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Izayoi - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
132 S Central AveLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
(213) 613-9554
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Thanh L. said: "Came here during happy hour because it was close to the Staples Center and LOVED IT! We ate so much for 2 people and finished ALL of it, it was that good. All of the rolls and sushi were fresh and smooth going down. I didn't even use…" read more »
111 reviews for Izayoi
Review Highlights
"The pork belly was definitely a fantastic addition."
(in 23 reviews)
"So far, this place is my favorite izakaya in LA."
(in 37 reviews)
"homemade tofu- refer to all the songs above."
(in 8 reviews)
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Duchampagne X.
Los Angeles, CA
12/27/2011
I used to LOVE this place! Does anyone know where the chefs and owners went to after they closed?
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Review from Christie K.
Los Angeles, CA
6/13/2011
I cannot believe this place is closing. This is MY lunch place!! and also izakaya place. I always get their sushi, konyaku, tori nankotsu (chicken cartilage, shishamo (capelin), buta kakuni (pork belly), and kara age (fried chicken). Their staff is so great and super nice.
Make sure you try this place while it still stands. Shinsengumi is taking over! (although their ramen is really good! it kicks daikokuya's butt any day)Listed in: Sushi joints
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Review from Dee T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whenever there is a furlough day or school holiday--I'm here for the sashimi lunch special for $13. Also where I get an amazing simmered pork belly dish and fresh sushi.
Sadly, I saw a notice on the window that Shinsemgumi Ramen will be taking over this space soon. I enjoy both restaurants but there are other Shinsemgumi locations...and no other Izayoi locations. -
Review from Gina K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2011 3 photos
Solid! Everything we ordered here was yummy. I especially liked the whole grilled squid and the tekka don (tuna over rice). The albacore salad and monkfish liver were also good.
The service was pretty quick, very friendly. Glad I found this spot in Little Tokyo! :)
Parking is free--in the Office Depot lot (shared with Starbucks and Yogurtland). -
Review from Di L.
4/1/2011
Went here for dinner with some friends that I havent seen in awhile. A mini reunion of sorts. But we went here on recommendation of a friend's friend. It's more so of a 2 1/2 stars. The food was pretty good but it took FOREVER for the food to come out. They only had one sushi chef...but at least the waitress had warned us it would take a bit...but sheesh, it was def a long time. I ordered the calamari sushi...pretty good. And i had a miso soup...nothing special, tasted like miso soup. Tried a bit of my friend's seaweed salad....that was yummy.
The restaurant is located in the LIttle Tokyo area, a place I must visit more often. It's a pretty nice place to hang out. Parking garages make it convenient...and there's also metered parking, which I was lucky to find (free on Sundays!) -
Review from Tina K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/28/2010
My husband and I have always been hesitant to try Izayoi because of its 3.5 star rating on Yelp but we finally gave it a shot and were pleasantly surprised! Now there is another place we can go to within walking distance when we are too lazy to cook. =) It's probably the best Izakaya currently in Little Tokyo, though a bit pricier.
We sat at the counter but didn't order any sushi and were greeted by a puzzled look by who may have been the owner/sushi chef, but he turned out to be a wonderful host.
We ordered
- grilled eggplant - delish!
- oden (daikon, fish cake, egg), Perfect for cold nights!
- fish head (tai-kama), good but should've gotten the hamachi collar
- beef tongue stew - I've only had tongue sashimi, smoked tongue and grilled tongue before so this was pretty interesting and not bad at all.
- black sesame spinach - a bit bitter, - but i suppose i only really like baby spinach.
- croquette - crispy on the outside, creamy, soft on the inside. my favorite dish of the night. =)
- Red miso soup- a warm bowl of soup at the end of dinner is always satisfying. it was not too salty...so bonus points. (many restaurants sometime make the red miso soup too salty)
The Sushi chef was attentive and saw that the eggplant served was too small, so they comp-ed us another one. So nice. totally not necessary!
We've heard good things about the Sushi as well, so we may give it a try next time.
Overall, there were no WOW dishes, but having recently been in Japan, we could still appreciate the authenticity of all of the dishes. The price seemed OK ($70 for the two of us, including tip), and definitely did not seem overpriced to other places that we usually go to. -
Review from Tatertots Rock X.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/29/2010
This is still my favorite spot for lunch!
I find reasons to drive to DTLA from my Studio in Glendale to get my Bento on my way home to Anaheim (recent move).
Nothing beats a day when I am finished early and can order my Bento, a glass of sake (maybe even a beer) and fresh Japanese Scallop Sashimi.
