Strip-mall eatery offers an extensive selection of sushi, sashimi and Tokyo-style barbecue.
Unique Sushi Wagon
Take Out Lunch/Dinner
Happy Hour Everyday
Sushi & Kushi IMAI is proud to carry on the tradition and techniques passed on by Chef Takeo Imai, the Japanese pioneer who spread traditional sushi throughout Los Angeles. We not only serve Tokyo-style sushi, but also offer our own original sushi rolls and seafood prepared in the Imai-style which is delicate in taste and healthy, too.
Visit us and try our kushi, Japanese-style barbecued delicacies on skewers, served hot off of the grill. Come and experience modernized Tokyo-style sushi wagon service, currently only available at Sushi & Kushi IMAI. Even if the sushi bar is full, you can sit at any one of our tables and our patented sushi wagon allows us to bring the sushi bar to you! We offer catering and welcome large parties, as well as private parties.
In Short In a blind-shaded dining room, faux-wood tables are set with throwaway chopsticks, booths are separated by wooden-slat partitions, and an eight-seat sushi bar is manned by nimble-fingered chefs in black. Simple decor--pearly blue walls, industrial floors, orchids and paper lanterns--is overshadowed by its expansive menu. More than 30 sushi offerings range from yellowtail and shrimp to sea urchin and quail egg. Barbecue comes in chicken, beef, seafood and vegetable variations, served on skewers with a trio of sauces.
All my experiences at Sushi & Kushi Imai have been great. The sushi is delicious and kushi is unparalleled in taste and quantity.
For about 20 bucks you can feed two people and still take some home.
Simply GREAT!
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
(read all 18 reviews
on Citysearch)
great sushi
By jungatheart
Excellent sushi, great happy hour prices. Easy parking.
Great service. Excellent selection of sushi and cooked selections.
Pros: great food Cons: none
Posted 05/11/09
When Strip Malls Give birth to Amazing Sushi
By crey01
I shall open by saying two simple words...SEA BASS. One of the only places in Los Angeles that serves sea bass sushi prepares it to such perfection that you need not eat anything else. Topped with citrus yuzu paste, sea salt, and drizzled with basil olive oil, this sea bass is so perfect that if you ever tried to drown it in soy sauce, I will personally hunt you down and stab you in the throat with the very chopsticks you attempted to use in your crime against flavor. However, Sushi & Kushi Imai offers so much more than the angelic sea bass. Most if not all of its fish are the freshest in town, when sock-eye salmon is in season kiss your social life goodbye. If you are looking for something that contains an annoying pun in the name and is smothered in some sticky sauce, deep-fried, and contains cheese that is named after a city, don't go to Sushi & Kushi Imai. The Friendly sushi chefs take the art of sushi seriously; the food is simple yet unforgettable. Stick to the Nigiri sushi and this will be your favorite sushi spot, hands down. Although I don't stray too far away from the fresh seasonal catch, I do love the kushi as well. After Googling what was believed to be a muppet, the little BBQ skewers of meats, fish, and veggies provide a great spread for date night sharing. Anything you eat on a stick is better. Everyone knows that. The winners of the menu are the Japanese peppers, Shitake mushrooms, chicken meatballs, and bacon-wrapped asparagus. Remember when I said everything on a stick tastes better, well I lied. Everything on a stick wrapped in bacon is better than that.
Pros: Very fresh Nigiri Sushi, Kushi, extremely friendly service Cons: slightly on the pricey side, rolls not stellar
Posted 05/10/09
Ummm Hmmm
By vivaciousdivah
Sushi in Beverly Hills...yeah just can't beat it...unless you're in Hollywood of course, then Club Sushi is the best place.
Posted 03/24/09
My favorite sushi (and sushi chef) in LA!
By Rach1382
When it comes to sushi, I am always looking for the best in LA. My sister works right near IMAI and was constantly raving about it so finally I came to meet her for lunch a a few weeks ago. The deal is absolutely incredible. The chirashi bowl is bountiful and fresh as can be, and for only $11.80 this is the steal of the century. The yellowtail is delicate, the albacore melts in your mouth. The spicy scallop with masago is out of this world and the ahi is served specs of gold (literally). What compliments the great sushi is the even better sushi chef, Takashi, who ensures that every dining experience we have is well worth it. I drive from downtown LA just to go to lunch here and my coworkers now agree it is well worth sitting in traffic for.
Posted 03/30/08
Good Happy Hour, Good Sushi, and Great Ambiance
By slpdocstu
I love trying places that have happy hours with food specials. So, my girlfriends and I went to Sushi and Kushi for their happy hour on a Thursday night. The sushi specials only include three rolls during happy hour (crab and avocado, salmon and avocado, and spicy tuna), but the regular menu is great. We ended up mostly ordering from the regular menu and then having some happy hour priced martinis. Overall, we were disappointed with the happy hour sushi options, but enjoyed the regular sushi. It was moderately priced. The ambiance and the martinis were great though! And service was great too!
Pros: Parking available in the lot!! Decent happy hour.
