We walked in and loved the ambiance! They do have an outdoor seating area too but we were seated inside and loved it. The vibes are on point. Food was even better!! The scallops are SO GOOD that we ended up ordering it again at the end. The charred Japanese sweet potato was also DELICIOUS! We also got the Aburi Salmon Roll which was also incredible. We also had the coolest and kindest waiter. He answers all of our questions and was so friendly that it enhanced the experience even more! We think his name was Nic so thanks Nic! Also, had to talk about our drinks in animal mugs which is just so fun!! I would highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back myself! read more

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First time here and was an ok experience. Service was spectacular but the food was ok and perhaps a bit overrated and over priced Portion sizes were smaller than I expected and the taste for much of what we ate was unusually different We were told that the recommended servings per person should be three plates each For the price the taste and variety it was ok. Cute place cute plates and cute atmosphere and ambiance read more

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Still thinking about it a week later. Steak frites, curry and pan the naem plate were my top three. The only things that I thought were alright were the sushi rolls. Everything else was good. And the strawberry milk and black sesame soft serve were good. read more

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My husband and i decided to try this spot because we had the Red Dining Book (also highly recommend) The ambiance is vibey and its very dim but not too dark. The service was normal and we got everything we needed. The food was very very good. First was the spicy tuna handroll - you have to roll it yourself which i loved because i can put as much or as little as id want of the tuna and or the rice. Its well seasoned (spicier than normal which i love - just a warning) the chili crisp though!!!!! we got the budo-gnocchi i really liked this dish just got caught off guard as the "pasta" was actually rice cakes (think tteokboki) i didnt read carefully and missed it. However, it was still very good. I do thing they could maybe make the rice cakes smaller so that it could absorb flavor more. The sauce was amazing its just the ratio was a bit off. We had the steak frites and that was decent - a bit too pepperrrry but the steak was cooked perfectly. We also got the chicken wings which was my second favorite. The aburi salmon sushi was good it was pressed sushi and not rolled. that was also very interesting but very tasty! i will be back! read more

I have eaten at quite a lot of nice restaurants in the States and abroad. However, truth be told, the food here was bar none, some of if not the BEST food, I have ever eaten. The service was impeccable with the timing of the plates, perfect. 3 of us and we ordered 6 dishes which was perfect and left us stuffed. Every dish was better than the next, truly. The drinks were spectacular and dont forget the soft serve banana ice cream: imagine banana cream pie ice cream! Was a bit loud inside but not overwhelming. Do NOT miss this restaurant because bar none, some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life! read more

This is a super cute place to go to if you're feeling small plates and drinks! The servers do a good job of explaining how many plates you should get per person and what the favorites are. Out of the dishes I really liked the pork with sticky rice. It was cooked so well and was super flavorful. It's amazing how they can pack so much flavor into small dishes. It's also a nice place to eat at if you're looking for some cute drinks. The drinks come in cute cups. Would definitely go again. I recommend for a cute date night but not as a place to go if you're looking for one large plate read more

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I hate to give it a positive review because too many good ones will make it harder for us to get a reservation the next time. However, a real effort was made by the owners to provide a better dining experience and those efforts deserve respect. Everything was amazing. The service, food & ambiance made for a fantastic time. We were with some close friends and so it made for a perfect evening. We will definitely be back soon. Thank you Budonoki! read more

If Bladerunner was a restaurant, it would be Budonoki. Half izakaya, half brasserie. Killer vibe but not pretentious, with great cocktails. Best steak frites in a post apocalyptic LA, but I think about that sweet potato and I get lost in time, like tears in rain. read more

After hearing all the hype decided to finally try Budonoki - the spot all over social media I should've known better overall everything was oddly flavored and seasoned, the server let us know at the beginning he had a concussion and might zone out and apologized in advance (the hell?). It was cute though. Just 2/10 on execution Scallop crudo - with a cilantro vinaigrette - can't taste anything but the sauce which is wildly unbalanced Hand roll sets just a bowl of mush and some pieces of nori also over sauced Sweet potato - participation award Chicken oyster skewers with negi - not bad Yakitori - was more like when you want something vaguely Asian and you have noodles and leftover steak and various condiments read more

