its hard to find really good asian food in south florida but Hiro's does a great job! Its a pretty small spot and usually there is a wait but well worth it. the ramen is decent and the calbi is pretty good. The home run is with a different type of steak that they offer - I wish I knew what it was called but I didnt order it :( The whole fried fish looked really good and its nice to go with a group of 6 or less I would not say more.
(4)
Erica A.
This place is beyond amazing, even though it lost its unique hole in the wall feel. You can never go wrong with an order of bok choy and a rice bowl (katsudon all the way)! The rice bowls and bbq beef bowls are a must have. At least now I don't get lost trying to get there like I did at the old location.
(5)
Michael R.
Awesome as usual I'm there probably every Sunday night...my favorites are crispy pork salad kimchee ramen on those cold winter nights, they have some really yummy garlic stems, I've been goin there for years and the food has stayed pretty consistent the servers are super nice...I definitely recommend this pace, but one of my favorites is that's it's open late..
(5)
Cindy Y.
I went here many moons ago, but I still remember my experience here. Perhaps it was just the dishes that I ordered as a first time customer, but it wasn't as great as I had hoped for. I had a kimchi buta (pork and kimchi in a kimchi based sauce) and it was okay. I had a Korean friend that come with me and she said that she's had better kimchi... and that it wasn't "ripe" enough. (Ironically, there's a Korean hostess working there as well.) My Korean friend didn't like her kimchi ramen that she ordered either. I also ordered something (forgot its name) that had a description of "thinly sliced potato with nori/dried seaweed on top." It's definitely an acquired taste. Maybe some of my tastes aren't suited for the Japanese palate, but it did not even come close to what I thought it was going to be. It didn't even taste like potato (unless it was raw, which I've never had before), but more of a raw daikon. (Update: searched it up and it was "Japanese mountain yam.") It was really starchy too, so it was really gooey and sticky as well; kind of like natto. I tried finishing it but I just couldn't. The dessert is what saved dinner as whole, though. I ordered a "volcano," which was layers of ice cream on lady fingers, I believed, served with a warm azuki red bean sauce. (Also, I guess another perk is that they're open late everyday.) I probably would give it another chance if I'm ever around the area, but it's not somewhere where I'd drive out of my way for. Maybe they can prove me wrong next time.
(2)
M O.
Highly recommended - Open Late - Japanese food, not sushi. They have a great menu of small plates, great for sharing. Bring a large group and share everything.
(4)
Frenchy M.
I feel obligated to post this as I went to their new location on the intracostal mall: I almost cried,i should have know since the name is the same, but underneath it: "Japanese Tapas" :-/ the new place is HUGE, has a modern feel to it and sounds more like a cafeteria (high ceiling I guess) ....They kept the dishes, got rid of the specials of the day but did a few modification to others .I waited over 20 minutes for someone to come and acknowledge our table, had to wait another 15 for my drink to arrive, same price same taste, Half the Size!!! I am really really really disappointed , and believe that they will get lots of customers due to their new location , but will certainly loose their more purist fans...I will be one.I will follow June advice and try their sushi , but I did loose my "amazing perfect little Japanese place"................
(3)
Tina K.
Came here when we were apartment hunting in Miami in an attempt to replace our weekend Cali Izakaya with a familiar taste in Miami and was slightly surprised. With low expectations (very low expectations) and a gleam of hope, we ordered more food than we could eat off the menu. Sashimi - hmm... it's definitely edible but the cut is definitely not Japanese, huge cuts of fish, quantity over quality, not alot of taste but it didnt reek of fishiness either. The Karaage was good, nice portion modestly priced. The Kama was not bad either. Ganpachi sashimi in lime - a whole slice of Jalapeno on top of each piece, made me laugh but it actually tasted OK. It's not an authentic Japanese place but it's got its own style and everyone orders the whole fish so I gotta try that next time. I think its more of a Chinese-Japanese restaurant... once you're at peace with that then all's good.
(3)
Bernardo A.
I have never been to Japan nor do I speak Japanese. The closest I've ever gotten to Japan was my Japanese college roommate and the many, many lunches and dinners we had in San Francisco's Japan Town. Yamaguchi, my roommate, never thought that any of the places we went to were good enough or authentic enough so I know, as a fact, that I have never had an authentic Japanese meal. What I do have are feelings, an appreciation for visually appealing things, a good sense of smell and taste buds. My review of Yakko San is entirely based on service, presentation and taste. Authenticity? What do I know? And since I can't do anything about that in the immediate future, who cares? Yakko San is GREAT! I am a firm believer that in order to get the best attention, the customer needs to put his best foot forward as well, specially in these small places that get very busy and very hectic very quickly. Our party of four had a a 20 minute wait before we were seated at a table close to the front door in front of the bar. The place is very unassuming and I haven't really seen the main dining room. The lovely Korean waitress asked us what we wanted to drink and suggested a reasonably priced sake. We took her recommendation and loved every sip of it. All of us at the table had experienced donburi and soba and udon noodle soups as well as gyoza and things of that sort, so we decided to order an assortment of daily specials which we all shared. At the end of the meal, the check was astronomical, but we all got to experience a couple of bites of a wide variety of dishes; most of them recommended by our waitress whom we trusted, blindly. All the dishes were well-seasoned and flavorful. We had a great time. We were all satisfied. I'll be back soon and will pay more attention to the individual dishes so I can write a more detailed review.
(4)
M -dot W.
Locally, I heard several Asians in Miami talking bout how this place is highly regarded by Asians for being really good( in a sea of not-so-good).......nuff said . If you want to know whats good here ( see other Yelps! ) . I am just here to give credit where credit is due CHECK IT OUT !
(5)
Marcela R.
Lotus blossom roots, crispy bok choy, fried rice. They have a decent selection of mushrooms and the udon noodle soups are the best! Parking sucks and it is always packed because they are only open for dinner.
(4)
Cameron T.
Amazing find, and probably the highlight of our trip to MIA. Our server was super friendly. He even made origami for our two daughters. We had scallops w/ asparagus, fried ebi, grilled eggplant, kimchi & shoyu ramen, and a special roll wrapped in rice paper with amazingly tasty tuna. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. The only things that were mediocre were the ramen. I've had much better in all the ramen restaurants in NYC. My husband said the tuna special was one of the best things he's ever had in any Japanese restaurant. Their fried cheesecake is supposed to be great but we found it to just be okay. The wrapper was a bit too thick. Go early or you'll have to wait. They also serve very late into the night. For a quick sushi meal, you can go next door to Hiro's express. They even have online ordering.
(4)
Stephanie T.
Coming from an area saturated with Asian food and a surplus of Japanese/sushi restaurants, I was annoyed that anything in this area was poorly rated or a Japanese/Thai combo (what the heck, right?!) Seeing 4.5 stars for 129 meant Yelpers have to be on the right track. Got a little lost and confused coming to this particular location since it is secluded in a huge plaza that is kind of off the main road. Came in and did not see many Asian people at all, so my first thought was "Oh no...", but the restaurant itself is nicely decorated and ambianced. They had a large table ready for us in no time. Our waiter kind of stood off to the side and watched us and it kinda felt like we were rushed to order although this place is open late. I ordered they shoyu ramen and shared a hamachi jalapeno roll. Broth was nicely flavored and the stuff a lot of noodles into the bowl. Mine had more noodles than soup and the noodles expand very quickly. The roll was ok, nothing spectacular. The hot soba my friend had was delicious and authentic tasting too. Who knows, it might be the best you can get in Miami, but I've had better. I wasn't wowed, but I was satisfied.
(3)
Tomas R.
Hiro's Yakko-San made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Each dish was a surprise in flavor and presentation. Try the chicken liver, even if you may not like it. My wife, who is not fond of my habit of ordering this dish every Japanese restaurant we go to, actually loved the way Yakko-San fried and then sauted them. I am a big fan of how they served each dish the moment it is prepared fresh so you don't have to worry about food being served cold here, unless it was intended to be served cold. Stick with older servers there, we had a young rookie server one time and even her lack of attention could not let it take away from the amazing eats here. This place has exotic dishes for the adventurous and Japanese staples for those who prefer to stick with the usual favorites. Must say this is definitely one of the top three Japanese restaurants in Miami.
(5)
Cynthia F.
This place is awesome. Great authentic sushi, HUGE rolls...the soups are amazing, it reminds me of the food I had when I was in Japan. The location is perfect close to Sunny Isles Beach...Love this place!
(5)
Karina K.
After a long search and trek for okonomiyaki, my boyfriend and I fell in love with Hiro's Yakko-San's. It's always quite a drive for us, about an hour and a half, but so worth the time and the gas. For their staples we can't get enough of their curry fried rice, crispy bok choy, okonomiyaki (it's not on the menu, but if they aren't busy they'll make it for you =) ), and yakiniku beef. For me, I can't get enough of their seasonal specials! The price for each plate is quite affordable, we spend around $20 per person and always end up ordering a plethora of different "tapas." You can't beat the service either, the wait staff is very welcoming and attentive. They do have sushi, but their main focus is japanese tapas and cuisine. Oh...another great thing is that they're open very late at night, until 2am or 3am, depending on the day! I wish they were open for lunch too, c'est la vie. ^_^
(5)
Sonny S.
My girlfriend and I usually always make a stop here. Love the food.
(5)
Herb F.
Just visited the new location a couple of weeks ago. The new restaurant is nice and has all the new modern upgrades, BUT I kinda miss the old location which had that "off the beaten trail" feel to it. None the less the food is still good at the new location, but the server we had was less than desirable (he knowingly or unknowingly tricked us into ordering 4 orders of Uni when all we wanted was 4 pieces of Uni). Overlooking the waiter incident, the food is still on point...
(4)
Erin E.
You have to get the oysters. I am not extremely well rounded but I have had my share of tasty treats and these oysters are within the top 5 tasty delicious dishes I have ever had. Yakko San is great. Fresh fresh fresh and I cannot wait to have the Sukiyaki (order 1 day in advance). A great date place or for a small birthday party, especially if some in your crew are not that adventurous they cannot be disappointed. Clams are super tasty, the broth is drinkable, BBQ beef over rice , sashimi ~ I'm picky with fish and am more than willing to try anything here. I know it's fresh so my fears go out the window. And the staff is friendly and willing to help, even change your mind should they think some other dish is tastier than the one you have chosen. Just as a suggestion but so far their choices have proven to be good!
(4)
Danny H.
very good for overall Japanese.
(4)
Lee H.
Just went there after a show in north miami at the recommendation of my GF and I have to say this was some stellar Japanese food. The service is also just as good.
(5)
Kat B.
I recommend this place for people that wish to taste some different japanese food. This restaurant offers in fact many interesting dishes beside the common raw fish based (sushi, sashimi, etc.). We had: Crispy Bok Choy, Chicken Liver Itame, Kake-Soba and Spicy Manila Clams and they were really good. The vegetable tempura was ok, the plus was that it had some unusual pieces, like the lotus root. We had the banana tempura as a dessert to share for three people, very big and yummi. Next time I will try the lotus roots as dish and the dried fish skin our table neighbors were having. Our waiter, Paul, was very nice and helpful. Will go back soon!
(4)
Itzela C.
Okay, I am giving this place a 4 star rating because of the service only. The food is a 5 star. I'm not a fan of waiting for my main course to arrive while my side dish gets cold! My side dish was the original pork fried rice which was delicious!!! And tasted great while it was hot...and soooo flavorful...the right amount of salt added to perfection. Not too salty, not too under salted. And let me tell ya it was fresh!!! My main course which was the lamb was cooked to perfection. However, by the time it arrive to the table I was almost full from eating the fried rice (totally good on it's own). Over all, I would go back again...maybe when it's not that busy on a Friday night. Anthony Bourdain....you were right Hiro's Yakko-San you Rock!!
(4)
Luis M.
Holy cowabunga! I night at Yakko-san is an adventure and a half! I was sure to show up with my Andrew Zimmern-esque A-game! This is a subtle little treasure in an almost hidden locale. I'll keep this breif. The chicken livers were beyond outstanding. I can't say I'd ever enjoyed them this much. The yellowtail cheek. Delicious, super flavorful. The fried Bok Choy.... A class act. a simple, yet new spin on something so overdone. It was insanely fresh with such a light crispy texture. this was a crowd fav. The salmon belly: gotta admit it was rather fishy. particularly the fatty portions, but as you get under the skin... the flavor softens and you get this rich creamy headrush. Sake in a little wooden box-cup?!? Authentic! I love it. Pair it all with some Kirin and you're golden. Finally, Fried Cheesecake eggrolls?? I didnt expect this coming from such a traditional cuisine type of establishment, but nonetheless a great way to end the meal. We had far more than that, and it ended up costing a penny, but well well worth it. Service was Grade A too. More to come another time!
(5)
Tracy U.
I ate here last night and enjoyed it very much. Prices are reasonable (Miso Sea Bass perfectly cooked for $12.95) Our server was knowledgeable and very attentive, she encouraged us to try new things without being pushy or trying to up-sell us. The menu and prices allow for you to get a few dishes and share tapas style. We had a bowl of udon, hamachi sashimi and the sea bass and it was the perfect amount of food. Sitting at the sushi bar we were able to watch the chef's prepare some interesting looking items that I would like to try upon my return. The miso soup was good, if a little watery, but for $2 I can't complain. I have already recommended this to a few coworkers and plan on returning soon.
(4)
Frank E.
So I am told this is the most authentic Japanese food available in Miami, and I would definitely believe it... the only problem is I have never had Japanese food (besides Sushi) before... therefore staring at the menu I had no idea what to order... ended up getting some Ramen and it was ok... I have no real basis for comparison (except one Ramen place I went to in SF which also was not that great) so maybe I just don't like Japanese hot food?
(4)
Stephanie L.
One of my fave spots in Miami. If you love Japanese food this is the place! Hamachi Kama, Sashimi Platter, Kimchie Ramen Delicious!!
(4)
Pete J.
After feeling ripped off or disappointed at other Miami restaurants, this place is a welcome value and adventure in dining..
(5)
Shavonne W.
This place is the best! I have been many times and everything that I've tried was great! The food is fresh, and the staff is friendly.
(5)
David N.
Hiro's Yakko-San moved to 163rd Street (now just called Yakko-San). It is a much larger location and totally different decor. The food is still very good, but not sure I like the new location as much. It was very loud / noisy and seemed a bit more chaotic (maybe because they just opened at the new location).
(4)
Rob C.
My most visited restaurant in Miami for me (it's open late). Competition = Marumi. this is an izakaya style Japanese restaurant liked the spicy beef tongue stew a lot and blue miso. tried the kalbe yakiniku but was a little chewy and didn't like the sauce as much. decent shishito peppers. black pepper flavored chuka-don but the seafood could have been a little better. also tried the enochi mushrooms, and the miso-glazed tuna, octopus, conch mix (wasabi miso mustard flavor) -- they have some selected sashimi but no nigriri (sushi) Chawanmushi (not on the menu) with good flavor but a little watery Shoyu Ramen--broth ok but stay away from the miso ramen very watery, plus other veges just doesn't turn out right spanish mackerel miso flavored -- ok oyako don -- good; pork with bitter melon and tofu -- good uni, ikura angel hair pasta -- buttery takoyaki (octopus) -- batter was a little soggy; minnow kara-age -- good but standard kabocha croquette -- nice sweet pumpkin and beef; lotus kinpira -- sweet soy mirin flavor black pork belly -- dry from the grill, not a fan eel tofu omelet -- sweet and salty, would be great with rice mentai onigiri (spicy cod roe) -- have had better rice chicken liver itame -- fried liked kara age with onions and bean sprouts miso seafood hotpot -- nice other recommended stuff: chrysanthemum leaf tempura (perfectly cooked without too much batter), hamachi kama would recommend their fried stuff over their grilling... did like the fried oysters and fried mahi mahi roe check out the omurice -- wish they poured curry over it, but the tomato rice and omelet are good. had the chicken wings and potato in sweet brown sauce--tasty let's see, i've also had the spicy tuna rice paper rolls -- often sold out, but not that amazing dried kawahagi (thinly sliced glazed trigger jerky) -- perfect texture, interesting flavor chicken kara age -- nothing special beef curry -- comfort food, pickled radish added fried fish onion salad -- pretty tasty spanish mackeral katsu salad -- not worth it since fried fish with tartar sauce could be anything enoki egg drop soup -- little herb essence yaki udon -- stirfried, better than the soups nasu buta miso itame -- really tasty, eggplant + pork ankimo is back ~ $13 had another great meal here consisting of crispy bok choy, crysanthemum tempura, spicy squid, hamachi jalapeno, nasu buta, scallops aspa, and katsu don (little chewy) -- so good and so reasonably priced! the menu has changed now to incorporate more of their specials as regular items, so the specials menu is smaller... got the mirin ginger scallion king fish, next time will get the deep fried snapper--looks really good had the shrimp bittermelon tempura (little too much bittermelon) so, in summary, my favorites are: whole catch fish, nitsuke style crispy bok choy cyrsanthemum tempura yakiniku steak nasu buta miso itame came back after another year, and still doing ok
(5)
Steven H.
We were 6 adults 4 children. Waiter forgot things. Nothing came out together and very slow. My father in law got his fish last after everyone else ate. We complained and they didn't care. Nobody there cared. Gratuity included on 6 or more people or I would have left less. Just wanted to leave did not have dessert there. Poor trained staff and no supervision. Food was just ok compared to any other Japanese restaurants I eat in. Very disappointing. None of us will ever return. We had a reservation but table was not ready. Place was empty. Also, lighting was terrible. It kept blinking on and off in intensity where we were sitting. Really a lousy experience.
(1)
Juan Jose D.
Definitely one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Miami, second just to Matsuri. Went there on a Friday night and the place had already a long waiting list, but the wait was worth. They market their selves as Japanese tapas and that is actually what it, is part of the comfort food in Japan; small portions of artistic pieces with amazing flavors, dont get me wrong; this is not modern cuisine, it is traditional cuisine and NO they dont serve rolls, so dont expect to order your traditional dragon roll and get some usuzukuri (thin sashimi) some tsukemono (japanese pickles) or a hearty traditional ramen soup with a vast selection of sake.
(5)
Tim C.
I'd give 10 stars if I could. This is, and probably forever will be, my favorite restaurant, hands down, in Miami. Everytime I need to entertain friend or family, this is my go-to place. Will not disappoint. I've been to Yakko-San about 30 times now, and everytime it is still an experience. The staff turnover is pretty high, but they are usually very friendly. Also, do not go here if you want sushi, as it isn't a typical Japanese sushi bar. Their fish is very fresh, but there are so many other items on the menu that you should try. They describe their plates to be 'tapas-style' and that holds true. When we go, we try to go in groups of 4 or more, so that we can order a lot off the menu, and all try this and that. I've had everything on the menu, and sometimes catch myself mapping out my next dinner from start to finish. As most other reviewers have noted, be adventurous. Try things out of your normal comfort zone. I've taken many skeptical eaters, and made them try everything, sometimes keeping them from knowing what they were eating. Not one complaint. In fact, the percentage of 'wows' is pretty high. Standard night when my girlfriend and I go: - Sake bombs, a must as they encourage their patrons to enjoy a good time. - Age Nasu (Deep friend eggplant in broth) - Crispy Bok Choy (if ordering multiple items, ask them to bring this one out with a protein or more substantial dish. It is quick to prepare and usually comes out first, but is a great accompanyment to anything. Salty, savory, delicious!) - Spciy Manila Clams (being Korean, I enjoy spicy. They also have Manilla Clams Butter, which is also very good. They usually run out of clams by the end of the night) - Hamachi Kama (first restaurant that I've dined at that offers this dish. The cheekbone of the fishhead, usually discarded, is oh so tender and moist. a must.) - Angel Hair Uni (I only know one other restaurant in Miami that offers Uni (Sea Urchin) as a savory element to pasta dishes (the other being the River Oyster Bar in Brickell). AWESOME!!! - Catch of the Day (Yakko-San likes to use Yellowtail and Hog Snapper usually, but the fresh fish does change everyday. You have your choice or grilled, steamed, etc. but trust me when I say to get it fried. They actually filet it, then cut it into chunks, batter all the pieces, including the spine and head, and serve it with Horseradish Ponzu Sauce. This does take some time to prepare, so again, use caution when putting other orders in if you decide on the fish) I can't put my love for this place into clear words. It just rocks. I'm always down to share a dinner with anyone (joined random parties at the restaurant to "try everything" and had great evenings), so if you need a couple to share more items with, just hit me up.
(5)
Summer L.
I LOVE this place! If I only lived closer, I'd be there at least once a week. Everything I have ever sampled has been absolutely delicious. The sashimi is amazing, the pork kimchi is fabulous, and the crispy bok choy is out of this world!
(5)
Roxana R.
The food here is very unique and tasty. I usually come with a group of friends and we order many dishes and share everything. My favorite dish is shrimp tempura drenched in spicy mayo (I don't remember the exact name of the dish). Another favorite is the crispy bok choy.
(5)
Nicholas A.
Yup. Just about the best damn Japanese restaurant in Miami (so far). While it's a good 40 minute drive from where I live, the food is well worth the drive. The restaurant caters to those who know and love sushi, including other sushi chefs done with their nightly service (seriously, at least one confirmed sighting of an off-duty chef while my gf and I were there). This translates into a restaurant devoid of kitschy decoration, replaced instead with a large whiteboard displaying their fresh catch of the day (and enormous bottles of sake above the sushi station). The sushi station itself was equally impressive, as it was manned by no less than five chefs, each busy filling out the orders of a restaurant packed well after midnight. while the sushi selection is indeed impressive, it was the other items on the menu that caught my eye that night. Yakko-San's is the only restaurant I've found in Miami that serves up ramen, soba, and udon. The plate of cold soba and tempura sounded like perfect 1 AM fare, and it exceeded all expectations for presentation and taste. The fact that chefs come here for food speaks volumes. Yakko-san's is well worth the trip from anywhere in Miami Dade, should the late night munchies hit you
(5)
Bob C.
One of my favorite places in Miami. They have a very interesting menu (be sure to try the spaghetti and sea urchin :-D), and its really fun to sit at the bar and watch them work on a busy night. The prices at this restaurant are very reasonable for the area, and the service is very good (or excellent by Miami Beach standards). One of the best places for Sashimi down here.
(5)
Vlad L.
2 years ago I would've gave them 5 stars but I feel like since they relocated to the new location they comprised quality and a homey feel for a bigger location. The same dishes I used to love now I feel are just alright so bigger is not always better but I will say its one of the best bets for late night dining around northeast Dade.
(3)
Jennifer S.
This place is the best an open really late an you can always get something different from a fresh cough fish done 6 ways to just a simple soup every thing on the menu is great an if your lucky Hiro will make you some of his faves
(5)
Karen G.
Every time we go to yakko San, it is reliably delicious. Since they moved from the w Dixie location it lost some of its atmosphere, but the food is just the same but now without the wait. Would recommend to everybody who likes Asian food.
(5)
M D.
Uni Garlic Pasta, Mentaiko Onigiri, Fried breaded oysters are excellent favorites for me here at Hiro's Yakko-San. On colder nights in winter, the Miso Ramen hits the spot. Great garlicky broth and piping hot ramen with pork slices, half a hard boiled egg and vegetables is to die for on a cold day or night. Not to mention you can get your fix at 2am in the morning. Parking can be limited on weekend nights, but the food is worth the hassle.
(5)
Daphne B.
Excellent service, fresh sushi, wonderful menu. It's a little hard to find (tucked away in a strip mall) but well worth the trip. Right up there with the best places on the East Coast.
(5)
Asim Z.
freshest sashimi ive ever had!
(4)
CeCe R.
Finally had a meal here last right. Service was excellent. Food was very fresh and well prepared. It wasn't the best Japanese food I've ever had in my life - but the best in Miami. I love that it is open late.
(4)
Daniel S.
I am giving two stars because the food was ok. But the service was horrible although they tried. I am a fnb veteran and I could tell that they were all beginners. I hope this was a one time thing but my experience was bad. Not worth it listing all things that went wrong. Won't go back also it does not belong to the original owners anymore.
(2)
Jorge D.
Yakko's has been one of my favorite restaurants for 3 years. It was well worth the 40 minute drive for me. The food is fantastic and being open till 3am means that after your done clubbing you can still go get great food. If you like spicy food try the Kimchee Ramen, best stuff on earth.
(5)
Mihndeeh M.
If I could give negative stars, I would. You could not pay me to return here. Though some of the sushi was decent, the cooked food was frightening both in appearance and flavor. The customer service was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. The manager and owner did not even bother to try to help when our order was screwed up and disgusting twice; they were rude and dismissive. They still charged us for filth that we did not eat. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE experience. Do not waste your time here. They obviously care about table turnover, getting your money, and nothing else.
(1)
Anika G.
I gave it another try and was thoroughly disappointed. The service is crappy and the prices do not match the portion sizes. I really wanted to like this place but it just doesn't cut it for me.
(1)
Catherine A.
I'm a big fan of Hiro's. It' a very casual, laid back sushi joint that's great for late night or some quick sushi. The prices are great and the service is pretty quick. They're open extremely late...like till 3:30am.
(4)
Scott M.
nothing like an authentic "izakaya", not "sushi-ya" ... if you don't know what that means, drop the faux knowledge of Japanese food & let the masters serve up some magic ... pick yer meats & let them know what you don't like & give them a shot at putting some dishes together for you (what is called "omakase") ... the daily fish, particular spices & sauces found in Japan are coupled with Chinese & Korean spices for some of their dishes ... also, give the noodles a try (udon, soba, ramen, et al.) ... even a simple bowl of ramen is enough as a meal, don't be shy! (you can easily eat cheaply here!)
(5)
B. W.
Awesome japanese food. The himachi kama, kimchi soup bowl, kimchi fried rice, japanese eggplant, are just a few favorite dishes. Great on the late-nite too...
(4)
Agi B.
This time we sat up at the bar overlooking the magic. It was neat to watch them cook and prepare foods. Once again, yum, yum, yum!
(5)
Paul H.
I found this restaurant on urbanspoon with a high rating so I decided it was worth a try. The three $ sign did scare me at first but I found a pdf of their menu online and the prices were under $10 per dish except for a few that go into the ~$14 range. My girlfriend and I started off with Ika Maruyaki (whole squid, $8) which was amazing without the provided sauce. Next was the Seafood Hot Pot (shrimp, fish, squid, tofu, veggies @ $9) which served about 3.5 bowls. If you like clear soup and seafood, this is for you. I ordered from the Veggies section and the Tofu Steak ($6) caught my eye. Watch out cause this dish is very high in sodium. My girlfriend ordered the Ginger Pork ($7) which was less salty but still at bit too salty for my taste. Just FYI, these dishes are similar to appetizer size hence the low price. To finish off dinner, we ordered the Fried Cheese Cake Roll ($4.50) which was very beautiful when brought out. Ice cream scoop is optional I believe but the dessert was delicious. Service was above average and setting was comfortable. If you have a small party (2 people), you might get stuck with a small table. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for non-Americanized food. Note: you may walk out hungry!
(3)
Celia S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Yakko-San! The appetizer sized plates are perfect for sharing! I went with a friend and we started with the TUNA TATAKI which was awesome! Followed by SCALLOPS, ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM, that I plan to have again (I had the last piece ha!) and we also had EBI FRY (fried shrimp w/ Japanese bread crumb) a must! ... and to end this very tasteful dinner we had BANANA TEMPURA with ice cream! YUM! Our waiter was very friendly and they're open until 3am on Fridays! You can't beat that!
(5)
Ana D.
this place has great food, good parking, grate vibe and friendly service. I would definately go again and recommend. tried almost every dish there btnn me and 3 other friends.
(4)
Eugene Y.
Let me start by saying I love authentic japanese restaurants in NYC. Now let me tell you that this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. The food was TERRIBLE!!!, Miso Sea Bass was ok at best with way too much oil. Scallops were rubbery and disgusting. Crispy Bok Choy was again too oily. AND THE WORST THING OF ALL WAS THE SEA URCHIN PASTA, the only thing you can taste was the overwhelming garlic. CAN I SAY GARBAGE !!!!
(1)
Anish Z.
Loved it. apparently Japanese food is not just tapenyaki and sushi!! Was pleasantly surprised by trigger fish jerky (thinly sliced and nice caramelized flavor). Yeah fish jerky... but good choice. The fried fish onion salad was a nice meld of flavors and textures. The beef stew was totally unexpected. I would have placed the dish as Ethiopian had I not eaten it at a Japanese restaurant. It was a little heavy on the cumin but was great as a comfort food. The place gets the five star because it is both unique and open until 2 or 3 in the morning. Between this and BK, or cold pizza I think the choice is obvious. Happy eating.
(5)
Leon W.
yakko-san rocks!!! what's to like? everything!!!! seriously.... try everything!
(5)
Donald M.
Back in my home town (Houston) I'd probably give Yakko-San one less star but in the Miami area it's one of the best Japanese restaurants around. Think of it more as a Japanese tapas place. It's small and gets crowded quickly so plan your visit accordingly.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Superb! The ramen soup is outstanding. I went there two days in a row that's how much I loved it. Sit in the bar looking into the food being prepared. It was like watching a choreographed dance. The mushroom appetizer was delicious. It comes in a foil pouch steamed to perfection. I cant't wait to go back again and again!
(5)
Eloisa S.
I love that place. I go there once a week and have never been disappointed. Good prices, great selection of sakes, and the freshest sashimi around. I have basically tried the entire menu, my favorites are the Tuna Harumaki, the crisp fish salad and the scallops with asparagus and mushrooms. The waiters are wonderful, ask for suggestions and they will tell you as it is. You are not going to find sushi rolls there, but you won't miss it.
(5)
Katie M.
I have been here a few times and think it is a great bar and perfect place for a late night meal. We went over the weekend around midnight and had terrific food. The sushi was excellent, great wine list and wonderful and attentive service. We will be back soon!!
(4)
Alex G.
Ok people, this is what I call a restaurant, and not because the decor is amazing or they invested $5MM to open-up but they care about quality authentic Japanese and some oriental food - Yeap, there is no sushi in this place (for all those looking for a California maki), but you will find things you don't even know they exist - So, for real gourmets this is an option, for those looking to be seen in a cool place hanging out with celebs, go somewhere else, Yakko-San is a place where you go to enjoy very good food !!!
(4)
Yenny O.
great sushi, but every time i go there late night the owner I guess her name is "may" she is always drunk and screaming to her employees i think you should not be drunk at your own restaurant every day.
(2)
Enbar C.
excellent sushi and excellent price! good studd! I LOVE SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLLS!
(4)
Eddie Z.
Good sushi, crappy waiters!
(3)
Eldita B.
ASIAN TAPAS. I love the fact that they are open so late. Downside is that there is a wait during "peak" hours(30 minutes was the longest I ever had to wait for a table). Avoid sitting at the bar at the entrance. It's kind of uncomfortable. Sashimi is great. Yakinikudon is one of our favorites. Service is good. Food is tasty and fresh. looove the sake selections. Mochi sunday for dessert isn't bad.
(4)
H C.
Cheap delicious sushi. Gets crowded on weekends but never along wait for a table.
(3)
Eric M.
It's ok for japanese food. Last night, I ordered ebi fry, soba, hiya yakko, kinpira gobo and something not on the menu, oshinko maki (takuwan roll). The sauces are not quite up to par. Service was good and they even redid a dish that I told them was too salty and had too much (shoyu) soy sauce. Best dish for me was the hiya yakko (Cold tofu w/grated ginger, scallions & shaved bonito). Tofu quality was excellent. Menu is quite extensive and big selection. I have had better in New York City and Honolulu.
(3)
Jaye V.
I'm so excited that I found these reviews for izakayas in Miami. I didn't even know they existed here! Everytime I'm in NYC, I go to a couple, and it's one of my favorite dining experiences. I've also been spoiled since I've been to Tokyo. It's finding this review on here (and immediately going) that made me want to finally join Yelp as a reviewer. I love ordering a bunch of little items and sharing, but I want to come back and try the bigger dishes like the noodle and ramen dishes. When I do, I'll update the review & rating, but for now this is my review of my first experience here. I had the assorted seaweeds with dipping sauces, the black pork belly, the panko fried oysters, red salmon sashimi (sockeye salmon), sauteed asparagus with bacon, and the angel hair with uni and salmon roe. (I forgot to try the fried chrysanthemum leaves.) I've never had so many different types of seaweed before. One of them was clear and rather odd; my favorite was the red one. The black pork belly was flavorful but not braised so it was not as tender as I was hoping..but that's to be expected. The red salmon was delicious and melted in my mouth. The sauteed asparagus actually had more bacon than asparagus, with a side of kewpie mayo -- really tasty. And the waitress tried to talk us out of the angel hair, saying that the uni garlic spaghetti might be more our speed. But I had to tell her I liked the salmon roe, which for some reason surprised her. The resulting dish was surprisingly mild. The salmon roe gives the dish most of its flavor, with the uni giving it that extravagantly buttery finish. While I wish it had more boosted flavors, I still enjoyed this dish. I wish that I could find black cod miso here rather than the overfished sea bass :(. Most of the clientele is Asian (and speaking in different Asian languages all around you as well). Usually I'm in places where the young Asians are speaking English to each other. I love how it's open until 2-3am every night like they're supposed to be. And it's not all the way down in Miami proper (since I'm in Ft. Laud), so the drive isn't too bad at all. Now I have a place to go when I somehow lose track of time and suddenly all the restaurants are closed. PS -- I loved the hot house sake. I'm not a sake fan, but for some reason it was savory and I surprisingly enjoyed it. And I have tried tons of different kinds before. Edit 1/21/08: So I went here again, and we overdid it trying to order more of the dishes. - Monkfish liver in a miso-ponzu sauce with daikon, seaweed, lemon, scallions, shiso leaf, and ground-up chili-daikon on the side. It was steamed and then served cold. I've had this before, and there was something off about the monkfish liver flavor. - Marinated spicy tempura squid. Wasn't spicy, but was flavorful. Consisted of large rings and big tentacles. Served with lemon and a side of Japanese mayo. Was tasty, but some of the rings were a little rubbery. - Chrysanthemum leaf tempura with ponzu sauce. Was good and the batter was terrific. The c. leaf wasn't very very mild flavored and although it was good, I think I would prefer it as a bottom of an entree...say with a steamed fish in some sort of sauce on top? - Spicy manila clams. Oh my, this is the spiciest thing I've had in South Florida. I never knew they could make something spicy. As a big fan of spicy food, I liked it. I shared it with someone, so it didn't get to the point of being unbearable, but if I had to eat it by myself, it would have. But for me, no complaints. For most Floridians, it would have been torture. - Miso pork ramen. Yummy! Loved the pork and bamboo shoots; I had this soup in Tokyo some years ago. This version was healthier and so wasn't as decadent, but still delicious. Too many fried garlic slices, though...had to start avoiding them because after eating a few too many of them, they got too strong. - Pork gyoza (pan-fried). Even in the dipping sauce, these were almost flavorless. I put one in the ramen and it didn't help it any. Don't get the gyoza. - Other notes: Great service this time. Waiter was very attentive; all the servers were very interactive as well. Waiter even poured the sake refills for us; every time he came by, he would say, "Pleeease enjoy!" Heh.
(4)
Joseluis A.
yakko san rocks, thats all i gotto say. the other reviews are right on about this place. i went for dinner earlier this evening and got: ohitashi, edamame and a yake udon. my friend had a miso soup and the ginger pork and we shared a fried cheese cake roll for dessert.... oh and we both had a sapporo. our bill came up to almost 60$. sweet!
(5)
Timothy C.
This place is where it's at!!! Great food had the mahi-mahi salad, it was to die for! Also try the mushroom foil!! Very busy!! Chef's are awesome!!
(5)
Greg C.
Love this place! Found it through Yelp and Zagat. My wife and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs. Try the fried Bok Choy it is excellent. Sashimi is very fresh. Great Saki menu and even better good prices. You will have a fun night at this restaurant.
(5)
Dean N.
All the dishes we took were great. there are a lot of asian restaurants in Miami and this is the definitely a good one. On top of that the prices are very very reasonable.
(4)
alyssa d.
i love it here! i haven't had anything bad on the menu yet. i usually come for the takoyaki, it's amazing and i don't think any other places in the area have it. delicious!
(4)
Abbey P.
Great Japanese hot dishes. They have some sushi type stuff. The Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper, UNAGI KABAYAKI, CHICKEN GIZZARD CHIVE, and a spicy tuna dish were all excellent. I loved the Unagi. The sea bass miso was not good ( over cooked-or if that was the style, it's still not good). I really enjoyed my food.
(4)
Tony T.
Great place love the fresh fish
(4)
Kushbaby s.
This place is a joke. I went in with a couple of friends and I immediately felt like I was in some sort of ASIAN FUSION restaurant. The ambience was totally not like it used to be when most of the workers were Japanese. The hostess that was speaking a foreign language was very rude. Started raising her voice when I told her we were next, before another couple was trying to butt in. She snapped and told me my table was ready. I told her, I did not even give her my name or how many people I was with...she then realized I was a completely different customer than the ones she DID take reservations for. Once we were seated our server didnt even understand what green tea was in Japanese....gave us a funny face. This is supposed to be an AUTHENTIC JAPANESE TAPAS STYLE RESTAURANT right? We ordered a bunch of stuff off the menu. Nothing was spectacular.I remember back in the day when my coworkers and I drove all the way from Fort Lauderdale to eat here..and now I can seriously say that I will never come here again. Way overpriced. Save your time, your money and all this HOOPLA about this place. Obviously most of the people have not tried REAL authentic Japanese food in South Florida if YAKKO san is on the top of your list. Go to MATSURI...now thats 100% Authentic!
(1)
Sol D.
the food quality used to be excellent, specially at their old location. now most of the time it's too salty and not very consistant. the good thing abt the new location, it's bigger and we don't have to wait too long to be seated. it's a good choice for a Japanese restaurant since they have variety in their menu. good for family, the kids love age tofu, fish and noodles. some of our favorite dishes; hamachi-kama, dice beef, onion fish, pork & bamboo noodle, spagetti with clams, etc. we still go back sometimes to see if they've improved and when we feel like eating Japanese food.
(3)
Henry P.
I don't believe the amount of stars some people are giving them. They are overrated. Been there a few times, since the food isnt terrible, it just feels overpriced for what you get. If you get a rice bowl, its more rice than anything else. And what really got to me is, they don't know sushi. You don't put cream cheese in a dragonroll, it completely kills it. Theres alot of better places out there, experience better.
(2)
R W.
deserves the good reviews. btw, very affordable, which is very important as well. friendly environment.
(4)
Leah V.
Three words- fried bok choy! Delicious food, great atmosphere. Good place to go with friends and just order a bunch of little plates to try as much as you can. The bok choy and octopus were my faves. Plan to go back for more!
(4)
Boris B.
Had dinner with the family. Sushi is very good, appetizers decent, as are prices. Will go back.
(4)
Waseem G.
Awesome! This place rocks. Went with a few of my buddies while we were visiting miami last week. So nice to just not be around all the crazyiness of miami yet be so close! We ordered the gyoza (pan seerd and steamed), spicy lamb, the steak, kimchee pork (my fav) and of course some sake bombs! The service is very on point and everyone is very friendly, always willing to chat. Thanks again!
(4)
Tiffany K.
craving Japanese food, I found Hiro's Yakko-San to be nearby (we were at Aventura Mall doing some shopping). between my mom, my sister, and i, we ordered the following: - Tofu Steak: i would recommend this dish if you like tofu/onions/mushrooms. onions and mushrooms is one of my favorite combinations when it comes to toppings on food. the tofu is nicely fried on the outside, delicious sauce and mushrooms (regular and enochi) - Kalbee Yakiniku: i didn't try this since i don't eat beef - Ginger Chicken: this dish was just okay. the sauce was pretty good, but the chicken itself was meh. i've had ginger and/or teryaki chicken a lot and this was not one of the better ones. - Tuna Harumaki: this dish was so good. especially topped off with some wasabi. - Yamakake Tuna: if you're not a fan of japanese potato, don't get this. this dish was simply tuna sashimi with japanese potato all over the top. my sister ordered it and when it came she was like eew i don't want that potato. however, the tuna was very very good - fresh, melt in your mouth, gorgeous color. - Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper: i'm a little torn about this dish - don't get me wrong, the hamachi was very fresh and nicely, thinly sliced. however the flavors were just okay - i've had hamachi jalapeno at other places before, and they definitely could have made this dish tastier and the jalapeno could have had more of a kick to it. i honestly couldn't even taste the jalapeno. - Salmon Sashimi: very fresh and tasty. - Japanese Sundae (2): the three of us LOVED this dessert. that's why we ordered two - after the first one, we asked the waiter to send another over. yummy combination of whip cream, rice cakes (mochi), green tea ice cream, azuki red bean, and crushed up waffle cones on the bottom. so so good. overall, great experience. great service, good food, hooray!
(4)
Renata M.
Its not a typical sushi restaurant, its a real japanese restaurant with really good fish. If you go don't eat sushi, eat some fish.
(4)
Nirvana S.
Hoodlum wait staff!! Bus-boy/waiter stole my friends car keys tonight... At the end of our delicious birthday dinner, we walked out and noticed that the keys were missing- after repeatedly asking the staff if they saw keys, they kept to their story that they saw nothing. We looked in all of our purses, cars, called people who had left dinner early- we knew the keys were on the table! Not knowing who they were messing with, my girlfriends sat down and refused to leave until the keys were found. Finally after offering a $100 cash reward, 5 seconds later a bus boy comes back dangling the keys in his hand!!! In case you go there...watch out ...had we left to go get the spare, the car would have either been robbed or stolen. What a horrible thing to happen at such a great restaurant! Food was amazing- wait staff horrible along with the service. I might file a police report tomorrow. Definitely watch your belongings!!
(3)
Victor m.
For authentic Japanese this is the place! I was a little weary at first because of the location and the mixed reviews but now that I have been there and tried the excellent food and the wonderful service I am sure that Yakko-San deserves a spot in my regular rotation. Know, keep in mind this is not your typical "Americanized Japanese" cuisine. It is served in small plates similar to Spanish tapas and has flavors and ingredients that you may not recognize. But no worries all the food we tried and saw others eating looked and tasted fresh, flavorful, and delicious. If you love to eat good quality food Yakko-San will not disappoint. By the way, Thank s to the staff for the great service especially Fred!
(5)
Mike N.
Holy smokes this place is good. Stayed in N Miami Beach for 4 nights and ate here twice. The first night we ate at Hiro's on 163rd and man, that place was aweful, then we figured out that Hiro's Yakko-San was at a different address...don't make the same mistake. Sashimi Mori was very, very good. Grilled Shishito was great. Mushroom tempura was perfect, very light batter. Huge mixed salad. Great selection of very good sake. Casual with great service. I can see why its been around for 25+ years.
(4)
Kevin N.
The one and only place in Miami I would consider to call a restaurant serving actual Japanese sushi. No gimicks, no neon, no Thai food, no Korean food, no Chinese food, no hard liquor, and no Vietnamese food! It is not often I give a five-star review of a place that DOESN'T have a lot of different things, but for Yakko-san, it is a boon rather than a detriment. They are serious about their food and you know it from the first bite.
(5)
Michael L.
I live nearby, and Ive probably came here at least 10 times in the past year. Usually me and the mrs. usually try something different every time we come. The menu is huge, with a vast array of Japanese small dishes and appetizers, as well as Japanese grilled items, to ramen, and lastly sushi. I have never tried their sushi yet, so i cant comment on it, but the ramen and the grilled items are all good. The sea bass is yummy, age dashi tofu is also a must. The crispy bok choy is also unique, bok choy thats flash fried with no batter, turns out crispy and surprisingly addictive. I don't understand the hate on some of the reviews, its authentic Japanese food thats relatively cheap. Maybe they dont know what to order. My fiancee likes to order the mentaiko, which is a pasta with creamy cod roe. Theres also a special menu that isnt posted online, that does change from time to time, thats usually an extension of their menu with grilled fishes, meats, etc.. Next time i will try their sushi, if i don't get steered away from their wonderful grilled, cooked Japanese dishes.. If u want to go to an authentic, not Americanized Japanese restaurant, this is the place to go.
(4)
Greg A.
Every time I go back to this place it's more packed than the last time. It's a shame it took me years of passing by this place (since it's located in the middle of a crappy strip mall on a road I only take to avoid Aventura traffic on Biscayne) to finally discover what a true hidden gem it was. Yakko-San is a Japanese restaurant and not a sushi place. So while they do serve sashimi, don't come here looking to have a Dragon Roll. What you can expect here is really, really good Japanese food. I've gone there a few times and there are so many interesting things on the menu that I always find myself getting different entrees. But while I'm mixing up the entrees, the one appetizer I never fail to have when going to Yakko-San (and I guarantee it will also be your favorite) is the crispy bok choy. It's one of the most perfect appetizers ever made - crispy, light, and full of flavor. The spicy octopus is a favorite entree of mine, and the kimchee buta is good, but those with less adventurous palates can enjoy a meal at Yakko-San without fear because you will, without a doubt, love their sliced BBQ beef (Yakiniku). You can get it over a bowl in rice (Yakiniku Don) or without (Yakiniku Steak) but either way it's some tasty, tasty beef. Those who like sake (like I do) will be happy. They have an assortment of hot and cold sakes, but they have a sake tasting where you can 3 shots of different sakes for a fairly cheap price - think along the lines of 3 shots of $90-$120 sake for like $15. The ladies will enjoy the fruity sake-tinis they serve there. And the banana tempura is a delicious way to finish it all up. The only downside I can say about this place is that the service can be a little slow after they serve your food, even if the place isn't packed, but it's not frustratingly slow. The parking there is also kind of cramped, but if you go later in the evening just park in the lot across the street and you shouldn't have any problems.
(4)
Mike S.
It was an exhausting week... I got home and passed out until midnight waking up with the biggest craving for Japanese, luckily Hiro's was still open. Btw, it's next to a night club and the parking lot was packed. Don't park on the grass b/c I saw cops giving out tickets. So it's late at night, I'm exhausted, and all I wanted was a nice "homey" bowl of oyako don. First of all the sauce didn't taste right, too much mirin not enough soy? It was also not cooked properly, what they gave me was a brown, soggy and unappetizing mess. I have to admit it didn't taste good, it didn't taste bad. What disappointed me most was that it wasn't hot! But at 2am, it was good enough for me... I also had the Ika Natto, they don't make their own natto but I guess that's too much to ask for. Their sashimi was fresh but it's not that authentic since the sushi guys aren't Japanese. I did love their green tea, I think it was matcha and they actually use filtered water here. It's a great place to bring friends flying into Miami at night since they're open late but I wouldn't go out of my way just for the food - kind of like St. Mark's Place in nyc.
(3)
Michael D.
This place is okay when you want a bowl of ramen served to you by a Thai waitress in a Korean run Japanese restaurant and you are stuck in Miami. Kimchi ramen? whatever. The fresh fried whole fish is good too. ____
(4)
Sue R.
I enjoyed my first visit to Hiro's Yakko-San tonight. I arrived at 6:15pm and it was completely full, except for the last seat at the bar, which I grabbed. My waitress came promptly and brought me an ice-cold KIrin Ichiban which went down very smoothly. I ordered Uni sashimi (sea urchin liver), which was presented prettily and tasted out of this world. I had intended to order a bowl of noodle soup with some interesting ingredients, but my waitress told me of a quite special and rare item that they had on the menu tonight: monkfish liver, poached and served cold with ponzu sauce. So, ever the fearless gourmet, I ordered that, along with some salmon sashimi and a portion of cold buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. I also ordered a plate of crispy fried bok choi just in case I still felt hungry. The monkfish liver was outstanding, creamy and flavorful, tasting almost like avocado, not fishy at all. The salmon was super-fresh and the buckwheat noodles with their dipping sauce provided a nice change of pace. As for the bok choi, I can't wait to have it again - it melted in my mouth. Bok choi deep fried with ginger, my mouth is watering just thinking of it. The ambiance was exactly how it should be, I felt I was either in a restaurant in Tokyo or in a movie - I've only been to Tokyo once and actually did eat in this kind of place but it was too long ago to remember well. Four stars. Highly recommended.
(4)
DeAnn P.
Yum, yum, yum! We always have a wonderful time here, and the food delicious!
(5)
Anna V.
Food is delicious...you just need to know what to order. I love their interior design. Its very trendy and ambient. Its a great place to have dinner with all of your friends since there is a club right next door, called "C-Lounge".
(4)
Candy C.
Yakkosan is known for their authentic Japanese cuisine and its late night hours for those night owl foodies. Open till 3 am! I used to love this place and would have given it 5 stars last year-- before Yakkosan moved to it's new location. Although it may seems like it has received an upgrade- bigger building, modern decor, club music......I must say that it is completely superficial. It has completely lost it's authentic feel and the ambiance has changed from a traditional and cultural to a typical modern day Japanese restaurant. We used to be greeted by the sushi chefs in Japanese upon entering and thanked leaving. The change is a great disappointment for me. The off menu items (specialty items) that were ordered off a dry erase board are long gone and they now serve sushi rolls (which they didn't in the past).--- I understand change is for the better and I would've given them at least a 3 star rating if the quality of the food continued to have the same excellence. It doesn't. Most time it is too salty, or too burnt, or "it's not available". It's a hit or miss. Sometimes it tastes decent, other times it will give you the upset stomach. Lastly, the service is not that great- the servers are not attentive or courteous. I've given the new location at least 2 tries before writing this review.
(2)
judy n.
They're constantly remodeling, and it starts looking more modern, each time I come here. a great app to share: - Dried Kawahagi - dried fish and sliced, reminiscent of dried cuttlefish and squid. with a fun mayo-y type dipping sauce. - Sashimi Salad - it comes with a great vinagrette, and super fresh and light. A good app to share: - Spinach and Butter, with shitake mushroms. (Not uber buttery like u would expect) a great dish to get (Yummy!) - Yakiniku Don. It's bbq beef slices over white rice. great sauce.
(5)
Kevin V.
Awesome late night service and delicious Japanese food.
(5)
Glenn M.
this is my go to place. food is ALWAYS excellent and incredibly fresh. service is good and the atmosphere is nice. get the hamachi cheek if it's available. tempura is perfect. I could drink the sauce they use for the hamachi jalapeno appetizer.
(5)
Victor P.
After a long week of eating seafood in Tampa and Key West all we wanted was some good Asian food. Ended up at Yakko-San... Boy were we disappointed. Fried Bok Choy was really bitter. All it was is Bok Choy that is fried with no seasoning with very salty dipping sauce in the side. Hamachi Jalepeno was mediocre... Would even say that the fish quality was poor. Miso Ramen tasted very odd. There was too much vegeteables in the soup that it tasted like veggie stew. The pork was also very chewy and low quality. Only gave this place 2 stars because the decor and ambience was nice.
(2)
Stan K.
I wish they never moved. Place lost it's feel and while the dishes are still tasty, it's not as consistent as it use to be. Weird to still love yakko yet starting to dislike it at the sametime. And service is slipping too. But it will always be in the rotation. the bottom line is that the food is delicious.
(4)
Olivia K.
Worst edamame ever. No low sodium soy sauce. Not enough dishes. They forgot an order. Food was okay but not great.
(2)
Abbers M.
All I have to say is a sushi place should probably not second as a night club, or an after night club go-to spot. In concept: great. In truth: a stinky, sweaty, dirty carpet smelling restaurant. MmmmM-sushi!!!!
(2)
Alissa W.
This is by far the best japanese food I have ever had. First, when you walk in the plaza looks a little bit shady. You have to try to diakon kimchee, enokyi mushrooms, cripsy bok choy, himmachi jalepeno,tuna hirumaki, and they have the most amazing salad dressing you can add avocado, tuna, or salmon. All the sashimi is very fresh. They have a huge selection of noodle dishes. If you eat squid they have the most amazing spicy squid the sauce in great. I like the udon they are think and chewy.I try to go there atleast 3 times a month. It is small inside, and there usually is a wait. The food is worth the wait trust me !
(5)
Jerry E.
Great staff; helpful with menu; great food. It look like a rough neighborhood at night. The food is worth the trip. This place is packed with locals on a weeknight. My clients did not want to get out of the cab at first, but loved the place later.
(4)
Nina W.
Talk about fresh sushi....everything i ate here was amazing. My only complaint is I tried ordering the rice ball appetizer which has scallions in them, which I hate. So I asked my waiter if I could substitute the already mixed in tuna with scallion which is served with the rice ball for just regular tuna. And it was so impossible for them to do that, I even prompt to pay extra.I guess they just have a no substitution policy. But besides that the food is excellent.
(4)
Christian P.
I have visited Yakko-San numerous times since I moved to the area 3 years ago. The food is delicious and consistent. I have never been disappointed with the food once. However, 80% of the time I am disappointed with the service. I have never seen a manager in the restaurant. When I sit at the sushi bar the chefs are usually the ones greeting me with a smile. They could be a serious force in the industry with some service details... I do visit here quite often. Love the style of food and just prepare myself for the lacking service.
(3)
S B.
Due to complete lack of service, we will not be returning. Although the food was tasty, we realized average food and great service surpasses better food with 0 service. We sat outside. There were a few other tables being served outside so we were not the only ones. We literally had to get up and go inside to track down a server on 4 separate occasions: to give a drink order, order food, get chopsticks & soy sauce for our sushi, and for the bill (after asking for it 3 times). We only went in to the restaurant looking for a server after waiting lengthy periods of time. We verbalized our disappointment and were given nothing more than a sheepish apology.
(1)
Beatriz P.
The service was terrible, offensive, and in appropriate. Go to this restaurant at your own risk. I have been going to this restaurant for about a year since their food is pretty good. But unfortunately, I will no longer go to this restaurant because of the lack of manners of one of the staff members whose name is Austin, who insulted my father and used curse words such as the F word when talking to my father. I asked him kindly to respect my father because he is a 75 year old men but Austin continue to insult my father and said among other things he did not care my father is 75 years old. This whole argument started because he charged us for 8 pieces of sushi, and he brought 6. We told him we only had 6 and he got into an argument with me and my father that he brought 8 pieces of sushi and not 6 pieces. Also, the service was terrible. They brought my mother's entree, first, and after she had finished they brought my father's and mine. I requested for the manager, and they told me he was not at the restaurant that day. I like their food very much, but I will no longer go to this restaurant unless they better train their staff and they fire Austin for such an awful behavior that is absolutely not acceptable. Eating delicious food and then end up in an argument turns poison in your body. So my honest recommendation, if you go to thIs restaurant know that the staff is not well trained, that they might insult you especially if Austin is your waiter and the service is terrible. And you might get into an argument. It is my humble desire that you will never encounter such an awful experience. Hope this helps.
(1)
Ian A.
Very few retaurants have ever just made me feel happy eating their food... this is one of them
(5)
Mott K.
Yakko San by Hiro is an authentic Japanese cuisine. It's been awhile since my last visit... But what I re cal is super service, great food and some very unfamiliar choices and sights. It is for certain- a must visit on the to do list. If ya wind up near The Aventura Mall or Sunny Isles Beach... Hiro's Yakko San is just a few minutes away.
(5)
Holly B.
GROSS! You people in Miami do not know fresh sushi! This dump, literally a dirty dingey hole-in-the-wall, had some of the most disgusting sushi I've ever tasted! Stay Away! The pieces smelled fishy from afar, so you can only imagine how they tasted. The service was fine, but the nasty smell made me ill, not to mention the food. We will never go here again. Still looking for that diamond in the rough of sushi restaurants in Miami, help!
(1)
Stefanie F.
I went here while on vacation a couple of months ago, and I'll never forget how terrible my experience was. Sure, the food was decent, even if the fish did seem a little off. However, the service was deplorable. Slow, unfriendly, cold, and the pricing differed from what it should have been on the menu. It was a waste of money, and I'm glad I live 1,200 miles away.
(1)
cindy w.
Where do sushi chefs go to eat after work? Yakko-San. For good reason, because I think I found the best Japanese restaurant in Miami, PERIOD. The fact that this joint stays open till 3am Saturday is a major plus for those who work late nights. Past 12:30am, it was packed with a mixed crowd, with sous-chefs and most promising, Asians, so this place is the real deal. The folks who run it are Japanese and greet you with "Irashai mase!" when you walk in. Now, when I say real deal, this place has the most extended menu I've seen outside of NY and San Francisco, we're talking dishes that are almost non-existant in Miami: udon, ramen, soba noodles, donburi, yakiniku, shabu-shabu, etc. sushi I've never heard of, and some creative tempura dishes I loved. FYI, I hate fish so I don't try raw sushi. Someone else will have to critique that, mmkay? Some interesting plates that caught my eye: kimchee hot pot, beef tataki NY strip, natto, ika maruyaki [whole squid], japanese pasta napolitano [sauteed sausage, veggies, with ketchup], curry udon, tempura croquette, etc. My bf and I went with kimchee ramen, soba noodles with tempura, chrysthanthemum leaf tempura (recommended by a coworker), and dessert, fried cheesecake roll. All of which were really, really, really good. This place is about the truth, no hype, no chic decor, the decor is minimal, the location in a tucked away neighborhood. Most dishes were under $10. Toward the end of the meal, Yakko-San's prompted me to keep saying to myself: "God I'm full but I can't stop eating!" It was like I never wanted the party in my mouth to stop...you know, when you feel sad because your stomach can't keep up with the tastebuds? Yeah, I gorged. It was that good. PS: Miami New Times voted it Best Late Night Dining, 2007.
(5)
Jose L.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami. I've been going there regularly for the past few years and I'm yet to experience the full menu. The whole fried fish is very good if you're in a group if it's a smaller party you can get the fried fish salad which is almost always in the daily specials menu. The servers are very helpful most of the time, even if there are some language barriers. There are no rolls on the menu, but there is sashimi and I like most of the items from the kitchen.
(5)
James G.
alright, this place is open late, has sake and sushi as well as some authentic japanese food. why are you not here. I love yakko-sans. Go. Now! Things to try Unagi Whole Fresh Catch of the Day TakoYaki Beef Tataki Oh and if you have to wait...do it.
(5)
Dannielle C.
Always making stops here to eat. Such a wide selection to choose from, relatively quiet restaurant, it's a hit in my book!
(4)
Erica F.
My worst experience ever!!! I ordered a sundae that has gluten ,which I'm allergic to,and was told I can't return it...upon which my friend requested info about the restaurant policies...the co-owner threatened my safety with a stool by picking it up to throw at me...my friend saved me buy pulling the stool from her ....DONT GO THERE!!!
(1)
Neal L.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami that I have tried, mostly because of the taste and variety. The crispy bok choy is/was amazing, and I say that with great confidence because the first time I had it, it was amazing, but the second time, it was not (it was mostly oily). But the first time I went was at 1AM on Friday and the second time was at 2AM on Saturday, so maybe the cook staff was tired. I am eager to come back and try other interesting items. The lotus root was done very well and delicious, and the spicy squid was actually spicy (so spicy that one of the waitresses commented that she could not eat it because it was too spicy). Google the menu and you'll be interested in going. Plus the location makes the dining experience more enjoyable.
(4)
Marc F.
I allowed the "first review" for this place to pass right over me. Although I am a regular here, I had hoped it would stay as much of a hole in the wall as I had once found it. The ONLY sushi restaurant, where you find yourself eating next to people of the Japanese culture; that goes to show you who is preparing the most culturally styled food, with as much flavor and purity as you find with the sushi in Japan. Unfortunately for us all, the place has gotten more popular = price changes and a wait to get in during the busier hours. Although I hoped and prayed, I knew it wasn't going to stay a hidden gem for too long. They do not serve any rolls, so keep that in mind when trying to bring someone for their first time. I would go into the menu but the review would go on for days! They have a "weekly specials" menu, which I highly recommend taking a look at, as well as the regular menu. Open only for dinner, but kept open until 2-3am! Police used to feed on only doughnuts and coffee, because it was fast and delicious.... No wonder you always see them at Yakko-San!! However, don't let this ruin your buzz, they're only here for the food as well.. Goodbye Krispy Kreme, Hello Yakko-San!
(5)
Dan V.
Ordered miso ramen, wished it was less bland. Their sushi, fried eel, fish, and lobster was awesome!
(4)
Esteban Z.
This place rocks! Seemed sketchy at 1am but totally worth the trip. Had enoki butter and spicy manila clams from specials menu. Both were fantastic. Got the tuna sashimi salad and added the hot peppers and avocado. Sounds boring, but with their secret dressing this will be the first thing we order next time. The Hamachi with Jalepenos was delicious in a citrus sauce. I think I had a dream about the Black Pork Belly. We finished off our meal with Yaki-Udon with pork. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Grant B.
Here's my 15 words, more or less. Small overpriced salty average portions. Loud, sterile, uninviting atmosphere. Make your Asian tastebuds and wallet go farther, go to Sushi Thai in Hallandale on US 1.
(2)
Ashlee M.
HORRIBLE AWFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!! Had dinner here on a Saturday night. We ( my boyfriend and I) ordered 2 green salads, spinach w/ shitake mushrooms (as a side dish), curry chicken, ramen soup, chicken age. The spinach and shitake which is supposed to be a hot side dish arrived before the salads! Then the salads arrive and not 30 seconds later our entrees arrive. We're sitting at freaking little table for 2 and these morons waiters are trying to squeeze all of this crap on our table while we're not even half way done with our salads! I sent every bit of it back and told them they are making it again or we're not paying (which I'm sure they didn't). Our waitresses lame excuse was that the items come from different kitchens. I DON'T CARE! That's not my problem or concern. Once we asked for a check ( we had to track down the waitress) it took 20 minutes before that process was over. I'm never going back, they have no idea how to run a kitchen.
(1)
Giorgio R.
I try to make it a point to eat here weekly...Sometimes twice a week. I love Yakko-San more than I love any restaraunt in Miami. Im not trying to say it is the best restaurant...but i will say it is the best eating expirience.Everything here is always delicious, fresh and just as good as it was the last time you had it...I'll go out on a limb and say the cripsy bok choy is one of the best appetizers you will ever have...ever. This miso seabass is incredible, the ponzu gelatin on the beef tataki will make your knees quiver and the crispy pork-onion salad will change your life. EAT AT YAKKO-SAN!
(5)
Chris G.
Yakko-San has been my favorite South Florida choice in Japanese food for years, even when they were in their old hole-in-the-wall location. Thankfully, they've moved to a new, bigger location that is much more spacious. I've never tried anything at Yakko-San that I didn't like, except for natto (fermented soybeans), which I kinda expected to be bad beforehand. The beef curry and the various ramen choices are standouts for me. The appeal of Yakko-San is that it's a real Japanese restaurant, not this Americanized Japanese stuff that you see everywhere (and it's not one of those weird Thai-Japanese hybrids either). I try to eat something different every time I go so that I can sample everything, but I inevitably find myself coming back to some favorites. If you want great Japanese food, especially really late at night, get over to Yakko-San.
(5)
Momoko S.
If I have to name five best places to eat in Miami-Dade county, this should be in. Some of the dishes even taste better than Japanese food in Japan. It really is best if you go with me who is very familiar with their menu and also "only-Japanese-eat" dishes that I am sure you'll love.
(5)
Ryan W.
The jalapeño hamachi was really good as was the pork katsu curry! Mmm. Service was fast and prompt. Decent prices and portions. I would go back
(4)
Rose P.
this is my favorite restaurant in miami. sushi is great. other than that, my favorite dishes are the salmon carpaccio, the beef tataki, the tuna tataki and the crispy bok choy.
(5)
Mateo S.
Pulling up to Hiro's Yakko-San, sited in a depressing strip mall on the terribly named Dixie Highway, my cab driver turned around and made a stinky "are you sure?" face. I looked at my dining companion and prepared for the worst. "What gives??" we thought aloud... this place had been recommended by a chef at Paradigm- the molecular gastronomy restaurant. The Studio 54 style mob scene outside gave us hope, though the ensuing 45 minute wait was a bit of a shoulder sinker. If its your first time here, repeat the following mantra: "I am not here for the service. I am not here for the service..." And frankly, neither are the servers. Ordering a pre dinner drink at the unmanned bar proved nearly impossible. But guess what? This place is so busy it doesn't matter. To explain, if you leave in a self-important huff, there is a ravenous crowd of people behind you thrilled to have their wait reduced. And, most importantly, if you leave, YOU CAN'T EAT THERE. The food is so insanely, ridiculously, embarrassingly delicious here that on a three day trip to South Florida we ate here twice. Two dinners! The menu is long and, at times, obscure. Close your eyes and point. Everything will blow you away, unless you blow fire and subsequently have no taste buds left; or if you subscribe to that snooty brand of uncompromising sophistication that thinks that Denny's or Red Lobster is a night of sparkling elegance and haute cuisine. (Amazingly, these people DO IN FACT exist. They were seated next to us!! It was like observing confusing foreign beasts at some travelling carnival) If you feel lost, ask the waitress to simply bring out her favorites. They will be your favorites too. SOME of my favorites: mixed mushroom foil-yaki, the gyoza, sea bass miso, angel hair uni, yakiniku don, the local shrimp, pork with bitter melon, and the fried eggplant. I wish I could remember more... I am confident that everything on the menu will put a smile on your face. Ask for a seat at the kitchen bar and you will get to witness the magic happen first hand, and probably strike up a conversation with the friendly chef and cooks, who will hand you your plates directly, as well as your introductory amuse bouche (the two nights we were there it was an amazing and homey macaroni, potato and corn salad). Waitress tip: they are busy from 7pm until 10pm, slow down until midnight, then have a second rush until 2 am when all the restaurant industry people drop in following their shifts. So shoot for that middle window to reduce your chances of a wait.
(5)
Smith M.
Shocked and Appalled As I was having dinner at yakko san, I witnessed an act that at the time I did not know was orchestrated by the co-owner. I heard a loud voice using profamity and the attempted failure of picking up a stool to be thrown at a female customer which was my friend. I will never return and will advise all of my family, friends to stay away. What ever happened to the real owner Mr. Hiro- where have you gone? Co-owner is always drunk, treating customers and employees with disrespect. Is this right way to have this plan succesful after all these years Mr. Hiro earned respect.
(1)
mandee l.
it's always my FAVORITE Japanese restaurant even though I've moved to WA. Back when i lived in Miami, i would go there 3x a week. Great exceptional food, cozy atmosphere. Unique dishes they have!! Even now, every time i go back to visit my family.... it's a must to go there~
(5)
June K.
***I am writing this review based on the NEW yakko-san that has recently opened. I've been going to Hiro's Yakko-San regularly for a couple of years now and decided to write a review (finally). Why now you ask? Well, as the old saying goes, "if ain't broke don't fix it". Yes, they have finally moved to their MUCH BIGGER location. But bigger is not necessarily better. At their smaller location, their food was very consistent, as far as flavor, presentation and timing were concerned; but at the new location, it's off. And I mean, way off. First, I would like to say that, yes, they just had their grand opening and they are not used to having a dining area that large; but there is NO excuse for poor service. We went on 2 occasions. BOTH times we sat a good 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. We had to call David (who was not in our section) to get us a server. First time, we let it slide cause they just opened. Second time, was just plain irritating. All the servers seem like they have NO direction and they are just going to whatever table they "think" they're supposed to have. They REALLY need a manager to expedite the floor. I believe that if they had a manager to direct the floor staff, things would run much smoother. Timing for the delivery of food is off. Our items used to come in a certain order, now they just deliver what comes first. Last night, our grilled squid came AFTER we finished everything and our dessert plates were in front of us. We thought the order just got forgotten since we didn't see it or our server for a while, hence the order for the dessert. So we sent it back. The server looked confused as to why we were sending it back...duh! We just ordered dessert. At the old location they had 4 visible chefs, one that does the prep, one that does the cold dishes, one that does the grill, and the other that does the sautee. I believe they had more chefs in the back for the deep frying of items, but I'm not sure how many. The new location has about 6-8 chefs on the line and the "old school" chefs seem to know what they are doing, but the new hires are LOST. They had a flow at the old location in such a tiny space, but with a lot of new people, it's just chaos. The flavoring is off, either they don't put enough or put too much. On the first night we visited, we ordered the Kalbi Yakiniku, it was the first thing to come out (which was never the case at the old location, it was always one of the last things to appear), and it was overcooked, almost to the point that it was burnt. So we gave that a pass as well. But last night, we decided to order it again to see the differences (if any). It wasn't overcooked - hallelujah! It came out last as we thought it would, but it had NO flavor. We watched the (new) chef flavor another Kalbi Yakiniku order, and it looked like he did one side of the Kalbi and flipped it around on the plate a little to get the residual seasonings and sent it to the grill. So that explained that one. But with all the drawbacks to the new place, I will say there is a ray of sunshine to be seen. They now have sushi. And their sushi is EFFING awesome. Both times we visited, it was awesome. Those chefs have their sh*t together. Kudos on that one. All in all, once they get their act together, they will be a 5 star rated place, until then 3 stars it is. p.s the hole in the wall or old location was a 5 star rating in my book.
(3)
Ashley D.
This authentic Japanese restaurant serves up fresh, legitimate Japanese dishes in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. They do not serve Sushi, but do have a full sashimi bar... that being said, the Maguro Natto is great! Fresh Tuna sashimi over white Japanese radish and a bed of seaweed and scallions, topped with miso sauce ... Great, cool, fresh Sashimi perfect for a hot Miami night. The shrimp tempura was beautiful, light, and crisp! No complaints! However, the dish that blew me away, something that I have never had in a Japanese restaurant in New York, was the Crispy Bok Choy... AMAZING... I could eat this every day for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner... The dish consists of heads of bok choy that are deep fried for 2 seconds, and then topped with a garlic soy dressing... a verbal description will not do justice... The leaves are paper thin and crispy, and the warm, sweet/salty/slightly spicy/garlicy soy dressing makes the bok choy taste like an Asian veggie chip! Deep Fried guilt never registers because you are eating a leafy green vegetable! Added Bonus! From what I gather, this is a Miami Speak Easy that only locals really get to experience, and with good reason... When we pulled up to the restaurant, we thought we had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the backcountry swamp of the everglades... The restaurant has minimal signage, and is located in an old strip mall off of West Dixie Highway.
(5)
Adam C.
If any of you know me, you know I've been pimping this place since I took my first bite of crispy bok choy. Yakko San was introduced to me as the place where chefs go when they are done working. That alone should tell you the quality of food you're dealing with. Make sure you order some or all of the following: whole hog fish, garlic stem beef, buta kimchee, and shishito. Don't ask what they are, just order them. And don't expect a large selection of raw fish. Izakaya is mostly cooked. Skip dessert, and get more izakaya!
(5)
Ric C.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in South Florida for sure. Love the food, but it takes time to understand the menu. First time I went I didn't really "get it", as I was used to ordering sushi at Japanese places. Don't order sushi! Go for the tapas! I love their spicy squid, tuna salad, lotus roots, and of course anything they do with Asian eggplant. I also think they truly provide good customer service: most waiters know us after so many times and most times recall what we like and what we don't like. We've taken our family here and everybody just falls in love with the place, but they always let us order the "right" things.
(5)
Bill L.
First time at the new location. Not impressed. Service has nose-dived. Mi chica ordered a sake and he brought her a beer. When I said sake, he looked at me all dopey. Instead of picking up the beer, he just stood there. The menu looks way diff than what I recall. Seems more like a sushi joint now. I miss the old place.
(2)
Susan C.
Ended up at Yakko-San last night after spending 45 minutes in traffic hell and unable to get to our intended destination for my husband's birthday. We were totally exasperated and wanted to eat somewhere decent that was close to where we were. Yakko San was the first place that popped up when I went on the Yelp app. I was very hopeful when I saw that the restaurant was packed with people, but overall I was not blown away. We had a very nice server, although at times he was nowhere to be found. We sat at the sushi bar and were excited to get a free small cup each of some kind of cold (daikon?) salad. However, right after this I was told that if I really wanted to get that Rainbow Roll, it was going to be a long wait. We were already starving, so I begrudgingly changed part of my order. I started with the miso soup, which was just fine, but my husband had the seafood soup which he found to be odd-tasting. We then tried to share the Crispy Bok Choy appetizer, but it was so laden with oil that we could not finish it. I then had the Mixed Mushroom Foil-Yaki and the Tofu Steak. I really enjoyed the latter as the tofu was cooked perfectly and topped with a mix of mushrooms, onions and scallions. I wished that the mushrooms in foil were a little more flavorful and the straw mushrooms less chewy, but I certainly could not complain about the large portion. As I was eating these, my husband had the Chu-Ka Don, which he liked very much. There was a lot of seafood and the vegetables were very crisp. Best part of the night: sitting next to a Japanese man who is about to open a "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant near the Sawgrass Mills Mall!
(3)
Johnny D.
Always a good spot for lunch with their specials. We focused on rice balls, a few apps (triggerfish jerky) and sashimi along with a curry beef. Everything was on point with good service. The onigiri were huge so be warned that 5 of them were a bit to many for 2 people. Parking is great since you are in a strip mall.
(4)
Naty S.
What an amazing place!!! Their menu tends to give me a severe case of ADD, because I would like to order everything on their extensive, multi-page booklet! But everything that I Randomly choose from it is just mind blowing. Even their Miso Soup is fantastic. Must admit that one of my favorite things about this place is their staff. They have an amazing crew that really elevate your experience to another level! Super recommended...!!!
(4)
Mai N.
Love this place in North Miami beach! Must try the beef tongue, cooked & seasoned just right! The sashimi was very fresh, melted in my mouth! I was only disappointed in the spicy squid, don't order! Overall, if u like tapas style Japanese food or yakatori type foods, a must try! Or if u love sashimi, must try!
(4)
Helen H.
Wow this place is a great little find! Price/value- amazing!!! We came for friday lunch and walked out full with only a $20 bill! Lunch special- 50% off! We got the sushi lunch which came with miso soup, tempura, veggies, and a 1/2 California roll! Everything veryy delicious. The rice is incredibly done well- sweet and nicely chewy- best sushi rice!! The tempura was excellently seasoned. Sometimes places don't put any seasoning and it's very bland, but this place has got it down!. I also got the cold soba noodles- good, not great. My salad was delicious... I think they added some sort of sesame oil... Soooo good. Service is how this place got bumped down to a 4- people weren't very nice. Also- they really rushed the meal- felt like they were trying to push us out. Oh well, I'll come back if I'm ever in the area again- thought it was pretty delicious and the decor is nice!
(4)
Mike M.
This place has become one of my regular places to go. Their food is very consistent and good. Their sushi is very good; I would not say excellent but much better then other sushi restaurants. One of my favorite things though is their Grilled Squid, it's so delicious. What makes me a regular is that their prices are very reasonable compared to other sushi restaurants.
(4)
Edwin S.
I've long considered this to be one of the staples of late night dining in Miami. It's been around a while and while I've always considered this to be a great restaurant most of my friends that shy away from sushi don't understand why I persist on getting them to at least give it a visit since sushi is not the primary concern for this venue. No, it's a Japanese Tapas Restaurant. It's fun to go with friends that aren't cowards for the best kinds of experience since it's meant for sharing. The portions vary but this is not a raw bar so my father, who can't consume raw meat because of a heart transplant restrictions in his diet, has many more options than he would have at any other place where Japanese simply means sushi. The catch of the day and the daily specials are my first suggestions. ... My only negative is with the ambiance: since they relocated into this strip mall along the intercostal the interior acoustics get to be maddeningly deafening. I don't go on the weekends to avoid the crowds. I hope they install some acoustic panels some day to dampen the echo chamber, and I will look forward to reviving this venue as my primary late night eatery.
(5)
Donald M.
I love this place. And I often drive all the way from Kendall just to eat here. Feeling adventurous? Try the Angel Hair Uni, Ikura. Kimchee ramen. Spicy tuna sashimi salads. Crispy bokchoy. Are among my favorites.
(5)
Tunyaluck P.
Hard to find a good Japanese food in NMB. They are mostly from non-Japanese. This is the real one.
(4)
Michelle I.
As good as it gets for Japanese tapas in the north Miami area. They have a range of really great items. The trigger fish is superb. Love love love the tuna hiroshimi. There was not one item that I just wasn't not the happiest foodie. The atmosphere is dark and trendy. Parking is plentiful and if u want to after party the C lounge is about 500 feet away. Never has this place let me down before. Really great food and very reasonably priced.
(4)
Amber H.
This was my first time here. I've been wanting to try this place out since people rave about it. Now that I've had it myself I don't understand what the deal is. I ordered the Yakko's 7 dish(sushi). The salmon did not taste fresh at all and the rice underneath it broke off easily and barely was any rice as it is. I ordered a simple edamame appetizer and it was over cooked. Being a ramen/sushi junkie I had try the ramen. At a restaurant called "Go Bistro" they serve Tonkotsu ramen as well, which is to die for. So I asked for a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen to evaluate how good the ramen really is. Turns out that it is NOTHING compared to "Go Bistro." The noodles tasted over cooked. The roasted pork wasn't bad, but didn't seem tender enough and the broth did not taste as alive as it should. The flavor of the ramen bowl did not stand out, but only gave me the impression of "I'm never getting this again." The lychee saketini is a must if you're into that. Overall, the experience was not that great and I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
Serge G.
We came here after reading all the great reviews but left with mixed feelings. We'll start with the good: Prices are fair, service was lightning fast, people were friendly and we had an enjoyable time. The bad: service was lightning fast (yes it is both good and bad because you want it when you're hungry but everything you order hits the table in just a few minutes, when you're not ready for your next course), no cream cheese... We ordered the fried bok choy (very good, try it), grilled BBQ eel (FANTASTIC!), hamachi with jalapeño (also very good), crunchy spicy tuna (not good at all), the albacore special in ponzu sauce (very nice) and asparagus with bacon (not wrapped or repurposed, just asparagus spears with bacon, boring) and the naruto special roll (delicious, must try). We also ordered and re ordered the milky nigiri sake which was delicious and smooth! Overall we enjoyed most of the food but the highlight were few and fleeting while the low points seemed never ending. This place isn't bad but it's nothing special. They also don't have cream cheese so they don't make Philly rolls. I understand if you want to be authentic and say in Japan they don't use smoked salmon or cream cheese but exactly how much asparagus and bacon is Japan cranking out? B- at best
(3)
Marcus K.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in the area. This is a izakaya-type place that has a fairly vast menu with everything from tempura to sushi rolls, grilled items to asian fusion. We tried a few items this time around, but we'll be back for more. Bok choy -- fried, light and crispy served with a light soy dressing on the side, nice and different from the usual preparations of boy choy. Vegetable tempura - usually with fried chrysanthemums, but currently out of season, but the variety of tempura they did serve was nicely battered (not too thick, not too thin), nice tempura sauce with grated daikon Hamachi tataki jalapeno roll -- excellent with fresh fish, nice sear on the hamachi added a smoky flavor. Hamachi and Salmon sushi -- nice fresh fish, portions are a little small, but good quality, though perhaps not the best value for the dollar. Rice was a little too cool, as traditional sushi should be served with rice that is lukewarm. Rice was seasoned appropriately. nasu buta miso itame - flavorful and nice pairing of eggplant and pork belly. Vaguely Chinese flavors in this dish, but tasty nonetheless. Will definitely be returning back to this place to try more items.
(4)
Stephanie L.
Konnichiha! I may just be directionally impaired, but even with the aid of our GPS it was a bit tricky to find this place. I had been to their old location of Hiros, which incidentally is right around the corner, but Yakka-San really tested our navigational skills. Once we arrived though we were immediately impressed with the decor, the ambiance, and the fact that the place was still pretty packed at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night. Dim and sultry, it is fun and zen-like with an upscale and modern twist. I had read on yelp it was kind of like Japanese tapas, and that turned out to be pretty accurate description. Being incredibly indecisive and with a multi-page menu filled with tantalizing choices, my friend and I chose to share an assortment of different dishes. - Oyako don: A rice bowl with egg, onions, and chicken in a light sauce, this was easily my favorite dish. Full of flavor and not too heavy, this alone could have sufficed as a meal. While the chicken chunks were white meat, I did wish it was a little higher quality chicken since it kind of felt like your average mall-style foodcourt with lots of strangely chewy bits. - Lotus roots kimpira: Thin slices of lotus sauteed in a savory sauce. This one took me getting used to since I wasn't quite accustomed to the flavor of lotus root. As I acclimated though I found that I enjoyed it more and more with every bite of the fun little crisp pinwheel discs that kind of tasted like water chestnuts. - Age-nasu deep fried Asian eggplant: Tender chunks of eggplant in a yummy sauce, this is definitely the way to go if you're an eggplant fan! - Crunch spicy tuna roll: The tuna was super fresh and it did have a bit of kick. Definitely a more traditional and well made simple sushi roll. - Salmon onigiri was a rice ball: Tiny bits of fresh salmon completely hidden in a tennis ball sized glob of rice, and wrapped in seaweed. While the fish was fresh it was tricky to eat and had way too much rice to taste the salmon. - Fried cheesecake roll: Kind of like a think strip of cheesecake (and perhaps banana) were wrapped in a crepe like a sushi roll. It was not too sweet, which was a plus, but also a bit bland and could have used nuts or coconut to add a bit of texture So this definitely felt (and from what I imagine, tasted) very authentic and fresh. I admit I'm a bit more Americanized so some of the choices (like the lotus root) took some getting used to for my tastebuds, but I'm glad I tried them and look forward to trying more. You won't find lots of creative sushi here, but rather, classic Japanese sushi and dishes that are very well made. The only minor complaint I had was that the eel sauce tasted like it had been thinned with soy sauce, so it was a bit more watery and salty than I would have liked. Overall though it was a good experience and I'm sure I'll be back for an authentic meal in at Yakka-San! It really has something for everyone with more exotic and more of your standard choices. Reasonable prices, huge variety and a selection of well cooked food in a pretty atmosphere...a solid choice for your Japanese fix!
(4)
Fiorella A.
Great sushi, nice ambiance, ok service. Late dinner no problem, this place is open super late. The litchee martini is to die for. Try the fried bak Choy
(4)
Atif H.
What a waste :( We are frequent visitors to Miami and we were planning to go to Yakko and with some very dear friends but alas we will not any more due to some of the later reviews here on YELP. We don't mind paying for Good food but it seems like this place is going to be a cause of embarrassment for us. We love our friends too much to put them through some of things I have read here. It's a damn shame though because my wife told me after the one and only time we ate here that the meal she had was the best meal she had ever had in her life :) Restaurants have to be very careful specially now a days. The words gets around. Any flaw in your setup is going to be noticed and talked about. If you are not up to par you will fade away. Good luck YAK O SON!!! fucking saran wrapped grilled salmon. Un fucking believable
(1)
Brian L.
Great Japanese food. Great service. Waitress was Rebecca and she was great.Would def come here again!
(4)
Robert P.
This is a rare authentic Japanese restaurant in S. Florida. They offer some unique dishes, but you do not have to be Japanese cuisine expert to enjoy great sushi/sashimi, grilled sea bass, grilled eel. The service is uneven, sometimes fast and great, sometimes slow and mediocre. The interior feels too big, and lack a calm atmosphere of great Asian restaurants of New York or San Fran for instance.
(4)
Cihan C.
This is a terrible restaurant. The waiter "Lim" was horrible and rude. He suggested a desert "sweet potato and ice cream" which was uneatable. When we asked to return this, he said we have to pay for it. He could not even speak English. He said this was not a free tasting! He did not know he lived in America and customer service is the most important thing for a restaurant. When we asked for the manager, manager -instead of apologizing- he said he thought we were bums , we came there to eat free food!! Will never go there and i do not recommend anyone to go there
(1)
Kaylin O.
Rather disappointing. I guess this place is a bit over hyped. I was expecting amazing food but they were all either pretty good or ok. Crispy Bok Choy--cool take on bok choy but I preferred mines slightly sauteed as opposed to the deep fried ones here. The dipping sauce was too salty. Black Pork Belly--pretty good. I love the sweet dipping sauce. I also love it paired with thinly sliced scallions. This took at least 30 minutes to prepare and the waiters gave me the run around every time I asked about it. Sashimi---Fresh; 1-2 inch pieces of Hamachi, Tuna, and Salmon. Salmon was the best followed by Hamachi and then Tuna Salmon Nigiri---Melt in your mouth yumminess Shrimp Spicy Mayo----Very disappointed; it was soggy and the sauce was drenching the fried shrimp; flavor of sauce was not right as other places; it was sour to me. I only ordered this hoping to end the meal on a good note since how can you go wrong with this dish????? Service: super slow The girl who helped us was nice but I had to ask for water so many times and some of the waiters pretty much ignored us. Service is definitely not their strong suit. I had to ask twice for my check. Disappointed. A-ok I've had better izakya type food else where. Even Open Door in Monterey Park is better. No need to come all the way to Miami for this. I really like the ambience though. Plenty of seating. Nice Bar area.
(3)
Nicole M.
I used to love this place till now! Service was suck! For what I paid for! I was ITB that why I have to to gave at least 18% because I know busboy got tip out from server! We got the guy server and I recognized him ( he been there for a long time since the old location, and he started from bussing table!) he never came to our table and ask how everything was! I and my family had to called him out when we need something! I orders kimchi soup, he never brought the small bowl out so I had to ask him after the soup have been put on the table for 15 mins! Well i guess, he should be back to bus the table if he dnt know the first rule of the server! GIVING SERVICE BUDDY,,,,,,,,!!!
(1)
Jake N.
Food is not ok. Service not good. Was really disappointed. Not good, for second chance!! Go some other place, beware! Its so bad they even made me create a yelp profile! Shameful no class disgraceful management. Apparently Cops love this place for some reason, probly getting free meal. Cause i wouldn't spend a dollar there even if i was a cop!
(1)
Maggie N.
I've been here twice. The first time was to check out their ramen, which completely disappointed but then again, I have yet to find good ramen in this area since I moved here almost a year ago. On my second visit (because not all Japanese restaurants make good ramen and that is not necessarily a reflection on the rest of their menu), we went for lunch. My husband ordered the tekka-don (the pork katsu, egg, & onion over rice) and I ordered the tuna sashimi salad. The fried pork in the tekka-don was bland and squishy. The flavor of the dish itself was too overpoweringly sweet. A definite no-go. The tuna sashimi salad had very thin slivers of tuna over a bed of mixed lettuce with thin sliced radishes. The salad dressing was too strong & overwhelmed the entire salad. I couldn't taste the sashimi at all (whether it was because the tuna was so very thin or because the dressing hid the flavor but most likely a mixture of both these things.) The lettuce contained a lot of the white no-flavor part of the lettuce (what is that called anyways?!) which I find a lot of restaurants use as filler to cut costs (pet-peeve of mine!) I must say the ambiance is great. I love the decor. We were greeted promptly and the waiter initially was very attentive but then seemed to lose interest in us. I hate to give negative reviews but I gave this place two chances and was dissatisfied both times despite the relative good reviews from other Yelpers. :-(
(1)
Rosa S.
Food is good if you know what to order. Having invited my Thai friend for a birthday surprise, she ordered many small plates, and we all shared. The seaweed salad has kelp, and is real seaweed of different varieties. They make their own sauces, and they are fabulous, and NO MSG!!! Yay!! Sea bass marinaded in miso was tender and delicious, but small for a $13 entree. The various vegetables with sauce that my friend ordered were delectable. Try the tuna with avocado sauce, it is exquisite with a very subtle pesto aftertaste. The mushrooms my friend ordered were ver aromatic and delicious. The only problem was the waitress ruined the dessert surprise when she brought out dessert plates and forks for everyone BEFORE the dessert with the candles. We sang happy birthday anyway, even though they ruined the surprise. Very loud and frenetic atmosphere.
(4)
Shams B.
I came here excited to try this place. What I got instead was a disappointing meal and the wrong place apparently. The shrimp kara-age and fried bok choy was good, but everything else was average or below my standards for good sushi/Japanese food and trust me when I say I've been to/tried a lot of Japanese places from hole-in-the-wall to commercial to grocery stores, etc etc etc.
(2)
Lucy W.
On the top of my bill read the following: Food is not as good as it used to be (along with 20% gratuity because that was the only thing that stayed the same and was satisfactory). Apparently, the whole meal was an epic fail and not just because of one hit or miss item. I can forgive the portions mysteriously shrinking more so in size and the pricing not, but the food was average AT BEST. Miso sea bass had two large pieces of bone in it and was covered in some overly powering sweet paste. Like teriyaki. I don't remember it being this nasty sweet. The scallops with asparagus and mushroom in butter sake sauce was extremely small but the worst was the scallops weren't even seared/cooked well AND the stringy pieces of asparagus. Asparagus can't be that expensive. For $8.50 a plate I'm sure you can buy more than one stalk so why not cut the correct part for me to eat? Shrimp tempura roll was the only decent thing but even my one piece tasted like freshly roasted sesame seeds. I could go on but I will spare you and keep this update short. I wanted to order more to prove my bad experience wrong but when you're starving and the food still tastes disappointing, and I couldn't bare the idea of being further disappointed... that's a really BIG disappointment that you really can't argue or deny. I will not return.
(2)
Robert H.
Wanted sushi and was tired of Hiro's which is nearby...so I met my girlfriend at Yakko-San and we had a fantastic meal. Ambiance was great. The staff was very attentive and friendly. Bartender was knowledgable and made good drinks. Most importantly, the food was fantastic and flavorful. Beautifully presented. Will definitely go there more often and highly recommend it. And they are open until 3am.
(4)
Ed A.
Horrible...The people that work here threw my friend's food at her while she was leaving. Just because they were dying to close, will NEVER come here again. Don't come here, if you do, don't come near closing unless you feel like getting your doggie bag thrown at you.
(1)
Jonah K.
Lunch was decent here, but nothing to write home about. Not very memorable, but just ordered a variety of nigiri, and sashimi. There was pretty much no one in the place when we arrived at 11:30am, and not many people when we left at 12:30pm or so.
(2)
Carlos P.
Its hard to rate because all I had was a spicy tuna hand roll. W came in to eat sushi but they only have about 9 rolls on the menu. My wife loves jb rolls and they don't have it here. Paid for my drinks and hand roll, but going down the street to Hiros
(3)
Christine V.
If I could give zero or negative stars I would. This was the WORST eating experience I have ever encountered in my life, no joke. This place should have as its motto "you will yak if you eat at yakko-San." As if the waiter messing up our order multiple times wasn't bad enough they served me the grilled salmon with the plastic wrapping still on it!! Because they stuck the wrap in the grill with it, the plastic melted and fused with the salmon so it camouflaged as salmon skin! I ate about half of it before I picked at the "strange skin" and a larger plastic piece came off. I freaked and even my friends said it was just fried salmon skin... Until they touched it and confirmed it was indeed the plastic wrap. I got so pissed i brought the plastic to the sushi chef and told him i want a refund and asked him where the bathroom was. To detox, I had to yak/throw up everything I ate to get rid of the plastic I consumed. I will have to admit the staff were pretty nice about it. The waiter apologized and the head chef came out to apologize. They removed the cost of my meal from the check and gave free dessert. BUT the chef who messed up hid in the kitchen; I was told it was his 2nd day working and the head chef apologized on his behalf. 2nd day working or not, it's COMMON SENSE to remove plastic wrapping before cooking. This cook should find another job because the kitchen is definitely not for him. And another annoying thing is that places in Miami beach add 17% gratuity automatically. Maybe that's why service is so poor. These employees would not survive in California, where service actually determines your tip. In terms of food, this place is just ok. We all ate the lunch special. The shrimp tempura is really good and the salad has a pretty good dressing. But overall, nothing to rave about. If I lived in Miami, it wouldn't be anything worthy to return to. Save yourself the trouble and eat elsewhere.
(1)
Brian G.
Sitting at bar little but if wait for food but good . Worth the wait . Drinks tasty too
(3)
ZS G.
Driving 45 minutes for this place over and over and over again shows you how much I love this place! The food is great, the menu is innovative. Items to try: crispy fish onion salad, spicy tuna harumaki; the fried oysters; takiyaki? (I think that's what it's called); yakiniku don; yakko steak; ramen; age tofu; VOLCANO!
(5)
J K.
Started watching this series on Netflix called 'The Mind of a Chef' w/ my seed. Produced by Anthony Bourdain which follows around David Chang of 'Momofuku' fame.. First episode was on NoOdles. Bad idea watching anything food related after midnight, but great solution after i peeped that Yakko's open tiLL 3AM. So, we boogied over there to grab the Shoyu Ramen & some Nigiri. I got the Tamago aka Egg.. I order that shit every time for nostalgic reasons. Chances are u aren't gonna phuc w/ it but I do. Got the assist from the Homie Wowee to get that Jack & Hamachi which were both scrumptious. I'm gonna come clean...I didn't phuck w/ the Tuna/Toro tho. The Homie Wowee said that they cut it open fresh but this tuna had no flava like SOME of my Caucasian friends on the dance floor. Could've had that Ramen a Lil hotter temp wise & appreciated if the pork were slightly chargriLLed...but for 2-3 AM on a Mon/Tues in this area, i Phuc's w/ this spot hardbody.
(4)
Kien M.
We got here on a Saturday night and waited about 30 minutes. The main reason for coming here is because some of my friends had cravings for ramen. I didn't have high expectations since we came from California which is known for Asian cuisines. We started off with some starters: black pork belly, jalepeno hamachi, takoyaki, and sashime platter. All dishes were decent and the fish seem fresh. I ended up ordering the salt ramen for my entree. There is two main things I look for in ramen, savory broth and fresh noodles. Hiro's has none of them but they do have a lot of shrubs to dress their noodle bowls. For dessert, I had the volcano. Ice cream with wafers and red bean sauce. Looks like they mixed a bunch of sweet things together and gave it a fancy name.
(3)
David G.
This place was ok, nothing special. The price is average to expensive, the quality of the food is very average. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out to us. I was disappointed when asking to substitute something for the shrimp in the rainbow roll (which we don't eat) and they said sure! They simply removed the shrimp, so the rainbow roll had spinach and asparagus inside, and the sliced fish on top. Nothing to enjoy on a roll with nothing good inside. Other food we had was their ramen, which was low to average compared to the others we have tried. The spicy tuna roll was good, and good for the price too. Overall, nothing wrong with this place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Betsy D.
Crispy Bok Choy is amazing!!!!! We had the Pork Katsu Don and enjoyed it very much. The plum wine was nice too!
(5)
Jenna M.
Eh, I was kind of turned off the last time my husband and I ate dinner here. Don't get me wrong, we will probably be back for another try but our last experience was tainted because of bad service. The food is good... reliable. But the menu is just so big, I'm not sure I'm choosing the right thing. I would much rather a restaurant that has a shorter menu filled with only amazing dishes then a restaurant like Yakko-San that has a terribly large menu filled with OK food.
(3)
Oanh H.
The service could be better. The menu is large and there is a lot to choose from. My favorite is the cucumber wrap and the misoramen. Yum.
(4)
Kevin W.
Ah-MAY-zing Japanese restaurant. All cooked dishes really shine here. Try and get a seat at the sushi bar. The sashimi is insane. Everything is soooo fresh. Great service. You will not find "cutely named sushi rolls" here. They bring the real stuff and they bring it strong. Enjoy!!
We came to Yakko- San last night for dinner. I liked the decor and the service was very friendly. I had some veggie sushi rolls, which were very good. My boyfriend had the ramen, and loved it. We had a couple appetizers that were all amazing: daikon salad, crispy bok choy, and some kind of sauteed spinach ( i forgot what it is called). We also had the fried cheesecake for dessert, it was excellent!
(4)
Megan M.
Yakko San puts a twist on typical Japanese restaurants in the area. I always go to Hiro on 163rd, but decided to try Yakko San when I was in the mood for Japanese food because I had heard good things. Overall, my experience was ok. Inside the restaurant, I felt a little cramped. The only table available was next to the wall and the edge of the bar. Service was friendly, polite, and fast. Other than an awkward moment toward the end of our meal, that aspect was great. When we were finished, one of the employees came to our table and set down other people's half eaten dishes on our table and then started stacking all of the plates in front of us to take them to the kitchen. Not only was this awkward, but it was gross. I would rather he come back for our plates than have to interrupt our conversation to put other people's leftovers on our table to save himself a trip to the kitchen. The food was hit or miss. My edamame was good, but not nearly as hot as it should have been. I also ordered the sweet potato tempura because those were the only vegetables they hadn't run out of. By the way, it wasn't sweet potato. It tasted like a regular potato. My friend ordered a seaweed salad. It was different from any seaweed salad I've seen before, and the waiter did tell us that, but it was strange, and for around $8, the portion was tiny. The best part about that dish was the dipping sauce. Yum! That was almost the best part of the meal until my friend's dumplings came out. Those were delicious. I may come back to Yakko San and try a few other things, but for now, I'll stick to Hiro because I can't really see what all the hype is about.
(3)
Cliff F.
Yakko-San is a mixed bag (for me, anyway). I never, ever order anything but sushi at Japanese restaurants. Because of this, Yakko-San was a bit of a disappointment. I would have expected their menu to have more sushi and less entree items, etc...oh well. We ordered four sushi rolls and an agedashi tofu for an appetizer. The tofu was amazing. Sweet, fishy broth with lightly tempura fried tofu--very hot, very satisfying. Rolls were slightly larger than average--presentation wasn't too overdone, which is refreshing. Definitely better than average, but the Saba Battera was DELICIOUS. I would drive from S. Miami to Sunny Isles for this one roll...an "Osaka style box roll," it features marinated mackerel and rice. That's it--and it's perfection. A must try. Service was good--nothing of note, bad or good.
(4)
Sarah P.
I adored Yakko-san during my time in Miami. In an area where finding good Asian food is almost close to impossible, Yakko-san was a little gem of the Asian persuasion. The service was good, prices were very reasonable, and the food was plentiful & fantastic. My personal favorites were the curry donkatsu (pork), eel donburi, and yakiniku steak donburi. Ohhhh the yakiniku steak. I brought my mother here when she was visiting and she was positively radiating with excitement from this dish that she actually ordered a 2nd one to go to eat later. Must be where I get my foodie genes from...... Other less memorable dishes that I've tried were the yakisoba (huge portion) and a couple sushi dishes that were good but typical. My mother also loved the kimchi natto (fermented soybeans) but that ain't really my thang so I couldn't personally tell you how I felt about it. This is the place to go in North Miami if you're craving good Asian food.
(5)
Ashley M.
One of the best experiences I have had in a restaurant in quite some time. The service was excellent: hostess accurately quoted the wait time, the waiter never left us waiting, and the chefs (we sat at the bar) were extremely friendly. As others have said as well, I am also not an expert on authentic Japanese cuisine. What I do know - the plates are artisticly presented and full of flavour. The portions are large for the price, and everything tasted extremely fresh. With the recommendations of my fellow yelpers and the waiter, we ordered: Crispy bok choy appetizer $6.50 - Very good. It was a tiny bit too salty and too big of a portion for just two. Would be great for four to share. Yakiniku (BBQ) steak $ 10.00 - Wonderful flavour and perfect portion size. My only complaint? I'm usually very good with chopsticks and I kept making a fool of myself with this :) Hamachi Kama (Fish cheek) $13.50 - Delicious. We even watched the chefs cut the fish fresh before sending it off to be grilled. No complaints whatsoever. Pork fried rice $ 7.50 - Not your usual fried rice, this was much fresher and appeared more "authentic". Great flavour and a really nice portion size. Perfect for 2-3 people. Fried cheesecake $5.75- Very good. I would have preferred something a bit more "authentic" (though I'm not positive, I don't think that cheesecake is Japanese lol) It was the recommendation of the waiter, and it did not disappoint. Overall a great value for the service and quality of food received. Definitely a new favourite restaurant. We even saw that when the gentleman next to us shared his sake with the chefs, he was given all sorts of little samples to try **note to self - buy sake next time and share with the chefs! I'm looking forward to trying some of the more adventurous things on the menu. Kimchee and jellyfish, here I come!
(5)
Lisa W.
I've been hearing about this place since BEFORE I moved to Miami. I finally had the occasion to try it and it was an epic fail. Why? Because I mistakenly went to "Hiro Sushi" on 163rd which is NOT the same thing nor the same owner (it apparently is the ex wife of Hiro at Yakko San who kept the name/restaurant in the divorce). I FINALLY corrected my mistake this past weekend. Yakko San is in the shopping center where Duffy's is in Aventura/North Miami Beach, right next to Old Navy. Huge public parking lot and even offers complimentary valet. I walk in and the place is packed! Nice decor, everything very clean, decent design and lighting. A few flat screens to watch the Heat game and very attentive staff. First off, forget about the sushi. Yes it is excellent but your first time, step outside the box and try the Japanese "tapas". All portions are great for sharing and for what you get, very reasonably priced. We ordered 4-5 tapas and a few sushi rolls and were stuffed! I highly recommend the pork/onion salad (New Times just named it one of the top 100 dishes in the 305), crispy bok choy, vegetable tempura, eggplant/pork/miso stir fry, chinese black sausages (yum and served with a spicy wasabi-like mustard) and hamachi jalapeno. We only scratched the surface of the menu and I will be back! Two of us got out of there for a total bill of about $45 including two beers and 4-5 tapas. It was excellent!
(5)
Asami S.
There aren't many restaurants like this place and open so late. They do have a lot of traditional Japanese dishes that are very hard to find in South Florida. Okanimiyaki was one that I was very excited to try. I was a little disappointed with it though. It did not taste authentic. The texture and temperature were off and it left a lot to be desired. The ramen is loaded with noodles and slices of meat and eggs. It tasted better than some, and it was edible, but it still was not authentic. I have also tried a few of the donburi entrees (meat with egg over rice) and was disappointed. Do not get them. They were unpleasantly soggy, strongly eggy, and mushy. I just wish this restaurant was a little less Americanized. I think I was mostly just happy to see other Japanese food aside from sushi.
(3)
Jade S.
I Have never been disappointed. Open late every night.VERY GOOD FOOD!
(4)
Mio F.
4 stars, mostly for the wide space, ambiance, hours, large bar, and the food (and assume drink as well) selection. I only had sushi this time so I will save the other food review for later time. My friend was pleasantly surprised when he received the bill (it was Sunday afternoon), overall sushi was good/ok, but portion not that big as others write, and most are rather bland.... (which may be good since it's not as Americanized). Service was good, food came fast, and I understand the place will help our midnight cravings, which is awesome. I will go back happily especially late at night, it's also in a nice shopping center where you can actually do other shopping like Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Dollar Store, etc. Again food is good or passing, not the greatest, but given the other factors this is still a good choice.
(4)
Victor M.
I cannot believe this restaurant has a four star rating. Their sushi is not even average, specially for the price
(1)
Johnny Q.
Can the Cheesecake Factory please sell their Japanese restaurant back?!?!? I know this is not a dedicated sushi house but if Sizzler from the 80's was resurrected and morphed into a Japanese restaurant. This would be its offspring I am missing the boat on this place. I understand this place is not going for the intimate sushi setting but this restaurant feels that I walked into a bad chain restaurant from the 80's. The place is huge and clean. The tofu kimchi was pretty tasty. Lychee martini was good and pretty strong. The wait staff is definetly in need of improvement. The pictures from other yelpers definetly deceived me. Meaning it the sushi looked ALOT better in pictures. Rubber and dull, Ive had better sushi from a supermarket.
(2)
David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=5 // Service=4.5 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=Yes // Bathrooms=OK // Overrated=No Hands down the best restaurant in Miami. It has recently moved to a new location and it very cool inside... You know it is good when 50% of the patrons are asian. Try the BBQ Eel, Onion Fish Salad, Lotus Root(cheap), Seaweed Salad, any made to order soup and most of all the spicy tuna harumaki(probably spelt wrong). Also, try to find the asian waiter that speaks hebrew...
(5)
Tony A.
My wife and I still love Hiro's! I think the sushi is underrated. I think when they moved into the new location they really were able to expand their sushi offerings with their huge sushi bar. The fish comes out very quickly too and there are always really great sushi offerings. The Chef's Daily 6 always has awesome sushi options!
(5)
Kioko O.
