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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.
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.
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!!
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 !
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
This was the most disappointing meal so far of 2023. Full disclosure I was told only once I complained that there was a massive staff shortage for my service on 10/6 but that doesn't excuse the massive gaps between dishes (especially on a prix fixe menu) which were 30 minutes between the last 2 courses. Total service time was over 2 1/2 hours for a 6 course meal - NOT including dessert, or any special additions (as they were "out" of both additions) - truth is I suspect they didn't have the staff to make the additional dishes - which would have been fine if they have said that. Every single dish after the Boiled Peanuts which was the starter had some issue and overall the meal was very flavorless. The space is beautiful and while the intense music and the cult like uniforms take some getting used to - all would be acceptable if the food was good. The price at $110 per person is more than fair if not cheap for the LA dining scene but this menu needs a serious overhaul if this place is to succeed even if it means raising pricing. Some lowlights for the menu: - Fig Miso was overly bitter - Main course of pork shoulder was served cold - both the beans and meat. I suspect this died in the pass while waiting for my date's Steak main to arrive. - Rice on Monks Charasi was cold and flavorless as a dish - Two different courses were served without even clearing the previous courses - When I informed the server about my cold main I was offered "new beans" - I refused and wasn't about to wait 30+ minutes for a new main course. I left it uneaten and left after paying the bill. This place is a tough reservation to get and has all the hype but absolutely nothing about the meal impressed. I wish them the best but this was a strong 1/5 experience.
I was super excited to try Yess, but was sadly disappointed on so many levels by my experience here. The space is gorgeous! Beautiful architecture and open kitchen. 5 stars for space! The staff was nice, but the all white outfits were super weird. We joked around that it looked like they worded in a psych ward or were straight out of the movie The Menu. The food was beautifully plated and had some great flavors and textured. Everything was good, but nothing was great and it was mostly forgettable. One of my dishes has nuts that were so badly burned that they were inedible. I pointed this out to our server who didn't seem to care and simply took the dish away and never followed up about it. Pace of service: RIDICULOUSLY SLOW! We were there 3.5 hours and didn't even have dessert. It was both frustratingly and comically slow. UGH! Doesn't make sense to see a restaurant mess up on timing this badly when a set prix fixe menu is your only option.
I love the open kitchen concept of this restaurant. The Sugaki oyster was paired with vinegar dashi, daikon, & yuzu- I loved the citrus flavor. The White Porcini Hunter's Soup was light and the porcini is sliced very thin. The Lobster Katsu Sandwich is literally a whole lobster tail & I thought it was such a delicious and creative new way for a katsu. The Monks chirashi autumn winter was a flavorful vegan dish with persimmon, chrysanthemums, black bean, walnut, sunchoke, shiitake, carrot, sesame, nori, & yuzu. The Unagi kabayaki Don was one of my favorites- I love eel. The Bluefin tuna Tataki chirashi has smoke-seared bluefin tuna. The eggplant miso dengaku was char- grilled and also a favorite dish of mine from the night. For dessert we ordered the Sweet Potato, Cream & Cacao and the Passionfruit kaki, yogurt kaki. The Passionfruit kaki was a light finish to the meal & my favorite of the desserts. Parking- street parking read more
Learned about Yess via the 2025 Red Dining Book, and it did not disappoint! Certainly a unique dining experience, primarily Japanese dishes with a unique, modern twist. Huge fan of the Chirashi bowl, Unagi Don and Kakigori! We also had sake with our dishes. We sat at the bar and were very well taken care of by our server, who gave us recommendations and also hot barley tea on the house after dinner so that we can continue enjoying the space. Inside is very open, with tall ceilings and a view of the kitchen right in front of you. Great for solo dining, date night, and even large groups (definitely reserve ahead of time though as the space is fairly small). Very unassuming from the outside, it's in the corner of 7th and Mateo right next to Cafe 2001. read more
Highly disappointed and dissatisfied. We were excited to try this place out for a birthday dinner for its great interior and were seated 15 mins early, which was great. Friendly hosts and honestly it started off great. We ordered Oysters ($10) porcini hunter's soup ($20), and Sashimi ($26) for apps, Chirashi ($40) and Lobster Katsu Curry ($78) for mains. We were informed the menus is designed to be shared - all were served on a medium sized plate/soup plates - portion size for one person exactly. Definitely not for sharing. Additionally, service is extremely slow. Ordered these at 7:30 pm and got the last dish at 8:45 ish. One hour between apps and chirashi bowl. Crazy. Gobbled it up and just got the check and left. About 15 total customers at the restaurant with May empty seats. We both mentioned the sashimi was the highlight of the items we ordered and everything else was fine, but based on the prices they're subpar. Soup tasted similar to a dashi broth and just water down but on the salty end. Lobster doesn't have a strong flavor, but the curry was bland itself so it didn't even do justice. Rice was great. Chirashi bowl has about 8 pcs of sashimi for $40...come on..the worst portion size I've ever received for the price. We frequent Japanese restaurant all over LA and we splurge every weekend on food wherever we travel to and this was just sad. Hosts are great though. Just take a look these pictures yourself and tell me if the costs justify these "shareable" portion sizes (don't be fooled by the zoom). This was a perfect example of an "aesthetic trap" and really doesn't even feel like a restaurant - a nice cafe that serves nice foods. There are way better dining options. Don't recommend. read more
