Some of the tastiest Yakitori in the Bay for sure! Really enjoyed the standard chicken thigh skewers, but the squid was also very tasty. Highly recommend coming on weekdays due to the limited seating inside! read more

Came here last night (Tuesday), party of 2, no reservations, around 6pm ish. After reading some of the reviews, I would highly recommend coming on a weeknight to avoid crowds. We didn't have to wait and were immediately sat at the bar. Total was about $60 a person but we ordered ALOT, including 2 sake drinks, 2 shitake mushroom skewers, knee cartilage, short rib, ikura grilled rice ball, 2 chicken hearts, 2 shishito peppers, two tofus, oyster chicken, and probably more. I'm honestly a sucker for tapas-sized items because I love trying a variety of things when I eat, so I think I naturally would rate this place higher. Also not a ton of yakitori places in the East Bay so very little competition. Pros: - Honestly, pretty good meat skewers. My standout favorites were the chicken hearts, the kalbi short ribs, the mushrooms. I liked the crunch of the chicken hearts and the tenderness of the kalbi cubes, and I like that there's some non-meat options like the tofu and peppers to cleanse yourself a little bit. - Really easy ordering system, with paper and pencil. - Great for parties of 1-2, my friend and I were right at the bar and we got to watch the skewers cook and have them handed right to us. I think because we were seated here, I felt like the service was really fast. - Because it wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night, even though it says there's a 90 min seated wait time, we were there well over 2 hours (but also maybe because we kept ordering lol) - Plenty of easy parking spots in this plaza - All the staff were nice - Nice dark Japanese street food bar like ambiance, great for a casual night out Cons: - not great for parties of more than 2, there's a few booths in the restaurant that could fit 4 people maybe but I could see a long wait if it's a busy night. - The chicken items (other than the chicken hearts) were subpar in my opinion (which I guess shouldn't be surprising) so I won't be ordering them again Overall, I would definitely come back, but maybe order 1-2 dishes fewer and avoid the fried rice ball (I loved the ikura on this but felt like I could do without it). read more

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It was our first time visiting Yakitori Bar earlier on this weekend! We came a little after dinner time, so we expected a bit of some wait. After being seated, we were able to order some drinks and began to order our food. Their drinks are great! We ordered two different Chu-Hi's and had placed orders for some chicken, some vegetables, and some seafood yakitori. Chicken was OK - we had put in order for the chicken skin which was a bit more fatty than expected, and the chicken wings were a bit overcooked. Seafood was okay as well - flavor wise was great but again a bit more overcooked. It can be a little loud inside since it is a bit smaller than most spots, but really depends on the time you come in. Overall, had a great experience coming in but would definitely be a bit more cautious of what to order this time around. read more

The food was so good, with splendid textures that proved the look of the food was of spectacular quality! Service was wonderful as well! read more

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I came with family at late night. Thankfully this place was open, not too many places are open at night. We had a solid 15 minute wait at 10pm. The interior has some bumpin music. Very loud. Was ok to deal with. The food took like 20 minutes to come. Service is not special. However skewers are pretty cheap. 3$ per skewer is a good price. The skewers were all seasoned just ok. Not super tender either. I've had better I've had worse. Fav was probably chicken heart. I definitely wish the meat was more tender like yakitori I've had in japan. Would I recommend? At night, sure. Would I go back myself? Maybe not, but it was worth a stop. read more

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No reservations so we tried to go as quickly as we could on a friday night. Got there at 5:30 and luckily we were able to be seated once everyone arrived. We ordered almost everything it felt like. I think our favorite was the kalbi one. We even ordered a tray of the uni which actually complimented the yakitori well. Some of them were a bit fatty so it help cut the fat. We must have been hungry because we even ordered a sukiyaki at the end which definitely helped end the meal and we were all stuffed and satisfied. Service was good. Restaurant felt like you were in the stalls of Japan. I think it was $80 pp with tip for 4. Glad I got to try it! read more

