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Katana

3.5 star rating
based on 237 reviews

Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion  [Edit]

Neighborhood: West Hollywood
8439 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 650-8585
Price Range:
$$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Valet
Attire:
Dressy
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

237 reviews for Katana

Review Highlights   

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"This is probably my favorite place to eat sushi and japanese robata." (in 45 reviews)
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"filet mignon wrapped asparagus with soy mirin sauce - really good." (in 7 reviews)
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"The filet mignon wrapped asparagus and foie gras was quite lovely." (in 16 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Vince B.

 

4

53

Vince B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/26/2009

Everytime i'm in LA, I love to eat at this place.  I haven't yet found a good robata style grill in SF, so I make it a point to visit whenever in LA.  I've been many times, but this is my first review.  I was able to make an early reservation through Open Table, so double bonus.

My all time favorite is the fillet wrapped, foie gras stuffed green onion robata.  It's litterally a heart attack on a skewer.  That's why I only had two of them!  Next is their tuna carpaccio sashimi with parm cheese and a balsamic/soy dressing.  Delicious.  I was a bit adventurous and tried the chicken knuckle skewer...I asked the waiter if they had chicken skin (influenced by Tony Bourdain), but no luck.  Had to try the cartlidge...delicious.  I will be back...mmmm, chicken meatballs....

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Photo of Honey S.

 

5

26

Honey S.

Studio City, CA

2 star rating
11/25/2009

Nice decor the vibe is great but the food... not so much! Neither were the drinks.

I went in for sushi and didnt enjoy any of it at all. i ordered two different kinds of drinks and they were terrible as well.

I might give it another shot some day.

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Photo of Lisa K.

 

3

39

Lisa K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/22/2009

I have always really enjoyed my meals here. It takes littler effort to have a great time at Katana. There is fantastic atmosphere here and you will most like spot a celebrity or two. The drinks are phenomenal. The best is the lychee ginger mojito. It is perfect every time! Sometimes mojitos can tend to be too sweet but the ginger and the lychee cut the sweetness a little and the flavor only adds to the minty goodness.

The tempura rock shrimp with spicy miso glaze is some of the best crispy shrimp I have ever had. My salivary glands just can't take it. Even, better is the crab dynamite roll. It has this spicy curry sauce on top that will fill your mouth with passion and then burn you at the end for enjoying it too much.

The location, food, and ambiance make this place a winner. The parking on the other hand, is a headache, but that's where the lychee ginger mojitos come in ;)

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Photo of Meg O.

 

13

24

Meg O.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
11/4/2009

Nice decor. Regular sushi. Great place for parties and a local celeb hot spot.

We came here for a friends birthday before going to the vma's and got seated outside on the terrace. Wrong move, between the paparazzi interruptions and all the chaos in the background it was hard to relax and really enjoy our meal in each others company.

The ambiance however inside is much better. There is an ultra sexy-vibe & I love the polished redwood bar tops.  Their wine list isnt extensive, but it seems people that come here opt for cocktails anyway.  
The staff is friendly and well educated about the dishes. I had a beautiful array of assorted sushmi, along with a fabulous crunchy roll topped with fresh yellowtail.
The bathrooms are small and could be a bit more cleanly, or at least be staffed.  

If your looking for a romantic setting this is not the place. I recommend coming here for group events or a swanky dinner spot before hitting the town with your girlfriends.

 I would come to Katana for more of a see-and-be-seen vibe, if thats your thing, not particularly for the sushi cuisine.

The valet doesn't stay open late so plan on having to move your car if you decide to go out across the street or at another venue on the strip.

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Photo of Wissam C.

 

0

6

Wissam C.

Fullerton, CA

4 star rating
11/14/2009

Had dinner here on Wednesday night. First off, for a Wednesday it was surprisingly busy...I would say the food is above average but you are definitely paying for the ambiance and the LA scene. For example, Jamie Foxx was sitting having dinner on the table next to me....
We had a nice assortment of sushi, sashimi and stuff of the Robata grill...the Filet w/ Foie Gras is amazing, so is the Cod....we also had chicken hearts, and chicken gizzards which were.....different.....
All in all a great experience...I would go back again....3 people, we all ate well and had 2 or 3 drinks each and bill was ~ $230....again, you're paying for the place as much as you are the food...my personal experience here was better then Koi in Hollywood...

