This was my first time coming here. I loved everything about this restaurant. The food was phenomenal and the service was amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be back very soon. read more

Went hear on Wednesday for a friends birthday, and it was my first time! We tried the crab dip and it was so tasteful and the homemade chips were chefs kiss. Our waiter was on top of everything and when he noticed it was someone's birthday brought a homemade donut with candle in it to the table! This was appreciated but definitely not expected! I got chicken ramen as my meal and the hard boiled egg as well as how they cooked the chicken was delightful! I am glad I tried a new place with friends! read more

Yokai - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great quality food, both indoor and outdoor option, Japanese decor and bathrooms was a nice touch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highly recommend the rice lager! It's a nice hidden gem when hitting a show at Tanger. Quick friendly service, good food, plenty of drinks options! Tiger ramen and wings were amazing. Would definitely come back with others to try more appetizers plates (looked interesting) read more

Yokai - $1 wings on Tuesday, great flavor - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

Finally made it Yokai! After a while of always wanting to go we finally did it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food and atmosphere were amazing! It felt just like being back in Japan.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We did not have a reservation but were able to sit outside with no wait. The drink selection was amazing. I opted for the sake bomb special it was very good. I wanted to try everything on the menu but I finally chose KFC, bao buns, and ramen. All were amazing and I can't wait to come back and try everything else! You must go to Yokai if you like Japanese food! read more

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Three words. Ramen. Chicken. Rice. Absolutely the best! Of course there's much more to the menu but that Philly chicken fried rice is to die for!! The KFC chicken is double fried..so good. The ramen (especially with the spiced chili oil) is delicious. They feature daily specials so that's always a plus. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere gives chill vibes and even sitting outside on the patio is nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff are friendly and welcoming! This place always tastes good and the food doesn't take too long to come out either! A great place to try in the Greensboro area. read more

Yokai - KFC - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

This is my go-to restaurant before shows at Steven Tanger. The Bao is delicious and you can't go wrong with either the chicken or pork. This time I tried the chicken fried rice as well and was not disappointed. The service is always top notch and incredibly friendly with greeting as you come in and a goodbye as you leave. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a quirky little place that has a lot of fun little touches to enjoy (don't forget to learn some Japanese as you read the menu!).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I have wanted to visit Yokai for months and am so happy I finally got to eat there. I was really craving ramen and they had a great one on the menu! I got the pork belly with tiger's blood which is a spicy coconut curry broth. I also got the flight of Sakai. My friend got the buns and edamame as well as peach tea. I'm probably spoiled because the Sakai flight was 3 cups brought to the table. Not in any kind of board or display. It was fine just different. I had the server pick the sake and she did a great job. I let her know I wanted them sweet so I had a mango, yuzu, and pear. The mango and pear were my fav's. My ramen was really good and my friend loved her bao buns and edamame. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The reason I'm giving 4 stars is that it was a very hot day and they had it super cold inside. I appreciated this because I ordered ramen.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The air conditioner system was clearly working hard because it was sporadically dropping condensation onto our table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The servers were aware of this and saw us covering our food with a napkin. I'm not sure if this was a cost recovery / service recovery issue. But maybe if they move the tables, or addressed this I would have had a more comfortable experience. The food was really good and I hope they are able to get the hvac fixed. Our server was amazing! I didn't get her name but she let me take a pic of her cat shirt. We chatted about airlines and travel. read more

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This was a new experience for me... and it didn't disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The concept is super cute and fun with cartoon artwork and funky decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the open kitchen feel and caught myself watching the window to see all the dishes as they came out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There are certainly some fun ones... like an iconic bucket of KFC (Korean fried chicken). For my meal, they had a special on Bao Buns so I tried the pork belly ones with an edamame started and got a peach oolong tea from the case. Without much to compare to... I loved the buns. The pork belly was a good mix of fatty/crunchy richness and the marinated vegetables complimented it nicely. The buns... oh boy they were so soft and slightly sweet - Amazing! I want to eat everything in a Bao bun now. Edamame was also great... steamed with a garlicky salt oil finish. Our waiter was excellent... guiding us through the menu as first-timers and giving background. We didn't save room for dessert but that menu included pandan donuts that sounded delicious. read more

