love this place! have been many times, the prices are great and the food is all amazing!!

I love this place. I've been here a couple of times now and will definitely keep coming back. The servers are kind, friendly, attentive, and welcoming. I also love the vibe inside. I've ordered the pork belly and chicken wasabi yakitori. The pork belly is cooked perfectly and has great flavor definitely a must try. I also loved the soju drinks! We tried pineapple and passion fruit, and they also offer plum and other flavors to choose from. The sushi is always tasty, and this time we tried their teriyaki plate. Both the chicken and steak (medium) were really good. The prices are reasonable and affordable, which is another reason we keep coming back. This spot is a must. Perfect for a cute date night or hanging out with friends read more

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What a great find for motsunabe- a beef intestine based hot pot that is rich with veggies (cabbage and chives). Their set includes rice and matcha ice cream. A size small is more than enough to share for 2 people. The broth is amazing- hearty with a hint of miso. It's not a common dish to find so my heart is full! Truffle crab kamameshi was also impressive with the overload of minced snow crab and ikura eggs. It's like eating a heated chirashi sushi dish as it's set in a hot clay pot. Definitely a get if you love seafood. Yakitori overall was ok. They were all smothered in the same kind of sauce which took away from each pieces' flavor profile but overall they have a large menu offering for those looking for skewer options. For appetizers we recommend the tako wasabi (diced octopus in a wasabi based sauce) and the beef tongue. Ai Ki Ya is a great place for late night, Japanese soul food eats nestled in Korea town. read more

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Stopped by for dinner last night and thought the food was pretty good! I had this place bookmarked for a while but never got the chance to come by. Decided to check it out when my friend recommended it yesterday. We had a group of 6 and walked in without a reservation around 6pm on Saturday and they were able to seat us pretty quickly by adding a couple chairs to a table, and we got our seats instead of having to wait 15 to 20 minutes for a larger table. Overall, it was a pretty good experience. Staff is really friendly. We got the cotton candy sukiyaki pot, which was awesome. You can see the cotton candy melting on top of the hot pot. They also cook for you so that's great too! We also got a spicy sushi roll combo and that was pretty good as well. And a combo B of the skewers with pork belly, beef, hotdogs, and quail egg wrapped in bacon, shishito peppers and everything tasted good. They also all came in sets of 2 so it was super easy to share with the group. They have amazing happy hour deals, everyday before 7pm, we got a pitcher for $14, enough for everyone to get a cup of beer at the table. This is also at a super convenient location. I'll definitely be back again and bringing more friends next time :) read more

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Food/drinks: pretty good- my favorite was the hot pot and tofu appetizer. Skewer plate was pretty good too. The tuna roll tasted fishy and a lot of the appetizers were lukewarm but not bad! Atmosphere: cute! Lots of seating and not too loud Service: good for walking in with big party, very friendly and fast service!! Price: $$ as expected for ktown NYC read more

Ai Ki Ya - Mentai udon - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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Ai Ki Ya in Chelsea is a Japanese Izakaya restaurant known for its hearty fare with an emphasis on yakitori. We came for happy hour to take advantage of their $3 draft Sapporos. After crushing said sapporos, we ordered 3 skewers (chicken thigh, chicken skin, and pork belly) along with some sushi and gyu don. While we didn't try it we saw someone ordering a cotton candy sukiyaki and we are very intrigued. Everything was super tasty and affordable. We love this for a group dinner or date night that won't break the bank read more

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I once saw this spot on TikTok and finally got the chance to try it recently! Located in Midtown, this Japanese spot offers a huge menu of different skewer options, sushi, hotpot/nabe, and other great Japanese bites. Super cozy spot with lots of Japanese decor that gives it that izakaya vibe. Service was so quick, kind, and fun to talk to. I got their cotton candy sukiyaki when I went and a sushi roll, and both were good. I enjoyed their sukiyaki and thought that the cotton candy above it was super fun. Good quality food, and nice Japanese spot! read more

