Hinoki & the Bird Reviews

There are restaurants that are a pleasure to visit. The elements are common. Great ambience, exciting scenery, glitter and glamour and friendly service. These restaurants leave a permanent mark on me. Yes, I will remember all the glitter and the gold. But I visit these places only once or twice at the most. You must do the same if you have not visited Hinoki and the Bird. Check it out. This establishment offers Asian fusion. It is good but not exceptional. The blackened cod is top quality cod but the fused preparation is tasteless. It is served in a pot with very tender good quality mushrooms floating in broth. It is served without a spoon. When I asked for a spoon, the waiter is searching for a spoon. Search for a spoon in a restaurant? Lobster roll is a misnomer ( $22). 1.5 Tablespoon of lobster on a small piece of bread. Unacceptable as a lobster roll. Cheers, enjoy your visit. Highly recommended for the glitter. Suresh Chawla Toronto, Canada.

Revisited Hinoki after a long interval and glad we did. Seafood -- crab toasts, lobster roll, salmon, skate, cod -- were outstanding, as were yam (actually sweet potato) and mushroom sides. Ice cream sandwich was terrific, as well. Love this place!

Hinoki and the Bird is excellent. You are first struck by the atmosphere as you walk in elevated above the restaurant floor. The bar is beautiful, and the patio is gorgeous. The food is expertly prepared and this is definitely one of LA's top 10. It is a hot spot, so make a reservation if you are going. Lunch is easier, so you can do that on the fly. They pay attention to details. Definitely go.

The place is beautifully decorated.....A bit noisy......high decibels. We were seated on the patio, right near a speaker and asked to be moved. The host was most gracious and found us a wonderful table. I had checked out the foods to order and began to order. We started with the Kale salad for the four of us for a taste and it was very good. The lobster roll was small and not that good....disappointing. The cod is served with a burning piece of wood, very unique and delicious, but small portion. We tried the lamb that was just okay and needed some salt for additional seasoning. We had other items, but all were just okay. The waitress suggested the cheese cake. We all agreed it was not a good choice. We all had drinks and the bill for the four of us was over $500 with tip. Might go again and try some of the other items on the list. But for now will go to some of the other newer places that have just opened.

Crab toasts, a must. Oysters (kusshi & kumomoto) and a plate of fried oysters, oh yes we had it all. Then we moved to lobster roll, and the skate fish. Ok, a couple of comments. The skate, really delicious, but really chili. So be prepared. ask for a garlic aioli to partner if you find it too chili. and the yam, was ok...Not something I would order again. But the dishes were absolutely unique and special. Desert, new choco *(crazy intense, deep, intimate!)

First time I ate there with a knowledgable food and wine companion, was as big a case of the "emperor's new clothes" as I've experienced in a new restaurant in many years. It's a good thing I went back this week. What a difference several months of operations and getting the kinks out can make. First visit was attrocious: what's all the fuss? the food coming out of the kitchen is not as described in the menu or by the server; the servers are not well-trained; same courses came out/were served at different times; the place is too noisy (who knew about the patio?), and on and on. It just didn't seem right for a restaurant with glowing reviews and an experienced chef. Turns out, the first 3-4 months were a nightmare, and even the servers, greeters etc who I spoke with this week admitted same. So when a friend had suggested we go for dinner I groaned, grit my teeth and said ok. It was his call because we were celebrating his and his wife's new baby. So glad I came back. First off, don't ever sit inside if you can avoid it. The patio is spacious, much quieter and has a nice easy-going ambiance. Next, the surviving servers are awesome, well-trained and by now helpful and knowledgable about the food and wine offerrings. BTW, notwithstanding that I always bring my own wines, the wine list is verry good and offers a nice range of expensive but good to great French and domestic wines. To the food, There were 4 of us and we ordered and shared everything with each other. Every dish was perfectly prepared, savory and delicious. There was eclectic food and some more traditional but "with twists".. We must have ordered at least 10 different dishes, and all were very good. I could keep gushing but the telltale was my parting comment ala Terminator, "I'll be back" :-)

A friend who knows I am into good restaurants suggested this to me. I was not disappointed. Wonderful, interesting food. Good service and good wine list.

The food is amazing, the staff friendly and the wine list never ending. Great for large groups and ordering dishes to share.

This was truly a memorable meal! The ambiance and service were unparalleled and everything we tried was amazing! A must have would be one of their specialty cocktails, continue with the Kale Salad and Lobster Roll, Do not miss the Skate Wing and the Black Cod and try at least two desserts! I seldom rave about a restaurant, but this one deserves every big of attention it gets! Put it on your bucket list!

This was my 5 th or 6th visit. Never been dissapointed. Had dinner at the bar on Saturday night. Beef tartare and miso cod with couple glasses of vine. Concept is great what's more amazing is consistency of good and quality .

Had a business lunch here and everything was top notch; service, decor, food. Definitely recommended especially if you're having a discreet lunch or drinks meeting.

We sat outside and ordered dishes to share. We arrived around 7 pm so there was still a bit of daylight. By the time the first dishes started to arrive the 2 very dim candles didn't help us see our food. We remembered what we had ordered and got 2 more candles from the vacated table beside us. The lamb was excellent and I would have really enjoyed it if I had been able to see it in my plate. The duck had no taste and was tough and all the vegetables so undercooked that a saw would have been useful. Service was very slow as was the valet parking in front.

Hinoki & the Bird is a real hidden gem in Century City, that is difficult to find by chance. The atmosphere is really nice and cozy, the cuisine is terrific! I loved the "hinoki scented black code". Definitely a must-experience in LA!!

I dont usually like places where the chef has aspirations of fame and tries to make the food so bizarre that it will stand out. I walked in prepared to hate the place but over the course of the meal found myself really liking it. Its tough to find until you are right at the junction of Century and Avenue of the Stars. Valet parking only it seemed but not ridiculously expensive. Really nice place inside, the designer did a good job. Its a Hollywood lunch place and a bit more sociable at dinner with a wider variety of guests. This would be a good date place. The menu is a bit odd with some of the items just hard to justify, they really do try to be creative but end up a little obvious about it. The spicy crab was the highlight of the starters for me although my party raved about the raw snapper, Excellent pork belly. Worthwhile lobster roll, I would avoid the crispy chicken, it tasted like every other bit of fried chicken, they just dipped it in the same batter the calamari came in. In fact the group I was with decided that none of the fired stuff was great. Wait staff were ok, Nothing special but pleasant enough. Good cocktails.

Our friends suggested this place Best "white" yams I ever had Black cod served piping hot and moist Ate outside very pretty setting Appears to have lively bar scene for those that want that Service was attentive and friendly

Beautiful space and spectacular food. The menu is fresh and innovative. This is a great spot whether you're on a date or a business lunch or dinner. Valet parking available.

With high expectations, I arranged a business meeting/luncheon at this restaurant for a midweek treat. My first impression was WOW!! Outstanding decor, very personable hostess and incredible bar service (while waiting for my client). We were seated (outside patio) upon her arrival and took a corner 'bench table' at the far end of the restaurant...under a speaker piping out loud music. Service was 'adequate' (automatic 20% tip with every bill...so not much of an incentive for them to impress) and somewhat passive. I opted for the lobster ramen with side pork and was extremely disappointed in it's flavor (or lack thereof)...specially for $28. One piece of side pork and two chunks of lobster with noodles in a 'sweaty beef soup'. I think for the two of us, we could have spent over $80 much more wisely at another restaurant.

eclectic awesome food with a wonderful choice of unique cocktails excellent choices for vegetarians also if you get the kale salad ask them to chop it

My husband and I recently stayed at the Hyatt which was right next door to this restaurant. He heard rave reviews, and we are both "foodies" so we tried it. Ummmm....let's see, where do I begin. We ordered the Calamary ...very little....and I mean very little pieces of Calamary with lots of breading. I had the "Crispy Fried Chicken Pieces"....flavorless....2 pieces of dark meat (really??) and 1 piece of white meat. This was nothing more than 3 pieces of "nuggets", only slightly larger....tasted exactly like the same breading on the Calamary....price...$25.00 My husband had the skirt steak....he said it was good. The waiter listed the desserts and we ordered something with a French name that sounded good....what was brought was one scoop of sorbet. Really? (again) Atmosphere is not conducive to a quite, intimate or romantic dinner where you can hear each other talk. The acoustics are terrible....very loud and noisy. The place seemed to have an overall "rushed" atmosphere. The patio was packed (Saturday night) and so was the inside. The bar was full. This may be the 'in place' but I just don't see it. The service was good...our food server was excellent and friendly. I wouldn't go back because: way too expensive for the quality and preparation of the food. Atmosphere to noisy, rushed and clamoring. Afterthoughts....outside, upon leaving, there were 3 valets standing on the sidewalk....not one of them moved aside for us to walk by on the sidewalk. They were talking among themselves and we had to actually get off the sidewalk and walk around them.

This restaurant is a gem and worth the ride out to it. The decor is gorgeous and we particularly liked the patio. We ordered dishes off the menu tapas style and shared them with the table. Everything we ordered was delicious and had great flavor profiles. The service was impeccable and the server was super knowledgeable and made wonderful menu recommendations. We will be dining here again!

We came here because the executive chef is Kuniko Yagi, a contestant we respected from season 10 of Top Chef. We were not disappointed. The service was friendly and helpful, the ambience interesting and relaxing, but the food was sublime. Our server helped explain the menu options which were a manageable mixture of appetizers, small plates and entree servings. One of the nice things about this place - a fine selection of "mocktails" - I had the Hanzo Fix (Yuzu juice, simple syrup, cucumber, orange juice, jalapeno) - refreshing and tangy without being tart or spicy. But the highlight is the food. Largely based on our server's recommendations, we shared: Chili CrabToast, Lobster Roll (the bun kind, not a sushi roll), and fried chicken. Then I had the Hinoki scented black cod, which was served with a very fine slice of wood smoldering over the fish (this is the "Hinoki" I venture to say). Seems like a gimmick, but it really gave a nice very subtle smoky aroma over the best piece of fish I've ever tasted. My wife had the drunken duck breast (marinated in sake), and my son had the skirt steak. All excellent. And we shared some sides - grilled rice, grilled salted mushrooms and the roasted yam with crème fraîche & lardon. I'm not a yam fan, but the lardon (basically french bacon) and creme fraiche made it taste very good. All told - a memorable meal.

