Yatai

It is easy to miss with the many of the clubs, restaurants, & high end hotels lining Sunset Blvd. - but this place should not be missed. Having lived in Japan, Hong Kong, and traveled Asia extensively, my palate has become very picky to Asian (especially Japanese) cuisine. LA is riddled with many Asian/Japanese/Fusion eateries, so it can be difficult to know what really stands out. I was blown away at the small, yet strong variety of dishes - and even seasonal specials that Takai had to offer. Every dish was plated simply & elegant - it tasted even better. The night I dined there, I was with my boyfriend who will not eat any sushi & is incredibly stubborn about trying new cuisine. The fact that he loved it made me want to write this review even more. The setting is minimal and cozy....it would be a great place to have a birthday soiree or get together with friends. Their specialty drink are also too good to pass up. Check this little spot out - it is well worth it. (Geisha House is good, but overpriced & over-rated - this is a better alternative). Pros: Great prices, great service, great variety Cons: nothing I can think of more

they try too hard..pretty place nice service...the happy hour hand roll are too full of rice no bargain...the gado gado salad had no greens as it should and was tiiiiny..youd do better at almost any good japanese in quantity and variety...its a one timer for us.... more

Great little hide away on the strip! Feel like you are in an oasis out of the city in the lovely coutyard! The sushi is excellent, the service if perfect and the setting is fantastic! Will become me local suhi joint for sure! Pros: All round great more

Great spot for a quick bite or a romantic evening!! A must try! Fun to share and try a variety. Great prices and the Parking is easy. more

This was my first time having asian tapas. I didnt even know what it was. However I like trying new restaurants out and WOW! this place was fantastic! I had know clue what to order but the friendly server and restaurant owner, Masa, recommended many great dishes for me and my friends. All of his choices were wonderful. I tried many intricate tastes of Asia: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Thai, the list goes on. My favorite dishes were Spinach Salad with no bacon, Calamari Salad ( a must!), baked crab roll, Stuffed mushroom with Shrimp, Beef Samosa, Green Curry, Korean style sashimi, soft shell crab, etc. If you're gettin alcohol, YATAI bamboo shooter is WAY COOL! the server shoots sake out of bamboo straight into yer glass (sidenote: grapefruit cocktail is sweeeeet). last but not least dessert is heaven. Creme Brulee and Pear gelato is a must-try. their melt in your mouth delicious. Pros: romantic patio Cons: $5 parking next door more

I love this place. The food and ambiance is great! The variety of dishes from different countries is something I really enjoyed -perfect for having a little of everything and allowing you to explore a bit. Everything was yummy, and some of their dishes were like nothing I'd ever had before- so GOOD I was raving about them on the way home. A great place to just sit back and really enjoy your food. \r \r I look forward to going back and having my meal al fresco in their outdoor patio, perfect for a summer night. Pros: Wonderful food, great ambiance, attentive service Cons: - more

Let me prelude my review by saying I am one picky bastrd, and it is very rare that I find a restaurant that scores the trifecta of great food, service, and location. Yatai managed to do it all.\r \r My girlfriend wanted to check it out, and at first I really wasn't too excited to go, being that it was on Sunset, and I would have to fight the onslaught of nightime traffic and the typical $20+ parking douchebaggery you have to deal with when visiting that part of town. On the contrary, I was happily surprised with $5 parking in the underground lot adjacent to the restaurant (as long as you let the guard know you're eating dinner there); and Yatai is just far enough west that you escape the infestation of Paris Hilton wannabe tourists that bring out the Wayne Brady in all of us.\r \r The food and drinks were fantastic. As always with tapas, I ordered too much and between the both of us, I tried alot of the menu and definitely scored some favs. Hands down the calamari salad was unbelievable and a must order! The Spinach Salad was also a solid choice, and a great start. For drinks I had two Soju cocktails (one lime and one orange) and the waiter hooked me up with some Sake poured straight from a bamboo shoot into my glass, complete with an overflow catch underneath...super stylin, and he definitely earned the better than usual tip I left. I also recommend the stuffed shitake and the ribeye steak for a complementary tapas (tapai?) choice. The baked crab sushi roll I ordered was also very good.\r \r The restaurant itself was classy, nicely decorated with Japanese caligraphy, had a great outdoor patio that is off the street, and it was a good place to bring someone you're trying to impress/make sweet lovin' to. I read a review here that its a good place for kids, and I beg to differ on that one tho. I'd rather you kept your ankle-biters away! Okay, okay, if they're cool enough to use chopsticks then just maybe i won't give them the evil eye...\r \r \r Pros: A++ Everything Cons: Didn't know whether or not I was supposed to drink the Sake that overflowed into the catch or not..hehe! more

