Sumiya Yakitori

The service at Sumiya Japanese Charcoal Grill was friendly and efficient, even though the restaurant was packed with customers. I had high expectations after seeing so many glowing reviews, but unfortunately, the food didn’t quite live up to the hype. The flavors and execution just didn’t stand out compared to other yakitori spots in the area. I visited at around 8:35 PM on a weekday night, so it’s possible the kitchen was winding down for the night, which may have affected the quality. We ordered several skewers — chicken thighs (sauce and salt), tsukune (meatballs), gyutan (beef tongue), kalbi, jumbo pork sausage, and hotate (scallop) — along with an ontama rice. Most of the grilled meats turned out a bit dry, and the seasoning felt uneven. The hotate skewer was the standout — perfectly tender and nicely grilled. Unfortunately, the other items lacked the juicy, charcoal-flavor I was hoping for. The ontama rice was also disappointing. I’ve had an excellent version at Gaku before, so I was expecting something similar, but this one missed the mark — the flavor and seasoning just felt off. That said, I might give Sumiya another try earlier in the evening to see if the experience is different when the kitchen isn’t close to closing. The service and atmosphere were great, so I’m hoping it was just an off night.

The food here is delicious and rivals skewer places that I have visited in Japan. Everything tastes fresh and flavorful, and you can tell that a lot of care was put into each dish. The dining area can be crowded as it isn't too big, but we were able to get a table on a weekend dinnertime with only a 15 minute wait. I definitely recommend the skewer bento set so you can try a bit of everything!

The charcoal grill smells great when you first walk in the door. The servers were courteous and quickly responded, helped us settle down a table. The food was easy ordered via online menu. The food was fast and tasty. It was our first time but we love the grilled seafood. The meat were probably better with sauces as a bit plain but tender and fresh.

The food here is as close as you can get in Japan without actually going to Japan. I always get a three skewers (beef, pork, and chicken) bento. It comes with salad that you choose your own dressing and a soft boiled egg. I also always add the oyster mushroom with garlic skewers (5/5) and karaage (5/5).

Great 1st experience at Sumiya! Went with wife (no kid) because I was concerned it was going to be expensive. Price was not as high as others reported. Food was amazing! Asked for paper menu for grill, and it was a great choice. Chicken Gizzard and Duck were the heroes of the day. Can't wait to go again and know I can bring picky daughter too as not too expensive, easy to order variety of food including side of rice with egg and seaweed, great atmosphere with upbeat Japanese music, and waitresses that let me practice my basic Japanese.

Sumiya offers decent food, though it doesn’t stand out among other izakaya spots I’ve visited. The skewers, while flavorful, are relatively small in portion size. However, the service is excellent, with the staff being polite and friendly, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. The atmosphere is another highlight, providing a cozy and welcoming environment that enhances the overall experience. While the food is good, it may not leave a lasting impression for those seeking something extraordinary. Overall, Sumiya is a solid choice for a casual meal with great service and a comfortable atmosphere, though the food could be more memorable.

I was surprised to find a yakitoriya so close to me. I often travel to Los Angeles / Torrance to find a izakaya that had a decent yakitori. It was delicious, so I'm bringing the spouse and coworkers (many who've been to Japan to enjoy)

Popular Yakitori place. Inside tables were all filled by 12:15pm on Friday lunch. Seated outdoors and ordered via QR code. Ordered the Bento box B and several skewers to share. Food can out pretty quickly. Tho everything tasted pretty good and service was efficient.

Located in the same plaza as Stan's donuts and Safeway, you won't have issues finding parking. We came for lunch on a weekday so there was no wait. You order with the QR code. We sat near the door, ambiance was fine. We were seated right away and given water. I decided to get the salmon ikura don lunch set and my partner had the soboro don lunch set with tonkatsu. He enjoyed his meal and had no complaints. I think it's nice that you get an appetizer and salad, good value. The karaage was very nice, a little greasy but it's fried food, so that's expected. Flavors were good. Salad was nice, I asked for dressing on the side so I only added a little. I wasn't a fan of the salmon, that's not on the restaurant, I just learned that I don't like seared salmon. I think I prefer raw or fully cooked, not something in the middle. The middle of the salmon was warm and raw and I guess that texture and temperature didn't vibe with me. In the future, I'll try something else! The ikura was good! The portions are generous, I wound up taking half of it home for later. Would come back and try something else in the future! The skewers look interesting!

