In today's restaurant market, there are many Japanese restaurants that are good and occasionally…read moreyou find one that is fantastic. How does one determine that a Japanese restaurant is fantastic? First you start with the ambience, then you start with a selection of the menu, then you look at the presentation of each plate and dish and the creative reiteration of that dish. At Taisho which is located in the heart of the Valley in Sherman Oaks, is a wonderful restaurant with great creativity and presentation and ambience... And it hits all the marks of a truly wonderful Japanese restaurant. This restaurant is so good that even living in Orange County, what desires to go back into the valley, which is quite a jaunt. We occasionally go to the valley for family and friends and events... And from now on, we will be stopping by this wonderful Japanese restaurant. I'm going to post some pictures and let the pictures speak for themselves. If you're ever in the valley, you gotta make this one of your stops.

In the interest of fairness, I have to lead with the fact that the food is really quite good. The…read morehostess was very sweet, and even helped us change tables when we learned that we while were sitting at an indoor table, it right next to the entrance to the open patio where they have an additional 10 tables or soy. Long story short, my wife was starting to sweat so she wanted to be inside with some A/C. So far, so good. Our waiter was so awesome, but it was his first day, so understandably, he made a couple of very minor mistakes that were easily fixed. He brought out a dish we did not order (which he swapped for the correct one) and he forgot to bring the cocktail that my wife ordered. Again, no big deal. Now... the food. If you are looking for a sushi restaurant, this is not for you. They do have some sushi, but it is very limited, and frankly the options they did have were wildly overpriced. Selling salmon sashimi for $40 is a huge ask. As for the atmosphere, it's a pretty sharp looking space, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, but they leave all the windows and doors open at all times, so if it's a warm evening, you're going to be hot even if you sit outside. Also, the music gets progressively louder as nightfall progresses, so it can be tough to have a conversation without shouting. Bottom line, if you're looking for a good sushi spot, there are half a dozen other places within walking distance that are, in my opinion, much better. If you're looking for a wider variety of Japanese cuisine, and have a few hundred extra dollars lying around, then go ahead and give Taisho a try.

Picture of you guys are nothing but the best they have the best service and the people here are…read moreexcellent and of course the food is good

Delicious, delicious, delicious. Fresh and delicious. I haven't been here for a while and I've been…read morecraving sushi. Tonight I had BSCR roll. YUM. Don't forget to do a yelp check in for free steamed edamame. I love how we are always greeted with a smile and a personal welcome.

I never knew about this chain of restaurants until yesterday when we were expecting to be in…read moreHollywood too late to return home to Thousand Oaks before they roll up the sidewalks. They "close" at 10:30 (the place was still hopping at 10) and we arrived at a little past 9:00, figuring at that hour we wouldn't need a reservation. Think again, the place was just one click shy of a madhouse. The bar was lively and the tables were occupied mostly by 20-30 somethings in crocks and belly shirts, jabbing food in the mini fire pits and shoveling it in their mouths with the authority of hungry guard dogs. We had to wait 10 minutes or so, for a table and another 7 or so for our server to appear. It gave us a chance to peruse the menus. Yes, menus, plural. There are three laminated ones and a book with pages. Given how extensive the food menus are, the drink menu was a little unimpressive. The sake list had a few things listed, not including a Nigori. The white wine had two, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. We like Sauvignon Blancs but ordered the Pinot Grigio. Mezza Corona. That's what casinos comp pour at the slots in Vegas. It was fine, but not optimum. Overwhelmed by the menus and not particularly craving one thing, we decided to order the "Anniversary" dinner for two. It was a set combination of mostly proteins with the house salad and miso soup. The "poke" wasn't the usual gooey stuff seen in most raw places. It was perfect little cubes of ahi and marinated onions over a bed of pickled seaweed. The salad was large and simple, with a sesame dressing. Then... omg the proteins started to appear. Every single one was delicious. We found that putting the pork belly on the grill helped to keep the following proteins from sticking. The rice was beautifully steamed. The miso soup was even the best I've had in a long time, with lots of tofu and seaweed sinking to the bottom. I can see how this would be a great place for a group, and I can't wait to go with more friends; albeit my husband and I really enjoyed the respite. Our server, Cole, was cool and real. He didn't seem to need to pretend to be nice. He was just a sincere, caring young man. Their happy hour times are worth noting. They're happy throughout the day and night with the exception of 6:30 - 8:30 pm. There is a happy hour combination menu you might want to consider, especially if you've never been here and just want to see what's going on. There are AYCE choices which might come in handy if you're really into some favorites. There's also a big thing about Wagyu. Eh. Different strokes I guess. We'll definitely be back. We really enjoyed the experience. We reduced one star for the silly valet parking and the not-so-great wine list.

