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When I moved to LA three and a half years ago and went to Sushi Enya in Little Tokyo for the first time, I fell head over heels with the amazing quality of their fish. I thought no other sushi restaurant could ever top that experience.
A few weeks ago when my dad was in my town, we were planning on dining at Sushi Enya, but we had a change of heart and decided to try Sushi Gen, which opened earlier. I can’t believe I had the best sushi eating experience just a few blocks away from Sushi Enya!
Sushi Gen is located in a very outdated strip mall, and it’s been a neighborhood gem since it opened in 1980. The long lines may put you off, but don’t be disheartened. The seating process goes by super quick and the service is extremely efficient. You can either sit at the sushi bar or the table. Do the sushi bar! Not only will the wait time be shorter, but it’s more fun. Eating at the bar and interacting with the sushi chefs will fully immerse you into the eating experience. Other than that, don’t come here and expect to get seated right away because even before they open their doors at 11:30 a.m., you will be bound to find a line.
The menu slightly varies between the sushi bar and the table. If you sit at a table, you’ll be allowed to order big sashimi plates, whereas in the sushi bar, only smaller orders are placed, and there’s a minimum of four orders per person.
Here are the reasons that make Sushi Gen stand out from every other sushi restaurant in LA:
The first thing that struck me is how the space resembled your run-of-the-mill sushi restaurant in Tokyo. I’ve been to Japan three times, so I’m accustomed to the Japanese dining etiquette and the ambi
If you sit at the sushi bar, it’ll be just you and the chef. No waiters — unless you want to order something off the menu. Do you want sushi or sashimi? Say it to the chef, and he will kindly place your freshly cut fish on your and your companion’s plate. This personal connection will make your experience even more delightful. In the majority of sushi places in LA, you’re not allowed to talk to the chefs and all the orders have to go through the waiters.
Sushi Gen has a no cell phone policy, just like in Japan.
The fish was of the utmost quality you will ever find in LA, and the best thing of all
Once you’re seated, they’ll give you the menu and a very long sheet of paper with the fish and sashimi available that day. Since they don’t provide pencils, make sure you bring one so you can keep track of everything you order. Another piece of advice is to have the waiter or waitress tell you the prices — the sheet doesn’t have them.
If my memory serves me right, the upper half of the sheet, which contained the most expensive fish was $14 per order, and the lower half was $8.
Below are a few menu items that stood out the most to me and my dad. Given the no phone policy, I was a little hesitant to pull out my phone and snap pictures, so I took the following photos off of Instagram and Yelp. I feel like I can savor each sushi piece through the screen. 😭
Sushi salmon. I could eat sushi salmon every day and not get tired of it. This one was buttery and slightly sweet with a melt-in-your-mouth freshness that was simply incredible.
Sushi salmon
Sardine sushi. The sardine had the utmost freshness. So good. This was my dad’s favorite.
Fatty tuna (left) A little pricier, it’s $14 for one order, but it was my all-time favorite order. The tuna had a silky-like texture — it was melt-in-your-mouth goodness!!
Spanish mackerel. It was a jelly-like texture with a very rich umami flavor.
We also ordered the umeboshi plum soup rice, which was another highlight.
I’m skipping a few more menu items, but you get the gist. Seeing the sushi chefs diligently working behind the bar, pulling out the fish, flawlessly cutting it, and molding the rice with their hands was so visually satisfying.
The green tea ice creams were nothing special, so I would skip them or order other menu dessert items.
To see the full breakdown of the menu, click here
You can make reservations and they offer lunch specials at a really affordable price. Again, make sure you come early or you might miss them!
Sushi Gen totally blew me away. When you stick to your favorite place, it’s really hard to break away from it, but Sushi Gen completely exceeded my expectations. The fair prices are another bonus!
Address: 422 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
For hours and reservations go to the official website.
What’s your favorite sushi spot in LA? 🍣🍣🍣🍣
