Best Restaurants that are Worth The Drive in Whittier

We sat on the outside patio, there was a man playing guitar and singing inside, they had a speaker out side so we could still here him. He was pretty good, and it wasn't so loud we couldn't talk. The food was seriously amazing, everything we ate was so darn good, we got one of the flat breads, the dirty fries with rattlesnake sauce (or something like that), each got a steak, also got the Mac and cheese with the bacon, and a side of the bacon along with a dessert item (a cobbler). Seriously one of my favorite restaurants in Southern California, if I didn't live 45 min away I'd eat here weekly. Especially since the entire menu (besides a couple beers) is gluten free. I took a non Celiac gluten eating friend there, he was amazed that it was all gluten free, said he could not tell.

2nd time in a month dining here and it was exceptionally perfect! The Fall/Winter menu needs to be permanent though. The sea bass with Cajun shrimp is amazing. The rum/pineapple cocktail is my absolute favorite PLEASE add that to your regular menu as well! Service was excellent and quality of food was top notch!

I’m a guy who doesn’t usually write reviews. Good food and service are expected when I go for a night out. But, Azabu is a place where simply goes above and beyond expectation to give you a high-end, premium experience. It is so awesome to them in Whittier! Definitely a place to go when you want to impress a date or you have a special occasion to celebrate! Every time I come, I keep ordering different things on the menu, and I am never disappointed! The sushi is always high-end. This time I ordered the Charred octopus as an appetizer - I mean, it was SO GOOD! I’ll be ordering this again and again! Also had their delicious signature sushi roll with wagyu beef slices. It comes out with an incredible presentation, unveiled with mysterious smoke swirling around it. The wagyu is melt in your mouth, and I absolutely LOVE the subtle tinge of smokiness that is imparted to the flavors. On past visits, I have ordered Japanese beers and sake. They have some delicious high end options that you don’t get at other sushi restaurants (even really good ones). On this visit we explored several different cocktails. Every single one was smooth and well balanced. We were celebrating, right, so I was delighted to try their top level old fashioned., and yes it is actually worth the price tag! When you come here, this is not a place to skimp, it’s a place to celebrate and treat yourself to a premium experience. Don’t be afraid to try the high end items, I promise you, they will be worth it! I have to give a shout out to Christine, our server - So attentive and friendly! No five star experience is complete without staff that can make you feel relaxed, comfortable, and welcomed. At Azabu you get a super special, high-end experience without any snootiness or snobbishness that could ruin the vibe. Everything about the place is a high-end experience, from the beautiful murals on the walls to the chairs you sit on. The owners of Azabu know how to dot their I’s and cross their T’s!

We made the perfect choice for our New Years Day 2025 dinner. Ammatoli gave us an unforgetable meal and memorable service by Jennifer J. We only live less than 2 blocks away & we were always walking past, seeing the meals and taking in the aroma of the food. We decide what better day than New Years Day to stop in. We had 5:15 reservations (we were shocked that they had availability). We arrived about 5:05 and we're seated promptly at 5:15. I'm not sure of the hostesses name, but she was very friendly, welcoming and had a big smile. Walking inside, it was gorgeous. The decor and ambiance was amazing, classy yet not formal. Thank goodness because we were bundled up and warm, we wouldn't have passed for formal. We were seated in the far corner near the dessert display and the bar. Everything looked great and the seats were very comfortable. Our tabled was lightly lit, gave it a romantic feel. Again, perfect! Our waitress, Jennifer J approached, bright smile and glowing personaility. We welcomed us and as first timers went over the menu, offered a couple suggestions for drinks and promptly returned with a Mint Lemonade (OMG it was good). Great recommendation Jennifer. She gave her her personal faves as well as popular menu items. For appetizers, we chose Roasted Beets Labne (a dip of sorts similar to a hummus only more creamy). The way Jennifer described it made us want to try it, and she was on point. It had a little tartness from what I believe was a sour cream mixed with beet. It's tough to explain but try it, definitely won't be disappointed. Oh and get the fresh baked pita, delicious! We also had the Fried Cauliflower, it was so good. Came with a dipping sauce but honestly it didn't even need it, it was bursting with flavor without it. Then the main course, my wife went with a popular item the Spicy Garlic Lemon Chicken. She devoured it, nothing left on her plate, she said it was amazing. I had the Moussaka, a favorite of mine and it did not disappoint. The sauce

I have been here before and have received excellent service in the past. They were not that busy this time , yet we had to look for our server many times through out the night . Also, I had the sushi this time around it was not as fresh as times in the past. Still one of my faves from the area, but the quality did dip a bit.