Yakyudori

We got the Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, the Wasabi Karaage, and the Pork Katsu Rice Bowl. The ramen was ok but nothing special (though the chashu was good), the wasabi karaage was interesting but neither the wasabi flavoring nor the karaage was my favorite, and the pork was ok but too tough and dry. Overall, everything was solid, but it didn't really excel in anything (we've had the yakitori at the sister restaurant Hinotez and it wasn't amazing either). Since it wasn't that cheap, and there's so many good places in Convoy, I think your time would be better spent elsewhere. The restaurant Chopstix seems to be a better implementation of this menu concept.

The chicken wing looks a bit raw. When asked about it, the waiter said it should be cooked because they fry it twice. Sensing I wasn't convinced, he offered to do a one-to-one replacement of the chicken wing. I still paid the tips though! The other food items are still great as before. I just wish the staff would care more.

Really solid yakitori. Recommend the pork neck, chicken thigh, pork belly (in that order). Steak skewer was dry and the pickled veggies are kind of low quality but service was great and so was the yakitori!

great food, nice ambiance, reasonable prices, and ease of ordering via ipad to keep on ordering …they also have a ramen eating challenge if you’re up to it.

Not a lot of options for ramen, My mom is alergic to pork and didnt have much else to order because the other options came in like a mini size, ended up ordering two skewers and fried chicken. Meet was chewy, skewers were expensive and miniature, friend chicken was extremely greasy. The ramen was not great either. Only salvable thing was the edadame.

Monk fish liver and Skewers of Skirt steak, scallop, and pork belly are so so. Soft-shell crab and seafood ramen are good. Very busy and noisy atmosphere. Price is high ($12 for 2 skewers) for the portion and taste compared to other skewer places in SoCal.

Food is great, especially when they had aburasoba. Then it disappeared from the menu. Now I’m salty AF, so 3 stars.

Yakyudori in Convoy is one of my favorite spots when I crave Yakitori. It’s great because they stay open until midnight. We ordered pork and chicken katsu, steamed and fried dumplings, fried chicken with stir-fried rice, yakitori bacon and asparagus, and chicken gizzards. I miss the food and the place. Even when we’re a group of six and it’s late in the evening, they’re still open. Although the bathroom isn’t very clean late at night, the servers are nice and the atmosphere is awesome!

oysters (3.5/5) they're a big size but they do the job if i'm craving oysters but they don't taste as fresh as if i were to go to a seafood restaurant. i love how there's ponzu & green onion shoyu ramen (3.5/5) i used to be obsessed with this ramen because i typically dislike the usual creamy rich ramens offered at ramen shops, but since i've had high quality ramen at ramen nagi, i rarely crave the ramen here anymore. i've made my own shoyu ramen at home with kits you can buy at mitsuwa/marukai and it honestly taste almost identical but if you're too lazy to get all the toppings, it's worth to get it here. beef tongue skewers (5/5) beef tongue is always amazing & it's grilled perfectly beef skewer with radish (5/5) super juicy & love the radish on top rice bowls (3/5) had the beef and kaarage rice bowls, both mid. too sweet and dislike the mayo on top personally. if u come here, i highly recommend the skewers mainly & then any specials if they are still in stock (usually sell out by the evening). i've been to their sister restaurants and they are not as good as this place so don't waste ur time and money

My and my boyfriend love coming here for their ramen. We always order their Miso ramen, its a solid 7/10 The service is always slow, and they are always slammed. I do wish they take reservations. Its not the best ramen spot, but it does satisfy the craving for it. I do wish the servers would check in during the meal, instead of just showing up with the bill at the end.

