Chiba Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Los Angeles

this review is for diners looking to get an authentic feel for what to expect from this restaurant based on what I experienced.

There is A lot to unpack here but simply put chiba feels like an outdated neighborhood spot badly in need of a facelift…it can get the job done but you won’t leave talking about it.

Upon entrance you are smacked in the face with a wildly off putting smell that will sadly stay with you the entire meal. (Pro tip: opt for an outside table to avoid this)

Sat at the bar and tried several different items. First order

3 nigiri: toro, salmon, albacore.

Albacore 4.4/5 this was flavorful and a large slice of fish Salmon 3.2/5 this had no flavor and was a small portion Toro 4/5 this was a large portion but had a lot of fat not premium

Lobster/crab handroll 4.4/5 Had a lot of flavor, didn’t feel premium but stood out ….possibly because nothing else did tho I am Being too generous and it should maybe be 4.3 (too much mayo)

Spicy tuna crispy rice 4.5/5 this was great. Large portion. Nothing I haven’t had before but they do it well

Spicy yellowtail roll 4.4 good but too rich (too much mayo)

My bill for the above food + a large Asahi $123 before tip ($143 after)

OVERALL If you do not live in the area this place is not worth a trip out of ur way. Entry and seating experience was bad. Waited 10 min behind 1 group to even be acknowledged for 1. The service was average. Sushi bar experience was chill. My sushi chef was always available when I needed to order so that was cool but the wait time on food ran a bit long…solid portions but the quality of sushi wasn’t great. It was good (ish). After asking them to order me what was best for the night, There just wasn’t a single item I’m leaving wanting to rave about, am leaving feeling underwhelmed, parking here is rough and based on the food and service this meal should have come in under $100.

To sum it up; this is a neighborhood spot for an average meal with average service at an above average price point. Ok for families, solo dinners and a catch up with friends…Would NOT recommend for special occasions, dates, celebrations…etc for the money there are much better...

An unassuming Sushi restaurant located on a busy Sun Valley street is not really what your initial impressions are going to be. What you'll find will be surprising.

With updated and modern touches, this Sushi restaurant is a touch atypical. The decor is inviting. There are two separate bars where patrons can sit in front of the chefs. The dining room is situated around and feels a little noncentralized. There are adjacent seating that doubles as outdoor seating just beyond the glass. Service can also be a little worrisome if you're placed in the corners of the dining areas. Comments on how this could accommodate larger groups are certainly seen here.

With a reasonable lunch specials menu, this place can be quite a hidden gem with its bento boxes. Sashimi and the 3 types of teriyaki are excellent. The Tempura isn't a light panko variety, but it is still very delicious.

The Niguri is also very fresh and the rolls here are excellently prepared. Unfortunately, I found this place on a list of affordable sushi spots and found the contrary. Expect to see $8 Niguri orders and they are nowhere generous.

The saving grace of the meal is how fresh their seafood is. The Spicy Tuna Cut Roll is also a star at this place for they have a perfect balance and blend of spiciness and heat. If this is one of your go-tos you must...

I expected a bit more than we had here tonight. Service was very nice and pleasant, but very slow. Food came out in waves, bento boxes for 2 of the 4 people came well before sushi, and 2 people eating while 2 were watching was not great. By the time the sushi finally showed up, the bento boxes were done and we got to watch them eat, just not great execution. We also waited 20 mins and finally flagged someone down form the bill as no one ever came back to check up on us.

The sushi here seemed both fresh and at the same time overzealous, too. The lobster roll and baked scallops rolls had a lot of extra garnish and little flavoring added that took away from a really fresh tasting roll. Just keep it simple!

This is a nice place on a very busy street, too. Eating outside we were met with 3 different times emergency vehicles flew by with sirens on full blast. Obviously that's not the restaurant s fault, just beware if you venture to the patio. Inside has a very strong seafood smell, to be expected at a sushi place.

Overall, good was pretty good, service was slow but very pleasant. Wait time for food was below average and eating at separate times because of how food was brought out was very...