Their chicken sandwich is 3 out of 5 ( it's the regular deep fried but the add on just don't help the flavor at all) Their egg drop chicken soup is 2 out of 5 ( the y is fried and then dropped into the soup, the broth then is pretty much flavorless aside the oil the add that is too much) read more

Pikunico - Chicken sandwich and dropped egg soup - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I SO appreciate restaurants who cater to gluten free and dairy free individuals. I have been wanting to try this place, ROW DTLA is a great and new area, and here we are. What we loved: The spicy chicken: the spicy chicken and the spicy aoli are mikes more flavorful than the regular in my opinion. I recommend getting it SPICY, it's not too spicy and it's delicious The slaw: light and refreshing, add your own dressing The YUZU lemonade: so flavorful, whatever yuzu is, I love it The drink selection: very fun and adorable beer and wine and sake menu Ratings: Ambiance: 9/10 Ease of seating/ speed of service: 10/10 Vegan options: 5/10 Gluten free options: 10/10 Low carb options: 10/10 Overall deliciousness: 10/10 Pricing: $$ Parking: structured, free for 2 hours Liquor License: yes, beer and wine read more

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took a bite of the wings and chicken was pink & did not taste cooked so I showed them and they tried to tell me that was normal. the seaweed cucumber salad had no sauce/flavor on it. threw everything out and left. read more

Cute place, a bit slow on service but if you plan for that, it's probably fine. I had the beet salad and the Japanese sweet potato. Seriously, that sweet potato wa she best thing I've eaten in several weeks. I was super impressed. I'd go back, but I'd plan to not be so hungry next round, the wait was long for the food and I was famished by the time it arrived. No time for photos, time to eat! read more

I'd say not bad, but not amazing. Got the Golden Chicken Sandwich - chicken was tasty, but the ratio of meat to vegetable was not balanced. I felt like I either needed more sauce or a more seasoning - but it could be also because there was sooo much sprouts overtaking the flavor? It has potential. Looking others photos, it looks like others had a better meat to veg ratio - maybe it was just a lapse in quality control that day for me and my friend. read more

Pikunico - Golden Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Chef Kuniko is such a kind soul!! And an epic chef. Came here for their famous chicken tenders and it did not disappoint. The interior is also so minimal and aesthetically pleasing. Def recommend this for a place to go yourself or with friends or if your family is looking for a casual but elevated place to eat at the Row read more

A friend and I ordered the Golden Chicken Sandwich and the slaw. Unfortunately both were just OK and there wasn't a lot of flavor or anything special. This location can be difficult to find too. It's in ROW LA, and you can park in the paid structure. Pikunico is a bit far from the main shops area where Smorgasburg is, down the hallway with no signs pointing it out. For this price and the little hassle in parking/getting to the shop, it wasn't worth it to me, and I wouldn't come again. read more

Pikunico - the slaw and the golden sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

this was easily some of the best food i've had in a long time. it reminded me of my time spent in japan and the comfort it brought me. the food was amazing. the music was perfect and the service was top notch. i can explain how excited i am to come here again and again while im in town. read more

Pikunico - onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Thoroughly enjoyable lunch. I had their special chicken sandwich (spicy) and a beet salad. The chicken was great! Crispy and crunchy and flavorful and spicy. Beet salad was a bit small for $8, but it tasted great. I enjoyed the decor in the shop. read more

Place is solid. Clean straightforward decor, clean, straightforward menu, and all items were thoughtfully crafted delicious in their simplicity. Simply good food. It was good enough to go back the next day with my partner for another stab at the menu. I enjoyed the chicken sandwich the most, but the chicken bowl was a surprising choice as well. read more

The golden chicken sandwich is so good and the Yaki Imo (sweet potato) hits the spot. Highly recommend both items when you're in the area. read more

