Asakura

On a recent visit to Los Angeles, I discovered that a famous Tokyo restaurant, had opened a new branch there. My expectations were naturally high, and I'm delighted to say that the LA experience was every bit above my expectations. Every plate arrived beautifully arranged, the ingredients were first-rate, fresh, and genuine—exactly what you’d hope for. I was also delighted by their thoughtful sake list, with selections that perfectly complemented each dish. This restaurant beautifully captures the essence of Japanese dining and brings it to LA. For an authentic and heartwarming experience, I can't recommend it enough – it’s like a little piece of Tokyo right here!

Dining at ASAKURA was a truly exceptional experience. The attentive service and beautifully crafted dishes and drinks made me feel as if I were back in Japan. Premium ingredients were used generously, and each course reflected remarkable skill and aesthetic sense. The space was impeccably clean and inviting—a feast for all five senses. With this level of quality, I genuinely believe ASAKURA has what it takes to earn a Michelin star！

The food was overall okay-good with a few stand out dishes. The service/atmosphere felt a little bit more casual than fine dining at times though for the most part attentive. The take home onigiri from the leftover rice was nice. Food came out quickly and we were done in less than 2 hours. An interesting experience but a bit too expensive for me to try again. Would rate 3.5-4 stars.

Felt like being back in Japan. The kaiseki experience felt very authentic. The food was delicious, with every dish bringing a unique take on traditional Japanese flavors. The chefs were incredible, demonstrating a discipline and precision in every plate’s preparation and talking us through every ingredient. The experience was wonderful and would definitely come back to try other seasonal menus. A must for those seeking an elevated, delicious, and authentic Japanese kaiseki experience.

A beautiful dining experience. Small, intimate, warm environment with counter seating at sushi bar and a few tables in a nondescript neighborhood: what a surprise inside! 6 courses, immaculately constructed and as delicious as it was visually pleasing. Each course unique and very special. The service was engaging and kind. We loved it and are so glad to discover this hidden gem!

Absolutely amazing, the food was exceptional and tasted like I was in Japan. Each dish was prepared with a great amount of care, each dish’s texture and taste was truly sublime. I truly believe the only reason this place does not have a Michelin star is because it is so new. The price was well worth the experience and I will be coming again.

I don’t enjoy writing negative reviews, as I believe most restaurants will find their path over time. However, I feel compelled to share my experience at Asakura, especially given the high expectations that come with a $300 per person price point. Having recently dined at a truly exceptional Michelin Star restaurant in the same neighborhood at a lesser price point —I was hopeful Asakura would deliver something similar. Unfortunately, it fell short in several ways. The host was friendly, though seemed a bit unsure, particularly when it came to the sake list. At this level, and with no bottles under $100, I would expect more confident guidance. The place settings, which included paper napkins and basic chopsticks, also didn’t match the premium pricing. At the bar, I was surprised by how young the chefs appeared. While talent can absolutely come at any age, the execution suggested a lack of experience. Early dishes weren’t to my taste—which can happen—but the sushi course confirmed more serious issues: the tuna was tough, and other elements lacked finesse. The wagyu was lukewarm and undercooked, the rice course bland with crab that tasted like it had been frozen, and the dessert was unfortunately the most disappointing: panna cotta that wasn’t set and icy, unpleasant ice cream. Ultimately, the meal felt rushed (lasting about an hour), and not a single dish stood out as memorable—in fact, I’ve had better at casual Japanese markets. I don’t take writing this lightly, but at this price point, diners deserve much more. I sincerely hope Asakura finds its footing with time, but for now, I’d recommend exploring other options.

There aren't many kaiseki-type omakases in Los Angeles so when I discovered Asakura, I knew I had to try it out. They are the first US branch of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Japan (La Bombance) so the bar is going to be set pretty high. Surprisingly, reservations for our party of 3 was available a week out, there is a 6-course or 8-course option and chef's counter or table seating to pick from. We ended up getting the 8-course counter seating. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted and brought to our seats. We were asked if we wanted hot tea or water, but I do want to let everyone know that each option was $8/person. The hot tea was made fresh all night and they kept our glasses constantly full, the water was billed as VOSS too. We also ordered some bottles of sake to enjoy. We asked for recommendations and they were a perfect pairing to the meal. Now to the food, every dish was meticulously made, and right in front of us. Black truffles, caviar, a5 wagyu was everywhere and each course was done so perfectly. I don't think there was a course that I didn't enjoy, all highlights. At the end of the meal, they also made fresh rice balls for us to take home to enjoy. An excellent meal from start to finish, we had such a great experience interacting with the chefs. We will definitely be back again!

Wanted to try since I went to their sister restaurant, La Bombance in Tokyo years ago. Atmosphere is more casual, meaning shorts and tennis shoes were okay. There were only 9 of us at the restaurant with a combination of counter and table seating. There was only one waiter and he was rushing around a bit in the beginning. The server did come by frequently and asked how we were doing but was a little bit slow with refilling drinks. Water was an individual sized Voss left next to you which you can refil on your own. FYI. Whether you get water or tea, the cost is $8. I think I was charged for the refill of the ice green tea as well, so keep that in mind if you are asking for more. 1. Yellowtail with seaweed and uni on top diced lotus root: yellowtail was a bit overcooked and dry 2. Eggplant mousse with abalone with dashi gelee and curry flavor: not a fan of the curry flavor but more interesting than the first dish 3. Tray of different appetizers: the best was the sushi but overall everything was good-average 4. Radish soup with sea bream: fish was tender but a bit dry. The soup itself was very light and little bit on the bland side. 5. Chawanmushi with lobster and truffle: surprisingly the truffle went better with the egg custard than expected. 6. Sesame tofu: perfect combination of sweet and savory. yum! 7. Caviar cappellini with cucumber: refreshing and nice smoky flavor with the caviar 8. Wagyu beef with steamed spinach and truffle: tender but the sukiyaki flavor-like sweetness takes over the taste of the beef 9. Octopus shrimp rice and side of ikura: the rice needs the ikura to enhance the flavor, otherwise the rice and shrimp/octopus were a bit bland. 10. Panna cotta with coffee and Brown Sugar ice cream: both of the desserts were great and ended the dinner on a high note. I had the same panna cotta at La Bombance and it was memorable there as well Food came out fairly quickly one after another. They gave us the extra rice as nigiri to take home which was nice. We were done in a little less than 2 hours. Overall I would rate it at 3.5 stars for the price and a few misses with the dishes. It would be interesting to see how the menu evolve with the season.

5 stars! Amazing japanese restaurant. fresh sashimi, tasty grilled fish, beautiful plates. Quiet, fancy vibe. Super nice staff. Great for a special night!"

It was an incredible dining experience. I have frequented their restaurant in Tokyo for years and the food was completely authentic. Amazing to think you can have this quality in Los Angeles now! All of their signature items like the sesame tofu and blancmange were nostalgic to me. Staff were super friendly and professional too. Feels like you are back in Nishi Azabu!!