Sumiya was one of the top restaurant on our "want to try" list. We booked a reservation ahead of time for 8 pm on a Saturday. It was busy but not crazy when we arrived. They close at 9:30 so maybe the rush was earlier. It is located in a plaza, so there's plenty of parking. You order and pay through the QR code on your table. We ordered quite a few things. Our favorite was the gyutan and the hatsu. Both were cooked soooo deliciously and incredibly flavorful. We were not the biggest fan of the kimo. It was cooked medium rare; flavor and texture was just not to our liking. The knee cartilage was okay too, but there was more meat than cartilage. Chicken skin carried a lot of flavor from the sauce. Really tasty. Overall, the must order that I recommend if you are interested in visiting this restaurant are the gyutan and hatsu!! you won't regret! read more

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It's been quite a while since I visited Sumiya (the old location on Moorpark! lol), so it was great to finally check out their home on Homestead. I stopped by for lunch and ordered the Gyusuji Don, with Tonkatsu. Let's just say I'm a big fan of anything that takes forever to slow-cook--simply because I'd never have the patience to make it at home myself. It was exactly what I was looking for: authentic, comforting, and well-prepared. It's a relief to see them still going strong after all they've been through. It's not a flashy place, but it's a solid, reliable izakaya that hits the spot every time. I'm glad I made it out here, and I'll definitely be back for dinner and yakitori next time. read more

Unfortunately, after a previous 5 star rating, Sumiya experience has gone down. Two of us came an hour or two before closing and ordered: kalbi don set $22.75 B skewers bento $22.75 nagoya style calamari $13 Put our name down on yelp waitlist via app and waited quite some time. When we arrived, half the restaurant was empty, so it was a bit weird. Food came out extremely slow. Utensils were dirty. Rice was oddly tasteless. Proteins were cooked decently well, but was on the colder side. Food definitely would have tasted better had it been hotter. My guess is it was sitting out for awhile. Easy parking in the plaza. Not sure I will be back with this recent experience. read more

My friend and I were craving yakitori, so we decided to check out Sumiya. I was excited because this place has been around since 2008! Plus, the Yelp ratings looked promising. WAITLIST Sumiya uses the Yelp waitlist, so I joined about 40-45 minutes early to be seated around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. The check-in process went smoothly; I checked in with the host when I received their text, and I got a second message once the table was ready. ORDERING There's a QR code at the table for ordering, with options to keep the tab open via third-party ordering site. FOOD We ordered several items to share, including yakitori, appetizers, and other small plates. Honestly, the food didn't quite meet expectations, and nothing really stood out. Most of the yakitori grilled skewers tasted good and were of decent quality. However, I'd avoid anything "fried" because it was disappointing and lost its crispiness--probably due to the busy vibe and quick turnover. RECOMMEND - Salmon Tataki - Kalbi x2 skewers -- added a third for extra +$. - Butabara (pork belly) - Tsukune (meatballs) - Eringi (king oyster mushroom) - Pote Mochi (potato with yakitori sauce outside and melted mozzarella cheese inside) - Nagoya Style Calamari -- these were delicious. I appreciated the pepper and sweet dressing. Perhaps, better as a dipping sauce on the side because it did affect the crispiness. DO NOT RECOMMEND - Chicken Karaage -- large pieces that aren't crispy at all, with soggy parts and not much flavor. - Sumiya Potato Fries -- deep-fried potatoes that were undercooked. - Kawa (chicken skin) -- the outer parts were grilled to crispiness, but since the chicken skin was folded on the skewer, the inside wasn't grilled or crispy. This prevented the fat from rendering, resulting in a chewy, soft texture. I prefer my chicken skin crispy all the way through. read more

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Came here on a Friday evening after work, came just in time before they got super packed. It is a little cramped, they do have seating that goes all the way in the back. The workers were really friendly, I got this combo meal, and I thought that it was perfect for the price you pay. I was stuffed. The food had good flavor, everything was fresh from what I could tell. We ended up getting dessert and would recommend getting the creme brulee. read more

