Sawtelle Kitchen

Unfortunately closed its doors as of 4÷25÷2013. New (and different) restaurant opening soon in the same location.
Will miss this as being one of the best experiences in fused-​Japanese cuisine in the area.

Love the happy hour here! They have amazing prices and usually have plenty of seating inside or outside.
I’ve been here a few times and just recently reserved a large area inside for a holiday

Sawtelle Kitchen is probably the cutest and most unique place on Sawtelle! It’s been there forever and their food has been consistent. The ambiance of the place is really peaceful and relaxing. It’s a great place to go for lunch in the spring/​summer time.
I had the grilled pork chops when I went and they were good (: pork chops are either hit or miss (i hate it when it’s dry/​overcooked) but Sawtelle Kitchen knows how to get it done! Super tender and yummy.
Don’t expect to come to this restaurant as if it’s the typical Japanese restaurant. It’s a French/​Japanese Fusion so there’s no chicken teriyaki here.

Sawtelle Kitchen is such an adorable restaurant I can’t believe it has only very recently become a place that I am beginning to frequent. It’s such a cute place!
First of all, the ambiance is fantastic; the restaurant feels spacious but still cozy and intimate at the same time. A great place of romantic evening meal after a long day of work or a first date. The service is also wonderful and the wait staff is always attentive and polite. The food is an interesting fusion of Japanese and Italian.
My favorites are:
Spaghetti with Japanese Mountain Vegetables– so buttery and delicious! Meatless but very rich in flavor
Steamed clams– in a delicious broth of sake!
Pollock Caviar pasta– creamy! And not too heavy like typical Italian cream-​based pastas
Confession: This is totally embarrassing but being the scatterbrain I am sometimes, I have walked out after dinner once without my purse (!), and another time without my doggy-​bagged left overs. Both times I was chased down by a waiter who politely returned my forgotten items. Thanks to the service staff who literally went the extra mile (ok maybe just a few hundred feet at a brisk sprint) for us!

If you found yourself on Sawtelle Blvd because you wanted Uni Pasta (Sea Urchin) at Blue Marlin… only to find that they are now CLOSED DOWN…
MENTAIKO COD ROE PASTA WITH SQUID AND NORI at Sawtelle Kitchen will save the day!
That is all.

Came here tonight for our friend’s birthday dinner, and was pleasantly surprised at both the venue and the food.
The venue is quite intimate and quiet, and there is Happy hour until 10 pm during the weekdays (which is 50% off Drinks, appetizers, salad, and 30% off sake)
The three appetizers I decided to try with to pair along with the drinks were the French Fries with Seaweed, Clams steamed in sake, and fried chicken. As with most happy hour food, all of these were a tad bit on the salty side, but delicious nonetheless. The portion for the Clams is great for an appetizer and has a rich sake taste. The French fries are a must try, but definitely a little on the small side for the portions.
FYI: corkage fee is $ 5 if you decide to bring your own wine!

Met up with some friends for nice lunch on a beautiful sunny summer afternoon. We got a table outside and enjoyed a variety of items: Japanese meatloaf katsu with curry, Fried yams with plum-​mayonnaise, and Nasu eggplant, mixed Japanese mushrooms and wild mountain vegetables, ginger sauce. Everything was super-​yum and the service was great. I was the one who got the meatloaf (of course). Since it was katsu it was breaded and fried, and you can get any katsu as a curry plate, so of course I had to do that. Their curry was rich, brown, and delicious – not the overly starchy yellow kind. Overall I had a very nice time, and prices were quite reasonable as well. Definitely would re-​visit.

I met my friend for a weekday lunch at Sawtelle Kitchen which is in the area with the row of Japanese eateries off Sawtelle/​Olympic is West LA. Parking can be a bit tough but there are plenty of meters in the area or a few blocks away you can find free neighborhood parking.
We both ordered the Hamburger Steak (aka Japanese Meatloaf). The lunch special cost $ 9.95 and it included salad, miso soup and rice (brown rice offered at no extra charge!!). For the quality of food that you get, this is a fantastic deal. I enjoyed every bite of my meal.
This cute little Bistro is definitely worth checking out.