Still the best service, beautifully fresh and elegantly cut fish, and the friendliest people sitting at the sushi bar.
Don't foreget to try out their delicious hot snacks like the pork belly, beef tongue, tofu, and other tastey tid bit.
Check out my earlier reviews below for descriptions of my favorites.
Enjoy!
: )Listed in: I'm a REGULAR..., STICK IT in MY MOUTH!!!, Top Restaurants
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/3/2008
It gets better every time.
Finally got to go for dinner with "jet-set-playboy" … Read more »
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Review from Yi Z.
8/3/2010
When you look up "mediocre" in the dictionary, you should see a picture of Izayoi. There's nothing "wrong" with it but there's nothing "right" about it either. The food is overpriced (except for the Kirin draft during happy hour), the flavors are average, and the restaurant lacks ambiance.
We gave the beef tongue a try and for $6, we got 6 tiny pieces. The pieces were hard and chewy and not enjoyable at all. We also ordered the seaweed salad and it was basically iceberg lettuce and seaweed and some dressing. Way to be creative...
The only thing that I truly liked was the chicken gizzard and that was only because it was coated with some miso-based sauce. Again $6 bought us a tiny plate of gizzard.
It's not even the prices that bother me. It's just the consistent mediocrity. There are a handful of other izakayas in the area. I would recommend any of them over Izayoi.Listed in: Japanese Restuarants
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Review from Akiko I.
2/21/2011
No...it's not worth it.
Many places in Little Tokyo are closed on Monday so we decided to go for the closest restaurant from Starbucks next to Office Depot. We ordered the following:
* Oden (daikon) - a little too bland...$2
* Chikuwa with mentaiko filling - this is the first time I didn't like this dish...it had a very fishy smell...~$6
* Miso marinated Gyu-tan - I usually love gyu-tan but...sorry no....too gamy
* Maguro yamakake - tiny tiny portion...so not worth $6
* Geso tempura - one dish we liked...very light and fluffy
* Karaage - pretty good but a little too greasy
* Chirashi - very sloppy but uni and hamachi was pretty good
The service was very good but when you look into the very open kitchen, you can see that the chefs are not very enthusiastic about their job. Very slow paced, bored...etc.
Our bill ended up being about a little over $70 with tip. For what we got, it was NOT worth it...especially in Little Tokyo.
* Food = not so great
* Price = way too much for what they serve
* Service = pretty good
* Ambiance = mix of contemporary and jazz...relaxing
Would we go back? Maybe but I think I would prefer Quiznos next door...which is kinda sad... -
Review from Maggie C.
6/11/2010 1 photo
I went to lunch and I was disappointed.
Nick H told me about this place and I came for lunch. I couldn't eat the food. Rice bowl with chicken and egg on top. The sauce wasn't bad but it was super dry.
It's not his fault because the menu looked pretty good. He apologized and picked up the tab. Parking is crazy at this Office Depot complex. Too crowded and too small.
I probably will not eat here anymore.
2 stars!!
Izayoi is not yummylicious!!Listed in: Little Tokyo Restaurants &…
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Review from Nick H.
6/1/2010 3 photos
Izayoi was a bit disappointing. The service mediocre and the food seemed like something I could make even better. Details are as follows:
The menu items looked fantastic. The choices and the pictures. The menu sported some of my favorite dishes. The outside of the restaurant is decorated with newspaper headlines with boastful comments.
I thought I was in Izakaya Heaven! They offered various choices for the lunch specials including Angus Beef, Beef Tripe Udon Soup, Rock Cod, Kobe Beef Sizzling Plate, Soba and more!
I told Maggie C.. I "bragged" to Maggie C that I found a cool place and she agreed to come. The only thing worse than my food was seeing the disappointment of the food in Maggie's face. As such, I picked up the tab. I have to offer my sincerest apology.
~Cold Soba with Tempura
The waitress assured me the soba was delicious. I opted for an additional charge for the added Tempura.
The noodle was clingy and the texture poor. The taste was insignificant. Drowning it in an uneventful dipping sauce did little to make it appetizing.
~The Tempura
If you like frozen tempura, then this is for you. So, only one piece was frozen. That didn't matter. The tempura tasted like something I could purchase at Costco. It would not have mattered so much except the waitress assured me it was delicious. When I went to get the bill, a plate of tempura was being returned by another party because it was frozen.
So, no thanks. I have had better. I doubt I will be back.Listed in: Little Tokyo aka J-Town, Yakitori and Izakaya Baby!
