Kinjiro

Amazing food and service! Loved the presentation. Great sake as well. Tip was included in the price which was great! Highly recommend the uni risotto and fried tofu with mushrooms

There is a master chef and a master mind behind the scenes in this small, unpretentious, well appointed Izakaya. If the layout seems a little odd the food and presentation more than makes up for it. The offerings are all unusual and tempting and if I were a full time resident in L.A. this would be my go to place for any worthy excuse. I loved every bite that I ordered and my only regret was finding the urchin risotto in the menu when I was already too full and satisfied. It will have to wait for the next time I am in L.A. But if you are a full time resident you have no excuse not to eat in this mini paradise.

Absolutely outstanding. Impeccable service and delicious food in a clean and minimalist setting, what more could you ask for? Make sure you make a reservation in advance, when their reservation window opens (secret tip: use the “scheduled send” feature in gmail to make sure your reservation request is perfectly on-time). My personal favorites were the grilled beef tongue, grilled cod, and sesame mousse. The grilled beef tongue was crispy on the outside and perfectly tender but with just the right amount of bite. The grilled cod was super juicy and savory, skin was crispy - I can eat that with every meal. Lastly, the sesame mousse - mousse has no right to be this delicious. Creamy and lightly sweet, it was so good we ordered another one immediately. No doubt I’ll be back the next time I’m in LA.

This was one of our favorite meals during our trip to LA. The uni risotto, thick cut beef tongue, truffle udon, and wasabi potato salad were the absolute stand-outs. Service was great, we loved their sake selection, and the pacing was on point. Definitely try them out.

The food is not as good as it used to be and my favorite dish, the beef tongue did come out hot. A bit disappointed especially when the price went up by quite a bit. The sukiyaki beef bowl was so chewy. Just thought the overall food quality used to be better.

The Honda Plaza contains a treasure trove of great eats, and Kinjiro fits in beautifully. I had the opportunity to try Kinjiro after hearing about the beef tongue nonstop! Everything here was delicious, even the ones that were beyond my comfort zone. I usually don't get potato salad, for example, but this one had a great mix of textures and flavor. We also tried the seared uni, uni risotto, fresh tofu, yuzu chicken, and beef tongue noodle soup. I know we ordered way too much and we were stuffed, but we still had to order dessert! Their hojicha panna cotta was a perfect way to end off the meal and was the last stop before a fat food coma. A reservation is required and you don't really need to dress up here. I would avoid casual sandals, graphic tees, and gym clothes, though. The restaurant and staff/owner are super chill. There's a brief wait for your food, but then the dishes start rolling out pretty quickly! If I ever get the chance to come back, I look forward to trying different dishes! Parking: Parking is paid, but even then you gotta hunt down a spot. It's every person for themselves here. 😱

The food here is very very good. It comes at a premium price point. For me, when food is expensive, the distinction between 4 and 5 stars is if the food is very good food or if the food is excellent. I'd consider this restaurant very good. The menu has a variety of small dishes meant to share. The seafood is delicious, which the uni, scallop, and crab dish being my favorite. The beef was a close second. Definitely worth trying, and there will be some memorable dishes, but not quite exceptional.

It’s a wonderful experience. My roommate found this little gem in little Tokyo and it didn’t disappoint us at all! It’s a neat small space with about five tables, so yes, you definitely wanna make a reservation ahead of time. Reservations work smoothly via emails with them. They respond quickly. Though I do wish they will be available on OpenTable or Resy soon, or via Google Maps :) We came for the famous Truffle Mushroom Creamy Udon, it’s SO GOOD. I will definitely come back again to try out other things :) The service is very nice and they are friendly. Highly recommended:)

This is our second time dining at Kinjiro and we are addicted. I'd like to say it's a "special occasion" restaurant but the prices are so reasonable that you really don't have to wait to come. It's a small restaurant with maybe 10 tables so the setting is very intimate and the service always on point. In this instance Sean was our waiter and he was charming and a delight. This is Japanese food on the highest level. Yes, they offer sushi and sashimi but there are so many other choices that are masterfully prepared and surprisingly, generous in portion. They recommend 2~3 dishes per person (everything is served family style) but we've found that our first two dining experiences were perfect at 5 dishes total. We started with an amazing dish of mashed potatoes with smoked salmon and salmon roe: not a dish you would normally expect from a Japanese restaurant and, frankly, one that I was a little dubious about. It was exquisite and mixed in with the mashed potatoes was their homemade wasabi for a light but interesting bit of heat and flavor. Our next dish was the bone marrow beautifully presented and delicious with toast points. Their were only like 5 toast points which weren't enough but Sean noticed and brought us several more to help finish off the marrow. Our third dish was the medium rare duck breast in, I think, light a ginger ponzu sauce. It was a very generous portion and just to die for! The duck was tender and flavorful. The fourth dish was the soft shell crab done with tempura and several dipping sauces. We were advised to try each of the three sauces separately and them mix them together: excellent idea and another winner! The last dish was thinly sliced Wagu beef in a light miso sauce over a bed of extremely high quality rice. We got an education from Sean as to the grading of rice and what differentiates their unique qualities. The beef was amazing and, once again, the portion was very generous and we were full! We ordered a bottle of white wine (nice, thoughtful selection of wines, Saki and beer) for $80.00 and our bill, including tip (tip of 18% is automatically added to every receipt) came out to $284.00. Now that may seem like a lot to many of you and it's certainly not like going to Fatburger but for the complete dining experience it can't be beat. Of course you can go two doors down to Sushi Gen (very famous and popular) for "standard" sushi and sashimi, but this Kinjiro restaurant is on a whole another dining experience. Trust me...we will be back again and again!

I've been meaning to try Kinjiro for quite a while now but they are reservation only and require you to email in advance so it's always just been a bit of a hassle to plan out in advance. I finally tried this place recently and had a wonderful meal! This place is located in a plaza with a parking lot that requires payment so keep in mind you will have to pay, but it is easier to access compared to other parts of DTLA and little Tokyo. The restaurant itself doesn't have too much seating but it is very cozy inside. Staff are all very polite and they introduce each course one at a time so be prepared to sit here for a while. We ordered the uni scallop crab appetizer, miso sea bass, Wagyu short rib, uni risotto, and truffle cream udon. Everything was incredible but the highlights were definitely the miso sea bass and the udon. The risotto was delicious but a bit too creamy and heavy for my taste and the Wagyu wasn't as special but still both of these were really good. I wish I had enough time and belly space to get their dessert but I'll just have to wait to try it next time!

