In downtown LA there is this very hidden, isolated, secluded restaurant that you probably couldn't find with a NASA Interplanetary Navigation System. Yes, that's how "Phantom" Pikunico Japanese restaurant is. Tucked away on South Alameda Street this small cafe / bistro is making unbelievable -Sandwiches, Salads and Rice Bowls. Their entire menu is a "Hit Parade" of unusual yet delicious Asian fare. I had their: * Golden Chicken Sandwich Fried chicken on golden turmeric bun, pickled daikon, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, lemon aioli, jalapeño and miso jam...... that was the most remarkably eccentric sandwich I've ever tasted; and I mean that in the very best of ways! This sandwich had more things going on ingredient wise, so I would definitely call it a - Flavor Bomb". Pikunico was so clean and sterile I was duly impressed. These nice young people working here added to your experience in this small but yet very fantastic hidden gem. read more

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Incredibly mid, like nearly everything else at The Row. Service is insanely slow due to being understaffed and the food was not worth the wait, in my opinion. FRIEND CHICKEN MIX: 3/5. The chicken was not seasoned, and while the texture on the tender was okay, the wing was dry. The spicy chili oil and pickles helped a little. MUSHROOM BALL: 3/5. Kind of hard, yet chewy, and the soy glaze smelled better than it tasted. read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here for lunch and ordered the Golden Sandwich. It was pretty good overall, but for my taste, it had a bit too much basil sprout and jalapeño. The fried chicken itself was delicious though next time I might just order the chicken on its own. I also tried the potato fingerlings, and they were just okay. For now, I'm leaving my rating at 3 stars. If it had just been the chicken, it probably would've been a 4, but the sandwich and potatoes bring it down to a 3 for me. read more

3.5/5: The food was great as the chicken sandwich was flavorful and filling and the salad was nice and fresh. With beer options I have not seen before and nice sweets for after your meal. The interior design is nice but it could be cleaner as many tables were dirty and no one was coming by anytime to wipe them down. read more

Pikunico - Miso De Leche Cookie GF - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cute casual eatery with decent service but the chicken is a miss. Ordered the mixed chicken pieces and the thigh and tender was incredibly small while the wing was a full size. There is no seasoning in the chicken, just chili oil. read more

Not very good chicken, seems most people eat here be cause they couldn't get into the other restaurants due to wait times. The tenders are a bit overcooked, and service is quite slow due to them having 1 cook for the entire meal service. read more

Pikunico - Maneki Wanko sake - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Personally, this place was SO HARD to find that I had to check Google Maps and phone-in to ask where in the world is this place?! The worker answered the phone with the greeting, I asked where they are located, and strangely the worker saying "Hello?! Hello?!" and hung up. I would have appreciated if you said you don't understand! I later found out the person didn't speak English well and only understood how to take orders/ speak the menu... because he was the person who was also taking orders and I noticed he was ignoring all the phone calls while I was in line and could tell the limited English when I placed an order with him. This place is definitely understaffed because this man was handling the huge line, but expected to answer phone, and also give the food to customer. I came during lunch hour. The line was very long and the wait for the food long but I was pleased with my food. I ordered the chicken sandwich. The sandwich was nicely made and neatly packed with alfalfa sprouts and pickles. It was delicious. The downside was the experience and the price for this sandwich is pricey! I would only come back if I were in the area. read more

Pikunico - Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a yummy spot located in the beautiful Row DTLA! I was craving a solid chicken sandwich and Pikunico exceeded my expectations with their spicy golden sandwich! Great amount of heat and the fresh sprouts and pickled veggies inside gave this sandwich so much flavor. The fries were also scrumptious. Excellent customer service. I would most definitely come back to try more off of the menu. Highly recommend! read more

Pikunico - Interior - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Pikunico had one of the most unique chicken sandwiches I have ever had! This was an adorable store, with lots of natural lighting and plenty of tables and booths. You order at the cash register and pay before finding a seat. There was a short line on a weekend afternoon, but it moved quickly. The food took awhile to arrive, but this was understandable, as there were only a couple employees. I tried the roasted beets salad, with yuzukosho marinated beets, broccoli, and tamari walnuts. It was a perfectly standard salad, nothing too remarkable. The golden chicken sandwich, on the other hand, was truly memorable and unique. Just the shape of the chicken sandwich was really interesting: it almost had the cylinder shape of a burrito. The sandwich features a perfectly fried chicken on a turmeric bun, with pickled daikon, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, lemon aioli, jalapeño and miso jam. I really enjoyed the freshness of the daikon and sprouts with the juiciness of the chicken. The sandwich was gone way too quickly - every bite was filled with flavor! I can't wait to visit again and try the fried chicken on its own. read more