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Photo of Natalie A.

 

64

46

Natalie A.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/14/2009

I'm down with Katana - always have been.

I've been coming here for years, whether it be for apps + drinks with the girls or a romantic dinner with the boyfriend. I love that once you go through the whole valet parking ordeal and take the restaurant elevators up and away from Sunset Blvd., you are delivered to a dimly-lit, sexy oasis that gives you no choice but to unwind. The waitstaff are attentive, friendly, and well-versed in the menu details, so when you're stumped on what to order, they're able to provide thoughtful recommendations (rather than the "everything is great!" trained enthusiasm that you many receive from other establishments). As for the hostesses: there are usually 4-6 snobby LA-clone girls standing at the front and more often than not, they look flustered. But consider them as a minor hurdle before a massive leap into a quality experience.

Now, I know there are many sushi spots that trump this place - I've been to them all - but my rating is based on the fact that I've never had a bad dish, bad drink, or overall bad experience here. Some of my must-have orders include:

-Spicy Tuna Hanabi (spicy tuna on grilled rice cakes)
-Yellowtail Hanabi (yellowtail on grilled rice cakes)
-Saikyo Yaki (baked cod marinated with miso)
-Katana Roll (yellowtail and tuna atop spicy tuna and shrimp tempura roll)
-Baked Lobster Roll (baked lobster, avocado, and asparagus with soy paper)
-Sake sampler

Another highlight of Katana is if you take a cab there, you can have a few drinks, get tipsy without worry and hit the strip immediately after - everything from the Mondrian to Sunset Marquis to the London are walking distance from there!

One other gripe: yes, you will encounter many a-douchebag here at any given moment, but it's only because it's across the street from Skybar - another douchebag magnet - and also because Katana is very group-friendly so there are lots of all-girl parties sprinkled throughout the restaurant, making easy targets for really bad Rico Suave impersonators.

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Photo of Jennifer P.

 

20

15

Jennifer P.

Venice, CA

4 star rating
10/12/2009

Katana has been on my list of places to go for almost a year now. Not sure why I never went in...but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that
EVERYONE I know goes here. I've heard of people talk about how they went there and had a good time. But I had never heard anyone tell me about the food. It made me a little worried. It's also one of those trendy Hollywood type places that always seemed uber crowded. However, I used DineLA as my excuse to finally go see what all the fuss was about. My sis, a friend, and I set off for dinner around 7:30 on a Wednesday night.

The parking was in a garage that charged 9 bucks for 3 hours. Seemed like some LA bullsh&*...but what can you do? I was impressed when we walked in. The place looked exactly like the website. Very clean, modern, and trendy. There was an upbeat vibe and good looking people everywhere.

All of my food was very good. I didn't have any bad things to say about it... Well, I was slightly annoyed by the size of the table and their close proximity to each other. We had a corner table and there was a table in back of me. So, me, being almost 6 foot tall barefoot. I work heels...which out me at about 6'2. Well, I felt like I was sitting at the table behind me. I could hear every word of the awful conversation behind me.

I had the tuna salad for starters. I had the sampler plate of sushi for my entree, and I had the fruit and sorbet for dessert. It was awesome. This is the PERFECT place to take a date or to come with a group of friends for dinner.

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Photo of Enjella L.

Elite '09

193

374

Enjella L.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
9/2/2009 2 photos

Ok seriously, what's up with the snobby hostess?

A hostess's job is simple. Greet, smile, and seat. What's her malfunction? It's such a short encounter with the customer.  Is the 'tude really necessary? That pretty much set my opinion of the restaurant.

But to be fair, the food is good (although slightly overpriced).
So be careful because it's easy to order a gang load of food and still be hit with a bill and still hungry too.

We tried the Masamune Robata, Japanese eggplant, Beef & Potato Croquettes, Tsukiji Sushi roll (peep the pic), Spicy Tuna Hanabi, and the Crunchy Tuna Roll. Everything was completely enjoyed. The mood not so much.

The inside is dark and small. We opted to sit outside on the patio, which is quite nice.  I love that you can walk down the stairs to leave the restaurant or walk to the parking lot. Or you could walk out through the restaurant entrance and also take the elevator to get to the parking lot. (For those who do not know or have not been, the restaurant is located on the 2nd floor.)

