Yabu

Great food great service

Really nice traditional presentation of the sushi. The Yellowtail sashimi actually melts in your mouth.

Most fresh salmon sashimi I've had in a long time . Pricey but that's most places in LA

Sushi was great, did have a hair in our homemade tofu but was quickly taken care of by the staff!

Consistency good traditional Japanese food cooked by Japanese chef’s

Awesome! family owned and very personalized. Best Bluefin Tuna sashimi I've ever had!

Enjoyed the menu. I had beef and broth with house-made Udon noodles.

Best cold buckwheat soba, Ever! Delicious fresh soft tofu.

Indoor and new outdoor space. Great place for quality Japanese food.

Al dente in house noodles. Fresh sashimi. Great Japanese ambience.

Currently open for takeout during restaurant closures!! Love this place - delicious food and lovely service.

Best seaweed salad 🤩

Cosy place - nice waitress - amazing and fairly authentic food

Very flavorful and delicious with an authentic vibe.

Fresh Japanese food at reasonable prices.

I am always amazing how good the food is, especially the wife offering of hot and cold soba and udon. Delicious fresh sashimi. Great source for blue fin tuna. Solid and tasty food all around. Always enjoy going back there for dinner.

My girlfriend, my friend who recently moved to Santa Monica, and I were looking for sushi for days, but never managed to work it into our schedule. We had a flight out of LAX at 11pm, and tried to one last time to grab some good fish. We looked up this place, saw it had a good combo of pricing and quality, and showed up. The place is small, with some tables along the walls surrounding a half-circle sushi bar area. We ordered some peices of nigiri, sashimi, a roll, and fried oysters just to get something in our stomachs. What we got was a quick service of one of the best small sushi meals I've ever had. The eel roll was great, but the fried oysters were fantastic with a fresh tartar sauce. The halibut nigiri was right on, and the bluefin tuna was melt-in-your mouth. However, the real star was the amberjack, which is apparently true japanese yellowtail of premium quality. It was nothing short of spectacular. Smooth, tender, and sweet, with a lingering buttery finish. It was the sushi you give people who say they don't like sushi. We unfortunately ate in a rush due to the flight, but I loved everything about this place: quaint, simply decorated, no pretention (I gave it a great decor review because I like the minimalist approach, some people may disagree though), great service, and perfect food. Highly recommended.

Go to place for my wife and I. Its a solid all around Japanese place with a pretty diverse menu so it'll please a variety of tastes. That said, the standout for us is the soba noodle combo and we'll almost go for that. Staff is freindly. Usually has a game on the TV too which I personally appreciate during basketball season:)

Was recommended to us by our japanese host at our accommodation in LA. From the moment we entered the place, we were transported back to Japan. Amazing food, humble service and great atmosphere. Definitely recommend Yabu for anyone interested in a true, authentic Japanese meal.

If you know soba, you crave Yabu. This diamond in the rough on busy Pico Boulevard has been serving outstanding noodles (soba and udon), the freshest sushi, and perfect tempura for as long as I can remember. Seating about 50, it's always filled during prime time and deservedly so. Patrons are all in the know that they can get authentic Japanese favorites, properly prepared and consistently delicious. Parking can be tough with a tiny lot in back and street parking in front, but it's definitely worth the effort. Plus, they take reservations!

Incredibly inviting food and atmosphere, sweet and attentive (and fast!) wait staff, very traditional and authentic Japanese noodle-house vibe. The soba are wonderful; we also had sashimi, steamed tofu, and ginkgo nuts.

The best Japanese dinner we ever had ! Wow ! We were invited by friends from Japan & enjoyed every second of being in Yabu!!!! Super specials of the day + Soba made us so happy. Great service ! Arigato,thank you,grazie mille,Spasibo,chef-owner!

Great food, great service, great salad and eggplant appetizer, bring cash.

One of my favorite places to get chirashi in West LA. The lunch combo special is a great deal - chirashi and your choice of hot or cold noodles for $17. Plenty of food, and you don't feel icky or heavy when you leave. The udon and the soba are both delicious, so it's hard to go wrong.

