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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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

I appreciate the small menu so much! I loved every dish and thought everything was made very well!! I especially enjoyed the elevated naem and the skewers. Will definitely be coming back to explore their cocktail menu more. Also important note! They have valet here which is soo appreciated since it's rough trying to find parking. read more

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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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

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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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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LOVED Budonoki! It everything we ate was AMAZING! The vibes were amazing, the restaurant isn't super big but the atmosphere was great. We arrived right at 5pm when it open since we didn't have a reservation. Highly recommend the sweet potato, the steak and the sushi (honestly you can't go wrong with anything you order). The staff was all super attentive and kind, can't wait to go back! read more

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We dined at Budonoki with a group of 10 for a surprise birthday party. The staff here was SO great. They got excited for us for the surprise and were all hyped up about it. The food was a prix fixe menu and it was really great. It was $70/pp + tax, tip and health service charge and it was totally worth it. They brought everything out family style and it was all great. My favorites were the chicken wings and the salmon sushi. Drinks were a la carte so people paid for what they ordered specifically. I would highly recommend planning a big group event here. The outdoor patio is so nice and we had a great time. read more

Made a last minute reservation on a Monday. Wasn't too busy on weekday. I think this place gets busy on weekends. Came here to celebrate anniversary dinner. It was pretty good. Very attentive staff. Food came in orderly and efficient manner. Got maybe 5 dishes, but was still hungry. I eat a lot. My favorite was the spicy tuna roll and the curry pan. The Budo-Gnocchi was overpriced. Didn't taste that amazing. The Negima skewers were aight. Nothing too special. Scallop crudo was aight too. Overpriced, but good experience and good service and good food. Eat before you come unless you wanna drop $300. Was able to find free street parking. There's valet though if you wanna pay. read more

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SO GOOD. Food was absolutely amazing, I love the shareable portions because we got to try more dishes! Drinks were outstanding, my boyfriend and I tried the Daiquiri and Awa cocktails- both were light and refreshing with great flavor. As for the food, everything was delicious. They had a few specials and was glad to try their new dish- a smoked fish dip with marinated ikura and homemade chips, I'm still thinking about it! Also tried the yakisoba, negima (chicken skewers), miso butter sweet potatoes, chef's salad and salmon sushi! Everything was delightful, and dessert was also great. Our server was also very nice and helpful and had great food recommendations. There's street parking around the neighborhood, you know the vibes. They also have valet as an option. Great spot for date night or get together with friends with awesome drinks and food! Can't wait to be back. read more

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Everything was incredible from the service to the food to the ambience. Definitely save room for sake and dessert!

Budonoki is the perfect place to catch up with friends over delicious bites and tasty cocktails. Although the restaurant is always bustling, it still manages to feel intimate, whether you're sitting inside or outdoors on the patio. The patio stays pleasantly warm with multiple table-side heated lamps. Service is attentive without hovering. All of the food is delicious, although the plates are a bit on the smaller side. Our favorites were the scallop crudo and charred Japanese sweet potato. The drinks are also inventive; we enjoyed the Girls Night Out for the depth of flavor and cute mugs. Parking can be challenging, but we all managed to snag street parking on a Saturday night around 7:30. There is also valet parking right next to the restaurant for $13. read more

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The outside of the place was very deceiving however when you walk in it's almost as if it's a hole in a wall spot! Very modern and dim on the inside but very aesthetic. There were two of us and the waiter recommended sharing 4-5 dishes and honestly it was the perfect amount for both of us! Spicy Tuna Handroll: 10/10 We started off with the broken down spicy hand-roll which usually I am not a fan of tuna but this dish wasn't fishy at all! It was crispy, umami and warm all in one! Great as a starter. Dragon roll: 9/10 Pretty unique take for a dragon roll but was very delicious. Almost melt in your mouth feel. Negima (chicken skewers): 7.5/10 Chicken was cooked perfectly! In between were green onions (definitely burnt than expected) but overall was good. It comes with a sauce however I was not a fan of it as it was way too over powering. For some reason I tried liking it but the flavor profile was something I couldn't enjoy. Milk tea soft serve: 9/10 Pretty basic soft serve can't complaint much but it was a great sweet treat afterwards. read more

