Went for a birthday meal with friends last nightBad atmosphere, food is really averageWhen checking out, my friend had some questions about the bill.I asked the waiterBad attitude of waiterlet us downWhen getting up to leaveWe thank the bossThe boss's attitude is also disappointingDidn’t get back to us right awayInstead, he paused for a few seconds before speaking.:oh! Thank you (Japanese)After walking out of the storeMy friend said that he seemed to have left something in the bathroom.I want to go back to the store and ask later.Unexpectedly, the boss locked the door, and the friend looked at the boss outside the door.Knocked on the door and signaled the boss to open the door.The boss just looked at his friend without saying a wordno actionDidn't even come to open the doorStayed for about 2 minutesThe boss doesn't open the doorHe didn't come to the door to ask us what happened.My friend and I were very speechless...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Jenny Mai
Leaving another review because yet again, this business refuses to answer any of my calls nor emails. Every time I call, they will either not answer or when I get to speak to someone they will hang up. I’ve continuously sent emails which still has not been answered. They continue to refuse to acknowledge my review. They are trying to get away with stealing my hard earned money. Hopefully once we go to court justice will be served.
Service: 1
Tom Scrivener
A hidden gem! He takes great care in delivering excellence.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley V.
It was our anniversary and I really wanted to try the Japanese omakase. I have tried a few omakase experiences, but not the Japanese style. Let me walk you through what to expect, what I liked, and what I think needs to be improved.How to get there: The restaurant is located in Westwood near the I-405, in a strip mall surrounded by Persian market and eateries.Parking: You can use meter parking or pay at the parking lot. The price for the lot of $5 flat rate after 5 pm. The meter charges $1 an hour and you have to pay to park unless it's after 8 pm.Reservation: Resy is required, I made the reservation through Chase dining experience and they do have cancellation policies.- Cancelled within 72-48 Hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 25% per person + Tax- Cancelled within 48-24 hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 50% per person + Tax- Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged 100%- You can always transfer your reservation to another person.Ambiance: it is a very small restaurant. Sitting at the bar may be for maximum of 8 people. The interior decor was simple. Our dinner was at 6 pm and it was just the 2 of us. It was extremely intimate and quiet. Staff: The chef did not talk much, but he was very attentive to what you're saying. The server, dressed in a beautiful traditional kimono, was extremely diligent at cleaning our plate and serve water and tea. The omakase experience: At the time of reservation, the menu is unknown. The menu at the Chef's choice at the time of your reservation. You'll be served 12-14 pieces of nigiris for the entire experience.Food: The chef has been doing this for over 20 years and his skills truly shined through the food he curated. There was 1 cooked dish and 12 raw dishes. Each nigiri piece was uniquely crafted with different flavors. You do not need additional sauces to eat the nigiri. Overall, I thought the food was spectacular. My favorite pieces were the toro, yellowtail, albacore, and uni (best).I thought the ginger was amazing. It has a unique pickled taste compared to the typical gingers we have at sushi restaurant. I wished the chef gave us more gingers. Pricing: It is $140 per person, but please do note that there are hidden fees. I will explain this below.What I think needs improvement: I generously deducted 1 star because I thought the food quality was excellent.1. I think the restaurant should be more clear about the price people pay up front. I thought the $140 price comes with 13-14 pieces since the website stated Masakazu's Omakase experience comes 13-14 pieces of sushi per person. It was not the case. I just want to put it out there that the price you pay comes with 12 pieces and the 2 remaining pieces (scallop and shrimp) come with additional fees. I ordered the additional scallop. I honestly think the restaurant should just increase the upfront prices to $150-$160 to include everything, so there are no additional fees2. Because I already pre-paid the omakase, they wanted to adjust the printed tipping to reflex actual subtotal amount that I have already paid. I thought it was a bit funny why they did it and perhaps a bit untrusting of the restaurant since customers are under no obligation to tip a certain amount. I believe if you focus in doing your best to serve the customers, you'll get great tips. 3. The chef was extremely quiet through the entire omakase experience, but I know he was actively listening since we talked about ginger. It might be because of the language barrier, but it would have been nice if he can try to provide a bit of information about each piece. Toward the end, he did talked to us a bit about the omakase/sushi industry, which I thought was wonderful. 4. Also, the website states you need to showed up early. We showed up 15 minutes early, and have to wait outside until 5:55 pm to come in. It might be better etiquette to let customers come in and wait inside. Tip people interested in Japanese omakase: this is a Japanese omakase experience, a tasting experience. Please don't expect lots of food if y
Thomas Fuks
Loved it! True authentic place with passionate team and excellent fish. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kameron G.
