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    Ima

    4.5 (74 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Hot Pot
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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    Wagyu tartare with uni
    Gina S.

    Having dinner here was a delightful expierence. The servers knew what they were doing and the pacing of the food was great as well. We opted for the traditional sukiyaki and wagyu tartare. It was very filling!

    Really fantastic! Food is really good and the service is incredible. I will recommend to my other friends!

    Sooo Good! I will recommend to my friends and family. The service is amazing and they are so friendly and hospitable

    Ryan L.

    This is the perfect spot to visit when you want to spend a quiet, relaxing time with friends. IMA offers a beautifully serene atmosphere right in the heart of Beverly Hills, making it an ideal place to unwind after exploring the area. The menu focuses on traditional Japanese hot pot dishes like sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, made with premium A5 Wagyu beef directly imported from Japan. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted with seasonal ingredients and paired with house-made sauces that bring out deep, authentic flavors. The chilled sake selection is another highlight. From light and crisp to rich and full-bodied, the sake offerings are curated to perfectly complement the food. It elevated our meal and made the whole experience feel even more refined. The restaurant itself is intimate and welcoming, with a clean, minimalist design and a calm atmosphere that lets you truly enjoy each bite and each conversation. I was beyond satisfied -- this was one of those rare dining experiences that felt truly special, something you won't easily find elsewhere in LA. Cheers.

    Brian L.

    We went for a Sunday night dinner and went with the traditional Sukiyaki plus an order of the Seared Uni on Puréed Sweet Corn special. Service was good, and they cook everything for you. The ambiance is cozy, comfortable, and just great for a date or any occasion really. The meat was absolutely delish and the whole meal was just the perfect amount of food. Everything about Ima from the food to the service is amazing, and I can't wait to go back, especially because good (real) Sukiyaki is hard to find even in Los Angeles.

    Leona U.

    Stopped by IMA after hearing friends rave about their A5 wagyu - and it did not disappoint!!! We went with the regular sukiyaki set (about 3 slices of wagyu per set per person). At first, we thought 3 slices wouldn't be enough, but the set also came with vegetables, rice, and miso soup, and ended up being surprisingly filling. The wagyu was rich and buttery, and the service was fantastic - our waitress cooked and served each piece for us with care. We also added a side of beef tongue, which was chewier than Korean BBQ-style and full of flavor. The restaurant was clean, quiet, and nicely spaced out. We went on a Thursday night around 9pm and were seated right away, but if you're planning to go on a weekend, we'd highly recommend making a reservation. Definitely a great spot for a special dinner - we'll be back!

    sukiyaki
    Arya H.

    3rd time at Ima! The food is consistently delicious, and the service is always warm and attentive. Perfect spot for a relaxed meal with friends, highly recommend!

    很厚的一片,好好好好吃,我餓了
    Jessica W.

    At IMA -- 要不要和能不能放下,都是自己與自己的和解,即使塵封已久的內心早就傷痕累累,到頭來, 還是只有你能治癒你自己, 原諒你自己~ Ima, 兩年前跟我獅子會小獅弟來訪過,當時剛剛開始當吃貨,看到價格已經是哇哇哇, 這個月跟朋友再造訪, 什麼都一模一樣, 一樣的走精緻路線, 一樣的高級肉品,一樣少少的份量, 就是每分shabu 從190 漲到200 元, 價格上算是微調,東西是非常好吃的, 從前菜, 牛舌, 和牛, 蔬菜,拉麵到甜點, 都好吃, 服務也不錯下上次 還有吃過他們壽喜燒的和牛, 更棒,真的只能說, 除了貴, 沒別的問題, 口袋夠深的朋友們, 這家來過了嗎?

    David Y.

    Fantastic formal sukiyaki dinner! Grandma always has sukiyaki for her birthday, so I knew about Ima because we had been to Yazawa a few times. It was a beautiful, delicious and special meal with excellent service. Definitely premium.

    Sukiyaki
    Nathan A.

    こんなに高レベルのすき焼きをLAで食べれるとは... 値段はそこそこしますが、食べる価値あり 記念日にどうぞ I was surprised that I could eat such high quality sukiyaki in LA... The price is not cheap, but it's worth it Please come for the anniversary

    Winnie L.

