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Sak's Teriyaki
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
1121 Glendon AveLos Angeles, CA 90024
Neighborhood: Westwood
(310) 208-2002
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
140 reviews for Sak's Teriyaki
Review Highlights
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"Their spicy chicken is amazing." In 37 reviews -
"The fried rice that comes with the dishes is great." In 28 reviews -
"But, the teriyaki here is great and a Westwood/UCLA staple." In 23 reviews
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140 reviews in English
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Review from Jen T.
4/6/2012
Gettho looking , great tasting. When you come to Sak's looks don't matter , what really matters is substance . Honestly I'm surprised by the low ratings. The combo's here are cheap and rather tasty . I've had the chicken plates for under $6 , portions are big enough to feed two people.
Sak's is hard to find . You don't notice the restaurant much at first. It could hardly even be called a restaurant , more like a funky looking food- to-go .
Decor: I don't know how to describe it, a hodgepodge of too many random elements.
Food: DELICIOUS TERIYAKI CHICKEN . I believe the #5 ( maybe it was the #6) comes with fried rice ,gyoza , and a salad.
- salad is m'eh
- their fried rice is so tasty !
- the deep fried chicken plate is very tasty as well
Does this place really deserve a 5 star? when your in college and this place fed you a lot , hell yea. It's not the best , but I really like the food when I was going to school nearby.
Overall
- in the UCLA area must give this place a try
- cheap , big portions
- very hard to find - down the street from Trader Joe's and near Acapulco
-Cash only - I would actually carry cash in this area for Sak's -
Review from Bethany K.
Los Angeles, CA
2/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
WE LOVE SAK'S!
A UCLA alum told us about this place, and we're so glad they did. We brave the drive into Westwood (a little dramatic, I know) because it's delicious, cheap, and they give you really generous portion sizes.
Parking on Glendon sucks, so if you can help it, have one person wait with the car while the other picks up. We always call ahead and do pick up, and usually the order's ready within 5-10 minutes.
It's kind of hard to see (to the left of acapulco) -- you have to go down a little "alley" (or hallway, whatever) that's really cute -- bricks and vines and such. Then go a little to your left and you'll see a place to place your order. There's also a bunch of seating, but it's almost always empty when I've been there. I imagine it's a great spot for a big group of students to come and eat together.
Our usual order: one half spicy chicken (fried, crispy), half teriyaki chicken, and one half teriyaki, half shrimp (fried, tempura style). Every order comes with a huge amount of yummy fried rice, one container of teriyaki sauce, 2 dumplings/gyoza, and salad. YUM. Go go go go go! -
Review from Nicholas K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2012
I'm not one to call any establishment horrible. I've eaten at some bad looking places and had some incredible meals, and when I walked past Sak's I thought, "This looks off the beaten Westwood path, I'll give it a try". So my co-workers and I went.
I got the combo kabob platter that comes with a drink, salad, shumai, and entree. The combo was beef, vegetable, and chicken, I also asked for egg rolls and was given vegetable skewers. . .
The meal came with a salad. Mine had ice cubes in it. It also came with, what I guess you could call, a dressing. It was thicker than mayo and when turned upside down and shook, the "dressing" still didn't come out of its container, at which point I threw it out. There were a couple wilted leaves in the salad, but at this point that's a good thing. The beef was dry and overcooked. . . the chicken too. . . the vegetables undercooked. The sweet potato was hard as a rock. I had to drench EVERYTHING in teriyaki sauce to stomach it.
My vegetable skewers that I didn't ask for? The wooden skewers of the kabobs had burnt. . . and broken. . . and had been left in their sharp burnt toothpicky forms to stab me in the mouth. . . multiple times.
Probably the worst thing I've eaten in Los Angeles. Sorry to be brutal, but for me to pay $10 for a meal that attacked me is foolish. -
Review from Mike S.
San Diego, CA
4/20/2012
I love this place - been going there since I was a kid! You should try it!
-
Review from Mary Q.
1/24/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I often wonder how people ever find this place, since it is so well-hidden. I only came because a friend introduced me, otherwise I would have dismissed it as another mysterious alley in Westwood.
