Sawtelle

I've been coming to Chinchikurin many times over the years for their Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. They are of course solid, Chinchikurin being a Japanese chain bringing their authentic menu to the US locations. I can confidently say they do an excellent job showcasing Hiroshima style Teppan-yaki flavors. I recently discovered a hidden gem on their menu--the Hiroshim Tsukemen -spicy cold dipping noodles--and it was absolutely incredible! I first heard about this dish on a Japanese news channel's food segment on YuTube, where they featured Hiroshima-style cold noodles with a spicy special broth. I had an urge to try it and was ready to order the ingredients from Japan to make it myself. Then I was thinking... may be, just may be Chinchikurin may have it on their menu. And to my surprise, they did! The dish was pure perfection. The broth was complex, with just the right balance of acidity and spice. You can choose your own spice level. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the toppings--fresh vegetables and tender meat--brought everything together beautifully. Every bite was packed with flavor, lighter and more nutritiously balanced compared to a tipical Ramen. It's a true hidden gem, and I'll definitely be coming back for more! One thing I want to mention to Chinchikurin management--since the kitchen is open, playing different music in the kitchen and dining area at the same time creates an unpleasant clash of sounds for customers. Please consider keeping the music consistent.

I had never heard of Okinomiyaki or Takoyaki prior to my work team suggesting Chinchikurin. I am so glad that they did. This street food is really unique and unlike anything I've seen before. From the type of food to how you eat it, it was just fun. First off, they don't really take reservations. You can call around an hour before and put your name down, but beyond that, be prepared to show up and potentially wait for a table to open up. Please also allot a few extra minutes to finding parking as Sawtelle is always a tricky place to find parking (I suggest finding street parking because the lot outside this location is very small). Okinomiyaki is basically a savory pancake. Made from egg, sometimes meat, and a variety of veggies and seasonings. When they serve it, it comes out incredibly hot and the only utensil you get is what I can only describe as a mini metal spatula. You use this to both cut and eat your pancake. Like I said, it's a unique dish and experience. I will say the food while delicious was a bit tricky to cut. I'm not sure if I was doing it wrong or my spatula just wasn't sharp enough at the end but I found myself having to kinda jiggle it down in order to get it to fully cut through things like beansprouts and the other veggies cooked into the pancake. But you know what? It's worth it. Service is fast. Even with our large party of 11 we ordered & got our food within minutes. That speaks to the perks of going somewhere where they basically only specialize in and serve one dish (they do have ramen & a few other items). If you're looking for something you can get quickly, this is the spot! Ambiance is nice. The location is small, but not too cramped. We sat out on the patio and that helped open it up so to speak. If you're not a fan of tables close to one another, you might want to request a spot out there. I am so glad my office is nearby Chichikurin. I don't have to go in often, but when I do, I will absolutely be bumping this to the top of my 'where should I eat for lunch' list.

Food here is always consistent in flavor and texture. I've ordered the standard pork and seafood medley okonomiyakis and they were all cooked to perfection with perfect texture for the proteins. Highly recommend this place if you're craving noodles but want to try something different from the typical ramen shops in the area.

Had this before and they're best eaten when just off the grill. Though, when it cools down, the meat gets a little tough. Personally, I liked the versions with less meat bc I'm a fan of the cabbage and sauce. Staff was friendly, and I liked that there was an open kitchen to peek into how the food is prepared.

