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Cute little space in a very Asian-centric strip near that McCarthy Ranch area, right below Koi Palace iykyk. Loved the quaint atmo, dark colors with zen vibes and the small space made me feel like I found a gem in an alley in Japan. Unique menu where they'll do a few fried apps, udon soups where they told me the noodles are homemade. And this rice seafood bowl where minced up tuna and other sushi ingredients are all in one bowl. I've had chirashi hundreds of times but I've never had a bowl quite like this...so I had to give it a whirl. Take Bowl ($33/4*) So this gets presented in a very Japanese fashion. On a tray with a decorative ceramic bowl containing the seafood and rice, a matching ceramic bottle of homemade soy sauce, a pickled cabbage side and a nice big wooden spoon. In that bowl is a base of warm plain short grain rice, topped with a generous mound of minced raw tuna, a little snow crab, a few chunks of raw scallop and this particular version has a ton of salmon roe. It is garnished with a small nori sheet, some scallions, pickled ginger and wasabi. So very familiar ingredients if you're a fan of sushi, but the experience is one I can say I've never done. Menu says to first make your own hand roll with that nori sheet, stuff it to your hearts content. Once that's done you can eat the bowl as you wish. Hopefully with a dousing of the soy/wasabi combo as the minced fish is completely plain, no seasoning. I kinda mixed the seafood mixture into the rice a bit, not sure if that's the move. Now here's my take on this new way to eat sushi ingredients. I liked it but I didn't love it. I think I would much rather just eat a chirashi or a tartare prep from a sushi chef, as those have texture and flavor added by a chef. Here you have to do everything yourself and often there can be a learning curve to the new experience. Like I had to add the soy/wasabi mix several times, as I just couldn't figure out the right amount as their soy sauce is much less salty than commercial versions. And I was too concerned on not going overboard and ruining my bowl, so I was doing it in a very cautious but cumbersome manner. Also since everything was so minced up, the overall texture is very one note, soft and mushy. At least with a chirashi you can sense each fish's firmness and unique texture. Here the chopped tuna, chopped scallop and shredded crab are all soft, and with the soft rice, was just a mush fest for me. There were small hunks of cucumber and pickled lotus root that gave little hits of crunch, but still not enough for me. I will say the seafood is very fresh and in good portioning. Fried Squid Legs ($4.50/4*) Very small skewer of trimmed up calamari tentacles fried tempura style. The fry is very light. The tentacles remain quite tender yet with a slight chew. But the crispness was minimized by the light fry. Still decent with the cold seafood bowl, to go back and forth on the bites. I'd still come back to try those homemade udon noodles, now that I've knocked out their seafood bowl. Give me an adventure and I'll delve right in. Thanks Yaichi for providing such an adventure.
FeedMeiMei posted about this place and I've been meaning to try. I ordered the ume bowl with the ochazuke set. It doesn't look like much food but it's actually very filling! I liked how fresh the fish was, and all the seasonings / sides / dashi broth blends together so well. I appreciated the multitude of places where they tell you how to do the ochazuke! I would also be interested in coming back to try their udon as well too! The service is quick, and servers are attentive. There's not a ton of seating inside, but I like the decor! This area of Milpitas has so many options for food (and dessert)!
My partner and I tried this place as we really enjoyed tsujihan when we went to Japan. We got the matsu bowl and cold udon entree with tempura. The bowl tasted good and fresh. It did feel like it was predominantly minced tuna and ikura with some bits of scallop and the uni. For the price, I would expect more of a mix of other seafood. We also did the soup add on, which I would recommend passing on as it didn't really do anything to add to the dish, and you had to pay extra ($4 something) to get it. The broth was much lighter than we had anticipated. The cold udon had a nice refreshing dashi I broth, and the noodles were nice and chewy. I believe they make the noodles in-house! The tempura that it came with was a little disappointing. There were some soggy parts, which was confusing as it came separate from the soup. Also, it didn't have that nice crunch that I'm looking for when I get tempura--it was a softer type of crunch.
Reviewing the Ume Bowl: It comes with tuna, Hokkaido scallop, tobiko, snow crab, cucumber, pickled lotus root, shiso leaf, nori, wasabi, pickled ginger, and green onion It's suggested that you first start eating this meal by making a "sushi roll style" with the piece of nori and after that, add the soy sauce directly into the bowl. It was good! I do want to try the DIY Potato Salad (appetizer), different kinds of udon, and tempura on my next visit.
My friend and I decided to try this place for dinner tonight. We had a great experience. Our first time and we asked the waitress what is their signature dish. She said it was the Seafood bowls. My friend and I decided to try it. We started off with an appetizer Fried Gobo which was delicious. I got the Take bowl and she got the Matsu bowl for entree. We also tried the Ochazuke Set Option at the end where we added the hot dashi. You can see my video. It was delicious. The flavor was great before adding the hot dashi and after. We were told to remove any ginger before adding the hot dashi. I enjoyed the hot dashi. My friend and I enjoyed our dinner experience here. Authentic Japanese dish experience. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes.
