The sashimi here is very fresh and beautifully prepared with great attention to detail. The cocktails are delicious, and the chirashi bowl is also excellent! The happy hour menu is especially great well curated, fresh, and very tasty. It's within walking distance from my place, so I can walk here, and the quality is always consistently good. Definitely recommend! Great service!!! read more

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I came here on a date and thought it was the perfect place for one- the decor and lighting were chic and it seemed pretty empty when I went. We ended up getting the omakase (don't remember which one and I think the menu has changed since. I thought the food was just ok for the price and the service was kind and friendly, but a little slow for how empty the place was. Willing to come back and try again for the vibes but not super impressed. read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

All the servers were friendly and attentive, and the ambiance/vibe was chic and creative! It's a cute date night spot, we came here with 3 couples. All the food we tried was so so so good! The fish tasted sooo fresh and the rolls were just right - no excessive ingredients to mask low quality. Would definitely go back and wish they add more special roles in the future! We just kept ordering more and more of the same rolls and nigiri (they were amazing but would be lovely to have slightly more variety). read more

This sushi restaurant is located in a busy, corporate location on the ground floor of several tall buildings. The neighborhood is a little bit sketchy. Finding parking is tough. My reservation is at 5:30pm for dinner and there is valet parking with a discount if you dine here. The interior was very upscale and elegant. Being among the first, there weren't that many customers yet. The service was a bit slow, but sufficient. When it comes to sushi, everything was top notch. From the preparation to the first bite, I was impressed. The toro nigiri was melt in your mouth good. The rainbow roll was beautifully created and delicious, too. Overall, the experience was worth the drive to the middle of LA. read more

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I still can't say enough great things about Umaya!! Still after all these years, Umaya remains my favorite Japanese restaurant in LA. The chef maintains his Japanese heritage in his cooking, and doesn't fluff or change anything to match the palettes of Americans (by making fusion dishes or dishes with overpowering flavors). Although, i truly believe he cares so much about his patrons that he ensures u have the best experience having the best Japanese food he has to offer! The fish quality is always perfect, sushi rice is always perfect, everything else is always perfect. Everyone from the kitchen to the servers pay close attention to all details. I really hope Umaya stays in business forever! read more

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My friend & I came here for dinner couple of weekends ago on a Saturday evening. I was very surprised that the place was empty for a weekend considering all the good reviews. The environment was spacious & the interior was nice & modern. We sat at the bar & the service was professional, amicable, & attentive. We both had the omakase & it did not disappoint! Price was reasonable too. Quality of fish was fresh & rice to fish ratio was perfect. We both demolished the plate pretty quickly & we ordered an extra handroll to end our meal. I just wished the seaweed on the handroll was more crispy but the fish & rice was up to par. I loved the cold sake that our server recommended to pair with our meal. It tasted clean, crisp, & not sweet. We don't live nearby so we took Lyft here & then walking distance to a live show afterwards. It was a perfect GNO :) read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This was our first time here and we loved it! The interior was really nicely done. The food was incredibly yummy. We stopped by here for dinner before our concert at the Presbyterian church and things worked out perfectly. I definitely recommend Umaya! read more

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Adorable dishes and all yummy dishes, but slow and bad experience. Were served all our sets an hour after sitting, and messed up our check twice. But appreciated the on the house yuzu edamame, which was quite refreshing. + Uni nigiri ($24 MP for 2 pieces): not fishy, but not sweet (7/10) + Tamago nigiri ($8 for 2 pieces): denser but rolled up style rather than fluffy. Nice and slightly sweet (7.5/10) + Premium Sushi Set ($75): this set took the longest to arrive, and some nigiri didn't match the menu (no amaebi). But enjoyed the different textures and flavors. Some were citrusy, others Smokey. Salmon and toro were tops, handrolls were ok (8.3/10) Mango dessert was sweet and delicious read more

