My fiance tried this place with his family then brought me here to have a taste. He said the place was delicious! We drove out and got there after 2.5 hours in traffic. I'm going to say that the service was really nice and the staff was really attentive. There wasn't many other people there, which is not great to see because they deserve more attention! They got nice modern comfortable decor and wide open spaces. We tried the tasting menu for each of us as well as an additional dish of steak. Champagne and sake were our choice of alcohol. The tasting itself was $88 and it serves 9 courses. I recommend having it if you aren't sure what to eat. All the dishes were presented nicely and tasted wonderful. We had an additional tasting after for round 2. Haha not because it didn't fill us up, but because we had to invite more people. The tasting is enough to make sure you're full. Plentiful parking in the lot attached. The location is a bit buried inside where the neighborhood is quiet, but it is definitely worth a try. They have sister restaurants called Omaniku in the 626 area as well. I recommend anyone to come try for anniversary, birthdays, date nights, celebrations, or get togethers! You'll impress them with the taste. read more

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They have reopened after a long hiatus. And I am SO glad they did, this area (Agoura / Westlake / Oak Park / TO) needs a place like this... What has changed? Ken is now running FOH, and he's a real pro. They have two new FOH servers who show their newbieness but they definitely have promise. New chef (but with Will still overseeing the kitchen) - there is just a hint of variability in the temperatures of individual dishes but I trust they will nail that down. I do appreciate they remember how I like my meat...and I trust they will get their consistency place which will move them from excellent now to GREAT. The menu is mostly the same (for those that loved their original menu - the chawanmushi egg custard and chicken wings are still there, though the chicken wings lost a little of their unique and beguiling crispness, which I hope they will find again. They flavours are still off the hook...The shishito peppers and whole squid seem to be missing) They also added a tasting menu which, for those unfamiliar with Charcoal Niku's style of modern Asian fusion cuisine, is a great introduction. At $88 for 9 courses ($118 for a one serving sake and wine pairing) the price is actually quite reasonable for the quality of the ingredients, prep, and presentation. All in all, I am very glad they are back, and if you haven't tried them, I could not recommend Charcoal Niku more. So much so I have friends from LA, 30-45 minutes away, who are constantly asking me, "When are we going back?" 'Nuf said. read more

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We drove 1 hour from Burbank to try this place. It is a great place. Neighborhood is very safe a classy. Food is AMAZING. Service is PERFECT. Try the appetizers. We had the skirt steak(delicious). Definitely great place to go for a great dinner. read more

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Yesterday my husband and I went to Charcoal Niku for a birthday dinner. Our reservation was at 8:15 and when we got there, they knew our name and was expecting us. The atmosphere is romantic, elegant, and quiet. There were 3 other parties there when we got there. Currently it's BYOB with no corkage fee but they have their license all ready to go in the next week or two! The food was good. My favorite was the Wagyu tartar which comes from Japan! The meat is raw but well seasoned and flavored and just melts in your mouth. I would highly recommend this. The zucchini was well plated but was okay and I would prob go for the eggplant next time. The bone marrow bowl was good and definitely sharing portions. We even had some to take home! They mix it for you which is nice because it comes in a hot plate. However, I think next time I will opt to have the bone marrow separate as a personal preference so I can taste more of it. The short rib plate comes with broccolini and potato and I wanted the Shisho pepper but they ran out. We had the eggplant and that was good. However, the meat was a bit more salty. I will prob opt to order on their family sharing menu next time instead of their individual plate menu. The service was attentive and professional. I would recommend giving this restaurant a try if you're in the area! read more

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I had another amazing meal at this hidden gem. I can't stop thinking about the outside skirt steak 5/5....drooooool! The wagu amuse was good, but sooooo tiny 4/5. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the brussel sprouts much more on this visit 4.5/5. I do wish that the bone marrow rice had more marrow and a bit of a kick 4/5. The complimentary cheesecake 4/5 was perfectly light and refreshing. William provided great service 5/5. I look forward to going back! read more

