Umaya LA - Kaiseki & Sushi

This is a great date night restaurant that is sort of a hidden gem. It easy to miss this place when walking by, but once you step inside you notice the chic decor. The service is very attentive and all the dishes are explained by the wait staff as they arrive at the table. The three course tasting menu is a bargain with a just right portion size that will fill you up but not overstuff you. The appetizer is a collection of different stuff, but the wagyu with noodles main is delicious. Definitely worth coming to this place for the tasting menus.

Umaya LA: Elevated Japanese Cuisine by a Legendary Chef!!! Chef NaO Sugiyama, known for his 50 +years of culinary mastery, specializes in kaiseki – the traditional Japanese multi-course dining experience that focuses on seasonality, balance, and artistry. While there are other talented chefs at Umaya, Chef Sugiyama’s expertise truly sets the tone for the restaurant’s elevated approach to Japanese cuisine. Umaya LA – an upscale Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of Koreatown, Los Angeles – offers an ambiance that perfectly blends elegance and comfort, making it the ideal setting for a memorable meal. We enjoyed a beautifully curated 6-course kaiseki, featuring mostly exquisite seafood dishes. Each plate was not only delicious but presented with impeccable attention to detail. Highlights included the fresh uni, the melt-in-your-mouth black cod, delicious wagyu, lobster tail with uni and Chef Sugiyama’s signature dashi seafood broth, layered with deep umami flavors. The dining ended on a high note with delicious desserts, transformed into flavorful and refreshing masterpieces. Service was impeccable and attentive, adding to the overall experience. This is a must-visit for anyone in LA or OC looking for authentic, refined Japanese dining.

Nice atmosphere and friendly waitress. The chicken karaage could’ve used a bit of finishing salt or a more interesting sauce, but it was a good start. The tuna sashimi was excellent—very fresh and high quality. My main issue was with the prix fixe ribeye. I ordered it medium, but it came out well well over done, which made it chewy. It’s served on a sizzling platter, which probably caused it to overcook even more. It also could’ve used a touch of finishing salt. On the positive side, the appetizer assortment that came with the meal was creative and enjoyable, and the dessert was equally interesting and delicious. I probably should’ve sent the steak back, but being with a group made that feel a bit awkward.

Stopped by for anniversary and DineLA! I never knew this place existed, but it seems like they've been around for about two years. The restaurant was a lot bigger than it looked and had a lot of spaces. They even had a full bar inside with a nice list of Japanese Whiskeys (Sorry, no Yamazakis!) and other spirits. The food was good and was presented in a 5 course meal (most likely for DineLA) Although my date got the sushi, I opted for the sukiyaki as they presented themselves as a kaiseki restaurant. They also had other options, but I think their sukiyaki was better than the sushi. The service was great when we first got in, but the place got packed in a few minutes and it seemed like there wasn't enough servers. However, the overall experience was great and I'd probably visit again for a different menu.

Fantastic quality and the Omakase Lunch is presented beautifully. Although everything was very delicious, the meal seemed a little over the top in a way that traditional Japanese restaurants aren’t. The dining experience is dressed up here and that is reflected a bit in the price. In summary, if you want authentic, straightforward Japanese sushi this may not be the place. If you want an interesting, albeit unnecessary, dining experience, this is a nice place. Keep in mind, though, the interior isn’t anything too special and there isn’t a dedicated parking lot.

Went here for our one year anniversary. It was beautiful! The location had little parking, but the valet was affordable and professional. The food was amazing and well portioned. Our server was extremely attentive and kind. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend.

First time at this location. We've been to the Cerritos location for ramen a few years ago, but the Wilshire location has a full bar with great sake selection. Sashimi and sushi were so yummy, expertly cut. Spicy tuna and Cali rolls were so good, and Miso Cod was so delicious and savory. It melted in my mouth. The seafood ramen was one of the best ramen I've ever eaten. The fried oreos were to die for.

Great Japanese food, fresh fish and lots of flavour. Excellent value for money as well. Service was slightly chaotic. Great value and highly recommended.

I've been a customer for years. John is always welcoming and kind. He also makes great drinks. I like a few dishes here, but the old menu had a lot more options with delicious comfort food. Food presentation and quality of food are excellent. Harry, the chef, is also friendly and does his best to make the food you like. The new chef is welcoming as well. The male owner is also professional, welcoming. and it's obvious he likes his customers to be happy.

