PROS: - Probably the best omakase I've had in Los Angeles - Professional and attentive staff - Flavors of each dish was amazing! Unique combos! I never would have thought I would have liked strawberry on unagi - Presentation of food was beautiful CONS: - Parking in Ktown is always difficult fot street parking - Pricey, but the quality is worth it read more

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$30 valet.... $30 valet and the valet asks you if you want to park it yourself. Apparently previous valet price was $12 until recently. There's a time and place to park it yourself, and it is not in this busy intersection of koreatown. The pacing for the regular tasting set was slow. Also, they tell you that everyone has to do a tasting set if one person in your party wants a tasting set. If they want us all to order the same thing, then I expect efficiency and accuracy. Despite this, the server could not remember who ordered what from the set menu and even water. Ex. I ordered the crab cigar while my friend got the galbi taco. Crab cigar was placed in front of my friend instead of me. If one to two servers cannot handle a half-filled bar, maybe you need more staff or a notebook. If the food blew me away, I don't think I'd mind the sub-par service. Overall, it felt half-assed for $50-$70 sets. read more

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-Parking: Free street parking is available after 6 PM, but since it's in Koreatown, it's extremely difficult to find a spot. There is valet, but pricing was inconsistent--during my reservation I was told $10, but upon arrival it was $30. The valet attendant informed me that they changed the pricing TODAY. Pro tip: park at Madang Plaza, make a small purchase at Daiso or use the photo booth to get 2-hour validation. It's about a 5-minute walk to Norikaya. -Service: The service was great--staff were attentive, frequently checked in on us, and the restaurant itself is very clean and well-maintained. -Timing of Food: I expected the tasting menu to be paced course-by-course, but several dishes came out at the same time, followed by noticeable gaps between others. The flow felt a bit inconsistent. -Atmosphere: The space is intimate with limited seating. Since it's a newer restaurant, the interior feels modern and sleek. -Food (Regular Tasting Menu - $49): Our party of six was required to all choose the same tasting menu (either regular or premium), so we went with the regular. Ikura Tart (6/10): Salty ikura paired with a sweet tart shell--an interesting balance, but not amazing. Yellowtail Serrano (6/10): A standard appetizer, nothing particularly memorable. Crispy Rice (7/10): Solid texture, but the kimchi flavor wasn't very noticeable. Blue Crab Cigar (6/10): Fresh crab with a mild avocado sauce--interesting, but not standout. Salmon (7/10): Unique--slightly sweet, almost like candied salmon, with a chewy texture and crispy shallots for contrast. Seared Scallop (6/10): Fresh, but overall pretty bland and underwhelming. Yuzu Granita (9/10): A highlight--refreshing, tart, and a great palate cleanser. Overall: Despite the small portions, the meal ended up being filling. Our total came out to about $65 per person including tax and tip. It's a decent experience and worth trying at least once, but not somewhere I'd rush back to. read more

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I came to Norikaya on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised we were seated pretty quickly without a reservation (we got there around 8:30pm, so just past the dinner rush). The space itself is very elegant and minimalist - perfect for a more intimate dinner. We shared a bottle of sake, and the server was great about walking us through the menu and options, and we went with the $49 set tasting menu, which felt like a great value for the variety and quality: - Ikura Tart (8.5/10) - miso potato topped with soy-marinated ikura. Super balanced and a great start. - Yellowtail Serrano (8/10) - fresh yellowtail with yuzu soy truffle sauce and a little heat from the peppers. - Crispy Rice (8/10) - spicy kimchi tuna on crispy rice, solid and satisfying. Couldn't really taste the kimchi though. - LA Galbi Taco (8.5/10) or Blue Crab Cigar (7.5/10) - we tried both. The galbi taco stood out more with its sweet soy glaze and crispy gyoza shell. - Handrolls (The two I chose): * Seared Scallop (9/10) - probably my favorite. Hokkaido scallop with pickled radish and crispy sweet potato threads. Great texture and flavor. * Unagi Strawberry (8.5/10) - this one I saw on IG. Definitely unique and fun to try. It works surprisingly well, though not something I'd order every time. - Dessert (7/10) - yuzu granita with coconut foam, shiso jelly, and green grapes. Light and refreshing, but not super memorable. Overall, everything was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. I'd definitely come back and would love to try the other set menu next time. If you're looking for a slightly elevated but still approachable sushi experience, this is a great spot. read more

