Manpuku Japanese BBQ Los Angeles

Manpuku is hands-down one of the best Japanese BBQ spots in LA. The food is consistently amazing – every cut of meat is high quality, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection right at your table. The service is just as impressive: attentive, friendly, and fast without being rushed. Whether you’re going for a casual night out or a special occasion, Manpuku delivers every time. I truly love this place – it’s a go-to for delicious food and a great overall experience. Highly recommend.

I had the best time here! I’m usually overwhelmed by bbq spots like this, but the service made it very easy and fun. Luis, thank you for being so kind and energetic! We loved having you as our server. All of the food was incredible. It’s a great spot for groups especially with the preset menu. Will be coming back again soon!

Oh my gosh! This restaurant is great! It feels like I’m in Japan! All meats are amazing especially galbi and ship-tan! Service was also good. Highly recommended!

Simple and delicious. Nice staff, good food and great ambiance.

I have only one thing that I didn't like and that was that the parking lot was full. However that has nothing to do with the restaurant itself and to start it is amazing. The service was lightning fast to wear you barely had to wait for a dish and there was almost always food on the table (if you had ordered or if you ordered more) the food quality is amazing and I could talk about how good it is for a long time. The photos you see are of a couple of 8 dishes I ordered. There is not enough to say about how good this place is. I highly recommend coming to this restaurant. (You do need a reservation)

Wait until the weather is warmer and eat outside because the inside grills don't use fire and the exhaust fans don't seem strong enough. Overall the food quality is a little better than normal barbecue places but we still prefer Park's BBQ or Gyu-Kaku. Service here is especially slow since they seem to lack enough staff. The atmosphere is casual.

I really like this chain barbecue restaurant. Among them, the Santa Monica branch is the only one where you can barbecue with charcoal. It's charming because you can eat like grilling meat while camping. All the other meats are similar in quality to other branches. Most of the servers are friendly. The only downside is that this branch does not offer the signature dish of Manpuku, Sukiyaki. It's a very delicious dish where thinly sliced high-quality meat is lightly cooked, then wrapped around sushi rice and dipped in raw egg. This dish is available at all other branches. If you want to grill meat yourself using charcoal, make a reservation for an outdoor table. But remember, Sukiyaki is not available at this branch.

Always wanted to try Japanese style BBQ. Me and my wife always pass by this place and finally decided to give it a shot. We brought our daughter and started out with pork belly, Kobe beef short rib, chicken, Japanese sausages, assorted veggies, garlic asparagus, garlic noodles, garlic fried rice, and a side of lettuce wraps which came with fried garlic, pickeld Daikon, chili paste, thinly sliced scallions, and some ice teas to wash it down. We didn't get reservations, however the host had an open table for us and suggested that we reserve a table next time. The restaurant had and elegant vibe to it, clean, organized, warm welcome, and excellent service. We will return again to try more items on their menu.

Food 5/5: meat is very tender and juicy. Almost melts in your mouth. Portion isn't large but very worth your money. If you sit outside it's charcoal so it's way better. Service 5/5: explains all the menu items well and even gives recommendations that aren't too expensive. Ambiance 5/5: good for hangouts with friends and dates. I will definitely be coming back again!

Stopped here late last Thursday night. We went with the prix fixe that includes: PRIME BEEF TASTING 69 / per person (2 persons minimum) -Assorted Kimchi, Bean Sprouts Namul, Cabbage Salad -Tokyo Style Prime Short Rib Prime Ribeye, Prime Hanger Steak, Prime Outside Skirt, Angus Tri Tip, Shrimp -Spicy Beef Soup, Garlic Fried Rice -Ice Cream I really did enjoy everything we had! Although it is good, it's hard for me to justify the prices. Also, even though it's always difficult to park on Sawtelle, this place does let you park in their lot and I've never had an is

