Ordered the take out bento box and it was phenomenal. Very impressed with the quality and quantity. read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

An amazing dining experience at Yoichi's. We had been wanting to dine here for a while and finally visited last Saturday. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the food was coursed our perfectly. My favorites were the Chilean sea bass and the sushimi course - which had probably one of the best pieces of toro I've ever tasted. Fish offerings rotate seasonally. We will definitely be back! Worth every penny. read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Very good sushi! We ordered 3 bento boxes plus another roll. Bento was 7 different fish/scallop/uni sashimi. We got a fish fritter, rice, cooked fish, salad. For $35 this is a good value for such quality. Service was friendly and efficient, with recommendations included in the ordering process. Currently the regular menu is not available due to Covid. read more

I don't usually leave reviews but when I do it's either really bad or really good and this? This is really good. Remember that it's 100$ okay? If you think the "interior decorating" takes away from the food get over yourself. The best Kaiseki I have ever had for the price and family owned to boot. The owner is the chef and his wife is helps in the front! So cool to have such a personable experience. I died and went to heaven 7 times (cuz 7 courses). Super light and amazing ingredients. I had a chance to eat junsai otherwise known as Japanese water shield because it was in season and wow was that an experience. So light and what an interesting texture. Overall an unpretentious and delicious meal. Do yourself a favor and go. read more

Yoichi's - duck breast - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We called a week in advance to book a reservation to eat here. They took my partners's name, phone number, credit card information, and everything. We don't live in the Santa Barabara area and drove all the way down here just to have a meal at this place. When we called, the woman who answered the phone all of a sudden says that we don't have a reservation?! We have the call history of us making the reservation a week prior. We spent the entire day at Santa Barbara walking around just waiting to have this meal. I don't think you can imagine how disappointed we are right now. A waste of our time and gas. For a restaurant that's so highly rated and highly priced, you'd think they would be organized enough not to mess a reservation up. This is HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL. read more

We had a wonderful meal at Yoichi's that truly felt like an authentic experience in Japanese cuisine. The customer service was impeccable from the moment we walked and maintained consistent throughout our entire dining experience. We each ordered the 7 course kaiseki menu. Every dish was delicate and delectable! We're lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in Santa Barbara. The seafood is as fresh as it gets in this town. Follow Yoichi's on Facebook to see pictures of the daily catch or imports coming in. For my party, 7 courses was not quite enough to leave feeling full, but we were satisfied. I do wish the portions were slightly larger or there were a few more courses to fully round out the meal and not leave you hungry at the end. It was my birthday when we went and our waiter, Zack, sang the most beautiful, soulful, a cappella rendition of the birthday song that I've ever heard! Thank you Zack! I felt so special! Pro tip: Ask if you can keep a menu with you at the table so you can know what you're eating and accurately caption your picture on Yelp! (Unlike, me;) read more

100% would go again. Amazing. Very impressed. I've been to Japan and tried many restaurants and home cooking there. This is traditional Japanese cooking with a cozy hole in the wall vibe. Food includes sushi but they have a variety of traditional Japanese courses. Best part is that you don't have to order and they bring you the best of what they have to offer. Such polite and amazing service. Cannot say more. Thank you for a wonderful time and we will be back!!! Arigato! :) read more

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Astoundingly good. This isn't just dinner. It's a full experience. You feel like you're at a theatre or museum waiting for the next dish/piece of art to come out of the kitchen, all perfectly choreographed and coordinated so you're never bored or hungry, but also never rushed to finish whatever delicious dish you're on. Of course you pay for quality this high, but for a special occasion or celebration, it is worth it and then some. Not many restaurants this unique in the country, let alone Santa Barbara. read more

