Gokigen Tori – Best Yakitori in Culver City

Not long ago, I tried Japanese cuisine for the first time — and it happened here. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better first experience. I’ve been here many times already, but today I finally felt I had to leave a review. Every visit is consistently amazing — the food is always outstanding, and the staff is incredibly attentive and kind. Today I decided to try several items from the specials menu, and I was absolutely blown away. The fish was unbelievably tender and melted in my mouth. The tofu with anchovies was a total surprise in the best way — so flavorful and perfectly balanced. And the Japanese cheesecake was light, delicate, and simply unforgettable. I truly love this place and highly recommend it. It has become one of my favorite spots, and I always leave happy and impressed.

This place was delicious! Can’t wait to go back. The chefs are great and true pros. A lot of variety of meats, with delicious sides and menu items. Our favorites were the Kokoro Nokori, Eel, Gizzards, Pork wrapped Pepper with Cheese, the Buttered Potato and the Onigiri. The 100% binchotan makes it smoky and delicious.

Authentic Japanese yakitori is hard to come by in West L.A. outside Torrence, and Gokigen Tori more than meets that expectation. The restaurant’s modern, sharply defined interior is organized around a central yakitori station equipped with a sizable ventilation hood, yet you still catch the mouthwatering charcoal aroma the moment you walk in. Once seated, a hot towel is offered—a small but traditional gesture that sets a courteous tone. The menu even includes an optional “seat charge” of shredded lettuce, a nod to Japanese custom, made discretionary here for guests less familiar with the practice. The skewers themselves are superbly executed, each one striking a delicate balance between smoky char and the natural flavor of the chicken. The tsukune is a standout, blended with shiso and bits of soft bone for added fragrance and texture. Heart-adjacent cuts are equally impressive—chewy, deeply seasoned, and full of character. The chicken ochazuke arrives with medium-rare breast meat that finishes cooking in the hot broth, yielding a soft, tender bite. The only drawback is pacing. With limited grill space and a steady flow of diners, the main dish arrived before any of the yakitori, disrupting the rhythm of the meal. Even so, Gokigen Tori delivers one of the most assured yakitori experiences in the area—thoughtful, aromatic, and worth seeking out.

So we tried a lot. Chicken hearts to shishito to cabbage salad. This is quite the Japanese Izakaya! It has authentic flavors and an authentic feel. The food isn’t something you would expect but the flavors and textures are on point with Japanese food. Drink list is a mirror of what you see in Japan and the beers are very tasty! Service is good but might have been a little light staffed when we were there (early dinner time). Good music to jive to and not so loud you can have a conversation. This is much better an Izakaya than the previous so we will definitely be back!

It's been on my list for a while, and since I was in the area for work, I finally decided to give it a try, glad I did. The space is cozy with a U-shaped counter (I sat at the far left by the kitchen — great view) and one charcoal station in the middle. The menu is mostly yakitori, but it also includes a few premium items you don’t see often, like A5 Wagyu, duck, and toro skewers. The vegetable skewers are also good, featuring a nice mix of classics like mushrooms and zucchini. Tonight, I enjoyed the chicken negima, chicken liver, chicken meatball, chicken wing, chicken skin, shiso maki, shishi tou, wagyu, and zucchini, along with a flask of Izumi Judan sake. Everything was grilled perfectly—juicy, flavorful, and cooked over charcoal the traditional way. The menu leans more high-end than your typical yakitori spot, and the prices reflect that, but it’s worth it for the quality. Service was excellent across the board.

Tried this spot and was surprisingly good. Every dish was delicious, except the last one where the rice was a bit too salty. It’s on the pricey side ($100+ per person), but considering the quality, craftsmanship, and time that goes into each dish, it feels justified. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a more premium yakitori experience.

This is truly the best skewer restaurant in Southern California. A friendly and clean restaurant. The food was delicious and truly impressive. It wasn't much different from the skewered food I've had in Japan. The food was delicious, cooked to a perfect temperature and just the right amount of heat, and the flavor was so good it made me want to sing along. The only downside is that, as it's Japanese food, communication between staff and customers can be a bit awkward. However, this is one of the few restaurants where everything else is perfect, perfect score. Come and enjoy a wonderful time with your loved one or family as soon as possible.