For a better experience, simply make a reservation. I made the mistake of arriving unannounced with a party of four at 7:30 pm and wasn't seated until about 9:15 pm. I get it: it's Friday, dinner time, reservations are priority, but I understood the bar top to be "first-come-first-serve" when, in fact, it's more "arrive-and-we'll-put-you-on-a-waitlist-to-sit-at-the-bar." However, the owner, probably sensing our frustration, approached and was very apologetic and understanding to the situation. Upon seating us, he won us over by offering everyone in our party a complimentary lychee-flavored frozen cocktail, Hyoketsu, that was dangerously good. All together, we tried about seven dishes from the crispy brussels to the aburi salmon (both of which happened to be my absolute favorite), and our bill came out to just over $300 with drinks included. All of the dishes were shared amongst us, which worked out great, as we were able to try many things we would not have otherwise asked for had it just been myself and/or another. So if you're thinking of coming, do so correctly and make a reservation before it's too late! read more

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I really wanted to love this place, but had more misses than hits of what we ordered; and for this price point I was a tad disappointed. Came to catch up with a friend, starving, and definitely over ordered. We had the Thai sausage (5/5) which was so fresh with the herbs and sauce, and crispy rice! Seafood pancake (3/5) was quite oily but tasty, yakisoba (3/5) too heavy on the sauce and also quite oily. Salmon pressed sushi (3/5) also a bit heavy on the sauce, thought this was a tad fishy. We also had 2 drinks each which we both enjoyed. Overall this is a decent spot, albeit more expensive than I would have liked. Might be better for a happy hour type of deal rather than dinner! read more

Came across Budonoki as of one the new up and coming spots in LA, it did not disappoint. The patio has some dope wall art and the inside gives chill dive local dive/sushi bar vibes. I like the music selection as well, 90-early 2000s hip-hop and R&B. We started off with some drinks: the mango slushi drink (Hyoketsu), old pal (their version of a Negroni, and the martini. If you are into sweet drinks, the Hyoketsu is the move. Mango masks the alcohol taste and you get to finish the sweet coconut cream on top. The other two are solid. Food wise we got the pork jowl (Smokey grilled pork, really good combo with the mint), Naem (they encourage making an open faced sandwich with the crispy rice), curry pan (think Japanese curry empanadas), and dragon roll (solid, a lot of rice though). Loved the food experience here, a lot of flavors and creativity with the small plates. Great for a night out with friends or a date. Service was great, staff was attentive and social. Parking may be an issue, we were lucky to find side street parking. Overall, really great asian small plate experience would come back again and recommended to anyone. read more

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Budonoki was suggested by a friend, and I'm so glad because we had a great time. The main room is dark and cool although bright enough to see. There is a patio dining area that is also very chill. The waiting area is also outside and they kindly serve drinks while waiting for your table and just add it the reservation so no need to lay twice. The service was super friendly and attentive. Everything we ate was exquisite. I was skeptical because it was a little pricey and the menu descriptions didn't make it sound like anything special. I couldn't be more wrong. Each dish was unique, flavorful, and fresh tasting. We had the oshizushi dishes (aburi salmon and dragon roll), curry pan, spicy tuna hand roll set, naem, and negima. The tuna hand roll set was probably my favorite and also presented the best value. It's a make your own hand roll and comes with enough to make 4 hand rolls. read more

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It was ok but I've had better. They don't take reservations so we had 45 minute wait. The server was nice but the food was just so so

