Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City

What a gem! Small, quiet, refined - here it’s all about quality, not quantity. Food is prepared really well and presented nicely. Staff is nice and helpful without being in your face all the time. The drinks menu could be a bit more inclusive. Otherwise this is an awesome place for a quiet diner for two (they only have bar seating so a party with more than 2 people would have a hard time communicating). Also, I wouldn’t call this place especially child friendly but we took our 2 year old with us for dinner and he enjoyed most of the food (the cooked items) and the staff and patrons were rather pleased to have him there 😊

Tried the 2x2 set and addrd couple other things. • 2x2 Set: • Edamame + Miso Soup • Handrolls: Bluefin Toro*, Salmon* • Kushiyaki: Negima (chicken thigh with green onion), Tsukune (chicken meatballs) • Appetizer: Salmon Sashimi • Signature One Bite Hand Roll: Blue Crab, Shrimp, Salmon Belly • One Bite Uni Handroll (Saijo Special) The sashimi was fresh, the handrolls were tightly made and flavorful, and everything came out super fast. The quality-to-price ratio was great, especially for how premium the ingredients were. Also loved how clean and calm the space was, great for casual dates or a quick lunch/ dinner. Service was fast and friendly! Definitely coming back😋

Saijo might have the aesthetics, but the management definitely missed the memo on hospitality. We booked a table for six over the phone, arrived on time with four guests, and the remaining two were literally five minutes behind us (because… LA traffic). Instead of holding the table or seating us, they simply gave it away. No apology, no solution — just a shrug wrapped in pretension. If it’s walk-in only, just say so instead of accepting a booking you won’t honor I went back once alone to give it another shot, but honestly? Not worth the wait or the attitude. The food is fine, but in a city full of incredible Japanese spots, “fine” plus a side of ego doesn’t cut it. Plenty of places in LA serve comparable dishes without the attitude. Bottom line: looks cool, acts cool, but can’t back it up. Your time — and your appetite — are better spent elsewhere in my opinion.

Amazing quality fish and great service!! So many good bites and everything altogether was so filling. Perfect date night spot for the sushi craving :)

Excellent service, great vibe and ambiance. About 20 ish seats, all bar style. Ordered the 2x2 - two hand rolls, two skewers, miso and edamame for $24. I was HIGHLY disappointed that both the salmon and tuna were a chopped / mixed paste-like concoction, rather than the sliced fish you normally get with sushi or sashimi. Taste was “eh”. It’s like the difference between a new york strip and ground beef. Both are okay, I guess. But i’m not gonna pay super premium prices for a couple tiny pieces of ground beef. The chicken skewers were very good - flavorful and tender. Miso soup was surprisingly good. Packed with flavor, good ratio of broth : stuff.

I love the fact that they offer so much more options than just handrolls. The rolls were fresh and tasty. I love how they presented some dish. Only problem with my visit was that they had terrible order up issue. Rolls came out at a good pace, but I waited 40 minutes since then to recieve my first kushiyaki. Servers looked at us like why we weren’t leaving half the time. They ended up asking if we were still waiting for something, which i thought it was kinda silly. At the end, they ended up serving our dish we waited for so long to the wrong table. Taking over 1hr 20min for 3 rolls and 1 skewer is way too slow. It surely doesn’t help the line forming outside with very slow rotation.

The 4x4 is a lot of food. Way more bang for your buck than I thought it would be. I felt a bit rushed cause it was busy so the overall experience felt hectic.

Classy, yet casual; delicious, yet also an art form in action and presentation. I’d come here for any occasion honestly. 😋 👍🏼

My friend attended dinner with a prix fixe menu, I was fortunate to be her Plus 1. The food was delicious, freshly made. The service was outstanding from beginning to end. We were seated at the Sushi Bar where we had a clear view of each handroll made individually and placed on a mini plate our place setting. MENU HIGHLIGHTS: Starter - Edamame Soup - Miso soup Cucumber Salad in a tangy sauce Entree - 1 Salmon Handroll and 1 Bluefin Toro Sushi - 1 Bluefin Tuna and 1 Albacore Kushiyaki - Grilled Chicken Skewer and Chicken Meatballs I highly recommend this classy restaurant. There was 6 of us in our section and we all loved the service and high quality of each dish. Sincerely, Rosemary