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I finally gave Budonoki a try after hearing about it for some time. I went for an early weekday dinner right after opening, and it was easy to find bar seating for one person. The service was attentive, with repeated check-ins during my meal and before ordering; I also appreciated the recommendations I got about menu items. In retrospect, it was hard to get a robust sampling of the menu since I did not come in with a huge appetite. However, I enjoyed everything I tried. The yellowtail sashimi had a tender texture and spicy heat from the sliced chili though I did not love the bits of sauce (if I remember correctly it was a charred salsa verde) on top. Combining the various components of the naem dish made for a tasty bite with a winning mix of crunchiness, acidity, and savoriness. There was a long delay in getting dessert; from what I could tell, they needed time to get the soft serve ice cream machine ready. However, the staff members were apologetic and made sure I felt well-treated despite the wait. I'd be curious to revisit with other people to try a wider selection of food items! read more

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

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Came here for an early dinner with a friend. I was lucky to find street parking in the neighborhood, but they do have valet ($14). Perfect dining experience for sharing. Highlights were the spicy tuna roll, chefs salad and dessert Tokyo Banana soft serve. The service was very attentive, friendly and nice. The vibe is cool too. Excited to come back! read more

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Honestly wow one of the better if not best LA restaurants I've been to in a while. The star was the rice cake gnocchi. Like INSANE good i could order a plate of that and eat to myself. Also ordered a salad which was so delicious and the Wagyu. I didn't like the Wagyu THAT much because that evening the sauce made the meat taste like a McDonald's cheeseburger lol. But if was still yummy. Also the cocktails were great and service was great. Highly highly recommend read more

I wish I had that Tokyo Banana soft serve with me right now. It was so good, and I was surprisingly unfamiliar with what "Tokyo Banana" even was! My friend explained and that dessert was so delicious- banana soft serve with crumbled Nilla wafers (they may have been house-made, sorry), and you get cute little shovels for it. You get an occasional hint of sea salt and the flavors combined are amazing. Everything else: Dan's Smoked Fish Dip -loved it but the toasts were cut so thin, they barely held anything and kept breaking on the table -charged us $3 for a few equally sad toasts to finish the dip Agedashi Tofu -tasty, piping hot Iberico Char Siu -I love charsiu and this was good until we got to to a big, tough vein of fat in the middle -paying $3 for hard, "probably old" my friend said sticky rice sucked Charred Japanese satsumaimo (sweet potato): This was actually very impressive and I'm going to try to replicate it at home. So rich and tasty. Aburi Ebi Pressed Sushi -very good but fell apart easily. Would order again though. The place is small, dark, and sexy if you're on a date. Drinks were unimpressive, unfortunately. I want to go back to try more of the menu though, even though some items looked over-hyped and over-priced. That Tokyo Banana though... read more

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All the dishes were made for sharing. We ordered the scallop crudo, dragon roll, curry pan, Budo-gnocchi, steak frites, & charred japanese sweet potato. The scallop crudo is thinly sliced and refreshing with the market fruit. The dragon roll is savory with its shrimp tempura, avocado mousse, & grilled unagi. The curry pan is well stuffed and crispy fried with wagyu, Japanese curry, cheese, & aji verde. The Budo-gnocchi is a MUST- I see why it's popular. The rice cakes are chewy and the black truffle / mushroom sauce makes you want to lick the plate. If you get fries- dip it in the sauce! The steak frites are juicy & tender with crispy fries. The charred Japanese sweet potato are dripping with miso koji butter and delicious. To finish the meal, we ordered the strawberry milk soft serve. It is light and has spoons in the shape of shovels which is such a fun detail. The inside aesthetic transports you to another place and vibe entirely. Service is attentive & friendly! All the dishes were amazing, there's definitely something for everyone. Parking- valet or street read more

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My friend & I visited Budonoki for the first time on Friday night. We found free parking across the street from the restaurant and arrived at around 9:30pm. It took a minute for a staff member to greet us, and we were seated by the bar in a few minutes. The staff member behind the bar that took our order and brought out our food was nice and fast. We shared the two pressed sushi items, which were the Aburi Salmon ($20) and Dragon Roll ($25). The portion sizes were smaller than I expected for the prices we had to pay. Of the two items, I liked the Dragon Roll more because the flavors complimented each other well, including the avocado mousse, which was bright & tart. Also, we liked the ambiance of the place; a neighborhood izakaya that's casual, yet intimate and stylish. We had a good first experience at Budonoki, and I may return if I'm in the area and willing to search for parking. read more

