"Asakura is the first restaurant we’ve been to that transforms your leftovers into onigiri to take home. Not only are the rice balls great the next day, they epitomize the warmth behind this kaiseki spot straight from Tokyo. Asakura is hidden in plain sight in a Westside strip mall, and though it’s definitely a special occasion spot—$200 for six courses, or $300 for eight—it delivers a nice balance of stunning food in a low-key environment. A small team of chefs puts on a two-hour show for a dozen guests, featuring marbled wagyu with truffle, smoked caviar on chewy egg noodles, and homey Japanese dishes like ginger-kissed hamachi teriyaki over rice. You’ll be offered seconds of the latter, even thirds, until you tap out. That’s what we call hospitality." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park, garrett snyder, cathy park, cathy park, cathy park, brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park, brant cox, brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park, brant cox, sylvio martins, brant cox, cathy park, brant cox, brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder, sylvio martins, cathy park