Saijo is located in a kind of random area of Culver City. I actually only knew about this place because I won an Instagram giveaway from their sister restaurant in Honolulu. So on my next visit to LA, I convinced my parents to journey to Culver's city to try saijo with me. Good thing it's close to LAX. First thing: parking. I believe this place is street parking only. We managed to find a spot on a Sunday afternoon around lunch time, but the curbs are so tall. Our rental car doors wouldn't clear the curb! Crazy. The outside is kind of ordinary, but the inside is nice. It's basically just a large bar and there are only bar seats. Sunday for lunch was kind of empty, only a couple other two or threesomes were dining and there are probably 20-25 seats. This place is known for hand rolls and kushikatsu. I'm not really a fan of kushikatsu, so I was definitely going to try the rolls. One guy was making all the hand rolls kind of in the middle of all the counter seating for everyone to see. The kushikatsu comes from the kitchen in the back and there were two girls who took orders, brought miso soup and like helped bus tables. I ordered their lunch special. They have a handroll special where you can get 3, 4 or 5 hand rolls with miso soup. I think the 5 hand rolls with miso soup was $24. Not bad I guess. Definitely not bad when you compare it to the regular prices for hand rolls if you order individually. I tried the blue crab, scallop, salmon, shrimp and spicy ahi. Everything was good and I was surprisingly very full by the end of lunch. I guess in my head 5 little rolls seem like not enough. But they were pretty hefty rolls. I liked the bag scallops the best. Bay scallops at sushi places scare me sometimes because there was like a hep outbreak in Honolulu from people eating bay scallops from a popular sushi place, but saijo is fancy and would never. I also liked the blue crab. The spicy ahi and salmon were good, nothing to rave about. And the shrimp was my least favorite. I thought it would be raw shrimp or maybe like tempura shrimp? But it was made with the boiled shrimp used for nigiri. The rolls came quickly, but not overwhelmingly quickly. They messed up on one of the rolls by serving me a roll that my mom ordered. Usually this wouldn't be an issue, but since the rolls are placed in front of each person (instead of like on a communal table), and because it's hard to see what's inside the roll, it was kind of a bad mistake. If this had happened with not my family, I think I would have been more upset for like touching another persons roll. Anyway, it was a pretty solid experience overall. Hand rolls are so cool nowadays haha. My parents enjoyed their rolls and the $50 gift card really sweetened the meal.

Saijo specializes in handrolls and kushiyaki, and both are delicious! I came for a special tasting night with the Franki Social App, so the meal we had was a preset one. The sushi bites and handrolls were so delicious and flavorful! The fish was literally melt-in-your-mouth! My personal favorite was the ahi tuna sushi bite, but everything was so good! The kushiyaki is also very good - I tried the chicken thigh and the chicken meatball and both were great. The chicken thigh was my favorite of the two since it was so flavorful and so juicy and tender! The cucumber salad was nice and fresh as well, but in my opinion it was just a bit too salty for my taste. Service was really efficient all night and they were all so nice! Parking is also available on the second floor of the building. Otherwise parking in the neighborhood can be a little tricky.

My sister and husband came here for dinner and I was honestly not impressed. Overall, the seafood quality was good but I found that the hand rolls lacked flavor. They weren't anything special and I feel like there are much better sushi/hand roll places in LA.

Tried the 2x2 set and addrd couple other things. * 2x2 Set: * Edamame + Miso Soup * Handrolls: Bluefin Toro*, Salmon* * Kushiyaki: Negima (chicken thigh with green onion), Tsukune (chicken meatballs) * Appetizer: Salmon Sashimi * Signature One Bite Hand Roll: Blue Crab, Shrimp, Salmon Belly * One Bite Uni Handroll (Saijo Special) The sashimi was fresh, the handrolls were tightly made and flavorful, and everything came out super fast. The quality-to-price ratio was great, especially for how premium the ingredients were. Also loved how clean and calm the space was, great for casual dates or a quick lunch/ dinner. Service was fast and friendly! Definitely coming back

My current favorite Japanese restaurant. I've never been to a place that serves both meat skewers and sushi. If you come here for lunch, it's cheaper, but they're only open from 12:00-2:30 and then again for dinner from 5:10 (closed on Mondays) . The yellowtail sashimi is insanely good, and so are the beef skewers. Not only is everything I've tried delicious, but even the things I wouldn't usually order have been good. I like the sushi chefs a lot, and all the food comes out very quickly. It's a nice place to eat by yourself or with a friend. When I first saw a specialty tuna on ice in the middle of the room, I was impressed!

Food, drinks, service and ambiance are all top notch. Completely and simply delicious and unpretentious. Highly recommend the Omakase and maybe add a seasonal bite or two. The fish is extremely fresh with subtle accent seasonings that accentuate the delicate flavors without being overpowering. Kushyaki grilled skewers were also delicious and provided a variety of warm non-seafood proteins, which perfectly balanced the omakase courses. No reservations are accepted, and seating is all at a wrap-around counter.

Went back for some Sunday dinner eats. Wasn't busy at all - no wait. Had a few different hand rolls and skewers. Was pretty good, as usual. Would come back again!

Finally -- a handroll spot with more than just handrolls on the menu! For me, a satisfying meal always needs a variety of textures and flavors, which is why I've struggled with other handroll-only places (like Kazunori). Saijo, however, not only does excellent handrolls but also offers skewers -- and both are fantastic. What impressed me most is that even with a more diverse menu, the quality never slips. The fish is fresh and flavorful, and the skewers are hot & cooked to perfection. I especially loved the shrimp skewer, while both friends I've brought here swear by the chicken meatball!

When you can't decide between handrolls and kushiyaki so you get both! Saijo is the newest handroll bar in Culver City! We got the 2x2 set, which came with a bluefin toro and salmon handroll, along with a tsukune skewer and chicken thigh with green onion skewer. If you're hungrier, then I definitely recommended getting their 4x4 set, which also comes with edamame and miso soup. They have small sashimi plates too and we got their salmon which was super fresh and topped with truffle. The A5 Wagyu skewer was cooked perfectly and it melts in your mouth with how tender it is. It's a great handroll concept that includes kushiyaki which most other places don't have, so if you're craving fish and meat then this is the place to go! The quality of the nori was great since it stayed crispy when you ate it, and the pace of your meal is pretty speedy as well. They have some options for beer and sake to pair with your meal, and overall it was a great quick bite to eat.

