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Tue-Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I haven't been this impressed with the quality of dishes at any Japanese restaurant in the LA area since I experienced the Ikko in Orange county a few months back! Kagaya is sooo good and the service is extremely friendly too - now that's a rarity!
I find that the fancier looking places seem to cater more to cooked foods and rolls whereas the hole in the wall, dinky looking Japanese places carry the true, down home, goood, raw, simple tasty food. Kagaya is good at everything - from the decor and ambiance to the quality of their ingredients to the level of their service... I couldn't have been happier with the food here.
S and I sat at the bar and ordered the regular prime beef shabu shabu dinner and it was amazingly tasty.
I was very impressed by the rice soup cooked with the shabu shabu beef broth with cinlantro and japanese plum. OMG too good to be real.
Masa, the master chef is amazing.... Will definitely go back again!
Usually, I'm not crazy about shabu shabu. I mean, it's good, but it's not inexpensive and you can do it at home so easily. I've done it before, believe me. It's super-easy.
Kagaya is a different story. Good apps. But really, I don't want to take the emphasis away from what's coming up.
King crab legs, clams, and oyster. You know, I have to give the Japanese a huge round of applause. Whereas a Western oyster bar would have given you like a half-dozen pretty good oysters, Kagaya gives you just one, but that ONE oyster! Easily one of the best oysters I've ever had. I will never forget how good it was.
And you have to get the wagyu. I get annoyed with the phrase "it melts in your mouth," but this actually melts in your mouth. So, so good. I know it's pricey, but It's definitely something you have to experience at least once in your life. Will I pay to experience it a 2nd time in my life? Doubt it; the memory is good enough, thank you very much.
This may be the best shabu shabu restaurant! If you are looking for something different and an enjoyable experience you must give this place a try. Since this is a small place, I recommend you make reservation. Ask for seating at the bar this way you can watch the owner/chef prepare your meal. There isn't a hugh wine selection so I opted to bring a bottle of my own which they gladly served without a corkage change. YES!! Beer and sake is the drink of choice for most of the diners. Okay...The first course consist of a scallop appetizer and then it was followed by a shrimp/tofu soup. Both were well prepared and very tasty. I order the tender beef plate which was enough to fill me up. I ended the meal with a dish of banana cream pie which a creation of the chef. The dessert was a perfect way to end the meal.
There is a parking lot which charage $2.50. Not bad or you try to find parking on the street.
Great dining experience for 2-6 people but the restaurant is too small for a big party. Be expecting to shell out at least $50+ per person but well worth it.
This is a great traditional Japanese Shabu Shabu Restaurant. There only down side would be that they usually only take reservations. All of there vegetables are fresh and the quality is top notch. A bit pricey but would like to try it again only if it were a special occasion.
This is probably one of my favorite restaurants in all of LA. I've never been dissapointed coming here. I don't need to go on and on about why it is so good as you can just read the other reviews for this restaurant. I felt I should at least put up a post and give it the 5 stars it deserves.
Why is this listed as "Japanese Fondue"? Unless dipping food in hot water is considered fondue, this is most definitely shabu shabu.
Anyway, this place is great. Oh yes, the $$$$ price rating don't lie, but it sure is worth it. The food is of exceptional quality, and the seasonal appetizers are GREAT. Very nice and friendly service too. The timing of the dishes is perfect so you don't feel rushed, but you're not waiting around either. Well paced, very filling meal.
Decor is pretty, small inside but nice and comfortable. Try sitting at the bar - you get a nice view of the chef working his artistry.
I will definitely come back a few paychecks down the line...
Other useful info: $2.50 in the parking lot with validation (good for 3 hrs), and expect the bill to run about $50-100/person, plus even more for sake.
My first review as a Yelper was going to be on Ikko in Torrance because it was delish...but I procrastinated (one of my many talents) and I've now bumped them in favor of a new favorite restaurant as of last night, KAGAYA. I ventured there with two of my colleagues from work for a celebratory dinner, it was recommended by one of my dining companions. I read up on Yelp and saw some of the most consistently good reviews that I'd seen. Buoyed by a sense of excitement, I was ready for a fantastic meal & Kagaya did not disappoint.
The restaurant is small, longer than it is wide, with tables aligning the left wall, separated by bamboo partitions, and a semi circular counter on the right where you can dine and watch the chef do his thing. The atmosphere inside is clean, airy, and bright, and in direct contrast with the strip mall that it resides in.
The menu is sparse & straightforward, there are shabu shabu 'sets' to chose from starting from $50 and going up to $128. The $50 set is for 'basic' beef and although I heard that this beef is perfectly fine and quite delicious, you can upgrade to regular Wagyu beef or premium Wagyu beef. I chose the premium Wagyu/seafood set ($93), my colleagues chose premium Wagyu set (beef only, $128) and regular Wagyu set (beef only, $103). The dinners, although a bit on the pricey side, come with array of items and extras that justify the prices.
