Stuck in time traditional Japanese shabu shabu. We were sat in a private, wooden booth; that was different as we're used to open plan dining rooms. We also aren't used to the water cooking pot vs the stock pots of other places we've visited. But it's the traditional Japanese method. No wait on a Friday night. We ordered the $45 beef and pork AYCE and it was great for us. The kids were 1/2 priced which isn't started on the menu. As well as the meat we got plates of napa cabbage, shitake and enoki mushrooms, noodles and bowls of rice and miso soup. Plenty of food. We ordered the seafood skewers, but will prob stick to the karaage chicken that was recommended to us for next time. There's a warning about peanut in the menu, but it sends they don't use peanut, only cashews in the sesame sauce. Service was great. Our guy kept checking in on us and bringing extra meat and water. The hotpot cooktop turned off a few times so our cooking was slow. We just turned it back on. This is in the 3rd floor is Keller Court; access is on 2nd Street opposite the 7-11. We parked for free on the street, but there's validation. At night,the area can look a bit edgy with the homeless folks nearby. Nothing new for anyone who's been to DTLA. read more

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One of several stops in my month of shabu-shabu (non-AYCE) hyper-fixation. This one was ok. I ordered non-AYCE/a la carte option- "regular meat" option for $32, for a meal that left me satisfied. It came with miso soup and dessert. It was a Thursday night around 8pm, 2 hours to closing and pretty slow in there. I was seated in a booth in the back which offered a lot of privacy but was perfect for my mood that night, where I just wanted to chill, read, etc. No complaints on service even though it was measured (which was expected given only one man on the floor it seemed). Honestly, kind of felt like I was dining in someone's house. Only call-out is the vegetable platter didn't appear that fresh - I eyed the beginnings of some browning on the cabbage. Nothing inedible, more just took the experience a notch. Parking is fairly easy in the complex's (Weller Court) dedicated (but cramped) lot, but they're kind of stingy with the validation- I was only provided an hour and 15min, which was rounded up only because I was able to stack via a post-dinner stop at Marukai downstairs. read more

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Owners are amazing, food is amazing, and experience is worth a lifetime. Naturally food is about what it leaves you feeling afterwards. I'll say I was full, extremely satisfied, and I felt even moved to be a better person. If you don't enjoy this place it's because you leave a bad taste in everyone's mouths and no one likes you. End review... read more

I rarely leave reviews, but my experience at this restaurant was honestly terrible. After we sat down, an older female staff member brought us the menu and placed a pot on the induction cooktop before we had even ordered. The liquid inside looked almost like plain, clear water rather than broth. At first, I assumed they would bring the actual broth later or add some kind of seasoning or sauce after we ordered. But the staff member explained that the liquid already in the pot was the broth. My husband was confused and asked again, and she told us that it contained various ingredients and was supposed to be healthy. Looking more closely, the water was slightly cloudy with what looked like a few tiny pieces of kelp floating in it. But it tasted so bland that it barely tasted like broth at all. The food itself, including the meat and vegetables, was also honestly very disappointing. Still, we weren't going to complain just because we didn't like the taste. Everyone has different preferences, and since all the food had already been served, we decided to just eat and leave. The real problem was that we couldn't even properly cook the food. The liquid in the pot would not boil. We waited almost 10 minutes, but all we saw were a few tiny bubbles forming at the bottom. The temperature simply wouldn't get any higher. We put some vegetables in, and of course, they weren't cooking properly either. So we called the staff member over and told her that we thought something might be wrong with the induction cooktop. She then took a thin slice of shabu-shabu meat and put it into the barely hot liquid herself. The meat still did not cook properly. Yet she pointed at it and insisted that it was cooking. What happened next was even more frustrating. She told us that shabu-shabu is supposed to be eaten at a low temperature like this and that this is how people eat it in Japan. She then asked us whether we even knew what shabu-shabu was or had ever eaten it before. We are not new to shabu-shabu. We know perfectly well that you cook thinly sliced meat and vegetables in hot broth. Watching meat and vegetables remain undercooked right in front of us while being told that this was somehow the proper way to eat shabu-shabu was ridiculous. All we wanted was a very simple response: "It looks like there may be a problem with the pot or the induction cooktop. Sorry about that." Then replace the pot or fix the cooktop. That would have been the end of it. Instead, she repeatedly insisted that there was nothing wrong with the equipment and kept telling us that this was a "special pot." Eventually, I became frustrated and asked how we were supposed to eat food that wouldn't even cook. My husband also firmly told her that we eat shabu-shabu regularly and know exactly how it is supposed to be prepared. Only then did she finally bring us a different stainless steel pot. There was never an apology. The food itself was genuinely bad, but if that had been the only issue, I probably wouldn't have bothered writing this review. Taste is subjective. What made this experience so unpleasant was the way the situation was handled. The food clearly wasn't cooking properly, yet instead of acknowledging the problem, she acted as though we were complaining simply because we didn't understand what shabu-shabu was. This could have been resolved immediately by checking the equipment, apologizing, and replacing the pot. In the end, the staff member's response left a much worse impression than the bad food itself. read more

