My wife wanted some poke, so we checked this place out on a Thursday around 6:00 PM. Downtown San Leandro was dead, so it was no surprise when there were no other customers here. My wife ordered a 3-scoop poke bowl (with salmon, Hamachi and spicy tuna). Since I'm not a huge fan of poke, I ordered a Chicken Teriyaki Donburi. When she rang us up, the cashier said that my bowl would take about 10 minutes (since it has to be cooked) and that she would make the poke bowl when my food came out. We waited in the small restaurant until the food was prepared, then took it all home to eat. My wife really enjoyed her food, as they stuffed the container with a lot of toppings in addition to the fish. The spicy tuna had a good amount of spice, but wasn't too spicy. My donburi was solid, with several toppings added in with the rice and chicken. I couldn't even eat all my food, so I had half the next day for lunch. All in all, we had a good experience, especially since the price was very reasonable. We plan to come in again when my wife has a hankering for poke.
John S.
Got food poisoning from the spicy tuna. Look up "scromboid fish poisoning". It was really spicy, which was good, but probably to hide the fish being old. Old fish makes you sick. The end.
Pat Fuentes
Horrible looking poke bowl. Salmon looked and tasted undercook. Big’O cut cucumbers. Just not a good order.
Alex Y.
They give you alot for the price. The lady that serves you is super duper nice. But i would not recommend. Fish looks dried out. Ingredients isnt fresh. Pay the extra dollar or two and goto the poke place on Floresta. You probably saved yourself from getting food poisioning.
Anastasiya Karpovich
Great poke bowl
Giovanni R.
Delights! Good portion and wathever free drink they have either a free bobba or passion fruit drink. You can't go wrong!
Andrea M.
Tried the Oakland location for the first time not too long ago because it was highly recommended by a friend and was happy to find out they had a location in San Leandro which is a closer drive for me! Aside from the bonus fact that it's closer, parking was also a lot easier at this location. Same quality as Oakland, same menu, same huge servings and great prices! The lady working here was also very sweet! It just can't be beat! We have already recommended it to other friends and will definitely be coming back!
leeann a.
Great place, really fresh ingredients and delicious. Service is friendly and really good value. Recommend checking it out!
Tom O.
This place is a great value, there aren't very many poke places in the bay where you can get two large 3-fish bowls packed full of protein for less than $25 w/ tax and tip. We even got pretty decent lemon tea drinks with our order for free. If you're picky about your poke bowl then you might be better off paying a couple extra bucks for your peace of mind at the more established joints, but if you want a good meal without straining your wallet, you should give Ya Ya a shot.
Irena S.
This place opened super recently, my boyfriend and his roomie had a positive experience (but our other friend said otherwise), so decided I had to try it myself to claim a verdict. Was helpful that we all bought different food from the Gamestop plaza and met in the middle at the picnic tables for distance outdoor dining. Came on a Tues night at 7:15pm (although it closes at 7pm, the doors were still open), because it was like the last of the night, got a small sized with all the leftover salmon, some hamachi, and some tuna, with edamame, crab salad, seaweed salad, with the house sauce and spicy mayo, with sesame seeds. Total bill was $8.22. Pros: - CHEAP PRICING - Never have I been to a poke place that served such a cheap priced bowl that was of worth quantity (the small is technically a 1 scoop, but I guess I got lucky and got to try all 3) - nice service - granted the door shouldn't be open if you're closed, the lady was pretty nice and kind enough to try to make my bowl worth the money even though I came in after hours. - Pretty efficient? I didn't use this system because they were closed but my boyfriend said usually they give you a paper to fill out and then use it to fill your order pretty quickly (that's why there's visual wall menu) - decent options - all the regular toppings you would expect are there, quick and easy service as poke bowls should be, walk in and walk out. - Sauce was pretty good, decent selection CONS: - not great quality fish - when I came in the lady unwrapped the salmon from the day (which made me wonder if they leave it overnight and use it again in the AM??) - the salmon and hamachi was alright, but the tuna tasted pretty fishy and also one of my pieces had a hard thing in it (maybe a bone?) - Rice: cold and a little hard, but not sure if it's because I came in after closing (however I doubt this would've been different if I came in 20 mins before, when it wasn't closed) - just overall not as great as other poke places nearby like hawaiian poke bowl TLDR: overall gave a 3 because even though it wasn't awesome, they charged a price that probably accurately reflected the product they were providing. I honestly felt like this was a fair assessment and whether or not it's the place for you depends on your budget. If you're trying to spend less than $10, then yes this place will hit your poke fix. If you can afford it, take your $15 and go elsewhere. Also maybe time you go affects quality? My boyfriend went at prime lunch time and had a good experience, our other friend went after lunch time had been over and had a similar experience to me.
This establishment is just too small. I don't trust the food here. Just like the other one star reviewer has said, this is substandard.
Amber C.
They have the freshest and coldest fish that I have ever had at a Poke place. Sounds weird but it's true and it's sooo good. The woman there is really sweet and generous. I just discovered them but have gone twice in 1 week already. I brought the kids (teens) the 2nd time and they also liked it. It's great to have a good place this close to home. They are nice, the food is delicious, the portions are generous and they are quick.
