Jyokamachi Japanese Restaurant

Jyokamachi is CLOSED. I called their phone # and received a «I’m sorry, the number you dialed is no longer in service» message. I also confirmed that Jokamachi is closed when I talked to the concierge at the Bonaventure Hotel, in which Joykamachi was located.

NEVER EVER TRY TO COME TO THIS PLACE EVER! OR YOU WILL REGRET!!!
We have the most horrible experience tonight!
First of all, when we sit down we ask for 2 hot tea, (I thought if they charge for tea, maybe Max 2.5USD per cup, BUT!!! you wont believe it! they charge 2 tea for 10 DOLLAR!) this is the most expensive «tea bag water» i ever had.
These are what we ordered for tonight (a beautiful night got rip off)
hot tea 4.99×2 (they didnt write the price on the menu)
chicken + some veg 28.00
NY steak + 3 shrimp + some veg 48.00
fried rice 6.50
Two of us sat in the restaurant, as soon as they cooked the food, then they bring the bill to you.
After all, we have to quickly finish our dinner in 30 mins and pay about 120: USD!!! (they automatically add on 18% tips)
They use the same kind of seasoning and sauce for every thing. they all taste sucks.
PLEASE DONT GO THERE EVER, I AM SO MAD OF MYSELF BY GOING THERE. WUT A NITEMAIRE!

Teppan style Japanese food. I have to say this place has one thing I come for and that’s the Shrimp Yaki Yaki. Haven’t been able to find this dish anywhere else. Its shrimp cooked on the teppan with a rich creamy sauce. Very tasty. Aside from that the services is just blah. The one Teppan chef that I really enjoyed chatting it up with is no longer there. The chef that is currently working there gives off an energy that is blah blah blah. Like he is forcing a smile. Pricey for the quantity of food and unpleasant service.

the food wasn’t too shabby at all, but then, i did have the kobe beef ramen (the most expensive thing on the menu but hey, what’s an expense account for?). service wasn’t too awful. ambience was, well, meh. i wouldn’t eat sushi here because, as you KNOW, i am a Sushi Snob and refuse to eat anywhere that doesn’t have a Japanese sushi chef (takes one to know one, so forgive me!). if i could give it 3.5 stars, i would…

i had the unfortunate occasion to stumble into this restaurant since it was convenient (was staying at the westin bonaventure and it’s located inside on the 6^th floor)
this pertains to the sushi bar, as i haven’t really seen the full menu:
2* for the food (it was okay, nothing wow)
1* for the value (better hope you’re expensing it)
i rounded down to 1, just because i really love to come to LA to eat, and this was really disappointing… wasted stomach space!
the food as was normal, nothing was bad, nothing was great, just your average sushi place… however, we had some edamame, and there was some really weird stuff at the bottom of the dish holding the edamame, so i’m deducting a * for the food it was like a strange thick consistency… with no/​slight pasty taste… if i were to guess, maybe wet baking soda or something,
value wise is terrible, one of the worst deals i ever had, i think we (2 of us) just shared 4 rolls (spider, fire dragon, spicy salmon, spicy scallop), edamame, green tea, and when all was said and done it came out to about $ 82 with tax, but before tip
$ 22 for a spider roll (5 pcs) ! $ 20+ for a dragon roll?! i understand there’s a premium to pay for being in a hotel, but yikessssss…
if you’re staying in the westin (the ONLY reason to even consider eating here) and craving sushi, do yourself a favor and please walk or take a cab to little tokyo! your wallet will thank you… any restaurant there probably can do as good if not better for significantly less $… sushi gen comes to mind, probably the best traditional sushi place in little tokyo.

Staying at the Westin here, I was in the mood for sushi. I got a large Sapporo, order of Rainbow Rolls, and 2 pc. tuna sashimi. Total cost: $ 50. Not a great deal. Rolls were pretty good. The sashimi, while generous portions of fish, had a chemical taste to them which I assume was some preservative. Sushi chef disappeared for long period of time. Service was bad in that no one came to ask if I wanted another beer. Place was pretty depressing in ambiance, partially not their fault, but the fault of the Bonerventure in general.

