Sushi & Kushi IMAI

In Short – In a blind-shaded dining room, faux-wood tables are set with throwaway chopsticks, booths are separated by wooden-slat partitions, and an eight-seat sushi bar is manned by nimble-fingered chefs in black. Simple decor--pearly blue walls, industrial floors, orchids and paper lanterns--is overshadowed by its expansive menu. More than 30 sushi offerings range from yellowtail and shrimp to sea urchin and quail egg. Barbecue comes in chicken, beef, seafood and vegetable variations, served on skewers with a trio of sauces.

Editor's Tips

Save Money:: Daily lunch combination deals include soup, salad, pickles, steamed rice and two selections from an abbreviated barbecue, tempura, teriyaki, sushi and sashimi list.
Parking:: Spaces are usually available in the lot, particularly at lunchtime. If it's full take advantage of the onsite valet service.
The Extras:: The restaurant's signature "Tokyo-style sushi wagon"--a glorified hot-dog cart complete with hanging paper lantern--is available for house parties.

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User Reviews (26)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“The ambiance and the martinis were great though!” “The crowd is pleasantly unpretentious, the service is attentive and friendly, and the Tokyo-modern decor makes for a cool, comfortable atmosphere.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“Even though there's limited spaces at the tiny bar, the deals for happy hour are fantastic.” “We always sit at the sushi bar and the sushi chefs and waitresses are friendly and quick.” “Great happy hour with Saketini's Shochu cocktails - amazing value for the great sashimi we had.”
food quality	97.22000122070312% positive	“great customer service and delicious food!” “The quality of fish here is well above average, the service is great, and you don't have to fight through a doorman or get on a master list to enjoy it.” “Overall, we were disappointed with the happy hour sushi options, but enjoyed the regular sushi.” “What compliments the great sushi is the even better sushi chef, Takashi, who ensures that every dining experience we have is well worth it.” “Topped with citrus yuzu paste, sea salt, and drizzled with basil olive oil, this sea bass is so perfect that if you ever tried to drown it in soy sauce, I will personally hunt you down and stab you in the throat with the very chopsticks you attempted to u” “Innovative and fresh sushi” “mouthful of the most flavorful, fresh and delicious sushi your lips may ever have the grace of eating.” “The sushi is delicious and kushi is unparalleled in taste and quantity.” “just had dinner here tonight with my mom and all the dishes we ordered were excellent.” “friend had told me about this place, so I went to check it out & if you love sushi then you must try this place.” “Every dish we had was excellent, and the servings were very generous!” “The sushi chefs were so kind, polite and quick to create our delicious mouth-watering morsels of fresh, high-quality fish.” “Excellent sushi, great happy hour prices.” “This is definitely the best sushi for the most reasonable price in the neighborhood.” “We consider ourselves huge sushi afficionados and have gone to almost every single sushi joint of note in the greater Los Angeles area.” “All the food was fresh and tasty and the service was excellent and friendly.” “just delicious, fresh sushi for a reasonable price.” “Good God, that's good sushi!” “When eating sushi I'd go for quality over the price anyday and this place is wonderful!” “If you are looking for something that contains an annoying pun in the name and is smothered in some sticky sauce, deep-fried, and contains cheese that is named after a city, don't go to Sushi & Kushi Imai.” “After Googling what was believed to be a muppet, the little BBQ skewers of meats, fish, and veggies provide a great spread for date night sharing.” “Stick to the Nigiri sushi and this will be your favorite sushi spot, hands down.” “$3.50 large sapporos and great deals on sushi.” “Trust me you get a huge plate of 5 different kinds of fishes, all fresh and thick sliced, salad, miso soup and rice for $11.80.” “The sushi specials only include three rolls during happy hour (crab and avocado, salmon and avocado, and spicy tuna), but the regular menu is great.” “For a nominal fee that I negotiated on the phone before coming to the restaurant, I and my dining companion were treated to a 7 course meal (no joke) that was utterly amazing.” “Although I don't stray too far away from the fresh seasonal catch, I do love the kushi as well.” “You know when you eat sushi that's so good it makes your toes curl?” “My bf and I love this place and the fish is always superb!” “simple no frills sushi restaurant that offers great value in a city full of trendy overpriced Japanese joints.” “great sushi” “west-side gem, my favorite sushi place in Los Angeles” “My favorite sushi (and sushi chef) in LA!” “We always sit at the sushi bar and the sushi chefs and waitresses are friendly and quick.” “Both orders are delicious and the spicy tuna has a very generous serving!” “usually order the salmon sashimi bowl or the spicy tuna lunch bowl.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Overall, we were disappointed with the happy hour sushi options, but enjoyed the regular sushi.” “The sushi specials only include three rolls during happy hour (crab and avocado, salmon and avocado, and spicy tuna), but the regular menu is great.”
overall	100.0% positive	“unless you're in Hollywood of course, then Club Sushi is the best place.”
service	88.45999717712402% positive	“Great service.” “The quality of fish here is well above average, the service is great, and you don't have to fight through a doorman or get on a master list to enjoy it.” “The crowd is pleasantly unpretentious, the service is attentive and friendly, and the Tokyo-modern decor makes for a cool, comfortable atmosphere.” “And service was great too!” “Excellent customer service.” “We always sit at the sushi bar and the sushi chefs and waitresses are friendly and quick.” “All the food was fresh and tasty and the service was excellent and friendly.” “great customer service and delicious food!” “Staff is very helpful and friendly!” “The service is usually pretty good, and you don't have to deal with reservations or long waits.” “The waitresses were extremely attentive, frequently filling our water glasses and removing our finished plates.” “Overall a 4/5 and not a 5/5 because of their terrible service during the lunch hours 12-2.” “The service is pleasant, albeit a bit slow.”
value	96.42999649047852% positive	“What compliments the great sushi is the even better sushi chef, Takashi, who ensures that every dining experience we have is well worth it.” “Even though there's limited spaces at the tiny bar, the deals for happy hour are fantastic.” “Excellent sushi, great happy hour prices.” “But even on CitySearch a rating over 9 is definitely overrated unless the reviewers giving it 9's and 10's are rating from a perspective of being used to eating at extremely expensive, mediocre Sushi restaurants, then this one WOULD look comparatively ver” “Every dish we had was excellent, and the servings were very generous!” “This is definitely the best sushi for the most reasonable price in the neighborhood.” “$3.50 large sapporos and great deals on sushi.” “just delicious, fresh sushi for a reasonable price.” “When eating sushi I'd go for quality over the price anyday and this place is wonderful!” “simple no frills sushi restaurant that offers great value in a city full of trendy overpriced Japanese joints.” “Great happy hour with Saketini's Shochu cocktails - amazing value for the great sashimi we had.” “Trust me you get a huge plate of 5 different kinds of fishes, all fresh and thick sliced, salad, miso soup and rice for $11.80.” “Both orders are delicious and the spicy tuna has a very generous serving!” “We consider ourselves huge sushi afficionados and have gone to almost every single sushi joint of note in the greater Los Angeles area.”
wait time	87.5% positive	“The sushi chefs were so kind, polite and quick to create our delicious mouth-watering morsels of fresh, high-quality fish.” “The service is pleasant, albeit a bit slow.” “We always sit at the sushi bar and the sushi chefs and waitresses are friendly and quick.” “The service is usually pretty good, and you don't have to deal with reservations or long waits.”

