Yokohama Yakitori Koubou - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was extremely negative due to the staff's behavior and the excessive wait time. I was initially quoted a 30-minute wait for a walk-in, but ended up waiting for over an hour. When I politely inquired about the estimated wait time, the front desk staff responded rudely, stating, “I don’t have an estimate” and “do you think I can ask customers to hurry up and leave? ” This kind of attitude is completely unacceptable. I would recommend going to Izakaya Sakura in the same plaza instead.

My experience at this restaurant was fun! It's always a great place to go with friends and enjoy their plum alcohol drink. The service, atmosphere, and food all received a perfect score.

I’d give this yakitori spot a solid 4 stars. The food was good and hit the cravings, but nothing really stood out as especially unique. The skewers were cooked well, flavors were balanced, and everything came out pretty quick. It’s the kind of place where you know exactly what you’re getting—comforting, reliable yakitori without any surprises. The interior is actually pretty fun. You’ll see a lot of San Diego Padres pride throughout the restaurant, mixed with Japanese soccer team memorabilia, which gives it a quirky East-meets-West vibe. It definitely adds character and makes the space feel lively. Service was friendly, prices were reasonable, and overall we had a nice time. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-try or anything particularly special, but it’s a good, dependable spot when you’re in the mood for yakitori and a chill atmosphere.

My experience at this restaurant was extremely frustrating. We were made to wait for an hour on a random Monday night, despite there being plenty of open tables. When we inquired about the wait time after an hour, the staff rudely informed us they couldn't provide an estimate because they had to wait for all 'reservations' to not show up, which would be another 30 minutes to an hour. Shockingly, just two minutes later, they called us saying they had availability because people had just checked out. It's unbelievable that they couldn't have simply told us someone was checking out and the table would be ready soon when we asked about the wait. I strongly advise against going here unless you're prepared for a two-hour wait with nothing to show for it.

My experience at this restaurant was horrible. As a regular customer, I observed other regulars acting as if they owned the place, being drunk and loud. The staff failed to intervene, not cutting off the customers or addressing the regulars' behavior. This created a horrible ambiance overall. While the food was good (4/5), the service and atmosphere were severely lacking.

I’ve been a loyal customer since 2012, visiting this restaurant countless times. It, along with Hinotez, played a significant role in my daughter's love for Japanese cuisine. Last night, however, I was a bit disappointed. While I understand that costs have increased and life is generally more expensive, the portion sizes were laughable, especially considering they doubled the cost. My usual favorites, like the pork shiso with plum sauce and the asparagus bacon skewers, were served in pitifully small sizes. The shiso rolls varied in size, with one being particularly tiny. The asparagus skewers seemed like mere crumbs. Previously, orders came with double skewers, but now it's single. The gyu tan, kalbi, and shishito dishes also experienced this reduction. Despite the smaller portions, the food quality remains very good. However, I feel a sense of betrayal. The atmosphere also seemed to have lower energy and lacked its former vibe. I still love you guys and remain loyal, but I felt compelled to offer this honest feedback in hopes you'll consider it.

Mmmmmmmmmm mmmmm mmmm m . My experience was delicious with cold crisp beer on tap! I highly recommend tipping big, as it's worth the experience and time all the time! Go Padres!

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the food had good flavor, especially the kimchi pork which was my favorite, it was a bit pricey for what you get. The wait time was significant; as a walk-in for a group of two, we waited about an hour and a half. Despite the wait and the price, I would come back again.

Having lived in Japan for four years, I have a good sense of authentic Japanese vibes. While I didn't expect much in the States, this restaurant offered a mixed experience. We arrived without a reservation, and our male waiter took our orders. There was a miscommunication with one appetizer, chicken skin with ponzu versus fried chicken skin. When the dish arrived, my friend realized the mistake, and the waiter seemed offended, stating, "well technically it’s fried chicken breast. " Lmao. He then seemed to avoid our table for the rest of the night, with other waitresses assisting us instead. We waited about 40 minutes for our numerous Yakitori orders, only to be told they got lost. After re-entering the order, we received it within 10 minutes. It's still confusing how the orders didn't reach the chefs and why we waited so long before inquiring. The food was good, but the atmosphere was just okay.

My recent visit to Yokohama Yakitori Koubou was a mixed bag. On the positive side, the miso soup and skewers were quite good, and the rice was decent. However, the cabbage wasn’t the freshest, and it was served with a disproportionately small amount of mayo. The oolong tea also left something to be desired. The service staff generally lacked warmth, with no one really smiling or appearing particularly positive. The most significant issue arose after I decided not to tip, as the prices listed in the restaurant were higher than what I had seen online. A staff member then followed me outside and loudly confronted me about the tip line on the receipt, creating a very uncomfortable situation for everyone around. While the food had some highlights, the overall experience was unfortunately overshadowed by this unpleasant and loud confrontation about tipping.