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I took my boyfriend to Yoichi's on a Sunday which to my surprise was the same day where Chef Yoichi was celebrating his Birthday; he and his family were having dinner here which was refreshing since he prides his restaurant so much he'd eat there too! I reserved for a booth at 8:30 for two and the sweet lady that served us knew I was Marina who had requested a table. In terms of location, Yoichi's is off the beaten path, two and a half blocks from state street. You would need to look up the address to find it, otherwise the common tourist wouldn't be familiar about the location. Also, parking is side street and rarely is there parking on the same block (we had to walk a full block to get there!). SERVICE - Service was amazing in terms of Santa Barbara, the best I've had. As we entered the quaint little restaurant with lights flowing down the building, everyone bowed at us and was very kind. Our server was very nice and attentive, she kept checking on us regularly. She was quite knowledgeable about every dish on the menu, I had felt like I was quizzing her as I asked about the different assortments of the foods and I think she was very good. FOOD - My boyfriend and I have similar tastes but wanted to try other dishes to have more of a variety when we dined so we both ordered the Kaiseki 7 course meal. The restaurant has a nice selection of sake as well as wine. I ordered a bottle of their Gasanryu Hazuki Sake (which was very smooth and had a soft texture with a bold and fruity flavor as if it were freshly squeezed), and it surprisingly worked very well with the Kaiseki courses. We had the following: Zensai's (assorted appetizers) of Mozuku seaweed and jelly fish with shiso sauce, the simmered abalone, the deep fried tofu and vegetable balls siimmered in bonito broth, the shansho pepper sauce glazed grilled on wagyu beef, and the braised pork belly with moromi miso. For the Owan (second course/soup) we tried both soups of clear soup with sea eel, and egg cake; and, my boyfriend had the clear soup with whole steamed tomato. For our Yakimono (grilled dish) we had the choice of the grilled, miso marinated black cod and the sweet soy sauce marinated grilled duck breast. For our Mushimono (steamed & simmered dish) I ordered their Japanese rock fish simmered in sweet broth and my boyfriend's choice was of the gorgeous Arima Sansho pepper marinated sweet fish with Its roe inside. And lastly for the Kanmi, or dessert we both ordered their sweet Green tea ice cream with a wedge of dried but tasty persimmons, I had the chance to eat both of them! My boyfriend's favorite was the pork belly, because of the consistency and rich flavor. His clam soup was delectable too and also the Cod, he says he could have eaten that all day long! My boyfriend ordered their wagyu for his main course, and while his wagyu was nicely cooked, I felt the seasoning was somewhat uneven. My favorite was the sweet soy sauce marinated grilled duck breast because the sweet soy sauce was rich and yet rustic without being overwhelming to my palate. While the duck breast was just a little bit on the salty side, I did really like the texture of the meat, which worked very well with the soy sauce and garnish on top. I would definitely recommend coming here again. I think that Yoichi's is the best Japanese restaurant in Santa Barbara if you're looking for legitimate sushi food that wouldn't be too westernized like what is usually seen on state street. Yoichi's is the crème de la crop of what Santa Barbara has to offer in terms of an authentic Japanese meal. read more

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Michelin star rating has to be on its way! This restaurant is amazing, and the service was just as good. It is a small restaurant off of State street. Chef Kawabata and his wife Mogi leave no stone unturned and make this one of the best dining experiences around. We started with a great palette cleanser, pickled veggies, wagyu beef, an incredible Japanese snail, then delicious soup, sashimi, oysters, black cod, rock fish, King crab, more sushi and dessert. Every dish had amazing flavor and was unbelievably fresh. Yes, it is pricey, but if you are cost conscious for the type of experience you get at Yoichi's then go to the McDonald's on State street. This is an experience you must have at least once. read more

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Amazing meal and experience! The staff were so friendly and were incredibly patient and nice in explaining the menu. The food is simply amazing! read more

