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Blink and you’ll miss Sushi Today. Yes, it’s another hole-in-the-wall restaurant I’m recommending, but this place is my favorite sushi restaurant. Located on Temple Street in downtown LA, right next the Prince Motel, this hidden gem serves up affordable sushi and sashimi that tastes like it would cost you a whole paycheck. I love this little restaurant, and it was a definite end of the week treat for me and my friend/co-worker.

Before I start rambling on endlessly about the sushi and sashimi, let me just get the lunch specials out of the way. For $6.95, you can choose from the sashimi special (6 pcs), udon noodles with California, spicy scallops, or spicy tuna roll, salmon teriyaki with tempura, and they all come with miso soup and salad. Like most sushi joints, Today also has a sushi menu on which you can write your order for hand or cut rolls.

Now to what really makes Today so special… ORDER FROM THE BOARD!!! There are two boards posted on the wall that list some of Today’s most special items. Although the prices are not written on the boards, I assure you that they are always reasonable. The owner/sushi chef, Kim, will also be more than happy to tell you the price.

One of the many traits that makes Kim such a great sushi chef is he remembers his customers, and if you tell him you really like something, he will remember that, too. For instance, today I asked him to make me something – anything. Earlier I watched Kim make this beautiful plate of sushi that I had never seen before, which he told me was the Crispy Salmon Plate. Sensing my curiosity and knowing that I didn’t want too much rice for lunch, for my mystery order, he created a Crispy Salmon Salad.

As I was a bit too distracted by how good this was, I’m not sure exactly what went into making it. I do know at the very least he wrapped salmon around shrimp, asparagus and avocado.

The Spicy Seared Albacore Sashimi is a favorite at Today. Kim slices marinated, seared albacore and places them artfully on top of a ball of daikon strings. He then covers the plate with jalapenos and a top secret sauce that is reminiscent of ponzu but more delicate. Just when you think Kim’s done, he adds crispy tempura onions on top of it all, creating this huge mountain of food for you to dig into.

For people who don’t like spicy foods, don’t let the name of this dish or the sight of the jalapenos ward you off. The jalapenos merely add a bit of flavor to the dish and are not hot at all.

I also ordered the Special Rainbow Roll today, which was absolutely divine as always. This size of this sushi is so big that it is difficult for me to put an entire piece in my mouth.

Today’s rainbow roll differs from other sushi restaurants’ in two respects: 1) Today’s is very spicy and 2) Kim adds both black and orange fish eggs this roll (black as garnish on top, orange rolled inside). Okay so Kim knows I love the black eggs and gives me those every time, but again, that goes to show how he is happy to accommodate his customers.

While many have argued restaurants like Water Grill and R-23 are the best sushi places in Downtown LA, I have to disagree. Yes, those two restaurants are beyond good, but they fail to provide customers with the personal attention you receive at Today. For example, on a visit to Today with a couple of friends, one person was coming down with a bug. Kim apparently overheard our conversation because he served us our seared albacore in three small individual plates in stead of the big one we usually all share off of. That type of consideration is something is rare in a restaurant. In addition prices at those other sushi restaurants are way too expensive. My lunch today with my friend cost a combined total of $40 (or $20 each) prior to tip. During a visit to R-23, ordering less food than we had today, our bill came to approximately $50 per person prior to tip. For me, Today is the hands-down winner.

If you’re in downtown and want sushi, I urge you to give Sushi Today a chance.

1257 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 481-7044
Open Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

By Pauline (see more of her posts).