AMAZING!!! Truffle udon- heavenly Bone marrow Beef tongue- so tender and juicy Agedashi tofu- love it!!

If you're looking for an evening spot where you can take time savoring every flavor that gets put in front of you then look no further than Kinjiro. Each dish comes out like it was made specifically for Instagram and packs so much flavor that it could have its own episode on the Food Network. It's a super small spot and what sets it apart is how they take their time sending each dish out. No rushing between courses. Now, because it's small, you'll need to make a reservation. It's worth it. The must try items: 1. Uni rissoto 2. Mackerel 3. Beef Tongue 4. Black cod

Maybe my favorite izakaya in Los Angeles! It is a very intimate small restaurant where you need to get reservations. Went for my birthday and it was definitely a memorable experience. We got the salmon and scallop salad that huge chunks of both that were absolutely delicious. The karaage chicken was huge but nothing spectacular. The beef tongue was the star of the meal and would 10/10 recommend it to anyone going. If you have room, and maybe if you don't, the green tea panna cotta is so freaking good. I don't even like sweets and it was just one of the best desserts I have ever had.

Amazing izakaya with high quality food. Great atmosphere, very intimate setting with a few tables. Reservations recommended. Paid parking in Honda plaza Stand out dishes: - truffles & mushroom creamy udon noodles - cold green tea soba noodles - uni risotto - beef tongue - wagyu beef tataki Basically can't go wrong with any dish. Service was great, they changed out our dish and utensils with every new dish they served, very attentive! Would come back again and again. Yum!

One of my favorite higher end Izakaya in socal. It is a small intimate restaurant in little tokyo that serves amazing food. Food (5/5): Beef tongue is probably one of the best you can find. Nice thick tongue that's cooked to perfection. Duck breast was also cooked to perfection. My favorite is actually the green tea soba. Definitely a must have. Feel free to order away, as the portions are on the smaller side. Yes your bill will add up, but you get what you pay for. Ambiance (5/5): I always enjoy a nice warm environment where we can communicate with our party without having to yell. Service (5/5): Not much can be said. Server very attentive and gave excellent options. Food comes out one by one similar to omakase style. A bit old fashion in which we have to email info@kinjiro-la.com up to 2 weeks in advanced to make reservations, but no problem. As long as they focus on what's most important, it'll always be a 5 star in my books.

時光匆匆， 不經意間， 年輪的腳步刻畫了歲月的痕跡，生命這麼的短暫，不該花任何時間遺憾，讓你不快的人或事， 多花一分鐘都是浪費我們美好的時光～ 好友帶我來她之前來過的金次郎，她之前生日來過， 所以知道菜色有水準， 這家應該也算是名店， 就在鼎鼎有名的Sushi Gen 旁邊， 這個小小的 plaza , 裡面的店面真的是臥虎藏龍的感覺， 金太郎的東西應該算是Fusion ， 每道都很有特色， 光看菜單， 就開始自動分泌口水，我想吃的就一拖拉庫了， 最喜歡他們的超厚牛舌， uni 燉飯，章魚腳， 炸小小魚也很好吃， 甜點也是一級棒，其實每道都棒， 沒有一道低於90 分， 沒來過， 喜歡料理有點創意的吃貨， 這家別錯過， 菜單上料理很多， 真的很多都非常吸引我，聽說這家只能寫email 訂位？可能板上的吃貨們有人知道，我很喜歡，我們點那麼多菜， 道道都表現亮眼，是一家我一定會再去造訪的地方！

This was one of our favorite meals during our trip to LA. The uni risotto, thick cut beef tongue, truffle udon, and wasabi potato salad were the absolute stand-outs. Service was great, we loved their sake selection, and the pacing was on point. Definitely try them out.

The finest Izakaya in Los Angeles! Highlights: Uni risotto, beed tongue I had an exceptional dining experience at this high-quality Izakaya. While the place is quite small with only about seven tables, and reservations need to be made through email, which can be a bit cumbersome, it was absolutely worth it. The dedication put into each and every menu is palpable, and we couldn't stop exclaiming "amazingly delicious" throughout our meal. Particularly, the Uni Risotto and beef tongue stood out as absolute delights that melted in our mouths! Undoubtedly the finest Izakaya in DTLA. I'm already planning my next visit! Must try- Uni risotto Uni, ikura, scallop & blue crab Beef tongue Truffle & mushroom creamy udon

It's very hard to go wrong with Japanese food, and with so many expensive Japanese options in LA, my partner and I decided to try Kinjiro (midpoint between affordable expensive and ridiculous expensive) to see what LA Japanese food had to offer. Walking in, my partner and I were so glad to have made a reservation because a party came in before us and were turned away because they were booked out for the night. The space is also very small and had only 6-7 tables. Because the space is small, it made you feel like you were at an exclusive dinner party. The limited capacity also made the service more attentive because they have less tables to worry about and can really cater to your needs. Our server guided us through the menu and made sure we picked out a number of dishes that would make us full and also advised us to choose a variety of dishes to experience the full breadth of the menu. My favorites would have to be the uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab chaser and the agedashi fried tofu, followed by the creamy mushroom udon and the spanish octopus. The uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab shooter is everything you would want in raw seafood: fresh, sweet, and refreshing with a tangy savory soy marinade to top everything off. The agedashi tofu is the perfect comfort meal with the crispy skin and the super soft tofu center (paired with the broth is amazing!). On the other hand, the king salmon and bone marrow dengaku are forgettable. The king salmon was not as fresh as some others I've had and the bone marrow dengaku was missing something that I couldn't put my finger on. Overall, the food, ambiance, and service were on point. I do think I can get the same meal (but not the same service/experience) for a cheaper price in ny, but for what Kinjiro offers, I think it's a fair price if you have the money for it.