Very satiating, tasty food. I particularly enjoyed the cabbage salad :-) I had 3 chicken skewers — the chicken meatball (which is the best), the chicken oysters & the chicken negi ma; I also had a fatty tuna skewer, and the chawan mushi. I would definitely re-order the chicken meatball and chawan mushi and try some other skewers next time! My mom had the chicken gizzard, quail eggs, patte, and yam. Everything was delicious. Some of my pieces were under salted, which is better than being over salted. But I was done with my first two skewers before I could ask for salt — because it was still so tasty and I couldn’t wait. It would be nice if there was salt at the tables. My mom’s chicken gizzard had a tiny wire in it — she wasn’t sure if it was in the meat or from the grill but they immediately took it and replaced it. The pacing could be improved. I had a couple things come at once near the end. Overall very good experience and will definitely be back!

We over ordered with no regrets everything was delicious. 10/10 can't wait to come again.

Such a great yakitori spot in Culver City! We stumbled upon this place when looking up dinner spots on a random weekday and wasn't disappointed. It's super authentic and very yummy. We called ahead and made a reservation, which was a good move because they ended up being booked for the night. The food is super amazing and authentic (but a little pricy admittedly, but worth it for the quality). It's a small intimate space and if you can get a spot at the "Bar" in front of the chefs, I'd recommend it (it becomes dinner and a show because you can see them cooking your food and smell the charcoal). I loved all the food, there were no misses. Only critique is that the dressing on the salad tasted a little stale (like it was premade and left out, leaving the normally savory taste a bit bitter, but super forgivable). I loved the spot, would come back, and recommend everything, especially the chicken oyster, which was a hit. The ramen was a little small for my liking though, but I'd come for the yakitori, not the ramen. The staff was friendly, the chefs were all Japanese so super authentic. The waitresses were nice, but the hostess stole my heart. Super friendly and very accommodating.

Worst yakitori experience of my life. This restaurant is extremely poorly managed. We waited over two hours, and from the beginning it was clear there was no control over service flow or guest experience. We were told we would receive a $5 cabbage salad starter, yet it did not arrive until nearly an hour later--and even then, the server brought one bowl with no dressing. Were we expected to eat raw cabbage plain? Servers passed our table multiple times without noticing the missing dressing. Water was never refilled unless we explicitly asked, and no one checked in to see how we were doing. Several skewers we ordered never arrived, and the pacing was completely disorganized. We were seated at 7:40 PM, but no one came to take our order until 8:00 PM. Even then, food took so long that we had to ask for the check before all items from the first order had arrived. When I raised the issue, the server responded, "Everyone is waiting." That is not an explanation--it's an admission of poor management. Food quality was also disappointing. The asparagus maki was extremely thin and overly salty. The tsukune contained shiso, which is highly unusual and completely overpowered the sauce--and worse, it was not fully cooked. Another major red flag: this is a large restaurant operating with only two grills, which explains the constant delays. For context, I have been to Torimatsu, Torihei, and Shinsengumi--all of which manage volume, timing, and service far better than this place. Honestly, even Shinsengumi would have been a better choice. I'm relieved we didn't do the $120 omakase, because that would have been unacceptable under these conditions. I will never return, and I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone who values proper service, pacing, or quality control.