The Yakitori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

I loved the ambiance of this place and would come back just for it. I really enjoyed sitting at the tables where we could watch the chef's grilling all the food. As for food, I got a whole variety of things ranging from meat to vegetables. One of my favorite skewers was the scallop and I also loved the grilled Chilean sea bass. Both tasted excellent and had such a nice grilled flavor that left me wanting more. I also really enjoyed the eggplant. For dessert, I really enjoyed the yuzu sorbet and found it was the perfect was to finish my meal. Oh! And their takoyaki was probably one of the best I've had. All the other skewers I got were okay, some I would get again, others I could go without. One thing I didn't enjoy all that much was the grilled avocado. That may be my personal preference on not eating hot avocados though. I would love to come back to try other items off their menu. read more

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I love that, at least for this meal, I'm promptly teleported to my after-a-full-day-of-intense-meetings-late-night-in-Tokyo izakaya days without leaving the comfort of Fremont. That's what happens when you kick back in one of the booths or the bar here and just soak in the ambiance. Wonderful job capturing the complete feel, from the wall designs, to the furnishing, the smokey grilled meat smells, and the sounds of chatty locals and laughter that fill this small yet charming space. The transporting to Japan doesn't stop with the ambiance though; the food is equally great with many classics you'd find in any Tokyo late night izakaya worth their course sea salt. Some stand out dishes: -beef tongue -spicy tuna grilled onigiri -fried enoki was interesting -chicken wings -pork belly -takoyaki were good and had that super authentic "burn your mouth because you have no patience" feature -The wagyu was good, but the portion size and finesse of cut wasn't what I expected. -The sea bass was small for its price, but good flavors and cooked skillfully. The staff is welcoming and friendly. I was smiling when I heard some Cantonese being spoken amongst several of them. Shout out to my brethren. ;) Plenty of parking in the lot if you get here around opening. The restaurant starts to fill up about an hour after opening. Bonus points for them staying open late (just like in Japan). read more

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Loved the food. It's a very cozy place, a small joint but let that not fool you. Their food is awesome. We ordered a whole lot of meat and veggies and everything came out very tasty. What's impressive is that our server went above and beyond to make our night memorable. Will definitely be back here again. Found a gem. The beers were ice cold as well. read more

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Def has become a local staple & fave of ours! Super packed & busy on the weekends so we usually opt for a Weekday! They just updated their menu knocking down their portions but also their prices so that people can try more variety (also more suited to smaller parties as well!) Regardless the Yakitori skewers were all still very tasty! Some of our faves remain: - chicken wings salt, nicely charred & light flavor - chicken wings ponzu, nicely charred & bolder flavor - galbi/short rib, tender & flavorful - mushrooms, buttery goodness - shishito peppers, nicely charred w/ a great bite to it - okra, fave way to have this veggie = no slime! - new zucchini, great flavor & nicely charred - new eggplant, good flavor & tender - onigiri, charred & crispy - sweet potato, the perf dessert + crispy chicken skin also a must! Hot, crunchy, & well seasoned! In addition, another go-to for us is the HOTPOT!! Legit my current addiction + constant craving!!! The sukiyaki miso flavor (med. spicy) always hit the spot - the broth is super flavorful and it comes with a variety of meat + veggies which is perfect for 2 ppl (in addition to skewers ofc lol). They also pour extra broth for you throughout, to cook the noodles & if you're just running low (aka a broth drinker like me :)) *Always complete the meal with a nice cold beer & hot sake...100% worth, trust me. read more

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Absolutely love this place for yakitori! The flavor and smokiness is amazing and I always go out of my way to suggest this for a dinner spot. My favorite is the grilled squid. It does take a little bit of time to cook (something to keep in mind), but it's well worth the wait. It's by far my favorite grilled squid I've had in the Bay Area. The place has a great vibe with decorations, menus, photos covering all the walls. It's smaller than most places so I would recommend coming earlier if possible. Parking is no issue, as it's located in a large plaza. Highly recommend to bring a small group to eat! The skewers are perfectly grilled and their draft beers are delicious combination! read more

The Yakitori Bar - Grilled squid - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

