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    WAKABA

    4.9 (55 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - WAKABA

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    Miso Eggplant
    Sheana L.

    It's only going to be a matter of time before this place is poppin'. They're located on La Brea with a ton of metered parking spots and a paid parking lot right next door. Everything we ordered was excellent and the service was impeccable. Our server was so kind and anticipated our every needs. -Wakaba Plus: what a great deal! Fresh fish, perfectly sliced and delicious -Jidori Chicken: the JUICIEST chicken thigh with a really great chimichurri sauce on top -Agedashi Tofu: This is hands down the best agedashi tofu ever. The broth is rich and savory. It comes with mushrooms and eggplant - so hearty and warming. -Miso Eggplant: Eggplant is tender and that sauce is sweet, a little thick and DELICIOUS. -Vegetable Tempura: the lightest, crispiest batter with perfectly cooked vegetables. The tempura dipping sauce is drinkable. Their lunch menu also looks like a great deal. Highly recommend visiting Wakaba!

    Estele K.

    Food 5/5: hidden gem, they had soft openings and everything was super tasty even sautéd mushroom. Fatty seared salmon belly #chefskiss. Service 5/5: my water was never empty once lol great service! Ambiance 5/5: quiet, dimmed, nice date spots. Street parking, wasn't too hard. Highly recommend!

    Cold beer!!!
    Jorge S.

    Came for lunch, this place is a gem, fresh delicious sushi served and very cold beer. Service is excellent, loved their miso soup [is good different]. Definitely will come for dinner. *Marinated wasabi root? Goes amazingly delicious with the fish. Brian is great, well knowledge of sakes.

    Great lunch special (not shown is the miso and edamame that comes with it) all delicious
    Angela P.

    Highly recommend supporting this new small biz. Everything is really high quality, the service was excellent and vibes are so relaxing. Would come regularly if I lived nearby.

    Wakaba go

    Such a great experience at wakaba. The service was impeccable everything came out in a timely fashion. The sushi is top tier quality for a very reasonable price. Will definitely be back!!!

    Shrimp Tempura
    Jessica W.

    Came here for an early dinner and was *very* pleasantly surprised! I'm a little bit of a sushi snob coming from working at different sushi restaurants and eating the entirety of LA's choice places. First off, I don't think there was anything I didn't like. Food is fresh and there is a level of finesse and care that you can see and taste! All the sauces are also very good.. the Miso Eggplant.. my god. If you slapped some noodles or rice on that, I would go back for more hands down. Also, I could eat a boat load of the Hamachi Carpaccio. The jalapeño ponzu the chef makes is incredibly fresh!! And I'm suuuper picky with ponzu :') I absolutely love the Izakaya/tapas style of Wakaba, and also enjoy their lovely ambiance too. The interior is rustic and clean. It's a great spot for a quick lunch, or a nice dinner date with your friends and loved ones. Service is kind, friendly, and attentive. It's upscale but without it being in your face if that makes sense? I've been to Nobu, and don't get me wrong, service is great, but sometimes you just want a nice quiet dinner without being interrupted too much, and Wakaba does a great job that. I really appreciate that great level of service. Anyway, I know that was long. I hope this place gains attraction because it's definitely something special! THANKS FOR READING Y'ALL.

    Fries, eggplant miso, and takoyaki.
    Claudia G.

    Excellent happy hour! Nice ambience and great service. We had the sunomono, the takoyaki, the eggplant miso, the fries, and sausage, and everything was delicious. Wish we lived closer so we could come back more often!

    Edamame

    Absolutely my favorite sushi spot in LA. The fish quality is incredibly fresh, and you can really tell they care about the details. Even the miso soup comes with soft tofu, and the seaweed salad comes with scored cucumber. But the best part of this place is definitely the fish quality I wish this spot getting more popular!!!!

    Tuna, yellowtail, seared salmon nigiri

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Much needed sushi restaurant in the neighborhood! The fish was amazing quality and the staff is awesome. Love this place :)

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Fantastic food and overall great vibe. And all the staff here really seemed like they cared about us. Great addition to the neighborhood

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Really great vegetarian/vegan options. Though my husband is not, I am vegetarian so nice to have lots of great options for both of us.

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Food, Service and Ambiance was amazing! I had such a good experience, so excited to go back!

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    6 months ago

    everything tasted so fresh and amazing!! the yuzu cheesecake was delicious will be returning soon

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - WAKABA

    Taberu - Our Signature YASAI MAKI. Fresh Veggies Wrapped in Pork Belly, Beef  with Vegan Options and Grilled to Perfection.

