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The Hump - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Sushi Bars Sushi Bars [Edit]
3221 Donald Douglas Loop SSanta Monica, CA 90405
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
(310) 313-0977
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
145 reviews for The Hump
Review Highlights
"The omakase here is a true culinary experience."
(in 43 reviews)
"Lobster sashimi and miso were UNBELIEVABLE."
(in 39 reviews)
"Everything was very fresh and well put together."
(in 12 reviews)
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145 reviews in English
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Review from wes w.
Walnut, CA
9/15/2010
I've been there several times. Chef Yama San was great, food was great, the location is incredibly romantic. The waitress, Keiko! All very nice people. Their food is great, always something new to try!
Too bad they got stung by the whale incident.
All people make mistakes., and its not the worst thing in the world like some people make it sound. I don't agree with using endangered species for food, but at the same time people need to examine their own souls.
the people who say things like "they should burn in hell" I mean, really? Unless you're a vegetarian and don't kill animals, killing a cow is not different than a sheep, than a dog, than a squirrel. A swordfish, a shark, a salmon, well just another fish.
People in Alaska, Norweig, and many other countries eat whales. Yes, they're people, and they eat whales, raw. -
Review from Toshiro D.
Los Angeles, CA
7/17/2010
Save the Whales!!! (for my dinner)
Well well well. Our Humps friends were burned at the steak - no pun intended - for serving an animal that is endangered, whatever that means in an era where we could likely clone 1 million of them (or will soon). And the place is called the HUMP! haha Well, you should have all know!
I guess I feel like murdering a human being is a pretty serious crime but there are all these groups running around defending these maniacs by offering excuses. But there is no advocacy group for the owner of restaurants that murder animals! Because like, um, that's why we go to them.
My opinion here is that the principal should be either all animals have individual rights - in which case no living creature should be killed - or none do (the latter is the correct position).
Its a crazy world where we pick and choose which animals have rights depending on their cuteness, possible intelligence, size, lack of taste, number, etc. Not that I like people who abuse animals. Can't stand that.
Personally, I am not keen on killing whales to eat. I tend to agree that they're quite majestic and its not something that I would be into. However, that's my choice which I don't need to push on to someone else.
But to do what they did to this guy...I mean wow. But the crazy, ironic part is that this is another celeb pseudo Japanese spot with very expensive food and silly patrons who think that they're in the know. Said patrons are also often nutty nut pseudo socialists who drive 300 grand cars, take private jets, live in mansions and probably pollute the earth more than a group of a 1000 of us. And yet they never shut up about the trees, whales, or whatever the hell it is that day that they're using to make the rest of us forget that they really stand for, and believe in...nothing.
Well, I don't think that this man should have closed. I certainly don't think that he should have accepted being used by a movie team and the Government as a scape goat. Do you know what goes on in most restaurants in LA? The filth, the quality or lack of it in food? Japanese restaurants are some of the best, and most law abiding...when the law makes sense. In this case, it does not.
I feel very bad for the owner here, more so because he had to take a bullet for a world that is full of contradictions - and one increasingly based on anti-industrial, anti-capitalist, anti-man views.
Still, like Bill Gates when attacked by Reno, he cut and run. Sad. That's what the 3 stars are for. He gets 5 in my heart for standing up to an irrational world. He's gets 1 for pandering to idiot patrons. Instead of committing restaurant hara kiri, he should have did what Mifune Toshiro did in Samurai Rebellion and go after all these momos with a sword. -
Review from David M.
Culver City, CA
10/30/2010
Thanks yelp for deleting my review.
Censorship is Un-American. -
Review from John S.
San Francisco, CA
5/6/2010
I know restaurants don't have souls, but sometimes I wish they did so that places like The Hump could forever burn in unquenchable fire.
Whales are mysterious, beautiful, strange, and intelligent creatures. They're right up there with chimpanzees in terms of intelligence, communication, and the complexity of their social structures. You know how it's kind of spooky to look a chimp in the eye because of how human it looks? Well, would you ever want to eat that little guy? If not, why would you eat a whale?
The sad part is that whaling might become even more common in the future. Thanks to some wonderful activism--and contrary to what Josh L. says, it's not a fad; the save-the-whales movement has been around since the '70s--the scale of whaling has been drastically reduced, and many species have benefited over the past twenty years. The bad new is that countries like Japan and Norway continuously use foreign-aid as a carrot/stick to coerce other countries on the International Whaling Commission to lift the ban on commercial whaling that has been in place since 1986. To many of these countries, whaling doesn't really matter one way or the other, but they would like to receive foreign aid, so they vote in Japan and Norway's favor.
