Asuka

A serious restaurant for serious restaurant lovers. Michelin-star chef. A welcoming maître D' (wearing a suit and tie, nice!). Yet a casual and friendly environment. Innovative (have you ever had edamame tofu? You should.). Professional service (too rare in LA). Exceptional fish (isn't that why we're here?). The balsamic-caper reduction on the perfectly-cooked salmon was other-worldly. The Japanese eggplant with sweet red miso is perfectly balanced. Not possible to have only one spicy tuna handroll. You're worried that the sashimi is too thin? Get over yourself...if you want giant portions, go to McDonald's. If you want quality Japanese food and an exceptional dining experience, come here. Thank you, Vincent.

I came here last year for a business dinner and we had 5 course omakase. I was pleasantly surprised how fresh the fish was. It's a traditional Japanese approach, the food is really delicious. I'll definitely return when I'm in the area.

This restaurant got the unusual conviction of sticking to the best in terms of food quality. Every piece of sashimi, every single appetizer, even the kind of rice they use, the quality is top notch. It is a rarity in America these days. The chef is Michelin rated. Asuka displays a passion to serve the highest quality of Japanese cuisine that you could hardly find elsewhere.

**4.7/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Asuka Japanese Restaurant Westwood (Since 1974): O.G. Sushi Royalty Still Reigns** Hidden on **Westwood Blvd since 1974**, **Asuka** is the quiet legend where **Nobu Matsuhisa** *and* **Kazunori Nozawa** (the “Sushi Nazi” behind Sugarfish) cut their teeth before global fame 🍣👑. Walk past the unassuming storefront and enter a time capsule: dark wood, paper lanterns, and the rhythmic *thwack* of knives on cedar blocks since Nixon was president 🕰️. The **omakase ($120)** is a masterclass—12 pieces of pure poetry. Toro melts like butter, uni bursts with briny sunrise, and the **live kuruma ebi** (sweet shrimp) arrives still twitching before becoming nigiri heaven 🦐🤯. Chef Toshi-san (30+ years here) torches binchotan-seared sawara with a whisper of yuzu salt 🔥. Even the **tamago** is silk-sponge perfection. Classics shine too: **spicy tuna hand roll** ($12) packs wasabi punch, **miso black cod** ($38) caramelizes like Nobu’s signature but somehow *warmer*. Sake list? 20+ premium pours by the glass 🍶. Service is **old-school Japanese hospitality**—warm towels, paced courses, zero rush. Only quibble? Tiny 30-seat room books weeks out—call early 📞. Street parking is a hunt, but the $12 valet next door saves sanity 🚗. Westwood’s changed—boba shops, poke bowls—but Asuka remains **unchanged, unapologetic, unbeatable**. This isn’t trendy sushi; it’s *heritage*. Nobu and Nozawa learned here. You should too. I’ll be back for the next 50 years.

Yummy sushi, friendly service, fantastic experience! This sushi restaurant was recommended to me by a coworker friend. I'm a novice sushi fan and I tend to stick to the more Americanized rolls like shrimp tempura and spicy tuna rolls but this time I wanted a more authentic and adventurous Japanese experience. A group of four of us made it to the restaurant on a Friday night. The restaurant was clean with perfect lighting, the staff welcoming. For the first time ever I sat at the sushi counter. I've always been intimated by the sushi counter in Japanese restaurants thinking it was only for "real" sushi lovers, not a novice like me. The sushi chef, Taishi, was so welcoming and put me at ease right away! Instead of choosing my own sushi menu items, I went with the Asuka Sushi Omakase (Chef's choice) and I'm so glad I did. I mentioned that I was open to anything except salmon and Chef Taishi accommodated my request. My dinner also came with soup and agedashi tofu appetizer. The server came by and I chose the clam miso soup which was fantastic and contained a surprisingly large number of clams. I've never had agedashi tofu before but it was amazing! Loved the taste, consistency and texture. The sushi was amazing! The sushi rice was perfect, the various fish both fresh and flavorful. My favorites were the toro, bluefin tuna, and oddly enough the salmon roe even though I don't like salmon. The perfect accompaniment to dinner was the Oka sake and Suntory beer which I've never had before, but both highly recommended. My perfect food experience was topped off with an amazing mochi dessert filled with vanilla ice cream. Overall, it was a great dining experience with an amazing and friendly staff. The food and drink were fantastic and I can't wait to revisit Asuka soon!

