After bombing a midterm, I decided that I needed some sashimi. Taking a friend's recommendation, the school BFF and I decided to come here. Looking at the rundown exterior of the plaza, we were pleasantly surprised by the modern interior. I noticed that they had omakase, which the waitress quoted to be $47 for that day, but I really wanted some chirashi. Unfortunately, they only serve nigiri and some special hand rolls. We ordered various fish (albacore, salmon, scallop, yellowtail, barracuda, and eel), but only the albacore really stood out. The blue crab roll and stuffed squid specials are definitely overrated. The rice is warm and slightly sweet, which I didn't mind. Surprisingly, I also didn't mind the wasabi. Normally, I absolutely hate wasabi but theirs was milder and I didn't hate it as much. Their selection of cold sakes were uber expensive, so I settled for a less pricey fizzy version. It was more like a dessert drink; it was much too sweet to have with dinner. In the end, we still paid about $45 a person and I couldn't help but be annoyed by the waitress constantly hovering over us. IMHO, not really worth it. In hindsight, looks like lunch would have been a better deal. Look at me, being useful and shit. read more

So I've been coming to Echigo for at least 10 years... I guess it's finally time to review it. So my history with Echigo starts with my original love for Sasabune. Sasabune was in this really crappy adobo shack on Sawtelle with crappy white plastic chairs, but it was so difficult to get a seat at times and the whole parking situation on Sawtelle made it such a pain to go to. We heard rumor that one of the chefs from Sasabune went off to open his own sushi establishment on Santa Monica Blvd, and we rushed there as soon as we could. The prices were actually _cheaper_ (!!), the quality was the same, the place was basically always empty, parking was sort of easy. And thus, Echigo became my new goto sushi place. We typically get the omakase at the sushi bar, and this trip was honestly a little surprising in how busy it was. I think my hidden gem of a sushi bar is no longer a hidden gem. Which is great for them, I'd hate to see them ever go. From going to Hide in the early 90's to hitting Echigo in the early 2000's, I'm glad that my sushi staples are all still around. Anyways, back to the review, I'm sorry I forgot exactly what order the fish came in, but it ended on the signature blue crab handroll. It was only $48/pp which was great honestly. The sushi chef was working pretty hard. I believe he was the only person working the bar for the entire pretty busy restaurant, but he did have a helper doing garnish to speed things up. It made for a pretty non-chatty experience, but it's fine, the food did all the talking. Love this place. read more

"This is some of the best sushi in LA, period." "Several years ago, I fell in love and started an affair that changed my life forever... I ate sushi at Echigo!" Hmmm, did I eat at a different Echigo? Mind you this wasn't bad, but mind-blowing and life-changing and fall in love-worthy, mmm, not so much. I think after many meals, many paychecks and many many many many many years of self-proclaimed sushi snobbery, probably four of the tastiest places in town (for me) are Sushi Park, Mori Sushi, Yoshi Sushi and Sushi Sasabune. (Go ahead and disagree, opinions are like a$$holes and we all got 'em) With that said, the lunch I had today here was good. It was reminiscent of some of the sasabune flavors, the fish quality was good, but there were no "O" face moments, there were no, "Oh My God, we need 18 more orders of this one!!" and there were no real standouts. Again, consistently good and for the price, not bad at all. I guess if you are on the West side then this might be an okay spot, but having driven here from the Valley in traffic to make a lunch meeting, it wasn't worth it to me. But, I will definitely try it again and I think I will go with the omakase next time, since maybe that is where the "O" face is hiding :) read more

NEXT TO PIZZA HUT AND DR. SCHWINGHAMER Lies Echigo. Yes, it's in a strip mall. Yes, it's next to a chiropractor with a funny name. Yes, it's got about as much ambiance and personality as a cardboard box. But what it lacks in decor, it makes up for with some high quality fish. In true Sasabune-esque form, Echigo embodies a sushi-nazi philosophy which unapologetically bars you from ordering a dragon-philly-rainbo-Octomom roll or any such nonsense. Also barred are miso soup, edamame, tempura, et al. Truth be told, the latter is kind of an annoyance. I'm not saying I want some chicken teriyaki bullshit, but I do like to start off my meal with a nice bowl of asari miso soup. That said, the sushi is quite excellent. It's not flashy at all. Just fresh and delicious. The warm rice takes some getting used to, but it does seem to enhance the flavor. Standouts on my visit were the blue crab roll (I could've just ordered 5 of these and been content) the uni, and the hamachi. read more

