Was craving some sushi and dropped by Imari. They aren't fully opened yet (full open in August 2021 I believe) so I grabbed one of their Sashimi Bento Boxes. For the amount, variety, and quality of sashimi I got, this was a steal! Presentation was amazing and the fish was fresh. Staff was very friendly when I picked up my order. I hear they are going to have omakase when they fully open and I can't wait! Definitely coming back! read more

Finest bento boxes! Mr. Smith was very helpful and courteous! Can't wait till they open!

Amazing! I got the take out box. The packing was first class , I've never seen any like it! Great attention to detail. The sushi and sashimi was great!!! I can't wait to do eat there in person! read more

Wow what an amazing dinner. The food, the service, the overall quality was so high - it's hard to really compare Imari to many places in town. They just do things at such a high level - that you will truly be blown away. The menu is great to literally order one of everything and share as a group. In fact we ordered 2 of a few items. There was so much attention to detail in the service and in every dish. And clearly they had a wide array of signature dishes. The uni and the shrimp roll were spectacular as well as the avocado with 5yr old soy sauce. We got 2 of those! Definitely recommend trying everything and enjoy the progression of the dishes. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy. read more

Save yourself a trip and avoid unless you want to spend unreasonable amount for less than mediocre quality food. We ordered roughly $340 worth of food between my gf and I, and boy was the food disappointing. The oysters were 1 sec away from going bad. Tasted very fishy and not fresh. The miso cod came in 4 quarter sized pieces which were bland that I needed soy sauce. I really dont write many reviews but I had to for this one. There's a reason why the reservation time slots were all open from 6:30pm all the way to closing on a saturday night. Just avoid unless you're from the area and you want to support local business because I assure you this place will not last long. read more

This restaurant is a find! We've all missed its predecessor...and this is a fantastic addition to the San Vicente dining scene. The best part: it's still a fairly undiscovered gem. (Won't be for much longer!) The ambiance is lovely; the food beautifully plated and scrumptious. Tried the salad, gyoza, wild prawn tempura, california Dungeness crab roll, the marinated tuna with avocado...yum. Need to go back for more taste treats...so many choices. Love the pacing of the service...perfect. No rush...just time to savor and chat. YAY! read more

Absolutely incredible meal and service. It's a splurge meal but if you appreciate premium quality you will not be dissatisfied in any way, shape, or form. Great music, ambience and staff. Easily one of the best meals I've ever ate on the Westside or in southern California period. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. There's no other place like it in LA. The food is authentically Japanese. All the dishes are so simple--the quality of the ingredients and thoughtfulness in its preparation really shines through. Plus the service is always on point. Every time we walk in, we feel so welcomed. By the way, I'm obsessed with the milk ice cream--it's a collab with Sweet Rose Creamery. Don't miss out! read more

The sake was fantastic, as well as the gyozas, the cod, and the shashimi. The cod was so fresh, it tasted like it was fresh out of the ocean. The crispness of the gyozas and the flavor was out of this world and cod was hands down amazing (buttery, flaky, almost melted in your mouth). I highly recommend Imari for all your sushi cravings. You can't find fish this fresh in LA. The quality is unparalleled. read more

We went on the busiest night they'd ever had: Valentines Day. The food was phenomenal and so was the service (huge shoutouts to the grilled duck breast, the lovely ice cream, and our server Polo), but I can't give five stars in good conscience for five hours of waiting, all together. Would definitely come back on a less busy night. read more

My new favorite spot for sushi!! And no, I do not mean california rolls. Authentic, fresh sushi and sashimi plates! Their bento box is amaze balls and the place is super elegant. Not only was the food fresh and yummy, but the whole experience was delightful. Taku was our server and led us through a wonderful dining experience but to top it off, the owner Smith came by our table and greeted us. Thank you Taku and Smith for the exceptional customer service and experience! We'll definitely be coming back! read more

The Chef is so knowledgeable having trained 10 yrs under Master Chefs in Japan. His skills are off the charts, yet he is humble & fascinating to speak with. He helms the Sushi Bar & presides with precision & a dedication to excellence. The sushi is incomparable & the presentation beautiful. The vibe is cool & stunning interiors, Zen & simple. But it is not stuffy or over priced, its enjoyable & one is humbled by the skills of the Chef(s) there. read more

