I had no idea this place even existed, despite coming to J-Town throughout my entire adult life while working in LA. The omakase was excellent--very fresh fish, thoughtful pacing between courses, and a nice balance of raw and cooked dishes. Everything felt well considered without being overwhelming. ENJOY! PS: I recommend parking at Japanese Village Plaza, and walking over. Looking for street parking is going to be ambitious. :) read more

Best authentic Shabu shabu experience! I been here twice and it's always the best experience, the price is very reasonable for the quality of the food! Love their vibes, and service! Also very intimate place perfect for a date or a romantic night out! read more

Today wasn't just a "sushi day." It honestly felt like I disappeared into a quiet little alley in Japan for a couple of hours and came back changed. I went to an omakase spot in Japantown today. The price? Only $55. But the moment I took the very first bite, I immediately realized: "This is completely different from any sushi I've ever had before." I got there at 11:20, before they even opened. The quiet wait in front of the restaurant somehow made everything feel even more exciting. And when the doors finally opened, I walked in as the very first guest of the day. From that moment, the experience already felt special. The warm lighting, the clean wooden counter, the calm atmosphere -- everything felt peaceful and intentional. The chef's movements were quiet but incredibly precise, and every single piece of nigiri felt carefully crafted with total focus and care. But what shocked me the most was the temperature of the sushi. Not too cold. Not too warm. Absolutely perfect. The rice was slightly warm, almost like it had just met your fingertips, while the fish stayed cool and delicate. The moment it touched my mouth, the rice and fish melted together so naturally that it almost disappeared instantly. And the quality of the fish... honestly unbelievable for the price. The otoro melted like butter. The uni tasted like the ocean itself had been gently placed on top of the rice. Every bite made me think: "How is this only $55?" But what made the experience even better was the chef himself. He didn't just place the sushi down silently and move on. He actually showed photos of the fish, explained where they came from, and talked about the flavor and texture of each piece. It turned the meal into something much deeper than just eating. It became an experience. Today reminded me that truly great restaurants don't just feed you -- they change your mood, your energy, even your whole day. Honestly, with LA prices these days, $55 feels almost impossible for this level of quality. It felt like I had gone on a quiet luxury trip for two hours without ever leaving the city. I'm definitely coming back. No question. And next time? I might show up even earlier just to be the first one in line again. 오늘은 그냥 "스시 먹은 날"이 아니었다. 마치 작은 일본 골목 안으로 잠깐 사라졌다가 돌아온 기분이었다. 제팬타운 오마카세. 가격은 단 $55. 그런데 첫 점을 입에 넣는 순간 바로 알았다. "아... 이건 내가 지금까지 먹었던 스시랑 완전히 다르다." 나는 오늘 11:20에 도착했다. 아직 문도 열리기 전. 조용한 카운터 앞에서 기다리는 시간마저 기대감으로 가득했다. 그리고 문이 열리자마자 가장 먼저 들어간 1번 손님. 그 순간부터 이미 오늘 식사는 특별했다. 따뜻한 조명 아래 밝은 나무 카운터. 셰프의 손놀림은 조용했지만 정확했고, 한 점 한 점 올려지는 니기리에는 이상할 정도의 집중력이 느껴졌다. 무엇보다 놀랐던 건 "온도". 초밥이 차갑지도 뜨겁지도 않았다. 샤리는 손끝처럼 따뜻했고, 생선은 가장 맛있는 순간의 온도를 정확히 알고 있는 것 같았다. 입안에 넣는 순간 밥과 생선이 따로 노는 게 아니라 천천히 녹아 없어졌다. 그리고 생선 퀄리티... 진짜 미쳤다. 오토로는 거의 버터처럼 녹았고, 우니는 바다를 그대로 한 숟갈 담아놓은 느낌. 한 점 먹을 때마다 "이 가격에 이게 가능해?" 계속 그 생각만 들었다. 근데 더 좋았던 건 셰프의 태도였다. 그냥 음식을 툭 놓는 게 아니라 직접 생선 사진도 보여주고, 어디서 온 생선인지, 어떤 특징이 있는지 설명해주는데 그 순간 오마카세가 단순한 식사가 아니라 "경험"이 되었다. 진짜 좋은 식당은 배만 채우는 곳이 아니라 사람 기분까지 바꾸는 곳이라는 걸 오늘 다시 느꼈다. 55불. 솔직히 요즘 LA 물가 생각하면 믿기 어려운 가격인데 오늘은 55불로 아주 조용하고 호화로운 여행을 다녀온 느낌이었다. 나 진짜 또 갈 거다. 아니, 무조건 다시 간다. 다음에는 아예 문 열기 전에 더 일찍 가서 또 1번으로 들어갈지도 모르겠다. read more

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Really enjoyed the plant based tasting. The portions are very generous and the food delicious. The service is excellent. The atmosphere was very pleasant and relaxed. I highly recommend. The picture of my drink was taken after I had a few sips. Very good. read more

