Nanbankan

FIONA Z.

Highly recommend!! Cozy vibe and delicious foods~ Especially black cod and sea bass , fantastic! Definitely will return and try again!

Eric

Yakitori specialist here at a staple place in Sawtelle’s Japanese Town. Amazing meats, veggies grilled in front of you!! Reasonable priced and so delicious!! Try the eggplant, corn, little sausages, and chicken skewers!! A must stop next time in West LA!

Jaya Lin

What a delightful place. Exceptionally well managed and friendly service. Atmosphere is intimate. And the yakitori are charcoal grilled to perfection. On top of all, it is very reasonably priced making it a regular and suitable stop for solo diners and group dinners. Recommending: cod; duck; bacon-wrapped okra; ginkgo nuts.

Angry 8

One of the last great yakitori restaurants! Food quality is always above top notch. I see a few people complaining about the service but not a big deal for the delicious food you get in return.

Shanelle S

Popular yakitori restaurant in Sawtelle. Came here for an early dinner and made a reservation over the phone a week beforehand. I noticed that quite a few people without reservations were turned away at the door, so I would highly recommend making one. There’s table seating as well as bar seating where you can watch the chefs cook. My mom got the set menu while my dad and I ordered things a la carte. Of the things I tried, I would recommend getting a grilled onigri (it was my first trying one and it had a nice texture), the Soboro Don rice, and the black cod (special menu item). Of course, everything we tried was nicely grilled and it was fun trying different things. Service was very attentive and cleared plates quickly. We had the green tea ice cream as dessert and it was a nice palette cleanser. Credit cards accepted but only a maximum of two are allowed. Restrooms available in the back past the meal prep area.

T

The duck was on the chalkboard menu and it was our absolute favorite! Miso black cod was also on the chalkboard menu and delicious too! The skewers have such an amazing flavor and the staff was extremely attentive -- switching out my plate 3 times and my water cup was never empty. Call ahead to make reservations, and parking is easy a couple blocks south.

Nha Le

We love to come here for date night when we miss Japanese foods. The staff and food quality are always consistent. Prices are good. Remember to make reservation because it’s often crowded on the weekend.

Tony Kim

One of the best Yakitori places in West LA area! The manager and staff were all super nice and helpful. Sat at the counter and watched the chefs work on grill which was even more enjoyable. I recommend you try the grilled squid, eggplant, chicken meat ball, pork belly and the miso cod.

Johnny Novo

Rumors are swirling that this was Nobuyuki Matsuhisa goto spot for a relaxed dinner before he dropped the "uyuki Matsuhisa" and became known as just "Nobu." Being known by only 4 letters is such a power move ahahaha... I think I'm gonna start going by… "John." Walking into Nanban-Kan is like entering a wormhole in the sense that you walk right off of the trash littered high traffic street that is Santa Monica Blvd, and enter into an authentic Yakitori restaurant in the heart of Shinjuku. The waiting room is separated from the dining area by a short white curtain with Japanese script, and a small, maybe 10 inch, TV that has likely been hanging in that very spot since the early 90s. As I was taking in the ambiance, surrounded by traditional Japanese art and framed light flexes of Nanban-Kan being mentioned in magazines and articles, a well dressed Japanese man came and greeted us. His suit jacket fit so perfectly, that thing was DEFINITELY tailored. Don't ever mess with someone in a tailored suit you know they mean business ahahaa. He was working that room so crazy too ahahaha, just talking to all the customers, having them laughing a little too hard, checking in on everybody every so often, etc. You can tell he BEEN doing this. We were seated at the bar in the middle of the room that wraps around the open kitchen concept where you can see them grilling your skewers right in front of you. Lol I said "open kitchen." The Japanese invented the open kitchen, it really should be called the "Japanese Kitchen." The front page of the laminated menu read "Yakitori and other good things," and idk why that made me laugh, but they are NOT lyin. I came with one of my best friends, who doesn't post me on social media anymore because I don't have enough clout, as he LOVES this place with all his soul. He asked "You cool if I just order for us?" Honestly, I always say yes to anyone who asks this question because how could I not respect that level of confidence? And to be fair he does have impeccable food taste, even though he wont post me. All in all, we got shishito peppers, hot dog, bacon wrapped asparagus, eggplant, dark meat chicken, white meat chicken, NY steak, chicken leg, shrimp, fish, chicken liver, and mushrooms. I've been trying to string together some glowing adjectives intertwined with some sly metaphors and similes that will make you laugh and then cry in the same thought loop to get across how delicious this food was, but I'm just gonna leave you with this: I get why Chef Nobu was an alleged regular here. I often see restaurants that were once amazing start to go through the motions after a certain amount of time. To be in business 40+ years like Nanban-Kan has and still have this level of care and attention to detail defies the known laws of physics….they must be operating in the quantum physics realm…. Eternally grateful that my friend showed me this place, even though he won’t post me haha :( -John IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__reviews

Keila N

My daughter and I went to this restaurant on a Monday night to meet with our friend Avi. There was plenty of parking on the street and there is parking behind the restaurant. We had a great time here. The food was delicious and the wait staff made sure our water glasses were full. We would definitely return again.

