We had a craving for ramen while on vacation in Monterey, and Toribashi came thru for us!…read more This restaurant was located in a downtown area, so there wasn't a dedicated parking lot, but it was fairly easy to find street parking. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen which was flavorful with a rich broth. I also know my kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves because there was nothing left in their bowls :) Thank you, Toribashi!

Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to…read morecome to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory.

Still as delicious as I last remembered! Make sure to order in advance if you are picking up for…read moretake out (20-30 min). A must stop place when we are in Monterey!

Very kind staff, food wasn't very good quality can probably make a better katsu at home. Good place…read moreto pick up Japanese condiments! Okay quality Japanese food in Monterey.

My girlfriends and I spent a day in Carmel and decided to stop by in Los Gatos to enjoy some…read moreJapanese food. We had such a lovely experience here. The sushi and sashimi were incredibly fresh and good portions, the miso soup was comforting, and the spider roll was a total favorite. Everything tasted clean and high quality. The atmosphere felt truly authentic, honestly like stepping into a little spot somewhere in Japan! The staff was soooo nice, friendly, welcoming at 08:15pm!

The bulgogi was just okay, but they put a Mexican seasoning blend on the vegetables for some reason…read moreand it did not go well together. Wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't recommend it and I would only come back if I was forced to come back. The servers were nice and very attentive, and would even refill my drink when I stepped away for the restroom. The servers and the view are the best part of the restaurant.

Excellent food... I had sushi rolls and my friend had ramen, with an array of appetizers. All was…read moreexcellent. Friendly staff, fast service.

Just moved here and the locals suggested. Was not disappointed. Friendly staff and food was pretty…read moreJapanese-ish

Finally got to try this place. Last time we were in town, went midweek not realizing it is closed…read moreon Wednesday.... But made it on the weekend. Met the owner who was nice, funny and friendly (we actually arrived a bit earlier than the opening hour for dinner and he opened up early so the little one didn't get restless or cold waiting outside). There is a high char option. Got to try the beef bulgogi with the banchan and it was delicious; the toddler scarfed down the meat and rice so it was a hit. Husband tried the spicy chicken bulgogi and he enjoyed it. We also tried the tea which was good... looking forward to our next trip there

This place was actually pretty solid! As someone who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley eating…read moregood-value authentic Asian food, I usually avoid Asian food during my travels. But this was just down the street from my hotel and the pictures looked really appetizing, so we gave it a shot. It did not disappoint! Between two of us, we ordered the spicy chicken bulgogi meal and a mandu appetizer. It was the perfect amount of food for us to not have leftovers (our hotel had no fridge). The mandu came first and was very tasty and perfectly fried. The chicken came out as we were finishing the appetizer. The staff had warned us that it would be spicy, but I was surprised that it WAS actually spicy. My tolerance is higher than the average person but I definitely needed a lot of rice for this. I wouldn't say the flavor of the sauce was in line with the Korean food we have in LA, but it was very good in its own right. The staff was very attentive and friendly and chatted with us throughout the meal. The owner's family was eating there too, and since some members of their party were being slightly rowdy, the owner's sister bought us an extra order of mandu for the trouble! We got to chat with her and with the owner. They seem very genuine about wanting customers to have a good experience. If I live close by next time I'm in town, I would definitely want to stop by again to try their other bulgogi meats!

I'm from Southern California and already planning my next trip to Carmel. I visited in November…read more2025, and this spot is at the top of my list to return to. The ambiance was exactly what you hope for--quiet, warm, and inviting--and the staff couldn't have been more friendly. But the real standout? The food. Absolutely over-the-top delicious and deeply satisfying. My husband and I shared the homemade tomato bisque with quiche, a tuna mixed greens salad, and clam chowder. I'm still thinking about that soup and salad--my mouth is watering just writing this. Please keep this place thriving--I want it waiting for us on our next visit!

Even on the sunniest Carmel days, sometimes you just need a little tropical escape Dole Whip at…read moreCafe Luna -- creamy, pineapple perfection that's anything but dull. Swirled high, ridiculously refreshing, and served right here in the heart of Carmel Plaza. Grab one, claim a spot on our sunny patio, watch the world stroll by on Ocean Ave, and pretend you're on a mini-vacation (because in Carmel, every day kinda feels like one anyway). Who's joining me for a swirl? #CafeLunaCarmel #DoleWhip #CarmelByTheSea #CarmelPlaza #PineappleTreats #MontereyBayEats

Service was prompt and very personable, menu offerings were very well portioned, my Hawaiian Poke…read morebowl was the perfect amount with fresh ingredients and the right touch of heat, and there were plenty of gluten-free offerings for my wife. Our main server and man who brought out our dessert were very friendly. Would 100% come back on a sunny day to sit in the outside patio. Toro is a great place for either a family dinner or a romantic date

Amazing service, incredibly fresh sushi and a lovely Carmel-By-The-Sea vibe…read more We ordered a chef's choice Sashimi which had an assortment of fish, uni, eel, scallops and egg. The sake flight was absolutely delicious if you're in the mood to experiment. In quintessential Carmel fashion, the spaces to eat were as varied as the menu. Love this place and can't wait to go back to try more food!