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I saw that Umaya LA had a Happy Hour from 5:30 - 7 and 9 pm - close, and wanted to give it a try. Their Happy Hour menu had a nice selection of Sushi nigiri, hand and cut rolls, hot dishes and sashimi. I didn't order any of the hot dishes and stuck with the raw fish. I'm usually a little skeptical when it comes to Happy Hour menus, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ordered. The fish was extremely fresh and the nigiri was well crafted. I also ordered a few pieces off the regular menu as well, that was recommended by my server; Engawa (seared halibut fin) and albacore belly. Both were great and tasty. The restaurant is a nice modern space. They offer valet parking, but since I was there early, I found street parking. The sushi chef that served me (not the owner), wasn't very talkative nor did he ever check on me. However, I did see the owner on the other side of the sushi bar, and he seemed very friendly. My server was very efficient, friendly and attentive. I enjoyed the Happy Hour, but now would like to try their Kaiseki or Omakase sets. Definitely worth going to for Happy Hour and more. read more

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Tried the DineLA set meal from here on a weekday night, and it was great! The set meal came with an appetizer platter with a bunch of small bites, sashimi, salad, entree, and a pudding dessert. For me, it was just the right amount of food and I enjoyed that they served each component one at a time. At other places, I have often felt rushed to finish what I was eating as they served the next thing, but here I felt like the staff was very attentive to the timing and waited for us to finish our food before they removed anything from the table. They also refilled our water consistently without it ever staying empty. It's a small detail, but really helped make the experience enjoyable. We both really enjoyed the appetizer platter as it came with some delicious bites like the tofu with lotus seeds and the baby peach in jelly palate cleanser. Never have had lotus seeds or a baby peach and we liked both! The sashimi was amazing. The pieces were a bit thin, but it tasted delicious and so fresh that I still enjoyed every bite. We chose the steak and the sukiyaki entrees and liked the sukiyaki more because of the full flavor of the dish and the raw dipping egg it was served with. We absolutely loved the Japanese purin served at the end, so much so that we had to order one a la carte because it was so tasty. The place had plenty of room, and overall had darker lighting, which made for a more intimate feel that would be nice for a date night or a small celebration. Parking: We did the $5 valet right in front of the restaurant because I didn't want to stress about parking, but I believe there is street parking available around the area. read more

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visited for the first time doing the 5 course dine LA menu. Everything was delicious and the fish was so fresh. I did really enjoy the starters especially the little scallop fish! The dessert was nice and creamy some sort of pudding. On a Friday night we scored some street parking and with a reservation the wait was only 10 min. I'd definitely come back to try from the regular menu. read more

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My wife and I decided to have our date night here last night to try out their Dine LA menu. We were first greeted by the friendly hostess and seated without a reservation for dinner around 6:15-30PM. My wife took a couple of pictures of the interior of the restaurant which was imbued with an artistic take on modern Japanese and especially loved the hanging umbrellas that adorned the ceiling of the dining area. We were allowed a couple of minutes to look over the DineLA menu ($55/person) offerings which included a 6 course prefixed tasting menu. After we decided which entree to go with since the other parts of the menu were the same per person, I also went ahead and ordered myself a Westside cocktail (Vodka, green chartreuse, cucumber, lime). The drink is fairly reminiscent of a cucumber collins and was light and refreshing which paired well with the food that we ordered. As far as the courses and meals go, I will say the standouts were the Sakizuke at the very beginning and the 7oz ribeye steak. The Sakizuke consists of an assortment of small bites which the server carefully explained to us and also how to properly enjoy each one. The jelly that we were told to enjoy at the very end was definitely one of the best palette cleansers I've had for a meal. My wife had the same course but went with the sukiyaki meal which I found extremely flavorful and well seasoned. I was all smiles ear to ear at the conclusion of the meal as I thought this would definitely be a location I will re-visit to try their other offerings. The staff was quick, courteous and very attentive and did not make us feel rushed throughout the course. I anticipated parking with valet ($5) at the front of the restaurant but was able to find free street parking nearby and had a lovely stroll to the restaurant. read more

