Budonoki is easily the best meal I've had during my most recent trip to LA. In my party of four, we shared 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. read more

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Parking is hard to find. I came in expecting more authentic flavors but it's more of a fusion Americanized type place. Maitake salad: tasty but it was extremely salty Negima: too sweet Aburi salmon: this actually made me mad because this is one of my fav sushis lol. the salmon had black pepper on it... there was fish also in the middle which is not usual for oshi sushi...it made it fall apart... the wasabi was sweet (?!) Cute place for drinks (they have really cute cups for some of the drinks) If you are looking for Japanese food I wouldn't pick this place. read more

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Wow! Just delicious! Everything was amazing, but the budo-gnnochi surprisingly took the cake! Just a 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! read more

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Decided to try something new and this little gem was closest to our other arrangements. Apple Maps took us down a mini market at the opposite side of the street, so it can easily be missed depending on what direction you're coming from. It's on the corner, right next to the $14 valet , which you should probably do since street parking is nonexistent. We arrived right after it opened and it was almost full. Luckily, we got the last indoor table and were sat immediately. We really liked the dimly light ambiance inside. Everything we drank and ate was delicious. All the dishes are meant to be shared, which made everything fun to eat. We're not necessarily playing with our food but there are some dishes that you put together yourself, which I thought was a fun touch. The servers were attentive and informative. Our table was kept clean and all dishes were delivered at the appropriate times. read more

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I really enjoyed Budonoki! Ambiance was chill/casual, loved their R&B playlist as well. It was kinda dark inside, but didn't take away from the food. There is valet parking for $17 OR street parking. It can be a little tricky since the area is busy. Service was great, and food came out pretty quickly. It was just me and my friend and we ordered (6) dishes. Portion sizes are on the smaller side, but it was perfect for us. Curry Pan - Absolutely loved it and probably my favorite. It was packed with so much flavor and the aji verde sauce paired well with it. The bread was so fluffy. Spicy Tuna Handrolls - Fresh ingredients, and you're gonna have to hand roll these yourself! I would have much rather preferred they come rolled already. Maitake & Arugula Salad - Super refreshing salad and added a great balance to our meal. Charred Japanese Sweet Potato - OMG I loveeeeed these sweet potatoes! Who would have that chives paired so well with it? Scallop Crudo - We really enjoyed this dish A LOT. The cilantro vinaigrette paired with slices of pear gave this dish such a refreshing taste. I'd definitely order this again Tokyo Banana Soft Serve - A big portion to share and tasted just like the actual Tokyo Banana from Japan. Overall, a great place and I definitely recommend. Enjoy! read more

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Ambiance: Casual/Dress-up Service: Sit-down -- Super friendly staff. The staff is really knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, very attentive, and fun and conversational. They definitely add to the experience and make you feel comfortable asking questions or getting recommendations. Drinks: Fun and refreshing. Joshikai: Refreshing and on the sweeter side, but really good. If you like the mug and decide to take it home, there is a $150 fee. Food: Fun Japanese fusion. Lots of creative dishes and flavor combinations, with familiar Japanese dishes given a fun twist. I recommend: Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls: Comes in a bowl with rice on the bottom and seaweed paper on the side so you can make your own hand rolls. Fun way to eat it and you can make each bite as big or small as you want. Yakisoba: These noodles are really well seasoned from the sauce and wagyu. Lots of flavor and definitely something I recommend. Negima: Chicken skewers that come with a sweet and savory sauce. The sauce adds a really nice flavor to the chicken and makes this an easy one to order. Soft serve: must try Their homemade ice cream is delicious and captures the essence of the strawberry flavor. Parking: Street/meters. There is ample street parking around the area, but make sure to read the signs carefully because the restrictions can vary. read more

