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    Kabosu

    4.0 (737 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed • 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

    Kabosu Photos

    Business Info

    KABOSU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Kabosu

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lemon Roll
    Patricia G.

    I don't come here very often mostly because parking isn't as easy as their sister location across the street, but every time I come, I'm reminded why I need to come more often. For one, Kabosu is open for lunch on a Saturday and it's the best time to come! Street parking was easy and once I walked in, was welcomed and seated right away. The staff is consistently friendly and so welcoming. Got the edamame with white truffle sauce, baked crab handroll, salmon sushi, the Lemon roll, and the Spicy Popper roll. Everything was incredible - the Lemon roll here is ELITE as is the baked crab handroll. It's not cheap, but every bite is worth the price! Oh Kabosu, how I love you.

    Cze T.

    Quick summary: Excellent toro, decent rolls and chirashi; lunchtime service was efficient. Food: We had a chirashi bowl, two rolls, agedashi tofu, and the tuna/toro sampler. Rolls and chirashi were decent; the toro -- one bluefin slice -- was meltingly tender and pure quality. Agedashi was not our favorite. Service: Attentive and reasonably quick for a Friday lunch. Atmosphere & logistics: Light crowd at Friday lunch; no wait. Bottom line & tip: Would return for the toro -- order the tuna or toro sampler. Parking: rough, mainly metered street parking

    Otoro nigiri
    Mona A.

    Came here with a girlfriend after work and it was such a lovely experience. Walked in we were offered outdoor seating right away but decided to wait a short moment for a table inside. The sushi was fresh. We especially liked the Killer Salmon, which was buttery and genuinely delicious. The ambiance is on the louder, brighter side, so keep that in mind if you're looking for a more intimate setting. We did have to flag down staff a couple of times, but everyone we interacted with was very kind and attentive once they came by. Overall, it's good sushi. Didn't make me see heaven but it did make me smile. I'd come back for another easy weeknight dinner with a friend.

    Salmon Sampler
    Orsolya D.

    I remember being younger when dining on sushi felt like a rare treat and culinary experience. Now, in my middle age days; sushi has almost become a regular staple in life and I can honestly say I am a sushi snob who is quite picky among the endless sushi spot offerings in Los Angeles. Some of these sushi establishments blow my mind while others are 'meh' and yet some others are unfortunately terribly low. I can now add Toluca Lake's Kabosu to my ever growing sushi restaurants I have tried... how does it stack up? Kabosu is under the Yuzuya Corporation umbrella and has a 'sister' restaurant under the same management and ownership practically across the street (Sushi Yuzu which I have also tried and reviewed with 3 stars). Nestled near Trader Joe's and next to Malbecs at the Riverside/Forman intersection in the charming, bustling strip of Toluca Lake filled with shopping, dining and theaters; Kabosu is somewhat of an architectural eye catcher being a uniquely curved- building brightly painted all white. Simply put, you can't miss Kabosu. Parking is available on Riverside with meters or along the beautiful, residential neighboring streets of Toluca Lake. Kabosu was hopping on a Sunday when I arrived with my boyfriend and honestly was hopping a bit too much: it was so loud I was taken back to the days of clubbing in my early 20s and the only available table was the smallest table for two that is probably the size of a Fischer Price table for kids. We were handed a case study dissertation of a menu - about 5 printed pages of cold and warm appetizers, sushi, daily specials, alcohol AND an actual menu alongside the paper pile. It was honestly overwhelming and not in a good way; especially on our children's Thanksgiving table. After having a mini ordering panic attack; we made some decisions and had a little Kabosu feast with: Hirame Carpacio (Halibut with ginger, carrots, vinaigrette and yuzu - $22), Salmon Sampler (Salmon belly, Salmon Baterra, Salmon with fingerlime and Salmon with truffle), Kaisen Futomaki roll (tuna, flying fish roe, cucumber - $21), Baked Crab & Salmon Roll (salmon with soy paper, avocado outside, crab dynamite on top - $25), soft shell cracb appetizer and eel. The food at Kabosu started arriving rather quickly filling our tiny table even more (clearly, this is a point of contention with me) starting with the Hirame Carpacio which was the best dish of the night being light, refreshing and perfectly accompanied by a bright vinaigrette and plated with an artful design. The Salmon Sampler was decent with the Salmon with truffle being my favorite - this girl LOVES truffle! The Kaisen Futomaki was nothing to write home about. In fact, it is so unmemorable that I really have nothing to say about it, here. The eel was mediocre: not bad but I've had better. Ringing in the winners of the WORST of the night was the Baked Crab & Salmon Roll which was downright awful. The crab tasted like the canned processed ham spread cans from the dollar store and there was way too much mayonnaise. This was the worst baked roll I've had in life. The soft shell crab also disappointed with its small size and the most overly salted Japanese curry sauce known to man. Both of these can be skipped. Like its sister Sushi Yuzu; Kabosu is not god-awful but it is mediocre at best and overpriced. I've had life-altering fantastic sushi for the same price. Not sure why Kabosu is so busy unless it is solely because it is a neighborhood staple. Kabosu is not a shining gem in the sushi sector of LA and only recommended if in the area and unsure of where else to imbibe on sushi. If dining at Kabosu, make sure to bring your wallet and prepare for a stack of papers for a menu potentially on a tiny table.