Very good kaiseki restaurant with attention to detail, though a number of things were disappointing. There is a menu from which you select dishes you would like as part of a 7 course meal. If you are (hopefully) dining with another person, then you'll be able to try almost everything on the menu. There are 7 courses, but I was able to try nearly 14 different dishes (!): - #1 Assorted Appetizers - I love variety and this "platter", if you will, had many distinct items - wagyu beef or pork belly, abalone, fish cakes, fried tofu, and jellyfish. The abalone was very tender and flavorful. Pork belly was unctuous. Fish cakes and tofu were surprisingly good -- great texture and flavor. Fantastic start! - #2 Soup - a. Clear soup with egg cake b. Clear soup with steamed tomato Both nothing to write home about. More of palate cleanser, I suppose? - #3 Sashimi - GORGEOUS presentation. Chef's selection was salmon from Japan (less oily than American), squid, and red snapper (?). The sashimi itself was nice, but not much more. I do very much appreciate the real, grated wasabi though. - #4 Grilled Dish - a. Lobster tail with red miso - Pretty good b. Duck breast - Even better! They marinate this in a delicious sweet soy sauce and the tenderness is unreal. I'm glad they kept the skin on with its fat, because that added a lot to the flavor. - #5 Steamed Dish - a. Marinated sweet fish with roe - Awful. The flavor was extremely heavy in terms of its sweetness and smokiness. It was like eating mushy tar. b. Steamed rock fish simmered in sweet broth - Overly sweet and salty, although quite nice - #6 Sushi - Chef's selection: Crab leg, scallop, and Santa Barbara (!) uni I was expecting more. The crab leg and scallop didn't have much flavor and the uni was good, but I've had better. - #7 Dessert - Both desserts came with a wedge of dried persimmon, which we were instructed to eat first a. Black sesame custard - Not very sweet, had plenty of black sesame flavor b. Green tea custard - Very nice, wish I had more than a few spoonfuls! Overall, the good outweighed the bad -- I'd rate it more like 3.5 stars. The food was clearly conceived by a skilled kaiseki chef. Our server was pleasant, helpful, and attentive. Unrelated to the food/service, but I thought the interior design was strange. It was very Japanese in that it was simple with natural tones, but with Denny's-style hanging lamps over the tables, and an almost anachronous chandelier and ceiling-mounted A/C unit. For $100, it's a reasonable price for a 7-course meal. Just make sure you don't pick some of the items I mentioned above and you'll have a lovely experience! read more

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Every dish in this carefully crafted seven course Japanese meal is well thought out and executed. The flavors are well balanced and allow the high quality local and Japanese fish, meat, and produce to shine. Pair with sake recommended by the expert servers and enjoy a beautiful meal. read more

I spent 1 full day in Santa Barbara, and wanted this for my fancy meal. When I arrived, the host asked if it was my first time, and made sure I understood that it was a set meal and that it'd be $100 per person. I've never tried Kaiseki before but have been wanting to as I deeply appreciate the Japanese culture's love for presentation. You eat with your eyes first. There are 7 courses, and there are some options you can pick from. 1. Zensai (Appetizer): You can choose from Wagyu Beef or Braised Pork Belly. This was artfully arranged with other non-meat items like mochi, abalone, tofu, pickled seaweed etc. Beautiful!! 2. Owan (Soup): You can choose between a sea eel one or a tomato one. They're both in the same clear broth, just different contents. I chose the eel one, and it came in a very large bowl. I left it on the table to sip from as the other courses came one by one. 3. Mukouzuke (Sashimi): The good stuff. This night had Mr Fuji Salmon, Shima Aji (Striped Jack) from Kyushu Island, and Ika (squid) from Hokkaido. I've never tried the striped jack before, so this was really unique to me. It was a very firm fish that had the buttery taste of yellowtail. It was also presented in a beautiful basket. 4. Yakimono (Grilled Dish): You can choose between Black Miso Cod, Lobster, Grilled Top Shell, or Grilled Sweet Fish. I chose the black miso cod, and while it was good, I felt it was too safe. I should've gotten the top shell. 5. Mushimono (Steamed Dish): You can choose from Oyster, Rock Fish, Eel, or Sweet Fish with Roe. I went TOO adventurous with this one, and went with the waiter's recommendation of the Sweet Fish. This was the only course I didn't finish, because I didn't like the texture and sweet taste of this fish at all. Not to mention the weird texture of the fish eggs bursting from its belly. :( 6. Shokuji (Sushi): There were 3 pieces. I assume this changes nightly but I had the Santa Barbara Uni (yumm), Scallop, and Crab. Very fresh. 7. Kanmi (Dessert): You choose between 3 puddings. Green Tea, Sesame or Strawberry. I chose the sesame and it was delicious! It comes with a tiny fruit, which is supposedly a peach. It looks like the mini japanese plums but this one is sweet. I was completely stuffed afterwards. They also have a 4 course option Tues-Thurs for $65 if you're a lighter eater. They also had wonderful matcha tea that I had them keep filling my cup with. A wonderful experience and would love to go to another kaiseki! read more

Yoichi's - 7 course kaiseki. Loved everything except for the sweet fish ayu. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Until now a visit to Santa Barbara has always been bittersweet - yes we love the pristine Spanish mission style promenade... yes we love the long stretches of ocean shore.... ohhhh...but the Japanese food....yikes THEN... like a gift from the sea comes Yoichi. A former chef from Nobu Tokyo, Yoichi brings lovely, thoughtful, wonderful Kaiseki to this off the strip dining room. This (reasonable compared to other equivalent spots) set menu is delicious - and nothing like any other dining experience in SB. This is maybe the first 'destination' restaurant I have found in SB to date - and against the rather meager competition I give it easily 5 stars on the Santa Barbara scale. Here is the hitch... this place is NOT packed - and SB seems not to get what they have here... Ladies and Gentleman of the coast - get your collective heads out of your spicy tuna rolls and celebrate what you have here - before you loose it! Thank you Yoichi - Great spot! read more

