It's been a while since I've last visited and was happy to return. Arrived at around 5:30pm on Wednesday and was seated quickly. Usually order a bunch of skewers, but didn't this time. During this visit, we ordered: 1) Butakimchi carbonara - this is a must whenever I visit and still as good as I remember 2) Age Mochi Oroshi - the broth is yummy with the chewiness of the mochi 3) Chicken skin gyoza - perfect for those on keto and/or just tying to avoid the carbs 4) Chicken liver pate - always a good one, but prefer toasted bread slices rather than the crackers. It's a pretty generous portion of pate, too, so extra crackers (or bread slices) would be nice. read more

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It was a chilly Tuesday afternoon. My partner and I had been looking around at different restaurants, but with a bit of bad luck ended up still needing food at 4 pm. We ended up heading over to Izakaya Ginji right when they opened for dinner service. They also do have a happy hour from 4 to 6:30 but we weren't really feeling like drinking. Anyways we got our order in and awaited the food. We got the grilled wagyu rib finger skewer, grilled chicken thigh skewer, salmon carbonara udon and the happy hour popcorn shrimp. Everything was really delicious and you can see the flame grill as you enter, showing just how good the skewers had to be. Overall I really enjoyed my time there and though it was not busy at all at the time, I am sure it gets busier later at night. read more

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super yummy! went for happy hour and price was fair! we got a pitcher, hot sake, some skewers, popcorn shrimp, and curry fries! my favorite would have to be the chicken heart skewers! would love to come here again! read more

Izakaya Ginji - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

I was in the area and came here for Japanese food because, honestly, the pictures looked really good! We arrived and sat down at the bar are right away and those were the only open seats; this spot is popular and not that big so we got lucky! We sat down right next to the grill where the yakitori orders were prepared and the aroma in the air was so nice. I ordered a bowl of ramen and my friend got a set combo dinner. The portion was big and presentation looked appealing; and the taste? It was very delicious too! Too bad we weren't that hungry and didn't order any other dishes to try, but will do so next time! read more

Izakaya Ginji - Chicken ramen - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've walked by Izakaya Ginji many times in the past but finally had the opportunity to dine here recently with some friends. Right when you walk in you can see the chefs grilling yakitori on the Binchotan charcoal grills. The of meats grilled over the charcoal We started out with a cold Sapporo beer which is always refreshing and complements Japanese food well. They also serve the Sapporo Premium Black here. We ordered the yakitori quail eggs, chicken wings salt tare style, and chicken thighs. Though it was tasty, $5.75 was a bit pricey for one wing. The grilled octopus was excellent! For sushi, we shared the Tosaka and Ginji Lion King rolls. Both were 8 pieces with a generous amount of fish and were fresh. The restaurant was clean and the service was friendly attentive service. read more

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5 stars for the oyakudon. 10 stars for the carbonara. I can't explain. The carbonara is like an Italian/Japanese fusion. Next level! I can't explain eat here every day of my life and not get tired of anything read more

My friends and I really enjoyed our time here! The vibe and service were top tier and recommend coming here for a date night or a dinner with a few friends. The restaurant is decorated so thoughtfully. It felt cozy and trendy at the same time. I would recommend coming here with enough friends to try and sample lot of times. We ordered A LOT and liked pretty much everything (some more than others.) The stand outs were carbonara, mussels, chicken skin skewers and takoyaki. I liked how the cook grilling can be seen right when you walk in. It's interesting to watch! read more

