Sushi Sasabune

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12400 Wilshire Blvd ,Ste 150 (at South Carmelina Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90025

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(310) 820-3596
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Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles, CA
Reviews
( 60 )
( 18 )
( 3 )
( 3 )
( 5 )

Best

The best place I ate in. sit at the sushi bar

Worst

My wife and I recently started to try out other sushi places than our regular one (Kiriko, that is) and try to find a place we like as much. Tonight we were hesitating between suz...

Great Food, Impersonal - Felt like a factory. 5/26/2005

I read all the reviews previously here. To summarize, its basically an amazing restaurant for a raw bar. Everything else is so so. The service is quick, but totally impersonal, and watching the sushi bar, even the people sitting there were completly removed from the sushi chefs. For the quality of the fish, I have never had anything that matches this, but for a nice cozy sushi dinner, one that will still provides great food, at half the price, and with a personal touch to match, there are other places in Santa Monica that do that. Pros: great fish Cons: impersonal, loud, expensive more
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Best SUSHI in LA! 4/21/2005

No doubt the best quality sushi in Los Angeles, if not the world! Every bite is to die and and melts in your mouth! Albacore sashimi, Blue Fin Tuna, Toro, Yellowtail belly, butterfish, slipjack, blue fin crab handroll are all to die for! Super Highly recommend! Nozawa's apprentice Nobi is now the Master! Pros: Quality, Fresh, Taste more
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one of those little known hole-in-the-walls 4/8/2005

i came here on a date and was very unimpressed with the decor or lack of it. i guess alot of people assume that chef nobi kusahara wants to focus solely on the food and not the ambience. u have no choice but to order the tasting menu (approx $50/person) and you must be comfortable with raw fish although some of it is cooked. if u are a calif or spicy tuna roll person then get out! the one complaint i have is the rice was so soft and warm that it would crumble before i had a chance to get it in my mouth. after the tasting menu is over, the waitress will ask if u want to order more. from this point on its a la carte. P.S. street parking is ur only option Pros: authentic , attentive service Cons: crumbly rice, lack of decor, parking more
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Best Sushi in LA...Hands Down 3/7/2005

Sasabune has, by far, the best sushi in LA. I have taken people here from Japan, and they have been equally impressed. The hamachi and blue crab is mouthwatering. I can still remember the taste of the sushi months later. This place is for sushi aficianados, don't waste your time or money on cooked food or rice bowls. I have been to all of the supposed best places in LA, and this is by far the best. The fish literally melts in your mouth... more
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Best sushi in LA 12/28/2004

The atmosphere at the restaurant is not what you call a very romantic/ nicely decorated. However, it is always crowded - which prove a point that the food is absolutely delicious. Trust the chef to give you the freshest fish on the menu. A must try restaurant if you are a true sushi lover !!! Pros: Good sushi, Fresh fish, Service more
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Leave me here... 8/13/2004

Traditional Japanese sushi place (i.e. no ""rolls"" except the blue-crab roll at the end). Everything is perfect, foodwise. Nobi-san uses condiments and such sparingly and asks that you truly taste the fish (not douse it in soy-sauce). Their sushi-rice is slightly warm, which many people like. Pros: Superb food, Great service, intimate setting Cons: , closed weekends more
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Fish so fresh you won't recognize it! 7/2/2004

This is the real deal! Warm rice, perfectly cut & prepared fish. I never even touch the soy sauce at this place. The fish is so good that even when unsauced, I eat it as is and practically faint whilst doing so. Seriously... the albacore will MELT in your mouth. Nobi Sasabune has a technique that he perfected while working with Nozawa in the 80's. But Sasabune is leaps and bounds above that other guy. He buys the fish himself and maintains an excellence that is unsurpassed. The sushi is simple - no complex rolls or other such inventions. Just fish. Fish on rice, fish w/out rice, fish wrapped in seaweed. YUM! If you sit at the bar, you are served the first six courses automatically, then you can make special requests. As I tell my friends: ""The Fish tastes different here..."" Profound experience awaits. Pros: Freshest Fish, Reservations & Credit, Expert Master Chef more
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One of the best sushi in Los Angeles 6/15/2004

