IMA

Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu restaurant · Golden Triangle

IMA

Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu restaurant · Golden Triangle

5

9669 S Santa Monica Blvd #1, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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IMA by Matthew Kang
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Highlights

Authentic A5 Wagyu sukiyaki & shabu-shabu, table-side cooking  

Featured on Michelin
Featured in Eater

9669 S Santa Monica Blvd #1, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Get directions

imabh.com
@imabeverlyhills

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

Information

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9669 S Santa Monica Blvd #1, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Get directions

+1 310 734 7829
imabh.com
@imabeverlyhills

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 11, 2025

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@michelinguide

"Few restaurants place such an emphasis on both sukiyaki and shabu-shabu as this classic-meets-contemporary retreat, where premium A5 Wagyu beef reigns supreme. Glass and blonde wood panels lend a cool and airy vibe; while floor tiles, ambient lighting, and custom bamboo blinds make things specially intimate.Inside, tables are outfitted with a conventional grill for cooking. Your meal may begin with such cold bites as arugula and spinach ohitashi with lobster or a shiso-infused vichyssoise. Diners may then go for the traditional, special, or à la carte sukiyaki, complete with an appetizer, unabashedly rich beef tongue, leafy veggies, and three cuts of Yazawa beef. Truffle-kissed zōsui (or ojiya) is a delicious, subtle, and crowning way to seal this feast." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/california/us-los-angeles/restaurant/ima-1191264
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@eater

The 12 Essential Shabu-Shabu Restaurants in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"This staid, minimalist space in Beverly Hills feels plucked out of a pricey district in Tokyo serving some of the city’s most expensive wagyu beef sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. Meals start at $150 per person and go up to $190, and start with beef tongue followed by three or four types of Yazawa wagyu. A splurge worth taking for real shabu-shabu aficionados." - Matthew Kang

https://la.eater.com/maps/shabu-shabu-restaurants-japanese-hot-pot-los-angeles
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@eater

17 Gorgeous Bento Boxes to Savor Around Los Angeles | Eater LA

"Beverly Hills would be the right place to fill up on wagyu beef during quarantine, and IMA is ready to serve the Japanese delicacy in beautiful bento boxes. Featuring perfectly cooked sukiyaki and grilled wagyu steaks, these take-home specialties offer a bit of luxury at a more modest price." - Matthew Kang

https://la.eater.com/maps/bento-box-japanese-takeout-food-los-angeles
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@eater

LA Food Writers Discuss Their Best Restaurant Meals of 2020 - Eater LA

"And the wagyu sukiyaki bento from IMA in Beverly Hills was pure luxury with artful Japanese presentation." - Matthew Kang

https://la.eater.com/2020/12/28/22203491/top-restaurant-meals-industry-food-writers-2020-year-in-eater
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@eater

Michelin-Star Japanese Sukiyaki Opens in Beverly Hills at Ima - Eater LA

"An extravagant new shabu-shabu and sukiyaki destination called Ima opened as a U.S. branch of Tokyo’s one Michelin star Imafuku restaurant. Offering a menu with four options including a basic sukiyaki tasting and a premium option, as well as shabu-shabu tastings with beef tongue and different cuts of beef. With every piece of wagyu beef claimed to be shipped directly from Japan, Ima brings a luxurious dining experience with an extensive menu of whiskey, shochu, wine, and sake." - Matthew Kang

https://la.eater.com/2020/2/27/21156490/ima-beverly-hills-high-end-shabu-shabu-japanese-restaurant
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Yishuai Guo (Coconut)

Google
The service is very bad for this restaurant at this price range. And the table was very dirty. The server for our table put the spinach drop on the table back to our sukiyaki pot…… and the server came out to ask more tips?

Peggy Wu

Google
The wagyu beef is fresh and tasty. They arrive in the morning from Japan everyday. We ordered two sets which are $160 and $200. Even though the portion seems small because we only have 7 pieces of beef in total, we are stuff after the whole meal. The appetizer and dessert is ok, but still a nice balance for the whole meal. The flavor of Wagyu sushi 🍣 is mediocre consider how expensive it is. If you never experienced meat melted in your mouth then it's still worth trying. Definitely tried out their plum wine(it's not Choya), add rocks if you don't like sweet drink. Service is great but it's also expected in this level of dining. We spent $500+ after tax and tip for two people. Be prepared but enjoy! Spots are limited so remember to make reservation. Doesn't seem to save spots for walk in customers.

Winnie Lau

Google
Wow why doesn’t New York have any sukiyaki place even close to Ima’s quality? Sukiyaki is a form of cooking where thin sliced wagyu beef is cooked in a sweet soy sauce. It is SO good. It’s different from shabu shabu. There are so many shabu shabu places in Los Angeles, but this was the only sukiyaki place I was able to find. We had Ima’s sukiyaki set Chef’s Choice and we were SO full at the end. The beef was so high quality - definitely the highest quality I’ve had in the US. The beef is never frozen and it’s sliced beautifully. My husband and I eat Japanese wagyu often, but this wagyu was exquisite and we had to take a photo. Service was incredible. Our server cooked our food and served us. She explained each dish and we had great conversations. They changed the dipping egg after the first half. My only feedback would be to have more vegetables. I found there to actually be too much meat and I loved the vegetables so much. The dessert was matcha and ganache along with homemade ice cream. We got a great variety! You must come here at least once - and ask for the sukiyaki!!

