Hidden away in the basement of a nondescript building in the streets of downtown LA, Bar Sawa feels like a comfy speakeasy vibe- the moment you walk in, the wall of Japanese whisky gives it a moody 8-seat vibe. The monkfish was luxuriously rich, while the uni paired with squid was deliciously fresh, with that perfect ocean sweetness and incredible texture. One of the most memorable bites was the sushi "taco"--a crisp shiso leaf wrapped around a vodka martini-inspired creation that somehow captured the essence of the cocktail in a single bite. The scallop nestled inside a squash blossom was another standout. The cocktails take it to a different level. One mention: the staff is essential and truly makes the experience more inspiring. read more

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3.5 stars. I've been here twice because I wanted to give it another try and see if my experience would be different the second time, but I walked away feeling pretty much the same, and my friend agreed. The atmosphere is great if you love intimate bar seating, the service is warm and cordial, and the drinks are very good. I also really liked the amount and variety of dishes served outside of the nigiri, so the meal felt substantial and well paced. The food itself was good and well executed, but for the price point, I was hoping for something more memorable or distinctive. A lot of the dishes and flavor profiles felt very familiar and similar to what I've had at many other more traditional omakase experiences. Nothing was bad by any means, but there wasn't a particular bite or flavor combination that surprised me or stayed with me afterward. The second time I came here, they had firefly squid (in season) which was a delight. If you're newer to sushi or omakase, I think this would be a great experience. But if you eat omakase frequently, there are other places around this price point that I think offer something a little more unique or memorable. read more

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Great food! Great crew! However, they allowed 2 obnoxious couples to just make it for an uncomfortably loud dinner. Thai is not how an omakase experience should unfold. Such a shame because otherwise it would have been a great experience. But I cannot excuse them for allowing these other guys to just behave so rudely, like Neanderthal, and not say a thing. read more

A modern take on omakase that is Sushi Kaneyoshi's fun nightlife counterpart. Hosted in the same building (the same fishy smell permeates the space) at an intimate counter for about 10 guests, the decor of the space is less sterile and clean and more jazzy Tokyo hipster. While the fish quality here is great, you will get more bites that seem a lot more experimental with flavors and garnishes. I didn't like every single bite but I expected that. A lot more focus on creative cocktails and drink pairings instead of just sake or wine. This is a great place to try Japanese whiskey, they even have little lockers where regular patrons can store their expensive bottles they've bought for when they return, and you are welcome to grab an additional drink and chill in the space afterwards if you'd like. The chefs here were a lot more personable and fun with more of a bar vibe than a traditional omakase. Service was great, dedicated bartender was great, and though it's not the best sushi I've ever tasted, I would still bring someone back here for a unique experience. Brought my friend here for her bday and we left full and happy and a little drunk so I'd say it was a successful night! read more

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First time at Bar Sawa on Saturday night for a friend's celebration (private event)! It's a little bit confusing to get to (you should watch their YouTube video beforehand), but it's a very cool space once you find it. If you are coming from the sidewalk and not inside the parking lot, do not be alarmed by the motion detection alarm when you go up the stairs (because it's supposed to deter homeless people from loitering/sleeping there) and the door at the top of the stairs should be open. It's a cozy and intimate bar in the basement level, and the inside is beautifully decorated with a wall of whiskey bottles to the right and backlit display of the alcohol selection behind the bartenders. We loved the takoyaki (came out hot fresh and crispy) and all the drinks. The saketinis were really well-balanced and unique, as well as their highballs and cocktails. The bartenders were super nice and friendly, and it was a really fun evening. My husband and I hope to return to Bar Sawa for the omakase in the future because the food looks just as good as the drinks. read more

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Came here for their Friday night speakeasy cocktail experience. Every Friday night, from 1030pm-130am they transform into a cocktail bar only. The restaurant itself is pretty hidden and it took us like 15 minutes to find it even when someone in our party had been there before. Anyway, that added to the fun. Once we finally found the place, service was excellent and the ambiance was great. Its had the Michelle restaurant feeling but very friendly and casual. Cocktails were amazing and all the staff was amazing. read more

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Best time. Great vibe, amazing cocktails and food is phenomenal. Never had so much fun at sushi. read more

Bar Sawa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will let the photos speak for themselves. Great ambiance, great chef! read more

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Such a delicious omakase spot! It was a little difficult finding where the restaurant is located but they do send you detailed directions in the email, so make sure you check that before wandering around outside. Every dish was so beautifully curated and the presentation was phenomenal. The chefs even noticed that my boyfriend is left handed and adjusted the plating accordingly. I really enjoyed being able to see the chef make the dish in front of us. This dining experience is extremely intimate and the seating number is about 10. This was such a great experience and it is perfect for a date night! read more

