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    UOBEI

    4.7 (106 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 6:30 pm

    Order UOBEI Takeout or Delivery

    UOBEI Photos

    UOBEI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - UOBEI

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    Reviews With Photos

    Anthony D.

    Good quick sushi, Seems like an Owner / operator business, and you can tell he really cares about the food+ he speaks Japanese

    Bruce H.

    First and most important: their customer service is amazing. I went in to get a party platter not realizing they require it's ordered 2 days ahead. I asked if they could have it done in an hour and they said "no problem". They were quick and the food was delicious. The sushi was delicious and they have a lot of different options. I highly recommend this place if you are in the area.

    Fan H.

    Ever since Fatty started going back to downtown LA for work, finding new food spot had been a thing. This time, Fatty found Uobei in downtown LA for everyone's quick Japanese cravings. Located at the corner of Main and 9th, it was a to go only deli style Japanese food spot. They didn't really have a menu, whatever was out there to grab was what they had to offer. We got a teriyaki chicken rice bowl and a sushi tray. The fish was surprisingly good for what it was. We would say it was about the same quality as the conveyor belt sushi if not better. The chicken was a little dry but flavor was decent. We did t love the rice since it was drenched in the teriyaki sauce. Overall experience was ok. The service was good. The cashier offered to heat up (microwave) the chicken rice bowl, but at the same time, placed it afterwards on top of the sushi tray . The price point was a little high. For the two items it was $30 after tax. We would come back if we have a craving for a quick sushi, but nothing more.

    Sushi

    The owner Katsu is incredible! I highly recommend this sushi spot. The fish is so fresh, the shop is cute, and I can't wait to go back. A true gem of a spot.

    Sweet shrimp
    Young Kyung K.

    Parking - Sucks. My cousin and I had a show at the Orpheum so we wanted grab something quick in the area, we found this little GEM! We went around 6PM and the cashier informed us that they were closing soon but still let us eat inside! The ingredients were FRESH! Even though it's a to-go/deli place the rolls and sushi was superb! They even had AMA EBI 3-pieces with the fried head for $13.99 WHATTTTTTT -- I was surprised it was left until the end of the day haha -- lucky me yay! We also got the fresh scallop roll; delicious! I ... also got the seaweed salad and edamame- judge me all you want but I LOVE IT hahaha I saw that they had a warm section too but it was empty when we went but I believe they have warm bowls, yakisoba and takoyaki. If I lived close by I'd be coming by VERY often but thank god I don't live close by my wallet will be suffering. If you're in the area and you need a quick to-go bite I recommend this place! I honestly cannot recommend the parking situation though... I mean it's DTLA ...

    4 of the 5 Crunchy Rice!
    Deidre M.

    Grabbed lunch here today! Super legit, casual Japanese delica concept store where they make and serve same-day fresh, affordable, JP fare. If you've ever been to Japan, this type of small establishment near stations and conbinis are common. I tried their spicy tuna & spicy salmon crispy rice (5x big pieces for $13.99) and takoyaki ($3 - all sides same price I think I saw karaage chicken too). Soooooo good!!!!!!! The rice was still crispy even though it was refrigerated and I liked that they used cook flaked salmon vs raw (spicy tuna was also good standard!). Didn't need any additional soy sauce or anything - v flavorful. I also enjoyed practicing some of my limited Japanese with the cashier! (I think it's a family run biz?). I was a bit in a rush so next time I'll have a better look at what else is there! I wonder if they'll have any seasonal cold items like hiyashi chuka or salad spring roll *hint hint lol* Will def be back since I work in the area. Esp with that 20% after 5pm gamble!!! Hehe Arigatou gozaimasu!! Oiishiiiiiiii!!!!! See you soon!

    Trung N.