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I went with a few friends and absolutely loved this place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It had a relaxed atmosphere, fun cocktail menu and the food was excellent.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was really impressed with our server who was friendly and took the time to answer our questions, make recommendations and check back on us. I went home stuffed, we kept ordering food when we probably should have stopped but everything was so good, We started with Crab Rangoon, Black Garlic Brussel Sprouts, Bao and Pork Gyoza. All of it was good but when they delivered the Cheesy Kimchi Tots, I found myself coveting them and thinking that I would come back and have that by myself as a meal. The Bao was also excellent. As if we had not eaten enough, someone ordered two orders of fried chicken. It was excellent but ended up taking most of it to go. I couldn't believe that someone ordered dessert and yet there I was trying the doughnuts and going back for another bite. It wasn't your typical doughnut; it was almost a funnel cake. A great night! read more

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I had no idea this restaurant was right here in Greensboro. I noticed the ambience driving by and thought I would stop in to see how it was. I ordered the sake flights and the nice thing about it is that they let you pick your flavors amongst about 20 different options. I ordered the Mango, Yuzu and lemon lime. They were all delicious and 100% need food to handle the alcohol. I tried a variety of things which I unfortunately didn't get pictures of but the KFC chicken was good as well as the crab Rangoon dip and the fried rice was phenomenal. Service was pretty fast and friendly, and all the food seemed to be made fresh to order. I would come back to try more on their menu. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is very cool, loved the art around the bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff was very friendly, and always checking on us. The food was so good, we had the kimchi tots, The KFC and their Shoyu Ramen. I really enjoyed everything we ordered. Oh and we had their Vietnamese Espresso Martini read more

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Second time at Yokai and another great experience. Tried the crispy brussel sprouts and more sake this time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Just as last time, the restaurant was clean on a Friday night[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], service was fast and friendly. It's unique for Greensboro, definitely check it out! read more

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Welcomed by a few people upon entering. Not your typical Japanese restaurant.... But bartender/waitress did incredible job of suggestions on the menu. We tried a number of things: Shoyu Ranen with katsu chicken ... large bowl, very filling. Didn't care for katsu, was way overcooked... or oil was old. But the noodles, broth were tasty, eting. soy egg surprisingly delicious, a rolled and grilled veg, seemed like radicchio was excellent . i only ate a third snd had enough! Gyoza - also a bit overdone. Cucumber salad - excellent. Tuna taco - good, Sake car bomb - drink special just $5 snd a killer deal. Coconut donuts - divine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good music, cool vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Love name snd meaning.... See pictures read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Yokai is such a fun vibe! Gorgeous atmosphere with fun lighting & a large bar and a patio![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Fantastic for a casual meet up...or a date night![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We went ahead of a Tanger show this week. Definitely excited to go back! Thursday was discounted Sake & KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and their donuts! I got to try a flight of sake - sampled 3 flavored sakes - for $8!!! We ordered an appetizer & the pork belly bao buns. Everything was absolutely delicious! The service was prompt and helpful with making recommendations. Lovely experience overall! read more

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Service was excellent however the food lacked flavor and was like warm when served. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice ambience overall[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], great potential, just need further attention to details on the food front. read more

Fun fusion items! Really enjoyed the Philly fried rice and chicken bao buns. Portions were on the small side for the price but [[HIGHLIGHT]]cool atmosphere. Lots of fun colors in the place and fancy toilet in the bathroom![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] lol! Curious to try their donut dessert options next time... read more