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Review from Jolene J.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2011
I came here with friends for dinner before going out. It was packed! Although there were plenty of servers there I could see that they were really working hard to keep up with all their tables. I had a cucumber roll, avocado roll, some of my friend's mushrooms and a bowl of oden. All my food was outstanding. The nori on the rolls was crisp and not soggy. The rice was great and my vegetables were really fresh. The big, hot bowl of oden was delicious. I was really surprised how good the broth was! I think I had kelp, a hard boiled egg, tofu, and a few other things in mine. They give you a checklist and you can pick what you want. I kind of want to go back there right now to eat more of it. It is perfect for this chilly weather. I didn't try any but my friend's pork cutlets looked pretty good.
It was really easy to park in the Office Depot parking lot which I really appreciated.
I want to give this place a 5 but the service was pretty slow. -
Review from Valerie L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
We stopped here for a quick lunch. I liked the fact that it had people inside but there was no wait. All the sushi chefs were Japanese as well as the waitresses.
The fish was fresh and the service was quick What more can you ask for? The best part was the baked crab handroll. I don't think it was on the menu but they attempted to make it anyway. He asked if I wanted some spicy sauce. I said sure, what the hell. It was delicious! Spicy baked crab, who knew? It was a pretty quick lunch so I didn't get try many things but its in a good location next to yummy Yogurtland and it has parking. -
Review from Manda W.
Monterey Park, CA
6/19/2010
Raw items are fresh and price is reasonable. 4 star
Sweet shrimp sushi (head deep fried) - fresh and firm
Amber fish (imported from Japan) sushi - not oily but tasty
Red Dragon Roll - so so
Albacore salad with ponzu sauce - fish was good, better if they change the ice berg lettuce to other type of dark green vegetables
Cooked items need to improve a lot (2.5 star)
US Kobe beef with veggie plate - way to salty
House made tofu - hated the orange color sauce
Steamed clams in sake broth - tasteless, totally missing the smell & flavor of sake
Chicken gizzards - was alright
$75 before tips for above items. I'll go again but stick with the raw food only. -
Review from Ronnie M.
West Los Angeles, CA
10/21/2009
What do you think when you hear Nobu Matsuhisa?
Nobu's signature miso marinated black cod!
To be honest, miso marinated anything is delicious (especially seabass!) and the black cod at Izayoi was no exception. The dish was delicate, sweet, hot, just all around mouthgasm. Found the recipe from the "Nobu Cookbook" and hoping to recreate this dish at home. *cross your fingers*
We also had the yellowtail sashimi. My favorite type of sashimi along with salmon (yes. i'm pedestrian. sue me) OMG. Generous, fresh, thick pieces. I would come here just to eat yellowtail all night long.
The mushroom medley and ginko root appetizer was amazing also. the portions are generous. The hot sake pairs well with everything.
Another wonderful neighborhood spot that's not in my neighborhood. *sigh*. -
Review from Susan C.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/13/2009
I just discovered their $11.50 sashimi lunch special. Actually, I've been exploiting it for the last couple of weeks. Total steal. For $11.50 you get many different varieties of fresh sashimi, a salad, miso soup, rice, Japanese pickles, and some other little side dish. I can satisfy my hardy appetite for sushi and still afford to have a beer without busting my wallet! WARNING: the sashimi plate samples many different varieties of seafood (including squid, octopus, and clams), so if you are mostly a yellowtail/salmon/tuna type of eater I'm not sure if this is the plate for you.
Izayoi is supposed to be an izakaya, but really the best part about the restaurant is the sushi bar. They have a much more comprehensive variety of fish and sauces than some of the other nearby restaurants (some places don't have toro, others don't have aji, blah, blah blah). In my experience, the fish has always been very good, the service outstanding, and the staff are the most personable of all the other sushi bars in Little Tokyo. They make a conscientious effort to remember you and things about you, which adds a touch of comfort to the overall experience.
(The free validated parking lot doesn't hurt either).Listed in: My Neighborheezy
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/18/2007
Japanese izakaya is comparable to Spanish tapas (or bar food) and is a variety of small appetizers… Read more »
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Review from Anita L.
1/23/2008 14 photos
We don't get up to LA much and when we do, we go with a big group which has its pluses. It means that when we eat out, we get to try a lot of stuff. Going to Izayoi was not any different. There were 12 of us at dinner, each of us ordering a few items and most of us tried everything. Like Lena, I don't remember every dish we had, but there were a few which stood out, a few which didn't and some which were just plain nasty.
The ones which stood out were the chilled lotus root appetizer, buta no kakuni (very tender and flavorful), mushrooms and baby scallops in a garlic butter sauce, black cod, minced sardines wrapped in shiso and deep fried. I also enjoyed the miso eggplant a lot, but then again, I love eggplant no matter how you cook it.