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. read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
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. read more
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!! read more
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 ! read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
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! read more
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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! read more
1 year ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
This was the most disappointing meal so far of 2023. Full disclosure I was told only once I complained that there was a massive staff shortage for my service on 10/6 but that doesn't excuse the massive gaps between dishes (especially on a prix fixe menu) which were 30 minutes between the last 2 courses. Total service time was over 2 1/2 hours for a 6 course meal - NOT including dessert, or any special additions (as they were "out" of both additions) - truth is I suspect they didn't have the staff to make the additional dishes - which would have been fine if they have said that. Every single dish after the Boiled Peanuts which was the starter had some issue and overall the meal was very flavorless. The space is beautiful and while the intense music and the cult like uniforms take some getting used to - all would be acceptable if the food was good. The price at $110 per person is more than fair if not cheap for the LA dining scene but this menu needs a serious overhaul if this place is to succeed even if it means raising pricing. Some lowlights for the menu: - Fig Miso was overly bitter - Main course of pork shoulder was served cold - both the beans and meat. I suspect this died in the pass while waiting for my date's Steak main to arrive. - Rice on Monks Charasi was cold and flavorless as a dish - Two different courses were served without even clearing the previous courses - When I informed the server about my cold main I was offered "new beans" - I refused and wasn't about to wait 30+ minutes for a new main course. I left it uneaten and left after paying the bill. This place is a tough reservation to get and has all the hype but absolutely nothing about the meal impressed. I wish them the best but this was a strong 1/5 experience. read more
I was super excited to try Yess, but was sadly disappointed on so many levels by my experience here. The space is gorgeous! Beautiful architecture and open kitchen. 5 stars for space! The staff was nice, but the all white outfits were super weird. We joked around that it looked like they worded in a psych ward or were straight out of the movie The Menu. The food was beautifully plated and had some great flavors and textured. Everything was good, but nothing was great and it was mostly forgettable. One of my dishes has nuts that were so badly burned that they were inedible. I pointed this out to our server who didn't seem to care and simply took the dish away and never followed up about it. Pace of service: RIDICULOUSLY SLOW! We were there 3.5 hours and didn't even have dessert. It was both frustratingly and comically slow. UGH! Doesn't make sense to see a restaurant mess up on timing this badly when a set prix fixe menu is your only option. read more
3 years ago
Wouldn't recommend this place :( Food wasn't very good. Service was so slow - we waited forever for each course to be served. Main course took the longest. It was as if they just opened but it wasn't... we went in September. Would only go for the interior/vibes/aesthetics but that's not a good enough reason to visit a restaurant. read more
10 months ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
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1 year ago
Probably the worst restaurant we had eaten the last 5 years (meaning that I can remember). The kombu lemonade aka seaweed lemonade, is really not for the weak. The sashimi was not cut right - there are chewy connecting tissue and red veins coming out of the tuna (I think we had otoro, chu toro and blue fin tuna). The nori, although they grilled it beforehand, is soggy and chewy. The oyster was way too salty using a Chinese Hainan style ginger sauce on top. The tofu was maybe a better dish with good texture but the sauce is Chinese style sauce again. The eggplant was served in half without any utensils to cut it. It was ok but served before sashimi and was steaming hot; the order of food served was off. One of the most absurd dishes was the veggie chirashi, which was veggies on top of some rice, the server made us order 2 of them (for the 4 adults that would eat it). The Seabass, which the server made us order 2 of the same dish were very overcooked and the sauce did not do anything to this dish. The service was too slow and not for anything great. It's like we didn't eat anything but also did not want to eat anything else there. While the servers asked if anything was wrong with the meal and I gave my honest opinion, there was no gesture done to make it up or even made any effort to reflect to the chef. We left hangry with a bill of $530 and went next door to Afuri for ramen so that we could finally feel full and satisfied. We had the opportunity to try Yess when they were a food truck, the food was gourmet and top notch for a food truck. Then they switched to this fancy restaurant and nothing is working anymore. read more
3 years ago
