This is the original spot that spawned a little chain of LA restaurants serving Japanese food with a spicy twist. It remains a treasure among the entertainment industry crowd looking to grab a quick bento box for lunch. The ambience is unpretentious, cooking is vibrant and the value for your money is excellent. However, be prepared for a wait at peak times.

Start with the bigeye tuna sashimi, topped with spinach judiciously dressed in ponzu sauce. The chef’s special maki are a highlight, especially the very popular Robert Roll, combining spicy tuna, shrimp and sweet crabmeat topped with slices of spicy mayo-seasoned avocado, all wrapped up in soy paper. The shrimp tempura is particularly delicious, lightly crisp, yet still firm and tasty.