This is one of the few places (besides Joe's Stone Crab) that I recommend when my friends visit Miami. And their feedback has been quite good. Yakko-san was the first to successfully introduce Japanese tapas (izakaya dishes) in Greater Miami area when only Japanese dish known to mankind there were teriyaki chicken and American invented funky rolls. They also place emphasis in selections of wines and sakes. I am not sure if Hiro-san, the owner, still works as a chef. But if he is, you are in luck! Ask him what's good that day. He's a master of creating dishes that are delicate in taste and beautiful in presentations. Another plus is that they stay opened until 2AM on Thursday through Sunday, and 3AM on Friday and Saturday
(5)
Allan L.
Really good food. Been coming to this place before they moved and always consistent great quality food. Try the spicy Manila clams, absolutely ridiculous and try the flank steak cooked medium well in the Yakko-San BBQ sauce. Steak is super tender! Enjoy
(5)
Stuart S.
This was the second time I have been to this newer location and will be the last. I generally sit at the such I bar which we did tonight. It took ten minutes to find a waiter and was told by the one we were able to call over he would try to find our server. Things only got worse after that. The next time we saw her was when I again asked another waiter to find her for our check. The sushi as I learned is now made without wasabi! Apparently some of their customers don't like it so it has now been "Americanized " This American will be eating his sushi elswhere!
(1)
Stephanie L.
This is my favorite place to eat in Miami (or close to Miami in that case). Not only this is the best Japanese restaurant in town but you are also transported to Japan the second you cross their door. Almost all the cooks are Asian, speak Japanese, the pictures in the restaurant are of Asian stars...this is really a cultural experience. Great service and great food. My favorites are the crispy fish salad and the grilled calamari, along with a cup of green tea to drench your thirst. It has become a tradition for me and a friend to go every two weeks. We sit at the cook station and watch "the show". The cooks are terrific and you get hungry for every plate they cook before your eyes. Really a must go on your way back from Aventura Mall.
(5)
Tough C.
This is a great place to have Japanese tapas. Delicious options of Asian fusion dishes at affordable prices. The staff is quick, friendly and they are always there to make sure you have a good experience. I highly recommend it!
Food: Not recommended if you're looking for great food for the price. The portion was very little and the prices on the menu were pretty brutal. $45 for 25 small pieces of sashimi. I have never seen such a small piece of sashimi in my life. The Sashimi Large showed up like crumbs of sashimi hiding behind all the garnish. I saw more garnishing than the food. The seafood soup that I order was wayyy salty, not only me but everyone at the table complained. The price of most appetizers were easily $10 each, and of course the portions were very small. Service: There were many waiters but not attentive to the customers. I waved my hands in front of many of them and no one spotted me. Even the ones who saw me didn't acknowledged, but just walked by. Two of the waiters somehow try to collect the dish WITH food on them before we told them we were done. I felt like I was rushed to finish my food. Not very great service. Environment: The place looks more like a bar without almost every table drinking alcohol. The mood of the place was leaned toward for adult. Not recommended if you're looking to have a family dinner with great food for the price. It's more like an insanely overpriced snack spot.
(1)
Charlie L.
Oh, good god.... this place is goooooood.. So so good. I've had Japanese food all over the world, and this is probably in the top 5 places I'd want to eat again. Jenny, Dan and I were visiting from various parts of the country when we stumbled upon this gem... well, actully, we didn't really stumble upon it as the hostess from Naoe gave us the recommendation, and to be absolutely frank, Hiro's is by far, better than Naoe despite Naoe's chef pedigree and triple A ingredients. At the end of the day, good food is good food, not matter what the atomosphere is like... and eventhough this place may seem "low-brow" compared to Naoe, the food is just so well flavored that I would chose this over Naoe any day. Every dish we had were out of this world and the sake was first rate. If I lived remotely close to Miami, I would go here over and over again. Five stars, not to be missed!
(5)
Jennie S.
This was where I went on my first date with my current boyfriend, and it honestly impressed me so much as a choice for a date that it scored him serious points...! I love this joint. This is where chefs go to eat when they get off work, for one because they're open super-late, but also because the food is excellent and the prices very reasonable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the chefs in action. I haven't been there since they opened their new location so I can't speak to the ambiance there, but I know that in the old location, it was very laid-back, casual, nothing fancy but not quite dive-y either. But the ambiance was great because you could watch the chefs work, and the menu is just so great. This is NOT for sushi...I don't think they even sell sushi. This is hot Japanese food. If you're a vegetarian, there is plenty on the menu you can eat; if you're looking for meat or fish, there is plenty of that too. I have tried veggies I'd never even heard of before there, like burdock root. Their veggie tempura is awesome because it has a lot of exotic vegetables in it. Whenever we go we try something new, and we love it all. This is a must-go in Miami.
(5)
Luis G.
As far as I know, this is the only place in South Florida that serves Zaru soba. I've been on the hunt for these cold buckwheat noodles for the longest time and Yakko-San delivered. Delicious in its simplicity and elegance, served with a nice dipping sauce over a bamboo mat and with a little bit of crispy nori on top...Yummm. Hiro's Yakko-san is a great choice in the area because it is high quality food and service and open till mad late (3 am). Their specialty seems to be the Yakitori part of Japanese cuisine, but it seems they have a lot covered, from the Sashimi, to the Ramen, to the Soba and Takoyaki -which is some of the best I've tried by the way- everything I had was great, and I must agree with the previous reviewers the crispy Bok-choy was crazy good! I still have no idea how they do that. Their extensive menu gives way to multiple tries, and I'm certainly up for it. Good choice for dining out!
(4)
Nighthawk H.
You know when you see actual Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant that it is going to be good. Sashimi is delicious and fresh, ambiance was great and it wasn't too loud. The best part is, if you are feeling frisky after your dinner, there is gentleman's club near by.
(5)
Andrew S.
Relatively speaking the best ramen I've had in a looooong time. They only have four selections, but they are so good: - the kimchee ramen is the bomb - miso ramen is good - chicken or pork katsu should be dipped into the broth for a nice crunch Some of the few problems I had with this place: - hiyayakko (a tofu appetizer...)... eh, dont waste your time. - soy sauce is too salty Great prices and our server was wonderful... her name is Wendy.
(4)
Bruce T.
We always go there for BEEF yakiniku Steak the sauce for that its just delicious. it is a place that will fit when you want to meet with with friends and have some sushi and some cooked dishes.
(5)
Anna M.
My go to place for great Takoyaki. I wish they had a wider selection of sushi, but what can you do? But it's still delicious. The noodle bowls are okay, not great but okay. I would definitely recommend everyone to give their takoyaki a try.
(3)
David R.
We were kicked out by manager for staying too long! Never happened to me, anywhere, anyplace, any City, any Country, and we are not lingerers. Very upsetting. We went tonight for my wife's Birthday-party of 4. When we finished dinner, the manager came over and asked us to leave because he needed the table. He saw it was her Birthday because they just brought desert with a candle. It was close to 10 PM. Nobody was waiting up front when we left. Who does that? What bad management. Food was just ok, but not reflective of the Yelp reviews. Greasy Bok Choy, sushi was just ok. Would never go back.
(1)
Jay L.
Got's to give it a 3.5...I shoulda known it couldn't be as good as everyone else raved cuz you just can't get great Japanese food here in Florida...You can't really get ANY great Asian food here. It's probably cuz most people here don't even know what they are missing. Most Floridians (not all) have no idea what the difference is. They just lump all Asians and Asian food into one category. Just read the reviews about this place and you can see. I don't want to dis the other Yelpers here, after all, I am outsider, but this is NOT straight up Japanese food. It's not fusion either. How to put it... So it's not a stupid "Thai/Sushi/Chinese" place...I can't believe anyone even falls for that here...but it's definitely not pure Japanese either. They have Korean and Chinese ingredients all through the menu. Not a bad thing at all. They DO have a special Japanese menu if you want and can read it...They prolly don't offer it to the gringos though. Ya gotta ask for it. That being said, it's more "Asian" than say, PF Chang's or any other number of Americanized joints you might find scattered throughout Florida. They use some less Americanized ingredients and flavors. So, overall, it's more of a flavor trip than chain places. I thought the food was pretty good, just not as good as it's all hyped up to be here on Yelp. I had the crispy bok choy...very tasty...but isnt' anything that's fried? In a perfect world, it'd be a little spicy. Had the pan fried gyoza. Awful. No flavor. Skip them. Also got the sashimi appetizer. The fish was actually pretty good. Not the freshest, but not bad. Not chewy or fishy, but bite-able. The highlight was the yakiniku donburi which was a well marinated steak over rice. Was cooked well, tender and wasn't a generic teriyaki sauce. A bit sweet, with enough salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Perhaps a little MSG as well for the umami flavor. Mirin too? I think perhaps. Oh, I forgot they also gave me a starter bite, a little cold noodles in vinegar. I don't know what it's called. And yes, some of the waitstaff aren't Japanese or Korean...so some of them won't know what you order if you order in Japanese. They have some Latino dude and some Thai chick... Overall, I liked it...wouldn't quite give 4 stars though. It did save me from eating at the mall though.
(3)
Jordan N.
I bumped it up another star for being a good late-night option. However, food didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would - but then again, I do think this place has been hyped. Food is satisfying and I would return whenever I'm in the mood for good Japanese food late at night (besides sushi). I had the following: Spicy Manila Clams Age-nasu (deep-fried asian eggplant). Croquettes Sea Bass Miso (grilled chili on sea bass marinated miso) Fried Cheese Cake Roll Hot Tea Sake
(4)
Randy L.
Stopped in today, ordered ramen dish. Almost as good as Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Place was empty for lunch. Sat next to King of Miami, Yelper. May make it a regular stop when in the area.
(4)
Wing L.
It's hard to find authentic-inspired Japanese food in Miami but Hiro's Yakko-san was decent. No crazy habachi grills or random crazy sushi rolls here. Yakko-san specializes in Japanese tapas dishes that can be shared amongst your party. Their sushi selections are good and resemble more of Japan than those crazy Asian-Fusion crap that you see floating around these days. Miami roll? Please..... Yakiniku Steak(meats), Unagi Kabayaki-BBQ eel (grill), Ika Maryyaki-grilled squid (grilled) and bolognese pasta were some of the food we've tried. The steak was tender and well flavored. The BBQ eel was smoky (but still a bit "fishy" so if you tend not to like that, steer away. I really enjoyed the grilled squid. It wasn't flavored much but with lemon, it goes a long way. The pasta was done Japanese style (with ketchup). Was I transported back to Japan eating these foods? No, but at least I was in a good authentic Japanese restaurant that wasn't serving Chinese, Thai, and other Asian fusion food that tends to lump all of them as one.
(3)
Brian L.
15 words of less: Nothing need be said. 15 words or more: Where do you start? Chefs eat here. Does that say something? Just go. Give it a try. The food is great. My personal favorite is the whole fish. They have between 3 and 4 fresh fishes. You pick the fish and generally the size you want. They will prepare it in one of several ways. We always go with the fried version. The best part is the presentation. The fish is cubed and then put back onto the fish. The result is bite sizes pieces of fried goodness. No muss and no fuss. Just eat and enjoy. There are a ton of stand out dishes, but what is great is to just explore the menu and try things you probably will not see on any other menu in South Florida. Lotus root, really? Yes please...crunchy in texture and flavorful do to the sauce. Yaki-udon with pork? Better believe it...a texture dish for me, as I really dig the chewiness to the noodles. Crispy bok choy. Sure and just dump that sauce on it instead of dipping. Seafood hot pot. Works for me...loaded with fish and veggies. Fried shrimp with spicy mayo. Oh yeah. Note that the place apparently will offer a shabu shabu platter, but you have to give advance notice. A friend tried it and said it was very good. For sake, my choices are the number 2 and the number 4. Ordering it in a bamboo will net you about 6-8 glasses, which will go fast so consider going with a bottle if you have a sake drinking crowd with you. Sure, we all miss the old place. It had charm...in a beat up strip mall, the inside was beat up, and you basically sat on top of everybody else. The new place will not have that same feel, but frankly, in the end I am there for food and good company. And that has not changed. PS, thank you Yakko San for opening up the wifi. The new place is where cell phone signals go to die. They just opened up the wifi, which is a huge plus.
(5)
Flora V.
Finally, some fresh and amazingly authentic japanese food in Miami. I've tried a few here and been settling for less. not anymore! this is our new favorite sushi spot. everything we've tried there was made to perfection, the rolls (recommend, spicy tuna and jalapeno yellowtail hamachi). I haven't tried too many things but so far everything was extremely fresh and prepared well. Met one of the owners, May. Really sweet! can't wait to go back and try more menu items.
(5)
Jane L.
Awesome, authentic Japanese food. I've tried a lot of Japanese restaurants in NJ/NYC and hands down, this is the best place I've found so far in Miami. The prices are totally reasonable and portions are big for the most part. They're open til super late and my family loves going there to grab a late snack or dinner. The place is usually packed with people cause it's a good place to watch a game, grab a drink, or go on a date night. Wendy & Andy are awesome and always serve us with a smile. Their katsu curry is AH-MAZING if you like Japanese curry. Their yakiniku don, katsu don, kimchee ramen are also good. If they were closer, I'd probably go at least once a week!!!!! parking can be hard to find but valet is available.
(5)
Jack B.
This was such an inconsistent experience. While some of the food we ordered did indeed live up to the hype, we were thoroughly disappointed with the service as well as some of the other dishes. The waitstaff assigned to our area was horrible. At one point a busboy brought us the wrong dish, then HE gets pissed off when the mistake is pointed out. The dishes all came out at different times. Some people at our table started to eat 15 minutes after the other people were done. The ramen was straight up horrible. Bland and parts of the meat were still frozen. Any one of these slights could have been brushed off and forgiven with a slight apology, but instead the mistakes just kept piling on. Bottom line, this place could be great, management just needs to tighten the screws.
(2)
Thomas K.
Great atmosphere. Very hip looking restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly, and nobody waits long to order. If your interested in a spicy salad, I recommend the tuna or salmon sashimi salad. Get the spicy option. Japanese authenticity at its best! Plenty of parking and other shopping around.
(5)
Irene R.
This is my all-time favorite Japanese place in South Florida. I'm a creature of habit and order my staple items each time and I've never been disappointed...crispy bok choy, agedashi tofu, short rib yakiniku, dried kawahagi, gizzard kara-age, and the buttery mentaiko. I miss their old location that had a more intimate, neighborhood feel. The new place is definitely better and more visually appealing, but it's a bit too glam and flashy for me. But hey, I'm here for the food. :)
(5)
Steven G.
Quick, courteous, super fresh and innovative. It is not a legend for nothing. The owner watches the room like a HAWK. Missing friendly attentive service in Miami? Come here. Fresh ingredients and good prices? Come here. Any naysayers are plants!
(4)
D S.
If you have not been to Yakko-San then you are missing on some really creative Sushi. The problem with sushi nowadays is that there are so many sushi restaurants that the bar for quality and variety has been set terribly low. The food is well prepared and rich in flavors. One of those nights we went fishing and returned with a Hog Snapper. We had not even prepare the fish we just hand it over to them and 10 minutes later they had ready. They cut the fish in small pieces and then deep fried them. The body and the head served as decoration sort of like when you get a flounder at a Chinese restaurant. The only negative is that they are a bit on the expensive side. On the other hand there aren't to many places in the area that are open till 2am!
(5)
Alexandra R.
Dear Yakko-San, Please stay in Miami forever. Even after I die. I want my children and my children's children to eat your food. I could easily make the pork & onion salad and beef tataki two of my last meals on earth. It's a sin if you haven't been. So go, but keep it a hidden treasure, please. Red bean ice cream? Yes, please. Crispy bok choy with ridiculous soy-garlic sauce? I'll take two... and I better take another for home. Last night I took a friend who came in to town from Buenos Aires. She said it was the best meal she's had in a very long time. We hadn't eaten all day, but it was well worth the grumbling bellies and low blood sugar headaches to wait for Yakko. All hail the Yak. Love, Alex PS, your new location is gorgeous... but the hole in the wall you had before will always be near and dear to my heart.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
Humbly located next to one of my favorite quick lunch spots, Hiro's Express, this unassuming spot will kick your Japanese-craving ass with intense flavor. Based on recommendations I had the following: 1. BBQ Eel - melt-in-your-mouth delicious tasting eel that's soft on the inside and has the most subtle crisp on the outside. 2. Onion Fish Salad - the name sounds extremely unappealing to me, but this was another win. I hate onions, but I found myself stuffing my mouth with them. 3. Kimchee Hot Pot - WHOA, DUDE. Huge dish, good for 2-3 people. I don't know what's in it, but I want to bathe in it. 4. Spicy Tuna Harumaki - Tasty, but compared to the other dishes, kind of boring. 5. Salmon Onigiri - I have no idea why I ordered this. Most pointless dish. It's just a bunch of rice wrapped in seaweed sprinkled with three tiny bits of cooked salmon. For two people, we were BEYOND stuffed with what we had ordered. I can't wait to come again and try some new things. I would definitely order another hot pot again, though.
(4)
Tina N.
Noooooo! I really wanted to like this place!!! Went here with a few of my friends for Wrestlemania! My friend Shams wanted Japanese foodies so we came here! I got the Miso sea bass; it was sooooo little and very very sweet... I guess it's an acquired taste, but I usually LOVE miso! Fiance got the YAKINIKU DON, which is the BBQ beef over rice... I had to steal some of his food because my fish was smaller than my palm, came with no rice and being carnivorous, I NEED MEAT! The taste of the BBQ was yummy but it was super duper chewy, like the kind of chewy you see in the cartoons with the dogs and their cute little chewy steaks. Le sigh, I really wanted to enjoy this... The service was weird too, being some of the few people in that night, everything was quite slow... Our check came out too much, and my belly was aching for more food...but not from here :(
(2)
Greggory S.
As someone who works in the food industry it is great to find a nice restaurant. When my wife and I moved here from New York, our friend, who is from south Florida, told us to try this restaurant with him. We did and we loved it. That was almost two years ago. In that amount of time I have seen the service in this restaurant plummet. The first server we had there was named Anastasia (that shows how awesome she was if I remember her name two years later.) So I expected all service to be like this. As time has carried on the servers have gotten worse and worse. Last night, some friends were in town from New York and they were in the area so we suggested Yakko san. Once being seated and asking for water we get it. My glass has a pretty noticeable chip in it. Yeah you use straws, but there is still the potential for danger. So I just switch glasses with someone else who is about to leave due to personal issues unrelated to the restaurant. OK. Carrying on. I get a refill on my water and there were more seeds on the glass and in my water than in the lemon. This also rubbed me the wrong way. Something so small, but so simple to fix and our server chose not to. On top of this he hovered the entire time we were there. Some would call that great service, I call it getting rushed. The food was OK and came out semi promptly. As our meal carries on the waiter asks if we would like dessert, we say no. This does not stop him from interrupting one of the people at our table mid conversation to show the dessert list. On top of all of this, they lady at the front counter lets some woman walk in to the restaurant with her hairy dog. I do not condone any type of personal animal in a restaurant. The check comes. And the methods of payment are given. Waiter returns for us to sign them. As I am looking at the total and thinking back to the chipped glass, my seed water, the hovering waiter, and the dessert menu interrupt. I come to my decision. I start at 15 and work my way down. With the amount of the ticket and the deductions it came out to about a 9.5% tip. After signing and closing the folder the waiter collects them. Not two minutes later does he come back and say that " in Florida you have to tip 15%" he then goes and grabs another customers receipt and says "this is 15%" By this point all of my pleasantries are gone. As soon as i start pointing out all of the things that had been going wrong he all of a sudden wanted to take the receipt back. Owners of yakko san I will not spend another dime on your restaurant until you teach your staff better. Some of your waiters need to be busboys and some of your busboys need to be waiters. There is one busboy, cannot recall his name, he has a long ponytail, he is always prompt, polite and attentive. If you want to see my business again than you need to overhaul everything, starting with your staff's professionalism.
(1)
Dennis M.
Authentic unusual Japanese. For the foodie adventurer. Delicious!
(5)
Kenny H.
I like the food here a lot. However, sometimes the service here is horrible. Most of the waiters don't stop by the table for half an hour. I had to get a bus boy to get me a refill multiple times. The atmosphere is also very nice. This place just need to get some new waiters. It's great because it usually opens until 3. Most places are closed by then.
(3)
Mia M.
This place is hands-down the best place for authentic Japanese food (and by Japanese food I don't mean sushi) in Miami. I feel I can say this with authority since I am Japanese. West-coasters and New Yorkers might be a little more biased because there are tons more izakayas like Yakko-San in their territories, but here in Miami this is about it. I've been coming here since when they were just one tiny room, and have so many happy memories here. That said, recently I went back for dinner after not being in for a while and had a 45 min wait due to the giant mass of people also waiting, and I've noticed their specials menu (the best things to order were the specials) was much sparser than as I remembered (prob due to the high volume of people). I'm happy for their success (they've since expanded and now moving to a larger place), but selfishly I worry about the move and their popularity and wish it could still be the uncrowded, intimate hole-in-the-wall that had amazingly delicious and inventive dishes it used to be, when only chefs and foodies and select locals knew about the place.
(5)
Effie C.
I should have let my friends drag me out here sooner. Any place that can make a chicken gizzard not only tolerable but actually kind of delicious deserves a shot. Izakaya is like Dim Sum's refined but really cool cousin that went to boarding school in the alps, reads Kafka and knows her way around a glass of scotch but still pre-games in the parking lot with a quart of OE. The most effective way to enjoy Hiro's Yakko San is to bring a few adventurous friends along for the ride and arrive on an empty stomach. My first bite at Yakko-San was preceded by applause and cheers as this particular dish, the Spicy Tuna Harumaki, is extremely exclusive (they only prepare five per day) and more often than not on the dry-erase board, among a list of menu items that are unavailable. The little roll packs a delightful punch and I especially recommend it to those that can't begin a Japanese meal without plowing into a Wakame salad. As much as I'd love to wax bad-assery to you all, I must confess I was hesitant to try the chicken gizzard but I'm glad I did. It's a chewy little morsel, served cold, which I normally find a bit off-putting with savory bites, but it worked harmoniously with the taste and texture in this instance. Other worthy mentions: - Crispy bok choy with garlic soy dressing. Salty, leafy, crispy and absolutely addictive. - Tempura shrimp spicy mayo. This item must have been created just for me. The shrimp was like a tiny lobster and its tempura jacket retained its crunchiness despite the generous slathering of spicy mayo (have I mentioned that this is one of the Greatest Condiments Ever Created?). I wasn't wild about the fried clam. It was too fishy, but I'm willing to give it another chance as I've heard it's usually very good. Wasn't loving the Shoyu ramen either but that was a matter of personal taste as my fellow diners liked it enough to take it home so we'd have room for dessert. Oh, dessert. Unf. Once again, I was extremely skeptical about the Japanese sweet potato ice cream that my friend ordered, and once again, was delightfully surprised. The Volcano was another strange and wonderful selection with creamy ice cream, cookies and a chocolatey-sweet, starchy bean soup. I ordered the fried cheesecake roll which I savored slowly, with every bit of rapturous satisfaction you'd imagine. Overall, I was really impressed with the great service, the reasonable price and of course, the yum. I can't even figure out what to make for dinner now because I'm not talented enough to come up with something that could compare. I should just chug a glass of water and go to sleep before I embarrass myself.
(4)
Yuliya S.
This place is at a new location and the food continues to impress. There is something about the Miami tradition of placing great food in unassuming strip malls that can be off-putting and yet strangely charming. Don't mind the Old Navy next door, just go in to Hiro's and enjoy. Try the surprisingly amazing crispy pork and onion salad, or the simple and fresh green salad with tuna. Follow that up with something grilled or broiled (eggplant? asparagus wrapped in bacon?), or the light and delicious tempura. Or try something a little bit spicy, like the kim chee pork. The conversation around our table basically stopped when the food arrived and resumed many minutes later. I couldn't stop eating and just nodded along.
(4)
Richard W.
This place has good food and has a nice atmosphere. It great for a late dinner for a group or with just one other person. Nicely priced. Their noodles come out great and portions are large. I'm a fan of their udon noodles with beef in fish soup. The noodles are well cooked and the beef tastes great. Their appetizers whet the appetite perfectly and everything comes out super quick too. The only downside is that everything comes out super quick so the main courses come out almost right after any appetizers. Otherwise, good food, no crowds, great atmosphere and good attentive service.
(4)
S G.
The location or ambience won't keep you running back to this place but the food probably will (so long as you are mildly adventurous)! Foodies should definitely give it a try! Affordability is a nice added perk too.
(4)
Mary-Ann I.
This is not primarily a sushi place. We found this place when we were looking for a sushi restaurant in Miami. We read great reviews so we gave it a shot. The food is delicious, although not so much for the sushi. They're rolls were good, not great. The waiter told us to try the Beef Tataki so we did and it was delicious. We also loved the tuna guacamole and the Hamachi Jalapeños Pepper. Service was great and prices were very reasonable. If you're looking to eat just sushi, though, this isn't the place.
(4)
Melissa F.
CRISPY PORK AND ONION SALAD!!!!! After reading about this restaurant in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times I made it a point to check this place out. The location is nestled in the Intercostal Plaza near Old Navy and The Frank Movie Theater, prefect for an after shopping lunch date or dinner after a movie. Their dressing is to die for and the pricing is very reasonable. The dining area is a descent size but the lay out and decor makes it feel intimate. Portions are perfect for sharing and with their prices you can easily find yourself ordering a variety of dishes. Just one visit and I'm a fan.
(4)
Natan C.
This place has the most bizzare rules and regulations. All guests and the staff gets treated like garbage. Most of the waiters don't know what they're doing. The devilish and drank owner has no consideration or ounce of gratitude for her customers and it shows. My girlfriend was also absolutely shocked to waste the time and money. I recommend to avoid it !!!
(1)
Marc G.
Ummm...Hiro WTF happened? When we moved to MIA in 2007 this place was our absolute fave. My wife and I went here over and over and over again, birthdays, friday nights, late night after doing something else. We took friends from other countries, nieces from Orlando and their boyfriends and raved about it. We knew the waiters and waitresses by name (anyone remember David - that man was the BOMB). That was when the place was on W. Dixie in what people used to call a hole in the wall. To the regulars, the place was home, as a Japanese Homestyle (or Izakaya as one other yelper called it) should be. You used to walk in and be greeted by a hearty "Irasshaimase" from the chefs, everyone knew who you were and the place was fun, respectful and awesome food that you could rely on. But then something happened in 2010 into 2011. Hiro's new wife May started to come in ALL the time. She started to take over the business (at least this is my perception). In a few short months, it was announced they would be moving to their present location in Eastern Shores. Some regulars (including us) were invited to the grand opening (which we could not make due to being sick). When we started to go the vibe had totally changed. It was a more bar/club like feel. You felt had to dress up to go there and the wait staff changed. We remained friendly with the old wait staff who remained and used to ask them what they thought and the consensus was, it has changed too much and lost it's old charm (mind you some of them had been there for years). Fast forward to today and I can tell you tonight was my last meal ever at Yakko san. The other yelpers are right, the place is soulless, passionless, Hiro no longer cares about the food, he walks around in a daze most of the time and the rest of the chefs follow suit. The food just sucks now and the quality of the ingredients has gone down. Had the Blue Fin Carpaccio and it tasted oily, not-fresh and the salmon roe tasted like slime from the bottom of the sewer (not that I am familiar with that taste but the thought came to mind). The wait staff is rude, arrogant and downright offensive. Our waiter kept saying he could not hear me even though I was speaking loud and frankly I believe his mind was elsewhere. There was a special tonight - stuffed mushrooms and I asked him what it was stuffed with and he said I dont really know but I am sure its good. Then he got another waiter who proceeded to tell us it was seafood stuffed with mushrooms. It was not. The atmosphere has changed completely, now it is a loud, sports bar type environment that attracts all the waiters/waitresses from Duffys and the surrounding bars as they close. I am sad to write this and sad to see the place we once loved so dearly turn to such shit. But Hiro, I think your business is about to fail. Hope you read this and change your ways but somehow I think the money is all you care about now. This is an example of how to destroy a successful restaurant. Judging from the other comments, many feel the same as we do.
(1)
Chris W.
Wonderful food, sometimes hard to get a seat. Loved the takoyaki & pork w/bitter melon. Can't beat it for Izakaya, and I'd even say it's better than a number of similar places in Seattle. I looooooooove this place.
(5)
Carolyn C.
My husband and his family have been coming here for years, it has recently changed locations but the owner and name are the same. I recently made my way down to Florida and was really shocked by how much I liked this place. As a table of 6, we ordered more than 20 dishes, and actually ordered some of the same dishes twice because it was sooo good. It was pretty busy when we sat down. Service was prompt and the food came fast. The flavor was all really good. It is like a Japanese tapas place, but very affordable for the quality of food that you get and you will be full. It is a very authentic for a Japanese restaurant in America. Recommendations: Seafood Miso Hot Pot (I was skeptical, but my husband said I would not regret it, and I didn't), Ton Katsu, Gizzard Kara-age and Beef tongue steak (if you are adventurous), and the Miso Sea Bass (get this, it is tender and melts in your mouth).
(5)
Luke S.
Not sure how to categorize the place. They have lots of food choices on their menu which confused me. Sushi rolls were ok, too much rice for my taste. Sushi was fresh and very good; nicely presented too. Mango chicken was dry - not sure whether Mango chicken qualifies as Japanese food? Perhaps because they served it with rice? Many waiters. Somewhat inconsistent service. Ambience of a train station. Not very comfortable to spend time. Could be better at the sushi bar. For what it is, a bit on the pricey side.
(3)
Marymarie P.
Miami lacks great Asian food, but Yakko-San is a family favorite! I feel like you've got to know what to order here for you to really appreciate the authencity of the food (their menu can be overwhelming with such a mixture of all Asian cuisines)...but let me tell you that this place is known for their Japanese tapas, and other Asian tapas in general...I'm talking about the bar food my Poppa use to eat with his boys with a case of Heineken and a bottle of Remy! If you're a true foodie, and you're brave and open enough to try some things that may seem a bit "weird," try my favs...PS --we normally order the same 'ole thang, and ALL of following: --Dried kawahagi (trigger fish jerky) --reminds me of eating and chillin' with Pops -Spicy Manila clams --perfectly cooked (not too overcooked and not too raw) -Kim chee fried rice (a NEW fav of mine here, but portion is a tad small) -Kim chee Buta - Pork belly prepared Korean style -Hamachi cama (jaw of Yellowtail) --extremely tender meat -Crispy onion fish salad -Fried oysters --always plump and juicy here (I always ask for a different dipping sauce, I like the katsu sauce for the oysters) P.S --the new location is so much bigger!
(5)
angel g.
One word: Takkoyaki I like the older location better, though.
(4)
Emiliano B.
This place has some of the best sushi I have had in Miami. The quality of their sushi is amazing, very fresh fish and a lot of variety of fish that most Japanese places don't have. I gave this place 4 stars because their service could be better but the food is amazing don't let that keep you away from visiting.
(4)
Bahia S.
This place is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant that I have been to outside of Japan. After living in Japan for a number of year, my husband I are constantly searching for something that comes close to the food we loved in Japan - this restaurant does! In the Japanese izakaya tradition, we ordered a number of small dishes to share among 4 people. Everything was good and most things were extremely authentic. Mixed Salad - the dressing on this is fantastic! Age Dashi Tofu - one of my favorites, tofu fried in a sweet stock. They did this exactly the way they do in Japan, and our friends who were first timers to the dish they loved it as well. Lotus Roots (renkon) - crunchy and in a delightful sauce, I have rarely seen this in the USA. Buta Nasu Miso Itame - Literally "pork eggplant miso stir-fry" this had a thick miso sauce and the eggplant was cooked just right. Yakisoba - their yakisoba was very authentic, which was refreshing after the many in-authentic versions I have tried. Ginger Pork - this was the only dish that I was disappointed in. While the sauce was good, the pork was different from the kind they use in Japan and a little dry. Rice - perfect rice! Miso Soup - a full bowl of miso soup, not the little half bowl they usually give you in American restaurants. Sake - I am not usually a big fan of sake (nihonshu), but the selection we got on the sake flight was surprisingly good. Two of the three did not have much of the aftertaste that I usually don't like. The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, it felt like you were walking into a little slice of Japan, with lots of Japanese and Asian clientele. The price is also very reasonable. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Alexander M.
Been coming here for a few years now & have never been disappointed Trigger Fish Jerky, Burdock Lotus Root, & Crispy Bok Choy are appetizers that stand out in my opinion Ordered a simple Ramen bowl with fish broth & pork ... Affordable & plenty of Food Place is highly recommended Open till very late each night
(5)
Alex S.
All is good in this place, thanlks for your service.
(5)
Carlo B.
Best food in town. They have shaken out the kinks at the new location and their dishes are impressive. Hiro is a master. Take your appetite.
(5)
Steven S.
I won't waste your time repeating the accolades spouted by others below (and no doubt eventually above). Just go and enjoy one of the great Miami-Dade experiences - close to but not exactly as stimulating as going 35 mph in the left lane of I-95S as an anthropological experiment. Small dishes that put the Spanish tapas people to shame. PS bokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybÂokchoy
(5)
Jayne B.
Talked about this place for days so finally writing a review $ 46 for 2 people with dessert and 1 beer Menu is so large your head will spin We sat at the bar. Fast efficient service Server walked us thru the menu you a bit so could have a taste of many flavors. Ordered pickled cabbage spicy tuna roll thing liver ---one more dish but can't remember at the moment fish jerky---blew me away dessert: some cheesecake heaven on a plate thought we were stuffed but cleaned the plate The desserts were fat American back to country roots heaven that i saw being passed out Beer was large-- Left at 10pm and group of 55-80 year olds came in to dine love the variety of diners Will be back for sure
(5)
Danielle G.
I initially gave this 3 stars because the food is good - but in reconsidation the quality of food is not the only consideration. Restaurants are only going to change their ways if regular customers let them know things are unacceptable. The service OMG is awful and has plummeted from when we first started going 8 months ago or so and it was never stellar to begin with. Last night we had some delicious sushi - we also had the octopus mediterranean, the delicious jalapeno hamachi, we had the daikon kimchee along with the Kama - the food was delicious - no complaints. We arrived between 6:30-7ish and sat at bar. NO ONE at the sushi bar ever even acknowledged our presence, not one time did they ever even look up or say "hi". We joked that there seemed to be this invisible wall in front of the sushi bar where the chefs were not allowed to make eye contact with customers. One of the reasons we like to sit at the bar is for interaction with the sushi chef or at least a friendly greeting. We sat for at least 5-7 minutes before anyone even approached us for water or a drink order. My partners water was never refilled. We had to flag random people down to ask for a bowl of rice as we were never even really sure who our actual server was. Random people would bring a dish out and not remove an empty dish right in front of your face, no words, no how it it? nothing.........I tried to flag down people multiple times and like they would see and look away????? I don't get it. There wasn't even really anyone to complain to visible on the way out about the horrible service - just young girls as a hostess station who would not have cared less. So read the reviews and make your decision - make no mistake I think the food is good but pricey with NO SERVICE whatsoever. At this point we have eaten here about 5 times before I wrote the review so I feel I've given them a fair chance to just have an off-night, it's more than that. No servers smiled, made recommendations or showed any hint of happiness or charm. It was a very dismal final experience for us here. Get it together guys - you can have great good but if your service sucks you will lose people like us who actually drive 40 minutes to eat specifically at your place. We would rather stay closer to home get mediocre sushi and excellent service from a small place who appreciate our business and hard earned money. When we usuall drop $150-200 for dinner we expect much better service. Last night for two of us we had 10 pieces nigiri sushi, kama, 2 appetizer dishes and daikon - we each had a cocktail and our bill was $110 without tip. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL Service last night.
(2)
Jimmy B.
I keep trying asian restaurants in Miami but always come back to Hiro Yakko-San. Best in category always fresh and innovative at decent price.
(4)
Steven B.
Decent food, poor service. The good: -The hostess greeted and seated us quickly. -Our server came to greet us within a few moments of the hostess seating us, and was polite. -The orders were prepared within a short time frame and tasted fresh. That's about it, after our initial order was placed we were pretty much ignored. Kinda strange for a place with a tapas style menu. A food runner came out to bring our first dish. Before he could leave, I thanked him and asked if we could get a sake or drink menu. He replied, "I'm not your waiter" and walked away. The same food runner came back a few moments later to drop off the second part of our order and darted off. I was admittedly a bit turned off by his response and with my server nowhere in sight, I chose to forgo the drinks. Speaking of our server, he never returned to check on us or find out if we wanted to order anything else. It wasn't until I got up to ask the hostess to locate him (20+ minutes into our meal), that he suddenly appeared asking if we needed anything. We chose to just pay our bill and leave. I considered speaking with a manager about the experience, but looking around I could see several groups of employees standing around talking amongst themselves and figured it wouldn't be worth it. The restaurant itself has nice ambience and the food was tasty. Too bad the service is on par with a take-out place.
(1)
Anita G.
Amazing! Fast fresh and yummy! O only have half hour lunch break (if I'm lucky) so I came here and sat at the bar and explained my situation to the bartender, he gave me free green tea and was super quick to put in my order. I had the crunch spicy tuna roll! Super fresh loads of fish and little rice - just like I like it (check out my picture). Will be coming back for sure! The place is pretty big too! Plenty of seating and full bar!
(5)
Lena Z.
The worse restaurant to come to. Food looks like it is a week old and when I asked to change it they refused. The waitress said that she explained it with Japanese language. Unfortunately I don't speak Japanese. Very rude
(1)
Kyle S.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami. Nice variety, good prices. Seated right away. Open late. Great service.
(5)
Lisa W.
Afternoon service is great, groovy atmosphere, waiting for food is short, taste of food is delicious and money happily spent
(4)
Viktor K.
Terrible. The roll contains 95% rise and 5% carpaccio thin Fish Almost pathetic and funny Never again
(1)
robert e.
Popular no-nonsense Japanese with fresh sushi including a daily catch. Great sushi rice -- firm, not too sweet. Very quality sashimi. Pretty standard selection of fish offered but wonderful knife work and again great fresh product. Real ginger, real wasabi. No complaints at all. A deft preparation of Hamachi Kama is always worth a return visit in my book. A keeper.
(4)
Michelle M.
This Japanese eatery has been around for more than 11 years now and has become a go-to place for chefs, industry insiders and locals alike. Their menu offers more than 100 dishes including soups, tempura, sushi and noodles, but here, I narrow it down to my top 5: 1) The Tako Yakki The Tako Yakki, one of my favorite dishes at Yakko San, is a typical comfort food from Japan that consists of grilled balls of batter with octopus chunks inside. This is a very popular fast food snack in Japan, that is incredibly hard to find here in Miami, so if you are curious about it, this is the place to try it. My only warning is that they are very HOT inside, so make sure to pinch them with your chopsticks and let them breathe for a good 5 minutes before eating to avoid burning your tongue. 2) The Ocean Drive Roll Despite the reference Miami's most touristy (and trashy) street, the Ocean Drive Roll is most definitely another must. The combination of tuna, avocado, spicy mayo and cilantro is magical and will make the back of your tongue tingle with delight! 3) Ahire (aka: fish jerky) If you've never tried Ahire before, this is the place to do it! This fish jerky dish is completely home made, and is so much fun to eat! Just grab it with your chopstick, dip it in some spicy mayo, close your eyes and enjoy. The flavor is sweet and fishy (in a good way) and the chewy texture makes it simply addicting! 4) Yakki Udon with Pork Hmmm, if you are a noodle lover, then this is the dish for you! These hot white wheat noodles are sauted with ginger shreds, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, scallions and bok toy, and served together with your choice of pork, shrimp, chicken or beef, giving it the most amazing texture combination possible. You'll go from chewy and sticky, to crunchy and spicy, all in one delicious bite. Put your chopsticks to the test with the Yakki Udon, and make sure to slurp loudly to show your gratitude to the chef! 5) The Cheesecake & Ice Cream Roll Last, but most certainly not least, is one of the latest addition to my favorite dessert list: the cheese cake and ice cream roll. The thick roll of creamy cheesecake covered in batter is very lightly fried and served with your choice of ice cream and wafers for added texture. The dessert is perfect, not too heavy and not too sweet, and pairs nicely with the green tea ice cream, which is made with real matcha powder!
(5)
Nick Q.
I've been a huge fan of Chef Hirosan since we met nearly 14 years ago. He had his little Yakkosan on Dixie Highway and I was a student at JWU refining and honing my culinary skills. He's an amazing chef with an awesome staff. There's things you'll eat here that you'll never see anywhere else in the area. He and his wife May do an amazing job with this place. She just added some new Japanese beers to the menu and the kitchen is rolling out a new happy hour and finger food menu that's perfect for bar nights or snacking. I've eaten at their restaurants more than anyone else's in Miami. Sometimes multiple times a week... like last week actually. The menu has so many things to choose from you'll never get bored. If you see a new special on the board... order it, you may never see it again or you may get lucky and help it make the menu... you never know. A few if my fav's: agedashi tofu, shrimp udon, daikon kimchee, kaweragi, tempura chrysanthemum blossums, crispy baby bakchoy, shishamo, kimchee tofu, grilled shishitos, all the hot fish dishes, some dried scallop/shrimp/chili dish not on the menu, all the sashimi, and anything Hirosan or May offer me. Wendy has been a server with them for ever, she's super knowledgeable and really sweet. The bartenders are all great!
(5)
Frances A.
First time here. It was fast service and we were seated right away. The food is pretty good and comes out so fast! Great reasonable prices and good quality. None of the dishes that we tried came with rice.... so we kept eating. I would definitely come back here when in the area and would recommend. We had the following: -Miso soup -Seaweed Suimono soup- assorted seaweed with clear fish broth. this was an interesting soup with good flavor. -Black pork belly served with 2 different sauces. -Hamachi with jalapeño peppers-thin slice hamachi w/ yuzu, ponzu, cilantro -Hamachi tataki roll -Scallops with asparagus and mushroom in a sake and butter sauce -Kalbe yakiniku- salt & pepper grilled short rib w/ bone
(4)
Clementine E.
I am going to give them 5 stars because the sushis were very very very good, however the service could have been better. The sushis are so fresh, the rice isn't dry, they don't add a ton of sauce on top of the sushis (that's the way I like it!) maybe they could add more rolls? It is mainly sashimi and sushi, and other Japanese dishes. If we were living in Miami, we would come here quite often! Very nice restaurant!
(5)
Denise N.
One of my favorite spots to go late night. Takoyaki balls for me are a must to start. Enoki mushrooms in a butter sauce were crazy good! Kimchee pork, with that delicious kick and that rich sauce, Definitely a flavorful dish. With a side of veggie rice we were set! Fast service good food decent price. Japanese craft beers list is good I had the Orion and a Kaugua Rouge.
(4)
Renier C.
5 stars. No fuss. Easy place for simply great food. Sure there's lots of hype still, but after years eating here no disappointment yet! Let's order: Tuna Guacamole. So good. Everyone will love this. Tuna Harumaki Hamachi Jalapeño tiradito Beef Tataki Tuna Tataki Salmon Carpaccio Crispy Bak Choy Uni sushi with a quail egg (if you're into it, friend had me try and I was hooked!) Ugh, ... I'm getting hungry again.
(5)
Bob H.
Once again a wonderful experience. Knoledgeable server and great japanese dishes. Tried the kimchee pork tonight. Excellent.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
good food, terrible service. I have eaten here 100 tomes, since the small rest on Dixie hwy. I normally order 5-7 items and need some space to eat. the people at the front refused to give us a bigger table . called the so called manager and they said it was against their policy. there was a couple sitting in the from at a table for 4....again I have eaten here 100 times and never has such a bad reception. I left and went to hiro
(1)
Elle B.
Decided to try a new place in Miami based on the reviews. Sushi was fine , average presentation, not special. Service terrible. People, check your bill!!! They overcharged me on three separate items!! When I brought it up to the managers attention , they weren't very apologetic . They thought it was enough to just adjust the bill. The total overcharge was $9. I think this happens all the time there. When I asked why this happened, they first blamed the new cashier and then started telling me that the price of a hand roll on the menu only includes the "meat", which they meant fish, and that the vegetable and rice are extra. For which they added 2 dollars. Have you ever heard of anything like that? In my experience the price on the menu of any item is the price that should be charged!!! Any handroll always comes with all of the ingredients. I didn't ask for anything extra to be included in it. Will not be back... Terrible!
(2)
Chlo L.
Sake & good sushi are my best friends. Such a relief to get some satisfying nigiri. We ordered maguru (tuna), sake (salmon), hotate (scallop), Uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid), Saba (mackerel) unagi (BBQ eel) , & tamago (grilled egg)... Along with an uni handroll, salmon carpaccio, soba, ankimo, and crunchy bakchoy. They were all delicious, especially the nigiri & handroll. We dined in this time, but we're big on takeout and having to wait at the restaurant instead of calling ahead is a bit of an inconvenience. Although, it's better than being disappointed elsewhere. We will be regulars here as long as the sushi keeps coming as it was. The service was also terrific. Ray was a friendly and did a great job! Can't wait for round II !
(4)
Ian R.
In the process of visiting Florida on business, a friend of mine took me to Yakko-San and it was amazing. While very inconspicuous in a strip mall shopping center, don't be fooled. This is a fairly decent sized restaurant with a sushi bar. There were so many good things on the menu that I had to try. The Hottie Hamachi was melt in your mouth quality. Fried Oysters were delicious. For an entree I picked a freshly caught Strawberry Grouper and they took it to the back to cut it up, lightly fry it, and bring it back to the table tasting awesome all in record time. I will be returning to Florida soon on business and will certainly be coming back to Yakko-San. Highly recommended.
(5)
ilana P.
The sashimi was excellent!! Sushi rolls were okay. Service was fast and efficient. We sat with kids at a table, the bar had a sign for drink specials (happy hour), we ordered. When the bill came we were surprised to see that we were being charged full price for the drinks. Apparently the special price was only if you are sitting at the bar, which we were not allowed to with kids. Seems unfair to those dining out with kids. Will not be returning.
(3)
Jose Luis N.
Place was nice , good atmosphere and waiters really kind and helpful. Food is not expensive and tasty. They have some interesting rolls like prosciutto roll. Appetizers really recommended like tuna avocado! I will repeat!!
(4)
Sharon W.
Three words: CRISPY BOK CHOY! That's really all you need to know, but since there is all this white space, I will fill it with more lavish praise for one of the best dining experiences in South Florida! I came here twice this weekend, once for lunch and once for dinner. The menu is more limited at lunch, but they do have good lunch specials. We had the aforementioned bok choy, which came overflowing the plate and with a garlic-y savory dipping sauce. We also had the jalapeño hamachi (sashimi), which was exquisitely fresh, and a lunch special, which came with miso soup (excellent), several rolls, some seasoned bean sprouts and some tempura. We finished with the Chef's Choice, a rotating special of six cold appetizers. That day, we got jellyfish (!), mackerel and four other delectable items. We returned the following day for dinner! Yes, it was that good! We had the bok choy (again!), age nasu (fried eggplant), takoyaki (deep fried octopus), spicy shisito peppers, monkfish liver and fried minnow. The monkfish liver was the standout, for sure! Beautiful flavor and texture! WOW! the menu is extensive, creative and reasonable. In addition, the service is great. Larry S. had green tea with his lunch and wanted to take it with him when we left. Aaron gave him a fresh serving in a to-go cup! Miguel, the server at dinner, gave us a sample to assist us in choosing a wine and both guys also provided some good suggestions off the menu. Fantastic!
(5)
Mina G.
I loved this place. It reminded me of all things Japanese back to when I studied there. The food was fantastic! Try: Crispy Bok choy Tempura vegetables- it's super authentic Any of the sushi! Hamachi with jalapeños Yaki niku don (steak with rice) Also the green tea martini and sweet tea martini! Both fantastic! So all this food at a reasonable price. I couldn't believe it Bottom line-coming back!
(5)
W M.
This was my go to place. I love the tonkotsu ramen, undo noodle, pork fried rice. I have been with this place about 7 year. However, sadly, I have to say I will not return to this place anymore. Because the quality of the food went down and the so so service I received. About one year ago, I went there with my husband, my two kids and my brother-in-law.My brother-in-law order three things one cup of coke, one Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and a Yaki Undo noddle. His entire order never been serve. We asked the waitress couple of times about his order during, and after our meal. The end result, just a no show for his meal. Luckily, we ordered enough or I should say the two kids had enough left over to feed their poor uncle. the waitress finally figure out and apology to my brother-in-law at very end of our meal. So, we only left 10% of the tip and a note to the waitress regarding her poor performance that night. Because I loved this place so much, my husband and I decided to let it go. We though just one bad experience in 6 years. About four month ago, I went there with my family. When the food was severed, I got my kids ready to eat. In the half way of cutting the Chicken Tatsuta-Age, which is fried marinated chicken, I noticed that 3 of the fried chicken was under cooked. I can still see the chick was half raw. I immediate called in our waitress and told her the problem. She said she was sorry and offered to refried the 3 pieces of the chick. Yes, refried the 3 pieces, not replace the whole dish or took the order off. How can they be so sure there was only 3 pieces under cook. I was very mad at the how they handle the situation and told my husband I will never go back again. Last night, i went back again, Yes, I admit it was a bad decision.However, I really miss their tonkotsu ramen. I cannot find another place in Miami can make the same flavor.So , I decided to give it another try. I ordered the tonkotus ramen I been thinking for four months. The second I put the noodle in my mouth, I knew the noodle was totally under cook. Then, I searched the whole bowl of noodles. I found half of my noodle was rubbery, stuck together-uncooked. I talked to the waiter again (WHY!!!!!), I told him it was not acceptable. He say he was sorry. That was about it. He did not do a thing to make it right. Not offer the order from the bill, not offer to give me a new dish. It was raining very heavy last night (9/5/2015), I have two kids, both are under age of 5, needed to go to bed before 8:00 pm. So, I didn't have a chance to talk with the manager. On the way home, I told my husband, I am very sad but I think I have to let this spot go and should not come back anymore. Regardless, how much I love their food, I really don't want to pay the full price on something only worth half of the price quality of food. Not even to mention about the service. Or maybe, that just the way they train their waiter/waitress, when customers complain just say your are sorry and do nothing!! response from the ownerin the last week- yakko san always respect customers, we had never been complained about our food under cooked. all our chefs were working for us since we opened 2001. we moved this location only 4 years as you mention 7 years, especially we never replce the plate only left few pieces, we had 400 cover only one complained that mean the our food were nothing wrong..this is the time that you decided to leave, noway that we can stop you. finally we wil let you go that you are not truly yakko san customer..thank you for been customer for yakko san. sorry mean nothing wrong with that..thank you. this was the respond i have received from google review. this owner has not respect for the old customer. yes, the food was under cook two times. yes, i have been with your restaurant for 7 year (3 years from the original location and 4 year from now location). yes, it was very !! annoying when she can only type things in all caps( you can see the review from google.com ). there you go!! you can totally see what kind of owner she is. let me just say this to the owner," it was too bad your restaurant made the mistakes, it is time to move on."
(2)
Jessica W.
After hearing great things about this restaurant, I decided to stop by for dinner. It's located in a strip mall and they have a few high-top tables outside, where we sat. The service was friendly and fast. Of the items I tried, the Mediterranean octopus was definitely my favorite. It was thinly sliced octopus with olive oil, pesto and sundried tomatoes-it was a unique and absolutely delicious combination. The grilled squid was great as well. Definitely a wonderful choice for sushi!!
(4)
Violet G.
Stopped by late night Saturday, I was delighted to see the place packed. The bartenders were very friendly, took the time to answer our questions about the menu; he suggested chicken/shrimp fried rice, a hit! The goyza- very good also, but I will pass on the pork belly. Friendly service and good food that's all I need.
(4)
Steven B.
Enoki Butter mushrooms and the daily fresh fried fish are both AMAZING! Delicious options for a night out. Haven't tried the sushi, but everything else there is delicious. Overall, great place.
(4)
James O.
We ate here for first time in over 5 years last night. Place was full on Saturday night which is very important for sushi places. I only eat sushi at very busy places for obvious reasons. Salad was fresh, huge and had a great dressing other then the traditional orange colored ginger dressing. Octopus sunomono was delicious scallop carpaccio was fantastic. All the sashimi we had was very fresh and nicely proportioned. Service was very friendly and efficient. An overall good experience and much better then the one I had 5 yrs ago.
(4)
Adam M.
Good food Good service Good staff Good owner She is a demon lady who will argue with you and ruin your night. If you do go to yakko keep ur head down when she walks by. They have a policy where if the food is not done right not served on time or cold they will not take it back. Easy going place overall aside from the demon lady it's legit.
(3)
Luis L.
I really like this place. A friend of mine suggested I come to Yakko San when it was located behind the train tracks, it was really hard to find and it was very small. The new place is huge and much nicer. The food is still great, the kimchi fried rice is great and the spicy mayo shrimp is very good. Most recently it was late(past midnight) I tried calling but you cant order to go after 12am, you have to order in person and wait. This was not a problem, you just order at the bar, the bartender is very nice and in a few minutes your food is ready to go. Not a lot of places have good food till 3am so that is a huge plus. I live in North Miami Beach so it is close and very easy to park.
(5)
Melanie A.
Yakko San is a no-frills but yet authentic Japanese restaurant. I came with a friend of mine who is a sushi chef and he really recommended this place. I was not let down. I went back since and still enjoyed the food. They have an extensive menu and everything is delicious. My favorite is the raw yellowtail! Ugh. So good. They also have a full bar. In these types of Japanese restaurants I usually expect them to just have beer, wine, and sake. Nope. Yakko San has a full menu! This place is worth the drive!
(4)
Alexander F.
How is this my first check-in here?!?! I'm a regular at Yakko-San, seriously! ! I guess Yelp messed up. Anyway, Yakko-San is amazing. Great, knowledgeable service, the food is delicious, well presented, accompanied by a hearty menu with lots of choices. All this in a venue that has late hours....Yakko-San is well deserving of a 5 star rating!!!!
(5)
Fernando G.
Amazing ! One of my favorite Japanese restaurants Good for meal or tapa style Good lighting Amazing service like a coordinated valet The food being is main showcase is their cooked food but also the sushi is amazing but it also has a full bar Deep fried baby bock choi the bomb Daikon radish salad tangy Fresh seaweed salad is very good Spicy shrimp Fish skin jerky Chicken livers I can go on an on because pretty much everything is very good And to top it of they are open till 3 in the morning . Great for late night munchies Prices are moderate specially for the quality
(5)
Chary E.
Gosh. Where to I ever begin. Let me just say that the food here is reAlly really good. Everything is so fresh, the staff are super friendly and attentive and the presentation is just spectacular. I know there are hundreds of reviews about their most popular dish- the angel hair with ikura and uni. I just can't get enough of it. The uni is sweet and fresh and the ikura is salty and together they are just perfect with the angel hair pasta. No sauce, no frills, just fresh seafood wonderfulness. Granted they put a teaspoon of butter on the angel hair, but tht was about it. Just squeeze some lemon and add the wasabi and poof. Perfection. I loved it so much that we went there 2 days in a row! Special thanks to Wowie for being such a cool guy. So if you are ever in the area, do check this place out. I promise you will leave super happy!
(5)
Nate T.
This restaurant has a great selection sake. This is the restaurant to enjoy Japanese cuisine and some great company from friends. The servers and the bartenders show great hospitality. It feels like you're a regular at their restaurant. You should keep an open mind on today's special because they are fresh and tasty. I recommend the Scallop Carpaccio and the Crispy Spicy Tuna Rice. If you want to order something from the regular menu I recommend hamachi jalapeno and their shrimp fried rice cooked in light soy sauce and olive oil. For sake, I recommend Yuki no bosha or the Ohka dewazakura. The bar is a great place to sit if there is a game going on because there is a tv in the corner. The place is very casual, you can show up in a matrix costume which I did once or in athletic clothes to show off them muscles. For starters always go with light appetizers followed by raw foods. This will be the best transition to hot/cooked meals. For recommendations try: first nira moyashi, second hamachi jalapeño appetizer, third soup, and lastly a rice dish like the beef donburi.
(5)
Joe R.
Great flavor, everything is fresh. I had the King Crab roll, the Ocean Drive roll, and the Kimchee Buta, with a Lychee Martini. It was a little pricey, but delicious!
(5)
Stephanie A.
Great food. I must stress how excellent the food is. However, there's sometimes problems with communication with the servers. The nice lady who took care of us forgot one thing I ordered but we don't mind. If you're the type of person who wants something and hates when this happens just make sure to confirm your order first. Drinks are great, I love their eel and the nigiris. There's parking and overall the restaurant is beautiful, clean and worth for a date or for friends. I also noticed that they have lunch menus. 10/10: food !!!!
(4)
Jonathan P.
Best place to get true Japanese food in Miami. Good place to share plates with the table. Best plates include - all sashimis, hamachi jalapeño, crispy bok Choy, yakniku don, spicy mayo shrimp, enoki butter, seaweed salad, whole fried fish, beef curry, salmon sashimi salad, crispy fish salad, and daily raw fish specials. Miso soup and ginger salad are simple, but great. Service is good / fast and prices are fair.
(5)
Peter Z.
Since moving to the Miami area a few months ago, I have been on the search for great restaurants in all of South Florida and have been leaning heavily on Yelp for assistance...now to start paying back :) I love sushi and haven't had too much since I moved to Brickell and now am currently located in Aventura. I had passed this place a few times, and decided to stop in after I found an old issue of New Times that rated this place as a top 10 under-rated cheap eats place. I went hungry. Yakko-San delivered. Posted my pics on the iphone, hope they match up with this PC entry. I ordered: Hamachi Jalepenos Sashimi- I'd eat this everyday and just might. Fresh and the sauce it is in I could suck up with a straw. Sashimi App- standard measuring stick for me. It was fresh and delicious; pieces were a little on the anorexic side, but fresh and good. Crispy Bok Choy: You can't really mess this up deep frying it- however, the sauce it is served with was delectable! Kimchee Ramen: See photo, it is like a meal in itself. It was a massive portion and delicious- I love kimchee and never had it in a ramen with meat. I will order again!! Black Pork Belly: Slightly fatty and didn't know if it was grilled but I thought it was pan seared...it had a nice pepper flavor. Delicious and served with yet another wonderful dipping sauce. There were 30 other items I wanted to try...I cant wait to in the next few months! :) I live a mile from here and I will definitely be a regular. Wonderful decor, large restaurant- I was in on a Tuesday at 1/2 full at 9PM...Weekends have to be packed to the rafters all night! I recommend you give it a try at least once...
(4)
Joseph D.
Second time at Yakko-San and I'm still amazed at the dazzling array of dishes and the quality of their food. If you're looking for a place to try dishes you've never had or even seen elsewhere, this is your place. The freshest sushi, a large assortment of ramen, barbecued eel to die for and specials galore are just a few of the things you'll find on their huge menu. Service is generally friendly and efficient. The dining room is large and can fill up quickly and can be very noisy when they get rockin' and rollin'
(5)
Priscilla H.
I've never had been treated so bad in a restaurant. I've been a customer for over two years and tonight I just walked away . Be aware with the owner... She is always drunk at the bar making rude and loud comments. I used to go there with my family for dinner once a week and get the chefs selections spending over $200. Today I ordered a raw sashimi and didn't like it (after ordering 3 of other type). The fish had a weird smell. She was sitting next to us and said:"This is what we offer , so EAT it"!!! Excuse me??????? She was drunk and falling of the chair... Embarrassing!! I paid for the bad sashimi and left...My business? You will never get lady! Bad bad bad service!!!! Go to Makoto, it is upscale and only one mile Away. I am still speechless...
(1)
Gene Z.
These chingas have pathetic practice of not allowing to preorder and pick up the f... food. Change your stupid freaken policy morons !!
(1)
Krys P.
It pains me to write this review, because Yakko-san used to be my favorite Japanese place. It has the most authentic Japanese cuisine in Miami, offering items not seen in your average sushi/teriyaki/teppanyaki joints. But that was before they moved their location. Shortly after the move, my friends told me that the quality had went downhill. So I never did visit again, until a few nights ago we were in the neighborhood, late at night and craving some Japanese. I figure, how bad can it be? Truth is, it can be very bad. We ordered three dishes to start, takoyaki, mixed mushroom in foil, katsudon. Sadly, all three dishes are inferior specimens of that item. Takoyaki tastes like eraser nibs in mushy paste, mushroom is overly bland and unevenly seasoned, and pork chop too dry. Looks like Yakko-san has gone from a serious foodie heaven to a fancy trendy place offering mediocre fare. We didn't order more, didn't finish the food and ended up leaving with a half-empty stomach.
(2)
Jenn A.
Living in south beach, Yakko San is a little out of the way but well worth the drive. The lunch special is great for the price. The fish is always fresh. The crispy rice balls are delicious. Love the octopus sunomono. The udon noodles are great as well. The service isn't the best , the server always seems overwhelmed, like they have too many tables but we keep coming back for the delicious food.
(4)
Danielle B.
Asian fare in SoFlo to be quite honest has been in general disappointing. Whether it be overpriced or just plain not appetizing. Despite that, we decided to give Yakko-San a try. We were pleasantly surprised to find that their menu offers a variety of Japanese cuisine from sushi/sashimi to udon to grilled items and even ramen. Apparently ramen is a rare commodity here, or likely just not in demand. We ordered chicken katsu, mackerel (saba) sushi, soft shell crab sushi, tuna crunch roll, and a spicy tuna roll to share between two people. Chicken katsu was average. Soft shell crab had seemed to have lost its crunch. The mackerel was "osaka box style" which is a little different than I'm used to. I prefer traditional sushi over this style. The fish was thinly sliced and didn't look fresh, which is possibly also because it was marinated. I'd rather let the natural flavors of the fish shine instead of masking them under marinade. The spicy tuna was fine, but you can't really mess up spicy tuna. We weren't in the mood for ramen on that day, but definitely want to come back to try it. 3.5 stars for now, and if the ramen proves worthy, that will get bumped to 4 stars!
(3)
Re M.
I had a really great night at this place. Seat at the bar and ask the barman Aladar to recommend you the specials. Simply delicious, everything we ordered. The Appletinis were awesome too. Will be coming back soon. The price is a bargain as well!
(5)
Marina S.
I come to this restaurant a lot, live near by. I also order for take out. My family usually orders the same dishes, so I know what its names and know what I'm talking about. This evening I came to place an order for a pick up. The hostess, she was new, repeated my order and in 20 min they gave it to me. The hostess again repeated my order and didn't show me the dishes and when I said "Can I see if it's the right food?" She said " of course, don't worry. I wrapped it really well". When I came home, I had the wrong food. I called the restaurant and explained everything. They didn't even offer for me to drive back, bring the wrong food and the right food. I'm not even asking for anything more than that. They simply refused to resolve the issue. Any reputable place that cares about its customers would try to resolve it. This place doesn't care about people that pay their rent and salaries.
(1)
Michelle C.
This was just OK. I had su-udon soup. The noodles were good and the broth wasn't bad. For $11 I added tempura. They gave me 2 tempura shrimp and 1 tempura green bean. Really? Sort of a rip off there... Also shared a sushi roll that was supposed to be eel with avocado and jalapeño. If there was eel in there, I could barely taste it. Same with the avocado. My dining companions got the katsu. Too much breading, no pork flavor. I don't think I'll be returning here.
(2)
Ian T.
This is a fairly good Japanese restaurant with the benefit that it serves a good variety of authentic and less common dishes that you don't find easily in South Florida. It also features some interesting fusion-type dishes to spice things up. It is one of those restaurants I would have no hesitation going to if I was around, but wouldn't make an extraordinary effort to visit. While above average, I think their claim of being "Japanese cuisine that is the envy of other Japanese restaurants" overstates the case a bit. In fairness, we didn't have the appetite required to sample the dish that they said was their crown jewel: fresh whole fish cooked either Nitsuke style, grilled or fried. The Shoyu Ramen was good comfort food, and the dishes we sampled ranged from chicken liver itame to Hiro's Yakko-San, a sort of "sampler" with ume cucumber, squid, fish cake, daikon wrap, fish balls, and hirame with seaweed
(3)
Karin R.
If you love sushi this is not the restaurant for you. I much prefer other spots in Miami for good yummy sushi. The waiter really tried to make up for the food by being nice, but it didn't help. There was also weird black stuff at the bottom of my wood sake cup, which was dismissed. I was given a fresh cup but my half drank sake was gone. The sushi didn't seem very fresh and the vibe in the restaurant was lacking as well. Also more of a family spot than a date spot. We had the spicy tuna salad, yasai-itame, crispy Bok Choy, and spicy tuna harumaki. The bok Choy was interesting but once you got to the bottom it was really oily and the yassai-itame which was supposed to have mixed veggies had mostly bean sprouts. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not go back.
(1)
Paul M.
Yakko-San is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for Asian food in Miami. The lunch specials here are great. My wife had the sushi special and it was like a bento box on steroids. It's almost enough for two people to split. The sushi was fresh and sliced generously. The spicy tuna harumaki is one of my favorite dishes now. It's like a spicy tuna spring roll with lots of greens and absolutely stuffed with tuna. You can probably get away with eating this as your main. I had the Katsu-Don (pork bowl) and it was absolutely delicious. The egg and pork made this quite a hearty dish. The location is large and very nice inside. The service is fast and efficient and we did not have to wait long for our food. Looking forward to our next visit so we can try some of the menu items that are available after 3PM.
(4)
Chung Kit T.
Went here on a Sunday evening and found out they had a few items on the menu that were sold out from the previous night. Among them were the toro and the scallop. There were other items missing. We started off with the blue fin carpaccio and an albacore appetizer. The carpaccio although good was a little bit on the salty side. The little capers were a little bit too overpowering. The albacore appetizer was drenched in too much ponzu sauce. It would have been better with much less. The sashimi and nigiri was good. I love fatty fish due to the texture and taste. Even though the toro was unavailable, we tried the hamachi belly which was pretty good. The salmon nigiri was better than average. The grouper sashimi was definitely on the lean side. It was on the borderline of being chewy. We also tried out the sea bass miso. This entree too tasted a bit too salty. Tasted more like a brined fish. Price for a couple can easily go over $100 with drinks. We had two appetizers, some nigiri (8 pieces), sashimi, and an entree for a little less than $90. Portions are small. Service is friendly.
(4)
Dara B.
Our server Aaron (name tag was spelled Arron) was very knowledgeable about the menu, and was very attentive. He deserves a raise. Adrianne asked to take a picture of him for her yelp review but he was camera shy. Awwwww. Anyways getting back to the review, a good thing to note is Yakko-san does not take reservations and will not seat guests until a large % of the party arrives. I did enjoy reading the menu and trying to narrow my decision down to a few dishes. I ordered the butter (butta) spinach (very healthy and delicious), the black pork belly (tasted like bacon (yes I know....they are both from the same animal) and shrimp tempura roll. I suggest before coming here to take a look at the photo slide show on Yakko-San's website for ideas on what to order. The menu is "Picture-Sans" and I am one who likes to order based on photos. Overall my experience here was very pleasant and I will be back again.
So Ive been meaning to try this place for a while. I have several friends that really like this place. So, after my Monday training ritual, a few us of decided to give it a try. Its located in Eastern Shores, on the east side of the plaza, facing 163rd street. Easy to find, had no issues parking, although Ive been here on weekends, and it can be difficult to park. So, the restaurant itself seems to be nicely decorated, I walked in and went straight to the restrooms to wash my hands. The place was somewhat busy for a Monday night, I thought it was a good sign. I was somewhat excited, but didn't want to get my hopes up to high. There are several of my regular go-to sushi places in the area, and I was curious if this place would hold up to them. Short answer is no. So I met my friends and sat down and started reviewing the menu. It was somewhat hard for me to understand this place. Japanese, sushi, tapas, but yet they had curry and other thai dishes. It was a challenge to find decent rolls on the menu, I actually had to ask the waitress if they had salmon skin. The waitress said, yes, we dont put everything on the menu. Kinda strange that a staple like salmon skin, or even a "hand roll" section was not on the menu. The other thing I noticed was there was typos all over the menu, I mean, it literally looked like an 1st grader made up this menu. It kinda set the tone for what was to come. I ordered a rainbow roll, which didnt come with crab, which is fine, because I would have substituted salmon skin, which was an add-on in my case. I ordered a salmon skin hand roll, and spicy tuna hand roll. My friends ordered a Japanese steak and another ordered a ramen bowl, and a salmon roll (of some sort). For drinks we just had water. So my rolls came out first, and just at the sight of it, I was like "meh". The fish on top was paper thin, the tuna didnt even look like tuna. The hand rolls were tiny, I mean it made tiny hand rolls (at other restaurants) look gigantic. The seaweed was like a rubber tire. The salmon skin itself wasn't bad, neither was the spicy tuna, but it was just small and hard to eat. The Eel sauce was way too salty too. The rainbow roll, despite the paper thin fish was ok too. Not great, not bad. After eating it, I was still hungry. I ordered the crispy bok choy w/ garlic sauce, and asked them to add fried tofu (basically I combined two appetizers). I thoroughly confused the waitress. For someone who made it seem like ordering custom dishes was the norm (remember, not all sushi/rolls are on the menu), she seemed lost. The dish itself, no garlic sauce, and it was just not what I expected. My friends steak, came with nothing. It was pretty much a steak on a plate. He said it was ok. The Ramen also seemed ok, as well as the roll. The service, one word "lackadaisical". The restaurant kinda smelled too. People were cleaning our table, reaching over me while I was eating. Real amateur hour. It was way too noisy, the music was like a after hours club/lounge. Overall, I was not impressed. I really wanted to like it, but there are so many better options in the area. I hate leaving reviews like this, but I really was disappointed. $40 bucks in the hole, I felt like I was overcharged. It would have to be the only restaurant open after a hurricane for me to go back. Sorry, but with the plethora of great sushi places in Aventura/NMB area, I wont be back anytime soon.
(2)
Alex B.
This restaurant is so good, I actually took the time to sit down and write a review: My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. (Good sign!) We were seated right away and the server, Aaron, came over in no time. With so many choices on the menu, Aaron was able to help us pinpoint the following: Crispy Bok Choy Crunch Spicy Tuna Roll Hamachi Tataki Jalapeño Spicy Manila Clams Yakiniku Steak EVERYTHING WAS SPECTACULAR! Not just one or two of the items, ALL of the plates were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. After polishing off each plate, we received the bill - only $47! If you were to go to any other restaurant and paid the same amount, you would have received half the portions at half the quality when compared to Yakko-San. You can not get a better bang for you buck! Not to mention that Aaron and the entire bus/wait staff were extremely nice and helpful. Amazing place from start to finish....
(5)
Shikira H.
Top of the line Asian Fusion cuisine. You won't be dissappointed. A little birdie told me that HEAD CHEFS from top restaurants come here to eat, so that alone says allot and was worth a try on Mother's Day. We opted for take out, (this momma preferred enjoying a delicious take out in the comfort of my home than being in a busy and crowded restaurant) But what's up with their take-out policy of not accepting any take-out orders over the phone??? Thought that to be super weird and a little inconvenient. They require you to come in and place your order, so there will be a wait no matter what :/ There were quite a few dishes that I couldn't pronounce, which intrigues me to come back and try em all. I was craving sushi so I ordered a crunch spiny tuna roll, king crab roll and a cali roll for the boys. Then I added Spicy Manilla Clams and Kimchee Hot Pot soup. The Hot Pot was spicy and ooh soo good. The rolls were fresh, flavorful and delicious. FYI ----Crispy Bok Choy - AAHHMaazing! Who doesn't like anything fried? I haven't met anyone as yet that doesn't., but if you do....you're missing out on sooo much fun for your mouth. The saltiness and crispiness makes The kids LOVED their fried rice and the hubbs enjoyed his dish. We live in the neighborhood so we are already planning a family date night here again very soon .
(4)
Eli S.
Super spot for inexpensive japanese food. Open so late so its always a plus. Have fun!
(5)
Cristina P.
Just had a nice dinner here. It was our first time here and, as a huge sushi and sashimi lover, I really enjoyed the food and the service! I had the happy salmon roll and the king crab roll. Although both were very good, it could have used some more seasoning to make it perfect. The sashimi appetizer was great! Very fresh! For dessert we had mochi ( somewhat like an ice cream ball wrapped in a dough type wrap). The flavors were mango, green tea and vanilla. Also very good. Great way to end the meal. Service was great. We had Elena as our waitress and she was very helpful and sweet. Made the experience very relaxing.
(4)
Lorena O.
The best Japanese food from Florida and that u tried ... Service is fantastic.., the food is fresh and fast.... The place is amazing too... I really recommend original fried rice with shrimp, and sashimis, hamachi kama, everything is really good... And my favorite is the fried cheesecake!!!
(5)
Carolina M.
This place is nicely decorated, food is pretty good but not memorable. For the life of me i cannot remember what we ate. I do remember however that our server was nice but the service was not great. At the end of the meal i ordered their dessert. I didnt like it at all after a bite and i told the waiter. He just said" oh i am sorry" and then when he brought us the check the charge for the dessert was in there. I mean, if i would have eaten the thing i understand he has to charge us. But i didn't touch it after that. What kind of customer service is that?. I told him that i felt we shouldn't be charged for it since i didn't eat it and he said" oh ok, i will take it off your check". There were other misses with the waiter like getting my husband's order wrong and forgetting my mom's order. He was just spaced out. Overall, ok but i don't feel the need to come back. We had very good bottle of sake. That i remember . They have good selection on sakes.
(3)
Angelo R.
Getting better. I think they a have a new manager cause I recently re-visited for lunch and several after work late drinks and the service has improved. I like the lunch specials. You get a choice of miso or salad to start, then choice of entree which i opted for the Chicken Yakiniku and comes with side salad of the day, cali rolls and shrimp tempura...all for around 10 bucks...what a deal! As always..2 for 1 drinks late nights..11pm after. They just need to make sure the bartenders are all in the same page :) Almost forgot, you have to try the Kimchi Ramen...the broth is off the hook!
(4)
Xuanyu Z.
I like this Janpanese food. the price is cheap and food is good quality! Especially the Unodon rice! I like it!
(5)
Whitney K.
Apparently Yakko-San is the oldest sushi house in Miami, and it is every bit of what you might imagine a restaurant out of Hiro Dreams of Sushi would taste like. Yakko-San's appeal lies in its authentic, fresh flavors (and bamboo sake cups, of course). The casual atmosphere makes for the perfect place to focus on the food. Each dish is prepared with care and executed with the craftsmanship you expect from traditional Japanese fare, minus any distracting frills or gimmicks that disguise mundane flavors at many sushi restaurants. What you taste is what you get. My recommendation: be adventurous and order the chef's daily selections regardless of how many you recognize on the list. Have a little faith - he knows what's up.
(4)
Lexie L.
An outing to Miami for us always includes a stop at Yakko San, no matter what time of day it is...this gem is open until the wee hours. The new glitzy spot lost much of the dingy glamour that was, for me, a part of its unique appeal and ambiance. It doesn't matter, though, the food is that good, and the view from the sushi bar is the best show around. I can sit for hours and watch the meticulous rituals of the sushi chefs, they are HOT STUFF! (There I go again with another chef-crush). They are the only place I've found that does ramen as well as NY and SF...I get the jones for ramen sooooo bad sometimes! Go to this place. Have sake and tons of the authentic Japanese Izakaya, which is Japanese tapas. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Xoxoxo Yakko San!
(5)
Gary Z.
This is some decent Japanese. It's more refined than some other sushi places in the area and has a decent product.
(4)
Kristy K.
Excellent service, very knowledgable staff! And awesome food !!! Things I would never have tried before on my own that the waiter Aaron suggested were absolutely amazing ! I couldn't help but notice how well everyone works together, I started to count 6 plus staff members clearing our table and actually talking to us! Good job! This is our new spot
(5)
Arthur G.
Quick and dirty, food is just good enough to pass when you're drunk and want something to do after 2am I would not go here during the day or out of my way.
(2)
Elizabeth Y.
WOW. I've found an authentic Japanese place in Miami, owned by a Japanese chef. A place that serves beyond the typical sushi rolls. You know it's a good place when locals flock to this place, great service, not to mention a regular pitstop for cops. Drinks: Strong, amazing Lychee Martini. The pureed lychee can be a little chunky but the alcohol content is perfect! Appetizer: Hamachi with jalapeno, which was yummy with a nice perfect kick of spicy. Ramen: Decent real ramen, and not the type that you buy in the store. And decently priced, not like Momi where ramen is outrageously priced. The food was so good I ordered two dinners!!! The curry cutlet awesome. My boyfriend ordered the beef tongue, but watch out it doesn't come with rice so very small portions. He also ordered a second meal as well. Dessert: Now this is the perfect ending to our dinner(s) - banana tempura served with green tea ice cream - no words can describe this awesome combination of crispy and cold sweetness. Definitely will be coming back to this place for my Nippon kick Also, did i mention it's open till 3 AM?
(4)
Anastassia S.
Love love love this place! Food is very tasty! Service is great, sake is great ! one of ours fav spot in sunny isles !
(5)
Sachin B.
Extremely rude manager on night shift. Seemed drunk, refused to properly seat me at a table with a menu for reasons that are still not clear to me.
(1)
Shale O.
Both time I have been there the service has been awesome. They boast of their fried rice but I think it is just ok. Good location and ample parking!
(3)
Nicola F.
I give the decor an A, the service a C and the food a B+. Got a couple rolls, one was great (Spicy Girl, which was a special) and the other was mediocre (Rainbow Roll). The Beef Tataki was pretty good. Got 6 pieces of Nigiri - the fish itself wasn't the freshest I'd had, particularly the Uni (sea urchin eggs), but it was all pretty decent. Price:Quality = not very good
(3)
MimiOak W.
Food is good, Service is fine but my friends and I seem to have such problem with the owner's wife as we've always been treated like we are nobody by Her. She's okay with anyone, any race but asian. And its been this way for a long time. We kept going back becuz of the food. But this last time we were there, we were smoking e-cigarette inside (2 of us smoke) and we were smoking it for the past hour or two.( Here she come to the bar right next to our table )Then all of the sudden the staff came and told us that it was not allowed. If that is a policy they should have told us at the first place cuz there are no ways that none of the staffs didnt see us smoking e-cigarette. Plus they should put a sign up too so that we know. We always ordered alot of drinks and food. They were about yo close we asked our server if it was okay to order just another hot sake and he kindly said yes. A lil moment later We saw the staff walked right pass our table to the customers sitting outside serving them large hit sake just like we ordered, we all thought it was for us, we looked at the end of the bar and we saw our server holding a bottle of sake about to come at our table but was stopped by the owner's wife and it seemed like she told our server to not serve us any more drinks. Our server came back to our table and said that he was sorry he could not serve us anymore drinks becuz they were colsed already. Okay I know it is not really a big deal but we just saw they served large hot sake to the table outside but not to us? We were kinda yelling a little bit so that the owner's wife could hear. We asked for our check and then she told the server to tell us that she was gonna call the police. We were like WTF!! it's not like we were not gonna pay the bill. The bill was 300 something dollars. At first we were not gonna leave any tips but again it's not our server's fault. So we gave him $70 cash tips and told him cleary that this is only just for you, we appreciate you but NOT HER. Not to mention she is asian just like us but very racist!! We are not bringing our 300-400 dollars per visit back there.
(1)
Tiberiu K.
One of the worst sushi places I have been too. Food was not good at all, bland with no taste. Couldn't eat it and just left it on the plate.
(1)
Bee B.
I love this place. Came upon it by chance and have returned quite a few times. The kimchi soup is amazing! So is the chicken liver and chive dish (ordered with a side of white rice). Had the pork and pickled vegetable fried rice which was pretty good. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Viv L.
I hardly venture this far south on a regular day, but my mother in law invited us here for lunch and I could not be any more pleased. We had the whole fish (a yellow tail and a hog fish) which we selected table side and had it filleted and tempura. I have not had such delicious and juicy fish in a long time! Not only was it flavorful but paired with the vegetable fried rice was the perfect accompaniment. For a Sunday afternoon it was not busy at all. This place has many tables and we had no problem finding a seat. The staff is very friendly and was more than happy to make suggestions when my MIL was told they did not carry Thai donuts (I guess it makes sense being that this IS a Japanese restaurant). We had the banana tempura with vanilla ice cream instead but it was just as good. In all Yakko San was the perfect place to have lunch, drink some bubbly and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)
Rich R.
this is extremely painful for me given that i love dining at Yakko-San, their service is usually great, dishes always come out fresh. all positive things to say, as long you intend to dine at their establishment. so why a single star? similar to Gene Z's recent review, the change of not allowing food to be called in for pick up is short sighted and has deprived Yakko-San of my dining dollars. this is not a Michelin four star establishment, but instead it's great local food, open later than most of it's neighbors, and until recently, did allow for orders to be called in ahead. it is by all classic standards food you would absolutely enjoy at home on occasion instead of dining out. but it's not that you can't walk in, order food, and WAIT until it's all ready, that's very available. it's just that Yakko-San, because of indiscretions of other guests (who ordered but never picked up) has decided that the small risk of a no show is worth the alienation of it's best, REGULAR customers. how foolish can any restaurant be not to consider the value of my time, in addition to my monies spent. it's beyond foolish, it's insulting. a restaurant is more than a menu, at least to me. there's a degree of mutual trust involved, which includes that the establishment maintain health and safety standards, that service is paramount, the atmosphere is inviting, among many other factors. and that also includes respect for customer's normal, universally expected preferences, like calling in an order for pickup. hopefully Yakko-San will think about their overall image and return this common sense feature of nearly all their competitors.
(1)
Luzelena C.
Amazing and authentic Japanese food. They maintain their authenticity with their Japanese chefs and menu items. My must-order items are the tuna salad and yaki soba. Delish! It's great that they're open so late... A great place to go for dinner or a late-night snack ;)
(5)
Katie P.
I went to this place on a busy Friday night after consulting with my foodies- coworkers and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. Andy was our server and although quite slow was very pleasant. I fell in love with food and decided to come back on a Sunday afternoon. BIG mistake! Ronis was our server and was extremely unprofessional. Half of the items ordered never made it to our table instead we were getting items that were never ordered by us. Then my friend ordered a cocktail and it was served in a chipped glass. He noticed it and returned the drink. Ronis apologized. When we received the check the drink was included. Will we come back here? Probably not.
(2)
Chari L.
Great sushi spot a few miles from the Aventura mall. A friend kept recommending it.. We finally listened and I'm glad we did. It's really reasonably priced and really good. We had the fried bok choy (amazing), tempura shrimp with spicy mayo (almost ordered a second round), crispy spicy tuna roll (delicious), a handful of pieces of nigiri (hamachi and scallop were killer) and wrapped it up with a banana tempura (worth it). The beer was cold, the sake was hot and the fish was super fresh. Go early if you can.. I imagine they get slammed.
(4)
Emily W.
A friend of mine talked this place up and took me there, and I have to say I was a little disappointed with both the service and the food. There was a TV right next to our table and whenever he was delivering our food, the food runner had his eyes glued to the TV. No eye contact, its like we weren't even there. The hostess was constantly looking at it too, which I get, it's a boring job. There were two things that the waiter got wrong in my order. I asked with water without ice, and it came with ice. And I asked for the steak and rice without onions and scallions (for my 9 year old brother) and it came with onions and scallions. Now, I'm not a bitch, I used to be a server and I understand that small mistakes like this are made all the time. But the restaurant was not busy AT ALL. Just write it down gosh. The food I ordered wasn't great. The miso soup was pretty good. I got crispy Bok Choy, which I think was over-cooked because to me it had a strong bitter after taste like it was burt. Other people at the table liked it though. And I also had the crunch spicy tuna roll which tasted like something you would get at a food court. Barely spicy, barely crunchy, no flavor to the sushi rice, and over all bland. The best thing I had, and the reason they got 2 stars instead of one, is this plate of crispy chewy fish skin with spicy mayo dip. My friend ordered it so I don't know what its called, but it was really really good. It kind of made me think that maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff. I'll probably give it another chance.
(2)
George R.
What can I say about this place other than it's one of my all time favorite restaurants in Miami. From the food to the prices it's the best deal in town. I have yet to try a bad dish from this place, everything is delicious. I love the shrimp fried rice, spicy mayo shrimp, soba, udon, monk fish liver, damn I'm getting hungry already. Do yourself a favor and try this place, you won't regret it. Also ask for the daily specials menu...
(5)
Chris G.
Second review. Amazing food. Tonight had the Yako Steak medium, spinach with butter sauce, ikamaru, and amazing cucumber wrap. The place was super packed yet the food managed to come out quick and the service as always deserved 10 stars. Love this place
(5)
Adrian G.
You people are crazy. Ordered a vast array of items including many raved about here. All were exceedingly mediocre. An all around underwhelming experience, except for the service. The service was overwhelming.
(1)
Bradley T.
Yakko San has a very large menu with a wide variety of options, and most options are a small portion size (Tapas). This review has to be an ongoing critique, because I've only sampled a few items at this point with several to go. The quality is high, but the quantity is low for most items. It's a beautiful restaurant inside with speedy service and nice dish presentation. I tried Scallop Nigiri (sushi of some kind with raw scallops) which was great, I had the Ginger Pork, which I thought was tasty but a little bland, and Some BBQ Unagi (Eel), which was my favorite, but I'm a sucker for Eel regardless. Overall, it's more of a 3.5 star restaurant. The service,ambience, and large menu are the pros, and the fact that you have to order several semi-expensive dishes to be satiated is the con. Still a nice spot where I'd like to go just to try out a few unique dishes at a time.
(4)
Ute L.
The not-so-new-any-more location is much easier to find but has less of a cozy family feel. Long lines at the door gave way to sleek long sushi and full service bars, plus much larger modern space. The food hasn't changed. Japanese home-style dishes as well as more high end items. Portions are small and encourage tapas style sharing, which is great fun, but at the end of the night you end up with a $40-$60 bill per person drinks not included. No brown rice (insert frowny face) and no cream cheese (thank goodness). If you've never had lotus root, I encourage you to get the Lotus Root Kinpira, simply referring to the method of simmering the roots in a broth of soy sauce and mirin. Simple yet so good. Feeling more adventurous? Get the BBQ eel tofu omelet. Silky smooth tofu cubes tossed with chunks of eel, in a bed of a moist and fluffy open faced omelet that appears to have been steamed in a light broth. Totally delicious and different. Since they don't offer brown rice and I wanted a starch, the zaru-soba noodles were the only healthy option. They are served the traditional way, cold with a dipping broth, on a bamboo platter. Big serving, enough to share. Finally, the fried cheese cake roll is a must. The cheesecake filling tastes like guava or some kind of fruity cheesecake and is wrapped in crispy tempura batter. Yummy. When the check arrived, however there was a little snag. The dessert roll is on the menu for $4.75 but was billed for $2 more. Not a big deal but seems to happen quite a bit in South Florida. It vexes me, because it is dishonest. When I pointed it out to my lovely bartender Stephanie (who was great and at no fault whatsoever), she told the floor manager who handled it very POORLY. The grim-faced Telenovela looking dude argued that the roll was served with ice cream and the ice cream was extra $$. I did not ask for ice cream. I didn't eat the ice cream, it was still on the plate. I don't even like ice cream unless it's gelato or some kind of vegan delight. Whatever, I wasn't going to argue over $2.00 but this is the sort of thing that makes me NOT come back to a place. He is the kind of manager that, if you find a hair in your food, will accuse you of having placed it there. Get over yourself, Rico Suave. Lowering my rating purely based on this D-bag manager.
(3)
Bryson P.
Great atmosphere, great service, but I've had better sushi.
(3)
John B.
I'm not really interested in investigating, but I suspect that Yakko-San's 3 AM closing time has a lot to with some of the negative reviews the place has gotten. I can only imagine the 2:30 AM clientele of a sushi joint in North Miami Beach that plays loud music. Even at 6 PM, I overheard a waiter describing the difference between sushi and sashimi to a couple of zero watt teens with what appeared to be Hermes birkin bags. That soundtrack is kind of annoying...but the food is pretty high quality. We enjoyed some grilled shishito peppers and some ankimo (about which I now feel sort of guilty, given apparent monkfish overfishing). Neither of these dishes is a major test of the kitchen's prowess. But everything was fresh, and the principal ingredients weren't muted or obscured. Seaweed salad was really amazing: multiple varieties, not just wakame. Salmon and yellowtail sashimi were just as fresh as everything else. I'm pretty sure I'm done visiting southern Florida forever. But if not, Yakko-San will get my repeat business.
(4)
Tracey S.
Delicious! Never a bad experience when we go. Love the crispy bokchoy and the green salad!
(5)
Stephanie P.
is this really owned by japaneses?? compared to authentic japanese restaurants you always going to have the best service. food not a big thing after traveling to japan I actually expect more.. I wont visit this restaurant anymore.... sorry besides the food I think service is also a main thing for a restaurant. doesnt seem that is owned by japaneses..
(1)
Mary R.
This is my all time favorite Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing! The menu can be a bit intimidating, I have learned what to order from word of mouth and trail and error. Here are my favorite things to order: shrimp spicy mayo (2nd favorite), tune guacamole (my favorite), uni pasta, fish jerky, gyoza, kimchee buta, fried bokchoy, tuna salad, and hamachi jalapeño roll. If you don't know much about sake get the sake tasting. You get to choose three (I would choose the three most expensive ones). Hope this helps (: . Enjoy!! P.S. if your looking for a cheap date, this is not the place for you.
(5)
Henriette H.
I love this place. After trying multiple local sushi joints in the area I thought it was time to give up, they were all extremely disappointing. Coming from New York I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a fresh clean and good quality sushi place would be. I was recommended this place by a friend. Ever since then, I have been going once a week. The food is delicious and fresh. The service is always good and the food comes out pretty quick!
(4)
Natalia M.
Loved caitlyn our bartender, super pleasant and knowledgeable in the menu. They have a good late night happy hour where you get bank for your buck on a good buzz. Loved the octopus sunomono. I will come back for sure.
(4)
Danny M.
Only place in south Florida that makes lotus roots fresh and cooked! A great starter! This place has been a favorite of mine since... I don't remember how long?! I used to eat at their smaller location down the street, for years, an made the move with them! I love everything from the Uni, to the Yuke! This is a serious traditional Japanese food lovers dream! Also have a great Sake menu! Open late and I love it! I love Hiro Yakko San!
(5)
Boris O.
Having lived in Manhattan for 12 years and also in Cali, I know what great sushi taste like. This place has decent sushi, but overpriced for the quality you get.
(2)
John G.
Very unimpressed with the food quality for the price. We ate the food purely out of hunger. Service was choppy at best. Decor was nice and contributed to the ambience. Overall this place is not great quality, especially considering the demographics for this area.
(1)
Paola Z.
So yummy, went for a nice lunch, had I gone to watch a sport event, they have plenty of TVs , it's clean, and extremely varietal in terms of the menu. Rarely have I had an ice green tea which was amazeballs, the cold sake is served in those beautiful bamboo shoots, the food was nothing short of delicious, my friend had the chicken curry fried rice, he loved it (I don't eat chicken so I'll take his word for it) and it was his recommendation, I had the scallop carpaccio (though I wouldn't have put Parmesan cheese on it ) it was fab as was the seafood soup. Full liquor bar, nice open space, I'll def be back.
(5)
Pavel L.
Don't go for late night carry out! Official closing time is 3am. Kitchen cutoff is 2:45am. 2:48am to the second, they refuse to take any orders. I was pleasant and respectful. Door is open and order refused.
(1)
J K.
Exceptional food! Awful Service! VERY fresh and beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi. Udon, yaki udon , tempura, bok choy...ALL DELICIOUS. The kitchen rocks! The waitstaff...forever smiling...is off in another world. Empty dishes piled up on our table, items never came (dipping bowls for sashimi, tea refills, dishes we ordered, silverware, the check). Hospitality was a zero! The food is TERRIFIC...so go!...But be prepared to be ignored.
(4)
Kenny C.
First time I dined at this restaurant. All I wanted was Ramen, glad I found this spot. The food is prepared promptly and the portions are great for the price. Definitely a fan now. Will be back to try the sushi.
(4)
Sarah L.
My boyfriend & I came here to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We ordered the Bok Choy, & I was insanely impressed. I nearly ate it all by myself. My boyfriend is a big fan of spicy tuna & he loved the spicy tuna salad. However, our wonderful meal was not over. We then shared the whole hog fish lightly flash fried complimented by their house rice. So absolutely delicious. We will definitely go back. Pricey, but worth it for a romantic night out.
(5)
Bonnie L.
Lately I've dined at so many different restaurants regardless of price $$-$$$$ and none of them served dishes that left me with cravings like Yakko san! Definitely reasonably priced, nice, friendly and not overbearing environment, open late every night and all the dishes are pretty consistent. Hirosan and wife is always there greeting their guest and making sure everything is under control, that really shows they care about the business and quality. I absolutely love love love the **Mentaiko Pasta!** I always crave for this! My usual favorites: Crispy Bak choy (Have yet to taste a better crispy bak choy) Fried whole fish (de-bone and amazing!!) Beef Tataki Dry Kawahagi kalbe yakiniku (beef short ribs) Dynamite shrimp (Jumbo shrimps unlike many other places) I'm always discovering more new and amazing dishes from here all the time! This is the place where all the people in the hospitality, hotel and restaurant industry dines and it is truly like no other Japanese restaurant in south Florida.
(5)
Claudette C.
I love this place...........I visit this restaurant at least once a month.
(4)
Seth S.
This is a different type of Japanese restaurant (ie, an izakaya, a "pub" and not a sushi bar), so it's best you try to approach it that way, as you'll have the best experience. While Yakko-san relocated to more spacious digs last year, it still features an izakaya style menu, even if their new location has lost a bit of the pub-like character of its older location. The pub-style items (fried bok choy, Yellowtail cheeks, soba, cold spinach, udon noodles in broth) are fantastic and likely the very best you will get in the Miami area. The service has been a bit inconsistent over the past year, but all in all, Yakko-San still has fantastic food, particularly if you look beyond standard items like sushi. I would strongly recommend you do so. I would rate it higher with five stars (it's quite close actually), but we've had a few rather crappy, ignorant waiters and recently some waits for tables, too. But to be clear: this is still the very best izakaya style pub in Miami, though.
(4)
Nicole C.
Despite rave reviews, my dinner here was just A-OK. The Bad: - CRISPY BOKCHOY IS OVER RATED! - The lambsteak was 80% fat which we had to trim off and couldn't eat. The Good: - Oyako Don (chicken & onion omelet over rice) was very tasty. - Onigiri (stuffed rice triangle/balls) were a simple classic done very well. Everything else: Asian Eggplant Pork & Miso Sauce, Spicy Tuna Salad, Spicy Sauteed Squid, and 15 Piece Sashimi Platter were alright. Maybe I've been spoiled by all of the yakitori spots in NYC, but I thought this place was under-whelming.
(3)
Celine C.
Yakko-San never fails me. Some people say their food doesn't taste the same anymore. To me, it remains the same plus now I don't have to wait an hour for a table! I love how they open late. It's hard to find a good restaurant that stays open until 3am. I love pretty much everything on their menu. Some of my favorites are fried oysters, ika maru, yakiniku don, Mentaiko and Japanese. I would rather go to Yakko-San than to eat at a regular sushi place. I would like the portion to be a little bigger since it's a more family sharing thing.
(4)
Leanna J.
I really liked the food at this place and I would have given Yakko-San more stars had the service been better.Don't get me wrong, our waiter was very nice, but he was very slow and once our dishes were delivered he did not check to see if there was anything else we needed. I ordered the salad with their home-made ginger dressing and it was great. The ginger dressing is not the typical ginger in that it's not the super yellowish kind that you find at most sushi restaurants. It is ginger based, but it has a little more flare to it than the average ginger dressing. My friend and I also ordered two rolls and they were great. The presentation was really nice as well. However, the waiter did not once come by to check and see if we needed anything (whether it was a drink refill, a fork, extra napkin, nothing.) He didn't even ask if our food was OK. Then we sat around waiting for 20 minutes after our plates had been cleared for the check. Finally, we asked a busboy, who said he would inquire. After another few minutes we asked one of the waitresses, and she brought it over shortly after. The food at this place is good, but just don't expect quality service.
(3)
Patrick C.
Yakkos! I started going to this place when it was off of Dixie and it was always full of the head chefs of so many prestigious restaurants, I mean the food is incredible! Grab a friend or 2 and order a few small plates and enjoy the service and atmosphere. Sit at the sushi bar if you're taking a date, and see where the magic happens. Order a bamboo full of sake and see if it lasts your first plate. It's just an all around wonderful place to enjoy yourself and it'll keep you coming back to the menu for more and more.
(5)
Vick O.
My favorite late night spot for Japanese cravings! I used to go there when they were located on Dixie Highway. The place was busier back then. With the new place, they're trying to pull off the whole Modern Lounge type of atmosphere. Still look great regardless, but I feel like they lost the whole Japanese environment feel. The waiters there know me, because I usually get the same thing. Mazesoba (sauteed w/ roasted pork, scallion, bamboo shoots) and a cooked salmon Onigiri. I also love their Japanese Sundae with green tea ice cream, sweet red bean, rice cake, NO FLAKES. Consistent taste and never disappoints! 5*
(5)
Arne R.
Good solid Japanse . None of the thai/ Japanese nonsense pure Japanese. Ramen is good top 3 in Miami. Sushi is fresh and good also in top 5 of sushi places in Miami. Always room for improvement my Tonkotsu Ramen was nice but not over the moon. Maybe I am spoiled having lived in Japan but always looking for that perfect spot. I do recommend yakko San for traditional Japanese food. Try it
(4)
David Y.
Yakko-San is easily one of the best Japanese/Asian restaurants in South Florida. Its a great late night spot (open until 3am), authentic and the food is typically served in sharable portions ie. Japanese Tapas. A few great things on the menu are the Crispy Bok Choy, Kimchee Hot Pot, and Hamachi Tataki Jalapeno Roll. They have a great bar and Sushi bar you can sit at, daily chef specials, and all around great atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew J.
Went to the new location last night for the first time. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed....they definitely have a following. I'm not crazy about the feel of the space...they tried to make it hip but it still feels like you're in a strip mall (which you are). The old space was much funkier. The menu is great and the food is top quality, but the price to portion size ratio is very high. Unless you order a whole fish, everything else is tapas sized. My date and I shared 5 plates, a bottle of sake and dessert. Bill was $100. Everything was delicious but when I got home I was still hungry and had to make a sandwich.
(3)
Nevik E.
Note: On Yelp I review exclusively sushi bars. The bar itself is fairly presentable. The fish selection is much broader than most. In addition to less common fluke and other white fish, I have had large oysters from Northern California and monkfish liver. The quality of the fish is definitely above average, but maybe not quite elite. The rice is a slight disappointment as it is fairly plain, although I wonder if that is just me being accustomed to the sweeter flavored rice pervasive in American sushi restaurants with an origin from the Tokyo area. The head chef is a little reserved, but he will open up with time and interest. He happily prepared us some chef's choice at our request. The other chefs who have served us are friendly. It is always a huge plus to be able to order directly from the chef and interact with them. A very solid sushi restaurant, and solidly in my top ten.
(4)
Linda C.
ive been here twice so far and the food has been awesome!!! shrimp tempura roll is AMAZING. I love how fresh the sushi tastes. ive had the same waitress both times and she was super sweet. only complaint is that the first time, I went with 2 friends and we all ordered drinks. the drinks were AWFUL....so strong that they literally tasted like rubbing alcohol, totally undrinkable. we mentioned it to the waitress and she said she couldnt take off the charge, but she offered us a soda.....I felt this was unfair but I didnt want to give her a hard time since that was surely a policy put in place by the manager and totally not her fault.
(4)
Adikus S.
Nothing out of this world, but the food is constantly good, service is good too. I tried some korean dishes that they serve - stick with sushi. Its a nice place to have a dinner, and the price is decent too.
(4)
Chip D.
Great prices - especially or lunch. Very polite and quick service! Sushi/sashimi portions were of larger than average - which is good in my book!
(3)
Gretchen P.
The food here is really fresh and delicious. They have a great variety of sake and some Japanese whiskey that is pretty tasty. I sat at the bar and had a great time chatting up the friendly staff and enjoying a wonderful meal.
(4)
Maureen A.
went here for the first time on Thursday 2/2/2012 and it was awesome! we had to wait to be seated about 10 minutes so it was not too bad of a wait but we had fast, good service and the food was great! ordered the... Pork Dumplings (pan fried) Tempura Shrimp (deep fried) Chicken Fried Rice Bok Choy (flash fried) Banana Tempura with Ice Cream it was all very good! i will be back and want to try the BBQ Beef and Fried Cheesecake or Thai Donuts! oh and they were playing sports on the tv's! NBA Basketball. Full Bar too!
(4)
Aris F.
Mixed feelings about the food. Good eel but hardly the best I've ever had. Delicious seaweed salad. The beef in the beef with garlic shoots way oversalted. Bok choy overrated. "Grilled" pork belly really more deep-fried than grilled -- and kinda bland for pork belly. Mushrooms steamed with butter and sake also pretty bland, even for 'subtly-flavored' japanese food. Staff excellent. Hiro's is a little too popular for the size of the restaurant, but hopefully they'll be better able to accommodate all their fans when they move to the new location soon.
(3)
Melissa C.
I talk about this place all the time. In fact, anytime someone asks me if I know somewhere good to eat I will invariably suggest this restaurant first. They describe themselves as "Japanese tapas" and they don't make sushi rolls. Japanese and NO SUSHI!?!? That's correct and it's effing awesome! I'm glad it exists for the simple fact that it's a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve sushi as it's mainstay. There are so many things to choose from. Most items are under $10. I recommend being adventurous and asking them for the specials list. Definitely ask them about the fresh fish...they have guys who deliver fresh hogfish they've speared themselves. They will bring out a tray stacked with fresh locally caught fish that you pick out and they cook to order. Cold sake served from bamboo tubes, crispy bok choy, triggerfish jerky, ramen bowls, kimchee... Did I mention how AWESOME this place is? Go there.
(4)
Joann C.
one of two japanese restaurants i advocate in South Florida moderate prices for yummy Japanese tapas. I have been coming here for years and the food has always been GREAT. I love their menu and its fun to try the new dishes that appear on their "specials" menu. I highy recommend the deep fried hogs head snapper and the shrimp with spicy mayo. also their kawahagi is the best!
(5)
Jan T.
Husband does not like sushi so he had the teriyaki steak and enjoyed every bite. I had the crispy spicy tuna balls. I would have liked regular spicy tuna more, but it was something different. The service was very good.
(4)
Kelly B.
I read good comments about this place and was feeling adventurous so decided to try it. Opened the menu and to my surprise there were only about 10 different sushi rolls on the whole menu and on the other side of it they offer pasta???? When I get my order of sushi noticed they were very small and just ok. I also ordered a glass of wine which wasn't good so asked the server to bring me another type of wine to which he replied "ok but I have to charge you for this wine too". Even though I did t drink it all he wanted to charge me!!! Totally confusing menu horrible service!!!!
(1)
Denise N.
One of my favorite spots to go late night. Takoyaki balls for me are a must to start. Enoki mushrooms in a butter sauce were crazy good! Kimchee pork, with that delicious kick and that rich sauce, Definitely a flavorful dish. With a side of veggie rice we were set! Fast service good food decent price. Japanese craft beers list is good I had the Orion and a Kaugua Rouge.
(4)
Renier C.
5 stars. No fuss. Easy place for simply great food. Sure there's lots of hype still, but after years eating here no disappointment yet! Let's order: Tuna Guacamole. So good. Everyone will love this. Tuna Harumaki Hamachi Jalapeño tiradito Beef Tataki Tuna Tataki Salmon Carpaccio Crispy Bak Choy Uni sushi with a quail egg (if you're into it, friend had me try and I was hooked!) Ugh, ... I'm getting hungry again.
(5)
Bob H.
Once again a wonderful experience. Knoledgeable server and great japanese dishes. Tried the kimchee pork tonight. Excellent.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
good food, terrible service. I have eaten here 100 tomes, since the small rest on Dixie hwy. I normally order 5-7 items and need some space to eat. the people at the front refused to give us a bigger table . called the so called manager and they said it was against their policy. there was a couple sitting in the from at a table for 4....again I have eaten here 100 times and never has such a bad reception. I left and went to hiro
(1)
Elle B.