Eigikutei - Cocktail Eigikutei - delicious! I did take a drink before taking the picture - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Eigikutei is a kaiseki restaurant in Little Tokyo that serves various nabe dishes like shabu shabu and sukiyaki, as well as sushi. This was my second time visiting. We parked in the Aiso lot across the street, which has a flat rate when parking after 5PM (it was $6 when we visited). Since we had a reservation, we were seated immediately. On the reservation, we indicated what we planned on ordering, which I think was helpful as apparently sometimes they run out of stuff. Food: We all really enjoyed the food. At the time of our visit, they were running a $77 special that included sukiyaki and a few pieces of sushi. The appetizers were all delicious and super pretty. Sushi was very good--they didn't skimp with the uni (I forgot to ask for no wasabi on mine, if you're like me and don't like wasabi, definitely let them know because the sushi comes with the wasabi already on the rice). The meat for the sukiyaki was very nicely marbled and cooked real nice with the veggies and their sauce. When you're done with the meat and veggies, they bring out some udon and cook it for you in the leftover sauce as a meal closer. Finally, they served us some hojicha mousse, which was a welcome surprise as I thought our meal didn't come with dessert. Service: I get the feeling that Eigikutei is very much a "stay out of your way" type place where the servers aren't really all that interactive with you. They will definitely serve you and bring you things that you ask for, and assist with cooking your meal especially at the start. Other than that though, they don't really check up on you all that much. I didn't mind this too much, but I do wish someone had come and refilled my water at some point during the meal. It's a bit different from service you might expect at an establishment that charges ~$100 a head. Eigikutei is definitely a once-in-a-while treat but I do think the quality is worth it. It feels like a very traditional Japanese meal. read more

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Had heard about this place for a hot minute but never had the chance to try them out until my boss decided to have his birthday dinner here~two years in a row now. Our 10+ people party always has advanced reservations~and its always on a weeknight. Place is never bustling~just a comfortable amount of people around. Some of us got the wagyu shabu sets and some, like myself, got the sushi kaiseki. My combo consisted of chawanmushi, some type of fish ball soup thingy, colorful appetizers, a plate of sushi, a mini plate of sashimi. Fish were pretty fresh and cooked items very also just as tasty. Saw the sukiyaki eaters cooking away on their stoves...although setup was a tad odd since some people's grills were far away from where they sat. Timing of the food was somewhat odd because some people's food came out fast and some people waited until half the people were nearly done. Place is overall good for a nice traditional Japanese dinner~price isn't cheap though. I believe everything starts at $100+ but not 100% sure. read more

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You know one of those places you want to keep to yourself because of the fantastic prices, food, and service? This is one of those places. However, I want this place to succeed which is why I'm sharing the following review. We were celebrating our anniversary and I wanted to make sure we had excellent omakase for a fair price. Downtown LA had a lot of sushi places but with atrocious prices that we weren't willing to pay ($200+ for omakase). Then I stumbled upon Eigikutei in my search. $95 for a 10 piece omakase plus appetizers and dessert? What a steal for that neighborhood. ($85 for 8 pieces) We had excellent customer service. Our chef was a master at his craft, incredibly amiable, and explained every dish to us. My husband was enthralled as he loves watching the food making process. And suffice it to say, the food, the food was wonderful, as pictured. Thank you to Chef, wait staff, and back of house staff. We had a lovely anniversary. read more

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Overall, my experience here was fine. I brought my mom and sister for a nice dinner. We ordered the shabu shabu kaiseki course "Kaede," which included a small appetizer of pickled vegetables, soup, steamed egg, sashimi plate, shabu shabu, porridge made with the leftover broth, and a black sesame dessert. The presentation was beautiful--each dish was served with care on beautiful plates. The meat for the shabu shabu was good, and overall the food wasn't bad. However, the portion sizes didn't quite match the price, which came out to around $100 per person. The biggest disappointment was the broth. Their kombu broth didn't taste like much at all--usually I enjoy the mild umami flavor from kombu, but this one was basically just water. Service was nice and the experience itself was pleasant, but overall I didn't feel that it was worth the price. read more

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My husband treated me to an absolutely wonderful Omakase experience here for Valentines Day. Service was exceptional and having the opportunity to watch the Sushi Master was a highlight. All our dishes were beautifully crafted and delicious. It was an experience that was hard to describe to others and I was grateful it was at such a wonderful restaurant. read more

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別拿自己的想法去制約他人，也別拿別人的標準來強求自己，別忘了， 活在別人的眼裡， 只會死在別人的嘴裏～ 上個禮拜跟朋友來小東京這家開了很久的榮菊亭吃飯，這一家好像主打懷石料理，害我以為會像去日本的時候整個搬出來非常的豐富，一看到就哇哇哇那種料理，後來發現是我自己想太多，可能是他們一道一道上來，我都沒有什麼感覺，當然最好吃的就是他們的和牛，一些前菜跟後面有給個粥，甜點，然後就沒啦,朋友說， 不然妳還要怎樣，好不好吃，是不錯吃，貴不貴，實在太貴了，這樣兩個人加一小瓶清酒加稅加小費差不多400， 難怪很大一間， 中午不到三桌，當然他們也有便宜一點的菜色， 其實我覺得就像高級，貴一點的shabushabu read more