Diné Chavez

Google
Loved this place! Food was amazing and the service was top notch. My girlfriend had some very sensitive food allergies and our server made it a priority to ensure everything was safe for her. Shout out to the team for being so accommodating 🫶

Dennis Wong

Google
All A5 all the time! This is a luxury experience with sauces and accompaniments that try to level up to the A5 beef with gourmet preparations and unique delicate flavors. The ponzu was exquisite with citrus and dried fish flavors. If you just want meat go somewhere else. Come here if you want a super special meal where the A5 is the star but the rest of team is talented and playing hard as well.

Terence Fung

Google
Good service and high quality beef. The price is also quite decent for the amount and quality of beef and was quite authentic. Service was also prompt and courteous. While it wasn't busy on the Friday night we were there, the other customers there seemed to be Japanese as well.

Noel Song

Google
I had the 160 dollar traditional meal and after tax it came to 181.77. I wrote in the total section of the bill that I would like to pay $210 in total. However, later when I checked my transactions, I found that the restaurant charged me $391.77, which means that aside from the $181.77 of the meal, they took my $210 as tip. This is unreasonable and I cannot believe that this is a simple mistake, because my friend who was also dining got the exact same problem. If I were to leave a large tip it would be whole amounts like 200 or 300, not 210. Most importantly, I wrote (and so did my friend) the $210 in the total section of the bill, so entering $210 in addition to the price of the meal instead of as the total price is just fraud. I have tried so many times to call the restaurant but they would not pick up unless it’s their operating hour, and I am always busy so it never went through. It’s been two weeks and it still hasn’t been fixed. I cannot believe that a restaurant like this can make such a mistake, and it has caused me so much trouble. This is outrageous and I am very disappointed.

Flora Liu

Google
My favorite sukiyaki spot! IMA provides a consistent and refined sukiyaki experience, so I am always excited to come back. They serve quality meat from Japan with careful attention for all parts of the sukiyaki meal. The dipping egg sauce for the sukiyaki is slightly heated so it is thicker and carries the meat even better. Every bite of wagyu and rice at IMA was divine.
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Brian L.

Yelp
We went for a Sunday night dinner and went with the traditional Sukiyaki plus an order of the Seared Uni on Puréed Sweet Corn special. Service was good, and they cook everything for you. The ambiance is cozy, comfortable, and just great for a date or any occasion really. The meat was absolutely delish and the whole meal was just the perfect amount of food. Everything about Ima from the food to the service is amazing, and I can't wait to go back, especially because good (real) Sukiyaki is hard to find even in Los Angeles.
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Kathy K.

Yelp
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Ima, a sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant in Beverly Hills known for serving delicate, fatty slices of wagyu. The wagyu here is the same high-quality meat offered by the restaurant next door, ensuring an exceptional dining experience. I opted for the sukiyaki set, which was incredibly delicious but notably rich, especially with the addition of the egg yolk. While I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors, it was quite a decadent meal. Next time, I am eager to try the shabu set, hoping for a slightly lighter experience. One of the standout features of Ima is the ample parking available behind the restaurant, making it convenient for diners. The staff is exceptionally professional and attentive, cooking the beef to perfection right at your table. If you are a fan of wagyu, I highly recommend giving Ima a try. The quality of the meat, the skillful preparation, and the overall dining experience make it a must-visit.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
At IMA -- 要不要和能不能放下，都是自己與自己的和解，即使塵封已久的內心早就傷痕累累，到頭來， 還是只有你能治癒你自己， 原諒你自己～ Ima, 兩年前跟我獅子會小獅弟來訪過，當時剛剛開始當吃貨，看到價格已經是哇哇哇， 這個月跟朋友再造訪， 什麼都一模一樣， 一樣的走精緻路線， 一樣的高級肉品，一樣少少的份量， 就是每分shabu 從190 漲到200 元， 價格上算是微調，東西是非常好吃的， 從前菜， 牛舌， 和牛， 蔬菜，拉麵到甜點， 都好吃， 服務也不錯下上次 還有吃過他們壽喜燒的和牛， 更棒，真的只能說， 除了貴， 沒別的問題， 口袋夠深的朋友們， 這家來過了嗎？
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Nathan A.

Yelp
こんなに高レベルのすき焼きをLAで食べれるとは... 値段はそこそこしますが、食べる価値あり 記念日にどうぞ I was surprised that I could eat such high quality sukiyaki in LA... The price is not cheap, but it's worth it Please come for the anniversary
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David Y.

Yelp
Fantastic formal sukiyaki dinner! Grandma always has sukiyaki for her birthday, so I knew about Ima because we had been to Yazawa a few times. It was a beautiful, delicious and special meal with excellent service. Definitely premium.
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Winnie L.

