(310) 396-1179

110 Navy St
Venice, CA 90291 33.997071 -118.479612

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Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA

THECHAYA.COM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Travelers Check, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Late Night Dining, Date Spot, Bar Menu, Romantic Dining, Notable Chef, People Watching, Upscale Casual Dining, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Japanese, Sushi, Italian

Other Locations:

What People Are Saying About Chaya Venice

Featured Review

Mar Yvette

Contributor

Whether it's a Monday afternoon or a Saturday night, drinks or dinner, couples or a group of friends, this place is jam-packed virtually any hour on any day of the week. Celebrating 20 years of success, this original outpost of the Chaya empire had a facelift in early 2010 with a chic update on the airy art-deco dining room: sculptural light fixtures add a warm glow, hanging blackboards frame the open kitchen and organically shaped Chinese lanterns hover above the bar-lounge. The expanded menu--helmed by Shigefumi Tachibe--offers everything from fruits de mer and the famed spicy tuna tartare…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Late-night supper and sushi happy hour are served all night, every night till midnight. The huge menu offers $6 drinks, an assortment of $4 and $5 rolls, and other bites like $2 oysters on the half shell, $6 buffalo wings and $10 Chaya sliders.
Parking:
Both self parking and valet parking are available in the lot behind the restaurant off Navy between Main and Pacific. Or you can try one of the meters along Main Street.
ambiance
90.0% positive
  1. thought it had a great location, fun atmosphere, innovative menu and the food was good - I would especially recommend the salad with the white nectarines and walnuts.
  2. :) Of course, it's not going to SUPER romantic, b/c it IS kinda loud.
  3. the service is decent, and the location is great.
  4. fun atmosphere, tasty food
  5. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
  6. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  7. Great atmosphere, people their tend to be very beachy and laid back.
  8. Great drinks, great crowd, great atmosphere and most importantly FANTASTIC FOOD!
  9. thought the decor was a little silly (stupid sculptures...)
  10. It was quiet enough to have a comfortable conversation with people at your table, but at the same time, you felt like it was the place to be.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  2. They have some nice cocktail concoctions but the savings you get on the food will quickly be lost on the drinks.
  3. Great bar scene, and the happy hour is the best in town.
  4. The happy hour would be great considering the appetizers are great and has a great selection of beers.
  5. Great drinks, great crowd, great atmosphere and most importantly FANTASTIC FOOD!
  6. didn't have a reservation and didn't get in right away--as expected at any popular restaurant, but I decided to wait in the bar for a table in the restaurant--great mojitos, not too tart.
  7. The drinks are great and they have a nice bar area where you can get a seat and order appetizers.
  8. I've never been particularly excited about the food here, but the drinks and happy hour bites do not disappoint (actually the food gets better after a few cocktails).
food quality
79.27000045776367% positive
  1. The food is a wide variety of Japanese and french with an amazing Sushi happy hour that can't be beat.
  2. We had to ask the bus boys to check on our food since our waitress didn't bother to check on our table.
  3. Horrible service, mediocre food!
  4. Always great food
  5. It's a good thing that the food tastes as good as it looks!
  6. So I only went to this restaurant once, but I am crazy about ceviche and get it everywhere that i can and their salmon ceviche was AWESOME.
  7. Fun atmoshpere, good happy hour specials, and wide variety on menu including sushi.
  8. To be completely honest, it was not the food that turned me off of this place, but the rude hostesses and servers.
  9. It's every bad stereotype about LA restaurants: self-important underdressed wannabe crowd mixed with expensive, terrible food.
  10. There are only 3 rolls to choose from for happy hour, which are california rool, spicy tuna roll, and chef's special roll, each has 6 pieces and for $4, so the price is not impressive, just okay.
  11. Way overpriced, mediocre food
  12. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
  13. The rolls are delicious and the alaskan king crab is extra sweet.
  14. Fun environment with some really great food!
  15. The calamari was amazing with its curry sauce, nice twist.
  16. My meal here was pretty impressive: a yummy, big goat cheese salad and then some kind of a Cajun-marinated fish.
  17. the food was amazing.
  18. thought it had a great location, fun atmosphere, innovative menu and the food was good - I would especially recommend the salad with the white nectarines and walnuts.
  19. But it was tasty, our waitress was helpful, I love the neighborhood, great for an after dinner stroll.
  20. bad food from the 80's with 21st Century prices.
  21. So far I have ordered callops wrapped in new york steak, paella, and salmon, which were all great.
  22. The sea bass was good, the rib eye steak average, and the crispy butterfish okay.
  23. The food is good but not as good as the original.
  24. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  25. Once it bumps up to full price it isn't as worth it, as better sushi awaits elsewhere.
  26. The roll was delicious, the salad was interestingly good.
  27. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  28. I've never been particularly excited about the food here, but the drinks and happy hour bites do not disappoint (actually the food gets better after a few cocktails).
  29. one of my favorite places- great happy hour sushi deals and a great crowd.
  30. They have some nice cocktail concoctions but the savings you get on the food will quickly be lost on the drinks.
  31. The food is just as beautiful as the crowd!
