It's about time I wrote a review for this place! This is such a hidden gem in SF that transports me back to Japan. I also didn't realize they recently split into a sake bar! | v i b e | Lowkey hole in the wall vibes. Service is always great! | f o o d | Ok so heads up each kushiyaki order comes with 2 pieces! I forgot about this and accidentally overordered LOL. My faves are the: - Momo (chicken thigh): so juicy and perfect amount of char - Buta buta (pork belly): crispy + smoky!! | t l ; d r | This is the perfect date spot or even just for dinner + drinks! read more

Japanese style izakaya in the Richmond district. Storefront is inconspicuous so you may walk by without noticing it. Inside it's a cute and intimate restaurant with a long bar and a few tables. I've been coming to this place over the years and looks like they recently expanded by taking over the next door. Now you can enter to an expanded area through a wall that didn't exist previously to another two bar areas. This place is probably best for date nights and couples rather than large parties. Good variety of izakaya choices including chicken thighs, chicken parts, pork belly, scallops, and some beef options. I found the izakaya solid but not outstanding. The skewers are a little too saucy for my taste which I prefer more the traditional simple salt which you find in Japan. Also, I wish they had more charcoal flavor to the izakayas. On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken skin gyoza which uses chicken skin as wrappers. It's an interesting twist to your traditional gyozas. The fried oysters were good, juicy, and crunchy. They also have a very good selection of sakes and drinks. read more

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Would always come back. Great tapa style food. Speciality is the skewers. Personally loooove the crispy rice spicy tuna, and the garlic noodles! Service is always kind and fast for the quality of the food. Moody place with fun Japanese decoration. Perfect to chat, eat and drink sake! read more

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For those who know, Clement Street is lined with a ton of places to explore and eat. For those who don't, check out this link below: https://www.clementstreetsf.com I know that Moku isn't technically on Clement but is close enough that you can take a casual stroll after or search for coffee or a nice panna cotta. Okay back to the restaurant itself. Two words : hella cozy. We were jammed in this tiny corner next to another table of three. So much so, that we may should've just considered combining our space. And that would've been totally fine. Why? Because the food is super worth it, and the vibe is friendly and welcoming. Moku is totally cool and whatever the kitchen is grilling will have your mouth watering. Grilled chicken thighs - yup. order two. pork belly - that glaze. yum. bacon wrapped mushrooms - of course it's gonna be good. it's bacon wrapped for goodness sake. croquette - deep fried mash potatoes? yes, please. chicken karaage - much like the croquette but chicken instead. I regret not ordering the chicken meatballs. Although, it does give me another reason to return. Great spot. Good fun. You will mostly likely devour whatever you order at lightening speed. And don't sleep on their beer and sake selection. Lastly, tip your servers well. They're ninja-like service will make it seem like the food and drink are magically appearing while the empty plates and glasses are simultaneously disappearing. read more

Arrived on valentines weekend without a reservation. Initially thought the door was locked with a full house of customers inside and almost walked away but looks like you need to shove the door open. Ambiance was so cute very intimate but not much conversational privacy. Ordered the chicken, wagyu steak, beef tongue, okra, eel, scallop, and pork belly skewers. Also had the yuzu cheesecake. All skewers were juicy and delicious 10/10 every item was a hit. Wagyu was soft and not too welldone, scallop was flavorful and soft, chicken was so juicy, tender, and had strong flavor. Yuzu cheesecake - small light fluffy with a light caramel like sauce - emptied the plate 10/10 Would definitely come again. read more

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Such a wonderful hidden gem. The space is small and cozy, with bar seating that lets you watch the chef grill each skewer to perfection. Every bite -- from the smoky yakitori to the fresh sushi -- was beautifully prepared. The chef's attention to detail really shows, and the flavors are balanced and authentic. Service was just as impressive -- only one waitress running the entire floor, yet she stayed calm, friendly, and efficient all night. Together, they make the place feel personal and warm -- a perfect spot for a relaxed meal or quiet night out. Thank you Richard, Angel and Liz! read more

