My husband and I stopped at Sushi Gen on a whim for lunch while out in Little Tokyo. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat, but judging by the crowd that was waiting when we left, you could... More

My husband and I stopped at Sushi Gen on a whim for lunch while out in Little Tokyo. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat, but judging by the crowd that was waiting when we left, you could definitely expect to wait much longer. Unlike others, we had no problems with the host. Our waitress was also extremely friendly and the free tea service was a nice touch. The fish was fresh and tasty. Unlike some places, Sushi Gen does not skimp on the fish in their rolls or try to cover up by using excessive amounts of rice. It was also reasonably priced for the amount and quality of fish we received. And while I agree with the previous poster bgazindad - Sushi Gen has few rolls on its menu as it's mainly a true sushi spot - one of the rolls it does have actually IS a California Roll. Either way, the sushi is the reason to come. The albacore, unagi and spicy tuna were all excellent and some of the best I?ve had in Los Angeles ? and I?ve definitely tried my share. Pros: Good sushi. Fair prices. Friendly waitstaff. Cons: Parking. Can be a long wait.
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Yes, I know that it is crowded and often frustrating to wait long periods of time, but the value and quality are absolutely outstanding AND WORTH THE WAIT. My personal favorite is the sashimi... More

Yes, I know that it is crowded and often frustrating to wait long periods of time, but the value and quality are absolutely outstanding AND WORTH THE WAIT. My personal favorite is the sashimi dinner with tempura. The sashimi is fresh, and the amount of sashimi one gets is overwhelming. I have never gotten full off of a sashimi platter until my first experience at Sushi Gen. Usually, there is only one good fish on a sashimi platter, but the majority types of sashimi on the platter "melted in my mouth". The tempura is cooked well also, for the batter is light and not greasy. Once you get past the host, who must deal with many many people waiting outside, the waiters and waitresses are great. They are attentive and excellent. Go to Sushi Gen immediately! It rivaled my sushi experiences in JAPAN! GREAT!!! Pros: Great food at outstanding portions. Cons: The wait is long, and you have to pay for parking.
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I am 50+ year old Japanese American. Needless to say that I have eaten Japanese food all my life and I also cook it at home. I have been going to this small restaurant for years. It is always busy.... More

I am 50+ year old Japanese American. Needless to say that I have eaten Japanese food all my life and I also cook it at home. I have been going to this small restaurant for years. It is always busy. I have eaten at the sushi bar and the restaurant's hot food. This is the best overall Japanese dinner restaurant I know. I take my out of town relatives to this place because it is good food with generous portions at a fair price.(I do not mean cheap) They serve traditional style sushi. It is always fresh and the slices are generous. The uni is sweet, the hamachi is creamy, the unagi is moist and the shrimp tempura taste like shrimp and not fried batter. The teriyaki sauce has distinct flavor and not salty. They do not serve American style hand rolls e.g. california roll, spider rolls, rainbow rolls, etc. This restaurant's primary customers are Japanese nationals so do not be surprise that the staff is English challenaged but that is a good sign in my book. PS. I was not aware that they took reservations. I just go early and get my name on the list. Pros: good food, fair price. great sushi. Cons: limited space, long waits if you come at the wrong time, lousy parking.
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I've eaten at every sushi restaurant downtown and this is by far the best. Better than Matsuhisa at a fraction of the price. Also the kind of place where they really reward you for frequenting. I... More

I've eaten at every sushi restaurant downtown and this is by far the best. Better than Matsuhisa at a fraction of the price. Also the kind of place where they really reward you for frequenting. I don't know what else to say other than it's just simply the best.
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this place is one of the best sushi restaurant in LA. After matsuhisa, this place had the best sushi in town. Also their salmon dinner is good. Only thing they lack is good spicy tuna(i'm a sucka... More

this place is one of the best sushi restaurant in LA. After matsuhisa, this place had the best sushi in town. Also their salmon dinner is good. Only thing they lack is good spicy tuna(i'm a sucka for spicy tuna), other than that, A+
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really good quilty sashimi restaurant, never feel tired to go there over and over again!! if you are in little tokyo, this is a must go place! Pros: n/a Cons: na

really good quilty sashimi restaurant, never feel tired to go there over and over again!! if you are in little tokyo, this is a must go place! Pros: n/a Cons: na
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I went to lunch today with my mom at Sushi Gen for the very first time. I absolutely adore Little Tokyo and have been to most of the japanese restaurants in the area, and I must say that we truly... More