Sumiya - Direct Fire, Discipline, and a Taste of Old Tokyo Sumiya isn't a binchotan temple. It's something rarer in the Bay Area: a shop that actually understands direct-fire grilling, salt seasoning, and timing. The world doesn't need more "cute" yakitori places. It needs places where cooks watch the fire, listen to the fat, and pull a skewer at the exact second before the flavor collapses. Sumiya is one of those places. THE GRILL - WHERE DIRECT FIRE BECOMES A LANGUAGE People romanticize binchotan because it's forgiving. It heats evenly, bathes meat in infrared, keeps moisture, and gives a fragrant edge. Direct flame is much harder: * heat spikes * mistakes multiply * bitterness appears instantly * dryness comes fast * surface color lies to you Which is why what Sumiya does is so rare. The meat tells the truth: * Pork belly came off the grill exactly when the fat turned glassy - not burnt, not rubbery, just aromatic and clean. * Chicken (tori-kushi) avoided the one fatal flaw: bitterness. With chicken, overcook it by 10 seconds and a thin oxidized "bitter line" appears. Here, it never showed up. Surface amber, inside juicy. * Beef tongue was the real test. GYUTAN - THE JAPANESE BENCHMARK In Japan, regardless of method - direct fire or binchotan - beef tongue is the exam. Gyutan is expensive. You overcook it you lose money. You serve it badly the customer disappears. Every yakitori shop in Sendai, Osaka, and Tokyo knows this. Sumiya's tongue passes the test: * edge char for aroma * center snap intact * heat stop precise * no dryness, no powdery protein breakdown This is not luck. This is direct-fire mastery. THE SALT WORK - PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE Sumiya is a salt shop, not a sauce shop. Salt-forward grilling only works when the cook controls fire at the micro level. That small ring of char you see on the skewers? It's intentional - the third note after: 1. meat flavor 2. salt bloom 3. char aroma Any more than that and it becomes bitterness. Any less and it becomes flat. Here, it's calibrated. THE RICE - A SURPRISING DISPLAY OF DISCIPLINE Most yakitori places treat rice like background noise. Sumiya doesn't. * grains stay separate * surface gloss intact * portioning is intentional * rice + fat + tare + topping ratio is considered, not random When a yakitori shop respects rice, it tells you the chef isn't just grilling meat. He's building bowls. SQUID LEGS - A FLAW THAT STILL WORKED The only technical miss of the night was the fried squid legs. Thin batter, lightly coated - good. Uneven in spots, part of it broken off - less good. But the ingredient quality was undeniable: Thick-cut. Shockingly sweet. Zero frozen odor. Seafood has one unforgivable flaw: freezer smell. Once that odor appears, the dish is dead on arrival. Here, the squid was so fresh, the imperfect batter barely mattered. A flawed exterior with a great ingredient inside. Honest food beats polished food every time. IKURA DON - MOTHER & CHILD DONE RIGHT The ikura here was impressive: * large pearls * translucent * clean pop * minimal curing * no salt-burn * no oxidation Paired with thick-cut salmon, it becomes the seafood version of a 親子丼 (oyako-don): mother (salmon) + child (ikura) A level of ingredient harmony rare in yakitori shops. And the rice beneath stayed perfectly separate - the sign of a kitchen that cares. THE SAKE WALL - MORE SERIOUS THAN EXPECTED Most yakitori places in the U.S. push sweet, entry-level sake. Sumiya didn't take the easy route. From the bottle wall: * Hakkaisan (including higher polishing ratios) * Kubota * Dassai * Kokuryu * real shochu, not novelty drinks In Japan, strong binchotan aroma limits sake pairing. But in the U.S., with Sumiya's clean direct-fire profile, their sake selection actually makes sense - a rare advantage over traditional shops. THE ROOM - NOT CURATED, BUT REAL The place is loud. A little cramped. A little chaotic. A lot alive. Smoke, salt, laughter, skewers moving down the line - It feels more like a Tokyo side-alley than a Silicon Valley concept restaurant. No theatrics. No neon. Just cooks working. Sumiya isn't perfect. The squid batter proved that. But if you want: * real direct-fire grilling * proper salt technique * gyutan cooked with respect * chicken pulled at the exact second before bitterness forms * rice that matters * ikura that's actually fresh * a sake list someone clearly drinks * and an atmosphere that feels earned, not staged Then Sumiya is absolutely worth coming for. 4 stars -- earned through fire, timing, and an honest understanding of the craft. - Dr. C Only writing for what truly earns the stars.

