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Yu Me Ya Sake House
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese
3882 4th Ave(between Robinson Ave & University Ave)
San Diego, CA 92103
Neighbourhood: Hillcrest
(619) 683-3230
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
68 reviews for Yu Me Ya Sake House
Review Highlights
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"I have dreams of their BBQ beef salad." In 4 reviews -
"My favorite dish is the tuna carpaccio." In 6 reviews -
"OVERALL: The udon is worth coming in for alone." In 14 reviews
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Nicole N.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The people who work here are so friendly and nice! I went here on my bday and got a bottle of sake and the waitress explained how to pour and drink it properly for good luck. Upon finding out my boyfriend is traveling to Japan later this summer, she bolts to the back of the restaurant and produces a map... intently sharing with us where he should go for the best food, drinks, and sights. How awesome!
Food is very very good. The happy hour is a great time to come if you want to try some stuff but do not want to commit to the price (although it isn't too bad). I would most definitely recommend the spicy ramen. Craving it as I write this. Must go back soon!! -
Review from Amy H.
San Diego, CA
5/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The Spicy Ramen on Friday and Saturday nights is awesome. My favorite and must-have everytime I go there. (Although it may be more on the greasy side...)
For drinks, all the sakes are pretty good. Don't get the plum wine though. It was way too sweet.
Watch out for parking in the lot in front of it. The lot only allows for 1/2 hour parking! So watch out! Last time I got a ticket for parking there! geez... -
Review from Allis P.
San Diego, CA
5/2/2012
This place has a warm, inviting atmosphere from the second the bf and I walked in. It is a small place but I kinda like those places a little better than the busier, bigger, louder restaurants. We were first drawn to the ramen as advertised because we are huge ramen snobs and can't pass up a new place to try, but quickly realized that the ramen is not its main attraction. This place is a sake house. Because it's a sake house, it has GREAT TAPAS. As everyone says the black miso cod is a must! I also didn't realize I liked sake! They set up a nice tasting with 3 different kinds.
Anyways, end of story. Sake and tapas YES. Ramen NO. -
Review from jennifer c.
Stateline, NV
5/23/2012
I LOVE this place!I used to go to the Yu Me Ya in Cardiff and I was sooo happy when they opened the place in Hillcrest,right around the corner from my house.It is the BEST happy hour spot,the waitresses are very efficient and friendly.My food always comes out hot and fresh.I can't wait to go back!
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Review from Steffanie C.
New York, NY
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
These people are CRAZY!!!! In an amazing way! Went here with a friend and they ordered a bunch of stuff so I really don't know what we had. I know we had fresh tuna, beef salad, dumplings and then udon noodles (COMES OUT VERY VERY VERY HOT SO DON"T BURN YOUR TONGUE LIKE ME). Besides that the food was AMAZING! They were playing music and the ambiance was really great. My friends come here at least twice a week so they know the owners and the workers. It was two of the cooks birthday's so at the end of the night they brought them out so we could sing happy birthday and then gave everyone cake. I loved the energy from everyone. We also had Sake, but they have to stop serving by 10:30pm I do believe.
I really loved this place, they really rock out here and I can't wait to come back! -
Review from Matty B.
San Diego, CA
3/27/2012
Place is finally picking up some local steam.
Three things set this place apart:
1) Wide variety of Sake
2) Well priced Happy Hour menu (5-7 daily)
3) Knowledgeable, hysterical, and easy-on-the-eyes staff!
It is a sake house so don't expect your usual 2-4-1 drink specials. You get what you pay for, and I -as a cheapy Jew- is even willing to dole out for the drinks and food. Don't expect large portions, you do go for the taste - both of the sake and drinks.
The staff is so much fun. They all really seem to enjoy working and have fun with the customers. Don't miss an opportunity - engage them, they know what's up! -
Review from Shane R.
San Diego, CA
4/6/2012
I think that I would have given this place a 4.75 star, so I'm just going to round up.
Their Udon broth was so amazing... like WOW amazing. Normally I just eat the Udon and leave the broth but I kept going back for more. I got a crunchy roll which was tasty, had a nice presentation and was bite sized. I hate when I go to a sushi place and their rolls are gigantic. You shouldn't be gagging on a roll.
