I can't imagine having meal at a 400 per person omakase place that serves tempura full of fish…read morebones ridiculous. Chef saw that, and did nothing and he knew this is a failed dish due to lack of bone cut(骨切り) he said that to the kitchen stuff, but nothing to the customer. Why do I know, cause I speaks japanese. Additionally, their so called signature dish has to be paid separate as an add-on, very funny.

Shunji was extremely delicious and such an enjoyable experience. Came here on reservation and upon…read moreentering we were seated along with another party. Since it's on a reservation based system, there's very limited seatings each day. Total of 4 us we were able to enjoy this Omakase experience for roughly an hour and a half. The different types of food and fishes that came out were all delicious and perfected by the chef. Hard to detail what type of stuff came out, but it is pretty typical if you have been to other Omakase experiences. Everyone, including the staff were very tentative and nice with everyone and explain, explained in detail the dishes that came out. It's definitely worth the experience. It is pricey, but it's perfect for those special occasions like a birthday or an anniversary. I would definitely recommend it to other people if they have a special day coming up. Street parking is the only viable option here.

Lorenza was my server and made my first time a great experience and will be recommending Saijo to…read moreothers due to my fantastic sushi dinner experience

Went here for a date night and we really enjoyed ourselves. It's a very small and intimate…read morerestaurant where you sit at the bar top so I'd only recommend going in small groups as I imagine it's hard to talk to people unless they're sitting next to you. I loved that it was a mix of raw hand rolls and cooked skewers. While the place is pricey and the wait can be long, we thought the food was great. The handrolls were exceptional and so fresh. I loved that each dish came out freshly made and handed to you but do wish they didn't come out so quickly. As someone who is a slower eater, it was a bit overwhelming how quickly the food came out and the skewers would get cold as I couldn't eat fast enough. However I assume they want to turn around tables quickly so I don't think it's a grazing type of date night spot. We really enjoyed both the handrolls and skewers and look forward to coming back soon!

I just visited the Getty's museum and took a bit too long so I figured to take my daughter to a…read morelocal place to eat and wait out the crazy traffic. I am glad I did, this place is great. I didn't have a reservation and the hostess squeezed me in on what seems to be a busy Thursday night. The staffs are very nice and the food comes out quick. I got the steak and it was very tasty. My daughter must be hungry so she ate most of the food so I order a ramen to get full. The ramen is surprisingly good for a izakaya place. If you like Izakaya, try this place. The place is pretty small so it'll feel very cozy and you can definitely hear the couple next to you having a fight. There is parking lot right next door but the attendant may not be there so you don't have to pay if he is not around. I sure didn't.

A friend brought me here and prefaced by saying it was the best japanese food he's had outside of…read moreJapan. Although it didn't necessarily live up to the hype, it was definitely an authentic spot tucked in a busy area of LA. Parking, was particularly hard to find. Definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. Immediately greeted by a friendly staff who showed us our table. Ambience was reminiscent of a local spot you'd find in Tokyo. A comforting, warm, bright place that serves as a familiar dinner spot that makes me wanna go back to Japan. For first timer, the menu was slightly hard to navigate. Lol, but I guess that speaks to the authenticity of the Japanese menu. Assorted pork belly wrapped yakitori/skewers, 7.8/10: these were hyped up by both my friend and the server, but overall it was slightly underwhelming. The skewers were all seasoned nicely, although they were a bit hard to eat since they were so big. Starting with the pork belly wrapped cabbage skewer, I don't believe the cabbage added any sustenance to the dish. I did like the bacon wrapped tomato skewer since the pop of acidity and freshness from the tomato paired well with the fat from the pork. Chicken Karaage, 9.1/10: definitely the best dish here. Chicken was fried perfectly, and was warm when it came out. The batter was not too thick or heavy. Season well with enough space.The lemon is a must for acidity and brightness. And of course they kewpie mayo is a nice touch. Tonkotsu Ramen, 7.5/10: the pork broth was rich and deep. The noodles were nice and chewy and firm clinging onto that broth. However, the portion was a bit small for the price. I was caught off guard by that. Granted, this place doesn't boast about the ramen. Overall, this wasn't anything mind blowing. Stuffed chicken wing, 8/10: stuffed generously with ground chicken ginger scallions and seasonings. The outside skin was flavorful crispy and savory. The temperature of the wings were pretty good too. Solid.

My Friend invited me here! One of her Favorite restaurants & Bar…read more I didnt know it was so close to the Nate Holden Theater! Now I have a restaurant i can go to prenthe pre theater! The outside is inconspicuous with outside covered with ivy. We had a 730pm reservation on a Wednesday. Theres a Valet so we didnt even look for street parking. It's an Intimate setting inside & a covered patio. The staff were Nice & helpful. We ordered many items to share. And we had PLENTY! Edamame, cucumber salad,Grilled pork belly & Mushroom skewers, negi Toro, Mackerel, Ochazuke, Black Cod, Japanese waygu roll, tori negi..whew! There were 3 of us! Lol! Everything was Fr we sh Well flavored & Delicious! And the Drinks were also Fabulous! I'll be back

Quite a nice experience but you're paying for the n/naka brand with the prices rather than anything…read moreextrodinary. Rounding up to 4 stars even though I'd say it's more of a 3 1/2 because of the sticker shock. Space is unfussy, large and great for groups. We were sat near the back which was still quite nice and the surrounding noise was never over a dull roar. It was lovely. The food was solid but not remarkable. We chose a variety of items from the chutoro to some skewers. I mostly concentrate on the nigiri which was quite good and better than expected given that we were ordering a la carte. Cocktails were also quite nice, especially the Miso Boulevardier which had some of my favorite cocktail qualities of having a bit of smoke, depth, complexity but not sweet at all. Price was well over 300 for two people which is high enough to start wondering if we should have opted for omakase somewhere else instead. Not terrible but high enough to make me think about it which is always a mixed signal.

