Delicious? There is a 25$ discount and a must-order drink (this is true for Japanese izakayas?). The price is normal~ The Japanese chef’s craftsmanship is really not bad! The service attitude is quite normal and not as described online. The food is served very quickly and will not get cold??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cacho Kozina
People that dont value how rare this place is, shouldn't be allow to rate it.If you are accustomed to going to restaurant chains, all inclusive hotels and don't like a truly artisan run place, don't come here.Yakitoriya is a ? gem, a real Yakitory place. Served and ran by the owners.Be patient, be respectful and you will enjoy it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan
DO NOT GO HERE!I very rarely give 1 star. Let's get to it.The meat is overcooked and dry, under seasoned, really small and over priced. The best flavored skewer was the chicken breast skewer topped with wasabi... because I could only taste the wasabi, not dry and bland chicken. We averaged like 1 skewer every 10 minutes after about ~45 minutes of waiting and then sides. We were there for over 2 hours for almost no food. There is one tiny grill, like a home Asian style table top grill. He could only make maybe 15ish at a time.It's $27, per person, for food plus a min of ~$4 per drink with a mandatory 20% surcharge MINIMUM. The menu is deceptive. The Yakatoriya combination is $25 for 5 skewers and some tiny sides of salad and broth. That means, I had to order their cheapest, single, skewer for $3.50. So, about $30 for one person on bad food that was so little it left a hunger an 8 piece Chicken Mac'Nugget meal could have filled better instead.They also had this peak COVID obsession with sanitizer. They wore masks, had plastic wrap all over their cook area, had mandatory hand sanitizer on entry and messages everywhere about cleaning and sanitizing.
So delicious. Feels like I am having yakitori in Tokyo. Definitely get the chicken skin dish, the fried soft bone (cartilage), chicken broth, and even the liver was delightful with a wonderful sauce. The owners are adorable and are working so hard so please come with patience and the desire to have a nicely paced meal. Sit at the bar and eat everything while it’s hot. I don’t have any photos because we scarfed everything so fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Skin Yakitori
Ektha Aggarwal
One of the best places I've been to. Lovely hole in the wall yakatori place on Sawtelle.Although this isn't a fancy place and service is limited for good reason (husband and wife running the whole thing), it is definitely worth the wait and time! Be patient and you'll see they are working hard to make to work for us all.The food is so clean and very good. Some of the best meat I have had. I can't wait to come back and continue to support them!! ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Duck Breast by Bincho Charcoal, Thigh, Okra with Sliced Chicken, Chicken Wing
Hanae Miura
Best Yakitori you can experience in California. I’m Japanese and I’ve tasted authentic yakitori in Japan, this place you can taste the REAL yakitori but better. I recommend the liver he makes, it’s SO tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daisy A.
This is way out of imagination and ridiculous from the owner wife and have big attitude towards us. We had ordered food for 2 people $189. It took a long time but that's ok. But my son showed up just to wait for us to finish our dinner because we were still waiting for the last dish. She demanded to charge him $27 dollar just to sit and waiting for us to finished the dinner. She saying because I asked her to give another space for him to sit!!! The restaurant was closing soon and we were one of 3 tables. We even said we'd pay the $27 just for him to sit so not to make an issue but she was upset because she wanted him to order food and didn't want him to sit there if he didn't order food. It was so unnecessary. I myself work in the restaurant business and I have never seen any like this!!! The greediness is out of control!!!! I will never go back again, she can have the money!!!! Plus 20% tips automatically added to the bills. This restaurant robs the customers!!
Hayden Pham
Don't recommend it. They will nickle and dime you. Even if you decided not to dine there, they will make you pay.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ash Han
We got seated, I used the bathroom because I really gotta pee, and came back saw the menu. 20% AUTOMATIC TIP, or 25% if party of 7 or more for service fee. YOU MUST Order a drink even for children. The menu didn’t seem great. Nothing looks too appetizing. We stand up and leave. They stopped us and said we CANNOT leave without paying something.We cannot use the bathroom because they charge for non- customer. whatever you can have my $2. I would not recommend this restaurant. Just beware.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Simon Chan
Excellent mom and pop shop. Great service and making food with love and heart.
Sooo good. Recommend you make reservations. Thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Truffle chicken was DELISH! I don’t know what’s up with all the negative reviews. This is not a fast food restaurant. Meant for you to sit and enjoy the meal. And yes, there is a 1 drink and 5 skewer minimum ($27 minimum pp not including drink plus mandatory 18-20% tip). Certainly pricey but worth it. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela Lai
Amazing yakitoriScored a reservation calling at 4pmFood was perfectly seasonedNicely pacedDon’t miss the grilled rice ball
Levi H.