Came here on a Monday night for solo dinner after work. Was hoping for a good yakitori with some decent beer to relax. Restaurant was nice, not too small, clean, and you could see the chefs do their work. However, the prices were a bit ridiculous for what they were; Almost a full 10 dollars for a single skewer with a couple pieces of chicken? (topped with a comical mountain of onion btw) and for 3 bland chicken meatballs? To be fair, I walked in aware of what online reviews were saying about it being overpriced, so I was expecting the bill to be a bit painful, but didn't think I'd leave hungry after spending so much. But even looking past the price point, how long could it possibly take to cook a single skewer? I thought that they would come out fairly quickly, so I ordered a 1-2 at a time, but wow, I felt like I waited a hundred years for....a single skewer with a couple of overly salty shriveled pieces of chicken skin. If you're hungry and looking to have an actual meal, don't expect to eat anytime soon after ordering; bring a board game or have some shows ready to watch while they take their time to cook a 2 mushrooms for half an hour. There was barely any customers in the restaurant when I ordered! The only saving grace was that AT LEAST the beer came out quickly, so I know it wasn't the waiters taking too long. If it wasn't for the beer filling my belly, I might have just up and walked out and called it a night after the first thousand year skewer. This place is located right next to a Taco Bell, but you might easily miss it or pass by accidentally if you're going off GPS. They could improve their signage or something to signal it's the place. No parking really so need to street park nearby. Don't think I'll be back for anything other than beer maybe? Or maybe to at least give them a chance with a non-skewer dish, but this experience left a pretty disappointed taste in my mouth if not frustrating.

Such a good yakitori place in the culver area! It's modern and elevated, so a little bit pricey, but so so good. One of my favorite dishes was the chicken ochazuke. The tea broth is boiling hot and literally cooks the chicken right in front of you. They also have a pretty white selection of yakitori, with a main focus on chicken yakitori. Definitely a place I want to go back to so I can try some of the other items I didn't get to have last time. It's a good spot for medium size groups, if you want to try a variety of dishes.

Legit authentic food made with love!!! Other than yakitori, Corn tempura, croquettes, and ramen was amazing. The service is phenomenal. Everyone was so attentive. I love that unlike regular American restaurants there is no specific server to the table but everyone is taking care of you. The inside looks sophisticated and the open kitchen is so clean. The restroom was also clean which tells that their kitchen must be clean.

Came back for a second time with my parents from MN. My dad is a HUGE liver fan and I wanted to put it to the true test... I didn't even have time to take a pic he smashed through it so fast. I will say, today was better than the first time so I think they perfected the recipe! Everything today was better than the first time. Highballs are pretty delicious if you're in the mood ;) Service was attentive and responsive to questions we had. I can see a TV in their near future so we can watch the Dodgers ;)

The food here is good/fine; if we are going off that alone I'd give it 3-4 stars, but it's hard to rate the food when my dining experience was so very poor! It started off great and I had high hopes, but let me tell you the whole story. This place has been on my list since they opened. A quick google search shows they opened like 8 months ago. I had been to this place when it was a different Japanese restaurant so I was excited to see what else came in after it. I also really like yakitori and this place has an outdoor patio, which is a feature I am always looking for. I showed up on a Fri night at 655pm to dine alone for some me time. It was like 95% full. I asked to sit on the patio, but they showed me the iPad and that they had a 7:15pm RSVP already. Oddly, the table outside seats like 6-8, but only 2 people were there. I wish they had a lot of smaller tables they could push together for a big group if they needed. So then I asked if i could sit inside. They at first said no bc they were booked and I didn't have a RSVP, but a different waiter pointed out that a 4 top was split in two and the other table was in fact free even though it looked occupied on the iPad. So they let me sit there. By 7pm, I was seated after they took away dirty dishes, etc. I ordered by 705pm. I immediately ordered the rice that comes in a clay pot because the menu says it takes 30 min. I ordered many skewers. They also asked if I wanted the $5 cabbage salad which has unlimited refills. Salad is always a good idea so I said yes. They bring my water. At 711pm my rice already comes out. Which is odd to me because it had only been like 6 minutes, not 30 min. I almost wonder if they just make it in a regular rice cooker and use the clay pot as the serving dish instead. It is perfectly reasonable that they have a few already cooking in progress in case someone orders it. But I really figured it was like when you order a chocolate souffle at dinner and it really does take 20-30 min. Otherwise, why would they put it on the menu stating it like that?! This is where the dining experience takes a turn for the worst. My rice comes out and I have NOTHING TO EAT IT WITH FOR 30 MINUTES. I am literally just sitting there. They finally bring out my hot towel to clean my hands. They did not bring out my salad as an appetizer and I wanted to see if they would ever serve it to me. My salad finally comes out around 735pm and then at 740pm my first 2 skewers come out. My rice is now COLD. Mind you, tables all around me are getting served one or two skewers. Even the NEW table next to me gets their salad, towel, before me because they get served first and then bring me my salad and towel. They also get their first skewer about 10 min after ordering. I am not sure why I had to wait 40 min for even my first chicken serving. While I am eating they say one of the skewers I ordered is sold out already. Hmmmm. I wonder why!? They ask if I want a different kind so I get a different one. By the time all my food comes out, my entire "eating time" was 30 minutes yet I was there from 7pm-811pm. I was so annoyed at the wait, but I just sat there because I wanted to see what would happen. Only one time did the server come and ask me 30 seconds before my food came out if any food came out. They need to get organized and figure out a system to serve customers in a specific order for the water, hot towel, salad, etc. I was so annoyed about the long wait that I was googling how long it should take to grill yakitori in a restaurant. Depending on the type of meat, the most it should take is 6-8 minutes. Yet I know their grill holds like multiple pieces because 2 people were manning the grill. Aside from the long wait, the service was fine, I guess. I am really interested to see if I come back on another night, if the service will be better. I had such high hopes for a relaxing, super yummy, enjoyable dinner and they really fell short. This is what I ordered for skewers, momoh tareh, gokigen kushi, bonjiri, oroshi niku, kawa, uzura, sunagimo (sold out). The bonjiri/the chicken butt was my favorite and I ordered two of them since the sunagimo was sold out. The others were fine. Since I ate it with cold rice and was basically rushing to eat because I was starving and my rice was going to get even colder, I am sure my food didn't taste as good as it could have. The salad dressing for the cabbage salad was fine. They have something in there that makes it a bit bitter. I am glad the $5 cabbage salad fee is optional now because I know people who are allergic to cabbage. Also, as soon as you walk in it smells of the grill and it looks foggy in there because of the smoke. They left the main door open for most of the time I was there and then half way thru opened the door to the patio. They need to keep both doors open at all times or get better ventilation. Cost $58 & w/ tip $68. Read reviews closely.