What does all of this have to do with The Hump? Well, the more accepted something like eating whale becomes, the more afraid politicians will be to stand up for what is right. What is right in this case is to spare our enormous aquatic cousins from the brutality of industrial-scale whaling.Listed in: Consider the Past
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Review from Ki R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/15/2010
THE HUMP IS CLOSING ITS DOORS
http://www.thehump.biz/
Yes I have been there.
My good friend is a friend of the camera man for the COVE the movie and they ROCK!
One day I will have the honor to meet them and shake their hands, Great job guys for your efforts and for those who support the helpless species, without us they all would be slaughtered to extinction. We are the worst predator of all species in this world. -
Review from Shannon C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/12/2010
My original review for The Hump was deleted with an e-mail explaining to me that Yelp reviews should come from "first-hand experience" and "not in response" to hearing something on the news. The e-mail also stated that they take the matter "very seriously" and "review it very closely". To sum it up, Yelp in San Francisco deleted my review and told me that I haven't been to The Hump, a restaurant a few miles from my house. So, Dear Yelp, CENSORSHIP SUCKS.
& Dear The Hump, Thanks for the many interesting dates where men (boys?) have tried to impress me by spending $200 on a plate of raw fish. Your prices are insane. Thanks for the food poisoning. AND SHAME ON YOU FOR SERVING AN ENDANGERED MAMMAL. -
Review from Lisa B.
3/13/2010
I have been to The Hump several times for business meals. At over $100 per person on average to eat there, you'd think you'd get a better experience.
The first time I went there and sat at the bar on my own dime, the sashimi was relatively good, however I didn't feel that the quality warranted the price. We've been back several times since on business meals as some of our East Coast colleagues like the view.
Omakase has almost always been unmemorable which is relatively unforgivable since what you get is supposed to be Chef's Choice. My last time there we ordered a combination of sushi and at least 2/3 of the serving was Uni...way too much Uni. The Scorpion fish was very good, but that was one bright moment out of many that were average.
The service was average, our waitress didn't seem to know as much about the menu as I would have liked. Her recommendations implied she must not have actually tasted them herself.
We used to like to go there mainly for the view at sunset of the Santa Monica airport. It was nice to sit outside on the deck during Spring and Summer evenings.
We decided to stop going there a few years ago because we found a couple of strip mall joints like Little Brother and Shabuya which are closer and offer fish that is as good or better for a hell of a lot less.
If we're up for more expensive, interesting sushi, we go to Hama or Nobu. Hama is probably my favorite.
Recently I heard they admitted to serving Sei whale which is illegal and during the same instance were found to be serving "cow" meat which they were calling "horse" meat on the same dish with the Sei (verified by the publicly available search warrant affidavit). I was more bothered by the fact that they were defrauding customers with the cow than anything else. Makes me wonder what else they are doing in the back. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it.
We won't be back. -
Review from JoLynn E.
Los Angeles, CA
3/12/2010
Totally got sick. I had the runs for 3 days! I thought I was dying out of my back end.
This place was a complete rip off! When I paid $250 for my bill, I thought I would leave satisfied, but but I actually left sick. $250 down the toilet... LITERALLY.
DON'T EAT THE WHALE. Not sure THAT'S legal, but hey, I guess this restaurant can pay off whoever it wants to get whatever it wants!
This restaurant is a disgrace. -
Review from John W.
Long Beach, CA
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Review from steven c.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/12/2010
Since my first review was deleted, even though I am someone who has first hand experience dining at this restaurant, I'll give a detailed account of my dining experience at the Hump.
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I don't know what I was expecting when I first ate here. It was a few years ago, and seeing the Hump on the news about illegally serving endangered whale meat brought back memories.
It was May, anniversary time, and that meant sushi. I checked around, and this place had great reviews, so I figured this would be perfect for me and my lady.
