(213) 625-8125

207 S. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012 34.0476 -118.2394

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Neighborhoods: Civic Center / Little Tokyo, Downtown, Central LA

Last updated 9.05.09

Category:

Restaurants

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Business Dining, Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Japanese, Sushi

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Tenno Sushi

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

The Scene – Japanese regulars and local sushi-philes wept when Hamakawa closed his Little Tokyo doors, then wept again for joy when he reopened in 2001. Forget the hype of Beverly Hills and the Valley, this small, warm and unpretentious spot just might be sushi Zen's ground zero. And it's open until late--on weekdays. – – The Food – Don't be fooled by the plain menu and Kirin-Ichiban sushi-photo place mats, sushi master Hamakawa has a deft hand. His fish can get no fresher, cut into huge, perfect slices, with particularly outstanding ikura (salmon roe) and uni (sea…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Hamakawa is open until 1am on weekdays, but weekend nightcrawlers take note: It closes at 12am on Saturday and 10pm on Sunday.
ambiance
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “personally love this place, albeit its not the most romantic place to go for a date, but it has great food.”
  2. “It may not have the uber-trendy atmosphere of many L.A. sushi restaurants, but the sashimi is delicious, cheap and comes in large portions.”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “Suddenly the crew set up a nice little table on the side of the bar (perfect spot for 2) and everything's just perfect from there on.”
  2. “When we got there, the tables were full except for the bar and there was another birthday party going on, but we rather wait.”
food quality
98.03999900817871% positive
  1. “am a very big spender on sushi, i can easly rack about $150 for 2 on sushi, so to get a place like this that has great sushi and is at a much lower price bracket its great.”
  2. “Any sushi would be great at 1 AM, I suppose.”
  3. “I've been to most of the sushi restaurants in little tokyo and this is the best place for sashimi and sushi.”
  4. “the place was pretty good as i expected, as the sushi was just as good as sushi gens across the street, the other top place in little tokyo.”
  5. “This place is for great sushi and has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in LA.”
  6. “The sushi was soooooo good and fresh.”
  7. “The fish was extremely fresh and I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a casual sushi dinner or sushi snack without murdering your wallet.”
  8. “Authentic Japanese sushi with reasonable price”
  9. “The sushi was always fresh and good in size quantity and its got this rich silky velvety taste to it.”
  10. “the sushi is fresh, and they gi.”
  11. “Their other dishes are good too.”
  12. “very fresh sushi”
  13. “This is so far the most authentic Japanese sushi restaurant”
  14. “my friends and i dine here often and it consistently has the best sushi in town and huge portions.”
  15. “Overall good food, good service.”
  16. “The slices of fish are huge and so fresh that you would think that they had just sliced it off the fish itself!”
  17. “fully intend to go back and try more dishes that may better fit my pallet, but in the meantime, the top qualiy fish and best red snapper (i think its by default japanese snapper there, which is excellent) in town earn my reccomendation.”
  18. “The fish is as fresh as it gets, slices of fish are BIG, quality is tops, and service is great.”
  19. “personally love this place, albeit its not the most romantic place to go for a date, but it has great food.”
  20. “This is hands-down my favorite sushi place in LA.”
  21. “Sushi and Sashimi are very fresh, and the price is resonable compare to all those expensive japanese restaurant.”
  22. “but when you see the large portions of salmon they serve and have a great unagi.”
  23. “The cooked cod dish was great and the nigiri was generous.”
  24. “After reading the high praises and compliments for Hamakawa, I was expecting great sushi.”
  25. “However, if you are looking for quality sushi and very friendly service, then Hamakawa will not disappoint you.”
  26. “It may not have the uber-trendy atmosphere of many L.A. sushi restaurants, but the sashimi is delicious, cheap and comes in large portions.”
  27. “We went there for lunch and were treated to some great tasting sushi, attentive service, and reasonable prices.”
  28. “I'd definitely recommend the soft shell crab roll (aka spider roll), which is a meal in itself.”
  29. “The rolls are very simple (no fancy sauces or sides), but they are big and the fish is very fresh.”
  30. “great place for some good sushi”
  31. “Absolutely phenomenal sushi, served by friendly chefs will keep you coming back for more.”
  32. “Hamakawa is easily the best of at least 20 different sushi restaurants I've eaten at in my lifetime.”
  33. “and the food was amazing.”
  34. “The service was absolutely impeccable, the food was great, and the prices were reasonable.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “On par with some of the best Japanese restaurants (not one of those very expensive ones like Nobu, but mid-price ones) one could find in NY, and offers a greater variety.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Hamakawa was a great place to dine - the service was excellent (the waitresses run!)”
  2. “the place was pretty good as i expected, as the sushi was just as good as sushi gens across the street, the other top place in little tokyo.”
  3. “great place for some good sushi”
  4. “I've been to most of the sushi restaurants in little tokyo and this is the best place for sashimi and sushi.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “fully intend to go back and try more dishes that may better fit my pallet, but in the meantime, the top qualiy fish and best red snapper (i think its by default japanese snapper there, which is excellent) in town earn my reccomendation.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “We went there for lunch and were treated to some great tasting sushi, attentive service, and reasonable prices.”
  2. “Great service.”
  3. “The fish is as fresh as it gets, slices of fish are BIG, quality is tops, and service is great.”
  4. “Overall good food, good service.”
  5. “The service was absolutely impeccable, the food was great, and the prices were reasonable.”
  6. “The establishment was squeaky clean and the service and hospitality was excellent as usual.”
  7. “Hamakawa was a great place to dine - the service was excellent (the waitresses run!)”
  8. “However, if you are looking for quality sushi and very friendly service, then Hamakawa will not disappoint you.”
  9. “The waitress are nice and you never have to ask for a refill.”
  10. “Absolutely phenomenal sushi, served by friendly chefs will keep you coming back for more.”
value
97.22000122070312% positive
  1. “but when you see the large portions of salmon they serve and have a great unagi.”
  2. “We went there for lunch and were treated to some great tasting sushi, attentive service, and reasonable prices.”
  3. “Authentic Japanese sushi with reasonable price”
  4. “The slices of fish are huge and so fresh that you would think that they had just sliced it off the fish itself!”
  5. “It may not have the uber-trendy atmosphere of many L.A. sushi restaurants, but the sashimi is delicious, cheap and comes in large portions.”
  6. “On par with some of the best Japanese restaurants (not one of those very expensive ones like Nobu, but mid-price ones) one could find in NY, and offers a greater variety.”
  7. “The service was absolutely impeccable, the food was great, and the prices were reasonable.”
  8. “Hamakawa is probably the best value for sashimi in the city.”
  9. “Sushi and Sashimi are very fresh, and the price is resonable compare to all those expensive japanese restaurant.”
  10. “am a very big spender on sushi, i can easly rack about $150 for 2 on sushi, so to get a place like this that has great sushi and is at a much lower price bracket its great.”
  11. “The cooked cod dish was great and the nigiri was generous.”
  12. “my friends and i dine here often and it consistently has the best sushi in town and huge portions.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/08/11

