- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Sushi Koyo
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
868 N Diamond Bar BlvdDiamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 861-6537
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
122 reviews for Sushi Koyo
Review Highlights
"blue crab hand roll was AMAZING."
(in 15 reviews)
"hiro, the owner and master sushi chef is awesome."
(in 61 reviews)
"A pointer for those who haven't had Omakase sushi."
(in 42 reviews)
Loading...
122 reviews in English
-
Review from Giao T.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hiro, the owner here, is the Hattori Hanzo of Itamae's - master sushi chef. It's all traditional and no new age, fusion or nouveau cuisine going on. There's even a sign that says Omakase: "If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you." No, it doesn't mean that, but he's making the sushi his way, no burger king here.
Blue crab hand roll is definitely one of the most popular along with lobster, salmon, toro and well anything else. Everything is very fresh, but expect and accept to pay a little more than normal. You'll get 20% off if you're able to Check-In with your phone - that should ease the pain a little. I always leave with a little dent in my wallet. Seating is limited and a bit cramped, but it makes for a personal and intimate experience for you and your date. -
Review from Jun z.
Mission Viejo, CA
1/3/2012
It's a very solid sushi place. I've been coming here for the past 6 years. When I was in college I really had to save up my pennies to be able to eat here, lol, now it's much easier on my increased budget :)
It's a mom and pop operation, really small and intimate. Most of the time you can eat whatever you want, but Friday night is omakase. If you sit at the sushi bar, you can probably enjoy a chat with the chef, Hiro San.
My favorites are butterfish, bluefin toro tuna, uni, blue crab hand roll, and sweet shrimp. I'm also up for trying new stuff too. The butter fish and toro tuna just metls in your mouth. The quality of fish is always top notch. The chef wakes up at 4am everyday to go to the fish market and tastes everything before serving it for the day. I have introduced many of my friends to this place over the years. -
Review from Michelle P.
West Covina, CA
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Upon the recommendation of friends who are local to the area and frequent this restaurant for lunch, we decided to try out the dinner time Omakase only sushi bar. This place is definitely a sushi diamond in the rough of Diamond Bar.
Located in a small plaza behind Oak Tree Lanes, the restaurant was very small and intimate with the capability to seat approximately 20 people or less. When we arrived, Chef Hiro and his wife were very kind and attentive - our empty plates were always taken away, our water glasses were always full and there was always new sushi on our plates waiting for us. HIro has a quiet and professional demeanor when serving customers and is very attentive to creating his sushi. Don't feel too shy to engage him to conversation though - he's very personable and has an off-beat and friendly sense of humor to him.
The quality of the fish was very fresh and tasty - the toro nigiri, blue crab hand roll (absolutely amazing) and monk fish liver hand roll (delicious!) were definitely my favorites. Hiro also makes his own Ikura (Salmon Roe) which was very fresh and not as salty as it usually is. His ikura definitely had a sweeter more delicate flavor that left me popping the stray eggs into my mouth one by one.
Something to note about the sushi is that the sushi rice is served warm out of the cooker as opposed to room temperature. This is a nice contrast as it plays up the coolness of the fish. Depending on the selection, the warm rice is a great compliment to the fish bringing out either the sweet or buttery flavor depending on Hiro's selections for the day.
I had around 18-20 pieces of nigiri and 2 hand-rolls for about 70 dollars which I consider to be a good value considering the freshness of the fish and quality of service. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the mood for sushi. -
Review from Jimmy M.
Long Beach, CA
2/9/2012
This is my favorite sushi bar/restaurant in Southern California. Its not fancy, you arent coming here for the ambiance or lighting. You coming for the quality fish. I ruined myself by eating sushi at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo and nothing comes even remotely close to being that good besides the sushi at Sushi Koyo. This is real, down to earth sushi.
-
Review from kitty c.
Walnut, CA
2/4/2012
My friend recommended this place so we decided to give it a try tonight. It's slower than I expected but we definitely enjoyed the omakase style which is the best - non-stop fresh and delicious sushi! Hiro-san is so funny and the service is warm and attentive. Will definitely return!