Tried the mentaiko, chicken thigh, beef tongue, shoyu ramen, chicken heart, salmon roe bowl. Came here again after coming about a year ago but was a little disappointed. Ramen was the only thing I liked this time. Yakitori does not have any char or smokey taste. I'm pretty sure they're not using charcoal to cook anymore. Mentaiko was a nice appetizer. Torched on the outside. Salmon roe bowl was my favorite last time we came here but tasted a lot different. The rice to salmon roe ratio was way off. Was under seasoned. Service was great and I appreciate you guys. Overall probably won't come back unless it's just for ramen or if they change back to charcoal grills.

This is one of my favorite ramen shops in San Diego. It's a small, cozy restaurant on convoy. I'd say the quality is definitely up there with Menya! My go-to is the spicy tonktosu. The spice level is perfect for me and I love the toppings which is just pork chasu and egg. Not pictured, but I don't know another ramen shop who also sells yakitori?? It's delicious and usually well seasoned They also have takoyaki which again is another nice Japanese cuisine to see on their menu. I also have always loved that the staff yells thank you when you leave. This is the closest restaurant to Japan I feel like you can get in SD.

It's more like 3.5.... This used to be our favorite ramen & yakitori place around Convoy, but things have changed over the years. Food: Ramen noodles had nice and smooth texture. The toppings were standard and minimum. The soup had a rich miso taste but lacked flavor and was way salty. Yakitori was disappointing. They were oily on the surface and had no burnt marks at all. Obviously they were not cooked with charcoal or hibachi, and they came out surprisingly pretty quick. A waitress told us that they now cook yakitori with an electric grill. No more charcoal and open flame. Decor & Hours: Things have changed over the years with the decor. No more nostalgic charm of Japanese small izakaya. The hours are also changed, and they are open only at night. Hip pop was playing. Service: The service was non-existent. A young waitress greeted and dropped an iPad for self-ordering. She brought food and disappeared. I feel nostalgic about how this place used to be.

My fiancée and I come here all the time. Honestly, the best place for Japanese food. I'm part Japanese and this food reminds me of eating with my family. The staff is great, very professional and kind. They also have good music playing all the time. It's so good we stop by for dinner a few times a week. Love this place!

I usually come here on a weekday before the 5PM opening and find parking easily and get seated right away. The chicken thigh skewers are my favorite although prices do add up quickly. I love how you can order dishes on an iPad which is super convenient!

Exploring Convoy Street, we chanced upon this and decided to give it a try! Easy to find parking bec it shares the lot with a big coffee chain, we got our table right away ! They give you the iPad and it's all there! My first time ever to try this appetizer - fried smelt and soft shelled crabs! For the quantity - 2 of each - it was pretty affordable! Tasty too! Well - out of all the choices we ended up with 2 bowls of unagi over rice ( we were craving for it) easy relaxed atmosphere, servers were quick to help. Definitely will give the ramen a try next time! "Smelt" ourselves a good deal!

I've heard things about yakyudori and I cannot confirm they're true. For a while, yakyudori was the top ramen spot in SD. I've never had theirs, opting for Mitsuwa. That got me thinking, if it was top ramen, how come I only heard about it now after Menya And Nagi have opened their locations in the US. I've had their yakitori before and the bill has lead me to shed a single tear. After my vacation to Japan, that tear became a full blown crying session. Is beef that expensive in America? Is this the price for happy cows from California? Yakitori in Tokyo is like $3 a skewer at most. I get that the conversion works for me as an American but a minimum 300% inflation? Make it make sense America. Anyway, back to the ramen... It was alright. I could see why it was the best ramen in San Diego because at that time, Sakura was Japanese only while Mitsuwa had quality issues. The next step was going for a little more high priced Japanese sushi restaurants over an Izakaya. As far as the ramen goes, the broth was flavorful and the noodles were nice and bouncy. However, I felt like the egg and the chasu pales in comparison to Menya or Nishiki. Again, before those two opened, it would've been the go-to but now I feel like it's a nostalgia menu item. It seems like yakyudori family of restaurants in SD have a loyal following, even spawning Ko-Li Bar next door. Still, some friends swear by it. They live and die on the hill that is yakyudori. In the famous words of Randy Jackson, "it's just not for me dawg." Side note: they have a Tokyo location which claims they're a San Diego ramen shop. Next time I'm in Tokyo, I'll try to visit for the culture.

