Rola W.
Google
It was a Saturday night, and my husband and I were in the LA area exploring Little Tokyo. There are so many amazing food options there, so I decided to check Yelp for recommendations. That’s when we came across Chubby Cattle Little Tokyo. I noticed the reviews mentioned it was usually busy, so I joined the waitlist and yes, it was about an hour and a half wait. Honestly, we almost left, but I’m so glad we decided to stay because it was absolutely worth it!
Chubby Cattle is an all-you-can-eat Japanese barbecue experience that also includes hot pot, Wagyu meats, sides, desserts, and all-you-can-drink options. They have slushies (strawberry and passionfruit), soft drinks, and even a self-serve ice cream machine with chocolate and vanilla flavors. I was too full for ice cream this time, but it’s definitely on my list for next time!
They offer three tier options if I remember correctly, the Gold tier includes the premium A5 Wagyu, but even the basic tier comes with plenty of delicious Wagyu and unlimited sides.
We ordered a bit of everything: enoki mushrooms, Wagyu spicy hand rolls (my absolute favorite!), kimchi, fried chicken bites, salmon and Wagyu sashimi, and edamame. The kimchi had great flavor, though I do wish it had been a little crispier. The fried chicken bites were incredible crispy, flavorful, and came with a tasty sauce underneath. The sashimi was decent, and the edamame, while served cold (which surprised me), just needed a touch more salt. Luckily, they have plenty of seasoning and sauces on the table, including chili pepper and a special salt blend that really elevated everything.
As for the meat, the Wagyu short rib was my favorite tender, juicy, and full of flavor. All the meats were high quality and cooked perfectly on the grill. For dessert, we tried the chocolate crêpe and the original Swiss roll. Both were good, but we agreed the Swiss roll was our favorite light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet.
The only small disappointment was that they had run out of Wagyu dumplings (I was really looking forward to those), but given how packed it was on a Saturday night, I completely understand.
Now, I have to give a huge shoutout to our server, Janice. She was amazing! Truly one of the best servers I’ve ever encountered. She went above and beyond checked on us regularly, walked us through the menu, gave helpful recommendations, and made sure our grill was clean by changing the top herself. She was incredibly sweet, professional, and attentive not just to us but to every table she managed. Honestly, she deserves a raise or promotion. She made our dining experience a perfect 10/10!
Another thing I loved was their iPad ordering system super convenient and modern. You can add up to 10 items per order and send them to the kitchen, which keeps the experience smooth and efficient.
The ambiance was lively, stylish, and welcoming great for a date night or a fun outing with friends. Although I don’t live in LA, Janice mentioned there are sister locations in Irvine, and I’ll definitely be checking those out. Still, I’d happily drive back to LA just to have her as our server again!
Overall, Chubby Cattle Little Tokyo absolutely lives up to the hype. The food, service, and atmosphere were all incredible. My husband and I left happy, full, and already planning our next visit. Definitely a five-star experience!