Food was fantastic. The first thing we noticed was that this place was in the middle of a long plaza (ample parking) and you wouldn't expect to find such private, discrete and actually good restaurant in that location. There were only 8 seats or so with the bar built around the chef and you can tell that the chef cares about each and every customer, and wants to just enjoy the time making you great food. One of those places that makes you think, he probably loved making good food and wanted to gift a fun and delicious experience to a small group of people. We brought our own sakes and paid the corkage fee, but ended up ordering some beer because there were some Japanese beers that we've never seen before and did not disappoint. read more

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For my birthmonth my boyfriend was looking for exclusive and hard to get reservations to surprise me and he managed to get reservations for Kusano. I know he had to stay up until midnight on the day the spots were released so it's highly competitive for these 8-seats. Kusano is known for being an intimate experience where Chef Yusu Kusano is a one man show handling all aspects of the business. Since this saves him on overhead, he is able to keep his price point at $160 for an 18 course omakase meal. Their unique dining experience earns them a spot on the Michelin guide. I appreciate how attentive Chef was despite having so much to get done. As the first to arrive, we were able to watch Chef doing some prep work to expedite the experience during the meal. Also he seems to plan in dishes that require less work for him so the guests can be served while he checks on our beverages and other comforts. I also appreciate how we were served in the order in which we arrived, so the early bird gets the first sushi. As for our meal, my boyfriend and I agreed that this is a no frills, nigiri heavy meal. There wasn't too much engagement or story telling from Chef either. The sushi rice could have been better seasoned, which affected most courses since it's a nigiri heavy meal. On the bright side, chef has amazing knife skills and he makes small cuts on certain pieces of fish to make it more tender. On the other hand there are moments where he makes efficient decisions like ripping up the scallop by hand instead of cutting it. On the day of our visit, we were served oyster, hirami, shima aji, hotoke, seabream, ankimo, sardine, amaebi, umedai, miso soup, akami & toro, Hokkaido uni & squid, chutoro handroll, anago, tamago yaki and a yuzu granita. I had a birthday version and this sign behind us generated a cute happy birthday message, so that was a nice touch. This experience is GREAT VALUE, but for me just not too exciting. Just my personal preference that I prefer more interaction and innovation. Great to experience once but I'm not sure I would come back, considering I don't live in the area. I have no doubt they'll still be plenty busy without my patronage due to the pricing. read more

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Spectacular omakase dinner experience. Ambiance is very understated. 2 dining services per night, with 8 seats total At the bar. Extensive sake menu. We had a fantastic variety of fresh fish and seafood. read more

Woooooow! Once a night at 5:30 pm for 8 lucky people @$160 pp. If you have. An AmEx Platinum card, this is a must try Resy spot ($100 credit). This is a 1 man show! Never seen anything like it! He was the master chef, bartender, & waiter. I'm sorry but I forgot to get his name. Each course was unique & amazing. We anxiously awaited each of his creations. I wish I could afford to come here everyday. we definitely coming back and I overwhelmingly recommend this spot. read more

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Sushi tasted great, but the moment we walked in it smelled very fishy like fish market... which was unusual for us and surprised. It's only one person so he has to go back when someone order the drinks. only one omakase menu. portion was bit small. everything tastes great but I would appreciate if there is an waiter or someone to let the air out so won't smell so fishy and to keep an eye on drinks, or give us hot tea at the end... read more

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Kusano provides some of the best bang for your buck sushi omakase in LA ($150 pp), where you'll get all sushi and nigiri. Run by one chef (who handles all the food and drink order) with support with one waitstaff, Kusano is able to keep costs relatively low while still providing great value (nice cuts of otoro and all sorts of other fish across ~13 courses plus dessert). You can also ask for additional courses (for a fee) which is nice. Chill, low key ambiance but you're here to get good sushi from a nice, easy to chat with chef. Sake menu nice too, with an offering from the chef's home prefecture. Plaza of plaza parking. read more

Kusano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Culver City, California

Cozy, no frills omakase spot which offers great value for the price, as other reviewers have stated. I came for a birthday, and we enjoyed great food and a nice ambiance with a cute birthday song and dessert at the end. Parking was pretty easy in the plaza where the restaurant is. Overall I personally enjoyed the more low key, focus on the food style of the restaurant here! read more

We had such a fantastic omakase experience here. The food was truly exceptional - single bite was thoughtful, balanced, and beautifully executed. You can really taste the quality and care in each course. It's an intimate setting with seatings for just 8 guests at a time, twice per night, which makes the experience feel personal and special. Reservations open 10 days prior at midnight, and they do go quickly -- so plan ahead. What made it even more impressive is that the chef handles everything himself -- from taking orders to preparing and presenting each piece. That level of craftsmanship and attention is rare, and you can feel it throughout the meal. Every bite was wonderful and absolutely worth the price. We left already thinking about when we could come back. read more

