Insider Pages Reviews for Sushi Roku

4 Stars: Love this place (by RobDR)

RobDR — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Enjoy coming here with friends and just having a good time

3 Stars: Can't go wrong with old stand by (by kara nortman)

kara nortman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Sushi Roku is an old stand by. If I am in beverly hills or santa monica and craving some yellowtail or Tuna Carpaccio, Sushi Roku is there for me.

5 Stars: Best Sushi/Ambience mix in LA! (by JoshNYC)

JoshNYC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I lived in LA for nearly 9 years and ate at plenty of sushi restaurants, both high and low end. This may be on the pricier side, but it's well worth the cost. The Hanabi appetizer (soft tuna on crispy rice) is amazing and the plethora of flavorful and creative rolls make for a taste bud's dream.

There is a cool, usually Hollywood-ish crowd at this location, but it's not snooty like some of the other Hollywood places. The service is very friendly and you get your food on the quicker side, regardless of how big the crowd is on a given night.

There are also plenty of great drinks and Japanese beers and sake, and the ambiance and settings make for an awesome experience.

This is a great place to go on a date, hang out with friends before a night of partying, or even bring your family.

I have been here more times than I can remember and have NEVER been disappointed. It's always the opposite - I'm constantly impressed with the high level of quality here in all respects.

4 Stars: Good for the people watching and atmosphere. (by diamamamia)

diamamamia — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I love sushi. My bf mentioned we were interested in the "Hanabi" Spicy Tuna appetizer, which I guess meant that the manager should just go ahead and order it for us. We ordered our original appetizer and I really liked that one. Just can't remember it cause it was good. Of course, my bf liked the one the manager ordered for us. It was a bit too heavy for me. We ordered the Kobe Beef and Lamb appetizers, which were excellent. Food was good, just a little overpriced.

5 Stars: reservations a must! (by Jeffrey A.)

Jeffrey A. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Sushi Roku's Santa Monica location (there are also locations in West Hollywood and Pasadena), is on Ocean Blvd. and is always packed full. A great place to people watch and if you are an "out of towner", this is hip place to eat on the Westside. If you are looking for basic sushi, I can recommend better places, but if you are looking for something a liitle out of the ordinary (both atnosphere and menu), then Sushi Roku is the place to go. Try some of the hot or cold appetizers instead of the usual Nigiri sushi (2 pieces per order). There are many choices, so ask the waiter what is recommended and you won't be disappointed. NOTE: MAKE A RESERVATION or else forget about going, other then that -- enjoy!

5 Stars: great experience all around (by fyigirl)

fyigirl — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I had dinner here recently. The service was friendly and fast and the sushi was fresh and delicious. Try the scallop appetizer. I love the setting and atmosphere.

2 Stars: Bad service, overpriced and small portions (by foodie114)

foodie114 — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I are big sushi fans and went to Sushi Roku after hearing all of the good reviews. Granted, we walked in without a reservation, but were told it would only be a 20 minute wait for a table. We waited at the bar until about 30 minutes had passed. We asked the hostess about our table and she said it would be another 40 minute wait. After sensing our irritation, she offered to let us sit at the bar for our meal. We agreed because it was getting busy and all we wanted to do was eat. The bar was cramped and there was no leg room, the bartender even took our orders. We ordered their Chef's special sushi compilation and other dishes. The dishes were all overpriced for the small amount of food on the plate. Although the food was good, after spending over $80 on dinner, we were both still hungry when we left. The bartender was very nice to us, but someone needs to tell the hostesses to better accommodate customers or at least be honest with them. There are many other trendy sushi places in L.A. that have good customer service and better food that is priced reasonably.

4 Stars: Trendy Sushi Spot (by Joann S.)

Joann S. — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:05:00 GMT

The vibe here is very fun and the sushi is good. Not my favorite sushi place but definitely a close second. The service is great and it is a bit expensive but the atmosphere is impecable.