-0.25 stars because the Shrimp Tempura was slightly doughy. It's probably the 2nd best Tempura I've had in San Diego. First would go to Akai Hana in Rancho Bernardo. Their tempura is BOMB! -
Review from Madeline W.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2012
The small plates here are the thing to get. They have a great selection of small plates which are traditional Japanese street food. I came in a little hungover after the mistake of day drinking and the staff there was SO nice to me and brought me some plain rice and miso soup which totally revived me. Everyone who works there is so nice and funny and helpful, especially Taylor! He really made the entire experience amazing! Also, the udon is very good, but don't expect to finish it, it is very filling.
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Review from Rob N.
San Diego, CA
3/30/2012
Excellent Japanese Tapas, great happy hour deals.
Try the Black Cod, Shrimp wontons, and a couple of Japanese craft beers. Anime movies w/ reggae music playing gives the place an interesting vibe.
Really helpful and friendly staff. -
Review from Matt S.
La Jolla, CA
3/17/2012
Sake House Yu Me Ya is a great authentic Japanese restaurant. I usually don't like going to Japanese restaurants because it's pretty much you eat sushi rolls(which I don't like all that much) or you have teriyaki chicken with rice(which is very plain.) But sake house has much more than that. This is more of a tapas place, less of a sushi place, and they have awesome udon noodles hand made by the owner. The ramen is great as well, and they have it late nights on fri/sat with a dj sometimes, creating a lively but chill atmosphere. I would recommend trying all of the appetizers, Especially the spicy tuna carpaccio.
This is a great place to try good sake if you've never had it! I came in with a couple friends who had also only had the cheap sake you get in $2 sake bombs, and we were blown away by the selection and tastes of all the different sake served here. The best part is that they are very generous with the portions, and they serve it in a traditional way with the shot glass overflowing into the little tray below. They also have great imported Japanese beers, not just Sapporo and Asahi.
The waiters/waitresses are very helpful, especially if you do not know much about japanese food. If you're looking for great food and a nice atmosphere, Sake House is a great experience. -
Review from Cara S.
San Diego, CA
4/12/2012
The Broiled Black Cod and the BBQ Beef Salad are amazing! Great Happy Hour deals and regular prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and amazing service.
In addition to the Black Cod and BBQ Beef Salad apps we enjoyed the Fried Yams, Carpaccio, Crunchy Roll and Potato Croquettes. All delicious. Friends who eat there all the time recommend the Special Ramen and Ginger Pork Bowl as well- now I can't wait to go back!
Fun, relaxed atmosphere with a friendly and upbeat staff- you're sure to enjoy yourself when you go! And apparently they stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays! -
Review from A T.
San Diego, CA
3/13/2012
We were big fans of their Leucadia location and were thrilled to see them open one closer to downtown. We stopped by on a quiet Monday and were greeted by cheerful and helpful staff. This is a great place to go to try different sakes. I always love learning about the different styles and Yoko, our awesome waitress, was great at explaining each style and let us taste a few before we committed to a glass of each. You can really appreciate the variances when you taste them side by side. Of course, too many side by side tastings equates to side by side swaying ;-)
They were rocking some Bob Marley while we were there, which added to the laid back feel of the place. The food is real deal Japanese. Yes, they have California rolls for the beginners and the scardy cats, but they really shine with their hot tapas! Pork sausages with spicy mustard, octopus balls. No, they don't have balls....I asked. It's merely a rolled up ball of fresh octopus pieces in a light dough of sorts. delish! The tofu steak served with fried egg around it was also pleasantly tasty. We split the spicy ramen as our main which was not that spicy at all, but full of flavor. We learned later that they will kick it up a notch on the spice if you ask them to (noted). -
Review from Dat B.
San Diego, CA
5/6/2012
Their BBQ salad is delicious, except some more meat would be nice. Excellent service and good happy hour tapas
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Review from Alex B.
San Diego, CA
3/2/2012
This place has decent food, but it just isn't worth the money. You can find much better at other restaurants in the immediate area.
Last week my boyfriend was sick and really wanted some chicken udon soup. After figuring out our usual sushi place doesn't do takeout (what gives?), I came here as the next closest option. For about $9 I got a bowl of soup with noodles in it, no veggies or meat, just broth and noodles. Then they charged me $5 to "add chicken". For that $5 we got three rubbery, hard pieces of appetizer chicken that was just dumped into the soup.
