Izakaya Osen on Sunset is definitely one of my favorite sushi spots. I found this place on one of…read moremy sushi ventures and I'm so glad I did. I love that they were able to substitute imitation crab for real crab because I don't do imitation crab. So when I can get a California roll with real crab, I'm getting it. It's such a simple roll, but so yummy! I'm a nigiri girl, and let me tell you the fish here is just so delicious, fresh, buttery and melts in your mouth, leaving you wanting more. And the best seat in the house is at the bar watching the sushi chefs do their thing, the whole vibe is just great. It's perfect for lunch or a nice date night. I do recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekends. Definitely worth it

Fresh sushi with a unique spin…read more Had a reservation around 8PM on a Monday and waited for a bit for an indoor table to open (outdoor lighting was kinda bright lol) Got the DineLA for $120 pp. - Truffle Chawanmushi: hearty and always one of my favorites - Pomegranate Halibut - Shrimp Croquette - HOT! Reminded me of dimsum shrimp balls. - Bara Chirashi - LOVED the different textures and flavor profiles of the various components of this dish. Esp the Shiso flowers (tartness) - Miso Soup - Premium Sashimi (scallop, Otoro, salmon): salmon was my favorite! otoro was oh-so-fatty melt in your mouth - Premium Sushi (Golden eye snapper, ebi uni, and I forgot the other): Golden eye snapper was my FAVE! - Miso black cod: sweet, savory, buttery, also melt in your mouth. tasty! - Yuzu Sorbet: refreshing - Birthday matcha ice cream and basque cake.: cake was yummyy - Roku Rose was alright Overall, glad I got to try the DineLA tho the pricepoint def does reflect the higher quality of ingredients. I'd potentially come back for special occasions. Service was friendly, but it felt a little disorganized tbh. Felt like we had to flag people down for drink orders. Also felt rushed through our courses. Wish they waited for all of us to finish before collecting our plates. Easily found free street parking around the corner so don't have to do valet

Their tonkatsu, premium sashimi set and tofu sampler were a delight…read more Tofu sampler had creamy tofu which was everyone's favorite, classic tofu and sesame tofu. All are homemade and just like Meiji tofu. The sashimi was fresh and a generous amount. Our friends enjoyed their black cod as well but preferred the tonkatsu. Their pork hotpot was generous and delicious. Beef tongue was superb except for a couple of pieces that were slightly overdone. Would like to return to get dinner items and more tofu!!

I had a great meal at Izakaya Gazen and loved the variety of dishes my friend and I tried…read more Seared Duck Chashu: This was tender and savory. Beef Tongue Tataki: This was my personal favorite dish. It had a pate-like texture and quality to it, and it paired well with its side ingredients. Homemade Tofu Salad: I enjoyed how fresh and light it was, and it balanced out the other rich dishes. Softshell Crab Roll: I loved the mix of crispy and soft textures, and the portion size was decent for the price. Agedashi Tofu: The tofu was delicate on the inside, and the seaweed gravy surrounding the tofu complemented the tofu flavor.

Came here over the weekend for a small group to celebrate a friend in town. Very friendly service…read more Frosted mugs for beer. Terrific yakitori. Great Izakaya experience. I live pretty far away so not sure I'd make the trek down here again specifically for it but if you're in the area it'll treat your tummy right.

It's just not the same anymore. I've come by twice in the past two weeks, only to find it closed…read moreboth times. They've also gotten rid of many of their popular items, which is really disappointing. This used to be such a hot spot, but unfortunately, it feels like it no longer has the same care, quality, or attention that made it so great before.

