Legit yakitori Butter potato Chicken skin Curry rice Everything was fantastic. I actually loved the mentaiko also read more

We went here recently, and thought the overall experience was a bit average. The food takes quite a long time to be served, so try to order everything all at once. We ordered the 60$ "omakase" menu, and felt like we got served the least desirable skewers like the padron peppers, heart, liver, and asparagus. The portions are quite small and prices are high. There are some better options like Sakura house where the portions are a bit better. read more

At Gokigen Tori, a yakitori concept originating from Tokyo, the team has opened a Culver City branch with their original chef brought over from Japan, delivering a truly authentic Tokyo yakitori experience in the U.S. The meal begins with a striking presentation: a wooden crate of assorted skewers for the omakase, ranging from all kinds of chicken cuts to richly marbled A5 wagyu. It immediately sets the tone for a meal rooted in traditional technique, yet open to a more modern, elevated interpretation. Yakitori here follows a philosophy deeply embedded in Tokyo's top counters, full utilization of the bird, precise binchotan grilling, and a deliberate pacing that emphasizes progression. Within this framework, I explored a more contemporary pairing approach. Elite "Cult" wines into a setting traditionally dominated by beer, sake, and shochu A bottle of Chateau Petrus kicks off the early progression. Its plush plum fruit and silky tannins align with the smoky depth of the grill, particularly alongside lightly charred chicken skewers where restraint in seasoning allows the wine elegance to surface. My approach tonight reflects a growing high end dining trend seen across Tokyo's top yakitori-ya, where prestigious Bordeaux and Napa cult wines are increasingly paired with yakitori. Bringing that perspective to Culver City, the contrast becomes intentional, humble, fire driven cuisine meeting some of the world's most coveted bottles. As the meal progress, the pairing shifts into a high gear, Screaming Eagle alongside Petrus elevates the wagyu into something far beyond traditional yakitori. Both wines concentration and structure cut cleanly through the beef's rendered fat, creating a powerful interplay between richness and precision. Even beef tendon, often seen as a more rustic skewer, takes on a refined dimension here. Against the backdrop of these world class wines, its savory glaze and charcoal kissed exterior provide a compelling contrast to the wines depth and smooth textures. Coming up next are the sake, Fudoh Junmai Daiginjo offers a composed, textural counterpoint. Its rounded umami and gentle fruit sweetness integrate seamlessly with tare-glazed skewers, while a clean finish resets the palate between richer bites and the Tenko 40 Muroka Nama introduces a more expressive, energetic layer. Paired with chawanmushi, sashimi, and lighter preparations, its fresh aromatics and subtle acidity bring lift and contrast, expanding the range of the meal beyond what wine alone could achieve. What I am experimenting here tonight are full of contrast, charcoal and silk, fat and structure, tradition and reinterpretation. Pairing wines like Petrus with yakitori may seem unconventional to a lot of you, but within the context of modern Tokyo dining, it feels increasingly natural. Here in Los Angeles, Gokigen Tori captures a glimpse of that evolution, where even the most traditional skewers meet the world's most prestigious glass. As always, I'll let the photos speak for the rest of the fun. read more

