02/03/09

Weak at Best

by rhino18

Coworkers and I came here for lunch a while back. We'd been craving sushi that was not "at the mall." When we arrived we were seated promptly, but it was all downhill from that point. Our sushi was tasteless, even the special rolls we ordered lacked flavor and could not even live up to supermarket sushi. In fact, I have had better "day old" sushi. Our service was lack luster as our alcoholic beverages took a while to be served (the place was virtually empty) and we had to ask for water and tea multiple times. Despite the proximity to work, we all vowed never to go back. Unfortunately, Citysearch does not allow a "zero stars" rating...

• Pros: None
• Cons: It takes up valuable real estate along Santa Monica Blvd.

01/23/09

Tasty Sushi, Good Service, Great Ambiance

by dnamitchell

My husband, 2 kids and I have been coming to KULA every Friday night for a few weeks now. They are accommodating to our kids (ages 6 and 4), but I wouldn't say it's a really kid friendly place. Our kids are very good in restaurants and will eat sushi and other Japanese items - there's no kids menu - so we feel comfortable bringing them. We order a variety of nigiri and rolls, miso, crispy rice appetizers and teriaki salmon. The sushi is fresh and reasonably priced. The teriaki is great and the veggies that come with it are so good. I like that the focus is on fresh, natural and organic ingredients.

The atmosphere is cool and relaxing. We can always get a table at 6:00pm on a Friday night. I'm really not sure why this place doesn't get more business.

The service is fine. Not exceptional, but not cold.

The parking... it's been changing. It was valet the first time. No charge the second time. And pay $3 but park yourself last week. I've just taken to parking on the street and walking 1/2 a block. I really wish the parking would be complimentary. That might stir up some business.

Definitely worth a visit.

Give it a try!

12/30/08

Rude

by manoble

The place looks nice and pretty and the prices are reasonable, but I had a hard time enjoying myself there with the attitude of the waiters there. The rolls were ok, but noting special.

12/22/08

Great food, nice atmosphere, not very busy

by lush76

Though I wouldn't call myself a sushi connoisseur, I have eaten at a number of different places around town. This one is by far one of the best values. It's upscale without being trendy or snobby or too expensive.

I've eaten there 3 times now and each time was great. The food is terrific. The ambiance is quiet, chill, and clean. My wife and I last went on a weekend and it wasn't very busy...(I'm surprised they don't get more business). It's definitely a place that we would eat at again.

11/10/08

Santa Monica Blvd... What a trip!

by JFBoisvert

Smoked eel please! Unagi! Also lots of crab and tuna. dip into wasabi and soya sauce and you get a salty tasty lunch or dinner. nothing quite like this exist a few blocks around...

• Pros: Sushi is yummy!
• Cons: A little pricey!

04/23/08

Quality Sushi, Great Ambiance, Classy Live Music, Fair Prices, Friendly Attentive Service - A++

by juddweiss

I'm not from Restaurant Management. My name is Judd and I live in Bel Air. And I've just found my new favorite Sushi spot in Los Angeles. The ambiance is very modern and detailed, yet warm and inviting. More than just a nice touch, the live jazz band brings an air of gentle sophistication to the place and makes you feel on top of the world with your own private musicians serenading you with talent as you enjoy your sushi. And the sushi, one bite and you know this is quality. Fresh, tasty and generous portions. This might have been the most attentive service I've received in a long time. I like to drink a lot of ice tea, and the glass never went empty; they must have come around to refil it 5 times. It's great to be at a restaurant where the servers pay attention to you and make sure you're taken care of. Including the owner, Azuza, she came by our table and talked with us for a good 5 minutes or so, very intelligent, gracious and she bowed as she left our table. I hope she does well with this business, it's obvious she's poured her heart into it. The biggest shock to my system happened when the bill came. I hadn't paid much attention to the prices when I was ordering, but looking around at the expensive atmosphere, live talented musicians, top quality delicious sushi and attentive service with personal attention from the owner, I was ready to get an $80 to $100 bill for a satisfying dinner for two. I opened to bill to find a total of $41.57 (!) I made sure there wasn't an error, and sure enough it added up corrrectly, the prices are just f-ing reasonable. That was the final seal on the deal; this is my favorite Sushi restaurant. I will be bringing friends and any future dates here for sushi. None of this is an exageration, I just had to write a review. Check it out for yourself. And tell your friends. I know how hard it is to make a restaurant successfull. At these prices I don't know how they stay in business. I want make sure my new favorite restaurant flourishes.

