Truly best, super worth it. It's open. Please make reservations through instagram. Best omakase ever. Will for sure return! read more

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No one could anywhere and have a better sushi experience than Sushi Tanaka. This restaurant serves art at its finest. Go with someone special for an evening that is special and unlike any other. The quality of fish and preparation is unsurpassed. The experience is superlative. The best of the best. read more

Sushi Tanaka In simi valley. Me and my bf wanted to eat before we went to a movie then I found this place on yelp. But apparently it's reservation only through Instagram. So I found the ig and messaged sei the owner and booked two months in advance cause it was the only date that was available. So be sure to plan ahead It's an omakase and it's just the sushi chef by himself he's from Japan. It was 120 each I took my dad. And the food was melt in your mouth delicious. It was 14 courses and it was all sushi from Japan so fresh and worth every single penny. Thank you so much and I can't wait to come back. My dads bringing my mom on their anniversary and I know she'll absolutely love this place. read more

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Wow- who knew this place existed in Simi Valley? For a moment, I felt like I was back in Tokyo eating at a pub crawl and then I stepped out and was slapped in the face with reality. We had the chef's choice omakase and the sushi kept coming and coming and it didn't disappoint. The chef is Japanese so that's a good sign itself. The sushi is all imported from Japan, so it's all fresh and you really can taste the quality. The price is definitely something you would pay in West LA, Downtown, and Beverly Hills, but I'm in Simi so you get what you can and I saved a drive. I would definitely come back and try other things on their menu. So glad that there's a great sushi spot in Simi Valley. Parking- There's plenty of parking since it's located in a shopping center. read more

I was so excited to learn of an Omakase style restaurant in Simi Valley. Although, due to the price, it wouldn't be my average weekday dinner, Sushi Tanaka is great for a special occasion. Not to say it isn't worth it, it seriously is. I made a reservation a month in advance and at that point only 2 times were available. I thought that meant they book out early. That wasn't necessarily the case. There's about 14 seats in the restaurant and there were only 4 people including my husband and I dining for dinner. The only staff is the sushi chef/owner and his wife. Both are friendly, sweet and inviting. I claimed to love sushi but this is a whole other level. The precise intricacy that goes into every bite is awe-inspiring. I got the smaller course and my husband got the larger. I'm not a huge eater so I was pleasantly full with the small course which was 2 appetizers and 8 sushi. My husband is a moderate eater and was pleased with the larger course of 3 appetizers and 13 sushi. If you are a big eater you'll most likely need to add a few a la carte items. I didn't get pictures of the food because I couldn't wait to eat it. The chef explains what each of the bites contain with assistance of the waitress. Next time I'll write down my favorites. For the most part they were all fishes I had never tried and some I'd never heard of. Each were beyond delicious. So fresh and light. We got a special dessert for our anniversary which was the best mochi I've ever had. I cannot wait to visit Sushi Tanaka again. Tip: buy the chef a beer. He will accept and he deserves it! read more

Sushi Tanaka - From the sushi bar. - Japanese Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Tanaka has been on my list for a while. Growing up in simi there aren't many places quite like this. There aren't many places like this in all of LA after experiencing it. First of all the whole experience is special. The music was great, the intimacy perfect, and of course the sushi was phenomenal. Everything was carefully prepared and thoughtful. You walk away from the experience similar to a good movie or a great concert. Full of happiness. Well done chef thank you so much. I look forward to the next experience. read more

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Always closed, should not have to make reservations. And plus you could never get a hold of anybody to make reservations and I've been trying for two or three weeks. read more

Amazing experience! Great for a special occasion! I'm not a "sushi person" but I was set on trying everything. And I was shocked at how amazing everything truly was! read more

