6 years since my last review and this place still deserves 5 stars! My favorite place for yakitori. Must orders are the pork shiso, beef w/ wasabi, harami beef, fried oysters, and fresh oysters to name a few. Very friendly staff and great service ! read more

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Fresh, briny, and beautifully dressed -- these oysters hit exactly how they should. Served on a chilled bed of ice, each shell was generously topped with bright orange roe, fresh green onions, and a savory soy-based sauce that enhanced without overpowering the natural sweetness of the oyster. The balance was on point: clean ocean flavor upfront, a subtle umami finish from the sauce, and just enough texture contrast from the roe. No fishy aftertaste -- just smooth, fresh, and well-handled seafood. Simple execution, high-quality product, and plated nicely for sharing. If you're into raw oysters with a little Japanese-style flair, this is an easy order. read more

Yakyudori - Half-shell oysters served over crushed ice, topped with orange roe and chopped green onions in a light soy-based sauce. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

My go to during the day or later in the night!! Their yakitori is amazing and they have GF and DF options too. I always order the beef with wasabi and the chicken breast with only salt seasoning. The service is fast and the ambiance is fun! read more

We came here for an early BIRTHDAY dinner for my hubby! All he wanted was some good Yakitori. All the other Yakitori places were closed until 5pm and we wanted to have an early dinner to give our tummies time to digest ;) TAKOYAKI: 10/10 So CRISPY on the outside and soft on the inside. It was one of the most crispy Takoyaki I've ever had!! All the other ones I've had were too moist on the outside... BEEF WITH CHOPPED WASABI: 10/10 I usually don't eat a lot of meat but, I finished a whole skewer. It was so flavorful and I really enjoyed it... EDAMAME: 10/10 It was cooked perfectly! Just the way I like it. Soft, warm and lightly salted. The Edamame seeds were HUGE! CRAB CREAM CROQUET: 7/10 I misunderstood and I thought there would be real crab inside but it's just a cream centered croquette... CHICKEN MEATBALLS: 9/10 I really liked it. Everything came out nice and hot!... SERVICE: A+ Excellent! We felt like we escaped to Japan for a quick moment. They also gave my hubby a complimentary crepe cake and mochi ice cream. The mango mochi ice cream was delicious!! FYI: You can get $1 edamame or beer when you follow and comment on their Instagram ;) WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK FOR MORE YAKITORI!!! ROCK ON YAKYUDORI!!!! read more

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Yakyyudori is our go to Yakidori place. We typically sit on a table and enjoy more privacy. This time we sat at the bar. It can be fun because it feels like you get your food faster. The food is great! Some recommendations: Pork and scallion Chicken thigh Baby scallops The fried shrimp is yummy And the squid a must order! This last visit their tablets were malfunctioning which was a bit frustrating due to the number of items coming out unlike we asked for. Aka: stopped showing up! I know these things happen but they didn't do a good job explaining the situation before hand. I hope their tablets get fixed soon! As we love this place and the food options. read more

Yakyudori - 1/2025 - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yakyudori is one of those spots that instantly feels like you've stepped off Convoy and into a cozy Tokyo side street. The vibe is straightforward. The yakitori options here are on point -- tender, smoky, and cooked with that perfect char. From juicy chicken thighs to crispy skin and flavorful tsukune, each bite hits the right notes. The rice dishes were also unexpectedly delicious -- simple but so comforting alongside the skewers. Genuinely friendly and efficient staff. I also have to shout out the free sake shot and the $1 beer deal -- little touches that make the night even better. It's not fancy, but it doesn't need to be. Yakyudori does what it does best: good food, good vibes, and that classic yakitori charm done right read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Yakyudori is my go to spot for a delicious bowl of ramen. I know that San Diego is crawling with delicious ramen, but this is my favorite spot. For context, I like my ramen with a strong miso flavor. Regardless of the toppings and garnishes, if the broth doesn't hit - there's a good chance I won't finish the bowl. I'm my opinion this place does ramen the best. Nicely cooked pork slices, fresh green onions, and that soft boiled egg. As far as service goes, I feel like I'm being served dinner at a friend's house. The more you get to know the staff the more enjoyable you're experience will be. Just make sure you don't over indulge in the sake and forget the entire night of course. This place has been a safe haven for all food service workers that are getting off at a reasonable hour to come have a beer or two while talking about the gossip that happened during their shift. I expect this place to be around for a very long time. read more