Nestled away in a strip mall that looks like any other in LA is one of the city's hidden gems. It's the Paul Pierce of sushi joints, the motherfuckin truth! The interior is spartan, the decor forgettable, in fact part of its charm is its lack of atmosphere, which could serve as a distraction to the amazing food. This place is hardcore, straight up legit in terms of the quality selection of fish on hand. They don't dick around with California rolls and tell you upfront that this place isn't for kids. First timers should always try the omakase menu. Going a la carte means you'll never have to deal with the lame excuse a lot of wannabe sushi places give that they're "out of uni" or that "toro is out of season". They will always have what you want. What struck me the few times I've been there is the large number of people who regularly go there to eat by themselves. That's a testament to the draw of their sushi which doesn't always require soy sauce and the fresh rice often crumbles if you add too much. Parking during peak hours can be tough and the strip mall itself smells like ass due to the cigar store on the ground floor. Omakase for 2 plus a large sake is around $100. read more

First time dining omakase style, and it was quite an enjoyable experience. The restaurant is tucked away within a tiny dining plaza, and parking is mostly underground. The place is a bit drab, but the food is well worth it! It is $45 for Echigo's omakase, served solely at the sushi bar, and you're given a 5-piece sashimi starter, 8 pieces of nigiri, and a blue crab hand roll. The red snapper sashimi starter was really delicious. A bit citrusy from the sauce, but definitely a good start to the dinner. The fish quality used for the nigiri was really fresh and top quality. Probably the most delicate and thinly sliced scallop I have seen so far. I was able to taste the fresh flavors of the fish, set on top of warm sushi rice. Definitely happy that the sushi rice was well made. Last thing you would want is high quality fish with bad sushi rice (or regular rice...). Kudos! I enjoyed Echigo. No base to compare their omakase, but as a starting venture into such delicate, quality sushi, it's a good one! read more

Their blue crab hand roll is sublime. Go and get the lunch special and order extra blue crab rolls, like I always do. Pros: very attentive staff, sushi is not fancy but is fabulous, I'll say it again: BLUE CRAB HAND ROLL Cons: Like many great LA restaurants, this one is tucked into the 2nd floor of a mini mall and can easily be missed, parking can be a pain - don't even bother looking in the upper lot. Drive down the slightly scary ramp to the lower lot, it is not cheap so go on payday read more

This is some of the best quality fish in LA. They only do the basics, nigiri/sashimi and traditional hand rolls. No Rainbow, Spider, Caterpillar, etc. rolls. If you want simple/traditional, really high quality fish this is your spot. Service is good, ladies are always friendly. read more

Hidden Gem. Honestly, I think Echigo is better than Sugarfish. Let me tell you why: 1. No pretentiousness. Its in a strip mall (which pretty much rocks). They focus entirely on the quality of food and it shows. 2. The quality and selection of their fish is *ridiculous*. Everything is put together with the perfect balance, whether its the temperature of the rice or the added seasoning/sauce - they really know their ish... 3. Amazing service - the servers are extremely attentive. Can't wait until my next meal here... read more

Since I am a self-proscribed sushiholic, of course my 100th review would have to be about sushi. I took a friend here for a belated birthday dinner. The decor of the place is very sparse but really you come here more for the food than the ambiance. Right when you enter there is a sign that says they do not serve any cooked foods. It seemed a little empty when we arrived and I was worried at first but it started to fill up later. We sat at the bar and ordered omakase. Albacore Sashimi...melted in my mouth it was so soft but the pieces were really small Toro...I was underwhelmed. It was good but for toro, I expected so much more. Scallop...good but didn't stand out Halibut...the chef instructed us not to dip this one in soy sauce. It was at this point that the fish was not just good but excellent Bonita...omg I never tried this before but I definitely will now...extremely yummy Kampachi...again another new fish that was melt in your mouth deliscious Skipper Jack...also something new for me. Again sooo good! Butterfish...like the name implied, it tasted like butter and melted like it too Black Snapper...very fatty and melt in your mouth as well Blue Crab handroll...perfectly made While we were full, we also decided to order fresh water eel and a salmon skin roll on top of the omakase because everything was just so good we kept on wanting to eat. The omakase is about $39/person. Since we also ordered drinks the total bill came out to $122 including tax and tip. We had the plum wine (a little too sweet) and a bottle of the sparkling sake which tastes like champagne. I think this is similar in quality to Sasabune considering the freshness of the fish but Sasabune and Nozawa are still better. This place is a little bit cheaper though. Also, the sushi pieces here were a little on the small side. But I really liked how I got to try a lot of new fish that I had never heard of before. Definitely worth a visit! read more