We were served 3 appetizers beginning with a hirame (halibut) sashimi dish topped with myoga (myoh-gah, a Japanese ginger/onion hybrid) and caviar. It was so delicate and delicious. One thing about this place is that your usual pace of eating slows considerably due to the smaller portions, you find yourself savoring bites and becoming full more quickly than usual. Second dish was a tai (snapper) soup. The dashi (broth) was also delicately seasoned and the only accompaniments within the soup were sliced scallions, wakame (seaweed), and a piece of soft tofu. There were no actual pieces of fish in the soup, just the aroma from the infusion of it. Very good. Next came the smoked duck, topped with daikon oroshi (grated white radish), chives, soy sauce, & a small bitter fuchsia colored flower bud crushed and scattered on top, it was delicious! The three slices went very quickly!
Our community shabu shabu hot pot is bubbling by this point and the server brought us our dipping sauces, one was misodare (miso flavored sauce, thick consistency, strongly flavored, good with the meat) and the other was ponzu (citrus flavored soy sauce-like sauce with chopped scallions floating in it, good with seafood, veggies, and meat too).
The service is quick, polite, and unobtrusive throughout the meal.
Our long awaited meals arrive and the presentation is great! The meat slices are perfectly arranged and the premium Wagyu is almost white, there is so much marbling. Even the regular Wagyu is quite marbled. The seafood that came with my dish was 1 raw oyster w/a lemon perched on top - the only way to describe the oyster is "puri puri", a Japanese term, when used to describe food loosely translates to 'plump & juicy', 3 asari clams, and 2 taraba gani (Taraba kani (crab), a Japanese variety) legs. You have the option of upgrading to 'nama' (fresh/raw) crab for an additional $20.00 as the usual is the steamed. I had the steamed that came with the meal and it was very good, just the right blend of salty and sweet crab meat. No dipping sauce was even needed.
Can't say enough good things about the meat..one or two quick swishes and it's ready and really, chewing is almost unnecessary, that's how soft and tender it is. My set came with 5 slices and the meat sets came with 10 slices each. It doesn't look like much volume at first, but it's more than enough by the end. The veggies that come with the sets are all delicious as well and add a lot of harmony & balance to the meal. Japanese cabbage, greens, mushrooms, tofu, and rice noodles are included in the veggie plate.
After all this goodness.....dessert is included as well! We had our choice of 5; my colleagues picks, creme brulee (very good albeit tiny), and maccha balaloa (a green tea pudding/custard topped with sweet red beans "anko", very good, not too sweet, green tea gave it a good bitterness), lychee ice cream (my choice, so good, topped with fresh lychee and a flaky butter 'cookie'). There was also a strawberry sherbet and banana pie, but alas, there were only 3 of us...
Our dinner reservation on a Wednesday night was at 7:00 and we ended up leaving at around 9:45 (they discreetly advised us that another party/reservation was awaiting our table).
I highly recommend Kagaya as a special occasion spot to dine with good friends and family...unless you have extra discretionary income, then I suggest going there often! Currently dreaming up a reason to go back there with my husband sometime very soon.
It's been nigh 8 years since my first visit to Kagaya, which had engendered many a warm reverie since. It was the very first place that I had ever tried true Wagyu, imported from Japan, true Kobe. One of the people that I'd eaten with at that very first trip had mentioned to me that they'd returned to eat at Kagaya, and had found it less impressive.
Well, it was time for me to try its food against my palate once again, especially given how much my palate has evolved since my last visit. Were the memories false? Was my first unbelievable quaff of Kubota Manjyu just the memory of an inexperience, wannabe connoisseur ?
Thus it was with some trepidation that I re-entered Kagaya.
The decor had changed, and they'd given the location a little more space per table. They sat our little trio at a table and delivered us menus. Happily, they flipped mine to the nihongo side. :)
I decided that, for this comparison, no expense would be spared.
In 2000, the Kobe beef was 90 dollars, significantly more than the Angus beef that was selling for around 40. On this visit, the Shabu Shabu Kaiseki with iirc Matsusaka Wagyu (Non Kobe, different house - everyone ought to know there are far more than one, Mishima, Matsusaka etc. ), was 128 per person.
We had two glasses of Kubota Manjyu, and then we began.
We started with a clear broth that had Salt Wort and I believe Cod.
Very tasty, but a bit acrid, and not likely to be everyone's cup of tea.
Second course had a delicately boiled giant shrimp in a clear broth with chives.