3.8 stars. I LOVE skewers and was so excited to see this trend increasing in the Bay. Fast and friendly you can use Yelp to get on the wait list. A good sake collection I'll have to come back and try. And they have both hearts and cartilage skewers so it was a must try. We came in for lunch and when I say this place is fast, we were seated, fed and paid in 50 min. I have to say this raised a bit of an eyebrow because to get the slow roasted and charcoal infused meaty flavor of a skewer you kinda need time. For them to pump it out this fast means there's some pre-cooking being done. Skewer come hot very warm but not that nuclear hot that comes from spending several minutes rotating over the grill. The meatball was good, the right texture but could have been more crispy on the outside (sauce dunk followed by more grilling would have got it there). The thigh needed more pre salting, the hearts were good but also needed more salt. All of the elements are there and I'll be back for dinner service and sake to see if the night vibe changes the technique and time/attention.

Excellent food and relaxing ambiance . Excellent service. We made a reservation and also came early ( before 7 pm ) .This restaurant is always busy . Three of us ordered 3 different combinations with skewers . The skewers we have beef tongue , chicken thigh , chicken soft bone , beef short ribs , etc . Side dishes we got chicken karaage , agedashi tofu. The combination bento has salad with dressing , rice with raw eggs , toasted seaweed and rice . Good place to eat skewers and have a beer .

This place is a must try! Japanese bbq skewers were like no other. The flavor and portions were perfect to try, just immaculate. I wish I could've tried more but there's were so many. And the rice bowls paired perfectly with the skewers. My favorite skewer is definitely the chicken skin. Service was exceptional as well but nonetheless ! Also super busy in a Sunday and they were able to accommodate to our large party of 9. A bit small inside

I personally haven't been a big fan of skewers because I always thought they're overpriced for the quality. But this place definitely changed my mind. My boyfriend and I got: - beef tongue skewers - pork belly skewers - chicken heart skewers - duck breast skewers - salmon & ikura combo set All skewers were really amazing. The pork belly skewers are a must with the green onions. This was also my first time trying chicken hearts and I didn't think I'll like them as much as I do. The salmon was alright.. It was kinda lukewarm which was off-putting. The salad was nothing to write home about but the creamy wasabi dressing had a kick. Also the gobo fries were amazing! They were fried into perfection and were not too salty. TBH, if you don't like burdock root then you need to grow up. Service was super quick and attentive. Would highly recommend to anyone.

We drove over 6 hours to my niece's graduation and when we finished, we thought to eat at a yakitori restaurant. We called directly because we are a big party. The man answered the phone told us as long as we arrived between 6:15 pm to 6:30 pm, a table would be ready for us. 3 cars, 11 people, included 2 seniors and 1 handicapped, arrived at the restaurant at 6:20 pm and told to wait for another 30 minutes. So we waited. After 30 minutes passed, we checked in with the host to see if the table was almost ready but then we were told that it would be another 20 minutes. When we brought up that they originally told us the table was ready prior to our arrival and even after we waited for 30 minutes additional, the male host gave us attitude and said "you can wait if you want". Including the 20 minutes they added, we have waited about 1 hour and 5 minutes.

