(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, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

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

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. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  2. 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.
  3. Great drinks, great crowd, great atmosphere and most importantly FANTASTIC FOOD!
  4. Great atmosphere, people their tend to be very beachy and laid back.
  5. the service is decent, and the location is great.
  6. :) Of course, it's not going to SUPER romantic, b/c it IS kinda loud.
  7. 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.
  8. thought the decor was a little silly (stupid sculptures...)
  9. fun atmosphere, tasty food
  10. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. 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.
  2. The drinks are great and they have a nice bar area where you can get a seat and order appetizers.
  3. Great bar scene, and the happy hour is the best in town.
  4. They have some nice cocktail concoctions but the savings you get on the food will quickly be lost on the drinks.
  5. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  6. 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).
  7. The happy hour would be great considering the appetizers are great and has a great selection of beers.
  8. Great drinks, great crowd, great atmosphere and most importantly FANTASTIC FOOD!
food quality
79.27000045776367% positive
  1. bad food from the 80's with 21st Century prices.
  2. The service was excellent and the food was amazing.
  3. Once it bumps up to full price it isn't as worth it, as better sushi awaits elsewhere.
  4. The food is just as beautiful as the crowd!
  5. The roll was delicious, the salad was interestingly good.
  6. Fun environment with some really great food!
  7. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  8. They have some nice cocktail concoctions but the savings you get on the food will quickly be lost on the drinks.
  9. Service was a little slow from server, but most of the food came from the sushi chefs in front of us- which was quick!
  10. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  11. fun atmosphere, tasty food
  12. It's a good thing that the food tastes as good as it looks!
  13. 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).
  14. We had to ask the bus boys to check on our food since our waitress didn't bother to check on our table.
  15. 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.
  16. The sea bass was good, the rib eye steak average, and the crispy butterfish okay.
  17. 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.
  18. The rolls are delicious and the alaskan king crab is extra sweet.
  19. My meal here was pretty impressive: a yummy, big goat cheese salad and then some kind of a Cajun-marinated fish.
  20. The food is good but not as good as the original.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Dinner is delicious here, but if you're on a budget, go when someone else is paying (boss, parents, date with a trust fund.
  24. Always great food
  25. The calamari was amazing with its curry sauce, nice twist.
  26. they do have great sushi and soups.
  27. The appetizers were great - we ordered some salad and a roll.
  28. Fun atmoshpere, good happy hour specials, and wide variety on menu including sushi.
  29. The service was great and the sushi was amazing.
  30. the food was amazing.
  31. It's every bad stereotype about LA restaurants: self-important underdressed wannabe crowd mixed with expensive, terrible food.
  32. So far I have ordered callops wrapped in new york steak, paella, and salmon, which were all great.
  33. Horrible service, mediocre food!
  34. Way overpriced, mediocre food
  35. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
  36. The food is a wide variety of Japanese and french with an amazing Sushi happy hour that can't be beat.
  37. All of the specials looked great and the appetizers were delicious!
  38. But it was tasty, our waitress was helpful, I love the neighborhood, great for an after dinner stroll.
  39. one of my favorite places- great happy hour sushi deals and a great crowd.
  40. 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.
  41. To be completely honest, it was not the food that turned me off of this place, but the rude hostesses and servers.
menu variety
85.0% positive
  1. would rather just pay the extra money and sit in the main dining room and order off the menu.
  2. The food is a wide variety of Japanese and french with an amazing Sushi happy hour that can't be beat.
  3. The happy hour would be great considering the appetizers are great and has a great selection of beers.
  4. 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.
  5. Fun atmoshpere, good happy hour specials, and wide variety on menu including sushi.
  6. Staff is friendly, knows the menus, works together (I like that), and they've made honest suggestions when I've asked.
  7. 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.
  8. It had a great menu.
  9. Never tried the full menu.
  10. 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
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Chaya is a great place to have a romantic dinner but, perfect for a tasty happy hour.
  2. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  3. this is a great date place.
  4. 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).
  5. Its a great place to hang after work.
  6. 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.
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. The service was also a little slow.
  2. The service was good.
  3. Lively, great service and interesting.
  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. Horrible service, mediocre food!
  6. Great atmosphere, people their tend to be very beachy and laid back.
  7. the service is decent, and the location is great.
  8. To be completely honest, it was not the food that turned me off of this place, but the rude hostesses and servers.
  9. We had to ask the bus boys to check on our food since our waitress didn't bother to check on our table.
  10. The service was excellent and the food was amazing.
  11. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly
  12. But it was tasty, our waitress was helpful, I love the neighborhood, great for an after dinner stroll.
  13. Staff is friendly, knows the menus, works together (I like that), and they've made honest suggestions when I've asked.
  14. 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.
  15. The service was great and the sushi was amazing.
  16. They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent!
  17. 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.
  18. Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service!
  19. Raspberry Mojitos Rock--friendly service
  20. Service was a little slow from server, but most of the food came from the sushi chefs in front of us- which was quick!
  21. The service at this place is absolutely awful.
  22. The weekend crowd is super friendly and outgoing and the staff like to hook up tables of.
value
40.0% positive
  1. It's every bad stereotype about LA restaurants: self-important underdressed wannabe crowd mixed with expensive, terrible food.
  2. 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.
  3. Not a good happy hour value
  4. bad food from the 80's with 21st Century prices.
  5. The place is overpriced for what it is and it's a bit of a touristy crowd there.
  6. 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.
  7. Way overpriced, mediocre food
  8. Once it bumps up to full price it isn't as worth it, as better sushi awaits elsewhere.
  9. one of my favorite places- great happy hour sushi deals and a great crowd.
  10. would rather just pay the extra money and sit in the main dining room and order off the menu.
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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