Came here for our anniversary dinner. Got the 15 courses and it was quite the experience. The staff were all friendly and pleasant to speak with. Food was prepared for us or at least instructions on how to consume. Food was delicious and it felt like we were full by dish 10 or 11. We were able to finish everything and overall a great experience there. I would suggest making a reservation so food is ready for you if you do the course menu. If it is busy in there it could be a wait on drinks. Be patient with the staff they are trying to help everyone.
Vito
If you are going to have an experience like this the server needs to be more helpful. We enjoyed our food and the experience, but felt lost most of the evening. Food started arriving without anyone asking if we wanted a drink. Had to get up and ask for a wine menu.the table next to us got great service and brought in their own wine can't explain why that happened Done with this place
E. Dominic
Excellent, fresh, and incredibly delicious cuts of mest grilled to perfection. Very friendly servers tend to the entire 10 course meal, at your table. Every single dish was superb and beautifully presented. The garnishes are all must try. The meal was well-paced and the portions were just right. Cocktails are also excellent.
Penelope
Great dining experience. Food was good. It's a pricey place for the portions you get so it's more for a special occasion. The dishes were prepared nicely and service was excellent.
Christina
Love this location. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Our server was Lilly. She was very good and remembered everyone's requests. Highly recommend this place for a special occasion.
Carol
A worthwhile experience. Delicious food and drinks. A5 wagyu beef paired with the restaurant's very own special dipping sauce. The set menu very affordable 10 course dinner includes quality beef, sea food and cracker with salad, Japanese steam egg and special sushi rolls finishes off with a delicious dessert. Good balance and you leave with a satisfying feeling and the right amount of food. Interior decor modern very appealing. Excellent service especially from restaurant manager Jimmy. Jimmy remembers every repeated customer and provides VIP service. Ample parking space and free parking. Keep up the good food quality and service, way to go Yakiya!
Kyle
Yakiya was a great experience. The yakiniku menu was great, our favorites were the a5 wagyu tartlet, a5 Nigiri, chawanmushi, miso sea bass, and the beef tongue. The Fog over Mt Fuji cocktail was both entertaining and delicious. The only negative I would say was that while service was very good, although they did seem to be slightly understaffed for the crowd that was there. Staff seemed to be working a little too hard trying to keep the timing of the many courses just right. Oh, and maybe the thermostat could have been turned up just a tad, our party kept our jackets on because the restaurant was so cold on a rainy night.
Sing-Yee
From service quality, to presentation and layout of the 10 course meal, everything was top notch. Really enjoyed the server's thoughtful explanation of various concepts, and ways to pair meat with sauces to bring out the Kobe and Waygu taste of meat I will come here again in next visit
Tao
Great food with excellent service! Recommend to everyone who loves Japanese style beef BBQ.
Michael
This was my second visit. And one week after the next. Love this restaurant. I will be back again.
Had the premium course and the beef was USDA Prime mostly and 2 slices of A-5. The starters were just ok and the dessert was like eating a lemon. Pretty much nothing else besides the beef dishes and a bone marrow fried rice which was very good but too rich after A-5 dish. The host and hostess were very welcoming but our server who helped with the grill seemed unhappy and not friendly. She had a mask on and hardly explained what cut or what we were being served. A little bit of talking points to explain why it's a premium dish would've been appropriate considering it's around $150 per person without the tip. I can't recommend this place unless they improve staff training
liz
Absolutely loved this place! The meat quality is amazing — super tender, high grade, and grilled to perfection. The servers are friendly, patient, and make the whole experience relaxing and fun. The hostess was a bit intense about the promo code when we first checked in , she gave that uncomfortable vibe. Over all, definitely recommend! 🌟
shelly chiang
Service: there were only 2 female staff serving food, including grilling meat, and one guy making drinks. Rest of the staff were just around. We ordered a bottle of wine which didn’t even come till we had our second course. The wait staff never bothered to refill our glasses.
Cleanliness: no toilet paper nor hand towels. The counter and floor was covered with water.
Atmosphere: the music was so loud made it impossible to hear the wait staff introducing each dish. Then the restaurant allowed kids to run around. It’s like Chuck E. Cheese.
