Very cool looking spot. I will say we came right after opening to grab some food before a lakers game so it was pretty empty and it looked like they were maybe setting up for the night. We got the wings, miso mac and cheese, and steak/filet bites. These were all on happy hour. The wings were really good. Small portion and small (little baby) wings but the sauces (yuzu something, and siracha honey) were super tasty! I had suchhhhh high hopes for the miso Mac and cheese but I wouldn't get it again. It's not very miso heavy and the cheese mostly on top. The inside/bottom part of the noodles were bland and needed cheese or cheese sauce. The steak bites were good but small. I guess normal size for a happy hour plate. Separately, the happy hour menu on their website is bigger than the actual one. So they need to change that asap. No curry on the HH menu currently :( The drinksssss were FANTASTIC. We got the purple haze and no name. Love the names LOL. I would do 3 orders of drinks to try all the interesting stuff they had if we had time. Soooo I won't rush back here but it was decent. Highlight was the drinks. Also happy to support a black-owned (I think) business! read more

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Came here with a group of 4 and we got a reservation online. Good - Each dish was so good! We even got a free biscuit and honey dish from the chef that was amazing, good flakey texture - Miso mac n cheese was so good - never had a dish like it before and we devoured it quickly - My dish was the chicken curry katsu - it was ok, I think 6/10 but I liked how it was clean and had a lot of healthy ingredients like veggies - I liked the shrimp n grits since they had a unique asian twist Bad: - The wait time was insane between dishes - we needed to wait about 30 min for our first dish, then another 30 min after to get our entree, so it was a lot of waiting between eating - Loud DJ playing in the back so you need to yell a bit to hear people Overall this was a cool vibe and a fun atmosphere and I think the food is worth going back for. read more

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This place is a complete vibe. The customer service is amazing. You feel like you are going to your family reunion. I went tonight for an event and it felt like a home away from home. The music is amazing too. The live DJ did great. People at the restaurant were friendly and welcoming. Make sure to ask for TJ too. TJ is beyond kind and truly has a phenomenal team. I saved the food for last. I had the macaroni and cheese which tasted so good. I plan to attend again in order to try more menu items. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here last night with some co-workers for happy hour and the place is nice! Great vibe, solid happy hour menu with good amount of options/prices. Got the obon cocktail which was yum. From the happy hour menu we tried the karaage, patty melt, miso Mac and cheese, biscuits, fries, gyoza. Biscuits were bomb! But the rest of the food was just okay, nothing bad but nothing really stood out in terms of taste/flavor (the Mac and cheese was kinda dry imo but other people at the table really liked it). We got here at 5p and not crowded/easy to get seated. By 7ish DJ started which was great music but harder to continue having conversation so just be aware of that if you're trying to come here to chat at that time. Our server was lovely and attentive. I say come here for a nice vibe and chill place to hang out with some folks and/or listen to some good music. But not necessarily for the happy hour food. Maybe the main menu items are better. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Wagyu Patty Melt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Go here for the vibes, food was great and drinks on point. Chicken wings a must! Matcha lemonade with tequila soju . Comfortable seating and chill tunes. read more

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Found this place as we were trying to get out of LA traffic on a crosstown drive, however you pay for the downtown location. Prices were definitely on the high side, even as the menu sounded interesting being Japanese-creole. Wings were tiny and not worth the price. The Shrimp and grits were pretty solid, not worth the price to add on the sausage. A little on the salty side though. The Gumbo Ramen sounded interesting, but failed on execution - Ramen noodles were overcooked and soft, I could have made better instant Ramen noodles at home myself. Gumbo had good flavor but seemed a bit too thin and liquidy for gumbo, also didn't include sausage which seemed odd when you consider how gumbo is made. Ambience was interesting...dark and moody, definitely more of a place to go for drinks, not for dinner especially given the prices. Recommend just going to Grand central market for food if in the area. Parking is street meters only. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Menu - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This restaurant came up as a recommendation on Yelp! and I couldn't wait to try it. Decided on Saturday to try to avoid traffic. We parked on the street (and didn't get a ticket). The restaurant is not in the best of areas. Keep your head up. Cute vibe inside including lounge chairs and the DJ booth. The music was great! Our server Savannah was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu selections. The owner, TJ, sat with us a minute to share her story after we asked. She remained busy in the kitchen and on the turntable. Cocktails were saki based. I enjoyed the Tiffany G and my friend liked the NoName. Food came out quick and looked appetizing. The Miso Mac N Cheese had a yummy crust on top and a cheese pull. However, nothing held the noodles together (e.g. no béchamel sauce). The curry had a delectable flavor. It ate like a soup or thick gravy. It was served with white rice and a piece of fried chicken breast. The chicken was average. The restaurant was 3/4 full when we left. Great concept. Friendly owner and staff. read more

