50 Best Sushi Bars near Universal City

“Excellent service. Great food!“

“My granddaughter and I were in a rush to an appointment but were so hungry. We stopped in, mentioned we were in a slow hurry and they delivered the Sushi in a flash Fresh great customer service and easy to express our likes. We will be back! Thank you so much.“

“That sounds like a fantastic dining experience“

“We moved a street over and were excited to try. The $80 omakase left us full and content! The perfect amount of food. The black cod, seared salmon, and otoro were huge highlights. As a ginger lover, I was thrilled with how good this was and ate my entire pile mostly plain with just with their high quality soy sauce. We couldn't help eyeballing the huge 12 piece rolls that were going out past us and can't wait to try next time.“

“Sushi Takeda is easily one of the best omakase experiences in downtown Los Angeles. Chef Takeda brings an incredible mix of precision, warmth, and traditional technique that makes every course feel special. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh, the pacing is perfect, and the flavors are clean, refined, and deeply memorable.

We also appreciated how balanced and approachable the menu is, with a nice mix of warm and hot dishes. The experience never feels intimidating and the food is beautifully prepared with absolute care. Chef Hide San is also incredibly friendly, humble and passionate about his craft which makes for a great experience from start to finish.

Located on the third floor of Weller Court in Little Tokyo, Sushi Takeda is a hidden gem that is perfect for an elegant edomae style lunch or dinner. We have no doubt a Michelin Star will soon follow!“

“I'm town for LA ComicCon and did my usual research to scope out what's around and amongst the many sushi places near LA Live downtown, the reviews drew me to a small, unassuming hole-in-the-wall place. It did not disappoint. I add my voice to those singing their praises. The place is small but the food is amazing. I was able to spend a few minutes chatting with the owners and they are wonderful people who you can immediately appreciate how much they are personally invested providing an amazing sushi meal and time permitting chat with you. Something we don't get enough these days. If you're into sushi and find yourself in downtown LA, this is a MUST visit location.“

“The food was amazing!! Great experience.“

“Sawa is easily a top-10 restaurant in my opinion. The chef deserves a star. The entire experience went beyond my expectations, truly outstanding. I had so much fun dining there; the environment is friendly, and every bite was delicious. The host was spectacular, especially for suggesting we split the sake pairing, for someone who doesn’t drink much, it was more than enough. I’m already looking forward to coming back.“

“knowledgeable.

The staff is very welcoming and friendly as well.

Restaurant is clean and organized. Lighting is good. The noise level is perfect! Glad I could easily enjoy a conversation without struggling to hear or talk!! So important.

They do offer valet. I parked on the street with metered parking.

Food:
Did the full omakase for ~$120/person. This includes 3 appetizers (choice of soup), a small salad, fresh oysters, and we had white fish with truffle and a nice sauce. All of these were excellent!

The fish was fresh. However, some of the fish had one note with what at times was an overwhelming ocean taste. I know some people really enjoy that. However, it was distracting from the taste of the fish itself.

Quality wise was not the best I’ve had. Happy that the fish was not covered in sauces. Chef does let the fish speak for itself. Would have been nice to have included more tuna and a beef course.

The uni quality was not great. Maybe it is just me, but I really am not enjoying uni the way others seem to enjoy it. Last item was a hand roll made from Crab. Very tasty, but I was full.

I will mention one of the pieces, the perch, was memorable for how bad it tasted. It looked and smelled delicious, firm white meat, with some darker shades. But the taste was… It tasted like what a boat covered in barnacles looks like.

We did get to finish with a choice of desserts.

Would I return? Perhaps to try the regular rolls from the menu.“

“Please excuse the messy photos, I was too hungry and just snapped them quickly before eating. I ordered the Seafood Yakisoba and Curry Katsu, and my friend absolutely loved it! As always, Ocean Sushi did not disappoint. We both enjoyed it so much. thumbs up! 😀“

“Good Japanese foods , many varieties of dishes . The fish grilled sea bass is cooked just perfectly fine . The salad is kinda american Japanese fusion but still good . The carbonara noodle - I don’t really care (It doesn’t really fit with the rest of the dishes) - overall is a great place to enjoy Japanese foods“

“Phenomenal experience and the staff was excellent.“

“Fresh, flavorful sushi and incredibly friendly service! Every roll was beautifully made and full of clean, vibrant flavors. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is attentive, and the prices are fair for the quality. Easily one of my new favorite sushi spots!“

“Came here on a Saturday night around 6pm and waited about 90 minutes for a table.

