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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!

 

 Echigo Sushi
12217 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401

 

By Zteve (see more of his posts). You can find more of Zteve's writing at his own website Gastrologica