I came here like 1 hour before closing on a Saturday night as I prepared myself with the energy and to vibe right before going to a party next door! I was greeted kindly by John and asked him if they were still taking guest and I was seated at a nice two top and preceded to look at the menu and was givin great selection of choices! John helped me with my choice and I went to wash my hands before enjoying this meal! Restroom sink is shared in a coed space, very spacious and clean with high ceilings with a high end aesthetic. Loved the door opener with the option of the shoe door opener vs using hands. I went back to my seat and enjoyed my sparkling bubbles then the food server came to my table and described each delicious intricate bite on my plates. I never had to look up to catch the eye of my server or a staff as my glass was always full with bubbly! This was top notch service as everything I needed was catered too without my look for attention. High end service! Sashimi was very aesthetic with the gold on top, for freshness it was delightful tho I have had better! The service and space is definitely what you pay for and the absolute amazing aesthetics! This is a date spot to visit or simply to celebrate yourself as I did! The sukiyaki was probably my favorite dish next to the steamed egg following the dessert! I had a great experience and highly recommend this spot to my friends! Well worth the money !

We took advantage of dineLA week prix-fix 5 course for $50 per person and enjoyed the experience. - location: Ktown. Parking is a bit difficult. Street parking is limited. Parking garage is mostly for bussiness or residents. Make sure check the signs. Some garage close after 7 PM. So, you may not be able to get your car out after 7 PM. - Ambiance: very modern and spacious inside. Not what we expected from the outside appearance of the old building. - Meals: good value with DineLa deal. Otherwise, it is relatively spendy with regular menu. Kaseiki tradition menu with multiple courses. Sakizuke: assorted seasonal appetizers came with snail, chilled shrimp,, seaweeds, potatoes. Acquired taste. Probably the best thing on this plate is the gelly palate cleanser. Tsukuri: assorted sashimi. Very fresh and high quality fish. Salad. Beautiful presentation. Toban: we chosed ribeye steak and seafood on sizzling plate. Both are well cooked and seasoning, served with miso soup and pickles. Deserts: japanese panna cotta. Very light. - Service: pleasant and attentive. Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience but not sure if we will hurry back anytime soon.

This was such an incredible dining experience! I walked in for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon with no reservation. I was welcomed and seated in the front row of the sushi chefs. The bar is decorated with the beautiful black tile and wood. The serving trays and plates are all perfectly sized to fit and compliment the dishes. It felt like a fine dining experience just from the place setting. They were offering the dine la menu so I chose the Shokado Lunch Special, which included everything pictured. I also ordered hot tea. The service here was so smooth and properly hospitable. It was busy but my dishes were cleared immediately and my cups were filled without having to ask. The cuts of sashimi all had unique flavor and textures, super fresh! The black cod with miso was so rich and buttery it pretty much melted in your mouth. Would definitely come back for that! The desert was a surprise and so automatically it was my favorite thing I ate. It was so light and fresh and perfectly ended the meal. I will absolutely be coming back again!

Between the Umaya omakase lunch and the chef's choice Yume menu, it's hard to pick which one I liked more. The lunch omakase was a fun option because you made your own hand rolls with all the ingredients they laid out before you. There were 12 different sashimi, sushi rice, nori, very low sodium soy sauce, and 5 different salts (kombu, ume, matcha, sakura, and yuzu). The Yume menu was a course meal with so many delicious items and some that even brought back nostalgia for me. My mom used to always make me chawanmushi as a kid and this one, I have to say, tasted even better than hers with the silky texture and mix-ins. I also really enjoyed the broiled fish which they change seasonally and ours was miso black cod. It was unforgettable. If there was an option to have it as an entree, I would not hesitate to order it. There were also 12 pieces of sushi of which I surprisingly liked the bluefin the best. That's not to say the others weren't good, because they were, it just stood out a lot more with how tender and thick the cut was. The ambiance of the restaurant is very relaxed and intimate, so it's perfect for date night or a fun hangout with friends. Parking would be street if you're lucky or at a nearby structure and then walk from there.

First time trying Umaya because I was drawn to their presentation pics on Instagram! The food does taste as good as it LOOKS! We got the sushi omakase & 6 course dinner and left so full. The DIY hand roll experience is lots of fun and the portions are generous for the price. In addition the service was amazing and the waiter gave us bag hooks for our purses (: There is NO parking -- street parking is also very difficult. Unless you get lucky valet is $12 cash.

My friend suggested checking Umaya out for Dine LA so I happily agreed. More recently, I started to avoid going to Ktown because the prices are getting outrageous when at one time, it was the go-to stop for a fun atmosphere and cheap food...even the fancier places were reasonable in comparison to downtown, etc., It is no longer the case. I about fell over when I realize the valet for this restaurant located off Wilshire/Catalina (one block from where I used to live) cost $16 or $18 (I forgot which it was). What happened to the good old days of free to $3 valet? This was the price up until the last few years!! Well, it's gone. I was shocked this restaurant didn't offer discounted validation for people who dine in. Umaya is a higher end Japanese restaurant. The dishes were unique and intricate but I wasn't a fan overall. I did enjoy the sashimi part of the menu and the mango dessert but everything else wasn't all that impressive.The worst part was that the server must've been knew because we were eating things we didn't know what the heck it was. The explanation was horrible and when we asked again, she repeated the same info that was really unclear. It was like a script and she had no clue what she was serving. That being said, the service was attentive, people made sure our water glasses were full, etc., The ambiance of the restaurant is nice and trendy. It was really empty for a Thursday night. They have a cute bar area which had nobody - I know ktown is a later "scene" but I had a feeling their price point may be too high with all the competition in the area. The parking alone will make me hesitate to ever go back. I would suggest lyft or the metro to head into ktown if you reside close enough. Otherwise it's a very expensive night out for so-so food.

