MASAKAZU

Swing by on a random night through a last minute booking, then had one of my best sake/apps experience in LA. Chef was so nice, fun to talk to. Hope all the best for your business!! So appreciated for accommodating us at 11:15pm and kept hanging out till 1am 🙏

I dined here for the Valentine’s Day omakase with my girlfriend. This fell well below expectations. Having been to numerous omakase establishments, we can both confidently say that both the service and food quality do not justify the $200+ per person price tag. - Lack of Attention to Detail: In intimate omakase settings with fewer than ten seats, it is customary for the staff to pull out chairs for guests—a small but thoughtful gesture that enhances the overall experience. This was noticeably absent here. - Premature Upselling: Just three courses into the meal, our waitress asked if we would like to order additional nigiri. At a high-end omakase, this is highly unusual, if not inappropriate, as the experience should be about enjoying the curated menu, not being pressured into add-ons before the meal is even complete. My girlfriend, who has dined at over 20 omakase restaurants ranging from $150 to $500 per person, has never encountered this practice. It came across as a blatant attempt to nickel-and-dime guests. - Inconsistent Service: While I was served dessert, my girlfriend was not. I was then served the check BEFORE my gilrfriend got her dessert. This level of oversight is unacceptable at this price point! - Use of lower-Quality ingredients: A well-curated omakase experience highlights premium cuts of fish. However, this restaurant included sake nigiri (salmon) as part of the set menu—something commonly found in sushi restaurants at a fraction of the price. High-end omakase establishments typically focus on more exclusive selections. - Budget choices for white fish: Most reputable omakase venues serve red or golden snapper, but this restaurant opted for black snapper, the least premium of the three. This further reinforced the impression that ingredient costs were being cut. - Lack of Engagement from the Chef: Part of the omakase experience is the interaction with the chef, who provides insight into each course and enhances the meal with their presence. Here, the chef was notably disengaged and did not converse with guests, creating a cold and uninviting atmosphere. The sushi counter also had a divider which was blocking the "view" of sushi making, very odd considering most omakase places don't have this. Final Thoughts: This restaurant charges a premium price but does not deliver a premium experience. Between the lower-quality ingredients, the aggressive upselling, and the lack of attention to detail in service, it simply does not compare to other omakase establishments in the same price range. If you’re looking for an authentic, high-end omakase experience, I would recommend looking elsewhere!!

I've never had an experience quite like this one. Very intimate and the chef and server were both very kind and attentive. The sushi was great, especially the toro, the best preparation I've ever had. On that note, many of the preparations for the sushi were very unique and satisfying. Some reviews are bad on here, obviously reviews are subjective so I wouldn't let one person's opinion stop you from going here. I didn't and I'm so glad I went!

I cannot express how amazing this meal was. Shin is an amazing chef. His humble, funny, and kind chat made our dinner. Not a single piece of sushi wasn’t perfect. Many changed how I thought of sushi. Highlights were the black snapper (cured with kelp), ebi, bluefin, and sea breem. Japanese mackerel was perfect. It’s wonderfully chill and homey inside. Well worth twice the price. Couldn’t imagine another trip to LA without visiting. Would give 6 stars if possible.

The experience wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t go back. When I pay a certain amount for an omakase, I expect exceptional experience but my experience was meh to mediocre. The sushi was small with thin slices, minced cucumber placed on top of the fish didn’t pair well with some and most importantly, some fish didn’t taste fresh. Now that I’m thinking back on the details of my experience, I’m more disappointed. Oh, they charge you for hot tap water.

Mind blowing omakase experience. We had the entire place to us and it was one of the most intimate and extraordinary taste experiences ever

I wish I had read more bad reviews on this place, so I did not choose this restaurant. I am a foodie I've tried restaurants worldwide, high-end and low-end, the spectrum. Particularly Japanese restaurants, so I have a lot of comparisons making my review. Walking into the place itself felt very cold and empty, the lights were way too bright, and it hurt both my and my company's eyes. The service of the chef was so slow, and it was only five people in the restaurant, including ourselves. When it is slow, it messes up the temperature of the fish; it was warm and a bit off-putting. The waitress was fine in her service. The bill came, and regardless of the money being overpriced, it was not worth going already. We were all super upset.

Excellent value and quality. It's a hidden gem on Westwood and requires reservations. They serve the entire room at once and are very strict on punctuality. It's so worth it though.

I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life and Masakazu is easily one of my favorites. The flavors are complex, the music is just right, and the service is fantastic. Chef really is a visionary, no visit is the same and every visit is a culinary journey. Sometimes the chef takes risks with bold and complex flavors, but be still manages to make them accessible. Masakazu manages to be both modern but definitively Japanese. That's not a balance that's easy to strike. I couldn't possibly recommend it more. (For those who have access to chase dining - you can have this wonderful experience for significantly less by booking through the Chase app so a double win)

Not very good sushi, service or an omakase experience. Especially for the price, there are much better options. Also the pace of the sushi was so slow...

