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Izakaya Fu-ga
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
291 reviews for Izakaya Fu-ga
Review Highlights
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"The pork belly wrapped asparagus is insanely great." In 16 reviews -
"Aonori garlic french fries with garlic aioli." In 11 reviews -
"delicious spicy tuna roll & pork belly tacos." In 21 reviews
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291 reviews in English
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Review from Kent M.
Long Beach, CA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best part about this place? Ambiance. It's got this cool speakeasy thing going for it. But not like 1920's Prohibition speakeasy, more like Tokyo underground style. I LOVE the way the place is decorated and the fact that it's underground. I also LOVE the way the bar area is lit up. If you're looking for a quick drink after work, the bar is the way to go.
Of course, the food is pretty good, too. It's not your traditional izakaya food a la Honda-ya, but it's got more of a fusion thing going on. I was satisfied with the things I ordered (spicy tuna on crispy rice, rolls, etc). But to be honest, for me it was more about drinking and hanging out with friends and enjoying the atmosphere.
I definitely recommend this place for group occasions. You won't be disappointed :) -
Review from Diana W.
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
------DINNER ONLY-----
Green Mussel Dynamite - I think there were 6. Pretty standard but still good
Garlic Fries - Delicious! Definitely has a kick to it
Brown Rice Cheese Risotto - Super rich dish but has a light flavor. Don't think my friends liked it but I loved it
Setting is super nice, the service is a little weird since the waiters kept bringing the wrong dishes to the wrong tables, there was a table shooting a reality show there (typical LA). Great for a date or for girl's night out. -
Review from Tim C.
Palmdale, CA
5/2/2012
Speakeasy in little tokyo??
lol I guess for me the fact that it was underground was the only real appeal to this place.
I ordered an asahi and a lobster roll. Sushi was not good here. The roll was bland, didnt have much lobster pieces in it and they place the shell of the lobster of your plate as if they used the whole lobster when they prepared the roll....I think not.
Terrible sushi roll, ordered another beer, a Sapporo this time wanting to make my experience here a little bit better, the manager even comped me for the Sapporo since he could tell that I was a little disappointed about the lobster roll, and the fact that it took 35-40 minutes to bring it out.
Points scored here for sure...last chance, ordered the rum pudding for dessert because I am a sucker for anything that sounds interesting and unique, and it also took a half hour...gosh. Better be good I was thinking and when I tried it, it wasn't at all terrible, but to wait that long for dessert it had better either be a souffle or the best thing all time. -
Review from Kristin N.
Alhambra, CA
5/24/2012
We had our rehearsal dinner in the private dining room in the back. The food was hot and delicious, and we got raves about everything on the evening's menu. Also, the waiters kept the drinks coming.
They have set meals, or you can also have them draft up a menu depending on how much you want to spend per person. We worked with Nilton to create a menu that included the pork belly wrapped asparagus, aonori garlic fries, and the fried Brie cheese, and he filled in the rest of the dishes based on our price point. He included a draft of the receipt in our emails before the event so that we would know exactly how much we would be spending that evening.
We paid a deposit to use the room that would be applied to the final bill. They also have a projector and sound system you can patch to your iPod for free. The rehearsal dinner was a success, thanks to Izakaya Fu-ga. -
Review from Ellen C.
5/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is my new favorite place to go for groups!!
I love how there's easy parking in the parking structure (and the restaurant validates), and then all you have to do is walk down a couple of stairs into this place. I love that reservations are so easy to get (I called Saturday night and got reservations for a party of 8 at 8:30PM), and that there's also a bar. The place is cozy, yet not too tight, the service is amazing, and the food is sooo good. All my friends who have come here love it, and I can't stop recommending this place.
It's best to come in groups so you can try all their dishes (even their sashimi is good). My favorite was their mushroom, sashimi mixed plate, tofu, and garlic fries.
So convenient after dinner to just walk to Far Bar. -
Review from Cris I.
Costa Mesa, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for a late lunch/ dinner after a long day in LA. When we came in it was still happy hour since it ran until 7 so we had a good 30 mins left. We ordered a variety of different items for the happy hour menu and the regular menu. The first items came pretty quickly but they didnt give us utensils so we had to wait a while to get them. The food was pretty good which is why i'm rating this place as high as i did, but keep in mind that the service is slow.
Some of our items took way longer to come out then the others, which didn't make sense. Our fries we ordered came out 20 minutes after we were done eating which was unacceptable. The food was good so it is worth checking out just dont go in hoping that you'll get all your food in a timely manner. P.S. i didn't know this but they offer free validation. -
Review from James M.