Great spot for fresh sushi and a unique, build-your-own hand roll lunch experience! Parking is tough since it's all street metered parking but they also have valet parking during dinner time. For $60, you get their hand roll omakase which comes with 12 different types of fish, nori, sushi rice, dashi soup, and a salt seasoning platter. The experience is pretty fun and a cool concept, but I would rather watch it being made for me like at kazunori. I thought some of the fishes tasted mediocre but I liked the blue fin tuna and salmon. Their Chef's Choice menu for $120 was my favorite. The chawanmushi, which was a steamed egg with shrimp, eel, and ginkgo nut was really good! Following that was the grilled salmon and two omakase nigiri platters which I loved. The fish were all really fresh and already seasoned and my favorite was the uni and blue fin tuna. The dessert was a custard pudding that was super silky and delicious. Overall a delicious experience!

I've never experienced omakase like this As soon as you walk in, your eyes are immediately drawn to the whimsical umbrella ceiling, then down to the gorgeous, backlit bar. This is a spot that would be great for a girls' night out, a dinner date, or a business lunch. We ordered the Umaya Omakase, which was a tray of chef's choice sushi accompanied by nori, rice, soy sauce, and various salts to make our own hand rolls. It was such a unique experience and incredible presentation The service was also top-notch. My partner dropped his chopstick on the ground, and I swear as it was dropping, our server was already on her way with a replacement pair Save this spot! I'm already planning my next meal back

60 dollar set for lunch and you get a bunch of food. Trust me and just go and show them this picture. "I want this" And you're good to go

Celebrated galentine's day dinner here last weekend! I'm from Cerritos and there's an Umaya Ramen, so I was interested to see if there was an affiliation. Turns out, Umaya LA was originally a ramen spot but they recently switched to a sushi-focused concept in the last 6 months and in the past few weeks they came out with an omakase/kaiseki set up which is a lot more upscale than my experience at Umaya Ramen was! Parking: It's K-town so the area is a bit hectic, but there is street parking on Catalina St, or Valet Parking in front. The ambience is stylish. They have a bar area, a place to sit near the chefs, and general dining area if that is more your vibe. The restaurant was not crowded and volume is good for a romantic date night. We tried the Hand Roll Lunch Set and the Chef's Choice (yume) which was more of a multi-course experience. Between the two, I loved the Hand Roll Set because of its beautiful presentation and interactivity. They provided a guide for how to put together the hand rolls, and a small place of fun different salts like kombu, sakura, ume, yuzu, and matcha. I enjoyed the kaiseki as well, but the nimono, chawanmushi, and boiled fish I could've passed on, whereas for the Hand roll set I couldn't get enough. I thought the fish quality was great, especially the toro, tuna, and salmon. The dessert from the Chef's Choice menu is what really stood out to me. WOW - I'm not a huge sweets person but the texture was so light and soft, and the pudding was perfectly creamy and not too sweet. It was a wonderful end to our meal. Overall, the presentation and variety of the food is extremely high quality. I think the cooked dishes like the chawanmushi, boiled salmon, and soups were just ok. Service was impeccable. They were informative but never disruptive in our meal but always around when we needed something. This is a good value and a great spot to dine - you can also make a night of it and go to Intercrew after for more drinks!

Excellent ambience & Japanese course selections. Japanese sake haven. For Lunch, try the 'Lunch omakase' (make your own handrolls), allow at least 1 hour to thoroughly immerse yourself in the 12 assortment of seafood, accompanied by house-made miso soup & Salad with tomato-ginger vinaigrette.

Service was great with attentive server and bringing out dishes. The lunch omakase was by far the better one compared to the dinner set. Fun interactive experience for the lunch omakase with different dipping salts, and making your own sushi with rice, seaweed, and assorted season sashimi pieces. Dinner set was nicer in terms of presentation, but not as satisfying with the amount of food provided and cuts of fish offered. Great place to try though for lunch if you're a fan of aesthetic and sushi!

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! It was my first time trying omakase and it was a great experience. The lunch set was $60 per person that comes with fish, soy sauce, different types of salts, rice and seaweed. The staff was also very sweet and welcoming explaining how everything works. The ambiance was gorgeous. We went at noon and it was just us and another party. There's plenty of street parking right in front of the restaurant.

