Came here just for David. The hottest waiter I've ever had #patrickswayze food was good too.read more

In today's restaurant market, there are many Japanese restaurants that are good and occasionally…read moreyou find one that is fantastic. How does one determine that a Japanese restaurant is fantastic? First you start with the ambience, then you start with a selection of the menu, then you look at the presentation of each plate and dish and the creative reiteration of that dish. At Taisho which is located in the heart of the Valley in Sherman Oaks, is a wonderful restaurant with great creativity and presentation and ambience... And it hits all the marks of a truly wonderful Japanese restaurant. This restaurant is so good that even living in Orange County, what desires to go back into the valley, which is quite a jaunt. We occasionally go to the valley for family and friends and events... And from now on, we will be stopping by this wonderful Japanese restaurant. I'm going to post some pictures and let the pictures speak for themselves. If you're ever in the valley, you gotta make this one of your stops.

Umigame Japanese Kitchen has never disappointed me. I've tried a variety of their sushi rolls over…read moretime, and each one has been consistently delicious, but the Lime Yellowtail Roll, Sunrise Roll, and Truffle Unagi Roll are my absolute favorites. The Lime Yellowtail is wonderfully bright and refreshing, while the Truffle Unagi has a richer, more indulgent flavor that makes it particularly memorable. The starters are equally worth ordering. The Yellowtail Carpaccio is delicate and flavorful, and the Albacore & Crisp Onion is another favorite, with a lovely combination of fresh fish and texture from the crispy onion. Everything tastes fresh, beautifully balanced, and thoughtfully prepared, and a glass of sake is the perfect accompaniment. The service is always excellent, with a friendly and attentive staff, while the casual, relaxed ambiance makes it an easy place to enjoy a leisurely meal. Umigame continues to be one of those places I can return to knowing I'm going to have a delicious and enjoyable dining experience.

This is our go-to sushi place in the valley! Great happy hour deals, delicious rolls and the best…read morefountain soda around! Great atmosphere, indoor outdoor seating, a ballgame always on the tv. A perfect place for a casual night out!

I never knew about this chain of restaurants until yesterday when we were expecting to be in…read moreHollywood too late to return home to Thousand Oaks before they roll up the sidewalks. They "close" at 10:30 (the place was still hopping at 10) and we arrived at a little past 9:00, figuring at that hour we wouldn't need a reservation. Think again, the place was just one click shy of a madhouse. The bar was lively and the tables were occupied mostly by 20-30 somethings in crocks and belly shirts, jabbing food in the mini fire pits and shoveling it in their mouths with the authority of hungry guard dogs. We had to wait 10 minutes or so, for a table and another 7 or so for our server to appear. It gave us a chance to peruse the menus. Yes, menus, plural. There are three laminated ones and a book with pages. Given how extensive the food menus are, the drink menu was a little unimpressive. The sake list had a few things listed, not including a Nigori. The white wine had two, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. We like Sauvignon Blancs but ordered the Pinot Grigio. Mezza Corona. That's what casinos comp pour at the slots in Vegas. It was fine, but not optimum. Overwhelmed by the menus and not particularly craving one thing, we decided to order the "Anniversary" dinner for two. It was a set combination of mostly proteins with the house salad and miso soup. The "poke" wasn't the usual gooey stuff seen in most raw places. It was perfect little cubes of ahi and marinated onions over a bed of pickled seaweed. The salad was large and simple, with a sesame dressing. Then... omg the proteins started to appear. Every single one was delicious. We found that putting the pork belly on the grill helped to keep the following proteins from sticking. The rice was beautifully steamed. The miso soup was even the best I've had in a long time, with lots of tofu and seaweed sinking to the bottom. I can see how this would be a great place for a group, and I can't wait to go with more friends; albeit my husband and I really enjoyed the respite. Our server, Cole, was cool and real. He didn't seem to need to pretend to be nice. He was just a sincere, caring young man. Their happy hour times are worth noting. They're happy throughout the day and night with the exception of 6:30 - 8:30 pm. There is a happy hour combination menu you might want to consider, especially if you've never been here and just want to see what's going on. There are AYCE choices which might come in handy if you're really into some favorites. There's also a big thing about Wagyu. Eh. Different strokes I guess. We'll definitely be back. We really enjoyed the experience. We reduced one star for the silly valet parking and the not-so-great wine list.