Yelp
Wow why doesn't New York have any sukiyaki place even close to Ima's quality? Sukiyaki is a form of cooking where thin sliced wagyu beef is cooked in a sweet soy sauce. It is SO good. It's different from shabu shabu. There are so many shabu shabu places in Los Angeles, but this was the only sukiyaki place I was able to find. We had Ima's sukiyaki set Chef's Choice and we were SO full at the end. The beef was so high quality - definitely the highest quality I've had in the US. The beef is never frozen and it's sliced beautifully. My husband and I eat Japanese wagyu often, but this wagyu was exquisite and we had to take a photo. Service was incredible. Our server cooked our food and served us. She explained each dish and we had great conversations. They changed the dipping egg after the first half. My only feedback would be to have more vegetables. I found there to actually be too much meat and I loved the vegetables so much. The dessert was matcha and ganache along with homemade ice cream. We got a great variety! You must come here at least once - and ask for the sukiyaki!!
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Jesus T.

Yelp
Very very good sometimes I wish I can go to a restaurant alone and eat! But its embarrassing I'll go next time alone it was a little pricy for me but I'm Here
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Vicky C.

Yelp
Pricey Sukiyaki. Delicious savoury sauce and juicy Wagyu beef. $160 for 3 slices. Appetiser served could be more fresh.
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Assal N.

Yelp
Terrible service! This review is not really for the food since we had to immediately leave the restaurant before we even had a chance to try their shabu shabu that we were very excited To eat... We dined here tonight and ordered the signature shabu shabu which was $160 per person, in addition to the a la carte items that were going to order. At the beginning of our meal, my husband and I requested sparkling water with lemon wedges from the waiter. Unfortunately we were surprised by the poor etiquette of the waiter and rude attitude who stated that the next lemon wedges we ask for will have to be an additional charge.. are you kidding me?? Is this how you treat your customers who will be paying north of $500 for their dinner? will NEVER BE RETURNING. Rude waiter, poor service.
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Qingwen L.

Yelp
Nice and fancy environment. The service is also very thoughtful and warm. The food is great! Some dishes are very creative. Love it.
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Ting-Yuan C.

Yelp
Three slices of wagyu for $160. Yes, you're right. Only three slices. The meal is however pretty balanced, and the amount is enough but not 100% full for an adult. It still deserves 5 stars because of the services and authenticity (or 4.5 since it's little too pricy). Not to mention the taste or texture of the wagyu. The way they cooked the sukiyaki is exactly the same as the one my wife and I had in Tokyo, and the wagyu is just amazing! I'd recommend to try it once.
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Tiffany W.

Yelp
Ima is a Japanese sukiyaki (shabu) restaurant that is located in the heart of Beverly Hills- Rodeo Drive. Just right beside Yazawa, japanese bbq restaurant, which is also theirs. We came to Ima for valentine's day celebration and were presented with a $250/person course. The price is more than their regular day menu which I believe is $ This special menu included 2 starters, their popular Japanese Wagyu sukiyaki, and shabu shabu - 3 kinds of wagyu beef, then followed by rice on shabu broth w/ egg and finally dessert platter. The starters: scallop and beef tongue. I will not describe much of these because it is not their specialty. So both were definitely a miss in the spot. My favorite part and the most memorable of the whole night was the first main. Which is the Japanese A5 Wagyu beef with sweet sukiyaki sauce that was dipped in raw egg. Very delicious, excellent burst of umami flavor in the mouth! This is the number one reason why I would come back to Ima again! Then moving on to the shabu that included 3 different parts of the Wagyu. Going from the left to the right of the plate- you will taste the umami getting stronger each time in the palate. With the leftover shabu broth, you have the option to choose for ramen or rice. We tried both and I would say the rice prevails! The night ended with the dessert platter that they provided us for that special valentine's night. Nothing amazing, they are just good enough. Overall, I was really debating myself whether to give this place a 5/5 or 4/5. But I ended up rating it 4/5 solely based on their Valentine's Day menu. I know it doesnt speak wholely of the Ima but I want to be fair for myself. So, I will definitely come back to Ima in the near future and update my review. Because their sukiyaki is the best one in LA by far. Ima offers such a pleasant service and servers were really accommodating during the night. Although I could sense the stiffness around the special valentine's day menu as they are unfamiliar with it. But overall attitude is friendly and polite. Ambiance is great - the place is not too big so it can get loud.
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Rich O.

