The L.A. sushi scene has something for everyone. Whether you crave fresh, thin slices of sashimi, delicately wrapped hand rolls, or put your trust in the chef and go Omakase style—high-quality fish can be found at nearly every price point throughout the city if you know where to look.
With options abound, we decided to tap two L.A. foodies who know their sushi to give us the inside scoop on where they go (or order from) to satisfy even their strongest sushi craving. Meet Kylie Mazon-Chambers—writer, cook, photographer, and author of popular recipe blog Cooking with Cocktail Rings—who has a sushi roll named after her at her favorite Jersey spot; and Sydney Yorkshire—the professional food photographer behind popular Instagram account @WhatCouldBeButter—who recalls eating plates of fresh sashimi during family get-togethers in Maui, which her uncles prepared from tuna they had hauled in from the ocean that day.
After meeting for the first time at Sweetfin Poké in Santa Monica, Mazon-Chambers and Yorkshire have since spent countless meals exploring all of the great sushi that L.A. has to offer. Here, Mazon-Chambers and Yorkshire share everything you need to know about their top five favorite sushi spots across L.A.
1. Sushi Roku
(Photo taken by @betcheseat)
Why we love it: Sushi Roku is open until 11 PM and delivers late night. Just last week I [Mazon-Chambers] arrived home late from New Jersey and was craving sushi. Everything else was closed but I put my order in at Sushi Roku and it came in no time.
What to know before you go: Roku is higher end and more expensive than the other places on this list, so go on a night when you are prepared to splurge a little.
When to go: Date night, late night delivery, or a friends birthday dinner
What to order: The baked crab hand roll, salmon sushi, and their crunchy spicy tuna tempura are all favorites.
Address: 1401 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
2. SUGARFISH
(Photo taken by @whatcouldbebutter)
Why we love it: At SUGARFISH, you know what you are going to get every time: simple, high quality fish and reliable service. It’s also great for takeout: they design their takeout boxes specifically for the sushi to ensure the rolls and sauces don’t slosh around while being transported in the car. And each sauce comes in its own container with a note delineating what sauce to eat with what fish.
What to know before you go: It can take an hour and a half to be seated, so only go when you know you have a long time to wait. If you get takeout, be prepared to Instagram the packaging—it’s that beautiful.
When to go: A late lunch or date night with Netflix. It’s better to go at an off time to avoid the long wait.
What to order: The to-go Trust Me is by far the most popular thing on the menu for takeout. It consists of organic edamame, tuna sashimi albacore sushi (2-pc), salmon sushi (2-pc), yellowtail sushi (2-pc), snapper sushi (2-pc), toro cut roll (4-pc), and a blue crab cut roll (4-pc).
Address: 212 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
3. Sushi Yuzu
(Photo taken by @whatcouldbebutter)
Why we love it: Sushi Yuzu is located in Toluca Lake, so it’s a little off of the traditional beaten path—but the incredibly fresh fish, creative rolls (this is not the place to order a California roll and call it a day), and unreal takeout make it worth the trip.
What to know before you go: They have great lunch specials, but it’s right near Warner Brothers and Universal Studios, so order ahead or make a reservation if you don’t want to get stuck waiting.
When to go: Power lunch or small group dinner
What to order: Chirashi (assorted sashimi over rice) bowl
Address: 10118 Riverside Dr, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
4. Nagao
Why we love it: You can get the best of both worlds here. Nagao has really fresh fish, so you can order sashimi and nigiri, but it’s also perfect when you just want to indulge in a creamy, crunchy, cut roll covered in spicy mayo and tempura flakes. The price point is also really reasonable [$7-$17 on average per roll].
What to know before you go: Nagao is a total neighborhood spot. When you stop in to eat you’ll see a lot of kids and parents sitting at the tables surrounding the sushi bar. It’s pretty small but authentic and you’ll be fed like a king while you’re there.
When to go: Casual dinner with friends, date night
What to order: They have a new menu item called “Box Sushi” that is really cool. The sushi is shaped like a square and you can choose between three different types—Rainbow, Tuna or Lemon box. The Lemon box consists of salmon, shrimp, smelt eggs, avocado, lemon pieces, and rice.
Address: 13050 San Vicente Blvd. #110, Los Angeles, CA 90049
5. Sweetfin Poké
Why we love it: We’re being a little lenient here and counting poke as sushi because we are both addicted to Sweetfin. We order it when we’re feeling lazy, hungover, don’t feel like cooking, or don’t have time for a sit-down lunch—so at least twice a week. The fish is cut fresh daily at each location and the restaurant employees really care about getting to know their customers. They also offer a variety of bowls that are preset as well as the option to Build Your Own Bowl (BYOB) for when you want to mix things up a bit.
What to know before you go: It’s a pay-at-the-counter type of place, which makes it perfect for grabbing takeout and heading to the beach. Pro Tip: Ask for extra creamy togarashi sauce on the side with your order for an added boost of flavor.
When to go: All times of the day [Hours vary by location but are generally 9:00 AM-10:00 PM PT] but it’s especially good for a takeout beach lunch or bachelor or bachelorette party dinner.
What to order: Spicy yuzu salmon and bamboo rice with half bamboo rice half kelp noodle slaw. Or the BYOB option with salmon, bamboo rice or kale salad, ponzu lime, avocado, crispy onions, edamame, and seaweed salad. Always creamy togarashi sauce on the side!
Address: 829 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
