Came in for the pork katsu curry and left a fan. The cutlet is perfectly crispy, the curry is rich and cozy, and together they just work. Grabbed a canned iced tea to go with it and honestly couldn't have asked for a better meal. The staff was super friendly. Felt welcome from the moment I walked in. Did have to wait about 20 mins for a table as it's first come first serve but well worth the wait. The decor is so cozy and will def be back to try more on the extensive menu. If you haven't been yet, go.​​​​​​​ read more

Parking: street & meter (good luck! Street parking was so busy on today -- Wednesday) Price: $$ My fiance and I met with some friends here who recommended this spot, and we found that Daichan is a smaller, intimate space, and lots of people eating! The customer service was great, the food was yummy and fresh (I urdered the Unagi bowl), and I think I'd like to come back to try some of their other foods next time! read more

Daichan - Unagi bowl - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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A true gem in studio city! This place is run by the kindest japanese ladies, so you already know it's going to be an authentic experience. The interior is very small and cozy so there is usually a line for dinner, but trust me-- it is worth the wait. We ordered the chicken karaage, tempura udon, miso soup, fish soup, gyoza, and the yellowtail maki. The chicken karaage was delicious. Juicy inside and crispy exterior. Everything else we ate was also just as delicious. Even the sushi was fresh and of great quality. My boyfriend and I were definitely impressed by the food but what really stood out to us was the service. We were too full to finish our tempura udon so we packed a couple pieces of the leftover tempura but left it on the table when we left. The waitress chased us halfway down the crosswalk just to make sure we took our leftovers with us. We will definitely be back to try their other dishes! read more

Daichan - gyoza, yellowtail maki - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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The food is delicious to atmosphere reminds me of eating in someone's home. The staff are kind and they really help make the environment friendly. There's four pages of food to choose from. All the dishes feel like Japanese homecooking comfort food. The line is always pretty long because it's quite a small storefront. You sign in on the paper in the front and wait for your name to be called. There's a few few seats inside to wait on a bench outside as well. The prices are pretty reasonable. There's valet parking in the shared plaza a lot. But there's also street parking available in the residential neighborhood. Next time we're in the neighborhood we would definitely come back. read more

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The ambiance of this restaurant and the staff's hospitality here is amazing. We got seated after closing time due to the wait but their service was still so great even after hours. The food was very fresh and light. My favorite was definitely the sashimi appetizer!! Would love to come visit again. read more

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Expect bad parking and somewhat long waits, but its WORTH! Street parking is available but may take some time. Interior is SO cute and has many japanese knick knacks and a cozy feel. All food here is amazing. Never been disappointed by any dish. Everything is clean, quality and well done. I especially love their tempura and unagi rice bowl. I'll have to come back to try some of their more unique dishes like garlic baby squid or stuffed pumpkin. read more

Daichan - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

Pretty and unique decoration for a restaurant, but that's all they really offered. The food was not impressive enough read more

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Ambiance: small dining area not more than 10 tables. We arrived around 7:30 an hour before closing. We had to wait nearly an hour to be seated. We didn't get to order until 8:40, it was insane! Some patrons were finished eating but continued socializing. I think the restaurant should start enforcing a dining time limit since it's only open for 3.5 hours for dinner time. The service was great though, they have about four staff working front of house and they're very efficient. They're also super attentive. Food: the food is reasonably priced. 10-pc of California roll is $11 and the 6-pc crunchy tuna was $16. The Soba with shrimp and veggie tempura is $18. Everything was delicious and well made. Despite the long wait time we'd return just for the food. Parking: there's a small lot in the front, in the evening there's a valet guy. It's $4 to service ur car or free to self park. read more

