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    The Yakitori Bar

    4.2 (560 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    THE YAKITORI BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - The Yakitori Bar

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    Evonne C.

    Review of 2 experiences in a week [Appetizers] - Crispy Chicken Skin ($6.50): Can never go wrong with crispy chicken skin! I like that they have their sauce on the side rather than drizzle it all over the dish. - Truffle Brussel Sprouts ($6.50): A bit salty and I personally did taste the truffle, but still a good with beer. - Chicken Skin Gyoza ($4.95): Surprisingly good. I thought the chicken skin would be too thick and crunchy but it was good. Appreciate the decent amount of filling too. [Skewers] price per each - Thigh ($2.80): Moist and juicy. Would order again. - Wings ($2.80): A must order as it's delicious with the tare sauce they grill it with. - Gizzard ($2.60): Pretty good. Well cooked and nicely seasoned. - Negi Tofu ($2.60): Flavorful but I do wish they were a tad bigger. - Eggplant ($2.30): It was a bit bland for me but nothing togarashi can't fix. - Pork Neck ($3.10): Nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. Another one to add to my favorites! - Duck Breast ($4.20): This was a bit disappointing as I was expecting a flavor bomb that was juicy. Not to say it wasn't good though, it's decent. - Unagi ($4.20): Not bad as unagi goes. Not too salty. - Japanese A5 Wagyu ($16): Sad to say this was also a bit lacking for me because all we got was fat and a sliver of meat. I'm sure not all skewers are like this for this item, so maybe we got unlucky. Not sure I'd get this again though. - Hokkaido Scallop ($16): Delicious! I hope they keep this on their menu! It came with a bit of mayo and lemon. - Scallop ($4.20): If you don't want to splurge on the Hokkaido scallop, this is also pretty good. One skewer comes with 3. - Ranch Beef Tongue ($7.95): Decent flavor wise, so I'd probably order it again next time. - Chicken Skin ($5): Also not bad but I'd say the crispy chicken skin is more up my alley. - Grilled Onion ($2.30): Grilled nicely and tastes good with the meat skewers or even with a splash of lemon or dipped in ponzu sauce. - Breast w/ Shiso ($2.80): I really wanted to like this but the breast was dry. The shiso flavor definitely came through. - Chicken Shoulder ($2.60): Decent. Wasn't dry but did lack a tad bit of flavor. - Cherry Tomato ($1.90): Always a nice add some refreshing veggies to balance out my usually meat heavy meal. [Drinks] - Shikuwasa ($12): I'm so glad I ordered this. Would definitely order this again. Decently sweet with a nice flavor of yuzu and perfect amount of Chu Hi! - Lemonade Chu Hi ($8.50): I wanted to like this but it just doesn't taste as good as the Shikuwasa. It's definitely a lot less flavorful and sweet, so if you prefer a toned down version of the Shikuwasa, try this one. - Hakutsuru Sake ($12/180ml): My bf enjoyed this. Since I'm not too big of a sake drinker, I'd still say it's pretty palatable. [Service] - Attentive, fast, helpful - Walked in on a Saturday at 7:30pm for 2 and was seated right away at the bar. There were maybe 1-2 more spots at the bar opened but got filled up pretty quick. No line an hour after we left. - Came here twice. First time was great at 7:30pm, but our second time the service felt a bit off (was there around 11pm-12am) and we realized they missed an item after we left but still got charged for it. [Ambiance] - Fun Japanese izakaya vibes - Has bar and table seatings - Only 1 restroom [Overall] - My favs are the crispy chicken skin, chicken skin gyoza, thigh, pork neck, wings, Hokkaido scallop, gizzard, negi tofu, cherry tomato and the Shikuwasa! - If you are vegan, let the staff know you'd like the vegetable skewers with no bonito flakes as some do come with it. - Enjoyed the food, atmosphere and drinks, so I'll definitely come back to try their Nabemono, Saba, and squid. Love especially that they open late!

    Hubert L.

    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.

    Christine M.

    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!

    Irena S.

    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).

