Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chubby Don

    4.5 (217 reviews)
    PriceyJapanese
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Chubby Don Reservations

    Order Chubby Don Takeout or Delivery

    Chubby Don Photos

    Business Info

    CHUBBY DON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    More like Chubby Don

    Recommended Reviews - Chubby Don

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Phillip L.

    Had a great experience at Chubby Don! The food was really good and the service made the whole visit even better. April was definitely the best server here! She was super friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Great attitude and excellent service throughout the meal. Would definitely come back again, and hopefully get April as our server next time. Highly recommend!

    Sauces
    Garvey S.

    We had a reservation at 4:30 where it was already pretty busy! We were greeted by April who sat us at our seats and explained everything to us. We used our phones to place our orders. The selections are straightforward and simple. We got 2 patties with 3 kushiyaki and 2 patties with the sirloin steak. The wagyu patties were juicy and delicious; they start as medium rare, but are placed on a hot plate that kept it warm and can even cook it further to medium if that's your preference. The sirloin steak was very tender and delicious as well. The wide variety of sauces complemented the meat, and gave it a great new flavor each time we switched. Our favorite were the yakiniku salt, hamburger sauce, and the green chile sauce. I highly recommend a visit at least once, and try to make an early reservation since it got busier when we left. The workers are all very friendly, super helpful, and constantly checked on us. Shoutout to Ken, Christy (sp?), and Lia for helping us today!

    Set menu!
    Hollie W.

    I really enjoyed my experience at Chubby Don!! They brought the viral hamburger steak from Japan to the US! It's an open kitchen concept so you watch them cook everything in front of you! I ordered the set menu that came with 2 hamburger patties, soup, rice, and my choice of three skewers. I love that they time the patties so you have time to enjoy both hot off the grill. The service is also really amazing here, and the staff is super helpful! It's located in the outdoor area of the mall! I recommend parking underground and taking the escalator up!

    Jennifer W.

    Service was good, wagyu burgers were good. Waited about 40 minutes on a late night. The waitlist goes a-lot faster than you think because I think a-lot of people sign up on the waitlist, but end up going elsewhere. Since this is at Santa Anita mall, you have plenty to do while waiting. With Chubby membership, you get a $5 discount on the entrees. My partner and I got the 2 wagyu burgers, pasteurized egg, and three skewer set for $35 (otherwise is $40). All entrees come with a bowl of rice and tounge soup. Tongue soup is very peppery and has chunks of tongue meat (rating 3/5). The wagyu burgers was delicious (rating 5/5). They look small, but at the end of the meal I was full. Don't get the cheese, saw people take it off and not eat it. Got wagyu a5 skewer (rating 4/5), but it was very small. The tongue skewer was delicious (5/5), but only slightly bigger than the a5. I heard the lychee pork belly is the best, but they ran out when I was there. Don't get the gyudon kimchi... it tasted like it was store bought (rating 2/5) and we didn't finish it. The entree could use a small salad to feel more complete. The variety of sauces and spices are delicious , and daikon is good as a free side. For a good taste, it is important to use the pasteurized egg to enhance the taste of the burger with the rice. Cute for a date as it reminds you of Japan restaurants, but I personally don't plan to come again with so many other choices around and felt the skewers should have been bigger. What I do appreciate is that this place helps you focus on the different tastes you can get when switching sauces, spices, and pasteurized egg. Glad I came once though as it was a different experience in LA.

    Louise D.

    Been waiting to try this spot, and I'm so glad they finally started opening early so we had the chance to stop by for lunch today! We ordered the set with 2 patties, added cheese to one, and got 3 yakitoris. The patties were so soft and flavorful, and we tried all of their sauces. Every single one was yummy! For the yakitori, I got the beef tongue, short rib, and pineapple. The beef tongue and short rib were both so soft and flavorful. I added their yuzu salt and lemon to both and it made it taste ever better. The glazed pineapple was sooo goood too.....I'm definitely going to be thinking about it for a while. The service was also great! Our server, Dylan, was super attentive and friendly. We can't wait to come back and hopefully have him again next time. Thank you for the recs! None of it disappointed!

    Tiffany C.