It's been awhile since my last visit. I like that the Yelp waitlist system works so I was able to put myself on waitlist before heading over. We ordered the e bento B. I think the on app system payment has been there for awhile but I find it convenient this time when dining in with a friend and we split the bill. When you put in the order with your own phone, you only pay what you order so that's the ease of checking out if you have a big group. Food quality is back to what I expected. Tender meat. The waiter did refill our tea without us asking so service was good.

I absolutely love Sumiya. It's already been reviewed so I just wanna focus on the best parts. If you come, the things you absolutely must get are the scallops, chicken skin, and the duck breast skewers. They were are incredible and I would probably come and just get a couple of each of those. I also enjoyed the pork belly skewers. They weren't anything special but the green onion on the skewer added to it for me. The karaage was alright but a nice shareable appetizer. The bentos themselves were also decent but not mind blowing.

If you're a fan of yakitori, this place is an absolute must-visit! Every visit feels like the first--welcoming, flavorful, and always satisfying. From the moment you step inside, you know you're in for something special. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with the unmistakable aroma of perfectly grilled skewers. The star here, of course, is the food. The quality of the ingredients is evident in every bite. the flavors are spot on. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always willing to offer recommendations. This place will keep you coming back.

My husband and I have visited Sumiya many times with friends as it's just down the street from us. We put ourselves on the weight list and waited until it was our turn. We found the waitlist quite inaccurate and had to wait on an extra twenty minutes or so than the wait list time. It took us over an hour to get seating for 3 people. Once we got seated, we ordered off the QR code. We ordered quite a bit as my husband and his friends are carnivores lol. We got chicken thighs, chicken gizzard, chicken skin, chicken heart, beef tongue, kalbi, seared salmon with onions, potato fries, salad, mushroom skewers, chicken karage, pork belly and rice. We enjoyed our food and I loved the fries, chicken thighs, mushroom skewers, and salmon appetizer. Most of the meat was tender- the kalbi could have been better. The chicken thighs were juicy! The potato fries really stood out for me as they were hot, crispy, and seasoned well. All our food was $175-a little pricey with fries being $13. It does quickly add up! I think other places may be less inexpensive. Overall, a good experiment but do be prepared to wait a while and spend a pretty penny.

We joined the waitlist on yelp. make sure to check in with a person. I think we got skipped even though we check in on yelp. we got the bento with chicken thigh, pork belly and short rib. My favorite was the chicken thigh. we also got the scallop. we chose the headache tofu and karaage chicken. both good. The tofu was lightly battered. I don't like when it so thick. it was a little loud since large groups were sat but service was nice and quick. we got free hot tea. next time i'd like to try the chicken skin. the skewers were juicy and smoky so yummy. I liked the yuzu dressing on the salad

We had a wonderful group lunch here! I got the Oyako don, and it had an amazing flavor to it. It was a little heavy on the rice but this just meant more leftovers! The lunch set also came with a side and salad. I picked the agedashi tofu as my side. Service was quick and the staff were super friendly and sweet. They consistently filled up our water and were very attentive.

Sumiya is a popular local Japanese Yakitori place. The food here is decent and I especially like their chicken soft bones and Sapporo in the pitcher. The service is surprisingly fast when you order food via cell phone app. The Ambience is nice too and is great for friends to hang out. There are plenty of parking outside as the restaurant is in the strip mall.

Last night was the 2nd time I've been to this restaurant. Both time was a very pleasant experience. I love every dishes we've ordered. It's not a big place, but it felt very cozy and the staffs were all super friendly ! I highly recommended this little gem. It's a bit of long drive for me, I don't mind at all since the food was really delicious. I'll try their bento box next time. My friend had it last night and it looked very delicious !!

Sumiya had been my favorite yakitori place and have been going here for many years. I went there for a lunch yesterday and ordered my usual, Yakitori Bento B with galbi. While the food was still delicious, the yakitori were rather cold and lukewarm as if they were pre cooked and were sitting for a while. This never happened before. And res was not so busy. I did share this feedback with the waitress.

We came to Sumiya for a group dinner on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy but thankfully we had the Yelp waitlist to help with the wait. The inside was a bit small so I wouldn't say it's the best place for a large group but they were able to accommodate our group of 6. The food was delicious! We got the combo set and a few izakaya skewers. I would say it's pretty pricey and not filling so you need to order a lot. The service here was also very nice! You order via QR code and they bring it out. We stayed here for a while since we were doing a white elephant but they didn't mind - which we appreciated.

