Meat Time is one of my favorite Japanese BBQs in the South Bay! The ambiance and decor reminds me of the funky, retro vibes of an izakaya in Japan, and I really like the authenticity it brought to the restaurant. I've been here a few times and noticed a couple changes to the menu, which now offers a variety of a-la-carte options and AYCE (all you can eat)! There are also combos and happy hour items, so I'm sure there is something for everyone :). Servers are very nice and knowledgable of the menu. They are helpful and made our dining experience great! Food quality is superb, and one of the best qualities of meat for AYCE! Left feeling very full and happy My tips: make a reservation as it can get busy on the weekends. read more

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night for a party of 4 around 7:00pm and we were seated right away. Restaurant was about half full and mostly larger parties. We decided to go with the premium AYCE for $68 pp. Your party gets to order 2 orders of meat pp to start off with and then it is one order pp per round subsequently. There is the usual 90 min time limit before you're cut off. I have to mention, I'm a big fan of Ushiya so came with preconceptions. First and foremost, meat quality is amazingly good and the portions are large! We actually only got through 2 rounds (3 plates of meat) per person before we were tapping out. The wagyu fried rice was delicious and I enjoy all their appetizers and sides. The home made kimchi, marinated cucumbers, seaweed soup, egg yolk dipping sauce, all delicious! Service got alittle slow when more large parties came but once they were settled with their order, service picked up again. I wish they had a qr ordering system to request items, that is one thing missing. Overall, loved dinner! If you don't mind the price point and want a more higher quality Japanese AYCE grill, this is the place. read more

I came here to celebrate my brother's birthday. It's a cute little spot with a solid all-you-can-eat menu. The quality of the meat was really good -- you could definitely tell it was high quality. My family and I ordered AYCE, and the food itself was delicious. However, the owner kept coming over to our table trying to limit how much food we could order/eat, which felt a bit off-putting and took away from the experience. If you're going to offer all-you-can-eat, guests shouldn't feel discouraged from ordering. It honestly would've been a 5-star experience if this hadn't happened. read more

We made reservation before coming. Service was great. Very personal. Inside decor is mainly black color. Nothing fancy. But clean and simple. There's a jar of oil on each table for spraying on the grill. We got the premium menu. It's a little pricy. But all worth it. Quality meat. Good cut. Good grill. There are other à la cart option l. AYCE for 90 min. Wagyu option cost a few bucks for each plate. The American Wagyu was good enough for us. Will come back. read more

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Meat Time has been on our go-to list for 2025. Saturday's reservation at 6:00 pm was it for us. They share a parking lot with other businesses & they don't have a distinguishable sign outside except for a chalkboard out front and a "open for business" sign in Japanese characters by the door. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating for such a deceptive structure. This is a great yakiniku place if you want to eat a lot of meat. GO for the AYCE Premium Plan ($68/person) as it is definitely worth it's value. Everyone (one table, one plan, BTW) starts with 2 meats and 2 sides and its 1 meat per person after that. My daughter and son-in-law got flavored sakes while I got the hot house sake. For meats we tried all the American Beef and US Wagyu selection and tried the Pork Belly once. The Yakishabu Kalbi (Wagyu Beef Belly), Otoro Kalbi and Yakishabu Brisket were our favorites and ordered these again and again. All the meats were very flavorful and tender that most of us settled with the starter dipping bowl (house sauce and salt & pepper). I, on the other hand was curious of the Golden Egg Yolk sauce. It was also good. The gang had plain rice and repeat orders of the tasty Wagyu Fried Rice, while I opted the Mini House Curry Rice. For sides, we pretty much tried most, from the Appetizer Trio (kimchi, shiodare cucumber & bean sprout), Papaya "Hari Hari Zuke", Chilled Eggplant, Negi Sauce Cold Tofu, and Korean Seaweed. There were no repeat side orders as we were engrossed with grilling the meats, but the eggplant and pickled papaya were accompaniment champions for the steaks. The team was was great from start to end. They kept checking on us often. We essentially never ran out of meats to grill until we said no more. Can't wait to go back. read more