Budonoki - Menu cover at the bar - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It was our first time here. The Asian fusion tapas, was delicious. Nothing disappointed. A handful of the dishes were mouth watering good and will be the reasons we come back. Our favorites were: Negima- chicken skewers, charred perfectly, juicy with a light crisp. The sauce it sweet and a slight kick. Wagyu Zabuton- best dish to share. Rich and a great sauce too. The fries were crispy. Agedashi Tofu- tasted like fatty miso soup. read more

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Very unassuming restaurant on the outside but such an incredible spot on the inside. The ambiance and decor were done extremely well. The service too was also very attentive and friendly. The food itself, absolutely incredible! I wasn't a big fan of the milk tea soft serve but everything before that was soooo tasty! My favorite had to be the budonoki gnocchi and the spicy tuna hand roll. It was such a creative take on these dishes and they were done to perfection! We also ordered the skewers and dragon roll, both of which were very good! I really liked the meat itself of the skewers as it was cooked perfectly but wasn't a big fan of the sauce it was in. Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Budonoki and I would definitely go there again!! read more

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gotta be my fav restaurant in LA. Maybe fav restaurant of all time? Been here like 5 times and every time its life changing mind altering yummy delicious. Got the arugula and mushroom salad, sweet potato, wagyu, gnocchi, black sesame soft serve, and sake. This def a place i bring family that comes in from out of town or a cool lil date. Our server at the bar was super friendly and approached us w a smile every time. Cant say enough good things about this place. I will be back many times read more

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Great evening spot with an immaculate playlist. We dined here with friends on a Friday night. Between the 4 of us we were able to try a lot of the menu including the, steak frites, maitake & argula, wings, charred Japanese sweet potato, naem, aburi salmon, budo-gnocchi and one of the yellowtail specials. It's recommended to place your order at once as some of the dishes take longer than others -- meaning they will also bring out whichever dish is ready first. Every dish tastes absolutely fresh and was shareable. The maitake & arugula, wings and gnocchi. Each had a super unique flavor and had excellent fusion flavors. We also tried a few of their cocktails which all had excellent flavors and some even came in a cute cup! To end our night we tried both soft serve - the milk tea one was my favorite for sure! Overall, a great vibe and a unique spot to try Japanese fusion flavors. I would recommend coming with a group to explore the menu! read more

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This place is a total LA vibe. Period. And I loved every minute of it! I came here for the Budonoki/Kato collaboration and wow it did not disappoint! Immediately when you walk in there is an electrifying energy and buzz in the spot, at 4pm the restaurant was already half packed (and packed by 5pm!). I made a reservation in advance and walk-ins were available but due to the popularity there were only a few spots. Music was fabulous and the decor is modern and full of life! The staff were all super helpful and friendly, made great recommendations on what to order and how many dishes would be good for our party. We tried the aged bluefin sashimi, stuffed wings, budo-gnocchi with pork belly, tomato salad and char siu Iberico pork. All had a unique and balance set of flavors, perfectly seasoned and cooked, showing a true culinary art and skill as well as a mastery of choice ingredients. And for dessert we had the corn sundae with the poured hard shell and it was sublime! I absolutely can't wait to go back for their regular menu! The restaurant is located in somewhat of a neighborhood and industrial area so parking might be a little tough and watch for those street signs! read more

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The CUTESTTT girl's night out dinner spot! My girls made a resy and we had a table outside that's super cute for photos! We all shared the Spicy Tuna Handrolls, Scallop Crudo, Charred Japanese Sweet Potato, & Aburi Salmon. Not a lot for us to be full, but enough to be satisfied! Each piece was delicious every bite and filled with so much flavor. My favorite was definitely the handrolls or the salmon. Definitely try as many dishes as you can! As for drinks, I got the Daikiri/Daiquiri, but my friend's Hyoketsu/Frozen was like a dole whip in a cup. Wouldn't have known there was any alcohol in them! read more