-
Review from ALEX L.
Fullerton, CA
Came here during lunch while waiting for my car to get fixed. They have some unique fish. I really like the sweet unagi an blue crab hand roll. The salmon melts on your mouth
-
Review from Im H.
Hesperia, CA
1/28/2012
i used to go to this place when i was younger and i moved away for about 8 years.when i returned i sat at the bar and the chef brought me the same order that i used to order.i didn't think he would even remember me let alone know what i used to order.needless to say i think he is a special person and you will see that when you go there. by the time you leave you will have probably have had some type of interaction with all the other costumers.Hiro will make sure of that for sure. FOOD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF MMMMMMMMMMMM!!! :D BEST SUSHI EVER AND IM SUPER PICKY! YOU ARE MY HIRO!
-
Review from Jay C.
West Covina, CA
12/20/2011
I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said about Sushi Koyo, so let me say this; I'm not a sushi expert, and even I know this stuff is excellent.
-
Review from Matt H.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a great time in here last night. Omakase of the highest quality and good banter with Hiro. I really enjoyed the Butterfish (called Pompano at other establishments) and Salmon. My dinner companions raved about the Blue Crab hand roll, but I didn't think it was *that* awesome.
It can get pricey but it is worth the freight. I will be back. -
Review from Kinda L.
Rowland Heights, CA
9/9/2011
I am quite disappointed that this place has 4 stars. Should have known better when the place was empty at 7 on a friday. Ordered the special for 2 that came with baby tuna, butter fish, shrimp, halibut, a spicy tuna hand roll, and the crab hand roll that everyone raved about. I also added an extra uni and eel. Nothing was great, most were average at best. The crab hand roll was okay. $65 down the drain.
Oh yea. Another red flag. They have signs that say they only serve traditional sushi, so no rainbow row or crunch rolls. That's Cool. But then when you look at the sushi list they have California roll -.- Last time I checked traditional sushi chefs ,The Nazi, would kick you out for trying to order California roll. -
Review from James L.
Glendora, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is literally one of the best sushi experiences I've had in my life. I've been to dozens and dozens of sushi restaurants in southern California and Sushi Koyo is a chart topper.
If you're looking for an authentic sushi meal, look no further.
Sit at the bar. Get the "chefs choice" (he personally buys his fish in LA DAILY).
For the Omakase or "chefs choice" he basically chooses the top of the line sushi at that time
I went with my girlfriend and had a large sake, and three large beers. Our bill was around $100. WELL WORTH IT!
If you're on a date you will look awesome going here...if you love sushi you will be in heaven!
Don't listen to any other review but this one. TRUST ME!!!! -
Review from Christian C.
Diamond Bar, CA
7/10/2011
I. Love. Sushi. And this place absolutely delivers, in quite a unique way also haha
The service here is very polite and courteous as you would expect from a traditional Japanese place, but can be a little slow when theres a huge rush because there's only one person helping Hiro (I think its his wife)
I've had both the omakase as well as the standard lunch option here, and both are very good. The lunch selection is fairly priced, not too expensive but not super affordable either, just right in the middle, and the quality of the food is very good.
BUT omakase is the reason that you need to try this place. Sit at the sushi bar and let HIro choose what you're going to have for your meal, it will be an awesome food experience as you get to taste so many different types of fish prepared so skillfully by Hiro. He does (as many people have pointed out) have a very straightforward and somewhat dry sense of humor that some may find offensive, but if you can learn to take the little nudges at you in stride it makes the whole experience a lot more fun (trust me I've learned this first hand -_- )
I won't bother to go through all the fish that you can try here because they are simply all just amazing. The blue crab hand roll is worth mentioning though, its very very good.
This is THE place to go in the DB area for 100% legit sushi, plus it helps if you're Japanese, Hiro will treat you better haha just being honest XD Its a definite must try and you should be ashamed of yourself if you like sushi and haven't had Sushi Koyo before. -
Review from Olga B.