The Golden Chicken Sandwich is def the go to. Everything else, as good as they sounded, just didn't hit the mark. We ordered the sandwich, fried chicken wings, fingerling fries, and pikunico slaw. First up - the sandwich. This was the highlight of our meal as it was unique, from the turmeric bun to the alfafa sprouts and watercress fillings. It was all new to me, at least for a chicken sandwich, but surprisingly it all worked well together. The fried chicken itself was juicy and wasn't heavy at all. There's not much to talk about with the fried chicken wings. It is what it is... fried chicken. Three full wings came in one order, but they were kind of small compared to other chicken wing places. The included sauces were its saving grace. The daikon ponzu oroshi, lemon aioli, and parsley sesame sauces were all delicious. Now the fingerling fries and pikunico slaw. The fries were unremarkable and lacked seasoning, despite it having negi salt. The pikunico slaw... was just a plain salad with a generic sesame vinaigrette. I'd avoid ordering these as they were nothing to write home about. Misc. notes: Parking - Private parking garage for Row DTLA; plenty of parking. Wait time - No wait at noon on a Saturday. Yelp Adventures 2021: 6/?? read more

Pikunico - the works (clockwise from left): golden chicken sandwich, wings, pikunico slaw, and fingerling fries - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It was fun to try this! I have tasted different Japanese style Fried chicken. I expected little more crispy. Flavor is good. Yuzunade was good. Try it and experience it. If you go with group, basket seems to be reasonable and good ! read more

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Tried Pikunico hoping for a standout chicken sandwich, but honestly, it was a letdown. The sandwich has way too many things going on, but nothing actually stands out, so it just ends up tasting like a messy mix with no clear flavor. The fries were basically thick potato wedges, nothing special, and the Pikunico bowl had pretty dry pieces of chicken with no striking flavor to bring it together. Overall, everything felt bland and overcomplicated at the same time. I mean, if it was in front of me, I'd eat it, but I would never spend my own money on it again or choose to eat this in the future. read more

We were heading to San Gabriel after landing at LAX on a Thursday afternoon and braved the loads of extra traffic to be able to eat here. The golden chicken sandwich was somehow even better than it looked online. It is so amazing! The perfectly crunchy yet soft bread that was able to hold in all the layers of flavor without breaking apart definitely helped make it. The very smart layers of contrasting textures and densities of the daikon, sprouts, fried chicken, aoli, etc all make this sandwich amazing. We were happy that we made this our first foodie stop for our culinary weekend. What surprised us even more is how deliciously simple the yams were with the slightly tart cream and pumpkin seeds were - it is such a great contrast between the warm sweet yams and the cold sour creamy topping that made us doubly ecstatic to have made the time to stop in. We did try the slaw and weren't impressed. It was thinly sliced and the not-house-made sauce was exactly the sauce it appeared to be, which was decently tasty, but nothing special. It did help to have this refreshingly light dish on the side, but we'd try something else next time. Definitely will have to make our way back to get that sandwich again and the yams as well, then see what else we can find on the menu that is possible almost as good as those. read more

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There are a lot of fried chicken sandwiches in town, yet this one finds a way to stand out. Its unique ingredients provide a sweet, savory, umami bomb surrounding juicy chicken in between crispy bread. It's smaller than I was expecting from the pictures, but there were plenty of sides to choose from for more. The Japanese sweet potatoes were excellent, and the ginger onigiri was a wonderful way to get our rice component in. The slaw was a little too dry and raw for my taste, but it didn't go uneaten. And best of all, they had a restaurant guard dog keeping us safe while we ate:). read more

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Would def eat here again! I forgot to order the soup, but I'll have to try it on another visit! I got so many things just to try as much as possible and took some of it home. I got the cuke salad, the rice ball, the mixed chicken, an egg, fries, and got a free cookie because I was going to Rooftop Cinema after. Service was fast and friendly. I sat outside! I loved the 3 sauces they give with your chicken - my fave was the what I think was grated radish in some sort of ponzu sauce, 2nd was the mayo one. I would try their bowls too. Def try this place. read more

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Best green tea I've Had in a long time! So fresh! I got the Pikunico Bowl and it was delicious. Three sides of sauce ...I liked the green one the best. Yum! The chicken was fried so tasty. I loved all the radish and I think there was a jalapeño in there too! My friend got the wrap or sandwich and boy was that huge! Looked good. So many great flavors. read more

