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    WaBa Grill

    3.5 (144 reviews)
    InexpensiveFast Food, Asian Fusion
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order WaBa Grill Takeout or Delivery

    WaBa Grill Photos

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    WABA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - WaBa Grill

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    Brown rice veggie bowl with green onions

    Excellent kind service! Employees take pride in the food quality, presentation, preparation and cleanliness of the store. Picked up a bite at Waba Grill today. I was so pleasantly surprised, with the care taken to prepare and the presentation. It was so great and delicious. It was almost too pretty to eat... I quickly moved past that and was deliciously and delightfully yummy satisfied. Melrose and Western location!!! Maria and Fransico are awesome!!!! Beautiful and kind and they take great pride in their work!!!!! They made my day. Stop in. Give them a try enjoy! And let them make your day too!!!!!

    Everyone left to talk after I told one of the staff members what had happened
    Ryobi W.

    HEALTH ALERT! We are sitting in The lounge ordering online when one of the staff drops a knife picks it up and continues to open a gallon jug of some sauce or is it into separate containers with lids on them and it's what they use to put on your order I wasn't gonna say anything but I definitely think it is a health hazard: suuuuper gross We come here several times a week.. definitely won't be coming back.. This is after one of the staff members who is typically quiet was rather rude. Gave it the benefit of the doubt bc it hadn't happened before, the place is usually very clean and staff is friendly. And if this gets back to the restaurant, you can check your cameras at 5:23pm in the front the kitchen. I'll see woman drops blue utensil- looks like maybe a knife, picks it up and resumes her duties with that SAME utensil. And salad was old and slimy...

    Avacado Mania
    Travis P.

    Normally I don't expect too much from chains but at least from my experience here was pretty solid. The food looked pretty and I was there to check out that new avocado thingy that gives you like half an avocado. Service was fast and ordered via the app. Water was on the side so just ask for cups. Beside the sketch homeless people outside this location ain't bad haha

    The string which waba grill employees made me lean on
    Elias P.

    The lady made me touch a line divider very unsanitary i was ordered by the cashier to lay my stomach on a black string after i saw someone else lean on it very gross i put up the string which waba grill employees made me lean on, everyone in this neighborhood will be passing their germs through this rope i hope it ain't the rona virus i hope the city's health inspector notices and rectify this issue

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    4 months ago

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    Andrea B.

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    1 year ago

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    SoCi M.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    WaBa Support Center G.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Nick is always really friendly and cares a lot to give good customer service! Food is bomb and I come here all the time.

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    SoCi M.

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    3 years ago

    I like the beef bowls better at the Yoshinoya restaurant because they're bigger than the ones at Waba grill and they taste better too

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    WaBa Support Center G.

    Lopez, thank you so much for this fantastic review!

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    3 years ago

    Rude cashier wiped her hand with a napkin and put dirty napkin on my food bag. Would recommend this place to anybody.

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    SoCi M.

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Waba Grill T.

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    4 years ago

    This is a relatively cheap & convenient spot to pick up & eat some decent food.... Although, they're not perfect.

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    Page 1 of 4

    WaBa Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - WaBa Grill

    Majordomo

    Majordomo

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    4.8 miChinatown
    $$$$
    Takes reservations
    Large group friendly

    RSVP for 5PM dinner…read more Parking: Ample Public parking right across the street $10. Brick & Mortar: seated inside - Clean, bright and yet very cozy vibe. Service: very hands on, everyone kept refilling our water glasses. Really appreciate them. The dishes came in accordingly and right on time, one after another. We ordered quite many dishes and desserts. -:- All were made fresh and cooked/baked perfectly. It's really hard to cook ribs perfectly. But this place did it! A lot of people think that "fall off the bones" are the perfect way for ribs dish. But actually that is incorrect. If you're curious of how perfectly made BBQ ribs supposed to taste like, feel free to come to this place. They'll show you how it should be. -:- this place made the best with all fresh ingredients. I never liked spread before. But here, they made their tuna spread from fresh ingredients and not from canned ingredients. If you'd like to know how good a spread tuna spread tastes like, this is the place to go! And don't get me started with their bread. Talking about fresh! They make cloud bread (my opinion). Deep fried cauliflower: first, they boiled/blanched the cauliflowers perfectly, breaded and deep fried. If you'd don't like veggies, you have to come here and get this dish. The sauce, they made it from fresh lime juice! Not from any bottled ones that majority restaurants out there use for short cuts. This including their tomato salad. Will we revisit? Yes! 1000% many many many more times!