We had such a great experience for lunch yesterday at Bada Kitchen!…read more The Korean fried chicken was hands down the best we've had in Monterey--seriously 10/10. We tried the Yangyum flavor (sweet and spicy), and while it leaned more sweet than spicy, it was still absolutely delicious. Next time we'll definitely ask for a higher spice level. The Honey Garlic was also amazing--super flavorful, and the chicken itself was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and still moist and juicy inside. It could've used just a little more sauce, but honestly still so good. We also ordered the pork and veg gyoza, which were tasty, and edamame, which was good but pretty standard. I had the Spicy Tuna Roll and really enjoyed it, and my husband got the Shrimp Tempura Roll, which he said was great too. The portions are huge--we definitely had leftovers! I also got a side of white rice to go with the chicken, and it was just chef's kiss. A couple small notes: the restaurant is a little tricky to find since it's tucked into a shopping area, and the music was a bit loud for my taste. But the service was great, and when we went (around 12:30-1:00 on a Friday), it wasn't too busy, which was nice. We'll definitely be back a few more times!

Calm and peace ambiance, my family had a great experience here, food are delicious and taste like…read morehomemade meal, honestly to say, even their side dishes that come with the tofu soup and rice are good too. I didn't ask the waistress name but she is really nice and helpful. Definitely coming back if we visit Monterey again.

This is probably one of those places that you see it on the street and would continue driving by…read moreit. It's on a busy street. Building isn't an eye catcher and you'd think a fish house here? Don't make the mistake of driving by and if you do make a U Turn. This place is not to miss. Staff is welcoming, warm and fun. They are very attentive and want you to be taken care of. The inside has an old school family style look to it. Feels like someplace I'd go with my mom and dad on special occasions. Don't come here if you're looking for something modern looking. Very happy with my choice of food. We had the fried calamari which i thought were cooked perfectly. I ordered the special artichoke seafood pasta. Way more seafood and artichoke hearts than pasta. So so good. If you're in Monterey don't get caught up thinking you need to go down to Cannery Row for seafood. Come down here instead.

You Fish An…read moreold-school, no-frills fish house that's been in operation for over thirty years (ca. 1994) in the same spot. Not only are they a local and Yelper-favorite restaurant, but they were also listed in the exclusive Michelin Guide as recently as 2019. The Good: * Located away from the wharf and Cannery Row, so you don't have to deal with all the nonsense those two come with. * Private parking lot, as well as street parking. * Prices aren't too shabby considering the location. * Service was a bit odd, but friendly enough. * Their house-made linguini was very good and worth the extra $6 upgrade. * Veggies were cooked and seasoned perfectly. * Beers on tap and in bottles, as well as wine. * I liked the flavor from the oak grill. The Meh: * Hard to complain about free bread, but just watch me. The bread was stale and not fresh at all. Even the pats of butter weren't enough to save it. * The Diablo sauce was all gas and no brakes. It needed a little sweetness and acid to complement the spice. * Carissa's penne pasta was waaayyyyyy overcooked. And so was her salmon. The Ugly: * WTF is this second menu they have? I shit you not, the poor waiter had to recite what must have been over twenty off-menu items. It was mildly amusing at first, but then you realize you're supposed to actually absorb all of this? It's got to be some kind of inside joke with the staff. No way it's real. * The clam chowder was watery and not thick at all. Not to mention, the flavor just wasn't good, and there weren't many clams. * My tuna steak was just not good. It didn't taste very fresh and had an off texture. I thought for sure I was going to get food poisoning from it, but luckily that didn't happen. Conclusion: I hate shitting on an institution like this, but it is what it is. It appears their better days are behind them, as there's probably a good reason they lost their Michelin recommendation.

This place is a little hidden gem in Monterey. There is an outdoor seating area that is perfect…read morefor enjoying your food and keeping your pulse on the going on around you. The lunch menu is generous and offers enough choices that two people could share. The soup was savory and delicious. The lemon grass chicken was cooked to perfection. The yellow chicken curry was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The service was fast and friendly. If you like Thai food don't miss out on this place.

My food from zab zab has been lacking lately. I've been coming here since I was in college and it…read moreused to be my favorite Thai spot. Now-- not so much. For the pad Thai, the noodles were broken and the sauce was very one note. My tom kha fried rice was really yum, though the portion felt small for the price. Unfortunate. I will definitely have to give it one more try, but after 2 negative experiences, I'm skeptical.