(310) 202-8890

9240 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232 34.0255 -118.3932

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Neighborhoods: Palms, West LA

K-ZO.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Business Dining, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

Japanese

What People Are Saying About K-Zo

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

The Scene – Stylish minimalism converges with industrial chic as polished concrete, plate glass, white walls, grey banquettes and exposed pipes offset gunmetal beads and flickering votives. The gleaming sushi bar mesmerizes an upscale Culver City crowd, culinary pilgrims and handsome young professionals. – – The Food – Chef/owner Keizo Ishiba (formerly of Sushu Roku) revitalizes the soul of Japanese tradition with accents of French technique and an almost preternatural sense for the market's top fish in his perfect sushi and inventive small plates. Ishiba shops daily…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Weekend reservations are essential, though the front bar accepts walk-ins. A semi-private booth behind long bead curtains holds six.
What to Drink:
One of L.A.'s top sake lists offers premium labels like Kanchiku and Kano Tsuro. There's also a variety of wines, Japanese beer, Moet champagne, and specialty Japanese sho chu.
Look Good:
Prix-fixe dinners include appetizers, sashimi, sushi, steak or fish and dessert. Adventurous sushi lovers can opt for the chef's choice menu--calling ahead is recommended.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Wonderful service and atmosphere in the newly developed area of Culver City near Sony Studios.
  2. If you are in the mood for a quiet romantic spot, or an elegant night out, then try K-Zo.
  3. The service is impeccable, the location is great (Culver City is the 'it' town), but most of all, the food is amazing.
  4. Nice decor and that's about it.
  5. K-Zo's is easily the best restaurant in that town, its: food, atmosphere and service are more on par with the greater restaurants in Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills than the whole of what Culver City or its surrounding area have to offer.
  6. If there's just two of you, consider sitting at the sake bar; otherwise, the whole restaurant a pleasant atmosphere that is not too loud or overwhelming.
  7. Even though this sushi bar is located on the ground floor of a parking garage, the husband and wife team have created an excellent, casual s.
  8. With enough variety to please both casual eater and connoisseur, Keizo is equally comfortable making the most of Tokyo style sushi and presenting his own innovations-- toro so perfectly seared that the surface glistens while the inside remains cool, big-e
  9. Wonderful atmosphere.
  10. Great place for 2-6 people, pleasant & modern ambience, great service as well.
  11. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  12. Great ambiance and service
  13. The service was more than attentive and the atmosphere is a great change of pace from the chain style establishments in Culver City.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. One of my favs, server are nice and food is a must, brought my wine there and they allowed me to drink it, they were adorable with us.
  2. Cool bar as well.
  3. We were seated immediately (without reservations - it was a Wednesday evening) by a very friendly hostess and our waiter arrived promptly with water and took drink orders (I definitely recommend the "Brass Fields" white wine).
  4. sat at the bar, where I asked the chef what was his recommendations were for today, and from that point on, he sensed that he couldn't get away with the basic rolls and salmon, so he took me on a mini oma-kase trip, feeding me with a very wide range of
  5. K-ZO is an excellent sushi bar.
  6. If there's just two of you, consider sitting at the sake bar; otherwise, the whole restaurant a pleasant atmosphere that is not too loud or overwhelming.
  7. Even though this sushi bar is located on the ground floor of a parking garage, the husband and wife team have created an excellent, casual s.
  8. Having grown up in Hawai'i my bar for great fish/sushi is REAL high.
  9. especially like the fact that you can make a reservation for the sushi bar and your favorite sushi chef.
food quality
94.35000419616699% positive
  1. This great sushi place in downtown Culver City has great specials.
  2. Great food, Great service
  3. K-ZO Japanese Restaurant, excellent sushi in an elegant setting
  4. They are known for their Spicy Tuna Crispy dish which combines crunchy warm rice with soft chilled spicy tuna in a way that is completely unexpected and delicious.
  5. With all the new restaurants budding in Culver City, it is nice to have a great japanese sushi restaurant.
  6. K-Zo is frankly the best sushi I have had in LA.
  7. I've been going Sushi Roku for years when I first got introduced to Keizo and his brand/style for great Japanese food and now that he is on his own, I think he has saved the best for his own restaurant.
  8. The best buta no kakuni (simmered pork) I've had in LA.
  9. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  10. salmon skin salads were all good.
  11. Such amazing fantastic food.
  12. are entitled to good sushi too.