I thought that going for a sushi dinner would leave me hungry so I ate a bigger lunch. Huge mistake. The food here is filling, healthy and artistically presented, that dining becomes an art. We tried so many things on the menu, I loved each one! Our waiter guided us through the whole meal, it really felt like a special event. We coo'ed as each serving came to the table. At the end, I was so full, and happy because the food was fresh, healthy and nourishing. It's a small space, which I also liked, and wasn't too loud. Do try to make a reservation to ensure a table. I highly recommend. read more

My new favorite local spot! The food is delicious and unique, combining sushi rolls and traditional Japanese dishes. The marinated tuna and avocado roll is an absolute must try! read more

Definitely try out this new spot in Brentwood serving authentic Japanese Washoku bento boxes. I've always been a huge fan of Japanese cuisine and I was glad to find that they were offering a slightly different style of bento box than what you would expect from your mainstream sushi box takeout. The fish was fresh and rice rolls were delicious as well. As someone who loves sushi, I was surprised to find that the star of the show was the Tamago. It was soft, sweet, custardy and extremely addictive. I wish I could order just a box of it on its own! read more

Good food and good service they have a full menu coming soon. The owner Smit was so nice and he presented the food so nicely. FOR SURE COMING BACK read more

Kiitsu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Took a while to be seated but the service and the Gyoza were worth it! Smith is super and I wish this place all the success in the neighborhood. read more

This is THEE spot to go! New and unique Japanese-cuisine styled dining. Intimate setting , perfect spot to take a date. The menu is the just the right size, offering a variety of starters, entrees, sushi, and deserts. Some of the cleanest food I've eaten in my life, including their A5 wagyu. The staff are all excellent and really take the time to know their clients on a first name basis. Thank you to the Co-Owner "Smith" who was super polite and welcomed us with open arms. Will definitely be back and recommend to all in the Brentwood area looking for a new spot to hit! read more

Please don't read. I hate the fact that I am writing this review but I feel I must. I have been looking forward to this Japanese restaurant opening in my neighborhood. I took my children to the soft opening. It was not memorable but the owner and servers were so lovely and welcoming that I decided to go back, waiting a few months to give them the opportunity to get situated. We ordered several (6) dishes. The best item was the anchovy salad. Tasty and fresh. The item on the menu that was frankly insulting was the black code dish that cost $26 (don't forget the tax so it's actually more). The portion, I kid you not, was two tiny pieces of cod no bigger than the size of ice cubes. And it tasted just okay. I've had better at home and I'm not much of a cook. And I can get the whole damn fish for $26 plus sides. The moment I knew we were not coming back was when I looked over the table and saw my daughter eating the shrimp roll while plugging her nose. It was so comical until the bill arrived. read more

I had heard the buzz around town about this new spot Imari in Brentwood, so I was extremely excited to give it a try. This is not your typical dime a dozen corner sushi spot, so please don't come here looking for a spicy tuna or California roll :) Not only did this place live up to my expectations, but it far surpassed them. My gf and I came on a Saturday night, and the place was full. We were greeted warmly by the Manager, Smith. He immediately made us feel at home as he asked us our names, while I asked him about his new restaurant and previous experiences in the food industry. The owner was also in, so we chatted with him as well while they proceeded to get our table ready, since we were a little early. I was blown away by the ambiance and décor. It had a very modern warm feeling, and I just knew we were in for a memorable night. We had a nice table in the back, with good separation from the table next door, which is important for many in today's world. Our waiter's name was Polo, like the clothing line. Polo was tremendous, giving us the lay of the land. As we were going through the menu, Smith came by and asked if we wanted any Sake. We definitely did, but could not decide what to order with their extensive Sake list. He proceeded to give us a 15 minute seminar on the different types of Sake, how it is produced, what differentiates the types, and how they directly import their Sake selection. I told him I trust him, and to bring us out a couple of selections to try. I have to say, it was the best Sake I have had in my life. I believe we tried 4 different types, and all were excellent. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Again, this is not the sake you drink at the neighborhood corner sushi spot. For starters, we had the Hiyayakko, tomatoes, and the fresh sashimi of the moment. The tomatoes were refreshing, and I had never eaten them before with yuba. The sashimi was as fresh as possible. The Hiyayakko was probably the star of the starters, and a must try. I am not a huge tofu lover, but this was incredible. For the meat and seafood, we had the anago and leek tempura, chicken gyoza, and wagyu. The wagyu was perfectly cooked and the exact amount to eat. I ate the entire platter of gyoza less one, as my gf was saving room for the later courses. The star of the night, and my absolute favorite thing I ate that night, was the Anago and leek tempura. It was absolutely amazing, and worth the trip alone to eat. It has some sauce and a little salt you dip it in, and wow, what a combo. For the handrolls and sushi we had the Hirame, and the Uni-Gunkan west coast and Japanese. My gf is an Uni lover, so she was waiting the entire day to eat that. While the west coast Uni was good, the Japanese Uni is the one to try. My gf said it was the best Uni she has ever had. I don't particularly like Uni, but even I liked this. We had both desserts, the red shiso sorbet, and milk ice cream. We liked both, but our favorite was the milk ice cream. There is something about the combo of mochi and green peas that just hit right. I cant recommend Imari enough. Do yourself a favor, and book a reservation immediately. Thank you again Mr. Smith for a great evening. We will be back soon. read more

