There is a master chef and a master mind behind the scenes in this small, unpretentious, well appointed Izakaya. If the layout seems a little odd the food and presentation more than makes up for it.The offerings are all unusual and tempting and if I were a full time resident in L.A. this would be my go to place for any worthy excuse.I loved every bite that I ordered and my only regret was finding the urchin risotto in the menu when I was already too full and satisfied. It will have to wait for the next time I am in L.A.But if you are a full time resident you have no excuse not to eat in this mini paradise.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Minh Do
Every single dish was mind blowing. Reservations required.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese A
Joanna M.
It's very hard to go wrong with Japanese food, and with so many expensive Japanese options in LA, my partner and I decided to try Kinjiro (midpoint between affordable expensive and ridiculous expensive) to see what LA Japanese food had to offer.Walking in, my partner and I were so glad to have made a reservation because a party came in before us and were turned away because they were booked out for the night. The space is also very small and had only 6-7 tables. Because the space is small, it made you feel like you were at an exclusive dinner party. The limited capacity also made the service more attentive because they have less tables to worry about and can really cater to your needs. Our server guided us through the menu and made sure we picked out a number of dishes that would make us full and also advised us to choose a variety of dishes to experience the full breadth of the menu.My favorites would have to be the uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab chaser and the agedashi fried tofu, followed by the creamy mushroom udon and the spanish octopus. The uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab shooter is everything you would want in raw seafood: fresh, sweet, and refreshing with a tangy savory soy marinade to top everything off. The agedashi tofu is the perfect comfort meal with the crispy skin and the super soft tofu center (paired with the broth is amazing!). On the other hand, the king salmon and bone marrow dengaku are forgettable. The king salmon was not as fresh as some others I've had and the bone marrow dengaku was missing something that I couldn't put my finger on.Overall, the food, ambiance, and service were on point. I do think I can get the same meal (but not the same service/experience) for a cheaper price in ny, but for what Kinjiro offers, I think it's a fair price if you have the money for it.
amy w.
This was our first time trying this restaurant and we were super satisfied. The inside was simple and contemporary AND clean. We have a party of 3 to celebrate birthday. The dishes we ordered were delicious and uniquely presented. I personally liked all the dishes but the uni risotto was sooooo good. There are many more dishes I would like to try next time. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. Corkage fee is $25 per bottle. Overall experience is 5 STARS
Eren L.
The food was underwhelming and overly-priced. The only reason I give it a 2 is for the service. The ambiance wasn't anything worth writing about.Cured red snapper sashimi was underwhelming, flavorless, and the quantity, nor the freshness, of the fish did not merit a $38 dish. (1/5)Kaarage/fried chicken was the best out of them all, which I hope does not suggest to the reader that it was great, rather that it was the best out of the mediocre bunch. (3/5)Salmon ochazuke was served with salmon skin and instead of tea (the main broth of the dish) it was accompanied with a regular bonito flake/kelp dashi broth. (2.5/5)Udon with beef tongue was essentially pho. The meat was tender, yes, but the sauce/yuzu dip did not enhance the flavor. The noodles were not chewy/thick or at all "udon-like." Perhaps it's a different style of udon but the broth tasted nothing unique nor remotely any of the traditional Japanese taste. (2.5/5)Duck with Japanese bbq sauce. Apparently grilled over "Japanese" coals but came out lukewarm and none of the grill flavor. The sauce was so subtle, so insipid, I thought they had forgotten it. Our server mentioned that this was one of the dishes they were known for. This leaves me speechless. (2/5)
Jamie Heewon L.
The finest Izakaya in Los Angeles!Highlights: Uni risotto, beed tongueI had an exceptional dining experience at this high-quality Izakaya. While the place is quite small with only about seven tables, and reservations need to be made through email, which can be a bit cumbersome, it was absolutely worth it.The dedication put into each and every menu is palpable, and we couldn't stop exclaiming "amazingly delicious" throughout our meal. Particularly, the Uni Risotto and beef tongue stood out as absolute delights that melted in our mouths!Undoubtedly the finest Izakaya in DTLA. I'm already planning my next visit!Must try-Uni risottoUni, ikura, scallop & blue crabBeef tongueTruffle & mushroom creamy udon
I recently dined at Kinjiro with high expectations due to its rave reviews, but I left somewhat underwhelmed. I usually love squid ink pastas but this one did not impress at all. The flavor was just not there. While the beef tongue was undeniably delicious, I couldn't help but feel that the overall experience didn't justify the price tag. In a city like LA, where affordable Japanese cuisine is abundant, this place fell short in value for money.Securing a reservation proved to be a challenge, as they only accept reservations via email, which can be inconvenient. However, I must commend the service; it was exceptional. The staff was attentive and accommodating throughout the meal, enhancing the overall experience.