4 Stars: Best sushi in the area (by jolie714)

jolie714 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This is the best sushi I've had in this area. The rolls are really unique and delicious! The bar is also very hip, fun, and sheeck (sp?).

4 Stars: good for rolls and that sort of thing (by famousblueraincoat)

famousblueraincoat — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

this is a good spot for a nicer work lunch. they do good sushi rolls but i wouldn't go there for the fish itself. service was always ok. your basic drink list. nice decor. convenient valet. cooked stuff is ok too. basically, it's reliable if you're in the area, but not destination dining.

5 Stars: Good Food and Atmosphere (by nanvinnie)

nanvinnie — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Roku last night for a casual dinner with one of my friends. I went in without reservations but was seated promptly. The hostress was nice and greeted us warmly. I had the Premium Toro, which was fanastic, and their Filet appetizer was very good as well. Overall the sushi was very good, fresh and well presented. Their sake list was a bit limited but I'm not much of sake fan anyway.

I enjoyed the staff, food, presentation and service and I would very much recommended this place to anyone.

3 Stars: Everything was great...except the sushi! (by pilotjosh25)

pilotjosh25 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Stopped by one weekday night for a quick bite. Started with the seabass and miso spring rolls. They were amazing. The fish was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The spicy herb lime dip was great! So far so good! I should also mention the staff here were very nice. Enjoy a Cheers style "Heyyyyy" when you enter. Next we had veggie tempura - nice, but nothing to rave about. Then came the sushi: It was barely edible. It must have sat for a while because the temperature wasn't quite right. Also, whoever made it did a sloppy job as much of it was falling apart. The flavor was fishy and overpowering. We couldn't finish it. My suggestion is definitely come here for the friendly employees and tasty appetizers, but avoid the sushi and rolls at all costs.

5 Stars: Great for Lunch! (by thedesigngurl)

thedesigngurl — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went there for lunch and got amazing service. The sake was served in Bamboo and had bamboo sake glasses. The decor was beautiful. The food was even better. If you are into yellow tail, I'd go with their "Signature Dish".

5 Stars: Best of the Best (by jbfoodie)

jbfoodie — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I go out to eat all the time, and I love sushi. With all the new sushi bars and restaurants that open every day (it seems) I honestly have never had it better than Sushi Roku. I've been a semi-regular for years and it seems to be getting better and better. Other places I go are always missing something. Roku has the best food, great sake, cool atmosphere, and lately, the best-friendly service in the city.

I just read the last review and it's spot on. The manager has obvious control of the staff, and loves to chat it up. I introduced myself a couple of months ago because he seemed like a new face. Since then I am greeted by him within minutes of getting there. I'm not a high roller or anything like that, but I get served like one.

Best overall experience of anywhere in LA *****

4 Stars: Shocking Service (by souwannaberockstar)

souwannaberockstar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I havent been here in a while and I was shopping and super hungry so I decided to pop in. The manager i think his name was Paul, he was so great to us. I used to always eat this special they had in the past but it wasnt on the menu this time. he was so nice, he overheard us talking to the waiter and like 5 minutes after we placed our order he brought it out to us. In this town, to have someone take that extra step is borderline shocking. Our meal was great and our server was really on it. I'm definitely coming back! Thanks Paul!

5 Stars: Great Place to Hang out with Friends (by peteco)

peteco — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went here over the weekend with a couple of friends and we had a great time. I hadn't been awhile and I saw that they updated their menu with some new vegetarian dishes--I had a cold dish with tofu and each tofu had a different sauce on it--really good. I recommend the patio, very relaxing and a great place to chill.