Came here on a quiet Sunday evening as we were the only 2 customers in the already intimate dining setting. The quality of the fish was outstanding as the chef takes his time making sure that every bite is made to perfection. My favorite dishes of the night were the abalone, chu-toro, snapper, and scallop. Definitely a spot I would recommend as the prices are reasonable considering you're getting 13-14 pieces of sushi.
Primrose R.
Masakazu is hands down one of the very best Omakase restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at. The meal was incredibly delicious, leaving me eager to return soon. If you're a sushi enthusiast like me, treat yourself to this experience. They offer fabulous sake and serve world-class sushi. The intimate bar seating creates a perfect ambiance for a romantic date night. The freshness and precision in every dish make it clear that the chef is truly an artist. A must-visit for any sushi lover!Recommend attire: upscale. When a chef puts so much heart into their cuisine the very least we can do is dress to show respect.
Kayla Fory
Wasn't particularly impressed, I expect a better dining experience for the money.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Omakase
Julia Fierro
Heaven for
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eugenie Chen
Unique seasoning and taste, with soy sauce made by the chef himself. Would’ve been perfect if there were desserts and hot sakes.
I recently had an omakase dining experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings and can only give it an average rating of 3 stars out of 5.Let's start with the service. Our waitress was always polite and had a pleasant smile, creating a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated. However, I was a little disappointed when she overlooked the basket for my belongings, while other patrons seemed to receive this attention. I understand that oversights happen, but consistency is key when it comes to service.Now, the food - a critical element in any dining experience, and even more so in omakase, which is all about entrusting oneself to the chef's selection. The dishes served were a mixed bag. Some were quite good, well-prepared and presented. However, there were also several that were just average, with somewhat light flavors. Given the nature of omakase, I was expecting more creativity in the preparation and presentation of dishes, which unfortunately, was lacking.A key part of any omakase experience is the connection between the chef and the diner. In this case, the chef didn't interact much and his limited command of English meant he couldn't explain the dishes served to us. This detracted from the overall omakase experience, where understanding the concept and story behind each dish greatly enhances the dining pleasure.A final note - we left the restaurant still feeling hungry. This was disappointing as the expectation from an omakase meal, particularly considering the price point, is to leave feeling satisfied.In summary, while there were aspects to appreciate about this restaurant, there were several areas where it fell short of expectations. Improvements in these areas would significantly enhance the dining experience. At this point, I can only rate it as average, hence the 3-star rating
Thet Myat N.
Ambiance- Intimate and clean atmosphere. Light-colored sushi bar and furnitures made us feel refreshed.Service- Chef focuses on the quality of sushi, humble, doesn't boast or beat us with so many information. Waitress is attentive.Food- All sushi are created with necessary ingredients I suppose, we needn't to ask any. Some were seared, some were raw. Toro was hands-down my favorite!!Overall Experience- I figured limited reservation is to ensure the service this restaurant offers, I'm impressed. Definitely a hidden gem in Westwood area.
Jason Yih
Great omakase with an amazingly friendly sushi chef.
Andrew Robbins
It's perfectly fine, and if I had paid ~$50, I'd rate it higher. But for $130 for the sushi and another 15 for tea and an optional "appetizer", it's just nowhere near worth it. (Also it was not clear when an optional dish was extra or not, and no price was given either)We got ~10 pieces, and one of them was absolutely amazingly delicious. 2 more were excellent. And the rest were good. Altogether, I was just barely not hungry at the end. Not full, but not hungry.I'm glad I did it to experience the atmosphere. It was cool to watch the chef, including him blowtorch things. I'd never eaten in such a uniquely fancy setting like that, but I feel no need to do it again.I think if you're a real foodie, and really value that next tier experience at a restaurant, this may be worth it to you. But I find myself enjoying food at cheap places just as often as pricier ones, so this place may just be wasted on me.Kid-friendliness: Not
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Brad Yasar
Hidden gem on Westwood Boulevard! I was very surprised at the quality of the food, the pedigree of the chef, and the amazing selection of sake. A must visit for omakase lover in Los Angeles!