I went with my friend for Friday lunch. I wasn't sure what to expect, since I had seen some really good reviews and (more recently) really bad ones. I went to Sushi Zo last week, and it's hard for any place to measure up. But still... Echigo was a disappointment. We got the butterfish, spanish mackerel, salmon, freshwater eel, egg, blue crab handrolls, and one other thing that was so blah that I've forgotten what it was. Everything was prepared similarly to Sushi Zo. But the pieces of fish were thin, and slimy, and something just tasted OFF. And I agree with the previous reviewer, the rice was almost hot. Not good. After we were finished, we had to go someplace else, because we were still so hungry. Service was meh as well. We weren't brought a sushi menu until we asked twice. The waitress asked us "are you ready" BEFORE we had menus! I guess they were rushed, but the place didn't look that busy. They also forgot our drink order. And the bill came to $56!! All in all, not a good experience. I would prefer Hara (cheaper, better service, more selection, consistently good food)... and of course would prefer Sushi Zo every day of the week (if I had the money ;))! read more

There was once upon a time when I would have given Echigo 5 stars. Sadly, those days are long over. Any sushi chef that has the gall to post a notice that they are a "sushi only no specialty or trendy rolls" place and then turns around and serves pre-cut fish taken from a mound loses all respect in my eyes. I can't believe that my plate of sashimi carpaccio actually had the circular lines of a plate indented into the meat. I wonder how many plates they had made up that were stacked up, ready to sling out. If I wanted pre-cut assembly-line sushi, I would pick some up at Sushi Boy. If I'm at the sushi bar spending $65-$75 per person, I expect fresh fish cut to order. Goodbye Echigo. I am sad for you. read more

Echigo is one of the best places for omakase AND reasonably priced! Everything was delicious. I wasn't a big fan of sushi but after eating here I converted... I won't go into detail for each fish cause the menu can vary... Just know that everything was delicious from start to finish. The sushi rice is perfect. Blue crab handroll is AMAZING. Please don't use soy sauce and offend the sushi the chefs. read more

See all

This is the BEST sushi place in this neighborhood. Authentic, great quality and completely worth the price point. It's the hidden gem of the neighborhood! read more

Sat at the bar and had omakase. This was only the second time in my life that I've had sushi omakase style. It's always a nice treat... Echigo is in three words: 1. Simple 2. Fresh 3. Delicious The space is lackluster, but who cares. We come here for the quality of fish they serve. Omakase runs about $45/person and you get around 10 types of fish I think. If you're still hungry, just let the chef know that you want to keep going and he'll keep making you fish until you're full (dangerous! as the price adds up in the end) I don't remember the names of all the fish we ate, but everything was melt-in-your-mouth good. I DO remember the butterfish and the blue crab hand roll. The butterfish is unbelievable-it comes with a dollop of this special miso paste/sauce. Amazing. The blue crab hand roll is, well, a staple here. Believe the hype. All in all, a really nice traditional sushi restaurant. The service is super efficient-they're all very nice. It's kind of quiet inside but it's refreshing in a way. No Hollywood hipsters here! :) read more

Echigo - tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I am not impressed. Pre-cut slices of thin fish on hot rice...this is not the sushi bar for me. Too much rice, and not very tasty. Reminds me a lot of Nozawa. No real creativity, everyone gets the same meal. It would be fine if everyone gets the same most incredible sushi to be had, but it just is so average that I will not return. Is one star too harsh? Maybe, but I would much rather go to Kiriko or Mori to get my sushi fix. read more

G/F and I had our first omakase experience here on Friday night and I think it has permanently jaded us against all other sushi. The fish was so fresh and tender it literally melted in our mouths. The only bad thing was the portion size was very small. After the omakase was finished we were still quite hungry so we added orders of salmon, halibut, and another blue crab handroll each and although I still could have eaten a bit more we decided to call it quits instead. The final bill came out to $135 (including the 20% tip). Although being a bit expensive it was still some of the best sushi I think I've ever had. We were talking about going to our usual cheapo place last night but decided that it would be a letdown after eating at Echigo so we decided to forego eating sushi at all for a while. read more