    Cool warehouse turned into restaurant, although there's not a lot of a/c to go around on a hot day…read more Service is excellent- we were indecisive, so we relied heavily on our server to put together the meal. We ordered: Mushroom crispy rice- strong umami dish, rice was crispy and the poured over broth was delicious Yellowtail slices- the passion fruit marinade was something we haven't seen on a carpaccio and we enjoyed this as a light appetizer Bing with ricotta, jam, and chili oil- this really stood out, definitely a must have at this restaurant. Great mix of flavors. Smoked pork chop- we wouldn't normally get this, but the waiter suggested it and we ultimately trusted him. Probably the best pork chop we've ever had. It was perfectly cooked, with tender meat and fat that melts in your mouth. The coconut milk in the collared greens was also a nice touch. Yuzu lemonade- they must be squeezing this fresh in the back, it took a while to come but it was so good. Love a more tart drink, and this was a perfect palate cleanser between dishes. This was more than enough for two people, we both ate to our fill and had enough for one lunch the next day. Not sure if it was intentional, but all dishes came out individually. I think some things (ie rice/pork) would have been nicely paired together so that you can balance your palate and pace yourself better. Also, a bit pricey for what you're getting, but to be expected from a celebrity chef's restaurant in LA. I will say that the chase sapphire credit helped my wallet digest it more comfortably (and the sapphire gift side dish was a plus!) Overall a great experience that I would like to have again with more bing and some new dishes.

    Photos
    Majordomo
    Majordomo - Boiled Whole Chicken with rice, domojang, ginger scallion, and soup.

    Boiled Whole Chicken with rice, domojang, ginger scallion, and soup.

    Majordomo

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    Enchant - Pasta

    Enchant

    4.2(403 reviews)
    1.7 miKoreatown, Wilshire Center
    $$

    Been here twice, almost just see if the first time was a fluke...it wasn't…read more This little place, hidden in the lobby of a hotel, is fighting above its weight. A gem, just across from The Wiltern! There are places nearby with lines...skip them, come here! Bulgogi quesadilla? Amazing. Kimchi steak taco? Not soggy, steak is lean, pico de gallo is perfect counterpoint. Street sandwich? Comfort food. Tortilla pizza? Fantastic (but get the sriracha mayo and Tabasco to accentuate the positive). Beverages? Dynamite. Whiskey with fresh strawberry puree? As good as any tiki bar. Gin with lemonade and lemon cello with sparkling water? Delicious and dangerous. Not for nothing, service has been great both times Highly recommend, looking forward to coming back again!

    My gfs and I decided to try this spot for brunch to celebrate a birthday. The interior of this…read morerestaurant is super cute and well decorated. Photo worthy for sure. The menu was pretty extensive, which we appreciated. Lots of options to choose from (apps, handhelds, salads, pastas, entrees, etc.) and since we're foodies, we ordered a ton of items. Here's what we tried: KFC (Korean fried chicken)- very tasty and crispy. Chicken was moist and it came with a sweet/garlic dipping sauce. Plus a side of radish. This would have been great with a beer. Bulgogi quesadilla- we really enjoyed this app. It came with a dipping sauce that paired well with the sweetness of the bulgogi. Highly recommend this one! Toowoomba pasta- . This was our favorite dish. It's one of those dishes that you'll want to replicate at home. Beef & cheese- this dish was good, but the meat was overcooked. We were also hoping that the meat would be more tender. 7/10 Fries & sweet potato fries- came out a bit cold, so we had to send the fries back to be recooked.

    Photos
    Enchant - Follow @Phoebe_eats on Instagram for more content

    Follow @Phoebe_eats on Instagram for more content

    Enchant - Biscoff Einspanner

    Biscoff Einspanner

    Enchant - What's your favorite seafood dish--let us know in the comments!