    Sushi chefs. They are nice.
    stephan f.

    Ambiance: 2/5 stars It's located on the north side of riverside and foreman. Which is a perfect Toluca Lake location. Very walkable. They have tables on the outside with heat lamps but they're right on the side walk and it's a little chilly these days at night, so we opted to sit inside, and ended up at their bar. It's a very loud environment. Which isn't my thing. I don't like to have to yell to talk to my dinner date. I wish the acoustics were better. Other than that it feels like your standard mid level LA sushi joint. Also very crowded at the front of the restaurant. Seems to be waves of walk in traffic. But minus stars for the loudness and the frenetic energy. Service: 3/5 stars The sushi chefs and waitresses were nice, but busy. The host at the front was kinda mean to us. At one point he grabbed a menu and walked us towards the sushi bar, only to turn around and say "not you, go back" to which point we awkwardly went back to the front. I guess he was busy seating other people? I dunno. Then he came back and took us to our seats. He seems like he's over it and doesn't want to be there. Food: 3/5 stars It's perfectly fine sushi. One roll I had (baked crab and salmon) was very good. I also sampled a beef hot pot that was tasty, the beef was put in too early and overcooked. Crispy rice with spicy salmon was bland. And this other roll I had was also bland. My girlfriend liked the salmon sushi sampler. One piece had truffle on it that she really liked. There's nothing wrong with this sushi. The problem is we live in a part of town where you can get Katsuya, or literally go across the street to get Handrolls at Yunomi which has a much better vibe. I md the ambiance were more chill and the host was nicer I might find a time to go here. But their hours are limited and I didn't feel very welcomed. So why bother? The prices or on par with other better places. Also. I wish they had reservations via an app. Kicking myself we didn't call so we had to wait a beat. But that's on us. Just know to call ahead.

    Sayuri Nigori
    Janna C.

    Fresh sushi, amazing vibes, and top-tier service! I came to Kabosu after loving the food at their sister spot, Sushi Yuzu--but this location blows it out of the water with its warm atmosphere and incredible service. Our server (I think his name was Gap?) radiated positivity--constantly smiling and even asked if the kitchen could prep everything in multiples of 3 so we could share more easily. Such a thoughtful touch! The whole team was attentive and friendly. We loved everything we tried, especially the Yuzu roll and the hand rolls (a bit smaller than Yuzu's, but still packed with flavor). Do not skip the truffle edamame--and pro tip: dip your hand rolls in that sauce. Game changer. We also enjoyed the Sayuri Nigori sake--perfect size for sharing. Definitely recommend making a reservation--this place gets busy! Parking can be tricky during peak times, but there are lots behind the restaurant. I'm already counting down the days until I'm back!

    The Davis
    Anna A.

    Forgot to mention! Get the Davis tuna, truffle, black caviar topped with gold flakes!