Do not eat here. Our «chef» made a call on his cell phone (that was in his shirt pocket) while he was cooking our food. He did the «head tilt», holding the cell phone while continuing to cook. after he did that, he left our food cooking on the grill and went to take the order from another table. came back and continued cooking.
We ordered cokes, which were obviously from the bar (the kind that are in syrup and mixed with carbonated water) because they were quite flat and not fresh tasting. and as other people said, the food was quite salty, so we finished our soda and asked for refills, he brought out cans of soda. at first I was like, «oh, that’s nice, a fresh can of coke.» then i saw the bill. four charges of $ 2.99 each for coke. nasty food, bad service. damn, never going there again.

First (and last) night at the Bonaventure hotel where my summer 2007 tour began. Hungry and tired, I wander around the lobby floors and see what there is to eat. I’m left with three options.
1. Teppan
2. Chinese
3. Subway
Teppan it is. I walk in and I feel as though I’ve just been thrown into the bowels of Hell.
HOT!!!
I felt sorry for the chefs.
Ok. Yeah I know it’s a teppan joint and yeah I know it’s supposed to be kinda warm, but I was dripping sweat down my back and the backs of my legs were soaked in sweat. I could not enjoy my food.
Not that I would enjoy the food anyway if the temperature were set properly.
I obviously went into the Teppan side and not the sushi side. I wonder if my review would be different. *shrug*
Nothing special. The chef I got was fairly engaging, but nothing to write home about. The food was blah and the price was on par with a restaurant that may be worth my time (to risk sounding like a snob).
I’m sorry but I did not like this place at all and I will not return nor will I recommend. Maybe if I’m in the area and feeling generous, I’ll venture in and try to restaurant side and avoid the Teppan and give an update (to be fair), but for now it’s not something I’m too invested in doing.

Nothing flashy about this place. The chef was so lazy, he did not even make us the steam volcano with our fried rice. In fact, our grill was «broken,» so he ended up cooking our food on another table. (Mind you, on a table that was occupied by other customers.)
The fried rice was a bit salty. The chicken was dry. The dipping sauces were discolored from sitting around too long.
The décor is dark and old. My clothes were stuck on the chair and felt greasy. I will probably not go back in a while. At least until I see more positive reviews.

*****UPDATED****
I’ve been here a gazillion times since my first review in January and while the Shabu shabu has been consistently great, the service just absolutely sucks! The manager/​host guy is rude in manner, speech and appearance. He is ineffecient, insincere and incompetent. It’s almost as though he takes pleasure in creating a displeasurable dinning experience. He’ll begrudge you an extra side of green onions with your meal. Charge you extra for something you could get on the lunch menu for less, without letting you know that you could be getting a better deal — a little petty and malicious i think. And to highlight, when I tried to split the check on 2 credit cards once, he ended up just charging my for the total, denying that we gave him a second card, and then when he realized the mistake, he NEVER apologized.
I would and have come here b/​c the food is that good but now, he’s broken me and I have to boycott and kiss this place goodbye — all due to his consistent but utterly unimpressive, unwelcoming, inhospitable service. (btw — one star b/​c the shabu shabu is still good and since i can’t give anything less than 1. everything else medicore, and if it wasn’t abundantly clear, his service was pathetic.)
*****
Surprise surprise — a GREAT shabu shabu house without trekking down to the Japanese Village and waiting over an hour. This treasure is clean, spacious and near quite most times (except on peak downtown lunch hours).
The service is not exceptional but is better then what you’d expect for a small operation in a big hotel. This restaurant also features a sushi bar with «roll specials» during lunch time. It’s neither a quick or cheap meal with the average cost ranging from $ 12 — $ 17 for lunch, but it’s a relaxing refuge from the usual downtown fair.
I’ve eaten here twice this week and the quality of the meat and vegetables they give you for shabu shabu is well worth the price. Not to mention that the portions keep you very full but since it’s extremely healthy to eat, you don’t feel like an overs-​stuffed cow.
try it, especially on these cold and gloomy winter days.