5/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Cool little izakaya located where the old Yatsuhashi used to be in the Kajima building. Their menu is quite extensive both for food and drink. The decor here is modern with a lot of dark woods. Since the place is downstairs it can be hard to find, but the awning on the outside makes it much easier to find. The space is large and there's always plenty of seating. Not to mention the big screen televisions that have the Lakers or the Clippers on. With the playoffs just starting up, this is definitely a good spot to be at to catch the games.
Now for the food.. Mondays are the best days since they have happy hour ALL NIGHT!!! Their food menu is pretty extensive.
Crispy Rice with Spicy tuna - it's not Nobu but it does the trick. Could be spicier.
Chicken Karaage - Fried chicken with a dipping sauce. Not too salty and not overcooked. The chicken seems to be dark meat as is the case with most karaage and is really juicy.
Japanese Spare Rib - Simmered in a soy ginger based sauce similar to that of Kakuni, the meat falls right off the bone. It's so tender and juicy and cooked right.
Asparagus Pork Belly - This one was actually toooooo salty. The asparagus was cooked nicely and was really soft and the pork belly was nice and crisp, but just couldn't get past the saltiness of this dish.
Assorted Sausage - Good to have with their good selection of beers. Perfect to snack on while you drink. Decent sized plate with pretty good sausage.
Sauteed Assorted Wild Mushrooms - Shiitake, brown and enoki mushrooms cooked and finished in a nice cream sauce. This comes with some baguette so you can top the baguette with some of the mushrooms. Very good dish.
Japanese pork rib tacos - good flavor and not the type of taco you would find on a taco truck.
Brown Rice Cheese Risotto - When the guy came over to finish preparing my risotto in a large cutout block of parmesan cheese, he asked me if wanted it extra cheesy. So i said of course, the problem was I think that might of made the dish too salty. They do top it with some seasoning that got mixed up in the risotto but it looked like some salt and pepper, which may have been a little too much seasoning for the dish.
New Caledonia Prawns - Came out on a shichirin (japanese style coal heated grill to cook at the table). But the coals were not hot. The prawns were cooked in the back and just brought out on the shichirin on skewers in a design like fashion for the purpose of presentation. Also had one shiitake mushroom and 2 grilled shishito peppers. There were 3 prawns and they were a little overcooked with the shell on. The shell was basically melted onto the meat of the shrimp which was dried out. Needed the dipping sauce just to bring back some life into the shrimp.
Their alcohol selection is really extensive. I love that they have Delirium Tremens and Duvel not to mention the Stone IPA, Racer IPA and other hoppy selections. They also have a full bar with signature cocktails. Imagine a Japanese izakaya jazzed up to be modern and upscale with good prices. -
Review from Jennifer Y.
Pasadena, CA
4/23/2012
Came here on a Sunday evening, just in time for happy hour (which ends 7pm)!
If a typical Japanese izakaya had babies with an Americanized sushi place, then you'd get Izakaya Fu-ga!
You won't find more exotic izakaya foods here like grilled chicken hearts, beef tongue, etc, like you would at Honda-ya down the street, but you'll find staple izakaya foods like fried chicken, beef skewers, tempura as well as Americanized sushi rolls with names like, "Las Vegas Roll" or "Crunchy Dragon Roll." The food was nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed the lounge-y sports bar atmosphere as well as the service.
My friend and I sat at the bar and we were able to have a great conversation without having to yell or worry that our conversation would carry over to the diners next to us. Plus, it was nice to have two big TVs in front of us showing the Clips game.
Parking is $3 next door. You just turn your ticket in to your server and he/she will return $3 back to you.
Great little place. Will return again, especially during basketball season on Sunday nights. :) -
Review from Kazuma K.
4/24/2012
This is one of my favorite happy hours because it's so cheap and delicious! Mondays are all day happy hours, and it's close to downtown so it's easy to get here for regular happy hours.
The menu for happy hour is awesome - it's izakaya style so you order the dishes like tapas. Definitely get the tacos - those are really worth the price and are delicious! It's like a full on meal, kind of. I also recommend the fried calamari, the karaage (fried chicken), and crispy fish isobeage (fried fish). Each dish is 3.99 or below, holy crap.
Get a beer, some fried happy hour dishes and your post-work evening is complete! -
Review from Amanda C.
Izakaya Fu-ga is the type of restaurant that makes me love LA. Trendy decor (but not pretentious/stuffy), large and small tables for all types of groups, great drinks, plenty of happy hours and special deals, solid quality food from a fun menu, and of course great service.