This place is such a hidden gem in Milpitas! From the cozy ambiance and charming decor to the beautifully presented food, it truly felt like getting a little taste of Japan. We visited on a Tuesday around 5:30 p.m., and it wasn't too busy yet. We were seated right away in a cozy corner and received friendly, attentive service throughout our meal. Here's what we ordered: Edamame: Perfectly cooked and lightly salted. Take Bowl: The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice-to-fish ratio was spot on. It was a generous portion, too! My only wish is that it came with a little more seaweed so we could make more than one hand roll. Pumpkin & Japanese Sweet Potato Tempura: Light, crispy batter that didn't overpower the vegetables. Perfectly fried. Takoyaki: Only three pieces, but they were flavorful and satisfying. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Between the fresh, high-quality food, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent service, this is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.
Was excited to try Yaichi since I've been seeing it everywhere. The meal was pretty expensive for what it was. I got the take bowl, and while it came with a lot of fish, I prefer my fish with a little more texture. My favorite dish overall was the potato salad with ham. The service was okay. It took a while for someone to take our order, but then we felt rushed by the end of the meal.
Parking was decent since it's located in a plaza, but it can get crowded depending on the time of day, so you may need to circle around a bit to find a spot. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, so seating is somewhat limited. I wouldn't recommend it for large groups, but it's great for a quieter meal. The ambiance is very mellow and peaceful, making it a nice spot for a date or a casual lunch. Their menu focuses on udon noodles and seafood bowls, which seem to be their specialties. I ordered the Take Bowl and really enjoyed it. Everything tasted very fresh, and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the food came out. Overall, it's a cozy little spot with fresh food, fast service, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Finally got the chance to try Yaichi, the so called Bay Area Tsujihan for their massive seafood rice bowls with ochazuke transformation and I have to say as someone who just came from asia and HAD Tsujihan, Yaichi is so much BETTER. Same quality but Bigger portions and better dashi, for about the same price? Sign me up. My girlfriend and I skated the potato salad appetizer - a delicious DIY experience that let you control the texture of your potato salad (though I feel I overmixed), and two take bowls which were MASSIVE - easily could have shared. The seafood was fresh, the portions generous, and maybe it's because I have a more Americanized palate, but the mixed seafood dashi was richer and paired much better than a mild seafood chazuke. Plus it came with shiso leaves and tempura crunchies so it was really no comparison. Overall this was a delicious meal that left me extremely full, unlike other seafood bowls that leave you just a little too hungry. Given the tastiness of their dashi, I'll def be back to try their udon. Also, as an added bonus, my dogs love the little dashi fish topper on their food they sell separately at the front. Love! --- Sweet: amazing dashi broth, delicious seafood bowls. Rare instance of a dinner living up to the hype Bitter: wish they had mini versions of their more deluxe bowls!!
Yaichi delivers a genuinely authentic Japanese dining experience that stands out from the usual neighborhood spots, starting with the interior decor and traditional tableware that immediately transport you overseas. The minced tuna, likely negitoro given its vibrant color, is exceptionally fresh and served in a very generous portion that satisfies completely. Paired with the rich tuna, the comforting ochazuke broth works wonderfully to create a deeply harmonious and satisfying flavor profile. The experience has minor shortcomings on the premium seafood front. The Hokkaido scallop portion is disappointing, featuring at most a single scallop chopped into smaller pieces, while the snow crab is extremely sparse like how it is in a chawanmushi, making it hard to taste among the other elements. With a bit more generosity on those components, this would easily be a five-star restaurant. As it stands, it remains a high-quality, reasonably priced spot well worth revisiting for their seafood bowls and authentic ambiance.
I finally got around to trying this spot after the initial hype died down. I was incredibly excited to visit, especially since it's modeled after a famous, specific style of dining in Japan, and I loved the concept of having soup with the remaining rice at the end. The interior is beautiful, very Japanese-inspired with a clean mix of modern and rustic design elements. The menu is quite curated, featuring just a few options for main entrees and a select handful of appetizers. We arrived right at opening on a Tuesday night. We skipped the appetizers and were unfortunately told they were already out of Uni, meaning the Matsu bowl wasn't available. We both opted for the Take bowl instead. One major downside for me was the pricing. The bowls are already quite steep, so discovering that you have to pay an additional $4.50 just for the dashi broth felt a bit off-putting. Because of that, we chose to skip the broth altogether. As for the food, the bowl itself was flavorful and the portion size was decent. However, given the price and the massive reputation, it didn't quite meet my expectations and felt a bit underwhelming. I don't think I would return to this location, but it did make me want to travel to Japan to try the original version!