I have dined at Sasabune for at least seven years so my opinions are highly biased! It is important to understand Nobi's style to enjoy and appreciate fully his sushi. I think many people are quick to criticize just because his sushi is served differently from traditional ways(warm rice, sauces). For me, it is the combination of texture and flavor of the fish. When the quality of the fish is supreme, you don't need strongly flavored rice, wasabi, etc. (I gather those were used to preserve quality without refrigeration, which is no longer of issue). The soft warm rice also complements the delicate texture of the fish. Sasabune and Noizawa are the only places I know of that serves one sushi dish at a time, meaning no large platters with five orders on them. And no takeout. That's understanding their dedication to freshness. Pros: Best sushi, Easy parking more
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Nobi is a god! 1/26/2004

No one can tell me any different. From the moment that I walked in a few years back I have to see Nobi once a week. At the very least. I don't care what anyone says about any other Sushi chef in LA, Nobi is the best. Only Japan could have better sushi. Maybe. If you're serious about fish, this is the place to be. Like others have expressed, anything negative said about this place is clearly from someone who knows nothing of fish. Just thinking about the albacore makes me want to shut down my computer and make a mad dash to Sasabune. I'll worship at his sushi altar for the rest of my life. more
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Finest quality fish 1/21/2004

Sasabune is a regular favorite of mine. It's expensive (2 people costs about $130 for the omikase style ""trust me"" special with 1 sake and tip), but it's worth it. Chef Nobi chooses the freshest, finest fish himself every morning from the fishing docks and prepares mouth watering delacacies in the ""traditional way"" (cold fish on warm rice, no california roll, no spicy tuna, arrigato). If you sit at the sushi bar, it's chef's choice, but you won't be dissapointed, and the omikase style of service leaves you free to concentrate on good conversation with your partner. The sushi is so amazing, my then boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed to me. Of course, in such a setting, how could I possibly say no? We've been married 6 years and still drive from the San Fernando Valley to visit Chef Nobi. Pros: Cozy and relaxed, Seating best @ 5:30pm Cons: Expensive, Crowded after 7pm more
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Tied With Nozawa 1/4/2004

A traditional sushi bar, omakase style. Sit at the sushi bar and trust your sushi chef. The fish is on the same level as that at Nozawa. The sea urchin was especially delicious and fresh, best I have had hands down. Just remember, no spicy tuna rolls here. Pros: sea urchin, sushi more
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Trust me--it's the best. 11/7/2003

Sasabune has the best fish in Los Angeles, hands down. There's plenty of sushi joints in LA--most of them awful--but Sasabune is the real deal. What you give up in decor you get back in amazing fish. Trust Nobi. His fish is immaculate and his secret sauces are divine. The chef's special menu is amazing and consistently delicious, and it never contains anything 'weird'. However, all the various Japanese delicacies are available for the asking: abalone, uni, sweet shrimp, he's got it all. Yes, the rice here is room temp and yes you should eat with your hands so it doesn't fall apart. That is the traditional way things work in the world of sushi. Anyone who has anything negative to say about the fish at Sasabune is clearly ignorant about fish. Utter perfection. Closed Sat & Sundays because Nobi is an avid golfer. Pros: best fish in LA, chef's special menu, easy parking more
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WOW!!! 10/18/2003

What a way to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary! Chef Nobi is a master. No wonder serious sushi lovers cram the place. Go on a weekday if you can. Lots of parking. We got seated on the bar as soon as we got there. Warm, friendly service. Best of all, sushi was awesome. Can't wait to go back... soon! more
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Sushi wa Ichiban desu! 9/14/2003

This is BEST sushi I have ever had in my life! I've been to Tokyo, tried out so many sushi restaurants in America and Japan, and Sushi Sasabune is the best, bar none. There's no menu: You trust the chef and he brings out only the freshest fish for the day (so your dining experience is always dynamic). Freshly grated wasabi and superb texture and flavor combine to bring this restaurant to the top of the class. Don't listen to the moron below who claims everything tastes the same(HUH?); clearly he either has no taste buds, or he works for the Competition (look at his User Profile - he's only rated ONE restaurant (this one) and slammed it. HMMM how ""convenient""). The only way you'll get fresher fish is to catch it yourself (which I've done off the coast of Mexico). Simply AWESOME SUSHI. Pros: Best Sushi in LA, Real Crab Handroll, Fresh grated Wasabi Cons: Far from where I live more
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BEST SUSHI IN THE U.S.A. 7/8/2003

