Cancel

Open app

Search

Yakitori Kokko

4.1 (1.3k reviews)
PriceyJapanese
Closed • 5:30 pm - 10:30 PM
Updated 2 weeks ago

Yakitori Kokko Reservations

Order Yakitori Kokko Takeout or Delivery

Yakitori Kokko Photos

Business Info

YAKITORI KOKKO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Good for groups

You might also consider

More like Yakitori Kokko

Recommended Reviews - Yakitori Kokko

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

David V.

I can't believe this is my first review of Kokko's! Brought the wife here for our date night and once again, they produced an experience like no other. The staff was awesome, greeted us warmly and sat us within minutes. We already knew what our go-to plates were but we ended up trying some new dishes. As always, the end result was WOW! If your looking for some great food and a lively environment in San Mateo, you need to put Kokko's on your radar!

Starter
Frances C.

This time food and service have improved and it's much spacious with the add on patio seating We had the special set meals with several grilles items, they were grilled with favorable charred and the Wagyu beef's were so tender that Mel's in your mouth. The fried yam was interesting and lightly sweet that ended a good note

Scallop, shishito pepper, king oyster mushroom
Ethan C.

I had a major craving for some yakitori, so we stopped by this spot on a rainy Saturday to give it a try! We tried a wide variety of these Japanese BBQ skewers -- oyster mushroom, chicken thigh, chicken skin, shishitos, beef kalbi, and scallops just to name a few. Each skewer has that signature grilled flame-kissed flavor along with a soy sauce-based savoriness. Our favorites were the beef kalbi and chicken thigh, both are so tender and juicy! The scallops were alright, not sure about their quality or freshness. Each skewer only has a few pieces of meat or veggie though, so the prices are pretty steep for what you get! And they're even smaller than the pictures look. I'd say to get even somewhat full you'd have to eat around $40 a person in skewers! Service was great, our server was welcoming and attentive. I like the ambiance as well, we felt like we were transported back to a traditional, modest restaurant in Japan! Overall, decent yakitori but would not recommend coming on an empty stomach and looking to get full -- for that price you're probably better off getting something else.

Ya Y.

A little gem in downtown San Mateo. It's a small shop with friendly staff and cozy vibes. Ordering is done on a double-sided paper menu. They offer a wide variety of options - from chicken, beef, and pork to seafood and vegetables - with both salt and sauce flavors for the skewers. We weren't that hungry since we had bar food beforehand, but we still managed to try a decent amount. My top favorites: chicken meatballs (sauce), chicken thigh (both salt & sauce), chicken skin (salt), miso eggplant, and the deep-fried sweet potato with ice cream (a must-have!).

Hurjane V.

Solid place! You definitely need to make a reservation ahead of time to get a table. During peak times, they will give 1.5 hours dining experience per group. Definitely pick from the Yakitori menu. Everything was so good, I don't even know where to begin. Try new things, ask for recommendations. Get the daikon salad - it's a nice, refreshing dish. Be prepared to spend $$-$$$ per person if you really want to get extra full but solid food.

Chicken cartilage
Tiffany L.

The restaurant has limited seating, so I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. My party ordered a bunch of yakitoris, and my absolute favorite was the chicken cartilage. It was soooo good! Service was nice and attentive, and the dim, cozy ambiance made the whole experience even better. I'd definitely recommend checking this spot out.

Chef Toshi

In my opinion, KOKKO is one of the best izakayas for authentic Japanese cuisine! Everything Chef Toshi creates is amazing--each dish is served fresh, hot, and absolutely OISHII!!! Coming from Hawaii and traveling frequently to Japan, I truly appreciate excellent izakaya-style food and service. Whenever I dine at KOKKO, I feel like I'm back in Japan. Highly recommended!

Katie Y.

Very Japanese and a good variety of food items! Reasonably priced as well. It was our first time and we'll happily go back. My favorites were the tako karaage, aburi shime saba, and pork cheek. Definitely make a reservation

Chicken with plum sauce, liver
Andrea K.

Superb yakitori spot in San Mateo! Cute outdoor seating is perfect for the summer weather, and the service was excellent. Prices are as expected for yakitori, and I appreciate the variety of skewers. There are many different cuts of meats to choose from, but the yummiest options are the organ meats! Make sure to come with people who aren't picky lol. Our favorites: chicken heart, liver, pork cheek, beef tongue, fried chicken cartilage Pass: black sesame ramen, raw squid, chicken with plum sauce

Daikon radish salad
Tomo S.