Decided to try a new place in Miami based on the reviews. Sushi was fine , average presentation, not special. Service terrible. People, check your bill!!! They overcharged me on three separate items!! When I brought it up to the managers attention , they weren't very apologetic . They thought it was enough to just adjust the bill. The total overcharge was $9. I think this happens all the time there. When I asked why this happened, they first blamed the new cashier and then started telling me that the price of a hand roll on the menu only includes the "meat", which they meant fish, and that the vegetable and rice are extra. For which they added 2 dollars. Have you ever heard of anything like that? In my experience the price on the menu of any item is the price that should be charged!!! Any handroll always comes with all of the ingredients. I didn't ask for anything extra to be included in it. Will not be back... Terrible!
(2)
Chlo L.
Sake & good sushi are my best friends. Such a relief to get some satisfying nigiri. We ordered maguru (tuna), sake (salmon), hotate (scallop), Uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid), Saba (mackerel) unagi (BBQ eel) , & tamago (grilled egg)... Along with an uni handroll, salmon carpaccio, soba, ankimo, and crunchy bakchoy. They were all delicious, especially the nigiri & handroll. We dined in this time, but we're big on takeout and having to wait at the restaurant instead of calling ahead is a bit of an inconvenience. Although, it's better than being disappointed elsewhere. We will be regulars here as long as the sushi keeps coming as it was. The service was also terrific. Ray was a friendly and did a great job! Can't wait for round II !
(4)
Ian R.
In the process of visiting Florida on business, a friend of mine took me to Yakko-San and it was amazing. While very inconspicuous in a strip mall shopping center, don't be fooled. This is a fairly decent sized restaurant with a sushi bar. There were so many good things on the menu that I had to try. The Hottie Hamachi was melt in your mouth quality. Fried Oysters were delicious. For an entree I picked a freshly caught Strawberry Grouper and they took it to the back to cut it up, lightly fry it, and bring it back to the table tasting awesome all in record time. I will be returning to Florida soon on business and will certainly be coming back to Yakko-San. Highly recommended.
(5)
ilana P.
The sashimi was excellent!! Sushi rolls were okay. Service was fast and efficient. We sat with kids at a table, the bar had a sign for drink specials (happy hour), we ordered. When the bill came we were surprised to see that we were being charged full price for the drinks. Apparently the special price was only if you are sitting at the bar, which we were not allowed to with kids. Seems unfair to those dining out with kids. Will not be returning.
(3)
Jose Luis N.
Place was nice , good atmosphere and waiters really kind and helpful. Food is not expensive and tasty. They have some interesting rolls like prosciutto roll. Appetizers really recommended like tuna avocado! I will repeat!!
(4)
Lena Z.
The worse restaurant to come to. Food looks like it is a week old and when I asked to change it they refused. The waitress said that she explained it with Japanese language. Unfortunately I don't speak Japanese. Very rude
(1)
Kyle S.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami. Nice variety, good prices. Seated right away. Open late. Great service.
(5)
Lisa W.
Afternoon service is great, groovy atmosphere, waiting for food is short, taste of food is delicious and money happily spent
(4)
Viktor K.
Terrible. The roll contains 95% rise and 5% carpaccio thin Fish Almost pathetic and funny Never again
(1)
robert e.
Popular no-nonsense Japanese with fresh sushi including a daily catch. Great sushi rice -- firm, not too sweet. Very quality sashimi. Pretty standard selection of fish offered but wonderful knife work and again great fresh product. Real ginger, real wasabi. No complaints at all. A deft preparation of Hamachi Kama is always worth a return visit in my book. A keeper.
(4)
Sharon W.
Three words: CRISPY BOK CHOY! That's really all you need to know, but since there is all this white space, I will fill it with more lavish praise for one of the best dining experiences in South Florida! I came here twice this weekend, once for lunch and once for dinner. The menu is more limited at lunch, but they do have good lunch specials. We had the aforementioned bok choy, which came overflowing the plate and with a garlic-y savory dipping sauce. We also had the jalapeño hamachi (sashimi), which was exquisitely fresh, and a lunch special, which came with miso soup (excellent), several rolls, some seasoned bean sprouts and some tempura. We finished with the Chef's Choice, a rotating special of six cold appetizers. That day, we got jellyfish (!), mackerel and four other delectable items. We returned the following day for dinner! Yes, it was that good! We had the bok choy (again!), age nasu (fried eggplant), takoyaki (deep fried octopus), spicy shisito peppers, monkfish liver and fried minnow. The monkfish liver was the standout, for sure! Beautiful flavor and texture! WOW! the menu is extensive, creative and reasonable. In addition, the service is great. Larry S. had green tea with his lunch and wanted to take it with him when we left. Aaron gave him a fresh serving in a to-go cup! Miguel, the server at dinner, gave us a sample to assist us in choosing a wine and both guys also provided some good suggestions off the menu. Fantastic!
(5)
Mina G.
I loved this place. It reminded me of all things Japanese back to when I studied there. The food was fantastic! Try: Crispy Bok choy Tempura vegetables- it's super authentic Any of the sushi! Hamachi with jalapeños Yaki niku don (steak with rice) Also the green tea martini and sweet tea martini! Both fantastic! So all this food at a reasonable price. I couldn't believe it Bottom line-coming back!
(5)
W M.
This was my go to place. I love the tonkotsu ramen, undo noodle, pork fried rice. I have been with this place about 7 year. However, sadly, I have to say I will not return to this place anymore. Because the quality of the food went down and the so so service I received. About one year ago, I went there with my husband, my two kids and my brother-in-law.My brother-in-law order three things one cup of coke, one Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and a Yaki Undo noddle. His entire order never been serve. We asked the waitress couple of times about his order during, and after our meal. The end result, just a no show for his meal. Luckily, we ordered enough or I should say the two kids had enough left over to feed their poor uncle. the waitress finally figure out and apology to my brother-in-law at very end of our meal. So, we only left 10% of the tip and a note to the waitress regarding her poor performance that night. Because I loved this place so much, my husband and I decided to let it go. We though just one bad experience in 6 years. About four month ago, I went there with my family. When the food was severed, I got my kids ready to eat. In the half way of cutting the Chicken Tatsuta-Age, which is fried marinated chicken, I noticed that 3 of the fried chicken was under cooked. I can still see the chick was half raw. I immediate called in our waitress and told her the problem. She said she was sorry and offered to refried the 3 pieces of the chick. Yes, refried the 3 pieces, not replace the whole dish or took the order off. How can they be so sure there was only 3 pieces under cook. I was very mad at the how they handle the situation and told my husband I will never go back again. Last night, i went back again, Yes, I admit it was a bad decision.However, I really miss their tonkotsu ramen. I cannot find another place in Miami can make the same flavor.So , I decided to give it another try. I ordered the tonkotus ramen I been thinking for four months. The second I put the noodle in my mouth, I knew the noodle was totally under cook. Then, I searched the whole bowl of noodles. I found half of my noodle was rubbery, stuck together-uncooked. I talked to the waiter again (WHY!!!!!), I told him it was not acceptable. He say he was sorry. That was about it. He did not do a thing to make it right. Not offer the order from the bill, not offer to give me a new dish. It was raining very heavy last night (9/5/2015), I have two kids, both are under age of 5, needed to go to bed before 8:00 pm. So, I didn't have a chance to talk with the manager. On the way home, I told my husband, I am very sad but I think I have to let this spot go and should not come back anymore. Regardless, how much I love their food, I really don't want to pay the full price on something only worth half of the price quality of food. Not even to mention about the service. Or maybe, that just the way they train their waiter/waitress, when customers complain just say your are sorry and do nothing!! response from the ownerin the last week- yakko san always respect customers, we had never been complained about our food under cooked. all our chefs were working for us since we opened 2001. we moved this location only 4 years as you mention 7 years, especially we never replce the plate only left few pieces, we had 400 cover only one complained that mean the our food were nothing wrong..this is the time that you decided to leave, noway that we can stop you. finally we wil let you go that you are not truly yakko san customer..thank you for been customer for yakko san. sorry mean nothing wrong with that..thank you. this was the respond i have received from google review. this owner has not respect for the old customer. yes, the food was under cook two times. yes, i have been with your restaurant for 7 year (3 years from the original location and 4 year from now location). yes, it was very !! annoying when she can only type things in all caps( you can see the review from google.com ). there you go!! you can totally see what kind of owner she is. let me just say this to the owner," it was too bad your restaurant made the mistakes, it is time to move on."
(2)
Jessica W.
After hearing great things about this restaurant, I decided to stop by for dinner. It's located in a strip mall and they have a few high-top tables outside, where we sat. The service was friendly and fast. Of the items I tried, the Mediterranean octopus was definitely my favorite. It was thinly sliced octopus with olive oil, pesto and sundried tomatoes-it was a unique and absolutely delicious combination. The grilled squid was great as well. Definitely a wonderful choice for sushi!!
(4)
Violet G.
Stopped by late night Saturday, I was delighted to see the place packed. The bartenders were very friendly, took the time to answer our questions about the menu; he suggested chicken/shrimp fried rice, a hit! The goyza- very good also, but I will pass on the pork belly. Friendly service and good food that's all I need.
(4)
Steven B.
Enoki Butter mushrooms and the daily fresh fried fish are both AMAZING! Delicious options for a night out. Haven't tried the sushi, but everything else there is delicious. Overall, great place.
(4)
David R.
We were kicked out by manager for staying too long! Never happened to me, anywhere, anyplace, any City, any Country, and we are not lingerers. Very upsetting. We went tonight for my wife's Birthday-party of 4. When we finished dinner, the manager came over and asked us to leave because he needed the table. He saw it was her Birthday because they just brought desert with a candle. It was close to 10 PM. Nobody was waiting up front when we left. Who does that? What bad management. Food was just ok, but not reflective of the Yelp reviews. Greasy Bok Choy, sushi was just ok. Would never go back.
(1)
James O.
We ate here for first time in over 5 years last night. Place was full on Saturday night which is very important for sushi places. I only eat sushi at very busy places for obvious reasons. Salad was fresh, huge and had a great dressing other then the traditional orange colored ginger dressing. Octopus sunomono was delicious scallop carpaccio was fantastic. All the sashimi we had was very fresh and nicely proportioned. Service was very friendly and efficient. An overall good experience and much better then the one I had 5 yrs ago.
(4)
Adam M.
Good food Good service Good staff Good owner She is a demon lady who will argue with you and ruin your night. If you do go to yakko keep ur head down when she walks by. They have a policy where if the food is not done right not served on time or cold they will not take it back. Easy going place overall aside from the demon lady it's legit.
(3)
Luis L.
I really like this place. A friend of mine suggested I come to Yakko San when it was located behind the train tracks, it was really hard to find and it was very small. The new place is huge and much nicer. The food is still great, the kimchi fried rice is great and the spicy mayo shrimp is very good. Most recently it was late(past midnight) I tried calling but you cant order to go after 12am, you have to order in person and wait. This was not a problem, you just order at the bar, the bartender is very nice and in a few minutes your food is ready to go. Not a lot of places have good food till 3am so that is a huge plus. I live in North Miami Beach so it is close and very easy to park.
(5)
Melanie A.
Yakko San is a no-frills but yet authentic Japanese restaurant. I came with a friend of mine who is a sushi chef and he really recommended this place. I was not let down. I went back since and still enjoyed the food. They have an extensive menu and everything is delicious. My favorite is the raw yellowtail! Ugh. So good. They also have a full bar. In these types of Japanese restaurants I usually expect them to just have beer, wine, and sake. Nope. Yakko San has a full menu! This place is worth the drive!
(4)
Alexander F.
How is this my first check-in here?!?! I'm a regular at Yakko-San, seriously! ! I guess Yelp messed up. Anyway, Yakko-San is amazing. Great, knowledgeable service, the food is delicious, well presented, accompanied by a hearty menu with lots of choices. All this in a venue that has late hours....Yakko-San is well deserving of a 5 star rating!!!!
(5)
Chary E.
Gosh. Where to I ever begin. Let me just say that the food here is reAlly really good. Everything is so fresh, the staff are super friendly and attentive and the presentation is just spectacular. I know there are hundreds of reviews about their most popular dish- the angel hair with ikura and uni. I just can't get enough of it. The uni is sweet and fresh and the ikura is salty and together they are just perfect with the angel hair pasta. No sauce, no frills, just fresh seafood wonderfulness. Granted they put a teaspoon of butter on the angel hair, but tht was about it. Just squeeze some lemon and add the wasabi and poof. Perfection. I loved it so much that we went there 2 days in a row! Special thanks to Wowie for being such a cool guy. So if you are ever in the area, do check this place out. I promise you will leave super happy!
(5)
Nate T.
This restaurant has a great selection sake. This is the restaurant to enjoy Japanese cuisine and some great company from friends. The servers and the bartenders show great hospitality. It feels like you're a regular at their restaurant. You should keep an open mind on today's special because they are fresh and tasty. I recommend the Scallop Carpaccio and the Crispy Spicy Tuna Rice. If you want to order something from the regular menu I recommend hamachi jalapeno and their shrimp fried rice cooked in light soy sauce and olive oil. For sake, I recommend Yuki no bosha or the Ohka dewazakura. The bar is a great place to sit if there is a game going on because there is a tv in the corner. The place is very casual, you can show up in a matrix costume which I did once or in athletic clothes to show off them muscles. For starters always go with light appetizers followed by raw foods. This will be the best transition to hot/cooked meals. For recommendations try: first nira moyashi, second hamachi jalapeño appetizer, third soup, and lastly a rice dish like the beef donburi.
(5)
Joe R.
Great flavor, everything is fresh. I had the King Crab roll, the Ocean Drive roll, and the Kimchee Buta, with a Lychee Martini. It was a little pricey, but delicious!
(5)
Stephanie A.
Great food. I must stress how excellent the food is. However, there's sometimes problems with communication with the servers. The nice lady who took care of us forgot one thing I ordered but we don't mind. If you're the type of person who wants something and hates when this happens just make sure to confirm your order first. Drinks are great, I love their eel and the nigiris. There's parking and overall the restaurant is beautiful, clean and worth for a date or for friends. I also noticed that they have lunch menus. 10/10: food !!!!
(4)
Jonathan P.
Best place to get true Japanese food in Miami. Good place to share plates with the table. Best plates include - all sashimis, hamachi jalapeño, crispy bok Choy, yakniku don, spicy mayo shrimp, enoki butter, seaweed salad, whole fried fish, beef curry, salmon sashimi salad, crispy fish salad, and daily raw fish specials. Miso soup and ginger salad are simple, but great. Service is good / fast and prices are fair.
(5)
Peter Z.
Since moving to the Miami area a few months ago, I have been on the search for great restaurants in all of South Florida and have been leaning heavily on Yelp for assistance...now to start paying back :) I love sushi and haven't had too much since I moved to Brickell and now am currently located in Aventura. I had passed this place a few times, and decided to stop in after I found an old issue of New Times that rated this place as a top 10 under-rated cheap eats place. I went hungry. Yakko-San delivered. Posted my pics on the iphone, hope they match up with this PC entry. I ordered: Hamachi Jalepenos Sashimi- I'd eat this everyday and just might. Fresh and the sauce it is in I could suck up with a straw. Sashimi App- standard measuring stick for me. It was fresh and delicious; pieces were a little on the anorexic side, but fresh and good. Crispy Bok Choy: You can't really mess this up deep frying it- however, the sauce it is served with was delectable! Kimchee Ramen: See photo, it is like a meal in itself. It was a massive portion and delicious- I love kimchee and never had it in a ramen with meat. I will order again!! Black Pork Belly: Slightly fatty and didn't know if it was grilled but I thought it was pan seared...it had a nice pepper flavor. Delicious and served with yet another wonderful dipping sauce. There were 30 other items I wanted to try...I cant wait to in the next few months! :) I live a mile from here and I will definitely be a regular. Wonderful decor, large restaurant- I was in on a Tuesday at 1/2 full at 9PM...Weekends have to be packed to the rafters all night! I recommend you give it a try at least once...
(4)
Joseph D.
Second time at Yakko-San and I'm still amazed at the dazzling array of dishes and the quality of their food. If you're looking for a place to try dishes you've never had or even seen elsewhere, this is your place. The freshest sushi, a large assortment of ramen, barbecued eel to die for and specials galore are just a few of the things you'll find on their huge menu. Service is generally friendly and efficient. The dining room is large and can fill up quickly and can be very noisy when they get rockin' and rollin'
(5)
Priscilla H.
I've never had been treated so bad in a restaurant. I've been a customer for over two years and tonight I just walked away . Be aware with the owner... She is always drunk at the bar making rude and loud comments. I used to go there with my family for dinner once a week and get the chefs selections spending over $200. Today I ordered a raw sashimi and didn't like it (after ordering 3 of other type). The fish had a weird smell. She was sitting next to us and said:"This is what we offer , so EAT it"!!! Excuse me??????? She was drunk and falling of the chair... Embarrassing!! I paid for the bad sashimi and left...My business? You will never get lady! Bad bad bad service!!!! Go to Makoto, it is upscale and only one mile Away. I am still speechless...
(1)
Gene Z.
These chingas have pathetic practice of not allowing to preorder and pick up the f... food. Change your stupid freaken policy morons !!
(1)
Krys P.
It pains me to write this review, because Yakko-san used to be my favorite Japanese place. It has the most authentic Japanese cuisine in Miami, offering items not seen in your average sushi/teriyaki/teppanyaki joints. But that was before they moved their location. Shortly after the move, my friends told me that the quality had went downhill. So I never did visit again, until a few nights ago we were in the neighborhood, late at night and craving some Japanese. I figure, how bad can it be? Truth is, it can be very bad. We ordered three dishes to start, takoyaki, mixed mushroom in foil, katsudon. Sadly, all three dishes are inferior specimens of that item. Takoyaki tastes like eraser nibs in mushy paste, mushroom is overly bland and unevenly seasoned, and pork chop too dry. Looks like Yakko-san has gone from a serious foodie heaven to a fancy trendy place offering mediocre fare. We didn't order more, didn't finish the food and ended up leaving with a half-empty stomach.
(2)
Jenn A.
Living in south beach, Yakko San is a little out of the way but well worth the drive. The lunch special is great for the price. The fish is always fresh. The crispy rice balls are delicious. Love the octopus sunomono. The udon noodles are great as well. The service isn't the best , the server always seems overwhelmed, like they have too many tables but we keep coming back for the delicious food.
(4)
Danielle B.
Asian fare in SoFlo to be quite honest has been in general disappointing. Whether it be overpriced or just plain not appetizing. Despite that, we decided to give Yakko-San a try. We were pleasantly surprised to find that their menu offers a variety of Japanese cuisine from sushi/sashimi to udon to grilled items and even ramen. Apparently ramen is a rare commodity here, or likely just not in demand. We ordered chicken katsu, mackerel (saba) sushi, soft shell crab sushi, tuna crunch roll, and a spicy tuna roll to share between two people. Chicken katsu was average. Soft shell crab had seemed to have lost its crunch. The mackerel was "osaka box style" which is a little different than I'm used to. I prefer traditional sushi over this style. The fish was thinly sliced and didn't look fresh, which is possibly also because it was marinated. I'd rather let the natural flavors of the fish shine instead of masking them under marinade. The spicy tuna was fine, but you can't really mess up spicy tuna. We weren't in the mood for ramen on that day, but definitely want to come back to try it. 3.5 stars for now, and if the ramen proves worthy, that will get bumped to 4 stars!
(3)
Re M.
I had a really great night at this place. Seat at the bar and ask the barman Aladar to recommend you the specials. Simply delicious, everything we ordered. The Appletinis were awesome too. Will be coming back soon. The price is a bargain as well!
(5)
Marina S.
I come to this restaurant a lot, live near by. I also order for take out. My family usually orders the same dishes, so I know what its names and know what I'm talking about. This evening I came to place an order for a pick up. The hostess, she was new, repeated my order and in 20 min they gave it to me. The hostess again repeated my order and didn't show me the dishes and when I said "Can I see if it's the right food?" She said " of course, don't worry. I wrapped it really well". When I came home, I had the wrong food. I called the restaurant and explained everything. They didn't even offer for me to drive back, bring the wrong food and the right food. I'm not even asking for anything more than that. They simply refused to resolve the issue. Any reputable place that cares about its customers would try to resolve it. This place doesn't care about people that pay their rent and salaries.
(1)
Michelle C.
This was just OK. I had su-udon soup. The noodles were good and the broth wasn't bad. For $11 I added tempura. They gave me 2 tempura shrimp and 1 tempura green bean. Really? Sort of a rip off there... Also shared a sushi roll that was supposed to be eel with avocado and jalapeño. If there was eel in there, I could barely taste it. Same with the avocado. My dining companions got the katsu. Too much breading, no pork flavor. I don't think I'll be returning here.
(2)
Ian T.
This is a fairly good Japanese restaurant with the benefit that it serves a good variety of authentic and less common dishes that you don't find easily in South Florida. It also features some interesting fusion-type dishes to spice things up. It is one of those restaurants I would have no hesitation going to if I was around, but wouldn't make an extraordinary effort to visit. While above average, I think their claim of being "Japanese cuisine that is the envy of other Japanese restaurants" overstates the case a bit. In fairness, we didn't have the appetite required to sample the dish that they said was their crown jewel: fresh whole fish cooked either Nitsuke style, grilled or fried. The Shoyu Ramen was good comfort food, and the dishes we sampled ranged from chicken liver itame to Hiro's Yakko-San, a sort of "sampler" with ume cucumber, squid, fish cake, daikon wrap, fish balls, and hirame with seaweed
(3)
Karin R.
If you love sushi this is not the restaurant for you. I much prefer other spots in Miami for good yummy sushi. The waiter really tried to make up for the food by being nice, but it didn't help. There was also weird black stuff at the bottom of my wood sake cup, which was dismissed. I was given a fresh cup but my half drank sake was gone. The sushi didn't seem very fresh and the vibe in the restaurant was lacking as well. Also more of a family spot than a date spot. We had the spicy tuna salad, yasai-itame, crispy Bok Choy, and spicy tuna harumaki. The bok Choy was interesting but once you got to the bottom it was really oily and the yassai-itame which was supposed to have mixed veggies had mostly bean sprouts. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not go back.
(1)
Paul M.
Yakko-San is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for Asian food in Miami. The lunch specials here are great. My wife had the sushi special and it was like a bento box on steroids. It's almost enough for two people to split. The sushi was fresh and sliced generously. The spicy tuna harumaki is one of my favorite dishes now. It's like a spicy tuna spring roll with lots of greens and absolutely stuffed with tuna. You can probably get away with eating this as your main. I had the Katsu-Don (pork bowl) and it was absolutely delicious. The egg and pork made this quite a hearty dish. The location is large and very nice inside. The service is fast and efficient and we did not have to wait long for our food. Looking forward to our next visit so we can try some of the menu items that are available after 3PM.
(4)
Chung Kit T.
Went here on a Sunday evening and found out they had a few items on the menu that were sold out from the previous night. Among them were the toro and the scallop. There were other items missing. We started off with the blue fin carpaccio and an albacore appetizer. The carpaccio although good was a little bit on the salty side. The little capers were a little bit too overpowering. The albacore appetizer was drenched in too much ponzu sauce. It would have been better with much less. The sashimi and nigiri was good. I love fatty fish due to the texture and taste. Even though the toro was unavailable, we tried the hamachi belly which was pretty good. The salmon nigiri was better than average. The grouper sashimi was definitely on the lean side. It was on the borderline of being chewy. We also tried out the sea bass miso. This entree too tasted a bit too salty. Tasted more like a brined fish. Price for a couple can easily go over $100 with drinks. We had two appetizers, some nigiri (8 pieces), sashimi, and an entree for a little less than $90. Portions are small. Service is friendly.
(4)
Dara B.
Our server Aaron (name tag was spelled Arron) was very knowledgeable about the menu, and was very attentive. He deserves a raise. Adrianne asked to take a picture of him for her yelp review but he was camera shy. Awwwww. Anyways getting back to the review, a good thing to note is Yakko-san does not take reservations and will not seat guests until a large % of the party arrives. I did enjoy reading the menu and trying to narrow my decision down to a few dishes. I ordered the butter (butta) spinach (very healthy and delicious), the black pork belly (tasted like bacon (yes I know....they are both from the same animal) and shrimp tempura roll. I suggest before coming here to take a look at the photo slide show on Yakko-San's website for ideas on what to order. The menu is "Picture-Sans" and I am one who likes to order based on photos. Overall my experience here was very pleasant and I will be back again.
So Ive been meaning to try this place for a while. I have several friends that really like this place. So, after my Monday training ritual, a few us of decided to give it a try. Its located in Eastern Shores, on the east side of the plaza, facing 163rd street. Easy to find, had no issues parking, although Ive been here on weekends, and it can be difficult to park. So, the restaurant itself seems to be nicely decorated, I walked in and went straight to the restrooms to wash my hands. The place was somewhat busy for a Monday night, I thought it was a good sign. I was somewhat excited, but didn't want to get my hopes up to high. There are several of my regular go-to sushi places in the area, and I was curious if this place would hold up to them. Short answer is no. So I met my friends and sat down and started reviewing the menu. It was somewhat hard for me to understand this place. Japanese, sushi, tapas, but yet they had curry and other thai dishes. It was a challenge to find decent rolls on the menu, I actually had to ask the waitress if they had salmon skin. The waitress said, yes, we dont put everything on the menu. Kinda strange that a staple like salmon skin, or even a "hand roll" section was not on the menu. The other thing I noticed was there was typos all over the menu, I mean, it literally looked like an 1st grader made up this menu. It kinda set the tone for what was to come. I ordered a rainbow roll, which didnt come with crab, which is fine, because I would have substituted salmon skin, which was an add-on in my case. I ordered a salmon skin hand roll, and spicy tuna hand roll. My friends ordered a Japanese steak and another ordered a ramen bowl, and a salmon roll (of some sort). For drinks we just had water. So my rolls came out first, and just at the sight of it, I was like "meh". The fish on top was paper thin, the tuna didnt even look like tuna. The hand rolls were tiny, I mean it made tiny hand rolls (at other restaurants) look gigantic. The seaweed was like a rubber tire. The salmon skin itself wasn't bad, neither was the spicy tuna, but it was just small and hard to eat. The Eel sauce was way too salty too. The rainbow roll, despite the paper thin fish was ok too. Not great, not bad. After eating it, I was still hungry. I ordered the crispy bok choy w/ garlic sauce, and asked them to add fried tofu (basically I combined two appetizers). I thoroughly confused the waitress. For someone who made it seem like ordering custom dishes was the norm (remember, not all sushi/rolls are on the menu), she seemed lost. The dish itself, no garlic sauce, and it was just not what I expected. My friends steak, came with nothing. It was pretty much a steak on a plate. He said it was ok. The Ramen also seemed ok, as well as the roll. The service, one word "lackadaisical". The restaurant kinda smelled too. People were cleaning our table, reaching over me while I was eating. Real amateur hour. It was way too noisy, the music was like a after hours club/lounge. Overall, I was not impressed. I really wanted to like it, but there are so many better options in the area. I hate leaving reviews like this, but I really was disappointed. $40 bucks in the hole, I felt like I was overcharged. It would have to be the only restaurant open after a hurricane for me to go back. Sorry, but with the plethora of great sushi places in Aventura/NMB area, I wont be back anytime soon.
(2)
Alex B.
This restaurant is so good, I actually took the time to sit down and write a review: My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. (Good sign!) We were seated right away and the server, Aaron, came over in no time. With so many choices on the menu, Aaron was able to help us pinpoint the following: Crispy Bok Choy Crunch Spicy Tuna Roll Hamachi Tataki Jalapeño Spicy Manila Clams Yakiniku Steak EVERYTHING WAS SPECTACULAR! Not just one or two of the items, ALL of the plates were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. After polishing off each plate, we received the bill - only $47! If you were to go to any other restaurant and paid the same amount, you would have received half the portions at half the quality when compared to Yakko-San. You can not get a better bang for you buck! Not to mention that Aaron and the entire bus/wait staff were extremely nice and helpful. Amazing place from start to finish....
(5)
Shikira H.
Top of the line Asian Fusion cuisine. You won't be dissappointed. A little birdie told me that HEAD CHEFS from top restaurants come here to eat, so that alone says allot and was worth a try on Mother's Day. We opted for take out, (this momma preferred enjoying a delicious take out in the comfort of my home than being in a busy and crowded restaurant) But what's up with their take-out policy of not accepting any take-out orders over the phone??? Thought that to be super weird and a little inconvenient. They require you to come in and place your order, so there will be a wait no matter what :/ There were quite a few dishes that I couldn't pronounce, which intrigues me to come back and try em all. I was craving sushi so I ordered a crunch spiny tuna roll, king crab roll and a cali roll for the boys. Then I added Spicy Manilla Clams and Kimchee Hot Pot soup. The Hot Pot was spicy and ooh soo good. The rolls were fresh, flavorful and delicious. FYI ----Crispy Bok Choy - AAHHMaazing! Who doesn't like anything fried? I haven't met anyone as yet that doesn't., but if you do....you're missing out on sooo much fun for your mouth. The saltiness and crispiness makes The kids LOVED their fried rice and the hubbs enjoyed his dish. We live in the neighborhood so we are already planning a family date night here again very soon .
(4)
Bruce T.
We always go there for BEEF yakiniku Steak the sauce for that its just delicious. it is a place that will fit when you want to meet with with friends and have some sushi and some cooked dishes.
(5)
Anna M.
My go to place for great Takoyaki. I wish they had a wider selection of sushi, but what can you do? But it's still delicious. The noodle bowls are okay, not great but okay. I would definitely recommend everyone to give their takoyaki a try.
(3)
Steven B.
Decent food, poor service. The good: -The hostess greeted and seated us quickly. -Our server came to greet us within a few moments of the hostess seating us, and was polite. -The orders were prepared within a short time frame and tasted fresh. That's about it, after our initial order was placed we were pretty much ignored. Kinda strange for a place with a tapas style menu. A food runner came out to bring our first dish. Before he could leave, I thanked him and asked if we could get a sake or drink menu. He replied, "I'm not your waiter" and walked away. The same food runner came back a few moments later to drop off the second part of our order and darted off. I was admittedly a bit turned off by his response and with my server nowhere in sight, I chose to forgo the drinks. Speaking of our server, he never returned to check on us or find out if we wanted to order anything else. It wasn't until I got up to ask the hostess to locate him (20+ minutes into our meal), that he suddenly appeared asking if we needed anything. We chose to just pay our bill and leave. I considered speaking with a manager about the experience, but looking around I could see several groups of employees standing around talking amongst themselves and figured it wouldn't be worth it. The restaurant itself has nice ambience and the food was tasty. Too bad the service is on par with a take-out place.
(1)
Anita G.
Amazing! Fast fresh and yummy! O only have half hour lunch break (if I'm lucky) so I came here and sat at the bar and explained my situation to the bartender, he gave me free green tea and was super quick to put in my order. I had the crunch spicy tuna roll! Super fresh loads of fish and little rice - just like I like it (check out my picture). Will be coming back for sure! The place is pretty big too! Plenty of seating and full bar!
(5)
Anastassia S.
Love love love this place! Food is very tasty! Service is great, sake is great ! one of ours fav spot in sunny isles !
(5)
Sachin B.
Extremely rude manager on night shift. Seemed drunk, refused to properly seat me at a table with a menu for reasons that are still not clear to me.
(1)
Shale O.
Both time I have been there the service has been awesome. They boast of their fried rice but I think it is just ok. Good location and ample parking!
(3)
Nicola F.
I give the decor an A, the service a C and the food a B+. Got a couple rolls, one was great (Spicy Girl, which was a special) and the other was mediocre (Rainbow Roll). The Beef Tataki was pretty good. Got 6 pieces of Nigiri - the fish itself wasn't the freshest I'd had, particularly the Uni (sea urchin eggs), but it was all pretty decent. Price:Quality = not very good
(3)
Michelle M.
This Japanese eatery has been around for more than 11 years now and has become a go-to place for chefs, industry insiders and locals alike. Their menu offers more than 100 dishes including soups, tempura, sushi and noodles, but here, I narrow it down to my top 5: 1) The Tako Yakki The Tako Yakki, one of my favorite dishes at Yakko San, is a typical comfort food from Japan that consists of grilled balls of batter with octopus chunks inside. This is a very popular fast food snack in Japan, that is incredibly hard to find here in Miami, so if you are curious about it, this is the place to try it. My only warning is that they are very HOT inside, so make sure to pinch them with your chopsticks and let them breathe for a good 5 minutes before eating to avoid burning your tongue. 2) The Ocean Drive Roll Despite the reference Miami's most touristy (and trashy) street, the Ocean Drive Roll is most definitely another must. The combination of tuna, avocado, spicy mayo and cilantro is magical and will make the back of your tongue tingle with delight! 3) Ahire (aka: fish jerky) If you've never tried Ahire before, this is the place to do it! This fish jerky dish is completely home made, and is so much fun to eat! Just grab it with your chopstick, dip it in some spicy mayo, close your eyes and enjoy. The flavor is sweet and fishy (in a good way) and the chewy texture makes it simply addicting! 4) Yakki Udon with Pork Hmmm, if you are a noodle lover, then this is the dish for you! These hot white wheat noodles are sauted with ginger shreds, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, scallions and bok toy, and served together with your choice of pork, shrimp, chicken or beef, giving it the most amazing texture combination possible. You'll go from chewy and sticky, to crunchy and spicy, all in one delicious bite. Put your chopsticks to the test with the Yakki Udon, and make sure to slurp loudly to show your gratitude to the chef! 5) The Cheesecake & Ice Cream Roll Last, but most certainly not least, is one of the latest addition to my favorite dessert list: the cheese cake and ice cream roll. The thick roll of creamy cheesecake covered in batter is very lightly fried and served with your choice of ice cream and wafers for added texture. The dessert is perfect, not too heavy and not too sweet, and pairs nicely with the green tea ice cream, which is made with real matcha powder!
(5)
Nick Q.
I've been a huge fan of Chef Hirosan since we met nearly 14 years ago. He had his little Yakkosan on Dixie Highway and I was a student at JWU refining and honing my culinary skills. He's an amazing chef with an awesome staff. There's things you'll eat here that you'll never see anywhere else in the area. He and his wife May do an amazing job with this place. She just added some new Japanese beers to the menu and the kitchen is rolling out a new happy hour and finger food menu that's perfect for bar nights or snacking. I've eaten at their restaurants more than anyone else's in Miami. Sometimes multiple times a week... like last week actually. The menu has so many things to choose from you'll never get bored. If you see a new special on the board... order it, you may never see it again or you may get lucky and help it make the menu... you never know. A few if my fav's: agedashi tofu, shrimp udon, daikon kimchee, kaweragi, tempura chrysanthemum blossums, crispy baby bakchoy, shishamo, kimchee tofu, grilled shishitos, all the hot fish dishes, some dried scallop/shrimp/chili dish not on the menu, all the sashimi, and anything Hirosan or May offer me. Wendy has been a server with them for ever, she's super knowledgeable and really sweet. The bartenders are all great!
(5)
Frances A.
First time here. It was fast service and we were seated right away. The food is pretty good and comes out so fast! Great reasonable prices and good quality. None of the dishes that we tried came with rice.... so we kept eating. I would definitely come back here when in the area and would recommend. We had the following: -Miso soup -Seaweed Suimono soup- assorted seaweed with clear fish broth. this was an interesting soup with good flavor. -Black pork belly served with 2 different sauces. -Hamachi with jalapeño peppers-thin slice hamachi w/ yuzu, ponzu, cilantro -Hamachi tataki roll -Scallops with asparagus and mushroom in a sake and butter sauce -Kalbe yakiniku- salt & pepper grilled short rib w/ bone
(4)
Clementine E.
I am going to give them 5 stars because the sushis were very very very good, however the service could have been better. The sushis are so fresh, the rice isn't dry, they don't add a ton of sauce on top of the sushis (that's the way I like it!) maybe they could add more rolls? It is mainly sashimi and sushi, and other Japanese dishes. If we were living in Miami, we would come here quite often! Very nice restaurant!
(5)
Kristy K.
Excellent service, very knowledgable staff! And awesome food !!! Things I would never have tried before on my own that the waiter Aaron suggested were absolutely amazing ! I couldn't help but notice how well everyone works together, I started to count 6 plus staff members clearing our table and actually talking to us! Good job! This is our new spot
(5)
Arthur G.
Quick and dirty, food is just good enough to pass when you're drunk and want something to do after 2am I would not go here during the day or out of my way.
(2)
Elizabeth Y.
WOW. I've found an authentic Japanese place in Miami, owned by a Japanese chef. A place that serves beyond the typical sushi rolls. You know it's a good place when locals flock to this place, great service, not to mention a regular pitstop for cops. Drinks: Strong, amazing Lychee Martini. The pureed lychee can be a little chunky but the alcohol content is perfect! Appetizer: Hamachi with jalapeno, which was yummy with a nice perfect kick of spicy. Ramen: Decent real ramen, and not the type that you buy in the store. And decently priced, not like Momi where ramen is outrageously priced. The food was so good I ordered two dinners!!! The curry cutlet awesome. My boyfriend ordered the beef tongue, but watch out it doesn't come with rice so very small portions. He also ordered a second meal as well. Dessert: Now this is the perfect ending to our dinner(s) - banana tempura served with green tea ice cream - no words can describe this awesome combination of crispy and cold sweetness. Definitely will be coming back to this place for my Nippon kick Also, did i mention it's open till 3 AM?
(4)
MimiOak W.
Food is good, Service is fine but my friends and I seem to have such problem with the owner's wife as we've always been treated like we are nobody by Her. She's okay with anyone, any race but asian. And its been this way for a long time. We kept going back becuz of the food. But this last time we were there, we were smoking e-cigarette inside (2 of us smoke) and we were smoking it for the past hour or two.( Here she come to the bar right next to our table )Then all of the sudden the staff came and told us that it was not allowed. If that is a policy they should have told us at the first place cuz there are no ways that none of the staffs didnt see us smoking e-cigarette. Plus they should put a sign up too so that we know. We always ordered alot of drinks and food. They were about yo close we asked our server if it was okay to order just another hot sake and he kindly said yes. A lil moment later We saw the staff walked right pass our table to the customers sitting outside serving them large hit sake just like we ordered, we all thought it was for us, we looked at the end of the bar and we saw our server holding a bottle of sake about to come at our table but was stopped by the owner's wife and it seemed like she told our server to not serve us any more drinks. Our server came back to our table and said that he was sorry he could not serve us anymore drinks becuz they were colsed already. Okay I know it is not really a big deal but we just saw they served large hot sake to the table outside but not to us? We were kinda yelling a little bit so that the owner's wife could hear. We asked for our check and then she told the server to tell us that she was gonna call the police. We were like WTF!! it's not like we were not gonna pay the bill. The bill was 300 something dollars. At first we were not gonna leave any tips but again it's not our server's fault. So we gave him $70 cash tips and told him cleary that this is only just for you, we appreciate you but NOT HER. Not to mention she is asian just like us but very racist!! We are not bringing our 300-400 dollars per visit back there.
(1)
Tiberiu K.
One of the worst sushi places I have been too. Food was not good at all, bland with no taste. Couldn't eat it and just left it on the plate.
(1)
Bee B.
I love this place. Came upon it by chance and have returned quite a few times. The kimchi soup is amazing! So is the chicken liver and chive dish (ordered with a side of white rice). Had the pork and pickled vegetable fried rice which was pretty good. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Viv L.
I hardly venture this far south on a regular day, but my mother in law invited us here for lunch and I could not be any more pleased. We had the whole fish (a yellow tail and a hog fish) which we selected table side and had it filleted and tempura. I have not had such delicious and juicy fish in a long time! Not only was it flavorful but paired with the vegetable fried rice was the perfect accompaniment. For a Sunday afternoon it was not busy at all. This place has many tables and we had no problem finding a seat. The staff is very friendly and was more than happy to make suggestions when my MIL was told they did not carry Thai donuts (I guess it makes sense being that this IS a Japanese restaurant). We had the banana tempura with vanilla ice cream instead but it was just as good. In all Yakko San was the perfect place to have lunch, drink some bubbly and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)
Rich R.
this is extremely painful for me given that i love dining at Yakko-San, their service is usually great, dishes always come out fresh. all positive things to say, as long you intend to dine at their establishment. so why a single star? similar to Gene Z's recent review, the change of not allowing food to be called in for pick up is short sighted and has deprived Yakko-San of my dining dollars. this is not a Michelin four star establishment, but instead it's great local food, open later than most of it's neighbors, and until recently, did allow for orders to be called in ahead. it is by all classic standards food you would absolutely enjoy at home on occasion instead of dining out. but it's not that you can't walk in, order food, and WAIT until it's all ready, that's very available. it's just that Yakko-San, because of indiscretions of other guests (who ordered but never picked up) has decided that the small risk of a no show is worth the alienation of it's best, REGULAR customers. how foolish can any restaurant be not to consider the value of my time, in addition to my monies spent. it's beyond foolish, it's insulting. a restaurant is more than a menu, at least to me. there's a degree of mutual trust involved, which includes that the establishment maintain health and safety standards, that service is paramount, the atmosphere is inviting, among many other factors. and that also includes respect for customer's normal, universally expected preferences, like calling in an order for pickup. hopefully Yakko-San will think about their overall image and return this common sense feature of nearly all their competitors.
(1)
Luzelena C.
Amazing and authentic Japanese food. They maintain their authenticity with their Japanese chefs and menu items. My must-order items are the tuna salad and yaki soba. Delish! It's great that they're open so late... A great place to go for dinner or a late-night snack ;)
(5)
Katie P.
I went to this place on a busy Friday night after consulting with my foodies- coworkers and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. Andy was our server and although quite slow was very pleasant. I fell in love with food and decided to come back on a Sunday afternoon. BIG mistake! Ronis was our server and was extremely unprofessional. Half of the items ordered never made it to our table instead we were getting items that were never ordered by us. Then my friend ordered a cocktail and it was served in a chipped glass. He noticed it and returned the drink. Ronis apologized. When we received the check the drink was included. Will we come back here? Probably not.
(2)
Chari L.
Great sushi spot a few miles from the Aventura mall. A friend kept recommending it.. We finally listened and I'm glad we did. It's really reasonably priced and really good. We had the fried bok choy (amazing), tempura shrimp with spicy mayo (almost ordered a second round), crispy spicy tuna roll (delicious), a handful of pieces of nigiri (hamachi and scallop were killer) and wrapped it up with a banana tempura (worth it). The beer was cold, the sake was hot and the fish was super fresh. Go early if you can.. I imagine they get slammed.
(4)
Emily W.
A friend of mine talked this place up and took me there, and I have to say I was a little disappointed with both the service and the food. There was a TV right next to our table and whenever he was delivering our food, the food runner had his eyes glued to the TV. No eye contact, its like we weren't even there. The hostess was constantly looking at it too, which I get, it's a boring job. There were two things that the waiter got wrong in my order. I asked with water without ice, and it came with ice. And I asked for the steak and rice without onions and scallions (for my 9 year old brother) and it came with onions and scallions. Now, I'm not a bitch, I used to be a server and I understand that small mistakes like this are made all the time. But the restaurant was not busy AT ALL. Just write it down gosh. The food I ordered wasn't great. The miso soup was pretty good. I got crispy Bok Choy, which I think was over-cooked because to me it had a strong bitter after taste like it was burt. Other people at the table liked it though. And I also had the crunch spicy tuna roll which tasted like something you would get at a food court. Barely spicy, barely crunchy, no flavor to the sushi rice, and over all bland. The best thing I had, and the reason they got 2 stars instead of one, is this plate of crispy chewy fish skin with spicy mayo dip. My friend ordered it so I don't know what its called, but it was really really good. It kind of made me think that maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff. I'll probably give it another chance.
(2)
George R.
What can I say about this place other than it's one of my all time favorite restaurants in Miami. From the food to the prices it's the best deal in town. I have yet to try a bad dish from this place, everything is delicious. I love the shrimp fried rice, spicy mayo shrimp, soba, udon, monk fish liver, damn I'm getting hungry already. Do yourself a favor and try this place, you won't regret it. Also ask for the daily specials menu...
(5)
Chris G.
Second review. Amazing food. Tonight had the Yako Steak medium, spinach with butter sauce, ikamaru, and amazing cucumber wrap. The place was super packed yet the food managed to come out quick and the service as always deserved 10 stars. Love this place
(5)
Adrian G.
You people are crazy. Ordered a vast array of items including many raved about here. All were exceedingly mediocre. An all around underwhelming experience, except for the service. The service was overwhelming.
(1)
Bradley T.
Yakko San has a very large menu with a wide variety of options, and most options are a small portion size (Tapas). This review has to be an ongoing critique, because I've only sampled a few items at this point with several to go. The quality is high, but the quantity is low for most items. It's a beautiful restaurant inside with speedy service and nice dish presentation. I tried Scallop Nigiri (sushi of some kind with raw scallops) which was great, I had the Ginger Pork, which I thought was tasty but a little bland, and Some BBQ Unagi (Eel), which was my favorite, but I'm a sucker for Eel regardless. Overall, it's more of a 3.5 star restaurant. The service,ambience, and large menu are the pros, and the fact that you have to order several semi-expensive dishes to be satiated is the con. Still a nice spot where I'd like to go just to try out a few unique dishes at a time.
(4)
Ute L.
The not-so-new-any-more location is much easier to find but has less of a cozy family feel. Long lines at the door gave way to sleek long sushi and full service bars, plus much larger modern space. The food hasn't changed. Japanese home-style dishes as well as more high end items. Portions are small and encourage tapas style sharing, which is great fun, but at the end of the night you end up with a $40-$60 bill per person drinks not included. No brown rice (insert frowny face) and no cream cheese (thank goodness). If you've never had lotus root, I encourage you to get the Lotus Root Kinpira, simply referring to the method of simmering the roots in a broth of soy sauce and mirin. Simple yet so good. Feeling more adventurous? Get the BBQ eel tofu omelet. Silky smooth tofu cubes tossed with chunks of eel, in a bed of a moist and fluffy open faced omelet that appears to have been steamed in a light broth. Totally delicious and different. Since they don't offer brown rice and I wanted a starch, the zaru-soba noodles were the only healthy option. They are served the traditional way, cold with a dipping broth, on a bamboo platter. Big serving, enough to share. Finally, the fried cheese cake roll is a must. The cheesecake filling tastes like guava or some kind of fruity cheesecake and is wrapped in crispy tempura batter. Yummy. When the check arrived, however there was a little snag. The dessert roll is on the menu for $4.75 but was billed for $2 more. Not a big deal but seems to happen quite a bit in South Florida. It vexes me, because it is dishonest. When I pointed it out to my lovely bartender Stephanie (who was great and at no fault whatsoever), she told the floor manager who handled it very POORLY. The grim-faced Telenovela looking dude argued that the roll was served with ice cream and the ice cream was extra $$. I did not ask for ice cream. I didn't eat the ice cream, it was still on the plate. I don't even like ice cream unless it's gelato or some kind of vegan delight. Whatever, I wasn't going to argue over $2.00 but this is the sort of thing that makes me NOT come back to a place. He is the kind of manager that, if you find a hair in your food, will accuse you of having placed it there. Get over yourself, Rico Suave. Lowering my rating purely based on this D-bag manager.
(3)
Bryson P.
Great atmosphere, great service, but I've had better sushi.
(3)
John B.
I'm not really interested in investigating, but I suspect that Yakko-San's 3 AM closing time has a lot to with some of the negative reviews the place has gotten. I can only imagine the 2:30 AM clientele of a sushi joint in North Miami Beach that plays loud music. Even at 6 PM, I overheard a waiter describing the difference between sushi and sashimi to a couple of zero watt teens with what appeared to be Hermes birkin bags. That soundtrack is kind of annoying...but the food is pretty high quality. We enjoyed some grilled shishito peppers and some ankimo (about which I now feel sort of guilty, given apparent monkfish overfishing). Neither of these dishes is a major test of the kitchen's prowess. But everything was fresh, and the principal ingredients weren't muted or obscured. Seaweed salad was really amazing: multiple varieties, not just wakame. Salmon and yellowtail sashimi were just as fresh as everything else. I'm pretty sure I'm done visiting southern Florida forever. But if not, Yakko-San will get my repeat business.
(4)
Tracey S.
Delicious! Never a bad experience when we go. Love the crispy bokchoy and the green salad!
(5)
Stephanie P.
is this really owned by japaneses?? compared to authentic japanese restaurants you always going to have the best service. food not a big thing after traveling to japan I actually expect more.. I wont visit this restaurant anymore.... sorry besides the food I think service is also a main thing for a restaurant. doesnt seem that is owned by japaneses..
(1)
Mary R.
This is my all time favorite Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing! The menu can be a bit intimidating, I have learned what to order from word of mouth and trail and error. Here are my favorite things to order: shrimp spicy mayo (2nd favorite), tune guacamole (my favorite), uni pasta, fish jerky, gyoza, kimchee buta, fried bokchoy, tuna salad, and hamachi jalapeño roll. If you don't know much about sake get the sake tasting. You get to choose three (I would choose the three most expensive ones). Hope this helps (: . Enjoy!! P.S. if your looking for a cheap date, this is not the place for you.
(5)
Henriette H.
I love this place. After trying multiple local sushi joints in the area I thought it was time to give up, they were all extremely disappointing. Coming from New York I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a fresh clean and good quality sushi place would be. I was recommended this place by a friend. Ever since then, I have been going once a week. The food is delicious and fresh. The service is always good and the food comes out pretty quick!
(4)
Natalia M.
Loved caitlyn our bartender, super pleasant and knowledgeable in the menu. They have a good late night happy hour where you get bank for your buck on a good buzz. Loved the octopus sunomono. I will come back for sure.
(4)
Danny M.
Only place in south Florida that makes lotus roots fresh and cooked! A great starter! This place has been a favorite of mine since... I don't remember how long?! I used to eat at their smaller location down the street, for years, an made the move with them! I love everything from the Uni, to the Yuke! This is a serious traditional Japanese food lovers dream! Also have a great Sake menu! Open late and I love it! I love Hiro Yakko San!
(5)
Boris O.
Having lived in Manhattan for 12 years and also in Cali, I know what great sushi taste like. This place has decent sushi, but overpriced for the quality you get.
(2)
John G.
Very unimpressed with the food quality for the price. We ate the food purely out of hunger. Service was choppy at best. Decor was nice and contributed to the ambience. Overall this place is not great quality, especially considering the demographics for this area.
(1)
Paola Z.
So yummy, went for a nice lunch, had I gone to watch a sport event, they have plenty of TVs , it's clean, and extremely varietal in terms of the menu. Rarely have I had an ice green tea which was amazeballs, the cold sake is served in those beautiful bamboo shoots, the food was nothing short of delicious, my friend had the chicken curry fried rice, he loved it (I don't eat chicken so I'll take his word for it) and it was his recommendation, I had the scallop carpaccio (though I wouldn't have put Parmesan cheese on it ) it was fab as was the seafood soup. Full liquor bar, nice open space, I'll def be back.
(5)
Pavel L.
Don't go for late night carry out! Official closing time is 3am. Kitchen cutoff is 2:45am. 2:48am to the second, they refuse to take any orders. I was pleasant and respectful. Door is open and order refused.
(1)
J K.
Exceptional food! Awful Service! VERY fresh and beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi. Udon, yaki udon , tempura, bok choy...ALL DELICIOUS. The kitchen rocks! The waitstaff...forever smiling...is off in another world. Empty dishes piled up on our table, items never came (dipping bowls for sashimi, tea refills, dishes we ordered, silverware, the check). Hospitality was a zero! The food is TERRIFIC...so go!...But be prepared to be ignored.
(4)
Kenny C.
First time I dined at this restaurant. All I wanted was Ramen, glad I found this spot. The food is prepared promptly and the portions are great for the price. Definitely a fan now. Will be back to try the sushi.
(4)
Sarah L.
My boyfriend & I came here to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We ordered the Bok Choy, & I was insanely impressed. I nearly ate it all by myself. My boyfriend is a big fan of spicy tuna & he loved the spicy tuna salad. However, our wonderful meal was not over. We then shared the whole hog fish lightly flash fried complimented by their house rice. So absolutely delicious. We will definitely go back. Pricey, but worth it for a romantic night out.
(5)
Bonnie L.
Lately I've dined at so many different restaurants regardless of price $$-$$$$ and none of them served dishes that left me with cravings like Yakko san! Definitely reasonably priced, nice, friendly and not overbearing environment, open late every night and all the dishes are pretty consistent. Hirosan and wife is always there greeting their guest and making sure everything is under control, that really shows they care about the business and quality. I absolutely love love love the **Mentaiko Pasta!** I always crave for this! My usual favorites: Crispy Bak choy (Have yet to taste a better crispy bak choy) Fried whole fish (de-bone and amazing!!) Beef Tataki Dry Kawahagi kalbe yakiniku (beef short ribs) Dynamite shrimp (Jumbo shrimps unlike many other places) I'm always discovering more new and amazing dishes from here all the time! This is the place where all the people in the hospitality, hotel and restaurant industry dines and it is truly like no other Japanese restaurant in south Florida.
(5)
Claudette C.
I love this place...........I visit this restaurant at least once a month.
(4)
Seth S.
This is a different type of Japanese restaurant (ie, an izakaya, a "pub" and not a sushi bar), so it's best you try to approach it that way, as you'll have the best experience. While Yakko-san relocated to more spacious digs last year, it still features an izakaya style menu, even if their new location has lost a bit of the pub-like character of its older location. The pub-style items (fried bok choy, Yellowtail cheeks, soba, cold spinach, udon noodles in broth) are fantastic and likely the very best you will get in the Miami area. The service has been a bit inconsistent over the past year, but all in all, Yakko-San still has fantastic food, particularly if you look beyond standard items like sushi. I would strongly recommend you do so. I would rate it higher with five stars (it's quite close actually), but we've had a few rather crappy, ignorant waiters and recently some waits for tables, too. But to be clear: this is still the very best izakaya style pub in Miami, though.
(4)
Nicole C.
Despite rave reviews, my dinner here was just A-OK. The Bad: - CRISPY BOKCHOY IS OVER RATED! - The lambsteak was 80% fat which we had to trim off and couldn't eat. The Good: - Oyako Don (chicken & onion omelet over rice) was very tasty. - Onigiri (stuffed rice triangle/balls) were a simple classic done very well. Everything else: Asian Eggplant Pork & Miso Sauce, Spicy Tuna Salad, Spicy Sauteed Squid, and 15 Piece Sashimi Platter were alright. Maybe I've been spoiled by all of the yakitori spots in NYC, but I thought this place was under-whelming.
(3)
Celine C.
Yakko-San never fails me. Some people say their food doesn't taste the same anymore. To me, it remains the same plus now I don't have to wait an hour for a table! I love how they open late. It's hard to find a good restaurant that stays open until 3am. I love pretty much everything on their menu. Some of my favorites are fried oysters, ika maru, yakiniku don, Mentaiko and Japanese. I would rather go to Yakko-San than to eat at a regular sushi place. I would like the portion to be a little bigger since it's a more family sharing thing.
(4)
Leanna J.
I really liked the food at this place and I would have given Yakko-San more stars had the service been better.Don't get me wrong, our waiter was very nice, but he was very slow and once our dishes were delivered he did not check to see if there was anything else we needed. I ordered the salad with their home-made ginger dressing and it was great. The ginger dressing is not the typical ginger in that it's not the super yellowish kind that you find at most sushi restaurants. It is ginger based, but it has a little more flare to it than the average ginger dressing. My friend and I also ordered two rolls and they were great. The presentation was really nice as well. However, the waiter did not once come by to check and see if we needed anything (whether it was a drink refill, a fork, extra napkin, nothing.) He didn't even ask if our food was OK. Then we sat around waiting for 20 minutes after our plates had been cleared for the check. Finally, we asked a busboy, who said he would inquire. After another few minutes we asked one of the waitresses, and she brought it over shortly after. The food at this place is good, but just don't expect quality service.
(3)
Patrick C.
Yakkos! I started going to this place when it was off of Dixie and it was always full of the head chefs of so many prestigious restaurants, I mean the food is incredible! Grab a friend or 2 and order a few small plates and enjoy the service and atmosphere. Sit at the sushi bar if you're taking a date, and see where the magic happens. Order a bamboo full of sake and see if it lasts your first plate. It's just an all around wonderful place to enjoy yourself and it'll keep you coming back to the menu for more and more.
(5)
Vick O.
My favorite late night spot for Japanese cravings! I used to go there when they were located on Dixie Highway. The place was busier back then. With the new place, they're trying to pull off the whole Modern Lounge type of atmosphere. Still look great regardless, but I feel like they lost the whole Japanese environment feel. The waiters there know me, because I usually get the same thing. Mazesoba (sauteed w/ roasted pork, scallion, bamboo shoots) and a cooked salmon Onigiri. I also love their Japanese Sundae with green tea ice cream, sweet red bean, rice cake, NO FLAKES. Consistent taste and never disappoints! 5*
(5)
Arne R.
Good solid Japanse . None of the thai/ Japanese nonsense pure Japanese. Ramen is good top 3 in Miami. Sushi is fresh and good also in top 5 of sushi places in Miami. Always room for improvement my Tonkotsu Ramen was nice but not over the moon. Maybe I am spoiled having lived in Japan but always looking for that perfect spot. I do recommend yakko San for traditional Japanese food. Try it
(4)
David Y.
Yakko-San is easily one of the best Japanese/Asian restaurants in South Florida. Its a great late night spot (open until 3am), authentic and the food is typically served in sharable portions ie. Japanese Tapas. A few great things on the menu are the Crispy Bok Choy, Kimchee Hot Pot, and Hamachi Tataki Jalapeno Roll. They have a great bar and Sushi bar you can sit at, daily chef specials, and all around great atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew J.
Went to the new location last night for the first time. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed....they definitely have a following. I'm not crazy about the feel of the space...they tried to make it hip but it still feels like you're in a strip mall (which you are). The old space was much funkier. The menu is great and the food is top quality, but the price to portion size ratio is very high. Unless you order a whole fish, everything else is tapas sized. My date and I shared 5 plates, a bottle of sake and dessert. Bill was $100. Everything was delicious but when I got home I was still hungry and had to make a sandwich.
(3)
Nevik E.
Note: On Yelp I review exclusively sushi bars. The bar itself is fairly presentable. The fish selection is much broader than most. In addition to less common fluke and other white fish, I have had large oysters from Northern California and monkfish liver. The quality of the fish is definitely above average, but maybe not quite elite. The rice is a slight disappointment as it is fairly plain, although I wonder if that is just me being accustomed to the sweeter flavored rice pervasive in American sushi restaurants with an origin from the Tokyo area. The head chef is a little reserved, but he will open up with time and interest. He happily prepared us some chef's choice at our request. The other chefs who have served us are friendly. It is always a huge plus to be able to order directly from the chef and interact with them. A very solid sushi restaurant, and solidly in my top ten.
(4)
Linda C.
ive been here twice so far and the food has been awesome!!! shrimp tempura roll is AMAZING. I love how fresh the sushi tastes. ive had the same waitress both times and she was super sweet. only complaint is that the first time, I went with 2 friends and we all ordered drinks. the drinks were AWFUL....so strong that they literally tasted like rubbing alcohol, totally undrinkable. we mentioned it to the waitress and she said she couldnt take off the charge, but she offered us a soda.....I felt this was unfair but I didnt want to give her a hard time since that was surely a policy put in place by the manager and totally not her fault.
(4)
Adikus S.
Nothing out of this world, but the food is constantly good, service is good too. I tried some korean dishes that they serve - stick with sushi. Its a nice place to have a dinner, and the price is decent too.
(4)
Eli S.
Super spot for inexpensive japanese food. Open so late so its always a plus. Have fun!
(5)
Cristina P.
Just had a nice dinner here. It was our first time here and, as a huge sushi and sashimi lover, I really enjoyed the food and the service! I had the happy salmon roll and the king crab roll. Although both were very good, it could have used some more seasoning to make it perfect. The sashimi appetizer was great! Very fresh! For dessert we had mochi ( somewhat like an ice cream ball wrapped in a dough type wrap). The flavors were mango, green tea and vanilla. Also very good. Great way to end the meal. Service was great. We had Elena as our waitress and she was very helpful and sweet. Made the experience very relaxing.
(4)
Lorena O.
The best Japanese food from Florida and that u tried ... Service is fantastic.., the food is fresh and fast.... The place is amazing too... I really recommend original fried rice with shrimp, and sashimis, hamachi kama, everything is really good... And my favorite is the fried cheesecake!!!
(5)
Carolina M.
This place is nicely decorated, food is pretty good but not memorable. For the life of me i cannot remember what we ate. I do remember however that our server was nice but the service was not great. At the end of the meal i ordered their dessert. I didnt like it at all after a bite and i told the waiter. He just said" oh i am sorry" and then when he brought us the check the charge for the dessert was in there. I mean, if i would have eaten the thing i understand he has to charge us. But i didn't touch it after that. What kind of customer service is that?. I told him that i felt we shouldn't be charged for it since i didn't eat it and he said" oh ok, i will take it off your check". There were other misses with the waiter like getting my husband's order wrong and forgetting my mom's order. He was just spaced out. Overall, ok but i don't feel the need to come back. We had very good bottle of sake. That i remember . They have good selection on sakes.
(3)
Angelo R.
Getting better. I think they a have a new manager cause I recently re-visited for lunch and several after work late drinks and the service has improved. I like the lunch specials. You get a choice of miso or salad to start, then choice of entree which i opted for the Chicken Yakiniku and comes with side salad of the day, cali rolls and shrimp tempura...all for around 10 bucks...what a deal! As always..2 for 1 drinks late nights..11pm after. They just need to make sure the bartenders are all in the same page :) Almost forgot, you have to try the Kimchi Ramen...the broth is off the hook!
(4)
Xuanyu Z.
I like this Janpanese food. the price is cheap and food is good quality! Especially the Unodon rice! I like it!
(5)
Whitney K.
Apparently Yakko-San is the oldest sushi house in Miami, and it is every bit of what you might imagine a restaurant out of Hiro Dreams of Sushi would taste like. Yakko-San's appeal lies in its authentic, fresh flavors (and bamboo sake cups, of course). The casual atmosphere makes for the perfect place to focus on the food. Each dish is prepared with care and executed with the craftsmanship you expect from traditional Japanese fare, minus any distracting frills or gimmicks that disguise mundane flavors at many sushi restaurants. What you taste is what you get. My recommendation: be adventurous and order the chef's daily selections regardless of how many you recognize on the list. Have a little faith - he knows what's up.
(4)
Lexie L.
An outing to Miami for us always includes a stop at Yakko San, no matter what time of day it is...this gem is open until the wee hours. The new glitzy spot lost much of the dingy glamour that was, for me, a part of its unique appeal and ambiance. It doesn't matter, though, the food is that good, and the view from the sushi bar is the best show around. I can sit for hours and watch the meticulous rituals of the sushi chefs, they are HOT STUFF! (There I go again with another chef-crush). They are the only place I've found that does ramen as well as NY and SF...I get the jones for ramen sooooo bad sometimes! Go to this place. Have sake and tons of the authentic Japanese Izakaya, which is Japanese tapas. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Xoxoxo Yakko San!
(5)
Fernando G.
Amazing ! One of my favorite Japanese restaurants Good for meal or tapa style Good lighting Amazing service like a coordinated valet The food being is main showcase is their cooked food but also the sushi is amazing but it also has a full bar Deep fried baby bock choi the bomb Daikon radish salad tangy Fresh seaweed salad is very good Spicy shrimp Fish skin jerky Chicken livers I can go on an on because pretty much everything is very good And to top it of they are open till 3 in the morning . Great for late night munchies Prices are moderate specially for the quality
(5)
Gary Z.
This is some decent Japanese. It's more refined than some other sushi places in the area and has a decent product.
(4)
Bill L.
First time at the new location. Not impressed. Service has nose-dived. Mi chica ordered a sake and he brought her a beer. When I said sake, he looked at me all dopey. Instead of picking up the beer, he just stood there. The menu looks way diff than what I recall. Seems more like a sushi joint now. I miss the old place.
(2)
Ric C.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in South Florida for sure. Love the food, but it takes time to understand the menu. First time I went I didn't really "get it", as I was used to ordering sushi at Japanese places. Don't order sushi! Go for the tapas! I love their spicy squid, tuna salad, lotus roots, and of course anything they do with Asian eggplant. I also think they truly provide good customer service: most waiters know us after so many times and most times recall what we like and what we don't like. We've taken our family here and everybody just falls in love with the place, but they always let us order the "right" things.
(5)
Susan C.
Ended up at Yakko-San last night after spending 45 minutes in traffic hell and unable to get to our intended destination for my husband's birthday. We were totally exasperated and wanted to eat somewhere decent that was close to where we were. Yakko San was the first place that popped up when I went on the Yelp app. I was very hopeful when I saw that the restaurant was packed with people, but overall I was not blown away. We had a very nice server, although at times he was nowhere to be found. We sat at the sushi bar and were excited to get a free small cup each of some kind of cold (daikon?) salad. However, right after this I was told that if I really wanted to get that Rainbow Roll, it was going to be a long wait. We were already starving, so I begrudgingly changed part of my order. I started with the miso soup, which was just fine, but my husband had the seafood soup which he found to be odd-tasting. We then tried to share the Crispy Bok Choy appetizer, but it was so laden with oil that we could not finish it. I then had the Mixed Mushroom Foil-Yaki and the Tofu Steak. I really enjoyed the latter as the tofu was cooked perfectly and topped with a mix of mushrooms, onions and scallions. I wished that the mushrooms in foil were a little more flavorful and the straw mushrooms less chewy, but I certainly could not complain about the large portion. As I was eating these, my husband had the Chu-Ka Don, which he liked very much. There was a lot of seafood and the vegetables were very crisp. Best part of the night: sitting next to a Japanese man who is about to open a "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant near the Sawgrass Mills Mall!
(3)
Kevin V.
Awesome late night service and delicious Japanese food.
(5)
Glenn M.
this is my go to place. food is ALWAYS excellent and incredibly fresh. service is good and the atmosphere is nice. get the hamachi cheek if it's available. tempura is perfect. I could drink the sauce they use for the hamachi jalapeno appetizer.
(5)
Victor P.
After a long week of eating seafood in Tampa and Key West all we wanted was some good Asian food. Ended up at Yakko-San... Boy were we disappointed. Fried Bok Choy was really bitter. All it was is Bok Choy that is fried with no seasoning with very salty dipping sauce in the side. Hamachi Jalepeno was mediocre... Would even say that the fish quality was poor. Miso Ramen tasted very odd. There was too much vegeteables in the soup that it tasted like veggie stew. The pork was also very chewy and low quality. Only gave this place 2 stars because the decor and ambience was nice.
(2)
Stan K.
I wish they never moved. Place lost it's feel and while the dishes are still tasty, it's not as consistent as it use to be. Weird to still love yakko yet starting to dislike it at the sametime. And service is slipping too. But it will always be in the rotation. the bottom line is that the food is delicious.
(4)
Olivia K.
Worst edamame ever. No low sodium soy sauce. Not enough dishes. They forgot an order. Food was okay but not great.
(2)
Abbers M.
All I have to say is a sushi place should probably not second as a night club, or an after night club go-to spot. In concept: great. In truth: a stinky, sweaty, dirty carpet smelling restaurant. MmmmM-sushi!!!!
(2)
Alissa W.
This is by far the best japanese food I have ever had. First, when you walk in the plaza looks a little bit shady. You have to try to diakon kimchee, enokyi mushrooms, cripsy bok choy, himmachi jalepeno,tuna hirumaki, and they have the most amazing salad dressing you can add avocado, tuna, or salmon. All the sashimi is very fresh. They have a huge selection of noodle dishes. If you eat squid they have the most amazing spicy squid the sauce in great. I like the udon they are think and chewy.I try to go there atleast 3 times a month. It is small inside, and there usually is a wait. The food is worth the wait trust me !
(5)
Jerry E.
Great staff; helpful with menu; great food. It look like a rough neighborhood at night. The food is worth the trip. This place is packed with locals on a weeknight. My clients did not want to get out of the cab at first, but loved the place later.
(4)
Nina W.
Talk about fresh sushi....everything i ate here was amazing. My only complaint is I tried ordering the rice ball appetizer which has scallions in them, which I hate. So I asked my waiter if I could substitute the already mixed in tuna with scallion which is served with the rice ball for just regular tuna. And it was so impossible for them to do that, I even prompt to pay extra.I guess they just have a no substitution policy. But besides that the food is excellent.
(4)
Holly B.
GROSS! You people in Miami do not know fresh sushi! This dump, literally a dirty dingey hole-in-the-wall, had some of the most disgusting sushi I've ever tasted! Stay Away! The pieces smelled fishy from afar, so you can only imagine how they tasted. The service was fine, but the nasty smell made me ill, not to mention the food. We will never go here again. Still looking for that diamond in the rough of sushi restaurants in Miami, help!
(1)
Stefanie F.
I went here while on vacation a couple of months ago, and I'll never forget how terrible my experience was. Sure, the food was decent, even if the fish did seem a little off. However, the service was deplorable. Slow, unfriendly, cold, and the pricing differed from what it should have been on the menu. It was a waste of money, and I'm glad I live 1,200 miles away.
(1)
Beatriz P.
The service was terrible, offensive, and in appropriate. Go to this restaurant at your own risk. I have been going to this restaurant for about a year since their food is pretty good. But unfortunately, I will no longer go to this restaurant because of the lack of manners of one of the staff members whose name is Austin, who insulted my father and used curse words such as the F word when talking to my father. I asked him kindly to respect my father because he is a 75 year old men but Austin continue to insult my father and said among other things he did not care my father is 75 years old. This whole argument started because he charged us for 8 pieces of sushi, and he brought 6. We told him we only had 6 and he got into an argument with me and my father that he brought 8 pieces of sushi and not 6 pieces. Also, the service was terrible. They brought my mother's entree, first, and after she had finished they brought my father's and mine. I requested for the manager, and they told me he was not at the restaurant that day. I like their food very much, but I will no longer go to this restaurant unless they better train their staff and they fire Austin for such an awful behavior that is absolutely not acceptable. Eating delicious food and then end up in an argument turns poison in your body. So my honest recommendation, if you go to thIs restaurant know that the staff is not well trained, that they might insult you especially if Austin is your waiter and the service is terrible. And you might get into an argument. It is my humble desire that you will never encounter such an awful experience. Hope this helps.
(1)
Ian A.
Very few retaurants have ever just made me feel happy eating their food... this is one of them
(5)
Mott K.
Yakko San by Hiro is an authentic Japanese cuisine. It's been awhile since my last visit... But what I re cal is super service, great food and some very unfamiliar choices and sights. It is for certain- a must visit on the to do list. If ya wind up near The Aventura Mall or Sunny Isles Beach... Hiro's Yakko San is just a few minutes away.
(5)
Christian P.
I have visited Yakko-San numerous times since I moved to the area 3 years ago. The food is delicious and consistent. I have never been disappointed with the food once. However, 80% of the time I am disappointed with the service. I have never seen a manager in the restaurant. When I sit at the sushi bar the chefs are usually the ones greeting me with a smile. They could be a serious force in the industry with some service details... I do visit here quite often. Love the style of food and just prepare myself for the lacking service.
(3)
S B.
Due to complete lack of service, we will not be returning. Although the food was tasty, we realized average food and great service surpasses better food with 0 service. We sat outside. There were a few other tables being served outside so we were not the only ones. We literally had to get up and go inside to track down a server on 4 separate occasions: to give a drink order, order food, get chopsticks & soy sauce for our sushi, and for the bill (after asking for it 3 times). We only went in to the restaurant looking for a server after waiting lengthy periods of time. We verbalized our disappointment and were given nothing more than a sheepish apology.
(1)
cindy w.
Where do sushi chefs go to eat after work? Yakko-San. For good reason, because I think I found the best Japanese restaurant in Miami, PERIOD. The fact that this joint stays open till 3am Saturday is a major plus for those who work late nights. Past 12:30am, it was packed with a mixed crowd, with sous-chefs and most promising, Asians, so this place is the real deal. The folks who run it are Japanese and greet you with "Irashai mase!" when you walk in. Now, when I say real deal, this place has the most extended menu I've seen outside of NY and San Francisco, we're talking dishes that are almost non-existant in Miami: udon, ramen, soba noodles, donburi, yakiniku, shabu-shabu, etc. sushi I've never heard of, and some creative tempura dishes I loved. FYI, I hate fish so I don't try raw sushi. Someone else will have to critique that, mmkay? Some interesting plates that caught my eye: kimchee hot pot, beef tataki NY strip, natto, ika maruyaki [whole squid], japanese pasta napolitano [sauteed sausage, veggies, with ketchup], curry udon, tempura croquette, etc. My bf and I went with kimchee ramen, soba noodles with tempura, chrysthanthemum leaf tempura (recommended by a coworker), and dessert, fried cheesecake roll. All of which were really, really, really good. This place is about the truth, no hype, no chic decor, the decor is minimal, the location in a tucked away neighborhood. Most dishes were under $10. Toward the end of the meal, Yakko-San's prompted me to keep saying to myself: "God I'm full but I can't stop eating!" It was like I never wanted the party in my mouth to stop...you know, when you feel sad because your stomach can't keep up with the tastebuds? Yeah, I gorged. It was that good. PS: Miami New Times voted it Best Late Night Dining, 2007.
(5)
Jose L.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami. I've been going there regularly for the past few years and I'm yet to experience the full menu. The whole fried fish is very good if you're in a group if it's a smaller party you can get the fried fish salad which is almost always in the daily specials menu. The servers are very helpful most of the time, even if there are some language barriers. There are no rolls on the menu, but there is sashimi and I like most of the items from the kitchen.
(5)
James G.
alright, this place is open late, has sake and sushi as well as some authentic japanese food. why are you not here. I love yakko-sans. Go. Now! Things to try Unagi Whole Fresh Catch of the Day TakoYaki Beef Tataki Oh and if you have to wait...do it.
(5)
Dannielle C.
Always making stops here to eat. Such a wide selection to choose from, relatively quiet restaurant, it's a hit in my book!
(4)
Erica F.
My worst experience ever!!! I ordered a sundae that has gluten ,which I'm allergic to,and was told I can't return it...upon which my friend requested info about the restaurant policies...the co-owner threatened my safety with a stool by picking it up to throw at me...my friend saved me buy pulling the stool from her ....DONT GO THERE!!!
(1)
Alexandra R.
Dear Yakko-San, Please stay in Miami forever. Even after I die. I want my children and my children's children to eat your food. I could easily make the pork & onion salad and beef tataki two of my last meals on earth. It's a sin if you haven't been. So go, but keep it a hidden treasure, please. Red bean ice cream? Yes, please. Crispy bok choy with ridiculous soy-garlic sauce? I'll take two... and I better take another for home. Last night I took a friend who came in to town from Buenos Aires. She said it was the best meal she's had in a very long time. We hadn't eaten all day, but it was well worth the grumbling bellies and low blood sugar headaches to wait for Yakko. All hail the Yak. Love, Alex PS, your new location is gorgeous... but the hole in the wall you had before will always be near and dear to my heart.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
Humbly located next to one of my favorite quick lunch spots, Hiro's Express, this unassuming spot will kick your Japanese-craving ass with intense flavor. Based on recommendations I had the following: 1. BBQ Eel - melt-in-your-mouth delicious tasting eel that's soft on the inside and has the most subtle crisp on the outside. 2. Onion Fish Salad - the name sounds extremely unappealing to me, but this was another win. I hate onions, but I found myself stuffing my mouth with them. 3. Kimchee Hot Pot - WHOA, DUDE. Huge dish, good for 2-3 people. I don't know what's in it, but I want to bathe in it. 4. Spicy Tuna Harumaki - Tasty, but compared to the other dishes, kind of boring. 5. Salmon Onigiri - I have no idea why I ordered this. Most pointless dish. It's just a bunch of rice wrapped in seaweed sprinkled with three tiny bits of cooked salmon. For two people, we were BEYOND stuffed with what we had ordered. I can't wait to come again and try some new things. I would definitely order another hot pot again, though.
(4)
Tina N.
Noooooo! I really wanted to like this place!!! Went here with a few of my friends for Wrestlemania! My friend Shams wanted Japanese foodies so we came here! I got the Miso sea bass; it was sooooo little and very very sweet... I guess it's an acquired taste, but I usually LOVE miso! Fiance got the YAKINIKU DON, which is the BBQ beef over rice... I had to steal some of his food because my fish was smaller than my palm, came with no rice and being carnivorous, I NEED MEAT! The taste of the BBQ was yummy but it was super duper chewy, like the kind of chewy you see in the cartoons with the dogs and their cute little chewy steaks. Le sigh, I really wanted to enjoy this... The service was weird too, being some of the few people in that night, everything was quite slow... Our check came out too much, and my belly was aching for more food...but not from here :(
(2)
Boris B.
Had dinner with the family. Sushi is very good, appetizers decent, as are prices. Will go back.
(4)
Waseem G.
Awesome! This place rocks. Went with a few of my buddies while we were visiting miami last week. So nice to just not be around all the crazyiness of miami yet be so close! We ordered the gyoza (pan seerd and steamed), spicy lamb, the steak, kimchee pork (my fav) and of course some sake bombs! The service is very on point and everyone is very friendly, always willing to chat. Thanks again!
(4)
Greggory S.
As someone who works in the food industry it is great to find a nice restaurant. When my wife and I moved here from New York, our friend, who is from south Florida, told us to try this restaurant with him. We did and we loved it. That was almost two years ago. In that amount of time I have seen the service in this restaurant plummet. The first server we had there was named Anastasia (that shows how awesome she was if I remember her name two years later.) So I expected all service to be like this. As time has carried on the servers have gotten worse and worse. Last night, some friends were in town from New York and they were in the area so we suggested Yakko san. Once being seated and asking for water we get it. My glass has a pretty noticeable chip in it. Yeah you use straws, but there is still the potential for danger. So I just switch glasses with someone else who is about to leave due to personal issues unrelated to the restaurant. OK. Carrying on. I get a refill on my water and there were more seeds on the glass and in my water than in the lemon. This also rubbed me the wrong way. Something so small, but so simple to fix and our server chose not to. On top of this he hovered the entire time we were there. Some would call that great service, I call it getting rushed. The food was OK and came out semi promptly. As our meal carries on the waiter asks if we would like dessert, we say no. This does not stop him from interrupting one of the people at our table mid conversation to show the dessert list. On top of all of this, they lady at the front counter lets some woman walk in to the restaurant with her hairy dog. I do not condone any type of personal animal in a restaurant. The check comes. And the methods of payment are given. Waiter returns for us to sign them. As I am looking at the total and thinking back to the chipped glass, my seed water, the hovering waiter, and the dessert menu interrupt. I come to my decision. I start at 15 and work my way down. With the amount of the ticket and the deductions it came out to about a 9.5% tip. After signing and closing the folder the waiter collects them. Not two minutes later does he come back and say that " in Florida you have to tip 15%" he then goes and grabs another customers receipt and says "this is 15%" By this point all of my pleasantries are gone. As soon as i start pointing out all of the things that had been going wrong he all of a sudden wanted to take the receipt back. Owners of yakko san I will not spend another dime on your restaurant until you teach your staff better. Some of your waiters need to be busboys and some of your busboys need to be waiters. There is one busboy, cannot recall his name, he has a long ponytail, he is always prompt, polite and attentive. If you want to see my business again than you need to overhaul everything, starting with your staff's professionalism.
(1)
M D.
Uni Garlic Pasta, Mentaiko Onigiri, Fried breaded oysters are excellent favorites for me here at Hiro's Yakko-San. On colder nights in winter, the Miso Ramen hits the spot. Great garlicky broth and piping hot ramen with pork slices, half a hard boiled egg and vegetables is to die for on a cold day or night. Not to mention you can get your fix at 2am in the morning. Parking can be limited on weekend nights, but the food is worth the hassle.
(5)
Daphne B.
Excellent service, fresh sushi, wonderful menu. It's a little hard to find (tucked away in a strip mall) but well worth the trip. Right up there with the best places on the East Coast.
(5)
Mia M.
This place is hands-down the best place for authentic Japanese food (and by Japanese food I don't mean sushi) in Miami. I feel I can say this with authority since I am Japanese. West-coasters and New Yorkers might be a little more biased because there are tons more izakayas like Yakko-San in their territories, but here in Miami this is about it. I've been coming here since when they were just one tiny room, and have so many happy memories here. That said, recently I went back for dinner after not being in for a while and had a 45 min wait due to the giant mass of people also waiting, and I've noticed their specials menu (the best things to order were the specials) was much sparser than as I remembered (prob due to the high volume of people). I'm happy for their success (they've since expanded and now moving to a larger place), but selfishly I worry about the move and their popularity and wish it could still be the uncrowded, intimate hole-in-the-wall that had amazingly delicious and inventive dishes it used to be, when only chefs and foodies and select locals knew about the place.
(5)
Effie C.
I should have let my friends drag me out here sooner. Any place that can make a chicken gizzard not only tolerable but actually kind of delicious deserves a shot. Izakaya is like Dim Sum's refined but really cool cousin that went to boarding school in the alps, reads Kafka and knows her way around a glass of scotch but still pre-games in the parking lot with a quart of OE. The most effective way to enjoy Hiro's Yakko San is to bring a few adventurous friends along for the ride and arrive on an empty stomach. My first bite at Yakko-San was preceded by applause and cheers as this particular dish, the Spicy Tuna Harumaki, is extremely exclusive (they only prepare five per day) and more often than not on the dry-erase board, among a list of menu items that are unavailable. The little roll packs a delightful punch and I especially recommend it to those that can't begin a Japanese meal without plowing into a Wakame salad. As much as I'd love to wax bad-assery to you all, I must confess I was hesitant to try the chicken gizzard but I'm glad I did. It's a chewy little morsel, served cold, which I normally find a bit off-putting with savory bites, but it worked harmoniously with the taste and texture in this instance. Other worthy mentions: - Crispy bok choy with garlic soy dressing. Salty, leafy, crispy and absolutely addictive. - Tempura shrimp spicy mayo. This item must have been created just for me. The shrimp was like a tiny lobster and its tempura jacket retained its crunchiness despite the generous slathering of spicy mayo (have I mentioned that this is one of the Greatest Condiments Ever Created?). I wasn't wild about the fried clam. It was too fishy, but I'm willing to give it another chance as I've heard it's usually very good. Wasn't loving the Shoyu ramen either but that was a matter of personal taste as my fellow diners liked it enough to take it home so we'd have room for dessert. Oh, dessert. Unf. Once again, I was extremely skeptical about the Japanese sweet potato ice cream that my friend ordered, and once again, was delightfully surprised. The Volcano was another strange and wonderful selection with creamy ice cream, cookies and a chocolatey-sweet, starchy bean soup. I ordered the fried cheesecake roll which I savored slowly, with every bit of rapturous satisfaction you'd imagine. Overall, I was really impressed with the great service, the reasonable price and of course, the yum. I can't even figure out what to make for dinner now because I'm not talented enough to come up with something that could compare. I should just chug a glass of water and go to sleep before I embarrass myself.
(4)
Yuliya S.
This place is at a new location and the food continues to impress. There is something about the Miami tradition of placing great food in unassuming strip malls that can be off-putting and yet strangely charming. Don't mind the Old Navy next door, just go in to Hiro's and enjoy. Try the surprisingly amazing crispy pork and onion salad, or the simple and fresh green salad with tuna. Follow that up with something grilled or broiled (eggplant? asparagus wrapped in bacon?), or the light and delicious tempura. Or try something a little bit spicy, like the kim chee pork. The conversation around our table basically stopped when the food arrived and resumed many minutes later. I couldn't stop eating and just nodded along.
(4)
Richard W.
This place has good food and has a nice atmosphere. It great for a late dinner for a group or with just one other person. Nicely priced. Their noodles come out great and portions are large. I'm a fan of their udon noodles with beef in fish soup. The noodles are well cooked and the beef tastes great. Their appetizers whet the appetite perfectly and everything comes out super quick too. The only downside is that everything comes out super quick so the main courses come out almost right after any appetizers. Otherwise, good food, no crowds, great atmosphere and good attentive service.
(4)
Chris G.
Yakko-San has been my favorite South Florida choice in Japanese food for years, even when they were in their old hole-in-the-wall location. Thankfully, they've moved to a new, bigger location that is much more spacious. I've never tried anything at Yakko-San that I didn't like, except for natto (fermented soybeans), which I kinda expected to be bad beforehand. The beef curry and the various ramen choices are standouts for me. The appeal of Yakko-San is that it's a real Japanese restaurant, not this Americanized Japanese stuff that you see everywhere (and it's not one of those weird Thai-Japanese hybrids either). I try to eat something different every time I go so that I can sample everything, but I inevitably find myself coming back to some favorites. If you want great Japanese food, especially really late at night, get over to Yakko-San.
(5)
Erica A.
This place is beyond amazing, even though it lost its unique hole in the wall feel. You can never go wrong with an order of bok choy and a rice bowl (katsudon all the way)! The rice bowls and bbq beef bowls are a must have. At least now I don't get lost trying to get there like I did at the old location.
(5)
Michael R.
Awesome as usual I'm there probably every Sunday night...my favorites are crispy pork salad kimchee ramen on those cold winter nights, they have some really yummy garlic stems, I've been goin there for years and the food has stayed pretty consistent the servers are super nice...I definitely recommend this pace, but one of my favorites is that's it's open late..
(5)
Momoko S.
If I have to name five best places to eat in Miami-Dade county, this should be in. Some of the dishes even taste better than Japanese food in Japan. It really is best if you go with me who is very familiar with their menu and also "only-Japanese-eat" dishes that I am sure you'll love.
(5)
June K.
***I am writing this review based on the NEW yakko-san that has recently opened. I've been going to Hiro's Yakko-San regularly for a couple of years now and decided to write a review (finally). Why now you ask? Well, as the old saying goes, "if ain't broke don't fix it". Yes, they have finally moved to their MUCH BIGGER location. But bigger is not necessarily better. At their smaller location, their food was very consistent, as far as flavor, presentation and timing were concerned; but at the new location, it's off. And I mean, way off. First, I would like to say that, yes, they just had their grand opening and they are not used to having a dining area that large; but there is NO excuse for poor service. We went on 2 occasions. BOTH times we sat a good 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. We had to call David (who was not in our section) to get us a server. First time, we let it slide cause they just opened. Second time, was just plain irritating. All the servers seem like they have NO direction and they are just going to whatever table they "think" they're supposed to have. They REALLY need a manager to expedite the floor. I believe that if they had a manager to direct the floor staff, things would run much smoother. Timing for the delivery of food is off. Our items used to come in a certain order, now they just deliver what comes first. Last night, our grilled squid came AFTER we finished everything and our dessert plates were in front of us. We thought the order just got forgotten since we didn't see it or our server for a while, hence the order for the dessert. So we sent it back. The server looked confused as to why we were sending it back...duh! We just ordered dessert. At the old location they had 4 visible chefs, one that does the prep, one that does the cold dishes, one that does the grill, and the other that does the sautee. I believe they had more chefs in the back for the deep frying of items, but I'm not sure how many. The new location has about 6-8 chefs on the line and the "old school" chefs seem to know what they are doing, but the new hires are LOST. They had a flow at the old location in such a tiny space, but with a lot of new people, it's just chaos. The flavoring is off, either they don't put enough or put too much. On the first night we visited, we ordered the Kalbi Yakiniku, it was the first thing to come out (which was never the case at the old location, it was always one of the last things to appear), and it was overcooked, almost to the point that it was burnt. So we gave that a pass as well. But last night, we decided to order it again to see the differences (if any). It wasn't overcooked - hallelujah! It came out last as we thought it would, but it had NO flavor. We watched the (new) chef flavor another Kalbi Yakiniku order, and it looked like he did one side of the Kalbi and flipped it around on the plate a little to get the residual seasonings and sent it to the grill. So that explained that one. But with all the drawbacks to the new place, I will say there is a ray of sunshine to be seen. They now have sushi. And their sushi is EFFING awesome. Both times we visited, it was awesome. Those chefs have their sh*t together. Kudos on that one. All in all, once they get their act together, they will be a 5 star rated place, until then 3 stars it is. p.s the hole in the wall or old location was a 5 star rating in my book.
(3)
Ashley D.
This authentic Japanese restaurant serves up fresh, legitimate Japanese dishes in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. They do not serve Sushi, but do have a full sashimi bar... that being said, the Maguro Natto is great! Fresh Tuna sashimi over white Japanese radish and a bed of seaweed and scallions, topped with miso sauce ... Great, cool, fresh Sashimi perfect for a hot Miami night. The shrimp tempura was beautiful, light, and crisp! No complaints! However, the dish that blew me away, something that I have never had in a Japanese restaurant in New York, was the Crispy Bok Choy... AMAZING... I could eat this every day for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner... The dish consists of heads of bok choy that are deep fried for 2 seconds, and then topped with a garlic soy dressing... a verbal description will not do justice... The leaves are paper thin and crispy, and the warm, sweet/salty/slightly spicy/garlicy soy dressing makes the bok choy taste like an Asian veggie chip! Deep Fried guilt never registers because you are eating a leafy green vegetable! Added Bonus! From what I gather, this is a Miami Speak Easy that only locals really get to experience, and with good reason... When we pulled up to the restaurant, we thought we had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the backcountry swamp of the everglades... The restaurant has minimal signage, and is located in an old strip mall off of West Dixie Highway.
(5)
Adam C.
If any of you know me, you know I've been pimping this place since I took my first bite of crispy bok choy. Yakko San was introduced to me as the place where chefs go when they are done working. That alone should tell you the quality of food you're dealing with. Make sure you order some or all of the following: whole hog fish, garlic stem beef, buta kimchee, and shishito. Don't ask what they are, just order them. And don't expect a large selection of raw fish. Izakaya is mostly cooked. Skip dessert, and get more izakaya!
(5)
Mike S.
It was an exhausting week... I got home and passed out until midnight waking up with the biggest craving for Japanese, luckily Hiro's was still open. Btw, it's next to a night club and the parking lot was packed. Don't park on the grass b/c I saw cops giving out tickets. So it's late at night, I'm exhausted, and all I wanted was a nice "homey" bowl of oyako don. First of all the sauce didn't taste right, too much mirin not enough soy? It was also not cooked properly, what they gave me was a brown, soggy and unappetizing mess. I have to admit it didn't taste good, it didn't taste bad. What disappointed me most was that it wasn't hot! But at 2am, it was good enough for me... I also had the Ika Natto, they don't make their own natto but I guess that's too much to ask for. Their sashimi was fresh but it's not that authentic since the sushi guys aren't Japanese. I did love their green tea, I think it was matcha and they actually use filtered water here. It's a great place to bring friends flying into Miami at night since they're open late but I wouldn't go out of my way just for the food - kind of like St. Mark's Place in nyc.
(3)
Michael D.
This place is okay when you want a bowl of ramen served to you by a Thai waitress in a Korean run Japanese restaurant and you are stuck in Miami. Kimchi ramen? whatever. The fresh fried whole fish is good too. ____
(4)
Sue R.
I enjoyed my first visit to Hiro's Yakko-San tonight. I arrived at 6:15pm and it was completely full, except for the last seat at the bar, which I grabbed. My waitress came promptly and brought me an ice-cold KIrin Ichiban which went down very smoothly. I ordered Uni sashimi (sea urchin liver), which was presented prettily and tasted out of this world. I had intended to order a bowl of noodle soup with some interesting ingredients, but my waitress told me of a quite special and rare item that they had on the menu tonight: monkfish liver, poached and served cold with ponzu sauce. So, ever the fearless gourmet, I ordered that, along with some salmon sashimi and a portion of cold buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. I also ordered a plate of crispy fried bok choi just in case I still felt hungry. The monkfish liver was outstanding, creamy and flavorful, tasting almost like avocado, not fishy at all. The salmon was super-fresh and the buckwheat noodles with their dipping sauce provided a nice change of pace. As for the bok choi, I can't wait to have it again - it melted in my mouth. Bok choi deep fried with ginger, my mouth is watering just thinking of it. The ambiance was exactly how it should be, I felt I was either in a restaurant in Tokyo or in a movie - I've only been to Tokyo once and actually did eat in this kind of place but it was too long ago to remember well. Four stars. Highly recommended.
(4)
DeAnn P.
Yum, yum, yum! We always have a wonderful time here, and the food delicious!
(5)
Anna V.
Food is delicious...you just need to know what to order. I love their interior design. Its very trendy and ambient. Its a great place to have dinner with all of your friends since there is a club right next door, called "C-Lounge".
(4)
Leah V.
Three words- fried bok choy! Delicious food, great atmosphere. Good place to go with friends and just order a bunch of little plates to try as much as you can. The bok choy and octopus were my faves. Plan to go back for more!
(4)
Ryan W.
The jalapeño hamachi was really good as was the pork katsu curry! Mmm. Service was fast and prompt. Decent prices and portions. I would go back
(4)
Rose P.
this is my favorite restaurant in miami. sushi is great. other than that, my favorite dishes are the salmon carpaccio, the beef tataki, the tuna tataki and the crispy bok choy.
(5)
Herb F.
Just visited the new location a couple of weeks ago. The new restaurant is nice and has all the new modern upgrades, BUT I kinda miss the old location which had that "off the beaten trail" feel to it. None the less the food is still good at the new location, but the server we had was less than desirable (he knowingly or unknowingly tricked us into ordering 4 orders of Uni when all we wanted was 4 pieces of Uni). Overlooking the waiter incident, the food is still on point...
(4)
Tiffany K.
craving Japanese food, I found Hiro's Yakko-San to be nearby (we were at Aventura Mall doing some shopping). between my mom, my sister, and i, we ordered the following: - Tofu Steak: i would recommend this dish if you like tofu/onions/mushrooms. onions and mushrooms is one of my favorite combinations when it comes to toppings on food. the tofu is nicely fried on the outside, delicious sauce and mushrooms (regular and enochi) - Kalbee Yakiniku: i didn't try this since i don't eat beef - Ginger Chicken: this dish was just okay. the sauce was pretty good, but the chicken itself was meh. i've had ginger and/or teryaki chicken a lot and this was not one of the better ones. - Tuna Harumaki: this dish was so good. especially topped off with some wasabi. - Yamakake Tuna: if you're not a fan of japanese potato, don't get this. this dish was simply tuna sashimi with japanese potato all over the top. my sister ordered it and when it came she was like eew i don't want that potato. however, the tuna was very very good - fresh, melt in your mouth, gorgeous color. - Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper: i'm a little torn about this dish - don't get me wrong, the hamachi was very fresh and nicely, thinly sliced. however the flavors were just okay - i've had hamachi jalapeno at other places before, and they definitely could have made this dish tastier and the jalapeno could have had more of a kick to it. i honestly couldn't even taste the jalapeno. - Salmon Sashimi: very fresh and tasty. - Japanese Sundae (2): the three of us LOVED this dessert. that's why we ordered two - after the first one, we asked the waiter to send another over. yummy combination of whip cream, rice cakes (mochi), green tea ice cream, azuki red bean, and crushed up waffle cones on the bottom. so so good. overall, great experience. great service, good food, hooray!
(4)
Renata M.
Its not a typical sushi restaurant, its a real japanese restaurant with really good fish. If you go don't eat sushi, eat some fish.
(4)
Nirvana S.
Hoodlum wait staff!! Bus-boy/waiter stole my friends car keys tonight... At the end of our delicious birthday dinner, we walked out and noticed that the keys were missing- after repeatedly asking the staff if they saw keys, they kept to their story that they saw nothing. We looked in all of our purses, cars, called people who had left dinner early- we knew the keys were on the table! Not knowing who they were messing with, my girlfriends sat down and refused to leave until the keys were found. Finally after offering a $100 cash reward, 5 seconds later a bus boy comes back dangling the keys in his hand!!! In case you go there...watch out ...had we left to go get the spare, the car would have either been robbed or stolen. What a horrible thing to happen at such a great restaurant! Food was amazing- wait staff horrible along with the service. I might file a police report tomorrow. Definitely watch your belongings!!
(3)
Victor m.
For authentic Japanese this is the place! I was a little weary at first because of the location and the mixed reviews but now that I have been there and tried the excellent food and the wonderful service I am sure that Yakko-San deserves a spot in my regular rotation. Know, keep in mind this is not your typical "Americanized Japanese" cuisine. It is served in small plates similar to Spanish tapas and has flavors and ingredients that you may not recognize. But no worries all the food we tried and saw others eating looked and tasted fresh, flavorful, and delicious. If you love to eat good quality food Yakko-San will not disappoint. By the way, Thank s to the staff for the great service especially Fred!
(5)
Mike N.
Holy smokes this place is good. Stayed in N Miami Beach for 4 nights and ate here twice. The first night we ate at Hiro's on 163rd and man, that place was aweful, then we figured out that Hiro's Yakko-San was at a different address...don't make the same mistake. Sashimi Mori was very, very good. Grilled Shishito was great. Mushroom tempura was perfect, very light batter. Huge mixed salad. Great selection of very good sake. Casual with great service. I can see why its been around for 25+ years.
(4)
Kevin N.
The one and only place in Miami I would consider to call a restaurant serving actual Japanese sushi. No gimicks, no neon, no Thai food, no Korean food, no Chinese food, no hard liquor, and no Vietnamese food! It is not often I give a five-star review of a place that DOESN'T have a lot of different things, but for Yakko-san, it is a boon rather than a detriment. They are serious about their food and you know it from the first bite.
(5)
Michael L.
I live nearby, and Ive probably came here at least 10 times in the past year. Usually me and the mrs. usually try something different every time we come. The menu is huge, with a vast array of Japanese small dishes and appetizers, as well as Japanese grilled items, to ramen, and lastly sushi. I have never tried their sushi yet, so i cant comment on it, but the ramen and the grilled items are all good. The sea bass is yummy, age dashi tofu is also a must. The crispy bok choy is also unique, bok choy thats flash fried with no batter, turns out crispy and surprisingly addictive. I don't understand the hate on some of the reviews, its authentic Japanese food thats relatively cheap. Maybe they dont know what to order. My fiancee likes to order the mentaiko, which is a pasta with creamy cod roe. Theres also a special menu that isnt posted online, that does change from time to time, thats usually an extension of their menu with grilled fishes, meats, etc.. Next time i will try their sushi, if i don't get steered away from their wonderful grilled, cooked Japanese dishes.. If u want to go to an authentic, not Americanized Japanese restaurant, this is the place to go.
(4)
Greg A.
Every time I go back to this place it's more packed than the last time. It's a shame it took me years of passing by this place (since it's located in the middle of a crappy strip mall on a road I only take to avoid Aventura traffic on Biscayne) to finally discover what a true hidden gem it was. Yakko-San is a Japanese restaurant and not a sushi place. So while they do serve sashimi, don't come here looking to have a Dragon Roll. What you can expect here is really, really good Japanese food. I've gone there a few times and there are so many interesting things on the menu that I always find myself getting different entrees. But while I'm mixing up the entrees, the one appetizer I never fail to have when going to Yakko-San (and I guarantee it will also be your favorite) is the crispy bok choy. It's one of the most perfect appetizers ever made - crispy, light, and full of flavor. The spicy octopus is a favorite entree of mine, and the kimchee buta is good, but those with less adventurous palates can enjoy a meal at Yakko-San without fear because you will, without a doubt, love their sliced BBQ beef (Yakiniku). You can get it over a bowl in rice (Yakiniku Don) or without (Yakiniku Steak) but either way it's some tasty, tasty beef. Those who like sake (like I do) will be happy. They have an assortment of hot and cold sakes, but they have a sake tasting where you can 3 shots of different sakes for a fairly cheap price - think along the lines of 3 shots of $90-$120 sake for like $15. The ladies will enjoy the fruity sake-tinis they serve there. And the banana tempura is a delicious way to finish it all up. The only downside I can say about this place is that the service can be a little slow after they serve your food, even if the place isn't packed, but it's not frustratingly slow. The parking there is also kind of cramped, but if you go later in the evening just park in the lot across the street and you shouldn't have any problems.
(4)
Phil L.
its hard to find really good asian food in south florida but Hiro's does a great job! Its a pretty small spot and usually there is a wait but well worth it. the ramen is decent and the calbi is pretty good. The home run is with a different type of steak that they offer - I wish I knew what it was called but I didnt order it :( The whole fried fish looked really good and its nice to go with a group of 6 or less I would not say more.
(4)
Vlad L.
2 years ago I would've gave them 5 stars but I feel like since they relocated to the new location they comprised quality and a homey feel for a bigger location. The same dishes I used to love now I feel are just alright so bigger is not always better but I will say its one of the best bets for late night dining around northeast Dade.
(3)
Jennifer S.
This place is the best an open really late an you can always get something different from a fresh cough fish done 6 ways to just a simple soup every thing on the menu is great an if your lucky Hiro will make you some of his faves
(5)
Karen G.
Every time we go to yakko San, it is reliably delicious. Since they moved from the w Dixie location it lost some of its atmosphere, but the food is just the same but now without the wait. Would recommend to everybody who likes Asian food.
(5)
Cindy Y.
I went here many moons ago, but I still remember my experience here. Perhaps it was just the dishes that I ordered as a first time customer, but it wasn't as great as I had hoped for. I had a kimchi buta (pork and kimchi in a kimchi based sauce) and it was okay. I had a Korean friend that come with me and she said that she's had better kimchi... and that it wasn't "ripe" enough. (Ironically, there's a Korean hostess working there as well.) My Korean friend didn't like her kimchi ramen that she ordered either. I also ordered something (forgot its name) that had a description of "thinly sliced potato with nori/dried seaweed on top." It's definitely an acquired taste. Maybe some of my tastes aren't suited for the Japanese palate, but it did not even come close to what I thought it was going to be. It didn't even taste like potato (unless it was raw, which I've never had before), but more of a raw daikon. (Update: searched it up and it was "Japanese mountain yam.") It was really starchy too, so it was really gooey and sticky as well; kind of like natto. I tried finishing it but I just couldn't. The dessert is what saved dinner as whole, though. I ordered a "volcano," which was layers of ice cream on lady fingers, I believed, served with a warm azuki red bean sauce. (Also, I guess another perk is that they're open late everyday.) I probably would give it another chance if I'm ever around the area, but it's not somewhere where I'd drive out of my way for. Maybe they can prove me wrong next time.
(2)
M O.
Highly recommended - Open Late - Japanese food, not sushi. They have a great menu of small plates, great for sharing. Bring a large group and share everything.
(4)
Frenchy M.
I feel obligated to post this as I went to their new location on the intracostal mall: I almost cried,i should have know since the name is the same, but underneath it: "Japanese Tapas" :-/ the new place is HUGE, has a modern feel to it and sounds more like a cafeteria (high ceiling I guess) ....They kept the dishes, got rid of the specials of the day but did a few modification to others .I waited over 20 minutes for someone to come and acknowledge our table, had to wait another 15 for my drink to arrive, same price same taste, Half the Size!!! I am really really really disappointed , and believe that they will get lots of customers due to their new location , but will certainly loose their more purist fans...I will be one.I will follow June advice and try their sushi , but I did loose my "amazing perfect little Japanese place"................
(3)
Tina K.
Came here when we were apartment hunting in Miami in an attempt to replace our weekend Cali Izakaya with a familiar taste in Miami and was slightly surprised. With low expectations (very low expectations) and a gleam of hope, we ordered more food than we could eat off the menu. Sashimi - hmm... it's definitely edible but the cut is definitely not Japanese, huge cuts of fish, quantity over quality, not alot of taste but it didnt reek of fishiness either. The Karaage was good, nice portion modestly priced. The Kama was not bad either. Ganpachi sashimi in lime - a whole slice of Jalapeno on top of each piece, made me laugh but it actually tasted OK. It's not an authentic Japanese place but it's got its own style and everyone orders the whole fish so I gotta try that next time. I think its more of a Chinese-Japanese restaurant... once you're at peace with that then all's good.