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We're downtown for first Friday and decided to try something new for dinner. We've passed by several times in the evening and have been intrigued by the artwork sene through the windows, so decided to give Yokai a try. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It wasn't too busy when we arrived and we were given the option of indoor or outdoor seating and were seated quickly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food menu is a bit smaller than I expected, most of the menu was drink options, but we found a few option that stuck out and decided to give them a try. Being a Japanese Korean fusion, the options are very unique to this spot for sure. To start we got an order of edamame, which were dusted with ranch seasoning, giving them a much more unique taste than other places. I also got the chicken Philly fried rice, which was a fun take on chicken fried rice. It was good, very flavorful! Overall, we enjoyed the food, but felt the portions were a bit small. Our food also seemed to take much longer than expected, with several tables that came in after us getting their meals before we did. But we enjoyed our visit. read more

Boyfriend and I attended the 2025 Summer of Seafood and Sake event, it was by reservation only. We arrived on time for our 7:30p reservation, and had to wait about 15min. [[HIGHLIGHT]]After being seated I noticed an ant crawling in my napkin.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] First course to this $100 ticket was bread. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The pipe above us began to leak, nearly missing our spread for the bread.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I held my hand up and spoke up to the waiter passing our table, I was obvious, he ignored me and went on. He later came by the table to acknowledge that I had tried to get his attention. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were moved from the booth to a table in the center of the restaurant. When we sat down, the table wobbled so bad it spilt our drinks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Timing between courses was terrible. Sake wasn't served on time with the paired course and we would be waiting for over 20 minutes between courses. We had been there 2 hours by the time we got dessert. The only good thing about tonight's dinner was the scallop entree and the dessert. read more

Yokai - Menu served at event - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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A couple of buddies and I stopped by here last night for a meal and some drinks and had a wonderful time. We made a reservation but it seemed since they had just opened for the evening that it wasn't too busy. Our server Moses was phenomenal, he gave us a full rundown of some of the types of Sake and the menu and checked in on us the perfect amount of time throughout the evening. I opted for the Ube Orange Vodka Highball. Pretty good, very subtle orange flavor. For my meal I went with the Bao (1 pork belly, 1 chicken katsu) and the cheesy kimchi tots. Both were delicious! The Bao came out hot and the flavor was pretty good, I can agree with some of the other reviews in that I wish there was a little more filling. The tots were awesome, the gochujang queso and shredded kimchi were a great combo on top and not overly spicy. I myself like spice, but am not one that likes it to be overpowering to where nothing else can be tasted, so these were perfect. Overall a great evening and will be coming back to try a few other menu items and cocktails! read more

Yokai - Light outside - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

I had a late night craving for the chicken Philly fried rice and tuna wontons while in GSO and was so excited to see the kitchen was open til 11! Craving was satisfied but the fried rice didn't last long enough for a photo. Obsessed with the decor, menu, and cocktails - such a fun and unique place. read more

Yokai - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

Hidden gem in Greensboro. Great Korean fried chicken and bao buns. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Really cool decor and ambiance with a full bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff was friendly and prompt. Definitely worth a try if you're in Greensboro. read more

Yokai - Korean fried chicken. - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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This is my 2nd time checking out Yokai and this was WAY better than my 1st time. In the beginning, I went w/ friends during the month of their grand opening last year and I had mixed reviews of the place. Though, the ambiance of the restaurant is super cool -- lots of bright open natural lighting and the decor was pretty spot on for it to be an Izakaya bar. Some of the food was just meh to me, like their ramen, cheesy kimchi tots, and KFC. They all lacked flavor BUT we loved their waffle okonomiyaki (sadly not on the menu anymore) and their pandan coconut doughnuts! This time I was pleased with what I ordered -- spicy tuna tacos, Philly chicken fried rice, and the mix bao buns (pork belly/chicken katsu). The spicy tuna tacos are $2 off on Tuesdays and it was fresh and tasty. The Philly chicken fried rice is a fun fusion appetizer and it was full of cheesy goodness! As for the bao buns it was pretty good size portion and quite flavorful, too. Finally tried their cocktails and they were amazing and creative! Tried 2 cocktails: - Biron | Salty Dog: gin, matcha, yuzu, grapefruit, black salt - Shukaku | Bee's Knees: gin, earl grey, ginger, lemon, orange blossom They have a great selection of drinks and next time I'm def going back here to try more of their cocktails and the others w/ friends! read more