To be clear - the food is probably a high three, bordering 4 stars. The service definitely a 1 or a 2.  Hence, the overall average rating of 3 stars.

Note: This place is catered for tourists,older couples going out for "date night", and the cheesy Hollywood crowd.  No real Asians on site except for the manager/owner? Servers - probably actors in waiting to be picked up.

Location: to the left of Andaz.

Parking: structure - $9 for 3 hours with validation.

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Photo of Scott R.

 

0

42

Scott R.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
11/5/2009

To date, this place has never disappointed me.  The presentation is always top shelf and I can always count on a good meal.  They do have a very good selection of Sake's as well.

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Photo of Thanh K.

 

154

80

Thanh K.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/24/2009

Had a of couple gatherings here, birthdays and such.
Staff was very accommodating.

Great ambiance. Nice patio overlooking sunset. Mod furniture but very uncomfortable. This is more of a(n) "out and about" scene. If you want cute, quiet, secluded, etc. dinner/ date, this place is not it, well at least on the weekend. It can get pretty packed and loud.

Great selection of Asian fusion food. I don't eat seafood so I'm unsure of the quality and quantity of the roll/ seafood dishes.  

It's pricey.
Parking suck a$$. But don't they all in Weho?!

I give it 4 stars for the success of my last visit here but don't plan on having future events here, it's getting too trendy- ish and hipsta- ish for moi.

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Photo of Dj S.

 

7

73

Dj S.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/27/2009

This is probably my favorite place to eat sushi and japanese robata. The shrimp tempura rolls are to die for with the shrimp right out of the deep fryer and into the roll. I love the Filet Mignon skewers and bacon wrapped tomatos and bacon wrapped asparagus . Great drinks from the bar and lots of people to watch in an atmosphere that is out of the Matrix. They also have outside dining which is wonderful in the summer. Go to Katana, eat, drink and be prepared to spend at least $75 per person! Be forewarned that Katana is crowded and trendy.

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Photo of Melody D.

Elite '09

355

143

Melody D.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
9/29/2009

Why lord ohhhhh whhhhhy doesn't San Diego have such amazing restaurants as this? I came here for my birthday weekend. We heard great things and wanted a restaurant that could handle a good size party. We were a little nervous at first as the hostesses seemed a bit ruffled and overwhelmed. But they smiled and let us know our table was ready and we could be seated immediately. The waiter was incredibly patient as he explained their ridiculously large menu. He explained that there were 3 kitchens that prepared different items. Sushi from one, grilled items from another, and everything else from the third. We tried several items and everything was delicious. The filet mignon wrapped asparagus and fois gras skewers were a foodgasm in my mouth. It just might have been the best thing I've ever eaten. I think this restaurant was well worth the price. Definitely will be back when visiting L.A.

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Photo of Kelly L.

 

0

8

Kelly L.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/21/2009

Came here last week to celebrate my Birthday.  It was seriously amazing.  I loved the inside decor, dim lighting--very cute.  The sushi was so fresh and tasted amazing.  I seriously could not get enough.  The service was on cue as well, didn't take too long, the waitress was very polite & helpful with picking out the "good stuff" on the menu.

Only prob was lil miss priss of a hostess.  She definitely needs to take it down a notch.

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Photo of Chung-Wei C.

 

22

13

Chung-Wei C.

Pasadena, CA

3 star rating
9/10/2009

eh, that's how I would describe my experience there.  Good Japanese restaurants will make food much better than here.  For the price you pay here, it probably isn't worth it.  The beers provided were not even on tap and the bottles weren't cold.  The only thing going for it is the ambience, decor and outdoor patio area.  Well, the food I had there included:

appetizers and salad:
edamame - average
seared albacore w/maui onion and micro cilantro - average
filet mignon wrapped asparagus with soy mirin sauce - really good
sauteed chinese green beans with garlic sauce - average (good chinese restaurants make it much better)
mixed greens salad with ginger dressing - average

served with 3 dipping sauces:
robata- aged rib-eye - average (not as tender as I would have liked)
chicken & scallion - average
salmon - good

sushi rolls:
spicy tuna - average
california - good, real crabmeat was used
shrimp tempura - average
vegetable - average

dessert:
chocolate volcano - good, similar to Roy's but not better
chef's daily selection - some pastry that was so-so

so lots of averages, can easily find better deals and higher quality food elsewhere

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Photo of Kimmy N.