Yabu is one of my favorite restaurants for a reason. It has a wide variety of amazing dishes and they are consistently good. Also, I've always liked the ambiance in the restaurant. Wonderful place.

I am sad that their other outpost on La Cienega closed, but grateful this place is still doing well. The food has been consistently good over the years. The menu is quite large but the thing that they specialize in is soba and udon. Kamo nanban (duck) is my absolute favorite. The fried oysters are amazing--so crispy on the outside and juicy and soft on the inside.

Yabu is always consistently good. I have been eating here since their opening in the early Nineties. Noodles, sashimi, sushi and vegetable dishes. Daily specials.

This is our favorite local sushi destination! Great salmon skin salad, overall the sushi never disappoints. Good options for the kids as well.

Excellent hand-made soba noodles. The sancai cold soba is an interesting mix of mountain vegetables - very refreshing especially on a summer day!

Lunch!

Great classic Japanese restaurant, sushi, soba, tempura, etc. The sashimi and sushi is always top quality.

Their food is amazing; cozy atmosphere and during COVID times - outdoor seating is ample. Sushi, soba and all other items just bar none

The food here is AMAZING. Even the miso soup was special. Faves were eggplant in miso sauce and the sushi combo. We will be back!

One of my favorite go to izakayas in the west side. Great soba and using selection to go with your traditional Japanese dishes.

Very authentic! I especially love the gindara black cod and the appetizers like goma ae and pickles. 🥒

Creative refined highest quality sushi and other extremely good Japanese dishes

The sushi chef is a master of his craft, and the large variety of soba and udon dishes are made with the kind of care you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. The atmosphere is so cozy, this place is hard to beat.

Since my cousin's sushi spot closed, my wife and I have been hard-pressed to find a new, go-to sushi joint. Stop looking, Yabu is the jam!!! I'm a big fan of unagi (eel) and tako (octopus) and their two-piece orders always deliver. I would also suggest the sashimi platter. You get a bit of everything. The bluefin tuna and tempura dishes are also on point. For some non-California roll style offerings, try the beef tataki. Think steak tartare but cured in a vinegar-type dressing. There's also fried chicken! Crunchy, not greasy pieces of white meat chicken. For old schoolers, their soba noodles are also good (plus, you can get the broth from the noodles separately!).

The quality of the food here is immeasurable. I have never been so impressed by a dinner in my life. I ordered various nigiri at the bar with the chef and my mind was blown. This is easily one of the best meals of my life. Insane value too.

It looks very unassuming from the outside; it definitely doesn't call attention to itself with any flash or gimmicks. I was introduced to this place by a friend and I'll be forever grateful! I was in the area buying a mattress from nearby Mattress Pros and we decided to grab some dinner here. We were there pretty early in the evening so we didn't have to wait getting seated at the bar, but it's a small place and probably fills up fast. We got their homemade tofu appetizer, braised pork appetizer (INCREDIBLY tender--my favorite of the night) an assortment of nigiri sushi, and soba noodle soup. Everything was super-fresh and delicious; I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate and pretty much cleaned my plate. OK, I was very hungry going in, but still, it was excellent. I can't wait to go back!

This place is the real deal — great quality fish and unassuming atmosphere. I'm very sensitive to bad quality fish when eating sashimi and have never had a bad experience here. A little on the pricier side but you get what you pay for. Great for a dinner date!

Great Japanese restaurant in Los Angles.

First time coming here and will certainly be back (soon)! Both the hot and cold soba was amazing, the sushi is fresh and the rice is perfectly cooked. This is a gem of a spot on Pico, highly suggest you come here if you’re looking for some authentic and healthy Japanese food.

A cozy and intimate Japanese restaurant in West LA. They specialize in many Japanese foods, but their soba in particular stands out to me as having amazing mouthfeel and bite. You can tell they make it fresh. Their tempura is also freshly cooked, and they have a wide variety of fresh sushi and sashimi to choose from. They have a really nice back patio that is great to eat in during the summer. You can also sit at the bar and chat with the head chef while he makes your food. A great place to bring a date and chat with delicious food!

