Yakitori1

My family and I visited this Asian restaurant in Cardiff Bay the day we picked up our son from university. We enjoyed a quick lunch in a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was friendly, and the food was good. We were pleased to find plenty of space and no need for a reservation. The service was prompt and efficient. Located in a central part of Cardiff, this restaurant offers an excellent opportunity to explore the city on foot. It's a convenient and reasonably priced spot for a quick bite if you visit Cardiff's beautiful city.

+6

Went to Yakitori#1 with friends and really enjoyed it. The food was fresh, full of flavour, and beautifully presented - the chicken is halal. The atmosphere was lively yet chilled, and the service was friendly and efficient. Definitely a place I’d go back to.

Went to Yakitori1 for lunch before Book of Mormon at the Millennium Centre. Really excellent food and service. We had the Robata Nigiri Surf n Turf, the flamed Nigiri special, Dragon roll and Kaarage chicken noodles. All were delicious although we both felt the Surf n Turf Nigiri was nice but didn't warrant the price. Overall paid £90 for the food and two beers. Would definitely go here again when on Cardiff Bay

This Japanese restaurant is truly exceptional! The food quality is outstanding, with each dish tasting authentic and delicious. We tried several items, and every one of them impressed us. The service is quick and attentive, and the staff are incredibly warm and welcoming. The decor is beautiful, and the presentation of the food is exquisite. If you're in Cardiff, I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.

+3

Really awesome ramen !! 😍😍😍😍 Very light, yet very flavourful and fills both your tummy and your heart ❤️ The Chicken Katsu curry was also yummm. Friendly staff 😊

Been twice was good both times, sushi was nice so was the wok. Price is affordable. service was average cant complain

Great venue, extensive menu, attentive and friendly staff. Will def be back. Recommend booking table at weekend evenings

Absolutely brilliant. I had a beef Cha Han which was fantastic. Lovely staff and super quick service. Two mains with Robata Nigiri and a bottle of wine £75. Booking advised. Definitely would go back as I have a loyalty card now

Had a great time there. The food was really tasty and well balanced. Wok was delicious and the sushi was fresh and crispy at the same time with beautifully combined fresh and creamy taste with the crips of tempura shrimp. Definitely will visit again when im in the area.

Ate at Yakitori in Cardiff Bay tonight and it was outstanding. Started with two teriyaki chicken skewers — juicy, perfectly cooked, and full of flavour. For my main I had the Cha Han fried rice with teppanyaki grilled beef fillet, served with miso soup. The beef was tender and beautifully seasoned with a soy, mirin and sake sauce, and the portion size was very satisfying. We also had the edamame with sea salt and chilli flakes, which was fresh and moreish. On top of the incredible food, the service was excellent — friendly, attentive, and timed perfectly. You feel genuinely welcomed here. For an independent restaurant, this place really punches above its weight. Amazing food, great value, and brilliant staff. Highly recommend and will definitely be back.

What a flavours! Absolutely gorgeous and all cooked to the perfect point. I came for a quick meal but it was so nice that I stay, relax and enjoyed every spoon /sticks . The staff was very friendly too . Highly recommended

I loved my experience at Yakitori1! There was a wide range of different styles of Sushi and Curries, I went for the Chicken Teriyaki Maki, and it was delicious, but I should say it was very filling.

Wonderful experience and amazing food! Salmon literally melted in my mouth! The food was served so quickly and they catered to my prawn allergies very well. Highly recommend coming here.

Food was delicious and just the right amount. Considering our dietary requirements being halal, the chicken options were very tasty. Warm atmosphere, friendly staff and quick and efficient service. My second time here, will deffo be back.

We were greated with a lovely smile, the place smelt so good and really clean, the server was awesome, the food came out looking like a piece of fine artwork. Every time we come here the food is outstanding! The fish was so fresh and the sashimi is amazing quality. Thank you so much. I cannot wait to come again soon

Came in for our last evening in Cardiff. We had a main each and some sushi and gyoza on the side to share. The food was absolutely delicious! The ramen broth was so flavourful and fresh, and the sushi was possibly the best I’ve had anywhere. Would 100% recommend coming to try this place, the service and attention to detail is brilliant. The story behind the restaurant is also really lovely - had a look on their website and it definitely was a deciding factor in us dining there.