    I had high hopes for this place but my experience left me feeling pretty underwhelmed and disappointed. Several mishaps occurred that definitely need to be fixed before grand opening. This restaurant is incredibly limited in seating. It's pretty much Kazunori style with bar seating around the open kitchen where you are side by side with the people dining next to you. There's maybe 20-24 spots? They also had some outdoor seating but I honestly don't know how the front of house was managing the wait list. The expected wait times are way off. We were told to be seated around 7 but we actually got seated closer to 9; we waited almost 2 hours. The person managing the front of house was running around like a headless chicken, but not effectively managing the list. We were next on the waitlist and told to check in with the host. They ended up giving our seat away to a party behind us. We were willing to break our group into doubles but not sure if our point got across. We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes after - it was just super chaotic and disorganized. The other issue is that they need to be more specific about being a member of Chubby to get the discount and unlimited rice and soup. If you're a member of Chubby Cattle, that doesn't extend to this restaurant. But we were told at the end of the night that points could be transferred? The host said we could transfer points later after the app was downloaded. When we tried to clarify what the host meant, she said actually we had already paid so the points could no longer be transferred. Was pretty miffed about that. As for the food, it's okay. Skewers were tasty, especially the finger meat. The patty itself is super tiny. Adding cheese is not really worth it. They also serve the patties at different times, so sometimes you can be done while someone else is still waiting for their piece. Overall, didn't feel like it was worth the price. You also have to account for luck and timing. After we sat down, a bunch of people ended up leaving. However, earlier in the night people were sitting and drinking. So account for longer wait times when it's earlier as people might not want to leave. In summary, I would not return to this place again. Food was okay. Not worth the almost 2 hour wait.

    Joe L.

    Been wanting to try this place for a while now since it reminded me of Hikiniku to Come in Japan so I wanted to experience the same nostalgia. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I had expected. 1) They recently took away the reservation option, so you have to get there early and put your name down on the waitlist. My friends put their names down around 4:40 pm, but we weren't seated til ~ 7 pm due to the limited number of seats inside. 2) Upon ordering, I learned that they don't do free refills on rice or soup unless you have a Chubby membership. Otherwise it's an extra $3. So when I was eating my patties, I felt like I was trying to save my rice to last the entire meal. 3) I ordered the combo/package with 3 patties. I was a bit surprised by how small the patties were. Additionally, I didn't get my 2nd patty until my friends already received their 3rd patty. After they finished their meals, they had to wait an extra ~10-15 min for me before I received my 3rd patty. Even though I didn't have a great experience, the staff were super nice. But overall, I think I would rather go to Hikiniku to Come in Japan.

    Christina T.

    Enjoyed it! Very flavorful meat patties and the soup is soo good. I would probably skip the skewers next time because the patties are better!

    Fois Gras
    Sokna S.

    Food: 3/5 Food was ok. Wagyu patty was ok as well. Lychee sparkling water was great! Service: 3/5 Server are nice, but Food took way too long to come out. Ambiance: 4/5 Nice location, awesome decor.

    Winnie C.

    Absolutely NOT worth it. The meat quality was extremely disappointing. The lychee pork, beef tongue, and other skewers were mediocre at best. The only thing I actually enjoyed was the zucchini mentaiko. The service was even worse. After finishing my meal, I waited over 15 minutes to pay, and no one came over. I tried waving to get their attention, but they completely ignored me. Honestly, it felt incredibly disrespectful. The set also came with a pasteurized egg, but it arrived cracked. When I pointed it out, the server said it was still okay to eat, but offered to replace it. Honestly, this is basic food safety. If the staff can't even handle something this basic, that's a pretty big red flag. I didn't even feel the service deserved a tip, but I still left one. One visit was more than enough. Definitely won't be coming back.

    Pipoca C.

    Soft opening. Fifteen minute wait for counter seating and tables. No take out orders allowed The wait is bearable if I really really wanted to try it but I already know the absence of a pickup/takeout option would eliminate 75-80% of my visits so why bother? Not convinced a sit down visit would be worth it

    Janie Thao N.

    This was our first time here, and it is an absolute must-try! The highlight was definitely their unique take on the burger. Instead of a traditional American burger with a bun, it features a round wagyu steak patty served over rice with a runny egg yolk on top, which made for a totally new and incredible food experience. We ordered the combo, some skewers, a side of beef, and added caviar, and the food was truly amazing and fresh plus their beef soup is super tasty. The customer service is second to none. Every single staff member we encountered from the host and manager to the chef and servers was exceptionally friendly, polite, and helpful. A special thanks to Evan, who introduced us to the food, and Tracey, who mainly helped us along with the other staff to make our meal so comfortable and enjoyable. Because the restaurant is cozy and on the smaller side, it can get busy since it's located inside a mall. Pro tip: put your name down for the waitlist or book a reservation while you shop around, then come back so you don't have to wait around. We can't wait to come back!