Certainly the name is enough to suggest different, but the word applies to the cuisine and establishment itself. First off, finding the front door of this Century City restaurant is a challenge. That completed, there is both indoor and outdoor (nice, serene) seating. None of the hubbub feel or noisy interference from bright lights and other people’s conversations. Already a plus. And the food delivers as well. Such an interesting menu! Meant for sharing, although certainly not required, really enjoyed our dinner here...shashimi, crispy chicken, cod, duck and short ribs all recommended. We had more, names of which escape me, but there wasn’t one dish that didn’t deliver good taste, good presentation and good service. Enjoyed one of their cocktails and wine by the glass. A very nice experience.

The food is interesting, in a good way. Although portions tend to be very small and very expensive. I would describe the decor as farmhouse industrial, which makes for a very cool, open, and inviting concept. It seems to be the business lunch destination of choice for the local studio and agency set. Expect to pay $40-50 per person for a two course lunch. I'd go back, but only for a special occasion or for a business lunch.

The dishes are a good size. The Wildboar ribs were very good. They had a crust and were super tender The skate was delicious it was a little spicy The black cod was very good Chef puts together interesting combination of flavors The drinks were small. Watch out for valet.

Hinoki and the Bird is a great power lunch spot. The find is high quality and is a great people watching spot. It's loaded with agents from CAA as well many celebrities. It's a nice change of pace from the usual century city lunch spots. The kale salad is delicious and the beverage selection is great.

Very nice, stylish modern Restaurant. Good crowd, nice atmosphere. Be Aware it can get noisy when crowded. You also might have to wait despite Reservation if you arrive at Peak hours (e.g. we arrived at 8 PM and had to wait for 30 minutes until our table was ready). Very friendly Service which is also efficient. Excellent Food. The Starters (Tuna, Oysters etc), mains (Beef Fillet was outstanding Quality, also other dishes were excellent). Good Desserts. Really must say, for me one of the best experiences in LA, great Food, great atmosphere!

This is my third dinner at Hinoki and the Bird. As always, the table was available on time, seating excellent, atmosphere very pleasant. Receptionist very friendly, waitress competent. After ordering, it took a while till we got the dishes, that was good, we were not in an hurry. Food quality very good, portions quite small however. Quite expensive. I will certainly return, Excellent place for business dinner!!!

Hinoki & the Bird is a great restaurant nestled just behind and beneath a massive condo skyscraper in Century City. The setting is warm, modern and inviting. This was my second visit and certainly will not be my last! Many of the bites are small, so order many and share!! THe drinks are great, but dont share those. You must try the Lobster Roll, Blackened Cod and Yellowtail. For a main, your eyes will roll back in your head with the Miso Steak or the Salmon. For dessert, you need to order the Ice Cream Sandwiches. This spot has a massive patio and its very inviting. You wil not go wrong here!

First time here. Loved the ambiance, loved the menu, and the drinks. Jeremy was our server and he could not have been more attentive, or explained the menu better. he basically ordered for us and made our experience excellent.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at this restaurant on our last night in LA. The service was great, atmosphere was perfect but it was the food which was outstanding. The menu was inventive and flavours were delicious. The crab toast was unbelievable as was the pork belly. Our favourite however was the ice-cream sandwich for dessert - you must try this when you go. Perhaps our best dining experience in LA.

I enjoyed this restaurant three years ago, so I decided to take a client staying in Century City there tonight. AWFUL choice. I was left embarrassed and apologizing to the client from start to end. To start, although the restaurant was half-full, they attempted to seat us in an awful, cold, dark location far from anywhere else, which was next to the water station. Had we been dressed poorly, maybe I could understand, but we were all in business suits. When I pointed to a cluster of free tables, I was told they were all taken (they never got completely taken throughout our dinner). We were moved to another non-ideal location next to the hostess stand (apparently the only available table in a half-full restaurant; hate being lied to). Most of our party ordered just appetizers. After 45 minutes, no food. Also, no waitress (she had taken over duties as bar-back). I had to call for another waiter to send over the waitress, complaining about never being served. We never got the waitress, but got the food pretty immediately (it was obvious the food had just been sitting in the back). Food was decent, but did not justify the truly awful service here. And you have to pay 20% tip no matter what. I had to apologize to my client multiple times. I will NEVER go back here. This restaurant has run its course in LA - I highly recommend against it.

Somewhat hidden beneath the Century condos in Century City, this happy place has been found by a crowd of people enjoying tapas-style food of quality in an exhuberantatmosphere, with much seating family style.

This is a very interesting restaurant. Cool location. Behind a luxury hotel in Century City, down the hill behind and under the hotel you will find this restaurant. Indoor outdoor environment. Very cool setting. Super great wine tasting there.

Cool vibe and interior. Very LA. Great food. Loved this restaurant. The place to go with friends. Really enjoyed the service and experience. Bit unusual location, but absolutely fantastic.

Very noisy, very noisy, very pretentious, average food: forget it. Very disappointed in the food, found it very difficult to hear my companion. I just found it lacking and highly overrated.

Very jaded living in Manhattan and experiencing the vast array of foodie spots that characterize our "island." But, our visit to Hinoki and the Bird was unsurpassed. The atmosphere, the service, the drinks, and the menu were beyond outstanding. The four of us started with small plates, which we shared. The competing tastes were at once challenging and satisfying. It is difficult to explain, save to say that the combination was a culinary delight. The large plates, which are larger than our waiter explained, were fabulous. Carefully crafted, rich in taste, and perfectly seasoned, each entree was superb. The restaurant is pricey, even by NYC standards, but it deserves every dollar. I look forward to a return trip next time I am in LA.

First impression was A+. Nice service. Unique space. Not too loud. The kind of sharing menu that makes you decide to come back 'cuz you can't possibly order EVERYTHING that sounds good in a single meal. Taste and presentation lived up to the menu descriptions. Can't wait to return.

Was here with my boss at the invitation of suppliers. We all had small bites to share. Every bite was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I can recommend everything! Would definitely recommend checking it out if you have the chance.

The restaurant totally lived up to the hype. The indoor space is understated, blending steel, glass, and wood. Wood is the key feature in the peaceful large outdoor space where I sat. The service was amazing, they we so helpful and eager to please, making a number of modifications to the dishes to fit my likes. For example the cocktail menu had a number of fun sounding drinks - since i don't drink alcohol I got a virgin Bird Cup (muddled citrus, cucumber, mint and ginger). The menu offers an interesting blend of quite unusual small dishes. I don't eat meat so I can't speak to those, but the ones I had were delicious and unique. I started with a simple, very tasty tomato salad. Next came the Singapore-inspired Chile Crab Toast, but I had it in lettuce cups rather than with bread. A highlight was the signature Lobster Roll, with chunks of lobster mixed with lemon grass, green curry and Thai basil, then set into a charcoal-colored roll. I also had a yummy yam roll. And for dessert a miso mochi treat. Try it, you'll love it.

My wife set up a birthday dinner with a group of 10 friends at Hinoki, and although we had a good time, we were a little disappointed in the food. The drinks were delicious though!. Next time, meet here for drinks.

Hinoki and the Bird is a beautiful restaurant tucked behind a new condominium development in Century City with its own private valet and entrance. You feel like you are in another city or even another country. The decor is striking and puts you in a very relaxing mood. The electic menu is Japanese influenced and quite unusual. Our party of six tasted several dishes and we enjoyed them all. The vibe is high energy, skews toward a younger, hip demographic. A very fun evening.

My friend took me to this place for brunch while I was visiting L.A. Great deco and atmosphere, the clientele are very quite formal and smart, I do feel a bit undress with Tank top and shorts... However the waitess are great and the services was most excellent. The foods are also excellent which I will certainly back for more. Great place for some indulgent.

You have to try to Miso Pumpkin Toast. One of the hidden gems on the menu! The decor, staff and food here are incredible. I wish it was walking distance from my house and easier to get a last minute table but those are my only two complaints!

The restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the Beverly Wilshire. Its situated in a hotel but with a very exclusive and cool separate entrance. You feel like you are being given entree into someplace very special. Decor is cool in an organic kind of way. There is a large outside seating area that reminds me of a "succah" but we ate inside. When we first looked at the menu, my husband said that there wasn't anything for him to eat, because each dish had an "offending" ingredient, which means something overly spicy. In the end, we each found a dish that we liked a lot, and the dishes were very good, if not memorable. I ordered the potato chips as a starter, and they were delicious and crunchy. Bottom line is that we had a very enjoyable evening. I probably would go back again. No one aspect of the restaurant made the evening enjoyable, or stood out, but a cool, fun, restaurant with good food and upbeat vibe

Yes, it's a strange name a strange menu to match- at least that is the reaction of my lunch partners each time I visit. Food is good, atmosphere reminds me of a London restaurant in the summer, warm and noisy with business men and women working their social chops as they eat. Location is tucked away, but it is different and worth the visit, but don't spend a $25 uber fare to find it.

Its a very cool place, and the patio is the place to dine as inside it gets a bit noisy. The crab toast, and the Kale salad were very good, as well as the cod. The lobster roll is just ok, and the lamb chops were a bit disappointing, on the bland side. Skip The cheese cake dessert and go for the mochi....the server are friendly and responsive. Overall, its a hit and miss on some dishes, but overall it was a good dining experience and the patio is really awesome...

attended a function here. The ambiance is non existent as you are essentially drinking/eating in a basement with no outside light to speak of. The Bar is trendy. The food was far below expectations. Appetizers were okay but it went down hill from there.