Succulent and flavourful without being heavy handed. Delicate texture of the shrimp always is a plus.
Third was a marinated Wagyu steak garnished with turnip paste and chives.
I'm a beef-whore. This rocked my world. :) But steak does that to me.
The Shabu Shabu followed, accompanied with the traditional tofu, Meng noodles, mushrooms and cabbage.
I savoured every single slice of Wagyu. I took the time to examine the marbling before every bite, and alternated my use of the peanut based sauce with that of the soy based one.
Oshinko and a very lightly seasoned Udon broth rounded out the meal.
The Udon was one of two options, but the soup it was served in was very light, with little oil or flavouring. Delicately seasoned, yet again.
Dessert consisted of a green tea mousse, a sesame ice cream, Sayuri Nigori Sake and one other dish that eludes me.
I am a fiend for the rich, spiral marbling of Wagyu, and don't regret the cost whatsoever. I've always just barely cooked my shabu shabu pieces... and the dipping sauces remain zesty and delicious.
So, 8 years later, I still love Kagaya. My palate has now had similar grades of meat at other venues now, including in Japan proper... I'm still impressed with Kagaya -- the limited Kaiseki selection was solid. (Just had Kaiseki at a Michelin 3 rated restaurant in Tokyo).
Solidly amazing, but no longer the same flavour of mind-blowing.
I guess there's never quite a return to the "first time."
:)
I adore this restaurant. June 2000 was my first visit; also the very first time that I enjoyed the… Read more »
It was magical and delicious.
I enjoyed the ambiance. It's nice sitting up at the bar and drinking sake with the chef.
Beef was of good quality and tenderness. I like mine medium rare.
It's pricey but well worth it. Not one bad bite.
I used to go here quite often with my family back when I was young. I've never had better shabu shabu, ANYWHERE.
Their appetizers are well crafted. Their quality of beef rivals that of great steakhouses. They flavor the ozouni/udon post-beef perfectly. Their desserts are also delicious.
You might think, "It's just beef cooked in boiling water. How can one place be any better than another?" Try a lower quality shabu shabu restaurant, and then come here. Trust me, you'll know the difference.
This is one of the places on my MUST-GO list when I go back to LA.. unfortunately, I live in the Bay Area now so it'll be a while before I'll get to go back there!
This is potentially the best interactive food experience in all of Los Angeles.
If we consider interactive food experiences on a continuum, maybe a scale of 1-10. 1 being the least interactive (drive-thru & denny's = 1, korean BBQ, shabu shabu =10) Sushi would be abour a 5. I love sushi, korean BBQ and even Mongolian BBQ, but Kagaya kicks all their asses.
One usually needs a reservation at Kagaya, because it gets busy. They sit you down at a lovely little table with a giant bowl full of hot water on a heat source. Your order your proteins and they bring you all kind of veggies and side dishes, along with your proteins, which you then cook in the water and dip into one of several yummy dipping sauces. At the end of the meal, you are left with a bowl of delicious broth, and your server brings out a bowl of noodles to cook in the broth. After the noodle course, the chef sends out the dessert of his choice.
You leave feeling full as a tick, as accomplished as Collichio and as happy as Buddha.
Wow, so Im the only one that thinks $300 for a shabu dinner for two is ridiculous ? Really ?
The food was good. Good, not great. But when you factor in the bill and the tiny portions (5 pieces of beef. Five.), its just absurd.
Shaab in Old Pasadena is just as good at a fraction of the price.
If I can give a galaxy of stars I would. It's a very refined shabu shabu Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. The delicately presented appetizers of Chef's house sashimi.. uhhhh.... I savor every bite with a smile. The Wagyu beef deliciously melts in your mouth. The dinner ended with handmade desserts, couldn't ask for more perfect harmony.
The place has an inviting, warm setting. As if we aimlessly wander off during a cold December night in Tokyo and found this spot.
Kagaya has officially spoiled my taste for shabu shabu, I couldn't eat anywhere else but here.
Holy sh*t was the kobe beef shabu-shabu dinner out of this world. This was the first time I had kobe and I was just blown away by the service, quality and attention to detail of this place. Everything, from the service to the presentation of the food was just....zen. Perfectly balanced. Perfectly paired (this was like a 4-5 course meal). So although I did end up paying about $100, it was totally worth it. Unlike normal shabu-shabu, the slices of beef are not served together with rice or udon noodles. You have a choice between rice soup or udon noodle soup as the fourth course before dessert. Since I'm a noodle whore I would highly recommend the eggflower peppered udon. I'd definitely come back soon...after I get my paycheck.
