The ambience is wonderful. I really like the lighting as well as the whole aesthetic. The cocktails have a nice presentation however, the food is just decent. I love Japanese food however I'm not really impressed. I did appreciate the service most definitely but as far as the food I would have to say six out of 10. we ordered a variety of food choices, and one of them was the tempura, and the veggies need to cook a little longer. The sweet potato was not fully cooked However, this is a great place to go for events. read more

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I give Rhonda 5 stars! I had an EXCEPTIONAL experience working with Rhonda at Yoshi's box office. What I expected to be a simple transaction turned into an EXCEPTIONAL customer service experience. From start to finish, Rhonda demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, courtesy, and customer service. Rhonda was patient, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to ensuring that my questions were answered and my concerns were addressed. Rhonda represents Yoshi's with excellence and creates the kind of experience that builds customer loyalty and confidence. Thank you, Rhonda, for the outstanding service. LaVanya read more

Cute place for a date night! Rolls were a little pricier - ranged from $11-25. If you'd like, you can also watch some live music. The night I went, tickets were $49. It's a little fancy, so feel free to dress up! We were sat immediately on a Saturday right at opening (5:30). Service was really nice! Our waiter knew the menu super well and was able to recommend different dishes in each of their menu's sections. There's tons of tables, but not packed together too tightly. It was easy to hear my fellow table mates. read more

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This review is for the live music venue. There really isn't a bad seat in this place. Small intimate feel, so don't be loud & drunk here :) There is table service inside with a limited menu. Great drinks, good sushi, nice service. There is not really a dance floor, which is tough depending on who you are seeing play. I found a spot near the far wall so I wasn't in the way of the servers. I did dance in front of my chair a few times, but have to duck when the servers come by. The parking garage is right next door, and they validate for a partial coverage - machine at the front entry just inside. read more

Yoshi's - Skatalites - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh my god you all need a waaaaay better system for checking in people for dinner. No organized line; no number system; literally nothing and it crowds up blocking entrance. What about a texting system? Text guests according to order they checked in read more

I can't say enough good things about my visit to Yoshi's Oakland. You have to experience it for yourself. I traveled to Oakland for a Syleena Johnson performance. I made reservations for dinner before the show. The best recommendation was the pork chops with apples and sweet potato purée. The concert venue was an intimate space. There wasn't a bad seat in the house. I wish I lived closer to Oakland so I can go for dinner and entertainment every week. read more

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We arrived for a 5:45p reservation on May 17, we were seated promptly and our server was Fiona. She was a nice lady, and I am not sure of how busy she was but we often times had to call her by name to get something that we needed at the table. I ordered the kale and baby Romaine Caesar salad, snow monkey sushi roll, and japonese. The shrimp and scallop Kikage fritter and Brussel sprouts were ordered as well. All food was very tasty except for the Japonese, which I never received, and the brussel sprouts which were just okay. We also came for the jazz artist Eric Darius, so the restaurant has an option for a reserved table seating after we eat. I LOVED the idea of good food and a show, so I will be looking for more opportunities to visit here. read more

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It was a flawless night of great food and entertainment. For early sitting, we had a variety of shared items, all delicious and served with expertise. We wanted for nothing and enjoyed our meals with little interruption. Thank you, Yoshi's! read more

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I'm conflicted on writing this review. I really wanted to like this place, since I'd never been here in the 45 years living in the Bay Area. We were gifted tickets to see Stella Cole, and had dinner at Yoshi's before the show (dining there guarantees you reserved seating in the venue). The atmosphere in the restaurant area and in the venue was really good. Light and airy in the restaurant area, and cozy in the venue. Note that you'll be packed in, both restaurant and venue. Tables in the restaurant are quite close together, and you may be sharing a booth seat with others (we sat in a booth with 2 others). The service in the restaurant was so-so, kind of slow - more on this later. Venue service was good. The Aka Miso Calamari was fried well, but the pieces were really small, and had a hard time really tasting much squid. The Duck Confit Spring Rolls were a disaster. Although fried well, the rolls were thick, and you couldn't taste the duck. When I pulled apart the roll and just ate the duck/carrots, I could taste the duck. The Hotate Edamame Risotto was actually pretty good. Scallops were great. The Togarashi Kurobuta Pork Chop was disappointing. The purple sauce and apples were ok. I requested the pork to be cooked to medium well. It was closer to medium. Juicy but not what I was expecting. What was really annoying was that when the server brought our fork-necessary entrees, he didn't bring any forks or knives (we just had the chopsticks on the table). We had to ask a couple of servers to bring us utensils. I noted that the table next to us also ordered fork-necessary food, and were also given the food minus utensils. Also had to ask servers for utensils. This was unacceptable. We felt ridiculous sitting at the table, with our food, staring at it, unable to eat it (my husband did start in on the risotto with his chopsticks), waiting for utensils. In the lounge, we ordered the Banana-Nana-Na dessert. It was ok, but seemed pretty basic. The high point of the evening was Stella Cole. She was fabulous, and that was really a great show! Overall, this wasn't the experience we were looking forward to. read more

