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California Roll Factory
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese
11629 Santa Monica BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90025
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
(310) 996-2366
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 3 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
281 reviews for California Roll Factory
Review Highlights
"My personal favorite here is the "some like it hot."
(in 20 reviews)
"Bang Bang // spicy tuna, smelt egg, baked scallop."
(in 9 reviews)
"The Vizzy roll is always a winner (it's HUUUUGE."
(in 18 reviews)
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281 reviews in English
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Review from Jesse A.
Los Angeles, CA
12/15/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Great Sushi and reasonable price... at least for my wallet. I usually beat the lunch crowd because this place can get crowded after 12. If you like avocado, try the Picasso rolls, they are amazing. The Yellowtail roll is also delicious. Service is excellent, you will never notice that there is only 1 waiter.
If you are driving to this place during lunch hour, you probably won't find parking, so I would park across the street (South side of Santa Monica) and walk over to this place. -
Review from Morgan R.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/3/2012
I feel like a traitor, we have not been here in months as BAD Sushi is just better & open more often. It seems like this place is always closed?
Although I will say the delivery is pretty sweet and not nearly as pricey as Asakuma.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2010
My boyfriend and I walked here on our first date, the decor is loud as is the restaurant. However we… Read more »
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Review from Andrew N.
12/15/2011
The rolls and sushi at this hole in the wall sushi joint are HUGE and quite tasty. There's a huge selection of rolls, all with pretty random names and descriptions. The descriptions just give an idea of what each roll is made of but you don't really know what it looks like or tastes like until it comes out - it's like a surprise. Sometimes it's a good surprise and sometimes it's not.
The rainbow roll is always a safe choice for me because it's just a california roll with avocado and all kinds of fish on top. The fish is decently fresh and there's lots of it. The naughty roll was pretty good too - more of a saucy kind of roll with shrimp tempura, eel, crab, and lots of eel sauce.
The rolls are about $7-8, which isn't really cheap but the portions are big. It's never really crowded when I've gone here but I really wouldn't wait to eat here. The food is pretty tasty but there is definitely more emphasis on quantity over quality. -
Review from Jessica Y.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011
I'm giving this place four stars because of the great service and prices! The sushi isn't the best, but it's definitely above average. Plus, the portions are fairly big, so you're definitely getting your money's worth!
Plus, I love that you can be lazy and order online. By the time I have ordered, gotten ready and driven over to pick up my order, it's ready to go! Or at most, there is a 5-10 minutes wait. -
Review from Mary L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
I went during lunch and ordered the spicy tuna roll and rainbow roll. The rice was hard and I noticed black spots on some of the fish. Absolutely disgusting!
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Review from Yuna L.
West Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
My favorite is "Salmon Skin" roll. It is fried salmon skin with vegetables. It is hard to find shshi places that actually have this thing. It tastes amazing, and it is only $6.5.
Their other rolls like "Kanaka," "Some like it hot" are also good.. -
Review from Sherry V.
12/27/2011
The name should say it all. Don't come here if you are expecting fancy sushi. It's jazzed up california rolls. I was really hating on this place for a while because a lot of the rolls tasted similar with eel sauce drizzled on top but everyone was saying how good/cheap it was. I tried this place again recently and learned to embrace it for what it was. I had the Harvey Roll which was pretty tasty. The donut roll was okay, a little hard to eat. If you come up with a roll that sounds good, you might get lucky and get a roll named after you. That idea I like.
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Review from Ani P.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
**Solid 3.5 stars**
Yikes, some of the reviews are a bit snooty, dare I say. It may not be per se authentic, but it's tasty as hell. Get over your bad self.
This place is tiny. Yes the sushi chef isn't Japanese, so what? He was friendly as could be and the servers super sweet. No need for racism, people who aren't Japanese can surely learn the art of sushi making.
I had a massive craving for crispy rice with spicy tuna. Cheap as hell -- around $7. The crispy rice was crispy without too much rice and heaped with FRESH tuna. It melted in my mouth. I also got a cooked roll for my toddlers -- fresh and tasty. The rolls were ginormous and very affordable.
