My 4th time at Sushi by Scratch and 3rd time at the Encino location. This has become one of my go…read moreto spots for birthday dinners because the atmosphere is so intimate and fun. The chefs are always incredibly welcoming, we always have great conversations, and the drinks are great too! What I especially love is their unique flavor profiles. The experience is purely nigiri, but each piece incorporates unexpected flavors and seasonings that you wouldn't normally associate with traditional nigiri. The combinations somehow work so well, and that creativity is what makes it especially memorable for someone who eats sushi frequently. I've also been to the Beverly Hills location, but I honestly prefer Encino. The setting feels much more intimate and the overall vibe is better. I sometimes still leave a little hungry as there isn't an option to order additional pieces or pay for extras at the end. Otherwise, always a fun and memorable experience.

Easily the best omakase experience my partner and I have ever had. I genuinely don't think we could…read morego anywhere else after this. It was recommended to us by friends and we can see why. Definitely come about 30 minutes early to experience their speakeasy before dinner. The drinks and small bites were delicious and such a great way to start the night. Make a reservation ahead of time for the space is intimate and every seat was filled when we went. The star of the night wasn't even the food... it was the chef! Jason was amazing. He was personable, entertaining, and made the entire experience feel special from beginning to end. And of course, the 17-course omakase was incredible. You can really see the level of skill, precision, and craftsmanship that goes into every single course. Every piece felt intentional, from the flavors and textures to the presentation. There wasn't a single course that felt like an afterthought, and by the end of the night we were already talking about when we could come back. Amazing food, amazing atmosphere, and an even better experience because of Chef Jason. This is officially our new standard for omakase. We'll absolutely be back!

Some of the best sushi I've had in the valley. I've ordered a couple of party plates from here in…read morethe past and they've been a bit - they do not skimp out. Went in person with family and man, the staff is top notch. They overaccomodated us, made us feel at home. The food is top tier; fresh, premium cuts, delicious rolls, great selection. Try it out. Tryyyy it.

Update; A few years later and I'm happy to report that it is still great and love the new menu…read moreitems like the chicken katsu.

I really like this spot... Gyoza -good…read moreDimsum good Tonkotsu ramen - very good creamy Love the Baja roll Zen roll a bit heavy on avocado Didn't care for the protein roll, crab too mayo based

The Place- Standard looking sushi spot…read more The Service- Friendly. The Food- I tried 3 rolls and while they were pretty good they were not good enough for me to come back for. Parking- To get to the parking lot in the back you need to go turn in from Ventura Blvd and then go underground and back up the other side.

Great experience, loved our waiter, she was super knowledgable of the menu, as well as what has…read moregluten. Since I have a gluten intolerance, I'm always careful of the sauces that come on the rolls, and she knew exactly what to do without me even asking about it. They offer tamari, for all us gluten free people! The sushi was really good and fresh! The one sushi that was surprisingly delicious was the red snapper sushi, It's the best version of the red snapper ever. 10/10 Ambiance was chill not loud at all, would def come back.

I thought I'd try this place again as it seems to get good press here and there and it had been 10…read moreyears since my last visit. The server was nice and one of the sushi chefs was nice... and one of them kind of mid nice. Nice-ish. Nice lite. I'm not a fan of their sushi bar feng shui... Back door is probably where most people enter... not a welcoming entrance. The seats at the actual sushi bar feels like you are kind of pushed up against a wall and the working area behind the bar seems at an odd level for customer interaction. Minor stuff actually... but not like an embracing or cozy bar that is the center of the energy force. The food. It was all really meager portions and there was so much sauce on these small cuts that it was hard to discern that you were even eating raw fish on rice. The "belly sampler" had unimpressive cuts of toro and other things... and lot's of sauce. I get that some items come with sauce... just too much. And because everything was SO over-sauced, everything was super salty. Garlic Lemon Roll was a thing of beauty... except for the pools of sauce it was sitting in. It's a real head-scratcher why sites like TheInfatuation that list the best places on Ventura Blvd/Sushi Row have this place in the same class as Brothers and Asanebo.

This has to be the best and most fun "all you can eat" sushi place on earth. Happily, it is a short…read morewalk from my home. First of all - the vibe in the place is fantastic. Friendly servers and the sushi is fresh. How can you not love the beer tower? George - outstanding server... I'm almost reluctant to post how great this place is because I don't want to wait for a table - but they deserve a top review. BTW - the salmon melts in your mouth.