  13. Absolutely the best sushi in Los Angeles
  14. Extremly friendly staff and wonderful food.
  15. This is a perfect restaurant for sushi lovers and haters alike because of the extensive, non-sushi menu.
  16. We always had a great meal there.
  17. Very good sushi
  18. My lunch went up to 55$ with sake and tip, which I must admit is a lot for just lunch, but it was a bargain for the quality, quantity (around 10 pcs, including Toro), and variety of the fish I ate, especially when you consider how pricy very good sushi ca
  19. The food is excellent and the service is very friendly and attentive.
  20. especially like the fact that you can make a reservation for the sushi bar and your favorite sushi chef.
  21. Don't go for the rolls (which are good, but a tragic waste of awesome fish).
  22. Great meal, nice server
  23. We live in Santa Monica and all the great sushi places are always too crowded.
  24. The food is very clean tasting a.
  25. None of us wanted to order the pre-fixe dinner so we have to choose from their small bites item, sushi and rolls.
  26. beautiful food
  27. K-ZO is an excellent sushi bar.
  28. One of my favs, server are nice and food is a must, brought my wine there and they allowed me to drink it, they were adorable with us.
  29. work in Beverly Hills, and live on the west side, so I thought I have been to all the great sushi restaurants.
  30. sat at the bar, where I asked the chef what was his recommendations were for today, and from that point on, he sensed that he couldn't get away with the basic rolls and salmon, so he took me on a mini oma-kase trip, feeding me with a very wide range of
  31. With enough variety to please both casual eater and connoisseur, Keizo is equally comfortable making the most of Tokyo style sushi and presenting his own innovations-- toro so perfectly seared that the surface glistens while the inside remains cool, big-e
  32. Dont miss the Spicy Tuna Crispy, perfectly baked crispy brown rice topped with seasoned tuna tartar.
  33. Generous fish portions on the sushi, incredible array of small bite plates, and everything I've tried has been soooo tasty.
  34. live in south OC and drive up almost every weekend just to see Keizo and eat the best sushi ever!
  35. K-ZO Japanese Restaurant is delicious!
  36. Having grown up in Hawai'i my bar for great fish/sushi is REAL high.
  37. Sometimes creative can be a bad thing at sushi places but at K-Zo they're not out to impress you with their creativity (nothing over-the-top), they simply want to provide you with tasty food and an enjoyable eating experience.
  38. The live scallop (hotate) is a meal in itself: the main part of the scallop being divided into sushi and sashimi, the rest roasted in the shell with fresh mushrooms.
  39. The service is impeccable, the location is great (Culver City is the 'it' town), but most of all, the food is amazing.
  40. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is fantastic.
  41. The best place for sushi (or food for that matter) in Culver City!
  42. If its not the best fish available, you wont find it here.
  43. Halibut (hirame) may be presented in two ways-- with a light dusting of fresh yuzu essence and engawa-- the edge of this delicate, flat fish.
  44. Between the deliciously distinctive sushi and the wonderful service & atmosphereI'll never need to go to any other sushi restaurant.
  45. Even though this sushi bar is located on the ground floor of a parking garage, the husband and wife team have created an excellent, casual s.
  46. An amazing sushi restaurant but so much more.
  47. like a rare rib eye steak.
  48. don't particularly like sushi that's not strictly Japanese (such as Sushi Roku, etc..), but K-Zo (who specializes in Jap-French cuisine) has done a great job with his place, that I can't help but be all praises.
  49. K-Zo's is easily the best restaurant in that town, its: food, atmosphere and service are more on par with the greater restaurants in Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills than the whole of what Culver City or its surrounding area have to offer.
  50. If you love sushi, this place is for you.
  51. am not fond of designer sushi, but do love the spicy tuna on crispy rice, and the "baby" fresh fish of the day.
  52. If it were not for an associate of mine telling me about it, I would have NEVER gone to Culver City for food in the first place (sure there are studios there, but not great restaurants, UNTIL NOW!)
  53. Sushi is very fresh with some innovative creations as well.
  54. My girlfriend and I have been on a mission since we started dating to find LA's best sushi, and I think we finally found it.
  55. needed my fix of sushi today, and my favorite sushi joint (kiriko on Sawtelle and Olympic) is closed on mondays.
  56. Fresh sushi and friendly service!
  57. tried the blue crab hand roll and i definitely was not impressed - echigo's and sasabune's are better.
  58. The restaurant is somewhat small so not ideal for large parties (though they have one table which can fit a large party), but for 2-4 people, it's a great place to get creative dishes, fresh fish and nice service.
  59. Their sushi is as delicious as their cooked dishes.
  60. K-Zo is easily the best Japanese food in Culver City.
  61. can put up with all of that if the food was any good.
