"You’ll notice signs at Hama warning, “No teriyaki, No tempura, No noodle, No rice alone,” so don’t bring your friend who just orders four rounds of gyoza. Both a la carte and set menus are well-priced at this quiet Little Tokyo bar—among the latter is a very solid sashimi special with soup and a California roll for $30. The a la carte offers more wiggle room for sampling, including buttery uni nigiri, some excellent toro, and a seared albacore sashimi platter with citrusy ponzu. It’s a small space, so get there when they open to avoid long wait times." - garrett snyder, cathy park, brant cox, jess basser sanders
"If you’re solely on the hunt for great sashimi, head to Hama. You’ll notice signs around this busy Little Tokyo bar that warn, “No teriyaki, No tempura, No noodle, No rice alone,” so don’t bring your non-fish-eating friend who orders four rounds of gyoza. A la carte and set menus are available—the latter includes various sashimi, miso soup, and a basic California roll that does the job. The a la carte menu offers more wiggle room for sampling, including buttery uni nigiri, a seared albacore sashimi platter with citrusy ponzu, and some excellent toro that is somehow both delicate and beefy in flavor. Plentiful options aside, the best part about Hama is that it offers affordable but high-quality fish in a casual, intimate setting." - garrett snyder, brant cox, sylvio martins
"Little Tokyo’s Hama Sushi is best known for its no-nonsense approach. Plastered on the front door is a sign that lays out the ground rules: Only sushi and sashimi. No tempura, teriyaki, noodles, or “rice alone.” Those who find the approach agreeable will be treated to some of the finest sushi in town. Grab a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar and order a la carte from a list of fairly standard fish prepared exceptionally well." - Matthew Kang
"Hama Sushi tells you everything with a sign out front: “No Tempura, No Teriyaki. No Noodle, No Rice Alone. Only Sushi, Sashimi.” It almost reads like a poem. Needless to say, raw fish is the specialty here, and you can eat like a baby prince for around $50 per person. You place your order via sheet, so try to grab a seat at the bar and get to X-ing. Get a $30 sushi set meal, which comes with a combination of various nigiri, plus a California roll that’s silky as a Bruno Mars/Anderson Paak collab. But don’t skip out on more creative options, like the gigantic soft-shell crab roll or albacore sashimi with ponzu." - cathy park, brant cox
"When you get to Hama, you’ll notice signs warning, “No teriyaki, No tempura, No noodle, No rice alone,” so don’t bring your non-fish-eating friend who orders four rounds of gyoza. Both a la carte and set menus are available at this quiet Little Tokyo bar—the latter including various sashimi, miso soup, and half a California roll for $30. The a la carte offers more wiggle room for sampling, including buttery uni nigiri, some excellent toro, and seared albacore sashimi platter with citrusy ponzu, with prices ranging between $10-14 each. It’s a small space, so get here when they open to avoid long wait times. " - jess basser sanders, brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder