Takao
(310) 207-8636
11656 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles,
CA
90049
34.0536
-118.4627
Neighborhoods: West Los Angeles, West LA
What People Are Saying About Takao
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The purely functional decor lies somewhere between sandwich shop and neighborhood diner. A smattering of tables surrounds the central counter where sushi hounds chatter casually, giddy from the food. The supremely knowledgeable waitstaff will happily guide novice diners to raw fish nirvana.
The Food
Whether it's flown from Japan or plucked from the sea locally, the morsels that end up on the plate are simply sublime. The beautifully colored, melt-in-your-mouth nigiri is so fresh it seems almost shameful to cloak it with wasabi. Standout selections include Japanese kampachi yellowtail and meaty, flavorful bonito. Or trust blindly in the master chef and opt for omakase, which can include the unconventional (sesame tofu with wasabi soy) or the exotic (sardine sashimi salad with ginger dressing).
User Reviews
patchinko
June 06, 2008
I'll preface by saying I've lived in Tokyo and consider myself very knowledgeable about sushi/sashimi/etc. My father and I visited Takao early last week on a whim as he was passing through LA on a trip. I'm afraid we dressed too informally for the restaurant because from seeing the humble exterior and simple interior, I had no inkling that it was as classy as it turned out to be. Before even opening the menu, I realized this place was the real deal by the fact that everyone from the server (who I later found out calls himself "Rocky") to the chefs are actually Japanese. Opening the menu and seeing what seemed to be very high prices confirmed it: We were underdressed. This didn't phase our server, who was very polite and helpful. I ordered the yellowtail dish, the toro spring rolls, and the aoika, which they had run out of two days prior. Rocky was very apologetic and we resorted to the tako (octopus) with lemon/cilantro sauce. To be honest, I was momentarily afraid I had brought my father to a typical overpriced, pretentious LA restaurant. No sooner did I see the gorgeous platings of these sashimi did I find out how wrong I was. This restaurant has it all--the care taken to ensure a pleasing, artistic looking dish was only outdone by how delicious the sashimi was. The tako was shockingly fresh, and the tangy sauce really accented the distinct octopus texture. It was all amazing. I would rate these simple dishes even above the omakase from Sushi Roku, and that's saying a lot. Our server asked if we wouldn't like to try a very traditional style hamachi nigiri, which of course we did. That was probably the most delicious sushi I've ever had, including some great sushi-eating experiences in Japan. A couple of suggestions: Do not go to Takao expecting run-of-the-mill sushi or rolls. They have them, yes, but that's clearly not what they specialize in, and you'll be doing yourself a disservice. It's pricy, but worth it!
read full review
ladydis
June 30, 2007
I had to laugh reading the review below- anyone who thinks a California Roll is sushi should not be doing a review on a real sushi restaurant!! For those who like raw fish and appreciate a sushi chef's ability to pair fresh raw fish and sauces in a masterful way that will delight your taste buds, this is the place to go! I think it's the best sushi place in LA. It's expensive but worth it. However, if you are looking for rolls this is not the place to go. It's only for the hardcore sushi and sashimi fans!
read full review
collinwright
March 01, 2007
I can't believe a sushi bar that looks like it could be a McDonalds from the inside gets this high of a rating on this website. If you're looking to satisfy your hunger, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! This place has only 7 rolls to select from (and i mean basic)..a california roll for $9.50?? Who does that? I've had better sushi from the supermarket! Don't waste your money on overpriced food/drinks and detestable service. Anyone who rants or raves about this place has a lot to learn about quality sushi! 0/10 rating (not even worthy of a number).
read full reviewThe Details on Takao
Know Before You Go:
Be sure to dip your sushi fish side down in the soy sauce; if you don't, the rice ball will fall apart.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Special Occasion Dining, Hidden Find