    Salmon tartare
    Beatrice V.

    How have I never reviewed Kabosu?! This is one of my favorite sushi spots. Everything tastes fresh and I appreciate that the restaurant is simple and doesn't feel pretentious. Just feels like a small local restaurant with great sushi. Friendly staff. It is a bit pricey though, as sushi can be. I LOVE their lemon roll, I get it every time. Highly recommend. I also got the yellow tail with crispy garlic and onion as a starter as well as the salmon tartare. Everything was good! The yellowtail was the better starter out of the two. Definitely worth checking out!

    Megan A.

    Seriously the best rolls in Los Angeles. And definitely best customer service. I have been at this place many times before and always such a good food and service. The best ones are the sea bass roll and lime roll ( if you don't mind spicy) My server was Mint - the best at this sushi restaurant!!

    Lime and Yuzu roll
    Miriam S.

    One of my favorite sushi spots! You cannot go wrong with the lemon roll, the Yuzu roll or the lime roll all my favorites. The service is always fast and the waiters are nice! Both outdoor seating and indoor seating are very clean. Not alot of parking in the area as well. Make sure you check the hours because they close for lunch.

    Salmon sampling
    Kelly B.

    Came here for a business lunch and it didn't disappoint. Great, quick service but what I enjoyed was the salmon sampling platter with four pieces of salmon all dressed differently! Oh boy was that tasty! Also, enjoyed their lemon roll, crab hand rolls, and spicy tuna rice rolls. Everything was very tasty. Found parking on the street one block up. The atmosphere is more plain here. My business partners explained they have a sister restaurant a few doors down that is crazy busy but more intimate in decor. This location is more laid back and relaxed which was perfect for this quick catch up lunch with colleagues.

    Sign
    Kisha L.

    While in the area I went there for lunch. However, they were about to close for lunch so I ordered the chicken bento box to go. The food was filled with flavor and the chicken was very tender. I enjoyed my meal. The service was great and the place is very trendy with cute artifacts and furniture. It was very clean inside. Humongous menu with so many variations of sushi to choose from. Parking is on the street or in the rear of the restaurant in the alley. I will return to try the dinner. The bento box is a bit pricey but the quality of ingredients makes it worth the price. Note: The restaurant is small inside but they have indoor and outdoor seating. Hours for lunch are 11:30am to 2:30pm and then they open for dinner at 5:30pm to 10:00pm.

    Spicy tuna crispy rice & yuzu roll
    Raya M.

    Kabosu is great, not my favorite because of the inconsistency, but still a great option to choose if you're on the hunt for sushi. They are inconsistent with their fish quality, the amount of ingredients they put, and service. The service is sometimes great and friendly, sometimes rude; their fish is sometimes great, sometimes mediocre and not fresh; they sometimes drown their rolls in sauce and don't put any crispy onions, sometimes there is a normal amount of sauce and a lot of crispy onions. With that said, it's still a solid sushi spot. I know some people who say this is their favorite, but i think they just haven't tried better places like I have. Their seabass handroll is the of the worst handrolls I've ever had anywhere (I've tried it twice), stay away from it! I absolutely do love their: - yuzu roll - lemon roll - mini spicy tuna crispy rice - albacore sashimi with crispy onion - salmon sashimi with truffle ponzu - fruit crème brûlée Their wait has gotten much better, I came at 6:30 on a Friday night and waited only 10 minutes for a table of two.

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    KABOSU is just as good and consistent as their sister restaurant, Sushi Yuzu! Highly recommend!

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    5 months ago

    Horribly rude and understaffed. I don't think I've been this dissatisfied with a place in quite some time.

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    Food here is always good and fresh. Service has been great every time I've been. It's usually nice and quiet..

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    The food is great, although it's VERY expensive. The service isn't as good as the food.

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    Page 1 of 19

    Kabosu Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kabosu

    Are they open during Covid their line is showing busy every time I call?

    They are open. They have limited outdoor seating, first come first serve, and since they have limited seating the phones are always busy while they serve to go orders.

    I've literally called every night trying to place a to go order and it just beeps and hangs up, are you open and how do I order to go?