First time visiting and had the tasting menu for $88 for an anniversary dinner. Everything was absolutely delicious and of the highest quality. Favorites from this menu were the truffle butter scallops, the skirt steak, the wagyu, and the marrow fried rice. The service was exceptional. The ambience was perfect. Would highly recommend and plan to return. read more

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Excellent restaurant. I needs more local support or they will be gone. My wife and I went last night. We always drove by and it looked dead. The shopping center has bad access. Food and service excellent. They need to do a better job marketing. Go, you will be glad you did. They are starting to get busier for good reason. read more

CharcoalNiku - Shrimp, bone marrow fried rice and short rib. All excellent - Asian Fusion Near Me - Oak Park, California

We did the tasting menu and were really impressed with the quality and taste! The staff were also really nice. The ambience is classy and cozy. Highly recommend! read more

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The place is so unassuming. It's in a plaza that shares a Subway so it's not your typical high end restaurant, BUT do NOT let that discourage you. The food is top tier and was amazing. My wife and I shared the tasting menu and we enjoyed every single dish! The place doesn't seem to be well known yet, so there was only one other party there with us for the entire hour. I'm hoping these guys get the recognition this place deserves soon. Very attentive servers and they all were very friendly and ensured our waters and meal was top notch. Thank you CharcoalNiku for a great anniversary dinner and for a great price! read more

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The food was really good. The price was really decent for what you get. Both my husband and I got the tasting menu and a cocktail and my son got a steak. The ambience could be better but I think what they were going for is just good food. I'm sure the menu prices would go up if the decor went up. Service was amazing. Don't know how often I'll go since it's really for a special dinner but if I get the chance, I'll definitely go back. read more

We ate dinner here for our 4 year anniversary, and it was one of the best meals I've ever had! I got the tasting menu with so many delicious and unique small dishes, and I highly recommend trying something off of their cocktail menu. read more

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This Hidden gem in strip mall is Phenomenal! First off I was very pleased with the service and the ambiance of this restaurant. Top notch. My date and I were impressed and we will definitely return. Now onto the food. I had the tasting menu which offered tremendous variety from Wagyu steak to the softest, tastiest scallops. The cheesecake at the was the perfect closer. The price was fair and reasonable. My date had the Duck and Brussels sprouts. She loved it. She also was smitten with the Midnight cocktail. If you're ever in the Agoura Hills area definitely visit this excellent restaurant. read more

I was hesitant to go here because the location is nothing special or extravagant. The food is exceptional and very high standard quality! We had the crab cakes, brussels sprouts, shrimp fried rice and tomahawk steak. The food was mouthwatering! The only thing I didn't like was the ambiance. It was clear they are going for minimalistic theme, but for the price of entrees they are charging, the restaurant itself is too simple and boring. They either need to lower their prices or spend money on improving the ambiance. Service is great too! read more

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First time in. Food and service were superb. Ken very attentive to our needs. Nice ambiance versus other places previously in this location. Relatively expensive but the best steak in town. Certainly better than Mastro's. Hope they make it as not very busy. read more

Four of us for dinner last Saturday night due to a family recommendation. They were spot on. Everything about this restaurant is great. Food was exceptional, service couldn't have been any better! We chose the sharing menu so we could all try various items. Ordered 2 appetizers, 3 mains, and 2 sides. More than enough for the 4 of us. Great ambiance, only seats around 40 people. Will most definitely be back. Agoura Oak Park, support this restaurant! read more