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Had a reservation for 6 on a Monday night and it was packed! Glad we had resos especially for a smaller sized place. Delicious Japanese food with a condensed menu. We got the mix Poki, came with salmon, yellowtail & tuna. Portion is small, but also gave us the opportunity to try a few rolls. Greens were fresh but bowl lacked something.. maybe a sauce? The crispy tuna roll was delicious, and California roll was hearty- Mayo forward which I can appreciate. Service was a bit slow but probably due to us sitting down as the last table to fill the restaurant. Came here for a birthday, but no fun comps or anything for a 300$ table bill. I know it's not a given, but would have been nice of the ladies to drop a little something, something. read more

Daichan - Mix Poki 17$ - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

Went with friends for lunch and I enjoyed the experience. We shared so that we could try different foods. I went to Japan last year and the authenticity of the restaurant totally reminded me of my trip. Loved the decorations on the wall and the friendliness of the staff. The food was super good. Wish I could have eaten more because it tasted so good but it was time to stop. I really enjoyed the curry and the kalbi beef a lot. Service was quick which I loved because I needed to get back to the place that pays my bills Don't live close by but if I was ever in the area again, I'd definitely go back to try more items on the menu. read more

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Delicious Japanese izakaya food in a super cute setting with fantastic, extraordinarily friendly service. I can't wait to come back. We ordered the agadashi tofu, tempura udon noodles, and Daichan beef teriyaki special bento box. Everything was well prepared. The tempura was perfectly crispy, the beef was tender and flavorful, the udon was clean and filling. Pricing was also super reasonable. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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Came about a half hour before closing and put my name on the list, and they actually sat us AFTER closing time and were nice the whole time! The entire restaurant was full as well. Their decor is very eclectic, with Japanese cultural items covering every open spot, so it's very fun to just look around and see something new everywhere you look. I had the tuna katsu, which was very interesting, because it came in split bowls, one with the katsu itself, and one with rice/salad/sides/watermelon. I liked it quite a bit. Also, the waiter never let my water go below half, without me ever even asking. Overall, a very pleasant experience. read more

Daichan - Tuna katsu - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

The highlight here is the ambiance. This small but cozy restaurant transports you to someone's home in the Japanese countryside for the short time that you spend here. Unfortunately, the food doesn't match in the comfort department, which is what we were hoping for. We started with miso soup, which was great and tasted homemade, especially on a rare rainy day. We had the chicken teriyaki combo, which came with rice and ponzu for dipping. We also shared the chirashi dish, one of the more expensive items on their menu. The combo dish came out first and it was pedestrian at best. No char on the chicken and the sauce was bland. The tempura was better but a little on the heavy batter side. The chirashi dish was disappointing. An upside down bowl of sushi rice on a plate with an assortment of thin pieces of raw fish of the chef's choice. A few were decent, a few were not. Visually unappealing as well, however the sushi rice was well flavored and perhaps the best part of the dish. Service was friendly and efficient. There were many other items on the menu to order so perhaps we were just unlucky but I don't think I would try it again. Unfortunate because the atmosphere is beyond, which can be unusual for restaurants in LA. read more

Daichan - chicken teriyaki and tempura combo - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

Daichan is incredible! It's super cute on the inside and feels very authentic. We got the udon with tempura, tuna tataki, and the katsudon - both were amazing, so fresh and the real deal. We'll definitely be back a million times more to try everything on the menu. read more

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I've been eating here with my parents since I was 5 and we lived near Universal. My husband and I moved to Studio City seven years ago and frequent this spot. The food is and has always been top-notch. The restaurant is family owned and the ambiance is really special. I've alternated my ordering through the years, as my 5-year-old taste buds could only really handle chicken teriyaki and tempura udon. As an adult, I have enjoyed cold soba, unagi rice bowls, chicken katsu curry, tofu katsu bowl, stuffed lotus root, and inari. My husband swears by the chicken katsu curry and spicy tuna rolls. Great atmosphere, warm service, and love-filled homestyle cooking, what's not to like! read more

If you haven't been here and you live in the valley, you're sleeping on things. This is a hidden gem. Our go to here is their mixed pokey sub with sushi rice warm sushi rice it's amazing.. The vegetable tempura is amazing. Also, my daughter loves it as we do. Everything is fresh and tasty. I've never had a bad meal here. The service is always excellent as is the food. read more