They offer some tasty platters of teriyaki chicken and gyozas, among many other things. The portions are large and I'm not really sure if there is a competitor in the area since all the other Japanese places focus on sushi. Sak's is a welcome change for a faster, more filling option. Plus, it's cheaper!
If you're looking for a fast food-y type of Japanese near UCLA, you've found it. -
Review from Felix L.
Starving and want a big plate of grilled meat? Come to Sak's. They offer a much more economical meal than Gushi, without sacrificing the quality by too much.
When I'm craving for a chicken leg plate, I come to Sak's. It only costs around $6 for a filling meal. Note that Gushi recently bumped up the prices of each plate their menu by about $1, and their combo plate is now $10. Take your pick.
The chicken leg plate comes with a generous portion of grilled chicken leg sliced to small a row of small pieces, vegetable fried rice, small salad, and two crispy gyozas.
Tip: Charge if you use credit card for orders below $10 or so. -
Review from Peter C.
A few comments before we get to the food. Sak's has a multitude of seating options - an alley that is covered, a indoor space, and a patio near the kitchen. Also, this has got to be one of the cleanest eating areas that I have seen in a while. It might be basic, but someone is keeping the area neat and tidy, right down to the sauce bottles that are free of drips, runs and dried up gunk. I was paying attention, and it's not easy to keep all that stuff clean.
Your order in a teeny tiny space near the kitchen, and every plate has a picture, so you have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get. I decided to get the half teriyaki chicken half spicy chicken, and it's interesting because the salad has no dressing, and the chicken only has a little sauce. I guess they feel like only you know how much sauce you like on your food, which I can appreciate. The salad dressing is a little timid as far as flavor, but just for fun I put it on my spicy chicken as well as my lettuce greens. The teriyaki sauce is much better, and while I agree that there is definitely a "mall food court" feel to the food, it's competently prepared and the service is pretty quick, with a number system like Corner Bakery where they bring it to your table. Not a fancy lunch, but not awful, either. -
Review from Simon C.
Walnut, CA
7/11/2011
I love eating here just because of how good the portions are. A large combo with salad and rice and entree is can be had for $7 dollars. They feed you quick and there's always seats at lunch time.
This is a real get in and eat restaurant. Do not take a date here. The atmosphere is like a small donut shop. There's just a few small tables and chairs scattered so that you have a place to eat if you really need it.
Come here if you're feeling hungry and don't care much about the quality of food. It's more authentic than panda express because they actually make some kind of effort to be real but not by much. -
Review from Andrew N.
7/15/2011
It's not that authentic blahblahblah but guess what guys? We're in a recession and they just increased tuition by 9.6%! The food here is decent and filling for the price. For an average of about $6 bucks you can get a plate of rice (not really asian/japanese rice), grilled meat, salad, and two fried dumplings. The rice really makes the food here taste less authentic than it already is.
I usually go for the cheaper combo's just because I only come here when I want fast, cheap food and I'd much rather go to this other grilled teriyaki place in westwood [ahem] if I wanted to spend $8+ dollars. I do have a 15% discount card here (courtesy of the my apartment) and I don't think the guy even calculates the discount correctly (in my favor); I just show him the card and he says "OK $5" (score!) -
Review from Calvin H.
7/13/2011
The food here is okay. Not bad, not good, not mediocre. Just okay.
I've come here several times and usually get the Sak's Special, which is a few skewers on a heaping bed of fried rice, with a salad on the side. All that is memorable about the food is that there is a lot of it for not a lot of money. Good for college students, drunk people, and drunk college students.
What /is/ memorable is the décor and layout, which is quite special. I've never been to Hawaii, but I can imagine that a cheap Italian restaurant there would look a bit like Sak's. You have to pass through an open-air courtyard to order, and it seems there's upstairs terrace seating when they feel like opening it. The decorations look like they're from someone's grandparent's house--not kitschy or cool enough to be vintage. -
Review from juliet k.
Studio City, CA
10/11/2011 1 photo
I've been coming here on and off since Jr high, '94. You know you try a place when you're young and u love it. Then you come back years later and it wasn't as good as u remembered? This isn't that place. It's just as good as I remembered. Still the same and still good.