    Wow why doesn't New York have any sukiyaki place even close to Ima's quality? Sukiyaki is a form of cooking where thin sliced wagyu beef is cooked in a sweet soy sauce. It is SO good. It's different from shabu shabu. There are so many shabu shabu places in Los Angeles, but this was the only sukiyaki place I was able to find. We had Ima's sukiyaki set Chef's Choice and we were SO full at the end. The beef was so high quality - definitely the highest quality I've had in the US. The beef is never frozen and it's sliced beautifully. My husband and I eat Japanese wagyu often, but this wagyu was exquisite and we had to take a photo. Service was incredible. Our server cooked our food and served us. She explained each dish and we had great conversations. They changed the dipping egg after the first half. My only feedback would be to have more vegetables. I found there to actually be too much meat and I loved the vegetables so much. The dessert was matcha and ganache along with homemade ice cream. We got a great variety! You must come here at least once - and ask for the sukiyaki!!

    Rich O.

    My wife who grew up in Japan told me that sukiyaki is considered a simple Japanese comfort food dish but leave it to the Japanese to take simple fare like sukiyaki and elevate it to the level of fine cuisine and art form. Everything starts with the quality of the beef. At Ima, they use Yazawa kuroge wagyu beef. Kuroge wagyu is basically the best of the best as far as wagyu is concerned and wagyu is already highly regarded when comparing it to other grades of beef. Then you throw Yazawa into the mix, a famous butcher in Japan who is known for the "cut within the cut" or in other words getting the best possible piece of beef out of each cut, and you get a combination that has no equal. To appreciate the quality of the ingredients even further, the beef they use comes directly from Japan and is not frozen. So basically the slices of beef you're getting for dinner was placed on an evening flight from Tokyo to LAX which arrives at LAX in the morning and then gets "chauffeured" to the restaurant to then be cooked to perfection in front of you and served for dinner! Our server was Akemi. She was friendly and just an attentive and wonderful server! It was a delight to see each slice of beef and all the vegetables carefully prepared and then cooked to perfection. My mouth is watering just recalling each delicious bite of that meal! If you're going back and forth about what to order, I recommend ordering the Chef's Special over the Traditional. Everything is the same as far as what you get for food but with the Chef's Special you're getting an additional 2oz portion of delicious, beautifully marbled, melt in your mouth, Yazawa kuroge wagyu beef. It's quite heavenly and you're not going to regret it. For two people dining, be prepared for a $400+ bill if you choose to compliment your dinner with wine or sake. Such a wonderful dining experience and well worth the price.

    Sukiyaki
    Vicky C.

    Pricey Sukiyaki. Delicious savoury sauce and juicy Wagyu beef. $160 for 3 slices. Appetiser served could be more fresh.

    Rice Broth w/ Egg
    Tiffany W.

    Ima is a Japanese sukiyaki (shabu) restaurant that is located in the heart of Beverly Hills- Rodeo Drive. Just right beside Yazawa, japanese bbq restaurant, which is also theirs. We came to Ima for valentine's day celebration and were presented with a $250/person course. The price is more than their regular day menu which I believe is $ This special menu included 2 starters, their popular Japanese Wagyu sukiyaki, and shabu shabu - 3 kinds of wagyu beef, then followed by rice on shabu broth w/ egg and finally dessert platter. The starters: scallop and beef tongue. I will not describe much of these because it is not their specialty. So both were definitely a miss in the spot. My favorite part and the most memorable of the whole night was the first main. Which is the Japanese A5 Wagyu beef with sweet sukiyaki sauce that was dipped in raw egg. Very delicious, excellent burst of umami flavor in the mouth! This is the number one reason why I would come back to Ima again! Then moving on to the shabu that included 3 different parts of the Wagyu. Going from the left to the right of the plate- you will taste the umami getting stronger each time in the palate. With the leftover shabu broth, you have the option to choose for ramen or rice. We tried both and I would say the rice prevails! The night ended with the dessert platter that they provided us for that special valentine's night. Nothing amazing, they are just good enough. Overall, I was really debating myself whether to give this place a 5/5 or 4/5. But I ended up rating it 4/5 solely based on their Valentine's Day menu. I know it doesnt speak wholely of the Ima but I want to be fair for myself. So, I will definitely come back to Ima in the near future and update my review. Because their sukiyaki is the best one in LA by far. Ima offers such a pleasant service and servers were really accommodating during the night. Although I could sense the stiffness around the special valentine's day menu as they are unfamiliar with it. But overall attitude is friendly and polite. Ambiance is great - the place is not too big so it can get loud.