Flavor was good, but the bottom line is they are way overpriced. $14 for a bowl of noodles, broth, and 3 pieces of chicken is a rip off. -
Review from Amber F.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2012
Aw man this place is fantastic! I've been looking for Japanese tapas for a while but generally what you get is a place with crappy noodles and low grade sushi. I went last night and I fell in LOVE with the Octopus Balls. They were so good, I had to order 2! I also tried the Carpacio, wasn't too impressed. Tasted as it should, nothing spectacular. I also got the steamed shrimp dumplings. Although everything was tasty and cute, the Octopus Balls stole the show. It was a slow Wednesday yet the waitress was just as lively as I imagine she would be on a busy Friday night. Great music although somewhat loud for the 4 people that were seated. Lots oBob Marley and other Reggae artist. The prices were great! My friend and I each got about 5 or 6 things and split the bill at about $25 each. I would go again!
- Great pries
- Great service
- Great food
- ORDER THE OCTOPUS BALLS -
Review from Rick C.
San Diego, CA
4/28/2012
Sake House is a 10 star restaurant in my book. Went to dinner there on Friday (4/27/2012) at 5PM when they opened. This place is a very authentic Japanese restaurant. You will feel like you have landed in Japan and are eating your first meal.
The waitress was extremely nice and informative. She recommended some sake for my friend and a Japanese rice based beer for me and both were great. The sake here is served Japanese style with a shot glass inside a top open box tray, you got to try this one. We ordered one ginger beef and one ginger chicken. The waitress recommended the tapas specials and we tried the yams, beef salad, chicken, and sausage. They were all really good and piping hot right out of the kitchen. The waitress timed the delivery to the table so that we constantly were receiving a new hot dish, great timing.
When we got the bill it was $ 52.00 but the food was soooo good and the service exceptional that we did not mind paying it. If only the world had more nice people like our waitress the world would be a better place to live. We tipped 20 % and threw in two free San Diego Zoo tickets for the waitress to enjoy. She appreciated our visit and we appreciated her exceptional personality and higher than average customer service. Give this place a try and enjoy the experience. -
Review from Alexandra L.
San Diego, CA
4/3/2012
It was a VERY happy day when this second location opened in our area. I used to drive a half an hour from San Diego just to dine at their Encinitas location. Their dishes were created by the Japanese Grandparents of the owner and they are FANTASTIC. The highlights of this place for me are their octopus balls, tempura udon, the White Hawk Sake (19% alc.), every roll on their list and the wonderful service staff. The experience is exactly the same as their Encinitas location and you can usually score a seat!
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Review from Sean W.
1/22/2012
I usually don't care for Japanese salad dressings, but theirs is delicious - maybe even FUCKING delicious. I was a little taken aback when I ordered a cold mushroom salad and received warm mushrooms on a very large bed of lettuce, but like I said the dressing was really fucking good. Tuna carpaccio was also delicious but isn't actually a carpaccio.
Sushi was just so-so and the prices really add up. -
Review from Harry E.
Palmdale, CA
3/5/2012
A lovely restaurant. Great collection of sake,
Superb food. The eggplant miso was divine.
Udon was worthy of coming back to enjoy again.
Staff was the way staff should be, like they were our hosts. -
Review from Ben M.
San Diego, CA
3/15/2012
Not your average SD sushi spot.This place offers an authentic Japanese experience: from the welcoming staff, huge beer and sake selection, to the home cooked tapas and udon noodle soup, I was thoroughly impressed. With a creative menu focused on traditional Japanese cuisine, there is nothing similar going on in San Diego right now. Thanks yu me ya, I'll be seeing you guys again.
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Review from Mike M.
San Diego, CA
12/14/2011
Love this little hideaway in the heart of Hillcrest. They are super nice here... have KILLER "Killer Ramen" (that's the name), and their spicy tuna rolls are so tasty! They have a small portion of miso cod for very cheap, just a few bites, but it's so rich, it's enough, and it's always very good.
The happy hour is quite good (they have a late one too), with sake, cod, spicy tuna roll and some beer deals.
Can't beat this spot for some tasty ramen and spicy tuna rolls! Great service too! -
Review from Danielle L.
San Diego, CA
12/27/2011
Was looking for a place to eat on Christmas eve, this one was open for business. Walked in and we were the only customers, nice. Its a small place, so I can't tell you how it would be on a busy night. The entire time we were there only 2 other groups came in.
Happy hour is everyday, so we got a few things from the happy hour menu, happy hour sake's, Killer Ramen, spicy tuna rolls and some kind of dish that you pour tea on.
I was excited to have ramen, brings me back to those days that I was super poor and used to eat it, now its all frowned upon since its filled with MSG goodness or something. So when I see it in a restaurant, I order it. This ramen wasn't very spicy. You can set the scale, so I told her about a 7/10, and there was literally no heat. Oh well.
