Monday, August 19, 2024

Onigiri Taro x Brothers Sushi x Sukiyuki LA Pop-Up@Santa Monica ★★★

Atsui! Atsui! Best Collab Ever. Finally got to meet Onigiri Taro, who makes the best onigiri rice ball is viral all around the world. His onigiri rice is from Yamagata, he seasons it with special salt, and serves it hot in front of you. It's hot, delicious, and perfectly seasoned. He's friendly and fun. His smile warms your heart. Mark Okuda from Brothers Sushi is always nice, and Yuki from Sukiyuki is so sweet. Yuki makes the best Wagyu Sukiyaki and topped it with Truffle. Such an incredible & enjoyable night. We were each given a whole can of 1oz Italian caviar to enjoy with our onigiri. Onigiri was unlimited refill, so you would surely leave full. $400 per person but worth it. Premium Sake paring $100. Organized by Rising Rice Japan. Metered street parking.

Atsui! Atsui!

Onigiri Taro

Mark Okuda from Brothers Sushi, Onigiri Taro, Yuki from Sukiyuki






Scallops & Mozuku Seaweed
from Hokkaido

Dry Aged Tai Sashimi & Tomato Tempura
w/ shiso dressing


Jikon Junmai Daiginjo Sake


Condiments for Onigiri – Marinated Tuna w/ Ossetra Premium Caviar




Tsuyahime Rice
from Yamagata

Mentaiko from Fukuoka, Salmon Eggs from Hokkaido




Hatate Bafun Uni

Each of us got an 1oz can of caviar to enjoy with Onigiri


Hatate Bafun Uni w/ the whole can of caviar

Kuheiji human Sake – I forgot to ask for wine glass

Forgot take picture earlier, but I kept adding caviar to the piece

Wagyu for Sukiyaki








A5 Wagyu Sirloin Truffle Sukiyaki

Special Rice Request


A5 Wagyu Sirloin Truffle Sukiyaki (with Onigiri Rice)

Happy accident on my Kuheiji

Special Salt

Juyondai Kuronawa

Sukiyaki Inaniwa Udon

Uni











Strawberry Umeboshi Sorbet

Onigiri Taro Tees

Mark-san & Yuki-san

The Brothers Sushi Santa Monica
1008 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(424) 330-0270
https://thebrotherssushism.com

Sunday, August 18, 2024

zoku@Redondo Beach ★★★

Great New Yakitori Restaurant. Elevated version of 鳥貴族 Torikizoku  from Japan. Nice range of appetizers. Got to try the Grilled Rice Ball & Signature Peach Parfait this time since it was sold out last in last visit. Vegetable skewers kept hot while meat skewers tended to get cold quickly. Hojicha Panna Cotta was better than the Peach Parfait. Grand opening 8/22/24. Metered street parking or metered lot across the street.

Tsukune $4.50
chicken meatball w/ Japanese tare

zoku Salad $11
Japanese style caesar salad w/ chicken breast & miso dressing

Cream Cheese "Tofu" $14
w/ baguette & maple syrup

Chicken Soup $6

Buffalo Cauliflower $7.50
fried cauliflower w/ Japanese spicy sauce

Yaki Onigiri $5.50 each
grilled rice ball w/ shoyu & katsuobushi

Wagyu Premium $7.80
w/ apple steak sauce

Unagi $4.80 each
w/ sansho pepper

Teba $4.80 each
chicken wings

Zucchini w/ garlic onion oil $3.80, Colorful Potatoes w/ butter soy sauce $3.80

Hotate (Scallop) $8.00 each
big Hokkaido scallop w/ butter shoyu

Momo Teriyaki $4.30
chicken thigh w/ teriyaki garlic mayo

Peach Parfait $9.80

Hojicha Panna Cotta $8.80

zoku
261 Avenida Del Norte,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(650) 376-5476

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Izakaya Hachi@Torrance ★★

Quality Izakaya. I always have the Gobo Chips. It's perfect pairing for sake & beer. Server introduced 50 year anniversary special Urakasumi Zen sake to us. They just got it and only had 2 bottles left. It was nice & refreshing. Surprised by the nice service (because service was bad last time). Value set menu available for groups of 4 or more. Reservations via OpenTable (credit card required). Free parking in lot.

Uni & US Wagyu Beef Sashimi (3 pcs) $27
American wagyu beef sashimi, sea urchin, shiso leaf, sweet soy sauce

Meatball Skewer (2 pcs) $8

Hakkaisan (10 oz) $40

Gobo Chips $10
fried burdock root, aonori flakes

Premium Sashimi ($38x3) $114

Fried Jidori Chicken Wing $10
marinated deep fried jidori chicken cartilage


Urakasumi Zen Junmai Ginjo Sake $100


Baked Crab Salad $14
baked crab, daikon radish, cucumber, kani miso dressing

Corn Kakiage Tempura $10
corn, tempura fritta

Spicy Miso Beef Intestine $13
pan-fried beef intestine, cabbage, spicy miso

Izakaya Hachi
1880 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 618-8357
https://www.hachius.com

Friday, August 16, 2024

Hide Sushi@Sawtelle

Casual & Old Veteran Sushi Spot in West LA. Currently looking for affordable sushi around the area. Reminds me of college time sushi. Our walk-in for a table of 4 was 15 mins on a Friday night. They were out of Geoduck & Botan Ebi that night. Cash only. Walk-in only. Corkage not allowed. Challenging street parking or free validated valet for 1.5 hours.

Uni (monthly price), Toro (monthly price) Scallops Special $11.30

Scallops & Mushroom Kai Yaki Dynamite $21.60

Seared Albacore Tuna $8.60, Madai (Red Sea Bream) $8.60

Ankimo $8.60 (2 pcs)

Salmon Skin Maki $6.40 (4 pcs)
salmon skin, kaiware, cucumber, fish fake

Ikura (Salmon Roe), Ika (Squid) $8.10 (can add shiso leaf)

Ume Shiso Maki $5.40
ume (plum paste), shiso leaf, cucumber, goma

Unagi $11.30

Hide Sushi
2040 Sawtelle Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 477-7242
hidesushi.com

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Joseon@Silver Lake ★★

Korean & Japanese Parallel Palates. Lovely feature & presentation. Abalone Sashimi is always my favorite. Special collaboration w/ Tomoko Imade Dyen featuring Tomoko-san's amazing & addicting tea. 5 courses (in 2 ways) + dessert $109. 5 glasses of alcohol pairing $59. Good deal. 8/15 & 8/16 only. Reservations via Resy. Valet $12 or very limited street parking (read signs).

Abalone Tempura, Matcha Salt & Abalone Sashimi, Seoul Style Chimichurri

Sauvignon Blanc pairing

Tomoko-san's Green Gold Harmony $11
uji matcha, yuja cha, splash of sparkling

Octopus, Cucumber, Seaweed, Su-Miso & Stir-Fried Octopus, Gochujang Glaze, Summer Vegetables


Beer pairing w/ Plum Rim

Pork Kakuni, Asian Greens, Japanese Mustard & Pork Belly Bossam, Summer Stonefruit Ssamjang, Honey Garlic, Pickled Radish, Perilla


Heiwa KID Red Rice Aka

Keema Wagyu Curry, Sweet Onion, Rice & Wagyu Curry Puff, Takuan Yogurt Aioli


Inaniwa Udon, Cold Dashi, Agebitashi Summer Vegetables & Jiajang Style, Ground Pork, Korean Squash, Summer Pickles


Sweet Ending, United with Coffee
Coffee Roll, Japanese Coffee Jelly, Chantilly Cream

Joseon
3707 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 258-4650
www.joseonla.com