Not bad as a Westside option I think this place has an identity crisis-it's more like Korean bbq spot (sauces, small dishes, soup etc) but the meats r top quality! Service was prompt and staff were efficient Ambiance was good but wish I had know the patio uses binchotan instead of gas grill inside. Will be back if we have no time to go to Korean town for bbq

** Customer Beware** SCAMS on the suggested tips! The math ain't mathin' - make sure to double check! Overall for a tasting menu, you are better off at a classy AYCE such as Chubby Cattle. While the meats were tasty, there were many areas that fell short. The only thing that fell long was the unexplainable tip amounts! - - - - - - I've always wanted to try Manpuku, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to (finally) experience it. My friend and I had their American Wagyu tasting (~ $100) which came with kimchi, shishito pepper, salad, shrimp, and scallop as the main appetizers. This was quickly followed with their kobe filet, short rib, ribeeye, and outside skirt (6 pcs each), spicy beef soup, garlic fried rice, and ice cream. The shishito peppers were yummy and lightly flavored, and the garlic fried rice were also a pleasant surprise since they weren't too aggressive with the roasted peanuts. The spicy beef soup was also tasty, with a variety of tofu, green onion, and bean sprouts - a variety of textures for the adventurous. However, one thing that stood out was that the soup was served lukewarm, almost as if it had been sitting around for a while. All of the proteins were delicious, and the grills were changed regularly. The staff were present, but despite the cost it felt very money-grabby. Rice cost extra, and there was no rice paper or refills on any of the sides. We ended with a sweet lychee ice cream, but their suggested tips were astronomical, almost feeling like a scam. Our subtotal was $87 for a total of $97.45. Doing the math... how is 18% $32? The math really ain't mathin'.

‼FOR THE BROKE BIG BACKS‼ Food: 7/10 Excited to try for the first time, but the food turned out to be pretty average. Don't get me wrong, there were meats that tasted really good but overall, I'd say it's alright. The portions are pretty small, so don't come here if you wanna EAT. While the Tokyo Style Prime Short Rib ($22) was hyped, the taste did not match up to its expectations. Too much marinade on the meat, but this could just be my opinion (as i am sensitive to texture in foods). It was overwhelming for me. Next came the Prime Outside Skirt ($20), and it was good. Not the best but still good. One of my favorites was the Prime Ribeye ($20). It was the best tasting out of all the ones we tried. The fat in the ribeye was juicy and delicious. Lastly, we finished up with the large intestine. It's a chewy texture and I enjoy the taste of it, but my bf on the other hand, doesn't like intestine. So I'd say this can be a hit or miss for some people. It tastes great to me with its fatty and meaty texture. I suggest dipping the meats in the soy sauce they give you. If you want a little of a sour flavor, squeeze the lemon juice into it. Both sauces are good whether it's with or without the lemon. As for appetizers, we had the garlic fried rice and honestly I'd say this a must order. It comes out in a hot stone bowl and they mix it up for you. Service: 10/10 Since it was our first time here, Luis helped out on recommendations and explained to us each meat. He was extremely helpful on which meats are most popular as well as the appetizers. He was attentive and changed our grill whenever needed. Apparently under the U.S. Prime and Angus Beef, the meats are listed in order from fattest to leanest (which Luis mentioned). After our meal, he recommended us another place to try out as I mentioned to him my bf and I were trying out different restaurants on Sawtelle. Overall, a great service, thank you Luis :) Ambiance: 7/10 The inside is pretty small. There's also outside seating as well. It felt like a casual friend hangout spot to me. I suggest making reservations only since from my observation, it got packed once after we were seated. I don't know how their dinner rushes work but better safe than sorry. ‼TLDR‼4/5 stars because food is average/mid. EXPENSIVE FOR SMALL PORTIONS! Service is spectacular (Luis specifically). Ambiance/surrounding is chill. Unless you're rich or have the money, don't come here. But just my two cents