We love this place! We love coming here during the fall/winter for nabe, skewers, and drinks Here's what we ordered: *Kurobuta Nabe - love this Drinks: *Asahi *Shikuwasa Sour Skewers: *Minced Chicken w Yolk (Tsukune) *Heart (Hatsu) *Gizzard (Sunagimo) *Duck Breast *Ranch Beef Tongue (Gyutan) read more

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I walked in for dinner with a friend and sat in one of table stalls. We ordered a bunch of skewers and loved pretty much everything. As a short and sweet review: I'd definitely come back again to try more. Nothing to complain about, only reasons to come again! The best - pork belly: we tried both flavors but I loved the yuzu - chicken skin: so good if you eat it super hot - chicken thigh and thigh oyster : really good- super juicy Fine - chicken gizzard: fun to eat but bland - fried oyster - short rib: I liked the flavor with herbs on top but I enjoyed the other skewers more read more

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Came here for my best friend's birthday, and everything was great. Loved the atmosphere and flavors! They're open til 1am which is convenient for a later night spot. Skewers do add up so I'd only come for certain occasions. RECS: + Galbi ($4.95, 5/5 stars) had an amazing glaze! + Beef tongue with scallion ($7.95, 5/5 stars) was delicious, get it with scallions instead of plain + Takoyaki ($8.50/5pcs, 4.5/5 stars) + King oyster mushroom ($3.50, 5/5 stars) + Crispy chicken skin ($13, 4.5/5 stars) read more

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Updated review, a good place for Japanese grilled meats and snacks, beer, and sake. The owner trained under Atsushi Kono who owned Torishin in New York, a Michelin star recipient for a number of years. The interior has a laid back street alley vibe and they can't seat a lot of people. The kitchen is open and you can see your order being prepared over binchotan. It smells amazing inside and for those dieting or trimming it's also a great place to get a meal with no carbs and no sugar. They used to take reservations and it was our hidden spot but now you have to fight for a spot though we still saw tables with "reserved" placards on them. We came recently on a Saturday and the wait was already an hour at 5:37. Chicken Yakitori: Any choice is excellent and perfectly cooked, you get the really distinct grill taste you can only get with binchotan. My family likes the sauce ones but I like them more plain with just salt. Fried Enoki Mushrooms: First time having this, interesting flavor and not filling so a good appetizer. The mushrooms get an interesting airy and crispy texture once fried. House salad: Super fresh and the dressing was amazing. read more

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We needed a late meal and we decided to come here. We ordered yakitori heart, liver, and mushroom along with a beef nabe. It was satisfying and everything tasted great. The yakitori was well cooked. Good service. Casual. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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I love the vibe and ambiance of the Yakitori bar! It's a smaller restaurant but feels intimate Since many of their menu items are skewer-like and bite-sized, they come out fast. The employees are friendly and welcoming. My favorite items include the grilled shishito peppers, the karage chicken, and the short ribs. But honestly, I like most menu items. A friend of mine took me here months ago and I can't stop coming back! read more

The Yakitori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

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After years, I've come back to this yakitori spot to give another try, because the recent menu changes enticed me. However, upon this revisit, I still found this yakitori joint to be quite disappointing. They lowered the price point for most items, because like some other yelpers said, the portion size is smaller per skewer item. There's no issue with the fact that each item is downsized, however, it becomes a huge issue as long as the yakitori guy overcooks things consistently due to the skewers being smaller than before... this is unacceptable. Almost every skewer was overcooked and the texture of the meats become dry and rough... no amount of flavor and sauce can make up for it. Two stars instead of one because although most skewers were disappointing, the hotpot was delicious, and the service was pretty decent. read more

I've come here so many times I've lost count. It's one of my favorite places in the Bay for skewers. The vibe is super chill -- dim lighting, cozy seating, and it always smells amazing when you walk in. I usually just order a bunch of appetizers, lots of skewers, and beer. That combo never fails. The food always comes out hot and fresh, and the skewers are some of the best I've had. Crispy, flavorful, and cooked just right. One tip: I usually show up right before it opens to grab a spot. If you come later, be ready to wait. This place gets packed fast. It's not a fancy place -- more like a casual hangout where you eat, drink, and talk with friends. I love that it's low-key and relaxed. Perfect for winding down after work or grabbing a late-night bite. read more