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Cute and intimate date night spot in ktla. There was so much hype about this place, I had to try it. Options for preset (regular or premium) or à la carte. Figure if we're there might as well go the extra length. Ordered the premium tasting menu and added a few additional temaki to taste test. Premium tasting menu: 1. Cavier tart: Caviar D'Esturgeon on a bed of miso potatoe mash. With a 24k Gold flake to give it a Royal flavor. 2. Nori scallop: fresh Hokkaido scallops with plum tosazu sauce and tomato jelly. Topped with truffle oil. Good. 3 LA Galbi Taco: Mini crisp gyoza shell tacos (2) filled with ground pork meat that's very lightly flavored with k-bbq. Honestly wasn't good. 4. Unagi strawberry temaki: typical unagi but topped with fresh strawberry slices which gave it a sweet and tangy flavor. My favorite . 5. Ssam lobster cigar: baked lobster bites flavored with creamy Ssam aioli. Tasted mayo based which was ok but couldn't appreciate the lobster at all. 6. Pop Rockin temaki: blue crab and spicy tuna based with avocado puree and topped with "POP ROCKS" that crack inside your mouth. Loved the concept in its artistry and creativity but the flavor is average. 7. Truffle scallop crispy cigar: Hokkaido scallop with truffle aioli wrapped in a crisp cigar shaped shell. Like a taquito! 8. Yuzu Granita: icy lemon dessert with coconut foam, and topped with sweet jelly and green grapes. Very refreshing and tasty. Highly recommend Cool vibe but food was mediocre at best. read more

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Norikaya is easily the best $49 tasting menu in the city, offering fine-dining quality through creative handrolls like the buttery seared scallop and the surprisingly perfect unagi strawberry. Every dish is a hit--from the massive crispy rice and truffle-glazed yellowtail to the uniquely crunchy blue crab "cigar." Don't miss the furikake fries with the addictive bulgogi ketchup; the staff even treated us to an extra round while we waited for our handrolls! The service was so great, they're friendly and attentive! There's a free parking lot at the nearby California Market which is a quick walk from the restaurant! read more

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Norikaya, a Japanese izakaya concept with unique temaki (hand roll) offerings, piqued my interest when I first heard about it last year. The restaurant space is cozy and intimate, featuring only a U-shaped bar that allows diners to watch the staff prepare the various dishes. We went with the Signature Tasting Menu ($49 per person) and were able to try the following dishes: Ikura Tart, Yellowtail Serrano, Tuna Crispy Rice, LA Galbi Taco, Blue Crab Crispy Cigar, Salmon Temaki, and Seared Scallop Temaki. Many of the items were delicious, with the Yellowtail Serrano, LA Galbi Taco, and Salmon Temaki standing out as favorites. The only dish that gave me pause was the Seared Scallop Temaki, which featured grated carrots on top. This addition wasn't listed on the menu and felt out of place--the flavor combination didn't quite work for me. The pacing of the meal was decent, although a bit inconsistent. Some dishes arrived too quickly while we were still finishing the previous ones, and the last two took noticeably longer. I believe the dishes are served in batches, so timing can vary depending on the flow of service. Since the menu consists mainly of small plates, don't expect to leave completely full unless you're prepared to spend a bit more. That said, Norikaya's central Koreatown location makes it easy to continue the evening elsewhere, whether you're looking for drinks or another bite to eat. read more

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I'd been meaning to try this place because I'd heard a lot about it, especially when they first opened. I had a pretty mixed experience. We went on a weeknight when it was pretty empty, only a few other couples in there. There was only one server who was responsible for pretty much everything, he even made the drinks. The seats next to us went unbussed for over 20 min, but otherwise I thought he did great. The decor was lovely and it was quiet. I thought the drinks were bad- they both had the same orange flavor and one was very weak and one overly strong. We did the $55 tasting menu and what was interesting to me was that I thought all of the appetizers and other dishes that weren't handrolls were stellar - balanced flavors and correct textures, fresh fish. I loved the blue crab cigar and the crispy rice, both were so crisp! The handrolls I found muddled in flavors, confusing, and not worth the price. For $12+ for one handroll the unagi strawberry was just not good. I'd come back for the apps but if your place is supposed to specialize in handrolls those should be the best, no? I loved AB Steak by Akira Back but this was not it. Not sure if they will last very long. read more

