Wa Restaurant

(310) 854-7285

1106 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069 34.0908 -118.3761

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Neighborhoods: West Hollywood, Central LA

Price:

$$$

Last updated 3.31.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, View Dining

What People Are Saying About Wa Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto a twinkling West Hollywood panorama, and provide the only visual panache to this second-floor mini-mall restaurant. Dressed-down locals crowd the small sushi bar, while larger parties opt for one of the few white-linen covered tables. Servers are warm and friendly, attending to novice diners and sushi aficionados with equal regard. – – The Food – Three former Matsuhisa chefs are carving a niche in L.A.'s booming sushi scene with inventive dishes and fresh sushi. Spicy yellowtail salad reflects the trio's talent, with…

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Hard to believe in West Hollywood, but parking is free in the garage.
Know Before You Go:
Be careful: Sushi is sold by the piece and not by the pair, so it's easy to rack up a big tab without realizing it.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The chef and staff make you welcome - the small atmosphere is simple, but perfect for a night out with delicious sushi, wonderful dishes that melt in your mouth.
  2. service is great and the view in one part of the restaurant is great.
  3. The space is small and the decor is just OK, but there's a nice view and you really go here for the food.
  4. For that price, I'd much rather go to Katsuya or Hamasaku to get even better food in a much classier and romantic atmosphere.
  5. The ambience is great and the 3 sushi chefs as well as the servers are very attentive and there to please their clients!
  6. Everything about WA is great - location, food and staff.
  7. wa sushi is great when you feel like sushi-chef food but want a laidback atmosphere.
  8. views are nice.
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. the 3 chef owners bring a wonderful sushi joint to LA. the presentations of all the dishes were absolutely wonderful.
  2. little touches like yuzu zest on the sea bream and other pieces using truffle oil and truffles (uni) make this the best sushi place I know.
  3. The absolute best sushi restaurant in L.A. Not only is the food amazing , but the service is absolutely incredible.
  4. The foie gras and scallop dish is outstanding.
  5. the servers are all very nice and the fish was very fresh.
  6. For that price, I'd much rather go to Katsuya or Hamasaku to get even better food in a much classier and romantic atmosphere.
  7. The food is creative and amazing and you should just trust your server or sushi man.
  8. Everything about WA is great - location, food and staff.
  9. The fish quality is as fresh or FRESHER than the places with the velvet ropes!
  10. The chef and staff make you welcome - the small atmosphere is simple, but perfect for a night out with delicious sushi, wonderful dishes that melt in your mouth.
  11. Coming from a Japanese family and having lived there, I can assure you that the food at Wa is authentic.
  12. The best Sushi place in LA...forget all the hype about any other sushi restaurant.
  13. wa sushi is great when you feel like sushi-chef food but want a laidback atmosphere.
  14. great and original dishes, fresh and wonderful, don't pass up on trying this gem.
  15. We particurlarly liked the halibut carpaccio, spicy yellowtail lettuce wraps, albacore and onion salad, and the baked seabass with Japanese eggplant.
  16. LA's best sushi restaurant
  17. The ambience is great and the 3 sushi chefs as well as the servers are very attentive and there to please their clients!
  18. Authentic sushi, great service, excellent value
  19. The Kobe beef dish was decent but nothing extraordinary (although the sauce was great).
  20. If you're looking for fresh fish, an expertise in the sushi-culinary arts, and creativity with explosions of flavor that make you beg for more than YES - WA BISTRO is for you.
  21. Wa has become my favorite sushi joint in LA - hands down.
  22. The Tuna Carpaccio is AMAZING as is most of their top dishes.
  23. love the sushi at this place.
  24. The dishes are always creative and delicious.
  25. The space is small and the decor is just OK, but there's a nice view and you really go here for the food.
  26. really liked their sashimi dishes.
  27. have been to Koi also its very good as well but I like the dive restaurants with better food then the trendy ones with overpriced frozen fish ;-)
  28. Wa is one of the best sushi I've tried almost 100 places in L.A. Everything looks and taste grest!
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. You can't go wrong with their menu of "top 15 best sellers" - it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy - "these are our most popular items, so order them," and you do.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. service is great and the view in one part of the restaurant is great.
  2. The best Sushi place in LA...forget all the hype about any other sushi restaurant.
  3. little touches like yuzu zest on the sea bream and other pieces using truffle oil and truffles (uni) make this the best sushi place I know.
  4. WAt a great restaurant!
  5. LA's best sushi restaurant
  6. The absolute best sushi restaurant in L.A. Not only is the food amazing , but the service is absolutely incredible.
service
100.0% positive
  1. The absolute best sushi restaurant in L.A. Not only is the food amazing , but the service is absolutely incredible.
  2. Everything about WA is great - location, food and staff.
  3. really nice services, friendly people, and more to say.
  4. The ambience is great and the 3 sushi chefs as well as the servers are very attentive and there to please their clients!
  5. service is great and the view in one part of the restaurant is great.
  6. The food is creative and amazing and you should just trust your server or sushi man.
  7. the servers are all very nice and the fish was very fresh.
  8. Authentic sushi, great service, excellent value
  9. The chef and staff make you welcome - the small atmosphere is simple, but perfect for a night out with delicious sushi, wonderful dishes that melt in your mouth.
  10. The service is great.
value
100.0% positive
  1. Authentic sushi, great service, excellent value
  2. For that price, I'd much rather go to Katsuya or Hamasaku to get even better food in a much classier and romantic atmosphere.
  3. have been to Koi also its very good as well but I like the dive restaurants with better food then the trendy ones with overpriced frozen fish ;-)
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/07/09