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    What's your favorite seafood dish--let us know in the comments!

    Star Leaf

    Star Leaf

    4.4(965 reviews)
    10.7 mi
    $$$
    Fine dining
    Full bar

    Atina And Connor best waiters. Super kind and helpful when it came to ordering. Really enjoyed the…read morefood

    Star Leaf, in Pasadena, is a wonderful Thai restaurant that has a unique and attractive menu. The…read morefact that they were participating in Dine LA was a trigger, to make another visit there for lunch. I tried to invoke the dinner menu, but they were not willing. Not a problem, the lunch menu was equally enticing. A 2-course offering for $25. I started with the Thai Prawn Ceviche. This course was wonderfully balanced, not too acidic, also a nice touch of sweetness and plump flavorful prawns. For the main, my selection was the Beef Truffle Wok-Seared Noodles. I was delighted that they were round noodles and they arrived at my table stirred in a dark sauce with sliced beef pieces on top. A small porcelain decanter was also supplied, containing the truffle oil. I poured it over my noodles. The beef was tender, moist and could be cut with the usual provided table knife. The whole dish was a winner, from start to finish. Service here, as expected, was well executed. Need to be aware of the parking though. There is a public garage around the corner that is advertised for this establishment and a few others. Problem is, that Star Leaf validates only for 1-hour, while their neighbors do so, for 2-hours. I addressed this issue with the manager at my last visit and this time too. The answer I got was not convincing to suggest that they care, or will do something about it, anytime soon. Oh well.

    Photos
    Star Leaf
    Star Leaf
    Star Leaf - Saigon Summer  Rice Paper Rolls

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    Saigon Summer Rice Paper Rolls

    Sampa - Kare-kare tamales

    Sampa

    4.4(727 reviews)
    5.1 miArts District, Downtown
    $$$

    Located right in the heart of the Arts District, Sampa is one of those LA restaurant that's trendy,…read morehigh‑end, and still feels warm and welcoming. The kind of spot where you walk in and immediately think, Yep... this is where you bring someone you're trying to impress. The ambience hits that perfect balance of modern, moody, and stylish, a little sexy, a little artsy, and fully date‑night certified. Service was on point the entire night, for my experience, maybe cause they know I was was going to tip very heavily. Ha ha ha. Which ai did by the way! Staff was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable without being pretentious. The team here knows the menu inside and out, and they guide you like they're curating an experience rather than just taking an order. Drinks topped off, plates cleared smoothly, pacing perfect. High‑end feel without the high‑end attitude. Let's talk about the food. Filipino Fusion Done With Swagger Ribeye Salpicao, This dish is straight-up dangerous. Tender ribeye cubes seared with garlicky, buttery goodness, the kind of salpicao that makes you rethink every bite you have. Rich, savory, and addicting. If you don't guard your plate, someone at the table will steal a piece. "Because I know I would!" Rockfish Pritong, it was crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and seasoned like someone's Filipino auntie whispered the secrets of life into the batter. Bright, punchy flavors with that perfect crunch. Definitely a sleeper hit. Crispy Duck Pancit, This one is wild, pancit with a crispy duck twist that somehow feels both comforting and elevated. The noodles soak up all that savory duck richness, and the crispy skin on top. Wow, a moment of silence for how good that bite is. Papaya Salad, so fresh, bright, and refreshing. A perfect palate reset between the heavier dishes. Crunchy, citrusy, and balanced, the kind of salad that actually earns its spot on the table. Grilled Eggplant Salad, smoky, silky eggplant with a char that tastes like it came straight off a backyard grill in Manila. Light but flavorful, and a great contrast to the richer plates. Pasta Palabok, a true Filipino classic reimagined. Creamy, savory palabok sauce wrapped around pasta instead of noodles, bold move, but it works. The textures are luxurious, and the flavors stay true to the original. Tare Tare Tamale, definitely one of the most creative dishes of the night. A fusion tamale with tare flavors that hit sweet, salty, and umami all at once. Soft masa, rich filling, and a flavor combo that makes you pause mid‑bite. "Mmmm hmmm!" Hamachi, so clean, fresh, and beautifully plated. The kind of hamachi that melts instantly and makes you feel fancy even if you're wearing sneakers. Of course I had my dress shoes on. It has bright citrus notes and just the right amount of heat. Sampa nails the high‑end, artsy vibe without feeling stiff. Trendy lighting, modern décor, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy fun. Perfect for date night, anniversaries, or when you want to look like you know the cool spots in LA. Sampa is Filipino fusion with confidence, bold flavors, gorgeous plating, and an atmosphere that elevates the whole night. If you're trying to impress your significant other, celebrate something special, or just treat yourself to a killer meal in the Arts District, this place delivers. "Always remember the energy you give ...is the energy you receive. One bite at a time! " Miguel C.

