Budonoki
Restaurant · East Hollywood ·
Thai-Japanese izakaya with creative dishes, playful cocktails, and vibrant atmosphere
Thai-Japanese izakaya with creative dishes, playful cocktails, and vibrant atmosphere
"Entering feels like stepping into a cool party: neon LED wall art lights up the room, 2000s R&B hits are bumping, and the inviting vibe permeates all corners. Helmed by executive chef Dan Rabilwongse with partners Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley, this 2024 Eater Best New Restaurant winner is an adventure that combines Japanese precision with bright Thai flavors and French techniques, set on the first floor of an apartment building that once housed Cha Cha Cha and transporting diners to a sake den in Brooklyn or Tokyo with bumping tunes and swift service. Start with the naem, a fermented Thai pork sausage whose recipe Rabilwongse learned from his mom; it’s eye-wideningly spicy and sour, and pairing it with red curry–flavored crispy rice balls (and cabbage slaw) evokes crispy tuna rice while being wholly its own. The "budo-gnocchi" submerges toasted, chewy rice cakes in a luxuriously silky shimeji mushroom and Parmesan cream sauce blanketed with freshly grated black truffle, while the scallop crudo is reliably fresh and changes seasonally—the current version includes figs and a pomegranate and coconut mousse; don’t sleep on the flame-seared pressed sushi, either. The most iconic drink is Girl’s Night Out, a sweet, citrusy plum wine cocktail in an adorable animal-shaped mug—half the fun is discovering which whimsical creature you’ll get, from otters to whales to penguins—and there’s an extensive sake list to explore. Best for a birthday party (book a large patio table or the round table with a lazy Susan that foregrounds the host’s stand), a meal out with friends, or a date night that doesn’t feel too fancy but still impresses. Insider tip: save room for dessert—the soft serve’s rotating flavors are never cloying, and it arrives with a cute shovel-shaped spoon you can take home." - Kat Thompson
"Despite being located in a new apartment complex in Virgil Village, Budonoki feels like it’s been around for years. And that’s a compliment. The casual izakaya is dimly lit with exposed piping and has a sort of sticky grunginess that suits a semi-riotous birthday dinner. You’ll eat tons of delicious, shareable plates like jidori chicken oyster skewers and bowls of wagyu yakisoba. Old-school Missy and Ja Rule blast over the speakers. Someone will absolutely do a sake bomb. And by that, we mean you. It is your birthday." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"In 2023, the newly opened Los Angeles izakaya Budonoki dressed up as an Italian trattoria for Halloween and accidentally created a signature: the Budo-gnocchi. Because nobody in the kitchen wanted to make potato gnocchi from scratch, they used chewy Korean rice cakes (tteok) instead—steaming them to soften, then searing for a crisp exterior—and finished them with sautéed mushrooms, a dashi-butter pan sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Budo-gnocchi was so well received it became a permanent, comforting menu staple that pairs well with drinks; since then it has evolved into a loose template (sometimes finished with black truffle shavings or swapped for summer corn and tomatoes) and even appeared as a malai Budo-gnocchi in a collaboration with Pijja Palace, helping the restaurant earn an Eater Best New Restaurant nod in 2024." - Bettina Makalintal
"When in doubt, izakayas are a good bet for big group dinners, and Budonoki is proof. The dimly-lit spot in Virgil Village has a fun, infectious energy that hits the second you walk through the door. Groups of friends huddle around tables snacking on shareable dishes like jidori chicken oyster skewers, bowls of wagyu yakisoba, and pineapple soft serve. Old-school Missy and Ja Rule blast over the speakers. This is the kind of place you could show up to half asleep and walk out ready to book a flight to Vegas. Plan your night out accordingly." - brant cox
"At this neighborhood izakaya in Virgil Village, the energy in the dining room is so infectious you'll feel like you just hopped off a flight to Vegas. Friends crowd into dimly lit booths passing dishes like fermented Thai sausage and wagyu yakisoba. A glowing Orion beer sign casts a pink sheen over dates ordering shochu cocktails at the walk-in-only bar. Lauryn Hill and '90s Kylie blast over the speakers. We love that drinks arrive in adorable little penguin mugs, and servers will pull up a chair to discuss the restaurant’s Spotify playlist like it’s a family heirloom (it’s that good). It’s rare to find a legitimate party restaurant, let alone one with great food. Budonoki pulls off both." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park