Reservations is a must!
i find this place amazing and anticipate sheer bliss everytime i dine here. in fact, last night we went for my husbands birthday and i was so excited that i didnt eat lunch - just so i would be hungry enough to finish everything in front of me.
its THAT good.
this is the fanciest shabu shabu you'll ever have. it's pricey, but definitely worth a try. it's a shabu shabu tasting menu. you start off with some little appetizers and then work your way to the shabu shabu, and then my favorite part was the udon/rice made of the broth you had cooked all your meat, seafood and vegetables in. the chef makes this udon or rice for you. personally, i preferred the rice soup. there was dessert too, but by that time, you're already extremely stuffed.
i definitely recommend going . . . especially on a cold, cold day.
The only Shabu-shabu place in LA that gives you a full-course experience, from various appetizers to home-made desserts. Despite the superb beef (both the Angus and the Wagyu are exceptional), the greatest part of the meal is the rice porridge at the end. They use your left-over broth, season it with soy sauce, ginger, and some other condiments, and make the best "zosui" ever! They actually give you the choice of rice porridge or udon noodles, but I have never had the noodles (since I happened to have the zosui the first time, and have become addicted) but I assume that it is just as excellent. One tip: if you have the beef and seafood course, your broth becomes much tastier, and the rice porridge becomes that much better! But back to the beef, it is the freshest in LA. Not much in portion, but that is authentic Japanese kaiseki-style. Small-portions, elegant, and exceptional quality.
- The count 0-2, waiting and anticipating the 0-3 strikeout...
- Jay B does the stereotypical sack adjustment before addressing the plate - spittle splats the ground next to his brown pristine leather pumas...
- The pitch: A knuckle-ball slider...
- The swing: BEE-OTCH! echoes and vibrates through the solid ash stump, going... going... gone... it's a Grand Slam...
- The crowd erupts and goes hog-wild ecstatic...
- The bugle sounds Cavalry Charge: Da-da-da-dum-da-dum! I finally made it through these elusive doors. So what was the winning formula to finally getting into this place after the past two failed attempts?
1) Make reservations. For all that is sacred in this world - MAKE RESERVATIONS! The only way to get past tough-little Mama-San!
2) Parking is $2.50 for 3 hours after 4pm (enough time to hit Pinkberry afterward.) You'll need to get your ticket validated or else you'll pay up the nose.
3) Tables can only accommodate 1 communal shabu pot, so if someone in your party doesn't like mixing seafood with their meat - you'll need to sit at the bar.
4) Prices are high, but if you view it as a whole dinning experience - it helps... somewhat...
Here is the entire menu (July '09 pricing):
US Prime Beef Shabu Shabu - $43
Seafood Shabu Shabu - $56
Mixed Prime and Seafood - $50
Poor fool's Wagyu Shabu Shabu - $108
Mixed Poor Wagyu and Seafood - $83
Rich dick's Wagyu Shabu Shabu - $128
Mixed Rich Wagyu and Seafood - $93
As you can see, simple yet poinient to what you're here for. This zenful dinning experience is broken down into six courses which includes three seasonal appetizers, your main course with fresh veggies, which ends with udon or "zosui" rice soup, pickled veggies and dessert. At the bar you're under the watchful eye of Chef Masa-san, he watches your every move to anticipate when your next course should be set in motion. While very Japanese in mannerisms, every employee can speak perfect English and is polite and professional which translates favorably in any language.
The prelude to a kiss:
The first appetizer was fresh albacore tuna that dissolved to the touch of the tongue. It was expertly season with wasabi, a sweet sake marinade, benito and chives. The second course a fresh water eel in daikon soup, which cleansed the pallet to ready your senses for the third course, which was sliced beef tongue topped with mashed potatoes, chives and wasabi mustard. A sensation of fatty yet tender textures (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ). This left the pallet wanting and anticipating the main course.
The act of seduction:
Now hats off, they do it right here at KaGaYa. No miso, or chili-based soup options offered. Just a very light and simplistic chicken-based broth. When you pay that much for premium heifer, you want and need to savor every ounce of the succulent marbled melt-in-your-mouth goodness in an uncontaminated environment. The Wagyu truly lived up to the expectations of beef that has seen the better side of message therapy and beer (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ). The Prime came with 13 slices of better-than-average tasting beef that went exceptionally well with the KaGaYa ponzu. The vegetables consisted of thinly sliced napa cabbage, chrysanthemum leaves, tofu, shredded green onions, rice noodles, and shitaki mushrooms.
After the plates emptied, the choice of udon or rice soup is offered. We had both. The shabu broth was filtered and udon and rice were prepared and served. The udon wasn't bad. The rice soup however was exceptionally notable. With the addition of plum, the soup tasted like the comfort food Onigiri (rice ball).
The fulfillment of desires:
The crème brulee (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) was notable but not exceptional. However, the green tea mousse (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) was as airy and exquisite which may cause toe-curling tendencies.