It is generally difficult to find an authentic Japanese yakitori in west LA and Gokigen Tori certainly lives up to the expectation in all dimensions. The restaurant has a modern, sharp interior design with a central yakitori station with large ventilation system. You can smell the mouthwatering smoky aroma as soon as you enter the restaurant. As soon as you sit, you will be provided with a hot towel to clean your hands which is a very traditional gesture. The menu also provides an option for "seat charge" in the form of shredded lettuce. Although in Japan it is mostly mandatory but they make it optional to accommodate culturally sensitive individuals. The yakitori skewers are well executed and seasoned, balancing the charcoal aroma with the original meaty aroma from chicken. One of my favorites is chicken meatball which incorporated shiso and soft bone to enhance aroma and texture. Heart adjacent meat is also perfect, super chewy and deeply seasoned. The chicken ochazuke was served with medium rare chicken breast while the guests waiting it to cook in the middle of the soup to deliver a soft texture. The only downside of this restaurant is that due to the limited grilling space and a large amount of guests to accommodate, the main dish was served before any yakitori which disrupts the tempo of service.

Plenty of food and alcohol selections. Good service. Good food and experience overall. Chill vibe. Would definitely come back. Was busy for a Thursday evening.

SUPER SUPER smoky that your eyes would hurt. The food was good and once the restaurant got filled, it became very difficult to get the servers' attention to order more food. Finally we flagged down a server, the ordering device was down, then two out of the three items we wished sold out, the only item (rice ball) did not come for another half an hour; as it gets smoky to a new level, we just had to leave for health fresh air. The few items that we ordered were pretty delicious. We were curious about the grilled whole onion; it tasted yummy. The cute-looking Japanese Clay pot rice, that one I did not understand, it was just steamed rice in a clay pot ( we did not get any instruction and did not get the hourglass like other Yelper's order). If you add $5, you can enjoy the unlimited cabbage salad, which was a good option when you had to wait for the yakitori.