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Came here for Dine LA and my friend and I were super impressed with the grand prix menu!! Walking in, I was enamored by the modern yet traditional ambiance of the restaurant. Everything was clean and upscale from the marble tables to the ceiling umbrella decor. I appreciated how the server explained each of the dishes upon serving them. For $55 a person, we had the following: - Sakizuke: A beautiful array of traditional seasonal appetizers. I loved them all and they were healthy and fresh. - Tsukuri: The assorted sashimi was yummy and fresh. The fish paired well with the dipping sauce. - Salad: Loved the fresh mixed greens, but wish the fried lotus chip was crispier and crunchier. Loved the dressing. - 7oz Ribeye Steak: The star of the meal. I got it done at medium per the server's recommendation and it was so delicious. The steak was cooked well and was covered in this wasabi butter which was so umami and flavorful. Combined with the steak juices, I could literally drink it all up. - Pudding dessert: A nice sweet finish. Nothing special, but still good. I especially liked how hospitable and attentive the servers were. They were quick to remove our finished dishes and refill our water cups. Overall, a great experience here! I would come back and recommend trying out the Dine LA experience here. read more

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Umaya has been on my list to try for a while, so I was super excited when I finally got the chance to go. The environment is super spacious and chic, which is the complete opposite of the neighborhood it's in. Unfortunately the food and the service was mediocre. Food came out extremely slowly even though the restaurant was pretty empty. For the price and quality, I'd recommend trying another sushi spot in the area. read more

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We went for Happy Hour and the prices were very reasonable for the quality of fish we were served. This place has a lot of potential and we hope it takes off. read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Assorted Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food was amazing . . . Order the traditional style Japanese dining of kaiseki where every course you get will excite your palate and expand your dining horizons. The chef is from. Japan and the kaiseki dining experience is reminiscent of the luxury onsen retreat type of vacation in Japan where fine dining, elegance, and leisure all come together. This will take your taste buds on a vacation to the other side of the world. The service was great and each member of the staff was welcoming and attentive. They have a wonderfully curated wine collection to satisfy a wide range of wine lovers. Random... Did you know champagne goes well with sushi? If you want authentic, though, try some Japanese sake. The ambience is modern, stylish, yet adorable. The Japanese umbrellas painted on the wall, with the velvety seats and little table lamps create a cozy mini universe where you can go on a flavor adventure. It's a gem we keep going back to again and again. Highly recommend! read more

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Definitely worth the visit. I had a fantastic meal with Chef Nao and here's what I ordered: Unagi Yanagawa - freshwater eel + egg in a sizzling stone pot (summer specialty) Seasonal App Platter - chawanmushi, baby sardines sunomono, abalone miso, mozuku shooter, purple yam, shrimp, tamago, wine jelly peach, soy milk tofu, pressed sushi, salmon vinaigrette miso Umaya Omakase (Build Your Own Handroll) - $60 lunch / $100 dinner Koshihikari Tamaki rice, imported nori, housemade miso soup + salt palette (matcha, ume, kombucha, sakura, yuzu) Dobin Mushi - teapot soup w/ matsutake, sea bream, ginkgo nut, shrimp (fall/winter only) Lobster Uniyaki - hot stone plate Kaiseki Omakase Street parking or $5 validated in back. read more

Stopped by for dinner on a Saturday night and the place was not too busy. Which was a surprise because the food was absolutely delicious! Service was good and the place itself had lots of seating at the tables or at the bar where you can see the sushi chefs working hard. We started with cocktails which were very good then I had an assortment of nigiri (they even had uni! My fave) and I had tempuras too. The tempura was very crisp and light and the nigiri all tasted great. My friend got one of their bento type meals and she lived it too. It came with generous amount of food including a miso soup, salad, tempura, sashimi and miso sea-bass! Will definitely be coming back for more sushi! read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Tried the dineLA dinner menu at Umaya and was pleasantly surprised! Six courses for $55 was such a steal, especially for the quality and amount of food that you get. Each course had beautiful presentation and the fish tasted very fresh. Everything was delicious, even down to the miso soup. Service was great and very attentive, and the vibes inside are perfect for a date night. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice Japanese restaurant in LA with good food and ambiance. 4 stars- would come back if I was in the area! read more

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Highly recommend. I've been a fan of Chef Sugiyama for 25 years from NYC to LA. Their multiple menu options offer their own very unique experiences (all a 5/5 stars) from their sushi omakase, sukiyaki, kaiseki and more. read more

