Inaka

Absolutely blown away! Had the Kobucha Pumpkin soup with Salmon and Orange Roughy and the tofu kale app.
Both were… well… perfect.
This place has apparently been around for 30 years just absolutely killing it. The type of immaculate prep and presentation you saw in Jiro Dreams of Sushi, only this isn’t mercury filled top feeder action. This is belly temp, beautifully macrobiotic delights.
I was constantly tempted to season and spice, but only a (delicious) soy sauce and sesame seed sprinkle are on the table. Every bite resonated with my heart and tummy center.
I can’t recommend this place highly enough. It’s a gem.
TIP: If you have a soup, make sure to use one of the CAMEO DURABLE soup spoons. They have any delightful lip feel on each sip.

Wow! So glad to have stumbled onto this gem. So fresh and delicious. High quality ingredients. Excited to go back and try more dishes.

Decided to give place a try because I’ve heard good word of mouth about them. Macrobiotic. For those of us, including myself, who were curious and wanted to try Inaka, the experience was a bit underwhelming. Many of the dishes were lightly seasoned, which was fine for me, but bland for my friends. However, I do believe some of their dishes, such the hijiki salad, could have been seasoned a little bit more.
I share a seafood yosenabe with a friend, and it had ample pieces of salmon and orangy roughy, and to me, was tasty.
The deep fried tofu turned out to be the best tasting dish of the evening for us.
Because we are not following a macrobiotic diet, we could only eat about ²⁄₃ of the Inaka plate before stopping due to it being somewhat bland. I can’t help but think that had we ordered the Inaka bowl, it would have been easier to mix the ingredients up for a more satisfying bite.

I was literally walking with a friend to Sycamore Kitchen when we came across Inaka. They had a way less of a wait, and I love Japanese and Macrobiotic foods, so I definitely had to try it.
We both went for the Inaka bowl with soup for $ 2 extra. Our waitress told us it was the same as the plate with smaller portions, but the portions were still big! I went with the pumpkin soup. Everything was so fresh, simple, and healthy. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this hidden gem.
It’s hard to find authentic, homemade Japanese food. Def will be back.

This is an unqualified review for vegan fare since I am veganish and do not fully appreciate pure Vegan cuisines.
I understand that Japanese macrobiotics emphasizes locally grown whole grain cereals, legumes, vegetables, seaweed, fermented soy products and fruit, combined into meals according to the ancient Chinese principle of balance known as yin and yang. Whole grains and whole-​grain products such as brown rice and buckwheat pasta (soba), a variety of cooked and raw vegetables, beans and bean products, mild natural seasonings, fish, nuts and seeds, mild (non-​stimulating) beverages such as bancha twig tea and fruit are recommended.
Alas I don’t find the food to be tasty or flavorful here. The most flavorful dish we tried here is the Seafood Yosenabe.
In the Inaka plate, the vegetables were boiled and served plain. I try to eat vegan or raw vegan at home for health reasons. I can whip up some fairly tasty morsels such as hummus, salsa and quinoa mixed together and made into a roll with nori. That is eaten with organic power greens. I understand salsa which is made with tomatoes is a big no no for macrobiotics since it is part of the nightshade family and can contain alkaloid solanine, thought to affect calcium balance.
Never the less I expect a restaurant to come up with some tasty treats. Perhaps macrobiotic fare was never meant to be flavorful.

This is a perfect place. Well, a little expensive for me but I think the fish plate entrée is actually big enough to share — the fish was like 11 or 12 ounces — so maybe it’s a good value for that reason. I sure wish this place was on the east side because I crave it all the time but dread the drive across town. I love the pumpkin squash soup, the fish, kale, lotus root and brown rice!!! And the chocolate mouse is fantastic! I’m crying right now because it’s Monday and it’s closed today!!!

Good, simple, clean food. Under seasoned for my taste, but good nonetheless. The salmon was just a hair overcooked. I can see they care very much about food. I would not eat like this all the time, but definitely worth a try. I would probably not return, but would try to recreate at home.

Wonderful place.
Polite service and peaceful atmosphere.
Good if you want to talk to someone.
Generous portions — one Dinner plate and their great pumpkin soup can feed one child and one adult. Lovely barley tea — both hot and cold. Amazing natto.
Enjoy!

Waitress was rude and unprofessional. I gave this place three tries, and I still dislike the food. Not just the flavor, it is soulless, and heartless. I understand all healthy, macro philosophy, but I do not receive any of the message from the experience and the food. I can easily make the same food, even better! at home with shorter time. I really don’t think waiting for 30mins for rude service and a plate of $ 25 soulless food is the right marcobiotic.