Stumbled across Manpuku while wandering around Sawtelle and decided that Japanese BBQ sounded nice for dinner. We ended up going with the Prime Beef Tasting menu at $69/person. It came with kimchi, cabbage salad, 5 meats + 1 shrimp, spicy beef soup, garlic fried rice and ice cream. The yakiniku experience is supposed to be different from say, Korean BBQ, but included some similar elements such as the kimchi and beef soup which reminded me of yukdaejang. The meat quality was pretty good and tender. However, for its price, none of the meats were particularly memorable to where I could pick out any favorites. Also, you have to cook your own meat and mind your grill here. I've been to other establishments where if you order from a set menu, they will cook your meat for you. Not a huge gripe, but that's just something I've noticed. Service was good and our waiter was attentive. However, I don't see myself returning as it's quite far from me and I feel like I could find a better experience elsewhere for its price.

Manpuku Tokyo BBQ is just great. It is also so very crowded. I mean all the time. Make a reservation. If you don't you will not be happy. The place is just super cute, inside and out. It is very clean. The service is amazing. They are all so friendly and can help you with the menu. We tried the Nigo Shio beef tongue, have never had it, and loved it (about 18$). If you like fried rice you have to get theirs. It is just the best and goes with everything. It is a large portion for sharing and ever so tasty. The garlic rice is our favorite. The Kobe Ribeye (about $33) is not large, but so great. It is tender and juicy and perfect. That is a must for any beef eater. The Prime Boneless Short Rib (about 20$) is just the best short rib you will find in Japanese BBQ. You will also love their mushrooms, you get a variety and a large portion and it blends so well with the meat and the rest. A vegetarian or vegan can get a great meal here. Lots of vegetable dishes and noodles to be had. Just check to see what is in the noodle dish. You will love this place and all of this area on Sawtelle Blvd. It is fun, crowded and safe. Have the best time.

So let's not mix up Korean bbq with Manpuku, which is Japanese bbq. Therefore don't expect any bulgogi. However they have an amazing selection of prime meats including Kobe wagyu and prime short ribs and different cuts of meat. I started off with a large bottle of soju even though it was only noon but it was a day that it had to be done. Started with some assorted kimchi, garlic fried rice, cabbage salad and lettuce sides to wrap my meats in. The service was great as my table was constantly full of food. They brought out the meats that were marinated and we cooked it immediately. They have two different spicy sauces. One green and one red so ask for those if you like them. However they had another sauce that came with the lettuce sides and that was my favorite. This is a nice spot to go to when straying away from the AYCE bbq spots, and to order some good cuts of meats that won't make you feel terrible at the end when you're nice and full. It's a nice vibe and good for groups but you need a reservation to be safe.

I can only comment on my experiencing getting take-out. I have not dined at this restaurant. TAKE-OUT- I called Monday night to order for pick-up one of their cheaper bento boxes (this place is not cheap or budget friendly). PRIME BEEF BBQ BENTO BOX ($28). The take out menu was straightforward and clearly spelled out what would come with the grilled beef, namely salad, kimchi and rice. After I paid for my meal at the front, I removed the lid from the bento box and was excited to see how it tasted. When I got home, I was a little disappointed. The meat was fine (nothing extraordinary) and the taste of the sides were average. I also found it strange that this Japanese restaurant provided kimchi with their meal since it's a Korean side dish. However, the meal was satisfactory. There was nothing wrong with and I was fulfilled. PARKING - Parking is available but make sure to read the street signs and be ready to walk since you might end up parking farther away to avoid spending money on the valet or parking meter. LOCATION - It's in the Sawtelle area with such a great variety of delicious food localized in one spot. The restaurant is in an excellent location to eat out with friends, family or a date. Overall, for the price, and quality, I do not see myself returning to Manpuku. You can get better tasting food and a greater quantity of food at one of the many all-you-can-eat (AYCE) restaurants in Los Angeles. On top of that, you would also end up paying the same amount (about thirty bucks) at an AYCE place, but you would have a better experience and exchange in value. Although the restaurant is in a good location and the ambiance seemed new and modern, the food quality is the most important factor for evaluation-- and unfortunately it did not meet my standards.

