BRB-Closed

BRB
1381 S Diamond Bar Blvd
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
909-396-9968

BRB is a Korean restaurant that has sushi and bento boxes on their menu!  I'm not big on Korean tofu, but I decided to try their sushi.  They had a good selection of rolls, and nigri sushi, all at an good, inexpensive price.

There are tables spread throughout the restaurant with a sushi bar/counter on the right hand side of the restaurant.  It was fairly busy for a Monday at 2:30pm.

Spicy tuna roll $5.95 and shrimp tempura roll $6.95.

The spicy tuna roll was fine.  Pretty fresh, a good value, much better than the super market sushi. 

The shrimp tempura roll could have been good, if they didn't put a ton of sauce all over it! 

Sun Oh Roll- $9.95.  Tuna outside, and crabmeat and avocado inside.  This had a bit too much sauce, it wasn't soaked with sauce like the shrimp tempura roll. Good fresh tuna, avocado, and crabmeat.

Service is good.

If you want inexpensive sushi, BRB, fits the bit.  They are a Korean restaurant with Korean dishes on the menu.  But, they do a good job with their sushi!

Tokyo Town Sushi

Tokyo Town Sushi
12820 La Mirada Blvd
La Mirada, CA 90638
562-902-7600

Tokyo Town Sushi is located in a shopping center that is undergoing some renovations.  That's why you don't see any signage on the front of this building.  It's a medium sized place with tables in the middle of the room, the sushi bar on the right, and booths on the left.

They have "happy hour" pricing all day Monday-Thursday.  Then from 11am-6pm on Friday to Sunday.  I went for lunch on a Wednesday, so I got the happy hour prices.

Shrimp tempura- $4.95. Regular price-$6.95. Frozen pieces of shrimp, fried well.  Nice and crunchy.  A good deal.

Tuna sushi-$3.50.  Regular price- $5. Nice portion.  Good fresh fish.

Popcorn shrimp roll-$7.50.  Regular price-$10.95. Popcorn shrimp on top of California roll.  A huge portion, with loads of popcorn shrimp-which were crunchy and good sized pieces of shrimp.  The rolls were good and fresh.

Shrimp tempura crunch roll, $7.50.  Regular price-$9.50. A fresh and good tasting roll.

Service was good.

I would go back to Tokyo Town Sushi anytime.  The happy hour prices are a steal.  The regular price are a good value!

Otomisan Restaurant

Otomisan Restaurant
2506 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90033
323-526-1150

Otomisan Restaurant was listed in a LA Eater as one of 15 Hidden Gem Restaurants for the winter of 2018.  A Japanese restaurant in Boyle Heights intrigued me and I made a trip down here.

It's a small restaurant with counter seating in the left and about four booths in the right.  The last booth the owner, and sushi chef  were on their phones.  There were only two other customers the entire time I was there.

Spicy tuna roll, $6.95 and shrimp roll, $6.95.  Both rolls were huge.  Good sized portions with plenty of spicy tuna.  The shrimp roll, had small thin pieces of shrimp.  Both were fresh.  Well worth the price, especially for the portion size.

Service was good.

Otomisan Restaurant has ramen, teriyaki and other items, but their sushi selection is limited.  I won't rush back, but have no problems going back.

Sushi Roll Land-Closed

Sushi Roll Land
12959 Peyton Dr Ste B
Chino Hills, CA 91709
909-628-4700

Sushi Roll Land is located next door to 85C Bakery, which used to house City Broiler.  Before Sushi Roll Land this space used to be a tofu and a wraps restaurant.  Sushi Roll Land opened back in May of 2018.  There are about 20 tables spread throughout the restaurant.

It's and all you can eat pl;ace, $21.95 for lunch, and $25.95 for dinner.  There are some rules, 70 minutes from the time your first order is served.  They also limit the number or nigri sushi to 10 and two rolls in your first order. But, they didn't enforce those rules when I was there.  I ordered 3-4 rolls my first order. 

