Great happy hour. I especially appreciate that it runs until 6:30 p.m., while many other restaurants end theirs around 5 p.m. The $14 three-hand-roll set and $6 blue crab roll are both great values, making this a perfect introduction if you've been curious to try the restaurant. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. I recommend sitting at the bar for the hand rolls - the chef serves each one as soon as it's made, so you get to enjoy them at their freshest. read more

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Hello eaters!! I came here for the Dine LA menu and sadly it did not meet my expectations. I'm a kazu nori fan and I was hoping to get if not better quality for the paid price I paid ($65 p/person) . I took my boyfriend here for a second birthday celebration and the dinner fell short due to many factors... Service 5/5!: amazing service. The two ladies that helped us were phenomenal, so kind ,so welcoming, so amazing!! Thank you for your warmth and kindness ladies !!!! Handrolls 2/5: the blue crab had a strong pepper flavor and the texture felt more like canned tuna to me. I'm a spicy tuna girl so I was excited for this dish but sadly the quality was a miss. Tasted like supermarket spicy tuna. The salmon hr was pretty decent tho, nothing special. Skewers 2/5: the miso cod flavoring was off and it just tasted like teriyaki sauce. The chicken skewers were solid. Js chicken you can't really mess that up but nothing special. Entres 3/5: we enjoyed the wagyu- juicy and perfectly cooked. The pasta was a miss for us. The sauce was light but it felt like there was a missing flavor. The cheese on top was not doing anything for the dish imo. Anyways.... Thank you for the amazing service, but sadly I don't think we will be coming back :( read more

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We stopped by Sama early evening on a Tuesday during happy hour and had a wonderful time! The place was pretty much empty when we arrived and we were greeted by a really friendly hostess. She was very attentive, gave good recommendations and worked really hard! We ordered some edamame, the 3 handroll set, black cod handroll, spicy tuna on crispy rice and soft shell crab cut roll. The food came out really fresh and was all pretty tasty, with the spicy tuna items as the highlights of the meal. It's great value if you come during happy hour, otherwise it's a bit pricey for what you get. read more

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Was searching for a place to eat when we found Sama. It's a small walk away from Little Tokyo. We were seated pretty immediately, and our waitress was really helpful and overall an enjoyable person during our time. She helped us a lot with menu questions. The lunch menu had a solid range of bowls and items. I tried the don trio (salmon, tuna, spicy tuna), negi toro handroll, and shisito peppers. All items were really tasty and worth getting. My personal favorite was the middle tuna don with yellow pickled radish. The crunch and acidity really brightened the don and balanced the fattiness of the tuna. At $21, I think this is the best lunch option, very filling. Surprise favorite was the yuzu mayo from the shisito peppers! We ended up asking for a separate plate of this and used some to eat our dons! Definitely down to come back another time I'm in the area. read more

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Chill vibes and pretty good food. Went for a weekend dinner - place is at a quieter part of the Arts District, so some street parking can be had. Was seated immediately in the middle of the restaurant. The vibes definitely felt different than what I gathered from the Yelp pictures. Definitely more casual vibes vs date-y. Not bad though. They have shochu and sake cocktails, as well as a variety of beers. Ended up grabbing a couple beers while someone else had their Melon bar cocktail. Did have a taste of the cocktail, which was very watermelon-y (in a good way). Looked at the menu - shared appetizers were anywhere between $18-$28~ and seemed to feed 4 people fine - while handrolls were about $9~ on average. Ordered the tuna crispy rice, a yellowtaail serrano dish, as well as 5 handrolls (salmon, blue crab, albacore, spicy tuna, and yellowtail). The appetizers were spot on - has good flavor and the yellowtail weren't sad strips of fish. The roll fillings were all really good, but the nori was a bit chewy - which was a bit of a downer for me. Overall, was a fun, chill spot - particularly for the appetizers, with the handrolls needing crispier nori (either quality or how the nori is served). read more

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Came here for a dinner reservation to catch up with some old friends and was shocked to see that the place had so much seating available. We ordered a few items off the happy hour menu: brussel sprouts, crispy rice tuna, spicy edamame and pork belly. We also ordered the lobster dashi pasta and a few handrolls each. The flavors were definitely there and it was overall a good meal. I still think that its hard for anyone to compete with Kazunori when it comes to handrolls but the other dishes were tasty. I'm not sure if any one dish stood out, it would definitely be one of the appetizers as the pasta was a little too salty for my liking. They validate parking for 2 hours at the Aliso parking lot. Don't make the same mistake I did and pull into the "$5 parking". It's $5/30minutes. Service is friendly and very attentive. Food came out at a good pace as well. read more

