one intends to spend money to eat out as a luxury, we should be greeted and treated with kindness and respect. Upon being seated, our server asked us if we wanted to order any drinks, we kindly declined and was given some sort of attitude. We seriously were just wanting to try the skewers. Another encounter- our server refilled our water and left a huge strand of visible hair on our table. I was too grossed out to take a picture. And we know she had seen it when she removed our dishes, but she didn't apologize for it, just dismissed it. No accountability. Another encounter- we were missing items from our order. When we informed the same server, she told us the estimated wait time was 2 minutes. We waited over 10-15 minutes for our chicken wings to come out. The table next to us got an apology for having to wait, and was compensated for having to wait. Meanwhile, we were just chopped liver. No apology, no accountability (again) for forgetting to place or check in on our order. Lastly, the restaurant had died down by the time we were wrapping up. We had to flag staff to bring our bill. At first the male server said he'd be back after attending to something else, but after seeing us visibly annoyed, he came back with our bill first. We sat by the restroom, near the area where food is being brought out. So there was no excuse to the lack of attentiveness. The whole experience was just bad. I don't think we will be coming back. Spending over $100 on a meal to leave feeling disappointed was not great. Would not give my money to this establishment again. PS- I noticed people complimenting on their onigiris. I was reading the reviews and it appears the establishment opened maybe 2 months ago, and already raised their prices from $5 to $6 for two onigiri.

    Tsukune - We thought it was undercooked, restaurant says it wasn't.
    Shelley Y.

    I give this a 4 start with potential to be 5 stars. The space is small and they don't accept reservations so you could end up waiting a while especially if you have a larger group. Service was fine. I think they could be faster bringing out beer, but the regular plates came out fast and the yakitori came out in the expected amount of time. I like that they have the shichimi, different salts, and I think it was karashi takana, but I wish they also had a used skewer cup and more slips of paper to order yakitori (you have to ask for more). Of the yakitori we tried cartilage, gizzard, negima, tsukune, beef tongue, pork belly, pork cheek, shrimp, okra, oyster mushroom, shiitake, shishito, bacon enoki, and quail egg. For the other plates we had mentaiko mochi, nagaimo, and anago tempura. No complaints with the plates! They were all delicious. The pork and shrimp yakitori were overcooked. The tsukune (chicken meatball) was undercooked or at least borderline twice. The outside of the tsukune was firm but the inside was mushy. They said it's double cooked (boiled then grilled) but we didn't feel like it was safe to eat. They smelled delicious though. Overall it was good! Just a few tweaks and it would be a 5 stars. It's wonderful that there's finally an izakaya places in the area and I can't wait to go again!

    April L.

    Not bad for Claremont. Decent price. Meats are bit dry but not bad. We liked the vibe a lot and the service was nice. Not sure we be back though

    Dulce M.

    I've been wanting to go to an Izakaya for the longest time but most of them are in the OC or LA area. I was really excited when this popped up my Yelp feed so we decided to give a try. We essentially got one of everything meat wise and a clam soup and a miso soup. The clam soup was a little salty but i liked it more than the miso soup. There is a bit of a wait obviously they're still freshly open and it looks like evening is made fresh. I would definitely say don't come here if you're starving but more if you're trying to hang out with friends and eat. It's small so i can see there being a long wait once more people start finding out about the location. I fr my first yuzu highball here, and honestly it was great. I'm not much of a drinker but i really enjoyed it! The reason I'm taking off one star is just because a lot of the skewers still felt a bit undercooked, for the wait i just was expecting hot skewers not semi warmed. I enjoyed the beef and the pork skewers the most. I would say i wish the chicken skin one had been more crispy. I will say the cucumbers were super disappointing :( just tasted like they cut up a cucumber and put it on a plate lol The service was great, they constantly refilled our waters and check in on us. I would definitely come again once they're more in tune with the service and staffed up.

    Bianca M.

    We got so much food here but it was all so tasty. Service was good, not worth noting much. The inside of the restaurant is tiny but very cute, seats not that many people but ambiance is nice. Second time trying Izakaya. Everything was great! We got the miso cod as a main to share and it was so incredibly flaky and very good. All the skewers were great including the okra, kobe, chicken and green onion. My boyfriend also loved his Omurice which is not pictured here. We got a lot so our total was $100+ but definitely could've been on the cheaper end if we didn't order the whole entire menu. Will be back :)

    Jeanelle J.

    What a great new find of a gem in Claremont! Found this place on Yelp and never knew it existed. We eat in Claremont about once a week. Ambiance is on the smaller side but with a ton of Tokyo charm. It feels like you are in a traditional Izakaya in Japan. Location is a bit hidden as it's inside next to Le pain. Service is great. From the welcome to service at dinner they were all kind and attentive. Don't come here looking for sushi. They serve all the great traditional Izakaya dishes, small plates, and yakitori. Food was 10 out of 10. We usually go to an Izakaya in Little Tokyo but honestly like the food better here. We ordered yakitoru (pork belly, okra, scallop, chicken wing), hamburg steak, gyoza and the yuzu highball cocktail (so refreshing). No complaints here. The condiments at the table are on point too! The spicy Japanese pickles were great with steamed rice. Can't wait to be back! Let's support this newly open gem in downtown Claremont.

    Mochi bake
    Carmen T.