I like to have the grilled chicken terriyaki and spicy chicken.
Oh and they take visa and master card now. -
Review from Andrew L.
7/12/2011
Why does this place have 3.5 stars and Gushis has 4? I think it should be AT LEAST the same -- if not better.
Probably one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall joints in Westwood.
Literally hole-in-the-wall. You can barely notice you're passing by except for the random menu/sign. It's next to Acapulco and if you hit the bars, you've gone too far.
[=THE 411=]
You basically make your order at a window and then pick it up when they call your number. You can choose take-out or you can sit down at a nearby seating area with free water. So basically, there's no "service" with the exception of ordering at the window -- and they're pretty nice, I suppose. I made a bulk order once for like 10 people over the phone and were polite and quick. I left shortly after the call and they had my food ready by the time I got there (I lived at UCLA at the time).
[=THE FOOD=]
SOOOOO good and SOOOOOO worth it. The dumplings are AMAZING for some reason, AND they give you two AND it comes with salad and rice. Order whatever you feel might satisfy your cravings, since they have so much to choose from... but the favorite is the teriyaki chicken and beef, of course. I wouldn't expect too much from the more premium things like seafood -- the name IS "Sak's Teriyaki" afterall. But really - so satisfying for so cheap.
[=VERDICT=]
Honestly, so much better than Gushi's. And it's cheaper for more food. They take credit card and parking isn't AS bad as at Gushi's -- it's on the street. Want a quick bite? This is on the top of my Westwood list, for sure. -
Review from Marcus B.
Tehachapi, CA
1/20/2012
Lots of food, but not edible. Chicken was dry as a bone, and at 7:00pm nobody else was there.
-
Review from Joshua S.
Beverly Hills, CA
7/22/2011
I love this place. I'm forty and have been eating at Saks since I was a teenager. It's cheap, delicious and plentiful. I usually get the spicy chicken (fried chicken) and chicken (teriyaki chicken thigh) combo. It comes with two fried potstickers, salad and fried rice for $6.50.
True you are not going to get the best of anything here but it's all good and taste much better than it looks in their shitty ass menu pics. -
Review from Marie G.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2011
Really great food, large selection, quick service. If only it weren't so far from the apartments of UCLA! It's hidden in the wall next to Acapulco, so it feels like Diagon Alley! I love teriyaki!!!
-
Review from Matthew D.
Venice, CA
12/26/2010
I had been craving Japanese takeout food for about a month, but not the chain restaurant SanSai-type places that have been popping up every where lately. I wanted good, cheap, old-fashioned takeout like I used to get at the now-defunct Mihama Takeout down in Torrance. Is that too much to ask? After racking my brain for places on the Westside, it hit me - Sak's! We used to go there all the time but I forgot about them once I stopped frequenting Westwood. We even had a song for the place:
Sak's in yer mouth
Gonna get you some Sak's in yer mouth
That's all I remember, although I don't recall there being much more to the song after those first two lines. You see, we were usually blitzed on something when we stumbled into Sak's. I suppose that explains why we thought that song was so funny at the time. Or why I invariably had a giggling fit whenever I stepped foot in the place. Ahh, memories...
Not much has changed in the last dozen or so years - each plate still comes with two gyoza and the salad still sucks, but the meat and rice are just fine provided you drown them in the house teriyaki sauce. The spicy chicken is everybody's favorite and is tasty as long as you get a good batch. Mine is usually on the dry side but I still order it every time along with the chicken teriyaki (aka, the #19), which is grilled to charcoal-y perfection. Again, be sure to use the bottles of teriyaki sauce liberally as the meat needs some lubrication. They also have bottles of sriracha floating around the dining room if you like a little heat with your meal. Oh, and skip the dining room if the weather is nice and find yourself a seat in the outdoor area up and to the right of the pick-up window. It's so much better than the dining room.
Overall, a pretty average place but it'll do in a pinch if you only have a few bucks in your pocket and a sudden craving for teriyaki. Beware, parking stinks. It is Westwood, after all. -
Review from Lois K.
