Perched high in the Hollywood Hills, Yamashiro offers inventive sushi and Cal-Asian delights amidst stunning gardens and koi ponds, making it a romantic gem with unbeatable city views.
"If eating dinner in an over-the-top replica of a Japanese palace, complete with courtyards, a 600-year-old pagoda in the garden, and giant fishbowl cocktails, sounds like something you’d be interested in, it’s time for you to pay Yamashiro a visit. In the Hollywood Hills, just above the Magic Castle, this giant building once was an art museum, before becoming a private club for important Hollywood people in the 1920s, an apartment building in the 40s, and eventually a restaurant. The pricey Japanese menu of rolls, fried things, and steak is fine, but not the main event—you’re here for the views and the kitschiness of it all." - brant cox
"Built as a private residence in 1914 and converted into its current form in 1960, Yamashiro is a massive Japanese restaurant overlooking Hollywood, and a place where ghosts can truly be themselves (the 600-year-old pagoda that sits on the grounds probably helps). The decor is admittedly pretty gaudy, and the food isn’t much better than anything you’d find at Hollywood/Highland, but at the end of the day, a tacky ghost is a fun ghost. So order a couple of rounds of house martinis and an oversauced sushi roll platter, and join the party." - brant cox
"Located on a hilltop overlooking Hollywood, Yamashiro is an LA classic, with picturesque views of LA that most restaurants can only dream about. The 100-year-old Japanese restaurant is admittedly a bit over the top, but that’s exactly why you came here. The menu received a big overhaul a few years ago (which was very needed), and if you’re considering another round of those Zen Garden Martinis, the answer is always yes. " - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins
"This 100-year-old Japanese restaurant above Hollywood has perfectly fine food and some of the best views in town. The top floor seats 60 and has A/V hookups for your boring company slideshow, but you can ignore that and look at the pretty views of the Observatory and Downtown LA. Capacity: 125" - Sylvio Martins, Kat Hong
"Located on a hilltop overlooking Hollywood, Yamashiro is a straight-up classic, with views of LA most restaurants only dream about. The 100-year-old Japanese restaurant is massive and admittedly a bit over the top, but the team won’t care... especially after one (or five) of those kamikaze martinis. If things get too wild, slip down to Kensho, the decidedly chill sake-and-small-plates spot located on the premises." - brant cox, brett keating