I would for sure hit this spot again, there are many many rolls to try. -
Review from Nicholas S.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA
11/22/2011
Great sushi. HUGE selection. Extremely affordable. Friendly staff. Quick service. You will leave very full and very happy.
I visit about once a month. It's not a swanky place, but that's more of a plus in my book.
IMO, this is the Mecca of sushi on the westside. Just go already. -
Review from Ellerie V.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011
i am a HUGE sushi fan and im still a little new in brentwood and i was looking for a good sushi place that had the 3 important factors that all good sushi places have: FRESH, TASTY, and PRICED-JUST-RIGHT. and California Roll Factory did NOT disappoint.
It is very casual, a hole in the wall place next to other sushi places and I've tried ENZO and BAD sushi and neither fancy shamncy places compare to this place. my pet peeve about some sushi places is that you are paying almost 10 for a plate of sushi and it is small as heck! BUT california roll factory is not like that. you pay 10 bucks u get more than that! take for example the vizzy roll. the vizzy roll comes in 5 pieces but they are about the size of the rim of a tea cup. WOW!
there is a HUGE selection of sushi (they have quirky names which can get annoying if you are in a rush). service is nice and friendly. you will leave full and deliciously satisfied. this place is not over priced, you get your money's worth and enjoy a nice casual friendly service thats fast and efficient.
(you can also order online!!!) -
Review from Momo O.
Westwood, CA
10/6/2011
I've tried a couple of their rolls...but GREG'S ROLL is the BEST! (some like it hot, not so much)
Its a california roll (imitation crab+avocado) with seabass, topped with salmon sashimi on top, served with their "special sauce". Don't know what's exactly in the special sauce..I think soy sauce, ponzu, garlic, tobiko, green onions and some other goodies..but it's SO addicting and delicious.
If you order at this location, you get four ginormous pieces, but if you order at the bev hills location, you get your regular-sized 8pc sushi. -
Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
Another awesome dinner here = another well deserved 5-star review!
Naughty Roll - shrimp tempura, freshwater eel, crab and cucumber
The Bamboo Milk - eel, spicy tuna and asparagus inside, salmon, eel sauce and spicy mayo outside, with crunchy flakes on top
Donut Roll - tuna sashimi wrapped around rice, topped with spicy shrimp
Tokyo Nacho Chip - crispy seaweed topped with a couple scoops of spicy albacore, eel sauce, flying fish roe and tempura crumbs. That's right - no rice on this one!
Rainbow Roll - assorted super fresh fish slices and avocado over an avocado, crab and cucumber roll (CA Roll)
I can always expect an awesome meal here - over the years, they have never disappointed me.
Yummy, yummy, yummy in my tummy!!Listed in: Where to take out-o-towners, I CRAVE, Sushi, baby, I love you : )
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/24/2011
After a shockingly disappointing experience at the location on Olympic Blvd in Beverly Hills last… Read more »
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Review from Ching T.
Whittier, CA
After being spoiled by Sushi Stop http://www.yelp.com/bi... on Sawtelle, I was disappointed with BAD Sushi http://www.yelp.com/bi... since I tend to avoid the Sawtelle area during lunch hour due to high traffic.
I've walked past California Roll Factory for many years and never thought to go inside because I'm a creature of habit and just have always gone to BAD sushi instead. Well, since I'm no longer happy with BAD Sushi, this time I decided to try something new.
THE ORDER:
- Greg's Roll - crab, sea bass, avocado salmon on top - 4 pieces - ($7.50)
- Soft Shell Crab Tempura Roll - 4 pieces - ($7.00)
- Sexual Predator - spicy tuna,carrots, cucumber, avocado, teriyaki sauce - 8 pieces - ($ 7.50)
THE YUMMY:
Well, regardless of WHAT kind of sushi roll, it's hard to get the whole damn thing in your mouth!! Yes, I'm talking about just a piece of sushi, NOT the whole roll.
So these sushi rolls are BIG!! Don't think, "it's only 4 pieces" fool you as it did me. 4 pieces alone is enough to really be filling! I had to take a lot back to the office.
