It was fantastic if there was 10 stars i will give a 10 out of 10 it was clean #Jimmy read more

Yakiya - This was the was really clean and high in nutrients - Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Three for three, Yakiya has yet to disappoint. We celebrated our anniversary at Yakiya again, this year at the Pasadena location. It's good to know that the amazing quality is consistent between branches, both in terms of food and service. There is a lot more space between tables here, making the Pasadena location feel considerably more intimate than the Hacienda Heights location. The calm atmosphere at 8:30 on a Sunday evening was everything. Everyone who waited on us was incredible, but Jeffrey especially was an absolute delight. read more

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Came here for their 10-course yakiniku experience and thought it was a great way to try a variety of dishes and wagyu cuts. The course featured both A5 Japanese and American wagyu and there was a lot of attention to detail throughout the meal. We started with the wagyu tartare and hamachi and both tasted super fresh. The steamed egg with abalone was silky smooth and comforting, while the cod was rich, buttery, and fatty in the best way. I also enjoyed the fresh crudité with the red miso dip as a lighter bite in between courses. The meats were definitely the highlight. The beef tongue was thick and flavorful, and I especially liked the scallion kosho because it balanced out some of the richness. The ribeye, short rib, and chuck were beautifully marbled, and the fresh wasabi was a nice touch that complemented the meat well instead of overpowering it. We also ordered the bone marrow rice on the side and I'm glad we did. It was rich, packed with flavor, and had chunks of meat mixed throughout. Our server also brought out birthday shots poured through the bone marrow which made the experience extra fun and memorable. Finished everything off with mandarin sorbet and vanilla ice cream which was refreshing after such a rich meal. Overall a fun dining experience with quality ingredients and good service. read more

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Yakiya offers a refined and modern take on Japanese BBQ, with an atmosphere that feels intimate, elevated, and perfect for a special night out -- whether it's a date, a small gathering, or even a celebratory dinner. The highlight here is definitely the quality of the Wagyu. The experience leans more toward a curated meat tasting, with beautifully presented, juicy cuts that are satisfying without being overwhelming. Even with two 16-year-old boys at the table, everyone left full -- which says a lot. That said, I took one star off because the setup feels more like a traditional restaurant than a true omakase experience. Since you're seated at tables, there's a bit of passing plates and bowls back and forth with the server throughout the meal, which slightly interrupts the flow and intimacy you might expect from a classic omakase. If you're looking for a sashimi-focused experience, this isn't that -- it's much more Wagyu-forward. Service was a highlight. Jamie was attentive, warm, and made the experience feel smooth and well-paced. Overall, if you go in expecting a high-quality Wagyu tasting rather than a traditional omakase, this place really delivers. A great Pasadena spot when you want something a little more polished and indulgent. read more

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This is my first at their new Pasadena location. I believe it was $128 per person and you are definitely satisfied by the end of the pre fixe. The beef is always tender and perfectly cooked by the staff. One thing to keep in mind is the bone marrow fried rice is no longer park of the omakase, but is available for an additional $24. read more

