THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED LOCATIONS Sushi Sasabune

THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED LOCATIONS Sushi Sasabune Restaurant Review:

Sasabune occupies an old bungalow just off of a stretch of Sawtelle Boulevard that has evolved into a neighborhood often referred to as Little Tokyo West. The place looks like it may have been a Mexican restaurant in a previous life and is ultra-casual---surely the most unassuming of the city's premier sushi bars. But don't let the Formica-clad setting fool you---without a reservation you'll probably have to wait an hour for a table. Sasabune has emerged as one of L.A.'s top sushi bars by offering superb quality fish, deftly prepared without a lot of fuss. Its reputation as a somber environment is unfounded---it's a very lively, friendly place as long as you don't attempt to order an American bastardization of authentic sushi (translation: California Roll) and heed the sign above the bar that reads Today's Special: Trust Me. Also on the wall is a series of miniature wooden plaques (labeled in Japanese) indicating what fish is fresh from the market, but one is expected to acquiesce to the omakase (chef's choice), and it will begin fast-and-furious the moment you sit down (at the bar, that is; table service has a different pace). We've been impressed with the albacore, melt-in-your-mouth toro, squid, blue crab roll, salmon topped with translucent kelp, halibut fin, kanpachi, ono, and rich ankimo (monkfish liver) in a special sauce. If you truly love sushi and aren't looking for the latest Dodd Mitchell-designed hot spot, you'll be delighted with Sasabune.