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    Ima Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ima

    Is it good for large group of 10?

    We have a 3 year old daughter. How would it work for her? Thank you

    Unfortunately we do not have a kid’s menu. However, a lot of customers order small portions of wagyu, ramen or rice for their children and it’s worked out well for them. Please call us if you’d like to talk about other arrangements.

    Do they have a corkage fee?

    Yes, their corkage fee is $45 per bottle for first 2 bottles. After that the fee increases to $60 per bottle.

    Is it possible for 2 people to order one sukiyaki and one shabu shabu so we get to taste both on the same meal? Or do we have to choose the same for the entire table/ party?

    Thank you for asking such a good question! Technically a party at a table has to choose either sukiyaki or shabu-shabu. However, we have a special menu that includes part of sukiyaki and the whole course of shabu-shabu so that you can try both.… Read more

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    Happy Panda Kitchen Chinese Hot Pot

    Happy Panda Kitchen Chinese Hot Pot

    4.0
    (227 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Happy Panda is one of my absolute favorite places to dine in, especially when the weather gets…read morecold. Their hot pot is always delicious, comforting, and full of flavor. Dined in today, 11/20/25. They recently added a lunch special, and it's such a great deal! I always order the spicy beef hot pot and with a winter melon drink for just $19.99, and it was perfect--generous portions, great taste, and super satisfying. Whether you're craving something warm or just want a solid meal, Happy Panda never disappoints. Highly recommend! Located in Westwood, Ca. Convenient to UCLA. Service is always good with friendly staff.

    Affordable, casual, decent spot for one person hotpot. No line when we came here for dinner on a…read moreSunday night. Ambience is spacious bright and clean, nothing fancy (Just like a standard college town dinner spot) We ordered two mala hotpot, the spice is decent (not crazily spicy, doesn't go as far as regular sichuan hot pot place but also not mild like shabu shabu places). It's authentic hotpot flavours. For dine-in, the presentation is also nice (not sure about takeouts). We ordered popcorn chicken as an appetiser and it came out better than expected, authentic and juicy as well. Great casual spot for lazy dinner or with friends to catch up, not expensive and decently portioned. They also have a great selection of food options. We were very full after this, always would have this spot in mind when I want something affordable and laidback with friends. It's not a must-try spot but it's a spot that performs well for what it is. It's affordable yet decently portioned, no line, lots of selection on menu, tastes decent and tables are not dirty. I wouldn't ask for more, iykyk.

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    Happy Panda Kitchen Chinese Hot Pot
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    Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant

    Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant

    3.5
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Discounts available
    Takes reservations

    I went here today for lunch with my girlfriend at around 1:30 p.m. The restaurant looked clean,…read moremodern, and wasn't busy at all. Customer Service: (5/5) The waiter was very nice throughout. She was very endearing as she talked to my girlfriend in chinese and also kind to me when speaking in english. When asked about dishes and proportions, she was very knowledgeable and honest. Food: (4.5/5) We ordered the Mapo Tofu and Meizhou Special Fried Rice with chicken. The food came out within 10 minutes and the portions, as I saw on previous reviews, were generous enough for us to share and be full. The Mapo Tofu came out on a hot ceramic bowl. It wasn't as spicy as I thought, not overly spicy but just enough where you get that numbing kind of sensation in your mouth that leaves you wanting more. The beef wasn't like the ground beef you see in other mapo tofu, but more of chunkier pieces which I wasn't a big fan of as it didn't seem spread evenly. The Meizhou Special Fried Rice with chicken was probably one of the best fried rice dishes I've ever had. You can tell it was made from a wok and the flavors were just incredible. The chicken seemed to have been friend separately and added on top afterwards but the saltiness of the chicken didn't take away from the fried rice at all. Instead, it added to the flavor and made it all so enjoyable. For the ultimate experience, I'd recommend eating both together to maximize your palette!