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What a hidden gem. If you're missing Japan and want to pretend like you're there, this is the place to be. Moku serves up yakitori and wonderful sakes to quench your thirst. While the restaurant can get quite busy, they just opened the adjacent sushi/sake bar next door so you can wait there. Service was also attentive and friendly, Must get dishes: Wagyu steak Negima (green onion chicken) Pork jowl Buta bara (pork belly) Saba (grilled mackerel) Beef tongue read more

We found this from Yelp and came for dinner for party of 3 without reservation. Love the animated decorations. Food and service were great, so glad waitress recommended ordering one and a half order on the popular dishes ( chicken thighs, steak and beef tongue) which turned out to be our favorites! read more

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Excellent service, delicious food, great company. What else do you need? 10/10 is my rating and i'd come back again! The environment is super chill and it's very cozy sitting at the bar! read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - Chef Rich on the clock - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food Rating: 8/10 Price: 8/10 Ambiance/Service: 10/10 Overall Rating: 8.5/10 It is a super cozy spot with standout service and a welcoming, intimate vibe. It was especially heartwarming to see regulars chatting with the staff over drinks. The restaurant is also accommodating with their skewer orders since they normally are served as a pair, but they'll adjust portions and pricing if you have an odd-numbered party. Negima (Thigh w/ green onion) - $5.50/skewer Rating (10/10) Very juicy and flavorful Bacon Enoki - $5.50/skewer Rating (10/10) I really enjoyed this skewer. Great flavor and cooked perfectly. Harami (Wagyu Koji Steak) - $8/skewer Rating (10/10) Super tender, juicy, and well charred! Zucchini - $3.50/skewer Rating (6/10) Nothing too special and the top pieces came out a little too charred. Eringil (King oyster mushroom) - $3.50/skewer Rating (8/10) The mushrooms were so juicy but needed a bit more salt to pop the flavor. Kiri Mochi - $6 Rating (10/10) I loved this dish. It was light and well fried. Yaki Onigiri - $7 Rating (5/10) It was a strange charred rice ball. Potato Croquette - $11 Rating (7/10) Good but would have liked it to be a bit more creamy. Yaki Ramen Stir Fried - $15 Rating (7.5/10) Tasted good but was nothing too special. read more

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Got the harami -koji wagyu steak, eringii-king oyster mushroom, okra, spicy tuna crispy rice, sake tataki-salmon, and butterfish ceviche! Everything was so delicious, perfectly flavored, and so fresh. The butterfish ceviche was so unique and so good - never had that combo of flavors before. The spicy tuna crispy rice was so satisfying, and the Wagyu steak was a perfect mix of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Service was great and friendly, and the ambiance was a fun divey experience. read more

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Teriffic yakitori skewer joint, good drinks, good food, most importantly good people Ordered a ton of skewers: tsukune, enoki beef, chicken gizzards, clam, okra, beef tongue... As well as a bunch of tapas (small dishes) hamachi collar, grilled rice ball, agedashi tofu, croquette, to name a few Eveything came pretty quick though it was all freshly grilled or fried in front of us. Service was lovely and attentive, definitely feel the izakaya feels here Definitely recommend and will come back read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Such a cute authentic find in the middle of inner richmond. A place with Good vibes with delicious and yet simple food. It is a pretty small spot so if you want to ensure a seat then come early... You won't be disappointed. The service is fast and friendly. My go to izakaya in the city! read more

Came across Moku when looking for a little afternoon snack. The food was so good the snack accidentally turned into a whole meal! The restaurant is very cozy and focuses on bar seating where you can see your food being cooked in front of you and some other small tables. Ordered the following: - momo chicken thigh - negima chicken thing with green onion - chicken karaage - buta bara pork belly - smoked salmon - spicy crab Everything had a yummy charcoal taste and was super flavorful and cooked to perfection. Definitely coming back for another afternoon treat read more

