YAYOI Palo Alto

Really liked it there. It might be a bit on the expensive side, but everything was tasty. I loved the side pickles

I ordered Ton Katsu. It’s $26. I was hoping to get a thick cut Ton Katsu, like the tasty one in Japan or Hawaii, but no. It took a while to get my food and the Ton Katsu wasn’t even hot. It felt like it’s been sitting there for a while. The food didn’t taste good either. The tableware they used was plastic. This place is definitely way overpriced. We’ll never come back!

My go-to spot! I absolutely love the concept of ordering from an iPad—it's super quick and efficient, making the whole dining experience seamless. It’s also in a great location in downtown Palo alto, so you can walk around after your meal! I can proudly say this place has the best chicken karaage I've ever tasted; it's perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. The service is outstanding, with quick and friendly staff always ready to assist. Beyond the karaage, all the food is fantastic. I also highly recommend the ramen and sushi bites; both are consistently delicious and satisfying. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or a leisurely dining experience, this place never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Love this cute restaurant in Palo Alto! It’s a chain so you can find the same menu in their other locations. You can order food digitally from the table and get paid with the iPad. The menu offers wide range of dishes at economic price.

I had lunch here with my family today, 12/6/25 around 1-2pm. I ordered the miso katsu and liked how it came out. The server said to be careful to my toddler sitting next to me as my order is hot. After I had my toddler settle down with his food, I had mine. I had a first bite on my miso katsu maybe 3-4 minutes after my son’s food came out. When I had the first bite, it was so hot that it burnt my lips and tongue. I wish my server did let me know how hot can it be because from the outside, I didn’t even see any steam coming out of it and just took a bite. When I let my server know, she didn’t really do anything and went and talked to her co-workers. Since I didn’t hear back from her until we asked for a check, I asked her if she did let her co-workers know about the issue and oh wow, her response was "since our food is cooked at the moment, it can be hot." Do you think I don’t know? Of course I know ALL food can be hot. What I am saying that it was burning hot that it burnt my lips. We dine out always and never had this kind of thing happen. Do you think I have no idea that food is cooked at the time? What a response to somebody who’s lips and tongue are burnt? Overall food was good and the ambiance was okay, but the server’s reaction& response ruined everything.

I love this place! I like all their Japanese offerings. It’s a solid place to get Japanese food. I usually get the salmon ikura don or the stir-fried pork belly and both are good. Their raw fish can be a little pricey but I feel that is expected for Japanese food. The service is fast. I don’t feel like we ever wait too long for our food. You can order on the iPad, which I appreciate, and see your order move through here queue. For payment you pay at the counter. The interior is nice. There’s table and booth seating. It’s decorated in warm wood panels and feels clean and new, and warm and friendly. Parking: There are many parking garages in Palo Alto so it’s not too hard for us to find parking

My favourite restaurant in the area for a calm dining. I specially like their small bowl with salmon and sushi bites. But always was wondering why they didn’t serve the rolls. And now they’re adding the sushi rolls to the testing menu. They’re really great! Fresh and simple ingredients, no greasy and non healthy topings, amazing seared salmon on top ✨🍣 Just. Simple. Delicious. Rolls. Highly recommend 👍