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The only reason I will give this place a 2 star is for the service before being seated the waitress informed me there is no seating when there was about 12 tables open told me they had a big party coming in 5 mins later I believe the Manger greeted me welcome me and told me sit here I replied back isn't there a 20 mins wait he said no then before I even order the waitress told me this is very expensive when that wasn't my question when I just ask what did the food come with extremely rude. but I will give compliment the Chef food was amazing read more

We came for the Dine LA menu and it did not disappoint. First course was a variety of small dishes, conch, seaweed, crab, tamago, purple yam and a jelly with grape. I thought this was pretty good and was a good start to wet your palate. Second course was sashimi which was good with the typical yellow tail, bluefin tuna and king salmon. Third course was a salad and was refreshing. For the main entree I opted for the Sukiyaki which was amazing! I truly enjoyed it and the meat melted in my mouth. My partner had the sushi plate and I thought the choices of sushi were pretty good, his only complain was the hand rolls which he thought were just ok. Fifth course was desert and it's the perfect size for me and probably one of the best custard I've ever had. So good. For $55 per person it is super worth it and service was exceptional! read more

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CHEF NOA KEISEKI REVIEW We heard he was one of the best chefs and he blew us away. It was worth every penny ($260 a person) to dine with Chef Sugiyama-san. The meal was so good we went back the next week during DineLA and got their sushi omakase for $55 and that was also oishi but it was nothing compared to the delightful dishes of Chef Nao! I'm not going to go into every dish but it was like going back to Japan! Beautiful to look at, each bite was full of flavor that had depth and care you can tell this was a master at his craft. My favorite dish was his soup made with eel that he deboned and transformed into a delicate ball of yumminess. The broth was heavenly! The dessert course was my OMG moment because we had 4-5 full size Japanese desserts and they were all sooooo amazing! Chef thank you for a delicious and memorable meal! 思い出に残るおいしい食事をありがとう！ read more

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Tucked away on Wilshire, Umaya has a vibey atmosphere and great food and drinks, perfect for a date night or catchup with friends. Don't miss the red snapper (lightly smoked, perfectly delish with their yuzu dressing) and negitoro roll! Always appreciate the attentive, friendly service. read more

Good happy hour deals and the ambiance inside is really nice. Never packed which I like so I don't need reservations. Nigiri is fresh but wouldn't get sukiyaki again it was really small and they charged me extra for miso soup and rice that I didn't ask for read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went for their dine la lunch option -- so worth it for $25! The miso cod was so so yum. Our server was also very attentive. In terms of parking, we opted for metered street parking right in front of the restaurant read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here like 1 hour before closing on a Saturday night as I prepared myself with the energy and to vibe right before going to a party next door! I was greeted kindly by John and asked him if they were still taking guest and I was seated at a nice two top and preceded to look at the menu and was givin great selection of choices! John helped me with my choice and I went to wash my hands before enjoying this meal! Restroom sink is shared in a coed space, very spacious and clean with high ceilings with a high end aesthetic. Loved the door opener with the option of the shoe door opener vs using hands. I went back to my seat and enjoyed my sparkling bubbles then the food server came to my table and described each delicious intricate bite on my plates. I never had to look up to catch the eye of my server or a staff as my glass was always full with bubbly! This was top notch service as everything I needed was catered too without my look for attention. High end service! Sashimi was very aesthetic with the gold on top, for freshness it was delightful tho I have had better! The service and space is definitely what you pay for and the absolute amazing aesthetics! This is a date spot to visit or simply to celebrate yourself as I did! The sukiyaki was probably my favorite dish next to the steamed egg following the dessert! I had a great experience and highly recommend this spot to my friends! Well worth the money ! read more

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There are not a ton of restaurants in LA that will serve a Kaiseki meal. I really enjoyed the variety and presentation of the Kaiseki meal, but the pricing is pretty steep and I'm not completely convinced the price you pay is worth the small amount of food you receive. read more