I heard this is the only place in Los Angeles to get authentic Okinomiyaki, so for that reason I'd recommend this place to those who crave that specific dish. Chinchikurin specializes in Okinomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake and this specific dish they do well! We ordered several dishes and this is the one we enjoyed the most. They have several different variations and customizable options for the customer to get creative. The karaage chicken was a very close second. It was so good I reordered it before we left. Unfortunately, not everything we tasted was satisfactory. We tried the ramen and it fell flat. The broth was super faint, almost no flavor at all. We also ordered some stir fry noodles that were kind of bland as well. However, what left the worst taste in my mouth was the service unfortunately. I'll start by acknowledging that the server seemed like they were stretched thin. They seemed a little overwhelmed, servicing a full restaurant and a half full patio. I can understand what that's like and have no qualms with the speed of the service, but the lack of care and understanding. I ordered a lemonade. Unaware of the type of lemonade, but certainly not expecting it to be fresh squeezed. I took one sip and pushed it away. The lemonade tasted fishy. I even had my boyfriend try it and he agreed something tasted off about it. I truly hate to complain at restaurants and am always hesitant to send something back, but I didn't want to pay for a drink I knew I wasn't going to drink. I worked up the courage to tell our server I thought the lemonade tasted weird and their response was "well it's Minute Maid so of course it's gross" or something along those lines. I was taken aback because I wasn't expecting such a reply. I felt the polite thing to do would've been to say "I'm sorry you don't like it, can I get you something else?" But instead, the server left me w the gross lemonade and continued to charge me for a drink I didn't drink. I hate to leave a negative review about a server, but unfortunately this experience left me feeling a little frustrated. Especially because I was staring at this sign the entire time.

We came here on a Friday night around 7 PM and somehow didn't have to wait at all. We ordered the corn cheese mayo okonomiyaki (with crispy noodles) and the Dan Dan noodles and were absolutely blown away by how amazing both of these were. The crispy noodles complimented the warmth and chewiness of the rest of the okonomiyaki. I honestly think this was even better than the okonomiyaki we had in Osaka a few months ago. The Dan Dan noodles were fresh and perfectly spiced, and you definitely have to stir it as many times as they recommend! No doubt this will be a regular spot for us!

I came here a few times now, and it's been really the only place I've eaten okonomiyaki in the US. I got the crispy hiroshima :D I really liked the crispy noodle part, but I do think there could have been a bit more of the fried squid, since I couldn't really find that many of them ): The sauces matched the dish so well and it wasn't too overflowed where it became soggy or anything. The overall dish had a great proportion of noodles to meat to green onion. Came hot and the plating was wonderful! Fun to cut up the okonomiyaki with their spatula. It was my friend's first time trying okonomiyaki and she also really enjoyed her meal! The service was always good; the server is sweet and always checking in with us! We felt very welcomed and enjoyed our time. The seating was quick and clean. The parking isn't too much of an issue because there's a parking lot for them. Great music choice hehe

Kind, quick service. My friend and i shared an Hiroshima Okonomiyaki and a yakisoba. The Yakisoba's noodles had just a bit more tooth than I've had in the past--and it was so good. But even better was the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. We were given the option of soft or crispy noodles. We went with crispy, and it was ridiculous--so tasty. I had an Okonomiyaki at an Izakaya in Santa Monica last week, and it was small and oversauced. This one was a bit larger, with a lighter feel to it--not oversized or fluffy, but just a bit lighter than the other one. And there was no drenching of the sauce. They had it plus the kewpie in packets to use as you like (never saw them in these little packets before, but that's what they do here). The only thing missing for me was the bonito flakes, but maybe that omission was specific to the Hiroshima--dont know. In any case--it was just amazingly good.

There isn't a single restaurant, to my knowledge, that serves Hiroshima style okonomiyaki in the Orange County area, and I've been craving savoury Japanese pancakes for months. Last night, my family and I happened to be in the area, so we HAD to stop by for dinner. This was a non negotiable for me. It was our lucky night as we found parking immediately (valet is an option if you can't find street parking), and the staff was able to accommodate us when we arrived. I was pleasantly surprised as it is usually a 20+ minute wait. Anyhow, The casual ambiance and atmosphere was perfect for this particular occasion as our little toddler was feeling extra vivacious that evening. With that said, our server was very kind and understanding of the situation. We ordered the crispy chinchikurinyaki, their signature dish, and the soft B&C. Both were delicious and packed with flavor. Everyone enjoyed their meal (including my toddler aged daughter, who can be quite difficult to please when it comes to food) Anyhow, I highly recommend this spot, especially if you're looking for a casual dining option that serves delicious comfort food.