One man show in Culver City. Amazing quality in an intimate setting. Come early to be the first for you seating for front row seats. Extremely attentive chef. Fantastic omakase in a strip mall in Culver City. Chef will drink with you, attend to any requests and then clean up all by himself. Definitely worth a visit and will be back again. Pricing is great for the experience you get. Book and go immediately. read more

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Excellent omakase. It's a one-man show, with the head chef preparing each course while also tending bar. The ambiance is intimate and elevated, making the entire experience feel personal. 10/10. read more

Breathtaking! Every sushi was beautifully and slowly prepared by the chef. While each piece was made with careful detail, it also brought out the delicate taste of each dish. My husband personally loved the sawara, a Spanish Mackerel caught in Japan. Although a difficult choice, mine has to be the toro. After the omakase was finished, he then served a refreshing yuzu sorbet. Remember, the owner of Kusano is a one-man-operated restaurant. Although he was busy serving the drinks and preparing the sushi, he conversed and entertained all his guests. Overall, for $150, this has to be one of the only omakase in Los Angeles that offers this level of quality for the price. If you are looking for quality sushi, while experiencing the culture of Japan, you have to try Kusano at Culver City. read more

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Totally unassuming exterior, but amazing food and service. Chef Kusano is a one-man show and he absolutely owns it: he chats with each person during the service, he has a great sense of humor, and he's super efficient with all his actions. Priced at $150 per person, you'll get 18 bites and a trip to Japan. I can't wait to be back! read more

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Arguably the best sushi I've had in my entire life. The chef was so cool too, he explained all the different types of dishes, how he is preparing each bite and where the fish from. The octopus, golden snapper and "2 way tuna" (toro and akami) were unreal. Started out with this really cool oyster fish as well. Would highly recommend, it's def on the pricier side but worth it for a S tier omakase experience. Oh yea the chef even put this nice message on his dope Vestaboard to congratulate me and my wife in our marriage. read more

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One of the best experiences with omakase sushi I've ever had. Whole another level that this is restaurant is a one-man show read more

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This place is 160pp and i think the quantity and quality of pieces are great. It's mainly nigiri and only one chef is taking care of everyone, but it doesn't feel like it's run by one person. Took about 2 hours from start to end. Sake was great and priced reasonably. I would go back next time when we're in LA. Recommended. read more

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For omakase in a sleepy little corner of Culver City, Chef Kusano-san does a very good job. He runs a one-man show that has to get a little intense when the counter is full, but you get (at least on this visit) a lovely seared kinmedai (golden eye snapper), an uni-caviar-ika that was an interesting take on the usual uni, and there was a bit of work with both scallions and yuzu that was quite good. Highlight was probably the ankimo in particular was a generous portion that managed to not actually overwhelm in flavor. Interior, by the bar at least, is pretty much what you'd expect. Not as crazy high-end as some of his competitors, which again fits the area. Turn around and it's quite a bit more generic, but really, you're here for the food, not for the decor. And less we forget, the value is quite good for the money. Kusano may not quite match up to the exotic heights of his many competitors, but the value is strong. read more

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Combining authentic Japanese omakase with a small restaurant feel, 10/10 I brought my gf here for her birthday as our tradition of getting omakase and we wanted to try a newer establishment, and we're very surprised with the quality and knowledge of chef Kusano. The fact that he didn't even mess with salmon basic nigiri shows the authenticity. Personal favorites were the Hokkaido uni wrapped with squid, the scallop, the lean and fatty tuna pairing, actually it was all amazing His knowledge of the sake menu was also wonderful, we order a bottle of the Kinka, and tried others from the other diners which just enhanced the meal Off the menu we order tako (octopus, which was massaged for an hour cooked and hour after) and king mackerel which just melted in your mouth Must try before his bookings are weeks out read more

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I went for my birthday with my partner. We've been to a good amount of omakase spots in La and it was one of the best! Chef Kusano runs the whole place by himself but he was still very interactive which made the experience way more fun and special. He also put a 'happy bday' writing on my dessert plate with a candle and sang the bday song for me :) It's a small touch but made the experience so much more memorable. Kusano opened a couple months ago but the service was very smooth. The price is reasonable too. If you're looking for an omakase that's simple, traditional, and where you can actually taste the main ingredients, this is the place!! Highly recommend to anyone. read more

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Kusano is an amazing place and worth to visit. Almost every sushi had its own twist by the chef that I didn't had before, such as uni with squid which was amazing. Will definitely come back! read more

What a fun experience with delicious food. The restaurant sits 8 people by the bar, and so your experience might be affected by the people who are part of your seating, but we had some good conversations, great service and enjoyed the sushi too. read more

Arguably the best and most thoughtful meal I've had in my entire life. One man show and that's all that's needed here.