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Great vibes and a perfect spot for date night. This place is tucked away in silver lake area of LA and this whole place was a vibe. The staff here were trained really well. The hospitality was second to none. I felt I was taken care of the whole time. However, the food here was mainly just hype. What we ordered: Spicy tuna handroll - not that great. Look, you're in LA... you can get kazunori for handrolls that can taste better than this. The whole DIY handroll was a great concept but the whole dish was lackluster. The rice was bland, needed vinegar. The tuna quality was mixed too much with sesame oil to the point that you couldn't really taste the fish. The tempura flakes were also kind of unnecessary. Soft shell crab - absolutely delicious. This is a seasonal item... so if you see this, order this. Love the coconut milk broth its cooked in with all the aromatics. Naem - really good. I loved it when you stack the crispy rice, thai pork, and the salad together. The whole thing was salty, sour, spicy... absolutely delicious. I just wished there was more Negima skewers - solid but drowned in too much sauce. I felt like these were good on its own. The negi was juicy and had a lot of flavor. I liked it more than the chicken pieces Budo gnocchi - waste of $30. Don't even get this. The whole dish didn't make any sense. First of all, this dish took forever to be sent to us. The flavor of this was just tart with not much seasoning. The foam cheese didn't really do anything. I think it would've made more sense if it was a blanket of cheese on top. I really don't get the hype about this dish. Strawberry soft serve - super super tasty. It's a great ending to your meal. It was so good that I felt like my wife and I should have gotten our own. The creamy texture was perfect and it was not too sweet. Overall, this is a 4/5... hard for me to say this is a top 10 in LA though. For a menu thats small, we just expected all the dishes we ordered to be great. read more

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Amazing food and service! It's been a while since my husband and I had a dinner we thought was great from start to finish and can't wait to come back. For dinner, I honestly loved the seating outdoor compared to inside (it was a warm summer night). Food I can't wait to order again: tofu & tomato salad, charred Japanese sweet potato - both of these sound so simple but are truly amazing. We also loved the budo-gnocchi, aburi salmon, and naem pork sausage. The negima was not worth the price imo. Can't wait to come back! Recommend getting a reservation and ubering or doing valet; street parking is tough. read more

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When I say everything was 10/10 im not being dramatic, very expensive very cute and very delicious little spot. I wish I could wat here weekly but im telling you its pricey. Irregardless id say go here for a date night or a celebration its got a very romantic setting and the service A++++ she was very attentive. I left there with a happy belly and a happy experience read more

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First time here! We were here for dinner and we love the cozy, dimly lit ambiance of the place. Alyssa was nice, friendly and helpful. She helped us understand the menu and the size of servings. Everything we ordered was delicious! We had salad, Agedashi Tofu, 6pc Wings, Sweet Potato fries, Salmon, and Steak. The only thing I didn't like is the 4% service charge they added to cover for the medical expenses of their team. And mind you, this 4% also gets taxed! So you're really paying an additional over 4% more (4% + 9.75% of that 4%). They said you can have it taken out and this is not gratuity. I''d rather be generous with gratuity especially if the service was good than help pay for benefits that I think should be the employer's responsibility. Until I am comfortable asking our nice server to have it taken out, which I probably won't, I most likely won't be back! So the low 3-star rating is because of this. Everything else is good. This addtl charge just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. read more

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Budonoki is fun, dark, lit by a neon glow, and packed. At the center, there's a huge L-shaped bar where you can have great drinks in cuddly animal mugs. Along the walls, there are also little tables where you enjoy phenomenal small bites and beats so good they have a Spotify playlist. This izakakaya's grill skews toward Thai and Japanese creations, and items that don't normally receive such attention from live fire. Naem: This plate has instructions from the chef. You are supposed to break the crispy rice balls open, place a slice of the fermented Thai pork sausage on tip, and cover it with the herby slaw. You end up with little "open face sandwiches" that highlight the different textures. The rice is hot and crispy with red chilies. The mortadella colored sausage is cold, gelatinous, and squishy. The slaw adds fresh crunchiness, tangy citrus and minty flavors. The best bite in town delivers excellent textures and flavors. Charred Japanese Sweet Potato: Do believe the hype. Is this a dessert or a treat? It's the best thing on the menu. The bite sized squares of yellow sweet potato have a luxuriously thick slathering of butter, miso koji, and chives, which is so rich it's almost like a savory frosting. The sweet potato is expertly grilled with a slight smoky char. The potato is so dense and creamy, my mind thinks of pound cake, pudding, custard? Parking: There's street parking a few blocks away in the residential neighborhood. read more

