Masakazu

James Leung (jobias)

Excellent value and quality. It's a hidden gem on Westwood and requires reservations. They serve the entire room at once and are very strict on punctuality. It's so worth it though.

Zach Binder

Fantastic quality of fish and value for authentic omakase. The chef is terrific and the restaurant has limited seatings. A true sushi gem on the Westside.

Othman Ouenes

Mind blowing omakase experience. We had the entire place to us and it was one of the most intimate and extraordinary taste experiences ever

Tiffany Leung

Such a hidden gem. Sushi was so fresh. The flavors were so unique at the same time. Highly recommend it.

Thomas Fuks

Loved it! True authentic place with passionate team and excellent fish. Thank you

We came here for our anniversary and it was fantastic! Such an intimate setting and the chef is great - definitely a special occasion place. He runs it all himself which was very impressive. The omakase was one of the best we’ve had. Would definitely recommend

I've never had an experience quite like this one. Very intimate and the chef and server were both very kind and attentive. The sushi was great, especially the toro, the best preparation I've ever had. On that note, many of the preparations for the sushi were very unique and satisfying. Some reviews are bad on here, obviously reviews are subjective so I wouldn't let one person's opinion stop you from going here. I didn't and I'm so glad I went!

Chef Shin delivers an exceptional and authentic omakase. He also succeeds in creating flavor profiles that are unique and differentiated from the sea of sameness that you experience at most sushi restaurants while retaining the core essence of sushi. All of his dishes are delicious and hit home in surprising ways. On top of that, his prices are very reasonable for such high quality. Last night was the second time I visited his restaurant, and it was just as consistent and delicious as the last time I went 5 years ago. Just make sure you make your reservation in advance, as I don’t think they do walk-ins. 美味し!!!

I’ve eaten a lot of sushi in my life and Masakazu is easily one of my favorites. The flavors are complex, the music is just right, and the service is fantastic. Chef really is a visionary, no visit is the same and every visit is a culinary journey. Sometimes the chef takes risks with bold and complex flavors, but be still manages to make them accessible. Masakazu manages to be both modern but definitively Japanese. That’s not a balance that’s easy to strike. I couldn’t possibly recommend it more. (For those who have access to chase dining - you can have this wonderful experience for significantly less by booking through the Chase app so a double win)

Hidden gem. One of the best omakase experiences in LA. Amazing quality fish, creative dishes and a small intimate dining experience. Make sure to make reservations, have a couple of hours & a adventurous palate. A+ for the authentic sushi experience. Chef’s choice only.

Truly excellent dining experience. Everything was incredibly thoughtful and of the best quality. Would recommend for any big birthday or anniversary dinner. Start to finish was all so good. Will definitely go there again. When you call for reservations, you do have to confirm with him on the day of the reservation as well

Kaitlin Wong

We came here for our anniversary and it was fantastic! Such an intimate setting and the chef is great - definitely a special occasion place. He runs it all himself which was very impressive. The omakase was one of the best we’ve had. Would definitely recommend

Jamal Abd Rabbih

Spectacular omakase spot, incredible value for the quality of fish. And a very charming proprietor!

Buddy Austin

I've never had an experience quite like this one. Very intimate and the chef and server were both very kind and attentive. The sushi was great, especially the toro, the best preparation I've ever had. On that note, many of the preparations for the sushi were very unique and satisfying. Some reviews are bad on here, obviously reviews are subjective so I wouldn't let one person's opinion stop you from going here. I didn't and I'm so glad I went!

I H

I’ve eaten a lot of sushi in my life and Masakazu is easily one of my favorites. The flavors are complex, the music is just right, and the service is fantastic. Chef really is a visionary, no visit is the same and every visit is a culinary journey. Sometimes the chef takes risks with bold and complex flavors, but be still manages to make them accessible. Masakazu manages to be both modern but definitively Japanese. That’s not a balance that’s easy to strike. I couldn’t possibly recommend it more. (For those who have access to chase dining - you can have this wonderful experience for significantly less by booking through the Chase app so a double win)

girtanimous

Chef Shin delivers an exceptional and authentic omakase. He also succeeds in creating flavor profiles that are unique and differentiated from the sea of sameness that you experience at most sushi restaurants while retaining the core essence of sushi. All of his dishes are delicious and hit home in surprising ways. On top of that, his prices are very reasonable for such high quality. Last night was the second time I visited his restaurant, and it was just as consistent and delicious as the last time I went 5 years ago. Just make sure you make your reservation in advance, as I don’t think they do walk-ins. 美味し!!!