In my opinion, one grill with terrible ventilation isn't going to cut it in this city. The food was delicious, the service is definitely a work in progress, but the air quality inside was worse than a Korean BBQ restaurant. There seems to have only been one grill, which I can appreciate in a restaurant with fewer seats, but in a restaurant with this much seating it seemed inappropriate. I absolutely love yakitori, especially when real binchotan coals are used - as is the case here, but it's really tragic to have to eat delicious skewers while suffocating on carbon dioxide.

Ambiance: it's a Japanese style skewer place, spacious inside with cool elements and fancy utensils and plates, you can tell they try to be a high end dine in place, but with such a horrible ventilation system, the smoke from the center grill stays in the room, and yourself and your clothes will smell like charcoal afterwards Service: friendly but a bit pushy to place the order and clean the table, they weren't that busy that night, really no need to rush your guests Food & Drink: skewers items on the menu are categorized for chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables MOMO TAREH - *** Iconic Grilled Chicken Thigh Dipped In Sauce, average taste NANKOTSU - ** Chicken Cartilage, burnt soft bone KAWA - * it's supposed to be a Crispy Chicken Skin, however, so soggy and overly salty SOBORO GOHAN Minced Chicken and Rice Bowl - ** it was served too fast and the rice was apparently not cooked from raw in this container, as there was zero layer of crunchy rice forms at the bottom of the clay pots, the taste was fine, but misleading information on their menu MINI TORI-TORI RAMEN - **** Chicken-Stock Ramen With Thin Noodles Simmered For 12 Hours, the only thing I likely here, small ramen in tasty broth, recommend Japanese Cabbage With Special Homemade Dressing - * the salad wasn't even fresh, rotten leaves, not optional and surprising charge on the bill, they have fine prints in the bottom of their menu. They took the concept of Japanese tradition for surcharge of table and service here, but still expect you pay regular tips as US tradition in the end, disgusting double dip SUNTORY THE PREMIUM MALT'S - ** the only draft beer they have, tasted like water Price: super stinky portions but very stiff prices, expect about $50 per person, and you likely still feel hungry after eating here. Overall, not a recommended place, don't waste your money here, it's literally noxious for the air quality, and obnoxious for both otoshi and tip

the food was good and kara-age crisped to perfection. sadly they were out of the A5 uni that night so i couldn't try it. pickled veggie appetizer was a bit subpar. however, main deductions for the shady business practice of offering us another round of their so-called "house" "salad" (some leaves and leaf stems) without telling us they'd charge for the second round. so when we asked for the second round, then saw it on our bill... not a fan. also they took fooooooorever to come take our order. if i hadn't kept trying to flag someone down i don't think anyone would have ever come. place wasn't particularly packed enough to warrant such a long wait. super nice staff otherwise though.

Okay look... it's pricey. But it's authenticity perfected. I meant to write this over a week ago, bc someone truly stood out during our visit, and I'm afraid to get his name wrong bc he made it a terrific experience: Takashi, I think? Completely hospitable, educated us, and he wasn't even necessarily assigned to our table. Every nibble was succulent, flavorful, fresh, and fun. But make no mistake, it is FINE dining. Not in atmosphere, but in attention to the cuisine, and in cost, lol. Enjoyed!

Drove all the way from LA to come try this place. Booked a reservation as well. Arrived at 5:20pm and the place only had two parties seated. Our party was 2 grownups and a baby. They wanted to seat us at a two top in the corner with no high chair. (They only have 1). Decided to leave. Service at the door was bad. :)

The food was amazing! This is a restaurant where you really need to have time to enjoy. The quality of service is top tier, there is one chef that is cooking everyone's Yakitori orders, but again the love that he pours into the food is felt through the flavors and textures. The ambiance is wonderful, you enter the restaurant and you can feel time slow down to where you can take a breather from your day. I ate all the food before I could take pictures so I apologize.

Yakitori in Culver City! I can't believe I finally found real Japanese-style yakitori in LA -- and it's seriously authentic. Each skewer is crafted by part, not just random chicken -- and you can really taste the difference. They even have "sori (chicken oyster)" and "seri (chicken neck)", both perfectly grilled and packed with umami. Honestly, I went in with low expectations (it was new so just curious, you know?), but wow... I'm so glad I went! Everything--from the charcoal aroma to the texture--took me straight back to Tokyo. Highly recommend this spot if you crave true Japanese yakitori experience in LA

Food was okay, but very pricey for Yakitori. I'd prefer going to the old school Torimatsu in Gardena. No sashimi needed in the course, we came here yo enjoy Yakitori not Sashimi and I don't really care where it's coming from. This place needs more time to adapt to the US.