    The Peking duck is still the reason to come, but nearly everything around hasn't kept pace with the…read morecompetition. The space feels worn -- menus tattered, décor dated, the whole interior overdue for a refresh. For a restaurant positioning itself at the higher end of Chinese dining, Meizhou Dongpo is sleeping on the finer details. No complimentary tea service, and rather than offering a pot for the table, they serve individual tea by the mug -- a comically oversized Western mug at that. Chopsticks arrive without spoons, and when you ask for one, you get silverware instead of the porcelain you'd expect at Chinese restaurant. The Peking duck accoutrements came with a little plastic spoon on the tray. Small things, but they add up.The fried rice was a letdown too and looked nothing like the menu photo. Spots like Din Tai Fung and Lunasia Signature are operating at a different level and the gap shows. Meizhou Dongpo has the bones of a great Chinese restaurant. The duck alone proves it. But until they invest in the experience around the food, it's hard to recommend at this price point.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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    Hakata Izakaya HERO

    Hakata Izakaya HERO

    4.3
    (227 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    I just visited the Getty's museum and took a bit too long so I figured to take my daughter to a…read morelocal place to eat and wait out the crazy traffic. I am glad I did, this place is great. I didn't have a reservation and the hostess squeezed me in on what seems to be a busy Thursday night. The staffs are very nice and the food comes out quick. I got the steak and it was very tasty. My daughter must be hungry so she ate most of the food so I order a ramen to get full. The ramen is surprisingly good for a izakaya place. If you like Izakaya, try this place. The place is pretty small so it'll feel very cozy and you can definitely hear the couple next to you having a fight. There is parking lot right next door but the attendant may not be there so you don't have to pay if he is not around. I sure didn't.

    A friend brought me here and prefaced by saying it was the best japanese food he's had outside of…read moreJapan. Although it didn't necessarily live up to the hype, it was definitely an authentic spot tucked in a busy area of LA. Parking, was particularly hard to find. Definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. Immediately greeted by a friendly staff who showed us our table. Ambience was reminiscent of a local spot you'd find in Tokyo. A comforting, warm, bright place that serves as a familiar dinner spot that makes me wanna go back to Japan. For first timer, the menu was slightly hard to navigate. Lol, but I guess that speaks to the authenticity of the Japanese menu. Assorted pork belly wrapped yakitori/skewers, 7.8/10: these were hyped up by both my friend and the server, but overall it was slightly underwhelming. The skewers were all seasoned nicely, although they were a bit hard to eat since they were so big. Starting with the pork belly wrapped cabbage skewer, I don't believe the cabbage added any sustenance to the dish. I did like the bacon wrapped tomato skewer since the pop of acidity and freshness from the tomato paired well with the fat from the pork. Chicken Karaage, 9.1/10: definitely the best dish here. Chicken was fried perfectly, and was warm when it came out. The batter was not too thick or heavy. Season well with enough space.The lemon is a must for acidity and brightness. And of course they kewpie mayo is a nice touch. Tonkotsu Ramen, 7.5/10: the pork broth was rich and deep. The noodles were nice and chewy and firm clinging onto that broth. However, the portion was a bit small for the price. I was caught off guard by that. Granted, this place doesn't boast about the ramen. Overall, this wasn't anything mind blowing. Stuffed chicken wing, 8/10: stuffed generously with ground chicken ginger scallions and seasonings. The outside skin was flavorful crispy and savory. The temperature of the wings were pretty good too. Solid.

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    Sichuan Impression

    Sichuan Impression

    4.0
    (944 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    6 years in business

    The service was good. You'll just have to flag them if you need something. They were all helpful…read moreand nice. Food wise - everything we ordered was great. The cumin lamb was flavorful and spicy. The Mao Cai was spicy, full of meat and the broth was tasty. The boiled fish was my second favorite - spicy and fish was not overcooked. The fried intestines were really great! The shrimp fried rice is ok. I wanted either a whole fish or a whole crab but they ran out - on a Saturday night. They have a good Asian beer selection. $35 for corkage. $6 valet parking with validation. Free for 1 hour only with validation. It's a very casual place. Clean.

