Shunji was extremely delicious and such an enjoyable experience. Came here on reservation and upon…read moreentering we were seated along with another party. Since it's on a reservation based system, there's very limited seatings each day. Total of 4 us we were able to enjoy this Omakase experience for roughly an hour and a half. The different types of food and fishes that came out were all delicious and perfected by the chef. Hard to detail what type of stuff came out, but it is pretty typical if you have been to other Omakase experiences. Everyone, including the staff were very tentative and nice with everyone and explain, explained in detail the dishes that came out. It's definitely worth the experience. It is pricey, but it's perfect for those special occasions like a birthday or an anniversary. I would definitely recommend it to other people if they have a special day coming up. Street parking is the only viable option here.

I can't imagine having meal at a 400 per person omakase place that serves tempura full of fish…read morebones ridiculous. Chef saw that, and did nothing and he knew this is a failed dish due to lack of bone cut(骨切り) he said that to the kitchen stuff, but nothing to the customer. Why do I know, cause I speaks japanese. Additionally, their so called signature dish has to be paid separate as an add-on, very funny.

I used to visit the downtown location when it was the only one open. The fish is always incredibly…read morefresh and high quality. It can be a bit pricey, but it's absolutely worth it. The service is consistently excellent, and I highly recommend making a reservation, as it tends to get busy. ENJOY! PS: There is only street parking.

We decided to eat here on a whim because we were craving sushi. It was a Friday night and we were…read moreable to walk in and got seated right away. We ordered the yuzu roll, yellowtail nigiri, unagi nigiri, akami (lean tuna) nigiri and albacore belly nigiri. Everything was fresh and tasty. We only would not order the albacore belly again because it wasn't really to our taste preference. Service was quick and servers were nice and it was warm and inviting ambiance inside.

I came here with a group of four for my boyfriend's birthday and had such an amazing experience…read more The service was exceptional from beginning to end, and we even got to meet Chef Niki afterwards, which made the night even more special. I still think about so many of the dishes we had. Everything was beautifully executed, thoughtful, and incredibly memorable. One of those meals that really stays with you long after it's over. You can tell they place great precision and detail into every dish. Would highly recommend watching Chef's Table beforehand as it highlights Chef Niki's work and journey.

After five years of living in LA, and trying an undetermined amount of times, I was able to secure…read morea reservation at N/Naka. The reservation times open at 10 am every Sunday on Tock, and I set an alarm to remind me to book it. I missed the alarm by 30 minutes, and when I went to book, the coveted Friday and Saturday reservations were gone, but I was able to score a 5:15 pm reservation on a Wednesday night. If a weekend reservation is imperative, I recommend being at your computer at 10 am on the dot on a Sunday morning. We arrived early and parked in the neighborhood, street parking was easy to find at this time on a weekday afternoon. We were welcomed into the restaurant at a few minutes before our reservation time by a member of staff wearing a suit. We were seated at our table, in the second room. We were asked about our water preference and then immediately brought said water and an alcoholic beverage menu. We were not brought a food menu as the restaurant is kaiseki course and all options are decided by the chef. I believe that they accommodate some dietary restrictions, but I am unsure of which specific ones they can accommodate and which they can't. N/Naka serves 13 courses in their kaiseki, and each course was plated beautifully and with a lot of detail. While everything was superb, a couple of standouts for me personally were the truffle pasta (which the staff informed us, chef had been cooking and serving every day for many years), the wagyu steak and the sushi. The ambiance felt upscale and elegant without being over the top or gaudy. Service was lovely. The staff were friendly and focused on providing the perfect experience for us. Everyone was kind and attentive without being overly formal, like some fine dining restaurants. Chef Nakayama came out at the end of the meal to greet us and thank us for dining, which was a nice touch. The staff also took a Polaroid of us to commemmorate our evening, which was the perfect ending. We were sent home with some madeleines and tea. This was an 11/10 dining experience, however, I will say that it was probably the priciest dinner I've ever had in LA.

My husband got us a reservation for my birthday and the meal was fantastic! Every piece of nigiri…read morewas amazing quality but some of my personal favorites were the scallop, tuna two ways, and ika/uni combo. Having the ika and uni together was a nice surprise with the differing textures that really elevated the nigiri. The tamago (egg) to end the nigiri portion of the meal was fantastic - the chef described it was castella style, and if you've had the Japanese dessert castella, it really does remind you of it! The yuzu ice gelato (?) to finish the meal was the perfect end. There's 8 seats, so it's an intimate meal, and the chef does everything! Thank you for the wonderful meal!!!

I think each omakase experience is unique. I was surprised to learn we had a place so close to…read morehome, in a plaza I wouldnt have expected, and it's easy to miss with no markings once youre near the door. I was also surprised that the paper wasn't as done up as I would have imagined for an experience like that, somewhat barren. This pesky fly was around the main area and eventually was caught. Overall the experience was good. Each fish had different flavors and notes brought out by various ways of pairing it. Nothing really stood out as phenomenal. I would say it was a solid omakase experience and the final price felt a bit too high.

We had an amazing experience at Kogen last night. It's a beautiful restaurant. The food is off the…read morecharts. It's pure artistry from Chef Yasu, and the staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and turned us on to new sake and wine pairings that we've never tasted before but perfectly complimented the food. We were completely thrilled by the entire experience. We left full and happy and with wonderful fresh cookies in our hands. Well worth a visit.