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We came to Meat Time on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The staff was friendly, attentive, and happy to walk us through the menu. We decided to go with the à la carte option, and honestly, I wish we had chosen AYCE because the meat was that good. Every cut we ordered was fresh, well-marbled, juicy and full of flavor. One of my favorite parts was the egg yolk dip. It was rich, and creamy. Definitely a solid spot in Milpitas for BBQ lovers, and we'll absolutely be back. read more

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Gimme a J...gimme a B + B + Q = JBBQ! This review is much needed as I have been here with lots of friends + my partner for soo many different occasions: birthday, destress after work days, work raise celebration, etc. (I only wish I had more photos!) I have to give a shout-out to the service first and foremost because the employees are respectful, helpful with recommending different meats and sides/ sauces. Shout out to employee Junio who is so lovely and fun to chit chat with when she comes to check in with us. The ambiance at meat time is what it sounds like.. people come here for a time to eat meat! Haha! I definitely am 100% positive if you come here it won't be your last. I can attest to this. My favorite food items to get here that's a MUST TRY: - Wakame Soup - Wagyu Fried Rice - Kimchi (duh!) - Bean Sprouts - Raw Scallops (eat them raw I dare you) - Pork Cheek - Pork Belly - Otoro Kalbi -Brisket - Beef Belly - Beef Tartare - Golden Yolk Egg sauce - Sapporo (perfect pairing to food) - and anything that they offer on their Special Menu of the day! read more

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Went to their farmers market booth at Japantown farmers market. They forgot to make my order, even though I never left their booth. Then, they served two people in line after me. Then, they looked at me like what was i waiting for. Hmm, maybe it was the food that I paid for first. Do not recommend read more

Love to try all the Asian bbq places around the Bay Area and this is my new favorite. The meat cuts are never frozen and melt in your mouth. The side dish flavors are distinct and unique, as the owner executes with the concept of how he loves to eat. Two offerings of AYCE, imported, Japanese Wagyu, American Wagyu offerings and a la carte available. Amazing dipping sauces and sides. The location is conveniently located off a Main Street in a strip mall, but easy to miss since the parking lot barely has any light! I wish that many more people learn about this spot! Food is fabulous & servers are very attentive. read more

Meat Time - Kalbi that is cut thick and bone removed, cold eggplant, cucumbers, namul, egg sauce dip and more - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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The food is a tad expensive for how much you get, but the quality and service are both great! We came during happy hour (after 9pm) and there weren't many people here even though it was a weekend. The surrounding area and parking lot is a tad run down and isolated. Favorite cuts: - Galbi - Cheek - Brisket (the first brisket I've ever had that wasn't dry!!) They offer AYCE and à la carte options. We all walked away full for less than the price of AYCE so it was definitely worth it for us to take our time, enjoy and not gorge. The service was great and the two ladies who served us were so incredibly sweet. Will definitely be back! read more

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If you're coming to eat at Meat Time, you must do the premium all you can eat menu. They have a regular menu, but your meat options are so limited that you'll definitely regret not going premium. On the premium menu, they have several kalbi options and a lot of sides to choose from. It's important to note that a lot of these meats are going to come slightly marinated, but I've been able to ask for them unmarinated as well. The kalbi is very high quality and super tender. The wagyu fried rice is also very savory, and the cucumber salad side is very refreshing! Service is very friendly and servers are attentive. Great place to have a group dinner or just a casual date night! read more

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First time going here and I loved the options for each category! I think the premium plan is more worth it if you want US Wagyu. Service was very attentive with coming in reasonable increments to ask if we'd like to order more and also change the grill! It was very cool to see they offer fabric deodorizer because leaving with the smell of bbq is never a favorite for anyone LOL. read more

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The staff here was friendly and the service was really good. This spot is good for big groups. There is a decent amount of parking in this plaza. There is a time limit of how long you can eat there. My group and I went with the premium option which we thought was worth it. The meat was good quality as well as the side dishes. The potato salad, Wagyu rice and curry rice were my favorite sides. My favorite meat were the beef items but the sea food options were tasty as well such as shrimp and scallop. read more