I came back to Kokko after a 4-year absence, and I was happy to see they now have an outdoor dining area -- much more spacious compared to how tightly packed it used to feel inside. We ordered a variety of tapas-style dishes, all very typical of what you'd find at an izakaya in Japan: fried squid, fried oysters, ankimo, tamago, shishamo smelt, yakitori skewers, radish salad, and yaki onigiri, just to name a few. The food was solid, the prices were fair, and the service was excellent -- friendly and attentive without being overbearing. It's a great casual spot for classic Japanese small plates and a relaxed evening out.

Warabi mochi for dessert! Came from the fridge so not as soft as I would have liked.
Elaine Y.

Boyfriend made a reservation for my birthday and we enjoyed some truly tasty yakitori at Kokko. I think what really sets Kokko apart from other most other yakitori places is their skilled cooking. Almost every skewer had this delectable smokiness that still complimented the natural flavor of the ingredient. My favorite was the pork belly by far, but I also really enjoyed the okra, the scallops, and the gizzards. I also tried a seafood chawanmushi which was so silky and dreamy! I absolutely recommend this! Many of the dishes actually brought me back to Japan which was awesome. I also liked that they used a softer tofu on the agedashi tofu which gives it that sweet, savory, and creamy bite. There were, though, a few that didn't quite dot all the i's. First, some of our bacon asparagus were woody and very fibrous. Secondly while I appreciated seeing hitsumabashi on the menu, respectfully it just didn't invoke memories of Nagoya. There was far too much dashi in the bowl and you didn't get the step by step approach that makes hitsumabashi the famed dish it is. All in all, I enjoyed the experience. I understand why it's always so busy now!

Special: duck
Manoh T.

Always a go-to for late(r) night and scrumptious grub! Not your traditional Japanese fare, you won't find tempura, chicken teriyaki or even sushi! Mostly small plates and skewers, your very traditional Izakaya. The specials are always a must! Pretty busy during "dining hours" but they're open a little later than most places and their outdoor patio is heated.

Leila S.

This was a cite place to stop by for a date. We had been to another restaurant similar so we decided to stop by. Everyone was so sweet. The seating was comfy just close to the table next to us I felt like we were just one big table together. Our waitress was sweet and answered our many questions. The garlic edamame, skewers and ramen were my favorite and my boyfriend loved the edamame skewers and wagyu. Everything was delicious. We did have to check in about the wagyu that was forgotten. They apologized and gave us cucumber on the house which was so kind! It can get loud in the restaurant where there's small space. The fried potatoes and ice cream was really good. Different but it reminded me of plantin bananas. I would definitely come back and try other foods.

Enoki with bacon yakitori

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Leon L.
178
37
77

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 12
Thanks 4
Love this 16
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ya Y.
131
572
4059

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

28 days ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Tomo S.
160
116
1719

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Elaine Y.
1044
1700
4645

1 year ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 1
Love this 5
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 74
Thanks 22
Love this 78
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Hannah
0
12
76

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Dido H.
0
38
23

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of P. C.
0
41
41

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 4
Love this 6
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sonia B.
34
24
66

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 33

Yakitori Kokko Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Yakitori Kokko

Are small dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

Yes, They are allowed

Is there any seat for walk-in? Thanks!

yes

Hi does this place have outdoor seating?

Yep they do!

Is the full skewers menu available for takeout?

Yes! We are available all items! Please, call or text us for pick up order.Thank you!

Is the lamp chop on the takeout menu?

Not sure. Sorry. I can't shine any light on that. But, they are open for dine outside and it was lovely!

The page says there's outdoor seating?

Yes, we have 8tables outsides with heater too.

Are the owners and chefs Japanese?

Yes, both of Japanese.

Are they open for delivery or take out during the shelter in place?

Is it possible to get the chicken liver skewers without the marinade? Can it just be cooked with salt?

You can just ask for "shio" salt only and no "tare" sauce.

View All 13 Questions

You might also consider

Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba

Kajiken

4.4(1.5k reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$

I've come here twice now and I didn't realize I never left a review the first time I came! So now I…read morefeel I have even more to say how you much gotta come to Kajiken! Both times I've come I hadn't had to wait very long and our second time was with a large group including kids. Our server was great in helping us preorder before we could get seated and we only waited 15 minutes. We all ordered the same things: half of us ordered the original aburasoba and the other half ordered the homura aburasoba and the food came out quickly. They kindly gave us little bowls for the kiddos and forks and all the kids loved the noodles and the adults shared a large pitcher of beer. All in all, best aburasoba and one of my favorite spots in San Mateo!