I was underwhelmed with the spicy tuna roll. However I thought the fish would be rolled, like on the inside, but it was just the vegetables, then a tuna tartar was set on sliced sides of the roll. I had to remember this isn't a sushi place.
My friend liked his tea dish a lot more after he poured the remaining ramen broth I didn't finish over it.
Apps were good, fried sweet potato, nom. I probably wouldn't come here again for the food, but the service was excellent and they were quite friendly. -
Review from Michael M.
San Diego, CA
11/29/2011
Absolutely delicious! Went there for the first time tonight everything we had was amazing. Its a new spin on authentic Japanese food...tapas style! We started with a sake flight of premium sake...never thought there would be such contrast as I am not well educated in sake.
The broiled black cod with house made miso is HEAVELY, melts in your mouth! it's reminiscent of the renowed cod or Chilean sea bass dish at Nobu!!! The server was above expectations and personable. This is a must try/must frequet place in wonderful Hillcrest!!! -
Review from Yutaka M.
San Diego, CA
10/16/2011
This is my second post on yelp! :)
I found this "VERY JAPANESE" Izakaya-style restaurant! I really prefer Japanese restaurants are owned by Japnaese, and this is a real Japanese-owned restaurant!
I like plum wine, but their selection of sake is awesome! You should try a glass of "Kubota Manju"! It's expensive but very tasty! It really fits with Japanese food, and I recommend Japanese tapas such as "Carpaccio (Spicy tuna), avocado on wonton skin", "Fried tofu in smoked bonito broth with veggie topping", and "Fried Japanese eggplant in smoked bonito broth" too. :) Now, you are really Japanese! ;)
I am really picky about Japanese food. If you want real Japanese food, you should go to "Yu Me Ya - Sake House"! :) And don't miss their "HAPPY HOUR" also!
Food : 4 Stars
Service : 4 Stars
Price : 3 StarsListed in: Japanese Cuisine
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Review from Elmer A.
San Diego, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great, flavorful food but portions were a little disappointing.
First off, we did not know this was a sake house first and foremost. Unfortunately, we don't drink alcohol. We wanted to try something new, so we decided to still go for it.
This place serves things "tapas" style. We started our dinner with the BBQ Beef salad and the tuna carpaccio at the recommendation of our waitress. The BBQ beef salad was excellent and the beef was really flavorful. Dressing was really light and refreshing. The tuna carpaccio was really good. Tuna tar tare with fresh avocado in a won ton basket. Yummy!
On to our main entrees, I had the teriyaki ginger salmon and my partner had the tempera udon. My teriyaki ginger salmon was really good and the dinner entree was served on a bed of rice. The salmon was cooked just right and the teriyaki was not overly sweet. My partner's tempera udon was also very flavorful. The broth was amazing. Udon noodles cooked perfectly, not over cooked at all.
That with a green tea and soda was $42 before tip. Honestly, we were both hungry before we left. I admit we are big eaters.
Again, great, flavorful food but portions were not our "American" liking. Service was excellent. We got to watch Sailor Moon while eating dinner. -
Review from Victoria P.
San Diego, CA
12/8/2011
I had my first visit to Sake House last week. I am not super familiar with Japanese food other than sushi, but found the cuisine outstanding. The flavors were strong and memorable. I find myself daydreaming on when I can return to Sake House.
I was lucky enough to go on a nite where they had a DJ spinning great music. The music as a fantastic addition to the already lovely ambiance.
Try the spicy ramen, it is delicious! Looking forward to going back! -
Review from Sean M.
El Cajon, CA
4/23/2012
Last night was the 1 year anniversary for the Hillcrest Sake House. Upon arrival I noticed a huge banner in the lot. Awesome. We started off with the .39 cent pomegranate sake, mixed by Yuka, the owners daughter. Perfect! We took advantage of that deal. Specials all night. Sashime, pork wrapped asparagus katsu and Poke bowls were incredible! My wife had the Udon noodles and some chicken katsu. Food was prepared very quickly and presentation was great. Our waiter spoke fluent Japanese, which was very impresive, for a tall thin caucasion man. I have never tasted Udon of this caliber and gave the place 5 stars! Oh yeah, the DJ was spinning and mixing and mashing the place up. Loved it! When they found out it was my wife's b-day, the lights dimmed, disco ball illuminated, the wait staff sang their special b-day song and presented her with a creme brule with candle! Very special. The chefs are world class! Keep up the great food. A wonderful experience.