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4* because finding this place is nearly impossible. No parking, have to find a sketchy elevator. No way to get in contact with the employees so you can't even call them and figure out where you are going. When you finally do get inside the restaurant its secluded and intimate. For the omakase it's a modern spin on omakase. The fish quality is good, it's not the best I've ever had but its good. They do try to do unique things with the appetizer and deserts which is pretty cool. A+ Hibiki selection I would go back here because it is unique and the fish quality is solid. I have had some omakase that is better but this was super solid read more

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I know it's pricey but you should definitely go it's worth trying at least once. It's 15+ courses and these are some of the best bites I ever had. You can taste the freshness of each ingredients especially the fish. Some of our favorites are toro, unagi, uni, Spanish mackerel, sweet shrimp. The appetizers were also very memorable the crab chawanmushi, the fritter with seaweed broth, the liver with radish... each bite is a pleasant surprise and flavor bomb! Maybe one or two are not as mind blown as the rest but overall the quality is up there. Service is also top notch. Overall no complaints. Total time about 3 hours and it's a very intimate setting like most omasake. With sake paring is ~$300 per person. Will definitely be back for a special occasion! read more

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Excellent friendly service with beautiful environment. Tucked away in a parking structure you take the elevator down and there are a handful of restaurants. Each place is small and intimate with approximately 12-15 seats. Great place to book a private dinner by booking all he seats. Food was good but not great except for the monkfish which was exceptional. Around $375 per person not including the alcohol and with about 25% tip. Drink bill was expensive since we were buying rounds for the staff. read more

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Los Angeles, Japantown. May 2024. This is a spin-off of Sushi Kaneyoshi, under Head Itamae Anthony Nguyen. In an unusual arrangement they are adjacent to each other, sharing a waiting area. The unusual location is in a building basement that is accessed from an elevator near the parking garage. The set up has the feel of a speakeasy bar. There are prominent displays of Japanese whisky behind the itamae plus an illuminated wall of Hibiki whisky in individual bins. On each side behind the itamae are large speakers putting out music. To their left, as part of the dining counter is a set up to make cocktails - a cocktail pairing is an option. At the pricepoint the sushi neta has a limited amount of higher end stuff, but the neta is properly aged when called for and cut nicely. The shari is made with shirozu and mild tasting. The menu is seasonal, featuring chawanmushi, several otsumami, nigiri, and dessert - a total of 17 pieces. The sushi nigiri are handled in an Edomae style but each can be accented w modern flavors to complement the nikiri brushed on. There are a lot of bright citrus and sour flavors. This is a Los Angeles influenced omakase. There is a lot of back and forth between customers. Drinking is a prominent part of the meal. A social party atmosphere is probably a common occurrence once the drinking commences. I think you will feel left out if you cannot drink alcohol. Worth trying and definitely worth a return if you like a friendly party. read more

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I had kept hearing about an omakase spot called Sawa next to Kaneyoshi, so I finally pulled the trigger for a Friday 5:00pm seating date night with Kate Y. Unfortunately, both of us were super, super disappointed with the experience. The interior is beautifully decorated and I love the ambiance, but the food and the service were sadly mediocre. There were just a handful of courses that I actually enjoyed, one of them being the scallop dish which was actually decent. One big problem is that they use yuzu in too many of the courses to the point where you just get sick of it. There's also too many courses that have a smokiness flavor. I can almost just summarize the whole omakase dinner as a seemingly never ending cycle of yuzu and smokiness torture. And on the courses that don't have yuzu or smokiness, the flavors were just way too overwhelming. The cuts of fish they use weren't that great, which might explain the use of overbearing flavors to mask that fact. Also, the katsu toro course was just executed so absolutely poorly...half of it was overcooked, half of it was raw, with a overbearing taste of old oil that they fried it in--it was borderline offensive to expect us to eat it. Also, I've never seen nigiri done so poorly with many of the pieces falling apart within seconds of being placed on my plate...completely unacceptable. The rice was just too hard and inconsistent...almost like old overcooked rice. The cocktails on the other hand were actually pretty good. We went with the cocktail pairing which I highly recommend if you do dine here. It's great value at $45 for a choice of 3 drinks from a pretty decent list of cocktails. The highball was super refreshing and the old fashioned was one of the best I've had in a while. I would say that the highlight of the dinner for us was the drinks rather than the omakase courses. We had also ordered an sake pairing for each of us, but the girl that was taking the orders must have forgotten about it because it was never served...but it's ok because I guess it saved us money in the end lol. The service can be super inconsistent depending on where you sit. It was max 8-10 people for our seating time, but they still struggled to adequately serve the diners seated at the very right (including us) while the ones on the left received much better service. It also took a good 20-30 minutes into the meal before we received the first drink in the cocktail pairing while it seemed like everyone was already on the 2nd drink. If you sit on the very right, expect to be treated like an unwanted stepchild. To say the experience was disappointing would be an understatement. The drinks were solid and the ambiance was cool, but unfortunately the service and the food were absolutely mediocre at best...especially the nigiri courses. The fusion concept or whatever they're trying to do is poorly executed. You're better off shelling out an additional $100pp or so elsewhere for a far superior omakase experience. Even in their price range there are so many better options. I feel like this is an omakase for suckers...and they got me good. 5 stars for the drinks and ambiance, 2 stars for the food and service...3 stars overall. read more