If one considers this truly a Japanese restaurant that has been around for 14 years, then everything is done for a purpose. So my experience is truly one of simplistic but eloquent eating. Amazingly enough there seems to be quite a few regulars that eat here based on over-heard conversations.
In the background, the familiar sounds of a ballgame continues... Rounding third base and heading for home: Jay B trips on his own ball sack and plummets to a 20mph-face plant when the bill abruptly appears and disrupts serendipity with a cackling snicker from Mama-San... "Uh we don't accept American Express."
There's no denying the luscious and buttery pieces of beef here and the overall elegant shabu-shabu experience -- but something about what's essentially a minimum order requirement of $50 per head is a bit off-putting. It's the principle.
That said, we did enjoy the trio of small apps (an additional $22 per person if splitting an order of shabu for two ppl, I believe), from the raw jellyfish served with a cucumber gelee to the spicy broiled swordfish topped with spinach.
Service was attentive and I did appreciate the fresh ingredients and thoughtful presentation. Definitely for those who can splurge on spendy shabu -- not so much for the casual shabu-shabu eater.
This was one of the best meals I have ever had in my life and there were certain tastes which were an absolute revelation! My wonderful Darling took me here for my birthday and we were both wonderfully surprised. We were both a little skeptical about paying so much for shabu which is a pretty simple thing to prepare. I would totally pay it again for such a fantastic meal. The appetizers are part of a prix fixe type menu and each was more scrumptious than the last. It is probably unlikely that you will have the same appetizers as we had when we went since the chef changes them frequently based on the seasonality, etc. of the ingredients. Regardless, its not like you will be able to choose so just accept each graciously and prepare for a taste explosion. The flavors of each dish were subtle yet memorable. There was a tuna tartare dish that was particularly divine. Then the shabu came out...well there are no frozen slices of beef at this joint! The beef is sliced fresh in front of you on one of those deli-slicers. I had the surf and turf type platter with wagyu beef. Thought it might be another waste of money but wow! Wagyu beef (the real kind flown in from Japan and not the US version) is absolutely positively completely worth it! After the beef, you get a choice between either rice or noodles in the leftover beef broth. Although I was ready to explode from all the food, I still had to keep going cos it was just too good. Then there comes a choice of desserts and we each tried something different but I can't remember now.
I can't tell you how much this restaurant exceeded my already high expectations. I was ready to be disappointed as I am in a lot of over-hyped LA restaurants (unfortunately, as much as it tries, this is not a foodie city..that the actual taste of the food is tertiary to its photogenic nature and the celebrity of the chef/clientele) but this restaurant wholly deserves its praise! Another difference was that despite the high cost of the meal, we didn't feel gypped...not only was it more than enough food but the fantastic flavor blew me away.
Prepare to spend at least $200 for two with a small sake. Kagaya is located in the Honda plaza which has parking for a fee. I think the restaurant does validate but not sure if the parking is then free or just offered for a reduced price. There is limited street parking but we didn't really have trouble finding a spot and walking it. The area was actually pretty lively at night...felt neighborhood-y. The place takes cards. One major CAVEAT: there is limited seating so don't forget to make reservations!! This is not really a "big group" restaurant...it's made for groups of two to four people tops so if you are organizing a big get-together, maybe another restaurant will be more appropriate.
I usually am not into shabu shabu but Kagaya makes a great dining experience. We ordered the regular steak (didn't shell out for the wagyu) and seafood (cooked in a separate bowl for the non beef-eater in our party). With each order, you get 3 appetizers and a choice of dessert. Our appetizers were Spanish mackerel with a very finely processed cucumber paste on top in a bowl of ponzu/soy sauce, a few slices of duck breast in a dashi kombu broth and their version of Oysters Rockefeller... just as delicious and fatty but with a Japanese flavor.
I would have gone just for the appetizers, but the shabu-shabu was equally impressive. The meat is immaculate and you dip it yourself in your choice of broth. After your finished with your meat and veggies, the friendly waitstaff takes your broth and turns it into either udon or rice soup, your choice.
The meal finishes off with dessert, also included in the price. Since there were five of us, we were able to try all 5 of the desserts offered that night: apple pie, banana pie, creme brulee, green tea mousse & strawberry sorbet with condensed milk. None were heavy... perfect endings to a well-paced meal.
I'd suggest reservations as the place is tiny. Even though we had made reservations we still had to wait 20 minutes for our table. Once in, though, service was excellent.
The best Shabu Shabu I had in LA and the only Kaiseki Shabu Shabu that I know in LA.
The quality and the service are great and consistent.