Kushi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been coming here for so many years, and the hospitality is always a 10/10 . It used to be so packed before Covid so I was sad that we walked into a nearly empty restaurant on a Friday night. We ordered the Ayce Kobe-Style beef for $69/person. With that, you also get a shared plate of vegetable, miso soup, ice cream and a bowl of rice. The miso soup was a bit too salty for my taste, but the beef wasn't bad. The restaurant may look outdated but I think this is just how some decor for restaurants are in Japan. Definitely will come back soon! read more

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So happy to have found a good shabu spot in the area! Was able to book a reservation last minute on a Friday night, and overall the restaurant is very cozy but has lots of seating. It is ran by a lovely couple who were very nice and accommodating. We got the Beef Full Plate (not AYCE) and it was delicious and plenty of food! Meat and vegetable quality was good, it also caned with miso soup and ice cream at the end! The broth is dashi I believe, which I admit threw me off at first because I'm used to choosing a specific flavor- BUT it was really delicious especially once you let the meat cook in it! Parking was a little confusing but it is located on 2nd and San Pedro, there's a structure and they validate as well. read more

Kushi Shabu is one of the last authentic Shabu Shabu gems in Little Tokyo that is still standing after the closure of Shabu Shabu house. In a world with flavored hot pot bases, having Shabu Shabu with just the konbu is sadly a rarity these days which also makes it a prized possession. Kushi Shabu does just that. My spouse and I love it so much that we're regulars there. I feel the need to write about it as the couple who manages it is really sweet & hospitable. The ambiance has a cozy Japanese feeling to it & you know it's legit when you hear jazz playing in the background. True, the prices have had to adjust with the times but helping to keep this place open is worth it. Our Shabu Shabu never disappoints and we love sharing it with close friends and family whenever we have the opportunity. They also have some izakaya items and the fried chicken is really good! I hope that you come and check it out. Bring some friends and enjoy what Shabu Shabu is really supposed to taste like in an atmosphere that will give you remnants of Japan. read more

Enjoyed my dinner here! Love that they had non-ayce options. The half portions was actually a perfect amount of food without feeling stuffed but just right. The broth is how they do it traditionally with a simple water/dashi and kombu broth. Shabu ingredients included are the typical traditional Japanese style veggies including tongho, Napa, carrot, tofu. Everything was simple and clean tasting. The broth became nice and flavorful although still light and was nice to drink at the end of our meal. read more

Kushi Shabu - Half portion of pork and half portion of the regular beef - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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this place is very homey and cozy place to eat shabu shabu! We did the ayce option with Kobe beef which came out to 63 pp but there is also a la carte option which is nice, and different tiers for ayce option , regular or Kobe beef option. It seems like it's run by a mom and pop style which is why service is not necessarily the quickest by any means, but the food is good and a lot of booth seating available. At the end there's different flavor options available for ice cream and I opted for the matcha flavor. Super creamy and yummy treat at the end of the meal and it was not too sweet! The restaurant is located on the second floor in the plaza above the marukai market read more

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Amazing food and service. Honestly every bite I was pleasantly surprised. Also top notch service, very attentive and didn't make me feel like they were harassing or staring at me either. Would come again and recommend to anyone who wants shabu. I also am not a huge shabu person but really loved this place. Ambiance was also very chill. read more

