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Reviews With Photos - Hakata Izakaya HERO
Very traditional looking Japanese restaurant, love the vibe. Service was friendly and attentive. The Yakitoris were done really well, especially the children heart. All the dishes were authentic, flavorful and delicious
This is a delicious Japanese Izakaya with all the legit food. It also has Suntory Beer which is harder to find in the US. We ate very well. The beef tongue was delicious. One important thing though..MAKE A RESERVATION. This place is loved by many so people make reservations before hand.
I wanted a comforting Japanese meal for dinner, and Hakata had promising reviews for their skewers and motsunabe (Japanese offal hot pot). After trying motsunabe in Japan and loving it, I looked forward to it here. Even though we arrived right when they opened on Saturday, there were no tables available for walk-in. So for future reference, definitely call ahead to make a reservation. However, they did have a small area outside -- three Costco foldable tables and foldable seats, which were covered by a tent and dimly lit with some outdoor lighting. My friend and I already paid for the valet parking in the back, so we begrudgingly accepted the outdoor seating offer. MOTSUNABE - 32 PER PERSON The two-person portion was actually pretty small, and I'm surprised it was so pricy. The broth was rich and lightly sweet -- which was nice to sip on throughout the meal. This time around, I found the motsu a bit too fatty and rich, so I only enjoyed a few pieces. The tofu and cabbage soaked up the broth nicely, but would have been nice to have a bit more of it. The server didn't bring out the noodles until much later, and by then, our broth was incredibly concentrated. Unfortunately, the noodles were too salty by the time they were cooked properly, so I didn't eat too much of it. Since we were seated outdoors, servers didn't really come around to check in on us, which was a bummer. Our experience would've been much better if we ate indoors, which looked very much like an izakaya you'd find in Japan. If I were to return, I'd definitely get their skewers and other small izakaya options.
Third time back and they do say 3rd time's the charm. Consistently amazing food, served up fresh and with a smile. Tried some new items this time which did not disappoint. Octopus kimchi? How can you not try it and it's so perfect (and not too much funk that you sometimes get). Oysters were HUGE and had great flavor, just enough brine but not close to salty. Mixed in some sashimi and noodles and still have yet to hit half of the items on the menu but not a bad one to complain about. Place is always packed so definitely call ahead!
I crashed a couple date to eat their food. We ordered a variety of dishes including beef skirt steak, beef tongue, sukiyaki, ochazuke, various skewers, curry katsu, gyoza, and fried intestines. My favorite one by far was the beef tongue dish. It was thickly cut and springy. There was no chewiness at all. The sukiyaki also had strong flavors in the soup base, which really helped with the cold weather. Overall, food was great and on the more expensive side? I have not been to an izakaya in years so I am unfamiliar with the pricing increases for these types of restaurants. Either way, I will probably be back.
Loved this spot! Super traditional Japanese Izakaya food with lots of Japanese patrons and workers. Food wise, amazing! Loved the stuffed chicken wings and Wagyu beef! Everything was a hit and there were no misses. It was a busy day though so we weren't able to sit inside where it was pretty small and tight. There was outside seating tho, but it was a little cold. The beer towers and hot sake kept us warm. They're known for their hot pots, which we didn't get, but we definitely will next time. Came during the World Series game and could tell there were a lot of Shohei and Dodger fans (like me!) No TVs but everyone was huddled around iPads and watching on their phones so super communal and great community. Would definitely come again.
*Delayed post from June '25 I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday after visiting Japan for a month earlier this year. While the prices here are crazy high in comparison to izakayas over there, the quality of the food at Hakata Izakaya was outstanding, despite long wait times to be served the various dishes we ordered. Our party of 3 arrived at 8pm on a Friday and spent over 1.5 hours since it became busier as the night went on. The Karage, or Japanese Fried Chicken, was well battered and featured dark meat, keeping the chicken moist and tasty, while allowing for an intense crispy on the outside. There were a few pieces of cartilage that snuck in though, so be careful when biting in. We also ordered Teba Gyo, Chicken Wings that are stuffed with chives and heavily seasoned with black pepper on the outside. The flavors oddly reminded me of egg rolls, but in a great way! The pork belly wrapped skewers took the longest to arrive, but were delicious. I highly recommend the chives and any of the other options that have bold flavors, as the lettuce we tried was rather simple. Lastly we shared a pot of Shabu Shabu, which included a variety of vegetables like cabbage, carrots and mushrooms, and thin pork slices to swish around. The broth was very flavorful, but they also provided ponzu sauce to add a zing of flavor as desired. The noodles served at the very end were not my favorite, unfortunately. They reminded me more of spaghetti and less of the ramen or udon noodles I fell in love with in Japan.