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Tried to order a bit of everything and it was all good. Can't go wrong with anything. Beef, chicken etc. Place isn't too big so small parties are recommended. Would definitely go back as they seem to always have some specials to try. read more

The Yakitori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

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I tried coming here a year ago and the wait was well over two hours on a week night. I tried again just this week (August 2025) on a Saturday (dinner time) and we got lucky with timing and snagged a table! Finally! I think you just have to try your luck! I came in a party of 4 and we each got to enjoy a draft Japanese beer of our choosing to go with the assortment of yakitori that we got. The beer is ice cold and the skewers come out piping hot. My three favorite items were: Hokkaido squid ($25 per order), the galbi/kalbee skewers, and the kurobata pork. The salt & pepper option and the yuzu option for either of the latter are solid. We each tried one of each! We had a few more adventurous eaters in our group so we also got items like gizzard and knee. My friend liked those! The grilled rice was good- quite filling! Other items I enjoyed were the veggies- namely the shishito peppers and the okura (to my surprise)! The minute you step in, it looks and feels like you've stepped into a bustling izakaya in Japan. Each table has different salts and seasonings if you'd like to enhance the flavor, but in my opinion everything is seasoned to perfection. Some dishes (e.g. squid) come with kewpie mayo for dipping, or a ponzu sauce, depending on the dish. Service is friendly and good. This is a fun experience to have locally. I would say it's not something we eat often, but a nice place to go ($$-$$$) with a friend or small group (maybe no more than 4), or on a date. read more

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Went there on Saturday night, around 7:30pm 1) Parking lot in evening is easy to park, normally, there is super market, but in evening supermarket closed. 2) Decor is kind of cute, like a japanese restaurant 3) Ordered beef tongue, scallop, okra, chicken, salmon. The best one is beef tongue and salmon, perfectly cooked. 4) I saw other tables order some kind of hotpot kind. Maybe soup noodle, don't know. Basically I and my husband only eat skewers, plus salad. Only eat skewer could be a little bit pricey. It is very good 5) Host/worker/employees there are extremely nice and polite. 6) I read, normally, pretty busy. For me, I only wait for 10 minutes outside, they text me when table is ready. Will be back again. read more

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We finally got to try the 'Yakitori Bar' in Fremont as it's next to one of our fave Sushi restaurants . We came around 6:30p on a Tuesday. It was pretty busy and got to sit at the bar to see them cook. The restaurant is not as big as i thought and I would not say good for a big group. Decorated with wood tables, and benches and chairs. Casual place and average noise level. We ordered the below and all were good but a little salty to us. Good flavors tough and needed beer to wash off the saltiness so we are glad we didn't pick salted but sauced flavored skewers. You order by paper but the snacks and monthly specials have to be ordered by the servers. Grilled Seasoned Chashu $8 Housemade Chicken Gyoza $4.25 (3 pcs) Crispy Chicken Skin $6.50 Chicken Thigh (Momo) $4.50 1 skewer Chicken Neck (Nakiochi) $2.95 1 skewer Chicken wings $3.95 1 skewer Okra skewer $2.95 (3 pcs) Shishitou Green Pepper $2.95 (3 pcs) Short Ribs (Kalbi) $4.50 1 skewer Kurobuta Pork Belly (Butabara) $4.50 1 skewer [tough] Asahi Beer $8 Hot sake large (300ml) $12 We were welcomed in and received friendly service. Good place to hang out and socialize for a good beer and a few skewers but would not be my favorite place. They need to cut back on the salt a little and I am not as sensitive as others to salt but you can tell. They are a little on the expensive side for me on their skewers and drinks. I rate it more a 3.5 stars. You can try it for yourself. [72R,2025] read more

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This place was always bookmarked on my Yelp and I had an amazing opportunity to try it the other day and it blew my mind. Every dish was seasoned and cooked to perfection. Their sea bass was outstanding and was definitely the highlight on the menu. Staff were very friendly and attentive as we came without reservations and got seated fairly fast and service throughout the night was fast. Definitely coming back. read more

