[Los Angeles] [Japanese] Sushi Sasabune

Sushi Sasabune
12400 Wilshire Blvd #150
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 820-3596

星期天是公園先生的生日，今年的生日大餐請他吃了他自己指定的Sushi Sasabune，由於餐廳周末不營業，我們就星期五提早慶祝，Sasabune的壽司無敵新鮮，每一道都美味至極，吃完之後感覺我們吃壽司的級數又晉了一級，這家壽司店我們一定一定還要再回來！(星期天我再度下廚慶祝了一天生日，請期待明天的生日part 2喔！)

Last Sunday was Dr. Park's birthday.  Almost 2 months ago, I read a great review on Sushi Sasabune written by ExileKiss.  I forwarded the review to Dr. Park, and he requested to have his birthday dinner there.  After looking forward to this birthday celebration for 2 months, we were finally there last Friday.



Sushi Sasabune is located on the first floor of some business building on Wilshire.  I read that they used to be a small restaurant around Sawtelle area.  The new location is huge.  Dr. Park told me it used to be a Todai here.  We arrived right before our reservation time at 7pm and there were plenty of street parking out front.





Sasabune is not opened on Saturday and Sunday.  The reason is because fish markets do not open on Saturday and Sunday.  It means that they always have the freshest and best quality seafood.  When I made my reservation a month ago, the host suggested us to sit at the sushi bar for the best omakase experience.  We were promptly seated at the spacious sushi bar at 7pm.



The waitress brought up some warm towel.  The wrapper said it all.... Trust me!  The specialty at Sasabune is their omakase.  The chef will selected the best dishes for the customers.  All we have to do is sit back, trust the chef, and enjoy!



The waitress brought us the drink menu immediately.  There were sake, soju, beer, white wine and champange available.  We took the waitress' suggestion on two sakes.


Akita Issui-Junmai Genshu ($14.00) / Fukukomachi-Kaiginjyo ($18.00)

We ordered two glasses of cold sake.  Since they looked the same, I only took one picture.  The first one was Akita Issui-Junmai Genshu.  The second one was Fukukomachi-Kaiginjyo.  They were both very smooth.  The first one was a bit sweeter, while the second one was dry.  The glasses were big.  Two glasses, Dr. Park got a nice buzz.


Sashimi

Right after the waitress brought us our sake, our sushi chef presented us two plates of beautiful sashimi. 


Pen Shell ($20.00)

The pen shell sashimi was beautifully placed in its shell.  We never had this dish before.  Actually we never even heard of pen shell. 



The pan shell sashimi was served with special salt and spicy pepper paste.  The chef warned us about how spicy the pepper was.



A little bit of salt and a little bit of spicy pepper.  The flavor was all there, salty, spicy and sour (from yuzu).  The clam sashimi was firmer than fish, a little crispy but not as crispy as other types of clam.  It had a konjac like texture.  It was served on top of shiso leaf so it absorbed the fragrance of the plant.  We were so happy with the first dish.  Couldn't wait to see what would come later.


Albacore Sahimi ($12.00)

Next up was albacore sashimi.  The albacore we had at other restaurants was always seared a little.  The albacore served here was completely raw.  We both agree this is the freshest and best albacore we've ever had.  It melts in your mouth!  I could easily have two plates of this all by myself.  We told our chef how much we loved the sashimi.  He told us they got the fish from Vancouver.  This sashimi was so good.  I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.



The ponzu sauce for the albacore sushi was superb.  I've always loved ponzu sauce.  The ponzu sauce at Sasabune tasted different but in a very very good way.  I saw the sign at the sushi bar, then realized it was different because it was freshly http://www.eileenlikestoeat.commade. 


Toro / Tuna ($8.00 x 2)

After two sashimi dishes, we started with sushi courses.  The first sushi was big eye tuna from Hawaii.  One had a sweet sauce drizzeled over it so no soy sauce needed.  I thought these two were the same tuna.  But on the bill it said one was toro (??).  Both pieces melted in our mouth.  Actually almost all the fish here melted in our mouth.  haha....  Also the sushi rice served here was warm.  I really like the warm rice with cold seafood balancing combination.


Halibut ($2.50 x 2) / Red Snapper ($2.50 x 2)

After the rich tuna sushi, the next course was lighter white fish sushi.  We had halibut with Sasabune's delicious ponsu sauce and New Zealand red snapper sushi with shiso leaf.  The white fish was more chewy than the fatty fish.  Most of the time I like white fish more and Dr. Park likes fatty fish more.  Dr. Park commented that normally he would never order red snapper.  It just wasn't the type of fish he likes.  But here at Sasabune, he was really surprised how good red snapper tasted.  Ponzu sauce and shiso leaf are two of my favorite things with sushi.  I love love love love this plate.