Overall I found the sushi to be good quality.  Many rolls are named after cities and stores in the area, there is a Wendy's, Chase, and a Pomona and Chino Hills rolls.  The portions, especially the nigri sushi are big, except for the shrimp.  Otherwise, the fish are about the size of sushi you order off the menu.  Nigri sushi is one piece.  This is much better than the other all you can eat sushi in Chino Hills-Kiku Sushi!  I was impressed, and I would go back. 

I posted pictures and if I wrote something if it really stood out or was bad.

Yellowtail, shrimp, and tuna nigri sushi.

Shrimp tempura- This was a premade frozen shrimp tempura that was fried.  The outside was crunchy, but the inside was very mushy.  That means the oil was too hot and the outside cooked faster than the inside.

Fried Calamari-An interesting dish.  I liked this, especially with the onions.  I think it was frozen, but the calamari wasn't rubbery.  Good crunch and flavor.  I know it's all you can eat, but they could make this a bigger portion.

Tiger roll- shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, crunchy flakes.

Crab stick nigri sushi and halibut.

Spicy tuna roll and cucumber roll.

Vegetable roll-avocado, cucumber, deep fried asparagus, tufu, and lettuce.  I ate two pieces before I realized I didn't take a picture.

In N Out Shrimp- Shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, and cucumber.  Outside shrimp, avocado and eel sauce.  I loved this roll.  Very fresh shrimp on the outside!!

Mexican roll- spicy crab and avocado.

Kaya Asian Cuisine

Kaya Asian Cuisine
1640 W Mission Blvd
Pomona, CA 91766
909-622-2689

Kaya Asian Cuisine is basically a sushi restaurant that also serves some Chinese dishes.  Located in the same shopping center as a LA County office and a huge warehouse lumber store, Kaya is a medium sized restaurant.  There is the sushi bar on the right as you enter, and tables spread throughout the store.

Decorated with some title on the wall and a chair rail, it's gives off a warm welcoming feel.

Tuna, $4.50 and shrimp, $4.25,  sushi.  Both are good portions, were pretty fresh.  But, the sushi rice is bland and didn't stick together.  If you dipped it into soy sauce, it would fall apart.

Crunchy roll- $9.50, shrimp tempura, with crabmeat.  There was too much sauce on this roll.  As with the sushi, the rice didn't stick together and would fall apart when dipped into soy sauce.  Next time I order this, I'll ask for no sauce.

Red Dragon roll,$9.95, shrimp tempura and crab meat inside, and tuna outside.  A very good, balance, well executed roll.  I really liked this roll.

Service was good.  There was only one server for the entire restaurant, but I wasn't lacking for anything.  They do a great delivery business, because they had two delivery persons, coming in and making deliveries throughout the entire time I was there.

While Pomona isn't known as a city with a lot of good sushi options, Kaya is pretty good. 

I would go back to Kaya.

Sushi Monster

Sushi Monster
2426 Honolulu Ave
Montrose, CA 91020
818-249-2510

 A friend who lives in Montrose told me that she goes to Sushi Plus, a place I reviewed back in 2007.  I was surprised to hear that Sushi Plus was still open. Not because Sushi Plus was bad, but with many restaurants didn't survive the recession!  But, I was shocked to find out that there are three other sushi restaurants on that street!! The other two are Blue Fish and Sake Sushi Bar and Lounge. In addition to Hikari Sushi about half a mile east, that is five sushi restaurants within a half mile stretch when Honolulu turns into Verdugo Blvd.

She liked Sushi Monster the best, so we met up there.

Blue fin tuna- $7.  A good sized piece of tuna, but kind of mushy and didn't taste too fresh. 

Shrimp tempura roll $9.  A pretty small roll, but good fresh quality ingredients.

Spicy lobster hand roll-$7.50.  The best sushi I had here!  Fresh langostino lobster, good sushi rice, cucumbers.  This was a huge piece but the ingredients were light and fresh.