    What a delightful little Japanese deli - it's like the mini version of the hot food section in Tokyo Central took a field trip to downtown. It's a grab and go situation here: there's a prepackaged hot food bar, and plenty of take away sushi options. You can also place an order for a personalized item at the register. There are also tons of kitschy Japanese snacks to satiate your desires. Despite its location, everything is reasonably priced and conveniently located in this food desert corner of DTLA.. I happened to be looking for a quick snack and this is what I ended up picking up: -yakisoba -yellowtail roll -sampler This was all Japanese market quality - if not better. I found the sushi to be incredibly fresh, especially and surprisingly the yellowtail. This was exactly what I was looking for in a in a midday snack and it was exactly what I got. If you're looking for a quick and easy meal/ snack, make your way down to UOBEI.

    Rolls
    Joey L.

    Parking: This place is located in Downtown LA and iykyk. There's little to no parking unless you hit it right and score a sweet spot. I was actually lucky that day and found close meter parking and popped in a cute quarter. If I was you I would drop off someone and drive around the block in the car and pick them up after they are done. However, if you are by yourself then I will pray for you to find a parking spot. Good luck to all on their parking adventures. Inside: Inside the store is quite small. I would describe the set up as a small convenience store. When you enter they have hot food already made on the left side and cold drinks and desserts on the right side. On their menu they say you can customize your order. I did not this time, but I found that really cool. They do charge $$$ for customization though so keep that in mind. Seating: There is NO SEATING INSIDE. However, they do have one table outside the store. Enough to seat two people. Salmon Avocado Bowl: I love sushi and salmon. I came here specifically just to try this bowl. I couldn't resist because it looked so great from the reviews and pictures. Gurl when I tell you this bowl was everything I imagined and more...IT WAS!!! OMG THE SALMON IS NO JOKE SIS!!! The salmon was fresh, sweet and melts right in your mouth. It went so well with the sushi rice under. Just so exquisite. The bowl really didn't need the avocado because it was just that great on its own, but it added another layer of creaminess to it. It's a 100 outta 100 for me. Teriyaki Chicken Uobei Style: Honestly I was so skeptical of the teriyaki chicken bowl when I saw it, but I was like why not. WOW! This bowl did not disappoint. The chicken was juicy and they gave a HUGE PORTION too. They also give you sauce on the side. I don't think it really needs it because it already had so much flavor. They also offer to heat it up for you in the microwave if you are planning to eat it right away. They are too kind. I was so satisfied afterwards and my tummy was so happy after eating every bite. Overall: Great place to pick up fresh food for on the go or quick lunch or dinner. This is not a sit and eat kind of place, but more of a togo place only. I will definitely be coming back when I am in the area. My mouth is watering while I write this review. Cheers to the chef and the staff. They are the best!

    sushi Master preppin

    friendly, casual quick service they'll heat your food if wanted yummy food- looked and tasted fresh $$$ adds up quick parking sucks salmon sushi- fresh & good fish to rice ratio crispy rice w/ spicy tuna - had good flavor but the outside of the rice had a hardened too much which made it difficult to eat w/ the tuna. i ended up slicing the rice into 2 pieces w/ a knife first. i also wish there was more tuna on each piece. unagi w/ rice bowl - still delicious the next day for b/fast. they were generous w/ the unagi. rice was nice and sticky and the pickled ginger helped break up the sweetness of the eel sauce.

    Rachel S.

    Quick place to grab sushi to go or teriyaki bowls! This is right by my work which is super convenient. Sushi is fresh and delicious! Got the Inari which was $5 and the Hosomaki fish combo which was $10! Service was friendly and I was in and out in a few minutes! Will have to come back to try a bowl next time!

    Menu 8.9.21
    Cat N.

    Uobei is a quick and affordable sushi spot without compromising quality. I stumbled upon this spot while looking for a snack before lunch. They had some really good looking pre-made packaged sushi rolls, bowls, and appetizers (cold and hot). I really wanted sashimi and asked the people there if they can make it for me. They were more than happy to. I ended up getting twice pieces of salmon and albacore. I originally wanted yellowtail as well but they had already ran out. I also got a packaged seaweed salad on the side. Everything was perfect and really good. The person I came with got two scallop handrolls and enjoyed them. For everything it was only a little over $30. The spot is small is really just a go and grab type of place. The people working are very nice. Totally affordable and good food. Totally recommend if you're looking for a casual quick sushi spot.