Kady H.
Highlights: SERVICE. UNI RISOTTO. BEEF TONGUE!!!Everything was so delicious here. The dishes that we found average were the agedashi tofu and uni, blue crab, and ikura. For that we'd rate a 4, but the other dishes were so good we brought it up to a 5. The Sake Kasu Crème brulee was also delish and super unique. However, we'd come back literally just to get the thick cut beef tongue and the uni risotto. The texture of the thick beef tongue was perfectly tender yet chewy and almost tendon-y. The uni risotto was sooo flavorful. The vibes of the restaurant are casual yet intimate because of how small it is. Be sure to email to get a reservation here.
Jun is an excellent host, really delicious food and excellent
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ethan Tsai
Excellent food, with very nice traditional dishes. From a technical standpoint, they food was very good on almost all aspects (preparation of the food, how evenly everything was cut (whether it was in a salad or garnish), flavor combinations, and presentation).This was certainly a meal with character and identity, and will be a benchmark meal that I will remember for a while. Kudos to the chef and the kitchen staff for keeping this up for as long as you have.While I give 5 stars for the food (and it truly was good), I provide just 3 critiques from the night (where I think I ordered 8 dishes?).1. there was a salt problem. The thick cut beef tongue was definitely undersalted. Almost perfect, but just a tiny tiny bit of extra salt would have brought the flavor out way more. On the other hand, the chicken thigh was oversalted (during the dry brine stage, not during cooking).2. Holy mackerel that beef tendon beef tongue miso stew is one of my all time favorite Japanese dishes and you guys nailed it! However, you served it with this dry, crusty bread. With all due respect, I think that's a mistake. I'm glad we asked for a bowl of rice, because it felt so wrong eating that slightly stale crunchy bread with such an amazing stew. I would highly recommend you forget the bread and just provide a small portion of rice to complement the stew.3. There was something weird going on with the dashi used in the ochazuke...I don't know how to describe the flavor, but it felt oddly smokey and had a very strange flavor. I'm sorry I can't describe it any better, but I really had a hard time swallowing that one.These 3 critiques are heavily overshadowed by the very clean and impeccable technique, fantastic service, and a very nice coursing style which allows me to really appreciate each dish. Stars of the show were the mozuku, mizuna, beef tendon/tongue miso stew, and zaru soba. I will be coming back for sure, thank you!Oh, atmosphere gets only 4 stars because that small space could definitely benefit from some sound dampening foam on the ceiling.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda U.
This quaint little izakaya spot offers so much variety in delicious Japanese tapas. Quality of the food here is top notch and very well done. The intimate ambiance of this restaurant makes it a perfect date night spot . My favorite dishes here were:- - - -- - - I highly recommend this spot for anyone in the DTLA area! Side note: Reservations can only be made 2 weeks in advance via email with the owner Jun.
Esther Roskam
Everything was excellent in a way that raised the bar. Intense and well paired flavors, temperatures and textures, and the chef was kind to accommodate my food allergy. Dessert was also excellent, not an afterthought.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tiffany W.