It has been decades since I ate Okonomiyaki in a small booth while back packing through Japan. So I decided to try this restaurant while browsing through yelp for a place to eat in Sawtelle. The restaurant does remind me of Japan with its setup and decoration. The waitress was nice and the menu easy to understand. I ordered the Soft Kaisen (seafood)... Wow, so many layers of goodness. The vegetable and seafood were fresh and noodle was nicely cooked and lightly fried... and the sauce brought all the ingredients together. It was a great nostalgic culinary experience.

- The Hiroshima Okonomiyaki was delicious and flavorful! Not too heavy (even with the fried crispy noodles) since it has a bed of cabbage on the bottom. I split this with someone else, and it was a perfect snack if you're not very hungry. - Takoyaki came out after the main dish, which was probably because they made it fresh. Crispy outer layer, but the inside felt a bit too dense and bready. - Service: Felt a bit disorganized bc no one was there to acknowledge/seat us at first. Then, they gave us the check before the takoyaki came out. Polite and kind, but just disorganized in my opinion. - Parking: Limited since there's lots of restaurants for the plaza, but it's not bad to park a few streets down and just walk over!

Came here once during Covid when they had the outdoor tent in the parking lot and came back again recently. They don't have the outdoor tent seating, but they do have a small patio area in the front of their store. I've tried the original takoyaki, chinchikurinyaki, and the loaded kaisen (seafood okonomiyaki). Love the flavor of all their dishes! I like that they give extra sauce packets because the sauces are sooo good. We ordered the crispy noodles. The service was prompt and the restaurant was very clean. The tables at this Sawtelle location doesn't have the hot steel plate like they do at the Little Tokyo location.

This was my first time having okonamiyaki, and it definitely won't be my last. I got the soft noodle version of my dish and it was super enjoyable and light on the stomach. The flavors are amazing and I wish could go back soon. The service was very quick and friendly.

Service lady is very friendly and explain what each dishes are. This restaurant serve Hiroshima okonomiyaki, and have different options to choose from. The store is cool, you can see the chef make okonomiyaki in front of you. We ordered the classic and corn cheese okonomiyaki. The portion is HUGE and I can only finished half. Take the other half home. You can choose soft noodle and crispy noodle inside the okonomiyaki. They give you a spatula to cut the okonomiyaki, which is fun. Recommending this place!

I'm a fan of okinomiyaki but I didn't realize how big of a fan I was until I tried this place. I've tried the Hiroshima and Chinchikurinyaki Okinomiyaki and both were delicious! I loved the crispy noodle at the bottom and being able to have the mayo and more sauce on the side let me better control how saucey I wanted it to be. It's pretty filling and definitely can be shared with two people. The fried chicken is pretty good but a bit overpriced for how much you get and it's not that crispy. I did also try the tan tan noodles which were pretty good but the star of the show really is the okinomiyaki I don't think I'd get anything else if I returned. The service was great too everyone was super friendly and nice. I wish there was one in OC but if I definitely will be coming back sometime!

I had a great experience trying the okonomiyaki here! I visited on a Sunday at around 11am, and I was impressed by the quality and freshness of their made-to-order okonomiyakis. They make it in an area visible to the public, so you can see the entire process and each layer being added. The flavors were fantastic, and it was very enjoyable. The service was great, and the interior was small but clean and not too noisy. It's located in a plaza with a parking lot, which could be full since there are other food places around, but we were lucky, so parking was not an issue.