To celebrate Mother's Day, we decided to visit Yabu Restaurant, as it is my mom's favorite place for udon. Our experience at Yabu turned out to be delightful as usual, thanks to the delicious food, friendly staff, reasonable price and cozy atmosphere. First and foremost, the udon at Yabu did not disappoint. Mom's favorite dish, the udon, was cooked to perfection. The noodles had a delightful texture, firm yet tender, and the broth was rich and flavorful. Aside from the udon, we also tried their sashimi, and it was a true highlight of the meal. The sashimi was fresh, expertly sliced, and presented beautifully. The quality of the fish was exceptional, with each piece melting in our mouths, leaving behind a burst of flavors. It was evident that Yabu takes pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients. While the food took the spotlight, the overall dining experience at Yabu was enhanced by the attentive and kind staff. The servers were welcoming, ensuring that we were comfortable throughout the meal and addressing any questions or requests promptly. Their warm hospitality added an extra touch of charm to our visit. The atmosphere at Yabu was cozy and inviting, providing the perfect setting for a family meal. The soft lighting created a relaxed ambiance, allowing us to enjoy our time together. However, one minor downside was the limited parking space. While there was parking available, it seemed insufficient during peak hours, resulting in some inconvenience. In conclusion, our visit to Yabu Restaurant for Mother's Day was a memorable experience. The delicious udon, fresh and delightful sashimi, and friendly staff made it an occasion to remember. Despite the limited parking space, the cozy atmosphere added to the overall charm of the restaurant. If you're looking for a place to enjoy delectable udon and sashimi with a touch of warmth and hospitality, Yabu Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Yabu’s owner and sushi chief, Okyo makes delicious sushi and presentation of sushi also pretty and beautiful. They also have soba noodle and tempura. Try here!

Their sushi is amazing! The way they plate their sushi is beautiful. I really liked their smokey eel and the sushi tasted so fresh! Family owned Japanese restaurant! Very cool place.

The most refreshing cold soba I have ever had! The homemade tofu was amazing as well. Perfect meal for a hot summer day like this. Not to mention the fast service, think I got my entire meal within 8 min.

My man Okyo makes the best sushi I have ever had. The Toro sushi was amazing. This was the most pleasant surprise of my trip to LA. Any time I go back to Los Angeles I head here for food.

Favorite spot in the west / pico area for non pretentious Japanese food. Get the Yabu Combination — soba, sushi, and tempura, you won’t regret it

I was just introduced to Yabu by a foodie client. He says it feels like Japan. I'll take his word for it. The food is amazing and the lunch specials are great. This is the Chirashi Sushi Set for $19.50. They have an outdoor patio if you don't feel comfortable eating inside these days.

the number of times I said SO GOOD while eating the lunch special and also their assorted tempura. A great lunch special for $25. Highly recommended

This is the best deal for fresh, high-quality Japanese food in the area. For lunch, they have deals which include hot/cold soba/udon + an entree (katsu don, chirashi, sashimi) for around $14-18. The fish is so incredibly fresh, melting in your mouth. The waiters/waitresses and are also very attentive. This one of my favorite restaurants in LA.

Long time fan, glad this place is thriving. You don’t come for bougie service. It’s about their traditional Japanese comfort food. Broiled melt in your mouth black cod, my fave ❤️

Brandon Okumura

A cozy and intimate Japanese restaurant in West LA. They specialize in many Japanese foods, but their soba in particular stands out to me as having amazing mouthfeel and bite. You can tell they make it fresh. Their tempura is also freshly cooked, and they have a wide variety of fresh sushi and sashimi to choose from. They have a really nice back patio that is great to eat in during the summer. You can also sit at the bar and chat with the head chef while he makes your food. A great place to bring a date and chat with delicious food!