Sumiya - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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We were able to make a res for dinner and our table was ready to go when we got there. They have great combos to choose from and a la carte. The skewers were delicious. Loved the fried potato ball appetizer, forgot what it was called. The other fried appetizers were also nicely fried, crunchy and delicious! The yuzu sake we had was amazing!! I need to find where to buy it. Ordering was easy through qr code. Service was friendly and quick. Definitely a good spot for dinner. It can get busy and is smaller so for sure make a res if you can or get on the wait list on your way there! read more

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This place always has a wait, even on weekdays but honestly, it's for good reason. One of the best izakayas I've been to in the States. Most of the staff are Japanese and it feels really authentic. The meat is smoked perfectly!! so flavorful and tender. Great spot to come with friends, grab drinks, and just hang out. I especially love the heart, tsukune (meatballs), and gobo fries. Bonus points for lots of parking, which is rare and appreciated. Definitely worth the wait. read more

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Stopped by on a Saturday evening after work and got there before the dinner rush. The space felt a little cramped, but the staff was friendly and welcoming. The combo meal was fresh, flavorful, and reasonably priced. While the overall experience was good, it wasn't quite exceptional. The crème brûlée was a nice way to end the meal and worth trying. read more

Sumiya has great quality Japanese meat skewers (yakitori). The beef tongue (gyutan) is a thicker cut and more chewy but still tasty. You can choose salt or negi sauce to top off most of their meat skewers. I'm a big fan of their cherry tomatoes skewers. It adds extra flavor as you eat it with the skewers. The eringi, or king oyster mushrooms are the definition of umami. They use an online ordering system based on a QR code, or you can ask for a physical menu. The staff do very well with clearing empty plates to avoid a cluttered table. When they get busy, however, there tends to be reduced communication with those waiting for tables. You can see the chefs cook and the restaurant feels intimate with the low lights. Definitely recommend checking in to their waitlist through the Yelp app. read more

Sumiya - Sumiya chefs hard at work during dinner rush - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Really good and fun yakitori place! All the skewers paired well with the sauces and were perfectly cooked. Our favorite was the garlic butter oyster mushroom skewer and galbi skewer. The salmon tataki was seared perfectly and went well with the sauce, salmon roe and sweet onions. We got lychee gelato which had small pieces of lychee jelly and was super refreshing and perfectly sweet. We sat at the counter and were able to watch the skewers cook over the grill which was fun. Will be coming back! read more

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Bento skewer is a good combo you will leave full and satisfied with quality food for $20. We also ordered a larger carte beef tongue, chicken gizzard, and chicken heart. I really like beef tongue and gizzard so I am glad we did. Udon isn't anything special. Nice place, doesn't take too long. I have and would come back. read more

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Excellent food and relaxing ambiance . Excellent service. We made a reservation and also came early ( before 7 pm ) .This restaurant is always busy . Three of us ordered 3 different combinations with skewers . The skewers we have beef tongue , chicken thigh , chicken soft bone , beef short ribs , etc . Side dishes we got chicken karaage , agedashi tofu. The combination bento has salad with dressing , rice with raw eggs , toasted seaweed and rice . Good place to eat skewers and have a beer . read more

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Located in the same plaza as Stan's donuts and Safeway, you won't have issues finding parking. We came for lunch on a weekday so there was no wait. You order with the QR code. We sat near the door, ambiance was fine. We were seated right away and given water. I decided to get the salmon ikura don lunch set and my partner had the soboro don lunch set with tonkatsu. He enjoyed his meal and had no complaints. I think it's nice that you get an appetizer and salad, good value. The karaage was very nice, a little greasy but it's fried food, so that's expected. Flavors were good. Salad was nice, I asked for dressing on the side so I only added a little. I wasn't a fan of the salmon, that's not on the restaurant, I just learned that I don't like seared salmon. I think I prefer raw or fully cooked, not something in the middle. The middle of the salmon was warm and raw and I guess that texture and temperature didn't vibe with me. In the future, I'll try something else! The ikura was good! The portions are generous, I wound up taking half of it home for later. Would come back and try something else in the future! The skewers look interesting! read more

