Sushi Tomoki — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This place is fantastic. One of the best sushi places along the famous Studio City Sushi row. Seeing that more renowned sushi spots Asanebo and Katsu-ya have gradually slipped from their once impeccable heights of greatness, I gave relative newcomer Sushi Tomoki a shot based on solid reviews and it didn’t disappoint. The $80 Omakase was fantastic and better value than other premium sushi places in quality and number of pieces. A few pieces were simply mind blowing. The O Toro was melt in your mouth incredible with perfect marbling that for me beats out Brothers Sushi and Iroha’s top tuna cuts. But then unexpected greats were also their Black Cod Nigiri with some sort of miso almond thing in it that was a taste explosion. The seared Aburi Salmon Belly nigiri was also divine, elevating salmon in sushi to heights of deliciousness thoroughly unexpected, if only because I generally find salmon sushi dishes elsewhere the epitome of mild, blasé fare. One of the snappers served up as part of the Omakase was also a total revelation and surprise. Not part of the Omakase, but also worth the order was the freshwater eel nigiri that surprisingly was among the best I’ve had at any sushi restaurant in the world including trips to Japan. Oh and the Santa Barbara Uni was among best I’ve ever tasted too.

There is clearly a reason this place is currently a 5 star rating with 72 reviews on Google, and 4.8 with 153 reviews on Yelp, it’s because it really is fantastic, serving up sushi that upstages current and previous Michelin star sushi spots I’ve been to in a decidedly unpretentious, very easy to get a spot for two at the sushi bar on a Tuesday space.

Atmosphere decor wise, it is nice but a little more simple and not as vibey as a few other spots. In some ways refreshing considering buzz over more decor forward spaces like Leona’s Sushi House down the road that Michelin seems enamored with wanting to give its next star to but ultimately despite the vibe, has inferior sushi to this spot, even though it took over the building of former casual dining burrito place “the Salsa Bar” and did an admirable job converting it into a sleek sushi restaurant with sizable sushi bar and numerous tables. The atmosphere while pleasant certainly takes a back seat to the food.

I will say the service was also impeccable going a noticeable degree out of their way to try to be as on point as possible but very pleasant. It also helped the ratio of customers to staff at 8:00 pm on a Tuesday seemed less than 2 to 1! Honestly, how a place is this much better than a lot of names more buzzed about spots and slightly cheaper and with glowing customer reviews and not completely slammed is beyond me. Guessing that with it being near Jazz spot The Baked Potato and only having a few parking spaces of its own, it might be an occasional restraint but we found parking immediately and if their spots are full, that’s an area you still would have an easy time finding street parking or metro parking within two blocks.

I will say, the $80 Omakase was delicious but filling to those with lighter appetites. I’m sure more than filling enough for the majority of Angelenos doing their weekly Ozempic, but for two high calorie dudes, we also ordered two rolls on top of the Omakase plus the extra eel nigiri (fantastic) and that did it. All in, with saki, omakase, two cut rolls, and an additional nigiri, with tax and tip, was $150 a person even, less than a lot of spots with this tier of quality and definitely felt I got value for my money.

Only slights: atmosphere being a 4 out of 5 and pretty small cut roll selection (just 7 cut roles on the menu when most places offer at least 10 and spots like Sushi Dan go nuts with all their cut role options).

Selection and quality of nigiri is top notch. All in all, 5...

From the moment we stepped into Sushi Tomoki, we were greeted with a warm welcome that set the stage for what would become an unforgettable dining experience. The modern interior and vibrant atmosphere perfectly complemented the culinary journey that awaited us.

We opted for the Omakase UME No 1 ($80) and were treated to a meticulously crafted progression of courses. The experience began with exquisite Akame Toro sashimi that simply melted in our mouths - the freshness was remarkable! This was followed by 10 pieces of expertly prepared sushi, each piece showcasing the chef's dedication to quality and technique.

The hand roll was a particular standout - perfectly crisp nori wrapped around warm rice and the freshest fish. The meal was complemented by a soothing miso soup that provided a wonderful balance to the rich flavors of the sushi.

The seared salmon roll with truffle was an unexpected highlight - the delicate sear enhancing the buttery salmon while the truffle added a luxurious earthiness that elevated the entire dish.

To accompany our meal, we enjoyed Asahi on draft - crisp, refreshing, and the perfect partner to the delicate flavors of the fish.

Just when we thought the experience couldn't get any better, dessert arrived and absolutely made our night! A divine mixture of lychee and yuzu ice cream served with green tea mochi provided the perfect sweet finale to our meal.

The restaurant was buzzing with other diners clearly enjoying their meals as much as we were, creating a lively yet intimate atmosphere.

If you're looking for an authentic, high-quality omakase experience that delivers on every level, Sushi Tomoki is a must-visit. The attention to detail, quality of ingredients, and warm service make this place truly special.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Chef Tomoki is clearly a rising star in the LA sushi scene and Sushi Tomoki should be on everyone’s radar. The fish was top quality and the preparation and presentation is equal to that of any well known omakase restaurant.

That being said, our experience was hurt by poor service and cold atmosphere. Before we had even gotten our food, our service asked mistakenly asked us if we wanted desert. Throughout our meal, there were multiple customers who were approached the staff saying they didn’t receive everything they ordered. Service was all together slow, we waited 45 min before our first bite.

Furthermore, while there’s something to be said about a minimalist aesthetic, sushi tomoki could really use some decorations. Or at the very least, acoustical paneling on the walls to make the restaurant feel quieter.

Understandably every new restaurant has growing pains and while the food was 5 stars, the lack of service and cold atmosphere detracted from our experience. Still, it is worth checking out and Sushi Tomoki seems like the perfect Studio City restaurant to become a regular at.

Kudos to Chef Tomoki and I hope to be back to give you 5...