I'm born and raised in Westlake / Echo Park, so I remember when the Budonoki building first went up and when the restaurant finally opened. I can't believe it took me this long to try it--because this place is truly incredible. The decor and ambiance took me to Japan. My buddy was visiting from Georgia and he's a big foodie. I've also traveled a lot for work and love exploring new spots, so we came in with high expectations. Budonoki exceeded every single one. The service is next-level--the staff goes out of their way every minute to make you feel taken care of. The food quality is outstanding. We ordered about 6-7 different dishes and every plate was full of flavor, beautifully presented, and perfectly cooked. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. Their drink menu is also impressive. I ordered one of their signature cocktails and tried a special bottle of sake--both amazing. Sam at the bar took great care of me while I waited for my friend, and his hospitality set the tone for the whole night. I'm honestly blown away. Can't wait to return. Highly, highly recommend Budonoki. read more

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The food was great. Service was fast and the bartender was also attentive. Ambiance is nice and great for a night out with someone special. Pricing was fair. I ordered the curry pan and the pressed sushi and my bill was $60~ with tax. Parking is just pricey at $14.30 with no validation. read more

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Second time here with my husband- brought my son and his girlfriend this time so we can try more incredible eats. Once again not one bite we did not love! By the end of the meal we tried ranking our favorite dishes (we shared 7) and could not pick one as all were equally special. The place has a hipster vibe but without trying too hard. The hostess and servers are lovely. Get the Charred Japanese sweet potato- I'm still thinking of that bite, as well as the IBERICO CHAR SIU-incredible. read more

Here we have the Iberico pork char sir,this was one of the many dishes I was blessed to try and cannot explain how wonderful our experience was. Aside from our host Josh, who surely is stressed out from how busy it runs, would be great if he smiled! Definitely would recommend to go and trying it out, everything is absolutely delicious you'll not regret it at all! read more

Budonoki - Here we have the Iberico pork char sir - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love this place and I'm drawn to it anytime I'm in the area--even if just for desert. Stopped by last night for their incredibly smooth soft serve. Experienced both the Black Sesame and Tokyo Banana. Smooth! Incredible texture! Amazing presentation! read more

What a slay and she's here to stay!! Super cozy and ambient interior. You haveeeee to order the aburi salmon pressed sushi, I could have eaten like ten more. Curry in empanada style was interesting, not bad but could have done without. Gnocchi was so good omg, almost tasted like bacon? Loved it read more

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Very hipster young crowd here haha. Food was very unique with its fusion presentation but all very tasty. It was quite busy on a Friday so I recommend making a reservation so you won't have to wait an hour. Staff were all very nice, ambience is great too. This is a great spot to hang out and catch up with friends while drinking and eating. Food is presented more family style so everyone can share. We did street parking which wasn't too hard for a standards. read more

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Cozy, yet elegant atmosphere -- Budonoki serves as a lovely spot for an elevated sushi experience. The drinks are also great. If you're expecting big portions for what you pay for, however, you should look elsewhere. Food: 4.5/5 Price: 3/5 Experience: 4/5 read more

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This is the second time I've been to Budonoki and I can't wait to go back. The interior is dark & intimate with great lighting so you feel your table is in its own private low spotlight. I definitely recommend a reservation as there is limited seating. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The budo-gnocchi was delicious and a fun play on the name of the restaurant. We also got the pork jowl and one of their specials. read more

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Fun spot for dinner/ drinks. Would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance as it gets busy. Budonoki is dimly lit, with an intimate, modern vibe inside. The staff were all so friendly and provided great recommendations. The menu is limited but we loved everything we tried. It's tapas style, so meant to share several plates. The sweet potato may have been my favorite. The drinks were also delicious, and come in a fun animal mug. Would definitely recommend stopping by. read more

Love this spot!! Everything is soooo good but I think my favorites are the Japanese sweet potatoes and the yakisoba noodles. The drinks very strong and delicious. Love the vibes it's perfect for date night. Sitting at the bar is fun too. Service is great. Been here a few times and I felt like I was way overdue for a review! Will definitely come back many more times. read more

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charming restaurant! we went on a sunday evening, everyone was so kind & friendly. loved every dish, my favorites were the agedashi tofu & the gnocchi. great playlist. easy parking & they offer valet. highly recommend! read more