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I heard about norikaya bc Lisa from blackpink recently went there apparently. It was so close, I had to try! We opted for the dinner tasting menu that was around $50-60 per person? and wasn't super impressed. The handrolls sounded unique like the unagi with strawberry, but it was just okay. I didn't care for the galbi tacos, the ikura tart cup thing, and the yuzu ice dessert, thus the 3 stars. The place was small and intimate though! read more

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Finally ROLLED on down to Norikaya for their Dine LA menu, and it definitely wasn't a disappointment! With so many competing sushi handroll spots in LA, Norikaya offers truly innovative, well-curated bites that challenge the simplicity of traditional Japanese flavors. I will admit - I probably wouldn't have ordered most of the dishes on their Dine LA menu if I was dining for the first time and ordering a la carte, so I'm VERY glad I was able to try this specially curated menu! My favorite items were the Yellowtail Serrano, truffle scallop cigar, LA Galbi taco, and yuzu granita, and I would definitely order these the next time I stop by. I wasn't as impressed with their spicy tuna crispy rice or temaki, although my friends really enjoyed the unagi strawberry as well as a pop-rock option that they ordered from their a la carte menu. Despite making a reservation, our reservation time was not honored (and another party in front of us also had quite a bit of wait). We ended up being squished into the bar to fit (otherwise we would have to wait even longer). Service was nice but definitely quite understaffed, with only two sushi chefs serving the entire sushi bar, which ended up in quite a bit of wait between each dish being sent out and an almost 2 hour dining experience (which is a bit crazy since the reservation was for 8:30 PM). Not sure if this spot is as busy during non-Dine LA season, but I hope they're able to hire more staff or cut down on reservations they accept to account for a better experience for both their customers and employees. read more

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Norikaya in Los Angeles has really good handrolls -- the quality is high and everything tasted fresh. Portions are on the smaller side, which is fine, but it was difficult to get a server's attention to order more food or get water refills, and that could have been smoother. Overall, the food itself was very good. It's on the expensive side, so while I'm not sure I'd return, the quality is definitely there. read more

We did the premium tasting menu, and overall the quality of the ingredients was very fresh. The menu started strong with uni tartare, scallop, and spicy tuna cigar, and honestly, everything in the opening courses was delicious. And the temakis stood out as well. Clean flavors, well-balanced, and clearly made with good fish. That said, not everything landed. The taco and rock shrimp courses in the middle were underwhelming and didn't quite match the quality of the earlier dishes. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable but the service was the biggest downside. There appeared to be only one server, and everything moved extremely slowly. We ordered sake, but two of the sake selections we requested were unavailable, and even the sake we did order didn't arrive until after most of the food had already been served, which was pretty frustrating and took away from the overall pacing of the meal. There's definitely potential here but service and timing really need improvement, especially for a premium tasting experience. read more

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Came across this place via IG, and I had to try! It did not disappoint. Staff were kind, and the ambience was dim and sexy. Definitely a smaller space, so I'd recommend resos on a busy weekend. I will say, if you're doing the tasting, plan to spend at least 1.5 to 2 hrs here. The courses come out rather slowly, and they are Omakase style, so small. Best to not come in famished. It also took us a minute to get our check, but overall the vibes were good! YAYS: Spicy tuna crispy- Yay! Yellowtail Serrano- yay Grilled shishitos- YAY! Delicious sauce Blue crab cigar: yay! Galbi tacos: yay! Spicy tuna temaki: YAY!!! A must Salmon temaki: Yesssssss an absolute must!!! Yuzu granita: surprisingly very tasty! I'm not a fan of granitas but this was incredibly refreshing and nice! Just a little hard to eat on a cold rainy day. Yellowtail temaki: middle of the road. This was okay, but not nearly as good as the salmon or spicy tuna! NAYS: Furikake fries- Nay! Nothing to write home about. Very bland and cold. The sauce was very tasty though! Ikura tart- nay, this wasn't for me. Next time I'll try the caviar! Scallop temaki: nay. I didn't like this one, but my husband didn't mind it. I wish you could sub on the tasting menu for items you don't enjoy. read more

