LA’s Waka Sakura Serves Upscale Conveyor Belt Sushi in Gardena | Eater LA
"Tucked into a hard-to-find second-floor, windowless space inside Tokyo Central Market, I found Waka Sakura to be a more upscale conveyor-belt sushi experience with a sleek, dimly lit dining room, hushed jazz piano, and helpful staff. Diners receive a heavy paper booklet with photos and can order via a tableside tablet or QR code; the menu touts freshly grated wasabi, Hitomebore rice, red vinegar and Junmai Daijingo rice seasoning, and Kyushu-sourced nori. The nigiri selection includes tuna, yellowtail, salmon, sea bream, seared wagyu beef and higher-end cuts like engawa (halibut fin), surf clam, uni, and jack mackerel; the rice is well-seasoned and served not quite warm but not frigid cold. Prices for two-piece nigiri plates start at $3.99 for albacore with garlic chips and go up to $5.49 for roe-topped salmon, and the menu also offers saucy rolls, hand rolls, sashimi, and grilled plates such as salmon filet and hamachi collar. Early buzz led to diners queuing for upwards of two hours and the market even dedicated a small waiting area, though waits more typically run about an hour. Owned by Pan Pacific International, Waka Sakura charges a few dollars more than budget kaitenzushi chains, but I thought the freshness and execution—from rice provenance and seasoning to the quality of fish—made it worth the premium as a quick sushi lunch or dinner." - Matthew Kang
