Great service. Good food. Original recipes. Local place for us, definitely returning.

Very Good New Japanese Restaurant. Order Bluefin Burrata , Shinzo , Negima , Miso Cod , Lobster Dashi Pasta , Wagyu Shortribs , Spicy Tuna (Cut Roll) , Spicy Yellowtail (Cut Roll) , Truffle Toro (Cut Roll). Delicious. Yum ! read more

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Decided to give this place a try instead of going to Yunomi tonight and no regrets! Food was superb- the attention to detail was just exceptional. Staff were friendly and you can feel they are passionate with what they do. Ambience was calm on a weekday and highly recommend the happy hour. Would go back again 100%. Highlight of my meal was the pork belly, it's a must try. read more

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The food and drinks were really good! My date got a mocktail and really appreciated that it was cheaper than the alcohol version cuz most places would charge the same for the mocktail version. But docked a star for slow service. We went on a Sunday night and got a lobster appetizer, the wagyu, and got 2 hand rolls each. We got the lobster appetizer and wagyu in a good amount of time but for some reason; the hand rolls were last and they gave them to us one at a time. The timing between our hand rolls were really long and felt like we waited about 15 minutes after our first hand rolls for the next, which I feel like doesn't make sense because it's not like they're being cooked or anything. read more

Finally got to try this place last night and it was just okay. Service was basic. No greeting, he sat us down handed our menu and walked away. We ordered the crispy rice, blue fin burrata, wagyu short ribs and 2 Handroll. Food was basic. Food was presented beautifully but the taste was not there. Portions were very small for the amount that they are charging. Maybe it was an off night since all of the other reviews say a different picture but we will not be back read more

Sama Handroll is such a great addition in Arts District! I'm so glad this restaurant opened up near me. This place needs the recognition it deserves. They have yummy food and impeccable service. The wagyu short ribs and beef tongue are both my favorites! The chicken skin appetizer is also very good! Love dipping my hand rolls with the yuzu sauce. I can't wait to be back and try the other items on the menu! read more

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My god, delicious curated flavors and the fish is so fresh! My parents are sushi chefs and I have to say that the hand rolls are phenomenal!! The shape is a little different than what I'm used to (more like a maki roll) but the flavors are fantastic. The Uni hand roll was PACKED full of uni and none of them were fishy, just very rich and smooth. The trumpet mushroom and chicken skewers had phenomenal flavoring. The trumpet mushroom really surprised me with the depth of its flavor. I had three drinks and they were all a bit weak with the alcohol, but that's okay if folks prefer the fruity light drinks! read more

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Hidden Gem Alert! If you haven't tried Sama yet, you are seriously missing out. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel like family -- warm smiles, genuine hospitality, and a level of service that's becoming rare these days. Now, let's talk about the food: absolutely out of this world. Every dish tasted fresh, beautifully balanced, and clearly made with love. You can tell the chefs take real pride in every plate that leaves the kitchen. I'm still dreaming about the pork belly and blue tuna hand roll. And the drinks? Top-notch. Creative cocktails, generous pours, and flavors that pair perfectly with the menu. The Lychee Mint Mojito alone is worth the trip. This place deserves way more attention than it gets. It's the kind of restaurant that makes you want to tell everyone you know -- but also keep it a secret so it never gets too crowded, especially since they have happy hour every day they're open. Do yourself a favor and go. You'll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. read more

Sama Handroll - Soft crab cut roll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My husband and I came here for date night, and were so glad we came here! The handrolls were delish and you could taste how fresh everything was. The shortrib Kamameshi and the lobster pasta were also flavorful and hearty. They also have a great cocktail and sake menu! Forgot to take a pic, but I had the lychee mint mojito and it was devine! Can't wait to come back again to order more dishes to try! read more

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This place truly outdid itself. The ambiance was great and the music and lighting were a perfect touch! The hand rolls were perfectly crisp on the outside and fish was extremely fresh. The drinks were amazing and made with fresh ingredients which really elevated the flavors of the drinks! We live close by and plan to make this our new handroll spot. The servers were all extremely attentive and helpful. Truly a great restaurant and experience! read more