10/27/2011
I love this place! :) Love their teriyaki, love their gyoza, love the price! As long as you don't mind the plastic trays/utensils and you aren't expecting any sort of ambiance, you won't be disappointed by the taste. I loved Sak's as a UCLA student and went back recently now that I am working in the area. I love it still! My coworker (also a UCLA alum) showed me their upstairs section (go up those brick stairs) which is a nice quiet spot I never knew about. Need to find more people to go with me!
-
Review from Daniel L.
10/21/2010 5 photos
Every college town seems to have a couple of no frills fast food places that are not spectacular but have a strong student following given their history of eating there. Sak's is one of these places along with several others that shares the common threads of selling large meat plates and rice bowls for cheap. Cheap in this case is defined by Westwood standard which by appearance the large portions may lead to the perception of good value but it's still considered expensive with the quality you get. I was running errands at the Village and decided to return to Sak's after a few years of hiatus.
This hole in the wall is sizable comparing to others in the area. The walkway that follows the entrance leads to the dining area and then the kitchen in the back where the orders are taken. The décor is very minimal and subdued, and the most exciting thing you'll see is their poster menu filled with pictures of their foods.
I had the chance to try their Teriyaki Chicken and Spicy Chicken Combo ($6.40) that came with two deep fried pot stickers, salad, and mix of charbroiled and deep fried chicken smothered on top of steamed rice that had been seasoned with frozen peas, corn, and chicken fat. The salad was fresh but the wrapper on the pot stickers were way too thin. The rice was one greasy spoon and the mix of chicken was tasty, not spicy, and not in the best shape. Not sure how many times these pot stickers and chicken were fried and refried. The only thing that looked remotely healthy on their menu was their udon with teriyaki chicken, but otherwise my greasy meal was a good reflection of what you'll likely get here.
Overall, it was a passable meal comprised of large portions and a decent price. I'm trying to avoid Westwood restaurants as much as I possibly can these days, but Sak's is still a viable option for those looking for something quick and easy and don't mind the zero thrills experience. 2.5 stars for the overall experience. -
Review from Andrew N.
1/3/2011
As a college student, I was a regular at Sak's. The food is satisfying and the restaurant itself is a no frills place. It's not fancy and a little run down, but the food is good and hits the spot. To order, you would walk all the way to the back where there's a tiny counter by the bathroom. The staff is usually very friendly and welcoming. To-go orders are made quickly and if you order 'for here', one of the staff members will bring your food to you. The utensils, sauces, and drinks machine are all located in an adjacent room. To use the bathroom, there's a key up front at the counter that you have to get.
The food itself won't blow you away, but it is very good nonetheless and comes in large portion sizes. The meals are usually balanced as the plates come with a side of salad, two gyoza dumplings, as well as the meat you ordered served over fried rice. The gyoza dumplings have a special sauce that you usually have to ask for on the side to get. Sometimes, they'll include it with your order, but most times you have to ask for it. My favorite dish was the Chicken and Fish plate, which is a combination of teriyaki chicken and breaded, fried fish. At $6.40, that meal is a great deal. Compared to other places in Westwood, this restaurant is extremely affordable, especially for someone who was on a student budget as I was. -
Review from Miranda L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sak's is definitely the place to go if you're running low on cash but want a good meal.
Yeah, the fried rice is a little bit oily, and the place looks a little bit ghetto, but the food is pretty darn good for what you pay for. The chicken plate is awesome and so cheap and so filling! Which is what all strapped-for-cash college students look for when they're eating out. At least, that's what I do.
And they have awesome teriyaki sauce and bottles of Sriracha all around the eating area, and those two sauces go awesome with the food. Especially my favorite - the chicken and shrimp plate!
Just don't forget to bring around $7 IN CASH and you're good to go! -
Review from Denisse T.
Van Nuys, CA
6/26/2011
This place is a hidden gem in Westwood. The service is quick, the food is good and everything is inexpensive.
Pros: Inexpensive food, quick service
Cons: Make sure to check your order if you are picking up, they've gotten my order wrong more than once. -
Review from Tiffany C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/4/2010
Another quick, tasty, and affordable spot besides Chipotle. Honestly, there are not that many cheap good eats around Westwood. Chipotle is usually my go-to spot for something fast when I'm in a hurry. It seriously is money-saving since I can't finish the entire Carnitas Bowl, I save the leftover for another meal and it tastes just as good. But I wanted something Asian this time, and Sak's was the first on the list when I searched for Asian restaurants on my GPS in the car.