    My kiddo is a big fan of sichuan food especially fish fillet in chilli sauce so we came here for…read morelunch out of her recommendation as this is her favorite Chinese restaurant in town. The reception wasn't warm as the girl was on the phone and she just waved at us to get in. Food was scrumptious. Their basa fish fillet in chilli sauce had to be the best I've tasted. The fish was tender, sauce yummy, veggies fresh! It was excellently prepared. Husband and Wife beef and tripe slices was another outstanding dish. It was so good I had to order more rice to eat with it therefore happily broke my diet again. Steamd eggplant with pickled condiment on top tended to be on the salty side, it was soft and tasty. I loved it! Service was lukewarm at best. The girl performed her service in a convincingly nonchalant way. But at least I got lemon infused water refilled twice. :) Well decorated with Chinese cultural elements. Very spacious, clean and peaceful ambience. We had a lovely time and will return.

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    Wonton in chili oil 红油抄手
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    Chubby Curry

    Chubby Curry

    4.4
    (446 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Went for DineLA lunch and had both offerings, the tonkatsu ramen with okra tofu and wagyu hamburger…read morewith waffle fries. Service was well paced with the first course arriving in a few minutes followed by the main. We didn't have high expectations for the cold tofu and okra but it was delicious and the tofu soaked up the soy based sauce and was balanced by the slight crunchiness of the okra. The waffle fries were exceptional - double fried with a curry aioli sauce. The tonkatsu and ramen were also great. The tonkatsu had a light, crispy batter and the ramen was so delicious, with the addition of corn, peas, black fungus and bamboo shoots, truly comforting. The burger was a hit, too. Juicy and flavorful. The small details here didn't go unnoticed, the unique plates, nice bamboo chopsticks and cute hippo candy plate. We chose to sit in front by the open windows since it was such a nice afternoon but the dining area further inside was welcoming, too. I've also been here outside of DineLA and it's just an overall solid experience.

    Update- was really looking forward to dinner at Chubby Curry. My friends and I have patronized this…read moreplace since it opened. It was our go-to place for almost two years. We hadn't been in about 6 months and decided to drop in for dinner before a movie- Wow, has it changed- and not in a good way. There were fewer staff and they were spread thin, with not even half the tables full. The place was a little unkept. The menu is all digital- so we had some questions ordering our favorites. We got the Wagu steak with rice and curry and the breaded chicken breast. When the Wagu arrived it was unrecognizable- brown and looked over cooked - no pink. The entire dish was completely unappetizing. It was sad looking. I tried to show the server that this looked nothing like the menu photos in the front wall. He was already flustered and told me "to calm down ma'am" and that is "how it comes- we put soy sauce on it." The calm down nonsense was a real put off. My next question was, why is a restaurant putting soy sauce on perfect Wagu? None of the menu photos show soy sauce. We have never had soy sauce drenched Wagu here ever. The amount of soy sauce - if any-- is up to the guest. We all have our sodium preferences, right? I personally liked their Wagu plate as is. I tried to get the server to follow me to the front wall to show him the photo of all their Wagu dishes on their front wall and he was really not happy. Those photos were how their food always looked- fresh- colorful and delicious looking. The comparison was stunningly different- he would not hear it - and was visible upset with me. Sending this back caused quite a problem- more like an argument with the server who insisted this is how Wagu comes. It does not and I posted a review previously with photos from several visits to this once fun to eat at place. They offered to remake it and I caught the server and chef's convo. Chef was bewildered with the whole no soy sauce thing. The server came back with a small piece of Wagu in a service cup to show me what their Wagu looked like before the soy sauce bath. It was not the bright fresh pink. It was gray, like it had been prepped a couple days ago and refrigerated. Completely unacceptable and not appetizing. I told them to please not remake it. It would be a waste and please Just remove it and we'd order something else. The server was so upset with me he told me he would remove everything and not charge us at all. I felt that was unfair to the restaurant and his attitude was like don't order anything, and do not come back. My guy friend insisted that we pay and the server came back with a bill for just the chicken. I gave him cash for everything we ordered including the Wagu, and he brought me almost all the money back. I was particularly insulted by this. This was such negative energy- I did not want to touch it. I left all the money on the table and left. Message to the owner- replacing servers with digital menus does not lessen their work. it increases their time explaining what dishes are and how dishes come. You need more people because servers have more work in less time. I really felt for this server and did not feel any of this was his fault. The quality drop in food, the excess work due to digital menus, and food not matching the promises made in photos at the front wall from opening day are not your server's fault. We were expecting the same consistency and were sadly disappointed. We will not be returning.