Budonoki - Naem - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was a little concerned about the portion sizes since everything is labeled as "snacks" on the menu, but everything was so good! The SPICY TUNA HAND ROLL comes deconstructed, so you have to assemble it yourself, but it was still delicious. I loved the MAITAKE & ARUGULA, CURRY PAN, and the CHARRED JAPANESE SWEET POTATO. For dessert, we had the TOKYO BANANA soft serve, which was a fun way to end the meal. The restaurant has a dark, intimate bar-like atmosphere that adds to the overall vibe. ENJOY! I was really lucky and found street parking. There isn't any valet, so I'd give yourself enough time to find parking. read more

Not your typical izakaya - this place is INCREDIBLE. Great unique food options. The small plates make it great for trying multiple dishes, but are big enough to share. Our servers are friendly, accommodating, and very knowledgeable about their menu. I love coming back here for a late night vibe. read more

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The food, the ambiance, the drinks...all of it so well curated at Budonoki. This restaurant offers Japanese style bar foods with an elevated twist. Everything we ate was delicious. My favorite dishes were the zabuton and sweet potato. For dessert you can't skip out on the soft serve. read more

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Having been hunting to get a reservation here, we finally made it on the Memorial Day! Entering the venue for first time got us stunned as we totally didn't expect this kinda bar-ish vibe LOL. It's pretty impressive though, especially amidst summer when dinner time was still bright outside then suddenly entering the venue felt like transported us into a venue with minimum lighting. It's pretty packed as early as 6pm-ish with almost all tables occupied. The servers were all so nimble though in taking orders and waiting time was relatively short. As the concept was more like Tapas bar, we shared some dishes, most of which were those from their popular ones. We started with Spicy Tuna handroll, so fresh and tasty with just right amount of everything. Then we got the Charred Sweet Potato, which totally worthed all the shoutouts from different review, being so so good with savory touch from the miso butter perfectly paired to sweetness from the sweet potato. From the bigger portion selection, we got the Iberico Char Siu, super juicy thinly sliced and well-seasoned pork. The only downside was the sticky rice side being tad dry. Not to forget, skipping their dessert was illegal! The Tokyo Banana softserve was like perfection. Despite the banana tasted more like flavoring, really hooked by the peculiar salty hint within the mix. We just couldn't stop digging into the cup! read more

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Not worth the hype. Food was below average, limited and overpriced for what it actually is. Vibey but not recommend for food. Japanese Sweet potato was some absurd price and you can get better quality and quantity and price at Hmart - cooked and served warm. Steak meat was chewy. read more

I was recommended this spot for aburisushi and oishizushi. I came on a weekday night and still hade to make a reservation. Parking on the side streets is free and not too difficult. I ordered salmon and shrimp aburisushi, a diy handroll set, and yakisoba. Once the food got to my table I realized that the aburisushi is also oishizushi, which was a huge plus. I loved the seared taste of the salmon and shrimp and the box shape making it easy to take double bites. The insides of the rice also had their own respective filling. Yakisoba that is like an okonomiyaki without the gooiness. It was very enjoyable though I could have done with any meat aside from their offered wagyu. The diy handroll was a fun concept but otherwise just exactly what I expected from making my own handrolls, an absolute mess. It did taste good but nothing special or memorable. For dessert, I ordered both ice creams thinking it was gonna be small. These two cups were huge and I could only finish about 80% of each before tapping out. Overall, great food for a decent price. If I'm ever in the area, I would come back but I don't know how bad the walk in situation is. I also heard about their kichikichi omurice collab but unfortunately wasn't able to make time to go. read more

