This restaurant produces complete Japanese meals with an entree, a soup, a salad and a bowl of rice for most of its menu items. They do include ramen and udon dishes too. We arrived around 7 pm and discovered the restaurant closed at 8 pm on weekdays. They stop accepting customers on the wait list by about 7 pm. The interior was not large for such a popular restaurant for families. I ordered a chicken namban which I enjoyed thoroughly. My friend ordered the salmon teriyaki which also got a thumbs up. Interestingly enough both dishes were delivered under 5 minutes of having our orders taken by the wait staff. The problem is it can get very noisy inside as there is little in the way of insulation. Parking is also readily available. read more

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Let's start off with a positive. I love one dish in particular, it is the Miso Katsu! The katsu is crispy and the miso sauce is packed with flavor. The tenderness of the pork is really nice too, especially paired with the onsen egg and rice. My only gripe is the service and cleanliness is really lacking and disappointing. The staff are NOT attentive, no one asks how your meal is, and just asking for a refill of water takes what seems like forever. When they still had the tablets at the table, I remember ringing for a waiter/waitress to bring my mother a takeout container and I could hear the bell ringing in the kitchen. It was very quickly shut off, a sign that maybe someone would come shortly, but nope. I waited for 5-7 minutes and rang a second time and AGAIN they quickly turned it off with no one coming. I was tempted to grab the to-go box myself, but didn't want to risk being told not to do that and just wait for an employee... Finally, after what felt like at least 10-12 minutes, someone gave us a box! As for the cleanliness, when I was served my meal once, there was old food still stuck to my tray. While it was only the tray the dishes were served on, it made me question how clean the other dinnerware was. So, while I love the Miso Katsu, the past few experiences do not make this dish worth revisiting Yayoi. Honestly, the service has been so sub-par that I really don't know why I bothered coming back. Every time I go, I wonder how disappointing the service is going to be. So, try it if you must, but be proactive in making sure your server is attentive! read more

Beforehand: No reservations. No waitlist. Does not answer the phone or respond to voicemail. Meal: Always outstanding. It's a special type of Japanese cuisine that you can't find in many places. Nice presentation, as well. Ambience: Why so serious? No one ever smiles here... ever. We only come here annually for a family birthday dinner. We'd come way more often if the atmosphere was more welcoming. Come for the food, stay for the.... well, food. read more

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All workers were attentive and nice. Food came out pretty quickly. Everything tasted good and portions were filling. read more

YAYOI - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

Given the prices, the portions are disappointingly small, even for someone who isn't particularly hungry. The restaurant also appeared to be understaffed: the food took a long time to arrive, and our server never returned to refill our water or check whether we had finished. The food itself was okay, but the overall experience did not justify the price. You can definitely find much better options in the South Bay. read more

YAYOI - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

My first time tried out Yayoi was when they still have the no tipping policy, guess that changed after years from my recent visit. But this restaurant is still a great spot to go if you like to try the variety of Japanese dishes besides nigiri sushi or omakase, they also have new items likes noodle, sushi bites, and several dessert items. Came with my friends and we got tamago yaki to share, everybody love it. My friends got the Yayoi Garden set and Omaze Don, they both love their choice of food and finished everything. For me,I always go for either Katsu/Tempura or Gyudon whenever I have Japanese food. Luckiky for me, Mix Toji have both, and that is my go-to 99% of the time. Each rice set came with an entree, high quality bowl of rice, miso soup, and a vegetable side dish, everything taste great imo I never had a bad meal whenever I'm at YAYOI. Great ambience but more on the quiet side, perfect fit for business lunch or small group hangout. Staff were friendly, we ordered the food through a tablet, and the food came out after 10 minutes. Overall it always a great experience at Yayoi! read more

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After three years, I came back with my family to try their other dishes. I ordered the teriyaki salmon, chicken katsu, wagyu yakiniku ju, and kokuto matcha iced latte. Out of those, I'd say the wagyu was the best tasting wise. The chicken katsu sauce could definitely be better. It was too thick and tasted like bbq sauce. The matcha latte was prepared and delivered quickly, but it took a long time for the drink to be cold, and the taste isn't that great either. read more

