We finally have tried Sushi Zo and it did not disappoint at all. Chef Keizo Seki was behind the…read moresushi bar. They were celebrating 20 year's anniversary. So much respect and admiration of his skills and success. 20 courses were executed very uniquely flavored. Too notch freshness of sushi. My eyes widened and every bite was dancing in my mouth. Even the sushi rice was so flavorful and perfect texture. Better than any sushi I've tried in Japan. You are here to experience the multiple Michelin star level of excellent food who has expanded his restaurant globally. For the Reviewers that complain about the price, decor and the ambience, just go to Sunset blvd and eat sushi. Seriously. I am so happy this amazing restaurant resides in my neighborhood. We will definitely come back for more. I loved the friendly staff. I wish I can give 10 stars for the overall experience.

The original location! I was surprised to see that it was fairly empty on a Saturday night. Service…read morewas attentive and affable. No glasses were empty, ever. Fish quality was insane. I felt like I took a world tour with the procurement info, from the comfort of my seat! Some were classic pieces, others had innovative twists. I particularly enjoyed the king salmon with kelp: sweet flavor from kelp brought out the fatty texture of salmon. The blue crab handroll was the best handroll I've ever had. Buttery and melt in your mouth, I recommend over the toro. Squid soba noodles were also notable, refreshing break between nigiri. Low pressure environment with top quality pieces.

Food and service were excellent! Nice, selection of sake as well!…read more The quality of the fish was good, and my favorite was their version stone pot beef bowl, but instead of beef, it was crab, scallop, and miso sauce.

Dropped into Momo Sake Bar last night around 6:30 pm and was really impressed. I used to come to…read moreSushi Time all the time when it was in this location, so I was happy to see Momo take over the space. It was also great to see the same waitress back! Honestly, I couldn't fault the meal. The food and service were both impeccable from start to finish. Everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The sushi chef is doing an amazing job. Our favourites were the Salmon Trio, the Momo Roll, and the Nobu-style Yellowtail Sashimi--all were outstanding. The sake was excellent too and paired perfectly with the meal. For the quality of the food, I also thought the prices were excellent value for money. Such a great addition to the neighborhood. I'll definitely be back!

Possibly one of the best Sushiyas in LA. I'm a regular at some of their sister locations in Arcadia…read more(tonchinkan, sushi kisen, etc) and was excited to try this spot knowing the chef's stacked background in Japanese culinary arts. I went right before the Michelin Ceremony which awarded them 1 star. It started off with kaiseki style appetizers: kegani, grilled ocean trout, aichi tairagai, and Iwate A5 wagyu sukiyaki. Incredibly strong start with the appetizers. Kegani was my favorite with its gooey chewy roe in contrast to the kegani meat. Nigiri followed and I got a supplement of kohada. The standout was definitely the shari, which is probably some of the best I've had in LA. I love how strong the vinegar in the rice is, which other locations are way too light handed with. The grain, starchiness, and temperature were perfectly paired with each shari. Of course kohada was my favorite. Nice firmness and salinity. Dessert was a koji rice ice cream with berries. Very unique flavor and balance between the slightest hints of saltiness from the cherry salt and boosts of sweetness from the berries. Overall, one of the best sushi omakase meals I've had in LA. My biggest gripe with most spots is their shari falling apart, grain isnt the rice size or texture, or just not seasoned enough. Chef Derek Wilcox is truly a master at his craft and I'm eager to come back.

Amazing 18 course omakase in a small, intimate, minimalistic and refined space on the second floor…read moreof via rodeo. The vibe, service, and food quality and presentation were all executed with perfection. Had an incredible time. Some standouts for me were the bluefin tuna sashimi (fresh, buttery, and luxuriously marbled) served with egg yolk (loved the egg yolk); spot prawn (juicy with a hint of sweetness that just melts), cuttlefish, and Aji Shamine (horse mackerel, but learned it's not a mackerel), the last which was my favorite. Fantastic experience. Hope to come back soon

Stopped here for a quick lunch, and fell in love with it. Little cozy place on Santa Monica Blvd…read more There was no line and we could sit imminently, the hand-rolls were so yummy and flavorful. And the service was extremely quick and they were all so friendly. Highly recommended!

This is not our first time here, first time was great, 2nd time so so, 3rd time pretty bad and 4th…read moretime today was just HORRIBLE. How are you out of sake, red snapper, shrimp, cod and eel. You are a sushi restaurant on a Friday night The server was nice but he needs a lot of training and customer service. We felt bad leaving having just ordered coke and green tea, we still got a few items not because we wanted it but as a courtesy. We actually went to Kazu Nori where they had the fish in stock and iced cold saki to enjoy.

delicious sushi & great service in a lovely setting. lemon roll and cucumber salad with octopus are…read morewonderful.

