Bengara

4.8 (40)

$50 and over

Japanese

806 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013-1820

Make a booking

Bengara

4.8

$50 and over

Japanese

Arts District

Make a booking

2 people

11 Nov 2026

19:00

Booked 1 time today

About this restaurant

Neighbourhood gem
Good for business meals
Charming

Bengara by Smoke Door is a Genshiyaki and binchotan-focused restaurant in the Arts District, led by Chef/Owner Tyler Burges (Saison, Angler, Michael Mina). The menu features refined, shareable dishes—from fish and prawns to eel and market-driven vegetables—prepared over binchotan using traditional Japanese techniques. Set in an upscale izakaya-style space, Bengara offers a convivial dining experience rooted in seasonality, craftsmanship, and fire-driven flavor.

Please note, we are unable to accommodate vegans or celiacs within our restaurant. If you have any specific dietary restrictions, allergies, or aversions please contact us via email at info@bengara-la.com

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese, Japanese Speciality
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:30 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:30 Sat, Sun 11:30–13:30
Contact
(213) 278-0198
Website
https://Bengara-la.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Please contact info@bengara-la.com for your next private event.
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
806 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013-1820
Area
Arts District
Cross street
Next to Kreation Juice and Loqui. <br />Cross street is Traction Ave and 3r
Parking Details
None
Additional
Beer, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

All Experiences

Tasting Menu & Beverage Pairing
US$98.00 per person
1 - 6 people
Multiple dates available
Experience a curated journey through the dishes that have become our signature favorites. This multi-course tasting menu showcases seasonal ingredients and the flavors that define Bengara, thoughtfully prepared over binchotan charcoal. Your experience also includes a beverage pairing which is meant to complement each course and enhance the progression of the experience. Please allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the experience. Participation by the entire table is required. **We are unable to accommodate any substitutions** **Please note, we are unable to accommodate celiacs and vegans within our restaurant due to trace amounts of gluten in the form of soy sauce and tamari, finned fish, and mushrooms are in our recipes and kitchen.**
$40 pp Large Party Menu
US$40.00 per person
7 - 12 people
Multiple dates available
For parties of 7 or more we are offering a light fare menu with the following items -$40 per person- This price is not including tax or gratuity Served family-style Brokaw Avocado Salad Smoked Potato Chips Crab Cream Croquette Agedashi Tomato Moromi Caesar Salad Mary's Half Chicken Hambāgu Steak Over Rice **We are unable to accommodate any substitutions** **Please note, we are unable to accommodate celiacs and vegans within our restaurant due to trace amounts of gluten in the form of soy sauce and tamari, finned fish, and mushrooms are in our recipes and kitchen.**
$60 pp Large Party Menu
US$60.00 per person
7 - 12 people
Multiple dates available
For parties of 7 or more we are offering a party menu with the following items -$60 per person - This price is not including tax or gratuity Served family-style Toyosu Carpaccio Grilled Shishito Peppers Crispy Pork Belly "Tacos" Crab Cream Croquettes Duck Breast Kobujime Mt Lassen Trout Tamamiso Eggplant Tokyo Negi Hambāgu Steak Over Rice Teuchi Citrus Soba **We are unable to accommodate any substitutions.** **Please note, we are unable to accommodate celiacs and vegans within our restaurant due to trace amounts of gluten in the form of soy sauce and tamari, finned fish, and mushrooms are in our recipes and kitchen.**

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Videos

Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.

losangelesfoodiegirl
$98 tasting menu at @bengara.la in the Arts District, including cocktail + wine pairings, wiith NA option available. Every dish was beautifully prepared and the thoughtfully curated beverage program made each course feel even more special. Really worth checking out

Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated

Brokaw Avocado CucumberUS$12.00
togarashi oil, myoga
Grilled Shishito PeppersUS$14.00
shallot vinaigrette, almonds
House Made TofuUS$18.00
ume, shirasu, kohlrabi kimchi
Smoked Potato ChipsUS$16.00
house made crème fraîche, marinated ikura
Crispy Pork Belly 'Tacos'US$16.00
mochi crepe, honey ume, daikon
Toyosu CarpaccioUS$28.00
kumquat broth, chili coffee oil
Sweet Soy Spare RibUS$21.00
sweet teriyaki
Crab Cream CroquetteUS$12.00
smoked cream, mustard leaf puree
Enoki TempuraUS$12.00
rice flour, sanbaizu
Agedashi TomatoUS$16.00
dashi tomato
Moromi Caesar SaladUS$23.00
grilled romaine, moromi miso

