Restaurant in Los Angeles, United States

Kinjiro

Name: Kinjiro
Address: 424 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Los Angeles, US
Telephone: (213) 229-8200

250Pearl Points

OAD Top 200. Book midweek, arrive hungry.

About Kinjiro

Kinjiro is a chef-led Japanese dinner spot in Little Tokyo, ranked #199 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and holding. Open Wednesday through Saturday until 10 PM only, it suits special occasion dinners and late weeknight meals where you want serious Japanese cooking without committing to a full omakase format. Book one to two weeks ahead for weekends.

Verdict: A strong case for a late dinner in Little Tokyo

Kinjiro doesn't publish its prices prominently, which tells you something: this is a neighbourhood Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo that earns its reputation through consistency rather than spectacle. Chef Yoshikazu Kondo runs a focused dinner-only operation at 424 E 2nd St, open Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 PM. If you want a serious Japanese dinner that doesn't require the theatre of an omakase tasting menu, book here.

The Portrait

Kinjiro operates on the kind of schedule that rewards planners. Wednesday through Saturday, 5:30 to 10 PM only. No lunch service. No Sunday brunch option. No walk-in culture that you can rely on. The address puts you in the heart of Little Tokyo, a neighbourhood with enough Japanese dining competition to make every seat earned. Kinjiro has earned its seats: the OAD ranking climb from Highly Recommended in 2023 to #199 in North America in 2025 reflects a restaurant getting better, not coasting.

For a special occasion dinner or a date night where you want substance over scenery, Kinjiro fits well. The format is dinner-only Japanese, which in this context means you are not arriving to a conveyor belt or a raucous izakaya. The closing hour of 10 PM makes this a genuine late-dinner option by Los Angeles standards, particularly midweek when the broader Little Tokyo restaurant scene thins out after 9 PM. If your evening starts late or runs long, Kinjiro's hours give you breathing room that more rigid tasting-menu formats at places like Hayato or n/naka simply do not allow.

The OAD recognition is worth taking seriously as a trust signal. Opinionated About Dining draws on a network of experienced diners rather than anonymous crowd-sourcing, a jump of 17 places in a single year suggests the kitchen is in good form right now. Chef Kondo's name is attached to the record, giving the kitchen a clear point of accountability. For context on how that positions Kinjiro within a global Japanese dining reference frame, consider that the OAD list places it alongside restaurants competing in the same tier as Myojaku and Azabu Kadowaki in Tokyo — serious company.

The 10 PM close also matters practically. Little Tokyo is not a neighbourhood with many options for a proper dinner after 9:30 PM. Bar Sawa and Hinoki & The Bird serve different formats and different parts of the city. If you are already in the area and want a kitchen that is still firing at 9 PM midweek, Kinjiro is one of the few credible answers. The 5:30 PM opening also suits early diners who want the kitchen at its freshest before the room fills.

For the broader Los Angeles Japanese category, Kinjiro sits in a tier below the full omakase commitments (Hayato, n/naka) but above the volume izakayas. It is closer to 715 in spirit: a chef-led Japanese restaurant that rewards regular visits and doesn't require you to clear your evening for a three-hour tasting sequence. If you are coming from outside the neighbourhood, it is worth anchoring the evening here and exploring Los Angeles bars nearby before or after. The 10 PM close gives you options either way.

One practical note: Tuesday and Sunday are closed. If your visit window is narrow, Wednesday or Thursday evenings tend to be the most accessible booking days for restaurants at this recognition level. Friday and Saturday will fill faster given the OAD profile. Plan accordingly.

Quick reference: Dinner only, Wed–Sat 5:30–10 PM, 424 E 2nd St, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Booking recommended.

Ratings & Recognition

Opinionated About Dining — Leading Restaurants in North America: #199 (2025), #216 (2024), Highly Recommended (2023)
Opinionated About Dining, Gourmet Casual Dining in North America: #78 (2023)
4.7

Booking

Booking difficulty is rated Easy, but that assessment applies to midweek windows. Given the OAD climb to #199 in North America and a 10 PM close that makes Kinjiro a destination rather than a fallback, Friday and Saturday evenings will tighten. Aim to book at least one to two weeks ahead for weekend slots. For a Wednesday or Thursday dinner, a few days' notice should suffice. No phone number or booking platform is listed in available data, so check the restaurant directly or search current reservation platforms for live availability. Closed Tuesday and Sunday.