    Taberu

    4.0(333 reviews)
    6.4 miArts District, Downtown

    My family and I had an amazing experience at Taberu! When we visited, it was only the second day of…read moretheir new Michelin-chef curated menu...such a pleasant surprise! Our server ended up being the manager, Savior, who was just great. He took the time to explain everything about the menu to us, answered questions, and really made me feel like we were VIP's! The restaurant is moody and dark, perfect for a date night. The menu has entrees, but also many small plates so we did a variety of both. Drinks: Kiwi sorbet high 5/5 Taberu rice lager 5/5 Small plates: Fried yam potato, ikura cream 4/5 Crispy pork belly crepe 5/5 Uni kiritanpo 4/5 Yakitori omakase 4/5 Entrees: Kobujime salmon and ikura 3/5 Grilled A4 Wagyu 5/5 Grilled lamb 6/5 (our favorite dish we got) Hitsumabushi (grilled unagi and rice) 5/5 All of the dishes were plated and served beautifully! I would 100 times recommend the crispy pork belly crepe, yakitori, and grilled lamb.

    Came here on NYE because a friend was spinning that night. The space is on the smaller side, but…read morethe vibes are on point, intimate, energetic, and I can easily see it getting packed on a regular night. They were running a limited menu for NYE, which I wish had been the full lineup, but honestly everything we ordered still hit. The small bites were solid, and the ramen was comforting and flavorful, definitely enough to make me curious about what the full menu looks like. Currently working on convincing my wife we need a return trip. What really makes TABERU stand out is the concept behind it. It's backed by top restaurateurs from Tokyo who collectively own over 200 restaurants, all coming together to bring street-level Tokyo flavors to LA. The name "TABERU" ties into Sandaiyokkyu, the three major human desires, with the focus on shokuyoku, the desire to eat. That philosophy actually shows in the food: simple, intentional, and satisfying. Their chefs from Tokyo created a menu you don't really see elsewhere in LA. Signature dishes like the Yasai Makis (fresh veggies wrapped in pork) sound incredible, and it's great to see vegetarian and vegan options as well. Short version: great atmosphere, solid food even on a limited menu, and a concept that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky. Definitely coming back to experience it properly.

    Photos
    Taberu - Tan Tan Ramen in peanut butter miso sesame soup

    Tan Tan Ramen in peanut butter miso sesame soup

    Taberu - Hōjicha Pudding

    Hōjicha Pudding

    Taberu - Tiramisu

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    Tiramisu

    Budonoki - Aburi Salmon

    Budonoki

    4.6(373 reviews)
    3.4 miEast Hollywood

    Budonoki is easily the best meal I've had during my most recent trip to LA. In my party of four, we…read moreshared the following dishes: two orders of the spicy tuna handrolls, two orders of the negima -- "jidori chicken oyster with negi", a scallop crudo, a curry pan (two pieces to an order), a charred Japanese sweet potato (three pieces to an order), an order of aburi salmon (six pieces to an order), budo-"gnocchi" -- made with rice cakes instead of actual potato gnocchi, wagyu zabuton -- prepared as steak frites, and a few cocktails. Although their menu is regularly updated and posted on their website, they'll also have a piece of paper on the table listing on the special of the day. On our visit, the special was fried yellow tail, but we ultimately passed since our order was already loaded. After you place your order, the dishes are coursed out so not everything hits the table at the same time. Pacing was perfect and service was polite and attentive. Of the items we ordered the crowd favorite was the fries from the steak fries dipped into the sauce of the budo-gnocchi dish. The fries were effectively a perfected version of the McDonald's fry: golden and crispy, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The wagyu was sliced into beautiful bite-size pieces and was melt-in-you-mouth tender. Definitely a must order! Another favorite of mine was the Japanese sweet potato. The surface of the potato is beautifully brûléed, there's an intense richness from the glob of miso koji butter on top, and the chives add a nice freshness to the dish. I cannot recommend Budonoki enough if you're a foodie. Seriously some of the best food I've had in LA.

    Wow! Just delicious! Everything was amazing, but the budo-gnnochi surprisingly took the cake! Just…read morea ball of flavor and wonder! A true party in your mouth. We mixed steak with the budognoochi, and it was terrific! I will be back! Phenomenal service!