Very good service. Was greeted right when I walked in, and food was prepared right in front of me. Food was made quickly and was the best sushi I've ever had. The crab roll and tuna rolls were awesome. The miso soup and edamame completed the meal perfectly. Was worth every penny and would 100% recommend. read more

You used to be my favorite, Echigo!! What happened? =( I went back after being absent for over a year ... sat at the table this time for omakase. Maybe that's what went wrong, I've always had great fish at the BAR. Each piece was forgettable except the bonito which hinted at the greatness of the Echigo I used to remember. The rice was tepid to cool side and each fish just didn't have any distinctive flavor so it tasted like I was eating the same thing each time. The texture was there but the taste and cuts were off - the sizes of each serving were inconsistent amongst our party. Some cuts were just messy to look at. I even opted out of ordering their salmon which I almost have never done. I'm really disappointed by this last experience. If I do go back, it'll have to be for lunch ($14 for 5 sushi). read more

What! Omakase for $50?! And it's really good? Tasty Barracuda special?!!! Don't come here so I don't have to deal with crowds. Nondescript sushi gem in a strip mall. Definitely coming back. Please note: served on warm rice like Sugarfish. read more

Thanks for the rec TONY C! Omakase was awesome! I'm pretty new with sushi. I use wasabi sparingly in my soy sauce, and I don't like sushi that comes with wasabi between the fish and the rice. But here, the rice, the rice she's so flavorful and succulent! And the wasabi is creamy and nose- clog worthy! Omakase dinner is 43.30. You get 1 sashimi plate, 8 pieces of sushi and a hand roll. I will tell you now, if you eat a lot the omakase will not fill you up! read more

4 stars for the sushi. 1 star for the service. This was my second time here, and the service was again strange and rude. I felt incredibly rushed. She literally gave us 30 seconds to order, even though it was clear we hadn't even settled into our seats yet, let alone look at the menu. Then I felt like I had to stuff each bite into my mouth before she yanked my plates away. No smiles, no politeness. I know some people here say they like how promptly each dish was cleared away, but you're supposed to wait for me to finish what I have in front of me before bringing my next piece and clearing my empty dish away, not just keep shoving dishes on my table so that you can usher us out faster. This is particularly important because the rice is supposed to be warm and the fish cold. If you give me my second dish before I finish my first, I can't eat the second one promptly. Just ask SugarFish "eat this immediately" sushi nazis. The sushi itself is comparable to SugarFish in taste and price. For example, for $14 here you get the lunch special with 5 single nigiri and one handroll. At SugarFish, for $16.50 you get a Trust Me Lite with 3 single nigiri, one handroll, and a platter of tuna sashimi in ponzu and a plate of edamame. However, at SugarFish, you receive superb service ALWAYS. The difference is clearly palpable, just look around each restaurant. Echigo is always deserted while SugarFish has people waiting an hour for a table. TL,DR: GO TO SUGARFISH INSTEAD. read more

My friend and I were hungry and buzzed. Since we were only two blocks away, we decided to give Echigo a try. I've been to California Healing Arts College dozens of times for massages (highly recommended, by the way) and I've always wanted to try Echigo. I figured that it's hard for a restaurant to survive on the second floor of a strip center and since Echigo has been around for so long, it must be good. Wrong, I was so wrong! Since I had already had a few beverages, I didn't want to think so I went with the omakase instead. My friend choose 4 orders of nigiri. On a positive note, my omakase courses came quickly. In fact, it was so quick that we were in and out of the restaurant in 20 minutes. All of the sushi I got tasted just ok until I got to the blue crab roll. I have to admit, the blue crab roll was really delicious. It seemed like 2/3 of the fish they brought me was to be eaten without soy sauce. The sashimi course at the beginning had some sort of sweet teriyaki-ish sauce on it and it tasted really odd. There was a piece of fish that tasted like curry - yuck! I can't remember how many pieces of sushi I actually got; but I think it was around 10. That means that each piece of sushi was about $4.50 - ouch! I do love the disclaimer about how they don't have teriyaki, tempura, miso soup, ramen, rolls or anything else a "regular" Japanese restaurant may serve. It was a memorable dinner; not because the food was so great but because we managed to blow $85 combined within 20 minutes and the food wasn't even that great. We were also the only Asian patrons in the whole restaurant and that is not a good sign. read more