What a spot! The interior is beautifully decorated for a night out with friends or a date night. Service was great! Our drinks were always being refilled. Parking will have to be street parking or valet located down the street. OMAKASE LUNCH SET ($60) -comes with 12 types of fish/proteins, a bowl of rice, and a stack of nori so you can make your own handrolls! -loved how interactive it was and being able to try various types of fish -includes 5 types of salt (kombu, matcha, sakura, yuzu, and ume) to sprinkle on top of your roll CHEF'S CHOICE - YUME ($120) -great variety of textures/flavors in this set! -Nimono (Stewed Veggies) -Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg) -Yakimono (Broiled Fish) -2 rounds of sushi (6x each) -Osumono (Dashi Broth) -Dessert (Pudding)

Making your own handrolls is just so much fun! You definitely need to check out Umaya in Koreatown for an amazing omakase experience! They have different sets for their lunch and dinner courses, with the lunch course consisting of making your own hand rolls paired with their own in-house salt blends for $60, and dinner consisting of a full coursed meal for $120! The handrolls for lunch were so fun to make, and you can really customize it to your taste. For the dinner set, we loved the small plates they gave us beforehand like the seasonal vegetables, broiled fish, and chawanmushi which was so silky. The 12 piece nigiri set was absolutely delicious; the fish was so fresh and beautifully plated, making it taste that much better! The ambiance here is really elevated, making it great for a perfect night out in Ktown! There's a bunch of street parking nearby and they have lots of seating as well. Definitely recommend checking out Umaya the next time you you're craving sushi and want a great omakase experience!

CHEAPEST OMAKASE IN LA?! I strongly believe that quality omakase shouldn't have to be the most expensive, which is why I was so excited to try out the $60 lunch omakase from @umaya_la . The concept reminds me a lot of the omakase from Ume Williamsburg in LA, with a prepared set of different cuts of sashimi that you eat on its own, as nigiri, or in a handroll. Similarly, the set comes with miso soup, nori, rice and an assortment of salts. Overall, it's considered VERY affordable for a LA omakase experience, although I would only recommend this if you're not a sushi/omakase purist. While the overall quality of the fish was fresh and very well cut, I didn't find the execution as graceful, with components arriving randomly (for example, our wasabi and ginger arrived halfway through the meal) and descriptions of the fish/dipping salts being delivered sloppily or forgotten. I didn't like that they wasted one item on an egg roll, and there was one fish that got swamped in a strange XO/chili crisp like sauce. I get that this new lunch omakase concept is new (and perhaps the server as well), but I do think it needs a lot more refinement before being marketed as omakase.

Best Omakase experience ever! Came here for an anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. We left so happy and full. The fish here is so fresh I feel like they just grabbed it out of the water. Perfect textures on all the food and not a hint of "fishiness" from anything. The uni was sweet and creamy, and the caviar was rich. I'm not a big fan of gold flakes, but it did make the dish look better~ Service was top-notch. They are very attentive to your wants and needs. We felt like VIPs. Chef Nao is so charming, passionate, and sweet. I'm thinking of swinging by more just to see him. Chef Harry is also a comedian. The restaurant interior looks beautiful too. We can't wait to come back! SO worth it!

Went for the $60 lunch omakase which comes with miso soup, salad, and 24 pieces of super delicious, high quality fish - plus all the fixings to turn those pieces into delicious hand rolls. This was such a fun experience, perfect for a date or a friends get together. The service was amazing too!! Can't recommend this highly enough! It's SUCH a good deal!

Had an amazing birthday dinner at Umaya last night!!! The ambience was upscale and trendy. The service was wonderful and the dishes came out in a timely manner. We ordered: - Cocktail: The Outlaw and substituted the mezcal for tequila! It was the perfect balance of flavors and it was the perfect strength ;) - Appetizers: Shishito peppers (some pieces were spicy, so I probably wouldn't recommend if you are very sensitive to spice) Cucumber salad (nice way to reset and prepare your palate) Yellowtail sashimi w/ jalapeño (the fish was very fresh and I love how they gave 8 pieces instead of 5 like most upscale restaurants. The quality of the fish reminded me of the one at Matsuhisa!) Salmon carpaccio (also great and beautiful presentation) - Entrees: Miso cod (comparable to most miso cods) Sukiyaki (the beef was extremely tender and it had a delicate flavor similar to Japanese beef. It definitely satisfied my craving and it came with some vegetables and noodles as well so it was a balanced dish. The portion was kind of small so I would say for 1-2 people max, also assuming you'll order other dishes) Dynamite roll (this was one of the better rolls I've had and it was very filling and they loaded the lobster on top - great for sharing) - Nigiri: Kampachi Salmon belly Sweet shrimp Eel These were very fresh and I liked how they added sauce or yuzu paste, etc on the fish already. The rice was also extremely high quality. - Hand rolls (highly recommend): Negi toro Spicy scallop The sea weed was crispy and there was a perfect fish to rice ratio. I only tried the toro and it was not fishy at all and I can eat 4 of those! Dessert: They surprised us with a cute bday dessert with custard, mango sherbet, and grape fruit jelly. Very light and cute! Overall, I highly recommend Umaya. It is right next to Intercrew which stays open late in the night. I'm pretty sure they opened a new club in Intercrew too so Umaya is very conveniently located. I will be back!