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Words cannot describe how amazing this omakase experience was. From what I've heard there are windows that people can make a reservation for and only 10 people can join each window. Each window is for around two hours and during that two hours you will be serenaded with the most amazing food you'll ever put in your mouth. The ambience of this restaurant was extremely well designed. It makes you be a part of a show and is very intimate. Dark lighting and good music really sets the mood at Sawa. From my photos, it seems like there were over 18 courses of different types of fish that we ate. The yellowtail the tuna and the squid were so delicious. The staff that works at Sawa are so well trained and explained every little intricate detail behind each course that was being served to us. 100% recommended to anyone celebrating a birthday or an anniversary to book a reservation at Sawa. You will not regret it. The cocktail menu was vast and they have every sort of different whiskey from Japan on their menu. From what I remember prices were about $185 per person for the course plus cocktails will ring your tab of around the $500 range. Worth it in my opinion. Had a short conversation with the owner and main chef and he is a very humble and chill person to talk with. Definitely will be back. read more

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Beautiful hidden restaurant, intimate setting, fresh fish, one of the best sweet shrimps I've had. I liked the pace, not too slow. The chairs were comfortable (many restaurants have crappy chairs). The chefs and assistants were friendly and attentive. High recommend! Happy customer! read more

Bar Sawa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is for the Omakase experience: The food was enjoyable and the price is affordable in comparison to other Omakase restaurants in LA. Unfortunately my experience wasn't the best. Apparently on the evening my partner and I went, two of the chef's personal friends were also in attendance. He spent the entire evening completely focused on them and provided subpar service to the rest of us. It felt like we were intruding on a separate experience for the two and even explaining the dishes and serving us were an afterthought. I wish that this particular chef was a little more mindful of his actions or lack of , to the rest of the attendees. It definitely affected the evening negatively for my partner and I. read more

It's a more hip place than the traditional omakase joints. It's more like a speakeasy with great sushi. Food was fabulous, service was great. We enjoyed our experience here. read more

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Ambiance: it's a hidden Michelin restaurant located at Kajima Building in Little Tokyo. It's fun to find your way through it, the entrance of the building looks like some abandon establishment, first walked up stairs after few stories, then went though fire exit door, passing the parking garage, walked few steps down, finally took the evaluator to the basement, waited in the area for the table to get ready. It feels a completely different world inside the restaurant, long bar table with ten seats, cooking stations and full bar service right in front of you. Service: they only have two time slots for reservations, max guests per night would be twenty people, two groups of ten at 5pm and 8pm. The crew here is super nice, one master chef, one sous-chef, one bartender, and one server. Chef Ryo San is one of the most friendly fine dining chefs I've encountered, especially for omakase experience, super friendly, knowledgeable, with a sense of humor, and I feel he has enlightened the experience for every guest here. Food & Drink: the menu is for drinks only since omakase has no fixed menu Chawanmushi - **** steamed egg with snow crab from Japan and Mozzarella cheese bites Sashimi - ***** from Japan with green shishiro sauce Potato croquette - *** fried, fillings include black cod with fishy tasty, on top of white saki sauce Monkfish liver - **** paired with yuzu vodka drink, creamy texture Otoro - **** from Japan, fattiest tuna belly Squid - **** chewy texture Black snapper - ***** torched, topped with ponzu fuji apple onion sauce Hokkaido scallop - **** mixed with shishiro sauce Tuna - **** from Japan, topped with pickle white fish from Japan Black trout - ***** from Japan, hand roll, torched with smoky taste Uni - ***** from Santa Barbara Mackerel - **** torched Chutoro - *** fatty tuna belly, from Baja California Unagi - **** with eel sauce Noodles soup - *** made from finish bone, and finishing with hot green tea Basque cheese cake - **** soft and creamy texture Sawa Highball - *** Toki Whisky, Soda Water, Yuzu Bitters, Grapefruit Peel, bold taste Ume - **** Dassai, Umeshu, Orange Bitters, easy to drink, recommend Japanese God Father - **** Toki Whisky, Matcha, Amaretto, Kuromitsu, sweet and refreshing taste, recommend Price: it costs $185 for omakase, optional $45 cocktails pairings or order a la carte drinks by glass or bottle, plus tax and tips, generally expect $250~$300 per person. Honestly, the food itself is mediocre, not the best omakase for its price range, although their cocktails are beyond expectations and the service is excellent. read more

