came here on a wednesday night with my bf for a date and... lowkey obsessed first of all -- they don't take reservations. like at all. we got lucky because we went kinda late and there was no wait, but i can 100% see this place getting packed the space is TINY tiny. like true hole-in-the-wall vibes. but in a way that actually feels authentic, not curated. genuinely felt like we were in japan for a second -- nothing flashy, just simple, cozy, and real also pls know before you go -- this is NOT your california roll / teriyaki / noodles type of spot. it's straight sushi. very no-frills, very traditional they literally make each piece right in front of you, one by one, which makes the whole experience feel super intentional and fresh and that's exactly why it hits. the fish quality is so good, everything tasted super clean and fresh without trying too hard. no gimmicks, just really solid sushi it's also super lowkey which i loved for date night. not loud, not chaotic, just chill and intimate def one of those places you almost don't want to post about... go try it!!! read more

Spent a lovely, relaxed evening at this sushi spot. The ambiance stood out right away--clean, calm, and just the right amount of atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, enjoy your meal, and have a good conversation. The food was consistently good. Fresh ingredients, well-balanced flavors, and a few signature rolls that felt thoughtfully done without trying too hard. Service was another highlight--easygoing, attentive in a subtle way, and never intrusive. If I had to point out one thing, it would be that a few dishes didn't quite have that "wow" factor. But sometimes, I appreciate a place that simply gets everything right without overcomplicating it. Definitely somewhere I'd return to--and perhaps bring the right company next time. read more

My husband and I came across this spot when we were in LA for the day. It's a very small restaurant with only bar like seating and two tables for bigger parties. We waited maybe 15 min before getting seated which I don't think was a long wait. Very traditional sushi spot No tempera , no rice bowls, no udon just sushi & sashimi only! With the add on of some soups. No tap to pay and also each person has to spend 20$ min. They give you a small paper menu to chose what you want and you give it to the chef and he makes everything right then and there. We ordered salmon skin hand rolls, tuna cut roll, salmon and yellowtail. All was great, I just wish the fish was a little colder. Everything was a little too close to room temperature for me. But I did love how the nori was so crunchy as we were eating our rolls. Overall everything was good but I don't think I would come back if I were in the area. read more

This place is so awesome!!!! It's cozy, easily accessible, has yummy and very fresh food, and all around a lovely dining experience. My fav was the scallop nigiri! Looking forward to coming back :-) read more

Hama Sushi - Bar seating area - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here via recommendation from some cafe/restaurant friends and it did not disappoint. Was worried there would be a line on a Friday night but we walked in and were immediately seated. It definitely gave a smaller, intimate vibe without being pretentious. Felt very much like we were transported to a nice, local spot in Japan. We came for sushi so no rice or noodle dishes didn't bother us at all. We got a huge spread of various cuts of fish and sushi. Honestly could not go wrong ordering everything here. It all tastes so fresh and so much of the texture is buttery. Compliments to the sushi chefs and masters behind the bar. I will definitely be coming here again! read more

Hama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A small shop and when you enter there's a couple of group tables but otherwise a sushi bar seating area, which we were at. The sushi chefs were friendly and you write out the pieces you want for them to track. Pieces came out at a good pace. I thought there were some inconsistencies in seafood quality, but overall we had a good experience that was good to try at least once. What we ordered: + Sweet shrimp + Salmon belly + Yellowtail belly - favorite piece + Spicy tuna roll cut + Eel avocado roll cut read more

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Great little spot! Reminds me of a typical Japanese sushi restaurant. Please don't undermine the "little spot" as this restaurant is fairly small. There's really only seating around the sushi bar and a couple of tables, I think. They do not accept tap. They have signs all over stating this. The sushi came out pretty quick. It was amazing! Loved everything about it. I did notice there was already wasabi in the sushi, just like in Japan so something to note. They really do specialize in sashimi and don't have many other options. Service was great too. I will definitely return! read more

