Food was great and came out in a timely manner. Everything seasoned perfectly and I found my new…read morefavorite ramen with the OG 2010 tonkotsu. Fabiola was amazing and very attentive. She checked up on us every chance she got and made sure we were well taken care of. She sat us down in a preferred spot and made sure to ask for any allergies or if we needed anything at all. She was the highlight of my night. Thank you.

I want to try this place again. I didn't actually order ramen so I do think my review is skewed…read moresince I was at a ramen location. All the items I had were just ok. Our sever however was very knowledgeable and on top of things. The salad was very low level. I expected the tacos to be warm. The meat wasn't super tender on the Bao bun

-Ramen here was good, really enjoyed the fried mushrooms…read more -Crowds came at opening and it was really packed; should be ready to wait or get in line early. Would come back.

Slow. Small portion size…read more Hot plate diameter is the same as a 16 oz pint. Mini bowls are even smaller! Yowzers.

This is a great place!!! Super clean. Great sushi and polite staff. Owner Eric is nice to talk…read moreto. Huge menu. Not just sushi. Noodles. Ramen. Bowls and appitizers. Nice place to eat in or take out. Been back a couple times and enjoy it! New local Japanese restaurant!!! Update the music is not good and sounds all the same. Sorry

I was in the neighborhood and saw that there was a new Japanese restaurant in town. This same…read morelocation has been so many different things from a chicken shack to sandwiches but they never intrigued me. When I saw this new Japanese restaurant and learned they had a buy one get one 50% off sushi deal, I knew I had to go. When you walk in the vibe is nice with good music playing. They have order tablets at every table so you don't have to go to counter or call for waiter. The cashier/waiter was very friendly and said they had been opened for about 4 months now. They had a lot of variety on the menu. I was by myself and just wanted a quick bite so I ordered 1 Blosom signature roll and 1 crunchy roll. It was about a 15 minute wait before I received the crunchy roll first. I liked it because it had a lot of sauce on the plate I could use for dipping. Then the Blosom roll came which I absolutely loooved! It was topped with crab and scallops. The crab was really good but the scallops lacked flavor. Next time I will ask for my eel sauce on the side. I also ordered a salmon avocado roll to go for my husband so he could try it. I'm so excited this place is here for when I'm in the area. I no longer have to resort to el pollo loco in the same complex, I can now get real delicious sushi!

Sooo yummy!! Was craving some seared salmon and this creamy melt in your mouth, perfectly salted,…read moreand delicious fatty salmon was PERFECT. Their other rolls were also super packed and DE-LISH :). My new fav spot for sushi in Culver! We came around noon on Saturday and there was a slight wait. Since the inside is quite small, they can only fit about 8 or less parties. They have bar seating and a few tables. The interior was adorable filled with tiny Japan and Hawaii trinkets. PARKING Street parking as always in LA ): SERVICE Excellent service and kind. They are a small business so will charge a small fee for a Togo box or extra sauces and utensils. INSIDE Clean and cute! Small, can only seat around 8 or less parties. There is a waitlist to join or you can also order takeout with the kiosk at the door. FOOD Yummy yummmy! 5/5 for everything :3 - Seared Salmon Nigiri $6.75 GET THIS ONE! Huge fatty pieces of salmon that had a beautiful sear. - Chili Garlic Roll $19.95 Spicy tuna with lots of chili garlic crisps and avocado - Salmon Avocado $11.00 Tender chunks of salmon with large chunks of fresh avocado! - Blue Crab Maki $12.95 Mmm!! Perfectly cooked rice, delicious seaweed, and creamy blue crab - Salmon Lavah Roll $19.50 Yuzu, house ponzu, tender slices of salmon, and avocado. Half seared and half raw :) - Ginger/Wasabi The wasabi is real!! My tummy is happy :-) see you soon I 8Sushi!

amazing food, amazing vibe, very sweet staff. authentic hawaiian japanese vibes and food…read more i recommend !!