A bit pricey. (After tax and tip, it was $230 for 3 of us)
I personally do not feel the Kobe beef is worth it. (I personally believe Kobe beef in Shabu Shabu is a waste of Kobe beef)
Best Shabu Shabu place in Los Angeles. It is quite expensive but well worth the money. If you are ever visiting LA please come to this place but make a reservation because it is small and very popular, it is not a place where you can just walk in.
Once in there, the servers and chefs are so friendly and will seat you right away and sometimes they even know your name (love that part). It is a very simple menu, with beef, seafood, and etc. I got the beef shabu shabu and my friend got the fresh king crab legs. Just a warning the king crab leg shabu shabu is around $100 because it is just so good. The owner of this place has something to do with the fish market so everything is very fresh here.
After you order, they give you various delicious appetizers and then comes the beef and crab. The king crab legs are to die for, they only have this occasionally so if they have it when you are here I would get it, its worth the money. Then they turn your broth into either rice or udon and it is pretty good too. Then comes the 2nd to best part of the meal dessert. Any dessert here is good, I know the person next to me got one of each and they all looked delicious.
A shabu shabu lover's dream!
Kagaya is one to those legendary spots that have been on the map for years. If you have been there feel lucky to have found it. If you haven't been there you probably have heard of it or will sometime in the future.
The food is not just shabu- shabu but a lesson in fine Japanese cuisine. Starting with a sashimi dish, a osuimono(soup) and a broiled fish of the day which is then followed by the shabu shabu. The options on the menu seem expensive but actually it is quite a deal considering the amount of food you get.
The quality of the food is great and the attention to detail is sharp and precise. The service is exceptional and they have a one of a kind creme brule scorched with a red hot disc. Great restaurant and highly recommended
One of the few 5 star ratings I've ever given.
My 5 stars is simply based upon a criteria of food, service, value, and atmosphere.
FOOD: I prepare shabu shabu all the time, and it's all about quality ingredients. Masasan and Victor do a phenomenal job at expertly preparing their dishes. The tofu salmon carpaccio is probably one of the most uniquely prepared dishes I've had in a while, and I loved the textures and the subtle citrus sauce drizzled over the salmon. The orange roughy was nicely cooked to retain a perfectly moist center which was set off with possibly some sansho, cilantro, and adorned with julienned negi. The shabu shabu beef that I ordered was what I had expected, and I'd rather gloss over the details to talk about desert which I almost turned down because I was so full - the Chinese style egg drop, white pepper udon, almost put me over the top, but I'm glad I didn't pass on desert because the strawberry sorbet was amazingly naturally "strawberry" tasting (surprising with so much processed food that strawberry flavor is a surprise), and the green tea mousse with the azuki beans wasn't a half-ass scoop from "X" food supplier.
SERVICE: Very attentive and everything you'd expect from a typical Japanese restaurant in Japan.
ATMOSPHERE: I have a thing for open kitchens since I worked in one, and I also appreciate anybody who can keep their chef coats white because that's something that challenged me.
VALUE: Well the only way you're going to get this level of food and service in the U.S. is that you're going to have to pay for it. McDonalds in Japan has 5 star service, but here they don't get paid enough to give a shit. The total for having pride in what you do for the basic beef shabu shabu and about 3 large Sapporo's with tip was about $145. The wagyu (one of the only places that doesn't mislead you by telling you it's generically "Kobe" was about $102 for each person).
TIP: I've been here 2-3 other times, and all 3x's I've been DENIED! (too busy). That's why I highly recommend reservations. The place gets packed.
My favorite Shabu Shabu in la! We always get the 'beef' which is $43 bucks... even though it's the cheapest thing on the menu it's always a hundred times better than the most expensive elsewhere.
I love how it comes with all the little appetizers, then either rice or noodle after, and dessert! Everything is amazing quality.
The atmosphere is fabulous, very intimate, lot of regulars here. Be sure to make reservations since the place isn't very large, but then again, you can always try your had at a seat at the bar.
Kagaya has fantastic cuts of meat along with Miyazaki Beef (Kobe). Although they charge about $130.00 for ten to twelve slices, it's absolutely worth it. I've only had the Miyazaki 5 times but it's melt in your mouth f-ing fantastic. It's that good if I'm dropping f-bombs! But don't be afraid of the prices of the Kobe, they do have Choice cuts as well at reasonable prices.
Besides the beef, they have a course meal that changes weekly. The soups, appetizers, and specials are different every time I visit. Kagaya uses fresh local ingredients which keeps the menu interesting. Great place for a date too.
Definitely the best Shabu Shabu I've ever had. But at these prices, and after walking away still hungry, I'd take Korean BBQ over it any day of the week.