Kinjiro dining concept derived from a traditional japanese izakaya, where it offers premium quality small dishes of food that deliver exceptional taste!Kinjiro accepts reservation through email for two timings: 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Jun was really quick to reply our email with the confirmation! It was no hassle at all. Kinjiro is also located in Honda Plaza which is very convenient as there is a parking area - parking is $6 cash only.These are my honest review on Kinjiro:Cold dishes:1. Seared UniDelicious delicate seared uni that melts in ur mouth with creamy sweet taste. Enjoy it on its own or with the savory seaweed wrap. Which is also a dish that has been in their menu for the longest time. Definitely a must to order.2. Uni, Ikura, Scallop, Blue Crab This single serving of all my favorites japanese food is pretty good. I love how refreshing scallop and the blue crab tasted! Would I say that it is amazing? Maybe not really, but it is good. 3. American Wagyu TatakiI was recommended to try the tataki and it didnt disappoint. The meat is tender just how I like it and it was slightly marinated with ponzu which pairs really well.Fried Dishes:1. Agedashi Fried Tofu with Org Mushrooms Ankake SauceThis dish topped all other agedashi tofu I've ever tried before. The tofu is crispy and yet so chewy on the inside and then the silkiness just melts in the mouth. The better part is the mushroom ankake sauce. They are really generous with the mushroom portion, and I just love the taste of the sauce. It was memorably delicious!Grilled Dishes:1. Black Cod with Saikyo MisoI also tried a few miso black cod at other restos and this by far my favorite one! You can really taste the miso well inside the meat, so juicy and tender. A very memorable dish too. We definitely will come back for this one. Just to note, the cod is bigger than we expected.2. Thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negiThis is one of their most popular dish in the menu. It was delicious, very tender and surprisingly we liked this too. My concern is that, for my personal tastebud the portion might be too much. As it is a thick-cut beef tongue, I recommend only eating 2pc/person as that would be enough. 3. Bone Marrow DengakuI dont always enjoy bone marrow but I was recommended to try this one at Kinjiro! I am amazed by how delicious it was - especially the sauce they put on it. However, my problem was the bone marrow was a little oily that night. Rice, Noodle, Soup Dishes:1. Uni RisottoThis is one of the most popular in their menu as well - but I personally think that it was just so-so. It was good to try but it was not an amazing nor unique dish.Dessert:1. Roasted Green Tea Panna CottaI really love this green tea panna cotta. I love how Kinjiro incorporated the Japanese taste so very well into their menu and always sticking to the tradition flavors. This one got to be the best dessert in their menu. So good. It comes with a maple syrup which makes it even better2. Black Sesame MousseThis was also good - it comes with powdered peanut and syrup which also makes it taste better. Overall, Kinjiro really offers a quality and premium japanese izakaya food. There are so many variety in their menu and everything really tasted amazing! I also really enjoyed the ambience of the place. As there are only limited seats, it was not too cramped. Food comes pretty fast and service was really great. Noise level was low and it is a great place to dine.
There is a master chef and a master mind behind the scenes in this small, unpretentious, well appointed Izakaya. If the layout seems a little odd the food and presentation more than makes up for it.The offerings are all unusual and tempting and if I were a full time resident in L.A. this would be my go to place for any worthy excuse.I loved every bite that I ordered and my only regret was finding the urchin risotto in the menu when I was already too full and satisfied. It will have to wait for the next time I am in L.A.But if you are a full time resident you have no excuse not to eat in this mini paradise.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Every single dish was mind blowing. Reservations required.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese A
It's very hard to go wrong with Japanese food, and with so many expensive Japanese options in LA, my partner and I decided to try Kinjiro (midpoint between affordable expensive and ridiculous expensive) to see what LA Japanese food had to offer.Walking in, my partner and I were so glad to have made a reservation because a party came in before us and were turned away because they were booked out for the night. The space is also very small and had only 6-7 tables. Because the space is small, it made you feel like you were at an exclusive dinner party. The limited capacity also made the service more attentive because they have less tables to worry about and can really cater to your needs. Our server guided us through the menu and made sure we picked out a number of dishes that would make us full and also advised us to choose a variety of dishes to experience the full breadth of the menu.My favorites would have to be the uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab chaser and the agedashi fried tofu, followed by the creamy mushroom udon and the spanish octopus. The uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab shooter is everything you would want in raw seafood: fresh, sweet, and refreshing with a tangy savory soy marinade to top everything off. The agedashi tofu is the perfect comfort meal with the crispy skin and the super soft tofu center (paired with the broth is amazing!). On the other hand, the king salmon and bone marrow dengaku are forgettable. The king salmon was not as fresh as some others I've had and the bone marrow dengaku was missing something that I couldn't put my finger on.Overall, the food, ambiance, and service were on point. I do think I can get the same meal (but not the same service/experience) for a cheaper price in ny, but for what Kinjiro offers, I think it's a fair price if you have the money for it.
