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    Kojima

    4.5 (43 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Order Kojima Takeout or Delivery

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    Grilled fish
    David L.

    Masterclass dining experience. Especially if you enjoy cooking. To be able to see a sensei like Kojima showcase his culinary skills from start to end over two plus hours while enjoying the fruits of his labor is a journey that foodies should at least experience once. The breath and scope of the curated dishes served featuring top shelf ingredients flown in from Japan is like taking a trip to some of the best restaurants in Tokyo. The whole experience including staff's introduction of the each dish is truly memorable and worth every dollar. Love that the team gives their undivided attention to up to 8 patrons at the counter at a time. Note to be on time as punctuality is paramount here.

    Kamoshibito Kuheiji Sauvage
    Kevin P.

    What an amazing Kaiseki meal at Kojima in Sawtelle. My buddy made reservations for the late seating at 7:45pm. Once arrived Chef and his staff was very welcoming and we were seated right away. We felt like we were in Japan because the Chef Kojima and his staff didn't speak much English but one waitress did. Chef Kojima is very humble and friendly. His cooking skills phenomenal. There's one rule that chef has at his restaurant, our phone must be on silent and there's a sign on the counter top,but can still use your phone to take photos. Kaiseki Meal 16 courses at a very reasonable price. Each course was well prepared perfectly. Here are some of the highlights dishes. Grilled Chicken Heart- Absolutely fantastic, the chicken was perfectly grilled and so tender. Shinshu A5 Wagyu- Just melts in your mouth goodness. Duck with Eggplant- Delicious. Fried Green Eye Fish with Cucumber Sauce- Excellent. Zuke Bluefin Tuna- Tuna was fantastic and fresh. As a bonus Chef use the tuna bloodline to make karrage with it and it was delicious. Grilled Nodoguro- One of the best Nodoguro in a long time. So fatty and moist. At the end of your meal Chef has a couple of freshly made onigiri to take home. Overall, what a great night. I highly recommend give Kojima a visit. I'm definitely will be returning. Thank you again Chef Hayato Kojima!

    Kegani dumpling, kombu dashi
    Tovan T.

    What a resplendent experience! Kojima-san and his team are so joyful and welcoming. We had a wonderful night celebrating a friend's birthday and we were treated to the best meal of 2026, thus far. The cooking and execution of the meal is extraordinary...we were already thinking of when to plan a return trip. This kaiseki meal is deeply rooted in Japanese tradition. There are simmered, fried, boiled, raw, steamed, grilled, and sautéed dishes. Different preparations of proteins and seasonal vegetables reminiscent of the excellent meals you can find in Japan. Except there's a high influence of vegetables sourced from the Santa Monica Farmer's Market. Chef also believes in changing the menu depending on what sparks inspiration so it's quite possible that each visit can be different. All of the cooking and assembling occurs in front of you at the counter. What a meal! A friend selected a wonderful sake for our meal and we got to try a beer made with koshikari rice. Kamameshi was accompanied with our choice of green, hojicha, or genmaicha tea. We are really lucky to have Kojima-san sharing his talents with us in LA.

    Brandon S.

    This is now THE spot for Japanese kaiseki in West LA, or as I would like to call it the "Hayato" of West LA (Chef's name is Hayato Kojima). I called on a random friday night and got a 2 person seating. They were nice enough to squeeze my gf and I in for a total of 9 person seating. It was $200 per person and the best $200 spent. Every single dish is delicious and the menu changes every week or other week. Some dishes like the grilled chicken hearts and kajiya beef are staples. This is currently the only restaurant to even serve kajiya beef outside of Japan as the chef just suddenly decided to move to the US some time early 2025. I loved every single dish and the highlight ones were the grilled bluefin tuna bits, the chicken hearts, duck breast, kajiya beef, and final rice dish. He even gave me some to take home afterwards. I've already planned my next visit and you should too. For $200, this is an absolute steal. I just hope I can visit a few more times before reservations become hard to get.

    Scallop and white asparagus
    K T.

    LOVE the dining experience!! Recently visited for a special occasion and everything served at Kojima was supe delicious. It was carefully created and the broth used for some dishes was so good. Customer service by the staff was excellent too. Highly recommend and would definitely come back!!

    Tessa W.