    Call them in advance. They have only one phone line so its hard to get through when you call on busyday , busy time.

    Hi trying to call to make reservations but the line keeps beeping then hanging up?

    They never pick up at both locations

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    Chiba Restaurant - Sushi

    Chiba Restaurant

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    4.3 mi•Sun Valley
    •$$$

    Chiba restaraunt is a delicious premium Japanese cuisine option with great sushi located on…read moreLankershim Blvd. It boasts a big dining room with sushi bar seating option available, low lighting for a nice ambiance while you eat. Service is great, very attentive servers kept our waters full and came by often. The sushi itself is very good, we ordered several rolls with a few standing over the rest. The carwash roll was absolutely delectable, not on the menu, probably my favorite of the night. The crunchy shrimp handroll was amazing. We also ordered a shrimp tempura cut roll that comes with a unique sauce that stole the show. Overall great quality sushi, we were very happy with all our choices. The dedicated parking lot is a decent size, no trouble finding parking. Check this place out if you're in the area and in the mood for good sushi!

    Let me start by saying that I haven't actually been to this sushi bar yet…read more I usually go out for sushi with my son, and we're big fans of AYCE. Yes, I know AYCE doesn't necessarily offer the most expensive or extravagant fish, but if you find a good spot, it's absolutely worth it. As long as they have Yellowtail, Green Mussels, Albacore, Tuna, and the usual good stuff, I'm happy. And honestly, I've found some AYCE places where the quality is surprisingly good. That being said, this place seems **extremely expensive AF**. Based on how much my son and I normally eat, I'm guessing our bill here would probably be somewhere around **$400-$500**. I usually spend around **$120 for both of us** at our regular AYCE spot, and the quality is great. I have included a few photos, tell me it doesn't look amazing and look how glossy and fresh it is. So all that and much more for $120. At Chiba $400 easily. They do offer some stuff that my place does not, that is for sure. Don't get me wrong--I'm sure the food here is excellent, and I'm not saying it isn't worth the price. It's just not my kind of sushi budget. I'm not an attorney or a surgeon making millions who can casually drop $500 on a sushi dinner. For me, I'll stick with my $120 AYCE sushi and leave the $500 sushi meals to the people who can afford them!

    Photos
    Chiba Restaurant - Tomo Cruise

    Tomo Cruise

    Chiba Restaurant - Scallop crab hand roll ($9)

    Scallop crab hand roll ($9)

    Chiba Restaurant - Spicy tuna hand roll

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    Spicy tuna hand roll

    Taisho

    Taisho

    4.6(1.9k reviews)
    4.9 mi•Sherman Oaks
    •$$

    In today's restaurant market, there are many Japanese restaurants that are good and occasionally…read moreyou find one that is fantastic. How does one determine that a Japanese restaurant is fantastic? First you start with the ambience, then you start with a selection of the menu, then you look at the presentation of each plate and dish and the creative reiteration of that dish. At Taisho which is located in the heart of the Valley in Sherman Oaks, is a wonderful restaurant with great creativity and presentation and ambience... And it hits all the marks of a truly wonderful Japanese restaurant. This restaurant is so good that even living in Orange County, what desires to go back into the valley, which is quite a jaunt. We occasionally go to the valley for family and friends and events... And from now on, we will be stopping by this wonderful Japanese restaurant. I'm going to post some pictures and let the pictures speak for themselves. If you're ever in the valley, you gotta make this one of your stops.

    In the interest of fairness, I have to lead with the fact that the food is really quite good. The…read morehostess was very sweet, and even helped us change tables when we learned that we while were sitting at an indoor table, it right next to the entrance to the open patio where they have an additional 10 tables or soy. Long story short, my wife was starting to sweat so she wanted to be inside with some A/C. So far, so good. Our waiter was so awesome, but it was his first day, so understandably, he made a couple of very minor mistakes that were easily fixed. He brought out a dish we did not order (which he swapped for the correct one) and he forgot to bring the cocktail that my wife ordered. Again, no big deal. Now... the food. If you are looking for a sushi restaurant, this is not for you. They do have some sushi, but it is very limited, and frankly the options they did have were wildly overpriced. Selling salmon sashimi for $40 is a huge ask. As for the atmosphere, it's a pretty sharp looking space, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, but they leave all the windows and doors open at all times, so if it's a warm evening, you're going to be hot even if you sit outside. Also, the music gets progressively louder as nightfall progresses, so it can be tough to have a conversation without shouting. Bottom line, if you're looking for a good sushi spot, there are half a dozen other places within walking distance that are, in my opinion, much better. If you're looking for a wider variety of Japanese cuisine, and have a few hundred extra dollars lying around, then go ahead and give Taisho a try.