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Big shoutout to Bell, the chef, and the Budonoki team for making our experience there a great one. Honestly, every dish we tried were all hits and no misses. We had a little bit of everything on the menu. My personal favorite had to have been the salmon collar with tom kha sauce. The theme of the restaurant being a mix of Asian cuisine with Thai flavors and influence took us all on a journey through a variety of flavors. Also, their soft serve is to die for! Sweet pandan and strawberry flavors reminded me of my childhood. The vibe of the restaurant was on point. Great spot for a date. Whoever was in charge of the playlist had great taste. read more

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Food is very Americanized, doesn't resemble Japanese flavors imo. Their pressed sushi doesn't use sushi rice. Everything is overly sauced. The hamachi collar tasted like they put a sweet bbq sauce on top which was strange. The service is top notch and atmosphere is solid. read more

Came in on a Saturday evening without a reservation and they were able to squeeze us in at the bar after a short (25 min ish) wait! We ordered the scallop crudo, naem, wings, grilled pork jowl and aburi salmon. Everything was delicious. The small bites style is perfect for me because I love trying a bunch of things but don't really have the stomach for it. The one dish that I would have to get next time would be the naem, followed by the grilled pork jowl which is a close second. The one dish that I felt was just okay was the aburi salmon. It might've been a texture thing for me because it just felt kind of all mushy, but still tasty. Service is great. Special shoutout to our server Bell, who really knew which dishes to recommend and how much food to order. read more

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Budonoki is easily one of my favorite spots in LA right now. The vibe is unmatched--energetic, fun, and welcoming all at once. From the moment we sat down, Eric (one of the owners) made us feel right at home. He has this way of treating guests like family, and it honestly elevated the whole experience. You can tell how much passion and heart goes into this place. It also happened to be my mom's birthday, and Eric went out of his way to make it feel so special--we couldn't have asked for a warmer celebration. Now onto the food--absolutely incredible. The BYO spicy tuna hand rolls are a must-try. Building them yourself just adds to the fun, and the flavor is unreal. The charred sweet potato with miso butter was another standout--simple but unforgettable, packed with smoky and savory goodness. What makes Budonoki extra special is how well everything pairs with their dry sake. It takes the meal to another level and makes you appreciate the food even more. Between the bold flavors, the warm hospitality, and the buzz of the dining room, Budonoki is more than just dinner--it's an experience. It's the kind of place you can bring friends, family, or even a date and know everyone will leave impressed. Definitely a must-go restaurant in LA. Can't wait to be back! read more

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My friend June K. took me out for a belated birthday dinner last Thursday at Budonoki. It was the perfect spot for a catch-up date with one of my best girlfriends, a fun but relaxing modern izakaya with excellent food. We had an 8:00 reservation and the place was happening. June had requested a quieter table and we got two of the best seats in the house, in a cozy little corner of the restaurant. I loved the atmosphere, which was lively in a grown-up way. Budonoki is on the same stretch of Virgil as SQRL and the old Cha Cha Cha, and the crowd felt heavily millennial Los Feliz/Silver Lake, more or less my people. The space was charmingly decorated, colorful and kind of contemporary Japanese by way of L.A., lanterns and neon and potted plants. Service was solid, well paced and attentive enough. Budonoki may not have a full liquor license, but the drink menu was pretty extensive, with beer and sake, cocktails and mocktails. I got a couple of the cocktails, which were low alcohol and very nice. The Joshikai, or Girl's Night Out, was a tasty mix of Kamoizumi Umelicious plum wine, Cocchi Americano, rice milk, lemon, orange, and molasses bitters, served in an adorable ceramic teddy bear mug. (I think the mugs vary but are all cute and cartoony. There was a $150 stolen mug fee listed on the menu.) The Matini was a pleasantly dry, armoativ sake martini with Koshi no Kanbai Ginjo, Iichiko Shochu, dry vermouth, yuzu bitters, and black pepper. The food was delicious. I enjoyed the spicy tuna handrolls, a DIY roll set-up with a mound of chopped tuna and chili crisp over rice, served with toasted nori sheets, soy sauce, and wasabi. It made about four big, super satisfying spicy tuna rolls. The roasted maitake and arugula was a special, and one of my favorite dishes. It was wonderfully flavorful with lots of great textures, the mushrooms mixed with arugula, crispy rice, pickled shimejis, and nori dressing. My other top pick would be the naem, a terrine-like Thai pork sausage served with crispy rice balls and herby slaw. We were instructed to split the rice balls and make little sandwiches with the sausage and slaw. Absolutely fantastic. We got a couple of more traditional Japanese dishes and these were good, too, if not quite as strong. I liked the agedashi tofu with dashi, daikon oroshi, and negi. The yakisoba was softer and blander than I'd hoped, and lighter on the pan-fried noodles than on vegetables. It came with some nice thin strips or wagyu, though, and a bit of bulldog tonkatsu sauce. Unfortunately, the soft serve machine was broken, but we did get a couple of great chocolate chip toffee cookies for dessert. Our server even put a little candle on the plate. I loved Budonoki and hope to go back for more easy drinking and stellar izakaya food. I want to try the oshizushi next time, and of course, the soft serve, but only after I get that naem again. read more