Then there were those items which you can't really go wrong with, such as edamame, agedashi tofu and ankimo. Zaru soba was also not too bad, although it was a bit doughy and nothing like what you get at Fukada.
Garlic stem with bacon sounded great but they over cooked the garlic stem and the maple flavor of the bacon just didn't register "Japanese" to me. Another mushroom dish was ordered, I think, simmered in soy and mirin, but that did not impress. Neither did the grilled duck slices (too chewy) nor the spicy chicken (which tasted like orange chicken) create a stir.
Some sushi rolls were ordered - I enjoyed those but again, they weren't stellar. The grossest thing which I tasted that evening was the duck slices with egg cooked in a pot. When it finally arrived, it looked like it should've been part of a donburi. It was pretty nasty and sadly, it was something I had ordered.
We had a great time, but I wouldn't return again especially since this is located in J-town and there are just too many other places to eat at. Atmosphere was nice, but I can't eat my surroundings. And oh, even though this calls itself an izakaya, it really isn't in the traditional sense. -
Review from Melissa G.
Pasadena, CA
9/21/2009
Went to Izayoi the other night with a group of friends from school. Though the restaurant is small, they did a great job accommodating 20 of us.
The food is really quite good. The sushi was as fresh as any superly yummy sushi restaurant in the area, but what I think really sets this place apart from some of the other restaurants is the amount of other dishes besides sushi they have. Our table ordered a huge variety of things: sushi, calamari legs, pork belly, tofu, salads, grilled chicken cartilage... truly.. can't even remember everything we ordered!
As others have already said, the price is a bit higher than some of the other restaurants in the area but at least the food is darn good!
The food is varied, delicious, homey, and... well, we'll definitely be back! -
Review from Crystal T.
Arcadia, CA
7/25/2008 3 photos
I didn't know what to expect when I came here on a whim last week. Sushi-Gen was full and I didn't want to find parking so the idea of parking in a lot for FREE was enticing.
Overall the experience was delicious. The miso marinated pork belly was sooo good, it was like eating chunks of sweetly glazed bacon. We also had the homemade cold tofu which was texturally perfect and very fresh, I could see how one could think it was bland, but I thoroughly enjoyed how refreshing it was. but you have to be a tofu lover The seared duck breast was also a favorite and seasoned perfectly. We also got a few rolls, spicy tuna, eel, and a rainbow roll stick out in my mind, fish was exceptional and of high quality. None of that slimey-ness that accompanies sub-par fish.
The only let down of the night was the fried lotus root was not the way I usually have it, it was fried in one big piece then sliced in a very heavy panko batter, I've had better. The portions are small, be forewarned and service was adequate but could have been better.
Tab came out to be just under $30 with tip a person which isn't too bad for the amount of food we ordered. But we didn't order anything seasonal.
I would stop by again though, free and easy parking around dinner time is hard to beat. -
Review from Abby A.
Duarte, CA
5/14/2008
Having experienced eating tapas-style in the past, my first foray into izakaya dining was at Izayoi in Little Tokyo. For those of you who didn't know, the name "izakaya" is a compound word consisting of "i " (to remain) and "sakaya" (sake shop), showing that izakaya originates from sake shops where a night out consisted of dining on bar food in between bouts of sake and beer, very similar to the concept of eating tapas paired with wines. Since I'm not actually much of a drinker, it was all about the food and for our meal, we sampled 15 different dishes, from salads all the way to dessert. Being a first-timer, Izayoi has definitely set a pretty high standard for future izakaya outings because except for 2 or 3 items that were just so-so, everything I had was extremely tasty.
First to arrive was the Cooked Broccoli Served Chilled with Spicy Cod Roe Dressing. This dish was pretty straightforward but I really enjoyed how the sweet and tangy onions along with the slight salty-heat of the dressing added great flavors to a vegetable that a lot of restaurants normally cook to an unappetizing mushy mess. Along with the broccoli came the Mustard Greens and Fried Bean Curd Tossed with Sesame Dressing, which was fresh and even re-freshing. Both were great starters for the meal to come.
A couple of dishes later, the Homemade Tofu with Ground Sesame Paste landed on our table. At first, it didn't look very appetizing. I kept thinking about camouflage colors every time I looked at it. After a few bites, I did end up appreciating how the fairly creamy tofu absorbed both the nuttiness and a tinge of bitterness from the sesame sauce for a duet of flavors that somehow worked well together. The Steamed Clams with Sake Broth also hit the spot. Though not a hearty soup, it's a bowl of goodness, tasty and light, that would be great to have on a chilly evening when you're not in the mood for a heavy meal.
