Just visited again last night after a few years and it was delicious! The ramen was just as good, if not better than I remember! The star of the show for me is their Pork Belly skewers - definitely a must try! Servers are always friendly, and it's nice to enjoy a more traditional setting where you need to take your shoes off. So come prepared with socks if you prefer that. Parking can be tricky as the private lot is small and shared with other businesses. But it's worth it! read more

Mokutanya - Shoyu Ramen & Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Came here for date night and left so happy! Such a neat spot, we're lucky to have a dining experience like this in Burlingame. It's traditional: you take your shoes off to sit on the floor. Restaurant is super clean and decorated perfectly to match the traditional style. This place is a carnivore's dream! We basically sampled each meat skewer and loved everything we tried. I recommend this place for anyone with a special celebration or a unique date night [this review was made in connection with a Toast promotion] read more

It's been almost a decade since I've came back and from what a recall I used to enjoy this restaurant. Unfortunately much has changed within that time and quality of food and service has went downhill since. I ordered the salt and pepper beef and asked for it to be well done due to being pregnant. I'm unable to eat any meat that is undercooked. The waitress appeared extremely annoyed with the request to the point that my relative had to speak up and tell her I'm pregnant. I don't feel I need to explain the reasons why I'm asking for the food to be recooked and with that experience alone, it already ruined my appetite. Then my husband proceeded to order two more skewers. And of course, the waitress completely forgets to put that order in and we end up waiting almost another hour for it to be cooked. Mind you, it was not busy at all. The whole experience was terrible. I won't be coming back. Only reason I'm giving it two stars is because of their fries which was the only thing I enjoyed out of their entire menu. read more

Mokutanya - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

We went here on a Friday without a reservation and probably waited for about 15-20 minutes since we wanted the nice booth where you have to remove your shoes. We were definitely cool with this because they gave us the option instead of just sitting at a regular table. Parking was bad. Their lot is very small, so expect to park on the street or the train station lot. Just don't get ticketed. We definitely did not expect their setup here; it was actually really cool and very cozy. This is the first time my boyfriend and I have actually tried yakitori izakaya, and it was really good. We ordered a couple of things; some were good, and some were okay. Service was good, and the servers were pretty attentive. Appetizer: Geso Karaage (Fried Squid Tentacle)- We ended up returning this dish. It wasn't very good. Honestly, it was too chewy for our liking. Miso soup, Edamame- Both are good. The miso soup was tasty and not at all salty. Meat: Akaushi Beef (Salt & pepper, sweet) Butabara (pork belly) Kurobuta sausage (non-spicy) Salmon Snake River Wagyu (salt & pepper, sweet) All the meat and pork were very tasty. I do think it is a bit pricey per stick. The salmon was okay. The sausage is a must; I highly recommend it. Dessert: Vanilla Creme brulee- really good and not too sweet. I definitely recommend this place. Is it pricey, yes, but the quality of the meat is pretty good. I also like that this place is open late, especially on the weekends. read more

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Cozy and romantic vibes at Mokutanya on Valentine's Day. I love how private and quiet the izakaya is compared to other places. My partner and I had our own room in the back of the restaurant for a nice and cozy dinner. Started off with Ankimo and Takowasa and these were so delicious! Ankimo was super light and smooth, takowasa was fresh and flavorful! Tried a bunch of different yakitori and they were all so good! Perfectly charred and marinaded ~ Shiitake Tsukune was one of my favorites! The taste of mushroom at first bite surprised me in a great way! Gyutan also had the perfect texture and flavors ~ The ramen was also decent; deeply flavorful Tonkatsu ramen that wasn't overly rich, allowing me to drink the soup! It was super nice that they also gave us a black sesame cheesecake on the house in celebration of Valentine's Day. Sting black sesame taste and a solid cheesecake! Overall friendly, efficient, and attentive service. Parking lot can be full but plenty of street parking nearby. read more

