Celebrated my nephew's 21st Birthday here. They are closed Mondays & Tuesday's but will open for a party or special event. So we were there Monday with the Restaurant all to ourselves. The food was presented buffet style & everything served was absolutely amazing. They served the food in small batches because as we were told, they wanted it to be as fresh as possible. And it all was. The whole staff was incredible, they were so attentive to any request or need we had. The food was so incredible, really delicious. I don't remember the names of everything I ate but I tried it all & there wasn't a single item served that I didn't like. They served this steak that was so tasty, tender, melt in your mouth. Mashed potatoes that were seriously the best I had ever eaten in any restaurant. Grilled veggies that were seasoned to perfection. Sushi that was so fresh, you didn't know you were eating raw fish. This is a great place to take anyone you are wanting to impress to. I also want to mention that I have a sensitive stomach. I ate more than usual because the food was so delicious. I walked out & my stomach felt amazing, satisfied. Not a single thing I ate agitated my stomach. I will have to come back again!! read more

AmaIng just amazing bite site yumminess!! Need to try. Goid both take out and ear in. Perfer eat in but you will keep ordering more trust me!!! Excellent. read more

Metered street parking or you can park at the free 90 min lots nearby if you don't mind walking a block or so. Open for dinner only, Mondays and Tuesdays closed. I didn't find anything to be really exciting here. Everything I tried was meh. The only thing that stood out were the Brussels sprout chips and burrata salmon, those were yum. The edamame were too limp and not cooked well. The rolls were ok. The yellowtail diced chiles was lacking something. The popcorn shrimp tempura were ok, pretty good. I highly do not recommend the jidori chicken in teriyaki sauce. It was very dry, tasted like bad cafeteria food. I couldn't get myself to eat it. The japanois filet mignon was pretty good, cooked well and extremely tender. The service was the plus side to this place, very attentive. read more

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We came in for dinner after some shopping nearby. Had a little bit of trouble finding this place cause the house number was the same as water grill & sushi roku. Place was very small and cozy, it wasn't packed during dinner time so it was quiet and relaxing. The menu had robata grill, sushi / sashimi and some appetizers and fillers. I was having stomachaches so I didn't want anything raw. We decided on spicy miso soup, some meat, poultry and veggie skewers, shishito peppers, spicy tuna crispy rice, mackerel & Uni sushi and spider roll. Badoit sparkling water and two beers as beverages. I'd eat more but I wasn't feeling all that well so some snack food was enough for me. Service was a bit slow but very friendly, the robata grill was very flavorful and delicious to my surprise. It's a good choice for light Japanese food in this area, we wouldn't mind come here again. Hopefully I will be able to try more food next time. read more

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Small portions kinda pricey but good quality sushi. It's a nice little spot next to there main spot Sushi Roku. Went there first they had no tables available so they sent us next door to Robata Bar. It's a full bar nice cozy sushi spot. Service is very good quick on there orders you won't wait a long time to get your food. Shishto peppers were good a little garlicky side but good. Got a order of Chefs choice sashimi comes in 8 pieces 2 different pieces of fish was all good with there own dipping sauces Salmon hand roll was very good Waitress recommended Salmon roll not on the menu but ask for it very very good Will be back for sure read more

Robata Bar - Chefs choice sashimi 8 pieces Salmon hand roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Our server was so sweet! We had our two big dogs with us so we sat on the outside patio, and they were very accommodated. They turned on the heaters for us and even brought a bowl of water out for our dogs! Great location too, it was dark when we went but I think there would have been a partial beach view from the patio in the daylight. We had ramen, a sushi roll, and one beef skewer. The skewer was pretty small but sooo good! Everything was really good. My mom was with me and doesn't eat seafood but I'm a sushi fanatic, so it's always so nice to find a place that has sushi AND a full menu of non-seafood items! She's always willing to tag along with me but I hate dragging her to sushi when her only option is teriyaki chicken. Overall great place, we'll definitely be back! read more