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Between the Umaya omakase lunch and the chef's choice Yume menu, it's hard to pick which one I liked more. The lunch omakase was a fun option because you made your own hand rolls with all the ingredients they laid out before you. There were 12 different sashimi, sushi rice, nori, very low sodium soy sauce, and 5 different salts (kombu, ume, matcha, sakura, and yuzu). The Yume menu was a course meal with so many delicious items and some that even brought back nostalgia for me. My mom used to always make me chawanmushi as a kid and this one, I have to say, tasted even better than hers with the silky texture and mix-ins. I also really enjoyed the broiled fish which they change seasonally and ours was miso black cod. It was unforgettable. If there was an option to have it as an entree, I would not hesitate to order it. There were also 12 pieces of sushi of which I surprisingly liked the bluefin the best. That's not to say the others weren't good, because they were, it just stood out a lot more with how tender and thick the cut was. The ambiance of the restaurant is very relaxed and intimate, so it's perfect for date night or a fun hangout with friends. Parking would be street if you're lucky or at a nearby structure and then walk from there. read more

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This was such an incredible dining experience! I walked in for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon with no reservation. I was welcomed and seated in the front row of the sushi chefs. The bar is decorated with the beautiful black tile and wood. The serving trays and plates are all perfectly sized to fit and compliment the dishes. It felt like a fine dining experience just from the place setting. They were offering the dine la menu so I chose the Shokado Lunch Special, which included everything pictured. I also ordered hot tea. The service here was so smooth and properly hospitable. It was busy but my dishes were cleared immediately and my cups were filled without having to ask. The cuts of sashimi all had unique flavor and textures, super fresh! The black cod with miso was so rich and buttery it pretty much melted in your mouth. Would definitely come back for that! The desert was a surprise and so automatically it was my favorite thing I ate. It was so light and fresh and perfectly ended the meal. I will absolutely be coming back again! read more

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Avoid this place at all cost. They don't have parking spot and valet. Yep that 5 dollar valet is a lie. It took us 30 mins to find a spot to park and we had to walk for 10 mins to the restaurant. We thought the nightmare is over, but yet we had to wait for 40 mins for our food to come. And you think the restaurant is packed? Nope. It's a Tuesday evening, and there were only 3 other groups there. I don't know what kinda sushi needs that long to make. Lol. And the taste is just like any other sushi restaurant and the price is not even good. Overall, terrible experience. read more

Came here for the Dine LA lunch set. It included a bento box with a miso mackerel, 6 pieces of sashimi (2 salmon, 2 tuna, 2 yellowtail), assorted side dishes, and a dessert. The food tasted good and the Dine LA menu was a very good value. There is no parking available, but there is plenty of metered street parking nearby at lunch time on a weekday. The service was very pleasant and prompt. I appreciate that the servers explained to me the different ingredients in the plate such as identifying the root vegetables. Also there was a sweet cube thing with a bean inside and that was very good. The presentation of the food was very good as well. We made a reservation so the table was available immediately when we arrived. Overall the ambience inside the restaurant was pleasant and modern. read more

Great spot for fresh sushi and a unique, build-your-own hand roll lunch experience! Parking is tough since it's all street metered parking but they also have valet parking during dinner time. For $60, you get their hand roll omakase which comes with 12 different types of fish, nori, sushi rice, dashi soup, and a salt seasoning platter. The experience is pretty fun and a cool concept, but I would rather watch it being made for me like at kazunori. I thought some of the fishes tasted mediocre but I liked the blue fin tuna and salmon. Their Chef's Choice menu for $120 was my favorite. The chawanmushi, which was a steamed egg with shrimp, eel, and ginkgo nut was really good! Following that was the grilled salmon and two omakase nigiri platters which I loved. The fish were all really fresh and already seasoned and my favorite was the uni and blue fin tuna. The dessert was a custard pudding that was super silky and delicious. Overall a delicious experience! read more