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Yakiya are two words meaning grill store which sounds a bit stilted in Japanese. Yakinikuya is the usual default word for a grilled meat restaurant. I then found out this is the high-end restaurant for the Panda Express group using a Japanese format with all things Wagyū (wah ghee yu). Being in Los Ángeles, there are other culinary influences seeping in such as Korean, Argentinean, Indonesian, etc. and of course Chinese. Decor can be described as contemporary East Asian with touches of Japanese Wabi-Sabi understated minimalism & refined Chinese accoutrements such as the gold tone metal chop sticks at the table which continues the motif. There is a bar which was manned by Billy who is a polished, suave barman comfortable and capable enough to perform in a Guide Michelin Trois Étoiles restaurant. He entertained us showing us rare ultra premium Suntory Hibiki Whiskey aged 30 years and Yamazaki Single Malt aged 25 years. 1) Wagyū Smoked Tartare is plush, lush topped with a quail egg yolk and microgreens ceremonially mixed sur la table while there is a wafer of burning Hinoki Japanese Cypress to give off incense like smoke. Placed on a crispy square toast point. 2) Crudité of carrots, crispy cucumber, purple bell pepper with Aka Miso/ red Miso paste. Huge, airy, Indonesian Rengginang/crunchy fried rice chip. 2) Chawan Mushi: A more viscous version of Japanese egg custard soup garnished with woodsy Shītakè (shee tah keh) & what may be Chinese dried Abalone. 3) Miso Black Cod: Sweet white Miso caramelized and cod slightly burnt, sprinkling of Asatsuki/Japanese chives. 4) A5 Zabuton Nigiri: Wildly marbled Kagoshima Wagyū. Zabuton, meaning seat cushion, is the chuck area, located between the neck and the rib of a cow. Plush Zabuton wraps around a small Nigiri of Sushi Rice and topped with Kuki Wasabi/fermented, pickled Wasabi stems. Underlying flavoured soy sauce in the dish. 5) SRF American Wagyū Tongue: Thin disks with hash grill marks chewy yet soft eaten with a flavourful rough chiffonade of green onions, aromatic, toasty sesame oil, sea salt which seems to have Chinese sensibilities. 6) SRF American Wagyū Harami Skirt Steak: Harami means belly meat and it came out pleasantly chewy with good, fatty beefiness. Deliberately cooked to medium to emphasize the chaw. Excellent Chimichurri sauce of green herbs, aged garlic, thick olive oil that complemented the beef. 7) SRF American Wagyū Shortrib: Another wildly but not as marbled, thicker slice that had a pleasant chaw. Used the green onion chiffonade. 8) Wagyū Garlic Rice: Korean Bibimbap like crispy yet moist rice texture augmented with green onions, toasted ground garlic and fatty beefy Umami. Same flavoured soy sauce. Starchy and rich to finish off any hunger present. 1-8a) Kikusui Daiginjō Sakè (sah keh): Using the rare Kikisui Sakè rice, rich body with hints of acid, Kōji/rice earthiness, touch mushroomy, faintly fruity, dry apricot, Japanese Hachiya Persimmon. 8) Yuzu Sorbet with Basil oil: Refreshing mildly bitter sour citrus with slightly musky green herbal. All the staff is very accommodating, welcoming, service oriented. Since they do all the grilling, they instinctively know when to swoop in according to the customers' pace which is amazing. Christian was informative, food knowledgeable, savvy. He helps create a feeling of hospitality that goes a long way in enhancing the Yakiya experience. 4+ stars read more

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i have been to the hacienda heights location a few times and wanted to bring my boyfriend. i decided to try the pasadena one. it's sort of out of the way but once inside, you can feel drawn into the dark, clean ambiance. my boyfriend said "i have never been to a place like this before." every dish was delicious, layered with thought-provoking flavor and texture. the bites were fun and the wagyu was amazing. his eyes lit up with every bite. our waitress was so nice and personable. it's an all-around unique, fun, and memorable experience. read more

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My aunt took me here for my birthday dinner. We came on a Sunday around 5:30 PM. The restaurant wasn't quite full yet, but it does get more busy as the night went on. We loved their decor. We got YAKINIKU TRADITIONAL CHEF'S TASTING MENU | 10 COURSE for $78 per person. All the food was really good, definitely high-quality. The food that needed to be cooked was prepared table side by our server. The timing of each course came was just right. This place is definitely an experience. But for people that don't eat as much, they didn't have a lot of selections for people that wanted to order à la carte. Other than that, the food was excellent. read more

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Having visited both locations multiple times, I can confidently say the new spring menu is the best I've experienced at Yakiya. The focus on seasonality is fantastic, and at $128 for 15 courses, the value is unbeatable. Highly recommend! read more

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This is my second time at Yakiya, and I think it was better than the first time! I'm not sure how it's even possible. Food: AMAZING. The cuts were perfection. The first cold dish is so beautiful. I do not usually eat raw meat, but my experience is pretty pleasant here. The beef tartar tasted very fresh. The cooked cuts melt in your mouth! My favorite dish was actually the miso cod! It's sooooo flavorful. I dream about it still. It's comparable to the black cod dish from nobu. The bone marrow fried rice is just as great as the first time I had it! I want to come back everyday to eat it! Service: Our server is amazing! He cooked everything so well. He made small talk with us and was pretty attentive. Parking: FREE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE! Overall: Their restrooms bring me back to Japan. The seats automatically open up when you enter a stall. All the courses were definitely unforgettable. For the price, everything was unbeatable. It's a wonderful celebratory meal or a regular date night meal. I will definitely be back in the future! read more