Highlights: SERVICE. UNI RISOTTO. BEEF TONGUE!!! Everything was so delicious here. The dishes that we found average were the agedashi tofu and uni, blue crab, and ikura. For that we'd rate a 4, but the other dishes were so good we brought it up to a 5. The Sake Kasu Crème brulee was also delish and super unique. However, we'd come back literally just to get the thick cut beef tongue and the uni risotto. The texture of the thick beef tongue was perfectly tender yet chewy and almost tendon-y. The uni risotto was sooo flavorful. The vibes of the restaurant are casual yet intimate because of how small it is. Be sure to email to get a reservation here.

I recently dined at Kinjiro with high expectations due to its rave reviews, but I left somewhat underwhelmed. I usually love squid ink pastas but this one did not impress at all. The flavor was just not there. While the beef tongue was undeniably delicious, I couldn't help but feel that the overall experience didn't justify the price tag. In a city like LA, where affordable Japanese cuisine is abundant, this place fell short in value for money. Securing a reservation proved to be a challenge, as they only accept reservations via email, which can be inconvenient. However, I must commend the service; it was exceptional. The staff was attentive and accommodating throughout the meal, enhancing the overall experience.

This quaint little izakaya spot offers so much variety in delicious Japanese tapas. Quality of the food here is top notch and very well done. The intimate ambiance of this restaurant makes it a perfect date night spot . My favorite dishes here were: - ⁣ - ⁣ - ⁣ -- ⁣ - ⁣ - I highly recommend this spot for anyone in the DTLA area! Side note: Reservations can only be made 2 weeks in advance via email with the owner Jun.

Kinjiro is a modern high-end izakaya in an intimate setting with a glamorous, but peaceful ambiance. Unfortunately, though, I really don't understand the hype. Here's the thing, Kinjiro is far from traditional - its modern and flashy, and so you're eating with your eyes more than you are your mouth. We started with the King Salmon Sashimi, and eating it was when I realized Kinjiro was nothing like advertised. They brought out these thick sliced, low marbeling absolute chunks of salmon, which upon biting into, you realize have absolutely nothing on them and are lean as hell. Picture taking a 2 inch bite out of a plain salmon filet straight out of the packaging - thats what the salmon sashimi is like. We sent that one back. The beef tongue is delicious however - amazing charcoal flavor and a wonderful mouthfeel and chew. My only complaint was that they gave us really tiny bites, which made it hard to justify the price point. The truffle udon was great as well, but again nothing special for the price point. Its at the level of like a slightly elevated version of marugame monzo. Really enjoyed the mushroom flavors and the truffle does permeate through the dish. Kinjiro's food is okay, and it seems like a decent izakaya just to try the variety of top class ingredients they offer. I wasn't blown away by anything except the bill, and I don't think you would be either.

Came here for my birthday and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. We ordered the seared uni, sashimi salad, beef tongue, and the truffle & mushroom udon. The stand out dishes were the beef tongue and the udon. The beef tongue was SO tender and grilled to the perfect medium rare. If you're only going to order one thing here, this is the one I'd recommend The udon, on the other hand, was really flavorful and full of the truffle & mushroom taste. It was very creamy as well, and the udon was cooked to the perfectly chewy texture. The uni was great as well, it's seared with their house made uni sauce. It was very satisfying to eat so much uni at a time haha. For the sashimi salad, the fish were all super fresh and thick cut. It was a refreshing dish and complimented the rest of what I order for sure. There are so many more things on the menu that I'd love to try, and I'd definitely come back!

Made reservations for 7:30pm for our anniversary. Staff was very polite and pleasant. The seared uni was amazing and the best item of the night the fried chicken was very juicy and seasoned well. My wife enjoyed the oysters. The other cold appetizer with the uni, blue crab, scallop and ikura was unique and tasty. The staff recommended the black dragon sake which was very smooth and delicious but the 2nd other recommended sake was not that great and my wife did not even finish the glass. Black cod was cooked well and tasty. Last dish was was the squid ink udon which was just ok and we were a bit bummed that we ended the meal with this dish. Price was a little high for the food we ordered but we will return again to try the popular beef tongue.

Elizabeth's Star Rating System 1 star = Terrible, would not recommend, will tell family and friends to avoid 2 stars = I won't be back but you might enjoy it 3 stars = I'll be back eventually 4 stars = I'll definitely be back 5 stars = I'm telling my friends and family about this place! PARKING: Self parking $6. RESERVATION: First things first, make sure to make a reservation ahead of time, preferably at least 2 weeks in advance for a weekend table. During my first time here, I saw at least 7 parties try to come in without a reservation. All tables were fully booked and waiting for their parties. FOOD/DRINKS: Now, onto the food. The seared uni, beef tongue, fried anchovies, agedashi tofu, and King Salmon ochazuke were all fantastic. I always order the seared uni and beef tongue. The seared uni is Santa Barbara sea urchin and a melt-in-your-mouth umami bomb. The beef tongue is tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. SERVICE: The staff is friendly and attentive, making sure to provide recommendations and ensure we have everything we need. The presentation of each dish is also stunning. AMBIENCE: The restaurant has a cozy and intimate atmosphere, perfect for a date night or small gathering with friends. The decor is simple and minimalist, with an open kitchen that allows you to see the chefs at work. OVERALL: I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Kinjiro and have been back several times. Today, I even saw a walk-in group get turned away, which goes to show how popular and in-demand this spot is. From the seared uni to the beef tongue, every dish I've tried has been fantastic. If you're looking for a high-quality Japanese dining experience, Kinjiro is definitely worth the reservation. Rating: Food/Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Overall: 5/5