Tony Tran

first visit and love it my new local yakitori place tasty flavor just enough salt good price and service excellent busy busy place make reservation two persons - will return

My first time going! Great tapas style dining. Reservation is a must. Vibes are immaculate

This place is consistently excellent without even trying hard. Authentic, tasty and easy. My wife who is very discerning finally came here for the first time and loved it and wants to come back with the rest of the family. Worth the hustle to get that precious reservation.

he prices at Nanbankan are truly impressive. They clearly understand their customers’ needs. The service, the food, and the staff’s welcoming attitude were all excellent. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Went last night and just loved the whole experience! Everything! The food was delicious, especially the sea bass, but also the veggies, and mushrooms. I really want to go back and try the beef next. The service and host could not have been better, plates were quickly cleared, table kept clean and neat, food arrived promptly and we felt very cared for and about. The decor is upscale, charming, and warm. Just love this place, what a find behind very unassuming store front!

K. H. Holmes

Went last night and just loved the whole experience! Everything! The food was delicious, especially the sea bass, but also the veggies, and mushrooms. I really want to go back and try the beef next. The service and host could not have been better, plates were quickly cleared, table kept clean and neat, food arrived promptly and we felt very cared for and about. The decor is upscale, charming, and warm. Just love this place, what a find behind very unassuming store front!

Mamaly Reshad

This place is consistently excellent without even trying hard. Authentic, tasty and easy. My wife who is very discerning finally came here for the first time and loved it and wants to come back with the rest of the family. Worth the hustle to get that precious reservation.

Doug Brown

Came here on a lark, after discovering that the restaurant I came to the area for was seemingly closed, and I'm so glad I did. The restaurant is very cozy and was full even on a Tuesday evening, so reservations are recommended. The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was excellent (and reasonably priced for the quality). Expansive menu of yakitori options, I would happily come again next time I'm in the area (with a reservation next time).

Last minute decision to eat and was craving yakitori. Upscale atmosphere and small quaint space. Good quality and flavors! Food was steaming hot and fresh (obviously). My least favorite was steak and they were sold out of the beef sliders. My husband’s favorite was the cod. We pretty much tried everything off the menu, there were hits and a few misses. I liked the chicken skin, duck and pork belly. Didn’t love the steak. A great option is their dinner and it includes a variety of skewers (their most popular ones. Service was ok, a bit slow and it wasn’t busy at the time. We had to wave them down to ask for most things and their rice took an abnormally long time to arrive at the table. We brought our 4 year old and his review was “10/10”! He said he liked the rice the most LOL. Also, make a reservation! We called in ahead of time and luckily since it was a weekday and early dinner they gave us a table. It was definitely very crowded for dinner time.

Impromptu decisions to go for Yakitori - Japanese grilled skewers of assorted seafood, meat and veges for the night and landed ourselves to Nanbankan. They serve authentic Yakitori using local ingredients and I just say the service quality is as great as those I experience in Japan, staff were very attentive and provide good recommendations. Our favorite was actually the chicken hearts because not many places can cook it just right and so we enjoyed this dish a lot. I think flavour wise, it is still on the heavier side to suit the palate of locals but nevertheless still really good Yakitori. We ended the meal with some ochazuke which is broth with rice and you have a choice of plum, salmon, fish roe. Great way to end the night. It was interesting to also strike up conversations with some other customers as they were curious to our selection of skewers. Cosy environment with the right vibes.

A great yakitori for grilled organ lover, but less fun for people who are not into adventure. Went on a Saturday night, and waited for 15 minutes, plenty of free parking spots next / behind the restaurant. Very friendly staff and the chef would walk around to greet the customers - believe a lot of them have been customers for years, if you sit at the bar, you could see the grilled process in front of you. Loved all the organs especially chicken gizzards and heart. The scallop and stuff mushrooms were also good. Black cod was supposed to be the best but sold out. Most of food had a light flavour and I had to add some chilli pepper salt to them. Shiso chicken was my least favorite item since it was overcooked. The payment machine didn’t work, so you had to put down the tip number during the first time you got the bill, unless you’re tipping with cash. Something to note.

Quynh Dao

Last minute decision to eat and was craving yakitori. Upscale atmosphere and small quaint space. Good quality and flavors! Food was steaming hot and fresh (obviously). My least favorite was steak and they were sold out of the beef sliders. My husband’s favorite was the cod. We pretty much tried everything off the menu, there were hits and a few misses. I liked the chicken skin, duck and pork belly. Didn’t love the steak. A great option is their dinner and it includes a variety of skewers (their most popular ones. Service was ok, a bit slow and it wasn’t busy at the time. We had to wave them down to ask for most things and their rice took an abnormally long time to arrive at the table. We brought our 4 year old and his review was “10/10”! He said he liked the rice the most LOL. Also, make a reservation! We called in ahead of time and luckily since it was a weekday and early dinner they gave us a table. It was definitely very crowded for dinner time.