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I think this is one of the more elegant/upscale hand roll bar in LA, with unique rolls and dishes like strawberry unagi and ikura tart. Beautifully designed, and our server has given us extra sake on the house! However, this is definitely on the expensive side as tabs for me and my partner costs us over $150. A little pricey, but if you want to enjoy more upscale ambience at a hand roll bar, this is it! read more

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I came to try this spot after seeing a lot of people recommending it on Instagram since their August opening. Overall, the ingredients were undeniably fresh and no complaints there. But the SOP felt a not well almost like they might be short on kitchen staff, because we spent a lot of time just waiting between items. We ordered the $69 set, and honestly, it wasn't filling at all. I had to order extra just to feel satisfied, and for guys, this portion size definitely wouldn't be enough for the price. Nothing really stood out to make me want to recommend this place specifically no signature dish or memorable highlight. It feels more like it's riding on Instagram hype than delivering true value. Service was fine, but the restaurant itself is quite small. Overall, I don't think I'd go out of my way to return. read more

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Came for the $49 Set Tasting Menu I've been seeing all over TikTok. For the appetizers, I got to substitute the yellowtail for the scallop because they happened to run out by the time I arrived. Luckily, the Nori Scallop was the best thing I ate that night. The Crispy Rice tasted decent and the Ikura Tart was extremely salty. Granted, ikura is known for being salty, but it was so salty for my liking-- perhaps because there was a good amount of it, and had nothing to mask the salt besides the tart shell. The LA Galbi Taco was decent as well, but nothing special about it. Lastly, for my two hand roll options, I got the Salmon and Seared Scallop. Both were also just okay as well, the seaweed was soggy and I initially thought it was because I look too long to take pictures of my meal. My second hand roll got a quick pic and still came out soggy. Dessert although was actually really tasty, refreshing and a perfect way to end my meal. Overall, it was still a good experience. The ambiance was nice with good music. Staff were also attentive and sweet. Food was just okay. read more

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Amazing food, vibe, and service. The whole place only has bar seatings. Beautiful decor and beautiful presentation of each dish as well. Sake flight was also delicious. The elote baby corn, the yellowtail dish and the unagi strawberry temaki were soooo delish and definitely worth trying! read more

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Located in K-Town, this handroll spot is best known for Blackpink Lisa's spicy tuna cigar selfie (which I had to recreate for reference lol). While the selfie ate, the food itself was alright. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice spot, but the handrolls weren't anything out of the ordinary and were a bit pricey. The uni handroll was $22 like woah but to be fair, they did give a generous portion of uni. We did have to wait a bit, but our server was incredibly sweet and even comped us two dishes, which I really appreciated. She was also super helpful in guiding us on what to order. The standout for me was the sake flight for $16! It honestly felt like the best bang for your buck on the menu. Overall, good but not great. I had a nice time, but probably wouldn't rush back unless I'm in the area again. read more

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I went to this restaurant as it was part of the DineLa event, and I wanted to try it out. I had a reservation at 5:30 and we were the first ones there and seated really quickly. This restaurant has limited seating so I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance to avoid waiting. In the Dine La menu, we got to try the ikura tart, yellowtail serrano, truffle scallop cigar, la galbi taco, grilled baby corn, salmon temaki, unagi strawberry temaki, and a dessert- yuzu granita. I really enjoyed the ikura tart (it was my favorite!), they also have a caviar tart that I will be trying next time. I also loved the yellowtail serrano! It has a yuzu soy sauce which I thought tasted amazing with the yellowtail. The truffle scallop was also super delectable! I didn't really like the baby grilled corn as the cheese flavor is stronger, but if that's for you I would recommend it! The strawberry unagi is also pretty special, and I would recommend trying it. The dessert at the end was great! It's yuzu flavored with coconut cream on top. The dessert is strongly flavored, so the yuzu is a bit sour and the coconut cream has strong coconut scents in it. I thought the sweetness of the coconut cream balanced with the sourness of the yuzu, however if you like lightly flavored desserts, this may not be for you. The service was great! They also take away your plates after finishing each dish. It was a pretty fast omakase menu as we got in at 5:30 and finished by 6:20. I enjoyed this tasting menu as it gives you a little sense of what this restaurant has to offer! I would definitely try it out if you are near the area, the prices are also great. PARKING! Since this is located in a more busy area of ktown, parking is limited. They have a valet parking for $15, however after trying valet parking in ktown previously and having items stolen, I decided to park in a nearby plaza. I parking at the California market plaza which is a 2 minute walking distance from the restaurant itself. I also went into the Zion market for a bit of grocery shopping afterwards and the parking in they is free, so definitely better than street parking! read more

