The Yasai: Plant-Based Japanese Experience

Went on a Thursday night. They have a separate vegan menu which is a plus! Ordered the dream come true bento box, caterpillar sushi and tomato ramen. Everything was good and fulfilling but it’s more on the pricier side. Pretty decent portion. The place was crowded, busy so we had to wait about 20 mins. Hard to find parking. Had to pay for parking. Would I come here again? Yes but not often.

Appreciate the vegan menu but it's just one of like 4 menus to order from rather than a dedicated concept which makes it hard to trust for those with restrictions and allergies. Food was fine. Very rich and saucy, messy but somewhat reasonably priced; popular it seems more with college kids and taking their parents out for a fast casual meal.

Really good food!!! Totally recommend checking them out! Great service as well! It’s just on the pricy side.

Worst service--they take the order and bring the bill without so much as a hello or a dirty dish cleared--and mediocre food that is not fresh, two times in a row. What a disappointment! Won't be back.

This was our first (but NOT last!!) visit to The Yasai. Our server, Alex, was super helpful & attentive. The food was divine!!!

Love love love the food. If people hate vegan food, I’ll ask them to go eat at this place. You don’t need to tell them that it’s vegan, once they are done, you tell them and then wait for their expressions to change.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is great and the service is good too, but the parking is a nightmare. Be prepared to park half mile away and walk to this place if you go here for dinner.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

My boyfriend and I absolutely loved it here! They had a full vegan sushi menu that exceeded our expectations. They also have other menus for family members who may not be vegan or who don't prefer sushi! I would definitely recommend to any vegan looking for delicious food. We had a reservation at 5, and by the looks of the people outside waiting reservations are recommended. Our servers and food runners were amazing and showed great hospitality even when it got busy. Will be coming back next trip to San Diego!!

The food is pretty good once it got there. Our order was lost in the kitchen, our food came out at different times (like 15-20 minutes apart), and we had to ask for small plates for our appetizers several times. It's a little pricey of a restaurant to have so many things go wrong with nothing being done or taken off the bill when some dishes were cold by the time others came out. There are plenty of other places that are just as good but with way less frustration.

Edit:
With a heavy, disappointed heart I must warn you the Ramen I once loved is not the same anymore. I can't speak to the classic for I stopped getting that after the 3rd time I went (over the years I went several times) and switched to always getting Triple Tomato.

The menu has changed it seems and with it my favorite Ramen The Triple Tomato went from being a rich but thin Ramen with complex and complementary flavors, to being a thick almost spaghetti like Ramen. The depth of harmonious flavors I once craved and enjoyed now is drowned out by this thick & almost creamy tomato sauce. Unfortunately at this time I will not be going back.

Also, really sad to say the outdoor seating is never open any more.

The Brussel sprouts are still very solid.

Original review:
Being vegetarian I have craved a good bowl of savory, spicy ramen since my transition but have been hesitant; this is because I have tried failed attempts at holding their own with flavor, fulfillment and substance.

I decided to try Yasai with my partner and they got black edition classic, and me red edition classic.

Literally, the red edition was the best Ramen I've ever had, the noodles had a strong texture but also soft with a kind flavor; the broth savory, fulfilling, drinkable(tip the bowl my friend) and quite spicy (don't worry if you are worried you can get the spicy part on the side); bok choy perfectly braised, garlic mild yet rich; bamboo shoots umami without knocking you out; the crispy pumpkin may have been my favorite part which is saying ALOT; the tofu was firm, seared and satisyfing; then the bean sprouts at the bottom so fresh; and lastly the green onions hold up the broth.

The black edition a close second, but I love spicy things so red wins.

We also had gyoza as an appetizer, the greens and sauce were very good with them and defintely recommend sampling them yourself.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 3

Updating my review: Honestly really disappointed with the direction on the Yasai's recently revised menu. My partner and I got the Triple Tomato on our most recent visit, a favorite of ours, and I'm embarrassed to say they were both thick, sweet and saucy like spaghetti. I'm not sure if the rest of the menu fared any better but it was not a pleasant meal especially for the price. They also removed my go-to, Shoyu Ramen, a lighter option from the menu. With the changes, I'm not sure we'll be going back anytime soon.

Fantastic vegetarian ramen, absolutely 10/10 food but everything else is meh. Conveniently, the Yasai is connected to RakiRaki which has meat ramen in case you have meat lover friends you can request RakiRaki menus too.

Other than the food, the service is mediocre, the inside seating packs you in like sardines, the random pop music does not make me think Japanese restaurant, and it's pricey to eat there too. There's an outdoor patio but they've never let us sit there. Also parking in this area is nightmarish especially on weekends. The food is redeeming for sure but I feel like the Yasai could do a bit more for their visitors.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: Triple Tomato Ramen

It's a vegan restaurant but they also have a Rakiraki next door and so offer an option of sitting in one of the outlets and ordering from both. Hence giving you an advantage of eating different varieties in the same place.
Food is good.

If you are a vegetarian / vegan and want to try ramen, then this can be the right place for you.
The portion size is big.
Overall a good experience.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Food was absolutely insane. Hands down the best vegan sushie we have ever had. The jumbo goyoza and squash blossom's were also perfect. Tables are tiny. No lemons for water, server forgot my limes then we got another server who didn't know if they had dessert or not.... would 100% come back over and over again for the food

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

INCREDIBLE!! I took my significant other here for Father’s Day and it did not disappoint. I love how you can choose order from both kitchens at this place (vegan or non-vegan). The vegan menu was exceptional, I ordered truffle ramen which was very creamy. My favorite dish that I order multiple of was agedashi tofu. The marinate and cook on the tofu unlike anything else I have ever had before!!! Highly recommend this place :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wow this place was amazing! I’ve tried the bento box, stuffed jalapeños, and mushroom bao and it was all absolutely delicious. I got takeaway and people were coming up to me asking where I got it from because it also looked beautiful.