Having done time at Pico Tech, with classes at the airport, I knew my way around, but it still was a bit tricky finding the entrance. Parked the car and we walked around, and up to the top level. Typhoon is right below it- same owners. sidenote: Typhoon tries to be hip with the crickets and ants, and makes people feel like they're being so adventurous, but the food kind of sucks, and it's too loud. (TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE)
You walk into the Hump and the first thing you notice is the beautiful etched glass wall depicting the Himalayas. You may think, why the hell is a sushi restaurant named the Hump. Short for humpback whale? Haha, hindsight is 20/20 (it's Sei whale that they were busted for, also endangered, but not the same.) No, the "Hump" is what the WWII pilots called the Himalayas, as they flew their missions flying from India to Japanese occupied Asia. See? It's in the airport... and it's related to sushi because........ give up, maybe it really is some subliminal kujira reference. (THIS PLACE SUCKS)
BTW: I thought that the Japanese hunted whales for research only? What? They sell it? Really? Would you support a restaurant that creates a market for endangered species. What next? Tiger penis skewers? Endangered turtles? (SAVE YOUR MONEY)
The server came by too take our order after we got our drinks and I told her omakase all the way baby. Anniversary and all... Maybe I should have changed my shirt because she asked me if I was sure. I let that slide. (DON'T EAT HERE)
Gotta say, the lineup was very inventive. Not standard sushi fare at all. Excellent presentation. We had a funny moment when the amaebi was brought FRESH with the head of the shrimp face up, and the antennae rustling like the A/C was hitting it- I made my girl shriek when I poked it and the it started going crazy. I had a good laugh. It wasn't wasted, they later take that head and deep fry it and it comes back in a soup at the end of the course. Omakase was about 9 courses- we were still hungry so they tacked on Kobe beef which came sizzling on a stone- quite tasty. All the sashimi was super fresh. Never was offered any endangered whale kujira. Server had to double check for the omakase, she wasn't going to offer endangered whale meat at $60 a pop. (SCREW THIS PLACE)
The bill came out to $420 after tip. I understood then why the server asked me if I was sure.... At the time, it was fine. Now I'm pissed that I spent any money to support this place.
I'm sure the poser wannabe Yelp sophisticates are going to get their panties in a bunch that people downgrade the reviews of this place based on them serving illegal endangered whale meat delivered in the trunk of a Mercedes. I guess upholding a User generated review site's holy Terms of Service substitutes for having core beliefs. You don't think this information is relevant? Pat yourself on the back. You're so cool, and adventurous, and you make witty cracks in your reviews, and you're a complete f*ng jackass. Thank god many people base decisions where they spend their money on criteria beyond ambiance, and speed of service.
In summary, the view of the private jets taking off and landing as the sun went down over the horizon did make for some great ambiance. And they do take credit cards and reservations....service was just ok....And they serve endangered whale illegally. Save your money. This place sucks. Don't eat here. -
Review from DAVID C.
Pacific Palisades, CA
Updated - 3/12/2010
Good riddance to this horrible restaurant. I have experienced two horrible sushi dinners at this over-priced and inferior quality sushi restaurant. After my last bad experience over a year ago, I swore I would never return.
After having numerous dollars exhorted from me, it is nice to know that their poor quality and poor service will soon be a "thing of the past." With all the great sushi restaurants in LA, let's collectively put this one "out to pasture." Serving bad sushi is one thing, but violating importation laws is something much more severe.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2008
If there were better quality, I would rate five stars. The Omakase is very expensive (about $250… Read more »
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Review from Mateo L.
Culver City, CA
3/13/2010
Went to the Hump a few nights ago and it was terrible. Apparently, they have stopped serving illegal endangered whale... which is the whole reason I came. I was like "whatever, just bring me the Omakase"
I am not sure about the health practices of this establishment, as everyone who worked there had a very shady vibe. It may have been due to the recent L.A. Times article about this restaurant illegally serving endangered whale. But, I don't see that as a reason to be a bunch of Debbie Downers. Can't they just go out and catch a few whales without making a big deal about it? I thought the whales made their way through Santa Monica right around March anyways....
In any case, I'm not coming back here. The menu is just too inconsistent. -
Review from Steve L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/13/2010
How is it that this place has a huge string of 1 star reviews... and it still averages so high?
Anyway, this restaurant sucks. Trying to make up for the mediocre sushi they serve here by adding novelty in what they serve. Obviously they served whale here. Who knows how long that was going for?
Don't bother wasting your time or money here. Obviously there are plenty of other sushi spots to explore other than this one. -
Review from Felicity M.
Culver City, CA
3/13/2010
Sooooo Yelp definitely deleted my last review, stating that my review was not valid because I'd never eaten here... but here's the thing! I HAVE!!!
I went here a couple of summers ago, and while I actually enjoyed my hamachi sashimi and veggie tempura, I am absolutely DISGUSTED now that I have discovered 2 years later that I unknowingly paid money to a restaurant that illegally serves ENDANGERED SEI WHALE!!!!
SO not okay. I hope that if you do eat here, you realize you are supporting a company with no regard for the preservation of a mammal on the brink of extinction.
I completely regret the fact that I ever spent my money here... The food was tasty. The thought of killing a whale? Not so much... -
Review from Blake E.
