Ninja N.

We will certainly be returning! We are very pleased that we selected this Izakaya. The food and service were among the best we have experienced in Los Angeles. We extend our gratitude to Aiden and Steve for contributing to a wonderful evening. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. You guys rock!

Angela L.

Mutsu is a charming little spot with an intimate and cozy atmosphere. The glowing countertops give the space a unique, almost magical feel that makes the dining experience especially memorable. We ordered the Mutsu lunch box, which was good for lunch and very reasonably priced. A hidden gem for an affordable and relaxing Japanese lunch. The wait can get long because of the limited capacity. Street parking is needed. Reservations recommended.

Warren T.

I came with a chum on a Wednesday evening. The interior decor really put us in awe with its organic contours, wooden beams, and illuminated stone table. They definitely get a 5 out of 5 for the interior design. The space was rather intimate with only 10 seats and I think they also have a table in the back for larger parties. The space is reminiscent of other high end sushi spots with similar intimate seating, but this is definitely hitting more of a mid tier price point. Now the quality of the fish reflects this pricing as well. I wouldn't say you are getting the freshest fish as you would if you went to a uber high end spot, but the flavors are unique and enticing. They also seem to have fresh seaweed and ginger. Parking is street parking with valet available, which is typical for the area.

Arthur E.

Vegas like ambiance, with a good introduction to handrolls and yakitori. Went for a Saturday dinner. Was a full house and wasn't greeted at the door until about 5 minutes later - was definitely busy. Had an RSVP and was sat shortly after being seen. The menu is pretty standard handroll and yakitori fare, with a few specialty handrolls. Ordered a crispy rice, a few handrolls as well as the pork belly skewers. The crispy rice was pretty spot on and the pork belly skewers were on point. Wish I actually tried a few more of the other meat skewers. The handrolls were fine, but a little over-seasoned. I think others may like it as there's different flavors going on, but I was hoping to taste more of the fish. Another plus of this place is the price is reasonable for being in that Beverly Hills-ish area. I'd recommend if you're wanting to get into sushi and handrolls, as well as if you're looking for a nice ambiance without the sticker price that comes with it around the BH area.

Priscilla M.

Their lunch special is so good! $35 for variety of items (not including extra costs for proteins.) This place is very small but intimate which I loved. Totally coming back again!

Karen L.

Wow, this place was such an experience! I highly recommend making a reservation since it's a very small and intimate space. The decor and overall aesthetics are absolutely gorgeous. Even the marble bar where you're seated is stunning and adds so much to the experience. The food and service were both 10/10. Everything we tried was delicious, and with every bite I just wanted more and more. The fish was incredibly fresh, buttery, and melted in your mouth. The presentation of each dish was also so unique and thoughtfully done. I came here to celebrate my fiancé's birthday, and the staff made it extra special by bringing out a green tea dessert and singing Happy Birthday. Such a thoughtful touch that made the night even more memorable. Definitely a spot worth checking out!

Stefany W.

Absolutely stunning interior. Unfortunately the food was a hit or miss. We got their set that came with yakitori and sushi. We didn't really love any of the yakitori. However the sushi were all delicious so if you come, try the sushi but skip the yakitori.

Sari S.

I came to Mutsu with a friend right as they opened at 5pm. Luckily, she lives walking distance so we walked over from her home. The restaurant is a few doors down from the Largo, near the Beverly Connection & Center. Parking can be tough if you're looking on La Cienega, but plenty of paid lots to go into and walk over from. The inside is beautiful. Minimalist with a gorgeous bar. Minimal staff - it was only the one waiter who I believe may have been the owner, and one sushi chef out on the floor. They were extremely nice and gracious, overall great service. They have a smaller menu, mostly handrolls and yakitori options. Seemed promising truthfully. My disappointment with this restaurant came when we took our first bites of the handrolls. We were the first customers of the day and the nori was tough. It was chewy, hard to bite through, tasted a little stale. The actual fish was good, nothing incredible but not bad. It was just really hard to get through anything without unraveling it with your chopsticks and eating the inside. The yakitori was okay - we did not order meatballs but that is what came. For such a beautiful restaurant I really had hoped the food would be up to the same standard. However, with so many other amazing sushi options near by, I'm not sure I'd be running back.