It was our anniversary and I really wanted to try the Japanese omakase. I have tried a few omakase experiences, but not the Japanese style. Let me walk you through what to expect, what I liked, and what I think needs to be improved. How to get there: The restaurant is located in Westwood near the I-405, in a strip mall surrounded by Persian market and eateries. Parking: You can use meter parking or pay at the parking lot. The price for the lot of $5 flat rate after 5 pm. The meter charges $1 an hour and you have to pay to park unless it's after 8 pm. Reservation: Resy is required, I made the reservation through Chase dining experience and they do have cancellation policies. - Cancelled within 72-48 Hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 25% per person + Tax - Cancelled within 48-24 hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 50% per person + Tax - Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged 100% - You can always transfer your reservation to another person. Ambiance: it is a very small restaurant. Sitting at the bar may be for maximum of 8 people. The interior decor was simple. Our dinner was at 6 pm and it was just the 2 of us. It was extremely intimate and quiet. Staff: The chef did not talk much, but he was very attentive to what you're saying. The server, dressed in a beautiful traditional kimono, was extremely diligent at cleaning our plate and serve water and tea. The omakase experience: At the time of reservation, the menu is unknown. The menu at the Chef's choice at the time of your reservation. You'll be served 12-14 pieces of nigiris for the entire experience. Food: The chef has been doing this for over 20 years and his skills truly shined through the food he curated. There was 1 cooked dish and 12 raw dishes. Each nigiri piece was uniquely crafted with different flavors. You do not need additional sauces to eat the nigiri. Overall, I thought the food was spectacular. My favorite pieces were the toro, yellowtail, albacore, and uni (best). I thought the ginger was amazing. It has a unique pickled taste compared to the typical gingers we have at sushi restaurant. I wished the chef gave us more gingers. Pricing: It is $140 per person, but please do note that there are hidden fees. I will explain this below. What I think needs improvement: I generously deducted 1 star because I thought the food quality was excellent. 1. I think the restaurant should be more clear about the price people pay up front. I thought the $140 price comes with 13-14 pieces since the website stated Masakazu's Omakase experience comes 13-14 pieces of sushi per person. It was not the case. I just want to put it out there that the price you pay comes with 12 pieces and the 2 remaining pieces (scallop and shrimp) come with additional fees. I ordered the additional scallop. I honestly think the restaurant should just increase the upfront prices to $150-$160 to include everything, so there are no additional fees 2. Because I already pre-paid the omakase, they wanted to adjust the printed tipping to reflex actual subtotal amount that I have already paid. I thought it was a bit funny why they did it and perhaps a bit untrusting of the restaurant since customers are under no obligation to tip a certain amount. I believe if you focus in doing your best to serve the customers, you'll get great tips. 3. The chef was extremely quiet through the entire omakase experience, but I know he was actively listening since we talked about ginger. It might be because of the language barrier, but it would have been nice if he can try to provide a bit of information about each piece. Toward the end, he did talked to us a bit about the omakase/sushi industry, which I thought was wonderful. 4. Also, the website states you need to showed up early. We showed up 15 minutes early, and have to wait outside until 5:55 pm to come in. It might be better etiquette to let customers come in and wait inside. Tip people interested in Japanese omakase: this is a Japanese omakase experience, a tasting experience. Please don't expect lots of food if you're looking for quantity. Overall: It was a great dinner for us. It was extremely intimate and one of a kind. The restaurant is not perfect, and it needs a bit of improvement when it comes to service. But Masakuza is a definitely place to be if you want to experience great quality fish. I do love supporting local businesses and Masakazu is one. You can tell the owner works hard to continue running it.

My fiancé and I came here for our 6 year anniversary and it did not disappoint! Everything was so delicious, the fish selections were fresh, and the sake pairing just topped it off. It's an intimate space that felt very welcoming and perfect for a date night. I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys omakase!

Very average onakase. Won't be back. Essentially the key issue was that everything was very average and nothing was special. Also, the fish didn't sit well on the rice and it was not a cohesive bite for most of what we ate.