    Chicken
    Kelly W.

    Yummy yakitori and beef hamburger patties! This place is finally open and they are currently doing soft opening. first come first serve. The wait can be long since the place is very small with limited seating. However you can add yourself to the wait list in person before they open, this actually saved the waiting time. The ordering process is easy and fast. You order online through the QR code on your table. The yakitori I had for beef tongue and chicken were both tender and juicy! The soup was also very flavorful. The hamburger patties were juicy, it was not seasoned but they provide many different sauces to dip. Overall it was a great experience and brings me back to Japan!

    Beef tongue

    See all

    17 days ago

    Good food, good portions! Bought the patty set. Dylan was a fantastic server! Good vibes.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    The food is great. Evin is attentive and polite, great service! Will definitely comeback with the family!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Great service! Hamburgers and A5 bomb. Recommend getting the shitake kushi. Must try lychee sparkling water

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    April very cute ,Very good and great service. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I like her really much

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan H.
    40
    214
    14

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    super yummy! service was friendly and amazing :) definitely recommend the chicken and short rib skewer!!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan L.
    24
    16
    0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    30 days ago

    The food was very fresh! Service was quick and the seasonings and sauces were very delicious. Recommend going here for a quick bite.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Food is great and servers are very friendly. Alina was our server and made sure we had everything we ordered!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    The meat is so good and everything is high quality. Definitely would come back! Chris was so helpful and awesome!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    I got food poisoning from the burger immediately after leaving the restaurant. I believe it wasn't cooked properly.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    liya was an amazing server she was very thoughtful. Food was amazing and delicious. also the design of the store is nice.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    New concept from chubby. Amazing food! Great service. Would definitely come back. Super cool atmosphere.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    pretty good food& service overall. Rice too soggy need to improve, they got the feedback and served several sides though

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian A.
    0
    42
    6

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    The meat is terrific! Chubby all the way...ha ha. Awesome service. The staff really took care of us.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Really great food and service! Staff is friendly and makes the experience even better. Would recommend!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    very yummy! Wait time a bit long but worth it! Great seasoning. 11111111111111hyyuhauayyayyauajjjjaja

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Amazing service, amazing food!! I loved the entire concept of this restaurant. We will be back!!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken T.
    0
    10
    19

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Everything was great. Especially, the beef tongue!! Service is great and servers are kind.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Lovely food ! The service always around ! And we can see the food made in front of us .

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jasmine L.

    Jasmine L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 5 of 6

    Ask the Community - Chubby Don

    What are the perks of being a chubby club member for this restaurant?

    You get unlimited broth (the beef soup)

    Is it only going to be open 5PM to 10PM as shown on Yelp?

    Yes, they're pretty good about showing their true hours and updating them when needed

    Are they taking reservations?

    No. It's a waitlist.

    Is this place open yet?

    Not yet

    View All 5 Questions

    KazuNori | Pasadena - Salmon Rolls

    KazuNori | Pasadena

    4.5(198 reviews)
    4.9 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    I've been to multiple KazuNori locations, including Pasadena, Downtown LA, and Koreatown. If I had…read moreto rank them, Pasadena would be #1 for cleanliness, easy parking, service, and overall hand roll quality. Koreatown would be #2. The service and hand rolls are just as good as Pasadena, but the parking isn't free, which is the main reason I rank it slightly lower. Downtown LA would be #3. At this point, I'd rather go to the Pasadena or Koreatown locations because I've had a better overall experience at both. I came to the Pasadena location on a Wednesday around noon. It was pretty empty when we arrived, but about 30 minutes later, right as we were leaving, it started getting busy with the lunch crowd. Every hand roll was well prepared and tasted fresh. The waitress who greeted us and helped seat us was very kind. She was wearing black glasses and kept checking on us to make sure everything was okay. She was attentive and very professional. The only negative was that I noticed a slight fishy smell from the water glass. Hopefully they can make sure all the glasses are thoroughly cleaned. Overall, Pasadena is still my favorite KazuNori location, and I'll definitely be back.

    Stop by here for lunch on the weekend and the wait wasn't as bad as it first started…read more We got the 5 handroll, everything was fresh and tasty. Service is fast and friendly. My favorite handroll place in the area.