No frills, high quality, good value omakase. Took my husband here for his birthday dinner as we often like to try new omakase spots for special occasions. The restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall and inside is a simple sushi bar setup with 8 seats. While the chef had some help to bus/pour drinks, it's essentially a one-man show as he was doing it all. Chef did his best to chitchat with the group as he could while preparing everything. Overall, the meal was very satisfying, especially for the price ($150pp) which is a good value for Los Angeles. Each piece of fish, and even the rice and ginger, were all very well seasoned. At the end of the meal, we were able to add on additional pieces for a cost. read more

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I really love the Sushi here. Great cuts and Calamari here. I got the Rainbow Sushi plate with Spicy Tuna in which it was FIRE. My first time here, and its tasty and flavorful. Nice owners and workers here too. Moderate in prices, depending what you order, and how many people. read more

It's all about the food here. Carefully crafted sushi by an expert chef. The sushi rice was absolute perfection. My favorite was the duo of tuna - 2 parts of the same fish. Also very much enjoyed the curated selection of fine sakes (especially one from the chef's hometown) craft beers (miso?). read more

Chef is simply incredible, preparing a beautiful, unique, inspired, and delicious omekase, pouring drinks, bussing dishes, running the bill and entertaining his guests. One of a kind experience. read more

Amazing Omakase in an intimate 8-seat sushi counter with Chef Yasu Kusano. He's a one-man show that delivers a great dining experience with deliciously fresh seafood (several flown in from Japan). I will be going back in the future. read more

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This was hands down the best Omakase experience. Chef Kusano is very talented and friendly. Sophisticated and fresh sushi from Japan prepared in front of you around a counter for 8. read more

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I went with friends, and we were all impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Each course was beautifully crafted and full of flavor, showcasing the chef's skill and attention to detail. The cozy and intimate atmosphere added to the overall experience, making it a perfect spot for a memorable meal with friends. Highly recommend for anyone seeking an authentic and delightful omakase! read more

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Food was delicious and service was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be going back

Went tonight and had an amazing experience. Chef Kusano is so nice and fun to talk to! The food was phenomenal and at a great price. I went with someone who has a shellfish allergy and he was so accommodating! Highly recommend. He's only been open for a month and its only a one man operation. Highly recommend! read more

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Absolutely amazing sushi that rivals places 2x the price. If you are a fan of all sushi and no cooked courses then this place is even better. I will definitely be back read more

Probably the best sushi I've ever had.... OMG. A one man show, and he does everything perfectly. This was truly insane...

The food was amazing and the chef's attention to detail was great as well. Just a truly authentic Japanese sushi/Omakase experience. I suppose the ambience could be a tad bit more lively but it didn't detract from the overall quality whatsoever. We didn't really know what we were getting into but 10/10 would go back again. Intimate, fun, and absolutely delicious. Unreal it's just one man running the entire ship from start to finish read more

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Best sushi I've ever had. It was an amazing experience. The sushi was beautifully presented. Truly a magical experience. read more

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Our group of 5 dined here last night and unfortunately, 3 of us experienced stomach issues later that evening. We're unsure of the exact cause, but just wanted to raise awareness for the restaurant to double-check food handling. Service and presentation were great, but we hope this was just an isolated incident. read more

I have had my fair share of omakase and would say that this place is good, especially for its price. I may be unfairly comparing to what I've had in Japan, but it's probably one of the better spots you can have in the states and the chef likes to have interesting stuff. read more

Fantastic omakase for an incredible price. Chef Kusano runs a one man show and creates a warm and welcoming environment while dishing up some incredible sushi. The space leaves something to be desired, as it is a sparsely decorated hole-in-the-wall in Culver City. If you're looking for a really elegant setting, this may not meet the mark for you. If you're looking for incredible sushi at a good price served by a kind chef, it would be hard to beat Kusano. read more

Kusano was a magical culinary experience! It's set in an unassuming strip mall with minimal decor but it needs no frills to truly impress. The chef is a master at his craft - the omakase was my favorite I've been to in LA (been to 15+). Well worth the price! read more

Came here for the first time. It just opened a little over a month ago. 8 seat sushi bar for omakase. Reasonably priced at $150. Short but nice sake list. Rice was seasoned very nicely. One man show but service had a nice pace. Really hot fish bone base miso soup was delicious. Will be back! Plenty of parking in shopping center. Need to make reservations as space is limited and Kusano already a hit. read more

Kusano - Beverage menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Culver City, California

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Authentic sushi with excellent service. Highly recommend coming here, for a great meal, and friendly experience.