The Best Sushi In Los Angeles: Sushi Gen

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 in love with the amazing quality of their fish and thought no other sushi restaurant could ever top that experience. 

A few weeks ago, while my dad was in my town, we were planning on dining at Sushi Enya, but we had a change of heart last minute and decided to try Sushi Gen. I had the best sushi eating experience only within a few blocks from Sushi Enya, in the same district of Little Tokyo. 

Sushi Gen is located in a very outdated strip mall, and it’s been a neighborhood gem since it opened in 1980.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 very efficient. You can either sit at the sushi bar or the table. Do the sushi bar — it requires less wait time, it’s way more fun, and it will fully immerse you into your eating experience. Just don’t come here and expect to get seated right away because even before opening time (11:30 a.m.), you will surely find a line. 

The menu slightly varies between the sushi bar and the table. On the table, you’re allowed to order the big sashimi plates, whereas in the sushi bar, smaller orders are placed and there’s a minimum of four orders per person.

Here are the reasons why Sushi Gen elevates itself above every other sushi restaurant in LA: 

The first thing that struck me is how it perfectly resembled any sushi restaurant in Tokyo. I’ve been to Japan three times, so I’m accustomed to the Japanese dining etiquette and the restaurant ambiance. Sushi Gen hits the nail in the head replicating that.

Unless you’re sitting at the table, the sushi bar is just you and the chef. No waiters — except if 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 order on your and your companion’s plate. This connection makes your experience even more delightful and immersive. 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. 

What really seals the deal and sets Sushi Gen apart from other sushi restaurants, is the 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 were the reasonable prices! Not only did we feast on sushi and sashimi, but we also ordered two things off the menu and two green tea ice creams without breaking the bank. Additionally, the fish cuts in Sushi Gen are super generous. 

Once you’re seated, they give you the menu and a very long sheet of paper with the full list of the different types of sushi and sashimi. 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 of the 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.

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. The tuna had a silky-like texture — it was melt-in-your-mouth goodness!!

Spanish mackerel. The texture was quite bland but super rich in 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 it. 

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. 

If you’ve never been to Japan but would love to experience what it’s like to eat at a restaurant in Tokyo, Sushi Gen in Downtown LA will immerse you in that experience!

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? 🍣🍣🍣🍣