Kagaya is more than just traditional Shabu Shabu. The meal comes with a trio of great seafood appetizers including a good tuna sashimi w/soy, interesting shrimp & tofu soup, and the highlight of the night...the fried halibut.
We went with the mixed beef & seafood plate ($45 per person for everything) , but they also offer a higher end Wagyu beef or King Crab plate ($100 each) or an uber-special kind of Wagyu for $150. The king crab is nothing special as its already cooked before you ever see it, so focus on the meat.
At at the end of the meal, they'll make a rice porridge or noodle soup out of the leftover broth which is a nice touch.
So a big thumbs up for Kagaya, including the starters and great waitstaff. But I'm still going for Bulgogi and Panchan when given the opportunity.
I'm not the biggest meat eater (says she who has just written a lengthy review on a KBBQ AYCE house). Well, for Korean standards (says she who is dying to try a place called Animal). What I am trying to say is that I flat-out LOVE shabu shabu. I love eating it in Japan, in San Fran, in L.A., love eating it at home with Mitsuwa premium cuts, love eating it with some slummin' Ranch 99 beef, and, oh, how I love eating it at Kagaya for the full royal treatment.
First of all, you cannot go wrong with any of the choices. Chef Masa's cutthroat high standards make sure of that. The regular beef is already lovingly tender. If you want a better cut--and it's definitely better--pay $60 more for Miyazaki wagyu. And if you're a baller with peacock feathers, order the premium Miyazaki wagyu (and choke on it. j/k, peace, ballers!). The thing about the wagyu is that it is a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth cut, thus very, very filling in this incremental way. I've tasted the premium wagyu and, honestly, I could not tell the difference between the two wagyu cuts. My input will fall on deaf ears, however, as clients love to pick the most expensive items on my firm's dime (keep it up, freeloaders, I'm not payin').
Generally, I'm weirdly a beef only kind of shabu shabu gal (Chinese style hot pot freaks me out), but the seafood quality thanks to Masa-san who has some special connection with the downtown fish market (which, in turn, has a direct artery to Japan) has the "trust" stamp all over it (the ~$100 option). You have to see some of this crustacean. The king crab legs are ginormous and the softest, sweetest meat slips out.
Shabu shabu is all about the quality of the ingredients and the very important dipping sauces. The ponzu--and lord, do I love ponzu--is so freakin' good with this splash of citrus essence that makes my mouth water. The goma one is stellar, too, and everyone always gives the staff a hard time about its secret "peanut" recipe.
In addition to the above, you get two seasonal appetizers. I've had blue fin tartare (godamn), deep-fried breaded ankimo (bomb), other carpaccios, sashimis, tempuras, housemade tofu garnished with spicy daikon, etc. They are all delicious with the best being the blue fin and ankimo. Next will come either perfectly fluffy chawanmushi or a soothing bowl of soup with a beautiful piece of fish. Third, you choose either udon or zosui (rice porridge that is made by cooking the rice in the very broth that you cook the vegetables and meat in). I always choose the zosui, as it really ties together the flavors of the meal in a brilliant way. It's also one of those savory comfort foods I loved while growing up and it's a real treat to have it expertly prepared right in front of you. Lastly, you select a dessert: green tea mousse (pretty good, but I've had better), creme brulee (nice!), or a banana crisp with banana ice cream (love, just perfect, perfect, perfect!).
A modest-sized restaurant, everything about the place bespeaks elegance. Service, manners, Masa-san's mannerisms, circumspection, impeccable ikebana, minimalist Japanese decor. I haven't been here in ages due to its location, but now all I can think of are razor-thin slices of beef that disintegrate as they meet one's tongue.
pros:
great appetizers, friendly service, high quality beef and other ingredients.
cons:
salty king crab legs, small place.
overall it was great. i'd definately come back again. worth the money.!
The best shabu shabu in Los Angeles.
See what I put in my piehole (8 photos).
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Definitely the best shabu shabu I've eaten so far but it's pretty pricey. We had an order of each USDA Prime and Wagyu with seafood. The USDA Prime arrived 1st and it was great. I actually mistaken it was the Wagyu, but will not make that mistake again. The Wagyu was unbelievable! It's well worth the price different.
Many of my clients have taken me here, of course for me to pay. They all swear that it is the best shabu shabu in Los Angeles. I would have to agree. Their crab as well as both there cuts of meat are wonderful. I would highly recommend this place. The price is a bit higher than most shabu shabu places.
Keep in mind that this isn't your typical "all you can eat" shabu shabu. The meats are high end and the service is great.
Gotta love the dipping sauces. Every time I come here I give the girls a hard time by asking for the secret recipe of the peanut one. They swear its not peanut sauce. I still think it is.