Yakyudori - Fresh oyster with chicken yuzu skewer. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I ate here a few days ago, and honestly, it wasn't great. When you walk in, the place smells like dirty rags, and I could smell it the whole time I was dining. My boyfriend and I only came here for some small bites and Yakitori, we got: - Ebi fry ($3.50 for 2 during hh on Mondays) - 7/10 nice crunch and flavor, has like katsu or bbq sauce on top on a bed of cabbage. - Hotate aka baby scallops ($3.50 for 2 during hh on Mondays) - 8/10 sweet, oceanic, umami, smoky, bouncy, prob the best thing we ate here. - Harami beef ($12.50 for 2) - 4/10, it was too salty, not as juicy and tender as Hinotez, a bit overcooked. - Pork toro/neck ($7.50 for 2) - 5/10, a bit too salty again, no smokiness, however, has a lot of garlic and good texture. For drinks, I had the Okinawa citrus mixed drink ($12) - 8/10 nice refreshing drink, tastes like yuzu. Overall, this place was very mid. The lighting is way too bright and really throws off the ambiance. For yakitori, you should just go to Hinotez or Yokohama Yakitori Koubou. read more

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Great quality food! Fast service and clean inside. I enjoyed the food so fast I forgot to take pictures of the rest of my food. I'll have to come back to try again! read more

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dry ramen so good! yakitori ok, we enjoy our drink and next door ice cream place is a hit to my family, well you get 20% discount when you show them your dine in receipt to yAkyudori. a japanes izakaya vibe. read more

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This place screams FUN! We stumbled upon it after not getting into Menya, but glad we did! Good selection of your usual Japanese cravings: ramen, rice bowl, ice cold beer. The staff was friendly and service was fast. The food itself is family friendly. Good for sharing with kids. But again, it's more about the fun environment, with QR codes to redeem $1 beers and a ramen eating speed contest, etc. with more seasonal events I'm sure. And also a shoutout to the amazing Japanese shaved ice dessert bar that they're associated with next door. 20% off there if you bring in your Yakyudori receipt! And really fun kakigori concoctions that's made to order! Lovely spot to revisit with friends and family from out of town read more

Great ambience, good music and Great service ! The food was very yummy! I loved the shrimp tempura and my spicy miso soup which you can customize the ingredients. I removed the pork, egg, bamboo. The bowl of ramen is huge I mean I couldn't even finish it. You could share and split a bowl if you like. The ordering system and format reminds me of my trip to Japan, very authentic experience . The taste was very similar to Japan. read more

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One of my favorite spots! Cozy and delicious food. They have a special going right now with their Sapporo as well.

I came by on a Monday at 8pm and there was no wait. Parking is very difficult though as the lot is very small and shared with Starbucks and a sandwich shop. You are given an iPad where you look through the menu and add items to your order. On Mondays, they have happy hour all day. I came for the yakitori and dry ramen. Harami beef was perfectly seasoned and not overcooked. I was disappointed to find out the dry ramen was a seasonal item only (winter season) so I ordered the next closest thing. The cold ramen was decent but the sesame soy dipping sauce was a little solidified though from being cold. read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yakyudori delivers a really enjoyable dining experience, especially if you appreciate great food paired with efficient, friendly service. From the moment we arrived, the customer service stood out; staff were welcoming, attentive, and quick to help with anything we needed without being overbearing. Ordering is incredibly convenient thanks to the iPad system at each table. It's intuitive, clearly laid out, and makes it easy to browse the menu, customize orders, and reorder at your own pace. Not long after placing our order, the food started arriving, which was impressive given how fresh and well-prepared everything tasted. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side and keeps things simple. No flashy décor or unnecessary frills, but that actually adds to its charm. The cozy layout, lively energy, and overall good vibes made us feel like we were in Tokyo, Japan, giving the place an authentic and immersive atmosphere. Most importantly, the food was delicious across the board. Each dish was flavorful, well-cooked, and clearly made with care. Combined with the fast service and relaxed atmosphere, Yakyudori is a spot that focuses on doing the essentials really well. Highly recommended for anyone looking for quality food and a smooth, memorable dining experience! Also: they offer 20% off Shaved Ice Nextdoor with your dining receipt. read more