I've been here a few times. Very hip interior and excellent Asian Fusion with a particularly Japanese influence. (Hinoki is Japanese for a type of wood.) I've actually had a great meal here with a group of Japanese business people.

We arrived early for our 8:30pm reservation. There were many people waiting for their 8:30pm tables as well. We waited past 9pm but the manager came over and brought all of us champagne. We were seated shortly after with plenty of apologies. The restaurant is beautiful and the inside vibe was just as buzzy and cool as the patio vibe. It was a cold LA evening but we were very comfortable being on the patio. Everything was uphill after we were seated. Our waiter was on the ball, so efficient and guided us well on what to order. We especially loved our local wines he suggested. So much so that we are trying to order them now. Our apps of their signature lobster roll and the interesting square sheet of dumplings were delicious. We shared the butter lobster ramen( generous huge chunks of lobster, buttery soy soup and al dente hand made noodles were delicious), incredible himachi collar, black cod and crab fried rice. We loved everything. The only thing I'd add would be a little heat and soy to the wok for the fried rice. All our food came out almost instantaneously but staggered nicely. The kitchen, the runners and waiters worked like clockwork harmony. Perfection. Dessert of miso donuts and honey mochi perfectly punctuated our dinner. We were impressed with everything and everyone we encountered at Hinoki and the bird. We would definitely return.

Really a pleasure to discover this place in century city. Food is fine, delicate and tasty. Staff is kind and attentionate. we really had an amazing time there. A must go for all foodies and Asian food lovers.

This is an excellent restaurant, but it is not for the budget-conscious diner. The knowledgeable and pleasant staff assisted with the unique menu and respected the slow pace at which our business dinner progressed. Everyone loved their appetizers, entrees and desserts. The high points included the himachi, the pumpkin toast, the hinoki scented black cod and the mochi. One diner thought the side dish of potatoes was too salty, but everything else was a hit. The cost would prevent me from ever visiting here on my own dime, but it is a delicious option for a business expense account.

I came here for dinner and I would say the best dining experience I have had in a long time. Great service. They go above and beyond. Dinner. Drinks. Everything was amazing. Flawless presentation. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Every single part of the meal was great—appies, mains, sides and desserts. Service really good also. Highly recommend this place!

It's fine. Maybe even a little better than fine. But for the prices they charge, "good" isn't really good enough. The valet area is also fairly confusing and the valets are dicks about it. At least they were when I was there.

This restaurant has one of the finest outdoor patio, with the best lighting. Your skin glows. So, it's perfect for a date or for parties, or just get-together nights. The food is divine! My 2 faves are: Lamb Sausage and Wild Boar Ribs. For the last 2 years, I have not been eating meat, for no apparent reason. However, after trying these 2 delicious dishes, I am back to eating meat with a vengeance! I went back to this restaurant 3 times in just a week, with a different friend. Now, my friends go back there frequently, with other friends. I told them that if they keep this up, we may all need to make a reservation 3 months in advance, because this place will get so busy. So, we try to keep it a secret. Just kidding....

Atmosphere was great. Hidden in Century City. We did the chefs tasting menu with wine pairing. Everything was fantastic and the wine pairings were excellent.

we ate here jan 7, 2015. we tried this restaurant when it first opened (i didnt love it) but thought to give it another try. have to say i would not return. first, its difficult to figure out how to enter the restaurant. in fact when we were leaving a couple coming in came back to us at the valet to ask how to get inside-understandably! we were seated promptly but it took a long time to be served our glass of wine and cocktail notwithstanding that we ordered same promptly. our first appetizer came before our drinks. the menu-didnt love it. not a whole lot of appealing choices. we had two starters and an entree each. i didnt love either starter-a chili toast dish (cant remember exact name) and potato chips. wouldnt order either again. both sounded better than they were. husband and i had a fish and steak dish-both were well prepared but nothing crazy special. we didn't order any additional sides because none appealed to either of us (and thats unusual). the ice cream sandwich for dessert-i would rather eat the old fashioned ice cream sandwich than this fancy frozen version. so while the ambience is lovely - the place is definitely hip, and the servers attentive enough, i would not come back here. there is nothing in this restaurant that i really wanted to eat and nothing that i ate that i would want to order again. and that is NOT true of so many restaurants we visit-be it ROC or chinois on main or mr chows or mastros or hamasaku. i would go back to all of them and plenty of others repeatedly.

The only thing worthwhile here is the happy hour - they offer a drink with their house cheeseburger. The main menu...everything...and I mean everything is sooo over salted. Who salts sashimi? We had to send back the dungness crab rolls- the level of salt made them inedible. Our server was a drone who clearly had zero experience working in a restaurant that is supposedly finer dining. The duck was the only redeeming highlight - again over salted but by that time we were starving. In general, dont waste your time or money here when there are so many better options in Los Angeles.

A touch of ketchup cavorted with the Chili Crab Toast, along with spicy cucumber, and coriander. Technical sequence, yet I was not doing pirouettes. The briny Fried Oysters, served with black garlic aioli was well sequenced. No to be missed, the Lobster Roll prepared with green curry and Thai basil, served in a squishy squid ink roll, gyrated with groovy grace, Disco-dancing Hinoki-scented black cod juxtaposed with sweet potato, and pistachio shimmered with unctuous activity. Flitting with gochujang, the Miso Marinated Skirt Steak paired with thin sleeves of apple fluttered across the palate. Swanky Roasted Yam arranged with crème fraiche and lardon was composed with elegant composition. We twinkled in delight. Masquerading as palatable, the Braised Shiitake Mushroom with yuzu kosho kindled desolation and woe. Who ordered this? Partnered with Gordon's Cup prepared with gin, muddled lime, cucumber, szechuan pepper, and salt, the dinner was a ball. The finale included a Cotton Cheesecake served with candied orange zest and Okinawan black sugar ice cream. The ice cream leaped with velvety excitement, while the cotton cheesecake distinguished dismal dejection. On being picturesque...

This is your typical fraud. It is very pretty outside. But the food is very mediocre - it thinks more of itself than it deserves. We are not price sensitive, but $26 and $33 for "small mains" that do not come with sides is extreme even for us. More than that, we ordered the bok choy for $9. A plate of plain, steamed bok choy - seriously? I can cook this better at home for pennies. The shiitake mushrooms were awful. Don't bother with this puffery - when in Centruy City, go to Craft!

Came here for a team dinner due to close proximity of the hotel we were all staying at. Given the situation and reason for dining together a smaller, quieter place would have been better as we wound up shouting at each other most of the evening. We ordered 5 drinks at the bar and 25 minutes later they arrived. Two of us who ordered separately received our drinks within 4 minutes. Definitely room for improvement at the Bar especially considering the price per drink! Service other than the Bar was very good. Waitstaff was attentive and patient when required. Kitchen seemed to turn out food timely and everyone was served simultaneously. Miso seems to be a Chef favorite. It is on 20-30% of the items including the doughnuts for dessert (Skip those). Food was well prepared, fresh, presented wonderful and was very good. Park bench seating along the garden wall with moving blankets draped over them to provide warmth, padding and general comfort just doesn't cut it. I have no idea what they were thinking or why this would be considered a reasonable option! Net-Net: Need better bar service. Need real seating. Very expensive. Nothing Special. Skip it unless you somehow think this would impress someone with shallow character.

The food was delicious. There was a lot of variety. There is excitement in the air, and definitely a fun place to fine-but, it is quite noisy!

Asian influenced, modern, fresh takes on fabulous classics. If you eat nothing else while in LA, have the scallops with pomegranate at Hinoki and the Bird.

I liked this place. Food was creative while not being overbearing . Was there a a Thur nite and there was a very nice vibe to the place. Would go back

We came here with big expectations for what was supposed to be one of LA’s trendy spots with an excellent menu. While it lived up to its trendy vibe, the food was another matter. Appetizers and Entrees alike arrived with a thud. The “special” razor clam appetizer was chewy and uninspired as was the dried out, wild boar ribs. Even more disappointing was the beef short ribs that were dull gray, oddly flavored and off putting. Bottom Line: A one and done dining experience that we could not recommend to others...

We had lunch at Hinoki and the Bird. The informal seating both inside and outside was plentiful and we were seated without a reservation. We started with lobster roll that was tasty but small. We tried the BBQ jidori chicken with mango salad. It was quite large but not special to our taste. They had moscato d'Asti by the glass. We felt the service was friendly but slow. We often had the feeling that our server had left. The bill was higher than we expected, partly because a charge for the kitchen staff was added to an already substantial sum. We felt the experience was an average value, and we wondered why so many customers were there. We had just had dinner at another place a block away that provided much more value. Perhaps the other customers ordered something delicious that we don't know about.

This is definitely a destination restaurant. Went on a Wed at 9 20pm and it was 95% full, though we did walk in without a reservation and got a table with a welcome and no attitude. The place and people are pretty enough to have a lot of attitude, so that was nice. Beautifully built out space with a handsome courtyard and lots of wood. Strongly contrasts the Cent City surroundings with its rustic earthy flavor. Food was interesting. Black cod, yam side, kale salad were good. Homemade ice cream desert was good, but tiny single scoop. Mushroom side okay. Food has a very grilled/ charred flavor. Portions are smallish, but not ridiculous. Food is more gourmet comfort than fussy. Ambiance stood out more than food, but I would return for another try.