Have been hearing about this spot for a while and glad I finally had the chance to check it out - had a lively and vibe-y dinner over the weekend. Highlights for me were the scallop crudo (loved the herb and the citrus garnish) and negima (perfectly cooked, delicious sauce); next time I would skip the naem and sweet potato. The plates are small, so order several to share. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the fast and excellent service (all plates, except for the pressed sushi, came out one after the other), and our server was probably the friendliest server I can remember encountering in LA! read more

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The miso sweet potatoes were amazing, 5/5. Everything else was lacking, in my opinion. Agedashi tofu 1/5 - overpriced and not good Steak frites (special) 2/5 - this was a special version of the wagyu on their menu, with nori butter wagyu and chicken salt fries. The fries were so salty as to be inedible, and there was zero presence of nori flavor in the sauce. The meat was a good size, quality, and well cooked, though. It was just hard to eat a fatty, rich cut of meat without a veggie or edible carb to cut the fat. We also had just the worst and oddest service. When I asked what cut of beef the steak special was, the waitress said coldly as if annoyed to be repeating herself, "it's wagyu." We clarified we had asked what cut of meat, as in, sirloin? Rib eye? Filet? So she said "oh yes, it's filet." "Filet mignon?" we asked to clarify. Looking confused again, she said she had to ask the chef. The cut is actually zabuton, which we had never heard of, but when we asked what that was she clearly did not know and walked off. While that was an odd experience, we shrugged it off, but then we asked about the maitake arugula salad - how was the maitaike cooked? She again did not answer the question, saying, well there's maitake, oyster mushrooms, and arugula. We clarified, were the maitake mushrooms fried...? Boiled? She went, "yes, boiled". As soon as she walked away I thought boiled mushrooms were exceedingly odd on a salad, and turns out, they are roasted. Why does she lie repeatedly? If you don't know, just say so and ask!! The menu could use some clarification, but the staff should also know about the food they are serving, especially given the menu is exceedingly limited. It's not that hard. We weren't hungry when we got there, and our bill exceeded $160 for two people, two drinks each, two apps total, and a shared entree. Overpriced, and had we been hungry, we would have exceeded probably $250 for overall mediocre food and poor service. Lastly, I had a bout of mild food poisoning from something in the food. Nothing serious, and my partner was unaffected. read more

What a cute spot for a date night. This Asian fusion spot is a hotspot in town. Very cool vibes inside with the dim lighting and the bright light up wall decor. The food was disappointing. We ordered a variety of dishes. All are small and made to share. The only one that really stood out was the scallop crudo. It was fresh and citrusy. We also ordered a couple of cocktails. They were all sake or wine based. I'm glad for the experience but I don't think I'd come back. Everything was pricy and not very unique. I understand paying more for creativity and more fusion ideas but this was quite simple flavors. Service was fantastic read more

Budonoki - Scallop crudo - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow! What an experience! We discovered this place through Red Dining Boom LA. And it was incredible. The interior is moody and cool with modern music you can vibe to. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and you can feel the passion they feel for the job. The food is we were told was on the smaller side as far as portions so we ordered about 6 dishes between the two of us. The handrolls are an absolute must. The scallops and pan curry were also to die for. This is definitely a place you must try read more

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Great vibe, excellent flavors, and a really interesting menu. I stopped in and sat at the bar for an early dinner. Had the crunchy tuna hand roll, Salmon, and the Thai sausage. I loved them all and they paired perfectly with the saki recommendation from our server. Looking forward to going back to try other things... and more saki. read more

