Update TO-GO:
When the restaurant shutdown happened, Aburiya Raku (both Las Vegas and L.A. locations) closed down. However, with the shutdown extension, it seems Raku has now started up Takeout & Delivery options as a means of survival.
Raku has always had exceptional execution for most of its menu items, but how would their culinary execution fair with a limited menu focused on To-Go and Delivery items only? Only one way to find out…
We noticed a change of ownership notice in the window(!). Speaking with a staff member, they confirmed that Raku was originally being sold, but with the pandemic, it seems the deal is going to be cancelled and Raku will remain with the original Chef-Owner Mitsuo Endo.
Walking in, they have a sign stating all of their (impressive) Sake menu is available for sale for Takeout. 
American Kobe Beef Skirt Steak Bowl:
The presentation and packaging are excellent and professional. Taking a bite, lightly smoky, beefy, delicious aromatic fattiness from this American Kobe Beef! 
The Steamed Rice is excellent! Plump morsels, nice density and toothsome quality. A good blend of meatiness with some fattiness.
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Every Takeout Bowl comes with their Housemade Miso Soup and Side Salad.
Miso Soup:
Raku’s Housemade Miso Soup is balanced, not overly salty nor too earthy as some versions can be. Warming and spot-on for this rainy weather.
Side Salad:
Raku’s Side Salad isn’t a throwaway item as some places might be. It’s a good combination of different Mixed Greens, they take the time to hand cut their Radishes into Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossom) shapes(!), and their Housemade Dressing is incredible! (Same one used in their outstanding Ken2 Salad. 
Salmon Sashimi, Ikura (Salmon Roe) Bowl:
While they may not be serving their legendary Kanpachi (Amberjack) or Shima Aji (Striped Jack) Sashimi right now, the Salmon Sashimi & Ikura (Salmon Roe) Rice Bowl is simply outstanding!
Super bright, fresh, lightly fatty, delicious slices of Salmon Sashimi, mixed with pristine, popping Ikura (Salmon Roe), and unlike many places right now that have to give you mass-produced Soy Sauce packets, Aburiya Raku packages their Special Housemade Soy Sauce with this Bowl! (For those that haven’t had it, Raku has their own special blend / Housemade Soy Sauce that is more complex, rounder, nowhere as salty as generic Soy Sauce, and with this Salmon Sashimi Bowl, with their excellent Steamed Rice (as perfectly cooked as usual - toothsome, not overly mushy, nor dried out), you have one of the best Sashimi Bowls To-Go in L.A. right now. (@PorkyBelly @J_L @TheCookie @attran99 @A5KOBE @Ns1 @CiaoBob and others.)
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Takana Inari (Fried Tofu Pouch Stuffed with Rice Mixed with Japanese Mustard Greens):
Ah how I missed Raku’s Inari! Raku’s Housemade Inari (usually seen as one of the “filler” items in a Sushi Combo at many local restaurants) is nothing like what you might be used to having for Inari.
It starts with their Housemade Fried Tofu Pouch, texturally more refined, delicate and more flavorful, and it’s stuffed with perfectly cooked Takana Gohan (their own Housemade Japanese Mustard Greens mixture with Steamed Rice). It is so good! Even To-Go it’s as good as it used to be!
Raku Bento Box (Choice of Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken), Steak or Grilled Salmon; Mixed Green Salad, Seasonal Japanese Appetizers (Fried Shrimp x 2, Grilled Okra, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Tamagoyaki (Rolled Egg Omelette, Poached Mushroom, Crispy Battered Asparagus, Roasted Whitefish, and Housemade Chilled Tofu); and Choice of Blue Crab or Philadelphia Cut Roll):
First, the presentation is gorgeous. Raku packages every To-Go Bento Box in a reinforced paper / cardboard Bento Box, that is lacquered on the outside and inside to resemble a real wooden Bento Box.
Every component is thoughtfully arranged and it makes for a visually appealing lunch, to feast with your eyes and your mouth.
Mixed Green Salad:
As with their Takeout Bowls, the Mixed Green Salad is not an afterthought: Fresh, interesting mix of Greens, hand cut Radishes in the shape of Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossoms), their delicious Housemade Sesame Salad Dressing (from the Ken2 Salad) and it’s a great start to the meal.
Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken):
Ever since Raku opened, they have never featured a traditional Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken). Instead, they’ve always had their elevated take on Karaage with the Fried Chicken Skin on the outside, and moist Chicken Breast within, rolled and sliced in layers.
For this new Raku Bento Box, they have finally done a more traditional Karaage: Lightly crunchy, battered pieces of Fried Chicken, tasting so flavorful (pretty sure it’s their Asajime Chicken (Chicken dispatched the same day) that made their Yakitori so standout before). Some of the best Karaage we’ve had in a long time!
- PSA: The Karaage does not travel well (it will steam in the enclosed Bento). Eat ASAP in your car if possible.
Seasonal Japanese Appetizers (Fried Shrimp x 2, Grilled Okra, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Tamagoyaki (Rolled Egg Omelette, Poached Mushroom, Crispy Battered Asparagus, Roasted Whitefish, and Housemade Chilled Tofu):
The Fried Shrimp (x 2) were very good, briny, crunchy morsels.
I loved the Roasted Whitefish (Chilled), the Okra, the Asparagus. The Tamagoyaki (Rolled Egg Omelette) was moist, tender, pillow-like.
The surprise was the back “corner” of that section of the Bento Box revealed a nice portion of their Housemade Chilled Tofu! For those that haven’t had it, Raku’s Housemade Tofu is outstanding: Nutty, lightly earthy, great texture, and it’s served with fresh Grated Ginger, Katsuoboshi (Bonito Flakes), Negi (Green Onions) and their great Housemade Special Soy Sauce.
Blue Crab Cut Roll:
When the question was asked of us to choose either the Blue Crab or Philadelphia Cut Roll, the answer was easy. 
The Blue Crab Cut Roll was phenomenal! Light briny (in a good way), sweeter than Shunji’s To-Go version, and the Rice was outstanding! Much better than Shunji’s To-Go version. We were shocked.
(Obviously dining in at Shunji is a completely different experience, but for the battle of the To-Go Blue Crab Cut Roll execution, Raku’s was far superior.) (@PorkyBelly @TheCookie @JeetKuneBao @beefnoguy @Ns1 @attran99 and others.)
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While Aburiya Raku’s greatest strengths - its outstanding Yakitori, Izakaya dishes, fresh Sashimi from Japan and other Daily Specials - are not available for Takeout right now, the menu offerings that are available range from very good-to-outstanding. From the professional presentation and packaging, to the outstanding execution, every single To-Go menu item was noteworthy.
We liked their meaty American Kobe Skirt Steak Bowl (great delicious beefy flavor). Their Salmon Sashimi & Ikura Bowl was even better, and one I could eat every day! Add to that their legendary Takana Inari, and finally the Raku Bento Box, which is a treasure trove of very good items.
For the value and satisfaction level, at $38 for the Bento Box, this is the most satisfying Bento Box To-Go that we’ve tried right now. The Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken), the Seasonal Appetizers and the Blue Crab Cut Roll were all standouts.
Aburiya Raku
521 N. La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
Tel: (213) 308-9393