Los Angeles, CA
7/18/2011 8 Check-ins Here
My husband has been a faithful follower of Hiro for almost a decade now. My whole family adores him and of course his sushi!
Our favorites: blue crab handroll and butter fish sushi!
This place is like the neighborhood "Cheers" bar where everybody knows your name!
We've been to a lot of the trendy sushi places in LA even Little Tokyo but we keep coming back to Hiro! -
Review from Serena S.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
For the longest time, I couldn't find any other sushi establishment that even came close to my "super secret sushi place". This place gave it a run for its money. I grew up around these parts and NEVER heard of this place. Apparently they've been around for 29 years! The quality is top notch and the service is great. Sushi bar is strictly omakase, but if you want to order anything off the menu, you can request table service. Hiro is the sushi chef and he's full of laughter and conversation. They serve sashimi and nigiri, you won't find any rainbow rolls or caterpillar rolls here. They keep things traditional, which means you can find things here the most other sushi places don't serve such as ankimo (monkfish liver) and REAL crab. This place is definitely pricey, but very much worth the quality of food you're getting. There aren't to many restaurants around Diamond Bar that I really crave or rave about, but this place is truly a gem. Right now, if you check-in on your Yelp app, you can get 20% off your sushi order. They also offer a discount card, in which you get a stamp for every $50 you spend. After about 8 stamps, you get $25 off your next visit. I will most definitely be back.
-
Review from Caleb F.
Diamond Bar, CA
7/23/2011
You become like family the moment you walk into the restaurant. It is a nice cozy environment. Ate dinner there, only sushi was served. No rolls.
GOOD:
Friendly staff, the fresh sushi. Very clean. Very high quality. Every piece is carefully cut and decorated delicately for the perfect presentation.
BAD:
It is on the expensive-side. about $50 to eat enough to feel satisfied, but not stuffed. Because it is a small mom-pop operation, there was only one sushi chef, so when it was a full house, the food took awhile. So if you are in a hurry, this is not your place.
FAV:
Toro (if available) the price was $7.50 for two pieces.
Salmon
Tuna
Blue Crab Handroll
Lobster Handroll -
Review from Ricky A.
Fontana, CA
4/28/2011
I first started coming here when I worked at Lanterman across the street many years back. It's a treat to have a place like Koyo in the area.
The warm service and freshness of the fish are only the beginning. Patrons can sense the pride and care that Hiro-san devotes to his craft. He may come off snarky at times, so you'd better be brave enough to survive the first impression. I have never met a more genuine sushi chef and respect his brash/honest personality.
During dinner, the sushi bar is omokase and hopefully you enjoy some of the freshest nigiri (this side of Little Tokyo).
Come for the sushi, stay for the company.. Koyo offers no-frills/unpretentious sushi that's worth every penny. -
Review from A N.
Chino Hills, CA
3/16/2011
Made a huge mistake of taking guests to this place without ever having tried it before. We came here to try the butter fish. Initial reaction is the place was not presentable at all. The ambience should have discouraged us but the old cliche "dont judge a book by its cover" prevailed. I've eaten at not-so-well decorated places, but enjoyed the food. No big deal.
Second, they were out of almost everything. No cooked food available. No prob, we prefer sushi anyway. No butter fish either. We should have taken the queue from one of the drunken customers who was raving about their sushi. When asked what his favorite was, he said California roll. Okay, not very authentic but that's okay. We were hungry. I don't remember what we had but it was no good. It seemed to have just thawed out.
Third, the man behind the sushi bar was one rude fella'. I guess he thought his remarks were funny - in case he reads this...."no Mr., you come out rude and crabby. You embarrassed us and made us uncomfortable."
Fourth, get this....the customers were helping out in the kitchen, serving the beer, getting ice, water. Are you kidding me?