Hama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It did feel like coming to a local no frill sushi restaurant in Japan. Yes this place is not fancy it's more like comfort. I loved to see that 80% of the customers were non Asian. That's how far sushi has become. The chef was nice, however I did notice the pony tail guy was coughing like crazy. He said the grill smoke came directly to his throat. Well that's fine but at least go wash your hands afterwards or go to the back to cough. The server girls were kinda unbothered. It's ok Japanese people are usually harsh for other Japanese. lol read more

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Solid Hand Rolls & Sushi. The hand rolls are easily better than KazuNori. They are filled with meat, rather than a roll of rice. Everything tasted super fresh. I highly recommend the spicy salmon roll & spicy yellowtail roll. It is small inside with quick bar seating. The chefs are super chill & helpful read more

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I stopped by on a Saturday night after Sushi Gen across the street was very busy. My friend and I ordered a few times including the assorted sashimi, spicy tuna roll, yellowtail collar, snapper, green mussels, and ankimo. Each dish was prepared well and the fish was quite fresh so I don't have much to say other than that. I will say, I do believe that the quality at Sushi Gen is slightly better and you can get more bang for your buck there. Overall, this is a classic Little Tokyo sushi establishment that is worth a visit. read more

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It took me far too long to try this culinary gem! Hama is located in the heart of little Tokyo. I've always seen people wait outside this little restaurant before open and now I see why. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of fish and service. Hama sushi strictly serves only nigiri, sashimi and a few cut rolls. There are only about 13 seats by the sushi bar so be prepared for an intimate dining experience! I felt like I was getting an omakase dinner for a fraction of the price. An intimate sushi restaurant with mostly sushi bar seating.My fave pieces of the night surprised me: mackerel and spicy salmon. The mackerel was the best mackerel I've ever had a restaurant. The cut was thick, juicy and an umami bomb. The spicy salmon roll was perfection. The bite was soft, delicate and rich. I've never had anything like it. I felt like I was eating a toro roll. Honorable mentions for yellowtail belly, sweet shrimp, salmon belly and eel! Cant go wrong. My sushi chef, hito gave us an unforgettable experience. He was very friendly and made us comfortable throughout the night. Thank you so much, we will be back soon. read more

Your typical little Tokyo sushi spot with bar only seating besides two tables inside. Quality of fish is impressive! Wait time could be long depending on day. Service is great read more

There are many odd things about this place. I've never encountered a less helpful/courteous Japanese waitress, a sushi chef with warmer hands or weirder service than this sushi spot. The fish is room temperature. You don't know the cost of off-menu items because the chef you order directly with does not know and your waitress selectively answers your questions with a yes when you asked an open-ended question like "do you charge for tea and if yes, how much?" But then you see her go into lengths in conversation with a different customer. Your chef will also touch a pen to mark your order sheet and then also touch the fish that he serves you. And at the end of the night, you are given a subtotal and a total without a list of items you ordered. This is my first time here but I was told by my brother that the other chefs are better and usually the quality is better. Sushi Combination C $37 - as mentioned above, fish is room temperature. Uni is slimy. Baked Mussel $5 for two - this is not bad but for some reason, the mussel is cut up into 3 pieces and sits separated on top of the shell. Spicy Scallop Roll $?? (ordered off menu) - room temperature. this was okay. Kurodai (black snapper) $8 for two pieces - this come with yuzu kosho and is refreshing but the fish is chewy and also room temperature. Tamago $6 for two pieces - thicker but looks like we got two halves instead of two nigiris, ya know. read more