Tanaka is the only Japanese driven haute cuisine restaurant in Simi Valley. Where Koi Sushi used to be. 8 seats at the bar & 3 to 4 small tables so reserve ahead. Zen minimalist w/ muted colors & dictated by the concept of Sabi which connotes quiet, elegant simplicity. It reminds me of a down home version of Urasawa on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Tanaka does an interesting take on Japanese w/ the addition of mainly northern Italian ingredients such as Olio de Tartuffo Bianco/white truffle olive oil, Aceto Balsamico de Modena/balsamic vinegar, various flavoured gourmet salts. Touches of European elegance such as Truffe de Bourgogne/summer truffles, which are not as earthy & deep in woodsy humus decay as autumn Tartuffo Nero/black truffles, & small dollops of Caviar de Osetra/sturgeon caviar were added to the Japanese Sushi & Sashimi tradition. Some of the food presented at Tanaka reminds me of Italo-Japanese cuisine of Wa in West Hollywood where the chef was an acolyte of Matsuhisa who pioneered in Japanese Fusion w/ Latin elements. Tanaka is Omakasè/table d'hôte at the $60 & $100 level. Omakasè means that it is a course set by the chef so for those expecting the amateurish Simi Valley standard of horrendous "rolls" slathered w/ mayonnaise, sriracha, sweet unctuous eel sauce on everything & sometimes fried made by mostly non-Japanese chefs will be totally disappointed. Tanaka is all about subtlety & nuance where natural flavours of the fish come through complemented by alta cucina/haute cuisine condiments & marinades. It is distinguished in practicing Aburi/searing in this case w/ a propane burner where he applies the flame directly on the slice of fish or indirectly by passing it over Bincho-/high grade Japanese hardwood charcoal. Chef told me that using the two different techniques varies the taste imparted on the seared fish. Such are the intricate deft cooking techniques at Tanaka. $60 Omakase 1) Umeiro/Yellowtail Blue Snapper Sashimi: Sweet, white meat tinged a dusky rose, dressed w/ subtle tasting virgin olive oil, crushed black pepper, Kanzuri/Japanese red chile paste, half grape tomatoes, Yuzu/Japanese citrus juice; Ruccola con Folie Argente Verde/silver green leafed arugula & kernels of sweet white corn. 2) Hokkaido- Scallops Sashimi seared & topped w/ Uni from Sta. Barbara, slice of Truffe de Bourgogne, Osetra w/ a trail of a thick house Sho-yu/soy sauce enriched w/ Dashi/fond de cuisine/broth adding a meaty, sweet ocean Umami. Rich combination of ingredients reminiscent of the opulent style of Go's Mart. 3) Kasugo Tai/young sea bream: pinkish white iridescent scales & white delicate meat which hides a slice of O-ba or Shiso leaf to add a fresh herbal basil/minty bouquet brushed w/ the house Sho-yu. 4) Inada/young yellowtail: bit of silvery white skin w/ light beige soft, velvety yet chewy meat w/ house Sho-yu. 5) Taira Gai/Pen Shell Clam: like scallops but w/ a bit more ocean minerality dressed w/ smoked sea salt & piquant citrus scented Yuzu Kosho-/green chile & Japanese citrus zest paste. 6) Shakè/salmon is seared & marinated in Dashi & Sakè? which makes the meat ultra soft, mushy, & meaty. Searing gives the Shakè (shah keh) chewiness. 7) Tako/octopus seared, but to me overly so; meat came out dry & hard. 8) Kinmedai/Golden Eyed Snapper seared on the scales w/ pinkish white sweet meat, Daikon Oroshi/grated Japanese giant white radish & house Sho-yu. 9) Hon Maguro/Bluefin Tuna cured in a secret fruity, acidic sauce giving the meaty Maguro an undertone of unique fermented flavor profile. 10) Ikura/salmon eggs marinated in Dashi for brothy meatiness. 11) Toro/fatty Bluefin tuna seared & topped w/ Uni/sea urchin, white truffle oil, house Sho-yu. Gestalt is rich w/ fat that melts at body temperature, pronounced sea minerality, dank woodsy mushroom fragrance. Closest sensation is that of eating white truffle & seared Foie Gras. Great crescendo of sybaritic flavours indicating the climax. 12) Tamago/sweet egg is different from most sweetened Sushi omelette which looks like yellow sponge cake w/ browned crust . Yama Imo/Japanese Mountain Yam was added to create a more cake-like Tamago. 1-12a) Pairing w/ Takè no Tsuyu (tah keh noh tsoo yoo) Sakè (sah keh) which had a light bouquet of white flowers & touch of Sugi (soo ghee)/Japanese Cedar. Flavor is dry & astringent w/ a nice residual sugar sweetness. Finish was a clean, subtle bitterness that cleansed the palate after each bite. There was still Gari (gah ree)/sweet pickled ginger left over so I asked for Fukamushi Sencha. This golden green tea is strong, bracing, astringent, refreshingly bitter. Service is conscientious, subdued, thoughtful. Atmosphere is contemplative. Sushi chef isn't into small talk. Focus is mindful eating to catch all the nuances & fine shadings. 4+ Yelp stars for high quality Japanese fare more suited for the cognoscenti/connaisseurs read more