Elite '09

57

169

Kimmy N.

Huntington Beach, CA

4 star rating
10/8/2009

I came here for my friend's 27th birthday with a 10-person party on the second floor patio.  The drinks, sake and food were amazing and delicious, and the service was right on target.  The crowd was upbeat, and everyone was dressed so nicely, almost like a lounge atmosphere.  The check was really expensive, but totally worth it for a special occasion!

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Photo of Nikole M.

 

0

9

Nikole M.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
10/23/2009

Yum, yum, yum!  A very lovely place to eat.  Saw Hugh Hefner, Holly, Brigitte and Kendra there.  Fun!  Food is amazing!

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Photo of Dawn O.

 

2

26

Dawn O.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
8/28/2009

I've been frequenting Kanta for years. I've sent many of my friends and bosses here for client meetings or gatherings.

Yes, it's a scene with all the pretty starlets and young professionals as well as the *Hollywood-wanna-be-poser-types*. It has a sexy ambiance with comfy chairs (make a reso at least one week in advance).  With that said, hands down, BEST lobster roll in town.  My mouth is watering thinking about it.  I also recommend (not on the menu) getting a spicy tuna avocado roll wrapped in soy paper.  OMG - melts in your mouth.  I also LOVE the seared sea bass. Also, if you're not into sushi they not only have a sushi bar but a robato (sp?) grill. So many choices so little time. I recommend going with friends or a group so you can get a variety of things to sample. Martini's are small but that's ok - you're going for the ambiance, interesting people watching and SUSHI! Bring it.  
Cheers,
Dawn

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Photo of D C.

 

0

50

D C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/10/2009

You have to give 5 stars to the places where they do everything right, don't you?  The problem is that if I give it 5 stars, then it will cheapen the other 5 star reviews and I don't want to do that.

So it comes down to this: Not is this place 5 stars, but is it so strong a 5 star that it will hold up the integrity of the other 5 stars I have rated.  I don't think so.

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Photo of alexis b.

 

27

66

alexis b.

Anaheim, CA

4 star rating
10/6/2009

YUMMMMMMMM!  I wish I didn't drink to much, otherwise, I'd eat more off this menu.  We did a lot of yakitori portobello mushrooms, bacon wrapped asparagus, chicken and  chilean sea bass OMG that bass was sooooooooooooo good, seriously if it was a whole bass I'd eat it all. So flavorful so good. I had some sashimi, very fresh and yummmmmmmmy.  The fruit martini's are made with fresh fruit. I had this one drink with ginger and champagne and it was unbelievable, so good. I love the set up of this place, pretty damn big , we had no rsvps and no wait.  Im coming back here again and again and again....Cheers!

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Photo of Pazu H.

 

0

35

Pazu H.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
10/10/2009

well, sushi here is ok, or whatever to be honest, just like other sushi rokus(same group).
but their robata skewers are really good!!
my favorite is sea bass. i always order this.

also last time i went there with my friends for b-day dinner,
we ordered their special lobster entree(comes with lobster, shirimp, and scallops), and this was AMAZIING!!
it seems like its always on their "tonight's special",
but its really good. its like $30-$40, but its definetely worth it.  

so dont expect great sushi here, but get apptizers, entrees, and skewers, then you'll enjoy this place.

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Photo of Nirali K.

 

3

16

Nirali K.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
7/6/2009

A great trencdy sushi place, I LOVE the location and the ambience. The service was a bit slow when we went there But we got some free desert. I especially loved the chicken pot sticker. It was delicious!  

I had a great time! definitely check it out !

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Photo of Claudia E.

 

6

120

Claudia E.

Tampa, FL

2 star rating
7/13/2009

I've had so much better. This place is too crowded and trendy. They should focus more on the food rather than trying to bring the most attractive crowd. Doorman is a creep too. I thought we were going to have to flash him or something.

My friend and I were sat in a cram-you-in style, with 3 lound yelling drunks that were 1 table away.

Food was pricey for what it was, didn't tast the best, and the waiter forgot my miso soup, bringing it out at the end after I reminded him.

I dont recommend.

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Photo of Scottie V.

Elite '09

46

133

Scottie V.