The soft shell crab was pretty standard. I enjoyed Greg's Roll much better than the Sexual Predator which tasted like a regular california roll. I ordered it with the sauce on the side since I hate sauced up sushi rolls. Perhaps that's where the "sexiness" resides? in the ooey gooey sauced up goodness? lol, sorry I couldn't help myself.
THE OVERALL:
Standard tasting sushi rolls are tasty where freshness and cut of fish isn't of the utmost importance. For the money, I'd say value is there since each cut sushi is huge!! So don't get overly ambitious and over order like I did.
They did get me in and out pretty fast so it's an ideal place to come to for lunch. Has a cafe vibe to it so not a great place for a date, unless you've been dating quite a long time. :)
LOL, with rolls named like the 405, Yammy Jammy, Skanky, M&M, the 5th Roomate, Hoobustang, etc., it's definitely a fun place to get your sushi on.Listed in: West Side, Turning Japanese
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Review from M P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/4/2011
There is a reason why there is always a line outside (and its not just because the place is fairly small) - because it passes the "line test." The "line test" is like the "smell test" (or maybe not), but if there is a wait - and there is almost ALWAYS a wait at this place - that generally means you got a winner.
As the Yelper below wrote, this place is cheap, but also serves fresh fish and large-size portions. Large portions, fresh, and cheap - that is all I want in any eating establishment. CRF serves about 80-100 different rolls and dishes, and I love how CRF provides all the wasabi and ginger right at your table! I think their spring rolls, salmon, and alaskan salmon rolls are best - please try them, you wont be disappointed (unless you just hate fresh sushi rolls for cheap).
Parking is a pain in the arsss, so reserve some extra time for parking spot hunting around Santa Monica blvd....you may have to park across street - but be careful when crossing because it is not a controlled crosswalk and I have nearly been a vehicular manslaughter victim on numerous occasions crossing it. -
Review from Lily J.
It's all about the Kenta Roll!
I've tried so many of the rolls here... but I always end up back to my true favorite! I used to order take out here & go next door to rent a video after work all of the time when I lived in the area. I missed the rolls here so much that every time I go back to LA I have to come here at least once! The staff is very sweet and the place it very small which is why I used to get take out here rather then sit and eat.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2008
It's all about the Kinta Roll!
I can eat 3 orders!
So YUMMY!!!
Everything else is ok.. some of the… Read more »
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Review from Tai F.
Maybe I'm becoming snobby about my sushi or maybe I just had too high expectations about this place but my experience here was just okay. It's also possible that with such an overwhelming amount of exciting options I panicked and picked the wrong rolls. Fingers crossed that it's the last option because I will probably be coming back to find out.
It's a super small place and I almost walked right by it. Luckily I was one of only 7 or so people inside and the only person at the sushi bar. The roll options are covering the walls. It took me a fair amount of time to make any decision. I settled on the Brigitte Roll, the Marty Roll and a salmon sushi. No joke, all the rolls were out in under 5 minutes. This place was lightning fast on food (though by the time my second roll was coming out I still hadn't been offered a drink). Service was friendly.
Brigitte Roll consisted of spicy tuna (pretty mild), eel and avocado. These are some of the best sushi components so I figured this roll would be great. It was pretty good. I'd say a 4/5. It wasn't cut all the way through so a few times I had to use chopstick magic but I still ended up with a few rolls that just fell apart.
Marty Roll was baked salmon, avocado and mayo. I thought it said smelt egg but my roll didn't have any and I forgot to check. No matter, I love salmon and avocado!! But this roll was so beyond bland I didn't even finish it. The salmon was super dry and though baked salmon can get like that it's usually complemented with something that can change that. Hypothetically that's what the mayo was for but there was none to be found. I left half this roll behind.