Finally had a chance to try this San Mateo hotspot…read more My two friends ordered the best-seller homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork) and I had the unagi version. We also had the squid and gyoza appetizers. Food was well prepared and tasty, even if the service was harried and uneven. A few servers knocked into my friend and one even spilled on her while clearing dishes from the neighboring table. The staff also hovered as we were finishing our meal and asked several times if we were done/needed anything else and then less subtly if we could vacate the table. Also, we had placed ourselves on the Yelp waitlist instead of standing in the line outside and then were told when we went to check in that they don't use the Yelp waitlist, and that set us back a half hour. The food is great, but the logistics could use some work.

Photos
Kajiken - Inside

Inside

Kajiken - Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

Kajiken - Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

See all

Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

Udon Mugizo - San Mateo - Udon Mugizo San Mateo

Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

4.4(390 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$
Kid friendly
Locally owned & operated

Love the San Mateo location. It feels so spacious and fancy! And the kids meal comes with a toy…read morefrom a ball machine. The katsu curry was the highlight. The nabeyaki udon broth is a little too sweet for my taste. We'll be back for the pork katsu and curry!!!!!

I've been a few times to Udon Mugizo so I'm not going to let last night's experience affect the…read morewhole review. But it seemed they were either short staffed, had too many takeout orders, or both because even though there were empty tables, the employees were running back and forth between service and the kitchen and (maybe unintentionally) running away from anyone at the front door asking to be seated. Anyway, once we were seated, everything else was smooth and quick in terms of ordering and getting our food. I've tried their specialty udons before - the mentaiko cream and the spinach salmon one. They're very unique if you ever want to give it a go. The mentaiko is too heavy for me. The spinach salmon one is refreshing, but I don't like smoked salmon so that's the only thing deterring me from ordering again. I typically stick to my favorite tonkatsu udon. The broth had a lot of flavor and the medium spice level was perfect for me in having a little kick without it being overwhelming. I also like their tempura and corn fritter too, it's a great starter, but it fills you up before you get to your soup. The inside is clean and has simple/modern decor. But yeah, it was busy with the employees running around carrying trays and trays of bowls and utensils.

Photos
Udon Mugizo - San Mateo - Tempura Donburi

Tempura Donburi

Udon Mugizo - San Mateo
Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

See all

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen, the house special

Taishoken - San Mateo

4.3(2.2k reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$
Vegetarian friendly
Wheelchair accessible

Five star hands down. It's been a long time since I was impressed by a ramen/noodle place. We…read moreordered: Tokusei Tsukemen (Dipping Noodles), Karaage (Fried Chicken), Dashi Eggplant (6pcs), Kids Ramen, Kids Aburasoba. Karaage (Fried Chicken): 5/5. Crispy on the outside juicy and tender on the inside. Good portion for the price. Dashi Eggplant (6pcs): 2/5. I don't really get it... the menu says it's fried, and chef confirmed that it was fried for 40s, but I can't really taste any fried texture nor does it have the fried aroma. There's no batter. $5 is not a lot but we only got six tiny pieces of it so it wasn't good value either. This is the only item I didn't quite understand. Tokusei Tsukemen (Dipping Noodles): 5/5. Amazing. The dipping sauce is perfectly not too salty. Plenty of flavors. The touch of citrus exceeds expectations. Plenty of noodles. Good texture. The pork toppings are great too. Both are flavorful, tender, and well cooked (particularly impressive getting the chashu not dry). I took the dipping sauce to go afterwards. Kids Ramen: 5/5. Got a sneak peek of the ramen offering from this place. The soup base is very thick, very flavorful. Impressive. Kids Aburasoba: 5/5. Totally different experience. Loved it as well. Not too salty. Both kid's items were very generous. Service was great. We came in around 12pm on a Sunday and there's no line yet luckily. Would definitely revisit

Came around 2pm on a Saturday and there was a wait. Joined a little before getting to the…read morerestaurant, so timed it well to avoid waiting around there for too long. Definitely join the Yelp waitlist! It was a good meal. Highly recommend the chicken karaage as an appetizer. Nice batter on the outside and juicy on the inside. I've been wanting to try their dipping ramen, so I got the spicy tsukemen. It really didn't taste spicy to me. Good quantity - the noodles felt endless! Decent sized space! I'd come back again if I was craving dipping noodles.

Photos
Taishoken - San Mateo - Shichida Daiginjo

Shichida Daiginjo

Taishoken - San Mateo - Niku spicy Ramen

Niku spicy Ramen

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tori Chintan

See all

Tori Chintan

The Backhouse

The Backhouse

4.3(69 reviews)
1.6 mi

I ordered a custom tray for a large group celebration and we were pleased with the quality and…read morenovelty. The fish were fresh, the rice was seasoned, and the garnishes were interesting. The owner was communicative via text and E-mail. Pick up was from a ghost kitchen. Menu was difficult to find online, but here is the link: https://twodotsco.typeform.com/to/eUm9sISf?typeform-source=linktr.ee The tray was beautifully decorated. At $6.25 per piece of sushi, the price was similar to nice sushi restaurants. I probably would not order from here frequently, but only as a special treat.