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My teenage son was craving red meat last Friday, and I wanted a bit of sushi. So Izakaya Ginji was a perfect spot for us to both get the best of what we wanted in Downtown San Mateo. We walked in without a reservation at 5pm, and had our pick of bar or table. The staff greeted us with a warm, efficient welcome like we experience in Tokyo. Ordering is a mix of new and traditional: hot kitchen and sushi items go through a QR code on your phone, while the yakitori and kushiyaki still use the old-school paper slip. It's a thoughtful setup that keeps things moving smoothly while preserving that hands-on izakaya rhythm. The salmon sashimi came in thick, fresh slices that needed nothing but a dab of wasabi, and the Seiichi Roll (with salmon and tobiko) was simple, colorful, and balanced. We ordered the skewers all in one shot. Of the skewers, the Wagyu arrived first, beautifully charred and buttery, which set the bar high enough to make the leaner cuts that followed--lamb, sirloin, chicken--feel anti-climactic. Next time, I'll stagger the order and save the Wagyu for the closer. That said, every skewer was spot on: chicken thigh juicy and lightly smoky; tsukune loose-packed and tender; lamb perfectly medium with a clean, savory finish. The sausages had a snappy casing and hint of sweetness. Popcorn shrimp arrived crisp and greaseless, while chilled hiyayakko tofu offered a refreshing break between grilled bites. Service kept an easy rhythm; skewers arrived steadily, always hot off the grill, and the table stayed clear between rounds. The room has that cozy hum of conversation you expect from a neighborhood izakaya. If my son wasn't there, I definitely would have enjoyed a beer and/or sake, which would have perfected the meal. At about $80 per person for our spread, Ginji sits in the mid-to-upper tier for San Mateo but feels justified by the quality and craft. Authentic, comfortable ... great food without drama. read more

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What an incredible experience. I felt like I was in a back alley in Japan. Food was authentic and super tasty. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

We've been here a couple of times since trying the first time because it is so good. The phone ordering while at the table is super convenient. The staff is super friendly. The last time we were there, I put in the reservation notes that it was my daughter's 5th birthday (and it was her choice to dine here) and we were greeted by the kindest greeting when we checked in. My daughter had no idea how the employee knew it was her birthday but she was so excited. Thank you to the employee who did that, she still talks about it. The food is really good! I especially love the wagyu and chicken thigh skewers and the miso chicken donburi is so good. We love the decor as well. We can't wait to come back. read more

I've been to Ginji a few times and it solid and dun every time! My absolute favorite are the pork cheeks! Others include the grilled squid and beef rib finger meat. All their yakitori is nice and smoky and they serve their beer in chilled glasses. Service is quick and attentive. And the atmosphere is fun and lively! It's a great time. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Grilled squid and the Takoyaki - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My siblings and I came in on Wednesday night with no wait. Some of our favorites were the chicken heart, liver, carpaccio, mentaiko udon, and and chicken skin. I would definitely come back. Service was great and they were attentive and kind. read more

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I had a hankering for yakitori, so I looked on Yelp and found Izakaya Ginji. Located in Downtown San Mateo, there are nearby parking lots and street parking if you're lucky enough to nab a space. The restaurant is on the corner of East 4th Avenue & South B Street. Once inside, there is a combination sushi counter / yakitori grill that wraps around the corner and all seating is arranged along each side. It has a very cozy izakaya feel: Dark woods and lots of signs advertising what's available to eat & drink. On my visit, I was seated very quickly and got to perusing the menu. Lots of Japanese favorites on there for sure! I ordered a beer to start, then Seaweed Salad, Unagi Don, Chicken Skin, and Chicken Liver. Everything was delish! :-) And the Chicken Skin & Liver yakitori? Easily one of the best I ever ate. Though it took a little while to make, it was definitely worth it. I'm going to have to put this place in my rotation now! read more

I've been frequenting this restaurant for a few years now and it's consistently solid. The food has always been good, and I can't say I've had a had a bad dish here. As others have mentioned, the prices may be a bit on the higher side, but honestly, it makes sense when you consider how much effort goes into preparing yakitori properly. The skewers are always seasoned well and grilled nicely. Personal favorites include the beef tongue (when it's not sold out), chicken heart, and gizzard. Also, the kimchi udon carbonara is a fav. Definitely a place I keep coming back to. read more