Sama Handroll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Dine LA has a way of getting me to go out a tad bit more than usual. And seeing this menu, the location, and the price made it a lock for me. Arts District is a great location, and the fact that the parking is slightly less hard to find than in Downtown proper is a bonus. After a few passes, I was able to park right outside for a lunch bite. I saddled up to the bar to eat as there was a huge party sitting at the tables and I just wanted a quick stop. Service was good as I was able to see the staff making the food and they were attentive and checked in while they worked. First up was the spicy tuna on crispy rice. Solid. Next was the trio of handrolls. I really liked these and enjoyed the presentation. Because there was a bit of a delay (huge party, remember?) I was given a complimentary bite. The Seared and Salted was great and a nice way to hold me over while the staff got out of the weeds. Finally I had the mochi cake. I was not expecting much as I'm not a fan of mochi, but wow this was amazing. The highlight of a nice meal. This is a great spot and the layout is cool. I'm glad DineLA beckoned me to try as I will keep it on my rotation. read more

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Celebrated my sis' bday here and honestly couldn't have picked a better spot. Sama Handroll offers way more than just hand rolls, and it definitely shows. From the second we walked in, the place felt clean, modern, and inviting, with warm, genuinely hospitable service. We ordered a variety of dishes to try and no dish disappointed. Everything was fresh, high quality, beautifully presented, and came out impressively faaaaast. The crispy rice tuna was a favorite for me --tons of fresh tuna with the perfect crunch. The short ribs and green bean tempura also delivered and then some. Truly one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a while--from the hospitality, to the food, to the attentive service. Everything felt easy, comfortable & well thought out...even the validated parking was a win. Would absolutely come back. IYKYK. read more

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I went during happy hour which is offered on weekends too! I highly recommend their blue crab handroll, soft shell crab hand roll and the flight of handroll (includes salmon, yellowtail, toro negi) Their presentation is beautiful! They offer some cocktail using sake to start the night! Kind staff members to feel welcomed read more

The fish is undeniably fresh here, but I was a little disappointed by Sama Handroll. It's a spot I've known about for a while and specifically chose to celebrate my birthday and experience DineLA simultaneously. While the dishes were well-executed and flavorful overall, the portion sizes were noticeably small for the price. Luckily, I wasn't overly hungry, but I still left feeling a bit underwhelmed. However, just for this review, I want to still mention the items that I ordered in case if anyone else is interested in what I had ordered. Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna - Golden, crispy rice topped with spicy tuna. Flavorful with a nice textural contrast, but only a few small bites. Salmon Carpaccio - Thinly sliced fresh salmon drizzled with a light citrus-based sauce. It's delicate and refreshing, though portioned modestly. Blue Crab Handroll - Sweet blue crab wrapped in crisp nori. Clean and simple, highlighting the freshness of the seafood. Hamachi Handroll - Buttery yellowtail with a subtle brightness. Fresh and well-balanced, but gone in just a few bites. Miso Cod - Tender, flaky cod glazed in a savory-sweet miso. Nicely caramelized and one of the more satisfying dishes. Pork Belly - Rich and fatty with a good sear. Flavorful but served in a very small portion. Lobster Pasta - Really good--creamy, well-seasoned, and unexpectedly light rather than heavy and one of the standout dishes of the night. Wagyu Short Rib - Tender and deeply savory with great marbling. Delicious but again, portion size felt limited. Matcha Mochi Cake - Soft and chewy with a subtle matcha flavor. It was a pleasant, lightly sweet way to end the meal. Overall, the quality and freshness were there, but for a special occasion dinner, I had hoped for portions that felt a bit more generous. As far as parking goes, there is validation at Aliso, parking lots around the Arts District, and limited street parking. Since this is such a hot area, it's best to utilize the Aliso parking which is 2 hours free. read more

The best Japanese downtown for SURE. Loved it all. We actually stumbled in after going to another spot down here and it was too loud. So happy we found this great restaurant. read more