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Wow. Lately it's been hard to find a restaurant that genuinely surprises me, but Budonoki proved it's still possible. This was easily a 5-star experience for both the food and the exceptional service. We came in without a reservation, put our names on the waitlist, and were seated in about 30 minutes. Definitely worth the wait. We started with the tuna handroll, except it's not really served as a traditional handroll. The fresh tuna comes in a bowl surrounded by crispy, crunchy rice, with nori sheets on the side so you build each bite yourself. Super fresh and such a fun way to start. Then came the chicken wings -- to die for. So flavorful and Korean AF in the best possible way. Probably one of my favorite dishes of the night. The salmon rice was good, but honestly nothing too special compared to everything else we tried. The wagyu pasta, though, was incredibly rich and packed with flavor. Then the wagyu empanadas surprised me all over again. Such a unique combination and flavors I really haven't had anywhere else. We ended with the banana ice cream and it was the perfect ending. But I have to give just as much credit to the service. Beyond exceptional. Everything was extremely organized and the entire staff worked like one team. Just because we had a waiter didn't mean only that person took care of us -- everyone was helping, checking on the table, clearing plates and bringing things out. It genuinely felt like we were welcomed and taken care of by the entire team. Budonoki is exactly what I've been missing lately: creative food, unexpected flavors, fresh ingredients and service that actually adds to the experience. It's rare for a restaurant to surprise me this much anymore, but this one did. The ambiance matched the food perfectly. The space is dimly lit, dark and cozy, giving it an intimate feel without trying too hard. It's the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to settle in, order a bunch of dishes to share and stay awhile. read more

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the steak frites were to DIE for. I would come back and order it twice if I had to! Staff here were superb with amazing hospitality. The vibe inside the store was unique and really set the tone for our dinner! Will be back read more

Budonoki - Steak Frites - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We weren't expecting much from the spicy tuna hand roll, but it ended up being one of both my husband's and my favorite dishes of the meal. The tuna was fresh with the addition of crispy garlic, making every bite delicious. Our other favorites were the naem and the yakisoba. read more

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When the waiter said to order 8-12 dishes for a group of 4, she wasn't lying HAHAH. Those are quite small plates. We got two yakisobas to help fill us up. Cute interior inside, great for a date night. I like the orange and blue light fixtures above the dining tables. read more

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Listed on Top 100 LA restaurants for 2025 definitely worth the hype! Casual, fun, and yet elevated dining experience makes the food so enjoyable. Each dish is made to be more finger food and fun to eat. | F O O D | Spicy Tuna Handroll 9/10- DIY perfection! Curry Pan 10/10- Rich, flaky, give me 19 more of them Aburi Salmon 6/10- didn't enjoy the pepper on top, but overall flavor was good Sweet Potato 7/10- Delicious just a little much after the curry pan Soft Serve 8/10- Have their own soft serve machine and you can tell with how good it tastes! Martini 7/10- Server recommended and pretty good since I dislike martinis Girls Night Out 5/10- Way to sweet, but cute is just too cute! | O V E R A L L | Will 100% be back to try their other dishes as everything on the menu sounded amazing! The atmosphere is one of a kind fun to go on a date, with friends, or after work dinner! Every drink and dish is fun creating a nice talking point and just gets better the more you drink. read more

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They have valet parking here that's $17, and there's not mich street parking around so plan ahead if you visit this restaurant. It's a cozy and intimate vibe. Good for a nice date night for some drinks and apps. It's a bit pricey but their food is really good so I wouldn't pass this place up. Service is great and it's a good spot to just hangout. read more

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Came here for an early triple birthday celebration. Service was attentive and we were seated outside which was nice. The noisy level was a lot lower than inside which allow for a more intimate dining experience. Everything we had was excellent. My favorites were the scallop Crudo and Handroll. read more