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Wow, just one of the best experiences I've had ever. Not just because the food was amazing (because it totally was), but also the ambiance and customer service were so on point. We came here for my fiancé's birthday and we were blown away by every course. Definitely a must try when visiting SB! read more

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A friend recommended this place- it seems very authentic. The sushi + steamed rockfish were amazing. But the sushi is only 3 pieces. Everything else was underwhelming and the biggest issue I had is that the only option on the menu is a fixed menu that is $100 per person. It's pretty expensive for the experience you get. read more

I'm writing this review with the intention of revisiting Yoichi's again in the future as I see much potential. The seven course meal was definitely an unique experience as there were many things on the item that I have not tried before - however, I didn't love all of it. The ankimo (steamed monkfish liver), cod eggs (it looked like a brain), and salted mullet roe (like a stick of compacted fish eggs) were my least favorite, as they are definitely peculiar tastes that require more accustoming to. Unfortunately, some of the sashimi were also the most disappointing aspect. I appreciate that the chef himself wakes up at 5 am each day to go to the fish market in Los Angeles to pick up fish shipped from Japan. However, in the sashimi portion based on the chef's selection, only one out of the four fish that I tried were truly fresh. Instead of being supple and firm, the mackerel, amberjack and toro were all towards the thready and mushy consistency. It was shocking to see that they resembled fish that was frozen and overly thawed. They were simply not fresh to my standards for a high-end kaiseki resturant. The portions of the sashimi were generous, but I would rather see the focus to be on freshness as well as more variety of fish. Pros: They are great at making accommodations if you are pescetarian and do not eat meat. The beef dish in the appetizer was swapped out for a mountain vegetable mix, which I enjoyed. For those who drink alcohol, they recently got their alcohol license and offer two pages of wine and beer. The portions for most of the seven courses were very generous and I felt quite stuffed. The service was very friendly and thorough, as well as very knowledgable about every item on the menu. Cons: The ceiling is not insulated so the only group of 4 people that was drinking alcohol really amplified the sound of the entire space. It definitely changed the ambiance of what previous Yelpers classified the restaurant to be ("classy") to something non-intimate. There is no a la carte menu for trying sashimi that is outside of the kaiseki menu (what the chef picks up from the fish market is what you get). No uni for the uni lovers, at least not on the Thursday night that I went. Again, limited in the variety and freshness of sashimi. Overall, a fun dining experience to try with others but I am hoping for improvements in quality and variety of fish at my next visit. read more

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I won't discuss the food and service superlatives in this post. Make reservations for this experience before they get Michelin stars and reservations become ridiculous. As a cautionary reminder, see the negative reviews from people upset that they could not get a seating. Yeah... expect more of these. read more

Fixed price Japanese. Small, intimate place. Delicious yuzu sake to start. Small bites and scrumptious. Enjoyed a bottle of special winter blend of sake. read more

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Refined is the word that comes to mind when describing our kaiseki experience at Yoichi's. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared, with attention to detail and balanced, nuanced flavors. Standouts were the cod (heaven), oyster in a tangerine shell (make sure to get a spoon to drink that amazing broth), and the mochi that was served for dessert. My husband described the meal as fresh and clean... which is definitely how the sushi and sashimi tasted. Service was elegant and unintrusive- but always on top of things. Definitely try this if you're looking for a rare experience w Japanese cuisine. If you're looking for a fancy omakase type place (which I also love), this isn't it... but the flavors and experience are one of a kind for sure. read more

Fantastic. The service was perfect. The food was amazing. The fish was incredibly fresh; probably the best sashimi I have ever tasted. read more