Evan

Truly excellent dining experience. Everything was incredibly thoughtful and of the best quality. Would recommend for any big birthday or anniversary dinner. Start to finish was all so good. Will definitely go there again. When you call for reservations, you do have to confirm with him on the day of the reservation as well

PCAR Studios

Hidden gem. One of the best omakase experiences in LA. Amazing quality fish, creative dishes and a small intimate dining experience. Make sure to make reservations, have a couple of hours & a adventurous palate. A+ for the authentic sushi experience. Chef’s choice only.

It's perfectly fine, and if I had paid ~$50, I'd rate it higher. But for $130 for the sushi and another 15 for tea and an optional "appetizer", it's just nowhere near worth it. (Also it was not clear when an optional dish was extra or not, and no price was given either) We got ~10 pieces, and one of them was absolutely amazingly delicious. 2 more were excellent. And the rest were good. Altogether, I was just barely not hungry at the end. Not full, but not hungry. I'm glad I did it to experience the atmosphere. It was cool to watch the chef, including him blowtorch things. I'd never eaten in such a uniquely fancy setting like that, but I feel no need to do it again. I think if you're a real foodie, and really value that next tier experience at a restaurant, this may be worth it to you. But I find myself enjoying food at cheap places just as often as pricier ones, so this place may just be wasted on me.

I recently had an omakase dining experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings and can only give it an average rating of 3 stars out of 5. Let's start with the service. Our waitress was always polite and had a pleasant smile, creating a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated. However, I was a little disappointed when she overlooked the basket for my belongings, while other patrons seemed to receive this attention. I understand that oversights happen, but consistency is key when it comes to service. Now, the food - a critical element in any dining experience, and even more so in omakase, which is all about entrusting oneself to the chef's selection. The dishes served were a mixed bag. Some were quite good, well-prepared and presented. However, there were also several that were just average, with somewhat light flavors. Given the nature of omakase, I was expecting more creativity in the preparation and presentation of dishes, which unfortunately, was lacking. A key part of any omakase experience is the connection between the chef and the diner. In this case, the chef didn't interact much and his limited command of English meant he couldn't explain the dishes served to us. This detracted from the overall omakase experience, where understanding the concept and story behind each dish greatly enhances the dining pleasure. A final note - we left the restaurant still feeling hungry. This was disappointing as the expectation from an omakase meal, particularly considering the price point, is to leave feeling satisfied. In summary, while there were aspects to appreciate about this restaurant, there were several areas where it fell short of expectations. Improvements in these areas would significantly enhance the dining experience. At this point, I can only rate it as average, hence the 3-star rating

Thomas Su

I recently had an omakase dining experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings and can only give it an average rating of 3 stars out of 5. Let's start with the service. Our waitress was always polite and had a pleasant smile, creating a friendly atmosphere which I appreciated. However, I was a little disappointed when she overlooked the basket for my belongings, while other patrons seemed to receive this attention. I understand that oversights happen, but consistency is key when it comes to service. Now, the food - a critical element in any dining experience, and even more so in omakase, which is all about entrusting oneself to the chef's selection. The dishes served were a mixed bag. Some were quite good, well-prepared and presented. However, there were also several that were just average, with somewhat light flavors. Given the nature of omakase, I was expecting more creativity in the preparation and presentation of dishes, which unfortunately, was lacking. A key part of any omakase experience is the connection between the chef and the diner. In this case, the chef didn't interact much and his limited command of English meant he couldn't explain the dishes served to us. This detracted from the overall omakase experience, where understanding the concept and story behind each dish greatly enhances the dining pleasure. A final note - we left the restaurant still feeling hungry. This was disappointing as the expectation from an omakase meal, particularly considering the price point, is to leave feeling satisfied. In summary, while there were aspects to appreciate about this restaurant, there were several areas where it fell short of expectations. Improvements in these areas would significantly enhance the dining experience. At this point, I can only rate it as average, hence the 3-star rating