Hermosa Beach, CA

3 star rating
7/7/2009

Well I've been here twice now in the last 2 months. Once with a party of 4 and the other time with a party of 7. I have mixed feelings on this place. It's good for people watching. Some of the food items were really good and others were disappointing. They had a good cold saki selections, but I think the mixed drinks were pricey.

I'll try to remember the items that stuck out....

The Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice is really good and I could eat a couple plates of that. The Seared Albacore w/ Crispy Onions and the Crab hand rolls in soy paper were good also.

The couple items that I thought were disappointing were the Filet Wrapped Foie Gras Asparagus (it also came out cold) and the Yellowtail w/ Jalapenos dish. The Miso Marinated Baked Cod I thought was a bit salty.

The chicken hearts and livers were interesting, but I don't think I get them again.

I think the place maybe a little over hyped. I can see that if you had people coming in from out of town that it might be fun for the people watching aspect. Both times we saw pro-athletes & celebs. The out-of-towners seem to think that's fun. The 2 times I've been here the bill came to about $120-130 a person with drinks. You can get some pretty good meals for that.

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Photo of Paul B.

 

2

41

Paul B.

Temple City, CA

3 star rating
9/27/2009

Overprice.  Overhyped.  Underquality.  The hostess are retarded but pretty.  Food was overcooked.  Go to shin sen gumi instead.

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Photo of Christine R.

Elite '09

51

168

Christine R.

Fairfax, VA

4 star rating
5/26/2009

Trendy yes. Delicious definitely. Our server was fast, friendly and helpful. And most importantly didn't linger around or be overly "helpful" or make us feel like he was working for a larger tip. I mean the food was expensive so he probably knew he was going to make a decent amount anyways.

Can't remember much of what we ordered but it all was delicious! I would return here for sure. I didn't find the clientele to be snotty or superficial - I admit I was really afraid of that part of going out in LA. Maybe it was tourist night and everyone else was like me?

The total bill for 5 people (which included alcohol) was around $250 and we had 3 guys, and we all left really full. So I thought that was fair. Especially for the atmosphere which I really enjoyed!

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Photo of Laura R.

 

5

13

Laura R.

Woodland Hills, CA

4 star rating
7/13/2009

Came here for HH on a Thursday. The crowd was mellow. The service was good. The food and drinks were GREAT. Everything we ordered was delicious and worth the price. You definitely get your $$s worth with the Popcorn Shrimp with two kinds of dipping sauce, so good.
I found meter parking down the street. They also have paid parking in the building for $9 with validation. Otherwise $20.

I was disappointed to have a party of five small kids seated at the next table. After a couple of spills, and obvious stares from other diners, it was apparent to the parents that they had made a poor choice in bringing 5 little ones to HH. I love kids but not at HH. That's what Micky D's is for.

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Photo of Briar F.

 

44

27

Briar F.

Redwood City, CA

4 star rating
9/4/2009

Had a great time at Katana, a fun and relaxing place to hang out with friends. Lots of ambiance, friendly crowd of people and great service. The outside patio was definitely inviting but was way too hot that day - so we sat at the inside bar. We made it for the happy hour prices - a nice bonus. The drinks were fine for happy hour and the sushi was really good. If I lived or worked in the area, I would absolutely go there more often.

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Photo of Salo D.

 

1

5

Salo D.

La Jolla, CA

5 star rating
6/9/2009

My favorite in LA by far, great atmosphere and i love the outdoor patio!
I wish I lived in LA to go there more often, and i Wish there was a robata style japanese restaurant like this in San Diego.

Will go back soon for more robata skewers. All are great, and the sushi is amazing!

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Photo of L. O.

 

0

4

L. O.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
10/3/2009

I went here with three friends a couple of months ago. For the price, the service and quality of food was disappointing. I asked the waiter for water with no ice and he completely forgot, which isn't that big of a deal  but at a nicer, expensive restaurant, you expect the waitstaff to at least pay attention. Also, I was shocked at the chopsticks! They were the square wooden disposable type that you have to break in half. At  nicer sushi restaurants, I usually find real (non-disposable) chopsticks, but I wouldn't mind the nicer, smooth, tapered disposable kind. However, these were the rough short square type that give splinters--I've had better at random hole-in-the-wall sushi places!

