Oreno Yakiniku Japanese Bar-B-Cue

Imagine my enthusiasm that I am writing this review while barely finishing up my delicious dinner and amazing experience at Oreno… To say the least, they have easily won us over! It had been too long since we experienced such genuine and exceptional customer service… that alone goes a long way but to surpass that, their food was mind-​blowing. If you want a traditional, authentic Japanese cuisine experience, this is the place to go! We tried their Kobe beef sashimi (yes, raw beef – phenomenal), albacore sashimi (first time – out of the hundreds of times I’ve had sushi, I’ve tasted albacore without a fishy after-​taste), miso soup (I can’t explain how but it was deliciously different than any other I’ve had before), spider roll (huge rolls but the oil they use to fry the tempura was so incredibly fresh that it tasted amazing), edamame (perfectly salted… not too much, not too little), and spicy tuna sushi rolls (
). Even the rice was cooked to perfection! This place is as real as it gets. Authenticity guaranteed! AMAZING job guys… 10 stars & two thumbs up. We salute you!

The kimchi appetizer, the mackerel appetizer that arrived 15 minutes after our check and the chicken bowl were good and the young man who seated us and took over serving for us after everything went to hell was wonderful. And that is the end of the list of the things that are good here. The beef bowl was mostly onions and saucy, loose rice. The oyster shooter was a convoluted mashup of discordant flavors and my husband got an iced tea refill when our server carried away his glass that still had a little bit of Coke in it. In fact, she seemed confused and absent the entire time. The busboy turned out to be a fantastic server and example, so I’m sure things will be better in the future. They do take fantastic care of their tanks.

Forget the food here guys (which was amazing), the service was beyond what any restaurant has done for us. We were served our drinks quickly, they brought my friend a high chair even though she didn’t ask for one, and they even opened a side table that was folded down for our bags so they didn’t sit on the floor or get in our way of eating. They were so nice and genuinely cared about our food and happiness. And on top of that the bathrooms were SPOTLESS. Always a great sign.
We will be back for that hot sake and Asahi happy hour!

I eat yakiniku a lot; this was my first try in LA and was sorely left disappointed. You honestly could go straight downstairs to Marukai and get the same quality of meat and do it at home for a quarter of the price. For now, I guess I’ll keep hiking it to Torrance for Gyu-​Kaku.: /

Solid J-​BBQ!
It’s not your AYCE KBBQ type thing, but still a solid and reasonably affordable option if you go during happy hour. Straight up legit. $ 2 beers and discounted menu items? I’m in. And so were a few buddies. For about $ 30 a head, we polished off about 40 beers and almost all of the grilled meat options on the menu between five hungry men.
We passed on the liver, but were a-​go on the chicken, large intestine, pork and beef cuts. All of which were pretty stellar in their own right. Throw in the veggies and you get a pretty round about meal.
Happy hour runs from 5:30 — 7pm, great service and definite recommend, even if you can’t make it for their happy hours specials.