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We walked in randomly and it has a small bar with a few tables. Its a relatively small space I think. I didn't go beyond the bar. That sounds like a real alcoholic. Anyways - it was overall a great time and great food! I honestly don't know much yakitori spots - so take that into context for my review. We ordered the harami, bacon enoki, negima, agedashi tofu, kiri mochi, sishito pepper, and with Lichigo Mugi. Everything honestly was delicious! I think most of the minus one star is that you're paying for each dish at $14 minimum. Idk if that's just me behind the times but gyaaadamn $7 per stick. I get for the wagyu - and I get it generally, meat is expensive nowadays. So going back to idk much yakitori - maybe y'all wana do your research based on fiscal and logistical (location) impacts. I'd go here again but I feel like if I'm getting grilled meat at $14, I might as well go Kogi Gogi and pig out at $50 for all you can eat Korean BBQ. The lichigo mugi was very smooth. I am not sure of the alcohol contents but after one drink - I could feel it. Idk if that's cuz my stomach was empty or... what. But $14 for a glass of sochu was alriiiight. Idk I'm really frugal so like... I get it... I get it... times are changin' tho so might as well get used to it. But then again that's the attitude the system wants us to have in order to instill that complacency which is ironic to the whole cultural melting pot of the Bay Area being the leader in cultural revolution. This is what happens when I get an email flagging that my reviews are Ai when in fact I work on them and proof them when I'm on the crapper. ANYWAYS --- The people and service was absolutely great and attentive. I recommend at least coming here once. I think this would be a great group setting! read more

This yakitori hole in the wall is such a cozy neighborhood gem! We came on a rainy Friday around 6 pm and were seated immediately. We liked sitting at the bar to watch the chef cook all the skewers, and the stickers, surfboard decor, and music created a chill "underground" ambiance. Everything was perfectly cooked and well-seasoned, and the smoky flavor from the charcoal grill was nice and aromatic but not overpowering. The meats were so tender with my favorites being the Hokkaido scallop and chicken gizzard. The beef tongue, squid, chicken thigh with green onion, and smoked salmon belly (it was cool to get this cut) were great too! From the non-skewered part of the menu, we loved the fluffy and chewy kira mochi and crispy maitake tempura. We sprinkled some matcha salt, pepper, and Togarashi spice for additional seasoning. Our server was so kind and gave us a fun complimentary skewer of candies for dessert. I can't wait to come back and try the pork belly, octopus, and more! read more

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What an experience! I came with a group of 4 and we opted for seats at the bar/counter instead of waiting for a table. My partner and I ordered together so we could try one skewer of everything we ordered and we shared appetizers with the group. We loved the harami-koji and the hamachi yakitori and the yaki ramen and karage were our favorite appetizers. Sitting at the bar isn't optimal for conversation across the group but it was fun to have a front row seat to our food being prepared. It's a small space and service wasn't the fastest but we all enjoyed the experience. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - menu - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ordered the chicken thigh, beef tongue, and unagi. Thigh was nice and juicy, tongue had good flavor but was mostly fat. Unagi was good but too sweet for my liking. Server was very attentive and friendly. read more

Came back recently and it's still delicious. They are back to the yakitori menu instead of the set menu. Always get the kiri mochi!! Kiri mochi Tori kaarage Dengaku Butabara King oyster mushroom Negi ma Momo chicken thigh Small cozy intimate seating. They expanded next door and will be opening up a sake bar. Mentioned they'll be open later too so a good late night eats option. Exciting. read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - Eggplant - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loud music for a bar environment made customers feel comfortable. Tsukemono - pickled veggies was simple baby carrots and cucumber, nothing special. $12 Buta bara - pork belly was simple. From the special drink menu, they modified for me a non alcoholic yuzu drink, which was good. The menu was limited mainly for yakitori. I would have liked more menu options. read more

Literally the best hole in the wall spot you'll ever experience. My partner and I have been going to Moku Yakitori-Ya for over 3 years and their food, sake, hospitable service, and overall ambiance just gets better and better overtime. RUN, DON'T WALK......and get the stir fried ramen and hrami. You won't regret either, just trust. read more