Something that else that stood out for me was the egg custard presented in a tea cup with a little wooden spoon. It was a perfect complement to a meal with ts fair share of grilled and deep fried items. Both creamy and silky, it helped give our taste buds a rest in between courses and in a way, was a great palate cleanser as well.
Other delicious offerings from Izayoi were the Garlic Sauteed Scallops and Mushrooms, though a tad oily, still packed a lot garlicky punch while the Miso Eggplant was on the other end of the flavor spectrum because of the delicate sweetness of its miso glaze. Overall, most of the dishes we sampled were quite stellar, but there were those 2, even 3 items that did disappoint.
First, there were the tempura squid legs. The tempura wasn't light or crispy. In fact, I found it to be a bit heavy. What I also found unappealing is that when trying to take a bite out of the squid legs, the whole thing literally came out of the tempura. I felt like a cat in front of an aquarium looking perfectly innocent while a part of a fish was hanging out of its mouth. Get the picture? The whole squid leg section was just too big to have been fried because there was certainly no way anyone could eaten the whole thing in one bite. Second and third actually because both the Miso Duck and Ponzu Grilled Chicken had the same problem. Both meats were a little too over cooked and as a result, a little chewy.
In the end, to have only 3 out of 15 items not quite come up to par, definitively speaks well of Izayoi. People have told me that izakaya food actually tastes better with sake and/or beer, but in my book, Izayoi's food really doesn't need any further enhancement. Their menu can definitely stand on its own merit.
To see pics, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Take T.
Los Angeles, CA
7/11/2008
I live about one block from here. It's become the place to go for special occasions.
My wife and I recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary here for lunch. With three kids (two in elementary school and one still in diapers) and our anniversary falling on a Thursday, evening celebrations are pretty much out for another few years.
Anyways, my wife used to work with the owner when he was a chef at Sushi Gen so we always get greeted very warmly.
We both ordered the Chirashi Sushi, which in my opinion is one of the best around L.A. It comes with Miso soup, side salad (the dressing is excellent) and Japanese pickles. I was really hungry and was a little concerned that one order wasn't going to be enough but by the time I finished I was full.
For $11 bucks it's a winner in my opinion. Highly recommended.
09/08/2007 -
Review from Jessica H.
Costa Mesa, CA
6/8/2007
My first izakaya experience. i loved it! Nice big cold glasses of Otokoyama sake, edamame, nigiri, agedashi tofu, soba noodles, savory custard, fried green tea ice cream, and, most importantly, all shared over leisurely conversation with a good friend. I wish either I had more time for lunch, there was an izakaya where I live in Long Beach, or that I were inclined to go out drinking after work more often, because I would totally come here all the time if any of those were the case. I feel like I've only scratched the surface of both the food menu and the drink menu, and I am anxious to try more. If only I wasn't also so anxious to get home as quickly as possible after work.
Other useful info: we got here around 7 p.m. on a Thursday night and there was no wait, although the place got really full after that (we made it just in time). Service was okay. Our orders came pretty quickly, but drink refills were kind of lacking. The restaurant, as other reviewers have mentioned, was clean and modern without being obnoxiously trendy, and yes, the restrooms were nice and clean. With tax and tip and everything, the bill ended up being just over $40 per person. All in all, a night well spent! -
Review from Andrew A.
Diamond Bar, CA
6/13/2010
Came over here for a little Date with the girl friend.. it was a fantastic little joint in the other side of Little Tokyo. To be honest, the environment of all sushi places in the area is getting rather stale and unfresh so this didn't exactly pull my excite card out of the bag but it still had some interesting design cues.
Aside from it being a quite "normal" sushi establishment it definitely delivered on the end that it should.. and that is the food. Reading reviews here I decided to go with the black cod, pork belly and some unagi (fresh eel) and unago (salt water eel) and it was definitely some interesting stuff. The Unago was very good and it's very hard to come by in places so it was awesome being able to try it. The pork belly was definitely a fantastic addition.
The service was good enough; the waitress came over and did her job well enough. I cannot say that this place blew my mind but it definitely came through with the food so in my report I'll have to just say it's a SAFE bet in Little Tokyo but.. dare yourselves to venture some more... -
Review from tommy t.
Santa Monica, CA
3/22/2009
Just went here
"B" Rating posted out front
In a Chinese restaurant "B" Rating is Ok in a Japanese restaurant with raw items ?
