sushi suggestions, East Side

[lesupersteph]

I am wanting to go out for sushi tomorrow night. We would like to stay in the Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Silverlake, Los Feliz area. Any suggestions?

[HPLsauce]

I am very fond of Saito. Shibucho on Beverly Blvd is also excellent (arguably better than Saito, though also more expensive).

Ike is not bad but I think it's overrated. It's fairly inexpensive for an acceptable sushi bar and consequently very crowded -- kind of like Katsu-Ya on Ventura Blvd. The grilled octopus (which seems to be a house speciality) is really good, I must admit.

[lesupersteph]

We tried Ike and were very happy with it. We will absolutely return! Thank you.

[Tkn]

Shibucho on Beverly between Rampart and Virgil.

[eriny]

I'll second the Saito recommendation, and say that I've only enjoyed Ike when I can sit at the sushi bar. Table service was eh. I would also nix EN Sushi--I've had very stinky, not-fresh fish there. If you go downtown, I also like Hama Sushi a lot--great salmon skin rolls.

[lesupersteph]

any opinions on
zip downtown or ike - at hollywood & gower?
I know they are not in that area but my friend who is coming along suggested those two.

[mollyomormon]

I think Zip is horrible. It can be a fun place to hang out when they have a DJ, but the sushi is not good unless you really enjoy enourmous, multi-fish, deep fried rolls drenched in sauce. I'm not a complete sushi purist or anything, but these happen to be very bad renditions with overly sweet rice and sauces. Plus, it's pricey for that. I've heard good things about Ike, though.

[annagranfors]

if JTown's out, it sounds like Ike's your best bet. (do a search in Chowhound for it--many, many good reviews.)

I useta like Noshi Sushi on Beverly for inexpensive and workmanlike, but can't testify for it recently--haven't been for a few years.

[lesupersteph]

I do like Noshi Sushi, but I haven't been there for a long time either.

[Chowpatty]

I believe the consensus is Ike, thumps up, Zip, thumbs down. But Zip has a nice patio which is a rarity downtown or with sushi bars in general. If you're looking at Downtown, I like Iyazoi, Sushi Gen and Takami.

[mollyomormon]

I think your best option (aside from going downtown) is Saito on Sunset in Silver Lake.

[Chowpatty]

I agree with Saito.
Just in case you're considering anything else, these places are acceptable, but not up to par with Saito:
En Sushi
the place next to Il Capriccio on Vermont
Mia Sushi in Eagle Rock
Sansui on Hillhurst (not a sushi bar but they do have sushi on their menu)
These places are NOT GOOD:
Koda
the place next to Say Cheese on Hyperion
I go to Pazazz sometimes but wouldn't really recommend it to anyone
I know there's a place in Echo Park on Sunset in the minimall near Waterloo -- they even deliver -- but I've never tried it. Has anyone else?

[Plague]

Have NO clue why there is so much love for Saito on this board. Has the atmosphere of a dentists office, weak cuts of fish and no selection. Unless you folks are on some secret list of people he actually serves decent sushi to, I'm at a loss to understand it.
Shibucho is way overpriced and like Ike, the chef seems to have gone nuts and treats you according to some whim of the moment as far as quality of fish and speed of sushi. En I think is fairly decent, but I do also think it is getting to know the chefs and some examples of actually knowing about fish before they really serve you the good stuff... Koda, less said about the better, as is Pazzazz and San Sui