My husband and I came here on a Thursday night in November for a casual dinner. I found this restaurant while browsing Yelp randomly and was happy I came in the end. Saijo is located on a street in Culver City near other popular restaurants like Hatchet Hall. We were able to find neighborhood parking a short stroll from the restaurant. A staff member greeted us immediately when we walked in and seated us at two stools around the counter. The ambiance here is chic with a dark interior. They have a wrap-around high-top counter in the center of the restaurant, and the chefs are in the center of this making the sushi. When it comes to hand roll bars, Saijo is unique because it offers yakitori alongside hand rolls. They have a number of set menus designed for people who want to try both, but you can also order a la carte. On this occasion, I tried the 2 x 2, which consisted of two skewers and two hand rolls. It was the perfect amount of food. There are also set menu options with more food, 3 x 3, 4 x 4, depending on your appetite. Both my skewers were perfectly tender and flavorsome. The sushi was also fresh. Our server was very attentive and welcoming. She explained the menu to us as it was our first time and checked in on us continuously throughout the night. Would highly recommend and will be back. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm so glad that Saijo is just a short drive from work, because the lunch specials here are a STEAL. Seating is all bar seating (think Kazunori) but they also serve yakitori as well! The lines for dinner can be pretty long, but from our experience, the service and food comes out pretty quickly. I ordered a 5 handroll set along with 3 skewers al e carte, since it was cheaper that way due to the handroll specials for lunch. The biggest standouts to me were their signature handroll, blue crab handroll, the shrimp skewers, and the chicken thigh skewers. The seaweed they use for their rolls are roasted beforehand so they're perfectly crisp, and the yakitori skewers all have a pleasant aromaric charcoal smell while still perfectly juicy. Highly recommend, and will definitely be back in the near future! NOTE: Parking in the back is intended for employees only, but there is metered street parking out front. read more

See all

Saw this place on tiktok and wanted to check it out! I saw the big tuna fish online, and was happy to see it in person, haha. There's only bar seating, and they have so many workers to provide good service. They have good deals on their combos. I ordered the 2x2 which comes with miso soup, edamame, 2 handrolls, and 2 chicken skewers for $24. The food came right away, almost too soon, as the handroll came when I still had the miso soup and edamame. Wish it came out a little after because you are supposed to eat the handrolls fresh. The seaweed was flavored, which is not my fav either, and some of the fish wasn't my fav in quality. The skewers came out really hot and some of my favorites include the meatball and the beef. Overall, this is a good place for handrolls if you also want to get some other hot food as well! Would come back for their combos! Even cheaper at lunch! read more

See all

Pretty good! I like that they have other offerings here (yakitori, miso soup, etc) but I'm only speaking on the hand rolls as that's all I tried during my visit. It's in a busy area next to Trader Joe's in Culver City and you can park in the lot. I don't think they validate from my memory. If we're talking only about the hand rolls, they're great but I still prefer Kazunori. The sushi rice here didn't have enough rice vinegar for me. Again, it's still great and if you're going with someone who doesn't like hand rolls this would be a great option. Service was prompt and polite and we didn't feel rushed on a weekday lunch. I like that it's brighter and bigger here. Cute spot for a bite! read more

My sister and husband came here for dinner and I was honestly not impressed. Overall, the seafood quality was good but I found that the hand rolls lacked flavor. They weren't anything special and I feel like there are much better sushi/hand roll places in LA. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was curious about this place, so I came with my friend for lunch. Upon entrance, it is a hand roll bar vibe. It's bar seating with walk-ins only. It's a casual hand roll & kushiyaki bar. It feels exactly like KazuNori, but the quality is better, and they have kushiyaki. They will give you an order sheet with a small pencil to order. Their special lunch menu is a good deal for your choice of 3-5 hand rolls with miso soup in a discounted price. I ordered the blue fin toro ($2 surcharge), bay scallop, and blue crab hand rolls. I liked the scallop. The blue crab had a bit of the shell. I also ordered negima, chicken wings, and potato with butter kushiyaki. They were ok. Hand rolls and kushiyaki are nice and interesting combination. You can park at the meters or side streets (follow signs for parking restrictions). read more