Andrew Robbins

It's perfectly fine, and if I had paid ~$50, I'd rate it higher. But for $130 for the sushi and another 15 for tea and an optional "appetizer", it's just nowhere near worth it. (Also it was not clear when an optional dish was extra or not, and no price was given either) We got ~10 pieces, and one of them was absolutely amazingly delicious. 2 more were excellent. And the rest were good. Altogether, I was just barely not hungry at the end. Not full, but not hungry. I'm glad I did it to experience the atmosphere. It was cool to watch the chef, including him blowtorch things. I'd never eaten in such a uniquely fancy setting like that, but I feel no need to do it again. I think if you're a real foodie, and really value that next tier experience at a restaurant, this may be worth it to you. But I find myself enjoying food at cheap places just as often as pricier ones, so this place may just be wasted on me.

The experience wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t go back. When I pay a certain amount for an omakase, I expect exceptional experience but my experience was meh to mediocre. The sushi was small with thin slices, minced cucumber placed on top of the fish didn’t pair well with some and most importantly, some fish didn’t taste fresh. Now that I’m thinking back on the details of my experience, I’m more disappointed. Oh, they charge you for hot tap water.

Michelle Lee

The experience wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t go back. When I pay a certain amount for an omakase, I expect exceptional experience but my experience was meh to mediocre. The sushi was small with thin slices, minced cucumber placed on top of the fish didn’t pair well with some and most importantly, some fish didn’t taste fresh. Now that I’m thinking back on the details of my experience, I’m more disappointed. Oh, they charge you for hot tap water.

I dined here for the Valentine’s Day omakase with my girlfriend. This fell well below expectations. Having been to numerous omakase establishments, we can both confidently say that both the service and food quality do not justify the $200+ per person price tag. - Lack of Attention to Detail: In intimate omakase settings with fewer than ten seats, it is customary for the staff to pull out chairs for guests—a small but thoughtful gesture that enhances the overall experience. This was noticeably absent here. - Premature Upselling: Just three courses into the meal, our waitress asked if we would like to order additional nigiri. At a high-end omakase, this is highly unusual, if not inappropriate, as the experience should be about enjoying the curated menu, not being pressured into add-ons before the meal is even complete. My girlfriend, who has dined at over 20 omakase restaurants ranging from $150 to $500 per person, has never encountered this practice. It came across as a blatant attempt to nickel-and-dime guests. - Inconsistent Service: While I was served dessert, my girlfriend was not. I was then served the check BEFORE my gilrfriend got her dessert. This level of oversight is unacceptable at this price point! - Use of lower-Quality ingredients: A well-curated omakase experience highlights premium cuts of fish. However, this restaurant included sake nigiri (salmon) as part of the set menu—something commonly found in sushi restaurants at a fraction of the price. High-end omakase establishments typically focus on more exclusive selections. - Budget choices for white fish: Most reputable omakase venues serve red or golden snapper, but this restaurant opted for black snapper, the least premium of the three. This further reinforced the impression that ingredient costs were being cut. - Lack of Engagement from the Chef: Part of the omakase experience is the interaction with the chef, who provides insight into each course and enhances the meal with their presence. Here, the chef was notably disengaged and did not converse with guests, creating a cold and uninviting atmosphere. The sushi counter also had a divider which was blocking the "view" of sushi making, very odd considering most omakase places don't have this. Final Thoughts: This restaurant charges a premium price but does not deliver a premium experience. Between the lower-quality ingredients, the aggressive upselling, and the lack of attention to detail in service, it simply does not compare to other omakase establishments in the same price range. If you’re looking for an authentic, high-end omakase experience, I would recommend looking elsewhere!!