Kinjirō is located in Honda Plaza, which is home to several of Little Tokyo's most interesting restaurants such as Pasta e Pasta by Allegro (Japanese-style Italian), Sushi Gen (sushi), The Mermaid (wacky tikiesque bar), Tenshō (shabu shabu), and Men Oh (L.A.'s best ramen). Kinjirō rounds out the collection as a sort of izakaya-reborn-as-bistro, with familiar Japanese dishes served in "elevated" ways. Yes, it's very early 2000s, but it's also quite good. The room is small, with just four two-tops and three four-tops and has stuccoed walls and exposed wooden beams for a rustic Japanese look. There is a large selection of sake by the glass and bottle along with wine. It has a bit of a "date night" vibe, except the tables are a bit close, and just one large party (like the birthday group on my visit with one guy who didn't understand the concept of "inside voice") can wreck any intimate vibe. I was famished after a day without eating and having had some drinks, so I dug into the menu, although I didn't partake of any of the ample seafood options. The mizuna and daikon salad ($16) was simple but delicious, light and refreshing with a ginger dressing. The chicken tatsuta-age ($20) is the cousin of the better-known karaage. (Tatsuta-age is coated in starch, while karaage is coated in flour.) It was five large, juicy pieces of boneless thigh meat, very flavorful and satisfying. Kinjirō has some of the best Japanese fried chicken in town, and any karaage enthusiast should give them a visit. Duck breast ($26) was grilled over Japanese charcoal and served with kanzuri, Japanese fermented chili paste not unlike a thick Tabasco sauce. It was cooked well and had delicate flavor. The beef tongue curry rice ($26) really surprised me as tongue is often a rather tough, chewy cut, but it was as buttery soft as oxtail here. The one dish that did not impress me was the chicken thigh with yuzu koshō ($20); it took a long time to prepare, and while it was supposedly grilled over charcoal, I couldn't taste anything like that. For all I could tell, it could have been fried in a skillet. The chicken itself was entirely unseasoned, so that goodness for the yuzu koshō (a fermented paste of green chilis and yuzu peel). A friend with whom I was texting wanted to see a dessert, so I ordered the black sesame mousse ($10) despite being full. I love black sesame, with its combination of nutty and roasty notes, and the molasses-like Okinawan brown sugar syrup accompaniment accented the flavor perfectly while adding the right hit of sweetness. The mousse seemed to have a stabilizing agent (gelatin, agar, carrageenan, etc.) rather than purely egg and cream, and that texture was slightly unsatisfactory. Service was very good: There was one server taking care of the room, and he managed to answer everyone's questions and go through the menu, check on if more orders were wanted, etc., with aplomb. The kitchen did a good job of timing my dishes to come out right as the previous one was finished -- that is, until I added the chicken thigh that took over twenty minutes. An automatic 18% gratuity is added to the check in lieu of tipping, which is not something I'm normally in favor of, but I didn't mind so much this time as service was quite good. Still, I can't quite give Kinjirō five stars, although I would really like to, as I don't feel the price levels are quite right. My tab as a solo diner was a few dollars shy $200, which I would consider a high-end dining experience. But I didn't feel like I had a high-end dining experience at Kinjirō. It was very good, but it wasn't a luxury dinner. All the items I ordered were on the lower end of the menu's scale. I had two of the lowest-priced drinks -- one of them was a Suntory Premium The Malt's on draft at $14, which is around $5 more than it usually goes for in this city. And that's how I feel about everything I had, that it cost about 25% more than it should have. Kinjirō has the atmosphere of a quaint little bistro, but it's not exactly elegant: The hallways leading to the restrooms are lined with tall stacks of plastic tubs holding supplies like garbage bags and such. Chopsticks are the disposable kind in a paper wrapper. And the bright, flat lighting is not at all what I would expect from a better restaurant. Sadly, even with its overall good food and service, Kinjirō is still somewhat overpriced. That's not to say I would never return, but I don't see making it part of my regular Little Tokyo routine.

I'm giving a 5 stars for the great service. I came early and got lucky to snag an available table without reservation but it seems you'll want a reservation to be safe because they had to turn people away later on in the night. There's only probably around 5 or so tables to give context on the intimacy of this place. Everyone was super polite and accommodating to allow us to get seated even though not everyone was here yet. Food was really good overall. The price is definitely on the expensive end although you could argue the quality ingredient aspect. + aged snapper sashimi: I was skeptical but seeing that it was limited quantity sold me on trying... and I'm a fan! The pairings like ponzu sauce and onion garnishes really make this standout too. + king salmon sashimi: really tasty although I would probably opt to try other items next time I'm back. + beef tataki: has a slight chew but still tender overall. I liked the plum sauce touch. + uni risotto: the real star of the night... so cool they present it inside the sea urchin shell. Very creamy and full of flavor. I'd recommend giving it a try!

My husband's birthday led us to discover an unforgettable izakaya gem in LA. Here's a breakdown of our menu selections Sake: Sohomare Heart & Soul Food Selections: Beef Tongue, Uni Risotto, Bone Marrow, Truffle Udon Dessert: Black Sesame Mousse Each dish, from the savory beef tongue to the elegant black sesame mousse, was a testament to the culinary excellence of Kinjiro. The coziness of this place made our celebration intimate and special. With just one other party, the attentive service added to the charm, making us feel valued as patrons. Can't wait to go back and try all the dishes here!!

This was our first time trying this restaurant and we were super satisfied. The inside was simple and contemporary AND clean. We have a party of 3 to celebrate birthday. The dishes we ordered were delicious and uniquely presented. I personally liked all the dishes but the uni risotto was sooooo good. There are many more dishes I would like to try next time. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. Corkage fee is $25 per bottle. Overall experience is 5 STARS

TL;DR: Delicious and delicate Japanese food! Best service too! Grabbed a reservation for a Monday evening to try to avoid a huge crowd. You have to get reservations via email 2 weeks in advance! They are very responsive via email. Read their fine print on their website to make the reservation correctly! Service was FANTASTIC! Our server was so friendly and kind and informative. The timing of the courses was also wonderful. FOOD: ~American Wagyu Beef Tataki (4/5): cold preparation. Soft and flavorful with a nice refreshing radish and green onion salad ~Bone marrow dengaku (5/5): Omg so delicious! cooked and seasoned perfectly! Slid the marrow out of the bone without a problem and the sauce/seasoning was to die for ~Thick cut beef tongue (4/5): So soft and tender ~Uni Risotto (4/5): VERY rich. One of those dishes that you keep going back for and gets better as you keep eating it ~Black cod with saikyo miso (4/5): cod was cooked perfectly and the flavor was so delicate but perfect Overall, one of the best dining experiences we had in LA!