At first, I was bracing myself for my usual fancy restaurant experience of splurging on tiny, ok-​tasting portions and regretting it afterward. While the occasional fancy meal is lovely, I’m a cheapo at heart and always will be. Plus, I enjoy cooking so I like to kid myself that it wouldn’t be THAT hard to figure out how to make those dishes myself.
That being said, Sawtelle Kitchen is one of the few two-​dollar-​signs-​on-​Yelp establishments that I can go to without feeling depressed afterward. A very reasonably-​priced restaurant for the quality and the lovely ambiance. Taste is awesome. Quality is good. Price is good (yay for happy hour items). Service is good. And what’s not to love about Japanese-​Western cuisine?
So while I’m happiest at my usual cheap spots, the spaghettis and curries at Sawtelle Kitchen have a place in my heart for the days when I am in the mood to savor a meal under soft chandelier lighting.

Sawtelle Kitchen is a great little spot on Sawtelle row. The name of the establishment doesnt quiet lend itself to what kind of food it servers how the food and menu speak for itself. It carries a mixture of influences from japanese and italian cuisine with just the right amount of each for the dishes i’ve tried.
Appetizer:
Braised Lotus with Edamame
— This was a simple and refreshing dish to have while we sat outside and enjoyed a nice glass of wine. It was a bit on the saltier side however the flavors were carried out really well throughout the dish.
Steamed Mussels in Sake Broth
–This dish could have a lot of potential. The sake broth wasn’t cooked quite through so each bite of the mussels had a strong sake taste. If they steamed it for another 3 minutes, this dish could be amazing.
Lunch:
Japanese Mushroom Linguini Pasta
This dish was recommended by the waiter when I asked him what he recommended as a vegetarian option for a lunch. Let’s just say I was not disappointed and was eager to eat the leftovers when i got home. Like i mentioned earlier, since we sat outside on a nice beautiful winter day, iti was refreshing to have something light without bringing you down with an afternoon slump. The mushrooms and greens were cooked perfectly and was paired well with a nice olive oil mushroom sauce.
Lamb Shank Lunch Special
–The description of the lamb shank was amazing so we had to order it. However, the meat was a bit rough and salty. Sad Face.
Overall, the happy hour specials and the service would bring me back. The waiter was really nice and the happy hour prices are amazing. I would just come with an open mind/​palate and just enjoy the great atmosphere.

Pretty good Happy Hour spot in Little Sawtelle. They have generous happy hour hours going from Monday through Thursday 3 pm to 10 pm. During that time, appetizers, drinks and desserts are ½ off. I went with a friend a few weeks ago and we got like 4 appetizers and a couple beers for under $ 40. Nothing we ordered blew my socks off, but none of it was bad either all hovering around a 3 out of 5.
The ambiance was nice as they have a great selection of tables inside and out and pretty attentive service. Not a bad way to kill a couple hours after work if you’re in the area.

Sawtelle Kitchen Happy Hour
Monday to Thursday 3pm — 10pm
½ Off appetizers, drinks, and desserts
The happy hour lured me in for a mid-​week dinner at Sawtelle Kitchen with its European décor and Japanese cuisine. The initial service seemed tentative, but overall, the waitstaff, atmosphere, and, most importantly, the food all turned out to be good. It earns a solid 3 stars and likelihood of a return visit for Happy Hour again.
Hot Side Dishes (aka Appetizers)
— Calamari Katsu (small squid steak breaded and deep fried)
Not bad. Simple, yet effective.
— Potato and Vegetable Croquette
Regularly $ 2.50 each; just $ 1.25 for happy hour. Nice.
— French Fries
Sprinkled with Green Seaweed Flakes which added little, but still ok.
Main Entrée
— Pork Loin Katsu Curry Plate
The breaded/​fried pork steak was tender, but not memorable.
Curry tended to be on the sweet side.
Only 1 spice level available, so, probably not homemade curry
None of the dishes were terrible. None were outstanding.
Sawtelle Kitchen felt like a ride on Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure at Disneyland. It has no surprises, you know what is ahead, and it is safe for anyone. You don’t really go to Disneyland just for Pinocchio’s journey nor would you wait in a long line for it.
If you’re in the area and it’s happy hour, then Sawtelle Kitchen is a nice comfortable alternative to nearby places. Come when you want no wait and no worries. Like the Pinocchio ride, you can sit for a spell and then be on with your day.
FYI: they no longer have free WiFi.