Our first time experiencing Kaiseki Omakase with Chef Nao. Man, this experience was unforgettable. Usually, with omakase, we would leave 50% full, but for this event, we were beyond stuffed. Chef Nao has over 50 years of experience as a Chef however he has only started working here for 3 months and revamped the menu. Everything was top tier from A5 Waygu to the Chawanmushi to the various uni dishes. Sashimi, just like everything else, is extremely fresh! I'm in aw of the flavors we felt. Definitely check out this hidden gem before it gets too busy!

My boyfriend and I came here for Dinela and we loved it! The interior was pretty nice. We got the prixe-fixe five course which was very satisfying and tasty. I loved their sukiyaki! I also didn't expect dessert, but was pleasantly surprised when they gave us. Service was excellent - our server was very attentive. I would definitely come back here again. There's valet, but we were lucky to find street parking nearby.

I had dinner here a couple of weeks ago with a couple of my friends. We all had the omakase. The setting/decor is very nice. Open, airy and contemporary. The service was very good. Unfortunately, the food was just myeh. I can't really think of anything that was memorable. At the end, we weren't full so ended up ordering a 7-oz ribeye steak which was very bland. So many good sushi restaurants in LA, hard to envision going back to this one.

Service was fantastic. Decor was modern spin with Japanese elements and minimal. I would say it was sheik but cold (not in a bad way). However, it needs to have people in it so that it works. On our dinner, we were one of 3 parties. There is a lot of open space (as well as a large bar and a larger sushi bar). Food was very good. The chef showcased some aesthetically pleasing courses. Above all the fish tasted great - went down even better with sake! Not a value option, but would consider returning to celebrate an occasion.

My husband and I came here for our 9 year wedding anniversary and booked the 8 course kaiseki tasting along with sake pairing. The space was beautifully decorated and we sat at the counter. We were pleasantly blown away by chef Nao's cooking and attention to detail! The food was prepared and season well and melt in your mouth delicious esp the a5 wagyu, the lobster and uni was decadent and sashimi and sushi so fresh and tasty! The sake pour was generous and paired perfectly with each course. 10/10 would recommend and would definitely be back. Parking is valet ($15/16) or street parking

OH BOY THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE IS A BANGER. I came here with my friend for DineLA and we were shook how good everything was. The food here took me back to a ryokan (Japanese inn) experience of eating the best of the best food with almost story telling with each course. The first course of seasonal veggies, ume jelly, egg cake, and fresh shrimp was such a bang of flavor to start. The sashimi was so fresh and melted in my mouth. The salad was a great refresher and palette cleanser right before the steak and seafood entree my friend and I shared. I would choose the steak over the seafood but both were still remarkable and full of flavor. Ending with the Japanese pudding was a pleasant surprise. I usually eat these from the conbini, so to eat it fresh and nicely plated elevated my already favorite dessert. So light, perfectly sweetened, and melted in my mouth. Highly recommend and I want to be back asap.

I won the giveaway on their Yelp for the new omakase menu and it was amazing!! My husband and I used it for my birthday and when we got there around 7pm we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. We tried the chef tasting menu and my favorites were the mini squid nigiri and toro with truffles on top! Their service was impeccable and we never had to flag them down. It's in LA so you'll have to find parking on the streets or there's also valet. We didn't have any trouble since it was a Tuesday night.

The rice in sushi was terrible, clumped together, likely due to improper water measurements during cooking. The draught beer had a stale, moldy odor, indicating it wasn't fresh.(We had Orion) Despite the restaurant's large size with over 20 tables, ours was the only occupied one all night--it's easy to see why. Although the interior is nice, the overwhelming smell of bleach was noticeable the moment we walked in. We ordered bunch of Uni and it wasn't rinsed properly, as each bite had a gritty, sandy texture. Miso soup was so bland, they try to save extra buck on the miso paste The sake selection is good, but unfortunately, that's the only highlight of the experience. We were just 6 people for the whole night and there were 12 workers...