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We came here a couple times recently for dinner (before this I hadn't been for a long time). I was surprised to see the crowds had thinned out compared to 7 or 8 years ago, although parking can still be tough to find as the parking lot is small. The food was still very good (probably 4.5 stars), with a variety of things to try. We had several meat skewers which were delicious (we liked the bacon and asparagus and chicken thigh). We also tried one of the specials (yellowtail sashimi), which was surprisingly good/fresh. The yakitori can be a little pricy. We also loved the scallop skewers and ordered it a couple times during happy hour (I believe it was only $3.50?), along with the pork bun. The miso ramen (which I usually get) is also good and flavorful without being too salty. The only thing is the servers don't always seem friendly. Last time they seemed somewhat impatient with us during happy hour, and kept wanting to take the menu away from us. Otherwise I would recommend this place for yakitori and ramen! read more

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Everything was absolutely delicious. I got the miso-glazed eggplant, eel and takoyaki. The meat skewers can be on the pricey side. There is a Happy Hour that I took advantage of. You can order online an iPad and they'll bring out food to you. This popular bar spot fills up fast and parking can be difficult. read more

Yakyudori - Miso-glazed eggplant, takoyaki, beef skewers, eel skewers - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

absolutely delicious!!!!! we got the free edamame (by following and commenting on their insta) and it was a great start the shrimp tempura was light, although there was more batter than shrimp -- i really liked it with the sauces provided We also got the spicy miso ramen which was insanely good, i only had a couple of bites but it wasnt too greasy and i loved the slight spice! we also had a couple of the skewers: chicken gizzard, chicken thigh which were both great and salted to perfection last thing was the wasabi karaage, the outside tasted exactly like wasabi peas and it was especially good with the mayo that came with the shrimp tempura service was quick and i like how you kind of sit in a booth read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food is great here! It is mostly a self service experience because they give you an iPad to place your orders. However, if you want to order from the happy hour menu, you have to flag down a server. When we did speak with the servers, they were very polite. Their menu is very extensive here. We tried a little bit of everything and we were happy with all of our dishes. read more

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After attempting to go to 2 other Yakitori places and turned away we decided to give this place a try. Walked in and the girl at the entrance was taking a call. She looked at me so I smiled and said for 2 please. Instead of acknowledging back she turned her back on me. Another guy came up shortly after to seat us. He explained the menu and had us order from an Ipad. Our food came out quickly and we enjoyed everything besides the grilled butter oysters. The 1st bite was not bad but as I got to the middle of the oyster it didn't taste the freshest. Not very many seatings. Definitely not a place for large groups. Parking sucks. Very limited and tight. read more

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Walked into this izakaya with dreams of crispy karaage, savory yakitori, and sake-fueled joy. Walked out mildly full, emotionally neutral, and wondering if I hallucinated the entire experience. Was it bad? No. Was it good? Also no. It was the tofu of izakayas: present, inoffensive, and oddly forgettable. We ordered the usual suspects: skewers, a rice dish, some kind of noodle thing. Everything tasted like it had potential, but got distracted halfway through cooking. The fried chicken was... fine. Crunchy-ish. The yakitori had the emotional range of a Monday morning. The beer was there. I drank it. Beer is always there for me. The vibes? Trying their best. The service? Sweet but slightly confused, like they just realized they work there. That said, it's a great place if you: * Need an anti social space where you can order from a touch pad. No need for interaction * Are hiding from someone you know who eats at trendier spots * Just want to stare at a grill and whisper, "I miss Tokyo" under your breath Would I go back? Maybe, if every other izakaya is mysteriously booked and I've emotionally prepared myself to season things with my own tears. read more