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Went back to try the Pork Katsu. Pork was not dry at all. Meat was tender despite. Love the salad dressing that comes with the side salad. It came with seaweed salad that has both sweet and slight vinegar flavor. I was also able to try a piece of the unagi and it's one of the better unagis I've had. Not too fishy with good unagi sauce. read more

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We've been wanting to try this place. Overall, on the pricey side for what you get, but the food was tasty. They offer Teishoku, a dining style where they serve the whole meal with side, dashi broth, rice and salad, which we tried. The dinner we selected, called Hitsumabushi, came with unagi (broiled eel). Very filling and the dashi made for a neat dining experience, as it is meant to be poured over the rice dish to eat. I'd recommend this! We also ordered some Sushi-Bites, which are single-sized pieces, like mini open sushi rolls. These were a little expensive, ranging from $3.90-$4.90 each. They're delightful little bites though. The Salmon Sashimi came with a delicious citrusy soy sauce. The slices of salmon were tender. This was a nice dish for those who also enjoy sashimi. Their Curry Rice is one of the better curries I've had. My only gripe is that they don't serve this dish with red pickles, which I love! The decor was average, and the light fixtures could use some dusting. Also, although we ordered from a tablet, the servers who brought our dishes ranged from friendly to perfunctory. I would've liked them to check back with us later to help round out the experience. Still a good place to go for a different style of Japanese fare. I'd love to try their other locations next time. read more

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This Japanese restaurant specializes in Teishoku, a dining style where food is served as set meals. Entrees come with side dishes and soup. There's so much food with each meal! The Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya-style unagi rice dish, is unique and beautifully presented. The Miso Katsu is tonkatsu served with a delicious miso sauce and onsen egg. My top favorites are the Omaze Don and Yayoi Gozen because they remind me of traditional dining in Japan. The staff here were so friendly. Will definitely come back! read more

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I've rediscovered this restaurant and find it is my favorite around the corner restaurant. I love how they've expanded the hours so that you can beat rush hours. The Sapporo on tap is wonderful. They don't have wine still but the beer is so tasty and makes up for it. They have the best tasting in Gyoza I think I've ever had. I wish they sold it 20 pieces. They have this very lacy tasty crust and cooked so delicately. The pork filling is perfectly seasoned. I usually get the smaller Japanese season thin sliced beef plate over rice, (Wagyu Yakiniku Ju) which comes with miso soup and I select the pickles. A perfect meal makes me so happy. read more

Good spot for a quick bite with kids. Minimal service (order through ipad). Complementary hot tea is a nice touch. The chicken Toji ju set is good for kids as it comes with seaweed salad too. Chashu ramen was a bit underwhelming with just chashu and nothing else for 20+$. Karaage was good portion and liked the spicy mayo sauce. Eel hand roll is ok (seawood is all damp). Takoyaki is just like street food so nothing special. We finished all these with 2 adults and 1 toddler and the bill is around $100. This place is fairly packed on a Sunday night. Many families with kids. read more

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Signed into waitlist easily when we got there. They were pretty busy on a Saturday evening, but we got a table pretty quickly. Their service and ambiance are wonderful. The benches were not too deep and didn't cut into the back of my legs like most booths. Nice decor and music was a good accent without being over powering. It wasn't exactly quiet but you could hear conversations at your table. We had kaarage, an american waygu dish, miso soup, and so mich deliciousness (see photos). I forgot to take pictures until after we had started eating...I was too distracted by the gorgeous plating and the delicious food. Staff was very helpful and kind. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu! Thanks for our dinner tonight! read more

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You have to order everything from a tablet including water , bowls, plates. There are a lot of small add ons that you can add to your main entree like rice bowls with protein , sushi bites , miso soup , udon etc. The food was served fresh, piping hot. Plenty of high chairs for children. The sukiyaki was a bit too sweet, less sugar would be good. The wagyu yakinu was also sweet but not as sweet as the sukiyaki. The rice was very good with the wagyu yakiniku. It was delicious. read more

