Sushi Takeda

"When it comes to nigiri, Sushi Takeda hits Little Tokyo’s sweet spot: traditional and luxurious, minus an excessive price tag. Compared to flashier spots like Sushi Kaneyoshi or the crowd-pleasing Sushi Gen, Sushi Takeda’s subdued approach is easy to overlook. Hidden away on Weller Court’s third floor, you’ll find a $110 lunch omakase (dinners range from $140-$280 per person) that’s fairly fancy and ideal for special occasions. Take a seat at the light wood bar. Cold towels are dispensed. And despite the thumping house music played in the surrounding shopping plaza, the energy here soothes, as you watch the chef nimbly shape then plop pieces of sea bream, saba, and otoro nigiri onto the stone in front of you with the rhythm of a metronome. Hypnosis is to be expected." - garrett snyder, brant cox, sylvio martins

"If you're looking for a fancy dinner that won't completely blow out your bank account, try this very good sushi spot located on Weller Court's third floor. The omakase costs $280 per person, but they also offer a $140 sushi-only option and a lunch omakase for $110. Expect the sushi chef to shape and plop pieces of seabream, saba, and otoro onto the stone in front of you with the rhythm of a metronome. You'll eat pristine cuts of fish, as well as signature dishes like the iwashi maki, or soy paper-wrapped sardines rolls, and bowls topped with ikura and uni." - brant cox, sylvio martins

"If you're looking for a fancy dinner that won't completely blow out your bank account, try this very good sushi spot located on Weller Court’s third floor. The omakase costs $280 per person, but they also offer a $140 sushi-only option and a lunch omakase for $110. Expect the sushi chef to shape and plop pieces of seabream, saba, and otoro onto the stone in front of you with the rhythm of a metronome. You’ll eat pristine cuts of fish, as well as signature dishes like the iwashi maki, or soy paper-wrapped sardines rolls, and bowls topped with ikura and uni. " - nikko duren, brant cox, kat hong

"Takeda is another addition to the high-end sushi offerings in Little Tokyo, showcasing the neighborhood's robust omakase scene." - Matthew Kang

"Located on the third floor of Weller Court in Little Tokyo, Sushi Takeda is fairly new to the scene but already has a loyal following. The fans are here for Chef Hide Takeda, who has worked at some of the city's top sushi dens. There are two nightly seatings for omakase (one helmed by Chef Takeda), or skip the splurge-worthy dinner and opt for the reasonably priced lunch omakase. The counter is certainly the best place to pull up a seat to savor such items as the signature iwashi, a sardine roll wrapped in pickled daikon and filled with ginger and shiso. Lean tuna from Japan is simply delicious while spear squid with fermented tuna intestine is an enjoyable bite. Discover a perfect morsel of striped jack or the sweet and creamy kelp-cured spotted prawns." - Michelin Inspector