    Photos
    Everything we ordered
    Everything we ordered
    Rice bowl that goes with Chubby Curry meal
    Rice bowl that goes with Chubby Curry meal
    The Chubby Curry, in small cast iron pot served with a side bowl of rice and broccoli

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    The Chubby Curry, in small cast iron pot served with a side bowl of rice and broccoli
    Big Bowl Malatang

    Big Bowl Malatang

    4.2
    (123 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Parking: Not too sure about parking since I walked over from a friend's place…read more Seating: There's plenty of seating indoors, with a mix of table and bar seating. If you prefer to dine outside they have a couple of tables outdoors as well. Ordering: If you have never been to a malting place it's pretty simple. It's set up like a self serve kind of situation. You start by grabbing a big plastic bowl and a pair of tongs. From there you just pack on as much food you want from the bar. When you're finished loading up your bowl, you'll bring it to the cashier and they will help weigh your bowl and ask what soup option you would like your food cooked in. The food is weighed by the pound. As of March 2026, the price per pound is $14.99. They have broth and dry mix bases for you to choose from. I personally loved the beef bone broth. Overall: This place was pretty good in my opinion and the staff was very nice. I loved that they had loads of fresh options to choose from, the food station was clean and you get to make your own sauce at the sauce bar. Besides malting they also have small appetizers and drinks. PSA: If you leave a review for them on Google or Yelp or post a story/reel to your Instagram and tag them you can enjoy a free drink with your order.

    This place always satisfies my craving. They seem to updated their menu options with a few more…read moreappetizers and such. Only con, I would think they would just sell the packaged noodles at a certain price.. since you can't really select the quantity noodle amount.. but they charge by weight for that. So even if you don't want all the noodles, you still have to pay for the whole bundle which sucks. Place is neatly kept clean and tidy.

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    Sauce bar! :D
    Sauce bar! :D
    Build your own Malatang
    Build your own Malatang
    Build your own Malatang

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    Build your own Malatang
    Kochi

    Kochi

    4.4
    (399 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    We came here for dinner before a show at the Largo at the Coronet theater (3 doors down), not…read moreknowing anything about it. What a lucky find! At 6pm, we were only 1 of 2 parties; by 7:30pm, all the inside & outdoor patio tables were filled except for a couple. A large party made the indoor atmosphere pretty loud, but after they left it was easy to have audible conversation. Several people came in to pick up to go orders while we were there. Service was really warm, food came out so fast & everything was DELISH: Beef bowl - marbled beef cooked w/onions on rice. So tender & flavorful! Spicy tuna bowl - spicy tuna over rice, with a wasabi ponzu sauce. Yum! Albacore hand roll - fresh & buttery Eel hand roll - melt in your mouth delicious We were there early so it was easy to find parking at a meter. I can see why they get such consistently great reviews! I'll be back to try their yummy looking udon dishes. Highly recommend!!

    I was in the area and stopped by for the open handroll lunch. Service was attentive, and the…read morepresentation was impressive from start to finish. One unexpected twist was the seaweed. Instead of the traditional nori typically used for handrolls, they served a salted, crispy version. While some diners may enjoy the added texture, it wasn't quite for me. It reminded me of the seasoned seaweed used in Korean kimbap--similar to what I buy at Costco and use at home--which took away from the experience I expect from a classic handroll. The fish itself was fresh and above average, especially considering the lunch special pricing. Overall, it was a solid meal, but if I order this again, I would definitely request traditional nori to better complement the quality of the fish.

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    Kochi
    Chicken Nanban Lunch Set
    Chicken Nanban Lunch Set
    Mentai Mayo Bread

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    Mentai Mayo Bread

    Ima - japanese - Updated July 2026

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