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Had such a great experience that I can't wait to go back again. We had a table for 4 at 5pm on a Sunday and while it was empty when we got there, by the time we left it was packed. The inside was small but the music and vibe was just right. I was a little worried about the menu because my husband is picky and the menu itself is small, they call it snacks on the menu. However, there is a variety of options for everyone. We ordered the wagyu twice! That tells you how good it was. Other must items are the spicy tuna hand roll and Japanese sweet potato. The hand roll is really cool because you make your own hand roll. Will be back to try other options on the menu! read more

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Amazing vibes all around here! Dark lighting and sophisticated ambiance. Our waitress was SO sweet and described the menu in detail for us. The food was incredible. This is definitely a spot to try. The sweet potatoes were the best I've ever had and the chicken had such a great flavor and crunch as well. Will be back!! read more

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Excellent food and vibrant bar atmosphere. This place is a great place to start a weekend night. Every dish we order was delicious. Some dishes Iike the crispy nem is worth ordering doubles. I will be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

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It definitely lived up to our expectations and had an amazing time. Parking is around the area is not great. Luckily, we were able to find a street parking uphill. I believe they have valet parking. The restaurant's interior is modernized and functional. The moment we went inside, it's like we are transported in a different place until you step foot outside. The music choice just doesn't match the setting, it was rock and rap. Food was great. Our favorites are: -Mushroom Arugula- dressing was good but I still tasted the bitterness of Arugula. -Curry Pan- the breading was soft and fresh and the curry was delicous. -Budo Royale- it's their special for the night, it's a bowl of wagyu and otoro. They were fresh, generous portion and melts in your mouth -Naem was good, I enjoyed assembling the pork, veggies and crispy rice and dipping it on a fish sauce. -Sweet Potato was probably my list favorite. I'm not a big fan of butter. It was very buttery. -We added Negima and it was a great idea. The chicken was so tender and tasty. - Desserts . We had the Tokyo Banana and Strawberry Milk, huge servings and they tasted so good to cap off the night. Service was great. My glass of water was never empty. The only thing I didn't like is that they add 4% on your bill to help cover the cost of health benefits of their staff. You could ask them to take it out though. read more

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Budonoki is such a fun little spot. My boyfriend and I came with his brother and his brother's girlfriend while they were visiting. The perfect place to fuel up before salsa and pretend we didn't just eat our body weight in small plates. We sat outside on the patio and it was soooo fun. A smaller bilevel space but they somehow make it work and can still fit big parties. There was a really huge birthday dinner next to us but they didn't seem crammed at all. The service also really stood out. Super personable staff who read the room well. They were so attentive without hovering. We shared a bunch of plates and everything hit: ** Curry pan (rich, cheesy, very hard to stop eating) ** Negima skewers (good on their own but the sauce makes them way better) ** Charred Japanese sweet potato (simple but so flavorful) ** Budo-gnocchi (favorite of the table, we kept going back for "one more bite") ** Yakisoba (savory, perfect to share) ** Tokyo banana soft serve (so delicious. Literally no Plenty of free 2-hour street parking on the hill nearby, you just have to hunt a little unless you get lucky. 10/10 would come back. read more

Budonoki - Exterior - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Loved the food and ambiance in here. The service was also very friendly and helpful. Standout dishes for me were the spicy tuna hand roll, the sweet potato, the scallop crudo, and the banana soft serve. The banana soft serve is a must order!! read more