Solid. Definitely good, but not incredible. We arrived with a group of 6 on a Monday night. Service was consistently quick and warm. Let's talk food. The skewers were okay. The chicken was dry and it was pretty hard to swallow despite being a regular swallower. The peppers were supposedly sweet but my goodness my body was clinging on for dear life. The highlights were easily the two mentaiko noodle dishes as each was savory, creamy, and had us lookin for more. All in all, Good read more

Izakaya Ginji - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We have been eating here for the last 4 years, but this was our first time eating there in probably a year. We noticed that the food quality seemed a bit different. Overall, still a good meal but the freshness of the sashimi and food seasoning seemed just a bit below what we remembered. Ordered 1) hamachi appetizer, which didn't have the previously remembered light fresh flavor. 2) salmon avocado roll that was good but same issue with the freshness 3) mentaiko carbonara- still very savory and good, always a favorite 4) agedashi tofu- batter was not quite as crispy Yakitori was overall still good but probably a little salty. We got the wagyu, lamb, and chicken thighs. read more

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We love good izakaya so this place has been on our to check out for a while. We came at 5:40 on a Saturday. They inside was already 90% full and they said only availability is outside, with heaters. So, take heed! We were the first outside table. But service was friendly and prompt which made it not a hardship to be outside. They don't have a BIG skewers selection, but they have an overall diverse and tasty offering! 5* * Skewer: beef rib finger -- these are juicy, tasty, tender and just wonderful bites of beef! * Mentaiko Carbonara -- creamy, great chewy texture to the udon. Very satisfying! * Pork cheeks (Tontoro shio yaki)-- thanks to all the Yelp reviews for recommending this. Unique and satisfyingly porky, salty, crisp and juicy! 4.5* * Skewer: shiitake-- I just love shiitakes and these are fresh, lightly salted and grilled in a light toast kind of way. Very satisfying * Skewer: sausage -- these are juicy and smoky. Very satisfying ... I enjoyed these as much as the 5* items but might not feel like I have to order them everytime since they're not AS unique to Izakaya Ginji 4* Takoyaki -- very satisfying: crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with great sauces Karaage -- very generously portioned 2.5 - 3* * Soft shell shrimp -- which comes on a skewer, but is fried. This is satisfying fried food with beer. 3* because the flesh of the shrimp ends up being a bit dry, vs other fried shrimp I've had where it's crunchy on the outside and plump and juicy on the inside * Skewer: chicken meatball -- this was the most lackluster item on the menu. The meatballs weren't tender vs other tsukune we've had. Edible, but felt like it was taking up precious stomach real estate vs all the other amazing things above. All of this accompanied Asahi super well. Overall, a really tasty, and satisfying meal with friendly and prompt service. The tables around us filled up throughout our meal, though they also seemed to have a fairly steady turnover. Recommend reservation or coming early to be on the safe side. read more

Had a good friend visiting town so we came for dinner on a Monday night. Place wasn't too packed or busy which was nice. We mostly just ordered their skewers. Friend orders the chicken soup which was surprisingly good. A good chunk of their skewers were over salted. I probably drank at least 6 cups of water that night.. for some pricey skewers I was disappointed. read more

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We came in for dinner on a Tuesday, got seating right away. This place is super cute and I felt like I was transported to Japan! Very sweet waiters and food came out fast! Highly recommend! read more

