Yakiya

First time at this location, and the vibes, presentation, food, friendly service is on point. Have also been to the Rowland Heights location a few years back, and the experience was also memorable. Came for a birthday, and the bone marrow shots are always fun. Had several people ask if we were here for an occasion which was kinda strange despite inputting this information on the reservation. Could probably pass on the cocktails we got (the whiskey was strong in mine and the coffee mix SO got wasn't his fave)13 courses ($128 pp):- House-made Yuzu Juice: refreshing and yum- A5 NEW YORK STRIP with ponzu jelly and arima sancho pepper: also refreshing. Aesthetic- USDA PRIME RIB-EYE TATAKI smoked with cherrywood chips: you can taste the wood. in a good way!- CHAWANMUSHI with Dungeness Crab and shiitake mushroom: warms the soul. always hits- LOCAL FARMERS MARKET VEGETABLES with MULTI GRAIN RICE CHIP, SESAME DIP: i love rainbow carrots. perfect to cut the meat flavors and reset the palette- ANGUS BEEF TONGUE, LEMON SCALLION KOSHO (60 secs): one of our faves!!! lemon scallion is amazing and so is this cut- USDA PRIME RIB-EYE INSIDE (60) and CAP (45)- the loin (eye) and cap- USDA PRIME FILET MIGNON - CHATEAUBRIAND (120) - undercooked. I had to cook it more on the stove. Very tender tho.- SERVED WITH BONE MARROW RICE, KIMCHEE"Made up of the femur bone with the knuckles cut off at either end, or the bones split down the middle. The soft marrow runs through the center and becomes custard-like when roasted." - was a little too heavy but still worth trying- Complimentary bone marrow whiskey shot: WOOOOOO- PONZU MARINATED TOMATO with sesame seeds: also yummmmm- Sake and Lemon Sorbet, with a chocolate with a bursting center: not too sweet and uniqueIf you look at their website, the descriptions of each dish is commendable - there's a lot of information as to the types of cuts and it's history. Would definitely come back, esp for occasions. Might be interested in their lunch menu too. Lot parking was easy.

I tried their hot pot dinner. The food was delicious, very generous portions and high quality. The hot pot set comes with a couple hors d'oeuvres. A seafood plates, a veggie plate, three sliced beef plate including an american wagyu and Japanese wagyu. Ending the set with a couple of small dessert.

I came here to try out their lunch menu with my best friend! By the end of the meal, we were at a good level of full. For dinner, I'm usually rolling out there but lunch was $48 for 5 courses whereas dinner is about $128 for 13 courses. We still got some of the same items during lunch that you would during dinner and they give you a choice for the main. I believe there were 3 choices to be made, the grilled meat, salmon, and something else. Regardless, we chose the beef. It also came with palette cleansers and the most amazing tuna tartar topped with caviar in a wonton shell. We were the only ones there and our server was amazing. I told her how much I loved the matcha balls and she was able to get me some even though it's not typically given at lunch. The vibes are super upscale and clean/modern. I love coming here for special events during dinner so it was amazing to hear that I could come here for lunch as well. Their lunch hours are weekends only at either 11:30 or 1pm.We came on a Sunday that was a little rainy and the parking lot was huge. We parked right at the front door. Overall, I will be back for their lunch menu again with my boyfriend.

service is always exceptional here!!! the staff and management is always so interactive with guest ensuring we enjoy the meal and experience they have to offer here. they are always super attentive as well. I came to try their shabu menu and it was extremely filling, came with the normal vegetables & I think 3 rounds of high quality meat. the cocktails and drinks are super delicious as well. i always go with anything yuzu or lychee. parking is easy to find as well, always make a reservation when coming here :) the interior design is always pleasant and allows a comfortable luxurious feel and the tables are within a good distance from each other

