This yakitori spot is definitely worth a visit, especially if you're dining with family or a group of friends. Parking, there's a small lot in front with only about three spaces if you're lucky but there is 3 hour street parking nearby. We made a reservation, and the restaurant was packed with families and groups, so reservations are highly recommended unless you're dining early. My favorite features is the outdoor patio seating in the back, which is pet-friendly and perfect. The yakitori is delicious, and they proudly use premium-grade charcoal, which really comes through in the flavor. That said, after several skewers, it can start to feel like you're eating variations of the same grilled meat. Thankfully, the menu also includes rice dishes and ramen, which help round out the meal and add some variety. HIGHLY recommend the wagyu. The beer selection on tap is good, and the overall atmosphere is lively and welcoming. The restaurant is also conveniently located just a couple of blocks from downtown San Mateo, making it easy to stroll around afterward. There are plenty of dessert spots, boba shops, and other places to explore nearby, which makes for a fun night out. Great food, great atmosphere, pet-friendly seating, and a vibrant neighborhood. I'd happily come back again. read more

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Best izakaya no cap Ramen good rice good yakitori good fried stuff good appetizer good beer good Server friendly Worth to drive 7 hrs for this Busy weekend tho read more

Yakitori Kokko - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place serves some of the best yakitori. Even the grilled quail egg has such rich smoky taste to it! We ordered a variety of skewers and they all taste so good. The Wagyu melted in mouth. I love yaki onigiri and had to try it. The onigiri was crispy and came with pickles on the side. The Kokko salad was refreshing and great. What I love most was their cucumber salad which is really crunchy, sweet and tangy. The place is small but cozy with Tokyo street vibe. There are outdoor seatings available too. read more

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I can't believe this is my first review of Kokko's! Brought the wife here for our date night and once again, they produced an experience like no other. The staff was awesome, greeted us warmly and sat us within minutes. We already knew what our go-to plates were but we ended up trying some new dishes. As always, the end result was WOW! If your looking for some great food and a lively environment in San Mateo, you need to put Kokko's on your radar! read more

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This time food and service have improved and it's much spacious with the add on patio seating We had the special set meals with several grilles items, they were grilled with favorable charred and the Wagyu beef's were so tender that Mel's in your mouth. The fried yam was interesting and lightly sweet that ended a good note read more

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I had a major craving for some yakitori, so we stopped by this spot on a rainy Saturday to give it a try! We tried a wide variety of these Japanese BBQ skewers -- oyster mushroom, chicken thigh, chicken skin, shishitos, beef kalbi, and scallops just to name a few. Each skewer has that signature grilled flame-kissed flavor along with a soy sauce-based savoriness. Our favorites were the beef kalbi and chicken thigh, both are so tender and juicy! The scallops were alright, not sure about their quality or freshness. Each skewer only has a few pieces of meat or veggie though, so the prices are pretty steep for what you get! And they're even smaller than the pictures look. I'd say to get even somewhat full you'd have to eat around $40 a person in skewers! Service was great, our server was welcoming and attentive. I like the ambiance as well, we felt like we were transported back to a traditional, modest restaurant in Japan! Overall, decent yakitori but would not recommend coming on an empty stomach and looking to get full -- for that price you're probably better off getting something else. read more

Yakitori Kokko - Scallop, shishito pepper, king oyster mushroom - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A little gem in downtown San Mateo. It's a small shop with friendly staff and cozy vibes. Ordering is done on a double-sided paper menu. They offer a wide variety of options - from chicken, beef, and pork to seafood and vegetables - with both salt and sauce flavors for the skewers. We weren't that hungry since we had bar food beforehand, but we still managed to try a decent amount. My top favorites: chicken meatballs (sauce), chicken thigh (both salt & sauce), chicken skin (salt), miso eggplant, and the deep-fried sweet potato with ice cream (a must-have!). read more

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Solid place! You definitely need to make a reservation ahead of time to get a table. During peak times, they will give 1.5 hours dining experience per group. Definitely pick from the Yakitori menu. Everything was so good, I don't even know where to begin. Try new things, ask for recommendations. Get the daikon salad - it's a nice, refreshing dish. Be prepared to spend $$-$$$ per person if you really want to get extra full but solid food. read more

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The restaurant has limited seating, so I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. My party ordered a bunch of yakitoris, and my absolute favorite was the chicken cartilage. It was soooo good! Service was nice and attentive, and the dim, cozy ambiance made the whole experience even better. I'd definitely recommend checking this spot out. read more

