Sushi Sasabune - Los Angeles

This is the Brentwood location, a favorite of locals, located on a lively Wilshire strip. The lunch deals are where it's at, several pieces of sushi and fresh cuts of sashimi for a very good price, especially in these parts. We splurged on the Signature Japanese Omakase instead, and if I am entirely honest, I think we made a mistake. 

There’s sashimi for starters, triangles of tender Baby Tuna in something gooey-soy. 

Albacore is silky and soaked in bright ponzu. 

Get to the nigiri and the problems start. The just-rice falls apart immediately, long before it hits your mouth, possibly before it even hits the plate. It’s just the plain white short-grain stuff, held together with determination and a prayer, and it makes the experience extremely difficult as determination doesn't stick. 

The cuts are what you'd find in any decent omakase, starting with bluefin Tuna and Toro served side by side. Meaty then melty, 

onward to a smooth Halibut and buttery Snapper with ginger and green onion.

This Shellfish Trio is wholly unnecessary, though that tiny, buttery oyster is nice. The bland scallop and shiitake are rather noxious in a bland broth, but the dynamite mussel has a surprisingly light cream sauce which shows some skill but is again, not something I really needed. 

Yellowtail is lovely and Salmon is sweet, covered with a complementing sweet strip.

Goldeneye Snapper is tender meat, and a smooth Scallop topped with yuzu pepper is fairly fresh. 

A steaming slab of Butterfish brushed with sweet soy is served next, 

followed by Amberjack and Albacore Belly. 

A Blue Crab Handroll is second-to-last, crunchy nori encasing a stuffing of sweet crab. 

Your choice for the last piece, and mine is always Uni. It’s a pretty good one; sweet not bitter, smooth and barely briny. 

Their website advertises their claim to fame as one of the first to introduce omakase to LA. But first is first, first is not a synonym of good. Here, while their cuts are actually good, the rice is a disaster, and there’s just too much good sushi in this city for this to be overlooked. Their fish might take off in a smaller pond, but I can immediately name at least 3 better places at this price point where the sushi is substantially better. It's clearly a beloved spot by locals and lunchers alike, but I suspect they stick to the lunch specials.  

Bestie Trip NYC - Day 5

MOMA - New York, NY

As much as I appreciate this space, it is the museum of MODERN art. 

Still, there are these classics that take my breath away, like the haunting Demoiselles d'Avignon, painted by Picasso at his peak, 

Christina's World, which gives disability a perspective,

and what more is there to say about Van Gogh's Starry Night.

There are also more modern things like their current exhibition on Marcel Duchamp, full of things I can't begin to understand. 

I roll my eyes at his "ready-made" pieces, which consists of him stamping his name on a piece of junk and selling it at an exorbitant price, though even I can appreciate the marketing genius of these miniature boxes containing all his most famous art. 

I do also love his Coffee Grinder cubism,

and in other galleries I discover this Dali with depth,

a stunning piece by Vuillard that I'll admit I know nothing about,

and The Subway by Jose Clemente Orozco that draws me into the dark spots. 

And there is a wire cow with wire poop which is possibly the best piece in this place.

Much to be seen, much to take in, a beautiful collection housed in this Midtown marvel. 

Maybe Happy Ending - New York, NY 

There are no happy endings here unless you count the privilege of seeing this show. 

Two decommissioned robots meet, by chance or by fate, you decide, and a flurry of events ensue that explore the themes of sentience and love. It serves as a cautionary tale as both their owners choose the cleanly-choreographed love of their programmed-to-please servants over the messy ups and downs of the relationships that are human and painfully real. 

The ending is supposedly hopeful, though I find it mostly sad. The songs are quite forgettable, but I love how these themes make you think. I leave wondering if these robots were decommissioned to make room for newer models or if they were cast out because people stopped using them after seeing the side effects on society. 

Sushi 35 West - New York, NY

It's a strange trek up a flight of stairs to a small stall in a classic walk-up building close to seedy Herald Square. There are a couple of folding tables and chairs, but it's clearly meant to be taken to go. 

The Sushi Premium is a dealer's choice, ten cuts with a tuna roll on the side. All three types of tuna are a ten, and as are the halibut, snapper, and whatever other white slices they select. Salmon is sleek, both the belly and the regular, and the fresh and creamy uni isn't the least bit bitter. 

