Echigo

05/12/09

I can't possibly understand the above average rating

by PedsDoc at Citysearch

This restaurant regrettably provided one of the worst dining experiences we've had in LA in a long time. My wife and I go out for sushi regularly, and had heard lots of hype about how good this place was. After going, I truly can't understand what others see in this place. It's billed as being more genuine sushi, and sticking to only the traditional applications. However, they take this concept to an almost pretentious level, and fall short in several areas.

1) The ambiance is bland at best, and considering the prices of the sushi, almost offensive.

2) The prices were on the face fairly average, however, the sizes of the sushi were so minuscule that it really escalates the relative pricing of this restaurant into the realm of far more elegant options. My wife ordered salmon sashimi for $14, and got 6 slices of paper thin salmon that weighed literally an ounce and a half.

3) The fish quality is only mediocre. The tuna sashimi was dry and not uniformly cut, I'm sure in an attempt to make use of the scraps.

4) The sushi chef is full of himself. I might be able to get over the fact that they refuse to sell basics like miso soup, and spicy tuna rolls, (though I've been to Tokyo, and these items are commonplace there). However, his rolls are not the traditional hand rolls, and he refused to cut them into more reasonable pieces. They appeared haphazardly assembled with no concern whatsoever for visual presentation.

5) The service was dismal. At least they kept refilling our tea, because it took us about 40 minutes to get our food, and even then, it came out to us so fragmented that the rest of my party was practically done with their food before I had even gotten a single one of my orders.

Needless to say, it will be the last time I patronage this restaurant, and I encourage you to save your time and senses and avoid it altogether.

• Pros: Fresh Grated Wasabi
• Cons: Everything Else

02/12/09

Legit sushi

by Vayabobo at Citysearch

Echigo is for sushi heads who enjoy delicate servings of truly fresh and melt-in-your-mouth fish. 100 words.

• Pros: Super fresh sushi
• Cons: Omakase (not a place to go if you like your spicy tuna roll)

11/09/08

Not better than Nozawa or Sasabune

by iknowgrub at Citysearch

It's ironic how the guy that worked at Nozawa left to open Sasabune and the guy who opened Echigo left Sasabune to open a business on his own. And guess what.....Nozawa is still best , then Sasabune and then Echigo. Master is always best

• Pros: Open on Saturdays
• Cons: None