Practical Details

Kinjiro is at 424 E 2nd St in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Hours run Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 5:30 to 10 PM. Closed Tuesday and Sunday. No lunch service. Price range is not published in available data; given the OAD Top 200 ranking and Japanese dinner format, budget for a mid-to-upper tier dinner spend and verify current pricing directly. For everything else happening in the area, see our full Los Angeles restaurants guide, our full Los Angeles hotels guide, our full Los Angeles experiences guide, and our full Los Angeles wineries guide.

Quick reference: 424 E 2nd St, Little Tokyo, LA. Wed–Sat 5:30–10 PM. Closed Tue & Sun. Booking recommended 1–2 weeks out for weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kinjiro good for solo dining?

Yes, solo diners are well-suited to Kinjiro's format. A dinner-only Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo with a focused schedule tends to favour counter seating, which works naturally for one. OAD's #199 North America ranking signals serious cooking rather than a scene, so solo visits get the full experience without feeling out of place.

Can I eat at the bar at Kinjiro?

Bar or counter availability isn't confirmed in available venue data, but given Kinjiro's neighbourhood Japanese format and dinner-only operation, counter seating is common in restaurants of this type and scale. Confirm directly when booking.

What should I wear to Kinjiro?

Nothing in the venue record specifies a dress code. For a dinner-only Japanese restaurant ranked #199 in North America by OAD, clean and considered is a safe read — not a suit, but not a cap and trainers either. Little Tokyo's dining culture generally runs relaxed but intentional.

Is lunch or dinner better at Kinjiro?

Kinjiro only serves dinner, Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 PM. There is no lunch service, so the question doesn't apply — plan accordingly and note that Tuesday and Sunday are closed.

What should a first-timer know about Kinjiro?

Kinjiro runs a tight schedule: dinner only, four nights a week, with a 10 PM close. Chef Yoshikazu Kondo's kitchen has climbed from OAD Highly Recommended in 2023 to #199 in North America in 2025, meaning demand has grown faster than the room has. Book ahead, arrive on time, don't expect a walk-in on a Friday.

Does Kinjiro handle dietary restrictions?

Dietary accommodation details aren't in the venue record. For a Japanese restaurant operating at this level, calling ahead is always the right move — restrictions like shellfish allergies or vegetarian requirements are easier to handle with notice than on arrival.

How far ahead should I book Kinjiro?

Book at least two to three weeks out, especially for Friday or Saturday. Kinjiro's OAD ranking jumped from #216 to #199 in North America between 2024 and 2025, with only four service nights per week, available slots fill quickly. Midweek windows are easier to secure on shorter notice.

Location

424 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Los Angeles, United States

Compare Kinjiro

Kinjiro Side-by-Side

Venue	Cuisine	Awards	Booking Difficulty
Kinjiro	Japanese		Easy
Kato	New Taiwanese, Asian	Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown
Hayato	Japanese	Michelin 2 Star	Unknown
Vespertine	Progressive, Contemporary	Michelin 2 Star	Unknown
Camphor	French-Asian, French	Michelin 1 Star	Unknown
Gwen	New American, Steakhouse	Michelin 1 Star	Unknown

Comparing your options in Los Angeles for this tier.

Also Consider

Kato, New Taiwanese, Asian, $$$$
Hayato, Japanese, $$$$
Vespertine, Progressive, Contemporary, $$$$
Camphor, French-Asian, French, $$$$
Gwen, New American, Steakhouse, $$$$

How Kinjiro Compares

Among Los Angeles Japanese restaurants, Kinjiro sits in a distinct tier: above high-volume izakayas but below the full-commitment omakase rooms. Hayato and n/naka both demand more of your evening, more of your budget, significantly more lead time to book. If you want a serious Japanese dinner without locking into a multi-hour tasting sequence, Kinjiro is the more practical call. Its OAD #199 North America ranking in 2025 confirms the kitchen is operating at a recognised level, not just coasting on neighbourhood goodwill.

Against the broader $$$$ Los Angeles field, Kinjiro competes differently than Kato, Camphor, or Vespertine, all of which offer more theatrical or fusion-forward formats. Kato is the better choice if New Taiwanese tasting menus interest you; Camphor if you want French-Asian technique in a livelier room. Vespertine is a full-evening performance at the highest price point in the city, a different proposition entirely. Kinjiro's comparative strength is focus: Japanese cooking, dinner format, no conceptual detours.

Gwen is the obvious alternative for a celebration or date night in a different direction: a meat-forward steakhouse with a striking room, better suited if the group skews toward New American rather than Japanese. For special occasions where the cuisine matters as much as the setting, Kinjiro and Hayato are the two most credible Japanese choices in Los Angeles right now, with Kinjiro being the easier booking and the less expensive commitment of the two.