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Mokutanya was a great choice for our anniversary dinner. Our host, Gary, was incredibly attentive and truly went above and beyond. Idk what was going on with my vision, but I did not realize there were foot wells under the table until about five minutes in. I was sitting cross-legged and then noticed the table next to us had their feet under the table. It was pretty dark, and the shadows made it seem like the tables were low to the ground with no space underneath. LOL. Once I figured it out, I was way more comfortable. What we ordered: Hada apple flavored sake - Tasted better than soju Fries with kewpie mayo, tonkatsu sauce, bonito flakes, green scallions, and seaweed sprinkles - Tasted exactly like takoyaki Fried purple yam chips - Sweet and perfect to snack on while waiting for yakitori Cold ramen - Super refreshing Yakitori meats: salt and pepper beef, sweet beef, beef tongue, chicken heart, chicken gizzards, salt and pepper wagyu, and sweet wagyu - Every single one was delicious My favorite parts of the meal were the cold ramen, the beef tongue, which I normally do not eat and ended up loving, and the raspberry cake to finish it off Overall, such a memorable dinner and a great spot for a special occasion. I think one person is around $50 including sake and dessert. read more

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The interior is quite dim, making it difficult to see. You'll need to remove your shoes before sitting, so wearing socks and easy-to-remove footwear is advisable. Here's what we tried: - Pork Cheek $7 - Akaushi Beef (Sweet) $8 - Akaushi Beef (Salt & Pepper) $8 - Akaushi Beef (Spicy) $8 - Gyutan (Beef Tongue) $8.40 - Chicken Knee Cartilage $5 - Hatsu (Chicken Hearts) $4.50 - Gindara Kasuzuke (Black Cod) $6 - Tonakasu ramen $17 - Shoyu ramen$17 Unfortunately, they were out of the black cod belly, but I really enjoyed all the skewers. The skewers are on the pricier side, and having them alone wouldn't be enough to fill you up without breaking the bank. To keep our meal affordable, we each ordered a bowl of ramen. The ramen was just okay, not the best I've had, but definitely not the worst. I didn't like the bean sprouts in the ramen. Overall, the skewers are good, but the pricing makes it too costly for me to visit regularly. read more

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Mokutanya's dark, moody space blends sleek, modern design with traditional Japanese seating--glass partitions separating each table for an intimate, almost cinematic feel. Paired with an unexpected mix of old-school EDM and pop hits, the ambiance felt effortlessly cool. You remove your shoes and settle onto floor cushions, fully immersed in a refined, modern take on Japanese dining. Reminiscent of Japan, we ordered a bottle of barley shochu and decided to chase it with Sapporo beer which was the perfect combination. Their charcoal-grilled yakitori are the best that I've tried. Some highlights include: geso karaage (fried squid tentacles), bacon wrapped mochi, pork belly, negima, and pork cheek. Honestly, everything was solid. The only one I probably wouldn't order again as it didn't leave a lasting impression, would be the wagyu beef (salt and pepper). Service was good; I appreciated how they asked if we wanted the shochu on the rocks! There is a parking lot, but it is quite small. We didn't have a reservation but were still able to get seated right away. read more

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A delightful experience with a menu rich in Burmese flavors. The prices are high, and the portions are small. You'll either have to order a lot of different items or leave without feeling full. But it's an authentic spot worth taking guests to. I recommend it. read more

Definitely fell off a lot. 6-7 years ago, this was THE SPOT. Not just for Japanese skewers, but for izakaya, skewers, drinks, everything. Now, it's tasteless, expensive, and often overcooked. There are much better options in San Mateo/millbrae read more

I get so excited every time we come here! I love getting to eat a bunch of different flavors every meal so tapas / skewers type of restaurants are my favourite. All the skewers are delicious--also miso soup and oysters. All the employees are super kind and attentive. The inside doesn't have much seating--several booths. Ambient lighting, aesthetic decor. read more

