Our friend invited us for my birthday, and honestly, I didn't have any expectations other than knowing this is a sister restaurant to n/naka. The cocktail menu is solid. I had the Low Tide, and it was so refreshing--definitely a great way to start the evening. The mango hamachi sashimi was really good, but the shiitake mushrooms with that sauce? Absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD. I loved it so much that I actually put some aside so I could savor it later. That says a lot! The pork belly was delicious, but the short ribs that our server recommended completely stole the show. Those skewers took home the trophy for me! Overall, such a fun birthday dinner with some seriously memorable bites. I came in with low expectations and left very impressed. I'd definitely come back! read more

We came here for a birthday dinner and sat on the back patio. The place was about 70% empty, which made what happened more surprising. I asked if they could make one of the hand rolls as a cut roll. The server came back and said the chef "does not want to do it." No reason, no alternative. If there's a rule about it, like the nori getting soggy, just tell me and I'd have understood. A flat "he doesn't want to" on a slow night at these prices felt dismissive, especially on a birthday. Our server was fine. The food was the bigger letdown. For what this place costs, the fish and rice weren't any better than a solid strip mall sushi spot in LA. I've been to N/naka which is good but not worth the Chef's Table hype. This one is a step down from that. Two stars because the service itself was average. But when you charge this much, hospitality is part of what you're paying for, and that's where they missed. read more

Los Angeles, CA · Japanese · Visited September 2025 Forks Given: (3.9/5.0) "N/Soto delivers a dining experience that feels both elevated and accessible. It offers enough creativity to feel special while maintaining the comfort and ease of a neighborhood favorite." Snow Crab Hand Roll: not particularly inventive, but exceptional because of the quality of the fish. Clean, precise, memorable. Toro: no reinvention here, just excellent fish treated with respect. Brussels Sprouts & Salmon Skin: the most thoughtful innovation of the meal, a compelling mix of salty and sweet, crunchy and soft, through a distinctly Japanese lens. N/Soto was a pleasant surprise. I love Japanese food, but a lot of places fall into predictable ordering patterns, and this one breaks that mold without getting pretentious. Service was my lowest score at 7 out of 10, and the two fish dishes lean on quality over creativity, which is fine by me. I would absolutely return. Full review on Forks Given (forksgiven.com). Follow me on instagram @wegiveforks read more

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My husband and I came here for dinner last night. We got the Milk Bread Toast, Sweet Soy Chili Wings, Toro Nigiri, Blue Crab Handroll, Wagyu Strip Hand Roll, Soto Roll, Tori Negi Kushiyaki, Shiitake Mushroom Kishiyaki, Agedashi Mochi and Lamb Chops. Overall, the food was good! The only miss was really the agedashi mochi. I liked the mochi texture but we felt like the flavor overall was just not great here. Our favorites were the chili wings, soto roll and lamb chops. The wings were soo juicy and flavorful. The chili on the soto roll was a great addition and the lamb chops were soft/tender. Personally, I wouldn't order the tori nigiri again because it was very small/didn't feel worth the cost. read more

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Quite a nice experience but you're paying for the n/naka brand with the prices rather than anything extrodinary. Rounding up to 4 stars even though I'd say it's more of a 3 1/2 because of the sticker shock. Space is unfussy, large and great for groups. We were sat near the back which was still quite nice and the surrounding noise was never over a dull roar. It was lovely. The food was solid but not remarkable. We chose a variety of items from the chutoro to some skewers. I mostly concentrate on the nigiri which was quite good and better than expected given that we were ordering a la carte. Cocktails were also quite nice, especially the Miso Boulevardier which had some of my favorite cocktail qualities of having a bit of smoke, depth, complexity but not sweet at all. Price was well over 300 for two people which is high enough to start wondering if we should have opted for omakase somewhere else instead. Not terrible but high enough to make me think about it which is always a mixed signal. read more

My Friend invited me here! One of her Favorite restaurants & Bar. I didnt know it was so close to the Nate Holden Theater! Now I have a restaurant i can go to prenthe pre theater! The outside is inconspicuous with outside covered with ivy. We had a 730pm reservation on a Wednesday. Theres a Valet so we didnt even look for street parking. It's an Intimate setting inside & a covered patio. The staff were Nice & helpful. We ordered many items to share. And we had PLENTY! Edamame, cucumber salad,Grilled pork belly & Mushroom skewers, negi Toro, Mackerel, Ochazuke, Black Cod, Japanese waygu roll, tori negi..whew! There were 3 of us! Lol! Everything was Fr we sh Well flavored & Delicious! And the Drinks were also Fabulous! I'll be back read more