This was my favorite Yakitori restaurants to visit when I lived in San Diego. It is still good as I remember except the prices and a few minor problems. The prices are 3-4x more than my last visit back in 2024. Some of the yakitori items were like $14 for two skewers while the ramen was still reasonable. The Unagi bowl was good but the rice was too mushy. Another Asian restaurant who does not cook rice properly. The ramen was still goodness but the noodles was a tad overcooked. The yakitori was not cooked evenly with one part of the skewer was charred. I'll need to venture out on my next visit to SD and try some new Yakitori restaurants.

We were all having a ramen craving and ended up here since the other spot we wanted to go to had too long of a wait. It was nice that they were able to seat us immediately. The tonkotsu ramen came out very fast, it was pretty good. Hit the spot but I wouldn't say it was amazing or the best I've had 3.5 Good spot for a quick bite.

[Food] - Pork Neck ($7): This was so good we ordered more! - Beef Tongue ($15): Not the best I've had but pretty decent. - Shishito Peppers ($6): Would definitely order again next time as I love the slight soy flavor. I usually get it as is with bonito flakes but opted out of bonito flakes this time around so that my vegan friend can enjoy with us - Chicken Skin ($8): Wish it was cooked to be more crunchy than soggy but still tastes good. - Eggplant Miso ($6.50): My friends love this. I'm not a big eggplant person but can still appreciate a bite. - Brussel Sprouts ($5): Pretty decent, no complaints. - Garlic ($5): Good to get to pair with other yakitori dishes. - Pork Shiso ($10): Love the savory pork with the acidic plum flavor. It does end more towards the sour side for the aftertaste but I'm here for it! another dish I would definitely reorder next time I'm here! [Service] - Fast, attentive, friendly - Order via ipad device [Ambiance] - Cozy place with bars and booth seats. - Private parking but small. Best come at non peak hours [Overall] - Would love to come back here to indulge on beer and yakitori (: - Love that they give 2 skewers per order

Yakyudori used to be my favorite ramen spot in San Diego, but a few years ago the restaurant underwent some changes and it really hasn't been the same since. Their ramen is still a solid choice, but doesn't seem to be as flavorful as it was in the past, and they have also completely removed all vegetarian ramen options. That was previously my favorite dish, and I miss it dearly -- plus it's not great to see food that appeals to those with dietary restrictions removed from a menu. The restaurant now leans more on yakitori food options which are fine, but was never what made this place great. Even the decorations now have been simplified and sterilized, and the workers don't seem as cheery and excited as they used to. Despite all of my nostalgic lamenting, Yakyudori is still a decent spot for dinner. It's not usually as crowded as the rest of Convoy, which is a plus, and I try to make time to drop in every now and again.

This place used to be much better. Sadly as with many other restaurants since the pandemic the food quality has gone down, less toppings with the ramen, smaller portions, higher prices. The food is now average.

One of my favorite places to get meat on a skewer. The restaurant has a very intimate setting the light are dimmed. All the staff are nice, they greeted me and sat me down. They have a tablet system where I can input my order for anything, food, drinks, utensil, etc. I order the meat lover fried rice, it chicken karaage circling meat fried rice. My favorite skewers are chicken livers, it's so tender and I love the taste. The other skewer was okay, I think it. Everything was really good, I would say the fried rice is a good portion for me to enjoy alone.

The yakitori here is amazing, everything was flavorful. We loved everything we ordered & even wanted to get more. I love the concept of ordering on the iPad, makes everything easier & you can just order as you go. It does get pricey though, the yakitori ranges between $5-$15 but most come with 2 sticks. For 2 of us, we spent a little over $100. All in all, I'd still come back every once in a while when I'm craving some yakitori!