Ordered the Matsu Bowl at Yaichi Japanese Restaurant, featuring uni, ikura (salmon roe), and minced tuna over rice. The seafood was fresh, with no fishy taste or smell. Everything tasted clean and delicate, and the different toppings complemented each other nicely. The presentation was beautiful, with generous portions of seafood and vibrant colors. Overall, a very enjoyable seafood bowl!
We had a great meal at Yaichi last week. They were generous with the toppings and we were especially happy with all of the ikura, which paired nicely with rice, sweet soy sauce, and wasabi. It was nice to finish the meal with lots of dashi.
Food: Ume Bowl with Ochazuke Set Price: $26 + $4.5 Overall: I came here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary back in April! It is in the general area with Cere Tea and Koi Palace. We arrived around 6PM and were seated immediately. We came for the seafood don and both got the UME with an addition of the ochazuke set. For $26 + 4.5 for the set, I think it's really worth the price and you get a good amount of fresh fish. Each bite felt like I was transported to Japan and eating a Kaisendon. Although we had to wait for a bit for the dashi soup to arrive , it was a delicious end to our meal. So comforting and hearty. read more
2 hours ago
I've been here twice and have always gotten Take bowl! They also have udon which looks good as well. The fish is fresh and it's a good ratio between the seafood and rice. I've been here for lunch and there's a decent amount of people, but not really a long wait. Service is quick and efficient and they're attentive to you. The space is a little small, tucked away in a corner and feels a little intimate! Overall, I'd recommend this place if you're looking for a quick easy meal! read more
Had the Shabu Udon with Gyu Baru (fatty beef) and the Mentaiko Udon. The Shabu Udon is one of their hot Udon dishes. It had a delicate broth; smooth, not too fishy, not too salty. Came with al dente Udon noodles, fatty beef slices, soft poached egg, seaweed and thinly sliced fried burdock root, and yuzu skin strips. The fried burdock root tasted like mushroom but with a bitter aftertaste. The yuzu added a lemon rind citrus flavor. Mixing the poached egg in the broth made it slightly creamy. The slices of fatty beef was a bit chewy. Overall, good broth but the dish itself as a whole was just ok. The Mentaiko Udon tasted like pasta with creamy Alfredo sauce flavored with shrimp. The calamari had a thin batter and fried crispy. A bit too fishy for me. Both dishes were not worth the price charging. Food came out pretty quickly. Staff had a more professional than warm approach. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Eva, thank you for tasting so many details in both udon dishes and…
1 month ago
Cute little space in a very Asian-centric strip near that McCarthy Ranch area, right below Koi Palace iykyk. Loved the quaint atmo, dark colors with zen vibes and the small space made me feel like I found a gem in an alley in Japan. Unique menu where they'll do a few fried apps, udon soups where they told me the noodles are homemade. And this rice seafood bowl where minced up tuna and other sushi ingredients are all in one bowl. I've had chirashi hundreds of times but I've never had a bowl quite like this...so I had to give it a whirl. Take Bowl ($33/4*) So this gets presented in a very Japanese fashion. On a tray with a decorative ceramic bowl containing the seafood and rice, a matching ceramic bottle of homemade soy sauce, a pickled cabbage side and a nice big wooden spoon. In that bowl is a base of warm plain short grain rice, topped with a generous mound of minced raw tuna, a little snow crab, a few chunks of raw scallop and this particular version has a ton of salmon roe. It is garnished with a small nori sheet, some scallions, pickled ginger and wasabi. So very familiar ingredients if you're a fan of sushi, but the experience is one I can say I've never done. Menu says to first make your own hand roll with that nori sheet, stuff it to your hearts content. Once that's done you can eat the bowl as you wish. Hopefully with a dousing of the soy/wasabi combo as the minced fish is completely plain, no seasoning. I kinda mixed the seafood mixture into the rice a bit, not sure if that's the move. Now here's my take on this new way to eat sushi ingredients. I liked it but I didn't love it. I think I would much rather just eat a chirashi or a tartare prep from a sushi chef, as those have texture and flavor added by a chef. Here you have to do everything yourself and often there can be a learning curve to the new experience. Like I had to add the soy/wasabi mix several times, as I just couldn't figure out the right amount as their soy sauce is much less salty than commercial versions. And I was too concerned on not going overboard and ruining my bowl, so I was doing it in a very cautious but cumbersome manner. Also since everything was so minced up, the overall texture is very one note, soft and mushy. At least with a chirashi you can sense each fish's firmness and unique texture. Here the chopped tuna, chopped scallop and shredded crab are all soft, and with the soft rice, was just a mush fest for me. There were small hunks of cucumber and pickled lotus root that gave little hits of crunch, but still not enough for me. I will say the seafood is very fresh and in good portioning. Fried Squid Legs ($4.50/4*) Very small skewer of trimmed up calamari tentacles fried tempura style. The fry is very light. The tentacles remain quite tender yet with a slight chew. But the crispness was minimized by the light fry. Still decent with the cold seafood bowl, to go back and forth on the bites. I'd still come back to try those homemade udon noodles, now that I've knocked out their seafood bowl. Give me an adventure and I'll delve right in. Thanks Yaichi for providing such an adventure. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
