Dinner
Echigo
Omakase means “Trust”, or something similar to that, so when LA internet food entrepreneur Jonah asked me to meet him at Echigo I knew this would be a great meal. What I didn’t realize was what a great deal it would also be. Omakase may mean trust, but it also translates to bankrupt. We both walked out of here for about $60 each, with beer. That ain’t bad for Omakase.
You can also order off the menu, but what’s the fun in that. Echigo resides in one of the countless, undistinguished strip malls lining Santa Monica Blvd. You’d drive by it about six or seven times before even noticing it…like I did.
Echigo is a humble space with an emphasis on fish. Note that I said fish and not sushi or tempura or rolls or yakatori, or beef bowls. That’s because they are very focused. There is nothing cooked, no elaborate rolls and no powdered wasabi. This stuff is fresh grated, packing a hand-grenade’s punch of heat in each tiny chopstick bead.
The product here is freah and presentation has a noble quality. The chefs are not loud or flashy, but they meticulously craft each piece with pride and artism. So, instead of one of my long-winded descriptions and deconstruction of every piece I ate, I will leave you with the photos, so you can salivate over them without my intruding narrative. Enjoy!
Â
 Echigo Sushi
12217 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Â
By Zteve (see more of his posts). You can find more of Zteve's writing at his own website Gastrologica
Discussion
Post a comment
$60 for all that — ain’t bad at all ~ and those tempting pictures do speak for themselves
One of my co-workers is a huge fan and recommended it. I’ve gone there twice now, the most recent being last Tuesday night. Love the place. The guy is indeed an artist as you say!
It is a good deal, and there were even a few more items in the line up that Zteve ate before they were photographed, notably the scallop and the blue crab handroll.
From my shakey memory, we had albacore appetizer, ono, toro, bonito, mackerel, spanish mackerel, salmon, blue crab hand roll, swordfish, black snapper, salmon eggs, scallop, kanpachi, halibut?
Yes, I forgot to mention the swordfish was incredible. Completely different raw than cooked. I also want to thank you, Jonah, for showing me this place, definitely a hidden gem. Next stop, Asakuma!