Always delicious. Family run business with charming matriarchs serving up comfort food. Katsu Curry and Beef sukiyaki are our go-tos

We got the curry katsu chicken plate and it was one of the best i've had! Chicken was very crispy and the curry was a sweet, umami curry with mild spice. It came with cantaloupe, edamame, and soft carrots as a complimentary side dish. Ambiance was very traditional to Japanese decor with warm lighting, props, and paintings all over. The food took a minute to come out but waiter was very attentive. read more

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For three people we ordered the following: - chicken karaage - chirashi bowl - Saba broiled - tempura udon The Karaage was absolutely fantastic. Perfectly balanced in every way. Might be the best I have ever had. Not because it had some wild stand out feature but it just shocked me that it was light yet crispy and the sauce was so interesting. Not too strong but flavorful. Wow. The chirashi bowl was great--they were very very generous with the ikura. The other pieces were thick and had great variety. The Saba was delicious as well. The tempura udon was good but you really gotta jump on that tempura asap so it doesn't get soggy. The udon noodles and broth were excellent and nourishing. Service was timely and we didn't wait at all since we were the second party when they opened at 12:00 on a Saturday. The two ladies who served us were so cute in their mannerisms and their announcing each dish as they brought it, very precious. The decor and furnishings are so cool and interesting, it creates a great atmosphere and also serves as great conversation pieces to look up or get curious about the different art or decor. After tax and tip we ended up at $34/person which is incredible value. read more

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Food 4/5: the tempura was very crunchy but I felt like the actual shrimp meat wasn't a lot. Udon was very chewy and I liked it but I felt like it was not extraordinary. Service 1/5 we made reservation beforehand and still had to wait 30 mins to be seated. So I wasn't sure why we needed to make a reservation. Ambiance 3/5: small but loved the wall art. read more

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The ambiance and food here is very homey, just like it says on the menu, "Japanese Soul Food". This is where it's at. The Fish soup, the garlic squid, and the Yakisoba noodle with chicken (Ankake Style) reminds me of something my mom would make at home and we're Filipino. It's comforting because it makes me think of my mom and the random things she would throw together to put something on the table to feed us at times. Other things that we got: Stuffed lotus root, Spicy tuna, Chicken gyoza, and Unagi (eel) rice bowl. Everything was delicious, no complaints here. I'd order everything all over again and again. The wait is hard if your blood sugar is running low, so expect to get hangry but know that the wait is worth it. I've always had this place bookmarked on Yelp. I didn't know it was right next to Kazu Nori and Avi Cue both delicious places to try as well. I would always see this place is just as packed with people waiting to eat here, now I know why. If you didn't know, now you know. Try Daichan and support little businesses. read more

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The place is unique in all of LA, and wonderful. It's a real Japanese lowbrow diner that's seen better days, but is all the more charming for it. It's super-tiny. They don't take reservations. The parking's horrible. Your best bet is to get there just before they open and get close to the front door to rush in and grab a seat. Otherwise, you'll be up for what could be a substantial wait. This is typical in NYC, but we're spoiled here in El Lay. We get cranky if we have to wait more than five minutes. The food's the best part ( but a close second are the, um...mature... waitresses, who are as charming and knowledgeable as you want them to be ). Everything's good, but the pork cutlet is a standout. The crowd's fun. There are a lot of actors and other entertainment biz folks making things lively, but it's never too noisy. Definitely an experience you want to have. Just don't expect much and you'll love it. read more