I came in on a Tuesday night and it was LADIES NIGHT! $2 off certain cocktails (beware: it's for ladies only. sorry fellas. I know you'd all love to have an excuse to order those girly drinks) and HALF OFF DESSERT. Do you know what that means? $4 for a dessert that normally costs $8. THINK ABOUT IT. DOUBLE DESSERT. DESSERT ON DESSERT. YEA
Unfortunately, the food was so good that by the time my friend and I got to dessert, we only had room to share one. I know - pathetic.
A few items from the meal to point out:
- Lychee martini was sweet, girly, and delicious.
- Tofu Roll from their sushi roll selection was surprisingly good. It was basically their version of Korean kimbap with pickled radishes and fried tofu. It was definitely lighter and cleaner than a roll drenched in ebi mayo and unagi sauce but I still kind of wish we had gotten the Las Vegas Roll...
- Yellowtail Collar (from their specials menu) was insane. It had the texture of pure yellowtail fish fat without the nastiness of eating straight up fat. It came with ponzu sauce and a slice of lemon. 'Twas perfection! YOU MUST ORDER.
- Rum Raisin Bread Pudding was just okay. I really wish we had listened to our waiter's recs and gotten the apple turnover. In retrospect, we should've just ordered it on top of the bread pudding. Half off desserts on Tuesdays. Why were we so foolish??
Love this place. Great place for a fun date or to bring friends. They also provide free validated parking in their own structure. Unheard of!! -
Review from Diana T.
4/9/2012
This is a LUNCH REVIEW....there is a different Menu for DINNER.
Parking validation - 5 stars
Super disapointed to learn that the lunch menu only consisted of a few rolls and lunch combos with Teriyaki. Sashimi & appetizers not available for lunch. No Sashimi salad or sushi sushi excect for BENTO BOX or Salmon Teriyaki and some pretty common rolls like BSCR, Albacore Delight, Rainbow, etc.
Bento Box - 3 stars (1 pc sashimi of each: salmon, tuna, sweet shrimp, albacore)
A combo type box with salad, choice of side (veg & shrimp tempura), miso & couple pieces of beef teriyaki & 1 beef skewer. Rice on the side. Overall, this was too Americanized for me. I like sashimi, the expensive kind. Fish was fresh and delicious but the fact that all I could get during lunch closest to a sashimi was the Bento made me sad.
This place is probably better for people who are into Teriyaki and not Sashimi or actual Sushi.
Dessert is ehh ok, we tried the Tiramisu, Creme Brulee & Green Tea Cheesecake which was all just okay. -
Review from Alexandra P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Faaaaaancy! Well, at least that's how it appeared as I walked in. This was a stop on our (failed) LA Beerathon event, which we attempted to make happen on our own.
Overall, the place is pretty spacious and the staff was friendly, plus the pace was really clean...and judging by the crowd, they must be doing something right!
The drinks were average price for LA ($6-10 a drink). I wish I could comment on the food but we did not have a chance to get anything. Not really a great "hangout and grab a drink" kind of place BUT I definitely will consider coming back for a romantic dinner/date with my man. Or even just a fun night out with my girls! -
Review from Katy L.
4/5/2012
Came back here the other night after trying this place once last year. I think the second time around, my feelings are still the same toward this place. I was here for happy hour which they have great drink specials but the overall impression of the food is that it is A-Ok.
Sesame Chicken Karaage- Fried chicken nuggets.. decent
Crispy Calamari- Lightly battered, calamari was small and limp.. I've had better
Broiled Yuzu Chicken- Good flavor but I can't help but compare it to Musha's amazing Yuzu Chicken
Sauteed Assorted Wild Mushroom- It's like creamed mushroom on toasted baguette.. pretty interesting and garlicky.. but doesn't leave me wanting to order this again
Beef Kushiyaki- Beef teriyaki skewers.. marinated meat, beef wasn't too tough which was good
Japanese Pork Rib Tacos- Shredded marinated pork tacos that were a bit too messy to eat and could be a little smaller for a more appetizer portion
Mini Crispy Fish Isobeage- Its like japanese fish & chips.. minus the chips =) These were okay.. alittle too greasy but not bad.
All the rolls are pretty standard and decent.
Ambience is romantic and intimate. Good for dates or business dinners if you want to sample different items to share and still be able to hear each other talk.
Personally for me, it's not one of my top restaurants to go to if I'm in Little Tokyo. I would only go back if my friend REALLY wanted to check it out or for a special event or something.