    Pork belly
    Jon Y.

    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).

    Yuzu cheesecake and yuzu sorbet
    Kathy N.

    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.

    King oyster mushrooms
    Saleen L.

    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.

    Grilled squid
    Stacy L.

    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!

    Cherry H.

    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)

    Shruti J.

    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.

    Fried Enoki

    Amazing service! We stopped in and were seated immediately. The staff quickly took our order sheet once we filled it out. I really appreciate that all of our food came in waves instead of all at once where everything could cool down before we could get to it. Highly recommend the fried garlic!! The waiter was really fun and made conversation about the World Cup since we had the game playing. This will definitely be my go to skewer place. Can't wait to come back and try the new specials.

    Oyster mushroom, short rib
    Jessica D.

    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

    Menu (Oct 2025)
    Melanie H.

    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)

    Avocado dish

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    Page 1 of 14

    The Yakitori Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Yakitori Bar

    Is there outdoor seating or only indoor?

    Only indoor. You have tables or you can sit at the bar

    Do they have steamed rice?

    Is there hot pot on the menu- i don't see it online?

    Yes, they have few options

    How can I make a reservation?

    I've called when they were available to pick up. It seems you can make a reservation if you have a party of 6 or more, and only available during certain hours. So I'm guessing peak hours and small parties is out of the question. This totally sounds… 

    Hello, is there outdoor seating available?

    No.

    Is the business open? Or has the number changed? I can't seem to get ahold of anyone on the phone.

    Phone number is the same, when we went we sat next to the phone and every phone call was picked up

    Is this place open for business? I called but couldn't get through and website not working.

    Went today since Yelp stated they'd be open (6/30) after being marked temporarily closed for months. Still closed. I hope they survived because I'm still really looking forward to trying them out.

    When will you guys offer happy hour?

    Haha your funny!!. 😂.. Good question too😀 I hope if they're offer low the prices whole squids lunch and dinner 😄

    Do they serve Okonomiyaki?

    No okonomiyaki on menu

    View All 16 Questions

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    Upon coming in, they have a tv showing some sports and a good amount of tables…read more Servers are super nice and the owner took our order before we got to the table so we didn't have to wait too long for food. All their katsus were perfectly breaded and crispy, while the meat is still moist - not dry. The cabbage salad is ever so thinly sliced and just such a good pair with the katsu. Highly recommend the hirekatsu or tonkatsu! Would definitely return with more friends!

    If you've been to Japan, the presentation of the food at Katsu Gin will definitely make you miss…read moreJapan. I feel like I could have had a better experience, since it seems I went on an off day. FOOD: Fish Katsu (3/5) - First off, I felt that the oil used to fry the katsu was old. I had a strange filmy aftertaste with each bite. I kept dipping the katsu in the different sauces to mask the aftertaste but I stopped eating because I couldn't ignore it anymore. The fish used in fish katsu is cod, I felt like the waitress thought I was dumb for asking that question, even though it's not clarified on the menu. Sorry for asking... :/ It's normal for katsu places in Japan to have huge piles of cabbage so I wasn't surprised. The cabbage added a relief from all the fried fish I was eating. Miso soup was standard with nice big chunks of tofu; the rice was fluffy and light. Chicken Curry Katsu (3/5) - Chicken was juicy and plentiful, but honestly the curry had no taste. It added a that gravy like texture but didn't have that deep, rich curry flavor we think of when it comes to Japanese katsu. Usually at these spots you're asked how spicy you want the curry to be but here it's all mild, with no option to add your own spice. VIBE: Interior is simplistic, almost a little cramped. The tray that the food comes out on takes up the whole table space so don't expect to put anything on the table. It's very loud inside. Hard to have conversations. Also strict no outdoor food/drink policy. We were satisfied with the portions and, and didn't leave hungry, but still desired more from Katsu Gin. I'd love to give this place another try if I'm in the area.

    Photos
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    Hirekatsu set.
    Hirekatsu set.
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    Tonkatsu

    The Yakitori Bar - japanese - Updated August 2026

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