Very good food and great service, nice atmosphere. only setback is so hard to booked a reservation

Kinjiro dining concept derived from a traditional japanese izakaya, where it offers premium quality small dishes of food that deliver exceptional taste! Kinjiro accepts reservation through email for two timings: 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Jun was really quick to reply our email with the confirmation! It was no hassle at all. Kinjiro is also located in Honda Plaza which is very convenient as there is a parking area - parking is $6 cash only. These are my honest review on Kinjiro: Cold dishes: 1. Seared Uni Delicious delicate seared uni that melts in ur mouth with creamy sweet taste. Enjoy it on its own or with the savory seaweed wrap. Which is also a dish that has been in their menu for the longest time. Definitely a must to order. 2. Uni, Ikura, Scallop, Blue Crab This single serving of all my favorites japanese food is pretty good. I love how refreshing scallop and the blue crab tasted! Would I say that it is amazing? Maybe not really, but it is good. 3. American Wagyu Tataki I was recommended to try the tataki and it didnt disappoint. The meat is tender just how I like it and it was slightly marinated with ponzu which pairs really well. Fried Dishes: 1. Agedashi Fried Tofu with Org Mushrooms Ankake Sauce This dish topped all other agedashi tofu I've ever tried before. The tofu is crispy and yet so chewy on the inside and then the silkiness just melts in the mouth. The better part is the mushroom ankake sauce. They are really generous with the mushroom portion, and I just love the taste of the sauce. It was memorably delicious! Grilled Dishes: 1. Black Cod with Saikyo Miso I also tried a few miso black cod at other restos and this by far my favorite one! You can really taste the miso well inside the meat, so juicy and tender. A very memorable dish too. We definitely will come back for this one. Just to note, the cod is bigger than we expected. 2. Thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negi This is one of their most popular dish in the menu. It was delicious, very tender and surprisingly we liked this too. My concern is that, for my personal tastebud the portion might be too much. As it is a thick-cut beef tongue, I recommend only eating 2pc/person as that would be enough. 3. Bone Marrow Dengaku I dont always enjoy bone marrow but I was recommended to try this one at Kinjiro! I am amazed by how delicious it was - especially the sauce they put on it. However, my problem was the bone marrow was a little oily that night. Rice, Noodle, Soup Dishes: 1. Uni Risotto This is one of the most popular in their menu as well - but I personally think that it was just so-so. It was good to try but it was not an amazing nor unique dish. Dessert: 1. Roasted Green Tea Panna Cotta I really love this green tea panna cotta. I love how Kinjiro incorporated the Japanese taste so very well into their menu and always sticking to the tradition flavors. This one got to be the best dessert in their menu. So good. It comes with a maple syrup which makes it even better 2. Black Sesame Mousse This was also good - it comes with powdered peanut and syrup which also makes it taste better. Overall, Kinjiro really offers a quality and premium japanese izakaya food. There are so many variety in their menu and everything really tasted amazing! I also really enjoyed the ambience of the place. As there are only limited seats, it was not too cramped. Food comes pretty fast and service was really great. Noise level was low and it is a great place to dine.

I am obsessed with uni and recommend this restaurant to anyone who is a fan. Also the salad with sashimi is a great value!

WONDERFUL FIRST EXPERIENCE at Kinjiro and I was lucky to make a reservation by e-mail 3 days prior to the date. Jun is especially friendly and thoughtful to remember that I was there to celebrate my anniversary, as well. We will definitely be visiting again! FOOD Each dish is served one at a time so you can experience the full taste and flavor. Everything is seasoned and cooked to perfection. Compliments to the chef! - Seared Uni - had a slight sweetness to it and did not have an overwhelming taste of ocean compared to other uni. - Soft Shell Crab - a bit disappointed to see how small it was but didn't taste bad though, just wish it came with more. - Black Cod with Saikyo Miso - soft, tender, melt in your mouth goodness! Definitely recommend! - Thick-cut Beef Tongue with Yuzu Negi - cooked to perfection. Slight crunch with juicy tenderness. The yuzu negi compliments this dish well. - Bone Marrow Dengaku - one of the top bone marrow locations hands down! - Uni Risotto - expected heavy, typical risotto but was surprised how light yet refreshing this tasted. Perfect course ending. - Black Sesame Mousse - has a mild bitterness to it and the condiments it came with paired so well. Overall delicious! - Sake Creme Brulee - very unique. The taste of sake gets stronger at the bottom, but the caramelized sugar on top was a bit too thick/crunchy for me. SERVICE Amazing service! This place is very clean and neat. The servers remove and replace your dish after every course and even wipe down the table when a tiny crumb is visible. AMBIENCE A very small and intimate lightly dimmed restaurant but it can get loud depending on the crowd.

KINJIRO de tabeyou!! Let's eat at KINJIRO! I can't even choose what would be my top three items because everything was so good! We ordered the "Kanpachi" Amberjack Sashimi, the Seared Uni, Uni, Ikura, Scallop & Blue Crab, Agedashi Fried Tofu, Grilled Spanish Octopus with Japanese Peppercorn Aioli, the fried Chicken Tatsuta-age, Duck Breast, Beef Tongue, Uni Risotto, Bone Marrow Dengaku, and lastly the Squid Ink Udon Noodles. It seems like a lot, but it was perfect for four people. I recommend ordering both uni dishes. The risotto was so good, I just wanted to lick the spoon and plate dry. The seared uni with the seaweed was full of umami flavor. Order any dishes uni in them, you can't go wrong. Uni, Ikura, Scallop & Blue Crab was good to share between two people even though it says single serving. It was like eating a savory but refreshing parfait. The Agedashi Fried Tofu with the organic mushroom was very comforting. Highly recommend for a cold night. The fried Chicken Tatsuta-age was fried perfectly. It was fluffy, but crispy. The chicken was juicy and tender. The texture reminded me of a soft shelled crab tempura-like. I loved the Grilled Spanish Octopus with Japanese Peppercorn Aioli! It came with the peppercorn aioli sauce and "matcha wasabi," which I felt was very unique. Tip: dip the octopus in both the aioli and matcha wasabi together rather than individually. At first I tried just the octopus with the aioli, but dipping it in the aioli and then the matcha wasabi took it a whole other level! The octopus meat was tender, meaty, and fulfilling. The grilled Duck Breast with Kanzuri was thinly sliced and had a nice crunch from the crispy skin. The duck had a good balance of protein and fat. The grilled beef tongue was rich like wagyu and juicy. The bone marrow was fatty but good. It had the flavors of teriyaki- savory, sweet and salty. We jokingly asked for sherry to do a bone marrow luge, but he brought us sake! First time doing a bone marrow luge with sake and it was delicious! I've had squid ink pasta before at other restaurants and they were always mediocre. Well, the squid pasta at Kinjiro was a total game changer! The best I ever had! Each food item was brought out one at a time. The pace between each item was perfect because it allowed us to really process it, digest, and savor them. Service is good! He was knowledgeable and attentive. Oh, and for desserts, we tried the Black Sesame Mousse and Roasted Green Tea Panna Cotta. I enjoyed the green tea panna cotta more. It is sweeter than the sesame dessert. It was like eating green tea flan! Make reservations and go to Kinjiro! Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Good place for dates (insert winking face emoji).