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Booked a last minute dinner here. I tried: + Kage kori cocktail + Firefly squid + blue crab hand roll + spicy tuna hand roll + nigiri - Toro + Soto roll Cocktail and Soto roll were great but the rest was eh. The firefly squid was really fishy - we didn't finish it. (I've had firefly squid many other times and it's never tasted like that.) The toro and spicy tuna hand roll didn't taste like anything and kazunori does a way better blue crab handroll. Idk if it was an off night or what... read more

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This place is a good mix between casual and fine dining! Overall, I thought the food was pretty good, but there are definitely dishes that I felt like were better than others. The edamame is pretty standard, the cucumber sumomono was just okay, it was a little too vinegary for me. The milk bread toast on the other hand was perfection, the toast adds a creaminess and pairs perfectly with the albacore and wasabi mixture. The bavette and blue prawn skewers were a little overcooked, but the tori negi was really great and tender. The sashimi moriawase had really great cuts of fish, all the pieces were so tender and melts in the mouth. The sake salmon nigiri was pretty standard. One of my favorite bites of the night was the agedashi mochi, it was packed with flavor and dimension, especially with the shiso leaf. And the black miso cod was tender and well cooked. We were celebrating an anniversary, so they brought out a black sesame ice cream for us; which was so nice! read more

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Some great dishes (black cod, sashimi platter, wagyu skewer, sweet potato pudding). Some really bland and skippable dishes (salmon skin salad, tempura, pork belly skewer, green tea ice cream). This restaurant could benefit from paring the menu down to the items it knows it's really good at instead of forcing itself to be tapas-style and having so many 'filler' dishes, as has become fashionable for the pricier restaurants around LA. You pay a lot, and you get a few excellent dishes, and a lot that just phone it in. Service was polite but impersonal. No effort by staff to connect with us, and waitress wasn't very helpful with making menu suggestions. Food runners hurriedly dropped the dish and said what it was, without making eye contact or allowing a moment for questions. The server who dropped our check and processed payment had never been to our table during the service, which was odd. No one said thank you or goodbye as we were leaving, except for one kitchen worker who we hadn't interacted with. This was nice, but uncoordinated. I'd only eat here again if the prices were lower, or I knew that some of these specific suggestions were implemented. read more

N/Soto was offering a special early bird tasting menu, so we had to give it a try. The menu is set, featuring 5 courses, plus ice cream. Every course was delicious. The fish was top quality. The staff was helpful and friendly, taking the time to explain each course. Street and valet parking are available. read more

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Had the opportunity to try this restaurant a while ago after having a great experience at a n/naka, a restaurant started by the same chef. This was a great experience to try dishes that were just as detailed and interesting as n/naka without the more serious, quiet and for me, nerve racking experience of a set-course tasting menu. We were sat at the bar, but many tables are available and the noise level of people chatting here was much higher here than at n/naka. This restaurant seemed to have a more casual, chatting atmosphere than the other. Couldn't resist a drink in a whale cup, which tasted pretty good. All the dishes had multiple elements on it that didn't feel like they were just piling on expensive ingredients onto each other just for the heck of it. The menu has many options and we were able to try the King Krab Monaka and the Bone Marrow, both of which I'd recommend. Also a Resy restaurant for those with a biannual and quarterly credit they have to burn on a Gold or Platinum. That's just a bonus on top of being able to try this place. read more

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First time here and was blown away! We got the Omakase and what a flavorful experience. The ambiance, aesthetic, and beautiful plating of each dish complemented everything so well. Service was top tier. Oh, and the cocktails! I don't even remember what we got because they were recommended, and at that point I was basically like, "I trust you all. Just tell me what I'll like." They were right about everything! The cocktails were delicious AND strong (just the way they should be). If you're looking to turn a dull, random Thursday night into a whole next-level experience, just come here. With so many trendy, big-name restaurants around nowadays, it's refreshing to find a place that delivers a high-quality culinary experience while still having the warmth and humility of a hidden gem. You can genuinely feel the passion for good food here. Amazing!! read more