(3)
Bernardo A.
I have never been to Japan nor do I speak Japanese. The closest I've ever gotten to Japan was my Japanese college roommate and the many, many lunches and dinners we had in San Francisco's Japan Town. Yamaguchi, my roommate, never thought that any of the places we went to were good enough or authentic enough so I know, as a fact, that I have never had an authentic Japanese meal. What I do have are feelings, an appreciation for visually appealing things, a good sense of smell and taste buds. My review of Yakko San is entirely based on service, presentation and taste. Authenticity? What do I know? And since I can't do anything about that in the immediate future, who cares? Yakko San is GREAT! I am a firm believer that in order to get the best attention, the customer needs to put his best foot forward as well, specially in these small places that get very busy and very hectic very quickly. Our party of four had a a 20 minute wait before we were seated at a table close to the front door in front of the bar. The place is very unassuming and I haven't really seen the main dining room. The lovely Korean waitress asked us what we wanted to drink and suggested a reasonably priced sake. We took her recommendation and loved every sip of it. All of us at the table had experienced donburi and soba and udon noodle soups as well as gyoza and things of that sort, so we decided to order an assortment of daily specials which we all shared. At the end of the meal, the check was astronomical, but we all got to experience a couple of bites of a wide variety of dishes; most of them recommended by our waitress whom we trusted, blindly. All the dishes were well-seasoned and flavorful. We had a great time. We were all satisfied. I'll be back soon and will pay more attention to the individual dishes so I can write a more detailed review.
(4)
M -dot W.
Locally, I heard several Asians in Miami talking bout how this place is highly regarded by Asians for being really good( in a sea of not-so-good).......nuff said . If you want to know whats good here ( see other Yelps! ) . I am just here to give credit where credit is due CHECK IT OUT !
(5)
Marcela R.
Lotus blossom roots, crispy bok choy, fried rice. They have a decent selection of mushrooms and the udon noodle soups are the best! Parking sucks and it is always packed because they are only open for dinner.
(4)
Cameron T.
Amazing find, and probably the highlight of our trip to MIA. Our server was super friendly. He even made origami for our two daughters. We had scallops w/ asparagus, fried ebi, grilled eggplant, kimchi & shoyu ramen, and a special roll wrapped in rice paper with amazingly tasty tuna. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. The only things that were mediocre were the ramen. I've had much better in all the ramen restaurants in NYC. My husband said the tuna special was one of the best things he's ever had in any Japanese restaurant. Their fried cheesecake is supposed to be great but we found it to just be okay. The wrapper was a bit too thick. Go early or you'll have to wait. They also serve very late into the night. For a quick sushi meal, you can go next door to Hiro's express. They even have online ordering.
(4)
Stephanie T.
Coming from an area saturated with Asian food and a surplus of Japanese/sushi restaurants, I was annoyed that anything in this area was poorly rated or a Japanese/Thai combo (what the heck, right?!) Seeing 4.5 stars for 129 meant Yelpers have to be on the right track. Got a little lost and confused coming to this particular location since it is secluded in a huge plaza that is kind of off the main road. Came in and did not see many Asian people at all, so my first thought was "Oh no...", but the restaurant itself is nicely decorated and ambianced. They had a large table ready for us in no time. Our waiter kind of stood off to the side and watched us and it kinda felt like we were rushed to order although this place is open late. I ordered they shoyu ramen and shared a hamachi jalapeno roll. Broth was nicely flavored and the stuff a lot of noodles into the bowl. Mine had more noodles than soup and the noodles expand very quickly. The roll was ok, nothing spectacular. The hot soba my friend had was delicious and authentic tasting too. Who knows, it might be the best you can get in Miami, but I've had better. I wasn't wowed, but I was satisfied.
(3)
Tomas R.
Hiro's Yakko-San made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Each dish was a surprise in flavor and presentation. Try the chicken liver, even if you may not like it. My wife, who is not fond of my habit of ordering this dish every Japanese restaurant we go to, actually loved the way Yakko-San fried and then sauted them. I am a big fan of how they served each dish the moment it is prepared fresh so you don't have to worry about food being served cold here, unless it was intended to be served cold. Stick with older servers there, we had a young rookie server one time and even her lack of attention could not let it take away from the amazing eats here. This place has exotic dishes for the adventurous and Japanese staples for those who prefer to stick with the usual favorites. Must say this is definitely one of the top three Japanese restaurants in Miami.
(5)
Cynthia F.
This place is awesome. Great authentic sushi, HUGE rolls...the soups are amazing, it reminds me of the food I had when I was in Japan. The location is perfect close to Sunny Isles Beach...Love this place!
(5)
Karina K.
After a long search and trek for okonomiyaki, my boyfriend and I fell in love with Hiro's Yakko-San's. It's always quite a drive for us, about an hour and a half, but so worth the time and the gas. For their staples we can't get enough of their curry fried rice, crispy bok choy, okonomiyaki (it's not on the menu, but if they aren't busy they'll make it for you =) ), and yakiniku beef. For me, I can't get enough of their seasonal specials! The price for each plate is quite affordable, we spend around $20 per person and always end up ordering a plethora of different "tapas." You can't beat the service either, the wait staff is very welcoming and attentive. They do have sushi, but their main focus is japanese tapas and cuisine. Oh...another great thing is that they're open very late at night, until 2am or 3am, depending on the day! I wish they were open for lunch too, c'est la vie. ^_^
(5)
Sonny S.
My girlfriend and I usually always make a stop here. Love the food.
(5)
Erin E.
You have to get the oysters. I am not extremely well rounded but I have had my share of tasty treats and these oysters are within the top 5 tasty delicious dishes I have ever had. Yakko San is great. Fresh fresh fresh and I cannot wait to have the Sukiyaki (order 1 day in advance). A great date place or for a small birthday party, especially if some in your crew are not that adventurous they cannot be disappointed. Clams are super tasty, the broth is drinkable, BBQ beef over rice , sashimi ~ I'm picky with fish and am more than willing to try anything here. I know it's fresh so my fears go out the window. And the staff is friendly and willing to help, even change your mind should they think some other dish is tastier than the one you have chosen. Just as a suggestion but so far their choices have proven to be good!
(4)
Danny H.
very good for overall Japanese.
(4)
Lee H.
Just went there after a show in north miami at the recommendation of my GF and I have to say this was some stellar Japanese food. The service is also just as good.
(5)
Kat B.
I recommend this place for people that wish to taste some different japanese food. This restaurant offers in fact many interesting dishes beside the common raw fish based (sushi, sashimi, etc.). We had: Crispy Bok Choy, Chicken Liver Itame, Kake-Soba and Spicy Manila Clams and they were really good. The vegetable tempura was ok, the plus was that it had some unusual pieces, like the lotus root. We had the banana tempura as a dessert to share for three people, very big and yummi. Next time I will try the lotus roots as dish and the dried fish skin our table neighbors were having. Our waiter, Paul, was very nice and helpful. Will go back soon!
(4)
Itzela C.
Okay, I am giving this place a 4 star rating because of the service only. The food is a 5 star. I'm not a fan of waiting for my main course to arrive while my side dish gets cold! My side dish was the original pork fried rice which was delicious!!! And tasted great while it was hot...and soooo flavorful...the right amount of salt added to perfection. Not too salty, not too under salted. And let me tell ya it was fresh!!! My main course which was the lamb was cooked to perfection. However, by the time it arrive to the table I was almost full from eating the fried rice (totally good on it's own). Over all, I would go back again...maybe when it's not that busy on a Friday night. Anthony Bourdain....you were right Hiro's Yakko-San you Rock!!
(4)
Frank E.
So I am told this is the most authentic Japanese food available in Miami, and I would definitely believe it... the only problem is I have never had Japanese food (besides Sushi) before... therefore staring at the menu I had no idea what to order... ended up getting some Ramen and it was ok... I have no real basis for comparison (except one Ramen place I went to in SF which also was not that great) so maybe I just don't like Japanese hot food?
(4)
Luis M.
Holy cowabunga! I night at Yakko-san is an adventure and a half! I was sure to show up with my Andrew Zimmern-esque A-game! This is a subtle little treasure in an almost hidden locale. I'll keep this breif. The chicken livers were beyond outstanding. I can't say I'd ever enjoyed them this much. The yellowtail cheek. Delicious, super flavorful. The fried Bok Choy.... A class act. a simple, yet new spin on something so overdone. It was insanely fresh with such a light crispy texture. this was a crowd fav. The salmon belly: gotta admit it was rather fishy. particularly the fatty portions, but as you get under the skin... the flavor softens and you get this rich creamy headrush. Sake in a little wooden box-cup?!? Authentic! I love it. Pair it all with some Kirin and you're golden. Finally, Fried Cheesecake eggrolls?? I didnt expect this coming from such a traditional cuisine type of establishment, but nonetheless a great way to end the meal. We had far more than that, and it ended up costing a penny, but well well worth it. Service was Grade A too. More to come another time!
(5)
Tracy U.
I ate here last night and enjoyed it very much. Prices are reasonable (Miso Sea Bass perfectly cooked for $12.95) Our server was knowledgeable and very attentive, she encouraged us to try new things without being pushy or trying to up-sell us. The menu and prices allow for you to get a few dishes and share tapas style. We had a bowl of udon, hamachi sashimi and the sea bass and it was the perfect amount of food. Sitting at the sushi bar we were able to watch the chef's prepare some interesting looking items that I would like to try upon my return. The miso soup was good, if a little watery, but for $2 I can't complain. I have already recommended this to a few coworkers and plan on returning soon.
(4)
David N.
Hiro's Yakko-San moved to 163rd Street (now just called Yakko-San). It is a much larger location and totally different decor. The food is still very good, but not sure I like the new location as much. It was very loud / noisy and seemed a bit more chaotic (maybe because they just opened at the new location).
(4)
Juan Jose D.
Definitely one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Miami, second just to Matsuri. Went there on a Friday night and the place had already a long waiting list, but the wait was worth. They market their selves as Japanese tapas and that is actually what it, is part of the comfort food in Japan; small portions of artistic pieces with amazing flavors, dont get me wrong; this is not modern cuisine, it is traditional cuisine and NO they dont serve rolls, so dont expect to order your traditional dragon roll and get some usuzukuri (thin sashimi) some tsukemono (japanese pickles) or a hearty traditional ramen soup with a vast selection of sake.
(5)
Rob C.
My most visited restaurant in Miami for me (it's open late). Competition = Marumi. this is an izakaya style Japanese restaurant liked the spicy beef tongue stew a lot and blue miso. tried the kalbe yakiniku but was a little chewy and didn't like the sauce as much. decent shishito peppers. black pepper flavored chuka-don but the seafood could have been a little better. also tried the enochi mushrooms, and the miso-glazed tuna, octopus, conch mix (wasabi miso mustard flavor) -- they have some selected sashimi but no nigriri (sushi) Chawanmushi (not on the menu) with good flavor but a little watery Shoyu Ramen--broth ok but stay away from the miso ramen very watery, plus other veges just doesn't turn out right spanish mackerel miso flavored -- ok oyako don -- good; pork with bitter melon and tofu -- good uni, ikura angel hair pasta -- buttery takoyaki (octopus) -- batter was a little soggy; minnow kara-age -- good but standard kabocha croquette -- nice sweet pumpkin and beef; lotus kinpira -- sweet soy mirin flavor black pork belly -- dry from the grill, not a fan eel tofu omelet -- sweet and salty, would be great with rice mentai onigiri (spicy cod roe) -- have had better rice chicken liver itame -- fried liked kara age with onions and bean sprouts miso seafood hotpot -- nice other recommended stuff: chrysanthemum leaf tempura (perfectly cooked without too much batter), hamachi kama would recommend their fried stuff over their grilling... did like the fried oysters and fried mahi mahi roe check out the omurice -- wish they poured curry over it, but the tomato rice and omelet are good. had the chicken wings and potato in sweet brown sauce--tasty let's see, i've also had the spicy tuna rice paper rolls -- often sold out, but not that amazing dried kawahagi (thinly sliced glazed trigger jerky) -- perfect texture, interesting flavor chicken kara age -- nothing special beef curry -- comfort food, pickled radish added fried fish onion salad -- pretty tasty spanish mackeral katsu salad -- not worth it since fried fish with tartar sauce could be anything enoki egg drop soup -- little herb essence yaki udon -- stirfried, better than the soups nasu buta miso itame -- really tasty, eggplant + pork ankimo is back ~ $13 had another great meal here consisting of crispy bok choy, crysanthemum tempura, spicy squid, hamachi jalapeno, nasu buta, scallops aspa, and katsu don (little chewy) -- so good and so reasonably priced! the menu has changed now to incorporate more of their specials as regular items, so the specials menu is smaller... got the mirin ginger scallion king fish, next time will get the deep fried snapper--looks really good had the shrimp bittermelon tempura (little too much bittermelon) so, in summary, my favorites are: whole catch fish, nitsuke style crispy bok choy cyrsanthemum tempura yakiniku steak nasu buta miso itame came back after another year, and still doing ok
(5)
Steven H.
We were 6 adults 4 children. Waiter forgot things. Nothing came out together and very slow. My father in law got his fish last after everyone else ate. We complained and they didn't care. Nobody there cared. Gratuity included on 6 or more people or I would have left less. Just wanted to leave did not have dessert there. Poor trained staff and no supervision. Food was just ok compared to any other Japanese restaurants I eat in. Very disappointing. None of us will ever return. We had a reservation but table was not ready. Place was empty. Also, lighting was terrible. It kept blinking on and off in intensity where we were sitting. Really a lousy experience.
(1)
Johnny D.
Always a good spot for lunch with their specials. We focused on rice balls, a few apps (triggerfish jerky) and sashimi along with a curry beef. Everything was on point with good service. The onigiri were huge so be warned that 5 of them were a bit to many for 2 people. Parking is great since you are in a strip mall.
(4)
Naty S.
What an amazing place!!! Their menu tends to give me a severe case of ADD, because I would like to order everything on their extensive, multi-page booklet! But everything that I Randomly choose from it is just mind blowing. Even their Miso Soup is fantastic. Must admit that one of my favorite things about this place is their staff. They have an amazing crew that really elevate your experience to another level! Super recommended...!!!
(4)
Mai N.
Love this place in North Miami beach! Must try the beef tongue, cooked & seasoned just right! The sashimi was very fresh, melted in my mouth! I was only disappointed in the spicy squid, don't order! Overall, if u like tapas style Japanese food or yakatori type foods, a must try! Or if u love sashimi, must try!
(4)
Helen H.
Wow this place is a great little find! Price/value- amazing!!! We came for friday lunch and walked out full with only a $20 bill! Lunch special- 50% off! We got the sushi lunch which came with miso soup, tempura, veggies, and a 1/2 California roll! Everything veryy delicious. The rice is incredibly done well- sweet and nicely chewy- best sushi rice!! The tempura was excellently seasoned. Sometimes places don't put any seasoning and it's very bland, but this place has got it down!. I also got the cold soba noodles- good, not great. My salad was delicious... I think they added some sort of sesame oil... Soooo good. Service is how this place got bumped down to a 4- people weren't very nice. Also- they really rushed the meal- felt like they were trying to push us out. Oh well, I'll come back if I'm ever in the area again- thought it was pretty delicious and the decor is nice!
(4)
Mike M.
This place has become one of my regular places to go. Their food is very consistent and good. Their sushi is very good; I would not say excellent but much better then other sushi restaurants. One of my favorite things though is their Grilled Squid, it's so delicious. What makes me a regular is that their prices are very reasonable compared to other sushi restaurants.
(4)
Jenna M.
Eh, I was kind of turned off the last time my husband and I ate dinner here. Don't get me wrong, we will probably be back for another try but our last experience was tainted because of bad service. The food is good... reliable. But the menu is just so big, I'm not sure I'm choosing the right thing. I would much rather a restaurant that has a shorter menu filled with only amazing dishes then a restaurant like Yakko-San that has a terribly large menu filled with OK food.
(3)
Oanh H.
The service could be better. The menu is large and there is a lot to choose from. My favorite is the cucumber wrap and the misoramen. Yum.
(4)
Edwin S.
I've long considered this to be one of the staples of late night dining in Miami. It's been around a while and while I've always considered this to be a great restaurant most of my friends that shy away from sushi don't understand why I persist on getting them to at least give it a visit since sushi is not the primary concern for this venue. No, it's a Japanese Tapas Restaurant. It's fun to go with friends that aren't cowards for the best kinds of experience since it's meant for sharing. The portions vary but this is not a raw bar so my father, who can't consume raw meat because of a heart transplant restrictions in his diet, has many more options than he would have at any other place where Japanese simply means sushi. The catch of the day and the daily specials are my first suggestions. ... My only negative is with the ambiance: since they relocated into this strip mall along the intercostal the interior acoustics get to be maddeningly deafening. I don't go on the weekends to avoid the crowds. I hope they install some acoustic panels some day to dampen the echo chamber, and I will look forward to reviving this venue as my primary late night eatery.
(5)
Donald M.
I love this place. And I often drive all the way from Kendall just to eat here. Feeling adventurous? Try the Angel Hair Uni, Ikura. Kimchee ramen. Spicy tuna sashimi salads. Crispy bokchoy. Are among my favorites.
(5)
Tunyaluck P.
Hard to find a good Japanese food in NMB. They are mostly from non-Japanese. This is the real one.
(4)
Michelle I.
As good as it gets for Japanese tapas in the north Miami area. They have a range of really great items. The trigger fish is superb. Love love love the tuna hiroshimi. There was not one item that I just wasn't not the happiest foodie. The atmosphere is dark and trendy. Parking is plentiful and if u want to after party the C lounge is about 500 feet away. Never has this place let me down before. Really great food and very reasonably priced.
(4)
Amber H.
This was my first time here. I've been wanting to try this place out since people rave about it. Now that I've had it myself I don't understand what the deal is. I ordered the Yakko's 7 dish(sushi). The salmon did not taste fresh at all and the rice underneath it broke off easily and barely was any rice as it is. I ordered a simple edamame appetizer and it was over cooked. Being a ramen/sushi junkie I had try the ramen. At a restaurant called "Go Bistro" they serve Tonkotsu ramen as well, which is to die for. So I asked for a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen to evaluate how good the ramen really is. Turns out that it is NOTHING compared to "Go Bistro." The noodles tasted over cooked. The roasted pork wasn't bad, but didn't seem tender enough and the broth did not taste as alive as it should. The flavor of the ramen bowl did not stand out, but only gave me the impression of "I'm never getting this again." The lychee saketini is a must if you're into that. Overall, the experience was not that great and I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
Serge G.
We came here after reading all the great reviews but left with mixed feelings. We'll start with the good: Prices are fair, service was lightning fast, people were friendly and we had an enjoyable time. The bad: service was lightning fast (yes it is both good and bad because you want it when you're hungry but everything you order hits the table in just a few minutes, when you're not ready for your next course), no cream cheese... We ordered the fried bok choy (very good, try it), grilled BBQ eel (FANTASTIC!), hamachi with jalapeño (also very good), crunchy spicy tuna (not good at all), the albacore special in ponzu sauce (very nice) and asparagus with bacon (not wrapped or repurposed, just asparagus spears with bacon, boring) and the naruto special roll (delicious, must try). We also ordered and re ordered the milky nigiri sake which was delicious and smooth! Overall we enjoyed most of the food but the highlight were few and fleeting while the low points seemed never ending. This place isn't bad but it's nothing special. They also don't have cream cheese so they don't make Philly rolls. I understand if you want to be authentic and say in Japan they don't use smoked salmon or cream cheese but exactly how much asparagus and bacon is Japan cranking out? B- at best
(3)
Marcus K.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in the area. This is a izakaya-type place that has a fairly vast menu with everything from tempura to sushi rolls, grilled items to asian fusion. We tried a few items this time around, but we'll be back for more. Bok choy -- fried, light and crispy served with a light soy dressing on the side, nice and different from the usual preparations of boy choy. Vegetable tempura - usually with fried chrysanthemums, but currently out of season, but the variety of tempura they did serve was nicely battered (not too thick, not too thin), nice tempura sauce with grated daikon Hamachi tataki jalapeno roll -- excellent with fresh fish, nice sear on the hamachi added a smoky flavor. Hamachi and Salmon sushi -- nice fresh fish, portions are a little small, but good quality, though perhaps not the best value for the dollar. Rice was a little too cool, as traditional sushi should be served with rice that is lukewarm. Rice was seasoned appropriately. nasu buta miso itame - flavorful and nice pairing of eggplant and pork belly. Vaguely Chinese flavors in this dish, but tasty nonetheless. Will definitely be returning back to this place to try more items.
(4)
Shams B.
I came here excited to try this place. What I got instead was a disappointing meal and the wrong place apparently. The shrimp kara-age and fried bok choy was good, but everything else was average or below my standards for good sushi/Japanese food and trust me when I say I've been to/tried a lot of Japanese places from hole-in-the-wall to commercial to grocery stores, etc etc etc.
(2)
Stephanie L.
Konnichiha! I may just be directionally impaired, but even with the aid of our GPS it was a bit tricky to find this place. I had been to their old location of Hiros, which incidentally is right around the corner, but Yakka-San really tested our navigational skills. Once we arrived though we were immediately impressed with the decor, the ambiance, and the fact that the place was still pretty packed at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night. Dim and sultry, it is fun and zen-like with an upscale and modern twist. I had read on yelp it was kind of like Japanese tapas, and that turned out to be pretty accurate description. Being incredibly indecisive and with a multi-page menu filled with tantalizing choices, my friend and I chose to share an assortment of different dishes. - Oyako don: A rice bowl with egg, onions, and chicken in a light sauce, this was easily my favorite dish. Full of flavor and not too heavy, this alone could have sufficed as a meal. While the chicken chunks were white meat, I did wish it was a little higher quality chicken since it kind of felt like your average mall-style foodcourt with lots of strangely chewy bits. - Lotus roots kimpira: Thin slices of lotus sauteed in a savory sauce. This one took me getting used to since I wasn't quite accustomed to the flavor of lotus root. As I acclimated though I found that I enjoyed it more and more with every bite of the fun little crisp pinwheel discs that kind of tasted like water chestnuts. - Age-nasu deep fried Asian eggplant: Tender chunks of eggplant in a yummy sauce, this is definitely the way to go if you're an eggplant fan! - Crunch spicy tuna roll: The tuna was super fresh and it did have a bit of kick. Definitely a more traditional and well made simple sushi roll. - Salmon onigiri was a rice ball: Tiny bits of fresh salmon completely hidden in a tennis ball sized glob of rice, and wrapped in seaweed. While the fish was fresh it was tricky to eat and had way too much rice to taste the salmon. - Fried cheesecake roll: Kind of like a think strip of cheesecake (and perhaps banana) were wrapped in a crepe like a sushi roll. It was not too sweet, which was a plus, but also a bit bland and could have used nuts or coconut to add a bit of texture So this definitely felt (and from what I imagine, tasted) very authentic and fresh. I admit I'm a bit more Americanized so some of the choices (like the lotus root) took some getting used to for my tastebuds, but I'm glad I tried them and look forward to trying more. You won't find lots of creative sushi here, but rather, classic Japanese sushi and dishes that are very well made. The only minor complaint I had was that the eel sauce tasted like it had been thinned with soy sauce, so it was a bit more watery and salty than I would have liked. Overall though it was a good experience and I'm sure I'll be back for an authentic meal in at Yakka-San! It really has something for everyone with more exotic and more of your standard choices. Reasonable prices, huge variety and a selection of well cooked food in a pretty atmosphere...a solid choice for your Japanese fix!
(4)
Fiorella A.
Great sushi, nice ambiance, ok service. Late dinner no problem, this place is open super late. The litchee martini is to die for. Try the fried bak Choy
(4)
Atif H.
What a waste :( We are frequent visitors to Miami and we were planning to go to Yakko and with some very dear friends but alas we will not any more due to some of the later reviews here on YELP. We don't mind paying for Good food but it seems like this place is going to be a cause of embarrassment for us. We love our friends too much to put them through some of things I have read here. It's a damn shame though because my wife told me after the one and only time we ate here that the meal she had was the best meal she had ever had in her life :) Restaurants have to be very careful specially now a days. The words gets around. Any flaw in your setup is going to be noticed and talked about. If you are not up to par you will fade away. Good luck YAK O SON!!! fucking saran wrapped grilled salmon. Un fucking believable
(1)
Brian L.
Great Japanese food. Great service. Waitress was Rebecca and she was great.Would def come here again!
(4)
Robert P.
This is a rare authentic Japanese restaurant in S. Florida. They offer some unique dishes, but you do not have to be Japanese cuisine expert to enjoy great sushi/sashimi, grilled sea bass, grilled eel. The service is uneven, sometimes fast and great, sometimes slow and mediocre. The interior feels too big, and lack a calm atmosphere of great Asian restaurants of New York or San Fran for instance.
(4)
Cihan C.
This is a terrible restaurant. The waiter "Lim" was horrible and rude. He suggested a desert "sweet potato and ice cream" which was uneatable. When we asked to return this, he said we have to pay for it. He could not even speak English. He said this was not a free tasting! He did not know he lived in America and customer service is the most important thing for a restaurant. When we asked for the manager, manager -instead of apologizing- he said he thought we were bums , we came there to eat free food!! Will never go there and i do not recommend anyone to go there
(1)
Kaylin O.
Rather disappointing. I guess this place is a bit over hyped. I was expecting amazing food but they were all either pretty good or ok. Crispy Bok Choy--cool take on bok choy but I preferred mines slightly sauteed as opposed to the deep fried ones here. The dipping sauce was too salty. Black Pork Belly--pretty good. I love the sweet dipping sauce. I also love it paired with thinly sliced scallions. This took at least 30 minutes to prepare and the waiters gave me the run around every time I asked about it. Sashimi---Fresh; 1-2 inch pieces of Hamachi, Tuna, and Salmon. Salmon was the best followed by Hamachi and then Tuna Salmon Nigiri---Melt in your mouth yumminess Shrimp Spicy Mayo----Very disappointed; it was soggy and the sauce was drenching the fried shrimp; flavor of sauce was not right as other places; it was sour to me. I only ordered this hoping to end the meal on a good note since how can you go wrong with this dish????? Service: super slow The girl who helped us was nice but I had to ask for water so many times and some of the waiters pretty much ignored us. Service is definitely not their strong suit. I had to ask twice for my check. Disappointed. A-ok I've had better izakya type food else where. Even Open Door in Monterey Park is better. No need to come all the way to Miami for this. I really like the ambience though. Plenty of seating. Nice Bar area.
(3)
Nicole M.
I used to love this place till now! Service was suck! For what I paid for! I was ITB that why I have to to gave at least 18% because I know busboy got tip out from server! We got the guy server and I recognized him ( he been there for a long time since the old location, and he started from bussing table!) he never came to our table and ask how everything was! I and my family had to called him out when we need something! I orders kimchi soup, he never brought the small bowl out so I had to ask him after the soup have been put on the table for 15 mins! Well i guess, he should be back to bus the table if he dnt know the first rule of the server! GIVING SERVICE BUDDY,,,,,,,,!!!
(1)
Jake N.
Food is not ok. Service not good. Was really disappointed. Not good, for second chance!! Go some other place, beware! Its so bad they even made me create a yelp profile! Shameful no class disgraceful management. Apparently Cops love this place for some reason, probly getting free meal. Cause i wouldn't spend a dollar there even if i was a cop!
(1)
Maggie N.
I've been here twice. The first time was to check out their ramen, which completely disappointed but then again, I have yet to find good ramen in this area since I moved here almost a year ago. On my second visit (because not all Japanese restaurants make good ramen and that is not necessarily a reflection on the rest of their menu), we went for lunch. My husband ordered the tekka-don (the pork katsu, egg, & onion over rice) and I ordered the tuna sashimi salad. The fried pork in the tekka-don was bland and squishy. The flavor of the dish itself was too overpoweringly sweet. A definite no-go. The tuna sashimi salad had very thin slivers of tuna over a bed of mixed lettuce with thin sliced radishes. The salad dressing was too strong & overwhelmed the entire salad. I couldn't taste the sashimi at all (whether it was because the tuna was so very thin or because the dressing hid the flavor but most likely a mixture of both these things.) The lettuce contained a lot of the white no-flavor part of the lettuce (what is that called anyways?!) which I find a lot of restaurants use as filler to cut costs (pet-peeve of mine!) I must say the ambiance is great. I love the decor. We were greeted promptly and the waiter initially was very attentive but then seemed to lose interest in us. I hate to give negative reviews but I gave this place two chances and was dissatisfied both times despite the relative good reviews from other Yelpers. :-(
(1)
Rosa S.
Food is good if you know what to order. Having invited my Thai friend for a birthday surprise, she ordered many small plates, and we all shared. The seaweed salad has kelp, and is real seaweed of different varieties. They make their own sauces, and they are fabulous, and NO MSG!!! Yay!! Sea bass marinaded in miso was tender and delicious, but small for a $13 entree. The various vegetables with sauce that my friend ordered were delectable. Try the tuna with avocado sauce, it is exquisite with a very subtle pesto aftertaste. The mushrooms my friend ordered were ver aromatic and delicious. The only problem was the waitress ruined the dessert surprise when she brought out dessert plates and forks for everyone BEFORE the dessert with the candles. We sang happy birthday anyway, even though they ruined the surprise. Very loud and frenetic atmosphere.
(4)
Lucy W.
On the top of my bill read the following: Food is not as good as it used to be (along with 20% gratuity because that was the only thing that stayed the same and was satisfactory). Apparently, the whole meal was an epic fail and not just because of one hit or miss item. I can forgive the portions mysteriously shrinking more so in size and the pricing not, but the food was average AT BEST. Miso sea bass had two large pieces of bone in it and was covered in some overly powering sweet paste. Like teriyaki. I don't remember it being this nasty sweet. The scallops with asparagus and mushroom in butter sake sauce was extremely small but the worst was the scallops weren't even seared/cooked well AND the stringy pieces of asparagus. Asparagus can't be that expensive. For $8.50 a plate I'm sure you can buy more than one stalk so why not cut the correct part for me to eat? Shrimp tempura roll was the only decent thing but even my one piece tasted like freshly roasted sesame seeds. I could go on but I will spare you and keep this update short. I wanted to order more to prove my bad experience wrong but when you're starving and the food still tastes disappointing, and I couldn't bare the idea of being further disappointed... that's a really BIG disappointment that you really can't argue or deny. I will not return.
(2)
Robert H.
Wanted sushi and was tired of Hiro's which is nearby...so I met my girlfriend at Yakko-San and we had a fantastic meal. Ambiance was great. The staff was very attentive and friendly. Bartender was knowledgable and made good drinks. Most importantly, the food was fantastic and flavorful. Beautifully presented. Will definitely go there more often and highly recommend it. And they are open until 3am.
(4)
Kien M.
We got here on a Saturday night and waited about 30 minutes. The main reason for coming here is because some of my friends had cravings for ramen. I didn't have high expectations since we came from California which is known for Asian cuisines. We started off with some starters: black pork belly, jalepeno hamachi, takoyaki, and sashime platter. All dishes were decent and the fish seem fresh. I ended up ordering the salt ramen for my entree. There is two main things I look for in ramen, savory broth and fresh noodles. Hiro's has none of them but they do have a lot of shrubs to dress their noodle bowls. For dessert, I had the volcano. Ice cream with wafers and red bean sauce. Looks like they mixed a bunch of sweet things together and gave it a fancy name.
(3)
David G.
This place was ok, nothing special. The price is average to expensive, the quality of the food is very average. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out to us. I was disappointed when asking to substitute something for the shrimp in the rainbow roll (which we don't eat) and they said sure! They simply removed the shrimp, so the rainbow roll had spinach and asparagus inside, and the sliced fish on top. Nothing to enjoy on a roll with nothing good inside. Other food we had was their ramen, which was low to average compared to the others we have tried. The spicy tuna roll was good, and good for the price too. Overall, nothing wrong with this place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Betsy D.
Crispy Bok Choy is amazing!!!!! We had the Pork Katsu Don and enjoyed it very much. The plum wine was nice too!
(5)
Christine V.
If I could give zero or negative stars I would. This was the WORST eating experience I have ever encountered in my life, no joke. This place should have as its motto "you will yak if you eat at yakko-San." As if the waiter messing up our order multiple times wasn't bad enough they served me the grilled salmon with the plastic wrapping still on it!! Because they stuck the wrap in the grill with it, the plastic melted and fused with the salmon so it camouflaged as salmon skin! I ate about half of it before I picked at the "strange skin" and a larger plastic piece came off. I freaked and even my friends said it was just fried salmon skin... Until they touched it and confirmed it was indeed the plastic wrap. I got so pissed i brought the plastic to the sushi chef and told him i want a refund and asked him where the bathroom was. To detox, I had to yak/throw up everything I ate to get rid of the plastic I consumed. I will have to admit the staff were pretty nice about it. The waiter apologized and the head chef came out to apologize. They removed the cost of my meal from the check and gave free dessert. BUT the chef who messed up hid in the kitchen; I was told it was his 2nd day working and the head chef apologized on his behalf. 2nd day working or not, it's COMMON SENSE to remove plastic wrapping before cooking. This cook should find another job because the kitchen is definitely not for him. And another annoying thing is that places in Miami beach add 17% gratuity automatically. Maybe that's why service is so poor. These employees would not survive in California, where service actually determines your tip. In terms of food, this place is just ok. We all ate the lunch special. The shrimp tempura is really good and the salad has a pretty good dressing. But overall, nothing to rave about. If I lived in Miami, it wouldn't be anything worthy to return to. Save yourself the trouble and eat elsewhere.
(1)
Brian G.
Sitting at bar little but if wait for food but good . Worth the wait . Drinks tasty too
(3)
ZS G.
Driving 45 minutes for this place over and over and over again shows you how much I love this place! The food is great, the menu is innovative. Items to try: crispy fish onion salad, spicy tuna harumaki; the fried oysters; takiyaki? (I think that's what it's called); yakiniku don; yakko steak; ramen; age tofu; VOLCANO!
(5)
J K.
Started watching this series on Netflix called 'The Mind of a Chef' w/ my seed. Produced by Anthony Bourdain which follows around David Chang of 'Momofuku' fame.. First episode was on NoOdles. Bad idea watching anything food related after midnight, but great solution after i peeped that Yakko's open tiLL 3AM. So, we boogied over there to grab the Shoyu Ramen & some Nigiri. I got the Tamago aka Egg.. I order that shit every time for nostalgic reasons. Chances are u aren't gonna phuc w/ it but I do. Got the assist from the Homie Wowee to get that Jack & Hamachi which were both scrumptious. I'm gonna come clean...I didn't phuck w/ the Tuna/Toro tho. The Homie Wowee said that they cut it open fresh but this tuna had no flava like SOME of my Caucasian friends on the dance floor. Could've had that Ramen a Lil hotter temp wise & appreciated if the pork were slightly chargriLLed...but for 2-3 AM on a Mon/Tues in this area, i Phuc's w/ this spot hardbody.
(4)
Kevin W.
Ah-MAY-zing Japanese restaurant. All cooked dishes really shine here. Try and get a seat at the sushi bar. The sashimi is insane. Everything is soooo fresh. Great service. You will not find "cutely named sushi rolls" here. They bring the real stuff and they bring it strong. Enjoy!!
Great prices - especially or lunch. Very polite and quick service! Sushi/sashimi portions were of larger than average - which is good in my book!
(3)
Gretchen P.
The food here is really fresh and delicious. They have a great variety of sake and some Japanese whiskey that is pretty tasty. I sat at the bar and had a great time chatting up the friendly staff and enjoying a wonderful meal.
(4)
Laura S.
We came to Yakko- San last night for dinner. I liked the decor and the service was very friendly. I had some veggie sushi rolls, which were very good. My boyfriend had the ramen, and loved it. We had a couple appetizers that were all amazing: daikon salad, crispy bok choy, and some kind of sauteed spinach ( i forgot what it is called). We also had the fried cheesecake for dessert, it was excellent!
(4)
Tony A.
My wife and I still love Hiro's! I think the sushi is underrated. I think when they moved into the new location they really were able to expand their sushi offerings with their huge sushi bar. The fish comes out very quickly too and there are always really great sushi offerings. The Chef's Daily 6 always has awesome sushi options!
(5)
Megan M.
Yakko San puts a twist on typical Japanese restaurants in the area. I always go to Hiro on 163rd, but decided to try Yakko San when I was in the mood for Japanese food because I had heard good things. Overall, my experience was ok. Inside the restaurant, I felt a little cramped. The only table available was next to the wall and the edge of the bar. Service was friendly, polite, and fast. Other than an awkward moment toward the end of our meal, that aspect was great. When we were finished, one of the employees came to our table and set down other people's half eaten dishes on our table and then started stacking all of the plates in front of us to take them to the kitchen. Not only was this awkward, but it was gross. I would rather he come back for our plates than have to interrupt our conversation to put other people's leftovers on our table to save himself a trip to the kitchen. The food was hit or miss. My edamame was good, but not nearly as hot as it should have been. I also ordered the sweet potato tempura because those were the only vegetables they hadn't run out of. By the way, it wasn't sweet potato. It tasted like a regular potato. My friend ordered a seaweed salad. It was different from any seaweed salad I've seen before, and the waiter did tell us that, but it was strange, and for around $8, the portion was tiny. The best part about that dish was the dipping sauce. Yum! That was almost the best part of the meal until my friend's dumplings came out. Those were delicious. I may come back to Yakko San and try a few other things, but for now, I'll stick to Hiro because I can't really see what all the hype is about.
(3)
Cliff F.
Yakko-San is a mixed bag (for me, anyway). I never, ever order anything but sushi at Japanese restaurants. Because of this, Yakko-San was a bit of a disappointment. I would have expected their menu to have more sushi and less entree items, etc...oh well. We ordered four sushi rolls and an agedashi tofu for an appetizer. The tofu was amazing. Sweet, fishy broth with lightly tempura fried tofu--very hot, very satisfying. Rolls were slightly larger than average--presentation wasn't too overdone, which is refreshing. Definitely better than average, but the Saba Battera was DELICIOUS. I would drive from S. Miami to Sunny Isles for this one roll...an "Osaka style box roll," it features marinated mackerel and rice. That's it--and it's perfection. A must try. Service was good--nothing of note, bad or good.
(4)
Sarah P.
I adored Yakko-san during my time in Miami. In an area where finding good Asian food is almost close to impossible, Yakko-san was a little gem of the Asian persuasion. The service was good, prices were very reasonable, and the food was plentiful & fantastic. My personal favorites were the curry donkatsu (pork), eel donburi, and yakiniku steak donburi. Ohhhh the yakiniku steak. I brought my mother here when she was visiting and she was positively radiating with excitement from this dish that she actually ordered a 2nd one to go to eat later. Must be where I get my foodie genes from...... Other less memorable dishes that I've tried were the yakisoba (huge portion) and a couple sushi dishes that were good but typical. My mother also loved the kimchi natto (fermented soybeans) but that ain't really my thang so I couldn't personally tell you how I felt about it. This is the place to go in North Miami if you're craving good Asian food.
(5)
Ashley M.
One of the best experiences I have had in a restaurant in quite some time. The service was excellent: hostess accurately quoted the wait time, the waiter never left us waiting, and the chefs (we sat at the bar) were extremely friendly. As others have said as well, I am also not an expert on authentic Japanese cuisine. What I do know - the plates are artisticly presented and full of flavour. The portions are large for the price, and everything tasted extremely fresh. With the recommendations of my fellow yelpers and the waiter, we ordered: Crispy bok choy appetizer $6.50 - Very good. It was a tiny bit too salty and too big of a portion for just two. Would be great for four to share. Yakiniku (BBQ) steak $ 10.00 - Wonderful flavour and perfect portion size. My only complaint? I'm usually very good with chopsticks and I kept making a fool of myself with this :) Hamachi Kama (Fish cheek) $13.50 - Delicious. We even watched the chefs cut the fish fresh before sending it off to be grilled. No complaints whatsoever. Pork fried rice $ 7.50 - Not your usual fried rice, this was much fresher and appeared more "authentic". Great flavour and a really nice portion size. Perfect for 2-3 people. Fried cheesecake $5.75- Very good. I would have preferred something a bit more "authentic" (though I'm not positive, I don't think that cheesecake is Japanese lol) It was the recommendation of the waiter, and it did not disappoint. Overall a great value for the service and quality of food received. Definitely a new favourite restaurant. We even saw that when the gentleman next to us shared his sake with the chefs, he was given all sorts of little samples to try **note to self - buy sake next time and share with the chefs! I'm looking forward to trying some of the more adventurous things on the menu. Kimchee and jellyfish, here I come!
(5)
Lisa W.
I've been hearing about this place since BEFORE I moved to Miami. I finally had the occasion to try it and it was an epic fail. Why? Because I mistakenly went to "Hiro Sushi" on 163rd which is NOT the same thing nor the same owner (it apparently is the ex wife of Hiro at Yakko San who kept the name/restaurant in the divorce). I FINALLY corrected my mistake this past weekend. Yakko San is in the shopping center where Duffy's is in Aventura/North Miami Beach, right next to Old Navy. Huge public parking lot and even offers complimentary valet. I walk in and the place is packed! Nice decor, everything very clean, decent design and lighting. A few flat screens to watch the Heat game and very attentive staff. First off, forget about the sushi. Yes it is excellent but your first time, step outside the box and try the Japanese "tapas". All portions are great for sharing and for what you get, very reasonably priced. We ordered 4-5 tapas and a few sushi rolls and were stuffed! I highly recommend the pork/onion salad (New Times just named it one of the top 100 dishes in the 305), crispy bok choy, vegetable tempura, eggplant/pork/miso stir fry, chinese black sausages (yum and served with a spicy wasabi-like mustard) and hamachi jalapeno. We only scratched the surface of the menu and I will be back! Two of us got out of there for a total bill of about $45 including two beers and 4-5 tapas. It was excellent!
(5)
Asami S.
There aren't many restaurants like this place and open so late. They do have a lot of traditional Japanese dishes that are very hard to find in South Florida. Okanimiyaki was one that I was very excited to try. I was a little disappointed with it though. It did not taste authentic. The texture and temperature were off and it left a lot to be desired. The ramen is loaded with noodles and slices of meat and eggs. It tasted better than some, and it was edible, but it still was not authentic. I have also tried a few of the donburi entrees (meat with egg over rice) and was disappointed. Do not get them. They were unpleasantly soggy, strongly eggy, and mushy. I just wish this restaurant was a little less Americanized. I think I was mostly just happy to see other Japanese food aside from sushi.
(3)
Jade S.
I Have never been disappointed. Open late every night.VERY GOOD FOOD!
(4)
Mio F.
4 stars, mostly for the wide space, ambiance, hours, large bar, and the food (and assume drink as well) selection. I only had sushi this time so I will save the other food review for later time. My friend was pleasantly surprised when he received the bill (it was Sunday afternoon), overall sushi was good/ok, but portion not that big as others write, and most are rather bland.... (which may be good since it's not as Americanized). Service was good, food came fast, and I understand the place will help our midnight cravings, which is awesome. I will go back happily especially late at night, it's also in a nice shopping center where you can actually do other shopping like Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Dollar Store, etc. Again food is good or passing, not the greatest, but given the other factors this is still a good choice.
(4)
Victor M.
I cannot believe this restaurant has a four star rating. Their sushi is not even average, specially for the price
(1)
Johnny Q.
Can the Cheesecake Factory please sell their Japanese restaurant back?!?!? I know this is not a dedicated sushi house but if Sizzler from the 80's was resurrected and morphed into a Japanese restaurant. This would be its offspring I am missing the boat on this place. I understand this place is not going for the intimate sushi setting but this restaurant feels that I walked into a bad chain restaurant from the 80's. The place is huge and clean. The tofu kimchi was pretty tasty. Lychee martini was good and pretty strong. The wait staff is definetly in need of improvement. The pictures from other yelpers definetly deceived me. Meaning it the sushi looked ALOT better in pictures. Rubber and dull, Ive had better sushi from a supermarket.
(2)
David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=5 // Service=4.5 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=Yes // Bathrooms=OK // Overrated=No Hands down the best restaurant in Miami. It has recently moved to a new location and it very cool inside... You know it is good when 50% of the patrons are asian. Try the BBQ Eel, Onion Fish Salad, Lotus Root(cheap), Seaweed Salad, any made to order soup and most of all the spicy tuna harumaki(probably spelt wrong). Also, try to find the asian waiter that speaks hebrew...
(5)
Kioko O.
This is one of the few places (besides Joe's Stone Crab) that I recommend when my friends visit Miami. And their feedback has been quite good. Yakko-san was the first to successfully introduce Japanese tapas (izakaya dishes) in Greater Miami area when only Japanese dish known to mankind there were teriyaki chicken and American invented funky rolls. They also place emphasis in selections of wines and sakes. I am not sure if Hiro-san, the owner, still works as a chef. But if he is, you are in luck! Ask him what's good that day. He's a master of creating dishes that are delicate in taste and beautiful in presentations. Another plus is that they stay opened until 2AM on Thursday through Sunday, and 3AM on Friday and Saturday
(5)
Allan L.
Really good food. Been coming to this place before they moved and always consistent great quality food. Try the spicy Manila clams, absolutely ridiculous and try the flank steak cooked medium well in the Yakko-San BBQ sauce. Steak is super tender! Enjoy
(5)
Stuart S.
This was the second time I have been to this newer location and will be the last. I generally sit at the such I bar which we did tonight. It took ten minutes to find a waiter and was told by the one we were able to call over he would try to find our server. Things only got worse after that. The next time we saw her was when I again asked another waiter to find her for our check. The sushi as I learned is now made without wasabi! Apparently some of their customers don't like it so it has now been "Americanized " This American will be eating his sushi elswhere!
(1)
Stephanie L.
This is my favorite place to eat in Miami (or close to Miami in that case). Not only this is the best Japanese restaurant in town but you are also transported to Japan the second you cross their door. Almost all the cooks are Asian, speak Japanese, the pictures in the restaurant are of Asian stars...this is really a cultural experience. Great service and great food. My favorites are the crispy fish salad and the grilled calamari, along with a cup of green tea to drench your thirst. It has become a tradition for me and a friend to go every two weeks. We sit at the cook station and watch "the show". The cooks are terrific and you get hungry for every plate they cook before your eyes. Really a must go on your way back from Aventura Mall.
(5)
Tough C.
This is a great place to have Japanese tapas. Delicious options of Asian fusion dishes at affordable prices. The staff is quick, friendly and they are always there to make sure you have a good experience. I highly recommend it!
Food: Not recommended if you're looking for great food for the price. The portion was very little and the prices on the menu were pretty brutal. $45 for 25 small pieces of sashimi. I have never seen such a small piece of sashimi in my life. The Sashimi Large showed up like crumbs of sashimi hiding behind all the garnish. I saw more garnishing than the food. The seafood soup that I order was wayyy salty, not only me but everyone at the table complained. The price of most appetizers were easily $10 each, and of course the portions were very small. Service: There were many waiters but not attentive to the customers. I waved my hands in front of many of them and no one spotted me. Even the ones who saw me didn't acknowledged, but just walked by. Two of the waiters somehow try to collect the dish WITH food on them before we told them we were done. I felt like I was rushed to finish my food. Not very great service. Environment: The place looks more like a bar without almost every table drinking alcohol. The mood of the place was leaned toward for adult. Not recommended if you're looking to have a family dinner with great food for the price. It's more like an insanely overpriced snack spot.
(1)
Charlie L.
Oh, good god.... this place is goooooood.. So so good. I've had Japanese food all over the world, and this is probably in the top 5 places I'd want to eat again. Jenny, Dan and I were visiting from various parts of the country when we stumbled upon this gem... well, actully, we didn't really stumble upon it as the hostess from Naoe gave us the recommendation, and to be absolutely frank, Hiro's is by far, better than Naoe despite Naoe's chef pedigree and triple A ingredients. At the end of the day, good food is good food, not matter what the atomosphere is like... and eventhough this place may seem "low-brow" compared to Naoe, the food is just so well flavored that I would chose this over Naoe any day. Every dish we had were out of this world and the sake was first rate. If I lived remotely close to Miami, I would go here over and over again. Five stars, not to be missed!
(5)
Jennie S.
This was where I went on my first date with my current boyfriend, and it honestly impressed me so much as a choice for a date that it scored him serious points...! I love this joint. This is where chefs go to eat when they get off work, for one because they're open super-late, but also because the food is excellent and the prices very reasonable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the chefs in action. I haven't been there since they opened their new location so I can't speak to the ambiance there, but I know that in the old location, it was very laid-back, casual, nothing fancy but not quite dive-y either. But the ambiance was great because you could watch the chefs work, and the menu is just so great. This is NOT for sushi...I don't think they even sell sushi. This is hot Japanese food. If you're a vegetarian, there is plenty on the menu you can eat; if you're looking for meat or fish, there is plenty of that too. I have tried veggies I'd never even heard of before there, like burdock root. Their veggie tempura is awesome because it has a lot of exotic vegetables in it. Whenever we go we try something new, and we love it all. This is a must-go in Miami.
(5)
Luis G.
As far as I know, this is the only place in South Florida that serves Zaru soba. I've been on the hunt for these cold buckwheat noodles for the longest time and Yakko-San delivered. Delicious in its simplicity and elegance, served with a nice dipping sauce over a bamboo mat and with a little bit of crispy nori on top...Yummm. Hiro's Yakko-san is a great choice in the area because it is high quality food and service and open till mad late (3 am). Their specialty seems to be the Yakitori part of Japanese cuisine, but it seems they have a lot covered, from the Sashimi, to the Ramen, to the Soba and Takoyaki -which is some of the best I've tried by the way- everything I had was great, and I must agree with the previous reviewers the crispy Bok-choy was crazy good! I still have no idea how they do that. Their extensive menu gives way to multiple tries, and I'm certainly up for it. Good choice for dining out!
(4)
Nighthawk H.
You know when you see actual Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant that it is going to be good. Sashimi is delicious and fresh, ambiance was great and it wasn't too loud. The best part is, if you are feeling frisky after your dinner, there is gentleman's club near by.
(5)
Andrew S.
Relatively speaking the best ramen I've had in a looooong time. They only have four selections, but they are so good: - the kimchee ramen is the bomb - miso ramen is good - chicken or pork katsu should be dipped into the broth for a nice crunch Some of the few problems I had with this place: - hiyayakko (a tofu appetizer...)... eh, dont waste your time. - soy sauce is too salty Great prices and our server was wonderful... her name is Wendy.
(4)
Jay L.
Got's to give it a 3.5...I shoulda known it couldn't be as good as everyone else raved cuz you just can't get great Japanese food here in Florida...You can't really get ANY great Asian food here. It's probably cuz most people here don't even know what they are missing. Most Floridians (not all) have no idea what the difference is. They just lump all Asians and Asian food into one category. Just read the reviews about this place and you can see. I don't want to dis the other Yelpers here, after all, I am outsider, but this is NOT straight up Japanese food. It's not fusion either. How to put it... So it's not a stupid "Thai/Sushi/Chinese" place...I can't believe anyone even falls for that here...but it's definitely not pure Japanese either. They have Korean and Chinese ingredients all through the menu. Not a bad thing at all. They DO have a special Japanese menu if you want and can read it...They prolly don't offer it to the gringos though. Ya gotta ask for it. That being said, it's more "Asian" than say, PF Chang's or any other number of Americanized joints you might find scattered throughout Florida. They use some less Americanized ingredients and flavors. So, overall, it's more of a flavor trip than chain places. I thought the food was pretty good, just not as good as it's all hyped up to be here on Yelp. I had the crispy bok choy...very tasty...but isnt' anything that's fried? In a perfect world, it'd be a little spicy. Had the pan fried gyoza. Awful. No flavor. Skip them. Also got the sashimi appetizer. The fish was actually pretty good. Not the freshest, but not bad. Not chewy or fishy, but bite-able. The highlight was the yakiniku donburi which was a well marinated steak over rice. Was cooked well, tender and wasn't a generic teriyaki sauce. A bit sweet, with enough salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Perhaps a little MSG as well for the umami flavor. Mirin too? I think perhaps. Oh, I forgot they also gave me a starter bite, a little cold noodles in vinegar. I don't know what it's called. And yes, some of the waitstaff aren't Japanese or Korean...so some of them won't know what you order if you order in Japanese. They have some Latino dude and some Thai chick... Overall, I liked it...wouldn't quite give 4 stars though. It did save me from eating at the mall though.
(3)
Jordan N.
I bumped it up another star for being a good late-night option. However, food didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would - but then again, I do think this place has been hyped. Food is satisfying and I would return whenever I'm in the mood for good Japanese food late at night (besides sushi). I had the following: Spicy Manila Clams Age-nasu (deep-fried asian eggplant). Croquettes Sea Bass Miso (grilled chili on sea bass marinated miso) Fried Cheese Cake Roll Hot Tea Sake
(4)
Randy L.
Stopped in today, ordered ramen dish. Almost as good as Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Place was empty for lunch. Sat next to King of Miami, Yelper. May make it a regular stop when in the area.
(4)
Wing L.
It's hard to find authentic-inspired Japanese food in Miami but Hiro's Yakko-san was decent. No crazy habachi grills or random crazy sushi rolls here. Yakko-san specializes in Japanese tapas dishes that can be shared amongst your party. Their sushi selections are good and resemble more of Japan than those crazy Asian-Fusion crap that you see floating around these days. Miami roll? Please..... Yakiniku Steak(meats), Unagi Kabayaki-BBQ eel (grill), Ika Maryyaki-grilled squid (grilled) and bolognese pasta were some of the food we've tried. The steak was tender and well flavored. The BBQ eel was smoky (but still a bit "fishy" so if you tend not to like that, steer away. I really enjoyed the grilled squid. It wasn't flavored much but with lemon, it goes a long way. The pasta was done Japanese style (with ketchup). Was I transported back to Japan eating these foods? No, but at least I was in a good authentic Japanese restaurant that wasn't serving Chinese, Thai, and other Asian fusion food that tends to lump all of them as one.
(3)
Brian L.
15 words of less: Nothing need be said. 15 words or more: Where do you start? Chefs eat here. Does that say something? Just go. Give it a try. The food is great. My personal favorite is the whole fish. They have between 3 and 4 fresh fishes. You pick the fish and generally the size you want. They will prepare it in one of several ways. We always go with the fried version. The best part is the presentation. The fish is cubed and then put back onto the fish. The result is bite sizes pieces of fried goodness. No muss and no fuss. Just eat and enjoy. There are a ton of stand out dishes, but what is great is to just explore the menu and try things you probably will not see on any other menu in South Florida. Lotus root, really? Yes please...crunchy in texture and flavorful do to the sauce. Yaki-udon with pork? Better believe it...a texture dish for me, as I really dig the chewiness to the noodles. Crispy bok choy. Sure and just dump that sauce on it instead of dipping. Seafood hot pot. Works for me...loaded with fish and veggies. Fried shrimp with spicy mayo. Oh yeah. Note that the place apparently will offer a shabu shabu platter, but you have to give advance notice. A friend tried it and said it was very good. For sake, my choices are the number 2 and the number 4. Ordering it in a bamboo will net you about 6-8 glasses, which will go fast so consider going with a bottle if you have a sake drinking crowd with you. Sure, we all miss the old place. It had charm...in a beat up strip mall, the inside was beat up, and you basically sat on top of everybody else. The new place will not have that same feel, but frankly, in the end I am there for food and good company. And that has not changed. PS, thank you Yakko San for opening up the wifi. The new place is where cell phone signals go to die. They just opened up the wifi, which is a huge plus.
(5)
Flora V.
Finally, some fresh and amazingly authentic japanese food in Miami. I've tried a few here and been settling for less. not anymore! this is our new favorite sushi spot. everything we've tried there was made to perfection, the rolls (recommend, spicy tuna and jalapeno yellowtail hamachi). I haven't tried too many things but so far everything was extremely fresh and prepared well. Met one of the owners, May. Really sweet! can't wait to go back and try more menu items.
(5)
Ed A.
Horrible...The people that work here threw my friend's food at her while she was leaving. Just because they were dying to close, will NEVER come here again. Don't come here, if you do, don't come near closing unless you feel like getting your doggie bag thrown at you.
(1)
Jonah K.
Lunch was decent here, but nothing to write home about. Not very memorable, but just ordered a variety of nigiri, and sashimi. There was pretty much no one in the place when we arrived at 11:30am, and not many people when we left at 12:30pm or so.
(2)
Carlos P.
Its hard to rate because all I had was a spicy tuna hand roll. W came in to eat sushi but they only have about 9 rolls on the menu. My wife loves jb rolls and they don't have it here. Paid for my drinks and hand roll, but going down the street to Hiros
(3)
Jane L.
Awesome, authentic Japanese food. I've tried a lot of Japanese restaurants in NJ/NYC and hands down, this is the best place I've found so far in Miami. The prices are totally reasonable and portions are big for the most part. They're open til super late and my family loves going there to grab a late snack or dinner. The place is usually packed with people cause it's a good place to watch a game, grab a drink, or go on a date night. Wendy & Andy are awesome and always serve us with a smile. Their katsu curry is AH-MAZING if you like Japanese curry. Their yakiniku don, katsu don, kimchee ramen are also good. If they were closer, I'd probably go at least once a week!!!!! parking can be hard to find but valet is available.
(5)
Jack B.
This was such an inconsistent experience. While some of the food we ordered did indeed live up to the hype, we were thoroughly disappointed with the service as well as some of the other dishes. The waitstaff assigned to our area was horrible. At one point a busboy brought us the wrong dish, then HE gets pissed off when the mistake is pointed out. The dishes all came out at different times. Some people at our table started to eat 15 minutes after the other people were done. The ramen was straight up horrible. Bland and parts of the meat were still frozen. Any one of these slights could have been brushed off and forgiven with a slight apology, but instead the mistakes just kept piling on. Bottom line, this place could be great, management just needs to tighten the screws.
(2)
Thomas K.
Great atmosphere. Very hip looking restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly, and nobody waits long to order. If your interested in a spicy salad, I recommend the tuna or salmon sashimi salad. Get the spicy option. Japanese authenticity at its best! Plenty of parking and other shopping around.
(5)
Irene R.
This is my all-time favorite Japanese place in South Florida. I'm a creature of habit and order my staple items each time and I've never been disappointed...crispy bok choy, agedashi tofu, short rib yakiniku, dried kawahagi, gizzard kara-age, and the buttery mentaiko. I miss their old location that had a more intimate, neighborhood feel. The new place is definitely better and more visually appealing, but it's a bit too glam and flashy for me. But hey, I'm here for the food. :)
(5)
Steven G.
Quick, courteous, super fresh and innovative. It is not a legend for nothing. The owner watches the room like a HAWK. Missing friendly attentive service in Miami? Come here. Fresh ingredients and good prices? Come here. Any naysayers are plants!
(4)
D S.
If you have not been to Yakko-San then you are missing on some really creative Sushi. The problem with sushi nowadays is that there are so many sushi restaurants that the bar for quality and variety has been set terribly low. The food is well prepared and rich in flavors. One of those nights we went fishing and returned with a Hog Snapper. We had not even prepare the fish we just hand it over to them and 10 minutes later they had ready. They cut the fish in small pieces and then deep fried them. The body and the head served as decoration sort of like when you get a flounder at a Chinese restaurant. The only negative is that they are a bit on the expensive side. On the other hand there aren't to many places in the area that are open till 2am!
(5)
S G.
The location or ambience won't keep you running back to this place but the food probably will (so long as you are mildly adventurous)! Foodies should definitely give it a try! Affordability is a nice added perk too.
(4)
Mary-Ann I.
This is not primarily a sushi place. We found this place when we were looking for a sushi restaurant in Miami. We read great reviews so we gave it a shot. The food is delicious, although not so much for the sushi. They're rolls were good, not great. The waiter told us to try the Beef Tataki so we did and it was delicious. We also loved the tuna guacamole and the Hamachi Jalapeños Pepper. Service was great and prices were very reasonable. If you're looking to eat just sushi, though, this isn't the place.
(4)
Melissa F.
CRISPY PORK AND ONION SALAD!!!!! After reading about this restaurant in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times I made it a point to check this place out. The location is nestled in the Intercostal Plaza near Old Navy and The Frank Movie Theater, prefect for an after shopping lunch date or dinner after a movie. Their dressing is to die for and the pricing is very reasonable. The dining area is a descent size but the lay out and decor makes it feel intimate. Portions are perfect for sharing and with their prices you can easily find yourself ordering a variety of dishes. Just one visit and I'm a fan.
(4)
Natan C.
This place has the most bizzare rules and regulations. All guests and the staff gets treated like garbage. Most of the waiters don't know what they're doing. The devilish and drank owner has no consideration or ounce of gratitude for her customers and it shows. My girlfriend was also absolutely shocked to waste the time and money. I recommend to avoid it !!!
(1)
Dennis M.
Authentic unusual Japanese. For the foodie adventurer. Delicious!
(5)
Marc G.
Ummm...Hiro WTF happened? When we moved to MIA in 2007 this place was our absolute fave. My wife and I went here over and over and over again, birthdays, friday nights, late night after doing something else. We took friends from other countries, nieces from Orlando and their boyfriends and raved about it. We knew the waiters and waitresses by name (anyone remember David - that man was the BOMB). That was when the place was on W. Dixie in what people used to call a hole in the wall. To the regulars, the place was home, as a Japanese Homestyle (or Izakaya as one other yelper called it) should be. You used to walk in and be greeted by a hearty "Irasshaimase" from the chefs, everyone knew who you were and the place was fun, respectful and awesome food that you could rely on. But then something happened in 2010 into 2011. Hiro's new wife May started to come in ALL the time. She started to take over the business (at least this is my perception). In a few short months, it was announced they would be moving to their present location in Eastern Shores. Some regulars (including us) were invited to the grand opening (which we could not make due to being sick). When we started to go the vibe had totally changed. It was a more bar/club like feel. You felt had to dress up to go there and the wait staff changed. We remained friendly with the old wait staff who remained and used to ask them what they thought and the consensus was, it has changed too much and lost it's old charm (mind you some of them had been there for years). Fast forward to today and I can tell you tonight was my last meal ever at Yakko san. The other yelpers are right, the place is soulless, passionless, Hiro no longer cares about the food, he walks around in a daze most of the time and the rest of the chefs follow suit. The food just sucks now and the quality of the ingredients has gone down. Had the Blue Fin Carpaccio and it tasted oily, not-fresh and the salmon roe tasted like slime from the bottom of the sewer (not that I am familiar with that taste but the thought came to mind). The wait staff is rude, arrogant and downright offensive. Our waiter kept saying he could not hear me even though I was speaking loud and frankly I believe his mind was elsewhere. There was a special tonight - stuffed mushrooms and I asked him what it was stuffed with and he said I dont really know but I am sure its good. Then he got another waiter who proceeded to tell us it was seafood stuffed with mushrooms. It was not. The atmosphere has changed completely, now it is a loud, sports bar type environment that attracts all the waiters/waitresses from Duffys and the surrounding bars as they close. I am sad to write this and sad to see the place we once loved so dearly turn to such shit. But Hiro, I think your business is about to fail. Hope you read this and change your ways but somehow I think the money is all you care about now. This is an example of how to destroy a successful restaurant. Judging from the other comments, many feel the same as we do.
(1)
Chris W.
Wonderful food, sometimes hard to get a seat. Loved the takoyaki & pork w/bitter melon. Can't beat it for Izakaya, and I'd even say it's better than a number of similar places in Seattle. I looooooooove this place.
(5)
Kenny H.
I like the food here a lot. However, sometimes the service here is horrible. Most of the waiters don't stop by the table for half an hour. I had to get a bus boy to get me a refill multiple times. The atmosphere is also very nice. This place just need to get some new waiters. It's great because it usually opens until 3. Most places are closed by then.
(3)
Carolyn C.
My husband and his family have been coming here for years, it has recently changed locations but the owner and name are the same. I recently made my way down to Florida and was really shocked by how much I liked this place. As a table of 6, we ordered more than 20 dishes, and actually ordered some of the same dishes twice because it was sooo good. It was pretty busy when we sat down. Service was prompt and the food came fast. The flavor was all really good. It is like a Japanese tapas place, but very affordable for the quality of food that you get and you will be full. It is a very authentic for a Japanese restaurant in America. Recommendations: Seafood Miso Hot Pot (I was skeptical, but my husband said I would not regret it, and I didn't), Ton Katsu, Gizzard Kara-age and Beef tongue steak (if you are adventurous), and the Miso Sea Bass (get this, it is tender and melts in your mouth).
(5)
Luke S.
Not sure how to categorize the place. They have lots of food choices on their menu which confused me. Sushi rolls were ok, too much rice for my taste. Sushi was fresh and very good; nicely presented too. Mango chicken was dry - not sure whether Mango chicken qualifies as Japanese food? Perhaps because they served it with rice? Many waiters. Somewhat inconsistent service. Ambience of a train station. Not very comfortable to spend time. Could be better at the sushi bar. For what it is, a bit on the pricey side.
(3)
Marymarie P.
Miami lacks great Asian food, but Yakko-San is a family favorite! I feel like you've got to know what to order here for you to really appreciate the authencity of the food (their menu can be overwhelming with such a mixture of all Asian cuisines)...but let me tell you that this place is known for their Japanese tapas, and other Asian tapas in general...I'm talking about the bar food my Poppa use to eat with his boys with a case of Heineken and a bottle of Remy! If you're a true foodie, and you're brave and open enough to try some things that may seem a bit "weird," try my favs...PS --we normally order the same 'ole thang, and ALL of following: --Dried kawahagi (trigger fish jerky) --reminds me of eating and chillin' with Pops -Spicy Manila clams --perfectly cooked (not too overcooked and not too raw) -Kim chee fried rice (a NEW fav of mine here, but portion is a tad small) -Kim chee Buta - Pork belly prepared Korean style -Hamachi cama (jaw of Yellowtail) --extremely tender meat -Crispy onion fish salad -Fried oysters --always plump and juicy here (I always ask for a different dipping sauce, I like the katsu sauce for the oysters) P.S --the new location is so much bigger!
(5)
angel g.
One word: Takkoyaki I like the older location better, though.
(4)
Emiliano B.
This place has some of the best sushi I have had in Miami. The quality of their sushi is amazing, very fresh fish and a lot of variety of fish that most Japanese places don't have. I gave this place 4 stars because their service could be better but the food is amazing don't let that keep you away from visiting.
(4)
Bahia S.
This place is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant that I have been to outside of Japan. After living in Japan for a number of year, my husband I are constantly searching for something that comes close to the food we loved in Japan - this restaurant does! In the Japanese izakaya tradition, we ordered a number of small dishes to share among 4 people. Everything was good and most things were extremely authentic. Mixed Salad - the dressing on this is fantastic! Age Dashi Tofu - one of my favorites, tofu fried in a sweet stock. They did this exactly the way they do in Japan, and our friends who were first timers to the dish they loved it as well. Lotus Roots (renkon) - crunchy and in a delightful sauce, I have rarely seen this in the USA. Buta Nasu Miso Itame - Literally "pork eggplant miso stir-fry" this had a thick miso sauce and the eggplant was cooked just right. Yakisoba - their yakisoba was very authentic, which was refreshing after the many in-authentic versions I have tried. Ginger Pork - this was the only dish that I was disappointed in. While the sauce was good, the pork was different from the kind they use in Japan and a little dry. Rice - perfect rice! Miso Soup - a full bowl of miso soup, not the little half bowl they usually give you in American restaurants. Sake - I am not usually a big fan of sake (nihonshu), but the selection we got on the sake flight was surprisingly good. Two of the three did not have much of the aftertaste that I usually don't like. The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, it felt like you were walking into a little slice of Japan, with lots of Japanese and Asian clientele. The price is also very reasonable. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Alexander M.
Been coming here for a few years now & have never been disappointed Trigger Fish Jerky, Burdock Lotus Root, & Crispy Bok Choy are appetizers that stand out in my opinion Ordered a simple Ramen bowl with fish broth & pork ... Affordable & plenty of Food Place is highly recommended Open till very late each night
(5)
Alex S.
All is good in this place, thanlks for your service.
(5)
Carlo B.
Best food in town. They have shaken out the kinks at the new location and their dishes are impressive. Hiro is a master. Take your appetite.
(5)
Steven S.
I won't waste your time repeating the accolades spouted by others below (and no doubt eventually above). Just go and enjoy one of the great Miami-Dade experiences - close to but not exactly as stimulating as going 35 mph in the left lane of I-95S as an anthropological experiment. Small dishes that put the Spanish tapas people to shame. PS bokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybÂokchoy
(5)
Jayne B.
Talked about this place for days so finally writing a review $ 46 for 2 people with dessert and 1 beer Menu is so large your head will spin We sat at the bar. Fast efficient service Server walked us thru the menu you a bit so could have a taste of many flavors. Ordered pickled cabbage spicy tuna roll thing liver ---one more dish but can't remember at the moment fish jerky---blew me away dessert: some cheesecake heaven on a plate thought we were stuffed but cleaned the plate The desserts were fat American back to country roots heaven that i saw being passed out Beer was large-- Left at 10pm and group of 55-80 year olds came in to dine love the variety of diners Will be back for sure
(5)
Danielle G.
I initially gave this 3 stars because the food is good - but in reconsidation the quality of food is not the only consideration. Restaurants are only going to change their ways if regular customers let them know things are unacceptable. The service OMG is awful and has plummeted from when we first started going 8 months ago or so and it was never stellar to begin with. Last night we had some delicious sushi - we also had the octopus mediterranean, the delicious jalapeno hamachi, we had the daikon kimchee along with the Kama - the food was delicious - no complaints. We arrived between 6:30-7ish and sat at bar. NO ONE at the sushi bar ever even acknowledged our presence, not one time did they ever even look up or say "hi". We joked that there seemed to be this invisible wall in front of the sushi bar where the chefs were not allowed to make eye contact with customers. One of the reasons we like to sit at the bar is for interaction with the sushi chef or at least a friendly greeting. We sat for at least 5-7 minutes before anyone even approached us for water or a drink order. My partners water was never refilled. We had to flag random people down to ask for a bowl of rice as we were never even really sure who our actual server was. Random people would bring a dish out and not remove an empty dish right in front of your face, no words, no how it it? nothing.........I tried to flag down people multiple times and like they would see and look away????? I don't get it. There wasn't even really anyone to complain to visible on the way out about the horrible service - just young girls as a hostess station who would not have cared less. So read the reviews and make your decision - make no mistake I think the food is good but pricey with NO SERVICE whatsoever. At this point we have eaten here about 5 times before I wrote the review so I feel I've given them a fair chance to just have an off-night, it's more than that. No servers smiled, made recommendations or showed any hint of happiness or charm. It was a very dismal final experience for us here. Get it together guys - you can have great good but if your service sucks you will lose people like us who actually drive 40 minutes to eat specifically at your place. We would rather stay closer to home get mediocre sushi and excellent service from a small place who appreciate our business and hard earned money. When we usuall drop $150-200 for dinner we expect much better service. Last night for two of us we had 10 pieces nigiri sushi, kama, 2 appetizer dishes and daikon - we each had a cocktail and our bill was $110 without tip. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL Service last night.
(2)
Jimmy B.
I keep trying asian restaurants in Miami but always come back to Hiro Yakko-San. Best in category always fresh and innovative at decent price.
(4)
Maureen A.
went here for the first time on Thursday 2/2/2012 and it was awesome! we had to wait to be seated about 10 minutes so it was not too bad of a wait but we had fast, good service and the food was great! ordered the... Pork Dumplings (pan fried) Tempura Shrimp (deep fried) Chicken Fried Rice Bok Choy (flash fried) Banana Tempura with Ice Cream it was all very good! i will be back and want to try the BBQ Beef and Fried Cheesecake or Thai Donuts! oh and they were playing sports on the tv's! NBA Basketball. Full Bar too!
(4)
Aris F.
Mixed feelings about the food. Good eel but hardly the best I've ever had. Delicious seaweed salad. The beef in the beef with garlic shoots way oversalted. Bok choy overrated. "Grilled" pork belly really more deep-fried than grilled -- and kinda bland for pork belly. Mushrooms steamed with butter and sake also pretty bland, even for 'subtly-flavored' japanese food. Staff excellent. Hiro's is a little too popular for the size of the restaurant, but hopefully they'll be better able to accommodate all their fans when they move to the new location soon.
(3)
Melissa C.
I talk about this place all the time. In fact, anytime someone asks me if I know somewhere good to eat I will invariably suggest this restaurant first. They describe themselves as "Japanese tapas" and they don't make sushi rolls. Japanese and NO SUSHI!?!? That's correct and it's effing awesome! I'm glad it exists for the simple fact that it's a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve sushi as it's mainstay. There are so many things to choose from. Most items are under $10. I recommend being adventurous and asking them for the specials list. Definitely ask them about the fresh fish...they have guys who deliver fresh hogfish they've speared themselves. They will bring out a tray stacked with fresh locally caught fish that you pick out and they cook to order. Cold sake served from bamboo tubes, crispy bok choy, triggerfish jerky, ramen bowls, kimchee... Did I mention how AWESOME this place is? Go there.
(4)
Joann C.
one of two japanese restaurants i advocate in South Florida moderate prices for yummy Japanese tapas. I have been coming here for years and the food has always been GREAT. I love their menu and its fun to try the new dishes that appear on their "specials" menu. I highy recommend the deep fried hogs head snapper and the shrimp with spicy mayo. also their kawahagi is the best!
(5)
Jan T.
Husband does not like sushi so he had the teriyaki steak and enjoyed every bite. I had the crispy spicy tuna balls. I would have liked regular spicy tuna more, but it was something different. The service was very good.
(4)
Kelly B.
I read good comments about this place and was feeling adventurous so decided to try it. Opened the menu and to my surprise there were only about 10 different sushi rolls on the whole menu and on the other side of it they offer pasta???? When I get my order of sushi noticed they were very small and just ok. I also ordered a glass of wine which wasn't good so asked the server to bring me another type of wine to which he replied "ok but I have to charge you for this wine too". Even though I did t drink it all he wanted to charge me!!! Totally confusing menu horrible service!!!!
(1)
Candy C.
Yakkosan is known for their authentic Japanese cuisine and its late night hours for those night owl foodies. Open till 3 am! I used to love this place and would have given it 5 stars last year-- before Yakkosan moved to it's new location. Although it may seems like it has received an upgrade- bigger building, modern decor, club music......I must say that it is completely superficial. It has completely lost it's authentic feel and the ambiance has changed from a traditional and cultural to a typical modern day Japanese restaurant. We used to be greeted by the sushi chefs in Japanese upon entering and thanked leaving. The change is a great disappointment for me. The off menu items (specialty items) that were ordered off a dry erase board are long gone and they now serve sushi rolls (which they didn't in the past).--- I understand change is for the better and I would've given them at least a 3 star rating if the quality of the food continued to have the same excellence. It doesn't. Most time it is too salty, or too burnt, or "it's not available". It's a hit or miss. Sometimes it tastes decent, other times it will give you the upset stomach. Lastly, the service is not that great- the servers are not attentive or courteous. I've given the new location at least 2 tries before writing this review.
(2)
judy n.
They're constantly remodeling, and it starts looking more modern, each time I come here. a great app to share: - Dried Kawahagi - dried fish and sliced, reminiscent of dried cuttlefish and squid. with a fun mayo-y type dipping sauce. - Sashimi Salad - it comes with a great vinagrette, and super fresh and light. A good app to share: - Spinach and Butter, with shitake mushroms. (Not uber buttery like u would expect) a great dish to get (Yummy!) - Yakiniku Don. It's bbq beef slices over white rice. great sauce.
(5)
Neal L.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami that I have tried, mostly because of the taste and variety. The crispy bok choy is/was amazing, and I say that with great confidence because the first time I had it, it was amazing, but the second time, it was not (it was mostly oily). But the first time I went was at 1AM on Friday and the second time was at 2AM on Saturday, so maybe the cook staff was tired. I am eager to come back and try other interesting items. The lotus root was done very well and delicious, and the spicy squid was actually spicy (so spicy that one of the waitresses commented that she could not eat it because it was too spicy). Google the menu and you'll be interested in going. Plus the location makes the dining experience more enjoyable.
(4)
Marc F.
I allowed the "first review" for this place to pass right over me. Although I am a regular here, I had hoped it would stay as much of a hole in the wall as I had once found it. The ONLY sushi restaurant, where you find yourself eating next to people of the Japanese culture; that goes to show you who is preparing the most culturally styled food, with as much flavor and purity as you find with the sushi in Japan. Unfortunately for us all, the place has gotten more popular = price changes and a wait to get in during the busier hours. Although I hoped and prayed, I knew it wasn't going to stay a hidden gem for too long. They do not serve any rolls, so keep that in mind when trying to bring someone for their first time. I would go into the menu but the review would go on for days! They have a "weekly specials" menu, which I highly recommend taking a look at, as well as the regular menu. Open only for dinner, but kept open until 2-3am! Police used to feed on only doughnuts and coffee, because it was fast and delicious.... No wonder you always see them at Yakko-San!! However, don't let this ruin your buzz, they're only here for the food as well.. Goodbye Krispy Kreme, Hello Yakko-San!
(5)
Dan V.
Ordered miso ramen, wished it was less bland. Their sushi, fried eel, fish, and lobster was awesome!
(4)
Esteban Z.
This place rocks! Seemed sketchy at 1am but totally worth the trip. Had enoki butter and spicy manila clams from specials menu. Both were fantastic. Got the tuna sashimi salad and added the hot peppers and avocado. Sounds boring, but with their secret dressing this will be the first thing we order next time. The Hamachi with Jalepenos was delicious in a citrus sauce. I think I had a dream about the Black Pork Belly. We finished off our meal with Yaki-Udon with pork. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Grant B.
Here's my 15 words, more or less. Small overpriced salty average portions. Loud, sterile, uninviting atmosphere. Make your Asian tastebuds and wallet go farther, go to Sushi Thai in Hallandale on US 1.
(2)
Shavonne W.
This place is the best! I have been many times and everything that I've tried was great! The food is fresh, and the staff is friendly.
(5)
Ashlee M.
HORRIBLE AWFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!! Had dinner here on a Saturday night. We ( my boyfriend and I) ordered 2 green salads, spinach w/ shitake mushrooms (as a side dish), curry chicken, ramen soup, chicken age. The spinach and shitake which is supposed to be a hot side dish arrived before the salads! Then the salads arrive and not 30 seconds later our entrees arrive. We're sitting at freaking little table for 2 and these morons waiters are trying to squeeze all of this crap on our table while we're not even half way done with our salads! I sent every bit of it back and told them they are making it again or we're not paying (which I'm sure they didn't). Our waitresses lame excuse was that the items come from different kitchens. I DON'T CARE! That's not my problem or concern. Once we asked for a check ( we had to track down the waitress) it took 20 minutes before that process was over. I'm never going back, they have no idea how to run a kitchen.
(1)
Giorgio R.
I try to make it a point to eat here weekly...Sometimes twice a week. I love Yakko-San more than I love any restaraunt in Miami. Im not trying to say it is the best restaurant...but i will say it is the best eating expirience.Everything here is always delicious, fresh and just as good as it was the last time you had it...I'll go out on a limb and say the cripsy bok choy is one of the best appetizers you will ever have...ever. This miso seabass is incredible, the ponzu gelatin on the beef tataki will make your knees quiver and the crispy pork-onion salad will change your life. EAT AT YAKKO-SAN!
(5)
Nicholas A.
Yup. Just about the best damn Japanese restaurant in Miami (so far). While it's a good 40 minute drive from where I live, the food is well worth the drive. The restaurant caters to those who know and love sushi, including other sushi chefs done with their nightly service (seriously, at least one confirmed sighting of an off-duty chef while my gf and I were there). This translates into a restaurant devoid of kitschy decoration, replaced instead with a large whiteboard displaying their fresh catch of the day (and enormous bottles of sake above the sushi station). The sushi station itself was equally impressive, as it was manned by no less than five chefs, each busy filling out the orders of a restaurant packed well after midnight. while the sushi selection is indeed impressive, it was the other items on the menu that caught my eye that night. Yakko-San's is the only restaurant I've found in Miami that serves up ramen, soba, and udon. The plate of cold soba and tempura sounded like perfect 1 AM fare, and it exceeded all expectations for presentation and taste. The fact that chefs come here for food speaks volumes. Yakko-san's is well worth the trip from anywhere in Miami Dade, should the late night munchies hit you
(5)
Bob C.
One of my favorite places in Miami. They have a very interesting menu (be sure to try the spaghetti and sea urchin :-D), and its really fun to sit at the bar and watch them work on a busy night. The prices at this restaurant are very reasonable for the area, and the service is very good (or excellent by Miami Beach standards). One of the best places for Sashimi down here.
(5)
Mateo S.
Pulling up to Hiro's Yakko-San, sited in a depressing strip mall on the terribly named Dixie Highway, my cab driver turned around and made a stinky "are you sure?" face. I looked at my dining companion and prepared for the worst. "What gives??" we thought aloud... this place had been recommended by a chef at Paradigm- the molecular gastronomy restaurant. The Studio 54 style mob scene outside gave us hope, though the ensuing 45 minute wait was a bit of a shoulder sinker. If its your first time here, repeat the following mantra: "I am not here for the service. I am not here for the service..." And frankly, neither are the servers. Ordering a pre dinner drink at the unmanned bar proved nearly impossible. But guess what? This place is so busy it doesn't matter. To explain, if you leave in a self-important huff, there is a ravenous crowd of people behind you thrilled to have their wait reduced. And, most importantly, if you leave, YOU CAN'T EAT THERE. The food is so insanely, ridiculously, embarrassingly delicious here that on a three day trip to South Florida we ate here twice. Two dinners! The menu is long and, at times, obscure. Close your eyes and point. Everything will blow you away, unless you blow fire and subsequently have no taste buds left; or if you subscribe to that snooty brand of uncompromising sophistication that thinks that Denny's or Red Lobster is a night of sparkling elegance and haute cuisine. (Amazingly, these people DO IN FACT exist. They were seated next to us!! It was like observing confusing foreign beasts at some travelling carnival) If you feel lost, ask the waitress to simply bring out her favorites. They will be your favorites too. SOME of my favorites: mixed mushroom foil-yaki, the gyoza, sea bass miso, angel hair uni, yakiniku don, the local shrimp, pork with bitter melon, and the fried eggplant. I wish I could remember more... I am confident that everything on the menu will put a smile on your face. Ask for a seat at the kitchen bar and you will get to witness the magic happen first hand, and probably strike up a conversation with the friendly chef and cooks, who will hand you your plates directly, as well as your introductory amuse bouche (the two nights we were there it was an amazing and homey macaroni, potato and corn salad). Waitress tip: they are busy from 7pm until 10pm, slow down until midnight, then have a second rush until 2 am when all the restaurant industry people drop in following their shifts. So shoot for that middle window to reduce your chances of a wait.
(5)
Smith M.
Shocked and Appalled As I was having dinner at yakko san, I witnessed an act that at the time I did not know was orchestrated by the co-owner. I heard a loud voice using profamity and the attempted failure of picking up a stool to be thrown at a female customer which was my friend. I will never return and will advise all of my family, friends to stay away. What ever happened to the real owner Mr. Hiro- where have you gone? Co-owner is always drunk, treating customers and employees with disrespect. Is this right way to have this plan succesful after all these years Mr. Hiro earned respect.
(1)
mandee l.
it's always my FAVORITE Japanese restaurant even though I've moved to WA. Back when i lived in Miami, i would go there 3x a week. Great exceptional food, cozy atmosphere. Unique dishes they have!! Even now, every time i go back to visit my family.... it's a must to go there~
(5)
Tim C.
I'd give 10 stars if I could. This is, and probably forever will be, my favorite restaurant, hands down, in Miami. Everytime I need to entertain friend or family, this is my go-to place. Will not disappoint. I've been to Yakko-San about 30 times now, and everytime it is still an experience. The staff turnover is pretty high, but they are usually very friendly. Also, do not go here if you want sushi, as it isn't a typical Japanese sushi bar. Their fish is very fresh, but there are so many other items on the menu that you should try. They describe their plates to be 'tapas-style' and that holds true. When we go, we try to go in groups of 4 or more, so that we can order a lot off the menu, and all try this and that. I've had everything on the menu, and sometimes catch myself mapping out my next dinner from start to finish. As most other reviewers have noted, be adventurous. Try things out of your normal comfort zone. I've taken many skeptical eaters, and made them try everything, sometimes keeping them from knowing what they were eating. Not one complaint. In fact, the percentage of 'wows' is pretty high. Standard night when my girlfriend and I go: - Sake bombs, a must as they encourage their patrons to enjoy a good time. - Age Nasu (Deep friend eggplant in broth) - Crispy Bok Choy (if ordering multiple items, ask them to bring this one out with a protein or more substantial dish. It is quick to prepare and usually comes out first, but is a great accompanyment to anything. Salty, savory, delicious!) - Spciy Manila Clams (being Korean, I enjoy spicy. They also have Manilla Clams Butter, which is also very good. They usually run out of clams by the end of the night) - Hamachi Kama (first restaurant that I've dined at that offers this dish. The cheekbone of the fishhead, usually discarded, is oh so tender and moist. a must.) - Angel Hair Uni (I only know one other restaurant in Miami that offers Uni (Sea Urchin) as a savory element to pasta dishes (the other being the River Oyster Bar in Brickell). AWESOME!!! - Catch of the Day (Yakko-San likes to use Yellowtail and Hog Snapper usually, but the fresh fish does change everyday. You have your choice or grilled, steamed, etc. but trust me when I say to get it fried. They actually filet it, then cut it into chunks, batter all the pieces, including the spine and head, and serve it with Horseradish Ponzu Sauce. This does take some time to prepare, so again, use caution when putting other orders in if you decide on the fish) I can't put my love for this place into clear words. It just rocks. I'm always down to share a dinner with anyone (joined random parties at the restaurant to "try everything" and had great evenings), so if you need a couple to share more items with, just hit me up.
(5)
Summer L.
I LOVE this place! If I only lived closer, I'd be there at least once a week. Everything I have ever sampled has been absolutely delicious. The sashimi is amazing, the pork kimchi is fabulous, and the crispy bok choy is out of this world!
(5)
Roxana R.
The food here is very unique and tasty. I usually come with a group of friends and we order many dishes and share everything. My favorite dish is shrimp tempura drenched in spicy mayo (I don't remember the exact name of the dish). Another favorite is the crispy bok choy.
(5)
Asim Z.
freshest sashimi ive ever had!
(4)
CeCe R.
Finally had a meal here last right. Service was excellent. Food was very fresh and well prepared. It wasn't the best Japanese food I've ever had in my life - but the best in Miami. I love that it is open late.
(4)
Daniel S.
I am giving two stars because the food was ok. But the service was horrible although they tried. I am a fnb veteran and I could tell that they were all beginners. I hope this was a one time thing but my experience was bad. Not worth it listing all things that went wrong. Won't go back also it does not belong to the original owners anymore.
(2)
Jorge D.
Yakko's has been one of my favorite restaurants for 3 years. It was well worth the 40 minute drive for me. The food is fantastic and being open till 3am means that after your done clubbing you can still go get great food. If you like spicy food try the Kimchee Ramen, best stuff on earth.
(5)
Mihndeeh M.
If I could give negative stars, I would. You could not pay me to return here. Though some of the sushi was decent, the cooked food was frightening both in appearance and flavor. The customer service was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. The manager and owner did not even bother to try to help when our order was screwed up and disgusting twice; they were rude and dismissive. They still charged us for filth that we did not eat. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE experience. Do not waste your time here. They obviously care about table turnover, getting your money, and nothing else.
(1)
Anika G.
I gave it another try and was thoroughly disappointed. The service is crappy and the prices do not match the portion sizes. I really wanted to like this place but it just doesn't cut it for me.
(1)
Catherine A.
I'm a big fan of Hiro's. It' a very casual, laid back sushi joint that's great for late night or some quick sushi. The prices are great and the service is pretty quick. They're open extremely late...like till 3:30am.
(4)
Scott M.
nothing like an authentic "izakaya", not "sushi-ya" ... if you don't know what that means, drop the faux knowledge of Japanese food & let the masters serve up some magic ... pick yer meats & let them know what you don't like & give them a shot at putting some dishes together for you (what is called "omakase") ... the daily fish, particular spices & sauces found in Japan are coupled with Chinese & Korean spices for some of their dishes ... also, give the noodles a try (udon, soba, ramen, et al.) ... even a simple bowl of ramen is enough as a meal, don't be shy! (you can easily eat cheaply here!)
(5)
B. W.
Awesome japanese food. The himachi kama, kimchi soup bowl, kimchi fried rice, japanese eggplant, are just a few favorite dishes. Great on the late-nite too...
(4)
Agi B.
This time we sat up at the bar overlooking the magic. It was neat to watch them cook and prepare foods. Once again, yum, yum, yum!
(5)
Paul H.
I found this restaurant on urbanspoon with a high rating so I decided it was worth a try. The three $ sign did scare me at first but I found a pdf of their menu online and the prices were under $10 per dish except for a few that go into the ~$14 range. My girlfriend and I started off with Ika Maruyaki (whole squid, $8) which was amazing without the provided sauce. Next was the Seafood Hot Pot (shrimp, fish, squid, tofu, veggies @ $9) which served about 3.5 bowls. If you like clear soup and seafood, this is for you. I ordered from the Veggies section and the Tofu Steak ($6) caught my eye. Watch out cause this dish is very high in sodium. My girlfriend ordered the Ginger Pork ($7) which was less salty but still at bit too salty for my taste. Just FYI, these dishes are similar to appetizer size hence the low price. To finish off dinner, we ordered the Fried Cheese Cake Roll ($4.50) which was very beautiful when brought out. Ice cream scoop is optional I believe but the dessert was delicious. Service was above average and setting was comfortable. If you have a small party (2 people), you might get stuck with a small table. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for non-Americanized food. Note: you may walk out hungry!
(3)
Celia S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Yakko-San! The appetizer sized plates are perfect for sharing! I went with a friend and we started with the TUNA TATAKI which was awesome! Followed by SCALLOPS, ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM, that I plan to have again (I had the last piece ha!) and we also had EBI FRY (fried shrimp w/ Japanese bread crumb) a must! ... and to end this very tasteful dinner we had BANANA TEMPURA with ice cream! YUM! Our waiter was very friendly and they're open until 3am on Fridays! You can't beat that!
(5)
Ana D.
this place has great food, good parking, grate vibe and friendly service. I would definately go again and recommend. tried almost every dish there btnn me and 3 other friends.
(4)
Eugene Y.
Let me start by saying I love authentic japanese restaurants in NYC. Now let me tell you that this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. The food was TERRIBLE!!!, Miso Sea Bass was ok at best with way too much oil. Scallops were rubbery and disgusting. Crispy Bok Choy was again too oily. AND THE WORST THING OF ALL WAS THE SEA URCHIN PASTA, the only thing you can taste was the overwhelming garlic. CAN I SAY GARBAGE !!!!
(1)
Anish Z.
Loved it. apparently Japanese food is not just tapenyaki and sushi!! Was pleasantly surprised by trigger fish jerky (thinly sliced and nice caramelized flavor). Yeah fish jerky... but good choice. The fried fish onion salad was a nice meld of flavors and textures. The beef stew was totally unexpected. I would have placed the dish as Ethiopian had I not eaten it at a Japanese restaurant. It was a little heavy on the cumin but was great as a comfort food. The place gets the five star because it is both unique and open until 2 or 3 in the morning. Between this and BK, or cold pizza I think the choice is obvious. Happy eating.
(5)
Leon W.
yakko-san rocks!!! what's to like? everything!!!! seriously.... try everything!
(5)
Donald M.
Back in my home town (Houston) I'd probably give Yakko-San one less star but in the Miami area it's one of the best Japanese restaurants around. Think of it more as a Japanese tapas place. It's small and gets crowded quickly so plan your visit accordingly.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Superb! The ramen soup is outstanding. I went there two days in a row that's how much I loved it. Sit in the bar looking into the food being prepared. It was like watching a choreographed dance. The mushroom appetizer was delicious. It comes in a foil pouch steamed to perfection. I cant't wait to go back again and again!
(5)
Eloisa S.
I love that place. I go there once a week and have never been disappointed. Good prices, great selection of sakes, and the freshest sashimi around. I have basically tried the entire menu, my favorites are the Tuna Harumaki, the crisp fish salad and the scallops with asparagus and mushrooms. The waiters are wonderful, ask for suggestions and they will tell you as it is. You are not going to find sushi rolls there, but you won't miss it.
(5)
Katie M.
I have been here a few times and think it is a great bar and perfect place for a late night meal. We went over the weekend around midnight and had terrific food. The sushi was excellent, great wine list and wonderful and attentive service. We will be back soon!!
(4)
Alex G.
Ok people, this is what I call a restaurant, and not because the decor is amazing or they invested $5MM to open-up but they care about quality authentic Japanese and some oriental food - Yeap, there is no sushi in this place (for all those looking for a California maki), but you will find things you don't even know they exist - So, for real gourmets this is an option, for those looking to be seen in a cool place hanging out with celebs, go somewhere else, Yakko-San is a place where you go to enjoy very good food !!!
(4)
Yenny O.
great sushi, but every time i go there late night the owner I guess her name is "may" she is always drunk and screaming to her employees i think you should not be drunk at your own restaurant every day.
(2)
Enbar C.
excellent sushi and excellent price! good studd! I LOVE SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLLS!
(4)
Eddie Z.
Good sushi, crappy waiters!
(3)
Eldita B.
ASIAN TAPAS. I love the fact that they are open so late. Downside is that there is a wait during "peak" hours(30 minutes was the longest I ever had to wait for a table). Avoid sitting at the bar at the entrance. It's kind of uncomfortable. Sashimi is great. Yakinikudon is one of our favorites. Service is good. Food is tasty and fresh. looove the sake selections. Mochi sunday for dessert isn't bad.
(4)
H C.
Cheap delicious sushi. Gets crowded on weekends but never along wait for a table.
(3)
Eric M.
It's ok for japanese food. Last night, I ordered ebi fry, soba, hiya yakko, kinpira gobo and something not on the menu, oshinko maki (takuwan roll). The sauces are not quite up to par. Service was good and they even redid a dish that I told them was too salty and had too much (shoyu) soy sauce. Best dish for me was the hiya yakko (Cold tofu w/grated ginger, scallions & shaved bonito). Tofu quality was excellent. Menu is quite extensive and big selection. I have had better in New York City and Honolulu.
(3)
Jaye V.
I'm so excited that I found these reviews for izakayas in Miami. I didn't even know they existed here! Everytime I'm in NYC, I go to a couple, and it's one of my favorite dining experiences. I've also been spoiled since I've been to Tokyo. It's finding this review on here (and immediately going) that made me want to finally join Yelp as a reviewer. I love ordering a bunch of little items and sharing, but I want to come back and try the bigger dishes like the noodle and ramen dishes. When I do, I'll update the review & rating, but for now this is my review of my first experience here. I had the assorted seaweeds with dipping sauces, the black pork belly, the panko fried oysters, red salmon sashimi (sockeye salmon), sauteed asparagus with bacon, and the angel hair with uni and salmon roe. (I forgot to try the fried chrysanthemum leaves.) I've never had so many different types of seaweed before. One of them was clear and rather odd; my favorite was the red one. The black pork belly was flavorful but not braised so it was not as tender as I was hoping..but that's to be expected. The red salmon was delicious and melted in my mouth. The sauteed asparagus actually had more bacon than asparagus, with a side of kewpie mayo -- really tasty. And the waitress tried to talk us out of the angel hair, saying that the uni garlic spaghetti might be more our speed. But I had to tell her I liked the salmon roe, which for some reason surprised her. The resulting dish was surprisingly mild. The salmon roe gives the dish most of its flavor, with the uni giving it that extravagantly buttery finish. While I wish it had more boosted flavors, I still enjoyed this dish. I wish that I could find black cod miso here rather than the overfished sea bass :(. Most of the clientele is Asian (and speaking in different Asian languages all around you as well). Usually I'm in places where the young Asians are speaking English to each other. I love how it's open until 2-3am every night like they're supposed to be. And it's not all the way down in Miami proper (since I'm in Ft. Laud), so the drive isn't too bad at all. Now I have a place to go when I somehow lose track of time and suddenly all the restaurants are closed. PS -- I loved the hot house sake. I'm not a sake fan, but for some reason it was savory and I surprisingly enjoyed it. And I have tried tons of different kinds before. Edit 1/21/08: So I went here again, and we overdid it trying to order more of the dishes. - Monkfish liver in a miso-ponzu sauce with daikon, seaweed, lemon, scallions, shiso leaf, and ground-up chili-daikon on the side. It was steamed and then served cold. I've had this before, and there was something off about the monkfish liver flavor. - Marinated spicy tempura squid. Wasn't spicy, but was flavorful. Consisted of large rings and big tentacles. Served with lemon and a side of Japanese mayo. Was tasty, but some of the rings were a little rubbery. - Chrysanthemum leaf tempura with ponzu sauce. Was good and the batter was terrific. The c. leaf wasn't very very mild flavored and although it was good, I think I would prefer it as a bottom of an entree...say with a steamed fish in some sort of sauce on top? - Spicy manila clams. Oh my, this is the spiciest thing I've had in South Florida. I never knew they could make something spicy. As a big fan of spicy food, I liked it. I shared it with someone, so it didn't get to the point of being unbearable, but if I had to eat it by myself, it would have. But for me, no complaints. For most Floridians, it would have been torture. - Miso pork ramen. Yummy! Loved the pork and bamboo shoots; I had this soup in Tokyo some years ago. This version was healthier and so wasn't as decadent, but still delicious. Too many fried garlic slices, though...had to start avoiding them because after eating a few too many of them, they got too strong. - Pork gyoza (pan-fried). Even in the dipping sauce, these were almost flavorless. I put one in the ramen and it didn't help it any. Don't get the gyoza. - Other notes: Great service this time. Waiter was very attentive; all the servers were very interactive as well. Waiter even poured the sake refills for us; every time he came by, he would say, "Pleeease enjoy!" Heh.
(4)
Joseluis A.
yakko san rocks, thats all i gotto say. the other reviews are right on about this place. i went for dinner earlier this evening and got: ohitashi, edamame and a yake udon. my friend had a miso soup and the ginger pork and we shared a fried cheese cake roll for dessert.... oh and we both had a sapporo. our bill came up to almost 60$. sweet!
(5)
Timothy C.
This place is where it's at!!! Great food had the mahi-mahi salad, it was to die for! Also try the mushroom foil!! Very busy!! Chef's are awesome!!
(5)
Greg C.
Love this place! Found it through Yelp and Zagat. My wife and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs. Try the fried Bok Choy it is excellent. Sashimi is very fresh. Great Saki menu and even better good prices. You will have a fun night at this restaurant.
(5)
Dean N.
All the dishes we took were great. there are a lot of asian restaurants in Miami and this is the definitely a good one. On top of that the prices are very very reasonable.
(4)
alyssa d.
i love it here! i haven't had anything bad on the menu yet. i usually come for the takoyaki, it's amazing and i don't think any other places in the area have it. delicious!
(4)
Abbey P.
Great Japanese hot dishes. They have some sushi type stuff. The Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper, UNAGI KABAYAKI, CHICKEN GIZZARD CHIVE, and a spicy tuna dish were all excellent. I loved the Unagi. The sea bass miso was not good ( over cooked-or if that was the style, it's still not good). I really enjoyed my food.
(4)
Tony T.
Great place love the fresh fish
(4)
Kushbaby s.
This place is a joke. I went in with a couple of friends and I immediately felt like I was in some sort of ASIAN FUSION restaurant. The ambience was totally not like it used to be when most of the workers were Japanese. The hostess that was speaking a foreign language was very rude. Started raising her voice when I told her we were next, before another couple was trying to butt in. She snapped and told me my table was ready. I told her, I did not even give her my name or how many people I was with...she then realized I was a completely different customer than the ones she DID take reservations for. Once we were seated our server didnt even understand what green tea was in Japanese....gave us a funny face. This is supposed to be an AUTHENTIC JAPANESE TAPAS STYLE RESTAURANT right? We ordered a bunch of stuff off the menu. Nothing was spectacular.I remember back in the day when my coworkers and I drove all the way from Fort Lauderdale to eat here..and now I can seriously say that I will never come here again. Way overpriced. Save your time, your money and all this HOOPLA about this place. Obviously most of the people have not tried REAL authentic Japanese food in South Florida if YAKKO san is on the top of your list. Go to MATSURI...now thats 100% Authentic!
(1)
Stephanie L.
One of my fave spots in Miami. If you love Japanese food this is the place! Hamachi Kama, Sashimi Platter, Kimchie Ramen Delicious!!
(4)
Pete J.
After feeling ripped off or disappointed at other Miami restaurants, this place is a welcome value and adventure in dining..
(5)
Sol D.
the food quality used to be excellent, specially at their old location. now most of the time it's too salty and not very consistant. the good thing abt the new location, it's bigger and we don't have to wait too long to be seated. it's a good choice for a Japanese restaurant since they have variety in their menu. good for family, the kids love age tofu, fish and noodles. some of our favorite dishes; hamachi-kama, dice beef, onion fish, pork & bamboo noodle, spagetti with clams, etc. we still go back sometimes to see if they've improved and when we feel like eating Japanese food.
(3)
Henry P.
I don't believe the amount of stars some people are giving them. They are overrated. Been there a few times, since the food isnt terrible, it just feels overpriced for what you get. If you get a rice bowl, its more rice than anything else. And what really got to me is, they don't know sushi. You don't put cream cheese in a dragonroll, it completely kills it. Theres alot of better places out there, experience better.
(2)
R W.
deserves the good reviews. btw, very affordable, which is very important as well. friendly environment.
(4)
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Address :3881 NE 163rd St
North Miami Beach, FL, 33160
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Phil L.
its hard to find really good asian food in south florida but Hiro's does a great job! Its a pretty small spot and usually there is a wait but well worth it. the ramen is decent and the calbi is pretty good. The home run is with a different type of steak that they offer - I wish I knew what it was called but I didnt order it :( The whole fried fish looked really good and its nice to go with a group of 6 or less I would not say more.
(4)Erica A.
This place is beyond amazing, even though it lost its unique hole in the wall feel. You can never go wrong with an order of bok choy and a rice bowl (katsudon all the way)! The rice bowls and bbq beef bowls are a must have. At least now I don't get lost trying to get there like I did at the old location.
(5)Michael R.
Awesome as usual I'm there probably every Sunday night...my favorites are crispy pork salad kimchee ramen on those cold winter nights, they have some really yummy garlic stems, I've been goin there for years and the food has stayed pretty consistent the servers are super nice...I definitely recommend this pace, but one of my favorites is that's it's open late..
(5)Cindy Y.
I went here many moons ago, but I still remember my experience here. Perhaps it was just the dishes that I ordered as a first time customer, but it wasn't as great as I had hoped for. I had a kimchi buta (pork and kimchi in a kimchi based sauce) and it was okay. I had a Korean friend that come with me and she said that she's had better kimchi... and that it wasn't "ripe" enough. (Ironically, there's a Korean hostess working there as well.) My Korean friend didn't like her kimchi ramen that she ordered either. I also ordered something (forgot its name) that had a description of "thinly sliced potato with nori/dried seaweed on top." It's definitely an acquired taste. Maybe some of my tastes aren't suited for the Japanese palate, but it did not even come close to what I thought it was going to be. It didn't even taste like potato (unless it was raw, which I've never had before), but more of a raw daikon. (Update: searched it up and it was "Japanese mountain yam.") It was really starchy too, so it was really gooey and sticky as well; kind of like natto. I tried finishing it but I just couldn't. The dessert is what saved dinner as whole, though. I ordered a "volcano," which was layers of ice cream on lady fingers, I believed, served with a warm azuki red bean sauce. (Also, I guess another perk is that they're open late everyday.) I probably would give it another chance if I'm ever around the area, but it's not somewhere where I'd drive out of my way for. Maybe they can prove me wrong next time.
(2)M O.