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Very Japanese and a good variety of food items! Reasonably priced as well. It was our first time and we'll happily go back. My favorites were the tako karaage, aburi shime saba, and pork cheek. Definitely make a reservation read more

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Superb yakitori spot in San Mateo! Cute outdoor seating is perfect for the summer weather, and the service was excellent. Prices are as expected for yakitori, and I appreciate the variety of skewers. There are many different cuts of meats to choose from, but the yummiest options are the organ meats! Make sure to come with people who aren't picky lol. Our favorites: chicken heart, liver, pork cheek, beef tongue, fried chicken cartilage Pass: black sesame ramen, raw squid, chicken with plum sauce read more

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I came back to Kokko after a 4-year absence, and I was happy to see they now have an outdoor dining area -- much more spacious compared to how tightly packed it used to feel inside. We ordered a variety of tapas-style dishes, all very typical of what you'd find at an izakaya in Japan: fried squid, fried oysters, ankimo, tamago, shishamo smelt, yakitori skewers, radish salad, and yaki onigiri, just to name a few. The food was solid, the prices were fair, and the service was excellent -- friendly and attentive without being overbearing. It's a great casual spot for classic Japanese small plates and a relaxed evening out. read more

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Boyfriend made a reservation for my birthday and we enjoyed some truly tasty yakitori at Kokko. I think what really sets Kokko apart from other most other yakitori places is their skilled cooking. Almost every skewer had this delectable smokiness that still complimented the natural flavor of the ingredient. My favorite was the pork belly by far, but I also really enjoyed the okra, the scallops, and the gizzards. I also tried a seafood chawanmushi which was so silky and dreamy! I absolutely recommend this! Many of the dishes actually brought me back to Japan which was awesome. I also liked that they used a softer tofu on the agedashi tofu which gives it that sweet, savory, and creamy bite. There were, though, a few that didn't quite dot all the i's. First, some of our bacon asparagus were woody and very fibrous. Secondly while I appreciated seeing hitsumabashi on the menu, respectfully it just didn't invoke memories of Nagoya. There was far too much dashi in the bowl and you didn't get the step by step approach that makes hitsumabashi the famed dish it is. All in all, I enjoyed the experience. I understand why it's always so busy now! read more

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Always a go-to for late(r) night and scrumptious grub! Not your traditional Japanese fare, you won't find tempura, chicken teriyaki or even sushi! Mostly small plates and skewers, your very traditional Izakaya. The specials are always a must! Pretty busy during "dining hours" but they're open a little later than most places and their outdoor patio is heated. read more

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Came here as a group of 4 on a Saturday around 6pm and was seated right away with no reservation! The restaurant seemed pretty busy, so I do recommend making a reservation if you have time to plan ahead! ~The Food~ - Chicken thigh yakitori: Pretty good! The meat was very tender, and had a nice smokey flavor to it! - Chicken skin yakitori: My favorite from the night! We got this on with salt and the skin had a nice crispy/chewy texture. Highly recommend! - Enoki with bacon yakitori: Loved this one too! Enoki and bacon were cooked nicely and had a nice smokey flavor. - Yaki onigiri: Loved the crunchy exterior and smokiness, but I think the rice was a bit overcooked/mushy. - Beef tongue yakitori: Very tender, perfectly cooked! - Pork Jowl yakitori: Cool texture, perfectly cooked and loved the saltiness of it! Overall, I thought the yakitori was pretty good! Probably my favorite yakitori spot in South Bay. ~Parking~ This location is right in downtown San Mateo, so there's a decent amount of parking lots around the area. ~Overall~ I'd recommend for anyone looking for an authentic place to try yakitori! It is a bit pricey, but I think it's worth it! The prices are per skewer and the skewers are pretty small, so I'd estimate at least 5-8 skewers/person. Service is pretty fast and efficient as well! read more

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This was a cite place to stop by for a date. We had been to another restaurant similar so we decided to stop by. Everyone was so sweet. The seating was comfy just close to the table next to us I felt like we were just one big table together. Our waitress was sweet and answered our many questions. The garlic edamame, skewers and ramen were my favorite and my boyfriend loved the edamame skewers and wagyu. Everything was delicious. We did have to check in about the wagyu that was forgotten. They apologized and gave us cucumber on the house which was so kind! It can get loud in the restaurant where there's small space. The fried potatoes and ice cream was really good. Different but it reminded me of plantin bananas. I would definitely come back and try other foods. read more

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An ideal casual spot for catching up with family and friends. There is a wide variety of food and drink options. Food was to my liking; fresh tasting, adequately seasoned and not gamy. Service was attentive and our server took time to explain our orders which we appreciated. read more