Thomas Lin

I dined here for the Valentine’s Day omakase with my girlfriend. This fell well below expectations. Having been to numerous omakase establishments, we can both confidently say that both the service and food quality do not justify the $200+ per person price tag. - Lack of Attention to Detail: In intimate omakase settings with fewer than ten seats, it is customary for the staff to pull out chairs for guests—a small but thoughtful gesture that enhances the overall experience. This was noticeably absent here. - Premature Upselling: Just three courses into the meal, our waitress asked if we would like to order additional nigiri. At a high-end omakase, this is highly unusual, if not inappropriate, as the experience should be about enjoying the curated menu, not being pressured into add-ons before the meal is even complete. My girlfriend, who has dined at over 20 omakase restaurants ranging from $150 to $500 per person, has never encountered this practice. It came across as a blatant attempt to nickel-and-dime guests. - Inconsistent Service: While I was served dessert, my girlfriend was not. I was then served the check BEFORE my gilrfriend got her dessert. This level of oversight is unacceptable at this price point! - Use of lower-Quality ingredients: A well-curated omakase experience highlights premium cuts of fish. However, this restaurant included sake nigiri (salmon) as part of the set menu—something commonly found in sushi restaurants at a fraction of the price. High-end omakase establishments typically focus on more exclusive selections. - Budget choices for white fish: Most reputable omakase venues serve red or golden snapper, but this restaurant opted for black snapper, the least premium of the three. This further reinforced the impression that ingredient costs were being cut. - Lack of Engagement from the Chef: Part of the omakase experience is the interaction with the chef, who provides insight into each course and enhances the meal with their presence. Here, the chef was notably disengaged and did not converse with guests, creating a cold and uninviting atmosphere. The sushi counter also had a divider which was blocking the "view" of sushi making, very odd considering most omakase places don't have this. Final Thoughts: This restaurant charges a premium price but does not deliver a premium experience. Between the lower-quality ingredients, the aggressive upselling, and the lack of attention to detail in service, it simply does not compare to other omakase establishments in the same price range. If you’re looking for an authentic, high-end omakase experience, I would recommend looking elsewhere!!

The experience was very disappointing. The sushi pieces were small and extremely salty, with fish slices so thin it was hard to take the restaurant’s “high-end” claims seriously. The presentation was also careless—the sushi arrived tipped over, and when it fell apart, the chef simply tried to reshape it instead of preparing a fresh piece. For the price point, the quality was far below expectations. I was worried I would be sick the following day. Overall, the value and quality felt worse than budget sushi. I’m not sure how this restaurant justifies calling itself upscale.

I wish I had read more bad reviews on this place, so I did not choose this restaurant. I am a foodie I've tried restaurants worldwide, high-end and low-end, the spectrum. Particularly Japanese restaurants, so I have a lot of comparisons making my review. Walking into the place itself felt very cold and empty, the lights were way too bright, and it hurt both my and my company's eyes. The service of the chef was so slow, and it was only five people in the restaurant, including ourselves. When it is slow, it messes up the temperature of the fish; it was warm and a bit off-putting. The waitress was fine in her service. The bill came, and regardless of the money being overpriced, it was not worth going already. We were all super upset.

J Ryk

The experience was very disappointing. The sushi pieces were small and extremely salty, with fish slices so thin it was hard to take the restaurant’s “high-end” claims seriously. The presentation was also careless—the sushi arrived tipped over, and when it fell apart, the chef simply tried to reshape it instead of preparing a fresh piece. For the price point, the quality was far below expectations. I was worried I would be sick the following day. Overall, the value and quality felt worse than budget sushi. I’m not sure how this restaurant justifies calling itself upscale.

Elizabeth Torman

I wish I had read more bad reviews on this place, so I did not choose this restaurant. I am a foodie I've tried restaurants worldwide, high-end and low-end, the spectrum. Particularly Japanese restaurants, so I have a lot of comparisons making my review. Walking into the place itself felt very cold and empty, the lights were way too bright, and it hurt both my and my company's eyes. The service of the chef was so slow, and it was only five people in the restaurant, including ourselves. When it is slow, it messes up the temperature of the fish; it was warm and a bit off-putting. The waitress was fine in her service. The bill came, and regardless of the money being overpriced, it was not worth going already. We were all super upset.