Budonoki - Spicy Tuna Handrolls (Top) & Scallop Crudo (Bottom) - Izakaya Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Drinks were great. Mule was favorite Food: pressed salmon sushi - great. Loved the spice coming from the pepper on top Wings - nothing special but liked the green onion. A little salty Thai sausage - the sausage had some chilis in it which gave it a kick. The salad really helped cut through the fried rice balls. I think there was mint and basil. Scallop crudo - good. Reminded me of a Thai curry bc of coconut Chicken yakitori - really good but wasn't sure if it was all chicken oyster? Sauce was salty though. Loved the grilled green onion Yakisoba - solid but nothing special. Beef in it was good quality. Great service. Waitress was attentive and nice. Explained everything. Cute inside with good music. Would definitely come back if craving Asian fusion read more

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Let me preface this by saying, I've been extremely picky and brutally honest with my reviews lately. So don't take it lightly when I tell you this place is phenomenal, take that with the full weight it deserves. This is a beautifully executed fusion concept that doesn't just throw flavors together and hope for the best -- it means it. Quality is evident across the board, and the menu is thoughtfully designed to allow for sharing, which made the whole experience feel social and dynamic rather than just an average meal. The Spicy Tuna Handroll is chef's kiss. Probably my favorite on the menu. It comes in a bowl with the ingredients for you to make yourself. Don't let this deter you. Think of it as you controlling the spice level, fish amount, or if you even want seaweed at all. I am not a salad person, but the Roasted Maitake & Arugula had me going back for more and more. The wings deserve to be talked about because it's unlike anything I've ever had. It's perfectly glazed and filled with flavor + contains an insane crunch -- the kind of bite that triggers a full ASMR moment. Absolutely unreal. Salmon and steak both held their own at a noticeably high quality level. Breaking an egg on top added a nice touch as well. We had many other delicious dishes, but these were just to name a few. The drinks were also exquisite! We went through multiple beers, sake, and the "Girl's Night Out" cocktail. Ignore the name, do yourself a favor and just order it, especially if you're into rice milk. It's a sleeper for sure. Quietly the best drink I had all night. Vibes were great. Staff was helpful, outgoing, and friendly. If you have a sensitive stomach, pace yourself. This menu is a full spectrum -- salty, spicy, sweet, and umami. When you add drinks into the mix, it's a lot of beautiful chaos hitting your system at once. Savor it, don't sprint through it. Needless to say, I'll be back very soon. Cheers! read more

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I haven't stopped thinking about Budonoki since I saw them featured in Westways Magazine a while back. Featured on a page was their aburi salmon oshizushi--talk about eating with your eyes first! Well you can't really do that inside of Budonoki because it's pretty dark inside with only a small candle at each table. We used the flashlights on our phones to get a good look at what we were eating. This restaurant was stop 2 of a dinner hop my friend and I were doing while she was in town--going restaurant to restaurant to eat a small selection of things we wanted. We ordered the two selections of oshizushi (pressed sushi) and an order of sashimi from the specials menu. It's been a couple of days and I haven't stopped thinking about what we ate! 1. Yellowtail sashimi from the daily specials menu for $20: It was served with charred salsa verde and a piece of pickled fresno chili. I wish I had my own order of this and didn't have to share it. The dish was simply perfection. 2. Aburi salmon oshizushi for $20: Made with Ora king salmon, this melted in my mouth. The rice was the absolute best rice I've ever had in any bite of sushi. It held together in its form while hitting the palate very loosely packed so it just fell apart in your mouth while each grain gave a proper bite (despite my dense description). Just wow! The salmon did just the slightest fishy essence on my first bite. Though not off-putting, I was reminded that the torched, lightly cooked upper surface will have a stronger taste than the more raw base. 3. Dragon roll made with unagi (eel) on top and shrimp tempura in the middle and topped with avocado mousse for $25: Amazing. If you enjoy any of the elements of a dragon roll, this will rock your taste buds. Again, the lightly packed rice really elevates this dish! I can't wait to return and try more of the menu. Though the options are few, the three dishes we tried make for great indication that the rest of the menu options are polished and delicious. Everyone from hostess to our waitress was as nice as can be considering I arrived far earlier than my reservation time and we barely ordered any food. PARKING: I found street parking about a block away. I don't know if I missed the valet parking stand and signs during rush hour but online seems to indicate it is available daily. read more

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