Sushi Sasabune is by far the best Sushi restaurant in the U.S. I've tried the supposed ""best"" - Matsuhisa, Nobu, etc. - and Sasabune blows them away. There's no comparison. The sushi here rivals some of the best places in Tokyo. Each piece of sushi that is offered is the freshest I've had, EVER. No joke. DON'T listen to the morons below that are complaining about warm rice or wasabi. The warm rice is the WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE - go visit Tokyo's best. Also the wasabi is slightly ""watery"" because it's FRESHLY GRATED WASABI FROM THE ROOT! Fantastic stuff. If you want the freshest sushi in town, go here, trust the chef and he'll give whatever's fresh for the day. An ""average"" sushi restaurant will cost about $25/person. Sasabune averages $50/person, and it's easily four to five times better than those other places. A+! Pros: Freshest Fish more
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Truly Exceptional 6/26/2003

Like fine wine, fine sushi is a product of philosophy and skill. Anyone can safely disagree with Sasabunes philosophy pertaining to sushi but to not recognize Nobi Kusuhara and his staff as one of just a few preeminent sushi teams in LA, only exposes their own ignorance. Sasabune, like any fine dining experience, is more than food preparation; it is based upon vision and extreme dedication. Take it from a sushi-barfly; Sasabune achieves the highest form of culinary art. I cannot guarantee you will like Sasabune (but you probably will), but real fans of sushi will notice Nobis rare mastery. There is no finer sushi experience than Sasabune anywhere and any true aficionado of this culinary art form might consider placing Sasabune on their own must try list. Pros: preeminent chef, extraordinary sushi, very fresh Cons: not a fancy place, dinner is too busy, street parking only more
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Fantastic!!! 6/26/2003

I have now been to Sasabune multiple times and I am ready to provide my opinion. I think that the fish is amazing. The Albacore sashimi melts in your mouth. One time I had 4 different kinds of tuna and 2 kinds of Albacore on the chef's special. I really like the warm rice. It adds nice flavor, but it can fall right off the sushi. Service is a bit rough around the edges, but do not go there expecting great service or ambiance, you should go for the freshest sushi in town. I have been to many places and this one has the highest quality fish, by far. On slower week nights, you should be able to order off the sushi menu at a table. Pros: Ultra Fresh, Selection Cons: Service more
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Worthy Match 6/26/2003

What a hidden gem! This place has the quality of food that rivals Matsuhisa and Nozawa but at a much more reasonable price. Although the setting isnt exactly fancy and there is no sign out front, if yuo can find it you are in for a great meal. I suggest getting the chefs special, you cant go wrong. It consists of about 5 or 6 rounds of sushi for about $50 (including tip). more
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Best Fish in LA 6/10/2003

FORGET THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS HERE. THEY HAVE NO FREAKIN CLUE AS TO WHAT IS GOOD NIGIRI SUSHI. THE RICE IS WARM BECAUSE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE! THAT'S THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF MAKING NIGIRI SUSHI! THIS PLACE ADHERES TO THE OLD, JAPANESE WAY OF PREPARING AND EATING SUSHI..THAT IS WARM, NOT OVER VINEGARED RICE, WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF SOY SAUCE AND WASABE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TRUE SUSHI IS SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE, COME HERE. I'VE BEEN TO THE TOP SUSHI PLACES (MATSUHISA'S, KYO-YA..YADA YADA). THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN L.A. THAT HAS EVEN RIVALED SOME OF THE BEST PLACES IN JAPAN THAT SPECIALIZE IN SUSHI (NOT SPECIALIZE IN JAPANESE FOOD, BUT SUSHI!). AND THE PRICE IS CHEAP RELATIVE TO THE QUALITY OF THE FISH. SUPERB. AND FORGET ABOUT THE LACK OF DECOR. JUST SHUT UP AND EAT. Pros: BEST FISH IN L.A. Cons: SHORT ON DECOR more
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Simply the best 5/21/2003

Sasabune's Chef Special is simply the default. Other items are available for courteous customers. The rice fits the refined delicacy of the fish. Those who cannot distinguish among the various tastes are better off elsewhere. Nobu and Matsuhisa are also among the best. Taka too. , as well as Asakuma. Some of Kaya's servings can approach this level. Only your taste - or lack thereof - can judge which is _better_ than the other. more
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Menu for Sushi Sasabune


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Nestled into a Wilshire office building, the minimalist dining room here is spacious and airy, though somewhat noisy. Tall windows and white walls are accented with blond wood...

  • 9/27/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm Saturday 5:30pm-9:30pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: West LA, West Los Angeles
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