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Loved the place. The food was amazing and the vibe was great. I couldn't stop grooving to the tunes DJ Choco Flan was spinning. Yes a licorice pizza spinning DJ. We had the miso mac and cheese along with the curry fried chicken. Try their mouth watering biscuits. TJ is the owner. Very nice! We will be co.ing back. read more

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TJ, owner, bartender, DJ is an excellent host. Great low ABV drinks. Chill atmosphere. Listening bar. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Good vibes, great music, delicious biscuits! Stopped by on a Saturday night to celebrate my best friends birthday. We tried a few drinks and sake. My favorite drink was the So Fresh, So Clean. The service was excellent. Shout outs to Kevin and TJ. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be back again. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Biscuits - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing service and vibes! The owner is hands on and very present which we appreciated. We ordered a hibachi item we didn't love, and she went out of her way to replace the item complimentary. She didn't have to do that! I'll never forget her grace and stellar accommodations! Extra bonus = the playlist was a b-girls dream! I'll be back! read more

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i saw a reel on instagram that made me want to try this place. went on a saturday night w a friend so parking was a little hard. they weren't too busy cause we went about an hour before they closed. the menu is pretty straightforward, they have vegetarian options as well. we decided to get the wagyu patty melt and the mac n cheese to share. we ordered fries not knowing the melt already came with some. the melt was so tasty and the mac n cheese was different in a good way. the lights were dimmed so it was a vibe. good music was playing the whole time we were there. i'd def come back to try other things and maybe some drinks! read more

Wax On Hi Fi - wagyu patty melt & miso mac n cheese - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went for happy hour with a friend on a Thursday, and this place is super cool. Love the live vinyl dj sets. The music was great and they had the NBA playoffs on via projector. Happy hour was a great time to go. Great drinks, fries were yummy and crispy , yuzu lemon pepper wings were yummy. Highly recommend! Bartender was on it as well. All staff were super nice. read more

Wax on Hi Fi was a 10/10 experience. The vibes were vibing, the owner was very kind and welcoming, and the food was on point. Everything we ordered was flavorful and nothing short of amazing. I'm praying this business stays open for the long run. Don't walk but run to this Japanese Creole fusion restaurant! read more

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This place has a nice vibe. Unfortunately if you're going to hang and chat the music does get pretty loud so hard to chat as a group. They have a delicious selection of fries, but not a ton of plant based / vegan options. read more

The space is cute but the food was only OK. Our server was pretty friendly. My bf suggested we come by since he'd had a nice meal for lunch when they first opened. I guess they have reduced their menu some since then because they had limited choices for things that weren't fried which restricted what I could eat. We got an order of their wings - flavorful but not particularly spicy. Gyoza - didn't taste like much with too much wrapper. Skewers - one each of the ribeye and shrimp - fine. Curry with rice and fried chicken - flavorful but Japanese curry is too sweet for my taste and this was no exception. I would go back to hang out and have a drink if they were doing a DJ night. read more

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We were staying down the street and walked by during happy hour to go somewhere else. I stopped and looked at the space and the menu because it all looked so interesting...and the Chef/Owner called out to us "we're having happy hour drinks now...come on in!" I would have right then and there, but there were 4 of us and I wasn't currently in charge. I told her "we'll be back!" So we went up the street & around the corner, had bad drinks, then came back cuz now I was in charge :-) When we walked in we were greeted so kindly, them saying "you did come back!" So glad we did. The whole place is for sure a vibe and the music was great. Ordered some drinks-I had the Obon & it was yummy. Shared the biscuits with hubby...don't even think on them, just GET them! I then had the shrimp and grits and the seasoning was perfect and I ate every last thing on my plate. As usual I didn't pay attention to what my table mates ordered but they liked them LOL. Anyway, just go and spend some time listening to vinyl and enjoying delicious food. read more

