Saijo - Los Angeles - Culver City — Restaurant in Culver City

We finally had the chance to try Saijo after watching it being built and passing by many times. Needless to say, we were excited to finally dine here.

We came in around 8:30 PM on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is large and modern, but surprisingly, there were only two other parties finishing up when we arrived. For a stretch, we were the only guests dining, which made the experience feel a bit rushed. Our food came out extremely quickly, almost too quickly, and it felt like we ended up eating much faster than we wanted.

The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the overall service was solid. Saijo’s concept is very similar to Kazunori (by Sugarfish), which we love and frequent often—the setup, menu layout, and style were nearly identical. One distinction was the inclusion of Japanese yakitori on the menu, which was a fun addition, though not really the reason you’d visit a hand roll restaurant.

We tried the Omakase Saijo, which was beautifully presented and a bit different from the 3x3 we also ordered. Both featured same/similar rolls, just plated differently. The hand rolls themselves were fresh but a bit hit-or-miss—some lacked flavor entirely, while others, like the spicy tuna, were a bit heavy-handed with the sauce. I also wish they were a little warmer.

From the yakitori section, the shrimp skewer was a highlight, while the chicken meatball skewer was flavorful but came out undercooked the first time and had to be sent back. The miso soup was excellent, rich and comforting. The edamame would have been much better warm rather than served cold. We also tried the fresh wasabi for an additional $6, which turned out to be a very small portion and not really worth the upcharge.

Pricing overall felt high compared to other restaurants with equal or better quality. The menu is also quite long and a bit confusing, with too many combinations and options, making it harder to navigate.

In the end, we enjoyed the experience, but it wasn’t particularly memorable. The food was fresh, service was kind, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but the hand rolls—the main draw—didn’t wow us the way we had hoped. Worth trying once if you’re in the area, but not a must-visit spot in LA’s...

My husband and I had dinner here last night (Sunday). The food is good but they’ve gotta figure their order management system/process - major deterrent for whether I’d come back. We ordered both hand rolls (made in front of house) and kushiyaki (made in the back). It took about 20 minutes for the first item (a skewer) to arrive and then we were back waiting for another 10 minutes before the next skewer arrived - both were from my husband’s order. So I’ve now sat for 30 minutes without anything. Meanwhile I’m watching the screen in front of the hand roll chef turn glaring red across the board (gave me anxiety from any Overcooked video game fans). The couple seated next to me had issues with their order and the lady ended up having to wait longer while their friends left for the chef to make her one more item they had forgotten but charged them for (no way to refund apparently). The place was already emptying out by the time we started getting the rest of our items. You normally go to this type of restaurant for the balance of speed and flavor. While the food tasted good (only suggestion is to more adequately salt their meats for the skewers), there was no rhythm to which, when, and to whom items were going out. This tarnished our overall satisfaction with the meal. Similar to our neighbors, we also had to tell them they missed two items when they thought we were done and to take one of the items that was sold out off our final bill. Everyone who worked there was very nice and friendly, but I don’t think we’ll come back until they fix...

Discovered this spot through the Camber App’s Instagram and I’m so glad I did — Saijo might be my new go-to sushi place in LA.

It’s like Backhouse and Kazunori had a baby — intimate, vibrant, and fresh. I opted for the 3x3 set (three handrolls and three skewers) and added a few extras off the menu. The one-bite hand rolls are a fun twist, and watching the sushi being made right in front of you adds to the experience.

The kushiyaki skewers were super flavorful — especially the Tsukune and the garlic butter shrimp. Everything was well seasoned and grilled just right. The hand rolls were fresh and well balanced — the Signature and Blue Crab were standouts.

Service: Friendly and attentive

Vibe: Chill counter seating, great for a casual date or solo night out

Drinks: They serve sake, beer, and wine — I went for the Nigori and loved it

Parking: Street parking available, free after 6PM

Pro tip: No reservations, so time your visit well to avoid a wait

Fun fact: Saijo is part of the Jinya restaurant group (yep, the ramen spot), and there’s only one other location — in Canada! That makes this Culver City gem even more special.

All in all, Saijo is definitely worth checking out if you’re a sushi fan or just want something fresh and flavorful in Culver City. Will...