As Angelenos, we are blessed with amazing produce and endless new restaurant openings. Yess opened in early May in DTLA and I've had the pleasure to visit 2x. The space is stunning and the high ceilings makes it feel like culinary church. Everything has its place and especially loved the antique wabi sabi decors and hinoki furniture. The scent alone walking in immediately transports and calms you. The menu changes slightly each day and enjoyed nearly all the dishes I've tried. Standouts are the pork belly kakuni (so good we doubled our order), beef tataki, silken tofu (and the house mala sauce has a kick!), master stock braised pork with pungent mustard. Dessert selection is minimal and was underwhelmed with the Kakigori shaved ice... too subtle and bland without being memorable. Staff is wonderfully attentive, warm and knowledgeable. Chef Junya is calmly welcoming and his food is flavorful while being satisfyingly light. Nice curated small selection of sake, wine, shochu cocktails. Overall a thoughtful dining experience. Yess is a pleasure for all the senses. It's on my current rotation and list of recommends. read more
3 years ago
My initial review was for YESS Restaurant, which was changed to YESS Aquatic & Closed (Bad Reviews?)-Then made a new Yelp for YESS Restaurant. Suspicious. And now- New update- Somehow my Reposted review ON the new YESS Restaurant account got deleted. This is shady af! I started with a 2-Star, review, knocked down to 1-Star, now I wish it could be 0 for how sketchy this all is. Original Review (Can also be viewed on YESS Aquatic): So, I'm not one to want to bring down a new restaurant at ALL! Of course, there's a struggle when you open, and I've actually been on the other side of that. My hope is that the staff and owners will read this, improve, and then of course I'm more than happy to re-review. The issue: The food was bad. That is quite literally it. And I'm so so sorry to write it because I live nearby and wanted to love it! I just truly don't know what happened here. Amuse-Bouche was chilled cucumbers. Maybe lightly brined? It was nice, but I think it's supposed to be just one bite? (Technically) Kind of felt like a kid gnawing on a cucumber but whatever, it was crunchy. Sashimi Plate: $40 for 8 slices. Apparently it's caught/Killed in a way that it doesn't release stress hormone. Cool? Texture was slimy & waxy. Not good- Wasabi was legit though. Served with salt- Would have preferred the traditional Soy. Marinated Mushrooms: Fine? Didn't taste great, lots of woodear. Basically felt like a $2 side dish at a Chinese Restaurant. Didn't finish. Pickles: NOT PICKLED? Basically served carrots. Weird. Didn't finish. Pork Belly: It was pork belly! Nothing else to say. Everywhere else does it the same for half/quarter of the price. Super nice interior, but the staff felt CULTY! Seriously. It was super off-putting. Maybe it's performance art and it'll be some big viral social thing on people paying a bunch for bad food and weird service? $160... I dunno. I feel so bad for writing this, but I definitely don't want others to make the same mistake. The Yellowtail Main next to me looked dry, so I didn't order it. So sorry. I hope they figure it out. It's tough. read more
3 years ago
Beautiful space, so if I was going for the interiors it would have received 5 starts. Service was very attentive but almost too attentive and not very thorough with information about the dishes which you expect when it's a set menu. The food was at best mediocre. I would not go back again or recommend it. read more
Knowing Chef Junya Yamasaki from his work at Koya Bar in London, he and his team are capable of a bang-up job. YESS Restaurant has had a long gestation here in Los Angeles, from a food truck to the pandemic to now what is truly a beautiful space inside at the southern end of the Arts District, complete with convenient pay parking next door. The light wood tones and high ceilings are wonderful, but the open kitchen does mean the smell of almond wood smoke is something you'd want to consider if you're sensitive (maybe avoid the bar seats if so). The current special set menu of Local Bluefin tuna is solid but as I went on the first day, the service flow was a bit spotty and pacing was clearly in progress. Tskune (winter melon soup) actually got the most positive feedback, and while the semi-deconstructed-wrap-it-yourself negitoro hand roll was fun, let's just say wrapping it yourself is definitely not the most elegant presentation. The bluefin they caught and then 7 day dry aged is clearly a wonderful fish, and they do a great job using everything including the head meat, but for the price they're charging for this set menu I'm not quite as universally enthusiastic as I was hoping to be in the end? read more
3 years ago
LA's most under rated restaurant. Chef Junya Yamasaki is a master of his craft, serving a one of a kind dining experience. I've been here three times, and every single time the menu has been different, crafted around seasonal ingredients and his catch of the week. Chef Junya, tells a humble story with every dish, served with elegance, and garnished with simplistic perfection that will make your pallet sing, while digging in for more. Must try: Pork belly dish, and anything blue fin on the menu. Hands down of LA's best kept secrets. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
The locally caught fresh tuna and focus on sustainable, high-quality ingredients really stood out. Every dish was prepared with care, using just the right amount of seasoning to let the natural flavors shine. It's refreshing to find a restaurant in Los Angeles that prioritizes clean, simple, and delicious food. I highly recommend Yess if you're looking for a wholesome and satisfying dining experience. Service is amazing and a peaceful space. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
The ambiance and the inside of this restaurant is very clean and modern. The food however was a bit disappointing. Our amuse bouche was just cut cucumber on ice -(which I don't mind but I would hope there is a bit more love put into it) The food was okay, but honestly I would not come back for upscale Japanese seafood read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
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2001 E 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Arts District, Downtown
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https://yess-restaurant.com
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