Highly recommended - Open Late - Japanese food, not sushi. They have a great menu of small plates, great for sharing. Bring a large group and share everything.
(4)Frenchy M.
I feel obligated to post this as I went to their new location on the intracostal mall: I almost cried,i should have know since the name is the same, but underneath it: "Japanese Tapas" :-/ the new place is HUGE, has a modern feel to it and sounds more like a cafeteria (high ceiling I guess) ....They kept the dishes, got rid of the specials of the day but did a few modification to others .I waited over 20 minutes for someone to come and acknowledge our table, had to wait another 15 for my drink to arrive, same price same taste, Half the Size!!! I am really really really disappointed , and believe that they will get lots of customers due to their new location , but will certainly loose their more purist fans...I will be one.I will follow June advice and try their sushi , but I did loose my "amazing perfect little Japanese place"................
(3)Tina K.
Came here when we were apartment hunting in Miami in an attempt to replace our weekend Cali Izakaya with a familiar taste in Miami and was slightly surprised. With low expectations (very low expectations) and a gleam of hope, we ordered more food than we could eat off the menu. Sashimi - hmm... it's definitely edible but the cut is definitely not Japanese, huge cuts of fish, quantity over quality, not alot of taste but it didnt reek of fishiness either. The Karaage was good, nice portion modestly priced. The Kama was not bad either. Ganpachi sashimi in lime - a whole slice of Jalapeno on top of each piece, made me laugh but it actually tasted OK. It's not an authentic Japanese place but it's got its own style and everyone orders the whole fish so I gotta try that next time. I think its more of a Chinese-Japanese restaurant... once you're at peace with that then all's good.
(3)Bernardo A.
I have never been to Japan nor do I speak Japanese. The closest I've ever gotten to Japan was my Japanese college roommate and the many, many lunches and dinners we had in San Francisco's Japan Town. Yamaguchi, my roommate, never thought that any of the places we went to were good enough or authentic enough so I know, as a fact, that I have never had an authentic Japanese meal. What I do have are feelings, an appreciation for visually appealing things, a good sense of smell and taste buds. My review of Yakko San is entirely based on service, presentation and taste. Authenticity? What do I know? And since I can't do anything about that in the immediate future, who cares? Yakko San is GREAT! I am a firm believer that in order to get the best attention, the customer needs to put his best foot forward as well, specially in these small places that get very busy and very hectic very quickly. Our party of four had a a 20 minute wait before we were seated at a table close to the front door in front of the bar. The place is very unassuming and I haven't really seen the main dining room. The lovely Korean waitress asked us what we wanted to drink and suggested a reasonably priced sake. We took her recommendation and loved every sip of it. All of us at the table had experienced donburi and soba and udon noodle soups as well as gyoza and things of that sort, so we decided to order an assortment of daily specials which we all shared. At the end of the meal, the check was astronomical, but we all got to experience a couple of bites of a wide variety of dishes; most of them recommended by our waitress whom we trusted, blindly. All the dishes were well-seasoned and flavorful. We had a great time. We were all satisfied. I'll be back soon and will pay more attention to the individual dishes so I can write a more detailed review.
(4)M -dot W.
Locally, I heard several Asians in Miami talking bout how this place is highly regarded by Asians for being really good( in a sea of not-so-good).......nuff said . If you want to know whats good here ( see other Yelps! ) . I am just here to give credit where credit is due CHECK IT OUT !
(5)Marcela R.
Lotus blossom roots, crispy bok choy, fried rice. They have a decent selection of mushrooms and the udon noodle soups are the best! Parking sucks and it is always packed because they are only open for dinner.
(4)Cameron T.
Amazing find, and probably the highlight of our trip to MIA. Our server was super friendly. He even made origami for our two daughters. We had scallops w/ asparagus, fried ebi, grilled eggplant, kimchi & shoyu ramen, and a special roll wrapped in rice paper with amazingly tasty tuna. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. The only things that were mediocre were the ramen. I've had much better in all the ramen restaurants in NYC. My husband said the tuna special was one of the best things he's ever had in any Japanese restaurant. Their fried cheesecake is supposed to be great but we found it to just be okay. The wrapper was a bit too thick. Go early or you'll have to wait. They also serve very late into the night. For a quick sushi meal, you can go next door to Hiro's express. They even have online ordering.
(4)Stephanie T.
Coming from an area saturated with Asian food and a surplus of Japanese/sushi restaurants, I was annoyed that anything in this area was poorly rated or a Japanese/Thai combo (what the heck, right?!) Seeing 4.5 stars for 129 meant Yelpers have to be on the right track. Got a little lost and confused coming to this particular location since it is secluded in a huge plaza that is kind of off the main road. Came in and did not see many Asian people at all, so my first thought was "Oh no...", but the restaurant itself is nicely decorated and ambianced. They had a large table ready for us in no time. Our waiter kind of stood off to the side and watched us and it kinda felt like we were rushed to order although this place is open late. I ordered they shoyu ramen and shared a hamachi jalapeno roll. Broth was nicely flavored and the stuff a lot of noodles into the bowl. Mine had more noodles than soup and the noodles expand very quickly. The roll was ok, nothing spectacular. The hot soba my friend had was delicious and authentic tasting too. Who knows, it might be the best you can get in Miami, but I've had better. I wasn't wowed, but I was satisfied.
(3)Tomas R.
Hiro's Yakko-San made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Each dish was a surprise in flavor and presentation. Try the chicken liver, even if you may not like it. My wife, who is not fond of my habit of ordering this dish every Japanese restaurant we go to, actually loved the way Yakko-San fried and then sauted them. I am a big fan of how they served each dish the moment it is prepared fresh so you don't have to worry about food being served cold here, unless it was intended to be served cold. Stick with older servers there, we had a young rookie server one time and even her lack of attention could not let it take away from the amazing eats here. This place has exotic dishes for the adventurous and Japanese staples for those who prefer to stick with the usual favorites. Must say this is definitely one of the top three Japanese restaurants in Miami.
(5)Cynthia F.
This place is awesome. Great authentic sushi, HUGE rolls...the soups are amazing, it reminds me of the food I had when I was in Japan. The location is perfect close to Sunny Isles Beach...Love this place!
(5)Karina K.
After a long search and trek for okonomiyaki, my boyfriend and I fell in love with Hiro's Yakko-San's. It's always quite a drive for us, about an hour and a half, but so worth the time and the gas. For their staples we can't get enough of their curry fried rice, crispy bok choy, okonomiyaki (it's not on the menu, but if they aren't busy they'll make it for you =) ), and yakiniku beef. For me, I can't get enough of their seasonal specials! The price for each plate is quite affordable, we spend around $20 per person and always end up ordering a plethora of different "tapas." You can't beat the service either, the wait staff is very welcoming and attentive. They do have sushi, but their main focus is japanese tapas and cuisine. Oh...another great thing is that they're open very late at night, until 2am or 3am, depending on the day! I wish they were open for lunch too, c'est la vie. ^_^
(5)Sonny S.
My girlfriend and I usually always make a stop here. Love the food.
(5)Herb F.
Just visited the new location a couple of weeks ago. The new restaurant is nice and has all the new modern upgrades, BUT I kinda miss the old location which had that "off the beaten trail" feel to it. None the less the food is still good at the new location, but the server we had was less than desirable (he knowingly or unknowingly tricked us into ordering 4 orders of Uni when all we wanted was 4 pieces of Uni). Overlooking the waiter incident, the food is still on point...
(4)Erin E.
You have to get the oysters. I am not extremely well rounded but I have had my share of tasty treats and these oysters are within the top 5 tasty delicious dishes I have ever had. Yakko San is great. Fresh fresh fresh and I cannot wait to have the Sukiyaki (order 1 day in advance). A great date place or for a small birthday party, especially if some in your crew are not that adventurous they cannot be disappointed. Clams are super tasty, the broth is drinkable, BBQ beef over rice , sashimi ~ I'm picky with fish and am more than willing to try anything here. I know it's fresh so my fears go out the window. And the staff is friendly and willing to help, even change your mind should they think some other dish is tastier than the one you have chosen. Just as a suggestion but so far their choices have proven to be good!
(4)Danny H.
very good for overall Japanese.
(4)Lee H.
Just went there after a show in north miami at the recommendation of my GF and I have to say this was some stellar Japanese food. The service is also just as good.
(5)Kat B.
I recommend this place for people that wish to taste some different japanese food. This restaurant offers in fact many interesting dishes beside the common raw fish based (sushi, sashimi, etc.). We had: Crispy Bok Choy, Chicken Liver Itame, Kake-Soba and Spicy Manila Clams and they were really good. The vegetable tempura was ok, the plus was that it had some unusual pieces, like the lotus root. We had the banana tempura as a dessert to share for three people, very big and yummi. Next time I will try the lotus roots as dish and the dried fish skin our table neighbors were having. Our waiter, Paul, was very nice and helpful. Will go back soon!
(4)Itzela C.
Okay, I am giving this place a 4 star rating because of the service only. The food is a 5 star. I'm not a fan of waiting for my main course to arrive while my side dish gets cold! My side dish was the original pork fried rice which was delicious!!! And tasted great while it was hot...and soooo flavorful...the right amount of salt added to perfection. Not too salty, not too under salted. And let me tell ya it was fresh!!! My main course which was the lamb was cooked to perfection. However, by the time it arrive to the table I was almost full from eating the fried rice (totally good on it's own). Over all, I would go back again...maybe when it's not that busy on a Friday night. Anthony Bourdain....you were right Hiro's Yakko-San you Rock!!
(4)Luis M.
Holy cowabunga! I night at Yakko-san is an adventure and a half! I was sure to show up with my Andrew Zimmern-esque A-game! This is a subtle little treasure in an almost hidden locale. I'll keep this breif. The chicken livers were beyond outstanding. I can't say I'd ever enjoyed them this much. The yellowtail cheek. Delicious, super flavorful. The fried Bok Choy.... A class act. a simple, yet new spin on something so overdone. It was insanely fresh with such a light crispy texture. this was a crowd fav. The salmon belly: gotta admit it was rather fishy. particularly the fatty portions, but as you get under the skin... the flavor softens and you get this rich creamy headrush. Sake in a little wooden box-cup?!? Authentic! I love it. Pair it all with some Kirin and you're golden. Finally, Fried Cheesecake eggrolls?? I didnt expect this coming from such a traditional cuisine type of establishment, but nonetheless a great way to end the meal. We had far more than that, and it ended up costing a penny, but well well worth it. Service was Grade A too. More to come another time!
(5)Tracy U.
I ate here last night and enjoyed it very much. Prices are reasonable (Miso Sea Bass perfectly cooked for $12.95) Our server was knowledgeable and very attentive, she encouraged us to try new things without being pushy or trying to up-sell us. The menu and prices allow for you to get a few dishes and share tapas style. We had a bowl of udon, hamachi sashimi and the sea bass and it was the perfect amount of food. Sitting at the sushi bar we were able to watch the chef's prepare some interesting looking items that I would like to try upon my return. The miso soup was good, if a little watery, but for $2 I can't complain. I have already recommended this to a few coworkers and plan on returning soon.
(4)Frank E.
So I am told this is the most authentic Japanese food available in Miami, and I would definitely believe it... the only problem is I have never had Japanese food (besides Sushi) before... therefore staring at the menu I had no idea what to order... ended up getting some Ramen and it was ok... I have no real basis for comparison (except one Ramen place I went to in SF which also was not that great) so maybe I just don't like Japanese hot food?
(4)Stephanie L.
One of my fave spots in Miami. If you love Japanese food this is the place! Hamachi Kama, Sashimi Platter, Kimchie Ramen Delicious!!
(4)Pete J.
After feeling ripped off or disappointed at other Miami restaurants, this place is a welcome value and adventure in dining..
(5)Shavonne W.
This place is the best! I have been many times and everything that I've tried was great! The food is fresh, and the staff is friendly.
(5)David N.
Hiro's Yakko-San moved to 163rd Street (now just called Yakko-San). It is a much larger location and totally different decor. The food is still very good, but not sure I like the new location as much. It was very loud / noisy and seemed a bit more chaotic (maybe because they just opened at the new location).
(4)Rob C.
My most visited restaurant in Miami for me (it's open late). Competition = Marumi. this is an izakaya style Japanese restaurant liked the spicy beef tongue stew a lot and blue miso. tried the kalbe yakiniku but was a little chewy and didn't like the sauce as much. decent shishito peppers. black pepper flavored chuka-don but the seafood could have been a little better. also tried the enochi mushrooms, and the miso-glazed tuna, octopus, conch mix (wasabi miso mustard flavor) -- they have some selected sashimi but no nigriri (sushi) Chawanmushi (not on the menu) with good flavor but a little watery Shoyu Ramen--broth ok but stay away from the miso ramen very watery, plus other veges just doesn't turn out right spanish mackerel miso flavored -- ok oyako don -- good; pork with bitter melon and tofu -- good uni, ikura angel hair pasta -- buttery takoyaki (octopus) -- batter was a little soggy; minnow kara-age -- good but standard kabocha croquette -- nice sweet pumpkin and beef; lotus kinpira -- sweet soy mirin flavor black pork belly -- dry from the grill, not a fan eel tofu omelet -- sweet and salty, would be great with rice mentai onigiri (spicy cod roe) -- have had better rice chicken liver itame -- fried liked kara age with onions and bean sprouts miso seafood hotpot -- nice other recommended stuff: chrysanthemum leaf tempura (perfectly cooked without too much batter), hamachi kama would recommend their fried stuff over their grilling... did like the fried oysters and fried mahi mahi roe check out the omurice -- wish they poured curry over it, but the tomato rice and omelet are good. had the chicken wings and potato in sweet brown sauce--tasty let's see, i've also had the spicy tuna rice paper rolls -- often sold out, but not that amazing dried kawahagi (thinly sliced glazed trigger jerky) -- perfect texture, interesting flavor chicken kara age -- nothing special beef curry -- comfort food, pickled radish added fried fish onion salad -- pretty tasty spanish mackeral katsu salad -- not worth it since fried fish with tartar sauce could be anything enoki egg drop soup -- little herb essence yaki udon -- stirfried, better than the soups nasu buta miso itame -- really tasty, eggplant + pork ankimo is back ~ $13 had another great meal here consisting of crispy bok choy, crysanthemum tempura, spicy squid, hamachi jalapeno, nasu buta, scallops aspa, and katsu don (little chewy) -- so good and so reasonably priced! the menu has changed now to incorporate more of their specials as regular items, so the specials menu is smaller... got the mirin ginger scallion king fish, next time will get the deep fried snapper--looks really good had the shrimp bittermelon tempura (little too much bittermelon) so, in summary, my favorites are: whole catch fish, nitsuke style crispy bok choy cyrsanthemum tempura yakiniku steak nasu buta miso itame came back after another year, and still doing ok
(5)Steven H.
We were 6 adults 4 children. Waiter forgot things. Nothing came out together and very slow. My father in law got his fish last after everyone else ate. We complained and they didn't care. Nobody there cared. Gratuity included on 6 or more people or I would have left less. Just wanted to leave did not have dessert there. Poor trained staff and no supervision. Food was just ok compared to any other Japanese restaurants I eat in. Very disappointing. None of us will ever return. We had a reservation but table was not ready. Place was empty. Also, lighting was terrible. It kept blinking on and off in intensity where we were sitting. Really a lousy experience.
(1)Juan Jose D.
Definitely one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Miami, second just to Matsuri. Went there on a Friday night and the place had already a long waiting list, but the wait was worth. They market their selves as Japanese tapas and that is actually what it, is part of the comfort food in Japan; small portions of artistic pieces with amazing flavors, dont get me wrong; this is not modern cuisine, it is traditional cuisine and NO they dont serve rolls, so dont expect to order your traditional dragon roll and get some usuzukuri (thin sashimi) some tsukemono (japanese pickles) or a hearty traditional ramen soup with a vast selection of sake.
(5)Tim C.
I'd give 10 stars if I could. This is, and probably forever will be, my favorite restaurant, hands down, in Miami. Everytime I need to entertain friend or family, this is my go-to place. Will not disappoint. I've been to Yakko-San about 30 times now, and everytime it is still an experience. The staff turnover is pretty high, but they are usually very friendly. Also, do not go here if you want sushi, as it isn't a typical Japanese sushi bar. Their fish is very fresh, but there are so many other items on the menu that you should try. They describe their plates to be 'tapas-style' and that holds true. When we go, we try to go in groups of 4 or more, so that we can order a lot off the menu, and all try this and that. I've had everything on the menu, and sometimes catch myself mapping out my next dinner from start to finish. As most other reviewers have noted, be adventurous. Try things out of your normal comfort zone. I've taken many skeptical eaters, and made them try everything, sometimes keeping them from knowing what they were eating. Not one complaint. In fact, the percentage of 'wows' is pretty high. Standard night when my girlfriend and I go: - Sake bombs, a must as they encourage their patrons to enjoy a good time. - Age Nasu (Deep friend eggplant in broth) - Crispy Bok Choy (if ordering multiple items, ask them to bring this one out with a protein or more substantial dish. It is quick to prepare and usually comes out first, but is a great accompanyment to anything. Salty, savory, delicious!) - Spciy Manila Clams (being Korean, I enjoy spicy. They also have Manilla Clams Butter, which is also very good. They usually run out of clams by the end of the night) - Hamachi Kama (first restaurant that I've dined at that offers this dish. The cheekbone of the fishhead, usually discarded, is oh so tender and moist. a must.) - Angel Hair Uni (I only know one other restaurant in Miami that offers Uni (Sea Urchin) as a savory element to pasta dishes (the other being the River Oyster Bar in Brickell). AWESOME!!! - Catch of the Day (Yakko-San likes to use Yellowtail and Hog Snapper usually, but the fresh fish does change everyday. You have your choice or grilled, steamed, etc. but trust me when I say to get it fried. They actually filet it, then cut it into chunks, batter all the pieces, including the spine and head, and serve it with Horseradish Ponzu Sauce. This does take some time to prepare, so again, use caution when putting other orders in if you decide on the fish) I can't put my love for this place into clear words. It just rocks. I'm always down to share a dinner with anyone (joined random parties at the restaurant to "try everything" and had great evenings), so if you need a couple to share more items with, just hit me up.
(5)Summer L.
I LOVE this place! If I only lived closer, I'd be there at least once a week. Everything I have ever sampled has been absolutely delicious. The sashimi is amazing, the pork kimchi is fabulous, and the crispy bok choy is out of this world!
(5)Roxana R.
The food here is very unique and tasty. I usually come with a group of friends and we order many dishes and share everything. My favorite dish is shrimp tempura drenched in spicy mayo (I don't remember the exact name of the dish). Another favorite is the crispy bok choy.
(5)Nicholas A.
Yup. Just about the best damn Japanese restaurant in Miami (so far). While it's a good 40 minute drive from where I live, the food is well worth the drive. The restaurant caters to those who know and love sushi, including other sushi chefs done with their nightly service (seriously, at least one confirmed sighting of an off-duty chef while my gf and I were there). This translates into a restaurant devoid of kitschy decoration, replaced instead with a large whiteboard displaying their fresh catch of the day (and enormous bottles of sake above the sushi station). The sushi station itself was equally impressive, as it was manned by no less than five chefs, each busy filling out the orders of a restaurant packed well after midnight. while the sushi selection is indeed impressive, it was the other items on the menu that caught my eye that night. Yakko-San's is the only restaurant I've found in Miami that serves up ramen, soba, and udon. The plate of cold soba and tempura sounded like perfect 1 AM fare, and it exceeded all expectations for presentation and taste. The fact that chefs come here for food speaks volumes. Yakko-san's is well worth the trip from anywhere in Miami Dade, should the late night munchies hit you
(5)Bob C.
One of my favorite places in Miami. They have a very interesting menu (be sure to try the spaghetti and sea urchin :-D), and its really fun to sit at the bar and watch them work on a busy night. The prices at this restaurant are very reasonable for the area, and the service is very good (or excellent by Miami Beach standards). One of the best places for Sashimi down here.
(5)Vlad L.
2 years ago I would've gave them 5 stars but I feel like since they relocated to the new location they comprised quality and a homey feel for a bigger location. The same dishes I used to love now I feel are just alright so bigger is not always better but I will say its one of the best bets for late night dining around northeast Dade.
(3)Jennifer S.
This place is the best an open really late an you can always get something different from a fresh cough fish done 6 ways to just a simple soup every thing on the menu is great an if your lucky Hiro will make you some of his faves
(5)Karen G.
Every time we go to yakko San, it is reliably delicious. Since they moved from the w Dixie location it lost some of its atmosphere, but the food is just the same but now without the wait. Would recommend to everybody who likes Asian food.
(5)M D.
Uni Garlic Pasta, Mentaiko Onigiri, Fried breaded oysters are excellent favorites for me here at Hiro's Yakko-San. On colder nights in winter, the Miso Ramen hits the spot. Great garlicky broth and piping hot ramen with pork slices, half a hard boiled egg and vegetables is to die for on a cold day or night. Not to mention you can get your fix at 2am in the morning. Parking can be limited on weekend nights, but the food is worth the hassle.
(5)Daphne B.
Excellent service, fresh sushi, wonderful menu. It's a little hard to find (tucked away in a strip mall) but well worth the trip. Right up there with the best places on the East Coast.
(5)Asim Z.
freshest sashimi ive ever had!
(4)CeCe R.
Finally had a meal here last right. Service was excellent. Food was very fresh and well prepared. It wasn't the best Japanese food I've ever had in my life - but the best in Miami. I love that it is open late.
(4)Daniel S.
I am giving two stars because the food was ok. But the service was horrible although they tried. I am a fnb veteran and I could tell that they were all beginners. I hope this was a one time thing but my experience was bad. Not worth it listing all things that went wrong. Won't go back also it does not belong to the original owners anymore.
(2)Jorge D.
Yakko's has been one of my favorite restaurants for 3 years. It was well worth the 40 minute drive for me. The food is fantastic and being open till 3am means that after your done clubbing you can still go get great food. If you like spicy food try the Kimchee Ramen, best stuff on earth.
(5)Mihndeeh M.
If I could give negative stars, I would. You could not pay me to return here. Though some of the sushi was decent, the cooked food was frightening both in appearance and flavor. The customer service was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. The manager and owner did not even bother to try to help when our order was screwed up and disgusting twice; they were rude and dismissive. They still charged us for filth that we did not eat. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE experience. Do not waste your time here. They obviously care about table turnover, getting your money, and nothing else.
(1)Anika G.
I gave it another try and was thoroughly disappointed. The service is crappy and the prices do not match the portion sizes. I really wanted to like this place but it just doesn't cut it for me.
(1)Catherine A.
I'm a big fan of Hiro's. It' a very casual, laid back sushi joint that's great for late night or some quick sushi. The prices are great and the service is pretty quick. They're open extremely late...like till 3:30am.
(4)Scott M.
nothing like an authentic "izakaya", not "sushi-ya" ... if you don't know what that means, drop the faux knowledge of Japanese food & let the masters serve up some magic ... pick yer meats & let them know what you don't like & give them a shot at putting some dishes together for you (what is called "omakase") ... the daily fish, particular spices & sauces found in Japan are coupled with Chinese & Korean spices for some of their dishes ... also, give the noodles a try (udon, soba, ramen, et al.) ... even a simple bowl of ramen is enough as a meal, don't be shy! (you can easily eat cheaply here!)
(5)B. W.
Awesome japanese food. The himachi kama, kimchi soup bowl, kimchi fried rice, japanese eggplant, are just a few favorite dishes. Great on the late-nite too...
(4)Agi B.
This time we sat up at the bar overlooking the magic. It was neat to watch them cook and prepare foods. Once again, yum, yum, yum!
(5)Paul H.
I found this restaurant on urbanspoon with a high rating so I decided it was worth a try. The three $ sign did scare me at first but I found a pdf of their menu online and the prices were under $10 per dish except for a few that go into the ~$14 range. My girlfriend and I started off with Ika Maruyaki (whole squid, $8) which was amazing without the provided sauce. Next was the Seafood Hot Pot (shrimp, fish, squid, tofu, veggies @ $9) which served about 3.5 bowls. If you like clear soup and seafood, this is for you. I ordered from the Veggies section and the Tofu Steak ($6) caught my eye. Watch out cause this dish is very high in sodium. My girlfriend ordered the Ginger Pork ($7) which was less salty but still at bit too salty for my taste. Just FYI, these dishes are similar to appetizer size hence the low price. To finish off dinner, we ordered the Fried Cheese Cake Roll ($4.50) which was very beautiful when brought out. Ice cream scoop is optional I believe but the dessert was delicious. Service was above average and setting was comfortable. If you have a small party (2 people), you might get stuck with a small table. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for non-Americanized food. Note: you may walk out hungry!
(3)Celia S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Yakko-San! The appetizer sized plates are perfect for sharing! I went with a friend and we started with the TUNA TATAKI which was awesome! Followed by SCALLOPS, ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM, that I plan to have again (I had the last piece ha!) and we also had EBI FRY (fried shrimp w/ Japanese bread crumb) a must! ... and to end this very tasteful dinner we had BANANA TEMPURA with ice cream! YUM! Our waiter was very friendly and they're open until 3am on Fridays! You can't beat that!
(5)Ana D.
this place has great food, good parking, grate vibe and friendly service. I would definately go again and recommend. tried almost every dish there btnn me and 3 other friends.
(4)Eugene Y.
Let me start by saying I love authentic japanese restaurants in NYC. Now let me tell you that this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. The food was TERRIBLE!!!, Miso Sea Bass was ok at best with way too much oil. Scallops were rubbery and disgusting. Crispy Bok Choy was again too oily. AND THE WORST THING OF ALL WAS THE SEA URCHIN PASTA, the only thing you can taste was the overwhelming garlic. CAN I SAY GARBAGE !!!!
(1)Anish Z.
Loved it. apparently Japanese food is not just tapenyaki and sushi!! Was pleasantly surprised by trigger fish jerky (thinly sliced and nice caramelized flavor). Yeah fish jerky... but good choice. The fried fish onion salad was a nice meld of flavors and textures. The beef stew was totally unexpected. I would have placed the dish as Ethiopian had I not eaten it at a Japanese restaurant. It was a little heavy on the cumin but was great as a comfort food. The place gets the five star because it is both unique and open until 2 or 3 in the morning. Between this and BK, or cold pizza I think the choice is obvious. Happy eating.
(5)Leon W.
yakko-san rocks!!! what's to like? everything!!!! seriously.... try everything!
(5)Donald M.
Back in my home town (Houston) I'd probably give Yakko-San one less star but in the Miami area it's one of the best Japanese restaurants around. Think of it more as a Japanese tapas place. It's small and gets crowded quickly so plan your visit accordingly.
(4)Rebecca B.
Superb! The ramen soup is outstanding. I went there two days in a row that's how much I loved it. Sit in the bar looking into the food being prepared. It was like watching a choreographed dance. The mushroom appetizer was delicious. It comes in a foil pouch steamed to perfection. I cant't wait to go back again and again!
(5)Eloisa S.
I love that place. I go there once a week and have never been disappointed. Good prices, great selection of sakes, and the freshest sashimi around. I have basically tried the entire menu, my favorites are the Tuna Harumaki, the crisp fish salad and the scallops with asparagus and mushrooms. The waiters are wonderful, ask for suggestions and they will tell you as it is. You are not going to find sushi rolls there, but you won't miss it.
(5)Katie M.
I have been here a few times and think it is a great bar and perfect place for a late night meal. We went over the weekend around midnight and had terrific food. The sushi was excellent, great wine list and wonderful and attentive service. We will be back soon!!
(4)Alex G.
Ok people, this is what I call a restaurant, and not because the decor is amazing or they invested $5MM to open-up but they care about quality authentic Japanese and some oriental food - Yeap, there is no sushi in this place (for all those looking for a California maki), but you will find things you don't even know they exist - So, for real gourmets this is an option, for those looking to be seen in a cool place hanging out with celebs, go somewhere else, Yakko-San is a place where you go to enjoy very good food !!!
(4)Yenny O.
great sushi, but every time i go there late night the owner I guess her name is "may" she is always drunk and screaming to her employees i think you should not be drunk at your own restaurant every day.
(2)Enbar C.
excellent sushi and excellent price! good studd! I LOVE SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLLS!
(4)Eddie Z.
Good sushi, crappy waiters!
(3)Eldita B.
ASIAN TAPAS. I love the fact that they are open so late. Downside is that there is a wait during "peak" hours(30 minutes was the longest I ever had to wait for a table). Avoid sitting at the bar at the entrance. It's kind of uncomfortable. Sashimi is great. Yakinikudon is one of our favorites. Service is good. Food is tasty and fresh. looove the sake selections. Mochi sunday for dessert isn't bad.
(4)H C.
Cheap delicious sushi. Gets crowded on weekends but never along wait for a table.
(3)Eric M.
It's ok for japanese food. Last night, I ordered ebi fry, soba, hiya yakko, kinpira gobo and something not on the menu, oshinko maki (takuwan roll). The sauces are not quite up to par. Service was good and they even redid a dish that I told them was too salty and had too much (shoyu) soy sauce. Best dish for me was the hiya yakko (Cold tofu w/grated ginger, scallions & shaved bonito). Tofu quality was excellent. Menu is quite extensive and big selection. I have had better in New York City and Honolulu.
(3)Jaye V.
I'm so excited that I found these reviews for izakayas in Miami. I didn't even know they existed here! Everytime I'm in NYC, I go to a couple, and it's one of my favorite dining experiences. I've also been spoiled since I've been to Tokyo. It's finding this review on here (and immediately going) that made me want to finally join Yelp as a reviewer. I love ordering a bunch of little items and sharing, but I want to come back and try the bigger dishes like the noodle and ramen dishes. When I do, I'll update the review & rating, but for now this is my review of my first experience here. I had the assorted seaweeds with dipping sauces, the black pork belly, the panko fried oysters, red salmon sashimi (sockeye salmon), sauteed asparagus with bacon, and the angel hair with uni and salmon roe. (I forgot to try the fried chrysanthemum leaves.) I've never had so many different types of seaweed before. One of them was clear and rather odd; my favorite was the red one. The black pork belly was flavorful but not braised so it was not as tender as I was hoping..but that's to be expected. The red salmon was delicious and melted in my mouth. The sauteed asparagus actually had more bacon than asparagus, with a side of kewpie mayo -- really tasty. And the waitress tried to talk us out of the angel hair, saying that the uni garlic spaghetti might be more our speed. But I had to tell her I liked the salmon roe, which for some reason surprised her. The resulting dish was surprisingly mild. The salmon roe gives the dish most of its flavor, with the uni giving it that extravagantly buttery finish. While I wish it had more boosted flavors, I still enjoyed this dish. I wish that I could find black cod miso here rather than the overfished sea bass :(. Most of the clientele is Asian (and speaking in different Asian languages all around you as well). Usually I'm in places where the young Asians are speaking English to each other. I love how it's open until 2-3am every night like they're supposed to be. And it's not all the way down in Miami proper (since I'm in Ft. Laud), so the drive isn't too bad at all. Now I have a place to go when I somehow lose track of time and suddenly all the restaurants are closed. PS -- I loved the hot house sake. I'm not a sake fan, but for some reason it was savory and I surprisingly enjoyed it. And I have tried tons of different kinds before. Edit 1/21/08: So I went here again, and we overdid it trying to order more of the dishes. - Monkfish liver in a miso-ponzu sauce with daikon, seaweed, lemon, scallions, shiso leaf, and ground-up chili-daikon on the side. It was steamed and then served cold. I've had this before, and there was something off about the monkfish liver flavor. - Marinated spicy tempura squid. Wasn't spicy, but was flavorful. Consisted of large rings and big tentacles. Served with lemon and a side of Japanese mayo. Was tasty, but some of the rings were a little rubbery. - Chrysanthemum leaf tempura with ponzu sauce. Was good and the batter was terrific. The c. leaf wasn't very very mild flavored and although it was good, I think I would prefer it as a bottom of an entree...say with a steamed fish in some sort of sauce on top? - Spicy manila clams. Oh my, this is the spiciest thing I've had in South Florida. I never knew they could make something spicy. As a big fan of spicy food, I liked it. I shared it with someone, so it didn't get to the point of being unbearable, but if I had to eat it by myself, it would have. But for me, no complaints. For most Floridians, it would have been torture. - Miso pork ramen. Yummy! Loved the pork and bamboo shoots; I had this soup in Tokyo some years ago. This version was healthier and so wasn't as decadent, but still delicious. Too many fried garlic slices, though...had to start avoiding them because after eating a few too many of them, they got too strong. - Pork gyoza (pan-fried). Even in the dipping sauce, these were almost flavorless. I put one in the ramen and it didn't help it any. Don't get the gyoza. - Other notes: Great service this time. Waiter was very attentive; all the servers were very interactive as well. Waiter even poured the sake refills for us; every time he came by, he would say, "Pleeease enjoy!" Heh.
(4)Joseluis A.
yakko san rocks, thats all i gotto say. the other reviews are right on about this place. i went for dinner earlier this evening and got: ohitashi, edamame and a yake udon. my friend had a miso soup and the ginger pork and we shared a fried cheese cake roll for dessert.... oh and we both had a sapporo. our bill came up to almost 60$. sweet!
(5)Timothy C.
This place is where it's at!!! Great food had the mahi-mahi salad, it was to die for! Also try the mushroom foil!! Very busy!! Chef's are awesome!!
(5)Greg C.
Love this place! Found it through Yelp and Zagat. My wife and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs. Try the fried Bok Choy it is excellent. Sashimi is very fresh. Great Saki menu and even better good prices. You will have a fun night at this restaurant.
(5)Dean N.
All the dishes we took were great. there are a lot of asian restaurants in Miami and this is the definitely a good one. On top of that the prices are very very reasonable.
(4)alyssa d.
i love it here! i haven't had anything bad on the menu yet. i usually come for the takoyaki, it's amazing and i don't think any other places in the area have it. delicious!
(4)Abbey P.
Great Japanese hot dishes. They have some sushi type stuff. The Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper, UNAGI KABAYAKI, CHICKEN GIZZARD CHIVE, and a spicy tuna dish were all excellent. I loved the Unagi. The sea bass miso was not good ( over cooked-or if that was the style, it's still not good). I really enjoyed my food.
(4)Tony T.
Great place love the fresh fish
(4)Kushbaby s.
This place is a joke. I went in with a couple of friends and I immediately felt like I was in some sort of ASIAN FUSION restaurant. The ambience was totally not like it used to be when most of the workers were Japanese. The hostess that was speaking a foreign language was very rude. Started raising her voice when I told her we were next, before another couple was trying to butt in. She snapped and told me my table was ready. I told her, I did not even give her my name or how many people I was with...she then realized I was a completely different customer than the ones she DID take reservations for. Once we were seated our server didnt even understand what green tea was in Japanese....gave us a funny face. This is supposed to be an AUTHENTIC JAPANESE TAPAS STYLE RESTAURANT right? We ordered a bunch of stuff off the menu. Nothing was spectacular.I remember back in the day when my coworkers and I drove all the way from Fort Lauderdale to eat here..and now I can seriously say that I will never come here again. Way overpriced. Save your time, your money and all this HOOPLA about this place. Obviously most of the people have not tried REAL authentic Japanese food in South Florida if YAKKO san is on the top of your list. Go to MATSURI...now thats 100% Authentic!
(1)Sol D.
the food quality used to be excellent, specially at their old location. now most of the time it's too salty and not very consistant. the good thing abt the new location, it's bigger and we don't have to wait too long to be seated. it's a good choice for a Japanese restaurant since they have variety in their menu. good for family, the kids love age tofu, fish and noodles. some of our favorite dishes; hamachi-kama, dice beef, onion fish, pork & bamboo noodle, spagetti with clams, etc. we still go back sometimes to see if they've improved and when we feel like eating Japanese food.
(3)Henry P.
I don't believe the amount of stars some people are giving them. They are overrated. Been there a few times, since the food isnt terrible, it just feels overpriced for what you get. If you get a rice bowl, its more rice than anything else. And what really got to me is, they don't know sushi. You don't put cream cheese in a dragonroll, it completely kills it. Theres alot of better places out there, experience better.
(2)R W.
deserves the good reviews. btw, very affordable, which is very important as well. friendly environment.
(4)Leah V.
Three words- fried bok choy! Delicious food, great atmosphere. Good place to go with friends and just order a bunch of little plates to try as much as you can. The bok choy and octopus were my faves. Plan to go back for more!
(4)Boris B.
Had dinner with the family. Sushi is very good, appetizers decent, as are prices. Will go back.
(4)Waseem G.
Awesome! This place rocks. Went with a few of my buddies while we were visiting miami last week. So nice to just not be around all the crazyiness of miami yet be so close! We ordered the gyoza (pan seerd and steamed), spicy lamb, the steak, kimchee pork (my fav) and of course some sake bombs! The service is very on point and everyone is very friendly, always willing to chat. Thanks again!
(4)Tiffany K.
craving Japanese food, I found Hiro's Yakko-San to be nearby (we were at Aventura Mall doing some shopping). between my mom, my sister, and i, we ordered the following: - Tofu Steak: i would recommend this dish if you like tofu/onions/mushrooms. onions and mushrooms is one of my favorite combinations when it comes to toppings on food. the tofu is nicely fried on the outside, delicious sauce and mushrooms (regular and enochi) - Kalbee Yakiniku: i didn't try this since i don't eat beef - Ginger Chicken: this dish was just okay. the sauce was pretty good, but the chicken itself was meh. i've had ginger and/or teryaki chicken a lot and this was not one of the better ones. - Tuna Harumaki: this dish was so good. especially topped off with some wasabi. - Yamakake Tuna: if you're not a fan of japanese potato, don't get this. this dish was simply tuna sashimi with japanese potato all over the top. my sister ordered it and when it came she was like eew i don't want that potato. however, the tuna was very very good - fresh, melt in your mouth, gorgeous color. - Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper: i'm a little torn about this dish - don't get me wrong, the hamachi was very fresh and nicely, thinly sliced. however the flavors were just okay - i've had hamachi jalapeno at other places before, and they definitely could have made this dish tastier and the jalapeno could have had more of a kick to it. i honestly couldn't even taste the jalapeno. - Salmon Sashimi: very fresh and tasty. - Japanese Sundae (2): the three of us LOVED this dessert. that's why we ordered two - after the first one, we asked the waiter to send another over. yummy combination of whip cream, rice cakes (mochi), green tea ice cream, azuki red bean, and crushed up waffle cones on the bottom. so so good. overall, great experience. great service, good food, hooray!
(4)Renata M.
Its not a typical sushi restaurant, its a real japanese restaurant with really good fish. If you go don't eat sushi, eat some fish.
(4)Nirvana S.
Hoodlum wait staff!! Bus-boy/waiter stole my friends car keys tonight... At the end of our delicious birthday dinner, we walked out and noticed that the keys were missing- after repeatedly asking the staff if they saw keys, they kept to their story that they saw nothing. We looked in all of our purses, cars, called people who had left dinner early- we knew the keys were on the table! Not knowing who they were messing with, my girlfriends sat down and refused to leave until the keys were found. Finally after offering a $100 cash reward, 5 seconds later a bus boy comes back dangling the keys in his hand!!! In case you go there...watch out ...had we left to go get the spare, the car would have either been robbed or stolen. What a horrible thing to happen at such a great restaurant! Food was amazing- wait staff horrible along with the service. I might file a police report tomorrow. Definitely watch your belongings!!
(3)Victor m.
For authentic Japanese this is the place! I was a little weary at first because of the location and the mixed reviews but now that I have been there and tried the excellent food and the wonderful service I am sure that Yakko-San deserves a spot in my regular rotation. Know, keep in mind this is not your typical "Americanized Japanese" cuisine. It is served in small plates similar to Spanish tapas and has flavors and ingredients that you may not recognize. But no worries all the food we tried and saw others eating looked and tasted fresh, flavorful, and delicious. If you love to eat good quality food Yakko-San will not disappoint. By the way, Thank s to the staff for the great service especially Fred!
(5)Mike N.
Holy smokes this place is good. Stayed in N Miami Beach for 4 nights and ate here twice. The first night we ate at Hiro's on 163rd and man, that place was aweful, then we figured out that Hiro's Yakko-San was at a different address...don't make the same mistake. Sashimi Mori was very, very good. Grilled Shishito was great. Mushroom tempura was perfect, very light batter. Huge mixed salad. Great selection of very good sake. Casual with great service. I can see why its been around for 25+ years.
(4)Kevin N.
The one and only place in Miami I would consider to call a restaurant serving actual Japanese sushi. No gimicks, no neon, no Thai food, no Korean food, no Chinese food, no hard liquor, and no Vietnamese food! It is not often I give a five-star review of a place that DOESN'T have a lot of different things, but for Yakko-san, it is a boon rather than a detriment. They are serious about their food and you know it from the first bite.
(5)Michael L.
I live nearby, and Ive probably came here at least 10 times in the past year. Usually me and the mrs. usually try something different every time we come. The menu is huge, with a vast array of Japanese small dishes and appetizers, as well as Japanese grilled items, to ramen, and lastly sushi. I have never tried their sushi yet, so i cant comment on it, but the ramen and the grilled items are all good. The sea bass is yummy, age dashi tofu is also a must. The crispy bok choy is also unique, bok choy thats flash fried with no batter, turns out crispy and surprisingly addictive. I don't understand the hate on some of the reviews, its authentic Japanese food thats relatively cheap. Maybe they dont know what to order. My fiancee likes to order the mentaiko, which is a pasta with creamy cod roe. Theres also a special menu that isnt posted online, that does change from time to time, thats usually an extension of their menu with grilled fishes, meats, etc.. Next time i will try their sushi, if i don't get steered away from their wonderful grilled, cooked Japanese dishes.. If u want to go to an authentic, not Americanized Japanese restaurant, this is the place to go.
(4)Greg A.
Every time I go back to this place it's more packed than the last time. It's a shame it took me years of passing by this place (since it's located in the middle of a crappy strip mall on a road I only take to avoid Aventura traffic on Biscayne) to finally discover what a true hidden gem it was. Yakko-San is a Japanese restaurant and not a sushi place. So while they do serve sashimi, don't come here looking to have a Dragon Roll. What you can expect here is really, really good Japanese food. I've gone there a few times and there are so many interesting things on the menu that I always find myself getting different entrees. But while I'm mixing up the entrees, the one appetizer I never fail to have when going to Yakko-San (and I guarantee it will also be your favorite) is the crispy bok choy. It's one of the most perfect appetizers ever made - crispy, light, and full of flavor. The spicy octopus is a favorite entree of mine, and the kimchee buta is good, but those with less adventurous palates can enjoy a meal at Yakko-San without fear because you will, without a doubt, love their sliced BBQ beef (Yakiniku). You can get it over a bowl in rice (Yakiniku Don) or without (Yakiniku Steak) but either way it's some tasty, tasty beef. Those who like sake (like I do) will be happy. They have an assortment of hot and cold sakes, but they have a sake tasting where you can 3 shots of different sakes for a fairly cheap price - think along the lines of 3 shots of $90-$120 sake for like $15. The ladies will enjoy the fruity sake-tinis they serve there. And the banana tempura is a delicious way to finish it all up. The only downside I can say about this place is that the service can be a little slow after they serve your food, even if the place isn't packed, but it's not frustratingly slow. The parking there is also kind of cramped, but if you go later in the evening just park in the lot across the street and you shouldn't have any problems.
(4)Mike S.
It was an exhausting week... I got home and passed out until midnight waking up with the biggest craving for Japanese, luckily Hiro's was still open. Btw, it's next to a night club and the parking lot was packed. Don't park on the grass b/c I saw cops giving out tickets. So it's late at night, I'm exhausted, and all I wanted was a nice "homey" bowl of oyako don. First of all the sauce didn't taste right, too much mirin not enough soy? It was also not cooked properly, what they gave me was a brown, soggy and unappetizing mess. I have to admit it didn't taste good, it didn't taste bad. What disappointed me most was that it wasn't hot! But at 2am, it was good enough for me... I also had the Ika Natto, they don't make their own natto but I guess that's too much to ask for. Their sashimi was fresh but it's not that authentic since the sushi guys aren't Japanese. I did love their green tea, I think it was matcha and they actually use filtered water here. It's a great place to bring friends flying into Miami at night since they're open late but I wouldn't go out of my way just for the food - kind of like St. Mark's Place in nyc.
(3)Michael D.
This place is okay when you want a bowl of ramen served to you by a Thai waitress in a Korean run Japanese restaurant and you are stuck in Miami. Kimchi ramen? whatever. The fresh fried whole fish is good too. ____
(4)Sue R.
I enjoyed my first visit to Hiro's Yakko-San tonight. I arrived at 6:15pm and it was completely full, except for the last seat at the bar, which I grabbed. My waitress came promptly and brought me an ice-cold KIrin Ichiban which went down very smoothly. I ordered Uni sashimi (sea urchin liver), which was presented prettily and tasted out of this world. I had intended to order a bowl of noodle soup with some interesting ingredients, but my waitress told me of a quite special and rare item that they had on the menu tonight: monkfish liver, poached and served cold with ponzu sauce. So, ever the fearless gourmet, I ordered that, along with some salmon sashimi and a portion of cold buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. I also ordered a plate of crispy fried bok choi just in case I still felt hungry. The monkfish liver was outstanding, creamy and flavorful, tasting almost like avocado, not fishy at all. The salmon was super-fresh and the buckwheat noodles with their dipping sauce provided a nice change of pace. As for the bok choi, I can't wait to have it again - it melted in my mouth. Bok choi deep fried with ginger, my mouth is watering just thinking of it. The ambiance was exactly how it should be, I felt I was either in a restaurant in Tokyo or in a movie - I've only been to Tokyo once and actually did eat in this kind of place but it was too long ago to remember well. Four stars. Highly recommended.
(4)DeAnn P.
Yum, yum, yum! We always have a wonderful time here, and the food delicious!
(5)Anna V.
Food is delicious...you just need to know what to order. I love their interior design. Its very trendy and ambient. Its a great place to have dinner with all of your friends since there is a club right next door, called "C-Lounge".
(4)Candy C.
Yakkosan is known for their authentic Japanese cuisine and its late night hours for those night owl foodies. Open till 3 am! I used to love this place and would have given it 5 stars last year-- before Yakkosan moved to it's new location. Although it may seems like it has received an upgrade- bigger building, modern decor, club music......I must say that it is completely superficial. It has completely lost it's authentic feel and the ambiance has changed from a traditional and cultural to a typical modern day Japanese restaurant. We used to be greeted by the sushi chefs in Japanese upon entering and thanked leaving. The change is a great disappointment for me. The off menu items (specialty items) that were ordered off a dry erase board are long gone and they now serve sushi rolls (which they didn't in the past).--- I understand change is for the better and I would've given them at least a 3 star rating if the quality of the food continued to have the same excellence. It doesn't. Most time it is too salty, or too burnt, or "it's not available". It's a hit or miss. Sometimes it tastes decent, other times it will give you the upset stomach. Lastly, the service is not that great- the servers are not attentive or courteous. I've given the new location at least 2 tries before writing this review.
(2)judy n.
They're constantly remodeling, and it starts looking more modern, each time I come here. a great app to share: - Dried Kawahagi - dried fish and sliced, reminiscent of dried cuttlefish and squid. with a fun mayo-y type dipping sauce. - Sashimi Salad - it comes with a great vinagrette, and super fresh and light. A good app to share: - Spinach and Butter, with shitake mushroms. (Not uber buttery like u would expect) a great dish to get (Yummy!) - Yakiniku Don. It's bbq beef slices over white rice. great sauce.
(5)Kevin V.
Awesome late night service and delicious Japanese food.
(5)Glenn M.
this is my go to place. food is ALWAYS excellent and incredibly fresh. service is good and the atmosphere is nice. get the hamachi cheek if it's available. tempura is perfect. I could drink the sauce they use for the hamachi jalapeno appetizer.
(5)Victor P.
After a long week of eating seafood in Tampa and Key West all we wanted was some good Asian food. Ended up at Yakko-San... Boy were we disappointed. Fried Bok Choy was really bitter. All it was is Bok Choy that is fried with no seasoning with very salty dipping sauce in the side. Hamachi Jalepeno was mediocre... Would even say that the fish quality was poor. Miso Ramen tasted very odd. There was too much vegeteables in the soup that it tasted like veggie stew. The pork was also very chewy and low quality. Only gave this place 2 stars because the decor and ambience was nice.
(2)Stan K.
I wish they never moved. Place lost it's feel and while the dishes are still tasty, it's not as consistent as it use to be. Weird to still love yakko yet starting to dislike it at the sametime. And service is slipping too. But it will always be in the rotation. the bottom line is that the food is delicious.
(4)Olivia K.
Worst edamame ever. No low sodium soy sauce. Not enough dishes. They forgot an order. Food was okay but not great.
(2)Abbers M.
All I have to say is a sushi place should probably not second as a night club, or an after night club go-to spot. In concept: great. In truth: a stinky, sweaty, dirty carpet smelling restaurant. MmmmM-sushi!!!!
(2)Alissa W.
This is by far the best japanese food I have ever had. First, when you walk in the plaza looks a little bit shady. You have to try to diakon kimchee, enokyi mushrooms, cripsy bok choy, himmachi jalepeno,tuna hirumaki, and they have the most amazing salad dressing you can add avocado, tuna, or salmon. All the sashimi is very fresh. They have a huge selection of noodle dishes. If you eat squid they have the most amazing spicy squid the sauce in great. I like the udon they are think and chewy.I try to go there atleast 3 times a month. It is small inside, and there usually is a wait. The food is worth the wait trust me !
(5)Jerry E.
Great staff; helpful with menu; great food. It look like a rough neighborhood at night. The food is worth the trip. This place is packed with locals on a weeknight. My clients did not want to get out of the cab at first, but loved the place later.
(4)Nina W.
Talk about fresh sushi....everything i ate here was amazing. My only complaint is I tried ordering the rice ball appetizer which has scallions in them, which I hate. So I asked my waiter if I could substitute the already mixed in tuna with scallion which is served with the rice ball for just regular tuna. And it was so impossible for them to do that, I even prompt to pay extra.I guess they just have a no substitution policy. But besides that the food is excellent.
(4)Christian P.
I have visited Yakko-San numerous times since I moved to the area 3 years ago. The food is delicious and consistent. I have never been disappointed with the food once. However, 80% of the time I am disappointed with the service. I have never seen a manager in the restaurant. When I sit at the sushi bar the chefs are usually the ones greeting me with a smile. They could be a serious force in the industry with some service details... I do visit here quite often. Love the style of food and just prepare myself for the lacking service.
(3)S B.
Due to complete lack of service, we will not be returning. Although the food was tasty, we realized average food and great service surpasses better food with 0 service. We sat outside. There were a few other tables being served outside so we were not the only ones. We literally had to get up and go inside to track down a server on 4 separate occasions: to give a drink order, order food, get chopsticks & soy sauce for our sushi, and for the bill (after asking for it 3 times). We only went in to the restaurant looking for a server after waiting lengthy periods of time. We verbalized our disappointment and were given nothing more than a sheepish apology.
(1)Beatriz P.
The service was terrible, offensive, and in appropriate. Go to this restaurant at your own risk. I have been going to this restaurant for about a year since their food is pretty good. But unfortunately, I will no longer go to this restaurant because of the lack of manners of one of the staff members whose name is Austin, who insulted my father and used curse words such as the F word when talking to my father. I asked him kindly to respect my father because he is a 75 year old men but Austin continue to insult my father and said among other things he did not care my father is 75 years old. This whole argument started because he charged us for 8 pieces of sushi, and he brought 6. We told him we only had 6 and he got into an argument with me and my father that he brought 8 pieces of sushi and not 6 pieces. Also, the service was terrible. They brought my mother's entree, first, and after she had finished they brought my father's and mine. I requested for the manager, and they told me he was not at the restaurant that day. I like their food very much, but I will no longer go to this restaurant unless they better train their staff and they fire Austin for such an awful behavior that is absolutely not acceptable. Eating delicious food and then end up in an argument turns poison in your body. So my honest recommendation, if you go to thIs restaurant know that the staff is not well trained, that they might insult you especially if Austin is your waiter and the service is terrible. And you might get into an argument. It is my humble desire that you will never encounter such an awful experience. Hope this helps.
(1)Ian A.
Very few retaurants have ever just made me feel happy eating their food... this is one of them
(5)Mott K.
Yakko San by Hiro is an authentic Japanese cuisine. It's been awhile since my last visit... But what I re cal is super service, great food and some very unfamiliar choices and sights. It is for certain- a must visit on the to do list. If ya wind up near The Aventura Mall or Sunny Isles Beach... Hiro's Yakko San is just a few minutes away.
(5)Holly B.
GROSS! You people in Miami do not know fresh sushi! This dump, literally a dirty dingey hole-in-the-wall, had some of the most disgusting sushi I've ever tasted! Stay Away! The pieces smelled fishy from afar, so you can only imagine how they tasted. The service was fine, but the nasty smell made me ill, not to mention the food. We will never go here again. Still looking for that diamond in the rough of sushi restaurants in Miami, help!
(1)Stefanie F.
I went here while on vacation a couple of months ago, and I'll never forget how terrible my experience was. Sure, the food was decent, even if the fish did seem a little off. However, the service was deplorable. Slow, unfriendly, cold, and the pricing differed from what it should have been on the menu. It was a waste of money, and I'm glad I live 1,200 miles away.
(1)cindy w.
Where do sushi chefs go to eat after work? Yakko-San. For good reason, because I think I found the best Japanese restaurant in Miami, PERIOD. The fact that this joint stays open till 3am Saturday is a major plus for those who work late nights. Past 12:30am, it was packed with a mixed crowd, with sous-chefs and most promising, Asians, so this place is the real deal. The folks who run it are Japanese and greet you with "Irashai mase!" when you walk in. Now, when I say real deal, this place has the most extended menu I've seen outside of NY and San Francisco, we're talking dishes that are almost non-existant in Miami: udon, ramen, soba noodles, donburi, yakiniku, shabu-shabu, etc. sushi I've never heard of, and some creative tempura dishes I loved. FYI, I hate fish so I don't try raw sushi. Someone else will have to critique that, mmkay? Some interesting plates that caught my eye: kimchee hot pot, beef tataki NY strip, natto, ika maruyaki [whole squid], japanese pasta napolitano [sauteed sausage, veggies, with ketchup], curry udon, tempura croquette, etc. My bf and I went with kimchee ramen, soba noodles with tempura, chrysthanthemum leaf tempura (recommended by a coworker), and dessert, fried cheesecake roll. All of which were really, really, really good. This place is about the truth, no hype, no chic decor, the decor is minimal, the location in a tucked away neighborhood. Most dishes were under $10. Toward the end of the meal, Yakko-San's prompted me to keep saying to myself: "God I'm full but I can't stop eating!" It was like I never wanted the party in my mouth to stop...you know, when you feel sad because your stomach can't keep up with the tastebuds? Yeah, I gorged. It was that good. PS: Miami New Times voted it Best Late Night Dining, 2007.
(5)Jose L.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami. I've been going there regularly for the past few years and I'm yet to experience the full menu. The whole fried fish is very good if you're in a group if it's a smaller party you can get the fried fish salad which is almost always in the daily specials menu. The servers are very helpful most of the time, even if there are some language barriers. There are no rolls on the menu, but there is sashimi and I like most of the items from the kitchen.
(5)James G.
alright, this place is open late, has sake and sushi as well as some authentic japanese food. why are you not here. I love yakko-sans. Go. Now! Things to try Unagi Whole Fresh Catch of the Day TakoYaki Beef Tataki Oh and if you have to wait...do it.
(5)Dannielle C.
Always making stops here to eat. Such a wide selection to choose from, relatively quiet restaurant, it's a hit in my book!
(4)Erica F.
My worst experience ever!!! I ordered a sundae that has gluten ,which I'm allergic to,and was told I can't return it...upon which my friend requested info about the restaurant policies...the co-owner threatened my safety with a stool by picking it up to throw at me...my friend saved me buy pulling the stool from her ....DONT GO THERE!!!
(1)Neal L.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami that I have tried, mostly because of the taste and variety. The crispy bok choy is/was amazing, and I say that with great confidence because the first time I had it, it was amazing, but the second time, it was not (it was mostly oily). But the first time I went was at 1AM on Friday and the second time was at 2AM on Saturday, so maybe the cook staff was tired. I am eager to come back and try other interesting items. The lotus root was done very well and delicious, and the spicy squid was actually spicy (so spicy that one of the waitresses commented that she could not eat it because it was too spicy). Google the menu and you'll be interested in going. Plus the location makes the dining experience more enjoyable.
(4)Marc F.
I allowed the "first review" for this place to pass right over me. Although I am a regular here, I had hoped it would stay as much of a hole in the wall as I had once found it. The ONLY sushi restaurant, where you find yourself eating next to people of the Japanese culture; that goes to show you who is preparing the most culturally styled food, with as much flavor and purity as you find with the sushi in Japan. Unfortunately for us all, the place has gotten more popular = price changes and a wait to get in during the busier hours. Although I hoped and prayed, I knew it wasn't going to stay a hidden gem for too long. They do not serve any rolls, so keep that in mind when trying to bring someone for their first time. I would go into the menu but the review would go on for days! They have a "weekly specials" menu, which I highly recommend taking a look at, as well as the regular menu. Open only for dinner, but kept open until 2-3am! Police used to feed on only doughnuts and coffee, because it was fast and delicious.... No wonder you always see them at Yakko-San!! However, don't let this ruin your buzz, they're only here for the food as well.. Goodbye Krispy Kreme, Hello Yakko-San!
(5)Dan V.
Ordered miso ramen, wished it was less bland. Their sushi, fried eel, fish, and lobster was awesome!
(4)Esteban Z.
This place rocks! Seemed sketchy at 1am but totally worth the trip. Had enoki butter and spicy manila clams from specials menu. Both were fantastic. Got the tuna sashimi salad and added the hot peppers and avocado. Sounds boring, but with their secret dressing this will be the first thing we order next time. The Hamachi with Jalepenos was delicious in a citrus sauce. I think I had a dream about the Black Pork Belly. We finished off our meal with Yaki-Udon with pork. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Grant B.
Here's my 15 words, more or less. Small overpriced salty average portions. Loud, sterile, uninviting atmosphere. Make your Asian tastebuds and wallet go farther, go to Sushi Thai in Hallandale on US 1.
(2)Ashlee M.
HORRIBLE AWFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!! Had dinner here on a Saturday night. We ( my boyfriend and I) ordered 2 green salads, spinach w/ shitake mushrooms (as a side dish), curry chicken, ramen soup, chicken age. The spinach and shitake which is supposed to be a hot side dish arrived before the salads! Then the salads arrive and not 30 seconds later our entrees arrive. We're sitting at freaking little table for 2 and these morons waiters are trying to squeeze all of this crap on our table while we're not even half way done with our salads! I sent every bit of it back and told them they are making it again or we're not paying (which I'm sure they didn't). Our waitresses lame excuse was that the items come from different kitchens. I DON'T CARE! That's not my problem or concern. Once we asked for a check ( we had to track down the waitress) it took 20 minutes before that process was over. I'm never going back, they have no idea how to run a kitchen.
(1)Giorgio R.
I try to make it a point to eat here weekly...Sometimes twice a week. I love Yakko-San more than I love any restaraunt in Miami. Im not trying to say it is the best restaurant...but i will say it is the best eating expirience.Everything here is always delicious, fresh and just as good as it was the last time you had it...I'll go out on a limb and say the cripsy bok choy is one of the best appetizers you will ever have...ever. This miso seabass is incredible, the ponzu gelatin on the beef tataki will make your knees quiver and the crispy pork-onion salad will change your life. EAT AT YAKKO-SAN!
(5)Chris G.
Yakko-San has been my favorite South Florida choice in Japanese food for years, even when they were in their old hole-in-the-wall location. Thankfully, they've moved to a new, bigger location that is much more spacious. I've never tried anything at Yakko-San that I didn't like, except for natto (fermented soybeans), which I kinda expected to be bad beforehand. The beef curry and the various ramen choices are standouts for me. The appeal of Yakko-San is that it's a real Japanese restaurant, not this Americanized Japanese stuff that you see everywhere (and it's not one of those weird Thai-Japanese hybrids either). I try to eat something different every time I go so that I can sample everything, but I inevitably find myself coming back to some favorites. If you want great Japanese food, especially really late at night, get over to Yakko-San.
(5)Momoko S.
If I have to name five best places to eat in Miami-Dade county, this should be in. Some of the dishes even taste better than Japanese food in Japan. It really is best if you go with me who is very familiar with their menu and also "only-Japanese-eat" dishes that I am sure you'll love.
(5)Ryan W.
The jalapeño hamachi was really good as was the pork katsu curry! Mmm. Service was fast and prompt. Decent prices and portions. I would go back
(4)Rose P.
this is my favorite restaurant in miami. sushi is great. other than that, my favorite dishes are the salmon carpaccio, the beef tataki, the tuna tataki and the crispy bok choy.
(5)Mateo S.
Pulling up to Hiro's Yakko-San, sited in a depressing strip mall on the terribly named Dixie Highway, my cab driver turned around and made a stinky "are you sure?" face. I looked at my dining companion and prepared for the worst. "What gives??" we thought aloud... this place had been recommended by a chef at Paradigm- the molecular gastronomy restaurant. The Studio 54 style mob scene outside gave us hope, though the ensuing 45 minute wait was a bit of a shoulder sinker. If its your first time here, repeat the following mantra: "I am not here for the service. I am not here for the service..." And frankly, neither are the servers. Ordering a pre dinner drink at the unmanned bar proved nearly impossible. But guess what? This place is so busy it doesn't matter. To explain, if you leave in a self-important huff, there is a ravenous crowd of people behind you thrilled to have their wait reduced. And, most importantly, if you leave, YOU CAN'T EAT THERE. The food is so insanely, ridiculously, embarrassingly delicious here that on a three day trip to South Florida we ate here twice. Two dinners! The menu is long and, at times, obscure. Close your eyes and point. Everything will blow you away, unless you blow fire and subsequently have no taste buds left; or if you subscribe to that snooty brand of uncompromising sophistication that thinks that Denny's or Red Lobster is a night of sparkling elegance and haute cuisine. (Amazingly, these people DO IN FACT exist. They were seated next to us!! It was like observing confusing foreign beasts at some travelling carnival) If you feel lost, ask the waitress to simply bring out her favorites. They will be your favorites too. SOME of my favorites: mixed mushroom foil-yaki, the gyoza, sea bass miso, angel hair uni, yakiniku don, the local shrimp, pork with bitter melon, and the fried eggplant. I wish I could remember more... I am confident that everything on the menu will put a smile on your face. Ask for a seat at the kitchen bar and you will get to witness the magic happen first hand, and probably strike up a conversation with the friendly chef and cooks, who will hand you your plates directly, as well as your introductory amuse bouche (the two nights we were there it was an amazing and homey macaroni, potato and corn salad). Waitress tip: they are busy from 7pm until 10pm, slow down until midnight, then have a second rush until 2 am when all the restaurant industry people drop in following their shifts. So shoot for that middle window to reduce your chances of a wait.
(5)Smith M.
Shocked and Appalled As I was having dinner at yakko san, I witnessed an act that at the time I did not know was orchestrated by the co-owner. I heard a loud voice using profamity and the attempted failure of picking up a stool to be thrown at a female customer which was my friend. I will never return and will advise all of my family, friends to stay away. What ever happened to the real owner Mr. Hiro- where have you gone? Co-owner is always drunk, treating customers and employees with disrespect. Is this right way to have this plan succesful after all these years Mr. Hiro earned respect.
(1)mandee l.
it's always my FAVORITE Japanese restaurant even though I've moved to WA. Back when i lived in Miami, i would go there 3x a week. Great exceptional food, cozy atmosphere. Unique dishes they have!! Even now, every time i go back to visit my family.... it's a must to go there~
(5)June K.
***I am writing this review based on the NEW yakko-san that has recently opened. I've been going to Hiro's Yakko-San regularly for a couple of years now and decided to write a review (finally). Why now you ask? Well, as the old saying goes, "if ain't broke don't fix it". Yes, they have finally moved to their MUCH BIGGER location. But bigger is not necessarily better. At their smaller location, their food was very consistent, as far as flavor, presentation and timing were concerned; but at the new location, it's off. And I mean, way off. First, I would like to say that, yes, they just had their grand opening and they are not used to having a dining area that large; but there is NO excuse for poor service. We went on 2 occasions. BOTH times we sat a good 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. We had to call David (who was not in our section) to get us a server. First time, we let it slide cause they just opened. Second time, was just plain irritating. All the servers seem like they have NO direction and they are just going to whatever table they "think" they're supposed to have. They REALLY need a manager to expedite the floor. I believe that if they had a manager to direct the floor staff, things would run much smoother. Timing for the delivery of food is off. Our items used to come in a certain order, now they just deliver what comes first. Last night, our grilled squid came AFTER we finished everything and our dessert plates were in front of us. We thought the order just got forgotten since we didn't see it or our server for a while, hence the order for the dessert. So we sent it back. The server looked confused as to why we were sending it back...duh! We just ordered dessert. At the old location they had 4 visible chefs, one that does the prep, one that does the cold dishes, one that does the grill, and the other that does the sautee. I believe they had more chefs in the back for the deep frying of items, but I'm not sure how many. The new location has about 6-8 chefs on the line and the "old school" chefs seem to know what they are doing, but the new hires are LOST. They had a flow at the old location in such a tiny space, but with a lot of new people, it's just chaos. The flavoring is off, either they don't put enough or put too much. On the first night we visited, we ordered the Kalbi Yakiniku, it was the first thing to come out (which was never the case at the old location, it was always one of the last things to appear), and it was overcooked, almost to the point that it was burnt. So we gave that a pass as well. But last night, we decided to order it again to see the differences (if any). It wasn't overcooked - hallelujah! It came out last as we thought it would, but it had NO flavor. We watched the (new) chef flavor another Kalbi Yakiniku order, and it looked like he did one side of the Kalbi and flipped it around on the plate a little to get the residual seasonings and sent it to the grill. So that explained that one. But with all the drawbacks to the new place, I will say there is a ray of sunshine to be seen. They now have sushi. And their sushi is EFFING awesome. Both times we visited, it was awesome. Those chefs have their sh*t together. Kudos on that one. All in all, once they get their act together, they will be a 5 star rated place, until then 3 stars it is. p.s the hole in the wall or old location was a 5 star rating in my book.
(3)Ashley D.
This authentic Japanese restaurant serves up fresh, legitimate Japanese dishes in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. They do not serve Sushi, but do have a full sashimi bar... that being said, the Maguro Natto is great! Fresh Tuna sashimi over white Japanese radish and a bed of seaweed and scallions, topped with miso sauce ... Great, cool, fresh Sashimi perfect for a hot Miami night. The shrimp tempura was beautiful, light, and crisp! No complaints! However, the dish that blew me away, something that I have never had in a Japanese restaurant in New York, was the Crispy Bok Choy... AMAZING... I could eat this every day for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner... The dish consists of heads of bok choy that are deep fried for 2 seconds, and then topped with a garlic soy dressing... a verbal description will not do justice... The leaves are paper thin and crispy, and the warm, sweet/salty/slightly spicy/garlicy soy dressing makes the bok choy taste like an Asian veggie chip! Deep Fried guilt never registers because you are eating a leafy green vegetable! Added Bonus! From what I gather, this is a Miami Speak Easy that only locals really get to experience, and with good reason... When we pulled up to the restaurant, we thought we had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the backcountry swamp of the everglades... The restaurant has minimal signage, and is located in an old strip mall off of West Dixie Highway.
(5)Adam C.
If any of you know me, you know I've been pimping this place since I took my first bite of crispy bok choy. Yakko San was introduced to me as the place where chefs go when they are done working. That alone should tell you the quality of food you're dealing with. Make sure you order some or all of the following: whole hog fish, garlic stem beef, buta kimchee, and shishito. Don't ask what they are, just order them. And don't expect a large selection of raw fish. Izakaya is mostly cooked. Skip dessert, and get more izakaya!
(5)Ric C.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in South Florida for sure. Love the food, but it takes time to understand the menu. First time I went I didn't really "get it", as I was used to ordering sushi at Japanese places. Don't order sushi! Go for the tapas! I love their spicy squid, tuna salad, lotus roots, and of course anything they do with Asian eggplant. I also think they truly provide good customer service: most waiters know us after so many times and most times recall what we like and what we don't like. We've taken our family here and everybody just falls in love with the place, but they always let us order the "right" things.
(5)Bill L.
First time at the new location. Not impressed. Service has nose-dived. Mi chica ordered a sake and he brought her a beer. When I said sake, he looked at me all dopey. Instead of picking up the beer, he just stood there. The menu looks way diff than what I recall. Seems more like a sushi joint now. I miss the old place.
(2)Susan C.
Ended up at Yakko-San last night after spending 45 minutes in traffic hell and unable to get to our intended destination for my husband's birthday. We were totally exasperated and wanted to eat somewhere decent that was close to where we were. Yakko San was the first place that popped up when I went on the Yelp app. I was very hopeful when I saw that the restaurant was packed with people, but overall I was not blown away. We had a very nice server, although at times he was nowhere to be found. We sat at the sushi bar and were excited to get a free small cup each of some kind of cold (daikon?) salad. However, right after this I was told that if I really wanted to get that Rainbow Roll, it was going to be a long wait. We were already starving, so I begrudgingly changed part of my order. I started with the miso soup, which was just fine, but my husband had the seafood soup which he found to be odd-tasting. We then tried to share the Crispy Bok Choy appetizer, but it was so laden with oil that we could not finish it. I then had the Mixed Mushroom Foil-Yaki and the Tofu Steak. I really enjoyed the latter as the tofu was cooked perfectly and topped with a mix of mushrooms, onions and scallions. I wished that the mushrooms in foil were a little more flavorful and the straw mushrooms less chewy, but I certainly could not complain about the large portion. As I was eating these, my husband had the Chu-Ka Don, which he liked very much. There was a lot of seafood and the vegetables were very crisp. Best part of the night: sitting next to a Japanese man who is about to open a "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant near the Sawgrass Mills Mall!
(3)Johnny D.
Always a good spot for lunch with their specials. We focused on rice balls, a few apps (triggerfish jerky) and sashimi along with a curry beef. Everything was on point with good service. The onigiri were huge so be warned that 5 of them were a bit to many for 2 people. Parking is great since you are in a strip mall.
(4)Naty S.
What an amazing place!!! Their menu tends to give me a severe case of ADD, because I would like to order everything on their extensive, multi-page booklet! But everything that I Randomly choose from it is just mind blowing. Even their Miso Soup is fantastic. Must admit that one of my favorite things about this place is their staff. They have an amazing crew that really elevate your experience to another level! Super recommended...!!!
(4)Mai N.
Love this place in North Miami beach! Must try the beef tongue, cooked & seasoned just right! The sashimi was very fresh, melted in my mouth! I was only disappointed in the spicy squid, don't order! Overall, if u like tapas style Japanese food or yakatori type foods, a must try! Or if u love sashimi, must try!
(4)Helen H.
Wow this place is a great little find! Price/value- amazing!!! We came for friday lunch and walked out full with only a $20 bill! Lunch special- 50% off! We got the sushi lunch which came with miso soup, tempura, veggies, and a 1/2 California roll! Everything veryy delicious. The rice is incredibly done well- sweet and nicely chewy- best sushi rice!! The tempura was excellently seasoned. Sometimes places don't put any seasoning and it's very bland, but this place has got it down!. I also got the cold soba noodles- good, not great. My salad was delicious... I think they added some sort of sesame oil... Soooo good. Service is how this place got bumped down to a 4- people weren't very nice. Also- they really rushed the meal- felt like they were trying to push us out. Oh well, I'll come back if I'm ever in the area again- thought it was pretty delicious and the decor is nice!
(4)Mike M.
This place has become one of my regular places to go. Their food is very consistent and good. Their sushi is very good; I would not say excellent but much better then other sushi restaurants. One of my favorite things though is their Grilled Squid, it's so delicious. What makes me a regular is that their prices are very reasonable compared to other sushi restaurants.
(4)Edwin S.
I've long considered this to be one of the staples of late night dining in Miami. It's been around a while and while I've always considered this to be a great restaurant most of my friends that shy away from sushi don't understand why I persist on getting them to at least give it a visit since sushi is not the primary concern for this venue. No, it's a Japanese Tapas Restaurant. It's fun to go with friends that aren't cowards for the best kinds of experience since it's meant for sharing. The portions vary but this is not a raw bar so my father, who can't consume raw meat because of a heart transplant restrictions in his diet, has many more options than he would have at any other place where Japanese simply means sushi. The catch of the day and the daily specials are my first suggestions. ... My only negative is with the ambiance: since they relocated into this strip mall along the intercostal the interior acoustics get to be maddeningly deafening. I don't go on the weekends to avoid the crowds. I hope they install some acoustic panels some day to dampen the echo chamber, and I will look forward to reviving this venue as my primary late night eatery.
(5)Donald M.
I love this place. And I often drive all the way from Kendall just to eat here. Feeling adventurous? Try the Angel Hair Uni, Ikura. Kimchee ramen. Spicy tuna sashimi salads. Crispy bokchoy. Are among my favorites.
(5)Tunyaluck P.
Hard to find a good Japanese food in NMB. They are mostly from non-Japanese. This is the real one.
(4)Michelle I.
As good as it gets for Japanese tapas in the north Miami area. They have a range of really great items. The trigger fish is superb. Love love love the tuna hiroshimi. There was not one item that I just wasn't not the happiest foodie. The atmosphere is dark and trendy. Parking is plentiful and if u want to after party the C lounge is about 500 feet away. Never has this place let me down before. Really great food and very reasonably priced.
(4)Amber H.
This was my first time here. I've been wanting to try this place out since people rave about it. Now that I've had it myself I don't understand what the deal is. I ordered the Yakko's 7 dish(sushi). The salmon did not taste fresh at all and the rice underneath it broke off easily and barely was any rice as it is. I ordered a simple edamame appetizer and it was over cooked. Being a ramen/sushi junkie I had try the ramen. At a restaurant called "Go Bistro" they serve Tonkotsu ramen as well, which is to die for. So I asked for a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen to evaluate how good the ramen really is. Turns out that it is NOTHING compared to "Go Bistro." The noodles tasted over cooked. The roasted pork wasn't bad, but didn't seem tender enough and the broth did not taste as alive as it should. The flavor of the ramen bowl did not stand out, but only gave me the impression of "I'm never getting this again." The lychee saketini is a must if you're into that. Overall, the experience was not that great and I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)Serge G.
We came here after reading all the great reviews but left with mixed feelings. We'll start with the good: Prices are fair, service was lightning fast, people were friendly and we had an enjoyable time. The bad: service was lightning fast (yes it is both good and bad because you want it when you're hungry but everything you order hits the table in just a few minutes, when you're not ready for your next course), no cream cheese... We ordered the fried bok choy (very good, try it), grilled BBQ eel (FANTASTIC!), hamachi with jalapeño (also very good), crunchy spicy tuna (not good at all), the albacore special in ponzu sauce (very nice) and asparagus with bacon (not wrapped or repurposed, just asparagus spears with bacon, boring) and the naruto special roll (delicious, must try). We also ordered and re ordered the milky nigiri sake which was delicious and smooth! Overall we enjoyed most of the food but the highlight were few and fleeting while the low points seemed never ending. This place isn't bad but it's nothing special. They also don't have cream cheese so they don't make Philly rolls. I understand if you want to be authentic and say in Japan they don't use smoked salmon or cream cheese but exactly how much asparagus and bacon is Japan cranking out? B- at best
(3)Marcus K.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in the area. This is a izakaya-type place that has a fairly vast menu with everything from tempura to sushi rolls, grilled items to asian fusion. We tried a few items this time around, but we'll be back for more. Bok choy -- fried, light and crispy served with a light soy dressing on the side, nice and different from the usual preparations of boy choy. Vegetable tempura - usually with fried chrysanthemums, but currently out of season, but the variety of tempura they did serve was nicely battered (not too thick, not too thin), nice tempura sauce with grated daikon Hamachi tataki jalapeno roll -- excellent with fresh fish, nice sear on the hamachi added a smoky flavor. Hamachi and Salmon sushi -- nice fresh fish, portions are a little small, but good quality, though perhaps not the best value for the dollar. Rice was a little too cool, as traditional sushi should be served with rice that is lukewarm. Rice was seasoned appropriately. nasu buta miso itame - flavorful and nice pairing of eggplant and pork belly. Vaguely Chinese flavors in this dish, but tasty nonetheless. Will definitely be returning back to this place to try more items.
(4)Stephanie L.
Konnichiha! I may just be directionally impaired, but even with the aid of our GPS it was a bit tricky to find this place. I had been to their old location of Hiros, which incidentally is right around the corner, but Yakka-San really tested our navigational skills. Once we arrived though we were immediately impressed with the decor, the ambiance, and the fact that the place was still pretty packed at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night. Dim and sultry, it is fun and zen-like with an upscale and modern twist. I had read on yelp it was kind of like Japanese tapas, and that turned out to be pretty accurate description. Being incredibly indecisive and with a multi-page menu filled with tantalizing choices, my friend and I chose to share an assortment of different dishes. - Oyako don: A rice bowl with egg, onions, and chicken in a light sauce, this was easily my favorite dish. Full of flavor and not too heavy, this alone could have sufficed as a meal. While the chicken chunks were white meat, I did wish it was a little higher quality chicken since it kind of felt like your average mall-style foodcourt with lots of strangely chewy bits. - Lotus roots kimpira: Thin slices of lotus sauteed in a savory sauce. This one took me getting used to since I wasn't quite accustomed to the flavor of lotus root. As I acclimated though I found that I enjoyed it more and more with every bite of the fun little crisp pinwheel discs that kind of tasted like water chestnuts. - Age-nasu deep fried Asian eggplant: Tender chunks of eggplant in a yummy sauce, this is definitely the way to go if you're an eggplant fan! - Crunch spicy tuna roll: The tuna was super fresh and it did have a bit of kick. Definitely a more traditional and well made simple sushi roll. - Salmon onigiri was a rice ball: Tiny bits of fresh salmon completely hidden in a tennis ball sized glob of rice, and wrapped in seaweed. While the fish was fresh it was tricky to eat and had way too much rice to taste the salmon. - Fried cheesecake roll: Kind of like a think strip of cheesecake (and perhaps banana) were wrapped in a crepe like a sushi roll. It was not too sweet, which was a plus, but also a bit bland and could have used nuts or coconut to add a bit of texture So this definitely felt (and from what I imagine, tasted) very authentic and fresh. I admit I'm a bit more Americanized so some of the choices (like the lotus root) took some getting used to for my tastebuds, but I'm glad I tried them and look forward to trying more. You won't find lots of creative sushi here, but rather, classic Japanese sushi and dishes that are very well made. The only minor complaint I had was that the eel sauce tasted like it had been thinned with soy sauce, so it was a bit more watery and salty than I would have liked. Overall though it was a good experience and I'm sure I'll be back for an authentic meal in at Yakka-San! It really has something for everyone with more exotic and more of your standard choices. Reasonable prices, huge variety and a selection of well cooked food in a pretty atmosphere...a solid choice for your Japanese fix!
(4)Fiorella A.
Great sushi, nice ambiance, ok service. Late dinner no problem, this place is open super late. The litchee martini is to die for. Try the fried bak Choy
(4)Atif H.
What a waste :( We are frequent visitors to Miami and we were planning to go to Yakko and with some very dear friends but alas we will not any more due to some of the later reviews here on YELP. We don't mind paying for Good food but it seems like this place is going to be a cause of embarrassment for us. We love our friends too much to put them through some of things I have read here. It's a damn shame though because my wife told me after the one and only time we ate here that the meal she had was the best meal she had ever had in her life :) Restaurants have to be very careful specially now a days. The words gets around. Any flaw in your setup is going to be noticed and talked about. If you are not up to par you will fade away. Good luck YAK O SON!!! fucking saran wrapped grilled salmon. Un fucking believable
(1)Brian L.
Great Japanese food. Great service. Waitress was Rebecca and she was great.Would def come here again!
(4)Robert P.
This is a rare authentic Japanese restaurant in S. Florida. They offer some unique dishes, but you do not have to be Japanese cuisine expert to enjoy great sushi/sashimi, grilled sea bass, grilled eel. The service is uneven, sometimes fast and great, sometimes slow and mediocre. The interior feels too big, and lack a calm atmosphere of great Asian restaurants of New York or San Fran for instance.
(4)Cihan C.
This is a terrible restaurant. The waiter "Lim" was horrible and rude. He suggested a desert "sweet potato and ice cream" which was uneatable. When we asked to return this, he said we have to pay for it. He could not even speak English. He said this was not a free tasting! He did not know he lived in America and customer service is the most important thing for a restaurant. When we asked for the manager, manager -instead of apologizing- he said he thought we were bums , we came there to eat free food!! Will never go there and i do not recommend anyone to go there
(1)Kaylin O.
Rather disappointing. I guess this place is a bit over hyped. I was expecting amazing food but they were all either pretty good or ok. Crispy Bok Choy--cool take on bok choy but I preferred mines slightly sauteed as opposed to the deep fried ones here. The dipping sauce was too salty. Black Pork Belly--pretty good. I love the sweet dipping sauce. I also love it paired with thinly sliced scallions. This took at least 30 minutes to prepare and the waiters gave me the run around every time I asked about it. Sashimi---Fresh; 1-2 inch pieces of Hamachi, Tuna, and Salmon. Salmon was the best followed by Hamachi and then Tuna Salmon Nigiri---Melt in your mouth yumminess Shrimp Spicy Mayo----Very disappointed; it was soggy and the sauce was drenching the fried shrimp; flavor of sauce was not right as other places; it was sour to me. I only ordered this hoping to end the meal on a good note since how can you go wrong with this dish????? Service: super slow The girl who helped us was nice but I had to ask for water so many times and some of the waiters pretty much ignored us. Service is definitely not their strong suit. I had to ask twice for my check. Disappointed. A-ok I've had better izakya type food else where. Even Open Door in Monterey Park is better. No need to come all the way to Miami for this. I really like the ambience though. Plenty of seating. Nice Bar area.
(3)Nicole M.
I used to love this place till now! Service was suck! For what I paid for! I was ITB that why I have to to gave at least 18% because I know busboy got tip out from server! We got the guy server and I recognized him ( he been there for a long time since the old location, and he started from bussing table!) he never came to our table and ask how everything was! I and my family had to called him out when we need something! I orders kimchi soup, he never brought the small bowl out so I had to ask him after the soup have been put on the table for 15 mins! Well i guess, he should be back to bus the table if he dnt know the first rule of the server! GIVING SERVICE BUDDY,,,,,,,,!!!
(1)Jake N.
Food is not ok. Service not good. Was really disappointed. Not good, for second chance!! Go some other place, beware! Its so bad they even made me create a yelp profile! Shameful no class disgraceful management. Apparently Cops love this place for some reason, probly getting free meal. Cause i wouldn't spend a dollar there even if i was a cop!
(1)Maggie N.
I've been here twice. The first time was to check out their ramen, which completely disappointed but then again, I have yet to find good ramen in this area since I moved here almost a year ago. On my second visit (because not all Japanese restaurants make good ramen and that is not necessarily a reflection on the rest of their menu), we went for lunch. My husband ordered the tekka-don (the pork katsu, egg, & onion over rice) and I ordered the tuna sashimi salad. The fried pork in the tekka-don was bland and squishy. The flavor of the dish itself was too overpoweringly sweet. A definite no-go. The tuna sashimi salad had very thin slivers of tuna over a bed of mixed lettuce with thin sliced radishes. The salad dressing was too strong & overwhelmed the entire salad. I couldn't taste the sashimi at all (whether it was because the tuna was so very thin or because the dressing hid the flavor but most likely a mixture of both these things.) The lettuce contained a lot of the white no-flavor part of the lettuce (what is that called anyways?!) which I find a lot of restaurants use as filler to cut costs (pet-peeve of mine!) I must say the ambiance is great. I love the decor. We were greeted promptly and the waiter initially was very attentive but then seemed to lose interest in us. I hate to give negative reviews but I gave this place two chances and was dissatisfied both times despite the relative good reviews from other Yelpers. :-(
(1)Rosa S.
Food is good if you know what to order. Having invited my Thai friend for a birthday surprise, she ordered many small plates, and we all shared. The seaweed salad has kelp, and is real seaweed of different varieties. They make their own sauces, and they are fabulous, and NO MSG!!! Yay!! Sea bass marinaded in miso was tender and delicious, but small for a $13 entree. The various vegetables with sauce that my friend ordered were delectable. Try the tuna with avocado sauce, it is exquisite with a very subtle pesto aftertaste. The mushrooms my friend ordered were ver aromatic and delicious. The only problem was the waitress ruined the dessert surprise when she brought out dessert plates and forks for everyone BEFORE the dessert with the candles. We sang happy birthday anyway, even though they ruined the surprise. Very loud and frenetic atmosphere.
(4)Shams B.
I came here excited to try this place. What I got instead was a disappointing meal and the wrong place apparently. The shrimp kara-age and fried bok choy was good, but everything else was average or below my standards for good sushi/Japanese food and trust me when I say I've been to/tried a lot of Japanese places from hole-in-the-wall to commercial to grocery stores, etc etc etc.
(2)Lucy W.
On the top of my bill read the following: Food is not as good as it used to be (along with 20% gratuity because that was the only thing that stayed the same and was satisfactory). Apparently, the whole meal was an epic fail and not just because of one hit or miss item. I can forgive the portions mysteriously shrinking more so in size and the pricing not, but the food was average AT BEST. Miso sea bass had two large pieces of bone in it and was covered in some overly powering sweet paste. Like teriyaki. I don't remember it being this nasty sweet. The scallops with asparagus and mushroom in butter sake sauce was extremely small but the worst was the scallops weren't even seared/cooked well AND the stringy pieces of asparagus. Asparagus can't be that expensive. For $8.50 a plate I'm sure you can buy more than one stalk so why not cut the correct part for me to eat? Shrimp tempura roll was the only decent thing but even my one piece tasted like freshly roasted sesame seeds. I could go on but I will spare you and keep this update short. I wanted to order more to prove my bad experience wrong but when you're starving and the food still tastes disappointing, and I couldn't bare the idea of being further disappointed... that's a really BIG disappointment that you really can't argue or deny. I will not return.
(2)Robert H.
Wanted sushi and was tired of Hiro's which is nearby...so I met my girlfriend at Yakko-San and we had a fantastic meal. Ambiance was great. The staff was very attentive and friendly. Bartender was knowledgable and made good drinks. Most importantly, the food was fantastic and flavorful. Beautifully presented. Will definitely go there more often and highly recommend it. And they are open until 3am.
(4)Ed A.
Horrible...The people that work here threw my friend's food at her while she was leaving. Just because they were dying to close, will NEVER come here again. Don't come here, if you do, don't come near closing unless you feel like getting your doggie bag thrown at you.
(1)Jonah K.
Lunch was decent here, but nothing to write home about. Not very memorable, but just ordered a variety of nigiri, and sashimi. There was pretty much no one in the place when we arrived at 11:30am, and not many people when we left at 12:30pm or so.
(2)Carlos P.
Its hard to rate because all I had was a spicy tuna hand roll. W came in to eat sushi but they only have about 9 rolls on the menu. My wife loves jb rolls and they don't have it here. Paid for my drinks and hand roll, but going down the street to Hiros
(3)Christine V.
If I could give zero or negative stars I would. This was the WORST eating experience I have ever encountered in my life, no joke. This place should have as its motto "you will yak if you eat at yakko-San." As if the waiter messing up our order multiple times wasn't bad enough they served me the grilled salmon with the plastic wrapping still on it!! Because they stuck the wrap in the grill with it, the plastic melted and fused with the salmon so it camouflaged as salmon skin! I ate about half of it before I picked at the "strange skin" and a larger plastic piece came off. I freaked and even my friends said it was just fried salmon skin... Until they touched it and confirmed it was indeed the plastic wrap. I got so pissed i brought the plastic to the sushi chef and told him i want a refund and asked him where the bathroom was. To detox, I had to yak/throw up everything I ate to get rid of the plastic I consumed. I will have to admit the staff were pretty nice about it. The waiter apologized and the head chef came out to apologize. They removed the cost of my meal from the check and gave free dessert. BUT the chef who messed up hid in the kitchen; I was told it was his 2nd day working and the head chef apologized on his behalf. 2nd day working or not, it's COMMON SENSE to remove plastic wrapping before cooking. This cook should find another job because the kitchen is definitely not for him. And another annoying thing is that places in Miami beach add 17% gratuity automatically. Maybe that's why service is so poor. These employees would not survive in California, where service actually determines your tip. In terms of food, this place is just ok. We all ate the lunch special. The shrimp tempura is really good and the salad has a pretty good dressing. But overall, nothing to rave about. If I lived in Miami, it wouldn't be anything worthy to return to. Save yourself the trouble and eat elsewhere.
(1)Brian G.
Sitting at bar little but if wait for food but good . Worth the wait . Drinks tasty too
(3)ZS G.
Driving 45 minutes for this place over and over and over again shows you how much I love this place! The food is great, the menu is innovative. Items to try: crispy fish onion salad, spicy tuna harumaki; the fried oysters; takiyaki? (I think that's what it's called); yakiniku don; yakko steak; ramen; age tofu; VOLCANO!
(5)J K.
Started watching this series on Netflix called 'The Mind of a Chef' w/ my seed. Produced by Anthony Bourdain which follows around David Chang of 'Momofuku' fame.. First episode was on NoOdles. Bad idea watching anything food related after midnight, but great solution after i peeped that Yakko's open tiLL 3AM. So, we boogied over there to grab the Shoyu Ramen & some Nigiri. I got the Tamago aka Egg.. I order that shit every time for nostalgic reasons. Chances are u aren't gonna phuc w/ it but I do. Got the assist from the Homie Wowee to get that Jack & Hamachi which were both scrumptious. I'm gonna come clean...I didn't phuck w/ the Tuna/Toro tho. The Homie Wowee said that they cut it open fresh but this tuna had no flava like SOME of my Caucasian friends on the dance floor. Could've had that Ramen a Lil hotter temp wise & appreciated if the pork were slightly chargriLLed...but for 2-3 AM on a Mon/Tues in this area, i Phuc's w/ this spot hardbody.
(4)Kien M.
We got here on a Saturday night and waited about 30 minutes. The main reason for coming here is because some of my friends had cravings for ramen. I didn't have high expectations since we came from California which is known for Asian cuisines. We started off with some starters: black pork belly, jalepeno hamachi, takoyaki, and sashime platter. All dishes were decent and the fish seem fresh. I ended up ordering the salt ramen for my entree. There is two main things I look for in ramen, savory broth and fresh noodles. Hiro's has none of them but they do have a lot of shrubs to dress their noodle bowls. For dessert, I had the volcano. Ice cream with wafers and red bean sauce. Looks like they mixed a bunch of sweet things together and gave it a fancy name.
(3)David G.
This place was ok, nothing special. The price is average to expensive, the quality of the food is very average. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out to us. I was disappointed when asking to substitute something for the shrimp in the rainbow roll (which we don't eat) and they said sure! They simply removed the shrimp, so the rainbow roll had spinach and asparagus inside, and the sliced fish on top. Nothing to enjoy on a roll with nothing good inside. Other food we had was their ramen, which was low to average compared to the others we have tried. The spicy tuna roll was good, and good for the price too. Overall, nothing wrong with this place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)Betsy D.
Crispy Bok Choy is amazing!!!!! We had the Pork Katsu Don and enjoyed it very much. The plum wine was nice too!
(5)Jenna M.
Eh, I was kind of turned off the last time my husband and I ate dinner here. Don't get me wrong, we will probably be back for another try but our last experience was tainted because of bad service. The food is good... reliable. But the menu is just so big, I'm not sure I'm choosing the right thing. I would much rather a restaurant that has a shorter menu filled with only amazing dishes then a restaurant like Yakko-San that has a terribly large menu filled with OK food.
(3)Oanh H.
The service could be better. The menu is large and there is a lot to choose from. My favorite is the cucumber wrap and the misoramen. Yum.
(4)Kevin W.
Ah-MAY-zing Japanese restaurant. All cooked dishes really shine here. Try and get a seat at the sushi bar. The sashimi is insane. Everything is soooo fresh. Great service. You will not find "cutely named sushi rolls" here. They bring the real stuff and they bring it strong. Enjoy!!
(5)Eschel H.
Another trip to NMB and another great experience at Hiro's. The only real "loser" of the night was the sashimi appetizer we started with. And that's not because it was bad, but simply because it was just ok. When compared to the rest of the dishes we had, it paled in comparison. Our selections: - Above mentioned sashimi - Hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail collar) This is so good, that you will literally be picking up the bones to find every little morsel left. - Grilled sliced steak, whose name escapes me - The homemade BBQ sauce it was served with had tiny pieces of sweet sautéed onions that we were scraping up, enjoying every little morsel. - Sautéed spinach with mushrooms, which was especially good when dipped in those onions... We also saw the couple next to us had a whole fish served in small fried morsels, that looked amazing. We need to come with friends one time to try that... The only reason I don't give five stars is because the service is a bit strained because they are simply SO slammed. We got there at 9pm on a Saturday night every table was taken and there were about 15 people waiting (no reservations). Word to the wise - If there are just a couple of you, get a spot at the kitchen bar. You'll be seated much more quickly and it's great to watch the guys working on all those great dishes.
(4)Laura S.
We came to Yakko- San last night for dinner. I liked the decor and the service was very friendly. I had some veggie sushi rolls, which were very good. My boyfriend had the ramen, and loved it. We had a couple appetizers that were all amazing: daikon salad, crispy bok choy, and some kind of sauteed spinach ( i forgot what it is called). We also had the fried cheesecake for dessert, it was excellent!
(4)Megan M.
Yakko San puts a twist on typical Japanese restaurants in the area. I always go to Hiro on 163rd, but decided to try Yakko San when I was in the mood for Japanese food because I had heard good things. Overall, my experience was ok. Inside the restaurant, I felt a little cramped. The only table available was next to the wall and the edge of the bar. Service was friendly, polite, and fast. Other than an awkward moment toward the end of our meal, that aspect was great. When we were finished, one of the employees came to our table and set down other people's half eaten dishes on our table and then started stacking all of the plates in front of us to take them to the kitchen. Not only was this awkward, but it was gross. I would rather he come back for our plates than have to interrupt our conversation to put other people's leftovers on our table to save himself a trip to the kitchen. The food was hit or miss. My edamame was good, but not nearly as hot as it should have been. I also ordered the sweet potato tempura because those were the only vegetables they hadn't run out of. By the way, it wasn't sweet potato. It tasted like a regular potato. My friend ordered a seaweed salad. It was different from any seaweed salad I've seen before, and the waiter did tell us that, but it was strange, and for around $8, the portion was tiny. The best part about that dish was the dipping sauce. Yum! That was almost the best part of the meal until my friend's dumplings came out. Those were delicious. I may come back to Yakko San and try a few other things, but for now, I'll stick to Hiro because I can't really see what all the hype is about.
(3)Cliff F.
Yakko-San is a mixed bag (for me, anyway). I never, ever order anything but sushi at Japanese restaurants. Because of this, Yakko-San was a bit of a disappointment. I would have expected their menu to have more sushi and less entree items, etc...oh well. We ordered four sushi rolls and an agedashi tofu for an appetizer. The tofu was amazing. Sweet, fishy broth with lightly tempura fried tofu--very hot, very satisfying. Rolls were slightly larger than average--presentation wasn't too overdone, which is refreshing. Definitely better than average, but the Saba Battera was DELICIOUS. I would drive from S. Miami to Sunny Isles for this one roll...an "Osaka style box roll," it features marinated mackerel and rice. That's it--and it's perfection. A must try. Service was good--nothing of note, bad or good.
(4)Sarah P.
I adored Yakko-san during my time in Miami. In an area where finding good Asian food is almost close to impossible, Yakko-san was a little gem of the Asian persuasion. The service was good, prices were very reasonable, and the food was plentiful & fantastic. My personal favorites were the curry donkatsu (pork), eel donburi, and yakiniku steak donburi. Ohhhh the yakiniku steak. I brought my mother here when she was visiting and she was positively radiating with excitement from this dish that she actually ordered a 2nd one to go to eat later. Must be where I get my foodie genes from...... Other less memorable dishes that I've tried were the yakisoba (huge portion) and a couple sushi dishes that were good but typical. My mother also loved the kimchi natto (fermented soybeans) but that ain't really my thang so I couldn't personally tell you how I felt about it. This is the place to go in North Miami if you're craving good Asian food.
(5)Ashley M.
One of the best experiences I have had in a restaurant in quite some time. The service was excellent: hostess accurately quoted the wait time, the waiter never left us waiting, and the chefs (we sat at the bar) were extremely friendly. As others have said as well, I am also not an expert on authentic Japanese cuisine. What I do know - the plates are artisticly presented and full of flavour. The portions are large for the price, and everything tasted extremely fresh. With the recommendations of my fellow yelpers and the waiter, we ordered: Crispy bok choy appetizer $6.50 - Very good. It was a tiny bit too salty and too big of a portion for just two. Would be great for four to share. Yakiniku (BBQ) steak $ 10.00 - Wonderful flavour and perfect portion size. My only complaint? I'm usually very good with chopsticks and I kept making a fool of myself with this :) Hamachi Kama (Fish cheek) $13.50 - Delicious. We even watched the chefs cut the fish fresh before sending it off to be grilled. No complaints whatsoever. Pork fried rice $ 7.50 - Not your usual fried rice, this was much fresher and appeared more "authentic". Great flavour and a really nice portion size. Perfect for 2-3 people. Fried cheesecake $5.75- Very good. I would have preferred something a bit more "authentic" (though I'm not positive, I don't think that cheesecake is Japanese lol) It was the recommendation of the waiter, and it did not disappoint. Overall a great value for the service and quality of food received. Definitely a new favourite restaurant. We even saw that when the gentleman next to us shared his sake with the chefs, he was given all sorts of little samples to try **note to self - buy sake next time and share with the chefs! I'm looking forward to trying some of the more adventurous things on the menu. Kimchee and jellyfish, here I come!
(5)Lisa W.
I've been hearing about this place since BEFORE I moved to Miami. I finally had the occasion to try it and it was an epic fail. Why? Because I mistakenly went to "Hiro Sushi" on 163rd which is NOT the same thing nor the same owner (it apparently is the ex wife of Hiro at Yakko San who kept the name/restaurant in the divorce). I FINALLY corrected my mistake this past weekend. Yakko San is in the shopping center where Duffy's is in Aventura/North Miami Beach, right next to Old Navy. Huge public parking lot and even offers complimentary valet. I walk in and the place is packed! Nice decor, everything very clean, decent design and lighting. A few flat screens to watch the Heat game and very attentive staff. First off, forget about the sushi. Yes it is excellent but your first time, step outside the box and try the Japanese "tapas". All portions are great for sharing and for what you get, very reasonably priced. We ordered 4-5 tapas and a few sushi rolls and were stuffed! I highly recommend the pork/onion salad (New Times just named it one of the top 100 dishes in the 305), crispy bok choy, vegetable tempura, eggplant/pork/miso stir fry, chinese black sausages (yum and served with a spicy wasabi-like mustard) and hamachi jalapeno. We only scratched the surface of the menu and I will be back! Two of us got out of there for a total bill of about $45 including two beers and 4-5 tapas. It was excellent!
(5)Asami S.
There aren't many restaurants like this place and open so late. They do have a lot of traditional Japanese dishes that are very hard to find in South Florida. Okanimiyaki was one that I was very excited to try. I was a little disappointed with it though. It did not taste authentic. The texture and temperature were off and it left a lot to be desired. The ramen is loaded with noodles and slices of meat and eggs. It tasted better than some, and it was edible, but it still was not authentic. I have also tried a few of the donburi entrees (meat with egg over rice) and was disappointed. Do not get them. They were unpleasantly soggy, strongly eggy, and mushy. I just wish this restaurant was a little less Americanized. I think I was mostly just happy to see other Japanese food aside from sushi.
(3)Jade S.
I Have never been disappointed. Open late every night.VERY GOOD FOOD!
(4)Mio F.
4 stars, mostly for the wide space, ambiance, hours, large bar, and the food (and assume drink as well) selection. I only had sushi this time so I will save the other food review for later time. My friend was pleasantly surprised when he received the bill (it was Sunday afternoon), overall sushi was good/ok, but portion not that big as others write, and most are rather bland.... (which may be good since it's not as Americanized). Service was good, food came fast, and I understand the place will help our midnight cravings, which is awesome. I will go back happily especially late at night, it's also in a nice shopping center where you can actually do other shopping like Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Dollar Store, etc. Again food is good or passing, not the greatest, but given the other factors this is still a good choice.
(4)Victor M.
I cannot believe this restaurant has a four star rating. Their sushi is not even average, specially for the price
(1)Johnny Q.
Can the Cheesecake Factory please sell their Japanese restaurant back?!?!? I know this is not a dedicated sushi house but if Sizzler from the 80's was resurrected and morphed into a Japanese restaurant. This would be its offspring I am missing the boat on this place. I understand this place is not going for the intimate sushi setting but this restaurant feels that I walked into a bad chain restaurant from the 80's. The place is huge and clean. The tofu kimchi was pretty tasty. Lychee martini was good and pretty strong. The wait staff is definetly in need of improvement. The pictures from other yelpers definetly deceived me. Meaning it the sushi looked ALOT better in pictures. Rubber and dull, Ive had better sushi from a supermarket.
(2)David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=5 // Service=4.5 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=Yes // Bathrooms=OK // Overrated=No Hands down the best restaurant in Miami. It has recently moved to a new location and it very cool inside... You know it is good when 50% of the patrons are asian. Try the BBQ Eel, Onion Fish Salad, Lotus Root(cheap), Seaweed Salad, any made to order soup and most of all the spicy tuna harumaki(probably spelt wrong). Also, try to find the asian waiter that speaks hebrew...
(5)Tony A.
My wife and I still love Hiro's! I think the sushi is underrated. I think when they moved into the new location they really were able to expand their sushi offerings with their huge sushi bar. The fish comes out very quickly too and there are always really great sushi offerings. The Chef's Daily 6 always has awesome sushi options!
(5)Kioko O.
This is one of the few places (besides Joe's Stone Crab) that I recommend when my friends visit Miami. And their feedback has been quite good. Yakko-san was the first to successfully introduce Japanese tapas (izakaya dishes) in Greater Miami area when only Japanese dish known to mankind there were teriyaki chicken and American invented funky rolls. They also place emphasis in selections of wines and sakes. I am not sure if Hiro-san, the owner, still works as a chef. But if he is, you are in luck! Ask him what's good that day. He's a master of creating dishes that are delicate in taste and beautiful in presentations. Another plus is that they stay opened until 2AM on Thursday through Sunday, and 3AM on Friday and Saturday
(5)Allan L.
Really good food. Been coming to this place before they moved and always consistent great quality food. Try the spicy Manila clams, absolutely ridiculous and try the flank steak cooked medium well in the Yakko-San BBQ sauce. Steak is super tender! Enjoy
(5)Stuart S.
This was the second time I have been to this newer location and will be the last. I generally sit at the such I bar which we did tonight. It took ten minutes to find a waiter and was told by the one we were able to call over he would try to find our server. Things only got worse after that. The next time we saw her was when I again asked another waiter to find her for our check. The sushi as I learned is now made without wasabi! Apparently some of their customers don't like it so it has now been "Americanized " This American will be eating his sushi elswhere!
(1)Stephanie L.
This is my favorite place to eat in Miami (or close to Miami in that case). Not only this is the best Japanese restaurant in town but you are also transported to Japan the second you cross their door. Almost all the cooks are Asian, speak Japanese, the pictures in the restaurant are of Asian stars...this is really a cultural experience. Great service and great food. My favorites are the crispy fish salad and the grilled calamari, along with a cup of green tea to drench your thirst. It has become a tradition for me and a friend to go every two weeks. We sit at the cook station and watch "the show". The cooks are terrific and you get hungry for every plate they cook before your eyes. Really a must go on your way back from Aventura Mall.