LAST MEAL WORTHY - as in if I were incarcerated and could request one place this would be it. I know that the above statement is saying a lot. I get it, I know. However, every time I come back to LA, this is my first spot to hit up. I have never had better sushi ever. I know that LA is not lacking in terms of yummy sushi joints, but Echigo sets the bar in my eyes. Why is Echigo so good... here are my reasons: 1) They make their own wasabi 2) The sushi rice is a bit warm with a hint of vinegar 3) The sushi pieces are the perfect size, not too big and not miniscule 4) The blue crab hand rolls are pure nirvana! The blue crab with mayo, crisp seaweed, the warm rice with a touch of homemade wasabi.... I am salivating right now just thinking about them. Let's just say that if I could request anything for my last meal... the blue crab hand rolls would be the first thing to come to mind. read more

You know how people say, "don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, don't judge this restaurant based on its location in a plaza with some strange things like California Healing Arts College and the sketchy-looking, urine-smelling parking lot. Now this is a legit sushi joint. They give you hot towels to wash your hands prior to eating and their menu is very limited. Each of the sushi pieces come out one by one. It's more like a tasting than a place to fill up your tummies. That being said, this was an experience like nothing else where each bite created a temporary euphoria. The rice with the sushi was done perfectly. It was lukewarm with extra vinegar, but not enough to overpower the taste of the fish. The ginger was also absolutely delicious. If you could eat this ginger with a Yoshinoya beef bowl, it would become a gourmet meal. No joke. The bill was a bit steep ($78) for 2 people whose stomachs weren't completely full BUT it was completely worth it, especially because of the quality and freshness of the fish. #1 Albacore ($6/2 pieces): I have never ever tasted sushi like this! The fish was so delicate that it would break apart just from your tongue. And it was mind-blowing as to how it would infuse with the rice so exquisitely. #2 Toro ($10/2 pieces): The taste of the fattiness was just superb. #3 Butterfish: I absolutely loved this, especially because of the hint of sweetness to it. #4 Scallop ($6.20/2 pieces): It had a really strong smell to it, emphasizing it's complete freshness. #5 Bonito ($6.20/2 pieces): Just delicious. What more can I say? #6 Halibut ($6.20/2 pieces): Very smooth texture. #7 Kampachi ($6.80/2 pieces): It was extremely blubbery and the rice fell apart. This was my least favorite but the boyfriend loved it. #8 Blue Crab Handroll ($6): This was delicious, especially because of the rice. But as good as it was, I'd much rather get another albacore for the same price. As great as this place was, there is somewhat of a consequence to it. Since I've opened Pandora's Box and have experienced the freshest, most gourmet sushi ever, I don't think I can ever go back to my usual sushi joints, like AYCE Midori. So I'm pretty much going to come here, eat 9 pieces of sushi, pay $100, and leave with an empty stomach. What am I to do?! read more

See all

So far the best & freshest sushi I ever have! If you are the type that are willing to spend money on great food. This is the place for you. I have been to Sasabune and I like Echigo a little bit better just because the fish is a bit fresher and cheaper. E is definitly more run down compare to S, but if your quest is to eat......E is PERFECT!!! I miss the sushi soooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hamichi......where are you??? ** oh.....forgot to mention..... the rice are warm and just like S, they will tell you whether you need soy sauce or not. The experience is AWESOME. read more

Found this place on DineLA's best sushi deals, and $45 for omakase is quite the deal! When you visit any restaurant on a Friday night around 7:30pm, you would anticipate the place to be poppin' if it really was as good as everyone says. There were another 3 groups of people there at the time. Sat at the sushi bar, where we were served by a non-Japanese sushi chef. If you want an authentic Japanese sushi experience, the first step is having a Japanese sushi chef. This should have been a red flag, but we went with it. The $45 includes a 5-piece thinly sliced sashimi starter, then 8 nigiri pieces of the chef's choosing (ranging from toro and salmon, to scallop and aji), then concluding with a blue crab handroll (similar to Sugarfish). I will note that the nigiri sashimi pieces are rather thin, so don't expect to be full nor blown away by the end of the meal. My nigiri pieces would often fall apart rather easily, so be sure your chopstick skills are on point for your meal. The fish used are relatively fresh, but half the time, I didn't know what I was eating because the chef would mumble what it was, along with a "no soy sauce." My experiences sitting at the sushi bar have always been more pleasurable when the sushi chef would interact with you; don't expect that to happen here. Parking is free in the lot underground. read more