Hey you know maybe it actually does take more than two people to run a whole restaurant.If you're lucky enough to get noticed when you walk in, you're greeted by a demand to use hand sanitizer and a long list of rules and minimums before your ass hits the seat. Almost forgot we were the customers and not them. Food is just ok and way overpriced.I saw the old man handle raw chicken with his bare hands before serving customers multiple times. When he does occasionally wash his hands it's never with soap. Not sure how they're still in business.
Siobhan Pshebniski
I mean, seriously -- WOW. Chef Toshi's chicken is completely out of this world! Out of all the restaurants I've travelled to, this easily takes the cake. Extremely sweet Husband and Wife team, and while the restaurant might be simply appointed (service is fast when not busy, but does slow down when busy, obviously), this is going to be some of -- if not the outright best -- chicken of your life. Easy 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gizzard
G Maye
If you’re looking for a quick bite of a few sticks of skewered chicken and an assortment of Japanese side dishes, look elsewhere to eat since Yakitoriya will not be quick.If you however are looking to enjoy a leisurely evening of meticulously handcrafted, deliciously seasoned authentic yakitori chicken skewers and assorted grilled vegetables with chicken and an array of chicken centered side dishes, along with a few non-chicken sides, then Yakitoriya is a place to go.Chef Toshi Sakamaki’s dedication to his craft, his desire to serve each skewer hot off the grill personally to each patron, scurrying from behind the counter to deliver his expertly created morsels piping hot to the outer tables while his wife creates delicious side dishes to accompany your meal, is almost a lost art in today’s fast paced restaurant culture.Our party of five spent 2 hours tonight at Yakitoriya and enjoyed the standouts of truffle chicken, grilled duck breast, thigh, wing, meatball and vegetable with sliced chicken skewers, Zosui, green salad with house dressing, Japanese style fried chicken and chicken broth.Tonight’s dinner reminded me of going to a relative’s house who painstakingly spent an entire day prepping a delicious meal just for us with such variety and personally cooking each item to be eaten piping hot for the best flavor and experience.Be prepared for strict ordering policies, but your taste buds will be rewarded.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Duck Breast by Bincho Charcoal
Delicious? There is a 25$ discount and a must-order drink (this is true for Japanese izakayas?). The price is normal~ The Japanese chef’s craftsmanship is really not bad! The service attitude is quite normal and not as described online. The food is served very quickly and will not get cold??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
People that dont value how rare this place is, shouldn't be allow to rate it.If you are accustomed to going to restaurant chains, all inclusive hotels and don't like a truly artisan run place, don't come here.Yakitoriya is a ? gem, a real Yakitory place. Served and ran by the owners.Be patient, be respectful and you will enjoy it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DO NOT GO HERE!I very rarely give 1 star. Let's get to it.The meat is overcooked and dry, under seasoned, really small and over priced. The best flavored skewer was the chicken breast skewer topped with wasabi... because I could only taste the wasabi, not dry and bland chicken. We averaged like 1 skewer every 10 minutes after about ~45 minutes of waiting and then sides. We were there for over 2 hours for almost no food. There is one tiny grill, like a home Asian style table top grill. He could only make maybe 15ish at a time.It's $27, per person, for food plus a min of ~$4 per drink with a mandatory 20% surcharge MINIMUM. The menu is deceptive. The Yakatoriya combination is $25 for 5 skewers and some tiny sides of salad and broth. That means, I had to order their cheapest, single, skewer for $3.50. So, about $30 for one person on bad food that was so little it left a hunger an 8 piece Chicken Mac'Nugget meal could have filled better instead.They also had this peak COVID obsession with sanitizer. They wore masks, had plastic wrap all over their cook area, had mandatory hand sanitizer on entry and messages everywhere about cleaning and sanitizing.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Gizzard, Thigh Yakitori, Liver, Chicken Broth
So delicious. Feels like I am having yakitori in Tokyo. Definitely get the chicken skin dish, the fried soft bone (cartilage), chicken broth, and even the liver was delightful with a wonderful sauce. The owners are adorable and are working so hard so please come with patience and the desire to have a nicely paced meal. Sit at the bar and eat everything while it’s hot. I don’t have any photos because we scarfed everything so fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Skin Yakitori
One of the best places I've been to. Lovely hole in the wall yakatori place on Sawtelle.Although this isn't a fancy place and service is limited for good reason (husband and wife running the whole thing), it is definitely worth the wait and time! Be patient and you'll see they are working hard to make to work for us all.The food is so clean and very good. Some of the best meat I have had. I can't wait to come back and continue to support them!! ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Duck Breast by Bincho Charcoal, Thigh, Okra with Sliced Chicken, Chicken Wing
Best Yakitori you can experience in California. I’m Japanese and I’ve tasted authentic yakitori in Japan, this place you can taste the REAL yakitori but better. I recommend the liver he makes, it’s SO tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is way out of imagination and ridiculous from the owner wife and have big attitude towards us. We had ordered food for 2 people $189. It took a long time but that's ok. But my son showed up just to wait for us to finish our dinner because we were still waiting for the last dish. She demanded to charge him $27 dollar just to sit and waiting for us to finished the dinner. She saying because I asked her to give another space for him to sit!!! The restaurant was closing soon and we were one of 3 tables. We even said we'd pay the $27 just for him to sit so not to make an issue but she was upset because she wanted him to order food and didn't want him to sit there if he didn't order food. It was so unnecessary. I myself work in the restaurant business and I have never seen any like this!!! The greediness is out of control!!!! I will never go back again, she can have the money!!!! Plus 20% tips automatically added to the bills. This restaurant robs the customers!!