Dont be fooled by the slightly unassuming view of this restaurant from street level; once you walk through the entryway you find yourself in a charming patio where you can dine under the stars. The interior is a cozy and nicely appointed space whose rich, dark colors make for a romantic yet hip atmosphereits a great place for a date or for hanging out with friends. \r \r For starters we sampled the warm Baby Spinach salad and the Crispy Calamari with spicy aioli. Both were big hitsthe Baby Spinachs bacon dressing is rich, zesty, and intense; and the crispy calamari was encased in a savory golden batter that is intoxicating and is a great complement to the calamari in both flavor and texture. Youll want two orders of the calamari\r \r The Octopus Potato Ball is even better than its catchy name in taste and presentation. Each ball (six in total) rests on a dark, thick sauce with a lighter sauce drizzled on top. The subtle flavors of each sauce do not overpower the octopus/potato combo and offer a good balance between creamy and crunchy sensations that will explode in your mouth. The six orbs sit in a line on a shallow, oblong bowl. People will notice the presentation and they will order the dish. And then they will be even happier\r \r The seared Ahi Tuna is also a success and is everything you want from seared Ahi: delicate and moist, light but not insubstantial. Squeeze a wedge of fresh lemon on it and enjoy. \r \r For meat lovers, the steak on a skewer is worth ordering. The hunks of meat are tender, robust in flavor, and bigger than you may expect. The carnivore inside you will appreciate the experience. \r \r As well, the service was commendable. The staff was affable and reliable; they swiftly cleared or added dishes to our table. Also, I never had to struggle to get their attention since they made themselves available often without being intrusive. \r \r A big thumbs up! Pros: Food and ambience Cons: It's not located next door to my apartment more

I went with my friends on Saturday as girls night out. Their food was excellent, prepared fresh. Cocktails were awesome! I ordered Grapefruit Soju drinks. Price was cheap for tall drinks! That's unlikely on Sunset strip. I also liked baked crab roll and Steak. It was recommendation from their staff. He didnt disappoint me!!! It was sensation in my mouth!! I have never tasted such a delicate rolls! Thanks! The place was very cozy and nice hidden atmosphere. Bathroom is super clean. \r \r :: Sweet Japanese single girl as I am, if somebody took me there as a date, it would be so romantic and I would be impressed of his choice! The restaurant is great place for girls night out and dates. Our waitress was very personal and nice. She impressed me. Oh! They have a great Beer collection. They have Orion !!! which is rare Okinawan only beer. They have great selection of Shochu and Asian beer. If youre not familiar with Soju, you can go there and staff would teach you which one would suite your needs! Cheers! Pros: Bar! $5 parking in next mall Cons: Grapefruit soju~~ more

I found this restaurant when I was walking along Sunset Blvd. with my friends. The menu looked very interesting so we went in. This place has a small, but very nice dining space inside and also cute patio. We sat in the patio since it was such a beautiful night. The food they offer has such a great variety. Japanese, Thai, Korean and Indonesian so on so on ... The portion of the dishes were just perfect to get the taste of it. You get to try couple different dishes this way. My favorite was the calamari salad and ceviche. The selection of the drinks are also nice. Many kinds of beer(if I can say one thing, I would like to see beer on tap), sake and petty cool selection of wines. We ordered the chilled sakein a bottle, they serve it in a bamboo backet with ice inside. I have been to many asian countries, this place certenly made me fell like I was back there again.\r I highly recommend for romantic date, having a dinner after work or weekend hung out. Pros: parking next door more

After reading all the great reviews, my friends and I dined there over this past weekend and I was aquite disappointed. Possibly, my expectations were a little high after reading the reviews. Unfortunatley, I didn't get the great service some of you mentioned. The waitresses seemed a little 'rushed' and it didn't seem personalized. Our waitress seemed disturbed when we were inquiring about some of the items on the menu. Possibly having a bad day? It would be wise not to let the customers see that in you for they have done nothing to put you there. In fact, if it weren't for the customers, ultimately you wouldn't be working there. You should also keep your personal life to yourself and/or co-workers. We don't want to hear about it.\r \r The place is welcoming and can be pleasant, unlike our waitress. This new place could possibly be a success however, the customer service level NEEDS to be raised to match the setting. (Otherwise it can be a let down as it did for us.) Not sure if I would try this place again.\r \r I don't want to seem bitter towards her but I'm just letting you know for training purposes. (In hopes of the management team reads these) Pros: Parking was next door Cons: Staff can be unfriendly and/or unprofessional more