Norikaya - Dine La tasting menu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here to catch up with a friend on a Sunday night we called a few minutes before walking in with no problem. The vibes were calm and welcoming. We were greeted and welcomed instantly. Every bite was surprising and delicious. My favorite bite was the strawberry eel and the gal I taco. Def try the pop rockin pop rocks roll for the experience too! read more

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This is more like a 3.5 star but I rounded up because of the good service, drinks, and ambiance. The food itself is well-presented, but mostly over seasoned and a bit overpriced. The cocktails on the other hand are really good and reasonably priced. I had the old fashioned. The caviar was the best item, although I would rather not have it over potatoes. The galbi tacos were not good at all and expensive. It felt like I was eating some poorly seasoned ground beef. This would be a great concept if each dish was freshly seasoned and prepared rather than just put together from the pre-packaged/pre-seasoned bulk components. I almost forgot. The edamame sauce was fantastic! read more

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We came here because Lisa of Blackpink came here. I can confidently say that I will NOT be back in your area. Tl;dr: slow service, terrible pacing, and decent food. Fair pricing. After being seated, it took almost 30 minutes until the host came to take our order, but we had to ask the other host how we can order... That's fine, it was busy, I can understand. Anyways, we ordered the set menu and this is the highlight: the terrible pacing. We got our crispy rice, two on one plate. It was quite delicious, actually! We soon got our yellowtail, but then another order of the crispy rice came? Apparently, it's two pieces per person and for some reason, our second plate came late? Weird. After our first wave of 3 items, it took just around another 30+ minutes until our next hand roll came. Then we got our plate of ginger and wasabi! And then another 30+ for the next round. And then our host asked if we were ready for dessert after another 30+ of sitting around. The saving grace is that everything was fine food wise. Nothing was too disgusting, but nothing really stood out. Actually, the strawberry unagi stood out! It was a confusing mess of fruit, eel sauce, and bones in my mouth. Yikes! Overall, it was a poop storm of a service where our food came out at random intervals with no direction. There is absolutely no reason our meal should take 2 hours for such mediocre food. The cherry on top? They asked us if we could move our reservation up early but since we waited so long to get seated and to order, we ended up starting our meal long after our original reservation time. Blow the WHISTLE, we gotta KILL THIS LOVE for bad hand rolls. read more

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A girlfriend and I came for dinner. It's definitely a handroll spot that leans toward the nicer and pricier side. You can order à la carte or opt for the tasting menu--I recommend the tasting menu so you can sample their best dishes. While it wasn't my favorite restaurant overall, their creativity and unique approach to the dishes definitely deserve applause. ENJOY! PS: There is valet parking, but I was lucky enough to find street parking. read more

The ambiance was great for an upscale date night and good service. We tried the Set menu for ($48) pp and added a sake flight. The appetizers were my favorite, they were amazing! The hand rolls were good, I wish there was more bite and could benefit from adding more fish & rice to the roll. The yuzu granita was okay. Ikura Tart - (4.5/5) Yellowtail Serrano - (5/5) Crispy Rice - (4.5/5) Blue Crab Cigar - (3.5/5) Scallop - (3.5/5) Unagi Strawberry - (4/5) Yuzu Granita - (3/5) read more

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They hiked up valet parking to $30. This alone is almost half the price of their tasting menu ($69). FYI same valet for lapaba is 12. They told me depending on which door I go into, the valet fee changes lol. Not sure who decides this but whoever it is is messing up the brand by trying to make a few extra bucks on parking. Worst business move ever. Hostess with glasses was great. She made the experience much better after valet almost chased us away. Still would not go back. Reasonable parking is a *must* in Koreatown. This is beyond unreasonable for mid food. read more