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Highly disappointed. Top 3 worst dining experiences I've had in LA. I was genuinely excited to try this place, which made the letdown even worse. We arrived at 7:30 pm and were seated within about 10 minutes. Since you pre-select your course in advance, they simply confirmed our order when we sat down. We ordered our usual sake to start -- mainly because no water was ever served, even after we asked. In fact, we didn't receive water at any point during the meal. We chose the Kaede Kaiseki course at $98 per person. Unfortunately, it was extremely underwhelming. What you see in the photos is truly all you get. The main hot pot portion consisted of one medium-sized pot to share, and that was the entirety of the vegetables provided. For nearly $100 per person, the portion felt sparse and incomplete. We ended up ordering additional meats just to feel satisfied. Since they also serve sushi, I was excited to try it. I started ordering from the bottom of the sushi menu, but item after item -- crab, clam, sea bass -- was "unavailable." When I asked if they were sold out, I was told no, they just don't carry those items anymore. That left me having to ask, "So what is available?" -- something I've only had to do maybe twice in my life at a restaurant. The most shocking part was being actively discouraged from ordering à la carte sushi. We were told the sushi bar was busy and it would take an hour. I ordered anyway, and it arrived in about 20 minutes. It was decent, but nothing memorable. I've never experienced a sushi restaurant trying to talk a guest out of ordering sushi because the bar is "too busy." That defeats the entire purpose. Restaurant wasn't at full capacity.. In total, $98 per person plus two bottles of sake came out to around $400. For that price point, the quality, service, and overall experience fell far short. I left confused more than anything -- the hype does not match the reality. Ambiance is good though. There are far better options in LA for this type of meal. I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere. read more

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Went about a couple months ago on a Saturday night (finally catching up with some reviews). Parking is difficult (as is most of little Tokyo), so ended up ubering to the restaurant. Had an RSVP and was sat right away. Ended up ordering the $130 omakase. Sushi was decent - but unfortunately had the experience of being served a dish one of us were allergic to (shrimp). We had mentioned this earlier on (both in the reservation and upon arrival). The chef pulled the shrimp from the plate but did not replace or wipe it and continued to serve on the same plate. It put us off quite a bit. It may have been a mistake, but could only imagine if something else was served/cooked with shrimp beforehand (like a soup/broth) and we wouldn't have been able to point it out. read more

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i visited eigikutei a second time to celebrate a birthday that coincided with dineLA! we opted for the tsubaki special: signature USDA prime ribeye beef shabu-shabu kaiseki. the portions were on point and the natural, savory taste of the meat really shined through! we also ordered oysters, which were fresh and piquant! read more

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Prices can get pretty steep here, but you're paying for quality. Shabh was good.. beef was good quality. The sushi here was fresh. Give this place a try if you're in the area. read more

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Eigikutei has always been a spot I've wanted to try and I finally got the opportunity while my gf was out with her friends. I am writing this review much later on than when I actually visited. I solo dined on a friday night, ordering the $120 kaiseki. It felt less like a kaiseki though since it didn't have the typical steamed dish, grilled dish, etc. It did come with an appetizer and owan though. The course I got is listed below: Jellyfish in appetizer Spanish Bluefin tuna and mackerel sashimi Owan Red snapper Golden eye snapper King mako Bluefin tuna hon maguro Otoro Ocean salmon Striped jack Bafun uni Tamago Dessert Overall, I give the food a solid 11/10. It's rare for a sushi spot to even be serving both in season kinmedai and nodoguro for such a low price point. Best of all, the kinmedai was from Chiba at the peak season. Every piece of fish was very fresh and expertly prepared. For $120, this was an absolute steal of a meal. I just need to find time to bring my gf here too now. read more

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Went on New Year's Day for my boyfriend's birthday and was pleasantly surprised at this place I already had bookmarked. It was easy to make a reservation on OpenTable and there were many menu sets to choose from! From sushi to shabu.. I'm definitely coming back to try their shabu sets. We opted for the kaiseki sets at the sushi bar. I got the $130 Yawaragi set and my bf got the $160 Irodori set. The only difference between the two was my bf got 2 or 3 additional dishes (the fried fish and shishito pepper, and the miso cod) I think. Everything else was the same. Each nigiri was sooo good and I loved the variety of other dishes we got. It was a lot of food and I was already getting full towards the tail end (I think I had about 3-4 nigiri left)!! We loved the ambience. It was spacious, bright, and quiet. We sat right at the middle of the bar, watching the chef cut and present all the pieces of nigiri. Would be coming back! read more

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I cannot believe it took me this long to discover Eigikutei. And now that I have, I'll be coming a lot more often. They have an amazing lunch omakase at a great price point. There was a good variety of fish, soup, appetizers, custard and it also came with a dessert. Each dish was fresh and beautifully presented. Flavors were excellent. Service was attentive and very cordial. There is plenty of table seating but I prefer seating at the bar. The sushi chefs took the time to describe each dish and showed pictures of the fish. There is street parking if you are lucky to find a spot. If not, there is a public lot next to the restaurant or a large public structure located one block away on Judge John Aiso street. Make reservations if you can. They offer plenty of times to choose from. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner looking for an excellent omakase set deal and this place was it. They have very affordable omakase meal called Minori at $95/person and it came with 1 Appetizer, Sashimi Plate, Sushi Omakase 10 PC, Miso Soup, and a Dessert where you also get to sit at the sushi bar as they prepare the sushi in front of you. Everything was excellent and I could tell that the quality of the fish was also very good. There was no fishy taste whatsoever. We also paired this omakase with highballs and yeah I have no complaints really to be honest. Overall if you're looking for affordable but high quality omakase, this place is the spot. Parking was also very accessible since there's a parking garage right next to Eigikutei. read more