Walking into Yakiya's new location felt like stepping onto a dazzling stage - sleek interiors, luxurious vibes, and the promise of culinary theater. We were eager to see how their latest offering, the highly anticipated Shabu Experience menu, would take this performance to the next level. But honestly? What unfolded felt less like Broadway and more like an offbeat rehearsal where everyone forgot their lines.Act I: The Menu MysteryLet's start with the menu. The whole "Chef's Pre-fixe Menu" idea, now adapted for their new Shabu Experience, sounds amazing on paper, but no one explained how it actually worked. Should we all order the same thing? Or mix it up? The waitstaff didn't really know either, so we were left guessing. It kind of felt like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing.Act II: A Restroom OdysseyThis one's a head-scratcher. We showed up at 4:30 PM, and the place was basically empty, yet the restroom was out of order for almost an hour. No one gave us a reason or an alternative. It was just... unavailable. At one point, I started wondering if this was supposed to be part of the "experience."Act III: The Appetizer SurpriseBefore things went sideways, the appetizers brought a glimpse of hope. They were beautifully presented, almost like works of art, and the flavors were surprisingly delightful. For a brief moment, we thought this might just be the culinary journey Yakiya had promised. Unfortunately, this was more like the highlight of an opening act that the rest of the performance couldn't live up to.Act IV: Sauce ShenanigansNow for the sauces. One server brought out something and confidently called it by the wrong name. Then she came back and said, "Oh, actually, it's sesame sauce. Sorry, it's a new item!" A new item? At a place that prides itself on chef-curated perfection? The irony wasn't lost on us.Act V: The Hotpot HorrorThis part was almost painful. They turned on our hotpot stove - or at least they thought they did. Twenty minutes later, we realized it wasn't even on, so we just sat there waiting for lukewarm broth to do... something. By the time it finally started boiling, our patience had already boiled over.Act VI: The Dry Ice DramaAh, the dry ice. Or, actually, the lack of it. We were supposed to get this cool smoke effect, but it never happened. For a moment, we thought the ice was edible. My wife even poked it with her chopsticks until a manager finally came over and apologized. Apparently, they "forgot" to set it up. Classic.Act VII: Meat MattersLet's talk about the meat. Most of it was, frankly, chewy and disappointing. The only highlight was the A5 Wagyu Chuck Rib, which was fantastic... but it was served in portions so tiny it felt like a teaser instead of a main event. If you're coming here hungry, good luck.Act VIII: Waiter Swap ChaosHalfway through our meal, they switched out our waiter without saying anything. This caused all sorts of confusion because we kept asking the wrong person for things, and they just stared at us like we were speaking another language. A simple heads-up would've made a world of difference.Act IX: The Space-Age RestroomNow, let's give credit where it's due: the restroom. Once it was finally available, it turned out to be one of the evening's most memorable features. The high-tech toilet felt like something out of a futuristic spaceship, complete with sleek design and functions that made it feel more luxurious than the dining experience itself. Honestly, it left us more impressed than the food.Curtain Call: A New Location Still Finding Its FootingThis Yakiya location feels like it's still figuring things out, even though it's been open for a year. The service was chaotic, the details were all over the place, and the whole experience was frustrating. It's so weird because their Hacienda Heights location, which I've been to many times, is always flawless. How can the same brand feel so different?Final Bow: Room for RedemptionIf Yakiya's team can get their act together - better training, clearer menus, and more attention to detail - this place might actually live up to its potential. For now, though, it's more smoke than fire, and not in the way they intended.Would I come back? Only if they can bring this performance up to Yakiya's usual standards. Right now, it's a show that definitely needs a few more rehearsals.