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Came here on a Tuesday after work. I love the ambience and music in this spot. I'd love to visit on a Thursday or Friday night! I bet it's poppin! The food and drinks are creative as well. I especially enjoyed the miso mac n cheese. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Tiffany G and Moscow Mule - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Vinyl & Food. This is a japanese creole fusion. I came for an Aliyah night however it was quiet dea. The resturant is cute has a lot of space. The staff was attentive and helped me with deciding what to get . The biscuits are a must try. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Fried chicken Curry (Japanese curry with jasmine rice and veggies) - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cajun Creole / Japanese fusion? Hell yeah. I've been by a few times and I had the curry & fried chicken, shrimp n grits, mac n cheese, and the glizzy. all pretty fire. I love the music that they spin. They have a DJ on most nights. schedule is listed on their Instagram. Keep in mind this is a small business. It's usually just the bartender and the owner working because... I mean look at this economy. So come with open hearts and be patient. The curry was p much a chicken cutlet and curry that had some sausage in it. Tasted like my mom's cooking. Loved it but also wish there were a bit more southern flair to it. The shrimp n grits were AMAZING. I was absolutely stuffed and I just couldn't NOT finish it! I completely forgot to take a pic but man. I'm def getting that again. Miso gravy was bomb. Mac and cheese was pretty good. I'm not usually one to like mac and cheese cause... it's usually too dry or lacking flavor but the miso really makes a difference. Glizzy gang... the sauces. the sauces are great and the bread is fire. Not sure what kind of dog they use but I feel like it had some cheese or something in it. I like that they have a decent selection of sake that you might not see at most places Overall, pretty chill place to kick it for a while and just enjoy some drinks and snack on some food. read more

Stopped in for drinks. And of course I can never see biscuits on a menu and not order them. I enjoyed them but I do wish they were a little harder(if that makes sense). I'll return soon to actually try a few dishes on the menu. Great vibe, ambiance, and service. The fact it's black owned is an added bonus :) read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great spot in DTLA! Live vinyl listening, flavorful and inventive wing flavors, and a great staff. Interior has an expansive bar, cool light fixtures and a really great vinyl display and DJ booth. Some cool menu items round things out and I think this is a must visit for foodies and music lovers. read more

Came here when it opened at 5, it was pretty empty but we were excited to try. The music was good and we were greeted by the server. He recommend a few of the most popular items.we ordered the wings,Mac n cheese ,& biscuits. The biscuits were fire and were better with the jam. The Mac n cheese was super cheesy and seasoned well. We had wine and another craft cocktail. Service was fast and friendly. I can't wait to return to catch the vinyl vines in the evenings. read more

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BISCUITS!!! That's it. That's the review. This place is a cute little vibe. Live DJ spinning real records, service was good, food was delicious, and drinks were really good as well. Definitely a spot to hit up if you're in the dtla area. read more