Great food! Has a nice atmosphere and would come again.
I had a few meals here and enjoyed it every time. Then afterwards go for a walk on sawtelle.

This review is for drinks only! No food eaten during this visit–
Popped in here on Saturday evening at 6:02 p.m. Darn, we missed happy hour by 2 minutes. Kind of bummed that they wouldn’t extent it by two minutes. We were told «Come back earlier next time.» Oh well — guess we might have to try that.
We did end up staying around for a few drinks. They have an OK beer selection — Sapporo, some Tahitian beer (which was a «pale ale or lager, I’m not sure» — according to the waitress. It was a lager and it was pretty good.), Becks, Stella. .and maybe another one or two. Bottles only, nothing on tap.
I’m not a wine drinker, but they have what looks to be an all right selection.
What sold us on this place versus any of the others along that strip of Sawtelle was the outdoor seating. They have a super cute patio that has a few more than half a dozen tables.
The décor, overall, is a modern Asian — which is pretty neat.
Service was good, besides us arriving late for happy hour, staff was nice. Definitley worth another visit.
Oh — and they have a happy hour every night of the week — times are different though so check in advance!

After a pigout session at SushiStop, we had to take a walk up and down Sawtelle, I don’t come here often, so some R&D of the area was needed.
Thirsty for a drink, when we passed Sawtelle Kitchen, I saw an outside table with a bottle of Yebisu on it. That alone enticed me to enter.
Since we were there only for some bier, we sat at the bar. First impression, hmmm, affluent crowd.
Without due diligence on the menu, Yebisu was ordered immediately.
Nice décor, reminded me of restaurants in Europe, guess that was the intent of the owner and it worked.
Looked up and saw Hakkaisan on display, wooo… got a little excited.
12 bucks for 12 ounces of Hakkaisan kinda steep.
Two beverages on my faves J-​alcohol list, not bad.
In summary:
Drink selection: Like
Interior: Like
Food: Don’t know, didn’t have any
Wait time to use wash room: Dislike, had to wait for a dude to come out, apparently he was grooming himslef — still ugly despite time spent grooming himself
Pricing: ummm… neutral, guess some of the cost goes to fund the ambience

Cyyyoooooot atmosphere & lovely people watching seats.
Great happy hour menu from 3−10pm Mon-​Thurs & 3−7pm Fri & 11:30am –6pm Sat. Yup, half off all salads, appetizers, drinks and desert. Great place to meet up with friends, have a couple of drinks and catch up. As for food, not alot of people on Unilocal seems to have enjoyed it but… i LOVED their Six-​hour braised lamb shank with demi-​grace sauce. YUMMY! Don’t forget to order desert because their ice cream flavors are unique and SO GOOD!

I told you we’d be back. We went here tonight for dinner. The happy hour menu is fantastic, and with appetizers, salads, desserts AND drinks half off from 3pm to 10pm on a Wednesday night, I’m sold… it doesn’t matter how much the entrees cost, because of the savings you gain from the rest of the menu!
We both had some Miso soup, then I had the Katsu again, non-​curry style. She had the Spaghetti with meat sauce. The presentation in the restaurant is fantastic, and we had the same very helpful, friendly server that I had assist me when I made a take-​out order only two days earlier.
Very romantic setting with dim, candlelight. I have to say, we are going back here again to experience it some more. =)

I’ve never been to Sawtelle Kitchen… and I probably never will (parking on that street? Fugghetaboutit!) BUT, here at the office, we’ve ordered lunch from them plenty of times (thru
) and if a few of us had our way, we’d order it DAILY!
I’ve tried — and have thoroughly enjoyed — the following dishes:
* Fried Teriyaki Chicken Wings (with brown rice) I almost ALWAYS order these! Very flavorful and crunchy and awesome.
* Hawaiian Mahi-​Mahi (with brown rice) — Always fresh-​tasting and moist.
Both these dishes come with a side salad with garlic dressing and miso soup. Now, I have a technique for full-​on enjoyment: I take a spoonful of the garlic dressing and dress the salad. Then I take the rest of the garlic dressing and pour it over my rice — THEN I add some soy sauce to the rice and *BAM!* pure delicious heaven! Going back and forth between the flavorful protein to this rice-​soy-​garlic concoction… a 5-​star meal!
Now my OTHER go-​to dish:
* Japanese Mushrooms (sauteed with soy-​butter sauce and come with a salad) O… M…G…I am convinced the soy-​butter sauce has crack in it! Once you pour the marinated mushrooms over the salad you’re gold. You have this buttery, salty, meaty, garlic-​y, sesame-​y flavor that is dare I say — orgasmic!
Yeah. This place rocks. Prices are decent. Don’t ask me about the atmosphere (bc all I know of is my crappy cave of a cubicle).