Beverly Hills, CA
3/12/2010 4 photos
Without a doubt among the greatest sushi experiences of my life. Yama-son, you're an inspiration. It is truly an honor and a privilege to eat the food that you prepare. Everything you served in your delectable Omakase feast was mind-blowing, a new experience, and expertly prepared. An artist and a god of sushi to say the least. It truly is a once in a lifetime (I hope it's not) experience, fit for kings among men.
Our dinner started with a scallop and water-tiger uni salad, served with a wooden spoon, and a giant glass of Saki. Every drop was savored. It was rounded upon by the lightest and freshest red-snapper one could ever ask for. As it was served, Himalayan rock salt was freshly ground by the master off a rock of salt bigger than a human head, to accent the flavors and complement the fish in the softest way. That said, it still illuminated and brought out all the tastes of the fish. Truly remarkable.
Its important to notice the way Yama teases your pallet every step of the way through this Omakase masterpiece, bringing out just the right amount of progression as your meal moves onward.
Next, a Shishaki rock oyster that was among the best I've ever had, served in a visually stunning bowl, floating in ice, and topped with a dollop of uni, (more like an ice-cream scoop) to quench the taste, accent the flavors, and bring out everything this fish has to offer; while leaving your tongue full of rich uni at the finish.
Following was a tea-tureen of Japanese delights, fresh eel, and shrimp, which all complemented themselves exquisitely with a twist of Japanese citrus fruit, which we were instructed to squeeze in after opening the kettle, and pouring large draws of this delicacy into our clay sake glasses.
The escalation continued with scallops, served on the half shell with black truffles and gold flakes on top. The progression complemented with more Japanese citrus to mirror the last course, that we were of course still pouring large cups of, and sipping with our new fish. This was then complemented and followed by regional king crab and fresh made dipping sauces, specifically to complement the delicious steamed legs, which were cut perfectly in half for easy access. Truly an art the way the food continued to flow.
At this point, the sun began to set over the tarmac of the SM airport, and the staff lit a beautiful fire for us. The engraved etched glass wall behind the bar lit up accenting a small plane making its final descent over the Himalayas, and you could feel the vibe of the meal changing to hotter, heavier foods. I sipped my sake realizing just how much of a privilege the meal had already been, and how little we had truly experienced of the sushi masters grand plan. This was just the tip of the iceberg.
We moved into the first of our hot courses, aside from the seafood tea tureen, which turned out to be more of a beverage to accompany the light fish we were eating. That said, I should mention that no one left any of the goodies at the bottom of the tureen once we drank all the broth, and some of the finds were amazing. We now progressed to a Japanese sardine katsu, served with a Japanese shishito pepper, a new varietal I'd never had, but truly enjoyed. They complemented each other so well. It was a course you had to fight to not devour too quickly, and truly spoiled me with respect to tempura. Yama, was untouchable all night, and is also an exceptional tempura master. His use of flavors and textures were second to none.
As the main event drew near, a live fresh unagi was brought out for our viewing pleasure, and we enjoyed a mixed pan-fry of shrimp and squid to accompany the amazing show that was about to take place. This was truly unique, and something I'd never seen before. The details are unimportant, but the result was another soup, that rivaled any I've ever had, made from fresh unagi and some killer footage and pictures. The flavor of the broth was breathtaking, yet the eel still resonated through, all seasoned to perfection. I truly realize the strength and vigor of these amazing creatures now; both their physical strength, and the repertoire of available flavors they can provide to finished dish's.
Thank you Yama-son, for all you prepared and showed us. It's a meal I'll never forget. Following, we relaxed our pallets with a fresh and homemade raspberry ginger sorbet, that I ate with my chopsticks, a sushi custom that is now beginning to following me everywhere I go.
This meal may not have been for the faint at heart, but was a unique experience, and truly an art to say the least. Thank you again.
-be -
Review from M C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/16/2010
Yelp, before you decide to delete my review again please actually take the time to read it first! I have been to the Hump and I am reviewing it accordingly.
I love sushi and have been lucky to try several different sushi restaurants in Los Angeles. Before the whale incident, Hump for me was right up there with other sushi places in LA. Their service was courteous and you couldn't beat the setting -- watching small planes arrive and depart while enjoying the freshest and tastiest pieces of sushi around. I was not blown away like I was with the fresh and buttery offerings of Nozawa or the unique fusion of flavors at Nobu, but I thought Hump was extremely fresh and given the setting I highly recommended it to friends.
If not for the current whale incident I believe they would've kept going strong. But I surely will not be returning. The city of Santa Monica might close it or the people of LA might decide on their own to close it by not going there anymore. Either way, it's closed to me. For the people who don't understand all the hoop-la, Hump knowingly served an endangered animal which is against the law. It must be held accountable, regardless if it was just one part of the chain of perpetrators starting with the butchers and down to the suppliers.
