by Eleonora Boreyko

EN
11651 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 477-1551

West Los Angeles is bustling with great sushi eateries, each offering fun atmosphere along with fine Japanese cuisine. The several months- old En, has its own appeal. Above the bar area, an enormously large red symbol of En (sushi party) restaurant welcomes numerous guests. If you’re looking for an intimate feeling, several tables near the windows could be the right choice as the artificial waterfall adds peacefulness to the modern décor. A large variety of sashimi, hot garden, cold ocean, and land appetizers are for you to enjoy. Their Tofu salad (sweet fried tofu & tofu with sesame oil dressing) is creatively presented and exceptionally flavorful. A neat martini menu is a welcome surprise at the sushi restaurant. Premium cold sake is available as well to accompany any delicacy you desire. Are you ready to party?

by Eleonora Boreyko

HAKATA SUSHI
2830 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-8404
I think it is uncommon for a sushi restaurant to be open on Sunday at 10am? Indeed, the chef’s of Hakata have passion for the outstanding sushi as well as the football. Come to see your favorite team play while gulping oyster shooters or the celestial crab sushi with sweet sauce. A large room has three televisions and a square bar area in the middle with a giant dinosaur hanging from the ceiling, holding a bottle of Kirin. If commercials during the break seem a bit boring, look around: the walls are crowded with posters and pictures, some of which are signed by legends of showbiz. Just to name a few: basketball player Reggie Miller, musician Brian Zetzer, skater Michel Kwan, comedian/actor John Candy. As energy builds up, ask Riki, a.k.a. crazy sushi man, to make lobster tempura with a sauce that adds a spiky taste to it. Don’t let the fun slip away even if your team is losing.

by Eleonora Boreyko

THE HUMP
3221 Donald Douglas South Loop
Los Angeles, CA 90405
(310) 313-0977
By all means, The Hump just could be the best sushi restaurant in town, presenting the most reliably fresh sushi, sashimi and other Japanese delicacies “to live for.” With a fireplace in the room and over looking the Santa Monica Airport runway, even with your eyes open, you might find yourself “flying.” Begin by inhaling the airy Hibachi sashimi or the spicy yellow tail/tuna, accompanied with “silky smooth” sake. Another unique specialty is live sweet shrimp; notice the bodies wiggle even after the heads have been cut off. If you’re really an adventuresome person, request the heads to be tempura fried. The waiter will seem a bit sloppy when you observe him over pouring cold sake into the glass and onto the small dish underneath. Don’t be surprised; that’s the way they serve it. Your wallet will look visibly thinner, but have no regrets as The Hump’s sensational delicacies are like precious stones. The service is better at the Sushi bar than at the tables.