I come here at least twice a week. It's like my stable restaurant. I think this place been here more than a decade, very old style Japanese. It used to be packed all the time before Covid era. First timer may find this place dark and old, but I like it as it's very traditional Japanese style. I usually order marble full plate plus add'l marble plate. To some, price may be a little expensive, but worth it. Owner is very sweet. I am hoping that this place will continue to stay in business as traditional japanese shabu is hard to find these days read more

All you can eat Japanese shabu for $45 per person! They serve amazing pork and beef cuts. This is not a buffet. They serve you in a private and intimate setting. My set came with a big plate of beef and pork. Both were so good. I loved the thinly sliced beef and pork dip on soy and sesame sauces. read more

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One of the best Shabu Shabu in LT, the meats are great and with great peanut sauce, their ayce is best for the price. The service was great and they also offer Japanese skewers, which is another great choice on the side! Parking is validated on the bottom! read more

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Kushi katsu resembles the quality I had in Osaka. The shabu meat quality is great as well. This place really deserves more hype. read more

Kushi Shabu - Kushi katsu 6 pc platter. Fantastic quality. Goes well with biru. - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We had a large group and had the all you can eat Shabu. The food was okay, but came out really slow. Some in our party ordered off the menu and their food took almost an hour to arrive. The servers were nice and pleasant, but no idea why the food took so long to come out. The price was a little steep for the 2 meat all you can eat considering it was just the meats, tofu, noodles, and napa cabbage. read more

The quality of the food and services is amazing. After my first bite, I knew instantly that the quality of the ingredients is top tier.

We were looking for a restaurant with no wait time on a Saturday night, and this was one of our options where we were like "why not"! So we tried this place for fun. Walking in, you can immediately notice that this restaurant seemed like it has been here for quite a long time. Everything does seem a bit old, and even using the restroom, it smelled like incense lol. So we were immediately seated and we decided on this $45 AYCE beef & pork. So this price is actually quite high for AYCE and let me tell you, it is not worth it. The quality of the meat cuts were really low and thinly sliced. I would say the beef cuts were a lot more better than the pork, because the pork was really fatty. Although overall, the quality was very mid. I would say this is like $20 quality price AYCE... maybe even lower. The veggies they offered were also really basic, just cabbage, some mushrooms, some carrots, and this noodle. The sauces here were okay, the peanut sauce was a bit disappointing because it was pretty liquidy and I liked the texture to be thicker. The service here was pretty okay, the checked up on us a good amount of times. Just the food quality here isn't worth it. You can definitely find better quality meat cuts at other shabu places at lower prices. read more

Kushi Shabu - AYCE hot pot - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Overpriced, terrible quality meat. The meat was clearly frozen. Literally boiling meat in clear water, no broth, no flavor, and cost $88 per person for that. You could literally anywhere else for the same price for all you can eat Wagyu. AVOID AT ALL COST!!! read more

I don't understand why this place has low stars -- it's been around forever and is a true shabu institution. The food is excellent, the vibes are cozy, the value is incredible (especially for the AYCE), and every time I come here, I leave full, happy, and satisfied. What scares me is how empty it's been post-COVID. This place survived and I can tell they're running lean. The staff are constantly moving, doing their best to keep up with what looks like a skeleton crew. My respect and gratitude go out to them. I try to come at least once a month to show my support, because I genuinely don't know what I'd do if this place closed. There's a kind of comfort and familiarity here that newer spots just can't replicate. It's not trendy, and it doesn't need to be. It's the kind of place you bring your friends to when you want to share something special and real. If you've ever enjoyed this place in the past, go back and support. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a shot: you won't regret it! read more

So good! Been eating at this place for years and it's very authentic! The service is so great through the years and the space is very viby.