Came for dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day and unfortunately, left unimpressed. The portion sizes are small - even after the 13 courses my boyfriend and I had to get a second dinner at Tsujita because we felt like we only ate an appetizer (and an expensive one at that!) I thought it was off-putting that for the price, the omakase didn't come with any uni or scallop. Those were available at an additional cost (even a small appetizer course mid-meal was up-charged when it really should've been included). The interior is really modern with an intimate 8 person seating, but the sushi bar was built in a way so that you can't see what the chef is doing unless you are standing. Most of the fun of omakase is to enjoy the experience of watching the chef create the dishes in front of you. I also realized that the chef had pre-cut most of the fish and wrapped them in paper towels beforehand, which explained why the fish wasn't as fresh and didn't have as much flavor. The sushi rice was seasoned but kept falling apart when placed on the serving plate. The chef also was really dry and didn't say a word besides the name of the fish when he placed it in front of us. Not sure if it was a language barrier but it did dampen the experience. +1 star because the server kept refilling my Barley Tea, which was really good. Overall, wouldn't recommend coming back as there are definitely better options in this price range elsewhere in LA.

This is gonna be a lengthy one, so buckle up. I spent weeks trying to find another great place to experience here in SoCal, but was absolutely disappointed in this place. For reference; I've done over 15 different omakase; from the inexpensive $80 course up to the $500 michelin star experience; so I have a very good idea of what to expect when paying for a $150 course here. Me and my wife went here to celebrate and was met with nothing but the presence of being excluded; but more so disrespected. When we came in, there was 4 seats prepared for the 06:00 time slot. When we got seated, we realized that the bar itself was too high for anyone to see what the chef was preparing; which really defeats the purpose of the experience. Might as well be seated at a table. It also didn't help that were were seated at the very end of the bar when there was only 4 people being served including us. Before we started, I even politely asked the server if we could be seated on a vacant slot closer to the chef, and was declined due to the fact that it was reserved. I can respect that. The only problem was; the couple reserved at that spot didn't come in up until past 45 minutes when we started the course; come to find out that they were 'regulars' of the place. That's PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT at it's finest. One thing to take note; every omakase restaurant I've been to will always advice the customer to come in at least 15 minutes early, and even give 15 minutes of allowance from when the course starts as to not disrupt the other customers and the flow of the course. After that; your reservation is considered void and you forfeit your deposit. This was obviously not the case. We were so far off and we couldn't see what was being serve; let alone get a proper explanation of the food. There was a lot more inconsistencies that I observed, but those can be tolerated. As far as the food itself; it was really average; nothing spectacular. We got 2 appetizers, got 2 tuna, 1 monkfish liver, 1 salmon, 1 whitefish, 1 uni, 1 snapper, 1 scrap mix of tuna,crap and whitefish, and a red bean pastry. Also paid additional $48 for scallops and unagi; not really worth it. Fish was really not fresh and the rice used was hot. Why is it hot? It's supposed to be room temperature. A sushi chef should know this. Comparing it to other omakase in the area at the same price point such as sushi note, sushi brothers, sushi takeda, and others; this is definitely on the low end as far as quailty. The WORSE actually didn't happen up until the end. The chef was focused on the two couples the entire hour and a half, and finally asked me how was the course. I honestly gave him my thoughts. Somehow, he couldn't take the constructive criticism, and started to ignore us even more, which is fine; that's just the way he wants to be when we already paid $350 for his meal. Obviously, I left without giving a tip. Now, this is controversial to a lot of people, but to me; my principle is always about honesty. If you did an okay job, I can say thank you without necessarily forcing myself to tip you. TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY. The chef then calls me not 3 minutes later on my personal phone (guess he took offense again) and passively aggressively asks what was wrong with the service and why I didn't give a tip. Immediately hung the phone. He call a second time. Didn't answer. At this point, he leaves a message saying that he was fine without the tip, but the server lives off the tips. RUDENESS AND DISRESPECT AT ITS FINEST. I'll say this again. TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY. Whether you did a good job or not, don't expect a tip and get frustrated when you don't get one. Don't put the burden on the customer because you can't pay your server enough. For a $150 meal per customer; you should at least be able to pay your employees well. Second, it is 100% ridiculous for you to even call and ask for a tip! Shame on you. For the chef; you really need to work on your craft and more importantly your people skills. It'll definitely help you more in the future. Unfortunately, this was a really bad experience for me and my wife. Tread carefully if you ever go here; you might experience the same thing. Or I can just advise you to take your hard earned money and enjoy them somewhere else.

First omakase! The service and vibes were great. Very intimate atmosphere. The chef was a pleasure and our waitress was very attentive. Tried a lot of things I'd never had before and some reimagined classics. Very good introduction to something I hope to have again.

Intimate date night spot. I've never had such lovely uni. Usually I'm not a huge fan (texture eater) but the uni served at the omakase was was light fragrant buttery like if bone marrow was chilled, smooth, and not greasy. Our chef did not speak a lot, but he did a great job telling us about the fish and where it was from. There were extra alacart items he offered to add on if you did not want your experience to end.

