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Yess Restaurant

3.8 (79 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Yess Restaurant Japanese Restaurant Photos

YESS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Yess Restaurant

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Nick S.

Ambiance (4.5/5): High vaulted ceilings, modern Japandi styling, and lots of natural light make Yess feel cozy yet elevated. It felt like dining at a friend's beautifully designed home. Only minor drawback was the Italian music, which felt a little out of place. Service (5/5): Our waiter was excellent--friendly, patient, and knowledgeable with great recommendations. We never felt rushed, waters were always refilled, and overall service was polished and attentive. Food (4.5/5): The sashimi salad was fresh and balanced, with kampachi, crisp greens, and bright ponzu. From the temaki set, standouts included the miso black cod (rich and smoky), yellowtail (perfect heat and freshness), and unagi (classic and well done). The fig & feta was interesting but not one I'd repeat. The sugaki oyster was the highlight--fresh, briny, and bright enough that I could've eaten a half dozen. The rotating menu makes each visit unique and exciting. Overall: Beautiful space, amazing service, and creative dishes that mostly hit the mark. I'll definitely be back to see what new items appear on the menu.

Monks Chirashi Autumn Winter and White Porcini Hunter's Soup
Alexandra B.

Very enjoyable meal at Yess Restaurant, gorgeous interior with extremely tall ceilings, modern but simple natural decor, and the aroma of the wood burning stove to greet you. The staff was very patient in explaining the menu as well as recommendations, as the menu changes frequently with the seasons. All of our dishes came out at a very nice pace, and almost everything was easily shareable. My favorite bites of the evening included the Monks Chirashi, Eggplant Miso Dengaku, Unagi Kabayaki-Don, Lobster Katsu Sandwich, and the Passion Fruit, Kaki, Yogurt Kakigori. I would definitely go back and order those dishes again, although everything on the menu was bursting with flavor.

Jude M.

Loved the location and outside door very different / hidden. Walking in the restaurant; the space was very unique. Set up of where food was prepped and where you were seated felt very chique. Different from your standard sushi restaurant. This was our 2nd place to visit in our red dining book experience. Plates were small portion still a good enough amount to share for a party of 4, but i do recommend getting 2 main entrees for that party size. All raw / sashimi dishes Fyi if you're looking for cooked rolls, they don't have that here. my favorite was the tofu dish and the rare steak plate, and sashimi of the day was Mackerel. Decadent flavors, pairings of sauces / seasonings used went so well in every bite i was hoping to try their Lobster sandwich it is shown on other yelp menu photos but it was not available when we went. our server was so nice he did amazing in making the experience great. Thank you Marciano!!

Yellowtail temaki
Kelly S.

My friend and I dined here last night and to preface, this is very much a "LA" type restaurant; from the interior design to the open-kitchen concept, it is a bit untraditional but I really enjoyed it. We each ordered the daily sashimi, a spicy tuna temaki, a yellowtail temaki, and a drink each of us and left full but not stuffed. Each dish was artfully crafted and delicious. The kitchen is open and on full display. If you sit at the bar, you're able to watch the chef and staff operate. I thought this was really cool! I loved seeing the big tuna fish in the back fridge. The fish itself was buttery and very fresh. The staff were all very kind and warm. Being that this restaurant is in the arts district, expect a unique dining experience. I'd definitely go back !

Nicole N.

YESS Restaurant is truly a hidden gem and one of my absolute favorite dining experiences in the arts district. Everything about this place feels special from the beautiful design and warm ambience to the incredible food. Chef Junya is the heart and soul of this restaurant, and you can taste the passion in every single dish. The quality of the sashimi, especially the tuna, is next-level so fresh, so delicate, and absolutely delicious. Each plate feels like a thoughtful creation rather than just a meal, and that makes the whole experience unforgettable. What I love most is how authentically this restaurant reflects the mastermind behind it all. You can tell there's so much care put into every detail from the menu to the presentation to the vibe of the space. It's not just dinner; it's an experience that leaves you inspired. If you love incredible Japanese cuisine and want a restaurant where passion and quality are at the forefront, you have to try YESS Restaurant. It's hands down one of my favorites!

Strawberry Kakigori
Kamryn G.