Robata Bar - Hakata Ramen Soup, so good! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We love the reopened Robata Bar! Of course, there was some apprehension that this favorite local haunt of ours was less than it was. Surprise -- It is still amazing -- with a host of new wonderful dishes. We are hoping that some of the old favorites will return, but don't wait to check them out -- you will definitely enjoy the amazing food and the fantastic outdoor views. See you there! read more

Robata Bar - Braised cauliflower - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The skewers are imaginative and taste very good due to the seasonings and grilling; the bacon wrapped shrimp and oysters are the winners for me. What is most deceiving are the prices, as one keeps ordering multiples of some favorites, which it all adds up. Also, if you plan on ordering Sake, make sure you ask about the size of the serving. We were 5 and ordered a bottle of the Desai 23 - the price of $83 listed seemed reasonable for a 750ml bottle of that particular brand of Sake. To our surprise, on the final bill we were charged $155 as it appears it is the carafe that is $83. The server did not tell us that, and no where is the higher price for a full bottle listed. That made the final bill quite substantial and left us not wanting to go back. read more

Amazing experience. Ish - the Robata chef - provided us an omakase experience. He's very personable and a culinary master. The food, much like Ish, was just as pleasant. We had the Chilean Seabass, bacon wrapped shrimp, baked oyster, wagyu beef, Branzino, lamp chops, and ox tail. Wow. Each more savory than the last. What a night. read more

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Phenomenal EVERYTHING! The branzino, the cauliflower, the drinks (LOVED the momo nashi). Alec and Ish made our experience so special and wonderful. read more

The service and the food were good but we were freezing as they leave their windows wide open and there was a cold spell happening. We had to leave our coats on the entire time. read more

The food is absolutely awful if you're looking to get quality skewers or sushi. The grilled oysters were super super salty, edamame tasted old, sushi was terrible, etc. Both bartender and waitress were great and nice but no amount of good service can make up for the horrible food. This place is fine if you want a beer, but by all means stay away from the food if you have any standards for Japanese food. I seriously have no idea why this place is above a 4.0 read more

I have only been here once, we went on a Sunday afternoon/evening. We were gutted quickly and the host and server were very nice. If they didn't get 85% of our orders wrong, I wouldn't complain, as the for was pretty good. Well, except for the shishito skewer, it was raw and tough and dull. If you are looking to avoid sushi rook crowd and retention, they have that full menu here. Just make sure you repeat your order, as they tried to keep giving us the most expensive stuff on the menu.. I almost at the japans wagyu and crab legs when we ordered the lobster skewer and American wagyu. Way cheaper! im hoping this was just an off day and the employees there are so nice, that I will be back but I will just be very careful. read more

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OMG this is my fave yakitori skewers place. The quality of the seafood and meat is very good. They cook it exactly right. The sushi roll is also really good. They give you less rice and more of the good stuff. I came for happy hour and loved it. I am going back soon! I would not order the crispy rice with spicy tuna again. It was just average and paled in comparison to the California roll and the awesome chicken, shrimp, and veggie skewers I got. Also pass on the Japanese fried chicken. The batter did not have a lot of taste. read more

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Thursday night in the area and surprisingly many restaurants were starting to close. This spot is not only open but also had an interesting menu and was a close walk from the pier. Interior is dark enough to the point you need to use the candle on the table to see the menu. Obviously had to get the robatas here, so ordered the Kame ($5), Asupara Maki ($3.75), and the Tontoro ($4). Food comes out in about 20 minutes (longer than I thought it'd take) grilled well onto skewers. Items are fairly small and didn't look much considering the price. Pork was a little chewy, duck meat was well seasoned, and the bacon wrapped asparagus were okay. Overall - even with skewers and a side of Edamame ($5), was hungry again shortly after. Service here is alright, as they were winding down and not much was going on. Seems like the best time to come here would be happy hour. read more

Robata Bar - Asupara maki, tontoro, kame skewers - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