    Photos
    Taisho
    Taisho - Lobster, Wagyu robata

    Lobster, Wagyu robata

    Taisho - Butter cake

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    Butter cake

    Daichan - Aji Tataki

    Daichan

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    1.6 mi•Studio City
    •$$

    Absolutely amazing. Authentic Japanese food made with love. Everything made the experience great…read more Excellent service, cozy atmosphere. Everyone eating the food felt happy and relaxed. Ordered the Daichan special with option of chicken or beef teriyaki and I chose chicken. Special comes with shrimp and vegetable tempura and a croquet. Food was cooked very well but my favorite was easily the tempura. Such light breading and cooked to perfection. Next time I will order a whole side of this alone. 10/10 will come back again. Perfect for a light lunch or a bigger dinner!

    This was my second time going to Daichan, but unfortunately it will be my last. Never in my life…read morehave I been to a restaurant where the staff actually waved me back over to complain about the amount I left as a tip. 1 Star!!! Two of the female employees approached me about my tip and hovered over me, pressuring me to change the amount. It was a small restaurant, so this created a very uncomfortable scene and made me feel extremely pressured and embarrassed. A tip is optional and should never be something a customer is confronted or pressured about. After this experience, I have absolutely no desire to return. Honestly, they were lucky I left a tip at all. Very disappointing experience, especially considering this was only my second visit. I will not be coming back.

    Photos
    Daichan - Inside Wall decor

    Inside Wall decor

    Daichan - The extras for the kalbi beef plate.

    The extras for the kalbi beef plate.

    Daichan - Fired Oysters

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    Fired Oysters

    Oku-Niku Japanese BBQ

    Oku-Niku Japanese BBQ

    4.5(278 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    •$$$$

    We celebrated my birthday at Oku-Niku after a fun day at Theme park, and it was the perfect way to…read moreend the day with family! Making a reservation was very easy, and everything went smoothly from start to finish. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted right away and seated promptly. The ambiance was warm and inviting. The restaurant is a bit dimly lit, but it really adds to the cozy and upscale atmosphere. One thing I immediately noticed was how clean all of the grills were. We chose the AYCE option (around $55 per person), and the pricing for kids was very reasonable. Our 5-year-old was charged a reduced rate, while our 3-year-old ate free, which was a nice bonus for families. The selection of meats was excellent, with plenty of options to choose from. They do have a 90-minute dining limit and a surcharge for excessive leftovers, but that wasn't an issue for us because everything was delicious. The appetizer selection was surprisingly large. We enjoyed the beef fried rice, noodles, a sushi roll, crispy tofu, chicken karaage, and shiitake mushrooms. The crispy tofu turned out to be spicier than we expected, so just keep that in mind if ordering for kids. However, spice lovers will probably enjoy it! The chicken karaage was a huge hit with the kids, especially with the spicy mayo on the side. The shiitake mushrooms were also incredibly flavorful and well-seasoned. We also ordered crispy rice spicy tuna, we loved it too! What really stood out was the service. Every server we encountered was kind, attentive, and genuinely friendly. Instead of simply dropping off food and walking away, they took time to check in, ask how we were doing, and connect with us. That personal touch made the experience feel special. We only ordered water since we had already had plenty of drinks earlier in the day, but they offer a variety of beverages as well. For dessert, we tried the mochi ice cream special--two for $5--which was a fantastic deal. In San Diego, it's common to pay around $5 for just one mochi ice cream, so we were pleasantly surprised. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and are so happy we chose Oku-Niku for my birthday celebration. Great food, excellent service, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a memorable dining experience. We'll definitely be back!