I went to lunch today with my mom at Sushi Gen for the very first time. I absolutely adore Little Tokyo and have been to most of the japanese restaurants in the area, and I must say that we truly enjoyed our experience today. We decided to sit at the sushi bar to avoid the wait for a table. We found the host to be very enthusiastic and the waitresses were extremely kind and attentive, frequently filling up our drinks. Make sure to get the green tea- it's free of charge. So the sushi was very good I must say, and our sushi chef was very kind and helpful, quickly preparing our order along with the many other people at the bar. The other chefs who were responsible for preparing the customer orders sitting at tables all smiled and greeted us as we sat down, and made sure to thank and bid us goodbye as we left. So the sushi comes to you without any frills or fuss- true japanese style. The chef cuts the fish, shapes it onto the rice, and plops your sushi onto your given wooden plate with ginger and wasabi. This place is definitely a popular hidden gem, with many regulars. I will definitely return, although my next visit I will wait to sit at a table, as I would like to try the lunch specials. Pros: great sushi
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I LOVE sushi and was really excited about trying this sushi place after a friend's recommendation and reading all the reviews. I took other's advice and made a reservation on Saturday night; which... More

I LOVE sushi and was really excited about trying this sushi place after a friend's recommendation and reading all the reviews. I took other's advice and made a reservation on Saturday night; which was a good thing because the wait would have been 90 minutes instead of the 20 minutes that we had to wait with a reservation for 4 people. The host at the front door was less than pleasant. He was not only rude but I had the hardest time understanding him. I do want to point out that our waitress and the other servers were very polite. While waiting for our table, I overheard a woman saying that there are other sushi places in the Little Tokyo area that do not have a wait but Sushi Gen is much better. As I waited for our table, that woman's comment made me more anxious to try this great "hidden" find. My conclusion is that the food is very mediocre and over priced. My 3 other parties were just as disappointed in the food because we could have paid so much less for much better sushi. I'm sure people are curious to try this sushi place because everybody else says it's so great. If you do choose to try this place, please come back and write a review. I am more than 100% sure that my friends and I are not the only people who found this place to be absolutely overrated. Cons: Restaurant does not valiate parking.
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This place was recommended to me so I checked it out during lunch with some co-worker. I have to say I as pleasently surpised. THe lunch combo's come with a lot of food and you get your moneies... More

This place was recommended to me so I checked it out during lunch with some co-worker. I have to say I as pleasently surpised. THe lunch combo's come with a lot of food and you get your moneies worth. I took my friend who was visisting from Japan to the place and she said it was best Sashimi she has ever had. This place is not pretencious and I always get good prompt service. THe place is not bog so dont take a large group. The bald short host another reviewer was refering to actually has short hair and is pretty nice. Try the teriyaki lunch combo or sashimi combo: they both come with hot tofu, miso soup, rice, salad, fruit, and pickled vegetable.
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I have been to this restaurant many many times because they DO offer good sushi. HOWEVER during my visits to the restaurant we have always had issues with the HOST (bald skinny Japanese man with... More

I have been to this restaurant many many times because they DO offer good sushi. HOWEVER during my visits to the restaurant we have always had issues with the HOST (bald skinny Japanese man with glasses). He is just plain rude, during a long wait in line, he will cut his "friends" on the list and let them go first. Things like that, but I let it go alas, I went for the food not for him. Anyway yesterday we went there for my brother's birthday (party of 4), and I walked in with a cake (a very normal/common birthday celebration gesture). The host comes after me asking me if we were gonna eat that in the restaurant, and I asked him why? He said we couldn't eat it there. Oh my gosh WHAT RESTAURANT DISCOURAGES CUSTOMERS FROM CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS IN THEIR LOCALITIES??? I was SOOO MAD, we spent over $200 over dinner and they won't let us enjoy a birthday cake?? Now is that the customer service worth swallowing your pride over decent sushi? You make your judgement. For nasty service like that I'd rather go to Hama Sushi. Pros: Good quality sushi Cons: Paying a high price for nasty service
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