Came here Sunday night with a friend. We waited maybe 15-25 minutes outside, I could feel the night get chilly as time passed. We got seated at the bar area and they brought out a tablet for us to scroll through and order off of. Which is nice for people that get nervous ordering in person! This provided us with pictures, descriptions, and prices. We could customize what we chose as well which was nice. We decided to get: spicy tonkatsu ramen with extra corn, fried gyoza, chicken yakitori, beef yakitori (2 skewers each), and their french fries H.I.M style. The spicy tonkatsu ramen was really tasty. The flavor had depth to it and the spice crept up on you over time. I loved the thickness of the noodles...they were perfectly cooked. The runny egg was so good, but I wish they had given both halves instead of just one half of the egg. In addition to that, for this particular bowl, there wasn't any corn in it. (Like usually the bowl already comes with corn, but it was missing_) At least, I ordered "extra" corn! The fried gyoza was wayyy better than the steamed gyoza even though the filling was the same. I loved the ponzu sauce they topped it with, it was zingy!! The chicken yakitori was very bland, with no marinade or seasoning. Tasted like chicken, and had no color to it. No char... I would definitely skip this next time. The beef yakitori was perfectly cooked, and the portion size resembled the kind you'd get in Asia so that's pretty on par. Would I get it again? Probably not. I'd just stick with the ramen.. The HIM-style fries only had two skewers worth of chicken katsu chopped in 4 pieces. The ratio of chicken to fries was not equal. There were way too many fries compared to the chicken. The fries were a little limp and the longer the sauce sat on top it became soggy. The sauce was a drizzle of mayo and a drizzle of the sauce they put on takoyaki balls. Overall, this was a decent dinner and the star of the show was the spicy tonkatsu ramen. I'm sure this isn't the BEST place to get it in San Diego, but it sure does the job for a craving! The amount of noodles you get is perfect for 1 person. Usually, I can't finish without sharing but this was really the ideal portion. I'd say it's not the biggest restaurant but it can hold multiple groups and single people as well. The kitchen staff are efficient and stay hydrated! The waitresses and waiters are quiet but kind and friendly. The interior is a dark glossy wood color with the perfect amount of lighting in it. It's a cozy spot!

Food is as authentic as you can get for Japanese standards. The price of food is comparable to most restaurants. The staff are attentive and fast service. The restaurant is cozy and reminds me of a mom-and-pop restaurant in Okinawa. Next to the restaurant are shaved ice and Japanese desserts.

Someone else got the ramen and it was okay, there's a lot of other places to get ramen. Here's my suggestion for a yummy, but affordable meal. Do the instagram comment for $1 edamame. Order a bowl of rice and 2 skewers. This was fine for me.

Used to live in Kearny Mesa, only a hop...skip...and a jump away from Convoy Street. Yakyudori is one of the MANY spots I would frequent, mainly for the yakitori. So of course, while I'm in town for a bit- I've got a list of my old fave spots that I plan on rolling thru. And after a long day at work, I had yakitori on the brain. Now keep in mind, if you're gonna partake in some yummy Meats-On-A-Stick; Plan accordingly. They only serve yakitori AFTER a certain time. I'm not positive what that time is now (I'm sure there's a chance times have shifted since COVID) - so it's something to keep in mind. That being said, by the time I got to the area, it was past 5:30 pm and I KNEW it was YAKITORI TIME!! Call it what you will: "A sixth sense"... "Psychic powers"... or "starvation". When a girl knows, she knows. Luckily, it wasn't packed when I arrived, so I was seated immediately and handed a tablet. Yup, a tablet. At first I thought, "Oh cool...you guys came up!" Followed by my second thought, " Oh Shhh-... I'm gonna order half of the restaurant." You CANNOT give a hungry girl that kind of power at her fingertips. I felt like Thanos...with all 6 Infinity Stones... and low blood sugar. And with *ONE SNAP* ...I over-ordered. As expected. Well-played, Yakyudori...well-played. The food was soooo good. It reminded me of why I missed living near Convoy Street. The servers provided reliable, friendly service, and the atmosphere was chill. (Note: The pictures are not an accurate representation of everything that was ordered. I will take my shame to the grave.) Looking forward to returning! Thanks, Yakyudori!!