Looking for a perfect date night spot? Umaya LA is the place to go for sushi lovers. The design of the restaurant was beautiful and had plenty of seating that can accommodate for smaller and larger groups. They also have seating at the bar as well as the sushi bar, where you can see up close the chef prepare your meal. The dining experience was wonderful, we got the chef's choice - yume which came with 7 courses. The nimono was a nice start, light but flavorful trio of cold dishes. The chawanmushi was amazing, the soft pillowy steamed egg was full of flavor and was filled with so many ingredients! The shrimp and eel inside was on the tougher side though since it was steamed with the egg. The yakimono was beautifully presented, every touch and detail down to the plating. The grilled salmon was very clean, simply seasoned and great texture. The first and second round of sushi were delicious. I wasn't a huge fan of the tiny squid, but all the other nigiri were absolutely delicious. The texture and the freshness of the fish were mouth watering. The flavors paired well with each fish, compliments to the chef! The osuimono was a nice palette cleanser before the dessert. I cannot rave enough about the dessert we were served! A sweet, but not overly sweet pudding that was softer than a flan, which was paired with fresh berries. The perfect way to end the meal. They also have an extensive drink menu, including some non-alcoholic drinks. The lychee martini was delicious and a bit strong. The service was impeccable, our server described our courses well and was very attentive to us. We also had questions and she was very knowledgeable in the all the dishes and types of fish. I would definitely come back here to try their other omakase menus as well as their kaiseki menus! Loved my entire experience here! I will say that compared to traditional omakase, the complete experience is not there, since we're not sitting in front of the chef who hands you each course. Which is nice, especially when it comes to knowing exactly which fish you are eating in that moment. We were served all the nigiri at once, so it was easy to forget what was what. And it'd be nice to know how each nigiri was prepared - which would enhance our tasting experience. But for the price you pay here isn't as much as traditional omakase.

Tried their new omakase menu (Chef's choice Yume and Omakase Lunch) and had an amazing experience! Chef's choice Yume: The chawanmushi is one of the best I have had. Not a big fan of the broiled fish. Very high quality fish for the sushi sets. The second set has the toro with truffle and uni with caviar which are my favorite. The dessert was perfect for me, not too sweet and the custard was really smooth Omakase Lunch: Amazing presentation! Love the 5 housemade salt seasonings that comes with the Omakase Lunch, the flavors are unique (matcha, sakura, yuzu, ume, kombu) Service: 10/10! Our server was very attentive and and described every dish and type of fish to us really well. Ambience: Beautiful ceiling decor and cozy lighting, nice bar seating, perfect for a date night Pricing: The $60 handroll Omakase Lunch is a steal! You get 12 different types of fish (one of the is Tamago) and seaweed and rice to make your own handroll.

My party of 4 had a blast at Umaya LA! We came on a late Saturday evening and had a reservation on Open Table (they require a $15 per person deposit when reserving; this deposit goes toward your final bill). We attempted to call the restaurant but was unable to get a representative on the phone, but understandably they are probably very busy! We drove to the restaurant anyway and KTown always has difficult parking, but luckily Umaya has a valet service (we were very happy with this especially with the rain)! The valet were respectful and courteous and handled the car well. Right as we were parking, we actually got a call from the manager of Umaya that night and he was very very kind to still accommodate our reservation despite being very late. We were seated promptly and the server was very kind, patient, and attentive. We loved the ambiance of the place. The music was great, the decor was beautiful (the umbrellas are really pretty) and really set a dim, chill atmosphere. Most of us ordered from the kaiseki menu (chef's choice Tsuki to be exact which came with an appetizer, two different nigiri dishes, a stuffed chawanmushi, and a custard dessert), and we all really enjoyed not only the service of the kaiseki experience but the taste of each dish was incredible with high quality, fresh fish (if you like yuzu, they have really great fish with yuzu in this set) and the presentation was beautiful! There were 3-4 sushi chefs working so the service was quick! We were always eating which was appreciated as it was a late dinner. I will definitely come back to try another omakase menu item or even their lunch omakase, which looks fun! There's also a bar inside, so I would like to try the drinks next time too. Thank you so much!

Try Dine L.A Set Menu. Very Good Taste. Ribeye Steak Cut Thick Gives Mouthfeeling Satisfaction. Yummy Custard Pudding Dessert. Worthy.

I actually won a Omakase through a social media contest. My partner and I came for dinner and also purchased an additional Omakase. The food was spectacular. Service was amazing and ambience was fun with an upscalefeel. Highly recommend this restaurant. I also have to add that they have a great sake collection

Came here over the weekend for lunch and was amazed. We had a res at 12:30 and checked in. The restaurant wasn't busy. The interior of the place was super pretty and seemed like it would have a nice ambiance for dinner. We decided to get their lunch omakase set which was fairly priced for $60. First, they gave us a nice salad with a ginger miso dressing and it was very refreshing. Next, they gave us a little miso soup which paired well. Then, came our omakase trays. It was aesthetically pleasing and came with little bowls of pickles and a plate with different types of salt such as matcha, yuzu, ume, sakura and kombu. The server explained to us how to eat it and basically you just customize and make your own diy hand rolls. FYI it is really filling since they give you two pieces of fish, a bowl of rice and seaweed paper, by the time I got to the third or fourth fish, I was feeling full lol. At the end of your meal, you can make an ochazuke with the leftover fish and rice. It had a nice umami flavor to the broth and they even give you a little panna cottage type dessert at the end of your meal. Really good experience and delicious meal. Would come back to try their dinner set :)