    Celine C.

    I had a craving for sushi but didn't want to spend a ton of money on Sugarfish that day. I found Uobei and walked there since it wasn't far. Arriving at ~3pm on a weekend, there wasn't much left. Note to self to go earlier next time for more selection. Luckily, I was still able to find things I wanted to try - The premier nigiri box and the tuna nigiri. The total came out to be around ~$20. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for to-go boxed sushi, but wow, the fish was very fresh with no fishy aftertaste. Each of the tuna nigiri in the premium nigiri box was garnished differently. Love how there were different flavor profiles to change it up! The owner was so nice and even offered me a free Japanese red bean popsicle since it was hot out. I really appreciated the kindness. Overall, super happy I found this gem and would be stopping by whenever I need budget sushi to satisfy my cravings!

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    7 months ago

    Sushi taste very good and fresh. The person who helped me was very kind and included an extra piece of sushi and pocky.

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    1 year ago

    I live in DTLA. These guys have the absolute best grab-and-go sushi around. The fish always tastes fresh.

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    2 years ago

    Always fresh! Staff is very friendly and service is great. The ambiance of the place is small however perfect for a grab-and-go order.

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    1 year ago

    Delicious, fresh sushi that's simple & easy to buy! You simply pick out pre-made sushi and pay at the counter.

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    2 years ago

    I love their chicken teriyaki and udon noodle soup! Lovely spot in DTLA and the most polite staff!

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    Love the quality of this grab and go sushi spot, it was all I ate for two days while staying in DTLA

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    Page 1 of 3

    UOBEI Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - UOBEI

    Do they accept Apple Pay?

    Yes, we accept Apple Pay and Google Pay!

    How is the store operating during COVID?

    We operate by following the directions from Health Dept. It was tough to follow all details in the beginning; but, all team members get used to it.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    1.1 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
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    This has been on my bookmarks forever! My wife and I walked in, no reservations and they seated us…read morepretty quickly. Excited as I was, I'm glad we came here, Michelin star says it all. One of the best sushi spots I've had a in a while actually. We didn't really do any appetizers and went straight in for the fish. Started off with a couple of hand rolls, we did the crab hand roll and O toro hand roll. Crab hand roll wasn't as impressive, I've had better to be honest. I didn't let that experience ruin it for me because the toro hand roll was delicious. I think they add a piece of mint and it complimented the hand roll. Very crunchy nori wrapper and good rice to fish ratio. For our sushi we started with chu toro tuna, salmon belly, and halibut. Super fresh melt in your mouth quality. Halibut was interesting with the truffle, first time definitely won't be the last. We ended it with red snapper and black snapper. Absolutely amazing, I think the black snapper or the red snapper was slightly charred. It was so good. To say the least, this restaurant was worth it!

    I recently visited Sushi Enya with my husband- though I liked the experience and food I think there…read morecould be slight improvements there. When I made reservations on the phone I asked about the latest reservation and confirmed 10 pm - however I asked if I could sit at the bar and they said not at that time since they closed at 11. When we arrived, there was a couple coming in at 10 and sat at bar...maybe just miscommunication but tha could have prevented us from consuming our food quick and skipping on alcohol since the table we got was not the best. Sushi felt very fresh and there's something about the way they make the rolls that feels different about other places (not sure if in a good way) Great staff and sushi chefs- they were super fast moving from one course to the next one.

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    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles - Chef Jeff adding the truffle on our special handroll. Stop by Sushi Enya in Los Angeles for the freshest best tasting sushi!!