The food was really traditional Japanese and excellent, everything was unique and fresh. Service was amazing too, I actually let the staff chose an assortment of small plates and felt like I had the real " omakase " experience. The ambiance is super cool, it's minimalist, low lit and they play great music. It's definitely a vibe! read more

Was craving great sushi and this place really hit the spot! Our server was fantastic and led us through an omakase style dinner where every dish was even better than the next and Smith, the manager, even picked out a great sake pairing for our meal. The food, service, and vibe were all incredible, can't wait to go back! 11/10 would recommend [insert Shia LeBouf gradual slow to clap to standing applause and ovation] read more

Completely agree with the other 1/2 star reviews. Tried over half the items on the very basic menu and each of them was underwhelming and overpriced. First of all, don't expect to have your regular sushi experience here with choices of sashimi and nigiri. The hand rolls aren't worth the money and you can get better flavors elsewhere. The salad was underwhelming, the sea urchin was runny and not tasty. Nothing stood out as better than average compared to many other Japanese places in the area. Not sure how a place like this can survive in LA where there's so many great food options. Only good thing we ordered was a sake that was pretty smooth. read more

The management staff and chef are all top notch. Very knowledgeable and response is great. My friend and I were in Brentwood and wanted sushi looked it up and found Imari. Best experience at a sushi restaurant I've ever had. The bento box was amazing and the presentation was fantastic. I'd total recommend this place to all my friends. I'm going again read more

This Japanese restaurant is simply Devine! Japanese comfort elegant and clean. I'm so excited that I live right down the street so I will definitely be a regular! read more

We had a phenomenal meal with Chef Derek last night. We had the Spring menu and the sashimi, rolls, special soup and milk ice cream and strawberries was beautifully prepared with subtle and new flavors. The sashimi melted in my mouth. The staff was attentive and we really enjoyed our whole experience. Chef Derek's love for the art of Japanese food is obvious. He came to our table and explained how dishes were prepared and where Imari sources the freshest, highest quality ingredients. I highly recommend going and experiencing this yourself! Thank you for a beautiful evening. We will be back. read more

Best food I have had in LA. Everything was so fresh! The Wagyu and the Modori-Gatsuo were incredible. We will definitely be back.

I had the opportunity to come in before the grand opening and was curious about this style of Japanese cuisine. Let me say that it did not disappoint. If you come into this restaurant expecting sushi, sashimi, and cali rolls you will leave disappointed. This is not your typical neighborhood sushi restaurant. This dining experience was much more than that. It really elevates your idea about Japanese cuisine to a higher level. Simple, clean, elegant, and delicious! It is a relatively small menu, with the intention of mastering what they are serving and eventually expanding to a bigger menu. Sake selections are great and not too overpriced, given the location of the restaurant. Everything was reasonably priced, which makes this place so great. This restaurant really caters to anyone who loves Japanese cuisine. If you're the type to try new things this might be the next place for you! read more