All around 10/10 Had to leave my first Yelp review for this amazing place! Was looking for a place to go for my birthday recently when my boyfriend stumbled upon this gem of a place. We were nervous to not get a reservation at first, but followed the simple instructions and timed it right when the day we wanted opened up and it was super easy! Right when we arrived, we loved the intimate setting and our server was so nice and welcoming. You can tell he was very knowledgable about the menu as well. As for the style of the dinner, you order all the dishes you would like and get each course served in the order the chef decides. They even pace it so that your next dish is ready once you finish a course! Now as for each dish we got... Raw Hamahama Oysters in Ponzu: These were such a great refreshing way to start! I have never had raw oysters outside the shell before but the sauce and topping made me not even miss it. The ponzu sauce gave a nice citrus taste to the dish. Must get if you're an oyster fan! Seared Uni: I have only had uni a few times and never liked it so was a bit skeptical, but this was very well done. The uni was topped with an uni cream sauce and charred. The mix of creamy and smoky was great on its own but made even better when eaten on the crispy seaweed they provide on the side! American Wagyu Beef Tataki: For a meat dish we were between this and the beef tongue, but after a recent trip to Japan, we were curious to see how this wagyu would compare. It was different for us as it was served cold, but the pepper seasoning on the meat gave it a nice kick of flavor. It had a soy based dressing over it and was served on top of a salad mix that gave a fresh touch to each bite. One of our favorites that night! Bone Marrow Dengaku: I am a HUGE fan of bone marrow and this did not disappoint! The crispy milk bread on the side served as a nice crunchy base without the burnt toast taste you get at some places. The bone marrow itself had a slightly sweet glaze on it that gave a nice flavor to the rich bone marrow. Free-range Duck Breast with Kanzuri: STAR OF THE SHOW!! Originally we only ordered the first four items, but thought we could use one more dish towards the end. On a whim we decided on the duck as we don't see that as a choice on menus often, and it did not disappoint! The duck was cooked perfectly with a nice balance of meat and skin in each bite. It comes with a spicy sauce on the side that they suggest you place a small amount on each bite. Although I can't handle much spice, my boyfriend said it made what was already a great dish even better! Some little details I also loved was that each course came with a new set of dishes and spoons that made it feel like an elevated experience. You even receive a cold towel wipe for after you try the bone marrow! All in all, I had a great meal and experience at Kinjiro and would definitely go again!

We had an amazing meal at Kinjiro! We made an e-mail reservation a few weeks ahead of time and it was easy. For 3 people, we ordered the Uni, Ikura, Scallop & Blue Crab shooters, Sashimi Salad (Hokkaido Scallops, King Salmon) w/ Blue Crab, Grilled Spanish Octopus, Grilled Thick-cut Beef Tongue, Bone Marrow Dengaku, Uni Risotto, and Truffles & Organic Mushrooms Creamy Udon Noodles. We were definitely stuffed at the end of it. Everything was so delicious and cooked nicely. The beef tongue is so tender and the bone marrow is juicy and fatty. Loved the creaminess of the risotto and udon.

Kinjiro is a must-visit restaurant every time we come to LA. Their truffle and mushroom udon is so good, I dream about it from time to time. Their agedashi tofu with mushroom sauce is also really yummy and something we always get. Everything we've had is good but those are the standouts and what we come for. This was our first visit since COVID. We found the tables to be spaced out more and the experience felt more chill, which made it even more enjoyable. Securing the reservation was a breeze so long you plan ahead - email them at Noon two weeks in advance (this was true at time of writing of this review - check their site for the latest), and you should be good to go. We saw a few parties trying to walk-in and failed; given the restaurant's popularity and the reduced # of tables, it's likely generally not possible.

I have had my eyes on Kinjiro for soooooooo long. My friend remembered how I wanted to try it prior to the pandemic and made it happen for my birthday festivities. I hear the reservation process is difficult so bless their heart for the troubles. There is a small parking lot for customers of the businesses in the plaza. We got extremely lucky and found a compact spot that I was able to fit into. Kinjiro validates for the first 3 hours to be only $6 and then after that I believe the rates were $2/15 minute, max $15. The restaurant was very quaint and intimate. They don't have too many tables so I can see why it would be difficult to land a reservation here. Service was very attentive and helpful. Jun took good care of us the whole night. It was recommended that we order 2-3 items per person and shared. The kitchen seemed to bring out the cold dishes first, then the warm dishes, and ended with the rice noodles or soups dishes. I love family style meals since you can enjoy a bit of everything. We started off with a bottle of the Dassai 45 Junmai Daigingo ($50/720mL) which was light and fresh. I thought it paired well with our meal. Highly recommended. Uni, Ikura, Scallop & Blue Crab ($22/serving) - Great way to start the meal. Very delicate small bite. We were instructed to pour a bit of the sauce over as we enjoyed it. I really enjoyed all of the flavors together. My only critique would be that I wanted a bigger piece or more Uni. Grilled Thick-cut Beef Tongue ($38) - I like it thick thick! Yummmm! The beef tongue was perfectly cooked and it came with a dipping sauce that added a nice acidity to cut through the fatness and creaminess of the tongue. In general I love beef tongue and this one was of the finest preparations I have had. Grilled Black Cod with Saikyo Miso ($34) - We picked this one since you can't typically get black cod on any menu. We loved the black cod. It was so soft and tender and mesmerizing with each bite. The miso glaze on the outside was so sweet and paired well with the black cod. Sorry Nobu I found a new favorite black cod. Grilled King Salmon Collar and Belly "Yuan-Yaki" ($34) - In retrospect this was the one item we probably could have skipped. Nothing wrong with the salmon collar and belly but nothing too impressive either. Grilled Flannery 28-day Prime Dry-aged Ribeye 12 oz ($95) - It was an unintended add on. A few shots in my friend decided they wanted to add the dry aged ribeye. I was like whoa are you sure!?!? So YOLO! Their decision paid off because this ribeye was AMAZING. It had this sauce of truffle on the side that we were so in love with. Uni Risotto ($34) - Love love love this risotto. Tasted the Uni in every bite. We were sooooo full but it was so delicious we still finished it. Highly recommended for all the uni lovers. Roasted Green Tea Panna Cotta (complimentary, $7.50 value) - Delicious! Great way to end the meal. It was light and creamy and there was a syrup on the side that went perfectly with the roasted green tea panna cotta. Would definitely order this over again. Absolutely AMAZING MEAL. Dare I say the BEST birthday meal of this birthday season. I am very grateful to my friend for spoiling me with such a glorious feast. Time to plan an even more epic outing for their birthday.