Ai Ki Ya - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner and didn't have to wait too long to get seated. There were some other folks there, but not too many so it didn't feel too busy. Service was solid and ambiance was nice. Menu had a good variety of dishes and we got a medley to share amongst five. The cotton candy sukiyaki was yummy and novel to see with the melting cotton candy. Meat was decent quality and overall it was yummy. Skewers were nice as well and the eel bowl was nice to share as well. The set we got came with ice cream at the end which was a nice way to end the meal. Overall, I didn't mind the experience and had a nice dinner. I probably wouldn't return as it didn't feel like anything stood out, but I wouldn't say no if someone wanted to come. Solid meal and left feeling satisfied - thanks, Ai Ki Ya! read more

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Cuisine: 7 Service: 7 Decor: 7 Value: 7 Overall: 7 If you're looking for a good Japanese nabe (hot pot), look no farther. Come try one of the 6 options at this izakaya and you will be satisfied. Over the years, I have come here many times on a cold night or late after a movie or Broadway show. Still one of the best late night options in Manhattan for me. My favorites is the Hakata Motsu Nabe, which gets its yumminess from beef intestines, napa cabbage, chines, and more. The Pork Tonsoku Nabe is also quite amazing, with its spicy pork broth filled with pork trotter and pork belly. Lastly, I'll highlight the Cotton Candy A5 Wagyu Sukiyaki. It's obviously somewhat sweet, but also savory with the soy sauce based broth. And of course, the high quality beef just melts in your mouth. I also have tried many of the other menu items. For rice dishes, Gyudon, Beef Tongue Don, and Unagi Don are all decent, but skip the Pork Katsu Curry and the Bara Chirashi. As for noodles, I prefer the ramen over the udon, but neither are must haves. There are plenty of other sushi/sashimi, cold and hot tapas, along with a bunch of yakitori and fried skewers. All of it is average to good. However, I would stick to nabe for the best experience possible. read more

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My friend and I came at around 6pm and there was no wait. It's a cozy place for small groups and good chats. The waiters checked on us frequently without being overbearing. Chicken gizzard and beef short rib skewers: 4/5 Grilled beef tongue: 5/5 - tender and loved the sauce Pork tonsoku nabe (spicy): 3/5 we wanted something hot on a cold day but unfortunately the soup was too salty to drink. It has a good amount of vegetables and meat though. It also came with matcha ice cream which had a deep and rich flavor Overall I had a good experience and I would come back to try other dishes! read more

Ai Ki Ya - Pork Tonsoku Nabe - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