Amazing service amazing food. Always fresh food and good ambiance. 10/10 would recommendread more

I had a wonderful dinner at Kogen Omakase and got to enjoy it with my mom. The restaurant is in a…read morebeautiful location near the ocean, and the atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. The hospitality was warm from the moment we arrived. One of my favorite parts was sitting at the counter and watching the chef prepare each dish in front of us. It felt like dinner and a show, but still very relaxed. The pacing was great, and we never felt rushed throughout the meal. The fish was incredibly fresh, with ingredients sourced from Toyosu Market. I especially enjoyed the 20-day aged toro, which was marinated in-house soy sauce and had a great balance of flavor. The uni was also very fresh and delicious. The sake and wine pairings were a nice touch. The selections were clean and smooth, and they went well with the dishes. Kogen Omakase is a great place to slow down, enjoy each course, and watch the chef prepare everything right in front of you. The food, service, and atmosphere came together to create a very enjoyable evening.

New premium sushi omakase restaurant in Santa Monica CA…read moreKogen omakase accepts reservations only through their website and Resy . Welcome champagne and caviar Appetizers including winter melon eggplants sashimi and toro handroll Tomato salad for refreshment . Nigiri of 5 kinds of fish, plus chutoro and otoro Blue crab corn soup was amazing My favorite was the uni toro ikura bowl the best ikura in LA Lobster steamed eggs was also tasty Sorbet and green tea cookies . They also offers wine pairing All the sakes and cocktails were good Plenty parking and right next to Santa Monica beach

I've been here numerous times as it's very close to my office…read more The setting is very nice (chic and clean) and the service has always been very good. I've tried most of the appetizers and various sushi over the years. The food is always good. A bit pricey but probably to be expected in this location. Not my favorite sushi in LA (even at comparable price points) but can't beat the convenience of this location for me. Will be back.

Who would have thought you could find outstanding omakase tucked away in the corner of a strip…read moremall? Looking to grab a quick but high-quality lunch in between meetings, we hurried into Hamasaku and were able to be seated at the sushi bar (each table was filled by businesspeople - yet the atmosphere was still bright and welcoming). We ordered the lunchtime special, which included eight chef's choice onigiri, one handroll, salad, and miso soup. After we were served our miso soup, each onigiri was placed in front of us, and the chef provided a quick explanation of the sushi we were about to enjoy. The sushi didn't appear pretentious, but each bite unfolded to reveal a new layer of flavor. For example, the first onigiri had a subtle ume flavoring that complemented the subtle sweetness of the fresh fish. Everything was expertly crafted, and the sushi chef explained the components of each piece of sushi as he placed it in front of us. I would be remiss not to mention the salad - the crispy salmon skin lended an intriguing smokiness and crunch to an otherwise simple green salad. When we explained to our server that we had to run to a meeting after lunch, she was understanding and quickly closed out our bill. This lunch felt very decadent and was an unexpected mid-day treat. No wonder the restaurant was absolutely packed!

We had a 6:30pm reservation, but decided to head over a little early to see if we could get seated…read moreearly and we were able to at around 6:10pm. The staff is very friendly and sat us down quickly. The decor is very serene and clean with lots of wood and earthy tones. Very simple decor. We decided to try the 8 piece omakase, which came with Appetizer - marinated tomato, very refreshing and different than anything I've tried. Hassun - 5 assorted appetizers (1) Egg custard with a layer of corn porridge on top, topped with grilled baby corn, asparagus, and pepper; I'm a huge fan of egg custard and corn and this was melt in your mouth good. (2) Goma Tofu: this is made from "kuzu starch". It's super soft with a little bounce to it; the Goma sauce was delicious. (3) Toro and scallops with some green onion and asparagus with a miso vinegar sauce: Scallop was really good and enjoyed the sweetness from the sauce, though maybe a little overpowering. (4) Smoked and marinated toro: Very flavorful, but a little salty for my liking. (5) Octopus with a jelly and shiso flowers - very tender and I love all things shiso. Really a highlight of the meal!

Went on a Friday lunch around 1pm. The place was almost…read morefull house! The chef kindly told us that there might be some wait... we said no problem. The servers were attentive throughout the course giving me the refill of hot tea. The omakase lunch was perfect portion. I did 8 pcs nigiri and HR. if you are really hungry I might recommend 12pcs. The 8pcs omakase included 2 white fish, 2 tuna, 1 salmon, 1 cod, 1 scallop with truffle, and uni ikura gunkan. You will NOT find this deal anywhere in LA. Highly recommend!