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The service was decent but the food was just ok. We ordered 3 miso soups, which came lukewarm (not hot) at best and had an interesting aftertaste. The spicy tuna crispy rice appetizer was good. We ordered a couple of cut rolls that were ok (not very memorable) and the softshell carb Handroll, which didn't include much other than the fried crab. read more

Everything was good and decently priced. Uni was market price, but came with around 3 big pieces. We ordered nearly 1/3 the menu and would definitely come back :) read more

Food here is amazing! Nice cozy place, cool vibes and artwork, friendly staff and be sure to eat at the bar and see your chef Lester at work! Don't forget to take a shot with your chef. Perfect place for date nights. read more

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Solid spot! Everything was great, but a couple nitpicks: -The shishito peppers were strangely bitter -The overhead white lights are too harsh. Would recommend something warmer and more subtle to avoid the cafeteria vibe. read more

Service was great with the food. Definitely 10/10 recommend. I'm glad I live close by read more

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Delicious and comforting flavorful fresh hand rolls and entrees. The lobster ramen pasta is an absolute portal to heaven... such a treat! The service is great, vibe is beautiful, music is poppin, chefs are amazing! Enjoy read more

Sama Handroll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Quality of the food is so good! Service is amazing! Faustine, is so attentive and helpful. She came by time to time to make sure we were having a nice dinner out. She recommended us the wagyu shortribs! It was amazing and we trusted her recommendations. Location is great as well. There's a parking lot right next to the restaurant. And there's so many places by the area to explore, bars + dessert, stores. Next time, i will definitely come again because of the great service, great food, and great ambiance! It did not disappoint! read more

Went for the soft opening and it was delicious. I definitely will be back, service and food was on point. Tried almost everything on the menu but few favorites was the yellow tail Serrano, the wagyu steak, pork belly, and miso cod. Can't really go wrong with any of the food they have. Def recommend going read more

Better handrolls than yunomi next door and kazunori at around the same price point if not cheaper (unless you like chopped up baby food for rolls). Parking is validated at the aliso parking garage. Enter through the back where Arrow lodge brewing is. read more

I had the most AMAZING meal at Sama. We came in not too long before closing (didn't realize at the time) and sat at the bar. The chef, the staff, everyone was incredibly nice... even when I dropped and broke a bowl lol. The food was truly unbelievable. The pork belly was some of the best I've ever had, and every handroll was incredible. My boyfriend doesn't normally like crispy rice and he was blown away. I've told so many people about this place & I need to go back soon!!! Cannot recommend it enough. We had a Yuzu N/A drink as well.... so ridiculously good. Also- parking is easy with the lot next door, and it's just outside of the hustle and bustle of that area. GO YOU WON'T REGRET IT! :) read more

Our family came to Sama and we were very impressed. The restaurant is modern and sleek and the food was amazing. I love how the food has the traditional elements of Japanese cuisine, but executes a modern take to each dish. From the appetizers, we ordered the crispy tuna rice, Brussels sprouts, and unagi tempura. The crispy tuna rice is so bomb! It has a unique but very tasty flavor profile. It is better than the tuna rice at Nobu. Brussel sprouts were perfectly crispy and had a nice creamy sauce to pair with it. The unagi tempura was a highlight to our visit. Never had anything like it, but it tasted so fresh and crispy. Even the picky people in our party loved it. When visiting, you must order the wagyu shortrib, lobster dashi, and miso cod robata. The wagyu shortrib was perfectly cooked and tender. Inside was cooked perfectly pink and had no a nice crust on the outside. Lobster dashi is a must try item, it has generous portions of lobster and pasta if you are feeling extra hungry. The miso cod robata was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Also better than nobu. For the quality of food and price point, I highly recommend coming here. For date night or just a good time with friends and family, you can't go wrong with Sama read more