This spot has potential but needs work. I feel like they're aiming for a Michelin type experience but are missing key details. The food is good and the dishes are creative/aesthetically pleasing but there's no order in how the food is brought out, just whenever it's done. Another major issue was the timing of each dish. Two couples that sat down 20-30 min after us kept receiving their food before us and it was coincidentally what we ordered so I'm assuming they gave away food that was intended for us. With this mistake, it created a larger issue and we were left waiting 15-20 min between each dish, some of which never even made it to the table (they only serve one dish at a time). After we addressed our missing dishes and that everyone was receiving their food before us they offered a free dessert. Perhaps the experience may have been different had things went accordingly but after we spent almost three hours there and $250+ I'd say it's not worth it.

Alohaprincess K.

Visited to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband. I'm Japanese, little picky for Japanese food in US. I do care the cleanliness, freshness and detail and even equipment what the restaurant use. My experience was FANTASTIC!! All the detail, sensitive and elegant palette perfectly harmonized, especially vegan chirashi was blown away. Chirashi without seafood sounds like boring but it wasn't, it was the best chirashi I ever eat. Thank you chef, your dedication and passion shows in the dishes. Please keep it up and let us enjoy your meal. Mahalo! This is become my favorite restaurant in California. Will return for sure!

tofu
Stewart L.

Yess is a beautiful-looking restaurant, housed in a circa 1920's bank building retrofitted with a lovely custom wooden door (alas, marred by graffiti when I visited). The dining room has a long cypress wood counter facing the open kitchen with tables along the windows. The staff wear catchy uniforms that are a cross between a judo uniform and a spa staffer/massage therapist outfit. The Japanese menu focuses on seasonal ingredients, sometimes using a charcoal grill or wood-fired stove. The restaurant alternates between a tasting/omakase and an a la carte menu; it was only a la carte when I visited. I had read about their "Monk's chirashi sushi " (vegetarian), but is was not on the menu. They did have a similar "Summer Vegetable and Fruits" sushi which was unique but bit meh and less substantial than the chirashi photos I've seen. The silken "Tofu Hiyayakko", a chilled dish, was refreshing. They did have their famous Lobster "Katsu" sandwich, which was generous and delicious. It's a katsu breaded and fried lobster tail on a brioche bun that also has a lobster claw meat salad (with mayo) underneath. The "Citrus Enzyme Kakigori", very finely shaved ice with fruit, almonds, fruit syrup and whipped cream was a perfect ending to a summer dinner. I would have like to have tried a grilled tataki dish, but it would have been too much. Overall a very nice meal. When I went, the place was definitely quieter than some of the other Arts District restaurants I've visited, but the menu has many other things I'd like to try.

Corn and Sausage
Sky T.

Progressive Japanese food that focuses on simplicity and freshness showcasing technique. They highlight their eel and we got the whole one to share. It can be a bit intimidating for people not familiar and a bit simple but the effort to prepare takes a lot. For the price, I wish it came with a side of rice or something to complement it. I really enjoyed the Tofu and Eggplant dish also. The Eggplant was super unique and cooked in a way I haven't tried before and was very flavorful with a dark miso crust. The Corn and Sausage was unique too and presentation was pretty cool. I really enjoyed the Strawberry Shaved Ice for dessert. Great way to end!! Overall, the food is on the lighter side so if you're looking for hearty or indulgent food this may not be the best pick. They serve smaller plates that are good to share between two people or a small group. Service was great though and super friendly.

Jacqueline T.

Terrible, do not go here. Nothing on the menu from the Bon Appetite video and the worst service I ever had for a $300 meal. Take your money elsewhere. I never write bad reviews but I am absolutely furious about this. We spent over $300 for 2 people and I can't believe how terrible the service was. Do not get tricked by the Bon Apitite video, the service and flavor is not there!! There's no bone marrow martini, no tuna steak frites, no vegetable tempura. We ordered drinks first and it took over 20 minutes to arrive and I had to ask for my barley tea twice before they told me there wasn't any barley available and they only had turmeric. We ordered the tofu - which was good and the market salad which was so sour we couldn't even eat it even though we were starving. I ordered the lobster katsu sandwich that came a good half hour before my partner's even dish arrived. The pepper that came with the sandwich was excruciatingly spicy, it should've came with a hot ones warning. As tears literally rolled down my face, the staff hardly even seen to care, they refilled my water once and didn't even bring me tissues until I asked. The chef from the YouTube video was there, and let me there you, he didn't notice either. And we sat at the bar a few feet in front of him. We were the first people in the door that night. Attention to detail? That's BS. The lobster sandwich was good, but not $98 good - especially after the nonexistent service and the fact that my food didn't even come out the same as my partners. You wanna eat as your partner watch you? Then this is the place for you. After that ordeal, my partners main dish still had not arrived. I tried to cancel that and they conveniently told me that they had just finished plating. Of course they couldn't cancel a $80 dish. Also, everyone wore this matching white karate/chef uniform that felt more cult than fine dining. The way they all deferred to the chef was like something out of The Menu. Hated this experience from beginning to end. Never again.

spicy tuna hand roll
Tammy B.