Parked my car at the meters across the street (put in only 35 cents?). When I first walked into the restaurant, I was a bit lost since I have never been to a restaurant that has such an "interesting" layout: a long hallway that leads you into the kitchen where you order and the dining area is a room with windows where you can observe people eating...NOTE to the guys, NEVER bring a girl here for a first date unless you don't want a second date, just saying.
I ordered the special of the day for takeout (not a very nice place for sit-down dinner anyways), which was chicken leg meat over fried rice with two fried pot stickers and a small salad on the side. The bill was only $5.50! Compared to the Terriyaki Chicken Bowl at Mr. Noodles/Noodle Planet/Ami, it's ridiculously cheap in Westwood. My food was ready for pickup in less than 5 min.
Why only a 3 star? Besides the "decor", unfortunately, quality is proportionally correlated to the price tag (sorry, I'm an Econ major...). The chicken was tender and juicy but since it's the thigh meat, it's a given. The fried potstickers were nothing special since they are probably just fried Lingling's from Costco, and the fried rice was seriously over fried. Rice was a bit mushy to my liking. Salad is just...salad. If I wasn't too starved, I could probably turn it into two meals.
BOTTOM LINE: if you want something quick and cheap to satisfy you Asian food/terriyaki craving in Westwood, Sak's is the place. I will probably return again. -
Review from Yangmun C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Their spicy chicken is amazing. Price is great. The rest of their stuff is whatever. Simple. Sweet. Delish.
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Review from Andy N.
7/28/2010 5 photos
Random note: I wrote this review while I was visiting family in China, and unfortunately, China has blocked off a lot of information accessing websites, including Yelp. So I couldn't log in and post my review while baking in the humid heat, but fear not because I have return for some more Yelp action.
Anyways, on to the actual review one of Westwood's hole-in-the-walls. Andrew L. suggested that me and Chung W. should go grab a bite to eat before our RA duties began, and told us about this place that I've honestly never heard of until after my UCLA undergraduate years were over... Saks Teriyaki! I must say that I am a bit disappointed that I did not know about this joint earlier! Similar to Gushi, this place offers large combo portions with their meats, all of which are at an affordable price.
Saks Teriyaki is hidden between two larger restaurants, but with a little bit of exploring, is easily found. The restaurant structure is quite interesting because there is a large space where you can dine in, but in order to actually get your meal, you need to go to the back where someone behind a counter will take your request. The actual spot where you order is quite hidden, but once you find it, it is quite cool. There is a large menu of offerings here- mostly meats, and all of the prices ranged from $5 - $10.
Luckily we were there on a Monday, where their chicken teriyaki combo was only $6. I decided to order just that, as well as a side of fried oysters (comes in four pieces). The food took a little over ten minutes to prepare, so the wait was not too long. Once I received my bag, the first thing I noted was how heavy it was! I was eager to sink my mouth into this deal breaker.
Inside a combo contains a heaping portion of black bean rice, salad, two gyozas, and your primary meat. The chicken teriyaki I had was delicious, flame-broiled to a taste that even Gushi can't beat. The two gyozas were also a welcome addition to the meal, and there was plenty of rice to go around. As for the oysters, they were decent at best, and will do enough to get your cravings out of the way. I barely finished all of my food in the end, and am pleasantly surprised at how good everything was.
I now know where to go when I need a quick meal fixing for cheap. Highly recommended if you enjoy Gushi. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. -
Review from Jade A.
Diamond Bar, CA
1/18/2011
I would say Sak's Teriyaki is a hidden gem. Literally though, it is hidden. My bf dropped me off by Saks to order food for take-out, but I couldn't easily spot it even when I was standing right in front of it.
Anyway, what I like about Sak's is the generous portion of food for a very affordable price. Through the kitchen window, you can see the chefs grilling the meats...the delicious aroma makes me salivate and my tummy grumble. The food tastes pretty good. I usually get sides of teriyaki and hot sauce...it makes your food taste even better. I especially love the two pieces of fried Gyozo dumplings.