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I am always on the hunt for authentic Japanese food and the vibes found IN Japan. I don't like the fusiony stuff. This restaurant did not disappoint. The yakitori is the best I've tasted in LA so far. It is also the most expensive. I've been to Saijo (not bad but more American palette), Nanbankan (disgusting), and Kappo Miyabi (acceptable). The chicken here tasted so tender and fresh and I could tell the ingredients were top quality. There were some very authentic daily specials on the menu like Sakuradai sashimi, Japanese Spanish mackerel, and firefly squid. Usually the firefly squid I've had were marinated and preserved with a funk to them but these were very fresh! I love that they get fresh fish flown in Japan and the sashimi was cut pretty well, too and served at the right temperature. Nothing worse than veiny hard cold fish. We also ordered the chicken soup and the minced chicken stone pot rice. I don't think the rice was worth it because the wait was too long and didn't have the right texture imo, too soft. The chicken soup was super basic, just meat and broth but wow SO delicious and comforting! The best chicken soup I've ever had. Apps were good, too. I love they had authentic feeling Japanese pickles. The mentaiko however was too salty. Menu said there would be otoshi (cover charge cabbage salad) just like in Japan for $5 but they didn't serve it. Probably because people didn't like the idea you have to opt out since this isn't a thing in America. I appreciated the thought. It adds to the authenticity of the restaurant and brought a bit of nostalgia. I also ordered a glass of sake and the waitress told me to say when to stop but I did not understand stand her and said nothing. She poured until the cup and the box underneath overflowed! Ended up with 3 glasses full. Didn't mean to be shameless but appreciated the authentic generous Japanese hospitality for sure. They have a great sake selection too, many easy izakaya style drinkers such as one of my favorites, Dewazakura Izumi Judan "Tenth Degree". You won't find this sake at fakey fake fusion Japanese places. The only thing I did not like about the restaurant was the wait staff was weird. They were mostly Eastern European women with blonde hair (all working at an authentic Japanese restaurant???) and it was hard to understand our waitress because of her accent. She also had a perpetual frown on her face. She seemed angry to serve us. Not sure what was up with that. I don't really knock any stars off for service though unless it's egregiously bad or non-existent. I would reserve the chef's counter next time to just interact with the chefs as they are definitely Japanese. Update: It was so good, I went back again! I have to say the food that comes out of the back kitchen is better than the yakitori. Presentation and knife skills are top notch. The mini tori chicken ramen is the top 3 I've every had in my life. The broth was so flavorful but light. The noodles were the right texture and the toppings were cooked PERFECTLY. I highly recommend their soups and daily specials! (Ask for the chalk board). read more

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Wow! We were blown away with the food and service here! I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that he would reserve a seat at the chef's counter next time, and you definitely should make a reservation. We were seated at the large table in the center. There were three of us and we had the end of the table which was perfect! We ordered a variety of dishes including the omakase. Every morsel was delicious! Yes, every morsel was on the expensive side, but it was definitely worth it! read more

Such a great yakitori spot in Culver City! We stumbled upon this place when looking up dinner spots on a random weekday and wasn't disappointed. It's super authentic and very yummy. We called ahead and made a reservation, which was a good move because they ended up being booked for the night. The food is super amazing and authentic (but a little pricy admittedly, but worth it for the quality). It's a small intimate space and if you can get a spot at the "Bar" in front of the chefs, I'd recommend it (it becomes dinner and a show because you can see them cooking your food and smell the charcoal). I loved all the food, there were no misses. Only critique is that the dressing on the salad tasted a little stale (like it was premade and left out, leaving the normally savory taste a bit bitter, but super forgivable). I loved the spot, would come back, and recommend everything, especially the chicken oyster, which was a hit. The ramen was a little small for my liking though, but I'd come for the yakitori, not the ramen. The staff was friendly, the chefs were all Japanese so super authentic. The waitresses were nice, but the hostess stole my heart. Super friendly and very accommodating. read more

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This place is legit and compares well to yakitori places we've been to in the Tokyo area when we lived there. They do have their own style of preparing some dishes, so I suggest ordering just one of each, for your first time. They pour an excellent draft beer there, another faithful reproduction of Japan. The manager and chefs behind the charcoal grill are from Japan, and speak Japanese as well as English. One star off for bringing the wrong item, not just when we went but also when friends went later at our recommendation. read more

$100 per person doesn't justify what waiting forever for a skewer and not feeling half full. The skewers are either way too salty or bland. The worse ones are the salty ones, which are sadly in the majority. So I'd constantly want water but they are very short staffed so the couple next to me had to wait for 20min before even getting their order in. read more

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Such a good yakitori place in the culver area! It's modern and elevated, so a little bit pricey, but so so good. One of my favorite dishes was the chicken ochazuke. The tea broth is boiling hot and literally cooks the chicken right in front of you. They also have a pretty white selection of yakitori, with a main focus on chicken yakitori. Definitely a place I want to go back to so I can try some of the other items I didn't get to have last time. It's a good spot for medium size groups, if you want to try a variety of dishes. read more

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A little hidden gem in the neighborhood. I absolutely loved the experience. The host and servers were fantastic, attentive indeed, knowledgeable, answering my many food selection questions. The Beer lager on tap, smooth light and crisp. I sat at the bar for a close encounter kinda experience with the chef directly in my view. The bar setting was lovely, I like that everything displayed gave an authentic feel and the mismatch chopstick holders, coasters etc (fun vibe) I definitely will be back to try the many other dishes and drinks. Thank you! *Note- it does get very busy, instantly, Go Early. Get that Bar Seat! Know what you want and put that order in. Enjoy! (Tanoshimu) #WagyuSkewers read more