  62. Like most "foodies" in LA, we all wish we could eat/afford great sushi every night, but that's just not the case.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. There is an extensive sake selection and shochu (sp) as well.
  2. With enough variety to please both casual eater and connoisseur, Keizo is equally comfortable making the most of Tokyo style sushi and presenting his own innovations-- toro so perfectly seared that the surface glistens while the inside remains cool, big-e
  3. My lunch went up to 55$ with sake and tip, which I must admit is a lot for just lunch, but it was a bargain for the quality, quantity (around 10 pcs, including Toro), and variety of the fish I ate, especially when you consider how pricy very good sushi ca
  4. An extensive sake list compliments the unique and varied menu.
  5. This is a perfect restaurant for sushi lovers and haters alike because of the extensive, non-sushi menu.
overall
87.5% positive
  1. With all the new restaurants budding in Culver City, it is nice to have a great japanese sushi restaurant.
  2. I've been going Sushi Roku for years when I first got introduced to Keizo and his brand/style for great Japanese food and now that he is on his own, I think he has saved the best for his own restaurant.
  3. The best place for sushi (or food for that matter) in Culver City!
  4. The restaurant is somewhat small so not ideal for large parties (though they have one table which can fit a large party), but for 2-4 people, it's a great place to get creative dishes, fresh fish and nice service.
  5. It's always been a great place to stroll through but not necessarily ideal for dining.
  6. don't particularly like sushi that's not strictly Japanese (such as Sushi Roku, etc..), but K-Zo (who specializes in Jap-French cuisine) has done a great job with his place, that I can't help but be all praises.
  7. This great sushi place in downtown Culver City has great specials.
  8. K-Zo's is easily the best restaurant in that town, its: food, atmosphere and service are more on par with the greater restaurants in Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills than the whole of what Culver City or its surrounding area have to offer.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. would probably still come back because the sashimi is pretty good and come in big sized servings.
service
100.0% positive
  1. Best Sushi, great service
  2. What I like best is that the owner and the staff are very nice and always friendly.
  3. K-Zo, his wife, and the rest of the staff are very friendly and accommodating.
  4. The service is impeccable, the location is great (Culver City is the 'it' town), but most of all, the food is amazing.
  5. Great place for 2-6 people, pleasant & modern ambience, great service as well.
  6. Fresh sushi and friendly service!
  7. The service at K-Zo is wonderful -- everyone is so nice and accommodating and take clear strides to make sure that you have an enjoyable dinner.
  8. The restaurant is somewhat small so not ideal for large parties (though they have one table which can fit a large party), but for 2-4 people, it's a great place to get creative dishes, fresh fish and nice service.
  9. Great food, Great service
  10. K-Zo's is easily the best restaurant in that town, its: food, atmosphere and service are more on par with the greater restaurants in Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills than the whole of what Culver City or its surrounding area have to offer.
  11. Between the deliciously distinctive sushi and the wonderful service & atmosphereI'll never need to go to any other sushi restaurant.
  12. The service was more than attentive and the atmosphere is a great change of pace from the chain style establishments in Culver City.
  13. They seat us right away and the staff was friendly.
  14. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  15. plus, the service is pretty friendly and quick.
  16. Extremly friendly staff and wonderful food.
  17. One of my favs, server are nice and food is a must, brought my wine there and they allowed me to drink it, they were adorable with us.
  18. Service was helpful and attentive but not overdone.
  19. Wonderful service and atmosphere in the newly developed area of Culver City near Sony Studios.
  20. We were seated immediately (without reservations - it was a Wednesday evening) by a very friendly hostess and our waiter arrived promptly with water and took drink orders (I definitely recommend the "Brass Fields" white wine).
  21. Great ambiance and service
  22. Great meal, nice server
  23. The food is excellent and the service is very friendly and attentive.
value
100.0% positive
  1. they came with 4 pieces each but they are huge servings.
  2. would have to disagree with the last review that this is the only decent restaurant worth going to in Culver City (true foodies would know Culver City has had many critically-acclaimed chefs opening their own restos in the city), as this would seem to l
  3. Generous fish portions on the sushi, incredible array of small bite plates, and everything I've tried has been soooo tasty.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. plus, the service is pretty friendly and quick.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/26/09

