Budonoki
Restaurant · East Hollywood
654 N Virgil Ave Unit 101, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Highlights
Thai-Japanese izakaya with playful drinks & shareable dishes
Thai-Japanese izakaya with playful drinks & shareable dishes
"Despite being located in a new apartment complex in Virgil Village, Budonoki feels like it’s been around for years. And that’s a compliment. The casual izakaya is dimly lit with exposed piping and has a sort of sticky grunginess that suits a semi-riotous birthday dinner. You’ll eat tons of delicious, shareable plates like jidori chicken oyster skewers and bowls of wagyu yakisoba. Old-school Missy and Ja Rule blast over the speakers. Someone will absolutely do a sake bomb. And by that, we mean you. It is your birthday." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"When in doubt, izakayas are a good bet for big group dinners, and Budonoki is proof. The dimly-lit spot in Virgil Village has a fun, infectious energy that hits the second you walk through the door. Groups of friends huddle around tables snacking on shareable dishes like jidori chicken oyster skewers, bowls of wagyu yakisoba, and pineapple soft serve. Old-school Missy and Ja Rule blast over the speakers. This is the kind of place you could show up to half asleep and walk out ready to book a flight to Vegas. Plan your night out accordingly." - brant cox
"At this neighborhood izakaya in Virgil Village, the energy in the dining room is so infectious you'll feel like you just hopped off a flight to Vegas. Friends crowd into dimly lit booths passing dishes like fermented Thai sausage and wagyu yakisoba. A glowing Orion beer sign casts a pink sheen over dates ordering shochu cocktails at the walk-in-only bar. Lauryn Hill and '90s Kylie blast over the speakers. We love that drinks arrive in adorable little penguin mugs, and servers will pull up a chair to discuss the restaurant’s Spotify playlist like it’s a family heirloom (it’s that good). It’s rare to find a legitimate party restaurant, let alone one with great food. Budonoki pulls off both." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"Following a feast of pressed sushi, cocktails, caramelized pork necks, and grilled sweet potatoes, a cool swirl of soft serve is just the thing to finish out the night. Budonoki’s only dessert is made from organic Straus milk and comes in fun flavors like coffee, coconut, or black sesame, depending on the night. A pro move: Visit (respectfully timed) before closing hour or right when they open, sit at the bar, and enjoy the soft serve for a quick dessert." - Eater Staff
"Through a summer collaboration series with other Los Angeles kitchens, this restaurant has showcased inventive mash-ups that feel naturally complementary, most notably a one-night saag paneer katsu curry that paired crispy breaded paneer with a rich green saag and a malai reinterpretation of the house gnocchi. The partnership with Pijja Palace highlighted the team’s ability to blend techniques and flavors successfully; previous guests have included Soban, Mini Kabob, and H.Woo, and the kitchen’s collaborative approach suggests more creative pairings to come." - Eater Staff