We made a reservation and dined on a week night. We were the only guests the entire evening, which felt a little awkward at times. Edward was our server and is one of the owners. The decor is dramatic in a modern, stark way. The seating is comfortable and the lighting was subdued but not too dim. The tables were set up with higher-end flatware, along with chopsticks atop little ceramics risers. Edward described the choices of experiences they offered, and we opted to order in a more traditional format. We started with egg rolls, followed by duck breast for my H, and short ribs for me. All of the food was superbly prepared and artfully plated. My beef sat atop sliced potatoes, sautéed to slight crispness. On either side of it we're generous portions of broccoli and green beans. The beans were perfectly parboiled and blistered in oil. The seasonings of everything were perfect. I didn't need to ask for salt. On the side was a little dish of a dipping sauce. I think it was miso based. It was nestled atop a generous pile of micro greens. The whole thing was adorned by a small edible flower. My H's meal entree was the roasted duck breast with the same sides, only he ordered zucchini instead of beans. The zucchini was lightly caramelized and seasoned. His sauce on the side was soy based, slightly sweet, and enhanced the duck appropriately. There was a thoughtful artfulness to the food combining. It seemed as if the executive chef also was a dietician. Not to get into a TMI moment, but... when we laid down to sleep at home, we had ZERO indigestion, no reflux, no heartburn. We slept better than we had in ages. It might sound silly, but I must give credit to the dinner. The one thing that was significantly different from the way I cook at home, was the Yuzu pea flower aperitif. I want to make that at home, to see if it really was the magic bullet. I'm not upset that they don't have their liquor license; I love that we could pour our own wine in the absence of a corkage fee. I hope that, after their license is granted, they'll continue to honor the zero corkage. We like to imbibe in the newer "light" 8% ABV wines, which we have yet to see in any restaurants. Despite having a lovely evening, let's be real. This is a nice "date night" establishment. If it were practical to enjoy this restaurant frequently, we would. For now, though, we will save it for special occasions. If my reviews help you, please click a rating below. :-) read more

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Impeccable service, gorgeous presentation of food, and the flavors were to die for! I can't say enough about this restaurant. We tried the tasting menu and will definitely be back to experience even more of their dishes. I highly recommend this place, it's truly a hidden gem! read more

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Extra extraordinary food for a special evening out, presentation and service was perfect

An amazing hidden gem for fine dining Oak Park. Beautiful ambiance, well thought out dishes with perfect pacing for date night, quality service. The tasting menu lets you try so many different options. read more

OMG!!!! Service 5 star! Food 5 Star! Ambiance 5 Star! We love it. All the small things really add up to a perfect night. On our 3rd visit and taking friends with us next time. read more

CharcoalNiku - Brussels are insanely good! I could eat a whole bowl of them. Lamb cooked to perfection and a good amount of chops. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Oak Park, California

We had dinner at Charcoal Niku last night, and I am happy to report that was just as good as it was before they closed during the summer due to staff shortages. It is still just as pricey, but we feel it is worth the money. We ordered the following dishes: - Chawanmushi: this is our favorite item here and we would come just for this. It is spectacular and the pieces of crab on top really added to the dish. The only one I have had that was better might be from Asanebo in Studio City. - Yuzu chicken wings - crispy with a citrus flavor profile which was refreshing. - Zucchini - the flavor was good, but nothing to write home about. The cookery on it was fantastic though. - Green beans - really good flavor. Savory without being too salty. - Skirt Steak - our all-time favorite steak dish here and what we order every time we visit. The ponzu sauce that comes with this is out of this world. - Filet Mignon - the bordelaise sauce that came with it was very good. However, I do not think this dish is worth the $100.00. - Short Rib - this was very good and the ginger-onion sauce that came with it perfectly complimented the richness of the meat. - Beef Tongue - This is an off-menu secret item, and it is the best beef tongue preparation we have ever had, and we have had a lot. Hard to describe but I would say it is a tender steak with a somewhat firm, almost crunchy texture, haha. If you are adventurous, give it a try. We will ask for this on every visit from now on. - Duck - perfectly cooked sous-vide and the sauce was amazing. I just wish there was more of the crispy skin. - Lamb - I do not like the gamey flavor of lamb but this lamb was prepared very nicely and was not gamey at all. - Scallops - these were huge and cooked perfectly. Crispy crust on the exterior but soft and medium-rare interior. The sauce was good, but I did not get the truffle flavor advertised. - Beef Pasta - this was OK. I don't love it but the kids did. Like a light beef stroganoff but with spaghetti noodles. - Shrimp Fried Rice - surprisingly good. Full of flavor. Yes, we ordered a lot, but it was Chinese New Year, so you are supposed to eat in abundance...I think :) I believe if this was located in Westlake Village, it would be slammed every evening. Unfortunately, the current location does not have a lot of foot traffic. Do yourselves a favor and give them a visit. Hopefully, they will be around for a long time as we need more restaurants like this in our area! read more