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Okay okay - I'm not sure about this place for two reasons: Portions: the portions are tiny! I'm a big man with an appetite. Perhaps this is simply just a bar with appetizers? Price: for the portions, you're better off eating at an actual establishment and getting more for your buck. Food: FOOD IS AMAZING. Albeit not much, it's well done and cooked over coals. Definitely a marker of quality. Service: Amazing service - people here are friendly and very informative So all in all: great for a cute date idea - not to actually get fed without shelling insane cash out. read more

came here for my bday dinner and everything we had was delicious. i also got a free polaroid photo and big shot of sake. the sake was sweet and light, i liked it! LOVE: king oyster mushroom skewers, the galbi, and beef tongue with scallion sauce pork belly, takoyaki, & okra were also good. this place impressed me and i like the ambience here. it is pricey though so i would only come for special occasions read more

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The Yakitori Bar definitely gave nostalgic Japanese izakaya vibes, which was pleasant. It's a pretty small place with tons of interesting streetwear stickers on the wall. We ordered the following skewers: chashu, hokkaido scallop, a5 wagyu, deep fried garlic, duck breast, galbi, shishito peppers, cherry tomatoes, chicken wings, and pork belly. The standouts were the galbi & chashu -- both seasoned extremely well with good texture. Usually my favorite yakitori is the pork belly and it was just okay here -- the piece could have been fattier, crispier, and more flavorful. The duck was our least favorite as the texture was dry and there was no other distinct seasoning so it just tasted too gamey. Surprisingly also, the shishito peppers were quite bland so we had to add the table side condiments of salt and some soy sauce. I'd pass on those next time, but everything else was decent. It wasn't the best yakitori we've ever had, but it got the job done and I'd come back. We were still a bit hungry after though and could have ordered more, but I guess that's to be expected with yakitori! read more

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This store looks a little unassuming from the outside. It's very dark and you can't really see inside. Once you step inside, it kind of looks like an alleyway in Japan with the dark ambience and food stalls. The skewers themselves are pretty large! The beef tongue was 3 giant slices on a stick rather than thin-cut slices. The chickens they are using are giant too - I never thought gizzard or liver would be so large. Anyway I would recommend coming early as the place is small and tends to fill up around 6pm. They also have a ton of additional items just posted on the walls and not on their menu (e.g. spicy tuna french fries, yuzu sorbet, etc). read more

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Amazing experience. Came here with a friend group for my birthday and the host was very accommodating and friendly with us and ensured we had a great time with great food and drinks read more

This was one of the coolest restaurants I have ever been to! A coworker and I went in for dinner while traveling for a project on a Wednesday evening and walked in on a packed house. The Yakitori Bar has what I can really only describe as a traditional front of house setting with super awesome, modern ambiance - there was tons of art and really cool decor all over the place, and the setting felt super intimate; the vibe felt like a local spot that only the neighborhood knew about, though I'm certain that's obviously not the case lol. We had a bit of a wait before our table was ready, but it was more than worth it. We were nestled in one of the back corners and helped almost immediately; it took us a second to make our decisions, but we settled on splitting the edamame, a few different types of skewers, and a pork belly hot pot. It was waaay more food than I think I assumed it would be but it was all absolutely delicious. One of the most interesting skewers we tried was beef tongue, which was a first for me, and I am definitely a fan; this and all of the other meats were cooked so well, flavored perfectly, and came out looking so amazing. I can't say enough positive things about this place and wish there was something similar local to me back home! I will definitely try to make it back here next time I'm in the area and look forward to the next chance I have to try some more delicious food from their menu. read more

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Been coming here for over 2 years. They've decreased skewers from 2 to 1 last year. Each skewers used to have 4 slices of meat, now it's only 3. So that's a 133% increase in pricing. Service is still about the same. The portions size of meat or veggies has also significantly decreased, smaller or thinner sliced. It's a lot less noisy / crowded on a Tuesday night with no wait. They used to give you extras if you ordered a bottle (something or another on the house), but they stopped that custom last year. Given their smaller portion and less customizations/customer service we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