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This place had been on my list to try for so long. When we got there they asked if we had reservations and even though we didn't, we were able to right in at 5:30 pm on a Friday. I don't know if that is normal or not. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside the music was too loud for us so we chose the outside patio which had fans, so it was a more relaxing, quiet choice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For food, my husband and I decided on 4 different plates to share - KFC, Bao buns (one chicken, one pork belly), Black Garlic Brussels Sprouts, and the Philly Fried Rice. We both absolutely loved the Philly Fried rice; it is a must get! We liked the Bao buns but the chicken was definitely better than the pork belly so we both agree we would get two chicken next time. We had seen reviews where everyone raved about the KFC which is chicken that has been double fried; note that it is bone in. Because it is double fried, it is mostly eating fried batter more than chicken. It tasted good but we would not get it again. The brussel sprouts, we felt the same way; it was good but we wouldn't get it again. The black garlic sauce overpowered the brussel sprouts; it could have been a light glaze rather than the brussels being in a soup of sauce and it was a little sweeter than I was expecting as well. We both agree we could come back but we would try a couple new items like the miso Caesar and the pork gyoza. My husband got the old fashioned which had a Japanese Whiskey; he said he enjoyed it. read more

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Recently went to Yokai on a Saturday afternoon. The staff was very friendly and we were able to get seated right away. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lovely and kinda felt like your neighborhood hangout with some guests familiarity with staff. Everyone was very clean and the bathroom was really cool. I would have really liked to give this restaurant 5 stars but unfortunately for me the food is what left me wanting. While the presentation was there the flavor was not. We started with the Chicken Karaage, which is honestly just chicken tenders. They themselves were bland but the citrus sauce that came with it saved the day. We also had an order of bao. The bao was good but were a bit lacking in filling. However, here again the sauce was the hero of the dish. A similar experience happened with the Ramen. In a dish where the broth is supposed to be the star it had no flavor. I had to order additional sauces (which you are charged extra for) to the bowl to get any flavor in my bowl. The portions were wonderful for the price just couldn't really find enjoyment in my food. To be plain if you want a plain gentrified Ramen with a great ambiance this is your place. I will definitely go back again, but I don't think I'll order Ramen ever again. read more

Yokai - Chicken Karaage - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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Was very excited about Yokai for a couple reasons. One- love Machete. Two- walking distance from home. Three- on the other side of The Idiot Box (amazing comedy club if never been) where I often frequent. Four- love ramen/Japanese food. I've enjoyed watching them transform the old dry cleaners into this cool looking restaurant. I love all the cool artwork, neon lights, and sweet concealed outdoor patio (will enjoy that in warmer times). I am also a sucker for an open kitchen concept (I like to see the magic happen) and the stools around that area for a kind of sushi bar feel was very cool. Not a huge place by any means, but they have some booths and high top tables. My husband and I sat at the bar. They were doing a deal on their highball cocktails so we figured why not. Their tagline is "strange, powerful spirits" and they definitely have unique stuff. Yuzu Honey Gin was our favorite. For food we ordered a few things off the "smalls" section to share. First thing we got was the Bao buns. You get 2 per order and we did one with the fried chicken katsu and other pork belly. We love bao buns and had high hopes for these, but sadly they were the biggest disappointment of the night. They were just fine. Too much bun and a bit dry, and not enough filling. Next came the Spicy Tuna Tacos. Now we are talking! These were our favorite. You get 2 per order. Loved the use of a fried wonton for the shell. The sushi grade tuna was fresh and liked the spicy kewpie sauce whatever that is (guessing like a spicy Mayo). Last of this group was the Philly Chicken Fried Rice. This chicken fried rice has mushrooms, peppers, onions, and cheese just like the sandwich. Such an original and creative take, which reminded me of what makes Tal's restaurants so great. It was also delicious. We finished our meal off by splitting a "Bigs" bowl of Ramen (curly, chewy wheat noodles in a rich chicken broth with a soft egg). It was indeed a big bowl. Great size for sharing if you order other stuff too. Liked the presentation, it looked like a face when it arrived which was cute. All the ingredients were cooked well. The soft egg was great. We selected pork belly as the protein. But the ramen experience all together just didn't sing. I think their broth could use a little more salt/flavor to help bring all the elements home. All in all we had a great date night here. It is a fun atmosphere. I will absolutely be back and see other things on the menu I want to try. My husband loves sake and there is a lot of that to try as well. I do kind of wish they stayed open later cause this food would be great after visiting some neighboring downtown bars. But food stops at 10pm on weekends. Be sure to check out their weekly specials on food and drink. Think I'll come back for a spicy tuna taco Tuesday! read more