    First of all, check your ego at the door. What is it with the LA food scene where dinners think they are the be all and end all? At a core, we are all human beings, so let's give each other some grace and respect. Remember people, when you walk in the door of a restaurant, you are in chef's house. So have some respect. We were a little thrown off upon entering, because we were not familiar with the protocol for check in, but we rolled with it. Once settled into the restaurant, everything worked out well. The staff and chef were friendly and nice (all it takes is some courtesy and conversation). The food was AMAZING, portioned appropriately and well paced. I've been to some long dinners (3-4 hours) and some fast dinners (1-2 hours) at nice, as well as fancy places. Kojima has just the right balance. If you are looking for a "trendy" place or a "social hangout ", go to the latest salad bar or steakhouse. If you appreciate culinary culture and the art of subtle fine flavors, then Kojima is the place for you. For those who have bad reviews due to phone use and experiencing "racism ", go take some etiquette classes. Perhaps in some cultures it's acceptable to sit through your dinner on the phone, or be loud and obnoxious . But you are in chef's house, so respect the house rules.

    Uni on somen in cold dashi.
    Tony L.

    Ignore the negative reviews. Some people don't know a good thing if it hits them right in the face. Kojima is one of the hottest Japanese omakase restaurants in the city. Been there 6 to 7 times already. It's nothing short of wonderful, in terms of the food and prices. It's a poor man's Hayato!

    Squid stuffed with lotus root and topped with Uni!

    Lucky to have Kojima in the neighborhood. Thoughtfully prepared seasonal "omakase" experience. While a little less "structured" than Hayato, flavors and ingredient quality similar. Truly a great value for what it is. Seems some folks had a bad experience, but I can't imagine it merited that kind of attention (see thw clustered bad reviews). Intimate setting where if you're respectful and human, it will be reciprocated. If you bring wine, be sure to offer chef - he enjoys it!

    Josh T.

    Buckle up--"sandwich shop" no longer suffices. I stopped by today expecting something casual and low-key, but what I experienced was closer to a secret omakase hidden in plain sight. According to the warm and engaging server, Kevin, the restaurant recently reinvented itself (as of August 1). I went with their four-course menu, which turned into five--and every dish delivered. The sashimi was pristine, melt-in-your-mouth quality, and I had real wasabi freshly grated right at the chef's counter for the first time. Word is the chef earned a Michelin star back in Japan, and it shows. Everything was executed with care, precision, and restraint. The space itself is tucked away on the second floor of the mall--a bit sequestered, but well worth seeking out. The interior is a thoughtful blend of clean wood textures and modern minimalism, perfect for a date night.

    Eggplant and Uni
    Noriko I.

    We had a wonderful experience, it was like watching a show! Sake selection was great too.

    Worst experience in my life. So uncomfortable that me and my friend not finish the meal . I always thought those reviews about racism were far away from me but guess not. My roommate and I went out around 9 pm looking for something light to eat. We found this restaurant on Yelp because it was nearby and had a relatively high rating. We chose it casually with no special expectations. From the moment we walked in the experience felt uncomfortable. Right away we were asked whether we even knew what omakase was. This question felt condescending . As the courses were served the server repeatedly said things like "Please pay attention. I usually explain the course to my guests so please pay attention." I did not understand why this was said in such a stern and patronizing way. Whether or not someone is closely listening should not affect how they are treated as a guest. At one point I received a short voice message from a friend. My phone volume was set extremely low and it was not disruptive. A woman seated nearby noticed me holding my phone and asked if I needed to step outside to take the call. I was confused and asked her to clarify by saying "Is this bothering you?" She laughed and replied "Yes of course it's bothering me" and then turned to the man next to her and said "These parents never taught them." Out of respect I immediately stopped using my phone. However the atmosphere had already become very uncomfortable and hostile. The situation escalated when staff repeatedly asked me whether I needed a translator even though my roommate and I were speaking fluent English the entire time. This happened multiple times and felt humiliating. Later the server and the nearby white couple began lecturing us together. They said things like "In China maybe you can use your phone while eating but not here" and claimed that no restaurant in Los Angeles allows this behavior. This is simply not true. I was not actively using my phone and the volume was extremely low. They also claimed that in Japan omakase restaurants would never allow this. Regardless none of this justified the racial comments and the way we were spoken to. Because of how uncomfortable the situation became we could not continue eating. We had only been served three courses and decided to leave without escalating the conflict further. When we explained that the experience was horrible and said we did not want to pay the 15 percent service fee the server who claimed to be the manager insisted on charging it. He told us "It is only a horrible experience because of something you did. I do not think it was horrible at all." I responded by saying "Do not tell me how I feel." At that point the woman nearby laughed loudly. This experience felt intimidating humiliating and racially charged. If there is a strict no phone policy it should be clearly stated in advance and enforced respectfully. Instead it was enforced through public shaming racial stereotypes and group harassment. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

    Alyssa C.