Now that I found this sushi restaurant, it’s the only place I go and one of my girlfriends who entered used to it wants to go every week! The food is delicious by far the best fresh sushi on the west side at the very least, if not in the whole city. It’s also a beautiful and quiet restaurant unlike so many restaurants these days that are just loud!Love it!

Literally my favorite sushi restaurant of all time. Atmosphere is friendly yet professional and the food is absolutely exquisite. Every time I visit Los Angeles I always come here. There’s an $80 kaiseki course and $150 premium kaiseki course. Both are phenomenal. The $80 is a complete steal. I cannot believe they are charging so little for such amazing food. The owner, Vincent, is a delight to talk to and he has plenty of cool anecdotes to share. Definitely do not want to miss this spot.

What's unique about this place is the people, I mean the whole crew who are all Japanese. The owner is a real character. He loves to chat with customers n I enjoyed the conversations. The ingredients were high quality n the chefs took their spin on them to a true omakase level. I gave 3 stars to atmosphere as the main dining area is a bid dated n the lighting is not helping. However it was really roomy n comfortable so I am not complaining. The sushi counter side is much better n brighter. Will go to eat every time I visit LA.

Omakase at Asuka - wow! While the restaurant is within a half mile of my home, it took my good friend Evan hosting me there for my birthday to discover this Westside gem. The owner/host, Vince, was dapper in his suit and tie while making guests feel welcomed and special into this spacious and modern restaurant. Our chef Taishi is very friendly and highly skilled. The quality, freshness and preparation of all of the dishes from common ones like scallops and tuna to less often available fish like golden eye snapper were best-in-class and perfectly garnished and sauced - I literally did not use my soy sauce the whole meal. Asuka is now my favorite Japanese restaurant that is closest in proximity to my home. Arigato Asuka and Taishi-san - see you .... tomorrow!

Happened upon Asuka and so glad we did. Warm and welcoming from the second we stepped inside. Service was great. Food was fantastic. We shared everything from tempura vegetables and shrimp to eel to salmon to spicy tuna roll and yellowtail roll + a nice bottle of pinot. Even got carry out for the kid. Just a lovely, easy, pleasant experience all around. Everyone wanted us to be happy and we were.

An authentic Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Westwood. Asuka is on the pricier side for sushi, so be ready to splurge. I came here without reservations on a Friday evening and was sat immediately. The service was great and super friendly staff. I ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice, soft shell crab roll, blue crab and yellowtail scallion handrolls. The crispy rice was fantastic and definitely a must get. The handrolls were tasty and super fresh. The soft shell crab roll was on their special menu and I thought it was good, but not great. Overall, I would definitely recommend this spot to all you sushi lovers. Their omakase menu was enticing as well, and would be something I would get the next time I'm here.

I can't remember the last time I have been to a sushi restaurant that has sushi chefs that are Japanese. The original owner since 1974 tells a great story about how he started and how sushi became popular. The sushi bar was also very different from your typical sushi bar in the way the fish is stored to keep it fresh. The pictures on yelp do not do the ambiance or the food justice. I have been to many sushi restaurants, but this is the only one where I have ever tasted so many different flavors in each piece of sushi that was served! It was an amazing experience that just cannot be described in words.

I recommend this restaurant 100%. It has an excellent atmosphere, very professional and friendly service, and the food is amazing. It's the best sushi I've tried in Los Angeles, prepared by the best chefs. Everything I tried had an incredible flavor; you can taste the quality of what you're eating. ありがとう Asuka

Asuka means 7th century from what the owner/manager told me. When I walked in a very well dressed man(you don't see restaurant people in full suits and ties much anymore)seated me right away at what looked like the nicest table for me near the window. I read this is a top tier sushi restaurant here on Yelp and I was not disappointed. Everything was high level with a total bill I paid of over $140. I like they accept cash which believe it or not is no longer the case at many, especially woke restaurants these days. I had a delicious assortment of nigiri, my favorite was the monkfish liver, blue crab roll, grilled salmon(excellent sauce and plating)and roasted duck. The dessert was also interesting and different from the usual offerings elsewhere. Ambience and service was also excellent. Highly recommended.

If you want quality sushi and sashimi, this place is the bomb! I've been here many times over the years and it is consistently excellent. Fresh delicious. The parking can be challenging since it's on the street which is busy Westwood Boulevard. The venue itself is nice. It's a nice classy ambience with excellent service in the owner who likes to walk around posting about how great the fish is even talking about how great it is over Matsuhisa, Nozawa and Matsumoto! I found that funny since all of those restaurants are awesome.

