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    Kojima

    4.4 (38 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Order Kojima Takeout or Delivery

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    Brandon S.

    This is now THE spot for Japanese kaiseki in West LA, or as I would like to call it the "Hayato" of West LA (Chef's name is Hayato Kojima). I called on a random friday night and got a 2 person seating. They were nice enough to squeeze my gf and I in for a total of 9 person seating. It was $200 per person and the best $200 spent. Every single dish is delicious and the menu changes every week or other week. Some dishes like the grilled chicken hearts and kajiya beef are staples. This is currently the only restaurant to even serve kajiya beef outside of Japan as the chef just suddenly decided to move to the US some time early 2025. I loved every single dish and the highlight ones were the grilled bluefin tuna bits, the chicken hearts, duck breast, kajiya beef, and final rice dish. He even gave me some to take home afterwards. I've already planned my next visit and you should too. For $200, this is an absolute steal. I just hope I can visit a few more times before reservations become hard to get.

    Tessa W.

    First of all, check your ego at the door. What is it with the LA food scene where dinners think they are the be all and end all? At a core, we are all human beings, so let's give each other some grace and respect. Remember people, when you walk in the door of a restaurant, you are in chef's house. So have some respect. We were a little thrown off upon entering, because we were not familiar with the protocol for check in, but we rolled with it. Once settled into the restaurant, everything worked out well. The staff and chef were friendly and nice (all it takes is some courtesy and conversation). The food was AMAZING, portioned appropriately and well paced. I've been to some long dinners (3-4 hours) and some fast dinners (1-2 hours) at nice, as well as fancy places. Kojima has just the right balance. If you are looking for a "trendy" place or a "social hangout ", go to the latest salad bar or steakhouse. If you appreciate culinary culture and the art of subtle fine flavors, then Kojima is the place for you. For those who have bad reviews due to phone use and experiencing "racism ", go take some etiquette classes. Perhaps in some cultures it's acceptable to sit through your dinner on the phone, or be loud and obnoxious . But you are in chef's house, so respect the house rules.

    Uni on somen in cold dashi.
    Tony L.

    Ignore the negative reviews. Some people don't know a good thing if it hits them right in the face. Kojima is one of the hottest Japanese omakase restaurants in the city. Been there 6 to 7 times already. It's nothing short of wonderful, in terms of the food and prices. It's a poor man's Hayato!

    Squid stuffed with lotus root and topped with Uni!

    Lucky to have Kojima in the neighborhood. Thoughtfully prepared seasonal "omakase" experience. While a little less "structured" than Hayato, flavors and ingredient quality similar. Truly a great value for what it is. Seems some folks had a bad experience, but I can't imagine it merited that kind of attention (see thw clustered bad reviews). Intimate setting where if you're respectful and human, it will be reciprocated. If you bring wine, be sure to offer chef - he enjoys it!

    Josh T.

    Buckle up--"sandwich shop" no longer suffices. I stopped by today expecting something casual and low-key, but what I experienced was closer to a secret omakase hidden in plain sight. According to the warm and engaging server, Kevin, the restaurant recently reinvented itself (as of August 1). I went with their four-course menu, which turned into five--and every dish delivered. The sashimi was pristine, melt-in-your-mouth quality, and I had real wasabi freshly grated right at the chef's counter for the first time. Word is the chef earned a Michelin star back in Japan, and it shows. Everything was executed with care, precision, and restraint. The space itself is tucked away on the second floor of the mall--a bit sequestered, but well worth seeking out. The interior is a thoughtful blend of clean wood textures and modern minimalism, perfect for a date night.

    Worst experience in my life. So uncomfortable that me and my friend not finish the meal . I always thought those reviews about racism were far away from me but guess not. My roommate and I went out around 9 pm looking for something light to eat. We found this restaurant on Yelp because it was nearby and had a relatively high rating. We chose it casually with no special expectations. From the moment we walked in the experience felt uncomfortable. Right away we were asked whether we even knew what omakase was. This question felt condescending . As the courses were served the server repeatedly said things like "Please pay attention. I usually explain the course to my guests so please pay attention." I did not understand why this was said in such a stern and patronizing way. Whether or not someone is closely listening should not affect how they are treated as a guest. At one point I received a short voice message from a friend. My phone volume was set extremely low and it was not disruptive. A woman seated nearby noticed me holding my phone and asked if I needed to step outside to take the call. I was confused and asked her to clarify by saying "Is this bothering you?" She laughed and replied "Yes of course it's bothering me" and then turned to the man next to her and said "These parents never taught them." Out of respect I immediately stopped using my phone. However the atmosphere had already become very uncomfortable and hostile. The situation escalated when staff repeatedly asked me whether I needed a translator even though my roommate and I were speaking fluent English the entire time. This happened multiple times and felt humiliating. Later the server and the nearby white couple began lecturing us together. They said things like "In China maybe you can use your phone while eating but not here" and claimed that no restaurant in Los Angeles allows this behavior. This is simply not true. I was not actively using my phone and the volume was extremely low. They also claimed that in Japan omakase restaurants would never allow this. Regardless none of this justified the racial comments and the way we were spoken to. Because of how uncomfortable the situation became we could not continue eating. We had only been served three courses and decided to leave without escalating the conflict further. When we explained that the experience was horrible and said we did not want to pay the 15 percent service fee the server who claimed to be the manager insisted on charging it. He told us "It is only a horrible experience because of something you did. I do not think it was horrible at all." I responded by saying "Do not tell me how I feel." At that point the woman nearby laughed loudly. This experience felt intimidating humiliating and racially charged. If there is a strict no phone policy it should be clearly stated in advance and enforced respectfully. Instead it was enforced through public shaming racial stereotypes and group harassment. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