Food: each dish is overpowered by one flavor, no balance nor layers of flavor. Take the steam egg with a slice of mushroom and crab meat as an example, the steam egg does not possess any flavor of mushroom nor the crab. The one flavor I would get from the steam egg is MSG!! The veggie platter’s miso dipping sauce is way too sweet. Radish dipping sauce for the steak totally ruined the flavor of the meat.
There is one thing I absolutely cannot tolerate is the wait staff use the meat to clean/cost the grill then serve that piece to us!!
Only go if you like to pay for something that’s totally not worth its price, go home extremely thirsty, kids running around, and wait for 15-20 minutes till you are served. Oh and don’t expect anyone to top off your glass!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Potay
A Birthday Celebration to Remember at Yakiya My partner and I chose Yakiya for a special birthday dinner last Saturday, and it was the perfect choice. From the moment we walked in, the staffs were very friendly. We were immediately seated at a perfect spot corner table. Our server, Angel, was the highlight of the evening. She was attentive without hovering, incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and offered genuine recommendations. She also offered a complementary drink for the birthday boy. The staffs take note of my husband's birthday and, without being prompted, had the kitchen add a small, personalized touch to his dessert. The Food (5/5) Everything we ordered was clearly prepared with care and high-quality ingredients. Personally speaking, the price for 10 courses meal was very affordable. We will definitely be back!
Jackie Lee
If you’re craving a dining experience that goes far beyond your typical yakiniku, Yakiya in Pasadena delivers an unforgettable culinary journey. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere feels refined yet inviting. The highlight, of course, is the expertly sourced Japanese A5 Wagyu and other premium cuts, each presented beautifully and grilled to perfection right at your table. Every bite is rich, tender, and melts in your mouth — a true showcase of quality. What makes Yakiya stand out is the curated tasting menu, which just flows like a story. We started with lighter dishes, moving through decadent Wagyu selections, and finishing with delicate sides and desserts that balance the meal. Pair this with their thoughtful cocktail, sake and wine list, and you’ll find the experience to be both elegant and memorable. For anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion, impress a guest, or simply indulge in one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the San Gabriel Valley, Yakiya is a must-visit. Reservations are highly recommended. come hungry, because you’ll want to savor every course.
Came here for our anniversary dinner. Got the 15 courses and it was quite the experience. The staff were all friendly and pleasant to speak with. Food was prepared for us or at least instructions on how to consume. Food was delicious and it felt like we were full by dish 10 or 11. We were able to finish everything and overall a great experience there. I would suggest making a reservation so food is ready for you if you do the course menu. If it is busy in there it could be a wait on drinks. Be patient with the staff they are trying to help everyone.
If you are going to have an experience like this the server needs to be more helpful. We enjoyed our food and the experience, but felt lost most of the evening. Food started arriving without anyone asking if we wanted a drink. Had to get up and ask for a wine menu.the table next to us got great service and brought in their own wine can't explain why that happened Done with this place
Excellent, fresh, and incredibly delicious cuts of mest grilled to perfection. Very friendly servers tend to the entire 10 course meal, at your table. Every single dish was superb and beautifully presented. The garnishes are all must try. The meal was well-paced and the portions were just right. Cocktails are also excellent.
Great dining experience. Food was good. It's a pricey place for the portions you get so it's more for a special occasion. The dishes were prepared nicely and service was excellent.
Love this location. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Our server was Lilly. She was very good and remembered everyone's requests. Highly recommend this place for a special occasion.
A worthwhile experience. Delicious food and drinks. A5 wagyu beef paired with the restaurant's very own special dipping sauce. The set menu very affordable 10 course dinner includes quality beef, sea food and cracker with salad, Japanese steam egg and special sushi rolls finishes off with a delicious dessert. Good balance and you leave with a satisfying feeling and the right amount of food. Interior decor modern very appealing. Excellent service especially from restaurant manager Jimmy. Jimmy remembers every repeated customer and provides VIP service. Ample parking space and free parking. Keep up the good food quality and service, way to go Yakiya!