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Wow this place was amazing. I felt like i was eating in Japan. The flavors taste very authentic rather than Americanized/Fusion Japanese. Came on Sat afternoon around 2:30pm. Lots of families with kids so though the ambiance and lofi music is relaxing , kids could be loud depending. I likes the open floor concept with wooden beams and architecture feel very Japanese. Wait was 10 mins and seated at spacious table, AC is strong. I was craving something with Salmon so ordered the Omaze Don. This comes with Natto which is fermented soy beans, and okra, and egg, tastes earthy but u add the soysauce, mix, and put it over rice. Very unique and tastes healthy, but i can see not everyone would like this. I like how u can upgrade ur miso to the one with clams for $3 but becareful of tiny stones. I also like the option of adding complimentary japanese sweet pickles. There is hot barley tea complimentary as well. Bf got the hitsumabushi which is eel cooked to perfect carmelization served with rice and dashi and small additional add-ons. This was veryyy tasty. Love the soft carmelized unagi and the dashi broth together and unique ground spice and wasabi, green onions, and seaweed salad. Would def recommend for authentic Japanese cuisine in zen ambiance. (Minus loud kids loll) read more

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Went to Yayoi with work friends a few time. Food was always good. This is a Japanese restaurant not a Sushi restaurant so don't come here expecting to eat sushi. The service was okay but not too friendly. Price was a little high but the quality of the food was worth it. Don't come here expecting an affordable lunch, it is at least $40 to $50 per person if you add extras to the food. Overall I like this place but not when I feel like a quick and cheap lunch. read more

YAYOI - Yayoi Gozen $34. Mine ended up being about $50 because I added clam soup, steamed eggs etc. - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

It's been a while since I've been to Yayoi and I think it's just average now. Also fairly expensive and I think there are better places out there read more

YAYOI - Set menu - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

I haven't been here for a while but it was much better than I remembered from years ago. We got the steamed egg, salmon sashimi, and pork katsu. The pork katsu is better than I remembered. It's crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. You order on an iPad and the food comes out relatively quickly. I also like that they didn't rush us here. Also there is ample of parking. The place is clean and has a good amount of seating. read more

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First time trying Yayoi and it was amazing! The restaurant itself is spacious and nicely decorated. You are greeted by the hosts and taken to your table where they explain that you place your order via iPad on the table. Once you place your order, it shows you when the kitchen received the order, when they are prepping/cooking it and when they bring it out. I thought that was such a cool touch. We ordered Wagyu Sukiyaki and the spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, both were delicious! The Wagyu Sukiyaki came with a miso soup, side of rice, egg, and a side dish. It was a perfect combination. Everything complemented each other so well! It was also a big meal so make sure you go with an appetite. Moving on to the ramen, it was very flavorful and enjoyable. Overall everything exceeded my expectations. Will be coming back soon. I highly recommend! read more

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Ordered some gyuza, takoyaki, edamame, and a few steins of Sapporo. Food was phenomenal! Flavors were fresh! You can never go wrong with drank Sapporo! Nicely decorated. Service was HORRIBLE!!!!!! I have never been to a Japanese restaurant walking a server drop small bowls on a table for kids. When a customer called a server as he was walking away he LITERALLY said, "What?" OMG!!!!!! Robots would have been better since we order our own food. Me personally had to ask my server the same question three times until he understood I was asking if they had a sit down bar.... Btw, no they don't. When I told him "table for one." He turned, walked away said out loud, "oh." Turned around grabbed a menu then walked me to a table. WOW! Give this place 5 years. Gone After this review I saw a server with a full tray of food. He walked to a table, placed the tray on the table and walked off,.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though they are automated with one other person here I had to ask for the check. I will not be coming back. Ever. read more

YAYOI - Single just me. I didn't bring my four kids or my girlfriend. - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

Yayoi in Cupertino is a true gem- Japanese comfort food at its finest. The ambiance is warm, modern, and inviting, and I especially appreciate the self-ordering kiosk that makes the whole dining experience seamless. Their complimentary barley tea is refreshing and comforting, a perfect way to start any meal. The Mix Toji Teishoku is our go-to entrée--hearty, flavorful, and generous enough to share. We also love the Salmon Carpaccio, which is always fresh, light, and beautifully prepared. The Tamago Yaki is another favorite, soft, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced. And we can't resist ordering the Ontama Egg to place over the rice--it adds a rich, silky touch that makes the meal even more satisfying. With consistently delicious food, thoughtful touches, and very reasonable pricing for the quality and portions, Yayoi has quickly become one of our favorite places to dine in Cupertino. read more