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I was excited to finally get a chance to try out Yokai for a celebratory anniversary dinner with my boyfriend. After enjoying their food during a pop-up at Machete, I was eager to see how it translated into their own space. They've done a great job with curating the space to make it feel very whimsical. Even the bathrooms are a fun adventure!  To begin we ordered some celebratory drinks! I got the Melon Lime highball, which was essentially a more flavorful vodka soda (which is my go-to). My boyfriend got the Rokurokubi, and he enjoyed it as it reminded him of a margarita. We also got a couple of shots of tequila but were a little disappointed with the selection.  With our anniversary falling on a Thursday, they were running a special on kimchi tots and the KFC (Korean fried chicken). Tots are one of my favorite fried potatoes, so that was a no-brainer for me. They were deliciously saucy from the kimchi queso. The chicken was well seasoned, and the skin had the perfect crispy texture.  With the amount of food we had as appetizers, we decided to split a bowl of the ramen with pork belly. As ramen is one of the dishes Yokai is known for, we were a little disappointed with the flavor of the broth. It seemed as though all the seasoning fell out of solution and sunk to the bottom, and no one stirred the pot before serving it. It tasted flat until we got closer to the bottom of the bowl. However, the soft boiled egg was deliciously jammy, and the pork belly was a juicy meat candy accompaniment.  We also ordered some Pandan coconut donuts to go. We were too full to eat them at the restaurant, but we still wanted something sweet for later. They were tasty even though we don't love coconut and would have liked more powdered sugar. Overall, we enjoyed the experience, and our server was great. We will certainly be back. read more

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This was almost a 3-star or non-review. We were thankful to be invited to the soft opening and went a few more times afterward. What struck us each time was the service was not to the standards that Yokai management strives for. I think the growing pains hurt both the food and the service. Fast forward a few weeks and this is my Sunday early supper spot. The Egg Salad sandwiches (reminiscent of 7-11 in Tokyo) are superb and beer and sake along with the Sunday-loaded Duros have become a staple. The location is super convenient to my home and it will become part of my regular location - especially as it feels so fun and welcoming, especially as one who has traveled extensively in Japan. Love the murals, seating, and yes, even the bathrooms. Recommended. read more

It's like an alley ramen shop in downtown Greensboro. The original art and neon light make it feel so cool. The menu is packed with a range of fusion Japanese dishes, and the drink menu is long and diverse. Allergies are well-marked. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are well-marked. I got the tiger noodles--it was a savory journey of deliciousness. I added the marinated egg--it was PERFECT! It was so jammy and good. They also had a wide selection of Ramune Soda marble drinks. The cocktails are fantastic. Try the Kappa. You won't be sad. Omgosh, try the Japanese toilets. They are warmed, ergonomic seat, and the bidet is an adventure. read more

Yokai - Kappa cocktail - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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Came here for a date night with my boyfriend after he saw it as a recent new restaurant and wanted to try it out. Hip and modern place - great for a date spot, drinks or casual dinner with friends, or pregaming. Colorful and clean inside. Not a huge space indoors but also has a nice outdoor space. We sat at the bar and had good service from a friendly bartender. Started with a couple shooters and then ordered cucumber salad (nice and refreshing), chicken karage (very juicy and loved the lemony dip) and Philly fried rice (good but too much cheese for us). Really wanted the pork belly bao buns but they were out, so we added pork belly to our fried rice. Finished our meal with the pandan ice cream donut sando! If you like pandan and coconut, this is definitely for you! All of the staff were very welcoming and friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. 4.5/5 but rounding up and definitely looking forward to coming back again! read more