Saijo was recommended to me as a contender for top handroll bar in SoCal. This is a big deal because I think many people can agree that that accolade goes to KazuNori. Unfortunately, I don't think that Saijo usurps the throne for best handroll bar, but it is a great meal.  I got the 4x4 Taste of Saijo meal, which features miso soup, edamame, 4 handrolls, and 4 skewers. It's a lot of food or $44. I would recommend this set you can try a wide variety of what they have to offer. Saijo's handrolls are good. The fish is fresh and the rice is nicely seasoned. When I dined on a Tuesday evening, they had a large tuna carcass in the middle of the bar to display the freshness of their fish. I appreciated it, and it was cool to see. I wish I would've gone a little bit earlier in the day to be able to see them butcher it. I think what lets their handrolls down really is the seaweed. It's very chewy and difficult to bite through, compared to KazuNori's flaky, roasted seaweed sheets. The best part of the meal is when the skewers start coming out. The pacing of this meal is a bit clunky, like sometimes handrolls and skewers come at the same time, or maybe you'll get all three handrolls before your next skewer. The service is really fast, almost too fast. Either way, eat your skewers first. They are delicious and they're best when they're hot and fresh off of the grill. The seaweed on the handroll is going to be chewy no matter what, so you can let those sit for a minute. The skewers really are the best part of the meal. My favorite was definitely the shrimp skewever. It was plump, succulent, smoky, and really meaty. The maitake mushroom, and chicken skewers were good too. Saijo is a great meal, I would recommend it for a date night. It's not the best handrolls around, but the skewers definitely elevate the experience to make it memorable. Parking is available on the street nearby, which is really difficult, so be prepared to walk.

Was craving some hand rolls so me and bf called at 12 pm and they had walk-in availability until 2:30 pm. We got seated immediately and service was fast. It was a nice and clean little spot with a special lunch menu and hand roll combos. We tried the 3x3 for $34 which came with 3 hand rolls and 3 appetizers. The salmon and blue fin tuna hand roll had a fresh crispy nori but I felt was lacking on the fish. The blue crab hand roll had a piece of shell inside which I was not too pleased about :( . I did enjoy their complimentary miso soup and edamame appetizers. The 3x3 also included chicken meatball, chicken thigh with green onion, and shrimp garlic butter soy. These were all tasty and flavorful! My fav was their perfectly cooked, juicy shrimps. A very filling order, perfect if you're really hungry. TLDR; hand rolls were lacking in fish, but pretty fresh. Found a shell in my hand roll :( 3x3 is a bit pricey but good variety of appetizers and yummy shrimp.

I was curious about this place, so I came with my friend for lunch. Upon entrance, it is a hand roll bar vibe. It's bar seating with walk-ins only. It's a casual hand roll & kushiyaki bar. It feels exactly like KazuNori, but the quality is better, and they have kushiyaki. They will give you an order sheet with a small pencil to order. Their special lunch menu is a good deal for your choice of 3-5 hand rolls with miso soup in a discounted price. I ordered the blue fin toro ($2 surcharge), bay scallop, and blue crab hand rolls. I liked the scallop. The blue crab had a bit of the shell. I also ordered negima, chicken wings, and potato with butter kushiyaki. They were ok. Hand rolls and kushiyaki are nice and interesting combination. You can park at the meters or side streets (follow signs for parking restrictions).

Seriously wishing SALMON told me about @saijohandroll earlier! This hidden gem hand roll bar and kushiyaki serves up incredibly fresh sushi hand rolls, sashimi and nigiri, which are prepared and served up fresh to order by their sushi chef as you're seated at the round table sushi bar. Their hand rolls are a bit more similar in concept to Kazunori, with simple flavors and garnishes that retain the focus on the incredible quality of the fish and the preparation of the sushi rice. Arguably even more impressive are their perfectly grilled skewers, which include chicken, beef (and wagyu), seafood and vegetarian options, and literally remind me of the ones I've had in Japan. Highly recommend ordering their 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 sets, which include both selected hand rolls and skewers. If you're in the Culver City area, this hidden gem, authentic Japanese restaurant is definitely worth a visit! Featured here: salmon sashimi 2x2 set: bluefin toro handroll, salmon handroll, negima (chicken thigh and green onion), tsukune (chicken meatball) signature handroll: blue crab, shrimp, salmon belly sweet shrimp hand roll

Finally a great hand roll spot in my area! I've been coming here ever since they opened, and it's quickly become one of my go-to places. I love stopping by for fresh, flavorful hand rolls on a random day, and this place never disappoints. The fish is always super fresh, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the service friendly and consistent. My favorites are the Signature Roll and the chicken meatball so delish and juicy!