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amazing Omakase and cocktail pairings. Sushi chefs are incredible Masters a perfect and delicious evening.

Celebrated an anniversary with an amazing omakase course here. It's a hidden sister restaurant of Kaneyoshi with a delightful sushi and cocktail experience. The dimly lit bar made the experience more intimate. The course ($180) came with about 12 pieces of nigiri, 5 sides, and a dessert. Loved the drink pairing option and the variety of unique Japanese cocktails. Everything tasted amazing and appreciated the consistency of rice and fish. Right by the bar we sat at, there is a showcasing wall of Hibiki whiskey for a member-style bottle lockers. Next to it is a small, intimate lounge area. The chef was informative and sweet!! The FOH staff was sweet but could be a little more attentive to offer refill water/drinks before getting asked to. It's a little difficult to find this place. Found street parking and had to go up the stairwell on San Pedro that led to a locked door. read more

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Bar Sawa is a gem of an omakase among a sea of really good omakases all around. Everything is fresh and I enjoyed trying out their take on the usuals- chawanmushi and the dessert were fun spins. Their signature dish was delicious too! There is space for improvement in terms of the staff coordination... things like attentiveness on tea, switching out plates, and just general spatial awareness of the staff. There were quite a few bumps and asks for more tea. Minor things but more of an observation. Super cute spot that's easy to get to and has plenty of parking. Chefs Ryo and Anthony have such great chemistry together- it really makes it a more fun, chill vibe for an omakase. We'll def be back! read more

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We were blown away by this omakase experience- truly the best we've ever had. We've been to many, and the vibe is not always as welcoming - but we got lucky that day with the group that was there as well as the chefs! Omakase should be a place where you can enjoy drinks, and not have to think about your meal other than the fact that it is YUMMY and so well worth it. We were blown away by the appetizers - the sushi - everything in between. Truly one of the best dinners we've had. We highly recommend getting the sake pairing! (The last glass was our favorite). We went to celebrate a birthday and they were sweet enough to bring out some candles. Thank you chefs, for administering and creating an environment that was such a good time. We look forward to coming back every time we're in LA! Cheers! read more

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A little hard to find but the instructions provided by the restaurant made sure you wouldn't get lost. The ambiance was super friendly, with a lot of banter between guests and the chef. Pace was a bit slow but food was certainly worth the wait. First time trying spearhead squid with the most interesting texture due to how they prepared it. Really enjoyed the omakase, with many pieces aged and marinated in seaweed, creating complex layers of flavors. However, as an uni lover, I was disappointed that the uni served was from Santa Barbara and not Hokkaido. Also since my friend could not make the meal due to an emergency, I was truly appreciative that they waived the fee for the missing guest. read more

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Been here twice now and each time it doesnt dissapoint! For $180 you get 17 courses with appetizer and dessert I do love all the fish and how fun the sushi chef and servers are. we usually get a bottle and share around. Its hidden in the basement and they tell you how to get into the building if you dont part in the parking lot. It almost feels like you are walking up an abandoned floor but its not. once you get in you are transformed in this window lesss basement, but feels cozy and just right! Just go... trust me! read more

Came here for a second date and it went incredibly well! Very fast and attentive service. The ambiance was intimate and curated. The drinks were well made and lived up to its reputation. The sushi was on another level and the flavor combinations of every menu item was very intentional. I can't wait to come back to bar Sawa again! read more

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I never understood when people would describe dining as a religious experience. I get it now. Top service, food was absolutely incredible! Best meal I've ever had. read more