Wait until the weather is warmer and eat outside because the inside grills don't use fire and the exhaust fans don't seem strong enough. Overall the food quality is a little better than normal barbecue places but we still prefer Park's BBQ or Gyu-Kaku. Service here is especially slow since they seem to lack enough staff. The atmosphere is casual.

Echoing Louis Armstrong's song, I'm in heaven ~ and my mouth is drooling so that I can hardly speak~ and I seem to find the happiness I seek~ when we're out together indulging in Manpuku bbq~ This quaint Japanese BBQ spot awakens the senses like no other. The sizzle of BBQ, the aroma of smoky goodness, and the delicate balance of sweet, salty, and umami flavors--all tenderly blended into each perfect bite of meat. It was a heavenly experience. And let's not forget the sides! The $69 per person prime beef tasting comes with assorted kimchi, cabbage salad, garlic fried rice, and spicy beef soup, all of which complement the meats flawlessly. I wish I could recall the server's name. His genuine enthusiasm and warmth made dining there a truly welcoming and appreciated experience.

IThe service was impeccable, and the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The food was absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of high-quality meats and fresh ingredients that were cooked to perfection. The flavors were authentic and mouthwatering, leaving me craving for more. The atmosphere was vibrant and inviting, adding to the overall enjoyment of the meal.

FOOD - best yakiniku I've had. I always get the prime beef tasting but once I'm rich I will get the wagyu tasting. tri tip is mid, garlic fried rice is just not ala nothing special, but everything else is fire, especially the hanger steak and outside skirt and spicy beef soup and lychee ice cream PRICE - $69/person but it's a lot of food for 2 ppl so make sure u can eat a lot. SERVICE - our waiter was so nice and socialable I loved him AMBIANCE - normal

Yummy quality meat. Very limited parking. Great service. Love Manpuku! I made a reservatiion for my party of 8 on a Friday night, we sat outside. I thought it would be cold but surprisingly it was very warm because of the grills. Our waiter had the greatest service and was friendly and attentive. The meat was delicious as usual. Their own lot is always busy so I recommend parking somewhere else and just walking here. I also recommend making a reservation rather than walk-ins because they are usually booked for popular nights. Highly recommend the toro sashimi, it is so good and melts in your mouth. Their kobe cuts are so thick and juicy. For their prime cuts, I recommend the rib eye and outside skirt. Delicious!! The marinated tokyo style is good as well.

Japanese BBQ is so delicious! It's a bit different than Korean BBQ because the portions are quite smaller, and the presentation and cuts of the meat look more refined. This was my second time dining here at Manpuku; the first time having dinner with my former coworkers. I took my partner here this past weekend because I wanted him to experience his first time trying Japanese BBQ, and I was also craving it again, haha. I ordered the Prix Fixe Prime Beef Tasting for $69 per person (minimum of 2 people). I think this option is best for a small party of 2 because trust me, you will be full at the end. I especially enjoyed the meat, garlic fried rice, and spicy beef soup. Service was good, and our waiter was very attentive and accommodating. I recommend making a reservation first to ensure that seating is available. We were definitely satisfied with our meal, and we hope to come back again soon.

The food was pretty mid. I ordered all of this and it came out to like $50+...I did order the more premium meat but it still tasted like just normal meat. It wasn't buttery soft or anything...it was actually kinda chewy. The tartare was okay too

Manpuku is delicious. Absolutely wonderful food. The problem is that almost everything here is loaded with MSG. You would think that a restaurant of this caliber wouldn't fill their food with a literal poison, but there it is, and they will never tell you unless you ask them directly. Would never go back once I found out.