We have never returned to this place again. The person who suggested the butter fish to us has persuaded us to try it again. It is not your typical sushi house. Other than the crabby, rude man (maybe the owner), there are no other Japanese eating there. That says so much about authenticity. Need I say more? -
Review from Pamela L.
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nighttime is Omakase only! ... And pricey!
I made a small mistake by eating here when I wanted to 'catch-up' with my friend. The times that I were able to focus on the food though, it was quite delicious. Some foods I had never tried before, some weren't as palatable for me, but it was definitely a good experience. I would come again.
Plum wine was yummy. -
Review from Rosemary T.
Tustin, CA
At night, they only sale Sushi and Sashimi. The selections here are minimum, but the quality here are sure the best. This was my first time here, and I liked it a lot. If you've been to Japan, this is pretty much like the sushi restaurants in Japan.
I ordered lot of sushi, so no need to list it all. The best I had was their yellow tail nigiri (sushi) and butter fish nigiri. I seriously don't get how nigiri got their name changed to sushi now. Sushi suppose to a roll, and nigiri suppose to be a piece of fish on top of a little oval ball of rice. Grrrrr, I guess that's what we call American Japanese now.
Anyways, the fish here are so sweet and it melts in your mouth. Each piece of nigiri is a perfect bite. The rice here, interestingly, is warm. I like warm rice better because it shows that their food is fresh.
With that said, because I live in Irvine, I wouldn't drive up here to eat Sushi. If I'm at Rowland/Diamond Bar area, I would want Chinese type of food that I can't have in Irvine. -
Review from Chris A.
This is one of my go-to Japanese restaurants. My family has been coming here for years... so much that the couple that owns the place knows us on a first name basis. Hiro and Tako are always so friendly and provide good service. The establishment is a little small and might not be noticed from the street since it's tucked away in a shopping center amongst some offices and small business in the suburb of Diamond Bar. We only found it because it's near my dad's office, but it's definitely a nice find. There's also plenty of parking.
When you walk through the door, they always have the daily special showcased in the front. You can also sit at the sushi bar, but it's the style where the chef decides what to serve you. That can be a fun eating experience. If I don't like all the items in the special, I usually default to the Koyo Deluxe, which comes with salmon shioyaki, tempura, sashimi, and salad. The salmon shioyaki is always made well and not overcooked, nor is the fish tough. The sashimi is also pretty fresh and you get a good variety.
If you're in the area, give it a try. I'll be back again. Service and food has been consistent for many many years. -
Review from Vince The G.
Hacienda Heights, CA
2/22/2011 1 photo
overrated.
Some good stuff but quite expensive. -
Review from Martin L.
Monterey Park, CA
2/19/2011
The lunch special combination with salmon teriyaki and sashimi was awesomely delicious (just like me).
I'm all for a good deal. I feel sorry for people who live on the Westside who think that a $12 lunch special is cheap. But for about $10, even a big eater like me can be satisfied.
I'll be back (and you should too). -
Review from Vanessa J.
Walnut, CA
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ive been going here for about 10 years. It is by far, the best sushi bar in SGV and I would have to say in all of LA. My all time faves: blue crab hand roll, sashimi butterfish (kinda expensive, but soooo worth it!), spicy scallop roll, salmon, lobster roll, and pretty much anything you order!!! Hiro is crazy fun and excellent at his skil!!!
-
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
7/29/2010
All you control freaks out there, you gotta let go when you enter Sushi Koyo...and put yourself in the hands of the sushi chef, Hiro. It will be well worth your while. Trust me, your tastebuds will thank you for it.
The fish was fresh and the combo of flavors were something I never experienced in your standard sushi roll shops. I was pleasantly surprised every time the next offering came out. I was also surprisingly stuffed by the end.
The only thing is it's a gamble in terms of the final bill and service. Prices are based on whatever Hiro wants to give you that day, and while he was great and informative (did you know he imported his equipment from Japan?) when I was there, I can see how on other days he may be a little stoic. Just roll with the punches. -
Review from Carese L.