Yakiya was a great experience. The yakiniku menu was great, our favorites were the a5 wagyu tartlet, a5 Nigiri, chawanmushi, miso sea bass, and the beef tongue. The Fog over Mt Fuji cocktail was both entertaining and delicious. The only negative I would say was that while service was very good, although they did seem to be slightly understaffed for the crowd that was there. Staff seemed to be working a little too hard trying to keep the timing of the many courses just right. Oh, and maybe the thermostat could have been turned up just a tad, our party kept our jackets on because the restaurant was so cold on a rainy night.
From service quality, to presentation and layout of the 10 course meal, everything was top notch. Really enjoyed the server's thoughtful explanation of various concepts, and ways to pair meat with sauces to bring out the Kobe and Waygu taste of meat I will come here again in next visit
Great food with excellent service! Recommend to everyone who loves Japanese style beef BBQ.
This was my second visit. And one week after the next. Love this restaurant. I will be back again.
Restaurantji Recommends
Had the premium course and the beef was USDA Prime mostly and 2 slices of A-5. The starters were just ok and the dessert was like eating a lemon. Pretty much nothing else besides the beef dishes and a bone marrow fried rice which was very good but too rich after A-5 dish. The host and hostess were very welcoming but our server who helped with the grill seemed unhappy and not friendly. She had a mask on and hardly explained what cut or what we were being served. A little bit of talking points to explain why it's a premium dish would've been appropriate considering it's around $150 per person without the tip. I can't recommend this place unless they improve staff training
Absolutely loved this place! The meat quality is amazing — super tender, high grade, and grilled to perfection. The servers are friendly, patient, and make the whole experience relaxing and fun. The hostess was a bit intense about the promo code when we first checked in , she gave that uncomfortable vibe. Over all, definitely recommend! 🌟
Service: there were only 2 female staff serving food, including grilling meat, and one guy making drinks. Rest of the staff were just around. We ordered a bottle of wine which didn’t even come till we had our second course. The wait staff never bothered to refill our glasses.
Cleanliness: no toilet paper nor hand towels. The counter and floor was covered with water.
Atmosphere: the music was so loud made it impossible to hear the wait staff introducing each dish. Then the restaurant allowed kids to run around. It’s like Chuck E. Cheese.
Food: each dish is overpowered by one flavor, no balance nor layers of flavor. Take the steam egg with a slice of mushroom and crab meat as an example, the steam egg does not possess any flavor of mushroom nor the crab. The one flavor I would get from the steam egg is MSG!! The veggie platter’s miso dipping sauce is way too sweet. Radish dipping sauce for the steak totally ruined the flavor of the meat.
There is one thing I absolutely cannot tolerate is the wait staff use the meat to clean/cost the grill then serve that piece to us!!
Only go if you like to pay for something that’s totally not worth its price, go home extremely thirsty, kids running around, and wait for 15-20 minutes till you are served. Oh and don’t expect anyone to top off your glass!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
A Birthday Celebration to Remember at Yakiya My partner and I chose Yakiya for a special birthday dinner last Saturday, and it was the perfect choice. From the moment we walked in, the staffs were very friendly. We were immediately seated at a perfect spot corner table. Our server, Angel, was the highlight of the evening. She was attentive without hovering, incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and offered genuine recommendations. She also offered a complementary drink for the birthday boy. The staffs take note of my husband's birthday and, without being prompted, had the kitchen add a small, personalized touch to his dessert. The Food (5/5) Everything we ordered was clearly prepared with care and high-quality ingredients. Personally speaking, the price for 10 courses meal was very affordable. We will definitely be back!
If you’re craving a dining experience that goes far beyond your typical yakiniku, Yakiya in Pasadena delivers an unforgettable culinary journey.
From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere feels refined yet inviting. The highlight, of course, is the expertly sourced Japanese A5 Wagyu and other premium cuts, each presented beautifully and grilled to perfection right at your table. Every bite is rich, tender, and melts in your mouth — a true showcase of quality.
What makes Yakiya stand out is the curated tasting menu, which just flows like a story. We started with lighter dishes, moving through decadent Wagyu selections, and finishing with delicate sides and desserts that balance the meal. Pair this with their thoughtful cocktail, sake and wine list, and you’ll find the experience to be both elegant and memorable.
For anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion, impress a guest, or simply indulge in one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the San Gabriel Valley, Yakiya is a must-visit.
Reservations are highly recommended. come hungry, because you’ll want to savor every course.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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