Having been blown away by Adrian and Chef Yasu at Taikun, my wife and I were thrilled to sit down…read moreat Kogen Omakase and see their latest adventure for our wedding anniversary. We can safely say it did not disappoint. From the cozy atmosphere, to the welcome cocktail and amuse, and the incredible omakase experience where each piece builds on the last, to the incredible desserts from Sarah, we absolutely loved every moment. The price is premium, but so is the experience. While there are lots of premium omakase experiences in the LA area, Kogen stands out through both quality and the sheer love that Adrian, Yasu, and Sarah infuse into the experience. The greatest quality of Kogen, in my view, isn't just the outstanding food, or the amazing sake and beverage pairings - it's how Adrian and his team weave it together into an experience that bonds the diners together at the omakase counter. They create special, intimate connections in a way no other omakase experience we've had can boast. Parking is plentiful and easy - there are several lots nearby and a cheap parking structure just a block away on 2nd Street. That said, to take full advantage - take a ride share so you don't need to worry about the ride home and can really appreciate the beverage program that Sarah and Adrian have curated. We will be back, with friends and family, for every excuse we can imagine. And frankly - just because.

I've been here numerous times as it's very close to my office…read more The setting is very nice (chic and clean) and the service has always been very good. I've tried most of the appetizers and various sushi over the years. The food is always good. A bit pricey but probably to be expected in this location. Not my favorite sushi in LA (even at comparable price points) but can't beat the convenience of this location for me. Will be back.

I think about this Lourd roll and rock shrimp often. Place is so good 10/10. Go! You won't regretread more

I just visited the Getty's museum and took a bit too long so I figured to take my daughter to a…read morelocal place to eat and wait out the crazy traffic. I am glad I did, this place is great. I didn't have a reservation and the hostess squeezed me in on what seems to be a busy Thursday night. The staffs are very nice and the food comes out quick. I got the steak and it was very tasty. My daughter must be hungry so she ate most of the food so I order a ramen to get full. The ramen is surprisingly good for a izakaya place. If you like Izakaya, try this place. The place is pretty small so it'll feel very cozy and you can definitely hear the couple next to you having a fight. There is parking lot right next door but the attendant may not be there so you don't have to pay if he is not around. I sure didn't.

A friend brought me here and prefaced by saying it was the best japanese food he's had outside of…read moreJapan. Although it didn't necessarily live up to the hype, it was definitely an authentic spot tucked in a busy area of LA. Parking, was particularly hard to find. Definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. Immediately greeted by a friendly staff who showed us our table. Ambience was reminiscent of a local spot you'd find in Tokyo. A comforting, warm, bright place that serves as a familiar dinner spot that makes me wanna go back to Japan. For first timer, the menu was slightly hard to navigate. Lol, but I guess that speaks to the authenticity of the Japanese menu. Assorted pork belly wrapped yakitori/skewers, 7.8/10: these were hyped up by both my friend and the server, but overall it was slightly underwhelming. The skewers were all seasoned nicely, although they were a bit hard to eat since they were so big. Starting with the pork belly wrapped cabbage skewer, I don't believe the cabbage added any sustenance to the dish. I did like the bacon wrapped tomato skewer since the pop of acidity and freshness from the tomato paired well with the fat from the pork. Chicken Karaage, 9.1/10: definitely the best dish here. Chicken was fried perfectly, and was warm when it came out. The batter was not too thick or heavy. Season well with enough space.The lemon is a must for acidity and brightness. And of course they kewpie mayo is a nice touch. Tonkotsu Ramen, 7.5/10: the pork broth was rich and deep. The noodles were nice and chewy and firm clinging onto that broth. However, the portion was a bit small for the price. I was caught off guard by that. Granted, this place doesn't boast about the ramen. Overall, this wasn't anything mind blowing. Stuffed chicken wing, 8/10: stuffed generously with ground chicken ginger scallions and seasonings. The outside skin was flavorful crispy and savory. The temperature of the wings were pretty good too. Solid.

I've been to Saijo three times now! It's such a great neighborhood spot. The wait can be long…read moreespecially for dinner on the weekend, so be sure to get there early. You can put your name in and hop over to the corner door for a drink. It's a mix of handrolls and kushiyaki. This last time I went, it was a date night and my husband ordered the 4x4 and I got the flavors of Saijo. The standouts in the flavors of Saijo included the oyster, the dry-aged sashimi, the scallop uni one bit hand roll and the signature hand roll (which is Blue Crab, Shrimp, Salmon Belly). I also enjoyed the shrimp kushiyaki. I enjoyed the other handrolls as well, but wish they didn't chop up the salmon. It would be nicer as larger pieces of fish. I find myself comparing it to Kazu Nori or Yunomi (both of which we love). The service was great and attentive. It's a nice spot for a date night or to catch up with a friend! I'll be back - and hopefully for the lunch special.

Went here for a date night and we really enjoyed ourselves. It's a very small and intimate…read morerestaurant where you sit at the bar top so I'd only recommend going in small groups as I imagine it's hard to talk to people unless they're sitting next to you. I loved that it was a mix of raw hand rolls and cooked skewers. While the place is pricey and the wait can be long, we thought the food was great. The handrolls were exceptional and so fresh. I loved that each dish came out freshly made and handed to you but do wish they didn't come out so quickly. As someone who is a slower eater, it was a bit overwhelming how quickly the food came out and the skewers would get cold as I couldn't eat fast enough. However I assume they want to turn around tables quickly so I don't think it's a grazing type of date night spot. We really enjoyed both the handrolls and skewers and look forward to coming back soon!