Best food in town

by paul pircher

Best food in town

Food is amazing. Every time I come here, I feel like I never want to leave. Very chic atmosphere with a relaxing mood.

The service is great and the staff really does a terrific job at taking care of you.

The appetizers are delicious.

Theres plenty of places to park: theres a parking lot across the street and a parkin garage up the street within walking distance.

Most of the time I find myself looking at my watch waiting for the food to come, but here I was so entertained with the fun atmosphere that I was pleasantly surprised when my food arrived

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/28/11

The good reviews are wayyy out of date

by nottelling2

When I came to review this restaurant and saw its 5 star rating I wondered if I was in an alternate universe. Then I saw the dates of the other reviews and noted that most of the other reviews apply to a restaurant that is now closed. It figures.

I've been coming to this new incarnation for several years. It's been going downhill.

As of our last visit, in March 2011, this place is HORRIBLE. The food was dreadful, the fish was old and tasted oily and fishy, and the service was slow and cranky, We were there for almost an hour and a half for lunch on a workday (way too long). The food was not served at the same time, but was served over 20 minutes. The servers did not offer drink refills or otherwise check on us. Best of all, the menu states that a tip of 15% will be added for parties of 7 or more. Since our party was smaller, they added 20%.

I won't be back.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/20/08

Best valued sushi place in downtown LA

by SUSHIGANG

Former Hamakawa now named Tenno sushi.........was so good.

Price was so moderate but sushi was Oishi!!! =tasty

It was better than any other expensiver sushi restaurant around this area.

Will be back soon!!!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/20/07

CLOSED

by shl711

sadly this place is now closed. it has been replaced with something called tenno sushi which in my first dinner there was not nearly the same as hamakawa was on quality and price.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/30/06

Fresh, Fresh Fish

by primojade

Some of the freshest fish in LA! My friend took my husband and I there and we were blown away by the quality of the fish! We, in turn, took my family there and my cousin from San Francisco (sushi aficionado) could not stop raving about Hamakawa! The slices of fish are huge and so fresh that you would think that they had just sliced it off the fish itself! Their other dishes are good too...especially the Beef Tataki! Plus the place is open late at night.

  • Pros: Very Fresh Fish
  • Cons: Parking can be a challenge

The Details on Tenno Sushi

Place Categories:

  • great japanese sushi
  • favorite sushi place
  • great service
  • great food
  • extremely fresh fish
  • favorite japanese restaurants
  • not disappoint hamakawa
  • big slices
  • reasonable prices
  • good soooooo
  • very fresh sashimi
  • recommended definitely
  • rich silky velvety taste
  • best value
  • best red snapper
  • great cooked cod dish
  • excellent default japanese snapper
  • most authentic japanese sushi restaurant
  • good other dishes
  • not most romantic place
  • full tables
  • excellent hospitality
  • perfect spot
  • very nice chef
  • very big spender
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