Don't recommend it. They will nickle and dime you. Even if you decided not to dine there, they will make you pay.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We got seated, I used the bathroom because I really gotta pee, and came back saw the menu. 20% AUTOMATIC TIP, or 25% if party of 7 or more for service fee. YOU MUST Order a drink even for children. The menu didn’t seem great. Nothing looks too appetizing. We stand up and leave. They stopped us and said we CANNOT leave without paying something.We cannot use the bathroom because they charge for non- customer. whatever you can have my $2. I would not recommend this restaurant. Just beware.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Excellent mom and pop shop. Great service and making food with love and heart.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Sooo good. Recommend you make reservations. Thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Truffle chicken was DELISH! I don’t know what’s up with all the negative reviews. This is not a fast food restaurant. Meant for you to sit and enjoy the meal. And yes, there is a 1 drink and 5 skewer minimum ($27 minimum pp not including drink plus mandatory 18-20% tip). Certainly pricey but worth it. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing yakitoriScored a reservation calling at 4pmFood was perfectly seasonedNicely pacedDon’t miss the grilled rice ball
Hey you know maybe it actually does take more than two people to run a whole restaurant.If you're lucky enough to get noticed when you walk in, you're greeted by a demand to use hand sanitizer and a long list of rules and minimums before your ass hits the seat. Almost forgot we were the customers and not them. Food is just ok and way overpriced.I saw the old man handle raw chicken with his bare hands before serving customers multiple times. When he does occasionally wash his hands it's never with soap. Not sure how they're still in business.
I mean, seriously -- WOW. Chef Toshi's chicken is completely out of this world! Out of all the restaurants I've travelled to, this easily takes the cake. Extremely sweet Husband and Wife team, and while the restaurant might be simply appointed (service is fast when not busy, but does slow down when busy, obviously), this is going to be some of -- if not the outright best -- chicken of your life. Easy 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gizzard
If you’re looking for a quick bite of a few sticks of skewered chicken and an assortment of Japanese side dishes, look elsewhere to eat since Yakitoriya will not be quick.If you however are looking to enjoy a leisurely evening of meticulously handcrafted, deliciously seasoned authentic yakitori chicken skewers and assorted grilled vegetables with chicken and an array of chicken centered side dishes, along with a few non-chicken sides, then Yakitoriya is a place to go.Chef Toshi Sakamaki’s dedication to his craft, his desire to serve each skewer hot off the grill personally to each patron, scurrying from behind the counter to deliver his expertly created morsels piping hot to the outer tables while his wife creates delicious side dishes to accompany your meal, is almost a lost art in today’s fast paced restaurant culture.Our party of five spent 2 hours tonight at Yakitoriya and enjoyed the standouts of truffle chicken, grilled duck breast, thigh, wing, meatball and vegetable with sliced chicken skewers, Zosui, green salad with house dressing, Japanese style fried chicken and chicken broth.Tonight’s dinner reminded me of going to a relative’s house who painstakingly spent an entire day prepping a delicious meal just for us with such variety and personally cooking each item to be eaten piping hot for the best flavor and experience.Be prepared for strict ordering policies, but your taste buds will be rewarded.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Duck Breast by Bincho Charcoal