09/15/09

If you cannot handle it, don't go there.

by vbprof

I have been a regular customer of the restaurant for several years. They don't serve American sushi, fusion sushi, Chinese sushi, Korean sushi... The only thing they serve is Japanese sushi. If you pretend to be a sushi eater, that is not a place for you. We don't go there a lot, but we go there for special occasions. We also take our best friends from out of town there to show off LA. I would love to go there everyday, but I don't think I can afford it. Typically, dinner for two people will cost you over $300 without drinks. Well, of course you can say you are "full," but we usually finish the entire round. The fish they serve are absolutely DIFFERENT and delicious! I know some people hate the place because of the rude chef. Let me tell you, he is not rude, just very blunt. He protects his art, which is his sushi. If you respect him, he also shows his respect to you. Come on, if you cannot handle it, nobody has invited you there. Just bring a fat wallet and an OPEN MIND, you will not regret. Don't be an "American" when you go to have sushi. If you cannot help, go to McD. Oh, this place is for enjoying the food (sushi), not a place for romance or nice environment. In this sense, it is not a typical garden variety restaurant. Actually, I like the place that is very selective, as you don't have to wait a long time for a seat (another plus for this restaurant).

• Pros: best sushi in LA, honestly
• Cons: it's not a place you can bring your first date

02/02/09

Way Too Expensive!

by ach

I'm giving this place only a 3 star not because the food wasn't good but because of the overall experience was a 3. I was doing my laundry at a laundromat 2 doors down and simply wanted a beer while waiting for my dry cycle. I walked into this place without knowing what kind of restaurant this was. The hostess warned me that there was no menu and I could not order anything. I thought it was interesting so I sat down and ordered a beer. The chef gave me a piece of sushi and since the posted sign said I should eat my sushi right away, I did. As soon as I ate my sushi, the chef gave me another one, and I felt like I had to eat that one right away. The next thing I knew I've had about 10 pieces of sushi, thinking the most I've spent was around $60. BUT NO!!!!!!! The bill came and my total was $130!!! WTH? right? I mean, I've had really good sushi before but c'mon! $130 for about 10 pieces of sushi? that's just not right.

01/12/09

Avoid this place entirely

by foodie4500

I've never written a food review but must express my opinion about my experience at a heralded "high-end" Culver City sushi bar.

Sushi Zo's assembly line omakase dining experience would make Toyota proud. Rarely looking up other than to yell "Soy sauce" or "No soy sauce" as each dish was pushed before us, the three sushi chefs worked like automatons cutting fish and preparing each plate. I find this atmosphere forced and pressurized: the "eat and get out so the next suckers can eat and get out" style of dining.

Although much of the fish was indeed excellent? it did not make up for the unpleasant environment. About halfway into our meal, when my date was getting full and wanted to slow things down, we simply could not get anyone's attention. Make no mistake, it's not that the place is big and loud; the staff simply ignored us. We tried and failed repeatedly. Sadly, we only managed to get their attention when we were presented with sweet shrimp?after having initially expressed our allergy to that very item. This second request to avoid sweet shrimp caused such turmoil and agitation behind the sushi bar that what followed was perhaps the most unpleasant dining experience of my life.

The chefs' disrespectful attitude, hostility, and talking about us behind the sushi bar almost provoked me to tell them off and leave without paying. We endured this treatment a few more minutes and asked for the check, which was preposterously expensive?perhaps further punishment to discourage us from returning. I paid the bill and graciously thanked each chef, who glanced our way but never acknowledged our comments. We felt like errant elementary school children leaving the principal's office. An awful experience.

Of course I could go on, but I'll conclude by adding that while the sushi was good, I've had better, and you know where. Even the "Sushi N*z*" offers a more genial dining experience. Sushi Zo? He's the Sushi A**h***. My recommendation? Avoid this place entirely.

11/26/08

Can you say ? Omakostly!

by amberjackdotcom

After reading a ton of excellent reviews and hearing from a famous rock star and his Kool-Aid drinking girlfriend that - ?You?ll never want to eat sushi anywhere else again? our only option was to see for ourselves.

Now, we weren?t going to make any quick judgments and let our initial reaction of walking into a restaurant that seemed as bright as the GAP sway our opinion about the freshness of the fish so we continued ? with an open mind of course. We truly believed we were in for the best sushi meal ever but this could not be further from the truth. The Amberjack lacked texture, juice and that special fresh out-of-the-water taste. It was more like Amber ? jack me the hell outa here! The ?home-made? soy sauce was too saucy ? plus every 2 minutes we were being yelled at by the server: ?NO SOY SAUCE? or ?SOY SAUCE?, way too much pressure. While the food was satisfactory, I did not have the same "climax" feeling that some of the regulars seem to have while inhaling the blue crab hand roll and insisting that be the absolute last taste on their palates! Lastly, NO WAKATAKE Sake????? WTF?!?!?! My advice: dim the lights, relax with the soy sauce instructions, give a girl some low sodium soy sauce and definitely, definitely go with a rock star who?s girlfriend is completely on the same page as him. Oh yeah, make sure you back up the Brinks truck, this place is gonna cost ya!

Oh, and - When did your heart and appetite go missing? See ya at Seki bitches!!!!!!