One of the best shabu shabu places in LA by far. Not the place to go to , to pig out. but to enjoy original shabu shabu a must. i probably go here once a year, just so i could keep in touch with the restaurant, other wise all you can eat shabu shabu accross the street. Taste better with raw egg, but i think they stop giving it out
kagaya is our go-to restaurant for special occasions: we've always celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, promotions, even our engagement and wedding rehearsal dinner here. we love sitting at the counter to watch them do their magic and it never ceases to amaze me! my favorite appe, though, is the chilean sea bass, but my favorite part is watching masa swirl the wasabi root around and around or when he takes a handful of green onions or a pinch of chives from the massive piles they keep on the back counter. wow!
five stars for sure for the service and the food and the presentation and attention to detail, but i simply cannot write this review without giving ZERO stars to the other diners who: 1) continue to literally just plop their very finely sliced meat in the hot pot, let it sit there until it turns gray, and eat it WITHOUT dipping it in either sauce; and 2) openly refuse the chrysanthemum and green onions - fine, don't eat it, but at least use it to flavor the broth! have some respect for the process and the food, people, geez. you're supposed to swish the meat back and forth for a couple seconds and that's it! it's not so much rare meat as it is just very, very thinly sliced meat that cooks to perfection very, very quickly in the hot water. do it right or don't do it all and eat your shabu shabu at home!
anyway, sorry about the rant, it just gets annoying sitting next to people who don't do it properly. ALWAYS get the creme brulee, remember to have at least $2.50 in cash for parking, and always call to make a reservation!
Maybe it was the price. But I didn't find it as exceptional as all the other yelpers. (Boooooooooo in the background). Sorry, fellas. I think the other one in Little Tokyo is better. I forget, but the other famous one that's in the mini plaza on 2nd street?
Came here again and loved it just as much.
Their banana dessert is probably their best one and the blue fin tartar was melt in your mouth good.
I don't go around throwing 5 stars to many place, but damn, Kagaya is mighty tasty. I've been to… Read more »
Their sauce are great and their meat are the best. The price is right and always crowded.
Best shabu shabu. Order premium wagyu only.
Great service and the best Shabu Shabu in LA. My family and I have been going there forever and know Kagaya (the owner) as well. It's super expensive though... Expect to pay at least $40 per person. Get the rice/porridge (instead of the noodles/udon) in the end. It's unique, refreshing, and simply delicious.
The desserts at Kagaya are surprisingly some of the best I've ever had, especially the one that consists of bananas, some crispy pastry, and vanilla ice cream. Forgot what it's called, but it should be obvious when looking at the small dessert menu the waiter holds up for you.
It's a bit exclusive and small, so reservations are a must. The one time I went without make reservations, I had to wait for an hour or so.
There are a couple things I learned on the weekend. Manny Pacquiao is a beast. Sun Yue averages 1foul/min and 1 point/min. I have never had beef or crab in my life before my meal at Kagaya.
Ten stars. Not five.
Arrived at Kagaya around 740PM, before our 8PM reservation, but were seated promptly. There were a couple groups waiting outside. Inside, every seat was occupied. There are about 10 seats around the chefs bar area and some tables for bigger groups. It's better to sit around the chefs bar area. You get your own pot and you get to see all the action.
Ordered the shabu set course live atlantic crab seafood combo + wagyu and the beef set course. The meal started out with some sashimi tuna paired with some delicious crunchy stem of vegetable. Fresh. Then came a soup with cooked white fish. Tender fish and delicious soup with soft seaweed. Then there was some breaded monk fish (I think). I never knew breaded deep fried fish could be so tender and soft.
Then came the main course...beef, wagyu, Alaskan king crab, clams, oyster (raw) paired with a vegetables like nappa, chrystanthemum greens, tofu, mushrooms, glass noodle, and green onion. I started by eating a regular piece of beef. Delicious--fresh and tender. The wagyu was simply astounding. Melt in your mouth, burst of flavor.
I was now ready for the live Alaskan king crab (well, dead on the plate, but they advertised to us it was live). After the first bite, I simply couldn't believe just how succulent the crab was. Apparently, I've been eating year old crab all of my life. I almost fell out of my bar stool as the flavors exploded in my mouth.
Then, there is a choice of either noodle or rice, and we chose rice. They boil some rice with egg, tomato, ginger, cilantro, and special sauce. At first I thought there was nothing special about the taste, as it seems like it's something I can make at home. However, after a couple bites, I realized it was just ingenious, as it complemented the meal with perfection.
Dessert was also not to be missed. The creme brulee left me wanting more, and the green tea mousse was simply heavenly. After dessert, I told the bf he's taking me here for my birthday in 2 months.
Chef Masa, thank you for the experience, the journey of food.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Wilshire Center
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Sushi Bars
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