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spicy tuna handrolls ($15) - im usually not a big tuna lover because it's less juicy and fatty than a good old salmon but this was surprisingly REALLY YUMMMY - tuna was well seasoned with spicy mayo and the chili crisp added a fun, crunchy texture - i like the diy hand roll concept - every bite was with a nice amount of flavor, refreshing, chewy from the rice, and crunchy - a must! charred sweet potato ($12) - flavors and texture were not what i expected! - it was nicely mushy, blended with miso butter; abundance of chives on top - sweet and savory - not too heavy and i enjoy it as an appetizer or snack negima 2 skewers ($17) - this was BEYOND my expectations because i always feel like skewers are so expensive for something so short, tiny, burnt, and mid - HOWEVER, this was exactly the opposite; while it is still expensive, everything on the stick was juicy whether it was the jidori chicken or the scallion - skewer itself was already flavorful so i avoided the sauce on the plate as it was a bit too salty for my liking - a must order! It was just so impressively juicy and tender with great flavors scallop crudo ($24) - juicy! Solid appetizer although i feel like the cuts can be thicker and more fresh - i especially liked the slices of citrus pairing; it didnt feel extra but a nice complement to the smokey, strong green sauce on the side - ive had better crudo but this was pretty good still yakisoba ($19) - i love noodles omg although i dont know why the noodles here were cut very short LOL and it is on the softer side - the sauce was really yummy; sweet and savory; i believe it's okonomiyaki sauce or something similar; on the saltier side so itd be nice if they just lessen the amount of sauce - the texture was slightly crunchy with cabbage and veggie which i liked - wagyu was tender - not a must order because you can make this easily at home and for way cheaper! 6 pcs wings ($15) - i got enticed by the soy garlic hot honey flavor but the wings from bbq chicken are lowkey better - still a good, tender, juicy wing, but nothing memorable or impressive than your average wings that you can make at home rating: 4.5/5 - ordered 6 items and everything was solid! Of course there are areas for improvement but they're not anything jarring that would lower my rating for this spot - it is also extremely rare for me to like everything i order at a restaurant so the quality is definitely there - super friendly and genuine service! Server took her time to explain and accommodate us - casual date night tapa vibes; not your typical bright japanese izakaya spots but more so a dark, moody bar vibe, which is cool - would recommend and come back to try other items! IG: @nom.noms.only read more

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After getting adjusted to the dim lighting I had a Lovely dining experience. The menu is meant for sharing. You can sample their various sakes. I would recommend. Parking can be tricky. read more

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Utterly disappointed. I was really excited to come here for date night with my gf and I was hyping up the place on the drive over because of the reviews I'd seen on social media but soon I realized that it was all just hype. The dishes were all just okay, nothing particularly special. The budo-gnocchi was probably the biggest disappointment for me. It was a glorified tteokbokki and frankly wasn't that good. Service was friendly but sadly I was not a fan of this place. read more

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My friends and I visited on a Sunday night and it wasn't too busy. We made reservations ahead of time and were seated right away. The space is small, with dim lighting, bar seating, and tables along the side. We started with drinks and I ordered the Girls Night Out cocktail and it was delicious! For food, we tried the spicy tuna hand rolls which were cool to prepare ourselves and the scallop crudo which came with a great, flavorful sauce. The biggest surprise of the night was the sweet potatoes which were warm and buttery. The service felt a bit rushed but overall would recommend to give it a try. read more

Budonoki - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Fun, cozy, and lively izakaya with a great Asian fusion menu. I forgot the bartender's name, but he was friendly and very helpful with both menu and drink selections for my husband and me. We ordered the agedashi tofu, yakisoba, grilled pork jowl, yellowtail sashimi, and Washugyu beef tataki (the last two were from a special menu). Everything was well executed, though some dishes leaned a bit too bold or sweet for our personal taste. It's slightly on the expensive side, but we loved the creative and interesting take on each dish. Definitely looking forward to coming back to try more. read more