This pplace is an amazing restaurant for authentic sushi. Staff is really polite, sushi is amazing. My mother and I had thought it was a really great meal and we are big sushi fans.

This place is absolutely fantastic. I'm not the most important client in the world I'm very aware of that living in Los Angeles & being normal. However, the team and staff here make you feel like a celebrity. Moreover they make you feel like part of the family. There was more care and attention here than from my own Family. The host gave an account of the rich history of this space. The service staff refilled my green tea 7 times (I counted), and the chiefs watched when we finished one course to start the next. I'd 12/10 recommend. This is going to be my new go to stop for celebration dinners.

I love this restaurant it's way better than Nobu and the owner is welcoming it feels very homey but tasteful as is the food

One of my favorite sushi spots in west LA. The Asuka sushi omakase is such a good price for amazing quality fish! I always enjoy coming here, especially if I get to sit at the sushi bar and see the sushi chefs in action. The owner has been there every time we dine in and has always checked in to make sure everything was great. It's a nice gesture that I personally appreciate. Highly recommend!!

The greatest sushi in Los Angeles The Owner is a Great man and cares about his customers 10 out of 10 Make sure to try the omakase!!!

Unlike many sushi places that serve sub par quality fish, this place is definitely worth trying. The owner of the restaurant is always there wearing a suit with his hair neatly combed back, making sure everyone is enjoying their meal. This is the kind of restaurant I want to support. The ambiance is quiet but still busy and classy. Sitting at the bar was a fun experience. We ordered the $85 omakase, then added on whichever sushi we liked better. Quality was fresh and cuts were generous. Recommend their omakase if you are looking to splurge a little (but not $400 per person like some really high end places). We liked all the nigiris we were served but some were out of this world good.

Very nice restaurant. The owner was solicitous and took such good care of us. We had the omakase dinner, and it was fabulous. You know that each dish in omakase is specially prepared and you should not use additional sauce/spice. This was perfectly seasoned and a sensory delight. The little touches were terrific. The minute my tea was low it was refilled. Everyone was friendly and wanted to educate us on our dishes. The pace was leisurely and the food was great. 2 thumbs up. Try the wagyu.

Vincent is an absolute gentleman, the food is wonderful, and the audience is delightful.

So delish! The food is super fresh and the staff is really friendly. I really recommend!

What a great find near our Airbnb. Food was amazing. Service was top-notch. And I loved the umbrella ceiling. Perfect for date night or dinner with friends.

Wow! I came to Asuka not knowing what to expect, but it completely blew me away. The sushi was unlike anything I've ever tasted--fresh, authentic, and perfectly crafted. I've been to Japan, and honestly, this sushi was even better than anything I've had there. The chefs had such great personalities, the waitress was extremely sweet, and I even had the chance to meet the manager/owner, who was incredibly kind and welcoming. This is the only place in Los Angeles I'd recommend for truly traditional sushi. 10 out of 10.

My mom has been going here since she was 20 the owner is so kind it is such high-quality sushi. People just don't know about this place. The crispy rice is the best I've ever had. It's just a great place

Asuka is an elite sushi restaurant that has a cozy neighborhood feel. The snapper sushi sampler and uni sushi sampler are standouts but everything prepared is done so with extreme attention to detail. The service is excellent with staff being extremely polite and attentive. I can't believe this place is so under the radar as it's on par with some of the top omakase only sushi restaurants in LA.

I ordered the sushi dinner set. But when I got it I noticed that they didn't me albacore which is listed on the menu and that's why I ordered it because I wanted to have some albacore. I asked the waiter why they didn't follow what's listed on the menu. The waiter was rude and said they don't have it and sometimes it happens. So I asked him why didn't he tell me when I was ordering but he didn't say anything and asked me if I really wanted it. What a shady place?! I don't feel comfortable eating here to be honest and will never come back and will tell all my friends that don't ever come here. Their sushi is really bad. I hate that when you pick up the sushi, it falls apart and you basically eat rice and fish separately. I've never had this bad experience at a restaurant.

Superb high quality sushi. Everything we had was top notch quality fish and delicious. Service was excellent and very professional. The space is cozy and charming. The ambiance is typical of sushi restaurants. It is expensive but worth it. I would say it is the best sushi place on Westside.

Excellent service. Hi quality fish. Creative dishes. Quite pricey. The highly recommend this place but watch the bill as it can climb fast.

