This restaurant is such a hidden gem! At first, I didn't even realize it was a restaurant from the…read moreunassuming storefront. It's a small restaurant, and it seemed like reservations are highly recommended, if not required. Luckily, they were able to squeeze us in right before another reservation. The restaurant has an authentic yakitori vibe where the tables are packed pretty tightly and you're dining elbow-to-elbow with other guests. That said, I loved the variety on the menu. They offer a huge selection of grilled, steamed, fried, and cold dishes, so there's something for everyone. The skewers were amazing, and the grilled onigiri was one of my favorites. Everything we tried was really enjoyable and I loved being able to order a little bit of everything! One thing to keep in mind: the rice pot takes about 45 minutes to cook because they start with raw rice. I wish our server had mentioned this when we ordered, because we probably would have skipped it knowing how long it would take. Overall, I'm really glad we stumbled upon this place. Definitely feels like a hidden gem, and I'd love to come back and try more of the menu!

Finally got around to trying this place and came by myself, so I ordered a bunch of different…read moreskewers to try. The negima was probably my favorite. Nicely grilled and had a good amount of flavor. The eel, wings, and liver were also really good. The pork belly was cut pretty thick and had a good balance of meat and fat. The cartilage was another favorite. It was juicy and had a nice crunchy texture. The tsukune was good and had some cartilage mixed in, which gave it a nice texture. It also came with a poached egg that was pretty tasty, although I would have preferred a pasteurized egg. The grilled squid and yaki onigiri were solid as well. A few of the skewers were a little on the salty side. The chicken breast was also a little dry, while the tongue was pretty thick and chewy. The tail was really fatty, but that's kind of expected. Unfortunately, they were out of hearts, which I was hoping to try. Overall, there were more hits than misses and I enjoyed most of what I ordered. Would definitely come back to try some of the other skewers.

The weather was nice out so we set out to find a restaurant where we could eat on the patio and…read morehave our 60 lb Goldendoodle tag along. We gave Barsha a call and they were more than happy to accommodate us! Plus they were extra kind to set our pup up with a massive bowl of ice cold water. We were quite overwhelmed by the food menu because literally everything sounded delicious. Literally everything we ordered exceeded out expectations. - The Falafel sliders are the most ordered item for a reason. Absolutely incredible with the perfect amount of flavor; deliciously crispy falafel and amazing buns. We ordered this dish twice! It was that damn good. - The crispy bread sounds pretty straight forward but it was also a standout. High quality bread all nice and toasty paired with this incredible olive-infused butter. - The Tunisian bruschetta almost got ordered twice as well. The tuna was phenomenal and makes for a great shared plate. I'm a sucker for any dish with an egg on it so will 100% be ordered this next time we stop in. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to order the lamb meatballs nor the tounsi brik. But I'm very eager to stop back in and give those a try. Also, major shout out to the staff. The service was absolutely incredible. CJ was our main server but literally every staff member that we interacted with was kind to our son, kind to our dog and kind to us. Servers gave what felt like genuine recommendations and it seemed like the team members enjoyed working there. We admittedly came in with low expectations and walked away convinced that we've found a new local favorite. Please go give this place a try!

Visited on a whim for dinner and left with an absolute fave restaurant in the South Bay! Decor was…read moreOK, it was nice when they turned on the lights and the lamps shone decorations on the walls. Tableware is pretty basic, but the food definitely isn't, customer service was excellent too. We wanted one of everything on the menu, including the specials that day, but went with: Crazy about Beets - beautiful magenta beet hummus with yellow roast beet sprinkled with pistachio and dukkah with charred tomatoes. The flavours, texture, and freshness was a stand out. Really loved this dish.10/10 Roasted Cauliflower - OMG died and gone to heaven! 100/10 Falafel Sliders - 2 in a serve so you can share, crunchy, spicy, oh so moreish, good flavour and texture 8/10 Quinoa Tabbouleh - lovely lemony mouthfuls with a mint hit Chicken Mosli - the turmeric broth was amazing, soaking the veg and chicken in such a flavourful broth made everything extra 10/10 De Soi Rose - a pre mixed drink which had a pleasant berry taste (rather like Ribena if you are from the UK), refreshing and easy to drink Baumgartner white wine - Austria, little of a wine gum taste akin to sav blanc, not as much of the pepper taste I was expecting, but still eminently drinkable We really enjoyed our dinner and will be back again soon, with the beets and cauliflower definitely our first choices followed by something different, as we work our way through the entire menu!

