Friday, May 12, 2023

Toku Unagi & Sushi@West Hollywood ★★★

Decent Authentic Unagi from Japan. $140 8-Course Dinner for dineLA 4/28-5/12. 5 kinds of Sake Pairing for $45. Good deal and goes very well with the dineLA menu. Mimurosugi Junmai Daiginjo for the 1st Course Pairing was nice and fruity with lychee flavor. Great for starter. 2nd Course Kyokusen Junmai Daiginjo was pure with slight carbonation. Perfect pairing with Sashimi. Also another 2nd Course option, Kamoizumi Junmai Daiginjo was sophisticated with mushroom and leather flavor. Perfect pairing for Truffle Oil Salmon. Nice staff. Because the Tempura took a while to come out, they gave us 2 additional glasses of sake on the house. Green tea (pot) $3. Free limited parking in underground lot.


1st Course Pairing: Mimurosugi Junmai Daiginjo from Nara, Japan

1st Course: Unagi Kaburamushi w/ Caviar
Japanese unagi & grated turnip in broth, steamed & topped w/ ikura (salmon roe) & caviar

2nd Course Pairing: Kamoizumi Junmai Daiginjo from Nara, Japan (pair with Truffle Oil Salmon)
Kyokusen Junmai Daiginjo from Iwate, Japan (pair with Omakase Sashimi)

Left: Kyokusen Junmai Daiginjo from Iwate, Japan (pair with Omakase Sashimi)
Right: Kamoizumi Junmai Daiginjo from Nara, Japan (pair with Truffle Oil Salmon)

2nd Course Option A: Omakase Sashimi – Kanpachi, Hotate (Scallop), Toro

2nd Course Option B: Truffle Oil Salmon
carpaccio style w/ arugular

2nd Course Option B: Truffle Oil Salmon
carpaccio style w/ arugular

3rd Course: Uni Chawanmushi
Japanese savory pudding w/ uni (sea urchin)

3rd Course: Uni Chawanmushi
Japanese savory pudding w/ uni (sea urchin)

4th Course Pairing: Kuroushi Omachi Dunmai Ginjo from Wakayama, Japan (pair with Unagi Shirayaki w/ Truffle)
Harada Junmai Daiginjo from Yamaguchi, Japan (pair with American Wagyu Tataki with Truffle)

4th Course Option A: Unagi Shirayaki w/ Truffle
steamed & broiled Japanese unagi

4th Course Option B: American Wagyu Tataki w/ Truffle
Japanese style lightly seared beef

Sake from the House for Extended Wait for the Next Course




5th Course Pairing: Shichida Nama from Junmai Ginjo Nama (aged) from Saga, Japan (paired with Tempura)

5th Course Option A: Arare Shrimp
crumbled rice cracker coated fried shrimp

5th Course Option B: Unagi Tempura
imported Japanese unagi

Sake Tasting

6th Course Pairing: Kinmuku Jumai Daiginjo from Niigata, Japan (pair with Sushi Omakase)
Dan Yamahai Junmai Ginjo from Yamanashi, Japan (pair with Unagyu)

7th Course: Osuimono
Japanese clear soup

6th Course Option A: Omakase Sushi
chef's choice of 6 pcs nigiri

6th Course Option B: Unajyu
steamed & boiled Japanese Unagi, seasoned w/ Toku's traditional sauce, served over rice

8th Course: Chef's Special Dessert – Mochi Ice Cream


Sake Tasting

Unajyu Poster

Restaurant Sign on 2nd Floor of Buidling

Toku Unagi & Sushi
1106 N La Cienega Blvd
Ste 201
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 854-7285
www.tokuusa.com

Sunday, May 7, 2023

American Beauty@Venice ★★

Great Food. We ordered all our server's recommendations (see pictures below), and everything was fantastic. All vegetables and Fish were great. Lamp Chop was tender and nice. Just the sauce on the Brussels Sprouts were a bit on the heavy side. I do like their "If You Like Piña Coladas". Alcohol in cocktail is on the stronger side, which I like. It's a better deal. The server told me since it's my birthday, I get to pick the dessert. I thought the dessert was on the house, but we got charged for it. They were not wrong. It was just kind of misleading. Free 1 hour street parking if you can find a spot.

If You Like Piña Coladas $14
house rum blend, pineapple, coconut cream, citrus

Steak Tartare $19
fermented hot sauce, crispy shallot

Grilled Prawns $22
herb butter, lemon

Grilled Lamb Chops $35
tzatziki, harissa, mint

Crispy Brussels Sprouts $15
kimchi aioli, pickled fresno chili, mint

Grilled Orata $37
ajo blanco, grape & leek condiment

Charred Broccolini $13
calabrian chili caesar, parmesan, migas

Molten Chocolate Cake $13
peanut butter, vanilla ice cream

Interior Neon Sign

American Beauty
425 Rose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90291
(310) 412-0075
http://www.americanbeauty.la

Crustacean@Beverly Hills ★★

High-End Vietnamese/Asian Fusion. Fantastic cocktails. Garlic Noodles and Crab are signature dishes. Interesting Dim Sum for Sunday Brunch. Could get pricey. Free parking on Sundays at parking lots at corner of Bedford Dr & Santa Monica Blvd.

Yin & Yang $18
ketel one, lichi li, lychee, coconut yuzu

Jalisco to Saigon $18
tres generaciones blanco & resposado, coconut agave, black salt

Fried Shrimps $10

Dim Sum $10

Chicken Pho $20

Eggplant Fries $14

Beet Tartare $26

Duck Potstickers $10

Shrimp & Lobster Dumplings $10

Dumplings x2 $20

Shrimp Toast $10

Prawn Garlic Noodles $29

Banh Xeo Crepes $26

Complimentary Dessert for Birthday

Signature Underground Fish Tank

Crustacean Beverly Hills
468 N Bedford Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 205-8990
www.crustaceanbh.com