Tina T.
Worth it every time I visit! The lady that works at this location puts a lot of care in making the poke bowls. I always get a huge amount of food when she is making my order and stacks the bowl to the brim! Not only that, from 11 am - 2 pm you can get a free boba drink with your order (you don't get to choose what you want) which is a huge plus considering the amount you pay for the bowl. The food itself is very filling and tasty, especially the spicy mayo sauce which I highly recommend. The only thing is the cucumbers can be bitter but considering how many topping you can add for FREE such as avocado and two types of crab meat, I don't mind it. I also really like how the bowl is not completely filled with rice like other poke places I've tried. They also give you plenty of fish to fill your craving. I actually weighed the large poke bowl because it was so heavy and it was 2.5 pounds! It took me a long time to finish the bowl because of how filling it was. Here's how to order: take their menu located on the wall and marks what you want on your bowl. Give the menu to the cashier to pay before they make your bowl and wait for them to call your name when the bowl is ready. * if you do go between 11 am - 2 pm, the lady will hand over a drink for free. Price can range depending on how many proteins you are getting: 7.49 + tax for 1 protein 8.99 + tax for 2 protein 9.99 + tax for 3 protein They also have an Oakland location if you are in the Chinatown area. However, I prefer the San Leandro location since it is less crowded and you don't have to pay for parking if you park at the plaza across the street plus the lady that works at this location is very sweet. Please try it out if you're in the area! Support local businesses :)
Anita H.
Came for the first time and was not disappointed. The protein portion was generous and overall the poke bowl was excellent. The lady there was very pleasant and included iced tea with my order. It was infused with slices of orange and other fruits I cannot recall at the moment. So refreshing. Will definitely come back.
Emerald G.
To say its substandard or nasty is an understatement. Break yourselves this review is going to be scathing.. Starting from the bottom working my way up the rice was definitely old and cold. Although the ingredients seemed fresh the cucumbers were in huge thick pieces with the skin still on so it made for a bitter taste. The sauces are definitely sub standard they do not have a definite taste maybe just a little after cake with the spicy sauce although the fish and ingredients once again are very fresh it was not made as a proper poke a should be made. The ingredients were merely thrown on top of the rice and squirted with the sauce. Who do I think I am? Why do I think I know? I used to live in Hawaii and that is not how poke is made. You want good poke a go to Hawaiian poke on floresta do not go here. sorry if you are the owner but get it together you cannot jump on the trend and think that you can wing it you're gonna have to watch a few more YouTube videos before you serve people this.
My wife wanted some poke, so we checked this place out on a Thursday around 6:00 PM. Downtown San Leandro was dead, so it was no surprise when there were no other customers here. My wife ordered a 3-scoop poke bowl (with salmon, Hamachi and spicy tuna). Since I'm not a huge fan of poke, I ordered a Chicken Teriyaki Donburi. When she rang us up, the cashier said that my bowl would take about 10 minutes (since it has to be cooked) and that she would make the poke bowl when my food came out. We waited in the small restaurant until the food was prepared, then took it all home to eat. My wife really enjoyed her food, as they stuffed the container with a lot of toppings in addition to the fish. The spicy tuna had a good amount of spice, but wasn't too spicy. My donburi was solid, with several toppings added in with the rice and chicken. I couldn't even eat all my food, so I had half the next day for lunch. All in all, we had a good experience, especially since the price was very reasonable. We plan to come in again when my wife has a hankering for poke.
Got food poisoning from the spicy tuna. Look up "scromboid fish poisoning". It was really spicy, which was good, but probably to hide the fish being old. Old fish makes you sick. The end.
Horrible looking poke bowl. Salmon looked and tasted undercook. Big’O cut cucumbers. Just not a good order.
They give you alot for the price. The lady that serves you is super duper nice. But i would not recommend. Fish looks dried out. Ingredients isnt fresh. Pay the extra dollar or two and goto the poke place on Floresta. You probably saved yourself from getting food poisioning.
Great poke bowl
Delights! Good portion and wathever free drink they have either a free bobba or passion fruit drink. You can't go wrong!
Tried the Oakland location for the first time not too long ago because it was highly recommended by a friend and was happy to find out they had a location in San Leandro which is a closer drive for me! Aside from the bonus fact that it's closer, parking was also a lot easier at this location. Same quality as Oakland, same menu, same huge servings and great prices! The lady working here was also very sweet! It just can't be beat! We have already recommended it to other friends and will definitely be coming back!
Great place, really fresh ingredients and delicious. Service is friendly and really good value. Recommend checking it out!
This place is a great value, there aren't very many poke places in the bay where you can get two large 3-fish bowls packed full of protein for less than $25 w/ tax and tip. We even got pretty decent lemon tea drinks with our order for free. If you're picky about your poke bowl then you might be better off paying a couple extra bucks for your peace of mind at the more established joints, but if you want a good meal without straining your wallet, you should give Ya Ya a shot.