Yelp
My wife who grew up in Japan told me that sukiyaki is considered a simple Japanese comfort food dish but leave it to the Japanese to take simple fare like sukiyaki and elevate it to the level of fine cuisine and art form. Everything starts with the quality of the beef. At Ima, they use Yazawa kuroge wagyu beef. Kuroge wagyu is basically the best of the best as far as wagyu is concerned and wagyu is already highly regarded when comparing it to other grades of beef. Then you throw Yazawa into the mix, a famous butcher in Japan who is known for the "cut within the cut" or in other words getting the best possible piece of beef out of each cut, and you get a combination that has no equal. To appreciate the quality of the ingredients even further, the beef they use comes directly from Japan and is not frozen. So basically the slices of beef you're getting for dinner was placed on an evening flight from Tokyo to LAX which arrives at LAX in the morning and then gets "chauffeured" to the restaurant to then be cooked to perfection in front of you and served for dinner! Our server was Akemi. She was friendly and just an attentive and wonderful server! It was a delight to see each slice of beef and all the vegetables carefully prepared and then cooked to perfection. My mouth is watering just recalling each delicious bite of that meal! If you're going back and forth about what to order, I recommend ordering the Chef's Special over the Traditional. Everything is the same as far as what you get for food but with the Chef's Special you're getting an additional 2oz portion of delicious, beautifully marbled, melt in your mouth, Yazawa kuroge wagyu beef. It's quite heavenly and you're not going to regret it. For two people dining, be prepared for a $400+ bill if you choose to compliment your dinner with wine or sake. Such a wonderful dining experience and well worth the price.
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Jeannie Y.

Yelp
The best sukiyaki in LA area! I always go here for a good sukiyaki and it never turns me down. Excellent service and unbelievably fresh and melting beef. Omakase style sukiyaki.
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Pauline M.

Yelp
Excellent wagyu shabu or sukiyaki. Every type of wagyu we ate was melt in your mouth delicious. If you are a fan of kagaya this would be similar but slightly different. It is a set, but you actually have the option to share a set and just keep adding on until your table is full. That might be preferred if you don't have big appetites for the extras but just want a lot of meat, or if you know the type of meat you like. You can also a la carte the sukiyaki vs shabu, so that you get the best of both worlds if you can't decide. The staff was most excellent in explaining everything from the cuts of meat to the ways to eat. They do cook things for you as well as you would expect with the price point. Fine ingredients and well prepared.
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Landon T.

Yelp
When it comes to sukiyaki, there aren't many options to begin with in the Southern California area. When you factor in quality and service, IMA stands at the apex. IMA is no stranger to haute cuisine as they already operate a Michelin-starred location in Tokyo as well as being a part of the YAZAWA group; this allows IMA access to the high quality A5 wagyu that its parent company and distribution have access to: fresh, never frozen wagyu from the finest Japanese Black cows. We opted for the traditional menu so that we could order some other cold and hot dishes (which were recommended as the chef specially curated these dishes). The experience was impeccable, with A5 wagyu being served sukiyaki in both Kansai and Kanto styles. The meat was tender and juicy without being overly fatty. The sunomono and soup provided a much needed balance to the fray. Additionally, we ordered 2 cold dishes: slow cooked beef tongue (served ham style with truffle flavor) and wagyu sirloin sushi (seared with truffle salt). Both were delicious but the hot dish was the leading star of the three. The hot dish was their minced wagyu beef cutlet which was served with a tonkatsu style sauce. All of these dishes were enjoyed with a bottle of svelte and smooth Kuzuryu "Silk Dragon" Daiginjo which I found to be a perfect complement to the rich and umami food. To my knowledge, the only offering that had pork involved was the panna cotta due to the gelatin. Shun was a wonderful host and server even before arriving. He was detailed about everything on the menu, having recommendation and knowledge for almost everything on the menu including the sake. We were impressed by his breadth of knowledge. IMA was a wonderful time and is great if you're looking for a breath of fresh air from the ramen, shabu shabu, and yakiniku found around LA or are just craving that sweet sukiyaki flavor with a beaten egg. That's not to say that I won't be back for YAZAWA's yakiniku right next door, that is if IMA doesn't successfully tempt me to walk through its doors again.
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Benjamin A.

Yelp
Ima is a unique and amazing Shabu Shabu. This is a very small and intimate restaurant with only few tables. We decided to take the Shabu Shabu Signature menu. The appetizers were amazing with octopus from Okaïdo. The meat is from the best quality A5, you receive one plate with 4 different meat types. The vegetable plate is also really good with different mushrooms from Japan. You will need probably to order another vegetables plate for a best long experience. The desserts are also various and the matcha chocolate one was my preferred! This is the first time I find a Shabu Shabu similar to the ones in Japan. I would recommend a la carte instead of the menu because the number of beef slices is way too low in the menu compared to a la carte. Overall amazing staff and experience, we loved it.
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Alexander K.