    Photos
    Budonoki - Interior

    Interior

    Budonoki - Quarter sheets x TOMATO PANZANELLA: munak ranch heirloom tomatoes, focaccia croutons, chickpea-miso dressing | $18

    Quarter sheets x TOMATO PANZANELLA: munak ranch heirloom tomatoes, focaccia croutons, chickpea-miso dressing | $18

    Budonoki - Seafood pancake

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    Seafood pancake

    HATCH - HATCH.  Bacon Wrapped Shishito & Chicken skewer.

    HATCH

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    5.1 miDowntown
    $$

    PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! 4.8…read more Hatch is located on the ground level of The Bloc, an open-air shopping center in downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant offers outdoor seating overlooking the lovely green turf and provides tall heaters for cooler evenings. My husband made lunch reservations here and told me it was just a quick 10-15 minute walk from our hotel, The Ritz-Carlton. We crossed a few intersections to get there, and it was well worth the walk. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a warm and welcoming host. The ambiance is light and airy, featuring high ceilings, light-colored walls, and light wood furnishings. The overall aesthetic is clean, modern, and very inviting. We stopped in for a late lunch and ordered the "Eggcellent Lunch" prix fixe, which included the following: *Tuna Tataki Handroll ~ seared wild caught tuna, tomato & shallot salsa, rayu chili oil, ponzu, micro cilantro *Seaweed Salad ~ w/minced garlic. Served alongside the Tuna Tataki Handroll *Squid Ink Karaage ~ 2-day brined fried chicken thighs, squid ink, house pickles, grilled lime, black garlic ranch *Chicken Breast Skewer ~ char siu marinade, black sesame *Bacon Shishito Skewer ~ applewood smoked bacon *Chicken Meatball Skewer ~ sous vide egg yolk & tare dip Bottom line, everything had visual appeal and was packed with flavor! If we lived locally, we would definitely return for dinner. I have no doubt the rest of the menu would be just as tasty, and I can only imagine the restaurant coming alive in the evening with a lively crowd, happy diners, and a well-stocked bar.

    Hatch is situated in an outdoor mall and is a very nice space. The food we had here was fantastic,…read moredrinks are also strong and yummy. They served each thing we got pretty quickly. Still did not feel rushed. Bacon-wrapped Shishito- 5/5 sooo yummy my favorite bite of the night. thigh + green onion- 5/5 a classic, delicious and not too heavy. Chicken meatball- 5/5 I was surprised at how much I liked this one. Very juicy but not overwhelmingly meaty. Porkbelly- 5/5 another classic very yummy and i liked the wasabi? they put on top white prawn- 0/5 : this was NOT good. my only skip of the night left a gross fishy flavor in my mouth. I did not enjoy mushroom party- 5/5 i love mushrooms so I adored this one. Great assortment. Ribs- 4/5 very sweet would suggest getting a veggie to cut the sweetness and richness. Overall very yummy. A wonderful experience. I would love to come back. The drinks were also strong and yummy!

    Photos
    HATCH - HATCH.  Modern, clean lines.

    HATCH. Modern, clean lines.

    HATCH - HATCH.  Tuna Tataki handroll.  Delicious!

    HATCH. Tuna Tataki handroll. Delicious!

    HATCH - Soft shell crab taco

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    Soft shell crab taco

    kodo

    kodo

    4.3(568 reviews)
    6.9 miDowntown

    The inside is low lit & gives an elevated ambiance. Service was fantastic and very attentive. We…read morestarted with the pacific oysters & spicy tuna crispy rice. The pacific oysters are a good size and I really enjoyed the yuzu-kosho ponzu sauce on it. The spicy tuna crispy rice have a good amount of spicy tuna on top & I loved how crispy they made the rice underneath. The Kodo trio comes with uni, toro, & wagyu and the Toro sampler comes with o-toro, chu-toro, akami. All of these handrolls were phenomenal & just left you wanting more. The Wagyu katsu you cook on a hot stone at the table which I liked as an interactive dish. The Wagyu cheeseburger was dripping with juice but still had those crunchy edges. The Uni pasta was beautiful & delicious. The Chimichurri prawns I could eat multiple plates of- the shell comes sliced down the middle so you just have to peel it off. For dessert we ordered the Kodo basque cheesecake & Miso chocolate torte. I love a basque cheesecake & the sesame crumble added great texture. The miso chocolate torte made me wish I ordered my own. Everything from start to finish was amazing, it's hard to pick favorites. Parking- valet $13

    I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!

    Photos
    kodo - Inside Dining Area

    Inside Dining Area

    kodo - Toro carpaccio

    Toro carpaccio

    kodo - Entrance Seating

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    Entrance Seating

    WAKABA - izakaya - Updated September 2026

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