This is a hidden gem! We went on a Thursday night with reservations, but decided to sit at the bar. They have a cute outdoor patio as well. We were greeted upon arrival and the service in general was very good! We started with the scallop crisp and it was melt in your mouth. And the green spicy sauce is so good! We also had the Naem, and it was good - but prob could've skipped it. The dragon roll was yummy. The curry pan is like a cheesy meat empanada. We also got the sweet potato and it had a great salty butter flavor, really good. And finally we had the Yakisoba, yummy noodles with Wagyu. We also got a special - salmon neck dish that was also good. Overall everything was really good! The service was great, and the food was delicious. We also got a couple drinks that were very good. For two people we ordered too much and had to take some home. Great date night spot, it's small dark and cute. read more

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This place is rumored to be grand. This place has laurels, lots of laurels. Go to their page, and you will see quotes from many LA Eaters, who have job titles that make their opinion on food a word that cannot be denied. So even though they got laurels they do not rest. The restaurant is in a corner. When Monica (my partner in-dine) went we missed the spot. We had to circle the block. We found no parking. We needed luck to find parking in this area. But lucky we did not get. So we opted for the standard practice of what to do when one does not find parking- they find valet. At least standard, in LA, when you visit an "it" spot in an area of grand reputation. As soon as I entered I was hit with a lovely odor--- a promise that my nose detect. Truffle hunting pigs must feel the same way when they detect their treasure nearby. In simpler terms, the odor wafted, enveloping in a comfort like a blanket that hugs me and tells me what I need is in wait. I cannot remember our servers name. She did have some metallic blue nails that were on fleek. I haven't heard that word in a while, I thought I would bring it back---- or least attempt to. She was engaging, and had a brilliant, confident white smile. Before going I did some research. One of the beloved quirks of this place is that it serves cocktails in Penguin cups. But the cups were not all Penguin in shape. I got a lovely pink octopus, my friend a lovely whale. The cups were 1000% cute, they were childish yet somehow adult. Like imagine doing good at your job, and your manager gives you a sticker, and you celebrate it as if you were 5 years old. That is what the cups felt. However, they have a 150.00 dollar stolen fee. Why? One of the servers expressed that the pair of spouses who made them, no longer do. So apparently these cups are hard to find. I was enraptured for a second- like if I did find one, I would claim victory in a race for a treasure, but, in reality, those cups must be around, either by copy or by craft given by heritage. I am just saying--- we have plans to build a colony in mars, we must have a way to find those cups. The food was great. So great! I will say that Monica and I were a pair and we were recommended to have six dishes between the two of. That was an exaggeration of a recommendation. I would start with 4, and know to get only 4 when I go again. My favorite one was the charred Japanese sweet potato. It was the best bite of the night. I place some of their Negima (chicken skewers) pieces on top of a potato and some of their galangal sauce that comes with the chicken and the vibrations I felt inside my mouth and mind, quieted the world down. It was me and the bite, and no one else. They also play music that you can bop your head too. At one point I ate, and one point I circled my head to melody. I was happy. I was moving. I was in the zone, simply, said. My friend Monica drank the Josikai- a girl's night out. I tasted it. She had to order a new one for herself. It was such a wondrous taste, sweet, strong, and unique. The colors of the place gave me modern Izakaya- blue and orange. Sleek, and modern styles were all about. I was transported for the night. Not to Japan or Tokyo, but a futuristic city that embraced Japanese roots and melded with the designs of tomorrow, yet to be named. Skip the naem. Wait for the Budo-gnocchi. It was a pleasure to enjoy! We got them without the mushrooms. I dont gravitate toward mushrooms. But the dish was stellar. Creamy, flavorful--- Arigato to the minds behind the dish. Everything was a pleasure. It is not cheap to enjoy. I paid close to 3 bills. And here is the thing, when Monica and left we had leftovers. However, this place with all its good food, and excellent service, and just all around strong presence had no carry out bags, on the day we went. I know it seems like a small thing to forget but they were an inconvenience. Know before you think I like to stir things up, I want you put yourself in a place. You are done experiencing dining. You enjoyed great food, music, and paid good money for it. Then you have to carry three small containers to the car. I dont want to carry anything, I am full. I had to carry one. Monica had two carry two. When we got to the valet we had to place all containers on top of his valet stand to look for the keys, the ticket, the cash and this this and that. He even said that the lack of bag was an inconvenience. He said it in Spanish. In Spanish it hits differently. Yes, maybe I am making a big deal of a small thing, but as a persnickety eater is that not my right? As Monica and I were leaving, another server asked us if we needed a bag. I made a show of having to carry these boxes out cause we did not have a bag. Ugh. I will go here again but this time prepared. Hope my review prepares at least one person for the Budonoki experince. And by prepared I will not take my own bag, I will know to order 4 dishes not six. read more