Yelp
Unfortunately, we were sorely disappointed tonight in this establishment and had to walk out due to numerous factors. I will list them shortly. I am a seasoned Michelin diner having dined or secured reservations at 30+ Michelin rated restaurants along with having a Yelp Elite Black Badge. The price point of this restaurant should at minimum meet the standards of a 1 star establishment and the diner should not accept anything less. Here were the issues: 1) There was no functioning air conditioning in this restaurant. Keep in mind, this is Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. The restaurant shouldn't even have been open. 2) The door was kept wide open allowing impurities from the air outside (there is a busy street in front) to flow into the restaurant. Not only this, but the air flow from the door was strong enough to blow lighter items away from the table we were seated at. 3) Many reviews indicate that a "half and half" menu was allowed, but this was immediately shot down by our server. This option shouldn't even have been made available if the restaurant wasn't able to provide it consistently at EVERY table through the lifecycle of the restaurant. 4) We entered the restaurant at 7:45 PM but were only served glasses of water by 8:05 PM. Nothing else arrived at our table at that point. 5) Upon no concessions being made for the inconveniences of these conditions for a dinner that would easily cost north of $500, the waitress we waved down (not the waiter assigned to our table) angrily stated that "everyone else is paying too!" This was incredibly incredulous as the wait staff should have provided immediate concessions considering the price point of this restaurant and the expectations that come with it. Every diner should have basic expectations met at ANY restaurant but expectations should be EXCEEDED at a restaurant of this price point. The customer service and standards of this establishment are objectively poor. Ownership and management need a serious overhaul in standards and must consider how customers are treated, ESPECIALLY at this price point.
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Rebecca D.

Yelp
I booked this place for a birthday because I wanted some authentic sukiyaki. I also had never had sukiyaki before. This place did not disappoint. The A5 Wagyu was perfectly tender, and it went so well with the sukiyaki broth and poached egg. The waiter did all the cooking for us so we didn't have to worry about anything. We got the Special sukiyaki so the bill came out to $200 a person which is a STEEP price to pay for dinner, but it was well worth it. One of the highlights in addition to the sukiyaki was the sake. I ordered some sake, and we got to choose our own sake cups. It was a nice touch. Highly recommend this place for a special occasion!
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Tiffany T.

Yelp
Amazing, melt-in-your-mouth experience! This is a pretty intimate restaurant, with excellent food and service, and easily the best shabu shabu experience I have ever had. The yazawa wagyu beef they serve literally melts in your mouth! It was absolutely heavenly. You have the option to have the server help you cook the meat, or you can do it yourself. At the end of the meal, you can choose to use the broth to make soup rice or ramen. You can also have the option to pick 2 of the 4 desserts on the menu to end your meal. Be sure to try the black sesame panna cotta! Definitely paid a pretty penny for the meal, but it was well worth it and I'll definitely be back!

Morgan S.

Yelp
tried IMA for the first time to celebrate my husband's birthday this past week - he's been craving Shabu Shabu for a while and this really hit the spot (and then some). Our waiter Tak was so incredibly helpful and friendly the entire 2.5 hour long dinner, the food was incredibly delicious and there was plenty of it. Would absolutely recommend giving this place a try!
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Sue N.

Yelp
Many people already mentioned the quality of their beef so I won't comment here. A friend and I went to this place and ordered Sukiyaki and slow-cooked beef tongue, ham Style which was very delicious. The service was superb! Every single staff paid attention to all over the restaurant instead of just the tables they are serving. They were so professional and yet friendly.  I sometimes feel Japanese servers are too polite and not so friendly but here, I was able to completely relax and appreciate their friendly service. They have selections of sake from very high-end to reasonable. I wish they serve more vegetables with the course. I'm going back for Shabu Shabu next time.

Zane L.

Yelp
I recently had the pleasure of trying the Yamazaki Mizunara 2022 whiskey at IMA, and I have to say, it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. From the first sip, I was transported to another world, one that evoked the deep spirituality and tranquility of Japanese temples and Buddhism. The flavor of the whiskey was complex and nuanced, with notes of honey, cinnamon, and sandalwood, all of which came together in a way that was both rich and delicate. It was clear that a great deal of care and expertise had gone into crafting this spirit, and I was truly impressed by the quality of the product. But beyond the taste, what really struck me about the Yamazaki Mizunara 2022 was the sense of history and tradition that it carried with it. Knowing that this whiskey had been aged in rare, Japanese Mizunara oak casks, which can only be harvested every 200 years, made me appreciate it all the more. Overall, I cannot recommend the Yamazaki Mizunara 2022 at IMA highly enough. If you're looking for a truly exceptional whiskey experience, this is the one to try. Thank you, IMA, for sharing this incredible spirit with your customers at a reasonable price.
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Ami H.

Yelp
We had a course that includes both shabushabu and sukiyaki and it was amazing. I am a huge fan of their restaurant in tokyo and since i heard they are opening one in LA, I've been waiting for this restaurant to open ! The meat is amazing and I love sukiyaki but if you can't eat raw egg or porched egg i suggest you stick to shabushabu. I am Japanese and never found a good shabushabu or sukiyaki in LA before Ima makes me so happy! Also I love their yakiniku restaurant Yazawa as well. (Parking in behind the building and free after 6pm)
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Patricia D.

Yelp
Booked birthday reservations for 2 at IMA and had the best dining experience ever! Tim, our server gave us impeccable service. He was very knowledgeable, attentive, personable, and provided us great recommendations. My partner and I ordered the Shabu-Shabu Signature ($150/person) and IMA ($190/person) menu. I personally think the Signature menu was just enough for me. Though the appetizers were bite sized each had such unique delicacies to them leaving us super satisfied and amazed. Best quality A5 wagyu meats that just melt in your mouth! All our food was cooked for us, until we decided to take over during the wagyu's. Could've gone without the sakes, but we wanted to get the full experience. Lastly, I was grateful for them personalizing our dessert plate (your choice of two). Everything was AMAZING from start to finish. Definitely on the pricey side, but would highly recommend for any special occasion or treat.