03/23/12

this is a dingy unappealing restaurant

by peekie12

things must have changed here. the sushi was lousy the place is run down and the service was not that great. a greasy spoon would be my best comparison

it doesnt deserve one star let alone 5

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07/10/10

Nice weekend brunch buffet

by pyram

a little bit of niguri, rolls, tempura, miso, teriyaki chicken and beef, chow mein, soft-shell crabs. food is not spectacular but not bad at all, considering it's all you can eat for $12

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07/10/10

Recommend Sushi & Kushi Imai

by VL57

If you are in the area on a saturday I would recommend IMAI. $12 per person brunch buffet with a large choice of dishes and sushis to choose from: miso soup, salad, termpura, fried chicken, beef teriyaki, seafood, sushi rolls, chow mein, fried rice, salmon/albacore/tuna sushis, soft shell crabs, fruits and cakes...

Nice and friendly staff.

Pros: Brunch buffet

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03/23/10

Imai

by cloudlink04

I usually order the salmon sashimi bowl or the spicy tuna lunch bowl. Both orders are delicious and the spicy tuna has a very generous serving! The only problem I have with this place is that during lunch time, they have only 3 waiters waiting on the entire restaurant, including any to-go orders and busing the tables as well.

I once had to wait around 15 minutes for a to-go order that I called in ahead of time. Other customers that wanted to actually eat there waited that long as well, or simply left the restaurant. (there were plenty of empty un-bussed tables)

Overall a 4/5 and not a 5/5 because of their terrible service during the lunch hours 12-2.

Pros: Great Sushi
Cons: Terrible lunch time service

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11/27/09

Fantastic sushi as well as hot dishes

by LarsOberg

Every dish we had was excellent, and the servings were very generous! It has now conquered the top spot on my list of sushi bars!

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What People Are Saying About Sushi & Kushi IMAI

Randi Schmelzer

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Editor's Tips

03/23/12

this is a dingy unappealing restaurant

by peekie12

07/10/10

Nice weekend brunch buffet

by pyram

07/10/10

Recommend Sushi & Kushi Imai

by VL57

03/23/10

Imai

by cloudlink04

11/27/09

Fantastic sushi as well as hot dishes

by LarsOberg

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