Pikunico - Pikunico Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I first heard of Pikunico from Buzzfeed Worth It a few years ago, and finally came here to grab a birthday lunch for my friend! The chicken sandwich did not disappoint - the layers are beautiful, first of all, piled high with sprouts and radish and the fried chicken. The yellow of the turmeric was striking (I just revisited the Worth It interview and apparently turmeric has anti inflammatory properties! Chef Kuniko was right, I do feel less guilty about eating a fried chicken sandwich now)! All the flavors were so well-balanced, and the chicken was juicy and not heavy at all. The egg was the perfect texture and the yolk was golden and gooey, with a bright flavor. The onigiri had a pleasantly subtle ginger flavor and the rice was fluffy but chewy (almost an in between of glutinous rice and regular rice). We left full and satisfied. Would make the trek out to the Row again for another sandwich! read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Golden chicken sandwich is a MUST! If you're at the Row, make sure to stop by and try the golden chicken sandwich! I love how even though it's fried chicken, it's not overly greasy or fatty. The pickled daikon and sprouts make the sandwich extra crunchy and flavorful. The bread was also toasted to perfection. I would definitely come back to eat the sandwich again! The restaurant is super cute inside and there's a lot of seating outdoors as well. Overall, a must stop at the Row! read more

Pikunico - Golden Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The sandwich was good, but it was a bit and the sauce was very salty. It wasn't as large and bountiful as some of the older pictures show it to be. It wasn't super filling to be honest. The seaweed and cucumber salad and the slaw were both very average, and the dressings weren't as ginger forward as I would have liked. The ginger and chicken bowl was light, but the portion is more a snack than a meal. read more

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Fried chicken. That's all... not really of course, but like my seemingly endless quest for the ultimate Cuban sandwich, the gold medal for best and, this is important, MOST CONSISTENT fried chicken still goes to Gus's. Here's why. Row is the recently refurbished warehouse district in LA and while I'm excited for its existence, the Covid-19 Era is a damper because many businesses that opened here are temporary or permanently closed before they had a chance. Kudos to those who have weathered the storm, including this artisanal fried chicken establishment. The menu, as seen in the pictures, is concise but focused on the primary protein. We decided that the order of Thighs was the best choice for starters and it was. Taste and texture: To our delight we discovered immediately that the thighs are boneless and fried expertly with a lightly seasoned batter. Tender inside and moist, you have a choice to eat as is or try the three sauces that are provided with each order. My favorite is the green savory and slightly spicy one. The Fingering Fries were also nice, and retained their characteristic waxy texture without crumbling. Consistency: We drove all that way, and arrived hangry, so after our friends joined and ordered sandwiches, we decided to order the 4-person meals with 4 orders of thighs, and this is where they slipped off the winner's circle slightly... the second round was mildly disappointing. Keep in mind this was less than an hour after the first round. What happened? First, the thighs went from two larger pieces to four smaller ones roughly equivalent in weight. Then, they weren't as crispy. We sat on location so it can't be blamed on being sealed and steamed too long. Verdict: Pricy for what you get, not terribly consistent based on one extended trip, nor is it worth driving to solely to eat. Nevertheless, they are a decent restaurant overall and we really did enjoy the first round. I'd open to try the tenders or sandwich next time and the slaw sounded great too. Therefore, if you're in the area already, and want to wander ROW, get your parking ticket Nd enjoy two free hours on the house, that should be sufficient. read more