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This was our first time here. We came with two birthday girls to celebrate. The food is top notch! I had the omakase sushi set, the sushi were perfect, with appetizers, sashimi, miso soup and desert. My friends had Shabu Shabu set. A hidden gem in little Tokyo! Our server, Hiromi San was super friendly! It's like having a true Japanese experience in LA. The ambiance was perfect, beautiful atmosphere! We enjoyed the evening so much pairing with high quality Japanese food. read more

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I had the dineLA omakase menu and it was a nice experience! Except for finding parking in little Tokyo though. I really enjoyed all the different dishes since it was a selection of sorts. Everything was super high quality and fresh and you can tell it was deliberate with the pre-added wasabi. I enjoyed tasting the entire bite and it felt like wine tasting of sorts. The restaurant felt very traditional and I thought it was cool that the servers wore kimonos. Great DineLA experience! read more

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Solid 4-star service and food for omakase experience and almost 5-stars for Shabu Shabu. Very good A5 beef quality. Service was attentively slow and the restaurant was not even half full. There was a little mishap with the soup at a level that really should have caught in the kitchen. They brought a replacement but still the disappointment was hard to ignore. Food presentation was on point, very pretty. The omakase was leaning towards the traditional Japanese type and not the LA skilled showcasing wow factor type. I would come back and try lunch omakase /Shabu menu tho. read more

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Amazing experience! Great service! Came in for their $55 omakase lunch special and it was so worth it! It came with appetizers, 8 pieces of nigiri, soup, dessert and the chef gave us extra pieces as well! The quality of the fish was amazing- usually don't like red snapper but theirs was so tender! Ended up being one of my favs. We were the only customers at the bar so we got excellent service and the chef was so kind and explained everything. The inside of the restaurant is very beautiful as well. The only annoying thing is parking- we parked 2 blocke away at a meter after circling the restaurant a few times. read more

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Eigikutei is a tough restaurant to rate, as the raving reviews and the deliciousness of the small set menu is very reminiscent of true Japan vibes. I felt like I was back in Kyoto eating a set menu, except for 5x the price and 1/4 the food amount. Every single item was very deliciously flavored, from the incredible seemed egg with salmon roe on top, to the sashimi platter served on ice, which was a very nice touch, to the use of the leftover hot pot soup to create rice porridge. Even the dessert was delicious. However, the tiny portion size, and the fact that I was starving after spending so much money was the reason why this review is a three star. Given the fact that there's so much competition with set menus done well in Los Angeles, it just doesn't make economical sense to go to this restaurant when you could get the same elevated experience and actually fill your stomach at the same time elsewhere. Service also was not anything to write home about either, very slow and full of miscommunications. However, every detail otherwise of the meal was very cute and added to the experience. read more

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Super good dining experience at their chef's counter. I had 19 course omakase includes 10 pieces of nigiri sushi called Kiwami. Great atmosphere and really well presentation from sushi chef. Kiwami course includes: 1. Zensai - 3 Appetizers 2. OSUIMONO - Japanese Clear Soup with Minced Shrimp & Seafood 3. Sashimi (5-6 pieces): Red Snapper, Blue Fin Tuna, Alfonsio, Ocean Trout, Tyutoro, Scallop, Sea Urchin, Sea Perch, King Crab, Egg 4. Chawanmushi 5. Oshinogi (Mirugai) 6. 10 piece Sushi 7. TACHIUO Tempura 8. Grilled SAZAE Clam 9. King Crab Sashimi or Shabu Shabu 10. Clam Miso Soup & Pickles 11. Dessert - black sesame pudding read more

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We had an early xmas dinner with our family here. It was such an amazing dining experience. Everything was perfect. I had no idea there were places in Los Angeles, where you step in and feel like you are in Japan. Everything was perfect. So authentic. The shabu was so delicious. All the little dishes that came out before the shabu were beautiful, meticulously plated, so fresh and full of flavor. At the end they take your shabu broth away and the chef makes this delicious rice/egg porridge dish, that was so unexpected and maybe my favorite part of the meal. Save room, it's amazing!! I can't wait to go back. Great spot to take a date! read more

Tried Eigikutei for the first time during Restaurant Week and it was such a treat! The set menu was a great way to sample a variety of dishes, and everything felt thoughtfully prepared and beautifully balanced. From the starters to the mains, each course showcased clean flavors and high-quality ingredients. You can really taste the care that went into every detail. The cozy, intimate vibe of the restaurant paired perfectly with the menu, and the service was warm and attentive. With restaurant week, it felt like we were getting the full Eigikutei experience at such a great value. I think the fish was really fresh and the starters were very unique. Can't wait to come back and try the regular menu! read more