I was researching a glorious Omakase restaurant to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. With the guidance of one of my most trusted Yelp friends in regards to sushi and omakase, Kevin P., I was pointed to Sawa. Sawa is an intimate omakase restaurant where traditionalism meets the city nightlife vibes. Reservations on the Tock platform are required, as they only have 8 seats for each service. Very exclusive!! The original time and date I wanted was completely booked, but with much prayers and checking daily, I was finally able to secure an opening. Pricing varies depend on the tasting menu you opt for. I opted for the September 2023 Chef Tasting Menu ($185/person). The restaurant can accommodate for shellfish, nut, fruits and dairy allergies, but they cannot accommodate soy or gluten since it is required of most of their recipes. The reservation charge hold varies. The more expensive the tasting menu you choose, the higher the reservation charge would be. In order to reserve the spot, it is $75/person + service charge, and it is refunded after 3-5 business days from your visit. This is interesting because I feel like they should just take the difference from the bill. On the day of our visit we followed the directions from the email you received after making the reservation, took the elevator down to the basement and waited in this trendy modern lobby. They checked us in, and it seemed like we were seated in the order we arrived. I really liked our seats since we were right in the middle of the sushi side and the cocktails side so you can see everything that's going on. There was actually 10 seats during our meal, and not the 8 seats advertised on their website. For our dinner, we had Chef Ryo with the assistance of Chef Andy and then on the bartender side Kaoru and another bartender was crafting up phenomenal drinks. The September 2023 Chef's Tasting Menu consists of 4 Appetizers: Blue Crystal Shrimp Eggplant, Smoked Ocean Trout Shiso Vinaigrette, Cured Mackerel Blue Cheese, Monkfish Liver/Braised Oysters, 11 Nigiri, 1 Temaki, Shrimp/Clam Dashi and a Soy Cheesecake. To be completely honest I was not too blown away by the sushi experience. The fish slice was on the thin side compared to some of the other omakase experiences I have enjoyed. I appreciate the extra attention for the protein with the scoring on the fish to provide a softer texture and absorb sauces better, but I feel like a lot of their sauces used during the evening was monotone. Similar sauce application with the nigiris and then many items just seared. And I didn't really see or try anything I haven't had elsewhere. The most memorable and my favorite bite of the night was definitely the monkfish liver, as the preparation they have here is tastier than even the one I had at Nobu. The craft cocktails were the more impressive part of the experience for me. I love Kaoru and her attention to detail and thoughtful garnishes. I did the Cocktail Pairing ($45) where you can select any 3 from their menu of highballs, martinis, saketinis and cocktails. I went with a Sawa Highball, Yuzu Saketini, and a Japanese Old Fashioned. All the drinks were amazing. I can see myself drinking any one of those frequently. The whole meal was like an extravagant production to enjoy. We actually made friends with the couple next to us. But on the other side, you can get some annoying people in your groups too, but I guess that's just life. There was 4 birthdays in our group and they were all given an additional special celebratory mochi and a happy birthday sign on their primary dessert. I like that is made my boyfriend's experience even more special. I was waiting for my $155 reservation payment to be refunded before writing this review. It was 4 business days after our visit, but I did get my money back. I worked so hard to seize the reservation and I was so excited anticipating the experience. I expected a little more, but it's definitely not bad. I'm just not sure I would come back before I explore the rest of the omakase restaurants out there. read more

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The sushi rice was subpar. No plumpness or structure to it. No slight chew, very underwhelming. There was not one exceptional bite during my experience. Pieces of fish are small as well, not filling. After the meal, my date asked if we could get a small bite or share a burger haha On the other hand, the ambience and service were very nice. If the price was $120 instead of $185, I still wouldn't come back. I feel that there's a wave of omakases that recently opened in LA that charge a lot of $ for average sushi. Hopefully Bar Sawa steps up their game as the employees are very kind. read more

Overall, I did enjoy the experience. The chefs and servers were really engaging! It felt very intimate and upscale. If I recall correctly, there was a total of 12 chairs per a "seating." I was SO full after the 17 courses and 3 drink pairings. The drinks were good and strong, and there were some unique and flavorful fish pieces. As an FYI, this is an Edomae omakase, which means all the fish are expertly treated (cured, sou vide, dry-aged, etc.), so for those who are expecting/wants a "plain raw" piece of fish, this isn't for you. I would recommend this place for someone who like this style of omakase or has never tried this style of omakase. My only con about my experience is...I wished I had more variety in my omakase. My friends and I felt like we got served a lot of mackerel...although to be fair, each piece of mackerel was different and seasoned differently. And also, although I am a fan of shiso (perilla), we felt like a lot of the fishes had shiso as a topping. FYI - give yourself some time to find the restaurant. The reservation email from tock came with instructions, but my friends and I had to circle the plaza a couple of times to identify the right entrance since we did street parking. read more