(5)Tough C.
This is a great place to have Japanese tapas. Delicious options of Asian fusion dishes at affordable prices. The staff is quick, friendly and they are always there to make sure you have a good experience. I highly recommend it!
(4)Coty S.
The only reason why we feel victim to this establishment is that everyone in our party was not from Miami. If we were local, then maybe we would have known better than to eat here. I called and they said that they do not take reservations. So, we came in at 8:00PM on a Friday and stood, yes standing there, in the doorway for 50 minutes. This was a business dinner, so we should have left as soon as we saw the place, but there were only three parties waiting so we had no clue that it would take so long. I started drinking because we were trying to kill time, but we had to beg the hostess to start a tab for us. They made us wait so long that we had to close the tab out in cash. We were being pushed and shoved out the way the entire time we were waiting by the staff and other customers that were regulars and given priority over us. We had to sit at the bar after an initial seating fake out twenty minutes before. They were also able to do separate checks for us, which was nice. Everything is pretty standard cooked Japanese and fusion fare. Other reviewers are calling it Tapas style, but that is how most real Japanese restaurants serve food, unless you order a full entrée. WAY OVERRATED - I had higher hopes for the food, seeing that most of the reviews claim that it is authentic. I can get better casual Japanese (cooked food) dining at "I Ai" in Tampa, FL which is much smaller of a city. The highlights were the Whole Grilled Squid and the Onigiri (any filling). The cold soba noodles were cooked perfectly, and paired very well with the grilled squid. We ordered at least 15 dishes, but those were the best in my opinion. Avoid the Eggplant Salad, it was really mushy and gross, and I am actually a huge fan of eggplant. They only have sashimi here, so if you are looking for rolls or nigiri that is not going to happen. You are better off getting take-out food from their to-go style place next door and going through our experience. The food is 3 stars and the service is 1 star. If they were more professional and not just downright rude, I might give them a higher rating. It took me so long to calm down from being pissed for an hour that it was difficult to enjoy my meal.
(1)Cuong T.
Food: Not recommended if you're looking for great food for the price. The portion was very little and the prices on the menu were pretty brutal. $45 for 25 small pieces of sashimi. I have never seen such a small piece of sashimi in my life. The Sashimi Large showed up like crumbs of sashimi hiding behind all the garnish. I saw more garnishing than the food. The seafood soup that I order was wayyy salty, not only me but everyone at the table complained. The price of most appetizers were easily $10 each, and of course the portions were very small. Service: There were many waiters but not attentive to the customers. I waved my hands in front of many of them and no one spotted me. Even the ones who saw me didn't acknowledged, but just walked by. Two of the waiters somehow try to collect the dish WITH food on them before we told them we were done. I felt like I was rushed to finish my food. Not very great service. Environment: The place looks more like a bar without almost every table drinking alcohol. The mood of the place was leaned toward for adult. Not recommended if you're looking to have a family dinner with great food for the price. It's more like an insanely overpriced snack spot.
(1)Charlie L.
Oh, good god.... this place is goooooood.. So so good. I've had Japanese food all over the world, and this is probably in the top 5 places I'd want to eat again. Jenny, Dan and I were visiting from various parts of the country when we stumbled upon this gem... well, actully, we didn't really stumble upon it as the hostess from Naoe gave us the recommendation, and to be absolutely frank, Hiro's is by far, better than Naoe despite Naoe's chef pedigree and triple A ingredients. At the end of the day, good food is good food, not matter what the atomosphere is like... and eventhough this place may seem "low-brow" compared to Naoe, the food is just so well flavored that I would chose this over Naoe any day. Every dish we had were out of this world and the sake was first rate. If I lived remotely close to Miami, I would go here over and over again. Five stars, not to be missed!
(5)Jennie S.
This was where I went on my first date with my current boyfriend, and it honestly impressed me so much as a choice for a date that it scored him serious points...! I love this joint. This is where chefs go to eat when they get off work, for one because they're open super-late, but also because the food is excellent and the prices very reasonable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the chefs in action. I haven't been there since they opened their new location so I can't speak to the ambiance there, but I know that in the old location, it was very laid-back, casual, nothing fancy but not quite dive-y either. But the ambiance was great because you could watch the chefs work, and the menu is just so great. This is NOT for sushi...I don't think they even sell sushi. This is hot Japanese food. If you're a vegetarian, there is plenty on the menu you can eat; if you're looking for meat or fish, there is plenty of that too. I have tried veggies I'd never even heard of before there, like burdock root. Their veggie tempura is awesome because it has a lot of exotic vegetables in it. Whenever we go we try something new, and we love it all. This is a must-go in Miami.
(5)Luis G.
As far as I know, this is the only place in South Florida that serves Zaru soba. I've been on the hunt for these cold buckwheat noodles for the longest time and Yakko-San delivered. Delicious in its simplicity and elegance, served with a nice dipping sauce over a bamboo mat and with a little bit of crispy nori on top...Yummm. Hiro's Yakko-san is a great choice in the area because it is high quality food and service and open till mad late (3 am). Their specialty seems to be the Yakitori part of Japanese cuisine, but it seems they have a lot covered, from the Sashimi, to the Ramen, to the Soba and Takoyaki -which is some of the best I've tried by the way- everything I had was great, and I must agree with the previous reviewers the crispy Bok-choy was crazy good! I still have no idea how they do that. Their extensive menu gives way to multiple tries, and I'm certainly up for it. Good choice for dining out!
(4)Nighthawk H.
You know when you see actual Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant that it is going to be good. Sashimi is delicious and fresh, ambiance was great and it wasn't too loud. The best part is, if you are feeling frisky after your dinner, there is gentleman's club near by.
(5)Andrew S.
Relatively speaking the best ramen I've had in a looooong time. They only have four selections, but they are so good: - the kimchee ramen is the bomb - miso ramen is good - chicken or pork katsu should be dipped into the broth for a nice crunch Some of the few problems I had with this place: - hiyayakko (a tofu appetizer...)... eh, dont waste your time. - soy sauce is too salty Great prices and our server was wonderful... her name is Wendy.
(4)Bruce T.
We always go there for BEEF yakiniku Steak the sauce for that its just delicious. it is a place that will fit when you want to meet with with friends and have some sushi and some cooked dishes.
(5)Anna M.
My go to place for great Takoyaki. I wish they had a wider selection of sushi, but what can you do? But it's still delicious. The noodle bowls are okay, not great but okay. I would definitely recommend everyone to give their takoyaki a try.
(3)David R.
We were kicked out by manager for staying too long! Never happened to me, anywhere, anyplace, any City, any Country, and we are not lingerers. Very upsetting. We went tonight for my wife's Birthday-party of 4. When we finished dinner, the manager came over and asked us to leave because he needed the table. He saw it was her Birthday because they just brought desert with a candle. It was close to 10 PM. Nobody was waiting up front when we left. Who does that? What bad management. Food was just ok, but not reflective of the Yelp reviews. Greasy Bok Choy, sushi was just ok. Would never go back.
(1)Jay L.
Got's to give it a 3.5...I shoulda known it couldn't be as good as everyone else raved cuz you just can't get great Japanese food here in Florida...You can't really get ANY great Asian food here. It's probably cuz most people here don't even know what they are missing. Most Floridians (not all) have no idea what the difference is. They just lump all Asians and Asian food into one category. Just read the reviews about this place and you can see. I don't want to dis the other Yelpers here, after all, I am outsider, but this is NOT straight up Japanese food. It's not fusion either. How to put it... So it's not a stupid "Thai/Sushi/Chinese" place...I can't believe anyone even falls for that here...but it's definitely not pure Japanese either. They have Korean and Chinese ingredients all through the menu. Not a bad thing at all. They DO have a special Japanese menu if you want and can read it...They prolly don't offer it to the gringos though. Ya gotta ask for it. That being said, it's more "Asian" than say, PF Chang's or any other number of Americanized joints you might find scattered throughout Florida. They use some less Americanized ingredients and flavors. So, overall, it's more of a flavor trip than chain places. I thought the food was pretty good, just not as good as it's all hyped up to be here on Yelp. I had the crispy bok choy...very tasty...but isnt' anything that's fried? In a perfect world, it'd be a little spicy. Had the pan fried gyoza. Awful. No flavor. Skip them. Also got the sashimi appetizer. The fish was actually pretty good. Not the freshest, but not bad. Not chewy or fishy, but bite-able. The highlight was the yakiniku donburi which was a well marinated steak over rice. Was cooked well, tender and wasn't a generic teriyaki sauce. A bit sweet, with enough salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Perhaps a little MSG as well for the umami flavor. Mirin too? I think perhaps. Oh, I forgot they also gave me a starter bite, a little cold noodles in vinegar. I don't know what it's called. And yes, some of the waitstaff aren't Japanese or Korean...so some of them won't know what you order if you order in Japanese. They have some Latino dude and some Thai chick... Overall, I liked it...wouldn't quite give 4 stars though. It did save me from eating at the mall though.
(3)Jordan N.
I bumped it up another star for being a good late-night option. However, food didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would - but then again, I do think this place has been hyped. Food is satisfying and I would return whenever I'm in the mood for good Japanese food late at night (besides sushi). I had the following: Spicy Manila Clams Age-nasu (deep-fried asian eggplant). Croquettes Sea Bass Miso (grilled chili on sea bass marinated miso) Fried Cheese Cake Roll Hot Tea Sake
(4)Randy L.
Stopped in today, ordered ramen dish. Almost as good as Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Place was empty for lunch. Sat next to King of Miami, Yelper. May make it a regular stop when in the area.
(4)Wing L.
It's hard to find authentic-inspired Japanese food in Miami but Hiro's Yakko-san was decent. No crazy habachi grills or random crazy sushi rolls here. Yakko-san specializes in Japanese tapas dishes that can be shared amongst your party. Their sushi selections are good and resemble more of Japan than those crazy Asian-Fusion crap that you see floating around these days. Miami roll? Please..... Yakiniku Steak(meats), Unagi Kabayaki-BBQ eel (grill), Ika Maryyaki-grilled squid (grilled) and bolognese pasta were some of the food we've tried. The steak was tender and well flavored. The BBQ eel was smoky (but still a bit "fishy" so if you tend not to like that, steer away. I really enjoyed the grilled squid. It wasn't flavored much but with lemon, it goes a long way. The pasta was done Japanese style (with ketchup). Was I transported back to Japan eating these foods? No, but at least I was in a good authentic Japanese restaurant that wasn't serving Chinese, Thai, and other Asian fusion food that tends to lump all of them as one.
(3)Brian L.
15 words of less: Nothing need be said. 15 words or more: Where do you start? Chefs eat here. Does that say something? Just go. Give it a try. The food is great. My personal favorite is the whole fish. They have between 3 and 4 fresh fishes. You pick the fish and generally the size you want. They will prepare it in one of several ways. We always go with the fried version. The best part is the presentation. The fish is cubed and then put back onto the fish. The result is bite sizes pieces of fried goodness. No muss and no fuss. Just eat and enjoy. There are a ton of stand out dishes, but what is great is to just explore the menu and try things you probably will not see on any other menu in South Florida. Lotus root, really? Yes please...crunchy in texture and flavorful do to the sauce. Yaki-udon with pork? Better believe it...a texture dish for me, as I really dig the chewiness to the noodles. Crispy bok choy. Sure and just dump that sauce on it instead of dipping. Seafood hot pot. Works for me...loaded with fish and veggies. Fried shrimp with spicy mayo. Oh yeah. Note that the place apparently will offer a shabu shabu platter, but you have to give advance notice. A friend tried it and said it was very good. For sake, my choices are the number 2 and the number 4. Ordering it in a bamboo will net you about 6-8 glasses, which will go fast so consider going with a bottle if you have a sake drinking crowd with you. Sure, we all miss the old place. It had charm...in a beat up strip mall, the inside was beat up, and you basically sat on top of everybody else. The new place will not have that same feel, but frankly, in the end I am there for food and good company. And that has not changed. PS, thank you Yakko San for opening up the wifi. The new place is where cell phone signals go to die. They just opened up the wifi, which is a huge plus.
(5)Flora V.
Finally, some fresh and amazingly authentic japanese food in Miami. I've tried a few here and been settling for less. not anymore! this is our new favorite sushi spot. everything we've tried there was made to perfection, the rolls (recommend, spicy tuna and jalapeno yellowtail hamachi). I haven't tried too many things but so far everything was extremely fresh and prepared well. Met one of the owners, May. Really sweet! can't wait to go back and try more menu items.
(5)Jane L.
Awesome, authentic Japanese food. I've tried a lot of Japanese restaurants in NJ/NYC and hands down, this is the best place I've found so far in Miami. The prices are totally reasonable and portions are big for the most part. They're open til super late and my family loves going there to grab a late snack or dinner. The place is usually packed with people cause it's a good place to watch a game, grab a drink, or go on a date night. Wendy & Andy are awesome and always serve us with a smile. Their katsu curry is AH-MAZING if you like Japanese curry. Their yakiniku don, katsu don, kimchee ramen are also good. If they were closer, I'd probably go at least once a week!!!!! parking can be hard to find but valet is available.
(5)Jack B.
This was such an inconsistent experience. While some of the food we ordered did indeed live up to the hype, we were thoroughly disappointed with the service as well as some of the other dishes. The waitstaff assigned to our area was horrible. At one point a busboy brought us the wrong dish, then HE gets pissed off when the mistake is pointed out. The dishes all came out at different times. Some people at our table started to eat 15 minutes after the other people were done. The ramen was straight up horrible. Bland and parts of the meat were still frozen. Any one of these slights could have been brushed off and forgiven with a slight apology, but instead the mistakes just kept piling on. Bottom line, this place could be great, management just needs to tighten the screws.
(2)Thomas K.
Great atmosphere. Very hip looking restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly, and nobody waits long to order. If your interested in a spicy salad, I recommend the tuna or salmon sashimi salad. Get the spicy option. Japanese authenticity at its best! Plenty of parking and other shopping around.
(5)Irene R.
This is my all-time favorite Japanese place in South Florida. I'm a creature of habit and order my staple items each time and I've never been disappointed...crispy bok choy, agedashi tofu, short rib yakiniku, dried kawahagi, gizzard kara-age, and the buttery mentaiko. I miss their old location that had a more intimate, neighborhood feel. The new place is definitely better and more visually appealing, but it's a bit too glam and flashy for me. But hey, I'm here for the food. :)
(5)Steven G.
Quick, courteous, super fresh and innovative. It is not a legend for nothing. The owner watches the room like a HAWK. Missing friendly attentive service in Miami? Come here. Fresh ingredients and good prices? Come here. Any naysayers are plants!
(4)D S.
If you have not been to Yakko-San then you are missing on some really creative Sushi. The problem with sushi nowadays is that there are so many sushi restaurants that the bar for quality and variety has been set terribly low. The food is well prepared and rich in flavors. One of those nights we went fishing and returned with a Hog Snapper. We had not even prepare the fish we just hand it over to them and 10 minutes later they had ready. They cut the fish in small pieces and then deep fried them. The body and the head served as decoration sort of like when you get a flounder at a Chinese restaurant. The only negative is that they are a bit on the expensive side. On the other hand there aren't to many places in the area that are open till 2am!
(5)Alexandra R.
Dear Yakko-San, Please stay in Miami forever. Even after I die. I want my children and my children's children to eat your food. I could easily make the pork & onion salad and beef tataki two of my last meals on earth. It's a sin if you haven't been. So go, but keep it a hidden treasure, please. Red bean ice cream? Yes, please. Crispy bok choy with ridiculous soy-garlic sauce? I'll take two... and I better take another for home. Last night I took a friend who came in to town from Buenos Aires. She said it was the best meal she's had in a very long time. We hadn't eaten all day, but it was well worth the grumbling bellies and low blood sugar headaches to wait for Yakko. All hail the Yak. Love, Alex PS, your new location is gorgeous... but the hole in the wall you had before will always be near and dear to my heart.
(5)Elizabeth D.
Humbly located next to one of my favorite quick lunch spots, Hiro's Express, this unassuming spot will kick your Japanese-craving ass with intense flavor. Based on recommendations I had the following: 1. BBQ Eel - melt-in-your-mouth delicious tasting eel that's soft on the inside and has the most subtle crisp on the outside. 2. Onion Fish Salad - the name sounds extremely unappealing to me, but this was another win. I hate onions, but I found myself stuffing my mouth with them. 3. Kimchee Hot Pot - WHOA, DUDE. Huge dish, good for 2-3 people. I don't know what's in it, but I want to bathe in it. 4. Spicy Tuna Harumaki - Tasty, but compared to the other dishes, kind of boring. 5. Salmon Onigiri - I have no idea why I ordered this. Most pointless dish. It's just a bunch of rice wrapped in seaweed sprinkled with three tiny bits of cooked salmon. For two people, we were BEYOND stuffed with what we had ordered. I can't wait to come again and try some new things. I would definitely order another hot pot again, though.
(4)Tina N.
Noooooo! I really wanted to like this place!!! Went here with a few of my friends for Wrestlemania! My friend Shams wanted Japanese foodies so we came here! I got the Miso sea bass; it was sooooo little and very very sweet... I guess it's an acquired taste, but I usually LOVE miso! Fiance got the YAKINIKU DON, which is the BBQ beef over rice... I had to steal some of his food because my fish was smaller than my palm, came with no rice and being carnivorous, I NEED MEAT! The taste of the BBQ was yummy but it was super duper chewy, like the kind of chewy you see in the cartoons with the dogs and their cute little chewy steaks. Le sigh, I really wanted to enjoy this... The service was weird too, being some of the few people in that night, everything was quite slow... Our check came out too much, and my belly was aching for more food...but not from here :(
(2)Greggory S.
As someone who works in the food industry it is great to find a nice restaurant. When my wife and I moved here from New York, our friend, who is from south Florida, told us to try this restaurant with him. We did and we loved it. That was almost two years ago. In that amount of time I have seen the service in this restaurant plummet. The first server we had there was named Anastasia (that shows how awesome she was if I remember her name two years later.) So I expected all service to be like this. As time has carried on the servers have gotten worse and worse. Last night, some friends were in town from New York and they were in the area so we suggested Yakko san. Once being seated and asking for water we get it. My glass has a pretty noticeable chip in it. Yeah you use straws, but there is still the potential for danger. So I just switch glasses with someone else who is about to leave due to personal issues unrelated to the restaurant. OK. Carrying on. I get a refill on my water and there were more seeds on the glass and in my water than in the lemon. This also rubbed me the wrong way. Something so small, but so simple to fix and our server chose not to. On top of this he hovered the entire time we were there. Some would call that great service, I call it getting rushed. The food was OK and came out semi promptly. As our meal carries on the waiter asks if we would like dessert, we say no. This does not stop him from interrupting one of the people at our table mid conversation to show the dessert list. On top of all of this, they lady at the front counter lets some woman walk in to the restaurant with her hairy dog. I do not condone any type of personal animal in a restaurant. The check comes. And the methods of payment are given. Waiter returns for us to sign them. As I am looking at the total and thinking back to the chipped glass, my seed water, the hovering waiter, and the dessert menu interrupt. I come to my decision. I start at 15 and work my way down. With the amount of the ticket and the deductions it came out to about a 9.5% tip. After signing and closing the folder the waiter collects them. Not two minutes later does he come back and say that " in Florida you have to tip 15%" he then goes and grabs another customers receipt and says "this is 15%" By this point all of my pleasantries are gone. As soon as i start pointing out all of the things that had been going wrong he all of a sudden wanted to take the receipt back. Owners of yakko san I will not spend another dime on your restaurant until you teach your staff better. Some of your waiters need to be busboys and some of your busboys need to be waiters. There is one busboy, cannot recall his name, he has a long ponytail, he is always prompt, polite and attentive. If you want to see my business again than you need to overhaul everything, starting with your staff's professionalism.
(1)Dennis M.
Authentic unusual Japanese. For the foodie adventurer. Delicious!
(5)Kenny H.
I like the food here a lot. However, sometimes the service here is horrible. Most of the waiters don't stop by the table for half an hour. I had to get a bus boy to get me a refill multiple times. The atmosphere is also very nice. This place just need to get some new waiters. It's great because it usually opens until 3. Most places are closed by then.
(3)Mia M.
This place is hands-down the best place for authentic Japanese food (and by Japanese food I don't mean sushi) in Miami. I feel I can say this with authority since I am Japanese. West-coasters and New Yorkers might be a little more biased because there are tons more izakayas like Yakko-San in their territories, but here in Miami this is about it. I've been coming here since when they were just one tiny room, and have so many happy memories here. That said, recently I went back for dinner after not being in for a while and had a 45 min wait due to the giant mass of people also waiting, and I've noticed their specials menu (the best things to order were the specials) was much sparser than as I remembered (prob due to the high volume of people). I'm happy for their success (they've since expanded and now moving to a larger place), but selfishly I worry about the move and their popularity and wish it could still be the uncrowded, intimate hole-in-the-wall that had amazingly delicious and inventive dishes it used to be, when only chefs and foodies and select locals knew about the place.
(5)Effie C.
I should have let my friends drag me out here sooner. Any place that can make a chicken gizzard not only tolerable but actually kind of delicious deserves a shot. Izakaya is like Dim Sum's refined but really cool cousin that went to boarding school in the alps, reads Kafka and knows her way around a glass of scotch but still pre-games in the parking lot with a quart of OE. The most effective way to enjoy Hiro's Yakko San is to bring a few adventurous friends along for the ride and arrive on an empty stomach. My first bite at Yakko-San was preceded by applause and cheers as this particular dish, the Spicy Tuna Harumaki, is extremely exclusive (they only prepare five per day) and more often than not on the dry-erase board, among a list of menu items that are unavailable. The little roll packs a delightful punch and I especially recommend it to those that can't begin a Japanese meal without plowing into a Wakame salad. As much as I'd love to wax bad-assery to you all, I must confess I was hesitant to try the chicken gizzard but I'm glad I did. It's a chewy little morsel, served cold, which I normally find a bit off-putting with savory bites, but it worked harmoniously with the taste and texture in this instance. Other worthy mentions: - Crispy bok choy with garlic soy dressing. Salty, leafy, crispy and absolutely addictive. - Tempura shrimp spicy mayo. This item must have been created just for me. The shrimp was like a tiny lobster and its tempura jacket retained its crunchiness despite the generous slathering of spicy mayo (have I mentioned that this is one of the Greatest Condiments Ever Created?). I wasn't wild about the fried clam. It was too fishy, but I'm willing to give it another chance as I've heard it's usually very good. Wasn't loving the Shoyu ramen either but that was a matter of personal taste as my fellow diners liked it enough to take it home so we'd have room for dessert. Oh, dessert. Unf. Once again, I was extremely skeptical about the Japanese sweet potato ice cream that my friend ordered, and once again, was delightfully surprised. The Volcano was another strange and wonderful selection with creamy ice cream, cookies and a chocolatey-sweet, starchy bean soup. I ordered the fried cheesecake roll which I savored slowly, with every bit of rapturous satisfaction you'd imagine. Overall, I was really impressed with the great service, the reasonable price and of course, the yum. I can't even figure out what to make for dinner now because I'm not talented enough to come up with something that could compare. I should just chug a glass of water and go to sleep before I embarrass myself.
(4)Yuliya S.
This place is at a new location and the food continues to impress. There is something about the Miami tradition of placing great food in unassuming strip malls that can be off-putting and yet strangely charming. Don't mind the Old Navy next door, just go in to Hiro's and enjoy. Try the surprisingly amazing crispy pork and onion salad, or the simple and fresh green salad with tuna. Follow that up with something grilled or broiled (eggplant? asparagus wrapped in bacon?), or the light and delicious tempura. Or try something a little bit spicy, like the kim chee pork. The conversation around our table basically stopped when the food arrived and resumed many minutes later. I couldn't stop eating and just nodded along.
(4)Richard W.
This place has good food and has a nice atmosphere. It great for a late dinner for a group or with just one other person. Nicely priced. Their noodles come out great and portions are large. I'm a fan of their udon noodles with beef in fish soup. The noodles are well cooked and the beef tastes great. Their appetizers whet the appetite perfectly and everything comes out super quick too. The only downside is that everything comes out super quick so the main courses come out almost right after any appetizers. Otherwise, good food, no crowds, great atmosphere and good attentive service.
(4)S G.
The location or ambience won't keep you running back to this place but the food probably will (so long as you are mildly adventurous)! Foodies should definitely give it a try! Affordability is a nice added perk too.
(4)Mary-Ann I.
This is not primarily a sushi place. We found this place when we were looking for a sushi restaurant in Miami. We read great reviews so we gave it a shot. The food is delicious, although not so much for the sushi. They're rolls were good, not great. The waiter told us to try the Beef Tataki so we did and it was delicious. We also loved the tuna guacamole and the Hamachi Jalapeños Pepper. Service was great and prices were very reasonable. If you're looking to eat just sushi, though, this isn't the place.
(4)Melissa F.
CRISPY PORK AND ONION SALAD!!!!! After reading about this restaurant in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times I made it a point to check this place out. The location is nestled in the Intercostal Plaza near Old Navy and The Frank Movie Theater, prefect for an after shopping lunch date or dinner after a movie. Their dressing is to die for and the pricing is very reasonable. The dining area is a descent size but the lay out and decor makes it feel intimate. Portions are perfect for sharing and with their prices you can easily find yourself ordering a variety of dishes. Just one visit and I'm a fan.
(4)Natan C.
This place has the most bizzare rules and regulations. All guests and the staff gets treated like garbage. Most of the waiters don't know what they're doing. The devilish and drank owner has no consideration or ounce of gratitude for her customers and it shows. My girlfriend was also absolutely shocked to waste the time and money. I recommend to avoid it !!!
(1)Marc G.
Ummm...Hiro WTF happened? When we moved to MIA in 2007 this place was our absolute fave. My wife and I went here over and over and over again, birthdays, friday nights, late night after doing something else. We took friends from other countries, nieces from Orlando and their boyfriends and raved about it. We knew the waiters and waitresses by name (anyone remember David - that man was the BOMB). That was when the place was on W. Dixie in what people used to call a hole in the wall. To the regulars, the place was home, as a Japanese Homestyle (or Izakaya as one other yelper called it) should be. You used to walk in and be greeted by a hearty "Irasshaimase" from the chefs, everyone knew who you were and the place was fun, respectful and awesome food that you could rely on. But then something happened in 2010 into 2011. Hiro's new wife May started to come in ALL the time. She started to take over the business (at least this is my perception). In a few short months, it was announced they would be moving to their present location in Eastern Shores. Some regulars (including us) were invited to the grand opening (which we could not make due to being sick). When we started to go the vibe had totally changed. It was a more bar/club like feel. You felt had to dress up to go there and the wait staff changed. We remained friendly with the old wait staff who remained and used to ask them what they thought and the consensus was, it has changed too much and lost it's old charm (mind you some of them had been there for years). Fast forward to today and I can tell you tonight was my last meal ever at Yakko san. The other yelpers are right, the place is soulless, passionless, Hiro no longer cares about the food, he walks around in a daze most of the time and the rest of the chefs follow suit. The food just sucks now and the quality of the ingredients has gone down. Had the Blue Fin Carpaccio and it tasted oily, not-fresh and the salmon roe tasted like slime from the bottom of the sewer (not that I am familiar with that taste but the thought came to mind). The wait staff is rude, arrogant and downright offensive. Our waiter kept saying he could not hear me even though I was speaking loud and frankly I believe his mind was elsewhere. There was a special tonight - stuffed mushrooms and I asked him what it was stuffed with and he said I dont really know but I am sure its good. Then he got another waiter who proceeded to tell us it was seafood stuffed with mushrooms. It was not. The atmosphere has changed completely, now it is a loud, sports bar type environment that attracts all the waiters/waitresses from Duffys and the surrounding bars as they close. I am sad to write this and sad to see the place we once loved so dearly turn to such shit. But Hiro, I think your business is about to fail. Hope you read this and change your ways but somehow I think the money is all you care about now. This is an example of how to destroy a successful restaurant. Judging from the other comments, many feel the same as we do.
(1)Chris W.
Wonderful food, sometimes hard to get a seat. Loved the takoyaki & pork w/bitter melon. Can't beat it for Izakaya, and I'd even say it's better than a number of similar places in Seattle. I looooooooove this place.
(5)Carolyn C.
My husband and his family have been coming here for years, it has recently changed locations but the owner and name are the same. I recently made my way down to Florida and was really shocked by how much I liked this place. As a table of 6, we ordered more than 20 dishes, and actually ordered some of the same dishes twice because it was sooo good. It was pretty busy when we sat down. Service was prompt and the food came fast. The flavor was all really good. It is like a Japanese tapas place, but very affordable for the quality of food that you get and you will be full. It is a very authentic for a Japanese restaurant in America. Recommendations: Seafood Miso Hot Pot (I was skeptical, but my husband said I would not regret it, and I didn't), Ton Katsu, Gizzard Kara-age and Beef tongue steak (if you are adventurous), and the Miso Sea Bass (get this, it is tender and melts in your mouth).
(5)Luke S.
Not sure how to categorize the place. They have lots of food choices on their menu which confused me. Sushi rolls were ok, too much rice for my taste. Sushi was fresh and very good; nicely presented too. Mango chicken was dry - not sure whether Mango chicken qualifies as Japanese food? Perhaps because they served it with rice? Many waiters. Somewhat inconsistent service. Ambience of a train station. Not very comfortable to spend time. Could be better at the sushi bar. For what it is, a bit on the pricey side.
(3)Marymarie P.
Miami lacks great Asian food, but Yakko-San is a family favorite! I feel like you've got to know what to order here for you to really appreciate the authencity of the food (their menu can be overwhelming with such a mixture of all Asian cuisines)...but let me tell you that this place is known for their Japanese tapas, and other Asian tapas in general...I'm talking about the bar food my Poppa use to eat with his boys with a case of Heineken and a bottle of Remy! If you're a true foodie, and you're brave and open enough to try some things that may seem a bit "weird," try my favs...PS --we normally order the same 'ole thang, and ALL of following: --Dried kawahagi (trigger fish jerky) --reminds me of eating and chillin' with Pops -Spicy Manila clams --perfectly cooked (not too overcooked and not too raw) -Kim chee fried rice (a NEW fav of mine here, but portion is a tad small) -Kim chee Buta - Pork belly prepared Korean style -Hamachi cama (jaw of Yellowtail) --extremely tender meat -Crispy onion fish salad -Fried oysters --always plump and juicy here (I always ask for a different dipping sauce, I like the katsu sauce for the oysters) P.S --the new location is so much bigger!
(5)angel g.
One word: Takkoyaki I like the older location better, though.
(4)Emiliano B.
This place has some of the best sushi I have had in Miami. The quality of their sushi is amazing, very fresh fish and a lot of variety of fish that most Japanese places don't have. I gave this place 4 stars because their service could be better but the food is amazing don't let that keep you away from visiting.
(4)Bahia S.
This place is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant that I have been to outside of Japan. After living in Japan for a number of year, my husband I are constantly searching for something that comes close to the food we loved in Japan - this restaurant does! In the Japanese izakaya tradition, we ordered a number of small dishes to share among 4 people. Everything was good and most things were extremely authentic. Mixed Salad - the dressing on this is fantastic! Age Dashi Tofu - one of my favorites, tofu fried in a sweet stock. They did this exactly the way they do in Japan, and our friends who were first timers to the dish they loved it as well. Lotus Roots (renkon) - crunchy and in a delightful sauce, I have rarely seen this in the USA. Buta Nasu Miso Itame - Literally "pork eggplant miso stir-fry" this had a thick miso sauce and the eggplant was cooked just right. Yakisoba - their yakisoba was very authentic, which was refreshing after the many in-authentic versions I have tried. Ginger Pork - this was the only dish that I was disappointed in. While the sauce was good, the pork was different from the kind they use in Japan and a little dry. Rice - perfect rice! Miso Soup - a full bowl of miso soup, not the little half bowl they usually give you in American restaurants. Sake - I am not usually a big fan of sake (nihonshu), but the selection we got on the sake flight was surprisingly good. Two of the three did not have much of the aftertaste that I usually don't like. The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, it felt like you were walking into a little slice of Japan, with lots of Japanese and Asian clientele. The price is also very reasonable. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Alexander M.
Been coming here for a few years now & have never been disappointed Trigger Fish Jerky, Burdock Lotus Root, & Crispy Bok Choy are appetizers that stand out in my opinion Ordered a simple Ramen bowl with fish broth & pork ... Affordable & plenty of Food Place is highly recommended Open till very late each night
(5)Alex S.
All is good in this place, thanlks for your service.
(5)Carlo B.
Best food in town. They have shaken out the kinks at the new location and their dishes are impressive. Hiro is a master. Take your appetite.
(5)Steven S.
I won't waste your time repeating the accolades spouted by others below (and no doubt eventually above). Just go and enjoy one of the great Miami-Dade experiences - close to but not exactly as stimulating as going 35 mph in the left lane of I-95S as an anthropological experiment. Small dishes that put the Spanish tapas people to shame. PS bokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybÂokchoy
(5)Jayne B.
Talked about this place for days so finally writing a review $ 46 for 2 people with dessert and 1 beer Menu is so large your head will spin We sat at the bar. Fast efficient service Server walked us thru the menu you a bit so could have a taste of many flavors. Ordered pickled cabbage spicy tuna roll thing liver ---one more dish but can't remember at the moment fish jerky---blew me away dessert: some cheesecake heaven on a plate thought we were stuffed but cleaned the plate The desserts were fat American back to country roots heaven that i saw being passed out Beer was large-- Left at 10pm and group of 55-80 year olds came in to dine love the variety of diners Will be back for sure
(5)Danielle G.
I initially gave this 3 stars because the food is good - but in reconsidation the quality of food is not the only consideration. Restaurants are only going to change their ways if regular customers let them know things are unacceptable. The service OMG is awful and has plummeted from when we first started going 8 months ago or so and it was never stellar to begin with. Last night we had some delicious sushi - we also had the octopus mediterranean, the delicious jalapeno hamachi, we had the daikon kimchee along with the Kama - the food was delicious - no complaints. We arrived between 6:30-7ish and sat at bar. NO ONE at the sushi bar ever even acknowledged our presence, not one time did they ever even look up or say "hi". We joked that there seemed to be this invisible wall in front of the sushi bar where the chefs were not allowed to make eye contact with customers. One of the reasons we like to sit at the bar is for interaction with the sushi chef or at least a friendly greeting. We sat for at least 5-7 minutes before anyone even approached us for water or a drink order. My partners water was never refilled. We had to flag random people down to ask for a bowl of rice as we were never even really sure who our actual server was. Random people would bring a dish out and not remove an empty dish right in front of your face, no words, no how it it? nothing.........I tried to flag down people multiple times and like they would see and look away????? I don't get it. There wasn't even really anyone to complain to visible on the way out about the horrible service - just young girls as a hostess station who would not have cared less. So read the reviews and make your decision - make no mistake I think the food is good but pricey with NO SERVICE whatsoever. At this point we have eaten here about 5 times before I wrote the review so I feel I've given them a fair chance to just have an off-night, it's more than that. No servers smiled, made recommendations or showed any hint of happiness or charm. It was a very dismal final experience for us here. Get it together guys - you can have great good but if your service sucks you will lose people like us who actually drive 40 minutes to eat specifically at your place. We would rather stay closer to home get mediocre sushi and excellent service from a small place who appreciate our business and hard earned money. When we usuall drop $150-200 for dinner we expect much better service. Last night for two of us we had 10 pieces nigiri sushi, kama, 2 appetizer dishes and daikon - we each had a cocktail and our bill was $110 without tip. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL Service last night.
(2)Jimmy B.
I keep trying asian restaurants in Miami but always come back to Hiro Yakko-San. Best in category always fresh and innovative at decent price.
(4)Steven B.
Decent food, poor service. The good: -The hostess greeted and seated us quickly. -Our server came to greet us within a few moments of the hostess seating us, and was polite. -The orders were prepared within a short time frame and tasted fresh. That's about it, after our initial order was placed we were pretty much ignored. Kinda strange for a place with a tapas style menu. A food runner came out to bring our first dish. Before he could leave, I thanked him and asked if we could get a sake or drink menu. He replied, "I'm not your waiter" and walked away. The same food runner came back a few moments later to drop off the second part of our order and darted off. I was admittedly a bit turned off by his response and with my server nowhere in sight, I chose to forgo the drinks. Speaking of our server, he never returned to check on us or find out if we wanted to order anything else. It wasn't until I got up to ask the hostess to locate him (20+ minutes into our meal), that he suddenly appeared asking if we needed anything. We chose to just pay our bill and leave. I considered speaking with a manager about the experience, but looking around I could see several groups of employees standing around talking amongst themselves and figured it wouldn't be worth it. The restaurant itself has nice ambience and the food was tasty. Too bad the service is on par with a take-out place.
(1)Anita G.
Amazing! Fast fresh and yummy! O only have half hour lunch break (if I'm lucky) so I came here and sat at the bar and explained my situation to the bartender, he gave me free green tea and was super quick to put in my order. I had the crunch spicy tuna roll! Super fresh loads of fish and little rice - just like I like it (check out my picture). Will be coming back for sure! The place is pretty big too! Plenty of seating and full bar!
(5)Lena Z.
The worse restaurant to come to. Food looks like it is a week old and when I asked to change it they refused. The waitress said that she explained it with Japanese language. Unfortunately I don't speak Japanese. Very rude
(1)Kyle S.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami. Nice variety, good prices. Seated right away. Open late. Great service.
(5)Lisa W.
Afternoon service is great, groovy atmosphere, waiting for food is short, taste of food is delicious and money happily spent
(4)Viktor K.
Terrible. The roll contains 95% rise and 5% carpaccio thin Fish Almost pathetic and funny Never again
(1)robert e.
Popular no-nonsense Japanese with fresh sushi including a daily catch. Great sushi rice -- firm, not too sweet. Very quality sashimi. Pretty standard selection of fish offered but wonderful knife work and again great fresh product. Real ginger, real wasabi. No complaints at all. A deft preparation of Hamachi Kama is always worth a return visit in my book. A keeper.
(4)Michelle M.
This Japanese eatery has been around for more than 11 years now and has become a go-to place for chefs, industry insiders and locals alike. Their menu offers more than 100 dishes including soups, tempura, sushi and noodles, but here, I narrow it down to my top 5: 1) The Tako Yakki The Tako Yakki, one of my favorite dishes at Yakko San, is a typical comfort food from Japan that consists of grilled balls of batter with octopus chunks inside. This is a very popular fast food snack in Japan, that is incredibly hard to find here in Miami, so if you are curious about it, this is the place to try it. My only warning is that they are very HOT inside, so make sure to pinch them with your chopsticks and let them breathe for a good 5 minutes before eating to avoid burning your tongue. 2) The Ocean Drive Roll Despite the reference Miami's most touristy (and trashy) street, the Ocean Drive Roll is most definitely another must. The combination of tuna, avocado, spicy mayo and cilantro is magical and will make the back of your tongue tingle with delight! 3) Ahire (aka: fish jerky) If you've never tried Ahire before, this is the place to do it! This fish jerky dish is completely home made, and is so much fun to eat! Just grab it with your chopstick, dip it in some spicy mayo, close your eyes and enjoy. The flavor is sweet and fishy (in a good way) and the chewy texture makes it simply addicting! 4) Yakki Udon with Pork Hmmm, if you are a noodle lover, then this is the dish for you! These hot white wheat noodles are sauted with ginger shreds, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, scallions and bok toy, and served together with your choice of pork, shrimp, chicken or beef, giving it the most amazing texture combination possible. You'll go from chewy and sticky, to crunchy and spicy, all in one delicious bite. Put your chopsticks to the test with the Yakki Udon, and make sure to slurp loudly to show your gratitude to the chef! 5) The Cheesecake & Ice Cream Roll Last, but most certainly not least, is one of the latest addition to my favorite dessert list: the cheese cake and ice cream roll. The thick roll of creamy cheesecake covered in batter is very lightly fried and served with your choice of ice cream and wafers for added texture. The dessert is perfect, not too heavy and not too sweet, and pairs nicely with the green tea ice cream, which is made with real matcha powder!
(5)Nick Q.
I've been a huge fan of Chef Hirosan since we met nearly 14 years ago. He had his little Yakkosan on Dixie Highway and I was a student at JWU refining and honing my culinary skills. He's an amazing chef with an awesome staff. There's things you'll eat here that you'll never see anywhere else in the area. He and his wife May do an amazing job with this place. She just added some new Japanese beers to the menu and the kitchen is rolling out a new happy hour and finger food menu that's perfect for bar nights or snacking. I've eaten at their restaurants more than anyone else's in Miami. Sometimes multiple times a week... like last week actually. The menu has so many things to choose from you'll never get bored. If you see a new special on the board... order it, you may never see it again or you may get lucky and help it make the menu... you never know. A few if my fav's: agedashi tofu, shrimp udon, daikon kimchee, kaweragi, tempura chrysanthemum blossums, crispy baby bakchoy, shishamo, kimchee tofu, grilled shishitos, all the hot fish dishes, some dried scallop/shrimp/chili dish not on the menu, all the sashimi, and anything Hirosan or May offer me. Wendy has been a server with them for ever, she's super knowledgeable and really sweet. The bartenders are all great!
(5)Frances A.
First time here. It was fast service and we were seated right away. The food is pretty good and comes out so fast! Great reasonable prices and good quality. None of the dishes that we tried came with rice.... so we kept eating. I would definitely come back here when in the area and would recommend. We had the following: -Miso soup -Seaweed Suimono soup- assorted seaweed with clear fish broth. this was an interesting soup with good flavor. -Black pork belly served with 2 different sauces. -Hamachi with jalapeño peppers-thin slice hamachi w/ yuzu, ponzu, cilantro -Hamachi tataki roll -Scallops with asparagus and mushroom in a sake and butter sauce -Kalbe yakiniku- salt & pepper grilled short rib w/ bone
(4)Clementine E.
I am going to give them 5 stars because the sushis were very very very good, however the service could have been better. The sushis are so fresh, the rice isn't dry, they don't add a ton of sauce on top of the sushis (that's the way I like it!) maybe they could add more rolls? It is mainly sashimi and sushi, and other Japanese dishes. If we were living in Miami, we would come here quite often! Very nice restaurant!
(5)Denise N.
One of my favorite spots to go late night. Takoyaki balls for me are a must to start. Enoki mushrooms in a butter sauce were crazy good! Kimchee pork, with that delicious kick and that rich sauce, Definitely a flavorful dish. With a side of veggie rice we were set! Fast service good food decent price. Japanese craft beers list is good I had the Orion and a Kaugua Rouge.
(4)Renier C.
5 stars. No fuss. Easy place for simply great food. Sure there's lots of hype still, but after years eating here no disappointment yet! Let's order: Tuna Guacamole. So good. Everyone will love this. Tuna Harumaki Hamachi Jalapeño tiradito Beef Tataki Tuna Tataki Salmon Carpaccio Crispy Bak Choy Uni sushi with a quail egg (if you're into it, friend had me try and I was hooked!) Ugh, ... I'm getting hungry again.
(5)Bob H.
Once again a wonderful experience. Knoledgeable server and great japanese dishes. Tried the kimchee pork tonight. Excellent.
(4)Jeffrey B.
good food, terrible service. I have eaten here 100 tomes, since the small rest on Dixie hwy. I normally order 5-7 items and need some space to eat. the people at the front refused to give us a bigger table . called the so called manager and they said it was against their policy. there was a couple sitting in the from at a table for 4....again I have eaten here 100 times and never has such a bad reception. I left and went to hiro
(1)Elle B.
Decided to try a new place in Miami based on the reviews. Sushi was fine , average presentation, not special. Service terrible. People, check your bill!!! They overcharged me on three separate items!! When I brought it up to the managers attention , they weren't very apologetic . They thought it was enough to just adjust the bill. The total overcharge was $9. I think this happens all the time there. When I asked why this happened, they first blamed the new cashier and then started telling me that the price of a hand roll on the menu only includes the "meat", which they meant fish, and that the vegetable and rice are extra. For which they added 2 dollars. Have you ever heard of anything like that? In my experience the price on the menu of any item is the price that should be charged!!! Any handroll always comes with all of the ingredients. I didn't ask for anything extra to be included in it. Will not be back... Terrible!
(2)Chlo L.
Sake & good sushi are my best friends. Such a relief to get some satisfying nigiri. We ordered maguru (tuna), sake (salmon), hotate (scallop), Uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid), Saba (mackerel) unagi (BBQ eel) , & tamago (grilled egg)... Along with an uni handroll, salmon carpaccio, soba, ankimo, and crunchy bakchoy. They were all delicious, especially the nigiri & handroll. We dined in this time, but we're big on takeout and having to wait at the restaurant instead of calling ahead is a bit of an inconvenience. Although, it's better than being disappointed elsewhere. We will be regulars here as long as the sushi keeps coming as it was. The service was also terrific. Ray was a friendly and did a great job! Can't wait for round II !
(4)Ian R.
In the process of visiting Florida on business, a friend of mine took me to Yakko-San and it was amazing. While very inconspicuous in a strip mall shopping center, don't be fooled. This is a fairly decent sized restaurant with a sushi bar. There were so many good things on the menu that I had to try. The Hottie Hamachi was melt in your mouth quality. Fried Oysters were delicious. For an entree I picked a freshly caught Strawberry Grouper and they took it to the back to cut it up, lightly fry it, and bring it back to the table tasting awesome all in record time. I will be returning to Florida soon on business and will certainly be coming back to Yakko-San. Highly recommended.
(5)ilana P.
The sashimi was excellent!! Sushi rolls were okay. Service was fast and efficient. We sat with kids at a table, the bar had a sign for drink specials (happy hour), we ordered. When the bill came we were surprised to see that we were being charged full price for the drinks. Apparently the special price was only if you are sitting at the bar, which we were not allowed to with kids. Seems unfair to those dining out with kids. Will not be returning.
(3)Jose Luis N.
Place was nice , good atmosphere and waiters really kind and helpful. Food is not expensive and tasty. They have some interesting rolls like prosciutto roll. Appetizers really recommended like tuna avocado! I will repeat!!
(4)Sharon W.
Three words: CRISPY BOK CHOY! That's really all you need to know, but since there is all this white space, I will fill it with more lavish praise for one of the best dining experiences in South Florida! I came here twice this weekend, once for lunch and once for dinner. The menu is more limited at lunch, but they do have good lunch specials. We had the aforementioned bok choy, which came overflowing the plate and with a garlic-y savory dipping sauce. We also had the jalapeño hamachi (sashimi), which was exquisitely fresh, and a lunch special, which came with miso soup (excellent), several rolls, some seasoned bean sprouts and some tempura. We finished with the Chef's Choice, a rotating special of six cold appetizers. That day, we got jellyfish (!), mackerel and four other delectable items. We returned the following day for dinner! Yes, it was that good! We had the bok choy (again!), age nasu (fried eggplant), takoyaki (deep fried octopus), spicy shisito peppers, monkfish liver and fried minnow. The monkfish liver was the standout, for sure! Beautiful flavor and texture! WOW! the menu is extensive, creative and reasonable. In addition, the service is great. Larry S. had green tea with his lunch and wanted to take it with him when we left. Aaron gave him a fresh serving in a to-go cup! Miguel, the server at dinner, gave us a sample to assist us in choosing a wine and both guys also provided some good suggestions off the menu. Fantastic!
(5)Mina G.
I loved this place. It reminded me of all things Japanese back to when I studied there. The food was fantastic! Try: Crispy Bok choy Tempura vegetables- it's super authentic Any of the sushi! Hamachi with jalapeños Yaki niku don (steak with rice) Also the green tea martini and sweet tea martini! Both fantastic! So all this food at a reasonable price. I couldn't believe it Bottom line-coming back!
(5)W M.
This was my go to place. I love the tonkotsu ramen, undo noodle, pork fried rice. I have been with this place about 7 year. However, sadly, I have to say I will not return to this place anymore. Because the quality of the food went down and the so so service I received. About one year ago, I went there with my husband, my two kids and my brother-in-law.My brother-in-law order three things one cup of coke, one Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and a Yaki Undo noddle. His entire order never been serve. We asked the waitress couple of times about his order during, and after our meal. The end result, just a no show for his meal. Luckily, we ordered enough or I should say the two kids had enough left over to feed their poor uncle. the waitress finally figure out and apology to my brother-in-law at very end of our meal. So, we only left 10% of the tip and a note to the waitress regarding her poor performance that night. Because I loved this place so much, my husband and I decided to let it go. We though just one bad experience in 6 years. About four month ago, I went there with my family. When the food was severed, I got my kids ready to eat. In the half way of cutting the Chicken Tatsuta-Age, which is fried marinated chicken, I noticed that 3 of the fried chicken was under cooked. I can still see the chick was half raw. I immediate called in our waitress and told her the problem. She said she was sorry and offered to refried the 3 pieces of the chick. Yes, refried the 3 pieces, not replace the whole dish or took the order off. How can they be so sure there was only 3 pieces under cook. I was very mad at the how they handle the situation and told my husband I will never go back again. Last night, i went back again, Yes, I admit it was a bad decision.However, I really miss their tonkotsu ramen. I cannot find another place in Miami can make the same flavor.So , I decided to give it another try. I ordered the tonkotus ramen I been thinking for four months. The second I put the noodle in my mouth, I knew the noodle was totally under cook. Then, I searched the whole bowl of noodles. I found half of my noodle was rubbery, stuck together-uncooked. I talked to the waiter again (WHY!!!!!), I told him it was not acceptable. He say he was sorry. That was about it. He did not do a thing to make it right. Not offer the order from the bill, not offer to give me a new dish. It was raining very heavy last night (9/5/2015), I have two kids, both are under age of 5, needed to go to bed before 8:00 pm. So, I didn't have a chance to talk with the manager. On the way home, I told my husband, I am very sad but I think I have to let this spot go and should not come back anymore. Regardless, how much I love their food, I really don't want to pay the full price on something only worth half of the price quality of food. Not even to mention about the service. Or maybe, that just the way they train their waiter/waitress, when customers complain just say your are sorry and do nothing!! response from the ownerin the last week- yakko san always respect customers, we had never been complained about our food under cooked. all our chefs were working for us since we opened 2001. we moved this location only 4 years as you mention 7 years, especially we never replce the plate only left few pieces, we had 400 cover only one complained that mean the our food were nothing wrong..this is the time that you decided to leave, noway that we can stop you. finally we wil let you go that you are not truly yakko san customer..thank you for been customer for yakko san. sorry mean nothing wrong with that..thank you. this was the respond i have received from google review. this owner has not respect for the old customer. yes, the food was under cook two times. yes, i have been with your restaurant for 7 year (3 years from the original location and 4 year from now location). yes, it was very !! annoying when she can only type things in all caps( you can see the review from google.com ). there you go!! you can totally see what kind of owner she is. let me just say this to the owner," it was too bad your restaurant made the mistakes, it is time to move on."
(2)Jessica W.
After hearing great things about this restaurant, I decided to stop by for dinner. It's located in a strip mall and they have a few high-top tables outside, where we sat. The service was friendly and fast. Of the items I tried, the Mediterranean octopus was definitely my favorite. It was thinly sliced octopus with olive oil, pesto and sundried tomatoes-it was a unique and absolutely delicious combination. The grilled squid was great as well. Definitely a wonderful choice for sushi!!
(4)Violet G.
Stopped by late night Saturday, I was delighted to see the place packed. The bartenders were very friendly, took the time to answer our questions about the menu; he suggested chicken/shrimp fried rice, a hit! The goyza- very good also, but I will pass on the pork belly. Friendly service and good food that's all I need.
(4)Steven B.
Enoki Butter mushrooms and the daily fresh fried fish are both AMAZING! Delicious options for a night out. Haven't tried the sushi, but everything else there is delicious. Overall, great place.
(4)James O.
We ate here for first time in over 5 years last night. Place was full on Saturday night which is very important for sushi places. I only eat sushi at very busy places for obvious reasons. Salad was fresh, huge and had a great dressing other then the traditional orange colored ginger dressing. Octopus sunomono was delicious scallop carpaccio was fantastic. All the sashimi we had was very fresh and nicely proportioned. Service was very friendly and efficient. An overall good experience and much better then the one I had 5 yrs ago.
(4)Adam M.
Good food Good service Good staff Good owner She is a demon lady who will argue with you and ruin your night. If you do go to yakko keep ur head down when she walks by. They have a policy where if the food is not done right not served on time or cold they will not take it back. Easy going place overall aside from the demon lady it's legit.
(3)Luis L.
I really like this place. A friend of mine suggested I come to Yakko San when it was located behind the train tracks, it was really hard to find and it was very small. The new place is huge and much nicer. The food is still great, the kimchi fried rice is great and the spicy mayo shrimp is very good. Most recently it was late(past midnight) I tried calling but you cant order to go after 12am, you have to order in person and wait. This was not a problem, you just order at the bar, the bartender is very nice and in a few minutes your food is ready to go. Not a lot of places have good food till 3am so that is a huge plus. I live in North Miami Beach so it is close and very easy to park.
(5)Melanie A.
Yakko San is a no-frills but yet authentic Japanese restaurant. I came with a friend of mine who is a sushi chef and he really recommended this place. I was not let down. I went back since and still enjoyed the food. They have an extensive menu and everything is delicious. My favorite is the raw yellowtail! Ugh. So good. They also have a full bar. In these types of Japanese restaurants I usually expect them to just have beer, wine, and sake. Nope. Yakko San has a full menu! This place is worth the drive!
(4)Alexander F.
How is this my first check-in here?!?! I'm a regular at Yakko-San, seriously! ! I guess Yelp messed up. Anyway, Yakko-San is amazing. Great, knowledgeable service, the food is delicious, well presented, accompanied by a hearty menu with lots of choices. All this in a venue that has late hours....Yakko-San is well deserving of a 5 star rating!!!!
(5)Fernando G.
Amazing ! One of my favorite Japanese restaurants Good for meal or tapa style Good lighting Amazing service like a coordinated valet The food being is main showcase is their cooked food but also the sushi is amazing but it also has a full bar Deep fried baby bock choi the bomb Daikon radish salad tangy Fresh seaweed salad is very good Spicy shrimp Fish skin jerky Chicken livers I can go on an on because pretty much everything is very good And to top it of they are open till 3 in the morning . Great for late night munchies Prices are moderate specially for the quality
(5)Chary E.
Gosh. Where to I ever begin. Let me just say that the food here is reAlly really good. Everything is so fresh, the staff are super friendly and attentive and the presentation is just spectacular. I know there are hundreds of reviews about their most popular dish- the angel hair with ikura and uni. I just can't get enough of it. The uni is sweet and fresh and the ikura is salty and together they are just perfect with the angel hair pasta. No sauce, no frills, just fresh seafood wonderfulness. Granted they put a teaspoon of butter on the angel hair, but tht was about it. Just squeeze some lemon and add the wasabi and poof. Perfection. I loved it so much that we went there 2 days in a row! Special thanks to Wowie for being such a cool guy. So if you are ever in the area, do check this place out. I promise you will leave super happy!
(5)Nate T.
This restaurant has a great selection sake. This is the restaurant to enjoy Japanese cuisine and some great company from friends. The servers and the bartenders show great hospitality. It feels like you're a regular at their restaurant. You should keep an open mind on today's special because they are fresh and tasty. I recommend the Scallop Carpaccio and the Crispy Spicy Tuna Rice. If you want to order something from the regular menu I recommend hamachi jalapeno and their shrimp fried rice cooked in light soy sauce and olive oil. For sake, I recommend Yuki no bosha or the Ohka dewazakura. The bar is a great place to sit if there is a game going on because there is a tv in the corner. The place is very casual, you can show up in a matrix costume which I did once or in athletic clothes to show off them muscles. For starters always go with light appetizers followed by raw foods. This will be the best transition to hot/cooked meals. For recommendations try: first nira moyashi, second hamachi jalapeño appetizer, third soup, and lastly a rice dish like the beef donburi.
(5)Joe R.
Great flavor, everything is fresh. I had the King Crab roll, the Ocean Drive roll, and the Kimchee Buta, with a Lychee Martini. It was a little pricey, but delicious!
(5)Stephanie A.
Great food. I must stress how excellent the food is. However, there's sometimes problems with communication with the servers. The nice lady who took care of us forgot one thing I ordered but we don't mind. If you're the type of person who wants something and hates when this happens just make sure to confirm your order first. Drinks are great, I love their eel and the nigiris. There's parking and overall the restaurant is beautiful, clean and worth for a date or for friends. I also noticed that they have lunch menus. 10/10: food !!!!
(4)Jonathan P.
Best place to get true Japanese food in Miami. Good place to share plates with the table. Best plates include - all sashimis, hamachi jalapeño, crispy bok Choy, yakniku don, spicy mayo shrimp, enoki butter, seaweed salad, whole fried fish, beef curry, salmon sashimi salad, crispy fish salad, and daily raw fish specials. Miso soup and ginger salad are simple, but great. Service is good / fast and prices are fair.
(5)Peter Z.
Since moving to the Miami area a few months ago, I have been on the search for great restaurants in all of South Florida and have been leaning heavily on Yelp for assistance...now to start paying back :) I love sushi and haven't had too much since I moved to Brickell and now am currently located in Aventura. I had passed this place a few times, and decided to stop in after I found an old issue of New Times that rated this place as a top 10 under-rated cheap eats place. I went hungry. Yakko-San delivered. Posted my pics on the iphone, hope they match up with this PC entry. I ordered: Hamachi Jalepenos Sashimi- I'd eat this everyday and just might. Fresh and the sauce it is in I could suck up with a straw. Sashimi App- standard measuring stick for me. It was fresh and delicious; pieces were a little on the anorexic side, but fresh and good. Crispy Bok Choy: You can't really mess this up deep frying it- however, the sauce it is served with was delectable! Kimchee Ramen: See photo, it is like a meal in itself. It was a massive portion and delicious- I love kimchee and never had it in a ramen with meat. I will order again!! Black Pork Belly: Slightly fatty and didn't know if it was grilled but I thought it was pan seared...it had a nice pepper flavor. Delicious and served with yet another wonderful dipping sauce. There were 30 other items I wanted to try...I cant wait to in the next few months! :) I live a mile from here and I will definitely be a regular. Wonderful decor, large restaurant- I was in on a Tuesday at 1/2 full at 9PM...Weekends have to be packed to the rafters all night! I recommend you give it a try at least once...
(4)Joseph D.
Second time at Yakko-San and I'm still amazed at the dazzling array of dishes and the quality of their food. If you're looking for a place to try dishes you've never had or even seen elsewhere, this is your place. The freshest sushi, a large assortment of ramen, barbecued eel to die for and specials galore are just a few of the things you'll find on their huge menu. Service is generally friendly and efficient. The dining room is large and can fill up quickly and can be very noisy when they get rockin' and rollin'
(5)Priscilla H.
I've never had been treated so bad in a restaurant. I've been a customer for over two years and tonight I just walked away . Be aware with the owner... She is always drunk at the bar making rude and loud comments. I used to go there with my family for dinner once a week and get the chefs selections spending over $200. Today I ordered a raw sashimi and didn't like it (after ordering 3 of other type). The fish had a weird smell. She was sitting next to us and said:"This is what we offer , so EAT it"!!! Excuse me??????? She was drunk and falling of the chair... Embarrassing!! I paid for the bad sashimi and left...My business? You will never get lady! Bad bad bad service!!!! Go to Makoto, it is upscale and only one mile Away. I am still speechless...
(1)Gene Z.
These chingas have pathetic practice of not allowing to preorder and pick up the f... food. Change your stupid freaken policy morons !!
(1)Krys P.
It pains me to write this review, because Yakko-san used to be my favorite Japanese place. It has the most authentic Japanese cuisine in Miami, offering items not seen in your average sushi/teriyaki/teppanyaki joints. But that was before they moved their location. Shortly after the move, my friends told me that the quality had went downhill. So I never did visit again, until a few nights ago we were in the neighborhood, late at night and craving some Japanese. I figure, how bad can it be? Truth is, it can be very bad. We ordered three dishes to start, takoyaki, mixed mushroom in foil, katsudon. Sadly, all three dishes are inferior specimens of that item. Takoyaki tastes like eraser nibs in mushy paste, mushroom is overly bland and unevenly seasoned, and pork chop too dry. Looks like Yakko-san has gone from a serious foodie heaven to a fancy trendy place offering mediocre fare. We didn't order more, didn't finish the food and ended up leaving with a half-empty stomach.
(2)Jenn A.
Living in south beach, Yakko San is a little out of the way but well worth the drive. The lunch special is great for the price. The fish is always fresh. The crispy rice balls are delicious. Love the octopus sunomono. The udon noodles are great as well. The service isn't the best , the server always seems overwhelmed, like they have too many tables but we keep coming back for the delicious food.
(4)Danielle B.
Asian fare in SoFlo to be quite honest has been in general disappointing. Whether it be overpriced or just plain not appetizing. Despite that, we decided to give Yakko-San a try. We were pleasantly surprised to find that their menu offers a variety of Japanese cuisine from sushi/sashimi to udon to grilled items and even ramen. Apparently ramen is a rare commodity here, or likely just not in demand. We ordered chicken katsu, mackerel (saba) sushi, soft shell crab sushi, tuna crunch roll, and a spicy tuna roll to share between two people. Chicken katsu was average. Soft shell crab had seemed to have lost its crunch. The mackerel was "osaka box style" which is a little different than I'm used to. I prefer traditional sushi over this style. The fish was thinly sliced and didn't look fresh, which is possibly also because it was marinated. I'd rather let the natural flavors of the fish shine instead of masking them under marinade. The spicy tuna was fine, but you can't really mess up spicy tuna. We weren't in the mood for ramen on that day, but definitely want to come back to try it. 3.5 stars for now, and if the ramen proves worthy, that will get bumped to 4 stars!
(3)Re M.
I had a really great night at this place. Seat at the bar and ask the barman Aladar to recommend you the specials. Simply delicious, everything we ordered. The Appletinis were awesome too. Will be coming back soon. The price is a bargain as well!
(5)Marina S.
I come to this restaurant a lot, live near by. I also order for take out. My family usually orders the same dishes, so I know what its names and know what I'm talking about. This evening I came to place an order for a pick up. The hostess, she was new, repeated my order and in 20 min they gave it to me. The hostess again repeated my order and didn't show me the dishes and when I said "Can I see if it's the right food?" She said " of course, don't worry. I wrapped it really well". When I came home, I had the wrong food. I called the restaurant and explained everything. They didn't even offer for me to drive back, bring the wrong food and the right food. I'm not even asking for anything more than that. They simply refused to resolve the issue. Any reputable place that cares about its customers would try to resolve it. This place doesn't care about people that pay their rent and salaries.
(1)Michelle C.
This was just OK. I had su-udon soup. The noodles were good and the broth wasn't bad. For $11 I added tempura. They gave me 2 tempura shrimp and 1 tempura green bean. Really? Sort of a rip off there... Also shared a sushi roll that was supposed to be eel with avocado and jalapeño. If there was eel in there, I could barely taste it. Same with the avocado. My dining companions got the katsu. Too much breading, no pork flavor. I don't think I'll be returning here.
(2)Ian T.
This is a fairly good Japanese restaurant with the benefit that it serves a good variety of authentic and less common dishes that you don't find easily in South Florida. It also features some interesting fusion-type dishes to spice things up. It is one of those restaurants I would have no hesitation going to if I was around, but wouldn't make an extraordinary effort to visit. While above average, I think their claim of being "Japanese cuisine that is the envy of other Japanese restaurants" overstates the case a bit. In fairness, we didn't have the appetite required to sample the dish that they said was their crown jewel: fresh whole fish cooked either Nitsuke style, grilled or fried. The Shoyu Ramen was good comfort food, and the dishes we sampled ranged from chicken liver itame to Hiro's Yakko-San, a sort of "sampler" with ume cucumber, squid, fish cake, daikon wrap, fish balls, and hirame with seaweed
(3)Karin R.
If you love sushi this is not the restaurant for you. I much prefer other spots in Miami for good yummy sushi. The waiter really tried to make up for the food by being nice, but it didn't help. There was also weird black stuff at the bottom of my wood sake cup, which was dismissed. I was given a fresh cup but my half drank sake was gone. The sushi didn't seem very fresh and the vibe in the restaurant was lacking as well. Also more of a family spot than a date spot. We had the spicy tuna salad, yasai-itame, crispy Bok Choy, and spicy tuna harumaki. The bok Choy was interesting but once you got to the bottom it was really oily and the yassai-itame which was supposed to have mixed veggies had mostly bean sprouts. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not go back.
(1)Paul M.
Yakko-San is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for Asian food in Miami. The lunch specials here are great. My wife had the sushi special and it was like a bento box on steroids. It's almost enough for two people to split. The sushi was fresh and sliced generously. The spicy tuna harumaki is one of my favorite dishes now. It's like a spicy tuna spring roll with lots of greens and absolutely stuffed with tuna. You can probably get away with eating this as your main. I had the Katsu-Don (pork bowl) and it was absolutely delicious. The egg and pork made this quite a hearty dish. The location is large and very nice inside. The service is fast and efficient and we did not have to wait long for our food. Looking forward to our next visit so we can try some of the menu items that are available after 3PM.
(4)Chung Kit T.
Went here on a Sunday evening and found out they had a few items on the menu that were sold out from the previous night. Among them were the toro and the scallop. There were other items missing. We started off with the blue fin carpaccio and an albacore appetizer. The carpaccio although good was a little bit on the salty side. The little capers were a little bit too overpowering. The albacore appetizer was drenched in too much ponzu sauce. It would have been better with much less. The sashimi and nigiri was good. I love fatty fish due to the texture and taste. Even though the toro was unavailable, we tried the hamachi belly which was pretty good. The salmon nigiri was better than average. The grouper sashimi was definitely on the lean side. It was on the borderline of being chewy. We also tried out the sea bass miso. This entree too tasted a bit too salty. Tasted more like a brined fish. Price for a couple can easily go over $100 with drinks. We had two appetizers, some nigiri (8 pieces), sashimi, and an entree for a little less than $90. Portions are small. Service is friendly.
(4)Dara B.
Our server Aaron (name tag was spelled Arron) was very knowledgeable about the menu, and was very attentive. He deserves a raise. Adrianne asked to take a picture of him for her yelp review but he was camera shy. Awwwww. Anyways getting back to the review, a good thing to note is Yakko-san does not take reservations and will not seat guests until a large % of the party arrives. I did enjoy reading the menu and trying to narrow my decision down to a few dishes. I ordered the butter (butta) spinach (very healthy and delicious), the black pork belly (tasted like bacon (yes I know....they are both from the same animal) and shrimp tempura roll. I suggest before coming here to take a look at the photo slide show on Yakko-San's website for ideas on what to order. The menu is "Picture-Sans" and I am one who likes to order based on photos. Overall my experience here was very pleasant and I will be back again.
(5)Isabel D.
Very bad service. Kemer our server was running every where but doing nothing. Food it's ok but nothing spécial. Products are medium quality, and recipes just good.
(2)Rob G.
So Ive been meaning to try this place for a while. I have several friends that really like this place. So, after my Monday training ritual, a few us of decided to give it a try. Its located in Eastern Shores, on the east side of the plaza, facing 163rd street. Easy to find, had no issues parking, although Ive been here on weekends, and it can be difficult to park. So, the restaurant itself seems to be nicely decorated, I walked in and went straight to the restrooms to wash my hands. The place was somewhat busy for a Monday night, I thought it was a good sign. I was somewhat excited, but didn't want to get my hopes up to high. There are several of my regular go-to sushi places in the area, and I was curious if this place would hold up to them. Short answer is no. So I met my friends and sat down and started reviewing the menu. It was somewhat hard for me to understand this place. Japanese, sushi, tapas, but yet they had curry and other thai dishes. It was a challenge to find decent rolls on the menu, I actually had to ask the waitress if they had salmon skin. The waitress said, yes, we dont put everything on the menu. Kinda strange that a staple like salmon skin, or even a "hand roll" section was not on the menu. The other thing I noticed was there was typos all over the menu, I mean, it literally looked like an 1st grader made up this menu. It kinda set the tone for what was to come. I ordered a rainbow roll, which didnt come with crab, which is fine, because I would have substituted salmon skin, which was an add-on in my case. I ordered a salmon skin hand roll, and spicy tuna hand roll. My friends ordered a Japanese steak and another ordered a ramen bowl, and a salmon roll (of some sort). For drinks we just had water. So my rolls came out first, and just at the sight of it, I was like "meh". The fish on top was paper thin, the tuna didnt even look like tuna. The hand rolls were tiny, I mean it made tiny hand rolls (at other restaurants) look gigantic. The seaweed was like a rubber tire. The salmon skin itself wasn't bad, neither was the spicy tuna, but it was just small and hard to eat. The Eel sauce was way too salty too. The rainbow roll, despite the paper thin fish was ok too. Not great, not bad. After eating it, I was still hungry. I ordered the crispy bok choy w/ garlic sauce, and asked them to add fried tofu (basically I combined two appetizers). I thoroughly confused the waitress. For someone who made it seem like ordering custom dishes was the norm (remember, not all sushi/rolls are on the menu), she seemed lost. The dish itself, no garlic sauce, and it was just not what I expected. My friends steak, came with nothing. It was pretty much a steak on a plate. He said it was ok. The Ramen also seemed ok, as well as the roll. The service, one word "lackadaisical". The restaurant kinda smelled too. People were cleaning our table, reaching over me while I was eating. Real amateur hour. It was way too noisy, the music was like a after hours club/lounge. Overall, I was not impressed. I really wanted to like it, but there are so many better options in the area. I hate leaving reviews like this, but I really was disappointed. $40 bucks in the hole, I felt like I was overcharged. It would have to be the only restaurant open after a hurricane for me to go back. Sorry, but with the plethora of great sushi places in Aventura/NMB area, I wont be back anytime soon.
(2)Alex B.
This restaurant is so good, I actually took the time to sit down and write a review: My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. (Good sign!) We were seated right away and the server, Aaron, came over in no time. With so many choices on the menu, Aaron was able to help us pinpoint the following: Crispy Bok Choy Crunch Spicy Tuna Roll Hamachi Tataki Jalapeño Spicy Manila Clams Yakiniku Steak EVERYTHING WAS SPECTACULAR! Not just one or two of the items, ALL of the plates were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. After polishing off each plate, we received the bill - only $47! If you were to go to any other restaurant and paid the same amount, you would have received half the portions at half the quality when compared to Yakko-San. You can not get a better bang for you buck! Not to mention that Aaron and the entire bus/wait staff were extremely nice and helpful. Amazing place from start to finish....
(5)Shikira H.
Top of the line Asian Fusion cuisine. You won't be dissappointed. A little birdie told me that HEAD CHEFS from top restaurants come here to eat, so that alone says allot and was worth a try on Mother's Day. We opted for take out, (this momma preferred enjoying a delicious take out in the comfort of my home than being in a busy and crowded restaurant) But what's up with their take-out policy of not accepting any take-out orders over the phone??? Thought that to be super weird and a little inconvenient. They require you to come in and place your order, so there will be a wait no matter what :/ There were quite a few dishes that I couldn't pronounce, which intrigues me to come back and try em all. I was craving sushi so I ordered a crunch spiny tuna roll, king crab roll and a cali roll for the boys. Then I added Spicy Manilla Clams and Kimchee Hot Pot soup. The Hot Pot was spicy and ooh soo good. The rolls were fresh, flavorful and delicious. FYI ----Crispy Bok Choy - AAHHMaazing! Who doesn't like anything fried? I haven't met anyone as yet that doesn't., but if you do....you're missing out on sooo much fun for your mouth. The saltiness and crispiness makes The kids LOVED their fried rice and the hubbs enjoyed his dish. We live in the neighborhood so we are already planning a family date night here again very soon .
(4)Eli S.
Super spot for inexpensive japanese food. Open so late so its always a plus. Have fun!
(5)Cristina P.
Just had a nice dinner here. It was our first time here and, as a huge sushi and sashimi lover, I really enjoyed the food and the service! I had the happy salmon roll and the king crab roll. Although both were very good, it could have used some more seasoning to make it perfect. The sashimi appetizer was great! Very fresh! For dessert we had mochi ( somewhat like an ice cream ball wrapped in a dough type wrap). The flavors were mango, green tea and vanilla. Also very good. Great way to end the meal. Service was great. We had Elena as our waitress and she was very helpful and sweet. Made the experience very relaxing.
(4)Lorena O.
The best Japanese food from Florida and that u tried ... Service is fantastic.., the food is fresh and fast.... The place is amazing too... I really recommend original fried rice with shrimp, and sashimis, hamachi kama, everything is really good... And my favorite is the fried cheesecake!!!
(5)Carolina M.
This place is nicely decorated, food is pretty good but not memorable. For the life of me i cannot remember what we ate. I do remember however that our server was nice but the service was not great. At the end of the meal i ordered their dessert. I didnt like it at all after a bite and i told the waiter. He just said" oh i am sorry" and then when he brought us the check the charge for the dessert was in there. I mean, if i would have eaten the thing i understand he has to charge us. But i didn't touch it after that. What kind of customer service is that?. I told him that i felt we shouldn't be charged for it since i didn't eat it and he said" oh ok, i will take it off your check". There were other misses with the waiter like getting my husband's order wrong and forgetting my mom's order. He was just spaced out. Overall, ok but i don't feel the need to come back. We had very good bottle of sake. That i remember . They have good selection on sakes.
(3)Angelo R.
Getting better. I think they a have a new manager cause I recently re-visited for lunch and several after work late drinks and the service has improved. I like the lunch specials. You get a choice of miso or salad to start, then choice of entree which i opted for the Chicken Yakiniku and comes with side salad of the day, cali rolls and shrimp tempura...all for around 10 bucks...what a deal! As always..2 for 1 drinks late nights..11pm after. They just need to make sure the bartenders are all in the same page :) Almost forgot, you have to try the Kimchi Ramen...the broth is off the hook!
(4)Xuanyu Z.
I like this Janpanese food. the price is cheap and food is good quality! Especially the Unodon rice! I like it!
(5)Whitney K.
Apparently Yakko-San is the oldest sushi house in Miami, and it is every bit of what you might imagine a restaurant out of Hiro Dreams of Sushi would taste like. Yakko-San's appeal lies in its authentic, fresh flavors (and bamboo sake cups, of course). The casual atmosphere makes for the perfect place to focus on the food. Each dish is prepared with care and executed with the craftsmanship you expect from traditional Japanese fare, minus any distracting frills or gimmicks that disguise mundane flavors at many sushi restaurants. What you taste is what you get. My recommendation: be adventurous and order the chef's daily selections regardless of how many you recognize on the list. Have a little faith - he knows what's up.
(4)Lexie L.
An outing to Miami for us always includes a stop at Yakko San, no matter what time of day it is...this gem is open until the wee hours. The new glitzy spot lost much of the dingy glamour that was, for me, a part of its unique appeal and ambiance. It doesn't matter, though, the food is that good, and the view from the sushi bar is the best show around. I can sit for hours and watch the meticulous rituals of the sushi chefs, they are HOT STUFF! (There I go again with another chef-crush). They are the only place I've found that does ramen as well as NY and SF...I get the jones for ramen sooooo bad sometimes! Go to this place. Have sake and tons of the authentic Japanese Izakaya, which is Japanese tapas. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Xoxoxo Yakko San!
(5)Gary Z.
This is some decent Japanese. It's more refined than some other sushi places in the area and has a decent product.
(4)Kristy K.
Excellent service, very knowledgable staff! And awesome food !!! Things I would never have tried before on my own that the waiter Aaron suggested were absolutely amazing ! I couldn't help but notice how well everyone works together, I started to count 6 plus staff members clearing our table and actually talking to us! Good job! This is our new spot
(5)Arthur G.
Quick and dirty, food is just good enough to pass when you're drunk and want something to do after 2am I would not go here during the day or out of my way.
(2)Elizabeth Y.
WOW. I've found an authentic Japanese place in Miami, owned by a Japanese chef. A place that serves beyond the typical sushi rolls. You know it's a good place when locals flock to this place, great service, not to mention a regular pitstop for cops. Drinks: Strong, amazing Lychee Martini. The pureed lychee can be a little chunky but the alcohol content is perfect! Appetizer: Hamachi with jalapeno, which was yummy with a nice perfect kick of spicy. Ramen: Decent real ramen, and not the type that you buy in the store. And decently priced, not like Momi where ramen is outrageously priced. The food was so good I ordered two dinners!!! The curry cutlet awesome. My boyfriend ordered the beef tongue, but watch out it doesn't come with rice so very small portions. He also ordered a second meal as well. Dessert: Now this is the perfect ending to our dinner(s) - banana tempura served with green tea ice cream - no words can describe this awesome combination of crispy and cold sweetness. Definitely will be coming back to this place for my Nippon kick Also, did i mention it's open till 3 AM?
(4)Anastassia S.
Love love love this place! Food is very tasty! Service is great, sake is great ! one of ours fav spot in sunny isles !
(5)Sachin B.
Extremely rude manager on night shift. Seemed drunk, refused to properly seat me at a table with a menu for reasons that are still not clear to me.
(1)Shale O.
Both time I have been there the service has been awesome. They boast of their fried rice but I think it is just ok. Good location and ample parking!
(3)Nicola F.
I give the decor an A, the service a C and the food a B+. Got a couple rolls, one was great (Spicy Girl, which was a special) and the other was mediocre (Rainbow Roll). The Beef Tataki was pretty good. Got 6 pieces of Nigiri - the fish itself wasn't the freshest I'd had, particularly the Uni (sea urchin eggs), but it was all pretty decent. Price:Quality = not very good
(3)MimiOak W.
Food is good, Service is fine but my friends and I seem to have such problem with the owner's wife as we've always been treated like we are nobody by Her. She's okay with anyone, any race but asian. And its been this way for a long time. We kept going back becuz of the food. But this last time we were there, we were smoking e-cigarette inside (2 of us smoke) and we were smoking it for the past hour or two.( Here she come to the bar right next to our table )Then all of the sudden the staff came and told us that it was not allowed. If that is a policy they should have told us at the first place cuz there are no ways that none of the staffs didnt see us smoking e-cigarette. Plus they should put a sign up too so that we know. We always ordered alot of drinks and food. They were about yo close we asked our server if it was okay to order just another hot sake and he kindly said yes. A lil moment later We saw the staff walked right pass our table to the customers sitting outside serving them large hit sake just like we ordered, we all thought it was for us, we looked at the end of the bar and we saw our server holding a bottle of sake about to come at our table but was stopped by the owner's wife and it seemed like she told our server to not serve us any more drinks. Our server came back to our table and said that he was sorry he could not serve us anymore drinks becuz they were colsed already. Okay I know it is not really a big deal but we just saw they served large hot sake to the table outside but not to us? We were kinda yelling a little bit so that the owner's wife could hear. We asked for our check and then she told the server to tell us that she was gonna call the police. We were like WTF!! it's not like we were not gonna pay the bill. The bill was 300 something dollars. At first we were not gonna leave any tips but again it's not our server's fault. So we gave him $70 cash tips and told him cleary that this is only just for you, we appreciate you but NOT HER. Not to mention she is asian just like us but very racist!! We are not bringing our 300-400 dollars per visit back there.
(1)Tiberiu K.
One of the worst sushi places I have been too. Food was not good at all, bland with no taste. Couldn't eat it and just left it on the plate.
(1)Bee B.
I love this place. Came upon it by chance and have returned quite a few times. The kimchi soup is amazing! So is the chicken liver and chive dish (ordered with a side of white rice). Had the pork and pickled vegetable fried rice which was pretty good. Definitely recommend.
(5)Viv L.
I hardly venture this far south on a regular day, but my mother in law invited us here for lunch and I could not be any more pleased. We had the whole fish (a yellow tail and a hog fish) which we selected table side and had it filleted and tempura. I have not had such delicious and juicy fish in a long time! Not only was it flavorful but paired with the vegetable fried rice was the perfect accompaniment. For a Sunday afternoon it was not busy at all. This place has many tables and we had no problem finding a seat. The staff is very friendly and was more than happy to make suggestions when my MIL was told they did not carry Thai donuts (I guess it makes sense being that this IS a Japanese restaurant). We had the banana tempura with vanilla ice cream instead but it was just as good. In all Yakko San was the perfect place to have lunch, drink some bubbly and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)Rich R.
this is extremely painful for me given that i love dining at Yakko-San, their service is usually great, dishes always come out fresh. all positive things to say, as long you intend to dine at their establishment. so why a single star? similar to Gene Z's recent review, the change of not allowing food to be called in for pick up is short sighted and has deprived Yakko-San of my dining dollars. this is not a Michelin four star establishment, but instead it's great local food, open later than most of it's neighbors, and until recently, did allow for orders to be called in ahead. it is by all classic standards food you would absolutely enjoy at home on occasion instead of dining out. but it's not that you can't walk in, order food, and WAIT until it's all ready, that's very available. it's just that Yakko-San, because of indiscretions of other guests (who ordered but never picked up) has decided that the small risk of a no show is worth the alienation of it's best, REGULAR customers. how foolish can any restaurant be not to consider the value of my time, in addition to my monies spent. it's beyond foolish, it's insulting. a restaurant is more than a menu, at least to me. there's a degree of mutual trust involved, which includes that the establishment maintain health and safety standards, that service is paramount, the atmosphere is inviting, among many other factors. and that also includes respect for customer's normal, universally expected preferences, like calling in an order for pickup. hopefully Yakko-San will think about their overall image and return this common sense feature of nearly all their competitors.
(1)Luzelena C.
Amazing and authentic Japanese food. They maintain their authenticity with their Japanese chefs and menu items. My must-order items are the tuna salad and yaki soba. Delish! It's great that they're open so late... A great place to go for dinner or a late-night snack ;)
(5)Katie P.
I went to this place on a busy Friday night after consulting with my foodies- coworkers and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. Andy was our server and although quite slow was very pleasant. I fell in love with food and decided to come back on a Sunday afternoon. BIG mistake! Ronis was our server and was extremely unprofessional. Half of the items ordered never made it to our table instead we were getting items that were never ordered by us. Then my friend ordered a cocktail and it was served in a chipped glass. He noticed it and returned the drink. Ronis apologized. When we received the check the drink was included. Will we come back here? Probably not.
(2)Chari L.
Great sushi spot a few miles from the Aventura mall. A friend kept recommending it.. We finally listened and I'm glad we did. It's really reasonably priced and really good. We had the fried bok choy (amazing), tempura shrimp with spicy mayo (almost ordered a second round), crispy spicy tuna roll (delicious), a handful of pieces of nigiri (hamachi and scallop were killer) and wrapped it up with a banana tempura (worth it). The beer was cold, the sake was hot and the fish was super fresh. Go early if you can.. I imagine they get slammed.
(4)Emily W.
A friend of mine talked this place up and took me there, and I have to say I was a little disappointed with both the service and the food. There was a TV right next to our table and whenever he was delivering our food, the food runner had his eyes glued to the TV. No eye contact, its like we weren't even there. The hostess was constantly looking at it too, which I get, it's a boring job. There were two things that the waiter got wrong in my order. I asked with water without ice, and it came with ice. And I asked for the steak and rice without onions and scallions (for my 9 year old brother) and it came with onions and scallions. Now, I'm not a bitch, I used to be a server and I understand that small mistakes like this are made all the time. But the restaurant was not busy AT ALL. Just write it down gosh. The food I ordered wasn't great. The miso soup was pretty good. I got crispy Bok Choy, which I think was over-cooked because to me it had a strong bitter after taste like it was burt. Other people at the table liked it though. And I also had the crunch spicy tuna roll which tasted like something you would get at a food court. Barely spicy, barely crunchy, no flavor to the sushi rice, and over all bland. The best thing I had, and the reason they got 2 stars instead of one, is this plate of crispy chewy fish skin with spicy mayo dip. My friend ordered it so I don't know what its called, but it was really really good. It kind of made me think that maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff. I'll probably give it another chance.
(2)George R.
What can I say about this place other than it's one of my all time favorite restaurants in Miami. From the food to the prices it's the best deal in town. I have yet to try a bad dish from this place, everything is delicious. I love the shrimp fried rice, spicy mayo shrimp, soba, udon, monk fish liver, damn I'm getting hungry already. Do yourself a favor and try this place, you won't regret it. Also ask for the daily specials menu...
(5)Chris G.
Second review. Amazing food. Tonight had the Yako Steak medium, spinach with butter sauce, ikamaru, and amazing cucumber wrap. The place was super packed yet the food managed to come out quick and the service as always deserved 10 stars. Love this place
(5)Adrian G.
You people are crazy. Ordered a vast array of items including many raved about here. All were exceedingly mediocre. An all around underwhelming experience, except for the service. The service was overwhelming.
(1)Bradley T.
Yakko San has a very large menu with a wide variety of options, and most options are a small portion size (Tapas). This review has to be an ongoing critique, because I've only sampled a few items at this point with several to go. The quality is high, but the quantity is low for most items. It's a beautiful restaurant inside with speedy service and nice dish presentation. I tried Scallop Nigiri (sushi of some kind with raw scallops) which was great, I had the Ginger Pork, which I thought was tasty but a little bland, and Some BBQ Unagi (Eel), which was my favorite, but I'm a sucker for Eel regardless. Overall, it's more of a 3.5 star restaurant. The service,ambience, and large menu are the pros, and the fact that you have to order several semi-expensive dishes to be satiated is the con. Still a nice spot where I'd like to go just to try out a few unique dishes at a time.
(4)Ute L.
The not-so-new-any-more location is much easier to find but has less of a cozy family feel. Long lines at the door gave way to sleek long sushi and full service bars, plus much larger modern space. The food hasn't changed. Japanese home-style dishes as well as more high end items. Portions are small and encourage tapas style sharing, which is great fun, but at the end of the night you end up with a $40-$60 bill per person drinks not included. No brown rice (insert frowny face) and no cream cheese (thank goodness). If you've never had lotus root, I encourage you to get the Lotus Root Kinpira, simply referring to the method of simmering the roots in a broth of soy sauce and mirin. Simple yet so good. Feeling more adventurous? Get the BBQ eel tofu omelet. Silky smooth tofu cubes tossed with chunks of eel, in a bed of a moist and fluffy open faced omelet that appears to have been steamed in a light broth. Totally delicious and different. Since they don't offer brown rice and I wanted a starch, the zaru-soba noodles were the only healthy option. They are served the traditional way, cold with a dipping broth, on a bamboo platter. Big serving, enough to share. Finally, the fried cheese cake roll is a must. The cheesecake filling tastes like guava or some kind of fruity cheesecake and is wrapped in crispy tempura batter. Yummy. When the check arrived, however there was a little snag. The dessert roll is on the menu for $4.75 but was billed for $2 more. Not a big deal but seems to happen quite a bit in South Florida. It vexes me, because it is dishonest. When I pointed it out to my lovely bartender Stephanie (who was great and at no fault whatsoever), she told the floor manager who handled it very POORLY. The grim-faced Telenovela looking dude argued that the roll was served with ice cream and the ice cream was extra $$. I did not ask for ice cream. I didn't eat the ice cream, it was still on the plate. I don't even like ice cream unless it's gelato or some kind of vegan delight. Whatever, I wasn't going to argue over $2.00 but this is the sort of thing that makes me NOT come back to a place. He is the kind of manager that, if you find a hair in your food, will accuse you of having placed it there. Get over yourself, Rico Suave. Lowering my rating purely based on this D-bag manager.
(3)Bryson P.
Great atmosphere, great service, but I've had better sushi.
(3)John B.
I'm not really interested in investigating, but I suspect that Yakko-San's 3 AM closing time has a lot to with some of the negative reviews the place has gotten. I can only imagine the 2:30 AM clientele of a sushi joint in North Miami Beach that plays loud music. Even at 6 PM, I overheard a waiter describing the difference between sushi and sashimi to a couple of zero watt teens with what appeared to be Hermes birkin bags. That soundtrack is kind of annoying...but the food is pretty high quality. We enjoyed some grilled shishito peppers and some ankimo (about which I now feel sort of guilty, given apparent monkfish overfishing). Neither of these dishes is a major test of the kitchen's prowess. But everything was fresh, and the principal ingredients weren't muted or obscured. Seaweed salad was really amazing: multiple varieties, not just wakame. Salmon and yellowtail sashimi were just as fresh as everything else. I'm pretty sure I'm done visiting southern Florida forever. But if not, Yakko-San will get my repeat business.
(4)Tracey S.
Delicious! Never a bad experience when we go. Love the crispy bokchoy and the green salad!
(5)Stephanie P.
is this really owned by japaneses?? compared to authentic japanese restaurants you always going to have the best service. food not a big thing after traveling to japan I actually expect more.. I wont visit this restaurant anymore.... sorry besides the food I think service is also a main thing for a restaurant. doesnt seem that is owned by japaneses..
(1)Mary R.
This is my all time favorite Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing! The menu can be a bit intimidating, I have learned what to order from word of mouth and trail and error. Here are my favorite things to order: shrimp spicy mayo (2nd favorite), tune guacamole (my favorite), uni pasta, fish jerky, gyoza, kimchee buta, fried bokchoy, tuna salad, and hamachi jalapeño roll. If you don't know much about sake get the sake tasting. You get to choose three (I would choose the three most expensive ones). Hope this helps (: . Enjoy!! P.S. if your looking for a cheap date, this is not the place for you.
(5)Henriette H.
I love this place. After trying multiple local sushi joints in the area I thought it was time to give up, they were all extremely disappointing. Coming from New York I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a fresh clean and good quality sushi place would be. I was recommended this place by a friend. Ever since then, I have been going once a week. The food is delicious and fresh. The service is always good and the food comes out pretty quick!
(4)Natalia M.
Loved caitlyn our bartender, super pleasant and knowledgeable in the menu. They have a good late night happy hour where you get bank for your buck on a good buzz. Loved the octopus sunomono. I will come back for sure.
(4)Danny M.
Only place in south Florida that makes lotus roots fresh and cooked! A great starter! This place has been a favorite of mine since... I don't remember how long?! I used to eat at their smaller location down the street, for years, an made the move with them! I love everything from the Uni, to the Yuke! This is a serious traditional Japanese food lovers dream! Also have a great Sake menu! Open late and I love it! I love Hiro Yakko San!
(5)Boris O.
Having lived in Manhattan for 12 years and also in Cali, I know what great sushi taste like. This place has decent sushi, but overpriced for the quality you get.
(2)John G.
Very unimpressed with the food quality for the price. We ate the food purely out of hunger. Service was choppy at best. Decor was nice and contributed to the ambience. Overall this place is not great quality, especially considering the demographics for this area.
(1)Paola Z.
So yummy, went for a nice lunch, had I gone to watch a sport event, they have plenty of TVs , it's clean, and extremely varietal in terms of the menu. Rarely have I had an ice green tea which was amazeballs, the cold sake is served in those beautiful bamboo shoots, the food was nothing short of delicious, my friend had the chicken curry fried rice, he loved it (I don't eat chicken so I'll take his word for it) and it was his recommendation, I had the scallop carpaccio (though I wouldn't have put Parmesan cheese on it ) it was fab as was the seafood soup. Full liquor bar, nice open space, I'll def be back.
(5)Pavel L.
Don't go for late night carry out! Official closing time is 3am. Kitchen cutoff is 2:45am. 2:48am to the second, they refuse to take any orders. I was pleasant and respectful. Door is open and order refused.
(1)J K.
Exceptional food! Awful Service! VERY fresh and beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi. Udon, yaki udon , tempura, bok choy...ALL DELICIOUS. The kitchen rocks! The waitstaff...forever smiling...is off in another world. Empty dishes piled up on our table, items never came (dipping bowls for sashimi, tea refills, dishes we ordered, silverware, the check). Hospitality was a zero! The food is TERRIFIC...so go!...But be prepared to be ignored.
(4)Kenny C.
First time I dined at this restaurant. All I wanted was Ramen, glad I found this spot. The food is prepared promptly and the portions are great for the price. Definitely a fan now. Will be back to try the sushi.
(4)Sarah L.
My boyfriend & I came here to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We ordered the Bok Choy, & I was insanely impressed. I nearly ate it all by myself. My boyfriend is a big fan of spicy tuna & he loved the spicy tuna salad. However, our wonderful meal was not over. We then shared the whole hog fish lightly flash fried complimented by their house rice. So absolutely delicious. We will definitely go back. Pricey, but worth it for a romantic night out.
(5)Bonnie L.
Lately I've dined at so many different restaurants regardless of price $$-$$$$ and none of them served dishes that left me with cravings like Yakko san! Definitely reasonably priced, nice, friendly and not overbearing environment, open late every night and all the dishes are pretty consistent. Hirosan and wife is always there greeting their guest and making sure everything is under control, that really shows they care about the business and quality. I absolutely love love love the **Mentaiko Pasta!** I always crave for this! My usual favorites: Crispy Bak choy (Have yet to taste a better crispy bak choy) Fried whole fish (de-bone and amazing!!) Beef Tataki Dry Kawahagi kalbe yakiniku (beef short ribs) Dynamite shrimp (Jumbo shrimps unlike many other places) I'm always discovering more new and amazing dishes from here all the time! This is the place where all the people in the hospitality, hotel and restaurant industry dines and it is truly like no other Japanese restaurant in south Florida.
(5)Claudette C.
I love this place...........I visit this restaurant at least once a month.
(4)Seth S.
This is a different type of Japanese restaurant (ie, an izakaya, a "pub" and not a sushi bar), so it's best you try to approach it that way, as you'll have the best experience. While Yakko-san relocated to more spacious digs last year, it still features an izakaya style menu, even if their new location has lost a bit of the pub-like character of its older location. The pub-style items (fried bok choy, Yellowtail cheeks, soba, cold spinach, udon noodles in broth) are fantastic and likely the very best you will get in the Miami area. The service has been a bit inconsistent over the past year, but all in all, Yakko-San still has fantastic food, particularly if you look beyond standard items like sushi. I would strongly recommend you do so. I would rate it higher with five stars (it's quite close actually), but we've had a few rather crappy, ignorant waiters and recently some waits for tables, too. But to be clear: this is still the very best izakaya style pub in Miami, though.
(4)Nicole C.
Despite rave reviews, my dinner here was just A-OK. The Bad: - CRISPY BOKCHOY IS OVER RATED! - The lambsteak was 80% fat which we had to trim off and couldn't eat. The Good: - Oyako Don (chicken & onion omelet over rice) was very tasty. - Onigiri (stuffed rice triangle/balls) were a simple classic done very well. Everything else: Asian Eggplant Pork & Miso Sauce, Spicy Tuna Salad, Spicy Sauteed Squid, and 15 Piece Sashimi Platter were alright. Maybe I've been spoiled by all of the yakitori spots in NYC, but I thought this place was under-whelming.
(3)Celine C.
Yakko-San never fails me. Some people say their food doesn't taste the same anymore. To me, it remains the same plus now I don't have to wait an hour for a table! I love how they open late. It's hard to find a good restaurant that stays open until 3am. I love pretty much everything on their menu. Some of my favorites are fried oysters, ika maru, yakiniku don, Mentaiko and Japanese. I would rather go to Yakko-San than to eat at a regular sushi place. I would like the portion to be a little bigger since it's a more family sharing thing.
(4)Leanna J.
I really liked the food at this place and I would have given Yakko-San more stars had the service been better.Don't get me wrong, our waiter was very nice, but he was very slow and once our dishes were delivered he did not check to see if there was anything else we needed. I ordered the salad with their home-made ginger dressing and it was great. The ginger dressing is not the typical ginger in that it's not the super yellowish kind that you find at most sushi restaurants. It is ginger based, but it has a little more flare to it than the average ginger dressing. My friend and I also ordered two rolls and they were great. The presentation was really nice as well. However, the waiter did not once come by to check and see if we needed anything (whether it was a drink refill, a fork, extra napkin, nothing.) He didn't even ask if our food was OK. Then we sat around waiting for 20 minutes after our plates had been cleared for the check. Finally, we asked a busboy, who said he would inquire. After another few minutes we asked one of the waitresses, and she brought it over shortly after. The food at this place is good, but just don't expect quality service.
(3)Patrick C.
Yakkos! I started going to this place when it was off of Dixie and it was always full of the head chefs of so many prestigious restaurants, I mean the food is incredible! Grab a friend or 2 and order a few small plates and enjoy the service and atmosphere. Sit at the sushi bar if you're taking a date, and see where the magic happens. Order a bamboo full of sake and see if it lasts your first plate. It's just an all around wonderful place to enjoy yourself and it'll keep you coming back to the menu for more and more.
(5)Vick O.
My favorite late night spot for Japanese cravings! I used to go there when they were located on Dixie Highway. The place was busier back then. With the new place, they're trying to pull off the whole Modern Lounge type of atmosphere. Still look great regardless, but I feel like they lost the whole Japanese environment feel. The waiters there know me, because I usually get the same thing. Mazesoba (sauteed w/ roasted pork, scallion, bamboo shoots) and a cooked salmon Onigiri. I also love their Japanese Sundae with green tea ice cream, sweet red bean, rice cake, NO FLAKES. Consistent taste and never disappoints! 5*
(5)Arne R.
Good solid Japanse . None of the thai/ Japanese nonsense pure Japanese. Ramen is good top 3 in Miami. Sushi is fresh and good also in top 5 of sushi places in Miami. Always room for improvement my Tonkotsu Ramen was nice but not over the moon. Maybe I am spoiled having lived in Japan but always looking for that perfect spot. I do recommend yakko San for traditional Japanese food. Try it
(4)David Y.
Yakko-San is easily one of the best Japanese/Asian restaurants in South Florida. Its a great late night spot (open until 3am), authentic and the food is typically served in sharable portions ie. Japanese Tapas. A few great things on the menu are the Crispy Bok Choy, Kimchee Hot Pot, and Hamachi Tataki Jalapeno Roll. They have a great bar and Sushi bar you can sit at, daily chef specials, and all around great atmosphere.
(5)Andrew J.
Went to the new location last night for the first time. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed....they definitely have a following. I'm not crazy about the feel of the space...they tried to make it hip but it still feels like you're in a strip mall (which you are). The old space was much funkier. The menu is great and the food is top quality, but the price to portion size ratio is very high. Unless you order a whole fish, everything else is tapas sized. My date and I shared 5 plates, a bottle of sake and dessert. Bill was $100. Everything was delicious but when I got home I was still hungry and had to make a sandwich.
(3)Nevik E.
Note: On Yelp I review exclusively sushi bars. The bar itself is fairly presentable. The fish selection is much broader than most. In addition to less common fluke and other white fish, I have had large oysters from Northern California and monkfish liver. The quality of the fish is definitely above average, but maybe not quite elite. The rice is a slight disappointment as it is fairly plain, although I wonder if that is just me being accustomed to the sweeter flavored rice pervasive in American sushi restaurants with an origin from the Tokyo area. The head chef is a little reserved, but he will open up with time and interest. He happily prepared us some chef's choice at our request. The other chefs who have served us are friendly. It is always a huge plus to be able to order directly from the chef and interact with them. A very solid sushi restaurant, and solidly in my top ten.
(4)Linda C.
ive been here twice so far and the food has been awesome!!! shrimp tempura roll is AMAZING. I love how fresh the sushi tastes. ive had the same waitress both times and she was super sweet. only complaint is that the first time, I went with 2 friends and we all ordered drinks. the drinks were AWFUL....so strong that they literally tasted like rubbing alcohol, totally undrinkable. we mentioned it to the waitress and she said she couldnt take off the charge, but she offered us a soda.....I felt this was unfair but I didnt want to give her a hard time since that was surely a policy put in place by the manager and totally not her fault.
(4)Adikus S.
Nothing out of this world, but the food is constantly good, service is good too. I tried some korean dishes that they serve - stick with sushi. Its a nice place to have a dinner, and the price is decent too.
(4)Chip D.
Great prices - especially or lunch. Very polite and quick service! Sushi/sashimi portions were of larger than average - which is good in my book!
(3)Gretchen P.
The food here is really fresh and delicious. They have a great variety of sake and some Japanese whiskey that is pretty tasty. I sat at the bar and had a great time chatting up the friendly staff and enjoying a wonderful meal.
(4)Maureen A.
went here for the first time on Thursday 2/2/2012 and it was awesome! we had to wait to be seated about 10 minutes so it was not too bad of a wait but we had fast, good service and the food was great! ordered the... Pork Dumplings (pan fried) Tempura Shrimp (deep fried) Chicken Fried Rice Bok Choy (flash fried) Banana Tempura with Ice Cream it was all very good! i will be back and want to try the BBQ Beef and Fried Cheesecake or Thai Donuts! oh and they were playing sports on the tv's! NBA Basketball. Full Bar too!
(4)Aris F.
Mixed feelings about the food. Good eel but hardly the best I've ever had. Delicious seaweed salad. The beef in the beef with garlic shoots way oversalted. Bok choy overrated. "Grilled" pork belly really more deep-fried than grilled -- and kinda bland for pork belly. Mushrooms steamed with butter and sake also pretty bland, even for 'subtly-flavored' japanese food. Staff excellent. Hiro's is a little too popular for the size of the restaurant, but hopefully they'll be better able to accommodate all their fans when they move to the new location soon.
(3)Melissa C.
I talk about this place all the time. In fact, anytime someone asks me if I know somewhere good to eat I will invariably suggest this restaurant first. They describe themselves as "Japanese tapas" and they don't make sushi rolls. Japanese and NO SUSHI!?!? That's correct and it's effing awesome! I'm glad it exists for the simple fact that it's a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve sushi as it's mainstay. There are so many things to choose from. Most items are under $10. I recommend being adventurous and asking them for the specials list. Definitely ask them about the fresh fish...they have guys who deliver fresh hogfish they've speared themselves. They will bring out a tray stacked with fresh locally caught fish that you pick out and they cook to order. Cold sake served from bamboo tubes, crispy bok choy, triggerfish jerky, ramen bowls, kimchee... Did I mention how AWESOME this place is? Go there.
(4)Joann C.
one of two japanese restaurants i advocate in South Florida moderate prices for yummy Japanese tapas. I have been coming here for years and the food has always been GREAT. I love their menu and its fun to try the new dishes that appear on their "specials" menu. I highy recommend the deep fried hogs head snapper and the shrimp with spicy mayo. also their kawahagi is the best!
(5)Jan T.
Husband does not like sushi so he had the teriyaki steak and enjoyed every bite. I had the crispy spicy tuna balls. I would have liked regular spicy tuna more, but it was something different. The service was very good.
(4)Kelly B.
I read good comments about this place and was feeling adventurous so decided to try it. Opened the menu and to my surprise there were only about 10 different sushi rolls on the whole menu and on the other side of it they offer pasta???? When I get my order of sushi noticed they were very small and just ok. I also ordered a glass of wine which wasn't good so asked the server to bring me another type of wine to which he replied "ok but I have to charge you for this wine too". Even though I did t drink it all he wanted to charge me!!! Totally confusing menu horrible service!!!!
(1)Denise N.
One of my favorite spots to go late night. Takoyaki balls for me are a must to start. Enoki mushrooms in a butter sauce were crazy good! Kimchee pork, with that delicious kick and that rich sauce, Definitely a flavorful dish. With a side of veggie rice we were set! Fast service good food decent price. Japanese craft beers list is good I had the Orion and a Kaugua Rouge.
(4)Renier C.
5 stars. No fuss. Easy place for simply great food. Sure there's lots of hype still, but after years eating here no disappointment yet! Let's order: Tuna Guacamole. So good. Everyone will love this. Tuna Harumaki Hamachi Jalapeño tiradito Beef Tataki Tuna Tataki Salmon Carpaccio Crispy Bak Choy Uni sushi with a quail egg (if you're into it, friend had me try and I was hooked!) Ugh, ... I'm getting hungry again.
(5)Bob H.
Once again a wonderful experience. Knoledgeable server and great japanese dishes. Tried the kimchee pork tonight. Excellent.
(4)Jeffrey B.
good food, terrible service. I have eaten here 100 tomes, since the small rest on Dixie hwy. I normally order 5-7 items and need some space to eat. the people at the front refused to give us a bigger table . called the so called manager and they said it was against their policy. there was a couple sitting in the from at a table for 4....again I have eaten here 100 times and never has such a bad reception. I left and went to hiro
(1)Elle B.