I visited a friend in LA recently and we both really enjoyed the okonomiyaki here at Chinchikurin. We arrived just as they were opening at 5p and were seated immediately. Service was nice overall. For the food itself, I ordered the Loaded Kaisen, which was basically an assorted seafood okonomiyaki. My friend ordered the Corn Cheese Mayo with added ground pork. Both were really good, although I preferred the Loaded Kaisen as the corn cheese mayo was heavy enough that I don't think I could have eaten the entire dish in one sitting. Overall a great spot in LA that I definitely plan on coming back to!

Chinchikurin brought me back to Japan with its amazing Okonomiyaki and service! My girlfriend and I are Japanese, and we noticed that most of the workers at this location spoke Japanese. I feel like many people haven't tried Okonomiyaki, which is a well-known Japanese comfort food, so check this spot out when you get the chance :) Upon arriving, they had a Yelp guestlist at their door (you can also get on the waitlist via the Yelp app), and they will text you when your table is ready. We waited about 10-15 minutes. Inside, they have a decent amount of seating, including bar seating. There are many options here, but we started our meal with their Ebi Mayo, which was shrimp and broccoli. It was good and was what I expected overall, but I will pass on it next time. For the Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki, I got the GOAM, which consists of green onions and mayo, noodles, pork, and cabbage. It was so savory and sweet! I loved the noodles, as I'm used to just cabbage. I recommend this one, but there are plenty of options, so you can't go wrong.

Their Okonomiyaki was really tasty! This was my first time trying this dish and I really enjoyed the flavors! I got the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki & I'd get it again! The service was good. The ambiance was casual.

My boyfriend and I order delivery from here every couple weeks and the food is outstanding! I've always gotten the spicy goam okonomiyaki and he generally gets the original. For us, we get it without meat but I'm sure the meat options are delicious as well! The noodles are fresh, layer of cabbage is outstanding, and we have never been disappointed! If you're into noodles you'll love this!

I've been seeing foodies eating Okonomiyaki all over my Instagram feed for a while now. So of course I had to find a place that had it. Chinchikurin exceeded my expectations. My family and I went here this afternoon for lunch. We ordered the Classic and the Cheese Corn. It did not disappoint! Even our 20 month old loved it. Our waitress was so incredibly sweet and very helpful. The bearded gentleman that seated us, not so much. He literally looked annoyed the entire time. We accidentally spilled water and I literally had to look for our waitress to help clean it up. While the bearded guy made eye contact with me, looked at our table and completely ignored us. Aside from Mr. Oblivious, food was great and our waitress was wonderful.

My family LOVES this place. We've been to both the Downtown LA and West LA locations and had great experiences at both. The downtown has the big warming grill on the table that the Okinomiyaki is served onto, whereas the West LA location serves each order of Okinomiyaki on individual metal hotplates. Everything we've had here has been SO YUMMY. And the staff at both locations have all been wonderful. We'll definitely be going back. I'm kinda getting hungry for some Okinomiyaki just writing this review!

Beef Okonomiyaki: This is very delicious with the Japanese mayo they provide. A friend I made there recommended to put a portion of green onions on top. It is very delicious. Soupless Spicy Tan Tan Men: I found these noodles okay.

Deeelicious okonomiyaki! I enjoyed every bite I had! The okonomiyaki is packed with flavor with the different layers. I ordered the spicy GOAM (crispy noodle) and Hiroshima (soft noodle) okonomiyaki. Both tasted different, but nevertheless, delicious! I went during dinner time on a Monday evening so it wasn't too packed, however, I can see this place being super busy over the weekend! They have outdoor and indoor seating. We got our food fairly quick with the amount of people that were dining in. It's a very casual restaurant to check out with friends! I also love how they have a video playing to teach you how to cut/eat the okonomiyaki and how it is made!

We got here around 6:45pm on a Saturday and got seated right away. They have indoor table seating, bar seating, and semi-outdoor seating. The original takoyak is very flavorful and great filling portion - would order it again as appetizer! The Chinchikurinyaki is pretty good overall (we got crispy noodle) - very flavorful and has a decent amount of beef inside. We do wish the beef is more marinated but overall super solid! Staff were very friendly! There is parking in the plaza and nearby.