    We came here during DineLA week. $55 for 4 course menu. It is our first time here but we had tried…read moretheir kare-kare tamale and ube cheese cake at food festival... so, we were quite excited to dine here. The menu is simple but creative, perfect blend of Filipino and Spanish cuisine. Inasal cesar salad: calamansi dressing is refreshing. Grilled chicken is perfectly grilled add a nice twist to the salad. Kare-kare tamale: signature dish. The braised oxtail is so moist and tender..the veloute sauce is milky. Bucatini and rigatoni are also so yummy. We can't decide the winner. Bucatini is spicy. Rigatoni is milky and buttery... so you decide. Grilled escabeche white fish: the fish is moist with crispy skin. Ribeye is melt in my mouth. For desert, panna cotta is a.perfect ending of a beautiful dinner. Every dish.is beautifully presented. The service is impeccable. There is paid parking across from the restaurant for $10. It is probably one of the best meal we had this year. If you have not been here, Sampa should be on your bookmark to check out.

    Photos
    Sampa - Bar area

    Bar area

    Sampa - A perfect bite of the ube cheesecake

    A perfect bite of the ube cheesecake

    Sampa - Crab omelette

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    Crab omelette

    Ryla - Korean Spare Ribs

    Ryla

    4.3(591 reviews)
    16.2 mi
    $$$

    Had an amazing dining experience here at Ryla!…read more MUST get the Hokkaido milk bread to start. Came during dineLA so some people in our group opted for that menu - was a great way to sample their most popular dishes. I opted for the Meiji Soymilk Miso Ramen - such a unique take on ramen I had to try it. The broth was so creamy and could not tell dairy was not used. The blistered green beans were so flavorful and crispy as well. Everything was delicious and came out super hot. Came for a birthday celebration and all the staff signed a birthday card which was very sweet - a fun personalized touch that I haven't seen at other restaurants. Definitely a nice place that will make celebrations extra special!

    This place is missing that something special.... The service…read morewas horrible!!! We waited 20 minutes for a glass of water and our cocktails were watered down... they sat too long before they were served... We waited for plates, silverware, and delayed service continued throughout brunch. I actually had to turn around to a set table behind us and get plates and silverware. I was excited about the menu only to be let down Food was average at best- We ordered- Taiwanese Crepe- 0 - this was delivered with what we were told a thick soy sauce. It was laughable. A heavy crêpe with cheese, egg, and a chunk of bacon, hoisin sauce mixed with some soy sauce. This was a joke. Scallop roll-0 Dragon roll - 8 A dozen oysters- teeny tiny & tasteless! Pork belly eggs Benedict- Kudos for the toasted airy bread Pork Belly was dry, This was part was really odd. One of the poached eggs was hard and the other was perfectly done with a runny yoke. Hollandaise is minimal and not a lot of flavor. Chicken Karaage was decent but I don't get the sauce they served with it ! I was SO disappointed in the Japanese pancake. It is not cooked correctly. It's more cake like. So let's add horrible service with average food...no need to come back. One more added note. The heavy hard chairs are so uncomfortable. The booth side is better.

    Photos
    Ryla - Front - hostess area

    Front - hostess area

    Ryla - Hoikkado Milk Bread

    Hoikkado Milk Bread

    Ryla - Fields Forever

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    Fields Forever

    WaBa Grill - hotdogs - Updated September 2026

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