Tokyo Noir — Restaurant in Long Beach

I was scraping to find a reason to give a rating higher than a one star. But unfortunately, I couldn't find anything. This place is not a Japanese cocktail bar. It's just a poorly managed bar trying to pose as elegant, when it is just the opposite. These people have absolutely no idea what they are doing running a bar in the US let alone a Japanese bar.

Here's my experience: I attempted to make a reservation on OpenTable though there were none available, I decided to tap the phone number on their OpenTable profile and call. To my surprise, they answered the phone immediately. I asked for a reservation and they booked me at 5pm.

I had just returned from my 5th trip to Tokyo a few days before and was excited to get a little more of my favorite city "Tokyo" right here at home. CONTEXT: I travel for cocktail bars (Visited 500+ bars in 17 countries), so I'm a pretty good judge on cocktail bars, especially the Tokyo experience.

I drove for over an hour. When I arrived, parking was virtually impossible to find, which is expected in Los Angeles, and out of the bars control. Though my reservation is in their control, and it was nowhere to be found. I told them I called, the door girl left for a few moments and then came back to tell me they could not accommodate me. Long story short this place is attached to a Mexican restaurant and they share the same phone number which was not explained to me on the phone. My reservation was for the Mexican restaurant. I figured this out on my own. The host at the door was clueless. I discovered this because when I ordered what was supposed to be Wagyu skirt steak it was simply Carne Asada. When it clicked to me that the kitchens were the same I realized my reservation was probably at the Mexican place. I explained my epiphany to my waitress and she kindly said yes this has been happening a lot.

I'm sorry what?! It's been happening a lot. Then why couldn't the host at the door just tell me where the mistake was. She could have explained it and let us down softly, opposed to playing dumb. Also, if it’s been happening a lot, why haven’t you guys found a solution yet. It's not hard to get your own phone number. They are practically giving them away for free these days.

Oh, how did I get in? A lady in line kindly gave me her reservation as she had made two by mistake.

Last on this topic, during my entire visit, there were open seats. so the host could have literally sat us and we wouldn't have interfered with any reservation.

The place feels empty and lacks a soul. I wanted to feel a proper Japanese cocktail bar and all I got was an NYC 90's Hip Hop playlist, a gimmick bartender, and a soulless atmosphere.

Now, I came here for cocktails, as I am a cocktail connoisseur. The cocktails were terrible. This guy has no idea what he's doing. When you've been to as many bars as I have, you can start to see the BS very quickly. The recipes have no interesting combinations, no creativity, and lacks character. The bar back wall is all Japanese whiskey except for a single makers Mark "LA" collectors edition bottle (which was kind of cool to see). So if you're gonna do all Japanese whiskey, then you gotta have a good selection. This is the one place the bar shines, except he has "Nikka Days" displayed twice... this is the worst whiskey of all time sir, please remove it. The prices were actually reasonable for Los Angeles standards. Except the exorbitant cost, he was charging for the premium spirits, like Yamazaki 25 @ $700 for a 1oz pour. I got this same pour in Japan for $35... I understand it cost more in the US, but not $700 more, sorry. Other than that, the pricing was reasonable.

The head bartender is sloppy and lacks the grace and elegance of a Hiroyasu Kayama or a Yuzo Komai.

The food was good, the problem is it's supposed to be Japanese Izakaya food, when in reality it's Mexican dishes posed as Japanese. When I order Wagyu, I want Wagyu, not marinated Carne Asada. If it's Izakaya food where's the yakitori and the kaarage, etc. Why are you serving Bao,...

I’ve been able to get 4 reservations since Tokyo Noir has opened. My husband and I have tried every cocktail on the menu and they are superb. My favorite cocktail is Juice Theory and it is an interesting flavor profile with subtle watermelon and a savory taste. I love watching the bartenders make the drinks. They hand shape the ice (that is shipped from Japan daily) for the old fashioned and some of the other cocktails. For the Monochrome (husband’s favorite drink), they do this high to low pour that is entertaining to watch and makes the drink taste smoother. I finally got to try the Stay With Me last night, a ginger forward drink, that was very light and refreshing. It’s hard to get because they don’t always have the ingredients. I tried to order it the last two times we were there. I also really enjoyed the Astro Boy, Kaiju, Yuzu Strawberry, and Drunken Tiger. They are really setting the bar when it comes to a unique cocktail experience. I used to go to a lot of speakeasys in NYC back in 2010 when they were getting popular there. It’s nice to see a well thought out space in Long Beach that fits the vibe. The food is perfect for snacking. We have also tried most of the food menu. You could make a meal out of it if you were really hungry. The sushi is more like hand rolls and a good size. I love the charred edamame, some of the best I have had. The wasabi fries are great too as well as Tsunami Plate sampler, blue fin tostada, and salmon crudo. Give them a try if you can. They are a new business and I am sure are still figuring things out. I read a majority of the 1 star reviews and don’t think it’s warranted based on my 4 times visiting. We have always had great service, the bathrooms were clean, and the waitress and hostess always checked on us. It is dark and loud inside once it’s full. You can always flag someone down if you...

It was a misty and raining SoCal night, my date was running behind schedule. She knew I had been trying to lock down reservations for some time. The LA fires prevented us for meeting up the first time around. So we were determined not to let the rain damper our plans. I took refuge at the main restaurant, El Barrio Cantina.

The vibes were chill, and the bartender served up a smooth Oaxacan Old-Fashioned. The drink shook off the frost from the cold outside and slowly warmed me up. I mentioned that I was just grabbing a drink, and making my way to Tokyo Noir. He was a true Gent, and coordinate with the team in the back, letting them know I would be late.

Tokyo Noir is a top-notch experience. I felt like the character in Tokyo Vice, Jake Adelstein, an American journalist, who gets plugged into the Tokyo Vice police squad and carefully navigates through the two worlds of Tokyo.

The food was a TEN. The skirt steak strip was tender, nicely marinated, and cooked to perfection. The oversized chicken wings were tasty and filling. I'm so glad we didn't forget to order the Wasabi fries, they packed so much flavor and were a great finish to our meal.

The bartenders were skilled bladesmiths (cutlers), wielding a knife with ease. It felt as though we were watching Michelangelo carve David from marble. The way they took a block of ice, chopped it up, and refined it into a civilized cocktail glass was purely art. The attention to detail, knowledge of their beverages, and the service exceeded expectations. The Astro Boy and Notorious were my favorite drinks. (Yet, another Jake Adelstein reference) Subtle, simplicity, which reminded me of Japan. We left feeling like we stepped off the plane back into the States. Thanks for taking...