WHY Because sushi masters are judged by their rice. WHAT ‘No cooked stuff’ warns a hand-scribbled notice at this no-frills Tokyo-style sushi restaurant in a generic West L.A. strip mall. They’re not kidding—there’s no edamame, no California rolls, no attitude. Just Hitoshi Kataoka’s glistening, warm sushi rice topped with supremely fresh fish, plus a simple [...]
January 18, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Because the chefs are impeccable, the fish is fresh, and the location is…neither of those. WHAT Smooshed in a sleazy Hollywood strip mall, Sushi Ike is not a place to go for a posh night of extravagant nigiri and imported sake. This place is all about the fish, so if you’re into molecular gastronomy [...]
September 21, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY High-quality sushi that’s a bargain at lunch—the $11.50 special gets you miso soup, five pieces of sushi and a blue-crab hand roll; many regulars opt for the chirashi sushi box for $17. WHAT Owned by a pioneering family who started the second sushi bar in the U.S. and has been running restaurants in Little [...]
August 9, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY At the time of this writing, über-sushi-chef Katsuya Uechi is not only in the house; he’s preparing omakase in the small sushi bar at the back. WHAT After Katsu Michite closed Tama to open Katsu Sushi in Beverly Hills, Uechi took over the old space, notwithstanding the fact that he has the perennially popular [...]
July 27, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY To savor impeccably fresh sushi and terrific rolls. WHAT A sophisticated hideaway in upscale Toluca Lake, Sushi Yuzu boasts a loyal following of diners who appreciate top-quality seafood and creative flavor combinations. The specials list is a treasure-trove of temptations, from cold and hot appetizers, to nigiri sushi made with warm rice, to exquisitely [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Takeout or eat-in sushi from the ‘Sushi Nazi’ Kazunori Nozawa of Sushi Nozawa in Studio City—without the high price tag or quite the same creative combinations. The Marina location has curbside service for people hustling to catch a plane. WHAT Nozawa has traded his omakase at the flagship restaurant for pre-set ‘Trust Me’ combinations [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Yes, Virginia, there is good sushi in the West Valley. WHAT Located in affluent, restaurant-hungry Woodland Hills, this place has a menu rich with cooked Japanese specialties such as tempura, teriyaki and grilled seafood, as well as sushi, sashimi and a variety of creative cut rolls. Regulars rave about the lunch combo specials, but [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY High-quality sushi and regional specialties served in an intimate setting. WHAT Step inside this curbside sushi joint on a Friday night and you’ll be transported to a bustling Manhattan hot spot with its shotgun interior, cozy booths and frantically busy staff delivering quality sushi with a few unexpected surprises (think black pig sausage from [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY For surprisingly good kaiten (conveyor-belt) sushi at exceptionally low prices, and a fun, Jetsons-in-2012 setting. WHAT Sleek, chic and more modern than an Austin Powers movie set, Fat Fish is a Koreatown hot spot even though it lacks that critical liquor license. Sushi floats past you on a conveyor belt, a gimmick to be [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Pasadena’s best izakaya: fish cake tempura, an incredible poke salad, the Oba roll with cucumber, avocado, jalapeño and paper-thin beef, and carefully prepared sushi and sashimi, notably the organic farm-raised hamachi. WHAT Pasadena’s newest Japanese is one of its best—and with a Mexican sushi chef, no less. The strip-mall space has held a few [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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