*Tip: Free parking w/ validation. Follow the Izakaya Fu-ga SIGNS because the restaurant can be hard to find from the parking structure. -
Review from Anh-Dao T.
Alameda, CA
4/4/2012 3 Check-ins Here
One of the better Happy Hours in DTLA. Love that they have HH all night every Monday and Ladies' Nights every Tuesday. I'm a fan of their drinks -- lychee martinis, sangria, mojitos (skip the green tea one and go for the regular) are all good. The food is decent. I still prefer the food at the other izakayas in Little Tokyo, but they don't have HH deals like Fu-ga.
I've also been here for lunch, but with the large crowd, the food took long and wasn't really worth it. Just stick to HH or dinner for this place. Parking can be tricky - enter the structure to the left of the entrance and let the attendants know you're going to Fu-ga. They will either instruct you to park on the 2nd floor or valet for you. Validate your ticket to get your money back. No limits on the time, as far as I know. -
Review from Fonda K.
Rosemead, CA
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for happy hour. The izakaya looked nice inside but it was a weird and dirty walk to the bathroom, which also wasn't clean.
The crispy fish appetizer was melt in your mouth, it was pretty much fish and chips style - 5 star
spicy tuna roll - 2 star, below average
unagi fried rice - 1 star, I barely ate any and only saw tiny pieces of eel in between a bunch of broccoli and weird stuff that I haven't seen in an unagi fried rice. This wasn't a happy hour item so it really sucked.
calamari - 3 star, it was just ok.
karaage? (fried chicken) - 5 star, this was amazing.
I'll come back here if I'm craving fish and chips, but otherwise there are better izakayas around. -
Review from Míkéy L.
Los Angeles, CA
I went here with Ada and a bunch of people that knew the owner. They gave us a special $20 prix fixe menu and let us sit in a private back room. The salad and entree were just okay. I ordered the ribeye but I felt as though I got jipped on portion size. The dessert was a scoop of chocolate ice cream which seemed to have been scooped prior to our arrival and then refrozen. It was hard and icy.
I like the Tender Greens $15 prix fixe menu dinner I had compared to this. -
Review from Joe P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012
Great happy hour place after work!!
good happy hr menu.
happy hr 5pm - 7pm
free parking in the lot pay $3 cash first & get validation & you get your $3 back for 2 hr parking.
service is good & vibe is good!! -
Review from Ratika N.
2/21/2012
Came here for a quick meal before a movie at LA Live. I had high expectations after reading the reviews and was lucky that it was happy hour (till 7 pm). We ordered the sangria and the lychee martini. The Sangria was only $3 but so watered down, not nice at all! The lychee martini was amazing...I loved it!
The service was phenonmeal...if this review was based only on the service, I would rate it a five. Friendly, efficient and super nice. The food however left a lot to be desired.
The food was really like bar food instead of authentic Izakaya and that too not the best quality food. Ordered the Chicken Karaage, Pork rib tacos, spicy tuna roll. The Chicken Karaage were basically Japanese style chicken nuggets, the chicken inside was really dry and we ended up leaving the entire plate after a bite or so. The Pork rib tacos were ok, but there was very little pork, mostly it was a tortilla with a small bit of pork and lots of salad. The spicy tuna roll was nice but it's sad to order 3 things and have only one seem ok.
There is free parking for two hours with validation in the garage right next to it. Make sure you have cash as you have to pay $5 up front as you enter the garage (which is given back to you when you leave).
Overall, it's really a happy hour place if you are in the mood for just drinks and not amazing sushi or great izakaya menu. Come here to take advantage of the Happy Hour deals on drinks, especially the 50% off select draft beers and $2 off bottled beers, wines, sake, and cocktails. -
Review from Nelson F.
I really enjoy their happy hour and location, right next to Astronaut Plaza in Little Tokyo. They have free validated parking, so that's really convenient. Service is really nice, and you don't have to sit at the bar to enjoy the happy hour food or drink specials. Also, as a bonus they have one of the better sake selections in LA and an in house sake sommelier (he says he's the only one in the city) to offer suggestions and recommendations.
They have 2 quiet rooms in the back with cloth curtain separators which you can ask for and want privacy. Otherwise there's plenty of space and it's very modern looking to boot. They also have Ladies night on Tuesdays I think which is half off drinks and desserts for girls. I think on Mondays they have happy hour all night too. I really liked the beef yakatori, the pork tacos, and the cheese bread which are on the happy hour menu. Overall a great little gem in Little Tokyo! -
Review from Ada L.