Yokai - Chicken karage, cucumber salad, Philly fried rice with pork belly - Ramen Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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I went here for the first time on a Sunday afternoon, and sounds like, they do things differently on the weekends (or maybe just Sunday, I'm not sure) but they had a smaller menu and we had to order at the bar which was totally fine. The service was great! We ordered a sake flight. The server chose for us and she made great choices, it was delicious. I also got a hard seltzer that was really good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also I loved the vibes in the place and they were playing great music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I want to give it five stars but the food was just okay. The ramen was pretty bland. I'd like to go back when they have a fuller menu and try some other things though. read more

Our first visit, but definitely not our last. Finally a place with good Ramen and other really great choices. The restaurant is just so freaking cool. Love the vibe, service was on point and we're ready for a return trip soon! We went with another couple and ordered a ton of different plates and all shared. Their drinks are really good, excellent Saki menu, and the food flies out of the kitchen. Top picks for us were the tuna tacos (my pick!), rhe Bao buns were a hit, and that Ramen. Yum!! I'm picky when it comes to Asian flavors but the best part is there were plenty of options that I could enjoy and my hubby could have all his favs (kimchis, vinegar based veggies, etc). A win for us both! read more

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I have been patiently awaiting Yokai to open since I heard they were in the works! Sister restaurant to Greensboro staple Machete, we were super excited about this new restaurant with a unique concept. We popped into Yokai right after they opened on a Saturday afternoon around 4:15. The restaurant was already nearly full with folks who had the same idea as we did! We were told to go ahead and seat ourselves wherever. We opted to sit outside on the patio, since it was a beautiful sunny day! They were super busy, but it wasn't too long before we were greeted and handed menus to look over. A few minutes later, we had our drink and appetizer order in! We opted to try the Kalbi and Kimchi tots to start. The Kalbi is a very thin and small portion of short rib. It was not big enough to share among 4 people, maybe for 2, but it was tiny.... It was very tasty though! The kimchi tots were just regular frozen tater tots smothered in the kimchi. I loved the kimchi, but that was the only special thing about them. For entrees, we ordered 3 ramens with chicken and the chicken Sando. All the fried chicken consisted of chicken thighs, no white meat. On the side of my ramen, I ordered a side of the kimchi and the house made hot sauce. I will say the kimchi and hot sauce really made the ramen. Both sides gave the ramen a delightful kick and if you can stand the heat, I would highly recommend adding them. Otherwise the broth was a little bland, unfortunately. I am assuming because they literally JUST opened, they are still working out kinks. I will definitely give Yokai another shot down the road after they have been open longer and had a chance to settle into their groove. read more

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I want to preface this review by saying that I am not an expert in Asian cuisine. I just know what I eat and whether or not it tastes good to me. And I'll tell you right now our meal at Yokai last night was one of the best I've had in a while. Upon entering we were given menus and told to sit anywhere we wanted. We opted for a booth but the inside is small - maybe 5 booths and 5 tables that seat 2 people and there are two areas with bar seating. If you have a bigger group or want more space I recommend sitting on the patio that's much bigger than the area to dine inside. There's only one word to describe in the interior and it's just plain cool. I love the Yokai pictured on the walls and the dimly lit space with pink lights. They also play upbeat techno music a little louder than they normally would in a restaurant that added to the vibe. I was totally into it. Our waitress was super helpful in describing their two mocktail options (they will have their liquor license next week) and I went with the yuzu mocktail that tasted like lemonade with a twist - delicious. We started our meal with the kimchi tots and the kalbi. Usually you wouldn't expect much flavor out of tater tots but the kimchi queso over top gave them the punch they needed. Also kimchi queso? Super creative. The kalbi was amazing - tender bbq Korean short rib with a gochujang sauce. The sauce is really the reason why I loved it so much. For our entrees we got the KFC and the pork belly ramen. The KFC was double fried so extremely crispy yet juicy on the inside. I will say these are THICK pieces of chicken so make sure they are fully cooked all the way through - one of our pieces teetered on the edge of cooked and raw. My ramen was just as good as any other spot I've ever had ramen. The pork belly was super tender which can be hard to achieve. To top our dinner off we ordered the pandan donuts and they were truly the star of the show. If you've ever had a Britts donut from Carolina beach think one of those on steroids. It has extra glaze, coconut, and powdered sugar on top. I could have eaten two orders of these by myself they were so good. In all we had a wonderful experience and both my husband and I agreed that this is a spot we could see being a regular for us in Greensboro. There's so much more we want to try on their menu so we will visit again soon! read more