So good!! I came here with a group of friends for my birthday and they were so accommodating to my reservation request and I had the best time! All the food came in smaller shareable portion sizes and we ordered half the menu to try. Most dishes exceeded expectations with a few being just okay. My favorites of the night were the tuna handroll, the cod special they had, and the pressed yellowtail sushi. The restaurant itself had a really cool loungey vibe which I really liked and I can't wait to be back! read more

Amazing restaurant, great food, ambiance and excellent service. Wish they had some good cocktails

Amazing!!! 5/5 service. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive. They even knew that I was in industry, which means they do there homework on there guests. That blew me away. 5/5 food. We ordered almost everything on the menu as well as every special. Everything exceeded our expectations. 5/5 ambiance. As soon I walked in I felt like this was the place for me! Dark but still properly lit and the music was 90s/2000s hip hop. What an awesome combo. Thank you Hayden, Chef, and all the wonderful staff! If I could I would give you a star. read more

This restaurant made me fall in love with Japanese food. It's so so good. In order, from best to worst/least best: yellowtail pressed sushi (WOW) spicy tuna handrolls, charred sweet potato (a true spiritual experience), wings, naem, and yakisoba. That said, the yakisoba was incredible, so like this ranking is like pulling teeth. I would also try the soju and sake options because they all looked great. Super excited to go back. The vibe is also really cute and busy. read more

The Hype is real! Love this cool little Izakaya spot. I wouldn't say there is much ambiance but it still has that hipster vibe. I scored a last minute 5:30 reservation at their bar. It was fun sitting there and watching all the food come out. The staff was super friendly and helpful. Tried a couple of the sashimi courses and they were both very tasty but i def leaned more towards the scallops. Their signature dish that they recommend is Naem which although good and different from anything else wasn't my favorite. I think if they gave more of the cabbage to go with it i would have enjoyed it more. It needed the crunchy texture and acidity to break up the sausage & rice balls. Still it was tasty. The roasted maitake salad was a special of the day & it was friggin delicious. They should add it to their regular menu. The grilled pork jowl was a solid choice and not too spicy if you can't do spice. Pandan soft serve was a refreshing end to the meal. Looking forward to going back to try more things. read more

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We came here for an early Valentine's Day dinner and it was well worth it! What we ordered and enjoyed: - yellowtail hamachi special: bold flavors and fun textures - chicken skewers: a must get! - pork naem: a must order! The chefs moms fermented pork recipe - Japanese sweet potato: a must order! - chicken wings- they gave this to us for free, very good - pressed salmon sushi: would skip this dish - yakisoba noodles: good for sharing, nothing super special I can't wait to go back! read more

The food was amazing. The sweet potato was something I never had in my whole life. I have been to 39 countries for work and have eaten so many foods and I have never tasted anything close to it. The aburi salmon was delicious as well. However the star of the show: Our server Nic. He was one of the best most down to earth servers I have ever had in my life. He was patient, recommended the best things on the menu including the sweet potato. And my glass of water was never empty. You would think going to a trendy restaurant that maybe there would be a stuck-up atmosphere. But no all the servers and waiters were extremely friendly. Although the sweet potato is not something I had before in my life, I think Nic was one of the best servers. I got. Although pricey it was worth any penny. We'll be back in a week. Park on the street was plentiful at 5PM read more