The food is always great when I come here. The consistency is what brings me back. Bistro hangar…read moresteak is always my favorite. Their kimchi and cold tofu are also 10/10. Our server today, Fallon, was nothing but stellar. She would check up on us when she saw our food getting lower. It was nice to see how proactive she was. If you can, definitely ask to be seated in her section. Great dinner and will be back again.

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!

For first impressions the ambiance in this place was really cute and the painting at the entrance…read moreis gorgeous! The fish was fresh and served nicely. My fav was the options of snapper red, black, golden all great. Our waitress was attentive and had good banter. Cute girls night or date night spot.

Late lunch, I…read moreordered the house special roll, and my friend had the ramen. Not much to say--it was simply average Japanese food. I eat Japanese food quite often, so I admit it can be difficult to impress me. Nothing was particularly bad, but nothing really stood out either. Overall, just an average Japanese restaurant. Three stars at most.

Black ramen is the best here…read more Love the bouncy ramen noodle paired with charred garlic oil and chashu. The flavor they have developed in this wizardry is simply divine. I will be back for the black ramen

We stopped by after a trip to the beach on 07/30/2026. We stopped here because of the reviews and…read moreit was on our way home. My husband ordered the Bomb Ramen. He thought it was good, but wished there was more of the spicy meat and more veggies. He also ordered the sesame fried chicken. We thought it was VERY fried which made it hard. Tasted okay when allowed to soak in the ramen for a while. I ordered the Beef ramen. It had good broth, but the noodles were very bland and did not absorb the taste of the broth. I also ended up finding a hair in it, so it kinda ruined my appetite anyways. The seating area is a bit crowded, so avoid eating in when it's busy. The parking situation is also a bit difficult. A lot of spaces are reserved for other businesses and it fills up fast.

Kinza is a cozy, low key sushi spot that's been a reliable and top notch fixture in Sherman Oaks…read morefor a good many years. The problem is, it's easy to miss. Despite a green neon sign out front, its location on the west side of Van Nuys Blvd., north of the old Cafe 50's location and just before the sketch gas station, means you probably won't notice it and make a decision to stop in on the spot -- you need to plan to go, and you should absolutely make those plans. Inside, you find a mid-sized sushi restaurant designed circa 1990-something, with about 10 seats at the bar and quite a few tables; you have a friendly, accommodating staff of servers and sushi chefs who make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. Kinza is the kind of neighborhood place you're very happy to find when you find it, and even happier to return to time and again. While we didn't drink any alcohol on this Tuesday night visit, they do have a good selection of Sake and Beer, kept frosty cold in a large fridge right at the side of the dining room. Order a tipple and it'll be at your seat toot sweet, and you'll be glad for the cool nip alongside your meal. I ordered my personal favorites to start: Blue Fin Toro and Saba (Japanese mackerel), while my wife ordered some Blue Fin Tuna. All three were prepared traditionally, very tasty and absolutely fresh as can be. My wife also ordered Grilled Garlic Shrimp (6 good-sized shrimp cooked and served on skewers), then an Avocado Roll. The shrimp were tasty and good quality, though (I must admit) nothing all that special, and the avocado roll fit the bill by being a mild, filling way for my wife to round out her meal. For my own finale, I ordered one of the specialty rolls, the Lori-Jay: spicy crab and avocado wrapped inside of cucumber with baked scallops, jalapeño, lemon and crunchies on top. I didn't find the crab to be especially spicy, though it was quite tasty, while the combination of baked creamy scallops, jalapeño and lemon added an enjoyable pop of acid and spice. It was a terrific ending to a very enjoyable meal on a regular Tuesday made far better by the folks at Kinza. Do yourself a favor and make a point of finding them on Van Nuys Blvd. some night you're looking for something better than you get most other places.

Tucked away under the 101 bridge is this lowkey sushi spot…read more The fish very fresh and the rolls are big. Very good bang for your buck. The toro was so creamy and buttery I mean that's my way of seeing if a sushi spot is good or not. And I've had many occasions where the Toro did not hit. Service is great very attentive. Will be back again when I'm in the neighborhood.

Zen Toro Sushi is easily one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. The fish is incredibly…read morefresh, and you can truly taste the exceptional quality in every bite. From the sashimi to the specialty rolls, everything was beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. The ambiance is warm, modern, and inviting, making it the perfect place for a date night, dinner with friends, or any special occasion. The employees are extremely friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, providing outstanding service from the moment you walk in. If you're looking for the freshest, highest-quality sushi with an amazing atmosphere and top-notch service, I highly recommend Zen Toro Sushi. I'll definitely be coming back!