This is my favorite japanese bbq place in LA! Everytime I come here the dishes are super consistent and I leave very satisfied :-) We got the Tokyo Beef Tongue, Tokyo Short Rib, Kyoto Short Rib, Garlic Rice and Manpuku Salad. Tokyo Beef Tongue 10/10 Tokyo Short Rib 10/10 Kyoto Short Rib 7/10 Garlic Rice 8/10 Manpuku Salad 8/10 Although it can get a little pricey, I think that the occasional visit is worth it!

WHEN: Sat @1pm I walked here so didn't deal with parking, but it's a busy and popular area so parking will be difficult. Came here was seated immediately outdoors and ordered: PRIME BEEF TASTING - $69 per person (2 persons minimum) Everything was good, I can't go into detail, but I was really satisfied with everything that came out. APPETIZER + Assorted Kimchi + Bean Sprouts Namul SALAD + Cabbage Salad (lots of it) BBQ + Tokyo Style Prime Short Rib Prime Ribeye + Prime Hanger Steak + Prime Outside Skirt + Angus Tri Tip + Shrimp SOUP + Spicy Beef Soup - really good, but they actually had another option which my friend got for variety. Both options were good. RICE + Garlic Fried Rice - Oh man so good, the kind that is still cooking in the clay pot! DESSERT + Mochi Ice-Cream, which was either strawberry or chocolate. Just one, cut in half. Yes it's pricy but it was nice, and the quality is all there. And if you dont finish it you can take it home!

I forgot to take pictures of my food because I went right after a long day at universal but this place was amazing! The staff were very attentive and all helped each other out from what I could see and I really liked that! They would all ask to see if we were doing okay or needed anything. The food was delicious, we had beef I can't remember which one and the chicken along with garlic rice!

One of the best Yakiniku I have ever been. I got the American Wagyu Tasting Menu and shared with my friends. The portions were so good and was worth the price. We sat outside and it was nice because they had outdoor heaters. The meat was high quality and my favorite part was the salad. That salad was so flavorful and was one of the best salads I've had before.

Manpuku is DELICIOUS! I came here with a friend and we basically tried everything. My faves were the cabbage salad (omg the dressing!), wagyu sashimi with uni, scallion rice, and the wagyu ribeye and skirt steak. Everything was so tender and flavorful. It's definitely on the pricier side, but well worth it for a special occasion or celebration. The staff is super nice too - our server had great recommendations and kept the food and drinks flowing.

I have been a big fan of Manpuku because of how good the meat quality was, however last weekend when I went there, the meat quality had obviously declined. The garlic fried rice was still as tasty. I would still go back, but I won't tell people to have a high expectation anymore.

Manpuku Japanese BBQ in Los Angeles is a great place for tasty Japanese BBQ. Their fresh ingredients make every dish a treat, especially for BBQ fans. Their menu has some standout items. The Wagyu beef is tender and well-grilled. There's also the Kurobuta pork belly that's crispy outside and juicy inside. Don't forget to try the bibimbap, a flavorful dish with fresh ingredients, and their beef udon noodles that come with a tasty broth. The restaurant has a fun, lively atmosphere that's great for groups. The staff is friendly and helpful. They also have a good selection of Japanese beers and sake. In short, if you love Japanese BBQ, you should definitely visit Manpuku in Los Angeles. Their Wagyu beef, bibimbap and beef noodles are all worth a try.

We always see a line for this place on the weekends and finally had a chance to try it. Honestly a bit disappointing in the flavor. Service was great, really friendly staff. However I found the dishes to be very bland. The spicy beef noodle soup is not spicy at all, noodle was quite chewy but didn't make up the dish. Wagyu short rib was nice and juicy but just okay. The beef tongue had garlic on one side so that if you flipped it to cook on that side all the garlic fell off and got stuck on the grill and then became burnt so the staff had to change out our grills. The pork belly thickness was good, a little big thicker than bacon and came with lettuce wraps with sprouts, kimchi, and a sauce prepped for you but again was quite bland. Mushroom platter was pretty nice. All in all i find Korean bbq and Chinese bbq to be much better in terms of the flavor. Was kind of underwhelming.