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Not only that they offer gluten free and dairy free items; but they're also delicious. I have dietary restrictions due to my allergies; however if you have celiac, you want to double check with them. Their Classic fried chicken and fried kabocha are my favorites. They're crispy and tasty - not bland. One order of the classic usually comes with 4 pieces of the fried (boneless) chicken, pickles and 3 different dipping sauces. The sauces are gluten and dairy free. One of them is like mayo so it does have egg. Sometimes I order their pikunico or fried kabocha bowl which comes with the classic fried chicken, ginger rice, seasoned eggs, and pickled radish. You can either order it as a la carte or a bowl. I wish (and maybe .. :) as a gentle nudge of a request) - if they can make a dairy free cookie as well. Their cookies are currently gluten free but not dairy free as far as I know. On a hot day - I also enjoy their organic iced green tea. On a cold windy day - I enjoy their egg drop soup, which they serve really hot and not luke warm. They have lots of seating areas - indoor and outdoor. Their website now allows people to order directly without having a Chow Now account. They also accept orders through DoorDash and most prices are currently being set the same as their in-store prices. They're located at the Row downtown LA - this is the same area where smorgasburg LA is being held on Sundays. The parking lot is the same - which offers 2 free hours on weekday and weekend (with no validation needed). After you park, you want to walk across (diagonally) - toward the building that is marked "Dock St" - and then walk all the way down. You'll see the neon chicken sign and their standing menu board is usually outside their store. They have additional special menu on their Izakaya night on Fridays and Saturdays (4-9.30 pm) - which I look forward to trying in the near future. :) read more

Pikunico - Fried Kabocha bowl - Kabocha squash, seasoned egg, pickled radish, jalapeño with ginger rice. - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cute little place in Row LA. There's 2 hours free parking in the big parking structure. I had the Pikunico Slaw with chicken. It came with peanut dressing that was really good. But one little container was not enough for that large salad. I had to ask for another. My friend had the Pikunico Bowl with slaw and the sweet potato thing called Yaki Imo. It was all good. And there's lots to see walking around afterwards. I love the old factory buildings. read more

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Finally got to experience Chef Yagi's excellent Japanese fried chicken and it didn't disappoint one bit. We ordered the Classic 3 pieces of thigh and it was great. The chicken was perfectly fried, crunchy and juice the only thing missing was a nice cold glass of Sapporo draft. We also got The Golden Chicken Sandwich. This was fantastic as well. This crispy fried chicken was served between on a golden turmeric bun with alfalfa sprouts, pickled daikon, jalapeño, watercress, lemon aioli and miso jam. Just a party of flavors in each bite. Overall i definitely enjoyed it. If you're a karrage chicken fan ( aka fried chicken) i recommend stopping by Pikunico if you're in the area and it try. read more

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We headed to the Row a little too late with lunch intentions at one of the food trucks in Smorgasborg. The heat and swarm of hungry people instantly gave us a panic feeling of "get us the heck outta here!" And that's why we ended up at Pikunico. It was a spot we had been curious about but just never had a chance to try. I didn't want to enter the restaurant with low expectations but the sign of no lines and only two guys we saw eating should have indicated. Mario was incredibly nice and helped me pick out my bowl which I forget the name already. I tried to find it on their Yelp menu but it's not there and we also got a Golden chicken sandwich. The place is cute and clean. Great seating while we waited for our food and it was prepared and brought to our table lightening quick! We were not impressed with the fried chicken. All of the sauces were too salty. My bowl was basically the same as the sandwich without sprouts and another mysterious salty sauce. Most of the ingredients and bases were not well balanced. The home made Yuzu ade was incredibly refreshing and much needed to beat the heat! I would give this place a 5 stars for experience and customer service. Thanks Mario! Food gets a 3. Edible and nourished us, but not a place I'd order from again. read more

Pikunico - Too salty. Chicken was aahhh-ite. Golden Chicken Sangwich and some bowl recommended by Mario. - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here specifically to try their Golden Chicken Sandwich and it is very very good! It's not your typical fried chicken sandwich. They pair it with a thick wad of alfalfa sprouts which gives it a crispy fresh texture that pairs so well with the harder crunch from the fried chicken - wow! There are Asian pickles inside with some chili paste spread that just rounds out the flavors of the entire sandwich, I love it! The chili does not make the sandwich spicy at all. Overall, I highly recommend trying this sandwich if you happen to be in the area and want to try a chicken sandwich with a good amount of veggies with an Asian twist to your traditional fried chicken sandwich. However, even though I really liked this sandwich, I wouldn't recommend purposely coming here if you live far away. FYI, this place is hidden in The Row here in DTLA where you don't see a sign on the main street so just be on the lookout to get inside The Row and you will need to walk a bit to get here. read more