As soon as you walk in, everyone gives you a warm welcome. The vibes are friendly, intimate, and…read moreinviting -- you're about to have a goood meal! It being our first time, our server explained the menu and gave us her recommendations. We tried the albacore carpaccio -- my favorite item of the night. Loved the tender pieces of albacore drenched in sauce with jalapeños and crispy onions. (Definitely going back to get this again!) We also tried the elite roll (yellowtail) and the tuna on tuna roll. Both good, but the spicy mayo was on the sweeter side, which I'd never really had. It reminded me of candy so that was definitely different! Edamame was good too, and overall, we had a good experience and are interested in trying more items!

This hidden gem is such a great find! The sushi is incredibly fresh, and Chef Paulino adds his own…read morespecial touch to the 3-piece sushi selections, making each bite memorable. I also love that they have draft beer, and even better, you can bring your own sake or wine for just a $10 corkage fee. Aldo was attentive throughout our visit and made sure our glasses were never empty. The only downside is that it's easy to miss from the main street if you're not specifically looking for it. They deserve more visibility because the food and service are outstanding. I'll definitely be back to try more of their amazing menu!

Our first time at Shiso in Sherman Oaks, but we will be back regularly for sure. This is a cozy,…read moreneighborhood place with a small, friendly staff led by sushi chef, Paulino, who seems genetically predisposed to make you the best food he can and give you the very best meal possible. A nice guy, skilled with his knife, and completely accommodating in every way. If you're wanting a high-priced, high-concept sushi spot serving upside down crab smoked with logs imported from some underground cavern near Mt. Fuji, this ain't your place. What this IS, is an unpretentious, traditional sushi bar serving the greatest hits you grew up with in generous portions at surprisingly reasonable prices. There are only 3 choices on the Sake menu, but they're selling Kikusui for $5 less than most other places, so you're ahead of the game before you even mix your wasabi into your soy. Garlic Edamame was served piping hot and dressed in a rich coating of garlic and soy. Very tasty and very properly cooked, unlike so many other places, where the edamame is over-steamed into a mushy, unmemorable mess. Instead, these beans had snap and a good bit of their own flavor standing up to the sauce. A very nice surprise from such a ubiquitous starter. Shiso's version of Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna was also very generous: 6 pieces of nicely spiced tuna with avocado and jalapeño, the rice cakes themselves being enjoyably crunchy on the outside, meltingly soft underneath. Saba (Japanese Mackerel) was lightly smoked, with a mild flavor; Ikura was pleasingly briny, while the Octopus was tender and rich. A Salmon Skin hand roll was the perfect finale: crispy and deeply flavored, and again, quite generously portioned. If you haven't been yet, you need to make a plan to go ASAP. The food will satisfy, the staff will charm, and you'll leave with all the very best feels.

I got the "Don't Think. Just Eat." $60 sushi set that comes with a sashimi course, seven orders of…read morenigiri, and two hand rolls. The difference from other menus like "The Nozawa Trust Me" is the selection of fish, which is determined by the chefs. I think this was the order/set I got: (1) Edamame (2) Tuna Sashimi w/ ponzu and chives (3) Toro Handroll (4) Tuna, Salmon Kombu, & Japanese Yellowtail Nigiri (5) Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, & New Zealand Sea Bream Nigiri (6) Lobster Handroll (7) Unagi Nigiri The cuts of fish are generally larger than standard, though there is also more rice with the nigiri. The rice vinegar is also noticeable in the rice, though it worked very well. I usually do not like shrimp nigiri, but the lemon and yuzu krudo elevates it to have a nice and refreshing taste. I really enjoyed it! I like "The Nozawa Trust Me" menu (girlfriend got it) better because the sashimi mixed both fatty and regular tuna. I also like the citrus salt New Zealand Sea Bream much better over the yubiki style Sea Bream. I think the most surprising thing was how good the lobster handrail was. I would definitely come again!

We have been to the restaurant and love it but we didn't feel like heading out on a Saturday…read moreevening to what would assuredly be a long wait. We ordered Sugarfish delivery and it was amazing. It's not the exact restaurant experience but the fish was very fresh and the box presentation was really nice. I love the rice - it is lightly packed and delicious - it even arrived fairly warm (one difference between restaurant and delivery - rice is not hot). So many places have what I call heavy rice - densely packed and cold. You choose from a set box but you can make some substitutions if they have the fish available. When we want sushi delivery, this will be our go to.