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Hmm, I personally was not a fan. I made reservations for 3 at 7:00pm and we ended but being a bit early and got there around 6:20pm to check in and see if there was any open spots. As figured, there was no tables so we waited and got seated around 6:55pm, although I will say the hostess said she can sit us initially around 6:40pm but that never happened, which is fine but I noticed her seating people who were walking in. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt since we were early which was our fault. We were finally seated and we ordered via the QR code. Our beer came out in 5 minutes but when I tell you this was the slowest service I had in a while, I meant it. Each of our food item came by one by one and it literally took forever, about 45 minutes. For example, our sushi roll came out and then once we were done we waited another 10 minutes and our karage came out, then we finished and waited another 10 minute and our udon came out. On top of that, the servers were all busy and running around so they didn't even realize we are sitting there waiting for long because we also ordered through the QR code. The whole service was not good in my opinion. Was everyone nice, yes, but was the service good, no... The food was okay, especially after waiting so long you get high expectations but I felt like everything was okay, again not amazing nor bad, just neutrally good. The price was decent and not too crazy so I guess overall it's fine. I personally would not be back unless there was no wait. It was not worth making a reservation and the wait for the food. It was a Friday evening so I understand it was busy, but I felt the service was too bad so I can't imagine coming with a bigger group as all of our food would come out in different times. Luckily I had it family style. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

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before I get into the food, I have to call out the amazing interior decor and ambiance -- it truly feels like an authentic izakaya with the vintage artwork on the walls, japanese music, and binchotan grill with the open-kitchen layout. seriously, immaculate vibes. food is ordered via QR code (which I love) but skewers are ordered via paper/pencil. just be sure to flag down a waiter and give them the skewer order form once you're ready! what we would get again: - spicy karaage -- crispy, thin breaded chicken thigh; super juicy chicken and the spicy sauce added even more flavor - sushi roll with salmon and cucumber in the middle and topped with salmon, lemon slices, and tobiko servers here are all very nice, attentive, and helpful! read more

Pricy but very high quality Japanese Izakaya. Our favorite here is the bbq wagyu and black cod. The service is very friendly and is a great location for dates and night out. Good collection of alcohol as well. read more

Date of Visit: 7/12/2024 Japanese izakaya is one of our favorite types of cuisine. Izakaya Ginji located in San Mateo has had great reviews since it was opened back in 2010. It is a family restaurant operated by two brothers. Daisuke Nishimoto works at the back side of the kitchen and curates the extensive sake menu, and Shingo manages the binchotan grill in the front. We made a reservation about 1.5 week prior to our visit, and sat right away. The skewer menu is a physical menu on the table that can place the order of all different kinds of skewers. And we need to scan the QR code to place an order for all others, including sashimi, appetizers, donburi, udon, dessert, and drinks. Sapporo $5 Asahi $6 We got two types of Japanese beer to pair with our foods. We ordered the following skewers: Shishito Pepper $3.8 Shishito pepper was very yummy, but some of them were spicy and some were sweet. Gizzard $4.75 My favorite! Love the crispy and chewy taste of the gizzard. Heart $4.75 Chicken heart skewers were juicy and delicious! Skin $5 Chicken skin was grilled right on point! Cartilage $5.75 Cartilage was great too! Fatty Salmon Sashimi $14 We got the fatty salmon sashimi with daikon and shiso, and wasabi on the side. Grilled Salmon Collar and Belly $19 The grilled salmon collar and belly were big portions. Chicken Knee Karaage $9.5 This one paired great with iced cold beer! Mentaiko Carbonara $18 One of the most popular dishes, the Mentaiko Carbonara was made with cream and cod roe, on top was decorated with seaweed and green onion. It was very creamy but not too thick. Gyu Don $16 And we also got the gyu don. This one is just okay, also with miso soup on the side. read more

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It's rare that an izakaya spot is open for lunch, but luckily Ginji was. We got a bunch of dishes to share but I forgot to take photos of most of them, oops. The food is pretty good and authentic. Portions are large so because when you order. The torched aji was amazing, definitely get that. Friendly service. They gave us free miso soup because we ordered so much. read more

