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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, March 1, 2025


YAKIYA: ANDREW CHERNG 
STRIKES AGAIN WITH AN 
UNFORGETTABLE JAPANESE 
BBQ EXPERIENCE

Stepping into Yakiya, you can sense that something 
special awaits. Opened in November 2024, 
this Japanese BBQ spot isn’t just another addition 
to Pasadena’s dining scene—it’s a game-
changer. Andrew Cherng, the mastermind behind 
Panda Inn and Panda Express, has once 
again delivered a dining experi-ence that blends 
precision, quality, and hospitality into a seamless, upscale affair.

At $128 per person, Yakiya offers a curated tasting menu that’s far from traditional but undeniably 
im-pressive. The concept itself isn't new—Taiwan has perfected this style of refined 
yakiniku dining—but for many in Pasadena, it’s a revelation. And for this restaurant writer? It 
was a mesmerizing journey through some of the finest flavors I’ve encountered in a long time.

A Menu That Commands Attention

Let’s start with the star of the show: the beef. Yakiya sources A5 Wagyu, including selections 
from the highly regarded Snake River Farms. Each cut is rich, marbled to perfection, and 
melts in your mouth in a way that makes you wonder why you’ve ever settled for anything 
less. The chefs—trained in Taiwan—know exactly how to handle this level of quality, ensuring 
every bite is a perfect balance of texture and umami.

But the real magic here is in the details. The Bluefin Tartarelette? An absolute showstopper. 
Imagine the elegance of a spoonful of caviar but amplified by the deep, oceanic richness 
of premium tuna. It’s a bite-sized indulgence that lingers long after you’ve finished it. Then 
there’s the bone marrow with rice, which turns a simple staple into an extraordinary experience—
unctuous, savory, and deeply satisfying.

Yakiya’s approach to Japanese BBQ isn’t just about high-quality ingredients; it’s about orchestrating 
a meal where each course builds upon the last. It’s an adventure in texture, temperature, 
and taste, where precision grilling meets bold, unexpected pairings.

An Experience Worth Savoring

Despite its upscale theme, Yakiya manages to feel intimate and welcoming, thanks in no small 
part to General Manager Christian. His warmth and expertise made the evening feel less like 
a formal dining experience and more like being invited into a close friend’s home—if that 
friend just happened to have world-class Wagyu and an impeccable whiskey selection.

Speaking of whiskey, Yakiya boasts an impressive lineup of Japanese whiskeys, rivaling even 
dedicated whiskey bars. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just starting to explore, this is the 
place to sip and savor. Be sure to check their calendar for upcoming whiskey events—trust 
me, you won’t want to miss them.

If you go (and you absolutely should), ask for a middle seat to get a full 360-degree view of 
the action—watching the precision and care that goes into every dish is part of the thrill. And 
here’s a bonus: free parking. In Pasadena, that’s practically a luxury in itself.

Final Thoughts

Yakiya isn’t just a meal; it’s an event. The flavors are bold, the service is polished yet personal, 
and the overall experience is nothing short of top-notch. Whether it’s a date night, a celebration, 
or simply a treat-yourself kind of evening, this is one of those places you’ll be talking 
about long after your final bite.

Cherng has done it again. And after just one visit, you’ll be hooked

Peter A. Dills

https://podlink/1116885432

THE TASTING ROOM


CELEBRATING WOMEN’S 

HISTORY MONTH

I’m Gustavo Lira, Tasting Room Manager and Wine Buyer 
at The Bottle Shop in Sierra Madre with another wine and 
spirits selection. 

The month of March is Women’s History Month, it’s a month 
to honor women’s contributions in American history. I have 
a perfect wine that helps honor women who have made great 
contributions to their communities. 

The 2019 Cantadora 
“The Healer” 
Mourvedre 
is 80% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah. The grapes are 
sourced from the organically farmed Shake Ridge 
Ranch in Amador County. It spent 21 months in 
neutral French oak. This is a juicy wine with earthy 
notes, spice, and red fruits. Very seamless tannins are 
present on the bright finish. This is an elegant and 
refined wine. 

Cantadora Wines was founded in 2021 by Kira Ballotta 
to spotlight the stories of extraordinary women 
giving back in novel and profound ways to our 
shared community. Each wine donates 10% of the 
sales to the organizations the women have founded. 

The woman on the label of “The Healer” is Cynthia 
Tom. Cynthia is 3rd generation Chinese American. 
She founded A Place of Her Own (PLACE). The mission 
of the organization is to ignite and sustain confidence, 
feminine leadership, and compassion among 
women. According to their website, PLACE provides 
trauma-informed art-based tools, establishes a culturally 
sensitive community, and offers public platforms 
for exploration and healing of wounds from 
generational trauma.

Not only is “The Healer” a superb wine, but it’s also a wine that helps PLACE advance the causes 
of women in need, and to nurture the well-being of women. What a wonderful organization to 
support, especially during these troubled and disturbing times. 

The 2019 Cantadora “The Healer” Mourvedre is available at The Bottle Shop for $39.99. Say you 
saw it in the Mountain Views News and get the MVN special price of $37.99. Special price is good 
through March 7th. 

Please keep in mind all those who have suffered and are trying to rebuild from the Eaton Fire. Visit 
DenaMadreStrong.com to learn how you can continue to help those impacted by the Eaton Fire. 

Until next time – Salud!

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ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 


RAISING HARE: A MEMOIR by Chloe Dalton

A moving and fascinating meditation on freedom, trust, loss, and our relationship 
with the natural world, explored through the story of one woman’s 
unlikely friendship with a wild hare.

Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived 
under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on 
the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, over two years 
later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for 
hours on end and gave birth to leverets in your study. For political advisor and 
speechwriter Chloe Dalton, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside, 
far away from her usual busy London life, this became her unexpected 
reality.

In February 2021, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. 
Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how impossible it is to rear a wild hare, most of 
whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error, she learns to feed and 
care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead, it becomes her constant 
companion, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though 
Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes, stoats, feral cats, raptors, and even people, she 
never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves, Chloe knows she may never see it again. 
Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death.

Raising Hare chronicles their journey together, while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of 
hares, and the way they have been viewed historically in art, literature, and folklore. We witness first-hand 
the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal, which serves as a reminder that the 
best things, and most beautiful experiences, arise when we least expect them.

“A beautiful book that makes you think profoundly about how we so often tune out the natural world 
around us. Chloe Dalton is a tender, curious, wise, mind-expanding guide, connecting readers with the 
wild we humans once knew so well. I will be recommending this to everyone.”

—Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library

Book can be ordered at Sierra Madre’s new bookstore “Fables & Fancies” 626-665-8856


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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com