We recently checked this place out and had a great time. We ordered the wings, karaage, and tempura, plus a sake flight to try a few different flavors. Everything was solid-- the wings were crispy and flavorful, the karaage was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the tempura was light and crispy without feeling greasy. The sake flight was a fun way to sample a variety of sakes, each with its own distinct taste, which paired nicely with the food. The atmosphere was lively and casual, exactly what you want from an izakaya spot. Service was friendly and quick, making it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. If you're in the mood for good Japanese comfort food and want to try some sake, Hakata Izakaya Hero is definitely worth a visit.
Found this hidden gem in LA! Their store isn't super obvious but the interior is very authentic and feels like japan! After a few mins of eating they became a full house ! I loved every food item starting from the beef tongue! it was flavorful and super tender The pork belly wrapped chives were also amazing. each bite was flavorful and had a nice texture from the chives. the chicken wing gyoza was super unique, never had something like this but it was definitely a pleasant experience and works well. The pan fried champon noodle was a great ending to the meal. Everything i ordered was so yummy and i would def come back!
I've been wanting to try Izakaya HERO for some time but it's always had a very long wait without a reservation. We called ahead of time on a Thursday around 7PM and were able to get seated in their outside seating area immediately. There were three long tables outside for additional seating. It was in the parking lot. It was a nice day but the outdoor seating is very lack luster. It didn't seem like they gave a lot of effort to make outside seated guests feel like they were dining at an Izakaya. The staff were nice but the service wasn't particularly outstanding. Staff didn't really come outside unless giving food and no one ever checked in on us (we had to flag them down for more food or check). The food was all good. But considering everything else I mentioned and the price, we won't be returning. There was just nothing super special that justified the price. The jellyfish was good. The flavor was similar to other places (kind of sweet). The Harami was tender and flavorful. The ramen was good as well, not too salty. The sashimi was fresh but not mindblowing and give the price, definitely the least worth item. For these items and two drinks to be a nearly $200 was wild since I was still hungry when leaving.
Came here for a dinner reservation with my family and it was great! I'd recommend coming with a few other people so you can try all the various dishes. Everything was high quality, cooked to perfection, and came out piping hot. Even the rice tasted better than it usually does anywhere else! It's a smaller restaurant so it got pretty noisy when a large group came in but I'd still recommend giving it a try! The servers are also super nice and know the menu well.
Super cute izakaya place in west LA. Went for my gf's birthday and it was really nice. Service is quick and attentive. Parking is nominal and what you expect for west LA but ample enough at dinnertime. They are known for the potsticker chicken wings and they are really good. Nice presentation also. Sashimi special for that night was real fresh and beautifully plated. Porkbelly wrapped skewers were also very tender and juicy. The short rib kalbi and harami skirt steak were flavorful and served sizzling.
If you want an authentic Japanese izakaya (pub) experience, Izakaya Hero is the place. I'm originally from Japan (but I have lived in the US a little over half of my life). It's a small establishment near UCLA. As soon as you walk in, you're in an izakaya in Japan. The workers, the chefs and the waitstaff, are mostly (if not all) Japanese. Their offerings are very authentic. They serve several dishes that contain cow intestines, dishes with mentaiko (cod roe), Hakata (city in Kyushu) style ramen. Their food is NOT Americanized at all. If you are opened about trying authentic Japanese food, this is an excellent place. If you want teriyaki or sushi rolls, this is not your place. I don't think they even serve teriyaki. My girlfriend and I ordered/shared 6 dishes and hot sake. See my pictures for details. I have included my ratings in the caption. After sharing 6 small to medium size dishes, we were completely full. The total only came to $113 (including a 9.5% sales tax) plus a tip. This is a GREAT deal. I recommend you to try this restaurant if you want authentic Japanese izakaya food.
