what is the best sushi restaurant?

[mages]

we're celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary this coming weekend. we are looking for a great sushi restaurant suggestion. we live in north OC, but are willing to drive to almost anywhere in so cal for great sushi. I just read a blog about Sushi Nozawa and was all excited about it...but then found out they are not open on Sat & Sun. :( I'd appreciate your recommendation!

[jlevine]

The sushi omakaze at Hamasaku is amazing. Probably the most inventive I've had.

[mages]

thanks all for your great suggestions. we've decided to stay in OC and give Sushi Wasabi a try. Sushi Zo would have been my other choice. This will be my first omakase experience. Can't wait!!!

[jbposell]

For killer sushi that won't break the bank, try Echigo on Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica (maybe west la?) just west of Bundy. Wow!

[mages]

Thank you to everyone who replied so far. Urasawa looks heavenly, but I don't think we can afford it. I'd like to keep the tab to about $150 for 2 people...

[wilafur]

if you go ala carte at sushi zo, you can probably get out of for $150 for two people....pre-tax/tip.

[mollyomormon]

We were at Sushi Zo last weekend with three. Ordering a la carte and sharing a bottle of the amazing live sake (this is one of my favorite alcohols ever), we were out of there at $150 pre tip.

[SauceSupreme]

$75 for omakase is definitely doable at a non-Urasawa place, especially if you're splitting the nigiri (you'd each get one bite, basically).

[KaceyLaine]

I love The Hump (above Typhoon) in the Santa Monica Airport. You can definitely dine there for $150.00 -- my boyfriend and I do it all the time! Sit at the sushi bar for an extra rewarding experience. The chefs are friendly and offer great advice on what to order.

[foodconnoseur]

too bad cowboy sushi in westwood is gone... =(

[wilafur]

you've gotta be kidding.....right? i have a fond space in my heart for cowboy sushi (being a bruin and all).....but in no way was cowboy sushi anywhere close to being good. it was a fun and cheap place to gorge on AYCE mediocre sushi.

[lvgoodfood]

I love Maru Sushi in Valencia, seat at the sushi bar by the head sushi chef, and you will be in sushi heaven, the other sushi chefs are very good too. Highly recommended. Reservations are a must, especially on Sat. or Sun.

[patz]

Sushi Shibucho in Costa Mesa -- after eating there, you'll never go to another Sushi restaurant again

[Jwsel]

Kiriko, Sushi Zo, and Sushi Iki are all better than Nozawa (and Sasabune), in my opinion. They all serve traditional sushi. Kiriko has excellent cooked foods also and homemade ice cream. In downtown LA, R-23 and Sushi Gen are good, but I'm not familiar enough with them to rank them compared to the three I've mentioned above.

I think Katsu-Ya is overrated to the extreme. I also do not think it is a nice place for an anniversary celebration, because they often rush patrons.

Places like Asenebo, 4 on 6, and House of Taka (all in the Valley) fall into the next tier and are not even close to worth the drive from North OC.

If you do a search, I seem to recall some posts about some very good sushi spots in OC.

[Diana]

I agree with you on Nozawa and Katsu Ya, but not on Asanebo. Worht almost any drive. I've not had better (but I can't afford Urasawa)

[SauceSupreme]

I really think that there should be different categories for sushi restaurant, as clearly Urasawa is meant to be in its own stratosphere. At the next tier, there's places like Nozawa, as well as Sushi Zo and Sasabune. Below that, you've got great neighborhood spots that aren't quite destinations in and of themselves, but are quite excellent. I'd put Hirozen, Shibucho and Sushi Ike there.

[djquinnc]

I sure do wish I had the sort of income that would let me try all the various sushi joints in town and make a truly valid assessment (and of course, be able to return to the ones that moved me repeatedly!). Having said that, Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo just served me the most insanely good toro of my life and Katsuya in Encino has that crisy rice/spicy tuna thing that others dare replicate (and a scallop/foie gras thing that still makes me swoon from the memories)

[djquinnc]

Addendum: Urasawa broke my bank account, but was the single most amazing sushi experience of my life. Best way to celebrate getting my MSW I could imagine. For pics: see http://sideorderofham.com/index.php?e...

[Pablo]

Some of the best Urasawa pics I have seen to date. Excellent work!

[rameniac]

urasawa. case closed. nothing to see here, folks. move along now...

[Pablo]

l'll second Urasawa, you will never forget it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64622084...

[aprmayjun]

How fast do reservations fill up?

[Pablo]

I think he only takes ten people a night. I made a res about a month in advance with no problems. You will be required to leave your CC to secure it.

[aprmayjun]

i love an intimate setting! thanks for the tip. i cannot wait until i have a chance to dine there.

[Tkn]

I'm going to get crucified for this, but I didn't think Urasawa's sushi is anything to write home about.

Now if you're going for the Kobe beef and foie gras, that's a different story.

[Pablo]

Well, Urasawa doesn't do fusion rolls if that's what your into. It's Kyoto style.
His quality is unsurpassed.

[mc michael]

Urasawa. The real question is: What is the second best sushi place in town?

[Diana]

Prepare for the greate debate. If you can swing Urasawa, that would be it.

For prices that let me keep most of my firstborn, I like Asanebo in Studio City, or 4 on 6 in Encino.

For prices that mean I can eat the rest of the week, I like House of Taka.

For all you can eat, I go to Midori.