I understand it's Memorial Day but ultimately, they had their doors open and their open sign on. We entered bearding the jingle of someone coming in thinking we were going to at least get greeted. About 2 min pass and someone came to the front and rudely told us that there is no dine because there is no staff and that if we wanted to eat, it would be takeout and then went back to the kitchen. We tried to get him to comeback but I guess he couldn't hear us and we decided to not order. It felt like we were an inconvenience for him to arrive to his open restaurant. Why be open if you aren't going to serve in person customers?
Ame H.
*This review is based on service*Being from Guam, I was genuinely excited to try this place. We drove out of our way to try their food. Mind you, it is Memorial Day so there may have been a chance that they were closed. When we approached, the open sign was on. Nice!As soon as we came in, no one was their to greet us but that was okay. We were waiting patiently and I was admiring their Guam decor until the owner came out asking me if I was picking up food. I said, "Oh no, we're here to eat if that's ok?" And he said RUDELY "Only takeout. It's Memorial Day, we're understaffed! Look at what you want" and didn't give me a chance to even talk and let him know that we're okay to order and wait. He quickly left to the back and literally left us hanging.He made us feel like we were "stupid" to try to come in during a Memorial Day holiday and when we waited for two minutes to order even after he did that... we finally decided that we should leave since it felt like he didn't want or need our business anyway. It's a shame because there's only a few Guamanian / Chamorro restaurants out here in the Bay Area and the owner happens to not have a good representation of the island spirit. Maybe I'll call for takeout one day when I'm not thinking about his rude self. I'm still rooting for this business to thrive but hope that he reconsiders how he treats his potential customers & how he represents Guam (since he's serving this food).
Vivian K.
I ordered corn soup, chicken empanadas, chicken kelaguan, and latiya. First time trying Guamanian/Chamorro food, but very impressed! Fresh ingredients, great charred/grilled taste -- just perfect. Must order corn soup and latiya! The service was great with the owner serving us and the restaurant has a homey atmosphere. Will come back for more for grilled tri tip!
Nal N.
Food is quite good and the older gentleman that works there (Owner?) is really friendly.So why 1*? The other person that manages customers is RUDE!!! First time there, we asked if an appetizer is big enough that it could be shared. He responded "You need to order one per person or find another restaurant". We thought he was joking and laughed at it. While taking orders 2 of us wanted to share an entree, he again repeated "You need to order one per person or find another restaurant". No big deal, we can take left overs home and we ordered one per person. This could have been nicely said without the "find another restaurant". Now the bill comes and he has added $5 per person as "Mountain view mandatory charge". Never heard of it. Why don't you call it service charge. And if you are going to charge $5 per person, put it on the menu so that we are not surprised. The older gentlemen said they add 15% service charge, but this came to over 25%. So, while we would have normally given them repeat business, why go somewhere where you could be insulted again and again. There are plenty of other options.Update: We found out that such mandatory charge must be clearly and conspicuously shown in advance, otherwise it violates california civil code. I guess we will reach out to the state attorney general's office to report this incident.
Tricia A.
Yami Grill is an absolute great place to eat !! They made food for my birthday Catered trays !!! Kelaguen was on point and the owner was such a great guy with hood hospitality just like our island of Guam. Empanada and pickle papaya was so good and their Red Rice !!! Thank you Yami Grill for your wonderful service and bringing back home cooked island food to California. We love it and we definitely recommend this place !! :)
Marlette C.
Nice folks and great food! I'd never tried Guamanian food before, so this was a treat! I got the cream corn soup and chicken empanada to start and the chicken kelaguen for my entree.Everything was really good! The corn soup was creamy, sweet, and savory. The empanadas had a nice crispy shell. They remind me of samosas. The kelaguen is very similar to Filipino kilawin. It's savory and a bit tangy from the vinegar. The chef is from Guam and is really friendly. He came out of the kitchen to greet us and talked to my friend who is also from Guam. He also said goodnight when we left. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area!
Connie G.
While visiting back home, I wondered if I could find some Chamorro food. I was excited to find a place that had such great reviews, I got over excited and told my In-laws and next thing you know we have a party of 11! Little did I know this was such a small place. Either way we were treated kindly and were easily accommodated. I feel like we ordered all things Guamanian! Everything tasted delicious! I'm not one to order dessert but I was so pleased with the flavors that I felt like I'd be cheating my self if I didn't. Boy oh boy, was I glad I listen to my foodie voice! Please, give them a try! You'll be pleasantly surprised!