See all

Ordered the Bento Box B and was pretty happy with it but not sure if I would come back since there's plenty of better handroll/sushi bento boxes around the area for the same price, quality & more fish. I wasn't sure what was in the bento box since the online ordering site doesn't mention details but I wish it did. Half of the cut rolls were just cucumber and rice which was a bit of a disappointment. However, the sushi was fresh and the two hand rolls were solid. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Definitely adding Saijo to my rotation! Came by around 5:15 on a Tuesday night. There were a couple other parties eating as well. Since we came at an off time, we easily snagged street parking right in front. We got the 3 x 3, which I think is the perfect amount of food. The rolls were good, but I think the standouts were the skewers. For those that have never had yakitori, a set like this is perfect for trying something new. Service was also super quick! Overall really impressed. It would be nice if there were hooks under the table for you to hang bags/jackets. Will be back! read more

See all

Tonight my friend and I went to Saijo we ordered the 4x4 which is 4 hand rolls and 4 grilled skewers. Miso and edamame. It costs 44 a head. The place is busy. You might walk right in or you might wait 15-20 minutes. There's no parking which is frustrating in that there is an empty lot across the street. They could easily set up a moneymaking parking system. For now street parking. Look at the signs some parking is permit only. Ok back to dinner. The bluefin hand roll was very very nice! All the hand rolls were nice. Warm rice loose roll nice crunchy nori tasty fillings. The signature roll was open almost taco like. Once the food started it came fast. I almost felt rushed. The fish side was very nice. Amazing? No. Very nice yes. Skewers were chicken (other meats available) 3 ways and an oyster mushroom skewer. My favorite was the Tsukune which is a chicken meatball on the skewer grilled. It was good I wanted 2. Yes one skewer of each flavor only. I think there's room for improvement in terms of seasoning. No sauces are delivered. It's not complex. Lovely in its simplicity. Ok the joint is loud it's an echo chamber and really needs some simple acoustic treatment to improve the ability to communicate if it's busy talking is difficult. I would say this would be counter romantic despite the low levels of light. Oh and it's a counter counter only!! The counter is a beautiful wood walnut or something like that a nice surface. Counter Wouldn't be my choice. Outdoor seating would help. Hope the seating is comfortable. The stools at the counter? I wouldn't call them super comfortable. They should be since it's a custom buildout. I'm not a stool Seating fan. From my perspective in its current state no parking Loud environment being rushed. There's lots of work to be done. It's a new joint they are still working things out. Our server was attentive and like I said once it started (which was very soon after we sat down) it was swift. Too swift. That's the rhythm of the joint almost a sense of urgency. Once we start.. eating dinner shouldn't be urgent. This place is out of my normal range it's a big deal to drive 20-30 minutes in LA to eat so it should be special. Saijo has some elements of special but has some work to to to achieve repeat business special. I'll check back in in 6 months or so to see. No pictures of food. But here's a shot of the menu. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is my new favorite spot for fresh handrolls! I love that they have different preset tasting options with Kushiyaki Skewers and they include starters like edamame and the best miso soup! Appetizers were great but the specials were amazing. If it's available I recommend getting the Toro Kushiyaki, it's incredibly tender and tastes like bone marrow on a skewer! From the hostess, server, to sushi chef, staff was so attentive and helpful. Tati was so sweet too. The restaurant was clean, lighting was dim and vibey for dinner. I recommend going a bit earlier if you can to beat the dinner rush around 6-7pm. But the parties do eat and leave in a timely manner because the service is quick and smooth. Definitely recommend to all Handroll and Kushiyaki lovers. I'll be back for sure! read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Pretty, clean restaurant with spacious seating and purse hooks - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Pros - the food was really good. The wagyu melted in your mouth. The meats and shrimp (wish we tried the eel!) was well seasoned. I got the 3x3 pre fixed menu and it came with Edamame and miso soup for $34. The bbq beef was also good, everything was really good honestly. Con - is nothing food related. The parking situation is street only and the side streets are permit only from 5pm to 2am on northside of Washington. It's only like 20-25ish counter seating and when it does become popular, I hope they start taking reservations. The lights were dim, the menu small and although it's a check box situation, it's asking for QTY, only shown on top the first box each section was super tiny. I was checking it until we realized it was asking for the quantity. Over all great experience. Everyone left happy and satisfied. We got lucky and had a party of 3 that showed up around 7:15 & got the last 3 seats together. Talk about Lucky! read more