Genshi Grill

Duck BreastUS$25.00
sansho vinaigrette
Tiger PrawnsUS$20.00
sauce of grilled prawn shells
Miso Black CodUS$38.00
grated daikon
Uni KiritampoUS$28.00
grilled rice skewer, red miso

Binchotan Grill

Tokyo NegiUS$14.00
Japanese Leek with tare and nori
A4 WagyuUS$88.00
fresh wasabi, yuzu kosho
Tamamiso EggplantUS$17.00
tamamiso
Kobujime Ocean TroutUS$35.00
cured in kombu, house made crème fraîche
Mary's Half ChickenUS$24.00
shichimi, teriyaki
Pork ShoulderUS$40.00
house made bacon, fermented garlic
Lamb ChopUS$48.00
zaasai tapenade

Shime

Teuchi Citrus SobaUS$22.00
handmade Soba with dashi and citrus
Teuchi Uni SobaUS$35.00
handmade Soba with dashi and uni
Ebi SandoUS$32.00
shrimp, gribeche, Japanese milk bread
Chicken Katsu SandoUS$26.00
thigh meat, house made katsu sauce, shokupan
A4 Wagyu Katsu SandoUS$98.00
japanese mustard, shokupan
Hambāgu Steak Over RiceUS$27.00
japanese style hambagu, mushrooms, onion, citrus ponzu

Dessert

Sake Chocolate CakeUS$16.00
Matcha TiramisuUS$16.00
Japanese Chestnut MontblancUS$17.00
Burnt Miso Ice CreamUS$7.00
Kinako Ice CreamUS$7.00
Apple Wasabi SorbetUS$7.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Bengara.

4.8

(40)

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Downtown
Best Overall
Downtown
Best Ambience
Downtown
Neighbourhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bengara offers a "delicious" and inventive dining experience with standout dishes like pork belly tacos and sake chocolate cake. Guests rave about the "exceptional" service and "chic" atmosphere, while the "affordable tasting menu" and diverse beverage pairings make it a must-visit. Perfect for those seeking flavorful Japanese cuisine.

40 Reviews

J
Joel
Los Angeles3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 24 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food, great service, awesome vibe, good cocktails.
Is this helpful?
J
Jodi Gold
Los Angeles61 reviews
5.0
Dined on 2 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What a great restaurant! My friend and I both got the $98 fixed price dinner which was several courses of perfection. We especially loved the black cod and the pork belly tacos but everything was delicious. The price includes sakes and wines with each course or, for those like my friend who don’t drink, interesting tea blends. Dessert was sake chocolate cake. We were stuffed at the end. Outstanding service as well, with explanations of all courses and how they are prepared. We can’t wait to go back!
Is this helpful?
M
Marius Gold
Los Angeles10 reviews
5.0
Dined on 20 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I love how much cleaner and chicer this space feels compared to the previous restaurant that occupied it. The menu is easy to navigate, and the food is genuinely delicious — we were a table of 8 and never had a single bad dish, so we just kept ordering more. The presentation, plating, cleanliness and service were all spot on. We're definitely coming back!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego1 review
5.0
Dined on 6 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food for the value. All the staff were very friendly and attentive.
Is this helpful?
A
Ann Gold
Orange County104 reviews
5.0
Dined on 30 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Pleasantly and excitedly surprised & delighted. The food is both izakaya- & yakitoriya-esque. As someone raised in both the US & Japan, I LOVED it. The price point WITH beverage pairing (alcoholic & nonalcoholic options) is a phenomenal deal. Service was friendly & professional. Food was fun and delicious. As we finished, we asked ourselves, “when are we coming back?”
Is this helpful?
J
Jasmine Gold
New York City6 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
An amazing experience from start to finish. Savior made our experience seamless and was super knowledgeable about the menu. Food was outstanding and paced perfectly for the table. Will definitely be back!
Is this helpful?
R
Ryan
Orange County1 review
4.0
Dined on 20 August 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Very affordable tasting menu, inventive food, comfortable atmosphere
Is this helpful?
A
Abraham
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on 16 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Exceptional meal. Fantastic service from the whole team. A new favorite.
Is this helpful?
R
Ryan Gold
Los Angeles5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 8 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely outstanding Japanese cuisine at a very reasonable cost. It is very highly recommended, especially the tasting menu offerings.
Is this helpful?
D
Daniel Gold
Los Angeles16 reviews
5.0
Dined on 5 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My dining xp has been nothing short of amazing. The staff was so friendly, very attentive and made such a point to accommodate my party of 4. As for the food, phenomenal. Great pricing structure and the food was fantastic. I know they're a fairly new restaurant but don't hesitate to book a res and check them out.
Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese, Japanese Speciality
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:30 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:30 Sat, Sun 11:30–13:30
Contact
(213) 278-0198
Website
https://Bengara-la.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Please contact info@bengara-la.com for your next private event.
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
806 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013-1820
Area
Arts District
Cross street
Next to Kreation Juice and Loqui. <br />Cross street is Traction Ave and 3r
Parking Details
None
Additional
Beer, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