A nice outing with the girls on a Friday night felt like a little trip to Asia. The food was awesome..a little taste from each country. AND the Bamboo sake!!! its so fun...if you dare have them poor it right into your mouth! thats a freebie!! =) . An absolute must try! Pros: Patio more

nice food, nice atmosphere, nice presentation for everything!!\r \r it reminds me of 80's in the city of Tokyo. \r \r they have nice patio, too. you can sneak the nostalgic view of Yatai style from Sunset blvd when you pass by. you'll love it!!\r \r it's Tapas bar, so the more people you go together, the more variety you can enjoy! We enojoyed A LOT!!!!!! we'll go back sooooon. more

I went to this restaurant when I was walking on Sunset street. It was nice atmosphere and great interior. Also, food is very very tasty and yummy!!!!! It was first asian food I've ever experienced and price was so cheap. Most plates was small so you can try many kind of foods.\r Chef was Japanese. He has many experience of asian foods. Here is best place with your significant other!!! You should go there!!! more

my boyfriend and I were looking for a new place to eat in the neighborhood in past saturday. My friend suggested us to check out Yatai. it was a perfect start to a great night. The food was delicious. The service was great. we really had a fantastic experience, all for a very reasonable price! We both liked settings in patio area. Papaya salad with hot sauce was my favorite. It is the place to hang out in sunset with cozy and interesting decor.\r \r more

Hi, my name is Masa/owner of the restaurant, thanks for the great reviews. Please come back and enjoy. For those who has no idea what is Yatai. Yatai is a variety of asian dishes from different culture serve in appetizing size. \r \r RECOMMEND DISHES (serve 2 people): \r *Steamed cabbage w/garlic plum sauce\r * Monsoon ceviche\r * Ahi tuna satay\r * Popcorn shrimp\r * Stuffed mushroom\r * Crispy shrimp toast\r * Baked crab roll\r \r TRADITIONAL ASIAN DISHES (serve 2 people):\r * Green papaya salad\r * Cajun style tuna w/asian sals\r * Beef samosa\r * Green curry\r * Sauteed squid w/butter soy sauce\r * Baked black cod\r * Ocha-zuke\r \r Please tried these delicious dishes at Yatai. I guaranty that you will love it. If not please let me know. I only want satisfy customers. more

The diversity of Los Angeles has introduced many dishes to our evolving palette, but over time the quality of food and service has been substituted by cheesy gimmicks, which wish to entice you with a faux sense of acceptance. It comes as a relief to find such a treasure buried deep within the grasp of sunset's pop culture. Yatai offers a variety of appetizers that are not only moderately priced but are sure to revolutionize your taste buds. The locale provides a cozy setting that when combined with the warm staff produces a noteworthy setting. Next time you find yourself along the boulevard make sure you discover Yatai! Pros: exquisite cuisine Cons: parking may be a challenge more

We tried this restaurant on a lark and we were surprised how good the food and ambience was. The place is new and has excellent and creative cuisine, and a very chill, kick back vibe, very inviting. The service was awesome. The food was so filled with flavor and very unique, you have to try the shrimp toast, and the monsoon cheviche. They have an amazing wine list, and a great selection of hot and cold sake. The funny thing is, we expected a really big bill but it was actually very moderate. And by the way, they have great parking right in an under ground garage which is rare on the Sunset strip. Five stars, highly recommend. Pros: Hot waitresses, nice bar, great food. more

The food is absolutely delicious. I don't like fried anything, but the fried food here was very clean and crispy. The ambience of the restaurant was a cross between modern and antique. The courtyard is cute and cozy. The patio outside is beautiful. The lights above the patio look like stars. Also, there are other stores in the courtyard for the women to walk around to shop if bored. Great date location or celebration for a special event. I will be back here over and over again! Pros: Food, atmosphere Cons: parking more

driving in sunset w/ some friends and saw this place. foods are very tasty w/ many wines, sakes, etc. to choice from. servers were very helpful and friendly. many dishes to pick from the menu. must try the stuffed mushroom with either sicy tuna or shrimp. this is one of my favorite dish. more