Hamasaku 11043 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 Dining date: 11/7/13 Hamasaku’s been open for over a decade, although I feel like I only heard about it recently. The restaurant’s had a largely entertainment-based clientele (following its owner Michael Ovitz) and its most notable menu items are fusion sushi rolls, many named after celebrities…
Totoraku 10610 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 Dining date: 7/23/13 I haven’t been to Totoraku, the “secret beef place,” in just about two years. There are two main reasons for this: one, it’s very expensive ($200+) and two, I’m not actually able to make reservations. You see, only those that make some sort…
Plan Check 1800 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 Dining date: 4/3/12 Plan Check opened just over a month ago, bringing a ‘modern American’ gastropub to the Japanese-centric Sawtelle area of West LA. It’s a combination of ex-Umami Corporate Chef Ernesto Uchimura’s grub with drinks masterminded by Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix (Harvard & Stone,…
800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria 10889 Lindbrook Dr Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dining date: 2/15/12 800 Degrees opened early last month, a new concept via a partnership led by Umami Burger’s Adam Fleischman. After a dinner at LudoBites, somehow the topic of 800 Degrees came up. It was open late (until 2am everyday), was nearby, and…
Tsujita LA 2057 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 Ramen Yamadaya 11172 Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90230 Dining date: 1/16/12 I first tried Tsujita over the Veteran’s Day holiday. Trying to fit two lunch spots into one larger meal, Tsujita happened to fall into the second slot where a humongous line awaited us. Sadly,…
Tsujita LA 2057 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 Dining date: 11/11/11 Tsujita is one of the latest high-profile ramen shops to open in LA this year. As far as I know, this is the first American location for Japan-based Tsujita, which serves its own version of a tonkotsu ramen. The restaurant opened in August, only serving…
Totoraku 10610 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 Dining date: 9/26/11 Totoraku (AKA ‘secret beef restaurant’) is one of the more unique dining experiences in LA. I thought it would be a good idea for my parents to come and eat here while they were in town. Plus, my dad loves beef as much as I…
Totoraku 10610 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 Dining date: 7/9/11 I first went to Totoraku last August but had yet to return. The “secret beef restaurant,” reservations can only be made by those who have gotten a business card from the chef. I am not one of those people. However, I had the…