Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Kojima@West LA ★★★

New Favorite. Amazing Michelin Star Omakase Restaurant. Comfy meal with seasonal ingredients at Sawtelle. Chef Hayato Kojima from Tokyo is so fun & likes to drink. Soothing spa-like background music. Now $240 per person. Service charge 15%. Kuheiji Tako available. Corkage fee is now $100 for 720mL & no sake corkage allowed (wine only). Ujitawara Single Origin Tea $10 (no refill). Street parking or 1 hour validated parking in strip mall underground lot. Fun meal was 3.5 hours.

Related Post:
Kojima – August 30, 2026

In-House Marinated Ikura from Hokkaido with Sumeshi Rice
yuzu peel

Chef Hayato Kojima

Hokkaido Kinki (Rockfish) with Fresh Ginger & Young Gingko Nuts from Aichi

Wagyu Shoulder with Chinese Broccoli
togarashi, vinegar soy sauce

Hitakami Nakadori Junmai Daiginjo (Miyabi) $200


Akashi (near Hyogo) Japanese Sea Bream with Warm Somen Kudzu (Arrowroot) Jelly Noodle
broth from sea bream, kinome (sansho pepper leaves)

Kue (Long Tooth Grouper) from Oita
aburazuke with oil
Uni from Hokkaido
shiso flower, grated radish


Calalta Davvero 2023 Riesling $85 (Chef's Hayao's recommendation for fresh fish & meat)
Veneto, Italy

Hirousu (Deep Fried Cake) with Sakura Ebi (Cherry Shrimp) from Shizuoka

Steamed, Grilled & Simmered Awabi from Nagasaki
with oyster mushroom from farmers market
Plate pottery by Chef Mori Nozomi

Seared Wild Shima Aji (Stripe Jack) from Nagasaki
with sautéed water spinach


Local Duck Breast with Local Potato
kujo negi from Kyoto

Boston Blue Fin Tuna Hand Roll with Akasu





Chawanmushi with Hokkaido Horse Hairy Crab

Nagano Wagyu Beef Filet
homemade mayo with special tomato from Aoya, young corn & potato from farmers market

Tetsukama Metal Pot Rice with Shirasu (Whitebait)

Miso Soup

Tetsukama Metal Pot Rice with Shirasu (Whitebait)


Kojima
2130 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 211,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(424) 248-0116

Monday, September 14, 2026

Cheng Can Cook: Donabe Clay Pot Rice ★★★

Restaurant Quality Donabe. Delicious & convenient one-pot cooking. First time making it in actual clay pot. (Used rice cooker in the last 2 times)

Ingredients:
1 cup of Japanese rice
3/4 cup Dashi Stock (boil Kombu & Bonito Flakes) (or chicken stock) (can use dashi packet or mix dashi powder with water for quick fix)
Sauce: Soy Sauce, Mirin, Sake – 1.5 Tbsp each
Sakura Ebi (air fry or bake) and/or Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid) (or other seafood or meat)
Daikon (Japanese Radish) or Yamaimo
Few Shiitake Mushrooms (sliced), 10-12 Snow Peas (Deshelled Edamame Bean Peas, Okra, Green Bell Pepper, Chestnut, Lily Bulb, Bamboo Shoots, Lotus Root, Corn, Carrots, and/or Gobo Root alternatives)
Mitsuba or Mizuna (Japanese Vegetables), cut to 1/4" lengthwise
Marinated Ikura (Salmon Roe) or Mentaiko for garnish (optional)
Shiso Leaf (julienne cut) for garnish (optional)
Sansho Pepper (or leaf) for garnish (optional)

Recipe:
1. Wash & rinse Rice as usual. Soak in water for 15-30 minutes. Drain & place Rice in clay pot.
2. Mix Dashi, Soy Sauce, Mirin & Sake. Add to Rice in Clay Pot. Arrange vegetables & Hotaru Ika on top of rice without mixing. Cover Pot & bring to boil, then lower heat & simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
3. Turn off heat & rest rice pot covered for 10 minutes.
4. Air-fry (or bake) Sakura Ebi with a light toss of oil. Set aside for garnish.
5. Fluff, mix gently, serve & garnish with Sakura Ebi, Marinated Ikura, and/ or Sansho Pepper.

Related Posts:
Cheng Can Cook: Kamameshi Pot Rice – May 5, 2026
Cheng Can Cook: Kamameshi Pot Rice – April 20, 2026

First time making Kamameshi in actual clay pot

Topped with Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid)

Topped with Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid) & Baked Sakura Ebi (Cherry Blossom Shrimp)

Sasabune Wilshire@West LA

Dinner Price for Lunch. Overpriced. Dinner pricing  but fish was not fresh. Sugarfish style. Albacore Sashimi was not fresh & soaked in sauce. We had non-Japanese chef. Lunch came out to be $144.75 plus tax & tips. Iced Green Tea $4.75. Metered parking or at Total Wine a block away.

Related Post:
Sushi Sasabune Glendale – February 11, 2023

Uni $16, Ikura $7.50

Albacore Sashimi $20

Bluefin Tuna Akami & Toro $16

Ikura Stains on the Wall

Halibut $5.50, Red Snapper $5.50

Mussel $4, Oyster $4.50, Scallop with Sliced Mushroom $5

Yellowtail $6, Spanish Mackerel $5.50

Amaebi $11, Scallop $5.50

Uni $16, Ikura $7.50

Mirugai $10, Unagi $6

Crab Hand Roll $12

Sushi Sasabune
11917 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 478-3596
sasabunewilshire.com

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Homareya@Long Beach

Shochu Night. Featuring special cocktails from Nankai. I am not a shochu person, but the cocktails came out refreshing & amazing. Nice to see Mai from Nankai again. Cold Matcha Soba with Duck Breast was nice. Food was on the salty side. Good idea to pair with alcohol. Owner-chef Yoya-san. 2 hours free parking at lot or metered parking.

Cold Matcha Soba with Duck Breast $20
Kyoto matcha soba, soy roasted duck breast, roasted Tokyo negi

White Fish White Ponzu $22
white fish, white ponzu, seaweed noodles, micro red radish

Passion Fruit Highball $14
Nankai, passion fruit, soda
She So Good $14
Nankai, shiso, soda

Tuna Steak $38

Special Event Cocktail comes with free Miso Peanuts

Chicken Skin with Spicy Yuzu Ponzu $10

Koji Ontama Potato Salad $11
marinated koji-soy onsen eggs, simple potato & cucumber salads, seaweed wrapping

Koji Ontama Potato Salad (mixed) $11

Wasa Kan $10
pickled wasabi, chopped kanpachi

Monkfish Karrage $16
tender monkfish lightly marinated with shiso soy & sesame oil

Nankai de Pepino $28
Nankai, cucumber juice, lime, soda

Tebasaki (Chicken Wings) $7 each

Hokkaido Scallop $8

Tsukune $7 each

Hamachi Kama $13

Island Mule $14
Nankai, Okinawan Citrus, Ginger Ale

Chick Tail (salt) $6 each

Left: Mai from Nankai

Homareya
145 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 754-3302
longbeachhomareya.com