Ordered
Kirin Pitcher = Poured Slow No Head on Pitcher UGGGH
Sake = OK (In Bottle)
Seaweed Salad 20 + ingredients
with a off ginger dressing including
Stale Iceberg lettuce pieces = Horrible
Chicken Kuriage 4 Giant Fried Chicken Pieces = Fair to Midland
Duck Saute = Fair
Soba and tempura = Good (No MSG)
Shrimp and vegetable tempura = fair
This place used to be good about 2 years ago
but has seriously dropped off a cliff
Huge expanded menu almost anything under the sun = not good by me
As you know I am a big fan of short menu"s
and this place now has a HUGE 200
Item Menu = Almost insurmountable ding.
Atmosphere .25 stars
Food 1.5 Stars
Total score
1.75 Stars -
Review from Kunney T.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/9/2008
Izayoi is different from Haru Ulala both in atmosphere and in offerings. Notably, Izayoi serves sushi which usually isn't the go-to when you crave Izakaya fare. However, the people there used to work at Sushi Gen so the sushi is pretty high quality. Izayoi also feels more upscale and lacks the nitty gritty of Haru.
If you're fortunate enough to work near Izayoi or if you have the free time to drive there during the lunchtime, you can try what I think is one of the best bang for the bucks - the izayoi bento - priced at 9.75 and limited to the first 25 orders. If you're not, still go for dinner. The fried chicken is - to paraphrase Dan F. - stupidly good and the creamy seafood croquets are orgasmic.Listed in: Insomniac w/ Kunney T., Places I Would Miss If I Left…, Sushi!
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Review from Rachel M.
Hollywood, CA
6/14/2011
Super good Japanese dishes!! Really unfortunate that it's closing down; try to come here soon to try their amazing food! The staff is very friendly and accommodating, plus, the atmosphere is very relaxing. I only came here for lunch on two occasions and each time I had no complaints. Prices are pretty standard ranging in the $10-$20 but you get so much food (the sets are not bad either). Sad to see it go...
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Review from Tae N.
Porter Ranch, CA
6/1/2010 3 photos
As its name suggests, Izayoi in Little Tokyo is an izakaya. So I thought it was not a sushiya in the traditional Japanese sense and was surprised to see an extensive selection of sushi/sashimi on their menu. And I kind of expected less when I ordered some of their sushi and boy was I wrong. It blew me away!!
First off, visually their sushi looked perfect. Each one of sushi was grabbed/cut so precisely that you'll see that the heights of maki are the exact same with each other. This skill requires Swiss clockwork precision and is a quick measure of one's skill with yanagi bocho (sashimi knife). Anyway, their sushi looked great and I gave much respect to the chef before I started eating.
And it tasted very good. Sushi neta was fresh enough and its portion was generous and well proportioned with the sheri size. Their sushi combo delivers the most bang for the buck among sushiyas in Little Tokyo. It got more expensive items than the ones in any other places. It comes with 10 pieces of sushi and 6 makis and all of them are top notch. I liked their ika sushi. Usually ika sushi doesn't melt in your mouth. But boy they got one of a kind. It literally melted in my mouth just like mochi. Amazing!
Izayoi offers solid sushi and has instantly become one of my favorite sushi joints in Little Tokyo. I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Narumi O.
Los Angeles, CA
12/17/2008
I have been to this restaurant 3 times and I don't remember much about it.
I remember there was a rude server,though.
And the dinner was about $50 for each person.
I am very picky when it comes to manner and service. The rude server forgot to bring Nozoki( soy sauce plate) and I didn't like it.
Food should be fresh, but once again I don't remember much. I mean the food didn't blow my mind and that's not a good sign.
However, the lunch box was pretty good.
I have to go back there.Listed in: Japanese
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Review from dan m.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2009
CHEF'S
Great guys, know how to whip it up.
SUSHI
Yuma-my-tuma!
PRICE
Fair
EAT IT
Yes please. -
Review from Michael C.
Saratoga, CA
10/14/2009
Was in LA on business, and was taken here for a business lunch. Wasn't really sure what to expect, so kept a very open mind going in.
I ordered the tonkatsu teishoku, mainly because i am on the same quest as tetsu n. to find a good tonkatsu in america. this definitely was not the place for that. the fried part was way too fried, and the meat inside was definitely not tender at all. there really wasn't a mountain of shredded lettuce, but a tiny thing of it, along with a salad mixed together with it. at least there was some sauce.
service was good, and although the waitress could speak japanese, which gives it a better touch, her english was heavily korean accented... guess my friends are right in saying that j-town is turning into k-town.
the people that took me there told me that they enjoyed it more when they went there at night when it is izakaya style. maybe i'll give it a try next time i'm in that area. -
Review from Vegan E.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2009
Like most Japanese restaurants, there's always something for veg*ns. My favorite item to order at Izayoi is their Salad Lunch special ($9.20 including tax). This includes miso soup, 2 inari, a small portion of pickled radish and marinated sea vegetable, and a medium-large portion of salad. The salad has fried and raw onions, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, and mixed greens. I love onions so this is one of my favorite salads ever.