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Made a reservation for three at 6:30pm on a Saturday and when we got there we were seated right away! The interior is super cute with lots of decorations to make it feel like you're getting izakaya in Japan. We came here mainly to try their yakitori. We ordered many and they did not disappoint. My favorites were the bacon scallop, chicken thighs, and chicken gizzard. The scallop was cooked perfectly! It wasn't overcooked and the bacon gave it so much flavor. The chicken thighs were so so juicy and yummy. The chicken gizzards had a good texture to it. My least favorite was the cartilage, it was just a bit tough for my taste. We also ordered a rainbow roll that was good, pretty standard, the fish didn't stand out too much to me. And also soft shrimp skewers which were super delicious! I would come here for good vibes with a group of friends. read more

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The grilled skewers were pretty good - I got the chicken wing and one of the beef. The karaage is ok not that good. Fried pork cheek is great, very crispy and flavorful. The staff were friendly and I appreciate you could view the grill. read more

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It's been awhile since I've last eaten here. The quality and taste are still what I remember. Dining here on weeknight, the place wasn't too busy. I made reservations on OpenTable so we were seated right away. We ordered the following and were stuffed by the time we finished our meal. Corn butter - nothing special, just corn and onions, seemed like more onion than corn Shishito peppers Mentaiko carbonara (cod roe, cream and egg yolk) - my favorite dish, this was so rich and flavorful, a definite order again Karaage - this dish was more like chicken strips than karaage Lollipop chicken Mushrooms Beef rib finger Pork rib finger Chicken skin Spicy tuna roll Service started quick, but got slower as the night progressed. Noise level and busyness weren't too bad so made for a pleasant evening to catch-up with a friend. Parking in that area is hit or miss depending on night of week, but plenty of street parking and parking lots available. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Spicy Tuna Roll - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Been coming here for a few years and never had a bad meal or service. It's one of our favorite restaurants we always bring out of town visitors to so we can show it off. No long novel review to write here - just go, order a few things you wouldn't think to normally, add some sake and have a feast. read more

Came here last week because we were craving yakitori. The yakitori was good, but the ones we got with salt were a tad too salty that day. We always get the chicken skin, chicken w/ negi, gizzard, and kimchi carbonara. We tried the chicken neck and chicken harami (skirt) this time. Both delicious cuts of meat and very tender! read more

Izakaya Ginji - Yakitori menu (Oct 2024) - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

First time here we got seated immediately. I got the tosaka roll and the salmon. I really liked the salmon one the jalapeños on top really made it the perfect touch. I would come back here. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Spicy Tuna Roll - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

Lunch visit with my parents after several years of not dining here. I might add this back into my rotation. The staff was very nice and efficient. There are plexiglass partitions separating every other table so it affords a bit of privacy. Food was hit or miss, prices are mostly reasonable, and portion sizes were healthy. We got 6 items for 3 people and walked away stuffed and with leftovers. Tontoro shio yaki/grilled pork cheeks - pork was juicy, fatty but in a good way, a little crisp on the outside, and the side of cabbage was a nice way to cut the fattiness Buta kimchi okonomiyaki (weekday lunch item) - this was ok. There was maybe a couple small pieces of pork in it and the texture was too dense and doughy. The reheated leftovers tasted better though so maybe it just needed to be on the grill longer. Niku tofu - I really liked this dish. The beef tongue is so tender and the dish flavorful. Soft shell shrimp - this was the unanimous favorite at our table. Mentaiko carbonara - we all liked this dish but it was very creamy and I wished there was more mentaiko. Steamed sake mussels - pass on this dish next time. The mussels did not have the best texture and the broth was way too salty. read more