Class, sophistication, elegance, and simply delicious. Another A+ from the guy that brought Westwood the preeminent Fellow, restauranteur Philip Camino, Imari proves to be an overall exceptional dining experience. The decor is sleek and sexy, making it the perfect date night spot. The cuisine is impeccable. My favs were the nigiri, shrimp handrolls, fancy cucumbers, and pickled vegetables. The nigiri melts in your mouth, like a lover's kiss as the perfectly paired sake slides it down your throat. As I'm writing this review, I'm realizing it's already time to go back. Hope to catch you there soon. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! What more can I say?! This place is my new favorite sushi spot. The food is amazing, the service is on point and the space is beautiful. I went with 3 of my other girlfriends and we had an absolute blast! Totally a cute date vibe too! The whole restaurant has been well thought through from the ground up. It's all in the details. I can't express how exciting it is to have such a quality place like this around. It's the go to now. I want to keep it secret, it's that good, but the world needs to revel in this gem with me. You're welcome! read more

Had an amazing valentines dinner here. The food exceeded my expectations and the service was superb, despite them being understaffed. My server Mae was a delight. We will definitely be coming back for another authentic Japanese experience!! Well done Imari! read more

Next level restaurant! Atmosphere, service, food, all superb. What a special place, thanks to the chef and staff!

Imari was a truly magical experience. The staff was not only attentive and extra helpful as we wanted to try everything on the menu, but absolutely brilliant in satisfying our curiosity to learn and try their impressive menu of saki. The design inside was stunning and I especially loved the mural along the back wall.The vibes and music were wayyyy tooo good and we didnt want to leave. We could have literally hung out there all night long!!! Thanks Imari. I can't wait to come back. See you soon!!!!! read more

This place is absolutely amazing. Every time I order here there is something new and in season. The flavors are always unique and taste great. The food and saki is definitely high-quality that you won't find anywhere else. I honestly feel it is the best Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. read more

I enjoyed such an amazingly unique and delicious dinner here recently with friends. The food was described to me as "Japanese comfort," so I was not expecting such elegant and flavorful dishes as the ones we tried. The tofu and gozu dishes were elevated versions of such simple Japanese staples. The Wagyu beef was incredible and practically melted in my mouth. To top off the wonderful food, the service was welcoming and intimate. I can't wait to have an excuse to return. read more

I had a great experience dining at Imari. Its a very intimate restaurant, having about 10 tables or so. I loved the food, it was simple yet delicious and the Sake they have on the menu is truly a treat. The menu items which stuck with me the most were the Grilled chicken and The Black cod. I know you don't go to a Japanese restaurant for chicken, but do yourself the favor. read more

What can a man say there is no better example of a restaurant than the one Smith Dok here is running. High quality food met with a smile. Hard to beat. read more

I'm on the fence between 3 and 4 stars. Imari is a test of simplicity. There is no doubt the chefs here are masters of the craft of sushi. But I want to be wowed at a restaurant. I want the food to be sophisticated. Respecting the tradition, yet inventive at the same time. And Imari fails to do that. They straddle too hard onto convention. The echigo beer was a great stout. The salad with sardines and tofu were fine starters. The oyster was tasty. The pork gyoza was probably my 2nd favorite starter. Perfectly crisp and with a sauce to die for. (The host said some people drink it.) The shrimp and leek tempura was perfectly crisp. Only thing that was a bit weak was the dipping sauce. I preferred the gyoza sauce to the tempura sauce. The chicken is a nice option for people that don't eat fish, but I find it odd that they serve both breast and thigh together. I find that people who prefer one don't normally like the other. My favorite sushi was the salmon. That was fantastic. We got the sea bream, tuna, and eel. Everything was good, but nothing really amazed me. I also found it odd they didn't bring you wasabi for the sushi. And you have to ask for extra soy sauce. The milk cream ice cream was a fantastic dessert. The tall helper (2nd in command to Mr. smith) here was very much needed. He had a personality. I feel this restaurant takes itself too seriously. Nagao is a very serious man born in Japan. But even Nagao was willing to serve you a California roll and mix convention with invention. And at the end of the day, Imari needs to take a page from Nagao. Whatever dish they have I believe Imari would execute perfectly. So it is just a matter of them adding a few more things to the menu to spice things up, while still respecting the lineage. read more

By far one of the most unique, beautiful and most tasteful Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles! You can really tell how FRESH their seafood is, which is imported straight from Japan! Every dish we got we loved so much. The tofu, cucumbers, sashimi, chicken dumplings with the amazing kick to it... everything was just on point!! The service was outstanding as our server took such time and detail in explaining every dish and their benefits! We can not wait to come back!! They did such an amazing job all around. read more