The sweetest chefs are slinging sushi here, procuring cuts that are far nicer than the location would imply. 
Of everything I ate this trip, Sushi 35 is my favorite find. 

Kimukatsu - Torrance

Tokyo Central's in-store, sit-down, stop-when-you-shop, super-specialist Kimukatsu really only serves one thing. 

The Special Pork Millefeuille Katsu Set is the sole reason to sit and savor every slice. The science of the layers seals in all the flavor.

Squint at this cross-section and you can just barely see the juices shine. 

There's also unlimited rice and cabbage as well as a flavor-packed miso soup with tender slices of belly-pork. 

Don't dismiss the side salad - the sesame dressing is delish. 

The chicken katsu is solid as well, though not quite as stellar. 

Fantastic food, small selection, just make sure the special pork is on your plate. 

Torikizoku - Torrance

Japan's most popular chain came to Torrance and changed its hours to include times I can make. 

Stuff on sticks with some sides is all you see on this menu, though they have a few daily specials as well, like this Tako Karaage. Chewy, spectacular, tentacular bits breaded by a batter that stays crispy throughout your meal. Surprisingly fruity yuzu salsa not needed. 

Skewers include a Chicken Heart makes me happy, 

Harami Beef has special sauce. 

Chicken Thigh with green onion is nice and tender, and Meatball is just minor.

Gotta love grilled Quail Egg,

and palate-cleansing cabbage and onion salad with lots of bonito flakes for flavor. 

Don't skip dessert - the Melon Soda Float is magnificent. Served in a sizeable stein, it's best for sharing but either way, it'll supply all the sugar you need in a month. 

They serve an exceptional Hochija Pudding here. The roasty-toasty tea notes are the star, not overshadowed by sweetness. Ice cream is unnecessary, and it almost feels like a filler for a standout that should be a standalone. 

Good food, good fun. Nice for a little lunch or a later night nosh. 

Mensho Tokyo - Culver City

As a small ramen restaurant in downtown Culver, Mensho faces stiff competition in the form of fried chicken, food halls, artisan ice cream, and so much more. 

Mensho makes its stand with an exciting list of noodle soups on a mouthwatering menu that has me planning for a return trip as soon as I order. The Signature is an excellent choice, a dish so delicious I feel I must try all the others as well. The broth is fatty and creamy, so rich it's entirely opaque, yet the chicken base makes it substantial without so much substance. Deeply savory and satisfying, it scratches the umami itch without making you feel so full you can't finish your bowl. The noodles are house-made, another signature with a mochi texture that gives them a gelatinous chew. The texture contrasts with a melty slice of A5 wagyu chashu, a piece of fermented pork chashu, and a bit of duck chashu which I can only describe as duck bacon. The mushroom menma is something I'd buy by the jar, and I didn't think that beautiful soft-boiled egg could be any better but then they added a breath of smoke. 

Enoki Chips are an app, but they actually make an exciting accompaniment to any ramen. Little mushroom straws crunch all the way through and are ideal for adding as a ramen topping or dipping in leftover broth. 

There are far too many choices in downtown Culver City, but Mensho is one worth trying. The ingredients mark them as higher-end, rather than your corner bar-stool slurp, and there is a sophistication to the flavors in a way that makes them memorable. The selection on the street is quite overwhelming, so next time you're trying to decide, maybe make a move toward Mensho. 

Ramen Joint - Los Angeles

Oh I love it. A true-blue old Westchester joint serving up steaming bowls of everything good. 

Calamari is a solid start if you want something to share. 

Lovely but not so necessary as a hot bowl of their classic Shoyu Tonkotsu becomes a slurping sensation as a rich and creamy porky broth is hit with their hot sauce flavor-grenade.

Mazemen is a fine choice if you're not in the mood for soup. The ropy noodles mix with grainy ground pork for a crock of comfort. 

Ramen Joint is one of LA's many great ramen joints, and I love that it's an original. Ramen is probably LA's best cuisine, and here sits of the best. 

Camelia - Los Angeles

Oh I just don't get it. LA has never been known for fine dining, but would it kill them to actually try? I get that the LA scene is too cool to care, but why do the fussy food if you don't want to fuss? 

