Let’s give Gozen Bistro a rousing high-five for its outstanding service and presentation. In Japanese, “Go” means “five” and it’s the combination of good water, good sake, good meat, good seafood and good vegetables that creates the great Gozen dining experience.
From popular film and commercial director Mr. Hide, Gozen Bistrobrings to life a modern Japanese cultural experience. The all-omakase menu offers an alluring mix of Japanese ingredients and French-influenced cooking styles, and sake offerings feature curated, small-batch varieties available exclusively at Gozen Bistro.
“There is still so much more that I want to teach the world about Japanese craft and culture,” says founder Mr. Hide. “Gozen Bistro is more than just food, it’s about my culture’s love for crafting things of beauty.”
Offering indoor and open-air seating, the décor mixes past and present, with original 19th Century Japanese ukiyo-e prints lining the walls of the comfy, modern space. The serving dishes are hand-made by some of Japan’s finest master craftsmen, with some items dating back more than two centuries.
During our recent visit for dinner, we started with an elevated sake flight of perfectly recommended sakes that paired perfectly with our meal. For your dining pleasure, there are three courses to choose from. All meals begin with the same Five Good Things Starters, which include Smoked Duck with Tapenade, Egg Benedict topped with Caviar in Egg Shell, Dried Persimmon Cream Cheese Sandwich, House-made Avocado Tofu, and Cucumber and Crab Marinated in Vinegar. Each refined and delicate dish is simply divine and so very Instagram worthy.
The Hikari Course includes assorted sashimi, fried dishes, Granité (pink grapefruit), meat dish (U.S. Wagyu steak) with side dishes, rice and coup for $80.
The Hana Course, which is the same as the Hikari Course, also comes with sushi, steamed dishes, Kobe prime beef, and dessert for $160 per person.
And the Yume Course includes more sushi, Japanese noodles, and a Wagyu Katsu Sandwich as your meat offering, as well as dessert for $240 per person.
While the elevated Yume and Hana courses are pricey, they are perfect for any special occasion or celebration, while the basic Hikari Course is ideal for a fun foodie night out.
I found my dining experience at Gozen Bistro to be refined and relaxed. The service was sensational and the mood and environment was perfect for an elevated multi-course dinner. Now that’s high-five worthy.
Gozen Bistro is located at 521 N. La Cienega Boulevard. Open Tues-Sat from 5:30pm to 10:30pm and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Call 213-308-9393.