  32. Service was a little slow from server, but most of the food came from the sushi chefs in front of us- which was quick!
  33. fun atmosphere, tasty food
  34. The service was excellent and the food was amazing.
  35. All of the specials looked great and the appetizers were delicious!
  36. got the filet mignon too taht was pretty good - I've had better (wasn't the fondest of the black truffle sauce), but it was still enjoyable.
  37. The signature fish dish done to death; the sauce though pretty in appearance was tasteless; and they left the garlic out of the garlic-mashed potatoes.
  38. The appetizers were great - we ordered some salad and a roll.
  39. they do have great sushi and soups.
  40. Dinner is delicious here, but if you're on a budget, go when someone else is paying (boss, parents, date with a trust fund.
  41. The service was great and the sushi was amazing.
menu variety
85.0% positive
  1. The regular sea-bass on the menu is always great, but my friend ordered a special stuffed sea-bass which as horrendously overcooked, dry, and just plain nasty.
  2. Staff is friendly, knows the menus, works together (I like that), and they've made honest suggestions when I've asked.
  3. The food is a wide variety of Japanese and french with an amazing Sushi happy hour that can't be beat.
  4. Our waiter was very attentive, but his suggestions were not that great, but when we told him that we weren't happy with one of his choices for an appetizer he took it off of our bill which is something that wouldn't happen in every restaurant especially i
  5. thought it had a great location, fun atmosphere, innovative menu and the food was good - I would especially recommend the salad with the white nectarines and walnuts.
  6. Never tried the full menu.
  7. The happy hour would be great considering the appetizers are great and has a great selection of beers.
  8. It had a great menu.
  9. Fun atmoshpere, good happy hour specials, and wide variety on menu including sushi.
  10. would rather just pay the extra money and sit in the main dining room and order off the menu.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. this is a great date place.
  2. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  3. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
  4. it's best to get there before the big rush to avoid the wait since it is a popular place for the trendy Venice crowd.
  5. Its a great place to hang after work.
  6. However, I still recommend this spot simply because it's a great place to hang with your friends (but for a date, the noise level can be quite distracting).
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. However, I feel like I've had much better meals for either the same price (which I felt was inflated) or less - so I'm not really sure I would go back, unless it was for the more reasonable happy hour.
service
75.0% positive
  1. We had to ask the bus boys to check on our food since our waitress didn't bother to check on our table.
  2. The service was great and the sushi was amazing.
  3. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  4. Service was a little slow from server, but most of the food came from the sushi chefs in front of us- which was quick!
  5. Raspberry Mojitos Rock--friendly service
  6. To be completely honest, it was not the food that turned me off of this place, but the rude hostesses and servers.
  7. The weekend crowd is super friendly and outgoing and the staff like to hook up tables of.
  8. The service was good.
  9. the service is decent, and the location is great.
  10. Horrible service, mediocre food!
  11. But it was tasty, our waitress was helpful, I love the neighborhood, great for an after dinner stroll.
  12. Our waiter was very attentive, but his suggestions were not that great, but when we told him that we weren't happy with one of his choices for an appetizer he took it off of our bill which is something that wouldn't happen in every restaurant especially i
  13. Staff is friendly, knows the menus, works together (I like that), and they've made honest suggestions when I've asked.
  14. was surprised at 1 reviewers negative comments about people working there because I got a cool vibe--but obviously reviewer was negative about women and feeling a little threatened.
  15. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  16. It was quiet enough to have a comfortable conversation with people at your table, but at the same time, you felt like it was the place to be.
  17. The service at this place is absolutely awful.
  18. Lively, great service and interesting.
  19. The service was also a little slow.
  20. Great atmosphere, people their tend to be very beachy and laid back.
  21. The service was excellent and the food was amazing.
  22. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly
value
40.0% positive
  1. However, I feel like I've had much better meals for either the same price (which I felt was inflated) or less - so I'm not really sure I would go back, unless it was for the more reasonable happy hour.
  2. Way overpriced, mediocre food
  3. The place is overpriced for what it is and it's a bit of a touristy crowd there.
  4. one of my favorite places- great happy hour sushi deals and a great crowd.
  5. There are only 3 rolls to choose from for happy hour, which are california rool, spicy tuna roll, and chef's special roll, each has 6 pieces and for $4, so the price is not impressive, just okay.
  6. It's every bad stereotype about LA restaurants: self-important underdressed wannabe crowd mixed with expensive, terrible food.
  7. bad food from the 80's with 21st Century prices.
  8. Not a good happy hour value
  9. would rather just pay the extra money and sit in the main dining room and order off the menu.
  10. Once it bumps up to full price it isn't as worth it, as better sushi awaits elsewhere.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. The service was also a little slow.
  2. Service was a little slow from server, but most of the food came from the sushi chefs in front of us- which was quick!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/10/12