My friend and I met up for dinner and stumbled upon Taberu. We ordered chutoro sashimi with house…read moremade pickled ginger that was the most delicious pickled ginger i've ever had. We also had the pork belly crêpes, and the most delicious crunchy and flavorful crab croquettes. For main course my friend ordered the salmon with crispy skin and I had a wonderful seafood soy with the most delicious and delicate broth. 10/10 would recommend

My family and I had an amazing experience at Taberu! When we visited, it was only the second day of…read moretheir new Michelin-chef curated menu...such a pleasant surprise! Our server ended up being the manager, Savior, who was just great. He took the time to explain everything about the menu to us, answered questions, and really made me feel like we were VIP's! The restaurant is moody and dark, perfect for a date night. The menu has entrees, but also many small plates so we did a variety of both. Drinks: Kiwi sorbet high 5/5 Taberu rice lager 5/5 Small plates: Fried yam potato, ikura cream 4/5 Crispy pork belly crepe 5/5 Uni kiritanpo 4/5 Yakitori omakase 4/5 Entrees: Kobujime salmon and ikura 3/5 Grilled A4 Wagyu 5/5 Grilled lamb 6/5 (our favorite dish we got) Hitsumabushi (grilled unagi and rice) 5/5 All of the dishes were plated and served beautifully! I would 100 times recommend the crispy pork belly crepe, yakitori, and grilled lamb.

Great food and a cute, intimate date night spot with very friendly service. The hotate (scallop)…read morewas excellent, and the chawanmushi with dungeness crab was delicate and well executed. The gindara nitsuke (black cod) was another standout, rich, tender, and full of flavor. The chahan (garlic fried rice) was also really nice. On the pricier side, but overall an enjoyable dinner!

Had an excellent meal here with some friends! The vibe inside is elevated casual - sleek and…read moreminimalistic but still cozy. Service was very attentive and friendly! For food, the 4 of us ordered the Japanese Caesar, Japanese latkes, bean tempura, pork shoulder skewer, cabbage skewers, scallop skewer, mushroom skewers, and chicken skin skewer. Everything was absolutely delicious, but my favorites were probably the Caesar salad, tempura beans (served with a garlic confit and anchovy mayo), mushroom skewers, and the pork shoulder skewer. While the latkes were good, I do feel that $28 is a bit steep for 2 small latkes, even if they come with salmon and roe on them. While unique, I would not reorder them for this reason. I also felt the same about the salad at $25. Again, both were delicious but prices were a bit high for the portion sizes, especially given that there's a 4% employee surcharge on the bill at the end anyway. For drinks, we ordered carafes of 2 sakes - the hakurakusei "the conoisseur" and the kaze no mori "white label." The hakurakusei was my favorite (light fruity flavor) and paired insanely well with the mushrooms. The kaze no mori had a much more neutral and clean flavor and went very well with the pork skewer. For dessert, we shared the hojicha parfait. This was a hojicha soft serve (chocolatey vibes) layered with what I believe was a sesame toffee. Super good and a relatively light way to end the meal, especially when shared with friends. Overall, we had a great dinner. I would recommend for a nice weekend night out or a date night.

Budonoki is easily the best meal I've had during my most recent trip to LA. In my party of four, we…read moreshared the following dishes: two orders of the spicy tuna handrolls, two orders of the negima -- "jidori chicken oyster with negi", a scallop crudo, a curry pan (two pieces to an order), a charred Japanese sweet potato (three pieces to an order), an order of aburi salmon (six pieces to an order), budo-"gnocchi" -- made with rice cakes instead of actual potato gnocchi, wagyu zabuton -- prepared as steak frites, and a few cocktails. Although their menu is regularly updated and posted on their website, they'll also have a piece of paper on the table listing on the special of the day. On our visit, the special was fried yellow tail, but we ultimately passed since our order was already loaded. After you place your order, the dishes are coursed out so not everything hits the table at the same time. Pacing was perfect and service was polite and attentive. Of the items we ordered the crowd favorite was the fries from the steak fries dipped into the sauce of the budo-gnocchi dish. The fries were effectively a perfected version of the McDonald's fry: golden and crispy, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The wagyu was sliced into beautiful bite-size pieces and was melt-in-you-mouth tender. Definitely a must order! Another favorite of mine was the Japanese sweet potato. The surface of the potato is beautifully brûléed, there's an intense richness from the glob of miso koji butter on top, and the chives add a nice freshness to the dish. I cannot recommend Budonoki enough if you're a foodie. Seriously some of the best food I've had in LA.