Yakyudori - Beer deal - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best wings around... Been coming for years, still delicious and affordable. I try to get everyone to this place. Tru everything, it's all solid. read more

This place was recommended by a friend so we made the trip to try it out. The karaage chicken was so good & juicy, really recommend it. The chicken bowl was just okay, it looked and tasted like something you could make at home. The ginger beef was too saucy but the meat was good. The customer service was kind of lacking though, the workers were not very eager to help us. Also you order everything on a tablet so no one comes over to ask you for your order and if you have questions asking for something good luck trying to get them to answer you (I know there is a call button on the tablet & I used it). The bathroom here was absolutely disgusting. Apart from the graffiti all over the bathroom, there was fecal matter all around the toilet paper dispenser. I swear I'm not exaggerating, it's also a one toilet bathroom, so no stalls; one person at a time. I don't think I'll be back just based on the bathroom situation, I'm pretty sure the cooks are using this same bathroom. read more

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This restaurant is super small, but really worth the visit / wait. Haven't had Yakatori this good since my Japan trip!

Love this place but current ordering system is misleading - the staff tried to explain it but it was unclear to us so we ended up waiting for food that never came. Basically the items on the ordering system that have a picture of two skewers and list "2 skewers" only give you one skewer. Will update the review to 5 stars once the ordering system is fixed. read more

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Another tiny hidden gem in San Diego! This spot might be small, but the flavors are absolutely incredible. We tried the quail eggs and yakitori, and both were beyond delicious -- perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and so satisfying. You can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. The restaurant has a cozy, intimate vibe, making it great for date night or a chill dinner with friends. I also loved how you can order everything right from an iPad -- super convenient, easy to use, and makes the experience feel modern and efficient. The prices are very reasonable for the quality you get, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Next to Eat Crispy Burger, Ko-Li, and a Starbucks. Across the street from Keep Coffee, Kung Fu Tea, and Common Theory. Parking is rough within the center (especially due to construction). Street parking is available on the intersecting street. The seating is great for date night or getting together for happy hour. It can sometimes get loud, but it's an overall warm environment. Order food via the tablet or order from staff if requesting for anything off of their happy hour menu. Ebi fry had me wanting to order a ton of the stuff. Pork bun and gyoza were great deals off of the happy hour menu. Agedashi tofu was light and refreshing. Unagi skewer was delicious with its sweet sauce. Chicken skins were dangerously addicting. Loved the chicken and beef skewers too. The only down side to this? The price adds up, especially if you have a big appetite. read more

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It's a great restaurant for izakaya like food! They have ramen and yakitori as well as rice bowls I got a couple of yakitori ones and they were absolutely delicious! read more

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Great food and service! Tried multiple things and they don't disappoint. The tonkatsu ramen was huge( good to share) and had good flavor. The pork belly stick was so yummy. The wasabi beef stick didn't miss either and the fresh wasabi was a nice dip with a kick to it! The wings we got were okay it had good flavor like a soy/honey glaze. I just wish they were a little crunchier but that's just how I like my wings lol. If you follow them on IG and post a comment on a post you get $1 Sapporo beer which is normally like $8-$9. Parking is limited, might be better off with street parking. Must try if you're in the area. read more

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Came here for lunch and every single person working was welcoming. The menu is on your personal IPad and has photos. Food is delicious, I didn't have any seafood but everything else I tried was fantastic. Would definitely recommend. read more