Eigikutei - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for the 17-course DineLA kaiseki set and was severely disappointed. At this price point, it really didn't feel worth it. There's a similar review here that I completely agree with -- we seemed to have the same experience. We decided to try Egikutei because of the social media hype and how beautiful everything looked in photos. The staff was kind and welcoming. They made great highballs, and I appreciated that the beer and shot glasses were chilled. The first couple dishes were interesting, clean-tasting, and got us excited for the fish. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. The first sashimi course included the fishiest yellowtail I've ever had especially at this price point, which honestly made me nervous about the rest of the sushi. The sweet shrimp was mealy, and the second sweet shrimp course had the same texture issue. After that, I found myself dreading each piece rather than enjoying it. Arguably, the tamago was probably the best bite of the night. Out of 17 courses, I probably only enjoyed 4-5. I'm all for paying for experiences, especially with sushi, but this one sadly didn't hit the mark. read more

Eigikutei - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Updating my previous review with a huge thank you to Eiji and Miho and the staff at Eigikutei for reaching out to make our previous experience right. Eiji invited us to come back for their lunch omakase and while he didn't ask us to write another review, I think it's only right to because the second experience we had was top notch. We got to sit at the bar and watch Miho do her amazing work! First, we were given the trio of okra, seasonal vegetables with baby scallop, and jellyfish with plum sauce. All fantastic, same as it was last time. This was followed by a gorgeous presentation of sashimi, each fish beautifully prepared and very fresh. The sweet shrimp was incredible this time around. They let us know this isn't part of the usual set, but they wanted to include it for us. Next we received a chawanmushi with lots of little treasures inside; pieces of fish, fish cake, and ikura on top. It was silky and steaming hot. One of my favorite bites. For the nigiri: red snapper, ocean trout, spanish mackerel, Japanese scallop, black throat sea perch, toro, uni, and tamago (plus a delicious slice of pickled radish). Miho did an excellent job preparing each bite to bring out the flavors of the fish - every piece we had was phenomenal. My absolute favorite was the black throat sea perch (Nodoguro) and I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of it. The uni was delicious - creamy, sweet, no bitterness at all. The ocean trout was really flavorful, too! Somewhat like salmon but leaner and different in flavor. The crunchy pickled radish that came with the tamago was delicious, as was the tamago itself. They gave us clam miso soup, which was warm and satisfying. No trace of grit from the clams. Last was a hot green tea and a red bean and green tea pudding for dessert. My best friend doesn't like red bean, so she gave me hers. That's a win in my book. I got the opportunity to chat with Miho a bit, and I have to say that it's not only so cool to see an extremely skilled female sushi chef, but she's also such a sweet and dedicated person who clearly cares about her craft. I really appreciate everyone at Eigikutei for caring so much about their customers' satisfaction and the quality of their product, and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone else. They were actually empty for lunch on Friday--I hope this review convinces some folks to visit and give them a try. I'm rooting for their success. parking note: it's always tough in Little Tokyo, but we parked in the Tokyo Village structure ($20). Keep in mind the validation is only for restaurants and cafes inside the village, so it doesn't work here. Street parking is the wave if you can find it! Thank you, Eigikutei! I hope to be back soon. read more

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My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful experience at Eigikutei. Every course was beautifully presented and thoughtfully prepared. The ingredients tasted incredibly fresh, and you can really tell the chef puts care and precision into each dish. Service is excellent as well. Overall one of the best dining experiences we ever had. Highly recommend for a special night. read more

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Attended the DineLA $55 lunch at Eigikutei. I picked the omakase while others chose shabu shabu. The meal began with a refreshing jellyfish dish accompanied by plum sauce, followed by savory spinach with tofu paste and fresh vegetable and scallop preparations. The chawanmushi was smooth, salty, and savory. The omakase included sea bass, toru, mackerel, ocean trout, bluefin tuna, sea urchin, and tamago -- all fresh and expertly prepared. The meal concluded with a matcha and red bean dessert, alongside a delicious green tea served at no extra charge. Service was welcoming, and the atmosphere was clean, neat, and casually comfortable. read more

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Here for Dine LA omakase! Lovely place with aesthetics interior! Kind and friendly staff! Dine LA 16 course omakase for $88. Started off with a thoughtful plating of appetizer. Squid with radish clam sauce. Chewy squid texture and has a nice sweet sauce. The spinach tofu had textures similar to mashed potato and had great flavor. Scallop was super sweet and had vegetables cut in different shapes. Cooked perfectly as it was soft and full of its respective flavors. Next we had sashimi bowl with bluefin from Mexico, amberjack from Japan, and shrimp from Vancouver. If I remember correctly. Fish tasted fresh. Came with fresh grounded wasabi and soy sauce. Onto the nigiri, we got the snapper that had a nice citrus flavor that blends well with the fish. King mackerel seared and had a smoky taste. The strip jack has a tough and slimy texture. The Spanish mackerel had a poppyseed similarity to it. Caviar chutoro buttery, melted in my mouth, and was one of my favorites for the night. The Seared notokuro was another one of my tops as it was soft and had a nice Smokey flavor. Hokkaido uni tasted fresh, buttery, and full of uni flavor. Enjoyed the Fish roe roll ikura and toro due to the texture of the roe popping in my mouth. The unagi was solid and had a good unagi sauce. The tamago was warm, fluffy and has a subtle sweetness to it. Miso soup had very strong umami flavor and included 2 clams that tasted fresh. Finished the night with green tea and Hokkaido pudding. Shoutout to the restaurant for accommodating our anniversary celebration with a sparkler and a dish of fruit, green tea pudding, and a red bean dessert. One of my best omakase experience. Kind and friendly staff! Exceptional service. Splendid pacing by the sushi chef. Appreciate that he told us which fish it was, origin, and pictures of each fish. Had a great night here! read more

