LA｜Hidden Charcoal-Grill Izakaya

Haven’t been around Pasadena/Arcadia in a while. Wanted lunch and stumbled upon this spot that serves yakitori at noon — rare for izakayas, especially ones using real charcoal! For skewers, charcoal fire is a sign of respect 😄 So we had to try! Here’s what we ordered: 【8-Skewer Platter】 A house-curated mix to taste their grilling skills — chicken wing, chicken thigh, pork belly with asparagus, pork belly, shishito pepper, Japanese sausage, duck gizzard, chicken heart. 8 skewers for just $22.50 — excellent char outside, tender inside, sauce balanced sweet-savory. The chicken wing was outstanding — crispy skin, juicy meat. Scallop skewers looked amazing too! 【Ramen】 It’s a ramen house after all — we tried Fujiya Chashu Ramen and Volcano Ramen (spicy!). Their pork is cherry blossom-fed — no odd taste, well-marbled, pan-seared for aroma.😘😘 Broth is rich and flavorful — both are must-tries for first-timers. 【Norwegian Grilled Herring】 My husband loves grilled fish — many places use frozen, but here it’s fresh Norwegian herring. Tender, super fresh — would be perfect with drinks on a winter evening. 【Cold Tofu】 Simple, tasty side — fresh tofu with bonito flakes, okra, and light soy sauce. Refreshing and great with skewers.👌🙌 【Unagi Rice Bowl】 You can tell from the photo — deeply flavorful and rice-friendly. Served in a beautiful little wooden box — eel is lightly seared, sauce balanced, warm fat seeps into the rice… gone in minutes! Comes with miso soup — feels like a full teishoku set. They also have a wide drink selection (we skipped since it was midday).🙌😍 Even on a weekday lunch, it was nearly full — many regulars chatting with staff. Maybe that’s why they bother with charcoal grilling at noon — for people like me chasing that smoky aroma! Overall, loved it — definitely a place I’d return to.😁👍 Fujiya Ramen & Yakitori 411 E Huntington Dr #122, Arcadia, CA 91006 #FujiyaRamen #CharcoalYakitori #ArcadiaEats #IzakayaVibes #NorwegianHerring #LunchSkewers