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Sumiya - Direct Fire, Discipline, and a Taste of Old Tokyo Sumiya isn't a binchotan temple. It's something rarer in the Bay Area: a shop that actually understands direct-fire grilling, salt seasoning, and timing. The world doesn't need more "cute" yakitori places. It needs places where cooks watch the fire, listen to the fat, and pull a skewer at the exact second before the flavor collapses. Sumiya is one of those places. THE GRILL - WHERE DIRECT FIRE BECOMES A LANGUAGE People romanticize binchotan because it's forgiving. It heats evenly, bathes meat in infrared, keeps moisture, and gives a fragrant edge. Direct flame is much harder: * heat spikes * mistakes multiply * bitterness appears instantly * dryness comes fast * surface color lies to you Which is why what Sumiya does is so rare. The meat tells the truth: * Pork belly came off the grill exactly when the fat turned glassy - not burnt, not rubbery, just aromatic and clean. * Chicken (tori-kushi) avoided the one fatal flaw: bitterness. With chicken, overcook it by 10 seconds and a thin oxidized "bitter line" appears. Here, it never showed up. Surface amber, inside juicy. * Beef tongue was the real test. GYUTAN - THE JAPANESE BENCHMARK In Japan, regardless of method - direct fire or binchotan - beef tongue is the exam. Gyutan is expensive. You overcook it you lose money. You serve it badly the customer disappears. Every yakitori shop in Sendai, Osaka, and Tokyo knows this. Sumiya's tongue passes the test: * edge char for aroma * center snap intact * heat stop precise * no dryness, no powdery protein breakdown This is not luck. This is direct-fire mastery. THE SALT WORK - PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE Sumiya is a salt shop, not a sauce shop. Salt-forward grilling only works when the cook controls fire at the micro level. That small ring of char you see on the skewers? It's intentional - the third note after: 1. meat flavor 2. salt bloom 3. char aroma Any more than that and it becomes bitterness. Any less and it becomes flat. Here, it's calibrated. THE RICE - A SURPRISING DISPLAY OF DISCIPLINE Most yakitori places treat rice like background noise. Sumiya doesn't. * grains stay separate * surface gloss intact * portioning is intentional * rice + fat + tare + topping ratio is considered, not random When a yakitori shop respects rice, it tells you the chef isn't just grilling meat. He's building bowls. SQUID LEGS - A FLAW THAT STILL WORKED The only technical miss of the night was the fried squid legs. Thin batter, lightly coated - good. Uneven in spots, part of it broken off - less good. But the ingredient quality was undeniable: Thick-cut. Shockingly sweet. Zero frozen odor. Seafood has one unforgivable flaw: freezer smell. Once that odor appears, the dish is dead on arrival. Here, the squid was so fresh, the imperfect batter barely mattered. A flawed exterior with a great ingredient inside. Honest food beats polished food every time. IKURA DON - MOTHER & CHILD DONE RIGHT The ikura here was impressive: * large pearls * translucent * clean pop * minimal curing * no salt-burn * no oxidation Paired with thick-cut salmon, it becomes the seafood version of a 親子丼 (oyako-don): mother (salmon) + child (ikura) A level of ingredient harmony rare in yakitori shops. And the rice beneath stayed perfectly separate - the sign of a kitchen that cares. THE SAKE WALL - MORE SERIOUS THAN EXPECTED Most yakitori places in the U.S. push sweet, entry-level sake. Sumiya didn't take the easy route. From the bottle wall: * Hakkaisan (including higher polishing ratios) * Kubota * Dassai * Kokuryu * real shochu, not novelty drinks In Japan, strong binchotan aroma limits sake pairing. But in the U.S., with Sumiya's clean direct-fire profile, their sake selection actually makes sense - a rare advantage over traditional shops. THE ROOM - NOT CURATED, BUT REAL The place is loud. A little cramped. A little chaotic. A lot alive. Smoke, salt, laughter, skewers moving down the line - It feels more like a Tokyo side-alley than a Silicon Valley concept restaurant. No theatrics. No neon. Just cooks working. Sumiya isn't perfect. The squid batter proved that. But if you want: * real direct-fire grilling * proper salt technique * gyutan cooked with respect * chicken pulled at the exact second before bitterness forms * rice that matters * ikura that's actually fresh * a sake list someone clearly drinks * and an atmosphere that feels earned, not staged Then Sumiya is absolutely worth coming for. 4 stars -- earned through fire, timing, and an honest understanding of the craft. - Dr. C Only writing for what truly earns the stars. read more

