Comments on: Freshest Sushi in the West at Sasabune

By: Ez

Ez — Thu, 11 May 2006 20:29:56 +0000

Comparing the traditional Edo style sushi that Sasabune serves to other sushi restaurants is like comparing a dry aged rib eye to a steak at black angus. Echigo comes close and is well worth the $12 lunch price. The sushi doesn’t quiet melt in your mouth as well as Sasabune but there it’s close. And I actually like Echigo’s blue crab roll better than Sasabune’s. Echigo has the fresh wasabe that some sushi novices call soupy, a tell-tale sign that it’s high quality sushi. Sushi Don is well worth the price. I was pretty full and I’m a svelt 6′3″, so most people should be ok. But Sushi Don does not compare to Sasabune. I would say the quality is a little bit better than Hide, but certainly not as good as Echigo. I definately eat there again, and often, but lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

By: PC

PC — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 05:36:26 +0000

I hate associating Sasabune with the old Todai location.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 20:35:58 +0000

Sasabune is still the gold standard for any Sushi I have ever eaten.

The only place I have ever had Amber Jack that qualifies as genius. A combination of Uni and Ikaru (or large salmon eggs) that complimented each other wonderfully when served in tandem.

I paid 90 with tip.

I’d gladly do it again.

By: scott

scott — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:00:33 +0000

Sasabune does have really nice sushi. As others have noted, it’s different from your standard shop, serving rice that’s still warm and falls apart.

But it is overpriced — you can easily leave a bit hungry. Morimoto’s in Philadelphia was actually less expensive for sushi.

I was also disappointed, given the price, that the service is so cafeteria-style. The runners drop off a dish, say what fish it is, instruct, “Soy sauce,” or “No soy sauce,” and walk away.

I don’t need hand-and-foot service. But the human conveyor belt approach is a little low rent. Perhaps a mention of what the fish might taste like, where it was caught, any regional Japanese element to the selection, what kind of sauce is served on the pieces that don’t take soy sauce.

Worth at least one visit though.

By: Kristy

Kristy — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 16:50:28 +0000

Yes, the new location has definitely lost it’s cozy feel to it, and because there are more tables and more space at the sushi bar, I found that the service is a bit slower. Quality and price are still quite high, but I didn’t like to wait for my next pieces of sushi. But then again, the new dishes you start off with are a nice touch!

By: AdamZ

AdamZ — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 11:59:29 +0000

Been a fan of Sasabune since they opened 13 years ago (?). Still haven’t found any place that serves fresher or better quality fish. I love the new cooked dishes, which change daily. Watch out for the matsutake mushroom soup, which is very very good, but will surprise you with a $14 price tag. Sit at the bar for the very best omakase sushi. I eat a lot and haven’t left with less than a $70 bill. But hey, you gotta spend money on something good, right?

By: gulpie

gulpie — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 08:22:32 +0000

indeed it’s lost that cozy feeling, but for the quality of the sushi it’s still worth it, imo. and their policy hasn’t changed - still omakase if you sit at the sushi bar (without elbow ‘resslin). i went again tonite (big splurge for me to go again so soon) and i was served chawan mushi, the classic japanese steamed egg, yum! and they also have the teapot seafood soup as well. so they’re def branching out of the set course that a lot of ppl seem to be turned off from. socalorie - you might be able to request the miso soup, nobi san has mellowed over the years, i think, lol, not as ‘nazi’ like.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:06:25 +0000

Sasabune has moved locations. It used to be on the corner of Sawtelle & Nebraska. Now it is on Wilshire where Todai used to be, at the bottom of an office building. I haven’t been to the new Sasbune yet. It’s bound to be “nicer” than the old location, which was obviously a converted Mexican restaurant, but it probably will lose a little of the appeal of feeling like you found a hidden treasure. It looks very corporate now.

Sasabune used to be my favortie sushi place, and it still is my favorite “high-end” sushi place. But Sushi Don in the valley is owned by Nobi, the same guy who owns Sasbune. Sushi Don has less variety in its menu, but it has the basics: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore, and real blue crab. The sushi at Sushi Don is almost as good as Sasabune, and you can fill up at Sushi Don for less than $20, as opposed to spending at least $50 at Sasabune.

By: SoCalorie

SoCalorie — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:41:52 +0000

that does it, gulpie. i’m checking out the new digs asap.

By: gulpie

gulpie — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:29:29 +0000

a follow up report - i went to sasabune after it’s moved to the corner of wilshire and centinela (the old todai space) and am oh-so-glad that the sushi is still the same. the vibe is def different now that it’s so spacious. and they’re serving more hot dishes as well with the expanded kitchen. i had the best miso soup i’ve ever had in my life. =)