I'd always wanted to dine Hinoki & the Bird based on all the rave reviews is heard and finally made a visit. Unfortunately, the restaurant failed to meet all expectations. At the end of the night, dinner was over $100 per person with drinks, a price which can get you excellent food in Los Angeles. However, given that price, our experience at Hinoki was a huge disappointment. We started off by ordering the Chili Crab Toast, Lamb Sausage and the Tuna (all $16 each). Our server then disappeared for 20 minutes while our appetizers came, some of which where just dropped onto our menus. We finally flagged her down to order entrees, but she brushed is off and said she'd return. The Tuna was a tiny piece of sashimi, and the Chili Crab Toast tasted like spicy tuna on a piece of toast. No crab flavor was there at all. The sausages were very dry. After another 20 minutes, and having been seated for an hour, we flagged down our server again (who was generally nowhere to be seen all night) to order entrees and she brushed us off again. After flagging her down yet again she offered to take drink orders, but we had to remind her we wanted to order entrees. We ordered the New York Strip ($38), and the Suckling Pig ($28) with sides of the Duck Rice ($14), Grilled Mushrooms ($12), and Brussels Sprouts ($9). The steak was cold, extremely dry, and chewy like rubber. We couldn't tell if the meat was just poor quality or if the cook completely messed up. The mushrooms were awful and the brussels sprouts were too charred. I can make better brussels sprouts for fifty cents. We did enjoy the Suckling Pig, which was beautifully presented and had deliciously crispy skin. Unfortunately, that's the only memorable dish we had and you only get a few small pieces of meat. Overall, you'd be wise to spend your money elsewhere given all the choices in LA. For example, you can get much better executed fusion food with good service at Picca for half the price. At a minimum, a restaurant charging these prices needs to provide good service. I guess this place must just have gone downhill recently based on all the good reviews from the past. Also, a 3.5% 'appreciation fee' for the kitchen staff is added to all bills. (Naturally, the fee is not disclosed on the restaurant's website and is hidden on a back menu page).

Great location. Very nice and cozy inside. We liked everything we had tried. Don't miss black code and suckling pig. Good service. Very good cocktails.

We visited this restaurant because of Neil Perry's (a top Australian chef) recommendation and were knocked out by the consistently delicious flavours and sheer integrity of each dish which we shared. Other reviewers have described some of the plates, including the amazing cod, lobster roll, yam like I've never tasted before in my long-ish life; but I also must mention the fresh oysters, pelican spinach salad and miso donuts and ricecream. Wow! And a well chosen, diverse wine list. Great courteous service and an inviting, comfortable dining room, makes this one of our favourite restaurants in our long trip abroad to both the USA and Europe.

What a creative and wonderful experience!!! finding the front door is a great adventure. But then move on down to an experience that is filled with every detail .The service is amazing and very helpful in helping make choices.everything is wonderful . nothing you could choose is a mistake. Try it all. The choices are amazing and the fire miso cod is sensational.... Yams are amazing and the lobster roll OMG.. Just go with an open mind and try try try.. Save room for dessert.Miso mochi and the doughnuts are the perfect blend to end the meal. Extremely creative and worth saving the $ to go. Worth it for sure.. creative and delicious and a MUST.

Our dining experience was faultless from start to finish. Service, presentation, staff and obviously the food. Great variety of flavours and colours on the plates. We shared 7-8 different options between 2 and were delighted every time. Oysters, lobster roll and pork belly were our favourites. Thanks...would highly recommend.

This place is quite hidden. Wouldn't find it unless you know where it is. Food is ok, nothing amazing. Ambience is great at day and night.

They make great craft cocktails here and I LOVE the uni appetizer that comes on rice flour crackers. It's a short walk from century city mall, and even vegetarians can eat well here.

Never having visited Hinoki, I made an 8pm Thursday reservation for a party of four weeks in advance of hosting company from the East Coast. We arrived at 7:40pm and were told to grab a drink at the bar and our table would be ready shortly. The restaurant and the bar were so packed we could only send one of us in to get drinks and bring them back to near the hostess stand. Time slowly elapsed 8:00 / 8:15 / 8:25 / 8:35 - "we're just waiting for a few tables to finish up". Others in our situation were making quite a scene. There was one guy waiting as we did who began facetiming with, who he claimed was, someone in the restaurant group's upper management. At 8:40 I made a reservation via open table for Craft across the street and headed for the door, at which point the acting manager stopped us and promised "just 5 more minutes, we're setting your table now" We were given 2 free appetizers, but the context was hard to overcome and meal was not enjoyable. Sadly we sat down with the mindset of "what else could go wrong with this place" - we ordered a chicken dish that cam very pink, and were scoffed at by our server when we asked if they could cook it a little longer. The whole experience was so poor that I followed up a few days later to contact the GM via email- explaining I wasn't looking for a compensatory solution, but genuinely wanted to know how often they overbook themselves and receive similar complaints. I received a robotic form letter back. At this price point, and with the Myers brand, I had much higher expectations

Only go to this place if 1. You like a place so noisy that you can't hear there person next to you much less the person down the table 2. You like a place so dark that you need your Over 40 app even if you are 20 3. You like hostesses who are inappropriately dressed. (I can't say what I really think because this wouldn't get published) 4. You like weird combinations of foods making it hard to figure out what to eat.

Our evening at Hinoki & the Bird met all expectations. It is located in the Century City area that has a certain modern feel of its own. We chose the "outside" dining area in order to at least increase the chances our party could talk to each other (decibel levels in some many places almost inhibit conversation). Cocktails were excellent and all our choices met with approval. The greeters were friendly (which is freshing) and the wait staff very competant.

Among four of us we shared primarily seafood and vegetable plates - each and every dish was a taste sensation. The miso donut and salted caramel desert just topped off the perfect meal. The cocktails were also amazing. This restaurant is on the pricey side, but the quality is definitely, definitely worth it.

You do have to pay to park at this hidden gem and yes, it is a bit pricey depending on what you order, but the menu is very well executed. Lobster roll is crazy expensive at $18, but quite good-wouldn't order again because other things like the steak and the cod were a much better value and more ample in size and they were both outstanding. A simple yam is done so well it amazes. And the desserts….the honey caramel outshines the miso donuts but the vietnamese coffee is the perfect blend of sweet and not so sweet packed in a glass…for sure order it. Service is good as well although things come out in a random order. If possible get a seat near the kitchen so you can watch the care the chefs take with each detail.

We had about 20 people celebrating a work event for one of our team. The honoree wanted to go to Hinoki and the Bird. They did a nice job for us, giving us a portion of the back patio that was set off from other to provide a sense of intimacy. And the service was pretty good too. Feelings about the restaurant varied greatly. About 40% really liked the food. About 40% did not like the food. And 20% were undecided. We ordered lots and lots of plates and sharing was "interesting" Personally, I liked some of the dishes and found others unremarkable. I must say that the food portions are so small, that even with lots of plates, many felt naggingly unsatisfied at the end. And although the price per dish is not outlandish, when you order lots of dishes, it gets very expensive fast. All-in-all, it was "interesting" but not my favourite. Some will love it and some will hate it.

Top notch experience and really lives up to the hype. It's just that good. Fantastic ingredients and flawless execution. Food that's not fussy or trying to hard to push the envelope, just simple and easy. Easier said than done. Whether you are a local or just visiting LA and you want to see exactly what's going on food-wise in LA right now, this is the place to go. The most pleasant surprise is how relaxed and easygoing it is. It feels very exclusive when you pull up to it, sort of hidden away in a high-end Century City building, but the minute you walk in it all feels very comfortable and homey. Definitely try the black cod and lobster rolls as appetizers. Kale salad was also a revelation. I know, kale salad -- so what, right? It transcends the genre. We had the shortribs and duck as entrees, both were fantastic. Skate wing is also supposed to be great, but we weren't up for a big spicy dish. Next time. Dessert: Miso donut. Do not miss 'em. Cocktails are great. Lots of different negronis which is fun. And the wine list is one of the best values around for a restaurant of this caliber. Well curated and more than plenty reasonable priced bottles from which to choose. Sit outside on the patio and enjoy. Just a great night all the way around.

This place was good and classy a few years ago but things have changed tremendously. Not only the good but the decor has dropped in standards from the past. Food - 2 The food used to be delicate and delicious but it has turned into a turn-style type of a restaurant without any class. Service - 1 Our server was just a unhappy person. It doesn’t matter how bad you day is don’t reflect it on you job. Just go home. Atmosphere - 2 The decor has gotten tacky with neon lights and designs to accentuate the Asian feel. Will not return and sad this place has gone this route. A new manager is needed to return this place to its classy self. “Be classy my friend!”

There’s a trend to make wine bars, bars and restaurants exclusively difficult to find. Hanoki is a case in point. It’s hidden on a small street off the beaten track, but we found it on the first try. It’s a large restaurant and quite popular with the “I’m 30 something and you should be impressed that I can order expensive stuff”. For instance, the wine list. Our waitress who was a little snooty asked if we would like to see the sommelier. I asked her to let me look over the list first. The list was “tremendously huge” with many bottles priced in 3 figures. Jon Cross, the somm, stopped at our table and I ordered a familiar bottle that we hadn’t had for a while, a ‘04 Joel Gott Zin. This happened to be the least expensive wine on their menu. Jon decanted it for us and it was very good. When viewing a wine list keep in mind the restaurant can’t afford to have an unacceptable wine listed, so follow your tastes and budget. I mentioned to Jon the somm, a few years back, we had called Joel to book a wine tasting and tour at his vineyard. Joel’s people said that was not possible because they were picking, but it wasn’t grapes. It was the big cash crop. Dorothy and I have cut back on our consumption of food. We ordered three appetizers to share – dumplings, a lobster roll and a sake mushroom side. The waitress asked what we were going to eat. That turned out to be a very good question. Your tip is included in your bill.

Thought the food was excellent, good presentation. Staff was friendly and the options are interesting to say the least!

A good restaurant, in vogue among foodies on the west side. Worth a try if you like Nu Vo Japanese crossover cousine.