Lorelai D

Impromptu decisions to go for Yakitori - Japanese grilled skewers of assorted seafood, meat and veges for the night and landed ourselves to Nanbankan. They serve authentic Yakitori using local ingredients and I just say the service quality is as great as those I experience in Japan, staff were very attentive and provide good recommendations. Our favorite was actually the chicken hearts because not many places can cook it just right and so we enjoyed this dish a lot. I think flavour wise, it is still on the heavier side to suit the palate of locals but nevertheless still really good Yakitori. We ended the meal with some ochazuke which is broth with rice and you have a choice of plum, salmon, fish roe. Great way to end the night. It was interesting to also strike up conversations with some other customers as they were curious to our selection of skewers. Cosy environment with the right vibes.

Lucy Lu

A great yakitori for grilled organ lover, but less fun for people who are not into adventure. Went on a Saturday night, and waited for 15 minutes, plenty of free parking spots next / behind the restaurant. Very friendly staff and the chef would walk around to greet the customers - believe a lot of them have been customers for years, if you sit at the bar, you could see the grilled process in front of you. Loved all the organs especially chicken gizzards and heart. The scallop and stuff mushrooms were also good. Black cod was supposed to be the best but sold out. Most of food had a light flavour and I had to add some chilli pepper salt to them. Shiso chicken was my least favorite item since it was overcooked. The payment machine didn’t work, so you had to put down the tip number during the first time you got the bill, unless you’re tipping with cash. Something to note.

Nanban-Kan has been a family favorite of ours for years. The food is consistently excellent -- always fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. There are plenty of options for everyone- meat lovers and vegetarians. Prices are fair for the quality, and the cozy, lively atmosphere makes it a great spot for a night out. It's a small restaurant, so reservations are definitely a must. The waitstaff is always very nice and attentive, which really adds to the experience. The only downside is that the owners/managers don't come across as the warmest or friendliest, but that hasn't stopped us from coming back time and time again because the food really speaks for itself. If you're looking for delicious Japanese food in an intimate setting, this is a spot worth checking out.

Eric T

Nanban-Kan has been a family favorite of ours for years. The food is consistently excellent -- always fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. There are plenty of options for everyone- meat lovers and vegetarians. Prices are fair for the quality, and the cozy, lively atmosphere makes it a great spot for a night out. It's a small restaurant, so reservations are definitely a must. The waitstaff is always very nice and attentive, which really adds to the experience. The only downside is that the owners/managers don't come across as the warmest or friendliest, but that hasn't stopped us from coming back time and time again because the food really speaks for itself. If you're looking for delicious Japanese food in an intimate setting, this is a spot worth checking out.

Rudest restaurant in west LA. The owner with white hair is very condescending and rude. I’ve never had someone mistakenly understand reservation hour and accuse their customer of speaking incorrectly, then proceed to rudely telling them to go away and return later when restaurant was more than half empty. We were 15 min “too”early. After we got kicked out for 15 min, we were seated in the same open seat that was available before he kicked us out. Not one person has entered since, which means he just wanted us to wait outside because he was annoyed at us, not because restaurant was busy or packed. Food was okay tho

I had an extremely disappointing experience here today. I came with my trained and certified service dog, and the staff refused to seat us, claiming my dog was “too big.” I calmly explained that state and federal laws require businesses to allow service animals, regardless of size. They then asked for proof, and I provided it. After looking at the documents, the employee went inside, wrote random names on the reservation list, and suddenly told us the restaurant was “fully booked” — even though there were multiple empty tables clearly available. His expression made it obvious that the excuse was made up just to avoid serving us. This was discrimination against a disabled customer with a service animal, and it was both unprofessional and illegal. I hope the management provides proper training to their staff, because no one should be treated like this.

Lin On

I had an extremely disappointing experience here today. I came with my trained and certified service dog, and the staff refused to seat us, claiming my dog was “too big.” I calmly explained that state and federal laws require businesses to allow service animals, regardless of size. They then asked for proof, and I provided it. After looking at the documents, the employee went inside, wrote random names on the reservation list, and suddenly told us the restaurant was “fully booked” — even though there were multiple empty tables clearly available. His expression made it obvious that the excuse was made up just to avoid serving us. This was discrimination against a disabled customer with a service animal, and it was both unprofessional and illegal. I hope the management provides proper training to their staff, because no one should be treated like this.

Alexander Choi

Upon arrival, was greeted by the owner/host. They couldn’t find my reservation. Proceeded to be extremely rude and condescending. Rolled his eyes when he saw that we had a child with us… Bad taste walking in. I think it’s time for him to retire. Service is despicable. Food is going downhill. Not that great. They are now on their nostalgia tour. Nothing to write home about. And I think others agree.