Ōwa — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Ōwa is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles. The interior is beautifully designed with the open windows in front creating an open atmosphere type feel, a winding bar creating a more unique dining experience to the backroom for a more intimate date night feel. This spot is perfect for a happy hour, date night, impressing out of towners and just a space to have a great time.

What sets Ōwa apart from many LA restaurants is that it's not just the food that's incredible but it's the service. This isn't just another restaurant, to dine at, grab drinks then just leave - it's an experience and the staff really makes sure of that. Chris, the manager, Hako, the bartender and everyone else working here truly makes sure you're having a great experience and at the same time, they're all having fun with each other. The service is truly what keeps us coming back constantly.

The menu is pretty extensive but everything we've tried so far has been incredible.

Here's what I recommend thus far: 5/5 | Spicy Garlic Edamame (The sauce is nothing like you've had before and I promise you'll want to take a jar home - if only they sold it) 4.5/5 | Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice (So crispy & flavorful) 5/5 | The Kinney (Incredible flavor & textures, just melts in your mouth) 4/5 | Tuna Love 5/5 | Signature Cocktail (Spicy Ōwa) 5/5 | Sake Bottles (Dassai 45 & Brooklyn Kura #14, such a clean taste)

Other recommendations we've heard but haven't tried: Toro Tataki Oysters Hotate Sashimi Ōwa Spicy Hotate

I honestly think you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's clear that each of their dishes have been carefully crafted with flavors & textures that jive so well together.

There are plenty of different options on signature cocktails, wine, sake, appetizers, sashimi & rolls for Happy Hour. Monday - Thursday | 5 - 6:30pm Friday - Sunday | 3 - 5:30pm

This is one of those Los Angeles staples that we hope sticks around forever. It's just the perfect spot for all groups, any occasion and offers a memorable experience each time...

We enjoyed almost everything about our meal at Ōwa. The bar was the place to be but we had a reservation for a table further in the interior of the restaurant which includes both a patio and an indoor space. I was a tad bit chilly on the patio but the drink I ordered help me forget about that.

I had the Magic Mushroom Manhattan. It tasted a like a great Manhattan with a tiny but of something extra. I gather previous iterations of this had a very present mushroom flavor infused in the whiskey...That was enough of a hook to make me want to order it as it seemed like, as delicious as the other drinks looked, this was something super unique and fitting to the theme of the restaurant. The large ice cube was embossed with the restaurant's logo which was cool...it tasted good but, if there was a mushroom element to it, it was very subtle and I didn't notice it...so a great Manhattan, but needed the hook to be more present for the experience.

Besides that the food we ordered (all vegetarian options) was gorgeous and delicious. My wife and I shared the Avocado Truffle Crispy Rice...I'd never had anything like it, but it landed on my palate like comfort food. I loved it. We also had the Miso Butter Eggplant...my wife loved this and said it was pretty close to an actual fish/cod dish she might get...I'm not a big fan of eggplant texture, but the flavor was grest.

We also ordered the 2 vegetarian maki / rolls (Rio and Magic Nightshades) - 8 pieces each...8 generous sized pieces too...both had a lot of flavor and were gorgeious to look at.

Our server was very helpful in guiding us, especially as vegetarians in the place for the first time.

We'd definitely...

From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm, stylish, and inviting—perfect for a night out. We kicked things off with drinks, and I had a Hugo Spritz—light, refreshing, and the perfect way to ease into the evening.

We went with the DineLA menu, which was a great way to sample a variety of their dishes. For starters, we ordered the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and Vegetable Tempura—featuring zucchini and asparagus. Both were beautifully presented and full of flavor, especially that crispy rice, which had just the right balance of spice and texture.

For the mains, we chose two standout rolls: 🍣 The Kinney Roll, which combined salmon, yellowtail, spicy tuna, serrano, truffle ponzu, avocado, and sesame oil—an absolute explosion of flavor in every bite. 🌱 And the Rio Roll, a vegetarian twist on sushi, which was just as thoughtful and delicious.

One highlight? The fresh wasabi—seriously next level. It had a brightness and heat that really woke up the palate.

Now, for dessert, we tried the Tres Leches and a Matcha Tiramisu. Unfortunately, this is where the meal fell a little flat. The desserts didn’t quite live up to the rest of the experience—we found them underwhelming and lacking that wow factor.

Service-wise, the staff was incredibly attentive, and everything came out quickly and smoothly. Big kudos to our waiter who made us feel well taken care of.

🎯 Final verdict: Overall, Owa delivered on flavor, ambiance, and service. A few missteps with dessert, but I’d still give it a solid 7 out of 10. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area and craving Japanese with a creative,...