Lots of variety here. There's also ramen but we decided to try the yakitori and unique dishes. The beef skewers were perfectly seasoned but others unfortunately lacked flavor. The oysters were on point!

Cute spot!! Came here and got the shoyu ramen & chicken kaarage! You walk in and it's got a night vibe and posters promoting beer everywhere. Everyone orders on ipads and can read the menus which is super efficient. I have a soft spot for this place because it coincidentally has my favorite toppings LOL I love the soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots and corn. They also have tabletop chili powder! The chicken karaage wasn't the best, nor the worst i've had. Everything comes out fast and hot. The service is fast and friendly. My only stipulation is that the hours are so weird haha. I've been wanting to try this spot but we always came and they were closed but that's my fault for not checking before. They have a ramen challenge: eat a whole ramen bowl in TWO MINUTES and it's free!! Going to try when I return - i'll see you guys soon!!

I've been here a few times and it never disappoints! When you enter the restaurant you can either sit in a booth or by the bar area next to the cooks. Chill ambiance. They have tablets that they provide you with for ordering your food. The tablets have pictures of the food items and you basically just choose and add what you want. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with an extra egg, a plate of gyoza and my wife ordered the roast beef tataki. The ramen is on point, especially the eggs! I really like the broth because it taste super rich and the noodles are really good as well. The gyoza were nice and crispy, great flavor to them. The roast beef tataki was especially juicy! Overall the quality of the food is amazing! Another thing I like about this place is that there isn't really a super long wait time if there's one. Highly recommend you try their ramen!

This restaurant had been a family staple go-to for years. Our last trip may be our last for a while. Something has changed since COVID. The portions are smaller/prices much higher, but also the ambiance has somehow changed. It may simply be the move to electronic ordering and payment, or the way they have redesigned the seating, but it's doesn't have that "boisterous izakaya" feel anymore. Bummer. Taste-wise, things have gotten heavier on the salt. On the upside, hooray for hotaru ika (which I loved as a kid in Tokyo) and the green salad is much larger now. The yakitori menu, generally, has pared down in offerings. Many of the traditional chicken and veggies did not make the cut.

Tell me why their Beef Skewers used to be $6 for two, and now they're 2 for $12! Crazy how astronomical prices have went up and how times have changed. There's an iPad to order which makes it easier, however, I do miss the look of the handheld menus. I used to come here only for the Beef Skewers and their Shoyu Ramen. Haven't tried the ramen since, but the skewers do look the same. This visit I got their Mayo Chicken Wings, Pork Cheek Skewers, Chicken Thigh Skewers, and an oyster. Everything was actually pretty good except for the pork cheek. It was so overly salted by itself I needed to eat it with rice. The chicken wings were nice and crispy and I liked their spicy mayo sauce. The oyster was big in size and very plump. It was topped with some sort of kimchi? Overall, very fresh tasting. I really loved their old interior as it gave the restaurant personality. The food remains somewhat consistent throughout the years with just a few flaws. Prices are a bit high which steers me away from dining here compared to other yakitori spots in Convoy.

Back when I first moved to SD around 2013, this place was poppin'. Always crowded, lots of people waiting outside. Tonight it wasn't like that, perhaps b/c it was a weeknight. We were fine with it! Quality of food is still as good as I remembered from the last time we went back in 2015. The poster of the dude with the giant cheesy grin holding a beer is gone though - iconic! They should have kept it! Tonight I got the tonkotsu ramen - flavor was on point, clean broth, 2 pieces of Cha shu was sufficient, noodles had good chew and were ample, and the egg was boiled perfectly. Husband got the Cha shu rice bowl with fried rice and confirmed it's deliciousness. We shared agedashi tofu and the bacon wrapped asparagus, with our mains and these sides we were plenty full. Should remember to keep this in our rotation of consistent goods!