Service is friendly and at 12:30 was seated immediately at sushi bar. They have a 3 course lunch menu with mix and match main, salad (you choose your dressing :), appetizer, and rice with soft egg. I had the beef tongue skewers (3) which came nicely grilled, still tender. The garnish appears to be raw garlic and green onion in oil. The skewers flip easily so I had to get the garnish back on with my fingers. Delicious though. For the app I had the burdock fries. Served with a good mayo dipping sauce. Nicely salted and toothsome. The salad is a spring mix and I chose the shiitake dressing. It was ok. A little bland. The rice had the nice surprise of a soft quail egg that I stirred into the rice. You are offered hot green tea or water.

Our group of 6 came on a Saturday night around 6pm and entered the waiting list once the shop opened at 5:30pm. We'd highly recommend entering the Yelp waitlist the moment it opens - especially if you're a larger group. We waited roughly about 20 minutes before we got through (keeping in mind we waitlisted as soon as they opened). Upon seating, you are offered either water or hot tea. You will also order and pay straight from the QR code/online - with the option to keep the tab open or closed. My partner and I shared a variety of dishes: set B don buri (came with 3 skewers, 1 choice of appetizer, and small sides such as rice) and a la carte skewers. I must recommend the galbi and beef tongue skewers - I could probably eat those endlessly! Their yuzu sake was also quite delicious - I'd recommend getting to share with 2-4 folks.

This is our go to place for yakitori, Katsu donburi, and green tea crème brûlées. When it's a special occasion or we need a pick me up, the food here is great. The service is fast, friendly, and very Japanese. Highly recommend.

I always love Japanese BBQ and this place is my favorite. All good is fresh off the grill and they make the food in front of you. Food come out very quick and all pipping hot. My favorite is the garlic mushroom, it tasted spectacular. Service is quick since it is just a small space so they can see everyone rather easily. However sometime they can be busy with take out order.

I live down the street...so Sumiya has been on my to-eat list since moving to the area. Came by around 7:30. We ended up staying a bit past closing. Didn't realize until we looked around and all the other customers had left. But staff never rushed us to leave. Two of us ordered quite a bit of food: -yakitori don set, potato mochi $20.75 -hatsu (hearts) $7.50, good texture -kamo (duck) $10, good, a bit pricey but flavor was good -nagoya style calamari $13 good -kalbi don set, tonkatsu $22.75, really tasty, would get again Staff was friendly. Easy parking in the plaza. Excited to be back soon! _______________________________________________________________ Came back a second time a few months later...about a 4 star experience. Came by before 6PM on a Saturday evening. Quite a few parties ahead and didn't realize they do Yelp waitlist. Was quoted around 40 min or so. Communication was super weird regarding seating...already told staff that we wanted to sit inside. About 30 min later, I get a call, and they ask if I want to sit outside again, and I say no, we want to sit inside. We end up waiting for more than an hour...so just be aware during peak times. This time around, 3 of us ordered: -yakitori don set, tonkatsu $20.75 -kalbi don set, chicken karaage $22.75 -hatsu (hearts) $7.50 -gyutan $12 -kimo (liver) $7.50 Overall, flavors were good, staff friendly. Just needs to work on peak time communication and turning tables. We eat fast and ended up finishing in like 20 min, but staff took awhile to turn our tables. Overall, will be back! Suggest going during off times!

I love Sumiya! Their skewers are the bomb. I'm originally from Japan and this place just reminds me of those izakayas in Japan. Highly recommend.

Amazing Yakatori!! Wonderful lively restaurant. We used a phone to see the menu and order. They also brought menus to the table. The service was fast and seamless. We tried a huge selection of yakatori. I think the best dish is the grilled scallops. So flawlessly prepared, we ordered a second dish of them. The other surprising and delicious dish is the white tuna over a mound of pickled shredded vegetables. I didn't try anything too exotic but the beef tongue was given high compliments. I saw people ordering bento boxes and they looked beautiful. I liked the ordering system. Once the ordering starts, more dishes can be ordered very easily. Highly recommend.