I highly recommend this place to all lovers of Japanese cuisine. The flavors are refined, the sashimi is incredibly fresh, and the tableware -- brought from Japan -- adds to the authentic experience. You must try the grilled chicken meatballs -- the chef grills them over an open flame and dips them into yakitori sauce. Absolutely delicious. The Corn Tempura is their seasonal special -- super tasty. Not pictured yet, but I also recommend the Gokigen Kushi, chicken hearts, liver, and cartilage -- hands down the best I've ever had. The Mochi Bacon really surprised me: chewy rice cake with nori on top and crispy bacon. The potato dish with a mountain of butter was perfectly salted, and the wagyu beef just melted in my mouth. We spoke with other guests during our visit, and they shared that they come here often -- it's the only place in LA that truly makes them feel like they're in Japan.

The food is delicious, everything we had was excellent, that's the good news. The bad news, the service was abysmal, I can't remember the last time I experienced service this bad. Servers know next to nothing about the menu, they rushed the order, and we never saw them again for the rest of our time - no check in, no water refills, no "would u like anything else". After 90 minutes we still had not received two dishes, one the server didn't enter, the other we were told would take another 10 minutes if we still wanted it. The restaurant was not that busy at all, other tables had arrived and finished their meals before we were served the bulk of our order. The order came out haphazardly with no sequencing. Really, this negative review all comes down to service, I hope they figure it out because the food and location really is excellent.

When the servers aren't the ethnicity of the cuisine of the restaurant, they should at least be well educated on the food and basics of service of that cuisines culture to ensure patrons can get an authentic experience. I'm Japanese and was looking forward to it and none of this occurred. No explanation of menu, dropping of the skewers without telling customers what meat they were, green tea was $6!! (also my fault for not checking the menu) but no one came back to refill my tea. Which should be customary if the staff understood Japanese culture. Also, the first order of skewers (which was only 3) took about 45min! The restaurant wasn't even that busy. It seemed that the chefs prioritized the omakase reservations at the counter and the table patrons were an afterthought. Also, no option of salt or sauce (shio or tare). Our tab was $300 (only ordered 2 beers and a small sake) for what's considered street food. The price is for one skewer, not two! I would've accepted this if the food and service made it worth it

Excellent service and superb food. I can't rave enough about this restaurant. In a way I am glad it is not so popular yet because when it is it will be really hard to get a table. Anyone that likes yakitori type should try it.

Food 7.5/10, everything was decent good but I don't think anything was out of this world? More notable: - Chicken karage very juicy and tender - chicken ramen has a really nice light broth. Noodles al dente. - chicken gizzard cooked and seasoned well Skewers are priced per skewer. Service is a bit on the slower side but staff all friendly. They have a cute outdoor patio. Interior decorations and space looks great.

My first time discovering this great new restaurant in Culver City by accident.The hospitality was great plus the food was delicious too,spent little to much money but was worth every penny for this experience.I will be back soon

Five stars is not enough to show how amazing the food is here. It's impossible to pick the best from any of the dishes because the second you take a bite from the next skewer, your mind has told you, it's your new favorite. However, the three most memorable, and three that cannot be missed were the chicken liver, chicken oyster, and chicken neck. Honorable mentions go to the ochazuke, the meatballs with the egg dip, and the chicken heart. It seems unbelievable that a world class yakitori restaurant sits humbly on a corner in Culver City, but here we are, licking our greasy happy lips and wondering when we can make a trip back. (The only picture we took was of the beautiful sashimi. Everything else was too hard to resist too even wait for a 2 second photo).