Parking is hard to find. I came in expecting more authentic…read moreflavors but it's more of a fusion Americanized type place. Maitake salad: tasty but it was extremely salty Negima: too sweet Aburi salmon: this actually made me mad because this is one of my fav sushis lol. the salmon had black pepper on it... there was fish also in the middle which is not usual for oshi sushi...it made it fall apart... the wasabi was sweet (?!) Cute place for drinks (they have really cute cups for some of the drinks) If you are looking for Japanese food I wouldn't pick this place.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! 4.8…read more Hatch is located on the ground level of The Bloc, an open-air shopping center in downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant offers outdoor seating overlooking the lovely green turf and provides tall heaters for cooler evenings. My husband made lunch reservations here and told me it was just a quick 10-15 minute walk from our hotel, The Ritz-Carlton. We crossed a few intersections to get there, and it was well worth the walk. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a warm and welcoming host. The ambiance is light and airy, featuring high ceilings, light-colored walls, and light wood furnishings. The overall aesthetic is clean, modern, and very inviting. We stopped in for a late lunch and ordered the "Eggcellent Lunch" prix fixe, which included the following: *Tuna Tataki Handroll ~ seared wild caught tuna, tomato & shallot salsa, rayu chili oil, ponzu, micro cilantro *Seaweed Salad ~ w/minced garlic. Served alongside the Tuna Tataki Handroll *Squid Ink Karaage ~ 2-day brined fried chicken thighs, squid ink, house pickles, grilled lime, black garlic ranch *Chicken Breast Skewer ~ char siu marinade, black sesame *Bacon Shishito Skewer ~ applewood smoked bacon *Chicken Meatball Skewer ~ sous vide egg yolk & tare dip Bottom line, everything had visual appeal and was packed with flavor! If we lived locally, we would definitely return for dinner. I have no doubt the rest of the menu would be just as tasty, and I can only imagine the restaurant coming alive in the evening with a lively crowd, happy diners, and a well-stocked bar.

HATCH is located inside The Bloc in Downtown LA. Pro tip: Make sure you get your parking ticket…read morevalidated before leaving--it brought our parking total down from $36 to $3! When we walked in around 4:50 PM, the place was empty and slow. We got to choose our table, and the server was quick to take our drink order, but service descended into "mid" quality pretty fast. The servers weren't very knowledgeable about menu basics (like wood chip types or vegan options) and ours spent a lot of time ignoring her tables while the bartender looked completely bored out of his mind. Drinks *Hakutsuru Junmai Hot Sake: Tasted harsh, almost like rubbing alcohol. *Lemon Freeze Highball: Refreshing and the best of the cocktail bunch. *Momo Waves & Honey, Honey: Extremely whiskey-forward to the point of overpowering all other flavor notes. My friend has a cocktail smoking kit at home and said the smoked drink was a hard pass. I ended up ordering a Kimino Peach Sparkling soda (which wasn't for me) and passed it to my friend so he could use it to water down his Momo Waves. The Food The tapas delivery pacing was frustrating; bringing out one item at a time when you're hungry creates a stressful dining experience. More importantly, the execution was severely lacking across the board--there was zero char, no depth of marinade, and a complete lack of seasoning or spice. *Unagi ($12): Undercooked, soft, and mushy skin. If you're serving fish skin-on, it needs to be crispy. *Yaki Onigiri ($4): Sad disappointment. It came without a seaweed wrap; instead, the top and bottom were fried so hard they were practically unchewable. It tasted like burnt popcorn mixed with inedible fried Rice Krispies. The sauce was the only redeeming part. *Chicken Breast ($12) & Thigh ($4.90): The chicken thigh was good, but the breast was very strange--dry on the outside yet soft enough inside that it felt like it needed more cook time. *Lamb Lollipop ($15): The absolute last straw. You could smell the gamey-ness before it even reached the table. The steam hit my mouth with that heavy gaminess, and I couldn't even chew it. This place seems aimed at people who want meat in its rawest, unseasoned state--I need actual spices, love, and care in my food. *HATCH Greens ($18) & Agedashi Tofu ($6): My friend enjoyed the greens without complaint and said the tofu was fine. *Dessert & Final Thoughts We tried to end on a sweet note with the Binchotan Brownie ($14), but the brownie tasted like a cheap, pre-packaged wrapper brownie that had been frozen, thawed out, and dressed up with toppings. For a $150 tab, the "kitchen appreciation fee" and leaving hungry is a cardinal sin. Stop charging customers to pay the wages to your employees...We literally had to head straight to Hibachihana Grill right after just to get a satisfying meal. The menu has potential on paper, but the kitchen execution just isn't there. The only highlight of the entire dinner was the projection of SpongeBob playing on the wall.