Salmon salad is nice and big portion. Saba fish lunch set is good choice for quick lunch. matcha dessert is so cute and yummy. Staffs forgot about drinks, we have to ask several times to get tea replenished read more

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Yayoi is a gem! I feel like it's Japanese comfort food I could come here for a quick snack or even for lunch or dinner. This occasion I got a side of udon these egg roll tamago things that I really love pardon that I don't remember what they're called off the top of my head and I also got some chicken karage which was deliciously crispy. I also got their dessert was divine and perfect. Service is absolutely professional and kind I always feel welcomed every time I eat here the ambience has a wonderful semi-traditional Japanese feel which also gives a cozy Ambience to it as well I definitely recommend coming here. read more

YAYOI - Udon, karaage, egg roll, dessert - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

Taste is good. Looks like little expensive because price is include tip. You need order by tablet even water. read more

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Compared to the Palo Alto location and the San Mateo location I would say this would be the last out of the three in terms of overall food and service. It feels like the portions here are smaller and the food just does not taste quite right, whether it's a little too salty for the ramen or overly spicy for the vegetarian curry when we did not order any spice to the dish. We did not experience any of these issues at the other two locations ordering the exact same dishes. Ambiance is fine, the fixtures look a little worse for wear but are serviceable. I'd recommend to go to either Palo Alto or San Mateo if you are looking for your Yayoi fix, otherwise there are also plenty of other Japanese options locally. read more

YAYOI - Vegetarian Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Best service I've had in awhile. Japanese food is my life. Being from a Japanese household I have to say this reminded me of mom's cooking. It's quiet music in the background and sweet broth to sharp tastes of the Katsu and onions it made me feel like how the critic felt in Ratatouille. My girl said the udon felt filling and warm but not hot. All the food came out perfect temp too! I can't describe the dishes other than the pictures are how you'd expect them to taste. 10/10. read more

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Consistent and authentic Teishoken-style meal. The cost is a bit on the higher, so it's hard to justify being a regular here. I had the deluxe Gozen set and it was great - no complaints other than paying close to 50 dollars after taxes and tip for one meal. Good place to splurge on a high-quality teishoku set, but I'll stick with Gombei for my regular teishoku cravings since it offers better value. read more

Yayoi is a decent japanese restaurant for a casual dining experience with family or friends for those nights when you dont feel like cooking. The service was decent, and you order your food through an ipad on the table. I had the hitsumabushi, and while the setup was aethetic and the broth was good, the unagi was just okay. It felt only a slight upgrade from the H-mart frozen unagi although for 3x the price. Ive had their fried food before, and that was better value for the money. Overall, the food is nothing to be too excited about, but it's good enough if you feel like spending 30$ on a simple meal to save time cooking read more

YAYOI - Hitsumabushi - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

We haven't been there for a long time. We have two dinner sets. I had the Shima Hokke. This is my first time to have this kind of fish. I like the moisture of the fish, not salty and tastes very good. If you are afraid of eating fish with bones, that may not be the appropriate dish for you. You can have my wife's dinner set of tonkatsu. She liked the crispy crust of the tonkatsu and the yummy pickles as well. We definitely will come back for more. The staff are friendly and attentive. read more

YAYOI - 904. Ton Katsu set - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

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The food here was okay, it was pretty good, I would say it's overall better than the Palo Alto location. The service was pretty good, the waiters were all very attentive and grabbed whatever I needed quickly! The environment is nice. It's not too packed and I enjoyed the digital ordering. read more

YAYOI - Squid - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

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This Yayoi location is in a big plaza with plenty of shared parking. Not much service, as ordering is mainly on the tablet at the table. Food came out in a timely manner. I ordered their Salmon Don and Tamago Yaki. The Salmon Don comes with rice and miso soup - I wish there was a bit more salmon because they give a lot more rice. I ended up just eating the Tamago Yaki with the rest of the rice. A bit pricey for the portions, but it was decent and my friend was the one who wanted to come here. Restaurant did not seem that clean, especially the restroom. read more