The manager Jazz is super welcoming and friendly along with the owner Thomas if you're lucky enough to catch him. The ambience is a blast and the food is even better. We basically tried the whole menu and everything was a hit. Definitely try the tuna crispy rice, the lobster handroll and their yellowtail is fantastic. 10/10 read more

Norikaya - Ssam Lobster - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Still thinking about this omakase spot! The quality and creativity of the course felt elevated, yet the price point was surprisingly reasonable for the level of craftsmanship. Every course was beautifully prepared. My favorite was the spicy tuna crispy cigar and the nori scallop. Service was great and very friendly. The restaurant itself had such a sexy, intimate atmosphere -- dim lighting with beautiful drapery and sleek design. The location was right in the heart of Ktown -- perfect place to catch up with a friend or date night before going out in Ktown. read more

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I've driven past this restaurant so many times, always intrigued by its standout exterior--and I finally got the chance to check it out. Safe to say, it's now officially made its way into my top 3 favorite handroll spots in LA! We showed up right at opening on a weekend night without a reservation, and luckily snagged seats at the bar. We went with the $49 7-course set, which was the perfect way to sample a variety of the chef's specials. Each handroll was incredibly fresh and thoughtfully crafted. One standout was the serrano yellowtail--my boyfriend loved it so much, we had to order a second round. But the most unexpected hit? The unagi strawberry. I was skeptical at first (definitely not a combo you see every day), but it was shockingly delicious! Sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of playful--it totally worked. From the quality of the fish to the creativity of the rolls, this place left a lasting impression. If you're a handroll lover looking for something a little different, this spot is absolutely worth a visit. read more

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Finally got to try this spot! I like that they do reservations only but at the same time, I think it would be cool if they also accept walk ins. We got their set and added on a few orders. Everything was great and the fish were fresh. The strawberry unagi was a pleasant surprise even for my husband who prefers savory over sweet. It's not sweet at all and the combination is very good. Their uni and toro also very good. Service was a bit slow but I think it is also because they were also training some new staff. Overall food quality is good and we will return! read more

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Tldr: poor management, bold promises 0 delivery. First off, I'd like to say the staff kind of tried to do part of their job. Friendly smiles, but not as helpful for the actual disaster of a night. Our group reservation was at 8. 3 couples that planned 3 weeks in advance to get our schedules aligned, with limited time to hang out. We show up on time at 8. We valet, and walk in. Upon arrival, we noticed someone seated 2 girls on one side of an entire bar that took up 1/3 of the seating, the rest of the seats were taken. Instead of doing any thing about it, they had us wait until 9 before we got seated. One entire hour?! what's the point of taking a reservation, especially when we would be charged for not showing up? Around 845 we notice them offer the girls something to move over to some newly open seats. Great. Finally seated. They ended up also being one of the last to leave, so were they going to make us wait until 10 had they not done something about it? Regardless, we get seated, we order right away since some of us had not eaten all day. The staff was being extra nice, by offering some free items like sake and food, none of us drink. We would prefer not drinking and driving. Ok. Cool. They offer some food like fillet and uni and we said sure. They also mentioned that it was happy hour so we order some cigar rolls. They ended up "comping 7" even though we only ordered 6. Not really sure they did the math, but that's what the bill reflected. We get our premium set order coming out and honestly it was fairly decent. Fish seemed pretty fresh and the sauce was good but not mind blowing. 10 o'clock comes around and we're asking about the things they promised us. No fillet, no uni. They said the kitchens closed! First off, we didn't ask for food, you asked us if we wanted it for the inconvenience of your poor management. Then they said sorry head chef said no. It's 10 o'clock, kitchen is closed. YOU LITERALLY HAD US WAITING UNTIL 9! Then offered us food, then said no?! EXCUSE ME?!? Didn't you put in the order after you asked us when we got seated? Literally asked us before taking our order! I'm actually annoyed at this point. I'm totally ready to leave. Chalk it up to bad luck. They said how about some cheesecake instead? Fine. Whatever. You're still trying to get us to feel a bit better? Ok. The cheesecake was Absolute garbage. Tasted like they cut it with a fish knife. Then the check comes, THEY CHARGED FOR THE CHEESECAKE! THEY ASKED US IF WE WANTED TO MAKE UP FOR THE FILLETS THAT NEVER ARRIVED! What the actual heck?!?! They take off one and charge us for the second one saying there's nothing they can do... Seriously? This place needs a wake up call! This was supposed to be an experience with friends that turned into an absolute laughable excuse of a restaurant lacking any type of management. 6 people, one hour completely wasted, one hour to eat, nothing to show for, but a bill and gtfo. Ps- the strawberry unagi was not good. Unagi was cold and chewy hiding behind tart strawberries that lacked any depth in flavor. 1 extra star for the "7" cigars and caviar tart from the menu. Could have easily been a 1 star. $600 doesn't for this? Not worth it at all! Go somewhere where your time and patronage is appreciated read more