My boyfriend and I came here last night for the first time and everything was honestly 10/10. Every…read moredish we tried was amazing, but I highly recommend the marinated Wagyu short rib, and the absolute MUST get is the truffle and mushroom udon noodles. So flavorful and easily one of the best dishes we had. The service was also great, our server was super friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is small and intimate, which made the whole experience feel even better. High quality food all around. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone!

Food was great. Slow service with one server was understandable. $8 for parking with validation was…read morea bit too much. I would give 4.5 out of 5 if I could because I really like their food. However, pacing on serving each dish was pretty slow. I was full already when the server gave me the third dish. I honestly didn't want to take home but I had to because again serving pace was really slow. My most favorite was uni, ikura, scallop & blue crab, and Uni risotto. Miso Black Cod was good too.

This is the $55 Dine LA prefix set last three photos were separate from another time I went before…read more Overall, tastes great. Pretty good deal. Appetizers: tuna, fish tempura, plum marinated tomatoes Yakitori: chicken skin and chicken thigh It was crispy and flavorful. Main: Sushi omakase The fish was delicious and rich. Last course: DIY handroll Taste delicious. Impressive presentation. Service is good. Nice casual spot.

Wow the food is so good!! Recommended by a friend that this place was like Izakaya Osen several…read moreyears ago. Chirashi - the fish is QUALITY. 2 types of each fish, so it's still shareable with a friend. Standouts: their Uni was so creamy and fresh. Also loved the kanpachi pieces - firm and flavorful. Hamachi was also so buttery and fresh. The Miso Chilean Seabass skewers were the best. So tender, soft and grilled and marinated perfectly. What a nice thick satisfying chunk. This is a must order. Pressed sushi - these are hard to find outside of Vancouver so it was a delight to see them! We had the salmon and hamachi version. Loved that the Hamachi had a delicious spicy kick to it! The matcha mochi chocolate cake was so soft, gooey with strong matcha flavor! Great way to end the meal. It's on a poppin street on West Hollywood. We walked to Dayglow for matcha and the Pacific Design Center for inspiration.

The inside is low lit & gives an elevated ambiance. Service was fantastic and very attentive. We…read morestarted with the pacific oysters & spicy tuna crispy rice. The pacific oysters are a good size and I really enjoyed the yuzu-kosho ponzu sauce on it. The spicy tuna crispy rice have a good amount of spicy tuna on top & I loved how crispy they made the rice underneath. The Kodo trio comes with uni, toro, & wagyu and the Toro sampler comes with o-toro, chu-toro, akami. All of these handrolls were phenomenal & just left you wanting more. The Wagyu katsu you cook on a hot stone at the table which I liked as an interactive dish. The Wagyu cheeseburger was dripping with juice but still had those crunchy edges. The Uni pasta was beautiful & delicious. The Chimichurri prawns I could eat multiple plates of- the shell comes sliced down the middle so you just have to peel it off. For dessert we ordered the Kodo basque cheesecake & Miso chocolate torte. I love a basque cheesecake & the sesame crumble added great texture. The miso chocolate torte made me wish I ordered my own. Everything from start to finish was amazing, it's hard to pick favorites. Parking- valet $13

I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!