Wow, just wow! Probably the best sushi I have had in LA. To be fair, I have not tried all the fancy omakase options in LA but as far as price point and quality go. Umagat is probably the best I've had. The sushi/food here reminded me of Japan and it also reminded me of how good sushi can be. The service was also great and our waitress was very kind. The restaurant always seems empty whenever I walk past it, but that's usually because it's on weekdays haha. I imagine they get popular for dinner and weekends. The salmon belly nigiri was the best I've had, period. The ikura was perfectly marinated and someone all the eggs were easy to pop. They give you a generous portion of uni and everything else was fantastic. My partner got a set menu and ate every single thing. We were so full after and will definitely come back. Not sure if there is parking for the building but there is street parking.

I will definitely have to re-review this place since I didn't eat much but from what I did have I have a feeling it could push 5 stars. Stopped in here last minute for a quick cocktail. Ended up also ordering the braised pork belly and shishito peppers which were so tasty. The service was very efficient and friendly. Th restaurants itself is not big but has a dining area, sushi bar, small bar, and small cocktail seating area. It's a quintessential modern LA Japanese restaurant in K Town. I can't wait to return for a full meal.

Hands down the best sushi I've ever had in LA, everything was so tender and flavorful. I ordered the premium chirashi and I'm still thinking about it. I wish I could go back in time and eat it again. Every bite had me doing a little dance in my seat. My favorites were the eel, the red snapper, the uni, the salmon, and the fatty tuna. While I don't usually like octopus, the cut of this one was extremely delicious. Came here with my partner who is unfortunately vegan, but the staff and kitchen were super accommodating which was fantastic. They had the mushroom salad, some of the veggie rolls, and the chef made a special little ginger nigiri which was a wonderful surprise!

I personally really liked this place. The ambiance is super cool! The sushi was amazing! What high quality! I thought my ramen tsukemen was pretty good too, though maybe a tad salty. My fiance said his ramen was ok and he got the basic tonkotsu for a good measure against the other ones he's tried.

Excellent omakase experience. Was not expecting such a solid experience. Service was great from Nora.

I went to Umaya to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and they were very accommodating. Not bad for the price and I enjoyed the food although some of it tasted frozen and fishy. The interior was relaxing and dark working for a classy high-end sushi spot.

The food was delicious and the ambience was great. Will be coming back soon. Happy to find something so close to home.

Chirashi bowl Didn't look like much but didn't look bad in the photos; I wasn't expecting much. But the fish is actually quite good! Good quality. Good variety of fish - all the soft, melt-like ones. + Tamago, shrimp, and imitation crab. I liked their miso soup because it came with some mushrooms! That was a plus. The dressing that comes with the side salad is also good! I couldn't tell what it was. Not a creamy dressing, but more like a vinaigrette but with chopped up stuff in it. Almost seemed like a citrus fruit and something else. Or maybe it was carrot and radish idk. I placed a phone order for pickup so I didn't eat inside but the place looks nice for an after work hangout or happy hour (4:30-6:30). And the person who took my order over the phone sounded nice and accommodating. Will be back to try their drinks!

Came out on Friday for happy hour. I decided to sit at the bar and was pleasured that John was serving/bartending for me. He made me a couple drinks that I really enjoyed. I had the Umayatini (lychee martini) and the Smashing Leaves(bourbon/kamquat based). Both very refreshing and balanced drinks. They were really easy to sip on. For food I had the ahi and yellowtail open hand rolls. Good portion for the price, good flavor, and really cool servicing trays. I also had the karage which was pretty good. The restaurant has somewhat of an eclectic upscale vibe(not the snobby kind). It's quite spacious with a bar area, couches, and tables. The decor is really crisp and clean. I only wish the menu was bigger. At least the happy hour. I came in with the intentions of their previous HH menu but they had changed a lot of menu options about a month ago. It was great overall but it's lacking a lot of great options that I was there initially.

Great happy hour! Came here with some coworkers for their happy hour. They had both drinks and food on their happy hour menu. Food ranged from $5-9 and drinks were $5-8. They were setting up their Christmas decor and the place looked lovely. Nice ambiance. Ordered the lychee martini and it tasted great. For food, we got the fries, gyoza, pork belly Oishi, hand rolls, and the Umaya spicy ramen. Food came hot and fresh. Everything tasted great! Service was great. Waiters came by to refill our drinks and water and check in on us multiple times. Food came out fairly quickly. I would come back to try other things on the menu.

U Ma Ma I love Ya ! Went here for a lunch break with the lunch squad. Made reservations, cause you know - we like to feel important. The place is amazing. Clean. Organized. We came here on a Friday and it was only our group of eight in the restaurant and we felt like VIPs. Most of the folks ordered the lunch special and it was more than enough food for one. Jidori Teriyaki was bomb. Spicy Salmon Cut Roll & Shrimp tempura Cut Roll were great. 8/10. Will come back here again for dinner. One suggestion: a mirror by the bathroom where the communal water basins are would be amazing.