This was my first sushi omakase experience in the US, as all my other times had been in Japan. My girlfriend and I came a few days before Christmas in 2021, so this review is extremely delayed but I did jot notes down. It was a very intimate setting with only the chef and one server attending to 4-5 groups of patrons and no music playing in the background. The fish were all fresh and our favorite was the black snapper - we even ordered a 2nd bite at the end! During our brief conversations with the chef, I found him to be friendly, kind, and attentive. He said he'd love to only serve 4-6 people at a time, but to cover costs due to the pandemic he has to serve more. This cuts down on his ability to provide a "true" omakase experience to each person because he can't conversate as much as he'd like to. His insight resonated with me since the back and forth chitchat is what I liked so much in Japan. Regardless, dining at Masakazu was a pleasant experience and the food was great!

Went with 7 people for bar seating after reserving about two weeks beforehand. It ended up being around 200 per person since we added the scallop and uni as well as a wine to pair with the meal. All the dishes were really good and I think every person had a different favorite so you know all of the dishes were up to par. I don't think the scallop and uni were particularly worth it but the wine pairing is always super nice when you have fatty fish. One downside in my opinion was that the chef didn't really explain all of the dishes fully. He just explained what the fish was instead of describing the whole thing. So we didn't really have any kind of conversation or back and forth until the end.

Came here on a quiet Sunday evening as we were the only 2 customers in the already intimate dining setting. The quality of the fish was outstanding as the chef takes his time making sure that every bite is made to perfection. My favorite dishes of the night were the abalone, chu-toro, snapper, and scallop. Definitely a spot I would recommend as the prices are reasonable considering you're getting 13-14 pieces of sushi.

I'm blown away every time I come in. The flavors are always fantastic and unique. This is a sushi experience like no other, and I highly recommend. (If you have Chase Dining it's even cheaper to book through there through points.)

The omakase was wonderful! We chose the sushi + appetizers option, the appetizers were excellent but the sushi was so fresh and tasty that I almost wished we had chosen to do all sushi. Fortunately they allow you to add-on additional items. My favorites were the snapper and toro. Chef was very friendly and informative, answering all of our questions about the dishes and was great conversation in general. It was an intimate sushi bar that was great for our date night, would certainly return. As a side note to all viewing this restaurant, disregard the top review that says the portion sizes are too small, this person has clearly never eaten omakase before.

Masakazu is hands down one of the very best Omakase restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at. The meal was incredibly delicious, leaving me eager to return soon. If you're a sushi enthusiast like me, treat yourself to this experience. They offer fabulous sake and serve world-class sushi. The intimate bar seating creates a perfect ambiance for a romantic date night. The freshness and precision in every dish make it clear that the chef is truly an artist. A must-visit for any sushi lover! Recommend attire: upscale. When a chef puts so much heart into their cuisine the very least we can do is dress to show respect.

My friend found this place, so I called to make a reservation a few weeks ahead. We got the 6pm seating on a Saturday - that day, they had 6pm or 8pm seatings available. The restaurant was locked until 6pm, and they require masks to enter (they will give you one if you don't have your own!). They took our drink orders (I opted for hot tea), and our omakase started around 6:15. This is a quaint, intimate space - our seating had 8 people at the sushi bar. I spoke with Chef Shinichi a little bit, who seemed a little flustered and rushed. He explained to me later that he usually didn't have 8 people in a seating - perhaps they usually seat 6 people? Regardless, we had an excellent experience. Our omakase menu consisted of 3 small dishes and 13 nigiri. We then opted to add on the hotate at the end. The omakase here is $125 per person before tax/tip, which is quite reasonable for the experience. My favorite of the night was the john dory with pesto topping, as well as the black snapper. I had never had the john dory before, but I love when pesto is added as a topping to nigiri - went very well with the fish! The shari was perfect texture, flavor, and size. The chef worked meticulously and quickly, but it was sometimes hard to hear him as he named each fish and put it before us. Also, the chef counter had a little raised ledge, so he would drop the fish onto the plate before us, which I thought was a little strange. I'm sure the chef didn't mean to, he was just in a rush, and it is the nature of how the sushi bar was constructed. I didn't catch the name of our server, but he was very attentive and made sure my tea was never too cooled down or empty. Overall, we had a wonderful experience here and would recommended it for sushi lovers!

Ambiance - Intimate and clean atmosphere. Light-colored sushi bar and furnitures made us feel refreshed. Service - Chef focuses on the quality of sushi, humble, doesn't boast or beat us with so many information. Waitress is attentive. Food - All sushi are created with necessary ingredients I suppose, we needn't to ask any. Some were seared, some were raw. Toro was hands-down my favorite!! Overall Experience - I figured limited reservation is to ensure the service this restaurant offers, I'm impressed. Definitely a hidden gem in Westwood area.