Meat time is such a hidden gem in Milpitas! It shares a parking lot w a few other businesses & doesn't have a huge sign out front but once you walk in the restaurant is pretty big and has a good amount of seating. We immediately got a table & the staff was so helpful in explaining all their different options. Our group all got AYCE + a few of their drinks & apps which were so good. Such a good value for the price & they have a lot of premium cuts. Ended w their desserts & really enjoyed them all, not too sweet or heavy but perfect after having so much protein. The matcha mochi was my favorite. read more

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If you're craving authentic Japanese BBQ in the South Bay, this is as close as it gets. The owner is Japanese, and you can really feel that authenticity come through in both the style and the quality of the food. The all-you-can-eat menu is honestly impressive. I went in not expecting much since AYCE usually means a compromise on quality, but the cuts here are surprisingly good across the board. That said, the star of the show is hands down the Japanese wagyu. It's included in the AYCE for a discounted price compared to ordering à la carte, which makes it an incredible value. Melt-in-your-mouth, rich flavor--the wagyu alone is worth coming for. Service is straightforward and efficient, and the overall atmosphere feels very much like what you'd find in Japan. I've been to a lot of so-called "Japanese BBQ" spots in the bay, and this one genuinely stands out. Highly recommend if you want the real deal without booking a flight to Japan! read more

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I would never again.. Unless you want to wait 30 minutes within your 90 minute meal for meats to arrive, don't come.. It doesn't matter if it's their fault that they are short staffed and are slower than normal, at 90 minutes, you're out. Period. Nah I'm good... read more

My favorite place in silicon valley. The meat quality is great, the alcohol is plenty, and the prices are affordable. The service is friendly and caring. What else do you want? read more

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My favorite yakiniku place We come here on regular weeknights, date nights, family dinner... anything and everything Speaking for AYCE, their portions are out of this world, so we end up doing half orders so we can get more variety. Absolutely love the briskets and ichibo picanha cuts. Sauces, the golden yolk, green onion (for this one, dont just dip and scoop the green onions onto your food and you'll get the whole flavor + texture!). From the appetizer, the negi cold tofu is our favorite. When I get drinks I also love getting the takowasa. The team is also suuper friendly and attentive. It's great to see familiar faces whenever we go. read more

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Meat Time was honestly a really great experience overall. The food was amazing--quality meats, great flavor, and everything felt fresh and well prepared. You can tell they take pride in what they serve, and the whole meal felt fun and satisfying from start to finish. Service was also friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 comes down to the space. When we went, it was very crowded, and the restaurant felt a little tight and busy. It made things feel a bit less relaxed than I was hoping for, especially when you're trying to enjoy a nice meal. That said, once the food came out, it definitely made up for it--everything tasted great, and the overall vibe was still positive. Best for: Group dinners, meat lovers, or anyone wanting a fun yakiniku-style meal in Milpitas. If you don't mind a lively atmosphere, this spot is definitely worth checking out. read more

Meat Time - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Meat Time is an excellent spot for a group outing! The quality of the meat is outstanding, and the service is consistently top-notch. My only suggestion for management would be to label the meat plates as they are served; it would be incredibly helpful so customers can keep track of their favorite cuts throughout the meal. Highly recommended! read more

Excellent service, from the start when we walked in we felt welcomed, we never had to ask for anything for both their waiters and waitresses kept on checking in with us. We were gonna go for the premium choice but was told several items were back ordered. That honesty should be praised. It was our first time so we went with the basic. There were good selection of items but felt a little over priced for quality of meat that was given, but with inflations, I guess that's the new norm. read more

Meat Time - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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We came to Meat Time on a Saturday night with a reservation for 5 + 1 infant to celebrate hubby's birthday. Meat Time has been on our list for a few months now, specially recommended by my son in law since his co workers have been raving about it. The place is very spacious, good for groups. We came in early for our reservation but they seated us immediately. Staff have been very attentive and friendly. This is a great Yakiniku place. We went for the AYCE premium plan for $68/person and I believe it was worth it. Everyone starts with 2 meats and 2 sides and 1 meat per person after. Daughter and Son in law had flavored sakes and hubby had hot house sake. We had all the US Wagyu selection and American Beef selection, pork belly, Wagyu beef belly of course rice to go with the well seasoned meats. Definitely happy with Meat Time and can't wait to come back again. I definitely highly recommend Meat Time. read more

