1155 California Dr, Burlingame(650) 348-9388
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: 11am - 2am daily
http://www.mokutanya.com
Last Visited: November 15, 2012
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Winnie recommended Mokutanya for some good eats, but she also noted that the prices were a bit on the high side and I would agree on both counts.
From the outside, Mokutanya looks less than impressive. The very small strip mall allows room for parking, but easily hides what is inside. Even peeking into the window shows little indication of what's in the restaurant. Behind the counter and the tall display behind it are many little rooms divided by glass. You take off your shoes and sit on the floor, putting your feet into the well under the table, so while it may be a little awkward to get in and out, it's fun to enjoy this unique atmosphere. There is a sense of privacy with the low lighting (which also makes for these dim pictures) and ceiling-to-floor glass enclosures, but if you have kids next to you, you'll find them peering into your space.
The waitstaff is comprised of young ladies and their demeanor at the table is very gentle and patient. They were very good about explaining the menu and removing plates as they were empty, but one sometimes wonders at how efficient the kitchen is with runners because as soon as one plate came, another would come right after. Also, they have a tendency to chat when they aren't waiting tables which can be distracting when the restaurant isn't too busy. 
My camera didn't have a flash, but the photos give you an indication of the serving size. The skewers are about the length of a short fork. - Ika Sugata Yaki - grilled whole squid with yakitori sauce - While the flavor of the squid was good and the sauce was a nice balance, I found the meat to have an outer skin that made each bite really chewy. The meat itself was tender, but several times, I had trouble eating it because of a very thin layer of skin on it. $12
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus and - Bacon Wrapped Enoki Mushroom - Who can dislike bacon? Both skeweres were very tasty as the vegetables were moist and had soaked up the flavor of the bacon. The bacon itself was nice and crispy. $3 each- Wagyu Beef - 3 beef cubes - Tender and nice spices. $4
- Butabara - pork belly - Probably about as good as you would find at any yakitori place. $3
- Gyutan - Beef tongue - good texture and not overcooked. $4
- Lamb - Australian lamb leg with spices - good flavor, but a lot of the red meat starts to blend together and are less distinct from one another. $4- Chicken Thigh topped with fresh wasabi - The chicken is free-range and is super tender and juicy. The fresh wasabi is a nice touch and isn't at all overpowering. $3
- Miso Black cod - Good flavor and tender. I liked this better than the salmon. $5- Salmon - Okay. Bordering a little dry because of the thickness, but still okay. $4.50
- Tonkotsu Ramen - Pork bone broth with bean sprouts, sliced pork, shiitake mushroom, egg, and corn. A side of seaweed sheets also accompanies the ramen. This pictures shows a divided portion and the nice consistency and color of the boiled egg. The ramen wasn't the best I've had, but is pretty good amongst those in the Bay Area and is a good way to help you feel full. $7
Mokutanya is a great place for group dinners, after dinner snacks, or a date. Going to Mokutanya when you're hungry may not be the best idea unless you plan to get ramen; otherwise your bill may be a bit shocking. Two people can run a dinner bill of $70 to $100 without much effort. During happy hour, you'll find that they have a $1 oyster special and if you check-in on Yelp, you'll get a free drink. It's a fun place to check out at least once if you're in the area.
