A Sushi Place You Don't Want to Miss!

I love sushi.  It's light, flavorful, and actually pretty healthy (if you don't overdose).  Unfortunately around campus there aren't too many spots where I can get my craving fulfilled.  Soy, the japanese grill, is a frequently visited spot by most students, but I don't find the rolls to be very fresh.  When I'm about to eat raw fish, I don't like to take too many risks.

 One of my favorite go-to sushi spots is downtown in Little Tokyo. Located right in the heart of the town, Tenno sushi is a great quick stop for dinner.  It's fun, casual, very inexpensive, and tasty!

I was a little hesitant upon passing the restaurant for the first time.  The sign outside the door saying "50% off all sushi" had me a little worried.  But I swallowed my initial assumptions and trusted the advice of my friend Tory (who lives in Little Tokyo).

I was seated by a waiter who looked like a Japanese body builder (interesting combination).  Both the menu and sushi list were quite extensive.  Not only do they offer sushi sashimi, and maki (hand rolls), but there is an entire entree menu as well.  Anything from teriyaki bowls, to grilled salmon, and udon is available.

Sushi Menu

I was amazed by the vast array of specialty rolls they had.  The Pink Lady Roll caught my attention.  It filled with spicy crab meat, spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado.  Then topped with seared tuna, sliced lemon, and ponzu sauce.  Now that's some serious sushi.

Although my eyes were mesmerized but the vibrant pictures of the sushi creations, they immediately focused on the simple sushi menu.  $3.65 for a California roll? That's unheard of!  Its almost $8.00 for some not-so-fresh sushi at Seeds in the campus center.

I decided to start with some vegetable tempura, and then ordered the Spicy Albacore roll for my meal.  Interestingly, the roll actually came out before the tempura.  There definitely seemed to be a lack in communication between all of the employees.  The restaurant has about 10 different waiters running around and serving all of the tables.  We were asked on three different occasions for our drink orders, and the check came out before we even finished our meal.  The food came out quite quickly, but it all felt a little chaotic.  

The roll was great.  I love albacore.  It's very light, but still has that distinct taste from your average tuna.  The spicy kick really vamped up the flavor.

Spicy Albacore Roll

I have mastered my wasabi-soy sauce dipping recipe whenever I go out for sushi.  It is usually pretty heavy on the wasabi, but I like to bring the heat.  The chili's in the roll very chopped very fine, but distinct among  the silky albacore.  I rarely had to dip my pieces into my spicy sauce, the rolls were already so flavorful!
    

Vegetable Tempura

The tempura was pretty average.  About 8 different pieces came out battered and fried.  The batter itself was pretty thick.  I usually like a lighter and crispier coating, but the vegetables inside were steamed pretty well.  The crunchy green beans were the highlight, but overall it was a little disappointing.

Green Tea Ice Cream

For desert I had a scoop of green tea ice cream.  This is my go-to for after sushi.  It's creamy but not too overpowering.  Great palate cleanser after all of the salt.

The whole restaurant and sushi bar is very casual.  They play Top 40 hits the entire night, so it's a quite the lively environment.   And they have karaoke on Friday nights!  I've never had to wait for a table, and the prices are astonishing for what you get!  If you're really hungry you can get rolls and a teriyaki bowl for under $15.  You have to venture a little further than Figueroa and Adams, but Tenno sushi is the perfect college restaurant.  

Katsuya by SBE in Hollywood

If you're looking for more of an exquisite dining experience, my two favorite spots for sushi in LA are Katsuya (Hollywood) and Wabi Sabi in Venice.  Yes, this is the Katsuya featured on "The Hills", and a great star spotting location.  You can never go wrong with the Spicy Tuna on crispy rice or any of the sashimi.  The decor inside will blow your mind.  You can embrace your inner star and feel fabulous with the rest of Hollywood.  The other Katsuya locations offer the same amazing menu, and are great options if you don't feel like dressing up or spending all of your allowance.

Wabi Sabi on Abbott Kinney

Wabi Sabi encompasses the trendy vibe of Abbott Kinney.  All of the sushi is amazing. They also offer an array of small plates and other asian fusion dishes.  Definitely a great local spot for consistently good food and a chic environment.