I loved everything about this place! From the food, to the atmosphere, and even down to the service, you can tell the details are cared about here. Although all the food was on-point, the must-try's are the fig & goat cheese hand roll, unagi hand roll, and the sashimi salad (not pictured). I will be returning to this place soon, and I'm looking forward to becoming a regular.

Everything was sooo good. I usually hate unagi, but since it was the special, we ordered it just to try and it ended up being the highlight of the night. The unagi was crispy, not slimy or chewy like it usually is. I was honestly so surprised. You can really tell the chef put a lot of care into the details.

Monks Chirashi. It's a vegan dish but don't let that scare you away. It's such a refreshing dish.
Kristopher W.

Saw a video about this yesterday and had to try it. Let me first start by saying to readers, if you're looking for a place to eat fast this is not it. This is not a bad thing just with some of the reviews you can tell people wanted lots of food fast. Now, the food was absolutely amazing. We sat at the bar watched every dish be made. The chef pays VERY close attention to detail and you can tell this is a passion and an art for him. We ordered 7 different items. 4 of them we chose and the other 3 we took staff recommendations. All of them were delicious. You can taste how fresh everything is. The restaurant is very clean. You walk in and it's so quiet in the kitchen you'd think the kitchen was a screen. Everyone so calm and collective it runs like a well oiled machine. The dishes take a bit of time to come out but nothing to really be upset over. It's actually one thing we pointed out that we liked. It gives you time to enjoy your food and be social. My biggest pet peeve is restaurants filling your table with plates so you feel rushed. Honestly, I could go on and on about what I like about this place.

Pork Shoulder (Served room temperature)

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8 months ago

Friday night first order in, first dish took 40 minutes.. I understand an upscale vibe , but avoid this place ;)

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Marugame Monzo - Red Dragon Rice -with ground pork

Marugame Monzo

4.4(5.1k reviews)
1.1 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
$$

We passed this place during a food excursion and decided to try their hand rolled udon. One of the…read morebest decisions we made during our trip! We only tried the carbonara udon, but it was truly memorable. The sauce was creamy although a little split, but not overly salty which allowed the subtle umami and miso flavors to shine. The noodles were cooked well and had a gentle chew. The bacon was juicy with lots of fatty bits. Next time I would add an ontama to it to make it even better. The service was great and quick. We sat at the counter so could watch the noodles being made. This is definitely among the top 3 places I ate in JTown during this visit!

Aight, I eat pretty plain food most of the time and occasionally get Instagram baited into trying…read moreviral stuff, including Menchirashi's carbonara udon in Tokyo, which I enjoyed despite the sauce being fairly light. Marugame Monzo's sauce, however, is the opposite of Menchirashi's. The sauce is SUPER flavorful with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a strong umami flavor from the bacon and miso. I added mentaiko since I did the same at Menchirashi and honestly, everything was fantastic. The udon itself is pretty much exactly like fresh udon in Japan. Perfectly bouncy, chewy, and satisfying. Staff were also wonderful and service was insanely fast. We probably waited less than 10 minutes for both our udon and tempura, and they consistently checked in to make sure everything was good. I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu, especially the uni cream udon. The only thing I didn't like was the shrimp tempura since it had a lot of batter and not a ton of shrimp, so it was on the greasy side. I did enjoy the soft boiled egg tempura though. The yolk exploded into the udon and somehow made the whole bowl even better hehe. There are plenty of tables inside with limited bar seating. If you're a 2 top you might be sharing a table real close with some neighbors (they put a divider). If there's a wait, write your name down on the clipboard outside!