I came here with my friend for dinner on a Tuesday. We had a reservation and were seared immediately. I've been on a mission of trying different handroll spots around LA and was super excited that Saijo opened up. The interior is typical of a handroll bar, with limited seating at the bar. But that's what makes it feel special and more intimate. I ordered the 2x2 which is two handrolls (bluefin toro and salmon) and two kushiyaki (negima and tsukune), served with edamame and miso soup. I also added on the signature handroll and the two specials, which were uni and nakaochi. The miso soup and edamame were great to start off the meal. Bluefin toro is always yummy, and it came with a mini salad. 8/10. The salmon handroll was reminiscent of the one from Kazunori. The texture of the fish was really nice. 8.5/10. The Negima kushiyaki is a skewer with chicken thigh and green onions. Super flavorful and tender. 9/10. The Tsukune was chicken meatballs and was also very delicious. They definitely know how to cook their skewers. 9/10. The Signature handroll consists of blue crab, shrimp, and salmon belly. Such a good combination - no wonder it's the signature. Lovely textures and flavors all together. 9/10. The Uni handroll and Nakaochi handroll were also delicious. I've had better uni that tasted more fresh and briney but it was still good. 8/10. They also scraped the nakaochi right in front of us, which was fun. 8.5/10. I'm usually not a stickler about service but our server was very forgetful. We had to ask for our diet cokes after we already mostly finished our first round of food because she forgot to bring them. I also asked for a straw twice. And then we had to ask about the specials that we ordered because we had finished eating everything else for a while, and it turns out she forgot to put the order in the system. She was also extremely soft spoken and it was hard to hear her answers when we asked questions about the menu. However, I understand that they had just opened so maybe some of the staff was still training. Just something to be aware of. Overall, a lovely dinner and the food was very good. Great quality fish. It's pretty good if you're craving handrolls with options for specialty meat skewers, but I would still pick Kazunori or Iki Nori as a go to over Saijo. I would recommend this place if you like trying different handroll spots though! It's fun to sit at the bar and the food is delicious!

My fiancé and I were looking for a new hand roll spot that and we were in luck with Saijo. A very quaint and intriguing ambiance inside. You felt very relaxed once you sat and it had the bar style seating as most hand roll places do. This place had incredible service and our waitress was so attentive to watching when we needed more food. The food was *chefs kiss*' the skewers with hand rolls really made a difference and the sauces paired well with each skewer. The signature roll is hands down the best thing on the menu, packed with so much fresh fish! Please go try this spot if you want a different but delicious experience with hand rolls!

I'm so glad that Saijo is just a short drive from work, because the lunch specials here are a STEAL. Seating is all bar seating (think Kazunori) but they also serve yakitori as well! The lines for dinner can be pretty long, but from our experience, the service and food comes out pretty quickly. I ordered a 5 handroll set along with 3 skewers al e carte, since it was cheaper that way due to the handroll specials for lunch. The biggest standouts to me were their signature handroll, blue crab handroll, the shrimp skewers, and the chicken thigh skewers. The seaweed they use for their rolls are roasted beforehand so they're perfectly crisp, and the yakitori skewers all have a pleasant aromaric charcoal smell while still perfectly juicy. Highly recommend, and will definitely be back in the near future! NOTE: Parking in the back is intended for employees only, but there is metered street parking out front.

Saw this place on tiktok and wanted to check it out! I saw the big tuna fish online, and was happy to see it in person, haha. There's only bar seating, and they have so many workers to provide good service. They have good deals on their combos. I ordered the 2x2 which comes with miso soup, edamame, 2 handrolls, and 2 chicken skewers for $24. The food came right away, almost too soon, as the handroll came when I still had the miso soup and edamame. Wish it came out a little after because you are supposed to eat the handrolls fresh. The seaweed was flavored, which is not my fav either, and some of the fish wasn't my fav in quality. The skewers came out really hot and some of my favorites include the meatball and the beef. Overall, this is a good place for handrolls if you also want to get some other hot food as well! Would come back for their combos! Even cheaper at lunch!

Sushi lovers, this is a hidden gem! Tried Saijo today for the first time and I'm already planning my return. This new hand roll spot (just opened two months ago) is everything I love in a sushi experience fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. I went for the lunch set, and wow... what a phenomenal deal. Fresh hand rolls, miso soup, and a vibe small aisle yet open and little gem of a spot that feels like you're in on a delicious little secret. The sushi chef was friendly and clearly every hand roll felt like edible art, and the flavor combos were spot on. Shoutout to Ivan, our server, who was fantastic, warm, knowledgeable, and took the time to walk us through the menu and share his favorites. Love when service feels both relaxed and attentive. It's a cozy space with a first-come-first-serve lunch crowd (they're only open 12-2:30), so go early or be ready to wait it's worth it. Price point is incredibly reasonable for the quality. (See menu I've attached.) If you're looking for a quick yet elevated sushi experience with heart, Saijo delivers.

