Furaibo

My favorite place to eat on Sawtelle. I recommend getting the spam fried rice, chicken cutletc chicken wings, yakitori skewers and ribeye steak !!! Hannah is also the best there, she’s very attentive and she shows the best hospitality.

One of the all-time great Japanese restaurants. A real scene! Go!

My son is the big fan of this place. But to fully enjoy it, you need to know what to order! Our favorite things on the menu are: pickled vegetables, pork cutlet, eggplant in pork broth, chicken wings (all of them are good) and all the grilled meats (yakitori). Don’t order their bento box (not good in my opinion)

Teba-saki Tara kasu Hanpen cheese Okinawa pork fried rice Pork curry katsu Kimchi nabe Ramen Everything amazing. Wouldn’t get kimchi nabe again (we thought it had noodles).

I used to come here a lot when I was a student at UCLA back in the '90s. I probably went back a couple of times since then but recently I went back and nothing much has changed. The food is still good at reasonable prices. The drinks are a good value sake and beer. This is a place where you can go with your family or with a friend or even on a date in a casual dining atmosphere and have good food with a drink or two. They have their own parking in the back which is really nice in this busy Little Japantown area. Definitely try the chicken and the grilled rice balls. Curry katsu is good as well as the grilled meat. They have good bento values. A definite place to go again whenever you want to have a drink and have some decent Japanese food.

The crisp and delicious Japanese style of fried chicken is a welcome change from the usual greasy-battered wings and legs you may be used to. While every other restaurant in the area was absolutely packed, seating and service here was quick and wait-free. And the staff is so friendly and polite, the atmosphere is authentic and enjoyable, I will definitely return soon!

Japanese style chicken dishes are this place's specialty, with offerings of many different side dishes. Great casual food, and a cute traditional Japanese dining room in the corner.

The Baseline: For Fried/Karaage chicken that must be crispy, meaty, and flavorful. Food: The Karaage chicken was really crispy and delicious. The Double Jane chicken was uniquely fried and the flavor was really good. Service: The service was excellent and my waitress provided great service. My water glass was not let empty. Atmosphere: The seats are comfortable and the tables are well situated with a nice Sawtelle Japanese style. The restroom was clean.

We've been coming here for years and first time with our dog and sat outside with the standing heater. Food is always good but on the salty side because people drink here and it goes well with a beer or two. The workers here are extremely nice and the parking in the back lot is free!

Furaibo Japanese Restaurant is a well-regarded spot in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, The restaurant boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere, making it a pleasant place to unwind and enjoy a meal. each made with fresh ingredients and careful attention to detail. The baby shrimp dish is especially noteworthy, reminiscent of flavors that many may remember from childhood.

Furaibo in Sawtelle is a cozy Japanese izakaya known for its delicious tebasaki fried chicken wings and a variety of deep-fried dishes, perfect for pairing with imported sake and beer. The menu also features tasty yakitori skewers and cheesy hanpen fish cakes, making it an excellent spot for a casual meal or group dining.

Delicious chicken karaage here. Other dishes were also good. Recommended.

I've passed by this place for the past 10 years and never went in. I've finally went in and it was pretty ok I guess. The guys I was with ate all the chicken though so I just got like nothing, like NOTHING. THANKS YOU

Hanpen Cheese is a must order in Furaibo. Also first time I tried the Okinawa Pork Fried Rice. Taste really good even the portion is kinda small. But the taste is good, so nothing to worry about.

Jennifer Kang

Japanese style chicken dishes are this place's specialty, with offerings of many different side dishes. Great casual food, and a cute traditional Japanese dining room in the corner.

The Baseline

The Baseline: For Fried/Karaage chicken that must be crispy, meaty, and flavorful. Food: The Karaage chicken was really crispy and delicious. The Double Jane chicken was uniquely fried and the flavor was really good. Service: The service was excellent and my waitress provided great service. My water glass was not let empty. Atmosphere: The seats are comfortable and the tables are well situated with a nice Sawtelle Japanese style. The restroom was clean.

