Ok I will have to try it I guess.
Do Morinoya first before dismissing the aburiya scene in L.A. altogether.
Morinoya chef Mori-san was working his aburiya magic at Place Yuu on Sawtelle, serving a loyal (mostly Japanese clientele) before Raku even got off the ground in Las Vegas. Once Seoul Tofu took over that space, he opened the more cozy Morinoya in the Olympic Collection down the street. I call Mori-san the Godfather of late-night L.A. Japanese dining.
Sure, no foie gras on the menu at Morinoya, but the traditional grilled ayu & shisyamo, as well as the matsutake dobin mushi are second to none. The way I see it, Raku L.A. doesn’t get a free pass from me just because of its pedigree from Vegas (and yes, I’ve eaten at Raku Vegas on several occasions). Rather, Raku L.A. has to work itself up to earn the respect I hold for Morinoya.
I should be trying Raku soon. Will report back. (Wanna hit it with me, CiaoBob?)
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I’ve been to morinoya and wasn’t impressed. I ordered the ankimo, takowasa, the grilled ayu special, soft shell crab special, ebi shinjo, agedashi tofu, yakitori sampler, and soba noodles.
Nothing stood out, and some dishes were just bad. The yakitori was bland, the soba was gummy, and the fried dishes were greasy. Maybe it was an off night or i should have ordered the hot pots or the omakase?
I enjoyed kinjiro and raku much better. I would go back to raku just for the agedashi tofu and grilled foie gras. The only knocks on raku are the slow service, which should improve, and the specials can get very pricey. Looking forward to your report @J_L_
U Bet. Will e-mail.
Starting September 1st, they’ll now be open for lunch M-F.
New lunch menu
kaisendon salmon, kanpachi, bluefin tuna, scallop, spot prawns, ikura, tamago #twoheadsarebetterthanone 
bento box - soy bean salad. tuna tartare. poached egg, uni, ikura. asparagus okaki. black cod, tuna tamago. kanpachi, scallop sachimi. grilled chicken thigh teriyaki, grilled asparagus. chicken onigiri. #twolunchesarebetterthanone
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holy shit I need that bento box in my life.
$$$?
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$26 includes miso soup, salad, and dessert
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wow that is stellar.
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you sir are a gentleman and a scholar.
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I know. It really looks great.
Just got back from having the Bento box of life. Pork cutlet was juicy, tender, and delicious. Not pictured are the spinach/potato salad dish, the miso soup chock-full of tofu and honshimeji mushrooms, and the brown sugar pudding with the hojicha at the end. Suffice it to say,I will be returning. And I think I’m having a very light supper tonight
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I need that box in my life.
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#Raku
Roe v. @PorkyBelly. Spoiler alert porkybelly wins Poached Egg with Sea Urchin & Salmon Roe
The money shot #NSFW
aji sashimi
heads or tails
grilled salmon belly. fatty, salty, crispy, juicy, awesomness
duck with balsamic soy sauce
bacon wrapped tomatoes #salad
bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms
direct-flamed eggplant with bonito
chicken teba wing
chicken thigh
portabella stuffed with ground chicken
pork cheeks
matsutake dobin mushi with scallops, shrimp, conger eel, gingko nuts
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STOP! DON’T! STOP! DON’T STOP!!! That was one heck of a meal!
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I would very much like the first dish (triple egg, that is so primal). Also, the dobin mushi. In fact, I want to follow you around and murmur to the waiter, "“I’ll have what he’s having.”
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[quote=“Bookwich, post:44, topic:93”]
In fact, I want to follow you around and murmur to the waiter, "“I’ll have what he’s having.”
[/quote]I know. He always orders what I would order. Except for the blood, eyeballs and head.
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Poached Egg with Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, Okra, Mushrooms, and Mountain Yam
Slimier than a used car salesman on Labor Day weekend.
Sashimi Sampler - Kanpachi, Salmon, Bluefin, Toro
This was fucking phenomenal, it was so soft it was like eating fish butter.
Agedashi Tofu
Live Uni Udon
I finally got to try this and unfortunately it was a major disappointment and the only miss of the night. For $30 bucks I got maybe two pieces of uni in a watered down insipid broth. The udon was they only saving grace. Stick with the uni udon at kinjiro.
Deep Fried Asajime Chicken
Duck with Balsamic Soy Sauce
bacon
Pork Ear
Iberico Pork
Asajime Chicken Breast wrapped with Chicken Skin
Asajime Chicken Thigh
Kurobuta Pork Cheek
Butter Sautéed Scallop with Soy Sauce
Salmon Belly
Kanpachi Kama
Pork Intestine
Tsukune - Grilled Ground Asajime Chicken
Kobe Beef Filet with Wasabi
Asajime Chicken Teba Wing
Steamed Foie Gras Egg Custard
Kamameshi - Kettle rice with Salmon and Salmon Roe
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holy shit that looks amazing - $$$?
Kamameshi - Kettle rice with Salmon and Salmon Roe
this too.
goddamn this restaurant may be my favorite restaurant in the city.
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