I love the place! It's the best sushi place close to UCLA!! The service is fantastic, and the business owner gave us more tea to try. Thanks!!!!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary dinner here tonight and Asuka continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in LA. It is an authentic Japanese restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. The owner Vincent is attentive and introduces the restaurant and menu to every patron. He takes pride in owning a high quality establishment and it shows. The new chef here is a Michelin starred chef and everything we got on the kaiseki menu was delicious and definitely worth the price. Even the water there was great since they use alkaline water. The servers helped us navigate dietary restrictions and everything about our meal was excellent. We can't wait to go back soon!

The only word I have to describe this hidden gem is WOW! THE best sushi I've had all year, and I've been to all the classic LA haunts (and some of the newer ones). Asuka was really excellent. Super high quality sushi service paired with a relaxed ambiance and a knowledgeable staff. I was blown away from the value we got out of our sushi omakase, especially given the quality. Everything from the rice to the fish was chosen with only the best quality in mind. I'm blown away. Can't wait to go back and try more!

Incredible traditional sushi here!!! Very attentive service at this absolutely lovely sushi restaurant. First time to have Golden eye red snapper - melt in your mouth scrumptious sushi. Toro was especially amazing as was the kanpachi. Loved literally every bite, and highly recommend. The matcha panna cote was surprising amazing; get it for sure! We saw the sign too late there is parking in the rear.

I have been here couple times already. Always good as we expected. The unique special course is the brand at this restaurant. So it's very fresh and cushion style as well. The mood is very calm and quiet. It is opened table but it feels pretty private since the tables r apart each other. The owner is very funny and nice guy who is really proud to own this place. He said it's almost first Japanese fine dining restaurant in USA. And lots of chiefs learned from here and start other Japanese restaurants like Nobu and so on. I think I like this place a lot more to talk with him.

Highly recommend $85 Kaiseki meal We ordered the meal set with some sake (they offered a few different sakes. Some are drier and some are lighter). The food was amazing with top notch ingredients and presentation. The crab hand roll was a surprise as it was not in the menu. They do have more expensive set meals but I will highly recommend the $85 to get the most bang for your buck.

We had a wonderful experience sampling Asuka's Omakase. The owner had many interesting stories and perspectives on the LA Japanese food scene to share. We had about 13 dishes for the omakase experience, including a few add ons, ranging from O-toro, uni, to our favorite red snapper. We hope to visit again when we come down to LA.

The absolute best, most cared for restaurant sushi in Los Angeles. Hands down the best food, service and hospitality. The owner is amazing at running this establishment. I run businesses ladies and gentleman and this place is one of the top notch establishments in west la. Go once and you'll get it :)

Wow, I love this place. The sushi quality was great and the service was ridiculously good. It was a set course, so not much to say in terms of what you should select. However, it is a gem in this area. It's pricy, but if you can swing it, I highly recommend coming here for the food and the experience.

Amazing fish. Wonderful presentation. Sufficient ambiance. We're rarely in the area, but I regularly crave their food.

I absolutely love asuka. This place is the real deal. The owners take pride and deliver a quality product. Always a treat.

Amazing mouth watering sushi. Fresh!! Fresh!! Fresh!! Welcoming staff and the owner even stopped by to introduce himself and tell us about the history of his restaurant. Cant wait to come back for the omokase styled dinner!

My son and I came here for the first time last night. We can't believe we've never noticed this place before. We were tempted to get one of the higher priced omakase's (the Asuka Special for $68) or the $150 kaiseki) but instead opted for the more basic sushi/chirashi dinners, each for less than half the price ($32). The omakase or kaiseki will be a nice treat for a special occasion but otherwise these standard combos are delicious and great value, both having all my favorites already (bluefin, yellowtail, salmon, albacore) plus "seasonal fish" (in our case, black snapper.) Also, the agedashi edamame tofu was also unique and delicious. The service was top notch. We were checked on frequently. Could not believe they've been there since the 70's. We've lived here for 14 years and are moving to Ventura County in a few weeks! So sad we could have eaten there a hundred times by now but I guess better late than never!

Imagine being in a ryokan in Japan. They serve you multiple courses of delicate fresh and flavorful fish, artfully presented in a relaxing and collegial environment. This is what Asuka is like. The environment of the restaurant feels like a true Japanese restaurant. Orchids on the table, upside down paper Japanese parasols (Wagasa) hang from the ceiling. And the owner is so interested in all of his patrons. Will relay historical stories and anecdotes. They even have Tashi, a Michelin star sushi chef!!! the service is impeccable and you get an explanation of everything you order. They have omikase and kaiseki as well as ala carte. This is the same Asuka that was next to the movie theater on westwood forever, and they just moved down the street, in a lovely space, that also has outdoor dining. The food is amazing. The ambience is great. The service impeccable. You must come here. It's the second time this week we have been!

