Kuru Kuru Sushi — Restaurant in Burbank

I wish more people left honest reviews about the actual food and not about the service. So this review goes out to everyone that’s curious about how the actual food tasted.

TL;DR: Not Authentic and mediocre at best.

Let’s start with the miso soup. The soup itself was extremely watery and was obviously made from instant ingredients and not actually made in house. The tofu was too small and too few and the seaweed was non-existent. I wouldn’t care if it was instant miso, if it actually tasted anything like miso. This soup made me question what real miso actually tasted like.

The tempura left much to be desired as the ingredients used were neither authentic nor fully-cooked. It felt like the chef grabbed a random bag of American mixed vegetables and threw them in a deep fryer. Broccoli and carrot tempura? Weird. Most of the vegetables were still crunchy and under-cooked, but the breading was good.

Let’s talk about the sushi!

The Nigiri: The fish was fresh enough and were actually quite delightful. The cuts were fine and the bite-sized portion sizes were perfect and authentic. Usually sushi restaurants in America make the pieces far too big. This was not the case here. The one thing that most sushi restaurants do not get right is the actual sushi rice. The rice that was used for this sushi was normal mid-grade rice, NOT actual sushi rice. On top of it being the wrong kind of rice, there was no vinegar or flavor in the rice which did not compliment the highlight of the restaurant, the fish. To the owners, a quick google search on how to make sushi rice with proper flavor should be simple and low-cost. I would definitely visit again if this was done correctly as the fish itself was quite good.

The Rolls: The rolls were great. They were drenched in sauces and flavor which made me question what the actual ingredients inside the roll tasted like. This is very common for Korean style sushi rolls. I personally don't mind the non-authentic rolls as the sauces and wide variety of Korean and American influenced ingredients is a great compliment to the menu relative to the other, usually less flavorful, menu items typically found in Japanese restaurants.

I would not recommend this restaurant if you are looking for authentic Japanese food. If you are looking for a nice night out at a decent price point for some sushi with friends, this may be the spot. Just don't order...

Great sushi and great people. There is a reason that Kuru Kuru was voted Burbank’s best sushi. While small and unassuming, this unfussy sushi place gets right to the point. Best seat is at the counter, and a little blackboard at the end gives the day’s fresh catch and chef recommendations. The sushi and sashimi preparations melt in your mouth, and the cut rolls are dimensionally pleasing and structurally sound - no weird jaw-unhinging needed or messy dropsies here! The “regulars” are frequent and many, and you can tell by the greetings and practiced orders that they share my appreciation. We’ve left happy and full every time - and always there is a new bite of delicious discovery enjoyed. The staff is friendly, professional and the...

Maybe sushi is THE forte of this place and should remain its only specialty - haven't tried yet but judging by other people's reviews it's good. The rest of the items on the menu... Not so sure. Have to agree with another reviewer of Chicken Teriyaki dish - it tastes along the lines of "Panda Express", only the portion you receive will be quite significantly smaller with hardly any rice (and the price higher). Overall, more like an overpriced fast food lunch option. Definitely, not a dinner place. Also, the Chicken Udon dish was supposed to be noodles with chicken. Who knew there would actually be so much broth?? No objections, but would be nice to mention somewhere the dish is actually more of a "soup" than...