• Pros: the hot towels
• Cons: ice cubes melted too quickly in the water

11/07/08

Best Sushi in LA!

by angiela

My husband and I like to consider ourselves sushi connoisseurs, and to say that Sushi Zo has the best sushi in LA is no joke. I promise you, if you go for omakase, you will taste some of the freshest, most tender, impeccably cut and flavorful sushi of your life! Ever morsel will melt in your mouth! And trust me, we've been to some of what most would consider "the best" in LA, and it simply doesn't compare. While it is a little on the expensive side, the experience will prove to be well worth your time AND money. But you must know that it's not your average sushi restaurant, where California rolls are a staple, so don't even bother if you're looking for that kind of typical American-style sushi. Sushi Zo serves up very traditional sushi, so you definitely have to be adventurous and respect the art and the culture behind it, because this is what you'll get there! And while some go as far as saying the chef is rude, I disagree completely. I believe these people don't understand the way sushi is done in Japan, where it's all about the freshness of the seafood and respecting the chef for his craft, not having the chef go out of his way to please greedy and impatient customers, who think that shouting out multiple orders for cut rolls and sushi all at once should command respect for THEM. It's absolutely absurd, and only reaffirms the stereotype of Americans as being arrogant, entitled a$$holes. Besides, there are rules provided for eating omakase at the bar, so if you can't handle it, beat it!

• Pros: Ample parking in the Vons lot, quick service, clean and pleasant atmosphere.
• Cons: The restaurant is growing more and more popular, which means if you want a seat, you better make reservations!

09/30/08

Sushi with a large side of Rude!

by Brad21

Sushi is good and expensive! I am told Omikasa is now the only option. You eat what he wants to serve you. That can be fun. The owner is always rude! He makes it look as though Nozawa is running a charm school. I am sorry, but when you spend $250 for lunch, I do not think a simple "good bye" or "thank you" is out of order. I have been to Sushi Zo about 10 times. Today was my last. This type of behavior should not be condoned or supported. I have learned my lesson. Having sushi is not just about the food, it is also about the experience.

• Pros: Great sushi
• Cons: Dull, nasty owner.

05/24/08

Hidden gem, an amazing sushi restaurant!

by Dakitten

So I lived in Japan for 14 years and I definitely consider myself a die hard sushi snob and this is my favorite restaurant in town hands down! I am so impressed with the quality of each piece of sushi plus the only thing TO order in a great SUSHI restaurant is OMAKASE and Zo knows how to do it right. The literal translation of omakase is "entrust" or "protect" and with each and every bite of amazing sushi that melts in my mouth, I feel like the chefs are delivering an amazing work of art! This is not the place for the first timers or someone who might like tuna. Well done, I finally feel like I can bring Japan to me while living here in LA.

• Pros: Melt in your mouth sushi
• Cons: Not open on Sundays!

03/23/08

Sushi Zo is what true traditional sushi is all about.

by eiren

Sushi Zo is not a place to go if you're looking for something fusion such as teriyaki bowl and dragon roll. Each piece of shshi is made with passion and each time spent there is just pure satisfaction.

03/03/08

Best/Overpriced Sushi

by doerra

I?m glad I tried it, but I probably won?t go again cuz Once is enough. We had 2x $20 glasses sake and 1 bottle sake, 2 miso soups, 2 pieces each clam on a half shell, abalone, yellowtail amberjack sashimi, tuna, spanish mackerel, giant clam, toro, sweet shrimp, scallops, uni & salmon roe, egg, baby tuna, monkfish liver, albacore, halibut, salmon, red snapper, a hand roll (I forgot what kind of fish). Actually, I?m not totally sure about the last few pieces since I was already a little buzzed. they were all simple sushi pieces, fresh fish, perfect cut size of fish, perfect amount of rice, perfect amount of sauce, however they served it and however they said to eat it made the taste and experience it?s best possible. Even though they were simple sushi pieces, each piece was still amazing. it could be a little more romantic setting but the room was pretty bright. For 2?.$311 pre tip

• Pros: amazing Sushi
• Cons: prices

02/14/08

Best Sushi in Town!!!!

by StupidMonkey

The people that have given Sushi Zo bad ratings are idiots. You obviously didn't read the card on each table explaining the proper way to eat sushi and sushi etiquette. It states that sushi should be eaten right away to ensure the best flavor and freshness of the fish. If it sits out too long the fish oils will dry out and the fish will not taste as good as it should. That is why they serve one piece at a time. It is for your eating pleasure. So plan on being there for a while, it is not a fast food place by any measure. Read the card and learn something new.

The Japanese culture is very big on respect. It is a way with their culture. If you are disrespectful, they will be disrespectful. However, if you are respectful and open to the ways of their culture, the sushi chef is actually very nice and even jokes with you. Order Omakase and you will not be displeased. When you order you can tell the chef certain things that you don't like or are allergic to and he will not serve it to you. He will however serve you fantastic sushi with more variety and sauces then you would find off the a la cart menu. Oh, and the reason they tell you no sauce or soy sauce OK is because a lot of the sushi served already has sauce on it. It doesn't need anymore. Or the soy sauce will not match the flavor of the sauce that is already on it. Again it's for your eating pleasure.

So, if you are open minded and capable of being respectful, please go to Sushi Zo. Expect to be there for a while and to pay a lot of money, but also expect to have some of the best sushi you have had in town.

There are only two negative things I can say about Sushi Zo.

1. It has ruined almost every other sushi restaurant for me. It has really set the bar high.

2. It is too pricey to go there every day.

• Pros: Best Sushi in Town
• Cons: Too pricey to eat every day