Rowland Heights, CA
6/24/2010
this place was dead...we were the only party in here and after a while, i realized for good reason. HALF a star..maybe
we ordered a decent amount of food...the waiter told us they only had sushi and sashimi and we said that was fine and sat down. ordered the black sea bream, butter fish, salmon, mackerel, jumbo..but really its orange clam, jumbo scallop, yellowtail, blue crab h/r, tuna roll, and baby tuna sashimi.
ok..so it sounds like we ate a MOUNTAIN of food, but we only got one order of everything (2 pc per order)...two or three for the ones we felt were safe bets.
black sea bream - by far was one of the best and seemed the freshest
butter fish - very bland, not a fan
salmon - good, it had some funky thin layer on top - maybe seaweed? but the three of us didn't mind it
mackerel - usually one of my favorites...but this one was "eh" at best
orange clam - below average w/ an extra slimy feel to it
jumbo scallop - i didn't taste it, but my friends were not impressed and they said it definitely wasn't "jumbo"
yellowtail - typical
blue crab h/r - when they arrived at the table, i smelled something stanky...not just fishy. 'n yah...it was def the h/r, but my friends didn't smell it. they did however say they were not good and tasted like cooked tuna
tuna roll - REALLY small
baby tuna sashimi - good...but unknown price - maybe market priced?
all the sushi came w/ really WARM crumbling rice and weird temperatured fish. we spent $140 (EXcluding tip) and no...we didn't have any alcohol. so overall...not a good experience. and now i realize why no one was eating there...super expensive...and poor food handling. just gross...i'm positive we'll be feeling the after effects later tonight -_- -
Review from twistera m.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2011
warm sushi rice won me over! i am in love! :D
as an impromptu dinner date, bf took me here as a surprise. And surprise it was! Omakase. Melts in your mouth. Ah, those words never meant anything to me until we sat down at the bar and let Hiro do his thing.
This place is a total gem and if you're a serious sushi lover, you wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to visit this place. I'd definitely come back. :) -
Review from Allison M.
Murrieta, CA
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needed a somewhat health(ier) food option and saw good reviews. Quiet and unassuming sushi bar. Great and attentive server. Sushi was very good (especially albacore for me). Blue crab was indeed tasty!
-
Review from Wendy C.
Oakland, CA
1/8/2011
My favorite sushi joint period. The chef remembered I didn't like wasabi and did not put too much into the sushi during subsequent visits :)
I love their scallop HR, salmon nigiri, and butterfish nigiri. Everything is the right temperature, the right flavor, the right texture. My tab easily accumulates to $40 but I don't mind. -
Review from Dan P.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
10/12/2010
This is a very tiny unassuming restaurant but don't let the looks fool you. It's definitely the best sushi you can get east of the 57 freeway.
There's only one real way to appreciate this place and that's to do it Omokase style (just beware because it can get quite pricey). I've been here twice and each time had an awesome culinary experience. The fish tastes amazingly fresh. I was blown away by each plate that was brought out and this even included Uni, which I usually associate with DOO DOO.
Also be prepared for Hiro, he can be quite an ass (but in a good way).
I paid between 120-150 for each meal (2 people each time). Depends on how much you can eat and drink =PListed in: Dan Phan says you MUST EAT…, Dan Phan's Sushi List
-
Review from Dinh T.
Brea, CA
3/2/2010
Omakase? Hell Yes!
Ok folks, do you know what Omakase is? Haven't googled it yet? It is the expression is used at sushi restaurants to leave the selection to the chef. Once you walk in the door of this quiet little place, ask for the omakase and plop yourself at the sushi bar. As i said before, you leave your selection to the chef, and Hiro, is the one man that is good enough to do it.
No need to order anything else (except for some good sake and beer). Each plate that Hiro serves you just gets better and better. From the sweet, to the buttery to the satisfying, you can definitely get your sushi fix here! But note, this is SUSHI, no California roll debacles here. If you want something like that, go to some cheap supermarket and get food poisoning. Hiro shows you why sushi is an art of both the senses and the soul with a sense of humor to boot.