D.wight, thank you for approaching the Take Bowl with such curiosity…
FeedMeiMei posted about this place and I've been meaning to try. I ordered the ume bowl with the ochazuke set. It doesn't look like much food but it's actually very filling! I liked how fresh the fish was, and all the seasonings / sides / dashi broth blends together so well. I appreciated the multitude of places where they tell you how to do the ochazuke! I would also be interested in coming back to try their udon as well too! The service is quick, and servers are attentive. There's not a ton of seating inside, but I like the decor! This area of Milpitas has so many options for food (and dessert)! read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Maggie, I'm glad the Ume Bowl was worth the visit after you'd been…
My partner and I tried this place as we really enjoyed tsujihan when we went to Japan. We got the matsu bowl and cold udon entree with tempura. The bowl tasted good and fresh. It did feel like it was predominantly minced tuna and ikura with some bits of scallop and the uni. For the price, I would expect more of a mix of other seafood. We also did the soup add on, which I would recommend passing on as it didn't really do anything to add to the dish, and you had to pay extra ($4 something) to get it. The broth was much lighter than we had anticipated. The cold udon had a nice refreshing dashi I broth, and the noodles were nice and chewy. I believe they make the noodles in-house! The tempura that it came with was a little disappointing. There were some soggy parts, which was confusing as it came separate from the soup. Also, it didn't have that nice crunch that I'm looking for when I get tempura--it was a softer type of crunch. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Sarah, I'm glad you and your partner enjoyed the seafood and the chew…
Reviewing the Ume Bowl: It comes with tuna, Hokkaido scallop, tobiko, snow crab, cucumber, pickled lotus root, shiso leaf, nori, wasabi, pickled ginger, and green onion It's suggested that you first start eating this meal by making a "sushi roll style" with the piece of nori and after that, add the soy sauce directly into the bowl. It was good! I do want to try the DIY Potato Salad (appetizer), different kinds of udon, and tempura on my next visit. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Thank you so much, Cherry! We’re glad you enjoyed the Ume Bowl and…
My friend and I decided to try this place for dinner tonight. We had a great experience. Our first time and we asked the waitress what is their signature dish. She said it was the Seafood bowls. My friend and I decided to try it. We started off with an appetizer Fried Gobo which was delicious. I got the Take bowl and she got the Matsu bowl for entree. We also tried the Ochazuke Set Option at the end where we added the hot dashi. You can see my video. It was delicious. The flavor was great before adding the hot dashi and after. We were told to remove any ginger before adding the hot dashi. I enjoyed the hot dashi. My friend and I enjoyed our dinner experience here. Authentic Japanese dish experience. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes. read more
This place is such a hidden gem in Milpitas! From the cozy ambiance and charming decor to the beautifully presented food, it truly felt like getting a little taste of Japan. We visited on a Tuesday around 5:30 p.m., and it wasn't too busy yet. We were seated right away in a cozy corner and received friendly, attentive service throughout our meal. Here's what we ordered: Edamame: Perfectly cooked and lightly salted. Take Bowl: The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice-to-fish ratio was spot on. It was a generous portion, too! My only wish is that it came with a little more seaweed so we could make more than one hand roll. Pumpkin & Japanese Sweet Potato Tempura: Light, crispy batter that didn't overpower the vegetables. Perfectly fried. Takoyaki: Only three pieces, but they were flavorful and satisfying. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Between the fresh, high-quality food, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent service, this is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to. read more
Was excited to try Yaichi since I've been seeing it everywhere. The meal was pretty expensive for what it was. I got the take bowl, and while it came with a lot of fish, I prefer my fish with a little more texture. My favorite dish overall was the potato salad with ham. The service was okay. It took a while for someone to take our order, but then we felt rushed by the end of the meal. read more
Parking was decent since it's located in a plaza, but it can get crowded depending on the time of day, so you may need to circle around a bit to find a spot. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, so seating is somewhat limited. I wouldn't recommend it for large groups, but it's great for a quieter meal. The ambiance is very mellow and peaceful, making it a nice spot for a date or a casual lunch. Their menu focuses on udon noodles and seafood bowls, which seem to be their specialties. I ordered the Take Bowl and really enjoyed it. Everything tasted very fresh, and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the food came out. Overall, it's a cozy little spot with fresh food, fast service, and a relaxed atmosphere. read more