I was treated to dine here for my birthday. I am such a lucky girl! My girlfriend made the reservation a week early by email and got the confirmation within 24 hours. The restaurant is inside the same plaza as Sushi Gen and actually located right next to it so it wasn't hard to find at all. The menu has a good amount of selection to choose from, starters to entrees to desserts! We opted in to order a few dishes to share... started with the cold tofu (refreshing), the bone marrow to share (super rich and ordered more toasts), beef tongue was seared right but was a bit cold(?), seared uni was very fresh and with the nori combo, it was oishi!, squid ink udon was pretty good and uni risotto was super creamy. As desserts, we got the black sesame mousse!

I have a lot to say but will just say one thing: This is the best place I've ever eaten

Came here again recently and had another stunning meal! My favorite dishes were: Raw hamahama oysters in ponzu ($16) - large, succulent and fresh Uni, ikura, scallop and blue crab ($22) - Love this seafood explosion Grilled thick cut beef tongue ($38) - The most tender and juicy beef tongue you will ever have! Perfectly grilled Uni risotto ($34) - thick and decadent and hearty. I just wish there was more Uni flavor! Truffle and mushroom creamy udon ($34) - creamy with the intense umami flavor of truffle and mushroom. Yum! The other dishes were good as well but these were my favorites. Good luck getting a reservation though!

Had been eye-ing this place for so long but you definitely need to make a reservation. They don't take reservations online or via phone so you have to email them in advance. I managed to get a week night reservation and will say the interior is much smaller than I imagined but in a very intimate way. Our server was super attentive throughout our entire meal & I wish we ate less during the day because there was so much more that I wanted to try from their menu, but just couldn't because I was full pretty early. We got: 1. Seared uni- if you love uni, highly recommend! Super high quality and flavorful and comes with a side of seaweed. 2. Beef tongue- so simple but so well executed. The exterior had a good crisp? But the inside was super tender. Really enjoyed throw 3. Uni risotto- love love loved this! Presentation wise- it comes in the shell itself and was just the most creamy delicious risotto ever. 4. Squid ink udon- I would probably skip this. It wasn't bad necessarily but felt like the pesto that was added to this dish, overpowered everything else and I'm not a huge fan of pesto to begin with so I wasn't expecting pesto when I ordered this. The tomatoes & seafood that came with the pasta though was really good. Would probably try their truffle mushroom instead next time! Definitely worth checking out! I'd recommend coming with a group of 4-5 so you can try multiple items.

A very unassuming up-scale izakaya in little Tokyo! You need to make reservations via email, but it isn't too hard. The interior of the izakaya is pretty minimal, mostly just bottles of alcohol around and a random deer/animal. The service was really great despite there is only one server taking care of all the tables (at least when I went!) our server was diligent about taking dishes away when we finished them, wiping our table, and checking in on us! We ordered 5 dishes for two people and a sake which I think is fairly sufficient. My top picks are the beef tongue (sauce is UNREAL!) and truffle udon. The beef tongue is really rich in flavor and tender, but the sauce really cuts through it, and adds a refreshing salty bite. Usually not a huge cream pasta person because it's pretty heavy and it is definitely heavy, but there's a lot of depth of flavor from the truffle. Also, miso soup was really delicious, definitely not your typical kind of miso soup. It's actually slightly sweet and the pork adds a good umami/body to the soup. Would definitely come back

Excellent service! Great place to have Izakaya near little Tokyo. My favorite dish of the night is their spinach and mushroom salad. I think it'll be even better if they can add a poached egg! Good portion on each dish so we started to leave out some food and our server noticed it and volunteered to cancel last order we placed that wasn't cooked yet. We really appreciated it. I wished they had a little more sashimi selections from their menu as I'm allergic to shellfish and I don't eat salmon :( I know it's not their fault. Definitely worth to give this place a visit.

Exquisite food , service and intimate elevated dining experience. I was taken here for my birthday ( which you have to email to get reservation- its a small place so be patient its totally worth it). We had kanpachi done to perfection with special condiment and sauce that just complemented the fish so well its a astonishingly joyful experience. We had the housemade agedashi tofu which is presented in a melange of fresh mushrooms and slightly thickened sauce- a picture had to be taken! The grilled beef rib slices will be one of the best pieces of meat you will eat. The green tea soba was al dente full of tea flavor. Refreshingly delicious. And capped by the roasted green tea pana cotta. Every dish was memorable and to be repeated. Bravo Kinjiro. Will be back asap.

Wow. Simple yet delicious. It's a fairly small restaurant with about 4-5 tables inside and some seating outside. You must make an online reservation by emailing them. Be sure to do this a few days in advance to guarantee a spot. Each entree was brought one after the other was finished and did not cross over for us, which was amazing because we got to fully enjoy one dish before moving onto the next. We ordered the seared uni, bone marrow, salmon collar, and crramy mushroom truffle udon. Everything was perfect. Definitely matched the price and quality. 10/10 meal.

This place totally changed my mind to Japanese food. Very warm place. I like the food and service here very much. Kibinago tempura, duck breast, and soba were delicious!

