Sushi Gen - Los Angeles, California

Peter U.

Seit den Besuch weiß ich wie richtiges Sushi schmecken, es lohnt sich auf den Platz zu warten.

John A.

It had been some time since I ate lunch at Sushi Gen primarily because of the challenge of getting downtown from the westside, and also due to the massive amount of people who go there for their incredible sashimi lunch special. But with the Dodgers championship parade today and the need to wait out the throngs of people before I could leave the area, I waited a very short time before getting the first available space, which was a seat at the sushi bar (no lunch special at the bar).

Sushi Gen is a timeless classic. It is so reliable for a great variety of fresh, authentic sushi at what I consider throwback prices. You won't find any crazy rolls or sauces here, all the better to allow the chefs to focus on the essence of the fish which is best experienced unadorned in my opinion.

I had eight orders, including varieties rarely found at other Japanese restaurants in LA (including engawa, kohada, sardine and shima aji). Feeling very satisfied and impressed by the consistency of the experience so many years apart, I was pleasantly surprised (there are no prices on the sushi menu at the bar) to see a pretax and tip bill of $66 which averages out to just over $8 per order - a steal for this quality, freshness and variety.

The only drawback is that it is very crowded, which is not surprising given that the sushi is as good as it gets in LA. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, they really squeeze people in at the sushi bar and the tables in the relatively small dining room are also tightly packed. Service is almost too efficient as they are eager to accommodate the many people waiting outside.

For me, the most accurate rating for Sushi Gen would be 4.5 if 1/2 stars were possible as these crowded conditions are less than ideal for what should be a more serene experience. But that won't deter me from finding a reason to be downtown so I can go back soon.

Felicia C.

Couldn’t stop ordering sashimi it was so good! Wait is long but totally worth it. The fish is so fresh, service was impeccable, and price is very fair.

Ann-Sophie

Amazing place! Super recommend. The sushi was so good and atmosphere so lovely. Felt like a trip to Japan!

Jingyi W.

The chirashi was good, especially at its price point, but not astounding. I really enjoyed around half of the fish presented (unagi and tuna), but the rest were okay / uncharacteristically chewy?

The more important thing to mention is Sushi Gen’s horrific system for handling customer traffic. First, there are no reservations — fine. We showed up 15 minutes before opening (after refusing a 1.5 hour wait on a previous attempt), and found ourselves in a line of 20-30 people that turned into 40-50 by opening thanks to lots of spots being held for larger groups. By the time we spoke to the reception, we were turned away and told that wait times start at 40 minutes. Again, fine. Upon asking to put a phone number down, we also were informed that they don’t take those, so you must stand idly by until a table pops up. We were called after 30 minutes, after the party of the same size directly behind us (and had thankfully we had also returned from a walk by then). It’s so easy to fix/simplify that the whole process feels like a display of egotism.

Not totally worth it imo!

Anne

To get a seat at the sushi bar be in line byvatbleastv4:30pm for the 5pm open. There is a fabulous matcha tea place that you can grab a little something while waiting. At sushi gen the fish is incredibly fresh and expertly prepped by the numerous chefs at the bar. There are also tables but the bar is the best place to sit. Watch the locals and see what they order. The seating is close so you will have plenty of opty to ask. Or you can leave yourself in the chef's hands and order omakase and just indicate when you have had enough. Ask for seaweed along with the wasabi and ginger. Enjoy!

Jimmy G.

The most professional and efficient Japanese restaurant I have ever been to. We sat down at 11:00am and our Sashimi platter came at 11:06am. The speed is just amazing. I can tell they put a lot of thought into their pricing. The Unagi Don is pretty price reasonable with $28. But the sashimi platter deluxe is very over priced considering only 5 piece of otoro and no Shrimp or Scallops were given. The rest of the fish like hamachi or spicy salmon are just cheap ingredients. But it is still a restaurant you should definitely try.
The server is super attentive and professional.

Jane W.

Truly one of the best sushi spots in LA. The fish is fresh and the service is great. Although you have to wait a bit, the lunch special is pretty worth. Everything on the a La carte menu is a great choice too.