Budonoki - Thai Sausage and Crunchy tuna hand roll - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Budonoki has been on my to-try list for so long and I finally got to go here for a small girls night!! Don't get me wrong, the food is pricy and the portions aren't that big... BUT everything was seasoned immaculately and was great. The stand out of the night for me was the scallop crudo. Super fresh scallops with perfect pops of freshness and a super zingy cilantro sauce was perfect. A small miss was the zabuton steak frites which was cooked perfectly but definitely on the salty side and the fries were nothing to write home about. Other honorable mentions were the sesame soft serve, which tasted exactly like a tang yuan filling, and the Hyoketsu cocktail that tasted just like an alcoholic mango sticky rice slush. I really can't finish writing this review without giving a huge thank you to Hayden, who was not only super attentive but super chill and considerate of us and our time dining there. Super rare to find a waiter that can strike a great balance of both and would be happy to have him as our waiter any time and any where. read more

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First time visiting Budonoki did not disappoint! 5 star experience all around. Vibes were cute, and we were lucky to enjoy a corner booth table. Service was polite, attentive, and gave excellent recommendations. Highly recommend the pressed salmon sushi and charred Japanese sweet potato with miso butter, although the wings and the pressed dragon roll with avocado mousse were delicious as well. The milk tea soft serve was the perfect way to cap off the meal. Will absolutely be back! read more

The service could be a little more welcoming and also we got the wrong rolls from what I ordered on the phone. The taste was not the best, noticed too late. read more

Looking forward to coming back! The food at Budonoki is amazing! Flavors are bold (and just a touch on the saltier side for anyone with sodium concerns, but it's needed to bring out those standout flavors!) and each dish has ours own unique flavor combination. The standouts: Arugula with maitake salad - actually the most subtly flavored dish I had, but dressing with mushrooms was perfectly balanced and savory. Spicy tuna handroll - my hands down favorite of the night, wrap your own nori with a whipped creamy spicy tuna mound on soft sushi rice, topped with light crispy floss or crumbs of some sort. Medium bold flavors with subtle creaminess in the tuna. Try a bit without the nori first, then make a handroll and enjoy the mouthgasm. Yakisoba - nice, just slightly softer than al dente noodles with a lightly pungent/zesty bulldog sauce (shiso? I couldn't quite figure out the source) which perfectly complements the beef and noodles and brings their flavors together. Curry pan - smooth and full tasting curry wrapped in a shell that looks like a samosa but is made of a pastry with the perfect texture combination of a light-medium solid crust and delicate flakiness. Service by Nick was also exceptional, expertly and patiently handling a large party of about twelve. I'll be back to try more! read more

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Great restaurant with a lively ambiance. I was sat by the bar, and it's clearly a popular spot--every table was taken. The menu is small but well-curated, with dishes that really pack a punch in terms of flavor. I tried the budo gnocchi, seafood pancake, charred Japanese sweet potato (fantastic), dragon roll (limited item), and tsukune. Unfortunately, they were out of wings that day. Some dishes stood out more than others, but everything was well-executed. I initially expected more of a Japanese izakaya vibe, but it leaned heavily toward Thai fusion. Not a bad thing at all--I love Thai food--just not exactly what I had in mind. Service was friendly, and overall, I'd rate it a solid 4.5 stars. It was a bit on the pricier side for me, but the quality and flavors made it a great experience. read more

Another late review, but a good chill spot if you're looking for a little bit of everything izakaya spot. Parking wasn't terribly hard to find on the street, but we also ate kinda early. Fave item of the night was the soft serve read more

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We've only been here for their Monday special. I LOVE this concept because they are paying respect to the working class neighborhood by offereing something that's more affordable. (~10) We caught they day they did Japanese Curry and it was pretty good. Though to cut costs, they put the food in to go boxes instead of plates even though we were dining in. This was a bit odd since the atmosphere is quite nice, but we were eating out of Styrofoam with plastic utensils. Would love to try their main menu soon and other Monday specials since they change. read more

food is great. excellent ambiance, and definitely a date night, or maybe 2nd 3rd date kind of spot .