Sean Park

We've been coming here for years and first time with our dog and sat outside with the standing heater. Food is always good but on the salty side because people drink here and it goes well with a beer or two. The workers here are extremely nice and the parking in the back lot is free!

Rachel. X

Furaibo Japanese Restaurant is a well-regarded spot in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, The restaurant boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere, making it a pleasant place to unwind and enjoy a meal. each made with fresh ingredients and careful attention to detail. The baby shrimp dish is especially noteworthy, reminiscent of flavors that many may remember from childhood.

Carlo R. Carranza

Furaibo in Sawtelle is a cozy Japanese izakaya known for its delicious tebasaki fried chicken wings and a variety of deep-fried dishes, perfect for pairing with imported sake and beer. The menu also features tasty yakitori skewers and cheesy hanpen fish cakes, making it an excellent spot for a casual meal or group dining.

Alan Wong

Delicious chicken karaage here. Other dishes were also good. Recommended.

Daniel Fong

I've passed by this place for the past 10 years and never went in. I've finally went in and it was pretty ok I guess. The guys I was with ate all the chicken though so I just got like nothing, like NOTHING. THANKS YOU

Kevin Kevin

Hanpen Cheese is a must order in Furaibo. Also first time I tried the Okinawa Pork Fried Rice. Taste really good even the portion is kinda small. But the taste is good, so nothing to worry about.

Great place for japanese tapas. The pork cutlet, ribeye steak, nagoya hot wings, garlic sprouts, ume yakko, and Hainan chicken rice is a great order that will feed about 4 people.

I love the old retro feel of the place. The food is excellent and does not compromise on flavor. The marinade is perfect. I love going here!

Shaun Randall

Great place for japanese tapas. The pork cutlet, ribeye steak, nagoya hot wings, garlic sprouts, ume yakko, and Hainan chicken rice is a great order that will feed about 4 people.

Angela Lee

I love the old retro feel of the place. The food is excellent and does not compromise on flavor. The marinade is perfect. I love going here!

Great for snacks or a full meal on a spacious patio in the center of Sawatelle.

First time here ~ thought our order would be ready on time, but wasn't it's okay. I wasn't late for a meeting, but my partner was. Their pork fried rice is delish and their chicken udon was alright, had a soy sauce broth which I'm not to fond of. Probably be back to try other items in their menu

Traditional Japanese style restaurant in the Sawtelle Japantown neighborhood. Lots of tasty small plates, which are perfect for sharing. They have over 100 restaurants in Japan. I've been enjoying sampling the menu. Primarily for Japanese cooked food.

FuRaiBo serves up a lot of Japanese cuisine, but the two go-to items are the fried chicken (Jane) and spam fried rice. In place of the thicker flour/batter coating typically found on most fried chicken, the coating at FuRaiBo's is lighter and spicy. But spicy doesn't mean heat, it means it's loaded with spices, and this is what you'll want. Extra spicy is where it's at. The spam fried rice sounds and taste exactly like you'd expect it to. So if you're a fan of both, you'll definitely love this dish. We visited during lunch on a Saturday and it wasn't that busy. There was plenty of parking in the back too. The staff was friendly, portions were good, and the place was clean. Lunch prices were fair too

Love this old Japanese restaurant in my neighborhood. They were just comfort food at a good price. I love their chicken wings the most. It's addictive flavor of white pepper and sweet glaze.

Coming off the street and you immediately notice its dark and moody inside. Looks like a place straight out of Tokyo urban landscape. The Chicken wings were great, we got the straight outta the fryer, piping hot. The sauce although advertised as spicy was more tasty and savory. The Sizzling Rib eye was tender and the ponzu sauce stepped it up a level. Panko Fish Filet dinner box which had a variety of bites. Seaweed salad, Japanese Miso Salad, a potato stew, katsu chicken, crunchy fish filet and miso soup. A hearty meal for sure.