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Second time here, another incredible experience. This is fine dining for a fair price. You can spend about $60 on a drink an each and about 5-7 entrees and leave feeling full and happy. The creativity in the food here really elevates the food and differentiates it from other izakaya places. Portion sizes are fair, I definitely recommend trying any new items on the menu. The sushi is incredible as always, both the salmon and the yellowtail roll. We had gnocchi corn cheese and it was unreal. We also got to try the wings that were crunchy and perfectly coated. The ambiance is quirky, dark and adorable. I recommend reserving a few days in advance. I love this place- best spot in silverlake read more

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My favorite restaurant on the east side! What a cool ambience, the drinks are amazing and the food is exquisite. The scallops were probably my favorite! Call out to the host at the front on last Sat night, I forgot his name, but he was very helpful with my Hangry friend. read more

Budonoki - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

NOTE: Dined in on 6/8/2024. Plenty of neighborhood and street parking in this quieter section of Virgil Village and it's super easy to find on the corner. The location is actually quite intentional, as the restaurant is intended as a space that the local community can rally behind after work. We often hear about a lack of easily accessible "third spaces" here in L.A. and it's fitting that this restaurant should be named after the Japanese word for "Vine" - it's a place to hold on to socially. I sat at the bar and felt welcomed as if I were a regular. I don't drink alcohol, and sometimes that leads to me getting less attention from bartenders, but I didn't feel that way here. The music was an appropriate volume - loud enough to be able to comprehend the lyrics, but quiet enough so that patrons don't feel the need to shout over it (and over one another). It's been a disturbing trend at a lot of new L.A. restaurants in recent years to have to resort to shouting matches to talk to your dining companions. Speaking of music, I rarely talk about that in my reviews, but the music selection here perfectly fit the dim, intimate, laid-back lounge feel of the restaurant. Frank Ocean, A Tribe Called Quest, FKJ, Masego were a few of the artists playing. But how's the food? I ended up trying three items, and I'm down to come back to try more, but I don't think anything really wow'd me. Here's the breakdown: Naem (thai pork sausage, crispy rice, herby slaw) - Naem is fermented and usually you eat it raw. The texture can vary a bit, but imagine a less viscous/thick cha (Vietnamese sausage). The crispy rice is basically made into arancini and you're encouraged to break parts of it off to eat with the slaw and naem. The slaw and naem both have similar flavor profiles, since there's a strong acidic presence in both and to be honest, the flavors meld together to the point where they're nearly indistinguishable. That being said, the textures all work together in harmony, and I enjoyed this dish a fair amount. I probably wouldn't order it again the next time I'm here just to save room for new items, though! Curry Pan (wagyu, Japanese curry, cheese, aji verde) - I was told that this was more like an empanada, and that's certainly true. If I were to judge this as a minced beef and cheese empanada, this would be one of the best I've ever had. But this is supposed to be Japanese curry with wagyu beef, right? I can't say I noticed the richness nor fattiness of the wagyu, which should be omnipresent throughout each bite. And most disappointing of all, I couldn't really taste the curry. I tried eating the beef curry by itself to see if the cheese (mozzarella or queso oaxaca, maybe?) or aji verde dip was overpowering it - still couldn't taste it. Oh well... the moment I stopped thinking about how it was supposed to be curry, the more enjoyed it for what it was, and it ended up being my favorite dish of the night. The pastry was decadently flaky and buttery in all the right ways and it really carried everything else. Yellowtail Oshizushi (jalapeno, garlic ponzu) - A Kansai special that you rarely find around LA. Imagine making a sushi cake with layers of fish pressed with layers of rice, then cut into slices and you get oshizushi. There's not a whole lot to say about this, other than the bottom layer of rice falls apart kinda easily so I suggest eating this with your hands. Doubly so if you can't finish each slice in one bite (they're kinda big!). It comes with six pieces, so super easy to share. No complaints about the fish quality nor the texture of the sushi rice. The garlic ponzu wasn't overpowering and I recommend chewing this one slowly so that the fat from the fish has a chance to mix in with the rice better. It's good, but not different enough from enjoying nigiri for me to tell you that you MUST order it. So yeah, all of the food was actually really good, but nothing really stood out as exemplary. Next time, I'll try the jowl, "budo-gnocchi", and the Japanese sweet potato and maybe I'll update this review :) Still definitely recommend that you visit for the vibes! It's a wonderful spot to hang with friends, go on a date, or strike up a conversation with strangers at the bar! read more