1 Stars: Used to be great, now stay away! (by jasonig)

jasonig — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I used to dine here often when I lived in LA. I went back last Sunday for the first time in four years, and boy has this place gone down hill. The service was horrible. The waiter could not get our order straight. On three occasions, the servers, and even a manager brought us the wrong food. Then something really unpleasant happened that Im not allowed to mention. The staff tried to make light of it. After waiting 45 minutes we finally got our food which was just average. At the end of the meal, the waiter offered to buy us desert. We declined just wanting to leave, but said he could comp our saki instead (we had half a bottle left and it was not a great recommendation to begin with). Not listening to us again, the waiter then brought us two more glasses of saki, which of course we didnt drink. We got the bill, and the food they had mistakingly brought us earlier in the night was on our check! I pointed this out to the manager who apologized, brought our bill back and told us that she comped some extra food items like she was doing us a big favor. When I looked at the bill, she took off $11. Talk about how NOT to treat a customer and manage a restaurant. Avoid!

2 Stars: Horrible service (by baychick)

baychick — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Sushi Roku with three friends for dinner one night, and it was NOT a good experience. The waitstaff was rude, and it took forever to order and then receive our orders. Most of the sushi was fine and there was a large selection, but some rolls were not that great - I've gotten better rolls from Whole Foods. Our last dish never came, and after trying countless times to flag down our waiter, he said he would go "check on it" and we received it fifteen minutes later. The dish had clearly not even been prepared yet, and our waiter didn't even apologize for the wait or for the mistake - in fact, he acted like WE were being demanding! Also, the sushi is totally overpriced. I will NOT be going back.

3 Stars: So So Expensive for the food (by joan_mutter)

joan_mutter — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

If you like being part of the "see and be seen" crowd, Sushi Roku is for you. This place is all about where you are seated and who might be sitting next to you. The sushi is always fresh but, honestly, it's no better or worse than a dozen other sushi restaurants in the area. The prices though, off the charts. I have been here a few times and always resent the check just a little bit when it arrives. The service is generally fine but I could do without the attitude of about 60% of the customers. One dish that is worth every penny (and, ironically, is not sushi): the filet mignon wrapped asparagus appetizer. I could eat these all day.

4 Stars: Sushi with Style (by fstrick)

fstrick — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Although i felt it was a bit over priced, i thought the atmoshpere was fabulous and the dishes were interesting and different. I had some great yellowtail, highly recommended.

4 Stars: Fun atmosphere, Great sushi (by lypstykgirl)

lypstykgirl — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It's not cheap fare, but that's OK: it's worth a splurge. Reservations necessary. If you want to impress out of towners or are into this sort of thing, you'll probably see at least a B-list celeb.

3 Stars: only metered parking, and hard to find a spot (by pinkmonkeybanana)

pinkmonkeybanana — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

the food was good, however, a bit on the pricey side. and they have tasty desserts. parking is a problem, unless you give into valet. the service was reasonable.

4 Stars: Good spot for sushi..a little on the expensive side.. (by ashuri)

ashuri — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Can't beat it...it is a nice location with great prices...We had sushi here and found each piece more delectable than the last

4 Stars: Good food (by akimo)

akimo — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This place had good food and a awesome atmosphere. The staff was great and wonderul. I would totally some back.

5 Stars: Fresh, delicious sushi. (by doctorrimulak)

doctorrimulak — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Sushi Roku is probaly the most consistenly excellent dining experiences I've had in Los Angeles. I've been going there for many years, but only on occasion because it is pricier than most sushi joints. The tuna tataki is amazing. It's very crowded from thursday on, but I never mind because they have a cool little bar to hang out at before being seated. Lots of good lookers. If you're bringing a date, make sure you get a seat at the sushi bar because you lose some of the intimacy by sitting at the tables, at least that was my experience. Plan on valet parking on the weekends.

