Kinjiro - Little Tokyo

[PorkyBelly]

Kinjiro is og and still killing it. no social, no phone, no walk-ins and no misses. email to reserve, jun is still there every night. my top izakaya in the city.

bonus points for not accepting any additional tip on top of the 18% service charge.

highlights

• saba
• wasabi potato salad (so good we ordered two)
• spinach mushroom salad
• kibinago
• agedashi tofu
• salmon collar and belly
• simmered snapper head
• beef tongue
• uni risotto
• hot inaniwa udon noodles
• curry rice
• green tea soba

review forthcoming @Clayfu @anon5388983?

raw hamahama oysters in ponzu

cured thin-sliced japanese red snapper sashimi

king salmon sashimi

cured mackerel “saba kobujime” sashimi

wasabi potato salad with ikura & smoked salmon

seared kanpachi (amberjack) with spicy ponzu

organic baby spinach with organic mushrooms salad

assorted “nukazuke” pickles

kibinago japanese sardine tempura

agedashi fried tofu with organic mushrooms ankake sauce

black cod with saikyo miso

king salmon collar & belly “yuan-yaki”

simmered japanese red snapper head

thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negi

uni risotto

american wagyu sukiyaki-don (simmered beef over rice, poached egg

beef tongue curry rice

squid ink udon noodles

hot inaniwa udon noodles with braised beef tongue soup

truffles & organic mushrooms creamy udon noodles

cold green tea soba noodles

Kinjiro
424 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

KINJIRO • 飲屋 金次郎

[PeonyWarrior]

Yeah, this is in the top 5 Michelin guide omissions for LA.

[Clayfu]

Beat izakaya in LA and one of my favorite restaurants in dtla. Just not the easiest res to get without pre planning.

[thegardener]

What is the corkage policy?

[PorkyBelly]

$25

[robert]

Pandan layer cake?

[PorkyBelly]

vanilla susie cake

[J_L]

Hear hear…

[robert]

Amazing sake list. So fun.

Late taking the photo.

I wasn’t expecting every dish to be served as a separate course. Really made for a relaxing and convivial dinner, and gave us lots of time to drink great sake, about which the server was super-knowledgeable. Looking forward to going back.

[Clayfu]

@robert

Really made for a relaxing and convivial dinner

one of the best places for a gathering of friends over drinks and food

[PorkyBelly]

this place is consistently great. never had a bad meal or dish here. get the soft shell crab tempura while it’s still on the menu.

review forthcoming @Clayfu @anon5388983

raw hamahama oysters in ponzu

king salmon sashimi (new zealand)

saba kobujime sashimi

sashimi salad (red snapper, king salmon, scallops, blue crab)

wasabi potato salad, ikura, smoked salmon

baby spinach and mushroom salad

kibinago japanese sardine tempura

live jumbo soft shell crab tempura

agedashi fried tofu, mushroom ankake sauce

spanish octopus with japanese peppercorn aioli

thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negi

simmered japanese red snapper head

free-range duck breast with kanzuri

beef tendon, tongue miso stew

uni risotto

king salmon collar & belly yuan-yaki

beef tongue curry rice

marinated american wagyu boneless short rib

hot inaniwa udon noodles with braised beef tongue soup

cold green tea soba noodles

[Clayfu]

The soft shell crab tempura was so good my daugher ate it (she normally abhors all types of cooked seafood)

I love everything about Kinjiro

[PorkyBelly]

everything was delicious, only miss of the night was the dry fried chicken. sleeper hit for me is the beef tendon and tongue stew on top of toasted bread.

review forthcoming @Bagel @boourns @SithLord @Spicyshlomi @formersushichef?

raw hamahama oysters in ponzu

cured mackerel “saba kobujime” sashimi

king salmon sashimi (new zealand)

wasabi potato salad with ikura & smoked salmon

american wagyu beef tataki

agedashi fried tofu with organic mushrooms ankake sauce

live jumbo softshell crab tempura

thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negi

uni risotto

sashimi salad (red snapper, king salmon, scallops) w/ blue crab

cold tofu with chilled dashi

organic baby spinach with organic mushrooms salad

kibinago japanese sardine tempura

free-range chicken tatsuta-age

spanish octopus with japanese peppercorn aioli

black cod with saikyo miso

beef tendon, tongue miso stew

marinated american wagyu boneless short rib

beef tongue curry rice

truffle assist from @formersushichef

hot inaniwa udon noodles with braised beef tongue soup

cold green tea soba noodles

black sesame mousse

roasted green tea panna cotta

matcha & red bean mousse

sake kasu crème brulee

[SithLord]

Oh god, everything was such a hit. I just wish I could eat more of each dish. The portions were not very big, I think more fitting for a group of 2. I’m definitely going back!

[Bagel]

As with most large format dinners, the dishes are a bit of a blur but I remember enjoying the food. Lived up to expectations after having seen it pop up on social media and talked about so much. Maybe my highlights were curry, stew, and risotto? I was also pleasantly surprised by the service. No expectations but I remember it stood out to me in a good way (or maybe it’s been a while since I had that kind of service). Great time all around.

[PeonyWarrior]

I feel like we’ve always been served by the same younger guy every time we’ve gone there over the past ten or so years, and I think he handles reservations too. He’s definitely a good server, and unsurprisingly he’s knowledgeable about the food and sake. It reminds me of the Japanese business model in which people work at the same place all their lives. The fact that they have no online reservation system is also very Japanese.

[PorkyBelly]

@Bagel

I was also pleasantly surprised by the service

the service by jun and ralph fiennes is always excellent. and the fact that each dish is served as a separate course with plate and utensil changes is even more impressive. a nice change of pace from places that try and turn the table and fire everything at once requiring you to play table tetris to manage your dishes.

i always want to leave an extra tip but they refuse.

[boourns]

Yeah hard to remember specific, especially after the sake Thick cut beef tongue and the tendon/tongue stew were delicious. Agedashi tofu also good, but does not beat my all-time favorite at Raku.

[Clayfu]

@PorkyBelly

ralph fiennes is always excellent

LOL

[robert]

If there’s an open secret in LA restaurants, Kinjiro is it.