I love restaurant recommendations in Manhattan after any anime film. My crew and I went to a hidden gem in Herald Square not so easy to the public eye. First advertised having great ramen, izakaya and the best blueberry mojitos. This place screamed of Japanese comfort establish with umbrellas on the ceiling, katanas on the shelves and a classic bar for solo quick eaters with the chefs working behind the bar. This place offers a check off menu where you can write down the amount of dishes to order. Sushi rolls selections, karaage flavored miso ramen, yakitori skewers, katsu curries and a row of blueberry mojitos with one melon ball cocktail - which was delicious by the way. The ramen was a good portion and flavorful. Most of my crew has gone to Japan multiple times and they've noted this is one of the ramen places that comes close to their trip. This place will be added to my usual hideaway spot when I want to dive away from the shopping and large bustling commuter crowds. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Spicy Karaage ramen in miso broth - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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Overall: C // 3 stars This restaurant has a massive menu from yakitori to ramen to sushi to Japanese snacks. I think it has high potential to succeed because whoever is cooking can grill the skewers flawlessly. However, what is significantly lacking is their seasoning and flavor profiles; if they solve this component, their food would be divine. (Crispy Sushi Sando: C) - This is essentially a crispy rice appetizer, which they did do well. However, they need to pair it with a sauce by default because it tastes so much better with some flavor like spicy mayo. (Whole Eggplant: A) - Whole garlic eggplant that oozes with a captivating aroma and a tender complexion. (Beef Short Rib: D) - A bit dry and underseasoned unfortunately. Quite sad since this should be a good cut. (Chicken Breast: C) - The chicken is impressive tender, but quite bland and desparately needs salt. The wasabi is strangely watery and also lacks flavor. (Pork Jowl: A) - Great sear on the pork to get a really delightful char in the taste, that pairs well with their yakitori sauce. (Shishito: A) - Well seasoned and tasty on its own, but adds even more flavor when paired with the meats. Food: E Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +1 Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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Came here for happy hour with a friend and am shocked that I've never been here before. This is a place that specializes in skewers and sushi. The inside is a bit janky, but nice and quiet if you are trying to catch up with a friend. The service was REALLY attentive and super friendly. They even reminded us when happy hour was ending (which is everyday by the way). Their prices are also decent for not happy hour pricing as well. Happy hour is from 4 - 7 on weekends and until 6pm on weekdays and you can find $8 sakes, $3 beers, $7 wines. They also had a skewer special that we tried and it was so tasty. My only complaint about the skewer was the bacon wrapped quail egg, the egg was a bit overcooked and a little dry, but the flavor was still there. We also had their crispy tuna rice which came with a mountain of tuna. Perhaps too much rice / tuna for one piece, it was a bit hard to eat. We also tried some of their sushi which was all flavorful and good, but a bit too much rice for my liking. I would def stick to the skewers OR try some of their other non-sushi options next time. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Nice spot for Japanese food, and by Japanese food I mean any dishes that come to mind when you think Japanese cuisine. The menu is huge, if not overwhelming, because of all the choices!! It had izakaya-type decor inside, and makes for a fun for a night out if you'll be around the Midtown area. The service is attentive as well. Come here for the yakitori, sushi rolls, or the hot pots/sukiyaki. Those were the favorites of our group, and all excellent for sharing with a larger group. read more

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I came here for dinner with a friend on a Thursday night. We shared the small spicy pork tonsoku nabe (pork trotters, sliced pork belly, green cabbage, leeks, tofu, sesame, chili, garlic, jalapeno, ginger) and the combo C yakitori (2 shrimp, 2 beef, 2 squid, 2 mushroom, 2 beef wrapped enoki). The small hot pot was a good portion for two people. The portion was pretty large and it included one bowl of rice and one matcha ice cream. The broth was flavorful and had a good kick to it. The yakitori was larger than I expected and all the skewers tasted great but were a bit dry. Service was friendly and attentive. I saw that everyone was ordering the cotton candy sukiyaki, I guess I have to order that next time. read more

Ai Ki Ya - spicy pork nabe (hot pot) - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

After another meal we decided to drop by to grab a few skewers and a beer! We were in the mood for restaurant hopping. Aki Ya had a more small shop owner feeling vibe. Very spacious and lots of seating, don't really need a reservation. The menu contained sushi, hotpot and lots of other items along with the yakitori. We ended up ordering the Yakitori Set A. The set overall was a good deal but we were very disappointed in the beef. It said it was wagyu, but honestly it was chewy and overcooked. The chicken was much better. There is also a lack of seasoning and sauce so you'll just sprinkle some salt on as you go. Overall its great place when you are hungry and great local joint. I wouldn't say its worth traveling, but if youre in the area and craving hotpot or yakitori I recommend this casual joint! read more

Great attentive service. Pretty large inside the restaurant. Tables spread out with plenty of space. Extensive menu with something for everyone. Korean, sushi, ramen, udon, skewers etc. has the carpaccio starter, sushi sashimi platter and sushi meal. All were fresh flavorful and came out quickly zz highly recommend for solid sushi in ktown. Close to subways. read more

