Chinchikurin - Sawtelle

I've been coming to Chinchikurin many times over the years for their Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. They are of course solid, Chinchikurin being a Japanese chain bringing their authentic menu to the US locations. I can confidently say they do an excellent job showcasing Hiroshima style Teppan-yaki flavors. I recently discovered a hidden gem on their menu--the Hiroshim Tsukemen -spicy cold dipping noodles--and it was absolutely incredible!I first heard about this dish on a Japanese news channel's food segment on YuTube, where they featured Hiroshima-style cold noodles with a spicy special broth. I had an urge to try it and was ready to order the ingredients from Japan to make it myself. Then I was thinking... may be, just may be Chinchikurin may have it on their menu. And to my surprise, they did!The dish was pure perfection. The broth was complex, with just the right balance of acidity and spice. You can choose your own spice level. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the toppings--fresh vegetables and tender meat--brought everything together beautifully. Every bite was packed with flavor, lighter and more nutritiously balanced compared to a tipical Ramen.It's a true hidden gem, and I'll definitely be coming back for more! One thing I want to mention to Chinchikurin management--since the kitchen is open, playing different music in the kitchen and dining area at the same time creates an unpleasant clash of sounds for customers. Please consider keeping the music consistent.

I had never heard of Okinomiyaki or Takoyaki prior to my work team suggesting Chinchikurin. I am so glad that they did. This street food is really unique and unlike anything I've seen before. From the type of food to how you eat it, it was just fun.First off, they don't really take reservations. You can call around an hour before and put your name down, but beyond that, be prepared to show up and potentially wait for a table to open up. Please also allot a few extra minutes to finding parking as Sawtelle is always a tricky place to find parking (I suggest finding street parking because the lot outside this location is very small). Okinomiyaki is basically a savory pancake. Made from egg, sometimes meat, and a variety of veggies and seasonings. When they serve it, it comes out incredibly hot and the only utensil you get is what I can only describe as a mini metal spatula. You use this to both cut and eat your pancake. Like I said, it's a unique dish and experience. I will say the food while delicious was a bit tricky to cut. I'm not sure if I was doing it wrong or my spatula just wasn't sharp enough at the end but I found myself having to kinda jiggle it down in order to get it to fully cut through things like beansprouts and the other veggies cooked into the pancake. But you know what? It's worth it.Service is fast. Even with our large party of 11 we ordered & got our food within minutes. That speaks to the perks of going somewhere where they basically only specialize in and serve one dish (they do have ramen & a few other items). If you're looking for something you can get quickly, this is the spot!Ambiance is nice. The location is small, but not too cramped. We sat out on the patio and that helped open it up so to speak. If you're not a fan of tables close to one another, you might want to request a spot out there.I am so glad my office is nearby Chichikurin. I don't have to go in often, but when I do, I will absolutely be bumping this to the top of my 'where should I eat for lunch' list.

Food here is always consistent in flavor and texture. I've ordered the standard pork and seafood medley okonomiyakis and they were all cooked to perfection with perfect texture for the proteins.Highly recommend this place if you're craving noodles but want to try something different from the typical ramen shops in the area.

The staff is very friendly and the food was delicious. If you're in the area definitely check them out

I heard this is the only place in Los Angeles to get authentic Okinomiyaki, so for that reason I'd recommend this place to those who crave that specific dish. Chinchikurin specializes in Okinomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake and this specific dish they do well! We ordered several dishes and this is the one we enjoyed the most. They have several different variations and customizable options for the customer to get creative. The karaage chicken was a very close second. It was so good I reordered it before we left. Unfortunately, not everything we tasted was satisfactory. We tried the ramen and it fell flat. The broth was super faint, almost no flavor at all. We also ordered some stir fry noodles that were kind of bland as well. However, what left the worst taste in my mouth was the service unfortunately. I'll start by acknowledging that the server seemed like they were stretched thin. They seemed a little overwhelmed, servicing a full restaurant and a half full patio. I can understand what that's like and have no qualms with the speed of the service, but the lack of care and understanding. I ordered a lemonade. Unaware of the type of lemonade, but certainly not expecting it to be fresh squeezed. I took one sip and pushed it away. The lemonade tasted fishy. I even had my boyfriend try it and he agreed something tasted off about it. I truly hate to complain at restaurants and am always hesitant to send something back, but I didn't want to pay for a drink I knew I wasn't going to drink.I worked up the courage to tell our server I thought the lemonade tasted weird and their response was "well it's Minute Maid so of course it's gross" or something along those lines. I was taken aback because I wasn't expecting such a reply. I felt the polite thing to do would've been to say "I'm sorry you don't like it, can I get you something else?" But instead, the server left me w the gross lemonade and continued to charge me for a drink I didn't drink. I hate to leave a negative review about a server, but unfortunately this experience left me feeling a little frustrated. Especially because I was staring at this sign the entire time.

