Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    SOBAR

    4.1 (200 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Waitlist - SOBAR

    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

    SOBAR Reservations

    Order SOBAR Takeout or Delivery

    SOBAR Photos

    Business Info

    SOBAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - SOBAR

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ribeye soba - NEW and popular
    Sandra C.

    This place is a diamond and James is AMAZING. Everything he recommended was incredible. My husband and I went here on date night on a Tuesday. It definitely could've been busier but honestly, it really didn't matter because the food and service were fantastic. The bar area where you eat has elegant wooden chairs, and there are only a few tables where you can actually sit down at a traditional western style table and eat. You absolutely have to get the premium sake sampler. The pours are generous and the sake is very good.

    Karaage- perfect juicy
    Kevin L.

    Excellent service and sake execution from James. Nice clean chewy texture of soba. We had warm broth and Zara, both amazingly high quality and perfect. Same flights absolutely delicious, with James explanation, we knew which would be our favorites , but all were refreshing. Otafuku has always been my go to, but SOBAR is a very nice new addition for me. One of the best soba ya in LA.

    TG - Special Appetizer Plate
    Rachel C.

    Really delicious soba noodles! Staff were kind and helpful. Found free street parking right out front for dinner time. Will need to put money in the meter for other times. Can't go wrong with the mushroom scallop soba noodles! Clean and bright interior. Make a reservation before you go

    TG-Scallop Shiso Maze Soba
    Arnold T.

    Stopped by for cold soba on a hot day and this just hit the spot. We were on a semi-rush and staff was understanding and we got our food, ate, and out the door in less than 45 minutes. We got the special lunch combo for $17. We ordered the Ribeye Niku Soba with Karaage and my friend got the Scallop Shiso Maze Soba with Tendon tempura bowl. Refreshing and perfect for the weather. The ribeye soba was meaty and flavorful. The tempura bowl and Karaage were were perfect compliments to the soba, filling and provides a nice contrast to taste and consistency. Service was friendly and attentive. Interior was clean and welcoming. Only street parking is available, though, so be prepared!

    Katharine L.

    Came for a friend's birthday and we made a reservation for 4. There was only one other party in the restaurant for dinner but it was on a rainy night. So shared the duck appetizer, some tea, and ordered different noodles. The food was all very yummy but they are on the pricier side a bit. I could not finish my food as it was a good amount! Tea was also very interesting and flavorful. The vibes are kinda like a date spot. The seating is a couple tables and a bar like seating. Next time I'd like to order my tempura crunchies on the side of my soba so they don't end up getting soggy. Otherwise I really enjoyed it.

    Zaru soba with shiso sauce
    Luke Q.

    The atmosphere is clean and minimal, centered around a U-shaped bar that adds a welcoming touch. Near the entrance, a display of sake bottles sets the tone, offering a glimpse into the restaurant's curated taste. It feels like a great spot for a solo meal, especially if you're looking for something calm and thoughtfully prepared. We visited for a weekday lunch. With only one chef on duty, the service was understandably a bit slow, but still attentive. We ordered the special appetizer plate, along with two types of zaru soba -- one with shiso sauce and the other with tororo. While the appetizer plate felt slightly overpriced given the portion size, I appreciated the care put into each item. That said, the grilled rice ball and salmon could've been warmer -- possibly a result of limited staffing. The soba itself was excellent, with a pleasantly firm and tangy texture. The shiso sauce, however, leaned a bit too salty and thick for my taste, whereas the tororo sauce was well-balanced in both flavor and texture. After finishing the noodles, we asked for sobayu (hot water mixed with buckwheat flour), and once again, the shiso dipping sauce remained too salty to enjoy even when diluted -- but the tororo sauce paired beautifully with it, enhanced by the delicate sweetness of fresh wasabi.

    Zaru Soba with a side of chicken karaage
    Edward S.

