Housed in the former Aburiya Raku space, Gozen Japanese Sake Bistro brings elegant upscale Japanese cuisine to busy La Cienega Boulevard.
Gozen offers diners a variety of spaces to relax and enjoy sushi and sake, including an elegant living room space with a brick fireplace, red leather sofa and antique Japanese artwork. There is also a large bar to watch the kitchen action adorned with Bonsai trees, art and a variety of sake bottles. The most striking spot is through the main room to the intimate outdoor garden area.
After passing the pretty rickshaw, diners will find five tables under wood beams with dark wicker chairs, booths and purple linen-lined tables. Spring and early summer provide the perfect weather for this al fresco environment.
“Gozen” translates to "five good things," and these include good water, good sake, good meat, good seafood and good vegetables. Diners can choose from three kaiseki tasting menus ranging in price from $80 to $240.
After sampling three sake varieties, we began diving into the Yume Course.
Our first dishes included eggs Benedict with caviar, which was served in an elegant eggshell, persimmon and cream cheese sandwich, avocado tofu and marinated crab and cucumber. The avocado tofu was the standout, but all small dishes were delicious. The second course included a range of sashimi beautifully arranged around a whole fish. The third course included a wide variety of sushi including snapper, scallops, toro and seared Wagyu beef. Half way through the tasting, a refreshing pink grapefruit ice was served to refresh our palates. We then sampled the Japanese noodles with mackerel and tomato and a multicourse of Wagyu steak accompanied by rice with porcini, egg yolk and truffle oil and dashi soup with shrimp and seaweed. Desserts included a matcha cheesecake and cream puff with ice cream.
All of the dishes were innovative and surprising. Gozen Japanese Sake Bistro is the perfect spot for a romantic date, to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or just to take a relaxing decadent break in an elegant garden with delicious Japanese dishes.
Gozen Japanese Sake Bistro is located at 521 N. La Cienega Boulevard. Reservations can be made at 213.308.9393.