As for service, Sak's provides good service, and the employees are polite. -
Review from jenny k.
San Mateo, CA
4/15/2011
Sak's was definitely one of my favorite places to eat when I was a student at UCLA and living in Westwood. It was (and still is) a great value meal! One plate (meat, salad, fried rice and 2 pieces of gyoza) is super filling. I always got the Spicy Chicken plate and it was always delicious. I liked it so much that I even got my parents hooked on the place and when they came to visit me on random weekends, this would be the place that we'd always go to for lunch (followed by some frozen yogurt!).
Like the reviews before me have already said, it really is a no-frills kind of place and pretty self-service after they've handed the food off to you. The dining room is clean and not elaborately decorated, you bus your own table, and there are extra sauces + all the utensils you need located on a shelf. There's also nice areas to eat outside as well as a patio thats up a set of stairs. Super random, but I've always found the water at Sak's to be delicious... I think it's because it always comes out SUPER cold from the machine... -
Review from Vanessa F.
Culver City, CA
8/21/2010
Only thing here wroth getting? The spicy chicken.
It's crispy
It's spicy [kinda]
It's cheap
It's downright dirrtay good
Everything else is so-so. Yeah this place is cheap, but honestly, I'd rather head over to gushi and get on that combo bowl.
Oh another good thing about this place? The teriyaki sauce.
The end.Listed in: WESTWOOD in the house
-
Review from Mike P.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/15/2011
When you're a poor student, any place that's decent and cheap is bookmarked for future visits. Sak's is one such place. The food is pretty good, and the portions are generous for what you pay for. The spicy chicken is tasty, and it's something not on Gushi's menu (the two places are very similar). I also like that they give a side salad along with your rice and meat. It provides variety to the meal, and the salad really balances the saltiness of the everything else.
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Review from Justin Y.
6/18/2010
Probably the best kept secret in Westwood village. Love this place. It's like my favorite hole in the wall place in westwood. Everyone needs to get off Gushi's NUTS........... That is the Truth. Sak's teriyaki was my go to place when I used to Work at Best Buy. I would call in my order, walk over and my food would be done.............
Location: It's right on Glendon Avenue across from Napa Valley Grill. It's on the same street as Grace Jewelers, Acapulco, and Morgan Jewelers
Price: Super cheap........ Back in my day they didn't allow card but now I believe they do.
Food: Their Chicken is legit. However, their beef isn't that good. It's always taste a bit over-cooked and rubbery. However, their Chicken special is my favorite. Their Gyoza is pretty good too. Their salad is pretty legit. This place reminds me of New Japan!
Decor: I recommend sittin' outside. They have a patio area and a breezeway. It's a bit depressin' to sit under their fluroscent ( I'm TIRED AND NORMALLY CAN SPELL AND WOULD CARE BUT I DONT SO PLEASE DONT JUDGE) lighting.........
Staff: Super sweet and always welcoming -
Review from W L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/5/2009 6 photos
Sometimes you just want simple Chicken Teriyaki.
I love Sak's. It was my favorite place during my college years. I loved it so much, when my family asked me where I wanted to go for my undergrad graduation dinner, I told them Sak's. Yes, it's no venue to hold a fancy dinner but I'm low maintenance and economical. Substance over form!
But they gave me dirty looks. I insisted but they won. It was too bad that Sak's wasn't open.
The past weekend, Saks and I had a 5-year reunion. I showed up with J in tow so that he could be the unbiased judge to see whether I'm crazy or if Sak's is awesome for cheap Japanese food. Chicken Teriyaki and the Spicy Chicken are my favorite. A plate combo typically comes with fried rice, salad, and cripsy gyozas.
The judge's ruling? I'm not crazy. The sauce, man, it's the sauce!
Every time I think of Sak's, I'm reminded of the team t-shirt from the saxophone section of my high school marching band. On the back of the t-shirt, there was a picture of a saxophone with a condom inflated and covering the bell of the sax. The text on the bottom read: Blow Hard, Finger Fast, We Love [Sak's]!