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Came here after seeing so many tiktoks about it and decided I wanted to try something new. My fam and I got the premium ayce option after looking at all the reviews on here. I recommend skipping the beef options and going straight for the wagyu, all the beef options were on the dryer side compared to the Wagyu. All the Wagyu options were good, scallop was one of our favorites as well. The intestines were very good and fatty, tho not as melt in your mouth as other places I've had but it was still very good. A lot of the meats are marinated, which I thought kinda masked the overall taste of the meats and the marinates tasted very similar to each other. I think if you are a fan of marinated meats def this is the spot for you. Service was very attentive and pretty quick, so I appreciate the service here a lot. I think next time I come back here I'd do a set meal or al carte tho based on the meat selection I saw. read more

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Made a reservation for 4 on a weekend and were seated maybe 10 minutes after our arrival. We got the Premium AYCE (celebratory birthday meal), and the otoro kalbi and outskirt meats were our personal favorite, must try. (Those were 5/5 for us). Wagyu fried rice was also great! They have plenty of sauces to come with: my favorite was the egg yolk to eat with brisket (almost sukiyaki style) and green onion or miso sauce I believe. I would recommend skipping out on intestines, they were just too fatty for us to eat. Bathrooms might need a bit more attention and cleanliness. Staff seems to be very limited that night, there were only 1-2 servers for the entire room of parties, so definitely be extra patient and kind to the workers. They were really nice though, they helped light a candle for us when we brought in cake for our party. read more

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I was excited to come here as it's been on my radar for a while. I came here expecting a great AYCE BBQ experience, but the service really hurt my overall experience. The biggest issue was how long it took for meats to come out. I understand that they were understaffed and there was rush but there's also a 90 minute allowed time for us to eat. At some point, we waited as long as 30 mins for our next round and by that time we were getting full. We opted for the AYCE option so it felt like we were robbed of being able maximize that. The servers were polite and apologetic, but that was about it. They recognized multiple times that they were taking a long time to bring us the meats but they didn't offer us any extra time. Our server even asked us for our last call knowing our last two orders haven't arrived at our table which made me feel rushed. There was no attempt to compensate for the lost time or improve our experience besides saying sorry. If they offered us extra time, it would have altered how I felt about this place. I wanted to like my experience here as the meats were pretty good but their lack of accountability will deter me from coming back. read more

* Visited with a group of 3 around 7:40pm I was recommended this Japanese BBQ spot by a family member, and to say I loved my experience here was an understatement. The staff were incredible - they would constantly check in on our table, explained the menu and the different meat cuts, and was so understanding when we took a little extra time to look over the menu. Mind you, it's a little on the pricier side and you do have 90 minutes for your meal. OKAY THE FOOD: We went with their AYCE Premium Plan and had also added some wagyu/ exclusive cuts. * Tontoro Pork Cheek - I am a huge fan of this cut, and was so pleased with how tasty and yummy it was. I loved that it was cut to bite size, which made grilling it a breeze * Golden Yolk Egg Sauce - if you're a sauce person, this is the holy grail. You don't need any other sauce besides this one. I could not stop dipping into this sauce and can't wait to come back just to have this sauce lmfao * Shinshu Wagyu Yakishabu Ribeye plate - even though it was an extra $8, it was pretty yummy and something our entire table loved. * Tecchan large intestine - I loved how charred we were able to get this, though I did wish it was cooked halfway to speed up cook time but nonetheless, it was super tasty and well cleaned. I cannot wait to come back, and hope others give this spot a try. read more

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Always wanted to try this place since I would see the reels on Instagram but finally had the chance to try it! Came in on a Saturday evening and it wasn't that busy (thank god). Decided to order a La carte since I wanted to try the Japanese special cuts the strip loin and yakishabu ribeye. Also ordered the wagyu fried rice. Once the order came I was regretting my order and wished I did the premium. The manager came out and read my mind and asked if we wanted the premium since we were right around the price anyways. Of course we switched! If you come please don't make the mistake I did. My favorite cut was the strip loin which was moist and juicy and to die for! For the included meats I would recommend any of the kalbis they were good! The fried rice is also soooo good! Definitely try this place and the manager and all the works are all friendly. read more