    At Sobar, you're here for a calming experience at the U-shaped wooden live edge bar. As you listen to relaxing jazzy grooves, the team creates handcrafted soba noodles. Zaru Soba: The chilled soba is on a round bamboo sieve. The thin noodles have a subtle almost nutty flavor. They are firm and a little slick. The tsuyu is soy sauce plus dashi with a plate of scallions and a bump of wasabi. You pick up some of the soba and dip it in the tsuyu. The flavors are very precise, distinct, and understated. The friendly staff is happy to share their culture. They shared some new age sea salts for a non-traditional flavor boost. The salt flakes add jolts of yuzu and matcha. When the soba is finished, they'll bring a teapot. Pour the starchy white soba cooking water into the tsuyu so it becomes drinkable. The warm and savory soup is a comforting treat to end the meal. Chicken Karaage: The chicken is outstanding - plump and super juicy - as if they would burst. The big golden dark meat pieces are battered and fried to perfection. I could easily eat a bucket of these. Parking is bountiful in the adjoining residential streets. It's a joy to walk through this very calm neighborhood filled with blooming flowers.

    Kakiage soba (warm soba with fried shrimp, scallops and veg)
    Abba Z.

    Delicious soba. Chill environment. Prompt and helpful but not overbearing service. I had the Kakiage Soba and the Special Sake Sampler. Both exceeded my expectations and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

    Scallop Shisho Maze Soba
    Jonathan C.

    Came here for their anniversary celebration and was seated promptly at open. Overall consensus on this place is it's nice, clean, and simple. Although you do pay some West side mark ups for Asian food, the soba was still enjoyable. Their most popular dish, the Ribeye Niku Soba, skimped pretty hard on the ribeye but the scallop which was also the same price had just as much if not more protein than the ribeye. Would recommend this place only if you don't want want to go far from the west side for soba.

    Andy M.

    A small but very beautiful and clean restaurant specializing in soba. Their tempura is crispy and light, the agadashi tofu is perfectly fried and the broth delicious. The eggplant was an expected flavor bomb. So so good! I love a classic cold dipping soba. It's so comforting and SOBAR definitely hits all the notes. They have some interesting dipping sauces in addition to the classic. Some of the swings are a miss, but others work ok. Overall, an excellent soba place that I wish I had locally!

    SOBAR Premium Matcha-Hi
    Brian V.

    Relatively new spot (I think they have been open about a year or less as of early 2025) that specializes in soba noodles. With a pretty streamlined menu and a minimalist wooden decor inside a pretty small spot, this place feels like a cozy, sleek spot to grab some delicious Japanese food. Before coming here, my mind was already made up. I had to order the Kamo Negi Soba. I really wanted to savor the noodles and asked for the yuzu and matcha salt. I took small bites of the chewy, delicious noodles using the different salts and really trying to showcase the flavor before dipping the noodles in the broth. Such a simple, wonderful dish of beautifully crafted noodles. Minimalist like the surroundings at the bar. In addition to having the delicious noodles, we wanted to try a couple of the sides as well. We went with the nori-shio potatoes and agedashi nasu (eggplant). Both sides were very good and had wonderful texture. I'm a big fan of eggplant and that dish really hit the mark for me.

    Stewart L.