The kicker? You have to pay $10 to get in the lot before you even get the pleasure of waiting.

Food was good but not worth a 90 minute wait“

“Amazing food and service, chef Hilo made my experience feel like I was truly understanding each bite I took into my food. Amazing atmosphere“

“We visited the restaurant for their brunch buffet and had an overall enjoyable experience. The food was good and delicious — everything was fresh and well-prepared. However, we felt the menu leaned more toward the classic side and didn't offer anything particularly unique or standout. It was satisfying, just not especially memorable in terms of creativity or variety. The ambience was lovely — comfortable, stylish, and welcoming — a great setting for a relaxed weekend brunch. The service was good as well; the staff were courteous and attentive. That said, drink service was a bit on the slower side that day, but it didn't take away too much from the overall experience. If you're looking for a solid brunch option with a pleasant atmosphere and reliable food, this is a good choice. We'd consider returning, especially for a laid-back group outing or family get-together.“

“Little Izaka-ya is my go-to neighborhood sushi spot, and it never disappoints! The servers always remember me, which adds such a nice, welcoming touch to every visit. It feels like a place I can count on for a great time and delicious food every single time. The sushi rolls are consistently fresh and full of flavor, but my personal favorite is the white fish roll—YUM! It’s always a treat. I also love how easy it is to make a reservation, making dining here super convenient. Whether it’s for a casual night out or a special dinner, Little Izaka-ya always delivers. Highly recommend!“

“If I could give more stars, I would! This was amazing, fresh sushi. The baked crab roll was melt in your mouth! It’s a smaller menu but everything is made to perfection for that reason. They also have sushi plates for 2 that allow you to explore the menu for a great price! All the classics done the best way.“

“Not a big fan of sitting on the side of street where people walk by and you intake that fumes coming from all these traffic. Got to sit inside by the bar, the food here is okay, but a bit pricey for what it's worth. Been to many affordable to very expensive sushi places in the U.S. and in Asia, this place is more IG/social media friendly picturesque place than an actual sushi/sashimi place. Not much nigiri/sashimi choices. Not a big fan of places that sell pre-made canned alcohol with an extreme markup.“

“They have the best rolls! Very reasonable price. We eat here & to go very often“

“Really phenomenal high quality sushi. They had some really wonderful, unique and delicious vegetarian options that were just as elegant and beautifully presented as the fish options. My husband who loves fish said his meal was some of the best sushi he ever had. We'll definitely be back!“

“Must get sushi, but don’t forget the corn tempura and momotaro tomato (seasonal). Awesome sake selection too.“

“Wonderful experience with Chef Take! Truly a unique experience in the historical method and style chef prepares his experience.“

“Absolutely amazing menu and very accommodating people, and it’s very affordable and mostly delicious 😋.“

“Amazing find, theit sushi kaiseki is the best and the middle set at $160 is one of the best values in town. Reminds me of places we went to in Japan. Sit at the bar and get an authentic omskasa experience for way less than comparable restaurants.“

“seats 10 for a personalized tour of sushi for the purist. exceptional style and quality of fish. superbly presented by a Michelin star chef on front of you. book far in advance“

“This place is very chill and clean, with a self-serve bar for miso soup, ginger, wasabi, tea, and water. But I'm stopping in the middle of eating to write this review specifically because this is the best nigiri I can ever recall having!“

“Amazing hand roll restaurants in DTLA with a speakeasy bar. They have a $88 couple combo which is great for dating and couple. The fish were so fresh and premium quality. The staffs are really friendly and loved the environment. The cocktails are straight from the bar and wasted great. We would definitely come back.“

“Located in K-Town, I’ve been hearing a lot about this spot that specializes in yubu (inari) sushi — rice stuffed in a sweet tofu wrap with different toppings. I came pretty close to opening time on a Saturday, and it was already busy. Parking can be a bit tricky depending on the time of day.

I ordered the spicy salmon, lemon salmon, torched salmon, mentaiko crab, king yubu, and spicy tuna. They were all pretty good, but my favorites were the lemon salmon and torched salmon. The lemon really helped cut through the sweetness and richness of the yubu, and the torched salmon had a nice toasty flavor that made it stand out.