1 Stars: Sushi Roku? More like Sushi NO-ku... (by jtl208)

jtl208 — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Let me start this off by saying I signed up for CitySearch just to get the word out on Roku. I went to Sushi Roku this Sunday night with some friends and we all opted for their pricey omakase, expecting to get our money's worth. Our bill was $110 each at the end of the night (w/tip, tax, drink, etc.) and we were not pleased. The sashimi was decent, but there simply wasn't enough mind blowing food to justify the price tag. For the final sushi course, our center piece roll was a fairly standard Shrimp Tempura roll. I wanted to throw my leftover edamame shells at the chef, how insulting. To top it off, my friends and I planned on catching a 10:40 showing of "Crank" at the Grove, and we missed it, for sushi that was mediocre at best. Has anyone seen "Crank"? I hear its pretty crazy. Probably not as crazy as how overpriced Sushi Roku is though.

I'd recommend hitting up Katsu-Ya in Studio City, that place is much cheaper and 50x more delicious. You'll want to call in a bomb squad, because there will be multiple taste explosions in your mouth.

5 Stars: Superior Sushi (by luckiboy)

luckiboy — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Some of the best raw fish you'll ever eat. Try anything spicy and be sure to have a sake shot with the chefs. It's actually less of a "hollywood crowd" and more comfortable than you might think from how people talk. And the desserts are anything but traditional Japanese little gummy things. They are super rich and worth saving room for.

5 Stars: Great Sushi (by maxkurtz)

maxkurtz — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I have dined at Roku for years, and it is still one of my favorites. You can not beat the quality of fish, always fresh. The atmosphere is chic. Their service beats all other LA sushi restaurants by far. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar where the chefs make dishes not listed on the menu

4 Stars: I go because it's just convenient... that's it. (by phanthecvl)

phanthecvl — Sat, 20 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I wouldn't come here if you wanted a 'special night.' I see this place as an average, sushi restaurant if you 'felt like sushi' for dinner one random night. Not saying it's not a nice place, it's just not extravagent. The whole experience is pretty much all right. The hostesses are always nice and welcoming, the sushi chefs like to ignore you unless you buy them a drink or speak Korean (haha), the servers are indifferent and snobby, even for LA standards, until you drop a $60 bill for one person (Yeah, I like to spend at restaurants). Then their entire demeanor changes, but by that time you're already walking out the door. I know how it is, I'm in the restaurant business myself. But I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.. let's just say, it's convenient.

4 Stars: Authentic Sushi (by corn29)

corn29 — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I don't know where some of the neagtive reviews come from but the sushi here is some of the best around. It's expensive but worth it. As far as the rest of the menu goes, it's mostly fusion. Very few authentic Japanese dishes overall but rather Japanese influence and art in other cuisines. Try the specials always! Bar staff and drinks are excellent here!

5 Stars: User review by sfyoung (by sfyoung)

sfyoung — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Sushi was a little pricey but Kobe Carpaccio & the Crispy Albacore was great and worth the price! A little loud but hey it's Hollywood and its suppose to be hip and trendy. Not a place for a quite romantic date but they do have a great patio if you have the opportunity.

3 Stars: Just like all the other hip restaurant (by verc)

verc — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

This place is not for serious sushi connoisseurs. It's very noisy, crowded place that most average joe six packs (who can leave their taste buds home) consider "hip" and "happening place". My sister and I went there a few month ago, saw a lot of people trying to be hip based on not-so-good sushi & other dishes. This is difinitely the place (and the high rating) capitalized on how they look, not how they cook. Sort of clubby, but serves sorta-sushi in stead of music & DJ. Go figure.

4 Stars: Creatively Delicious Sushi + Great Bartenders (by 7baller7)

7baller7 — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I went to this restaurant on a tuesday night, and was surprised at how busy they were on an off-night! We walked in and were greeted with polite hostesses, and hung out at the bar while waiting for our table. This blonde bartender made the perfect dirty martini for my girlfriend, and a perfectly mixed absolut/frangelico for me. Not too strong but not weak either. If you dare yourself to try their sushi specials instead of getting the regular sushi's, you wont be disappointed. The unique creations are a bit pricey but satisfying. Their spicy shrimp entree with handmade potato chips are very addictive! The food, bar and ambience are well worth the visit.