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Cute and cozy yakitori place that mainly consists of a long bar and two tables that seat 6 each in the back. My friend and I ended up sharing a table with another party since we were 2 and 3 people. The food was good overall and very filling with just a few skewers, although some items seemed a bit too burnt. I did find that I kept wanting water, needing to flag down the waitress a few times to ask for more. I would just end up drinking the small cup of water in just one big gulp, so I wished they could offer a bottle to just refill on our own. read more

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Came to Moku Yakitori-Ya at 7pm to celebrate a friend's birthday on a Thursday, and we were lucky to snag the last table at the very back of the restaurant. We've passed by many times in the past and have always wanted to come try it out because it always smells AMAZING just walking by the outside. It's really dimly lit inside and has a great neighborhood hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, and the walls and densely decorated with posters and art. The waiter was super friendly and you could tell that there were a lot of regulars that come often by the way he would recommend them new specials or ask about something they had mentioned before. He checked in often and service overall was great! We definitely wanted to try everything on the menu and started off with some beers; the lucky cat yuzu ipa, and a calpico rice lager that was on the specials menu. Each was $11, and both were delicious - I'd love to know where I could buy more of the calpico beer. Bincho Tataki ($19): smokey, a little fatty and melt in your mouth fish garnished with the perfect mix of chili crisp, green onion and white onion. Momo Chicken ($10), Buta Bara ($8), Hokkaido Scallop ($11), Sunagimo Gizzard ($9): all of these skewers were amazing in their own way, and seasoned to perfection. My favorite is definitely the hokkaido scallop, which was just so tender, sweet and flavorful. There's some seasonings at the table you can use to dip the skewers in too if you'd like, though they were all already so flavorful from the smoke and spices that it came with. Tako Wasabi ($9): we were curious; this is raw octopus cut up in to pretty small pieces that had an interesting mix of somewhat slimey exterior with chewy and chrunchy interior. The wasabi taste wasn't super strong or spicey, and the sweetness of the octopus really shines. Everything we had here was delicious, and I'd love to come back to celebrate another occasion! Definitely on the pricier end, but the atmosphere, service and food make it all worth it. Highly recommend checking it out! read more

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This place is rad. When you walk in, you've entered another realm. One that is cool and serves up good food. It felt like I was in Japan. Will be back again for sure read more

This place is quite amazing. From the outside, it doesn't look like much. However, intriguing enough for a visit. What was inside was extremely surprising! The vibes were spectacular and the food even better. It really reminded me of being back in Japan. Check this place out for a cool date night or bring friends! read more

Proprietors Richard and Emily bring heart and class and brilliance to this gem in the Inner Richmond. Richard's decades of experience in Japanese kitchens throughout California shine through in grilled meats and veggies that make me reminiscent of the best alleys in Tokyo's Ueno and Ginza neighborhoods. Emily showers a generous warmth of service on locals and visitors alike. When the new adjacent sake bar opens, we'll all be lucky to find a seat here! Having this kind of true joint in my neighborhood is literally why I live in the city. read more

this place is a GEM - everything we had was deliciously cooked, the matcha salt was the cherry on top, it is very cute and intimate with a friendly neighborhood vibe. staff is really sweet and helpful. i am vegetarian and had plenty of options for yakitori skewers - zucchini, mushroom, and okra. the grilled eggplant tapas dish was also deliiiicious with a sweet and savory sauce the potato croquettes were FIIIIIIREEEEE best i've ever had. perfectly fried, with really well seasoned potatoes that went really well with the matcha salt and dipping sauce my partner loved all his meat skewers as well. you probably can't go wrong with any order really recommend for a date night! read more

Takowasa was the star of the night! If you haven't tried this dish before, it's raw wasabi-marinated octopus. Texture is slimy, crunchy, and so addictive. Sashimi plate was a bit too overly fishy-tasting for my liking; meat skewers were room-temp by the time they arrived at the table; chicken karaage utilized cartilage pieces, which also wasn't my personal preference for this dish. Servers were a bit swamped as the restaurant was packed and there was a lot going on, but were friendly nonetheless. All-in-all, solid offering! read more

