la.foodblogging

After a review of a visit to Nanbankan went up at The Delicious Life, a reader sent me an email telling me that though Nanbankan is good, there is a place that he prefers, slightly west on the same stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard. He only goes to Nanbankan if this other place is closed. Well, that got certainly got me intrigued and I put Terried Sake House on my list.

The menu has a little bit of everything. There’s sushi and sashimi, traditional teriyaki entrees, different kinds of yakitori, soups and noodles, and other small plates, both hot and cold. It’s all printed on half sheets of paper, the long way. To make them more permanent, the sheets have been scotch-taped to cut-outs of cardboard from sake boxes. Very creative, and Terried Sake House gets extra points for being budget- and environment-conscious.

We tried the tofu steak no. 2 with miso sauce that was absolutely delicious, a few chicken skewers that were good, whole broiled smelt that scared me but was also good, cold fish that was also good, and the baby squid steak, which stole the show.

I can’t really compare Nanbankan with Terried Sake House. The food is similar, but the vibes are very different. Nanbankan is a restaurant. It’s dark and mellow inside, and slightly more refined. Terried Sake House is more of a joint. It’s brighter, more casual, and the food is a lot cheaper. When it’s a lovely weekend dinner with family, I’ll go to Nanbankan. When it’s weeknight Asahi and wings with friends, I’ll go to Terried Sake House (and a plus that it’s open just past midnight!)

Terried Sake House
11617 Santa Monica Blvd. (bewteen Barry and Federal)
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.477.9423

By sarah (see more of her posts). You can find more of sarah's writing at her own website The Delicious Life