N Soto - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

N/Soto was truly a night to remember. This was a RESY booking with the intent of taking advantage of AMEX perks, and while we originally planned on just a few bites, the food was so good that we ended up ordering far more than expected. Our bill came out to over $220 before tip, and honestly, it was easy to see how we got there. We ordered a wide range of dishes, including the house-made tofu, Brussels sprouts and salmon skin salad, snow crab monaka, tori negi, saba kushiyaki, Mt. Fuji nigiri, flounder sashimi, king crab hand roll, and black cod tempura. There were some real standouts. The house-made tofu was silky and delicate, and the salmon skin and Brussels sprout salad was one of our favorites of the night -- perfectly balanced with great texture and flavor. The tori negi and saba kushiyaki were cooked beautifully, and the Mt. Fuji nigiri and flounder sashimi showcased excellent fish quality and restraint. That said, not everything landed. The snow crab monaka came on a rice cracker that tasted noticeably stale to us. It may have been intentional, but the texture took away from the dish rather than enhancing it. The biggest disappointment, however, was the king crab hand roll. Our general rule is simple: do not pair mayo with luxurious ingredients. In this case, the mayo completely masked the delicate sweetness of the crab and dulled what should have been a highlight dish. Even with a few missteps, the overall execution, creativity, and depth of the menu made this a memorable experience. N/Soto is a place where it's very easy to over-order -- and mostly worth it. Food: 4.5/5 - High highs, a few misses Service: 5/5 - Attentive, polished, and well-paced Ambiance: 4.5/5 - Stylish, energetic, and perfect for a long dinner read more

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Great place for sushi and yakitori, plus they have nice Japanese whiskey selection. I tried the tasting menu, and we ordered a few skewers. The tasting menu was just perfect, from the starter with the wow presentation, followed by the sashimi, which was a new experience too, to mix the egg yolk with the sashimi and seasoning. For the yakitori, I really enjoyed the mushroom from teh presentation to the sauce. The server also recommended their house's famous thick-cut beef tongue. One interesting thing was that different servers would make teh same recommendation about the rice entree, which makes it very corporate trained. read more

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After not eating sushi for a couple years my friend recommended we go here for my reintroduction to sushi. The inside is beautiful very clean and calming. Service was amazing. The menu has great options some choices straight to the point and simple while also offering different special choices. I definitely recommend coming here if you're looking for a clean beautiful calming experience with amazing food. Oh and the sweet potato pudding I will think about for the rest of my life! read more

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Visited this location on a date this past weekend and was thoroughly impressed. We were seated promptly at the bar after making reservations on Ressy the day before. The servers and bartenders were attentive and gave us thoughtful recommendations. Each order we placed came out within a few minutes and we hardly had to wait for any of the dishes, which was a huge plus. Some of our favorites from what we ordered was the blue crab handroll, toro kaluga nigiri, soto roll, and the ebi nigiri with fried prawn heads. Overall it was an amazing experience and we are dying to come back for our next fix. read more

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Have now dined here 4-5 times and always enjoy it. I like bringing friends and family here to try the delicious cocktails and order several things and share. So so happy they added a happy hour because it can be a little pricey and I love being able to stop in for a small bite and drink. read more

N Soto - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Finally got a chance to go to N/Soto after really enjoying n/naka! We ordered a variety of things including the milk bread toast, snow crab monaka, daikon radish salad (very refreshing), tori negi, and a variety of sushi. Everything was delicious! We chose to sit outside on the patio and I'm glad we did, it was covered with heaters and quieter than inside. Service was great. Overall, a nice place for a date or catch up dinner. read more

Every round was better than the last. The nigiri was super fresh. Our waitress was super friendly too. Can't wait to go back. read more

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SOOOO DANG GOOD... Dare I say my fave in town? I came with a girlfriend and was blown away. Couldn't wait to bring hubby and kid. They just loved it. Our five year old is a good indicator & gobbled everything we put in front of her. Homemade Tofu is epic if you're into that kind of thing.. think chawanmusi. Soy sauce on top omg I'll be dreaming of it. Sashimi dish really good and includes toro, Uni, they aren't skimping Soto Roll was a little crunchy a little spicy a little something for everyone Chicken thigh and green onion skewer was delicious Chicken karage so crispy and perfect for our casual deliciously perfect execution of fried chicken. We loved the Black sesame ice cream Their sake is all perfect especially the Tenryo Imperial Landing Their mezcal cocktail "Shyoga Flame, Shyoga Fire" so balanced hardly smoky at all Hubby couldn't stop raving about their Japanese style lager beer "Chukanat" almost like having a crisp cocktail We are so excited to come back and wish we could afford to come here weekly. read more