5 Stars: Hip Place for Sushi (by Sue O.)

Sue O. — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 12:35:00 GMT

This high class sushi restaurant is the place to go and to be seen. You really need to make a reservation for dinner or expect a looong wait. The sushi chefs are all Japanese, which means that they've gone through the long training to become real sushi chefs and it shows in the presentation and the taste. Their Shrimp and Potato Chip entree is just to die for and I would love to know the recipe for the spicy mayonaise sauce that they use. The prices are high and each sushi costs at least $8-10 each. There's no self parking and Valet is $5.

PROS: Excellent Sushi, Seeing Hollywood Stars
CONS: High Prices, No Parking

2 Stars: save the $$$ and go elsewhere for sushi (by margie2265)

margie2265 — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

we took our friends here in June thinking that it would be a nice meal in a nice atmosphere. the decor is great, very trendy. the food is very average. we sat at the bar, the chef wasn't very attentive. they WON'T do omakase, and the quality of the fish is so so. dinner for 4 ran over $300 and we left pretty disappointed. WAY too much hype when a place can't even deliver a decent meal.

1 Stars: What? (by mrben)

mrben — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I have sushi at least once a week. I will never go to Sushi Roku again. Once during each of my two visits I had to spit out some nasty fish. I never thought you could go wrong with tuna sushi until I went to Sushi Roku.

3 Stars: Spot celebs... (by d_fens)

d_fens — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 09:00:00 GMT

...but don't go here for the sushi/sashimi. It's not that good. And the kitchen prepared stuff is only average. Sit at the sushibar but don't expect it to be as a sushibar shall be (the contact with the chef and the other guests) and ridicously noisy. It's great for watching people though. If that's what you want. And the waitresses at the sushi bar is super nice. I got to go there just for them. FANTASTIC.

3 Stars: Don't believe the hype (by californiacritic)

californiacritic — Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Good sushi but cramped seating in the diniing area and poor, unattentive service from the waiter. We had a party of 6 people but the food came out at different times and he never checked on us. Also, it took 20 minutes to get his attention for the check and another 20 minutes for him to correct the tab since he made a mistake and even gave us someone else's check and credit card....oh boy did he need some help.

4 Stars: great food, but crowded (by slippy)

slippy — Sun, 26 Dec 2004 09:00:00 GMT

definitely make reservations or plan to wait. sushi and rolls were excellent. very fresh. gets crowded and the waiting/bar area isn't designed to accommodate a lot of people so it's a tight squeeze.

1 Stars: Prepare to PAY for Take out!! (by zach007)

zach007 — Sun, 12 Dec 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Be prepared to pay 10% extra on any order over $100.00. Which they don't even tell you till after you have been charged. The sushi was one of the worst experiences I have had in Los Angeles, In addition they didn't even get my order right after repeating it 3x this turned into an over priced, over rated, disappointment.

4 Stars: (by Ericka P.)

Ericka P. — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 16:16:00 GMT

This restaurant is in a very cool area of Los Angeles. It has the style and ambiance of a very classy joint. Unfortunately for the price of the food, the cuts of sushi are unreasonable small and nothing to write home about. I waited some time just toget in, even though I already had reservations and when I was seated, I had to sit at the bar. I am a die hard sushi fan, I lived in Japan for 3 months so I feel like I have a pretty experienced sushi palate. This is not the place to go if you're expecting a true sushi experience.

5 Stars: delish food, eh on creativity (by hotpotatoe333)

hotpotatoe333 — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The interior of the Hollywood location is great with tons of black. Like Katana, the menu is huge, but it does feature many different items. My friends had the bento box (enormous!!!) and the udon, which they liked alot. I opted for the toro spring roll (interesting and light) and a few rolls, which were pretty standard. Surprisingly, I liked the eggplant with miso sauce the most. The prices aren't bad and again, you have a ton of choices. Our waiter was fine, although not impressive. I went there for lunch, which was really quiet. All the people standing outside at night hint that it's likely much busier for dinner.