Came here with two of my friends and the food was so so good! It was our first time trying out this place, and the food and service did not disappoint. We did the regular set menu which was around I think $45 pp if I remember correctly. I wasn't sure if it would be enough to fill us up, but I was wrong. It was the perfect amount of food. My favorite of the set would have to be the yellowtail carpaccio and the spicy tuna crispy rice. You can really taste the quality and care that goes into these dishes, and our server was so friendly and knowledgeable further making the dining experience even better. Not only that, but the ambience of the restaurant is so nice as well. Definitely a great place to dine casually or even for date nights. read more

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Absolutely amazing. Everything was a hitter. Maybe would skip the tarts those were just average but we ordered the whole menu and nothing disappointed. Love the Ambiance so cozy and chic and intimate very much my vibe. The service was great. Friendly staff plus your at the bar it's hard not to get the greatest service when they are right in front of you the whole meal. read more

What a unique menu. Did not think pop rocks on hand rolls was going to be on my 2024 bucket list to eat. Very unique dining experience. Loved the creativity in the dishes. Got the strawberry unagi roll, the pop rockin, the lobster and the baby corn. As crazy as some of the combinations sound they surprisingly work. Especially the strawberry unagi. Only small complaint is the crab roll did have a few chunks of shell inside which I did have to spit out. Other than that i highly recommend trying it out if you're willing to go out of your comfort zone. Each dish was super flavorful, not like the traditional hand rolls where they focus on minimalism. I'll definitely be back to make my friends try the dishes here. Food: 8.5 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 9/10 read more

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Went on a Sunday evening with a 6pm reservation. Ambiance was nice with counter seating like kazunori. Food tasted great but it seems like their system isn't really sorted out yet. Some food took too long to come out but they comped some items and were very apologetic. Overall unique flavors with a good vibe, would come again. read more

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Great date night or a double date spot! Ambience is perfect for a good night out with your SO or friends. Service is good with the chef and servers being extremely friendly and attentive. The dishes here are unique and are a must try. Specifically the spicy tuna crispy cigar and strawberry unagi was a favorite, but also the yellowtail Serrano and tropical salmon were tasty. If you like to end with sweets, or even if you don't, try the yuzu granita. Super refreshing and was soooo good. read more

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lobster cigar roll 6/10 - nothing crazy (avocado purée part was good tho) crispy rice 7/10 - rice was i think coated w batter? good crunch, even proportion but needs a lil more flavor sake flight 7.5/10 - one was too sweet seared filet mignon 8/10 - well cooked, and flavored, mushroom was a good touch yellowtail serrano 9.5/10 - sososo good salmon handroll 10/10 - nicely flavored, perfect STRAWBERRY unagi handroll - 10/10 star of the show, was a little skeptical at first but the flavor was so well balanced and put together matcha cheesecake - 6/10 nothing special read more