2 months ago
5 months ago
A friend brought me here and prefaced by saying it was the best japanese food he's had outside of Japan. Although it didn't necessarily live up to the hype, it was definitely an authentic spot tucked in a busy area of LA. Parking, was particularly hard to find. Definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. Immediately greeted by a friendly staff who showed us our table. Ambience was reminiscent of a local spot you'd find in Tokyo. A comforting, warm, bright place that serves as a familiar dinner spot that makes me wanna go back to Japan. For first timer, the menu was slightly hard to navigate. Lol, but I guess that speaks to the authenticity of the Japanese menu. Assorted pork belly wrapped yakitori/skewers, 7.8/10: these were hyped up by both my friend and the server, but overall it was slightly underwhelming. The skewers were all seasoned nicely, although they were a bit hard to eat since they were so big. Starting with the pork belly wrapped cabbage skewer, I don't believe the cabbage added any sustenance to the dish. I did like the bacon wrapped tomato skewer since the pop of acidity and freshness from the tomato paired well with the fat from the pork. Chicken Karaage, 9.1/10: definitely the best dish here. Chicken was fried perfectly, and was warm when it came out. The batter was not too thick or heavy. Season well with enough space.The lemon is a must for acidity and brightness. And of course they kewpie mayo is a nice touch. Tonkotsu Ramen, 7.5/10: the pork broth was rich and deep. The noodles were nice and chewy and firm clinging onto that broth. However, the portion was a bit small for the price. I was caught off guard by that. Granted, this place doesn't boast about the ramen. Overall, this wasn't anything mind blowing. Stuffed chicken wing, 8/10: stuffed generously with ground chicken ginger scallions and seasonings. The outside skin was flavorful crispy and savory. The temperature of the wings were pretty good too. Solid. read more
So I originally gave this restaurant 3 stars but I've upgraded it to 4 stars. It's hands down one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the area. When you have the craving, you just have to go. You have to come at 5pm when it opens, preferably on a weekday if you do not have a reservation. Otherwise you won't get a seat or they will sell out of things. I like their rotating specials menu. There's always something new and interesting, some days are better than others. First time I tried snails, then there were special fried fish dishes, squid, and recently I tried the chicken nanban. The chicken nanban, if you see it, is a must get! It's like karage chicken basically but covered in this sweet and sour sauce. So good. Around 70% of the things I order at this restaurant are delicious, the other 30 are iffy. The quality overall can be better than some izakayas even in Japan!! The only reason I give this establishment 4 stars is the prices are insane. I would say one of the most expensive restaurants compared to portion size and the worst value. If you stick to simple foods like chicken and hot pot, maybe you won't pay a lot but if you order the seafood, be prepared to pay 30% more. My bf and I came and we spent $300+. When I came alone, I spent $200. I bought sake every time. I would skip. It's expensive and not that good. I do not like any of their kubota sakes. read more
23 days ago
This is a delicious Japanese Izakaya with all the legit food. It also has Suntory Beer which is harder to find in the US. We ate very well. The beef tongue was delicious. One important thing though..MAKE A RESERVATION. This place is loved by many so people make reservations before hand. read more
I wanted a comforting Japanese meal for dinner, and Hakata had promising reviews for their skewers and motsunabe (Japanese offal hot pot). After trying motsunabe in Japan and loving it, I looked forward to it here. Even though we arrived right when they opened on Saturday, there were no tables available for walk-in. So for future reference, definitely call ahead to make a reservation. However, they did have a small area outside -- three Costco foldable tables and foldable seats, which were covered by a tent and dimly lit with some outdoor lighting. My friend and I already paid for the valet parking in the back, so we begrudgingly accepted the outdoor seating offer. MOTSUNABE - 32 PER PERSON The two-person portion was actually pretty small, and I'm surprised it was so pricy. The broth was rich and lightly sweet -- which was nice to sip on throughout the meal. This time around, I found the motsu a bit too fatty and rich, so I only enjoyed a few pieces. The tofu and cabbage soaked up the broth nicely, but would have been nice to have a bit more of it. The server didn't bring out the noodles until much later, and by then, our broth was incredibly concentrated. Unfortunately, the noodles were too salty by the time they were cooked properly, so I didn't eat too much of it. Since we were seated outdoors, servers didn't really come around to check in on us, which was a bummer. Our experience would've been much better if we ate indoors, which looked very much like an izakaya you'd find in Japan. If I were to return, I'd definitely get their skewers and other small izakaya options. read more