Solid izakaya. Mokutanya occupies the corner of a strip mall not far from the SFO airport. It has a classic Japanese feel including needing to take your shoes off before being seated. The menu has plenty of skewers for individual order, a few shared dishes, and plenty of drink options as well. The prices are fair but a bit higher than I've seen at other izakaya places. The portions were in line with my experiences and the quality was solid. I really enjoyed the Hamachi Carpaccio but think you can skip the sweet Wagyu Beef. Otherwise, don't forget to mix in some veggies with your proteins! read more

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we enjoy visiting Mokutanya restaurant whenever we are in Burlingame. Mokutanya has truly become our go-to spot in the area. The skewers are always incredibly juicy and delicious. We also want to commend your staff for being so friendly and providing such great service. The manager or owner May has made us feel very welcome every time we visit. Thank you for the wonderful experiences. We look forward to our next visit! read more

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The ambience is very dark and dull. The seating areas are enclosed by glass which might need some serious cleaning as they were very hazy creating a very confined feeling on top of the dull lighting. We tried a couple of yakitori skewers. The food is pricy and less in portion. Nothing special about this place. I might not come here again read more

This is a very unique and wonderful restaurant,the food is delicious and moderately priced. We like the tables and traditional low seating , no shoes required! The drinks are really good too. I definitely recommend the lamb chops , chicken balls , skin basically everything they make ie really tasty . The servers are very attentive and they check on you constantly. They even had a great chocolate mousse. We have been there for a couple of New Year's Eve dinners and they were impeccable. read more

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Came here with friends and the place was packed but thankfully we had a reservation. The place is super neat with the shoe-less cushion seating. Service was top tier and I loved how nice everyone was! The skewers came out in a timely fashion and nicely plated. I only took one picture because after that.. it was just continuous eating~ My favorites that people should try would be the Gizzard, Yuzu Chicken & the Shiitake Mushrooms (so juicy)! Their dessert menu was also really good! Loved this place and would come back! :) read more

Mokutanya - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

Reservations are easy to make online. Parking in that lot is a bit tough but there is quite a few street parking spaces available. Depending on where you sit, you'll be asked to take off your shoes. The booths were really intimate. Got a yuzu soju cocktail and that was good. We ordered a bunch of skewers (marked how many we wanted on the sheet) and they were all pretty good. Only gave this place 4 stars because I feel like there are quite a few better skewer restaurants in Burlingame / San Mateo. The service was amazing! The staff here were extremely attentive. read more

Mokutanya - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Interesting concept of a late night semi-private izakaya with cool music, subdued ambiance and Japanese feel. Conveniently located not too far from SFO, if you have a late flight or need a food fix after landing this place will hit the spot. The parking lot can be a bit challenging if it is full however. Highly suggest wearing socks with your shoes when you come here since you will need to take off your shoes. Kind of like being at the airport LOL. Slippers are not provided and something about being barefoot while in a restaurant kinda gives me the ick. The food is what you would find at an izakaya in Japan. I got to have my shishamo (grilled pregnant smelt - tastes better than it sounds) which I hadn't had since leaving Japan. There are various skewered meats as well. Service was good, water got refilled although the plates could have been taken away sooner IMO. Definitely a date night spot -- appreciated the music here, it's like they highjacked my playlist. Would come back to try out more of their items! read more

Mokutanya - Entrance - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

We LOVE Mokutanya. Been going here for 10 years? It's the best late night restaurant in the area. The BBQ protein and vegetables can accommodate multiple diets and lifestyles. This is helpful, so I'm able to invite many friends, colleagues, and family here. Also, they are accommodating with making a recipe work, such as their vegan ramen. Their team is always wonderful and that keeps me coming back too! 10/10 Highly recommend. read more

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i didn't know there's such place near the airport 10 minutes away. its a hidden gem and i like the ambience sitting on cushion floor but with your legs hanging underneath just like a normal seating. only thing is service is slow some meats we didn't get and the rice that we ordered. the spice beef ramen is so good tho. read more