The Place- Nice…read more Parking- Lot it small and shared with multiple other businesses. Street parking is also available. The price for the premium all you can eat sushi is on par with the other sushi restaurants in the valley. The Food- The sushi freshness was only so so. The size of the sushi was silly. It was about half the size of what you get at other places. It reminded me more of a finger food version of sushi where everything is miniature. The non sushi part of the menu was actually better than the sushi/roll portion. I am not mad that I tried this place but I will not be returning as there are many other better sushi spots.

I love Katsu-ya - I think I've probably been to most of the locations at this point. I took my…read morefriend to dinner and she had never been to a Katsu-ya - and while the Studio City location would've been closer, I know their parking situation sucks. So I made reservations for the Encino location. I ordered my usual miso black cod entree - always delicious and such a bargain for the quality fish you're getting. My friend loved her meal too. The best thing about this location is that on weekends the parking lot in the back is plentiful and free. Free parking on the Boulevard? Heck yeah!

Sushi Katsu-ya in Encino used to be my favorite sushi restaurant. I came here about once a week…read morebecause I could count on good fish and a meal I genuinely looked forward to. Lately, I've noticed a decline in the quality and freshness, but my most recent visit was disappointing enough that I will not be returning. The service was frustrating from the beginning. We sat for over 20 minutes without the sushi chef taking our order, and we hadn't even been given ginger or wasabi. Whenever I tried to order from him, he declined and directed me to the waiter. The way he handled those interactions made me feel unwelcome at a restaurant I had regularly supported. The biggest issue was the uni. Before ordering, I specifically asked whether it was fresh. The chef showed me a box of uni that looked good to me, but then served my portion from another tray. What arrived looked noticeably different from what he had shown me: it appeared slimy, had a distinctly fishy odor, and did not look fresh to me. I was put off enough by its appearance and smell that I did not want to eat it. I explained my concern and asked him to replace it with the uni from the box he had shown me. He showed me that box again and insisted it was the same uni, but the difference in appearance was clear to me. Instead of addressing my concern or exchanging the portion, he refused. When I said I would not accept it, he became upset and wanted to charge me for it anyway. The exchange became an uncomfortable scene and left my girlfriend upset as well. A concern about the food should have been something we could discuss respectfully. Instead, I felt dismissed, and the way it was handled ruined the meal for our group. We asked for the check and left disappointed, uncomfortable, and still hungry. That is an awful way to leave any restaurant, especially one that used to be your weekly favorite. If I could give zero stars for the sushi chef's customer service during this visit, I would. The uni was deeply disappointing, and his refusal to address the problem destroyed the confidence I used to have in this place. After this experience, I will not be back.

I am sharing some love in the 818. I'll start here with Little Izaka-ya by Katsuya, my favorite…read morelocal sushi joint in the San Fernando Valley. The food is always fresh -- trust me. I visit this little Valley gem (near the 405 Fwy and Sepulveda Blvd just south of Ventura Blvd.) about one to two times a month. I went more often when I lived in Sherman Oaks. First, it's always busy at dinner, so you know the word is out that it is good. Second, the food is consistantly very good. Third (and can be First), the staff is great. They work well together and quietly and always make sure you are taken care of and they are also friendly, which is great when you are a regular. So, Katsu-ya is a chain. Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya serves the same great taste and standard of any of the Katsu-ya restaurants, only this one will serve smaller dishes. So, I mostly go solo and I can order a variety and get 1 piece of sushi or a mini-order of the sashimi specials. I think this is a big factor in why I started going to begin with. The managers are always so welcoming (Joe (no longer there. Boo.), Koh and the newest sweet manager (I didn't get his name, but will when I go again). The parking is the only downside. The City of Los Angeles owns the war-torn disaster of a "parking lot" in the rear of the row of restaurants. You have to pay at a kiosk (about $2.50). BUT I suggest you call the city and report the pitted asphalt and GO TO LITTLE IZAKA-YA. Some of my favorite dishes -- all gluten-free -- are the Crispy Rice/Spicy Tuna, jumbo scallop sushi with yuzu and sea salt, salmon skin hand roll (no gobo), albacore sushi with gf ponzu sauce, and the salad with blanched broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, avocado, tomato and lettuce... and a cold house sake. Mmmmm.

Great spot and just my go-to when I'm in Sherman Oaks area and am craving fresh sushi!…read more The brussel sprouts, sauteed to well-done, were phenomenal and with a lot of flavor. The spicy shrimp cut roll, creamy salmon cut roll and the spicy tuna cut, were very yummy as well. The ratio of fish to rice was perfect, the fish tasted fresh and flavorful and these rolls always hit the spot for me. The spot gets very busy for lunch but has a good number of tables and about 15 spots for seating at the sushi bar. I prefer to sit at the sushi bar, as I love to see the action of all the chef's creating their masterpieces. The chefs and the general staff are very friendly as well and are always happy to help. Will definitely be back again!