I came over to spend time with my cousin. Even though I had already had my dinner, I couldn't say no to the salmon tataki, and I was right. They were good but a bit costly. The rice was plain (not the Japanese type) and a little dry and tasteless. However, the meal was fairly decent.

This place is the best yakitori place in the area! Super small restaurant space and super popular, so expect long wait times. There is a Yelp waitlist though. The portions are all very generous and I love their Bento sets and bowls. We honestly haven't had a bad dish here, and there is a pretty wide variety to choose from so a little something for everyone. The grilled Saba was a standout! Service was quick and efficient. Would definitely recommend this place.

Upon arriving at the plaza, it can get very busy during the weekends so please come a bit early! The inside is dimly lit if you are seated near the bars/kitchen area. It did take a while to receive the skewers, and I did have to wait. As for food, there are plentiful yakitori options and full-set meals too. It can get a bit pricey over time if you order several dishes. Pork belly, duck, beef tongue, and kalbi with ponzu were ordered! I would say the kalbi with ponzu was my favorite as it had a zesty and juicy taste which I like. The udon was delicious too but would probably not order more meals after as it can settle. The ontama bowl was simple yet filling. Overall, I would visit again but in an earlier time when it is less busy.

Sumiya is a must try if you like tapas style sharing. Great grilled flavors of meat and seafood over open charcoal tubes. Flavor is on point and so is the service! If you get a chance...try out Sumiya's sister restaurant, Gaku.

This one is a hit or miss. Some dishes came out too salty (mostly the ones with a sauce) and some dishes came out too bland (the ones we asked for only salt as flavoring). Service was good, they kept filling out our water. I ordered chicken wings too but was too bland as well. I didn't like the food too much, so I wouldn't go back. It was definitely a disappointment.

Incredible food! Everything we got delicious, fresh, and flavorful. You order through the QR code and service was fast. It's average size with an open kitchen, which was pretty cool. Highly recommend!

The food here was pretty good, I especially liked the white tuna bento and the garlic gizzards. A special shoutout to the potato mochi!! Very convenient with the QR menu and online payment option. Service was fast and the dark restaurant creates a pleasant atmosphere for dinner.

Came right at opening time (5:30pm) on a Friday and was seated immediately. The wait got pretty long early on. The two of us shared the chicken karaage and skewers. My personal ranking of the skewers is as follows: 1) chicken cartilage 2) gizzards 3) pork belly 4) beef tongue. Chicken karaage was so delicious! Meat was so juicy and tender and went amazingly with the kewpie mayo. Pieces were huge. Food came pretty quickly and skewers were cooked nicely. I do wish that the bento combinations were customizable or had more variety. It'd be nice to pick the skewers you want for a bento. Restaurant isn't too big, feels bustling and cozy.

Sumiya is the place where I had my first experience with yakitori. I remembered being blown away by the quality, taste, and concept. They're bite-sized pieces on skewers grilled over an open fire. Paired with an alcoholic beverage of choice, it's perfect for my liking. Seating is limited, and thus, enduring a wait is likely, especially during peak times on weekends. I had dinner here for my birthday before, because I like this place. Typically comes with two skewers per order, so the bill can add up quickly. They're fast and efficient, and orders come out quickly--a great way to spend an evening with friends or your significant other.

Food is great, value is ok, service is minimal. We ordered some appetizers and grills (see photos), most are great. The grills in particular were done beautifully: tender, juicy, flavorful. Would highly recommend the beef tongue, chicken wings, and (for those who love chicken gizzard) chicken gizzards. The fried calamari and grilled mackerel were also really good. The white tuna tataki was ok, no complaints, but also not impressive. Bill for two came down to $100+. It's definitely not a bargain. We were joking the same food would probably cost less than half that in Japan. Typical Bay Area. Service was a bit lacking. After we sat down no one asked us about water. Empty dishes weren't taken away timely. Ordering and checking were all done on the phone, hence "minimal". It's quite busy (packed) on a Friday noon

Sumiya is so good! The place itself is pretty small, so be prepared to wait or come early. We came on a Sunday night around 6 and we waited about 30 minutes for our table. At each table there is a QR code to scan that brings you a menu on your phone. You place your orders and check out on your phone. Some stand out skewers were the salt chicken skin, salt chicken thigh with skin, king oyster mushroom, pork belly with green onion sauce, scallops and chicken gizzard. The only skewer we didn't care for was the beef short rib. We also ordered a bento box and the tonkatsu was cooked perfectly. Servers were friendly and service was quick.