After the war to end all wars, the war, and then the conflict, Korean BBQ made its way into Japan. Note how most pre-1900’s Japanese recipes do not use garlic nor chili (similar to tomatoes, potatoes, and arugula they didn’t really grow there at the time. And there’s a practical thing related to religion and smelly breath in close quarters that has to do with many other odiferous food items in Japan)
Yakiniku in Japan is KBBQ. Japan, being Japan, there’s not much AYCE as a general concept. Most restaurants simply offer the best they can afford to produce. Actually, as it made its way here in the early 60’s via Hawaiian Tiki restaurants, you’d see some odd variation served on Hibachi charcoal grills that was somewhere between Yakitori (skewered meats prepared professionally) versus Yakiniku (which in Japan, you often do have a server who grills for you, similar to how shabu-​shabu there often finds a server swishing your meat for you.) But we’re here in the US, and people seem to find it novel to cook their own things, so that’s what it has become here.
While Japanese people like many of the imported food cuisines, their tolerance for spiciness and heat seems more muted — hence why Indian curries became the relatively milder versions in Japan cuisine, and similarly Korean gochujang in Japan is pretty much the Mild versions we can buy at any K-​town supermarket.
End of history to this place — part of the growing Bishamon group, it started in 2011 as another experiment, got a bunch of things wrong, tightened up its ropes and now is pretty much on-​course. That puts it somewhere below Anjin and Tsuruhashi (similar quality meats, but a little better butchering consistency, presentation, and grills on iron with binchotan charcoal) and a lttle above Manpuku (which also uses the same iron grills and some charcoal, but lesser quality meats in general). Here they use stainless grills with gas, so getting any kind of char is pretty hard to control. (that’s the –1 star)
Yukke Raw Beef (tartare, Yukhoe, Yook Hwe.) is a good test of basic quality since without cooking, any beef shows at its best and worst nature. Here it’s spot-​on tasty, tender, and as it should be, with a raw quail egg, and a few daikon radish sprouts. (Tsuruhashi includes yamaimo to give it that nuru /​slippery quality)
All the beef cuts were fine, well-​marbled and tender — and yes, Japanese prefer their slices thinner than in Korea and China. Both kinds of tongue are great, the Angus version being slightly more tender, whereas the Kobe seems thicker. Hard to judge consistency because ordering 2 of the same item at different times produced different cuts of the same meat (lots of differences in thickness and size — which means hand-​cut, but not presentation-​managed)
The banchan sides are fine — though, unless you’re ordering the AYCE cabbage/​kimchee salads, they are per serving priced, and the variety will be fewer than the dozens at a KBBQ. But they usually don’t serve donburi’s and udon at a KBBQ.
While the other dishes are good, you could also restaurant hop and go downstairs for your curry fix, over to 1^st for your noodle fix, and they just opened a Taiwanese fluff ice place next to Marukai, and even skewer a few over at Kokkekoko.
They could be more professional with their menus — which seem assembled from a vast array of odd compilations from various sources. The website currently only shows the Happy Hour specials menu items (which actually were all great quality, even at a discount), but as others have mentioned, I think their set course selections are actually well-​priced and offer some of their best at a packaged price. Pick and choose, and you’ve probably gone $$ to $$$.
Their service is kind and well-​meaning, but a bit on the sporadic side. Part of the reason is the location, which gets frequented by after-​schoolers and the cosplay crowds on weekends, and that’s where so many of the places have included (must order something here to get a happy hour discount price) type rules. (a –½ star at times)
A final note about KBBQ meat quality — the good stuff is out there, but it won’t be AYCE, and it will be priced accordingly, as it should. (see Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong for an example) So just as all KBBQ’s don’t serve cheap cuts, we wouldn’t compare sushi at Edokko with Honda-​ya. Generalizations, are just that.
It’s 3^rd floor Weller Court with Weller parking available off of 2^nd with 2-​hour max. validation (no longer 4-​hours since the other lots turned condo and apartments.) if you stay the day in Little Tokyo, use any of the fixed rate options (from $ 5 – 10 per day) since it’s all in a 4-​block radius.

激ウマ〜!
This yakitori restaurant is absolutely phenomenal. The service is great! Everyone is so attentive — you won’t ever have to ask for them to refill your drinks.
The prices are great for the amount of food that’s given.
If you’re in little Tokyo, definitely stop by!

Great hidden gem in the middle of Little Tokyo on the 3^rd floor of Weller Court. Best Japanese BBQ comparable to Anjin in Costa Mesa. Quality meats and you have to try the free range chicken.
For a value deal, choose the Lunch Special Combo B and for dinner, choose one of the prepared sets of meat. Enjoy the full selections of Japanese beers and sake.

I read the prior reviews and decided to give it a shot with a friend. Found parking across the street for $ 6 on Sunday at around noon. Had a lot of choices but went with the two person special and, both hot and cold, house sake. Was not disappointed. The picture for this food selection was a lot smaller than the actual serving. We were stuffed!
We left ordering food to go for our significant others. Will definitely come back!