See all

There are A LOT of sushi choices in LA, it's like our version of Starbucks - The last year has seen a flood of omakase choices and even more handroll locations. Culver City has been lacking in quality sushi for a while, no offense to the current offerings... Saijo popped up on IG without too much fanfare other than "Opening on 4/2" but our hopes were high. Haven't been to a Day 1 launch in a while so we thought we'd take a chance to see if we can get in (they don't take reservations). Based in W. Washington where the old Detour Bistro Bar used to be, it's a busy street and parking can be difficult but plenty of side streets to try. At 7pm the place was full (seating for 24) so one of the Manager's/Robert asked if we minded waiting roughly 30 minutes and could grab a drink next door at Corner Door. We got the call 20 minutes later and in we went... Inside is similar in many ways to Kazu Nori as it's all bar seating and the vibe was very upbeat with customers and the staff. The menu is also similar to many of the handroll places, where you can order a set/combination of handrolls and skewers. Although higher priced than Kazu Nori or some others, the quality of the fish warranted the pricing. We went for the 4x4 to try a little of everything and noticed a large fish that the chefs were scraping at to make rolls. We found out it was a special that night and had to try as well. The skewers were just ok as I have yet to really fall in love with any type of skewer anywhere but it was nice and salty so you wanted to have a beer - which just seems right for this kind of place. The fish was very fresh, and the nori paper was amazingly fresh and crunchy, the toro roll was the best we had all night by far. Comparing to similar places: Fish was fresher and nori was super crisp - handrolls are pretty much the 'usual' size I love warm rice with my fish, but this wasn't that style - which is ok Beer selection is minimal which I would think can only get better (just two to choose from) Considering it was night 1, the staff had this place pretty wired. Service was very friendly and relatively fast - we will definitely be back to try more. Quick tip - They didn't really promote anything special or off menu, but if you ask they will bring over a small sign with what they have to offer. read more