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Was in the area and decided to try due to the good reviews. Was worried it was going to be like Chubby Cattle which we didn't like. Thank goodness the food was good. Got the original set. Liked how they asked if we all eat raw meat because of the tartare. They were and to substitute for an extra piece of meat for the non raw meat eater. All the food and meats were well seasoned and spot on. The only negative was the rice was at the end was a like bit too sweet. Servers came around often refilling drinks and were friendly as well. If i lived in the area, I would come more often. read more

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Great service. Didn't have to really do much since the employees here cook for you and always come and check on you. Will come back to try their 11 course menu and see how it defer from the dine in LA special one. Got a few drinks as well to try them out. Their old fashion with the marshmallow was a nice touch and my girlfriend really enjoyed the fog drink. Nice decor inside very modern. Only problem is when I tried calling them to reschedule my reservation that I made a mistake on i didnt get a response when I emailed them and couldn't get through their phone number so I just had to let it go and make another reservation. Which someone would answer or pick up the phone read more

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Yakiya is a wonderful Japanese steakhouse specializing in yakiniku (Japanese grilled meats) in a center table grill with smoke free ventilation. We went during Dine LA and had the 8 course menu and every one was A+ delicious. It included premium cuts like Japanese A5 Wagyu, American Wagyu, Prime beef and a cod that was so buttery and flavorful it was as good as the beef. Jimmy our server made the whole visit such an enjoyable experience for our table of 4. He was a great storyteller and imparted a greater appreciation for the preparation and the quality of the beef. Some cuts are sourced directly from Japan. Billy took care of us at the bar and made some delicious cocktails notably the Mr. Miyagi whisky with puréed ginger and sweet fruit essence. Form the moment you gaze at the entrance adorned with colorful Japanese lanterns and step into the softly lit lobby, you can feel the amount of attention it took to create a harmonious space complete with comfortable seating, beautiful premium bar area and tastefully designed dining room. Definitely worth subsequent visits and a place to take your best friends and family. read more

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Great food experience! Everything was like a work of art-too pretty and delicate to eat. All the food was amazing and tasted delicious. Our server was super nice and very attentive and knowledgeable. We will definitely come back to do the bigger course soon. read more

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Came for DineLA! We got the lunch set course for $68 which included tartare, chawanmushi, black cod, A5 zabuton nigiri, Wagyu skirt and short rib, crudités, garlic rice and yuzu sorbet. We added bone marrow to the garlic rice and a A5 ribeye with poached egg. We had reservations and for a set time, as the servers have to prepare some dishes tableside. Most tables seem to also do DineLA so the tables got served the courses together. Nine other dining parties came at the same time as us with three servers taking care which could be a little short staffed. Since we came late by five minutes we were seated last of the time slot and didn't get offered a drink menu. While the dishes seemed small, by the end of the meal we were quite full! The A5 dishes were quite tasty. The Wagyu ones in comparison were less rich but the chimichurri sauce helped. We got some extra dishes not on the menu (Wagyu ribeye and tomatoes) which were a pleasant add! Plenty of parking in the lot shared with Hook burger and various cooperate offices that are not open on weekends. read more

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Came here for DineLA with two other friends. We each got a drink to pair with our dinner. FOOD I don't think there was a single dish I disliked. Definitely wished I had more of a few things. The miso black cod was delicious. The different meats were flavorful and rich. I really liked that there is a built-in fan for the grill so the smoke doesn't get on your clothes. INTERIOR Definitely trendy vibes. Great spot for date night or just cozy gathering with friends. They had stations that could seat up to 8 people comfortably. SERVICE Attentive! They refilled my water a few times without needing to ask. They also cook the meat for you too. PARKING They have a spacious parking lot so parking was not an issue for us. WOULD I COME BACK? Yessss read more