I've had the backhouse on my list for a while and finally had an occasion to give it a try for a…read morecelebration. I preordered a deluxe platter ($450) which comes with 60 assorted nigiri for pickup on a holiday Monday around 1:30pm. Ordering via their form online was simple and easy and I received plenty of communication leading up to the pickup on where/when to pickup and who to contact for any changes or concerns. The pickup spot in San Mateo is a ghost kitchen setup, and parking was a little difficult (I got dropped off while my ride circled around). Once inside, there are a few tablets as well as doorbells labeled with different businesses. I pressed the one labeled for the backhouse and got our order at the door after waiting for a few minutes - there do also seem to be a lot of people picking up delivery service orders and generally seems to be confusing for the other businesses in the same space but I was able to get in and out pretty quickly. Onto the sushi - everything was delicious and they were kind enough to give us 3 of everything as I had requested to make it easier to split between our party of 3 which I really appreciate. The rice was nicely seasoned and not over or undercooked, and the standout has to be the uni. I really liked the asortment of fish/topping combinations and felt like there was a good mix of unique offerings and classics but the one thing I wished we had was some kind of guide or lost of what the fish we had were so I could better appreciate what I was eating. Overall, I'm glad I finally got to try the Backhouse and it was definitely tasty and a convenient way to enjoy some really high quality fish, but I think personally I prefer having the fish in a way where I can know more about what I'm eating to really enjoy the meal :)

Photos
The Backhouse
The Backhouse - Omakase box @whaevaeats

Omakase box @whaevaeats

The Backhouse - Firefly Squid Box (seasonal)

See all

Firefly Squid Box (seasonal)

Noma Sushi - Best Seasonal Daily Specials

Noma Sushi

4.3(361 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$
Free parking
Sports on TV

Amazing! This was our first time here, and we'll definitely be back for more. We came on a Friday…read morenight right when they opened. It's a little hole-in-the-wall spot, so it can be easy to miss, but they're serving fresh, high-quality fish. It's pretty small inside, but we were able to get seated right away. People started trickling in shortly after, though, so I can definitely see this place getting busy, especially during prime time. FOOD Salmon Sampler - 5/5 Very fresh! O-Toro - 5/5 Fresh and good! Japanese Uni Nigiri - 5/5 This was really good and creamy. Noma Roll - 3/5 This was okay. There were too many tempura flakes, which overpowered the entire roll. Dragon Roll - 5/5 Lion King Roll - 4/5 Karaage - 5/5 The kids really enjoyed this. Overall, we had a great experience for our first visit. Next time, I'd like to try more of their specialty rolls and some of their other special items as well.

Fish was fresh but that's about it…read more Sushi rice had absolutely no taste Salmon skin salad had no dressing and was just fried salmon with a little bit of salmon still attached to the skin. Meh The $39 10-piece signature Nigiri was disappointing. All it was maguro, salmon and some weird white fish. Tasteless. I did have some bluefin tuna roll that's supposed to have truffle with it, but had absolutely no hint of truffle but was the most decent dish of the night I wouldn't go back.

Photos
Noma Sushi - Seasonal Beer&Sake&Wine Menu

Seasonal Beer&Sake&Wine Menu

Noma Sushi - Smoked  Salmon Crush

Smoked Salmon Crush

Noma Sushi - Mini Negitoro  Donburi (small bowl)

See all

Mini Negitoro Donburi (small bowl)

Prime BBQ - Yakitori

Prime BBQ

4.7(942 reviews)
1.9 mi
Locally owned & operated
Kitchen open late

Overall, a really solid spot that the whole family enjoyed--the kids especially loved the beef…read moretongue curry. Most of the seafood and skewers hit the mark, with just one miss on the veggies. The Highlights: Abalone in Shell with vermicelli (5/5): Fresh, tender, and perfectly prepared. Scallops in Shell with Vermicelli (5/5): Fantastic flavor and texture Beef Tongue Curry: Rich, comforting, and a huge hit with the kids. The tongue was cooked just right. Skewers & Sides: Abalone Skewers (4/5): slightl larger pieces than the ones served in the shell, tasty and well-charred. Shrimp Skewers (4/5): Well-seasoned and cooked properly without drying out. Corn Skewers (3/5): A bit of a letdown. Heavily over-seasoned to the point where the natural sweetness of the corn was completely lost. Definitely worth a visit for the seafood and curry--we'll be back, but will likely skip the corn next time.