Kushi Shabu deserves a higher rating here! Located in Weller Court in Little Tokyo, this longstanding restaurant offers shabu/hot pot and kushiage -- delicious, deep-fried skewers. While many come for the shabu, the real standout is the kushiage, especially the kushiage omakase. With this option, the chef surprises you with an array of skewers, serving them until you say you're full. The skewers are perfectly breaded and fried, featuring a variety of options like mushrooms, seafood, meats, and more. The owner and staff are incredibly friendly, and it's clear the regulars love this spot. Prices are reasonable too. If you haven't been, give Kushi Shabu a try -- definitely order the kushiage here! read more

This place has great hospitality and service! The shabu meat quality is actually very good and the kushi katsu was great too! Paired well with the beer. They have a great selection of Japanese imported beers that are hard to find anywhere else. Overall, this was a great experience and I am definitely coming back! read more

Must be the protesting activities and approaching 8 pm curfew that may have caused the slackness in service. We are in town for business and have a little one with us. Every food business in the area was closed up and most left for the night except for this restaurant. We were seated quickly. The order part was swift. During the meal, it was difficult to request for extra water, napkins, or utensils because the waitress kept passing us without stopping to check on us. She did bring cute plates and utensils for our daughter to use but this was after the fact that I asked the owner to bring an extra miso and rice. The meat was exceptional in taste but the limited choice of vegetables and variety of protein for $63 per person was quite on the pricey side. The karage was not seasoned well and tasted like it was cooked in old oil. The miso came hot but bland. The rice used on the California roll was mushy. They must've added too much water during the rice cooking process and it turned out paste-like. One positive is 2 of the 3 spicy Thai chili sauce. I stirred the ground red chili sauce and noticed a whitish fuzz on the surface. It smelled fermented but from my experience with fermented Thai chilies, this particular sauce went bad because of inappropriate storage. Another positive is that they didn't charge us for our daughter. The owner was Japanese and very sweet but I believe he needs better waiter/waitress and cook. read more

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Went here specially for the Kushikatsu on a Saturday around 5. No one was around so it was just my party. It has a very authentic vibe with jazz music playing. The kushikatsu is good and the staff are nice. It feels like a restaurant you would go to if you were in Japan. Also very interestingly there is a payphone where the bathrooms are. You don't see those aren't anymore. Please never get rid of it. read more

I have been there long time ago but recently I went back. Place was empty. Experience was very disappointed and felt cheated. I tried all you can eat both regular meat and Kobe beef. Every time I asked more plate, a waitress (Chinese old lady) gave me nasty look. I had 5 plates. Regular meat wasn't good so I asked for more Kobe Beef. First plate was good but this Chinese lady said that she gave me regular meat instead of Kobe beef because they didn't have any more left. Unbelievable. I would never go back. read more

They accommodated 54 of our discord group. We were all satisfied, fast service, and amazing staff. Thank you again for hosting our anniversary dinner. Food was amazing and top notch. Ambiance was like having a party at home. Very comfortable and clean. read more

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I have been coming here since I was in college, and I always love this place. Outdoor dining is available. It just that the pot might get cold very easily due to the cold weather. Social distance is enforced. A bottle of hand sanitizer was provided on each table. They offer all you can eat shabu shabu for $37 dollar per person. They have the option of beef and pork. Each of these options comes with a vegetable plate as well. My favorite is the dessert. They have the option of a red bean dessert and ice-cream. I personally like the red bean dessert a lot! only 2 servers were working when I was there, but services were great. Both servers were very attentive and friendly. I will come back and support small business for sure. read more

Great service, family owned. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. Try the kushikatsu, its amazing, reminded me of Osaka. Restaurant is vibrant and the shabu shabu is great as one would expect. Came in here randomly with some friends and keep coming back, highly recommend. read more

I don't know how this place ended up with four stars. I really wanted to write a good review because the workers are nice, but I had to be honest. I've had numerous Japanese shabu and by far, this place was the worst. The broth was pure water with one piece of dashima (seaweed). The ponzu sauce was too acidic and the sesame sauce was just okay. If you are really into bland food for $100+ for two people, I'd say give it a try. But, if you want to feel like you're actually eating with packed with flavors, please go elsewhere. I understand that Japanese shabu is supposed to be clean, but this place is pure boiled water with meat and veggies. Sad to say, but I would not come back here.... read more