See all

saijo is the best spot for a good lunch deal, which they offer everyday, including weekends! they offer 3-5 hand rolls + a miso soup for $16-24. i've only been here for lunch, and i've never had to wait long for a seat. it's only bar seating, so it's not the best spot for a large group. parking is relatively easy, with a bunch of street parking nearby. food is served very quickly! they also offer a good selection of kushiyaki. - miso soup (5/5): so yummy! it was salty and light. i enjoyed the small bits of tofu and seaweed, and there were no green onions, which i actually liked - salmon hand roll (4.5/5): this was one of my favorites! the salmon was so soft and melted in my mouth. i thought the salmon had the most flavor compared to the other hand rolls with just plain fish - albacore hand roll (4/5): the albacore was also really soft but had a little less flavor than the salmon. i thought it was relatively plain - bluefin toro hand roll (3/5): the actual toro was good and so soft, but i was actually a little bit disappointed because i thought it was bland. i had to use soy sauce with this - spicy tuna hand roll (5/5): i thought this was very good and definitely had a kick! it was spicier than other spicy tuna mixes i've tried. i'm not usually the biggest fan of spicy tuna, but i liked this one because it had a lot of flavor - bay scallop hand roll (4/5): i tried this multiple on visits, and sometimes the mayo flavor was perfect, but other times it was just too subtle. the scallops were very soft, but i preferred other scallop hand rolls because of the consistency in flavor. the savory and creamy flavor really blended well when the seasoning was perfect. the small bits of green onion contributed to the flavor too - blue crab hand roll (4/5): it was supposed to be served cold, but i thought it was colder than usual. i liked that the crab was mixed in with mayo because it was one of the most flavorful rolls. the crab itself had a strong flavor - signature hand roll (4.5/5): this came with blue crab, shrimp, and salmon belly. i thought this one was tasty, even without a lot of seasoning, which was probably due to the variety in seafood. the blue crab definitely overpowered the other two, but they did add good textures. i also liked the addition of cucumber, which added some freshness. this one was bigger than the other hand rolls - chicken gizzard kushiyaki (4/5): the gizzard was just salted, so i wanted more depth of flavor. i loved the texture though! it wasn't too tough and crunchy for gizzards - pork chashu kushiyaki (4.5/5): minus points for consistency. the first time i tried this, i thought it could've been more tender, especially because it was thicker cut. it was a little dry. the second time i tried it, the pork was literally melting in my mouth. it would be a 5/5 if it could taste like that all the time! the marinade had some wasabi flavor mixed in with a sweet glaze, which was just delicious - a5 miyazaki wagyu kushiyaki (3/5): good savory flavor, but the beef was pretty chewy, even though it was cooked well. there was a pea-sized amount of a wasabi-based sauce on top, but it wasn't too strong. i was pretty disappointed by the texture, especially because this skewer was so expensive compared to the others the hand rolls at saijo are relatively big compared to other hand roll bars, so i can order less to feel full. the rice is good and moist, although i think that there's slightly too much rice compared to fish. i love that the nori stays crispy for most of the rolls, instead of getting chewy after the first bite. this really makes saijo stand out! although i enjoyed my experiences, i don't think that this is the best hand roll bar i've tried in terms of flavor, but i would definitely come back for the lunch deals. read more

Finally -- a handroll spot with more than just handrolls on the menu! For me, a satisfying meal always needs a variety of textures and flavors, which is why I've struggled with other handroll-only places (like Kazunori). Saijo, however, not only does excellent handrolls but also offers skewers -- and both are fantastic. What impressed me most is that even with a more diverse menu, the quality never slips. The fish is fresh and flavorful, and the skewers are hot & cooked to perfection. I especially loved the shrimp skewer, while both friends I've brought here swear by the chicken meatball! read more

See all

My fiancé and I were looking for a new hand roll spot that and we were in luck with Saijo. A very quaint and intriguing ambiance inside. You felt very relaxed once you sat and it had the bar style seating as most hand roll places do. This place had incredible service and our waitress was so attentive to watching when we needed more food. The food was *chefs kiss*' the skewers with hand rolls really made a difference and the sauces paired well with each skewer. The signature roll is hands down the best thing on the menu, packed with so much fresh fish! Please go try this spot if you want a different but delicious experience with hand rolls! read more

See all

IG/TT @eatwkris @saijohandroll is LA's newest hand roll restaurant where you sit in front of the chef and the handrolls are made to order. The fish is fresh, seaweed is crispy, and I love that they give you free edamame and miso soup. I recommend getting the 2x2 for only $24. You get a salmon and toro hand roll as well as 2 chicken skewers (negima and Tsukune). It's the perfect little meal so light and fresh for summer but if you want more my favorite hand roll had to be their special!! It's $8 but comes with 3 types of fish, seared salmon, shrimp, and crab!! This was the best bite and worth every dollar. Their bluefin tuna was very fresh and just cut off the fish in front of us but it had a lot of blood on it, so the whole bite was very jrony. Unsure if they usually prepare it like this, but not our favorite. $24 2x2 - 2 hand roll, 2 kushiyaki $8 signature hand roll - salmon, shrimp, crab free miso and edamame saijo hand roll, Culver City 12473 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066 read more