Exactly what you're expecting when you want skewers. Everything was flavorful and well-cooked…read more Favorites were spicy beef skewers, mochi bacon, scallop in butter sauce, grilled oyster with garlic. The mentaiko udon stir fry was ok. I would skip the duck breast as it was kind of dry and not as flavorful as the other options they have. Price is borderline on still being somewhat reasonable but can add up quick if you have a big appetite. Decor made the ambiance nice. Service was fine. Food may be a little slow to come out depending on how busy they are. There is street parking but may be hard to get a spot during dinner time.

Photos
Prime BBQ
Prime BBQ - Yakitori Combo

Yakitori Combo

Prime BBQ - Yakitori Combo (All Chicken)

See all

Yakitori Combo (All Chicken)

Tokie's - Spicy Hamachi Roll

Tokie's

3.9(783 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

We had a great time eating here. We went towards the end of the night, but were still treated to…read moreexcellent food, wonderful & friendly service, and good drinks, we never felt rushed, neglected, or resented for being one of the final diners & drinkers. This restaurant/bar is among one of the best, fun, and hospitable family-owned Japanese restaurants in San Mateo (along with Sushi Edomata, Izakaya Mai, and Fuji Sukiyaki) serving tasty food, delicious cocktails, and attentive service in a spacious, clean, and dynamic atmosphere. Plus, staying until close & afterwards, meant that I could catch up with Victor (the owner) & his son Bryan (the bartender) who I haven't seen since Tokie's Foster City days, I can't believe they've been here going on 8 years! We came to drink & snack & socialize after a movie, Izakaya-style. No disappointments here as far as drinks go: we tried the Cloud 9, Shiso Beautiful, White Lotus, and the Paloma. Each cocktail was presented in its own unique glass and the complex tastes really came out with every sip. The alcohol was not overpowering, and the many ingredients in each cocktail really came out delightfully & subtly. Of course, the bartenders preparing & serving them were really on top of their drink game and were very friendly, engaging, personable, and like-able. Since we were sitting st the bar itself, it was quite easy to keep the drinks coming, though much to the damage of our overall final tab, yikes! Food-wise, we needed some snacks to soak up this boozy escapade, so we ordered mostly appetizers & small plates. The Chili-garlic edamame was terrific & delightfully spicy. The tofu steak was pretty meaty tasting & filling for just being tofu, with a wonderfully sweet glaze & firm texture. The grilled eggplant was a big portion, also very tasty and a good compliment to the tofu steak. We also tried some mushroom miso soup & sesame spinach to round out the healthy eating intended to balance out the booze session. All the food was served quickly, well-presented, generously-portioned, warm, fresh, and with great flavors, good seasoning, and perfectly prepared. Then came closing time, and once the doors were locked, money counted, bills settled, and counters cleaned, Victor & Bryan treated us like family as they unwinded & relaxed from a busy Saturday night dinner crowd. We shared shots of sake, whiskey, vodka, and beer, and had a wonderful friendly time catching up on things past. I had not seen Victor & Bryan wasn't even born yet when I used to hang out at Tokie's in the original Foster City location. I actually prefer the San Mateo one now, it's spacious, warm, inviting, it uses a lot of wood accents to make it calm, comfortable, and fun to hang out. Lighting is dim, music is low, so it encourages conversation, socializing, and intimate interactions. I'd consider this to be one of the better Japanese restaurants in San Mateo- good food, interesting drinks, amazing service & hospitality, all in a warm, comfortable, and appealing space. It gets super busy here, and parking around here is really difficult, so either come early or come late, and maybe take an Uber/Lyft or walk through Central Park to get here. But you'll be glad that you did, because Tokie's is a solid culinary, alcohol, and social experience. Will be back for more, and I don't want to wait a few years to do it again, maybe just a few days this time, I've been missing out on the party here!

I had been wondering about this place for a while. It didn't disappoint. We tried chicken…read moreteriyaki and mixed tempura. Restaurant was busy on a Wednesday night, lots of families. Service was a little slow but everyone working there is very nice. I would go back.

Photos
Tokie's - Big dining room, many assorted tables & booths

Big dining room, many assorted tables & booths

Tokie's - Shishito peppers | @whaevaeats

Shishito peppers | @whaevaeats

Tokie's - Chawanmushi | @whaevaeats

See all

Chawanmushi | @whaevaeats

Yakitori Kokko - japanese - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...