Finally I tried this place after living so closeby for over 2 years.
Ordered Pork Tenderloin Katsu and made it into a curry plate. A friend ordered Salmon with Daikon, Salad, and rice for lunch special.
The décor of this place was pretty interesting, it’s like Spanish restaurant, with Japanese and Italian menu combined.
My food came with the curry I requested and I liked it, because it didn’t taste like those made-​out-​of-​box curry that you could buy at grocery store. It tasted very different, I shall say, in a good way. Too bad they didn’t give enough of it, I was left eating those katsu with no curry left.
My friend luv the salmon cause it’s so moist and it came with a brown rice. I love that option when ordering here, you can select the organic brown rice or regular white rice for no extra charge.
Will I come back? Hm… I don’t know yet, but I might want to give it another try to see if anything else on their menu is good… I definitely like the portion, it’s just perfect. One last thing, they’re smart on putting the $ 2.50 for valet, because not many ppl has exact change, so it’s like $ 2.50 parking with $.50 tips in my opinion, cause people will end up giving $ 3 with no hassle. Don’t u agree?

I’ve walked past this restaurant so many times & have never dined there until last night, Saturday.
I was invited for a special occasion, along with 30 or so other people.
I’ve always thought Sawtelle Kitchen looked so cute from the outside, with the lace curtains & the cozy patio. Turns out it’s cute inside, too. They were all ready for our private party’s early dinner. The two long tables with white tablecloths looked so elegant. The chef was running around making sure everything was right.
The French doors to the front patio were thrown open, how very chic, like in a Kathryn Hepburn movie. When the outdoor heaters were turned on, and all the candles were lit, it was such a lovely setting to view.
Some of the guests had driven distances, like the couple from Mammoth, where they said it had been snowing. We had high winds all day at the beach, and my drive to West LA had been unpleasant, but now the winds had quieted, and the candlelit scene appeared almost magical.
Then the big surprise moment happened.
When everyone was seated, drinks in hand, the host tapped his knife on a glass & asked to make an announcement.
A hush fell over the room.
All the guests knew what was about to come, except for one. She had no idea that her love was about to propose.
He got down on one knee and slipped a Tiffany ring on her finger. She was speechless! Hahaha!
Everyone cheered! Even the diners at the other tables who were not part of our group.
Who is the lucky lady? I’m not telling…
I will reveal that the ring had so many diamonds… they covered the band, that it was actually heavy to hold. So I heard.
I will say though, that Sawtelle Kitchen was packed. In these hard economic times, when restaurants are feeling the pinch, Sawtelle Kitchen seemed to flourish. It could be partly because the prices are reasonable.
The evening’s host recommended the chicken curry, so I followed his lead. My dinner was delivered to the wrong person, and I ended up with boneless chicken with veggies. I had already begun to eat when I realized it was not curry, uh oh. But the broccoli and the steamed carrot chunks were so good, I said nothing. One of the chicken filets was white meat, and one was dark. There were a few herbed potatoes on the plate, in addition to rice on the side.
I wasn’t complaining.
I don’t even know what my meal cost, but the mis-​delivered curry dish would have been $ 8.95. What a steal.
My green salad was $ 1 extra.
We had ordered an artichoke appetizer, with dipping sauces, and I dumped some of the leftover sauce on my salad. Waste not, want not. Yum.
Overall, Sawtelle Kitchen is a sweet little place. Good value for the money, well-​cooked food, not much not to like.
I’ve never had the option in any restaurant to order chicken leg katsu as a boneless filet.
A lady can’t be seen in public picking up a chicken leg wearing a Tiffany ring, now can she…
No danger, haha, the bride-​to-​be ordered seafood.
I know, because I was sitting right next to her.
Congrats to you, my dear friends, on your engagement! And thanks for inviting me to share in your special moment.