The food is always great when I come here. The consistency is what brings me back. Bistro hangar…read moresteak is always my favorite. Their kimchi and cold tofu are also 10/10. Our server today, Fallon, was nothing but stellar. She would check up on us when she saw our food getting lower. It was nice to see how proactive she was. If you can, definitely ask to be seated in her section. Great dinner and will be back again.

I am sharing some love in the 818. I'll start here with Little Izaka-ya by Katsuya, my favorite…read morelocal sushi joint in the San Fernando Valley. The food is always fresh -- trust me. I visit this little Valley gem (near the 405 Fwy and Sepulveda Blvd just south of Ventura Blvd.) about one to two times a month. I went more often when I lived in Sherman Oaks. First, it's always busy at dinner, so you know the word is out that it is good. Second, the food is consistantly very good. Third (and can be First), the staff is great. They work well together and quietly and always make sure you are taken care of and they are also friendly, which is great when you are a regular. So, Katsu-ya is a chain. Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya serves the same great taste and standard of any of the Katsu-ya restaurants, only this one will serve smaller dishes. So, I mostly go solo and I can order a variety and get 1 piece of sushi or a mini-order of the sashimi specials. I think this is a big factor in why I started going to begin with. The managers are always so welcoming (Joe (no longer there. Boo.), Koh and the newest sweet manager (I didn't get his name, but will when I go again). The parking is the only downside. The City of Los Angeles owns the war-torn disaster of a "parking lot" in the rear of the row of restaurants. You have to pay at a kiosk (about $2.50). BUT I suggest you call the city and report the pitted asphalt and GO TO LITTLE IZAKA-YA. Some of my favorite dishes -- all gluten-free -- are the Crispy Rice/Spicy Tuna, jumbo scallop sushi with yuzu and sea salt, salmon skin hand roll (no gobo), albacore sushi with gf ponzu sauce, and the salad with blanched broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, avocado, tomato and lettuce... and a cold house sake. Mmmmm.

Great spot and just my go-to when I'm in Sherman Oaks area and am craving fresh sushi!…read more The brussel sprouts, sauteed to well-done, were phenomenal and with a lot of flavor. The spicy shrimp cut roll, creamy salmon cut roll and the spicy tuna cut, were very yummy as well. The ratio of fish to rice was perfect, the fish tasted fresh and flavorful and these rolls always hit the spot for me. The spot gets very busy for lunch but has a good number of tables and about 15 spots for seating at the sushi bar. I prefer to sit at the sushi bar, as I love to see the action of all the chef's creating their masterpieces. The chefs and the general staff are very friendly as well and are always happy to help. Will definitely be back again!

As fisherman and long time sushi lover, Fish was great. huge menu that has something for everyone…read moreincluding those looking for something new to try. Appreciate tasty creative accents such as sauces or other flavorings and textures added to nigiri or rolls or other dishes. Wait staff was friendly and seating comfortable. Don't let unlikely area scare you off. Also appreciate specials.

I was in Sherman Oaks and craving sushi, so I decided to try a new spot based on Yelp reviews. I…read morecame across Kaiju and had a little trouble finding street parking, so I parked in a neighborhood about a block away. When I walked up, the outside looked pretty cool with outdoorseating and once I arrived inside, I was quickly greeted and seated by the bar. The vibe and look of the restaurant was on point, the place was very clean and the servers were extremely nice. Once my food came, the rainbow roll was descent, the sea bass skewers were really good but the snow crab crispy rice was not good. They were like greasy cubes with imitation crab that I was not a fan of. I've had some really good crispy rice but this was not it. Definitely get the skewers if you come here. Overall, I may not come back but if I'm craving skewers I might make a quick stop. OOO 3 out of 5 Afros

First off ... Holy fuck !!! I been wanting to try this place for a while now cus they always looked…read moreso busy, But we weren't ready for this kinda of depth in flavor AND Hospitality!! (Shout out to Jacky !!) rare when you find a place with that kind of combination definitely coming back weekly.

Black ramen is the best here…read more Love the bouncy ramen noodle paired with charred garlic oil and chashu. The flavor they have developed in this wizardry is simply divine. I will be back for the black ramen

This place is my hands down favorite local sushi spot in the neighborhood!…read more I truly believe it's a hidden gem and if you know what to order it is game in with the best mix of cooked rolls and authentic sushi. This is the only place I've found that serves engawa sushi. So freaking good. Ana who is one of the servers is one of my old time favorites of all times. I love that their fish is always incredibly fresh, the service is warm and welcoming, and every meal feels special. I have crafted my order lately to this perfected list: 2x Engawa Sushi 2x Ono (Escolar / White Fish) 1x Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) 2x Uni 1x Hollywood Role 1x 50/50 Cut Role If you try this, it might get you floored. Insanely good.