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Review from Bernie M.
10/13/2011
This place is very tiny and can be quite expensive if you don't go during happy hour.
They do have excellent service. The bartender and server are really fun and accommodating.
This is a Japanese restaurant but their forte is not sushi. I recommend trying the Tuna Carpaccio during happy hour. It is $3 a piece. They have a few other tapas that are reasonably priced during happy hour. -
Review from Lindsay L.
San Diego, CA
7/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Itty bitty, filled with love.
If you've been to the Encinitas location, this is a slightly different experience. It's got more of a party atmosphere, and it's much easier to get into (no line!). There is also no shochu list. :( But everything else is the same!
It's a little pricey, so come prepared.
The goods:
- Tempura is the food of the gods (with the Green Tea salt, thank you much)
- Best udon I've ever had in my life (house made, rich, smells of the sea)
- Is the takoyaki house made too? I think it must be. It's delicious.
- Black Miso cod (buttery and delicious!)
- Fantastic sake and Japanese craft beer list
- Cheap happy hour from 6 - 7
- Sake flights! They're not advertised, but you can ask for Dry, Smooth or Sweet. You get 3 smaller glasses of sake so you can try some different things.
- Knowledgeable and responsive staff.
We tried a bunch of other things, too, but those were the stand-outs. Absolutely nothing was bad.
I went for my joint birthday party with a friend. They sang for us, and they gave us free sweet sake soaked oranges and shots of unfiltered sake for dessert! Omedetou tanjoobi! -
Review from Giggly c.
Portland, OR
2/3/2012
Great food. loved the california rolls, black cod (and i don't like fish- my 1 1/2 daughter loved the fiosh too) udon, and beef salad. yum. the rest were ok, and i wouldn't order it again (potato fried thing, tofu salad, seaweed salad, and many others i can't remember since we ate family style with 6 people). will try it again next time i'm in town
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Review from Steph P.
San Diego, CA
12/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Staff is nice. Place is small but cute. Parking is horrible. Food is decent but very small portion wise. The prices are pretty high. The Killer Ramen isnt very spicy and it tastes ok. If you want to eat Ramen though I would go to Mitsuwa instead.
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Review from Trang L.
7/2/2011 2 photos
Very teeny weeny place.. probably seat no more than 30 people.. great hole in the wall. If you enjoy sake then this is the place to go to because its a sake house (duh) and the staff there knows their stuff.
The food is tapas style so small portions so that everyone could share. The 4 stars are for the quality of the ingredients because they are really fresh and that their Udon soup was absolutely delicious.
Only down fall with this place is that its quite expensive for the portions and that you can always buy the sake at the Japanese market for a cheaper price.. but good place for a quick bite. -
Review from Stacey S.
Encinitas, CA
3/17/2012
This place has an amazing happy hour that I discovered on the San Diego Reader Online Home Page. The food is amazing and the Sake Selection is out of this world. It's more like a real Sake House you would find in Japan.
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Review from Tianna T.
San Diego, CA
My boyfriend and I stumbled in here one night. I never drank Sake like this before. I'm in LOVE!
Vega (Our waiter) was so knowledgable and fun! We tried several different dishes and sakes. They all were amazing!!
My favorite dish is the tuna carpaccio!! And we tried so many Sake's I couldn't tell you which one is the best. Just ask Vega...he will honestly tell you what's the best.
This is our new spot! -
Review from Amanda G.
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Okay, okay, so after my disastrous attempt at the new RK sushi in Mission Hills was over, my doting honey and I were forced to pick a new place for a 9pm dinner. Well, as we drove down University, pondering the options, I couldn't help but notice that those 10% beers must have gone straight to my date's bladder because he was gripping his D so hard, I feared it may fall off before the night was over.
I immediately pulled into a small strip mall with an Italian joint, a Subway, and a Japanese/Sake Restaurant. He sprinted ahead of me and into the back room while I cozied myself up to the bar. To be honest, I was intensely craving sushi and when I looked at their menu and the limited selection, I was immediately crestfallen.
Oh well, I was hungry and I couldn't bear the thought of walking out of two restaurants in one night, so we bit the bullet and started ordering. A couple miso soups and an order of edamame started the night, both served EXTREMELY hot, to the point of actually burning our mouths. The edamame looked dried out to me and I wasn't really impressed with the taste, but the miso soup was delicious although the portion size was a bit small.