Coming off a rave review from the LA Times, Camelia tops my list of pricey places to peruse. 

I made a reservation for 5:30 on a Sunday night, an early bird hour for two friends with kids, and it was immediately clear that the experience wasn't going to be part of the package. The decor was as expected for LA; naked tables, simple settings. The problem was that we were seated at one end of a series of 3 two-tops that were literally only two inches apart. Not bad for the people on the two ends, but a couple was later led to our almost-adjoining table and mercifully declined to sit - I suspect they did not wish to have 4 others join them on their date. The restaurant isn't roomy, but it's not so tight I can't take off my jacket without punching someone in the face. Would even 4-6 inches between tables be too much to ask? 

We opt for the tasting menu, a nightly tour of Camelia's greatest hits in smaller portions. 

Bluefin Tuna Toast is beautiful. Meaty, marbled marvels slide like silk, enveloped by fragrant shiso offset with a whiff of wasabi.

Chicken Liver Mousse Toast is a classic, a creamy billow of bile, fat against a sweet persimmon mostarda, lightened by a slice of daikon. East meets west for fusion at its finest. 

The salad boasts these beautiful leaves of pink radicchio, the bitterness of which a bit of vinegar mollifies. They are an enchanting contrast to a bed of creamy burrata and soft kabocha agebitashi, flavors that boldly contrast yet seamlessly float together. 

Hokkaido Uni Pasta. My three favorite words in the whole world. This statement is true...but only in the most literal sense. The only uni is on top, a creamy half-nibble, with a careless twirl of spaghetti so undercooked it couldn't cling to any of the "uni butter", which is so subtle it isn't there. 

I think they were going for understated but they forgot the “der”. The uni remained unstated except for the little bit at the top, though the pasta was notably unDERcooked. 

This Grilled Loup de Mer is a most perfect specimen. Crispy skin, tender white flesh, a ginger ponzu just assertive enough to brighten a naturally neutral fish, and bok choy because...bok choy is Asian. The stems are not the most appealing. No flavor there so eat with big bites of sauce.

If I could choose only one thing from my few and far between fine dining experiences it would be a perfect Steak. And this is the night they decide to serve a real New York strip. The steak is exquisite but the plating, just what the actual... 

A runaway onion ring settles in a spiral like a dropped bottle cap as the runner lowers my steak at an awkward angle of at least 50 degrees. My onion rings give some side eye as the swish of sauce smiles back. The steak is so perfectly done, but I feel like I'm eating someone's nose. 

Also, the tempura onion rings taste like butter. That's how you know it's French - even the tempura tastes like butter. 

Here is my friend's plate, in case you are wondering how the steak is supposed to look.

I expect dessert to be a throwaway, but this Tart will be among the best I'll have this year. The citrus asserts in a tangy yuzu custard, and it snaps against the sugar while contrasting the bold and bitter strip of matcha, which is just thick enough to make this tart exceptional. 

Service is just enough so you don't yearn for privacy but feel like you can have all the help you need. It's impersonal but professional, though it's pretty clear no one cares about their plating tonight. I don't know about this place. Maybe I should have tried the more unusual dishes on their menu or maybe I should have gone back to Bestia. Either way, I'll be staying in the South Bay when I want some real uni pasta. I'll at least get a proper plate at Spoon House. 

Sora Sushi - Hermosa Beach

Normally I would only come here for Barsha, but a friend recommended some sushi two doors down. 

Enter Sora Sushi and you won't know what to think. The decor is simple, super-casual but the sushi is quite legit. Quality cuts, a creative chef who knows what he's doing, at prices that are undoubtedly a deal. 

A mere $50 for the Omakase Nigiri, 11 pieces of chef's choice and a cute dab of dessert if you're dining in. Highlights include salmon toro seared with a dab of truffle mayo, tunas both fatty and lean, fresh ikura with minimal fishiness, sweet shrimp with a deep-fried head, fresh uni, a juicy slice of wagyu, and chef's own tamago in which the sweetness is offset by a hit of vinegar. 

Dessert is a choice of creme brulee in matcha or yuzu, where you can't go wrong. The matcha is earthier, the yuzu has more sugar. 

Good stuff, great people, a family-run business you'll always be happy to support. Come for something casual but legitimately good.