- Locale Destination - It's on Ocean Ave and Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica. Ambiance: Very dark, not so big place. Not good for a big party. Modern with a touch of Japanese flare. Small bar (drink /"Robata" (Yakitori would be much more familiar to you) bar. They have a TV for your game. Menu: It's kinda all over and confusing. Wish the menu were a bit smaller and simpler. Yakitori (grilled skewers in Japanese. "Robata" means the method of cooking, similar to barbecue, in which items of food on skewers are slow-grilled over hot charcoal), salad, appetizers, sushi from next door. HH: Some deals but still not so a good deal. But I guess it's better than the full price. Take advantage of HH! Service: Very friendly and attentive. One Asian girl kept standing by the bar instead of looking out the customers, but everyone else was more customer oriented. Price: Very expensive both yakitori and sushi compared to others. Parking: Parking structures nearby. - Gluttony Expedition - Sushi: Engawa (decent), Uni (TAD expensive than usual for very small size) Robata Hanabi: 2 very tiny 1/2 bite size crispy rice (deep fried rice, less than 1/2 size of what you see at Gyukaku for spicy volcano), yellowtail (seared?!) on the top. $10. It's super brand and way overpriced. A total rip off. Speechless. Salad: It's like Benihana salad - ginger dressing. Very ordinary. Skewers: The Japanese chef cooks it, so it's very good. A lot more expensive than usual. Beef tongue: very thick cut and tasty. Cooked very well. Good. Nankotsu(Chicken cartridge): Very small yet tasty Duck breast: The best one. Cooked very well. Great. Shrimp: Cooked well but the sauce was sweet and not good. Bleh. Egg plant: Cooked very well and miso on the top. Good. Tsukune (chicken balls): Very brand. Not good. - Conqueror's Deduction - It's convenient you could order sushi from next door, Sushi Roku, and get decent quality yakitori here at the same time. However, it's a tad more expensive sushi and yakitori than usual. But the quality of yakitori were very legit thanks to the Japanese chef. It was a lot better than I expected considering the location and as an IDG owned restaurant (Innovative Dining Group - big restaurant chain that owns Sushi Roku, Roku, Robata Bar, BOA and Katana). Sushi Roku, as a sushi snob, I'd be careless. Way more expensive and lesser quality than many of my favorite sushi bars. You wouldn't go there if you wanted wow quality sushi. Yakitori: you could get good quality ones here without going to Torrance. However, you pay a lot more for the quality you get in Torrance. They are so tiny in size, too. If you wanted yakitori with beers in the area, I don't mind coming back for it! Forget about seafood here. Just stick to yakitori! Not bad! read more

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A few crybabies on here whining about blah blah blah, but really, ignore them... I want to summarize this place by just saying: "I'M HARD TO PLEASE AND ROBATA BAR IS MY F****G JAM." The food is immaculate, the location is unbeatable, the ambiance and decor are highly enjoyable and the people working the place are super friendly. Outside seating is a bit tight but very enjoyable. I don't often order restaurant designed drinks, but theirs are super unique as well and well put together, especially the Desert Heat drink, it's like Havasu in the summer stuffed into a glass. Three words: Bacon wrapped tomatoes. read more

Spent the day in Santa Monica and was looking for a new place to eat with my bf. We walked around and noticed Robata Bar and that neither of us had eaten there before. They opened at 5pm for dinner, but we were early by a few minutes, so we waited to be seated. Surprisingly, it was not busy at all. The interior is dimly lit and quite tight. We were not sure what to expect. The menu items are steeply priced. We ordered several yakitori items, but we were not necessarily full, despite spending almost $100, including a pair of draft beers. The service is so-so. It was very superficial in that service was only given when my bf was there and only when there were dishes to be taken away and for the bill to arrive. I was not a big fan. I do not think I will be coming back here anytime soon. read more

It wasn't traditional Japanese Robata style but foods were very good. And service was excellent

The first time I was here, I was blown away by the quality of their skewers! Omg their Jumbo Shrimp wrapped with bacon is to die for!! As well as their ribeye and lobster tail, yuuuum! Everything just melts in your month and comes together perfectly! The employees alone create a very positive and welcoming environment for customers! I always see a warm smile and a helping hand to make sure everything is okay! The space here feels very safe and private - a great place for a date or to be by yourself :) read more

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Happy hour is the best in town! Skewers, beers, sake are super cheap for the quality! Show up 5-7 every day! read more

Robata Bar - Food awesome! Staff- fantastic- Kathy is the best! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Def coming back everything tasted fresh and delish. Highly recommended They have happy hour too 5-7pm read more