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Ok first, wasabi was NOT hot! Wtf!! The miso cod, don't! Prices went up quality definitely went down. Poor seat selection, won't eat here again read more

Yoshi's is two things, a decent live music venue and a shitty overpriced restaurant. If you can avoid the food, absolutely do so. The descriptions are fancy and the prices are very high, but you're getting nothing better than shopping mall food court crap. The drinks also suck, and service is very very slow. As a live music venue, Yoshi's is fine. They get some great artists in, sound quality and visibility are decent, and the ticket prices aren't too bad. So I give the place one star for the restaurant, and 3.5 for the music. Unfortunately they require people to eat the shite at their restaurant to go to at least some shows, making a potentially good experience very mixed (and VERY expensive), so I couldn't in good conscience give the place the 2.5 stars it really deserves. read more

Wow the lies people tell!! You are absolutely right there was a lot that was left out! Had you return my call any my many calls and had a conversation with me ,we could have got this situation resolved! Your manager told the server to stay in the back and not to return my card to me! The last part I waited for her to return! She didn't! As the manager she should have stepped up! She should have come to me instead of me having to look for her! Just like you when I called you to talk to you about this situation! You have yet to return my call ?? Your only responding because of this review! I don't have a problem not coming back to Yoshi's! Especially when your servers are taking the people debit cards and going missing for 30 or 40 minutes I had to cancel my card! I dont plan to not return! After receiving service like that! I did not purposely chest bumped her somebody bumped into me and I immediately apologize to her! Yes my friend did threaten her but it's funny how the card magically appeared after receiving the threat! Your manager purposely accused me of lying about receiving my card back! I did not lie they held on to my card for 30 to 40 minutes your assistant manager admit it that she dropped the ball and you did as well!! She gave me $20 because I couldn't get my car out of the lot! The whole situation could have been handled properly had your assistant manager done her job! And let's be clear! I never knocked anything over threw anything!! I could have! Run the camera back!! Your assistant manager is a liar and she's trying to save herself! I tried to talk to her right! She accused of lying me saying that I had the card! She never apologized! Even after the card surfaced!! You say that this is not something that normally happens, I know someone else that this has happened to as well! I also know someone who said and extra tip was added to their bill! Maybe you're just not aware of it! read more

I've been going to Yoshi's Oakland for decades, but after this experience, I won't be returning. My party was seated exactly where our names were placed. Staff approached us and insisted we were in the wrong seats. We calmly showed them the name markers, but were still told to move. It was later confirmed to be their mistake, they were trying to accommodate another party. We were willing to adjust. The issue was the complete lack of apology or accountability. Instead, when I calmly asked for acknowledgment, I was labeled "aggressive." For people of color reading this, you already understand why that matters. Being respectful and clear, yet still being characterized that way, is not a misunderstanding. It reflects how you're being perceived. What's more concerning is that ownership doubled down, defended staff behavior, and refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing, even after being given the opportunity to address it directly. This isn't just about a seating mix-up. It's about how you're treated when you advocate for yourself, and whether a business truly understands and respects the community it serves. I initially reached out privately to resolve this. For transparency, the full email correspondence is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JALLJ-xKHROnRiWSy0HJ6wmlfjFfsuPy/view?usp=drive_link read more

If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would!! I've come here about 4 times during this year, and every single time the food was amazing, service was amazing, and the two shows that I've been to were phenomenal. The last time I came here was on August 28th around 6pm, for my boyfriend's birthday. Although I made the reservation weeks ahead, I actually called on the day of, and made a last minute request for a nicer table since it was a birthday dinner. I forgot to get his name, but the guy I talked to on the phone said he'll see what he can do, and he delivered! When we got there, we DID get a really nice table even though it was just the two of us. And the Jesse Johnson show that night? Unforgettable. I'll be continuing to take my loved ones here for special occasions since Yoshi's never fail to disappoint me. read more