Lastly I had one salmon of my two piece salmon. It was a big piece but the buttery perfection of a good salmon seemed to have been muted. It was a little tangy. The weirdest and most unpleasant part was that the rice on all my rolls was warm. On the brigitte I thought it was because the eel had been cooked. On the Marty I was too distracted with the dryness to notice. But when there's just tangy salmon the warm rice was hard to mask. I know that sushi rice is not supposed to be freezing cold from the refrigerator but I don't really want it to be warm either. Room temperature is good. But this warm rice business is not my bag. I don't know if that's the way it's really supposed to be served and I've just been eating some cooler Americanized sushi rice but if that's the case I'll take the Americanized version.
Still, the first roll was good enough that I can see potentially really liking this place. I wish I had tried the Jeff and Emily because it sounds very yummy. As does the Picasso. I'll know for next time and get back to you.
Grand total was only $27 with tip. So for the price point this is a pretty great sushi restaurant!
On a side note the girl's bathroom was broken and the 3by3 boy's bathroom was pretty unpleasant to get changed in.Listed in: We Will Rock and Roll You
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Review from Jess C.
11/2/2011
Pretty good Americanized sushi rolls. I actually think it's overpriced for how cheap the ingredients are. Parking sucks.
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Review from Jamie D.
Orange County, CA
8/4/2011
The location was cute, with lots of small tables crammed into a small location, and even a couple tables outside. The service was friendly, albeit kind of slow to check on us. And you gotta love the big wall of people's invented rolls.
But I think I was expecting too much of this place or something. I'd read the reviews about how it wasn't some fancy sushi place with great-quality fish, and that they sell lots of specialty rolls with crazy ingredient combos, doused in lots of sauces. But even with the gigantic, varied selection on the menu and my hungry stomach, nothing I had here was all that special or satisfying. I think we tried maybe four different rolls, and although we got lots of food for our money, I still walked away unfulfilled. -
Review from Michelle Y.
Los Angeles, CA
8/26/2011
This place is sooo good! the rolls are FATTY and there are so many choices!
It's a small little neighborhood joint that I would most definitely recommend to anyone visiting LA and looking for sushi rolls (but I dont think they serve other japanese dishes like udon, terriyaki or tempura, etc.. they mainly focus on rolls. i don't even know if they do much sashimi???)
we ordered 4 dishes: chenzo, da bomb, billie c, and greg (?).. all of them have really unique names so I apologize if im a little off. I like all of them .. especially the chenzo because im a fan of eel sauce and tempura flakes.
not gonna lie though, parking is terrible around that area so you'll most likely need to find street parking or park in the residential area behind the restaurants. it's a pretty small spot, so this place gets quite busy -
Review from Susan Y.
Los Angeles, CA
6/8/2011
Here are the FAQs:
Food: 1 star
- Frozen, bland fish
- Absolutely tasteless tuna with a weirdly mushy texture
- Hard, inedible rice.
- I live within walking distance, so I've actually gone quite a few times. And everytime, I'm hopeful, lured by the pretty pictures and colorful roll descriptions haphazardly plastered against the walls... And everytime, I am reminded that I'm an idiot.
Ambiance: 4 stars
- Hole in the wall. I get it. I dig it.
Quantity: 5 stars
- Rolls are giant. Impossible to swallow in one bite
Service: 3 stars. Average.
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What to order (if you must):
- Oyster shooter: More like an oyster cocktail. Served in a large glass, with several oysters and a quail egg, amongst a myriad of other things, in a refreshing tart sauce. One of the few things I crave from this establishment, but they don't always have this.
- Salmon nigiri: Salmon is the only fish that tastes decent. Generous portions too.
What not to order:
- Everything else -
Review from Cynthia T.
Los Angeles, CA
9/14/2011
The bf brought me here twice now and I love love LOVE their secret sauce. If you haven't had it, order the Harvey roll and/or the Smash roll and you will get their secret sauce. I think I can pour their secret sauce over a bowl of rice and eat it just like that lol :P
We ordered:
Kinta - spicy tuna, crispy seaweed, and eel sauce
Some Like it Hot - spicy tuna, smelt egg, spicy sesame oil, avocado, and tabasco sauce
Harvey - salmon, albacore, tuna, sashimi tempura sauce (aka secret sauce??)
