Yakitori Taisho is such a favorite for me. I came here twice and each time, it was because I missed yakitori bars in Tokyo. Much like its competition, it's highly recommended to grab a reservation. It's small and quant. They do their best to fit as many customers as possible but it's definitely a Japanese sized restaurant. While you're still paying a premium on meat on a stick, Yakitori Taisho makes them well. Nothing is too salty or too bland, each skewer is handled with attention and care. I recommend them for a date night. YYK can get busy and noisy. Yakitori Taisho's intimate setting and small space makes it a little better for one on one conversations. You also have a giant parking lot unlike YYK or their sister location out in Convoy. Speaking of sister locations...why is this one particularly better than Hinotez or Yakyudori? My only wish was a greater selection of beer but a highball never hurt anyone. Just remember to have a DD or call a Lyft.

Visited on 03/23/25 I was on the hunt for a good yakitori spot to enjoy a solo dinner and stumbled across Yakitori Taisho--what a find! It's a small, cozy hole-in-the-wall kind of place, and now I understand why people say to make a reservation. It gets busy fast and seating is limited, but thankfully I was promptly seated at the bar upon arrival. One of my favorite parts? The bar seating was partially walled off, which gave me a quiet, semi-private dining experience--perfect for those nights you want to be left alone or just aren't in the mood to socialize (aka: me). I really appreciated that thoughtful detail, especially as a solo diner. Service was quick and kind--I was immediately given water and my Sapporo, and handed two order sheets to fill out. I sat back, relaxed, and slowly got to watch my skewers come out fresh and hot, one by one. Every skewer I ordered was delicious: * Chicken skin - crispy and full of flavor * Chicken thighs - a standout favorite, cooked to absolute perfection * Beef with daikon - I usually consider chicken my go-to protein for yakitori, but this was so flavorful and tender, I ended up ordering a second skewer * Asparagus wrapped in bacon - cooked to perfection and so savory, it totally hit the spot * Pork belly with shiso leaf - so good * Shiitake mushrooms - surprisingly incredible (I even ordered another round, and I never get that excited about mushrooms!) * Brussels sprouts - normally at home I'll sauté them with bacon or load them with seasoning, but having them grilled this simply was a game-changer--the flavor was so clean and delicious, I think I've officially been converted I also ordered the plum paste (my guilty pleasure--I dip everything in it) and tried the yuzu citrus pepper, which added a bright, spicy kick. If you're spice-sensitive like I am, just know it's got a little heat but nothing overwhelming. Even though I ended up ordering more than I usually would, everything was paced so nicely and tasted so good, I couldn't help myself. The two chefs behind the grill were awesome--friendly, welcoming, and never rushed me. They checked in just enough and made me feel completely at ease, which I really appreciate as someone who usually feels awkward dining out solo. If Yakitori Taisho were closer to Encinitas, I'd be a regular. Until then, I'll be back every chance I get.

Nice ingredients. Oysters are very big and fresh, and all yakitori achieve anticipation regarding taste and texture. Make sure to call for reservation beforehand.

The atmosphere was great, and the food was authentic and great. We didn't have a reservation, but the staff offered us a table with a 100-minute time limit for the next reservation for that seat. It was enough to enjoy the food and the mood of the place with good sake.

I am soooo glad we decided to come here and listened to the reviews. Even same day, ask if they have any openings for reservations. They squeezed us in at 7p, although outdoors, they do have heat lamps. It was a little chilly but not too bad. Service was very attentive. We thought we ordered too much but it was just right actually. We were not there to stretch out the night, we came to eat and we were done in 30 mins. HAHAHA anyways, skewers - everything was TASTY. well grilled and just satisfying. We ordered 3 sauces to try everything with and it was all a perfect combo. The chicken skin was a standout...the beef....all were quite yummy. Everything came out in a timely manner, they even asked if we wanted to space it out, we were like HECK NO. keep them coming. Pickles and cabbage were good palette cleansers for in between. I think this place is our favorite yakitori spot out of what we've tried, but also we didn't really order drinks, so it seemed well priced LOL we would love to come back if we visit SD again!

Quiet and small restaurant located in the corner of a plaza with Smart & Final's nearby. It has an aesthetic, dark, and classy ambience with the chef visibly cooking in front of you. We were seated promptly and handed a menu with the skewers, specials, and sake options. I ordered a skewer of chicken thighs, beef tongue, pork belly, and beef wrapped with asparagus. So well seasoned with great texture. My favorite was definitely the beef tongue. They have many other options on the menu I hope to check out next time!

Best yakitori I've had since I've been back from Japan! Everything I had here was a delight. You can really taste the quality of the meat, and I loved the smokiness from the grill. I wasn't able to sit inside but the ambiance of the restaurant took me back to Japan. Sitting outside was not bad either, they have heaters and it is pretty private. Although a little pricey, I think it's worth paying for. I spent a little over $50 and left feeling very full! The stars of the show for me were the pacific oysters and the pork belly with shiso leaf. Shoutout to the waitress who recommended it! The pork belly had a yuzu and plum sauce on top which added a tanginess to the savoriness of the pork belly. It was amazing! The oysters were very fresh and delicious. We also had beef with wasabi, beef tongue, quail eggs, scallop, chicken heart/liver and gizzard. Everything was perfect. The only thing I wouldn't get again is the shochu cocktail. I definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try!! I will be back :)

Can't believe I haven't written a review for my number 1 Yakitori spot!! I live in OC and I would drive to SD for this. All the skewers are seasoned and grilled to perfection. They have a great selection of sake and drinks here too. Our favorites are: * Wasabi Beef (Best) * Pork Belly with Shiso leaf (Best) * Beef Tongue (Best) * Chicken heart * Chicken gizzard * Japanese sausage * Shiitake mushrooms * Bacon wrapped asparagus Staff are super friendly and service is great. Place is small so reserve ahead of time. Easy parking. I have yet to find a place like this in OC.

We were greeted with a warm welcome and very friendly staff, they were all knowledgeable of the food menu and even gave us tasters of sake before we bought one. Now the food, absolutely delicious, classic smokiness and slight salt for most of the meat dishes. This place is a small hole in the wall but kept very clean by the staff. You have to try the oysters! so delicious And the fried garlic was amazing. Definitely coming back again.