Yoshi's - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Location is great and the vibe inside is chaotic but really cool. The ability to eat amazing food and sorta hear the show going on. Food is really good, and overall being my first time I'm impressed. Things are structured well and my server Duilio G was super nice, fast with everything we needed and I had a great first experience. read more

I have been here for shows but rarely had time for dinner and a show. It turns out most of the customers were here for the same show (Carl Verhoyen) so there was an extra buzz/excitement in the air. We started with the edamame and veggie tempura for starters. For the mains we ordered the Japonese, Warriors and Veggie roll. All were good but our favorite was the Warriors roll. We got our seat assignment and scored a table for the show. Also, during the show, we were able to order dessert. The chocolate ice cream with Valharona chocolate was decadent but I preferred the banana ice cream. Overall a good time! read more

We went out to Yoshi's the other night to check out the Rich Rich concert with the Kevin choice ensemble. While they are, we enjoy the edamame as well as the shrimp tempura and the beef tenderloin. They were all delicious. I also enjoyed a couple of old fashions and my wife had a drink that she really enjoyed. The show was excellent. The service was excellent, and although I couldn't eat all my food that day, I enjoyed the leftovers the next day and I would highly recommend this because the crowd was nice. We settled and shared a table with another couple and really enjoyed our meal and the concert. I gave this a five star not just because of the food in the service but also because of the concert, Richie Rich was on point as usual read more

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So grateful to have this local gem still here in Oakland. Idk what happened to the one in SF, but let's keep Yoshi's around forever y'all! I was very impressed with how the wait staff was able to take our orders bring the extra items we requested and get our bills and everything taken care of so efficiently! It was a packed house but they were well trained! We appreciate the vegan sushi options and would love more plant forward desserts and apps. I love coming to Yoshis and have lost count on how many wonderful events we've experienced here. I cherish each night we've spent here this far. Thank you. read more

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I made a dinner reservation at Yoshi's Oakland specifically to improve my seating for a show, since I wasn't able to get VIP tickets. I arrived early when the restaurant was nearly empty, yet somehow I was the only person in my section who didn't receive a seating ticket. Guests who arrived after me were seated ahead of me. After asking my server, Irene, I was told my seat had essentially been "lost" and they needed to "find somewhere" for me to sit. I ended up with a significantly worse seat than others who came later. When I tried to address this privately, I was treated as if I might leave without paying, which was completely inappropriate. The manager, Nick, was dismissive and condescending, focusing on the fact that I didn't have VIP instead of addressing the actual issue. No apology, no accountability, and no real attempt to fix the situation. I even asked about adjusting my future reservations after this experience and was told that wasn't an option. This wasn't about VIP--it was about fairness and basic customer respect. Very disappointing experience. read more

I had a lovely experience at Yoshis with my husband and two of our friends! We purchased tickets to see Layla Hathaway and decided to meet for dinner before. I was able to secure a reservation just before the show started (about an hour). We were seated upon arrival and promptly greeted. The menu has good options and we decided to get a shared family meal which was super delicious and great value for the price. We finished dinner just as it was time to go into the concert. The concert venue is cozy and all of the seat give a great view of the stage. It's a wonderful ambiance and it was a good crowd. We really enjoyed our time. Parking is super close and convenient and they do validate. read more

The ambiance here is fantastic. It is really pretty and there is great lighting, enormous glass windows, plenty of seating and lovely Japanese themed decor. However, the food is mediocre. We got the omakase that had pork, fish, and duck. The plating was atrocious, the sweet potato looked like slop and play dough. Everything was served on two plates--all the courses, like leftovers. All of it was just super unrefined. The meat was tough--over cooked, the sauce was bland, the egg rolls, or whatever they were, were nasty and mushy inside. I would not go here again. Our waiter was also super weird and rushed us. He wouldn't even let us order dessert at the table. He seemed to be over it before we even started ordering. Furthermore, he seemed to be too comfortable. For example, when I asked for the menu, he said, "just order you dessert at the performance area since you need to purchase something there anyway." WHATTTTT? On another note, the performance area was very intimate and the performances were fantastic. I loved the sound, the band was great, the energy was amazing, especially when the artists walked through the crowd. At the end, when we payed for our food, he asked why I was typing so much when entering my phone number for the receipt. He then proceeded to rate himself highly on the survey prompt that followed. read more