Vincent - the owner - is like the Vincent Vega of sushi. He invented the California roll. However, my favorite is the agadashi tofu. It's like clouds of deliciousness. Essentially a great place for traditional Japanese fare. I like the ambiance - I just wish they would put some string lights outside like their neighbors (Bruchetta) because its a little hard to find Asuka at night - even for someone who lives close by.

Best King Salmon ever! No kidding! Everything else is good, but Salmon is the bomb. We are a frequent sushi eater, but no salmon came close to this one. Sweet, soft and perfect texture. Tuna belly is also good. Great service, and great explanation by (I assume) the owner? Great experience! Recommended and will def be back for the Salmon!

This is by far the best sushi place I've ever been to and I've been to a good number. The service and the food is the best. Ken is amazing and the ownership and staff is very knowledgeable and friendly.

This restaurant got the unusual conviction of sticking to the best in terms of food quality. Every piece of sashimi, every single appetizer, even the kind of rice they use, the quality is top notch. It is a rarity in America these days. The chef is Michelin rated. Asuka displays a passion to serve the highest quality of Japanese cuisine that you could hardly find elsewhere.

After this dinner, I decided to start this diary of my food experience, in particular for the memorable ones. Oct 21, 2022 (Fri) It's been quite a while since my last visit to Westwood neighborhood, and this area is never on the top of the list when it comes to Japanese cuisine. (I might be wrong) There's nothing wrong with the food, it's delicious and fresh which is expected given the price. No intention to list everything I ordered, but I think the Toro sashimi, uni nigiri, wagyu beef are outstanding. SERVICE IS SHOCKINGLY POOR. This dude waiter is absolutely pushy when it comes to recommendation. "I think you should start with sashimi, Toro is great (MP on menu)....do you want the xxxxx yellowtail sushi? (my friend just want normal yellowtail and the premium version is 40% more in price)...you want 4 sushi? (despite I asked for 2 sushi since not all of us are eating). All in all, I felt very uncomfortable with his aggressive behavior and standing within 2 inches next to my friend when my friend is looking at the bill and deciding how much tips to pay. OH, boss is sneaky as hell. He doesn't even answer my question on where he is from, he is very weird. I felt very bad for the normal staff working there. Good food NEEDS TO come with a certain level of service. (I think I would have done a way better job than those dudes even with my historical waiter work experience at Starbucks and some restaurants).

Best sushi I've had outside of Japan, and better than most of the ones I've had there as well. Go with the Omakase and you will be back.

Just visited Asuka in Westwood Village . Very good experience. Excellent authentic Japanese with attentive staff. Enjoyed much more than a recent Beverly Hills experience. Similar to Tokyo or Kyoto.

Super high quality of food and Impressive service. Loved the sashimi Uni and sea bass.

The cuisine at Asuka is always exceptional. It's outstanding in quality and with innovative dishesbeautifully presented. Staff is skilled polite and professional. I travel all over the world for restaurants and this one is a MUST ‍‼

Wonderful experience here - and first restaurant I have eaten at inside in California since shut downs!! The service was excellent - everyone was very attentive and kind (: Feels like a classic traditional sushi restaurant - this is higher quality so it is more on the expensive side FYI Paid $31 for the sashimi special which comes with miso soup, rice, and 8 different types of sashimi. Come here to treat yourself haha or on a date .. just be ready to spend some $.

Had a fantastic experience dining at Asuka. We ordered the smaller of the two Kaiseki menus and were very impressed by the quality and authenticity of every dish. Each course combined high quality ingredients, masterful preparation and elegant presentation. The service was excellent and attentive. If you are looking for an authentic Kaiseki dining experience that won't break the bank, Asuka should be at the top of your list.

Asuka was amazing!! I lived in Westwood for years and didn't know about this hidden gem. Came here last week for the sushi omakase which came with miso soup, a tofu appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, and a hand roll (for us it was the blue crab). They did not have a single miss. Every item was fresh and delicious. The owner was so so sweet and the staff took great care of us, even allowing us to sample their sake selection before ordering. Definitely will be back to try the other dishes on the menu.