Saijo has become our new favorite spot within biking distance from home. The kushiyaki tastes just like it would in Tokyo (four times the price which, let's be honest, is expected in LA). While the beverage offerings are pretty limited, the cold dry sake from Akita was a perfect pairing with the food. The hand rolls were excellent too. I especially loved the special botan ebi with uni. That said, the service needs some improvement. It took over 30 minutes to get our first yakitori, and they forgot part of our order (three chicken wings). When I followed up in Japanese, the staff member admitted he forgot to put them in then 10 minutes later brought out just one. When I reminded him we had ordered three, he seemed surprised and never apologized. A simple "sorry" would've gone a long way. Definitely not the level of service I'm used to in Tokyo. I like their clean, bar-seating-only setup, but it could be tricky for groups larger than three. We were really impressed with the quality of the food, but a two-hour lunch wasn't what we planned. Next time, I'll double-check the order to avoid any mix-ups. Hoping for smoother service on our next visit because the food truly is worth coming back for.

Omg delicious! I was hungry and wifey wanted the mushroom skewer so we got the omakase ($58) and 4x4 ($44). We split basically everything and nothing disappointed. Lobster hand roll was what I was looking forward to and it is now my staple dish here. The yellowfin sashimi to start was a close #2. Beer is fairly priced at $7 for Sapporo Light. The service is right in front of you, friendly and attentive. They have light housey music playing in the background but not to loud to interrupt a conversation. House was packed, as it should be, and no one was yelling to have a conversation. We will DEFINITELY BE BACK and recommend highly. Oh... parking is best on the ramp, yes a ramp, on top of the BJJ gym.

IG/TT @eatwkris @saijohandroll is LA's newest hand roll restaurant where you sit in front of the chef and the handrolls are made to order. The fish is fresh, seaweed is crispy, and I love that they give you free edamame and miso soup. I recommend getting the 2x2 for only $24. You get a salmon and toro hand roll as well as 2 chicken skewers (negima and Tsukune). It's the perfect little meal so light and fresh for summer but if you want more my favorite hand roll had to be their special!! It's $8 but comes with 3 types of fish, seared salmon, shrimp, and crab!! This was the best bite and worth every dollar. Their bluefin tuna was very fresh and just cut off the fish in front of us but it had a lot of blood on it, so the whole bite was very jrony. Unsure if they usually prepare it like this, but not our favorite. $24 2x2 - 2 hand roll, 2 kushiyaki $8 signature hand roll - salmon, shrimp, crab free miso and edamame saijo hand roll, Culver City 12473 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

We finally had the chance to try Saijo after watching it being built and passing by many times. Needless to say, we were excited to finally dine here. We came in around 8:30 PM on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is large and modern, but surprisingly, there were only two other parties finishing up when we arrived. For a stretch, we were the only guests dining, which made the experience feel a bit rushed. Our food came out extremely quickly, almost too quickly, and it felt like we ended up eating much faster than we wanted. The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the overall service was solid. Saijo's concept is very similar to Kazunori (by Sugarfish), which we love and frequent often--the setup, menu layout, and style were nearly identical. One distinction was the inclusion of Japanese yakitori on the menu, which was a fun addition, though not really the reason you'd visit a hand roll restaurant. We tried the Omakase Saijo, which was beautifully presented and a bit different from the 3x3 we also ordered. Both featured same/similar rolls, just plated differently. The hand rolls themselves were fresh but a bit hit-or-miss--some lacked flavor entirely, while others, like the spicy tuna, were a bit heavy-handed with the sauce. I also wish they were a little warmer. From the yakitori section, the shrimp skewer was a highlight, while the chicken meatball skewer was flavorful but came out undercooked the first time and had to be sent back. The miso soup was excellent, rich and comforting. The edamame would have been much better warm rather than served cold. We also tried the fresh wasabi for an additional $6, which turned out to be a very small portion and not really worth the upcharge. Pricing overall felt high compared to other restaurants with equal or better quality. The menu is also quite long and a bit confusing, with too many combinations and options, making it harder to navigate. In the end, we enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't particularly memorable. The food was fresh, service was kind, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but the hand rolls--the main draw--didn't wow us the way we had hoped. Worth trying once if you're in the area, but not a must-visit spot in LA's hand roll scene.

Ordered the Bento Box B and was pretty happy with it but not sure if I would come back since there's plenty of better handroll/sushi bento boxes around the area for the same price, quality & more fish. I wasn't sure what was in the bento box since the online ordering site doesn't mention details but I wish it did. Half of the cut rolls were just cucumber and rice which was a bit of a disappointment. However, the sushi was fresh and the two hand rolls were solid.

Definitely adding Saijo to my rotation! Came by around 5:15 on a Tuesday night. There were a couple other parties eating as well. Since we came at an off time, we easily snagged street parking right in front. We got the 3 x 3, which I think is the perfect amount of food. The rolls were good, but I think the standouts were the skewers. For those that have never had yakitori, a set like this is perfect for trying something new. Service was also super quick! Overall really impressed. It would be nice if there were hooks under the table for you to hang bags/jackets. Will be back!

ahhhh - very happy to have found this gem. I have been on a handroll kick but was looking for a bigger menu than just handrolls. Saijo is great as they have kushiyaki AND handrolls. I can get a few handrolls and a few grilled items. They also have a fresh fish sitting in the middle of the restaurant and they do cut from it! Signature handroll, spicy tuna, toro, crap, albacore were portioned well. Fish to rice ratio was good! Almost all the kushiyakis were great (specifically Negima, Tsukune, Beef, Tebasaki, Chilean Seabas FAVEEE) service is quick, chefs are very nice and overall a great experience