Brendon Kim

To celebrate Mother's Day, we decided to visit Yabu Restaurant, as it is my mom's favorite place for udon. Our experience at Yabu turned out to be delightful as usual, thanks to the delicious food, friendly staff, reasonable price and cozy atmosphere. First and foremost, the udon at Yabu did not disappoint. Mom's favorite dish, the udon, was cooked to perfection. The noodles had a delightful texture, firm yet tender, and the broth was rich and flavorful. Aside from the udon, we also tried their sashimi, and it was a true highlight of the meal. The sashimi was fresh, expertly sliced, and presented beautifully. The quality of the fish was exceptional, with each piece melting in our mouths, leaving behind a burst of flavors. It was evident that Yabu takes pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients. While the food took the spotlight, the overall dining experience at Yabu was enhanced by the attentive and kind staff. The servers were welcoming, ensuring that we were comfortable throughout the meal and addressing any questions or requests promptly. Their warm hospitality added an extra touch of charm to our visit. The atmosphere at Yabu was cozy and inviting, providing the perfect setting for a family meal. The soft lighting created a relaxed ambiance, allowing us to enjoy our time together. However, one minor downside was the limited parking space. While there was parking available, it seemed insufficient during peak hours, resulting in some inconvenience. In conclusion, our visit to Yabu Restaurant for Mother's Day was a memorable experience. The delicious udon, fresh and delightful sashimi, and friendly staff made it an occasion to remember. Despite the limited parking space, the cozy atmosphere added to the overall charm of the restaurant. If you're looking for a place to enjoy delectable udon and sashimi with a touch of warmth and hospitality, Yabu Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

DAISUKE OKAMOTO (OKAINA IMAGE)

Yabu’s owner and sushi chief, Okyo makes delicious sushi and presentation of sushi also pretty and beautiful. They also have soba noodle and tempura. Try here!

Sean Wilson

Their sushi is amazing! The way they plate their sushi is beautiful. I really liked their smokey eel and the sushi tasted so fresh! Family owned Japanese restaurant! Very cool place.

Chen Yang

The most refreshing cold soba I have ever had! The homemade tofu was amazing as well. Perfect meal for a hot summer day like this. Not to mention the fast service, think I got my entire meal within 8 min.

Calvin Thoma

My man Okyo makes the best sushi I have ever had. The Toro sushi was amazing. This was the most pleasant surprise of my trip to LA. Any time I go back to Los Angeles I head here for food.

Zane Miyamoto

Favorite spot in the west / pico area for non pretentious Japanese food. Get the Yabu Combination — soba, sushi, and tempura, you won’t regret it

EL

I was just introduced to Yabu by a foodie client. He says it feels like Japan. I'll take his word for it. The food is amazing and the lunch specials are great. This is the Chirashi Sushi Set for $19.50. They have an outdoor patio if you don't feel comfortable eating inside these days.

Jessica Cho

the number of times I said SO GOOD while eating the lunch special and also their assorted tempura. A great lunch special for $25. Highly recommended

Michael Evans

This is the best deal for fresh, high-quality Japanese food in the area. For lunch, they have deals which include hot/cold soba/udon + an entree (katsu don, chirashi, sashimi) for around $14-18. The fish is so incredibly fresh, melting in your mouth. The waiters/waitresses and are also very attentive. This one of my favorite restaurants in LA.

Sophie & Yogi

Long time fan, glad this place is thriving. You don’t come for bougie service. It’s about their traditional Japanese comfort food. Broiled melt in your mouth black cod, my fave ❤️

Great quality sushi - Based on their website, they buy it from the market each morning, so super fresh. The soba was delicious - my boyfriend got the hot mountain veggie one and I got the combination platter with cold soba— it comes with 6 pieces of sushi all delicious and mixed tempura. Everything was super quality. The sunomono (pickled cucumber) salad was really good, and I loved how they added three different types of fresh seaweed. And finally, the torotaku roll was one of my favorite rolls I think I’ve ever had. It is fatty tuna with pickled vegetable and shiso leaf. It just tasted so fresh and the combination was well balanced. Overall, will definitely be coming back. I love how this place is such a hidden gem.

I love the chef's prep area - it provides a unique atmosphere inside this quaint little restaurant. There's also a cute garden seating around out back, under cover (with shade). I had a lunch special involving raw fish on a bowl of rice. It was served with noodles. I loved every bite! The egg (nigiri style) was mind-blowing. I rate this place almost up there with Sushi Gen in DTLA!

