Wakasan on Westwood

[kevin]

What is good to order here? And do they take reequests such as no pork in the meal?

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Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[burumun]

As bulavinaka says, it's *kaiseki* not omakase.

Last I went (ok 2 years ago) it was $35 for 12 courses that includes king crab legs, sashimi, and chirashi (with uni). Not a bad deal and you'll definitely be full.

They can accomodate your food preferences. I didn't have any pork within those 12 courses so no pork should be pretty easy.

Here's my old report: http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com/2008/...

[munchabout]

It's omakase. You don't really order. You sit down and eat whatever the chef puts out. It's a traditional Japanese meal progression that starts from cold appetizers, to sashimi, steamed dishes, to simmered dishes, fried dishes, and fried rice at the end. That's probably around nine or ten dishes, at around $40 or so.

There is a small a la carte menu that you can pick from. They have a minimum order of $20/person for that menu, if I recall correctly. It's been a while.

It's a small place, usually packed with Japanese diners. They don't take reservations for parties of less than 4.

[J.L.]

It's omakase dude. You can tell them about food sensitivities.

[Johnny L]

Supposedly there is an english menu too as it is a izakaya type restaurant I believe. Still I've been wanting to go try their omakase menu for the longest time.

[bulavinaka]

Not to quibble, but they do kaiseki. Izakaya is more like J-style tapas, where as kaiseki is more or less a set menu of sorts where (typically) seasonal items are prepared with a strong focus and presentation is probably as important as the preparation - something like that. :) The dishes are typically of smallish portions, which does draw some similarity to izakaya, but izakaya is more or less pub food that's to be washed down with boozy drinks.

[J.L.]

You're right bulavinka, it's kaiseki. I had a brain fart when I wrote omakase.

Gastronomic classification for Wakasan... Genus: Washoku, Species: kaiseki.

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Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[bulavinaka]

Your brain farts have nothing on my kids' real ones - SBDs. :) I think when one looks at the typical kaiseki, it is in essence a kind of omakase, right?

[J.L.]

It sounds as if some 'Hounds are approaching this modest little hole-in-the-wall with the trepidation reserved for nuns as they handle the ancient remains of saints.

For goodness' sake, it's reasonable on the wallet, and tables are plentiful. Just go and try it! And report back!