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Perfectly prepared yakitori - thoroughly enjoyed the chicken and vegetables. Pleasant service & staff. read more

Gokigen Tori - Izakaya Near Me - Culver City, California

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They advertise gluten free, but they aren't set up to actually handle it. Our food took roughly twice as long as the rest of the table's, and when it finally arrived it wasn't good. What really stood out, though, was what happened when I asked to speak with the manager about the timing. The waitress told me no, that I wasn't allowed to speak with him. This is the same manager who had already come by our table earlier in the meal. I've never been refused access to a manager at a restaurant, let alone one who was clearly on the floor and had already introduced himself to us. Between that and the rudeness, I wouldn't go back, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who needs to eat gluten free. read more

Legit authentic food made with love!!! Other than yakitori, Corn tempura, croquettes, and ramen was amazing. The service is phenomenal. Everyone was so attentive. I love that unlike regular American restaurants there is no specific server to the table but everyone is taking care of you. The inside looks sophisticated and the open kitchen is so clean. The restroom was also clean which tells that their kitchen must be clean. read more

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Very nice time catching up with friends from college here. My favorite things were the chicken tail (oh so tender) and the bacon-wrapped mochi (so mochimochi chewy). And they have Suntory Malt Premium!!! The yummiest foam top. A little bit fancy but nice to splurge once in a while. read more

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Overall the quality of skewers were decent and reminded us of the quality of chicken we had when we ate yakitori in Japan. Some of the dishes were a bit salty. It was also a bit pricey for the food we got and the service was just okay. The Chefs grilling the skewers were friendly and nice. I recommend sitting at the bar so you can watch them grilling. However, the actual servers were not so friendly or attentive. We felt that they were a bit inexperienced and should be better trained. read more

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SUPER SUPER smoky that your eyes would hurt. The food was good and once the restaurant got filled, it became very difficult to get the servers' attention to order more food. Finally we flagged down a server, the ordering device was down, then two out of the three items we wished sold out, the only item (rice ball) did not come for another half an hour; as it gets smoky to a new level, we just had to leave for health fresh air. The few items that we ordered were pretty delicious. We were curious about the grilled whole onion; it tasted yummy. The cute-looking Japanese Clay pot rice, that one I did not understand, it was just steamed rice in a clay pot ( we did not get any instruction and did not get the hourglass like other Yelper's order). If you add $5, you can enjoy the unlimited cabbage salad, which was a good option when you had to wait for the yakitori. read more

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Worst yakitori experience of my life. This restaurant is extremely poorly managed. We waited over two hours, and from the beginning it was clear there was no control over service flow or guest experience. We were told we would receive a $5 cabbage salad starter, yet it did not arrive until nearly an hour later--and even then, the server brought one bowl with no dressing. Were we expected to eat raw cabbage plain? Servers passed our table multiple times without noticing the missing dressing. Water was never refilled unless we explicitly asked, and no one checked in to see how we were doing. Several skewers we ordered never arrived, and the pacing was completely disorganized. We were seated at 7:40 PM, but no one came to take our order until 8:00 PM. Even then, food took so long that we had to ask for the check before all items from the first order had arrived. When I raised the issue, the server responded, "Everyone is waiting." That is not an explanation--it's an admission of poor management. Food quality was also disappointing. The asparagus maki was extremely thin and overly salty. The tsukune contained shiso, which is highly unusual and completely overpowered the sauce--and worse, it was not fully cooked. Another major red flag: this is a large restaurant operating with only two grills, which explains the constant delays. For context, I have been to Torimatsu, Torihei, and Shinsengumi--all of which manage volume, timing, and service far better than this place. Honestly, even Shinsengumi would have been a better choice. I'm relieved we didn't do the $120 omakase, because that would have been unacceptable under these conditions. I will never return, and I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone who values proper service, pacing, or quality control. read more

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In my opinion, one grill with terrible ventilation isn't going to cut it in this city. The food was delicious, the service is definitely a work in progress, but the air quality inside was worse than a Korean BBQ restaurant. There seems to have only been one grill, which I can appreciate in a restaurant with fewer seats, but in a restaurant with this much seating it seemed inappropriate. I absolutely love yakitori, especially when real binchotan coals are used - as is the case here, but it's really tragic to have to eat delicious skewers while suffocating on carbon dioxide. read more

