Rate-A-Restaurant #345: What The Fish Sushi (Silver Lake)

Restaurant: What The Fish Sushi

Location: 2804 Hyperion Ave (Silver Lake)

Type of restaurant: Sushi



We stipulated: We're always looking for a cheap sushi joint, like our standby Blue Fish in Montrose. We ate for years at Pazazz Sushi in Silver Lake, but always walk by WTF while visiting the Silver Lake outpost of Trader Joe's. It was finally time to go inside.



They stipulated: Their delivery area is quite wide: Atwater Village, Glassell Park, Griffith Park, Hollywood, Los Angeles City College, Wilshire Center, Silver Lake and Los Feliz. Minimum order: $15.



What we ordered: Dinner Sushi Combination (Served with sushi 7 pcs -- tuna, salmon, shrimp, albacore, yellowtail, red snapper and eel), miso soup and spicy tuna roll 8 pcs) $13.95; shishito pepper $3.95; shrimp tempura $7.95; shrimp tempira roll $3.95; California roll $3.95





High point:  The prices are fantastic, and the rolls are quite imaginative.



Low point:  The shishito pepper portion was disappointingly small -- but had a nice, slightly citrus flavor, so we forgave it.



Overall impression: Listen, this isn't high-end sushi. That's not the point. Especially with kids in tow, we're just looking to get our sushi fix as economically as possible -- but I'd still like the sushi to be edible. WTF is more than just edible, it's actually quite good.



Will we return: We will!

Rate-A-Restaurant #340: Poke N Roll

Restaurant: Poke N Roll

Location: 413 S Central Ave. (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Sushi Bowls


We stipulated: Lunch time in Glendale and we've been thinking about trying out Poke N Roll for awhile via news coverage and reviews we've seen elsewhere. I love getting Poke back in Hawai'i, and although I knew this wouldn't be the same, I was hoping it might be close.



They stipulated: This is deconstructed sushi, assembled much in the Chipotle style: Pick a rice, 2 fish, 3 toppings (such as jalapeno, seaweed salad, avocado, cucumber, etc.) and a sauce.


What we ordered: Maria and I both chose the tuna and salmon (and crabmeat also comes with it). For sides, I chose seaweed salad, avocado and jalapeno. Maria put asparagus on hers. I also chose spicy sauce and brown rice on the bottom; Maria got white rice and a spicy mayo. It's a hearty meal, for $9.17.



High point:  There's quite a bit of food here, plus I like the variety of sauces available.



Low point:  My brown rice was crunchy. Nothing worse that crunchy rice. But it was still edible.



Overall impression: This is not the Hawaiian-style poke bowl you're hoping for. But move past that, and enjoy it for what it is: Deconstructed sushi. I made mine extra spicy and enjoyed it.



Will we return: Yes.

Rate-A-Restaurant #326: Sushi Land (Glendale)

Restaurant: Sushi Land

Location: 116 S Maryland Ave. (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Sushi



We stipulated: We were looking for a quick, close-by dinner with the kids. Sushi sounded good, but rather than check out one of our usual spots, we decided to try Sushi Land. We knew the kids would get a kick out of the rotating sushi belt.

They stipulated: A sushi conveyor belt offers plates of inexpensive sushi -- $1, $1.50, $2 or $3. Customers can also order from the menu if none of their favorites are on the conveyor belt.



What we ordered: A wide variety, including mountain veggie ($1), smoked squid ($1.50), shrimp tempura roll ($1.50), tuna roll ($1.50), spicy tuna rol ($2), udon noodle soup ($3)




High point:  The prices are fantastic -- you can eat well here on a budget. And the kids did indeed get a kick out of the conveyor belt.

Low point:  We ordered a few items off the menu, and they never came. The restaurant wasn't busy while we were there, yet the sushi chefs kept forgetting we had ordered things.

Overall impression: You get what you pay for. If you're looking to fill your belly for cheap, this is your place. But don't expect amazing sushi. This is grocery-store level sushi.

Will we return: Not any time soon. I think there are probably other cheap sushi places to try first.

Rate-A-Restaurant #324/325: Sakura Cha-Ya and Fisherman's House Sushi (Oxnard)

Restaurant: Sakura Cha Ya and Fisherman's House Sushi

Location: 2810 South Harbor Boulevard (Oxnard)

Type of restaurant: Japanese and Sushi



We stipulated: We spent the night at the nearby Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort, and were looking for a nearby spot for a fast lunch. I saw the reviews for Sakura Cha-Ya, which touted its authentic curry and noodle dishes.

They stipulated: Both Sakura Cha-Ya and Fisherman's House are located in the same small food court setup. These are not a table service spots -- but that's what allowed us to try both.



What we ordered: Sakura Cha Ya -- tempura udon (2 shrimp and assorted vegetables, over rice, plus miso soup, salad and dessert; $8.95) and soba noodles ($5). Fisherman's House Sushi -- Combo plate of sushi (Spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, California roll)




High point:  Good price for the sushi -- not bad quality for the mid-range price. And I enjoyed the soba noodles from Sakura Cha-Ya, once it finally arrived.

