Sushi Kaneyoshi

Tucked away in the basement of an unassuming office building in Little Tokyo, Sushi Kaneyoshi operates more like a secret society than a restaurant. Finding it requires navigating through a hotel lobby, buzzing in at a nondescript entrance, and descending into what feels like a hidden lair. But once you’re seated at the elegant hinoki wood counter among just nine other guests, the exclusivity makes perfect sense.

Chef Kaneyoshi presents a $300 omakase spanning roughly twenty courses, each one meticulously prepared in the traditional Edo-mae style. The seared saba handroll arrives with an audible crackle, the torched fish still glistening. The fatty tuna comes dusted with what they poetically call sea salt “snow”—delicate crystals that dissolve on contact, amplifying the rich, buttery flavor. Every piece demonstrates why purists travel from across the city for this particular counter.

The room attracts a well-heeled crowd who think nothing of adding premium sake pairings to an already substantial tab. It’s not the place for a casual Tuesday dinner, but rather for celebrations that call for something extraordinary. The intimate scale means you’ll likely catch snippets of conversations from serious food enthusiasts comparing this to their favorite spots in Tokyo.

For those willing to brave the reservation hunt and the treasure-hunt-style entrance, Kaneyoshi delivers one of LA’s most memorable sushi experiences. Come for a birthday, an anniversary, or simply to remind yourself what world-class omakase tastes like.