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Got the otsukuri tempura gozen (one of the more affordable options on the menu) and it was delicious! The tempura was perfectly fried and the sashimi melted in my mouth. We made a reservation but it was actually pretty empty on a weekend. I took off a star bc the bathroom wasn't very nice (for how expensive the place is) and there was a pretty strong musty smell in the restaurant. read more

Eigikutei - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Time to update my review on Eigikutei, one my top choice of high quality Japanese cuisine specialized in traditional Kaiseki. Since I already know I'll have a spectacular dinner, I brought along a remarkable lineup of Burgundy, Champagne, and some of Japan's most meticulously crafted sake for pairing. To make it even better, I contacted Eigikutei ahead of time to see if I can request a few special ingredients, chef Minoru graciously accommodated them all and my omakase dinner start to unfold as both a traditional Kaiseki progression and a personal exploration of food and wine pairing. The Kaiseki course began with Sakizuke, a trio of opening dishes designed to gently awaken the palate. 1st plate sat a delicate composition of simmered pumpkin, yam, and scallop. A 2nd plate with crab meat sprinkle with some sesame and lightly dressed in rice-vinegar vinaigrette, 3rd one is a small salad of wild mountain vegetables, lightly dressed in a tofu style preparation that brought an earthy, nutty dimension to it. Alongside these dishes I paired them with the 2004 Salon, the Champagne's acidity cut through the creaminess of the yam while its saline minerality amplified the sweetness of both scallop and crab, at the same time against the slightly bitter freshness of the veggies but it sharpened my palate and set the tone for the courses to follow. Another highlight of the Kaiseki courses was Kabosu Buri from Oita, Japan, a premium yellowtail raised on feed infused fragrant Kabosu citrus. The result is a taste with exceptional clarity and balance, far removed from the character of ordinary Hamachi. There is no better wine than the 2008 Coche-Dury Meursault Caillerets to pair with it. Aromas of roasted hazelnut, preserved citrus add the intensity to the pairing. Not much wine can achieve the same balance of power and precision as convincingly as the Coche-Dury, which paired beautifully with sushi and the taste echoing the purity of Japanese cuisine. The meal gradually moved toward richer textures. A striking fried course featured Matsukasa-age, fish fried with scales intact so that they bloom outward like a pinecone. The scales transformed into a delicate lattice of crispness while the flesh beneath remained moist and tender. Up next is the custom preparation of deep-fried wagyu cutlet I requested, coated lightly in panko and fried to a golden crust while maintaining a meltingly tender interior. After both fried dishes was the Sazae no tsuboyaki, turban shell grilled in its own shell with soy, sake, and aromatics. The preparation concentrated the shellfish's sweetness while preserving its firm, oceanic texture. The smoky soy glaze and the shellfish's natural salinity resonated beautifully with the mineral intensity of the Meursault. Another memorable dish followed in the form of chilled duck breast served with ponzu and a touch of fresh wasabi. The duck retained a supple texture and clean richness, while the citrus brightness of ponzu and the fleeting heat of wasabi lifted the dish with remarkable balance. The meal then reached a moment of quiet theater with king crab shabu-shabu. A magnificent leg of Tarabagani was presented beside a pot of gently simmering kombu dashi. The crab was swished briefly in the broth, just long enough for the flesh to tighten and turn translucent, before being dipped into a light soy sauce. The result preserved the crab's remarkable sweetness and delicate texture. To make the experience even better is I pair them with the DRC Corton Charlemagne, though still youthful, the wine showed tremendous structure and tension. Aromas of citrus oil, crushed limestone, green apple, and subtle oak framed a powerful mineral core. Its vibrant acidity cut beautifully through the sweetness of the crab while its layered texture echoed the richness of the seafood As the evening progressed into the sushi sequence and also it is time for sake, both Eiko-Fuji "Sanctuary" and Zaku "Satori" became the natural companion. The Zaku is using the meticulous Shizudori drip-extraction method, simply the process put gravity to work so the sake separates purely drop by drop, yielding only the most delicate fraction of the brew. The resulting sake displayed remarkable purity, aromas of white peach, Asian pear, melon, and fresh rice carried on an elegant, silk-textured palate. The Eiko Fuji "Sanctuary", a super rare sake presented as Muroka Nama Genshu, meaning unfiltered, unpasteurized, and undiluted. It retains the vivid character of the fermentation itself and in the glass it revealed expressive aromas of ripe melon, white peach, and steamed rice, with a fuller texture and gentle sweetness. Throughout the progression of Nigiri, both sake moved effortlessly alongside each piece, its gentle sweetness and pristine finish enhancing the natural character of the fish without overwhelming it. It was really a rare moment where chef's skill, great wine and traditional Japanese cuisine, all met in Eigikutei read more