Yellow Tail ($2.50 x 2) / Salmon ($2.50 x 2)

Next two sushi were more fatty fish.  Japanese yellow tail and Scotland salmon.  Both fish were super creamy, and again, melted in our mouth.  Salmon sushi was served with a piece of thin sea kelp and toasted white sesame.  This piece of salmon sushi was Dr. Park's favorite for the night.  After every piece of sushi, there was always a moment of silence, then we would say, "mmmmmm.... wowwwww.... ahhhhhh.... that was so good."  I remember watching Japanese food show, people on TV always take a bite of their food, and make bunch of "mmmm ehhhhhh ahhhhhh wooooo" kind of noises and say OISHII NE!!  Now I understand why they do that. 


Jumbo Clam ($4.50 x 2) / Fresh Sweet Shrimp ($4.50 x 2)

I really like how the chef alternated rich and light sushi.  Next up were jumbo clam and sweet shrimp.  The giant clam was crunchy crunchy and yummy yummy.  The sweet shrimp was indeed sweet and very creamy.  This was definately the best sweet shrimp I've tasted.


Oysters ($4.50 x 2)

Taking a break from sushi, next we had fresh oysters with ponzu.  The small oysters were very fresh.  It was perfect with the ponzu sauce.


Monkfish Liver ($3.00 x 2) / Sea Eel ($3.00 x 2)

Monkfish liver has been my favorite sushi.  I've always had monkfish liver sushi with ponzu.  At sasabune, they seared the ankimo and it was served warm with a sweet sauce.  It was the first time we had ankimo this way.  The liver was firm on the outside but creamy and soft in the middle.  I like the ankimo, but still prefer the Hide Sushi way for some reason.  The Japanese sea eel sushi was delicious.  But my piece of eel tasted a little bitter at certain part.  I think my piece was maybe from the belly?

MISSING PICTURE (>_<)
Spanish Mackerel ($3.00 x 2) / Mackerel ($2.10 x 2)

I guess I was too eager to eat the sushi and forgot to take picture for this plate of regular mackerel and Japanese Spanish mackerel.  The mackerel I had in other sushi joints were always pickled (?) <-- (I'm not sure if that's the correct term to described it).  But at Sasabune, it was served fresh.  Both sushi were so good.  Dr. Park said he never liked regular mackerel.  But the mackerel at Sasabune was great, and I agree. 


Salmon Egg ($2.75 x 2) / Sea Urchin ($6.00 x 2)

Last sushi dish of the night.  Salmon egg and sea urchin.  The salmon egg was so fresh and not as salty as we've tasted at other places.  Each egg exploded in my mouth full of wonderful ocean flavor.  Sea urchin was creamy and sweet.  Another piece of sushi that made us go "mmmm wooooo ahhhh".



Here is a video of the sushi chefs preparing sushi. Our chef Haga was making us our last dish of the night, crab roll.


Blue Crab Roll ($6.00 x 2)

Last dish of the omakase was blue crab roll.  Our stomach was about to explode at this point.  The blue crab roll was so good we had to finish it.... slowly though.  The chef asked us if we would like to request anything else.  We only wish our stomach could fit more delicious sushi.


Green Tea

After the meal, we felt like having hot green tea.  A lot of the Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles charge for green tea, which I do not think it's right.  Sasabune does not charge for their green tea.  At this point, the restaurant was completely packed.  We finished our meal and just sat at the sushi bar sipping our green tea.  Nobody rushed us, which was wonderful.



Dr. Park and I enjoy eating out.  But if you've read my blog long enough, you should know that we love delicious resturant with good bargain.  We only splurge once in a while for special occasions.  This time I turly feel the money was worth spent.  For the amount and the quality of the food, the price seemed just right.



Happy birthday, aajuhssi Dr. Park!  I hope you enjoy your birthday dinner.  I know I did.  What should we eat next year?  kekekeke....



Upon leaving the restaurant, I snapped couple more pictures at the door.  This sign explained the Sasbune rules.



There are two types of omakase meals here.  Regular (or American) and Japanese omakase.  The one we had was Japanese, which had more exotic seafood.  The American omakase is mostly fish only.



Dr. Park doing his model pose at the entrance.

Our sushi tasting experience has gone to the next level after dining at Sasabune.  We still love the humble Hide Sushi.  But it just cannot compare to Sasabune.  We will definately be back here again and again.  And slowly, we are working our way up to Urasawa.... somday.  haha.... 

P.S.  I want to give a special thank you to ExileKiss.  Thank you for the detailed review that introduced us to Sasabune (and many many more other wonderful restaurants)!  You are the best!  ^^

P.S.S. More celebration for Dr. Park's birthday! I cooked for him on Sunday!! Coming up tomorrow.... (^_^)Y

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