Pay a lot of money, I mean a ridiculous amount of money for a basic meal. Space is nice, filled with expense account diners. Service was great but even by LA standards the amount of money paid for the amount served is shameful. Tuna poke dish, literally fur 1 x 1 inch cubes with micro greens, thinly sliced avocado 18$ - that is shameful. Not looking for vast amounts of food but despise being ripped of by the trendy new thing.

We do many events ina year all over the country and have been doing so for more than 20 years. The service and the general manager in this restaurant are not in the service indutry. The worst event we have done in years and overall lack of training. …..the food is good and plentiful . The bartenders should have prepared some of the drinks in advance and passed them ( which they eventually did) even I was asked what I wanted to drink by a server and never saw a drink until an hour after our event started The valet situation was totally unacceptable……we lost many of our guest’s example e mail below, and then we had people arriving after having waited 30 minutes really upset. .The General manager was beyond rude and you can tell the staff is not happy to work there. They are torally non responsive and shocking they are still in business. Would not recommend at all!

The Black Cod is one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. It is cooked perfectly and only wish that it was a bigger serving. The atmosphere is very lively and energetic. A reservation is a must.

This was our 10th or so time to Hinoki & the Bird and it was beyond disappointing. From the bland tasting cod and brussel sprouts to the signature cod, the food was completely ordinary. On top of that, no one wiped the table down after the appetizers, so that we stared at the remains of the steak tartare, and we had to pour our own wine and water (and remind them to refill the water when we ran out). This is all well and good at Denny's, but not a restaurant that holds itself up to this level.

It is an odd but memorable name for a restaurant. Even more so is the food. It is a short walk from the Hyatt Century Plaza where we stayed. If you didn't know it was there you might miss it. But make the effort and you will be well rewarded. From the atmosphere (Kind of hip, California dressy/casual), to the service, to the food it was a great experience. It would hardly describe it to call it strictly Asian but it absolutely has a Californian/Asian twist so come with an adventurous appetite. If I am in the neighborhood I would be sure to return.

It is out of the way. It might be hard to find. But it is worth every thing when you get there. The food is great. The room is so comfortable and inviting that you want to come back as you are walking out the door. The Wild Boar Ribs were amazing.. I intend to go back and have them at the ba with just a glass of red wine. The service was wonderful. It is worth ever penny..

Excellent restaurant - wonderful food and great ambiance. We had a great lobster roll as an appetizer and the tuna melt was fabulous. Great place to meet for professional or personal dining.

Last night, I joined friends for a post-vaccination rendezvous. We were seated outside in the garden - a perfectly beautiful place for the eyes. The ears, not so much. Noise dampening is desperately needed. Is the management not aware that sliders are available for chairs that make extremely loud noises when pushed across the stone floor? Would it be too much to ask that felt or plastic sliders be added to the chairs? When people moved nearby chairs it was literally impossible to hear each other speak, and all of us remarked on how bad the noise was. Perhaps some other noise-absorbing techniques would be helpful, like cushions on chairs. As it is, when a neighboring party gets drunk and loud, it is also really oppressive. Hinoki - you have great food, fix the damn noise problem!!! As to food, the plates are shared at the table. The fried chicken, black cod and octopus dishes were very good. The sashimi appetizer was very salty and I can make better Brussels sprouts in my air fryer at home. Still, I enjoy the restaurant and would recommend it, if you can tolerate the noise.

Another DineLA adventure! For appetizers, we selected the wonderful sashimi, amazing menchi dumplings and the OK mushroom croquette. Entrees: delicious duck pappardelle was popular and wonderful grilled octopus. Desserts: rich chocolate gateau with ice-cream and coconut panna cotta (served in a box). Great cocktails and wine. Great service.

Lets start with the seating - uncomfortable hard wooden seats, tables to small to fit a variety of different dishes at a time. Menu sounded interesting but the presentation of the dishes was awful. Part of eating great food is visual. First dish looked like my five year old grandson has put it on the plate. Noisy to the point of a headache. Martin glasses were not - some kind of yard sale old fashioned tiny champagne glass. Prices were inflated for the quality of the food and service. I guess its am "in" place right now but clearly anyone who actually knows a modicum of food presentation and taste will not return. I think it will be gone within a year.

When you walk into the restaurant you're immediately greeted by this sweet, smoky scent lingering in the air. This is a Japanese cedar wood, Hinoki, which had become inspiration for this restaurant. The food was plated beautifully and tasted delicious. Chef David Myers did a great job with the menu, creating an innovative fusion between Western and Eastern flavors! Loved the Beef Tartare, Chilli Crab toast, Lobster Rolls, Kurobutta Pork Belly and the Hinoki-scented black cod. These were just some of my favorites that we ordered that night. As for desserts, I personally was a great fan of their Ice cream sandwich with chocolate chiffon and my husband, the miso donuts. Great evening indeed.

Entrance is hard to find but only due to the sleek design. After you actually find the door, we made our grand entrance at the top of some stairs overlooking the entire restaurant. We were whisked away to a land far away from mainstream Los Angeles. It is sort of an underground club for foodies, hollywood celebs and the wealthy. This restaurant attracts high budge clientele and you can tell you are rubbing elbows with well connected people. It is a mixed crowd with a lot of energy and fun music. We requested to sit on the patio (I recommend doing this when you make the reservation). GORGEOUS patio! It feels so sophisticated but still young, modern and hip at the same time. Time for the food... small plates, so we ordered a lot. My faves are beef tartare, crab toast, lobster roll, kale salad, skate, skirt steak, and roasted yam. Oh and desserts, miso donuts and devil's food cake. We had a blast and even saw Matthew McConaughey having a drink at the bar on the way out. BTW, Chef Kuniko was on Top Chef too! We were in LA for 2 weeks and by far was the best meal we had. Thanks Hinoki!

The penny dropped a long time ago that restaurants in the haute cuisine category populate every nook and cranny of LA, and Hinoki and the Bird is no exception. They probably deserve five stars were it not for the fact the bar in LA is set so high. Modern Japanese. Highly creative concoctions. I decided to go for several starters - Hamachi (fish) in a herbal marinade and a pork loins dish with plum sauce - both delicious. I find the American custom of constantly re-charging your glass with whatever soft drink you're having, disconcerting but you might decide that's great value. This stylish restaurant attracts a fashionable crowd. It sits in the shadow of Fox Studios, which is a stone's throw. Great decor and atmosphere and again, typical of LA, charming and informed staff serving. There's a large patio area. We sat outside in the patio area, an experience only spoilt by a pesky fly buzzing our plates. But otherwise another wonderful, creative LA restaurant.

We had a lovely dinner here. In walking distance from our hotel. Food was very good with good service and yummy margarita with jalapeno! Ask to sit outside.

My experience at Hinoki and the Bird was outstanding. The ambiance, menu, drinks, presentation and service were all perfect. This is not an easy task to accomplish; nailing all categories and providing an atmosphere to enjoy it all made our experience superb. Our server listened carefully and recommended a nice mix of cocktails, starters and main course. My son is a vegetarian and his choices were abundant. Try the Scottish salmon and the yams. Get a traditional manhattan with the huge, single ice cube. Enjoy a reasonably priced glass of Turley "Juvenile" Zin. Your experience will be great!

Typically Trip Advisor Reviews are spot on. I had a client that wanted to do dinner in LA and I was looking for a new spot. On entrance I was impressed with the vibe. It has a nice indoor/covered outdoor feel and screams LA in a nice way. Staff was that classic feel of dressed down in jeans in an upscale similar way. Menu was limited but refreshing. Few good selection of wines and beers and a good cocktail list so it was an overall good feeling. I would give the vibe, setting, staff, etc a 4. Food for me was just OK. Nothing I had wowed me. We had a few appetizers one being the fried chicken. My companion had a steak and I had the flank steak. It was good but not deserving of a great. I will try again but first impression was just average at a high price. Dinner for two with two drinks each was $200. Many people have commented on noise level but I thought it was fine.

The food is really terrific! Very interesting crudo and great fried calamari! As dessert try hot donuts! Unforgetable and delicious! Wonderful experience-good service and relaxed atmosphere

Fabulous food, great desserts, the best donuts I have ever eaten. Chic, LA, delicious. Great for business or fun.

Dinner at Hinoki and the Bird is an interesting fusion of American and Japanese-style cuisine. There is a very wide selection of food, from bison to salmon in a very interesting menu. We had a selection of several dishes, like crispy chicken, hanami toast, miso salmon, dungenese crab fried rice and brussel sprouts. The wine selection was excellent and so was the service. Several staff approached our table to ensure we were well served. All in all, it was a very good experience.

My family and I went to Hinoki and the Bird to celebrate my birthday. We had such wonderful dishes at Hinoki sampling the chili toast, miso flavored cod, duck breast etc. The dishes are beautifully presented with very flavorful food. I'm going back for lunch on Wednesday to try the lunch menu. The patio is a little quieter and on a warm night it's the place to be. The drinks are also very refreshing. Great place to dine in Century City!

Elegant Century City destination with a creative fusion of Californian and Japanese dishes. Nice people, excellent cocktails and attentive service but it an get a little loud at times.

Underwhelming location in a residential part of Century City, but AMAZING food and service. Everything from the jidori chicken to the butter lobster ramen and the black cod was so dynamic in taste that you will want to cry because you want to eat more than your stomach will allow! Service was excellently timed and servers explained everything on the plate.

Altough it can be quite noisy and crowded (reservation is a must), the food is delicious, staff is very nice and service is fast. I enjoyed two starters and a main course in less than 1,5 h.

I have been here many times, for work and leisure. the food is always special and the setting very quiet and cool. the service is ready and quick without being intrusive and the place is bubbling with life but never loud I like coming back as they always have some special dish I haven't tried before. highly recommended!!