Yoshi's had long been on my Oakland must-visit list, but I was waiting until I saw a recognizable name, typically R&B for me since I respect but don't really know jazz. My partner found and hyped up a good artist that I didn't know but was willing to take a chance on. The artist himself was fantastic, and it seems that Yoshis certainly books reputable or talented acts, but overall the experience needs improvement. We did not have a dinner reservation and were entering for the show only. It was baffling why they waited until the time that the website/tickets said the show was starting to actually start letting people in. It quickly became chaos and half-baked lines disappeared as everyone pushed forward to try to get good seats if they didn't have reserved spots (as we did not). We lucked out with a gracious usher who seated us at the front of the mezzanine level, with an excellent view and far back enough that our ears were not blasted off - though I do recommend grabbing some free ear plugs at the front/ticketing desk. As everyone else has noted, the drink minimum is a bit annoying and nothing is actually good. We ended up getting sake to avoid overly sweet or imbalanced cocktails. Even though they seem like they want to be pushy and make money off of drinks, it took forever to place an order with anyone. This was frustrating because I wanted to be sure to get it done before the show started and avoid talking during the performance. Of course, once the show started I didn't expect anyone would come by to check on us for the same reason and didn't hold that against them. The only thing they were prompt and attentive about was bringing the bill and running our card. Again, it was an enjoyable night thanks only to the performer, and not as much to the venue's credit. read more

Yoshi's - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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The sushi was ok nothing special just pricey for what it is, drinks were ok the service is very well managed. They take care of you. Is best to go when your favorite singer or bad plays there venue is not that small but is more intimate giving a good ambiance. The only thing is needed here is good food otherwise it's just a good venue read more

Yoshi's - Hailey Reinheart - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Located in the heart of Jack London Square, Yoshi's is definitely the place to be when it comes to the center of jazz and hip-hop culture, especially with the select amount of local and international artists they select. They also have a wonderful selection of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic? It in itself is also a restaurant outside of the concert scene -- serving Japanese delicacies, entrees, and more. This past weekend I went to Yoshi's to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, which is a Latin jazz orchestra based out here in the Bay Area. The staff were very kind and very helpful when it came to choosing which seats best fit for us so we were able to see all of the performers. It was a sold-out show indeed, but that did not hinder them from helping us choose the best spaces in the house. The overall experience of the show was that they were all very professional and did SUCH a fantastic job. I wanna give a shoutout to the Yoshi's Oakland team for being so hospitable, asking us what drinks were best catered to the mood of the show, and so much more. I have yet to try a dine-in experience soon, but I will save that for another review. read more

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Yoshi's is the perfect intimate venue to catch a concert. I have been several times, on dates, by myself and with friends and the artists have been amazing! The shows are a bit shorter than a normal concert so some of the artists will do multiple shows a day. If you dine in the restaurant you can sit a little closer in the reserved seats. To me any seat in the venue has a really good view of the stage. They have a limited menu in the music venue so I usually order the soy garlic edamame, the snow monkey roll and a glass of wine. The food is solid and is a nice treat to enjoy during the show! They also have a ton of servers and they always magically manage to deliver your food and close out your check right before the show ends. I've never eaten in the actual restaurant but the bar near the concert venue has great drinks and is good spot for people watching before and after the shows. read more

Yoshi's is an extremely important way to wind down and rejuvenate your body, mind , and spirit. The food is absolutely delicious. The service is always impeccable. In the ambience is a wonderful vibe that everyone should experience. The Escovedo concert at Yoshi's was vibrant. Definitely worth the weight. I'm so glad that I went! read more

Yoshi's - Gindara was absolutely mouthwatering... So delicious! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

We're here for a DJ Quik so last week and a wonderful time. The venue is well laid out and to get it in and out was really easy. They're very organized and very friendly and attentive. The whole menu was super clean. Everything was great. read more

Ordered the pork chop and black cod. The pork chop was supposed to be kurobuta pork but was not as big or thick as other restaurants I've had it at. Not as tender also. The black cod portion was kind of small also. Maybe because I ate part of it because the pork chop was not filling. Weak sauce. read more

