Izakaya Restaurants near Encino, CA

“Traditional Japanese izekaya. Daily specials. A definite must try.“

“心の居酒屋です🏮 モツなべなど　博多メニュー充実“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“My dinner at Kanpai Sushi in Santa Monica was nothing short of extraordinary. Chef Yoshi is a true master sushi chef. While he may not be new to the craft, his skill, precision, and deep understanding of traditional sushi brought me back to a time when sushi was simply done right.

In fact, Chef Yoshi could probably serve me a shoelace, and it would be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

Everything was exceptionally fresh. The wasabi had a vibrant freshness that elevated every bite, and the ginger practically melted in my mouth. I sampled as much toro as I could possibly eat, along with an incredible selection of fish that showcased Chef Yoshi’s mastery and attention to detail.

The Kumamoto oysters were so delicious they made me want to kiss my fingers and thank the heavens. The uni was phenomenal and remains one of my favorite bites of the evening. However, the biggest surprise was the seared salmon belly. It was my first time trying salmon prepared that way, and it absolutely blew my mind.

Instead of ending the meal with dessert, I finished with a hand roll that combined fresh tuna and crispy shrimp tempura, topped with eel sauce. The contrast of cool, fresh tuna and warm, crunchy shrimp tempura created an unforgettable bite and was a complete game changer.

I’ve been eating sushi since I was 18 years old, and now well into my 50s, I can confidently say this is the best sushi restaurant I have ever experienced. Beyond the incredible food, the staff was attentive, professional, and genuinely respectful throughout the entire evening.

I have officially found my favorite sushi spot.

Thank you, Chef Yoshi. I’ll be back very soon.

— Linda“

“We had a great experience at our first time visit here. We celebrated my son's birthday and brought in a cake. The food was amazing except for the Alaskan salmon that they substituted from what we originally ordered. They have an all day happy hour on Monday to Thursday. The service was excellent and the servers even sang happy birthday when they brought out the cake. The place was nice and clean and it wasn't crowded when we dined. The only problem was the people on the next table were too loud and there was no wall dividing them to our table so the guy sitting behind my son's girlfriend keeps on bumping into her every time he moved. We will definitely go back here.“

“I love this place! The food is fantastic! And I’m a regular for a reason 😉“

“Delicious food, fun atmosphere and very affordable! Always a great time!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Oishi food and amazing service 🤗“

“OMG!! The food is so clean!! I highly recommend the Honey Walnut Shrimp and Green Beans. The Beef Chow Mein is Killer. They have Imported Japanese beer that is hard to get anywhere else. Saran was my server he was so personable with a great sense of humor. Great date spot!!! Plenty of open space with a large parking area.“

“Found this restaurant in March and just returned for Mother’s Day dinner xoxoxo Great quality food and drinks, very pleasant staff!!! Authentic Japanese food items plus a touch of personality of its own makes their menu awesome and unique. We will come back for many many more.“

“Unexpected find in a quiet little plaza in West Hollywood—easily the best unagi don I’ve had in SoCal. Two styles, both incredible, but the hitsumabushi stole the show. Could’ve eaten three more bowls without hesitation. 😋“

“While the ramen is quite good, try their other non-ramen offerings. Katsu curry rice is very good here (katsu pork was prepared perfectly and curry flavorful) as well as their gyudon (beef over rice). Service as fast, friendly and attentive and the dining area was very clean. Value for the meal is excellent especially for West LA! Cannot recommend enough!“

“Intimate atmosphere with the best fish, vegetables and pickled vegetables. Like being in Japan.“

“J are server was nice and very helpful“

“The ramen was absolutely fantastic! The broth was creamy and not overly salty (many are) and our gyoza and sushi rolls were equally excellent. We are from out of town and wanted to walk to something for dinner from where we were staying and this place didn't disappoint.“