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3.8 stars. I LOVE skewers and was so excited to see this trend increasing in the Bay. Fast and friendly you can use Yelp to get on the wait list. A good sake collection I'll have to come back and try. And they have both hearts and cartilage skewers so it was a must try. We came in for lunch and when I say this place is fast, we were seated, fed and paid in 50 min. I have to say this raised a bit of an eyebrow because to get the slow roasted and charcoal infused meaty flavor of a skewer you kinda need time. For them to pump it out this fast means there's some pre-cooking being done. Skewer come hot very warm but not that nuclear hot that comes from spending several minutes rotating over the grill. The meatball was good, the right texture but could have been more crispy on the outside (sauce dunk followed by more grilling would have got it there). The thigh needed more pre salting, the hearts were good but also needed more salt. All of the elements are there and I'll be back for dinner service and sake to see if the night vibe changes the technique and time/attention. read more

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40 offerings of yakatori, small intimate place with a nice energy. Ramen, chicken skin were the standouts read more

Sumiya - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

It's been awhile since our last visit. Glad I remember this place. Everything was still as I remember - good food and service, except no long line which prolly our reason not to return. We were in and out pretty quickly - with satisfying feeling and tummy. So, we'll be back! read more

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This is a little Santa Clara gem that is probably going to get very crowded during the Super Bowl weekend and the World Cup games. It's not your usual sushi restaurant, nor even a Ramen restaurant. Instead, it's focus is grilled food on skewers. So that's what we focused on. These dishes would be good with a beer or cold sake, but it's dry January for me so I just had tapwater :-) We had the grilled chicken thigh meat, much better than breast meat for this purpose. The burdock fries, which personally are more firm than I like so next time I will get the french fries. For the first time I ordered the king mushrooms, which were nice and juicy. We also had the grilled Shishito peppers which I would skip next time in favor of steamed edamame. The grilled oysters appeared to be only slightly grilled and are served on the shell. It's three oysters so not a good share for two people unless you get two orders. That might be too much oysters for some people. The grilled spareribs were boneless and tasty morsels. We also had the grilled salmon which again had good flavor and some green onion. I ordered the octopus sashimi (takowasa) bowl. It was good, but given what we know about the intelligence of octopus, I think this was my last time ordering it. It's also good at sushi and as a grilled tap this item at a Spanish restaurant, but it's time to let it go. We were seated at a table in the front of the room, where there is a built-in bench at the wall, the table and then a chair. The bench is not cushioned, so I was fortunate that my daughter took that seat and I got the chair which did have a cushion. Old bones, don't you know? You use a QR code to look at the menu and place your order. So you'll have to flag someone down to answer your questions if you have any before you place your order. I don't know that it helps them save on staffing, but maybe it does. It would kill me to pay an additional fee on top of the credit card processing fee for this "convenience" unless it was clearly saving me money on labor. I was able to read the menu on my phone, but primarily I left it to my daughter to read me the menu items and make the order. I am glad it is still here and apparently going strong. Hopefully the new restaurants next-door to it will bring in more foot traffic. It's a different type of Japanese restaurant and I'm glad it's here. read more

