Local Guides World
Steph W
25 reviews on 1 places
Polite gentleman who served me with a smile! The lamb with salad was $10 and there a plentiful serving of flavorful lamb cubes. The salad was only iceberg lettuce (I asked for without tomatoes). He sprinkled on some green seasoning, hot sauce, and white sauce. It was spicy and tasty! Will come back again!
Ambiance (5/5): The setting reminds me of the izakaya scene of Japan with the themed decorations and dining area that overlooks the kitchen. There's bar side seating along the kitchen and also a back area with addition seating. The bathroom is also decorated with anime cartoon posters everywhere! I liked how this venue was not loud or too dark.
Service (5/5): We came in around 8:30pm on a Sunday and seated immediately. There seems to be authenticity from the Japanese-speaking staff. They attended to us often and were very nice.
Food (3/5):
Lychee Hi-ball (5/5): Hardly could taste any liquor in the very forward lychee flavoring (which I loved!)
Charsu Bun (3/5): The bun bread was extremely soft and warm. The chars pork was not the most tender but the sauce complemented it well. There's nice variation to the bite from the lettuce and cucumber.
Kaki Fries (3/5): The inside of the breading was a moist oyster. I wish the breading had a little more flavor. It came out nice and hot that provided a nice crunch.
Yakiniku Don (4/5): The beef slices were nicely marinated but not the most tender pieces. The veggies included were carrots, cbbage, onions, and pickled ginger. It tasted great on the bed of rice that soaked up all the sauce. I would have enjoyed it with more sauce.
Beef Don (2/5): There was no sauce at all which result in any flavor to the dish. The beef was dry. The egg in the middle should have been prepared runny to allow the yolk to serve as a sauce/provide moisture to the dish.
Service (5/5): We came in around 8:30pm on a Sunday and seated immediately. There seems to be authenticity from the Japanese-speaking staff. They attended to us often and were very nice.
Food (3/5):
Lychee Hi-ball (5/5): Hardly could taste any liquor in the very forward lychee flavoring (which I loved!)
Charsu Bun (3/5): The bun bread was extremely soft and warm. The chars pork was not the most tender but the sauce complemented it well. There's nice variation to the bite from the lettuce and cucumber.
Kaki Fries (3/5): The inside of the breading was a moist oyster. I wish the breading had a little more flavor. It came out nice and hot that provided a nice crunch.
Yakiniku Don (4/5): The beef slices were nicely marinated but not the most tender pieces. The veggies included were carrots, cbbage, onions, and pickled ginger. It tasted great on the bed of rice that soaked up all the sauce. I would have enjoyed it with more sauce.
Beef Don (2/5): There was no sauce at all which result in any flavor to the dish. The beef was dry. The egg in the middle should have been prepared runny to allow the yolk to serve as a sauce/provide moisture to the dish.
Cheap drinks. Bingo on Wednesday at 8pm. Only tables were outside at 7:30pm! Free to play and several Trader Joe's prizes!
Atmosphere (4/5): Located on the second floor of 48th street is a hidden ramen shop. During a weekday lunch hour, the establishment was a little over half capacity. There a minimalistic Japanese feel to the décor. It's slightly cramped but since the restaurant wasn't full, it wasn't so bad. Good volume and nicely lit.
Service (5/5): Great service! It was super fast to place my order and have it ready. My whole dining experience was under 20 minutes.
Food
Tonkatsu Ramen (3.5/5): I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen. The dish had plentiful toppings that were actually marinated, like the bamboo. Only half of a soft boiled egg which didn't taste pre-marinated. I liked the touch of the sautéed cabbage. The pork was out of this word good!! It was extremely tender, great portion of meat to fat ratio, and marinated with a savory flavor that melts in your mouth. Sadly, the broth and the noodles were a bit of a letdown. The broth needs more umami, perhaps thicker consistency, and more flavoring. Even with the table chili garlic oil, the ramen was not much flavor.
Service (5/5): Great service! It was super fast to place my order and have it ready. My whole dining experience was under 20 minutes.
Food
Tonkatsu Ramen (3.5/5): I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen. The dish had plentiful toppings that were actually marinated, like the bamboo. Only half of a soft boiled egg which didn't taste pre-marinated. I liked the touch of the sautéed cabbage. The pork was out of this word good!! It was extremely tender, great portion of meat to fat ratio, and marinated with a savory flavor that melts in your mouth. Sadly, the broth and the noodles were a bit of a letdown. The broth needs more umami, perhaps thicker consistency, and more flavoring. Even with the table chili garlic oil, the ramen was not much flavor.
Ambiance (4/5): The inside is dimly lit and noise levels were medium. It is a nice spot to have a date.
Service (4/5): The service was okay since the venue was pretty busy. However, they did a great job in checking with us and keeping our drinks filled.
Food (5/5): The food was delicious! We tried 4 of their cocktails and each of them were amazing.
They also offer the daily special and opted for the steak since it was comparable to the prices of the main entrees.
Short Rib Tacos (5/5): Amazing flavor jammed into the taco (3 pieces). Nice portions of juicy meat and the sauces that melt together with the meat.
Steak (5/5): It came with a side of roasted potatoes and asparagus. It was seasoned well, donned with a couple slabs of butter and enough fat that it kept the cut fairly juicy.
Service (4/5): The service was okay since the venue was pretty busy. However, they did a great job in checking with us and keeping our drinks filled.
Food (5/5): The food was delicious! We tried 4 of their cocktails and each of them were amazing.
They also offer the daily special and opted for the steak since it was comparable to the prices of the main entrees.
Short Rib Tacos (5/5): Amazing flavor jammed into the taco (3 pieces). Nice portions of juicy meat and the sauces that melt together with the meat.
Steak (5/5): It came with a side of roasted potatoes and asparagus. It was seasoned well, donned with a couple slabs of butter and enough fat that it kept the cut fairly juicy.