This place is amazing, beautifully decorated and the food is beyond incredible. Perfect for a date night. We brought our one year old and he loved everything! Highly recommend. read more

The tasting menu was incredible. Each course was beautifully presented and delicious. The service was attentive and professional. You can tell that the people who work here really put in the effort to create an exceptional experience. It's in a very unassuming small shopping center, but it was nice to have very easy parking! read more

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A hidden gem. A well nested restaurant with amazingly attentive staff. The food was deliciously vibrant and the drinks were well made. A perfect place for quality time with a special person with a serene ambiance. read more

The food here is incredibly DELICIOUS, all of the drinks are as well! The staff are well trained and very diligent in their work/presentation. It is fine dining so you will spend money, but if I had a spot to go out for a fancy dinner I would pick this place every time! Especially with their great atmosphere & setting. 10/10 recommend it. read more

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Surprisingly not very busy. Staff were on point and food was amazing. Can't go wrong with the bone marrow fried rice and the short ribs

Delicious Food and Wonderful experience! The Brussels sprouts were very flavorful and the Meats were cooked perfectly! The staff was very welcoming and friendly. 10/10 Recommend! read more

Four of us ate here last night and we all couldn't understand why it wasn't packed on a Saturday night. I was skeptical of all the 5-star reviews, thinking could it really be that great, but it was! Normally, you'd think you'd have to drive to LA for this type of restaurant, but it's so conveniently located in safe Conejo Valley. We all had the tasting menu and felt every single item was excellent! The service was very attentive and there was a recommendation of how to best eat each item that was brought out. The ambiance was very upscale, very spacious, with comfortable seating. The price was reasonable, considering the quality of the food. There was plenty of easy parking, because the corner strip mall was pretty much dead after 6. read more

I enjoyed my dining experience. Our server was attentive & polite. The food truly represented the beauty of dining. The dining set was stunning & plated with gold utensils. Very unique. However, I will be giving this place 3/5 stars due to our server making us choose a meat option as a main course. We received a $60 four piece steak. It was delicious but forced onto our check like other reviews mentioned. I will be returning, maybe on payday. read more

CharcoalNiku - Brussel Sprouts, Fried Rice w. Shrimp & Steak - Asian Fusion Near Me - Oak Park, California

Great intimate ambiance. The food was well prepared and I enjoyed the unique fusion style of the dishes. We were the only patrons at the time so we received great attention. read more

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This is the best Thai Restaurant in this area. The food is always superb and the service is always great. THANK YOU AS ALWAYS!

Like no other, every time. The chef don't miss. Everyone I've taken here says the same thing.

Service was outstanding! Food was like being in Japan: chanwanmushi delicious as was wagyu beef and fried rice. Will be back!!!

The food was delicious, the decorations inside was beautiful, and the service was phenomenal. I am definitely coming back here again! read more

Delicious tasting menu. Each dish was better than the last. The Wagyu beef is amazing and perfectly prepared. Can't wait to come back! read more