Love the Japanese BBQ, there is so much to try and taste here! The free range chicken (lightly salted) is some of the best you’ll ever have. High quality meats, large drink selection. Save money by going with one of the package deals that includes soft drinks and a dessert!
Only negative, is that they aren’t open for lunch on weekends, which is when my wife and I are available. :(

Awesome place at a great price compared to the competition. We had several different plates between my family. Our favorite was the Kobe beef and chicken which both had phenomenal flavor.
The staff was also amazing. Very quick to help and got refills and removed empty plates without us having to ask.
They also have some amazing saltwater aquariums that are simply breathtaking. Very nice touch to the décor.
We will definitely be back regularly, this place is the best. Absolutely not a single bad thing to say about this place, our experience was perfect.

We ordered california rolls, fried chicken plate, the steak with curry and the katsu curry. The chicken was a bit fatty and was not that great, I didn’t try any however was told that the curry tasted more like Indian curry, (no picture). Perhaps next time I will try the bbq and will be better.

Best place ever!
Love you guys!
$ 1 beer on happy hour every night 8 – 9.
Great cuts of meat and good prices!

Anybody who gave this place less than four stars either came on a bad day, doesn’t understand Japanese bbq, or is just flat out annoying. Possibly all three.
This is Japanese barbecue, people. It’s not Korean barbecue. It’s a whole other animal. If you go in expecting Korean, you will be disappointed. I, personally, prefer Japanese barbecue way way above Korean barbecue. The flavor is in the high quality meat and not covered with some thick sugary sauce. The meat is more tender and less chewy, and the sides are much more delicious.
This place was very true to Japanese barbecue. They had all of the dishes you would expect at a Japanese barbecue place. Cuts of meat were high quality and very tasty. We loved everything we ordered. We had the short rib, the ribeye (both of which were on the steak plate), two different kinds of kobe, bibimbap, a beef stew, shishito peppers, and a spicy tuna roll. The steak plate has two selections of meat, and comes with kimchi, white rice, salad, some tofu dish, mixed vegetables, and soup. You get a lot of food for what you pay for. The food was delicious and when the bill came we were shocked that it was so low. My friend and I ate 14 different things (and got two salads) and we only paid $ 50 a person, including a 20% tip. $ 50 may seem like a lot, but when you eat as much as we did, you would expect to spend a whole lot more than that.
As for the service, it was perfect. Not just good, actually perfect. Our water glasses never got completely empty before the guy would run over to refill them. We were greeted with a smile from the moment we walked in and every time the waiter or waitress came to our table. They were very friendly, very helpful, very willing to answer any of our questions since it was our first time. If we left any trash on the table, they picked it up immediately. It is a very clean place and the servers and staff treat you with respect and are very attentive. And they’re all so sweet and happy! I really don’t know what everybody else is talking about in terms of service. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I will definitely be a regular here. I’m excited to have found it. I’d recommend it to anybody who likes Japanese barbecue or just appreciates good food. Or just loves beef. You’ll love it.

It costs about up to 50bucks if u wanna enjoy BBQ stuffs, but their plates and meals are good deal. Tastes much better than other BBQ restaurant. The thing is one of the server doesn’t speak well English, probably she’s an international student… We’ll be back anyway.

I had to try this spot out as I really wanted a Yakiniku Japanese BBQ spot close to home. Despite all the negativity that’s been written about this joint, I still decided to take my lady here for her first Japanese BBQ experience. I’m stoked to say it went well. The food was flavorful and pleasing to the pallet. Service was up to par. Prices we’re within reason.
The menu item for two was a little excessive as far as amount of food you get. I suggest the Kobe Beef Harami. Order small to start and increment the meat options as your appetite allows. The cabbage salad is great as well!