4 Stars: Sushi + Scene (by adelly)

adelly — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Make sure you don't look like a slob, or else you'll stick out like s sore thumb. Sushi was pretty decent and affordable, ranging from 6-15 per order. I especially like the tempura roll and the eel. They also offer steak and lobster dishes for the sushi-phobes. Service from the server wasn't up to par, but that was maybe because there were 15 of us. All in all a good experience!

3 Stars: Great flash but average fish (by lachal)

lachal — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Nice looking spot and good service but rather than providing the freshest fish possible, this spot seems too focused on concocting over-sauced "specials."

4 Stars: Poor Service Quality (by masakoonishi)

masakoonishi — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Everything we ordered tasted very good. The service quality, however, was so low. It's a shame. I would go back there again, but I hope I'll get a different waitress. The one I had didn't know much about today's specials, missed a few items, kept us waiting forever.

1 Stars: Sure it's pretty, but who cares? (by fumefreak)

fumefreak — Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:00:00 GMT

It amazes me that this establishment continues to receive undeserving high praise from food critics. I can only conclude that the chi-chi decor is a distraction for the overpriced swill they try to fob off as sushi. Fortunately, the preceding reviews prove that the glitzy veneer doesnt so easily fool sushi lovers. The stale fish had an unpleasant aftertaste and the rice was gummy. The portions were stingy, even by sushi bar standards, and many menu selections were unavailable. We sat at a table in a high traffic area and we still had to flag down our brusque waiter no less than 4 times. For this rare privilege, we were gouged $200, and I still left the restaurant hungry. Sushi "Roku" has a euphemism in my book, and its unprintable here.

2 Stars: atmosphere yes, good sushi no (by madkd)

madkd — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 09:00:00 GMT

High Marks for interior decoration and creating a pleasant place to dine, but the sushi intself does not hold a canlde to Matsuhisa or Nozawa. And that's the most important aspect. Also, our service was mediocre on two occasions.

5 Stars: Overall Best Japanes in LA (by jonfitts)

jonfitts — Mon, 10 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I've been eating at local Sushi Bars for 15 years. When you consider quality of fish, service, and atmosphere, Roku beats out all other LA restaurants by far. The fish is identical to Matsuhisa, yet less expensive. Roku does get very busy during prime time so there can be a wait. The secret is to sit at the Sushi Bar and let the chef pick your menu.

1 Stars: Shockingly rude and obscene (by mellbabe2)

mellbabe2 — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Do not bother with this place or believe the hype! Sushi Roku serves average sushi served on a pretty platter. Your plates, chopsticks and tablecloth will be ripped from your table as you take your last bite and your bill will be immediately presented if you do not wish to have dessert. It was not possible to feel more rushed. The waiter was most obnoxious and sarcastic and neglected to tell us that half of our sushi order was "unavailable" until after we tried to flag him down 5 times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS CASH ON THIS JOKE! My husband and I paid $150 to be abused and neglected all in one evening. A true gem for sure!

4 Stars: Great Sushi! (by opmlr)

opmlr — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I had a good time with friends when we ate at West 3rd Street location. Oyster sushi was definitely yummy. My halibut was perfect. The only disappointment was waiting for one hour to be seated eventhough we made reservations days before.

2 Stars: Nice ambiance, mediocre sushi (by elliemk)

elliemk — Tue, 08 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Great location, but that's about it. I went to Sushi Roku Santa Monica and I was very disappointed given the hype and ranking in citysearch. The sushi was mediocre at best and at those prices the sushi was hard to swallow. The next day I tried Fat Fish and it was much better. I might give Sushi Roku another shot, but only if Fat Fish is booked that night.

3 Stars: Trendoid City (by alexsanger)

alexsanger — Tue, 17 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Looking to see and be seen? Pull up a chair. Looking for attitude and average sushi at astronomical costs? Well, break open your chop sticks, mix your wasabi with low sodium soy and commence operation typical Los Angeles trendy scene. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.... I think not.