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We came as a large party of 12. Everyone was so impressed with the professional service we received. Each dish was presented so beautifully, introduced so professionally , and tasted so amazingly. I was surprised to see a Koi fish in the bottom of my sake cup. Then you know the restaurant care about each customer's dining experience & care for all these little details. All 12 of us walked out of this restaurant satisfied & already are setting a date for our next visit. Great job Yakiya! It's really hard to impress every single one of us and you did it! read more

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The food here is amazing! Every dish was delicious. Excellent service and we can't wait to go back. We had the 10 course but we're definitely doing the 15 course next time. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Great service and value for the Original Tasting Menu from the team that brought you the Panda Inn and Express! We went for dinner on a rainy Saturday, lured in by the exotic cuts of beef on a reasonably priced tasting menu. Was it worth it at this famous Japanese beef concept resto? Short answer is yes, and we will be back, having been sucked in by the sleek but classy casual luxe vibe with its gold and yellow hues contrasting with dark stone. But let's find out more about what we ate, if I can remember (it's 15 courses, but the menu doesn't quite match what you might actually get)... Amuse bouche. Right off the bat, a strong starter. If you dig raw meat tartare, this does not disappoint. The tartlet was a nice little bite, and the pastry was crunchy, pairing well with the sour beef. Running tandem with a more classic raw egg shooter wrapped in nori, and you got a winner with the creamy yolk enhancing the meat. Recommend even if you don't normally do raw meat dishes, and they will ask you up front if you can handle it. Wagyu tataki. Thin beef slice with nice sour vinegar dressing. Served with smoke jar, and so the flavor is very much infused with it. Maybe off putting to some since it is fairly pronounced. Chawanmushi. Might have crab flavor in it, but it was definitely the best chawanmushi I've ever had. Super silky smooth, this dish takes it next level with its superior texture. Served with the seafood broth, scallop, and mushroom, this is a treat between meat courses. Miso sea bass. We love sea bass, and we have had miso-glazed salmon before. But this sea bass is infused with it. Cooked perfectly with its flaky soft meat and with a sweet char caramelization on top, this a delicious seafood course that you don't want to miss. Wagyu "sushi". Think nigiri but with grilled beef. The server cooks this one for you before wrapping it around vinegared sushi rice with some real wasabi. Unlike common fake horseradish wasabi, this is not spicy harsh but pleasantly sweet with, wet, and only a hint of heat. Tasty and so fatty, a delicious course with rice, whetting the appetite for more cooked beef to come... Wagyu with onsen egg. A creamy luxury of a dish, the server cooks the meat and egg separately on the grill. When eating, you coat the meat with the runny egg mix for superb bite of creamy beef infused with soy sauce. Fruit palate cleanser. A small dish of wet candied yuzu, wakamomo (sweet picked baby pears), and yamamomo (sweet pickled Chinese bay berries). Delightfully sweet and sour trio. Side dish of veggies. Carrot sticks, cucumber, and lettuce served with a super tasty miso dip. Also comes with a giant rice cracker. Refillable! (We did.) Beef tongue. Server grilled and served it with a slightly sweet and slightly sour green Japanese chimichurri, this was very fatty tongue. Super soft because it's Wagyu. Wagyu platter. Three different meats, each one increasing into fattiness. Server grilled each one to your liking. The filet is left as the last piece to be served on the final meat course before dessert... The garlic miso bone marrow rice. A fantastic savory finisher. The server mixes the bone marrow and miso paste into the rice, and it comes out like fried rice. Then the server places the filet on top like a steak donburi. Meat is so soft you can just bite it with chopsticks as you pair each one with a mouthful of fatty rice. Best food combo, steak and rice, of course. Dessert. The yuzu sorbet (my fave) was sweet and sour with bitter notes, covered a sweet matcha sauce. But the matcha bomb, a white chocolate shell, explodes matcha in your mouth when you bite into it for a fantastic meal finish. Overall, definite recommend. Get the original tasting menu if you can spend the time and have the room for it. It's a great value for the experience and what you get. Until next time! read more