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NOTE: Dined in on 8/5/25 during happy hour. They validate parking, or if you're lucky, you can find parking around that area of the Arts District. It's at the end of the main area of where restaurants are, next to Malbec. Was pretty quiet and chill when we arrived around 6. Service was lovely. It's funny... for a place that has handroll in its name, handrolls are probably the weakest part of the menu here. That being said, everything else we had was great! I'll go straight into a breakdown: Handroll flight (spicy tuna, salmon, yellowtail negi) - Tremendous value on the happy hour menu, but the biggest letdown was the nori (seaweed) and the rice. The fish itself was serviceable - probably on par with KazuNori or Yunomi or any of those other handrolls spots. But the rice texture was just so-so. It wasn't too dry or undercooked or anything like that, but it didn't have a satisfying bite to it. The nori was a bigger issue... it wasn't crispy and it did not tear easily. Both of which are critically important in a handroll, in my opinion. I would pass on this next time, but perhaps I would try the don flight instead! I'd like to see if the rice is any different there. Crispy Rice Tuna - I know this is a super basic item, but this can actually be really tasty if done well (see Kettner Exchange's version down in SD). This is actually a pretty good rendition! The rice worked better here than in the handrolls (not still not GREAT), and the layer of crispiness was noticeable, but not too hard or chewy. Tuna had a small kick and there's an avocado with a splash of eel sauce on top. Simple, but good and it's discounted during happy hour. Pork Belly - Honestly, not really worth it even with the happy hour discount. Small portions, not super melt-in-your-mouth or anything like that. It's decent, but nothing special and your money and stomach space is better spent elsewhere. It looks much better than it tastes. Beef tongue skewer - Not on the happy hour menu, but this is probably the best thing we had here. Super tender, melts in your mouth... I'd order a bunch of these next time, honestly. Or at least two haha. Subtle sweet glaze, but definitely doesn't take away from the flavor of the tongue itself. Little bit of yuzu kosho on top and a side of shichimi togarashi. Something that is best enjoyed when it is kept simple! Lobster dashi pasta - Could have done with a bit more tomato-y flavor and acidity, but generous lobster chunks in there, the noodles have a satisfying chew to them (much more like thick ramen noodles rather than pasta). It's got mostly a sweet and savory flavor profile, which might be a bit overwhelming for some people after a few bites. It's good to share, but I do not recommend ordering this for yourself as you might get tired of it partway through. Still worth trying, though! Overall, Sama is a great addition to the Arts District and I'm eager to return to try more items. It's just a shame that their handrolls are not that great! But don't let that deter you! You should still come to try all of their other delicious food. read more

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My friends and I ordered the hand rolls: yellowtail, Toro, blue crab and salmon. The tuna crispy rice was crunchy and delicious. Service was great and ambience is relaxed. read more

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Happy hour (5-6:30pm) deals are AMAZING! Three handrolls for $12, crab handroll for $6, and a don flight for $18. Sushi was sooo fresh and light and flavorful. The don flight + extra handroll was filling and perfect portion. Order a side of Brussels sprouts to share! Happy there's another handroll spot in Arts District! Will come back for drinks and to try their lobster pasta! read more

Sama Handroll - Don flight - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here for my wife's birthday. They were very accommodating for a party of 10 and graciously agreed to refrigerate the birthday cake with no extra charge. Very nice staff and service! Every single hand roll was incredible, especially the blue crab and toro. I also appreciated the sake recommendation, it was very good! Will definitely be back. read more

We dropped in for a quick bite & made it just in time for happy hour. Ordered two rounds of the 3-handroll set (Spicy tuna, salmon, spicy yellowtail) all soo flavorful, but fell in love with the spicy tuna! We found ourselves reordering the spicy tuna handroll a number of times, as well as the crispy rice tuna appetizer. I was craving it even after we left! So good. We already plan on our next visit for family to try. Eyeing the menu I definitely want to explore the lobster dashi pasta, wagyu shortrib, and bluefin burrata! We were blown away with the happy hour pricing and the quality of a menu staple done right. The yuzu lemonade is also a must try. Our server Stephanie was so kind & accommodating! Dining with two toddlers could feel chaotic, but she made our experience smooth and welcoming. This spot is a definite gem in the arts district. Will be revisiting soon! read more

Sama Handroll - 3-handroll set (Spicy Tuna, Salmon, Spicy Yellowtail) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I recently had the chance to dine at Sama Handroll in the Arts District, and it exceeded my expectations. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding, and every hand roll was prepared with great attention to detail. The menu offers a creative mix of traditional Japanese flavors and unique dishes that set it apart from other sushi spots. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern, welcoming, and perfect for either a casual dinner or a night out with friends. A few standout items were the hand rolls, grilled dishes, and the excellent presentation throughout the meal. It's clear that a lot of care goes into both the food and the guest experience. I highly recommend to anyone looking for high-quality sushi and hand rolls in Los Angeles. I'll definitely be back. read more