I came here with a huge group for dinner one night. One of the people in the group knew the manager and was able to get us the private room in the back along with a $20 prix fixe menu. I liked the vibe and decor of the restaurant as soon as I walked in.
For dinner, I had the a house salad, salmon teriyaki, and chocolate ice cream. My bf had the ribeye (which they only cook medium) as his entree. The salad and dessert were nothing special, but I thought both the entrees were pretty good. Both entrees came with a side of potatoes, which I liked a lot (this is sort of a fusion restaurant). The teriyaki sauce added a lot of flavor to the salmon. The portions looked small, but I was able to get full off of the dinner.
The food took awhile to come out, but the waiters were quick to refill our waters and drinks.
Parking is free with validation in the parking structure right next to the restaurant. You have to pay $5 first, and after you validate, they return $5 to you.Listed in: Japanese Food
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Review from Steve V.
3/16/2012
Who even knew this place existed? Not me until today. This adds to the list of Little Tokyo spots that you can count on to provide a good lunch. The entrance is on San Pedro and the entire place is below ground in the basement. That said, it is very nice down there. Modern decor with quality TVs are abundant.
I had the Dragon roll lunch special. It comes with 3 courses for either $8.95 or $9.95. Your first course is Miso soup. It was good (can't really go wrong right?). For the second course, you get a choice. I ended up getting the chicken teriyaki but was deciding between that and the deep fried gyoza. It was okay and was the reason for the minus 1 star. It came with a salad instead of rice. I wonder if you can substitute?
And for the main course, you had your choice of rolls. This is where the price difference of $1 comes into play. I had the $9.95 option and had the Dragon roll. Good choice me!! The roll was excellent and filling. The service was good, a bit slow when it came time to pay, but they were crowded so it was a bit expected. -
Review from Irene B.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars
Izakaya Fu-ga is a little hidden gem. I would have never known about this place since it's on San Pedro, but my co-workers wanted to HH here and I'm glad we did. Free validated parking at the lot next door.
$2 off cocktails/wine/sake
50% select draft beers
$2.99-$5.99 small plates
My favorites were the garlic fries, beef kushiyaki, fried brie, and the bread pudding. Wow, the bread pudding was perfect. The dishes that were A-ok for us were the calamari, crispy spicy tuna, spicy tuna, and green mussel dynamite. I would definitely stay away from the pork rib tacos that were really flavorless, and topped with a random salsa. Overall, a nice chill spot to grab drinks with friends when in Little Tokyo. -
Review from Ari M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/29/2012 6 photos
I came here three times within seven days... yeah, that's gotta mean something.
The moment my friend and I walked in here for the first time, we instantly fell in love. The atmosphere is very chill and laid back, it almost felt like walking into a new world. Low lighting, very spacious, and underground - sounds perfect to me!
I tried the citrus ginger sake spritzer, which was delicious. Very light and fruity, it was nearly impossible to taste the alcohol... which is a good and bad thing.
Between the two of us, we shared the 21 days aged rib eye steak, Las Vegas roll, sauteed assorted wild mushrooms, and miso flavored baked scallops. The miso flavored scallops were only so-so, but the rest of the dishes were to die for.
I have since tried the Green Tea Mojito and Vodka Blueberry Lemonade, as well as taken advantage of all night happy hour on Mondays. I will definitely be back for Ladies' Night Tuesdays - half off desserts and $2 off cocktails, whoo hoo! -
Review from Chad P.
Montebello, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for my friend's birthday/passing the bar. We had the party room in the back and it can fit about 30 people comfortably.
Unfortunately, I didn't pay for anything so I can't talk about price. They had open bar for beer and wine which was great. We also had champagne for the toast.
The fries with the dipping sauce was really good. It was like a wasabi ranch or something, I'm not completely sure but it was tasty. Sushi was average though (and this is a Japanese restaurant). Aside from the appetizer, the rest of the food was fairly average.
For parking, you have to give the guy $3 but once you get validated inside, he gives you your money back when you are leaving.
Overall, it seemed like a great date place and it is only a couple blocks away from The Edison so you can easily walk over there afterwards. -
Review from Jam Y.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2012
When i say that this is as good as it gets, i mean their seaweed salad. TO DIE FOR *MUAH!*. Fried calamari... eh, mediocre. grilled asparagus wrapped in bacon... scrumptious!
They also have a happy hour menu for a good deal!