Great food, great service. We've come here when they first opened but they've greatly improved. Give it a chance! You won't get a creamier Suntory premium malt

Great food!! We sat outside with our dog and it was lovely. Good service as well. We'd come back for sure

We loved this new Japanese Yakitori restaurant in Culver City. They specialize in delicious and meticulously crafted yakitori skewers but they also have some rice, soup, and fresh sashimi options too. There is quite a variety to choose from. We tried many of the chicken skewers. The shitake and the special sashimi of the day were very good. Everything we tried was excellent. Sadly the wagyu was sold out. Service was great from the moment we walked in. Many of the items are served on beautiful dishes that are works of art themselves. There is counter service up front where you can enjoy omakase and watch the chefs in action. It's a bit on the pricier side as you need to order quite a bit to fill up but the quality and experience make it worthwhile. Also, there are plenty of beer and sake options to choose from to complement the meal. Looking forward to visiting again, maybe for omakase!

Place is tasty and serve is great. Been here about 10 times now and we'll be coming back. Or favorite it the cartilage skewers but we like a few others too.

I've been to Gokigen a few times. Initially there were some growing pains because the restaurant was new. We still had great food. But now they have it dialed and the experience is top-notch. Happy to see other Japanese people (and entire families) frequenting the spot. My dinner date opted for Japanese curry (that came with excellent rice) and omelet, as well as the asparagus (moist) and chicken thigh. I went for the chicken neck which was made in a very unusual way, really under a mountain of scallions and herbs, it was truly otherworldly. We ended up ordering round-after-round of food and were generally delighted, and I ordered the chicken wings twice. CANNOT wait to go back there. There's bar seating, booth, or community table, as well as an outdoor area. So happy I don't have to drive an hour to have traditional Japanese food (made by a great Japanese chef) in west LA. AWESOME. Big menu of options (from sushi to ramen to yakitori). Highly recommended.

1) One star off because they don't take cash. 2)Inside- very nice, very modern and welcoming. 3)Food: the meat for their tsukune (chicken meat balls) is coarse-ground (which is a common style for ground meat products in Japan like sausages etc.) which i don't favor because you get little pieces of bone or cartilage in your food, which you have to spit out. (I first encountered this in sausages at a baseball game in Japan). Obviously a lot of people like it this way, or they wouldn't make it this way, but I don't like it and I have never experienced this when ordering tsukune here or in Japan . The quail eggs are very good. This is the first time I have had quail eggs with the yolks sill liquid or semi-liquid, but I liked them. 4)Service- they need to improve a lot. The servers didn't seem to have any formal or specified process to follow, and in fact at times they seemed confused.

This was the WORST dining experience I've had in my 64 years on this planet, and in my 58 years in the LA area. Like other negative reviews here, it was our first (and only!) time here, and we were all really looking forward to it. We were a party of 3, and they sat us at the counter. We arrived at 7 PM and were seated right away. We ordered a few items to get us started and to see what the portions are like. An entire one and a half hours passed, and hardly anything we ordered came out. We had already commented on this to our waiting staff, but still our food was not coming out. Worst of all, we could see others who were seated well after us getting all their skewers before us. Most of these people were asian. It was truly surreal! I then asked to speak with the manager, which required our waitress to translate. There were lots of apologies. But I kept stressing we just want our food. We were told that they would prioritize anything else we ordered. So we placed another order for more food. Despite that promise, our second order of food also took close to one hour, and some of it never arrived. Mind you, we were seated at the counter, watching them cooking on the grill the whole time. We saw the same dishes that we ordered being cooked and served to others, but not to us. Everyone looked confused. We watched the cooks as they read the food tickets and tried to make sense of the orders. It was hopeless. I don't like to leave bad reviews, and I certainly don't like to suggest possible racism (against caucasians). But I just don't know how to explain tonight. After such a horrible night, and after a long discussion with the manager, and after so many apologies from him and our waitress, I though at least that they would comp us something significant to demonstrate their apologies. But there was no such consideration shown. Remember, we were seated and made our first order around 7 PM. It was close to 10:30 when we left, and I was still hungry. Oh, and the food was decent at best. Not worth the money and definitely not worth the extremely bad service and management. All I can conclude is that any five star reviews here are an inside job. Please, please choose another yakitori restaurant to go to. LA, and the area around Culver City, has plenty of them!

