The duck was on the chalkboard menu and it was our absolute favorite! Miso black cod was also on the chalkboard menu and delicious too! The skewers have such an amazing flavor and the staff was extremely attentive -- switching out my plate 3 times and my water cup was never empty. Call ahead to make reservations, and parking is easy a couple blocks south.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joanne Meng
The restaurant was entirely empty at 5.30pm when my Caucasian friend and I walked in together, but the old man with white hair is rude and unable to accomodate us for a table until 9pm. Even the best izakayas or omakases in Japan or New York don’t have this arrogance. Their phone line is always in busy tone for making a reservation and there is no email or website so what do you think about reservation needed.Horrible service/ discrimination from miles away.. Don’t come here! Spend your money elsewhere for better service and food. The neighborhood deserves a more congenial dining experience, than an arrogant spot that perpetuates racism against Asians or prejudice.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
agusti comabella
Clean, classical Yakitori restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yakitori
Tanxuan Shi
The Japaness owner with white hair is very condescending, impolite and rude.
Service: 1
Dex Bjorn
Had dinner with friends here. We didn’t have reservation so sat at the bar. Food portion was quite small. It’s more of snacks than dinner.I like the chicken, pork, beef tone, and smelt skewers. Steak and duck were quite dry.Parking: Parked at the nearby parking lot
Rudest restaurant in west LA. The owner with white hair is very condescending and rude. I’ve never had someone mistakenly understand reservation hour and accuse their customer of speaking incorrectly, then proceed to rudely telling them to go away and return later when restaurant was more than half empty. We were 15 min “too”early. After we got kicked out for 15 min, we were seated in the same open seat that was available before he kicked us out. Not one person has entered since, which means he just wanted us to wait outside because he was annoyed at us, not because restaurant was busy or packed. Food was okay tho
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Tommii Zeng
Considering its price, the food is just fine. Not amazing, not bad. The environment is good though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Johnny Novo
Rumors are swirling that this was Nobuyuki Matsuhisa goto spot for a relaxed dinner before he dropped the "uyuki Matsuhisa" and became known as just "Nobu." Being known by only 4 letters is such a power move ahahaha... I think I'm gonna start going by… "John."Walking into Nanban-Kan is like entering a wormhole in the sense that you walk right off of the trash littered high traffic street that is Santa Monica Blvd, and enter into an authentic Yakitori restaurant in the heart of Shinjuku. The waiting room is separated from the dining area by a short white curtain with Japanese script, and a small, maybe 10 inch, TV that has likely been hanging in that very spot since the early 90s.As I was taking in the ambiance, surrounded by traditional Japanese art and framed light flexes of Nanban-Kan being mentioned in magazines and articles, a well dressed Japanese man came and greeted us. His suit jacket fit so perfectly, that thing was DEFINITELY tailored. Don't ever mess with someone in a tailored suit you know they mean business ahahaa. He was working that room so crazy too ahahaha, just talking to all the customers, having them laughing a little too hard, checking in on everybody every so often, etc. You can tell he BEEN doing this.We were seated at the bar in the middle of the room that wraps around the open kitchen concept where you can see them grilling your skewers right in front of you. Lol I said "open kitchen." The Japanese invented the open kitchen, it really should be called the "Japanese Kitchen."The front page of the laminated menu read "Yakitori and other good things," and idk why that made me laugh, but they are NOT lyin.I came with one of my best friends, who doesn't post me on social media anymore because I don't have enough clout, as he LOVES this place with all his soul.He asked "You cool if I just order for us?" Honestly, I always say yes to anyone who asks this question because how could I not respect that level of confidence? And to be fair he does have impeccable food taste, even though he wont post me.All in all, we got shishito peppers, hot dog, bacon wrapped asparagus, eggplant, dark meat chicken, white meat chicken, NY steak, chicken leg, shrimp, fish, chicken liver, and mushrooms.I've been trying to string together some glowing adjectives intertwined with some sly metaphors and similes that will make you laugh and then cry in the same thought loop to get across how delicious this food was, but I'm just gonna leave you with this:I get why Chef Nobu was an alleged regular here.I often see restaurants that were once amazing start to go through the motions after a certain amount of time. To be in business 40+ years like Nanban-Kan has and still have this level of care and attention to detail defies the known laws of physics….they must be operating in the quantum physics realm….Eternally grateful that my friend showed me this place, even though he won’t post me haha :(-JohnIG @jnov_Tiktok @jnov__reviews
Came here for dinner almost every week! Love the atmosphere. The food is great as well. See bass is a must try dishes.
SalsaUlove L.
Namban-Kan is horrible and treated me inhumanely. I am sad about it. They screamed at me and I started to cry. The owner and her husband had others join them, calling me terrible names. I was shocked. I pray for the demon in that restaurant gone, I rebuke you, Satan! In God's holy name. I can't believe I paid for that treatment. Their food isn't worth that.
Simon L.
Nanban-Kan doesn't care that you can't get in touch with them to get a reservation. They don't care that their point of sale is annoying to deal with after a meal. And they don't have to because the food is stellar, well priced, and they are packed every night. The yakitori is great, the service is fast, and the selection of sake is above average. There's a reason this place is a local favorite. Don't skip the rotating specials.
Yujin
Very decent and delicious yakitori with reasonable price and exceptional service. Chicken skewers are absolute
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tongue, Chicken Hearts, Black Cod, Chicken Wings
maarten rutgers
A mainstay of authentic Japanese food on the west side. Excellent quality at a great price. Feels like being back in Tokyo. In business 35 years and going strong.