So fast and delicious for takeout Thai food! I actually ordered through delivery and it came so…read morefast. The food was still piping hot and the wings were still crunchy! Lemon Grass Fried Party Wings: My two year old enjoyed these the most, with its crunchy exterior and moist interior. The flavor of the lemongrass wasn't overpowering but added a nice touch. I would definitely order a bunch of these again - would be great for a party. I hope they have catering options soon. Som Tam (Papaya salad): this one reminds me of when I went to Thailand and had this daily. I love the option they have of adding Pla La and I loved the tiny shrimp bits. I ordered it mild and it had a nice little kick. Sticky Rice Berry: this was nice and sticky, it paired perfectly with the larb and tom yum soup. Mikeys Tom Yum Soup: I got this one with chicken, and the flavors really shone through with all the spices they used in it. Larb: nice and light with perfect seasoning. I could probably get this one alone with the sticky rice and eat it as a lunch. It's hard not to order everything else though because it's all so tasty!! ChaTraMue Thai Tea: holy cow this is going to be my new spot for just Thai Iced Tea. It was strong and refreshing. It wasn't too sweet like some boba shops, but just right! I met one of the owners who delivered the food and he was super nice too! Love being able to support this new small business and enjoy spectacular Thai food! Their prices are super reasonable too. I can see myself picking up from here once a week! Can't wait to try their other dishes!

For my birthday, I decided to give this place a try and order a takeout feast to enjoy with my…read morefamily. I ordered the moo ping, som tum, fried wings, moo yang, crying tiger, corn som tum, shrimp tom kha soup, pad Thai, larb ampawa, tom yum goon fried rice, and Thai tea. We really loved the Thai food there and would have to say this might be my favorite Thai food spot now! The meats were all well seasoned and marinated. Our favorites were the moo ping, wings, moo yang, and pad Thai. Honestly, all the dishes were yummy. Warning, the sauces were spicy! I would recommend ordering non-spicy since, my family thought the mild was spicy. We'll ask for spice on the side next time. I personally liked the level of spice. We'll definitely be ordering again soon! Important note- this place is run out of ghost kitchen so it's takeout only. I called to let them know I was in the lobby then picked up my food.

I've heard so many good things about this restaurant and they did not disappoint…read more Their happy hour beer set is great. One of the things I liked the most was Mapo tofu!! You can't miss it. Service is great too.

Some stuff are delicious here some are meh. I love the beef…read moretataki, very flavorful. Karaage was good, mushroom risotto is delicious. Monjayaki is not good at all. Took FOREVER to caramelize. The liquid batter didnt seem right. I dont recommend it. Ribeye was meh. Ok flavor, BUT they serve it on a sizzling plate on top of beansprouts! The beansprouts released waaay too much liquid and ended up "boiling" the bottom of the steak. I ordered medium rare steak, received it perfect and in 5 kinutes it turned into a welldone soupy steak. Service was friendly but basic. The restaurant is HOT AS HELL inside. It's summer and they didn't turn on the AC so its kinda stuffy and hot inside.

The restaurant has a very old school Japanese vibe. Has a good amount of tables for two or a bigger…read moregroup. The service is okay. A small family run restaurant so things can be timed weird but the people are very friendly. The food is good. I ordered the special tonkatsu combo plate. The cold udon is delicious. The tonkatsu is crunchy and juicy. Made very well. Overall a solid 4.7

Party of two for lunch. Arrived as the restaurant opened and shown our seats promptly…read more They were out of soba for oyaku jyu combo so went with the udon. Friend order chicken katsu and was told they were out of cali rolls and subbed for gyoza. My lunch arrived much in advance, their lunch arrived incomplete. The rest of the order arrived as we were finishing up the meal and they had to take the rest to go. Staffing was sparse which could've contributed to the pacing and service. The food quality was just okay. My chicken was a bit tough and the udon noodle was a little bloated in the broth. The miso soup was a bit salty. Probably my fault as I waited to eat for our full order to arrive. Been here before and the food quality was good; providing a simple but tasty home cooked vibe. This time not so much.