I always love Yakitori. We (3) went there on a Sunday dinner, there are a bunch of people waiting. Was told might take an hour for the kitchen get the food out cause they were so busy. Wasn’t in a rush, so is ok for us to wait. However, we placed the orders and food came within 20 mins. Nice surprise. We ordered yakitori set, black cod, soft shell crab, friend chicken skin (so yummy) and beef ribeye with yakitori sauce. And drinks. Service is great, fast and food are yummy. Nice job.

Always great food here! I only give it a 4 because the service is a hit or miss whether it’s busy or not. I highly recommend the Chicken Karaage! I can’t find another place that makes it as good as them! Other tasty dishes: soft shell crab, baby shrimp, tebasaki, bbq short ribs, sausage fried rice, hanpen cheese.

This is a hidden gem on Sawtelle Blvd. the food was delicious with a friendly staff. No waiting, just walked in and sat down. I went for the yakitori beef, GYU beef with garlic and GYU teriyaki. Great for sharing in a big group.

Instagram: @eat_saw_telle Eat : Korean Beef BBQ Pac, Okinawa Pork Fried Rice, Curry Croquettes, Nagoya Wings, Hanpen Cheese, Kimchee Fried Rice Saw : wing shine, cheese squeeze, absent curry, a pen by any other name, menu for miles, street corner centerpiece, short rib long lasting. Tell(e): 8.87 / 10 Hi-bite : Korean Beef BBQ Pac, Nagoya Wings Lo-bite : Curry Croquette

L C

FuRaiBo serves up a lot of Japanese cuisine, but the two go-to items are the fried chicken (Jane) and spam fried rice. In place of the thicker flour/batter coating typically found on most fried chicken, the coating at FuRaiBo's is lighter and spicy. But spicy doesn't mean heat, it means it's loaded with spices, and this is what you'll want. Extra spicy is where it's at. The spam fried rice sounds and taste exactly like you'd expect it to. So if you're a fan of both, you'll definitely love this dish. We visited during lunch on a Saturday and it wasn't that busy. There was plenty of parking in the back too. The staff was friendly, portions were good, and the place was clean. Lunch prices were fair too

Nha Le

Love this old Japanese restaurant in my neighborhood. They were just comfort food at a good price. I love their chicken wings the most. It's addictive flavor of white pepper and sweet glaze.

Tony Medina

Coming off the street and you immediately notice its dark and moody inside. Looks like a place straight out of Tokyo urban landscape. The Chicken wings were great, we got the straight outta the fryer, piping hot. The sauce although advertised as spicy was more tasty and savory. The Sizzling Rib eye was tender and the ponzu sauce stepped it up a level. Panko Fish Filet dinner box which had a variety of bites. Seaweed salad, Japanese Miso Salad, a potato stew, katsu chicken, crunchy fish filet and miso soup. A hearty meal for sure.

Hugo O

This is a hidden gem on Sawtelle Blvd. the food was delicious with a friendly staff. No waiting, just walked in and sat down. I went for the yakitori beef, GYU beef with garlic and GYU teriyaki. Great for sharing in a big group.

terri chau

I always love Yakitori. We (3) went there on a Sunday dinner, there are a bunch of people waiting. Was told might take an hour for the kitchen get the food out cause they were so busy. Wasn’t in a rush, so is ok for us to wait. However, we placed the orders and food came within 20 mins. Nice surprise. We ordered yakitori set, black cod, soft shell crab, friend chicken skin (so yummy) and beef ribeye with yakitori sauce. And drinks. Service is great, fast and food are yummy. Nice job.

Mary Jane Zavala

Always great food here! I only give it a 4 because the service is a hit or miss whether it’s busy or not. I highly recommend the Chicken Karaage! I can’t find another place that makes it as good as them! Other tasty dishes: soft shell crab, baby shrimp, tebasaki, bbq short ribs, sausage fried rice, hanpen cheese.