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Celebrated galentine's day dinner here last weekend! I'm from Cerritos and there's an Umaya Ramen, so I was interested to see if there was an affiliation. Turns out, Umaya LA was originally a ramen spot but they recently switched to a sushi-focused concept in the last 6 months and in the past few weeks they came out with an omakase/kaiseki set up which is a lot more upscale than my experience at Umaya Ramen was! Parking: It's K-town so the area is a bit hectic, but there is street parking on Catalina St, or Valet Parking in front. The ambience is stylish. They have a bar area, a place to sit near the chefs, and general dining area if that is more your vibe. The restaurant was not crowded and volume is good for a romantic date night. We tried the Hand Roll Lunch Set and the Chef's Choice (yume) which was more of a multi-course experience. Between the two, I loved the Hand Roll Set because of its beautiful presentation and interactivity. They provided a guide for how to put together the hand rolls, and a small place of fun different salts like kombu, sakura, ume, yuzu, and matcha. I enjoyed the kaiseki as well, but the nimono, chawanmushi, and boiled fish I could've passed on, whereas for the Hand roll set I couldn't get enough. I thought the fish quality was great, especially the toro, tuna, and salmon. The dessert from the Chef's Choice menu is what really stood out to me. WOW - I'm not a huge sweets person but the texture was so light and soft, and the pudding was perfectly creamy and not too sweet. It was a wonderful end to our meal. Overall, the presentation and variety of the food is extremely high quality. I think the cooked dishes like the chawanmushi, boiled salmon, and soups were just ok. Service was impeccable. They were informative but never disruptive in our meal but always around when we needed something. This is a good value and a great spot to dine - you can also make a night of it and go to Intercrew after for more drinks! read more

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First time trying Umaya because I was drawn to their presentation pics on Instagram! The food does taste as good as it LOOKS! We got the sushi omakase & 6 course dinner and left so full. The DIY hand roll experience is lots of fun and the portions are generous for the price. In addition the service was amazing and the waiter gave us bag hooks for our purses (: There is NO parking -- street parking is also very difficult. Unless you get lucky valet is $12 cash. read more

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Stopped by for anniversary and DineLA! I never knew this place existed, but it seems like they've been around for about two years. The restaurant was a lot bigger than it looked and had a lot of spaces. They even had a full bar inside with a nice list of Japanese Whiskeys (Sorry, no Yamazakis!) and other spirits. The food was good and was presented in a 5 course meal (most likely for DineLA) Although my date got the sushi, I opted for the sukiyaki as they presented themselves as a kaiseki restaurant. They also had other options, but I think their sukiyaki was better than the sushi. The service was great when we first got in, but the place got packed in a few minutes and it seemed like there wasn't enough servers. However, the overall experience was great and I'd probably visit again for a different menu. read more

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60 dollar set for lunch and you get a bunch of food. Trust me and just go and show them this picture. "I want this" And you're good to go read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Service was great with attentive server and bringing out dishes. The lunch omakase was by far the better one compared to the dinner set. Fun interactive experience for the lunch omakase with different dipping salts, and making your own sushi with rice, seaweed, and assorted season sashimi pieces. Dinner set was nicer in terms of presentation, but not as satisfying with the amount of food provided and cuts of fish offered. Great place to try though for lunch if you're a fan of aesthetic and sushi! read more

Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! It was my first time trying omakase and it was a great experience. The lunch set was $60 per person that comes with fish, soy sauce, different types of salts, rice and seaweed. The staff was also very sweet and welcoming explaining how everything works. The ambiance was gorgeous. We went at noon and it was just us and another party. There's plenty of street parking right in front of the restaurant. read more

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Making your own handrolls is just so much fun! You definitely need to check out Umaya in Koreatown for an amazing omakase experience! They have different sets for their lunch and dinner courses, with the lunch course consisting of making your own hand rolls paired with their own in-house salt blends for $60, and dinner consisting of a full coursed meal for $120! The handrolls for lunch were so fun to make, and you can really customize it to your taste. For the dinner set, we loved the small plates they gave us beforehand like the seasonal vegetables, broiled fish, and chawanmushi which was so silky. The 12 piece nigiri set was absolutely delicious; the fish was so fresh and beautifully plated, making it taste that much better! The ambiance here is really elevated, making it great for a perfect night out in Ktown! There's a bunch of street parking nearby and they have lots of seating as well. Definitely recommend checking out Umaya the next time you you're craving sushi and want a great omakase experience! read more

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