Meat Time - A La carte - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Would recommend getting their premium plan instead of the base plan. You will get way more value out of the premium than the base because there are way better options! It was our first time going and would totally come back! The servers were very attentive and fast when it came to our food and grill changes. Also at the end they had a spray to help get rid of the smoky odor after cooking for so long. read more

I've been looking forward to trying Meat Time for a while and I finally got to check it off my list. We got the premium plan because the meats we wanted to try would have been additional payment per plate. I almost got lost because the lot is very dark and not well lit at all. Easy to miss it if you're not paying attention. They had a good variety of sides and dishes to try. I liked the appetizer trio (kimchi, cucumber, bean sprouts), potato salad, and chicken karaage. For meats we tried the beef belly, harami (skirt steak/diaphragm), brisket, otoro kalbi. My sister loves beef belly so that was her favorite, but since coming back from Japan i've been really into harami and this was really good! Nice and tender. I think i preferred it over the otoro kalbi. There were 2 different types and I was told they just had different sauces. They let me try the sauce for the other one, might try the shiodare kalbi next time. The sauce was pretty good. They had a selection of dipping sauces to choose from as well. They were all good but we enjoyed dipping the harami in the golden sauce (some sort of mix with egg yolk) was my fav combo. Service was great in the beginning, we were getting lots of attention because it was a weekday night and not too many people yet but when there were more groups seated it was harder to catch their attention because there were only a couple workers out on the floor. However service was amazing, they were all nice and very attentive. read more

We arrived around 6pm on a Friday. The restaurant was pretty empty but picked up later on. We settled on the base menu. The meat selection was limited in comparison to the premium, but it had kalbi and brisket which are the essential cuts. We were still satisfied. Plus there was a good variety of sides and soups. Try everything you can, but the chicken karaage and curry rice are must-gets. I also recommend trying the gold egg yolk sauce. read more

I've been wanting to try Meat Time for a while after finding out that this restaurant specialized in Wagyu yakiniku. My husband and I decided to stop by the restaurant while passing through Milpitas. I was able to snag a reservation last minute, but I'm not entirely sure if I really needed one since the place didn't seem too busy around 7pm on a Tuesday. Was it me or were the floors like a slip and slide? Just an observation. Service was excellent. Our waitresses were highly attentive and on top of placing our orders. The cuts and sides came out in a timely manner as well. We got the premium option and tried all of the US Wagyu meats. One of the kalbis and the beef belly were my favorite cuts. I honestly enjoyed all of the meats except for the tender cut because it was on the leaner side and got tough. The meats were marinaded nicely, but the array of sauces enhanced the flavors. We tried a few of the sides including the appetizer trio (kimchi, pickled bean sprouts, and pickled cucumbers), mini curry rice, and wagyu fried rice. The banchan made for great palate cleansers, but the wagyu fried rice was a must have. I'd say skip out on the curry rice, which was pretty basic. We can't wait to be back and take more family! read more

We went to Meat Time for the first time with a party of 4 on a Friday night. I made reservations in advance in case the wait was long! Came in at opening and slight trickle of customers came in, there's a lot of tables and seating; I even overheard them taking down a reservation for a party of 13, so they do take big groups. The inside is a bit dim, but simple and clean. There was a wet spot near their entry but they put a sign and let us know as well! We did the base AYCE for $49 each. There were some meats that cost extra like pork cheek! All the meats were of great quality, had the right amount of meat to fat ratio. I really like their brisket! I noticed for general JBBQ and KBBQ places the brisket would be okay in taste and quality, but Meat Time by far has the best one. We tried a lottt of sides, get the chicken karage for sure! Also the kimchi is so good, I wonder if it's made in house? To top off everything, they also have Suntory Malts which is my favorite beer of all time. I think this restaurant really hit all the cravings and had great, attentive service! The staff checked in often and let us know when our time limit was over as well. Overall would def come back! read more