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We did a dineLA meal with the grilled meats. Servers were procedural and friendly. The grilling is all customers hands free and prepared for you by the staff. Design inside is darker and seems modern. Good for a date night. Every dish was really good and enjoyable. Beef consistently had marbled wagyu fat that melts comfortably. The fish came out juicy and buttery. There was not really any dishes that I did not enjoy. Everything was presented neatly. I guess the only awkward part was my utensils getting taken before I was finished on the last dish. Not a big deal, they have me another fork. read more

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I haven't been to Yakiya in a while but this was such a good meal. I did the standard 15 course for a birthday dinner and it flies by. Plus they did a great job in dish portions so I didn't feel overly stuffed by the end of this. Every dish was solid and I have such a hard time picking a favorite! Maybe if I had to pick, the Zabuton nigiri was nicely paired with the fresh wasabi and nori powder. Many of the beef cuts were very tender. Dessert was a nice sorbet to lighten up the heaviness from the meal, and they added a birthday cracker. Plus the chocolate was so cool for dessert. It explodes in your mouth but in a good way! Highly recommend for any occasions and easy to get in and out of, with ample parking in the lot. read more

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I ordered the Yakiniku 10-Course Tasting Menu for a Friday night dinner for two. My favorite dishes out of the ten presented were the following: 1. A5 Beef tartare 2. SRF American Wagyu 3. Chawanmushi The yuzu sorbet for dessert wasn't bad either. Everything was either lacking balance or flavor. The salad was too sour. The garlic fried rice was hot temperature wise which I appreciated but the entire presentation and flavor were good but mediocre. The local farm crudite with the red miso paste was just weird: underwhelming, a few carrot and celery sticks, and the red miso paste didn't work flavor wise. It actually tasted bad in my opinion. The crudite was pedestrian for a seemingly high-end restaurant like this one. All the portions were on the small side as well. The interior was elegant and classy. However, service was cold and not welcoming. It was $70 per person before taxes and tips and drinks if I recall correctly and the bill came out to close to $200 after taxes and tips. To have only three hits out of ten dishes, and service was lukewarm and lacking in general, this was a disappointing experience. Overall, underwhelming. read more

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Definitely a unique experience when it comes to Japanese Bbq! First of all service was wonderful - it was raining outside and one of the waiters let us in early so we didn't have to wait out in the rain. All of the staff were very friendly and very knowledgeable whenever we asked questions about the food. The ambiance was also good with gold cutlery and spacious seating. The lights are also dimmed out so whenever the food came out, you get great visuals Overall, the food was great-but if you're not used to fatty foods I would say it might be too rich. Otherwise, the meat quality was great with lots of marbling! The seafood was also extremely fresh - they even showed us the crab they were going to serve us at the end of the course. Overall a great experience! read more

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Parking: Yakiya has its own private lot. I did not have difficulty getting parking. Interior: The restaurant was very spacious and had a very nice ambiance. It is definitely a nice place for a quiet dinner. Service: The servers were very friendly and attentive. They explained all the dishes thoroughly and checked with each individual to see if anyone had any preferences on how the entrees were cooked and served. Food: We got the 15 course tasting menu. I would say my favorite dishes are a tie between the beef tartelette appetizer and the beef nigiri. All of the beef cuts were very tender and the servers did an excellent job in cooking it. They also had some vegetable and fruits to lighten up the meal. The beef marrow rice near the end of the menu was very heavy and will definitely fill you up. The sorbet at the end was a very nice way to end the meal. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience. read more

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Best yakiniku in the area! The service is 5 stars and the food is 10 stars. If I could, I would love to dine here on a monthly basis. Great place to go for any occasion! Highly recommend to do the 12 courses for $128. read more

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We celebrated two Birthdays at Yakima Pasadena tonight. A party of three. Our main server was Lily. She was gracious and very helpful in explaining the many courses of the tasting menu. Others also helped cook the courses. Great friendly staff. Nice and clean restaurant. I was almost getting the meat sweats from the great tasting Japanese Wagyu A5 meat. The American cuts to me was not as tasty, but still good. A Wonderfull place to Celebrate a special event. Ask for Lily. She will treat you with kind & gracious service. Rating: 5 Stars read more