And one way for the Hump to be held accountable is for Yelp and other online review sites to allow people to voice their opinion on why or why not they will patronize a restaurant -- whether it's for the quality of food, the attentiveness of the service, the ambiance and decor, or because of the repulsiveness of the menu or the actions of the restaurant. -
Review from Josh L.
Fullerton, CA
3/20/2010
Honestly one of the best meals I have ever had was at The Hump. Yes it is expensive but you get what you pay for. The freshest fish flown in from all over the world. It's really sad to see it close and to have all of these bad reviews because they served whale. Basically The Cove won best documentary, so all the tree hugging liberals found a new band wagon fad to jump on.
Like any of you have ever done a single thing to save an endangered animal. If this movie had never come out then none of you would care. I don't care if your friends, best friends, hair dresser once shook hands with the camera man from The Cove (since when is knowing a camera man a cool thing anyways? They make like 12 bucks an hour). I love animals but because of this restaurant closing and all the bad reviews all I want to do is make a documentary about killing endangered species just to piss all of you off more. If you didn't know whales are killers anyways, just ask the employees of sea world. Im sure Shamoo was made into some excellent sashimi -
Review from Roach D.
Duarte, CA
12/17/2009
Just yesterday I was having trouble scrounging up some money just so I could afford to get some tacos or maybe something from the value menu at Wendy's. Tonight, I dine for free at The Hump!
Serendipity called me, and I said yes to something I would usually hide from - a birthday party for someone I don't even know. I was rewarded handsomely for breaking out of my antisocial ways...
It was an open bar, for both sushi and alcohol. The Alaskan king crab, lobster miso soup, & salmon sashimi were definitely highlights of the evening, but the rest of the sushi I tried was all quite beautiful and very tasty. Everything was very fresh and well put together. Would I go back and spend an entire paycheck for a meal here? Only if they bring back the free play video games, photo booth, the 40 year old bottle of Whisky, and the birthday cake -- Probably not gonna happen, but it sure was fun while it lasted... -
Review from Tara C.
Updated - 2/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
You still got it, you gorgeous Hump, you! I enjoyed another wonderful meal here last Fri and I just have to share the new dishes I tried (and loved):
- spicy scallop roll- delicious and tender scallops in a spicy, creamy sauce.
- Dengaku- eggplant, baby scallops, rock shrimp, and crab all served in a sweet miso sauce.
- the HUMP ROLL- wow. It's like a fish orgy. In a single roll. I can't even remember all the different kinds of fish in this one now. It's too big to take in one bite, but its still good...
I also found two new drinks that I really liked. The Miyasaka sake is delicious, with delicate floral notes, a hint of plum flavor (which I love), and a nice balance of sweet and dry. The other drink is the Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale. I had only tried the white ale before, but I think the red is way more interesting, with a complex and delicious flavor.
So, yet another wonderful Hump visit. Someday, someday, I will have the omakase here and stop staring enviously at neighboring diners.Listed in: My Neighborhood- 90034, Spoil me
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/29/2009
Foodology (or Foodism) would have to be my religion. And I would belong to the sect of Sushi, among… Read more »
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Review from Ana R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/21/2010
Our neighborhood sushi joint was full up, so we decided to check out The Hump. It was my first time eating here, and I've always heard great things about it, but I was disappointed. It's not surprising the place was half empty on a Saturday night. It's definitely overrated.
We didn't order the Omakase, which is what everyone seems to rave about, but a) we weren't that hungry and b) we didn't feel like dropping a small fortune. Our regular sushi order off the menu was expensive enough, and not worth it. The sushi was OK, but the presentation wasn't original or imaginative, and the portions were small. Nothing stood out as especially delicious or spectacular. I've had better elsewhere, at restaurants with a less stellar reputation. At the prices they charge I expect something better than "OK."
The service was especially lacking. The waitress was rushed, and overall acted like we were imposing on her. With all the great sushi available in LA, I won't bother to return. -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
11/8/2009
The Hump is a sushi restaurant located in the Santa Monica airport, which is definitely an odd location (can you imagine yourself ever needing to be there?). Because there are so many good sushi restaurants in Los Angeles, I imagine some (like me) find it odd going to the Santa Monica airport for sushi.
Going into The Hump, I was kind of reminded of the Encounter restaurant at LAX. Planes flying overhead. An old, shabby elevator that heads up the restaurant on the 3rd floor.
The decor is not your typical sushi restaurant decor. It is a small space with an outdoor patio. There is a sushi bar as well as a few tables. The decor is kind of an odd mix. Brown wood table/chair combinations with a bunch of neat looking light fixtures (that vary across the room). The brown wood tables mixed with the brown wood rafters give The Hump a kind of cabin/country club feel to it.
