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What People Are Saying About Asanebo
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene – Knowledgeable servers will explain (if you don't already know) that ordering is a gradual process; just keep going until you're full, and they'll keep parading out the plates. So what if the room is straight out of 1984 and Michael Bolton is playing? No one cares--the food is that good. – – The Food – Despite the fact that Studio City is peppered with first-rate sushi joints, Asanebo is a stunner. Look foremost to the daily specials listed on the board--that's where you'll find mini-masterpieces like baby abalone seared in a buttery, briny sauce with garlic…
05/17/09
Overpriced and overrated
by californiafoodiegal at Citysearch
Having been to most of the Japanese restaurants in the area and in SoCal, I was very disappointed with the meal. We were a party of 4 and spent $400 on dinner and were all hungry even after dinner (we are skinny people too!). I have been here before, and the service and the food has definitely dropped in quality and portions. There are much better options in Studio City. We are planning never to return to Asanebo.
- Pros: good sushi
- Cons: microscopic portions, poor service
02/08/09
I Would Actually Rate It With Half A Star
by PrimeBeefLover at Citysearch
My wife and I love Japanese food and frequently passed by this restaurant vowing to try it one day. Sadly, that day was today.
It's a nice little place and we found the staff to be friendly and courteous. The menu was different than most Japanese restaurants we go to so we were looking forward to this nice change.
The portions were small and the quality of the meal we received did not warrant the high prices. The edaname ($6) portion was smaller than what you get as a freebie at Kabuki. The cucumber salad ($5) was good but you get a larger freebie portion at Sushi 101. The $6.50 we spent on the two miso soups would normally be funny to me but my entree eliminated my sense of humor. I ordered the "Free Range" Grilled Chicken with Sweet Soy ($16). It looked very good when it was served to me but biting into raw chicken doesn't exactly tickle my fancy. I sent it back and watched my wife eat her Chilean Sea Bass with a creamy pepper sauce ($18). If there was an award for the smallest portion in the culinary arena, this would definitely contend for it. She did not dislike it, but, she wasn't exactly doing cartwheels over it either. I know when my wife is really enjoying her meal- and believe me I had plenty of time to observe her while waiting for my chicken do-over- and this was not one of those occasions. After she finished, I waited a while longer for my entree. It was obviously cooked more thoroughly but very fatty and just not good. I ate what I could and conveyed my disappointment to our waiter. Thankfully I was not charged for it and received very sincere apologies before I left hungry.
- Pros: Friendly Staff, Sincere Apologies
- Cons: Food
05/05/08
Solid!
by filmbuff2 at Citysearch
Micheline Guide was right about them. Asanebo is a great restaurant. In my mind, they are one of the few restaurants in LA that have class. They are traditional but not pretentious in the way Nozawa is (I'm talking about their attitude, not the decor.) Asanebo chefs use fresh sozai (materials) and yet the prices are not so high as, let's say, old Ginza Sushiko. In terms of innovativeness, they try just about enough to surprise us but won't go into the degree of banality. I like Matsuhisa too, but I think you need to think of their food as totally different category from Japanese cuisine. And nothing wrong with that. But when you are really craving for Japanese food like I do sometimes (because I'm Japanese,) I'd go to Asanebo.
- Pros: Food
- Cons: Some dishes are better than the other, but isn't that the case with any restaurant?
The Details on Asanebo
Know Before You Go:
Reservations are essential, especially for larger parties and weekend warriors.
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Payment Methods:
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