Great ambiance and service

by juamps

This great sushi place in downtown Culver City has great specials. We have been there many times and always bring our friends.

  • Pros: fresh food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/11/09

Great food, Great service

by dagda

Everytime I come to Venice to visit my Brother I just insist on coming here at least one nite.

Great food, Great service, fun place to be

Thanks for being there

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/29/09

Very good sushi

by JdFievet

I needed my fix of sushi today, and my favorite sushi joint (kiriko on Sawtelle and Olympic) is closed on mondays. So, I thought I's give K-Zo a try, since it's the closest sushi place to my work. I wasn't expecting much more than a "quick lunch"-quality sushi, and I have to admit that I'm kind of a snob when it comes to raw fish. Well, I have to admit that I was positively surprisedat K-Zo. I sat at the bar, where I asked the chef what was his recommendations were for today, and from that point on, he sensed that he couldn't get away with the basic rolls and salmon, so he took me on a mini oma-kase trip, feeding me with a very wide range of his best fish cuts... Some of them which I had never tried before, like sardine or that special kind of yellowtail which I can't remember the name. He also offered to give me one piece of each (where sushi usually comes in pairs), so I could taste as much as possible. My lunch went up to 55$ with sake and tip, which I must admit is a lot for just lunch, but it was a bargain for the quality, quantity (around 10 pcs, including Toro), and variety of the fish I ate, especially when you consider how pricy very good sushi can be. NB, you could get away with a much lower check and still get your fill if you stick to the mainstream fare, which also looks very high quality.

I will definitely go back. Soon.... maybe tomorrow. I'm hooked.

  • Pros: delicious fish (best ones are not always on the menu)
  • Cons: nothing so far
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/09

My Favorite Japanese Restaurant

by liveyourlifein09

I Love this place! I go to K-ZO for my japanese food and GYENARI for my Korean BBQ Food.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/19/09

Best Sushi in LA or OC

by ocbratt

I live in south OC and drive up almost every weekend just to see Keizo and eat the best sushi ever! My boyfriend's sis is one of their favorite customers and eats there 3-4 times a week. Advice: Let Keizo pick what you eat. We never order for ourselves and always love what he provides. The price is high, but definitely worth even the drive! No sushi even compares.

  • Pros: Everything, service, food, cleanliness
  • Cons: Absolutely nada

The Details on K-Zo

Place Categories:

  • great service
  • best little sushi
  • great sushi place
  • great japanese food
  • great japanese sushi restaurant
  • fresh fish
  • friendly staff
  • always friendly owner
  • crispy brown rice
  • wonderful atmosphere
  • unique nonsushi menu
  • cool sushi bar
  • nice server
  • enjoyable prefixe dinner
  • big sized servings
  • great meal
  • cool bigeye tuna sashimi
  • recommend highly
  • not particularly like sushi
  • favorite customers
  • amazing prix fixe dinners
  • great ambiance
  • great fishsushi
  • good time
  • great specials
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