Pros: Free parking in the adjacent lot with validation. Fast service. Yummy food.
Cons: Not open every day. Portions are large enough, but you won't have left overs. If you're really hungry you might not be full depending on what you order. Small restaurant, so if you come at a peak time (noon) there will most likely be a wait.Listed in: Favorite Restaurants
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Review from Shelley H.
Kaneohe, HI
11/15/2006
If you are a big eater who likes to leave a restaurant satiated, this place is not for you. Portions are downright minuscule. The number of dishes on the regular menu is overwhelming and the changing specials menu doubles your choices but how many dishes does a person have to order to make a meal? Three of us ordered 5 dishes to share. Mistaking this for more of a chop suey house, we thought that would be enough to share. The server gave us a confused look when we said 5 dishes was enough. Realizing this was our first time here she then gave us a knowing smile while telling us to keep one menu...just in case.
I think the food here is really good but it's hard to tell when there's so little of it to taste. Sea bass collar in miso sauce; yuzu chicken, Kumamoto oysters, seared duck and homemade tofu that melts on your tongue like whip cream. Everything had excellent flavor but after all those dishes we were still hungry. We decided to go back to an old staple- udon. After ordering a bowl of udon a piece the server was finally satisfied we had ordered enough food and took the last remaining menu away. Glad at least she was satisfied.
Though quality is high, it seems barely worth the effort of putting in an order when so little food comes out. The portion sizes are great for a snack and a Japanese beer after work but it's the sign of a bad restaurant if, while you're eating there, you joke about where you're really going for dinner afterward. -
Review from Mookie D.
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/9/2007
I went here once last year. It's a pretty good Izakaya restaurant. In fact, the best one in J-Town.
I haven't tried the raw fish or any sushi, but I was able to eat the more traditional tapas that these kind of restaurants are famous for. If I remember correctly, I had the homemade cold tofu, simmered pork with mochi, grilled seabass, grilled chicken w/ ponzu sauce, and sauteed eggplant w/ miso. Except for the grilled chicken, every item I ordered were very tasty and authentic. It definitely showed that chefs knew how to cook stuff around there.
Anyways, I highly recommend this restaurant. Although I can't really say that it's the best Asian tapas restaurant in all LA, it's the best in J-Town, beating out the quality of nearby locations like Ebisu and Haru Ulala. -
Review from Jill and Ying J.
Los Angeles, CA
9/6/2010
Izakayas are a type of Japanese cuisine that we've honestly never really experienced....until Furaibo, and now Iazyoi. It really adds a complete other dimension to what most people think of as Japanese food: noodles and sushi. These are more equivalent to tapas...small plates, each cooked with succulent flavor, and to be accompanied by alcohol. The restaurant itself is pretty small, and we actually waited about an hr for a table, but it was totally worth it. The sake and the grapefruit flavored japanese malt beverages while we waited certainly didn't hurt matters.
We came in a group of 5, and as a result were able to sample a ton of plates. In addition to the usual sashimi and tempura, but we also had pork belly, duck with eggplant, a whole deep fried garlic bulb, fish cake, along with a cold sharkfin and yam salad. Stuff you'd never associate with Japanese food right? Skip the last one, and you're good to go. We'll def be exploring more izakaya places in LA -
Review from Bonnie L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2010
I've never been there for dinner so this review is solely based on my lunch experiences in Izayoi.
I averagely go to Izayoi about 3 times a month with coworkers. Since we work in the D/T financial district, it is quite a breezy for us to get there during lunch time either by DASH or driving. Go there before 12 or after 1 (to avoid lunch time rush hour) because the restaurant tends to get busy due to its size. I typically order the sashimi lunch box or the daily lunch box. The quality of food is consistent and always fresh. The service is always excellent and friendly. They would reserve table for you if you have party of 6 or more.
Overall, my experience at Izayoi has been pleasant and satisfactory! -
Review from Gwen P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/20/2010
This is definitely a favorite of mine in Little Tokyo. I've been here quite a few times and every time, I come out feeling happy and satisfied - kinda like a reliable, nice guy boyfriend that never lets you down.