I loved Yayoi, but I visited again recently and was sort of disappointed. They used to include tip within their prices (made sense, you order through an iPad so service interactions are minimal), but now have removed that policy (essentially, price increase). I have good memories of their food - their sukiyaki, when I first tried it, was soooo good. Unfortunately, I did not feel the same way this time. My normal order is the sukiyaki teishoku and an added egg - I love removing the whites and making a dipping sauce with the yolks, which I dip the meat in (like I learned to in Japan). My added egg had a broken yolk and the server replaced it without issue when I pointed it out. The meat was a little overcooked and the whole dipping situation was just not as tasty! Overall it felt like they tamped back on flavor. I think I will be back to try the miso katsu (my second favorite dish), but feeling a bit sad that it doesn't satisfy my taste buds like they used to. read more

YAYOI - Miso Katsu teishoku- miso sauce is still bubbling and lots of miso soup (more than Palo Alto location I think) - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

I didn't know what to expect of this restaurant as I walked here from my hotel. But I was impressed. It seemed very traditional Japanese in the menu. I ordered the Katsu Curry, a salad and a side of Salmon Sashimi. I also had an iced matcha green tea. Everything met or exceeded my expectations. Service was quick and helpful. The ordering is done through a tableside tablet. That was easy. All in all it was a great choice. read more

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Okay food, nothing really stood out. For the price I was expecting something with a little more of a wow factor. Boyfriend said the eel is comparable to the precooked eel at H-Mart. Service is fine, you order everything on a tablet so interactions are pretty limited. I enjoyed the interior! read more

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Food was really good, although my sister said they got the Yayoi special set and one of the meats was really salty. Service was alright. I enjoyed watching the status update from the screen. read more

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If you're looking for authentic Japanese katsu, this is the place to go! The katsu has the perfect balance of crispiness and moisture, making every bite delicious. The rice is cooked to perfection not too watery or dry. One of my favorite appetizers here is the ikura chawanmushi (steamed egg) and the Agedashi tofu, both of which are outstanding. Today, I tried their new wagyu beef sukiyaki. While the presentation was excellent, I found it a bit on the salty side for my taste. Even so, I'm glad I gave it a try! read more

Came here cuz my friend works here. Honestly I was pleasantly surprised there was a 定食 Teishoku restaurant in the US as most of the Japanese restaurants all have similar dishes. The food was satisfying tho, I love the rice, it was sticky just as I loved. I got the mixed toji and it was a comfort meal. Came with miso soup, seaweed salad and a bowl of rice. Will come back again to try other dishes! If you check in on yelp you get free salmon carpaccio! read more

YAYOI - Japanese Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Our party ( a group of four of us - mg, pw,jy) ordered the following for lunch: Pork Katsu Curry item 1002 $21.90 Pork Katsu Curry had lots of gravy & a bit too salty. Kara Age item 106 (Fried Chicken Meal) $22.90 Omaze Don item 209 (raw salmon , seaweed, rice, miso soup, rice) $22.90 Portions were so-so. Customer service: nah. Server seldom came back to refill tea or water, which were only served in small cup size. We had to flag server down to get more his attention to bring water and tea several times. Order are placed on an iPad device by entering the item number. Pay the bill up at the register, no detail paper bill was given to review before paying. Screen for popped up and it starts at 18%, no choice to enter a customized amount. Forcing to pay a specific amount is totally not right. The service was not even average & tips are paid on a voluntary basis. Not impressed - not coming back. read more

TLDNR: Missing item, no response, $80+ for two crappy meals. Update to my review...I *finally* reached someone at Yayoi, and was told that because I ordered through their website the payment went through Grubhub, so I'd have to contact them for reimbursement for the missing item. She said she'd let her manager know that I'd submitted a missing item notice via the order link. In any case, it's been four days and their link said that I'd hear back from them in two days. At this point I don't expect to get my money returned, and I'll be shocked if anyone reaches out. NEVER coming back to this restaurant. read more

Masochistic lunch-out for Mothers day, and Yayoi was a packed house right upon their 11:30am opening. Classic post covid ordering from a tablet console with the ability to see the status of each of your dishes (preparing, served, etc). High tech silicon valley details that, to me are unnecessary. The food came out quickly and was tasty with small/medium portions. One dish was marked "served" on the console but was missed, and we got our desserts comped for that mistake which was a nice touch. One thing we noticed was that the dishware/tableware conducted heat super well, and we couldn't even hold our teacups due to the scalding temp. My hand was also lightly seared after accidentally touching the stoneware bowl that the clam soup was served in. Not a bad time, but watch your extremities. read more