Outstanding small plates and larger dishes, great drinks and wine, very successful execution of integrating several Asian influences. Lovely space too, great atmosphere and terrific service.

My nephew who lives in LA took me out for dinner here. The restaurant looks cozy and comfy. Food is somewhat fusion but really good from the first to the last dish.

What you have heard is true, met a number of LA folks at the bar talking about the place. Around a long time, yet service and locals know this place is a favourite. We had a number of plates, all designed for sharing almost a tapas feel to the plates. We had a bourbon cocktail, waiter's favourite and we each had a number of them.....outstanding! The lobster roll and the black cod signature dishes did not disappoint! Excellent choices. When in Rome do as the Romans do....or LA visit Hinoki and the Bird. Rare, I give 5 excellent ratings. We stayed at a one bedroom suite at the Intercontinental only 7 minute walk. Great location, fun times!

Just an amazing experience! The staff were all so attentive Stunning atmosphere that got better as it got darker! The Black Cod is to die for! I do not usually eat dessert but our lovely waitress suggested the Miso Donughts and WOW they were amazing! The Miso was the salt component to the caramel! Yumm :)

Ok, the fun starts when you arrive and has a hard time finding the front door. When you finally figure it out, you are met with the most incredible aroma inside ( which you will later learn is created by burning hinoki bark ). Then, you have the most incredible black cod, and you can die knowing you ate the best thing ever . Order 2 .

We were at Hinoki for a wedding dinner with 40 guests and were served outside. The staff were professional. The food was presented beautifully and tasted wonderful! We arrived around 6 PM, had drinks and appetizers and by the time our entrees were served we were glad we had ordered earlier because we couldn't see the menus and could barely see our food. At that point there many tables both outside and inside where guests were using the flashlight function on their smart phones to be able to read the menus. Really!!!! Turn the lights up, folks!

The restaurant is well-appointed; seating indoors and outdoors. Noise level is high. Service is efficient, but the focus is upon taking order, serving, and clearing.... No meaningful connection between customer and server. The food is good; creative. Portions good-sized. Mussels were quite small. Plates: Lobster Roll, Crab Toast, Oysters (12), Mussels, Black Cod, Lamb Loin, Deserts: Ice Cream, Rice Cream, Dark'n'Stormu & Bird Cups; Lemon Ginger Tea; Water. US$215.82 without gratuity I feel good that I visited and had the experience.

Hinoki & The Bird in Century City is nothing short of a complete disaster. If you enjoy wasting your hard-earned money on minuscule portions, forgettable dishes, and indifferent service, then by all means, this is your spot. Otherwise, steer clear. We dined here on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was shockingly empty—practically a ghost town. That should have been our first warning. Located in pricey real estate, Hinoki & The Bird clearly banks on its location rather than delivering actual value. The portions? Laughably small. The food? Overrated and bizarre, with odd flavor combinations that left us wondering if anyone in the kitchen actually tasted these dishes before sending them out. We ordered their three most highly recommended items, and all of them tasted strangely off, unbalanced, and uninspired. The service? Glacial and apathetic, despite the fact that we were one of only a handful of diners. How a restaurant in such a prime location can serve such average, overpriced food with such poor energy is beyond me. Frankly, I’d take a Big Mac meal over this pretentious scam any day of the week. At least McDonald’s delivers what it promises. Here, you pay a premium for the privilege of leaving hungry, frustrated, and feeling utterly ripped off. Hinoki & The Bird is a textbook case of a place running on fumes, clinging to hype while delivering none of the substance. It’s hard to imagine this place will stay afloat much longer at this rate. Do yourself a favor—avoid it. You've been warned.

We went here to celebrate my friend's birthday. Great atmosphere, the food was delicious. We shared several dishes.

Interesting food…so I don't agree with some of the other reviews. But "noisy and pretentious" sums it up. Mediocre service. If you need to say you've "been there", then give it a try. Perfect for the expense account folks from Fox.

We went last Saturday for an anniversary celebration. The service is excellent, the staff is attentive and friendly and the atmosphere is LA chic. The bar drinks are really delicious Start off with some small plates--I recommend the steak tartare and raw oysters. The signature black cod and skirt steak are winners as entries. And we really enjoyed the grilled shitake mushrooms and kale--skip the fried rice. Each dish is presented in a very appetizing way. It is an moderately expensive restaurant, but very nice for a special event.

Remember when you were a kid, and you'd lick the last bit of frosting off the plate at some kid's birthday party? That's what I was tempted to do with lunch at Hinoki. Start with the location - it's in the underside of a new condo development off Avenue of the Stars - the one where Candy What's-Her-Name moved from her 95 gazillioin square foot mansion. Well, instead of veering left to go see What's-Her-Tush, you stay to the right and go toward the parking garage. Hinoki is on the left. Valet parking is a better deal - both pricewise and aggravation-wise, so just pull up and leave the keys. The restaurant looks very formal from the valet drive, but hey, this is LA. And not just LA, but the entertainment part of LA. You'll see all sorts of attire inside, from suits to jeans. The interior is a lovely melding of wood, stone and metal. Great bar, a small dining room with an open kitchen, and a nice patio outside. We started on the patio, but found it hot (it was warm that day, and the ceiling fans didn't do much to move air. So we changed to the bar, and were much happier. Noah had excellent suggestions for lunch - the coconut mussels and the skirt steak, along with a side of grilled rice (which we dropped into the coconut milk the mussels were in). The food was nothing short of exquisite. Drinks were innovative and very good, as well. Can't wait to go back, next time for dinner, so we can see some of the dishes that are only done at dinner.

Our family celebrated our daughter's 23rd birthday at Hinoki and the Bird last week—December 2nd—and had a delightful meal. We began the evening by imbibing selections from their varied cocktail list, all original concoctions, which were different and very pleasing. The dinner menu consists of both small and large plates, providing the diner with an opportunity to combine individual taste preferences and level of appetite. The three of us ordered four appetizers to share—pumpkin toasts (a signature dish), yellow fin tuna tartar, fried oysters, and lamb balls seasoned with lemon grass. Undoubtedly, the fried oyster with cornmeal breading, was the best flavor of the night. (The pumpkin toasts were our least favorite.) Each of us then ordered a main dish section, including the drunken duck (marinated and grilled) and pork belly, along with sides, accompanied by a lovely pinot noir from their extensive wine list. Overall, the food was inventive and absolutely delicious; the service very friendly and prompt. It is obvious that they intend to please, not simply serve. (Their one faux pas was that they forgot to serve our daughter the birthday dessert surprise which we had previously ordered; however, after our prompting, the kitchen came through and delivered.) Hinoki and the Bird is fun and is a great place for a celebratory occasion. (The table next to ours was a bachelorette party.) The only reason that I am awarding four stars, as opposed to five, is that it was a bit noisy.

We dined here with our family and really enjoyed our meal. Everything we ordered was great! The setting is just as good. The space is phenom!

Amazing bar/mixology, sneaky location and beautiful menu. Restaurant has both outdoor and indoor seating, though you wouldn't know it! open kitchen too so you know the food will be impeccable.

This is a great find. Crazy mixture of California and Japan and it works amazingly well. Very cool atmosphere, excellent food and service. Jeremy our waiter could not have been any better!

unusual menu, beautiful presentation- had a wonderful lunch. make sure to try the ice cream sandwich!

Two recent meals have convinced me this is one of the best places in town for fine, sophisticated cooking. Asian fusion. Setting is well designed modern with nice patio. Noise level tolerable. Fish, side vegetables, duck all beautifully conceived, and prepared with much welcome restraint and discipline. Prices are typical. Recommended.

A group of us went out to dinner here and found it to be good, but not great. I gave it an average rating because the food is not on par with the price. Appetizers were the best part of the meal, with a wide range of fairly interesting options. My salmon entrée was average and did not stand out as anything special. Also, the food took forever to come out of the kitchen. In the end, a decent place, but not overly memorable.

Extremely poor management. No service. Seems like they just let go of a few employees and hired new ones who have no clue what to do. I normally like this place very much, however, after tonight I’m pretty sure I’ll stay away. An absolute waste. Food is mediocre. New management does not know how to provide proper service. 👎🏻👎🏻

4.5/5. Beautiful atmosphere! Great patio. Excellent service. Wonderful food. We dined at Hinoki for lunch and could not have been more pleased. It is truly a beautiful place with sleek and modern interior with a beautiful greenhouse like patio. The service was great. The food was also amazing! We had the hamachi with persimmon and it was excellent. Great acid with sweet persimmon and fresh fish demonstrated restraint and balance. The crab toast was good as well. Reminiscent of étouffée with crab on toast with cucumber adding a nice fresh element. The lobster roll was also great great acidity to balance the richness with a 'charcoal' bun that was very tasty. The fried chicken sandwich was also incredible. Crispy fried chicken thigh was cooked perfectly with soft bun fresh lettuce and spicy aioli. Can't wait to go back!

We had a fine dinner in the enclosed patio. The setting was nice, the menu had decent variety, the food was good, and the service was too.

Delicious, interesting food in a beautifully designed indoor/outdoor space -- though one that got a bit cold in an unseasonably chilly LA week. Enjoyed the pork chop, which was my second choice after they ran out of the lobster ramen. Lamb sausages, very spicy in a Thai sort of way, also great, as were brussels sprouts and the famous crab toasts. The one hesitation: we decided to order dessert after looking at the options. Dessert duly arrived, very quickly--along with the bill! We found this a bit bizarre, giving the strong impression staff wanted to turn the table, even though in early-to-bed LA it's not like people are lining up at 10pm! We enquired and were informed it's the restaurant's "policy" to bring the bill with or during dessert, which is a bit odd to say the least, especially in a place that's not exactly cheap. On the whole Hinoki is a very solid choice though, and worth the trip to Century City.