We just had a really great experience here. The food is simple but very authentic, thoughtful, and delicious. The chefs are clearly skilled at their craft and it feels and tastes traditional and authentic. We've been excited to try this place so I read a lot of the reviews here on Yelp in anticipation, and i just wanted to address some of the naysayers. For one, yes there is some smoke. Like barely though, honestly. And also, you're being served traditional Japanese Yakitori. What do you expect? That's like going to Benihana and complaining about it being too warm during your onion volcano. And really, it wasn't bad at all. The ventilation was totally fine. Secondly, timing and service. Yes, your food might take a little more time to come to you. There are just two chefs working the small yakitori grill for the whole restaurant. But was it worth waiting an extra 10 minutes to receive something given that level of attention? Of course. We literally watched them painstakingly painting our grilled rice ball with shoyu, turning it so that every side was sufficiently browned and crispy. And really, things came out in a very timely manner considering these two (very nice) chefs were making great food for the whole restaurant. In conclusion! This place is great, order the chicken oysters and a beer, and take your time. It's worth it. Hope this place stays here for a while. We'll be back.

UNBELIEVABLY good. Food is incredible. Staff is so kind and helpful. Couldn't recommend it more!

Such an amazing and authentic Japanese place! The atmosphere feels truly Japanese, and everything we tried was delicious. I especially loved the dessert Purin-- it was unique, light, and so tasty. The fish was incredibly fresh and full of flavor, and the grilled chicken heart skewers were absolutely delicious. Definitely a spot I would recommend and come back to again! Service very kind , feels like you are in Japan !

This yakitori spot is absolutely amazing. I want to gate-keep but let's spread the support! Service was amazing with the recommendations. The food, mouth watering. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the ambiance feels like you're in Japan.

Definitely my top 3 yakitori in LA. Not like what most bad reviews mentioned, I didn't experience m much a wait time between each skewer, and very good air quality inside. 100% will be back

One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants I've been to in Los Angeles. The food is delicious and staff is nice, trust me you won't regret it!

Amazing food. Great service. Nice ambiance. High quality skewers. Nice Japanese wooden interior.

All the yakitori we tried were great! House made dressing was amazing on the cabbage. The skewers weren't drenched in sweet soy sauce like many yakitori places. Overall feels more elevated and definitely will be back!

Great service and awesome food! most items are flown in from japan. the ambiance is nice - newly remodeled place.

Food is ridiculously expensive. Portions are ridiculously tiny. The food is flavorful coming off the special grill but we had to spend a lot and were hungry afterwards

food was amazing, it was so nice to sit right in front of the chef. service is great and attentive as well! highly rec

Me and my family like to try a new place at least once a month. We were actually excited to try this one. Specially with everything going on we wanted a few hours of normality. When we got there I think the chef or serve stopped us at the door and said ohh sorry we don't have enough food today sorry he didn't even let us step in all the way. It felt off and as soon as we got near the restaurant everyone was starring at us but we just thought we were being paranoid. We left, my sister in law suggested we call if we can walk in and how long is the wait time. Gave it my best English accent and the really said no wait time and I said ohh okay so no wait time I'll see you soon and he said see you soon Not only is this place racist they really did this in a really hard time. Shame on you Gokigen Tori Latinos are here to stay. Shame on you! we should be not spreading more hate! We should be more united May no one else support this business or not even go here

Love this place! I've had authentic meat skewers in Japan before and this place lives up my expectations. Everything was super tasty and the staff is very accommodating and friendly. The deco is clean, modern, with traditional elements. Would come here again!

This is the best restaurant. Be sure to order the clay pot rice. You won't regret it.

The food here is wonderful! Definitely recommend the mini ramen and Tokyo chicken soup dishes! Also be sure to say "Let's Go Dodgers!" (their signature cocktail). We'll be back!

Amazing food and very friendly service! Everything was seriously yummy but the bacon wrapped mochi, quail eggs, and sugar snap peas were stand outs!!! Solid selection of sake and beer too. Most tables have a good view of the grill which is fun to watch. Our kids loved the potatoes, curry, and peas and karage.