Asuka is an absolute gem. The food is reliably immaculate every time. The ambience, service, and presentation is also always on point.
Suzan Allbritton
Now that I found this sushi restaurant, it’s the only place I go and one of my girlfriends who entered used to it wants to go every week! The food is delicious by far the best fresh sushi on the west side at the very least, if not in the whole city. It’s also a beautiful and quiet restaurant unlike so many restaurants these days that are just loud!Love it!
**4.7/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Asuka Japanese Restaurant Westwood (Since 1974): O.G. Sushi Royalty Still Reigns**
Hidden on **Westwood Blvd since 1974**, **Asuka** is the quiet legend where **Nobu Matsuhisa** *and* **Kazunori Nozawa** (the “Sushi Nazi” behind Sugarfish) cut their teeth before global fame 🍣👑. Walk past the unassuming storefront and enter a time capsule: dark wood, paper lanterns, and the rhythmic *thwack* of knives on cedar blocks since Nixon was president 🕰️.
The **omakase ($120)** is a masterclass—12 pieces of pure poetry. Toro melts like butter, uni bursts with briny sunrise, and the **live kuruma ebi** (sweet shrimp) arrives still twitching before becoming nigiri heaven 🦐🤯. Chef Toshi-san (30+ years here) torches binchotan-seared sawara with a whisper of yuzu salt 🔥. Even the **tamago** is silk-sponge perfection.
Classics shine too: **spicy tuna hand roll** ($12) packs wasabi punch, **miso black cod** ($38) caramelizes like Nobu’s signature but somehow *warmer*. Sake list? 20+ premium pours by the glass 🍶.
Service is **old-school Japanese hospitality**—warm towels, paced courses, zero rush. Only quibble? Tiny 30-seat room books weeks out—call early 📞. Street parking is a hunt, but the $12 valet next door saves sanity 🚗.
Westwood’s changed—boba shops, poke bowls—but Asuka remains **unchanged, unapologetic, unbeatable**. This isn’t trendy sushi; it’s *heritage*. Nobu and Nozawa learned here. You should too. I’ll be back for the next 50 years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ron
Excellent service, although they weren't very busy, so I don't know how it would be when there are more people. The sushi is not the best, but it is very good. For what it is, it is too expensive.
Tom K. Coffey
A serious restaurant for serious restaurant lovers. Michelin-star chef. A welcoming maître D' (wearing a suit and tie, nice!). Yet a casual and friendly environment. Innovative (have you ever had edamame tofu? You should.). Professional service (too rare in LA). Exceptional fish (isn't that why we're here?). The balsamic-caper reduction on the perfectly-cooked salmon was other-worldly. The Japanese eggplant with sweet red miso is perfectly balanced. Not possible to have only one spicy tuna handroll. You're worried that the sashimi is too thin? Get over yourself...if you want giant portions, go to McDonald's. If you want quality Japanese food and an exceptional dining experience, come here. Thank you, Vincent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carl Wong
I came here last year for a business dinner and we had 5 course omakase. I was pleasantly surprised how fresh the fish was. It's a traditional Japanese approach, the food is really delicious. I'll definitely return when I'm in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
dc396
Traditional Japanese sushiya. A rarity in much of LA. High quality fish and excellent service. A bit pricey (you get what you pay for). Will return.
ML
What's unique about this place is the people, I mean the whole crew who are all Japanese. The owner is a real character. He loves to chat with customers n I enjoyed the conversations. The ingredients were high quality n the chefs took their spin on them to a true omakase level.
I gave 3 stars to atmosphere as the main dining area is a bid dated n the lighting is not helping. However it was really roomy n comfortable so I am not complaining. The sushi counter side is much better n brighter. Will go to eat every time I visit LA.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gabrielle
Two of us had sushi omakase which was a series of beautiful, perfectly prepared pieces. They swapped eel for Japanese mackerel for me, and it was one of my favorites. The uni was fresh and lush. My nephew had the Kaiseki, and they made several changes to accommodate his shellfish allergy. Attentive service and relaxed atmosphere. Expensive but worth the price for excellent fish and service.
Walavan
Owner is amazing, engaging, and a great conversationalist. The food was fantastic.  wonderful place.
Excellent food and great service. I've been going to Asuka for years and love the quality of the food and variety of the menu.
Gabriela
Nothing wrong with the taste of the food, but these were the thinnest sashimi I've ever seen. I got the sushi special ($90) which came with 1 small tofu, 1 miso, 9 nigiri and a hand roll. The products were great, but it was just funny to see how thin the fish part was. Made me feel like I was in a cheap / budget restaurant but I was actually paying so much.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Krista McMillion
Absolutely amazing! Sushi quality was unparalleled and service was wonderful.
Joyce Stout
Delicious! Elegant yet casual.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brigitte Kenny
We were first timers tonight and this restaurant did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere set the tone for an exceptional meal. The fish was impeccably fresh, with each piece of sushi expertly crafted and beautifully presented. We’ll be back again soon :)
Asuka is an absolute gem. The food is reliably immaculate every time. The ambience, service, and presentation is also always on point.