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Authentic yakitori spot, great for casually catching up with friends. I've had this spot bookmarked for over a decade, and I'm glad to see that it's still humming along. My favorites from the skewers were the quail egg with bacon, tail, and beef tongue. My friends also loved the fish cake with cheese, but I don't like cheese. All the chicken skewers were solid. The chazuke with eel I liked more than I expected, usually I'm not a big fan of chazuke. The fried black cod and desserts were unmemorable, can be skipped. read more

I LOVEE THIS PLACE! Only if this were closer to home, I'd go here ALL the time and literally spend all my hard-earned money here LOL The ones we got were: Shishito pepper Shitake mushrooms Okra Scallop Shrimp Organic chicken skin Breast tender with shiso leaf Chicken Thigh Pork Belly Pork cheek Beef kalbi Rice balls I just absolutely love the smoked/grilled taste of all of this. We also got some beer, and honestly, the skewers would multiply and can be quite expensive. The service is fast and great! The inside of the restaurant is small, they have a patio area as well, and it is believed to be heated if you ever choose to go on a cold night. Parking is a bitch, but after the amount of skewers you are going to eat, walking sounds good after LOL read more

Reasonably priced with a decent variety of options, but overall the food was hit or miss. I appreciated that the skewers weren't overly salty like some other skewer spots, though some of the sauced items ended up being a little underwhelming in flavor. Many of the meat skewers we tried were sadly also over cooked and dry. We started off with the Kokko salad because it looked interesting and unique but the dressing wasn't good and some of the toppings like okra felt out of place. The agedashi tofu appetizer, however, was good. The pork butt skewer was also tasty and had good texture. The liver skewer was a bit dry. The duck meat skewer good texture but could've used more seasoning. Okra skewer was just okay. Both chicken skewers we tried (chicken with shiso leaf and chicken thigh) were on the dry side. Pork belly skewer was okay but nothing special. Staff was friendly, but I'm not sure I'd come back for the food. Out of the nine items we tried, only two stood out (agedashi tofu and pork butt skewer), which is surprising considering how popular this place seems to be. read more

Great Yakitori place, staffed w/ Japanese cooks and servers if you want that full Japan immersion. They have a nice interior where you can see the chefs from every seat and an outdoor area heated by lamps. Parking is rough and if you cant find anything in the small lot next to the restaurant you can drive up the street And park in the public structure about 2 blocks away. They have an outdoor patio that unfortunately the staff has to exit and enter the main door to get to. It is heated so don't worry on a cold night. Found some cool menu items here that are worth trying. They have hitsumabushi which is rice with a tea broth and unagi in top. It's a rare find in this area and we ordered it immediately, very good on a cold day. Next level would be Nagoya style Hitsumabushi to try the Unagi 4 different ways. A5 Wagyu Korokke: fried crispy potato ball with small chunks of Wagyu in it, would have liked some carrots inside as well but it was tasty and came with matcha for dipping. Skewers were all excellent, the skin especially was very well cooked aand crispy and soft. We've had it at some other places where it tasted more leathery. read more

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Came here for a late Valentine's Day dinner with my husband, sister & her husband. We made reservations last minute and snagged a table luckily! We were seated outside but luckily they have outdoor heater lamps so you won't feel cold. They give you a 90 minute limit so make sure your whole table is here on time bc they will let you know when it's time for last order etc. Yakitori Kokko has variety of meat for you to try from chicken cartilage, beef tongue, chicken skin, meat ball, heart, chicken thigh etc. They also have seafood like scallops, shrimp, quail eggs as well. I wish they had more veggies though like shishito peppers is something I love but they didn't have it unfortunately on the menu. (Bummer!) We also had variety of starters as well. Just FYI - many of the portions are on the smaller side. Takowasa (octopus with wasabi sauce): It comes in a small bowl and was pretty yummy! The wasabi sauce is not too strong and I fairly enjoyed it! Nankotsu karaage: fried cartilage! It's delicious and crispy! Daikon salad: It was very refreshing! The sauce was house made and it was a bit sweet but delicious! Tori soborodon: Ground chicken with egg over rice. I thought it was okay, I don't think it was anything special. Everything was delicious but keep in mind, it's definitely not cheap. With all the yakitori we ordered, bunch of appetizers and few years came out to be $400. read more