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Sawa has been on my bookmark list for awhile and I finally had the chance to go as my boyfriend surprised me with reservations! Omakase (4/5): for $185 you get 17 courses. Everything was tasty and I got to try some new dish and flavors I've never had before which was fun. I do think it's a little overpriced for what you get as I didn't leave feeling completely full. Drink Pairing (4/5): for $45 you can choose three cocktails from the list, we tried the yuzu saketini, shiso saketini, and matcha old fashioned. They were all unique and tasty, however I wish they let us know we could choose any drink from the cocktail menu from the start since I would've chosen some other drinks if I knew earlier. Overall I had a great experience here and I absolutely loved the decor and ambiance. It feels like you're in a Japanese speakeasy. I liked that it didn't feel super stuffy and we had fun interacting with the staff and other guests. Customer service was excellent as well. Not sure if I'd come back, but it was nice to try it out! read more

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TLDR: not your typical omakase - majority of the courses were aged/cooked to peak flavor, Yuzu cocktails, $185 pp, 2.5 hr experience: 19 courses, 11 seats/reservation: 3 options - 1 pm/5 pm/8 pm, park at Aiso Parking Garage - very affordable, intimate and low-pressure omakase experience, highly recommend making a reservation - perfect to celebrate a special occasion I recently celebrated my birthday at Sawa, and it turned out to be a birthday to remember. This was our second omakase experience, and it had its own unique charm. Loved the dark interior and modern Japanese architecture. We made reservations through Resy, and it cost $185 per person for a remarkable 19-course. I'd like to share a practical tip for anyone planning to visit this charming Omakase restaurant. Avoid parking in the structure mentioned in the email, as it can be quite expensive, with a cost of $15. Instead, I recommend parking at the Aiso Parking Garage - budget-friendly option, $1/hr for the first 2 hours. Compared to its Michelin-starred sister, Sushi Kaneyoshi, this omakase spot had a more casual vibe. Instead of a focus on fresh fish, most of the dishes here were aged, braised, or prepared using sous vide techniques to bring out their peak flavors. The small number of seats allowed for a more personal and attentive dining experience. It felt like we had the chef's undivided attention, and each dish was a work of art. The extended duration of 2.5 hours allowed us to savor each course at a relaxed pace and fully appreciate the intricacies of the meal. Cocktail pairing was $45 for 3. The cocktails were strong, and although we couldn't indulge in all three, we did share two. The Yuzu Highball was a definite winner in my book. I'm a fan of yuzu, and this cocktail offered a perfect balance of sweet and sour notes from the yuzu. On the other hand, the Japanese Godfather cocktail didn't quite hit the mark for me, rating it a 2/5. It had a medicinal taste, probably due to the whisky and amaretto combo. The staff at the restaurant was incredibly attentive. With two chefs and two bar staff, everyone was warm, friendly, and not afraid to engage in conversation. This was quite a departure from the typical omakase experience where silence often reigns. Their informative insights into the ingredients and preparation methods enhanced the entire dining experience. One standout moment was when I requested less rice on my nigiri, and the chefs were more than accommodating. They checked in with me twice to ensure they got the rice portion just right, allowing me to savor every bite. Now, onto the memorable 19 courses: 1. ***Dry Aged Scallops with Shiso Flower Blossoms 2. Chawanmushi with Snow Crab & Mozzarella Cheese 3. ***Dry Aged Mackerel 4. Shrimp with Sliced Almonds 5. ***Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) with Fresh Wasabi and Radish Paste, paired with a Yuzu Martini NIGIRI 6. Aji (Spanish Mackerel) 7. Stripe Jack 8. Yellowback Sea Bream 9. Red Snapper 10. Smoked Ocean Trout paired with Pickled Shallots 11. Spearhead Squid with Uni 12. Bluefin Tuna from Ensenada, Mexico 13. Amberjack from Hawaii 14. Chu-toro 15. ***Sawa (King Mackerel) topped with Grated Apple, Onion, and Garlic 16. Seared Fatty Tuna 17. ***Braised Oyster from Washington, topped with Canadian Uni 18. Somen with Shrimp and Fish Broth Soup Dessert 19. Cheesecake (very moist) + complimentary matcha mochi (for birthday/ celebrations) **NOTABLE FAVES Each dish was meticulously crafted and brought its own unique flavors to the table. The use of aged and braised elements created a distinct character for this omakase experience, setting it apart from traditional sushi-centric offerings. All in all, our evening at the Japanese omakase restaurant in Little Tokyo was fantastic. The warm and conversational staff, the delicious food, and the creative cocktails made it a memorable and intimate birthday celebration. If you're looking for a unique omakase experience that deviates from the ordinary, this place is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Was looking for an omakase for my best friend's birthday and decided to go with this one and glad i did! Its one of the best, if not the best one i've tried. All the courses were amazing and unique. The chefs interacted with us and were very knowlegeable about everything being served. The servers were also very attentive to us and also recommended drinks based on what we liked. At one point i ordered a drink i didnt enjoy much and they went out of their way to make it taste great for me! The restaurant was very nice and gave me a speakeasy vibe. It looked nice with the liqour bottles lined up on the walls. The bar was very spacious and clean. Had an amazing experience, definitely look forward to coming back. Also we were told they had monthly unique events such as uni night and sake night so its definitely worth looking into! read more