This place has lovely decor, and it's cute and intimate (if loud at tables near the door) - but the menu screams 2002 (when it was founded) and the food is godawful. Tuna katsu was garbage - thick katsu, with tasteless meat inside that might have ben tuna, though I couldn't prove it. Came with a salty curry sauce that inexplicably came with wild rice with chunks of carrot, two edamame pods, and a slice of watermelon (!) Black cod was the worst I've ever had in my life - not at all delicate, quite "fishy" in taste, and miso dressing that didn't taste like miso. Hotpot tasted of salt and bonito. Fish cakes were overcooked, other items were undercooked, broth was uninteresting. Natto had appropriately slimy texture (yay!) but zero taste, and the waiter asked if I'd ever had it before. Tempted to give it 1 star because it's outrageously overrated here, but the price was reasonable, and it did have attractive decor. But ugh. read more

Incredible, delicious, consistently high quality Japanese food that makes you feel like you're in Japan! The house udon is truly top-notch. I also enjoy perfection in the crispiness of the croquettes. Although a small restaurant usually with a wait, I adore the cozy atmosphere and being surrounded by Japanese culture with amazing decor. A must try! read more

Nice little small Japanese spot not far from Universal Studios. Came here with young kids and their cut rolls are pretty generously sized. Sashimi was really good in the bowl and in separate orders. Kids enjoyed the miso soup also. Interesting Japanese decor inside with two gender neutral bathrooms. Service was friendly. read more

Daichan - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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I can't seem to stop returning to this spot.l and am willing to brave the terrible parking lot just to try more items on their menu. The food is tasty, fresh and rich. The assorted fish poke rivals any chirashi in the city and the udon soup feels like a hug in a bowl. The two servers are very warm and friendly. I can't wait to keep coming back to try new items read more

Ten years later and I'm still obsessed with Daichan. I stop by whenever I'm in town. The seaweed fried tofu in sweet ginger soy is my favorite. Love the mixed poki bowl with hijiki that they've been making for decades now. Menu is expansive across options. Same staff since forever and I've got mad respect for those ladies! Daichan also runs an impressive takeout biz. Once I got there exactly at opening and they already had a queue, both for dining in and takeout orders to fulfill. Super respectable restaurant and homey Japanese which is just the best. read more

Long wait for a table, but well worth it! The owner and staff are so sweet, and the food is incredible! The garlic squid and tempura ice cream are must haves! We also got sashimi, udon, and chicken katsu with gravy. Everything was really good. The katsu was particularly great. They also have a really nice selection of sake. We ordered the flight and another bottle as well. They also really know their stuff if you have questions. This is authentic Japanese comfort food. We met the owner and Daichan, her son. She named the restaurant after him. We will definitely be regulars from now on. And we noticed a lot of people there were regulars too. read more

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We have only tried as takeout. That being said - Amazing Udon! Their Daiyamo Chirashi was also good and loved the inclusion of eel, but the sashimi slices were only one per type of fish, and a little on the thin side. But great quality all around and can't wait to try more / dine in person. read more

Fantastic food and fantastic service. Genuinely one of the best Japanese restaurants I've ever had. Run by locals and down wonderfully well. It's stylistic too. Loved it and will definitely be back read more

Came here for lunch with some friends on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is fairly small, and was pretty busy, but we didn't have to wait very long. We ordered a few things to share: Sashimi salad (very generous portion), shishito peppers, Unagi roll and Scallop roll. All of which were delicious. Since it was a hot day, my friends ordered the cold ramen and soba which they enjoyed. I tried the salmon rice soup I think it was called. I thought it'd be ochazuke , though it seemed a bit on the sweeter side in terms of the broth used. Nevertheless, it was still good. I would like to come back to try other items off the menu. read more