Low point:  And that brings us to the long wait we faced at Sakura Cha-Ya. The place wasn't crowded, yet we waited more than 30 minutes for our food. And when it came... it was sent to the wrong table. It took another 5 minutes for the employee to notice. The person who got the food promised up and down that she didn't touch it. I was dubious about that, but we were so hungry, we took it anyway. There was no offer of free dessert or anything to make up for our awkward wait.

Overall impression: I always like finding hole-in-the-wall joints with decent food. This weird food court came close, and it was located conveniently for folks staying at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach.

Will we return: I could see us trying the sushi again if we were ever back in Oxnard... but we won't go out of our way.

Rate-A-Restaurant #300: Noshi Sushi

Restaurant: Noshi Sushi

Location: 4430 Beverly Blvd. (Koreatown/Hancock Park)

Type of restaurant: Sushi




We stipulated: Maria and I were out to see a show in the Hancock Park area, and were inspired by the L.A. Times' recent sushi issue to hit an old economical standby: Noshi Sushi. It had been years since we last visited, and it was time to return.



They stipulated: "Sushi chef Shogo Noshi opened a small 30 seat sushi restaurant, Noshi Sushi, in 1983. At the time, Japanese owned restaurants in Korea town were very unusual. His large portions, fresh fish and authenticity soon spread by word of mouth. Shogo Noshi's 50 years of experience and cutting technique quickly gained him loyal customers. Two months later customers were already lining up even before opening time. In 1990 Noshi Sushi moved to its current location to accommodate more than 100 seats. Since then, experienced Sushi chefs have maintained the traditional Japanese taste of sushi when making sushi. In addition to the basic sushi, the restaurant also offers Spider Roll and the California Roll made with real Crab in response to many of our customer requests."



What we ordered: A wide variety of sushi and cut rolls, including spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, baked ebi mayo roll, salmon sushi and crab roll.



High point:  The spicy tuna tasted fresh, and both the baked ebi mayo roll and the salmon sushi were decent.

Low point: The service was super slow. And when the waitress accidentally gave the table next to us our food, she then grabbed it from them and simply dumped it on our table without a word. Also, the tempura and the crab roll were just OK.





Overall impression: Noshi Sushi's time has probably come and gone, and it still feels too much like a too bright, noisy Denny's than a sushi joint. But the prices are still pretty good.



Chance we'll go back: We're not in Koreatown often enough to make the trip, but if we were in the area and had the time to wait for a table, it's possible.

Rate-A-Restaurant #281: Sushi House

Restaurant: Sushi House

Location: 214 North El Camino Real (Encinitas)

Type of restaurant: Sushi

We stipulated: We were staying at the nearby La Costa resort, and were looking for some reasonably priced sushi nearby. Sushi House had earned decent reviews on Yelp, so we decided to check it out.



They stipulated: "Fresh fish, fair priced, friendly service."

What we ordered: Fire engine roll ($16.50); shrimp tempura roll ($10); spicy tuna roll ($7); California roll (for the kids; $4.75)



High point: The fire engine sushi was pretty good. (Worth the price though? That's another story.)

Low point: Rude waitress -- when I asked about their specialties, she told me to look at the menu. Then, I ordered a beer, and without asking, she brought out the large bottle. (I asked her to come back with a regular size one.) Also, we ordered the black cod, only to discover they didn't have it.

Overall impression: Located in a strip mall, and with loud TVs blasting, this is not a high-end experience. You know that going in. Yet the rolls are priced way too high for what should be an economical sushi joint.

Chance we'll go back: Even if we're back in Carlsbad, probably not.

Rate-A-Restaurant #243: Sushi Fuji

Restaurant: Sushi Fuji

Location: 208 E Palm Ave (Burbank)

Type of restaurant: Sushi



We stipulated: Always on the lookout for decent cheap sushi, we decided to give Sushi Fuji a try during one stop in Burbank (likely after an Ikea run).

They stipulated: "Food that takes things to a different level, food that tantalizes the taste buds, food that excites and is a bit on the exotic side." Um, what?



What we ordered: Our standards: Spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll, california roll (for the Blogger Kid), eel roll, shrimp/veggie tempura (also for the kid... and us)

High point: We don't ask much for our cheap sushi, just that it taste, well, like decent sushi. And this was just fine.

Low point: The TVs. Everywhere. There wasn't a seat in the house where you didn't have a TV blaring right at you. Not the most pleasant dining experience. Also: The shrimp/veggie tempura was more veggie than shrimp (it came with just one piece).



Overall impression: Like I said, we're always on the lookout for decent cheap sushi. This qualified... but the dining experience was an absolute turnoff, especially with young kids.

Chance we'll go back: Probably not, as there are plenty of other cheap sushi places to try. Your picks are welcome in the comments.