the tuna hand roll was sooo good buttery, fatty, soft... honestly one of my favorites of the…read morenight. and i might get some heat for this, but i actually preferred the hand rolls here over kazunori. the seaweed stayed crunchy the whole time, even though i'm a super slow eater the salmon hand roll was a little harder for me to enjoy. maybe i got an extra wet piece of fish or a bad sheet of seaweed, but i had a hard time biting through it. i literally ended up putting half the roll in my mouth at once because every time i tried to take a bite, the seaweed wouldn't break cleanly. the real star for me was the scallop hand roll. that oneeeee was so fresh. not fishy at all, and the bite was fantastic. even though the scallop was wet and saucy, the seaweed still stayed crisp and broke perfectly with the rice. i was actually able to take clean bites without the whole thing falling apart or making me wrestle with it lol. overall, the tuna and scallops were definitely my favorites

This is a review on an older visit, but I really enjoyed this place and they accommodated for us…read morewith our baby and sat us at the lower bar. Fod we fast and delicious. We really like the brussel sprouts of all things. The seating is limited at the bar, otherwise you'd have to sit outside which is also pleasant since its by the culver city steps. All in all, a great handroll place with fair prices and good quality food.

It felt like one of those slow, cozy days where time doesn't rush you…read more I met up with my college friend after what felt like forever, and somehow we both landed on the same craving--ramen. No debate, no hesitation. Just ramen. I had tried this spot at another location before and remembered liking it, so it felt like a safe, comforting choice for a long overdue catch-up. We got there at that in-between hour... not quite lunch, not quite dinner. The kind of time where the restaurant feels like it's just exhaling. It was completely empty except for us, which honestly made everything feel a little more intimate--like the space was ours for the afternoon. We sat down and immediately slipped into conversation, picking up right where we left off after graduation. Life updates, little wins, quiet struggles... the kind of conversation that only comes easy with people who've known you for years. And in between all that, our mouths were busy. The ramen came out hot, comforting, and exactly what we needed. Rich broth, satisfying noodles--one of those meals where you don't even realize how hungry you were until you take the first bite. We kept pausing mid-sentence just to take another bite, then laughing because we couldn't decide what deserved more attention: the food or the conversation. Service was really attentive without being intrusive. They somehow knew when to check in and when to let us just exist in our little bubble. The music was soft, not overpowering, so we never had to raise our voices or repeat ourselves--something I appreciate more and more these days. We stayed longer than we probably planned, but it didn't feel rushed at all. Just two old friends, warm bowls of ramen, and a space that let us slow down for a bit. Definitely one of those simple meals that turns into a really good memory.

Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the tonkotsu shio ramen here. The broth was rich and…read moreflavorful, but the noodles were too thin. I personally prefer thicker noodles with a chewier texture. It came with one thin slice of meat and half an unmarinated egg. For $20, there are better, more satisfying bowls of ramen in the area. We came pretty late, and the staff were welcoming, so I did appreciate the good service here.

Happened to drive through the city. Stopped at UPS for a quick errand and decided to try this spot…read more I got the aloha bowl and the owner added some spicy sauce with spicy mayo and eel sauce. I think he added a couple other different sauces. The bowl was so delicious! A very pleasant surprise. Would definitely come back when in the area.

3.7 stars Another…read moreday at the office, which means another day trying a place new to me. I don't know a whole lot about most restaurants on this side of town, but I can confirm that the build your own poke bowl I got was pretty delicious! At $16.99, the bowl is a bit pricey for a normal-sized poke bowl. I got brown rice as the base and that was quite good. For the protein, I chose 2 scoops of salmon, 1 Hawaiian tuna, and spicy immitation crabmeat. For toppings, I got corn, edamame, spicy cucumbers and herbs. Also got the crispy onions and garlic topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo. It wasn't the best or worst bowl I've had, but it was very satisfying. Service was alright. Seating was extremely limited. Free parking on site is always a plus. And it's located on a very busy street/intersection. I might be back to order catering later this year since prices seem reasonable for the rolls.

At Gokigen Tori, a yakitori concept originating from Tokyo, the team has opened a Culver City…read morebranch 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.

I am always on the hunt for authentic Japanese food and the vibes found IN Japan. I don't like the…read morefusiony 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).