This was our first time trying this restaurant and we were super satisfied. The inside was simple and contemporary AND clean. We have a party of 3 to celebrate birthday. The dishes we ordered were delicious and uniquely presented. I personally liked all the dishes but the uni risotto was sooooo good. There are many more dishes I would like to try next time. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. Corkage fee is $25 per bottle. Overall experience is 5 STARS
The food was underwhelming and overly-priced. The only reason I give it a 2 is for the service. The ambiance wasn't anything worth writing about.Cured red snapper sashimi was underwhelming, flavorless, and the quantity, nor the freshness, of the fish did not merit a $38 dish. (1/5)Kaarage/fried chicken was the best out of them all, which I hope does not suggest to the reader that it was great, rather that it was the best out of the mediocre bunch. (3/5)Salmon ochazuke was served with salmon skin and instead of tea (the main broth of the dish) it was accompanied with a regular bonito flake/kelp dashi broth. (2.5/5)Udon with beef tongue was essentially pho. The meat was tender, yes, but the sauce/yuzu dip did not enhance the flavor. The noodles were not chewy/thick or at all "udon-like." Perhaps it's a different style of udon but the broth tasted nothing unique nor remotely any of the traditional Japanese taste. (2.5/5)Duck with Japanese bbq sauce. Apparently grilled over "Japanese" coals but came out lukewarm and none of the grill flavor. The sauce was so subtle, so insipid, I thought they had forgotten it. Our server mentioned that this was one of the dishes they were known for. This leaves me speechless. (2/5)
The finest Izakaya in Los Angeles!Highlights: Uni risotto, beed tongueI had an exceptional dining experience at this high-quality Izakaya. While the place is quite small with only about seven tables, and reservations need to be made through email, which can be a bit cumbersome, it was absolutely worth it.The dedication put into each and every menu is palpable, and we couldn't stop exclaiming "amazingly delicious" throughout our meal. Particularly, the Uni Risotto and beef tongue stood out as absolute delights that melted in our mouths!Undoubtedly the finest Izakaya in DTLA. I'm already planning my next visit!Must try-Uni risottoUni, ikura, scallop & blue crabBeef tongueTruffle & mushroom creamy udon
Delicious buckwheat noodles. Request better service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
時光匆匆， 不經意間， 年輪的腳步刻畫了歲月的痕跡，生命這麼的短暫，不該花任何時間遺憾，讓你不快的人或事， 多花一分鐘都是浪費我們美好的時光～好友帶我來她之前來過的金次郎，她之前生日來過， 所以知道菜色有水準， 這家應該也算是名店， 就在鼎鼎有名的Sushi Gen 旁邊， 這個小小的 plaza , 裡面的店面真的是臥虎藏龍的感覺， 金太郎的東西應該算是Fusion ， 每道都很有特色， 光看菜單， 就開始自動分泌口水，我想吃的就一拖拉庫了， 最喜歡他們的超厚牛舌， uni 燉飯，章魚腳， 炸小小魚也很好吃， 甜點也是一級棒，其實每道都棒， 沒有一道低於90 分， 沒來過， 喜歡料理有點創意的吃貨， 這家別錯過， 菜單上料理很多， 真的很多都非常吸引我，聽說這家只能寫email 訂位？可能板上的吃貨們有人知道，我很喜歡，我們點那麼多菜， 道道都表現亮眼，是一家我一定會再去造訪的地方！
I recently dined at Kinjiro with high expectations due to its rave reviews, but I left somewhat underwhelmed. I usually love squid ink pastas but this one did not impress at all. The flavor was just not there. While the beef tongue was undeniably delicious, I couldn't help but feel that the overall experience didn't justify the price tag. In a city like LA, where affordable Japanese cuisine is abundant, this place fell short in value for money.Securing a reservation proved to be a challenge, as they only accept reservations via email, which can be inconvenient. However, I must commend the service; it was exceptional. The staff was attentive and accommodating throughout the meal, enhancing the overall experience.
Highlights: SERVICE. UNI RISOTTO. BEEF TONGUE!!!Everything was so delicious here. The dishes that we found average were the agedashi tofu and uni, blue crab, and ikura. For that we'd rate a 4, but the other dishes were so good we brought it up to a 5. The Sake Kasu Crème brulee was also delish and super unique. However, we'd come back literally just to get the thick cut beef tongue and the uni risotto. The texture of the thick beef tongue was perfectly tender yet chewy and almost tendon-y. The uni risotto was sooo flavorful. The vibes of the restaurant are casual yet intimate because of how small it is. Be sure to email to get a reservation here.