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This was absolutely the worst restaurant experience that I've had in the last 20 years! My wife and I ordered several skewers. We then waited and waited and waited. While we were waiting smoke from the grill was filling the restaurant. The customers were starting to complain and a man next to us was covering his head with a sweater to protect him from the smoke. We continued to wait and wait with the smoke in our eyes. A man in a suit was walking around constantly trying to serve food and calm customers down. He was clearly stressed out and quite rude in the way he spoke to me always in a hurried and curt manner. After an hour of waiting for our food. I walked over to the man and asked him if he had any idea when we would get our food and if he was going to do something about the smoke. He then looked at me in an upset manner and said, you can leave if you want to. So we left. This is the first time that I was told to leave at any restaurant. This is not the way to treat customers! read more

Came back for a second time with my parents from MN. My dad is a HUGE liver fan and I wanted to put it to the true test... I didn't even have time to take a pic he smashed through it so fast. I will say, today was better than the first time so I think they perfected the recipe! Everything today was better than the first time. Highballs are pretty delicious if you're in the mood ;) Service was attentive and responsive to questions we had. I can see a TV in their near future so we can watch the Dodgers ;) read more

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Ambiance: it's a Japanese style skewer place, spacious inside with cool elements and fancy utensils and plates, you can tell they try to be a high end dine in place, but with such a horrible ventilation system, the smoke from the center grill stays in the room, and yourself and your clothes will smell like charcoal afterwards Service: friendly but a bit pushy to place the order and clean the table, they weren't that busy that night, really no need to rush your guests Food & Drink: skewers items on the menu are categorized for chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables MOMO TAREH - *** Iconic Grilled Chicken Thigh Dipped In Sauce, average taste NANKOTSU - ** Chicken Cartilage, burnt soft bone KAWA - * it's supposed to be a Crispy Chicken Skin, however, so soggy and overly salty SOBORO GOHAN Minced Chicken and Rice Bowl - ** it was served too fast and the rice was apparently not cooked from raw in this container, as there was zero layer of crunchy rice forms at the bottom of the clay pots, the taste was fine, but misleading information on their menu MINI TORI-TORI RAMEN - **** Chicken-Stock Ramen With Thin Noodles Simmered For 12 Hours, the only thing I likely here, small ramen in tasty broth, recommend Japanese Cabbage With Special Homemade Dressing - * the salad wasn't even fresh, rotten leaves, not optional and surprising charge on the bill, they have fine prints in the bottom of their menu. They took the concept of Japanese tradition for surcharge of table and service here, but still expect you pay regular tips as US tradition in the end, disgusting double dip SUNTORY THE PREMIUM MALT'S - ** the only draft beer they have, tasted like water Price: super stinky portions but very stiff prices, expect about $50 per person, and you likely still feel hungry after eating here. Overall, not a recommended place, don't waste your money here, it's literally noxious for the air quality, and obnoxious for both otoshi and tip read more

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Plenty of food and alcohol selections. Good service. Good food and experience overall. Chill vibe. Would definitely come back. Was busy for a Thursday evening. read more

Gokigen Tori - Izakaya Near Me - Culver City, California

the food was good and kara-age crisped to perfection. sadly they were out of the A5 uni that night so i couldn't try it. pickled veggie appetizer was a bit subpar. however, main deductions for the shady business practice of offering us another round of their so-called "house" "salad" (some leaves and leaf stems) without telling us they'd charge for the second round. so when we asked for the second round, then saw it on our bill... not a fan. also they took fooooooorever to come take our order. if i hadn't kept trying to flag someone down i don't think anyone would have ever come. place wasn't particularly packed enough to warrant such a long wait. super nice staff otherwise though. read more

Gokigen Tori - Izakaya Near Me - Culver City, California

Avoid this place. Terrible service and ridiculous wait times.I gave this spot three chances, and they struck out every single time. My first two visits took a staggering 45 minutes just to get food after ordering. Because the food tasted good, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but the kitchen speed never improved. After taking a year-long break, I went back on a Friday after work with a friend just to have a beer. We explicitly stated upon walking in that we were only ordering drinks. Despite this, we were repeatedly harassed by the staff for not buying food. To make matters worse, they charged an outrageous $12 per beer while making us feel incredibly unwelcome and pressured to leave. I will never return to Gokigen Tori. Save your money and go somewhere that actually appreciates its customers. read more

