Not to brag or anything, but LA's got some pretty good Japanese food too. Now you can add the best known izakaya in Las Vegas to the list. Mitsuo Endo's Aburiya Raku has put down roots in West Hollywood and Jonathan Gold says it's worth a visit.
At Raku, Gold recommends the tatami sardine Caesar-style salad, the tempura-fried ice fish that look like French fries with eyes and the oyaji "old dude" tofu with wilted mustard greens and spicy chile oil. Order off the menu at the end of the meal and go for the kamameshi, a pot of Japanese pilaf served with salmon and herbs. The Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer for the LA Times says to save room for sake since there's no shortage of bottles to try.
Aburiya Raku
521 N. Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
Read more about Aburiya Raku and get other restaurant rec's from Mr. Gold on the Good Food blog.
Music: "Bird of Paradise" (instrumental) by Fly By Pony