First off- came on a Sunday expecting a crazy line but it wasn't too bad. We were seated immediately and there wasn't much wait staff expect for the iPad. We tried to do the 2- minute ramen challenge but the broth is HOT and you have to finish that as well. Not sure if you need a better strategy... We got the squid, pork belly, mushroom, chicken meatballs, and this deep fried steak burger? I really enjoyed the squid and the deep fried burger patty. Also overall the vibe is fun and trendy and the food comes out fast!

One of my favorite ramen places! The service is great and the food is amazing. I always have a wonderful time here with friends and the vibes are great.

I love the simple ordering system from a tablet at your table. The food is great. I don't think there is anything that isn't good. All the pork skewers were great

Favorite ramen spot by far on Convoy. Great food, excellent service, and amazing vibes all around. Highly recommend the spicy pork tonkotsu ramen and hanami beef skewers!

I got the miso ramen which was really good. They also have a thing where you can get a free bowl of edamame or glass of beer for liking them on Instagram and commenting on one of their posts. I did it and got the edamame, which was good as well. Staff were friendly and nice. The place looked very nice as well.

I went solo one night because my building had water turned off from 7p-6a. I ordered with my eyes and not my stomach but hey no worries cuz it would be a good lunch the next day lol. Staff ultra friendly. Food was good though not as great as when the female chef is there. Sometimes it's a tad too salty whereas other items could use more seasoning and it could've used more time on the grill. Chicken Wasabi, Harami beef - too chewy but seasoned perfectly, not enough "grill," maybe heat wasn't high enough Gizzards - my fav, could've used more time on the grill Pork and basil - seasoned well I tried the poke rice here for the first time... super delicious and generous amount for the price compared to other poke places. Still I appreciate the fast service and I am happy with everything.

We were craving yakitori and found this place nearby. Plenty of parking and located on a much quieter side of Convoy. The dining area is fairly small, mostly tables for 2-4. You order on a tablet and a waiter brings the food to your table. This was nice so that you can order a little at a time so you can eat at a slower pace and your food stays hot. We ordered a variety of skewers, eggplant, agedashi takoyaki, yellowtail, and fried oysters. The skewers were all delicious. Good char and cooked to the perfect texture. Each order comes with two skewers. Our favorites were the chicken gizzard and beef tongue. But the pork neck and harami steak were tender and marinated well too. I'm a fan of kaki fry and was happy with the execution of the dish. We saw our adjacent party order and rave about the fried eggplant so we got it too. This was a good decision, it was yum! We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the takoyaki as well but I prefer fried over agedashi. My partner loved it though. Overall, we enjoyed every dish we tried. However, dinner was fairly light considering the price. It would be costly to eat until full. I can see this place being a great spot for a light meal while hanging out with friends.

Greasy heaven! Yakyudori has a variety of dishes from skewers and ramen to saucy fries. The server was accommodating and polite while the atmosphere was fun and jolly. There were tablets so you didn't have to talk much and get right into eating. All the meats were juicy but still maintained that delicious charred flavor. Liver reigned supreme above all the proteins with the perfect amount of seasoning. The pork shiso had a hunk of onions and scallions along with a sour plum which kept the dish interesting and I couldn't get enough of it as well. Fries were surprisingly cooked to an amazing crisp and didn't get soggy from the sauce. Great experience overall and would recommend this spot.

