LA Omakase | Bar Sawa 🍣 Perfect Food & Drink Balance

I’d long heard that LA does both Japanese and Korean cuisine well, but I only started planning my trip a week in advance. By then, all the top-rated spots were fully booked — until I stumbled upon this place praised by many for its drinks. I snagged a reservation, and only upon arriving did I realize it had earned a Michelin star for 2025! ⭐ ⌛️ They offer only two seatings per day: 5 PM and 8 PM. We managed to get the 5 PM slot — the whole experience wrapped up around 7:30 PM. Personally, I think the 8 PM seating might offer a cozier vibe. The restaurant is intimate, with only about 12 seats at the counter, which explains why it’s so hard to book. 🅿️ Located near Little Tokyo, the place is a bit tricky to find, and downtown traffic was a nightmare. Between traffic, parking, and searching for the entrance, we didn’t arrive until 5:30 PM. 🥢🥃 We went with the fixed set menu plus cocktail pairing — you can also choose sake or whiskey for pairing. With three drinks per person, we opted to try six different cocktails between us. In total, there were 17 courses, and we left completely satisfied. The ingredients were top-notch, and honestly, I thought the sushi was even better than what I’ve had in Tokyo! 😋 The cocktails were a delightful surprise too — the yuzu sake, Japanese Godfather, and something like a coffee Negroni were especially memorable. 😌 The chef was incredibly engaging — great conversationalist and explained each dish and drink pairing in detail. The vibe was warm and welcoming! 💰 With the set, drink pairings, soft drinks, tax, and tip, the total for two came to just over $600 — around ¥2200 RMB per person. Given the quality of the pairing, that’s a pretty good deal for LA! #LosAngelesFood #LA #Omakase #BarSawa #LAJapaneseCuisine 🍶🎌