Service was pretty good.  There were three servers helping us.  We got our food promptly.  But, when we asked for the check, we got the wrong bill.  The correct bill arrives and they didn't include the lobster hand roll.  I would rather be honest and tell them that I wasn't charged for something.  It's a lot easier to do when the servers are nice, which all three were.  I still do the samething when the service is bad, but the thought has crossed my mind to just pay the bill and leave.  

I would go back to Sushi Monster just for the spicy lobster hand roll!  I would go back to try other rolls.  I doubt I would try the blue fin tuna. 

Koji Ramen

Koji Ramen
3520 W Temple Ave
Pomona, CA 91768
714-713-7825

This space used to be Cantina Express, among many other restaurants-I recall a Chinese buffet in the earl 1990's being in that space.  Two other Japanese restaurants came before Koji Ramen!  The location, near many warehouses and on the way for Cal Poly Pomona students going back home, would seem to make this an ideal spot. So, I'm not sure why this space has so much turnover.  This shopping center is also where JoJo Pizza used to be!

A large restaurant in an irregular shaped room.  The small sushi bar is along the back wall, with tables and chairs spread throughout the restaurant. 

Shrimp tempura- 5 pieces- $6.99.  Frozen, but well cooked and crunchy!  Worth the price. 

 Crunch roll-$7.99-Too much sauce on top is my only complain.  Otherwise a good fresh roll!

Beach roll- $7.99- Avocado, crabmeat, cucumber and red snapper on the outside.  This could have been outstanding except for a tangy sauce on this.  The red snapper was very fresh and the California roll inside was good  But, the tangy sauce, just isn't for me!

Service-Good service.

I would go back to Koji Ramen for the sushi!  Good quality sushi, at very good prices!

Kaori

Kaori
133 W Chapman Ave
Ste 103
Fullerton, CA 92832
714-871-9395

Kaori is located in a one story building that has a Mexican, a Philly Cheesesteak, and some kind of Asian fusion restaurant.  Right in front of the building is a dirty and gravel parking, and just behind that is a paved parking lot.

Kaori is a dark restaurant with a Japanese motif.  It was pretty busy during lunch.

Shrimp $5 and tuna sushi $5.50.  The shrimp was along the biggest and freshest, I've had!!  Very good quality and well worth the price.  The tuna was fine.  Nothing outstanding or bad about it.

Crunch roll- $10.  A good sized roll, with fresh ingredients! 

Service was pretty good, expect water was slow to be refilled.

I would go back to Kaori, just for the shrimp sushi.  Next time I go, I'll try the other rolls.

Kiku Sushi-Chino Hills

Kiku Sushi
3090 Chino Ave
Chino Hills, CA 91709
909-591-1291

Kiku Sushi is located in Chino Hills, in the same shopping center as Buffalo Wild Wings, and the space that housed three now closed restaurants- Bad Bob's BBQ,  Villaggio Pizzeria, and  Lobster Grill.  This is not affiliated with the KiKu Sushi in Monrovia that I reviewed back in 2007.

KiKu is a large restaurant with the sushi bar along the back wall and tables and booths throughout the restaurant.   It was busy on a Wednesday night.  They have an  all you can eat option for $25.95.  If you're going to buy two rolls, you basically paid for the all you can eat.

I know that at all you can eat sushi restaurants, the sushi isn't the best quality.  I'm not expecting that.  I know I'm getting quantity over quality.

Halibut, shrimp, yellowtail, tuna nigri sushi.  The halibut was limited to one order per person.  All the fish was good, fresh.  For all you can eat, a good sized portion.

Spicy tuna roll and California roll.  Both good, and comparable to other sushi restaurants I've been to and ordered off the menu.

Veggie roll- this had a variety of veggies.  A bit bland.

Tiger roll-California with shrimp and avocado outside.  This was a good roll!  Tasty and fresh!

Baked lobster roll- California roll with baked crawfish and crabmeat on top.  The crawfish didn't taste fresh and I took off most of it, and just ate the California roll.  Too much mayo in this roll.