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This Japanese spot in Midtown has a menu full of everything you can imagine from cold and hot tapas, rice, noodles, sushi, and sukiyaki hot pot too They even have delicious mocktails. I recommend the Virgin Sunset and Virgin Blueberry Mojito. Yakitori was both hit and miss. Some of them were so dry and some were moist. Skip the Crispy Rice Volcano. Crispy rice should not be deep fried! It should be a pan-sear on both sides. The Kara Age Curry Rice was also mediocre. The curry tasted like the ones you buy in the cubes at the grocery store; not homemade for sure. The one you must avoid most though is the Sea Salt Cream Mentai Udon. This was horrible! The udon noodles were undercooked and the cream tasted so gross. I've had this dish at other restaurants before and it's never been this nasty. Safe thing to order is the sushi. We got the Spicy Rolls Combo and Salmon Avocado Roll and it's nothing special, but it's basic sushi rolls and they tasted fine. I would not come back personally except for a drink. The service was great though. The waiters aren't to blame for the bad food. The drinks and sushi were both really good!The yakitori variety was also a lot to pick from and the cucumber salad was refreshing to bite on. Curry is more on the saucy side if that's what you like!The udon was also more on the heavily chewy and super creamy side, but they also have udon soups.The interior vibes were cool! read more

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We got an assortment of skewers and they were all so good and affordable. The restaurant had a nice ambiance and the service was great. We also ordered chuhais, but they were a little too strong for our taste. Still, everything else made up for it. Would definitely come back for the food. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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This place has one of the best happy hours I've ever seen. We ordered a gazillion yakitori skewers and sushi rolls and drinks and dessert and our bill was under $100! The oysters were the most memorable menu item and not to miss! read more

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Service was exceptionally awesome and we had a great experience dining there. I love how it's open until past midnight and has that cozy, bustling evening vibe. The food is good, nothing outstanding but their pricing is very wallet friendly given the current inflation. I think the Yakitori dishes are around half of what the average is? Would definitely go back again. read more

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Ai ki ya gave me extra deja vu because it reminded me of an Izakaya place that I stepped into by chance a few years ago when I went to New York. The gag is I'm pretty sure it's the same exact place but it looks a bit different which might have thrown me off. That night, the plan was to get Mexican food and be different just for one night. But the thought of skewers got me as we passed the izakaya! Asian food for the win once again. It was the weekend of Valentine's days and we were able to get seated within a couple minutes. All I wanted was meat so I got a bunch of meat skewers as well as sharing a yakiniku set which was a bit spicy! They had a really cute vday set that came with cotton candy which we didn't end up trying but looks so fun! One of my favorite parts was the meat and the ice cream. I have never tried a matcha ice cream that was so rich. I even asked what the brand because it was that good and turns out it is a local company called Mr Green Tea based in NJ and it is more of a high quality brand used in restaurants however the Hashi market in K-town has a few of their flavors in stock so I may try to buy bring one on the amtrak somebody if I can figure that out. Feeling buzzed from the wonderful highballs and happy from my sweet treat... we proceeded with round 2 of having some sweets because why not. What we got Japanese high balls-oolong tea and passionfruit Chicken gizzard stick American wagyu stick Beef with enoki mushroom stick Pork jowl stick Pork belly with enoki mushroom stick Hakata motsu nabe (small) $$ Food 7 Atmosphere 8 Service 8 read more

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They were good about making substitutions but I thought they had a lot of rice, but the fish was good quality! Wish there were bigger pieces of fish in the roll and sushi pieces, but the service was quick! read more

Ai Ki Ya - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent excellent excellent I was in NYC for 3 nights and ate there twice. A hidden gem. Great dine in or take out. read more

Stopped by to pick up a to go salad at this Asian restaurant in the Midtown area of Manhattan in NYC. I had the Avocado Salad $10. It was good. The staff were very friendly and efficient and offered me a cup of water while I was waiting. read more