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Loved this place! We came for a reservation at 5:15 on a Saturday which was nice since we found street parking and the restaurant wasn't too crowded yet, so it wasn't that loud. The restaurant isn't on the nicest street, but has cute vibes when you enter. This place has a good variety of seafood and meat. We ordered cucumber salad, pork belly and wagyu skewers, snow crab monaka, kamachi scallop roll, lamb chops, tuna handroll, and the mochi profiteroles. There wasn't one thing we didn't like! Favorites were the lamb chops, the handroll, and the kamachi roll. Would come back to try some other items- their menu is big! Service was great. We came here for a bday. They put a candle in our dessert, but the dessert wasn't free, which is kind of lame, for an expensive dinner. read more

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The izakaya of dreams. N/soto offers casual yet elevated Japanese cuisine, combining classic izakaya favorites with a contemporary twist. We made our reservations for Valentine's Day weekend and only managed to snag bar seating. Even so, it was still a wonderful dining experience from start to finish, with warm, welcoming service and amazing food. We ordered the following dishes: - Sashimi Moriawase (5/5): A chef's selection of sashimi, this dish featured toro, Hokkaido scallops, albacore, uni, and more. The seafood was impeccably fresh, as though it had just been pulled fresh from the sea. - Gyutan (5/5): This was the thickest cut of beef tongue I ever had--and the best. The End. - Hokkaido Scallop (5/5): Perfectly seared, buttery-soft and served with yuzu kosho on top. - Agedashi Mochi (5/5): I didn't expect to like this so much, but the texture of the chewy mochi paired with the fried shiso leaf on top was so interesting and delicious. Kudos to our waiter for recommending it to us! - Miso Baked Bone Marrow (4/5): I was most excited to try this dish, but surprisingly, it fell just short of being as good as the other items we ordered. It was still very good with the umami-rich bone marrow, just not quite as extraordinary as the other items. But also only because the other things we ordered were amazing. N/soto knows how to take tradition, remix it, and serve it up in the most delicious way possible. It's the kind of spot you'll want to add to your LA eats list and circle back to again and again. I know I certainly will! read more

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The plates and presentation were good. My favorites from the menu were the salad and the tempura shiitake. The fish was very fresh as well. Decor was nice, warm woods and modern cool colors to balance. Unfortunately where we were sitting in the patio, there was a big wind current coming in from the parking lot on our friends' backs. The cocktails were okay although I couldn't taste some of the delicate flavors in the tequila drink for example. In addition, for a table of 4, we also did not get enough pickles with the meals (2 cucumbers and 3 slices of picked onion) so it is a good idea to order the pickles for the table if you want pickles with your meal. Overall great service, the waiter shared recommendations when we asked and she kept our table tidy by taking plates away as needed with her team. Really appreciated the attentiveness, and not forgetting about the celebrations we came here for. The only challenge was the number of times they came to our table to take the rice plate away while we were still eating it and enjoying conversation. I would recommend giving us more time to finish, or bringing it earlier (it was the last meal brought out) to enjoy it with the meal sooner! read more

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Had a delightful dinner here last Sunday. Upon entering the beautiful and simple exterior you feel like you're transported into an izakaya in Japan. Service was quite good, and I love that they have a full bar, not just sake and beer. Fried Brussels Sprouts Salad - 5+ stars. Absolutely my favorite dish of the night. Their take on a Caesar salad w brussel sprouts totally works and was absolutely delicious! The pomegranate seeds added a nice textural moment. Sashimi Moriawase - 4 1/2 stars. Lovely presentation of assorted sashimi, most of the fish was excellent! Assorted Ngiri - 5 stars. This is where this restaurant really shines with excellent cuts of fish. The toro was a highlight! Blue Crab Hand Roll - 4 1/2 stars. Excellent crab served in a seaweed wrapper. Tori Momo (Kushiyaki) - 4 stars. This is a jidori chicken thigh, quite good. Hokkaido Scallop (Kushiyaki) - 4 1/2 stars. An excellent and well seasoned scallop. Bavette (Kushiyaki) - 4 1/2 stars. This was a delicious piece of waygu with a tasty seasoning. Almond Cake - 3 stars. The only item that I would not recommend. This was mealy and weak in flavor. Not a strong way to close out a meal. All in all this is a special occasion restaurant serving classic cuts of sushi with excellent fish quality in an intimate and beautiful space! read more