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Day/Time: Wednesday around 7pm Group: 2 Traffic: Pretty crowded, but we were sat immediately on arrival Parking: street / downtown structures Chicken liver + salted chicken heart yakitori - Fantastic! Smoky, aromatic, with great texture. These go down super quick, so if you're hungry I recommend supplementing with something else on the menu so you don't spend all your money trying to get full. Scallop bacon - Very good, the scallop flavor was strong against the bacon. You only get one per order on the skewer. It's a fun variety item. Bento Box A (chicken teriyaki) - Nice standard bento, well-executed and nothing to complain about. This will help fill you up while you have a taste tour of your yakitoris I also wanted some tempura, but unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of the tempura offering here. There's only 4 tempura options (shishito, ebi, cheese, or squid). I wish some veggie variety tempura option was offered (e.g. with pumpkin, broccoli, etc), but it's okay. For newcomers, I recommend picking 2-3 (or more!) fun yakitoris to try (get 1 serving per person, they go down quick!) and picking an entree with some variety of ingredients to fill you up (e.g. a bento or a sushi roll). read more

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Very busy place in downtown San Mateo. Me & my bestie came on a Friday night (7-8pm) & we got seated quickly but this place fills up because it's small (Japanese style). Affordable Japanese restaurant compared to other spots in the Bay. I really loved their chicken skin yakitori, takoyaki, & salmon nigiri. I'm used to agedashi tofu having more flavor so I'll prob skip on that next time. My bestie got a rice bowl & it was super delicious! You order through your phone & they bring it quickly. Next time, I want to order more skewers :) thanks for a nice dinner. read more

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We only gone for lunch but already were quite happy with the food and variety, they have much better varieties for dinner. Sushi rolls were average, typical like dragon roll, salmon lover etc. Our group liked the appetizers the most, and the shoju was fun. The only thing to pick on was the ambiance, it was pretty old and dark in the cube. read more

I have almost never given a 5-star rating for a yakitori place, but this restaurant definitely deserves it. Ayumi, our host, was incredibly welcoming and accommodating, even when we arrived earlier than expected. The service was excellent--attentive and efficient--and the food was absolutely a 10/10! Every binchotan charcoal BBQ skewer was perfectly grilled, delivering incredible flavor and texture. We'll definitely be returning! read more

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Came here on a Tuesday night with reservation. We were seated as soon as we got there. Service was great! Our server was very sweet and friendly, she always check back on us to see if we need anything. The restaurant itself was very casual and relaxed, it is perfect for friends gathering. I'd say this place is more of a 3.5 star instead of 4. They have a big menu with different selections, we ordered a bunch of different stuff: Takoyaki, grilled octopus, grilled meatballs, Hiyayakko, chicken Liver etc. Everything we've ordered was pretty decent, Most of the yakitoris were well seasoned, and perfectly grilled. There were a few dishes that were just OK. Overall we enjoyed dining here and would come back to try more. read more

Izakaya Ginji - Izakaya Near Me - San Mateo, California

3.5 stars Came here for the Yakitori. Skewers were lacking in flavor and needs more salt and pepper while cooking rather than a finish. The one with the sauce is better. I do like the gizzard, liver, and heart. I didn't care for the cartilage, it was a bit dry with the meat. All could use a bit more salt and I'm sensitive to salty flavors. The rainbow sushi roll was good. The flavor in it was tasty. Beer was reasonable too. Service was good. Friendly staff. read more

Quite pricey for the amount of food you get at this place. Came here with three little kids and three adults and took a while for food to come. read more

Izakaya Ginji was such a great place to dine! I was able to find street parking nearby and walked over. The inside was full so I was able to grab a spot outside. They have heaters in case you get cold. The service was very good! They constantly checked on us and the food came out pretty quickly. It didn't come out all at once though. We got the skewers - chicken heart, gizzard and shiitake mushrooms. I thought the gizzard was the best. We also got the pork cheek and that was one of my FAVS!! The flavor was so rich and the texture of everything was just right. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures but I mainly came to try their kimchi carbonara and it definitely didn't disappoint. I would come back here again for it! The portions are decent sized but the pricing as great! Very affordable. I would come back again! read more

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The service and the food was great. The place has a cozy atmosphere in general. The only thing I wish was that they didn't have super concentrated lighting in certain parts that would shine too brightly in certain seats. It made the ambiance less comfortable when I have a bright beam of light on me. read more