I have been to this restaurant before and finally decided to post a review. Parking is busy with…read morethe own dedicate, but shared with the rest of the meal. The staff was on it today. Was shown to my table as soon as I check in. All the staff is friendly, especially in my server. Anytime I looked up for help she was ready to help. All she was great. Definitely recommend the garlic sheet of peppers. The baked black miso cod and white fish were amazing and special. So yummy and so Loco rolls were highlights. The restaurant was packed and we still maintain a conversation. Great sushi spot for casual sushi or date night.

Jiro might dream of sushi but I dream of So Sushi!…read more So Sushi is still my favorite sushi spot in LA. I just can't get enough of it. Their fish is so fresh, it's a treat every time I come. I've reviewed this spot several times over the past 13 plus years I've been a happy patron and they just keep delivering delicious sushi. I can't wait to go back!

We've been coming here for about seven years, and Dojo Sushi has never let us down…read more The fish is consistently excellent, the menu has enough variety to keep everyone in the family happy, and the value is surprisingly good for a family night out. Just as importantly, the staff is always friendly and welcoming. A special shout-out to the Brussels sprouts appetizer, which has somehow become a mandatory order every time we visit. Dojo isn't so much a hidden gem as it is a jewel on Ventura Blvd. On a nice evening, the patio feels like a little oasis, with great food, great people-watching, and an atmosphere that keeps us coming back year after year. Seven years later, it's still one of our favorite spots.

Came in with high hopes and a serious sushi craving, left with a pretty mixed impression that I…read morecan't really ignore. The orange salmon sashimi was unfortunately a miss. The cut felt sloppy, and there was even a bone present, which made it hard to enjoy at all. More concerning than presentation was the overall freshness -- it had that slightly off, fishy edge that you just don't want when you're ordering salmon, especially if you normally love it. On the brighter side, the Hubba Hubba roll actually delivered. Balanced, flavorful, and easily the best thing we ordered. That said, the experience took a weird turn when the waitress cleared the plate while we were still actively eating from it. It felt rushed and a bit dismissive, especially for a restaurant at this price point. The vegetable gyoza was an easy skip. Dense, difficult to bite through, and oddly bland -- not much else to say there. The Big Daddy Roll and 911 Roll were fine, but nothing stood out. The fish didn't taste especially fresh, the rice felt a little past its prime, and overall everything leaned more "okay sushi night" than anything memorable. At the end of the meal, I just wasn't convinced. Between the inconsistency in freshness, a couple execution issues, and the pacing of service, I'm not sure I'd return -- especially given the price. One good roll in an otherwise uneven experience isn't quite enough to bring me back, but I'd be curious if this was an off night or just the norm. Casual spot with premium pricing.

What a wonderful experience. The owners were really friendly and we had an amazing service. The…read morechef seems passionate about the food he prepares and love that he guides us through each course with the history of the food. It was also fun to watch him prepare the omakase to the rhythm of the music. I enjoyed the relaxing and intimate ambiance. I believe the chef orders the fish from Japan and you can really taste the difference in quality. The fish and seafood was fresh and did not have much of a fishy smell. As someone who likes to load a lot on my sushi and especially with the sauces, I really appreciated the simplicity and authenticity of this omakase. There is just a touch of balanced seasoning and it allows you to really enjoy and taste the natural taste of the sea. The fish itself even without a ton of seasoning already has a nice flavour to it but the chef prepared the fish in different ways and techniques which elevated the dishes. I especially loved the charcoal fragrance and the yuzu zest that he used. It was one of the freshest and best quality fish that I've had in LA. My favourite here were the bluefin toro, yuzu scallop, clam, tamago, seaweed salad, miso soup and anago which is traditionally valued in Japan and different from unagi which you will find in America. I also love that the chef uses fish broth in his miso soup which heightened the flavours and richness of the soup; probably became my favourite miso soup in LA. I'm not usually an uni person but wow, this uni was so fresh, the creamiest, sweetest and tastiest uni I've had so far. I also got the coffee jelly which was refreshing and yummy. Definitely worth a visit.

Don't judge a book by its cover. This place is in a strip…read moremall but everything is excellent. They offer authentic, traditional sushi without any gimmick. Chef is a great storyteller - he explains origin of fish and guides you what to look for. He is also creative of using simple ingredients and makes unique appetizers and sushi. There are too many places in LA just keep layering up flavors on sushi or rolls so you taste everything else but the key ingredient - fish. Those places emphasize too much on the look vs quality of food. Service is attentive and impeccable. We really enjoy our food and time there and grateful that they are able to accommodate a party of 3 for us.