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Eater named this one of the best new restaurants in US and the top new restaurant in LA and it's deserving of the title and hype. The LA food scene has felt stagnant for a while so I'm excited to finally have a spot I can 100% recommend to others. Most everything we ordered was delicious but some of our favorites were the spicy tuna, scallop crudo, gnocchi, and the miso butter with sweet potato is to die for. The steak was skippable. The strawberry milk soft serve was too sweet but my friend had no problem inhaling it. read more

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Staff is fantastic at this hip and upcoming spot. Pricing and portions are as expected. Valet and metered parking available. Overall, a fun and different spot that thinks outside the box. The menu is setup for sharing. This experience was great even as a pescatarian that doesn't eat shellfish. Sharing is great but get your own aburi salmon and spicy tuna hand-rolls. The chef's salad without the ham was yummy as was their mushroom salad special. Charred Japanese sweet potato was delicious. You can skip the budo-gnocchi, yakisoba, agedashi tofu. The pandas vanilla coconut soft serve was a nice way end the meal which has a flavor profit similar to the remaining milk in a bowl of milk of cereal. I do wish they had more sushi as it is labeled as a sushi restaurant. 4.5 stars that I will round down since as good as it was, I am ok not going back again unless the menu adds more sushi. read more

Food are really good ,feel like combination about Japanese food and Thai taste , 100% good for me The place so clean and the service are the best, they r have enough staff to take care of you and the restroom super clean and cute read more

Budonoki - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The wings were amazing and the drinks were great. We walked in and we were seated immediately. Highly recommend for date night.

Omg, omg, omg. This far surpassed my expectations. After failing to find street parking, we parked with valet for $13. Came here after seeing it in Westways magazine. Picture of the Salmon sushi looked really good and it was good, but there were better things in store. First off, they don't have a full liquor license, so all the drinks are made with sake or shoju, still tasty. We ordered a hamachi hand roll and accidentally got a spicy tuna handroll. Oh the gods had a hand in this lucky mistake! The tuna handroll, which is deconstructed, was the favorite of 3 out of 4 of us. The other favorite was the miso roasted sweet potatoes. Even my "vegetables aren't cool" teenager loved them. The scallop crudo and Iberico pork were fantastic. The flavors are so balanced with sweet, savory, and spicy all just right. For dessert, we had the special Pandan and Vanilla soft serve, served with little shovels as spoons. You know when food is made well and it's worth the high price. The 4 of us left almost $300 poorer but it was a night to remember! read more

Such an easy review. 10/10. Small spot, great small plates with amazing food, amazing staff, once of the best places ive been to in LA to grab sake, drinks and food. They also have Suntory which is the best japanese beer EVER and not many places carry it on draft ( I hope the never sell it in bottles because this will be dishonoring this beer its so perfect on tap wow). Bottom line: Just go there, sit at the bar, get their cool cocktail drinks and get amazing food. 10/10 love you guys! @cookingwithyossig read more

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The food and service here are top notch. We came on NYE and again a month later and we were impressed both times. The drinks are also fantastic. read more

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5 stars for the overall experience! Creative and well executed menu, great and friendly service, and fun vibes anchored by cool ambiance and music. Menu selection was small but mighty with the wagyu, gnocchi and sweet potato being the highlights for us. The wings and sushi were OK. What's not pictured is the smooth Suntory Malt draft beer they had (along with lots of other tasty beers, sake and cocktails). The Suntory was so smooth and fit perfectly with the bites. Place is great for a fun night out with friends. Playlist was mostly 90s hip hop / hits and place is a bit darker, but to us added to the izakaya pub vibes. Make rez! read more