Finally got the chance to try Yaichi, the so called Bay Area Tsujihan for their massive seafood rice bowls with ochazuke transformation and I have to say as someone who just came from asia and HAD Tsujihan, Yaichi is so much BETTER. Same quality but Bigger portions and better dashi, for about the same price? Sign me up. My girlfriend and I skated the potato salad appetizer - a delicious DIY experience that let you control the texture of your potato salad (though I feel I overmixed), and two take bowls which were MASSIVE - easily could have shared. The seafood was fresh, the portions generous, and maybe it's because I have a more Americanized palate, but the mixed seafood dashi was richer and paired much better than a mild seafood chazuke. Plus it came with shiso leaves and tempura crunchies so it was really no comparison. Overall this was a delicious meal that left me extremely full, unlike other seafood bowls that leave you just a little too hungry. Given the tastiness of their dashi, I'll def be back to try their udon. Also, as an added bonus, my dogs love the little dashi fish topper on their food they sell separately at the front. Love! --- Sweet: amazing dashi broth, delicious seafood bowls. Rare instance of a dinner living up to the hype Bitter: wish they had mini versions of their more deluxe bowls!! read more
Yaichi delivers a genuinely authentic Japanese dining experience that stands out from the usual neighborhood spots, starting with the interior decor and traditional tableware that immediately transport you overseas. The minced tuna, likely negitoro given its vibrant color, is exceptionally fresh and served in a very generous portion that satisfies completely. Paired with the rich tuna, the comforting ochazuke broth works wonderfully to create a deeply harmonious and satisfying flavor profile. The experience has minor shortcomings on the premium seafood front. The Hokkaido scallop portion is disappointing, featuring at most a single scallop chopped into smaller pieces, while the snow crab is extremely sparse like how it is in a chawanmushi, making it hard to taste among the other elements. With a bit more generosity on those components, this would easily be a five-star restaurant. As it stands, it remains a high-quality, reasonably priced spot well worth revisiting for their seafood bowls and authentic ambiance. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Joanne, I'm delighted the setting and the tuna with ochazuke brought…
I finally got around to trying this spot after the initial hype died down. I was incredibly excited to visit, especially since it's modeled after a famous, specific style of dining in Japan, and I loved the concept of having soup with the remaining rice at the end. The interior is beautiful, very Japanese-inspired with a clean mix of modern and rustic design elements. The menu is quite curated, featuring just a few options for main entrees and a select handful of appetizers. We arrived right at opening on a Tuesday night. We skipped the appetizers and were unfortunately told they were already out of Uni, meaning the Matsu bowl wasn't available. We both opted for the Take bowl instead. One major downside for me was the pricing. The bowls are already quite steep, so discovering that you have to pay an additional $4.50 just for the dashi broth felt a bit off-putting. Because of that, we chose to skip the broth altogether. As for the food, the bowl itself was flavorful and the portion size was decent. However, given the price and the massive reputation, it didn't quite meet my expectations and felt a bit underwhelming. I don't think I would return to this location, but it did make me want to travel to Japan to try the original version! read more
6 days ago
Ordered the Matsu Bowl at Yaichi Japanese Restaurant, featuring uni, ikura (salmon roe), and minced tuna over rice. The seafood was fresh, with no fishy taste or smell. Everything tasted clean and delicate, and the different toppings complemented each other nicely. The presentation was beautiful, with generous portions of seafood and vibrant colors. Overall, a very enjoyable seafood bowl! read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Jimmy, I'm happy the Matsu Bowl came together so well for you.…
We had a great meal at Yaichi last week. They were generous with the toppings and we were especially happy with all of the ikura, which paired nicely with rice, sweet soy sauce, and wasabi. It was nice to finish the meal with lots of dashi. read more
I came here for dinner with my family on. Saturday for lunch. The place was busy, though we were seated fairly quickly. The place is cozy and serves up several udon options, which my kids always gravitate towards eating. I had the Take Bowl and added on the Ochazuke Set Option. The rice was soft and flavorful, the tuna mixture was tasty. When I added on the dashi broth, it actually became even more delicious. I did enjoy the Ochazuke Set very much, especially the sashimi salmon. It was so soft and fresh. My family also ordered the Tempura Udon and the Shabu Shabu Beef Udon. Unfortunately, they mentioned the beef and the udon broth lacked in flavor. The tempura was nicely crisp and enjoyable to eat. As far as service, the waitstaff was really attentive as they checked in on us quite frequently. They were also able to accommodate my food allergy. Presentation of the food was also great. Overall, we had a nice experience dining at Yaichi and I look forward to enjoying their other seafood bowls in the future. read more
2 months ago
Very delicious, very solid service. Easily easssillly reccomend the Take Bowl or probably any one of their "seafood bowls". The Udon bowl was heavy on the yuzu so if you're not a yuzu person do not grab that one in particular. I loved the atmosphere it really reminded me of being back in some amazing izakayas in Japan and will definitely be back to try some more stuff out! read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Eddi-ray, I loved reading that Yaichi reminded you of the izakayas…