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We visited n/naka for our first anniversary and had an absolutely phenomenal experience, so we were really looking forward to returning for my birthday and expected a somewhat similar level of service to our first visit to n/soto. When making the reservation, my husband specifically noted that it was my birthday. Unfortunately, the experience this time was quite disappointing. Our server appeared to be close friends with a neighboring table, and we noticed that they received a complimentary course, birthday candles with their dessert, and complimentary wine. Meanwhile, despite having mentioned my birthday in advance--and even reminding the staff during our visit--I received no acknowledgment at all. They definitely dropped the ball on a birthday celebration and first visit to the restaurant. We completely understand that complimentary items are not guaranteed, and we weren't expecting anything extravagant. However, seeing another table receive such thoughtful birthday treatment while mine was seemingly forgotten, even after we had reminded them, left us feeling overlooked and uncomfortable. The contrast in how the two tables were treated was particularly upsetting and, honestly, felt discriminatory. A few notes as the first tasters on the new omakase menu as we were told - be careful with the Unagi Yanagawa as there were a few bones in that dish and the Kushiyaki was extremely chewy. I was also really sad that she called a coworker "annoying, but he knows it." That's so rude, and out of all the servers he was the kindest. Be careful on what you say, because everyone around can hear and some things are better left unsaid. It was especially disappointing given how wonderful our first experience at n/naka had been. We had high expectations based on that visit, and unfortunately, this experience fell far short. Hoping Chef Nikki and Chef Carole read this review. read more

Food is delicious! The roll with chili flakes on top is spectacular. Fried soft shell crab and fried black cod are all crispy and soft inside. Grilled scallop and beef tongue are flavorful. read more

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I wish I could remember who recommended this place so I could thank them! My wife and I went for the first time tonight and it was a home run! From the second we walked in the door the host made us feel genuinely welcome like he was happy to see old friends! We sat right away and our server (Ally) was super engaging in introducing us to the concept and going over each section of the menu with recommendations. The cocktails were beautiful and well balanced and the food was amazing. The house made tofu bowl was unique and delightful, the sushi was all super fresh and clean (highlights were the seared toro and the Soto roll). Everyone around us was having a good time and the overall vibe was high! It was a little spendy but we over ordered because everything looked so good and the quality matched the value. 100% recommend and will be coming back! Happy customers here! read more

N Soto - Milk bread toast and something punch cocktail - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Hubby surprised me with a dinner reservation here. I had no idea even when he drove past the place! Then, he had to tell me so I could look up the address. The building is covered with ivy-like foliage and is pretty nondescript (until they put up the Noren door curtains with the name on them right before opening)! They offer valet for $12 in their parking lot. There is metered street parking on W. Washington Blvd. or in the neighborhood. We parked just down the street. n/soto is owned by the same chefs as n/naka. We ordered 15 plates to share and 1 non-alcoholic drink. I would preface to say that if we ate here again, I would order fewer plates. It was nice to try a generous variety of their menu! What we ordered: Edamame, King Crab Monaka, Daikon Salad, Nigiri Kamasu, Nigiri Shiro Sake, Nigiri Santa Barbara Uni, Tori Momo, Bavette, Shio Koji Pork Jowl, Scallop, Quail, Dew Drop Cabbage, Hand Roll Blue Crab, Soft Shell Shrimp Tempura, Mochi Profiterole (dessert), & Ryukyu Robin (drink). My favorites were the King Crab Monaka and Shio Koji Jowl. The King Crab Monaka was a little difficult to eat, but it was such a treat! It is a rice cracker (monaka) filled with king crab, avocado tosazu & uni. We were a little unsure of what to expect with the pork jowl, but it was fantastic! So flavorful and had been cooked nicely! The menu is pretty diverse. There should be something for everyone. I wasn't blown away by most of the dishes, but I did enjoy them. The food is delicious, as it should be when the chef/owner has a Michelin Star! read more