It's OK

by Davey at Citysearch

After hearing about Wa and reading the reviews, I went to Wa last night. This crowded little place was loud and has about as much atmosphere as a prison cell. I eat sushi at least 4 times a week and have visited all of the usual suspects. My fiance and I were disappointed to learn that 2 of the specials were already gone (for a 7:30 reservation??). The salmon sashimi was fatty. The Kobe beef dish was decent but nothing extraordinary (although the sauce was great). The seabass and fois gras was the highlight of the menu. All in all, it was OK, but really nothing special. Then the check came. With one glass of wine ($8), we were at $120, pre tip. For that price, I'd much rather go to Katsuya or Hamasaku to get even better food in a much classier and romantic atmosphere.

  • Pros: Big variety in the menu
  • Cons: Pricey, weak ambiance, dingy location, noisy
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/15/08

best I know

by simlesby at Citysearch

you can't go wrong here...little touches like yuzu zest on the sea bream and other pieces using truffle oil and truffles (uni) make this the best sushi place I know...expect 40 bux per person but WELL worth it...real Japanese flavor...it's the real thing. The foie gras and scallop dish is outstanding. GO GO GO!!!!!! SO much attention to detail, and the FRESHEST fish anywhere! I'm a chef and KNOW the difference! Please feel free to write me and thank me for my totally appropriate HUGE recommendation!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/13/08

Fresh as it gets!

by birdy3rd at Citysearch

I love the sushi at this place. It's so fresh, it's as if they just pulled the fish out of the ocean. The service is great. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it. I always try at least one of the chef's specials. The dishes are always creative and delicious. Small place, but intimate. Perfect if you wanted to reserve the whole place for a birthday or celebration. It's just big enough for a bunch of your friends.

  • Pros: delicious fish
  • Cons: pricey
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/25/08

Amazing Sushi, but the place is small so dont tell too many ppl ;-)

by Maestro72x at Citysearch

Best Sushi I have ever had bar none... I have been to LOTS of places and most are sub par.

This place has the best most freshest fish I have ever seen this side of a boating trip and eating it right from the freshly caught fish it self... The Tuna Carpaccio is AMAZING as is most of their top dishes.

The Tuna is the deepest darkest red you have ever seen,

I have been to Koi also its very good as well but I like the dive restaurants with better food then the trendy ones with overpriced frozen fish ;-)

Try it, you will LOVE IT!!!

  • Pros: Amazing sushi!
  • Cons: Service is just ok
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/29/07

very impressed!

by Tara deLis at Citysearch

this is a little hidden gem. it's tucked above holloway. you'd never know it was there unless someone told you about it. the servers are all very nice and the fish was very fresh. i really liked their sashimi dishes. this is the kind of place i would feel comfortable doing omakase, but it's almost a waste b/c their house specialty dishes really stood out to me. views are nice. prices are not bargains, but fair for what they are offering. decor is a little staid.

  • Pros: great food, view
  • Cons: weird location

The Details on Wa Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • absolute sushi restaurant
  • baked seabass
  • delicious fish
  • food staff
  • free parking
  • fresh sushi
  • great food
  • great sushi chefs
  • great view
  • greentea flan
  • house specialty dishes
  • intimate setting
  • inventive dishes
  • japanese eggplant
  • japanese places
  • kobe beef steak stew
  • nice services
  • popular items
  • salmon sashimi
  • sea bream
  • small atmosphere
  • small decor
  • small place
  • small sushi bar
  • smooth beurre blanc
  • spicy yellowtail lettuce
  • sushi platter
  • tuna carpaccio
  • wa bistro
  • wonderful dishes
  • wonderful sashimi dishes
  • best wa sushi
  • best absolute best sushi restaurant
  • nice view
  • creative food
  • very fresh frozen fish
  • fresher fish quality
  • favorite sushi joint
  • great excellent value
  • great everything
  • best sellers
  • absolutely wonderful presentations
  • outstanding foie gras
  • romantic atmosphere
  • particurlarly liked baked seabass
  • fresh creativity
  • particurlarly liked salad
  • particurlarly liked halibut carpaccio
  • friendly people
  • recommended highly
  • great ambience
  • outstanding scallop dish
  • fresh expertise
  • great service
  • best sushi place
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