Returned from Japan and was craving ochazuke and thought Yaichi would be the spot to fix that craving. It kind of did the job, but still missed the mark. Ordered the Take Bowl which came with tuna, scallop, tobiko, snow crab, cucumber, lotus root, shiso and added the salmon roe. Wanted a crispy appetizer to go with it so got the Fried Gobo, Burdock Root as well. The staff recommended the truffle flavor. The bowl itself came out relatively quickly and there are instructions on how to enjoy your food. The quality was just okay, but nothing that would blow you out of the water. The staff checked on me periodically asking if i was ready for my broth, which many times I wasn't, so I told them I'd let them know. Once they brought out the broth, found it wasn't really hot and just warm. Nonetheless, I still finished my bowl. Portion is ok though I do wish there was more salmon, definitely looks like a lot more food in photos than in real life. The fried gobo was good, lightly crisp but found them to be too greasy and oily after eating a few pieces. Price is steep for the quality and nothing remarkable. They do charge 3% if you are using a credit card. As another yelper has mentioned, paying close to $50 for a bowl with tip and additional credit card fee is a bit much. Not sure I will be returning as the experience and food was lackluster. Definitely a place that is more "for the gram" than what it's worth. read more
Business owner information
Nobu K.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.…
I came for one thing only... the take bowl! The parking is horrendous but worth it! We beat the lunch rush and the service was quick. The place is tiny but there is good seating. It doesn't get packed so come early. The take bowl was amazing and full of fresh fish and crab. It was a good portion for $35 and I'd come back for more! The housemade soy sauce was perfect. read more
5 months ago
First off, the location of this place is super great because there are so many sweet treats in the area to have for dessert afterwards! I like how the service here is very efficient and the atmosphere is very cozy. I got the take bowl and the ume bowl. The take one was a 9/10 and the ume was a 10/10 for me. I did prefer the one with the salmon roe more because my favorite is ikura! They do not skimp out on the fish either which I really appreciate. No wonder this place is viral! read more
Got the ume bowl($26) and it was really tasty. I also got the ochazuke set option for an additional $4.5. So the meal got a lil pricey but there was a lot of seafood and the portion was solid. The ochazuke option is good to try and good if you want soup. I wouldn't say it's necessary all the time but it was tasty. The menu isn't huge and it's very typical of Japanese places to specialize in a specific thing and to serve only those niche of things. They also have udon on the menu which I really want to try as well. The plum udon looks very interesting and never seen that before. Overall, would def recommend to try this type of cuisine if you've never tried. Will def be back for the udon read more
p good, seating doesn't really accommodate big groups but that hasn't been applicable to me so far I feel like part of the fun is doing the labour to put your own food together but I wouldn't be surprised if some people aren't into that potato salad w ham - 8/10 wish there was more but at least it was fun shishito peppers - 7/10 yuzu dressing was nice but sometimes can be a little sauce heavy ume bowl - 9/10 I usually get this bc I can tolerate the tiny roe but not the big ones ; perhaps a teeny bit rice heavy but I think that's the point ; I always get w ochazuke bc I feel it really does add to the experience/taste read more
6 months ago
Knowing that Yaichi is from the same people that brought us Leichi, I knew the food here would be solid, albeit a little pricey. Yaichi specializes in seafood bowls and udon. They also sell onigiri and I believe dashi as well. On our first visit, we both tried the Take bowl and I added on the ochazuke option. I like that they have a guide on how to enjoy the bowl. Unsurprisingly, the seafood quality was good and I thought the rice portion was generous for myself. The portion would probably be just right for most people. The ochazuke add-on was a lovely comforting way to finish off the meal. The dashi broth is light and easy on the stomach. We also tried the Nagoya style wings. Flavor was good, though personally I would prefer a stronger white pepper kick. Yaichi is a little pricey, but the food here is solid. I would try their udon the next time I come. The place is pretty small, so it wouldn't be able to accommodate large groups very well. read more
5 months ago
We don't have many great quality sushi type of stores in the South Bay and I feel like Yaichi changed that narrative. The fish quality was good and I think overall a pretty good bang for your buck! Service was good! Cute ambiance inside! On a different note, I got the Dashi topping for my dogs and they love it! Will definitely be back. read more
6 months ago
I ordered the Ume bowl with the Ochasuke set! My total was $40 after tax & tip. Tip: If you get the ochasuke set, you don't need to reserve that much leftover rice. I also left some leftover tuna/crab/scallop but I regretted that because it didn't taste as good cooked, oops XD read more
6 months ago