Shay Mandel
A causy place with a friendly owner. Fresh organic vegetables and tasty food.
Nina C.
Great food and warm hospitality. My first time trying Guamanian food won't be my last! I ordered the chicken kelaguan plate, which came with red rice, potato salad, a fresh green salad, and the special chicken dish. Chicken kelaguan is bite-sized bits of chicken mixed with coconut and other delicious flavors. Served room temperature, it was the perfect dish for a hot day. The chicken empanada appetizer was delicious too. My husband ordered the island chicken salad and he loved the freshness of his dish and the grilled chicken flavor. The host and server were so kind. Our group learned a brief history of Guam before our meal. Come support this local business! Other details: shared parking lot (parking was easy), a few tables inside and outside, take-out, QR ordering option. Most dishes under $20.
Jesse Johnson
This place was such a great find on Yelp. I have a buddy from Guam that taught me about chicken kelaguen and this place didn’t disappoint. I will be back for sure.
The dishes are extremely flavorful and delicious. The grilled chicken breast is always cooked to perfection and very tasty. Some if the best guamanian food in the area! Don't know how they do it, but it is always amazing.
Andy Nougat
This place is no longer a vegan place. It now offers Guam island food. It's great to be honest. Nice grilled meats.
mary t.
Born and raised in Guam, my point being that Yami Grill has the best Empanadas, Chicken Keleguen and red rice by far compared to others that I've tasted in and around Calif., this truly hole-in-a-wall restaurant, no frills combined with a little hi-tech(scan the bar code for menu)is by far worth the visit for a true Chamorro flavor.
Huong D.
First time I tried Guam food here and it was nice and unique. The grilled meat have nice smoky flavor, and a bit of tangy taste that goes surprisingly well with rice and salad. It feels a bit like Hawaiian food but a little lighter in term of taste and calories. Give it a try if you like mild flavor and tender bbq meat with fresh seasoned vege.
Katie McDonough
We've lived nearby for years and finally decided to try this place. We got takeout. Everything is very flavorful and delicious! We tried the corn soup, the empanadas, the fiesta (chicken) plate, and the adobo pork. It was all excellent. I think my favorite was the pork, but it's a very hard decision! We will definitely be returning!
I understand it's Memorial Day but ultimately, they had their doors open and their open sign on. We entered bearding the jingle of someone coming in thinking we were going to at least get greeted. About 2 min pass and someone came to the front and rudely told us that there is no dine because there is no staff and that if we wanted to eat, it would be takeout and then went back to the kitchen. We tried to get him to comeback but I guess he couldn't hear us and we decided to not order. It felt like we were an inconvenience for him to arrive to his open restaurant. Why be open if you aren't going to serve in person customers?
*This review is based on service*Being from Guam, I was genuinely excited to try this place. We drove out of our way to try their food. Mind you, it is Memorial Day so there may have been a chance that they were closed. When we approached, the open sign was on. Nice!As soon as we came in, no one was their to greet us but that was okay. We were waiting patiently and I was admiring their Guam decor until the owner came out asking me if I was picking up food. I said, "Oh no, we're here to eat if that's ok?" And he said RUDELY "Only takeout. It's Memorial Day, we're understaffed! Look at what you want" and didn't give me a chance to even talk and let him know that we're okay to order and wait. He quickly left to the back and literally left us hanging.He made us feel like we were "stupid" to try to come in during a Memorial Day holiday and when we waited for two minutes to order even after he did that... we finally decided that we should leave since it felt like he didn't want or need our business anyway. It's a shame because there's only a few Guamanian / Chamorro restaurants out here in the Bay Area and the owner happens to not have a good representation of the island spirit. Maybe I'll call for takeout one day when I'm not thinking about his rude self. I'm still rooting for this business to thrive but hope that he reconsiders how he treats his potential customers & how he represents Guam (since he's serving this food).
I ordered corn soup, chicken empanadas, chicken kelaguan, and latiya. First time trying Guamanian/Chamorro food, but very impressed! Fresh ingredients, great charred/grilled taste -- just perfect. Must order corn soup and latiya! The service was great with the owner serving us and the restaurant has a homey atmosphere. Will come back for more for grilled tri tip!