See all

Omg delicious! I was hungry and wifey wanted the mushroom skewer so we got the omakase ($58) and 4x4 ($44). We split basically everything and nothing disappointed. Lobster hand roll was what I was looking forward to and it is now my staple dish here. The yellowfin sashimi to start was a close #2. Beer is fairly priced at $7 for Sapporo Light. The service is right in front of you, friendly and attentive. They have light housey music playing in the background but not to loud to interrupt a conversation. House was packed, as it should be, and no one was yelling to have a conversation. We will DEFINITELY BE BACK and recommend highly. Oh... parking is best on the ramp, yes a ramp, on top of the BJJ gym. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Closing chicken skewer with 9 spice - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My partner and I tried Saijo last week to shake things up from KazuNori. The pricing and experience is largely comparable, however Saijo combined its preset menu to include both hand rolls and hot skewers as well. The skewers were OK, but I was a bit disappointed that the preset menu experience lacked focus on traditional hand rolls. That being said, the two hand rolls I did have (tuna and salmon) were delicious. Typical of hand roll bars, the service was accommodating without being overbearing, which I appreciated. The ambiance was relaxed, while still feeling a little bit upscale. All of the seats sit around the main bar, with the chef bringing your courses as they're prepared in front of you. It was fun to try a new spot, and I'll be better prepared to perhaps go the à la carte route next time so I can properly satisfy my hand roll craving. read more

If you're in LA and haven't been to Saijo Hand Roll Bar, you're seriously missing out. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was sleek and inviting, but the real star? The kushiyaki. Perfectly grilled, flavorful, and expertly seasoned, each skewer was pure magic. The pork belly was juicy, the Unagi had a bold umami punch, and even the veggies were fire (literally and figuratively). You can tell they take pride in their grilling game. Hand rolls were fresh and solid too, but honestly, I'd come back just for the kushiyaki. Service was fast, staff was friendly, and the whole experience felt elevated without being pretentious. @sushitraveler read more

See all

My new favorite handroll spot, better than Kazunori and Yunomi. Their handrolls are filled generously and the seaweed is delicious even if it sits for a bit while you're taking photos of your food :) What sets this place apart is that they also serve grilled skewers!! Super fast service inside and lots of seating around the bar. Parking maybe a little difficult due to it being street only but it's so worth it! read more

See all

We finally had the chance to try Saijo after watching it being built and passing by many times. Needless to say, we were excited to finally dine here. We came in around 8:30 PM on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is large and modern, but surprisingly, there were only two other parties finishing up when we arrived. For a stretch, we were the only guests dining, which made the experience feel a bit rushed. Our food came out extremely quickly, almost too quickly, and it felt like we ended up eating much faster than we wanted. The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the overall service was solid. Saijo's concept is very similar to Kazunori (by Sugarfish), which we love and frequent often--the setup, menu layout, and style were nearly identical. One distinction was the inclusion of Japanese yakitori on the menu, which was a fun addition, though not really the reason you'd visit a hand roll restaurant. We tried the Omakase Saijo, which was beautifully presented and a bit different from the 3x3 we also ordered. Both featured same/similar rolls, just plated differently. The hand rolls themselves were fresh but a bit hit-or-miss--some lacked flavor entirely, while others, like the spicy tuna, were a bit heavy-handed with the sauce. I also wish they were a little warmer. From the yakitori section, the shrimp skewer was a highlight, while the chicken meatball skewer was flavorful but came out undercooked the first time and had to be sent back. The miso soup was excellent, rich and comforting. The edamame would have been much better warm rather than served cold. We also tried the fresh wasabi for an additional $6, which turned out to be a very small portion and not really worth the upcharge. Pricing overall felt high compared to other restaurants with equal or better quality. The menu is also quite long and a bit confusing, with too many combinations and options, making it harder to navigate. In the end, we enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't particularly memorable. The food was fresh, service was kind, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but the hand rolls--the main draw--didn't wow us the way we had hoped. Worth trying once if you're in the area, but not a must-visit spot in LA's hand roll scene. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Saijo Handroll in Culver City is --easily 5 stars! Intimate counter seating, insane freshness, and killer hand rolls. The bluefin toro and signature combo (blue crab + shrimp + salmon belly) were melt-in-your-mouth perfect with that crisp nori crunch. A5 Wagyu and shrimp skewers were smoky, juicy perfection. Friendly service, generous portions, and complimentary edamame/miso to start. Authentic, high-quality, no hype needed. Already planning round two--go now! read more