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So we decided to check out this spot after seeing a video on social media. The parking structure right next to the restaurant offered 2 hours of free parking, which was nice and there were a decent amount of spots available. When we arrived at the restaurant, the line was getting longer so we jumped in the line right away. We ordered 2 Golden Chicken Sandwiches 1 spicy 1 non-spicy and the Yuzu limeade. The food took about 20 minutes to arrive and we got lucky with getting a table. Onto the food, the chicken sandwich was just ok and I thought there was too much vegetable and not enough chicken, the bread had a nice flavor. Yuzu Limeade was also just ok and I thought the meal was definitely over-priced for what it was since it came out to $38 for just the two of us. read more

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Located in the Row. Very cool looking area with shops and restaurants. Parking is free for the first two hours during weekdays. If you park in the enclosed parking structure just make a right once you get to the bottom of the structure and go all the way down. And the place is on the left hand sideordered the golden chicken sandwich. Which consisted of a turmeric bun, fried chicken Japanese style miso jalapeño jam, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, and lemon aioli. This sandwich is absolutely delicious. The fresh flavors and ingredients blends very well together. Highly highly recommend this place read more

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Got the pikinico bowl and... I haven't been so disappointed with food like this in a while. Like where are the flavors? And why is the chicken so dry? I was expecting more of delicious karaage, but what is this? White people food? read more

A Japanese fried chicken that is airy and not bogged down with oil. Overall a pretty great fried chicken although some may complain that it carries a strong chicken flavor. I do wish it came with a few more pickles, 2 pickles is not much of a side. Pickles were also not marinated very long, they were a bit more like sour cucumbers. The beet salad was a bit small. The egg drop soup was filling and hot! Fast service. The ambiance was modern and relaxed. read more

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We actually came here on a suggestion and the food was good and the location was unique. I had the spicy golden sandwich and while I do like the take on the tumeric bread, we feel that the food was slightly overpriced for the amount we were given and I was hoping for more of a white meat cut for the chicken. It was very flavorful and the yuzu lemonade was good although slightly too sugary for my taste. If you plan to come, be prepared for a long line read more

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: plenty of parking in the nearby structure, first 2 hours free! You can get validation for cheaper rates, daily max is only $12 details at https://rowdtla.com/parking/ : we all got the golden chicken sandwich (i got mine spicy) definitely gotta try the bowls, soups and desserts next time : $36.14 for 2 sandwiches read more

Everything about this fast-casual dining spot is magnificent. This restaurant boasts a very carefully, thoughtfully constructed menu, and everything they do, they do to an extremely exceptional level. The price is right, too. I was raised in Glendale, and I started eating out on my own when I was 13-14, in the year 2000, so I always calculate the cost of inflation when purchasing food in the present for some weird reason. Their chicken costs $11-12 in 2022 money, which is about $6.39 in 2000 money according to the inflation calculator I use: https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ This is an ABSOLUTE steal given the flavor, quality, and thought that went into creating this meal, and it would have been an absolute steal then. I would have paid $11 in 2000 money (which is worth $18.93 in today's dollars) for their chicken. The whole meal you see pictured set me back $23.50 ($13.66 in 2000 money, for the curious) pre-tax and pre-tip. They are cashless, so be prepared for that. It would be an absolute dream to own one of the studio apartments located in the same compound. Then I could easily just go downstairs for this chicken everyday. I don't think I would ever get tired of it. Thank you to the creator(s) of this establishment and all the cooks and employees who make wonderful, straightforward, honest meals like this possible. This chicken is the TRUTH. Look at my photo. Look at it. Even the plant I sat next to looks like it wants a piece of my chicken. read more