My boo took me here before we saw a spoken word performance up the block, and I am still euphoric from the experience.
I thought that I was pretty well informed about food in LA but somehow I had never heard of Inaka. For those that don’t know, Inaka offers simple, delicious, healthy food — Japanese Macrobiotic fish, vegetables, soups and noodles.
The dining area is sparse and relaxing, dark and mellow.
We started with two teas — I got the ume-​sho bancha with ginger (pickled plum tea) and J got the organic twig tea. Both set the stage nicely.
Then came natto — fermented soybeans. Delicious. I ordered the pan-​fried salmon with four different Japanese vegetables. The fish was incredible — perfectly crusted yet tender inside. And there is a great diagram on the Inaka website if you’re interested in learning about which vegetables they offer.
In the foodscape of Los Angeles, a place where every noun has an adjective and every adjective has a verb and an adverb, it is nothing short of rejuvenating to eat at a restaurant as elegantly honest as Inaka.

This austere little restaurant has a host of healthy offerings. I had a veggie stir fry with brown rice. Bland but I could feel my arteries unclogging with every bite. Staff very friendly and efficient except waitress forgot the chopsticks we requested. I will go back as long as my health kick holds out.

Open for 39 years… This place feels like you went to your friends house and their grandmother spent 3 hours cooking you a meal!

Had fish soup and noodle!!! Salmon and cod were perfect!!! Fish was moist and tender. soup was clean and clear… Very pleasant flavor … I could come here everyday!!! None of flavor are strong or sharp… Everything is harmony with others!!! This food was soothing me in every way!!!
Small space and very simple interior. It goes well with foods. Service was great too. Easy parking is bonus !!!

Pure macrobiotic Japanese food. Absolutely awesome! Various fish choices and then you add four different alternatives — rice, beans, kale, etc. My favorite is the the Inaka bowl after a Natto starter! Very nice and professional service. The Chef (and the Owner!) has kept this place going for more than 20 years. Keep going!

This place was a wonderful surprise. A friend and I were overwhelmed by the wait at Sugarfish and decided to wander down the block. We came across this inviting minimalist restaurant and decided to check it out.
The food is Japanese macrobiotic and emphasizes fresh and hearty ingredients. My friend and I split a pumpkin soup, a seafood hotpot and a veggie plate. It was all excellent and you could really taste the integrity of both the ingredients as well as the preparation. While everything tasted healthy, the food was very flavorful and filling. I never once found myself saying «this would be better with [insert bad food additive here].»
Moreover, the service was prompt and friendly. The clientele was — as you would expect — trendy with a granola slant. It is a pretty quiet restaurant so would be good for a 1:1 catchup or a date. Oh, and nearly forgot the best part — it’s BYOB!

I love this place!
the food is great, macrobiotic and great pumpkin soup, the best is the Inaka Plate. The place is peaceful and smells great, lovely staff, lots of parking, close to home.

Inaka is an experience that may not be for me but for anyone looking for a pure, vegetarian/​Japanese experience — Inaka is one of the only restaurant I know in the area that is committed to just that goal. Unfortunately for me, I do seek a bit more flavor out of my dishes and that is where I clash a bit with the ideals here.
Parking-​wise, just look for parking along the street (you might have to walk a little bit depending on the situation). The venue is serene and simple — white walls, a little bit of an incense smell and nothing overly noisy. It’s a great zen place and the servers are straightforward.
Food-​wise, you’re looking at traditional Japanese plates/​ingredients with a very pure, vegetarian edge. There’s a mix of vegetable plates, soups and noodles. Plates will run you anywhere +$ 10 for the most part. I got the iced barley tea with ginger ($ 5) which I thought was refreshing but a bit overpriced and the yakisoba and miso soup. The miso soup was probably the stronger dish as it was more hearty and reminded me of a chicken noodle soup with a miso flavor. The yakisoba was okay — I liked the pure design behind it but had to keep adding soy sauce constantly as it lacked much of a flavor profile. My friend got the inaka plate which came with brown rice and a bunch of veggies. My friend loved the dish but I found a similar thing where I appreciated the thought of presenting these veggies as pure as possible but the plate lacked a bit of flavor. I have to admit, the biggest surprise is the chocolate tofu mousse. The taste is definitely not that of a traditional mousse and looks a little strange but the flavor is solid and worth it.
This review has a bit of a weird Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde going on here but I’m just trying to think of the strange duality of the experience. I believe that vegetarians or fans of pure ingredients will get a kick out of this place as it is very committed to it’s goal and mission. However, I believe that the restaurant’s concept isn’t for people like me who seek bold flavors and combinations that is tough to do with the concept. Still, the chocolate mousse really did get me interested in what other plates here may have a similar impression and I may come back again for a second try. We’ll see!

This place was surprisingly good. Had the miso seafood pot.
It’s macrobiotic cuisine, which just means that they serve fish, vegetables and rice in different combinations. I always get the trout, and vegetables including lotus root, hijiki, burdock, sprouts. Not vegetables that are very common, but they’re very good. And the trout is great. Oh, and I also get soup that’s a mix of their two soups… mixed bean and kabocha (Japanese pumpkin).
I would, and I bet my body would be happier for it!