Tonight my friend and I went to Saijo we ordered the 4x4 which is 4 hand rolls and 4 grilled skewers. Miso and edamame. It costs 44 a head. The place is busy. You might walk right in or you might wait 15-20 minutes. There's no parking which is frustrating in that there is an empty lot across the street. They could easily set up a moneymaking parking system. For now street parking. Look at the signs some parking is permit only. Ok back to dinner. The bluefin hand roll was very very nice! All the hand rolls were nice. Warm rice loose roll nice crunchy nori tasty fillings. The signature roll was open almost taco like. Once the food started it came fast. I almost felt rushed. The fish side was very nice. Amazing? No. Very nice yes. Skewers were chicken (other meats available) 3 ways and an oyster mushroom skewer. My favorite was the Tsukune which is a chicken meatball on the skewer grilled. It was good I wanted 2. Yes one skewer of each flavor only. I think there's room for improvement in terms of seasoning. No sauces are delivered. It's not complex. Lovely in its simplicity. Ok the joint is loud it's an echo chamber and really needs some simple acoustic treatment to improve the ability to communicate if it's busy talking is difficult. I would say this would be counter romantic despite the low levels of light. Oh and it's a counter counter only!! The counter is a beautiful wood walnut or something like that a nice surface. Counter Wouldn't be my choice. Outdoor seating would help. Hope the seating is comfortable. The stools at the counter? I wouldn't call them super comfortable. They should be since it's a custom buildout. I'm not a stool Seating fan. From my perspective in its current state no parking Loud environment being rushed. There's lots of work to be done. It's a new joint they are still working things out. Our server was attentive and like I said once it started (which was very soon after we sat down) it was swift. Too swift. That's the rhythm of the joint almost a sense of urgency. Once we start.. eating dinner shouldn't be urgent. This place is out of my normal range it's a big deal to drive 20-30 minutes in LA to eat so it should be special. Saijo has some elements of special but has some work to to to achieve repeat business special. I'll check back in in 6 months or so to see. No pictures of food. But here's a shot of the menu.

Pros - the food was really good. The wagyu melted in your mouth. The meats and shrimp (wish we tried the eel!) was well seasoned. I got the 3x3 pre fixed menu and it came with Edamame and miso soup for $34. The bbq beef was also good, everything was really good honestly. Con - is nothing food related. The parking situation is street only and the side streets are permit only from 5pm to 2am on northside of Washington. It's only like 20-25ish counter seating and when it does become popular, I hope they start taking reservations. The lights were dim, the menu small and although it's a check box situation, it's asking for QTY, only shown on top the first box each section was super tiny. I was checking it until we realized it was asking for the quantity. Over all great experience. Everyone left happy and satisfied. We got lucky and had a party of 3 that showed up around 7:15 & got the last 3 seats together. Talk about Lucky!

There are A LOT of sushi choices in LA, it's like our version of Starbucks - The last year has seen a flood of omakase choices and even more handroll locations. Culver City has been lacking in quality sushi for a while, no offense to the current offerings... Saijo popped up on IG without too much fanfare other than "Opening on 4/2" but our hopes were high. Haven't been to a Day 1 launch in a while so we thought we'd take a chance to see if we can get in (they don't take reservations). Based in W. Washington where the old Detour Bistro Bar used to be, it's a busy street and parking can be difficult but plenty of side streets to try. At 7pm the place was full (seating for 24) so one of the Manager's/Robert asked if we minded waiting roughly 30 minutes and could grab a drink next door at Corner Door. We got the call 20 minutes later and in we went... Inside is similar in many ways to Kazu Nori as it's all bar seating and the vibe was very upbeat with customers and the staff. The menu is also similar to many of the handroll places, where you can order a set/combination of handrolls and skewers. Although higher priced than Kazu Nori or some others, the quality of the fish warranted the pricing. We went for the 4x4 to try a little of everything and noticed a large fish that the chefs were scraping at to make rolls. We found out it was a special that night and had to try as well. The skewers were just ok as I have yet to really fall in love with any type of skewer anywhere but it was nice and salty so you wanted to have a beer - which just seems right for this kind of place. The fish was very fresh, and the nori paper was amazingly fresh and crunchy, the toro roll was the best we had all night by far. Comparing to similar places: Fish was fresher and nori was super crisp - handrolls are pretty much the 'usual' size I love warm rice with my fish, but this wasn't that style - which is ok Beer selection is minimal which I would think can only get better (just two to choose from) Considering it was night 1, the staff had this place pretty wired. Service was very friendly and relatively fast - we will definitely be back to try more. Quick tip - They didn't really promote anything special or off menu, but if you ask they will bring over a small sign with what they have to offer.

cozyyyy wozzyyyyy spot with the freshest most flavorful hand rolls and meats. if you opt to dine in you receive a front row seat to the culinary action! they offer select sake and wine for your experience. i was there for an event so the menu was set - their blue fin tuna, albacore, and salmon were my top fav. their miso soup is great for starters and to get the juices flowin. also, honorable mention to their Negimi skewer, perfect texture with a smoky flavor yet subtle sweetness. customer service was exceptional and everyone looked like they really love what they're doing and wanted to be there. I'll be back to try out their lunch specials!