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I keep coming back because everything is consistently delicious and full of flavor. The small plates are where it's at; the fries are perfectly crisp and seasoned just right, but the real MVPs are the geso karaage (crispy fried squid legs) and the fried baby octopus. Both are so tender, flavorful, and addictive. As for the skewers, I've tried a bunch and they're all good, but the ones that really stand out to me are the oyster mushroom skewer, which is smoky and umami-packed, the black belly cod that's buttery and melts in your mouth, and the sweet wagyu beef, rich and perfectly cooked with a touch of sweetness that hits just right. The vibe is relaxed but lively, perfect for a casual night out or sharing a bunch of plates with friends. read more

Sharing my experience so you don't have to figure it out: The ambiance at Mokutanya is dark, moody, and cozy -- the kind of place where you'll be taking off your shoes, so maybe skip the gym socks that day. On Monday and Tuesday nights, they offer $1 oysters (while supplies last), which turned out to be a great choice and definitely the highlight of the night. The yakitori skewers are on the pricier side compared to other spots I've been to, and portions are pretty small, so don't come here starving. I tried the chicken hearts, beef tongue, gizzards, chicken skin with scallions, knee cartilage, and king oyster mushrooms. The fried octopus was the biggest letdown -- super dry, like it had been pre-fried and reheated instead of freshly cooked. A nice touch: if you follow them on Instagram, you get a free drink -- I went with a small Kirin, which was a nice perk. The restroom, however, could really use some attention. It felt like stepping into a downtown San Jose dive bar -- not exactly matching the rest of the restaurant's vibe. In total, I spent $76 after tip, and honestly, it felt like much of the food had been prepped in advance and reheated rather than grilled to order. Overall, it's worth checking out for the oysters and ambiance, but not somewhere I'd come to satisfy a big appetite. Personally I would go to Enka in Santa Clara for more value and quality. read more

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pre-V day when hubby doesn't like commercialized event...always grateful for the warmth of this place and the people... read more

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What an experience! The seating is something I never experience, there are no chairs, your table Is leveled up! So it looks like you're sitting on the ground, truly Asian. I can say the food is a bit pricy but everything that I order was so good! Must try read more

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Very nice traditional Japanese yakitori restaurant. We went there on exotic meat night which is only on Wednesdays and Thursdays. First time I've tried camel and it was definitely a one and done type of deal but I'm glad I tried it. I would not recommend the ramen as it tasted very bland. However, all of the meat skewers we had and the chicken/seafood tasted great and authentic. The service was also great and I loved the seating arrangement on the ground with the pillows. read more

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Wow, the ambiance of this place is really something else. Dark, intimate, sensual.. I was surprised that the glass walls didn't steam up from all that seductive energy. Jokes aside, the interior of this place is pretty awesome. Unique and great for a date or special outing. I really loved the shoes-off and "sit in a table sunken into the floor" vibe lol. Fun experience for sure! Food-wise, solid. Not "throw my head back and moan with pleasure" kind of good, but good enough to have no complaints. That being said, the prices are definitely high for what you get. The skewer portions are pretty small and the taste didn't really exceed levels beyond "pretty good".. But if you factor in the overall experience with the ambiance, service, and variety of food that you get, then I'd say it's worth a try! read more

The skewers all had nice flavors. The wagyu beef and regular beef were some of my favorites. The spicy skewer definitely had a kick! I would get the scallops on their special menu again. The scallion chicken was also pretty good. The staff were all very friendly. We were really lucky to have gotten a table for 2 for a 7PM dinner on Valentine's Day without a reservation. The floor seating at the restaurant was quite unique! Great place for dates and hangouts with friends! read more