Amazing and so satisfied. We did the $68 Saijo experience and well worth it! I thought it was going to be too much food and it wasn't at all! We even finished the meal with the one bite uni for dessert and it was the best choice. My favorites were the one bite offerings and the skewers. The waygu with egg foam I wish was a little more meaty. Personally the egg foam was a little over powering to let the meat shine. Oh and the skewers- totally unexpected yumminess!! Service was good. We arrived around 6:30ish on a weekday and waited less than 15 mins. When we left, the line had built up. Totally worth it though! I will be back! read more

Starting with the positive. There are 25 counter seats. The seats had a good amount of space between each. This kind of setup usually is elbow to elbow, but not here at Saijo. Also, the waiting area is a patio in front of the restaurant, and you can order drinks while waiting, a nice touch. I went there during Dine LA week. The set menu was ok, but noting to write home about. Quality was good but the flavor profile and ingredient combinations had no spark. Also, the skewers were served between servings of handrolls, definitely not the proper order for the palate. And the service was too quick. We weren't finished with our handroll and the next one was already coming at me. read more

Super cute and reasonably priced. The interaction with the kitchen is fun and authentic. Delicious rolls and fresh ingredients. Service is superb. read more

See all

Good combination of hand rolls made fresh (like Kazunori) and limited kushiyaki (chicken thigh and ground meatball skewers, shiitake mushrooms, etc.). I do like the combination of having both, and it's a nice variety/change of pace from just having handrolls, although I would say the handrolls at Kazunori are a notch tastier. I would still come back, though! read more

Yum. This place is so good!! Quality of the fish is fresh and delicious. Great menu options with more variety than most hand roll bars. I docked one star only because the food comes out too fast and in a strange order. I got two hand rolls before the miso soup and edamame. I love the signature hand roll and the albacore hand roll. Wil definitely go back! read more

See all

Food, drinks, service and ambiance are all top notch. Completely and simply delicious and unpretentious. Highly recommend the Omakase and maybe add a seasonal bite or two. The fish is extremely fresh with subtle accent seasonings that accentuate the delicate flavors without being overpowering. Kushyaki grilled skewers were also delicious and provided a variety of warm non-seafood proteins, which perfectly balanced the omakase courses. No reservations are accepted, and seating is all at a wrap-around counter. read more

Handrolls have seriously come on to the scene lately, and Saijo is just the latest addition in a fairly... wouldn't say sleepy area of Culver City, as the food game here is strong, but definitely an area that could handle another sushi place. They may not be larger than some of their biggest competitors, but they sure feel like it, with a single massive three-sided triangular bar that gives an unusual sense of style vs. many of their competitors. The menu includes both yakitori and hand rolls, and is quite extensive. Service is generally good, but their yaktitori was kind of disorganized in how it came out. I went just two days after opening so it's fair they still need time to work out their service flow. The hand rolls are pretty good, but the best of their competitors are at least as good. And while it was nice they had some quality specials (botan ebi handroll and an uni hand roll), they most certainly charged accordingly, especially for the uni. If you want hand rolls and are willing to travel, Saijo is solid. They feel a little more special than a lot of their competitors due to their style, but as far as quality, I might say it's a bit harder to say they truly stand out. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Outside. - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Sushi lovers, this is a hidden gem! Tried Saijo today for the first time and I'm already planning my return. This new hand roll spot (just opened two months ago) is everything I love in a sushi experience fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. I went for the lunch set, and wow... what a phenomenal deal. Fresh hand rolls, miso soup, and a vibe small aisle yet open and little gem of a spot that feels like you're in on a delicious little secret. The sushi chef was friendly and clearly every hand roll felt like edible art, and the flavor combos were spot on. Shoutout to Ivan, our server, who was fantastic, warm, knowledgeable, and took the time to walk us through the menu and share his favorites. Love when service feels both relaxed and attentive. It's a cozy space with a first-come-first-serve lunch crowd (they're only open 12-2:30), so go early or be ready to wait it's worth it. Price point is incredibly reasonable for the quality. (See menu I've attached.) If you're looking for a quick yet elevated sushi experience with heart, Saijo delivers. read more