Came here to try Yaichi and overall it was such a fun experience! We came for Sunday dinner and was seated right away. I ordered the take bowl, and while I was so sad they ran out of uni that day, the bowl was still really good. Everything tasted fresh and well put together, so I can't complain too much but I'll definitely be back for that uni bowl next time. We also got the mentai udon and that was a standout. Super flavorful, rich, and just really satisfying. Definitely a must order. read more
Located in a strip mall tucked in the back - Yaichi was pretty good but way overpriced. We got the matsu bowl and beef udon. The matsu bowl was very similar to all the viral kaisen don bowls you see on social media, just about 4x more pricey than in japan. Been to tsujihan in tokyo - and while they are not exactly the same - It definitely satisfies the craving. Just not worth it for over $50 a bowl once you add the broth. Hard to pay that price knowing the same bowl is $12 in japan. I know we're not in Japan but still... The beef udon was also pretty good. Chewy homemade noodles. Simple, maybe a little too simple. And small for the price as well. On top of the smallish serving sizes and high price point, you get charged a service fee for using credit. That really didn't sit well with me- thats part of the cost of doing business as far as I'm concerned. So I'm supposed to pay my usual 20% tip and eat your credit charge after paying $50 for a rice bowl and $30 for a bowl of noodles? Just felt a little too much price gouging here. Pass Taking 1 star off for price and 1 star off for ridiculous credit fee. read more
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Nobu K.
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I was very excited to try the Ume bowl! It was good and I really enjoyed the raw fish that came on top. However there was a lot of rice, which is why I think it pairs well with the ochazuke set. I recommend just leaving rice for the ochazuke set (and eating the tuna part raw.) The ochazuke had a really lovely light flavor and I liked how it cooked the piece of raw salmon. Overall, it was fun to try (especially with the ochazuke set) but I wouldn't go out of my way to come. We also tried the tempura udon but we weren't too impressed by it. The portion size was also significantly smaller than the seafood bowl set. read more
6 months ago
Delicious seafood bowl!!!! We ordered Také bowl! The item that stood out to me was the snow crab. It tasted sweet and fresh! The bowl came with lots of Ikura. We also ordered the soup and it came with raw fish and crispy rice it appears. It was an extremely nice touch to finish our meal and refreshing. Overall, great experience! read more
6 months ago
I have been meaning to try Yaichi for months after seeing the reels pop up on my IG feed. Finally had the chance to drop by for lunch on a weekend and it did not disappoint! I had to get the seafood bowls that everyone talks about and settled for the middle option: Take bowl! I also made it an ochazuke set for an extra $4.50! Which I know it's an additional price, but in my opinion so worth it as it introduces new flavors after eating half your bowl! Also tried the nagoya style wings which were reminiscent of a black pepper steak seasoning - super yummy! The seafood was fresh tasting, general serving, and absolutely delicious! I would love to come back here and may have to make the trip up just to return! 10/10! read more
If you're looking for a Tsujihan dupe (but without the Tsujihan prices), you have come to right place to SPLURGE. I looove ochazuke and really enjoyed this in Japan, so this was a wonderful find for a birthday lunch. The Matsu Bowl was loaded with very high quality hokkaido scallop and uni. I was very impressed with the king crab meat as well! Everything tasted fresh and they gave a plentiful portion of tuna luckily. The ochazuke cane with a SINGULAR salmon sashimi, but it was also a yummy treat for the dashi. The soup was very umami and flavorful. Complimented the Matsu Bowl really well. Added a hearty finish. I wish there was more salmon honestly... but I guess you get what you get for an extra $4. Service was a little slow, but they were kind enough to explain each set to each person at my table. Small place, so I wouldn't recommend this spot for a party of more than 4. read more
3.5 star - It's in the smaller plaza next to the big Milpitas Square, lunch time parking is horrible. We arrived at 11:40 on a Sunday and struggled with parking for a long time. We ended up parked in the Milpitas Square and walked over. - they are still in the soft opening stage and sadly no udon is available. That's why I am not giving them a 4 star, without udon in winter and no uni, this wipes out 40% of their menu availabilities. - fried Japanese yam with truffle flavor is good! Wish it has more but it tasted very good! - take bowl tastes good quality of seafood. I ate up most of the minced tuna and scallops on the top, asked for the hot dashi soup and poured it into the remaining rice and salmon roe. The flavor is balanced and the bowl seasoning is just right. Ikura roes are generous and the whole bowl's portion is good. - no udon is available but we could order tempura from the side menu and have it over rice. The bowl came nicely presented and the tempura sauce is already poured in but not soaking the rice: the flavor is right and on par even though I couldn't see much of the sauce. - service is very limited. We were greeted, taken order and offered water. After food delivery, we were not checked upon nor were offered more water. - decoration is casual and there are seated tables as well as high bar chairs for izakaya style sake drinking. Overall it's not a big store, all together there are maybe 20-30 low seats and 10 high table seats. - they charge 3% service fee is you pay by credit card. No charge for cash or debit card payment. Maybe we'll come back for udon. read more
7 months ago
Business owner information
Nobu K.