Mokutanya - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

OMG SO GOOD!!! This place the ambiance is so cool! It's also fun and a little private. I like how you're in a glass room so you can still see other people next to you but it still feels individual. Also quite aesthetic as well! Great to take photos. Food was so good. The skewers are delicious and had lots of flavor. Some of our favorite is the beef tounge and quail eggs wrapped in bacon. The onigri is also very good! I had that instead of a bowl of rice and it was delicious. We also went on a Monday, so they had their $1 oysters which were so FREAKING GOOD!! The service was really friendly! Loved this place and can't wait to come again!!!! read more

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I was at Mokutanya on Friday at 9PM with a party of 9 and they were able to seat us quickly in a beautiful room. The dining experience is definitely super cool. Every little nook has glass windows in between so you feel like you can have conversations without the next table hearing you. You have to take your shoes off before sitting down, giving you a real Japanese experience. Food is great and comes out quickly. Each bite is spectacular and I had to stop myself from ordering seconds. The only thing stopping me was that each item is a little bit pricey but for the quality of the food, I'll definitely be coming back as soon as I can. read more

Mokutanya - Skewers and the Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

A Perfect Late-Night Hideaway An absolutely fantastic find. This is the place you go for a quiet, intimate dinner that runs late into the night. The fact that it's open until 2am is a rare and wonderful bonus. The food was incredible. We had the sushi and sashimi platter--the fish was unbelievably fresh and melted in your mouth. The miso black cod was perfectly cooked, flaky, and flavorful. Everything was presented beautifully. No complaints at all. The vibe is classy, calm, and sophisticated. It's quiet enough for real conversation, making it ideal for a date or a special catch-up with friends. Low lighting, soft music, and a very relaxing atmosphere. The service was top-notch. Our server was attentive, polite, and gave great recommendations. We never felt rushed, even as it got later. Highly recommend. Perfect for a romantic night out or when you're craving high-quality, elegant Japanese food long after other places have closed. A true gem. read more

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First class Japanese grill. This was a fun and delicious experience. Take my shoes off and sit floor level. Everything was delicious, smokey charcoal aroma, well seasoned tender meats, and flavorful dipping sauces. The service was outstanding and attentive. The place is dim, romantic, and great for special occasions. Protip: I'm used to getting 2 skewers per order, but this spot is just one. It's not cheap, but it's great food. read more

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Never had I had a dining experience like this and I'll definitely be coming back! I fell in love in the ambiance and how guests take off their shoes and sit in sunken booths separated by glass borders. With the dim lighting, the space feels intimate dining with others yet still private with the space and window encasings between each pod. Not to mention, the playlist slaps - we had to ask our server for the playlist cuz everyone around the table was shazam-ing throughout the meal haha. We spent about $60/person which was a bit of a splurge; though we all left more than satisfied. We got a variety of kushiyaki, tapas, and dessert (of course). Our must gets: - chicken karaage - fries w/ kewpie mayo, tonkatsu sauce, bonito flakes, green scallions, seaweed sprinkles - wagyu beef w/ salt + pepper (kushiyaki) - unagi (kushiyaki) - pork belly (kushiyaki) - bacon asparagus (kushiyaki) - raspberry mascarpone cake - creme brulee We were very impressed and surprised with how good the dessert is! Definitely grab dessert if you have a sweet tooth after dining, you won't regret it. Our servers and host were attentive. Definitely recommend this place for a date night or a night out with friends. We will definitely be back! read more

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Was looking for a late night spot for small bites/lighter food, and saw this place bookmarked on my Yelp. At 11 PM on a Wednesday night, usually the only things open are fast food or convenience/grocery stores, so to find a legit, full blown restaurant that was open and serving until last call at 1:15 PM was already an amazing plus! Parking was easy because it was so late at night, but maybe 1/3 of the spots in the parking lot at the plaza are reserved for other businesses. Something to note. Got seating within 5-10 minutes even without a reservation, and honestly loved the idea of sitting on the floor with no shoes. There were glass partitions between the tables, but everything about this place was elegant, cozy, and thought out. It was a bit dark, though, and I think it'd be cool if they provided a little table light that would provide extra lighting if needed. Of the 6 skewers ordered, I loved the chicken yuzu one the most (surprising because chicken is my least favorite), but the flavors of all the skewers and the timing of when it came was all perfect. The ramen was not memorable at all. The noodles seem like they came straight from a package--no real texture or anything special about them--the broth was so mild and flavorless. Maybe like a really diluted soy sauce. I only ever order Shoyu ramen, but to have such a flavorless broth was a first. They have unique meat choices, like fox and bobcat................... Which I did not try! Overall, this place is one of the better skewer places I've had! read more