My family recently tried this restaurant and enjoyed our experience. We chose the prix fixe option (approx $80 per person) and it gave us a good idea of what we will order the next time we visit. Simply put, the food was good! I'm mainly writing this review to highlight the exceptional service and attitude of Luis, our server. From beginning to end, he was on top of everything, attentive to our table despite the busyness, and mindful of kids' needs (including allergies). He also gave great recommendations and explanations of their drinks. Serving in restaurants appears challenging, yet he maintained a smile and positive attitude throughout. Hire more people like this guy! Thank you again, Luis.

Nice ambience and friendly staff! They recommended 3-4 dishes per person which worked out well for us

Go big or go home! Went with the American Wagyu tasting menu for $89 pp because why not. As soon as the appetizers of assorted kimchi and Manpuku salad came out, my SO was like this is basically Korean BBQ. It definitely has some Korean influence. Kobe meat is hard to disappoint, but I did have a small gripe on the Kobe outside skirt and filet due to it being slightly chewy. Also, commonly at these restaurants the staff does come by to help cook the meat, but we were not offered any help (not a big deal, just something I noticed). I did enjoy the garlic fried rice served hot in a stone bowl along with the seafood bbq options. Our server was very accommodating to all my saucy needs. We asked to try all the sauces they offered and even provided some fresh raw garlic per my request. Excellent service! Also, I called last minute on a Saturday night for two people and they were able to save me a table outside (it was a rainy day, so maybe I got lucky?). I prefer it outside with the heat lamps because the inside is very smoky. Glad I got to try, but for the price point I will pass on this place next time.

We've been here so much the waiter knows us. Self explanatory how good the food is here. I feel like the prime meat tastes better than the kobe, which is weird but okay by me. Love the short rib, (both tokyo style and prime) manpuku salad, and corn. There's outside and inside seating too.

Really fun dining experience! Love the pace of the meal and the ability to cook your meats a few at a time. I made reservations ahead of time and it was even easy to adjust our res day of. I do recommend making reservations cause this place is always popping It was our first time and we got the regular omakase set which was PLENTY of food for two people. We had also added on the beef tongue bc I heard that was popular, we could've gone without it. My favorite was the short rib and the shrimp. Now that we've had a taste I think we'd prob do al a carte next time. Also shoutout to our server Luis (or Lewis?) who was AMAZING. He was so polite, kind, and knowledgeable and honestly added to the experience.

Meats were good quality, but the tasting set included an extremely bland beef soup. Staff were very nice and when they forgot to bring out the edamame we ordered, they comped the item. The restaurant is chill and the vents work well so my hair didn't smell too much like smoke.

My hubby took me here for my birthday. It was our first time here so we weren't sure what items were good and what to order. We wanted to try a bit of everything so we got the wagyu omakase set. It was about $88 per person not including tip. The wagyu came with 4 different types of meat and 2 seafood, appetizer: assorted kimchi and cucumber salad, spicy beef soup, garlic fried rice, and lychee ice cream. It is expensive but the experience is worth it for a special occasion! Just remember to make reservations ahead of time since there is always a wait at this place. Ambiance was ok. There is a privacy screen right in the middle of the restaurant lined with plants. Not sure what the table next to us was cooking, but their oil and smoke traveled to our table. Like any bbq place, you end up smelling like food and oil after lol The only con is parking. But that's expected in downtown Los Angeles. If your lucky you can find parking on the street. There is a underground parking structure in the plaza right across the street so it worked out ok. Parking was $10 though.

