Michael A.
Yelp
***Dinner Review: Saturday, 3/14/20***
Yasu Beverly Hills was my final meal out before the mandatory restaurant closures due to coronavirus, and it was a good one. Relatively new to Los Angeles, Yasu is a highly acclaimed sushi bar in the Toronto fine dining scene. Yasu Beverly Hills, which opened less than a year ago, is now their second location. On a comparatively quiet stretch of Robertson Blvd, it does feel partially removed from some of the more hectic neighborhoods close by.
Yasu offers two omakase-only dinner options, priced at either $130 or $180. We opted for the $130 option, which included 21 courses, 15 of which were nigiri. At the end, we ordered two additional items that were not served during the regular omakase (Shira-uo/Icefish & Buri/Wild Yellowtail). The sequence went as follows:
1. Kanpachi (Amberjack) Sashimi
2. Hotate from Boston
3. Spanish Mackerel from Japan
4. Scallop Himo
5. Kasugodai (Young Sea Bream/Young Red Snapper)
6. Ankimo (Monkfish Liver)
7. Shima-aji (Striped Jack)
8. Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid)
9. Sakura Masu (Cherry Trout) from Hokkaido
10. Kaki (Oyster) from Canada
11. Toro-Ikura bowl
12. Red Snapper soup
13. Akami (Lean Bluefin Tuna) from Japan
14. Chutoro (Semi Fatty Bluefin Tuna) from Japan
15. Otoro (Fatty Bluefin Tuna) from Japan
16. Santa Barbara Spot Prawn
17. Premium Santa Barbara Uni (Sea Urchin)
18. Saba (Mackerel) from Japan
19. Anago (Sea Eel) from Nagasaki
20. Tamago
21. Shira-uo (Icefish)
22. Buri (Wild Yellowtail)
23. Yuzu Ice Cream
Best pieces of the night: Kasugodai, Shima-aji, Akami, Chutoro, Otoro, Uni, Anago
With only two seatings per night (at either 6pm or 8:15pm), and a limited number of bar seats, the chef is really able to focus on the flow of the meal and pay extra attention to each customer. While I didn't catch his name, the chef we were seated in front of was friendly and spoke good English. He was very informative and able to answer the many questions we had, such as where various fish were sourced.
What I liked most about my omakase at Yasu Beverly Hills was the wide variety of neta. Our meal featured many different kinds of seafood and preparation techniques. I thought the quality and sourcing of the ingredients was great, and enjoyed the traditional simplicity of each piece. The decor and ambiance was very conducive to the central focus on the food. Service was exceptional throughout, and the restaurant itself was spacious, with a high-end feel.
So, where does Yasu rank amongst the LA sushi greats? Maybe in the top 10. There's definitely no shortage of top notch competition in this city, but I give a definite edge to places like Sushi Tsujita and Mori Sushi. The biggest area for improvement I see for Yasu is the rice. While I thought the temperature was fine, neither of us were too wild about the taste, perhaps due to its sweet flavor. That being said, Yasu Beverly Hills definitely provides a 5 star experience worth visiting.