Sama Handroll - Lobster dashi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Food was fire!!! Excellent service 10/10 would recommend the broccolini and truffle sashimi. Coming back for that short rib. read more

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Absolutely loved Sama Handroll! I've been wanting to try this place since they opened but haven't had time. so glad I finally had the chance to stop by this weekend and I will definitely be coming back. Food was soo good I didn't even remember to take pictures. We started off with the yellowtail serrano hamachi, it was fresh and flavorful with just the right kick. The beef tongue skewer was incredibly tender and packed with rich, savory flavor, a standout dish. Every handroll, especially the toro, was expertly crafted and melt in your mouth good. And the spicy tuna crispy rice, Perfectly crispy, spicy, and satisfying. Can't wait to come back and try the other items on the menu! Lastly, our waitress was phenomenal!! They were very attentive, friendly and overall great service! read more

The service was great, was here for a large party. Waitress was attentive and gave great recommendations. We liked the truffle lobster pasta, you could really taste the truffle. Hand rolls had potential, the seaweed got soft fast since it was served altogether (5 on a plate). Would recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you're ordering hand rolls. Overall it was a nice casual spot to grab dinner. read more

If you find yourself in the Arts District please do yourself a favor and go to Sama Handroll. I was fortunate enough to go to their soft opening. Our table ordered just about the whole menu. Everything was delicious and the service immaculate! The decor and drinks created a very relaxing atmosphere. I can't wait to go back and try the items I didn't try. read more

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Absolutely delicious. No other sushi spot compares to this one. The sushi was incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared. The shishito peppers? I think I ate the whole thing my sister was barely able to get a few pieces!! I loved it! The service was exceptional. The restaurant was full and the waiter continued to make sure everyone's water was filled and that everyone was always happy. I can't wait to go back! Whenever I eat good food I naturally do a little happy dance which was made even better cause they played great music. We went during happy hour and had a great time. Friendly and attentive, Sama is top-notch. read more

The short rib is one of the tastiest meats I've had in my mouth. So tender and juicy, grilled to perfection. It's a must have when coming here. My mouth waters just thinking about having that meat in my mouth! I have to come back just for that magical meat read more

Honestly absolutely love this spot. Haven't tried a single thing on their menu that I didn't like. Their hot dishes are so good, lobster pasta, wagyu, plus all the handrolls. Follow them on social for the secret menu items too. Staff is great, chef is super nice and their sake drinks are delicious. Easily could drink a few too many. Also recently tried them to go and it was just as good. Highly recommend checking them out. read more

I probably saw it from an Instagram video. When I come, caught my eye in the window and I knew l had to go in and try it. The interior is brightly, with cute decorations. Fabulous food! I try most haft of menu. Nice vibe and great service! very friendly, The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming , warmly. Very recommended here and want to come back here again. read more

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We had crisp tuna rice, spicy edamame and truffle salmon and toro hand roll! Spicy edamame was really delicious, however the other dishes lacked in flavor. The truffle Handroll was so disappointing there was no truffle we had to even ask if they gave us a wrong roll. Looks like it's barely any truffle and its oil not real truffle. I don't recommend spending money on truffle if there isn't any in there. The crispy tuna was ok and lacked flavor. Looks pretty but flavor was missing! read more

Another great handroll (and more) spot in the arts district. Very dangerous as I live in the building upstairs lol. Will be back!

Came for lunch on a Tuesday and sat at the bar. Had sake, green bean tempura, a few hand rolls, and the wagyu burger. Everything was on point and Chef Lester was amazing. Finished lunch with a uni handroll topped with caviar. Definitely recommend this place. read more