Chicken Oyster - very good Chicken wing - good Shitake - okay. A little watery so dilutes the smokiness Mini ramen - good Eggplant - good, smokiness but could have been cooked more Ran out of the chicken tail Street parking read more

Such a delicious experience! We love the bonjiri skewers in particular. We tried almost all of the chicken skewers, the mountain yam, tomato with bacon, potato & beef croquettes, sashimi of the day, and the matcha chiffon - all so yummy! Our last yakitori meal was in Japan so this was a really nice find bc it was the quality that we enjoyed there. I thought the service was good but when it got busy (Fri night), it did slow down quite a lot. I'm not sure if it also slowed down just because the grill was backed up once more folks got there too. The restaurant itself is really lovely, beautifully decorated, and I look forward to coming back and trying more new dishes next time ! read more

Best Yakitori quality and experience in the local LA area to date. Reasonably priced and nice thick, juicy cuts. When are we going back?

The food here is good/fine; if we are going off that alone I'd give it 3-4 stars, but it's hard to rate the food when my dining experience was so very poor! It started off great and I had high hopes, but let me tell you the whole story. This place has been on my list since they opened. A quick google search shows they opened like 8 months ago. I had been to this place when it was a different Japanese restaurant so I was excited to see what else came in after it. I also really like yakitori and this place has an outdoor patio, which is a feature I am always looking for. I showed up on a Fri night at 655pm to dine alone for some me time. It was like 95% full. I asked to sit on the patio, but they showed me the iPad and that they had a 7:15pm RSVP already. Oddly, the table outside seats like 6-8, but only 2 people were there. I wish they had a lot of smaller tables they could push together for a big group if they needed. So then I asked if i could sit inside. They at first said no bc they were booked and I didn't have a RSVP, but a different waiter pointed out that a 4 top was split in two and the other table was in fact free even though it looked occupied on the iPad. So they let me sit there. By 7pm, I was seated after they took away dirty dishes, etc. I ordered by 705pm. I immediately ordered the rice that comes in a clay pot because the menu says it takes 30 min. I ordered many skewers. They also asked if I wanted the $5 cabbage salad which has unlimited refills. Salad is always a good idea so I said yes. They bring my water. At 711pm my rice already comes out. Which is odd to me because it had only been like 6 minutes, not 30 min. I almost wonder if they just make it in a regular rice cooker and use the clay pot as the serving dish instead. It is perfectly reasonable that they have a few already cooking in progress in case someone orders it. But I really figured it was like when you order a chocolate souffle at dinner and it really does take 20-30 min. Otherwise, why would they put it on the menu stating it like that?! This is where the dining experience takes a turn for the worst. My rice comes out and I have NOTHING TO EAT IT WITH FOR 30 MINUTES. I am literally just sitting there. They finally bring out my hot towel to clean my hands. They did not bring out my salad as an appetizer and I wanted to see if they would ever serve it to me. My salad finally comes out around 735pm and then at 740pm my first 2 skewers come out. My rice is now COLD. Mind you, tables all around me are getting served one or two skewers. Even the NEW table next to me gets their salad, towel, before me because they get served first and then bring me my salad and towel. They also get their first skewer about 10 min after ordering. I am not sure why I had to wait 40 min for even my first chicken serving. While I am eating they say one of the skewers I ordered is sold out already. Hmmmm. I wonder why!? They ask if I want a different kind so I get a different one. By the time all my food comes out, my entire "eating time" was 30 minutes yet I was there from 7pm-811pm. I was so annoyed at the wait, but I just sat there because I wanted to see what would happen. Only one time did the server come and ask me 30 seconds before my food came out if any food came out. They need to get organized and figure out a system to serve customers in a specific order for the water, hot towel, salad, etc. I was so annoyed about the long wait that I was googling how long it should take to grill yakitori in a restaurant. Depending on the type of meat, the most it should take is 6-8 minutes. Yet I know their grill holds like multiple pieces because 2 people were manning the grill. Aside from the long wait, the service was fine, I guess. I am really interested to see if I come back on another night, if the service will be better. I had such high hopes for a relaxing, super yummy, enjoyable dinner and they really fell short. This is what I ordered for skewers, momoh tareh, gokigen kushi, bonjiri, oroshi niku, kawa, uzura, sunagimo (sold out). The bonjiri/the chicken butt was my favorite and I ordered two of them since the sunagimo was sold out. The others were fine. Since I ate it with cold rice and was basically rushing to eat because I was starving and my rice was going to get even colder, I am sure my food didn't taste as good as it could have. The salad dressing for the cabbage salad was fine. They have something in there that makes it a bit bitter. I am glad the $5 cabbage salad fee is optional now because I know people who are allergic to cabbage. Also, as soon as you walk in it smells of the grill and it looks foggy in there because of the smoke. They left the main door open for most of the time I was there and then half way thru opened the door to the patio. They need to keep both doors open at all times or get better ventilation. Cost $58 & w/ tip $68. Read reviews closely. read more