Rob Goldman

Instagram: @eat_saw_telle Eat : Korean Beef BBQ Pac, Okinawa Pork Fried Rice, Curry Croquettes, Nagoya Wings, Hanpen Cheese, Kimchee Fried Rice Saw : wing shine, cheese squeeze, absent curry, a pen by any other name, menu for miles, street corner centerpiece, short rib long lasting. Tell(e): 8.87 / 10 Hi-bite : Korean Beef BBQ Pac, Nagoya Wings Lo-bite : Curry Croquette

Tebasaki is not same taste as Japan( Aichi) All deep fried foods use peanuts oil. My kido has peanuts allergy so we did not order so much. I did not notice peanuts oil from their menu. Busy place.

Extremely slow service so be ready to order all at one time when the server comes. The food is OK, but not worth the price. Nothing is particularly juicy or seasoned. It’s passable but doesn’t taste authentic to a real Japanese yakitori joint

Good service. The food was okay, just another Japanese restaurant in a sea of restaurants in the area.

+1

Maybe I ordered wrong, but not the best food imo. The skewers aren’t really the best value for what you get. The vibe and selections feel quite Japanese. Our food came out at random intervals, but overall solid service. Water glasses are always full.

I came here several times thinking maybe the next time will be better. They are consistently mediocre. The store itself is pretty dim and not the cleanest it can be. But tbf the building is old and bit tight that it amps the feel more than it actually is. The servers are not the friendliest. Every time I come, I am met with “busy to be bothered” attitude. They will take your order and bring your food but if you ask for anything else, they seem annoyed by it. Be aware that the skewer items usually come out first and other items like curry rice will take very long time. Once I’ve asked where my dish was, and the server gave me a very bad attitude like I’m in the wrong for asking… As for food itself, it’s honestly soso. Skewers do have the smoky grill taste but in general, a bit overcooked. The chicken felt super dry and chewy. On the bright side, tebasaki (wings) are pretty good. Kani cream croquette was a bit too creamy but I honestly didn’t mind. If you want a small bite to go with your drink, it’s not a bad pick, but I feel like there are too many other good choices near sawtelle to warrant a dine in here.

Stumbled upon this place while looking for something for lunch at around 11:00. A.m. Most places weren't open as this area has a slow start. I came in here with a group of four. We had to wait till the restaurant opened. But they were nice enough to allow us to sit down with some waters. We ordered a cutlet curry, mushrooms, kimchi fried rice. Hanpen cheese. Chicken kaarage. Teba and chita lunch combo (recommend by server). And a side order of the croquette. The cutlet curry tasted pretty good. Better than the curry over rice down the street at curry house. (But not better than the curry udon 😋). Chicken kaarage, hanpen cheese and croquette were very tasty and I'd order them again. However, the teba and chita lunch combo , was a terrible recommendation. I think each of us took a bite out of the wing and put it down. The leg was pretty tasty though, so I'd recommend getting that if you want something savory. Now the dish that I was most excited for was the biggest disappointment. I don't even know how they can call what they served. Kimchi fried rice because there was no kimchi flavor. There was no kimchi, it wasn't even spicy. For enjoying half of the things we ordered here. I wouldn't be back for a second try. I'll take my business elsewhere unfortunately.

Furaibo is a decent place for yakitori and izakaya-style food, but not as good as some other restaurants on Sawtelle Blvd. They have a huge menu including skewers, rice bowls, and fried foods. It’s good for casual group dinners, and if you stick to the classics (chicken skewers, karaage, potato croquette) you’ll have a good time. However, be aware that the service can be slow even outside of peak hours.

pan s

I came here several times thinking maybe the next time will be better. They are consistently mediocre. The store itself is pretty dim and not the cleanest it can be. But tbf the building is old and bit tight that it amps the feel more than it actually is. The servers are not the friendliest. Every time I come, I am met with “busy to be bothered” attitude. They will take your order and bring your food but if you ask for anything else, they seem annoyed by it. Be aware that the skewer items usually come out first and other items like curry rice will take very long time. Once I’ve asked where my dish was, and the server gave me a very bad attitude like I’m in the wrong for asking… As for food itself, it’s honestly soso. Skewers do have the smoky grill taste but in general, a bit overcooked. The chicken felt super dry and chewy. On the bright side, tebasaki (wings) are pretty good. Kani cream croquette was a bit too creamy but I honestly didn’t mind. If you want a small bite to go with your drink, it’s not a bad pick, but I feel like there are too many other good choices near sawtelle to warrant a dine in here.