Food is quite good and the older gentleman that works there (Owner?) is really friendly.So why 1*? The other person that manages customers is RUDE!!! First time there, we asked if an appetizer is big enough that it could be shared. He responded "You need to order one per person or find another restaurant". We thought he was joking and laughed at it. While taking orders 2 of us wanted to share an entree, he again repeated "You need to order one per person or find another restaurant". No big deal, we can take left overs home and we ordered one per person. This could have been nicely said without the "find another restaurant". Now the bill comes and he has added $5 per person as "Mountain view mandatory charge". Never heard of it. Why don't you call it service charge. And if you are going to charge $5 per person, put it on the menu so that we are not surprised. The older gentlemen said they add 15% service charge, but this came to over 25%. So, while we would have normally given them repeat business, why go somewhere where you could be insulted again and again. There are plenty of other options.Update: We found out that such mandatory charge must be clearly and conspicuously shown in advance, otherwise it violates california civil code. I guess we will reach out to the state attorney general's office to report this incident.
Yami Grill is an absolute great place to eat !! They made food for my birthday Catered trays !!! Kelaguen was on point and the owner was such a great guy with hood hospitality just like our island of Guam. Empanada and pickle papaya was so good and their Red Rice !!! Thank you Yami Grill for your wonderful service and bringing back home cooked island food to California. We love it and we definitely recommend this place !! :)
Nice folks and great food! I'd never tried Guamanian food before, so this was a treat! I got the cream corn soup and chicken empanada to start and the chicken kelaguen for my entree.Everything was really good! The corn soup was creamy, sweet, and savory. The empanadas had a nice crispy shell. They remind me of samosas. The kelaguen is very similar to Filipino kilawin. It's savory and a bit tangy from the vinegar. The chef is from Guam and is really friendly. He came out of the kitchen to greet us and talked to my friend who is also from Guam. He also said goodnight when we left. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area!
While visiting back home, I wondered if I could find some Chamorro food. I was excited to find a place that had such great reviews, I got over excited and told my In-laws and next thing you know we have a party of 11! Little did I know this was such a small place. Either way we were treated kindly and were easily accommodated. I feel like we ordered all things Guamanian! Everything tasted delicious! I'm not one to order dessert but I was so pleased with the flavors that I felt like I'd be cheating my self if I didn't. Boy oh boy, was I glad I listen to my foodie voice! Please, give them a try! You'll be pleasantly surprised!
A causy place with a friendly owner. Fresh organic vegetables and tasty food.
Great food and warm hospitality. My first time trying Guamanian food won't be my last! I ordered the chicken kelaguan plate, which came with red rice, potato salad, a fresh green salad, and the special chicken dish. Chicken kelaguan is bite-sized bits of chicken mixed with coconut and other delicious flavors. Served room temperature, it was the perfect dish for a hot day. The chicken empanada appetizer was delicious too. My husband ordered the island chicken salad and he loved the freshness of his dish and the grilled chicken flavor. The host and server were so kind. Our group learned a brief history of Guam before our meal. Come support this local business! Other details: shared parking lot (parking was easy), a few tables inside and outside, take-out, QR ordering option. Most dishes under $20.
This place was such a great find on Yelp. I have a buddy from Guam that taught me about chicken kelaguen and this place didn’t disappoint. I will be back for sure.
Restaurantji Recommends
The dishes are extremely flavorful and delicious. The grilled chicken breast is always cooked to perfection and very tasty. Some if the best guamanian food in the area! Don't know how they do it, but it is always amazing.
This place is no longer a vegan place. It now offers Guam island food. It's great to be honest. Nice grilled meats.
Born and raised in Guam, my point being that Yami Grill has the best Empanadas, Chicken Keleguen and red rice by far compared to others that I've tasted in and around Calif., this truly hole-in-a-wall restaurant, no frills combined with a little hi-tech(scan the bar code for menu)is by far worth the visit for a true Chamorro flavor.
First time I tried Guam food here and it was nice and unique. The grilled meat have nice smoky flavor, and a bit of tangy taste that goes surprisingly well with rice and salad. It feels a bit like Hawaiian food but a little lighter in term of taste and calories. Give it a try if you like mild flavor and tender bbq meat with fresh seasoned vege.
We've lived nearby for years and finally decided to try this place. We got takeout. Everything is very flavorful and delicious! We tried the corn soup, the empanadas, the fiesta (chicken) plate, and the adobo pork. It was all excellent. I think my favorite was the pork, but it's a very hard decision! We will definitely be returning!