I usually avoid going into DTLA for dinner but street parking was pretty easy for a Saturday evening in the Arts District and they also have validated parking at the apartment complex next door. I made a reservation for 7pm and it seemed we just missed the first dinner rush so it was empty upon coming in. We chose to sit at the bar because they had a partly open kitchen so we could watch them make the handrolls. The next dinner rush actually came in pretty soon after so I'm glad we did make the reservation. This restaurant is still pretty new (only 3 months open) but everything was wonderful! The service and food was honestly so good! We ordered the 5 piece handroll set, bluefin burrata, unagi tempura, an extra handroll (spicy scallop), and a gyutan skewer (beef tongue), as well as a cocktail each. Everything we had was so delicious! I highly recommend getting the bluefin burrata. Not only was it beautifully plated, but the flavors were incredible. There was a hint of truffle in it that wasn't overwhelming and topped with ikura. I also recommend the unagi tempura. I've had a lot of tempura in my life but never with unagi and wow it was so tasty! The beef tongue was insanely soft and tender and grilled to perfection. The handrolls were all so good and I really appreciated the usage of big scallops and not little bay scallops. Overall, I really had such a wonderful experience and the price is pretty average/normal for a handroll spot. read more

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I scheduled a catered order for 36 people at my work this week. Lester has been incredible! The food arrived delivered, still fresh, and in great condition. Food was so good! Pork belly was still crispy, and the rice was cooked perfectly. Vegetables were all fresh, and tasty. Hand rolls were also amazing! Everything tasted great. Would highly recommend! Delicious (: read more

Great service and variety of menu options. It's vegetarian friendly and the fish is fresh.

The fish is incredibly fresh, the rice is perfectly seasoned, and the seaweed has that ideal crisp snap when you bite into it. I tried the toro, scallop, and yellowtail rolls, and each one was better than the last. You can tell they really care about the quality and presentation. The chefs were welcoming and engaging, making the experience feel personal without being overbearing. The vibe is casual but elevated--great for a quick solo bite or a low-key dinner date. Prices are reasonable for the quality, and I left full and happy. Highly recommend sitting at the bar if you can--watching the chefs prepare each roll adds a nice touch to the experience. Will definitely be back! read more

Excellent food and service. Ambience was very pleasant. Great new sushi spot for a date night or a sushi craving. Unique flavors. Not your typical sushi. read more

this place is bomb! we had the best meal there - everything was super yummy and fresh. service was great and friendly. cant wait to go back! crispy rice and spicy tuna was really good. Wagyu beef item was killer! read more

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I happened to be in the arts district on a date with my wife, we stumbled across this restaurant that just had a soft opening! The food was fresh, the staff was pleasant, the drinks were awesome. Actually they don't have a full bar-- but they have AMAZING Sake cocktails-- and yuzu lemonade for the kids! There's still a few things I want to come back and try like the Short Ribs. Definitely recommend the blue crab and uni hand rolls! read more

An easy 5/5* Let me begin by saying that we ordered almost half the menu and did not find one dish we didn't like. Everything was so nicely flavored, extremely fresh, and high quality. The handrolls give any other highly acclaimed handroll places a run for their money, if not better. For our appetizers we got the shishito peppers, spicy tuna crispy rice, vegetable tempura, and salmon carpaccio. They were all delicious and had their own unique flavor compared to other sushi places. We ordered the toro, uni, spicy scallop, blue crab, and salmon skin handrolls. Each of them were so flavorful and didn't taste ocean-y or fish-y. You can tell the product comes extremely fresh and high quality with unique flavors. For the warm dishes, The lobster dashi pasta was one of our favorites. Not heavy at all with the cream so you don't feel sick after eating. You definitely have to try the Miso Cod too. For dessert, you can't go wrong with any of the options. Our favorite was the chocolate roll, which was sooooo good we kept thinking about it for a whole day. It was cold and refreshing with different layers and wasn't overly sweet either. The matcha sesame dessert was a very interesting texture, but we loved how the sweetness level was just right. Staff was extremely attentive, welcoming, and friendly. They were accommodating and helpful with any questions that we had. They always checked in when we ran out of water or beverages. The ambiance of the restaurant is chill, hip, but also intimate. The seating arrangement is very spacious and arranged in a way so you don't feel awkward as if you're within anyone else's space! Which we loved! Overall an amazing experience, and I can definitely see Sama Handroll as a wonderful staple / go to Restaurant in the Arts District. read more

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