Located just walking distance away from the boisterous Chapman Plaza littered with drunk college students, Umaya LA instantly transport you to a different side of Ktown; one that is much more intimate in setting. Valet parking is available and most street parking meter in the area is free after 6pm. It's amazing how much more relaxed the atmosphere is just 2 blocks east of 6th street. Whether you're looking for a place for a 1 on 1 date or need a venue spacious enough to have a company party or wedding reception, Umaya LA fits that bill. It's rare to find such a prime real estate on Wilshire Blvd where you can enjoy fine dining without the Disneyland--esque line and crowd. Here is a space where you can lost yourself for a whole night in good company and great food. I had a selection of the sashimi and the quality is superb. Just peruse the photos and wipe away your drool. I dare you to find another spot in Ktown that can rival Nori Sushi. Don't believe me? Come try it for yourself.

We came here for Valentine's Day. From my experience, if a restaurant is empty on a holiday, there is a reason for that. To start, we did the 6 course omakase "Yume". I've never walked away from an omakase still hungry, this was a first for me. For the price you pay, not only should the quality be outstanding but you should also be full. When reservations were made, they asked for a $60 deposit which applied to the bill. The omakase was STILL $120 per person, which meant the meal was $150 per person (not including drinks). That's insanely overpriced considering the mediocre quality and underwhelming quantity. Omakase started off with Nimono which had three small plates of seasonal vegetables: Japanese mountain yam, slow cooked beans, and sour plum in sake jello. Besides the jello, the other two dishes were so boring. It was a disappointing start. Second course was the chawanmushi. This was decent. The egg was silky, but there was a shrimp and eel slice that was steamed to high hell at the bottom of the cup. It probably would've had better, softer texture if it was cooked separately then placed on top before serving. Third course was the yakimono, seasonal fish. We had black cod. This was actually pretty good. The seasoning was done well and paired with a picked green onion on the side to cut the fattiness of the fish. Fourth and fifth courses were 6 pieces of assorted nigiri sushi each. The fifth course had "slightly better" quality than the fourth course. But if you ask me which piece was the best, I can't give you an answer because they were all one toned. The freshness of the fish was on par with what you can get at HMart. They also don't provide wasabi or ginger; you'd have to ask for it. The sixth course osuimono dashi soup with shrimp and fish cake was actually served with the fifth course. We were advised to slowly sip the broth while eating the fifth course sushi. It was a light broth but the shrimp/fish cake was rather salty and really overpowered the nigiri sushi. They ended the meal with two Japanese puddings in different sized cups and two stemmed strawberries. Our server asked which fish we enjoyed the most and we couldn't give an answer because none of them stood out. Additional to omakase, we got a 5oz sake for $19 and a mocktail for $6. The service and wait staff were very professional and polite. If only the food was better for the amount you paid for, this restaurant would probably be busier. It was half empty on Valentine's Day - a day where most restaurants are fully booked. Parking in ktown is notoriously difficult but they offer valet for $13 outside. Overall, I wouldn't be back. There are far superior quality omakase restaurants in the LA and SGV area that accurately reflects their prices, will give you what you paid for, and actually have you leaving the restaurant feeling satisfied and satiated.

What a pleasant dining experience at Umaya LA! Came here with a few of my girlfriends on a Saturday night, and we had a great time from start to finish. Ambiance: the whole restaurant space is beautifully designed and has such a cozy and quiet/intimate vibe with a variety of seating types and areas. Very modern chic vibes, with a bit of moodiness in the lighting. Service: the service was very good. Upon seating, hostess asked if I wanted my coat hung up by the door. Our waitress was excellent at checking up on us, explaining the dishes, answering our questions, while also giving us space to dine in privacy. Food: - we shared a variety of dishes including the hand roll lunch set and chef's choice (yume), which all focused on the sushi/nigiri as the main items and other side dishes to accompany with it. Plating was nothing short of beautiful, with details such as edible flowers and gold flecks to adorn the dishes! - the hand roll set was really fun and interactive to eat. It came with a little guide of all the fish/topping options which was super handy - I've never experienced an omakase experience, but I really enjoyed the variety of fish options I got to try! There were your staples such as salmon and tuna, but so many other species that if I'm being honest I can't recall...but they were all delicious! It would've been nice if they also provided a small guide to go with the sushi so we knew what we were eating. - dessert was an agar Japanese pudding that was surprisingly one of the best dishes all night. It was in between a flan and a pudding, and just had such a wonderful flavor. We wish there was more! Overall I would def come back for a date night with my boyfriend or even another girls night.

Great food, great quality for the price. Hidden gem, underappreciated - it should be packed during happy hours 10/10