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Budonoki is truly one of a kind in LA. From the Asian fusion menu to the location and ambiance, everything about this place feels completely different from anywhere else I've been, and in the best way. We were beyond impressed with the food. Between the two of us, we tried about eight different dishes because the menu looked so good, and honestly, we would have ordered even more if we had a larger group. We absolutely loved seven out of the eight items. One standout was the make it yourself spicy tuna hand roll, which was one of the best I have ever had and easily one of my favorite bites of the night. The one dish we did not enjoy was the pressed salmon sushi. It did not taste how we expected, and it was seared, which was not mentioned on the menu, so we stopped after one bite. That said, the chicken wings were some of the best wings you can find in LA, which really surprised me. I never would have anticipated that from a place like this. The menu is incredibly unique yet consistently delicious. On top of the amazing food, the service was wonderful. Everyone was incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating. When our server noticed we did not finish the pressed sushi, she initially assumed we were full and offered a to go box. When we mentioned that it was simply the one item we did not enjoy, she graciously removed it from our bill without us even asking, which truly speaks to the level of service here. I highly recommend Budonoki. It is perfect for a date night, a small or large group of friends, and I would absolutely bring family here when they visit. It is one of those places you just have to try for yourself to truly understand how good the food is. read more

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Really a bad experience here from the top to bottom. First we were quoted a 30 min wait which was fine. We decided to wait outside (as there is no waiting area) however there is no awning or cover from the weather. It happened to be pouring rain the benches they have were soaked. There is no close by parking and we had already valet our car... Next to the food. Starting from best. The wings are very delicious and honestly would probably come back to just to order wings for pick up. Hand roll set. It came in a small portion bowl. With fish and "waygu" and a raw egg. Very small sliver of wasabi. The beef was incredibly tough and stringy. The fish was nice and decent. To get more wasabi from our server is like going out to catch a fish..... you might just get a bite. My boyfriend on the other hand while I was eating my handroll bowl was waiting... and waiting and waiting for his food. The noodle dish he ordered came 20 mins after I finished my food. The dragon roll was filled with bones with hard white rice. Nothing to be desired there. It's a loud place with 2000 music playing more of a dive bar vibe. Not a nice sushi restaurant. I wouldn't return. We were very glad to leave. read more

Budonoki - Not much waiting area outside. - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

3.5/5 Tasty food but I think the menu could be expanded a bit more before I return. I think the concept here is more bar driven but the food has a ton of potential. Unfortunately the menu is small and I think I tried everything that piqued my interest. All dishes were flavorful and worth a try! Aburi Salmon (3.5/5) Flavor spot on to the ones I had in Vancouver but they fell apart before making it to my mouth. Agedashi Tofu (3/5) Fry was fine but I prefer a softer/silken tofu and this one had a medium firmness. Charred Sweet Potato (5/5) My favorite! Well executed with a creamy interior and crispy separated skin. Budo-Gnocchi (3.5/5) Perfect cook on the rice cakes but wish it were cheesier and less truffle. I saw the mushrooms but didn't really taste them Negima Skewers With Sticky Rice (4/5) Sticky rice here is a must for me to balance the strong salty flavor on the skewers. Very juicy chicken and an enjoyable dish! Found neighborhood street parking. read more

We were craving izakaya and when we found out one of our favorites was booked, it was a pleasant surprise to stumble onto Budonoki. It's not your traditional type of izakaya, as when you step in the decor is quite hipster and definitely not traditional Japanese music is blaring. The food speaks for itself though, as each small plate packs flavor and a different vibe. Spicy tuna rolls, the "budo-gnocchi", jowl, and steak frites were our favorites, with good texture and flavor profile. Not to say that the rest were bad, but our table didn't have any complaints about the dishes. Cocktails were well-made (mocktails for those who didn't drink alcohol as well, and not overly sweet). Street parking is difficult to find. Would recommend overall. read more

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Walking in the vibe of this place is fantastic. Between the big open bar and casual seating with nice decor you feel welcomed. The drinks are fantastic we had the girls night out and spicy marg. Both good in their own ways. We liked everything for food there wasn't a single dish I wouldn't get again. But the standouts were definitely the sweet potato, negima, and spicy tuna hand rolls. The miso butter on the sweet potato is delectable - almost like dessert. The tempura in the hand rolls adds a lovely crunch. And the sauce on the negima has so many flavors. All in all this is a must stop in LA for great shareable eats and drinks. read more