Restaurantji Recommends
Jun is an excellent host, really delicious food and excellent
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food, with very nice traditional dishes. From a technical standpoint, they food was very good on almost all aspects (preparation of the food, how evenly everything was cut (whether it was in a salad or garnish), flavor combinations, and presentation).This was certainly a meal with character and identity, and will be a benchmark meal that I will remember for a while. Kudos to the chef and the kitchen staff for keeping this up for as long as you have.While I give 5 stars for the food (and it truly was good), I provide just 3 critiques from the night (where I think I ordered 8 dishes?).1. there was a salt problem. The thick cut beef tongue was definitely undersalted. Almost perfect, but just a tiny tiny bit of extra salt would have brought the flavor out way more. On the other hand, the chicken thigh was oversalted (during the dry brine stage, not during cooking).2. Holy mackerel that beef tendon beef tongue miso stew is one of my all time favorite Japanese dishes and you guys nailed it! However, you served it with this dry, crusty bread. With all due respect, I think that's a mistake. I'm glad we asked for a bowl of rice, because it felt so wrong eating that slightly stale crunchy bread with such an amazing stew. I would highly recommend you forget the bread and just provide a small portion of rice to complement the stew.3. There was something weird going on with the dashi used in the ochazuke...I don't know how to describe the flavor, but it felt oddly smokey and had a very strange flavor. I'm sorry I can't describe it any better, but I really had a hard time swallowing that one.These 3 critiques are heavily overshadowed by the very clean and impeccable technique, fantastic service, and a very nice coursing style which allows me to really appreciate each dish. Stars of the show were the mozuku, mizuna, beef tendon/tongue miso stew, and zaru soba. I will be coming back for sure, thank you!Oh, atmosphere gets only 4 stars because that small space could definitely benefit from some sound dampening foam on the ceiling.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This quaint little izakaya spot offers so much variety in delicious Japanese tapas. Quality of the food here is top notch and very well done. The intimate ambiance of this restaurant makes it a perfect date night spot . My favorite dishes here were:- - - -- - - I highly recommend this spot for anyone in the DTLA area! Side note: Reservations can only be made 2 weeks in advance via email with the owner Jun.
Everything was excellent in a way that raised the bar. Intense and well paired flavors, temperatures and textures, and the chef was kind to accommodate my food allergy. Dessert was also excellent, not an afterthought.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kinjiro dining concept derived from a traditional japanese izakaya, where it offers premium quality small dishes of food that deliver exceptional taste!Kinjiro accepts reservation through email for two timings: 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Jun was really quick to reply our email with the confirmation! It was no hassle at all. Kinjiro is also located in Honda Plaza which is very convenient as there is a parking area - parking is $6 cash only.These are my honest review on Kinjiro:Cold dishes:1. Seared UniDelicious delicate seared uni that melts in ur mouth with creamy sweet taste. Enjoy it on its own or with the savory seaweed wrap. Which is also a dish that has been in their menu for the longest time. Definitely a must to order.2. Uni, Ikura, Scallop, Blue Crab This single serving of all my favorites japanese food is pretty good. I love how refreshing scallop and the blue crab tasted! Would I say that it is amazing? Maybe not really, but it is good. 3. American Wagyu TatakiI was recommended to try the tataki and it didnt disappoint. The meat is tender just how I like it and it was slightly marinated with ponzu which pairs really well.Fried Dishes:1. Agedashi Fried Tofu with Org Mushrooms Ankake SauceThis dish topped all other agedashi tofu I've ever tried before. The tofu is crispy and yet so chewy on the inside and then the silkiness just melts in the mouth. The better part is the mushroom ankake sauce. They are really generous with the mushroom portion, and I just love the taste of the sauce. It was memorably delicious!Grilled Dishes:1. Black Cod with Saikyo MisoI also tried a few miso black cod at other restos and this by far my favorite one! You can really taste the miso well inside the meat, so juicy and tender. A very memorable dish too. We definitely will come back for this one. Just to note, the cod is bigger than we expected.2. Thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negiThis is one of their most popular dish in the menu. It was delicious, very tender and surprisingly we liked this too. My concern is that, for my personal tastebud the portion might be too much. As it is a thick-cut beef tongue, I recommend only eating 2pc/person as that would be enough. 3. Bone Marrow DengakuI dont always enjoy bone marrow but I was recommended to try this one at Kinjiro! I am amazed by how delicious it was - especially the sauce they put on it. However, my problem was the bone marrow was a little oily that night. Rice, Noodle, Soup Dishes:1. Uni RisottoThis is one of the most popular in their menu as well - but I personally think that it was just so-so. It was good to try but it was not an amazing nor unique dish.Dessert:1. Roasted Green Tea Panna CottaI really love this green tea panna cotta. I love how Kinjiro incorporated the Japanese taste so very well into their menu and always sticking to the tradition flavors. This one got to be the best dessert in their menu. So good. It comes with a maple syrup which makes it even better2. Black Sesame MousseThis was also good - it comes with powdered peanut and syrup which also makes it taste better. Overall, Kinjiro really offers a quality and premium japanese izakaya food. There are so many variety in their menu and everything really tasted amazing! I also really enjoyed the ambience of the place. As there are only limited seats, it was not too cramped. Food comes pretty fast and service was really great. Noise level was low and it is a great place to dine.