Best. Omakase experience. Ever. I've been to my fair share of omakase, and I must say, this has been the most unique.
I'm glad I got to try this place before they get super popular, they just opened 12/28/2021!
TLDR: High price point (worth it), unique and interactive dining experience, unique food and ingredients, amazing chefs!!
And don't let the location or the fact that it's nestled between subway, TMobile, or an empty pick up stix fool you into thinking this won't be one of the best Omakase you'll experience!
First of all, they only have 2 seating times available for dinner, 6;15 or 8:15, I highly suggest the 8pm one, even though it's later and the meal does literally run 2 hours, you'll have the freedom to order any items a la carte, instead of getting rushed out (although I'm sure they do it very politely) for the next seating.
We got there a bit early, and trying to go in they did ask us to wait outside, since the 6pm seating was still finishing up/they had to clean up a bit afterwards. At this point the location was definitely throwing me off, much like how Go's Mart does with their strip mall location in Canoga Park (also worth checking out!).
The interior on the inside is very minimal and tastefully designed. The bar is the main attraction along with their simple back drop, it actually looks almost exactly like Kabuto in Las Vegas, except less awkward. In talking with Kwan-san, he has a fun time working with the designer to get the place constructed to how wanted along with spending an obsessive amount of time online buying the copious amounts of plates!
You are welcomed and greeted by their wonderful server, Margarita, that's literally her name, haha. She's very attentive, sweet and kind!
Throughout the entire dining experience you really get to know the Fumio Azumi and Kawn-sans personality, and they also make an effort to get you know you as well, like asking about your name, where you come from, your typical sushi spots, etc. It all makes for a very interactive omakase experience which honestly is the proper way.
They start you with some appetizers to prepare your pallets for the onsalaught of deliciousness to come, a drink, steamed abalone and clear broth with sea bream.
Now, the food itself is really next level, I've never even had a lot of the items served the way it was before, and for the items that I have had before, their quality was somehow 100% better! Some honorable highlights were:
Firefly squid with bamboo - this at the height of the season is only available for 1 month out of the year, I've never eaten these bio luminescent squids before, and now I crave them! They were so tender and their heads had so much flavor.
Aged Blue fin toro,7 days aged blue fin Toro, and otoro - now with these cuts of fish, you usually have an expectation of how they would taste, because they're popular and have an expected texture/taste. But the fact that they age their tuna, it really does elevate the fish, it just melts in your mouth in a more unique way.
Uni hand roll - this is a clear example of something you probably have had before, but they completely elevate it here. Their rice is marinated in 5 year old soy sauce and then mixed in with uni, then placed on top of (I kid you not) the thinnest, crispiest seaweed paper and then topped with more uni. The seaweed paper is so crisp that they tell you to eat it right away ( have your camera already prepped you don't want to disobey Kawn-san!) Usually when you bite into a hand roll, you have to eat it off or chew it off slightly, but here, it just tears away with barely any effort. Now, my fiance does not like uni, but tonight she ate most of her uni hand roll, that says a lot. But the roll itself is so flavorful with uni since they mix it in with the rice read more