Outside of that, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere, you feel secluded but its still busy and exciting. The food was nothing outstanding but not a disappointment, I've definitely had comparable meals at cheaper places but it was still good.

Overall, food quality ok, service quality ok, but what you're really paying for is atmosphere and reputation.

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Photo of LaVonna W.

 

1

9

LaVonna W.

Mountain View, CA

4 star rating
7/21/2009

I was a little forgiving and gave 4 stars because this is definately a party-club type atmosphere at Katana.  This is my 3rd visit and everytime we arrive by our reservation - we end up waiting around for another 45 minutes.  This is a place to be seen, mingle and wonder how skinny these LA girls are while managing to walk around in 4" stiletto's. The music is pumping and the place is loud with a festive party atmosphere. So if you're expecting nice ambient Japanese music in the background - then pass on this one.

The food is good.  My favorites are Jidori chicken that is totally out of this world (the skin is salted and fried crisp) served on skewers with 3 dipping sauces.. yum.. The mini cherri tomato wrapped in bacon is pretty good too.  

Of course the drinks are expensive.  Again, this is my 3rd trip to Kantana and for some reason we had the nicest waitress so I pumped up my star rating.  She offered us tasty edamame while waiting for a table.  That was a first.  One time I saw Seth Green and my friend spotted some Playboy model.  Its worth a checkout on a Saturday night for sure.

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Photo of Arnie D.

 

3

22

Arnie D.

Las Vegas, NV

3 star rating
9/1/2009

Not the scene that Koi is.  Not the food of the other joints in Hollywood.  Very small bar.  Lots of energy though.  There is something to be said for energy.  It also has an outside deck to sit at facing Sunset.  I'm sure Brittany Spears has been there.  Maybe even when she was bald if I remember correctly.  I was not there that night.  I'm almost never there "THAT" night.

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Photo of susy h.

Elite '09

286

214

susy h.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
3/2/2009

Anyhooz, I was lucky enough to make it out to Katana last week. Albeit I was about 20 minutes late and had to put on lip liner whilst driving. Luckily for me I know where my lips are, but I could have looked like a clown. Did I mention I got carded? Oh yeah!

Between dining at Sushi Roku or Katana (both restaurants by IDG they also brought you BOA) , we opted for Katana. Katana is raw, rough, and sexy. The decor involves a lot of: metalwork, rough stones, candles, and dark corners. Rawr, Katana's decor is raw, just like some of their dishes.

Katana also offers an appetite stimulus dinner for a pretty nominal fee (I want to say $28 for a three course). However, since my ADD prevents me from remembering the important things in life, please call Katana for more information. You can call me, but I charge $2.50 for the first minute and 99 cents per additional minute, (but don't expect me pick up in a sexy voice).

We started the night off with Grey Goose Cranberry, and that is all for me. After all hand models don't eat, can't have fat knuckles aka fatnuckles.

Who am I kidding, I enjoyed the thinly sliced yellowtail with mild peppers, bell peppers, green onions and ponzu sauce.

The filet mignon wrapped asparagus and foie gras was quite lovely. The foie gras and filet mignon almost melted in my mouth; the asparagus didn't melt in my mouth, so chew before you swallow. You don't want to tip the waiter extra for performing the heimlich on you.

The Katana roll, is a spicy tuna and shrimp tempura roll with tuna and yellowtail on top of the roll, with a dot of spicy mayo and chives. This was actually quite large and in charge but it didn't quench my taste for sushi.

You have to see a picture of this fish. BoogaWooga! http://sassyflashyclas.... When the waitress brought this out all she looked so proud and I, well I looked freaked out. Look at it. Scariest looking fish I have ever seen, but absolutely tasty. The chilean sea bass that we ordered was enough for two dinner entrees, and can be shared family style (if you order more dishes).

The jalapenos provided a pretty potent kick to the fish and the fish was spicier than I had anticipated. There were numerous slices of jalapenos found amongst the recesses of the scored fish. The skin was intact and crispy and the meat was moist.

I heart a chocolate souffle finale. Blame it on my rubberneck and my damn wandering eyes, wandered right to our next door table and I had to have it. If I don't fit into my size 4 ring, I don't have anyone to blame but this adorable heart shaped souffle. Maybe, just maybe after my knuckle waxing appointment, people won't notice that I am no longer a size 4.

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299

28

Will O.