They draw a little bit on the airport with a few pictures of planes on the walls. There are also a few tapestries hanging on the walls (not quite sure of the origin). The floor pattern is red stone floor pebbles. With the big glass windows, you also get to watch the small prop airplanes take off. Given the small space, I think the decor worked making it feel personal and a place for locals.
We went for lunch. They offered their lunch menu ($20 and below). They also offered their dinner menu, which was much more expensive. I went with their lunch sushi combination.
It started with a small salad consisting of frisee, thinly julienned carrots, radicchio, cherry tomatoes and a very light vinaigrette. The salad was very fresh and nicely seasoned (very light seasoning with the vinaigrette). The frisee made it slightly bitter. It could have used something to offset it.
Then came a bowl of piping hot miso soup. Very hot. I had to let it sit. The broth was very flavorful; the wakame and silken tofu were nice. It was good.
The sushi had 5 pieces and a cut roll. The portion size was small. I recently went to a place where the sushi was cut way too thick. The sushi at The Hump was cut more appropriately, but the overall size of the sushi was slightly small (especially since there were only 5 pieces).
The sushi was fresh. Unfortunately, the rice was slightly overcooked. I really liked the salmon. There was also a seared ahi, which was very good. There were two other pieces (I think it was yellow tail and snapper). They were not as good as the salmon or the ahi, but they were okay. The Hump puts a decent portion of wasabi on each piece. I kind of like that but be forewarned.
The cut roll was a inside-out spicy tuna roll. The spicy tuna was good though I kind of like mine to have more of a kick. From the a la carte menu, I got the seared scallop sushi (slightly expensive at $9 for two pieces). Lightly seared and wrapped with a thin band of seaweed, it was okay, but I would not get it again.
I saved the oddest piece for last. This nigri sushi piece had a dark purple / chocolate brown color to it. It was topped with some small onions, grated ginger and some of that broiled eel sauce (kabayaki). The fish did not have the most appetizing color. The taste was very strong. Very distinct fish taste. It was fine, but I am not sure I would want to have it again. I wish I had it earlier in the meal because it did leave a strong aftertaste. My friend thinks it may have been bonito; she also thinks they may have marinated it to bring out that distinct color and taste.
The Hump did not have much of a dessert menu (many Japanese restaurants do not). There was a chocolate cake and an assortment of fresh fruit. Instead, I went with the homemade ice cream. Served in a martini glass was a tiny scoop of sorbet and a tiny scoop of chocolate/mascarpone ice cream. Both the sorbet and the ice cream had a crystallized frozen malt texture. That texture is what you would expect with a sorbet but not with an ice cream.
The flavor of the ice cream (whether it was the chocolate part or the mascarpone part) was non-existent. Quite bland. It was also over $7, which was a bad value considering the size.
The service was very friendly and excellent. All-in-all, The Hump was a mixed big. For the most part, I enjoyed the food; the food, not counting dessert, would be in the 3.5 stars range. I would skip dessert if I came back. The one thing that I noticed in several Yelp reviews was that the food was overpriced. I definitely felt that was the case for dessert.
My sushi (not counting the seared scallops) was about $15. I thought it was a fair price (given the quality); however, you may need to order something else; if not, you could leave hungry. I am not sure I would come back and pay their dinner prices. Overall though, I think The Hump is a decent (but not great) sushi option for lunch.
Considering The Hump is at an airport, you would think parking would be expensive, but it is free and easy to findListed in: Ranking Restaurants In The 09…, Ranking The 75 Best…
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Review from Rob L.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2009
Last Friday I came here for dinner, my brother in law and sister wanted to treat me to their favorite sushi place and who am I to deny such a treat. This is where they had their first date and subsequently many more. They raved about how amazing everything was and were excited that they we had time to go.
Driving up, it seems so obscure and out of the way, perched higher up, I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. We entered and sat at the bar, saying hello to the chef's with them greeting us back, apparently they have been here a few times. As we sat at the bar, I looked at how the place was a stark contrast to the outside of the building. Outside, gray and slightly cold, inside was lush wood, warm lighting and smiling faces abound. The men were busy at work but looked to my BIL as what to do, he said something about "we're in your hands" or something. Um, okay, thank goodness I'm not paying. Menus were taken away and three glasses of sake poured and off the adventure began.
Plates upon plates were brought out, lots of sashimi, steamed bamboo shoots, Alaskan king crab, Japanese edamame, (it really is sweeter!), tempura fried soft shell crab, abalone, yellow fin just to name a few. I certainly thought the quality of the fish was very good and the service was quick and even was ahead of the game on a few occasions. I still have to say I dream about the tempura fried soft shell crab, such a mouth full, but just so good.