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Marugame Monzo - Inside

Inside

Marugame Monzo - Agedashi Eggplant ($6)

Agedashi Eggplant ($6)

Marugame Monzo - Miso Carbonara ($17)

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Miso Carbonara ($17)

Kopan Izakaya

Kopan Izakaya

4.3(120 reviews)
4.9 miKoreatown, Wilshire Center
Free parking
Kitchen open late

POV: you found a Tokyo-style izakaya in the middle of Koreatown…read more Hidden inside Madang Mall, Kopan Izakaya is giving low-lit, cozy, authentic Japanese vibes... the kind of spot you accidentally stay at for hours What we ordered: Ginza Sushi (12pc chef's choice) -- fresh, buttery, melts instantly Yuzu Miso Black Snapper Crudo -- citrusy, light, perfectly balanced Negitoro Donburi + fresh uni -- rich, creamy, elite combo Crispy Rice w/ Spicy Tuna -- crunchy + spicy = no notes Geisha Roll -- seared salmon + shrimp tempura, packed with flavor This is your sign to level up on your Ktown sushi

Food & drink 4/5 - Chicken karaage was 4/10. Batter is…read morecrunchy and thick. Chicken itself is a bit stringy and dry. Salty but lacks a depth of flavor. - The truffle sushi roll had a prominent truffle flavor (which I enjoyed, but may not be for everyone). Crunch spider roll was a favorite; just a solid classic with soft shell crab (love that an extra piece of crab is included on top of the roll). The fried onions on top of the Tokyo roll were crispy and sweet. Uni was fresh and delicious! I had uni only one time before and had a bad experience (it was incredibly fishy, and now I realize, not fresh). So I was apprehensive at first but I'm glad I gave it a chance because this uni was buttery, smooth, and briny in all the right ways. - Matcha tea was okay, medium profile matcha flavor. Not bad for the value though. Clean and refreshing. -Might be a small thing to point out, but I like how they include lemon slices automatically in the water. I also like the texture of the ice (evenly crushed and almost like a slush). Service 3.5/5 Not too long a wait for the food. Polite and professional waiters. Aesthetic 4.5/5 Traditional izakaya vibe with a relaxed, warm atmosphere. Low lighting inside. Modern layout with traditional Japanese decor.

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Kopan Izakaya
Kopan Izakaya
Kopan Izakaya

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Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Daikoku Ramen

Daikokuya Little Tokyo

4.1(9.9k reviews)
1.1 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
$$

I'm really torn because the food was really good, but the service was seriously lacking. There were…read moresix of us, and all of us felt how rude they were. We ended up being sat next to the grill, I have a shellfish allergy so we asked to sit in their outdoor seating area (which had plenty of tables open) instead just so my allergies don't get triggered by all the vapors. As we walked to our outdoor table, my husband and friend heard three workers talking crap about me and complaining that I shouldn't even be eating there because everything had shellfish. Let's be honest it's not that hard to accommodate, plus we're giving you our business so what's the problem? Rude all the way through table service, then when we were all finished, we had barely just paid and we were finishing our drinks when the same three workers rushed into our table to clear everything out and pushed us out of our table. We're all a pretty chill group of people but every single one of us left saying what the actual f*ck was their problem?

First time visit. I feel like this place always has a wait. Fortunately for us I don't feel like we…read morewaited very long. The service was amazing. It's a well oiled machine. Seating is available inside and out. The restaurant inside is small. Open kitchen. Very cool to see the process. Hands down I highly recommend ordering the Handmade gyoza . They were juicy and flavorful. For ramen I went with the Daikokuya Ramen combination with chashu pork rice bowl. The ramen broth was rich in flavor. I added spicy oil. The noodles were perfectly cooked. The chashu pork was delicious. I would definitely come back and order everything again.

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Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Inside

Inside

Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Mixed poke

Mixed poke

Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Bishamon Sake

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Bishamon Sake

kodo

kodo

4.2(567 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown

This place is beautiful, with modern ambiance, perfect for both a casual meetup or for a special…read moreoccasion. Initially they mentioned they didn't have uni available, but the attentive manager came to us and shared that he wasn't completely satisfied with the quality of the uni that day, though he was still willing to serve it to me. I really appreciated the honesty and passion for quality. I came here eyeing on the uni pasta, so I had to go for it. Maybe he was right, it was just OK. It wasn't necessarily the uni itself, but the pasta and cream sauce felt slightly overcooked and a bit dry. It could've used more sauce to bring everything together. Still, no ragrets (iykyk). It's something you should try here . We also ordered the hand roll trio and toro, which was yummy. The fish was fresh, beautifully cut, and served in generous pieces. They're partnering with Death & Co, known for their craft cocktails which explains why the drinks here are so uniquely curated and well mixed. Definitely worth exploring their cocktail menu.

I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!

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kodo - Inside Dining Area

Inside Dining Area

kodo - Toro carpaccio

Toro carpaccio

kodo - Entrance Seating

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Entrance Seating

Yess Restaurant - japanese - Updated May 2026

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