    first time here. was recommended by a friend. A little bit hard to find but once you sit down, the friendly staff and friendly chef made it comfortable. Each dishes is prepared in front and can enjoy every bite

    was dining with the person who wrote the other negative review and want to share what I observed from my own seat at the table. From the start the atmosphere felt tense. The greeting did not feel welcoming and we were questioned in a way that implied we were unfamiliar with the dining style. Nothing in our behavior justified that assumption. As the meal progressed the staff's tone toward our table became increasingly sharp. Comments about needing to "pay attention" were delivered in a way that felt corrective rather than informative. It stood out because nearby tables were not spoken to this way. The situation deteriorated when a phone was briefly checked at a barely audible volume. Instead of a quiet or professional request a nearby diner reacted with hostility. The comments that followed were personal and crossed into racial territory. At that point the discomfort was visible to everyone at the table. What made this worse was that staff did not intervene. Instead the attention turned toward questioning whether my friends understood English and offering a translator despite clear fluent communication. Watching this unfold was deeply uncomfortable. Later multiple people including staff and other diners began making sweeping statements about culture and behavior. The conversation was no longer about restaurant policy. It became about singling out and shaming guests. We left early because the environment felt unsafe and hostile. When concerns were raised they were dismissed and reframed as the guests' fault rather than acknowledged. I am writing to confirm that this experience was not exaggerated. It was disturbing to witness and entirely avoidable with basic professionalism and respect.

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    One of the best omakase experiences I've had. Wonderful and attentive staff and the chef's dishes were delicious.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kojima

    How long does the 5:00 dinner last?

    2 hours

    Is there a menu with prices? If not, what is the price range?

    Hello! We offer $200 omakase that changes daily.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    (245 reviews)
    0.0 mi
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    Kid friendly
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    * The Japanese BBQ Chicken Ramen was amazing - the chicken was incredibly tender and had a…read morebeautiful char from the specially-prepared charcoal, leaving an enticing smokey aroma that lets you practically taste the dish before eating; the broth was great but becomes elevated once the chicken char starts getting absorbed by the soup, intensifying the flavor while gaining an almost cream-like texture * The Small Fried Chicken Bowl with Tartar Sauce was terrific - the chicken was deliciously crispy, the tartar sauce was savory and sweet, and was a nice accompaniment to the ramen * Overall, a superb spot in Sawtelle with friendly staff and a unique take on ramen that definitely warrants a visit while in the area

    Japanese BBQ Chicken ramen was the most interesting chicken ramen I've ever had ! My friend whose…read moretried majority of the restaurants nearby told me this CHICKEN ramen place is a must and I was doubting it at first because I always get pork ramen usually, but Holly CHICKEN , I GET the hype. It was so flavorful and rich even though usually chicken soups are more bland, I love that the bbq chicken ramen had the charcoal chicken which added a kick to the broth, the noodles were perfectly cooked. The rich chicken ramen was delicious too, Rich was the right name because I couldn't believe I was tasting a chicken ramen while I was eating it. I will definitely be back to try their rice bowls and more apps in future. Cute little spot, relatively loud and busy , I like how you can see flames from The kitchen area , chefs grilling up food ! Follow me for more foodie things, -Living with Luci

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    Midoh Sawtelle

    Midoh Sawtelle

    4.3
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    Stopped by Midoh Sawtelle for a dessert break and their soufflé cheesecake did not disappoint --…read morelight, jiggly, not overly sweet, with just the right amount of density to feel indulgent without being heavy. Paired it with their Japanese tea and it was the perfect combo, the tea cut through the richness and made it feel like a proper little ritual instead of just a snack. Cozy atmosphere, great for catching up with a friend or grabbing a quiet solo moment. Staff was attentive and quick to bring things out. Portion was generous for the price too. Already thinking about going back to try the three-layer cream puff next. Highly recommend if you're in the Sawtelle area and want a dessert spot that actually delivers on flavor and presentation, not just Instagram appeal.

    Going into Midoh this recent Thursday was a nice experience, the lighting was good, there was…read moreplenty of seating and I was able to get sat right away. My server was an absolute gem. Food: Omurice w/ Demi-Glace ($16): The egg was really fluffy and the rice was absolutely packed with flavor. The pieces of chicken inside were juicy and it all came together quite will with the sauce. The dish also came with miso soup and a salad, both of which were delicious. Fried Mackerel ($7.50): The breading was quite nice and crispy, but not too much. The fish was really good and the tarter sauce helps enhance it. Lemonade ($3.50): Was a standard lemonade, strongly thinking it's Minute Maid Lemonade, but it came with free refills which isn't bad. P.S. There was a lovely couple having their first date next to me, here's to hoping things turn out well for them