Parking is free for two hours in that lot right next to the entrance of the restaurant. Just make sure to get the ticket validated. -
Review from Shane S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been here since the place first opened. It was going through a few discoveries and evolements. I was very happy when they added a few more whiskeys to the menu! This place is definitely a fusion or new age izakaya, but it does have some interesting dishes. I have had the food few times before , and I have to say that the food has continued to improve and now keeps a great level of consistency. Not all the new dishes are always a winner, but to try new things is much more refreshing to an Izakaya ! It shows me they are always challenging themselves to be better and make our experience better!! Try the specials (which keep things fresh and new), the 21 day aged steak, the mussels, the chicken karaage ! and don't forget to try the Yamazaki 15 for sure! Haha! That scotch (and the mixology menu) is what lifted the fusion style Fuga up to 5 stars for me!!
Listed in: Japanese
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Review from Cono W.
Rosemead, CA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Portion is small so we ordered a lot of different dishes. We hv 8 ppl and each person is about $45 with one bottle of wine, one bottle of hot sake & couple beers. The decor is very nice & decent. But each dish are very average, nothing gave me a WOW, the grill black cod is good, udon are tasty too. Beef salad is a nono....bacon wrap scallop is kinda rare that I dun like the texture.
We had apple turnover, greentea brownie and ginger bread puddin for desserts. All 3 nothing special & a little bit too sweet plus too dry. -
Review from Elysse P.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Decided to have one of my best friend's surprise birthday dinner here... Made reservations and they were able to seat us right away. It's more like a chill, laid-back type of scene in comparison to what I expected (swanky, loud, upbeat, etc.), but still had a nice feel to it.
The food was unfortunately disappointing. The yellowtail sashimi that our waiter suggested was very minimal (portion & rflavor)... overpriced for damn sure. The lobster roll looked and tasted generic... :( I thought we were in Little Tokyo? And the calamari with peppers that another waitress recommended was also overrated. AND TO TOP IT OFF, IT WAS MY BEST FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN BRING A CAKE OR SOMETHING.
Maybe I'll be back for a regular day for Happy Hour to enjoy a few of their munchies and drinks, BUT OTHERWISE.... MEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH.Listed in: TO LIVE & DInE IN LA, it's the…
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Review from Neen H.
Temple City, CA
2/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Great spot for date night or dinner with the kids (I've gone for both).
The Good:
Great ambiance, dark, jazzy music, quiet-ish. They also have some private seating behind curtains...they look cool. They take reservations, big plus!
Service is great.
Happy Hour from 5-7PM (even on the weekends).
Stella on tap for $3.50
Isobeage (fried tempura cod) $5 for 3 pieces...one of my favs!
Chilean Sea Bass with Miso Dressing ($14) - pricey, but worth every buttery miso bite
Salmon salad - fantastic fresh salad with bits of salad and japanese veggies. one of my favs. The dressing is a sort of light vinegarette with the Japanese twist
Fries - its like hurricane popcorn, but fries...they are served sprinkled with garlic, salt and nori flakes. Amazing!!! I like dipping them in the sauce that comes with the Isobeage fish.
Tea - they serve yamamotoyama Japanese tea, LOVE IT. It really gets to me when Japanese joints serve crappy tea, but this place pays attention to the details like this and delivers.
Bathroom - super clean (but in the hall outside the restaurant which is kinda weird).
Parking - free with validation...so you pay $5 and then get the $5 back when you show your validation...weird.
Bad
Your 1st time there, you'll probably not be able to find it easily. Its on the 3rd floor of an office building.
Karaage (a basic Japanese fried chicken plate) looks terrible. It comes out light light brown.
Yuzu pepper chicken sounded good..until I came across the words "teriyaki sauce." This restaurant is too elegant to have that anywhere on the menu!!
Sausage sampler - just standard sausage...all were boiled...which was disappointing...would rather have seen them cooked yaki tori gril style.
Overall. Great Japanese Izakaya spot that is reasonably priced and not over crowded that serves delicious fresh food. -
Review from Angela d.
2/15/2012
Came here for happy hour with some friends and had a good time with them, but the food was just so so.
Grabbed some draught beer for half price and some munchies. We had the Japanese pork rib tacos, green mussel dynamite, spicy tuna roll, and the garlic fries. The tacos fell apart quickly and were a bit bland. The spicy tuna roll was the saddest I had ever had. The mussels were pretty good and the garlic fries were the highlight of the night! They were crunchy and delicious and were accompanied by a yummy green sauce.
Overall, the food was alright, but the fries aren't good enough to bring me back. -
Review from Gino E.