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Love this place! A must dining experience in LA! Service and ambience is a huge part of the whole experience! Fish was amazing, monkfish liver is incredible and I don't normally like Ankimo! read more

Brought my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday and we had an amazing time. Sawa has a speakeasy vibe and is initiate with only 10 people per seating. I loved the dim lighting and the modern, classy interior. Reservations can be difficult to get, but we were lucky enough to get spots on the first attempt. The chefs are really funny and it is so fun watching them create the dishes in front of you. They are really attentive and even noticed that I was left-handed, switching the angle they placed the nigiri on my plate so that it would be more convenient for me to pick up with chopsticks. The bartenders were sweet and always checked up on us to refill water and take any other drink requests. There were a total of 18 courses including a small cheesecake for dessert. The sushi was definitely great quality, but nothing particularly special or new for me. Their cocktails, on the other hand, were really tasty and strong. I loved the aesthetics of the entire restaurant, but their drinks were crafted so beautifully and were very well thought out. For drinks, we tried the Sawa Highball, Matcha Cocktail, Gyokuro, and I think the last one was a Sawa Martini. They also gave us little samplers of their Yuzu Martini as part of the course, which was also delicious. One con prior to the meal is that we were a bit stressed finding the location. The email instructions listed the address of the restaurant and not the address of the structure we were supposed to park at. This led us to drive in circles for 20 min thinking we missed the correct parking lot. FYI - Just enter the only parking structure's entrance on Sawa's side of the street. There is a small sign that it is the parking lot for Kaneyoshi (Sawa's sister restaurant). Parking was $15 cash. Overall, would definitely recommend giving Sawa a try. One of the more affordable Omakases in the area, and their drinks set them apart. Service was excellent and they even brought out a little happy birthday sign and ice cream Mochi to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday! read more

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Best meal I've ever had in my life. I came here for my birthday and the intimate seating was amazing. There were 10 of us seated at the bar for the omakase and each course was perfectly executed and everything was delicious. The drinks are very well made as well. read more

came here to celebrate our anniversary during the maison kanatha x bar sawa collab and had a memorable time. everything was delicious and my favorite was the ootoro. the yuzu and pear martini was well balanced and refreshing. the chef were very nice and friendly. it was a first time for me to try some dishes, although it wasnt my personal favorite im sure its just because ive never tried it before read more

Bar Sawa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I found Sawa on a list and bookmarked to try. It looks like reservations is out for a few weeks, but I was able to score a reservation during the week. (It looks like weekend is out for a few months when I checked). I was able to find street parking, but it is Little Tokyo so there are a few lots around that you can find. I actually got very lost finding Sawa, but I ran into a security guard who ushered me to the correct place. It is underground in a building. There is a small waiting area and then they seat you. I was the first party for my seating slot, so I got to pick. I would definitely pick the ones right by the chefs so you can see all the action. The restaurant itself is so nice, very nice ambiance. It is bar seating only, dark and just nice overall. It is also quite small, I believe there is about 8 people per seating. It is also only omkase. If you have any allergies, I would definitely let the restaurant know beforehand so that they can accommodate. Some of my favorites during my omakase was the uni and toro. But, all of their fish were fresh and the presentation was amazing. The chefs were also super nice, chit chatting with everyone. The drinks were also super good and tasty. Delicious overall. I will definitely come back here again. It was a great experience, with delicious food. read more