Now that I found this sushi restaurant, it’s the only place I go and one of my girlfriends who entered used to it wants to go every week! The food is delicious by far the best fresh sushi on the west side at the very least, if not in the whole city. It’s also a beautiful and quiet restaurant unlike so many restaurants these days that are just loud!Love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Salmon, Hamachi Kama, Spicy Tuna, Asari Miso Soup
**4.7/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Asuka Japanese Restaurant Westwood (Since 1974): O.G. Sushi Royalty Still Reigns**
Hidden on **Westwood Blvd since 1974**, **Asuka** is the quiet legend where **Nobu Matsuhisa** *and* **Kazunori Nozawa** (the “Sushi Nazi” behind Sugarfish) cut their teeth before global fame 🍣👑. Walk past the unassuming storefront and enter a time capsule: dark wood, paper lanterns, and the rhythmic *thwack* of knives on cedar blocks since Nixon was president 🕰️.
The **omakase ($120)** is a masterclass—12 pieces of pure poetry. Toro melts like butter, uni bursts with briny sunrise, and the **live kuruma ebi** (sweet shrimp) arrives still twitching before becoming nigiri heaven 🦐🤯. Chef Toshi-san (30+ years here) torches binchotan-seared sawara with a whisper of yuzu salt 🔥. Even the **tamago** is silk-sponge perfection.
Classics shine too: **spicy tuna hand roll** ($12) packs wasabi punch, **miso black cod** ($38) caramelizes like Nobu’s signature but somehow *warmer*. Sake list? 20+ premium pours by the glass 🍶.
Service is **old-school Japanese hospitality**—warm towels, paced courses, zero rush. Only quibble? Tiny 30-seat room books weeks out—call early 📞. Street parking is a hunt, but the $12 valet next door saves sanity 🚗.
Westwood’s changed—boba shops, poke bowls—but Asuka remains **unchanged, unapologetic, unbeatable**. This isn’t trendy sushi; it’s *heritage*. Nobu and Nozawa learned here. You should too. I’ll be back for the next 50 years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent service, although they weren't very busy, so I don't know how it would be when there are more people. The sushi is not the best, but it is very good. For what it is, it is too expensive.
A serious restaurant for serious restaurant lovers. Michelin-star chef. A welcoming maître D' (wearing a suit and tie, nice!). Yet a casual and friendly environment. Innovative (have you ever had edamame tofu? You should.). Professional service (too rare in LA). Exceptional fish (isn't that why we're here?). The balsamic-caper reduction on the perfectly-cooked salmon was other-worldly. The Japanese eggplant with sweet red miso is perfectly balanced. Not possible to have only one spicy tuna handroll. You're worried that the sashimi is too thin? Get over yourself...if you want giant portions, go to McDonald's. If you want quality Japanese food and an exceptional dining experience, come here. Thank you, Vincent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I came here last year for a business dinner and we had 5 course omakase. I was pleasantly surprised how fresh the fish was. It's a traditional Japanese approach, the food is really delicious. I'll definitely return when I'm in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Traditional Japanese sushiya. A rarity in much of LA. High quality fish and excellent service. A bit pricey (you get what you pay for). Will return.
What's unique about this place is the people, I mean the whole crew who are all Japanese.
The owner is a real character. He loves to chat with customers n I enjoyed the conversations.
The ingredients were high quality n the chefs took their spin on them to a true omakase level.
I gave 3 stars to atmosphere as the main dining area is a bid dated n the lighting is not helping. However it was really roomy n comfortable so I am not complaining. The sushi counter side is much better n brighter.
Will go to eat every time I visit LA.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Two of us had sushi omakase which was a series of beautiful, perfectly prepared pieces. They swapped eel for Japanese mackerel for me, and it was one of my favorites. The uni was fresh and lush. My nephew had the Kaiseki, and they made several changes to accommodate his shellfish allergy. Attentive service and relaxed atmosphere. Expensive but worth the price for excellent fish and service.
Owner is amazing, engaging, and a great conversationalist. The food was fantastic.  wonderful place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent food and great service. I've been going to Asuka for years and love the quality of the food and variety of the menu.
Nothing wrong with the taste of the food, but these were the thinnest sashimi I've ever seen. I got the sushi special ($90) which came with 1 small tofu, 1 miso, 9 nigiri and a hand roll.
The products were great, but it was just funny to see how thin the fish part was. Made me feel like I was in a cheap / budget restaurant but I was actually paying so much.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Absolutely amazing! Sushi quality was unparalleled and service was wonderful.
Delicious! Elegant yet casual.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were first timers tonight and this restaurant did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere set the tone for an exceptional meal. The fish was impeccably fresh, with each piece of sushi expertly crafted and beautifully presented. We’ll be back again soon :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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