We had a wonderful experience dining here. The food was excellent in taste right from the starters to the main course. Great meat options and the portions were excellent too.

I had an absolutely amazing meal in Yakitori. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They made me feel at home, and checked on me to make sure everything was okay. The restaurant was spotlessly clean, and very well decorated. I ordered the duck gyoza with two chicken Yakitori skewers, and the food came out very promptly. The ramen broth was so good, and the duck was delicious and crispy. The skewers were also lush. The food was also very affordable. I had a great time at Yakitori1, and I look forward to visiting again soon.

Our favourite restaurant in Cardiff. The food is absolutely delicious and the staff is very friendly and attentive. We’ve been to Yakitori1 so many times over the years and whenever we have family and friends over we tend to take them here. Absolutely obsessed with their Ramen and to be honest pretty much everything they serve.

I've been here a few times - in the evening on weekends and just recently for a quick lunch special. The food always tastes great and the dishes more authentic than the chain restaurants. Better still, the price for the lunch specials is great value for the same great food. (I have been for lunch quite a few times now over the past few weeks.)

It was soooo amazing. Your chicken is the best ever! I have really enjoyed my food 😋🤤🤤 if i come back in Cardiff i definitely come back in yakitori!

Absolutely delicious food, we didn't book a table and the restaurant appeared busy but didn't have to wait long for food and staff were lovely.

I arrived quite early for an evening meal, around 1615 and had the place to myself, it soon got busy when I left at around 1730. I ordered a mixture of gyoza, different sushi (hosomaki & maki) and an agedashi tofu. I thought the food and service was excellent. The music was not to my taste and a little loud. Would definitely recommend and visit again when I'm back in the area.

I've walked past this place a million times, and it was time for a visit. The menu is a thing of beauty. Simple and effective images. The main was £13:50 for the Chicken Karaage. Decent. I'll be back.

The sushi here is impeccable. You definitely get what you pay for. It’s fresh, fast and well served. We regularly dine in here, and have also popped in to take away on the fly too! It’s very close to lots of others bars and the Everyman Cinema, which is handy.

Lovely restaurant in the bay, food was reasonably priced and service was so speedy and staff were attentive and friendly We will definitely be back and will be recommending to everyone !!

Have ordered from here to deliver and first time eating in. 10/10 food. Polite service. Calm atmosphere

Quick, fresh and yummy. Hardly find any decent Japanese place in Cardiff so Yakitori1 really make me thrilled with its fast service, fresh foods and lovely atmosphere. Although I do wish if there's more foods options with dessert and drinks.

We stopped by this place for a quick dinner. Plenty of available tables for us to choose from when we got there. Food was OK, my favourite being the chicken katsu curry. Nice curry with juicy chicken cutlet. I also liked the salad with sesame dressing that came with it. Ramen was a bit unorthodox, but still good. The maki, however, was disappointing. For the price, I expected better. Very thin slices of fish and it could have been rolled a bit better. Overall I think it may be be better to go for the non-ramen hot food selection. Not bad, but a bit pricey.

+6

Good quality of food and variety, fast service and great location However, the waitress was not very friendly, too bright lights and a bit pricey in comparison with similar places. Also, the type of glass they brought with my beer would not be the best choice. I felt I was having apple juice.

Nice restaurant in Cardiff bay. We had the lunch special and the quantity of food is good. Services is fast and brought the dishes on time.

This was our first visit. While the sashimi and dragon rolls were fresh and enjoyable, the assorted sushi did not quite meet the same standard, which was a bit disappointing.

