Craft Beer Izakaya Harajuku Taproom Opens in Culver City Next Week

Harajuku Taproom opens their first U.S. location on a sleepy stretch of Culver City this Monday. The Tokyo chain made a name for itself by offering izakaya fare with craft beer, and has five locations throughout Japan.

LA resident Adam Guttentag, initiated the Los Angeles opening, working closely with longtime friend Bryan Baird, founder and owner of Baird Beer, and the original Harajuku Taproom in Tokyo. The two friends met over 30 years ago.

Mona Holmes

The menu is all about kushiyaki: grilled meat or vegetables on a skewer. Guttentag adds, “We had a great several weeks of training with the executive chef from the Tokyo Taprooms, who came over and worked with our kitchen team.” He continues, “from our traditional yakitori, and other skewers to our house-made gyoza, we believe our guests will enjoy the fresh taste and a nice variety of foods that they can have as a meal.”

Guttentag and Baird partnered with Beautify Earth and Japanese-American artist Kent Yoshimura to create the massive mural on the Taproom’s exterior. Harakuku Taproom will start with dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and expand to lunch in the coming weeks.

Harajuku Taproom
4410 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA

Mona Holmes

• A New Tokyo-Based Izakaya and Taproom Is Taking Over in Culver City [ELA]