Minji-jacky S.
Yelp
I can't be more excited to leave this review. I am a sushi fanatic and this is my new go-to middle end sushiya in LA.
TL;DR: The nigiri sushi served here is pretty much top of the line for the price range. Small, cozy place with great service (shoutout to Daniel like the other reviews!). Kitchen entrees are really good too. I'm not a roll person, but it makes me want to try rolls too because everything I've tried so far have been amazing quality. If you want actually good sushi without breaking your bank, support this budding family-run business with me!
I'm a sushi lover who is obsessed with finding good sushi restaurants. I've tried most high-end omakase in LA, OC, SD area, but hey, let's face it. With inflation these days, most omakase at high-end places are now at least $200 per person and that's just too expensive. It's good, but I have been feeling like it's just not worth it.
So what's been my mission is to find a middle-end sushi place that hits the sweet spot with taste, price, and consistency. My go-to spot used to be Sushi Komasa in Little Tokyo, but they closed permanently during COVID.. I have been mourning Komasa until recently I found THIS little gem in Hollywood!! After coming here for about the 5th time, I've officially determined this is IT, and my search is OVER. Taste, price, consistency are all great and what got me REALLY impressed is that almost every time I come back, I've been discovering new menus! Chef Hi is the new owner of this joint. I asked him where he was before and he told me this is his first time having his own restaurant (AWWW). He seems to be always experimenting and coming up with new ideas and I just LOVE the passion and the craftsmanship!!!
Here's the detailed breakdown.
Food:
Nigiri (sushi) - the reason it's been so hard to find good middle-end sushiya for me is because I am very picky when it comes to nigiris. The neta (fish) can't be too big or too thick because it will be overpowering. Of course it has to be fresh, and here it has been fresh each time! The shari (rice) is usually where the problem is for me because many middle-end sushiya make their shari too sweet or too cakey or too big.. The best part about Ajito is that the nigiris have good neta-shari ratio and the rice is seasoned just right! You actually have to be very skilled to make good nigiris because you need to precisely control the amount of rice and how hard you press on the rice for the nigiri to have a balanced taste, and Chef Hi always delivers! If you love salmon, try their beet marinated salmon. I usually prefer less fatty fish, but the beet tones it down on the fattiness which made it perfect for me. Overall, their nigiri is top notch. Some pieces I would not have been disappointed if it was served to me at a high-end omakase forreal!
Mini Kaisen Don - this is one of the new menus they added recently and I am so obsessed. I want to come here everyday to eat it. It's perfect because Chirashi bowl portion is too big, but this one I can have it as an appetizer. It's sooooo good.... A MUST-HAVE!
Tempura - All of the fried appetizer dishes are super good, but YO the Yuzu Ebi Mayo? It's a hit!!! Fried shrimp tossed in mayo, ok, that's good but it could be a bit heavy, but the hint of citrus taste of yuzu is such a nice little touch! This is also my staple order when I visit now! One thing I want to highlight is every time I tried fried dish here, I can tell they use fresh oil each time. Sometimes at other restaurants I can tell they re-use their oil, but here it tastes very clean. The batter is crunchy and airy which is exactly how I like it! Also never comes out overcooked which is sometimes the case at other places.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
-Parking is super easy! Im so happy I don't have to go to Little Tokyo anymore.
-Service is super great! Both the ambiance and the service here is calm & friendly vibe.
-This is the best part for me, they charge Nigiri order by 1 piece as opposed to 2 pieces at most other places!!! For a person like me who can't eat a big portion, but wants to eat a good variety, this is grace. Perfect to come in a small party or even by myself!
Cons
-It is quite small! If I remember correctly 4 or 5 tables inside and a couple outside + the sushi bar. Probably not great for a big party. I guess that's why Nigiris are sold by 1 piece to tailor to customers that come in smaller groups. Good move!!
-I really really wish they had draft beer. But draft beer is only worth it for restaurants if they get a lot of customers who order alcohol because if the turnover rate is too slow, it's a big waste. Hopefully by writing this review I'm helping them get more customers.. lol Go drink here, folks!!
All in all, I really hope to see this restaurant grow which is why I'm writing this extra heartfelt review. Always excited to come back here!!