Katana
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (323) 650-8585
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- La Cienega Boulevard
- Best of Citysearch:
- Japanese Food 2006
- Hours:
- Sun 6pm-12pm, Mon-Wed 5:30pm-12am, Thu-Fri 5:30pm-1am, Sat 6pm-1am
Message from Katana
Every Sunday Night-DJ Thomas Golubic, 6pm-11:30pm
- Japanese Beer Garden Sundays
- Private Dining Room
- Patio Overlooking Sunset Strip
Paid advertisement by Katana.
Editorial Review for Katana – by Jane Tunks
The Scene
The team behind Balboa and Sushi Roku has put its muscle into this stylish Japanese restaurant and lounge. The decor verges on "Blade Runner" territory, with ultramodern touches such as steel I-beams substituting for traditional teak rafters, and security grills standing in for Japanese lattice. A swanky patio overlooks the Strip.
The Food
The encyclopedic Japanese comfort-food menu can be overwhelming. Get your bearings over fragrant red miso soup, then turn your attention to the specialty of the house, robata. The traditional Japanese skewers are roasted over an open flame, infusing the meat, fish or vegetables with a smoky essence. Served in dainty portions, the choices range from chicken breast to a more ambitious sea bass marinated in ponzu. Other inspired dishes include giant scallops and shiitake mushrooms loaded with minced chicken. The chefs also turn out gems like the lobster roll loaded with broiled meat and the buttery toro roll.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Where to SitNo reservation? Seating at the sushi and robata bars is available on a first come, first served basis, but the grill end is smoky--head for the sushi side.
Happy HourVisit weekdays between 5:30pm and 7pm for $5 select sushi rolls and skewers. Happy hour prices only apply in the bar area.
Know Before You GoWaiters deliver your skewers whenever they happen to be ready, so order all at once or a few at a time.
What to DrinkAsk for sake tips--Katana has one of the largest selections in town--and one of the only certified sake sommeliers. Redsun is a house beer created to complement sushi.
User Reviews for Katana
05/10/2008 Posted by bonnie_mcbride
The entire wait staff thinks they are better than the diners- all waiting to be discovered. Periodically, this isn't such a bad thing as you get to be around beautiful, want-to-be-liked, early twenty-somethings, but generally speaking, they tend to want to please so the service industry works for them (hence all the actor/waiters in this town). It is as sadly typical of Los Angeles as we've found, having moved here from San Francisco two years ago. We arrived at 6:30 and asked to be seated outside- there was nobody seated there yet, same as the inside. The hostess said, Oh sorry- all booked up for outside. 2 hours later and a very mediocre meal with TERRIBLE service later, the outside was perhaps a quarter full. The "creamy" baked crab roll was incredibly dry. The lobster baked roll was over cooked, and the drinks were unbelivably watered down. If you do go though, get the tuna over "baked" (clearly fried) rice. It was good. Prices were over the top for what they are serving. They are going on location, location, location! But I am not buying a house....I just wanted a decent night out with my husband. In any other town this place would be out of business. Oh, and the tables on our right and left were eagerly griping as well. I realize this site isn't accurate as restaurant owners/staff tend to write them - so, I'm submitting this with a gain of salt.
Pros: One dish- tuna over "baked" (aka: fried) rice
Cons: service, service, service, drinks, rest of the food
04/25/2008 Posted by green666
so yeah there's a scene... but can you say yummmmyy!!! during the summer outside is a plus but be sure you call at least a week in advance and request it.. if outside is not possible sit in the tea garden room inside.. you are inside but you feel like you are in this magical sushi garden..... almost private.. very vip like area. last time i was there we were sitting next to tyra banks .. i dont know if thats a pro or a con. the staff is friendly and the food is delicious! you have to order the tuna carpaccio with the soy truffle sauce.. it has tuna, truffle oil, soy, shaved parmesan, arugula and avocado... it literally melts on your tongue! the king crab legs robata with drawn butter.. the lamb chops.. i can go on forever.. a must go place.
Pros: NOT A PLACE FOR KIDS! great people watching, very hip and on the sunset strip if you want to go out after. love the outside area. fresh food
Cons: if you dont have reservations you will have to wait forever. but overall very cool place to go
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