Contact ABC7

by camarillogreenberg

ABC7 Reporter Robert Holguin is going to do a story on these fake reviews and how Yelp has problems Filtering them.

ABC7 Broadcast Center

Attn: Robert Holguin

500 Circle Seven Drive

Glendale, CA 91201

(818) 863-7777

pr@myabc7

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/12/12

never in a rush

by Hammy G

I had a business dinner where I needed a setting to discuss things without shouting over obnoxious music or being bothered to death. The Waiters here were extremely professional, very personable and never in a rush.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/04/12

portion sizes are perfect

by Brent Henry

The food is always good here. The staff is casual, but they know what they are doing and are very attentive. We live close by and are always warmly greeted! The food is consistently good and the portion sizes are perfect.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/21/11

Great food

by blairkerins

I was pleasantly surprised by the bill - only $33. Great food, service and prices. Definitely coming back here again.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/12/11

It used to be top notched.

by bobolini

I remember when I used to take a client or friend to Chaya and the wait staff was amazing and sweet, the food impeccable and a generally very enjoyable experience.

I hope my experience of last night is not a sign it is on the decline and just an anomaly, but I had a horrible experience and feel someone should know about it.

My wife and I took out of town clients out for dinner at Chaya and the waiter copped an attitude when I asked for no salt on the grilled fish. I hate doing that, but I have a very, very serious heart problem and can not have much salt.

The attitude was mirrored by the kitchen when my plate came the grilled fish was salted anyway, the vegetables looked like they found them in the trash and the were chopped with no finesse, bad tasting (woody carrots and tasteless) and it was plated like a crappy diner. The waiter chatted with the table next to us, but often ignored us when we signaled or ran away when we had questions.

I did not walk out or call the manager because I was with new clients, but this guy kept up his bad attitude throughout dinner and made us thoroughly uncomfortable. My client wondered allowed if he was a New York waiter. We never did anything offensive except ask them to hold the salt, which they did not, and this guy got bent out of shape.

Chaya used to be a favorite of mine, but I will never go again. Everything was not up to parr. Some things were awful and the service needs to be sent back to New York!

The Details on Chaya Venice

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • great service
  • great sushi happy hour
  • great date place
  • great weekend crowd
  • mediocre terrible food
  • great fun atmosphere
  • great innovative menu
  • especially recommend big goat cheese salad
  • great location
  • great drinks
  • great appetizers
  • rude servers
  • overpriced place
  • great bar scene
  • delicious dinner
  • great sushi
  • delicious rolls
  • like staff
  • love restaurant
  • full price
  • great lunch
  • helpful waitress
  • very nice space
  • tasteless sauce
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