Crane & Elephant: Authentic Japanese Comfort Food & Friendly Service in Canoga Park

This was a cute little japanese place, we enjoyed it! ^^ It had my favorite ambiance with j-pop music and cute decor. I'm a big anime fan so we loved the cute little ghibli elements and wish there was more anime decorations. Also wish there were some more TVs (maybe showing some jpop or anime videos? But the sports was fine), but the AI wallpaper art didn't bother us at all so I don't know what people are on about. I quite liked it. To start off the dining experience itself, the water wasn't tappy at all and we're usually pretty picky! And the waiting staff was very attentive and friendly which I enjoyed. Gyoza was really good deep fried even though I usually only like pan fried. Hard to describe but it gets better the more you chew. Picture only shows 4 but it comes as 6. Kara-age was much better than it looked and actually really juicy! I'm usually very critical but was pleasantly surprised. It had a thin layer of batter around very moist and well cooked chicken. My only gripe was that it left my lips feeling a little powdery from the batter so wish I had a wet towel to wipe it. For entrees: - My gf enjoyed her tonkotsu ramen. I had a bite and thought the broth was very tasty. - For myself I had the tonkatsu curry. I got it spicy and the first 4-5 bites had no spice at all to my disappointment and then BAM a wave of spice in the next bite (not a build up mind you, just that the first several bites had zero spice). Was like I was doing a russian roulette with takoyaki or something haha. The spice wasn't evenly mixed for sure, so I think either mixing it more evenly or making it more obvious that the spice is in a select area would be better so I know to mix it myself. The spice was absolutely delicious though--the flavorful type of spice I enjoy. The curry itself was naturally pretty sweet which was different and not typical curry, but I enjoyed it. Kinda wish the tonkatsu curry had the other vegetables though like carrots and potato. Think that's the only thing it was missing. Parking was easy :). We will be back! Was a fun experience, albeit a little pricy for the appetizers. Love that it's open late though so we can swing by whenever!

First time dining here! Came with my boyfriend at around 12 AM on 09/30. Hands down one of the BEST Japanese restaurants I’ve ever been to in the Valley. Service, food, and experience is unmatched. Had the chance to meet and speak with the owner as well. When you first walk in, you can already tell that so much love was put into this place. We ordered the Spicy Garlic Edamame and Calamari for appetizers, then Chicken Katsu and the Crane Special Ramen. The Crane Special Ramen is a fusion between the Tonkatsu and Shoyu broth and tasted amazing. Owner was kind enough to explain the menu and answered any questions we had. I can definitely see my boyfriend and I becoming regulars here.

Honestly, this place is so refreshing for the SFV. It’s hard to come by a spot here where the owner clearly cares about everyone’s experience, the food is great, AND it’s sparkling clean. I went around 12am expecting the service to be average since it was a little late in the day. I was surprised that our server sat us and explained the whole story of the spot with enthusiasm, gave us recommendations for our first order, and kept our waters full the whole time. Not only that, but the owner was walking around helping and asking everyone how their experiences were (even this late on a Friday). Regarding the food, I got chicken curry and added chicken katsu on the side. I liked it as much as I liked Daichan over in Studio City! Thankfully everyone on this side of the valley has a closer spot to come to how. I also got a Sweet Green Tea. For this drink, if you have a sweet tooth you will love it! Can’t wait to come back!

Good food. Good service. We ate here for late night family dinner. I got curry, but wasn't able to take a photo. So here's one of my mom's bento and my boba instead. Curry was good. Got medium, but felt it was mild. It's just a personal preference though. I still liked it.

We had such a wonderful lunch at Crane & Elephant in Canoga Park — easily one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the area. The restaurant has a clean, modern, and beautifully designed interior that feels both stylish and comfortable. From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent — friendly, attentive, and full of great information and recommendations. The owner was absolutely delightful, checking in on guests and clearly taking pride in both the food and the atmosphere. We ordered the bento boxes, which came beautifully presented with a little of everything: Beef short rib – tender, perfectly marinated, and packed with flavor. Gyoza – crisp and savory with great texture. Salmon – fresh and perfectly grilled. Crispy fried shrimp – golden, light, and delicious. Miso soup – rich and flavorful with soft tofu and seaweed. Fresh salad – crisp greens topped with a sweet, tangy dressing that tied it all together. Everything tasted freshly made and thoughtfully prepared. We finished with green tea ice cream, a smooth, refreshing end to a perfect lunch. Overall, Crane & Elephant combines beautiful décor, outstanding service, and excellent Japanese comfort food. The only small downside is the limited parking lot, but it’s absolutely worth finding a spot for the meal you’ll enjoy inside. ⭐ 5 out of 5 — highly recommend!

I’ve been driving by this spot on my way to work and saw they finally opened today, so I had to stop in. Glad I did! The menu is huge, but everything we tried was solid. The calamari was nicely battered, and the tonkatsu curry had great flavor. Super friendly staff, too. I’ll definitely be back. plus they’re doing 20% off right now for their grand opening!

I stopped by for lunch alone today and honestly had one of the nicest experiences I have had in a long time. It was my first time here and the ramen was excellent, the tempura was delicious, everything hit the spot. My server Ema was wonderful, such a sweet person, and she even introduced me to the owner, Erika, before I left. I really appreciated that, they genuinely seem excited to have you try their food!. Erika shared a little about herself and the story behind the restaurant, and she gave me some great recommendations too. You can really feel the pride and heart in this place. Ten out of ten. I will definitely be coming back for lunch.