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When some random guy on the Flyaway bus to LAX told me about this place, my first reaction, as I'm sure everyone's reaction would be, was "yeah right... Legit sushi in Simi Valley??! And for how much????" So when this guy and I got back from vacation, we went to Sushi Tanaka. I was very skeptical at first because not only was this place in Simi Valley, but it was in a strip mall right off the freeway. How good could this possibly be? It's a tiny "hole-in-the-wall" joint run by a husband and wife. Yes, it is small, but by no means is it actually a hole in the wall. There were only 8 seats at the bar and 3 tables that sat a total of 12 customers. The interior was very nice, clean, and simple. The chairs at the bar were really comfortable and cushy. We ordered the $50 omakase. I was watching Chef Tanaka masterfully and delicately prepare each plate. He puts so much thought and care of the cut, the taste, and the presentation. Sometimes, I would watch him and he would stand there and stare at the fish, thinking of what to serve next, plotting his perfect omakase menu. He serves fish that most sushi bars do not have, such as needlefish, black throat sea perch, and trumpet fish, just to name a few. He also uses shaved truffles and gold flakes on some of his sushi. The truffles give certain fish a nice earthy taste, a total juxtaposition from the fresh taste of fish. I think my most favorite dish was the toro with uni on top. I think it's called yakitoro. This is one of the dishes he served with truffles and gold. Woooow!! So mouthwateringly delicious! My mouth is literally salivating at the thought. It melted in my mouth when it made contact with my tongue. My second favorite dish was the amaebi tartar with caviar and gold flakes. It was beautifully presented on a freshly cut daikon and with the fried shrimp heads on the side. They suggested putting the amaebi and caviar on top of the shrimp head. Amazing flavor combination! It was sweet, savory, crunchy, salty. I gotta go back! I'm almost reluctant to post this review because I don't want to have to wait in line for this place, but Chef Tanaka and his wife are so incredibly nice, they really deserve to have a successful business. Parking: There's ample parking in the lot of this strip mall. read more

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Amazing. This is the best real sushi in Miami. You can't beat the omakase and selection. I have tried all the places and this spot is it! read more

Sushi Tanaka - Omakase is amazing - Japanese Near Me - Simi Valley, California

The most unassuming little gem nestled in a shopping plaza. Hands down the best Japanese food I've ever had and I'm a foodie who's dined all over NYC for years. I did the $100 Omakase and its worth every bite. It is a very small and quiet place. The food, attention to detail, cleanliness, and customer service was impeccable. An amazing dining experience. read more

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Superb quality and service. Wow, what a gem in Simi Valley! Shocker to be honest. Fish was so good. Every bite delicious. $100 omakase menu is the way to go. We ordered a heavenly piece of uni to finish the dinner. Can't wait to return. read more

Sushi Tanaka - Sushi heaven - Japanese Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Their sushi is like an art. Competes with the best sushi in LA. Would come here every night if I could.