Yoichi's - 7 course meal! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I guess I can keep this review short and simple. if you appreciate a long, predefined, high-quality 7 course sushi dinner and you are willing to spend some money for it, this is the place to be in Santa Barbara. There a plenty of "normal" or even "modern-fancy" sushi place in town where you order your ordinary stuff (not bad stuff, don't get me wrong here), eat and pay - all within an hour. if you prefer that, you should not go to Yoichi's. My wife and I are willing to invest money and time in a good sushi dinner and we have done that all around the world. This place is clearly on of the best places we have been so far (probably just topped by a 2 Michelin Star sushi restaurant in Dusseldorf/Germany and a place in Oslo/Norway, which was voted to be among the top 10 sushi restaurants outside of Japan). Be open as you cannot pick an choose. The courses are set so if you have any doubts check the menu first and talk to the waiter/chef. I am sure they will give you some good advise whether that day's menu satisfies your taste. read more

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https://youtu.be/Zuj1WkTudZU This place is where you want to go if you want to celebrate something very special. We went here to celebrate our 4th Year Annivervsary and my birthday on September 11, 2016. It was perfect. My fiance told me we were going to an Authentic Japanese Restaurant and it was so perfect. $100 per person but it was worth it. Customer Service was PERFECT! Food was PERFECT! read more

Yoichi's - Celebrating our 4th year anniversary and my birthday @ Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The seafood is sooooo fresh. Although it might be one of the most expensive restaurants in SB, 100 for one person, the food and service deserve it. Each one could have seven courses, with choice for entree, soup, grill and sushi. My favorite is the black cod! Can't believe it could be so fresh as well as so tasty! I have been here two times this month and found that they changed their menu a little. Really recommend! read more

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My wife and I are from the San Francisco Bay Area. We both love Japanese food and have it frequently. We were in Santa Barbara for a couple of days. After reading reviews from Zagat and the Independent, we decided to try give Yoichi's a try. I rarely write reviews, but tonight's kaiseki dinner was extraordinarily good I had to put out a good word. The skill of the chef was evident in dish after dish, bite after exquisite bite. Flavor gets stars. Presentation gets 5 stars. Front of house also gets 5 stars. I'll write more when I get home but will upload some pics for now. read more

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Amazing service and amazing food. Seven courses and a bottle of wine is the way to go. Not overly crowded, but really peaceful and intimate. One of the best for sure as far as quality of sushi and awesomeness of the servers! read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It gets as authentic as it can get. Totally felt like hi-end Tokyo restaurant. Super fresh fish, interesting flavors, great atmosphere and very welcoming people. Highly recommend! read more

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One of the best dining experiences in Santa Barbara. High quality food, and excellent service. If you're looking for a great Kaiseki experience, this is the place. See for yourself. read more

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OMG..!!! This restaurant is amazing! I was blown away by the experience! Everything I ordered was so authentic, sooo good. The service was really good too. This was the place makes me wanna move to Santa Barbara. read more

Follows the template for a traditional Kaiseki. Our favorite was the fresh raw fish, the quality was very good though the sashimi was unusually very cold. I could have skipped dessert. read more

I have eaten at 5 star 5 diamond restaurants but I have never literally cried after eating a meal. My boyfriend and I enjoyed the 7 course tasting and from beginning to end we were absolutely mind blown. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion after enjoying such well crafted courses that were made with the utmost craftsmanship and genuine love for food and culture. Please come enjoy what this chef and his staff are doing because they are true artists and geniuses in what they are doing. read more

the best service and authentic food in santa barbara. my husband and i come here for his birthday every year - worth every penny.

For the special occasion I can't think of a better place. Artful and delicious food prepared and served by thoughtful and enthusiastic people. We had an amazing experience. read more

I was here a month ago when I was visiting from LA and left a little sad knowing that this little gem is in Santa Barbara. The food was really amazing and the workers were super attentive, ensuring we were having a good experience. Don't let the simple interior deter you from coming - all the food was so light and delicious that we were dreading the end of the course! I would definitely come back if I pass by or visit SB again! read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I recommend Yoichi's! I know the real taste in Japanese food, because I'm from Japan. They serve high quality Kaiseki style meal. Sashimi and sushi were very fresh and dashi in every dish was flavorful. They directly import fish and ingredients even real wasabi from Japan. read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Simply one of the best bento boxes I have had during quarantine. It was quick to order and the food was excellent. I cannot wait until we are out of quarantine to enjoy a proper meal here. read more

A high-end dining experience one would expect only to find in cosmopolitan areas. Some of the most delicate catches flown in from Japan and Spain are as fresh as if they were caught locally. Chef Yoichi demonstrates his creativity by combining flavor, texture along with presentation to produce a remarkable product. read more