This is the BEST sushi experience I have had in years!!!! I found this place randomly, and chose it purely off the reviews. I'm so glad I did. The restaurant is very intimate, small, and there's only a sushi bar. This means that you can only order the $120 omakase. Which is reasonable for what you get. The fish quality was incredible, but what really stood out what the chef's own creative way of preparing each piece. I mean, the toro was just insane... Service was also realllly good. They constantly check to make sure your dish is clean and that there isn't any soy sauce on the table in front of you. Cleanliness. I mean this is a 5 star restaurant. So the place is perfect, no issues. Even the bathrooms were nice haha. Really nice Sake menu too!! I'm so glad I went here...

What a gargantuan letdown! I was soooooo looking forward to a great sushi omakase dinner tonight after a pleasant visit to my doctor that afternoon. However, the quality of food and the overall horrible experience prompted me to post my first-ever review of a restaurant on Yelp. Ambience - 2/10 A big part of a good sushi experience is it's presentation. The less-than-dim lighting of the restaurant makes each piece of fish look uninviting to the point that I left a couple of pieces untouched. At the 'reasonable' price of $120 for an omakase sushi dinner on the Westside, the place should be packed. But it wasn't. The place seats 8 but there were only 5 of us. Except for the soft jazz music playing in the background, the place was eerily quiet. The chef, other than shouting out the name of each dish, wasn't communicative at all. In the middle of the 12-course dinner, I honestly thought about leaving. Yet, I stayed in the hope that the next servings would be better. But my hope was in vain. The counter top was so high that you couldn't see what the chef was doing. Hey when you go to a sushi bar, watching the chef in action is half of the fun so all things considered, giving the ambience a 2/10 is being generous IMHO. Food - 2/10 Very mediocre, indeed. The omakase dinner costs around $120, cheap compared to other omakase dinners around town. However, I just couldn't equate the cost to the quality. There were I think a total of 13 pieces. There were two pieces - mackerel and gizzard shad - that looked sinister enough for me to pass. The other 11 pieces were buffet-quality and just didn't look right. Another reviewer mentioned that hot water costs an extra two dollars and that's true. Can you believe it? Two dollars for a cup of hot water! And if you want ginger, it's five dollars extra. The chef whose English is hard to understand tried to upsell some extra pieces at additional cost. My bill came up to $168, tax and gratuity included. After it was over, I literally dashed out of the place feeling sorry for myself to have made such a bad choice. Save your money. Go elsewhere.

Fresh, quality, original sushi, minimalistic interior, small-business owner from Japan. You are going to spend money here, but if you care about quality sushi then it's well worth it. The owner/sushi chef will ask you to confirm the DAY OF your reservation from 1-2pm because many people cancel without notice. Keep in mind that this is about an 8-10 seater traditional Japanese-style restaurant, so if no-shows take up empty spaces, the owner loses that business. Note that everyone has their own idea of what warrants good sushi. Some like the whole mayonnaise-topped, stuffed with avocado or cream cheese, drizzled in sauce, with at least 2 kinds of seafood. Some like the experience of going somewhere with ambiance. I like all of these experiences, but it is quite rare to go somewhere with fresh fish. It is quite rare to go somewhere that doesn't offer soy sauce. The sushi is that good. The sake is also very good. The one that we got was from the brand Shichida. It was light and refreshing but still has about 15-17% alcohol. Again, you are going to spend a lot of money, but you get what you pay for. (I've been to Japan, and I'm from Gardena, so I hope that gives you an idea of my familiarity with sushi.) You're not necessarily going to be stuffed after eating here, but you won't necessarily be hungry. Unless you're looking for AYCE sushi. The Japanese truly believe in quality over quantity. Keep that in mind as well.

My friend had been wanting to try an omakase while she was visiting in town and so we ended up choosing Maskazu since it was close to us and reasonably priced. We opted for the 15 course and everything was so delicious and beautifully presented. There were only 6 of us total at our seating and we got to watch each piece being created in front of us and we were definitely sad when we realized the last piece had come out. The amazing service and the fresh sushi is definitely 5 star worthy.

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday after searching far & wide for the best omakase experience in LA, and unfortunately I did not find it worth the price point after dropping over $300 for 2 here. They are a very small restaurant (max 6 people total at the bar) and making a reservation is difficult as like most people here, I had to call several times during business hours to reach the chef and also had to call to confirm again hours prior to the reservation otherwise it would be canceled. Overall the quality of the fish is definitely very good. However, we both found the portions to be extremely tiny. Each nigiri piece is like half the size of the typical nigiri you'd get at other high end sushi restaurants and even after 15 courses, we left hungry and I'm not even a big eater. For the price, you would think items like uni, toro, and scallop would be included in the 15-course but the chef can offers them at an extra price, along with other options at the end of the course. I don't think I'd come back again. Parking is confusing in this part of town. You can fend for yourself with street parking, and it's located next to an empty building with a lot so we just parked there. Especially, with the plethora of sushi this city has to offer.