Best AUTHENTIC sushi for at least a 15 mile radius...hands down. If you want a the BEST sushi with an authentic atmosphere, this IS the place. Surprisingly it's in Simi......odd read more

It's with great hesitation that I write this review, not that it's bad... it's sooooo good I want to keep it a secret! But it's because I want Tanaka to stay open for a very long time, I want to tell you how incredible this hidden gem in Simi Valley is! Don't think about ordering, just sit down at the bar and let Tanaka and his wife Takako take care of you... trust me, it will be one of the most incredible meals of your life. Every time we visit Sushi Tanaka my friends rave for days about how incredible our meal was... The dishes are so creative, the fish always so fresh. The flavors Tanaka creates to accompany the fish are amazing, using uzu and truffle! Ohhh the fragrances makes me swoon! This has become our go to special occasion restaurant, because the food is so incredible and the experience is so very special... I hope you will try it... you won't be sorry! Attaching some of my favorite dishes to tempt you! read more

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My sushi-loving friends are so excited about this place that they invited us all the way out to Simi Valley to give it a try. We made reservations a few weeks in advance for the unlimited omakase menu which has some special ingredients flown in from Japan. The restaurant is very unassuming from the outside, located in a suburban strip mall. On the plus side, it's very close to the freeway and has plenty of parking. On the inside, it's quite small with several seats at the sushi bar and a few small tables. The decor is clean with light-colored wood, and quiet blues music can be heard in the background. Our waitress was great and remembered what sake our friends liked during their last visit; she brought out their last bottle and we were able to enjoy it too. She helped interpret the chef's descriptions of each course, sometimes even writing down the name of the fish on a Post-It so that we could see how it was spelled. As a visual learner, I appreciated this :) I appreciated trying some new fishes, like sea perch. Sitting at the bar was a neat experience, as each piece of sushi is carefully crafted with some cool visuals like using a torch to give a smoky aroma or carefully dusting with salt. One very memorable part of our meal was watching the chef prepare live spiny lobster. Admittedly, it was a bit disturbing to watch it be killed and cleaned right in front of us, and when he placed the head of the lobster on our plate as decorative focal point, the antennae and legs were still moving reflexively a bit :( I know it was just a chemical/nerve reaction, but it was unnerving nonetheless. But, I tried to keep an open mind and understand that this is a special dish for this culture. I was very pleased in the end because the 4 preparations of spiny lobster were all delicious, particularly the sashimi and the chopped/marinated version. Overall the food was very good, but it wasn't mind-blowing. I enjoyed this as a splurge dinner and an opportunity to experience some sushi that isn't found at every local restaurant, but it wasn't good enough to bring me back through 90 minutes of stop-and-go traffic on the 405 during rush hour. I do wish this restaurant much success and recommend it for people who are in the area. read more

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Please don't come expecting nothing but sweet personalized service (hooks under the bar for the bags or purses) and the quiet conversation from the chef who politely waits for you to introduce the next wave of as mouthful of adventure. Please come here to unwind from the nasty traffic, the screaming kids. Transported to a spot where the only thought on your mind should be that next gorgeous jewel sparkling and the soft texture of each dish. We tried their sweet potato and rice shoju spirits. That rice one was a good match for this lightweight whereas my date's more sturdy system could handle the potent sweet potato. read more

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Who knew about this little Simi Valley sushi gem? Especially in a town that is filled with All You Can eat sushi joints. There are three (point five) words to describe this place: Best.Sushi.Ever. (inSoCal). $100 chef tasting menu is highly recommended. Items change as they are seasonal and served with increased flavoring profile. Here goes the goodness from the beginning: 1. Cantaloupe wrapped with red snapper, caviar and an arugula salad 2. White trevally (aka bluefin kingfish) 3. Kumamoto oysters, Japanese scallop with sea urchin, truffle and salted ginkgo nut 4. Baby red snapper with mint 5. Japanese mackerel 6. Japanese needle fish 7. Japanese fire squid 8. Cooked octopus 9. Scottish salmon 10. Japanese golden snapper 11. Blue fin tuna 12. Toro 13. Japanese sea perch 14. Sea urchin from Hokkaido 15. Japanese fresh water eel 16. Seared Toro with sea urchin. Charcoal is imported from japan to bring out that smokiness. 17. Tomago sweet dessert It's in a small location that is easy to miss. The inside is modest and clean so all attention can be placed on the food. Service is great even if little English is spoken. I would eat here all the time if possible. read more

