MASAKAZU — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I dined here for the Valentine’s Day omakase with my girlfriend. This fell well below expectations. Having been to numerous omakase establishments, we can both confidently say that both the service and food quality do not justify the $200+ per person price tag.

Lack of Attention to Detail: In intimate omakase settings with fewer than ten seats, it is customary for the staff to pull out chairs for guests—a small but thoughtful gesture that enhances the overall experience. This was noticeably absent here.

Premature Upselling: Just three courses into the meal, our waitress asked if we would like to order additional nigiri. At a high-end omakase, this is highly unusual, if not inappropriate, as the experience should be about enjoying the curated menu, not being pressured into add-ons before the meal is even complete. My girlfriend, who has dined at over 20 omakase restaurants ranging from $150 to $500 per person, has never encountered this practice. It came across as a blatant attempt to nickel-and-dime guests.

Inconsistent Service: While I was served dessert, my girlfriend was not. I was then served the check BEFORE my gilrfriend got her dessert. This level of oversight is unacceptable at this price point!

Use of lower-Quality ingredients: A well-curated omakase experience highlights premium cuts of fish. However, this restaurant included sake nigiri (salmon) as part of the set menu—something commonly found in sushi restaurants at a fraction of the price. High-end omakase establishments typically focus on more exclusive selections.

Budget choices for white fish: Most reputable omakase venues serve red or golden snapper, but this restaurant opted for black snapper, the least premium of the three. This further reinforced the impression that ingredient costs were being cut.

Lack of Engagement from the Chef: Part of the omakase experience is the interaction with the chef, who provides insight into each course and enhances the meal with their presence. Here, the chef was notably disengaged and did not converse with guests, creating a cold and uninviting atmosphere. The sushi counter also had a divider which was blocking the "view" of sushi making, very odd considering most omakase places don't have this.

Final Thoughts: This restaurant charges a premium price but does not deliver a premium experience. Between the lower-quality ingredients, the aggressive upselling, and the lack of attention to detail in service, it simply does not compare to other omakase establishments in the same price range. If you’re looking for an authentic, high-end omakase experience, I would recommend...

I recently had an omakase dining experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings and can only give it an average rating of 3 stars out of 5.

Let's start with the service. Our waitress was always polite and had a pleasant smile, creating a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated. However, I was a little disappointed when she overlooked the basket for my belongings, while other patrons seemed to receive this attention. I understand that oversights happen, but consistency is key when it comes to service.

Now, the food - a critical element in any dining experience, and even more so in omakase, which is all about entrusting oneself to the chef's selection. The dishes served were a mixed bag. Some were quite good, well-prepared and presented. However, there were also several that were just average, with somewhat light flavors. Given the nature of omakase, I was expecting more creativity in the preparation and presentation of dishes, which unfortunately, was lacking.

A key part of any omakase experience is the connection between the chef and the diner. In this case, the chef didn't interact much and his limited command of English meant he couldn't explain the dishes served to us. This detracted from the overall omakase experience, where understanding the concept and story behind each dish greatly enhances the dining pleasure.

A final note - we left the restaurant still feeling hungry. This was disappointing as the expectation from an omakase meal, particularly considering the price point, is to leave feeling satisfied.

In summary, while there were aspects to appreciate about this restaurant, there were several areas where it fell short of expectations. Improvements in these areas would significantly enhance the dining experience. At this point, I can only rate it as average, hence the...

This is one of the best sushi restaurants I have ever been to. I took my partner here for out anniversary (short notice--which i suspect i wont be able to get away with in the future!) and it was beyond worth it! The perfect anniversary. When we got home he saud it was the best sushi we had had in a long time.

The quality was bettter than good--it was superb. The chef tried things before he gave them to us, to ensure that everything was "chef reccommended"--and explained what he liked about each piece of fish he served us. He only serves the very highest quality of fish, and at one point, after trying one, determined it wasnt good enough to serve. He was a perfectionist, very focused on providing an exceptional experience.

Even the pieces i dont usually like were incredible.They werent just beautiful fish on wonderful rice--they were individually made dishes intended to be not just incredible, but best on class.

The chef only serves six people at a time, even though the restaurant is big enough to serve more. He cares deeply about the quality he provides, and it really shows.

the decor was beautiful, and felt both classic and modern. It is a quiet and intimate experience.

I would reccomend this...