So grab a date and/or a few friends and make a beeline to Sushi Koyo. You will not be disappointed.
Hiro is my Sushi Hero!Listed in: My Faves, My Five Star Greats, My favorite sushi joints!
-
Review from Bon Z.
Hollywood, CA
8/2/2011
Best sushi bar in Diamond Bar.
-
Review from Vy N.
Westminster, CA
1/5/2008 3 photos
I am officially member of the Hiro fan club! Wow! I got back from Sushi Koyo about 3 hours ago and seriously... it took me that long to calm my ass down enough to write about it. One advice, do trust Hiro he will not do you wrong. The sushi melts in your mouth and the uni was so sweet. Usually you would taste that weird stench from bad uni and clever sushi chefs know to mask that smell with lemon but not Hiro, he didn't need to! It's Omakase at the bar so if you're on a specific budget it might be a good idea to sit at the table instead. I don't think I've ever had such an expensive sushi meal for lunch before! Or maybe we were just pigs, even the waitress commented that we must have been very hungry because our bill was pretty high. But it was oh so worth it... Lets see I had:
Tuna
Red Snapper
Salmon
Butterfish
Albacore
Orange crown
Yellow Tail
Uni
Spanish Mackerel
Sweet Shrimp
Oysters
and of course the blue crab handroll.
Each bite into the sushi brought about that happy feeling that only your fondest childhood memories could bring forth. It might have been the warm rice but I totally recommend this place.Listed in: One Fish.. Two Fish... Red…
-
Review from Brad K.
Diamond Bar, CA
Updated - 6/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I dined at Sushi Koyo once again last night and I feel I should update my last review. The sushi is as good as ever, even though the wrestling t shirts have been removed from the walls, much to my chagrin. The sushi at the bar is still omakase, but I love not having to make decisions and I enjoy everything Hiro presents to me. One piece of advice, if you have anyone in the group who does not and will not eat sushi, you may want to call in advance to make sure the kitchen portion of the restaurant is still open to cook tempura or teriyaki chicken. Overall, if you want traditional sushi while sitting at a sushi bar, this place is a home run.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/3/2009
This is the best sushi I have ever had! Hiro is my hero. He doesn't compromise his beliefs in sushi… Read more »
-
-
Review from Catherine W.
Fullerton, CA
3/14/2008
This' the WORST sushi restaurant I've been to by far. Not only was the service really bad, but the sushi chef was absolutely rude to new customers, no greetings from him what so ever, and he kept chatting and cackling away with 'the regulars', which was so unprofessional...since I would NEVER want my sushi chef to be talking so much that he spits all over my foods!
In addition the omakase was exactly the same as if you were going to order from the sushi menu! I've been to many authentic sushi restaurants, and this place is an insult to all other 'traditional sushi' restaurants. -
Review from Jenny K.
11/21/2009
Hiro-san. great to meet you!! =)
sushi bar is reserved for omakase customers only. if you aren't adventurous, go sit at a table.
omakase was excellent!! every piece of fish that met my tastebuds was delightful. fresh, nicely cut, good value -- exceeded our expectations!!
butterfish and albacore were my favorite. bf luv'd the crab roll, uni, mackerel. scallop was prepared with a shiso leaf. it was the first time we have had black snapper with chili paste ponzu sauce. when i close my eyes, i can imagine the satisfaction i got with every bite melting in my mouth..
i was surprised that it has been a staple for 27 years. hiro's been serving up sushi since 1982. he is a funny guy with a good sense of humor.
i asked, "what does koyo mean? is it your last name? the city you came from??"
hiro's response, "koyo? eat more. drink more. pay and go home."
LOL!!
we'll be back with friends. =)
p.s. dinner is sushi only. if you want to order chicken teriyaki, tempura, etc...go somewhere else.
p.p.s. it is located inbetween acapulco and d'antonio's. -
Review from Angela C.