Hidden away behind a relatively plain façade on La Brea this little restaurant is definitely a special find, especially if you’re a fan of healthy, clean, macrobiotic meals.
The décor is minimalist yet pleasant and the atmosphere quietly peaceful, very different to most food places in LA. The staff are friendly and prompt and will happily help you navigate the menu if you are having trouble– there are some interesting meals on there.
I’ve only been during their dinner session and I would recommend any one of the dinner sets, they come with miso soup plus the fish/​seafood of your choice plus brown rice and salad with choice of dressing. I recommend the salmon with sesame although teriyaki and I think… sesame? are available as well.
If you keep in mind that this is a restaurant dedicated to fresh, clean meals you will not be disappointed in the slightest as everything on the menu is perfect for your inner health nut :)
I will definitely be coming here on a more regular basis.

Inaka & Shojin restaurant in Little Tokyo seem to have similar affinities for each other although Shojin is totally vegan and Inaka has some pescatorial options such as salmon, shrimp, scallop, trout, orange roughy, yellowtail. Both restaurants reflect an environment that is peaceful, almost meditative in order to reflect on the nuances of purity of flavours & textures presented in the food.
Inaka & Shojin differ a bit in their approach to customer service. The servers at Inaka tend to let the customer be at peace with their own internal musings so intrusions are kept to a minimum. The service at Shojin leans more toward a warmer, serene hospitality that gives an impression that the servers are more connected to the guests. Which is better? You choose your poison.
The food at Inaka is not made to «wow» you. There is a huge emphasis on simplicity of cooking technique that stresses the very flavour of the ingredients themselves & using foodstuffs that are not highly processed so that more vitamins & phytochemicals are retained. No alcoholic beverages are served, but you can bring a bottle of wine for $ 9 corkage fee per bottle. Most drinks also have no caffeine with one exception of Kuki (koo kee) Cha which may have a very low caffeine component.
1) Since I was starved that day I started the meal with Deep Fried Mochi made from a pâté of brown rice formed into a cake. There are two pieces which makes for a hearty appetizer. The texture is heavy, gooey, sticky, glutinous. Eating this causes amylase in the saliva to convert the starch into sugar so a subtle sweetness is evident as one chews.
I received the traditional condiment of grated Japanese Daikon radish & Sho-​yu/​soy sauce. To liven up the flavour a bit, there was a shaker full of rough ground freshly roasted white sesame seeds with a touch of salt that added a nutty, aromatic browned scent.
2) Ordered the Seafood Plate (broiled, pan fried, Teriyaki sauced) which includes all the seafood listed above in the 1^st paragraph as well as Chilean Sea bass which I ordered. For dinner, one can also choose 4 sides dishes:
a) Soup (Miso, Kabocha/​Japanese Pumpkin, mixed bean, or vegetable)
b) Mixed Salad (sesame or Miso dressing)
c) Brown Rice
d) Kale braised
e) Lotus Root
f)) Gobo (fibrous root vegetable/​Burdock in English if you can relate to that botanical term)
g) Daikon (Giant Japanese white radish)
h) Bean Sprout
i) Today’s bean
j) To-​fu dip
k) Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin)
l) Stewed vegetables
m) Hijiki (hee jee kee)/small leafed brown seaweed)
n) Tsukemono (tsoo keh moh noh/​pickled items) Cabbage
The Chilean Sea Bass was lightly pan fried. I asked for it to be cooked a minimally as possible since over-​cooked fish loses its creaminess inside & delicate aromas. The fish came as ordered, but the fish seemed to have been frozen a bit too long. There was no Iki which is a Japanese term denoting fresh liveliness, vivacity. Other than that, the Chilean Sea Bass was acceptable. A wedge of lemon provided added a light gastrique to enliven the sea bass.
The Miso soup was the standard with chopped green onions to combine with the meatiness of the Miso.
The mixed green salad with shreds of crisp magenta red radicchio was a nice touch lending a bit of refreshing bitterness. A sesame oil dressing was served on the side.
Kale was a bright deep green & braised for only a minute with maybe a sprinkling of salt.
Hijiki seaweed, that has trace elements, was simmered in sho-​yu along with carrots for color & vitamin A. The flavour has the tang of soy sauce as well as an earthiness probably from the trace elements. The carrots add a bit of medicinal sweetness.
Eating of the two Mochi rice pâté cakes filled me up so dessert had to be skipped. But for sweet tooths, there was a Chocolate To-​fu Mousse, & Apple Walnut Kanten (kahn tehn) which is a gelatin made from seaweed.
Inaka is an ideal place to purify & cleanse the body after heavy ingestion of land meats, alcohol, carbs, etc. which can lend to a body a feeling of heaviness, sluggishness, inertness. Much of what can be eaten here is low in simple carbs, bad fats & oils with no additives, hormones, antibiotics, etc. I would personally rate the flavour portion of the food at Inaka to be closer to 3 Unilocal stars, but taking into account the health aspects of the food, I would like to up it to the 4^th star.