See all

cozyyyy wozzyyyyy spot with the freshest most flavorful hand rolls and meats. if you opt to dine in you receive a front row seat to the culinary action! they offer select sake and wine for your experience. i was there for an event so the menu was set - their blue fin tuna, albacore, and salmon were my top fav. their miso soup is great for starters and to get the juices flowin. also, honorable mention to their Negimi skewer, perfect texture with a smoky flavor yet subtle sweetness. customer service was exceptional and everyone looked like they really love what they're doing and wanted to be there. I'll be back to try out their lunch specials! read more

See all

Saijo has become our new favorite spot within biking distance from home. The kushiyaki tastes just like it would in Tokyo (four times the price which, let's be honest, is expected in LA). While the beverage offerings are pretty limited, the cold dry sake from Akita was a perfect pairing with the food. The hand rolls were excellent too. I especially loved the special botan ebi with uni. That said, the service needs some improvement. It took over 30 minutes to get our first yakitori, and they forgot part of our order (three chicken wings). When I followed up in Japanese, the staff member admitted he forgot to put them in then 10 minutes later brought out just one. When I reminded him we had ordered three, he seemed surprised and never apologized. A simple "sorry" would've gone a long way. Definitely not the level of service I'm used to in Tokyo. I like their clean, bar-seating-only setup, but it could be tricky for groups larger than three. We were really impressed with the quality of the food, but a two-hour lunch wasn't what we planned. Next time, I'll double-check the order to avoid any mix-ups. Hoping for smoother service on our next visit because the food truly is worth coming back for. read more

See all

Food: really wonderful handrolls and grilled meats with top-notch ingredients. This is an extremely minor note but if you're looking for yakitori with wider variety, Saijo has a limited menu on that score but it's more than sufficient if you just want the basics and aren't looking for exotic items. Service: fast, efficient, and patient with diners especially first-timers. They're not the friendliest but they are very organized and keep track of orders well. Ambiance: extremely clean and orderly with a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Lighting is quite dim, and on a totally random note, there was a strong, pungent odor in the restaurant that was really unpleasant at the time of our visit. It was the strangest thing ever and we couldn't tell where it was coming from or what it was but needless to say, it didn't make the dining experience comfortable at all. read more

Got the $20 lunch special which includes 4 hand-rolls and a miso soup which I think is a great deal! It was super yummy. The place is cute and clean and the service is nice and fast. read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Albacore handroll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I wanted to try this newer handroll spot in town since I'm usually at Kazunori. Overall, this location has roomier counter seating and a decent outdoor waiting area with standing counters and benches. The ambiance of this place feels less intimate because of the shape of their interior, which is out of their control. It's almost a bit triangular with a lot of wasted space in its center? Kazunori feels smaller and more intimate, similar to how it feels in Japan establishments. I arrived about an hour before closing on a Saturday night and the wait was about 45 mins. They have various preset combos that do *not* allow substitutions unless you have specific allergies. What I ordered: - I got the 2x2 which came with edamame, miso soup, salmon handroll, bluefin tuna handroll, and two skewers (chicken meatball & chicken + green onion) The edamame could use some flavored seasoning or maybe more salt? It was super bland. The miso soup was good though. Rolls were fresh, and skewers were super tender. - In addition to the 2x2, my partner ordered the unagi handroll, wagyu skewer, pork belly skewer, and beef skewer. The Wagyu was my favorite, but the price was a bit steep (~$18 for a few pieces). The quality was decent. However, be prepared to spend a bit more of a premium, especially for some skewer options. Overall, place is worth checking out if you're in the area. TLDR: less intimate ambiance than other handroll spots, but quality and service was great **parking can be really difficult since it's only street parking** read more

Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Really delicious sushi and rolls. However, I took away one star because I got the bill (credit card reading machine) while I was still chewing my last piece of meal. I had ordered the 4 hand roll and they knew I was not going to order anything else, so, the guy decided he could check me out, while I was still eating my last bite and drinking water. That's rude in any culture. I asked him if he could let me finish and he probably realized his mistake and left the card reading machine in top of the counter ready for me to check out. Table manners matter, so, please address that. There were still 15 minutes left before the restaurant was going to close--so, it was not because they were concerned about closing--there were at least 4-5 more customers seated at the counter... read more

Recently visited this handroll bar, and it was giving major Kazunori vibes. Parking is definitely limited since it's on a busy street, but you can usually find neighborhood parking on the side streets. I went around 7:30 PM on a Sunday night and it was a packed house, but they let you enjoy a beer on the patio while you wait. A lot of people were also waiting for pick-up orders. One thing I loved was how spacious the bar was -- seating for about 15-20 people. The menu is surprisingly large, with options like handrolls, sashimi, and yakitori. Everything is made fresh on the spot and comes out hot and flavorful. Such a cute date spot, but also perfect for a solo dinner. I'll definitely be back. read more

ahhhh - very happy to have found this gem. I have been on a handroll kick but was looking for a bigger menu than just handrolls. Saijo is great as they have kushiyaki AND handrolls. I can get a few handrolls and a few grilled items. They also have a fresh fish sitting in the middle of the restaurant and they do cut from it! Signature handroll, spicy tuna, toro, crap, albacore were portioned well. Fish to rice ratio was good! Almost all the kushiyakis were great (specifically Negima, Tsukune, Beef, Tebasaki, Chilean Seabas FAVEEE) service is quick, chefs are very nice and overall a great experience read more

Finally a great hand roll spot in my area! I've been coming here ever since they opened, and it's quickly become one of my go-to places. I love stopping by for fresh, flavorful hand rolls on a random day, and this place never disappoints. The fish is always super fresh, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the service friendly and consistent. My favorites are the Signature Roll and the chicken meatball so delish and juicy! read more

See all

Discovered this spot through the Camber App's Instagram and I'm so glad I did -- Saijo might be my new go-to sushi place in LA. It's like Backhouse and Kazunori had a baby -- intimate, vibrant, and fresh. I opted for the 3x3 set (three handrolls and three skewers) and added a few extras off the menu. The one-bite hand rolls are a fun twist, and watching the sushi being made right in front of you adds to the experience. The kushiyaki skewers were super flavorful -- especially the Tsukune and the garlic butter shrimp. Everything was well seasoned and grilled just right. The hand rolls were fresh and well balanced -- the Signature and Blue Crab were standouts. Service: Friendly and attentive Vibe: Chill counter seating, great for a casual date or solo night out Drinks: They serve sake, beer, and wine -- I went for the Nigori and loved it Parking: Street parking available, free after 6PM Pro tip: No reservations, so time your visit well to avoid a wait Fun fact: Saijo is part of the Jinya restaurant group (yep, the ramen spot), and there's only one other location -- in Canada! That makes this Culver City gem even more special. All in all, Saijo is definitely worth checking out if you're a sushi fan or just want something fresh and flavorful in Culver City. Will 100% be back! read more

See all