4/5/2008
If you're looking for Authentic Japanese food in the Diamond Bar area, look no further... Sushi Koyo is your place! It's a really small place, hidden behind other businesses in a very lowkey complex. When I walked in all I saw were regulars sitting at the sushi bar with one lone chef handling all the customers (Chef Hiro - he is the owner as well as the one and only chef at this place).
Signs indicate boldly that in order to sit at the sushi bar you must eat Omakase style (Chef's choice). A sign in BOLD says that they do not serve California rolls or any of the other specialty rolls that you'd find at not so traditional sushi restaurants.
Chef Hiro is kind of quiet and busy with his craft, not really taking the time to engage his guests. I can see why people might say that this place has bad service but I disagree. Once I engaged Chef Hiro in conversation he joked around a bit with us and told us a little more history about himself and his restaurant. The one waittress there constantly took away our dirty dishes and refilled tea without us needing to ask. I think the culture/language barrier may be the reason why people might think this place has "bad service", but I think some of the reviews here are unnecessarily harsh.
The fish itself was completely fresh and with certain nigiri pieces, we were told not to dip it in soy sauce because Chef Hiro had seasoned it just to his liking. Needless to say, the fish did not need soy sauce, the stand alone taste was more than enough!
All in all a very good experience, our bill for two people eating Omakase came out to be about $85. It was more than fair considering the quality of fish we got here.Listed in: Hole in the Wall Sushi
-
Review from Deborah H.
New York, NY
8/14/2007
Wow. I was doubtful after reading the reviews here, but this place officially displaces Irori in Marina Del Rey as my favorite sushi joint. Sure, the food is fantastic (definitely do the omokase and sit at the sushi bar... my favorites were the salmon w/ sweet seaweed, blue crab roll, and white tuna, but everything was wonderful), the prices are decent (about 95$ for two with beer, which is very reasonable for the excellent quality), but the main draw is Chef Hiro-san.
The place wasn't very crowded on a Tuesday evening, and the few people in the restaurant were packed around the sushi bar. All but my coworker and I were regulars; one gentleman said he's been frequenting the establishment for 15 years. Hiro-san is downright hilarious. His personality and laughter are contagious, and he had all of us joking and chatting with each other like we've known each other for ages. There were several moments where we couldn't continue eating because we were laughing too hard. He immediately dubbed me bird-girl (due to my graphic print tee), and kept referring to my rosy cheeks (yup, I get the asian glow) as "shek-shee." My dining neighbor joked that the regulars take the verbal abuse from the "dirty old man" because the food is "so damn good."
Seriously, when you have a sushi chef who knows each and every one of his guests by name, and actually arranges a private tour group once a year for his customers only (I really want to go), you know you've found a really special place.
Before leaving I promised Hiro-san I'd come back every time I'm back in the area. I can't wait until my next visit! -
Review from D Ç.
Pomona, CA
3/13/2010
The results are in! Hiro is definitely the Sushi Nazi. When first visiting this place, don't be surprised if you're ignored, humiliated, belittled, and sent walking home with your pride, and dignity on the floor.
If you're a masochist, this is the place for you! If this is the case, then this place could be the equivalent of Ichi to Kakihara (if you've seen Ichi the Killer, you'll understand what I mean) for you. He's all about giving, and how you receive it is up to you.
With this knowledge, it's actually an entertaining place to go. Everything is focused on the charismatic draw of the chef, Hiro. It's true, he's kind of an ass, but it can actually be quite hilarious when his attention isn't focused on you. And FYI, he also seems to target the individuals who are uncomfortable around him.
On to the food:
The sushi is very good. Don't expect the Americanized sushi you'll find at many of the sushi restaurants in, and around Los Angeles. There is a sign on the wall which clearly reads, "This restaurant only serves traditional style sushi. Thank you". This statement is true to the core, and Hiro shows his customers the true meaning of "keeping it real". From his customer service, to his sushi, to his interpersonal skills, there's nothing phony about him.