Third time back and they do say 3rd time's the charm. Consistently amazing food, served up fresh and with a smile. Tried some new items this time which did not disappoint. Octopus kimchi? How can you not try it and it's so perfect (and not too much funk that you sometimes get). Oysters were HUGE and had great flavor, just enough brine but not close to salty. Mixed in some sashimi and noodles and still have yet to hit half of the items on the menu but not a bad one to complain about. Place is always packed so definitely call ahead! read more
7 months ago
I crashed a couple date to eat their food. We ordered a variety of dishes including beef skirt steak, beef tongue, sukiyaki, ochazuke, various skewers, curry katsu, gyoza, and fried intestines. My favorite one by far was the beef tongue dish. It was thickly cut and springy. There was no chewiness at all. The sukiyaki also had strong flavors in the soup base, which really helped with the cold weather. Overall, food was great and on the more expensive side? I have not been to an izakaya in years so I am unfamiliar with the pricing increases for these types of restaurants. Either way, I will probably be back. read more
Loved this spot! Super traditional Japanese Izakaya food with lots of Japanese patrons and workers. Food wise, amazing! Loved the stuffed chicken wings and Wagyu beef! Everything was a hit and there were no misses. It was a busy day though so we weren't able to sit inside where it was pretty small and tight. There was outside seating tho, but it was a little cold. The beer towers and hot sake kept us warm. They're known for their hot pots, which we didn't get, but we definitely will next time. Came during the World Series game and could tell there were a lot of Shohei and Dodger fans (like me!) No TVs but everyone was huddled around iPads and watching on their phones so super communal and great community. Would definitely come again. read more
*Delayed post from June '25 I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday after visiting Japan for a month earlier this year. While the prices here are crazy high in comparison to izakayas over there, the quality of the food at Hakata Izakaya was outstanding, despite long wait times to be served the various dishes we ordered. Our party of 3 arrived at 8pm on a Friday and spent over 1.5 hours since it became busier as the night went on. The Karage, or Japanese Fried Chicken, was well battered and featured dark meat, keeping the chicken moist and tasty, while allowing for an intense crispy on the outside. There were a few pieces of cartilage that snuck in though, so be careful when biting in. We also ordered Teba Gyo, Chicken Wings that are stuffed with chives and heavily seasoned with black pepper on the outside. The flavors oddly reminded me of egg rolls, but in a great way! The pork belly wrapped skewers took the longest to arrive, but were delicious. I highly recommend the chives and any of the other options that have bold flavors, as the lettuce we tried was rather simple. Lastly we shared a pot of Shabu Shabu, which included a variety of vegetables like cabbage, carrots and mushrooms, and thin pork slices to swish around. The broth was very flavorful, but they also provided ponzu sauce to add a zing of flavor as desired. The noodles served at the very end were not my favorite, unfortunately. They reminded me more of spaghetti and less of the ramen or udon noodles I fell in love with in Japan. read more
1 year ago
We recently checked this place out and had a great time. We ordered the wings, karaage, and tempura, plus a sake flight to try a few different flavors. Everything was solid-- the wings were crispy and flavorful, the karaage was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the tempura was light and crispy without feeling greasy. The sake flight was a fun way to sample a variety of sakes, each with its own distinct taste, which paired nicely with the food. The atmosphere was lively and casual, exactly what you want from an izakaya spot. Service was friendly and quick, making it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. If you're in the mood for good Japanese comfort food and want to try some sake, Hakata Izakaya Hero is definitely worth a visit. read more
1 year ago