    Photos
    KazuNori | Pasadena - Inside/bar seating

    Inside/bar seating

    KazuNori | Pasadena - Salmon Roll

    Salmon Roll

    KazuNori | Pasadena - Bay scallop

    See all

    Bay scallop

    Yakiya

    Yakiya

    4.5(294 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Chapman
    •$$$$

    Came here to try the Dine LA deal, since they extended the dates. It lined up with Yakiniku Week,…read morewhere they were offering a complimentary course, so the timing worked out great! A5 Wagyu Tartelette with caviar 9/10: delicious tartare and truffle flavor paired well, it had a bit too much truffle where we couldn't appreciate the Wagyu flavor as much because of it Smoked ribeye tataki 10/10: delicious smoked flavor. Typically I'm skeptical that are as just extra fluff for visuals, but these micro greens actually paired so well with the smokey meat flavor. Chawanmushi 7/10: classic Chawanmushi, egg was cooked well, not particularly better than others I've had. The Dine LA menu says it is with uni and okra, but ours today was abalone and mushroom, which were still delicious. Prime ribeye 9/10: delicious soft and tender. They cook each piece for you Dry aged ribeye 10/10: not part of Dine LA deal. this was the complementary course for Yakiniku week. Had some extra flavor due to being dry aged 3-4 weeks. Wish it was part of the set menu! Wagyu short rib 10/10: favorite of the night! Melts in your mouth and delicious beef flavor Filet mignon 7/10: classic filet, soft. They serve it with the bone marrow rice. It was a bit bland so I'm glad they serve it with wasabi. If you haven't tried steak with wasabi, give it a shot. Bone marrow rice 10/10: prepared table side. The kimchi, mushroom, seaweed all pair well with the rice. Rice itself was cooked well. It wasn't overly salty or savory, it was a good balance of buttery flavor. Miso cappuccino ice cream 4/10: the vanilla bean ice cream was a bit icy rather than creamy. The miso cappuccino foam was too salty personally for me. There was a strong coffee flavor, but it was overpowered by the saltines. Imperial palace cocktail 9/10: not part of the set menu. It was a good balance of Yuzu and whiskey. Often times when you order a Yuzu cocktail it just has a generic citrus flavor, but this one was a true strong yuzu flavor. Refreshing and complimented the savory meat dishes Overall, it's pricey for the amount of food you get, but that's expected with a premium wagyu set dinner. Especially if we did not get the complimentary course, it is a small amount of food for the $78 set and you won't leave full. But the quality and taste were premium. Service: very kind and attentive staff. They even gave us a complementary palate cleanser dish, and a scallion sauce to try. Ambiance: spacious dining room, we did not leave smelling like smoke or barbecue. The bathrooms are clean and have fancy Japanese toilets. There's a big parking lot out front, which was easy to find parking.

    Fancy pre fixed 15 item omakase tasting menu. Portions are intentionally petite to give taste of…read morespecially prepared dishes. Good for special occasions, not for everyday unless you like paying $128 per person. Dining room is dark, elegant and kissed w gold metal accents. Each table has table top grill. Rest assured, you won't be doing any cooking the servers do it for you. Aeko my first server was unpleasantly hyper, rushed and acted as if running a race. He served the 1st 3 dishes. He'd drop it off, then scurry away quickly. When I asked a question, he'd give a quick response and walk away while I'm still talking. Worst personality, I was the only diner in the entire restaurant. The pacing was too quick, I'd barely eaten half of 1st dish, then came second, hadn't touched yet, then came 3rd dish. When waitress brought 4th dish, I had to say, hey, can you slow down, I can't enjoy anything and pointed to the uneaten food. Food was okay, nothing stood out. Sorry, had no standout favorites. I've had American and Japanese Wagyu many times other places. Grilled Wagyu trio was fine, nothing special. Worst dish #1: SRF AMERICAN WAGYU BEEF TONGUE Thin Cut x2 PCS * Scallion Kosho Tongue had an off-putting gamey smell and taste. Texture was rubbery, tough and kind of crunchy. Disgusting, one bite, spit out. Told waitress it's inedible. She admitted, yes it's supposed to be med rare and kind of crunchy. Replaced it with slice of short rib. Worst dish #2: A5 KAGOSHIMA RIBEYE Poached Egg * Maldon Sea Salt * Yakiniku The egg was 75% raw and not properly poached. I told Aeko and he said that's the way it's supposed to be. I showed him the slimy raw clear egg whites that looked like mucous I just blew out of my nose, if I had a cold. Disgusting. I asked if he could exchange it for a properly poached egg w fully cooked whites and egg yolk soft, but not raw. He refused to accomodate, stated curtly, no, that's the way it's supposed to be and scurried off. Jeffrey came to the rescue! He could see interaction was frustrating me, and offered to replace egg. Came back with new one, asked if it was satisfactory, which it was. Jeffrey had grilled my steak trio earlier. He is the best server: kind, patient, friendly and respectful. The 3 waitresses were fine, no standouts. If Jefferey hadn't intervened I would've given 1 star because Aeko was unlikeable from the beginning, rushing me, walking away while I'm still talking and refusing to replace that awful raw egg. Dessert was 50/50. Loved the VANILLA GELATO AND SATSUMA ORANGE GRANITA. Refreshing and delightful. MATCHA BALL: was disappointing. Outside was like matcha white chocolate. Inside was room temp matcha tea, expected it to be cold and icy. And annoyed the blond haired Asian waitress gave me an ominous warning and said it twice as if talking to a non-obedient kid. She said, we recommend to eat Matcha Ball in One Bite with your Mouth Closed. I said okay. She said again, Eat in One Bite With Mouth Closed. Then said this in a Very Stern Tone with finger pointed at me: Just So You Know, You've Been Warned!