Things I loved. Tuna crispy rice, salmon carpaccio, beef tongue, chocolate ice cream maki. The crispy rice was perfectly cooked. It wasn't super hard where it'd get stuck to your teeth. Salmon was really good with the yuzu dressing they had. The beef tongue was interesting, I was a little skeptical because it was super thick but it was soft. The chocolate ice cream making was amazing. I would get this again but I'm a fan of chocolate cake with ice cream. You have to eat it fast so the ice cream doesn't melt. Be careful cause your teeth might hurt. For the handrolls, I liked how the seaweed was still crispy. The rice was a little too cold though so I prefer another handroll spot. Lobster dashi and the wagyu yakimeshi was too plain for me. It felt like it needed salt. It would be perfect for my mother since it was a little bland. But I guess that's preference. Service was good, I drank maybe 5 cups of water because it kept getting refilled. They also kept taking away the dishes when they noticed it was empty. Our food also came out at a decent rate. We'd finish one thing and another dish would come out. There is free street parking and also pay parking. Just note that its $5 every 30 minutes. Don't be tricked by the large $5 sign and ignore the little words on the bottom. read more

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Great little sushi place. I was surprised they had very few customers, even for a Saturday night. The food was pretty good, but a bit expensive. Servers were attentive and plentiful. I do think you could find similar food quality for cheaper elsewhere, but I was satisfied with my meal. read more

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Amazing food and service, everyone working here is chill and down to earth. Have recommended Sama to friends and family. Will definitely continue coming back. 10/10 read more

I came here with my girlfriends and had a really great experience. First off the drinks were good. I got yuzu lemonade and also tried their mixed sake drinks, which were tasty as well. The food was amazing. Every item I ordered was delicious. Everything was seasoned perfectly and very enjoyable tastes. The ingredients tasted fresh. What stood out to me are the fish items - for example the hand rolls and the crispy tuna fish. The dishes do not taste basic and every flavor is unique. I've grown tired of other hand roll places because their flavors were lacking so I'm excited to find a new hand roll place with a good variety of items. Service was great and the manager was very attentive as well. Overall a great experience and will come back again~ read more

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The best Happy Hour in L.A. Sama Sushi is known for fresh, creative, and delicious sushi, creative flavor combinations, and friendly service. The food is known for its beautiful presentation. Specific happy hour highlights include discounted handrolls, such as the crab handroll for around $6, and deals on appetizers like the spicy tuna crispy rice. The don flight is $18. I am recommending to pair the happy hour food with their $8 cocktails. The happy hour is generally from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. read more

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Happy to have another resturant in the Arts district. The prices weren't to bad. I ordered a few cut rolls, shrimp tempura and the brussel sprouts. I did enjoy watching the chefs prepare the sushi & grilled foods. They also have a bar area to make Japanese cocktails read more

Sama Handroll - Food menu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wonderful Sat evening dinner with my partner :) Sama is a newly opened Japanese restaurant located in the heart of the Arts District. We usually go to Yunomi, but stopped by here for a change. Reservations were easy to make and we came right before dinner rush. We were taken care of by the manager Faustine and she was da best. The rest of the staff are also really polite, so hospitality is on their A game here. We ordered brussel sprouts as our starters followed by a bunch of hand rolls. The quality was amazing and did not taste fishy. Service is quite fast and efficient! We tried it with the fresh wasabi a thanks to Faustine's recommendation, and it was the bees knees. Overall, it was a pleasant dinner and we're more than likely to return. Thank you Sama and your awesome staff for the good eats ^^ read more