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This was absolutely the worst experience I've had at a restaurant. I had a group of 7. It was around 6:30 and the place is empty (That should've been our first red flag) There's only a host and one worker that I saw. So we're understanding of our big group. We get seated in this little room and he starts putting on these pots before we order anything. We didn't know what we were planning to get yet so we were confused on what he was doing. We place our drink and food orders and everything's fine so far but this is what happened that made our experience VERY unpleasant Two people in the group order chicken cutlets and two ordered the meat for the hot pot. He bring out the meat, rice and scallions and leaves. For ten to 15 minutes we assume that it's just a soup water and meat that he's giving us because he didn't bring anything else. He finally brings out the veggies and leaves again. Now they have their food and we sit for thirty minutes watching them eat. He had not asked for any refills (Btw we never got refills. He never checked on us) Thirty minutes goes by and he brings a tiny salad for one on the chicken bowls and my side dish. 50 minutes have gone by and he has not checked on us and has not brought our three meals at all. Finally he brings me my one side dish (sushi) and now an hour has gone by and my friends still haven't gotten their food. (I had to leave the table to ask for things multiple times and it's a tight room where everyone has to get up for you to leave the space. Btw he's on the other side on the room but can see us from where he is.) I had to mention it's been an hour and they haven't gotten their food. He talks to the chef and the chef starts frantically rushing to prepare it (HE HADN'T START MAKING THEIR FOOD) btw we only ordered a hot pot meal, fried chicken, sushi and salmon balls. Things that are pretty quick to prepare so I'm not sure why he forgot the chicken dishes or why it took so long to get to us. Now we're all starting to get frustrated with the lack of service as he has not checked on us, checked if we needed water, check that we got all our food and again had to flag him down for the check. (The restaurant is still empty and we're the only customers in the last hour and a half.) When he brings the check we didn't realize that they had a 20% charge for tables above 6 people. So now we're paying over 40$ in a tip fee that he clearly did not deserve. The soup did not have anything besides a spice packet and water. Utensils were not offered until asked. I hate to sound so uptight but we were the only people there and I get a large group and low staffing but there was no excuse to not get our food in increments of 10-30 minutes. I definitely would never recommend it, the guy was nice but I'm surprised they have a bunch of good reviews for such bad service. read more

Kushi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Over priced. AYCE is $45. Individual shabu full plate $29 was so small, we had to order extra dishes. After spending $85+ for two, we left still hungry. Save your money; you'll get more elsewhere. read more

Absolutely love this place came once about 6 years ago and been loyal customers ever since the staff is so nice and they always make sure everyone gets the best experience ever. Always chill vibes. This spot has become my sister's and sacred spot. Definitely come with an appetite and have the all you can eat beef and pork Shabu Shabu. Their skiers are amazing as well highly recommend!!! read more

Kushi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kushi Shabu is one of my all time favorite Shabu Shabu spots in the US. My mother is Japanese and my Grandma lived in Japan for most of my life, so growing up Shabu Shabu was the meal that brought my family together. After trying a number of Shabu Shabu spots in K-Town, I was honestly disappointed at the Shabu scene here in Los Angeles. Poor quality meats, and sauces that are meant to mask the taste of bad veggies were so common. Kushi changed everything! At Kushi Shabu, I feel like family. The owner always greets me with a smile, and remembers my favorite appetizer (natto tofu, which is a MUST-TRY here - prepare yourself for slimey, natto goodness). We typically sit in one of the Shabu rooms, which have a homey atmosphere that make me feel like I'm in Japan. For mains, we usually get the Kobe Style Beef, which also includes all other cuts of beef and pork. Here at Kushi, the meat quality is what stands out, along with endless, fresh-cut veggies and the ability to order a plate of your favorites (I recommend a mushroom & chrysanthemum platter - or shiitake, shimeji, and shungiku in Japanese). They have all of the standard, authentic Shabu Shabu dipping sauces, which complement the flavor of the meats and veggies! Kushi also has wonderful sake and beer options, and is my go-to spot for friends who have never had Shabu, family, and business clients. Kushi Shabu is not just one of my favorite homestyle Shabu Shabu spots, but one of my favorite restaurants in LA altogether. Must try! read more