Completely appropriate for high school kids and super parent-friendly, of course.
Anyway - 5 stars for tasty, cheap Japanese food. -
Review from Amy C.
5/14/2008 1 photo
So, my coworkers are always going here to get teriayki bowls and they look so darn happy eating them!
I usually opt for San Sai, but decided to cave in today since I was too lazy to leave the office.
Ordered the #9 (see pic!), which was chicken teriayki, salad, fried rice and 2 pieces of gyoza. OMG.. it was freakin humongo!! I was in shock.
Anyways, the actual food was okay. Chicken was too dry, rice was very filling, but tasty, and the gyoza was kinda hard. Hey, for $5 I can't really complain!
However, I think I'll stick to SS. Sorry JM! -
Review from Regina L.
Iowa City, IA
4/28/2007
I really couldn't wait to yelp this place, but I wished I was yelping this place to write a more positive review since I've read all these awesome reviews below mine.
My bf and I went there on a slow Friday night to pick up some dinner. As for the food, the chicken was delicious. The fried oysters were juicy and just as awesome. The fried rice was just okay. The salad was lacking dressing and for this, I wish we had walked to Gushi's since I was expecting ginger dressing on my salad greens.
Being that this was my first time at my place, I was very highly impressionable of every little detail. There were signs all over : menus, "1st teriyaki free, 2nd is .25," and the check-your-food-before-you-leave-because-we-ain't- giving-you-a-refund -if-you-come-back-later sign. I kept all the signs in mind when I was ordering.
The lady taking my order had trouble understanding what I ordered, thinking that I ordered 2 chicken and oyster plates, but I politely corrected her, saying that I want 1 order of the chicken and oyster, 1 side of oysters, and 2 teriyaki sauces. She writes it down on her ticket and proceeds to give me a number.
After we picked up our order, we double check our meal, as directed by those signs. We found out that a teriyaki sauce is missing. I calmly come back to the window and say, " Hi, we're missing a teriyaki sauce."
The lady turns back to his cook and asked how many sauces did he put and where did he put it. " There's one in the box and in the bag," the cook said. I double check again, opening all our boxes. The lone teriyaki sauce stared at us back, telling us, " Yep, I'm the only one here. Sorry."
I came back to the window, thinking that I must have not paid for the teriyaki sauce. With a wallet in my hand just in case, I came back up to the window and asserted that we only found one. The lady hesitantly grabbed a teriyaki sauce from the back and without checking the ticket, she told me, " You know, it's normally 25 cents for this."
Offended, I snapped at her and replied, " Hey, I did order 2 teriyaki sauces!"
" Oh, really?" She replied with skepticism. At this point, she still hasn't double checked my order ticket. " Next time the 2nd is 25 cents, but right now, it's fine." She handed the small container of teriyaki sauce and I, being the disgruntled customer, took it.
I left that place in a sour mood. I'm not sure why the lady wanted to argue with me over 25 cents. It's not like I was assuming the 2nd teriyaki sauce is free: after reading the signs, I had my wallet in my hand and it would really be sad if I tried to cajoled them out of a small thing that costs 3/4ths of a Diddy Riese cookie.
This place would've gotten 4 stars easily based on the food alone and I would've docked 1 star for the salad lacking the ginger sauce...but the first impression is the only impression you have sometimes. Although the food is delicious (in a greasy way), I'm extremely hesitant to go back to this place due to my experience. -
Review from Toni L.
9/5/2007
The food at Sak's is just as strange as the architecture. I definitely wouldn't call this straight up Japanese. It's more like a mish mosh of Asian themes at Walmart prices.
Food: I got the Spicy Chicken and Chicken combo which came with fried rice and a salad. The fried rice looked like it came straight out of a mall food court (anyone say Panda Express?) and the salad was your basic iceberg and romaine with some Italian dressing on it. As for the chicken, the spicy chicken was breaded and fried, sort of like Chinese sweet and sour Popeye's. The regular chicken was teriyaki style with no sauce. You don't think you'd miss it until it's gone. They have some drinks like Snapple at the front, a fast-food style drink dispenser and you can ask for a cup for free water. For the price, they give you tooons of food, but it's not very tasty.