Found this hidden gem in LA! Their store isn't super obvious but the interior is very authentic and feels like japan! After a few mins of eating they became a full house ! I loved every food item starting from the beef tongue! it was flavorful and super tender The pork belly wrapped chives were also amazing. each bite was flavorful and had a nice texture from the chives. the chicken wing gyoza was super unique, never had something like this but it was definitely a pleasant experience and works well. The pan fried champon noodle was a great ending to the meal. Everything i ordered was so yummy and i would def come back! read more
I've been wanting to try Izakaya HERO for some time but it's always had a very long wait without a reservation. We called ahead of time on a Thursday around 7PM and were able to get seated in their outside seating area immediately. There were three long tables outside for additional seating. It was in the parking lot. It was a nice day but the outdoor seating is very lack luster. It didn't seem like they gave a lot of effort to make outside seated guests feel like they were dining at an Izakaya. The staff were nice but the service wasn't particularly outstanding. Staff didn't really come outside unless giving food and no one ever checked in on us (we had to flag them down for more food or check). The food was all good. But considering everything else I mentioned and the price, we won't be returning. There was just nothing super special that justified the price. The jellyfish was good. The flavor was similar to other places (kind of sweet). The Harami was tender and flavorful. The ramen was good as well, not too salty. The sashimi was fresh but not mindblowing and give the price, definitely the least worth item. For these items and two drinks to be a nearly $200 was wild since I was still hungry when leaving. read more
Came here for a dinner reservation with my family and it was great! I'd recommend coming with a few other people so you can try all the various dishes. Everything was high quality, cooked to perfection, and came out piping hot. Even the rice tasted better than it usually does anywhere else! It's a smaller restaurant so it got pretty noisy when a large group came in but I'd still recommend giving it a try! The servers are also super nice and know the menu well. read more
2 months ago
Super cute izakaya place in west LA. Went for my gf's birthday and it was really nice. Service is quick and attentive. Parking is nominal and what you expect for west LA but ample enough at dinnertime. They are known for the potsticker chicken wings and they are really good. Nice presentation also. Sashimi special for that night was real fresh and beautifully plated. Porkbelly wrapped skewers were also very tender and juicy. The short rib kalbi and harami skirt steak were flavorful and served sizzling. read more
18 days ago
2 years ago
If you want an authentic Japanese izakaya (pub) experience, Izakaya Hero is the place. I'm originally from Japan (but I have lived in the US a little over half of my life). It's a small establishment near UCLA. As soon as you walk in, you're in an izakaya in Japan. The workers, the chefs and the waitstaff, are mostly (if not all) Japanese. Their offerings are very authentic. They serve several dishes that contain cow intestines, dishes with mentaiko (cod roe), Hakata (city in Kyushu) style ramen. Their food is NOT Americanized at all. If you are opened about trying authentic Japanese food, this is an excellent place. If you want teriyaki or sushi rolls, this is not your place. I don't think they even serve teriyaki. My girlfriend and I ordered/shared 6 dishes and hot sake. See my pictures for details. I have included my ratings in the caption. After sharing 6 small to medium size dishes, we were completely full. The total only came to $113 (including a 9.5% sales tax) plus a tip. This is a GREAT deal. I recommend you to try this restaurant if you want authentic Japanese izakaya food. read more
Hakata Izakata HERO is authentic izakaya experience with friendly service. Love supporting amazing small mom and pop shops like this. I've been a few times and it's always been amazing. The shop is quite small and reservations are highly recommended, especially for larger parties. It's best for 4-6 people. The parking is mainly meters and street parking in neighborhood. For the food: The signature item is Teba Gyo - Jidori Chicken wing stuffed with gyoza filing. It's priced per wing, so order one for each person. Other dishes to share with the table are Eggplant Agedashi, Crispy fried Chicken Kaarage, Stuffed Shitake Mushroom (also stuffed with gyoza filing). The Panfried Champon, noodle are nice and chewy, covered in gravy-like sauce. Beef Tongue Steak is one of the meat options, comes out perfect medium rare. I prefer the Skirt Steak Harami Platter. read more