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I have mixed feelings toward the experience dining here. Who would know there is an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant hidden in Simi Valley? No doubt this is the best sushi spot in Ventura County. The restaurant is intimate, clean, and cozy. It's absolutely a place you can impress your significant other. Reservation is highly recommended. There are 6 seats at the sushi bar, and 3 tables on the other side. The seats and tables were almost reserved even during the week. And they don't do takeaway orders. Service was excellent! The waitress was extremely friendly and prompt. She always has an affable smile toward customers and attends to customer need. Though $60 Omakase may quench the desire of sushi need, $100 Omakase is undoubtedly the best way to go. You wouldn't just get more dishes and sushi but also get fish a notch above than $60 one. So why not? What I was fed on that night: 1st dish - Cantaloupe wrapped with Suziki, and arugula salad 2nd dish - Shimaaji sashimi, and Wakame from Japan 3rd dish - Chopped Amaebi topped with Caviar and Gold leaf flakes, and deep-fried Amaebi head. 4th dish - Karei (Flounder) 5th dish - Aji garnished with a string of ginger (Japanese Macheral) 6th dish - Hotate (Japanese Scallop) 7th dish - Tako (Octopus) 8th dish - Marinated Salmon 9th dish - Hon Maguro 10th dish - Toro (Tuna Belly) 11th dish - Kinmedai (Golden Eye Snapper) 12th dish - Akamutus / Nodokuro (Blackthroat Seaperch) 13th dish - Kawahagi topped with Streamed Egg (Threadsail Filefish) 14th dish - Ikura (Marinated Salmon Roe) 15th dish - Uni (Sea Urchin) 16th dish - Aburi Toro topped with Uni (Sear Tuna Belly topped with Sea Urchin) 17th dish - Tamago (Egg) The sushi rice was so good! It was not cooked too hard nor moist. The ratio of rice and sushi vinegar was perfect. And you could tell each portion of sushi rice was prepared with great craft. It was firm but flaky, falling apart and dense texture wouldn't be found here. But why only 3 stars? I was enjoying the night till I got an upset stomach and mild diarrhea on my way home. It was just 10 mins after left the restaurant. I did not eat or drink anything else in the afternoon so I knew the reason was mostly from the food here. The food was not tasted bad and I did not smell any weird or unpleasant odor when I was in the restaurant. But I felt bad it just happened. I would give it another try if I am in the area next time. read more

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This place has delicious Omasake but it is very pricey and they only take cash further it's very difficult to make a reservation. If you can get past those few hang ups, it's a very special and intimate experience. read more

The BEST Omakase experience I've ever had! Chef Sei Tanaka is a sushi genius and truly a master of his craft. Everything about Chef Tanaka's handpicked tasting menu is based on seasonal ingredients and the freshest sushi & sashimi I've ever had. It's a very intimate & impactful experience and worth every single penny! Book in advance and have the beat meal of your sushi dreams. But be prepared to not ever look at sushi/sashimi or any other Omakase dinning the same way again! Cannot wait to come back to this hidden gem. read more

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Miss you! Please come back!!!! You were simply the BEST!!!! Please reconsider and reopen!!! read more

Absolutely incredible. It was the best sushi I've ever had, the eye for detail and quality of fish was top tier. If you are a real sushi lover you will appreciate this. Appointments are made on Instagram, he gets booked months in advance , so book accordingly. It's 1000% worth it. read more

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We did the OMIKASE chefs choice and it was sooo good that we ordered our last 4 pieces of sushi again! We had an amazing experience and definitely would love to come back again. Service was amazing as well. I'm so happy that we have a place like this in Simi Valley. We had a great time celebrating our anniversary with sushi Tanaka! Thank you guys! Definitely recommend!! read more

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The best sushi keeps getting better. We called ahead and asked for the hairy crab which is in season from Hokaido Japan. We opted for the $100 omakase menu and added the crab as well as the Wagyu kobe beef. We special ordered the Kobe beef. Which came prepared slightly seared A5 Wagyu kobe beef topped with foie gras, uni and truffles. Please trust me when I tell you, it's the best thing I've ever eaten. Period! Our only regret was that it was served in the middle of the evening instead of the end. The sushi that comes afterwards, while amazing in its own right sadly can never live up to the Wagyu beef dish. Again, a true hidden gem in the middle of Simi Valley. Do yourself and come here for an authentic sushi experience. read more