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My gf and I unexpectedly visited Pikunico for the first time and were impressed! We weren't familiar with the menu because we planned to go to Pane Bianco, but they close earlier than we expected. We ordered the Golden Chicken Sandwich. It was packed with ingredients and bursting with flavor. We both enjoyed the strong pickled/vinegar flavor and agreed that neither of us have had a sandwich that tasted like quite like this. It has a lot going on, but comes together to make it a unique and tasty sandwich. The chicken karaage inside of it was well seasoned, but not particularly special. If not for the $1 up charge, I would've ordered the sandwich spicy. Overall I liked Pikunico, but it does feel a bit expensive. read more

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Hidden gem located at the Row DTLA I stopped by here after shopping for some stuff. There is a lot of seating, and the staff was kind and friendly. The decor is so cute, lots of sunlight from the big windows. We got the golden chicken sandwich but made it spicy. The sandwich came out quick, it was nice and hot. The chicken was so crispy and inside was so juicy, it was perfect! it was actually spicy too! Nothing crazy spicy tho. I would def recommend coming here if you are in the area! read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Super flavorful and crispy chicken sandwich! I typically always choose the spicy option if it's available, and while I enjoyed the spicy version of the Golden Chicken Sandwich I think it would have been plenty flavorful getting it the regular way. The pickled radish and micro greens help cut the fried chicken. Friendly, quick staff and the tables are small but enough for a quick bite like this. Would come again :) read more

Pikunico - Golden Chicken Sandwich (spicy) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've seen this place a few times when coming to the ROW, but never actually stopped by. Glad I did! It's a super cute place to come to, and has a delicious chicken sandwich. The interior is comfortable, the wait not super long, and it's hard to go wrong with the menu. It's a sort of hybrid Japanese-American fast-casual. Slightly more sprouts than I tend to like, but that's ok, it's good to eat healthy. Pikunico by nature is in THE ROW, which means you have super convenient parking (there's a lot right across from the...street). Parking I believe is even free for an hour or two. There's also an assortment of super cute shops you can explore and meander through after you're done eating. read more

The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and I really liked the addition of alfalfa sprouts and these sour pickles. It gave the sandwich a nice twist!! The location is also very convenient since there's a big parking structure behind it with 2 hours free parking, and the spot itself was clean and quiet. I think it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

Pikunico - Golden Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Soo empty, fast service. You kinda get the place to yourself. Okay portion for the size. The sauce is a bit runny, lemon aioli is really lemony. The tenders were lighter than I expected and small pieces. The chicken is moist, but some pieces may be a bit pink. Nice crunch, not a typical fried chicken strong flavor, more mild. Spicy oil is good seasoning, not super spicy though ( like cayenne/smoked paprika with msg) read more

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Stopped in for a quick dinner and had an overall solid experience. The chicken sandwich was served on fresh bread, with a nicely crispy piece of chicken and well-balanced layers of flavor from the sprouts and pickled vegetables. While the flavors worked well together, I did wish the chicken was more consistent from bite to bite. We also tried the spicy wings, which were enjoyable and had a pleasant crunch, though I wouldn't have minded them cooked just a bit longer. The heat level was there, but they could have benefited from a bit more depth of flavor. Overall, this is a decent spot offering reasonably priced food and a satisfying meal. read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Located in Row DTLA but on the other side is Pikunico, a really cute, quaint and charming small restaurant with hearty service and an easy menu which I appreciate. The fried chicken was battered very well and a good size to share. Light, fluffy, crunchy and crispy! read more

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Fast casual Japanese Fried Chicken spot in The Row in DTLA. Friendly staff that gave reccos when we had to pick a sauce for the tenders. The fried chicken that is GF is cooked perfectly. I really like the fact that the salads came in different sizes which meant I could get slaw while my mom opted for seaweed. The Japanese yam was super delicious, perfectly steamed topped with sour cream and pumpkin seeds. read more

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Finally got to try this place after seeing it on buzzfeed and it was worth the try! As they said in the video, the bread was soft and squishy, the sprouts were great, and the chicken was juicy. It was very light compared to your average chicken sandwich. To add spice, they used chili oil added into the sauce, but I wish there was a little more spice to it. read more