My boyfriend and I shared the prime beef tasting and the beef tartare. We were able to swap out the shrimp for chicken thigh. The beef tartare was really yummy, we both enjoyed the garlic rice and spicy beef stew that came with our meal. The servers were also extremely nice and attentive, some of the best service I have ever received. Unfortunately, my boyfriend and I weren't very impressed with the meat itself. Everything was very tender and high quality, but it honestly lacked a lot of flavor. We also felt it wasn't a lot of food for the price, and we both left still feeling quite hungry. I'm glad I tried it but I probably would not come back again. Service: 5/5 Food 3/5

manpuku was so frickin yummy but also pricey. my friend and i rnt huge eaters so we were full quick but i think it is an extremely expensive place to go to with big eaters. the meat quality is absolutely amazing 10/10, service is ok bc it gets busy and the inside was a bit smoky bc of the grilling... but it wasn't loud or anything so u can still have a good time w friends!

Incredible. I think we honestly love jbbq over kbbq flavorwise. Gyu-kaku down the street a few miles is tasty, but manpuku deserves its name and crowd- it has incredibly hard to secure tables that we've tried multiple times to walk up to no avail, but we finally planned ahead and checked this local spot out. If we had unlimited funds, we'd be back every night. The premium menu is 100% worth it and we also tried some a la cartes (uni tartar comes to mind, as does asparagus) and wow. Blown away by the tastiness. Also shishito peppers haven't usually caught my tongue before, but I kind of low key fell in love with them here and now we've been cooking them at home because of how much I loved the Manpuku ones. Can I rave any more than I already am? Probably not. The service is friendly too, unless you're one of the 9 pm or later tables and then they're hella subtly rushing you which is alright except they should be upfront about not having ice cream if it's included as the only dessert and the finisher for the premium set menu and not wait until you ask. At which point they say it's deducted in the total charge and you calculate it to find out they took off an entire $1 for missing ice cream off a $300+ bill. Not so great transparency in that instance so I'd recommend that sort of matter is handled differently in the future, but the food is raveworthy so 5* anyways!

I was just randomly being in that neighborhood but ended up getting the best experience ever! Freshness meats selections of choice's,flavorful side dishes that were out of the ordinary elsewhere I had and most importantly the services from our sunshine Suka,she wasn't your ordinary server but she will make sure you have cooked your meats(each of them has differences) to the perfection. She has taken her time and so attentive. I shall return real soon!

It is a great place to enjoy fresh japanese grill. They use high quality ingredients. The service is also great! We try their tasting menu package, and the server arrange the course in order for us to enjoy! Great place to dine in both indoor or outdoor seating.

My boyfriend loves this place and it was my first time. I heard it gets really busy here so we called to make last minute reservations and thankfully there were couple spots available. We ordered the American Wagyu Tasting for 2 people. It was the perfect amount of food and I love how we can cook the meat at our own pace and in smaller quantities. The sides it came with were all delicious and it complimented the meat really well. I loved their salad and shishito peppers as much as the meat that I probably filled my stomach with more veggies than the meat itself. Our server was super attentive and helpful. He definitely made our dining experience more great.

We were seated right away ... food was good especially the beef tongue . Great service as well . Will return .

Would recommend, although be prepared to pay at least $70 per person. Location: central Sawtelle, difficult to find parking as usual. Fortunately there were some two blocks down. Street parking. Great dessert and boba around the area walking distance. Ambiance: this is where I'd say is lacking. Today LA is over a hundred degrees and if I had to sit outside bbqing, I'd be pissed. Fortunately, we got a table inside. They did have vents on the top of each table but they didn't seem to be on. The entire restaurant was packed with smoke, I feel bad for the servers working there. It must be bad for their lungs. Food: we ordered the wagyu course (most expensive one $88 per person). We ordered 2 but we had 3 girls that don't eat that much, so it was actually a good amount. Wagyu was good. I wouldn't say the best I've ever tasted, but decent. The variety of the set was really nice, I'm happy with it. Price: fair for the quality they serve. I expected to pay that price. It is definitely more of a special occasion place though since it is not cheap. Service: our server and other servers were wonderful. I'm sure they are busy but they still smiled so genuinely, thank you!