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My first visit to Hama Sushi was in the summer of 2008, when I went for lunch with my future husband. We were just friends then, and still students, and I suggested the place because we liked sushi and Hama was supposed to be reasonable. I remember being surprised by how expensive it was, but I get it now. Hama isn't for students, but it is well priced for a grown-up sushi bar. I went back yesterday for the first time in seventeen years, for a grown-up lunch with my friend Ivy P. Hama is a go-to joint for her, and I was excited to revisit the place. We planned to meet right at noon, when it opened, to make sure we got in before the bar filled up. I was a few minutes late because of an optimistic and ultimately fruitful search for street parking (there is limited metered parking in the area, so your best bet might be the public lot across the street). There were still open seats until around 12:15, but the place was at capacity by the time we left an hour or so later. Hama is a Little Tokyo institution on the same happening block of 2nd as the Japanese Village Plaza. It's been around since 1980 and remains very popular. No reservations and limited seating, so expect a wait at peak times. The space is small and comfortable, with a real old-school sushi bar vibe. I doubt it's changed dramatically in the last 45 years. You order by making tally marks on a paper menu, with space at the bottom for writing in the day's specials. These are listed on whiteboards and laminated cards stuck to a framed Japanese print of a fish. Service was fast and polite, with very few words exchanged. I enjoyed the instant gratification of handing the menu to the chef and turning on the sushi tap. Our appetizers came almost immediately, and the nigiri followed at a nice clip. When this first wave was done, we put in a second order to round out our lunch. Everything was delicious, starting with the salmon sashimi and the tempura-fried soft shell crab special, which came with a light dipping sauce. The nigiri came two pieces to an order, and we split them down the middle, getting one each. We ordered the scallop, halibut, amaebi, red snapper, and toro from the regular menu; the kurodai, kinmedai, and engawa from the specials. I especially enjoyed the sweet scallop and sweet shrimp, which was followed by the head, fried crunchy. The firm engawa and meltingly fresh toro were also highlights. We finished up with spicy tuna hand rolls. I'm a sucker for spicy tuna, but Hama's was a cut above the usual, with excellent nori. This was a great lunch, and I look forward to my next visit to Hama Sushi. I may even take my husband, who is no longer used to spending $3.50 for a slice of pizza when he goes out to lunch. read more

Awesome little spot, great food, cozy vibe - highly recommend the tuna toro, black bass, and Spanish mackerel

WORD OF CAUTION: No apple pay No tempura No noodle No teriyaki And it's still one of my favorite sushi places in Little Tokyo. There was also no line to get, no wait to get seated. It's a small shop so though there were only 5 of us in our party, it still felt like it was going to be a challenge to seat us... but it was not. I don't remember everything we ordered, but they were all delicious. The oysters were a standout. Their sashimi is delicious. read more

Wow!! This sushi was phenomenal. A classic Japanese restaurant with very skilled and experienced chefs. It's a small place, so expect a wait but it's worth it! Recommend grabbing a couple of combination plate and complementing that with other small plates. The Tuna Toro was our favorite cut. All the fish was fresh and flavorful. Service was excellent! Parking was a bit rough but expected in little Tokyo. Overall a must try! read more

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The sushi here was so fresh and delicious and the standouts were definitely the sweet shrimp and the Hokkaido scallops. If you come here with another person, you cannot get separate checks so keep that in mind before paying. Since I'm not super familiar with traditional style sushi, I had a bit of confusion and anxiety around ordering and it would have been helpful to have a little explainer of etiquette and norms. The meal goes by quickly since you are handed each piece of sushi and you can just communicate with the chef about what you would like in addition to the ordering sheet you are given at the beginning. read more

Hama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best bang for your buck omakase. Service and ambiance are great as well. Love this place.

literally one of the best sushi spots I've ever eaten at outside of Asia. Quality was fresh, service was great! A true no frills, family-owned spot read more

Hama Sushi - Salmon, Scallop, Sweet Shrimp, Tuna, Toro, Uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went to eat here for lunch and tried to come back a second time today but sadly was closed! When we went during opening, there was already a line forming by the door! The place quickly filled up as most of the seating is around the chef counter and the chefs create the nigiri's and sushi's in front of you and space it out so rice is super fresh. We ordered a lot of salmon nigiri's, sweet shrimp, tuna, toro fatty tuna, albacore sashimi and a grilled salmon collar. The salmon collar was so nice and tender and the ponzu flavor was really great glaze for it. All of the fish were super fresh tasting and had good texture. Albacore sashimi dish was seasoned with a ponzu flavored sauce and great as well! Loved this place read more

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Tipped $40 for $235 meal, the waitress said we're supposed to tip 18% up. Idk when tipping for mediocre service is not up to customers anymore. I looked up the bad ratings here and saw similar reviews about tipping. Cant believe this is a thing here read more