Robata Bar - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place is a hidden gem in Santa Monica some of the best tasting freshest sushi I've had in a long time I highly recommend

Updating my review from a few months ago. STILL AWESOME, very well run, AND superior food and service. This restaurant is amazing consistent both in the amazing food and the caring service. AGAIN...JUST GO, APPRECIATE AND ENJOY. BTW, tremendous happy hour. read more

Robata Bar - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of LA. It's a cute offshoot of Sushi Roku combined with Katana. Their happy house menu is great, and I believe it's everyday except Saturday from 5-7PM. Try the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the tomato wrapped in bacon skewers. Also, their fusion specialty cocktail is a refreshing but fruity surprise. read more

Robata Bar - Happy Hour Menu - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

A nice change up to your routine sushi restaurant. You can also enjoy skewers of a variety yummy Japanese style grilled meats and veggies.

There are so many cool Japanese restaurants just on Santa Monica Blvd, we tried at least 4 different ones when we visited first time in January this year and Robata Bar turned out to be the best of those! We loved everything about the place- the service, decor, and of course the food is exquisite. The next day we went back for more and later this month when we revisited Santa Monica we specially went looking for the this place... The Shishito peppers with Soy and garlic is just divine, I can still feel the taste in mouth as I type this review.. We tried a whole lot of things each time, the lamb on skewer, the jalapeno tuna roll ans the shishito peppers were my fav. I highly recommend this place! read more

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Great food and great happy hour food and drink menu. Waygu potstickers, spicy tuna on crispy rice and baked crab roll were all amazing. Had 6 different skewers and all except the mushroom were good. Also small but good Japanese beer selection. read more

I am surprised this place, given it's location (the heart of Santa Monica) does not get a bit more play on yelp. It is a place where you can pop in and enjoy some small bites with tons of variety. The staff are very friendly and accommodating and the service is also a big plus. I think Robata, the concept not the restaurant, is a love it or hate it proposition but I for one am a fan. Look at this plate of amazing delectable goodies. Salmon, Black Cod, Corn, bacon wrapped asparagus, Shitake mushrooms. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/7novzPk6_fO26cFt7XALow?select=TZjGWLJSg9V4PhQ8W1qyng#8R3oTzpn5ctuszKfY8YbpA Of note: Their patio is tiny but it's a good place to people watch, especially those stumblin' out of the Ye Ol' Kings Head. The local Santa Monica parking structures offer the first two hours of parking for free. Happy hour is a great and affordable way to give this place a go... read more

Robata Bar - A little bit of everything. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Bring me some meat on a stick!!! I've always wanted to try Robata. Never have since I already have my spots. Now I've got a new spot to add to the list! The gyu is damn good. Tsukune is fairly good, not great. Pork belly comes out crispy, could use a bit less time on the grill. Chilean seabass is cooked perfectly, needs a bit more seasoning tho. Shishito is a winner. It's also nice to be able to order some sushi from next door, Sushi Roku! But the real winner here: Asahi DRAFT!!! Yes!!! They've got it and it's damn great!!! read more

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Walking down Santa Monica Blvd my girlfriend and I stopped here for dinner. We were greeted promptly by 3 different staff members(already a good sign) we did not have a reservation but the manager Mattheus was very helpful and set up a table for us right away. The place was pretty much full the atmosphere was calm but lively at the bar top. Matt recommended we go with several different robata style dishes so we can try different things. We had the waygu beef, black cod, shrimp, brussel sprouts, short rib, and chicken wings. Everything was delicious. I really enjoyed the cod I ordered 2 more rounds of it. After that we decided to get a few sushi items just to gorge ourselves. All the fish was fresh and buttery smooth and the best part is they don't give you huge balls of rice like some sushi places do. Our service was excellent friendly and professional and you could tell the staff worked well as a team. Overall great experience can't wait to come back and try some more! read more