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NYC's Only Cotton Candy Sukiyaki?! I had to see (and taste) it to believe it -- and wow! The cotton candy melts right into the sukiyaki broth, adding the perfect touch of sweetness to the savory richness. Paired with juicy yakitori skewers and super fresh sushi? It's a whole vibe. If you're looking for your next NYC foodie adventure -- this is it. Creative, cozy, and unlike anything else in the city. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Cotton candy sukiyaki - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

I haven't been to such a great restaurant in such a long time. Unassuming on the outside, it's actually so cozy inside. I won a giveaway voucher and had no issues using it here. The interior and ambiance is so nice. True izakaya feel. It gets pretty busy as well so I recommend you come early. For the food, we ordered Tako yaki - 4/5 good! Yakitori combo A - 4/5 also good! Steak was a little tough but still not bad Pork katsu curry - 5/5 amazing! The curry itself has large chunks of meat! Hakata Motsu Nabe - 3.5/5 this was ok, too much cabbage Sushi generation - 5/5 so fresh! Get this! Crab cream croquette - 3/5 I would skip this next time but only because we ordered too much and this didn't stand out too much. Mostly just cream. Everything overall was really solid. We were very impressed with the quality and how fresh all the food was. Will definitely come back! This is a hidden gem! read more

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Excellent service and food, would recommend!!!!! :D (: Ordered curry katsu and spicy salmon roll

Walked in around 10pm on a Tuesday. The place was a little empty, slowly filling up by the time we left before midnight. The interior of the space is really well done. I felt like I was transported to Japan. Many of the staff also seem to be Japanese or have some sort of background affiliated with Japan. I overheard one of the servers say he learned something in Japan then came to the US. The ambiance here is great. 4/5 Sashimi combo - the sashimi cuts are THICK. These are the thickest cuts I've seen anywhere. There's a slight fishy taste so not the best quality I've had but pretty good! Their salmon is wonderful. My date and I had mixed reviews on the fish that was seared. We both liked the raw part of the fish and thought the lemon paired well with it but the texture of the seared part was too much of a contrast to the raw part. 2/5 Soy milk hot pot - we ordered a one person portion. It was huge. it took awhile for this to be brought out, then the broth needed to boil, the soy milk poured in and boiled again before we could eat. The portion comes with one bowl of rice and one scoop of ice cream (at the end). We didn't eat any of the rice with the hot pot, but with the sashimi actually. The flavor of the hot pot was on the lighter side and the soy milk did not especially come through. None of the ingredients were especially big hitters either. Would not get this again but I am interested in trying some of their other hot pots. *The ice cream that comes with this is matcha and it is really good. Our server said they bring it in from Japan. I knew it tasted different! The tea flavor really comes through compared to matcha ice cream here which are more creamy. The wall art of the buff beer hung right over our table. I was first amused by it and pointed it out to my date. Then he wanted a beer so we each got one not sure if that was subtle marketing but it worked on us hahha Dropped a star because the food could have been better but the ambiance and service were wonderful. read more

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Lovely small hangout place with friends. We liked the food and the service. I'd recommend.

Definitely a popular happy hour and after work hotspot in the area. Servers are very friendly and kind and helpful. The food was good but nothing too great or excellent about the taste. After 5:30 it definitely gets loud and crowded as the tables start filling up and bigger parties start coming in. Would recommend if you're craving Japanese food as they have a big menu with lots of sushi and non sushi options to choose from. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Pork Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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Cozy little place in K-town. I like that you don't need reservations, and the menu items are large and well-priced. The tako wasabi and sukiyaki were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Sukiyaki - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

Went late night for a snack, the server was friendly in making suggestions and everything came out pretty quick! Good cucumbers and great mushroom/pork belly skewers! I liked it! read more

Ai Ki Ya - Pork Belly with Enoki Mushroom Yakitori - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

