Sushi recs (maybe Zo?) with pregnant-friendly choices

[tw.pinkie]

I'm looking for a place to go with my husband to celebrate an event coming up. I would consider him to be quite knowledgeable with sushi, and a bit on the picky side with quality. He is NOT into fusion sushi or rolls of any kind. Just the good, high-quality, simple stuff. His favorites include hamachi, toro, uni, amaebi, mirugai, engawa, etc.

The problem is, though, that I am expecting and cannot eat anything raw right now.

I know he's been wanting to try Zo for a while, so at first I was thinking of going there. But the more I read about Zo, I'm afraid that I will be a bit out of place (and maybe even offend the chef if i can't eat anything raw he puts out).

Any suggestions for a place with good, high-quality sushi that will have some cooked selections that I could eat? Would it be a complete waste to try Zo if I can't eat any of the raw selections?

TIA.

[Emme]

One other place worth considering is Mako in Beverly Hills. Not sure how much you want to spend, but Mako has both good raw and cooked dishes, and a bit of fusion to boot.

[lhilton100]

Izaka-Ya on 3rd Street is great and has so many options.

[Senor Popusa]

Nagao might be a good option. very good sushi, including some veggie and cooked rolls, plus cooked food. Not at the Mori/Zo level but the next level down and much more reasonable. San Vicente & 26th in Brentwood.

[tw.pinkie]

Thank you for all the recs! Very helpful.

[Servorg]

Maybe not quite the level of Zo or Mori, yet still very good sushi and an excellent selection of cooked dishes can be found at K-zo http://www.k-zo.com/ in Culver City. It gets confused a lot with Zo because of the similarity in names.

[westsidegal]

k-zo is my go-to sushi restaurant.
i second servorg's recommendation.
tons of good options and a very pretty restaurant to boot.

[omotosando]

I think Mori is excellent with cooked food, including very good tempura. I would call ahead and explain your situation and see if the chef can do a special menu for you.

P.S. By the way, I have been told that pregnant women in Japan eat sushi all the time. Don't know if that is true.

[stevel74]

True. Pregnant women in Japan eat sushi just as pregnant women in France drink raw milk and eat cheese made from raw milk. The reason being they know alot more about their food supplies. Either way, I am in the same boat as the original poster and I would suggest Mori or Sushi Gen.

If money is no object, Urusawa is also an option. They will make a menu that accomodates you consisting of cooked meats and fish, but it will cost upwards of $500...

[J.L.]

Place Yuu is primarily an izakaya, with excellent sushi to boot. On the Westside.

Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd.

[cls]

Izayoi has a first class sushi bar and an extensive cooked menu.

[tw.pinkie]

Thank you for the honest feedback. I know what I'm asking for is difficult to match. Finding very high quality raw sushi in a place that does cooked dishes well is not easy. I will hold off on Zo for a few more months (when I can join my husband in the deliciousness).

[westsidegal]

mori, which ended up costing us more than zo, did offer some cooked dishes.

do not go to zo until you can eat raw fish.

[taiwanesesmalleats]

It sounds like you don't want an omakase-only sushi place. Give Sushi Gen a try. They have some grilled meat and fish options that might work. Your husband can still get good quality, raw fish if he so desires.

[TracyS]

Yes, it will be a waste to go to Sushi Zo if you can't have sushi. It is omakase only and that will rule out nearly everything.

I like Kiriko for good quality sushi and a mix of well-executed cooked dishes.