Sushi Sushi

10/26/09

Authentic Japanese Sushi!

by LAWestsideFoodie at Citysearch

For consistently great sushi (so great they named it twice), I can wholeheartedly recommend Sushi Sushi on South Beverly Drive near Olympic Boulevard. However, this place is not for everyone. If you like creative California-style sushi rolls (think "rainbow rolls" or "dynamite rolls") you won't find any of that here.

This is a Tokyo-style no-nonsense sushi establishment that caters to customers who want an authentic Japanese experience. Perhaps that is why typically a third to a half of the customers appear to be Japanese.

The owner/operator is another reason this place is not for everyone. His expertise is to buy some of the freshest fish, many of which are flied in from Japan, and present the fish beautifully. He is a person who takes a lot pride in what he is doing, and wants to provide an authentic experience. I give him kudos to stick to his beliefs despite the market pull to cater to a sometimes non-traditional customer base.

However, be warned....he is not a "warm and fuzzy" guy who will make any effort to make your visit more pleasant. If you ask him what he recommends, he'll point to the sign behind him showing the day's specials. I have been told that if you ask for extra wasabi, and he'll explain that they put the appropriate amount on the sushi, so you shouldn't need any more.

But the reason to come here is the food..and did I mention the beer? If you like beer, I recommend you start your culinary experience with an ice-cold draft beer. I have actually seen floating ice in some of the beers I have ordered, which are always served in frozen mugs...very refreshing!

If you are an adventurous eater, you can start your meal with an appetizer featuring a Japanese pasta dish. Don't worry, this is not your LA fusion dish. This

is a dish featuring squid sushi cut in spaghetti-like strips covered with globs of sweet and salty uni(sea urchin)...delicious.

Another unique dish to check out is the seared O-Toro, where a nice-sized slab of very fatty tuna is seared with a blowtorch to sizzling perfection...Japan's answer to seared fois gras!

All the sashimi and sushi are very fresh and the sashimi is particularly beautifully presented, but since I like to try different kinds of dish, I usually stay away from the sashimi, which gives you a lot of one kind of fish. Some of my favorite sushi include Zuke(marinated tuna), Hamachi(Japanese Amberjack), Uni and Albacore.

The owner likes to control what happens in this small space as much as he can. If you sit at the sushi bar in front of the other sushi chef (I have never seen more than 2 chefs including the owner at a time), and order one of the more expensive fish, the owner personally cuts the sushi and then hands it to the other chef to give to you.

His desire to control the experience is seen in the "corrections" made by the waitress staff (one of whom is his wife) correct any "inappropriate" behavior such as leaving your chopsticks on a sushi plate rather than on the small dish set out for your soy sauce.

But come here for the consistently great sushi! While it is not cheap, it is a lot less expensive than the trendier sushi joints in LA. You can eat well with 1-2 beers per guest and get out of there for about $50 per person.

• Pros: Consistently Excellent and Authentic
• Cons: Service can be unfriendly

09/02/09

One of the WORST Sushi Restaurants in LA

by Foodie12345 at Citysearch

I consider myself fairly experienced when it comes to sushi. I had probably the worst experience I’ve ever had at a sushi restaurant at Sushi Sushi on Beverly Dr in BH. I went in with high hopes for a relaxing sushi dinner and was more than prepared to pay for high quality in food, presentation and service. Well…Unfortunately, the head sushi chef (perhaps owner) was our chef as we sat behind the counter. He had a scowl the never left his etched and weathered face. The attitude and simply bad energy from this guy was unnerving. The sushi was mediocre at best and portions very small and only one piece at a time. Yet, be prepared to pay premium prices beyond that of any other quality sushi restaurant in the area the provides two pieces and a healthy servings be it sushi or sashimi.

Really, save your money – Sushi sushi on Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills is at the top of my don’t go back list and certainly one that I will tell all my friends to avoid.

• Pros: Nice Setting
• Cons: Overpriced, small portions - HORRIBLE ATTITUDE

09/02/09

Possible head sushi chef needs an attitude adjustment

by houdins at Citysearch

After a stressful day, my boyfriend and I wanted to have a nice and relaxing dinner at Sushi Sushi, a place I've visited once before.

Well, after sitting at the sushi bar for a while we experienced the worst service. The rudness of the sushi chef was unacceptable. Talk about the "sushi natzi". This man makes Attila The Hun seem like a boyscot.