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Dinner at N Soto was absolute perfection. We came to celebrate my best friend's birthday, and every dish was a standout. The snow crab monaka (with avocado, shio koji, and uni) was the perfect starter - fresh, creamy, and beautifully balanced. We loved the cucumber sunomono, oysters with tosazu, and the hand rolls (black cod and negi toro-both so good). The kushiyaki skewers were incredible especially the buttery mushrooms, scallops, sweet potato, and brown butter SHOYU WASABI lamb chops. The clams in broth and miso bone marrow were rich, flavorful, and unforgettable. We finished with mochi profiteroles, the perfect sweet ending. Everything was flawlesS AND already planning our next visit! read more

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I was craving some sushi and the menu looked good, so decided to check this place out. I loved how the dining area looked. The milk bread buratta was a great appetizer. The fish tasted really fresh as well!I had a reservation, so there was no wait and got seated immediately. read more

N Soto - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

N/Soto is a high end Japanese restaurant in LA. This spot serves really nice sushi and some great Japanese dishes. They encourage sharing, so I recommend trying a lot of little things! The restaurant is quite small, so make sure to reserve ahead of time! The service was very friendly and attentive. I really enjoyed the Australian Wagyu Skewers as well as the Sashimi Moriawase! The only thing that was disappointing was the Chicken Thigh Skewers which were a little tough. Overall, everything was pretty delicious! Highly recommend checking it out! read more

Solid meal at N Soto. Portions are small so expect to order a lot for a full meal. Particularly enjoyed the Lamb Chops, Chicken Karaage, Brussel Sprout Salad, Mushroom Donabe and Soto Roll. Sushi was fine but don't know if it stood out compared to other places. Pacing was also a bit off...we ordered three different hand rolls that arrived literally at the beginning, middle and end of the meal rather than at once...makes sharing a bit difficult. Good cocktail menu. read more

Sister restaurant to N/ Naka. Izakaya style can often be overly salty/sauced but this was flavorful without being overpowering. read more

What We Ordered - Monkfish Liver Skewers: - Chicken and Scallion - Chicken Meatball - Prime Beef Shoulder - Beef Tongue - Lamb Chop - Spanish Pork Belly - Unagi - Beef Tripe Nigiri: - Smoked Black Cod - Toro - Uni Hand Rolls: - Toro - Blue Crab I've had N/Soto on my bookmarks for quite some time. Took my fiancé here for his birthday and we were both blown away! Favorite skewers were the Spanish Pork Belly (very fatty) and Beef Tripe! We were very surprised at how the beef tripe was presented. It was flavorful and did not taste or look like organ meat! Would not recommend the prime beef shoulder. It was extremely chewy/dry. The Lamp Chop was oddly presented. It was sliced and drenched in a sauce. I've never had Beef Tongue in chunks and was surprised it was so tender!! All the nigiri and hand rolls we tried were great! Seafood was fresh. We will be back! read more