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Ai Ki Ya in Koreatown I have mixed reviews about the place. Let's start with food. Ordered three dishes: -Tako Yaki -Salmon Avocado Roll -Deep Fried Skewers (Beef, Chicken, Shrimp, Meatball, Sausage) The tako yaki was delightful. The fried octopus filling was not dry and it was crunchy on the outside. Garnishes on the top was a very nice combo to the dish. The roll was pretty good. Each piece was pretty big and filling. As like the other dish, the garnishes really helped pull the dish together. The deep fried skewers... do not get this. You are required to get 5 skewers at minimum to place the order. The menu I had had no picture of the food so i went ahead and ordered what sounded good. My mistake here, the size and flavor. The skewers are just unflavored with the smallest possible bite of food. With how much I paid the total bill, the skewers didn't make the total price worth it. Spend the money on a nice roll or little dish instead, this was a a total waste of like 1/4 of the bill. Generally, the restaurant was quick to attend you considering how small and crowded it was for a Saturday night. Food came pretty quick and had a very nice aesthetic, as well as the restaurant. Would I go back again? Absolutely but not for the deep fried skewers. Other dishes were amazing and looking around there were a lot of good-looking foods I would want to try. read more

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Kamameshi truffle rice with salmon roe, snow crab, and mushrooms was amazing. Chicken gizzard skewer was great. read more

Ai Ki Ya - Truffle kamameshi with snow crab - Ramen Near Me - New York, New York

This place was great, food came out fast and tasty, staff was super friendly and helpful. Great vibe! Def hit up for happy hour $3 Sapporo drafts, glasses are small though read more

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I love izakayas but this one was mediocre at best. I did have this place bookmarked, so our group of five came in for dinner on a Wednesday evening at around 6ish, after our first two restaurant choices fell through. It's definitely meant for smaller groups because we were seated at a table meant for four people and it was pretty cramped. Service is lacking. Once you come in, they just dump this one large paper menu for you to fill out for the whole table, and then they never come back. We ordered a bunch of things to share: -Snow crab roll - definitely not snow crab. Tasted canned tuna like, and there was way too much rice -Beef tongue - this wasn't bad but it had too much sauce, which made it very salty -Skewer set - this came with chicken thigh, chicken meatball, wagyu, veggie, and chicken skin. The thigh and meatball were pretty good. The wagyu was probably not wagyu. My favorite was the chicken skin -Pork jowl - I enjoyed this. Usually can't go wrong with pork jowl -Sea salt cream mentai udon - this wasn't bad but it cools down very quickly so you have to eat it fast -Fried fish ball skewers - this was fine, nothing special. But the weird thing is that this was on a section of the menu where you have to order a minimum of five skewers. So there are some skewers where you can get single skewers, and some where you must order five. I don't get it Overall, nothing really stood out to me to want to come back here again or tell someone they should try it. There are way better izakayas out there. Word of advice: you're in Ktown. Just stick to the Korean food. read more

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We came here for the yakitori since we were craving some grilled chicken skin & hearts. The place is dimly lit and decorated with lots of Japanese signs. The ambiance is that of a traditional Japanese style tapas and drinking spot. We ordered a variety of yakitori, including chicken skin, chicken balls, chicken hearts, gizzards, and pork jowl. I was disappointed in most of the food. In particular, the chicken skin had zero seasoning and was overcooked to the point where it was too crispy and tasted like chicharron. The heart and gizzards were ok but not great. The pork jowl was the best out of the grilled meats we had. We also ordered the grilled mackerel, which was pretty good. Surprisingly, the best tasting dishes were vegetarian options, including the house green salad, edamame, and pumpkin skewers. Prices were reasonable for the area. read more

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Average, meh food. When you walk in, there's a faint smell of rot to contend with. Once seated, service was good. Food was just ok: spicy tuna and hamachi rolls, hamachi kama, pork belly skewers all lacked flavor. $80 wasted. read more

Easy to grab a walk in table for a big party. They have a big menu with lots of Japanese food options. The cotton candy sukiyaki was fun looking but I didn't think the cotton candy added anything to the meal besides aesthetics. Nothing else stood out as especially outstanding, but this is a decent spot for a big group if you're in the area. It's a little pricey for what you get. read more