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    Bar Sawa - Aji

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    4.6(125 reviews)
    1.0 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown

    A modern take on omakase that is Sushi Kaneyoshi's fun nightlife counterpart. Hosted in the same…read morebuilding (the same fishy smell permeates the space) at an intimate counter for about 10 guests, the decor of the space is less sterile and clean and more jazzy Tokyo hipster. While the fish quality here is great, you will get more bites that seem a lot more experimental with flavors and garnishes. I didn't like every single bite but I expected that. A lot more focus on creative cocktails and drink pairings instead of just sake or wine. This is a great place to try Japanese whiskey, they even have little lockers where regular patrons can store their expensive bottles they've bought for when they return, and you are welcome to grab an additional drink and chill in the space afterwards if you'd like. The chefs here were a lot more personable and fun with more of a bar vibe than a traditional omakase. Service was great, dedicated bartender was great, and though it's not the best sushi I've ever tasted, I would still bring someone back here for a unique experience. Brought my friend here for her bday and we left full and happy and a little drunk so I'd say it was a successful night!

    Great food! Great crew!…read more However, they allowed 2 obnoxious couples to just make it for an uncomfortably loud dinner. Thai is not how an omakase experience should unfold. Such a shame because otherwise it would have been a great experience. But I cannot excuse them for allowing these other guys to just behave so rudely, like Neanderthal, and not say a thing.

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    Izakaya Gazen - Otoro special

    Izakaya Gazen

    4.0(601 reviews)
    1.0 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
    $$

    Amazing homemade tofu, Tempura is lightly breaded and fresh and just flavorful!…read more Sukiyaki was also good. Attentive service.

    The last time I was in Little Tokyo in L.A. was 1996 - just before a six-week trip to Japan. So I…read morewas eager to return and wanted to find the most authentic Japanese restaurant in the busy, crowded, and somewhat commercialized tight walkways of Little Tokyo. I turned to Yelp for help and that - as always - was the right move! Izakaya Gazen is a chain, originating out of Tokyo with locations also in Honolulu and Little Tokyo, L.A. It's got the true feel of an izakaya (Japanese pub or if you read the Japanese characters, Stay-Drink-Place). The name Gazen refers to the chain and the "Gazen style food - approachable and shareable. Izakaya Gazen is known for its house made creamy tofu, often eaten with soy sauce and wasabi - and it was very delicious. Unlike the izakayas I visited in Japan, I didn't have to remove my shoes here - kind of nice, but I miss the true Japanese tradition. One tradition I appreciated was the large format Japanese beers (we chose Asahi) and the small, chilled glasses to pour into. I haven't found this Japanese touch on the glasses anywhere else in the USA. Usually, I have to ask for an old-fashioned glass or a juice glass and the servers just don't understand that this is how you drink from a large bottle in Japan. As with all Japanese dining establishments in Japan, you're warmly greeted the moment you enter, by the sushi chefs and the servers alike with "Konnichiwa!". It's a cultural thing in Japan and one I wish was more prevalent in the USA. Our server was delightful and seated us at a window table. We examined the excellent menu and went with two offerings - the Chirashi Sashimi Bowl and the Tempura Bowl - both served with a small sample of their creamy tofu, a tray of appetizers, miso soup, and a salad. A really good value ($32 and $25, respectively). I rated both of them five-star for presentation, taste, and the very fresh nature of the food. It was an outstanding hirugohan (lunch)! There are lots of great places to eat in DTLA, but we're seriously considering another visit to Izakaya Gazen this evening!

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    Izakaya Gazen - Beef Tongue 9/10 super good with crunchy side and salty from soy sauce

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    Hama Sushi - Assorted Sashimi (salmon, tuna, albacore, yellowtail)

    Hama Sushi

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    1.0 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
    $$$

    came here on a wednesday night with my bf for a date and... lowkey obsessed…read more 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!!!

    Spent a lovely, relaxed evening at this sushi spot…read more 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.

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    Hama Sushi - Combination B

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    Spicy tuna hand roll

    UOBEI - japanese - Updated May 2026

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