Pikunico - Spicy Golden Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We came here and got the Golden Chicken Sandwich which was a flavor packed unique sandwich! I personally loved it. Has a nice little kick with the jalapeño but wasn't too spicy. The staff is super nice and they're great with recommendations! The spot is cute although a little hard to find in the maze. I've gone back twice and it's been 5/5 each time!! read more

came here on a weekday afternoon past the lunch rush, really chill. staff was super friendly. I had veggie curry (which was DELISH... the shiitake mushrooms tasted like they were marinated in sake, the veg was fresh, the curry flavor was really rich & the brown rice was well cooked). I also had the beet salad which had the freshest juiciest beets with a really delicious olive oil? dressing. so good I drank the last of the dressing :D. my hubby had the chicken sandwich which he ate so fast I couldn't take a pic :). def recommend for a quick nutritious lunch. 2hrs free parking in lot. read more

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One of my friends recommended Pikunico for our ladies' night, so our group of five had dinner there last Thursday. We arrived past 6pm and it wasn't busy. We grabbed a table inside; there was no outdoor seating. You have to order at the counter, and they bring out the food quickly. The restaurant is small, but bright, open, and decorated festively for the holidays. Since it was my first time at Pikunico, I wanted to try a classic item and ordered the regular Golden Chicken Sandwich. The ratio of chicken to bread and filling was good for me. The chicken was crispy, the greens provided freshness, and the chilis added a nice kick. The bread was a bit dry for my taste, but it didn't deter from the overall sandwich. Also, I bought a Miso de Leche Cookie to take home. It's a sandwich shortbread cookie with sweet & salty filling; shaped like a star for the holidays - it was a pleasant & tasty surprise! Pikunico has some interesting fusion items on their menu, so if I'm in the ROW DTLA area in the future, then I wouldn't mind visiting this place again! read more

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Was filming here over the weekend and the caterer is not allergy friendly. Looked on find me gluten-free app and red great reviews for people who have celiac disease. I had the fried chicken in the bowl the first night and it was bomb! The fries were full of flavor and perfectly cooked. Coconut chocolate chip cookie and brownie was out of this world! Of course gluten-free. I'm the medic for film set so if I get sick it's not good at the Medic needs a medic, you know?! lol Everyone that worked there was friendly and nice great vibes ! read more

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I tried the Golden Spicy Chicken Sandwich! I liked everything except the spicy sauce. It dominated the flavor and made the sandwich messy. I tried the sandwich without the spice and it was a lot better! read more

Pikunico - Golden Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The overall experience was interesting. I felt like it had a lot of LA influence with healthier alternatives, but I guess the sandwich was the most interesting part. Lot of different flavors and pickled ingredients. The chicken sandwich wasn't bad but my only concern was was the size. It's a typical LA size for LA prices and even got extra food and was still hungry. I got the salmon onigiri which was more rice salmon. The service was not bad but the ambiance made up for the interesting sandwich experience. read more

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Cute little casual place by the row. Ordered their spicy golden chicken sandwich, and I liked the bread but idk maybe mine didn't have enough daikon or something, because it was veering towards one note very savory bites, and not enough uplifting contrasting bits that I would've wanted from like a slaw or vegetables or something. The owner was the one who rang us up and she seemed very nice and friendly though! read more

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Overall service was phenomenal and very accommodating to allergies and dietary restrictions. Definitely recommend golden chicken sandwich. read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've tried to visit this place on a couple different occasions (they shut down the kitchen 30 minutes before closing time) and was finally able to make it in today. I ordered the mix, which comes with two tenders, one wing, and one thigh. I opted for the spicy upgrade & picked lemon aioli as my sauce. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed with the chicken, which was dry. The lemon aioli didn't have a strong acidic taste. Despite the chicken being coated in what appeared to be chili oil, it had little kick or flavor. Not sure how the other items here taste, but given I didn't like the main chicken itself, I probably wouldn't come back. Service was quick & pleasant, and the interior has a lot of natural light and seating. read more

pikunico: saw this taiwanese fried chicken place on tiktok and finally visited in the row dtla. perf cross section we got it spicy which wasnt too hot and the chicken was crispy and juicy . the pickled diakons and sprouts were great balance read more

Pikunico - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Pretty good spot! Ordered the spicy sandwich and it wasn't really spicy. It had great flavor still. Tried the salmon onigiri and it was okay, probably wouldn't order this again. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday afternoon so we got our food pretty fast. There's a lot of seating inside and out. There's a huge parking structure so you won't have to worry about finding parking. read more