Daichan - Unagi and scallop - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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Wanted to be more wow'd but everything was decent. I rarely drive out here so I'm not sure exactly what to expect with Japanese food but it didn't meet my high expectations given the ratings. Homey feel, seems authentic. As others have mentioned, for the price, the quantity of food isn't the best but at least the combo gave a large amount of rice which would satisfy me if I didn't have a ton of other things on the table as you saw. The serrano batter garlic chicken looked interesting but unfortuantely was only decent, seemed to be a little too cooked and the meat inside was juicy and decent, not the best karaage I've had which I think belongs to Kitakata chain and with some dedicated stores I've been to but this is decent nonetheless, might recommend you try another appetizer if it is better. Otherwise this one isn't bad to try for yourself. The cucumber was refreshing and nice, not great value unless you want the texture. Wait was like 20 minutes or something at 645pm on a Tuesday night. Seating is kinda cramped with tables close together but not real issue. Plenty of space at your table, it's just getting out but NBD. Bathroom is clean and unusually spacious. I appreciated my combo dish for what it was. Unfortunately the Zaru Soba was underwhelming, seemed not very cold at all, and not very high quality, notable was no daikon/grated radish. read more

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The stuffed pumpkin was a standout, with a sweet-savory filling and delicious sauce. The tempura was good, though not the best I've had, it was crunchy and not oily, but also wasn't the crunchiest I've had either. The udon with a poached yolk and savory chicken was pretty good, hearty, comforting, and flavorful. The chicken katsu was well-seasoned with a nice crispy exterior. My wife ordered the chirashi bowl, which was great. The unagi being the highlight--tender and smoky from the Japanese BBQ grill. Service was a bit slow and we waited for some time before getting seated, but the quality of the food was there. It's a small-ish place though, so I wouldn't recommend bringing a large group here. It's more of a few friends that we want to have a good time with type vibe. Would definitely recommend! read more

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TLDR: 5/5 You know its a keeper when you sit next to a family whose here on a weekly basis and has eaten most of the menu. I heard all about coming here immediately when they opened and they were correct. On a Friday night the small valley staple was at max capacity within the hour leaving many people to stand out side in the cold to get into the very warm and cozy aesthetic that is Daichan. Ordered: Chicken Katsu: 5/5 The chicken was huge and nicely battered. You can tell it was freshly made. The Katsu wasn't hot (spice) but was so well-flavored. The portion was sizable too given the price. And the side salad was nice to balance out! Tea: Delicious. Came in with refills when we were out. Miso: you can't really go wrong. No notes Service: 5/5 All the staff were so nice and warm and welcoming to our first time! They kept checking in on us about our experience and how the food is. We got refills without asking (always a huge bonus for me). Despite the line forming, I did not feel a sense of urgency to get us to leave immediately which I was grateful for. This is one of those places that I'm sad I didn't know about after all these years but I'm grateful to have known of it now. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This review is 13 years late but heartfelt nonetheless. It was the perfect quiet place we needed. My partner and I were on our first international trip and we ended up here. I cannot remember what we ate. But we were content and happy, tucked into a little two top near the bar or register. After finally remember the name of this restaurant, I look forward to visiting this place within the next few months with the same man. read more

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First time stopping in and was so glad we did! We lucked out and got seated just before the rush- expect a wait at dinner time since it doesn't hold too many guests. The inside is very cozy and authentic which makes it enjoyable. We didn't try too much of a variety this visit but loved what we got! Salmon sashimi was fresh, and the soba noodles were filling with a great dipping sauce. Edamame wasn't a stand out but also wasn't bad by any means. Service was very friendly and attentive! Definitely can't wait to come back to try more read more

Daichan - Salmon sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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An absolute must visit if you're in the valley! This Japanese fusion restaurant has been a favorite of mine for years, and I can't gate keep it any longer! My go-to is the sashimi bowl and it hits the spot every time. The fish is fresh and extremely tasty. I highly recommend! read more

Daichan - Sashimi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

Hole in the wall spot for some great authentic Japanese food ! All the dishes tasted so fresh and gave very comfort food vibes ! The ambiance is very homey and cute. Defs recommend checking this place out ! read more

Daichan - Japanese Near Me - Studio City, California

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They were so tasty! My friend and I waited about 25 mins until we were seated, we were late in making a reservation. It's so cute inside, little decorations everywhere make it feel homey. The sake flight was so good! The food came out quickly too. I would go back! read more

Wonderful variety of freshly made delicious food. The place is small and fills up fast. The parking is limited as well.