There are other fancier yakitori spots in the area but the quality for the amount you pay here is great! I also love the casual vibe of this spot, which is great for hanging out or getting drinks/food after work. They'll put an iPad at your table when you sit down so you can put in orders as you go or put in all your order at once, whatever works for you. At the end there is a button for you to ask for the check. The food comes out quickly and the whole process is seamless and efficient. I've never had a skewer I did not like here. I love that each order comes with two skewers! The harami is a little pricier but it is so smoky and tender. If you are on a budget, the heart is very flavorful and meaty! While I'd say they're more of a yakitori place, their ramen is quite good in my opinion. The broth has a nice balance of richness and umami without being overwhelmingly salty. Their spicy miso/tonkotsu isn't super spicy. The egg is also perfectly soft-boiled! I've had so many good meals here and their quality has always been consistent no matter what time or day I come.

I'm not sure if this place changed ownership because it's definitely not the same as when I used to come here during my college times! The ambient is different (darker and different music), staff are all wearing a red uniform T-shirt, ordering style is now through an iPad instead of the traditional pencil and sheet of paper. Food is also different. I used to love ordered the Tako wasa appetizer (raw octopus in wasabi) but they no longer have it. Price is also much higher than what I remember... This is what we ordered for 3 people: 2x Harami (beef skewer) $12 each 1x Chicken liver $6.50 1x Chicken heart $6 1x Pork belly $8.50 1x Fried chicken bowl $13 2x Mini pork chashu bowl $10 Each skewer order came with two. Total $78 before tax and tips. Our friend only had 1x beef skewer and 1x mini pork chashu bowl. The rest for two people was satisfying but definitely not full! The rice bowl helped fill us up though. We were expecting the mini pork bowl to be much smaller than the regular fried chicken bowl but it was about the same size which surprised us (probably just came with less meat). Overall food is just ok...and too pricey for what it is. I don't think I'll be coming back anymore :( I'll be trying out the Yokohama place - heard that one is pretty good!

I think this place is too pricey for what it is! I ordered a cold ramen, eggplant and baby squid and easily spent $30 and I was still hungry. I forgot to take a photo of the eggplant, but it was just ok and I probably would not order again. I would have liked the eggplant to be grilled more and I noticed there was no char on it at all which I typically like when it comes to grilled eggplant! I did take a photo of the baby squid and boy were they really baby! More like tadpoles! I took a photo with my finger for size reference. For $5.50 for two skewers, the baby squid was not worth it at all and will definitely not get again. The only thing I really enjoyed was the cold ramen. It was tasty and the egg was cooked perfectly! Maybe what I ordered my first time here was a miss so maybe I'll have to try again and try other stuff but I'm kind of skeptical of size and portion because the baby squid was way misleading!

I've been wanting to try this place for a really long time as Im trying to find a go-to yakitori place in SD... sadly, I was disappointed as nothing was really special about this place. I don't know if it's because I'm spoiled but this place's taste does not compare to the yakitori I've had in Hawaii or even Rowland Heights. My boyfriend and I tried a variety of the skewers and all of them left us feeling meh --- it was salty, not marinated well enough, or just chewy. We also tried their ramen and I would go somewhere else for better ramen. Interesting take for this place to be pretty much self service in the sense that they give you an iPad and you place the order on your own. I don't think I'll be back which is such a shame because I had high hopes from reading the high reviews.

This is a true Japanese Izakaya. They have a large assortment of items, including Yakitori, Ramen, and more! Their service is impeccable, and the food is even better. I highly recommend this place to anybody!

I recently tried the ramen at Yakyudori, and it was a truly delightful experience. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the toppings were fresh and well-balanced. I highly recommend it to any ramen enthusiast! They have a nice ambiance and some promo to get followers on Instagram and all staff was so nice and fun. Love it! Definitely coming back

Great atmosphere, diverse selection of yakitori, reasonable pricing, what's not to love. We tried a little of everything (and we mean everything) and found some preferences but no let downs. Definitely the place to go for some Japanese street food. Pictured is just a selection of what we ended up getting for our large table.