I never yelp, and while I hate to be the person who comes on to give a horrible rating for a restaurant, I feel like I have to offer an opinion after our experience at Echigo this weekend - both for other patrons and for the restaurant itself. We came to Echigo for the omakase since others seem to love it and compare it to the likes of Zo, Hiko and Sugarfish (while I know it is cheaper than Zo I still expected it to have the same respect for the food). We were shocked at the quality for the price. Our major problems: 1. RICE: The rice was SO overcooked is was mush. The texture was so distracting we could barley eat our nigiris and it almost felt like a joke. As others have mentioned the rice was also really hot (not just warm style, which I love) so the contrast to the very cold fish was alarming. 2. FISH: A few of the pieces were pre-cut. The first sashimi was obviously plated before, pulled direct from the fridge and then drenched in sauce by a line cook right in front of us (the place really felt like an assembly line). The sauces were all weirdly sweet and unnecessary. 3. COST: For $45-50 you get a bit of sashimi, 7 pieces of thin cut nigiri and a handroll. For us this was just too little and we are not major oinksters. For comparison to Sugarfish: $30 gets you edamame, a bit of sashimi, 8 pieces of sushi and 2 handrolls. 4. THE KICKER: The crab hand roll came out, we took one bite and realized the crab was BAD. It had an ammonia taste and smell and we couldn't force another bite it was so gross. Seriously? I have never left a restaurant in LA feeling so ripped off. ** The one good part of our experience was the waitress/host, who was nice and very attentive. read more

I was disappointed. So many great reviews for a place that was a pretty miserable sushi experience :( The negi toro was a barely edible mush of over-mayonnaised blahness. The rest of the fish was uninspired, at best. Maybe it was an off-day for the chef or something? Nothing was great and little even approached good. I'm not going back. read more

A hidden gem. Its an authentic Japanese restaurant. Everything is beyond fresh. All the sushi is delicious but my favorite is their Uni. read more

Save your money. First of all there was literally no people there and the lady goes., "do you have a reservation". When it was completely empty. Such a horrible selection and the staff is beyond rude. Happy hour portions are absolute pitiful. That is the happy hour cucumber sunomono salad pictured. Also asked for a side of eel sauce and they said no because I I didn't order eel and I then I said "okay well I don't mind paying for just eel sauce" and they never brought it to me. Just overall not a good restaurant if you enjoy good food and good service. read more

Best same day fish in Los Angeles! You HAVE to get the blue crab hand roll. Did I mention it's SAME DAY FISH? Love it here read more

Visited here tonight based on a Reddit review. We've lived in the neighborhood for 30 year and never knew of this place. The fish is excellent quality, but the following are major downfalls: 1. Although the place was empty on a Saturday night at 8:30 pm (no one at the sushi bar and only one couple at another table), we were told we could sit at the sushi bar ONLY if we ordered Omakase (where the chef serves their own selected dishes - you don't get to choose). Why? Every other sushi bar allows you to sit at the bar if you order sushi. So we ordered the Omakase for two. 2. Price is about $52/person for Omakase. It consists of 8 single servings. Reasonable. But the servings are very small. The fish is excellent, but not superb. We were still hungry, so we added a few more pieces. Ended up paying $200 for two (including tip). I was still hungry. Had to stop by a Taco truck on Santa Monica Blvd to fill up! :-) W. LA is filled with excellent Sushi bars. We usually go to Sushi House (Pico, just east of Bundy). Same quality Sushi, larger portions, at a reasonable price. And you can sit at the sushi bar and order what you like (instead of just Omakase). They also have cut rolls. Sushi house's Spicy Tuna Rolls were much better than what we got here. And if you want to really open up your wallet, you can go to Mori Sushi or Shunji Sushi (both on Pico). Their prices are materially higher, but their quality is way beyond what you get here. Not visiting this place anytime soon again. read more