The pieces are decently sized and come packed with toppings, but they run about $6 to $10 each, so you’d probably need three or four to feel full. I like the concept and presentation, but the yubu itself does get a little too sweet after a while. Still, I’d definitely come back for a quick snack or to grab a few for a picnic or road trip.“

“best japanese rich fllavors unique taste simple fresh and delish“

“Amazing spot! Will be back for sure!!“

“Delicious and freshly prepared food 🥘“

“We came here for my boyfriend's bday and order Omakase at the bar. We enjoy the 9 course meal, it was filling and very good. We even did a rating on the school item we tried. The only issue we had is that when the chef will say what the item was, because it was so loud it was extremely hard to hear what he was saying. Other than that we enjoy our experience, I told them it was for my boyfriend's bday we were there and they made us a delicious mushroom meal. We enjoy our first experience there!“

“AAAAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++ Plus First time and will definitely come back“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“I overall love this place. The music is so sexy and classy. It's pure r&b and I loved the happy hour. The happy hour menu is where it is at. I love the decorum and the owner is🔥my only issue was the cleanliness of the bathroom for the ladies.“

“I love this place! The food is fantastic! And I’m a regular for a reason 😉“

“Sushi Zanmai has great sushi and other dishes. They also have hot dishes. The place is just so pretty and the seating is comfortable and inviting. Make a reservation as it will get crowded at night.

Everything is just so fresh and filled with flavor. The tuna is my personal favorite. But I also love their hot dishes. Their rice is great and I love rice so I have to have it.

Their menu is on a pad which I don't like, but they deal with it.

The prices are high, but such is the cost of great fish these days. They have great combination plates that the whole table will love.

As to the service, it is fantastic. the entire staff is welcoming and will help you with the menu if you need it. They are fast and super helpful.

You will have a relaxing and great time there. Have fun.“

“I am Korean and have been to many sushi, tempura, and omakase restaurants in Sapporo.
It's good here. It's good, but it's really crappy. It's no exaggeration to say that it's salt sushi. When Koreans go, please ask for a little less seasoning. Otherwise, you'll feel like you're eating from a soy sauce container.
And it's so, so, so cold. I'm not a neta, but I go to Michelin and pay $500, so I can't help but wonder why I'm shivering from the cold. And when I hold the nigiri, I don't know if it's a habit, but every time I hold it, I take a small amount of rice... a little bit from the nigiri. It feels a bit like an amateur. The fact that there were a lot of tsumami made was enough to give that feeling.
And the chef speaks a little Korean.
This business could get better if they just don't use Chrome Hearts chopsticks and show a little more consideration for their customers. The food was good, and except for the saltiness, the sushi and neta were good.“

“Great setting and great Sushi two thumbs up 👍🏽“

“Very delicious 😻 very beautiful presentation“

“great food. Good service. decent prices“

“Exceptional food! Hamachi collar, red snapper soup! And sushi. Authentic; which is why it was so good!“

“Truly an unmatched dining experience for us. Everything is worth it. I wish I had remembered that we could bring our own sake/wine for a corkage fee, but the sake we had there was wonderful. It's amazing to see so much of the hard work that goes into the art of making delicious omakase up close, and the chefs make you feel welcome and special from the first moment.“

“Nestled right next to Trader Joe’s in Downtown Culver City, Brothers
Sushi is a casual restaurant with attentive and friendly servers and sushi chefs. The fish quality is exceptional and fresh. Their delicious miso soup is a MUST TRY! The lunch menu has a wide variety ranging from sushi to bento boxes. Hands down Brothers Sushi is worth the splurge. If you have room for more after your meal, their desserts are light, not incredibly sweet and refreshing. We will definitely come back. Thank you, Brothers Sushi 🍣 🍱“

“Very delicious! My daughter fell in love with Katsu Sando ❤“

“One of the best sushi I’ve had in Southern California, small place not fancy at all but it is a recommended experience must try.“

“Love this place so much. Their sushi is always so fresh and love the flavor profiles they choose. My favorite rolls/sashimi there is the citrus forward specialty rolls. The lime roll is my absolute fav there. I recommend making a reso for dinner bc it's usually busy but for lunch you can usually get right in. Parking is a bit of a hassle because of the trader Joe's so close so residential parking is the move.“

“Pretty much everything it is always the best and freshest fish in town! The best oysters on the half shell, Uni, yellowtail belly, the seafood salad is really delicious, (as well as their salmon skin salad)! Another favorite is the ELhand roll (it’s almost a meal in itself)! You really cannot go wrong with anything you order there! Five stars for sure!“

“Came here for lunch and the food did not disappoint. I ordered the lunch combo with a California roll and sashimi and everything was delicious. The place was busy and we waited a little bit to be served but nothing to complain about. Everyone was so sweet and friendly, I will be back!“