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My partner made a reservation for us for Valentine's Day, and it was an excellent meal! The Wagyu were all sooooooo tender and meaty, and my favorite bites included the one with the poached egg and the tartare tart. The drinks were also quite good (I wasn't the hugest fan of the almond liqueur one in the pairing menu... tasted like cough syrup). Overall it was a very solid meal and our server was great! read more

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I was very pleasantly surprised by Yakiya. We tried their dineLA dinner for Winter 2026 focusing on grilled meats and enjoyed it very much. Service was fantastic, like a well-oiled machine, with staff coordinating each dish and preparing many dishes at the table grill. I especially loved the non-alcoholic cocktail prepared by bartender Billy, who also offered friendly banter and made us feel at home. This should a popular locale for Pasadenans. Ample free parking in the lot. read more

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Awesome dining experience with quality beef cooked right at your table by attentive staff. Recommend ordering their course menu as it ends up having better value than ordering a la carte. They have a full bar with creative cocktails as well as traditional ones. New happy hour on weekdays from 4:30-6:30pm and again at 9-10pm. I like the Skytree lychee cocktail. Fruity and refreshing. Some of my favorites are the flavorful A5 Nigiri, chawanmushi, scallop crudo, bone marrow, and wagyu tataki. The yuzu sorbet is also the perfect way to end the scrumptious meal. This spacious elegant restaurant is the spot for special occasions or just to simply have a quality meal with friends and family. They also can do private dining for events just ask the manager Jason, who's down to earth and knowledgeable. Overall, this high-end Japanese yakiniku bbq restaurant with shabu shabu hot pot offering is a must-try! read more

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Wow!!! 5/5 stars all around for Yakiya. First of all, the quality of the food is fantastic. Their servers are sooo friendly and the ambiance really makes you feel at home. This place is great for special occasions. I highly recommend coming here if you're looking for super yummy and good quality Wagyu with great service. Located in a spacious area with a huge parking lot. read more

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Made reservations for Shabu shabu hot pot. We made reservations for 430pm and were so looking forward to hot pot. We arrived at 4:05 and were asked to come back later because they were not open yet. Hours listed in Yelp, google and open table say 10am-11pm on Sundays. We came back at 430pm and saw many diners already seated starting their meals. That didn't feel good. We were then seated at a grill and when asked about the hot pot, which I selected as part of the reservation, we were told that they aren't serving hot pot on Sunday, because it's Mother's Day. The website, Yelp or Open Table did not specify that at all. When I told them that I selected the shabu on the reservation, they told me that is just the general seating, has nothing to do with the meal you get. What?! See the hours and the reservation below. This is our second time trying to have hot pot here, the last time we were turned away on another Sunday at 2pm with customers eating in the restaurant we were,told they close from 2pm-4pm to clean. I guess we aren't welcome here. read more

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My first time at this location. I've been to the Hacienda location prior to the pandemic. This one is located right across the street from Panda Inn and a block away from Panda Express. It felt like they owned this part of Pasadena. Food: Got the 10 course meal. Everything tasted very fancy and delicious. I didn't feel like there was enough food though. Service: Excellent service. Very attentive. Environment: Plentiful parking and very high end interior. Great place for dates, special celebrations, and business dinners. Price: Pricey dinner. This is literally one of those places that serves you very good looking food and charge you a butt load. Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Environment: 4.5 Price: 3 read more