Had this before and they're best eaten when just off the grill. Though, when it cools down, the meat gets a little tough. Personally, I liked the versions with less meat bc I'm a fan of the cabbage and sauce. Staff was friendly, and I liked that there was an open kitchen to peek into how the food is prepared.

We came here on a Friday night around 7 PM and somehow didn't have to wait at all. We ordered the corn cheese mayo okonomiyaki (with crispy noodles) and the Dan Dan noodles and were absolutely blown away by how amazing both of these were. The crispy noodles complimented the warmth and chewiness of the rest of the okonomiyaki. I honestly think this was even better than the okonomiyaki we had in Osaka a few months ago. The Dan Dan noodles were fresh and perfectly spiced, and you definitely have to stir it as many times as they recommend! No doubt this will be a regular spot for us!

I came here a few times now, and it's been really the only place I've eaten okonomiyaki in the US. I got the crispy hiroshima :D I really liked the crispy noodle part, but I do think there could have been a bit more of the fried squid, since I couldn't really find that many of them ): The sauces matched the dish so well and it wasn't too overflowed where it became soggy or anything. The overall dish had a great proportion of noodles to meat to green onion. Came hot and the plating was wonderful! Fun to cut up the okonomiyaki with their spatula. It was my friend's first time trying okonomiyaki and she also really enjoyed her meal!The service was always good; the server is sweet and always checking in with us! We felt very welcomed and enjoyed our time. The seating was quick and clean. The parking isn't too much of an issue because there's a parking lot for them. Great music choice hehe

Kind, quick service. My friend and i shared an Hiroshima Okonomiyaki and a yakisoba. The Yakisoba's noodles had just a bit more tooth than I've had in the past--and it was so good. But even better was the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. We were given the option of soft or crispy noodles. We went with crispy, and it was ridiculous--so tasty. I had an Okonomiyaki at an Izakaya in Santa Monica last week, and it was small and oversauced. This one was a bit larger, with a lighter feel to it--not oversized or fluffy, but just a bit lighter than the other one. And there was no drenching of the sauce. They had it plus the kewpie in packets to use as you like (never saw them in these little packets before, but that's what they do here). The only thing missing for me was the bonito flakes, but maybe that omission was specific to the Hiroshima--dont know. In any case--it was just amazingly good.

There isn't a single restaurant, to my knowledge, that serves Hiroshima style okonomiyaki in the Orange County area, and I've been craving savoury Japanese pancakes for months. Last night, my family and I happened to be in the area, so we HAD to stop by for dinner. This was a non negotiable for me. It was our lucky night as we found parking immediately (valet is an option if you can't find street parking), and the staff was able to accommodate us when we arrived. I was pleasantly surprised as it is usually a 20+ minute wait. Anyhow, The casual ambiance and atmosphere was perfect for this particular occasion as our little toddler was feeling extra vivacious that evening. With that said, our server was very kind and understanding of the situation.We ordered the crispy chinchikurinyaki, their signature dish, and the soft B&C. Both were delicious and packed with flavor. Everyone enjoyed their meal (including my toddler aged daughter, who can be quite difficult to please when it comes to food)Anyhow, I highly recommend this spot, especially if you're looking for a casual dining option that serves delicious comfort food.