Ultimate Shrimp Tempura roll- shrimp tempura, avocado roll wrapped in shrimp.  Loved this roll!  Fresh, and well put together!

Tempura calamari- the tempura was very good.  Well cooked, crunchy.  But the calamari was terrible!  Frozen, chewy, horrible calamari!  I wouldn't order this again.

Cucumber handroll- long cuts of fresh cucumber.  A good roll!

Service was good.  The sushi came out quickly.  I didn't lack for anything.

I would go back to KiKu if I was in the area again.  I do think food wise, Show Sushi in San Dimas is better.

Mako Sushi-Closed

Mako Sushi
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St Ste 307
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-613-0083

Mako Sushi is in the same Weller Court shopping center as Orochon Ramen, which I reviewed back in 2010.   When you see the Challenger Space Shuttle and the Ellison Onizuka Memorial, it's the three story white building to the west. 

It's a small restaurant with the sushi bar and about four tables on the left, as you enter.  There seems to be private rooms on the right.

Cucumber roll-$7.50.  While very fresh, there was just too much wasbi!  The cucumber was also cut bigger than most cucumber rolls.

Shrimp $6, and blue fin tuna sushi-$7.50.  Shrimp was very good !  Good sized pieces.  The blue fin tuna was silky smooth!  I really liked it.  A good sized portion too.

Shrimp tempura-$9.50.  Frozen shrimp tempura, that was placed in oil that wasn't hot enough.  That made for a very chewy, weird textured tempura.  Three pieces of shrimp along with some vegetable tempura.  Not worth the price.

Service is good.  I was surprised there weren't many people dining on a Friday night.

Overall, I think Mako is fine, but overpriced.  $7:50 for a small cucumber roll?  I won't go back!
I would rate the quality of fish at 8, on a scale of 10.  But, at Kura Revolving Sushi, the fish is a 7, and the prices are much better!

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
333 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-290-9631

Located in the same shopping center as Oomasa, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is very popular.  There are long wait times for a table, no matter what time you go.

All sushi on the revolving belt is $2.50.  The servers instruct you to lift and pull the plate from the belt, leaving the top cover/dome on the belt.  Many people do not listen, and try to either take the entire plate and cover or just try to open the cover/dome.  You can also have sushi made to order from their tablet.

I found all the sushi good for the price.  They were all a great value.  Was it the best sushi, I've ever had?  No, but then again I'm not expecting it to be.  Most of the sushi could have been packed tighter!  Once you picked them up, the fish would fall from the rice.  I will make notes about the sushi that stood out.

Sweet shrimp- I couldn't taste the different between this sweet shrimp and regular shrimp.  Maybe I should order sweet shrimp, but I'm always leery of paying more. 

Tuna-Good piece of tuna sushi.

Toro- for $2.50 a steal.  Good quality fish.  I've haven't had too many bad toro, but most cost at least $7 for two pieces.  Getting two plates for $5, with one piece of toro each, is a great deal!

Red snapper

Snow crab- while good, they should leave the shell off.  I doesn't do anything for the presentation!

Real crab roll-I was very surprised to find this full of crab.  A good deal.

Shrimp and avocado roll- good, but could do without the sauce on top!

Blue crab roll- this was better than the $8.95 blue crab roll I got for Ootoro!  

Crunchy roll

Vegetable roll-Just packed with fresh veggies!!  Outstanding!

Spicy Popcorn shrimp roll- The popcorn shrimp was cold, tough and chewy.  The roll was a California roll.  It could have been good if the popcorn shrimp was freshly cooked!

Service was OK.  The sushi was filled on the revolving belt, so you weren't really waiting for anything.  When you placed an order for sushi, at most you waited 5 minutes and this was during a lunch rush.  While the servers were friendly, they were slow.  I asked one of the servers for a refill on drinks and more wasabi, but never got them.  I asked another server and that took awhile to get, but at least I got it. 

I would go  back to Kura, pretty good quality sushi, and an excellent value!