I am concerned about this place's covid policy and I'm disappointed. I barely leave one star review and this place became one of those few. My partner and I booked for omakase via resi, but unfortunately someone we had close contact with tested positive for covid. We wanted to be mindful and decided to cancel the reservation. We explained and asked to cancel well beyond 48 hours, and they still charged us a hefty cancelation fee. We could have gone and possibly spread the germs to avoid the fee. I don't think this is acceptable practice especially people sit so close to chefs or even other diners for omakase. It's very disappointing that they encourage people who can possibly have covid to dine in with the cancelation fee and put their employees and other customers at risk.

Delicious sushi in very private atmosphere. It is our favorite place. Each morsel of food is a pleasure. Strongly recommend

Make a last minute reservation and really wasn't expecting much from here. The service I would say is decent. The server was very police and attentive. However what I didn't expect was that the most of the fish was not fresh. Most of the sushi that I put into my mouth was icy cold. Can you imagine eating a piece of sushi where the fish was icy cold (just came out of the fridge) and warm rice on the bottom? Not great at all. This is one of the worst omakase I have eaten and will never go back.

Our new favorite Omakase place in LA. The sushi chef was very personable and each piece melted in our mouth. The dressing of each piece had a blast of flavor. Thank you so much! We will be back! どうもありがとうございます!

It's really pricey and only some of the fish is very good, the rest is just ok. Small place. Clean.

Hidden gem. If I could give Masakazu 10 stars I would. It's a 15 course omakase, $100 per person. WORTH IT. Everything was fresh and incredibly delicious. Never had sushi that fresh before. The chef and one waitress were incredibly nice and professional. We went as an anniversary celebration but if we could afford it, I'd like to go for EVERY celebration. Call ahead and make a reservation. Dining experience is roughly 2 hours long. Please go and give them some love!

I've heard great things about Masakazu and saved this spot for a special date. This past weekend I was able to take my fiancé out for his birthday! The reservation process was simple and cancellation policies are very clear. I needed to reschedule our reservation time and the receptionist was very friendly and thorough with the process. I found free street parking in the residential area just around the corner of Masakazu. Upon arrival we were greeted, checked in and seated. This place is a great intimate date spot and was very clean. We both ordered a glass of mizubasho sake to go with our omakase, it was bright, fruity, and sweet. Our server was warm and attentive. The chef was so kind and blew us away with the quality of the food. It seems that each omakase has the same popular items such as blue fin, toro, yellow tail, and comes with daily specials towards the end such as scallop, and uni which you can add to your experience. Each item we were served had its own unique taste and texture such as salty tangy with the red snapper and sweetness with the Japanese mackerel. Our whole experience was *CHEFS KISS* The only thing I would add was that the couple next to us seemed to know the chef which didn't give us as much opportunity to have conversations with him as we would like. Regardless, it was amazing top tier quality, authentic, unique, and I left feeling satisfied; wanting more! Masakazu I'll be back soon!

This is a long review. I didn't mean for it to be so long. I had such a great experience, why not a long review. My boyfriend took me to Masakazu on my birthday yesterday. It was a very intimate setting. It was a Wednesday so it was just me, my boyfriend, the waitress and the sushi chef. My boyfriend and I got there a little early so they let us in a few minutes before our reservation. The music was very nice relaxing jazz music. It set a nice chill environment which was nice after a long day of work. The interior design is very clean and minimal. We ordered a bottle of the Shinsei sake and a couple of bottles of Sapporo Reserve. The Shinsei sake was so smooth and refreshing! Definitely going on my list of amazing sake. The cuisine was traditional Omakase dinner, chef's choice of 14 courses. Each sushi was delicious, melt in your mouth, and the subtle hints of ginger, wasabi, yuzu, and shoyu in the various courses really showcased the fish. I missed taking photos of a couple of the courses because mackerel is my favorite and I couldn't wait. The waitress was so lovely, polite and very friendly. You can tell the chef loved his craft and is very dedicated. My boyfriend and I were prompt to our reservation, and he appreciated that. They were both very welcoming and he explained each course. My experience here was 5 stars all around. We heard about this place from when my boyfriend's brother went to Masakazu for his birthday a couple years ago before COVID arrived. Will definitely come again with friends and family!

This was a dining experience like no other! We had an 8pm reservation and arrived a bit early only to find a locked door. We briefly thought we'd gotten scammed since we'd paid in advance, but quickly realized that this is just part of the experience. The door opened at 8pm. We entered an intimate and minimalistic dining room with no tables and just one sushi bar. The lighting was dim and jazz was softly playing in the background. We took our seats at the bar along with the other three diners, and waited for the omakase experience to begin. Everything was superb. Fresh. Thoughtfully prepared. All around quality. The Toro and Black Snapper were my favorites hands down. What a blessing to have had this experience. The freshest and finest sushi, the intimate restaurant closed to everyone but us and three other diners, the ceremony of it all. Wonderful!

