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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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
Ever since this place opened, I've been wanting to try it, but they only operated in the evenings. When they started offering lunch service, I finally had the chance to visit. They open at noon, and the waitlist is available before opening. The wait wasn't too long, and the hostess came out to make sure everyone in each party was present before seating. This is definitely not a spot for large groups. Most of the seating is at the bar, with a few tables outside. Ordering is done through your phone. Even though my cell reception was a little weak, I was still able to place my order without any issues. There's also a self-serve water station, or you can order drinks from the menu. I ordered the two-burger combo with the A5 steak soup. Overall, everything was really good, and I'd definitely come back to try more items on the menu. The burgers are cooked medium-rare and were incredibly juicy and flavorful. The A5 soup was rich and savory as well. If you're a member, you also get unlimited soup and rice, which is a nice bonus. Overall, I had a great experience and would happily return. If you're looking for high-quality burgers and don't mind a more casual, self-service ordering setup, Chubby Don is worth checking out.
Chubby Don has been all the social media hype as of late. Having seen so many photos and viral reviews, I had to try Chubby Don for myself. Actually, I've never had Hikiniku to Come or other similar hamburg restaurants in Japan or Asia, so this is my formal first time trying hamburg by the grill in this fashion. Being so viral, there is still quite a wait. I came at 5:30 and still had to wait a half hour to be seated. But the staff are super attentive. The restaurant is small but super clean. Bar seating only but we got to watch all the grilling right there. I ended up ordering a kushiyaki and hamburg combo and sharing with my wife. For the kushiyaki, we got beef tongue, lychee pork, and zucchini with mentaiko. I loved the lychee pork and mentaiko zucchini, both were extremely flavorful. Chubby Don comes with a wide array of sauces. I ended up prioritizing the hamburg sauce and the daikon with ponzu. I put both sauces on rice and they were amazing. For the hamburg, I asked them to add the cheese and cheese snow, as that was popular. The cheese was nothing special, but the hamburg was amazing. Apparently it was 70% A5 wagyu and 30% angus. The beef was super juicy and soft. Amazing restaurant, with amazing service. Worth the hype. A bit expensive, but worth the investment. I would come back.
Chubby Don is such a fun and delicious dining experience! It feels like you're in Japan. The charcoal-grilled Wagyu hamburger patties and kushiyaki skewers were all delicious and it's fun watching them grill everything in front. We loved cheese Wagyu hamburger patty, the uni bowl (weekly special), and the sirloin paired with uni and caviar! There's so many topping to try too. Definitely give them a try when you're at the Santa Anita mall.
A delicious spot for hamburg rice. I was most impressed by the lychee pork belly skewer, hamburg patty, and the friendly workers. The only thing is the wait can be pretty long, but I think the wait will decrease as they become more efficient. -Hamburg Patty: The meat here is seasoned perfectly. Can also add cheese to this. There's also different sauces you can try with this. I personally enjoyed both the ponzu sauce the most with this patty. -Beef Tongue Soup: There is a strong pepper flavor. -Lychee Pork Belly Skewer: A fantastic skewer. You can really taste the lychee in this. The lychee is fresh and juicy despite being grilled. -Beef Tongue Skewer: Very impressive beef tongue. I liked the thickness of this as well. Probably the most tender skewer I had during this meal. -Asparagus Skewer: Asparagus was fresh and had a nice fresh crunch to it. -Zucchini with Mentaiko Skewer: Pretty good. -Oyster: Juicy oyster.
5 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Ryan! We're glad you enjoyed the food and that Dylan made your…
2 months ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Li, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the beef…
29 days ago
Food was so good, service was IMPECCABLE (shoutout Josh, our server), and the speed at which the food comes out was perfect. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Bree, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
16 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Chretien, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad Dylan was…
2 months ago
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Kimf! We’re glad you had fun with the unique skewer…
22 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Saphire, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the…
9 days ago
Emma and alina were so nice at chubby don and helped us and the food was so good and it was so good they changed my view of dining and I really felt like I deserved to live. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi John, thank you for coming back to Chubby Don. We are glad Emma…
1 month ago
Originally drawn for the ambience stayed for the amazing food, great customer service! Will definitely be coming back again read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Raymond, we love hearing that the ambiance brought you in and the…
2 months ago
Really enjoyed everything we ordered! The original Wagyu hamburger steak was super juicy and flavorful, with just the right amount of richness. The beef tongue was incredibly tender and seasoned perfectly. My favorite was definitely the shishamo--it had so much flavor and was nice and plump. Overall, the whole experience felt warm, cozy, and welcoming. Huge shoutout to our server Tracy for the great service--she made the experience even better. Would definitely come back again! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Ye, thank you for such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled the…
11 days ago
Really enjoyed my meal here! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The grilled skewers were especially delicious. Great food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Definitely coming back! read more
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Zilei! We’re glad you enjoyed the food, especially the…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Kevin,…
9 days ago
The service here was amazing. Alina and Emma were the best servers we had in our lives. Thank you so much for your service. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Lynn, thank you for dining with us. We are glad Alina and Emma…
2 months ago
Really enjoyed Chubby Don! Everything we ordered was so good. The lychee pork belly skewer was probably my favorite. I wasn't sure about the combination at first, but the sweet lychee actually went so well with the savory pork belly. The burger beef was also super juicy and flavorful, especially with all the different sauces and toppings. The whole experience was fun too. I loved the open kitchen and watching everything being grilled right in front of us. The staff was friendly and the vibe was casual and perfect for coming with friends. They also have pet-friendly outdoor seating, which is such a plus! Definitely bringing my pup with me next time Will be back to try more! read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi 炽然, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
13 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Evelyn, thank you for visiting us for the first time. We are glad…
13 days ago
Super yummy food! Long wait though, we came at 12:30 for a party of 4 and the wait was 2 hours. So many people, they need more staff. Was worth the wait. The sauces are all amazing and the patty is delicious. I liked the cheese, soup, and the rice. Tracey was our server and she was very kind and attentive! She gave us free dessert too. Highly recommend read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Janine, thank you for visiting us. We are glad you felt the wait…
25 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, Eric! We’re glad you got to enjoy the patio and had such a…
2 months ago
Patties are excellent! Worth to try Yakitory there are three options we like the chicken scallions, beef tongue and short rib Yakitory read more
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Jasmine L.
Thanks, William! We’re glad you enjoyed the patties and the yakitori…
5 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Leslie! We're glad you enjoyed the burgers, yakitori, and little…
24 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Christine, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed…
24 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Eric, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
2 months ago
*FIRST REVIEW AFTER ALL THE SPECIAL PEOPLE GOT TO EAT DAYS BEFORE PUBLIC SOFT OPENING* Got an early reservation on soft opening day. It's their first day so I understand the slowness of their service and other easy to train things (my girlfriend getting her last patty long after I finish my meal, my beer being half foam, poorly poured, one of my patties being completely raw on the inside, they fixed with no issue). The staff did well to explain the menu and overall no complaints with the staff. The patties are cooked over an open flame. They were hot and somewhat juicy. I guess I was just expecting more of a smoky, charcoal flavor which the patties were missing completely. My girlfriend ordered one of her patties with cheese. It was American cheese and a grated (Parmesan?) cheese, it looked good on camera but doesn't add much to the taste. The sauces carry the meat, as the meat comes unseasoned. The sauces were nothing to write home about, they were just meh. I suggest putting the variety of sauces in bottles, as opening each lid and placing them on your plate was cumbersome (open lid, pull container out of holder, use spoon, close lid, place back in holder), with the bar seating it felt very crowded. They already have two of the sauces in bottles, just put the rest in bottles as well. The combo set meal I ordered came with a soup. The soup was clean tasting and slightly beefy. Good compliment. The combo also came with one veggie skewer and two meat skewers. I opted for the zucchini skewer, which came grilled and had this very weird mayo sauce on it. Very weird. I also got the wagyu fingerling skewer, and chicken/ green onion skewer. Cooked well, tender and juicy however both were gamely tasting and wasn't for me. My girlfriend got the lychee pork belly skewer, and it was okay. Imagine a hot tender thinly slice of pork belly with a whole bite of lychee wrapped on the inside. Very overpowering sweetness. The rice was cooked well, my fat self ordered an extra bowl. Overall 80 dollars for two meal sets (4 total patties, 2 veggie skewer, 4 meat skewers) was a little on the high side for me especially since I wasn't WOWed by the quality of the beef patty. I hate to say it but a Costco frozen patty grilled over charcoal and placed over rice would supercede what I ate. It was a good experience to try at least once, but I don't think I will be back. read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi L, thank you for trying us during our soft opening and for sharing…
21 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Dadco, thank you for visiting us. We are glad you enjoyed the food…
1 month ago
First time at chubby don that I passed by for years. I'm happy to see how well it turned out. I was able to get in with my friend since we're the second one to get in line on the waitlist. The food was amazing, staff is really nice, and the menu ordering online is straight forward with the prices and understanding how it works. The prices are very reasonable. Combo is around $30-35 depending how much you order. Would recommend this place and was worth the wait since pandemic era read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi Caroline, thank you for finally visiting us and for sharing your…
22 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Bjorn, thank you for visiting us. We’re glad Dylan was able to…
2 months ago
Ordered the combo with 2 hamburger patties and 3 Kushiyaki. The hamburger patty is really juicy and I recommend it with cheese! As for the Kushiyashi, I prefer the thick cut beef tongue kashi and also the zucchini with Mentaiko kushi! The waiter and waitress are really friendly 好吃 推薦起司漢堡排和牛舌烤串跟西葫蘆串 read more
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Jasmine L.
Hi NT, thank you for the recommendation! We’re glad you enjoyed the…
28 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Pat, thank you for visiting us during the soft opening. We are…
2 months ago
Chubbys first hamburger concept! The Hamburg is served with rice and soup, the soup being very refreshing. The food is grilled in front of you and service is bar style. The restaurant is very Japanese bar themed with various Japanese music playing in the background. Very good for a quick eat. read more
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Jasmine L.
Thank you for trying us out, Bryan! We’re glad you enjoyed the food…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Connie, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Natalie, thank you for dining with us. We are glad you enjoyed the…
30 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Michael, thank you for dining with us. We understand the wait was…
21 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Sing-Yee, thank you for dining with us. We are glad Alina provided…
4 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Maui, we love hearing that your visit exceeded expectations! Chris…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Jackie, we’re glad you loved thewagyu skewers and hamburger steak!…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Weslee, thank you for dining with us. Welcome to the Chubby Club…
2 months ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Anna,…
1 month ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Chin, thank you for dining with us! We’re glad you enjoyed the…
24 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Andrew, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
24 days ago
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Jasmine L.
Hi Pann, thank you for dining with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
More info about Chubby Don
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
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
19 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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