For our complete list of 250 restaurant reviews, go to our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #198: Blue Fish Sushi

Restaurant: Blue Fish

Location:2261 Honolulu Ave (Montrose)

Type of restaurant: Sushi



We stipulated: It was an overcast day, and we were looking to get out of the house -- but not stray too far from Franklin Avenue HQ. Glendale's Montrose district -- particularly Honolulu Ave., which has been dubbed Glendale's "Old Town," is a nice stroll on a lazy afternoon. There's bakeries, a kids' bookstore, a good old fashioned toy store, coffee shops, etc. And restaurants. Maria had a craving for shrimp tempura -- and we hadn't done sushi in a while. Montrose has several low-cost sushi joints; Blue Fish is a tad pricier than those, but the ambience was probably worth a few extra bucks.



They stipulated: Blue Fish is semi-kid friendly, offering up two non-sushi alternatives for picky kids.



What we ordered: Shrimp tempura roll ($9.95); Dynamite (Baked scallops, lobster, mushrooms and onion on a California roll, $11.95); Spicy tuna rolls ($5.95); California roll ($5.95); Chicken teriyaki bowl for kids ($5.95)



High point: We liked the nice space, and appreciated the price, given the amount of food we received. And let's face it, any sushi joint that's also kid-friendly is OK by me. We're not overly adventurous sushi orderers, since we're (ahem) cheap -- so we usually judge by the spicy tuna roll. And this one was pretty good.

Low point: We ordered way too much, as there was no guidance on the menu. And the Dynamite was way too goopy, unfortunately.



Overall impression: It's strange that we keep over-ordering lately. We seem to always be assuming that we haven't chosen enough food -- and then we overcompensate. The waitress at Blue Fish didn't help: When we were finished with our initial, and very large order, she asked us "Is that it?" -- in a tone that made it sound like we hadn't ordered nearly enough.



Chance we'll go back: It could be a good, quickie way to get sushi when we're feeling lazy but want to go out to a restaurant. But I don't see it become one of our regular rotations.

For a complete list of our nearly 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #164 in a series

(Pic by Steven Pantazis.)

Restaurant: Kushiyu

Location: 18713 Ventura Blvd. (Tarzana)

Type of restaurant: Sushi

They stipulated: Kids are welcome -- hell, half the tables had young ones there, so we weren't too worried about bringing the little guy. Just try to keep them behaved. (The loud sound levels help drown out some of that.)

We stipulated: It was our friend Lizzy's birthday, and she suggested sushi. It just so happened that we would be in West Hills on Sunday, while she was also in the West Valley looking at apartments. As you know, sushi joints dot Ventura Boulevard like coffee shops in Seattle. After a quick glance at the Chowhound and Yelp boards, Kushiyu -- located in a strip mall off Yolanda on Ventura -- seemed like a good pick.

What we ordered: Sushi & kushiyaki plate ($19.50); chicken and veggie plate (we needed this one for Evan; $16.50); special Asian roll, $13.50. Sushi included the basics -- salmon, squid, shrimp, yellowtail, etc. Kushiyaki included chicken meat ball, lotus root, chicken breast w/citrus, fish, asparagus with pork, etc.

High point: Some of L.A.'s best sushi restaurants reside in strip malls. And while this isn't among L.A.'s tops, it's still a fine spot -- and probably one of the better ones in the West Valley. The sushi was fresh without being too fishy (a complaint some Chowhound/Yelp readers gave Kushiya) and the skewered kushiyaki items were a hit with the BT.

Low point: Well, file this under both: You had to specifically order hot tea; in order to save a bit of money, I didn't. Turns out it was free.

Overall impression: Well-designed dining room, and (thankfully) no wait, even though we showed up without a reservation on a busy Sunday night. Big enough that kids are welcome, and their noise blends in; not too big, though, that you get lost in the shuffle. Good service, and most importantly, good sushi and kushiyaki. Always nice to feed three people at a sushi restaurant for $55.

Chance we will go back: Don't know how often we'll make a point to hit sushi in the West Valley... but after reading more raves online over Kushiyu's lemon roll, we may have to make the trip west on the 101.

For a complete list of our over 160 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #150 in a series

Restaurant: Sushi Ike

Location: 6051 Hollywood Blvd Ste 105 (Hollywood)

Type of restaurant: Sushi

We stipulated: Looking for a lunch spot in Hollywood, and after hearing great things about Sushi Ike -- and jonesing for some -- we decided to check it out.

They stipulated: It's in a strip mall, and parking can be a bitch.



What we ordered: Sushi included live soft shell crab, green mussel, Spanish mackrel, Japanese scallops, red snapper and (of course) Spicy Tuna rolls.



High point: The sushi is well-prepared, fresh, and much better than your average mid-priced sushi joint.

Low point: The decor isn't much -- you never quite forget that you're in a strip mall. And considering your bill will still hit the $50 or $60 range, it's too bad the dining environment isn't more pleasant.



Overall impression: I know the foodies over at Chowhound have long debated the pros and cons of Sushi Ike; I can see why. I'm torn myself. Maria enjoyed the soft shell crab, and I thought the scallops were solid... but I'm still not blown away. If everything were just a tad cheaper, I would be.

Chance we will go back: It's not on our docket in the near future... but if I need to hit a sushi spot in Hollywood, Sushi Ike will definitely be top of mind.

(For a complete list of our over 150 restaurant reviews, visit our companion site Rate-A-Restaurant.)