Showing posts with label Little Tokyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little Tokyo. Show all posts

Friday, March 8, 2024

Hayato@Little Tokyo ★★★

2 Michelin Stars Restaurant Hayato. Exquisite Kaiseki Cuisine handcrafted by Brandon-san with his careful attention to detail. Various traditional cooking techniques used for the courses. Like a Food Artist/Scientist. Freshest seafood arrived same day from Japan from US Sakasyu. Fresh vegetables from Torrance Farmers Market. He explained each dish at the beginning of each course with the cooking method, ingredients, and why. Love the amazing Charcoal Grilled Kinki Rockfish w/ Roasted Onion, which brought me back to the taste of Japan. Specially prepared Karasumi Mullet Roe paired perfectly with sake. Nodoguro Rice Pot was all-you-can-eat (woohoo). Good idea to refill a bit to get the crispy rice on bottom of pot. Experience was quite different from last visit in 2021. Brandon-san has a serious look when he's cooking, but he actually has a nice personality. He's honest, straightforward, & quite talkative with a sense of humor. We enjoyed chatting about everything from Japan, food, people, to getting on his waitlist on Tock. He likes to play it fair and give new customers opportunity to try it. Server Kaori was nice & friendly. Impossible to book with only 7 seats (counter) & 1 seating per night. Reservation was made on Tock within 2 seconds at release time. Need a lot of "good luck" to book. Limited 2 people per party. Door opens at 6:30pm. Dinner was 3.5 hours. $350 per person. Plus 18% gratuity automatically added. Complimentary hot tea. Parking at the Row DTLA structure or street.

Brandon-san & Server Kaori (KK)

Sakizuke: Seared Kinmedai
tosa zu jelly

Welcome Drink
Shimeharitsuru "Jun" Junmai Ginjo Sake

Welcome Drink (please hold cup w/ both hands for the pour)
Shimeharitsuru "Jun" Junmai Ginjo Sake

Date 7 Season II, Episode 2, Yamawa Style $150


Shirano & Sweet Potato Tempura (browned edge style like Tempura Kondo in Tokyo)



Date 7 Season II, Episode 2, Yamawa Style

Date 7 Season II, Episode 2, Yamawa Style

Hokkaido Surf Clam "Nuta Ae"
mix all together

Live Californian Spot Prawn

Shinogi: Aji Bo-Zushi

Shinogi: Aji Bo-Zushi
w/ grated ginger on top

Owan: Okoze, Fresh Bamboo

Akagai

Japanese Sea Bream

Otsukuri: Japanese Sea Bream, Akagai
sliced shiso leaf, myoga (Japanese ginger bud), Seaweed (eat in between sashimi)

Steamed Abalone w/ Liver Sauce

Steamed Abalone w/ Liver Sauce

Charcoal Grilled Kinki

Roasted Onion

Charcoal Grilled Kinki, Roasted Onion

Fried Sumi-Ika Cuttlefish & Ginko Nuts (popcorn style)

Seared Duck Breast

Seared Duck Breast, Tokyo Turnip

Nabe: Dungeness Crab Shinjo, Shiitake, Komatsuna

Chinmi: Grilled Karasumi

Complimentary House Sake to go with Grilled Karasumi

Complimentary House Sake to go with Grilled Karasumi

Complimentary House Sake to go with Grilled Karasumi

Grilled Karasumi (specially prepared w/ salt & sochu)

Grilled Karasumi (specially prepared w/ salt & sochu)

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot

Japanese Pickles

Japanese Pickles

Soup to go w/ Rice

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot (2nd refill w/ crispy rice from bottom of pot)

Mizu Mono: Nashi (Asian Pear) w/ Sake Jelly

Mizu Mono: Nashi (Asian Pear) w/ Sake Jelly







Debossed Coaster with Brandon-san's Crest

Hayato
1320 E 7th St Ste 126
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 395-0607
hayatorestaurant.com

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Sakurako@Little Tokyo ★★

Valentine's Week Special. Omakase by Sushi Enya. Former 小政 Komasa location. Nice presentation. $300 per person. Complimentary hot tea. Corkage fee $80. Parking at lot $16. No parking validation.

Amuse
Komatsuna & Shrimp w/ Japanese mustard sauce, Hotaruika w/ sumiso, Slow-Cooked Octopus, Sweet Simmered Black Beans



Abe Junmai $100



Sashimi
Red Snapper, Chutoro from Japan & Spain

Soup Dish
Minced Blue Fin Tuna Fishball Soup
dashi w/ 3 kinds of fish

Grouper Fish from Japan


Ika from Japan

Akami (Blue Fin Tuna)

Zuke Akami from Spain w/ Egg Yolk Sauce

Toro from Spain


Butterfish w/ Lily Bulb Sauce grilled w/ Binchotan Charcoal from Japan

Kohada

Otoro from Japan


Otoro from Spain grilled w/ Binchotan charcoal

Palette Cleanser
Scallop w/ Tosa Vinegar Jelly

Palette Cleanser
Scallop w/ Tosa Vinegar Jelly


Valentine's Special




Toro Roll w/ Takuan, Uni, & Gold Leaf Seaweed


Anago

Akira-san




Valentine's Gifts

Sakurako
351 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 400-6264
omakasesakurako.com