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It is generally difficult to find an authentic Japanese yakitori in west LA and Gokigen Tori certainly lives up to the expectation in all dimensions. The restaurant has a modern, sharp interior design with a central yakitori station with large ventilation system. You can smell the mouthwatering smoky aroma as soon as you enter the restaurant. As soon as you sit, you will be provided with a hot towel to clean your hands which is a very traditional gesture. The menu also provides an option for "seat charge" in the form of shredded lettuce. Although in Japan it is mostly mandatory but they make it optional to accommodate culturally sensitive individuals. The yakitori skewers are well executed and seasoned, balancing the charcoal aroma with the original meaty aroma from chicken. One of my favorites is chicken meatball which incorporated shiso and soft bone to enhance aroma and texture. Heart adjacent meat is also perfect, super chewy and deeply seasoned. The chicken ochazuke was served with medium rare chicken breast while the guests waiting it to cook in the middle of the soup to deliver a soft texture. The only downside of this restaurant is that due to the limited grilling space and a large amount of guests to accommodate, the main dish was served before any yakitori which disrupts the tempo of service. read more

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Odd experience. Food was on the expensive side for yakitori but was okay (a bit different style than other yakitori places in LA, which is a good thing). The issue here was service. (1) once the order was finished, and only when it was all done, the server brought out the special menu and started going through it line by line (shouldn't it be done in the beginning before you order?), (2) they cleaned food scraps off the table by sweeping with bare hands, and they were grabbing glasses by the top (fingers inside the glasses), and (3) they didn't check on us once even though there was a very long gap between dishes coming out (so long that we were about to ask for check and walk out). For a place that is clearly meant to be a more premium yakitori restaurant, the service was subpar and there were clearly issues with staff training. read more

Okay look... it's pricey. But it's authenticity perfected. I meant to write this over a week ago, bc someone truly stood out during our visit, and I'm afraid to get his name wrong bc he made it a terrific experience: Takashi, I think? Completely hospitable, educated us, and he wasn't even necessarily assigned to our table. Every nibble was succulent, flavorful, fresh, and fun. But make no mistake, it is FINE dining. Not in atmosphere, but in attention to the cuisine, and in cost, lol. Enjoyed! read more

The food was amazing! This is a restaurant where you really need to have time to enjoy. The quality of service is top tier, there is one chef that is cooking everyone's Yakitori orders, but again the love that he pours into the food is felt through the flavors and textures. The ambiance is wonderful, you enter the restaurant and you can feel time slow down to where you can take a breather from your day. I ate all the food before I could take pictures so I apologize. read more

I have been to Gokigen, probably seven or eight times and it is just brilliant and wonderful, and yes, a little pricey and somewhat idiosyncratic, but there are moments of absolute dazzling culinary joy. First the yakitori: definitely get the chicken oyster, which is simply a small, extraordinarily flavorful part of the chicken meat, the chicken heart,, the chicken liver, and of course, the Wagyu beef with Uni is ridiculous and amazing and very expensive but worth it. Also get the Ramen egg with salmon and eggs and Uni... it's kind of interesting to observe that a lot of the skewers are very reasonably priced and you can, if you are mindful get out for 50 or $60 a person. But really it's not that kind of place. It's a great place to sit for a long time and really take it in. You can probably tell I'm a fan. read more

Been here ~5 times now. First experience late last year was awesome - really solid yakitori and gave that authentic "taste of Japan" feeling. Service was okay at the time, though the servers didn't seem super knowledgeable about the menu (+made mistakes...) The next few visits were good too, which is why last night was pretty disappointing. The food quality felt noticeably off. The meat was dry, and the duck skewer ($15) was especially underwhelming - very little flavor and honestly didn't feel worth the price. Overall the dishes felt sloppier than before, and the service was inattentive throughout the night. Not sure what happened and hope they fix it. read more