Erika

Stumbled upon this place while looking for something for lunch at around 11:00. A.m. Most places weren't open as this area has a slow start. I came in here with a group of four. We had to wait till the restaurant opened. But they were nice enough to allow us to sit down with some waters. We ordered a cutlet curry, mushrooms, kimchi fried rice. Hanpen cheese. Chicken kaarage. Teba and chita lunch combo (recommend by server). And a side order of the croquette. The cutlet curry tasted pretty good. Better than the curry over rice down the street at curry house. (But not better than the curry udon 😋). Chicken kaarage, hanpen cheese and croquette were very tasty and I'd order them again. However, the teba and chita lunch combo , was a terrible recommendation. I think each of us took a bite out of the wing and put it down. The leg was pretty tasty though, so I'd recommend getting that if you want something savory. Now the dish that I was most excited for was the biggest disappointment. I don't even know how they can call what they served. Kimchi fried rice because there was no kimchi flavor. There was no kimchi, it wasn't even spicy. For enjoying half of the things we ordered here. I wouldn't be back for a second try. I'll take my business elsewhere unfortunately.

Andrew

Furaibo is a decent place for yakitori and izakaya-style food, but not as good as some other restaurants on Sawtelle Blvd. They have a huge menu including skewers, rice bowls, and fried foods. It’s good for casual group dinners, and if you stick to the classics (chicken skewers, karaage, potato croquette) you’ll have a good time. However, be aware that the service can be slow even outside of peak hours.

I can't believe this is rated so highly! I ordered the Tarzan chicken with a yaki onigiri. The chicken is greasy and dry, not very well seasoned, either. And be careful of the yaki onigiri! It's not grilled but BURNT, and made the table smell acrid, sour, and of course burnt. The staff works hard but gives lots of attitude, so if you want to cancel an order, get ready for lots of sass. Overall, the atmosphere was hostile, which was very odd... maybe go to the one in torrance. Good luck!

I don’t like writing bad reviews, but this was just the worst dining experience I’ve had in years. My girlfriend and I wandered in looking for a quick late night bite. For starters, we were hastily and rudely seated in a cramped corner. We ordered a nikujaga, which literally translates to “meat potato” - it’s supposed to be a meat and potato stew. When it came, we started laughing because the entire bowl of soup had only this tiny piece of meat, which somehow felt more insulting than if they had included none at all. I asked if this was a mistake only to be told that it’s “their restaurant’s style” and that “every place’s preparation method is different.” I asked if the broth was beef based, because it just tasted like dashi - nope, just a dashi base. Even as a simple vegetable soup, it was awful - the potatoes were so hard it was like they had simply been blanched without being boiled, and the broth tasted identical to the cheap dashi concentrates you can buy at any Japanese grocery store. They seemed apologetic enough and comped the dish without our asking, but the fact that they serve this at all makes me feel like they take no pride in their business. Please avoid supporting a place that willingly churns out low quality food for people who don’t know what they’re supposed to be getting.

the service of the restaurant is the worst that i've been met tho. We came in, took a seat and started taking order, it was almost nobody in the restaurant so there is no way to be busy but she was always urging us to take the order. I told her to chill but that didn't work. I whispered to my friend that theres no tip for her then she got angry about that, she asked us to get out with some bad words in chinese. That makes no sense to be like that. Will never be there anymore!!!