04/16/08

Become a local, give it a try.

by BadHenry

Fresh and tasty... Those are the only and main words I want to hear from a sushi place, if you get my drift!

Simple but true: No Asian//Euro fusion and I am glad it is not. If I want a bouillabaisse I'll go to a French restaurant.

Don't take me wrong I love French food too, but that's besides the point.

The Owner: "Azusa" the owner is the sweetest person you might get to meet as she walks around to every table to make sure everything is OK.

She's like a mum, it's OK to smile (She's not that old anyway!).

The bar: If you get land there ask for Ben, he is the only male bartender working there for now. Lucky him!

Just tell him "Henry sent me" and he'll take care of you.

For the outlawed smokers: There is a small patio/terrace where you can go and relief yourself. Long live freedom of choice!

Pros: Crabshell is not bad, crunchy rolls are great. Check out the "After Hour" deal.

Cons: If you're looking for a "Meat Market" place, you might want to try some place else. Also, even though the music is improving, it needs suggestions. Voice your opinion w/ Azusa, please...

Overall: A Safe place to eat sushi.... Which to my standards means a lot, I'm 40 now! Not taking any chances....

• Pros: V

03/27/08

Angry Reporter

by strangelymade

I first wandered into Kula on the evening after its official opening. Since then, I have been back more than a dozen times. There are 3 reasons why I keep returning: the food, the service, and the atmosphere. i think that for a westside Japanese restaurant, this place is not only exceptional, but actually a surprisingly good deal. The sushi is first rate and the cooked dishes under-priced, given their quantity and quality. I feel required to add the following: I have read the two negative reviews that precede me on this webpage. I am bewildered by them. I have never experienced anything but top-quality service at this restaurant from friendly people.　I seriously doubt that any of the other good reviews have been authored by the restaurant. I do not work for the restaurant. I am not writing this for the restaurant, and I have spent more than a dozen years of my life as a journalist who was hired to write objectively about that which I have observed. Perhaps those who have chosen to write so negatively about this establishment have done so only after a certain amount of alcoholic over-indulging. I say this only because I have observed at least one of the negative reviewers surprisingly return to this allegedly inhospitable restaurant for a little additional alcoholic interlude.

03/27/08

Best happy hour and sushi in L.A.!

by allison7380

I`ve been to Kula 4 times by now. First of all, this place has the best toro collar I`ve ever tasted. (And I`m from the area and have been to tons of Japanese resturants, so that`s saying something!) Also exceptional is the tofu dish. (I don`t know how they get it so creamy!)The sushi has been totally fresh and exceeded my expectations each time. Still, as great as the food is, even more impressive was the attentiveness of the general manager and the wait staff. The general manager (Azusa) is incredibly sweet and she walks around to each table to make sure that everyone is happy and comfortable. I got the feeling that they all really cared about my dining experience. I have recommended Kula to all my friends because of its cool vibe and awesome food. Can`t wait until next time!

03/27/08

Not bad Sushi - Got a table at 8pm on a Friday as a walk in - Expensive

by jlthompson66

I have only been there twice though my friends who live right next door tell me they have stopped going to happy hour because it is, as the other reviewer said, pretty dead. I thought my sushi was fine, however, as the Citysearch professional review states: no fusion items. They had two or three fish for new style sashimi but I didn't try any of them. It is clear that the one review was written by a customer who had a bad experience and it is a similar story to reviews I read on Zagat, so I believe ?him? to an extent. It is also clear that the response review was written by the restaurant itself. I really abhor such behavior. Many people rely on Citysearch for honest reviews and when we see a restaurant review itself, we know it. I would have eaten at Kula again but after seeing such behavior, combined with the fact that there were only three other tables filled the last time I ate there, has convinced me not to go back. C'est la vie.