12/28/2011
I organized a reunion for my old grad school folks here on a Monday night for all-night happy hour, and have to say, that everyone was beyond content at the end of the night. As you walk in the swanky underground spot, you immediately get that bougie vibe that usually tells me to walk right out, but the staff makes you feel right at home.
Since it was 7 of us, we all just ordered random items off the happy hour menu, as well as a few rolls. Because the items were a bit more Americanized than I would have expected, I wasn't especially impressed with anything in particular. That is not to say that it wasn't good. The chicken karaage, pork rib tacos, and the beef kushiyaki were some of my favorites of the night. I also ordered myself a nabeyaki udon, since I was fighting off a cold, and it hit the spot! Generous amounts of udon in a flavorful broth, full of veggies and chicken. The udon stole my interest in the rest of the appetizers...
Also worth mentioning is the full bar, cocktail menu, and craft beer selection, which perfectly suited the needs of everyone in our group. The bartender was one cool cat, as well as our server, who was on point all night and constantly checking in with us.
I have to especially give our server props for dealing with a table full of half-drunk therapists and school counselors, having overly-loud discussions, ranging from federal educational policy, to planning a kegger at my house next month. How I wish I could remember homeboy's name, but thank you, nonetheless.
Make sure to bookmark this one for its Monday ALL NIGHT happy hours! -
Review from Peter C.
I have been eyeballing Fuga for a really long time, but they are not open during lunch on the weekends. Finally I got out of my cage from work, and they have a pretty nice lunch! Steak, scallops, vegetables and potato salad were $15 and came out like this. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Those things that look like tater tots are actually scallops. I really liked how the entree came out on a sizzling plate, so every stayed nice & warm. The vegetables touching the plate were kind of (temperature) hot to eat, but it's a small price to pay. The sauce was a ponzu base that I thought was kind of a strange choice at first, but after a few bites it actually grew on me and I thought it was equally good on the steak or the scallops.
Mrs. C and I shared, and she got the Japanese fried chicken (karaage) and California rolls. Nothing particularly exciting about this dish, but it's by no means bad at all. I really wish Fuga was open for lunch on the weekends! I would be back a lot more often!! -
Review from Sunny K.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 12/20/2011
A long long time ago, before the crazies started stalking Yelp, before the lonely used this site to meet their potentially crazier mate thru forums, I was ROTD'd for Izakaya Fuga. Unfortunately, times change.
Izakaya when first opened, was a cool, dark basement level bar where one could hide in a booth, while sipping on a cocktail or beer, listening to music that sets the mood. The dishes were a perfect accompaniment to be shared amongst the company you wanted to hide with.
I've been here several times since those nights and I've been hesitant to write a negative review since I had so many fond memories here. I have now realized, the morphing of this once endearing spot has lost its identity.
The LARGE flatscreen TVs surrounding this dark basement bar, blinding my eyes as I'm trying to relax, is not only annoying but anger inducing. The once cute Japanese waitresses that served us with glimmering white teeth smiles are no longer here. I'm not surprised. They've been replaced with, I'm assuming, a much cheaper staff. I will give you this, the bartenders still pour a good drink but the options are limited. The food, ugh... I don't even want to get into it. It's no better than a bad, strip mall sushi joint in the Valley, sandwiched between a Starbucks and a shoe repair.
Sometimes, loneliness, can cause us to act desperately. We seek the attention of anyone willing to give it. We lose our individuality that sets us apart. The true beauty that makes us desirable. Hopefully, one comes to realize the emptiness of this despair only to reemerge back to ones true self. I hope Izakaya Fuga is just going thru an awkward growth spurt and will blossom once again to the beauty it once was.Listed in: Dirty Downtowner, Just Plain Wrong, Flippin' a Bi*ch!!!, ROTD
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2010 ROTD 1/10/2011
I love it here. This... this.. is me. Dark, subtle, moody, sexy, sincere, yet somehow, inviting.… Read more »
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Review from Marc F.
Calabasas, CA
4/18/2012
As noted by others, the parking deal is a bit strange, but it works. We went on a Sunday before a show and we were the only ones there for a while. The waitress was very friendly and very helpful. Food came quick.
We got a bunch of stuff (Asian Tapas - interesting concept). We LOVED several of them - the Eggplant, the fries, the fried brie come to mind. The only thing we got we didn't care for was the tongue. I would rather eat the tongue of my shoe than the tongue of an animal, but my wife is a fan. However, she found there's to be too tough and not tasty.