I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience this time. Japanese restaurants are generally known for their warm hospitality and attentive service, unfortunately that was not the case here. The food was just okay, but the service was surprisingly rude. A middle-aged female server rushed us while taking our order and spoke to us in a very harsh tone. Later, we found that our yakitori eggplant was undercooked and still raw, so we politely mentioned it to a man who wasn’t in uniform (I assume he was either the manager or the owner). Instead of handling it professionally, he replied rudely“So what do you want? Cancel or redo?” as if we were the ones being unreasonable. We asked nicely for it to be redone, and he took the plate without another word. We then waited over 15 minutes, and the eggplant never came back. By the time we asked again, the dish was only brought out after the check was already printed. At that point, we asked for it to be cancelled. A young female server helped check the bill — her service was neutral, not particularly bad or good. But overall, the attitude from the staff gave me the impression that they don’t really care about customer experience, nor do they seem to want customers to come back. Very disappointing service. I won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re looking for the usual warm, respectful Japanese dining experience.

We've been patronizing the Gardena location going on a decade. Their signature wings have always been a go-to for my family. During the last few visits we noticed a change in service. As a small local eatery it's easy to develop regulars and wait staff can show differential treatment to certain patrons. I'm only sharing our experience with the Gardena location as the treatment was not an isolated incident. Small parties are often overlooked or ignored for larger groups. The expectations are that they will order more which would translate to greater gratuity. We were saddened that this is practiced at Gardena. We left work starved after a long shift and craved the wings. Traffic was light and we arrived 20 minutes prior to opening so we waited patiently. A crowd gathered of regulars as the people who arrived later kept waving at the waitress through the window. Once inside we were told to sit anywhere. We took the closest table and waited and waited and waited and waited some more. Regardless of arriving first the regulars were attended to promptly and their orders were already hitting the table before we could order. When we were able to order we eagerly asked for multiple servings of the wings, drinks and a side dish. We noticed an odd expression from the waitress whom stated that if a larger group arrives we would be relocated to smaller table to accommodate new customers. As the dining area is quite small we were able to over hear that they did not state the same request of the other diners. We took the statement with a grain of salt and waited for our food. Dirty dishes and utensils were provided. Dried food was still on the bowls and spoons. We placed them aside to be exchanged. 20 mins passed and we finally saw that the wings were being fried as it was an expo kitchen it was easy to follow the action. Rows of plates were being prepared and destined to tables seated after us. Long story short the 2 waitresses working never asked to refill our drinks, never asked if we wanted to order more food as the initial portions were very small. We had to wave our arms to ask for the check. When I had the opportunity I asked the waitress as to why we were ignored and passed over dispite being first to arrive. She did not offer an intelligent explanation and was mostly silent until she decided to be argumentative as to being overwhelmed and only being a staff of 2. How overwhelmed can you be just opening and we were the first couple sat. Sorry for the long story but diner beware!!! Luckily they aren't the only restaurant to offer this type of food. Honestly the wings were the only consistently edible items. The yakitori, steak sets were usually over done and under seasoned, and the halibut always seems to be out of stock. Needless to say we have decided to patronize other venues. Come for the wings not for the service. If you do please come as a large group to receive better service. Good luck and Cheers!

was planning to eat at this restaurant and pulled into the parking lot while my family was sending me their order. Within moments, an Asian man—possibly the owner or employee—came out aggressively and started confronting me, claiming I was taking “the only one parking spot,” even though I was parked properly and alone. He accused me of owing $20 just for being there, which made no sense since I was clearly a potential customer. When I asked for his name to report the situation, he rudely said he didn’t have to tell me anything. As I was leaving, he yelled “pendejo” at me, clearly assuming I was Mexican and using that as a slur. This happened on June 20th at 5:33 PM, and I’ve never experienced such blatant discrimination in my life. This behavior was not just unprofessional—it was hateful. I will never support a business that treats people this way. Disrespect and racism have no place in our community.

Was sat outside (because I had a dog) then waited 20 minutes until I decided to go inside to order(they knew I was there, as I was sat with a menu and all). The entire time I was waiting for a heat lamp to be turned on which never was addressed after an empty propane tank seemed to be the issue. But I was promised I’d get a different one. Anyway, service was rude and abrupt (expected from sawtelle). Still tipped 20 percent because I’m not a jerk, but I won’t be back.