A nice intimate yakitori restaurant in a strip mall by Stan's Donuts, Armadillo Willy's BBQ, etc. Nicely decorated, modern decor in this narrow restaurant. The service is nice, friendly, and attentive. We only tried a few skewers. Kalbi, beef tongue, pork belly, chicken thigh, and chicken skin. Along with a salmon donburi.

Negi-Tan Skewer Bento - 3 beef tongue (not 2) fairly good, good garnish of green onions on top. Agedashi tofu, 5 pieces good cleanser. Salad with shiitake dressing good smell. Rice and poached egg. And some pickled veggies too. Kalbi - could be more tender, sauce good. Heart, gizzard - good. Liver - a bit dry but that is how it is. Tea is good.

This is one of the better yakitori spots in the Bay Area! Sumiya serves authentic Japanese skewers and more, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a great spot for dinner with friends or family. The skewers were cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of char. My favorites were the Nagoya style calamari and Grilled Saba (blue mackerel), so flavorful and juicy! They also offer a good variety of sides and small plates; we tried the Mi thigh, Sasami chicken breast, Gyutan beef tongue and Kalbi, which were tasty. The service was friendly, though it can get a little slow during busy times. The interior has a casual, rustic vibe, and it really transports you to a traditional izakaya. Overall, Sumiya is a solid choice for anyone craving yakitori. It's not the cheapest spot, but the quality of the food makes it worth a visit. Be sure to come early or join the waitlist, as it gets packed quickly!

11.10.2024. Dinner for my significant other's birthday~ thigh+sauce. 8.50. skin+salt. 9.50. butabara (pork belly i think)+salt. 9.50. Shishito. 7.50. kalbi+sauce. 14.00. gyutan(beef tongue)+negi(green onion sauce). 12.50. thigh+salt. 8.50. All of the yakitori was done really well. I think everything was yummy. The shishito was a little too salty. The peppers themselves had salt but coupled with the bonito flakes was more salty than desirable. The thigh+sauce was my fav but I also liked the negi sauce on the beef tongue. The negi sauce wasn't too overbearingly green onion tasting, rather it was quite refreshing. Overall, spent about $50pp and we were both content.

Second time coming, great skewers and food. Udon wasn't the best but service and atmosphere were great. Great yakitori.

Enjoyed this place until our most recent experience. Got food poisoned from raw chicken skewers to the point of almost hospitalization. Careful when eating any of the chicken, make sure it's cooked!

Sumiya is such a gem in the South Bay and I'm glad I finally made time to visit for dinner. The inside of the small restaurant is inviting and intimate. I chose to sit at the bar so I could see the chefs grill all the skewers like they do in Japan. We were seated immediately by the friendly staff and prompted to access the menu through the QR code and to order directly through our phones. There are plenty of skewer options to choose from, all reasonable priced. Most skewers came in a set of two and would arrive one order at a time. We also ordered their new ramen, the salmon ikura don, agedashi tofu, and a side of saba fish. I really liked the grilled beef short rib and the pork belly skewers, both being tender and flavorful. The salmon ikura don was also tasted fresh and was a good pairing to all the skewers we were ordering. We enjoyed our meal and I can see us returning for their lunch sets or for a fun dinner experience again.