4 Stars: Go for the Atmosphere (by shannahulme)

shannahulme — Fri, 06 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

A fun place to eat with a trendy, chic atmosphere. The sushi is of good quality and presented nicely, but rates an A-. Regardless, If you're looking for ambience... Sushi Roku is for you. I recommend trying it once just for the fun experience. You might consider dropping by during happy hour, which offers a tasty and affordable menu.

2 Stars: Not so much... (by anabelamm)

anabelamm — Wed, 14 May 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I have been to both locations of Sushi Roku. The first experience at the one on Third Street was good. Great sushi and nice, somewhat slow service. The next time I tried Sushi Roku was at the Santa Monica location. The fish was dry and the service was terrible. It was so noisy that I could hardly hear the person across from me. When we would ask for something from the waiter they treated us like we were inconviencing them. I will never go there again.

5 Stars: Still the Greatest (by Julia1)

Julia1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I've been dining at Roku for four years now. I do try other Sushi Bars, but my craving for the freshest fish and a cool place always brings me back. I usually go twice a week. The inside tip is to sit at the sushi bar where the chefs will make you dishes that aren't on the menu.

2 Stars: High price for OK Sushi (by ItsyMitsy)

ItsyMitsy — Mon, 18 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The restaurant was very nicely decorated, however, very misleading. After the hour and a half wait I was completely expecting a great dining experience. First of all, the service was awful - the waiter was way too busy and the staff was miserable. I have tried sushi all over the world, even Japan, and I couldnt believe how expensive this restaurant was for nothing special. If you don't mind the LA hype - join the bandwagon and get ripped off for poor service and ok sushi, but if you are truly looking for a good meal or sushi - go elsewhere.

5 Stars: Nice (by hkygrl)

hkygrl — Sun, 17 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

It's a nice place. It's a little overdone - where I come from, sushi bars are just sushi bars. But, it's cool.

The food was fine and reasonably priced. They carried a good selection of Japanese beers, which was neat.

A little anoying that they greet everyone who walks in - on a busy night, that gets a little redundant :)

5 Stars: breakfast of champions (by abefroman)

abefroman — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I have travelled the world over in search of sushi excellence, and if you are Japanese you may find several great places in Japan. But, if you are not, there is only one place to go where the sushi and the atmosphere coincide to bring you one of the best sushi experiences you may ever have, and that place is sushi roku. All others drop to their knees and bow to its greatness. You won't find a more attractive crowd, and the service is phenominal. If your going to Sushi Roku in Santa Monica, just ask for Nathan, from sushi novices to sushi experts he is the best.

3 Stars: all filler, minimal killer (by lillauras)

lillauras — Fri, 27 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Once again, in choosing Sushi Roku as a "Best," Los Angeles indulges its love of pretty faces and ignores the fact the the food here is largely mediocre.

2 Stars: save your $$ (by glenzi)

glenzi — Wed, 18 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This place is very trendy. Stay away from the sushi, it's not very good. The appetizers are good though. Nothing is worth the price that they charge. Watch out when the server reccommends a "special" because you will end up paying $20 for 6 pcs of sushi. It must be an L.A. thing, people will flock anywhere expensive, but cost doesn't equate to quality.

4 Stars: u can always count on (by ChocolateFrog)

ChocolateFrog — Tue, 17 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Not the best but definitely not the worst. Sushi Roku always has a great selection and good atmosphere to it. Santa Monica is a great place to have a cocktail or two before going out. Friendly service always.

4 Stars: The good and bad of it (by sansei1)

sansei1 — Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant and the service is good, but the quality is not as good as many other sushi restaurants. The pieces are cut too small. Unfortunately what we're paying for is their rent and the cost to build one of these restaurants. I hate to say that, but it's the truth. High prices, small portions. More money for the overhead. I honestly can't believe that some people think that this is the best. Not bad, but not the best!