Went for a birthday meal with friends last nightBad atmosphere, food is really averageWhen checking out, my friend had some questions about the bill.I asked the waiterBad attitude of waiterlet us downWhen getting up to leaveWe thank the bossThe boss's attitude is also disappointingDidn’t get back to us right awayInstead, he paused for a few seconds before speaking.:oh! Thank you (Japanese)After walking out of the storeMy friend said that he seemed to have left something in the bathroom.I want to go back to the store and ask later.Unexpectedly, the boss locked the door, and the friend looked at the boss outside the door.Knocked on the door and signaled the boss to open the door.The boss just looked at his friend without saying a wordno actionDidn't even come to open the doorStayed for about 2 minutesThe boss doesn't open the doorHe didn't come to the door to ask us what happened.My friend and I were very speechless...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Leaving another review because yet again, this business refuses to answer any of my calls nor emails. Every time I call, they will either not answer or when I get to speak to someone they will hang up. I’ve continuously sent emails which still has not been answered. They continue to refuse to acknowledge my review. They are trying to get away with stealing my hard earned money. Hopefully once we go to court justice will be served.
Service: 1
A hidden gem! He takes great care in delivering excellence.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was our anniversary and I really wanted to try the Japanese omakase. I have tried a few omakase experiences, but not the Japanese style. Let me walk you through what to expect, what I liked, and what I think needs to be improved.How to get there: The restaurant is located in Westwood near the I-405, in a strip mall surrounded by Persian market and eateries.Parking: You can use meter parking or pay at the parking lot. The price for the lot of $5 flat rate after 5 pm. The meter charges $1 an hour and you have to pay to park unless it's after 8 pm.Reservation: Resy is required, I made the reservation through Chase dining experience and they do have cancellation policies.- Cancelled within 72-48 Hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 25% per person + Tax- Cancelled within 48-24 hours of reservation date: cancellation fee of 50% per person + Tax- Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged 100%- You can always transfer your reservation to another person.Ambiance: it is a very small restaurant. Sitting at the bar may be for maximum of 8 people. The interior decor was simple. Our dinner was at 6 pm and it was just the 2 of us. It was extremely intimate and quiet. Staff: The chef did not talk much, but he was very attentive to what you're saying. The server, dressed in a beautiful traditional kimono, was extremely diligent at cleaning our plate and serve water and tea. The omakase experience: At the time of reservation, the menu is unknown. The menu at the Chef's choice at the time of your reservation. You'll be served 12-14 pieces of nigiris for the entire experience.Food: The chef has been doing this for over 20 years and his skills truly shined through the food he curated. There was 1 cooked dish and 12 raw dishes. Each nigiri piece was uniquely crafted with different flavors. You do not need additional sauces to eat the nigiri. Overall, I thought the food was spectacular. My favorite pieces were the toro, yellowtail, albacore, and uni (best).I thought the ginger was amazing. It has a unique pickled taste compared to the typical gingers we have at sushi restaurant. I wished the chef gave us more gingers. Pricing: It is $140 per person, but please do note that there are hidden fees. I will explain this below.What I think needs improvement: I generously deducted 1 star because I thought the food quality was excellent.1. I think the restaurant should be more clear about the price people pay up front. I thought the $140 price comes with 13-14 pieces since the website stated Masakazu's Omakase experience comes 13-14 pieces of sushi per person. It was not the case. I just want to put it out there that the price you pay comes with 12 pieces and the 2 remaining pieces (scallop and shrimp) come with additional fees. I ordered the additional scallop. I honestly think the restaurant should just increase the upfront prices to $150-$160 to include everything, so there are no additional fees2. Because I already pre-paid the omakase, they wanted to adjust the printed tipping to reflex actual subtotal amount that I have already paid. I thought it was a bit funny why they did it and perhaps a bit untrusting of the restaurant since customers are under no obligation to tip a certain amount. I believe if you focus in doing your best to serve the customers, you'll get great tips. 3. The chef was extremely quiet through the entire omakase experience, but I know he was actively listening since we talked about ginger. It might be because of the language barrier, but it would have been nice if he can try to provide a bit of information about each piece. Toward the end, he did talked to us a bit about the omakase/sushi industry, which I thought was wonderful. 4. Also, the website states you need to showed up early. We showed up 15 minutes early, and have to wait outside until 5:55 pm to come in. It might be better etiquette to let customers come in and wait inside. Tip people interested in Japanese omakase: this is a Japanese omakase experience, a tasting experience. Please don't expect lots of food if y
Loved it! True authentic place with passionate team and excellent fish. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here on a quiet Sunday evening as we were the only 2 customers in the already intimate dining setting. The quality of the fish was outstanding as the chef takes his time making sure that every bite is made to perfection. My favorite dishes of the night were the abalone, chu-toro, snapper, and scallop. Definitely a spot I would recommend as the prices are reasonable considering you're getting 13-14 pieces of sushi.