Went in at opening and had reservations made in advance, easily done on open table and could choose…read morebetween bar or standard seating. Got seated and offered still or sparkling water. Decided to try and share savory and sweet after asking the server what was popular. The server mentioned that they are known for their biscuits so we got the biscuit egg Benedict and she was definitely right because the biscuit as the base was amazing and the best part. The rest of the benedict were standard with the runny egg and prosciutto. We also got the peach french toast which was not too sweet as the walnuts and peaches pair well. The only thing is that the inside of the french toast was a little runny so it was slightly soggy. Overall great experience and cozy atmosphere to grab brunch with friends and would come back if in the area!

Stopped by after work and decided to give this place a try, especially after noticing the Michelin…read morerecognition. The location is convenient, right on the street and close to Manhattan Beach, so it felt like an easy spot to check out We ordered a bunch of different dishes to get a feel for the menu. Overall, the food was good, but I'm not totally convinced it matches the price point. The prawn was definitely a standout -- really delicious and probably my favorite of the dishes we tried. The cookie was a little on the dry side, though, and the steak was honestly underwhelming for a $120 price tag. The drinks were much more impressive: well-made, nicely balanced, and definitely on the sweeter side Service was definitely on point. They weren't constantly checking in, which I actually appreciated, but whenever we needed something, someone was there and very attentive. Everyone was also friendly and welcoming throughout the meal The ambiance leans more toward a bar-restaurant than traditional fine dining, but the interior has some classy design elements and definitely gives off that modern LA fine-dining feel I'd probably come back to try some of the other dishes before making a final judgment. There were definitely some highlights, and overall, I'd still say it's worth a visit if you're in the area -- just go in knowing the prices are on the higher side

Dined here on a Saturday night . We decided to have a few of the small plates ; potato croquettes,…read moremeatballs in a creamy ancho chili sauce, lamb sausage, and the pork belly . Small tastes and flavorful. We ordered a beer and a rose' sangria. Busy night but service good . Ambiance outside is fun to people watch and see all the nice cars drive by. Nice touch was a pile of blankets near the front door for outside diners . Sorry to hear this restaurant is closing . Unfortunately, I didn't take pics as we were hungry and ate in a hurry .

Went to Gabi James for dinner because we always have a great meal and experience there. The setting…read moreis romantic and intimate, but also great for catch-ups with friends. Parking generally isn't too difficult - there is plenty of metered street parking in front of the restaurant and on nearby streets. Started with the cocktail of the week, the Passion Potion, which had vodka, passionfruit, and egg white. I was a bit disappointed by the drink - my partner and I agreed it just tasted like passionfruit-flavored vodka. Wasn't very balanced, as the vodka dominated the flavor profile. I usually get The Queen's Clover, which is always well-balanced, so would definitely recommend that one. For food, we shared the Valentine's weekend no special foie parfait (chicken liver mousse and fruit gelee), rellenos bacalao, citrus quince salad, duck confit, and all day oxtail ragu. The rellenos were a bit small and the risotto didn't have a classic al dente texture. We have had the salad before, and we love it for its unique citrus and marcona almond taste profile. The menu is very meat-heavy, so having something light and fresh balances everything out. The oxtail ragu is our go-to at Gabi James. We have ordered it every time we've gone because it is a standout dish. The pasta has a nice crisp, and the oxtail has such a rich flavor. The bonus is that it tastes great the next day as well! We shared the fig bread pudding for dessert, which was pleasant and not too sweet. I am giving a 5-star rating based on all our other dining experiences with Gabi James, even though some aspects of dinner fell short this time. Definitely worth a try if you've never been before!