Smash - jalapeno filled with cream cheese, avocado, salmon, SECRET SAUCE
We had like a whole roll leftover, we were so full! Should've just ordered three rolls instead of four but we were starvin like marvin.
Took off one star because it took forever for them to bring us a drink. It was pretty hectic but the place is small so I'm not sure what happened there. -
Review from Megan R.
Los Angeles, CA
12/1/2011
The sushi here is decent for LA (aka very average for the rest of the world), but I will never ever ever order from here again. I live one mile away from California Roll Factory, and it takes them over two hours to deliver my food. Unacceptable! If they cannot get to my apartment within the constraints of an hour, then they should not be offering delivery services. I called to ask where my food was, and all they said was "traffic." Uh, have you heard of side roads? I work twice as far away, yet get home in 15 minutes during rush hour. When I think of my raw fish sitting in the passenger's side of some guy's car for 120 minutes, I cringe.
Amendment to the review: If I could give this place zero stars, I would. We finally get a call from the idiot delivering the food, and he was apparently outside of our apartment five minutes ago. He called the wrong number and drove away. Finally called the CORRECT number and alerted us to his stupidity. Sir, you do not need a master's degree to deliver sushi.
Well, maybe YOU do. -
Review from Esther C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/7/2011
LOVE the california roll factory. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Although this place is small, the wait-staff is really sweet and the food comes out fairly fast. The inside of the restaurant is pretty small so if you go during the rush, you may have to wait a little bit.
This place is not expensive at all, the portions are HUGE....but at the same time, the fish isn't the FRESHEST as sasabune or sugarfish~~
All in all, if you are craving sushi and want a great price range for your rolls~ check it out! -
Review from Peter L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/27/2011
3.5 stars
This restaurant serves a huge variety of rolls; their menu literally has more than 50 types of rolls! It was hard to choose, but finally decided on the picasso and the kenta. Both rolls were delicious and huge; it takes skills to eat a piece at once without having it all fall apart. The quality of the food is just ok, so don't come here expecting fresh, authentic sushi.
Unfortunately, the service wasn't that great; it took at least 10 min to get a water refill and another 10 to pay the bill. Part of the reason was because it was super crowded and there were only 2 servers. Prices were average (most rolls are between $7-$10). Parking is street only, which can be tricky, especially on a busy night.
Anyways, if you in the mood to try some creative rolls, check this place out, but get here before it gets crowded. -
Review from Sharna H.
Los Angeles, CA
10/14/2011
I wish I could put zero stars! Horrible service tried to order delivery! The manager is rude this is the worst service ever! Skip this place!
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Review from Evelyn T.
North Hollywood, CA
This place rocks and rolls! I find it very entertaining to see the art and unique names on the walls for each sushi roll that has been created there. It can be a bit overwhelming to read their menu, but overwhelming in a good way because I want EVERYTHING on the menu!
Their rolls are delicious and a bigger portion than other sushi places I go to. I never leave this place hungry or dissatisfied. -
Review from Christina L.
Pasadena, CA
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wish I could give multiple star ratings. Price is def 5 stars. Literally the biggest rolls I have ever eaten. I ordered 1 and half rolls ( split one with a friend) and I had enough leftovers for an entire lunch. That's insane!
Quality: meh. I would say 2 stars? Not the worst tasting rolls but I can tell the quality really isn't the best.
Venue: meh. Small. We got a table. It was sticky. A lot of things felt sticky.
I would def come again though because I like cheap food that gives me two meals in one.
Def recommend if you want rolls and aren't too picky about quality. -
Review from Sherry W.
5/16/2011
The California Roll Factory is a unique and interesting concept. Like other restaurants, you can order from their menu, or you can order from all the creations on the wall, or create your own unique sushi roll and name it!
The place itself is kinda cramped and the price isn't too bad from what I remember. However, the fish quality is mediocre. This place is definitely geared more towards fusion-type sushi, and less towards traditional japanese sushi. -
Review from Robert P.