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This is probably one of the most delicious and incredible sushi experiences! My boyfriend took me for my birthday and I was blown away by the taste and quality! Literally a masterpiece! 100% recommend this sushi restaurant!!! read more

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You're going to love it. I guarantee it. Immediately when you walk in to the restaurant, you feel as if you just traveled to Japan. The restaurant itself is small, but exceptionally clean, and bright in all the right places. The spotlights are focused on the sushi pieces as well as your plate, at it should be. In terms of the sushi itself, *DROOL*. We got the $100 omokase, which comes with 3 appetizer plates and 13 pieces of sushi. And, each piece was absolutely to die for. With each bite, you can't help but stare into space as you focus on the absolute richness of flavors that are in your mouth. Your head bobs silently up and down as you nod in utter agreement with the festivities that are occurring on your tongue. You then look up at Chef Tanaka, who of course, is not looking at you, because he's busy preparing other pieces for other patrons, but you give him thankful eyes all the same, for the joy that he has brought you, which you never even knew existed inside you, until this very moment. You must make a reservation here as there are only about 8 seats at the bar, and trust me, you'll want to sit there, to enjoy the action before your eyes. While Chef Tanaka might not speak much English, his wife does and she does a great job serving you and explaining each piece that comes your way. Each morning, Tanaka makes the trek from his home in Culver City to the fish market to pick out the very best fish. They then make their way up to Simi Valley in the afternoon to prepare everything before they open. Dedication at its finest! read more

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We ordered the Omakase and enjoyed the experience. I feel it is the best sushi offering in Simi Valley. I would highly recommend giving it a try if you love sushi. It is on the pricey side but well worth it. I will definitely be back. read more

This place is amazing. Every bite is like close your eyes and take it in. The chef attends to the tiniest detail and it makes all the difference. Prioritize this spot. read more

Chef Sei is phenomenal. He trained with the best and the flavors are subtle but delicious. The Imamate is great. We wanted the unlimited but it was last minutes notice. We ate the $100 omakase snd it was worth it. Best sake I have ever had. The service is great and they are very attentive. Made sure we were good and happy. In so many ways, they are so meticulous. We will be back soon. read more

Sushi Tanaka - Japanese Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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This has to be the rarest gem in Simi Valley. If you are looking for authentic sushi and outstanding service, this is the place to be. The restaurant itself is situated next to a hair salon and doesn't look anything out of the ordinary from the outside. Don't be fooled!! The inside was elegant, quiet, charming, and very clean. We sat at the bar and ordered the $100 Omakase meal per person. Totally worth every penny and all 15 dishes. The sushi chef had exemplary skills and attention to detail. Each dish we ordered was so delicious and presented so well. You can tell that he had amazing knife skills with the precision he had with the cuts on the fish and how he prepared everything. You must drink with sake when you come here, it will make your dinner even more enjoyable. The vibe was very relaxing in the restaurant! Limited seating so it's best to make reservations in advance. I came here for my birthday on October 14 and I was shocked when the lovely waitress came up next to me with a sweet "Happy Birthday!" and handed me a plate of what I believe were the best tasting ice cream mochi Ive had by far. And I have had a lot of Mochi Ice cream before . Most Japanese restaurants seem to just serve the store bought ones. This, however, was the real deal. The mochi dough was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! The vanilla ice cream inside was so smooth and creamy, almost as if they just made it. They even added a birthday candle on one. I wasn't expecting that since I dont think I've ever had a birthday mochi before. It was so simple and perfect. All I have left to say is, DEFINITELY give this place a try because it's totally worth checking out. I will be coming back here for sure. :) read more