The service is very bad
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
The duck was on the chalkboard menu and it was our absolute favorite! Miso black cod was also on the chalkboard menu and delicious too! The skewers have such an amazing flavor and the staff was extremely attentive -- switching out my plate 3 times and my water cup was never empty. Call ahead to make reservations, and parking is easy a couple blocks south.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The restaurant was entirely empty at 5.30pm when my Caucasian friend and I walked in together, but the old man with white hair is rude and unable to accomodate us for a table until 9pm. Even the best izakayas or omakases in Japan or New York don’t have this arrogance. Their phone line is always in busy tone for making a reservation and there is no email or website so what do you think about reservation needed.Horrible service/ discrimination from miles away.. Don’t come here! Spend your money elsewhere for better service and food. The neighborhood deserves a more congenial dining experience, than an arrogant spot that perpetuates racism against Asians or prejudice.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Clean, classical Yakitori restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yakitori
The Japaness owner with white hair is very condescending, impolite and rude.
Service: 1
Had dinner with friends here. We didn’t have reservation so sat at the bar. Food portion was quite small. It’s more of snacks than dinner.I like the chicken, pork, beef tone, and smelt skewers. Steak and duck were quite dry.Parking: Parked at the nearby parking lot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tongue, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Meat Balls
Our favorite spot for date night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rudest restaurant in west LA. The owner with white hair is very condescending and rude. I’ve never had someone mistakenly understand reservation hour and accuse their customer of speaking incorrectly, then proceed to rudely telling them to go away and return later when restaurant was more than half empty. We were 15 min “too”early. After we got kicked out for 15 min, we were seated in the same open seat that was available before he kicked us out. Not one person has entered since, which means he just wanted us to wait outside because he was annoyed at us, not because restaurant was busy or packed. Food was okay tho
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Considering its price, the food is just fine. Not amazing, not bad. The environment is good though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Rumors are swirling that this was Nobuyuki Matsuhisa goto spot for a relaxed dinner before he dropped the "uyuki Matsuhisa" and became known as just "Nobu." Being known by only 4 letters is such a power move ahahaha... I think I'm gonna start going by… "John."Walking into Nanban-Kan is like entering a wormhole in the sense that you walk right off of the trash littered high traffic street that is Santa Monica Blvd, and enter into an authentic Yakitori restaurant in the heart of Shinjuku. The waiting room is separated from the dining area by a short white curtain with Japanese script, and a small, maybe 10 inch, TV that has likely been hanging in that very spot since the early 90s.As I was taking in the ambiance, surrounded by traditional Japanese art and framed light flexes of Nanban-Kan being mentioned in magazines and articles, a well dressed Japanese man came and greeted us. His suit jacket fit so perfectly, that thing was DEFINITELY tailored. Don't ever mess with someone in a tailored suit you know they mean business ahahaa. He was working that room so crazy too ahahaha, just talking to all the customers, having them laughing a little too hard, checking in on everybody every so often, etc. You can tell he BEEN doing this.We were seated at the bar in the middle of the room that wraps around the open kitchen concept where you can see them grilling your skewers right in front of you. Lol I said "open kitchen." The Japanese invented the open kitchen, it really should be called the "Japanese Kitchen."The front page of the laminated menu read "Yakitori and other good things," and idk why that made me laugh, but they are NOT lyin.I came with one of my best friends, who doesn't post me on social media anymore because I don't have enough clout, as he LOVES this place with all his soul.He asked "You cool if I just order for us?" Honestly, I always say yes to anyone who asks this question because how could I not respect that level of confidence? And to be fair he does have impeccable food taste, even though he wont post me.All in all, we got shishito peppers, hot dog, bacon wrapped asparagus, eggplant, dark meat chicken, white meat chicken, NY steak, chicken leg, shrimp, fish, chicken liver, and mushrooms.I've been trying to string together some glowing adjectives intertwined with some sly metaphors and similes that will make you laugh and then cry in the same thought loop to get across how delicious this food was, but I'm just gonna leave you with this:I get why Chef Nobu was an alleged regular here.I often see restaurants that were once amazing start to go through the motions after a certain amount of time. To be in business 40+ years like Nanban-Kan has and still have this level of care and attention to detail defies the known laws of physics….they must be operating in the quantum physics realm….Eternally grateful that my friend showed me this place, even though he won’t post me haha :(-JohnIG @jnov_Tiktok @jnov__reviews
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here for dinner almost every week! Love the atmosphere. The food is great as well. See bass is a must try dishes.
Namban-Kan is horrible and treated me inhumanely. I am sad about it. They screamed at me and I started to cry. The owner and her husband had others join them, calling me terrible names. I was shocked. I pray for the demon in that restaurant gone, I rebuke you, Satan! In God's holy name. I can't believe I paid for that treatment. Their food isn't worth that.
Nanban-Kan doesn't care that you can't get in touch with them to get a reservation. They don't care that their point of sale is annoying to deal with after a meal. And they don't have to because the food is stellar, well priced, and they are packed every night. The yakitori is great, the service is fast, and the selection of sake is above average. There's a reason this place is a local favorite. Don't skip the rotating specials.
Very decent and delicious yakitori with reasonable price and exceptional service. Chicken skewers are absolute
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tongue, Chicken Hearts, Black Cod, Chicken Wings
A mainstay of authentic Japanese food on the west side. Excellent quality at a great price. Feels like being back in Tokyo. In business 35 years and going strong.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Sausage, Sake Bottle