    Kozu Izakaya is such a gem in Claremont. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, inviting, and thoughtfully curated--exactly what you want in an izakaya. The food is consistently delicious, well-balanced, and clearly made with care and quality ingredients. Every dish feels intentional, not rushed, and perfect for sharing. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive without being overbearing, which really elevates the entire experience. You can tell they take pride in what they do, from the service to the presentation. It's the kind of place you want to come back to again and again, whether for a casual night out or a special meal. If you're looking for authentic, comforting Japanese food with great vibes and excellent service, Kozu Izakaya is absolutely worth a visit. Highly recommend!

    Kozu entrance from outside

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    6 days ago

    Cozy, pub style with perfect small dishes, clam miso soup, awesome fried Shrimp and they do have Okinawan Orion beer !!!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Kozu Izakaya

    How many people can you fit on the big table that is in area next to window to the outside to the kitchen window?

    I think 6 (8 if you want to squeeze)?

    Do they take reservations?

    No, reservations. You walk in and put your name down

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    I just moved to the area and wanted to check this place out. What a great decision that was! This…read moreplace is legit! The menu is huge and prices are very affordable. They give you the option to sit at a booth or sit on the ground like they do in Japan. I'll definitely be coming back. Mistibi!

    // Food: Tonkatsu / Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice / Beef Udon / Skewers…read more Stopped by for happy hour on a Friday night, and left with a belly full of good food. I came with a large-ish sized group so I was able to try a little bit of everything, and honestly it was all pretty good. If I were to come back I would definitely order the Beef Udon again as well as some of the meat skewers including the meatball and the steak with ponzu. // Restaurant: Our servers were attentive and quick with refills. They did miss one of the menu items that we ordered, but they quickly got the order in and the food came out nice and hot. Inside they have traditional Japanese seating (shorter tables, you sit on the ground) as well as tables that can accommodate large and small groups alike. // Notes: Prices are about what you would pay at other izakaya's. From the outside it definitely does not look like much, and the area is kind of sketch but it is def worth a visit!

    Photos
    Tell me that this isn't a thing of beauty.  I dare you.
    Tell me that this isn't a thing of beauty. I dare you.
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    Sake ikura bowl
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    Visited Izakaya Tonchinkan on a Saturday night, around 8:45 pm after a long day spent at the nearby…read moreSanta Anita Horse Track. Restaurant is located in a small strip mall, with a fair amount of parking. There isn't a flashy restaurant sign in front of the building, and once you step in, it truly feels like you are in a small, homey Izikaya in Japan. The restaurant only has a few booths, a few tables and bar seating inside, so reservations are highly recommended on a busy Saturday night. My boyfriend and I got lucky that they were able to accommodate us within 10 minutes, because there was seating available at the bar. There is a physical Drink menu (sake, beer, etc.) and the food menu can be viewed by scanning a QR code with your phone. The waitress made suggestions about which dishes she personally liked & we ordered whatever she suggested, along with some of the things we thought looked good. *7/10 Toro w/ seaweed *8/10 Moriwase (chef's selection of sashimi) 2 each of 5 different sashimi. There was one cut I did not particularly care for. *7/10 chicken wings *10/10 Beef tongue-- Tender, but firm. Delicious, a must try! *10/10 Ankimo-- creamy and paired well with the ponzu and fresh seaweed *10/10 Fried Seabass-- they served the entire fish, which is rare. *10/10 Sous-vide Duck breast-- must try! *10/10 Nikomi stew--simple, but delicious! *10/10 Matcha Oolong Panna Cotta-- subtly sweet with a smooth texture. It was so good, that we ordered two! The only reason that I only gave it a four out of five stars is because the service was slow. All of our dishes, came out in time, but no drink refills were given and the server never came back to collect our check for payment. So we had to walk it up to them ourselves. For a small space, with three servers, it shouldn't be hard to attend to all the customers. The menu can be pricey, but food is delicious! Along with exceptional service, eating here is worth it.

    It's like walking into a Tokyo Izakaya…read more----------------------------------- This place is all about quality over quantity. The atmosphere was cozy, and there seemed to be Japanese guests (always a plus). The food was really enjoyable. We enjoyed our experience here and would definitely come back next time!

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    Came a little before opening time on a weekday and there was already a line forming outside. Small…read moreparking lot to the sides of the building. Cozy izakaya with limited seating and good food! Food comes out super fast and service is nice. Favorite bites were: - Yellowtail sashimi: wasn't on the menu but it's very nice. Literally melted in my mouth. - White truffle corn: I love anything corn and really liked the tempura take! Subtle truffle aroma on the batter is very nice. - Soft shell crab: very crispy and soft! - Pork ear with chives: a cold dish with a miso paste marinade. Reminds me of a Korean fermented soybean dish. - Habuya soba: thicker noodles than ramen, deep porky broth. The pork in this is really well braised. Beer is served in cold glasses! Great food, definitely will be back.

    Recently discovered this place and OMG, how did I not know until now?! This place is literally like…read more10mins from me. lol We came here for dinner on a weekday and there was a wait. Maybe 30mins or so. I understood the reason why after we got seated, it's because the place is tiny!! The food here is pretty legit. I can't recall a single bad dish, I think everything either was from "ok" to "delicious". We had: Fried squid legs clam chowder croquette pork soba fried soft shell Crab scallop carpacio Salmon carpacio And some purple yams dish... Everything was good. I'd definitely come back, but probably not go on a weekend cause I suspect the line will be ridiculous.

    Photos
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    Chicken wings
    Chicken wings
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