We loved this new Japanese Yakitori restaurant in Culver City. They specialize in delicious and meticulously crafted yakitori skewers but they also have some rice, soup, and fresh sashimi options too. There is quite a variety to choose from. We tried many of the chicken skewers. The shitake and the special sashimi of the day were very good. Everything we tried was excellent. Sadly the wagyu was sold out. Service was great from the moment we walked in. Many of the items are served on beautiful dishes that are works of art themselves. There is counter service up front where you can enjoy omakase and watch the chefs in action. It's a bit on the pricier side as you need to order quite a bit to fill up but the quality and experience make it worthwhile. Also, there are plenty of beer and sake options to choose from to complement the meal. Looking forward to visiting again, maybe for omakase! read more

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I highly recommend this place to all lovers of Japanese cuisine. The flavors are refined, the sashimi is incredibly fresh, and the tableware -- brought from Japan -- adds to the authentic experience. You must try the grilled chicken meatballs -- the chef grills them over an open flame and dips them into yakitori sauce. Absolutely delicious. The Corn Tempura is their seasonal special -- super tasty. Not pictured yet, but I also recommend the Gokigen Kushi, chicken hearts, liver, and cartilage -- hands down the best I've ever had. The Mochi Bacon really surprised me: chewy rice cake with nori on top and crispy bacon. The potato dish with a mountain of butter was perfectly salted, and the wagyu beef just melted in my mouth. We spoke with other guests during our visit, and they shared that they come here often -- it's the only place in LA that truly makes them feel like they're in Japan. read more

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Drove all the way from LA to come try this place. Booked a reservation as well. Arrived at 5:20pm and the place only had two parties seated. Our party was 2 grownups and a baby. They wanted to seat us at a two top in the corner with no high chair. (They only have 1). Decided to leave. Service at the door was bad. :) read more

We made a reservation ahead of time, and we were seated outside. Our waitress was rather absent during most of our dining experience. Unfortunately it took her about 25 minutes to get us our waters and drinks. The food was okay, I would say mediocre compared to other yakitori places like Nanbankan. The timing of the skewers was very odd. They would bring out our skewers around every 10-15 minutes. I do understand that they may have been short staffed, but no apologies were said about the service. This restaurant is quite pricey compared to other yakitori places and I would not come again. Our dinner here ended up being about 2.5 hours due to the poor service. I would recommend going to Nanbankan instead. read more

Yakitori in Culver City! I can't believe I finally found real Japanese-style yakitori in LA -- and it's seriously authentic. Each skewer is crafted by part, not just random chicken -- and you can really taste the difference. They even have "sori (chicken oyster)" and "seri (chicken neck)", both perfectly grilled and packed with umami. Honestly, I went in with low expectations (it was new so just curious, you know?), but wow... I'm so glad I went! Everything--from the charcoal aroma to the texture--took me straight back to Tokyo. Highly recommend this spot if you crave true Japanese yakitori experience in LA read more

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Ahhh! Where do we start to describe Gokigen Tori? It kind of seems a little out of place. If it was on Sawtelle (you know what I mean, right?) it would be kind of expected. Or maybe in Gardena? Little Tokyo, definitely. But to have such an astonishingly excellent yakitori restaurant on this funny section of Sepulveda next to Taco Bell, well, it's a little unexpected. But don't let that fool you, this place is the real deal. Totally authentic, with an epic menu that will keep a true otaku maniac coming back again and again. Now let's be honest, yakitori is not cheap here in the greater Los Angeles area. And it's not cheap at Gokigen Tori either. But if you're going to have yakitori, treat yourself and have the best. The quality is so good and depending on your choices, it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Splurge on the wagyu if you want but it's not necessary. If you can, sit at the counter and watch the magic happen. There is so much skill involved and attention to detail you will be amazed. Please understand that if this is your first time experiencing yakitori, you might be spoiled for life and have to catch the next flight to Japan. If you already love yakitori, this could be exactly the next level you have been searching for. Be sure to try to the grilled shiitake mushrooms and Jaga Butter potato. The Karaage is a personal favorite of mine as it has a flavor profile that keeps me trying to figure it out. It's so delicious. The Chicken Curry is also a standout and very filling. The menu is filled with so many interesting things and be sure to discuss with your server if you're having any trouble deciding. They are very helpful. read more