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My friend and I picked this spot, unaware of the hype. We waited around 30 min before getting seated. I think presentation wise definitely looks very good. However, I wasn't wowed and feel like it's good, but not good enough for the price. The bowl itself is okay. Portion isn't that big. I'm glad I ordered ochazuche with the set, it definitely helped with the flavor. In the end, I think this place visual aesthetic exceeds the flavor/price. Worth trying for first time experience, but no strong urge for me to rush back anytime soon. read more
Did not realized how much food this comes with. So brace yourself and prepare your bellies for a feast. I thoroughly enjoyed the rice bowls and it was a good portion size with lots of fresh fish. The DIY potato salad is just meh but it's a fun interactive activity for your meal. I would skip the wings though. Unless you're okay with the size and price. I couldn't tell how much to save for the dashi broth part but if you like warm soup, I would save room for it. The broth had a good balance of flavors and nice and warm. Although I wished it was a bit warmer though. Overall good place for dinner and unique experience. read more
4 months ago
i crave yaichi's take bowl so oftenn! been here multiple times, such a cute spot for a solo date, with a lover or a friend!! my fav spot to treat myself and the take bowl is just delightful. learned to love tobiko here and now i'm obsessed. their wasabi isn't overpowering and that's when you know it's the good stuff read more
4 months ago
The highlight was the use bowl. I didn't add on and thought it was super filling. The wings are t worth it, they were so small. Udon was not bad. Service was good and the waitstaff kept checking in on us. The broth for the ume bowl was good. I side was modern and comfortable. Would come back read more
8 months ago
YuMmMm!! No need to plan a whole Japan trip or stand in a 2+ hour line for the viral Tsujihan seafood rice bowls. I never got to try Tsujihan in Japan myself, but Yaichi in Milpitas totally satisfied the craving. They pretty much specialize in these seafood rice bowls, so everything tasted super fresh. And you know it's fresh when you burp and it doesn't taste fishy hahaha. They're also expanding their menu to include udon, but I'm not sure when that's officially launching. I came as a party of two on a Wednesday night around 6:30PM. It was raining, so we got seated right away which i appreciate. The only downside was our table along the wall because the bench seating was honestly very uncomfortable. I'm a pretty small girl and the bench basically fit only my butt, so I can't imagine anyone taller being comfortable. The bench also doesnt seem to be secured as I could feel the people on both sides shifting, so I was basically bouncing left and right during my whole meal. Truly... an experience. To start, we got the shishito yuzu miso ($7) and they were delicious! I'm used to shishitos just being blistered with salt and pepper and served with lemon, so the light creamy yuzu sauce was a nice change. The flavors were balanced and nothing was overpowering. I ordered the Matsu bowl ($41), which comes with minced tuna, Hokkaido scallop, tobiko, snow crab + marinated Hokkaido salmon roe and Hokkaido uni. It includes one piece of seaweed to DIY a hand roll and one shiso leaf (I tore mine into small pieces and ate it with each bite using their huge spoon). The bowl is pretty big, so if you're cool with a consistent flavor profile from start to finish, you'll love it. I'm someone who needs a little variety before I get tired of the same flavors, so I added $1.50 for an extra 4 pieces of seaweed and also got the Ochazuke set for $4.50 which totally worth it in my opinion. Basically, you eat about half (or more) of your bowl, then ask for the hot dashi broth. It completely changes the flavor profile and gives it a whole new experience. I enjoyed it so much! read more
9 months ago
This isn't the most affordable spot, and my meal felt like a "treat yourself"experience. That said, the portion sizes were fair and the seafood was fresh. My friends and I added the ochazuke set to our bowls, and for $4.50 I think it's worth it. If you're already at Yaichi to try what they're known for, you might as well add it and go all in. The broth was comforting and flavorful, perfect for a cold, rainy day. The service was solid. Staff checked on us a few times throughout the meal to see if we needed anything, which I appreciated. The ambiance did not stand out to me as anything particularly memorable, but the restaurant is in a lively area and just a short drive from plenty of boba and dessert options for afterward. read more
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668 Barber Ln
Milpitas, CA 95035
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(408) 649-3305
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11 months ago