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Amazing food and service run by a great couple. We were able to enjoy some amazing tasty skewers while sitting at the bar, and was even able to chat up Emily while we were there. They had recently gotten back from a sake market, so we were able to taste some amazing sakes, pretty high-quality. The ambience is cozy like a yakitori place in Japan, and plenty of vibes to match. read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Inconspicuous hole in the wall yakitori joint run by locals for locals. On any given night you'll deal with a steady group of neighborhood regulars and food tourists alike with the crowd getting larger around happy hour. Sit on the grill counter side if you want to chat it up with the chefs or watch the magic happen on the grill. Love that smoky flavor and I don't have to deal with that whole mess around cooking it myself? Yes, please and thank you. read more

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I finally made it out to Moku Yakitori-ya, and I've got to say it is a hidden gem. It's a small spot, but it's packed with charm. The pop art décor adds a quirky, personal touch that makes you feel right at home. The vibe is relaxed, and the service? Spectacular. The only thing that threw me off a little was the menu being only on the wall and the price that can easily stack... This place also took over my old favorite Halu restaurant, but seems to keep the vibe and atmosphere intact. Now, let's get into the food. First up was the Yaki Ramen - stir-fried ramen topped with roe. This dish was simple but packed with flavor. The noodles were perfectly cooked with just the right amount of chewiness, and the roe on top added that extra pop. It's a different take on ramen, and I was here for it. At first glance it seemed something that I could make at home, but one bite changed my mind quickly. The portion is a bit small for the price. Also, I couldn't really tell it was stir fried to be honest. Regardless delicious food is delicious food! Next, we ordered a few skewers, and they did not disappoint. The Chicken Thigh was juicy and tender, with a slight char that gave it that perfect grilled flavor. Then came the Buta Bara Pork Belly. This was delicious. The pork belly had a good balance of fat and meat, and each bite was a tad chewy but yummy. The Harami Koji Wagyu Skirt Steak was the favorite of the table. This was extremely tasty. The wagyu was rich, tender, and full of flavor. You could tell the quality of the meat was top-notch, and the koji marinade gave it that extra depth. This skewer alone is worth a trip back I would think. We did order some other tapas not pictured including Agedashi Tofu($10?!?) and Potato Croquettes ($13?!?!). They were quite pricey and probably something I would skip on in the future. I'm used to croquettes being around $4-7 tops unless they were crab or something. All in all, Moku Yakitori-ya delivered an incredible meal. The food was great, the service was attentive, and the atmosphere was fun and unique. Whether you're a yakitori fan or just looking for something different, this place is a solid pick to at least try once. My only reason it is not a 5 star is the price is really expensive even for me being used to $20+ entrees being a norm now. The casual atmosphere gave me a shock seeing the bill over $90 for two and a half(kid) people when we still had room for Jack in the Box afterwards. I definitely expect pricing of this level from Michelin starred spots but not here. But overall, solid... but unfortunately just won't be something I would come as often to. My only advice to the awesome staff and chef is to consider if they would pay that much if they ate out in a similar spot. Maybe dropping the quantity of food a bit less to drop the price more to balance the price to food ratio more. read more

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Came to this place today and found the menu is totally changed. Very disappointed. No more lamb. No more Abalone. Price is higher too. read more

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Arrived at around 6pm and there were open tables; however, started filling up about half an hour later. Only a few tables and some countertop seating. Yakitori comes 2 skewers per order. Ordered the Wagyu beef tongue, scallops, pork cheek, pork howl, unagi and pork belly. Like the char on the pork pieces. The jowls probably my fave piece. Scallops were tender and sweet. Can't go wrong with unagi. Also ordered fried oysters - arrived hot and plump oysters. Also liked the fried Maitake which were light. Service was attentive and friendly. Enjoyed our meal and will return. read more