I thought the fish quality was good, but definitely not worth the wait that seems consistent with Hama sushi. The menu was very limited (and they have that posted everywhere in the restaurant), the interior had a vibe that made me feel like I was in a little hole in the wall in Tokyo, and the service was fine but not overly warm. Overall, I'm not dying to come back. read more

Hanging out little Tokyo and it was time to grab a bite to eat. Slid into Hama sushi. Was greeted warmly seated quickly. You know it was busy but not too busy. It was a cool spot. You know little Tokyo is a vibe you know. And if you don't know you just gotta go check it out. I love hanging out there people watching is awesome. I mean there are seats outside. I chose to sit inside because it was air-conditioned anyhow ordered my sushi. Sushi came quick. Had a beer and a really good time just hanging out enjoying life, beautiful day, cool people, like I said, little Tokyo isa vibe...and if you don't know, you gotta check it out. This is a spot. I'll definitely hit back up again! You should too! read more

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Leaving an updated review after my visit tonight. It left me very disappointed, and I have decided that I am finally done with Hama for good.   I have moved on from Hama as I got older; I would rather pay more for better sushi and so I see myself frequenting omakase nearby in Little Tokyo and elsewhere.   The sushi chef, who is little big with a beard, is very rude. I used to have my favorite chef there, but he stopped working for years, and all I see is younger, newer chefs. The chef with the beard needs to be more professional and not talk in their language in front of people and laugh or smirk about it. Super rude. One thing is for sure: he was saying something about my ethnicity, and when I said thank you at the end, he did not even respond or say anything. Before, he was saying thank you to every and each customer. Their actions and nuance lead to my such conclusion, and I have no reason to put up with this nonsense.   Fish quality has gone downhill. Very mushy and gets all watery when you take a bite. It's so nasty. No wonder it was so empty. I did not need to wait at all. There were several seats available and stayed that way until I left. So going back to the fish quality, it had no flavor whatsoever. Kinmedai was so bad. Worst I ever had honestly. Their Spicy Tuna Hand Roll which was my absolute favorite in the past, tastes like crap as if it were something totally different and new. To spend more than a hundred dollars on just myself on this low-quality sushi makes me very mad. I should've done omakase at a restaurant I was thinking of going to initially.   Anyway, I have no reason to come to a restaurant with low-quality food and unprofessional chefs. I will save my money for the better. read more

Loved Hama so much! Amazing fish, friendly staff and nice relaxing vibe! For the price and experience I think it's a solid contender for a top sushi spot in LA read more

Amazing sushi spot! Everything here food wise is done right. Be prepared for a wait. The ambience is get in and get out because there are people waiting and it seems there's always people waiting. People want their sushi! I mean literally the only reason I'm only giving four stars is I got to comment on the size of the space and the wait time that's really just it. Everything else is just superb. My friend and I showed up fairly early and we still waited for an hour before we were sat because that's just how it works. But we will both definitely go again! read more

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i love hama sushi. i recently brought my bf and he loved it too. we both kept thinking about it and went again soon after. the fish is super high quality, the rice is great texture, and the flavors are on point. the interior is definitely a vibe as well, adding to the authenticity of the experience. it's a bit pricey but i think it's worth it if you love sushi and just want some traditional, simple nigiri. my favorites were the salmon, scallop, and crab. my bf couldn't stop ordering the eel. read more

We've been going to Hama for 30 yrs. It has been our favorite and best sushi bar. There have been many changes. Every meal started with a big hello and a warm wash cloth and ended with sweet oranges and a "see you tomorrow ". In between the best fish ordered directly from the chef in a warm and happy environment. We were there last night, Tuesday, we sat and were handed a paper to write our order. The fish was still tasty but the cuts were much thicker than we are used to. The attention to detail was lost and we were uncomfortable, laughed at by our chef for not pronouncing things correctly He was cold and unfriendly. This was definitely a first for us in our favorite, loved sushi spot. I don't know, must all good things come to an end. Oh well maybe it was just an off night. Thank you Hama for years of wonderful meals. Not sure when we will be back. read more