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I had a lovely time Thursday evening at 5pm with Sushi Chef Minoru-san and the nice servers who I didn't catch their names. They even had a robot for clearing dishes. Everyone was very welcoming and attentive. It wasn't crowded at 5pm so I had a good time learning about the different fish and about each dish 1:1 with the Chef. Excellent green tea as well and three types of wasabi. They even have red ginger here which is rare. Everything was delicious, great variety and I'm a fast eater so I was done in an hour. Comfortably full too. I hope the Michelin Guide stops by because it's better than some of the Michelin sushi I've been to. Interior was clean and aesthetic. A few stores away from the Miyako Hotel and next to the Chase bank, near the corner of 1st/San Pedro so it's in a convenient spot. read more

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Is it fair to compare a kaiseki here against the one I had in Kyoto just a couple months ago? ... probably still not, but in terms of execution, it's pretty close to perfection. In general, seafood and vegetables are fresh and prepared meticulously; where they shine is the delicate handling and seasoning of vegetables, while their prepared seafood has pretty aggressive seasoning. So it was an interesting order to go from a delicate app with carrot, peas, scallop to a heavy hitting clam soup or an in-your-face chawanmushi, then back to delicate broth of the shabby and/or pure simplicity of nigiri sushi, ending with a very forward matcha pudding with red bean paste topping. It's kind of a rollercoaster ride of a push-pull identity of delicate vs. aggressively seasoned. Service? As good as it can get as they're pretty attentive. Also, when you're here on a weekday lunch, it's pretty quiet as there aren't that many parties here. Definitely a great place to go to if you have friends with quiet voices. Overall, Eigikutei delivers really good food -- it just depends whether you agree with their menu or not. read more

Eigikutei has a really solid lunch special going on right now ; around $58 for a lunch omakase that includes an appetizer, a beautifully presented nigiri set, and dessert. Honestly, that's a great deal for the quality you're getting. The fish is super fresh, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the plating shows real care. The food quality is top-notch, and the service is just as good. The staff are friendly but not intrusive, and everything runs smoothly. Check out my pictures, you can't tell me that doesn't look incredible. Parking is easy too, just diagonally across at the Judge Aiso parking lot for about $1.50. Can't beat that in LA. The chef's from Osaka, and you can really tell he knows what he's doing, everything from the knife work to the pacing of the meal feels intentional. When you're done, swing by one of the nearby matcha or dessert spots to wrap it all up on a sweet note. Definitely worth checking out while the lunch special's still around! read more

We ordered 2x omakase lunch special for October. Courses, in served order: - Giant clam - We both found this crunchy and refreshing with the sauce which may have been a sesame/citrusy sauce. - Assorted appetizers - Mugwort Tofu with wasabi garnish for me, and vegetables with scallop for my girlfriend since I have a scallop allergy. Jellyfish was also served as a clean and crunchy addition. Mugwort tofu had a bit of an organ-y texture which I personally found novel. There were also some assorted vegetables but we didn't find that very noteworthy. - Chawanmushi - The chawanmushi was a surprise favorite as it came with fillings such as mushroom, fishcake, and salmon roe. The broth with the chawanmushi was rich and warming. - Red fin snapper with a little bit of lime - This nigiri had a crunchy texture with citrus notes to cut through and set our expectations high for the following pieces. - Golden eye snapper with sesame, slightly spicy - Ocean trout - thick cut of fish that was nice to see served as we had only had it at one other restaurant before - Stripe jack with ginger - Sweet shrimp with crab miso - One of the best sweet shrimp that I've ever had. The shrimp had a subtle but very noticeable sweetness with a meatiness that stands out from my prior experiences. - Chutoro with wasabi - Our absolute favorite piece and the perfect piece to finish off the nigiri. We can never say no to superb cuts of tuna! - Hokkaido Uni - decent and not too oceany for my gf who normally doesn't like uni! - Tamago and pickle - The pickle was a well placed addition to cut through the heaviness of the last courses we received. - Miso soup with clam - I didn't love this one - the soup had an unexpected spicy kick to it which I wasn't expecting and the clam had some grit in it that I didn't particularly enjoy. My girlfriend liked it though. - Matcha pudding with red bean paste and gold flakes - A fantastic dessert choice! It wasn't too sweet and we found it very refreshing. Red bean always pairs perfectly with matcha and green tea flavors and we loved the contrast of the cool pudding with the thick paste. My gf who doesn't normally like matcha or red bean actually enjoyed this still - Fruits, black sesame ice cream mochi, warabimochi, yuzu cheesecake for an occasion we were celebrating. This wasn't part of the omakase. Overall (5/5): We saw this opportunity on our socials and being omakase fans we certainly couldn't pass up on this opportunity to try out a local spot on our to-visit list for an affordable price. I made the reservation online with no hiccups and we showed up before our reservation time but was still promptly seated. The service was professional and attentive and the vibe of the spot was pretty private and classy with earthy decor. There was only one chef at the time so we felt it could get backed up depending on the amount of patrons so as a result it did feel rushed at times because towards the end of the course since we got several items back to back with barely any time to savor it. Still, the food was amazing and the hospitality from the chef and staff were otherwise high quality, so I wasn't too bothered by it. All in all, it was a great experience and we would definitely be curious to come back for the standard kaiseki menu! read more