Came here to do their Ramen speed challenge. The server told me that they would let the ramen cool down for a minute and then when a different girl who had been giving me nasty looks since my daughter and I entered the restaurant brought out the Ramen told me you don't get no time to let the Ramen cool therefore it was scolding hot after the first bite I said no I'm not doing this. I'm not injuring myself for a free bowl of Ramen. It's seems like they want people to get injured to do their challenge like that's not even humane. read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The food is overpriced and honestly pretty misleading. I ordered skewers, and the menu photos clearly show two skewers per order. The description also makes it seem like you're getting two skewers for that price. But when I ordered two "orders," I only received two skewers total--and was charged double. That's extremely confusing and misleading. On top of that, each skewer was only about 4 inches long, yet priced between $4-$7 each. For that size and quality, it just doesn't feel worth it at all. What made it worse is that the server didn't clarify anything about how the skewers are actually portioned, which could've easily avoided the confusion. Overall, this was a disappointing experience. I definitely wouldn't recommend coming here. read more

Amazing quality meat and everything was seasoned or had good sauce on it. The ramen was delicious as well. I highly recommend the pork belly and chicken katsu skewers were my favorites. Service was fast and friendly. Nice ambiance, a casual vibe for friends. read more

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We ordered the buns. They wer not made in house. The microwave made them dry and hard. The chicken karage was okay but they charge an extra .50 cents if u want spicy mayo instead on regular. They only give you a tablespoon of mayo so it seemed weird to upcharge. The ramen was pretty disgusting. The bamboo shoots tasted like a tin can. The broth tasted pretty terrible compared to other places in the area. The put a huge peice of unwashed bok choy. It tasted horrible and was black with dirt. It was disgusting. The pork they use was slimy and i couldnt even force myself to eat it. I was so disappointed with the quality of all their food. I won't be going back as there are many places in the area with good ramen. read more

Yakyudori - Dirty unwashed bok choy - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Decided to give this place a try and glad we did, my favorite was the tofu and simple broth. It was so delicious, I would eat another bowl / come back here for that! We came in when they had happy hour so we ordered a few items on the happy hour menu, we also ordered a few different skewers and to be honest the food was a bit overly salty for me. Too much salt for my tastebuds I would say. The prices on skewers were ok, pretty small portion and sizing. I would say my favorite dish I tried here was the tofu and broth, although the broth was on the saltier side, the tofu kind of balanced it out. The ramen was too salty as well for me.. Customers service is good here, very nice and friendly. Seating area is a bit crowded and ambience is simple inside. read more

Yakyudori - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Exactly the ramen I was hoping for; I went with their best seller and it was delicious. Didn't stay super hot for long, that's the only knock - but it was tasty and satisfying. Certainly recommend. I've also had many of their skewers, and every one was tasty and fresh. read more

Yakyudori - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

service was great, food was even better! vibes in here are also great, it's very cozy and feels authentic!

I really enjoyed the dry ramen, Aburasoba. So much flavor and I enjoyed every bite until the end! Definitely would come back here to eat this again. Service was good and it wasn't crowded on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Yakyudori - Aburasoba - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Been here a couple of times on weekdays around 5 pm and usually can find parking easily and get seated promptly. This time I came around 6 pm on a weekday and it was pretty packed with a few open seats at the bar. We ordered the chicken thigh (momo), karaage and katsu curry. Their yakitori is always delicious, juicy, well seasoned and grilled with a perfect amount of the char taste. Some of my favorites are the chicken thigh and pork belly. The karaage was also nicely crispy and juicy and was delicious with the mayo sauce! The katsu curry was also flavorful and rich and the pork katsu crispy but the meat was pretty tough and chewy. Service is always friendly and quick. I also like how you order on a tablet, it's so convenient! I will keep coming back, this is one of my top yakitori places. read more

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Really enjoyable. Fun place, reasonable prices. Welcoming, friendly staff. It's a pub, Japanese-style. Super relaxed, casual atmosphere. Good beer and elevated izakaya food. Liked it a lot. read more