One of the best reasons to sit at the bar is to watch these men create such wonderful and skilled works of edible art. Each dish was delivered with precision, timing and high level of skill. Some of the plates seemed to be worked on for what seems to be twenty minutes. Just the right amount of sauce here and things not only were tasty but just beautiful. Such a shame to eat it... nah. Just kidding.
I can only assume looking at the prices before hand that this was a pricey meal, but one that was well worth it. The dessert of sorbets were amazing, personally I enjoyed the truffle chocolate chip selection, but the banana chocolate chip one was excellent as well.
We had many goodbyes, a few bows and many smiles flashed at us when we left. Leaving was filled bitter sweet memories of tasty and amazing food shared with some wonderful people.... and a soon to be raging hangover in the morning. Sake and red wine is not a good combo.Listed in: Lovin' LA
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Review from Ed M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/26/2008
Somehow I had my most expensive dinner in LA here. As in later that night, as I was flossing my teeth, the small bits of food stuck to my dental floss probably cost as much as my monthly cellphone bill.
The toro and uni were good - but I've had better. The crab cake was so-so.
But Mother of God, the Kobe beef almost made it all worth it - otherwise I'd only give this place three stars. You cook it yourself on a wood-fired hibachi, and it's probably the best animal flesh I've ever tasted. Tears practically rolled down my cheeks as the ridiculously marbled meat melted in my mouth.
For the dessert part of my girlfriend's omakase, she had an assortment of sherbet. They asked us if we wanted to try one made from dark chocolate and ... truffles. Sounded like something Morimoto would make up during Iron Chef, so we figured why not? It tasted as weird as it sounds. -
Review from Stephanie I.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2007
This restaurant was sort of an inspiration for us to go to Santa Monica for the weekend. A friend of ours raved about it and claimed it to be the best sushi he has ever had.
I read the reviews on Yelp in advance and learned that this it was going to be expensive. It was interesting to read that so many people seemed to be surprised the final cost of their bill. Didn't these people see the prices and know what they were ordering?
Now I understand what they are talking about. You know what you are ordering but you don't always know what it costs. WORD OF ADVICE - Ask how much the specials cost, ask how much the MP's on the menu are and when the waiter says they can add something that seems minimal to your dish - ask how much! This is where the hidden costs come in.
Our waiter raved about the hairy crab special and how wonderful it is without mentioning the price until we asked. Hairy crab was $150. This was the one dish he did let us know about in advance and luckily we were able to make a decision whether we wanted it or not. The other dishes were were not so lucky.
I think this sucks. Why can't restaurants just let us know how much these things are in advance?
I asked the waiter about the shaved gold sprinkling that I had read about and he said he could add it to our tartar. That must of been the $40 mystery charge that we could not figure out what we paid for later.
Even without the crab our bill was $350 for the two of us. Now I understand what all the other Yelpers were talking about.
Was the food good? Yes - it was decent. I really liked the shrimp tartar and my boyfriend loved the sashimi.
Was the view good? Meh - we saw one plane take off.
Would I go back? No.
If I am in Santa Monica and am hungry for sushi, I will probably go to Sushi Roku.Listed in: Weekend Getaway - Santa Monica
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Review from Carol L.
Temple City, CA
6/26/2010
This restaurant should not have opened it's doors 12 years ago. The sushi that you had were American so-called "Japanese" sushi like Panda Express. Nothing different from the sushi you can buy from Pavilions for $3.99 instead of $23.00.
What makes me an expert? Well, I actually had sushi from top restaurants in Japan. I spent Winters in Japan and had the crazy exotic seafood that I initially gagged at first. Dude, if you want amazing sushi, go to Japan and order a plate of "California rolls". NOT SUSHI FROM SANTA MONICA. If you want a more economic alternative, ask someone who actually knows the craft of Japanese cuisine, and ask them to make you some authentic meals.
As for the WHALE MEAT, this hainness act just invokes me to dedicate my resources in destroying the owners and its supporters. I am a supporter of the World Wildlife Fund and to see endangered animals murdered for human consumption just repulses me. I can say that I once was part of that group. I had Great White Shark-Fin soup at an member-only restaurant in Shanghai when I was 14. After taking one sip (and pocketing a 20 from my mom for trying), I felt guilty and was deterred ever since from trying exotic food. I have spent the past 5 years fundraising and advocating for preservation of our World and the wonderful animals.
Anyways, thank heavens this place shut down. But if you are still sad that you can't pay $23 for sushi, go to Katsuya in Studio City then. -
Review from Wei H.