Decided to try a new place in Miami based on the reviews. Sushi was fine , average presentation, not special. Service terrible. People, check your bill!!! They overcharged me on three separate items!! When I brought it up to the managers attention , they weren't very apologetic . They thought it was enough to just adjust the bill. The total overcharge was $9. I think this happens all the time there. When I asked why this happened, they first blamed the new cashier and then started telling me that the price of a hand roll on the menu only includes the "meat", which they meant fish, and that the vegetable and rice are extra. For which they added 2 dollars. Have you ever heard of anything like that? In my experience the price on the menu of any item is the price that should be charged!!! Any handroll always comes with all of the ingredients. I didn't ask for anything extra to be included in it. Will not be back... Terrible!
(2)Chlo L.
Sake & good sushi are my best friends. Such a relief to get some satisfying nigiri. We ordered maguru (tuna), sake (salmon), hotate (scallop), Uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid), Saba (mackerel) unagi (BBQ eel) , & tamago (grilled egg)... Along with an uni handroll, salmon carpaccio, soba, ankimo, and crunchy bakchoy. They were all delicious, especially the nigiri & handroll. We dined in this time, but we're big on takeout and having to wait at the restaurant instead of calling ahead is a bit of an inconvenience. Although, it's better than being disappointed elsewhere. We will be regulars here as long as the sushi keeps coming as it was. The service was also terrific. Ray was a friendly and did a great job! Can't wait for round II !
(4)Ian R.
In the process of visiting Florida on business, a friend of mine took me to Yakko-San and it was amazing. While very inconspicuous in a strip mall shopping center, don't be fooled. This is a fairly decent sized restaurant with a sushi bar. There were so many good things on the menu that I had to try. The Hottie Hamachi was melt in your mouth quality. Fried Oysters were delicious. For an entree I picked a freshly caught Strawberry Grouper and they took it to the back to cut it up, lightly fry it, and bring it back to the table tasting awesome all in record time. I will be returning to Florida soon on business and will certainly be coming back to Yakko-San. Highly recommended.
(5)ilana P.
The sashimi was excellent!! Sushi rolls were okay. Service was fast and efficient. We sat with kids at a table, the bar had a sign for drink specials (happy hour), we ordered. When the bill came we were surprised to see that we were being charged full price for the drinks. Apparently the special price was only if you are sitting at the bar, which we were not allowed to with kids. Seems unfair to those dining out with kids. Will not be returning.
(3)Jose Luis N.
Place was nice , good atmosphere and waiters really kind and helpful. Food is not expensive and tasty. They have some interesting rolls like prosciutto roll. Appetizers really recommended like tuna avocado! I will repeat!!
(4)Lena Z.
The worse restaurant to come to. Food looks like it is a week old and when I asked to change it they refused. The waitress said that she explained it with Japanese language. Unfortunately I don't speak Japanese. Very rude
(1)Kyle S.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami. Nice variety, good prices. Seated right away. Open late. Great service.
(5)Lisa W.
Afternoon service is great, groovy atmosphere, waiting for food is short, taste of food is delicious and money happily spent
(4)Viktor K.
Terrible. The roll contains 95% rise and 5% carpaccio thin Fish Almost pathetic and funny Never again
(1)robert e.
Popular no-nonsense Japanese with fresh sushi including a daily catch. Great sushi rice -- firm, not too sweet. Very quality sashimi. Pretty standard selection of fish offered but wonderful knife work and again great fresh product. Real ginger, real wasabi. No complaints at all. A deft preparation of Hamachi Kama is always worth a return visit in my book. A keeper.
(4)Sharon W.
Three words: CRISPY BOK CHOY! That's really all you need to know, but since there is all this white space, I will fill it with more lavish praise for one of the best dining experiences in South Florida! I came here twice this weekend, once for lunch and once for dinner. The menu is more limited at lunch, but they do have good lunch specials. We had the aforementioned bok choy, which came overflowing the plate and with a garlic-y savory dipping sauce. We also had the jalapeño hamachi (sashimi), which was exquisitely fresh, and a lunch special, which came with miso soup (excellent), several rolls, some seasoned bean sprouts and some tempura. We finished with the Chef's Choice, a rotating special of six cold appetizers. That day, we got jellyfish (!), mackerel and four other delectable items. We returned the following day for dinner! Yes, it was that good! We had the bok choy (again!), age nasu (fried eggplant), takoyaki (deep fried octopus), spicy shisito peppers, monkfish liver and fried minnow. The monkfish liver was the standout, for sure! Beautiful flavor and texture! WOW! the menu is extensive, creative and reasonable. In addition, the service is great. Larry S. had green tea with his lunch and wanted to take it with him when we left. Aaron gave him a fresh serving in a to-go cup! Miguel, the server at dinner, gave us a sample to assist us in choosing a wine and both guys also provided some good suggestions off the menu. Fantastic!
(5)Mina G.
I loved this place. It reminded me of all things Japanese back to when I studied there. The food was fantastic! Try: Crispy Bok choy Tempura vegetables- it's super authentic Any of the sushi! Hamachi with jalapeños Yaki niku don (steak with rice) Also the green tea martini and sweet tea martini! Both fantastic! So all this food at a reasonable price. I couldn't believe it Bottom line-coming back!
(5)W M.
This was my go to place. I love the tonkotsu ramen, undo noodle, pork fried rice. I have been with this place about 7 year. However, sadly, I have to say I will not return to this place anymore. Because the quality of the food went down and the so so service I received. About one year ago, I went there with my husband, my two kids and my brother-in-law.My brother-in-law order three things one cup of coke, one Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and a Yaki Undo noddle. His entire order never been serve. We asked the waitress couple of times about his order during, and after our meal. The end result, just a no show for his meal. Luckily, we ordered enough or I should say the two kids had enough left over to feed their poor uncle. the waitress finally figure out and apology to my brother-in-law at very end of our meal. So, we only left 10% of the tip and a note to the waitress regarding her poor performance that night. Because I loved this place so much, my husband and I decided to let it go. We though just one bad experience in 6 years. About four month ago, I went there with my family. When the food was severed, I got my kids ready to eat. In the half way of cutting the Chicken Tatsuta-Age, which is fried marinated chicken, I noticed that 3 of the fried chicken was under cooked. I can still see the chick was half raw. I immediate called in our waitress and told her the problem. She said she was sorry and offered to refried the 3 pieces of the chick. Yes, refried the 3 pieces, not replace the whole dish or took the order off. How can they be so sure there was only 3 pieces under cook. I was very mad at the how they handle the situation and told my husband I will never go back again. Last night, i went back again, Yes, I admit it was a bad decision.However, I really miss their tonkotsu ramen. I cannot find another place in Miami can make the same flavor.So , I decided to give it another try. I ordered the tonkotus ramen I been thinking for four months. The second I put the noodle in my mouth, I knew the noodle was totally under cook. Then, I searched the whole bowl of noodles. I found half of my noodle was rubbery, stuck together-uncooked. I talked to the waiter again (WHY!!!!!), I told him it was not acceptable. He say he was sorry. That was about it. He did not do a thing to make it right. Not offer the order from the bill, not offer to give me a new dish. It was raining very heavy last night (9/5/2015), I have two kids, both are under age of 5, needed to go to bed before 8:00 pm. So, I didn't have a chance to talk with the manager. On the way home, I told my husband, I am very sad but I think I have to let this spot go and should not come back anymore. Regardless, how much I love their food, I really don't want to pay the full price on something only worth half of the price quality of food. Not even to mention about the service. Or maybe, that just the way they train their waiter/waitress, when customers complain just say your are sorry and do nothing!! response from the ownerin the last week- yakko san always respect customers, we had never been complained about our food under cooked. all our chefs were working for us since we opened 2001. we moved this location only 4 years as you mention 7 years, especially we never replce the plate only left few pieces, we had 400 cover only one complained that mean the our food were nothing wrong..this is the time that you decided to leave, noway that we can stop you. finally we wil let you go that you are not truly yakko san customer..thank you for been customer for yakko san. sorry mean nothing wrong with that..thank you. this was the respond i have received from google review. this owner has not respect for the old customer. yes, the food was under cook two times. yes, i have been with your restaurant for 7 year (3 years from the original location and 4 year from now location). yes, it was very !! annoying when she can only type things in all caps( you can see the review from google.com ). there you go!! you can totally see what kind of owner she is. let me just say this to the owner," it was too bad your restaurant made the mistakes, it is time to move on."
(2)Jessica W.
After hearing great things about this restaurant, I decided to stop by for dinner. It's located in a strip mall and they have a few high-top tables outside, where we sat. The service was friendly and fast. Of the items I tried, the Mediterranean octopus was definitely my favorite. It was thinly sliced octopus with olive oil, pesto and sundried tomatoes-it was a unique and absolutely delicious combination. The grilled squid was great as well. Definitely a wonderful choice for sushi!!
(4)Violet G.
Stopped by late night Saturday, I was delighted to see the place packed. The bartenders were very friendly, took the time to answer our questions about the menu; he suggested chicken/shrimp fried rice, a hit! The goyza- very good also, but I will pass on the pork belly. Friendly service and good food that's all I need.
(4)Steven B.
Enoki Butter mushrooms and the daily fresh fried fish are both AMAZING! Delicious options for a night out. Haven't tried the sushi, but everything else there is delicious. Overall, great place.
(4)David R.
We were kicked out by manager for staying too long! Never happened to me, anywhere, anyplace, any City, any Country, and we are not lingerers. Very upsetting. We went tonight for my wife's Birthday-party of 4. When we finished dinner, the manager came over and asked us to leave because he needed the table. He saw it was her Birthday because they just brought desert with a candle. It was close to 10 PM. Nobody was waiting up front when we left. Who does that? What bad management. Food was just ok, but not reflective of the Yelp reviews. Greasy Bok Choy, sushi was just ok. Would never go back.
(1)James O.
We ate here for first time in over 5 years last night. Place was full on Saturday night which is very important for sushi places. I only eat sushi at very busy places for obvious reasons. Salad was fresh, huge and had a great dressing other then the traditional orange colored ginger dressing. Octopus sunomono was delicious scallop carpaccio was fantastic. All the sashimi we had was very fresh and nicely proportioned. Service was very friendly and efficient. An overall good experience and much better then the one I had 5 yrs ago.
(4)Adam M.
Good food Good service Good staff Good owner She is a demon lady who will argue with you and ruin your night. If you do go to yakko keep ur head down when she walks by. They have a policy where if the food is not done right not served on time or cold they will not take it back. Easy going place overall aside from the demon lady it's legit.
(3)Luis L.
I really like this place. A friend of mine suggested I come to Yakko San when it was located behind the train tracks, it was really hard to find and it was very small. The new place is huge and much nicer. The food is still great, the kimchi fried rice is great and the spicy mayo shrimp is very good. Most recently it was late(past midnight) I tried calling but you cant order to go after 12am, you have to order in person and wait. This was not a problem, you just order at the bar, the bartender is very nice and in a few minutes your food is ready to go. Not a lot of places have good food till 3am so that is a huge plus. I live in North Miami Beach so it is close and very easy to park.
(5)Melanie A.
Yakko San is a no-frills but yet authentic Japanese restaurant. I came with a friend of mine who is a sushi chef and he really recommended this place. I was not let down. I went back since and still enjoyed the food. They have an extensive menu and everything is delicious. My favorite is the raw yellowtail! Ugh. So good. They also have a full bar. In these types of Japanese restaurants I usually expect them to just have beer, wine, and sake. Nope. Yakko San has a full menu! This place is worth the drive!
(4)Alexander F.
How is this my first check-in here?!?! I'm a regular at Yakko-San, seriously! ! I guess Yelp messed up. Anyway, Yakko-San is amazing. Great, knowledgeable service, the food is delicious, well presented, accompanied by a hearty menu with lots of choices. All this in a venue that has late hours....Yakko-San is well deserving of a 5 star rating!!!!
(5)Chary E.
Gosh. Where to I ever begin. Let me just say that the food here is reAlly really good. Everything is so fresh, the staff are super friendly and attentive and the presentation is just spectacular. I know there are hundreds of reviews about their most popular dish- the angel hair with ikura and uni. I just can't get enough of it. The uni is sweet and fresh and the ikura is salty and together they are just perfect with the angel hair pasta. No sauce, no frills, just fresh seafood wonderfulness. Granted they put a teaspoon of butter on the angel hair, but tht was about it. Just squeeze some lemon and add the wasabi and poof. Perfection. I loved it so much that we went there 2 days in a row! Special thanks to Wowie for being such a cool guy. So if you are ever in the area, do check this place out. I promise you will leave super happy!
(5)Nate T.
This restaurant has a great selection sake. This is the restaurant to enjoy Japanese cuisine and some great company from friends. The servers and the bartenders show great hospitality. It feels like you're a regular at their restaurant. You should keep an open mind on today's special because they are fresh and tasty. I recommend the Scallop Carpaccio and the Crispy Spicy Tuna Rice. If you want to order something from the regular menu I recommend hamachi jalapeno and their shrimp fried rice cooked in light soy sauce and olive oil. For sake, I recommend Yuki no bosha or the Ohka dewazakura. The bar is a great place to sit if there is a game going on because there is a tv in the corner. The place is very casual, you can show up in a matrix costume which I did once or in athletic clothes to show off them muscles. For starters always go with light appetizers followed by raw foods. This will be the best transition to hot/cooked meals. For recommendations try: first nira moyashi, second hamachi jalapeño appetizer, third soup, and lastly a rice dish like the beef donburi.
(5)Joe R.
Great flavor, everything is fresh. I had the King Crab roll, the Ocean Drive roll, and the Kimchee Buta, with a Lychee Martini. It was a little pricey, but delicious!
(5)Stephanie A.
Great food. I must stress how excellent the food is. However, there's sometimes problems with communication with the servers. The nice lady who took care of us forgot one thing I ordered but we don't mind. If you're the type of person who wants something and hates when this happens just make sure to confirm your order first. Drinks are great, I love their eel and the nigiris. There's parking and overall the restaurant is beautiful, clean and worth for a date or for friends. I also noticed that they have lunch menus. 10/10: food !!!!
(4)Jonathan P.
Best place to get true Japanese food in Miami. Good place to share plates with the table. Best plates include - all sashimis, hamachi jalapeño, crispy bok Choy, yakniku don, spicy mayo shrimp, enoki butter, seaweed salad, whole fried fish, beef curry, salmon sashimi salad, crispy fish salad, and daily raw fish specials. Miso soup and ginger salad are simple, but great. Service is good / fast and prices are fair.
(5)Peter Z.
Since moving to the Miami area a few months ago, I have been on the search for great restaurants in all of South Florida and have been leaning heavily on Yelp for assistance...now to start paying back :) I love sushi and haven't had too much since I moved to Brickell and now am currently located in Aventura. I had passed this place a few times, and decided to stop in after I found an old issue of New Times that rated this place as a top 10 under-rated cheap eats place. I went hungry. Yakko-San delivered. Posted my pics on the iphone, hope they match up with this PC entry. I ordered: Hamachi Jalepenos Sashimi- I'd eat this everyday and just might. Fresh and the sauce it is in I could suck up with a straw. Sashimi App- standard measuring stick for me. It was fresh and delicious; pieces were a little on the anorexic side, but fresh and good. Crispy Bok Choy: You can't really mess this up deep frying it- however, the sauce it is served with was delectable! Kimchee Ramen: See photo, it is like a meal in itself. It was a massive portion and delicious- I love kimchee and never had it in a ramen with meat. I will order again!! Black Pork Belly: Slightly fatty and didn't know if it was grilled but I thought it was pan seared...it had a nice pepper flavor. Delicious and served with yet another wonderful dipping sauce. There were 30 other items I wanted to try...I cant wait to in the next few months! :) I live a mile from here and I will definitely be a regular. Wonderful decor, large restaurant- I was in on a Tuesday at 1/2 full at 9PM...Weekends have to be packed to the rafters all night! I recommend you give it a try at least once...
(4)Joseph D.
Second time at Yakko-San and I'm still amazed at the dazzling array of dishes and the quality of their food. If you're looking for a place to try dishes you've never had or even seen elsewhere, this is your place. The freshest sushi, a large assortment of ramen, barbecued eel to die for and specials galore are just a few of the things you'll find on their huge menu. Service is generally friendly and efficient. The dining room is large and can fill up quickly and can be very noisy when they get rockin' and rollin'
(5)Priscilla H.
I've never had been treated so bad in a restaurant. I've been a customer for over two years and tonight I just walked away . Be aware with the owner... She is always drunk at the bar making rude and loud comments. I used to go there with my family for dinner once a week and get the chefs selections spending over $200. Today I ordered a raw sashimi and didn't like it (after ordering 3 of other type). The fish had a weird smell. She was sitting next to us and said:"This is what we offer , so EAT it"!!! Excuse me??????? She was drunk and falling of the chair... Embarrassing!! I paid for the bad sashimi and left...My business? You will never get lady! Bad bad bad service!!!! Go to Makoto, it is upscale and only one mile Away. I am still speechless...
(1)Gene Z.
These chingas have pathetic practice of not allowing to preorder and pick up the f... food. Change your stupid freaken policy morons !!
(1)Krys P.
It pains me to write this review, because Yakko-san used to be my favorite Japanese place. It has the most authentic Japanese cuisine in Miami, offering items not seen in your average sushi/teriyaki/teppanyaki joints. But that was before they moved their location. Shortly after the move, my friends told me that the quality had went downhill. So I never did visit again, until a few nights ago we were in the neighborhood, late at night and craving some Japanese. I figure, how bad can it be? Truth is, it can be very bad. We ordered three dishes to start, takoyaki, mixed mushroom in foil, katsudon. Sadly, all three dishes are inferior specimens of that item. Takoyaki tastes like eraser nibs in mushy paste, mushroom is overly bland and unevenly seasoned, and pork chop too dry. Looks like Yakko-san has gone from a serious foodie heaven to a fancy trendy place offering mediocre fare. We didn't order more, didn't finish the food and ended up leaving with a half-empty stomach.
(2)Jenn A.
Living in south beach, Yakko San is a little out of the way but well worth the drive. The lunch special is great for the price. The fish is always fresh. The crispy rice balls are delicious. Love the octopus sunomono. The udon noodles are great as well. The service isn't the best , the server always seems overwhelmed, like they have too many tables but we keep coming back for the delicious food.
(4)Danielle B.
Asian fare in SoFlo to be quite honest has been in general disappointing. Whether it be overpriced or just plain not appetizing. Despite that, we decided to give Yakko-San a try. We were pleasantly surprised to find that their menu offers a variety of Japanese cuisine from sushi/sashimi to udon to grilled items and even ramen. Apparently ramen is a rare commodity here, or likely just not in demand. We ordered chicken katsu, mackerel (saba) sushi, soft shell crab sushi, tuna crunch roll, and a spicy tuna roll to share between two people. Chicken katsu was average. Soft shell crab had seemed to have lost its crunch. The mackerel was "osaka box style" which is a little different than I'm used to. I prefer traditional sushi over this style. The fish was thinly sliced and didn't look fresh, which is possibly also because it was marinated. I'd rather let the natural flavors of the fish shine instead of masking them under marinade. The spicy tuna was fine, but you can't really mess up spicy tuna. We weren't in the mood for ramen on that day, but definitely want to come back to try it. 3.5 stars for now, and if the ramen proves worthy, that will get bumped to 4 stars!
(3)Re M.
I had a really great night at this place. Seat at the bar and ask the barman Aladar to recommend you the specials. Simply delicious, everything we ordered. The Appletinis were awesome too. Will be coming back soon. The price is a bargain as well!
(5)Marina S.
I come to this restaurant a lot, live near by. I also order for take out. My family usually orders the same dishes, so I know what its names and know what I'm talking about. This evening I came to place an order for a pick up. The hostess, she was new, repeated my order and in 20 min they gave it to me. The hostess again repeated my order and didn't show me the dishes and when I said "Can I see if it's the right food?" She said " of course, don't worry. I wrapped it really well". When I came home, I had the wrong food. I called the restaurant and explained everything. They didn't even offer for me to drive back, bring the wrong food and the right food. I'm not even asking for anything more than that. They simply refused to resolve the issue. Any reputable place that cares about its customers would try to resolve it. This place doesn't care about people that pay their rent and salaries.
(1)Michelle C.
This was just OK. I had su-udon soup. The noodles were good and the broth wasn't bad. For $11 I added tempura. They gave me 2 tempura shrimp and 1 tempura green bean. Really? Sort of a rip off there... Also shared a sushi roll that was supposed to be eel with avocado and jalapeño. If there was eel in there, I could barely taste it. Same with the avocado. My dining companions got the katsu. Too much breading, no pork flavor. I don't think I'll be returning here.
(2)Ian T.
This is a fairly good Japanese restaurant with the benefit that it serves a good variety of authentic and less common dishes that you don't find easily in South Florida. It also features some interesting fusion-type dishes to spice things up. It is one of those restaurants I would have no hesitation going to if I was around, but wouldn't make an extraordinary effort to visit. While above average, I think their claim of being "Japanese cuisine that is the envy of other Japanese restaurants" overstates the case a bit. In fairness, we didn't have the appetite required to sample the dish that they said was their crown jewel: fresh whole fish cooked either Nitsuke style, grilled or fried. The Shoyu Ramen was good comfort food, and the dishes we sampled ranged from chicken liver itame to Hiro's Yakko-San, a sort of "sampler" with ume cucumber, squid, fish cake, daikon wrap, fish balls, and hirame with seaweed
(3)Karin R.
If you love sushi this is not the restaurant for you. I much prefer other spots in Miami for good yummy sushi. The waiter really tried to make up for the food by being nice, but it didn't help. There was also weird black stuff at the bottom of my wood sake cup, which was dismissed. I was given a fresh cup but my half drank sake was gone. The sushi didn't seem very fresh and the vibe in the restaurant was lacking as well. Also more of a family spot than a date spot. We had the spicy tuna salad, yasai-itame, crispy Bok Choy, and spicy tuna harumaki. The bok Choy was interesting but once you got to the bottom it was really oily and the yassai-itame which was supposed to have mixed veggies had mostly bean sprouts. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not go back.
(1)Paul M.
Yakko-San is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for Asian food in Miami. The lunch specials here are great. My wife had the sushi special and it was like a bento box on steroids. It's almost enough for two people to split. The sushi was fresh and sliced generously. The spicy tuna harumaki is one of my favorite dishes now. It's like a spicy tuna spring roll with lots of greens and absolutely stuffed with tuna. You can probably get away with eating this as your main. I had the Katsu-Don (pork bowl) and it was absolutely delicious. The egg and pork made this quite a hearty dish. The location is large and very nice inside. The service is fast and efficient and we did not have to wait long for our food. Looking forward to our next visit so we can try some of the menu items that are available after 3PM.
(4)Chung Kit T.
Went here on a Sunday evening and found out they had a few items on the menu that were sold out from the previous night. Among them were the toro and the scallop. There were other items missing. We started off with the blue fin carpaccio and an albacore appetizer. The carpaccio although good was a little bit on the salty side. The little capers were a little bit too overpowering. The albacore appetizer was drenched in too much ponzu sauce. It would have been better with much less. The sashimi and nigiri was good. I love fatty fish due to the texture and taste. Even though the toro was unavailable, we tried the hamachi belly which was pretty good. The salmon nigiri was better than average. The grouper sashimi was definitely on the lean side. It was on the borderline of being chewy. We also tried out the sea bass miso. This entree too tasted a bit too salty. Tasted more like a brined fish. Price for a couple can easily go over $100 with drinks. We had two appetizers, some nigiri (8 pieces), sashimi, and an entree for a little less than $90. Portions are small. Service is friendly.
(4)Dara B.
Our server Aaron (name tag was spelled Arron) was very knowledgeable about the menu, and was very attentive. He deserves a raise. Adrianne asked to take a picture of him for her yelp review but he was camera shy. Awwwww. Anyways getting back to the review, a good thing to note is Yakko-san does not take reservations and will not seat guests until a large % of the party arrives. I did enjoy reading the menu and trying to narrow my decision down to a few dishes. I ordered the butter (butta) spinach (very healthy and delicious), the black pork belly (tasted like bacon (yes I know....they are both from the same animal) and shrimp tempura roll. I suggest before coming here to take a look at the photo slide show on Yakko-San's website for ideas on what to order. The menu is "Picture-Sans" and I am one who likes to order based on photos. Overall my experience here was very pleasant and I will be back again.
(5)Isabel D.
Very bad service. Kemer our server was running every where but doing nothing. Food it's ok but nothing spécial. Products are medium quality, and recipes just good.
(2)Rob G.
So Ive been meaning to try this place for a while. I have several friends that really like this place. So, after my Monday training ritual, a few us of decided to give it a try. Its located in Eastern Shores, on the east side of the plaza, facing 163rd street. Easy to find, had no issues parking, although Ive been here on weekends, and it can be difficult to park. So, the restaurant itself seems to be nicely decorated, I walked in and went straight to the restrooms to wash my hands. The place was somewhat busy for a Monday night, I thought it was a good sign. I was somewhat excited, but didn't want to get my hopes up to high. There are several of my regular go-to sushi places in the area, and I was curious if this place would hold up to them. Short answer is no. So I met my friends and sat down and started reviewing the menu. It was somewhat hard for me to understand this place. Japanese, sushi, tapas, but yet they had curry and other thai dishes. It was a challenge to find decent rolls on the menu, I actually had to ask the waitress if they had salmon skin. The waitress said, yes, we dont put everything on the menu. Kinda strange that a staple like salmon skin, or even a "hand roll" section was not on the menu. The other thing I noticed was there was typos all over the menu, I mean, it literally looked like an 1st grader made up this menu. It kinda set the tone for what was to come. I ordered a rainbow roll, which didnt come with crab, which is fine, because I would have substituted salmon skin, which was an add-on in my case. I ordered a salmon skin hand roll, and spicy tuna hand roll. My friends ordered a Japanese steak and another ordered a ramen bowl, and a salmon roll (of some sort). For drinks we just had water. So my rolls came out first, and just at the sight of it, I was like "meh". The fish on top was paper thin, the tuna didnt even look like tuna. The hand rolls were tiny, I mean it made tiny hand rolls (at other restaurants) look gigantic. The seaweed was like a rubber tire. The salmon skin itself wasn't bad, neither was the spicy tuna, but it was just small and hard to eat. The Eel sauce was way too salty too. The rainbow roll, despite the paper thin fish was ok too. Not great, not bad. After eating it, I was still hungry. I ordered the crispy bok choy w/ garlic sauce, and asked them to add fried tofu (basically I combined two appetizers). I thoroughly confused the waitress. For someone who made it seem like ordering custom dishes was the norm (remember, not all sushi/rolls are on the menu), she seemed lost. The dish itself, no garlic sauce, and it was just not what I expected. My friends steak, came with nothing. It was pretty much a steak on a plate. He said it was ok. The Ramen also seemed ok, as well as the roll. The service, one word "lackadaisical". The restaurant kinda smelled too. People were cleaning our table, reaching over me while I was eating. Real amateur hour. It was way too noisy, the music was like a after hours club/lounge. Overall, I was not impressed. I really wanted to like it, but there are so many better options in the area. I hate leaving reviews like this, but I really was disappointed. $40 bucks in the hole, I felt like I was overcharged. It would have to be the only restaurant open after a hurricane for me to go back. Sorry, but with the plethora of great sushi places in Aventura/NMB area, I wont be back anytime soon.
(2)Alex B.
This restaurant is so good, I actually took the time to sit down and write a review: My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. (Good sign!) We were seated right away and the server, Aaron, came over in no time. With so many choices on the menu, Aaron was able to help us pinpoint the following: Crispy Bok Choy Crunch Spicy Tuna Roll Hamachi Tataki Jalapeño Spicy Manila Clams Yakiniku Steak EVERYTHING WAS SPECTACULAR! Not just one or two of the items, ALL of the plates were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. After polishing off each plate, we received the bill - only $47! If you were to go to any other restaurant and paid the same amount, you would have received half the portions at half the quality when compared to Yakko-San. You can not get a better bang for you buck! Not to mention that Aaron and the entire bus/wait staff were extremely nice and helpful. Amazing place from start to finish....
(5)Shikira H.
Top of the line Asian Fusion cuisine. You won't be dissappointed. A little birdie told me that HEAD CHEFS from top restaurants come here to eat, so that alone says allot and was worth a try on Mother's Day. We opted for take out, (this momma preferred enjoying a delicious take out in the comfort of my home than being in a busy and crowded restaurant) But what's up with their take-out policy of not accepting any take-out orders over the phone??? Thought that to be super weird and a little inconvenient. They require you to come in and place your order, so there will be a wait no matter what :/ There were quite a few dishes that I couldn't pronounce, which intrigues me to come back and try em all. I was craving sushi so I ordered a crunch spiny tuna roll, king crab roll and a cali roll for the boys. Then I added Spicy Manilla Clams and Kimchee Hot Pot soup. The Hot Pot was spicy and ooh soo good. The rolls were fresh, flavorful and delicious. FYI ----Crispy Bok Choy - AAHHMaazing! Who doesn't like anything fried? I haven't met anyone as yet that doesn't., but if you do....you're missing out on sooo much fun for your mouth. The saltiness and crispiness makes The kids LOVED their fried rice and the hubbs enjoyed his dish. We live in the neighborhood so we are already planning a family date night here again very soon .
(4)Bruce T.
We always go there for BEEF yakiniku Steak the sauce for that its just delicious. it is a place that will fit when you want to meet with with friends and have some sushi and some cooked dishes.
(5)Anna M.
My go to place for great Takoyaki. I wish they had a wider selection of sushi, but what can you do? But it's still delicious. The noodle bowls are okay, not great but okay. I would definitely recommend everyone to give their takoyaki a try.
(3)Steven B.
Decent food, poor service. The good: -The hostess greeted and seated us quickly. -Our server came to greet us within a few moments of the hostess seating us, and was polite. -The orders were prepared within a short time frame and tasted fresh. That's about it, after our initial order was placed we were pretty much ignored. Kinda strange for a place with a tapas style menu. A food runner came out to bring our first dish. Before he could leave, I thanked him and asked if we could get a sake or drink menu. He replied, "I'm not your waiter" and walked away. The same food runner came back a few moments later to drop off the second part of our order and darted off. I was admittedly a bit turned off by his response and with my server nowhere in sight, I chose to forgo the drinks. Speaking of our server, he never returned to check on us or find out if we wanted to order anything else. It wasn't until I got up to ask the hostess to locate him (20+ minutes into our meal), that he suddenly appeared asking if we needed anything. We chose to just pay our bill and leave. I considered speaking with a manager about the experience, but looking around I could see several groups of employees standing around talking amongst themselves and figured it wouldn't be worth it. The restaurant itself has nice ambience and the food was tasty. Too bad the service is on par with a take-out place.
(1)Anita G.
Amazing! Fast fresh and yummy! O only have half hour lunch break (if I'm lucky) so I came here and sat at the bar and explained my situation to the bartender, he gave me free green tea and was super quick to put in my order. I had the crunch spicy tuna roll! Super fresh loads of fish and little rice - just like I like it (check out my picture). Will be coming back for sure! The place is pretty big too! Plenty of seating and full bar!
(5)Anastassia S.
Love love love this place! Food is very tasty! Service is great, sake is great ! one of ours fav spot in sunny isles !
(5)Sachin B.
Extremely rude manager on night shift. Seemed drunk, refused to properly seat me at a table with a menu for reasons that are still not clear to me.
(1)Shale O.
Both time I have been there the service has been awesome. They boast of their fried rice but I think it is just ok. Good location and ample parking!
(3)Nicola F.
I give the decor an A, the service a C and the food a B+. Got a couple rolls, one was great (Spicy Girl, which was a special) and the other was mediocre (Rainbow Roll). The Beef Tataki was pretty good. Got 6 pieces of Nigiri - the fish itself wasn't the freshest I'd had, particularly the Uni (sea urchin eggs), but it was all pretty decent. Price:Quality = not very good
(3)Michelle M.
This Japanese eatery has been around for more than 11 years now and has become a go-to place for chefs, industry insiders and locals alike. Their menu offers more than 100 dishes including soups, tempura, sushi and noodles, but here, I narrow it down to my top 5: 1) The Tako Yakki The Tako Yakki, one of my favorite dishes at Yakko San, is a typical comfort food from Japan that consists of grilled balls of batter with octopus chunks inside. This is a very popular fast food snack in Japan, that is incredibly hard to find here in Miami, so if you are curious about it, this is the place to try it. My only warning is that they are very HOT inside, so make sure to pinch them with your chopsticks and let them breathe for a good 5 minutes before eating to avoid burning your tongue. 2) The Ocean Drive Roll Despite the reference Miami's most touristy (and trashy) street, the Ocean Drive Roll is most definitely another must. The combination of tuna, avocado, spicy mayo and cilantro is magical and will make the back of your tongue tingle with delight! 3) Ahire (aka: fish jerky) If you've never tried Ahire before, this is the place to do it! This fish jerky dish is completely home made, and is so much fun to eat! Just grab it with your chopstick, dip it in some spicy mayo, close your eyes and enjoy. The flavor is sweet and fishy (in a good way) and the chewy texture makes it simply addicting! 4) Yakki Udon with Pork Hmmm, if you are a noodle lover, then this is the dish for you! These hot white wheat noodles are sauted with ginger shreds, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, scallions and bok toy, and served together with your choice of pork, shrimp, chicken or beef, giving it the most amazing texture combination possible. You'll go from chewy and sticky, to crunchy and spicy, all in one delicious bite. Put your chopsticks to the test with the Yakki Udon, and make sure to slurp loudly to show your gratitude to the chef! 5) The Cheesecake & Ice Cream Roll Last, but most certainly not least, is one of the latest addition to my favorite dessert list: the cheese cake and ice cream roll. The thick roll of creamy cheesecake covered in batter is very lightly fried and served with your choice of ice cream and wafers for added texture. The dessert is perfect, not too heavy and not too sweet, and pairs nicely with the green tea ice cream, which is made with real matcha powder!
(5)Nick Q.
I've been a huge fan of Chef Hirosan since we met nearly 14 years ago. He had his little Yakkosan on Dixie Highway and I was a student at JWU refining and honing my culinary skills. He's an amazing chef with an awesome staff. There's things you'll eat here that you'll never see anywhere else in the area. He and his wife May do an amazing job with this place. She just added some new Japanese beers to the menu and the kitchen is rolling out a new happy hour and finger food menu that's perfect for bar nights or snacking. I've eaten at their restaurants more than anyone else's in Miami. Sometimes multiple times a week... like last week actually. The menu has so many things to choose from you'll never get bored. If you see a new special on the board... order it, you may never see it again or you may get lucky and help it make the menu... you never know. A few if my fav's: agedashi tofu, shrimp udon, daikon kimchee, kaweragi, tempura chrysanthemum blossums, crispy baby bakchoy, shishamo, kimchee tofu, grilled shishitos, all the hot fish dishes, some dried scallop/shrimp/chili dish not on the menu, all the sashimi, and anything Hirosan or May offer me. Wendy has been a server with them for ever, she's super knowledgeable and really sweet. The bartenders are all great!
(5)Frances A.
First time here. It was fast service and we were seated right away. The food is pretty good and comes out so fast! Great reasonable prices and good quality. None of the dishes that we tried came with rice.... so we kept eating. I would definitely come back here when in the area and would recommend. We had the following: -Miso soup -Seaweed Suimono soup- assorted seaweed with clear fish broth. this was an interesting soup with good flavor. -Black pork belly served with 2 different sauces. -Hamachi with jalapeño peppers-thin slice hamachi w/ yuzu, ponzu, cilantro -Hamachi tataki roll -Scallops with asparagus and mushroom in a sake and butter sauce -Kalbe yakiniku- salt & pepper grilled short rib w/ bone
(4)Clementine E.
I am going to give them 5 stars because the sushis were very very very good, however the service could have been better. The sushis are so fresh, the rice isn't dry, they don't add a ton of sauce on top of the sushis (that's the way I like it!) maybe they could add more rolls? It is mainly sashimi and sushi, and other Japanese dishes. If we were living in Miami, we would come here quite often! Very nice restaurant!
(5)Kristy K.
Excellent service, very knowledgable staff! And awesome food !!! Things I would never have tried before on my own that the waiter Aaron suggested were absolutely amazing ! I couldn't help but notice how well everyone works together, I started to count 6 plus staff members clearing our table and actually talking to us! Good job! This is our new spot
(5)Arthur G.
Quick and dirty, food is just good enough to pass when you're drunk and want something to do after 2am I would not go here during the day or out of my way.
(2)Elizabeth Y.
WOW. I've found an authentic Japanese place in Miami, owned by a Japanese chef. A place that serves beyond the typical sushi rolls. You know it's a good place when locals flock to this place, great service, not to mention a regular pitstop for cops. Drinks: Strong, amazing Lychee Martini. The pureed lychee can be a little chunky but the alcohol content is perfect! Appetizer: Hamachi with jalapeno, which was yummy with a nice perfect kick of spicy. Ramen: Decent real ramen, and not the type that you buy in the store. And decently priced, not like Momi where ramen is outrageously priced. The food was so good I ordered two dinners!!! The curry cutlet awesome. My boyfriend ordered the beef tongue, but watch out it doesn't come with rice so very small portions. He also ordered a second meal as well. Dessert: Now this is the perfect ending to our dinner(s) - banana tempura served with green tea ice cream - no words can describe this awesome combination of crispy and cold sweetness. Definitely will be coming back to this place for my Nippon kick Also, did i mention it's open till 3 AM?
(4)MimiOak W.
Food is good, Service is fine but my friends and I seem to have such problem with the owner's wife as we've always been treated like we are nobody by Her. She's okay with anyone, any race but asian. And its been this way for a long time. We kept going back becuz of the food. But this last time we were there, we were smoking e-cigarette inside (2 of us smoke) and we were smoking it for the past hour or two.( Here she come to the bar right next to our table )Then all of the sudden the staff came and told us that it was not allowed. If that is a policy they should have told us at the first place cuz there are no ways that none of the staffs didnt see us smoking e-cigarette. Plus they should put a sign up too so that we know. We always ordered alot of drinks and food. They were about yo close we asked our server if it was okay to order just another hot sake and he kindly said yes. A lil moment later We saw the staff walked right pass our table to the customers sitting outside serving them large hit sake just like we ordered, we all thought it was for us, we looked at the end of the bar and we saw our server holding a bottle of sake about to come at our table but was stopped by the owner's wife and it seemed like she told our server to not serve us any more drinks. Our server came back to our table and said that he was sorry he could not serve us anymore drinks becuz they were colsed already. Okay I know it is not really a big deal but we just saw they served large hot sake to the table outside but not to us? We were kinda yelling a little bit so that the owner's wife could hear. We asked for our check and then she told the server to tell us that she was gonna call the police. We were like WTF!! it's not like we were not gonna pay the bill. The bill was 300 something dollars. At first we were not gonna leave any tips but again it's not our server's fault. So we gave him $70 cash tips and told him cleary that this is only just for you, we appreciate you but NOT HER. Not to mention she is asian just like us but very racist!! We are not bringing our 300-400 dollars per visit back there.
(1)Tiberiu K.
One of the worst sushi places I have been too. Food was not good at all, bland with no taste. Couldn't eat it and just left it on the plate.
(1)Bee B.
I love this place. Came upon it by chance and have returned quite a few times. The kimchi soup is amazing! So is the chicken liver and chive dish (ordered with a side of white rice). Had the pork and pickled vegetable fried rice which was pretty good. Definitely recommend.
(5)Viv L.
I hardly venture this far south on a regular day, but my mother in law invited us here for lunch and I could not be any more pleased. We had the whole fish (a yellow tail and a hog fish) which we selected table side and had it filleted and tempura. I have not had such delicious and juicy fish in a long time! Not only was it flavorful but paired with the vegetable fried rice was the perfect accompaniment. For a Sunday afternoon it was not busy at all. This place has many tables and we had no problem finding a seat. The staff is very friendly and was more than happy to make suggestions when my MIL was told they did not carry Thai donuts (I guess it makes sense being that this IS a Japanese restaurant). We had the banana tempura with vanilla ice cream instead but it was just as good. In all Yakko San was the perfect place to have lunch, drink some bubbly and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)Rich R.
this is extremely painful for me given that i love dining at Yakko-San, their service is usually great, dishes always come out fresh. all positive things to say, as long you intend to dine at their establishment. so why a single star? similar to Gene Z's recent review, the change of not allowing food to be called in for pick up is short sighted and has deprived Yakko-San of my dining dollars. this is not a Michelin four star establishment, but instead it's great local food, open later than most of it's neighbors, and until recently, did allow for orders to be called in ahead. it is by all classic standards food you would absolutely enjoy at home on occasion instead of dining out. but it's not that you can't walk in, order food, and WAIT until it's all ready, that's very available. it's just that Yakko-San, because of indiscretions of other guests (who ordered but never picked up) has decided that the small risk of a no show is worth the alienation of it's best, REGULAR customers. how foolish can any restaurant be not to consider the value of my time, in addition to my monies spent. it's beyond foolish, it's insulting. a restaurant is more than a menu, at least to me. there's a degree of mutual trust involved, which includes that the establishment maintain health and safety standards, that service is paramount, the atmosphere is inviting, among many other factors. and that also includes respect for customer's normal, universally expected preferences, like calling in an order for pickup. hopefully Yakko-San will think about their overall image and return this common sense feature of nearly all their competitors.
(1)Luzelena C.
Amazing and authentic Japanese food. They maintain their authenticity with their Japanese chefs and menu items. My must-order items are the tuna salad and yaki soba. Delish! It's great that they're open so late... A great place to go for dinner or a late-night snack ;)
(5)Katie P.
I went to this place on a busy Friday night after consulting with my foodies- coworkers and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. Andy was our server and although quite slow was very pleasant. I fell in love with food and decided to come back on a Sunday afternoon. BIG mistake! Ronis was our server and was extremely unprofessional. Half of the items ordered never made it to our table instead we were getting items that were never ordered by us. Then my friend ordered a cocktail and it was served in a chipped glass. He noticed it and returned the drink. Ronis apologized. When we received the check the drink was included. Will we come back here? Probably not.
(2)Chari L.
Great sushi spot a few miles from the Aventura mall. A friend kept recommending it.. We finally listened and I'm glad we did. It's really reasonably priced and really good. We had the fried bok choy (amazing), tempura shrimp with spicy mayo (almost ordered a second round), crispy spicy tuna roll (delicious), a handful of pieces of nigiri (hamachi and scallop were killer) and wrapped it up with a banana tempura (worth it). The beer was cold, the sake was hot and the fish was super fresh. Go early if you can.. I imagine they get slammed.
(4)Emily W.
A friend of mine talked this place up and took me there, and I have to say I was a little disappointed with both the service and the food. There was a TV right next to our table and whenever he was delivering our food, the food runner had his eyes glued to the TV. No eye contact, its like we weren't even there. The hostess was constantly looking at it too, which I get, it's a boring job. There were two things that the waiter got wrong in my order. I asked with water without ice, and it came with ice. And I asked for the steak and rice without onions and scallions (for my 9 year old brother) and it came with onions and scallions. Now, I'm not a bitch, I used to be a server and I understand that small mistakes like this are made all the time. But the restaurant was not busy AT ALL. Just write it down gosh. The food I ordered wasn't great. The miso soup was pretty good. I got crispy Bok Choy, which I think was over-cooked because to me it had a strong bitter after taste like it was burt. Other people at the table liked it though. And I also had the crunch spicy tuna roll which tasted like something you would get at a food court. Barely spicy, barely crunchy, no flavor to the sushi rice, and over all bland. The best thing I had, and the reason they got 2 stars instead of one, is this plate of crispy chewy fish skin with spicy mayo dip. My friend ordered it so I don't know what its called, but it was really really good. It kind of made me think that maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff. I'll probably give it another chance.
(2)George R.
What can I say about this place other than it's one of my all time favorite restaurants in Miami. From the food to the prices it's the best deal in town. I have yet to try a bad dish from this place, everything is delicious. I love the shrimp fried rice, spicy mayo shrimp, soba, udon, monk fish liver, damn I'm getting hungry already. Do yourself a favor and try this place, you won't regret it. Also ask for the daily specials menu...
(5)Chris G.
Second review. Amazing food. Tonight had the Yako Steak medium, spinach with butter sauce, ikamaru, and amazing cucumber wrap. The place was super packed yet the food managed to come out quick and the service as always deserved 10 stars. Love this place
(5)Adrian G.
You people are crazy. Ordered a vast array of items including many raved about here. All were exceedingly mediocre. An all around underwhelming experience, except for the service. The service was overwhelming.
(1)Bradley T.
Yakko San has a very large menu with a wide variety of options, and most options are a small portion size (Tapas). This review has to be an ongoing critique, because I've only sampled a few items at this point with several to go. The quality is high, but the quantity is low for most items. It's a beautiful restaurant inside with speedy service and nice dish presentation. I tried Scallop Nigiri (sushi of some kind with raw scallops) which was great, I had the Ginger Pork, which I thought was tasty but a little bland, and Some BBQ Unagi (Eel), which was my favorite, but I'm a sucker for Eel regardless. Overall, it's more of a 3.5 star restaurant. The service,ambience, and large menu are the pros, and the fact that you have to order several semi-expensive dishes to be satiated is the con. Still a nice spot where I'd like to go just to try out a few unique dishes at a time.
(4)Ute L.
The not-so-new-any-more location is much easier to find but has less of a cozy family feel. Long lines at the door gave way to sleek long sushi and full service bars, plus much larger modern space. The food hasn't changed. Japanese home-style dishes as well as more high end items. Portions are small and encourage tapas style sharing, which is great fun, but at the end of the night you end up with a $40-$60 bill per person drinks not included. No brown rice (insert frowny face) and no cream cheese (thank goodness). If you've never had lotus root, I encourage you to get the Lotus Root Kinpira, simply referring to the method of simmering the roots in a broth of soy sauce and mirin. Simple yet so good. Feeling more adventurous? Get the BBQ eel tofu omelet. Silky smooth tofu cubes tossed with chunks of eel, in a bed of a moist and fluffy open faced omelet that appears to have been steamed in a light broth. Totally delicious and different. Since they don't offer brown rice and I wanted a starch, the zaru-soba noodles were the only healthy option. They are served the traditional way, cold with a dipping broth, on a bamboo platter. Big serving, enough to share. Finally, the fried cheese cake roll is a must. The cheesecake filling tastes like guava or some kind of fruity cheesecake and is wrapped in crispy tempura batter. Yummy. When the check arrived, however there was a little snag. The dessert roll is on the menu for $4.75 but was billed for $2 more. Not a big deal but seems to happen quite a bit in South Florida. It vexes me, because it is dishonest. When I pointed it out to my lovely bartender Stephanie (who was great and at no fault whatsoever), she told the floor manager who handled it very POORLY. The grim-faced Telenovela looking dude argued that the roll was served with ice cream and the ice cream was extra $$. I did not ask for ice cream. I didn't eat the ice cream, it was still on the plate. I don't even like ice cream unless it's gelato or some kind of vegan delight. Whatever, I wasn't going to argue over $2.00 but this is the sort of thing that makes me NOT come back to a place. He is the kind of manager that, if you find a hair in your food, will accuse you of having placed it there. Get over yourself, Rico Suave. Lowering my rating purely based on this D-bag manager.
(3)Bryson P.
Great atmosphere, great service, but I've had better sushi.
(3)John B.
I'm not really interested in investigating, but I suspect that Yakko-San's 3 AM closing time has a lot to with some of the negative reviews the place has gotten. I can only imagine the 2:30 AM clientele of a sushi joint in North Miami Beach that plays loud music. Even at 6 PM, I overheard a waiter describing the difference between sushi and sashimi to a couple of zero watt teens with what appeared to be Hermes birkin bags. That soundtrack is kind of annoying...but the food is pretty high quality. We enjoyed some grilled shishito peppers and some ankimo (about which I now feel sort of guilty, given apparent monkfish overfishing). Neither of these dishes is a major test of the kitchen's prowess. But everything was fresh, and the principal ingredients weren't muted or obscured. Seaweed salad was really amazing: multiple varieties, not just wakame. Salmon and yellowtail sashimi were just as fresh as everything else. I'm pretty sure I'm done visiting southern Florida forever. But if not, Yakko-San will get my repeat business.
(4)Tracey S.
Delicious! Never a bad experience when we go. Love the crispy bokchoy and the green salad!
(5)Stephanie P.
is this really owned by japaneses?? compared to authentic japanese restaurants you always going to have the best service. food not a big thing after traveling to japan I actually expect more.. I wont visit this restaurant anymore.... sorry besides the food I think service is also a main thing for a restaurant. doesnt seem that is owned by japaneses..
(1)Mary R.
This is my all time favorite Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing! The menu can be a bit intimidating, I have learned what to order from word of mouth and trail and error. Here are my favorite things to order: shrimp spicy mayo (2nd favorite), tune guacamole (my favorite), uni pasta, fish jerky, gyoza, kimchee buta, fried bokchoy, tuna salad, and hamachi jalapeño roll. If you don't know much about sake get the sake tasting. You get to choose three (I would choose the three most expensive ones). Hope this helps (: . Enjoy!! P.S. if your looking for a cheap date, this is not the place for you.
(5)Henriette H.
I love this place. After trying multiple local sushi joints in the area I thought it was time to give up, they were all extremely disappointing. Coming from New York I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a fresh clean and good quality sushi place would be. I was recommended this place by a friend. Ever since then, I have been going once a week. The food is delicious and fresh. The service is always good and the food comes out pretty quick!
(4)Natalia M.
Loved caitlyn our bartender, super pleasant and knowledgeable in the menu. They have a good late night happy hour where you get bank for your buck on a good buzz. Loved the octopus sunomono. I will come back for sure.
(4)Danny M.
Only place in south Florida that makes lotus roots fresh and cooked! A great starter! This place has been a favorite of mine since... I don't remember how long?! I used to eat at their smaller location down the street, for years, an made the move with them! I love everything from the Uni, to the Yuke! This is a serious traditional Japanese food lovers dream! Also have a great Sake menu! Open late and I love it! I love Hiro Yakko San!
(5)Boris O.
Having lived in Manhattan for 12 years and also in Cali, I know what great sushi taste like. This place has decent sushi, but overpriced for the quality you get.
(2)John G.
Very unimpressed with the food quality for the price. We ate the food purely out of hunger. Service was choppy at best. Decor was nice and contributed to the ambience. Overall this place is not great quality, especially considering the demographics for this area.
(1)Paola Z.
So yummy, went for a nice lunch, had I gone to watch a sport event, they have plenty of TVs , it's clean, and extremely varietal in terms of the menu. Rarely have I had an ice green tea which was amazeballs, the cold sake is served in those beautiful bamboo shoots, the food was nothing short of delicious, my friend had the chicken curry fried rice, he loved it (I don't eat chicken so I'll take his word for it) and it was his recommendation, I had the scallop carpaccio (though I wouldn't have put Parmesan cheese on it ) it was fab as was the seafood soup. Full liquor bar, nice open space, I'll def be back.
(5)Pavel L.
Don't go for late night carry out! Official closing time is 3am. Kitchen cutoff is 2:45am. 2:48am to the second, they refuse to take any orders. I was pleasant and respectful. Door is open and order refused.
(1)J K.
Exceptional food! Awful Service! VERY fresh and beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi. Udon, yaki udon , tempura, bok choy...ALL DELICIOUS. The kitchen rocks! The waitstaff...forever smiling...is off in another world. Empty dishes piled up on our table, items never came (dipping bowls for sashimi, tea refills, dishes we ordered, silverware, the check). Hospitality was a zero! The food is TERRIFIC...so go!...But be prepared to be ignored.
(4)Kenny C.
First time I dined at this restaurant. All I wanted was Ramen, glad I found this spot. The food is prepared promptly and the portions are great for the price. Definitely a fan now. Will be back to try the sushi.
(4)Sarah L.
My boyfriend & I came here to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We ordered the Bok Choy, & I was insanely impressed. I nearly ate it all by myself. My boyfriend is a big fan of spicy tuna & he loved the spicy tuna salad. However, our wonderful meal was not over. We then shared the whole hog fish lightly flash fried complimented by their house rice. So absolutely delicious. We will definitely go back. Pricey, but worth it for a romantic night out.
(5)Bonnie L.
Lately I've dined at so many different restaurants regardless of price $$-$$$$ and none of them served dishes that left me with cravings like Yakko san! Definitely reasonably priced, nice, friendly and not overbearing environment, open late every night and all the dishes are pretty consistent. Hirosan and wife is always there greeting their guest and making sure everything is under control, that really shows they care about the business and quality. I absolutely love love love the **Mentaiko Pasta!** I always crave for this! My usual favorites: Crispy Bak choy (Have yet to taste a better crispy bak choy) Fried whole fish (de-bone and amazing!!) Beef Tataki Dry Kawahagi kalbe yakiniku (beef short ribs) Dynamite shrimp (Jumbo shrimps unlike many other places) I'm always discovering more new and amazing dishes from here all the time! This is the place where all the people in the hospitality, hotel and restaurant industry dines and it is truly like no other Japanese restaurant in south Florida.
(5)Claudette C.
I love this place...........I visit this restaurant at least once a month.
(4)Seth S.
This is a different type of Japanese restaurant (ie, an izakaya, a "pub" and not a sushi bar), so it's best you try to approach it that way, as you'll have the best experience. While Yakko-san relocated to more spacious digs last year, it still features an izakaya style menu, even if their new location has lost a bit of the pub-like character of its older location. The pub-style items (fried bok choy, Yellowtail cheeks, soba, cold spinach, udon noodles in broth) are fantastic and likely the very best you will get in the Miami area. The service has been a bit inconsistent over the past year, but all in all, Yakko-San still has fantastic food, particularly if you look beyond standard items like sushi. I would strongly recommend you do so. I would rate it higher with five stars (it's quite close actually), but we've had a few rather crappy, ignorant waiters and recently some waits for tables, too. But to be clear: this is still the very best izakaya style pub in Miami, though.
(4)Nicole C.
Despite rave reviews, my dinner here was just A-OK. The Bad: - CRISPY BOKCHOY IS OVER RATED! - The lambsteak was 80% fat which we had to trim off and couldn't eat. The Good: - Oyako Don (chicken & onion omelet over rice) was very tasty. - Onigiri (stuffed rice triangle/balls) were a simple classic done very well. Everything else: Asian Eggplant Pork & Miso Sauce, Spicy Tuna Salad, Spicy Sauteed Squid, and 15 Piece Sashimi Platter were alright. Maybe I've been spoiled by all of the yakitori spots in NYC, but I thought this place was under-whelming.
(3)Celine C.
Yakko-San never fails me. Some people say their food doesn't taste the same anymore. To me, it remains the same plus now I don't have to wait an hour for a table! I love how they open late. It's hard to find a good restaurant that stays open until 3am. I love pretty much everything on their menu. Some of my favorites are fried oysters, ika maru, yakiniku don, Mentaiko and Japanese. I would rather go to Yakko-San than to eat at a regular sushi place. I would like the portion to be a little bigger since it's a more family sharing thing.
(4)Leanna J.
I really liked the food at this place and I would have given Yakko-San more stars had the service been better.Don't get me wrong, our waiter was very nice, but he was very slow and once our dishes were delivered he did not check to see if there was anything else we needed. I ordered the salad with their home-made ginger dressing and it was great. The ginger dressing is not the typical ginger in that it's not the super yellowish kind that you find at most sushi restaurants. It is ginger based, but it has a little more flare to it than the average ginger dressing. My friend and I also ordered two rolls and they were great. The presentation was really nice as well. However, the waiter did not once come by to check and see if we needed anything (whether it was a drink refill, a fork, extra napkin, nothing.) He didn't even ask if our food was OK. Then we sat around waiting for 20 minutes after our plates had been cleared for the check. Finally, we asked a busboy, who said he would inquire. After another few minutes we asked one of the waitresses, and she brought it over shortly after. The food at this place is good, but just don't expect quality service.
(3)Patrick C.
Yakkos! I started going to this place when it was off of Dixie and it was always full of the head chefs of so many prestigious restaurants, I mean the food is incredible! Grab a friend or 2 and order a few small plates and enjoy the service and atmosphere. Sit at the sushi bar if you're taking a date, and see where the magic happens. Order a bamboo full of sake and see if it lasts your first plate. It's just an all around wonderful place to enjoy yourself and it'll keep you coming back to the menu for more and more.
(5)Vick O.
My favorite late night spot for Japanese cravings! I used to go there when they were located on Dixie Highway. The place was busier back then. With the new place, they're trying to pull off the whole Modern Lounge type of atmosphere. Still look great regardless, but I feel like they lost the whole Japanese environment feel. The waiters there know me, because I usually get the same thing. Mazesoba (sauteed w/ roasted pork, scallion, bamboo shoots) and a cooked salmon Onigiri. I also love their Japanese Sundae with green tea ice cream, sweet red bean, rice cake, NO FLAKES. Consistent taste and never disappoints! 5*
(5)Arne R.
Good solid Japanse . None of the thai/ Japanese nonsense pure Japanese. Ramen is good top 3 in Miami. Sushi is fresh and good also in top 5 of sushi places in Miami. Always room for improvement my Tonkotsu Ramen was nice but not over the moon. Maybe I am spoiled having lived in Japan but always looking for that perfect spot. I do recommend yakko San for traditional Japanese food. Try it
(4)David Y.
Yakko-San is easily one of the best Japanese/Asian restaurants in South Florida. Its a great late night spot (open until 3am), authentic and the food is typically served in sharable portions ie. Japanese Tapas. A few great things on the menu are the Crispy Bok Choy, Kimchee Hot Pot, and Hamachi Tataki Jalapeno Roll. They have a great bar and Sushi bar you can sit at, daily chef specials, and all around great atmosphere.
(5)Andrew J.
Went to the new location last night for the first time. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed....they definitely have a following. I'm not crazy about the feel of the space...they tried to make it hip but it still feels like you're in a strip mall (which you are). The old space was much funkier. The menu is great and the food is top quality, but the price to portion size ratio is very high. Unless you order a whole fish, everything else is tapas sized. My date and I shared 5 plates, a bottle of sake and dessert. Bill was $100. Everything was delicious but when I got home I was still hungry and had to make a sandwich.
(3)Nevik E.
Note: On Yelp I review exclusively sushi bars. The bar itself is fairly presentable. The fish selection is much broader than most. In addition to less common fluke and other white fish, I have had large oysters from Northern California and monkfish liver. The quality of the fish is definitely above average, but maybe not quite elite. The rice is a slight disappointment as it is fairly plain, although I wonder if that is just me being accustomed to the sweeter flavored rice pervasive in American sushi restaurants with an origin from the Tokyo area. The head chef is a little reserved, but he will open up with time and interest. He happily prepared us some chef's choice at our request. The other chefs who have served us are friendly. It is always a huge plus to be able to order directly from the chef and interact with them. A very solid sushi restaurant, and solidly in my top ten.
(4)Linda C.
ive been here twice so far and the food has been awesome!!! shrimp tempura roll is AMAZING. I love how fresh the sushi tastes. ive had the same waitress both times and she was super sweet. only complaint is that the first time, I went with 2 friends and we all ordered drinks. the drinks were AWFUL....so strong that they literally tasted like rubbing alcohol, totally undrinkable. we mentioned it to the waitress and she said she couldnt take off the charge, but she offered us a soda.....I felt this was unfair but I didnt want to give her a hard time since that was surely a policy put in place by the manager and totally not her fault.
(4)Adikus S.
Nothing out of this world, but the food is constantly good, service is good too. I tried some korean dishes that they serve - stick with sushi. Its a nice place to have a dinner, and the price is decent too.
(4)Eli S.
Super spot for inexpensive japanese food. Open so late so its always a plus. Have fun!
(5)Cristina P.
Just had a nice dinner here. It was our first time here and, as a huge sushi and sashimi lover, I really enjoyed the food and the service! I had the happy salmon roll and the king crab roll. Although both were very good, it could have used some more seasoning to make it perfect. The sashimi appetizer was great! Very fresh! For dessert we had mochi ( somewhat like an ice cream ball wrapped in a dough type wrap). The flavors were mango, green tea and vanilla. Also very good. Great way to end the meal. Service was great. We had Elena as our waitress and she was very helpful and sweet. Made the experience very relaxing.
(4)Lorena O.
The best Japanese food from Florida and that u tried ... Service is fantastic.., the food is fresh and fast.... The place is amazing too... I really recommend original fried rice with shrimp, and sashimis, hamachi kama, everything is really good... And my favorite is the fried cheesecake!!!
(5)Carolina M.
This place is nicely decorated, food is pretty good but not memorable. For the life of me i cannot remember what we ate. I do remember however that our server was nice but the service was not great. At the end of the meal i ordered their dessert. I didnt like it at all after a bite and i told the waiter. He just said" oh i am sorry" and then when he brought us the check the charge for the dessert was in there. I mean, if i would have eaten the thing i understand he has to charge us. But i didn't touch it after that. What kind of customer service is that?. I told him that i felt we shouldn't be charged for it since i didn't eat it and he said" oh ok, i will take it off your check". There were other misses with the waiter like getting my husband's order wrong and forgetting my mom's order. He was just spaced out. Overall, ok but i don't feel the need to come back. We had very good bottle of sake. That i remember . They have good selection on sakes.
(3)Angelo R.
Getting better. I think they a have a new manager cause I recently re-visited for lunch and several after work late drinks and the service has improved. I like the lunch specials. You get a choice of miso or salad to start, then choice of entree which i opted for the Chicken Yakiniku and comes with side salad of the day, cali rolls and shrimp tempura...all for around 10 bucks...what a deal! As always..2 for 1 drinks late nights..11pm after. They just need to make sure the bartenders are all in the same page :) Almost forgot, you have to try the Kimchi Ramen...the broth is off the hook!
(4)Xuanyu Z.
I like this Janpanese food. the price is cheap and food is good quality! Especially the Unodon rice! I like it!
(5)Whitney K.
Apparently Yakko-San is the oldest sushi house in Miami, and it is every bit of what you might imagine a restaurant out of Hiro Dreams of Sushi would taste like. Yakko-San's appeal lies in its authentic, fresh flavors (and bamboo sake cups, of course). The casual atmosphere makes for the perfect place to focus on the food. Each dish is prepared with care and executed with the craftsmanship you expect from traditional Japanese fare, minus any distracting frills or gimmicks that disguise mundane flavors at many sushi restaurants. What you taste is what you get. My recommendation: be adventurous and order the chef's daily selections regardless of how many you recognize on the list. Have a little faith - he knows what's up.
(4)Lexie L.
An outing to Miami for us always includes a stop at Yakko San, no matter what time of day it is...this gem is open until the wee hours. The new glitzy spot lost much of the dingy glamour that was, for me, a part of its unique appeal and ambiance. It doesn't matter, though, the food is that good, and the view from the sushi bar is the best show around. I can sit for hours and watch the meticulous rituals of the sushi chefs, they are HOT STUFF! (There I go again with another chef-crush). They are the only place I've found that does ramen as well as NY and SF...I get the jones for ramen sooooo bad sometimes! Go to this place. Have sake and tons of the authentic Japanese Izakaya, which is Japanese tapas. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Xoxoxo Yakko San!
(5)Fernando G.
Amazing ! One of my favorite Japanese restaurants Good for meal or tapa style Good lighting Amazing service like a coordinated valet The food being is main showcase is their cooked food but also the sushi is amazing but it also has a full bar Deep fried baby bock choi the bomb Daikon radish salad tangy Fresh seaweed salad is very good Spicy shrimp Fish skin jerky Chicken livers I can go on an on because pretty much everything is very good And to top it of they are open till 3 in the morning . Great for late night munchies Prices are moderate specially for the quality
(5)Gary Z.
This is some decent Japanese. It's more refined than some other sushi places in the area and has a decent product.
(4)Bill L.
First time at the new location. Not impressed. Service has nose-dived. Mi chica ordered a sake and he brought her a beer. When I said sake, he looked at me all dopey. Instead of picking up the beer, he just stood there. The menu looks way diff than what I recall. Seems more like a sushi joint now. I miss the old place.
(2)Ric C.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in South Florida for sure. Love the food, but it takes time to understand the menu. First time I went I didn't really "get it", as I was used to ordering sushi at Japanese places. Don't order sushi! Go for the tapas! I love their spicy squid, tuna salad, lotus roots, and of course anything they do with Asian eggplant. I also think they truly provide good customer service: most waiters know us after so many times and most times recall what we like and what we don't like. We've taken our family here and everybody just falls in love with the place, but they always let us order the "right" things.
(5)Susan C.
Ended up at Yakko-San last night after spending 45 minutes in traffic hell and unable to get to our intended destination for my husband's birthday. We were totally exasperated and wanted to eat somewhere decent that was close to where we were. Yakko San was the first place that popped up when I went on the Yelp app. I was very hopeful when I saw that the restaurant was packed with people, but overall I was not blown away. We had a very nice server, although at times he was nowhere to be found. We sat at the sushi bar and were excited to get a free small cup each of some kind of cold (daikon?) salad. However, right after this I was told that if I really wanted to get that Rainbow Roll, it was going to be a long wait. We were already starving, so I begrudgingly changed part of my order. I started with the miso soup, which was just fine, but my husband had the seafood soup which he found to be odd-tasting. We then tried to share the Crispy Bok Choy appetizer, but it was so laden with oil that we could not finish it. I then had the Mixed Mushroom Foil-Yaki and the Tofu Steak. I really enjoyed the latter as the tofu was cooked perfectly and topped with a mix of mushrooms, onions and scallions. I wished that the mushrooms in foil were a little more flavorful and the straw mushrooms less chewy, but I certainly could not complain about the large portion. As I was eating these, my husband had the Chu-Ka Don, which he liked very much. There was a lot of seafood and the vegetables were very crisp. Best part of the night: sitting next to a Japanese man who is about to open a "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant near the Sawgrass Mills Mall!
(3)Kevin V.
Awesome late night service and delicious Japanese food.
(5)Glenn M.
this is my go to place. food is ALWAYS excellent and incredibly fresh. service is good and the atmosphere is nice. get the hamachi cheek if it's available. tempura is perfect. I could drink the sauce they use for the hamachi jalapeno appetizer.
(5)Victor P.
After a long week of eating seafood in Tampa and Key West all we wanted was some good Asian food. Ended up at Yakko-San... Boy were we disappointed. Fried Bok Choy was really bitter. All it was is Bok Choy that is fried with no seasoning with very salty dipping sauce in the side. Hamachi Jalepeno was mediocre... Would even say that the fish quality was poor. Miso Ramen tasted very odd. There was too much vegeteables in the soup that it tasted like veggie stew. The pork was also very chewy and low quality. Only gave this place 2 stars because the decor and ambience was nice.
(2)Stan K.
I wish they never moved. Place lost it's feel and while the dishes are still tasty, it's not as consistent as it use to be. Weird to still love yakko yet starting to dislike it at the sametime. And service is slipping too. But it will always be in the rotation. the bottom line is that the food is delicious.
(4)Olivia K.
Worst edamame ever. No low sodium soy sauce. Not enough dishes. They forgot an order. Food was okay but not great.
(2)Abbers M.
All I have to say is a sushi place should probably not second as a night club, or an after night club go-to spot. In concept: great. In truth: a stinky, sweaty, dirty carpet smelling restaurant. MmmmM-sushi!!!!
(2)Alissa W.
This is by far the best japanese food I have ever had. First, when you walk in the plaza looks a little bit shady. You have to try to diakon kimchee, enokyi mushrooms, cripsy bok choy, himmachi jalepeno,tuna hirumaki, and they have the most amazing salad dressing you can add avocado, tuna, or salmon. All the sashimi is very fresh. They have a huge selection of noodle dishes. If you eat squid they have the most amazing spicy squid the sauce in great. I like the udon they are think and chewy.I try to go there atleast 3 times a month. It is small inside, and there usually is a wait. The food is worth the wait trust me !
(5)Jerry E.
Great staff; helpful with menu; great food. It look like a rough neighborhood at night. The food is worth the trip. This place is packed with locals on a weeknight. My clients did not want to get out of the cab at first, but loved the place later.
(4)Nina W.
Talk about fresh sushi....everything i ate here was amazing. My only complaint is I tried ordering the rice ball appetizer which has scallions in them, which I hate. So I asked my waiter if I could substitute the already mixed in tuna with scallion which is served with the rice ball for just regular tuna. And it was so impossible for them to do that, I even prompt to pay extra.I guess they just have a no substitution policy. But besides that the food is excellent.
(4)Holly B.
GROSS! You people in Miami do not know fresh sushi! This dump, literally a dirty dingey hole-in-the-wall, had some of the most disgusting sushi I've ever tasted! Stay Away! The pieces smelled fishy from afar, so you can only imagine how they tasted. The service was fine, but the nasty smell made me ill, not to mention the food. We will never go here again. Still looking for that diamond in the rough of sushi restaurants in Miami, help!
(1)Stefanie F.
I went here while on vacation a couple of months ago, and I'll never forget how terrible my experience was. Sure, the food was decent, even if the fish did seem a little off. However, the service was deplorable. Slow, unfriendly, cold, and the pricing differed from what it should have been on the menu. It was a waste of money, and I'm glad I live 1,200 miles away.
(1)Beatriz P.
The service was terrible, offensive, and in appropriate. Go to this restaurant at your own risk. I have been going to this restaurant for about a year since their food is pretty good. But unfortunately, I will no longer go to this restaurant because of the lack of manners of one of the staff members whose name is Austin, who insulted my father and used curse words such as the F word when talking to my father. I asked him kindly to respect my father because he is a 75 year old men but Austin continue to insult my father and said among other things he did not care my father is 75 years old. This whole argument started because he charged us for 8 pieces of sushi, and he brought 6. We told him we only had 6 and he got into an argument with me and my father that he brought 8 pieces of sushi and not 6 pieces. Also, the service was terrible. They brought my mother's entree, first, and after she had finished they brought my father's and mine. I requested for the manager, and they told me he was not at the restaurant that day. I like their food very much, but I will no longer go to this restaurant unless they better train their staff and they fire Austin for such an awful behavior that is absolutely not acceptable. Eating delicious food and then end up in an argument turns poison in your body. So my honest recommendation, if you go to thIs restaurant know that the staff is not well trained, that they might insult you especially if Austin is your waiter and the service is terrible. And you might get into an argument. It is my humble desire that you will never encounter such an awful experience. Hope this helps.
(1)Ian A.
Very few retaurants have ever just made me feel happy eating their food... this is one of them
(5)Mott K.
Yakko San by Hiro is an authentic Japanese cuisine. It's been awhile since my last visit... But what I re cal is super service, great food and some very unfamiliar choices and sights. It is for certain- a must visit on the to do list. If ya wind up near The Aventura Mall or Sunny Isles Beach... Hiro's Yakko San is just a few minutes away.
(5)Christian P.
I have visited Yakko-San numerous times since I moved to the area 3 years ago. The food is delicious and consistent. I have never been disappointed with the food once. However, 80% of the time I am disappointed with the service. I have never seen a manager in the restaurant. When I sit at the sushi bar the chefs are usually the ones greeting me with a smile. They could be a serious force in the industry with some service details... I do visit here quite often. Love the style of food and just prepare myself for the lacking service.
(3)S B.
Due to complete lack of service, we will not be returning. Although the food was tasty, we realized average food and great service surpasses better food with 0 service. We sat outside. There were a few other tables being served outside so we were not the only ones. We literally had to get up and go inside to track down a server on 4 separate occasions: to give a drink order, order food, get chopsticks & soy sauce for our sushi, and for the bill (after asking for it 3 times). We only went in to the restaurant looking for a server after waiting lengthy periods of time. We verbalized our disappointment and were given nothing more than a sheepish apology.
(1)cindy w.
Where do sushi chefs go to eat after work? Yakko-San. For good reason, because I think I found the best Japanese restaurant in Miami, PERIOD. The fact that this joint stays open till 3am Saturday is a major plus for those who work late nights. Past 12:30am, it was packed with a mixed crowd, with sous-chefs and most promising, Asians, so this place is the real deal. The folks who run it are Japanese and greet you with "Irashai mase!" when you walk in. Now, when I say real deal, this place has the most extended menu I've seen outside of NY and San Francisco, we're talking dishes that are almost non-existant in Miami: udon, ramen, soba noodles, donburi, yakiniku, shabu-shabu, etc. sushi I've never heard of, and some creative tempura dishes I loved. FYI, I hate fish so I don't try raw sushi. Someone else will have to critique that, mmkay? Some interesting plates that caught my eye: kimchee hot pot, beef tataki NY strip, natto, ika maruyaki [whole squid], japanese pasta napolitano [sauteed sausage, veggies, with ketchup], curry udon, tempura croquette, etc. My bf and I went with kimchee ramen, soba noodles with tempura, chrysthanthemum leaf tempura (recommended by a coworker), and dessert, fried cheesecake roll. All of which were really, really, really good. This place is about the truth, no hype, no chic decor, the decor is minimal, the location in a tucked away neighborhood. Most dishes were under $10. Toward the end of the meal, Yakko-San's prompted me to keep saying to myself: "God I'm full but I can't stop eating!" It was like I never wanted the party in my mouth to stop...you know, when you feel sad because your stomach can't keep up with the tastebuds? Yeah, I gorged. It was that good. PS: Miami New Times voted it Best Late Night Dining, 2007.
(5)Jose L.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami. I've been going there regularly for the past few years and I'm yet to experience the full menu. The whole fried fish is very good if you're in a group if it's a smaller party you can get the fried fish salad which is almost always in the daily specials menu. The servers are very helpful most of the time, even if there are some language barriers. There are no rolls on the menu, but there is sashimi and I like most of the items from the kitchen.
(5)James G.
alright, this place is open late, has sake and sushi as well as some authentic japanese food. why are you not here. I love yakko-sans. Go. Now! Things to try Unagi Whole Fresh Catch of the Day TakoYaki Beef Tataki Oh and if you have to wait...do it.
(5)Dannielle C.
Always making stops here to eat. Such a wide selection to choose from, relatively quiet restaurant, it's a hit in my book!
(4)Erica F.
My worst experience ever!!! I ordered a sundae that has gluten ,which I'm allergic to,and was told I can't return it...upon which my friend requested info about the restaurant policies...the co-owner threatened my safety with a stool by picking it up to throw at me...my friend saved me buy pulling the stool from her ....DONT GO THERE!!!
(1)Alexandra R.
Dear Yakko-San, Please stay in Miami forever. Even after I die. I want my children and my children's children to eat your food. I could easily make the pork & onion salad and beef tataki two of my last meals on earth. It's a sin if you haven't been. So go, but keep it a hidden treasure, please. Red bean ice cream? Yes, please. Crispy bok choy with ridiculous soy-garlic sauce? I'll take two... and I better take another for home. Last night I took a friend who came in to town from Buenos Aires. She said it was the best meal she's had in a very long time. We hadn't eaten all day, but it was well worth the grumbling bellies and low blood sugar headaches to wait for Yakko. All hail the Yak. Love, Alex PS, your new location is gorgeous... but the hole in the wall you had before will always be near and dear to my heart.
(5)Elizabeth D.
Humbly located next to one of my favorite quick lunch spots, Hiro's Express, this unassuming spot will kick your Japanese-craving ass with intense flavor. Based on recommendations I had the following: 1. BBQ Eel - melt-in-your-mouth delicious tasting eel that's soft on the inside and has the most subtle crisp on the outside. 2. Onion Fish Salad - the name sounds extremely unappealing to me, but this was another win. I hate onions, but I found myself stuffing my mouth with them. 3. Kimchee Hot Pot - WHOA, DUDE. Huge dish, good for 2-3 people. I don't know what's in it, but I want to bathe in it. 4. Spicy Tuna Harumaki - Tasty, but compared to the other dishes, kind of boring. 5. Salmon Onigiri - I have no idea why I ordered this. Most pointless dish. It's just a bunch of rice wrapped in seaweed sprinkled with three tiny bits of cooked salmon. For two people, we were BEYOND stuffed with what we had ordered. I can't wait to come again and try some new things. I would definitely order another hot pot again, though.
(4)Tina N.
Noooooo! I really wanted to like this place!!! Went here with a few of my friends for Wrestlemania! My friend Shams wanted Japanese foodies so we came here! I got the Miso sea bass; it was sooooo little and very very sweet... I guess it's an acquired taste, but I usually LOVE miso! Fiance got the YAKINIKU DON, which is the BBQ beef over rice... I had to steal some of his food because my fish was smaller than my palm, came with no rice and being carnivorous, I NEED MEAT! The taste of the BBQ was yummy but it was super duper chewy, like the kind of chewy you see in the cartoons with the dogs and their cute little chewy steaks. Le sigh, I really wanted to enjoy this... The service was weird too, being some of the few people in that night, everything was quite slow... Our check came out too much, and my belly was aching for more food...but not from here :(
(2)Boris B.
Had dinner with the family. Sushi is very good, appetizers decent, as are prices. Will go back.
(4)Waseem G.
Awesome! This place rocks. Went with a few of my buddies while we were visiting miami last week. So nice to just not be around all the crazyiness of miami yet be so close! We ordered the gyoza (pan seerd and steamed), spicy lamb, the steak, kimchee pork (my fav) and of course some sake bombs! The service is very on point and everyone is very friendly, always willing to chat. Thanks again!
(4)Greggory S.
As someone who works in the food industry it is great to find a nice restaurant. When my wife and I moved here from New York, our friend, who is from south Florida, told us to try this restaurant with him. We did and we loved it. That was almost two years ago. In that amount of time I have seen the service in this restaurant plummet. The first server we had there was named Anastasia (that shows how awesome she was if I remember her name two years later.) So I expected all service to be like this. As time has carried on the servers have gotten worse and worse. Last night, some friends were in town from New York and they were in the area so we suggested Yakko san. Once being seated and asking for water we get it. My glass has a pretty noticeable chip in it. Yeah you use straws, but there is still the potential for danger. So I just switch glasses with someone else who is about to leave due to personal issues unrelated to the restaurant. OK. Carrying on. I get a refill on my water and there were more seeds on the glass and in my water than in the lemon. This also rubbed me the wrong way. Something so small, but so simple to fix and our server chose not to. On top of this he hovered the entire time we were there. Some would call that great service, I call it getting rushed. The food was OK and came out semi promptly. As our meal carries on the waiter asks if we would like dessert, we say no. This does not stop him from interrupting one of the people at our table mid conversation to show the dessert list. On top of all of this, they lady at the front counter lets some woman walk in to the restaurant with her hairy dog. I do not condone any type of personal animal in a restaurant. The check comes. And the methods of payment are given. Waiter returns for us to sign them. As I am looking at the total and thinking back to the chipped glass, my seed water, the hovering waiter, and the dessert menu interrupt. I come to my decision. I start at 15 and work my way down. With the amount of the ticket and the deductions it came out to about a 9.5% tip. After signing and closing the folder the waiter collects them. Not two minutes later does he come back and say that " in Florida you have to tip 15%" he then goes and grabs another customers receipt and says "this is 15%" By this point all of my pleasantries are gone. As soon as i start pointing out all of the things that had been going wrong he all of a sudden wanted to take the receipt back. Owners of yakko san I will not spend another dime on your restaurant until you teach your staff better. Some of your waiters need to be busboys and some of your busboys need to be waiters. There is one busboy, cannot recall his name, he has a long ponytail, he is always prompt, polite and attentive. If you want to see my business again than you need to overhaul everything, starting with your staff's professionalism.
(1)M D.
Uni Garlic Pasta, Mentaiko Onigiri, Fried breaded oysters are excellent favorites for me here at Hiro's Yakko-San. On colder nights in winter, the Miso Ramen hits the spot. Great garlicky broth and piping hot ramen with pork slices, half a hard boiled egg and vegetables is to die for on a cold day or night. Not to mention you can get your fix at 2am in the morning. Parking can be limited on weekend nights, but the food is worth the hassle.
(5)Daphne B.
Excellent service, fresh sushi, wonderful menu. It's a little hard to find (tucked away in a strip mall) but well worth the trip. Right up there with the best places on the East Coast.
(5)Mia M.
This place is hands-down the best place for authentic Japanese food (and by Japanese food I don't mean sushi) in Miami. I feel I can say this with authority since I am Japanese. West-coasters and New Yorkers might be a little more biased because there are tons more izakayas like Yakko-San in their territories, but here in Miami this is about it. I've been coming here since when they were just one tiny room, and have so many happy memories here. That said, recently I went back for dinner after not being in for a while and had a 45 min wait due to the giant mass of people also waiting, and I've noticed their specials menu (the best things to order were the specials) was much sparser than as I remembered (prob due to the high volume of people). I'm happy for their success (they've since expanded and now moving to a larger place), but selfishly I worry about the move and their popularity and wish it could still be the uncrowded, intimate hole-in-the-wall that had amazingly delicious and inventive dishes it used to be, when only chefs and foodies and select locals knew about the place.
(5)Effie C.
I should have let my friends drag me out here sooner. Any place that can make a chicken gizzard not only tolerable but actually kind of delicious deserves a shot. Izakaya is like Dim Sum's refined but really cool cousin that went to boarding school in the alps, reads Kafka and knows her way around a glass of scotch but still pre-games in the parking lot with a quart of OE. The most effective way to enjoy Hiro's Yakko San is to bring a few adventurous friends along for the ride and arrive on an empty stomach. My first bite at Yakko-San was preceded by applause and cheers as this particular dish, the Spicy Tuna Harumaki, is extremely exclusive (they only prepare five per day) and more often than not on the dry-erase board, among a list of menu items that are unavailable. The little roll packs a delightful punch and I especially recommend it to those that can't begin a Japanese meal without plowing into a Wakame salad. As much as I'd love to wax bad-assery to you all, I must confess I was hesitant to try the chicken gizzard but I'm glad I did. It's a chewy little morsel, served cold, which I normally find a bit off-putting with savory bites, but it worked harmoniously with the taste and texture in this instance. Other worthy mentions: - Crispy bok choy with garlic soy dressing. Salty, leafy, crispy and absolutely addictive. - Tempura shrimp spicy mayo. This item must have been created just for me. The shrimp was like a tiny lobster and its tempura jacket retained its crunchiness despite the generous slathering of spicy mayo (have I mentioned that this is one of the Greatest Condiments Ever Created?). I wasn't wild about the fried clam. It was too fishy, but I'm willing to give it another chance as I've heard it's usually very good. Wasn't loving the Shoyu ramen either but that was a matter of personal taste as my fellow diners liked it enough to take it home so we'd have room for dessert. Oh, dessert. Unf. Once again, I was extremely skeptical about the Japanese sweet potato ice cream that my friend ordered, and once again, was delightfully surprised. The Volcano was another strange and wonderful selection with creamy ice cream, cookies and a chocolatey-sweet, starchy bean soup. I ordered the fried cheesecake roll which I savored slowly, with every bit of rapturous satisfaction you'd imagine. Overall, I was really impressed with the great service, the reasonable price and of course, the yum. I can't even figure out what to make for dinner now because I'm not talented enough to come up with something that could compare. I should just chug a glass of water and go to sleep before I embarrass myself.
(4)Yuliya S.
This place is at a new location and the food continues to impress. There is something about the Miami tradition of placing great food in unassuming strip malls that can be off-putting and yet strangely charming. Don't mind the Old Navy next door, just go in to Hiro's and enjoy. Try the surprisingly amazing crispy pork and onion salad, or the simple and fresh green salad with tuna. Follow that up with something grilled or broiled (eggplant? asparagus wrapped in bacon?), or the light and delicious tempura. Or try something a little bit spicy, like the kim chee pork. The conversation around our table basically stopped when the food arrived and resumed many minutes later. I couldn't stop eating and just nodded along.
(4)Richard W.
This place has good food and has a nice atmosphere. It great for a late dinner for a group or with just one other person. Nicely priced. Their noodles come out great and portions are large. I'm a fan of their udon noodles with beef in fish soup. The noodles are well cooked and the beef tastes great. Their appetizers whet the appetite perfectly and everything comes out super quick too. The only downside is that everything comes out super quick so the main courses come out almost right after any appetizers. Otherwise, good food, no crowds, great atmosphere and good attentive service.
(4)Chris G.
Yakko-San has been my favorite South Florida choice in Japanese food for years, even when they were in their old hole-in-the-wall location. Thankfully, they've moved to a new, bigger location that is much more spacious. I've never tried anything at Yakko-San that I didn't like, except for natto (fermented soybeans), which I kinda expected to be bad beforehand. The beef curry and the various ramen choices are standouts for me. The appeal of Yakko-San is that it's a real Japanese restaurant, not this Americanized Japanese stuff that you see everywhere (and it's not one of those weird Thai-Japanese hybrids either). I try to eat something different every time I go so that I can sample everything, but I inevitably find myself coming back to some favorites. If you want great Japanese food, especially really late at night, get over to Yakko-San.
(5)Erica A.
This place is beyond amazing, even though it lost its unique hole in the wall feel. You can never go wrong with an order of bok choy and a rice bowl (katsudon all the way)! The rice bowls and bbq beef bowls are a must have. At least now I don't get lost trying to get there like I did at the old location.
(5)Michael R.
Awesome as usual I'm there probably every Sunday night...my favorites are crispy pork salad kimchee ramen on those cold winter nights, they have some really yummy garlic stems, I've been goin there for years and the food has stayed pretty consistent the servers are super nice...I definitely recommend this pace, but one of my favorites is that's it's open late..
(5)Momoko S.
If I have to name five best places to eat in Miami-Dade county, this should be in. Some of the dishes even taste better than Japanese food in Japan. It really is best if you go with me who is very familiar with their menu and also "only-Japanese-eat" dishes that I am sure you'll love.
(5)June K.
***I am writing this review based on the NEW yakko-san that has recently opened. I've been going to Hiro's Yakko-San regularly for a couple of years now and decided to write a review (finally). Why now you ask? Well, as the old saying goes, "if ain't broke don't fix it". Yes, they have finally moved to their MUCH BIGGER location. But bigger is not necessarily better. At their smaller location, their food was very consistent, as far as flavor, presentation and timing were concerned; but at the new location, it's off. And I mean, way off. First, I would like to say that, yes, they just had their grand opening and they are not used to having a dining area that large; but there is NO excuse for poor service. We went on 2 occasions. BOTH times we sat a good 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. We had to call David (who was not in our section) to get us a server. First time, we let it slide cause they just opened. Second time, was just plain irritating. All the servers seem like they have NO direction and they are just going to whatever table they "think" they're supposed to have. They REALLY need a manager to expedite the floor. I believe that if they had a manager to direct the floor staff, things would run much smoother. Timing for the delivery of food is off. Our items used to come in a certain order, now they just deliver what comes first. Last night, our grilled squid came AFTER we finished everything and our dessert plates were in front of us. We thought the order just got forgotten since we didn't see it or our server for a while, hence the order for the dessert. So we sent it back. The server looked confused as to why we were sending it back...duh! We just ordered dessert. At the old location they had 4 visible chefs, one that does the prep, one that does the cold dishes, one that does the grill, and the other that does the sautee. I believe they had more chefs in the back for the deep frying of items, but I'm not sure how many. The new location has about 6-8 chefs on the line and the "old school" chefs seem to know what they are doing, but the new hires are LOST. They had a flow at the old location in such a tiny space, but with a lot of new people, it's just chaos. The flavoring is off, either they don't put enough or put too much. On the first night we visited, we ordered the Kalbi Yakiniku, it was the first thing to come out (which was never the case at the old location, it was always one of the last things to appear), and it was overcooked, almost to the point that it was burnt. So we gave that a pass as well. But last night, we decided to order it again to see the differences (if any). It wasn't overcooked - hallelujah! It came out last as we thought it would, but it had NO flavor. We watched the (new) chef flavor another Kalbi Yakiniku order, and it looked like he did one side of the Kalbi and flipped it around on the plate a little to get the residual seasonings and sent it to the grill. So that explained that one. But with all the drawbacks to the new place, I will say there is a ray of sunshine to be seen. They now have sushi. And their sushi is EFFING awesome. Both times we visited, it was awesome. Those chefs have their sh*t together. Kudos on that one. All in all, once they get their act together, they will be a 5 star rated place, until then 3 stars it is. p.s the hole in the wall or old location was a 5 star rating in my book.
(3)Ashley D.
This authentic Japanese restaurant serves up fresh, legitimate Japanese dishes in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. They do not serve Sushi, but do have a full sashimi bar... that being said, the Maguro Natto is great! Fresh Tuna sashimi over white Japanese radish and a bed of seaweed and scallions, topped with miso sauce ... Great, cool, fresh Sashimi perfect for a hot Miami night. The shrimp tempura was beautiful, light, and crisp! No complaints! However, the dish that blew me away, something that I have never had in a Japanese restaurant in New York, was the Crispy Bok Choy... AMAZING... I could eat this every day for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner... The dish consists of heads of bok choy that are deep fried for 2 seconds, and then topped with a garlic soy dressing... a verbal description will not do justice... The leaves are paper thin and crispy, and the warm, sweet/salty/slightly spicy/garlicy soy dressing makes the bok choy taste like an Asian veggie chip! Deep Fried guilt never registers because you are eating a leafy green vegetable! Added Bonus! From what I gather, this is a Miami Speak Easy that only locals really get to experience, and with good reason... When we pulled up to the restaurant, we thought we had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the backcountry swamp of the everglades... The restaurant has minimal signage, and is located in an old strip mall off of West Dixie Highway.
(5)Adam C.
If any of you know me, you know I've been pimping this place since I took my first bite of crispy bok choy. Yakko San was introduced to me as the place where chefs go when they are done working. That alone should tell you the quality of food you're dealing with. Make sure you order some or all of the following: whole hog fish, garlic stem beef, buta kimchee, and shishito. Don't ask what they are, just order them. And don't expect a large selection of raw fish. Izakaya is mostly cooked. Skip dessert, and get more izakaya!
(5)Mike S.
It was an exhausting week... I got home and passed out until midnight waking up with the biggest craving for Japanese, luckily Hiro's was still open. Btw, it's next to a night club and the parking lot was packed. Don't park on the grass b/c I saw cops giving out tickets. So it's late at night, I'm exhausted, and all I wanted was a nice "homey" bowl of oyako don. First of all the sauce didn't taste right, too much mirin not enough soy? It was also not cooked properly, what they gave me was a brown, soggy and unappetizing mess. I have to admit it didn't taste good, it didn't taste bad. What disappointed me most was that it wasn't hot! But at 2am, it was good enough for me... I also had the Ika Natto, they don't make their own natto but I guess that's too much to ask for. Their sashimi was fresh but it's not that authentic since the sushi guys aren't Japanese. I did love their green tea, I think it was matcha and they actually use filtered water here. It's a great place to bring friends flying into Miami at night since they're open late but I wouldn't go out of my way just for the food - kind of like St. Mark's Place in nyc.
(3)Michael D.
This place is okay when you want a bowl of ramen served to you by a Thai waitress in a Korean run Japanese restaurant and you are stuck in Miami. Kimchi ramen? whatever. The fresh fried whole fish is good too. ____
(4)Sue R.
I enjoyed my first visit to Hiro's Yakko-San tonight. I arrived at 6:15pm and it was completely full, except for the last seat at the bar, which I grabbed. My waitress came promptly and brought me an ice-cold KIrin Ichiban which went down very smoothly. I ordered Uni sashimi (sea urchin liver), which was presented prettily and tasted out of this world. I had intended to order a bowl of noodle soup with some interesting ingredients, but my waitress told me of a quite special and rare item that they had on the menu tonight: monkfish liver, poached and served cold with ponzu sauce. So, ever the fearless gourmet, I ordered that, along with some salmon sashimi and a portion of cold buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. I also ordered a plate of crispy fried bok choi just in case I still felt hungry. The monkfish liver was outstanding, creamy and flavorful, tasting almost like avocado, not fishy at all. The salmon was super-fresh and the buckwheat noodles with their dipping sauce provided a nice change of pace. As for the bok choi, I can't wait to have it again - it melted in my mouth. Bok choi deep fried with ginger, my mouth is watering just thinking of it. The ambiance was exactly how it should be, I felt I was either in a restaurant in Tokyo or in a movie - I've only been to Tokyo once and actually did eat in this kind of place but it was too long ago to remember well. Four stars. Highly recommended.
(4)DeAnn P.
Yum, yum, yum! We always have a wonderful time here, and the food delicious!
(5)Anna V.
Food is delicious...you just need to know what to order. I love their interior design. Its very trendy and ambient. Its a great place to have dinner with all of your friends since there is a club right next door, called "C-Lounge".
(4)Leah V.
Three words- fried bok choy! Delicious food, great atmosphere. Good place to go with friends and just order a bunch of little plates to try as much as you can. The bok choy and octopus were my faves. Plan to go back for more!
(4)Ryan W.
The jalapeño hamachi was really good as was the pork katsu curry! Mmm. Service was fast and prompt. Decent prices and portions. I would go back
(4)Rose P.
this is my favorite restaurant in miami. sushi is great. other than that, my favorite dishes are the salmon carpaccio, the beef tataki, the tuna tataki and the crispy bok choy.
(5)Herb F.
Just visited the new location a couple of weeks ago. The new restaurant is nice and has all the new modern upgrades, BUT I kinda miss the old location which had that "off the beaten trail" feel to it. None the less the food is still good at the new location, but the server we had was less than desirable (he knowingly or unknowingly tricked us into ordering 4 orders of Uni when all we wanted was 4 pieces of Uni). Overlooking the waiter incident, the food is still on point...
(4)Tiffany K.
craving Japanese food, I found Hiro's Yakko-San to be nearby (we were at Aventura Mall doing some shopping). between my mom, my sister, and i, we ordered the following: - Tofu Steak: i would recommend this dish if you like tofu/onions/mushrooms. onions and mushrooms is one of my favorite combinations when it comes to toppings on food. the tofu is nicely fried on the outside, delicious sauce and mushrooms (regular and enochi) - Kalbee Yakiniku: i didn't try this since i don't eat beef - Ginger Chicken: this dish was just okay. the sauce was pretty good, but the chicken itself was meh. i've had ginger and/or teryaki chicken a lot and this was not one of the better ones. - Tuna Harumaki: this dish was so good. especially topped off with some wasabi. - Yamakake Tuna: if you're not a fan of japanese potato, don't get this. this dish was simply tuna sashimi with japanese potato all over the top. my sister ordered it and when it came she was like eew i don't want that potato. however, the tuna was very very good - fresh, melt in your mouth, gorgeous color. - Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper: i'm a little torn about this dish - don't get me wrong, the hamachi was very fresh and nicely, thinly sliced. however the flavors were just okay - i've had hamachi jalapeno at other places before, and they definitely could have made this dish tastier and the jalapeno could have had more of a kick to it. i honestly couldn't even taste the jalapeno. - Salmon Sashimi: very fresh and tasty. - Japanese Sundae (2): the three of us LOVED this dessert. that's why we ordered two - after the first one, we asked the waiter to send another over. yummy combination of whip cream, rice cakes (mochi), green tea ice cream, azuki red bean, and crushed up waffle cones on the bottom. so so good. overall, great experience. great service, good food, hooray!
(4)Renata M.
Its not a typical sushi restaurant, its a real japanese restaurant with really good fish. If you go don't eat sushi, eat some fish.
(4)Nirvana S.
Hoodlum wait staff!! Bus-boy/waiter stole my friends car keys tonight... At the end of our delicious birthday dinner, we walked out and noticed that the keys were missing- after repeatedly asking the staff if they saw keys, they kept to their story that they saw nothing. We looked in all of our purses, cars, called people who had left dinner early- we knew the keys were on the table! Not knowing who they were messing with, my girlfriends sat down and refused to leave until the keys were found. Finally after offering a $100 cash reward, 5 seconds later a bus boy comes back dangling the keys in his hand!!! In case you go there...watch out ...had we left to go get the spare, the car would have either been robbed or stolen. What a horrible thing to happen at such a great restaurant! Food was amazing- wait staff horrible along with the service. I might file a police report tomorrow. Definitely watch your belongings!!
(3)Victor m.
For authentic Japanese this is the place! I was a little weary at first because of the location and the mixed reviews but now that I have been there and tried the excellent food and the wonderful service I am sure that Yakko-San deserves a spot in my regular rotation. Know, keep in mind this is not your typical "Americanized Japanese" cuisine. It is served in small plates similar to Spanish tapas and has flavors and ingredients that you may not recognize. But no worries all the food we tried and saw others eating looked and tasted fresh, flavorful, and delicious. If you love to eat good quality food Yakko-San will not disappoint. By the way, Thank s to the staff for the great service especially Fred!
(5)Mike N.
Holy smokes this place is good. Stayed in N Miami Beach for 4 nights and ate here twice. The first night we ate at Hiro's on 163rd and man, that place was aweful, then we figured out that Hiro's Yakko-San was at a different address...don't make the same mistake. Sashimi Mori was very, very good. Grilled Shishito was great. Mushroom tempura was perfect, very light batter. Huge mixed salad. Great selection of very good sake. Casual with great service. I can see why its been around for 25+ years.
(4)Kevin N.
The one and only place in Miami I would consider to call a restaurant serving actual Japanese sushi. No gimicks, no neon, no Thai food, no Korean food, no Chinese food, no hard liquor, and no Vietnamese food! It is not often I give a five-star review of a place that DOESN'T have a lot of different things, but for Yakko-san, it is a boon rather than a detriment. They are serious about their food and you know it from the first bite.
(5)Michael L.
I live nearby, and Ive probably came here at least 10 times in the past year. Usually me and the mrs. usually try something different every time we come. The menu is huge, with a vast array of Japanese small dishes and appetizers, as well as Japanese grilled items, to ramen, and lastly sushi. I have never tried their sushi yet, so i cant comment on it, but the ramen and the grilled items are all good. The sea bass is yummy, age dashi tofu is also a must. The crispy bok choy is also unique, bok choy thats flash fried with no batter, turns out crispy and surprisingly addictive. I don't understand the hate on some of the reviews, its authentic Japanese food thats relatively cheap. Maybe they dont know what to order. My fiancee likes to order the mentaiko, which is a pasta with creamy cod roe. Theres also a special menu that isnt posted online, that does change from time to time, thats usually an extension of their menu with grilled fishes, meats, etc.. Next time i will try their sushi, if i don't get steered away from their wonderful grilled, cooked Japanese dishes.. If u want to go to an authentic, not Americanized Japanese restaurant, this is the place to go.
(4)Greg A.
Every time I go back to this place it's more packed than the last time. It's a shame it took me years of passing by this place (since it's located in the middle of a crappy strip mall on a road I only take to avoid Aventura traffic on Biscayne) to finally discover what a true hidden gem it was. Yakko-San is a Japanese restaurant and not a sushi place. So while they do serve sashimi, don't come here looking to have a Dragon Roll. What you can expect here is really, really good Japanese food. I've gone there a few times and there are so many interesting things on the menu that I always find myself getting different entrees. But while I'm mixing up the entrees, the one appetizer I never fail to have when going to Yakko-San (and I guarantee it will also be your favorite) is the crispy bok choy. It's one of the most perfect appetizers ever made - crispy, light, and full of flavor. The spicy octopus is a favorite entree of mine, and the kimchee buta is good, but those with less adventurous palates can enjoy a meal at Yakko-San without fear because you will, without a doubt, love their sliced BBQ beef (Yakiniku). You can get it over a bowl in rice (Yakiniku Don) or without (Yakiniku Steak) but either way it's some tasty, tasty beef. Those who like sake (like I do) will be happy. They have an assortment of hot and cold sakes, but they have a sake tasting where you can 3 shots of different sakes for a fairly cheap price - think along the lines of 3 shots of $90-$120 sake for like $15. The ladies will enjoy the fruity sake-tinis they serve there. And the banana tempura is a delicious way to finish it all up. The only downside I can say about this place is that the service can be a little slow after they serve your food, even if the place isn't packed, but it's not frustratingly slow. The parking there is also kind of cramped, but if you go later in the evening just park in the lot across the street and you shouldn't have any problems.
(4)Phil L.
its hard to find really good asian food in south florida but Hiro's does a great job! Its a pretty small spot and usually there is a wait but well worth it. the ramen is decent and the calbi is pretty good. The home run is with a different type of steak that they offer - I wish I knew what it was called but I didnt order it :( The whole fried fish looked really good and its nice to go with a group of 6 or less I would not say more.
(4)Vlad L.
2 years ago I would've gave them 5 stars but I feel like since they relocated to the new location they comprised quality and a homey feel for a bigger location. The same dishes I used to love now I feel are just alright so bigger is not always better but I will say its one of the best bets for late night dining around northeast Dade.
(3)Jennifer S.
This place is the best an open really late an you can always get something different from a fresh cough fish done 6 ways to just a simple soup every thing on the menu is great an if your lucky Hiro will make you some of his faves
(5)Karen G.
Every time we go to yakko San, it is reliably delicious. Since they moved from the w Dixie location it lost some of its atmosphere, but the food is just the same but now without the wait. Would recommend to everybody who likes Asian food.
(5)Cindy Y.
I went here many moons ago, but I still remember my experience here. Perhaps it was just the dishes that I ordered as a first time customer, but it wasn't as great as I had hoped for. I had a kimchi buta (pork and kimchi in a kimchi based sauce) and it was okay. I had a Korean friend that come with me and she said that she's had better kimchi... and that it wasn't "ripe" enough. (Ironically, there's a Korean hostess working there as well.) My Korean friend didn't like her kimchi ramen that she ordered either. I also ordered something (forgot its name) that had a description of "thinly sliced potato with nori/dried seaweed on top." It's definitely an acquired taste. Maybe some of my tastes aren't suited for the Japanese palate, but it did not even come close to what I thought it was going to be. It didn't even taste like potato (unless it was raw, which I've never had before), but more of a raw daikon. (Update: searched it up and it was "Japanese mountain yam.") It was really starchy too, so it was really gooey and sticky as well; kind of like natto. I tried finishing it but I just couldn't. The dessert is what saved dinner as whole, though. I ordered a "volcano," which was layers of ice cream on lady fingers, I believed, served with a warm azuki red bean sauce. (Also, I guess another perk is that they're open late everyday.) I probably would give it another chance if I'm ever around the area, but it's not somewhere where I'd drive out of my way for. Maybe they can prove me wrong next time.
(2)M O.
Highly recommended - Open Late - Japanese food, not sushi. They have a great menu of small plates, great for sharing. Bring a large group and share everything.
(4)Frenchy M.
I feel obligated to post this as I went to their new location on the intracostal mall: I almost cried,i should have know since the name is the same, but underneath it: "Japanese Tapas" :-/ the new place is HUGE, has a modern feel to it and sounds more like a cafeteria (high ceiling I guess) ....They kept the dishes, got rid of the specials of the day but did a few modification to others .I waited over 20 minutes for someone to come and acknowledge our table, had to wait another 15 for my drink to arrive, same price same taste, Half the Size!!! I am really really really disappointed , and believe that they will get lots of customers due to their new location , but will certainly loose their more purist fans...I will be one.I will follow June advice and try their sushi , but I did loose my "amazing perfect little Japanese place"................
(3)Tina K.
Came here when we were apartment hunting in Miami in an attempt to replace our weekend Cali Izakaya with a familiar taste in Miami and was slightly surprised. With low expectations (very low expectations) and a gleam of hope, we ordered more food than we could eat off the menu. Sashimi - hmm... it's definitely edible but the cut is definitely not Japanese, huge cuts of fish, quantity over quality, not alot of taste but it didnt reek of fishiness either. The Karaage was good, nice portion modestly priced. The Kama was not bad either. Ganpachi sashimi in lime - a whole slice of Jalapeno on top of each piece, made me laugh but it actually tasted OK. It's not an authentic Japanese place but it's got its own style and everyone orders the whole fish so I gotta try that next time. I think its more of a Chinese-Japanese restaurant... once you're at peace with that then all's good.
(3)Bernardo A.