A huge thank you to Super All-Star Yelp Elite Gary I. for suggesting dinner at Asakura during…read moredineLA, Winter 2026. Reservations are essential, as dinner is served at timed seatings. It's an intimate and comfortable setting, with only around 14 seats available. Executive Chef Keigo Yoshida and General Manager Masaki Ishiba were running a two-man show the night we dined as Asakura and did an astounding job. They balanced perfectly executed dishes with warm hospitality, keeping all the guests happy in the meantime. The Omakase menu offers dishes created to the absolute highest standard; the Chawan Mushi with Black Truffle is the best version I have ever had of this dish. Outstanding! Please see photos for the menu but keep in mind the menu will change with the seasons. I cannot wait to return to Asakura. And....free parking in the lot.

We had the extreme pleasure of dining here night, 7/16/26 and it was a gastronomic experience!…read moreAsakura is an intimate, reservation-only kaiseki restaurant in West Los Angeles offering a high-end, multi-course Japanese tasting menu. They have 4 well deserved Michelin stars at their restaurants in Japan. We loved our chefs! Masaki makes this once in a lifetime experience! I will break it down, of course by course later, but I just wanted to tell everyone to make a reservation here because it's a spectacular experience!

Masakazu's sushi chef cares for the taste and presentation. He carefully selects fish and how he…read moreprepares is beyond the imagination. He doesn't want to depend on marketing but he believes the taste itself should speak and I agree because sushi melted in my mouth. I usually avoid blue fish but they were excellent. Also there are some shellfish that I had never tried, so it was wonderful experience. And Oh my god. Tro and Sea Urchin...soooooo yummy. He is quiet because he focuses on making sushi but he is friendly and super flexible. I saw a could brought a birthday cake and he don't charge for it. The sake was great too. His lineup was rare and I had never tried those. He said you can't find those sake in other restaurants. My favorite was "Gorin." The restaurant is simple, clean, calm vibe with quiet jazz music. It didn't have any decorations or menu on the wall. I would say try omakase and let him give you the best sushi. The price is cheaper side and I asked chef why he doesn't charge like other restaurants because the quality is same as Michelin stars restaurant and he said he doesn't want to overcharge his customers. Overall, he is a true chef who cares for his sushi and I had an excellent dinner.

Sushi chef doesn't talk at all. Doesn't explain much and…read morejust gives you your food. I tried to engage in conversation and nothing. Sushi is alright. A lot of hard core stuff. Ive gone to many many other ones much better.

One of THE best omakase experiences in LA. Reservations open up two weeks ahead of time on Resy and…read morewe were able to book a spot at the counter for a Friday evening. Staff were so friendly and very attentive. Definitely met the level of service you would expect at a restaurant in this price range. There's two menu options. Chefs Omakase or Classic Omakase. The Chef's Omakase comes with hot dishes + nigiri, while the Classic Omakase is nigiri only (but more nigiri than what you get in the Chef's Omakase). We ended up ordering the Chef's Omakase and would 100% recommend. My favorite was the tempura uni and uni sorbet course. It was unique and honestly the best dish I've had. Everything else from the scallops, nigiri, soup, wagyu, etc were all phenomenal. Not a single course didn't hit. Valet parking outside the restaurant or park in the public parking lot only a 1 minute walk away.

I consider myself very knowledgeable and experienced with sushi in general and high-end Omakase…read morespecifically. I was very excited to take my son here when he came in from NYC, where he had heard how good this place is. Meh! Our longtime favorite neighborhood Sushi Sasabune is MUCH better fish and the inventive restaurant SHU Sushi House Unico run by the Sicilian Drago Brothers is MUCH more tasty and creative. Nakazawa was expensive, pretentious, and .. if I am being honest ... MEDIOCRE!

The craftsmanship deliciousness and hospitality, kindness, and attention to detail takes me right…read moreback to Japan. The restaurant is also in a very elegant japanese traditional style. It's got very elegant tables in ambient lighting for a date night or a formal gathering. Prepared to be wow'ed. The service here is so impeccable. The sushi here is amazing. Fresh fish. Great knife work. Well prepared and beautifully presented. I had the DineLA set. Yellowtail carpaccio was flavorful and rich. The sushi is one of the best in West LA. I had the honor to meet Chef Satoshi and Chef Ken. They're both so kind and hospitable. They're very knowledgeable and taught me a few things about uni. Their craftsmanship is amazing. I really adore the attention to detail they put in. The sushi rice is warm and sweet. The fish is rich and has a really nice texture. I will definitely be coming back.

Among the new comers of Japanese cuisine to the LA food scene, you are not going to find anywhere…read moreas classic and traditional Japanese as Asuka. Going to Asuka is going to see your grand uncle Vincent who has a really delicious Japanese restaurant. He welcomes you with a smile, tells you stories about Asuka and his passion for Japanese cuisine in a sharp suit and slick back hair. He is such a character and honestly worth going back to week after week. Your Uncle Vincent is there making sure your sushi and your other Japanese cuisine favorites are up to par. Asuka delivers freshness with true Japanese chefs in the back. Dishes are carefully curated and ingredients intentionally bought to bring the best flavors to each customer. From Miso Cod, Chawanmushi house made Edamame Tofu, Toro Tartar and Lobster Dynamite. Everything is made fresh to order and really satisfies my Japanese food cravings.