GOZEN -Japanese Sake Bistro- Reviews
Submitted by Christine Nguyen on 05/04/2022
Christine Nguyen 5 stars rating.
I originally came here for a birthday celebration with my boyfriend. The staff were so so lovely! And the meal was exquisite. Truly the freshest ingredients cooked with the utmost care. We couldn’t wait to come back … So I ordered a kaiseki bento box. The 3 tiers of food were delicious! A meal fit for 2 to be honest. Love this restaurant & their wonderful attention to the eating experience!
Noah Jackson 5 stars rating.
I had a friend visiting from out of town and we decided to go to Gozen for a special dining experience. We were not disappointed! The ambiance was fantastic with many furnishings from Japan. We were sat in the wonderful outside area next to a beautiful rickshaw from Kyoto. Our server, Shoto, was also the sake sommelier and was very knowledgeable about all aspects of sake. It is clear Gozen has a wonderful curation of choices and as non-sake drinkers both my friend and I loved the selection he recommended. His service was probably the best service I have ever received at a restaurant; so attentive, helpful, great to chat with, and he made amazing recommendations! The food was fantastic, very different from typical Japanese fair you would find across America or in your local sushi restaurants. The menu is curated, feels authentic, and was both novel and tasty. There were many things I had never tried before but everything was delicious. Overall, the whole experience was phenomenal and my friend and I walked away truly wowed by Gozen. I look forward to the day I inevitably go back!
Submitted by Noah Jackson on 09/16/2022
Alex Bartz 5 stars rating.
Absolutely incredible relaxed dining experience with unique foods and a wide selection of rare sakes.
I’ve lived in LA for over 3 years, tried many restaurants, and this is by far the most memorable of them all. 11/10 would recommend.
Submitted by Alex Bartz on 01/24/2022
Luz Ornelas 5 stars rating.
If you are looking for a traditional kaiseki meal, this is the place for you. The food was amazing. The menu seems to change by the season which means fresh ingredients. The presentation was impeccable. The staff was so attentive and very nice. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for traditional Japanese food beyond sushi.
Submitted by Luz Ornelas on 11/20/2021
Olivier LA 5 stars rating.
7-course omakase for an intimate encounter with the 5 tastes: sweet persimmon jelly, fatty tuna with salty shoyu, a few drops of sour yuzu in the Fall mushrooms broth, tiny bitter pickles on the side, and a perfect sukiyaki for the umami finale. It's delicate, delicious, divine, and all the other superlatives your inebriated soul will sing after your first bite. The interesting list of sake and the impeccable service add to the experience.
Submitted by Olivier La on 10/31/2021
Jon Hsieh 3 stars rating.
I tend to book restaurants that are up and coming and have great reviews. From Michelin starred to raving articles. That being said Gozen displayed great service. Staff was friendly with a nice traditional Japanese ambiance. Where it fell short was the actual dinner course. 235.00 (with tip) a person should be slightly more than satisfactory/impressive at the very least Every course wasnt surprising. It was really something id expect from a normal neighborhood Japanese restaurant on a weekday out. Average. Would i go again? Unfortunately not.
Submitted by Jon Hsieh on 10/09/2021
美琴 5 stars rating.
Very traditional Japanese cuisine, straight out of Kyoto. It's classy and an experience that last up to three hours. Depending on your decided menu, you'll have 8, 9, or 10 courses (small dishes mostly showcasing true Japanese elegance in food). Fantastic place with very friendly staff which is to be expected and well worth the price. Would not recommend if people have no idea what they're getting into, but if you do then it's a big recommendation for a special occasion.
Submitted by 美琴 on 08/07/2021
Monique Schwartz 5 stars rating.
Before I get to the food, I just wanted to say thank you to the staff. They did an excellent job and made the experience a great one.
The food was very unique and had some interesting takes on traditional Japanese cuisine. The plates are decently portioned and the quality was excellent. The menu online was not the correct option, so you might want to call ahead of time to gather the right menu.
The ambiance at first was a little strange since the music was too ethereal. Later in the night, the playlist switched over to soft jazz, which fit the intimate environment much better.
Submitted by Monique Schwartz on 07/17/2021
Jeremy Li 5 stars rating.
6/18/2021 - A new chief was hired recently with a new different Kaiseki menu. As always, enjoy dining there.
4/02/2021 - The Omakase and presentations in the dine-in restaurant and services are excellent. A variety of dishes with many presentations amaze you.
Japanese Rickshaw( 黄包车) brought from Japan on display surrounding with tall bamboos and rocks further enhanced our dining experiences.
03/2021
Gozen (to go) only opens 3 days a week, Friday to Sunday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The raw fishes earn 4 stars.
Submitted by Jeremy Li on 06/19/2021
Gregory Goodman 5 stars rating.
The service and food quality are top notch. It is such a pleasure to eat a dinner like this in such s serene setting, especially in crowded Los Angeles. The Omakase choices were superb and the pacing of the meal was perfect. It is places like this that making dining in LA such a great adventure and I heartily recommend having a dinner/ experience here.
Submitted by Gregory Goodman on 06/03/2021