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Very hip vibe as you walk in. Not quite the izakaya vibe but more like the college bar after a drunken party. We were handed menus and told to seat ourselves. We got the kalbi, KFC, ramen with pork belly, soba sesame ice cream, and pandan donuts. See bottom of review for tldr. Theme: to be honest, it doesn't really give off much of a "yokai" vibe. Maybe because it was 5 PM or the fact there wasn't any spirits available at the time (spirit license pending)... :D Ramen with pork belly: This came first before any appetizers. Among the 5 components of ramen, 1 of 5 were great (pork belly/topping), 3 of 5 were good (tare, broth, and finishing oil), and the last one... could use some improvement. The pork belly was fantastic: cooked well and tender. Would be better with more topping but that may be me nitpicking (but at ~$18, I feel like they could have added some bamboo shoots, corn, or any additional toppings). The tare, finishing oil, and broth were nice with the extra bonito flakes for umami flavor. Now... the noodles.... pretty disappointing to be frank. No chew, pretty mushy, and thicker than normal ramen noodle. Not sure if that's what they were going for. KFC (Korean fried chicken): double fried like Korean fried chicken and great crunch, with soft dark meat. The meat would benefit from marinating or a sauce on the side (like the gochujang sauce on the kalbi). The pieces of chicken are a bit too large and unwieldy and the salt/white pepper were poorly distributed (1 of 4 chicken had literally all of the seasoning). We also didn't get any plates until much after we started eating so we made a mess (sorry). If you want KFC, just go to another place that serves it a few blocks from here... Kalbi: the meat texture was great! Nicely made with green onion. The gochujang sauce at the bottom of the plate.... was not. It was a little spicy but the problem was it covered up the tasty flavor/juices of the meat. Wished they put it on the side so I could choose if I wanted it rather than forcing me to eat it with the meat. Also... it was $11 for 1 piece... not very satisfying Soba Sesame Ice Cream: I was told by waitress that it was black sesame ice cream with crunchy soba.... per my partner in crime, "if I had 1000 guesses, I don't think I would have guessed sesame ice cream". It may have been sesame ice cream but it's definitely not black sesame ice cream (the color is not there). Primarily just tasted like vanilla ice cream with a hint of nuttiness. The buckwheat (soba) bits was very nice though! added a fun texture to the ice cream. Pandan donuts: came with 3 fresh pandan donuts with coconut flakes and powdered sugar. 2 of the 3 were great! I would strongly recommend trying. 1 of them was suspiciously flat... and when I tried it, it was basically pure oil that got absorbed (hence losing all the airiness)... The pandan flavor is very much there and the coconut flakes paired well! Would recommend giving it a try! Tldr: food was ok. Would recommend the pork belly and pandan donuts. Most food items seemed to be missing key components to making it tasty or had things that made it taste not as good as it could have been. Maybe need spirits to really give the yokai vibe and flavor this place needs. Maybe we just didn't get the right things... or it's just the beginning of the Hyakki Yagyō and I just haven't seen the splendor that is yet to come. read more

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From the moment I walked in and stopped in the restroom I knew this place would be great! The drinks, excellent! The food, fire! The service emmaculate!!! read more