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Great food and chill vibes. It's a fusion of Soul Food and Japanese. The food is only out done by the chill vibes and RNB records they were spinning. Definitely stop by. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Menu - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Place was ok.. Curry wasn't flavorful. Wings were small and mid. Mac and cheese was solid. Biscuit was good. Music sounded good in here. I felt like I overpaid for what I got in return. 3.0 out of 5 for me read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Mannn where do I start! From the food, the vibe, the music , Tj! Everything was so good. I had the wings ( yuzu & Siracha honey) & the miso Mac n cheese! Both items were fire! Cooked perfectly and the flavor was a 10. My husband had the shrimp tempura po boy and he said it was one of the best if not the best po boy he's had. The drinks were great too my favorite is the Pure Honey, the ginger sets it off. The atmosphere/vibe is perfect, the live dj and love jones playing on the wall was top tier. Can't wait to go back! read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Miso Mac n Cheese - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Edit: The owner wanted to disagree on how many people were seated. I included photos showing three guests at the bar and two tables seated to my left. The first time we came I was really hopeful. The ambiance and menu look immaculate, and they were! Unfortunately we waited 15 minutes or more to have our drink order taken. After ordering appetizers we waited 30 min until our server came back to say they were backed up on the biscuits but those would be coming out shortly. We ordered another round of drinks but those took about 20 min to come out. Mind you there were only two other tables seated. When our second round of drinks came out we were told that the biscuits were on the way! At this point we had already got our mains (which still shouldn't have taken an hour from when we walked in) but the food was delicious! 90 minutes after arriving the owner came out to apologize and told us the biscuits were only 15 min from being ready! We were so confused why no one seemed to know how long these biscuits were going to take but at this point we have waited so long. The biscuits finally came out when my friend was leaving and they tasted good, just not worth a 2 hour wait. I came a second time because I really wanted to give them a fair shot. It was a weekend and a little busier at the bar. The drinks still took an eternity to come out and service was more or less non-existent. If you need anything you will have to flag someone down. We did not get utensils with our food and had to flag someone twice to get those. All in all the food and drinks are great. Prices are reasonable. Ambiance is excellent. After reading other reviews I see there is a systemic problem and a disconnect from the FOH to the BOH. I really hope they can figure this out but seeing as some of the reviews go back six months or more my guess is they are operating as efficiently as the owner knows how. read more

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love love love this spot! the space is low key, beautiful, food is creative and tasty - pairing so well with the array of cocktails, and music vibes are on point. plus lovely service. We loved chatting with the warm, inviting owner and come back whenever possible. 20 stars! read more

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Let me start by saying the owner is lovely and I really do hope that critiques can make this place even better because it has so much potential. Service: We made a 7:30 reservation for a Saturday night and got there around 7:40. We stand at the hostess booth for about 5 minutes bc there is no hostess. The bartender sees us and says we can just grab a seat anywhere. We don't see our server for about 10 minutes, he says he'll bring us water. It's another 20 before he takes our order and says he'll bring us water again. The bartender ends up giving us water. It got to the point where the bartender was serving and the one server they had on staff was rolling silverware since he clearly couldn't put in orders quickly or move efficiently. The tables that were there well before us were waiting for food, drinks and even utensils! We didn't get served our entrees until 8:44 & 8:54. Food: Mediocre. The miso honey biscuits were dry and I swear the jam on the plate was smuckers. You couldn't really taste any miso or honey. Those were $7 so not awful just not a must have. We got the shrimp and grits with miso gravy. PLEASE see the picture. We got the egg and bacon bits on the side but honestly for $26 I expect more. There was NO southern flavor and the miso gravy tasted oddly like ketchup. The PoBoy which came with furikake fries was $25. Again PLEASE look at the picture. The po boy was okay, you couldn't taste the southern influence but it wasn't bad. The fries were under cooked and under seasoned. We had canceled this order but they gave it to us anyways which is very gracious I will say!! Ambiance: GREAT music! Very cute vibe and not too dark. But it's hard to enjoy it when you're hungry and all the tables next to you are equally unhappy. I talked to the table next to us who was also disappointed and had cancelled their order to just get the check. All in all I'd say go for the music, maybe order one drink and maybe an appetizer and see for yourself! Southern cooking in LA is hard to find so I truly hope this place can learn and grow! read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Shrimp & Grits - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was really excited to try this new fusion Creole Japanese restaurant and wanted to support a black owned business but this restaurant experience was horrible from the beginning. We had ordered the fusion fries and our server stated we would be upcharged for both flavors which is fine but then he didn't serve us what we ordered. Secondly, and this is what ruined our appetite for the rest of the evening was we were served RAW chicken wings. The entire inside of the the chicken wings were raw and it wasn't just ONE wing it was multiple. When our server came and we told him he made a disgusted look and took the food back. He didn't tell us what was going to happen or ask what we wanted as a solution. Honestly, we wanted to close the tab and leave but then he came back and said the owner is making new wings. I get the owner was trying to make it right by remaking the food and serving us a complimentary round of shots but serving completely raw chicken is unacceptable. The server also came out with the tab stating he just comped the fries?? My friend spoke to the owner who tried to make it right but come on now. There can be serious consequences for serving raw food and to only comp the fried only? The table next to us even left when they saw us receive RAW food. My friend also got a bacterial infection called campylobacter and had diarrhea for a week. DO NOT EAT HERE read more