    Photos
    Yakiya - Interior room

    Interior room

    Yakiya - APPETIZERS (A5 JAPANESE WAGYU TARTARE, NORI RIBEYE TARTARE)

    APPETIZERS (A5 JAPANESE WAGYU TARTARE, NORI RIBEYE TARTARE)

    Yakiya - Bluefin tuna tartelette with caviar

    See all

    Bluefin tuna tartelette with caviar

    Ducks - Gem

    Ducks

    4.1(905 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    •$$

    mySGV food passport has brought me to Ducks Restaurant this past weekend. It's a mom and pop hidden…read moregem for over 30 years located within the small Plaza San Gabriel at the corner of Las Tunas Drive and Muscatel Ave. Very limited plaza parking. Not sure about street parking. There's not a lot of lightning at night except for the business signages that do give off lighting. Upon entry, I was greeted and seated right away. Came here during late lunch so they weren't super busy. Not a big restaurant with a capacity of about 40 people. One all gender restroom available for customer use only. Lunch special menu was available. Other menu had main items, appetizers, and drinks. Prices were fairly reasonable. They are known for their famous pork katsu. I am not a big katsu fan so I didn't get it. Mochi Udon looked interesting so I got it with the Chicken Karaage (free offer from food passport... stamp #10) plus water. While I was waiting for my order, I was fascinated by all the different designed ducks displayed on the window sills and front counter. I am curious about their duck story. Inquirer wants to know. Mochi Udon bowl came out piping hot and steamy. A small plate of cabbage came with it. The bowl's nice presentation made it pleasantly appetizing. Broth was savory and slightly sweet in a good soothing way. Udon noodles tasted homemade... very bouncy and slippery. YUM! Two mochis were soft and chewy. Fish cakes were fresh and delicious. One chicken piece was moist and tender. Wished there was one or two more chicken pieces though... one was just a teaser! Chicken Karaage was the best looking and tasting plate I have ever had. I was impressed with its presentation and the mochi-like batter taste. Chicken was very moist. I enjoyed it very much. SO GOOD! Highly recommend. Thanks Ducks! Staff was friendly and nice. Overall service was good. Kirk was kind to offer his recommendations for my next visit. Thanks Kirk! I had such a delicious lunch dine-in. I came back for dinner take-out. I called in my order. Lady on the phone was nice and cordial. My order was ready upon arrival. Haven't eaten the take-out food yet, but I'm sure it's all good. It's a YES, I'll be back! Dinner Take-Out: Pork Katsu (most popular) Combo Yaki Udon Karaage Chicken Karaage Gyoza

    Why Ducks? - A STAPLE in SGV…read more - IMO, sleeper in homemade Japanese food - 30 years as a family business with the owners from Japan - You LOVE ducks, because there's a ton of them inside Would I come back? - 100% delicious comfort Japanese with a bunch of selections to pick from. 4.5/5 Food - Spaghetti = NGL the sauce is legit for such a simple dish - Beef curry = beef is SUPER tender not fatty and paired perfectly with the curry - Karaage and katsu = perfect crunchiness and flavor 5/5 Service and Ambience Attentive and friendly service from all staff members 5/5 Parking Small shopping plaza parking lot

    Photos
    Ducks - Inside

    Inside

    Ducks - Cold Udon Mini Katsudon

    Cold Udon Mini Katsudon

    Ducks - Japanese curry

    See all

    Japanese curry

    Chubby Don - japanese - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...