Pikunico - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A cool Japanese spot in Row DTLA. My partner ordered the golden chicken sandwich, which unfortunately he was not impressed with. He said the chicken was dry and didn't have much flavor. It needed some more sauce to give it more kick. I ordered the fried kabocha bowl which was very tasty. The kabocha was crispy and tasty, the rice had a wonderful ginger taste and egg was flavorful too. I also ordered the yuzu lemonade which was delightful. There wasn't much service as you order at the register and they just bring out your food. But the cashier was nice and took the time to answer our questions and give us recommendations. The spot was very beautiful, decorated warm and comfy like. Overall I enjoyed this spot but it could have been a bit more flavorful and given some more love to really juice it up a bit. read more

Pikunico - Golden chicken sandwich - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Some of the best fried chicken you will find. Found this place years ago from a Buzzfeed video and still think it has some of the best chicken. Family basket is the way to go. We got it to share between two (even though it feeds up to 4) - we devoured it. 1 pound of tenders, some slaw, two onigiri, fries, and pickles ... what more could you want? We came on the weekend, and parking was cheap at the Row (a surprise for DTLA). Must-stop whenever we're in the area. read more

Pikunico - Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Affordable dining option located at the ROW. I was expecting light, airy, crispy tenders but the breading just felt like velvet in my mouth. Where's the crunch? The meat itself was tender which was great but the breading texture was not the best. Ponzu dipping sauce was nice. The chopped veggies inside were a nice touch. I liked their cabbage slaw that comes with broccoli and other greens. Interior is nicely furnished and decorated. Bathrooms are outside down the hall across from GGET coffee shop. Free parking up to 2 hrs and Tesla charging on 5th floor of garage! read more

I'm kinda leaning toward 3.5 stars on this. It's good for sure but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit on my own. My partner and I stopped by on a Monday around 2:30 PM and there was no wait. The staff member who helped us was very friendly, and we had a nice bit of small talk. We ordered their classic Golden Chicken sandwich to-go and shared it. While the chicken was juicy and crispy even after bringing it home, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped (probably because I'm not a big fan of watercress) I would have preferred it without it but that's just a personal preference. That said, the sandwich was still satisfying, and I have no doubt the rest of their menu is just as solid. The interior was spacious and well-maintained and our order was ready within minutes. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but not necessarily a place I'd go out of my way for. read more

Pikunico - Classic golden chicken sandwich (featuring the neighborhood cat) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is tucked and hidden in THE ROW LA. The sandwich was the winner for me. Stacked perfectly with crispy chicken sprouts and other veggies that make every bite better and better. I'd love to explore the menu next time I visit. read more

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Waited for our food for over an hour with no mention that they were backed up and it would take forever when we ordered. At the 90-minute mark, we went up to cancel the order and they said they'd just mixed up the order numbers and never called ours, then handed us a cold bag of food they'd been calling by the wrong number for 30 minutes. Never again. read more

Golden Chicken sandwich was mid. Wanted to like it. Wouldn't get it again. Don't recommend it

Food: Golden Chicken Sandwich with fried chicken on golden tumeric bun, pickled daikon, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, lemon aoli, jalapeno and miso jam was SUPERB!!! The chicken had the tasty brown meat (not that healthy dry white meat) and the bun was perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft on in the side smothered in that magical jalapeno & miso jam!!! Service: freshly, made-to-order; good things come to those who wait; owner/servers are all very nice Design: interiors is simple, modern with white walls and ceiling with a touch of light brown wooden wainscott, tables, trellis and rope light fixtures; counter seating against the window, communal bench seating in the middle, surrounded by 2 & 4-top tables against the wall Overall: if you want great chicken sandwiches, make sure you get here before the lunch rush, which should be a good indicator of how AMAZING this place is!!! read more

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This is inside The Row, and parking in the garage is free for 2 hrs. We came for lunch on a Sunday, and there was plenty of indoor seating. It's very casual, and it does feel like you're having a picnic with the bench/table seatings. We ordered the following: Golden Chicken Sandwich - we got this spicy for $1 extra, and this sandwich was the bomb. The flavor of the fried chicken was seasoned really well, and the alfalfa sprouts completes this perfect sandwich. The pickled peppers bring the heat for sure, and I recommend it. This sandwich was easy to eat, and the bread on this was really soft and not thick, making it not messy and great to eat. Yaki Imo - if you like Japanese sweet potato and ume, you'll like this. Salmon Onigiri - the rice is made with ginger and soy sauce, and it has flaky salmon on the inside. This was good, and I think I'd just stick to the Ginger Onigiri, since the rice mixture itself has already really good flavor. The service was very nice and helpful. This would be a place I'd be a regular at for the sandwich. read more

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Cute bistro casual spot in the row tucked away near the end of the ally. The salad special was so refreshing. Also has ample seating if you're walking around for a while. read more