11 months ago
Hakata is famous as one of the most delicious food prefectures in Japan. The quality of the food was so good that I thought I was in Hakata instead of West LA. We enjoyed Motsu Nabe, Hakata Ramen, Sashimi, Teba Gyoza, Fried Chicken, Beer and Sake!! read more
3 months ago
Hidden gem! Great Japanese food and you're lucky to get a table right away since it's a smaller spot with a dozen or so tables. Food was authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced. Would recommend getting there closer to opening as they quickly sell out of menu items. read more
Came here for a cozy izakaya night and Hakata Izakaya Hero did not miss. We ordered a solid spread and honestly loved everything, but a few dishes really stood out. The Jidori Karaage was an easy favorite and it was huuge! Super juicy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and seasoned just right. The Gyutan (beef tongue steak) was another must-order: tender, flavorful, and grilled beautifully. The Mentaiko Isobe (deep-fried spicy cod roe wrapped in nori) was rich and savory, a great bite with drinks. The Teba Gyo (stuffed chicken wing gyoza) was fun and satisfying. rispy skin with a juicy filling. We also tried the pork belly skewers with chive, cilantro, and scallion -- simple, smoky, and well-seasoned. To end the meal, we had the Motsunabe with chewy champon noodles. If you enjoy bold flavors and aren't afraid of texture, this hot pot is comforting and deeply flavorful. Service deserves a special mention -- all the servers were incredibly welcoming and kind, which made the whole experience even better. It's a small restaurant, so I highly recommend making a reservation. Perfect spot for a laid-back night of great food and drinks. Definitely coming back. read more
Came here with a girlfriend the other night since I had it on my hit list. The place is super busy crowded and no table remains empty. We decided to order the hot pot for two ($35/person). Probably won't ordered again because you really don't get enough food for the price that you're paying. And it was just OK. Service was very friendly but slow. We had to tag down our waitress a few times. The chicken karaje was absolutely delicious though!! read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
First time trying , we had arrived at 5pm and they were inform us right away, we had limit of time dining. We been to many Izakaya restaurants but their starter very very tiny especially jellyfish and kimchi compared with the prices. Many servers walk around but they don't communicate to each other and duplicate their duties. The servers asking us if we would like to order hotpot which is super confusing explanation. The price is not per order ,they charge per person which means the price x person who order for only one pot. Overall for customers like us, simple communication , easy to understand and reasonable portion and prices. read more
2 years ago
Overall: mmh mmh mmh. Located off the main Sawtelle strip is this tiny Japanese Izakaya that is on an absolute tear. So many delicious menu items I HAVE to go back and try more. Food: their stuffed chicken tsukune wing was so unexpected. Crispy skin on the outside with dumpling filling on the inside. Almost like a gyoza. Chicken karaage can never go wrong with that. Especially how crunchy crispy the texture is. The pork belly wrap was straight to the point letting the flavors of the ingredients do all the work. The chive one packed an intense punch with the fat rendering on the aromatic chives. The Shabu tonkotsu bowl was surprisingly really worth the order considering they load the bowl up with ramen noodles at the end. Good balance of ingredients with the meat and veggies to go with the slightly richer broth. Ambience/Decor/Service: hard to judge this place on their interior because of how small the shop is. I count maybe 6/8 tables for a max of 36 people inside. Not meant for large parties but meant for an intimate yummy experience. Service was quick so that they could quickly bus and serve the next group. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
9 months ago
1 year ago