Ambiance: as soon as you walk in, it feels like an upscale restaurant. Especially when you use their restrooms with their high tech toilets that automatically flush for you. You can see an open kitchen and nice bar setup with the lit-up whiskies! We found out from our server, Lester, this is the high end concept from the Panda group! Aka the owners of Panda Express. Parking: Ample Food was amazing! Guaranteed to have a good meal for your special occasion, or just a Monday night. Partner doesn't like raw. You can opt for raw option or get cooked alternatives. So both of us were so happy getting our preferences! Beef tartare, Egg custard and the meat dipping sauce were some standouts. The sorbet with the basil oil, what a treat! We ordered the crispy pig ear a la carte per recommendation by our server! Service was spectacular!! Lester and other staff were so accommodating. Due to the sick season, they happened to be understaffed that night. But you can see the servers working their butt off to give quality and timely service. We had such a pleasant experience mostly impart to Lester, the staff and the delicious food!

Came here because we went to the one in Hacienda Heights when they first started. While we liked it, we wanted to see what was different about this location. The atmosphere and build out were really modern compared to the other one with hints of wood trims.I like there's basically no choice (LOL), it's a set dinner per person at $128. It comes with various dishes starting with a yuku drink as a palate cleanser (the other place had a yuzu jello that I enjoyed more). Appetizers: Smoke infused carpaccio beef and a caviar tartare tartMain: BBQ with various cuts of wagyu beef (tongue, ribeye, sirloin), mostly in small slices along with a veggie platter.Bone marrow rice topped with filet mignonJapanese wagyu (with their birth certificate) with a poached eggEnding with a surprised dessert (cant tell you)It was a fun experience, but I only took a star away because the cocktails were so expensive. I felt the meal was already quite expensive and we really wanted to drink, but at $20+ a cocktail, we only opted for 1 and a shared sake. Service could also up a notch with a little more dialogue on the dishes, but we understood she was quite new to the restaurant.The location is off East Pasadena, very close to the metro station. Plenty of parking.

My first ever omakase of any sort, and it's at Yakiya! I came in with no expectations but came out with lots of rave about this place.First off, reservations were easy at resy.com. Came on a Friday night, and free parking - super easy to park in an open lot. You may miss the opening at night, so just drive slow. The ambiance was modern, classy yet smart casual. We looked at the menu and there were 2 options available. The hotpot or wagyu bbq, we opted for the bbq. We wanted to place drink orders but weren't asked until 2 courses later, which was weird but that can all be overlooked because we were in for a wonderful experience. I love from start to finish, they explained each course and Lester, our server, went above and beyond. He is very knowledgeable and very easy-going as a server. He was at the top of his game. Our favorite was the wagyu ribeye with the poached egg.. but we enjoyed all the courses, even the raw vegetables! If you have an allergy, they can also customize your course. We enjoyed the bone marrow shots and complimentary yuzu lemonade drinks! Also that sesame ice cream?? Icing on the cake. I would buy a pint to go home if they have it avail lol.Although the price is steep, it is worth every penny. I would love to come here again for a celebration or just to enjoy time with family or friends.

Finally got to try this restaurant as it's been on my try list for a long time. Inside is modern minimalist decor with spacious booth seating. I like that it's a prix fix menu so I don't even have to decide what I want. Soon as we sat down and got some water the dishes start coming. They are served one at a time and each dish is picture worthy. Presentation is def something they put effort into here. All the dishes were absolutely wonderful. The bone marrow rice was so good and if all the dishes before it hadn't filled you up, the rice helps. The service was fantastic and they cook all the meat for you and explain how it should be enjoyed which is nice. One star less because we ordered alcoholic drink and didn't get it until about four dishes in. Also I'm not a big eater so I was full but others in my party were still a bit hungry after.

A solid 4.5 star! Made a reservation through Resy for lunch on a Sunday. They currently have the lunch menu set for $48 per person and they also have the dinner menu available during lunch as well at $128 per person.I got the lunch set and added chunk rib and hot green tea on the side. Out of all the dishes, I really like the bone marrow rice. The sauce they use has a super umami flavor and it goes so well with the mushroom and bone marrow. Every bite was perfect! The meats are pretty solid but it wasn't completely "melt in your mouth" experience that I hoped for. Presentation was amazing! Great atmosphere and service was on point! There's plenty of parking in the plaza.Overall a pretty solid spot to try!