Wow! The quality of meat here blew me away. This is Yakiniku, which basically means «grilled meat» and is the Japanese version of Korean BBQ. Coincidentally, I just happened to have gone to an All You Can Eat Korean BBQ place the night before, so I didn’t think I’d be eating all that much from another grill at your table place. But the meat here is so tender and delicious that I couldn’t help myself.
This place gets props first of all for having happy hour last until 8pm. Not only do they have 99 cent beer (usually $ 5.50), but also really good food and sake deals as well. We ordered the karaage (fried chicken) off the happy hour as well. I let my friends do the ordering as they knew what to get, so I don’t know exactly what types of beef we ate, but it was really good. The memorial standout? Kobe style beef tongue sashimi.
Yes, that’s right! Raw beef tongue. Really amazing, I thought it was tuna because of the color and it was sashimi. But once I tried it, I thought that it was the most high quality tuna I had ever tasted because it had no fish taste. My friends laughed and corrected me, telling me it was beef tongue. Raw beef tongue. I was really blown away. Whaaat? We actually ordered 2 more orders after that. ($ 9 each)
The rest of the night was a blur, with dishes coming and going, full of pork and beef. Also the coleslaw, which was addictive — the dressing, not necessarily the cabbage itself. But it was AYCE too, and so we must’ve ordered 5 bowl fulls which they always promptly brought out.
Service was excellent, we left very full and satisfied. The restaurant is located on the 2^nd floor of the Astronaut Shopping Center. Give it a try! Don’t know why it has such low ratings on Unilocal

Stumbled into this place because the WAITER in Kushi Shabu was a DOUCHE. VERY RUDE and has a face only a mother can love. Now I’m NOT a dick so I don’t usually make fun of those who weren’t bless with good looks but if you’re as ugly on the inside as you are on the outside then FU! We ended up walking out!
Luckily the smell of the delicious barbecue oozing out of ORENO YAKINIKU guided us in and we found a suitable replacement for Kushi Shabu.
This place is basically like KBBQ (you grill your own meat) but Japanese inspired. It’s also not AYCE and like any other BBQ spot, be prepared to smell a bit.
Oreno has good quality meats that are marinated really well and its reasonably priced. Service is fast and friendly and the ambiance is very casual.
They also have HH until 7:30pm — Draft beers for $ 1, $ 4 house sake, which was surprisingly smooth, $ 2 wines, and some discounts on the meats.
Damage for 4 was about $ 140 and we were all stuffed silly and very boozed!
BTW, it’s located on the 3^rd floor of the plaza!

After a long day at little tokyo, my sisters and I decided to give this place a try for its happy hour special. As soon as we walked in the restaurant, we were greeted friendly and taken to a table. The restaurant was clean and has a modern yet cultural décor. Our server was nice and attentive (and hot!).
My sisters and I ordered kobe tongue, pork belly, jidori w/​miso (miso chicken), and kobe boneless short ribs for bbq. We also ordered the pork udon pot, which was $ 8.50 and came in a huge stone pot. The BBQ was fine – the meat was tender and the miso chicken tasted great. The pork udon was actually the dish that wowed me away though. The broth was very rich with a hint of fish and the pork tasted very interesting. It was chewy but tender at the same time. After a few chews the fat of the meat kind of melts in your mouth. I don’t really know how to describe the texture of the pork, but it tasted awesome.
If you order BBQ dishes only then this place could be a bit pricy to get a full belly. But if you order some BBQ dishes and a big stone pot of udon (under $ 10), you will definitely leave this place full and satisfied! Give their udon a try!

My friend and I walked to this plaza, and we had wanted to try something new but there wasn’t much around. We stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try.
We both ordered bibimbaps (mixed rice), but I ordered mine in a stone pot and she didn’t. Our orders came with a drink, small salad, and ice cream for dessert and they were only about $ 10 each!
For drinks, you grab your own at the soda fountain. Do yourself a favor and bring your own water. All of the drinks tasted pretty bad. My friend tried the sierra mist and the coke and had to dump both out because they tasted funny! I tried the green tea, but it tasted awful, and so did the regular ice tea. Luckily my friend had a bottle of water, so we shared hers.
The bibimbap looked and tasted pretty good, aside from that fact that it was way too salty. That one bottle of water was almost not enough for me! If it had less salt, I would’ve liked it actually.
The servers were friendly, but scarcely there. At the end of our meal, we were waiting for our dessert/​bill, and the waitresses never came by. We later saw a few of them by the door talking, and we gave them ~15 minutes to notice us, but they didn’t. Eventually, we just went up to them ourselves to get the bill.
I think this place has potential, but for now, I say it needs a little more work.