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This place was insanely good. It was quite possibly one of the best bites of food I've ever had in my entire life. I went here in June and I am still thinking about the food and I think I can still remember most of what I ate. 1 - the zensai had three elements: seafood, beef, and vegetables. Each representing the ocean, plains, and mountains respectively. The seafood (shrimp, abalone, and octopus) was amazing, each having distinct flavor and texture and was so interesting paired with the gelatinous chicken soup. The pickled vegetables were the highlight of this course. They were extremely flavorful and refreshing. 2 - the owan was hands down the most delicate and flavorful soup I have ever had in my entire life. I legit still vividly remember the taste after months. The soup was a simple katsuobushi dashi that tasted very much like bonito but complex. I think the sesame oil that they finished it with came through with a pleasant nuttiness that didn't overpower the soup but made it more full bodied. The black cod was buttery and tender, still having it's fish characteristics as well. The shiitake mushroom was so umami rich and flavorful, you could taste the tare it was in but it didn't bleed it's flavors to the other parts of the dish in such a way that it overpowered. It just kinda woke you up in a good way. The egg was fun, almost like noodles. The bamboo shoot had a nice crunch that was a good contrast from the rest of the soup and the tomato and sprout introduced a much needed acidity and freshness and brought the whole course together. 3 - the mukouzuke was also good. We had king mackerel, amberjack, and uni. These were really good cuts of fish and the house made ponzu was really good. I forget which one, but one of these fish were lightly smoked and the other was wrapped in kombu and both these techniques showed through as the kombu made the texture of the fish firmer and the lightly smoked one had a nice aroma to it. The highlight of this dish was the difference in the uni. I've had lots of uni and I am a big advocate for eating local purple urchin that have ravaged our coast. They served uni from hokkaido and santa barbara (I believe both were red urchin). The little hokkaido uni were so much sweeter and now I understand the difference and why people pay a premium for this. I still think eating local uni is more sustainable though! 4 - Ah the yakimono is the reason why this review was a 4 star. When I ordered the wagyu, I was expecting to taste wagyu beef. Instead the slices of meat tasted like chinese sausage. The marinade and cooking process just did not do the beef justice. I wish it was better because I think this dish single handedly made the experience slightly disappointing. 5 - For the shiizakana, I got the freshwater eel. It was a but better than the eel I can get in store but still quite good. I think getting this and the wagyu was a mistake, as their flavor profiles were similar. I should have gotten something that contrasted. The monkfish liver was very interesting and good though! 6 - The shokuji was a nice breath of fresh air after all those sweet meaty dishes. I think the ama ebi was extremely good. Best sweet shrimp I've ever had. It tasted very fresh. The scallop nigiri was also very good! I haven't had scallops served this way and it was pleasant. Finally, the quail egg and yam hit home. It tasted exactly like natto and egg mixed in rice but with a little bit more complexity and freshness. It was inspiring to say the least. 7 - To finish it all off, the kanmi. Honestly, coming into the restaurant, my friends and I were thinking "oh it's a 6 course meal plus dessert" just cuz that's kinda how our restaurant experiences were like. But man, we were seriously wrong. The mochi was ridiculously good. The first one with red bean and strawberry was eye-opening. The red bean texture was great and the mochi had just the right amount of sweetness and the texture was nice and chewy. The second one with mint was really good and the mint leaf garnish just tied the two mochi together so well. I never thought I'd have the best mochi in my life at this restaurant. If I could criticize anything, it would be that the plate choice was interesting because the color and shape of the plate kinda clashed with the triangular shape and orange color of the mochi. Besides the food, the service was fantastic. I really enjoyed the side conversations we had with the servers. The tea was very good. And they also gave our table enough space to have our own conversations without feeling like we were being hawked over. The decor of the place is nice and feels very elegant, but welcoming. Overall, can't wait to go again some day! I don't have any pictures because my phone camera is broken. You can see the pics in other people's photos though! read more

Yoichi bento box --the most delicious takeout I've had --ever. Absolutely exceptional Japanese sushi with all the traditional touches: shiso leaves nestling uni, pickled vegetables to brighten in-between bites, perfect Japanese marinated eggs, generous mouthfuls of ultra fresh sashimi, classic rice triangles & fatty grilled fish too. Worth every penny. We want Yoishi to stay in our neighborhood forever! Thank you for a true treat. read more

Yoichi's - Yoichi futomaki roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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