Rules are rules when they are fair to all guests. That's why I'm sharing this because I am so disappointed. It was my 3rd visit as a person who likes their foods and services. Service Server (Kana) said there was a two hour limit for the tables and we said yes. And then she came to us and said we have 60 minutes, 30 minutes, 15 minutes and force to leave. I go to a lot of restaurants, but this is the first time I've experienced something like this. Why don't you put a timer on the table? Yeah. If the store has rules, I'll follow them. But why did that rule only apply to us? People that arrived before us were still eating. We asked why and server (Kana) said they are employees, and owner's wife lol And the they wasn't too busy, there were empty seats and no waiting. That made us feel even worse. Foods Also the food tasted really bad. The sashimi quality was the worst, The fried oysters were dry, and the taste changed overall. Oh, and this isn't a service issue, it's a hygiene issue. The toilet was overflowing from the floor. So they said it was broken and didn't let customers use the toilet. Is it possible in a place that sells alcohol? Anyway we ordered more than 10 dishes and drank two bottles of alcohol, so we spent a lot of money. Of course, 0 tip. Hey if there are rules, apply equally to all guests! read more
3 years ago
What a lovely, authentic, and cozy lil joint in Westwood. You have to call in for a reservation, as it gets very busy and packed. It was a rainy night when we came, which was perfect because we came here for the Motsu Nabe. Izakaya style means sharing! We ordered a bunch of food, including: JIDORI STUFFED CHICKEN AGEDASHI EGGPLANT HORUMON PLATE (INTESTINES) NIRATAMA OMELTTE WITH MENTAIKO MOTSU NABE SEAFOOD CROQUETTE FRIED OYSTERS CHICKEN KARAAGE I'd say everything was cooked really well, and flavorful. The only items I wasn't a huge fan of were the Fried Oysters and Stuffed chicken, but that's due to my personal food preferences as I'm not an oyster nor Jidori Chicken fan. My friends enjoyed it a lot though! My favorite was definitely the Horumon Plate and Motsu Nabe. The intestines were generous and very fatty. I've never seen so much intestines being offered in a Motsu Nabe before. It's interesting that the broth for the nabe was more dashi-like and clear, as Motsu Nabe usually has a milky creamy looking broth. I'd say the latter is what I prefer, so I wish they had the milky version too. Service is really friendly and nice. Each party allowed only 2 hrs but that's enough time. There's paid parking right next door, but if you don't mind a little walking, you can find street parking in the nearby residential areas as well. read more
1 year ago
The Motsunabe is truly something special. I was eager to find this dish in LA, and I was not disappointed. The flavor and quality is comparable to what I had in Japan. I'm also impressed by their sake selection. They have plenty of rare bottles that are hard to find in Tokyo. Senshin in particular is one of my favorites from Niigata. I will be back again! read more
1 year ago
I now understand why this place was recommended and so popular. I've tried walking in twice for 1 guest and was unsuccessful since the place is pretty small, therefore I made a reservation this time. I love that the portions were small so I could try a little bit of everything. - Uni was fresh and big, loved it. -stuffed chicken wing was surprising to me, there was no bone in the center, just at the end, and it was delicious. -fried intestine nothing special, lacked a little flavor by itself, i think if they fried it with a bit of seasoning it would taste better. Loved that it came with a little salad. -potato salad, nothing too special, was expecting some sweetness with the savory, but it was just savory. -pork belly skewer with lettuce, did not expect I never tried this combo and it was perfect. -marinated squid, it was made to perfection, and was refreshing with the little ginger in it. Will definitely be coming back again to try more of their dishes. Service was pretty quick and the servers were nice. read more
Made reservations on a Thursday at 6:30 pm for a party of 4, and was seated immediately. I felt like I was in Japan, very authentic. We ordered: Small intestine hot pot: soup was good, the intestines is clean and fatty Japanese oysters: super milky and thick Jellyfish: crunchy Stuffed wings: good flavors Fish egg roe: salty goodness Sizzling Kobe beef: it can be a tad chewy if you eat it medium rare read more
1 year ago
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More info about Hakata Izakaya HERO
1929 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
West Los Angeles
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(424) 832-3304
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Ask the Community - Hakata Izakaya HERO
Is motsu nabe available for a single serving, or is the minimum order two portions? Thanks!
Yes, it's available for one person
How can I make a reservation by phone before 5pm? Called three times, but doesn't even let me leave a voicemail.
I usually call around 5-530.
Why do you stop seating 90 minutes before closing and why isn't that posted anywhere?
Does their food contain nuts?
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Hakata Izakaya HERO - izakaya - Updated August 2026
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