Sama Handroll - spicy tuna, spicy yellow tail, and salmon - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ordered: - 2x Happy Hour Don Flight (5/5): This was an amazing sampler which came with a salmon, spicy tuna, and toro don. My gf liked the spicy tuna the most (which is a big compliment from her as she is not the biggest tuna fan and doesn't always prefer spicy foods) and mine was the toro don because of how buttery the toro cubes were in addition to the tsukemono giving it a slightly sour tang. I would say the only drawback was that i did find a small bone in my salmon don. - Blue crab handroll (4/5): Pretty solid blue crab handroll for the price. I enjoyed how creamy it was. - Salmon handroll (4/5): again, just a very solid hand roll with flavorful salmon. Perfect portions and ratio of rice to fish. - Crispy Rice Tuna (5/5): Did not expect this to be a standout in a meal given that I ordered it on a whim. We found the rice crisp perfectly done and the spicy tuna and sauce truly blended together in harmony for a cohesive bite. The tuna was not fishy at all which is a plus one for us. Overall (5/5): We arrived here on a weekday right at opening to try out the happy hour menu. We were the first ones there and we were seated quickly and made to feel welcome by the service. Vibes were very quiet and private at the time which we enjoyed and the sushi exceeded my expectations. Overall a very good experience and I'd want to come back! read more

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Sama Handroll is such an amazing little spot in the prime of the arts district! The food and ambiance is top notch + chef Lester and his team give the best guest experience and sitting at the food bar overlooking the cooking magic is its own kind of fun! Whether you are coming in with a large group, for date night or popping in solo it's catered for all dining wants! Highly recommend!! read more

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SO HAPPY I chose to come here! I sat at the bar to watch the chefs work their magic and I'm so glad I did that. The chef/owner started chatting with me and I really appreciated his level of attentiveness and service. I then got to hang out and shoot the sh*t with all the other chefs and it felt like I was hanging out at a friend's house. Now let's get to the food. I really think the chicken thigh and green onion yakitori is the best in town. I also loved how Chef Lester was able to make me the toro, uni don and it totally reminded me of Tsujihan in Japan. Can't go wrong with the spicy tuna crispy rice and hamachi Serrano. This is a must visit when you're in the area! read more

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Came across this amazing NEW Japanese restaurant at the arts district! The chef gave us an off-the-menu Caviar Fish Sandwich which was unlike anything I'd ever had! It was so delicious!! We also had the spicy Hotate scallop roll, blue crab roll and their specialty Sama hand roll. The fish was really fresh and melted in your mouth! The service was fast and friendly. The space was very intimate and modern, which makes a great addition to the arts district! Overall, highly recommend trying this amazing new restaurant if you're in the mood for delicious and innovative Japanese cuisine! read more

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Visited this past weekend. Food: fine. Service: a disaster. Two staff on the floor, only one actually working. Our server vanished after taking our order, only reappeared when we chased him down for the check (lol) while he had plenty of time to stand around joking with coworkers. The other server was too slammed to help. Bathroom had no toilet seat covers and no paper towels. Happy hour prices and portions were good, but we gave up ordering more because getting anyone's attention was such a hassle. Had to get up ourselves just to request the check. Backwards way to run a restaurant. read more

If you haven't dined here at Sama yet, you are missing out. We stumbled upon this restaurant as we were having a day out in LA. The ambience to the interior design as you step into the restaurant is heightening. We ordered the tempura green beans, unagi tempura and a few hand rolls. The sama handroll and toro negi handroll with crisply flakes were our favorite! We also enjoyed their short rib wagyu don and their caviar fish sandwich. For dessert we tried their chocolate ice cream maki and it was amazing. We never had anything like that before but the combination of the cake and ice cream mix were to die for. The servers were great and the main chef actually came out and was attentive to us as well. 10/10 experience , we will definitely be coming back and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone Note* They also have some off the menu items that are great as well and you can add caviar to any of the dishes read more

Recently found this gem during a work trip will colleagues and we were all impressed! The brussels sprouts and wagyu short rib appetizers were among my favorites. We ordered an assortment of apps, sushi rolls and the fried rice dish at the end was epic! I highly recommend. read more

Located in the Arts District, Sama Handroll is one of those places worth the drive. Their seafood selection is very vast and so fresh. I went to celebrate with my friend for her graduation. We ordered their yellowtail cut roll, blue fin tuna hand roll, and spicy tuna hand roll. The yellowtail was def a standout. We also shared their famous Lobster Dashi Pasta, super flavorful with big pieces of lobster. We got their broccolini truffle sashimi as well, I loved the plating and how intricate everything was. Delicious and perfect for the IG aesthetics!! Honestly, a top place for yapping and trying high quality seafood. The staff were super sweet and refilled our drinks frequently! Highly recommend stopping by! read more

First time here, small restaurant, paid parking lot next door, free street parking, paid street parking as well, in the arts district and walking distance from everything close by. Friendly staff, very clean. Good sized menu with lots of options. Good food, lot of saki options. Pricey, but full of flavor. Highly recommend, would return. read more