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this place. I really like Machete so when they set up next to the Idiot Box I was stoked to try it, especially because the decor seemed pretty cool. I do like the theme a lot and the drink menu is very extensive, but the ramen was just kind of meh and the food menu didn't really have that many options. They do have one vegan entree and a few apps that my husband could eat, so we did appreciate that. I'm not crazy about the hours either, it feels like they are always closed when I am trying to go there. I'd be willing to give it another shot because I am maybe judging too harshly due to high expectations. The espresso martini I ordered, however, was delicious. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Ai "art" on the walls[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the okonomiyaki was ice cold, and the service was really strange. No point in going if not for drinks. PS I don't drink read more

This delicious eatery has roots in Asian folklore, and the magic is present in everything. From the stunning and unique atmosphere to the curated food and drinks. The staff is very knowledgeable and welcoming. The cocktails are smart and precise, and the food is a modern twist on Asian cuisine. The food comes out quickly and piping hot, and this place is now a favorite among my friends and I. read more

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Embracing Japanese izakaya culture, Yokai is a brand new restaurant that recently opened in Greensboro, NC. My foodie friends and I attended their soft opening this past week since we're always on the lookout for new restaurants, ESPECIALLY Asian or Asian-inspired ones. Izakayas are a culinary melting pot, and Yokai has added their twist with dishes inspired from Japan, Korea, China, and more - from ramen to bao. Their menu is filled with casual and street eats: Korean fried chicken, kimchi tater tots, Japanese okonomiyaki, and ramen. Personally, I thought their ramen and KFC could use more flavor, but it's also their soft opening and they were also slammed with customers. When you do check them out, I HIGHLY recommend trying their Waffle Okonomiyaki and their Pandan Coconut Doughnuts! WHAT WE ORDERED: Kimchi Tots Kalbi KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) Ramen Waffle Okonomiyaki Pandan Coconut Doughnuts read more

The decor here is unique and gives off hip vibes. Loved the lighting, and decoration. Service was prompt and quick, but we came just before dinner rush. You could tell they were bit slightly overwhelm when dinner rush came, but they are still working out their kinks since I came the day after their Grand opening. I was curious on how they would put their own twist on different Asian dishes. I got the udon and yuzu honey highball. While my friend got the ramen, and we both shared the chicken skewers and the pandan doughnuts. I have to state the pandan doughnuts were the best item we tried off the menu. I was pretty disappointed in the Udon. It lacked flavor, and the "thick" noodles were only just slightly thicker than the ramen noodles. Maybe I'm just use to udon noodles actually being thick. The Udon is a great option for vegans though. The ramen was OK. Definitely lacked the flavor depth, but has some potential if they keep tweaking the recipe. Both udon ($16.77) and ramen ($16.77) needed the homemade chili sauce ($1.77) , to add that flavor and spice they both lacked. The homemade chili sauce does have a kick as a warning for those with low spice tolerance. My friend and I both agreed that the udon came with way less noodles despite it being the same price as the ramen. They definitely need a spice rack at the tables if they are going to be serving ramen/udon - salt, pepper, chili flakes, chili oil, & fried garlic would be great. If you are craving ramen, I would just go to Qinji Hawaiian BBQ to get your ramen fix. More flavorful, more options, & cheaper. The chicken skewers ($3.77 each) were tender and had a nice flavor, I would get those again. The yuzu honey highball ($11) was OK. Did not taste any alcohol, not even slightly (yes, I went when they got their alcohol license). The yuzu flavor was light, and refreshing, great option for those who do not like the taste of alcohol. Not sure if I would get it again though. And as stated earlier the pandan doughnuts ($7.77) were the best item on the menu. Hot and soft, pandan doughnuts topped with coconut flakes. It was just the right amount of sweetness for me. Overall, I would give this restaurant another try, to try out the other menu items as some were not available at the time of my visit. For the location, the food/drinks are unique for the area! Just keep in mind this place has their own twist on Asian dishes, so try to come with an open mind! read more

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