My party of 5 went for Dine LA at 8:30 PM. Tons of parking in the plaza, and the restaurant is easy to find. We waited around 15 minutes after our reservation to get seated. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, lighting dim and music was calm. Classy vibes but great for conversation. The Dine LA set menu consists of 11 courses: A5 Japanese Wagyu tartare, nori ribeye tartare, abalone chawanmushi, miso chilean sea bass, SRF American Wagyu beef tongue, SRF American Wagyu short rib, ponzu tomato salad (watermelon radish shimeji soaked in 3 hr honey), wagyu garlic rice paired with oxtail broth, A5 Kagoshima ribeye (yakiniku, poached egg), yuzu cheesecake Since my business partners came straight from China, I was worried that they wouldn't be full after the first 3 courses because the plates were tiny. I ordered 2 more dishes off the menu: ribeye (4 pieces) and 6 fresh oysters, and we were all pretty full by the time dessert came. If you have a big appetite, I'd recommend ordering 1-2 more items off the menu, but I couldn't even finish the wagyu garlic rice in the middle. My absolute favorites were the sea bass and beef tongue. Although I don't consume beef tongue on the regular, this one was out of the world!!! I'm not a big fan of beef tongue either but it was perfectly chewy and cooked really, really well. Everything was cooked really well, the servers really know what they're doing. Honestly, I could skip the oysters because even though they tasted good, they weren't amazing like the meats. Our server coursed out the meals *perfectly*, leaving ample time between the next dish, but not too long that we felt like we were waiting for our food. We ate over the course of 2 hours, leaving around 10:20 PM and I think this restaurant is perfect for business meals. All of us felt like the time flew by. We were relaxed and having such great conversations as the courses came and went. It was an ebb and flow type of dinner, and I enjoyed every bit of the vibes and the food. The servers here are all amazing and kind. Service is exceptional. I'm definitely coming back and introducing more people to this restaurant. Next time, I'll try another tasting menu of theirs. I highly recommend coming here for Dine LA, it's a perfect introduction to what their restaurant has to offer. read more

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Can't believe this establishment was started by the panda corporation. I like how our server wears a panda corporation pin on his lapel. I've actually had this place saved for a long time and when came here for their dine LA menu. Needless to say I as very impressed. Made reservations online, process was easy. The restaurant is very modern, tables were mainly booths. Ambient lighting and really nice ambiance. You are greeted immediately when you walk in and seated right away. The preset menu is 11 small tasting courses. The portions are on the smaller side but you'll definitely be full afterwards. The entire meal was delicious but there were definitely dishes that stood out. My favorites were: A5 Wagyu tartar - super fresh, tasty. Covered with ponzu jelly and truffle. I was pleasantly surprised how delicious this was. Miso Chilean sea bass - kind of reminiscent of nobu's miso cod. Really delicious and the buttery taste of the sea bass shines through SRF short rib - the staff cooks all of the meats which is a nice touch. They know what temperature best to cook the meats to. There's sauces that accompany the meats as well A5 Kagoshima ribeye - definitely can tell the difference with this one. They do dip the Wagyu in a poached egg mixture which I have not had before but nonetheless delicious. One of the better meals I've had in a while. Definitely give it a try if you haven't. read more