Overall, fun place to go with good food at a reasonable price. We'll be back -
Review from yelpie h.
Santa Monica, CA
4/11/2012
I think most people think of it as a four for what it is, for me, it is a 3.5. They have a delightful Happy Hour, I believe all eight of us ate for around 70 dollars (no drinks). We had a sweet staff, they have parking, but *warning* make sure you have $3 on you in cash because although they validate the parking center reimburses you when you leave, and does not take a cc.
We had little fish (delicious, fried cod), cheese sticks (sinful), tuna roll (adequate), a few meat dishes everyone loved, and the calamari has a great sauce with it. The best part is our group of 8 had a private room with a curtain to hammer out details of an even t we are planning so it worked perfectly. In all honesty, it is not my kind of food, I don't really eat fried foods and meats, but it is fun and I think worth knowing about. -
Review from John-Paul A.
South Pasadena, CA
4/12/2012
Came in yesterday for happy hour and I was impressed. First I enjoyed having to walk down a flight of stairs to get through the door. I enjoyed the tucked away quiet atmosphere inside. Wednesday was 'order a bottle of sake and get oysters for free' and we took advantage. Good Sake list, good apps including the karrage, and tasty oysters. Get there early secure a spot and really take in the scene at this small gem in Little Tokyo
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Review from Amie S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012
I had the worst experience last night.
I go there almost every week and I liked their service.
The food is not bad, and the servers are always friendly.
I did not have any stress for parking until yesterday.
I usually go there late night, and parking guy never asked me to pay for parking.
But I have a trouble with him last night.
Then, he asked the restaurant's manager to come up.
When the manager comes, I already feel embarrassed and really bad,
But he makes me feel much worse.
At least, I've been their royal customer for a long time.
He should try to treat his customer better.
If I were he, I handle the problem with the parking company and try to make our customer feels good.
All he did is just embarrassing and making me sad.
I'm really disappointed to be treated like this at my favorite place.
I'll miss them, but I won't be back as long as he is there. -
Review from Darlene Y.
El Monte, CA
4/8/2012
I had been here twice before and last night was probably my worst. I came with a group of 12 people for a friend's birthday. They served the food from one of the the table to the other, so it made it that when people at the other end of the table received their food everyone else was already finished... -_- However, despite the bad service their food selection is really good, I ordered the HAMACHI (YELLOWTAIL) COLLAR last night with a HOUSE SALAD. The yellowtail was a really good pick, cooked properly and full of flavor. This place has its HAPPY HOUR so if you work near here go, that have pretty good deals. The atmosphere is dim lighting with modern Japanese styling. The food is good but if you go in big groups prepare to wait. ENJOY!
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Review from Cheri. A G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012
I came here for lunch with a few friends. They have a very limited lunch menu so I ordered a the special that comes with miso soup, and two choices from two separate lists of items.
I ended up order a salad and a rainbow roll. I know exciting huh but really there were not many options. One of my friends ordered the Bento box and it looks pretty good (I forgot to ask how it was)
I will have to come back for their dinner menu sometime.
BTW they have free valet with validation! -
Review from Brandon A.
Los Angeles, CA
12/20/2011 13 Check-ins Here
#195
Alright, so the place isn't super hidden, but it's off the main Little Tokyo stretches of 1st or 2nd street. You may miss it the first go around because the restaurant is actually subterranean.
They validate for the parking lot pretty much next door - it's the only driveway on the west side of San Pedro between 1st and 2nd. They might even have a sign near the street, I forget. You will have to pay the parking attendant upfront, but he will return that payment later when you show him your validated ticket. However, if you are planning to stay late, I suggest getting your ticket validated early and re-claiming your money before he leaves. He said he leaves at 9pm, but seems to be hit or miss.
Once you're down at the restaurant, the lighting is dim and it's a bit weird being inside somewhere with no windows in sight. I would suggest going for happy hour (I think it ends at 7), and specifically Monday happy hour, which is all night. There are several HH food choices, but we will generally roll with:
- spicy tuna roll: it's your typical spicy tuna with eight total pieces IIRC
- chicken karaage: I find this karaage to be one of the better ones in LT - crispy without being dry
- pork rib tacos: the plate comes with two total; the pork is always moist, but you'll want to eat these while they are warm
I forget the prices on the alcohol, but you can get hot sake at HH prices also. Another thing I like is that they have Duvel on draft.
Service is generally friendly but can be slow at times.
All night Monday happy hour is hard to beat, especially during football season. Oh yea, they have TVs too.