Kasra Z.

Yelp
A very bad experience! Our waiter was very rude and when my wife asked for slices of lemon for her water, the waiter gave us attitude and said if we ask for more lemon slices he will have to charge us!!!! This is truly unheard of, specially in a restaurant that the cheapest course is $160!!! Poorly executed restaurant for food, ambience and service
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Jasmine J.

Yelp
I have been wanting to try Ima since before the pandemic. So I decided to let Ima be our first official LA dining-out restaurant for dinner after over a year of staying home. We wanted to try both sukiyaki and shabu shabu. But there's only one stove on the table, and we could only use one pot at a time. Our waitress suggested to try one big piece of meat cooked in sukiyaki sauce, and the rest of the meat as shabu, it was a good idea, and she said the price's about the same. (Didn't ask her how much it was but I assume it's about $180/person) We also ordered additional dishes on the side, which all came out in the very beginning. The next time I will definitely ask them to bring those dishes out later on. Because by the time we finished the appetizer and addition dishes I was almost half way full. Having that said, I highly recommend the beef tongue, it was cooked perfectly. Looking back at our dinner last night I definitely enjoyed the sukiyaki more, it was more tasty, although it's on the sweeter side. But then again, I'm not sure if I would want my entire meal to be cooked in a sweet sauce. Shabu shabu came with two different sauce-- sesame sauce and ponzu sauce. I liked the ponzu sauce more, but it might be too sour for some, the sesame sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste. At the end of the meal they would use the shabu broth to cook either rice porridge or ramen for you. If you would like to try both just have to ask. At the very end, they have four choices of dessert and each person get to pick two. Everything was good. The service was excellent, our waitress was really nice. We got lucky, there was another waitress, a little older, she didn't seem as friendly. I highly recommend Ima. Although it's on the pricier side, but the experience as a whole was fun.
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Helz M.

Yelp
Been waiting for these guys to open! Was totally craving shabushabu but ended up going for sukiyaki. We ordered the Chef's special since if you're gonna do it, you might as well go all out! The main difference for the premium cost is you get 2 slices of thicker beef (Osaka style) and 2 slices of thinner beef (Tokyo style) whereas if you order traditional you only get one slice of thick beef. My boy and I weren't actually super fond of the thicker style so I think if we go back again we'll either do the traditional or ask them if they can just make a set with all Tokyo style beef instead. Everything was delicious from appetiser through dessert. If they can work on their sukiyaki sauce it would make the meal perfect. It's way too sweet.
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Leah H.

Yelp
I have to say I agreed with one of other reviewer's review about the price and time about this place . Quality of meat excellent but for the price and wait time ? I can't common on that much . $160 each for regular shabu set which comes with 6 small Slices of 3 different kind of Wagyu beef . We got extra slice to try for the sukiyaki it was amazingly good but for $60 each slice ? I can't common on that either .Similar idea and dinning experience like Kagaya but way more expensive than the OG of shabu Kagaya sadly Kagaya it's closed for good . Over all good food but way over priced I guess located in Beverly Hills sure didn't help with the price . Our final bill was $590 with tips for 2 ppl. You be the judge =]
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Q L.

Yelp
I took a good friend to Ima last night for his birthday and it was simply an experience to remember in terms of both the food and service. We ordered each an Omakase and literally the food melted in our mouths. One of my favorites are the wagyu sushi with uni and the shabu shabu, which is their specialty. Their beef and ingredients are of utmost quality. Highly recommended for special occasions and whenever you want to treat yourself.
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Chisa N.

Yelp
I only wrote these reviews a few times before but it couldn't be ignore. At first, every server had great knowledge on customer service. Their head-chef, Mr. Okubo made an awesome OMAKASE. Our one of the main dishes, Sukiyaki with Wagyu A5 sirloin directly from Japan(never frozen) served with ONSEN egg yolk. The second main dish, Shabu-Shabu with all wagyu A5 meats, Tongue, Chateaubriand, Ramp, Ichibo, Sirloin. Then, ended with shoyu ramen with niku miso paste. Every single dish was way beyond expectations and we were so glad that we visit them. I definitely will be back very soon!

David R A.

Yelp
Good, but way overpriced for what it is, notwithstanding Wagyu. Service is great. Generally, very accommodating and efficient.
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Stephen C.