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This is one of the few Sushi restaurants in The area that has ACTUAL wasabi, not the green dyed horseradish, but true wasabi. Don't go here to drown your California roll with that soy sauce and wasabi mixture that you're so proud of, go there to enjoy a true Japanese culinary experience. Be sure to NOT order a Pollack rainbow roll, also forget about a fake lobster roll or anything with the word "spider" in it. This is single serving of SPECTACULAR at an equally spectacular price. Expect to spend over $200 for two. It. Is. Worth. Every. Penny. There is an $80 chef special and a $100 chef special...spend the $100. Be sure to reserve a table-it's the only way to be seated..no reservation=no table even if they are half empty. I have a feeling he buys enough for the reservations and no more, but that's just a guess on my part. read more

I am re-writing this review because I have been to Tanaka multiple times now and things have changed a bit since they first opened. The decor is now beautiful. Stylish, clean and simple. The food has been taken to a level that is almost beyond comprehension. I am not sure that my brain is developed enough to fully understand the magnitude of perfection that is achieved in this culinary masterwork. Tanaka is the best sushi restaurant I have been to in America. Urasawa? Nakazawa? Matsuhisa? Nice try, but nope. This is better. It transcends taste and becomes an emotionally moving experience that will haunt you. Keep in mind that all they do is omakase. There are no rolls. No soy sauce dishes. No wasabi blob. You just have to trust and eat exactly what is put in front of you. Take a leap of faith and you will rewarded immensely. Choose the 15 course $100 omakase (the $60 version is not quite enough food for most people). Just grab $100 and drive to Simi Valley right now. Why are you still sitting here reading this? Why aren't you driving? read more

Sushi Tanaka - To.Die.For...Trust.Me. - Japanese Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Eureka! I've found it! A hidden gem of a sushi place made aware through word of mouth that's better than any sushi omakase in LA, equal to Nakazawa in NYC, and at half the cost. Did I mention it's in Simi Valley? What the heck, right? Plus, it's tiny-- eight seats at the bar with maybe three tables, and yet I was able to walk in and immediately get a seat on a weeknight. I guess the secret's not out yet. After sitting down at the bar, I was greeted by the foot long smirk of a trumpet fish staring at me from within its icy chambers of the sushi counter with its large beady eyes ominously showing me what's ahead. Slight disclaimer though, depending on what's available that week, he may or may not be there so don't take my word on it. At the bar, there are two options-- $60 or $100. Go for the latter, trust me. With the nineteen courses we had on our visit, it might be the omakase deal of the century. Lets begin shall we? Figs wrapped in sliced trumpet fish sashimi-- great starter balanced with citrus, bitter greens, oils, and juicy sweet fruit. Seared scallop with uni, truffles, and caviar. Kumamoto oyster, truffle and caviar. Yes, this is just the second course. Sweet live shrimp-- its head tempura'd, the tail minced with black truffles. You're instructed to eat the head with sashimi together. Now starts the traditional nigiri courses. None require soy sauce since they are already dressed and seasoned. Japanese barracuda-- uncommon, a first Pan shell-- similar to a scallop, another first Marinated salmon-- slightly seared, beautifully cut Saury-- kinda like a lighter more delicate mackerel Octopus-- amazing smoked pork like texture, yes really Spanish Mackerel-- clean and savory Bluefin tuna-- obligatory Bluefin toro-- ditto Sea perch-- slightly seared, what's a sea perch? Clam-- exotic in texture Salmon roe-- clean, fresh bursting, not salty Uni-- it's uni! Triggerfish topped with its liver-- "wow, never had this before" moment Eel-- don't expect it to be smothered in teriyaki Seared toro with uni-- saving the best bite for the end Afterwards, we requested a couple additions noting our three favorite things: uni, truffles, and scallops. That's exactly we got in one giant bite. Completely satisfied, we thanked Chef Sei since he prepared our entire meal in front of us-- there are only three people operating the entire restaurant including the server. There are other things on the menu you can order as well. This week's special was live spiny lobster that's served sashimi style with its head saved later to be boiled in a lobster miso soup. I asked what other specials they have and apparently it's hairy crab season. If you call ahead, they will order it straight from Japan. Well, that settles it. See you next week then. read more