I ordered a chicken ramen and some chicken Gyozo. The experience in the restaurant was great as the food was really tasty. 5 stars for me. Highly recommend this place. As i finished everything on that bowl😍😁

I went for a solo date at Yakitori last week for an evening meal. Restaurant opens up at 5.30pm for dinner service. The atmosphere was quiet and chilled. I didn’t have a table booked but the concierge seated me straight away as it wasn’t busy. I was drawn to the restaurant due to its halal options however to my dismay there wasn’t a lot available in regards the halal options. They’d ran out of chicken katsu which is a favourite of mine but instead I settled for the salmon stir fry rice and a spicy dragon roll. Food came out really quickly and I was given a complimentary miso soup to get started with my meal. Sushi was delicious and so was the salmon stir fry. Full of flavour and beautifully presented. Overall great experience I was just disappointed about not having much to choose from. I would recommend. My bill came to £30.00.

Cannot rate highly enough. Food, drinks, atmosphere, service - all AMAZING! Thankyou for a lovely birthday evening! Went back the week after and already booked again for next month. Love it! UPDATE: Unfortunately the portions have now halved and the prices still high so you have to pay an awful lot for a full meal... We ended up in McDonald's after paying £80 for three courses on our last visit as we were still hungry so probably won't be back here as often any more :( hope they go back to the way they were as everything was fab before.

We were disappointed. The food was very mediocre: the salmon in the salmon teriyaki was very dry, the chicken katsu was dry and not crispy, the chicken yakitory didn't have much taste, the noodles felt like instant noodles and the sushi was not the best we've tried (and it was expensive). The service was nice but could be better. Also, we asked for extra teriyaki sauce which never arrived.

+3

(Based on two visits; good casual spot for quick Japanese cravings, but falls short on authenticity, value, and consistency.) Location & Atmosphere • Prime spot in the heart of Mermaid Quay – vibrant, waterfront vibe. • Low-lit, open-plan kitchen creates an intimate feel. • Staff give a warm, friendly welcome on arrival. Food Highlights Hits: • Rainbow & Dragon Maki Rolls – Tasty, well-executed, and the standout items. Tasted fresh and balanced flavors. Misses: • Beef Kare Raisu – Sauce lacked depth and sweetness; underwhelming for the price being the most expensive curry on the menu. • Beef Fillet Skewer – £7.50 for one small piece felt overpriced. • Chicken Karaage Noodles – Used sōmen (thin wheat noodles) that tasted stale; toppings (red onion, peppers, salad leaves) felt inauthentic and mismatched. Would prefer traditional garnishes like boiled egg, nori, bean sprouts, and wood ear mushrooms. Service • Polite and attentive when welcoming me and taking my order. • However didn’t check if my food was ok on both visits. Inconsistent finish: no goodbye on the second visit, which felt abrupt. Verdict If you’re in Mermaid Quay and craving Japanese food, Yakitori 1 will satisfy a basic hunger. But for authentic flavors, better value, or a memorable experience, look elsewhere in Cardiff (e.g., dedicated sushi bars or izakayas). Not a destination restaurant.

+4

Fairly small japanesy/asian style restaurant run by cantonese. Food was OK and price reasonable, though I would recommend the lunch special as at full price food does not justify price. Staff were curt and tables smelled of bacteria and sticky due to poor cleaning, so hygiene may be an issue here. No views and little atmosphere. Just OK.

The food is okay, but it seems a bit expensive. It's not much different from the fried noodles in the Chinese restaurants in the city center.

Poor quality of food. Not authentic Japanese cuisine at all. The tempura nigiri was chilly when served. Ramen broth is terrible. I expected a pork broth but end-up with a miso soup like broth. And also they half cooked the salmon and put it into the ramen which I have never seen before. We have ordered a fried chicken with fried noodles as well. The fried chicken doesn't taste good but the noodles are surprisingly tasty. Staff were nice though. Will not go there again

The quality of the food is usually secondary — what really leaves an impression is poor service. First of all, the bald male staff member who showed us to our table didn’t smile at all and gave off an arrogant attitude. Then, when three of us had finished eating, the waiter immediately cleared away the dishes, even though one of our friends was still eating. We had a big platter of sushi in the middle of the table to share, but they even took away our chopsticks.