Bigger isn't always better—except at Shibuya - Review - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Shibuya serves sushi rolls so big they make your hands look small. Consider their house roll, which comes topped with so much crab, tuna, yellowtail, and shrimp that your best strategy is to first pluck at the pile of seafood with chopsticks, then pick up a piece once it’s small enough to fit in your mouth. The jumbo portions are just one of many reasons why this cramped strip mall spot in Calabasas has lines outside daily, though. Another is that Shibuya isn’t merely built for people demanding tempura-fried rolls and towers of spicy tuna crispy rice. Show up with your snobbiest sashimi-loving friend, and they’ll be right at home with a daily special that features well-constructed, traditionalist sushi like seared shima aji or marinated bigeye tuna that can go toe-to-toe with any sushi bar along Ventura Boulevard. The difference here is that even Shibuya's specials make nigiri at other spots look like [Zoolander voice] sushi for ants. video credit: Brant Cox Food Rundown Spicy Tuna On Rice Cake We’ll say this loud and clear: This is the best spicy tuna crispy rice in the city. Yes, $15 per order is slightly eyebrow-raising, but once you behold it in person, you’ll understand.There’s a good two inches worth of tuna on top mixed with onions and jalapeño bits, avocado slices, and tobiko. Then there’s the hockey puck of crispy rice below that we swear tastes like a McD’s hashbrown straight from the fryer. Most people at the bar order this, plus one roll, then call it a day. photo credit: Brant Cox Shibuya Roll Don’t be surprised if this roll elicits a few shocked laughs when it lands. It’s that big. Once you take a mandatory photo of the billiard ball of crab and shrimp tempura on top and start digging in, you’ll realize this super-sized roll also tastes delicious. Even the person at your table who always lectures everyone about soy sauce etiquette will agree. photo credit: Brant Cox Nigiri Whether its glistening kanpachi, fatty yellowtail belly, or baked salmon with a dab of guacamole on top (yes, it works), the nigiri at Shibuya are no slouches compared to the over-the-top specialty rolls. And yes, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, that’s generous slice of fish, too. photo credit: Brant Cox" - Brant Cox