My new favorite handroll spot, better than Kazunori and Yunomi. Their handrolls are filled generously and the seaweed is delicious even if it sits for a bit while you're taking photos of your food :) What sets this place apart is that they also serve grilled skewers!! Super fast service inside and lots of seating around the bar. Parking maybe a little difficult due to it being street only but it's so worth it!

If you're in LA and haven't been to Saijo Hand Roll Bar, you're seriously missing out. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was sleek and inviting, but the real star? The kushiyaki. Perfectly grilled, flavorful, and expertly seasoned, each skewer was pure magic. The pork belly was juicy, the Unagi had a bold umami punch, and even the veggies were fire (literally and figuratively). You can tell they take pride in their grilling game. Hand rolls were fresh and solid too, but honestly, I'd come back just for the kushiyaki. Service was fast, staff was friendly, and the whole experience felt elevated without being pretentious. @sushitraveler

We loving coming here for the handrolls and yakitori. The 3x3 deal that they offer is a great and affordable option. The tsukune is amazing, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The negi chicken is also amazing. Don't sleep on the handrolls either. The fish is fresh and the uni is also top notch. Highly recommended!

Came here right at opening with my kids and got seated immediately. The lunch special is great pricing. We had the avocado, the shrimp, the special, the lobster and the toro. All delicious seaweed is so crisp and fresh. We loved the seating cozy corner for us, but the place filled up so fast immediately afterwards within 30 mins.

I can't believe it took 5 months to find this gem (it's only been 5 months they've been open...)! What an amazing experience of the freshest, most delicious fish and grilled options too. Top it off with a great drink-try the Japanese beer (I forgot the name-it's the other one not Sapporo). They had a special tuna in the middle of the restaurant on ice that they were slicing right off the fish body into your roll and then straight into your mouth. And the services is great! They took the time to explain the menu, drinks etc. We can't wait to go back!!

Recently visited this handroll bar, and it was giving major Kazunori vibes. Parking is definitely limited since it's on a busy street, but you can usually find neighborhood parking on the side streets. I went around 7:30 PM on a Sunday night and it was a packed house, but they let you enjoy a beer on the patio while you wait. A lot of people were also waiting for pick-up orders. One thing I loved was how spacious the bar was -- seating for about 15-20 people. The menu is surprisingly large, with options like handrolls, sashimi, and yakitori. Everything is made fresh on the spot and comes out hot and flavorful. Such a cute date spot, but also perfect for a solo dinner. I'll definitely be back.

Great ambience and addiction to the neighborhood. The hand rolls were amazing and more manageable than the cone like ones. Barbecue was good and many others seemed to be enjoying it but I preferred the hand rolls

Yum. This place is so good!! Quality of the fish is fresh and delicious. Great menu options with more variety than most hand roll bars. I docked one star only because the food comes out too fast and in a strange order. I got two hand rolls before the miso soup and edamame. I love the signature hand roll and the albacore hand roll. Wil definitely go back!

Wow! Saijo keeps getting better. Getting in the habit of going weekly and each week it gets better. Love all the deals and am so tempted to gate-keep but its just too good. Sushi and skewers go well together and several of the skewers are just great, try the Halibut and the Chicken with Onions, yum! The lunch deals are great and its a fun sexy crowd they are drawing, definitely swipe right. This place is going to scale fast and I just hope culver city does not get to busy for its OG fans.

Got introduced by some friends, we came during the week and waited about 30 minutes or so. Everything on the menu was so yummy and phenomenal. The seating is bar-style in traditional Japanese style. They serve your food in rounds and try to get everyone served at the same time. Please be patient with the workers/sushi chefs since they carefully hand craft each one. Overall very unique dining experience and would def go again

Handrolls have seriously come on to the scene lately, and Saijo is just the latest addition in a fairly... wouldn't say sleepy area of Culver City, as the food game here is strong, but definitely an area that could handle another sushi place. They may not be larger than some of their biggest competitors, but they sure feel like it, with a single massive three-sided triangular bar that gives an unusual sense of style vs. many of their competitors. The menu includes both yakitori and hand rolls, and is quite extensive. Service is generally good, but their yaktitori was kind of disorganized in how it came out. I went just two days after opening so it's fair they still need time to work out their service flow. The hand rolls are pretty good, but the best of their competitors are at least as good. And while it was nice they had some quality specials (botan ebi handroll and an uni hand roll), they most certainly charged accordingly, especially for the uni. If you want hand rolls and are willing to travel, Saijo is solid. They feel a little more special than a lot of their competitors due to their style, but as far as quality, I might say it's a bit harder to say they truly stand out.