Delicious food. Fun place to eat and great location to see other gift shops when done eating! Great date night spot as well ;)

The meat just taste like the one I had in Japan, it is pricy but the food is worth its price. Definitely try it if you haven't

Oh man this restaurant is awesome the inside is nice and divided a bit. Had no trouble with wait time parking is easy too. The set menu is already good as it is but you can definitely order another delicious meaty plate if you like. The service is amazing came by and helped us often.

Great food and great service, too bad they don't open the outside section all day during the weekend (opens at 5pm) Still a great place...

Manpuku is notorious for its long lines. Pro-Tip: Take my advice and book a table! It makes things simpler. Been to Manpuku multiple times and had the set menu, which is a great option for your first time. Rubric: Food (5/5) -Manpuku salad: the best salad ever, the sesame taste is so delicious! I have tried making this salad at home to no avail. -Shrimp: bbq shrimp is always good, especially grilled over those hot coals! -Pork cheek: the chew, the sauce (yuzu), all good. -Beef tongue: it used to be really good. During the pandemic, it was a godsend from the other mediocre take out that we had to endure. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. -Beef tartare: Delicious sweet marinade with a beautiful orange egg on top. Service (5/5) Most of the time, they've been really helpful! Making sure we don't set fire to the place and all that fun stuff :) tip from the servers: the pork cheek is very flammable, only grill a few at a time! Vibes (4/5) -I really like the outdoor area that they reserved from the parking lot for this. The smoke can get into your clothes, so outdoor seems optimal for these grilling situations. I mean, the indoor situation is great but also pandemic safety precautions come into play. Parking (4/5) -Sawtelle street parking can be a nightmare but there's a valet section right outside the restaurant. Safety (5/5) -There is a lot of foot traffic around, so that's good. Facilities (4/5) Pre-tax subtotal: ~$100 Overall: 4.5 stars

The food was just spectacular across the board. Nothing was average or underwhelming, all delicious. Great service and nice ambiance. Highly recommended!!

Mediocre food but SHIT services!! Keep asking us if we need to order more, while we have already ordered four plates of meat and two appetizers for two people. And just after I remove my last piece of meat from the grill (still have some salad and meat in my plate), the grill was taken away, leave my table like this.........The grill is the only heat source in this winter day. No heater and even the grill is gone, I realized they just wanted us to go. But we only ate for an hour (Yes it took them 30 min to bring up the raw meat), why can't I enjoy my meal? Btw, though they kept asking if we additional orders, they didn't even refill my glass once.

Fun place and the meat is incredibly tasty! I would def come here again especially since it is so close to where I live.

Manpuku Tokyo BBQ always has crazy waits! My friend and I tried to pop in several times to no avail over the past few months, so finally made a reservation to give them a go. Pro-Tip: Learn from me and make a reservation! It makes life easier. I know everyone raves about the Nigo Shio beef tongue here ($17.50) and I liked it just fine but the stars for me were the Beef Tartar ($13) and the Kobe Ribeye ($33). I realize the portion isn't big and the price is high on the Kobe...but goodness it was so good. You also must get the Garlic Rice ($8.50) to go with everything. I love that they serve it in a hot stone bowl so I can get all the crispy bits from the edges. My friend and I also had the Prime Boneless Short Rib ($19) and the Prime Rib Cap ($20) - two other satisfying beefy options. Mushrooms were a huge portion for $8 and loved that it was a medley of various types. This was nice to get to balance all the beef a bit. Not a cheap dinner by any means, but it's a whole bunch of protein and this is how it goes with BBQ spots. I'm so used to Korean BBQ so the prices for the Japanese BBQ were a bit of a stretch to me. Nevertheless, I loved everything and when I go back I want to try their Kobe Course for $78pp plus the garlic rice. It looks bomb.

Made a reservation and there was no table reserved. No point in reserving at all if a walk-in can get a table while someone with a reservation cant. Maybe reservation means something else in Japan?!