The new kid on the block, Sushi Note is here making serious noise. Returning to the scene after closing the beloved 4 on 6 in Encino, Chef Saito is once again delivering one of the best Omakase meals that money can buy.

Laying claim to being the king of anything is always bold. For the sake of Sushi King in Santa Monica, this claim is validated by holding the reign to keeping things simple.

Chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee teamed up to open this off-shoot literal “Sushi Bar” next door to their acclaimed Scratch Bar and Kitchen a few years back.

After sitting back and embracing the feeling of being satiated from a 20-course dinner at Mori, it won’t come to you as a shock that it holds a Michelin Star.

Sasabune is a pioneer in the sushi scene of Greater LA. With their roots based in Little Osaka on Sawtelle dating back three decades, Sasabune has transformed over the years, upgrading, and expanding to what is now locations in West LA, Beverly Hills and Glendale. The omakase served may be the best combination of ubiquitous cuts mixed in with premium selections. Don’t be fooled however, this is not the typical salmon and tuna they are serving down the block.

Confidence is what I feel when eating at Brothers. Confidence in the fact that Chef Mark Okuda and his team know they make good sushi.

Who doesn’t love a casual yet consistently good Sushi Bar with great variety? Santa Monica’s Noma delivers on every level.

The legend of “Valley Sushi” continues with Sushi Nishi-ya. While the Valley Sushi slogan may be overstated in this blog, the world needs to know it’s actually a thing… Having been open since the 80’s, Sushi Nishi-ya is all about the fish and certainly not the glamour. This restaurant has survived recessions, riots, and fires for a reason… they know what they are doing.

This review is more of a marker for when I return in a hopeful post Covid environment. I decided to splurge after proposing to my fiancé and got two nigiri lunch sets. For around $70 a pop, we were very impressed. The fresh soy and ginger combined with the excellent variety in the set made for what I consider the predecessor to wonderful omakase in the future.

Takao embodies Brentwood sushi. Not flashy, but rich, unassuming, yet brash.

Zo has held the status of legend on the streets of LA since first opening in 2006. How does this Michelin rated edo-style sushi bar continue to maintain notoriety while staying essentially anonymously tucked away in Cheviot Hills? Simply because it is sushi perfection.

It didn’t take "Gen" long to become the namesake that it is today… Regardless, there is something to be said about any restaurant that has been around for over four decades.

Los Angeles Valley Sushi rightfully has claimed the hearts of foodies across the city for decades. Since opening his doors in 2012, Chef Ryota Okamura has taken the “over the hill” sushi scene by storm. With roots ranging from the Hattori Culinary Academy to working at Sushi Zo, Chef Okamura delivers a level of expertise and quality received at the top Omakases across town.

With the competition of Los Angeles Japanese cuisine in many ways higher than anywhere outside of the island nation Japan, being the new kid on the block is not an easy task. Uzumaki has landed with both feet on the ground prepared to stay for the long-haul.

The name speaks for itself.

Priding itself on quality and variety (claiming to have over 30 kinds of fish available daily), this south Beverly Dr. restaurant is a true gem. Overshadowed by nearby Nozawa and Urusawa, Sushi Sushi separates itself by continuously delivering exceptional quality in an always accessible way.

An “unsurpassed omakase experience”, is the Mad Men coined phrase for this easily passed nook found in the streets of Downtown Los Angeles.