This place showed great promise. I was unfortunately thoroughly disappointed with my experience here. I took my mom here for her birthday because she loves sushi. Some red flags: #1: chef used pre-cut sushi to plate our tastings. Part of the omakase experience is watching the chef carefully cut the fish. Pre cutting fish degrades the freshness and quality of it which was definitely felt during our tasting. #2: while the wait staff was attentive and nice, the chef always seemed to be in a rush for some reason. We were the last tasting session of the day. Each round seemed to be a try at seeing how efficiently the chef could deploy fish on our tasting plates. #3: knife placement on the preparation table was kind of careless and haphazard. As an example, I saw multiple instances where the blade would have its tip resting on the cutting board while the handle was in on the table with the blade pointing towards the chef. #4: the sushi rice had no structural integrity. Bits of it would fall apart when it was placed on the serving plate. #5: the quality of the fish was so bad that at one point my mom couldn't continue. When the chef saw that he suggested that I help her finish the rest of it which showed no regard for our unpleasant experience and was frankly disrespectful to the food. Overall, it was disappointing to see the chef care so little about his craft.

As you can see from a previous review, I LOVED this place. So much that I bought the to-gomakase boxes multiple times over the pandemic to show my support. When indoor dining resumed, I brought some friends to celebrate a birthday hoping they would love it as much as I did. Welp, they didn't. And I found myself disappointed as well. Both the Chef and his food have lost their luster- while some pieces were great, the majority were lacking in taste & passion. Chef was also grumpy and got grumpier through the night and borderline rude with some of his comments. He did express on multiple occasions how tired he was and how tiring it was to run the business. We added on scallop and Uni and 2 bottles of sake to make the best of it, but overall left unimpressed. This was my first Omakase love and even though my wallet has a cried a river repeatedly over this place, I will not be back. It's not me, Chef Shin, it's you (and the uninspired food). Breaking up is hard to do!

High quality sushi for a very reasonable price! I brought my brother here for his bday dinner and we tried the $120 omakase which included 13 nigiri and 4 appetizers/cooked dishes. It costs $80 for the sushi only omakase. I would highly recommend going for the sushi only omakase. I enjoyed the nigiri and the quality was similar to sushi in japan but I wouldn't say this is the best I've had. The price for this quality was really the reason why I wanted to try this place. The scallop, snapper, butterfish nigiri were my favorite! Chef was very friendly and talkative which makes for a very relaxing dinner. He had fresh wasabi from japan but charged $5 per person. We opted to try it and it was pretty good. Service was great. What disappointed me a little were the cooked fish appetizers. While they were seasoned well, the fish was over cooked. The abalone/monk fish liver/baby albacore was the only appetizer out of the 4 that I enjoyed. Overall great quality sushi!

Great omakase sushi experience on the west side. Think of Masakazu as a hidden high-end gem of a restaurant. The meal you will receive is authentic and made with the utmost care. Every detail on the sushi is strategically done to make sure you get the most flavor out of the highest quality fresh seafood. This is a long past due review since I visited way before the pandemic hit. There is a standard omakase set that you sign up for just to dine here, but you can supplement/add other dishes to your meal. I found the fish to be soft, melt in your mouth, and full of flavor. Absolutely one of the best omakase experiences here. Parking is behind the restaurant and there is an attendant who will collect $5 to park there.

Another sushi restaurant on the Westside to add to our small rotation of favorites. Masakazu is an authentic sushi spot so you won't find any crouching tiger hidden dragon rolls here. The omakase pricing is reasonable for the quality of sushi you get. This is mainly an all bar seating, but I did spot two tables near the windows. Yuko (if my memory serves me correct) and Chef Shin were so warm and inviting. It was quiet on Easter Sunday, so we were able to chat more with them. Definitely a great dining experience. Since the restaurant is fairly new, Shin is doing everything himself so please be patient on busier nights if you see him running back and forth from the kitchen to the bar area. Parking is super easy. There's plenty of metered spots as well as a private lot for the grouping of businesses. Can't wait to return!

This restaurant committed tip fraud, adding $48.38 in tip without my approval after I had signed it. I called the restaurant and they not only refused to reverse the charge, but acted belligerently defensive of what they had done, acknowledging they had done it. Tip fraud is never okay, and I am going to report this.