I've tried a lot of the mini plates - the Seafood and Veggie ones. I like the Stuffed Mushrooms, Home Made Fishcakes, to name a few. What really impressed me was the Sashimi platter - the cut was amazing, the fish was so fresh - definitely pleasure in your mouth! The salads are great too and go well if you order a lot of fish/fried stuff.
So I will definitely continue to come to this cute, little sushi joint in Little Tokyo. You can also park in the Office Depot lot which keeps you from "pretending" you're walking to Starbucks when you're actually crossing the street to get to Little Tokyo Village. -
Review from Michael L.
Gardena, CA
4/10/2007
I figured it was about time to do a review of Izayoi. When I was in Japan in 1992 (yeah, THAT long ago), my favorite places to go were izakayas. After a night out, we would go to a local izakaya in Hakodate and have sashimi, some croquettes, beer and sake. To think, this trend got here almost 15 years later. But on to Izayoi. I've now been here 3 times (dinner once, lunch twice) so I think I can give a thorough review.
First, their bento box at lunch ($9.50) is a DEAL. You'll get a little bit of sashimi, tenpura (yes, that's how it's spelled if you translate from Japanese to English), grilled fish of the day (I got tuna belly), chawanmushi and a couple of side items, miso soup and rice. I've also had their tenpura soba and a couple of sushi items (snapper with lemon juice and salt, and seared toro) for lunch. Their lunch specials are rather good deals. The portions are not small and the quality has been good. Their soba soup tastes richly of dashi and their tenpura is always crisp and light.
For dinner, I went with 3 others and ordered a number of things off their izakaya menu. This was actually the first time I came here and honestly, there wasn't much to be remembered. The food was generally good, but nothing was outstanding. The buta kakuni was the best dish; the lamb chops were not so thrilling.
But, each time I've come here, I've been more impressed with the food. Although it's been open a while now, it certainly is getting better. The variety is great, and the food easily outshines other local places.
Now, I need to go back for dinner.
More info: I went here again for lunch and had Tenpura soba and Tai and seared Toro sushi. For about $25 bucks, it was filling and good. The Tai (Madai) was clean tasting and firm, the Toro was a little stringy but the searing helped melt the intramuscular fibers. The rest of the fish at the sushi bar looked good.Listed in: Top Sushi Bars (so far) ...
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Review from Lou F.
Los Angeles, CA
7/15/2008
We were trying to decide on a place to get our parking validated (we had given up on street parking in j-town tonight), I saw the Zagat plaque and walked in, the decor was pleasing and fresh but wont distract from your attention to the food. Their room temperature sashimi was the best I had eaten in many years.
The Jo-Chirashi set featured a donburi style rice beneath the blend of shrimp, tuna, salmon, clam and hamachi. This stuff really melts in your mouth. The seaweed salad was delectable and we ordered a sizzling miso eggplant dish to complement. They refill your ice tea and water promptly. The prices are med-high but bear in mind you get Zagat quality sushi here and your parking validated ;-). -
Review from julie n.
Studio City, CA
8/1/2008
Man, I had not been to Little Tokyo in a while and was quite surprised by the development.
I met some friends of mine who know their Japanese foods including a gringo who lived in Japan for 10 years and they picked the place. It's on Central Ave between 1st and 2nd street. The restaurant sign is hard to see from the street, so just park in the Office Depot parking lot (they validate). I think Izayoi was between Quiznos and Yogurtland. At first, I thought "what the hell" since you wouldn't expect a good Japanese restaurant to be next to Quiznos.
The decor was okay and the place looked clean though I noticed they had a "B" rating by the city.
They had all the traditional Japanese beers and sake. The only draft beer they had was Kirin. A pint was $3.50 and a pitcher was $15 (I think).
I was surprised to see that most of the clients were non-Japanese until I looked at the menu. They had a lot of Japanese fusion appetizers which I never heard of and didn't care to try. I stuck with the traditional dishes and was happy with their sashimi and sushi.
I recommend this place to anyone. The menus are in english and I noticed the waitresses took the time to explain the ingredients, so it's not an intimidating place if you want to experience izakaya style dining.
Bathrooms were clean too. -
Review from Sally T.
Encino, CA
6/26/2008
I don't even know what I ate because the 2 guys at the end of the table were just ordering everything on the menu. All I remembered was plates flying on and off of our table as they're being attacked by 12 pairs of chopsticks. actually .. 11 pairs and 1 fork.
but .. I do remember this .. Grilled pork belly .. was the BOMB diggity!
and then top it with yogurtland for dessert. mmm mmm mmm
happy stomach = my baby got lucky that night. ;-)