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I went here on Saturday around 5:30PM and we were seated right away. The staff was great and very attentive. We ordered a few different types of nigiri, the ribeye skewer, their mentaiko potatoes, the karaage, the toro handroll, and 2 of their cocktails. Everything was absolutely delicious! My favorite bite of the night was their toro handroll. The fish to rice ratio was perfect and the added shiso leaf was amazing. I would go back just to order that again and I'd be satisfied! Definitely pricey but a great date night spot or place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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N/Soto is the sister restaurant of the famous N/Naka, soto the "outside" to naka's "center." It's less expensive and five miles east, in Mid-City, and you can get a reservation any night of the week. I'd seen it wide open on Resy dozens of times before I finally decided to check it out, and wow, I had no idea what I was missing. The restaurant was fun and buzzy on a Saturday night. The space was dark and attractive with a modern izakaya vibe. Service was excellent, and we had a relaxing, indulgent dinner. This included a bottle of sake and a round of cocktails that we regretted the next morning, but savored in the moment. We went with our server's recommendation on the sake, the Ohmine "3 Grain," a summery junmai ginjo that worked well with all of our food. The cocktails were superb. Drops of Darkness was a boozy drink with Japanese whisky, spiced black sesame kuromitsu, and bitters. The Kawaii-Kigori was a shaved ice cocktail with Awayuki strawberry gin, yuzu, sakura shio koji, and strawberry rhubarb ice. It was great to have them together. The food was outstanding. We ordered a bunch of small plates and they came coursed out at a good pace, never too long a lull or too many dishes at once. We started with oysters and milk bread burrata, and I knew we were in for a special dinner. The oysters were fresh and I liked the tart rhubarb tosazu gelée on top. The milk bread burrata was unique and delicious, a bowl of burrata with bluefin tuna, strawberry, and shiso, served with a side of toasted milk bread. We were told to mix it all together and spoon it over the bread, and the combination was utterly arresting. Next, we had the golden threadfin bream sashimi. This might have been my favorite dish of the night, beautiful slivers of sashimi served with kanzuri chili and a tangy, vinegary passionfruit sumiso. N/Soto does a lot of classic izakaya fare, too, including fried things and things on sticks. You can do well here without ordering sushi or other seafood, and the bill would be pretty reasonable. The jidori chicken karaage was classic and totally satisfying, tender dark meat with a crunchy panko coating, served with a wedge of lemon. We got four skewers and they were all fantastic and easy to share between two people. I loved the Hokkiado scallop, grilled creamy and sweet and finished with a dab of miso sauce. The shio koji-marinated pork jowl had great texture, and a little yuzu kosho went well with the hearty chunks of meat. The tori momo, or jidori chicken thigh, was incredibly juicy, served with slivered scallion and a gingery sauce. The bavette was nice too, American wagyu steak brushed with a sweet and salty tare. The spring peas arrived next, a sizable bowl that I ate entirely alone. They were just right, sweet and snappy, with shiso, garlic, amazake, and iwanori. So green and tasty, a vibrant segue into our sushi. We got six orders of nigiri, and they were all really good, if not quite on the level you get at a dedicated sushi bar. We had the masunosuke (Hokkaido king salmon), hirasuzuki (blackfin sea bass) , inada (wild baby yellowtail), managatsuo (Japanese butterfish), toro, and Santa Barbara uni. The sushi is expensive and not quite the point here, so if you want to keep the bill down a bit, this feels like the part to cut. We finished our dinner with the brown butter almond cake with sudachi cherry glacé and rhubarb. A lovely dessert, and not too sweet. I've been to N/Naka once and certainly hope to go back, but I know I'll revisit N/Soto long before I get a chance. I'm already plotting to try the $95 Wednesday/Thursday omakase, but I'll go any night of the week. read more

I was honestly blown away by this restaurant. I came in not expecting much, but dish after dish, my taste buds just kept getting happier. It's one of those meals where you keep looking at each other like... "wait, everything is good??" First off -- the location and ambiance. It's tucked into a quiet neighborhood, and the building itself is covered in vines, which already sets the tone. Inside, it's incredibly cozy. There are nicely partitioned booths for a more intimate feel, standard tables in the center, and even patio seating outside. Honestly, there's not a bad seat in the house -- everything feels warm and inviting. Drinks were creative and thoughtful: * Drops of Darkness -- an Old Fashioned with black sesame notes, served with a sesame brittle that was unexpectedly delicious * Mugi Highball -- decent, but nothing standout Now onto the food (aka the real star of the show): * Edamame - edamame is edamame, can't complain * Milk Bread Toast - surprisingly good. Comes with four small toasts and an albacore dip that tastes like an elevated tuna sandwich (in the best way) * Sweet Soy Chili Wings - MUST ORDER. Super saucy, crispy skin, and incredibly juicy and tender inside * Sashimi Moriawase - great value for the quality. Everything was fresh and well-selected (not filler fish). Add the uni -- worth it * Tsukune - generously sized, perfectly seasoned, and so moist * Buta Enoki - exactly like those viral cooking reels (enoki wrapped in thinly sliced meat), but grilled. Simple and satisfying * Agedashi Mochi - this was divine. Shrimp and mushroom wrapped in shiso leaf, lightly fried. Pro tip: fish the mochi out of the broth early -- it soaks everything up and can get overly salty/soggy if left too long * Market & Shrimp Tempura - lightly battered (not the thick, ultra-crispy kind). Still good, just different from what you might expect. The green tea salt with the shrimp is a must * Lamb Chops - beautifully seasoned and cooked. Only downside: no knife provided, which made it a bit tricky to eat * Sweet Potato Pudding - the kokuto syrup adds this deep, smoky caramel flavor that really elevates the dish. I just wish there was more of it * Warm Hojicha Cake - SO good. Think lava cake, but less sweet with a subtle smokiness from the hojicha. Perfectly balanced and not overly rich Service is casual but attentive -- they check in just enough without hovering, which I really appreciated. They do offer valet, but you can also find street parking if you're willing to look a bit. Overall, I would 100% come back. This is one of those spots that quietly impresses you and then suddenly becomes a place you can't stop thinking about. read more

