Crane & Elephant — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Went in today with my wife and ordered the veggie ramen it was ok as the tomatoes broth was very overwhelming with the taste of the rest of the food. My wife ordered the Chicken Curry Katsu with a side of shrimp which costs extra $4. We both ate our food and had some food left. We asked for to go boxes as we were going to pack our food up ourselves. The waiter insisted on packing our food for us so we said ok which was great and brought us the container of her food and my container in a soup container. Well my wife got hungry again and went to eat her food and opened it up and the shrimp was not in there so we just spent $4 and lost what we paid for.. I called up and asked to speak to the owner I was told she was busy or not there so I then proceeded to ask the young man if he remembered us he said yes and when I told him what happened his response was we left it behind. How did we leave food behind when he insisted on packing our food up and then brought it back to us. How is that our fault and how are you going to insinuate that it was our fault. We were perfectly happy packing up our own food but he insisted. We wil never come back here again and the $4 dollars isn’t the issue as I also tipped him $10 on a $48.18 which included tax. So we were not cheap at all with our generous gratuity. There’s no way to make this right as for me to drive down there with my gas and time for what I pad for the shrimp simply is not worth my time. For that reason we will never come back here again as it was very upsetting to lose something we pad for. Remember the money is not my issue it’s the point we paid for something that was not given to us and then was made to feel like it was our fault. Not a good start to a new business with a first time customer. Also if you go there make sure you sit on the side where the entrance is it’s cooler on that side as our side was a little warm and with a great view of a gentlemen sitting informs of 2 computer screens at a desk doing work in side the dining area and then eventually he fell asleep with him slouching in the desk chair with his head titled to the side with his mouth open. Not what we want to look at while we are eating….and why his there a mig shift office inside a dining area when they have an office near the bathroom with a sign that says Boss lady on it which I found a little humorous. But that was our first experience there...

This was a cute little japanese place, we enjoyed it! ^^

It had my favorite ambiance with j-pop music and cute decor. I'm a big anime fan so we loved the cute little ghibli elements and wish there was more anime decorations. Also wish there were some more TVs (maybe showing some jpop or anime videos? But the sports was fine), but the AI wallpaper art didn't bother us at all so I don't know what people are on about. I quite liked it.

To start off the dining experience itself, the water wasn't tappy at all and we're usually pretty picky! And the waiting staff was very attentive and friendly which I enjoyed.

Gyoza was really good deep fried even though I usually only like pan fried. Hard to describe but it gets better the more you chew. Picture only shows 4 but it comes as 6.

Kara-age was much better than it looked and actually really juicy! I'm usually very critical but was pleasantly surprised. It had a thin layer of batter around very moist and well cooked chicken. My only gripe was that it left my lips feeling a little powdery from the batter so wish I had a wet towel to wipe it.

For entrees: My gf enjoyed her tonkotsu ramen. I had a bite and thought the broth was very tasty. For myself I had the tonkotsu curry. I got it spicy and the first 4-5 bites had no spice at all to my disappointment and then BAM a wave of spice in the next bite (not a build up mind you, just that the first several bites had zero spice). Was like I was doing a russian roulette with takoyaki or something haha. The spice wasn't evenly mixed for sure, so I think either mixing it more evenly or making it more obvious that the spice is in a select area would be better so I know to mix it myself. The spice was absolutely delicious though--the flavorful type of spice I enjoy. The curry itself was naturally pretty sweet which was different and not typical curry, but I enjoyed it. Kinda wish the tonkatsu curry had the other vegetables though like carrots and potato. Think that's the only thing it was missing.

Parking was easy :).

We will be back! Was a fun experience, albeit a little pricy for the appetizers. Love that it's open late though so we can swing...

We had such a wonderful lunch at Crane & Elephant in Canoga Park — easily one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the area. The restaurant has a clean, modern, and beautifully designed interior that feels both stylish and comfortable.

From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent — friendly, attentive, and full of great information and recommendations. The owner was absolutely delightful, checking in on guests and clearly taking pride in both the food and the atmosphere.

We ordered the bento boxes, which came beautifully presented with a little of everything:

Beef short rib – tender, perfectly marinated, and packed with flavor.

Gyoza – crisp and savory with great texture.

Salmon – fresh and perfectly grilled.

Crispy fried shrimp – golden, light, and delicious.

Miso soup – rich and flavorful with soft tofu and seaweed.

Fresh salad – crisp greens topped with a sweet, tangy dressing that tied it all together.

Everything tasted freshly made and thoughtfully prepared. We finished with green tea ice cream, a smooth, refreshing end to a perfect lunch.

Overall, Crane & Elephant combines beautiful décor, outstanding service, and excellent Japanese comfort food. The only small downside is the limited parking lot, but it’s absolutely worth finding a spot for the meal you’ll enjoy inside.

⭐ 5 out of 5 —...