I picked this restaurant for a meeting because of its high rating not really reading the details about it. Upon arriving at outside, I was worry that it looked pretentious because to the dimmed semi-circle drive way. Once we opened the concealed door, the inside is actually surprisingly hip & warm. Still dark but lots of steel & wood decorated the place & a mixed crowd of foodie & hipster. We were seated in the courtyard which has a open roof. It was very dark to read the menu so we had the waiter made suggestion (my eyesight is not what it used to be) - We had beef tartare (great), black cod (great), steak (great), and artichoke tempura (great). Service was prompt & attentive from a very handsome waiter (well, it’s LA so it is not surprising). Great place for the adventurous type or if you want to impress someone with how cool you are.

The restaurant name was definitely catchy. The decor lived up to the branding - the walls were presumably built with hinoki wood paneling. Really funky place. The menu made us salivate with the options, but what we ordered was just ok: - kale salad - dungeness crab dumplings (we assumed they would be in a broth but were pan fried) - hinoki scented black cod (they did not bring us any spoon to enjoy the broth) - maitake mushroom side dish was on the dry and bland side - sashimi tasting of five spoons was a bit disappointing. Someone just dropped it off at our table and walked away without bothering to tell us what we were going to taste in each spoon. We found out that they were all the same fish done five ways, which is fine but we both interpreted it as perhaps five different types of sashimi. - I was looking forward to the honey mochi I ordered for dessert since I don't often see it on menus. It had ice cream inside (which wasn't mentioned on the menu) and quite frozen. So I had to carefully wrestle to get spoonfuls of it. The highlight of the night? Their mango (I forgot if it was mango) and lychee sorbets were outstanding. Very refreshing and full of flavor. It was a good restaurant, but I don't think I would return unless it was just to drop by for some dessert. Also because it was in a more business district, it closed up earlier than expected.

Classic fresh mix bar with professional done specialty cocktails were a great start to en excellent dinner. A mix of fusion tastes from Japan, smoky flavors, and a bit of ambience made it a great evening out. Would happily return.

We really enjoyed our lunch here. The service was very good, as was the fresh food. Everything was beautifully presented, and we were able to pair the food with wine or freshly-pressed juices. The outdoor area can get warm, but the space is beautiful.

Right off the bat upon arrival, I was annoyed by this place. The entrance isn't readily visible, it's a long, artsy wall with no discernible door or handle, so you have to hunt for the way in while the hipsters who are just leaving smirk and offer no assistance. Once inside, the space is small, contemporary and sterile, lacking any unique decor except an open kitchen that overwhelms the room, where employees scurry around in sweaty panic, dimming my enthusiasm for the coming meal. The tables are pushed much too close together, making for an overload of noise and awkward trips squeezing past diners in a futile attempt to find space at the bar. All the staff members looked miserable, not one smile could be seen, and the bartenders pretend you do not exist unless you're seated at the bar. I started the evening just wishing it would end, the vibe was so uncomfortable. Not an auspicious start, to be sure. Our reservation was for 9:45. Our party of seven arrived at 9pm, thinking we'd have a leisurely drink at the bar before dinner, but stood around for 35 minutes without gaining the attention of one of the surly bartenders, and with nowhere to sit or stand away from the crowd. We finally stole a few seats when some other patrons got up to leave, and ordered a round of drinks. At 10:15, we still had not been seated. At 10:30, we were led to the patio, which was slightly less loud than inside, but our table was so close to the adjoining table, my chair could not be pulled away. The table itself had to be moved, and we squeezed in. We were then treated to a two hour long diatribe from the raucous, drunken patrons behind us, and there was nothing to do but shout over them to be heard. The creepy, electro-80's inspired soundtrack didn't help matters. The food itself is presented with an attractive flair, and is worth the price, but isn't memorable. Don't expect large portions. We asked our waitress to just bring any and all appetizers and entrees she thought were the best of the house, and she complied. We didn't have to wait long for the food to arrive. The lobster roll was just plain weird, with a morbidly black brioche roll that was just trying too damn hard to be nouveau. The beef carpaccio was very good, as was the crab appetizer. The filet mignon was undercooked, but the skirt steak was perfect. We also had a tuna sashimi appetizer, and the quality of the fish was high. The kale salad was well received, although I didn't try it myself, and the pork lettuce wraps were good. The absolute best part of the meal was the dessert. Some kind of donut holes dusted in sugar, paired with praline and greek yogurt ice creams, and a lovely sauce. Our waitress was an exception to this otherwise sub-par dining experience. She was friendly, prompt, and professional, explaining all the items that arrived and offering quick service. I also have to compliment the sommelier, who was patient and professional, although a tad long-suffering. Not that I blame him; working in such a place would make me depressed, too. (Note: for the seven of us, the tab was $2,600.00, which included $1,700.00 in wine. Three bottles worth.) Bottom line: If you're looking for a truly eclectic crowd (a table of five tall beautiful brunettes, dressed to the nines, turned out to be men, and there's a thriving gay scene), can stand a lot of noise, just want to try the new "hip" place, and don't set your expectations high, you might enjoy it. I can't recommend it, however, because it missed on so many levels. Summed up in a word, I'd say the place is unwelcoming. I couldn't wait to leave.

This place is so cool that the entrance blends into the facade. Why? It appears that the valet is very tired of telling people how to get in.... Not a good first impression. Waited at the bar for my lunch companion and got to witness the bartender reprimanding a server....not a good second impression. Food is very LA. Lots of kale.

We booked this trendy busy restaurant after a long board retreat day. The food was part family style and board members delighted in the culinary creations.The food was fantastic, service attentive. Only challenge was very noisy to hold a conversation without raising the decibel level and hard to scoot in and out of the long benches. Otherwise a real treat.

We were staying in the hotel next to this restaurant but had made an advanced reservation. The restaurant is very cool with great decor and an amazing vibe. We ordered a selection of various tapas including the summer pepper toast, lobster roll, kale, coconut curried mussels and the lamb all of which were excellent. The flavour combinations worked incredibly well and every dish was executed perfectly. This is definitely a spot you should try when in LA, you will not be disappointed.

Quite good. Get the beef tartare, lobster roll, crab toast, cod and mochi ice cream. Skip the skirt steak

We went with a group of seven from our company. I really enjoyed it. Great food and really good service. Nice atmosphere and vibe. We went early and it got packed quickly. Recommended.

The skinny: Parking- valet $9.50 dinner Decor- rustic chic Bathroom- clean but strange (trendy) mirror Service: pleasant Food: very good Price- $$$$ Coke factor- from bar, flat So after reading reviews from Jonathan Gold and LA Magazine I couldn't wait to try this restaurant. You should know there is no real street parking nearby. The restaurant is in a condo building in Century City and the closest public parking is the mall. When you walk in the first thing you will notice is that the hostess wear men's shapeless denim shirts as dresses which really means it looks like they are walking around with no pants on. The wait staff have a similar denim shirt but with the apron it doesn't look so bad. The bus guys and other servers wear tee shirts and skinny jeans. They look sloppy and unprofessional. The only reason I mention it is bc when you spend that much money on food, I think the wait staff should compliment the expensive dining experience. We were seated in the outside dining area which is very nice but very cold in the evening. The floor has radiant heat but you can not feel it and they have only 2 heaters, one at each end of the patio. Eventually they closed the roof top sliders and after drinking green hot tea (served strangely in a diner coffee cup) I eventually warmed up but wore my coat all thru dinner. The whole table ordered cocktails and beer which they all loved. Besides the green tea, I had a coke which was from the bar and flat :( We ordered: Assorted Pickles: delicious and unique, the celery tasted like licorice Fried chicken- delicate aioli, perfectly crispy chicken Pumpkin toast- delicious and packed with strong flavor Beef tartar- I didn't eat this but my friend said it was the best he's ever had (be advised, it is served with a raw quail egg) Lamb Curry- very good Miso marinated steak- my favorite dish! BBQ pork- tender and the sauce is a nice compliment with the lettuce Braised pork belly- sweet and fatty and so good, might be good to share as an appetizer Grilled rice- excellently sticky! Miso donuts- I couldn't really taste the miso but the honey caramel was delightful We will be back!

On arrival the restaurant had a feeling of being over crowded - like someone had decided to shove another 5 tables in against what the designer had intended. We were asked to wait 15mins that lead to about half an hour of waiting. Go to the bar for a drink was the suggestion, however, by allowing people to eat at the bar there was almost no way to get to it. So there we stood basically in between the tables with people eating. There is nowhere else to stand. Maybe they shouldn't let people without reservations walk in and camp out on the bar. After that timely ordeal we were finally seated. They recognized the wait and brought us a complimentary amuse bouche. The serving staff were great and everything was much better from there forward. Food was good. Nothing I would suggest you have to go and try but loved the piece of burning cedar they served with one of the dishes. Desserts were also great, in particular the miso donuts with honey caramel dipping sauce. Trust me, you only need 1.

Disappointing considering how nice the restaurant looks, but much of the food is unexceptional. I can see why folks rate it a single star but that rating would be a little unfair in my opinion. I went with a group of people for Dinner here on a Thursday night in April, and we shared several dishes. Things I liked: Atmosphere is good, like a modern influenced but still relaxed upscale restaurant in HawaiI. As far as food, the Romanesco (great texture), the yams and the pork chops (moist and tender) were outstanding. Roast duck and lobster roll (served on dark bread) were very good. Service was decent. The waiter was friendly and in general the staff were attentive to our needs. Things I didn’t like: The uni baguette was terrible (uni was not fresh). Kale salad, crab dumplings, black cod and halibut were all unexceptional. Not bad, but there was nothing about these dishes that made the flavor or texture stand out. And standing out is something I would have expected at a restaurant like this. My wife didn’t like that there was no bread given out. One more thing, we sat at a table on the edge of the outdoor area. In keeping with the Pacific island theme the wall-side benches seemed to be surplus war-era torture devices. The seats were too hard. Overall I would have expected more given the prices charged.