Food was okay, fish was fresh, beautiful atmosphere but the service was extremely horrible. I walked in last Tuesday, but was told that the restaurant only accepts reservations. That was fine, so I made a reservation one week in advance to celebrate my birthday with three friends, for a total of four people. I chose Mutsu because I had seen the beautiful bar area and was looking forward to sitting there. I didn't realize at the time that parties of three or more would be seated at the private dining tables in the back. That part was my misunderstanding, and I completely understand the restaurant's seating policy. However, when my friend asked if we could sit at the bar instead, the server immediately refused without really offering any explanation or trying to accommodate us. We eventually sat at a table in the back. While we were sitting there, ordering and waiting for our food for over 30 minutes, I noticed several tables were still empty, even though they weren't all next to each other. The food took a very long time to arrive. The first thing we received was the spicy edamame, and honestly, I was shocked when it arrived. It was basically edamame sitting in a soup-like sauce. The flavor was not good at all -- very sour and tasted like mostly sambal. The edamame was also slightly overcooked. The server then came over and asked, "Everything okay?" -- while we had only one dish on the table, which was the edamame. That was also the only time during the entire meal that the server checked on our table. After that, we repeatedly had to ask about our food and when it would arrive. When the sashimi platter finally came, the fish itself was fresh and tasted good, but the slicing and presentation were extremely disappointing. Some pieces were extremely thin, unevenly cut, and some looked like square pieces that had simply been cut off and placed on the plate. The thickness was inconsistent from piece to piece 0 skills of cutting and presentation. The handrolls were another disappointment. The nori was extremely chewy, even though we ate them right after they were served. That said, I will give credit where it's due: most of the fish was fresh and delicious. The only exception was the uni, which had a noticeably slightly fishy. The service continued to be frustrating. At one point, our water pitcher was empty. We placed it at the end of the table where the staff could clearly see it. Servers walked past our table multiple times without looking over or asking if we needed anything. Eventually, I had to call out to a runner and ask for water before anyone noticed. There were also two handrolls that my friends had to repeatedly follow up on because they had never arrived. Then the bill came We noticed a 20% "Large Party Service Charge." We were extremely confused because there were only four of us, and I did not see any clear statement on the menu saying that a party of four would automatically be charged a 20% service charge. The only notice we saw on the menu was that 3% is added to the bill and is not gratuity. When I asked the server about the 20% charge, he told that because we were using that particular table, which had been reserved, the restaurant automatically charged the service fee. When I questioned it and said I did not agree with the 20% charge, the server removed it almost immediately. That honestly left me wondering: If the restaurant can simply add a 20% service charge and then remove it when the customer questions it, how is this charge being determined in the first place? I also told the server that if the restaurant intends to charge a mandatory 20% service charge, it should be clearly disclosed to customers in advance and on the menu, especially given California's requirements regarding mandatory fees. The response I received was extremely dismissive and unprofessional: "I just work here. I'm not the one who made it." That response was particularly disappointing. I have no problem paying a service charge when it is clearly disclosed and when the service justifies it. But in this case, the service was extremely inattentive, our food was very slow, we had to repeatedly ask about missing dishes and water, and then we were presented with a 20% "large party" service charge despite being a party of only four. Overall: the fish was fresh and some of the food was good, but the service was far below what I expected, and the way the service charge was handled left a very bad impression. If the owner or management would like to speak with me about this experience, I'd be happy to discuss it. Please feel free to contact me.

Raya M.

With the hype around Mutsu, I had to make a reservation a full month in advance just to snag a weekend spot (ended up going on a Sunday). It's definitely busy, but overall I'd say it's worth trying. They really specialize in yakitori and hand rolls, so if you're coming in craving specialty rolls, this isn't the place. That said, it's actually refreshing to switch things up, and we did enjoy our meal. The space itself is beautifully designed. It's very small and intimate, but they did a great job with the ambiance. The light up marble counter is stunning visually, though not the most practical for dining. Because of how bright it is, everything placed on top ends up looking darker than it actually is (you can see this in photos). The bar seats about 8 to 10 people and they have one private table for a group. Service wise, Chef Oscar was a highlight. His energy and craftsmanship really stood out, and honestly I'd come back just for that experience alone. As for the food, it was good, especially the sashimi, where the quality of the fish was excellent. But overall, nothing felt particularly memorable or wow. A lot of the dishes felt like they were missing a bit of flavor, salt, ponzu, or something to bring more depth. We found ourselves relying on spicy mayo or soy sauce more than we should have. One standout, surprisingly, was the miso soup. It was genuinely the best I've ever had. Also worth noting, we spent about $300 for two people with no alcohol, just water, which felt pretty steep for what we got in terms of both quality and quantity. Overall, a solid experience with great ambiance and service, but for the price, it's hard to justify as a go to spot. I'd come back, but not regularly.

Nicole B.

What an incredible experience at Mutsu. From the moment you step in, you see how beautiful this space is in person. Small, intimate, but full of warmth and charm. The staff are kind and humble, ensuring you're getting the best experience. On to the food - the seafood is insanely fresh! The scallop and shrimp skewers were absolutely delicious. The spicy tuna, crab, and sweet shrimp hand rolls were fantastic. The scallop hand roll was fresh but had a little too much mayo for me (but I'm just really picky with mayo in general). Each piece in the sashimi platter melts in your mouth although they're all different in texture and flavor - truly a masterpiece. We also tried the Negroni and Moscow mule and both were great compliments to the meal. Parking can be a bit tricky but considering the area, it's to be expected. Mutsu can be a bit pricey, because things obviously add up, but you get what you pay for with the quality and attention to detail. Mutsu is a tucked away gem perfect for when you want an intimate dining experience with high quality food. We'll definitely be back :)

Alex Y.

Saw this restaurant in a social media promotion and I had to try it! I made a reservation for lunch on a Friday. The vibe and ambiance are insane, in a good way. We were greeted by the host and seated immediately. The restaurant is not big at all but the environment and the entire atmosphere made me just want to take everything in and enjoy every minute before ordering food. We order the Mutsu Lunch Box, which includes miso soup, two crispy rice (must be the same), one hand roll, and one donburi bowl. I ordered snow crab crispy rice, salmon handroll, and miso salmon donburi. My wife ordered the salmon crispy rice, snow crab handroll, and beef donburi. The soup came out first and it was pretty good. Then the hand rolls arrived and they were amazing but make sure you eat it ASAP while the seaweed is still crunchy. The meat for my wife's beef donburi and my miso salmon donburi were very tasty, but I have to say the rice was a little hard and undercooked. The rice cakes were well-flavored but I think they were over-fried so the rice was very hard and difficult to chew on. Aside from these minor issues, I think this is an overall excellent experience.

Kathy X.

Finally had the opportunity to check out Mutsu, their reservations are fully booked every weekend for the next month, and I definitely get why. The vibes in here are so unique, that marble under lit counter is the centerpiece, and the music is all a vibe. I like the concept of this restaurant, and all of the food is really good. My only (big) qualm is that they are on the pricier side, especially given the size of the portions. Service is really great, everyone that works there is so friendly. The standout bites for me were the tsukune, and my husband loved the sweet shrimp and caviar handroll.