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calling all sushi lovers: if you can i would try this place at least once. from the yellowtail to the fatty tuna you really can't go wrong, tried a lot of new things (for me) and enjoyed every moment of. the service was great too! the woman helping us for the night was so bright and knowledgeable about everything, even their old menus. read more

* Price: moderate to high. Tapas style. Between $10-$50 dish. About $100-$150 per person (with drinks, tax and tips). 3-4 stars. * Ambiance: modern but casual. Patio seating is comfortable. 4 stars. * Location: central LA. A bit ify but pretty safe. Plenty of street parkings. The restaurant is somewhat hidden behind the Ivy. There is valet option. * Meals: delicious! 5 stars. * Service: excellent. 5 stars. We came as a group after visiting LACMA. We made our reservation via website. They probably will allow walk-in since the dining room is pretty spacious. However, if you are coming in a group, probably want to make reservation ahead. They get busy fast. Meals: - warm house tofu, $9. Smooth, silky. Must have. - crudite, $16. Salmon aioli, market veg, bread. Ok. - sashimi moriawase, $45: variety of fishes. So fresh! If you like sashimi, this is a must! - beef tataki, $23: another favorite dish, thin slide, beautiful presentation, burst of flavor! -Hokkaido scallop sashimi, $26: so smooth, tender, not fishy! Must order. - Nigiri: Hokkaido uni, Toro, maguro, etc. Everything is high quality and fresh! - Hand rolls: blue crab$12 each, Toro $14 each. Toro is so good. - Lamb chops $9.5 each. If you must order cooked dish, this should be the one. Very tender, perfectly seasoning, grilled. - Adegashi mochi, $13: Shrimp wrapped in shish leaf, deep fried, served with fried mochi. Must order. We actually ordered 3 of these for our group of five. - Miso baked bone marrow, $21. Very rich flavor and texture. Definitely try once. Desserts: we tried all four deserts on their menu. - Okinawa yam pudding, $9 - back sesame brownie with chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream, $10. -mochi profiteroles with chocolate ice cream, matcha white chocolate and hazelnuts, $12 - melon kakigori, melon shaved ice with yuzu green tea meringue, $12. Everything is very sweet. I would recommend to skip dessert. But if you have to, melon kakigori gets my vote. - Drinks: we tried nonalcoholic drink, wild zero, yuzu, amazake and peach ,$10. Very refreshing. Service is excellent. Everyone is very pleasant. Our plates were replaced intermittently. We were not rushed out of the restaurant. Final verdict: thumb up! Definitely order sashimi, negiri. You can't get better quality fish anywhere else. Skip the dessert. Not worth the calories! read more

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I was hyped up by the rave reviews but after dining here it did not live up to the hype, at least not for me. Nothing to note about the ambiance, just a minimalistic design, with a nice covered patio. Restrooms can be cleaner. We tried the tasting menu and also ordered items a la Carte. Interestingly, the cooked dishes were more outstanding compared to their sashimi and nigiri. You could get similar quality from Yama and sugar fish. The highlight of the meal was probably just the tempura fish, grilled lamb, and dessert featured on their tasting menu. But what really was disappointing was the service. Server didn't introduce himself, nor inquire if we ever dined there or explain the menu. He was more eager to take our drink and food order. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't rude but just neglected the basics. When food was served, they explained the dishes so quickly and walked away. Other staff were eager to remove plates. What was icing on the cake, was when we found an eyelash in one of the dish. When we brought to the server's attention, there was no apologies, but "I'll get you another one." Yeah, sorry, I won't be back. read more

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