Interesting food concept (modern pan Asian fusion in a cool environment), but execution is terrible. The dishes range from terrible to so-so; many interpretations don't work. Drinks are good. The wine list is long and expensive, but it'd be a waste to drink DRC (Romanee-Conti) with this mediocre food. Service is efficient, although with so many people waiting at the bar (indeed making lots of noise as many reviewers say), the waitress tried her best to push us out in a polite way! At over $100 per head, horrific value. The birds are the customers who are being plucked!

For a moment this was arguably the best restaurant in Los Angeles. Always backed with agents from CAA and their clients. They have a great bar with excellent cocktails and delicious food. A strong - if confusing menu. But the "it-ness" of it has passed. No longer packed (maybe a good thing) with all the LA fancy folks. Food is still really good though - if not as sublime as it once was. The Jidori chicken is especially tasty, as is the Hake, flank steak is good too.

I recently went to Hinoki & the Bird, I travel a lot for work, and one of the little pleasures I take for myself when traveling is to try to find great places to eat - this restaurant definitely was a great find. The food was very creative, presented beautifully, an amazingly good. I sat across from the open kitchen which was very enjoyable, watching the dishes flying by. I started with the "Yellowfin Tuna, Smoked Eggplant Puree, Oro Blanco" - it was wonderful (raw pieces of tuna with a piece of grapefruit, and mint, along with a nice bit of eggplant puree); next I had the "Lobster Roll, Green Curry, Thai Basil", their "most popular menu item", also very nice; and I finished with the "Chili Crab Toast, Spicy Cucumber, Coriander", which was prepared with just the right amount of heat (chili spice). The drinks were also very good. My only regret was not ordering one of the main courses, three small plates was not quite enough - next time I would order a main and 1 or 2 small plates. The Restaurant itself is set up very nice, it would be a great place for a special occasion - very romantic!

Do use the valet parking, as the underground parking necessitates a long and tortuous walk. Very pleasant ambiance. Intuitive service. Great menu choices: shishtos, crispy chicken, lobster roll, turkey sandwich. Delicious food. Paramount lunch choice.

Had a lunch with business associates here. We decided on small plates and it was fantastic. Kale salad, Brussels sprouts and baked yams were among the favorites. We also had a wonderful yellowtail sashimi which was amazing. The atmosphere is very chic and inviting and the service was attentive and prompt. We sat outside under the canopy which was perfect.

Out of town visitors should go once to this alt-LA restaurant in the heart of Century City. Food is good though a little gimmicky, as is the carefully choreographed menu. The dining space is indoor/outdoor and nicely designed. The most fun for us was watching the crowd of casually but quite expensively dressed locals interacting in their native habitat, and speeding off after dinner in their Lamborghinis (2), Porsches (2) and Rolls (1). Good marks on presentation and on the oysters and the cod and pork chop entrees but not --and indefensible at these prices--the mushy farmed salmon from Europe instead of wild Alaskan. Very poor choice by the kitchen. Desserts were excellent and the wine list goes on for miles.

Perfect hideaway, difficult to find, in the middle of Century City, very cool people, stylish, nice ambiente and lightening, delicious food, try signature freshly smoked fish dish at the table

The smell of cedar wafts through this Japanese inspired restaurant. The vibe is very energetic. Food is creative and delicious. Reserve the patio.

Hinoki & The Bird Century City, CA My wife and I hosted a well-traveled friend from HKG for dinner on a school night. The place is a bit hard to find unless one uses the valet. Poor signage, the obscured valet station and a well camouflaged front door contributed to a rather confusing entry sequence. Some helpful hints (spoiler alert): • Use the valet, the alternative is circuitous (in and out). • But if you must (which I did): - The restaurant is at the subterranean level of The Century luxury residential tower; on the north side (facing Century Plaza / Century City Mall). - The main driveway off Avenue of the Stars serves the entire tower. - Follow the Hanoki & the Bird sign at the fork (+/- 50 yards). - Take the right at the fork, (down) the exterior ramp/driveway (towards the Fox Studios parking garage). - In +/-30 yards, you have another choice of making a left to the valet or continuing towards the garage. - The valet area is dimly lit and is only indicated by the cluster of vehicles in the rotary driveway. (The minimalist approach failed by modern day carriages.) - The entry door to the restaurant is well disguised as the wood wall. - Vehicular egress from the garage is equally maniacal. Hint: down (you will be coming out to Century Park West). • Have fun. 😉 Aside from the entry adventure, we found the interior of H&B to be warm, cozy in upscale casual elegance. The entry is at the highest elevation of the restaurant overlooking the dining room. One can make quite an entrance as one descends the stairs if one chooses. The dining room is graceful and appropriate for more formal gatherings or a date to impress. We were seated in the well-appointed covered patio with lush planting. The candle lit level lighting would fit a more private engagement as well as a place to simply kick back and relax. I fantasized about lounging in a southeast-Asia tropical resort. The staff is genuine, friendly and well trained with casual CA manners. I much prefer this over snooty upper crust treatment; especially in high priced establishments. We shared in family style: jidori chicken dumplings, tater tot okonomiyaki, hinoki scented black cod, crispy suckling pig, roasted yam, dungeness crab fried rice, brussels sprouts. All prepared with precision. Being Asian, I don’t typically enjoy Asian fusion unless the chef is careful in respecting the essence of the traditional ingredients in balance with his/her new interpretations. New but nostalgic, not bleeding edge. Asian food is comfort food for me. I am happy to report that H&B succeeds in this endeavor. I look forward to returning to sample their more exotic offerings when unshackled by dietary restrictions.

Tucked away in a lower condo building, this new low key restaurant’s menu is innovative and delicious. A modern contemporary feel with indoor and outdoor patio dining options. Ambiance is great and food is interesting with unique combinations of flavors and selections for lunch and dinner. Targets a 30-60 well heeled crowd of professional Century City business, legal and entertainment industry diners.

I met a business client here and had trouble finding the valet parking. As I drove by the narrow street and what look like a dark delivery entrance I saw the huge parking garage. I drove in to this well light and very obvious garage. Once in the garage I called the restaurant and learned that dark delivery entrance was the valet parking - it was hard to find as there is no signage as you approach - the address is on the wall but when I drove by, that wall was parked up with pickup trucks advancing the illusion of a delivery entrance. Anyway upon finding the restaurant I figured out the huge unmarked door opened from the left side (you'll see when you get there...they have their own take on a door...and how to open it is not obvious). To my relief, the food service and meal went smoothly however. The server was pleasant and efficient - I went for a kale salad and added a perfectly grilled chicken breast. The salad was fun with both chewy and crunchy kale. Now that I know where this place is it will be easier to find - it is a good choice for a business lunch in Century City.

Service was great, staff knew their menu well, lobster roll was tasty but missed the thai curry/basil flavor, the Chicken meatball soup, somen noodle, bok choy was also tasty but I felt the broth could have been a little more than a weak miso, the japanese cotton cheesecake was something else- I so enjoyed the flavor and texture combination. I would have loved the option of dining inside where A/C was running as I found sitting outside a tad warm, the inside did not feel any cooler. Would I return? yes, would I recommend- sure!

Interesting place with outstanding and rather unusual (in the nicest way) food. Our server was very friendly and helpful, lots of information and advice. Excellent experience.

Very hip vibe. Crowded, but not noisy. Outstanding wait staff with great cocktail and menu suggestions. Don't miss the beef tartare or chili crab toast appetizers. You may not even remember the rest of the meal. Oh yes, the black cod...that was excellent too!

Came here on a Friday night. Had a reservation and sat down immediately. Great setting and good atmosphere. Service was reasonably good and helpful. Food was very good, particularly the crab toast and tartare and cocktails were well prepared. Pork Belly was a bit stringy and Black Cod just a well cooked piece of fish. Ice Cream cake dessert was very average for $10! Parking is a pain here and having paid over $200 for two, i was directed to the bar to pay $7 parking. Really ruined what was a good night. It was hard enough being hit by a crazy high check and then being told by the waiter he couldn't validate the parking...kind of a low shot and left a bad taste. Good evening but felt a little bit ripped off.

One of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, Century City area. All the dishes we ordered were beautifully presented with original different flairs. I could call it a "Multi - Fusion Restaurant" Excellent lobster rolls!!! The ambience is handsome and sexy ~ Five stars to the architecture! Service outstanding. Expensive valet parking.

One of the best meals I've had in LA. Excellent mixed menu and beautiful setting. Beautiful people everywhere (although that's LA for you). The service was a little slow and we had to wait 20mins for our table despite having booked in advance and arriving on time which was very frustrating. The wishing tree is very cool and their cocktail menu is excellent as well.

Well they said it was the hottest place in LA it is an amazing place on the Ave of the Stars in Century City we had the beef tartare to start with fried chicken ,sweetcorn soup those starters were divine the main course was even better i had the short ribs and the others had skate or steak it was all amazing so was the atmosphere highly recommend this fab place

Saw this after a Facebook viral video on the lobster ramen, whilst it was tasty it was a very very small portion for the price you pay. All the food here that I tried was unfortunately very small portions and at very high prices. It's a shame to say this didn't live up to the hype at all.

Reviews often comment on poor service so why doesn't this restaurant listen - especially with a 20% mandatory service charge? Very slow, watched drinks water down at the bar and our waiter and the bartender and other staff ignore, piled up plates on our table to clue that they should be taken away. Had to flag waiter to order another drink. No serving spoons with plates though they are meant to be shared! No coffee or after dinner beverage offered, waiter zoomed away after taking our dessert order. An explanation of the menu in the beginning would have been nice. "Add starches from the side dishes to fill up" was not helpful. Huh? Restaurant was not full. The restaurant manager needs to go back to hospitality school. Too bad because the food was very good. Won't go back. From other reviews, this wasn't just a bad night.