One of my favorite go to places in college! I remember coming here for the first time as a freshman and now 6 years later, I always try to stop by Chinchikurin whenever I am near the area! Food: 5/5 + GOAM Okonomiyaki + Fried Chicken My friend and I ordered a GOAM Okonomiyaki and a fried chicken appetizer. For two small Asian girls, the portions were more than enough; we had a small slice of okonomiyaki and one fried chicken we had to take home because we were so stuffed. Taste wise, the okonomiyaki met all the right spots, with crispy noodle, pan fried beef (they allow substitutions for pork, which is a huge plus in my book), and a yummy mayo dressing that perfectly complemented the cabbage base. I also appreciate that the restaurant gives you more sauce you can add at your own choosing. While I thought the chicken was great, I think it could have better paired with a kewpie mayo sauce. I don't think it's a knock out compared to other restaurants I've been to. Service: 5/5 We went on a Wednesday afternoon right at opening for dinner, so there was hardly any wait. I imagine it would be very different during peak hours, especially considering how hard it is to park in Sawtelle during a Friday night. There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant that is free; during business hours, it gets blocked off with complementary valet.

Friendly and fast staff. They seated us immediately and introduced us to the menu. It was my first time trying okonomiyaki. Our order came out fast. The layers of cabbage and noodles gave the okonomiyaki a satisfying crunch. I also really enjoyed the different flavors I tasted from the mayonnaise and the okonomiyaki sauce. One okonomiyaki was enough to share with two people. Definitely recommend for a fast and filling meal. I took off one star since parking in that plaza was very limited. I had to park a street down in a parking structure and walk to the restaurant.

When they opened a few years ago, this place used to be one of the most popular restaurants in Sawtelle. We'd come and wait for up to 90 minutes!! But now they seem to be just one of the many Asian eateries here. Compared to pre-pandemic, their prices are higher (most dishes $20 or above), which is only fair given the inflation; but the quality of food seems to have gone down a bit. We ordered their most popular Okonomiyaki; the meat wasn't as tender and the soft noodle was dry. They've also changed to providing small condiment packages (bad for the environment!) instead of larger bottles that they used to have. The small packages don't work well - mayonnaise, for one, needs to be sprayed over the dish from the bottle with a small comb-like nozzle. When it comes out of the package, it is a lump. This takes the fun out of eating an okonomiyaki. Service was excellent as before. We were, however, a bit disappointed with the food.

I always love trying an okonomiyaki place that I have never been to and my friend brought me to this place that she said was really good. In looking at the menu, there were just so many options and also so many ways to customize that I was really impressed. I decided to get The Classic with traditional noodles (so NOT crispy). Order came out fairly quickly -- maybe a 15 minute wait? This was really delicious though I will say they provided to sauce packets and I would highly recommend using them to add more flavor to the entree. I tend to like things that aren't too salty or sweet but even I thought that without the sauces, it was a little bland. But that doesn't mean I didn't inhale the whole thing within minutes. The decor is what you would expect from a store in a strip mall. There's outdoor seating but there's coverage so it's good even on windy or rainy days. I didn't get a good look inside but the table layout seems to be the same. Would definitely be willing to come back and try some of the other okonomiyaki on the menu!

Drove to LA to eat here and is definetely worth it since there is no okonomiyaki restaurant in OC. We came here for an early dinner around 05:30 PM, no wait and we got a table when we got in. There is a small parking lot but we parked in a paid parking structure 5 min walk away. Restaurant is small with couple of table and bar seatings. For drinks, we started off with sapporo beer (we ordered a 2nd one later). Menu has different types of okonomiyaki, noodles, and appetizers. We got the beef tongue appetizer to start off with and i got the classic okonomiyaki ($16). Service was relatively fast and everything came out within 20 min. Beef Tongue-got 8 pieces of thinly sliced beef tongue, pretty good, no after taste. Good light starter. Each okonomiyaki comes in a small cast iron like pan. Okonomiyaki is pretty dense and super filling enough for two meals for me. It had good amount of sauce had meat, the yakisoba was crispy (can choose between crispy or soft). The waiter also gives you additional sauce and mayo packets. Overall a solid restaurant with filling dishes. Great for coming with a group of people.