Chatgpt recommended this restaurant as one of only several with quality sushi. This is my second visit. Loved everything I ate but have to give props to hand cut albacore, and sweet shrimp and yellowtail sushi which are so fresh and buttery. Oishi! Our final dish was the grilled yellowtail collar- amazing! Must have Sapporo and green tea to accompany the dishes. Opens at 12pm, just saying. Place occupies 26 max. read more

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The Uni was not fresh at all, it's watery when the chef presented it to me this afternoon. I was so disappointed and asked him if the uni ok. He knocked his head. The toro and hamachi sashimi were so so in quality and in the presence of cutting skills... This sushi restaurant is totally not recommended read more

We have eaten here several times and every single time we are so impressed. It's a modest sushi bar and a quiet environment. We took my boyfriend's parents there today and they loved it as much as we do. All of the fish is such great quality, it nearly melts in your mouth. read more

Hama is our favorite sushi spot, I'm surprised if I haven't left a review here already. Theres always a line since its physical wait list only Not many seats in the first place since its an actual sushi bar Do Not bring a group here to eat, unless you're down to wait 40-60 minutes for an actual table to share. Definitely a gem in little tokyo no frills sushi no fried foods, no rolls, just sushi and sashimi quality is good for the price! people tend not to stay too long, they are pretty good at moving people and its so tight knit that you don't want to over stay you're welcome this place is definitely authentic style if you're looking for saucey dishes look elsewhere the menu literally does not change as it shouldn't! read more

Wow this place is good. About 20 seats around the sushi bar and one lone table. Intensely delicious, simple sushi, no fancy rolls with silly names. The timeworn dining room is beautiful. read more

Yesssss. Finally, a place that satisfies! I've been on such a long journey to find good quality authentic sushi that was surprisingly very reasonable. No fusion BS here, just old school real goodness. They validate 2 hr parking within the structure. No reservations and limited times of operation for lunch and dinner. This small, practically bar seating only establishment is a gem. Atmosphere wise, it's nothing to look at. But when it comes to the sushi, it didn't disappoint. Uni: Always the beginning and end to my meal Spanish mackerel: I don't like this EVER and wasn't my choice to order, but it was amazing and I would do it again but just here Toro: melts in your mouth goodness with the right amount of fat and bold flavor Tuna: seasoned perfectly and beautiful Yellow tail: always my go to, and today was no exception. It's the kind of goodness that makes you sit back and close your eyes as you enjoy Sweet shrimp: creamy and sweet (We had the head fried, which was lightly battered and not oily but wished it was drizzled with ponzu) Salmon: lacked umami Scallop: a keeper Spicy yellowtail cut roll: wasn't my choice to order, and wouldn't again just because I want the good stuff and these tend to be filler IMO read more

I've been here several times over the years and every time was amazing. great service, great food, great ambiance. My review is about hygiene. I was there recently and saw one of the chefs cough into his hand and then run said coughed in hand under the water, NO SOAP, for what had to of been less than 1/10th of a second, drying it off, and continuing on making sushi. This did not sit well with me at all and I will not be returning. Sure shit happens when people aren't watching and I'm sure I've probably consumed some questionable things in my lifetime that I didn't know about but cmon. read more

Best sushi I've ever had! The service is amazing, the people are super nice, and the hand rolls are to die for! It is so much fun to sit and watch the chefs make the sushi! read more

Hama Sushi - Salmon skin hand roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very cozy/tiny interior but the bar seating is really fun. You basically can ask for a fish/point to one and the chefs will prepare it for you. I recommend trying the sweet shrimp since they'll also prepare the head either fried or in a miso soup which was a fun surprise. They also have cooked fish which they make in a back kitchen. read more

This place was soooo amazing! Walking into this spot makes you feel like you've been transported into an authentic cultural experience! My friend and I were able to sit right in front of the sushi bar and made it even better to see them make everything. The servers were very nice and quick to check in on us :) The quality of single piece we ordered was melt in your mouth good! I got the tuna toro, sweet shrimp, eel, yellow tail, and albacore (I know I ordered more but I can't fully remember lol) and they were all *chef's kiss* All in all, I had a great experience and am definitely coming back to try some more! read more

One of the greats in Little Tokyo. Old-school atmosphere, delicious sushi, quiet and prompt service. A must-try for locals. read more