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On a chilly Friday evening, after a nice little volleyball open gym, I decided to go to this restaurant. I had joined the waitlist for a party of 2 around 7:50 and the wait ended up being ~30 minutes. Upon entry we were greeted by the cozy environment and the eccentric server. With too many great options available, I asked for the advice of those sitting next to me, at which point they replied saying that everything was good. So, with no help, I ordered a number of options. They came out after a little wait and were all delicious. I would get the pork belly again and the flavor on the unagi was great. I would definitely come back again; I just wish it wasn't so loud, so that I could fully engage in conversation. Otherwise it was a great experience with great people. read more

Delicious variety of skewers along with a nice gritty atmosphere. It seems like the menu gets changed up quite a bit. There are no physical menus, so just take a picture of the chalk board to decide what you want to eat. We got a variety of skewers. And they were all pretty amazing. The kiri mochi was so chewy and gooey, but the sauce it came with was not great. It was a bit too lemony. We also got pork belly, chicken gizzard, beef tongue, scallops, chicken thigh, okra, shitake, and oyster mushroom skewers. Everything came out so quick and grilled so well. The scallops had a nice crispy edge. Beef tongue was tender, and pork belly was crispy and moist. But the most scrumptious dish of the night went to the grilled saba. It's dry aged and marinated. So it's such a flavorful, oily bite. In the end it came out to be about $50 per person for 3, so it's not a cheap meal, but it's good. read more

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An old Japanese-style izakaya in the heart of SF, like the ones in Japan, has a living menu on a board hanging on the wall. Everything must be ordered from that menu and that menu only, which is one of the reasons I'm not a big fan of these types of places. That being said, we enjoyed the different tastes and textures the menu had to offer and the graciousness of our host and server. BB read more

It's quite amazing that Moku quietly serves some of the most delicious food that you'll find in the area in a small restaurant with maybe enough room for a few dozen people. With that, the service here is very personal and you'll get your food super fresh from the grill, which is maybe only 10 feet away from where you are seating. For the quality and flavor of the food served, the prices are surprisingly reasonable as you'll definitely have a memorable experience. The kushiyaki is what most people will be going here for and the cuts are top quality while the portion sizes is fairly generous. I would definitely order the hotate which features melt-in-your-mouth tender scallops which are paired nicely with the garlic butter. The Buta Kashira and Pork Cheek both do a great job of highlighting the tenderness and intense flavor of these portions of the pig face, with minimal flavoring to avoid distracting from the flavor of the meet. The fish is also great here as well. The bincho tataki as a surprisingly flavorful preparation of white tuna with seared chili and ponzu that really helped to bring out the flavor of the fish which was offered in a generous portion size. In a future visit I'd definitely love to try more of these options as the flavor combinations sounded amazing. Overall, a must visit if you're in the area. You may have to wait in line for a bit, but the food is well worth the patience. read more

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OMG!!! What an amazing restaurant hidden near clement and 8th Avenue. Just came back from a private party and EVERYTHING was beyond my wildest imagination. The food is so so good! We had trumpet mushrooms, duck breast, chicken, steak on skewers. The eggplant was also on skewers and everything was cooked to perfection! The service is phenomenal, happy faces and quick to accommodate your needs. What an amazing place. I'm definitely going to tell my friends to check it out! I look forward to eating here again and again!!! Thank you!!! read more

The food was amazing. The service was phenomenal. And the ambiance of the restaurant as whole is cute and unique. We had the pleasure of having Kevin cook for us and he was such an amazing cook! We loved absolutely everything read more

Moku Yakitori-Ya - Kevin the chief - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Chef Richard was great, he knows how to grill yakitori well!!! Come here for the underground-surfer-yakitori-bar-vibe. I told them they need more surf boards hanging off the ceiling to complete the look! :) We ordered the beef tongue and it was really moist and flavorful. Smoky ambiance but the flavor is definitely in the air. My wife loved the pickled veggies including the ginger which happens to be baby ginger (that's why it's so damn flavorful)! They had sparking sake which we loved, nice and smooth. We'll definitely be back! read more

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