I one point, I thought my boyfriend was about to jump over the counter and adjust his nose.!

There are far too many sushi restaurants around town to have to waste your time here.

• Pros: Great Uni, if you can get it.
• Cons: Terrible attitude by chef

02/19/09

One of the Best in LA

by TastyLikes at Citysearch

This is probably my favorite sushi restaurant in LA. The food is great, the place is intimate and unpretentious, the price is right. The service is good. A perfect place to meet a friend.

• Pros: Perhaps the best sushi place in LA
• Cons: Not much, really. I just like it.

12/14/08

Omakase For Beginners Ruined My Passion

by HLieberman at Citysearch

I ate there last week (my third time) with my daughter (we are both very experience sushi eaters) and was very disappointed. Being in the mood to relax and let the chef do the thinking, we ordered omakase with some nice saki. The saki was excellent. Unfortunately, I can not say the same for the food. While all of the fish was fresh, the omakase was the least adventurous omakase I have had anywhere in the world. It was basically sushi 101 for the one timers from Nebraska, which we most definitely are not. The preparation was insulting, and the service was, to say the least, mediocre. The restaurant is a 5 minute drive from my office, and I was looking forward to becoming a regular. Nothing like finding a nearby sushi place you can call your own. Won't happen here. The next time someone orders omakase, lose the sweet egg and other basic nonsense and honor your cuisine.

• Pros: Good basics
• Cons: Omakase was an insult

05/12/08

My all time favorite

by voutmaster at Citysearch

This place is my all time favorite Sushi place. I've had sushi all over the world and in every metro area of the US and have yet to find a place that compares.

These days, I live in San Diego, but whenever I am in LA, I make it a point to stop by Sushi Sushi for a tasty treat. I don't know what the loser who gave it 3 stars was on, all the selections offered at Sushi Sushi are prime grade. Having said that, I rarely order a la carte, why waste energy, when there is an expert behind the counter?

I always order the chef's course, a bottle of sake and kick back while the chef chooses the most delicious selection of fish. The presentation is always elegant and the variety is great. You can eat here every day and not get bored.

• Pros: Never a dull meal
• Cons: A bit on the small size, can be tough to get a spot at the bar if you don't plan ahead

07/15/06

Best sushi I've ever had, similar to the best in Japan

by myka888 at Citysearch

A coworker recommended me to go to Sushi Sushi so I went there last week with some friends from Japan. I have to say, it was really great sushi. The toro was amazing and I couldn't get enough of that. It has a cozy atmosphere and you must get the sushi bar table and get the chef's special. Our waitress, Fumi, was great, she made sure we had everything we needed so if you go there, ask for her. My Japanese friends say the food is just like how Japanese sushi should be. Highly recommended, I will always take my Japanese clients there to eat after work. BTW, if you order sake, get the one called "Ken", that cold sake is awesome.

• Pros: Service, Food, Parking
• Cons: None that I can think of

10/12/05

what a sham!!!!

by slimoscar at Citysearch

when i 1st walked in, i was a bit excited, because of the seriousness of the whole deal. it really seems like the real deal. ive been to many rest. in tsukiji city and this kinda reminded me of the delicious food. i was wrong. i ordered the special chirashi. just a bunch of left over bits and pieces. never again will i waste my money here!!! service was nice though/

• Pros: service, location
• Cons: quality, no parking

Purist approach to fish takes this sushi joint from non-descript to standout.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Sushi aficianados mingle with Japanese emigres inside this nearly un-decorated storefront. Regulars belly-up to the sushi bar and order from friendly, classically trained chefs, or grab a more comfortable seat at one of the few tables. The menu does not cater toward novices, and includes cooked dishes like pan seared tuna tataki and red snapper flown in from Japan. The chef's choice of sashimi usually includes sweet shrimp, tuna, yellowtail, monkfish liver and octopus.

07/29/02

quiet elegance

by michellebrook at Citysearch

This is the best Sushi in L.A. The Omakase Chef's Selection is always awesome. The chef, Shige offers delectable and fresh sashimi--ususally 2 kinds of toro, marinated tuna, seared albacore always the best. The presentation is lovely and the staff friendly and warm.

• Pros: fresh, delicious
• Cons: quiet