CharcoalNiku - Asian Fusion Near Me - Oak Park, California

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Tucked in the Northeast corner of Kanan and Lindero Canyon, CharcoalNiku is literally a hidden gem. I hope and wish that business picks up for this amazingly perfect restaurant. We rolled up into the Oak Park Plaza on a Thursday evening to celebrate an intimate dinner and walked in to this elegantly put together restaurant with clean, simple details in its decor. Edward, the manager on site greeted us and make us comfortable through knowledgeable and enthusiastic conversation about the place and it's food. We knew we were in for a treat. Our evening rolled out in this order: - A5 Wagyu Amuse - Pretty much a twist to beef tartare... citrusy thru the Ponzu jelly as well as the Sansho pepper which also added a touch of spice to it, the drizzle of truffle oil both adds earthiness, richness and balance to the finish. - Dungeness crab cakes - Delicate considering it is a fried dish. Packed with crab meat that makes it difficult to stay in one piece. The pea puree adds earthiness and some brightness to the dish. - Prime Outside Skirt Steak - Medium rare as we like it. Perfectly grilled, slight smokiness, just the right amount of seasoning. The meat was as advertised, extremely tender, rich from the marbling. This was served with sliced potatoes with a nice crust to them, blanched broccoli and Yuzu-Miso glazed Eggplants that were mmm mmm....good! - Faroe Island Salmon - A generous filet served with a house Yuzu Kosho sauce. We chose our fish lightly cooked and it was perfect! Firm, but melts in your mouth good. This came with Brussel sprouts that were tossed in a house honey vinaigrette with some crumbled feta.....and....the same potatoes and broccoli as the steak. - Bone Marrow Fried Rice - The highlight of highlights for the evening. Fried rice with beef chunks, cordyceps, kimchi and egg served together with a roasted beef bone on a sizzling stone bowl! Edward scraped the marrow theatrically tableside then mixed up the concoction. Had we known the serving size, we would have gotten the proteins ala carte! Rich, flavorful, with a good balance of spice and earthiness. This dish was a keeper!!! Dinner was capped with a Creme bruleed limoncello cheesecake that was done really well. Crunch from the brulee, richness of the cheesecake that also cleansed the palate. I hope people in the community realize the awesomeness of this place. This is top notch food served in a sleepy strip mall in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country. These local folks need to wake up and support this place. I know I will!!! read more

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A bit hidden in this shopping center yet 5 star food and service. Made a reservation and they called me by name the whole time and remembered my husband by name from weeks before. A fabulous menu with a variety of choices. I'm a cocktail drinker and the shoju cocktail were excellent. 5 star. Ken is amazing and Amanda was so great. Try this place. You won't be disappointed. read more

Food was really delicious, we had sea bass, lamb rack and short rib, as well as the beef salad and Gyoza. I enjoyed every dish and it was really well presented and our food came out pretty quick. Service was fantastic, the server and barman were extremely friendly and welcoming, and very accommodating to your needs. I had a cocktail that they adjusted the ingredients and ratios for me and it came out better than imagined. Ambiance is great, very classical and calming music n the background. Prices were quite reasonable overall, they had a family style menu and an individual menu for single servings. Free dessert was delicious too, really really tasty and wished i had more. If you are in the neighborhood this spot is quite new and well worth your time and money! read more

If only I could give them a Michelin Star! This was my first visit to CharcoalNiku, and I am reliving every delicious moment as I type this. Walking through the doors was stepping out of chaos into calm. Even with nearly every seat full, it was quiet. To be able to hear each other speak without having to raise your voice or strain to hear is incredible. You forget how loud everything is until you sit in silence, and it truly is golden. We did the tasting menu. WOW. Each course blew our minds with flavors and textures that I have never before experienced. Everything was beautifully presented and explained in a way that I almost felt I had a part in the making. The service staff really set the tone for the evening, with a serene demeanor, making us feel as though we were a part of the family. Having the dished staggered really was the la cerise le gãteau. (Google it.) It was taking a break from the American way of rushing through meals and stepping into the simple awareness of your surroundings and allowing time to slow down. We had dinner over a two-hour period and it was a beautiful start to our weekend. I cannot recommend this place more. If you want to treat yourself or those you love to an incredible experience, make your reservation today. read more

Upon arrival, the large parking lot was almost empty, and the adjacent stores all closed. I thought I had gone to the wrong place, or maybe the restaurant was closed. Once inside, I was stuck by the unique layout and atmosphere. It no longer felt like Oak Park; more like Melrose. Service was really fantastic; lots of attention to detail and gracious. The lavender hand wash and yuzu aperitif was a nice touch. I ordered the bone marrow beef fried rice. For me, it was a bit bland because I'm not a fan of kimchi and I got it on the side. The cuts of beef were a bit small and the ratio of beef to rice was imbalanced, especially for a main course. My friend ordered the sea bass and she really enjoyed it. We learned that they make their own soy sauce from scratch, however, the beef is not grass fed. The meal ended with a complementary dessert, which was also a nice touch. I will go back to try more of the menu, however, the two menus and the time it takes to understand what you're getting (portion, family style vs. individual ordering, etc.) can be improved. read more

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