Yelp
Amazing dinner, highly recommend this place. This sukiyaki experience is something worth explaining. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it wasn't this. I've had sukiyaki bowls before at regular Japanese restaurants, but never like this. Sukiyaki in the past has just been the cooked beef and veggies over a bowl of rice, here it was all cooked piece by piece at the table. You get a bowl of rice, a poached egg dipping sauce, miso soup, and some pickled veggies. First up was a slice of wagyu for each person. There's a piece of beef tallow used to grease the pan, then the beef is quickly seared on each side before they pour the sukiyaki sauce over the beef still in the pan. Then the beef is placed into the egg dipping sauce. They then add more sauce to the pan and start cooking the mushroom and cabbage, slowly simmering it in the sauce until it's perfectly cooked, then again placed delicately into the egg sauce. After this course, they give you a new egg bowl. They the continue this with the next slices of beef and remaining veggies until completion. The second set of beef was a slightly thinner cut which was quickly simmered in the sukiyaki broth giving a slightly different texture, akin to the Tokyo style (opposed to the thicker Osaka style which was seared). The difference between the traditional and the chefs choice is basically just an additional slice of the first beef. But the traditional course (three pieces of meat) was actually plenty! The egg yolk dipping sauce adds enough richness that I'm not sure I'd want to eat much more of it anyway. The pickled veggies help to cut through the richness of everything. Each of the desserts were also incredible. You get a choice of two each, so we got to try one of each. The ice cream was my favorite, the earl grey flavor and the frosted pistachios tasted great together.

Shelly C.

Yelp
It's our first time dinning in this restaurant. Food is amazing, everything from appetizer to dessert is just spectacular! Waiter cooked on the table for us. Everything served perfectly. However the service I would give 2 out 10 star! The waiter is kind of rude to us. One of our friend asked for a knife, the waiter told him you don't need a knife. After we paid the bill, expensive bill as we had alcohol, appetizers, main course and dessert. We were chatting a bit longer. Then one friend ask for more beer, the waiter said NO, you closed your bill already. It's the first restaurant I have been too ever refuse to serve more after we paid the bill. I was surprised when he got a NO. I wouldn't go back and spent that much money and being treated rudely.
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Akiko H.

Yelp
Ima, conjunct to Yazawa in Beverly Hills, serve both Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu. This establishment is owned by Imafuku, the restaurant in Japan which received a Michelin Star for their Sukiyaki. I ate both Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu and they were both heavenly sent. All the beef is A5 Wagyu and it melts in the mouth. The Sukiyaki beef was exceptional dipped in slow cooked Onsen tamago. Shabu Shabu is served with beef tongue which was so tender and out of this world. I also had the 4 different beef including filet, rump, "shin shin", and "ichibo" which are exclusive cut of meat. Two different kinds of sauce were given to us along with Shabu Shabu. One is original gomadare (sesame sauce) and the other one is shio (salt) ponzu (citrus based sauce). Those sauces were so good and were a phenomenal match with the A5 Wagyu. I no longer have to fly to Japan or drive to Little Tokyo for great Shabu Shabu. What a pleasant addition to the town. This is definitely a must place for me to revisit soon. You have to visit here "IMA" (meaning NOW in Japanese) :P
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Jamie Y.

Yelp
Came here last night for my birthday. There's a parking lot right behind the restaurant and it was free to park at 8pm on a Tuesday! We were greeted right away at the door and taken to our seat. They have an amazing selection of sake, I can't remember which one I got but it was absolutely amazing. Everyone at the table has to get the same set so we got the Ima. We also got the grilled beef tongue and A5 wagyu tartare with caviar. The beef tongue was AMAZING, it was grilled perfectly. The tartare was also fresh and paired great with the caviar. The appetizers that came with the set were really good too, my favorite was the slow cooked tuna with avocado on top. Every cut of beef we got was simply gorgeous and tasted amazing. The marbling was unreal and the thickness was perfect. My favorites were the beef tongue and the ribeye cut. The beef butt was also super fatty and melted like butter in my mouth. They also used the broth to make ramen for us afterwards, it's first kind of like shoyu based broth and after we dropped the miso meat ball in it, it turned into a different kind of broth. We ended with choices of dessert, I got the black sugar panna cotta and they even gave me a candle for my birthday. The dessert was amazing as well. Overall a wonderful dining experience, our waitress was really attentive and friendly throughout the whole time too!
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Lieu V.

Yelp
Cannot say enough great things about this place!! We came for dinner Sunday night. I highly recommend reservations since it's a small space; I counted 8 tables. After 6pm, parking is free and there are plenty of spots in parking area behind the restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful and service here is impeccable. The menu is very simple. There's a sukyiaki course option, shabu shabu course option and a la carte items as well. We ordered the shabu shabu Ima course because if you're going to dine here, might as well go for it. We also added the 'secret' option of sukiyaki. The secret option is the yazawa beef loin that they cook in wagyu fat, some sauce poured on and then dipped in egg yolk extracted from a poached egg...this was sooo AMAZING!!!! The tenderness and richness of the sirloin with the creaminess of the egg yolk was heartwarmingly soul satisfying. The shabu shabu is cooked tableside by the servers. It is served with a sesame sauce and a clear ponzu sauce. You must EAT the ramen at the end. You must! The richness of the meat has seeped into the broth yet its able to retain its lightness. Enjoy a few bites and then drop in the miso ball provided and enjoy some more. Eating it was like getting a warm hug from the Yazawa beef gods. Soo good. The desserts were nice and I had a specialty sake with my meal while the boyfriend enjoyed his hibiki. This was definitely and expensive meal but very well worth it! Will definitely be back for a special occasion.
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Thomas M.