Tucked away under the 101 bridge is this lowkey sushi spot…read more The fish very fresh and the rolls are big. Very good bang for your buck. The toro was so creamy and buttery I mean that's my way of seeing if a sushi spot is good or not. And I've had many occasions where the Toro did not hit. Service is great very attentive. Will be back again when I'm in the neighborhood.

We were surprised to see a line of peoples waiting on Friday night. soon after we were seated, most…read moreof the sushi bar and tables were filled. They had many impressive selection of fresh fish everyday. Huge menu was hard to choose from, because everything so good. We want everything but Our happy belly couldn't fit in. We ordered : Edamame white truffle sauce Signature Caviar pasta Halibut tiradito King salmon Caviar sashimi Crispy rice spicy tuna Uni Santa Barbara GG roll Ultimate Salmon Chocolate lava cake with ice cream Food was so good We ate everything turns out forgot to take some pictures. Service was excellent too. Highly recommended!

Zen Toro Sushi is easily one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. The fish is incredibly…read morefresh, and you can truly taste the exceptional quality in every bite. From the sashimi to the specialty rolls, everything was beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. The ambiance is warm, modern, and inviting, making it the perfect place for a date night, dinner with friends, or any special occasion. The employees are extremely friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, providing outstanding service from the moment you walk in. If you're looking for the freshest, highest-quality sushi with an amazing atmosphere and top-notch service, I highly recommend Zen Toro Sushi. I'll definitely be coming back!

This hidden gem is such a great find! The sushi is incredibly fresh, and Chef Paulino adds his own…read morespecial touch to the 3-piece sushi selections, making each bite memorable. I also love that they have draft beer, and even better, you can bring your own sake or wine for just a $10 corkage fee. Aldo was attentive throughout our visit and made sure our glasses were never empty. The only downside is that it's easy to miss from the main street if you're not specifically looking for it. They deserve more visibility because the food and service are outstanding. I'll definitely be back to try more of their amazing menu!

My wife and I are nor really sushi eaters, but we knew that are granddaughter and husband are so…read morewe took them there for their birthday. They ordered, among other things, yellow- tail jalapeno roll, red dragon roll, double albacore roll and my wife, who doesn't eat sushi, got the shisio "house" roll, which had no rice and a mixture of crab, albacore and cucumber for the roll. My kids said they will order to-go. And I had a medium cold house sake was excellent for $13.52 It's a small, simple place, quiet and not fancy, a little gem really. It's on the parking lot by Jinky's on Stansbury and Ventura. Convenient. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed. 14120 Ventura. Steve and Ruth Greenbaum

We have been to the restaurant and love it but we didn't feel like heading out on a Saturday…read moreevening to what would assuredly be a long wait. We ordered Sugarfish delivery and it was amazing. It's not the exact restaurant experience but the fish was very fresh and the box presentation was really nice. I love the rice - it is lightly packed and delicious - it even arrived fairly warm (one difference between restaurant and delivery - rice is not hot). So many places have what I call heavy rice - densely packed and cold. You choose from a set box but you can make some substitutions if they have the fish available. When we want sushi delivery, this will be our go to.

Sugarfish is very famous in California. If you haven't tried it, you may have heard of it. I…read morecategorize this as a great intro to fine sushi dining. It meets all the checkmarks you'd look for in a nice restaurant in terms of environment, service and food. Ambience is romantic. Dim lights, fake candles, and carefully monitored air conditioning to ensure the quality of the food is enjoyable from the moment it leaves the kitchen until you eat. Service was professional and each waiter has an appropriate number of tables assigned to make sure each customer feels like they're being cared for. Price is very affordable for an omakase, and considering what you're getting, the price seems justified. Having had a few omakase experiences prior to Sugarfish, I have to say this was an underwhelming experience. I came because of its reputations amongst my friends and acquaintances. Unfortunately, it did not have the creativity and innovation I was looking for in an omakase. Usually, I'd see chefs take more risk by showing off a new combination of ingredients. Instead, it looked like the price of the omakase was just the price of each dish you could get at any other sushi restaurant. I'm talking a few slices of sashimi, a hand roll and some nigiri. Reiterating - highly recommended for people new to sushi. Minimal decision fatigue and you get to taste a variety of plates. You can order the plates of the dishes you like someplace else.