Yakiya - A5 Wagyu tartar, nori ribeye tartar - Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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DineLA's Restaurant Week brought me to this restaurant for the first time. I live nearby and remember when this space was Pei Wei, a "fast food" Chinese place. Pick Up Stix was another one, also gone. Both were unable to match the success of Panda Express, whose Innovation Kitchen is down the street. Across the street is Panda Inn Restaurant. The Panda Restaurant Group, founded by and still owned by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, also own Yakiya. There's another Yakiya in Hacienda Heights. Yakiya is a Japanese Steakhouse with tabletop grills as seen in Korean barbecue places. The concept is similar here, although in Pasadena the grill can be switched out for a Shabu-Shabu hot pot. The beef cuts are all types of A5 Wagyu. I'd say the main differences between Yakiya and Korean BBQ are: 1) the meats are not marinated here, but are served with sauces, and 2) the "banchan" here are not pickled (like kimchi etc), they were called crudite because they were fresh veggies. I made a reservation for the 11:30 opening (on a Sunday), There were 4 other tables with 11:30 seatings. I believe the reservations are spaced out, because aside from another group that may have walked in, no other guests arrived until 1:00 pm. They seemed short-staffed at first. There was just a male host and female hostess, who then also became our servers, bartenders, bussers, tableside preppers and meat cookers! After the initial rush of seating everyone and getting drink orders, the staff of 2 settled into a well-choreographed dance, bringing out dishes to each table in sequence, and most expertly placing the meats on the grill flipping them, again in succession, table to table. Such precision was possible because we were all seated at the same time. The $68 per person DineLA menu included: 1) Wagyu Smoked Tartare. Wagyu and seasonings mixed tableside and placed atop a piece of toast. There was a burning piece of wood on the plate to emphasize the smokiness. Very nice. 2) Chawanmushi (Japanese warm egg custard) topped with braised abalone that I mistook for mushrooms. Savory and delish. 3) Miso Cod. A traditional Japanese preparation, but this one was lighter and more to my liking. Portion quite petite. 4) A5 Zabuton Nigiri. A square of A5 beef cooked tableside and then formed into a piece of nigiri with sushi rice, soy sauce and a wasabi relish that had some kick but not nearly as much as the wasabi paste usually seen. Unique and yummy. 5) Three cuts of beef served on a plate with smoking dry ice underneath: ribeye (not on the DineLA menu, so a pleasant surprise), skirt steak and short rib, cooked in that order with a dish of chimichurri (and whatever wasabi you had leftover) alongside. All were tasty, but the ribeye was a fave. 6) Crudite and Red Miso. Served with the meats: fresh lettuce leaves, sticks of carrot, daikon and cucumber, plus a red miso paste and a fried rice cake/chip. Loved the freshness, my preference over Korean kimchi or other pickled things. 7) Not on the menu, a palate-cleanser of ponzu-marinated tomatoes. 8) Wagyu Garlic Rice. Rice with Wagyu and other things topped with fried garlic and a warmed sauce poured over and mixed tableside. Nice and savory, with some crispy bits. 8) Yuzu Sorbet topped with basil oil. Nice, refreshing and light. Based on the texture, it was clearly pre-scooped and kept in the freezer. I also ordered a "fresh Japanese lemonade" after my first 2 choices, the Cherry Blossom mocktail and the "fresh Japanese organic strawberry lemonade" were unavailable. It was fine, sparkly. Overall a nice introduction to Yakiya and its concept. I must say I was still a bit hungry afterwards. Sunday is the only day they open early for lunch, which I suspect is the reason for the possible shortage of staff, the unavailable beverages, and the men doing exterior building maintenance during business hours. Still, I would return, perhaps for dinner. read more

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A really amazing fine dining experience. It was my first time trying this level of dining, and everything was so elevated and delicious. We tried the 10 course yakiniku set, which included a ton of different bites, and everyone was satisfied at the end. We especially loved the miso black cod and obviously the wagyu cuts. The service was so attentive, friendly, and informative. I would highly recommend. read more

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The food was amazing but the service was top notch. Everyone was very attentive. The attention to detail is worth mentioning. Even the wet towel with lavender essence. The beef was delicious, the tartare melts in your mouth, the egg dish was so good. They surprised me with a birthday special, the ice cream was so good. Very nice atmosphere, amazing Japanese toilets, beautiful decors. I'd recommend it. Especially for a family night, girls night, dates, or birthdays!! Truly beautiful restaurant paired with the best service and delicious food! read more

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Dropping 1 star because the booking portal for Dine In LA for this restaurant was missing a key aspect. Booking on the Dine In LA portal only allowed for the original menu and I wanted the special Dine In LA menu. Thankfully, they were able to accomodate us for the special menu as I would have been quite upset. Anyhow, the restaurant, service, ambiance, and food was exceptional. The staff are very skilled at preparation of the meats. The presentation of the uncooked then cooked items was spot on. The meats and other items was perfect. The order of presentation was typical with the attention to detail and geared towards palate pleasing. We started with the tartare and an abalone steamed egg; some very clean sea bass; grilled tongue and short rib with a cool tomato and watermelon radish; wagyu garlic fried rice prepared table side; oxtail broth; ribeye with a delicate poached egg; and finished with some yuzu cheesecake. Please repeat for next Dine In LA event but change the dessert. The yuzu cheesecake was still frozen and only a hint of yuzu flavor. Everything else was just fantastic. read more

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Wonderful experience, the food was great and the service was also very nice. The restaurant was quiet as well. Would definitely recommend the food was very good. read more

Yakiya - Wagyu beef - Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

came here for their prefix menu as well as for their dinela, both times were a success! i loved the sake shot they do for celebrations with the bone marrow. read more