This place opened super recently, my boyfriend and his roomie had a positive experience (but our other friend said otherwise), so decided I had to try it myself to claim a verdict. Was helpful that we all bought different food from the Gamestop plaza and met in the middle at the picnic tables for distance outdoor dining. Came on a Tues night at 7:15pm (although it closes at 7pm, the doors were still open), because it was like the last of the night, got a small sized with all the leftover salmon, some hamachi, and some tuna, with edamame, crab salad, seaweed salad, with the house sauce and spicy mayo, with sesame seeds. Total bill was $8.22. Pros: - CHEAP PRICING - Never have I been to a poke place that served such a cheap priced bowl that was of worth quantity (the small is technically a 1 scoop, but I guess I got lucky and got to try all 3) - nice service - granted the door shouldn't be open if you're closed, the lady was pretty nice and kind enough to try to make my bowl worth the money even though I came in after hours. - Pretty efficient? I didn't use this system because they were closed but my boyfriend said usually they give you a paper to fill out and then use it to fill your order pretty quickly (that's why there's visual wall menu) - decent options - all the regular toppings you would expect are there, quick and easy service as poke bowls should be, walk in and walk out. - Sauce was pretty good, decent selection CONS: - not great quality fish - when I came in the lady unwrapped the salmon from the day (which made me wonder if they leave it overnight and use it again in the AM??) - the salmon and hamachi was alright, but the tuna tasted pretty fishy and also one of my pieces had a hard thing in it (maybe a bone?) - Rice: cold and a little hard, but not sure if it's because I came in after closing (however I doubt this would've been different if I came in 20 mins before, when it wasn't closed) - just overall not as great as other poke places nearby like hawaiian poke bowl TLDR: overall gave a 3 because even though it wasn't awesome, they charged a price that probably accurately reflected the product they were providing. I honestly felt like this was a fair assessment and whether or not it's the place for you depends on your budget. If you're trying to spend less than $10, then yes this place will hit your poke fix. If you can afford it, take your $15 and go elsewhere. Also maybe time you go affects quality? My boyfriend went at prime lunch time and had a good experience, our other friend went after lunch time had been over and had a similar experience to me.
Restaurantji Recommends
This establishment is just too small. I don't trust the food here. Just like the other one star reviewer has said, this is substandard.
They have the freshest and coldest fish that I have ever had at a Poke place. Sounds weird but it's true and it's sooo good. The woman there is really sweet and generous. I just discovered them but have gone twice in 1 week already. I brought the kids (teens) the 2nd time and they also liked it. It's great to have a good place this close to home. They are nice, the food is delicious, the portions are generous and they are quick.
Worth it every time I visit! The lady that works at this location puts a lot of care in making the poke bowls. I always get a huge amount of food when she is making my order and stacks the bowl to the brim! Not only that, from 11 am - 2 pm you can get a free boba drink with your order (you don't get to choose what you want) which is a huge plus considering the amount you pay for the bowl. The food itself is very filling and tasty, especially the spicy mayo sauce which I highly recommend. The only thing is the cucumbers can be bitter but considering how many topping you can add for FREE such as avocado and two types of crab meat, I don't mind it. I also really like how the bowl is not completely filled with rice like other poke places I've tried. They also give you plenty of fish to fill your craving. I actually weighed the large poke bowl because it was so heavy and it was 2.5 pounds! It took me a long time to finish the bowl because of how filling it was. Here's how to order: take their menu located on the wall and marks what you want on your bowl. Give the menu to the cashier to pay before they make your bowl and wait for them to call your name when the bowl is ready. * if you do go between 11 am - 2 pm, the lady will hand over a drink for free. Price can range depending on how many proteins you are getting: 7.49 + tax for 1 protein 8.99 + tax for 2 protein 9.99 + tax for 3 protein They also have an Oakland location if you are in the Chinatown area. However, I prefer the San Leandro location since it is less crowded and you don't have to pay for parking if you park at the plaza across the street plus the lady that works at this location is very sweet. Please try it out if you're in the area! Support local businesses :)
Came for the first time and was not disappointed. The protein portion was generous and overall the poke bowl was excellent. The lady there was very pleasant and included iced tea with my order. It was infused with slices of orange and other fruits I cannot recall at the moment. So refreshing. Will definitely come back.
To say its substandard or nasty is an understatement. Break yourselves this review is going to be scathing.. Starting from the bottom working my way up the rice was definitely old and cold. Although the ingredients seemed fresh the cucumbers were in huge thick pieces with the skin still on so it made for a bitter taste. The sauces are definitely sub standard they do not have a definite taste maybe just a little after cake with the spicy sauce although the fish and ingredients once again are very fresh it was not made as a proper poke a should be made. The ingredients were merely thrown on top of the rice and squirted with the sauce. Who do I think I am? Why do I think I know? I used to live in Hawaii and that is not how poke is made. You want good poke a go to Hawaiian poke on floresta do not go here. sorry if you are the owner but get it together you cannot jump on the trend and think that you can wing it you're gonna have to watch a few more YouTube videos before you serve people this.