5 Stars: taste & atmosphere (by dcanter)

dcanter — Tue, 10 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

the black cod was amazing and the atmosphere was very tranquil and pleasing.

5 Stars: Fishy Tale (by Peschemode)

Peschemode — Mon, 02 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The portions of food were very generous and displayed beautifully using design and color as their invitation to dine. The waiters were very polite and fastidious. We enjoyed the very cordial atmosphere with comfortable furniture to complement the surroundings.

4 Stars: great fish (by markkap)

markkap — Sat, 31 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

great fresh fish with great flavors - great selection of unique sushi

5 Stars: Sushi Rocks U (by staceykozek)

staceykozek — Fri, 30 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The best sushi in all of L.A.
Awesome food. Creative & Tasty!

5 Stars: PanFriedOysterBestDishInTown (by lil_bear_bear)

lil_bear_bear — Thu, 08 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I think the special dish of Pan Fried Oyster might be the best dish in town period!

4 Stars: too fancy (by jen4774)

jen4774 — Sun, 28 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The food was excellent, but you can get the same for a better price.

1 Stars: bad sushi...bad service (by CatReview)

CatReview — Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Monday night we were seated 1 hour after our reservation time. When we finally made it to our table I felt like I was attending a "fraternity sushi party", everybody started yelling...worse than birthday singing at a mexican restaurant. Once we ordered our sashimi, I had to review it with our waiter twice to ensure he "got it" (which I am convinced he never really did). Then asked if the sake used for the sake-cocktails was very dry and the blank stare was followed up with "I don't know" then "yes?" Scary. Once our sushi arrived (and I use the word sushi loosely) my previous conclusion was accurate he didn't "get it". I was very surprised to find that within our two orders of yellowtail sashimi one they decided to sear...when did they start searing sashimi...maybe it was just for fun? Don't both...real sushi isn't hard to find in LA.

5 Stars: Ambience and Taste (by Thuc)

Thuc — Wed, 12 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Sushi roku has a great ambience, and the food is delicious.

5 Stars: Trendy (by mklein)

mklein — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Trendy and expensive - but overall a great place to go.

4 Stars: Trendy scene; good sushi. (by princess_malin)

princess_malin — Thu, 23 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Sushi Roku is an ideal place to go with, a girlfriend for a chatty evening complemented by excellent sushi. The trendy scene is part of the draw, but the food can stand on its own. The ahi tuna salad pairs excellently with the tempura shrimp roll. Add a glass of Pinot Grigio and you're set.

5 Stars: Sushi and Service Top-Notch (by KenSouthall)

KenSouthall — Wed, 22 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Fresh sushi at it's best with excellent service, obviously a very well trained staff.

Went to dinner their with my wife and actually enjoyed the wait to be seated, great people watching and allowed us to relax, talk and sip on a glass of wine.

Service staff is well-trained to be appropriately attentive without being overbearing, effectively communicate the specials and creative dishes that you pay a little extra for.

5 Stars: Go for service first, then sushi (by ranma)

ranma — Wed, 22 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This is the kind of place where when I dropped one of my chop sticks, as I went to pick it up off the floor, a server immediately got to it before me, drew a new one from his apron and had it in my hand all within 3 seconds. Service is amazing. Decor is calming but the atmosphere is vibrant. The sushi is fresh and very good. This is the one place you can get an amazing lobster roll.

5 Stars: Fabulous!!! (by eklein)

eklein — Wed, 22 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I travel to LA often, and Sushi Roku is a must on every trip. The sushi and sashimi are wonderful, as are the cooked dishes. If you have room, the profiteroles are to die for! I highly recommend this restaurant.

4 Stars: roku almost rules (by ta)

ta — Fri, 17 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

more of a social scene that it is to go have great sushi - if you don't mind the scene and would rather you are seen - then you are in teh right place.