Izakaya Osen — Restaurant in Los Angeles

From the outside, you think its just another small joint of restaurants in Silver lake, but the moment you step in, you come face to face with the first thing that captures your attention. A narrow way that automatically makes you look up, to the bright blossoming cherry flowers, filled with good memories. In a way, its as if every time you come here, no matter how you're feeling, it will always find a way to lift your head up high. If you're lucky, you'll get to eat under the blossom tree, a most worthy seat.

Their menu has a wide variety, and some items that are definitely $$$ range, but it seems to cater to more of the laid back, casual scene while at the same time ensuring you get some of the freshest items available. A good $30+ per person ensures a good meal. The place is rather small but considering our time here, I can assume this place gets PACKED. It's good for a date with your significant other (Once you're already together), and definitely great for friends. There's no privacy here and you can hear people's conversations, so keep that in mind. Valet is suggested, as parking meters only go up to about 15 minutes, so its better to get valet when coming.

Here are a few items we tried that are recommended: Japanese Potato Salad (Highly recommended) It is really rare for me to eat potato salad. I've always had nasty experiences with it in the past, but here, it hit the spot. The creamy thickness is the perfect ratio, with an outstanding touch of cucumber that magnified its freshness.

Fresh Wasabi + Ginger Wasabi (Highly recommended) I've never had fresh Wasabi like this before. It's a really really nice touch of spice to your food. The ginger is a MUST when eating here. Getting extra ginger here is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Trust me.

Sea-bass Takoyaki (Highly recommended) I have NEVER liked takoyaki... until now. In times past, it was always made with squid, but this time I got to try a sea-bass version of it, and OMG, it lit up my face with a smile. You have GOT to order this. In fact, this should be a special: Sea-bass Takoyaki + Japanese Potato Salad + fresh wasabi + ginger. If you manage to combine all of this in your mouth, you are bound to experience a world of bountiful flavors. You won't regret it. Trust me.

Sashimi Omakase Imagine you're exploring the depths of the ocean, when you come across the lost city of Atlantis. As you get to the center of Atlantis, you find a passageway that somehow leads up into a center, and you come in contact in a garden, a space of time where light and air seems to exist even within the deep ocean. If you ate the food there, you would be served Sashimi Omakase. With portions of food highlighted by gold, silver, flowers, the famed truffle and the freshest of seaweed, it is most certain that this is the meal that is fit for royalty. Eat this with 3 or 4 friends. Get your cameras ready. From this in particular, I really enjoyed the King Salmon with Truffle, the Red Snipper with its perfect texture, and the barracuda with its smoky one sided finish. I suggest asking an extra side of ginger for this dish.

Kushiyaki Bacon Wrapped Shrimp I don't like shrimp, at all, but the folks here have managed to make it perfectly edible for me by wrapping it in bacon. The way its cooked is so good, it literally had me rushing to eat this bad boy. Get like 2 of these and add wasabi and ginger to it to mix the flavors up!

Kushiyaki Sea Bass (Highly recommended) I have never experienced anything like this before. It's the first time I eat something, and try to add other things to it to change its flavor, but its as if your mouth reverts back to the original flavor of the sea bass. It's a strong dominant taste, and it felt like the sensation of the waves at the sea; the sea comes rushing in with its side flavors of ginger and soy sauce and wasabi, but as it begins to revert back to the ocean, you remember the power of the ocean in the first place. You can tell this dish is cooked with extra love, grilled, yet...

Oh, man... I don't even know where to start! We got multiple dishes which were all varying levels of delish! Guess if I'm going to start anywhere, it's to start at the beginning :)

First off, our server, Narae--great service! Always made sure that we were good and had everything we needed/wanted.

Beginning dish of the night, miso soup. This was not your typical Japanese eatery miso--they made it fresh and not just from a powder! I didn't think it would make a noticeable difference, but there was! It's like having canned soup vs soup your mom/dad/family member/friend (ha ha) just made.

One of our starters was the Crispy Shisamo--small fried Smelt fish dish seasoned w/ sweet chili and ginger. You can eat the fish whole meaning bones and all... surprisingly, one of my favorites that night--wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.

(Side note: we were there on a weekday and it was consistently packed. A table would only be open long enough for them to clean and then it was onto the next eager patrons.)

Another good choice was the Citrus Salmon--came sashimi. Lately, I've kind of been over salmon just because I think I have had so much of it. But this was different in taste--can't quite explain it, maybe due to the citrus dressing on it. So, this one we enjoyed.

A notable duo was the Kushiyaki Baby Octopus and Kushiyaki Chicken Skin (both skewers). Thank goodness when the octopus came, the suction cups of the tentacles weren't obvious because I would NOT have been able to eat them at all! Yes, they freak me out! It had a chewy texture and not so much flavor but the charred grilled flavor--which is good, too. And the chicken skin was what you imagine them to be--chicken flavored, ha ha!

Another favorite from this night was the Pork Shogayaki-Don--creamy rice bowl w/ great mix of flavors and an egg (I love when dishes add eggs, ha ha). W/o the pork, I don't know if the dish would have been that memorable--if you can't tell, I loved the pork in this dish, the texture and the flavor (YUM!).

Lastly, the meal ended with a dessert--Coconut Matcha Cake w/ Green Tea Ice Cream. The cake reminded me of mochi, which I think it was. The ice cream tasted just as I would expect a green tea ice cream to taste. It came presented w/ a big ol' flower--pretty presentation.

All in all, you can't go wrong w/ this place! So, go! Ha ha!

Happy...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Izakaya Osen, and I must say, it was an absolute delight. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm hospitality and a charming ambiance that set the tone for a memorable evening.

Let's talk about the food—I had the opportunity to savor two exceptional dishes, hotaruika and uni. Both were exquisitely prepared and left me craving for more. The hotaruika was perfect! The uni, oh my goodness! The freshness and delicate texture of the sea urchin simply melted in my mouth, leaving a heavenly aftertaste. It was an absolute feast for the senses.

I would like to extend a special congratulations to Yoshi, the Head Sushi Chef at Izakaya Osen. His expertise and culinary artistry truly shine through in every dish. The precision and care with which he crafted each morsel were truly commendable. Yoshi's passion for his craft is evident, and I consider myself lucky to have experienced his culinary mastery.

Aside from the incredible food, the service was impeccable. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall dining experience. The waitstaff made sure that every request was promptly attended to, making me feel like a valued guest throughout my visit.

Izakaya Osen has undoubtedly earned my highest recommendation. Whether you're seeking a memorable evening out or simply want to indulge in some remarkable Japanese cuisine, this is the place to be. Make sure to try the hotaruika and uni—I promise you won't be disappointed.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks and best wishes to the entire team at Izakaya Osen. May you continue to delight guests with your exceptional cuisine and warm hospitality for...