Oh, how doth my taste buds rejoice in the presence of this savory bowl of ramen! Methinks the broth is as rich and flavorful as the language of the bard himself. The noodles are tender yet firm, much like the emotions of his tragic heroes. The pork belly is cooked to perfection, so much so that it melteth in my mouth like butter. The egg is boiled with such precision that the yolk is soft and runneth over the noodles like a river. And what of the toppings? The scallions and seaweed are the perfect companions to this hearty meal, and the bean sprouts add a delightful crunch. All of these ingredients come together in perfect harmony, much like the players in one of Shakespeare's plays. Verily, I must commend this ramen shop for the exquisite meal they have provided. If thou art in search of a culinary adventure, look no further than this establishment. It is a feast fit for a king, or perchance a prince. Def coming back!!

Food was just OK. Very pricey. Service was quick but kind of complicated ordering from the tablet in a large party.

I've been going to this place for about 5 years now.. and the taste and quality of their food is still the same! So good and filled with umami! You must be wondering why I gave 4 stars.. well the prices have gone up tremendously over the years. I remember back then, ordering a yakitori/skewers would only be at least 3 or 4 dollars.. not the prices have gone up through the roof!!! They also have a kiosk now where you can order, instead of talking to a server. Last time I was here, I came with my fiancé and his brother. We ordered 3 ramen, and 2 skewers. Total came out to almost $70. Was it worth it? Hmmm, if you go here once in awhile yes. 8/10 would still recommend though :)

Takoyaki 80/100 Batter isn't that gooey and I prefer that. Chicken wings 75/100 Chickens cooked well and skin is nice and crispy. Sauce is p avg. Beef yakitori bowl with rice 70/100 Radish beef yakitori 70/100 Pork belly 80/100 Shoyu ramen 65/100 Pork shiso 70/100 Gizzard 7/10 Unagi 90/100 Good sauce and cooked well . Skin intact 3.5/5

Waiter and waitress were kind, although the main cook and who I assume is the owner refused me a refund on two orders of their full squid, both of which I only took a few bites from. It was undercooked, and the texture throughout each piece varied from rubber to animal fat. Normally don't send stuff back at all, but this tasted putrid.

My nephew love the smelt fish skewers so we came here for dinner. There was little to no wait when we came by which was great. The service is always expedited and efficient now with the ordering on the iPad. The ambiance is quite social so it's a little noisy but still conversational. We got a variety of food to sample and share as most skewers came as 2. The food is good which goes well with a nice cold beer pair with some sake. Definitely a great starting point to get into Japanese quick bites.

My boyfriend got the spicy tonkutso ramen and I got the regular tonkutso ramen. Beside ramens, they have Yakitori or skewers of beef, beef tongue, chicken hearts and etc. We don't have to wait long for the food, and the atmosphere is casual and great for hang out. They have good amounts of parking lot space.

Came here on a rainy night so was able to get a table. I remember trying to come here before 2020 and it was really busy. The yakitori skewers were good but wish it didn't cost so much for such little sticks. But I get it, inflation. The beef was tender. The chicken liver was a little rare so we asked them to cook it more , but the flavor was good. The squid is ok, nothing special. I would pass on the shoyu ramen, it was bland. The spicy miso ramen was ok also. We also got fried oysters but didn't have that picture. The little amt of food we got was about $157 before tip.

Really disappointed. I visit many restaurants and have an instagram page dedicated to food. I have been to many good ramen and yakitori places and this one was the worst. I hate to write a bad review but I feel like others need to know and the restaurant need to work to serve better quality food. Another thing that I personally did not appreciate was the charge of $2 per extra sauce that they brought to our table. We were not told about the extra charge, and only found out when we were paying our bill. They gave us 6 sauces and charged all 6 without telling us that we have to pay. Sure, I'll pay, but it's not right to not tell me in advance, and then bring me 6, that I only used 1.