    Alyssa C.

    first time here. was recommended by a friend. A little bit hard to find but once you sit down, the friendly staff and friendly chef made it comfortable. Each dishes is prepared in front and can enjoy every bite

    was dining with the person who wrote the other negative review and want to share what I observed from my own seat at the table. From the start the atmosphere felt tense. The greeting did not feel welcoming and we were questioned in a way that implied we were unfamiliar with the dining style. Nothing in our behavior justified that assumption. As the meal progressed the staff's tone toward our table became increasingly sharp. Comments about needing to "pay attention" were delivered in a way that felt corrective rather than informative. It stood out because nearby tables were not spoken to this way. The situation deteriorated when a phone was briefly checked at a barely audible volume. Instead of a quiet or professional request a nearby diner reacted with hostility. The comments that followed were personal and crossed into racial territory. At that point the discomfort was visible to everyone at the table. What made this worse was that staff did not intervene. Instead the attention turned toward questioning whether my friends understood English and offering a translator despite clear fluent communication. Watching this unfold was deeply uncomfortable. Later multiple people including staff and other diners began making sweeping statements about culture and behavior. The conversation was no longer about restaurant policy. It became about singling out and shaming guests. We left early because the environment felt unsafe and hostile. When concerns were raised they were dismissed and reframed as the guests' fault rather than acknowledged. I am writing to confirm that this experience was not exaggerated. It was disturbing to witness and entirely avoidable with basic professionalism and respect.

    Eggplant and Uni
    Noriko I.

    We had a wonderful experience, it was like watching a show! Sake selection was great too.

    Tra N.

    An absolute delight to dine at Kojima. We checked out the $200 omakase option and left so full and happy. They also offer a mini omakase option for $80, which I'm excited about for next visit. Great tranquil space, attentive server (shout out to Mimi-san for making our night so special with her hospitality and knowledge). The chef Hayato-san recently moved here from Japan, so if you ask something in English, be patient with his answer. Hayato-san is so humble, and sweet, and talented. The food is of high quality, substance, and minimalist style. Highly recommend. The omakase dishes change frequently, which speaks volumes about the chef's ranges and skills. The Sake menu is extensive with some very good options. Corkage is $70 per bottle, which is on the steep side so i do recommend drinking the bottles they have on their menu.

    Tamago Sando

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    One of the best omakase experiences I've had. Wonderful and attentive staff and the chef's dishes were delicious.

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    Ask the Community - Kojima

    Is there a menu with prices? If not, what is the price range?

    Hello! We offer $200 omakase that changes daily.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Chinchikurin - Sawtelle - Demiglace Sauce Omu Rice

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    Went for the Ikura omurice pop-up and left feeling happy and fulfilled. I actually had Ikura…read morebookmarked during my trip to Japan, but I never got the chance to go, so when I saw they were coming to LA, I knew I just had to make the drive from OC to try it! You physically have to stand in line here which is a little excruciating but I came here at noon on a Saturday during the first few weeks of their pop-up announcement so I really did that to myself. It was probably a 1.5 hour wait, but I'll do anything for a good bite The demiglaze omurice delivered exactly what I wanted- the most silky melt in your mouth eggs ever, a rich savory sauce, and hamburg all on top of a bed of fluffy rice. The egg really was the star of this dish, I've never had eggs with this texture in the US. Ikura has really nailed their recipes and training of chefs here, I've tried to make eggs like this at home and it's just never the same! I will say the hamburg was a little thin and dry, but I was very willing to overlook that because of how perfect all the other components of this dish were. We also ordered the Ika Ika okonomiyaki, which comes with squid. I don't think I've ever had this type of Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, which has all the ingredients layered instead of mixed (they also do serve the Osaka mixed style mixed though). I probably wouldn't get the squid topping again, but the okonomiyaki itself is enough to keep me coming back. You get the option of soft of crispy noodles, and we got what our server recommended, the crispy, and she definitely knew what was up- the slight crunch added a great texture contrast. On the topic of our server I have to give her a shoutout for being so kind and attentive towards us. I wish I got her name, but she was a young girl server and she was just so sweet in giving us order recommendations, as well as giving us a tip that there really aren't any lines here if you come on weekdays during early lunchtime. But what really topped it off was that we remained in the Sawtelle area after we finished dining here for about two hours and ended up really needed a bathroom. No restaurants were letting us use their restroom so we went back to check Chinchikurin around 4 pm which is when they close for lunch. One of the other servers was about to send us away, but our server from over two hours ago remembered us and let us use their bathroom she's a real one

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