Restraurant Reviews from Around LA

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle Annex, Japanese Ramen, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Tsujita LA Artistan Noodle ANNEX
2050 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-0222
11am-12am (11:30 PM Last Order) 7 days a week


It has been years since  I have eaten on Japanese food on Sawtelle, and it sure has changed a whole lot. Kelly and I wanted to have something special for our wedding anniversary, so we wanted to try something great, and I kept reading reviews of Tsujita and especially of it's annex.

When you get there, neither will be hard to find as there are huge lines for both and they are across the street from each other. At the annex, it is in a little parking lot where they have setup chairs to wait. There are no reservations, no takeout and it is cash only. You put your name on a list, an they wait a while, then when they are getting ready they come over to you and take your order, then you wait some more and get brought in. We waited for a little over an hour, and people just kept coming, but some people do leave, so sometimes you will move up the list quickly!



The inside is quite small, though not packed, with a sushi style bar with the chefs behind it, and a couple of tables (which we sat at) and traditional Japanese music playing.

Kelly and I both wanted to try the Tsukemen, which is Ramen with the noodles cooked, but seperate for dipping into your bowl of delicious pork bone broth. We both got Tsukemen with Char siu (pork) though I got a large. You get the same sized boll with broth, which comes with garlic and Onikasu (red Spice, though you can get it without, and there is ample more at the table) and a perfectly cooked soft boiled egg. In the broth is some pork that is melty delicious, and some more cold pork in with the noodles that you put in the broth to heat up.





I was so excited to eat that I was late taking a picture, so this from their menu, and then after I had eaten quit a bit.

Prepare to get messy, as you could use a big with all the dipping and slurping, of which there will be a lot. The broth is fatty and salty and vinegary and delicious, and the Onikasu is not too spicy at all but perfect.

This will make you realize what is so special about Ramen. It is so damn good! Just incredible! This is absolutely amazing food!

Honestly my only complaint is it is a bit too salty for my pallet, but then post my heart surgery I really stay away from salt even more that I used to, and is so good it is worth the extra salt to try this delicious dish!

Man this place is good!
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Katsu Japanese Cutlet, Korean, Japanese Cutlet, Northridge, CA

10201 Reseda Blvd, Suite 105,
Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 993-0088
10 AM till 9 PM

First off, how could I have lived in the valley for 5 years and not know that the Galleria Market on Reseda is an amazing and huge Korean Grocery store? And that it has a pretty impressive food court, with 3 Korean restaurants, this Katsu place and a Sushi place, and filled with Koreans (think I was the only white person there). I will be going back and trying the Korean places, but loving Chicken Katsu Curry form the curry house I had to see if there was something like it closer than downtown LA.

And there is, though not quite up to par with Curry House, though I love the sides, but great for so close to my house.

Kelly and I both got the Chicken Katsu Curry. And we got a device to tell us when to come back. Finding a seat was a bit of a fight as their could certainly be more seats, but you can find one, and they have people to come and clean what people have left.

As you can see the Kastu plate is huge for under $10, with a delicious cabbage salad, 2 pickled veggies, rice, Miso soup and the curry sauce. And the chicken is white meat, with a good breading (though dark meat always gives a little more flavor. My biggest complaint was the curry sauce, which while good, was just not strong enough, and with zero spice. Next time I might need to bring some hot oil to put in to kick the flavor up, and give me my spice level I like (and yes I will go back).

Quite good and tasty, though yes I could use a little stronger curry sauce.

Can't wait to get back to the Galleria food court and try some more food!
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Asahi Sushi, Sushi, Granada Hills, CA

Asahi Sushi
10375 Balboa Blvd
Granada HillsCA 91344
(818) 360-8499

Pretty darn good Sushi in the valley. Sure it is not Sushi Ike that i had near me in Hollywood, but fairly reasonably priced and good service. The only complaint is the place gets pretty packed, and you might wait for a table, but the service is pretty fast, especially at the Sushi bar. And the best part both times i have been there has been great Albacore. Exceptional in fact.

Overall there is a decent variety of good sushi, and a huge amount of strange and different rolls. Lots of quirky rolls. My favorites are the Balboa Roll with spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado  cucumber w/seared albacore and fried onion (more like thin panko onion strips).

There are other rolls I would like to try, though too many have spicy tuna or albacore, and I tend to shy away from that as I think the spicy wipes out the fish flavor completely!

They also have tons of bento boxes and the like that lots of people get and I would like to try sometime, though I don't know if I will be able to stay away from the sushi.

I signed up on their web site and go ta $5 coupon for my 2nd visit, and enjoyed it immensely the second time as well.

Well worth checking out.
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Tapas and Wine Bar C, Japanese Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

Tapas and Wine Bar C
428 East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-8877
Hours: 6:00 PM-2:00AM


GOOGLE MAP


A little place that I never would have heard of, but would certainly have been interested in seeing at least once, but luckily two of my friends took me there one night. This strange little wine bar is located on the southeast of 2nd, in a little mall with parking, though it will likely be full up, but there are various places to park in Little Tokyo.


Now for what makes this place special. It does have food, though we didn't try it, but it is mostly a wine bar (though they have mixed drinks and beer) with a huge selection, including most that can be had by the glass, but what makes it really special, is that the Japanese waitresses all dress in French Maid outfits. Yes you heard that right, FRENCH MAID OUTFITS!


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Orochon Raman, Japanese Noodles, Little Tokyo, CA

Orochon Ramen
123 S Onizuka St, 3rd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766
Mon-Sun: 11:30AM-10:15PM (though there was a wait, and we didn't get seated until about then)


I can't believe I had not heard of this place before, especially since it is on the floor above the Curry House in Little Tokyo (and so it has the same parking underneath with validation). I didn't hear about this place until it was on MAN VS. FOOD, where I learned of the spiciest Ramen in Los Angeles, and I had to go. Then my friends took me out to Little Tokyo, and since every place was packed we decided to go to Orochon since I wanted to go, and one of my friends wanted the spicy ramen (my other friend wanted another ramen place he thinks is better, and I must try).  


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LightHouse Royal Seafood Buffet, Japanese All You Can Eat, Santa Monica, CA


LightHouse Buffet

201 Arizone Ave

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 451-2076


GOOGLE MAP


Listed as a top 5 buffets by the Food Network, this place is pretty decent, but the food is of course buffet quality, but pretty damn decent for $11.95 lunch and $20.95 per person dinner. It is located one block away from the promenade, and remember not to fill up on too many drinks, which they will refill quickly to try to fill you up. A decent meal that will fill you, but of course nothing amazing.


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Atch Kotch Japanese Ramen Restaurant, Hollywood, California

Atch-Kotch
1253 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90038-1662

(323) 467-5537

GOOGLE MAPS

A little Japanese Restaurant in a strip mall in Hollywood. A place for Ramen, though I haven't tried their Ramen yet, just their Bento box which was excellent and inexpensive.

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Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Hollywood, California

Kabuki
1545 North Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 464-6003

GOOGLE MAP

As a chain I didn't think this place would be that good, but I was wrong. The Sushi is actually really decent, and even better half price (the joy of bulk buying for a chain) and all tasted very good. My only complaint was the Chicken Terriyaki was not nearly as good as what I make, but the rest of the food was quite good, and $70 for 2 people including booze is pretty inexpensive.

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The Curry House, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

The Curry House
123 S. Onizuka St. #204
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-0855

Google Maps

If you love Japanese Curry, or Curry at all you have to check this place out. This has been one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles for many many years. My friend Ashanti brought me here while I was going to USC, and I have been going ever since. The place is almost always packed, and the food is always good (if a little fattening).


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