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I live in Evergreen and it takes me almost 30 minutes to drive here during dinner time traffic. That's how good the food quality is here! It's worth the time and effort for high quality meats; here it's Japanese style meat and bbq aka yakiniku. The service is wonderful too, the owner and staff are always very personable and eager to please each time we visit for the past three years. The place is warm and clean, I appreciate the overhead vents at each table. They are able to confidently accommodate large parties to two person groups. They can get busy and full on the weekends though, so consider making reservations. My friends and I don't gorge on meat as much as we used to, but when we do, Meat Time is high on the rotation due to the high quality meats and cuts, plus Japanese style bbq. We always order the premium selection of the all you can eat menu which is $68/person. You choose the cuts you want and the servers will bring them to you for you to grill at your table. They have extra premium wagyu cuts that are priced ala carte and worth it every time. As someone who just visited Japan a few times this past year, this place is as close as you will get to authentic Japanese wagyu in the greater San Jose/Milpitas area. Hmm the yummy tender fatty melts in your mouth wagyu. There are delicious side dishes and vegetables that come with the ayce, but I don't want to focus your time on them. Taste the delicious heart attack in your mouth. Can you tell I like this place yet? If you like high quality premium meat yakiniku style, you know what time it is? read more

Meat Time in Milpitas is hands down the best Japanese-style BBQ experience we've had in the Bay Area. It has completely raised the bar -- everything else now feels like a step down. The space is clean, modern, and comfortable, and the service is warm, attentive, and polished. The real star is the meat quality. Every cut is perfectly portioned, incredibly tender, and clearly premium. If you're debating it, get the premium option -- it's 100% worth it. The sides are excellent too, especially the appetizer trio: fried rice, potato salad, and eggplant. We also noticed they have age-based pricing for kids, which is a really thoughtful touch. Overall: amazing food, great service, great atmosphere. This place has become our new gold standard for this kind of dining. If you're on the fence -- just go. read more

Meat Time - Beef belly going crazy. So good - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

First time at this AYCE Japanese Wagyu spot and it was a hit! You get a good selection of meats that are of quality and super tender. The sauce options that you can get are also very tasty and pair well with the meats! Service is pretty fast and there's plenty of seating inside. We went on a Sunday evening for an early dinner right at opening and it was easy seating! Staff are all friendly and knowledgeable in the menu. The price is also very reasonable so I think it's worth a try! (You can also get things from the menu a la carte) I'd recommend this place and look forward to coming back! read more

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No gatekeeping here!!!! Japanese Wagyu AYCE!! I can't think of anything bad to say about this place. Amazing selection of meats on the premium ayce menu, sauce game is incredible, sides are delicious, nice happy hour drink list. This place is at the top of my recommendation list. read more

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Very late post but came here on a Friday at 9pm and it wasn't busy. We ordered the meat time variety set ($165) and it was very filling for 2 people (took home some leftovers). My personal favorite was the pork belly. They also had happy hour when we went which is a plus! Service is efficient and friendly. Definitely will try out the ayce next time! read more

We came to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. I had never been here before but he has and insisted I'd love it. He was right! Everything was delicious, from the Wagyu fried rice down to the brisket and beef belly. You HAVE to get the egg sauce, it's so tasty with the meat!! Since we were celebrating his birthday, they gave him a free scoop of their yuzu sherbet (also a must try). It was the perfect pallet cleanser and a very refreshing dessert. Our servers name was Junyo and she was awesome and very attentive! I had a great first time experience and will definitely be back. read more

A little hole in the wall! This restaurant is placed in a very lowkey plaza with other shops like a barber and Kumon. It has a huge "Meat Time" sign on the directory sign for the plaza, but doesn't have a sign for the actual unit so you just have to look for the small chalkboard sign for their entrance. We made a reservation for a Saturday night, but checked to see if we could be seated earlier and they accommodated for us quickly! Service was extremely friendly and quick. The meats were good and the sides were also good! We got the premium plan so we got many more options for meat, and they were good. Really solid restaurant for a night out to splurge. It feels a little more on the pricier side for what it is, so it was a good one time try. read more

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came at 8:30 on a saturday night and the restaurant was quite busy. 30 minute wait without a reservation but it was worth it! enjoyed all the cuts of meat and the service was quick! thank you to the servers and the gentleman helping us! read more

Meat Time - beef belly on top, kalbi and otoro kalbi delicious! - Japanese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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