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My partner brought me here as part of a surprise date and oh my god was it good. We got the Daikiri ($16) and Joshikai ($18) to drink, which were both incredible in their own ways. The chocolate bitters in the Daikiri made it unlike any drink I've had before, and the adorable mug for the Joshikai was so unique! For food, we got the scallop crudo ($22), Budo-gnocchi ($30), naem ($17), negima ($15), and wagyu zabuton ($49). The first three are must-haves. The negima chicken skewers were good (I especially appreciated the sauce), but I would pass on them next time to try something else. The wagyu zabuton was great too, but we were so full from everything else that I don't think we got to enjoy it as much! For dessert, we got the pandan coconut vanilla soft serve, which was delicious, came with the cutest shovel spoons, and was a fairly hefty serving size to share. We will definitely be back to try some of the other staples. I love that this restaurant does twists on dishes that you cannot find anywhere else. And street parking was fairly easy to find! read more

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New spot for all occasions... from girls' night to date night to dinner with your mom. Current favorites include: grilled pork jowl, yellowtail oshizushi, and snap pea asparagus salad... but honestly anything this team is making is amazing. read more

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Hot server, bad food. Tbh, the only great thing we had was the salad. Everything else tasted very mid. The truffle "gnocchi" was the most disappointing. Tasted like a cheap white mac & cheese. read more

I already want to go back just for the Curry Pan (wagyu, Japanese curry) - it was my favorite. The aji verde sauce was a good combo too. I also recommend the 'make your own' Spicy Tuna Handrolls, chicken skewers and the Naem (Thai pork sausage) - the slaw was delicious! I could have skipped yellowtail pressed sushi. The mayo dressing was overpowering. I would have just preferred plain yellowtail sushi. The service was great! And loved the ambiance. read more

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Came here after reading reviews and alot of hype on this spot. Located in East Hollywood just outside of Silverlake, this spot sits on a corner of a rather unassuming residential building. Parking is a pain here but was able to lock up a street spot. Would highly recommend an Uber / Lyft option here if you dont want to deal with street parking. Anyhow, came in and had reservations. Space is small but staff friendly and helpful. Izakaya has a bar and some tables around it and a 90s R&B / Hip hop playlist rolling. Lots of Japanese beer on tap and cocktails ( from soju / sake). Had a Martini which was good and then ordered Sapporo beer drafts to go along with food. Food is a limited menu and more tapas style with small dishes to share between a couple of people. Tried the Yakatori, sweet potato with chives, yellowtail sushi roll, yakisoba ( they make a veggie and meat version) and a seafood pancake. Of the all the dishes the seafood pancake and sweet potato were good. Yakisoba were ok abd sushi roll was pretty good. Not a ton of options, but can see this spot being good to kind of start the night out with before going bar hoppping etc., Would visit again if I am in area. read more

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This would be an automatic entry into the regular rotation IF the prices felt more reasonable. Everything was delicious, but too expensive while portion sizes were also too small. Oshizushi-- MUST GET! The yellowtail especially was the star for me; delightfully buttery with a bright, citrusy taste. It even seemed like there was crema in there somewhere but I'm not positive there was. The salmon had a sharper taste with the zingy serano pepper on top. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. The other highlight was the Naem--it was not at all what I expected from the menu description, but so delicious and homey! The pork sausage reminded me of something my mom would bring back from the Asian market & the slaw was perfectly vinegar-y. In the good-to-just-OK range were the tuna handrolls, (served in a bowl so you can make it yourself... seemed gimmicky; why not just roll it for me?), chicken wings, and the braised egg plant. We did need these dishes in order to eat enough and not leave hungry, but they weren't especially noteworthy. I won't be dreaming about the strawberry milk soft serve either. Drinks were pretty and tasty, but also a little too expensive & rather watery/weak. The pressed sushi though, I'd eat that for lunch every day! read more

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