Best Sushi Lunch - Omakase. Nowza / Zo / Mori / Sasabune?

[uhockey]

Just as the title states. I went to Matsuhisa last time in town and enjoyed it a lot, but was with family and didn't sit at the bar. Still gunshy about the cost/benefit ratio of Urasawa for someone with a midwestern palate for sushi (IE, can distinguish good from bad, but perhaps now stellar from really good) but want to experience some excellent sushi at around the ~$100 mark while in town.

Thanks.

http://endoedibles.com

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Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Matsuhisa
129 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Sasabune
12400 Wilshire Blvd Ste 150, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[uhockey]

Odd question, but does Mori have enough room for luggage if I were to opt to go there directly from LAX when I arrive?

The conference I'm attending doesn't start till 2pm and I get in at 11am so I think I'd have plenty of time, but I'd be with bags.

http://endoedibles.com

[J.L.]

I see no problems with that. They can probably stow it somewhere.

[LATrapp]

Mori is fairly spacious and never really feels 'packed'. They are pretty relaxed about everything but the food there so I would definitely call them up and give them a heads up.

[westsidegal]

irrc,
they lock the door at 2:15pm.
so, if your flight runs late, taking your luggage may be your only option.

[uhockey]

Mori seems to be a heavy concensus amongst palates I trust, so I think I'll go with it.

Thanks to you all.

http://endoedibles.com

[Delucacheesemonger]

Add to my vote for Mori, have been to 11 places in the southern California area, and enjoyed my time at Mori very much, plant to return in January.

[uhockey]

Did not figure sushi to be your scene. Interesting.

Have you done Urasawa?

http://endoedibles.com

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Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[J.L.]

Just make sure you sit at the bar and not at a table at Mori Sushi.

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Mori Sushi
34320 Pacific Coast Hwy Ste B, Dana Point, CA 92629

[LATrapp]

Agree. Also, Mori is a very friendly sushi experience. Feel free to relax, enjoy, and ask questions.

[Porthos]

Mori. Full Omakase about $120-$150pp. Go Friday lunch.

[uhockey]

Friday won't work - would either be Monday or Tuesday - but knowing your tastes I trust you have good reason for the Friday recommendation?

Also, I've left Saturday evenign open in case you hear anything about LQ.

http://endoedibles.com

[Porthos]

Tuesday lunch is perfect then for Mori. Fish comes in on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ask for Mori or the new owner. Either the far right or far left end of the sushi bar.

My sister stopped by SK and the menu is set for the truffle dinner by LQ. Date is not. Will keep you updated.

[uhockey]

Beautiful. Thanks.

http://endoedibles.com

[kevin]

Please do tell about the truffle dinner at LQ, and how do I get on his mailing list or rather email list???

Thank you.

[Porthos]

http://www.bistrolq.com/LQ/SK/Foodings/

[Bert]

Have you been to Mori since it was sold? Any change in quality?
Edit: this was a misplaced response to Porthos, though it sounds like Mori still works there even though he no longer owns the place?

[Porthos]

Went during the transition. Long time patron JL has gone since the change in ownership and sat with the new owner (long time sushi chef at Mori) and reported absolutely no change in quality.

Plus, Mori is still there Tuesdays and Fridays according to JL.

[J.L.]

The new owner of Mori Sushi is Maru-san, who by the way has worked at that exact restaurant for quite some time before assuming ownership from Mori-san.

No discernible changes in operations/quality at all since the transition, from my perspective, with the exception of the logo on the signage, which Mori-san took with him.

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Mori Sushi
11500 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[Servorg]

"...with the exception of the logo on the signage, which Mori-san took with him."

And then he left his name behind in exchange...

[foodiemahoodie]

I notice no difference either.

[LATrapp]

Mori is as solid as ever. Change of ownership in this case is essentially unnoticeable. Same staff etc.

[cls]

IMO, Nozawa and Sasabune are not in the same class. Their heavily brined and sauced fish are not the same type of meal that Zo or Mori serve. If you choose that, Nozawa wins by a mile over Sasabune, but if you want more traditional sushi go to Mori or Zo.

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Sasabune
12400 Wilshire Blvd Ste 150, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[Jwsel]

Kiriko has a sushi lunch omakase for about $40 -- soup, salad, and 10 pieces of sushi (usually 9 pieces of nigiri that change daily and a blue crab roll). The fish is excellent and I find it better than any of the places you've mentioned. You could do that and supplement it with additional courses or ask for a regualr omakase at a $100 price point. I've asked them to set a top-end price before on omakase and have had great meals there.

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Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 102, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[uhockey]

Kiriko has a good location for me - need to read up on them a bit.

http://endoedibles.com

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Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 102, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[Clyde]

Kiriko is AWESOME!

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Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 102, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[foodiemahoodie]

I thought the lunch time omakase there (Kiriko) was more than 40, but less that 100. (I'm on here somewhere with the price). It was very good. I prefer Mori, but really enjoyed this. In fact I'll probably be back here before I got to Mori.

[westsidegal]

not a direct answer to your question, but as a general rule: i recommend AGAINST getting any restaurant's lunch specials if you want excellent sushi.
even when such specials are offered by otherwise excellent restaurants, in my experience, the lunch specials have not been up to snuff with the "regular" sushi/omakase served in those establishments.

[uhockey]

I was not asking about "lunch specials"

I was asking about ordering Omakase during lunch hours.

http://endoedibles.com

[westsidegal]

good.
just an abundance of caution on my part.