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Norikaya -- $49 for Seven Courses: A Goddamn Steal Every now and then, a meal comes along that makes you stop, sit back, and think: this shouldn't even be possible in 2025. Forty-nine bucks. Seven courses. In a city where a celebrity smoothie-that-promises-a-glow-up type beat and a smug smile can set you back twenty, Norikaya is serving something that feels almost illicit in its generosity. Call it a small rebellion against stagflation, a raised middle finger to $28 cocktails with no soul. The food? It's a joyride across the best parts of the Japanese Korean imagination, touched with irreverence but never gimmick. Sure, some might point at the pop-rocking handroll and call it a gimmick--but bite in, and it's clear: this kitchen isn't chasing tricks. It's chasing delight. The ikura tart arrives like a jewel box. Salmon roe, marinated in a sweet soy and sake reduction, glistens like tiny orange suns on a crisp, buttery shell. Salty, creamy, briny--one bite and you're transported straight to a Hokkaido dockside morning, minus the cold wind and fish guts. The yellowtail Serrano is a punch of heat and silk. Fatty, clean slices of fish meet the Korean staple pickled soy jalapeño, a riff on the iconic Nobu dish that adds depth, funk, and just enough sting to remind you life's supposed to hurt sometimes. Then comes the blue crab cigar. This thing is cheeky--a riff on excess, wrapped crisp like a Cuban but filled with sweet, oceanic meat. Dip, crunch, sigh. It's playful without being precious. The Hokkaido scallop temaki follows--a whole scallop, kissed by the torch, a little smoky at first bite, then brightened by the snap of kimchi daikon pickles folded into the rice and seaweed. It's fire and acid playing nice, the ocean and the land shaking hands. Then they pull a trick: unagi and strawberry temaki. Sounds wrong, right? Too weird. But no--it's harmony. Sweet, smoky eel meets the tart kiss of fruit. It's daring, a little punk rock, and it works. Then we went off-script and added the pop-rocking handroll. Some might dismiss it as a gimmick, but the crackle hits like fireworks over clean, fatty fish--playful, irreverent, and somehow still grounded in good taste. By the time the yuzu granita shows up, you're grateful. Sharp, icy citrus hits like a dive-bar bouncer tossing you into the street at 3 a.m.--jolting, unapologetic, and exactly what you needed. Norikaya isn't trying to reinvent dining. It's trying to remind you why food matters in the first place: joy, craft, and the small shock of something unexpected done well. At seven courses for $49, it's not just a meal--it's daylight robbery in your favor. Five stars. If you live in LA and miss this, that's on you. read more

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Food was super great. Service was awesome. Ambiance was quite nice. Parking in the area is pretty difficult. I really recommend the hand roll that has pop rocks in it. I've never had anything quite like it -- amazing flavor combinations with the sweet and savory and such an innovative thing to add to change the texture of the dish. Gastronomic. Moving on. The bad. They got my order wrong, and the server must have entered the wrong rolls because I received hand rolls that I did not order and I was also missing hand rolls that I did order. Further, the server could not take the wrong items off the bill. My group sat around for at least 15-20 minutes waiting for the items to be taken off before giving up and just paying for it since we had to leave and didn't feel like fighting (which felt like might have been the goal...). Kind of absurd. read more

Norikaya - Tropical salmon - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Poorly paced tasting menu, careless service, and food quality that does not justify the price. This is a hand roll bar, yet we were served a so-called tasting course menu that felt completely unstructured. Our party of four ordered the same course, but dishes were served with no coordination -- two people would receive a course while the others waited. A 7-course menu took over two hours, which is unreasonable for bar seating and this style of dining. Service was consistently sloppy. Incorrect dishes were brought to our table twice, and when we pointed it out, the response was a dismissive "okay, never mind" before walking away. No apology, no explanation. There were also serious service and hygiene concerns. A server spilled a noticeable amount of our $150 bottle of sake with no apology or compensation. Drinks were prepared with bare hands while wearing long nail extensions, which was alarming from a food safety standpoint. As for the food, took 2 hours, yet the dishes felt uninspired and poorly executed. Even basic elements were disappointing -- the seaweed was unpleasant, and the salmon was bad enough that I struggled to finish it. A tasting menu should feel intentional, well-timed, and cohesive. This experience felt chaotic, slow, and careless. Not worth the time or money. I would not return or recommend this place. read more

Super small quaint cute and very romantic space perfect for date night!!! All counter top service but as mentioned nice decor both outside and inside!! Only be open nine months but already looks like a perfect neighborhood favorite hang out with great happy hour specials!! Only our first visit but definitely worth maybe a second or third try? Big a la cart menu to choose from or a very reasonable priced tasting menu of the favorites!! Only a $35 corkage fee to boot but they do have a great saki menu and some delicious cocktails too!! Im personally not a huge hand roll type of guy but enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised with some of our choices and offerings!! Please support this neighborhood spot and enjoy the amazing and attentive staff!! read more

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