Masakazu is hands down one of the very best Omakase restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at. The meal was incredibly delicious, leaving me eager to return soon. If you're a sushi enthusiast like me, treat yourself to this experience. They offer fabulous sake and serve world-class sushi. The intimate bar seating creates a perfect ambiance for a romantic date night. The freshness and precision in every dish make it clear that the chef is truly an artist. A must-visit for any sushi lover!Recommend attire: upscale. When a chef puts so much heart into their cuisine the very least we can do is dress to show respect.
Wasn't particularly impressed, I expect a better dining experience for the money.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Omakase
Heaven for
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unique seasoning and taste, with soy sauce made by the chef himself. Would’ve been perfect if there were desserts and hot sakes.
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently had an omakase dining experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings and can only give it an average rating of 3 stars out of 5.Let's start with the service. Our waitress was always polite and had a pleasant smile, creating a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated. However, I was a little disappointed when she overlooked the basket for my belongings, while other patrons seemed to receive this attention. I understand that oversights happen, but consistency is key when it comes to service.Now, the food - a critical element in any dining experience, and even more so in omakase, which is all about entrusting oneself to the chef's selection. The dishes served were a mixed bag. Some were quite good, well-prepared and presented. However, there were also several that were just average, with somewhat light flavors. Given the nature of omakase, I was expecting more creativity in the preparation and presentation of dishes, which unfortunately, was lacking.A key part of any omakase experience is the connection between the chef and the diner. In this case, the chef didn't interact much and his limited command of English meant he couldn't explain the dishes served to us. This detracted from the overall omakase experience, where understanding the concept and story behind each dish greatly enhances the dining pleasure.A final note - we left the restaurant still feeling hungry. This was disappointing as the expectation from an omakase meal, particularly considering the price point, is to leave feeling satisfied.In summary, while there were aspects to appreciate about this restaurant, there were several areas where it fell short of expectations. Improvements in these areas would significantly enhance the dining experience. At this point, I can only rate it as average, hence the 3-star rating
Ambiance- Intimate and clean atmosphere. Light-colored sushi bar and furnitures made us feel refreshed.Service- Chef focuses on the quality of sushi, humble, doesn't boast or beat us with so many information. Waitress is attentive.Food- All sushi are created with necessary ingredients I suppose, we needn't to ask any. Some were seared, some were raw. Toro was hands-down my favorite!!Overall Experience- I figured limited reservation is to ensure the service this restaurant offers, I'm impressed. Definitely a hidden gem in Westwood area.
Great omakase with an amazingly friendly sushi chef.
It's perfectly fine, and if I had paid ~$50, I'd rate it higher. But for $130 for the sushi and another 15 for tea and an optional "appetizer", it's just nowhere near worth it. (Also it was not clear when an optional dish was extra or not, and no price was given either)We got ~10 pieces, and one of them was absolutely amazingly delicious. 2 more were excellent. And the rest were good. Altogether, I was just barely not hungry at the end. Not full, but not hungry.I'm glad I did it to experience the atmosphere. It was cool to watch the chef, including him blowtorch things. I'd never eaten in such a uniquely fancy setting like that, but I feel no need to do it again.I think if you're a real foodie, and really value that next tier experience at a restaurant, this may be worth it to you. But I find myself enjoying food at cheap places just as often as pricier ones, so this place may just be wasted on me.Kid-friendliness: Not
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Hidden gem on Westwood Boulevard! I was very surprised at the quality of the food, the pedigree of the chef, and the amazing selection of sake. A must visit for omakase lover in Los Angeles!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Snapper