I'd been coming here forever, and I can definitely say that the Omakase is the way to go. Hiro takes his customers on a dining adventure, and the introduction of each new dish explores the many different levels which are associated with a traditional sushi meal. Two of the items, which he introduces in his selection, are the blue crab handroll, and the butterfish. I have never had a better bluecrab handroll in any of the sushi restaurants I've visited. His preparation is simple, yet sophisticated in his balance of the sweetness of the crab, combined with the light sting of the wasabi, and warm, sticky, perfectly prepared rice. The butterfish is....well....what would you expect from a butterfish? It melts in your mouth. A+++
I have to knock down his rating, however, due to my last experience there. I ran into another friend who was dining there, who happens to have a good relationship with Hiro. We sent him an order of sushi, and he began sending us multiple orders. We weren't there half as long, but our meal was twice the price of our friend's. We found out that they put the sushi items he sent us on our bill, in addition to our own order, and the one item we sent him. I'm very unhappy with that, but give them the benefit of the doubt, and will only bring it down one star. -
Review from Michael F.
Pasadena, CA
2/3/2010
The first time I went to Sushi Koyo was on a Sunday. My wife and I were dismayed to read the sign that had hours for all days of the week except Sunday - which it said, "Go to Church." We laughed and thought maybe another day.
A few months later, we returned to tell the chef, Hiro, about our little tale. He asked, "Did you laugh?" with a sly grin. When we said 'yes', he broke out into laughter and I'm sure in his mind he thought - "Got 'em!"
And that seems to be the atmosphere of Sushi Koyo - it is centered around its charismatic chef behind the bar. It is their only chef. And "Got 'em!" seems to be his way of doing business with his customers, whether warm-heartedly or not. While you may be hesitant to let your sushi palate be challenged by Hiro, he'll "get you" with all the cool varieties of sushi he'll serve you.
At the bar, you don't order the food - he just gives you want he wants. Its good business, show casing the Chef's personal ability while also managing costs. Typically, price is the same as an a la carte menu for food.
The atmosphere is homey and small, and tells of a unique traditional-Japanese dining experience. Hiro is an obvious fan of professional wrestling, as he hangs his t-shirts of wrestling stars next to the fishing nets on the wall. Not classy, but interesting and full of character nonetheless.
You won't be treated to a high-end customer-based service around here. As soon as we walked in, the Chef behind the counter shouted "SUZIE!" (like another reviewer wrote), and he plainly explained how things went. There were no "Welcome to our place, etc, etc, kiss your butt, how are you" - just this is the bar, this is the table, and we do business our way here.
That's the attitude that Hiro seems to project in his restaurant. Above the bar it says "Trust me" and "Take It Easy". When I started poking around the menu and started asking for stuff and what was in his fish, he said, "Trust me." To which I replied, "Ok, ok, I'll take it easy." He smiled and acknowledged that he has his own philosophy.
However, this attitude of take it easy and "got 'em" can be carried far away. We were told that eating at the bar would be about $60 for both of us. When the check came in, it was $90. Hiro and his staff definitely had their way of saying "Got em!" to us.
We might return another day, when we're rich, but dropping that much dough on a short dining experience where I wasn't full at the end, doesn't seem like a good way to go. Yet, for a unique dining experience with fantastic, flavorful and fresh food... Sushi Koyo can't be beat.
Just don't show up at 1:45 at the end of lunch or near closing... otherwise he'll say "What the hell?!" to you. As you walk away with no food, think to yourself: "He got me." -
Review from Chris C.
8/23/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place
The sushi quality here is unbelievable. I felt like I was in the heart of LA or on shores in San Diego. The seafood is as fresh as you can get and the chef does wonders with it.
Be sure to grab the blue crab handroll.. but prepare to order 10 more. Love at first bite. Everything else was pretty much on par with it.
The prices are a bit high but you get what you pay for and it's certainly not as pricey as some of the other places out there.
I cannot recommend this place enough.
