HELP!! SUSHI with friends WEST LA/SM/Westwood

[cupcake]

Please help. I am having friends in from OC. They want moderate priced sushi with great rools, especially spicy tuna. HAS to be on the west side. Ambience not so important, but wouldn't hurt. Most important is yummy and under 100 dollars for 3 people. I don't want Hide or Musha. Can anyone help me out? Is there anywhere ok in Westwood? Anywhere between Westwood and the Marina. Thanks so much, and would love reponses ASAP!!

[rameniac]

if you just want rolls, california roll factory on santa monica is creative, cheap and fun.

[SChalfant]

Agreed on California Roll Factory - good and BIG rolls. You get a lot for the money.

[snooze button]

Yes... CA Roll Factory is a cool, casual, go-to spot for a quick sushi fix in that area. I like the Harvey roll (the sauce is sinfully good) and order that with something a bit lighter to balance it with.

[rameniac]

i'm all about the "Scott's roll" - a no-frills roll with a bunch of fleshy fish and some shrimp tempura. whoever Scott is/was, he's a dude after my own heart! Thanks, guy!

[snooze button]

I have experimented with so many rolls at this place and have been shot down with disappointment. The Harvey is the first one I feel I struck a homerun with. So that does it. I'm having a Harvey and Scott tomorrow night and see if I can add a second roll to my repertoir. Thanks man!

[rameniac]

does anyone know how to personalize/invent their own sushi roll and get it up on the wall at california roll factory? or have they retired this practice over the years?

[snooze button]

Update: ended up going twice last week for rolls. The combo Scott/Harvey was excellent, though ordered an eel roll for the sweetness factor. 4 rolls, 1 Asahi, 1 hot green tea for $44 out the door. Realized the last time I was there that the tasty sauce that accompanies the Harvey has mayo in it... I had thought it was a cool secret ingredient.

[cupcake]

FYI, they have a "B" grade. Although I love it there, it makes me nervous.

[redglowh]

I'm assuming that you already had your dinner but... if you ever need another sushi place on the cheaper side, I would say Daichan Kaiten Sushi on Sawtelle.
Its revolving sushi so its a little different and not like super gourmet or anything.. but sometimes you just want some laid-back, not expensive sushi =)
Most of their plates range from like 1.50 to 3.00 I think.. I LOVE their little crunchy rolls and every time I've been there, their fish has been pretty good.

[Oh Robin]

It's been a while but I used to love Sushi Isshin in Westwood.

[Centerline24]

WOW, I can't believe all these people replied and no one mentioned by far the best and most moderately priced of all the westwood spots, Sushi Masa. By far the best quality of the bunch, the spicy masa roll is my favorite, and it is excellently priced, my fianancee and I ate for 66 bucks there and were stuffed last tuesday. great spanish mackeral too.

[cupcake]

Where is Sushi Masa? I can't find it, and am very curious now!!

[tony michaels]

They may have meant Sushi Masu.

Sushi Masu
1911 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
[phone]

[Centerline24]

that is what I meant, my bad, i call it sushi masa and my fiancee who goes there at least twice a week and loves Masu, always corrects me...sorry

[brewinphan]

I went to Sushi Masu for the first time a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. The yellowtail and uni were surprisingly good. Should get you in under $100, and we looked online and actually found a 10% off coupon that you can use there. Enough for an extra roll!

[dkrocks]

Asuka is your best bet - on westwood blvd...
great chefs and great fish. not too cheap and not too expensive..
dont go to tengu - you will for sure, without a doubt spend more than 100.

[dkrocks]

ya ... i gotta tell you, used to be a fan of tengu a few years ago - it was fun and the fish was much better. last time i was there, we had some sushi that was warm! thats just wrong. and esp when you walk out of there unsatisfied and just spent a fortune.

[cupcake]

Thank you so much everyone!! I have made a reservation at ASUKA for tonight. I really aooreciate your help. : )

[omotosando]

I had lunch recently at Asuka after reading about the "new improved" Asuka on this website. I thought it was awful and it wasn't particularly cheap. I would go to Hide any day over this place. Hide has gone downhill lately, but it is still 10 times better than Asuka. Hope you have a better experience.

[Kevin B]

Noma on Whilshire & 20th is my regular for when I want good quality, no frills, reasonable priced. The quality has never let me down.

[cupcake]

Does Noma have good rolls?

[whatsfordinner]

I had been going to Noma since they opened in the early 80s. Over the past few years I noticed the quality has steadily dropped. On my last visit the toro was so stringy that I actually couldn't bite it without the sushi shredding. When I told Hank (the owner) that it didn't seem up to par he seemed more angry that I had complained than with the chef who served it.

[Kevin B]

That's a shame. I haven't yet noticed any drop-off.

[New Trial]

For that price range, U-Zen on Santa Monica near Brockton comes to mind. In the past, I would have normally added Tsuji No Hana in MDR but my last visit was disappointing.

[cupcake]

I haven't been to Asuka in years. What are the prices like now?

[handlertaper]

We like Asuka as well. Prices are moderate and sushi tastes fresh. Also like Asakuma as umeakai mentioned.

[umeakai]

Asakuma - there's a location in a strip mall at the corner of Barrington/Wilshire and I think there is one in MDR as well.

[T chick]

Asakuma in MDR is a takeout joint.

[amoretignis]

Sushi Sushi on Beverly Dr near Olympic (326 1/2 Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212). The a la carte menu is reasonable and you can't go wrong with the Chef's Choice 8pc or 10pc. I treated friends who came into town earlier this week from Berkeley and they reported it was the best sushi they've ever had. I don't know if it betrays the kind of sushi they've had in the past but I do agree that this traditional sushi restaurant is quite the experience. :)

[westsidegal]

to meet your budget at sush sushi, you will need to be careful when ordering.
same at irori.

[woofer]

we like ami in westwood village on broxton. some folks are fond of asuka on westwood blvd. last night our friends took us to irori in marina del rey which was fun. it was different & kitschy. you take your shoes off and sit on the ground. it's in a shopping center off of glencoe.

[gsw]

If you want to be right in Westwood, I like Asuka, also. I have a friend who loves Tengu. Ambiance is nice there.

[hrhboo]

Tengu will cost way more than $100 for three.

[Nikiforos]

I wish I could help, but all I have is Katsuya--in Brentwood, and spendier than I think you want--but a good spicy tuna. Well, at least this will knock you back to the top of the list.
-luck