I made a reservation for a friend's birthday, and both of us had a lovely, delectable evening at Kinjiro! I made a reservation via email about a week in advance, and they were swift & accommodating. The restaurant is cozy and pleasantly quiet, perfect for a date night or a girls' night out. We ordered 4 entrees, all of which were both aesthetically pleasing and flavorful! The truffle & mushroom udon (the best truffle-incorporated dish I've ever had) was the star of the show! The grilled octopus was so tender, juicy, and flavorful and paired nicely with the greens, shishito, and cherry tomatoes. I personally loved the thick-cut beef tongue: the meat was grilled crisp on the outside but tender on the inside, and it paired so well with the sauce. One thing to note: the texture might be quite different from that of the thin-sliced beef tongue that is commonly served at k-bbq places, but tasty nonetheless! The dishes were served one after another, like a course meal. They were well-paced, and service was spectacular: new cutlery and plates for each entree, water refill without request, and the hojicha panna cotta with a candle for my friend's birthday on the house! I would definitely come back to Kinjiro for a nice dinner with family/friends :)

Intimate cute spot with well done thoughtfully crafted high quality Izakaya dishes. They are beef and uni heavy so if that's not your thing, might not be worth. We actually got more of their non uni seafood items and our favorite was the miso black cod. The fried chicken and salmon sashimi were nice hefty proteins as well. Tofu was so light and fresh. Their signature is beef tongue and I'll admit the texture was a bit too much for me and I love beef tongue however it appears I like it normally in thinner slices or grilled for tacos. Nothing wrong with the way they prepared it, just expect some bouncy chews. Duck I felt was average, would skip that one. Desserts were not overly sweet and a nice selection of more neutral nutty flavors which I prefer. About $260 for two people.

The food was underwhelming and overly-priced. The only reason I give it a 2 is for the service. The ambiance wasn't anything worth writing about. Cured red snapper sashimi was underwhelming, flavorless, and the quantity, nor the freshness, of the fish did not merit a $38 dish. (1/5) Kaarage/fried chicken was the best out of them all, which I hope does not suggest to the reader that it was great, rather that it was the best out of the mediocre bunch. (3/5) Salmon ochazuke was served with salmon skin and instead of tea (the main broth of the dish) it was accompanied with a regular bonito flake/kelp dashi broth. (2.5/5) Udon with beef tongue was essentially pho. The meat was tender, yes, but the sauce/yuzu dip did not enhance the flavor. The noodles were not chewy/thick or at all "udon-like." Perhaps it's a different style of udon but the broth tasted nothing unique nor remotely any of the traditional Japanese taste. (2.5/5) Duck with Japanese bbq sauce. Apparently grilled over "Japanese" coals but came out lukewarm and none of the grill flavor. The sauce was so subtle, so insipid, I thought they had forgotten it. Our server mentioned that this was one of the dishes they were known for. This leaves me speechless. (2/5)

This small Izaka-Ya in little Tokyo is one of my favorite restaurants in LA. Been coming here for more than 10 years and the food is so consistent every time. Classic favorites of mine include the beef tongue, uni risotto, deep fried agedashi tofu and beef tendon stew. Heads up they are reservation only and you have to call or email the the restaurant to make one.

Be sure to make reservation cuz they're pretty busy serving awesome food! Great food everything is delicious and well made w/ the best ingredients We will def be back cuz there's still a lot on the menu we haven't tried!

What an amazing experience this place has been! I've been here exactly two separate time, both for an anniversary meal and ... both of my experiences have been beyond amazing! * Every single item on the menu is ALL WORTH * Service is of its TOP quality * Food - can't describe how amazing everything tastes * Sake - the best of its quality and the variety/pairing with the food is phenomenal * Recommendations - I honestly didn't know more than half the words on the menu... but with that, my experience was still phenomenal for the best recommendations given to what I should order TIP: you have to reserve a spot, I think it is very difficult for you to get a walk-in seat. It is a small spot so seating is very limited I can't express how amazing my entire experience here has been. Every item I have tried literally, I wanted it again immediately. Food is served here as a shareable item, so it's not a personal menu but something small that are shareable. Favorite items (that I will get AGAIN): - Beef Tongue ***** I honestly want this completely to myself and not share it. - Fried Tofu *** I have never tried tofu like this before.. I usually would never order tofu off a menu, but it was highly recommended and I would highly recommend this too! - Black Cod *** Fish that melts in your mouth. get em's

I've dined here twice & it became one of my favorite restaurants! Quality of food is amazing & I love how the place is small & personable. Service is

Came here for my birthday and it was absolutely a great experience! Then took my family here immediately after that haha Service: 5/5 There is only one server but the service is amazing. He is very polite and great at giving recommendations. Also, there was a mixed up in order and the server immediately gave us a free dish on the house Interior/environment: 4/5 Kinjiro is right next to a popular sushi restaurant which always has a long line outside. However, Kinjiro is a lot more private and quite, which is a bit different from other izakayas. There are only 4-5 tables inside with simple interior design, but everything is very clean Food: 5/5 Dishes at Kinjiro is unique and absolutely delicious! It's one of the few restaurant where every dish you order has high quality. Organic baby spinach and mushroom salad - I personally don't like vegetables but I finished the whole plate. The mushrooms are chewy and the salad is flavory with its special soy sauce, so i didn't even feel like I was eating vegetables Agedashi tofu - this is the most underrated dish because most people see tofu and wouldn't want to order at a restaurant, but agedashi tofu is very different from regular tofu! It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Coupling with a flavory mush soup, this dish is definitely a favorite Green tea panna cotta - the best dessert I've had in a restaurant for a while. Probably because I'm the quarter sugar in milk tea type of gal, most desserts are too sweet but this panna cotta is creamy, soft, and you can adjust its sweetness with sauce on the side. It's also the only dish that I ordered twice Bone marrow and black cod - both great dishes and surprisingly sweet Uni - both uni dishes that I ordered are unique: one is risotto and one is seared. It's great to try them but I would say that they are average compared to other dishes at the restaurant Overall i think Kinjiro is the perfect izakaya to hang out with friends and family while drinking some sake. The only downside is that it only takes email reservation and you have to book days in advance.