Malibu, CA
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't like it when my food falls apart and sushi isn't supposed to fall apart. The key to sushi is rice, sticky rice. Everything that I ordered collapsed on me, disintegrated. Aggravating. I should have ordered sashimi.
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Review from Joy S.
3/25/2011
This place is VERY cheap compare to other sushi places. However, the quality of the sushi is just horrible. Most of their stuff are the "specialty" sushi which is basically sushi but with a lof of fried stuff or a lot of sauce. I think i ordered a spicy tuna roll here once and i could tell the fish was not fresh at all.
The rolls are so big that it's a guarantee that every single piece of roll will fall into pieces. When I first got my roll, I was like "wow.. this is so worth the money.. it's twice the size of the rolls from all other restaurants!" However, they are not only big because the chefs don't know how to make delicate rolls, but they are also poorly packed and rolled. Sometimes before we even start eating, the rolls will open up and fall apart.
I'd rather pay $2 more and have some better sushi/ rolls. -
Review from Mariya E.
Los Angeles, CA
7/17/2011
Good sushi place if you're into specialty rolls and are not a traditionalist. I personally do like specialty rolls, and there are definitely lots of option here. The sushi is good quality, not great, but definitely not bad. The rolls are of decent size. 4 rolls made my husband and I stuffed! The bill came to just under $40, which was fair for the price to quality to quantity ratio. Service was good when we were there - waitress/waiter came by often enough and made sure our water was filled and we had all we ordered/wanted.
I will definitely be back to check out some more of those rolls. -
Review from Aris L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2011
Average place to eat sushi..i think the taste of the sushi is too sweet...
CONCLUSION = RECOMMENDED! -
Review from Anna G.
9/8/2011
Do I love these hoes? Hmmm Kinda Sorta..
Pardon my Drake, for I meant these holes..hole in the wall establishments. California Roll Factory is the shiznit. Pre-UCLA days, sushi-ing it up with my homies down in Santa Monica. Okay enough with the facade. I love CRF because of their ginormous specialty rolls. This is not authentic sushi, but for a little over $6 a roll, it is damn good. I was first introduced to this joint after a sushi fail at Cafe Doma Sushi where we sat there waiting 30 minutes, just to get acknowledged.
Armen: 'want to go to a hole in the wall place that has awesome rolls and cheap prices?'
Anna: 'hell freakin' yah!. You're paying anyway so I don't care!!"
...we left $2 on the table for the 3 glasses of lukewarm water we were served and booked it.
This was a short drive from my friend's apartment which is located right next to the Yahoo! center and some studio. Killer location, fyi..
So we got there, parking was a bitch, put our name on the list, and sat at the sushi bar shortly after.
I love the wasabi and ginger containers on each table. Never have to be shy to ask for extras because it is right there!!
We ordered several rolls, including salmon sushi, and I was in Americanized sushi heaven. All I needed was a side of french fries and I was set..JUST KEEDING! =D
The Vizzy roll was something we talked about for weeks, so good that we came back again the week after. The food tasted so good for the amount of money that he dished out. The portions, like I mentioned before, were HUGE.
I've been back several times since that first experience and I have always left stuffed and happy. During the greater part of my UCLA days, I frequented Ami in Westwood, but CRF holds a special vessel in my heart. It's super small, but I have never waited too long to get seated. I love California Roll Factory! -
Review from Julie N.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2011 1 photo
California Roll Factory is the epitome of Americanized sushi. I mean, just look at the title! But you know what, I'm not gonna hate on this place because it's not authentic. I actually thought this place was the shit when I first started eating sushi. I used to order cooked sushi rolls and drench them in spicy mayo and eel sauce. Oh my, has my sushi palate grown.
Come here for the creative sushi rolls. Once you enter the restaurant, you'll see the right wall entirely plastered with all these pictures of different rolls to choose from. If you don't like any of them, you can create your own! And if the management likes your roll, they'll keep it on their menu and name it after you =)
The sushi rolls are HUGE and PACKED WITH FLAVOR. So much flavor, you can't really tell if the fish is fresh or not. I usually get rolls that have cream cheese, avocado, eel sauce, or shrimp tempura. Don't come here for sashimi or nigiri.