Next, we went for some tempura shrimp which was absolutely delectable, served with some sort of special salt (can't remember the name) and of course, traditional tempura dipping sauce. Our server explained how it is better to not combine the two condiments because the resulting flavor could be too overwhelming.
Finally, we ended with the miso flavored cod and OMG, phenomenal. This was one of the recommendations by our server who just happened to be soooo HELPFUL at every turn. He really was great! This dish was small, but so perfectly rich and buttery that it was the perfect end to our meal.
I left last night, full and satisfied, but because I was still craving sushi, I was hell-bent on giving this place just 3 stars. However, after recapping the meal with the bf, I decided that it definitely warranted a better rating. Great service, delicious food, but the drinks were a bit pricey. I know they're high quality sake and beer and probably deserve a higher price point. I just wish they had slightly smaller bottles or cheaper options that two people may be able to split without breaking the bank. -
Review from Zapher D.
San Diego, CA
12/22/2011
This place has the best, and i mean BEST, spicy tuna sushi rolls ever! As a professional chef, I dont give out food compliments lightly. You got to try them. Also, amazing cold sake.... I forget the name, but ask the waitress for a sample sake platter and you can pick the one that gets you going. Also, watch out for birthday songs....lights go down and a disco light comes on and the place turns into a Japanese dive-disco....SUPER FUN. You have to check this place out.
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Review from Isabella M.
New York, NY
2/29/2012
My husband and I have been going here since they've opened and we LOVE it!!! We initially went to their Leucadia location and it became an immediate favorite. When a Hillcrest location opened we were thrilled. Snuggled in the back of a tiny strip mall, Sake House is everything you could want in a great dining experience! The service (usually our girl Tomo,) is AWESOME, the food (thank you to the brothers in the kitchen making DELICIOUS treats 7 days a week) is perfection and the atmosphere (who doesn't like reggae?)is chill and intimate. We often go for their late night happy hour (between 10pm and 12 am on Fri and Sat night). I highly recommend : tuna carpaccio (served in a crispy wonton skin), karagge (chicken nuggets with spicy ailoi, miso-soaked cod (buttery heaven!), BBQ beef salad (I know it's a salad, but trust me) and their sauteed tofo dish. Ask about their daily dessert special too! They are called Sake House because of their extensive list of cold sake served the traditional way. If you are sake ignorant, like we were, Tomo will tell you all about the tradition behind each bottle, regional differences and flavor profiles of each sake. Also, she'll teach you how to drink it properly. I cannot give any restaurant a higher rating!! Go to Sake House!!!
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Review from Steven D.
4/12/2011 2 photos
Was here for their public grand opening last night.
They have a great sake selection. I had the Hakutaka sake for about $8. They place the sake glass into a mini box and then pour the sake so it overflows into the box. You can either refill your glass from the box, or drink straight from the box. Your first sip, though, must be taken without lifting the glass. Something about good luck. Do it.
As for food, they have this cool japanese tapas thing going on. My party tried quite a few things. The standout favorites were the spicy tuna carpaccio and the bbq beef salad. The ginger terriyaki pork bowl was also really yummy! Lots of carmelized onions, and with a great ginger sauce.
With the excellent service we had last night, we'll definitely be back to try more items (and sakes) from their menu!!! -
Review from Arturo H.
Whittier, CA
7/26/2011
the sake house in Hillcrest, was an unexpected find. The restaurant we were looking for was closed for renovation. walking back to our car we spotted it and went to go take a look. its a small place but very welcoming. its not a sushi place but it does have some rolls. Its more a combination japanese tapas, noodle house, with some sushi. it also has a good selection of japanese beers and sake's. the food were small portions, but its a great place to just sit, eat and drink, talk with who ever you came with.
your not rushed to eat and go. Its a family owned operation (father, mother, 2 sisters). Tomo was one of the sisters that waited on us and was amazingly helpful and fun. if your looking for amazing food and drink without the all the big thrills at a reasonable price, with plenty of time to not worry about time. You should try this place out.
and we also found out that this is their second location. Yes there is 2 locations. AWESOME -
Review from Jen D.
San Diego, CA
8/23/2011
So glad we decided to pop in and try this place. LOVE the ahi carpaccio. It's seriously amazing and they are super cheap during happy hour. We had a lychee martini as well as a pomegrante one and they were definitely strong and delicious for only $3 (happy hour). We also tried a fried chicken appetizer. YUM!
We usually come here for appetizers on our way somewhere else so we haven't tried the actual entrees, but I'm pretty sure they will be just as delicious as their apps.