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    Chinchikurin - Sawtelle

    Chinchikurin - Sawtelle

    4.2
    (946 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    If you're looking for a delicious okonomiyaki, this is a great spot to get your fix! Tons of…read moredifferent okonomiyaki options, as well as omurice, takoyaki, and other classic Japanese options. The spicy GOAM with crispy noodles as the base was great, definitely not as much of a spicy flavor as I thought, as it seemed the main source was pickled jalapeños tucked into the layers. I personally am not a fan of a concentrated spicy jalapeño bite so I ended up not getting much spice. However the rest of the pancake was very good! The loaded Kaisen was indeed piled high with seafood, but I thought the flavor was a bit light in the pancake itself. The seafood did seem fresh and tender though! The hamburg omurice was absolutely delicious. Something about their demiglace sauce here was special, I'm usually not a fan but this time I ate every drop! The steak was also tender and juicy, a perfect combination with the dish as a whole. At a late lunch time (2PMish) it wasn't too busy, and service was pretty quick! The interior is casual and you can even see the chefs working. I'd definitely come back to Chinchikurin, I can't wait to try more!

    I rarely give a one star but I have also never had a place get me so livid…read more We came here for the omurice special they had going on. First, let me talk about their good. The appetizers we got were delicious. The cabbage and the octopus balls were great. We also enjoyed the drinks we ordered. Also, while I'm about to criticize the service, our servers never spoke rudely to us. So, the bad. -Sat us down, took our drink order and then forgot about us. When we asked about our drinks. Our waitress came back to ask us 3 different times for our drink order and still got the drinks wrong. -We were mainly ignored and were rarely checked on. I thought it may have been because we were in the patio. But no, the family across from our table seemed to have no problem getting service, but who knows the reason. -Omurice dishes were mediocre. We got the mentaiko, the curry and the hamburg dishes. Mentaiko was probably the best taste wise. The curry and hamburg were watery and bland. Had to hunt a waiter down to get us some sort of hot sauce. They would have benefited from some pickled veggies or some other different textures. After a while the dishes started to feel monotonous and gross. -As I had mentioned before, we were sitting in the front patio. By the end of our meal, I got up to go to the restroom. As I am walking down, one of the workers asked if I was a customer there. Stunned, I blurted "Yes" and continued on. My dear reader, that was my final straw. We had been sitting outside for what felt like HOURS. Got bad service, had mediocre main dishes, watching two servers running around like chickens with their heads chopped off. Only to come inside and get rudely questioned if I had been eating there by someone I am assuming was inside the entire time. If this is an issue the restaurant has, WHY ARE YOU NOT CHECKING WHO IS DINING AT YOUR ESTABLISHMENT PERIODICALLY. WHY ARE YOU INTERROGATING PAYING CUSTOMERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO PEE. WHY ARE YOUR WORKERS NOT DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE LOOK AT YOUR CUSTOMERS. I have never been asked if I was eating somewhere because I never HAD TO. For a store front that small, how are you not aware of your customers?! I am still getting heated just thinking back on it. Honestly, these issues separately I could have dealt with them, but it all happened in ONE meal. it was just a bad experience. I will not come back here. Do better.

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    Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori Izakaya - West L.A.

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    4.1
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    So the first time I ever had REAL ramen was in 2009 when my then bf now husband dragged my sleepy…read moreself out of the car to the location in Little Tokyo. LIFE CHANGING, of course. So now when we travel down south or fly out of or back from LAX, we try to hit up any Shin- Sen we can find. We've been to this one on Sawtelle a few times and have dragged the Caucasian fam along before LAX flights, their lives too were changed. As ever, the vibe is hometown feel and the energy is always cheerfully chill :-) Stopped here again a few night ago and it never ceases to make me feel like I'm having a religious experience every time. Never gets old. The ramen is perfection as usual, the service is amazing, warm, friendly and almost makes you feel like family. We usually get too full on our Ramen but the couple next to us looked like they are Olympian Gold Medal orders. Next time we get down here we're gonna have to take several hours and bring our stretchy pants in order to have all the things, cuz I highly doubt they're anything less than mouthwateringly delicious. Until we see you again, we'll be drooling in our dreams!

    Shin sen gumi is my go to ramen spot in socal, and I love that there are so many locations for me…read moreto get my ramen fix. I tried the shoyu ramen for the first time and it was super unique in my opinion. It doesn't taste like the typical shoyu ramen, but rather like indonesian noodle soup. Maybe because it had a lot of fried shallots and the soy sauce taste wasn't super strong like other shoyu ramen. We also got the usual tonkotsu ramen and it was good as expected. I do think the noodles here are a bit softer compared to the other locations though

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    Kojima - japanese - Updated July 2026

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