    I heard about this place through the LA Times. It's on the corner of Washington and Centinela. I found street parking 2 blocks away; the closest street has residential permit parking only, and there is metered parking on Washington. There was no signage on the restaurant before opening until they pull down a cloth screen that has the Sobar name. Next door is a vegan Japanese restaurant. I came for lunch. They take reservations by phone, but I was not asked if I had one. There was a single person in front doing everything. She was quite strict about where to sit. There is the main U-shaped bar in the middle, with another counter facing the wall and maybe 2 tables in front. Sobar specializes in ju-wari soba, made only from buckwheat flour and water. For weekday lunch, they offer their $35 Signature Sobar Lunch with Zaru soba (several soba and dipping sauce options) and 4 small dishes, in my case cabbage, salmon sashimi, grilled duck, shrimp tempura handroll. They also had a $17 Special Lunch combo (choice of soba and side + cabbage), or several a la carte soba options. I went with the Signature lunch. It sounded like a lot of food but it was not. The handroll was pretty traditional, but the salmon and duck were rather unique and delish. The cold soba was fine, I chose the traditional tsuyu dipping sauce with scallion and wasabe. I asked for yuzu salt (per the LA Times). I'm a soba novice, so I dipped the soba first in the salt and sauce bowl, then eventually just dumped the soba in the bowl and sipped up the leftover sauce like tea at the end. Perhaps Neanderthalic, but no one noticed or chastised me. The server, perhaps used to working alone, was an efficient whirling dervish, my meal was complete in less than an hour. I could have eaten more.

    Interior
    Priscilla K.

    Food 3/5 Service 3.5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Sobar is very average compared to its price range. We spent close to $170 for dinner and nothing wow-ed us. I don't mind paying for quality food that makes it worth its value. With soba, you can easily make it at home and to pay an exorbitant price for soba seems a tad unreasonable. The appetizers were also very average; they look nice, but the taste is nothing spectacular. They ran out of the matcha tiramisu dessert which was one main reasons I wanted to try this place in the first place. All in all, I'd say Sobar is overpriced for what they offer.

    Tuna and salmon hand roll

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian W.
    373
    3390
    1497

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Thank you for coming ! we look forward to welcoming back you soon

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kevin L.
    660
    1387
    1637

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lily R.
    0
    29
    22

    1 month ago

    I love this place. So fresh, kind servers, and absolutely delicious soba. Closest I've had to Japan.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    thank you for the review ! we look forward to seeing you soon !

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 7
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Abba Z.
    21
    29
    3

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lena T.
    0
    32
    26

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy S.
    331
    1762
    1454

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yuri J.
    294
    576
    1040

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris A.
    59
    162
    99

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Never had cold noodles but you also have the option to choose warm broth. Regardless, it was Delicious! Definitely will stop by again.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Masato M.

    Masato M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    SOBAR Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - SOBAR

    Does Sobar have alcohol beverages on the menu?

    Yes, primarily Sake, though there is also wine beer and some cocktail options.

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Uzumaki

    Uzumaki

    4.4
    (826 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Can't believe I've slept on this place after so many years in LA! Honestly only went because it's…read moreconveniently located right next door to my orthodontist lol. I don't think I've ever heard anyone rave about this place (or I guess they don't pay extra to show up at the top of searches ?). Went on a weekday for lunch and there were a couple of parties already waiting outside the door before opening time. It's an unassuming, minimalist space but feels cozy inside. They had very reasonably-priced lunch sets that were surprisingly filling. Nigiri and rolls were fresh, with balanced flavors. The Uzumaki set would have been fine by itself but we ordered a couple of rolls on top and ended up a bit stuffed. The ume shiso cucumber roll was probably my least favorite item. The plum was a bit too prominent and there weren't enough savory flavors to balance out the tartness. Everything else exceeded expectations. Overall would highly recommend!

    This is one of the best sushi spots I've ever been to, and as an LA native who used to work at Nobu…read moreMalibu, that says a lot! No reservations but worth a wait (but honestly, only ever had to wait 30-40 mins during peak dinner time on Friday once). It's a small space but it doesn't feel crammed, it's cozy and really well kept. The quality and freshness of the fish is impossible to beat. The nigiri melts in your mouth. The best part of coming to dinner here is their prefix meal options. When my boyfriend and I come together we never have to strategize what to get. I always order the Uzumaki & he gets the Uzumaki Plus prefix meals & we each get a miso soup. The ceviche sampler leaves you wanting more each time, the edamame starter is the perfect size, and with each bite of the nigiri I'm smiling and nodding my head in disbelief. You get to choose between two cut rolls with the Uzumaki prefix meals, either the crunchy shrimp or spicy tuna -- the shrimp is my favorite. We decided to try the chocolate donut with vanilla ice cream today and it did not disappoint. Now to the service -- we've never had better service. Each employee greets you with a smile, and as soon as your plate is empty or a piece of trash shows up on your table the staff immediately takes it away. I personally love eating the pickled ginger and some places can be stingy, not this place! Immediately they are bringing us more ginger, water, etc whatever it is, without us asking. It's incredible the attention to detail the staff has and they make coming back such a warm and friendly experience. The cherry on top? There's free parking in a structure attached to the building. We recommend parking in the structure over the street as sometimes there can be interesting characters outside. You know it's an amazing restaurant when you can't decide which is better, the service or the food! Go, you won't regret it!!!