    I have had this place bookmarked for years because I am a bigger fan of Japanese BBQ than Korean…read moreBBQ. I know, scandalous, right? The place was also always rather expensive. However, it seems prices are not so high anymore, so we went. Sadly, the food disappointed for the most part. One problem is the parking situation. It is nearly impossible to find a spot anywhere near the restaurant, and the fact there are numerous other dining spots on the block only makes things even harder. When we got there we had a friendly attentive server. However, he switched shifts with another server moments after we ordered. That led to many problems. The waitress who took over was almost never in the dining room. Dishes we ordered were sent to a different table. A Shirley Temple drink was ordered and it took nearly 30 minutes to be made. This is ginger ale and grenadine. Except, it wasn't even ginger ale, because they don't have ginger ale. It was Sprite! Oy! As far as the food, one big problem were the awful dipping sauces. I don't think I've had a problem with the dipping sauce at many if any other Asian bbqs in the past. However, the missus hated the soy or ponzu based sauce and wouldn't eat it. I used it, but it was not good. The meats were totally decent quality. The problem is their marinade isn't a soy based yakinaku type sauce like most Japanese BBQs. It was Japanese barbecue sauce and it tasted like barbecue sauce. Not a great flavor. The prime beef fried rice, gyoza, garlic noodles were the better dishes, though none particularly impressed. The cucumbers were soaked in ponzu sauce rather than pickled like sunomono or in a spicy sauce like cucumber kimchi. It was unmemorable. The chicken karaage was edible but unexciting. The spicy tuna on crispy rice was good, but they went soggy very quickly, which made any except the first one or two eaten not very enjoyable. The crispy garlic jalapeno chicken wings were god awful and inedible as far as I'm concerned. I'm sad the place wasn't better. I wanted a place to go that hopefully was somewhat cheaper than Manpuku - the best Japanese BBQ in LA. However, I wouldn't return for any of this food, and I can't recommend it to anyone. Avoid or try at your own risk.

    Photos
    Oku-Niku Japanese BBQ - Cozy, intimate interior

    Cozy, intimate interior

    Oku-Niku Japanese BBQ - Definitely order the crab cream cheese wontons

    Definitely order the crab cream cheese wontons

    Oku-Niku Japanese BBQ - Grilling on deck

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    Grilling on deck

    Tamashii Ramen House - Tamashii Bun (1 pcs or 2 pcs)

    Tamashii Ramen House

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    1.4 mi•North Hollywood
    •$$

    I love this place the vegetable curry noodles are so good and comforting. And the chicken curry…read morerice is as well very tasty! We also had the edamame with sea salt which were very good! But highlight to me was the ginger lemonade it was so good and made my stomach comfort

    I'm not one to really write reviews but this ramen joint was by far the worst ramen joint i have…read moreever been to and i felt it was only right to write about my experience to warn future potential customers... Ordered spicy chicken ramen, crispy chicken, pork cutlet, and spicy tonkatsu ramen and nothing was edible.. First off, spicy tonkatsu ramen...chashu pork was overcooked and texture was very rubbery. It literally looked and tasted like a piece of boiled pork belly. Soup base was not the worst and but not the best. Second, my fiance ordered the spicy chicken ramen and chicken was super dry and worst part is the chicken tasted like it was spoiled. Soup broth also had a weird sour taste to it. Pork katsu side was probably the best tasting but tasted like the same katsu i bought from costco. Last the crispy chicken was overcooked, dry, and way too much batter on the chicken. Service wasnt the best. One server in the front but was overly loud and on the phone. Overall first and last time at this place. All the food was very subpar and even tasted like they gave us spoiled meat. Beware of this restaurant...

    Photos
    Tamashii Ramen House - Inside

    Inside

    Tamashii Ramen House - Pork Chashu Rice Bowl

    Pork Chashu Rice Bowl

    Tamashii Ramen House - Outside Seating

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    Outside Seating

    Kabosu - japanese - Updated September 2026

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