Atmosphere: First thing you'll notice about this place is the labyrinthine collection of alleyways that make up Sak's. You order in back by this little window around the kitchen after passing the dining room. The seating area looks like an old Wendy's which doesn't make for a super appetizing setting, but hey, this place is basically a fast food joint. I did notice that there were a lot of flies buzzing around my plate and actually found one in my drink after I left to get a box. Could've been the heat but you never know...
Service: You'll know your order is ready when you hear your number called over the squawk box and you pick it up yourself at the window. They're open on holidays (or at least Labor Day).
All in all, this place has inexpensive food, but I'd rather go to a chain if I'm really in the mood for cheap. I didn't really enjoy much of what I bought.Listed in: Japanese Food, Food for UCLA Students
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Review from Jonathan M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2009
Been here a couple of times and each time it was ok. The last time I came was circa 2007 when after ordering something and having it given to me, the waiter drops the food as its about to reach my table. He says he'd take it back and make a new one. But what returned was the same dish that had fallen, it was just re-plated. I could tell cuz it was the same box. I'm an idiot for eating it, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of the situation. So I ate it, and then got an upset stomach.
But regardless of that incident, I'd much rather eat at Gushi a couple blocks away. -
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
8/22/2010
Sak's aint bad, but there are a lot of other better places out there. My white friends love this place cause they think that teriyaki chicken can't get any better than this. ehh, i've eaten duck embryos and DOG, so i know legit asian food, and this is not one of them. just kidding about the dog. kinda.
I mean, sak's isnt bad. I'd definitely come here again since its so cheap, but i think you'd get more bang for your buck at gushi. -
Review from Kevin A.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Good - If youre lookin for quantity over quality at a reasonable price, Sak's is the place to go.
The Bad - Everything was goin great while I was eating the spicy chicken combo i ordered, till i bit into the wonton. (Maybe im just not a big fan of wontons)
The Ugly - They forgot to give me dressing for the salad that comes with the combo. That made the already dry meal even drier.
If i smoked some bud before coming here id probably give it 4 stars -
Review from jacqui d.
Mar Vista, CA
6/2/2008
THE SKINNY:
The fried spicy chicken with extra teriyaki sauce dumped on it is perfect for when you really want to stick it to all those L.A. anorexics crowding around Pink Berry. More delicious, more satisfying, and more calories than a small yogurt for the same price!
THE FATTY:
But I'd stay away from anything that isn't deep fried... The grilled chicken had me questioning the authenticity of the chicken, so that's why it's 3 instead of 4 pointy ones. And they charge you extra if you use credit. And that salad dressing looks like... well, I'm not going to tell you because it isn't rated PG-13 and I don't want to ruin your appetite. -
Review from Wailun eugene W.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/17/2011
Food is quite decent for fast Japanese food and service is quick as well
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Review from Daniel Y.
9/14/2010
A weekly favorite of mine. I almost always get the one of the spicy chicken combos, whether it's spicy chicken and steak or just spicy chicken. If you go, you have to get the spicy chicken because it's fried and then covered in hot sauce - unless you don't like spicy, then get the teriyaki chicken or steak.
The combos come with fried rice, a side salad, and two gyozas. It's plenty of food for a cheap price.
The owner is super nice and remembers what I usually get, but that could just be that I go there at least twice a week.
An awesome hole-in-the-wall off of busy Westwood Blvd. that keeps it not too busy. But for those of us who know it's there, it keeps the regulars coming. -
Review from Michael F.
Los Angeles, CA
2/26/2010
Sak's is a very strange place that has some decent food for cheap. The layout of this place is as if several businesses where converted into one place to form a single confusing maze. It makes no aesthetic sense whatsoever, but there is always a place to sit if you look around. It is also pretty hard to find if you have not been before.
The food is basically "Asian inspired" fast food. Their fried rice is amazing! Love their dumplings and their fried shrimp too. Every table has a bottle of teriyaki, so that you can drench your food to your satisfaction. This is not the type of place you want to take someone if you are trying to impress them, but it is the type of place to go if you are really hungry and don't want to spend a lot of money. Sak's is A-OK!Listed in: Westwood Area Eateries