I wanted to try this newer handroll spot in town since I'm usually at Kazunori. Overall, this location has roomier counter seating and a decent outdoor waiting area with standing counters and benches. The ambiance of this place feels less intimate because of the shape of their interior, which is out of their control. It's almost a bit triangular with a lot of wasted space in its center? Kazunori feels smaller and more intimate, similar to how it feels in Japan establishments. I arrived about an hour before closing on a Saturday night and the wait was about 45 mins. They have various preset combos that do *not* allow substitutions unless you have specific allergies. What I ordered: - I got the 2x2 which came with edamame, miso soup, salmon handroll, bluefin tuna handroll, and two skewers (chicken meatball & chicken + green onion) The edamame could use some flavored seasoning or maybe more salt? It was super bland. The miso soup was good though. Rolls were fresh, and skewers were super tender. - In addition to the 2x2, my partner ordered the unagi handroll, wagyu skewer, pork belly skewer, and beef skewer. The Wagyu was my favorite, but the price was a bit steep (~$18 for a few pieces). The quality was decent. However, be prepared to spend a bit more of a premium, especially for some skewer options. Overall, place is worth checking out if you're in the area. TLDR: less intimate ambiance than other handroll spots, but quality and service was great **parking can be really difficult since it's only street parking**

Sooooo good! Feels like an authentic Japanese experience. The omakase is only $58 and you get sashimi, hand rolls and skewers! The miso soup is one of the best I've ever had. The skewers tasted amazing, fresh off the bbq. They have a decent drink menu though id like to see their sake menu grow a bit. They have smaller versions of omakase with the 2x2, 3x3, and the 4x4. I definitely recommend you go with one of these if not the omakase menu. It's affordable with a great variety of food and flavors. Bar seating only. They announce all the food when they give it to you so you know what you're eating. Highly recommend!! Definitely will be back! What a great experience!!

Saijo was a neighborhood sushi shop thats been sitting on my radar but never had a chance to go to until now. They have a somewhat small interior - all counter seats surrounding the kitchen. It's not ideal for big groups, but perfect for pairs! Now to the food, they offer two things: A variety of Grilled Skewers and Temaki (Hand rolls) - 2 staples of food that we like to pair with drinks. I got the 2 for 2 which comes with 2 rolls and 2 skewers, with a side of miso soup and edamame. Might not sound like much, but for 24 dollars and how the food is paced, I felt it was perfectly balanced. Definitely not a meal to get though if you're starving. The standout for me was the toro temaki. I think they mix in chopped Japanese pickles called Takuwan that gives it a nice crunchy texture! Overall experience was positive. I liked it better than kazunori. Would come again!

Discovered this spot through the Camber App's Instagram and I'm so glad I did -- Saijo might be my new go-to sushi place in LA. It's like Backhouse and Kazunori had a baby -- intimate, vibrant, and fresh. I opted for the 3x3 set (three handrolls and three skewers) and added a few extras off the menu. The one-bite hand rolls are a fun twist, and watching the sushi being made right in front of you adds to the experience. The kushiyaki skewers were super flavorful -- especially the Tsukune and the garlic butter shrimp. Everything was well seasoned and grilled just right. The hand rolls were fresh and well balanced -- the Signature and Blue Crab were standouts. Service: Friendly and attentive Vibe: Chill counter seating, great for a casual date or solo night out Drinks: They serve sake, beer, and wine -- I went for the Nigori and loved it Parking: Street parking available, free after 6PM Pro tip: No reservations, so time your visit well to avoid a wait Fun fact: Saijo is part of the Jinya restaurant group (yep, the ramen spot), and there's only one other location -- in Canada! That makes this Culver City gem even more special. All in all, Saijo is definitely worth checking out if you're a sushi fan or just want something fresh and flavorful in Culver City. Will 100% be back!

We were really excited about this place because we love Kazu Nori! Unfortunately it was a little disappointing. We had the 4x4 Taste of Saijo and substituted one of the blue crab's for bay scallop. The hand rolls were all okay. The seaweed was not crunchy and it made it incredibly hard to take a bit out of. Every roll, we had to tug at the seaweed to take a bite even when it was freshly made. Our favorite was the yakitori skewers. The taste of smoke was there without the char. Well seasoned and well cooked without any toughness. Our favorite was the shrimp and chicken meatball. Service wise, the staff were very friendly. Unfortunately they forgot about my chicken skewer when my partner and I both ordered the 4x4 and forgot both of our salmon rolls. Additionally I felt rushed. The next skewer and roll kept coming even though i wasn't done with my last. Unsure if that was intentional bc usually at hand roll bars theyve waited til i finished before delivering the next. Overall it was decent. I think we may come back for the yakitori but not so much the hand rolls.

Ordered kushiyaki for takeout Tsukune and the beef were my fav Chicken wings and shrimp were okay Negima was forgettable $37 for about 7 skewers Not bad!

My second time dining for lunch and it exceeded our expectations! The food is excellent. One bite hand rolls, miso soup, crunchy cucumber salad & tasty meat skewers! The service is friendly and super fast. They all work well as a team so that if your server is backed up their co-worker steps in to fill your order. The only wait was for the hot skewers being prepared in the back kitchen. The wait is well worth it. The ambiance is nice and pleasing to the eye. Besides being super clean the classy hanging lanterns and dramatic mural create a striking contrast. We sat facing the back wall with beautiful tea pots displayed over a simple wood cut out wall with classic Japanese emblems. We were told Saijo is the hometown of the owner. Unlike the hand-roll restaurant Kazunori in MdR, Saijo has more variety, nicer ambiance, better service and no lines. It's also independently owned vs. a restaurant chain/group. We've yet to try dinner but told it's the same menu.