Great spot! Sitting at the bar was an option for me to see the ambience and how the staff enjoy cooking me omonomiyaki while chatting along. Of course my food was delicious! If prefer, I would love it if the staff wear the gloves while preparing dishes at all time.

An go-to okonomiyaki place in LA for us. This time, we ordered The Works Kaisan and the Broc and Shrimp Okonomiyaki, and they were crispy and delicious. The service was good, and the ambiance was chill.

Amazing food and great ambiance. The service is very friendly as well. Will be back when in La

I have been meaning to try okonomiyaki after watching a video of how they make something like a dozen at a time on social media. If you eat at the bar it's the best view of the cool action! We sat in their black front patio is which is well-lit and simple but comfortable. These layered "pancakes" are large enough to be shared. Each comes with a cute spatula. We cut into it the okonomiyaki like a pie. I wanted a fork but instead used the spatula to help pick up loose fillings. We order The Classic Hiroshima and the Chinchikurinyaki. The Classic is your base okomoniyaki with nothing added. The noodles were al dente. I liked the umami flavor of the crushed seaweed but the meat had no flavor. 3/5 I would not order again. The Chinchikurinyaki - Excellent al dente, crunchy noodles, with well-seasoned beef. 5/5 I'm not a vinegar fan, but the tangy Okonomi sauce added some needed flavor to The Classic. You can also add Japanese mayo. There are many add on choices, like my pickled ginger. I was tempted to get kimchi but wanted to keep my meal purely Japanese. Service was good, prices are fair and the non-gender bathroom is clean. We left with happy, heavy tummies. They also serve some noodle dishes. Parking options: Valet, metered parking if you're lucky or about a 10-minute walk from parking on unrestricted neighborhood streets. I would come back for another crunchy okonomiyaki.

Good is good, always busy, servers do their best but is not great service. Sanitation is questionable. I always get the spicy goam okonomiyaki. It is great if you can handle your spice. Also for their highballs, their yuzu and yakult highballs are the most popular. Definitely go with yuzu if you want a more natural sweet taste, but if you like a creamier drink, go with the yakult. One of the charms of this place is that you are able to try close to authentic Japanese food. The food is always good and consistent. Only suggestion for okonomiyaki is to get it crispy. Otherwise, the texture of the food is all similar and mushy. Another warning of coming here is, expect a lot of college students waiting in line and be weary of the difficulty of finding parking.

One of the most authentic okonomiyaki places I've been to! we ordered the hiroshima and chinchikurinyaki. The deep fried squid and green onions in hiroshima tasted great with the crispy noodles. Portion was so filling and worth the price. I will be back to try the other dishes!

I always wanted to try to change since the one in Little Tokyo is always busy. The okonomiyaki is very tasty and well done but it is pricey. They do have other food options as well, besides okonomiyaki mainly noodle dishes. Inside the restaurant is very nice and we were the only customers for a weekday evening. Parking was a little bit difficult as there is mainly street parking in the area.