Yoshi's - Kurobuta pork chop. Smaller and thinner than other restaurants I've been to. Maybe need to be brined? - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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If you're coming to see a show at Yoshi's I'd recommend having dinner there before the show. It's a nice atmosphere and a blend of Japanese American food. On top of that, you can reserve a seat(s) in the theater and walk straight from your table to the theatre, instead of waiting in a long line outside. For appetizers, loved the Shrimp & Scallop Kakiage Fritter. A shrimp and scallop tempura blend drizzled in teriyaki sauce that compliments any of your cocktails or wine. Yes, I'm that guy! Every time I eat here, I order their Cheesburger as an entree. I know you're probably thinking, who orders a burger at a sushi restaurant. But trust me, don't sleep on their burger. It's always cooked to perfection, charred the proper way and juicy. You can't go wrong w/ any of their sushi rolls either. But then again, what do I know. I'm the guy ordering a hamburger at a sushi restaurant:) read more

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I came in and had a great experience at Yoshi's amazing diner and amazing show. Our server Kandace was so kind and gave us great attentive service. read more

We love yoshis! Went recently to see Richie rich (legend) and nano was super helpful the night of the show. He helped us to our seats with our ADA accommodations and got us all settled in. Starting off the night with such a wonderful interaction really contributed to our overall satisfaction. Love this place !! read more

I was there tonight for the children's benefit! It was wonderful. Service was amazing. Food was great! A wonderful night. Thanks to Erin, our server, who made everything extra special. A fantastic time. read more

It's the experience The sushi was just alright But the location and the venue is gorgeous The service was fantastic read more

Yoshi's - Sushi - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

This spot is awesome for live music. Sound is great and every seat is a good seat. Intimate setting, attentive service. However, I wouldn't order the food here again. We ordered steak skewers which were ok and sushi rolls which did not taste great. 5 stars for music venue, 2.5 for the food. read more

I want to give it 5 stars because it's basically the premier live jazz spot on the west coast but there were a couple things that could have been better like the way they explain seating. We got tix to Goapele show (the later one) and read that if you get a restaurant reservation you're guaranteed a seat but you have to be there an hour early. That turned out not to be the case because there's seats all through out and we just waited in line for an hour and a half. Also the rainbow roll was ok but not great and they took forever to bring water and drinks. The fries and the sauce are bomb. The venue itself and the performances are legendary. Not a bad seat in the house. I would be willing to try the restaurant and definitely come back for performance but I got notes in my mind of what to expect now. Ultimately still had a good ass time. read more

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Food was not good at all. atmosphere was amazing. We came in to see Robert Glasper. this is definitely not my first time coming to Yoshi's however it would be my last time eating here. when you come from a background of eating quality sushi and then you come to this place you're very disappointed. read more

Came here w/o a reservation and was able to be accommodated for 3. Reservations are recommended though! We had the Fried calamari & Hamachi Crudo for appetizers. I had the Miso Caesar Salad that's hard to stay away from especially with its fried wonton strips. It's not pictured because it didn't last. There is a roll pictured but I cannot tell you which one because I had moved onto dessert by then. I had a Yuzu Crème Brûlée and my daughter had the Beignets. The ambiance is romantic and lowly lit. I love how some seating is lower and slightly more traditional. Great place for an intimate setting imo. read more

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One of my favorites spots for entertainment. It's usually not the best dining experience for me ONLY because I don't eat seafood so my options are limited. This weekend I tried something new (not sure it it was new to me or new to the menu) and I actually liked it. It was the Black Garlic Veggie Ramen. Not bad at all! read more

Yoshi's - Black garlic veggie ramen - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

My first time at Yoshi's was one-to remember! A not-too-long line stretched afore the entrance (indicative of a really good time!) I attended a Jazz show and was blown away by the musical selection of the Stanley Clarke band! Waitresses were superb, very-friendly and accommodating! Ambiance was beautiful. A cascading waterfall-fountain greets you upon the entrance to the performance stage room-offset from the main restaurant with sports playing on the tv displays-placed around the bar & dining area. I'll have to try some of the cuisine next time! read more

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Two years later, my mom and I were back to see the same artist. Our dinner reservation was at 6, so we had plenty of time to eat dinner and relax beforehand. We got almost the exact same food, too! Instead of the hamachi crudo this time, though, I got a Warrior roll to go along with my 49er roll. Then for dessert in the venue, we both got gelato which was delish! read more