It was good, but not the best omakase I've had. The fish was fresh and buttery, but the portion sizes were small. The nigiri is probably half the size of your typical nigiri at other restaurants, so even after 12 courses I wasn't that full. At the end, they ask if you want more sushi and the chef will make it, but uni, toro, and scallop aren't included in the regular omakase, so you have to order them as extra. Overall, it ended up being a little over $200 pp with alcohol, which is pricey given the portion size and not feeling full. Probably would not come again. The service was good, just one waitress/hostess, but she was super attentive and kept refilling our sake glasses for us. I think they have two windows of service: 6pm and 8pm. I noticed for the 8pm service, people have to wait outside until they're done cleaning/closing out the 6pm service.

First time Omakasi- it was a wonderful- if you like omakasi and raw fish. I thought it was very very expensive but the experience was fun

Stop reading. Stop searching. No review can do this place enough justice. This is the best sushi in LA hands down. And it's not even close. Go get a bento box now. This was my favorite sushi restaurant pre-covid... it still is today in bento box format. Sure, the sushi is not as good as in person, but it'll still be the best sushi you can find in LA.

I was going to give this place 5 stars until they charged an unauthorized tip. Here's the thing, we had already pre paid for an Omakase for 2 which came out out to $259, added a $40 gratuity with tax came out to about $338. Then we added on 2 appetizers which honestly should've been part of the omakase it was a cold red snapper dish which tasted like cold orange chicken and an uni. I feel like this is there so they can double tip you. Anyway I pay for the 2 appetizers which came out to $76 left no tip because I've already left a $40 tip. They called me twice by the way after I left, I didn't answer I check my receipt that was emailed, and it says they tipped themselves another $11. Very very unethical. So BEWARE. They can keep the $11, I guess they really need it if they have to steal from guests.

It was my first time at Masakazu and I have to say it was the most enjoyable omakase experience I have had so far. It was very intimate with just six guests, the chef, and the hostess. We came a little early to our reservation so the door was locked initially, but once it was open we were greeted by the kind hostess. There was only one hostess but her care and attention to detail made me feel right at home. The chef is a very humble, honest, and funny man--he cracked jokes at the end of the meal and offered to close out the night with a glass of beer with him. He loves his craft and it shows. Masakazu is a gem and I would not be surprised if it becomes harder to get a reservation in the future.

Solid quality with great service in a minimalist atmosphere. This is a formidable omakase meal and definitely worth a try if you like a traditional experience. Big shout out to Kate for taking amazing care of us on NYE! Thank you!!

Omg... by far the best omakase I've had in my life. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday as he is a huge sushi enthusiast (although I come in a close second). Due to covid, the owner offers only two options right now - either a 10-piece or 14-piece omakase, and we opted for the latter. Price was extremely reasonable and it's a private dining experience. We absolutely loved everything from beginning to end: the sushi itself was incredibly fresh and beautifully presented, you get the whole place to yourself and the chef in a spotless, minimalist setting, and the entire dinner experience felt sophisticated and mindful. The food is truly an experience in itself. I can tell the chef pours his heart and soul into each piece he prepares for his guests just by his presentation and selection of nigiri. My bf and I lowkey got hammered on sake and beer, and the chef was nothing but good vibes the entire dinner. He's also a one-man team, so he does everything on his own - from answering calls, serving dinner, and socializing with his diners. If you're looking for an authentic omakase that makes you feel like you just teleported to Japan for the night, this place is IT.

Go and see; it's worth the (albeit quiet) hype. ;) Fantastic aburi and service... at a very reasonable price for omakase.

Come here if you're looking for a fun experience with amazingly fresh sushi. You definitely need to call ahead to make a reservation as it seems like he only caters to 1 party at a time due to covid. As we were walking in, the other party was leaving and then we were the only ones in the restaurant for the rest of the night. Super impressive if you're on a date! As you're aware it's omakase style so no menu - he brings out what he has and each dish was incredible. I think it was 8-10 courses of a single item, no soy sauce needed. He does provide pickled ginger on the side. He has an incredible story, as most restaurant owners do, and covid really set him back so be sure to support your local restaurant owners!!

Decided to come here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday after seeing all the amazing reviews & was very unimpressed. Most pieces were extremely fishy. The sweet shrimp was actually bitter (!!!!) I've had much higher quality sushi in regular sushi restaurants. This place is not worth the money or hype. Definitely not coming back again.

Cozy omakase spot in the neighborhood. We did the 14 piece omakase plus uni nigiri at the sushi bar and it was spectacular. Very similar in quality to a higher end sushi restaurant in New York or DC, but nothing extremely special for omakase. Chef Shin was very amicable the entire time and made good conversation with us. Would definitely visit if you're in the area.

Not cheerful owner. (His English is not good. ) I asked Soy Sauce but he said NO. I asked Gingers but he said NOT NOW, later.... I've never had this kind of service. Very RUDE. We paired $400. NOT WORTH IT ! Never go back this place. Ridiculous !! You better think to change the attitude if you want to run your business longer. Good luck.