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It's been awhile since my last visit. I like that the Yelp waitlist system works so I was able to put myself on waitlist before heading over. We ordered the e bento B. I think the on app system payment has been there for awhile but I find it convenient this time when dining in with a friend and we split the bill. When you put in the order with your own phone, you only pay what you order so that's the ease of checking out if you have a big group. Food quality is back to what I expected. Tender meat. The waiter did refill our tea without us asking so service was good. read more

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Appreciated that I could get on the Yelp waitlist on the drive over, place is tiny and busy so make sure to join the waitlist and check in on the tablet when you get there! Servers were efficient and helpful. Food was awesome, the duck skewers with the little piece of onion were my personal fave but my friends were adventurous and enjoyed everything. Other favorites were the chicken thigh with sauce, chicken wing with salt and of course crispy chicken skin! Great place to come with friends, interior was nice with glass into main grilling area to see food being prepared. Will definitely be back! read more

If you're a fan of yakitori, this place is an absolute must-visit! Every visit feels like the first--welcoming, flavorful, and always satisfying. From the moment you step inside, you know you're in for something special. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with the unmistakable aroma of perfectly grilled skewers. The star here, of course, is the food. The quality of the ingredients is evident in every bite. the flavors are spot on. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always willing to offer recommendations. This place will keep you coming back. read more

Sumiya - Duck breast - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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My husband and I have visited Sumiya many times with friends as it's just down the street from us. We put ourselves on the weight list and waited until it was our turn. We found the waitlist quite inaccurate and had to wait on an extra twenty minutes or so than the wait list time. It took us over an hour to get seating for 3 people. Once we got seated, we ordered off the QR code. We ordered quite a bit as my husband and his friends are carnivores lol. We got chicken thighs, chicken gizzard, chicken skin, chicken heart, beef tongue, kalbi, seared salmon with onions, potato fries, salad, mushroom skewers, chicken karage, pork belly and rice. We enjoyed our food and I loved the fries, chicken thighs, mushroom skewers, and salmon appetizer. Most of the meat was tender- the kalbi could have been better. The chicken thighs were juicy! The potato fries really stood out for me as they were hot, crispy, and seasoned well. All our food was $175-a little pricey with fries being $13. It does quickly add up! I think other places may be less inexpensive. Overall, a good experiment but do be prepared to wait a while and spend a pretty penny. read more

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Sumiya is still one of my favorite restaurants in the area - I always find myself craving the signature bento boxes with grilled meats. Highly recommend set A or set B; you can't go wrong here! read more

Sumiya - Bento Set A - Chicken Skewer Bento A - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This place is the definition of a South Bay hidden gem. From the outside, it absolutely reads as a hole-in-the-wall--but if you've spent any time eating around Santa Clara, you know that's usually a very good sign. There's something almost Singapore street-stall-like about it: understated, no frills, and quietly legendary once you sit down. We arrived on a Wednesday around 4:30 pm and were immediately met with a full Yelp waitlist spilling out the door--mostly groups of four to six, which told me right away this wasn't a fluke. They even let us in a few minutes before opening, which set the tone: efficient, kind, and ready to go. Service is minimal but thoughtful. Ordering is done via QR code, though they happily offered paper menus (a small but important detail). Staff were plentiful, friendly, and attentive without hovering. Food turnaround was impressively fast--about 13 minutes across the board. Now, the food. Everything we tried was genuinely excellent, but a few dishes deserve real emphasis: * Chicken skin (10/10) - Easily one of the best textures I've ever eaten. Perfectly charred and crunchy with just enough softness underneath. The sauce leaned a bit strong for my personal taste, but the execution was flawless. * Octopus in wasabi (9/10) - Clean, tender, and beautifully balanced. * Kimchi with beef - Absolute must-get. Rich, comforting, and deeply satisfying. * Chicken liver (8/10) - Well done and flavorful. * Chicken heart - The only miss for me; a bit mediocre compared to everything else. * Potatoes - Surprisingly memorable and a welcome alternative to the usual fries. We started with hot tea, which felt grounding and intentional, and every dish delivered on flavor. No fillers, no throwaways. The space itself is nothing to write home about--but that almost works in its favor. Plenty of parking, lots of staff, and easy to access (CVS and Ross next door). You're here to eat, not to be dazzled by décor. Yes, the bill came out to around $90, and yes, it's on the expensive side--but the quality, speed, and skill on display make it worth it, especially for food-forward diners. Would I go back? Absolutely--though not immediately. This is the kind of place that inspires you to go chasing other hidden gems once you realize how many incredible, unassuming spots are out there. That said, if friends who genuinely care about food were visiting, this would be at the top of my "you have to try this" list. A must-try restaurant in the South Bay food scene, no question. read more

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We had a wonderful group lunch here! I got the Oyako don, and it had an amazing flavor to it. It was a little heavy on the rice but this just meant more leftovers! The lunch set also came with a side and salad. I picked the agedashi tofu as my side. Service was quick and the staff were super friendly and sweet. They consistently filled up our water and were very attentive. read more

Sumiya - Oyako Don Bento (Lunch) - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This place is a must try! Japanese bbq skewers were like no other. The flavor and portions were perfect to try, just immaculate. I wish I could've tried more but there's were so many. And the rice bowls paired perfectly with the skewers. My favorite skewer is definitely the chicken skin. Service was exceptional as well but nonetheless ! Also super busy in a Sunday and they were able to accommodate to our large party of 9. A bit small inside read more

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I personally haven't been a big fan of skewers because I always thought they're overpriced for the quality. But this place definitely changed my mind. My boyfriend and I got: - beef tongue skewers - pork belly skewers - chicken heart skewers - duck breast skewers - salmon & ikura combo set All skewers were really amazing. The pork belly skewers are a must with the green onions. This was also my first time trying chicken hearts and I didn't think I'll like them as much as I do. The salmon was alright.. It was kinda lukewarm which was off-putting. The salad was nothing to write home about but the creamy wasabi dressing had a kick. Also the gobo fries were amazing! They were fried into perfection and were not too salty. TBH, if you don't like burdock root then you need to grow up. Service was super quick and attentive. Would highly recommend to anyone. read more

Sumiya - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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We joined the waitlist on yelp. make sure to check in with a person. I think we got skipped even though we check in on yelp. we got the bento with chicken thigh, pork belly and short rib. My favorite was the chicken thigh. we also got the scallop. we chose the headache tofu and karaage chicken. both good. The tofu was lightly battered. I don't like when it so thick. it was a little loud since large groups were sat but service was nice and quick. we got free hot tea. next time i'd like to try the chicken skin. the skewers were juicy and smoky so yummy. I liked the yuzu dressing on the salad read more

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First time going to an izakaya. Great experience getting to try a bunch of different items. Great food and fun ambiance. Would come back.

Sumiya is probably one of the best places to go for Japanese yakatori. We've been here several times and it has always been very good. They have large variety of yakatori, combo bento's and donburi bowls. Service is quick and efficient, they now have you use QR code menu and your first order of meat sticks comes out pretty quick, usually within 15 minutes. Suggest that you come early as it does fill up by 6PM , if you arrive later expect a bit of a wait. read more

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Really great Yakitori and is a go to spot for date night. When i go here though, i have to expect spending 100+ because it is more pricey. And if you're hungry, you'll order a lot because they are yakitori. But the food is reallllyy good! The service is good too read more