I have never been to Japan nor do I speak Japanese. The closest I've ever gotten to Japan was my Japanese college roommate and the many, many lunches and dinners we had in San Francisco's Japan Town. Yamaguchi, my roommate, never thought that any of the places we went to were good enough or authentic enough so I know, as a fact, that I have never had an authentic Japanese meal. What I do have are feelings, an appreciation for visually appealing things, a good sense of smell and taste buds. My review of Yakko San is entirely based on service, presentation and taste. Authenticity? What do I know? And since I can't do anything about that in the immediate future, who cares? Yakko San is GREAT! I am a firm believer that in order to get the best attention, the customer needs to put his best foot forward as well, specially in these small places that get very busy and very hectic very quickly. Our party of four had a a 20 minute wait before we were seated at a table close to the front door in front of the bar. The place is very unassuming and I haven't really seen the main dining room. The lovely Korean waitress asked us what we wanted to drink and suggested a reasonably priced sake. We took her recommendation and loved every sip of it. All of us at the table had experienced donburi and soba and udon noodle soups as well as gyoza and things of that sort, so we decided to order an assortment of daily specials which we all shared. At the end of the meal, the check was astronomical, but we all got to experience a couple of bites of a wide variety of dishes; most of them recommended by our waitress whom we trusted, blindly. All the dishes were well-seasoned and flavorful. We had a great time. We were all satisfied. I'll be back soon and will pay more attention to the individual dishes so I can write a more detailed review.
(4)M -dot W.
Locally, I heard several Asians in Miami talking bout how this place is highly regarded by Asians for being really good( in a sea of not-so-good).......nuff said . If you want to know whats good here ( see other Yelps! ) . I am just here to give credit where credit is due CHECK IT OUT !
(5)Marcela R.
Lotus blossom roots, crispy bok choy, fried rice. They have a decent selection of mushrooms and the udon noodle soups are the best! Parking sucks and it is always packed because they are only open for dinner.
(4)Cameron T.
Amazing find, and probably the highlight of our trip to MIA. Our server was super friendly. He even made origami for our two daughters. We had scallops w/ asparagus, fried ebi, grilled eggplant, kimchi & shoyu ramen, and a special roll wrapped in rice paper with amazingly tasty tuna. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. The only things that were mediocre were the ramen. I've had much better in all the ramen restaurants in NYC. My husband said the tuna special was one of the best things he's ever had in any Japanese restaurant. Their fried cheesecake is supposed to be great but we found it to just be okay. The wrapper was a bit too thick. Go early or you'll have to wait. They also serve very late into the night. For a quick sushi meal, you can go next door to Hiro's express. They even have online ordering.
(4)Stephanie T.
Coming from an area saturated with Asian food and a surplus of Japanese/sushi restaurants, I was annoyed that anything in this area was poorly rated or a Japanese/Thai combo (what the heck, right?!) Seeing 4.5 stars for 129 meant Yelpers have to be on the right track. Got a little lost and confused coming to this particular location since it is secluded in a huge plaza that is kind of off the main road. Came in and did not see many Asian people at all, so my first thought was "Oh no...", but the restaurant itself is nicely decorated and ambianced. They had a large table ready for us in no time. Our waiter kind of stood off to the side and watched us and it kinda felt like we were rushed to order although this place is open late. I ordered they shoyu ramen and shared a hamachi jalapeno roll. Broth was nicely flavored and the stuff a lot of noodles into the bowl. Mine had more noodles than soup and the noodles expand very quickly. The roll was ok, nothing spectacular. The hot soba my friend had was delicious and authentic tasting too. Who knows, it might be the best you can get in Miami, but I've had better. I wasn't wowed, but I was satisfied.
(3)Tomas R.
Hiro's Yakko-San made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Each dish was a surprise in flavor and presentation. Try the chicken liver, even if you may not like it. My wife, who is not fond of my habit of ordering this dish every Japanese restaurant we go to, actually loved the way Yakko-San fried and then sauted them. I am a big fan of how they served each dish the moment it is prepared fresh so you don't have to worry about food being served cold here, unless it was intended to be served cold. Stick with older servers there, we had a young rookie server one time and even her lack of attention could not let it take away from the amazing eats here. This place has exotic dishes for the adventurous and Japanese staples for those who prefer to stick with the usual favorites. Must say this is definitely one of the top three Japanese restaurants in Miami.
(5)Cynthia F.
This place is awesome. Great authentic sushi, HUGE rolls...the soups are amazing, it reminds me of the food I had when I was in Japan. The location is perfect close to Sunny Isles Beach...Love this place!
(5)Karina K.
After a long search and trek for okonomiyaki, my boyfriend and I fell in love with Hiro's Yakko-San's. It's always quite a drive for us, about an hour and a half, but so worth the time and the gas. For their staples we can't get enough of their curry fried rice, crispy bok choy, okonomiyaki (it's not on the menu, but if they aren't busy they'll make it for you =) ), and yakiniku beef. For me, I can't get enough of their seasonal specials! The price for each plate is quite affordable, we spend around $20 per person and always end up ordering a plethora of different "tapas." You can't beat the service either, the wait staff is very welcoming and attentive. They do have sushi, but their main focus is japanese tapas and cuisine. Oh...another great thing is that they're open very late at night, until 2am or 3am, depending on the day! I wish they were open for lunch too, c'est la vie. ^_^
(5)Sonny S.
My girlfriend and I usually always make a stop here. Love the food.
(5)Erin E.
You have to get the oysters. I am not extremely well rounded but I have had my share of tasty treats and these oysters are within the top 5 tasty delicious dishes I have ever had. Yakko San is great. Fresh fresh fresh and I cannot wait to have the Sukiyaki (order 1 day in advance). A great date place or for a small birthday party, especially if some in your crew are not that adventurous they cannot be disappointed. Clams are super tasty, the broth is drinkable, BBQ beef over rice , sashimi ~ I'm picky with fish and am more than willing to try anything here. I know it's fresh so my fears go out the window. And the staff is friendly and willing to help, even change your mind should they think some other dish is tastier than the one you have chosen. Just as a suggestion but so far their choices have proven to be good!
(4)Danny H.
very good for overall Japanese.
(4)Lee H.
Just went there after a show in north miami at the recommendation of my GF and I have to say this was some stellar Japanese food. The service is also just as good.
(5)Kat B.
I recommend this place for people that wish to taste some different japanese food. This restaurant offers in fact many interesting dishes beside the common raw fish based (sushi, sashimi, etc.). We had: Crispy Bok Choy, Chicken Liver Itame, Kake-Soba and Spicy Manila Clams and they were really good. The vegetable tempura was ok, the plus was that it had some unusual pieces, like the lotus root. We had the banana tempura as a dessert to share for three people, very big and yummi. Next time I will try the lotus roots as dish and the dried fish skin our table neighbors were having. Our waiter, Paul, was very nice and helpful. Will go back soon!
(4)Itzela C.
Okay, I am giving this place a 4 star rating because of the service only. The food is a 5 star. I'm not a fan of waiting for my main course to arrive while my side dish gets cold! My side dish was the original pork fried rice which was delicious!!! And tasted great while it was hot...and soooo flavorful...the right amount of salt added to perfection. Not too salty, not too under salted. And let me tell ya it was fresh!!! My main course which was the lamb was cooked to perfection. However, by the time it arrive to the table I was almost full from eating the fried rice (totally good on it's own). Over all, I would go back again...maybe when it's not that busy on a Friday night. Anthony Bourdain....you were right Hiro's Yakko-San you Rock!!
(4)Frank E.
So I am told this is the most authentic Japanese food available in Miami, and I would definitely believe it... the only problem is I have never had Japanese food (besides Sushi) before... therefore staring at the menu I had no idea what to order... ended up getting some Ramen and it was ok... I have no real basis for comparison (except one Ramen place I went to in SF which also was not that great) so maybe I just don't like Japanese hot food?
(4)Luis M.
Holy cowabunga! I night at Yakko-san is an adventure and a half! I was sure to show up with my Andrew Zimmern-esque A-game! This is a subtle little treasure in an almost hidden locale. I'll keep this breif. The chicken livers were beyond outstanding. I can't say I'd ever enjoyed them this much. The yellowtail cheek. Delicious, super flavorful. The fried Bok Choy.... A class act. a simple, yet new spin on something so overdone. It was insanely fresh with such a light crispy texture. this was a crowd fav. The salmon belly: gotta admit it was rather fishy. particularly the fatty portions, but as you get under the skin... the flavor softens and you get this rich creamy headrush. Sake in a little wooden box-cup?!? Authentic! I love it. Pair it all with some Kirin and you're golden. Finally, Fried Cheesecake eggrolls?? I didnt expect this coming from such a traditional cuisine type of establishment, but nonetheless a great way to end the meal. We had far more than that, and it ended up costing a penny, but well well worth it. Service was Grade A too. More to come another time!
(5)Tracy U.
I ate here last night and enjoyed it very much. Prices are reasonable (Miso Sea Bass perfectly cooked for $12.95) Our server was knowledgeable and very attentive, she encouraged us to try new things without being pushy or trying to up-sell us. The menu and prices allow for you to get a few dishes and share tapas style. We had a bowl of udon, hamachi sashimi and the sea bass and it was the perfect amount of food. Sitting at the sushi bar we were able to watch the chef's prepare some interesting looking items that I would like to try upon my return. The miso soup was good, if a little watery, but for $2 I can't complain. I have already recommended this to a few coworkers and plan on returning soon.
(4)David N.
Hiro's Yakko-San moved to 163rd Street (now just called Yakko-San). It is a much larger location and totally different decor. The food is still very good, but not sure I like the new location as much. It was very loud / noisy and seemed a bit more chaotic (maybe because they just opened at the new location).
(4)Juan Jose D.
Definitely one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Miami, second just to Matsuri. Went there on a Friday night and the place had already a long waiting list, but the wait was worth. They market their selves as Japanese tapas and that is actually what it, is part of the comfort food in Japan; small portions of artistic pieces with amazing flavors, dont get me wrong; this is not modern cuisine, it is traditional cuisine and NO they dont serve rolls, so dont expect to order your traditional dragon roll and get some usuzukuri (thin sashimi) some tsukemono (japanese pickles) or a hearty traditional ramen soup with a vast selection of sake.
(5)Rob C.
My most visited restaurant in Miami for me (it's open late). Competition = Marumi. this is an izakaya style Japanese restaurant liked the spicy beef tongue stew a lot and blue miso. tried the kalbe yakiniku but was a little chewy and didn't like the sauce as much. decent shishito peppers. black pepper flavored chuka-don but the seafood could have been a little better. also tried the enochi mushrooms, and the miso-glazed tuna, octopus, conch mix (wasabi miso mustard flavor) -- they have some selected sashimi but no nigriri (sushi) Chawanmushi (not on the menu) with good flavor but a little watery Shoyu Ramen--broth ok but stay away from the miso ramen very watery, plus other veges just doesn't turn out right spanish mackerel miso flavored -- ok oyako don -- good; pork with bitter melon and tofu -- good uni, ikura angel hair pasta -- buttery takoyaki (octopus) -- batter was a little soggy; minnow kara-age -- good but standard kabocha croquette -- nice sweet pumpkin and beef; lotus kinpira -- sweet soy mirin flavor black pork belly -- dry from the grill, not a fan eel tofu omelet -- sweet and salty, would be great with rice mentai onigiri (spicy cod roe) -- have had better rice chicken liver itame -- fried liked kara age with onions and bean sprouts miso seafood hotpot -- nice other recommended stuff: chrysanthemum leaf tempura (perfectly cooked without too much batter), hamachi kama would recommend their fried stuff over their grilling... did like the fried oysters and fried mahi mahi roe check out the omurice -- wish they poured curry over it, but the tomato rice and omelet are good. had the chicken wings and potato in sweet brown sauce--tasty let's see, i've also had the spicy tuna rice paper rolls -- often sold out, but not that amazing dried kawahagi (thinly sliced glazed trigger jerky) -- perfect texture, interesting flavor chicken kara age -- nothing special beef curry -- comfort food, pickled radish added fried fish onion salad -- pretty tasty spanish mackeral katsu salad -- not worth it since fried fish with tartar sauce could be anything enoki egg drop soup -- little herb essence yaki udon -- stirfried, better than the soups nasu buta miso itame -- really tasty, eggplant + pork ankimo is back ~ $13 had another great meal here consisting of crispy bok choy, crysanthemum tempura, spicy squid, hamachi jalapeno, nasu buta, scallops aspa, and katsu don (little chewy) -- so good and so reasonably priced! the menu has changed now to incorporate more of their specials as regular items, so the specials menu is smaller... got the mirin ginger scallion king fish, next time will get the deep fried snapper--looks really good had the shrimp bittermelon tempura (little too much bittermelon) so, in summary, my favorites are: whole catch fish, nitsuke style crispy bok choy cyrsanthemum tempura yakiniku steak nasu buta miso itame came back after another year, and still doing ok
(5)Steven H.
We were 6 adults 4 children. Waiter forgot things. Nothing came out together and very slow. My father in law got his fish last after everyone else ate. We complained and they didn't care. Nobody there cared. Gratuity included on 6 or more people or I would have left less. Just wanted to leave did not have dessert there. Poor trained staff and no supervision. Food was just ok compared to any other Japanese restaurants I eat in. Very disappointing. None of us will ever return. We had a reservation but table was not ready. Place was empty. Also, lighting was terrible. It kept blinking on and off in intensity where we were sitting. Really a lousy experience.
(1)Johnny D.
Always a good spot for lunch with their specials. We focused on rice balls, a few apps (triggerfish jerky) and sashimi along with a curry beef. Everything was on point with good service. The onigiri were huge so be warned that 5 of them were a bit to many for 2 people. Parking is great since you are in a strip mall.
(4)Naty S.
What an amazing place!!! Their menu tends to give me a severe case of ADD, because I would like to order everything on their extensive, multi-page booklet! But everything that I Randomly choose from it is just mind blowing. Even their Miso Soup is fantastic. Must admit that one of my favorite things about this place is their staff. They have an amazing crew that really elevate your experience to another level! Super recommended...!!!
(4)Mai N.
Love this place in North Miami beach! Must try the beef tongue, cooked & seasoned just right! The sashimi was very fresh, melted in my mouth! I was only disappointed in the spicy squid, don't order! Overall, if u like tapas style Japanese food or yakatori type foods, a must try! Or if u love sashimi, must try!
(4)Helen H.
Wow this place is a great little find! Price/value- amazing!!! We came for friday lunch and walked out full with only a $20 bill! Lunch special- 50% off! We got the sushi lunch which came with miso soup, tempura, veggies, and a 1/2 California roll! Everything veryy delicious. The rice is incredibly done well- sweet and nicely chewy- best sushi rice!! The tempura was excellently seasoned. Sometimes places don't put any seasoning and it's very bland, but this place has got it down!. I also got the cold soba noodles- good, not great. My salad was delicious... I think they added some sort of sesame oil... Soooo good. Service is how this place got bumped down to a 4- people weren't very nice. Also- they really rushed the meal- felt like they were trying to push us out. Oh well, I'll come back if I'm ever in the area again- thought it was pretty delicious and the decor is nice!
(4)Mike M.
This place has become one of my regular places to go. Their food is very consistent and good. Their sushi is very good; I would not say excellent but much better then other sushi restaurants. One of my favorite things though is their Grilled Squid, it's so delicious. What makes me a regular is that their prices are very reasonable compared to other sushi restaurants.
(4)Jenna M.
Eh, I was kind of turned off the last time my husband and I ate dinner here. Don't get me wrong, we will probably be back for another try but our last experience was tainted because of bad service. The food is good... reliable. But the menu is just so big, I'm not sure I'm choosing the right thing. I would much rather a restaurant that has a shorter menu filled with only amazing dishes then a restaurant like Yakko-San that has a terribly large menu filled with OK food.
(3)Oanh H.
The service could be better. The menu is large and there is a lot to choose from. My favorite is the cucumber wrap and the misoramen. Yum.
(4)Edwin S.
I've long considered this to be one of the staples of late night dining in Miami. It's been around a while and while I've always considered this to be a great restaurant most of my friends that shy away from sushi don't understand why I persist on getting them to at least give it a visit since sushi is not the primary concern for this venue. No, it's a Japanese Tapas Restaurant. It's fun to go with friends that aren't cowards for the best kinds of experience since it's meant for sharing. The portions vary but this is not a raw bar so my father, who can't consume raw meat because of a heart transplant restrictions in his diet, has many more options than he would have at any other place where Japanese simply means sushi. The catch of the day and the daily specials are my first suggestions. ... My only negative is with the ambiance: since they relocated into this strip mall along the intercostal the interior acoustics get to be maddeningly deafening. I don't go on the weekends to avoid the crowds. I hope they install some acoustic panels some day to dampen the echo chamber, and I will look forward to reviving this venue as my primary late night eatery.
(5)Donald M.
I love this place. And I often drive all the way from Kendall just to eat here. Feeling adventurous? Try the Angel Hair Uni, Ikura. Kimchee ramen. Spicy tuna sashimi salads. Crispy bokchoy. Are among my favorites.
(5)Tunyaluck P.
Hard to find a good Japanese food in NMB. They are mostly from non-Japanese. This is the real one.
(4)Michelle I.
As good as it gets for Japanese tapas in the north Miami area. They have a range of really great items. The trigger fish is superb. Love love love the tuna hiroshimi. There was not one item that I just wasn't not the happiest foodie. The atmosphere is dark and trendy. Parking is plentiful and if u want to after party the C lounge is about 500 feet away. Never has this place let me down before. Really great food and very reasonably priced.
(4)Amber H.
This was my first time here. I've been wanting to try this place out since people rave about it. Now that I've had it myself I don't understand what the deal is. I ordered the Yakko's 7 dish(sushi). The salmon did not taste fresh at all and the rice underneath it broke off easily and barely was any rice as it is. I ordered a simple edamame appetizer and it was over cooked. Being a ramen/sushi junkie I had try the ramen. At a restaurant called "Go Bistro" they serve Tonkotsu ramen as well, which is to die for. So I asked for a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen to evaluate how good the ramen really is. Turns out that it is NOTHING compared to "Go Bistro." The noodles tasted over cooked. The roasted pork wasn't bad, but didn't seem tender enough and the broth did not taste as alive as it should. The flavor of the ramen bowl did not stand out, but only gave me the impression of "I'm never getting this again." The lychee saketini is a must if you're into that. Overall, the experience was not that great and I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)Serge G.
We came here after reading all the great reviews but left with mixed feelings. We'll start with the good: Prices are fair, service was lightning fast, people were friendly and we had an enjoyable time. The bad: service was lightning fast (yes it is both good and bad because you want it when you're hungry but everything you order hits the table in just a few minutes, when you're not ready for your next course), no cream cheese... We ordered the fried bok choy (very good, try it), grilled BBQ eel (FANTASTIC!), hamachi with jalapeño (also very good), crunchy spicy tuna (not good at all), the albacore special in ponzu sauce (very nice) and asparagus with bacon (not wrapped or repurposed, just asparagus spears with bacon, boring) and the naruto special roll (delicious, must try). We also ordered and re ordered the milky nigiri sake which was delicious and smooth! Overall we enjoyed most of the food but the highlight were few and fleeting while the low points seemed never ending. This place isn't bad but it's nothing special. They also don't have cream cheese so they don't make Philly rolls. I understand if you want to be authentic and say in Japan they don't use smoked salmon or cream cheese but exactly how much asparagus and bacon is Japan cranking out? B- at best
(3)Marcus K.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in the area. This is a izakaya-type place that has a fairly vast menu with everything from tempura to sushi rolls, grilled items to asian fusion. We tried a few items this time around, but we'll be back for more. Bok choy -- fried, light and crispy served with a light soy dressing on the side, nice and different from the usual preparations of boy choy. Vegetable tempura - usually with fried chrysanthemums, but currently out of season, but the variety of tempura they did serve was nicely battered (not too thick, not too thin), nice tempura sauce with grated daikon Hamachi tataki jalapeno roll -- excellent with fresh fish, nice sear on the hamachi added a smoky flavor. Hamachi and Salmon sushi -- nice fresh fish, portions are a little small, but good quality, though perhaps not the best value for the dollar. Rice was a little too cool, as traditional sushi should be served with rice that is lukewarm. Rice was seasoned appropriately. nasu buta miso itame - flavorful and nice pairing of eggplant and pork belly. Vaguely Chinese flavors in this dish, but tasty nonetheless. Will definitely be returning back to this place to try more items.
(4)Shams B.
I came here excited to try this place. What I got instead was a disappointing meal and the wrong place apparently. The shrimp kara-age and fried bok choy was good, but everything else was average or below my standards for good sushi/Japanese food and trust me when I say I've been to/tried a lot of Japanese places from hole-in-the-wall to commercial to grocery stores, etc etc etc.
(2)Stephanie L.
Konnichiha! I may just be directionally impaired, but even with the aid of our GPS it was a bit tricky to find this place. I had been to their old location of Hiros, which incidentally is right around the corner, but Yakka-San really tested our navigational skills. Once we arrived though we were immediately impressed with the decor, the ambiance, and the fact that the place was still pretty packed at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night. Dim and sultry, it is fun and zen-like with an upscale and modern twist. I had read on yelp it was kind of like Japanese tapas, and that turned out to be pretty accurate description. Being incredibly indecisive and with a multi-page menu filled with tantalizing choices, my friend and I chose to share an assortment of different dishes. - Oyako don: A rice bowl with egg, onions, and chicken in a light sauce, this was easily my favorite dish. Full of flavor and not too heavy, this alone could have sufficed as a meal. While the chicken chunks were white meat, I did wish it was a little higher quality chicken since it kind of felt like your average mall-style foodcourt with lots of strangely chewy bits. - Lotus roots kimpira: Thin slices of lotus sauteed in a savory sauce. This one took me getting used to since I wasn't quite accustomed to the flavor of lotus root. As I acclimated though I found that I enjoyed it more and more with every bite of the fun little crisp pinwheel discs that kind of tasted like water chestnuts. - Age-nasu deep fried Asian eggplant: Tender chunks of eggplant in a yummy sauce, this is definitely the way to go if you're an eggplant fan! - Crunch spicy tuna roll: The tuna was super fresh and it did have a bit of kick. Definitely a more traditional and well made simple sushi roll. - Salmon onigiri was a rice ball: Tiny bits of fresh salmon completely hidden in a tennis ball sized glob of rice, and wrapped in seaweed. While the fish was fresh it was tricky to eat and had way too much rice to taste the salmon. - Fried cheesecake roll: Kind of like a think strip of cheesecake (and perhaps banana) were wrapped in a crepe like a sushi roll. It was not too sweet, which was a plus, but also a bit bland and could have used nuts or coconut to add a bit of texture So this definitely felt (and from what I imagine, tasted) very authentic and fresh. I admit I'm a bit more Americanized so some of the choices (like the lotus root) took some getting used to for my tastebuds, but I'm glad I tried them and look forward to trying more. You won't find lots of creative sushi here, but rather, classic Japanese sushi and dishes that are very well made. The only minor complaint I had was that the eel sauce tasted like it had been thinned with soy sauce, so it was a bit more watery and salty than I would have liked. Overall though it was a good experience and I'm sure I'll be back for an authentic meal in at Yakka-San! It really has something for everyone with more exotic and more of your standard choices. Reasonable prices, huge variety and a selection of well cooked food in a pretty atmosphere...a solid choice for your Japanese fix!
(4)Fiorella A.
Great sushi, nice ambiance, ok service. Late dinner no problem, this place is open super late. The litchee martini is to die for. Try the fried bak Choy
(4)Atif H.
What a waste :( We are frequent visitors to Miami and we were planning to go to Yakko and with some very dear friends but alas we will not any more due to some of the later reviews here on YELP. We don't mind paying for Good food but it seems like this place is going to be a cause of embarrassment for us. We love our friends too much to put them through some of things I have read here. It's a damn shame though because my wife told me after the one and only time we ate here that the meal she had was the best meal she had ever had in her life :) Restaurants have to be very careful specially now a days. The words gets around. Any flaw in your setup is going to be noticed and talked about. If you are not up to par you will fade away. Good luck YAK O SON!!! fucking saran wrapped grilled salmon. Un fucking believable
(1)Brian L.
Great Japanese food. Great service. Waitress was Rebecca and she was great.Would def come here again!
(4)Robert P.
This is a rare authentic Japanese restaurant in S. Florida. They offer some unique dishes, but you do not have to be Japanese cuisine expert to enjoy great sushi/sashimi, grilled sea bass, grilled eel. The service is uneven, sometimes fast and great, sometimes slow and mediocre. The interior feels too big, and lack a calm atmosphere of great Asian restaurants of New York or San Fran for instance.
(4)Cihan C.
This is a terrible restaurant. The waiter "Lim" was horrible and rude. He suggested a desert "sweet potato and ice cream" which was uneatable. When we asked to return this, he said we have to pay for it. He could not even speak English. He said this was not a free tasting! He did not know he lived in America and customer service is the most important thing for a restaurant. When we asked for the manager, manager -instead of apologizing- he said he thought we were bums , we came there to eat free food!! Will never go there and i do not recommend anyone to go there
(1)Kaylin O.
Rather disappointing. I guess this place is a bit over hyped. I was expecting amazing food but they were all either pretty good or ok. Crispy Bok Choy--cool take on bok choy but I preferred mines slightly sauteed as opposed to the deep fried ones here. The dipping sauce was too salty. Black Pork Belly--pretty good. I love the sweet dipping sauce. I also love it paired with thinly sliced scallions. This took at least 30 minutes to prepare and the waiters gave me the run around every time I asked about it. Sashimi---Fresh; 1-2 inch pieces of Hamachi, Tuna, and Salmon. Salmon was the best followed by Hamachi and then Tuna Salmon Nigiri---Melt in your mouth yumminess Shrimp Spicy Mayo----Very disappointed; it was soggy and the sauce was drenching the fried shrimp; flavor of sauce was not right as other places; it was sour to me. I only ordered this hoping to end the meal on a good note since how can you go wrong with this dish????? Service: super slow The girl who helped us was nice but I had to ask for water so many times and some of the waiters pretty much ignored us. Service is definitely not their strong suit. I had to ask twice for my check. Disappointed. A-ok I've had better izakya type food else where. Even Open Door in Monterey Park is better. No need to come all the way to Miami for this. I really like the ambience though. Plenty of seating. Nice Bar area.
(3)Nicole M.
I used to love this place till now! Service was suck! For what I paid for! I was ITB that why I have to to gave at least 18% because I know busboy got tip out from server! We got the guy server and I recognized him ( he been there for a long time since the old location, and he started from bussing table!) he never came to our table and ask how everything was! I and my family had to called him out when we need something! I orders kimchi soup, he never brought the small bowl out so I had to ask him after the soup have been put on the table for 15 mins! Well i guess, he should be back to bus the table if he dnt know the first rule of the server! GIVING SERVICE BUDDY,,,,,,,,!!!
(1)Jake N.
Food is not ok. Service not good. Was really disappointed. Not good, for second chance!! Go some other place, beware! Its so bad they even made me create a yelp profile! Shameful no class disgraceful management. Apparently Cops love this place for some reason, probly getting free meal. Cause i wouldn't spend a dollar there even if i was a cop!
(1)Maggie N.
I've been here twice. The first time was to check out their ramen, which completely disappointed but then again, I have yet to find good ramen in this area since I moved here almost a year ago. On my second visit (because not all Japanese restaurants make good ramen and that is not necessarily a reflection on the rest of their menu), we went for lunch. My husband ordered the tekka-don (the pork katsu, egg, & onion over rice) and I ordered the tuna sashimi salad. The fried pork in the tekka-don was bland and squishy. The flavor of the dish itself was too overpoweringly sweet. A definite no-go. The tuna sashimi salad had very thin slivers of tuna over a bed of mixed lettuce with thin sliced radishes. The salad dressing was too strong & overwhelmed the entire salad. I couldn't taste the sashimi at all (whether it was because the tuna was so very thin or because the dressing hid the flavor but most likely a mixture of both these things.) The lettuce contained a lot of the white no-flavor part of the lettuce (what is that called anyways?!) which I find a lot of restaurants use as filler to cut costs (pet-peeve of mine!) I must say the ambiance is great. I love the decor. We were greeted promptly and the waiter initially was very attentive but then seemed to lose interest in us. I hate to give negative reviews but I gave this place two chances and was dissatisfied both times despite the relative good reviews from other Yelpers. :-(
(1)Rosa S.
Food is good if you know what to order. Having invited my Thai friend for a birthday surprise, she ordered many small plates, and we all shared. The seaweed salad has kelp, and is real seaweed of different varieties. They make their own sauces, and they are fabulous, and NO MSG!!! Yay!! Sea bass marinaded in miso was tender and delicious, but small for a $13 entree. The various vegetables with sauce that my friend ordered were delectable. Try the tuna with avocado sauce, it is exquisite with a very subtle pesto aftertaste. The mushrooms my friend ordered were ver aromatic and delicious. The only problem was the waitress ruined the dessert surprise when she brought out dessert plates and forks for everyone BEFORE the dessert with the candles. We sang happy birthday anyway, even though they ruined the surprise. Very loud and frenetic atmosphere.
(4)Lucy W.
On the top of my bill read the following: Food is not as good as it used to be (along with 20% gratuity because that was the only thing that stayed the same and was satisfactory). Apparently, the whole meal was an epic fail and not just because of one hit or miss item. I can forgive the portions mysteriously shrinking more so in size and the pricing not, but the food was average AT BEST. Miso sea bass had two large pieces of bone in it and was covered in some overly powering sweet paste. Like teriyaki. I don't remember it being this nasty sweet. The scallops with asparagus and mushroom in butter sake sauce was extremely small but the worst was the scallops weren't even seared/cooked well AND the stringy pieces of asparagus. Asparagus can't be that expensive. For $8.50 a plate I'm sure you can buy more than one stalk so why not cut the correct part for me to eat? Shrimp tempura roll was the only decent thing but even my one piece tasted like freshly roasted sesame seeds. I could go on but I will spare you and keep this update short. I wanted to order more to prove my bad experience wrong but when you're starving and the food still tastes disappointing, and I couldn't bare the idea of being further disappointed... that's a really BIG disappointment that you really can't argue or deny. I will not return.
(2)Robert H.
Wanted sushi and was tired of Hiro's which is nearby...so I met my girlfriend at Yakko-San and we had a fantastic meal. Ambiance was great. The staff was very attentive and friendly. Bartender was knowledgable and made good drinks. Most importantly, the food was fantastic and flavorful. Beautifully presented. Will definitely go there more often and highly recommend it. And they are open until 3am.
(4)Kien M.
We got here on a Saturday night and waited about 30 minutes. The main reason for coming here is because some of my friends had cravings for ramen. I didn't have high expectations since we came from California which is known for Asian cuisines. We started off with some starters: black pork belly, jalepeno hamachi, takoyaki, and sashime platter. All dishes were decent and the fish seem fresh. I ended up ordering the salt ramen for my entree. There is two main things I look for in ramen, savory broth and fresh noodles. Hiro's has none of them but they do have a lot of shrubs to dress their noodle bowls. For dessert, I had the volcano. Ice cream with wafers and red bean sauce. Looks like they mixed a bunch of sweet things together and gave it a fancy name.
(3)David G.
This place was ok, nothing special. The price is average to expensive, the quality of the food is very average. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out to us. I was disappointed when asking to substitute something for the shrimp in the rainbow roll (which we don't eat) and they said sure! They simply removed the shrimp, so the rainbow roll had spinach and asparagus inside, and the sliced fish on top. Nothing to enjoy on a roll with nothing good inside. Other food we had was their ramen, which was low to average compared to the others we have tried. The spicy tuna roll was good, and good for the price too. Overall, nothing wrong with this place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)Betsy D.
Crispy Bok Choy is amazing!!!!! We had the Pork Katsu Don and enjoyed it very much. The plum wine was nice too!
(5)Christine V.
If I could give zero or negative stars I would. This was the WORST eating experience I have ever encountered in my life, no joke. This place should have as its motto "you will yak if you eat at yakko-San." As if the waiter messing up our order multiple times wasn't bad enough they served me the grilled salmon with the plastic wrapping still on it!! Because they stuck the wrap in the grill with it, the plastic melted and fused with the salmon so it camouflaged as salmon skin! I ate about half of it before I picked at the "strange skin" and a larger plastic piece came off. I freaked and even my friends said it was just fried salmon skin... Until they touched it and confirmed it was indeed the plastic wrap. I got so pissed i brought the plastic to the sushi chef and told him i want a refund and asked him where the bathroom was. To detox, I had to yak/throw up everything I ate to get rid of the plastic I consumed. I will have to admit the staff were pretty nice about it. The waiter apologized and the head chef came out to apologize. They removed the cost of my meal from the check and gave free dessert. BUT the chef who messed up hid in the kitchen; I was told it was his 2nd day working and the head chef apologized on his behalf. 2nd day working or not, it's COMMON SENSE to remove plastic wrapping before cooking. This cook should find another job because the kitchen is definitely not for him. And another annoying thing is that places in Miami beach add 17% gratuity automatically. Maybe that's why service is so poor. These employees would not survive in California, where service actually determines your tip. In terms of food, this place is just ok. We all ate the lunch special. The shrimp tempura is really good and the salad has a pretty good dressing. But overall, nothing to rave about. If I lived in Miami, it wouldn't be anything worthy to return to. Save yourself the trouble and eat elsewhere.
(1)Brian G.
Sitting at bar little but if wait for food but good . Worth the wait . Drinks tasty too
(3)ZS G.
Driving 45 minutes for this place over and over and over again shows you how much I love this place! The food is great, the menu is innovative. Items to try: crispy fish onion salad, spicy tuna harumaki; the fried oysters; takiyaki? (I think that's what it's called); yakiniku don; yakko steak; ramen; age tofu; VOLCANO!
(5)J K.
Started watching this series on Netflix called 'The Mind of a Chef' w/ my seed. Produced by Anthony Bourdain which follows around David Chang of 'Momofuku' fame.. First episode was on NoOdles. Bad idea watching anything food related after midnight, but great solution after i peeped that Yakko's open tiLL 3AM. So, we boogied over there to grab the Shoyu Ramen & some Nigiri. I got the Tamago aka Egg.. I order that shit every time for nostalgic reasons. Chances are u aren't gonna phuc w/ it but I do. Got the assist from the Homie Wowee to get that Jack & Hamachi which were both scrumptious. I'm gonna come clean...I didn't phuck w/ the Tuna/Toro tho. The Homie Wowee said that they cut it open fresh but this tuna had no flava like SOME of my Caucasian friends on the dance floor. Could've had that Ramen a Lil hotter temp wise & appreciated if the pork were slightly chargriLLed...but for 2-3 AM on a Mon/Tues in this area, i Phuc's w/ this spot hardbody.
(4)Kevin W.
Ah-MAY-zing Japanese restaurant. All cooked dishes really shine here. Try and get a seat at the sushi bar. The sashimi is insane. Everything is soooo fresh. Great service. You will not find "cutely named sushi rolls" here. They bring the real stuff and they bring it strong. Enjoy!!
(5)Eschel H.
Another trip to NMB and another great experience at Hiro's. The only real "loser" of the night was the sashimi appetizer we started with. And that's not because it was bad, but simply because it was just ok. When compared to the rest of the dishes we had, it paled in comparison. Our selections: - Above mentioned sashimi - Hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail collar) This is so good, that you will literally be picking up the bones to find every little morsel left. - Grilled sliced steak, whose name escapes me - The homemade BBQ sauce it was served with had tiny pieces of sweet sautéed onions that we were scraping up, enjoying every little morsel. - Sautéed spinach with mushrooms, which was especially good when dipped in those onions... We also saw the couple next to us had a whole fish served in small fried morsels, that looked amazing. We need to come with friends one time to try that... The only reason I don't give five stars is because the service is a bit strained because they are simply SO slammed. We got there at 9pm on a Saturday night every table was taken and there were about 15 people waiting (no reservations). Word to the wise - If there are just a couple of you, get a spot at the kitchen bar. You'll be seated much more quickly and it's great to watch the guys working on all those great dishes.
(4)Chip D.
Great prices - especially or lunch. Very polite and quick service! Sushi/sashimi portions were of larger than average - which is good in my book!
(3)Gretchen P.
The food here is really fresh and delicious. They have a great variety of sake and some Japanese whiskey that is pretty tasty. I sat at the bar and had a great time chatting up the friendly staff and enjoying a wonderful meal.
(4)Laura S.
We came to Yakko- San last night for dinner. I liked the decor and the service was very friendly. I had some veggie sushi rolls, which were very good. My boyfriend had the ramen, and loved it. We had a couple appetizers that were all amazing: daikon salad, crispy bok choy, and some kind of sauteed spinach ( i forgot what it is called). We also had the fried cheesecake for dessert, it was excellent!
(4)Tony A.
My wife and I still love Hiro's! I think the sushi is underrated. I think when they moved into the new location they really were able to expand their sushi offerings with their huge sushi bar. The fish comes out very quickly too and there are always really great sushi offerings. The Chef's Daily 6 always has awesome sushi options!
(5)Megan M.
Yakko San puts a twist on typical Japanese restaurants in the area. I always go to Hiro on 163rd, but decided to try Yakko San when I was in the mood for Japanese food because I had heard good things. Overall, my experience was ok. Inside the restaurant, I felt a little cramped. The only table available was next to the wall and the edge of the bar. Service was friendly, polite, and fast. Other than an awkward moment toward the end of our meal, that aspect was great. When we were finished, one of the employees came to our table and set down other people's half eaten dishes on our table and then started stacking all of the plates in front of us to take them to the kitchen. Not only was this awkward, but it was gross. I would rather he come back for our plates than have to interrupt our conversation to put other people's leftovers on our table to save himself a trip to the kitchen. The food was hit or miss. My edamame was good, but not nearly as hot as it should have been. I also ordered the sweet potato tempura because those were the only vegetables they hadn't run out of. By the way, it wasn't sweet potato. It tasted like a regular potato. My friend ordered a seaweed salad. It was different from any seaweed salad I've seen before, and the waiter did tell us that, but it was strange, and for around $8, the portion was tiny. The best part about that dish was the dipping sauce. Yum! That was almost the best part of the meal until my friend's dumplings came out. Those were delicious. I may come back to Yakko San and try a few other things, but for now, I'll stick to Hiro because I can't really see what all the hype is about.
(3)Cliff F.
Yakko-San is a mixed bag (for me, anyway). I never, ever order anything but sushi at Japanese restaurants. Because of this, Yakko-San was a bit of a disappointment. I would have expected their menu to have more sushi and less entree items, etc...oh well. We ordered four sushi rolls and an agedashi tofu for an appetizer. The tofu was amazing. Sweet, fishy broth with lightly tempura fried tofu--very hot, very satisfying. Rolls were slightly larger than average--presentation wasn't too overdone, which is refreshing. Definitely better than average, but the Saba Battera was DELICIOUS. I would drive from S. Miami to Sunny Isles for this one roll...an "Osaka style box roll," it features marinated mackerel and rice. That's it--and it's perfection. A must try. Service was good--nothing of note, bad or good.
(4)Sarah P.
I adored Yakko-san during my time in Miami. In an area where finding good Asian food is almost close to impossible, Yakko-san was a little gem of the Asian persuasion. The service was good, prices were very reasonable, and the food was plentiful & fantastic. My personal favorites were the curry donkatsu (pork), eel donburi, and yakiniku steak donburi. Ohhhh the yakiniku steak. I brought my mother here when she was visiting and she was positively radiating with excitement from this dish that she actually ordered a 2nd one to go to eat later. Must be where I get my foodie genes from...... Other less memorable dishes that I've tried were the yakisoba (huge portion) and a couple sushi dishes that were good but typical. My mother also loved the kimchi natto (fermented soybeans) but that ain't really my thang so I couldn't personally tell you how I felt about it. This is the place to go in North Miami if you're craving good Asian food.
(5)Ashley M.
One of the best experiences I have had in a restaurant in quite some time. The service was excellent: hostess accurately quoted the wait time, the waiter never left us waiting, and the chefs (we sat at the bar) were extremely friendly. As others have said as well, I am also not an expert on authentic Japanese cuisine. What I do know - the plates are artisticly presented and full of flavour. The portions are large for the price, and everything tasted extremely fresh. With the recommendations of my fellow yelpers and the waiter, we ordered: Crispy bok choy appetizer $6.50 - Very good. It was a tiny bit too salty and too big of a portion for just two. Would be great for four to share. Yakiniku (BBQ) steak $ 10.00 - Wonderful flavour and perfect portion size. My only complaint? I'm usually very good with chopsticks and I kept making a fool of myself with this :) Hamachi Kama (Fish cheek) $13.50 - Delicious. We even watched the chefs cut the fish fresh before sending it off to be grilled. No complaints whatsoever. Pork fried rice $ 7.50 - Not your usual fried rice, this was much fresher and appeared more "authentic". Great flavour and a really nice portion size. Perfect for 2-3 people. Fried cheesecake $5.75- Very good. I would have preferred something a bit more "authentic" (though I'm not positive, I don't think that cheesecake is Japanese lol) It was the recommendation of the waiter, and it did not disappoint. Overall a great value for the service and quality of food received. Definitely a new favourite restaurant. We even saw that when the gentleman next to us shared his sake with the chefs, he was given all sorts of little samples to try **note to self - buy sake next time and share with the chefs! I'm looking forward to trying some of the more adventurous things on the menu. Kimchee and jellyfish, here I come!
(5)Lisa W.
I've been hearing about this place since BEFORE I moved to Miami. I finally had the occasion to try it and it was an epic fail. Why? Because I mistakenly went to "Hiro Sushi" on 163rd which is NOT the same thing nor the same owner (it apparently is the ex wife of Hiro at Yakko San who kept the name/restaurant in the divorce). I FINALLY corrected my mistake this past weekend. Yakko San is in the shopping center where Duffy's is in Aventura/North Miami Beach, right next to Old Navy. Huge public parking lot and even offers complimentary valet. I walk in and the place is packed! Nice decor, everything very clean, decent design and lighting. A few flat screens to watch the Heat game and very attentive staff. First off, forget about the sushi. Yes it is excellent but your first time, step outside the box and try the Japanese "tapas". All portions are great for sharing and for what you get, very reasonably priced. We ordered 4-5 tapas and a few sushi rolls and were stuffed! I highly recommend the pork/onion salad (New Times just named it one of the top 100 dishes in the 305), crispy bok choy, vegetable tempura, eggplant/pork/miso stir fry, chinese black sausages (yum and served with a spicy wasabi-like mustard) and hamachi jalapeno. We only scratched the surface of the menu and I will be back! Two of us got out of there for a total bill of about $45 including two beers and 4-5 tapas. It was excellent!
(5)Asami S.
There aren't many restaurants like this place and open so late. They do have a lot of traditional Japanese dishes that are very hard to find in South Florida. Okanimiyaki was one that I was very excited to try. I was a little disappointed with it though. It did not taste authentic. The texture and temperature were off and it left a lot to be desired. The ramen is loaded with noodles and slices of meat and eggs. It tasted better than some, and it was edible, but it still was not authentic. I have also tried a few of the donburi entrees (meat with egg over rice) and was disappointed. Do not get them. They were unpleasantly soggy, strongly eggy, and mushy. I just wish this restaurant was a little less Americanized. I think I was mostly just happy to see other Japanese food aside from sushi.
(3)Jade S.
I Have never been disappointed. Open late every night.VERY GOOD FOOD!
(4)Mio F.
4 stars, mostly for the wide space, ambiance, hours, large bar, and the food (and assume drink as well) selection. I only had sushi this time so I will save the other food review for later time. My friend was pleasantly surprised when he received the bill (it was Sunday afternoon), overall sushi was good/ok, but portion not that big as others write, and most are rather bland.... (which may be good since it's not as Americanized). Service was good, food came fast, and I understand the place will help our midnight cravings, which is awesome. I will go back happily especially late at night, it's also in a nice shopping center where you can actually do other shopping like Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Dollar Store, etc. Again food is good or passing, not the greatest, but given the other factors this is still a good choice.
(4)Victor M.
I cannot believe this restaurant has a four star rating. Their sushi is not even average, specially for the price
(1)Johnny Q.
Can the Cheesecake Factory please sell their Japanese restaurant back?!?!? I know this is not a dedicated sushi house but if Sizzler from the 80's was resurrected and morphed into a Japanese restaurant. This would be its offspring I am missing the boat on this place. I understand this place is not going for the intimate sushi setting but this restaurant feels that I walked into a bad chain restaurant from the 80's. The place is huge and clean. The tofu kimchi was pretty tasty. Lychee martini was good and pretty strong. The wait staff is definetly in need of improvement. The pictures from other yelpers definetly deceived me. Meaning it the sushi looked ALOT better in pictures. Rubber and dull, Ive had better sushi from a supermarket.
(2)David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=5 // Service=4.5 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=Yes // Bathrooms=OK // Overrated=No Hands down the best restaurant in Miami. It has recently moved to a new location and it very cool inside... You know it is good when 50% of the patrons are asian. Try the BBQ Eel, Onion Fish Salad, Lotus Root(cheap), Seaweed Salad, any made to order soup and most of all the spicy tuna harumaki(probably spelt wrong). Also, try to find the asian waiter that speaks hebrew...
(5)Kioko O.
This is one of the few places (besides Joe's Stone Crab) that I recommend when my friends visit Miami. And their feedback has been quite good. Yakko-san was the first to successfully introduce Japanese tapas (izakaya dishes) in Greater Miami area when only Japanese dish known to mankind there were teriyaki chicken and American invented funky rolls. They also place emphasis in selections of wines and sakes. I am not sure if Hiro-san, the owner, still works as a chef. But if he is, you are in luck! Ask him what's good that day. He's a master of creating dishes that are delicate in taste and beautiful in presentations. Another plus is that they stay opened until 2AM on Thursday through Sunday, and 3AM on Friday and Saturday
(5)Allan L.
Really good food. Been coming to this place before they moved and always consistent great quality food. Try the spicy Manila clams, absolutely ridiculous and try the flank steak cooked medium well in the Yakko-San BBQ sauce. Steak is super tender! Enjoy
(5)Stuart S.
This was the second time I have been to this newer location and will be the last. I generally sit at the such I bar which we did tonight. It took ten minutes to find a waiter and was told by the one we were able to call over he would try to find our server. Things only got worse after that. The next time we saw her was when I again asked another waiter to find her for our check. The sushi as I learned is now made without wasabi! Apparently some of their customers don't like it so it has now been "Americanized " This American will be eating his sushi elswhere!
(1)Stephanie L.
This is my favorite place to eat in Miami (or close to Miami in that case). Not only this is the best Japanese restaurant in town but you are also transported to Japan the second you cross their door. Almost all the cooks are Asian, speak Japanese, the pictures in the restaurant are of Asian stars...this is really a cultural experience. Great service and great food. My favorites are the crispy fish salad and the grilled calamari, along with a cup of green tea to drench your thirst. It has become a tradition for me and a friend to go every two weeks. We sit at the cook station and watch "the show". The cooks are terrific and you get hungry for every plate they cook before your eyes. Really a must go on your way back from Aventura Mall.
(5)Tough C.
This is a great place to have Japanese tapas. Delicious options of Asian fusion dishes at affordable prices. The staff is quick, friendly and they are always there to make sure you have a good experience. I highly recommend it!
(4)Coty S.
The only reason why we feel victim to this establishment is that everyone in our party was not from Miami. If we were local, then maybe we would have known better than to eat here. I called and they said that they do not take reservations. So, we came in at 8:00PM on a Friday and stood, yes standing there, in the doorway for 50 minutes. This was a business dinner, so we should have left as soon as we saw the place, but there were only three parties waiting so we had no clue that it would take so long. I started drinking because we were trying to kill time, but we had to beg the hostess to start a tab for us. They made us wait so long that we had to close the tab out in cash. We were being pushed and shoved out the way the entire time we were waiting by the staff and other customers that were regulars and given priority over us. We had to sit at the bar after an initial seating fake out twenty minutes before. They were also able to do separate checks for us, which was nice. Everything is pretty standard cooked Japanese and fusion fare. Other reviewers are calling it Tapas style, but that is how most real Japanese restaurants serve food, unless you order a full entrée. WAY OVERRATED - I had higher hopes for the food, seeing that most of the reviews claim that it is authentic. I can get better casual Japanese (cooked food) dining at "I Ai" in Tampa, FL which is much smaller of a city. The highlights were the Whole Grilled Squid and the Onigiri (any filling). The cold soba noodles were cooked perfectly, and paired very well with the grilled squid. We ordered at least 15 dishes, but those were the best in my opinion. Avoid the Eggplant Salad, it was really mushy and gross, and I am actually a huge fan of eggplant. They only have sashimi here, so if you are looking for rolls or nigiri that is not going to happen. You are better off getting take-out food from their to-go style place next door and going through our experience. The food is 3 stars and the service is 1 star. If they were more professional and not just downright rude, I might give them a higher rating. It took me so long to calm down from being pissed for an hour that it was difficult to enjoy my meal.
(1)Cuong T.
Food: Not recommended if you're looking for great food for the price. The portion was very little and the prices on the menu were pretty brutal. $45 for 25 small pieces of sashimi. I have never seen such a small piece of sashimi in my life. The Sashimi Large showed up like crumbs of sashimi hiding behind all the garnish. I saw more garnishing than the food. The seafood soup that I order was wayyy salty, not only me but everyone at the table complained. The price of most appetizers were easily $10 each, and of course the portions were very small. Service: There were many waiters but not attentive to the customers. I waved my hands in front of many of them and no one spotted me. Even the ones who saw me didn't acknowledged, but just walked by. Two of the waiters somehow try to collect the dish WITH food on them before we told them we were done. I felt like I was rushed to finish my food. Not very great service. Environment: The place looks more like a bar without almost every table drinking alcohol. The mood of the place was leaned toward for adult. Not recommended if you're looking to have a family dinner with great food for the price. It's more like an insanely overpriced snack spot.
(1)Charlie L.
Oh, good god.... this place is goooooood.. So so good. I've had Japanese food all over the world, and this is probably in the top 5 places I'd want to eat again. Jenny, Dan and I were visiting from various parts of the country when we stumbled upon this gem... well, actully, we didn't really stumble upon it as the hostess from Naoe gave us the recommendation, and to be absolutely frank, Hiro's is by far, better than Naoe despite Naoe's chef pedigree and triple A ingredients. At the end of the day, good food is good food, not matter what the atomosphere is like... and eventhough this place may seem "low-brow" compared to Naoe, the food is just so well flavored that I would chose this over Naoe any day. Every dish we had were out of this world and the sake was first rate. If I lived remotely close to Miami, I would go here over and over again. Five stars, not to be missed!
(5)Jennie S.
This was where I went on my first date with my current boyfriend, and it honestly impressed me so much as a choice for a date that it scored him serious points...! I love this joint. This is where chefs go to eat when they get off work, for one because they're open super-late, but also because the food is excellent and the prices very reasonable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the chefs in action. I haven't been there since they opened their new location so I can't speak to the ambiance there, but I know that in the old location, it was very laid-back, casual, nothing fancy but not quite dive-y either. But the ambiance was great because you could watch the chefs work, and the menu is just so great. This is NOT for sushi...I don't think they even sell sushi. This is hot Japanese food. If you're a vegetarian, there is plenty on the menu you can eat; if you're looking for meat or fish, there is plenty of that too. I have tried veggies I'd never even heard of before there, like burdock root. Their veggie tempura is awesome because it has a lot of exotic vegetables in it. Whenever we go we try something new, and we love it all. This is a must-go in Miami.
(5)Luis G.
As far as I know, this is the only place in South Florida that serves Zaru soba. I've been on the hunt for these cold buckwheat noodles for the longest time and Yakko-San delivered. Delicious in its simplicity and elegance, served with a nice dipping sauce over a bamboo mat and with a little bit of crispy nori on top...Yummm. Hiro's Yakko-san is a great choice in the area because it is high quality food and service and open till mad late (3 am). Their specialty seems to be the Yakitori part of Japanese cuisine, but it seems they have a lot covered, from the Sashimi, to the Ramen, to the Soba and Takoyaki -which is some of the best I've tried by the way- everything I had was great, and I must agree with the previous reviewers the crispy Bok-choy was crazy good! I still have no idea how they do that. Their extensive menu gives way to multiple tries, and I'm certainly up for it. Good choice for dining out!
(4)Nighthawk H.
You know when you see actual Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant that it is going to be good. Sashimi is delicious and fresh, ambiance was great and it wasn't too loud. The best part is, if you are feeling frisky after your dinner, there is gentleman's club near by.
(5)Andrew S.
Relatively speaking the best ramen I've had in a looooong time. They only have four selections, but they are so good: - the kimchee ramen is the bomb - miso ramen is good - chicken or pork katsu should be dipped into the broth for a nice crunch Some of the few problems I had with this place: - hiyayakko (a tofu appetizer...)... eh, dont waste your time. - soy sauce is too salty Great prices and our server was wonderful... her name is Wendy.
(4)Jay L.
Got's to give it a 3.5...I shoulda known it couldn't be as good as everyone else raved cuz you just can't get great Japanese food here in Florida...You can't really get ANY great Asian food here. It's probably cuz most people here don't even know what they are missing. Most Floridians (not all) have no idea what the difference is. They just lump all Asians and Asian food into one category. Just read the reviews about this place and you can see. I don't want to dis the other Yelpers here, after all, I am outsider, but this is NOT straight up Japanese food. It's not fusion either. How to put it... So it's not a stupid "Thai/Sushi/Chinese" place...I can't believe anyone even falls for that here...but it's definitely not pure Japanese either. They have Korean and Chinese ingredients all through the menu. Not a bad thing at all. They DO have a special Japanese menu if you want and can read it...They prolly don't offer it to the gringos though. Ya gotta ask for it. That being said, it's more "Asian" than say, PF Chang's or any other number of Americanized joints you might find scattered throughout Florida. They use some less Americanized ingredients and flavors. So, overall, it's more of a flavor trip than chain places. I thought the food was pretty good, just not as good as it's all hyped up to be here on Yelp. I had the crispy bok choy...very tasty...but isnt' anything that's fried? In a perfect world, it'd be a little spicy. Had the pan fried gyoza. Awful. No flavor. Skip them. Also got the sashimi appetizer. The fish was actually pretty good. Not the freshest, but not bad. Not chewy or fishy, but bite-able. The highlight was the yakiniku donburi which was a well marinated steak over rice. Was cooked well, tender and wasn't a generic teriyaki sauce. A bit sweet, with enough salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Perhaps a little MSG as well for the umami flavor. Mirin too? I think perhaps. Oh, I forgot they also gave me a starter bite, a little cold noodles in vinegar. I don't know what it's called. And yes, some of the waitstaff aren't Japanese or Korean...so some of them won't know what you order if you order in Japanese. They have some Latino dude and some Thai chick... Overall, I liked it...wouldn't quite give 4 stars though. It did save me from eating at the mall though.
(3)Jordan N.
I bumped it up another star for being a good late-night option. However, food didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would - but then again, I do think this place has been hyped. Food is satisfying and I would return whenever I'm in the mood for good Japanese food late at night (besides sushi). I had the following: Spicy Manila Clams Age-nasu (deep-fried asian eggplant). Croquettes Sea Bass Miso (grilled chili on sea bass marinated miso) Fried Cheese Cake Roll Hot Tea Sake
(4)Randy L.
Stopped in today, ordered ramen dish. Almost as good as Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Place was empty for lunch. Sat next to King of Miami, Yelper. May make it a regular stop when in the area.
(4)Wing L.
It's hard to find authentic-inspired Japanese food in Miami but Hiro's Yakko-san was decent. No crazy habachi grills or random crazy sushi rolls here. Yakko-san specializes in Japanese tapas dishes that can be shared amongst your party. Their sushi selections are good and resemble more of Japan than those crazy Asian-Fusion crap that you see floating around these days. Miami roll? Please..... Yakiniku Steak(meats), Unagi Kabayaki-BBQ eel (grill), Ika Maryyaki-grilled squid (grilled) and bolognese pasta were some of the food we've tried. The steak was tender and well flavored. The BBQ eel was smoky (but still a bit "fishy" so if you tend not to like that, steer away. I really enjoyed the grilled squid. It wasn't flavored much but with lemon, it goes a long way. The pasta was done Japanese style (with ketchup). Was I transported back to Japan eating these foods? No, but at least I was in a good authentic Japanese restaurant that wasn't serving Chinese, Thai, and other Asian fusion food that tends to lump all of them as one.
(3)Brian L.
15 words of less: Nothing need be said. 15 words or more: Where do you start? Chefs eat here. Does that say something? Just go. Give it a try. The food is great. My personal favorite is the whole fish. They have between 3 and 4 fresh fishes. You pick the fish and generally the size you want. They will prepare it in one of several ways. We always go with the fried version. The best part is the presentation. The fish is cubed and then put back onto the fish. The result is bite sizes pieces of fried goodness. No muss and no fuss. Just eat and enjoy. There are a ton of stand out dishes, but what is great is to just explore the menu and try things you probably will not see on any other menu in South Florida. Lotus root, really? Yes please...crunchy in texture and flavorful do to the sauce. Yaki-udon with pork? Better believe it...a texture dish for me, as I really dig the chewiness to the noodles. Crispy bok choy. Sure and just dump that sauce on it instead of dipping. Seafood hot pot. Works for me...loaded with fish and veggies. Fried shrimp with spicy mayo. Oh yeah. Note that the place apparently will offer a shabu shabu platter, but you have to give advance notice. A friend tried it and said it was very good. For sake, my choices are the number 2 and the number 4. Ordering it in a bamboo will net you about 6-8 glasses, which will go fast so consider going with a bottle if you have a sake drinking crowd with you. Sure, we all miss the old place. It had charm...in a beat up strip mall, the inside was beat up, and you basically sat on top of everybody else. The new place will not have that same feel, but frankly, in the end I am there for food and good company. And that has not changed. PS, thank you Yakko San for opening up the wifi. The new place is where cell phone signals go to die. They just opened up the wifi, which is a huge plus.
(5)Flora V.
Finally, some fresh and amazingly authentic japanese food in Miami. I've tried a few here and been settling for less. not anymore! this is our new favorite sushi spot. everything we've tried there was made to perfection, the rolls (recommend, spicy tuna and jalapeno yellowtail hamachi). I haven't tried too many things but so far everything was extremely fresh and prepared well. Met one of the owners, May. Really sweet! can't wait to go back and try more menu items.
(5)Ed A.
Horrible...The people that work here threw my friend's food at her while she was leaving. Just because they were dying to close, will NEVER come here again. Don't come here, if you do, don't come near closing unless you feel like getting your doggie bag thrown at you.
(1)Jonah K.
Lunch was decent here, but nothing to write home about. Not very memorable, but just ordered a variety of nigiri, and sashimi. There was pretty much no one in the place when we arrived at 11:30am, and not many people when we left at 12:30pm or so.
(2)Carlos P.
Its hard to rate because all I had was a spicy tuna hand roll. W came in to eat sushi but they only have about 9 rolls on the menu. My wife loves jb rolls and they don't have it here. Paid for my drinks and hand roll, but going down the street to Hiros
(3)Jane L.
Awesome, authentic Japanese food. I've tried a lot of Japanese restaurants in NJ/NYC and hands down, this is the best place I've found so far in Miami. The prices are totally reasonable and portions are big for the most part. They're open til super late and my family loves going there to grab a late snack or dinner. The place is usually packed with people cause it's a good place to watch a game, grab a drink, or go on a date night. Wendy & Andy are awesome and always serve us with a smile. Their katsu curry is AH-MAZING if you like Japanese curry. Their yakiniku don, katsu don, kimchee ramen are also good. If they were closer, I'd probably go at least once a week!!!!! parking can be hard to find but valet is available.
(5)Jack B.
This was such an inconsistent experience. While some of the food we ordered did indeed live up to the hype, we were thoroughly disappointed with the service as well as some of the other dishes. The waitstaff assigned to our area was horrible. At one point a busboy brought us the wrong dish, then HE gets pissed off when the mistake is pointed out. The dishes all came out at different times. Some people at our table started to eat 15 minutes after the other people were done. The ramen was straight up horrible. Bland and parts of the meat were still frozen. Any one of these slights could have been brushed off and forgiven with a slight apology, but instead the mistakes just kept piling on. Bottom line, this place could be great, management just needs to tighten the screws.
(2)Thomas K.
Great atmosphere. Very hip looking restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly, and nobody waits long to order. If your interested in a spicy salad, I recommend the tuna or salmon sashimi salad. Get the spicy option. Japanese authenticity at its best! Plenty of parking and other shopping around.
(5)Irene R.
This is my all-time favorite Japanese place in South Florida. I'm a creature of habit and order my staple items each time and I've never been disappointed...crispy bok choy, agedashi tofu, short rib yakiniku, dried kawahagi, gizzard kara-age, and the buttery mentaiko. I miss their old location that had a more intimate, neighborhood feel. The new place is definitely better and more visually appealing, but it's a bit too glam and flashy for me. But hey, I'm here for the food. :)
(5)Steven G.
Quick, courteous, super fresh and innovative. It is not a legend for nothing. The owner watches the room like a HAWK. Missing friendly attentive service in Miami? Come here. Fresh ingredients and good prices? Come here. Any naysayers are plants!
(4)D S.
If you have not been to Yakko-San then you are missing on some really creative Sushi. The problem with sushi nowadays is that there are so many sushi restaurants that the bar for quality and variety has been set terribly low. The food is well prepared and rich in flavors. One of those nights we went fishing and returned with a Hog Snapper. We had not even prepare the fish we just hand it over to them and 10 minutes later they had ready. They cut the fish in small pieces and then deep fried them. The body and the head served as decoration sort of like when you get a flounder at a Chinese restaurant. The only negative is that they are a bit on the expensive side. On the other hand there aren't to many places in the area that are open till 2am!
(5)S G.
The location or ambience won't keep you running back to this place but the food probably will (so long as you are mildly adventurous)! Foodies should definitely give it a try! Affordability is a nice added perk too.
(4)Mary-Ann I.
This is not primarily a sushi place. We found this place when we were looking for a sushi restaurant in Miami. We read great reviews so we gave it a shot. The food is delicious, although not so much for the sushi. They're rolls were good, not great. The waiter told us to try the Beef Tataki so we did and it was delicious. We also loved the tuna guacamole and the Hamachi Jalapeños Pepper. Service was great and prices were very reasonable. If you're looking to eat just sushi, though, this isn't the place.
(4)Melissa F.
CRISPY PORK AND ONION SALAD!!!!! After reading about this restaurant in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times I made it a point to check this place out. The location is nestled in the Intercostal Plaza near Old Navy and The Frank Movie Theater, prefect for an after shopping lunch date or dinner after a movie. Their dressing is to die for and the pricing is very reasonable. The dining area is a descent size but the lay out and decor makes it feel intimate. Portions are perfect for sharing and with their prices you can easily find yourself ordering a variety of dishes. Just one visit and I'm a fan.
(4)Natan C.
This place has the most bizzare rules and regulations. All guests and the staff gets treated like garbage. Most of the waiters don't know what they're doing. The devilish and drank owner has no consideration or ounce of gratitude for her customers and it shows. My girlfriend was also absolutely shocked to waste the time and money. I recommend to avoid it !!!
(1)Dennis M.
Authentic unusual Japanese. For the foodie adventurer. Delicious!
(5)Marc G.
Ummm...Hiro WTF happened? When we moved to MIA in 2007 this place was our absolute fave. My wife and I went here over and over and over again, birthdays, friday nights, late night after doing something else. We took friends from other countries, nieces from Orlando and their boyfriends and raved about it. We knew the waiters and waitresses by name (anyone remember David - that man was the BOMB). That was when the place was on W. Dixie in what people used to call a hole in the wall. To the regulars, the place was home, as a Japanese Homestyle (or Izakaya as one other yelper called it) should be. You used to walk in and be greeted by a hearty "Irasshaimase" from the chefs, everyone knew who you were and the place was fun, respectful and awesome food that you could rely on. But then something happened in 2010 into 2011. Hiro's new wife May started to come in ALL the time. She started to take over the business (at least this is my perception). In a few short months, it was announced they would be moving to their present location in Eastern Shores. Some regulars (including us) were invited to the grand opening (which we could not make due to being sick). When we started to go the vibe had totally changed. It was a more bar/club like feel. You felt had to dress up to go there and the wait staff changed. We remained friendly with the old wait staff who remained and used to ask them what they thought and the consensus was, it has changed too much and lost it's old charm (mind you some of them had been there for years). Fast forward to today and I can tell you tonight was my last meal ever at Yakko san. The other yelpers are right, the place is soulless, passionless, Hiro no longer cares about the food, he walks around in a daze most of the time and the rest of the chefs follow suit. The food just sucks now and the quality of the ingredients has gone down. Had the Blue Fin Carpaccio and it tasted oily, not-fresh and the salmon roe tasted like slime from the bottom of the sewer (not that I am familiar with that taste but the thought came to mind). The wait staff is rude, arrogant and downright offensive. Our waiter kept saying he could not hear me even though I was speaking loud and frankly I believe his mind was elsewhere. There was a special tonight - stuffed mushrooms and I asked him what it was stuffed with and he said I dont really know but I am sure its good. Then he got another waiter who proceeded to tell us it was seafood stuffed with mushrooms. It was not. The atmosphere has changed completely, now it is a loud, sports bar type environment that attracts all the waiters/waitresses from Duffys and the surrounding bars as they close. I am sad to write this and sad to see the place we once loved so dearly turn to such shit. But Hiro, I think your business is about to fail. Hope you read this and change your ways but somehow I think the money is all you care about now. This is an example of how to destroy a successful restaurant. Judging from the other comments, many feel the same as we do.
(1)Chris W.
Wonderful food, sometimes hard to get a seat. Loved the takoyaki & pork w/bitter melon. Can't beat it for Izakaya, and I'd even say it's better than a number of similar places in Seattle. I looooooooove this place.
(5)Kenny H.
I like the food here a lot. However, sometimes the service here is horrible. Most of the waiters don't stop by the table for half an hour. I had to get a bus boy to get me a refill multiple times. The atmosphere is also very nice. This place just need to get some new waiters. It's great because it usually opens until 3. Most places are closed by then.
(3)Carolyn C.
My husband and his family have been coming here for years, it has recently changed locations but the owner and name are the same. I recently made my way down to Florida and was really shocked by how much I liked this place. As a table of 6, we ordered more than 20 dishes, and actually ordered some of the same dishes twice because it was sooo good. It was pretty busy when we sat down. Service was prompt and the food came fast. The flavor was all really good. It is like a Japanese tapas place, but very affordable for the quality of food that you get and you will be full. It is a very authentic for a Japanese restaurant in America. Recommendations: Seafood Miso Hot Pot (I was skeptical, but my husband said I would not regret it, and I didn't), Ton Katsu, Gizzard Kara-age and Beef tongue steak (if you are adventurous), and the Miso Sea Bass (get this, it is tender and melts in your mouth).
(5)Luke S.
Not sure how to categorize the place. They have lots of food choices on their menu which confused me. Sushi rolls were ok, too much rice for my taste. Sushi was fresh and very good; nicely presented too. Mango chicken was dry - not sure whether Mango chicken qualifies as Japanese food? Perhaps because they served it with rice? Many waiters. Somewhat inconsistent service. Ambience of a train station. Not very comfortable to spend time. Could be better at the sushi bar. For what it is, a bit on the pricey side.
(3)Marymarie P.
Miami lacks great Asian food, but Yakko-San is a family favorite! I feel like you've got to know what to order here for you to really appreciate the authencity of the food (their menu can be overwhelming with such a mixture of all Asian cuisines)...but let me tell you that this place is known for their Japanese tapas, and other Asian tapas in general...I'm talking about the bar food my Poppa use to eat with his boys with a case of Heineken and a bottle of Remy! If you're a true foodie, and you're brave and open enough to try some things that may seem a bit "weird," try my favs...PS --we normally order the same 'ole thang, and ALL of following: --Dried kawahagi (trigger fish jerky) --reminds me of eating and chillin' with Pops -Spicy Manila clams --perfectly cooked (not too overcooked and not too raw) -Kim chee fried rice (a NEW fav of mine here, but portion is a tad small) -Kim chee Buta - Pork belly prepared Korean style -Hamachi cama (jaw of Yellowtail) --extremely tender meat -Crispy onion fish salad -Fried oysters --always plump and juicy here (I always ask for a different dipping sauce, I like the katsu sauce for the oysters) P.S --the new location is so much bigger!
(5)angel g.
One word: Takkoyaki I like the older location better, though.
(4)Emiliano B.
This place has some of the best sushi I have had in Miami. The quality of their sushi is amazing, very fresh fish and a lot of variety of fish that most Japanese places don't have. I gave this place 4 stars because their service could be better but the food is amazing don't let that keep you away from visiting.
(4)Bahia S.
This place is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant that I have been to outside of Japan. After living in Japan for a number of year, my husband I are constantly searching for something that comes close to the food we loved in Japan - this restaurant does! In the Japanese izakaya tradition, we ordered a number of small dishes to share among 4 people. Everything was good and most things were extremely authentic. Mixed Salad - the dressing on this is fantastic! Age Dashi Tofu - one of my favorites, tofu fried in a sweet stock. They did this exactly the way they do in Japan, and our friends who were first timers to the dish they loved it as well. Lotus Roots (renkon) - crunchy and in a delightful sauce, I have rarely seen this in the USA. Buta Nasu Miso Itame - Literally "pork eggplant miso stir-fry" this had a thick miso sauce and the eggplant was cooked just right. Yakisoba - their yakisoba was very authentic, which was refreshing after the many in-authentic versions I have tried. Ginger Pork - this was the only dish that I was disappointed in. While the sauce was good, the pork was different from the kind they use in Japan and a little dry. Rice - perfect rice! Miso Soup - a full bowl of miso soup, not the little half bowl they usually give you in American restaurants. Sake - I am not usually a big fan of sake (nihonshu), but the selection we got on the sake flight was surprisingly good. Two of the three did not have much of the aftertaste that I usually don't like. The restaurant was clean, the service was friendly, it felt like you were walking into a little slice of Japan, with lots of Japanese and Asian clientele. The price is also very reasonable. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Alexander M.
Been coming here for a few years now & have never been disappointed Trigger Fish Jerky, Burdock Lotus Root, & Crispy Bok Choy are appetizers that stand out in my opinion Ordered a simple Ramen bowl with fish broth & pork ... Affordable & plenty of Food Place is highly recommended Open till very late each night
(5)Alex S.
All is good in this place, thanlks for your service.
(5)Carlo B.
Best food in town. They have shaken out the kinks at the new location and their dishes are impressive. Hiro is a master. Take your appetite.
(5)Steven S.
I won't waste your time repeating the accolades spouted by others below (and no doubt eventually above). Just go and enjoy one of the great Miami-Dade experiences - close to but not exactly as stimulating as going 35 mph in the left lane of I-95S as an anthropological experiment. Small dishes that put the Spanish tapas people to shame. PS bokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybokchoybÂokchoy
(5)Jayne B.
Talked about this place for days so finally writing a review $ 46 for 2 people with dessert and 1 beer Menu is so large your head will spin We sat at the bar. Fast efficient service Server walked us thru the menu you a bit so could have a taste of many flavors. Ordered pickled cabbage spicy tuna roll thing liver ---one more dish but can't remember at the moment fish jerky---blew me away dessert: some cheesecake heaven on a plate thought we were stuffed but cleaned the plate The desserts were fat American back to country roots heaven that i saw being passed out Beer was large-- Left at 10pm and group of 55-80 year olds came in to dine love the variety of diners Will be back for sure
(5)Danielle G.
I initially gave this 3 stars because the food is good - but in reconsidation the quality of food is not the only consideration. Restaurants are only going to change their ways if regular customers let them know things are unacceptable. The service OMG is awful and has plummeted from when we first started going 8 months ago or so and it was never stellar to begin with. Last night we had some delicious sushi - we also had the octopus mediterranean, the delicious jalapeno hamachi, we had the daikon kimchee along with the Kama - the food was delicious - no complaints. We arrived between 6:30-7ish and sat at bar. NO ONE at the sushi bar ever even acknowledged our presence, not one time did they ever even look up or say "hi". We joked that there seemed to be this invisible wall in front of the sushi bar where the chefs were not allowed to make eye contact with customers. One of the reasons we like to sit at the bar is for interaction with the sushi chef or at least a friendly greeting. We sat for at least 5-7 minutes before anyone even approached us for water or a drink order. My partners water was never refilled. We had to flag random people down to ask for a bowl of rice as we were never even really sure who our actual server was. Random people would bring a dish out and not remove an empty dish right in front of your face, no words, no how it it? nothing.........I tried to flag down people multiple times and like they would see and look away????? I don't get it. There wasn't even really anyone to complain to visible on the way out about the horrible service - just young girls as a hostess station who would not have cared less. So read the reviews and make your decision - make no mistake I think the food is good but pricey with NO SERVICE whatsoever. At this point we have eaten here about 5 times before I wrote the review so I feel I've given them a fair chance to just have an off-night, it's more than that. No servers smiled, made recommendations or showed any hint of happiness or charm. It was a very dismal final experience for us here. Get it together guys - you can have great good but if your service sucks you will lose people like us who actually drive 40 minutes to eat specifically at your place. We would rather stay closer to home get mediocre sushi and excellent service from a small place who appreciate our business and hard earned money. When we usuall drop $150-200 for dinner we expect much better service. Last night for two of us we had 10 pieces nigiri sushi, kama, 2 appetizer dishes and daikon - we each had a cocktail and our bill was $110 without tip. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL Service last night.
(2)Jimmy B.
I keep trying asian restaurants in Miami but always come back to Hiro Yakko-San. Best in category always fresh and innovative at decent price.
(4)Maureen A.
went here for the first time on Thursday 2/2/2012 and it was awesome! we had to wait to be seated about 10 minutes so it was not too bad of a wait but we had fast, good service and the food was great! ordered the... Pork Dumplings (pan fried) Tempura Shrimp (deep fried) Chicken Fried Rice Bok Choy (flash fried) Banana Tempura with Ice Cream it was all very good! i will be back and want to try the BBQ Beef and Fried Cheesecake or Thai Donuts! oh and they were playing sports on the tv's! NBA Basketball. Full Bar too!
(4)Aris F.
Mixed feelings about the food. Good eel but hardly the best I've ever had. Delicious seaweed salad. The beef in the beef with garlic shoots way oversalted. Bok choy overrated. "Grilled" pork belly really more deep-fried than grilled -- and kinda bland for pork belly. Mushrooms steamed with butter and sake also pretty bland, even for 'subtly-flavored' japanese food. Staff excellent. Hiro's is a little too popular for the size of the restaurant, but hopefully they'll be better able to accommodate all their fans when they move to the new location soon.
(3)Melissa C.
I talk about this place all the time. In fact, anytime someone asks me if I know somewhere good to eat I will invariably suggest this restaurant first. They describe themselves as "Japanese tapas" and they don't make sushi rolls. Japanese and NO SUSHI!?!? That's correct and it's effing awesome! I'm glad it exists for the simple fact that it's a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve sushi as it's mainstay. There are so many things to choose from. Most items are under $10. I recommend being adventurous and asking them for the specials list. Definitely ask them about the fresh fish...they have guys who deliver fresh hogfish they've speared themselves. They will bring out a tray stacked with fresh locally caught fish that you pick out and they cook to order. Cold sake served from bamboo tubes, crispy bok choy, triggerfish jerky, ramen bowls, kimchee... Did I mention how AWESOME this place is? Go there.
(4)Joann C.
one of two japanese restaurants i advocate in South Florida moderate prices for yummy Japanese tapas. I have been coming here for years and the food has always been GREAT. I love their menu and its fun to try the new dishes that appear on their "specials" menu. I highy recommend the deep fried hogs head snapper and the shrimp with spicy mayo. also their kawahagi is the best!
(5)Jan T.
Husband does not like sushi so he had the teriyaki steak and enjoyed every bite. I had the crispy spicy tuna balls. I would have liked regular spicy tuna more, but it was something different. The service was very good.
(4)Kelly B.
I read good comments about this place and was feeling adventurous so decided to try it. Opened the menu and to my surprise there were only about 10 different sushi rolls on the whole menu and on the other side of it they offer pasta???? When I get my order of sushi noticed they were very small and just ok. I also ordered a glass of wine which wasn't good so asked the server to bring me another type of wine to which he replied "ok but I have to charge you for this wine too". Even though I did t drink it all he wanted to charge me!!! Totally confusing menu horrible service!!!!
(1)Candy C.
Yakkosan is known for their authentic Japanese cuisine and its late night hours for those night owl foodies. Open till 3 am! I used to love this place and would have given it 5 stars last year-- before Yakkosan moved to it's new location. Although it may seems like it has received an upgrade- bigger building, modern decor, club music......I must say that it is completely superficial. It has completely lost it's authentic feel and the ambiance has changed from a traditional and cultural to a typical modern day Japanese restaurant. We used to be greeted by the sushi chefs in Japanese upon entering and thanked leaving. The change is a great disappointment for me. The off menu items (specialty items) that were ordered off a dry erase board are long gone and they now serve sushi rolls (which they didn't in the past).--- I understand change is for the better and I would've given them at least a 3 star rating if the quality of the food continued to have the same excellence. It doesn't. Most time it is too salty, or too burnt, or "it's not available". It's a hit or miss. Sometimes it tastes decent, other times it will give you the upset stomach. Lastly, the service is not that great- the servers are not attentive or courteous. I've given the new location at least 2 tries before writing this review.
(2)judy n.
They're constantly remodeling, and it starts looking more modern, each time I come here. a great app to share: - Dried Kawahagi - dried fish and sliced, reminiscent of dried cuttlefish and squid. with a fun mayo-y type dipping sauce. - Sashimi Salad - it comes with a great vinagrette, and super fresh and light. A good app to share: - Spinach and Butter, with shitake mushroms. (Not uber buttery like u would expect) a great dish to get (Yummy!) - Yakiniku Don. It's bbq beef slices over white rice. great sauce.
(5)Neal L.
One of the best Asian restaurants in Miami that I have tried, mostly because of the taste and variety. The crispy bok choy is/was amazing, and I say that with great confidence because the first time I had it, it was amazing, but the second time, it was not (it was mostly oily). But the first time I went was at 1AM on Friday and the second time was at 2AM on Saturday, so maybe the cook staff was tired. I am eager to come back and try other interesting items. The lotus root was done very well and delicious, and the spicy squid was actually spicy (so spicy that one of the waitresses commented that she could not eat it because it was too spicy). Google the menu and you'll be interested in going. Plus the location makes the dining experience more enjoyable.
(4)Marc F.
I allowed the "first review" for this place to pass right over me. Although I am a regular here, I had hoped it would stay as much of a hole in the wall as I had once found it. The ONLY sushi restaurant, where you find yourself eating next to people of the Japanese culture; that goes to show you who is preparing the most culturally styled food, with as much flavor and purity as you find with the sushi in Japan. Unfortunately for us all, the place has gotten more popular = price changes and a wait to get in during the busier hours. Although I hoped and prayed, I knew it wasn't going to stay a hidden gem for too long. They do not serve any rolls, so keep that in mind when trying to bring someone for their first time. I would go into the menu but the review would go on for days! They have a "weekly specials" menu, which I highly recommend taking a look at, as well as the regular menu. Open only for dinner, but kept open until 2-3am! Police used to feed on only doughnuts and coffee, because it was fast and delicious.... No wonder you always see them at Yakko-San!! However, don't let this ruin your buzz, they're only here for the food as well.. Goodbye Krispy Kreme, Hello Yakko-San!
(5)Dan V.
Ordered miso ramen, wished it was less bland. Their sushi, fried eel, fish, and lobster was awesome!
(4)Esteban Z.
This place rocks! Seemed sketchy at 1am but totally worth the trip. Had enoki butter and spicy manila clams from specials menu. Both were fantastic. Got the tuna sashimi salad and added the hot peppers and avocado. Sounds boring, but with their secret dressing this will be the first thing we order next time. The Hamachi with Jalepenos was delicious in a citrus sauce. I think I had a dream about the Black Pork Belly. We finished off our meal with Yaki-Udon with pork. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Grant B.
Here's my 15 words, more or less. Small overpriced salty average portions. Loud, sterile, uninviting atmosphere. Make your Asian tastebuds and wallet go farther, go to Sushi Thai in Hallandale on US 1.
(2)Shavonne W.
This place is the best! I have been many times and everything that I've tried was great! The food is fresh, and the staff is friendly.
(5)Ashlee M.
HORRIBLE AWFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!! Had dinner here on a Saturday night. We ( my boyfriend and I) ordered 2 green salads, spinach w/ shitake mushrooms (as a side dish), curry chicken, ramen soup, chicken age. The spinach and shitake which is supposed to be a hot side dish arrived before the salads! Then the salads arrive and not 30 seconds later our entrees arrive. We're sitting at freaking little table for 2 and these morons waiters are trying to squeeze all of this crap on our table while we're not even half way done with our salads! I sent every bit of it back and told them they are making it again or we're not paying (which I'm sure they didn't). Our waitresses lame excuse was that the items come from different kitchens. I DON'T CARE! That's not my problem or concern. Once we asked for a check ( we had to track down the waitress) it took 20 minutes before that process was over. I'm never going back, they have no idea how to run a kitchen.
(1)Giorgio R.
I try to make it a point to eat here weekly...Sometimes twice a week. I love Yakko-San more than I love any restaraunt in Miami. Im not trying to say it is the best restaurant...but i will say it is the best eating expirience.Everything here is always delicious, fresh and just as good as it was the last time you had it...I'll go out on a limb and say the cripsy bok choy is one of the best appetizers you will ever have...ever. This miso seabass is incredible, the ponzu gelatin on the beef tataki will make your knees quiver and the crispy pork-onion salad will change your life. EAT AT YAKKO-SAN!
(5)Nicholas A.
Yup. Just about the best damn Japanese restaurant in Miami (so far). While it's a good 40 minute drive from where I live, the food is well worth the drive. The restaurant caters to those who know and love sushi, including other sushi chefs done with their nightly service (seriously, at least one confirmed sighting of an off-duty chef while my gf and I were there). This translates into a restaurant devoid of kitschy decoration, replaced instead with a large whiteboard displaying their fresh catch of the day (and enormous bottles of sake above the sushi station). The sushi station itself was equally impressive, as it was manned by no less than five chefs, each busy filling out the orders of a restaurant packed well after midnight. while the sushi selection is indeed impressive, it was the other items on the menu that caught my eye that night. Yakko-San's is the only restaurant I've found in Miami that serves up ramen, soba, and udon. The plate of cold soba and tempura sounded like perfect 1 AM fare, and it exceeded all expectations for presentation and taste. The fact that chefs come here for food speaks volumes. Yakko-san's is well worth the trip from anywhere in Miami Dade, should the late night munchies hit you
(5)Bob C.
One of my favorite places in Miami. They have a very interesting menu (be sure to try the spaghetti and sea urchin :-D), and its really fun to sit at the bar and watch them work on a busy night. The prices at this restaurant are very reasonable for the area, and the service is very good (or excellent by Miami Beach standards). One of the best places for Sashimi down here.
(5)Mateo S.
Pulling up to Hiro's Yakko-San, sited in a depressing strip mall on the terribly named Dixie Highway, my cab driver turned around and made a stinky "are you sure?" face. I looked at my dining companion and prepared for the worst. "What gives??" we thought aloud... this place had been recommended by a chef at Paradigm- the molecular gastronomy restaurant. The Studio 54 style mob scene outside gave us hope, though the ensuing 45 minute wait was a bit of a shoulder sinker. If its your first time here, repeat the following mantra: "I am not here for the service. I am not here for the service..." And frankly, neither are the servers. Ordering a pre dinner drink at the unmanned bar proved nearly impossible. But guess what? This place is so busy it doesn't matter. To explain, if you leave in a self-important huff, there is a ravenous crowd of people behind you thrilled to have their wait reduced. And, most importantly, if you leave, YOU CAN'T EAT THERE. The food is so insanely, ridiculously, embarrassingly delicious here that on a three day trip to South Florida we ate here twice. Two dinners! The menu is long and, at times, obscure. Close your eyes and point. Everything will blow you away, unless you blow fire and subsequently have no taste buds left; or if you subscribe to that snooty brand of uncompromising sophistication that thinks that Denny's or Red Lobster is a night of sparkling elegance and haute cuisine. (Amazingly, these people DO IN FACT exist. They were seated next to us!! It was like observing confusing foreign beasts at some travelling carnival) If you feel lost, ask the waitress to simply bring out her favorites. They will be your favorites too. SOME of my favorites: mixed mushroom foil-yaki, the gyoza, sea bass miso, angel hair uni, yakiniku don, the local shrimp, pork with bitter melon, and the fried eggplant. I wish I could remember more... I am confident that everything on the menu will put a smile on your face. Ask for a seat at the kitchen bar and you will get to witness the magic happen first hand, and probably strike up a conversation with the friendly chef and cooks, who will hand you your plates directly, as well as your introductory amuse bouche (the two nights we were there it was an amazing and homey macaroni, potato and corn salad). Waitress tip: they are busy from 7pm until 10pm, slow down until midnight, then have a second rush until 2 am when all the restaurant industry people drop in following their shifts. So shoot for that middle window to reduce your chances of a wait.
(5)Smith M.
Shocked and Appalled As I was having dinner at yakko san, I witnessed an act that at the time I did not know was orchestrated by the co-owner. I heard a loud voice using profamity and the attempted failure of picking up a stool to be thrown at a female customer which was my friend. I will never return and will advise all of my family, friends to stay away. What ever happened to the real owner Mr. Hiro- where have you gone? Co-owner is always drunk, treating customers and employees with disrespect. Is this right way to have this plan succesful after all these years Mr. Hiro earned respect.
(1)mandee l.
it's always my FAVORITE Japanese restaurant even though I've moved to WA. Back when i lived in Miami, i would go there 3x a week. Great exceptional food, cozy atmosphere. Unique dishes they have!! Even now, every time i go back to visit my family.... it's a must to go there~
(5)Tim C.
I'd give 10 stars if I could. This is, and probably forever will be, my favorite restaurant, hands down, in Miami. Everytime I need to entertain friend or family, this is my go-to place. Will not disappoint. I've been to Yakko-San about 30 times now, and everytime it is still an experience. The staff turnover is pretty high, but they are usually very friendly. Also, do not go here if you want sushi, as it isn't a typical Japanese sushi bar. Their fish is very fresh, but there are so many other items on the menu that you should try. They describe their plates to be 'tapas-style' and that holds true. When we go, we try to go in groups of 4 or more, so that we can order a lot off the menu, and all try this and that. I've had everything on the menu, and sometimes catch myself mapping out my next dinner from start to finish. As most other reviewers have noted, be adventurous. Try things out of your normal comfort zone. I've taken many skeptical eaters, and made them try everything, sometimes keeping them from knowing what they were eating. Not one complaint. In fact, the percentage of 'wows' is pretty high. Standard night when my girlfriend and I go: - Sake bombs, a must as they encourage their patrons to enjoy a good time. - Age Nasu (Deep friend eggplant in broth) - Crispy Bok Choy (if ordering multiple items, ask them to bring this one out with a protein or more substantial dish. It is quick to prepare and usually comes out first, but is a great accompanyment to anything. Salty, savory, delicious!) - Spciy Manila Clams (being Korean, I enjoy spicy. They also have Manilla Clams Butter, which is also very good. They usually run out of clams by the end of the night) - Hamachi Kama (first restaurant that I've dined at that offers this dish. The cheekbone of the fishhead, usually discarded, is oh so tender and moist. a must.) - Angel Hair Uni (I only know one other restaurant in Miami that offers Uni (Sea Urchin) as a savory element to pasta dishes (the other being the River Oyster Bar in Brickell). AWESOME!!! - Catch of the Day (Yakko-San likes to use Yellowtail and Hog Snapper usually, but the fresh fish does change everyday. You have your choice or grilled, steamed, etc. but trust me when I say to get it fried. They actually filet it, then cut it into chunks, batter all the pieces, including the spine and head, and serve it with Horseradish Ponzu Sauce. This does take some time to prepare, so again, use caution when putting other orders in if you decide on the fish) I can't put my love for this place into clear words. It just rocks. I'm always down to share a dinner with anyone (joined random parties at the restaurant to "try everything" and had great evenings), so if you need a couple to share more items with, just hit me up.
(5)Summer L.
I LOVE this place! If I only lived closer, I'd be there at least once a week. Everything I have ever sampled has been absolutely delicious. The sashimi is amazing, the pork kimchi is fabulous, and the crispy bok choy is out of this world!
(5)Roxana R.
The food here is very unique and tasty. I usually come with a group of friends and we order many dishes and share everything. My favorite dish is shrimp tempura drenched in spicy mayo (I don't remember the exact name of the dish). Another favorite is the crispy bok choy.
(5)Asim Z.
freshest sashimi ive ever had!
(4)CeCe R.
Finally had a meal here last right. Service was excellent. Food was very fresh and well prepared. It wasn't the best Japanese food I've ever had in my life - but the best in Miami. I love that it is open late.
(4)Daniel S.
I am giving two stars because the food was ok. But the service was horrible although they tried. I am a fnb veteran and I could tell that they were all beginners. I hope this was a one time thing but my experience was bad. Not worth it listing all things that went wrong. Won't go back also it does not belong to the original owners anymore.
(2)Jorge D.
Yakko's has been one of my favorite restaurants for 3 years. It was well worth the 40 minute drive for me. The food is fantastic and being open till 3am means that after your done clubbing you can still go get great food. If you like spicy food try the Kimchee Ramen, best stuff on earth.
(5)Mihndeeh M.
If I could give negative stars, I would. You could not pay me to return here. Though some of the sushi was decent, the cooked food was frightening both in appearance and flavor. The customer service was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. The manager and owner did not even bother to try to help when our order was screwed up and disgusting twice; they were rude and dismissive. They still charged us for filth that we did not eat. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE experience. Do not waste your time here. They obviously care about table turnover, getting your money, and nothing else.
(1)Anika G.
I gave it another try and was thoroughly disappointed. The service is crappy and the prices do not match the portion sizes. I really wanted to like this place but it just doesn't cut it for me.
(1)Catherine A.
I'm a big fan of Hiro's. It' a very casual, laid back sushi joint that's great for late night or some quick sushi. The prices are great and the service is pretty quick. They're open extremely late...like till 3:30am.
(4)Scott M.
nothing like an authentic "izakaya", not "sushi-ya" ... if you don't know what that means, drop the faux knowledge of Japanese food & let the masters serve up some magic ... pick yer meats & let them know what you don't like & give them a shot at putting some dishes together for you (what is called "omakase") ... the daily fish, particular spices & sauces found in Japan are coupled with Chinese & Korean spices for some of their dishes ... also, give the noodles a try (udon, soba, ramen, et al.) ... even a simple bowl of ramen is enough as a meal, don't be shy! (you can easily eat cheaply here!)
(5)B. W.
Awesome japanese food. The himachi kama, kimchi soup bowl, kimchi fried rice, japanese eggplant, are just a few favorite dishes. Great on the late-nite too...
(4)Agi B.
This time we sat up at the bar overlooking the magic. It was neat to watch them cook and prepare foods. Once again, yum, yum, yum!
(5)Paul H.
I found this restaurant on urbanspoon with a high rating so I decided it was worth a try. The three $ sign did scare me at first but I found a pdf of their menu online and the prices were under $10 per dish except for a few that go into the ~$14 range. My girlfriend and I started off with Ika Maruyaki (whole squid, $8) which was amazing without the provided sauce. Next was the Seafood Hot Pot (shrimp, fish, squid, tofu, veggies @ $9) which served about 3.5 bowls. If you like clear soup and seafood, this is for you. I ordered from the Veggies section and the Tofu Steak ($6) caught my eye. Watch out cause this dish is very high in sodium. My girlfriend ordered the Ginger Pork ($7) which was less salty but still at bit too salty for my taste. Just FYI, these dishes are similar to appetizer size hence the low price. To finish off dinner, we ordered the Fried Cheese Cake Roll ($4.50) which was very beautiful when brought out. Ice cream scoop is optional I believe but the dessert was delicious. Service was above average and setting was comfortable. If you have a small party (2 people), you might get stuck with a small table. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for non-Americanized food. Note: you may walk out hungry!
(3)Celia S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Yakko-San! The appetizer sized plates are perfect for sharing! I went with a friend and we started with the TUNA TATAKI which was awesome! Followed by SCALLOPS, ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM, that I plan to have again (I had the last piece ha!) and we also had EBI FRY (fried shrimp w/ Japanese bread crumb) a must! ... and to end this very tasteful dinner we had BANANA TEMPURA with ice cream! YUM! Our waiter was very friendly and they're open until 3am on Fridays! You can't beat that!
(5)Ana D.
this place has great food, good parking, grate vibe and friendly service. I would definately go again and recommend. tried almost every dish there btnn me and 3 other friends.
(4)Eugene Y.
Let me start by saying I love authentic japanese restaurants in NYC. Now let me tell you that this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. The food was TERRIBLE!!!, Miso Sea Bass was ok at best with way too much oil. Scallops were rubbery and disgusting. Crispy Bok Choy was again too oily. AND THE WORST THING OF ALL WAS THE SEA URCHIN PASTA, the only thing you can taste was the overwhelming garlic. CAN I SAY GARBAGE !!!!
(1)Anish Z.
Loved it. apparently Japanese food is not just tapenyaki and sushi!! Was pleasantly surprised by trigger fish jerky (thinly sliced and nice caramelized flavor). Yeah fish jerky... but good choice. The fried fish onion salad was a nice meld of flavors and textures. The beef stew was totally unexpected. I would have placed the dish as Ethiopian had I not eaten it at a Japanese restaurant. It was a little heavy on the cumin but was great as a comfort food. The place gets the five star because it is both unique and open until 2 or 3 in the morning. Between this and BK, or cold pizza I think the choice is obvious. Happy eating.
(5)Leon W.
yakko-san rocks!!! what's to like? everything!!!! seriously.... try everything!
(5)Donald M.
Back in my home town (Houston) I'd probably give Yakko-San one less star but in the Miami area it's one of the best Japanese restaurants around. Think of it more as a Japanese tapas place. It's small and gets crowded quickly so plan your visit accordingly.
(4)Rebecca B.
Superb! The ramen soup is outstanding. I went there two days in a row that's how much I loved it. Sit in the bar looking into the food being prepared. It was like watching a choreographed dance. The mushroom appetizer was delicious. It comes in a foil pouch steamed to perfection. I cant't wait to go back again and again!
(5)Eloisa S.
I love that place. I go there once a week and have never been disappointed. Good prices, great selection of sakes, and the freshest sashimi around. I have basically tried the entire menu, my favorites are the Tuna Harumaki, the crisp fish salad and the scallops with asparagus and mushrooms. The waiters are wonderful, ask for suggestions and they will tell you as it is. You are not going to find sushi rolls there, but you won't miss it.
(5)Katie M.
I have been here a few times and think it is a great bar and perfect place for a late night meal. We went over the weekend around midnight and had terrific food. The sushi was excellent, great wine list and wonderful and attentive service. We will be back soon!!
(4)Alex G.
Ok people, this is what I call a restaurant, and not because the decor is amazing or they invested $5MM to open-up but they care about quality authentic Japanese and some oriental food - Yeap, there is no sushi in this place (for all those looking for a California maki), but you will find things you don't even know they exist - So, for real gourmets this is an option, for those looking to be seen in a cool place hanging out with celebs, go somewhere else, Yakko-San is a place where you go to enjoy very good food !!!
(4)Yenny O.
great sushi, but every time i go there late night the owner I guess her name is "may" she is always drunk and screaming to her employees i think you should not be drunk at your own restaurant every day.
(2)Enbar C.
excellent sushi and excellent price! good studd! I LOVE SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLLS!
(4)Eddie Z.
Good sushi, crappy waiters!
(3)Eldita B.
ASIAN TAPAS. I love the fact that they are open so late. Downside is that there is a wait during "peak" hours(30 minutes was the longest I ever had to wait for a table). Avoid sitting at the bar at the entrance. It's kind of uncomfortable. Sashimi is great. Yakinikudon is one of our favorites. Service is good. Food is tasty and fresh. looove the sake selections. Mochi sunday for dessert isn't bad.
(4)H C.
Cheap delicious sushi. Gets crowded on weekends but never along wait for a table.
(3)Eric M.
It's ok for japanese food. Last night, I ordered ebi fry, soba, hiya yakko, kinpira gobo and something not on the menu, oshinko maki (takuwan roll). The sauces are not quite up to par. Service was good and they even redid a dish that I told them was too salty and had too much (shoyu) soy sauce. Best dish for me was the hiya yakko (Cold tofu w/grated ginger, scallions & shaved bonito). Tofu quality was excellent. Menu is quite extensive and big selection. I have had better in New York City and Honolulu.
(3)Jaye V.
I'm so excited that I found these reviews for izakayas in Miami. I didn't even know they existed here! Everytime I'm in NYC, I go to a couple, and it's one of my favorite dining experiences. I've also been spoiled since I've been to Tokyo. It's finding this review on here (and immediately going) that made me want to finally join Yelp as a reviewer. I love ordering a bunch of little items and sharing, but I want to come back and try the bigger dishes like the noodle and ramen dishes. When I do, I'll update the review & rating, but for now this is my review of my first experience here. I had the assorted seaweeds with dipping sauces, the black pork belly, the panko fried oysters, red salmon sashimi (sockeye salmon), sauteed asparagus with bacon, and the angel hair with uni and salmon roe. (I forgot to try the fried chrysanthemum leaves.) I've never had so many different types of seaweed before. One of them was clear and rather odd; my favorite was the red one. The black pork belly was flavorful but not braised so it was not as tender as I was hoping..but that's to be expected. The red salmon was delicious and melted in my mouth. The sauteed asparagus actually had more bacon than asparagus, with a side of kewpie mayo -- really tasty. And the waitress tried to talk us out of the angel hair, saying that the uni garlic spaghetti might be more our speed. But I had to tell her I liked the salmon roe, which for some reason surprised her. The resulting dish was surprisingly mild. The salmon roe gives the dish most of its flavor, with the uni giving it that extravagantly buttery finish. While I wish it had more boosted flavors, I still enjoyed this dish. I wish that I could find black cod miso here rather than the overfished sea bass :(. Most of the clientele is Asian (and speaking in different Asian languages all around you as well). Usually I'm in places where the young Asians are speaking English to each other. I love how it's open until 2-3am every night like they're supposed to be. And it's not all the way down in Miami proper (since I'm in Ft. Laud), so the drive isn't too bad at all. Now I have a place to go when I somehow lose track of time and suddenly all the restaurants are closed. PS -- I loved the hot house sake. I'm not a sake fan, but for some reason it was savory and I surprisingly enjoyed it. And I have tried tons of different kinds before. Edit 1/21/08: So I went here again, and we overdid it trying to order more of the dishes. - Monkfish liver in a miso-ponzu sauce with daikon, seaweed, lemon, scallions, shiso leaf, and ground-up chili-daikon on the side. It was steamed and then served cold. I've had this before, and there was something off about the monkfish liver flavor. - Marinated spicy tempura squid. Wasn't spicy, but was flavorful. Consisted of large rings and big tentacles. Served with lemon and a side of Japanese mayo. Was tasty, but some of the rings were a little rubbery. - Chrysanthemum leaf tempura with ponzu sauce. Was good and the batter was terrific. The c. leaf wasn't very very mild flavored and although it was good, I think I would prefer it as a bottom of an entree...say with a steamed fish in some sort of sauce on top? - Spicy manila clams. Oh my, this is the spiciest thing I've had in South Florida. I never knew they could make something spicy. As a big fan of spicy food, I liked it. I shared it with someone, so it didn't get to the point of being unbearable, but if I had to eat it by myself, it would have. But for me, no complaints. For most Floridians, it would have been torture. - Miso pork ramen. Yummy! Loved the pork and bamboo shoots; I had this soup in Tokyo some years ago. This version was healthier and so wasn't as decadent, but still delicious. Too many fried garlic slices, though...had to start avoiding them because after eating a few too many of them, they got too strong. - Pork gyoza (pan-fried). Even in the dipping sauce, these were almost flavorless. I put one in the ramen and it didn't help it any. Don't get the gyoza. - Other notes: Great service this time. Waiter was very attentive; all the servers were very interactive as well. Waiter even poured the sake refills for us; every time he came by, he would say, "Pleeease enjoy!" Heh.
(4)Joseluis A.
yakko san rocks, thats all i gotto say. the other reviews are right on about this place. i went for dinner earlier this evening and got: ohitashi, edamame and a yake udon. my friend had a miso soup and the ginger pork and we shared a fried cheese cake roll for dessert.... oh and we both had a sapporo. our bill came up to almost 60$. sweet!
(5)Timothy C.
This place is where it's at!!! Great food had the mahi-mahi salad, it was to die for! Also try the mushroom foil!! Very busy!! Chef's are awesome!!
(5)Greg C.
Love this place! Found it through Yelp and Zagat. My wife and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs. Try the fried Bok Choy it is excellent. Sashimi is very fresh. Great Saki menu and even better good prices. You will have a fun night at this restaurant.
(5)Dean N.
All the dishes we took were great. there are a lot of asian restaurants in Miami and this is the definitely a good one. On top of that the prices are very very reasonable.
(4)alyssa d.
i love it here! i haven't had anything bad on the menu yet. i usually come for the takoyaki, it's amazing and i don't think any other places in the area have it. delicious!
(4)Abbey P.
Great Japanese hot dishes. They have some sushi type stuff. The Hamachi Jalapeno Pepper, UNAGI KABAYAKI, CHICKEN GIZZARD CHIVE, and a spicy tuna dish were all excellent. I loved the Unagi. The sea bass miso was not good ( over cooked-or if that was the style, it's still not good). I really enjoyed my food.
(4)Tony T.
Great place love the fresh fish
(4)Kushbaby s.
This place is a joke. I went in with a couple of friends and I immediately felt like I was in some sort of ASIAN FUSION restaurant. The ambience was totally not like it used to be when most of the workers were Japanese. The hostess that was speaking a foreign language was very rude. Started raising her voice when I told her we were next, before another couple was trying to butt in. She snapped and told me my table was ready. I told her, I did not even give her my name or how many people I was with...she then realized I was a completely different customer than the ones she DID take reservations for. Once we were seated our server didnt even understand what green tea was in Japanese....gave us a funny face. This is supposed to be an AUTHENTIC JAPANESE TAPAS STYLE RESTAURANT right? We ordered a bunch of stuff off the menu. Nothing was spectacular.I remember back in the day when my coworkers and I drove all the way from Fort Lauderdale to eat here..and now I can seriously say that I will never come here again. Way overpriced. Save your time, your money and all this HOOPLA about this place. Obviously most of the people have not tried REAL authentic Japanese food in South Florida if YAKKO san is on the top of your list. Go to MATSURI...now thats 100% Authentic!
(1)Stephanie L.
One of my fave spots in Miami. If you love Japanese food this is the place! Hamachi Kama, Sashimi Platter, Kimchie Ramen Delicious!!
(4)Pete J.
After feeling ripped off or disappointed at other Miami restaurants, this place is a welcome value and adventure in dining..
(5)Sol D.
the food quality used to be excellent, specially at their old location. now most of the time it's too salty and not very consistant. the good thing abt the new location, it's bigger and we don't have to wait too long to be seated. it's a good choice for a Japanese restaurant since they have variety in their menu. good for family, the kids love age tofu, fish and noodles. some of our favorite dishes; hamachi-kama, dice beef, onion fish, pork & bamboo noodle, spagetti with clams, etc. we still go back sometimes to see if they've improved and when we feel like eating Japanese food.
(3)Henry P.
I don't believe the amount of stars some people are giving them. They are overrated. Been there a few times, since the food isnt terrible, it just feels overpriced for what you get. If you get a rice bowl, its more rice than anything else. And what really got to me is, they don't know sushi. You don't put cream cheese in a dragonroll, it completely kills it. Theres alot of better places out there, experience better.
(2)R W.
deserves the good reviews. btw, very affordable, which is very important as well. friendly environment.
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