I love Yakitori Bar! Such a fun and cool aesthetic that feels like you're back in Japan. Skewers are somewhat expensive, but the quality of meats are worth it. Meats always come out super flavorful, tender and tasty. My favorites: Short Rib, beef tongue, King oyster, sausages, sweet potato, and pork belly. Skewers do take quite a bit of time to come out, so expect a few plates at a time and not all at once. Karaage is interesting, but I prefer breading rather to the style they serve here. read more

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So glad this is in Fremont and I didn't have to go far to get a taste of Japan! Great skewers and plum wine read more

The Yakitori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

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If you are looking for a slice of Japan, come to this place and get ready get ready to enjoy an amazing feast. Make sure to order the skewers and get the sukiyaki hot pot. It's a small restaurant so make reservation reservations ahead of time. read more

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Our plans for dinner in Fremont was scrapped when we realized we were getting into town at around 22:30. Only places opened happened to be skewer places. We zeroed in on this place for small bites that will get us full without overwhelming us so late at night. The place was already packed by the time we got there but we were able to get seated right away. We quickly ordered a bunch of protein. I don't think we even ordered any veggies. We had chicken, beef, chicken heart, etc. Everything tasted good. Could've used a bit more char but still worth checking out. It is pricey for the amount of food. read more

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we were in the area and decided to give this place a try based on the reviews. The restaurant is quite small but they have a wait list where you get texted when your table is ready. We came on a Friday night and waited about 25 minutes. The food took a bit longer than I expected. All the skewers came out fresh. The servers were attentive, all worked hard to serve as quick as possible as the dishes came out. I would come back again when I'm in the area again. read more

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I came here on a weeknight and it was surprisedly not busy. The service was decent. There is plenty of parking in the plaza. It's definitely a great and fun late night spot to eat at. I recommend going in a group so you can eat more skewers. This place is on the pricier side. Most of the skewers I ordered were solid and tasty. They don't serve bowls of rice here but they do sell rice balls. My favorite skewers were the beef short ribs and the kalbi. They were flavorful and juicy. The chicken skin was crunchy and seasoned well. read more

The Yakitori Bar - Skewers - Japanese Near Me - Fremont, California

I've been hoping to try this spot for a long time and happened to be in the area on an early Sunday evening. Very cool ambiance as you would find in a Japanese Izakaya, with menu specials hand written on paper and posted all over the restaurant. We were quickly seated and the staff were very kind/nice in explaining the menu. My partner is vegetarian and so had wanted to make sure there were items that she could have. FYI most of the items are cooked in the same oil that cooks meat, the grill where the vegetable items are cooked is also used to cook meat as well, in addition most of the grilled items will also be seasoned or garnished with bonito (fish) flakes. The staff were very helpful with explaining this which we appreciated. As for the items we ordered, I had the chicken thighs with both salt and sauce, as well as the pork belly skewers, and the grilled salmon. The meats were all cooked well and were juicy, however most of the meat skewers I had could have used more salt. The okra and mushroom skewers were ok, just on the border of slightly cooked/undercooked, but also just very oily. Overall, 3.5 out of 5 for food, bump up half a star for the very helpful staff/excellent service. read more

The service and ambience of this place is such a very unique experience. The chef was very kind and suggested some of the items we ordered. The food was delicious! I can't remember half the things we ate but they were delicious. read more

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Stumbled upon this cute little spot on the way up from San Jose. It's a nice place to have drinks and yakitori with friends. We came on a Saturday night and there was no wait. But still very lively inside. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the view of all the chefs preparing the food. They had beers, sake and plum wine on the menu. We went with the plum wine because that is our absolute must order if it's on the menu. To eat we got a lot of skewers but mostly chicken and an onigiri. I wish the onigiri could have been more crispy but the flavor was there. The chicken thigh skewers was an absolute showstopper! I wish they could have had a chicken thigh and leek option though. The short rib was my next favorite, very juicy and tender. We also had the shishito pepper skewers and sweet potato. I really enjoyed both. Everything was so hearty and filling especially for the price point. I'd love to come back and also check out their sukiyaki options. read more