IZAKAYA Taberu Japanese Restaurant - (Near Los Angeles, CA)

1 /5 Nick Su: We decided to come back to Izakaya Taberu after having fond memories of dining here about a year ago. Back then, I would have given the place a solid 4/5. Unfortunately, this recent visit was a major disappointment. Ambiance (3/5) Seating was quick, but they’ve switched over to iPad menus, which felt impersonal and frustrating. If the goal was to free up servers to be more attentive, that didn’t translate into the experience. Food (1/5) We started with the truffle fries, hoping for something comforting after walking around town. Instead, they were thin, bland, and nearly flavorless—honestly, any fast food chain fries would have been better. We ordered a mix of skewers, but only the chicken and tomato skewers were decent. The tempura set (onion, okra, shrimp, eggplant, asparagus) was poorly executed: the onion slice was too thick and undercooked, the asparagus still had tough ends, and the okra was overly slimy. The volcano roll was another miss—because the menu gave no description, we were surprised to find more French fries inside the roll, which just didn’t work. Service (1/5) We constantly had to wave down the waiter for refills or any assistance. The lack of engagement really stood out, especially with the shift to iPad menus. Overall, Izakaya Taberu has unfortunately taken a big step back. What was once a place I’d recommend has become one I can’t see myself returning to until they make some serious changes.

5 /5 B I: I really enjoyed this restaurant — every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious. We started with oysters, and they were huge — gorgeous, royal-sized, and so fresh. The ramen was excellent; we tried two different kinds, and both were rich and flavorful. For dessert, we had a matcha cake and a tiramisu, both of which were outstanding. We also ordered caviar and beef, and again, everything was perfectly prepared. The service deserves special mention — the waiters were attentive and friendly, and the host and staff made us feel very welcome. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the experience and would gladly come back.

5 /5 Jaap van Rijn: The Sashimi was amazing! All was super tender! Albacore, yellow tail, scallops, tuna & salmon with real wasabi. Absolute recommend!

3 /5 Lana M.: Food was not very flavorful and lacked seasoning. Service was good but confusing with the use of iPad (had to ask about items from iPad menu if they were available).

2 /5 Dulguun Duk: We were little disappointed with our experience. The sushi quality was poor the chirashi bowl had the least amount of fish I’ve ever seen, and what was there tasted not as fresh. The hanger steak was extremely chewy and poorly seasoned, and the rolls were mostly rice with very little fish. The only dish we enjoyed was the steak yakiniku. Unfortunately, the service was also very slow, and our food came out one item at a time with long waits in between. Cocktails were reasonably priced and tasted good. Another good thing was their wasabi tasted close to real one instead of the horseradish.