Looking for Japanese Restaurant in Santa Monica/West LA Area (Not Sushi)

[curiousgeo]

Doing more research for an upcoming visit and I'm searching for a good, moderately priced Japanese restaurant in the Santa Monica or West LA area. We're looking for places that serve teishoku dinners, so not necessarily a sushi bar, although if sushi is on the menu that would be fine. Thinking more like tempura, tonkatsu, grilled fish, etc. in a complete meal set with soup, salad and rice.

I remember eating at a small restaurant on Sawtelle Boulevard some years ago where there were a number of Japanese places, so maybe something around there would be appropriate. Ramen suggestions would also be welcome. Thanks for your help

[Sgee]

Not tesihoku, yakitori instead. Check out Nanbankan on Santa Monica blvd.

[p3rm3n]

Their ramen is good. I had the tonkatsu ramen. I would say it is the best in the west side.

[Tripeler]

"I had the tonkatsu ramen." Don't you mean "tonkotsu" ramen? Tonkotsu means "pork bones" while tonkatsu is a pork cutlet, deep fried.

[goodhealthgourmet]

re Furaibo:
http://www.chow.com/search?query=Fura...

[J.L.]

Washoku: Wakasan, on Westwood Blvd.

For kamado-cooked Japanese rice set meals, Torafuku (by Westside Pavilion) is also a very nice restaurant.

Izakaya: Place Yuu (on Sawtelle).

Ramen: Try Santouka, in the food court at Mitsuwa Market on Centinela in West LA.

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Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Torafuku Restaurant
10914 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[curiousgeo]

Thanks J.L. I'll look into these places, especially Torafuku for their kamado cooked rice sets which sounds interesting.. Have you ever tried or heard of Furaibo, also on Sawtelle? Thanks again.

[J.L.]

I go to Furaibo when I have a rowdy-ish party of 4 or more to entertain, and I am in the mood to drink beer and eat teba saki (Japanese chicken wings). It is a good izakaya, with good "beer food".

Place Yuu is a bit food-centric, and would be my pick for izakaya. Don't miss their shisyamo (grilled small fish). The chef does a great tempura also; I especially like the sweet potato tempura there.

It took me 2 or three tries to really start appreciating the food at Torafuku, and now I'm a semi-regular there. I'll give you a tip: For rice sets, order the black cod rice set, and/or the teriyaki jidori chicken thigh rice set. Another one I'd recommend would be the yakiniku (Japanese beef) rib rice set.

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Torafuku Restaurant
10914 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[JBroida]

Wakasan was a very nice surprise when i found it... furaibo is also a place i go to often

torafuku was kind of a disappointment to me

+1 to santouka

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Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025