Sama Handroll - Outside - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went to an intimate wine tasting event that Sama's executive chef, Lester Lai, catered and the food was brilliant. Service was wonderful as well. All his dishes paired so well with the winemakers selections. Thank you! read more

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Better late than never. Back in AprilI had started a new job while I heard about this restaurant through a yelp email. I put myself in to partake in a tasting event. Only I showed up a day early. I still opted for a dinner to myself. Cool section of downtown Los Angeles I'd never visited. What seems like a small modern urban space can still host many seats between the main service bar and dining floor. Since the event would have been more of tasting menu portions I opted to try regular portions of items that stood out. I overheard a couple of orders of Broccolini being requested from a table and a take out guest. Like the bar I was sitting at, the standard here was set high. Chicken Skin was an instant knockout. I saved the sauce it came with to try with more. Though I wanted to try everything I stuck with the items that stood out most. The Sama Handroll was Superb. The Salted egg topping was generous and a good change from takuan pickled radish. Bluefin Burrata had a glorious savory natural flavor that paired well with the creamy fresh touch. Chef suggested I not miss the Wagyu Shortribs. Intensely good however my favorite was the Gyutan. It came thick cut like fat pieces of foie gras. Yuzu Kosho light enough it does not overpower but it melted into what tasted like a glaze. Soft and easy to chew, melts on tongue like Wagyu yet tasted like the fat from a belly cut. I had 1 or 2 more items I can't recall. Drinks selection was very tempting but I opted for beer this time around. An enjoyable meal all the way through with a nice view of the heart of downtown in the distance. Hope to be back there soon. read more

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Went here for a weekday lunch. Super quiet - which was nice. Parking in a lot nearby - $10+. The food was good but flexed toward the fusion side of Japanese - for example cheese on the tempura. The yellow tuna crudo was delicious. The green beans were good too. Service was good. The prices are just much higher than I would have expected for what we ate and what you can get for lunch in DTLA. read more

Sama Handroll - Shrimp tempura and vegetable rolls - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My wife and I are sushi fans. She specially loves the handrolls at Kazu Nori so we gave this place a try. Funny enough - our favorite dishes were the Wagyu Don and the Sama Don. The fish was fresh and the wagyu beef was cooked to perfection. We also ordered the fried eel which was nothing impressive. The handrolls we got were okay - nothing outstanding but solid. Definitely come here for their bowls which are incredible. I love that they validate 2 hour parking too. read more

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I came here enticed by the Sama don and lobster pasta and neither dish disappointed! The seafood was fresh and naturally sweet from the ocean. The flavors were delicious. My partner got the wagyu don and it was probably the best protein I've had in recent memory. Chef said the wagyu short rib was slowly cooked over 3 days, and the texture and flavors reflect that. The only thing that was subpar was the actual rice itself - hard, clumpy, and not seasoned. It really pulled down the rice dishes. But despite that, everything was still so tasty. I would come back again in the hopes they nail the basics. read more

Sama Handroll - Sama don - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Sama is fairly new still - just opened up 8 months ago and still seems a bit undiscovered. Great for us though! We came to Sama as a group of 5, and it was a great experience overall. Reservations were super easy to make through Yelp. Parking, however, was a bit confusing - we ended up in the lot across the street, which was a hefty $20 for just 2 hours. I'd definitely check if Sama offers validation next time - I believe they do but for another structure. Food-wise, we definitely over-ordered but loved getting to try a variety of items. We shared the Shishito Peppers, Chicken Skin, Green Beans Tempura, Trumpet Mushrooms, Lobster Pasta, and Miso Cod, plus each of us ordered our own hand roll. My Scallop Hand Roll was excellent, and my friend's Sama Hand Roll looked impressive as well. The Green Beans Tempura stood out as the crowd favorite (and it was recommended by our waiter for good reason.) The Miso Cod was also a hit...but it was served as chunks on skewers, which was a fun twist and packed with flavor. The Chicken Skin was probably the least favorite, but was still tasty. Overall, the food was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. Despite the parking challenge, we all agreed we'd be back again...just have to figure out a better parking strategy next time, especially since it's Arts District! read more

We went for dine la and it was a steal! $25 for a lunch with appetizers, main, and dessert. The staff was nice and the restaurant was clean. We went in a weekday and it wasn't too busy during lunch. The fish was fresh and the matcha cake was warm with the cool ice cream. Great deal! read more

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