Yelp
The Shabu Shabu branch of famed Yazawa yakiniku on Little Santa Monica in the heart of Beverly Hills, it is everything you would expect coming from Yazawa group - simple elegant decor; a nice wine list including Kenzo wines; 1 star Michelin quality (the executive chef opening the kitchen received one star for his restaurant in Tokyo) and beef that is simply among the best in LA, bar none. Service, as always, is fantastic - the perfect blend of knowledge, discretion, polite and social without being presumptuous. Managed by the beautiful and ever gracious AI, our server, Yu, was a group hit. We were there for friends and family night, they are not quite yet open for soft launch, which I hear will be very soon, with hard launch in October. If you love beef; If you love shabu shabu; If you appreciate good service; And you love being in the 90210, Ima Shabu Shabu will be a must try destination restaurant. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but the fragrance from the sauces and meat...OMG beef foodie heaven!!!
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Baobao F.

Yelp
What a great meal of Sukiyaki. Will definitely come back. The meat was so fresh and tender, the whole process was like a ceremony and the flavor of the broth was fantastic.
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Kiat H.

Yelp
Traditional set looks small on the menu but it's plenty for one person. Amazing service. Sukiyaki cravings, sated. Shabu-shabu next? Arigato Ima!
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Steph H.

Yelp
We used to travel to Japan every year and have not been able to since he pandemic. So glad we found this restaurant. Best Shabu2 and sukiyaki in town! If you're looking for a top-notch quality meat, this is the place.

D R.

Yelp
We intended on getting the shabu, but got the sukiyaki by accident. The meat was amazing. Excellent A5 beef. Presentation and service was top notch.
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Tony C.

Yelp
Ambiance and service are great here. In terms of the food, we did the Chef's Special Sukiyaki and we weren't a fan of the rich flavors. I normally really like A5 Wagyu, but having it cooked in soy sauce then dipped in egg yolk was too rich for my taste. Also, the portion sizes are a bit too much as well. I wish I would have known how big the pieces are, because I would have done the Traditional which has half the amount of meat. We did not finish all of our meat and still left feeling way too full, bloated, and just not very good. Some people may like this style and the portion sizes, but it just wasn't for us.
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Susan L.

Yelp
Fabulous from start to finish. Service is top notch. Quality of meat is incredible. We went with the "ima" menu which came with three little appetizers, 5 meat cuts (all A5), veggies, then a choice of ramen or rice after you finish the shabu, and desserts which were so good (nectarine sorbet, yum!). They use broth as opposed to water for the shabu which gave amazing flavoring. They also make their sesame sauce and ponzu in house, which were delicious. The sesame sauce is sweetened naturally with seasonal fruit as opposed to sugar, which provides wonderful dimensions to the sauce. The ponzu is homemade using white soy sauce which gives a lighter and wonderful taste. Back to the service, they will cook every piece of meat for you at the table or let you cook your own, so if you're new to shabu or just don't want to cook yourself they will accommodate. They were responsive to every need and refill. We will definitely be back! What to wear: While the restaurant is pricey, the attire is more casual than you might think. Plenty of people in (very expensive) t-shirts and nikes, but others in blazers and dresses. It seems to be a place where you can wear what makes you feel comfortable.
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Chen S.

Yelp
If you are big fan of sukiyaki and being around LA area, you may not want to miss it! Its main store is the famous Imafuku, a Michelin 1 star restaurant in Tokyo. All the beef are freshly imported from Japan without being frozen The people there are super friendly and the service is perfect
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Susan J.

Yelp
This is the most legit Kan-sai style sukiyaki in the US of A. I had the privilege of dining here today, I had the traditional course that includes Premium A5 Wagyu flown from Japan... never frozen, assorted vegetables followed by the most decedent dessert. The way they serve the course is so detailed and thought out from the thickness of the meat to the combination of vegetables to slowly full fill your appetite. Even with COVID restrictions they have made the outdoor dining into a romantic experience. The service was exceptional!! I will definitely be returning here once this pandemic is over. Chef's kiss

Mimi V.

Yelp
Terrible!!!! What they serve is not Japanese food. Poor taste, cheap cuts of beef, too little quantity. I have a small stomach, but after eating a full course of $200 at Ima, I went to Lawry's and enjoyed real beef. This is the first day in my life that I have had two dinners.

Yueyang Z.

Yelp
Wanna give the flavor and service for 5 star. only 1 star for the cleanliness since found a bee in the soup. $300+ bill store only offered 10% off as the solution/ settlement for that ( don't even count for the inflation rate lol.）
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Kev M.

Yelp
I believe that this restaurant was well worth the price for the premium priced meal. The service was amazing! The all of the side dishes were perfectly seasoned and artfully done. The meat was the very Japanese wagyu was the best you could get.