This restaurant is located in a decent area with a large parking lot. It's located at the Mariposa shopping center, so it's surrounded by some interesting shops and has ample parking spaces. The inside of the restaurant is small with dim lighting. I thought it was cool that customers can see employees cooking from the entrance! I've never eaten here in person, I always get my order to-go. They usually give me an estimated wait-time of ~20 minutes until my order is ready and their estimated wait-times are pretty accurate. My favorite thing to get here is the chicken karaage don! I like to get it with their fries! Their fries are like little potato wedges and they're delicious! I've gotten their potato mochi and it was okay but I prefer their fries. I enjoy their salad as well. My favorite salad dressings are yuzu citrus and ume miso! The ume miso can be too sodium-heavy for me at times, so I usually get the yuzu critrus. There was one time where my chicken was undercooked and I felt sick the next day. I hope they ensure their meats are thoroughly cooked because their food is good! Fortunately, my last visit here went well; my chicken was cooked and I had no issues. I hope that incident was just a one time thing because I do enjoy coming here!

The service was great and the food was outstanding, we really enjoyed our experience.

Sumiya is a chill izakaya with high-quality skewers for a steep price. My friends and I went here for dinner since one of us had been here before. We signed up on the Yelp Waitlist early, and we were in after one and a half hour wait. The vibe was top notch and was one of the highlights of the restaurant. It had wooden Japanese decor, and you could see the chefs making the skewers. We ordered on our phones, and the food was brought rather quickly. I got the Yakitori Bento B, which consisted of three skewers (chicken thigh, pork belly, and beef short rib), an appetizer, rice with a poached egg, and salad. I exchanged the rice for more salad and chose agedashi tofu for my appetizer. I like this bento because it offers a large variety of items for a reasonable-ish price ($22). The ume miso salad was good as it was fresh and had a flavorful sour taste. I didn't get tired of the salad and finished it. It also went well with the salty yakitori. I won't recommend the agedashi tofu was a bit dry and didn't have that much flavor. The egg was runny and had a nice seaweed flavor, making me wish I kept the rice. The chicken skewer was my favorite due to its classic grilled taste and chewy texture. The pork belly skewer was dry and salty, with a decent texture. The beef short rib skewer was honestly a letdown as it didn't have much flavor and was difficult to chew. Despite the high prices and long wait list, I still believe Sumiya is a great choice to wind down the work week with your friends. The vibe is top notch and the food is still pretty good. Next time, I'll also get a beer, and maybe that will enhance an already great dining experience!

This place never disappoints! The food is consistently delicious , super tasty and well-prepared. The staff are always friendly, and the service is top-notch. Highly recommend trying the Bentos, Butabara, and Agedashi Tofu. All absolutely scrumptious!

We went out for a work lunch for some Japanese food. We wanted some sushi, but my co-worker picked Sumiya, which was a Japanese Charcoal Grill restaurant. All good, I am definitely opened to trying something new. I got the Bento B. A 3 combination skewers (chicken thigh, pork belly & beef short rib) on top of poached egg rice, Tonkatsu & Shiitake dressing for a fresh salad. The meat tasted great and I loved the beef short rib the best. I loved the crunch on the Tonkatsu. Service was good and the place is a nice cozy spot. It gets busy at lunch, so arrive early.

Great ambience and friendly staff! Arrived around 7pm on Sunday, already placed on the waitlist and waited around 20-30 minutes. No waiting seats inside and had to wait outside. Staff kindly opened the outdoor heater for us while we wait. Once we got seated, ordering is easy via website. We ordered apps, skewers and soup. Food tastes amazing. We enjoyed the skewers/yakitori, especially the beef tongue, must try!! Chicken skin is also really good. We tried the Gaku Udon, the soup/broth tastes amazing!! Customer service is very fast. No wonder this place is always crowded! I recommend this place and we will come back.

This place got the basics right and honestly that goes a long way, food was very flavorful without feeling heavy or overdone and I appreciated how they seemed to care about the details like making sure the dish was warm and looked right when it came out, what really stood out though was the way the staff treated everyone, just a natural sense of being helpful and kind without acting like they were reading from a script, that kind of genuine attitude is rare and made a big difference for me, it felt like a place that knew what it was doing and wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't, just good food made with care and served by folks who seem to enjoy working there, not everything was mindblowing but nothing was bad either, and that kind of consistency is something I respect, I'd happily go again.