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Delicious and authentic (from what I can tell) yakitori! I always order a variety of skewers ranging from chicken thighs and beef tongue, to scallop and duck breast, usually preferring the sauce option and it always comes out tender and flavorful. My friends ordered the ramen, salad, and chicken karaage- all of which they'd recommend as well, especially citing the karaage I think due to kokko's popularity RSVPs are pretty much a must at this point. But food comes out quickly and the servers are friendly. There are a lot of drink options to pair with the food and the atmosphere is nice to chill with friends at. read more

Love taking visiting family to Kokko for special dinners! We made a reservation and got seated in the outdoor area. Heat lamps and no wind, you will forget you're outside! we got an array of skewers: unagi, shishito peppers, chicken hearts, pork belly, beef kalbi, chicken skin, and wagyu - $17/wagyu was melt in your mouth amazing, savored every bite sides/extras: takowasabi, edamame, chicken karaage, tako karaage, Takoyaki, unagi don highlight: unagi don and tako wasabi stomach filled up and bank account went down, was it worth it? yes! I loved the yakitori experience of eating and drinking with over conversation. Small plates are great to share and try a little bit of everything read more

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More pics of delicious food! Out of this batch, I liked the black sesame dan dan mian and the eggs the most. read more

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I wanted to sit outside and was seated promptly. Service was great - quick. I ordered a bunch of different skewers and I enjoyed them, nothing to write home about, but would come here again. read more

Located in Downtown San Mateo, parking is very very difficult to find. I got quite lucky with the one space that was available. Food was pretty good. The food was good but took a while. Service could have been better as well. During my time there, no water refills were given until asked. Overall, Yakitori Kokko isn't bad. The ambiance is nice and food is good. read more

Yakitori Kokko - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

The first time I visited 12 years ago, my now husband took me here and I can see why! I'm still coming here whenever we're visiting from socal. The food is always consistent, the waiters are kind and friendly and it feels like I'm back in Japan when I step into this little shop. I've tried a lot of things here, but my favorites are the gyutan, tori soboro don, takoyaki and nankotsu karaage. The gyutan is tender and never chewy. I also always do salt seasoning on my skewers. It's not common to to see Tori soboro don so I always grab it. I love the way the raw egg tastes with the ground chicken and rice. Nankotsu karaage is also something I don't see often but Kokko always does it well so I'm happy to order when I visit. I'll be back during my next visit! read more

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My only picture was only a fraction of the meal but wow this yakitori spot is a gem. Food was fantastic. The chicken cartilage is very enjoyable if you prefer some crunch of soft bones. You can ask for kewpie mayo on the side as well if thats up your alley. The daikon salad was refreshing, craveable. Tasted slightly pickled or acidic. We had the intestine soup as well as the tuna cod roe soup, both of which were superb (dashi stock base). Some of my favorite skewers of the night had to be the scallop, crispy chicken skin (either flavor), gizzard. Frankly there is no bad choice... a great restaurant to try new cuts of meat since everything is seasoned and cooked to perfection. Service was quick and very attentive. We sat outside but the heaters kept the outside seating environment toasty! read more

Yakitori Kokko - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

My favorites from this meal were definitely the pork belly skewers and fried calamari. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the yaki onigiri was. We also got chicken skin skewers, which were a little too salty but still delicious. The wagyu croquette came with matcha powder, which was surprising and actually complimented the flavor and crunch of the potato pretty well. Overall, every single dish was very flavorful! :D Service was fast and servers were very attentive and polite, and the indoor atmosphere was very lively. Would definitely come again! read more

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Visited Yakitori Kokko for the second time. Expect classic izakaya vibes, well-executed grilled dishes, and a solid place for late-night dining with friends. Highlights / Must-order items: * Wagyu Steak - nicely seared, tender, and juicy * Beef Tongue - thick cut with great texture * Lamb Chop - well seasoned, no gamey flavor * Steamed Clams - very fresh with a flavorful broth * Grilled Scallop - sweet and tender (often sells out) * Takowasa - smooth texture, great with sake Small portions, great for skewers + sake flights . Ideal for casual dinners, late-night bites, or a first stop after landing at SFO. read more

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We tried almost every yakitori on the menu ( you can see we really had high expectations for it based on so many five stars) and here are impressions of $200+ for two people Unwelcome service, unthinkable packed parking lot, overpriced food, and most unbelievable is sweet soy sauce is ubiquitous and excessive. The only good things are shishito pepper and mushrooms, not salty and freshly grilled read more

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Always great food.!! Just need to do reservations ahead of time. Parking is hard to come by, but a short walk from the parking garage is ok. read more