Sumiya is a popular local Japanese Yakitori place. The food here is decent and I especially like their chicken soft bones and Sapporo in the pitcher. The service is surprisingly fast when you order food via cell phone app. The Ambience is nice too and is great for friends to hang out. There are plenty of parking outside as the restaurant is in the strip mall. read more

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Some of the best yakitori in town! Glad this place is still doin well! Been coming here for years! read more

Sumiya - Their combo never disappoints - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Sumiya had been my favorite yakitori place and have been going here for many years. I went there for a lunch yesterday and ordered my usual, Yakitori Bento B with galbi. While the food was still delicious, the yakitori were rather cold and lukewarm as if they were pre cooked and were sitting for a while. This never happened before. And res was not so busy. I did share this feedback with the waitress. read more

Sumiya - Japanese Near Me - Santa Clara, California

We came to Sumiya for a group dinner on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy but thankfully we had the Yelp waitlist to help with the wait. The inside was a bit small so I wouldn't say it's the best place for a large group but they were able to accommodate our group of 6. The food was delicious! We got the combo set and a few izakaya skewers. I would say it's pretty pricey and not filling so you need to order a lot. The service here was also very nice! You order via QR code and they bring it out. We stayed here for a while since we were doing a white elephant but they didn't mind - which we appreciated. read more

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This is one of the better yakitori spots in the Bay Area! Sumiya serves authentic Japanese skewers and more, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a great spot for dinner with friends or family. The skewers were cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of char. My favorites were the Nagoya style calamari and Grilled Saba (blue mackerel), so flavorful and juicy! They also offer a good variety of sides and small plates; we tried the Mi thigh, Sasami chicken breast, Gyutan beef tongue and Kalbi, which were tasty. The service was friendly, though it can get a little slow during busy times. The interior has a casual, rustic vibe, and it really transports you to a traditional izakaya. Overall, Sumiya is a solid choice for anyone craving yakitori. It's not the cheapest spot, but the quality of the food makes it worth a visit. Be sure to come early or join the waitlist, as it gets packed quickly! read more

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We started coming here 20+ years ago and it is still good for the states. Yakitori is still better in Japan, but this can be a fix for your craving. I would not suggest ordering the chicken breast, it was dry. The chicken thigh could use a little more salt. Otherwise the food was good. read more

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Our group of 6 came on a Saturday night around 6pm and entered the waiting list once the shop opened at 5:30pm. We'd highly recommend entering the Yelp waitlist the moment it opens - especially if you're a larger group. We waited roughly about 20 minutes before we got through (keeping in mind we waitlisted as soon as they opened). Upon seating, you are offered either water or hot tea. You will also order and pay straight from the QR code/online - with the option to keep the tab open or closed. My partner and I shared a variety of dishes: set B don buri (came with 3 skewers, 1 choice of appetizer, and small sides such as rice) and a la carte skewers. I must recommend the galbi and beef tongue skewers - I could probably eat those endlessly! Their yuzu sake was also quite delicious - I'd recommend getting to share with 2-4 folks. read more

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I absolutely love Sumiya. It's already been reviewed so I just wanna focus on the best parts. If you come, the things you absolutely must get are the scallops, chicken skin, and the duck breast skewers. They were are incredible and I would probably come and just get a couple of each of those. I also enjoyed the pork belly skewers. They weren't anything special but the green onion on the skewer added to it for me. The karaage was alright but a nice shareable appetizer. The bentos themselves were also decent but not mind blowing. read more

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Amazing Yakatori!! Wonderful lively restaurant. We used a phone to see the menu and order. They also brought menus to the table. The service was fast and seamless. We tried a huge selection of yakatori. I think the best dish is the grilled scallops. So flawlessly prepared, we ordered a second dish of them. The other surprising and delicious dish is the white tuna over a mound of pickled shredded vegetables. I didn't try anything too exotic but the beef tongue was given high compliments. I saw people ordering bento boxes and they looked beautiful. I liked the ordering system. Once the ordering starts, more dishes can be ordered very easily. Highly recommend. read more