Manpuku Japanese BBQ Los Angeles

Evething is great

I really like this chain barbecue restaurant. Among them, the Santa Monica branch is the only one where you can barbecue with charcoal. It's charming because you can eat like grilling meat while camping. All the other meats are similar in quality to other branches. Most of the servers are friendly. The only downside is that this branch does not offer the signature dish of Manpuku, Sukiyaki. It's a very delicious dish where thinly sliced high-quality meat is lightly cooked, then wrapped around sushi rice and dipped in raw egg. This dish is available at all other branches. If you want to grill meat yourself using charcoal, make a reservation for an outdoor table. But remember, Sukiyaki is not available at this branch.

Manpuku Tokyo BBQ is just great. It is also so very crowded. I mean all the time. Make a reservation. If you don't you will not be happy. The place is just super cute, inside and out. It is very clean. The service is amazing. They are all so friendly and can help you with the menu. We tried the Nigo Shio beef tongue, have never had it, and loved it (about 18$). If you like fried rice you have to get theirs. It is just the best and goes with everything. It is a large portion for sharing and ever so tasty. The garlic rice is our favorite. The Kobe Ribeye (about $33) is not large, but so great. It is tender and juicy and perfect. That is a must for any beef eater. The Prime Boneless Short Rib (about 20$) is just the best short rib you will find in Japanese BBQ. You will also love their mushrooms, you get a variety and a large portion and it blends so well with the meat and the rest. A vegetarian or vegan can get a great meal here. Lots of vegetable dishes and noodles to be had. Just check to see what is in the noodle dish. You will love this place and all of this area on Sawtelle Blvd. It is fun, crowded and safe. Have the best time.

It was delicious and taste good.

We had the yakiniku tasting menu, which requires at least 2 people at the table to order. It’s not cheap, but contains a large number of dishes including salad, fried rice, pickles, and dessert. There is a decent amount of meat for the tasting menu but if you are particularly hungry you might want to order more. The quality of the dishes was high! No fatty pieces of meat, and all marinated until tender so that even if you accidentally overcook it, it still tastes good. The side dishes are elevated as well, especially the rice and pickles. It’s mostly Japanese style, but there are clearly some inspirations taken from KBBQ cuisine, which I appreciated. I enjoyed this place, although it is a bit upscale and I have definitely had similar quality meals for less in the past. They also have outdoor dining which is really nice to walk past since the smoky meat smell is very enticing.

美味しかったです！

Great place.