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I've been to a lot of sushi bars in LA and around the world, and this has to be the best in the LA area. It's a small place (about 15 seats) that is reservation-only. They offer 'a la carte' items as well as a $60 or $100 Omakase. We went with the big boy option. It's a pretty penny, but it's better sushi at a better price than other comparable places that charge $200-300. This will be our go-to fancy-sushi-bar from now on. read more

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Came home after a long drive from work, BF surprised me by taking me to this cute and intimate gem. It literally only has 3 small tables and 7 seats at the sushi bar. We tried the $100 omakase meal. Each dish served was so simple yet so refreshingly delish!! The sushi chef was very quiet and minded his own business. One of the most zen and quiet meals I've ever had. I could literally hear my own breathe (tone of exaggeration) LOL. Wished he was more interactive. Before we left, a regular sat down next to me. He seemed to know the chef well. He ranted about some interesting stories about sushi places in LA and he seemed to know all the hot gossips regarding the raw fish industry. Some of the dishes resembled some of the renowned sushi chefs in LA (won't name it here). If you're from the Valley and appreciate a zen way of dining, then you should give this place a try. Thanks to BF for the cute surprise!! read more

I was tipped off about this place by RockitO and thought the photos looked legit. Could it be that a real, authentic, sushi chef who takes pride in his work has moved to Simi Valley? The answer is yes. I went with the $60 Omakase to test the waters. 1. Isaki Sashimi 2. Bonita Sashimi - the best I've had 3. Amaeda Sushi - Japanese Tile Fish 4. Tako Sushi - Seared Octopus 5. Aji - Spanish Mackeral 6. Maguro - Bluefin Tuna 7. Toro - Fatty Tuna 8. Kinme Dai 9. Uni 10. Kawahagi - Trigger fish with liver (woah good) 11. Unagi - 12. Tamago - Egg sushi The style here is warm rice (which I like) and to be honest the rice seemed a bit al dente (not sure if that was specific to the day or part of the deal). There is NO soy sauce on the table which is a great sign. Chef brushes on his house made sauces as he feels fit. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Damn his place was good! And it was in Simi Valley of all places. I would have never guessed. Was referred to this place by some diners while dining at Sushi Raku well over a year ago. Didn't really thought much of it due to it being in Simi Valley. Big mistake. This place is run by a husband and wife team. The husband is the chef and the wife handles everything else. It is a small place and authentic since all sushi joints in Japan are small and cozy. They take reservations and I highly recommend it. Not that they're crazily busy but I can see why since it's all about the food and experience. We went with the omakase which consisted of 3 appetizer courses and then followed by 13 sushi pieces. The chef takes his time in perfecting each dish, from each slice of fish to the presentation, it's all perfect when it's sitting in front of you waiting to be devoured. I didn't mind the wait as it gave my palette time to recover from the last delicious morsel. We were recommended the sake to pair with the sushi and it was spot on. It was light and a little on the sweet side but went well with the sushi. Each piece of sushi that came out was well portioned and cut thin (not too thin) so you could really taste the sweetness of the fish. We were told most of the fish were imported from Japan and were fresh. Even there's no way for me as a customer to know that, the fact that it didn't smell and the texture wasn't slimy, it tasted very fresh. The wife and I had a very enjoyable meal and relished every course that came out. I loved that the chef was able to take some sake drinks and I toasted a few with him which made him more appreciative. Very humble owners and I'm glad Simi Valley has a high quality restaurant such as this. I highly recommend this place but be warned, it is costly but worth every dollar. read more

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Best sushi in greater LA area. In a most unlikely strip mall in idyllic Similar Vallley. I was floored when I first tasted the mouth watering sushi meticulously prepared by Chef Tanaka. Contrary to popular belief, what separates a good sushi restaurant from a great one isn't necessarily the freshness of the fish(almost all sushi places can access fresh fish). Rather it's the quality and the way in which the rice is made and how the fish is prepared. Chef Sei Tanaka's talent and imagination is equal or better than any top sushi chef anywhere including Japan. Probably the best kept secret in LA sushi scene. read more