Great Ambiance and extremely good food. One of the few places I actually wanted to try everything on the menu because each dish was amazing. Highly recommend and my group of friends all shared the same sentiment. read more

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This place is a Thai and Japanese fusion izakaya with very interesting dishes ranging from tuna hand rolls, chicken wings, yakisoba, salmon sushi, and even ice cream. I personally loved every dish that was brought out and the drinks were amazing. Everything on the menu is really good but I would go with a group and order a bunch of dishes to share. The ice cream was the highlight of the show they had two flavors the coconut Pandan and the fresh strawberry. Both were amazing and the owner even gave us a couple dishes for free. Super nice date night spot or somewhere to grab food and drinks with some friends. Highly recommended getting a reservation since the place is always packed. read more

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Absolutely bangin. We came in without a reservation on a busy night and were able to squeeze in and be in and out in under an hour, which is exactly what we needed! The gnocchi was absolutely incredible. read more

Hours not up to date. On google it says it opens at 5pm on Sunday - no one there, and no signage saying they were closed for the day or the hours of operation. Waited until 5:30 because their website says 5:30 - still no one there. Tried calling and no one answered, inbox full. Definitely a bummer as we coordinated our day around trying this place. Updating hours on google or yelp or even just a sign on the door would have saved us a lot of time. read more

A neighborhood gem that serves Michelin-quality food and service! Either show up early when it opens, or make a reservation, as the seats fill up quick. read more

The ambiance is amazing, there is extremely low lighting so if that's an issue for you be warned! The feeling is upscale casual, but no one would bat an eye at casual outfits. The food was amazing, mostly small bites meant to share. Our server recommended 4-6 plates for two of us depending on how hungry we were. The miatake arugula salad was my favorite dish followed by the budo-gnocchi. Everything was coursed out for us and came out fast. Our server was super sweet and attentive the whole night. Definitely pricey as a dinner but for a drink and shared snacks (more how the menu is intended) it's a great spot. read more

We had a wonderful time here! The food was delicious -- I especially loved the salmon salad and the cocktails. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. You definitely have to try the Dragon Roll -- it's amazing! read more

Budonoki - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here with a group of 6 girls on a silly little Wednesday and we had the best girls night! It wasn't the easiest street parking as it's in a pretty residential area, but I was able to find a spot after circling the block. The place was still pretty busy for a later dinner The cocktails were yummy, a few of us got the Girls Night Out which came in these adorabl handmade mugs. The dishes were meant to be shared and everything we got was delicious. My favorite items were the Wings, Seafood Pancake The service was excellent, every member of the staff we interacted with was so friendly and the food was brought out so quickly. Thank you Budonoki! read more

Budonoki - Girls Night Out - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Budonoki was probably one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. I'm glad I made a reservation because when we arrived at 9:30 PM, the restaurant was packed, and people were still waiting in the lobby for a table. The space is carefully curated, with fun posters on the walls and dim lighting that creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere. We originally came just for drinks, but I'm so glad we decided to order a few items to share. All their dishes are designed for sharing, so the portions are quite small. We ordered the pork jowl, which was perfectly charred; the skewers, served with a delicious ginger-sweet soy glaze; and the pressed salmon sushi. We finished the meal with the strawberry soft serve, which was creamy and had just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the experience. For drinks, I got the Tokyo Vice Slushy, which tasted like an alcoholic strawberry slushy, and my boyfriend tried the lychee daiquiri and a beer. I generally don't go for drinks that are too strong, so the fruit-flavored cocktails were exactly what I was looking for. Conveniently, they offer valet parking right by the entrance, and they do accept cards! read more

TLDR: absolutely fantastic! Budonoki was such a treat and we already can't wait to return. The atmosphere is very cool, crisp, clean, some neon signs creating a cool vibe, comfy seats. Even the bar area looked like a great spot to sit, no bad seat in the house. Our server was so friendly, attentive, explained the menu well and provided advice on our order which was super helpful. The staff was friendly and was very good about clearing plates once dishes were done. Drinks: Matini (Martini) was delicious, I'm a dirty martini lover, and this was a crisp, light version of a martini - highly recommend Girls Night Out was really lovely, not too sweet - recommend Food: We ordered 5 plates to share, it was the perfect amount and we literally LOVED every dish! Chicken Wings had a savory, crispy skin, juicy chicken meat Japanese Sweet Potatoes were AMAZING, savory miso butter Yakisoba was excellent, even my husband who doesn't order noodle dishes loved it Budo-Gnocchi the rice cakes were savory goodness in an amazing sauce Wagyu Zabuton was cooked perfectly medium rare, really tender, perfect to share Only thing to note, it's recommended to order everything at once, but the dishes aren't coursed out. We realized that between arriving and receiving our final dish (wagyu zabuton) before ordering dessert, it was a super quick 25 minutes. Some might prefer this, but it would be nice to space out the dishes a bit. Anyway, can't wait to return and try more of their amazing food! Beyond recommend! read more

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