We decided to have lunch at Baleen, all these years in the South Bay and never have we went…read more.. Let's start with valet parking, guys were very nice, and mentioned if we should go over the 2 hours, not to worry about it.. The restaurant, staff, cleanliness, service & food... The restaurant itself is a bit disjointed, when one walks in, do you go up or downstairs, after that it's a beautiful place..The staff was very friendly & helpful.. The restaurant & restrooms were clean, important to me.. As mentioned the service was great, as for the menu, imo, it was a bit sparse, and not cheap..For example, the one burger was $22.00, seemed expensive to me, when we go to many restaurants offering burgers and generally speaking the range is $16-$19.00, well, that may be true but this beef & pork burger was delicious, albeit a bit small..My wife's breakfast was very good as well.. So, up until we ordered all was just fine, yet our meals took a very long time to get out to us, we never said a word to any of the wait staff, yet finally the GM, Michael come over, apologies & explained the reason for the wait..Which he admitted should not have been, then offered us champagne as a way of apologizing..Again we said nothing to anyone, so Michael did his job & did it with grace & professionalism..We won't forget that either, and will be back soon.. I would highly recommend having lunch or dinner at Baleens, you won't be disappointed..

While staying at The Portofino Hotel & Resort for a little R&R. I opted for room service during my…read morestay, so this review is based solely on the meals delivered to my room. I did not dine in the restaurants, so I can't speak to the in-person dining experience. Overall, I was impressed with the room service. Every meal arrived fresh, hot, and well-presented, and each staff member who delivered my food was friendly and courteous. Here are my thoughts on the items I ordered: Cali Burrito - Generous chunks of steak and shrimp made this a yummy with the portion size just right, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Clam Chowder - Good flavor and enjoyable overall. While I've had better clam chowder elsewhere, I would definitely order this again. Truffle Fries - I was craving ties so this hit the spot. Both the ketchup and black garlic sauce complemented them perfectly. Brussels Sprouts - Unfortunately, this dish missed the mark for me. There was too much sauce, which made it soggy and mushy, and the overall flavor was overly salty. Chocolate cake - this was a miss. It was dry. Cornmeal Pancakes - Absolutely delicious. The blueberry butter elevated the dish, and it was easily one of my favorite items during my stay. Overall, I was very pleased with my room service experience. The quality of the food and the excellent service left a positive impression, and I would be happy to dine at the restaurant itself the next time I'm in town.

My husband and I stayed the weekend at the AC El Segundo and the highlight of our stay here was the…read moreAC Bar and Lounge all thanks to our dope a%# bartender Eric! Each drink was and so was vibe looking forward to coming back and enjoying some more of those a%# cocktails thank you Eric!!!!

AC is inside the Marriott. It is ever so clean and comfortable. It is casual…read more Parking is for a fee, but they may validate, I forgot to ask. It is mostly a bar, but there is some great food to be had there. The service is great and they get the order right the first time. They have a great bartender who can make whatever you want. They serve breakfast and dinner. All the food we had was great. We especially loved the service and will be back.

Furaibo is a solid izakaya spot in Gardena that really delivers on the food. We came out for a…read moregroup dinner and ordered a bunch of stuff to share and pretty much everything hit. The Japanese wings are legendary for a reason, crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and packed with flavor. Definitely lived up to the hype. Beyond the wings, we also grabbed the fried rice, skewers, and takoyaki, and honestly the takoyaki was one of the highlights of the night. Good portion, great flavor, and that perfect texture you want from it. The skewers were solid too and the fried rice rounded everything out nicely. The vibe is casual and cozy, perfect for a laid back dinner with a group. It does get busy so I'd recommend making a reservation since it's a smaller spot and fills up fast. Parking can get a little tight in the strip mall during peak hours too, just something to keep in mind. Overall a really satisfying izakaya experience in the Southbay. Been a go to spot for a lot of people in the area for a reason and after this visit I totally get why. Will definitely be back. I think besides the highlight of foods the other dishes were just pretty good.

Been going here since I was a kid with my mom and her friends and it's ALWAYS consistent. Customer…read moreservice is quick, efficient, and so nice! I usually order the tebasaki house wings, comes with soup and salad as well! 10/10 would recommend