Pikunico - Their slaw, fingerling fries, seasoned egg, and fried chicken served with pickles, daikon ponzu oroshi, lemon aioli, parsley sesame sauce - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Fresh and light! Although the menu is small, these dishes have flavors that you can't find anywhere else. Everything pairs well with one another and you can mix and match orders to get a different experience every time. I usually like eating fried chicken with some sort of sauce but really this chicken doesn't need anything other than some chopsticks to pick it up and put in your mouth. It's a great spot if you wanna try a twist on the usual fried chicken dish. The location surprised me a bit, I had never known about that part of LA! It was fun to explore the surrounding shops and the interior of the restaurant is super cute too. read more

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Wow. I can definitely say that this chicken sandwich is one of the most unique ones that I ever had! Ever since the video from Buzzfeed came out where they did "Worth It" on different levels of chicken sandwiches, I knew I had to try them as I love a exceptionally made sandwich. I came to PikuNico with high expectations as I remember how golden crispy and delicious the chicken sandwich on YouTube was. I arrived around noon at the Row at DTLA and was promptly greeted by the owner and head chef, Kuniko Yagi. Ms. Yagi took her time and explained the whole menu to me while highlighting her favorite dishes. She recommended to me her famous chicken sandwich and seaweed salad combo, which Buzzfeed also ate. Shortly after, I sat at a nearby table reserved for PikuNico. It was only a short 5 minute wait before my name was called to come to pick my food up. Out came my freshly made Japanese chicken sandwich and delicious seaweed salad! I love the use of miso jam and love how tender the chicken was. For $13 you get a delectable chicken sandwich with tender, crispy chicken, paired exceptionally well with miso jam and alfalfa sprouts for more texture. The $5 addition of the seaweed and cucumber salad just adds a refreshing side to the already delicious meal. tl:dr I would come back here in a heartbeat! The hype if real. read more

Pikunico - Their famous turmeric chicken sandwich! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This charming airy restaurant is a great spot to stop for a satisfying meal. Their fried chicken is full of flavor and very juicy. It's fried to perfection and doesn't feel heavy with oil. It's a great snack on its own, or a meal paired with a side like their roasted Japanese sweet potato. Parking is plentiful in the plaza's parking structure. They have both indoor and patio seating. On the Friday afternoon I visited, there were plenty of seats. The lighting and ambiance is fantastic for getting some work done while dining. If you're in the mood for fried chicken, I recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Tried Pikunico after seeing a post about it on TikTok so my friend and I added it to our food tour list. It's located in The Row, so there's a parking garage that you can park in (2 hours free) and because it's located there, you can walk around the space! My friend and I ordered the golden sandwich to share. I thought it was a bit pricey but pretty tasty. The chicken was nice and crispy, I loved the addition of the radish and the jalapeno and miso jam! The interior was really cute and I wouldn't mind going back to try something different next time! read more

Wow, What a difference! We recently visited again. There seemed to be a different person at the register this time, possibly the owner. This person seemed particularly interested in upcharges for sauces that claim to be included in the prices of purchasing a meal. We were told, while looking at marquee menu with said sauce included, that all sauces would now be charged separately. This sauce included Lemon aioli, daikon ponzu, and parsley sesame sauces. I looked at her perplexed, and pointed out , on the menu, just above us, was certainly included with most meals. She denied it was included, and individually charged us for each individual sauce. This resulted in about $4.00 extra dollars added to our bill. Mind you, this amount will not break the bank, but surely disappointing, because the inclusion of them was clearly stated. Will most assuredly return, because of the type of food offered here, but will definitely keep these upcharges in mind. read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had the golden chicken sandwich and the seaweed and cucumber salad. I thought both were good, but I did not like the location! I found it a little confusing. The area is cute if you're into the industrial vibe, but it's not really my thing, so I didn't get anything out of it. I went in the afternoon on a Sunday, and there were other customers eating there (outside), but no line to order. The service was quick and the chicken sandwich was unique compared to all the southern style hot chicken places in LA. I would go there again if a friend wanted to go, but probably wouldn't suggest it myself. Another upside, especially during the pandemic, was that there are public bathrooms which were very clean. read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California