Mokutanya - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Great place for food and drinks with friends! My favorite skewers were the pork cheek and Wagyu. Also got the lychee soju to share with our table. Service is good and ambience is a pretty cool as well! read more

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Yelp Review for Mokutanya (3/5 Stars) Mokutanya has a stylish, modern vibe with dim lighting and glass walls that give it an intimate feel. The service was solid--our server kept refilling our water without us asking--but the food service was painfully slow. We sat down at 6:30 and didn't leave until 9:30, waiting nearly two hours just for a zucchini skewer. The food itself was great, though. The wagyu skewer was delicious, and the spicy pork belly skewer had a perfect amount of heat and flavor. If the kitchen were quicker, this place could easily be rated higher. If you don't mind waiting a long time for your food, Mokutanya is still worth a visit for the tasty skewers, but the slow service drags down the experience. read more

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Love this place! Came specifically for the oysters and they did not disappoint! Will be back soon for the special, Monday and Tuesday $1 oysters!! As always service is great and the vibes are amazing! read more

Mokutanya - $1 oysters !! - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

We came in during a return trip from SFO airport to drop off a family member and were looking for a place that was still open after 10pm. I do wonder how many other SFO wanderers this place picks up, because it's very easy to reach from the highway before going over the south bay bridge to go back up north where we are. :) We don't travel beyond our local town all that often, so we decided to find somewhere around here since it was an opportunity, a chance to splurge a bit, and it was nice we did so here for an impromptu date! Luckily for us, it was a Thursday night, so we got to try the exotic meats menu. We got coyote, alligator, and water buffalo. I'm a bit of an animal geek overall, so they mostly tasted as I expected (coyote was tough and gamey as predators tend to be, alligator like fishy chicken, water buffalo like juicier beef), and it was a fun experience! We also got the tonkatsu ramen since the kushi and tapas were very pricey after we were already splurging on the exotics, but we wanted SOMETHING of larger substance to satiate since we knew the skewers would be very small. Unfortunately, there was a lot of basic sweet corn and bean sprouts in the ramen which came off as super budget. The broth itself was heavily carried by the sweet corn too. Despite our disappointment in the ramen, I'm still comfortable giving top ratings for this place because I LOVE the atmosphere and would most certainly be open to coming back if I need a place to show off the cool izakaya life we have in the bay area~ Service was nice and friendly, no complaints there. Thank you :) read more

Mokutanya - Thursday menu - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Soooo good! My favorite was the Wagyu. Very intimate and romantic vibe. Miso soup was also very good and LOVED the cod. read more

Mokutanya - Meat - Ramen Near Me - Burlingame, California

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This place sets a chill vibe. Dim lights and low tables. Service was pretty quick and food was great. Skewers only has 2-3 pieces of meat so the bill can add up pretty quickly. But overall good place to eat. read more

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This place is good for a date night. The yakitori are all tasty and the drink menu is pretty extensive. The prices are definitely on the higher end, but I suppose you're paying for the ambiance, charcoal grilled and private eating space. I'd probably only go back for the skewers and drinks. The fries were too saucy and the ramen is meh. In my opinion, the drink menu has too many choices, especially since there's not much descriptions. We tried two different Negori's and I'd recommend the Ozeki since it has a lighter and less alcoholic flavor. For improvements: I wish they had more skewer options. Also, they should put what cut of beef it is on the menu. read more

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