Came here Saturday after the original place we wanted had way too long of a wait. There was no wait here at all, which worried us, but the Yelp reviews were good so we went for it. It was a nice dinner- the service was friendly, but very slow. After taking our appetizer order, our server never came back. After 20+ minutes, we ended up giving our order to a different server, since we had already finished eating our app at that point. The sushi rolls were very good- we enjoyed everything we ordered. One of my rolls never came out because they forgot to enter it, but I was so full at the point I didn't mind. They were quick to remove it from the bill and apologize. The ambience is really nice- very zen and relaxing. Almost too dim, since I felt like my parents using the flashlight on my phone to read the menu. We would definitely come back here again and try some more menu items. read more

Delicious. Fresh. Clean. Nice. Good staff working friendly and fast. The food is yummy. Comfortable place. read more

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One of my go to happy hour places in Santa Monica. You can't beat their happy hour deals from 5-7. $3 draft beers $5 three skewers (my favorites are the chicken and green onion and the chicken meatball) $5 rolls (spicy tuna or California) It's a great relaxing environment with good staff that will remember you after a couple visits. If you decide to order off the regular menu I highly suggest the pork cheek awesome bang for your buck), the duck, and black cod. Little known fact. You can order from the full sushi roku menu next door if that restaurant is packed and has a wait or your want a little more chill atmosphere. read more

Robata Bar - Assorted happy hour skewers - Japanese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place is a different entrance door than the Sushi Roku but its under the same restaurant group and you can order from the sushi roku menu too. this is only my 2nd time at robata bar...i came to meet a friend in the area for a few drinks and something small to munch on....well, one skewer after another and we basically had a full on meal with some sushi, paired with sake, and then more skewers again... the manager recommended a wagyu beef sushi that was fantastic...if i didnt have 5 other things coming out, i'd jes order that all night... the manager of the night Joe was very tentative and came back to check on us multiple times...its always fun to talk to new people about food and alcohol....but mostly about food!!!! read more

Went here last night and the service was alright but the food was absolutely not close to authentic food at all. We ordered the shrimp wrapped in bacon which was overcooked, the shrimp was chewy and hard. The popcorn shrimp roll was no good, dry, and didnt have much flavor. The Caterpillar roll had large slices of cucumber thst took away from the rest of the roll and was not well done. Overall this place does not know what they are doing in terms of japanese cuisine. We were going to order more but after the first couple of plates we decided to go elsewhere. Would not reccomend. read more

This review is solely for their HH menu, which is daily from 5-7pm! My friend and I ordered the following: -chicken kara-age (enough to share) -yellowtail on crispy rice (2 pieces) -spicy tuna on crispy rice (2 pieces) -california rolls (6 pieces per order) -9 robata/skewers each The yellowtail was a bit on the fishy side so I'd skip that but the crispy rice had a nice char/crunch to it and was tasty. Go with the spicy tuna on crispy rice instead. The California roll is a must! It's made with fresh crab, not imitation crab and with just the right amount of rice (quality over quantity). As for the robata/skewers, my favorites were the salmon, shrimp, chicken heart and the eggplant. My friend also liked the chicken tenders. I liked that there were several food items to chose from their HH menu! Would be back for their HH menu again. Tidbits: During HH, each skewer is $2, which is competitively priced for the westside. This bar is good for groups of up to 4 (booth seating) or singles (there's bar/counter seating facing the flat screen tv). The service was friendly and helpful! read more

Excellent service and even better food. Original, flavorful, and delicately adorned so that every plate has its own unique and attractive appeal. Extremely satisfied with the quality of the food. read more

Well, I guess our expectations were too high. The only food we liked was Popcorn Rock Shrimp Tempura. This was nothing like eating at a real good Japanese robata restaurant... They had lots of sake bottles on the shelf, so my friend wanted to order from there, but she was told "it's for display (nothing in it)." Their sake list is very limited and other cocktail drinks are too sweet. At least, our server was very friendly and nice. Also I liked the music they were playing... read more

I have been here several times. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Monica. It is small, but has great casual ambiance, attentive service and and one of my favorite types of Japanese food. My favorites here: Shisito peppers Chilean Sea Bass Lamb Chops Tsukune - Chicken Meatballs with Teriyaki sauce Tanuke - Shitaki stuffed with minced chicken Asparagus wrapped in bacon actually I like pretty much everything on their menu... read more

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