    Photos
    Exterior signage.
    Exterior signage.
    Uzumaki +
    Uzumaki +
    Asahi Draft

    See all

    Asahi Draft
    Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City

    Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City

    4.4
    (150 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    When my friend suggested this restaurant, I didn't even look at the menu because I was like, well,…read moreit's Los Angeles. Even though I have dietary restrictions, I'm pretty sure there's going to be something on the menu that I could eat. Now when I got there and I saw the very brief menu, I was stunned and I was like, oh my gosh, I should've looked at the menu before I came here This looks like I'm about to be eating a bunch of raw fish. But to my surprise when I looked closely, I was able to see that there was a whole section of grilled foods and appetizers that I could eat. I ended up ordering: - the miso soup - the edamame - the cucumber salad (for appetizers) - sea bass - oyster mushrooms - shrimp - the ginkgo nuts Every single food item that I ordered was delicious. I was genuinely surprised by how flavorful everything was and I was particularly impressed with the sea bass and oyster mushrooms. These two dishes were phenomenal. I don't know how they made that sea bass so flaky and moist and just melt in your mouth but it was so good. I don't know what sauce they put on top of it but that thing was amazing. The oyster mushrooms were so good that we ordered two more orders of it. For the edamame, the only thing I didn't like was that it was served cold. I don't know if that's like a traditional way of serving it or something but I'm used to having my edamame be served warm or hot so that was unusual for me. The server was amazing, super attentive and very kind. He always made sure we had what we needed and there was even something that was mistakenly served to us but he took it off the bill and allowed my friend to eat it anyway so we were grateful for him. He was also really good at explaining the menu and the dishes that he liked. The vibe in here is social but a little classy. There were these ladies that were sitting to the left of us and one of them just randomly started talking to us and asking us if we were from the neighborhood, which was a little odd because... why are you asking me those questions??? Other than that the vibe was fine and I would definitely come back here again. One thing to note though is that the food is served kind of like tapas style so if you're expecting massive portions and to be stuffed to discomfort, this is not the place where that's going to happen.

    The seats are hard the food is good. They got my order completely wrong but everything I ate was…read moreamazing so I'm not upset the atmosphere is just OK it's not excitingly beautiful or wonderful but it's not a diner either and I would definitely go back but I would be very clear with them what I wanted and make them repeat it back to me. The quality of the food is really good

    Photos
    Albacore
    Albacore
    Special handroll
    Special handroll
    Salmon handroll

    See all

    Salmon handroll
    Afuri

    Afuri

    4.3
    (386 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

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

    Great vegetarian ramen options!…read more Would rate 5 stars, but I don't care too much for the trivia host. I found how they enforced the game rules unnecessary and rude. Hard not to use your phone especially as a parent for over an hour. One quick glance and was told to put my phone away.

    Photos
    Fresh noodle
    Fresh noodle
    Crispy Pork Gyoza
    Crispy Pork Gyoza
    Nigiri Flight https://order.toasttab.com/online/afuri-culver-city-9300-culver-blvd-unit-117

    See all

    Nigiri Flight https://order.toasttab.com/online/afuri-culver-city-9300-culver-blvd-unit-117

    SOBAR - japanese - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...