This is my favorite sushi spot in LA period. Hands Down. Fo Sho. I've had numerous discussions with people about what makes sushi great. I guess the word discussions is an understatement. Let's call them "mild arguments". They become arguments when I mention Echigo and they don't recognize it as the best sushi restaurant this side of the Mississippi (or that side either). That said, I recognize that people have well developed allegiances to their sushi. Some like rolls with names such as "caterpillar", "rainbow", "Philly Cheesesteak", etc. Others have forged life-long friendships with their local sushi chef and will fight tooth and nail to defend them. With Echigo, I have done neither. I just like their friggin' sushi. I like their special soy sauce... that seems to be homemade, with a hint of bonito flake (trust me, I've tried reproducing it, to no avail). And I absolutely their sublime ponzu sauce that the put on all of their whitefish. I love how they have slightly runny wasabi and equally runny vinagery rice that, yes, falls apart at times when you try to pick it up with your chopsticks. But most of all, I love the taste of each of these elements when I'm enjoying the sushi. I have not forged a life long relationship with the sushi chef yet... but I have forged a life long relationship with the sushi at Echigo. read more

Finally got to try Echigo after all these years. Knew about it ever since it opened but never got around to it til now....and dood, am I impressed. Opted for the omakase and got some of the freshest, melt in your mouth sushi-sashimi I've had in LA for some time now. When ordering the omakase for two, yelpers should be informed that you receive one piece of sushi instead of two and the pieces are smaller than average, but mind your tongue, it's totally worth it. After the omakase portion was over I had to try the uni....and it was pheonomenal! I think I got a hookup cuz the portion was pretty big. Definitely going back again soon (especially since I work nearby now). Dinner for two including 4 extra orders of sushi on top of the omakase + two beers including tip came out to about $170. Seriously worth every penny! Service was prompt and the chefs were very friendly. Wish I had a camera to take a picture of the sign near the front. Forgot exactly what it said but basically stated this is a "sushi" establishment and if you want chicken teriyaki and cal rolls, get the f out." haha. Love this place. read more

I broke a cardinal rule of sushi: I went on a Monday. At lunch no less. Two orders of the lunch special can be summarized as such: disappointing. Tuna was torn and soft, hamachi was from close to the tail and falling apart, and the rest of the fish was not anything more than "good." The crab hand roll was good, but Kiriko's still rules. This was my first time here. And, I hope it was just an off day. But, if not, I understand why it wasn't crowded at all at lunch. It's just not that good. read more

So if you like super fresh sushi and sashimi a lot go here. But if you want soup, salad or any other sides except for rice, tea, beer or sake, you will hate this place. This place is well known for their warm sushi rice with a nice cool piece of fish on top. And well their prices are a little on the omg-you-so-crazy side but I have to say I have never had better fish in the US before. But word for the wise, come partially full, because waiting for each dish in the Omakase will make you deliriously hungry. Each item in the omakase is served separately like appetizer courses. Delicate items like toro, scallop, blue crab roll. And another thing, this place is SO busy. I was always harassing the service staff to take our order, then constantly with the tea. I'm not usually good about bothering people at restaurants, but here, I felt if I didn't I would never get to eat or drink. It was here I mastered the technique of the please get me more tea look. Despite the downfalls on service, I still thought the fish was amazing. Besides we had a large group, so I can understand how hard it is to make sure everyone's fish comes out at the same time and warm. I would say go in a small group, for our group of 12 it just didn't cut it. read more

Sushi is fresh. Rice is warm. But the slice of fish on top of the rice is TINY! Definitely NOT a filling meal. But the blue crab handroll at the end was excellent. $13 Lunch Special Zero ambiance but at least they have real Japanese chefs and servers. read more

This review is long overdue. My first time here was about 2 or 3 years ago. It was my very first time trying omakase and it blew me out of the water. I revisited a month ago and was still surprised how the quality didn't change. Sushi was fresh and the quality of the cut was superb. Every bite made me wanting more. They were not frugal with their portions either. For each nigiri, the fish completely covered the ball of rice. And when I ordered ikura, the roll was overflowed with the salmon roe. Take a look at my pics. I will definitely be coming back. Echigo is one of LA's best sushi restaurants. read more

Echigo - ikura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

One word: Stark. Second word: Yummy. Truly truly awesome little inconspicuous joint in the worlds ugliest corner plaza with a crappy as hell view of Santa Monica Blvd. But really, who cares about the view? And the ambiance... really, who cares? This place is all about the sushi. Be warned... there is only ONE roll on the menu. Just walk in, ask for omakase for lunch ($11, last time I went) and dinner ($45? I don't recall)... sit back with your friends... and enjoy the food. And when it's all done with, order another blue crab roll. read more