It was a slow afternoon, and I had just left the Last Book Star when, low and behold, Wax. The chef was playing old-school music when the waiter approached. We ordered food that came out quickly, hot and delicious. The chef/owner stopped to check on us when more people were coming through. It was a vibe. I will be back. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Miso Mac & Cheese - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came in during Broadway Night Lights for a quick bite and a beer. Food was so good, ate more than I should've but walked away happy and fat. Success! read more

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Very Creative Concept with a Unique Menu that requires several visits. I got the Glizzy and the Karaage Chicken Tenders. Both Delicious! The Sauces are to die for. Honey Sriracha, Yuzu Lemon Pepper, and Wasabi Buffalo. Very Friendly staff and Passionate Owner/Chef who actually lives in Downtown. The atmosphere is intimate and laid back, the music is fire (tame impala!!) I really think the community needs this spot and other spots l;ike it and I am so happy that it opened. The location is very close to where so i will be back so get the shrimp and the grits ready for me!! read more

Right across from the Last Bookstore; this space itself is very welcoming + the DJ had some great choices playing in the background. I was impressed with the appetizers, and can't wait to try the rest of the menu (need the pancakes in my life). My girlfriend & I ordered the Yuzu Lemon Pepper wings, Veggie Gyoza, and a few drinks including the Junmai sake. Not to mention the owner went out of her way to chase us after I left my bag behind! The effort and inspirations are clear here and we'll definitely be back. Wishing TJ and her spot much success. read more

Wax On Hi Fi - Yuzu Lemon Pepper Wings & Veggie Gyoza - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I live a block away and hoped for the best even though I saw the ambiance lacking horribly. Asked the bartender what's the best win on the menu and he said it's all a win. I double dog dared him over the shrimp and grits. Christ it's the worst shrimp and grits I have ever tried. The place is like a high school dance in Oklahoma. Please don't waste your money or time here even though it helps my neighborhood. The sake was okay and the staff polite. The food was horrifying and crowd Denny's at best read more

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IT'S A VIBE! Seriously tho this place is really truly a treasure. Decor is amazing. So many different pockets for you to cozy up in depending on your vibe. You can sit at the bar, a table, cozy lounge areas or post up next to the DJ booth. The place is conducive to pretty much whatever you're in the mood for--solo date, friend catch up, brunch date, happy hour decompress, dinner date, special event, watch the game, shimmy shimmy yah. I love that it really feels like a spot for all the creatives to come be inspired and chill. You can post up and have a drink and sketch, finish that watercolor painting, write the next chapter of that book, look at one of the many art books, etc. The vinyl wall is lovely and full of gems and different nights have different themes so def check out the IG to see what's poppin. There's so many fun gizmos and gadgets so if you're a visual person you def will be excited to peep all the cool things throughout. I should probably get to food and drinks. All superb. Obsessed with the fries with both Cajun and Furikake seasoning. Wings are bomb too. Will def have to come back to grub forreal forreal. Everything looked delicious and I could tell people were enjoying their plates. Last but not least. TJ the owner was super nice and hospitable. Really welcoming vibe and just made it feel like an inclusive space for all. All other staff members were nice and welcoming and friendly too. Easily my favorite spot in dtla. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

So delicious and such a cool vibe! Jambalaya Ramen and Chicken Curry were so yummy And great service as well!

Really cool, laid back vibes in this bar. Interesting sake and shochu based cocktails. Japanese fusion menu. Atmosphere is casual and relaxed but very hip. Feels a little like you've stepped into a real life Tokyo tones filter. Great hangout spot and the bartenders are so friendly! read more

Very inventive fusion of Japanese favorites with a soul food twist. The skewers were great, as was the patty melt, the chicken curry was very tasty but a bit soupier than I'm used to but still worth trying. Nice vibe inside and the owner hung out with us for a bit and seemed very cool. Would for sure go back read more