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A Hidden Gem for Kaiseki and Omakase - On Par with Japan (IMO) Just discovered Eigikutei, and I'm already raving about it. Apparently, they've only been open for 2 years, but the level of quality they maintain is seriously impressive. I went with some friends, and we opted for the Omakase Sushi Kaiseki Cuisine Course, adding some sake and a yuzu highball to the mix. First impressions: the ambiance is immaculate--extremely clean and tidy, and the servers are in traditional-looking garb. The service was incredibly friendly and polite. I will admit it felt a little self-conscious at first since we were the only ones there right at opening, and the space is so open and quiet. But honestly, that's more a testament to the serene atmosphere they've cultivated, and certainly not a fault. Now, the food. For those not in the know, Kaiseki is a multi-course style menu that emphasizes a wide range of ingredients and cooking techniques. Each course we were served had very clear, distinctive flavors and a beautiful variety of textures. You can really tell they emphasize seasonal ingredients, simple seasoning, and beautiful presentation (as their website suggests). Of the Kaiseki offerings, the monkfish liver was my personal favorite. It had a luxurious texture and, surprisingly, no strong fishy scent whatsoever. As for the sushi omakase, every piece was amazing, but my personal favorites were a tie between the seared mackerel, a hard-to-find snapper whose name eludes me (oops!), and the uni. The uni we got was on the creamier side, and only had a hint of oceanic brininess compared to what I am used to. I loved it! Honestly, this was one of my favorite eating experiences in a while and easily on par with the nicer omakase/course menu places I've visited in Japan. If you're looking for a refined and authentic Japanese dining experience, Eigikutei is a must-try. Just be prepared to take your time and savor every bite. You can tell that the team here is tight-knit and passionate, from the selected ingredients that emphasize "umami," to the Japanese hospitality that seeks to put a smile on every customer's face. This spot is the real deal. read more

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Eigikutei is a very authentic & traditional feeling sushi & shabu restaurant with a nice bar inside. It has very clean & modern wooden Japanese aesthetics. All the staff here speaks Japanese & wears yukatas as their uniform. We booked a shabu tasting that features the a5 yonezawa beef and added some sashimi courses to the beginning on valentines weekend, which was surprisingly not very busy for Saturday. The appetizers were simple, but the miso yuzu jellyfish was a stand out. The shrimp ball was also delicious. I appreciated the A5 Wagyu from yonezawa, which has a milder and slightly sweeter & delicate taste compared to Miyazaki. The marbling and consistency of the meat was perfection. The waitress also comes to scoop out meat fats that float to the top (not sure why, but it's interesting). The sashimi courses were a bit of a letdown, with slimier textures of the sweet shrimp and a bit fishiness with the tuna, but I guess it is off season...which I would expect different type of fish if that's the reason. Most of the tasting is very simple and safe Japanese style cooking like the chawanmushi. Unfortunately, I make that better at home. For me, I think this was a cool one time experience. read more

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I came here with my girlfriend and good friend randomly since we were in the area. We made a reservation on Yelp. We were greeted immediately when we walked in and we were seated. It was really clean and the staff asked us for our drink orders. I ordered the Plant Based Kaiseki. It's the 7 course meal for $65 per person. It comes with 3 Appetizers, Soup, Chef's Choice of Steamed Dish, Chef's Choice of Vegan Sashimi, Sesame Soy Milk Hot Pot with vegetables, veggie Sushi Rolls, and Handmade Vegan Ice Cream made from Coconut Milk & Cream Base. Each bite that I took out of everything was spectacular even that delicious sesame soy milk broth. I want to know that secret recipe! If you can't have spicy let them know. Some of the dishes have a nice kick to it. It tastes like fresh housemade wasabi. The only things I wasn't really a fan of was the small tofu steam dish. It was weirdly sweet. For their veggies, I was hoping for more protein. They only added like 5 small pieces of tofu . Overall the food was amazing . I would definitely come again. My girlfriend had the Sakura for $54 per person. It came with 3 Appetizers (Simmered dish, Vinegared dish, Aemono dish) , Soup, Shabu Shabu HotPot ( Pork, Vegetable, Zousui, Pickles), and dessert. My good friend had the Kaori , I don't have the description for that but it's sashimi Kaiseki. They both said the seafood and the meat were very fresh and enjoyed their experience. If you are not a fan of seafood, I do suggest trying it. My girlfriend does not like seafood but she loved all the seafood appetizers she was given. Staff were extremely nice and attentive. There is a restroom in the back. It's a nice place to go on dates and special occasions because it's really expensive. They also have the cutest to go bags! We would definitely come back again! read more

Eigikutei - Dining experience description - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California