68023 Wed Mar 30 11:43:27 -0800 2005 4 2 Los Angeles Area 0 369510 I'm a big fan of sushi, but I feel like I am missing out on much of the experience because I have a severe allergy to shellfish. I've done the blood test, and it turns out that eating anything with a shell or tentacle will send me into anaphylactic shock. This has led to problems in the past when restaurants "cross the streams" and contaminate my non-shellfish food with shellfish (using the same cooking surfaces, etc), but I have an excellent track record with sushi bars. My guess is that many sushi chefs seem to wash their hands between orders; rinsing off soft-shell crab before making my yellowtail, salmon, tuna, mackerel, eel, etc... Now, my dilemma is thus: I want to try the "eat whatever the chef puts in front of you" situation (I believe it is called omakase) at many of the sushi bars around town (Matsuhisa, Nozawa, Sasabune, et al), but I fear that a) they would not accommodate a shellfish allergy or b) a potential language barrier might lead to confusion that ends with me having a bad time (see: anaphylactic shock). Are there any other fellow hounds allergic to shellfish who can offer me some solidarity and/or recommendations about how/where to enjoy LA's finer sushi in the face of this tragic handicap? Wed Mar 30 11:43:27 -0800 2005 0 rastan 1 369513 At Kiriko (unlike at others), I was specifically asked the first couple of times if I was allergic to shellfish before they served omakase. Also, you will not encounter any language barrier there. I'm sure other chefs will be equally accommodative. I suggest you discuss your needs with them and if you're confident that they understand your needs and will do what's necessary, go ahead. Good luck! Wed Mar 30 12:01:46 -0800 2005 369510 0 Ediner 2 369516 Slightly off topic, but what's the price range on omakase? I'd love to try it, but I can't really afford to lay down 80-100 bones on a meal right now. Wed Mar 30 12:09:28 -0800 2005 369513 0 Fat_is_Good! 3 369525 I'm afraid dinner omakase can be that expensive, though some have reported lower prices (see thread below). You could try the lunch omakase, which is a bit restricted (10 pieces of sushi, miso soup, salad, homemade icecream) for $30. They also have a lunch moriawase (7 pieces of sushi and a roll, soup and salad) for $13. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/57851#302343 Wed Mar 30 12:41:14 -0800 2005 369516 0 Ediner 2 369659 I'd say try Sushi Ryo and tell Junichi that you can eat all kinds of finfish, including shirako (cod milt) but that you have a serious allergy to shellfish, so nothing with a shell. Tell them early and make a reservation for omakase. And if you're going with others, tell them how big the party will be and if the others can eat everything. They're usually very accomodating. Same with kawasaki-san at Yamakasa. But be sure to reserve and you're better off on a weekday lunch than at dinner where they can get swamped. (also Hollywood). In general, any place, even urusawa or mori, can accomodate you for omakase IF YOU RESERVE IN ADVANCE AND MAKE DOUBLE=SURE THEY UNDERSTAND YOUR HEALTH ISSUES> and bring an epi-pen. Wed Mar 30 20:52:23 -0800 2005 369513 0 Jerome