I had a wonderful experience here today! I had never even heard of this style of food until I randomly decided to walk in. Since I was completely clueless, my waitress excitedly taught me the menu, and showed me how to properly cook it. All the staff were incredibly nice and helpful. If you find yourself in little Tokyo, this is the place to eat! The restaurant has a very traditional Japanese vibe to it! My only complaint is that the food can be expensive but it is definitely worth the price! 今日はここで素晴らしい体験をしました！この料理のスタイルについては、偶然入るまで全く聞いたことがありませんでした。全くの無知だったので、ウェイトレスがメニューを楽しそうに教えてくれて、正しい調理方法も教えてくれました。スタッフ全員がとても親切で助けてくれました。リトル東京に行くことがあれば、ここで食べるべきです！レストランはとても伝統的な日本の雰囲気があります！唯一の不満は、食べ物が高価なことですが、値段に見合った価値は確かにあります！ read more

I wanted some fancy shabu shabu and saw this place on Yelp. The reviews and pics looked good so I made reservations for dinner on a Friday. I was treating my friend out so I wanted to make sure the food was good. When we arrived, the place was pretty empty because they had just opened. The service was ok but the food was such a disappointment. They didn't have the regular beef AYCE, so we had to get the Kobe style beef AYCE which is $60/pp. It is WAYYYYYY overpriced for the quality of the meat. Their Kobe style meat sort of tasted like the meats they have at a genghis khan stir fry place at a food court in a mall. The dipping sauces weren't that good either, had a funky smell. It would have been better to go to a shabu shabu place in Ktown like Shabuya or Bon Shabu. It's a lot cheaper and the meat quality is so much better. Plus, you get to choose broths and different types of meat. Paid about $180 for 2 ayce shabu shabu, not worth it. Not coming back. Parking - they validate for 2 hours in the structure read more

I am honestly surprised with the meat quality at this restaurant! Their meat quality is definitely better than other shabu places. This place is a traditional Japanese Shabu so you should not expect a flavored both, they only give you water with kelp. I order the Kobe Style Marbled Beef Shabu Shabu Full Plate and it comes with veggies, rice, miso soup, ice cream, sesame dressing and ponzu. They also have an AYCE option and I think the price is very reasonable for such good quality meat. read more

Kushi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This was our shabu shabu spot for years before moving away. Haven't been here for the longest time and I'm happy to see it's still here post 2020-2021 pandemic shut down. My spouse was craving some shabu shabu so we decided to come down to Little Tokyo. We got the all you can eat beef & pork shabu shabu and 2 cokes. We paid $106.22 plus tip came out to be ~$130. You can judge the meat quality for yourself from the picture. It hit the spot for us, but we loved the pork more. Not sure what's up with all these 1 star reviews. The staff was great. The food was good. They kept bringing meat out when they saw we finished one plate of meat. When we asked for something they brought it out pretty quickly. A lot of people are having difficult times so I can understand the staff not being as cheery as I remembered. We'll be back again. read more

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Best all you can eat shabu in LA! My 2 year old asks to come here almost every day haha Super nice servers who always go above and beyond to take care of us. I love their private rooms! Highly recommended! read more

I've been coming here for a very long time and Kushi hits the spot every time! The AYCE beef is what I go for and it comes with napa cabbage, soft tofu, mushrooms, edible chrysanthemum (shungiku - my favorite!!), and carrots. The service is great every time! I recommend this place~ read more

Kushi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I see that this restaurant is solely know as an AYCE hot pot place nowadays so I'm writing this review for the kushi katsu that they still serve. Kushi katsu is basically yakitori, but everything on the skewer is fried instead. Used to be many restaurants that did kushi katsu but this is one of the few left around this area. I've only been here a few times but my parents have been going here for many years. Went here the other day and it was still good as hell. I typically just get the course and it's a bit pricey but it ends up being about the same cost as the AYCE. If you're not that hungry, you can simply order per skewer. They have a whole arrangement of condiments for your skewer and each skewer is fried to perfection. Crispy but juicy inside and some of the skewers are pretty intricate, like tomato and cheese or chicken wrapped with shiso. read more