FAQs

Bengara can be surprisingly quiet, one guest noted they were just “2 of about 15 diners on a weekend night” while other nearby spots were packed, so expect calm service on some weekend evenings.

The Miso Black Cod is a recurring standout, it appears on the menu and multiple guests praise the black cod as a stellar dish.

Bengara feels like an upscale izakaya, moody, polished, and convivial, with thoughtful lighting and a minimalist, sophisticated design that many guests praise.

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, neat attire is appropriate and nothing formal is expected.

Yes, Bengara's upscale izakaya-style space, moody lighting, and tasting-menu approach make it well suited to a special evening or date night.

For a more relaxed visit, aim for an early dinner seating, guests recommend booking an early seating to avoid long waits and enjoy a smoother pace.

Yes, Bengara offers a tasting/prix-fixe experience; multiple guests praise the tasting menu and recommend it, with some noting an eight-course option that includes alcohol pairing.

Yes, Bengara has a small patio that guests have enjoyed for a more al fresco experience.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a booking

Bengara

4.8

$50 and over

Japanese

Arts District

Make a booking

2 people

11 Nov 2026

19:00

Booked 1 time today

Bengara

Make a booking

Bengara

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Tasting Menu & Beverage Pairing

$40 pp Large Party Menu

$60 pp Large Party Menu

Starters

Brokaw Avocado CucumberUS$12.00

Grilled Shishito PeppersUS$14.00

House Made TofuUS$18.00

Smoked Potato ChipsUS$16.00

Crispy Pork Belly 'Tacos'US$16.00

Toyosu CarpaccioUS$28.00

Sweet Soy Spare RibUS$21.00

Crab Cream CroquetteUS$12.00

Enoki TempuraUS$12.00

Agedashi TomatoUS$16.00

Moromi Caesar SaladUS$23.00

Genshi Grill

Duck BreastUS$25.00

Tiger PrawnsUS$20.00

Miso Black CodUS$38.00

Uni KiritampoUS$28.00

Binchotan Grill

Tokyo NegiUS$14.00

A4 WagyuUS$88.00

Tamamiso EggplantUS$17.00

Kobujime Ocean TroutUS$35.00

Mary's Half ChickenUS$24.00

Pork ShoulderUS$40.00

Lamb ChopUS$48.00

Shime

Teuchi Citrus SobaUS$22.00

Teuchi Uni SobaUS$35.00

Ebi SandoUS$32.00

Chicken Katsu SandoUS$26.00

A4 Wagyu Katsu SandoUS$98.00

Hambāgu Steak Over RiceUS$27.00

Dessert

Sake Chocolate CakeUS$16.00

Matcha TiramisuUS$16.00

Japanese Chestnut MontblancUS$17.00

Burnt Miso Ice CreamUS$7.00

Kinako Ice CreamUS$7.00

Apple Wasabi SorbetUS$7.00

Loved For

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

Flame Over: Bengara Brings a New Kind of Heat to the Arts District

At Bengara, an Ancient Grilling Technique Takes a Modern Turn

3 New Affordable Tasting Menus to Try in Los Angeles

August L.A. Food News: New Menus, Openings and Pop-Ups

Genshiyaki lands at Bengara in the Arts District

The Arts District restaurant making Japanese food you've likely never tasted before

A Pair of Angler Vets Open a New Japanese Gem in the Arts District

FAQs

When is this restaurant busiest and quietest?

What is this restaurant's stand-out or favorite dish?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

What is the dress code for Bengara?

Is this a good pick for date night?

When is the best time to go to Bengara?

Does this restaurant have any specials deals or experiences?

Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

Make a booking

Bengara

Make a booking