Great atmosphere and amazing staff. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I arrived during lunchtime when they were already closed, but they still went out of their way to make lunch for me to go. That level of hospitality really stood out. Highly recommend great food and even better people.

Sushi Chef is a master of flavor. I love the chicken mushroom udon

Delicious, charming, love the outside dinning area! Great service, food and 10% discount for paying cash! Excellent neighborhood restaurant!

tony luna

Sushi Chef is a master of flavor. I love the chicken mushroom udon

Mehr Megerdichian

Great atmosphere and amazing staff. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I arrived during lunchtime when they were already closed, but they still went out of their way to make lunch for me to go. That level of hospitality really stood out. Highly recommend great food and even better people.

Jen Osborne

I love the chef's prep area - it provides a unique atmosphere inside this quaint little restaurant. There's also a cute garden seating around out back, under cover (with shade). I had a lunch special involving raw fish on a bowl of rice. It was served with noodles. I loved every bite! The egg (nigiri style) was mind-blowing. I rate this place almost up there with Sushi Gen in DTLA!

Genaro Pereira

Creative refined highest quality sushi and other extremely good Japanese dishes

Cathleen Carlson

Delicious, charming, love the outside dinning area! Great service, food and 10% discount for paying cash! Excellent neighborhood restaurant!

Without question one of the best Japanese noodle spots on the Westside.

Great udan noodles. Would come back.

Good home style Japanese

If you have the time. This is a great sushi/soba/udon place. Service tend to be slow, but it is worth it.

My favorite small Japanese bistro. Great food, now with tasteful outdoor seating.

Delicious homemade Japanese food.

Foods are very fresh, free Parkings, nice service, prices are flexible depending what you select. Like it.

the perfect place when you're craving soba and sake; very friendly and casual

Very authentic Japanese noodle shop with a full menu. Delicious

Very good although a bit pricy. Will come back.

The reviews are right, the soba is good here but the sushi is probably the thing to get!!! It's soo fresh and melts in your mouth! What I Ordered - Yabu Soba Combination: Hot/Cold Soba with Tempura and 5 pieces of Sushi I opted for the cold Soba. The Soba was good but the dipping sauce lacked flavor. I've had cold Soba before and I've only been to 1 place that actually had good tasting dipping sauce (Sanuki No Sato in Gardena). The Tempura was light and good but wasn't anything too crazy or amazing. It came with 2 shrimps, 1 yam, and 1 seaweed? (unsure what it was..it looked and tasted like seaweed) tempura. The 5 pieces of Sushi were sooo good!!! It came with albacore, salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and a sweet shrimp. The sushi rice was perfectly seasoned as well. This was the best part of my meal!

I come for the excellent sushi, including giant clam, which is hard to find. I don't care for the service. Bring your own sugar, if you don't like sweet&lo.

The real deal Japanese in a small and casual setting. Greetings from the staff when you arrive and depart make even the first timer feel like a regular. Food is tasty, traditional and consistent.

If you’re looking for authentic Japanese food Yabu is a must try. Their lunch box sets with a protein and noodle option are reasonably priced and delicious.

Been coming here for 20+ years. It’s a reliable place for Japanese food besides sushi/sahimi.

they say the noodles are the best ... i found the sushi better ... espcially the very fresh hamachi... dont for get the japanese egg plant nasu miso... NOt for the sugar shy

My family has gone to Yabu for years. We made every effort to support them during covid. However, for a seasoned chef, the timing in this restaurant can be really bad. Today we ordered three lunch “sets”. Two came out in good time. The third took 30 minutes longer—so, of course, everyone was done by the time I started eating. Most uncomfortable. This has happened before… Yabu needs improvement!

Was my favorite Sushi until just recently when they changed an order of sushi from two pieces to one piece. It's a shame because it was one of the few Westside sushi bars to consistently have GIANT CLAM and always had soft shell crab. Was consistently good.