Great restaurant in a great location! Came here today for lunch with a friend and was super excited since this would be my first time trying this. We were greeted by the super friendly host who immediately let us know that she would be there and open if we had any questions. We sat inside and I loved the fact that I could see the chef preparing our food. The TVs on the wall showed us how we can navigate the food and menu as well as images of Hiroshima. For food, my friend ordered the spicy Goam and I had the Chinchikurin Okonomiyaki. The blends of ingredients for both dishes made every bite so delicious. Every bite came with a different flavors especially with the Japanese Mayo on top. They gave me additional sauces if I needed it but I honestly didn't. The flavors were more than enough where I didn't feel as if I needed to add to it. I can imagine this restaurant gets packed during the night due to how good it is. We came after the lunch rush so we were quickly seated. While I had initially wanted to sit on the patio, I'm glad we chose inside due to feeling like I had the whole experience of the restaurant. I was able to see the chefs cook and the other images the restaurant has for your knowledge. The restaurant has a vibrant and cozy feel to it which I loved. It's the perfect lunch / dinner spot. Additionally, I loved how the menu gave a history lesson on the dishes and how it evolved. I definitely plan to come back and try the other dishes on the menu. Thank you for being so great!

An amazing restaurant! This restaurant has the best Okonomiyaki! I had the spicy GOAM and I highly recommend it. The flavors are amazing and the sauce complements the pancake perfectly. I loved all of the vegetables and the crispy noodles were to die for. This meal is very filling so you might have some leftovers for the next day. The staff here are very nice and accommodating. I asked for a spicy GOAM without pork, since I don't eat meat, and the were more than happy to attend to my dietary needs. So, if you're a vegetarian, and you're worried about not having enough options, just remember that you can take out meat from any of the Okonomiyaki on the menu. They have indoor seating an a half outdoor patio to choose from. Parking is sparse in the Sawtelle area so try and find some in the nearby residential area.

The food and service was great! It was like a noodle sandwich... that I ate like a pizza. Very creative and fun.

With so many amazing restaurants in Sawtelle, there's a good reason a lot of people go to Chinchikurin! The spicy goam (with crispy noodle) & tantan dry ramen is my go-to combo for 2 people to share. I found the medium spicy to be numbing, so I preferred the mild version of the tantan ramen. Servers are really nice! However, almost every time I've been there, I drank all of my water without anyone coming to refill. Parking: free lot in front, but gets busy during dinner time. Otherwise, you'll have to do street parking.

New favorite Japanese food. I like the Basil & Cheese with crispy noodles. They have lots of other options but I haven't needed to vary

Came on a Friday night and was seated right away! The service is great and quick and the food also came out really quickly but still hot and delicious. We got the reccommended spicy okonomiyaki and it was really good. It was definitely spicier than I expected but I enjoyed it!

Love this place, very tasty and comfort food. Filled me up. Very sweet staff although a bit slow it's ok for me. The quality is excellent. I prefer soft noodles.

Chinchikurin is absolutely a staple in Sawtelle Japantown, selling Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. The service is really fast, and the restaurant is super lively. Okonomiyaki definitely a lot and can last multiple meals, but I really liked the layers of noodles, cabbage, and egg.

Came here at 11:30 on a Sunday and there was plenty of parking out front. They have a small outdoor seating out front so it's a nice change. One trade off is you won't get to watch the cooking. I got the loaded kaizen okonomiyaki which had a combination of topping and it was prefect for a first timer. I like that they have the option to get crispy noodles which gives an interesting texture to the dish. There's not many restaurants that specialize in okonomiyaki so I haven't had a good okonomoyaki before. After trying this, I have to say I'm a fan!

Chinchikyrinyaki - Noodles were so crispy and paired really well with the Kewpie mayo. Ground beef was savory with teriyaki tang + So much scallions which I loved! Ika Ika - Squid was so chewy but I would have liked a bigger serving. Pretty much like the other one! Service - Super quick, nice, and attentive! You can see your food being cooked in front of you so that was really cool!

Great spot in sawtelle for Japanese dish. Most similiar dish ive had when compared to places that serve this in Japan

Delicious! The food was great, however it was a bit heavy. But as to be expected with a dish like this! They give you extra sauce in packets in case you like your food extra saucy! The service was great, staff was friendly! It looked like there was only 1 waitress and she seemed incredibly busy but we were still able to wave her down when needed'