YakiniQ LV,

2180 Third St, Livermore, CA 94550, United States

"I came here to try the all you can eat, and was pleasantly surprised at the overall quality. I got to the restaurant around 6, and entered the waitlist around 5:45pm. I tried entering it earlier, but the yelp wait list didn't actually say there was a wait until all of a sudden, the wait jumped to 19 parties in line and a 58-88 minute wait. In total, we waited about an hour after arriving (for a party of 3). The menu is pretty standard, with a regular option, and a premium menu for $4 more, which included some cuts of American Wagyu. All ordering is done via a mobile website, accessed by a QR code the host gives you when they seat you. The meat quality was pretty top notch, though each individual serving was a little smaller than I was expecting. Not necessarily a bad thing, since it allows you to try more meats. Their sauces were also good - their wasabi mustard paired well with fatty pork! The only difference I noticed was that some items, like noodles or side dishes costed extra. The service was also really good - servers were constantly coming around to clear empty meat serving dishes, replace grills, ect. Your online menu also had an option to call a server if needed. Meat, when ordered, is brought out pretty quickly, faster than most other all you can eat places I've been to recently. The grill is also a huge plus - there's a ring around the edge of the grill, which vacuums in the smoke from the grilling. Though it doesn't catch 100%, you won't leave the restaurant smelling completely like smoke! Overall, a fantastic find in downtown Livermore. Good meat quality, excellent service, and reasonable prices. Just be prepared for a 1-2 hour wait if you don't enter the waitlist ahead of time!"

"The food was delicious. I am not a fan of pork belly and cocktails, and I had two cocktails and absolutely loved the miso and spicy pork belly. The beef selection was endless. We went on a Saturday for dinner. The wait was a bit over an hour and it was worth it. The restaurant was packed and the service was impeccable. The bartender (Ellie) was attentive and friendly. The owner (Ryan) worked with the staff and still made time for the customers. This establishment’s above and beyond service unmatched. Until we eat again."

"Was back last night for some korean bbq. Their meat qualities are good in the beginning but questionable several orders after not looking the same or it’s actually a completely different looking meat again. I wished I took a picture of that darker looking beef belly meat and next time I will take that picture showing the difference for posting. Their service was good especially the amigos but I know the restaurant is very popular so they don’t do reservations so they use a waiting list system. Here’s the issue with the waiting list system when adding onto their waiting they give you a checkin time but this checkin time varies a lot like over an hour wait after checking in. After sitting at our table I see just countless of concerning and frustrated looking customers waiting in the front waiting area. I hope to give them four stars again or even a five stars in the future."

"I came here with a group of friends, and overall we had a great experience. We waited about 30-35mins for a table on a Friday night. When we got to our table, all of the side dishes were already set out and the grill was ready to go. All of the ordering is done via your phone; they give you a tag with a QR code, and everyone in your party can order separately and add it to the same bill. Just be aware that you will get charges for leftovers. The food itself was great, especially the short rib, spicy chicken, pork belly and the ramen. I've seen people on here complain about it being smoky or not having overhead vents above the tables, but it's not that bad. There is ventilation built into the grills at each table, and while it can get a little smoky at times, it never lasts that long. It's no worse than what you experience at a Japanese steakhouse. The service was impeccable amd we always had someone coming by the table to drop off food, change out grill plates or pick up dirty plates. The staff really works hard to make it a great experience. Overall, I really enjoyed my first dining experience at Yakini, and I look forward to going back."

"Portion was very small for each dishes but taste was good . No top venting system so lots of smoke in the place. No enough waiters and some waiter didn't speak English. One waiter asked us to leave when we reached 2-hours eating limit with bad face, which was not friendly."