We've been here several times, and every visit has been a fantastic omakase experience! Anthony and his team always deliver top-notch service. The atmosphere is light and fun, and we keep coming back because the menu changes beautifully with the seasons. read more

There has been a renaissance of high end Japanese restaurants in Little Tōkyō in the past few years. Èigiku Tèi, Takèda, 715, Kanèyoshi.  Bar Sawa in the same underground space as Kanèyoshi provides another high end, intimate, elegant experience where warm, superior service reigns with a series of well thought out Sushi, cooked foods, Sakè (sah keh) Pairings for an extravagant meal.  Reserve on Tock, $100/person reservation deposit returned within a week after your attendance. Omakasè & Sakè pairing are $335 w/ tax & 20% tip coming out to $435.  Getting in is tricky if you are not parked in their associated parking lot. There is a half hidden staircase located at 111 So. San Pedro on the west side of the street. Go up to the 2nd floor, push the buzzer to be let in. Then proceed to the glass doors and on to the elevator to go to the  basement level. When parking in the structure, just go to the 2nd floor.    For those with a long culinary memory, Restaurant Horikawa in the 1970's & 80's and more recently Izakaya Fūga were predecessors. Sawa creates a small, intimate Sushi bar only setting.  The back wall dominates w/ delicately carved wooden pine tree & bamboo, frosted backlit mural. The entire side wall impresses with individual wooden lockers and glass windows that display Japanese Whiskey bottles owned by regular customers.  1) Chawan Mushi/Japanese egg custard soup with plump, soft, meaty oceanic oyster from Washington topped by bright green seaweed Ankakè/sauce velouté. Great way to start off on a cool spring night.  2) Tai/sea bream w/ skin on for texture. Kombu Jimè/aged w/ kelp dressed in viscous, naturally sweet evoo, Shiso/Japanese basil & flower.  1-2a) Ōhminè 2 Grain Sakè Junmai Daiginjō: White peach, apple, pear, fennel, smoothly sweet balanced by chalky minerality, acidity, cleansing bitterness.  3) Èbi Shinjō Porto Bello Mushroom no Hasami Agè: Fried shrimp pâté stuffed in  mushroom cap encrusted in crispy Japanese Panko bread crumbs. Squid, onion, Dashi/broth Ankakè.  4) Steamed Ankimo/monkfish liver,   vinegar pickled, puréed Daikon radish.  3-4a) Ōhminè Nama Nigori/cloudy "Winter's Arrival". Effervescent, minerality, apple, acidic, touch bitter. Sushi:  5) Rènko Dai/yellow back seabream Nigiri Sushi, Nikiri/sweet Shōyu/sauce  6) Fibrous Ao Èbi/blue shrimp Nigiri Sushi w/ powdered egg yolk  5-6a) Ōhminè 3 Grain Sakè Junmai Daiginjō: Heavy bodied, banana  7) Shima Aji/Striped Jack Mackerel Aburi/seared, Yuzu Koshō/Japanese citrus chile paste  8) Aburi Saba/horse mackerel  9) Yari Ika/spear head squid minced w/ Ao Shiso slung in Nori seaweed paper  10) Ocean Trout: looking like salmon  7- 10a) Akabu Aka Takè Junmai Ginjō: sweet, woody, acidic, rough, lacquer 11) Saba no Bō Sushi: Slice of smokey, Aburi Horse Mackerel Sushi roll loosely wrapped in Nori  12) Aka Mi/lean bluefin tuna, Kizami Wasabi/pickled Wasabi  13) Ōtoro/fatty bluefin tuna Aburi w/ garlic, Jalapeño pickle  14) Kin Mè Dai/golden eye seabream w/ copper gold sheen  11-14a) Akabu Gokujō no Kirè Junmai Daiginjō:  Bitter sweet, smooth syrupy, melon, pear, apple  15) Bafun/Hokkaidō Uni w/ Black Truffle salt 16) Sous Vide Hokkaidō Hotatè/scallop, Nikiri  17) Sōmèn white angel hair pasta in warm shrimp & fish bone Dashi, Asatsuki/chives 15- 17a) Akabu Junmai Sakè: Atsukan/warm: Lactose acidic, lightly sweet, touch Umami, mellow, mildly refreshing   19) Cheese Cake: moist, soft, creamy & toasty, salty Shōyu glaze  20) Plum Peach Cocktail: Plum wine, puréed peach, citrusy.  Shōta Kakibata, Sakè Sommelier, Chef Ryō & staff were so welcoming, hospitable, informative which made for a wonderful 3 hour tour de force.  5 stars read more

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