Beverly Hills, CA

4 star rating
9/14/2009

As tradition, I also go to Katana with my buddy who visits from out of town. Great energy from the staff and good sushi which is served to you right away.

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10

90

Jo K.

New York, NY

2 star rating
9/10/2009

Seriously meh. Nothing stood out except the chocolate suffle dessert which was really good. I'm a avid sushi lover, and i've rarely had this kind of non freshness in my recent memory. Don't go here for sushi. even their yellowtail didn't taste fresh. The uni (my favorite)- seriously not fresh. I was very disappointed in the food and didn't even finish my half of the pricy sushi. The oysters weren't fresh tasting either. The yakitori was average. Service however, was excellent. I wish the food was as yummy as our server was nice. Food is definitely not worth the money.

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4

14

Jennifer A.

West Hollywood, CA

4 star rating
6/21/2009

Really delicious food. I was lucky and went with someone who knew two of the chefs so we didn't even need to order. They asked what I liked, if I had allergies and if there was anything I didn't eat, and within five minutes the plates were flowing. I enjoyed a range of dishes, from filet mignon wrapped asparagus to yellowtail carpaccio. I also had salmon, sweet shrimp, albacore and tuna nigiri. All of it was very fresh and the rice was perfectly cooked, which is an essential component to the overall quality of the sushi. The teriyaki kobe beef skewers were outstanding.

The service was great. The waiter forgot to bring us our last order of hot sake, but took responsibility for it and apologized without making excuses. I appreciate that sort of thing.

The bathroom was tiny and hidden behind a heavy black curtain. I never would have found it unless my date pointed it out. Also, there were only three stalls, and one time I went in there were five girls waiting. It was so cramped that we had to shimmy and shuffle to let girls out.

The only thing I didn't like is that all the chefs behind the sushi and skewer bars appeared to be yelling out whenever attractive women walked into the dining area. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I found it a little annoying nontheless.

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40

161

Kelly O.

Miami, FL

4 star rating
9/6/2009

I had a great meal at Katana. We were staying at the Andaz right next door and opted to come here instead of Geisha house. The food, service, and ambiance was wonderful. I had the prix fixe dinner which was a very good deal. The standouts were the gyoza, the sashimi, spicy tuna, the ebi jalapeno, and the crispy tuna roll.

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0

2

Chris M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
9/25/2009

This place was cool, went in a Sunday with no reservations and got a table really fast, I had the robata witch was really good, service was fast and drinks where right on the spot. We wanted to sit outside but I guess it was full but overall a pretty chill place.

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62

137

Nic H.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
7/19/2009

The quality of food at Katana's never lets me down, however the seating often does. I absolutely loathe the 2 top tables they have here, especially since when I eat here I don't skimp on ordering pricy food, and don't always enjoy another couple less than 12 inches away from my table attempting to have a romantic dinner while hearing every work of each other's conversation.
Yes, this place is trendy, a bunch of desperates walking around, but I don't mind any of that as long as the food is good. The sashimi here is the best quality sashimi I have had in LA, the only comparable quality would be at Koi (even trendier). Absolutely love love love the skewer meat options, especially the filet foie gras. The sashimi and sushi roll quantity are noticeably low here, of course to force you to order more food and rack up the bill, but thas all good since this is a special occasion type place and is to be expected. What is not to be expected: $9 valet fee WITH validation.

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5

34

Jewlee Y.

Orange, CA

5 star rating
6/24/2009

Been here several times in past few years, and every time it has been good.

The ambiance on the outdoor balcony/patio is very cool, and the service is always good. Very spacious and loungy

The food is yummy too, my favorite is the Filet wrapped Foie Gras Skewers, their robata skewers are awesome and their Sushi is delicious.

They have a great variety of Sakes as well, be careful though it's so easy to drink good sake, you may end up like me, sitting/teetering on edge of a planter until I could walk again.... the waitresses were so cute too, they didn't even bother me.

Beautiful, delicious, and fun.

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270

400

Joan M.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
2/14/2009

Rating: 3.5

Come here for the robatas and not the sushi. Great service as long as you're not bald....metered parking you're lucky, which runs til 10pm.
Watch out! Lychee Mojitos ($14/each) are addicting will cost you...Open Table's Stimulus plan was not bad. Will come here again, not on my dime though...

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