I've eaten here several times, but the only roll that sticks out to me is the VIZZY, the hugest roll I've ever eaten. It's impossible to eat one piece in a bite and that goes for the other rolls too. However, I hate eating my sushi in two bites because the filling gets all over the place and then it becomes hard to dip in soy sauce. If you can, I would order a roll with SOYBEAN PAPER. It holds the roll together well and it's not as messy.
Overall, I would come here again if I was in the area. It hits the sushi spot and it's easy on the pocket too. Debit card users beware: You have to spend at least $20, or make sure you're strapped with cash.Listed in: UCLA - Westwood area
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Review from Quoc N.
Los Angeles, CA
7/18/2011
let's keep it short and sweet
CHENZO
VIZZY
THETA ANIMANIACS
BIG, FAT, FLAVORFUL... that's some "that's what he said/she said" type ish -
Review from Crystal C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/29/2011
If you don't like making decisions or having a wide selection to choose from, this place is not for you! It's a cozy little sushi shop that has reasonable amounts of sushi bar seating and probably like 8-10 tables at most. Also, it's all street parking so beware where you park (I believe Santa Monica is like no parking from 4-7 pm or something).
Anyways, the quality of the fish isn't great, but the beauty of this place is the selection. The reason there are so many posters on the wall of menu items that aren't included in the actual laminated menu are because you can pretty much create a roll and name it yourself, choose what you want in it, and I believe if someone else orders it, it's on the menu! So if you're in the mood for experimenting, this is the place to do it. I have been a couple times, but I just remember this most recent time where I got a user-made roll: the Bella (insert picture of cute dog on the item sign - I was already sold). Spicy yellowtail, avocado, jalapeno, garlic sauce, and cilantro ($8.50). Interesting mix. Actually pretty good. Kinda like my friend said, a "Banh-Mi tasting sushi".
This is the place to experiment and try new sushis, but I wouldn't recommend going for quality. Prices are decent - but you could probably pay a little more somewhere else for better quality. It's an easy go-to place. Convenient take out orders and location. I would probably find myself going back just to see what else I would want to try, but I've had better sushi overall. -
Review from Mylinh M.
San Francisco, CA
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Never again. I love cheap sushi as much as the next person but the sushi here tastes like cat food. We ordered the donut roll, the crispy roll, and hole in one. As expected with a lot of these cheap sushi joints they use spicy tuna a disproportionate amount compared to other fish. I love spicy tuna but I thought the flavor was terrible and the other pieces of fish in the rolls were mushy. They did have a lot of rolls but the selection was all so similar to each other it really didn't matter what we got. The tuna they used in the donut roll was so artificially pink it was off putting. Yes, I realize all tuna is dyed but this color was on the verge of Pepto Bismal and hot pink.
There are only so many cheap sushi joints one needs in their life and for mine I'm sticking with Hara Sushi. At least there you get free miso soup and green tea ice cream. -
Review from Mau T.
Los Angeles, CA
7/19/2011
I would say this place has one of the best sushi i have had for the price. I am a fan! Love their baked scallop! Usually very crowded during dinner time. Looking at 10-15 bucks per person and you will be pretty full.
The only down side is that they don't open on Sundays. Once I drove there only to find out they were closed. -
Review from Jennifer C. L.
Studio City, CA
4/17/2011
Pssssssst......
This place is a total hidden gem!
I used to go almost everyday when I lived down the street while attending UCLA. It is always filled with UCLA Bruin fans.
When you go you must order these rolls.
Crispy Roll (rocks the house)
Spicy Scallop Roll (perfection in the form of a roll)
Spicy Yellowtail (Always a favorite)
Plus, I LOVE staff here!!!
-Piak the waiter is always so sweet!
-Roy the sushi chef is amazing at his craft.
-& Kazo the owner is always cordial! -
Review from Diana D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/16/2011
The best best best sushi in town !!!
Thank you Kazu !!!
I love the Vizi roll :)