We were seated almost immediately upon end during the restaurant The service was also good. Our food was prepared quickly and how ordered. The food tasted good, but several items weren't seasoned at all, e.g. chicken wings. Some of the menu items were also very pricey like the rainbow roll, which was about $17. Overall experience was good.

All food is mild and soft. Feels comfortable and easy-to-digest when if I’m sick. Not a fancy and luxury but familiar restaurant. Fried foods are awesome. Recommended.

Anthony J. Scott

We were seated almost immediately upon end during the restaurant The service was also good. Our food was prepared quickly and how ordered. The food tasted good, but several items weren't seasoned at all, e.g. chicken wings. Some of the menu items were also very pricey like the rainbow roll, which was about $17. Overall experience was good.

Kirkydoky

All food is mild and soft. Feels comfortable and easy-to-digest when if I’m sick. Not a fancy and luxury but familiar restaurant. Fried foods are awesome. Recommended.

Elizabeth Tracy

My family has gone to Yabu for years. We made every effort to support them during covid. However, for a seasoned chef, the timing in this restaurant can be really bad. Today we ordered three lunch “sets”. Two came out in good time. The third took 30 minutes longer—so, of course, everyone was done by the time I started eating. Most uncomfortable. This has happened before… Yabu needs improvement!

Dependable unassuming Japanese restaurant tucked in amongst retail shops on La Cienega. Food won't wow you, but you'll leave full and satisfied.

Tastes is not so delicious but pricey. The room is too small and looks not clean

Used to be one of my favorite places for soba, but this last visit was rough. Some issues submitting our order (even after we confirmed what we ordered with the server) and with the bill. Maguro was also kind of fishy, not so great. They used to be amazing, hoping this was just a temporary glitch.

This place is deceiving it has great reviews but then we went and found out they have a B ☹️.

Sushi King is so, so, so much better for the same price. Don’t waste your money here!!

Have been coming here since it opened almost thirty years ago. It was one of our favorite restaurants. It was disappointing to find that the service has gone downhill. Food arrived extremely late, and most of the pieces of salmon skin in my salad were fried to a blackened crisp. I have to think hard to give it another chance only for sentimental reasons.

This was first time visit after checked good reviews. Susie was great! I and my friend ordered Yabu Soba with tempura and tempura with rice. When we got the food, we found missing tempura sauce and grated radish. Both should come together with the food... we got tempura sauce right away, but the radish took 10 minutes. And I found I needed the Oshinko, because left lots of white rice. After I ordered it, I got it 20 minutes later.. The rice was cold🥶. The service was not professional.

YOU SUK BOUNG

This was first time visit after checked good reviews. Susie was great! I and my friend ordered Yabu Soba with tempura and tempura with rice. When we got the food, we found missing tempura sauce and grated radish. Both should come together with the food... we got tempura sauce right away, but the radish took 10 minutes. And I found I needed the Oshinko, because left lots of white rice. After I ordered it, I got it 20 minutes later.. The rice was cold🥶. The service was not professional.

So unorganized and chaotic. We left before eating dinner as we had waited over an hour for our food that never came.

Worst restaurant!!! I was waiting for my order for an hour!!! And the service is very bad! They just started to make my order when I was waiting for 45 min!

Unfortunately, after coming here for years and enjoying this place, tonight was not a good night; all new staff - it seems. Ordered appetizers - they came, wife's food came, sake came, but no entrees for me. Waitress didn't give a f*** but she seemed to have fun looking at cell phone photos with other guests. Finally, with no apology, she asked if I wanted my order to go (!) Manager spoke to me directly and apologized profusely. I started to feel bad for him! Could my experience be because I'm the only African American male here? Just askin'.....

This restaurant completely changed my impression on Japanese cuisine and people...They served left-over soba which has been kept in fridge for a while and the noodles was very dry. The waitress was rude, she placed wrong orders and refused to change for us. It takes 75min waiting time for the soba to be served and the waitress was brutal when we checking when the orders would be ready. She doesn't even say one single "sorry" about keep us waiting for this long. Will never come back to this restaurant.