My favorite Yakitori spot in the peninsula! Definitely make a reservation to avoid waiting. The food and drinks always hit the spot, and you really can't go wrong ordering anything. My favorites are: * takoawasa * pirikara cucumbers * nankotsu karaage (fried cartilage) * fried calamari * takoyaki * agedashi tofu * yaki onigiri * black sesame tan tan men * torisoborodon * okra * cherry tomato * shishito pepper * chicken liver * beef kalbi Calpico soju and beer is normally me/my partner's choice of drink with the food, pairs great with alcohol! read more

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Yakitori kokko is our fav spot in San mateo. Been there way too many times and never had a reservation yet ways get seated. We always walk up, sign up at the door, order a bottle of whatever to sip on while we wait. Once seated, we immediately place orders, and food comes out fairly quickly. Place is dim and very loud so prepare to shout to each other. Good food good drinks good company always the best time. Parking might be a pain in the a but not impossible read more

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Kokko is a decent yakitori spot. It tries to be a comfort food style yakitori and beer with no frills, yet somehow the price point misses the mark. If you want to go for the "shack" and okay-to-be-charred feel, you want to back it up with appropriate pricing. On paper the prices look "cheap" but you get miniscule portions that almost tease you rather than fill you. We were so used to seeing an endless wait for Kokko so when we got reservations, we were super excited. We were seated in the parking lot shack - not a problem - except the table wasn't "flat". And given the decor, we were certainly going for the "street comfort food" style. Again, can play along. Before I comment on the food, I'll mention it the last time. Portions are tiny so don't be fooled by what looks like reasonable prices. You have to order a LOT. The skewers were quite good in many ways. None of them were the best, but they all score above average and were flavorful. We had about 10 different kinds but none of them were memorable. It certainly accompanies beer well. So decent marination. Where the taste was "off" was when there were burnt parts (fully understandable once in a while) where the skewer itself tastes bitter. At a yakitori place, this is just not acceptable. Many were great. Just a couple. Service is super slow and hectic. I appreciate everyone trying to bring out skewers as they come out, but there doesn't seem to be a dedicated server for your table, and thus, there are periods where you just can't get a hold of anyone. I won't be returning unless someone is begging to go for some yakitori and I'm out of options. Heck, Mokutanya a few miles north is much better. read more

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Quick take: make reservations This place was super busy on a Wednesday night. Not sure if dining in is available without a reservation. Either water I highly recommend a reservation. The food was delicious. We ordered mainly all skewers. Our dishes came out one at a time. We weren't able to order more than pictured because the food was settling and we were full. The ambiance was no frills. Indoor and outdoor dining is available. Definitely will be back to try more dishes. We parked in the nearby downtown parking garage. There's only a few spots available in their own parking lot. read more

Yakitori Kokko - Delicious! - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Amazing gem tucked away in San Mateo. This spot is a winner for yakitori and many other Japanese dishes. The yakitori was absolutely delicious, tender meats, super flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The chicken karaage was one of the best I've ever had. It was tender, crispy, incredibly well seasoned. Pretty much everything was a winner here. It gets crowded, so make a reservation. read more

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I came by a second time and my experience here was equal or even better than the first! Great vibes and amazing quality food. The interior is similar to a Japanese restaurant, slightly dim and wooden panels with handwritten chalkboard menus. Tables sit smaller groups easily; if you have a bigger group you probably will need to wait a while. I personally like their menu ordering system of writing down the quantity of each item we wanted. Food comes out fairly quickly, at least the small appetizers first. Alllllll the food is delicious. From the shishito peppers to even vegetarian skewers. Bacon wrapped enoki is genius. Honorable mentions: takoyaki, beef tongue skewer, agedashi tofu. Price is slightly steep but I shouldn't complain because of how tasty everything is. My group of 4 ordered around 3-4 appetizers, ~5-6 skewers each, small rice dish, and a pitcher of beer. Total with tip was around $45. If you're looking for a fun casual dinner hangout, this is a good choice! read more

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3.5 stars We made reservations for 9pm on a Friday night and were seated immediately for a party of five. It wasn't super busy because it was near closing time but apparently during dinner time it gets so packed that people are turned away. There is a small parking lot with ~6 spots with some street parking. We ordered a variety of yakitori and my favorites were the beef tongue, unagi, and pork cheek. I didn't care much about the chicken skin one because of its texture but apparently you can request to get it cooked longer which would make it crispier. For dessert we ordered the yuzu sorbet which was refreshing and nice to cut through all the meat during the meal. The service was good and the food was decent. It was a tiny spot which makes sense on why there would be a long wait. It's a nice place to hang out with friends to eat and drink. read more

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