San Mateo, CA
4/20/2008
Hump is good, but at $600 for 2 people, there are plenty better Japanese cruisine in LA. I feel I been ripped off because while I appreicate the exotic craftmenship for the 9 courses dinner, I simply don't feel there is enough substance/incredients to make up for $600 quality food.
To be exact, I had probably 3 slices of Toro, 1 Raw sweet shrimp, 2 scoops of Uni(decoration purpose only), and couple shellfishes to sum up the expensive material. $300 per person? I'd rather spend a little more and head to Urasawa in Beverly Hills.
Stay away from Omikase, I will now ask the range of "market price" at every high end Japanese restaurant.Listed in: Sushi or Roll?
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Review from Max M.
10/23/2008
The Hump is probably second to R-23 for sushi restaurant located in an obscure place.
Okay, I admit it. The sushi quality here is nothing particularly special. However, if you want to dine in a unique setting, then The Hump provides a refreshing experience. The Hump is located at Santa Monica Airport. On a weekday evening, this place has a special vibe. It tends to be less crowded. You are able to appreciate the little things like the sushi chefs performing their craft and the expansive runway just outside the restaurant.
I recommend reserving a table with views of the landing strip. The space is quite small. The sushi selection is very typical. Read my Sushi Gen review for my sushi recommendations.
http://www.yelp.com/li...
The chefs are very friendly.
I suggest reserving a table for two during a weekday evening. Although The Hump is widely publicized as a popular sushi destination, it has an "underground" feel b/c of its location. Take anyone new to LA to The Hump. You'll come off as a hip and intelligent sushi aficionado. Surprise your girlfriend or boyfriend by taking them to The Hump on a Wednesday. It provides a nice backdrop for you both to escape the clutter and monotony of mid-week work.
The Hump is on my Fave 25 for Sushi Restaurant with a Novel Dining SettingListed in: Max's Fave 25
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Review from Kevin R.
Los Angeles, CA
11/19/2009
Best sushi on the west side. FULL STOP
Belly up to the bar and let the chef do the driving.
Bring your wallet and a co-signer. -
Review from Andrea R.
2/25/2007
I'm not sure how I'm going to eat sushi in Chicago after eating sushi this fresh! Although a sushi restaurant in an airport seemed a bit strange to me, I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I highly recommend Hump for a date because I found it to be a very romantic spot, which was probably wasted on my friend and I.
We thought about going with the chef's choice, but fortunately asked the waitress how much this would cost before placing our order. She said it would be $500 for the 2 of us! Crazy... personally I'd rather buy a purse than spend my $250 on a new purse!
Instead we ordered a few things off the menu...I couldn't get over how fresh everything was! Some of my favorites include the yellowtail, the fluke, and the monkfish liver. We also had a unagi roll and a shrimp tempura roll....they were both good, but I'd probably stick with the sashimi if I came back. For dessert we split a delicious flourless chocolate cake, which was the perfect ending to a delicious sushi meal.
My only complaint is that they don't serve crispy rice like they do at koi or katsu-ya, but this doesn't seem to be the place to go for innovative rolls. Go here for fresh sushi/sashimi that will actually melt in your mouth!Listed in: Andrea's guide to Lala land!
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Review from Bruce B.
Calabasas, CA
6/15/2009
Flying in was Good.
Getting upsold on every thing we ordered was Bad.
Order "tuna sushi" waitress asks "blue tuna?" I say yes not $7 now $20
Order ice cream, waitress asks "with chocolate cake on plate?" now $20
I felt like I was in the closing booth of a car dealer.... I got the wax job here. Sushi and service were fine, not better than many I have been to tho... I would prefer getting what I ask for, not upsold into a much pricier item. It might explain why there were only two tables seated and nobody at the sushi bar on a beautiful sunday evening....
expensive, nice atmospere, did I mention you can do better? -
Review from Heather J.
New York, NY
3/12/2007
This is the place. It's the place you bring your parents to show them you know neat spots in LA. It's the place you go when trying to seduce someone. It's the place to go when you land The Peterson account.
OK, lets talk about the food: The sushi is almost intimidatingly fresh. If you order fresh sweet shrimp nigiri, the newly killed shrimp heads will still be moving on your plate. Not for the squeamish, but you can be assured you are getting the freshest sushi available. My friend got me hooked on the octopus sashimi, which is unlike anything I have had at other sushi restaurants (and I've tried). It is also unbelievably fresh, served with flecks of sea salt. The sashimi, the sushi - it's all insanely good, some of it is imported from Japan, but of course, you can expect to pay a lot for this kind of quality. Sake by the glass is also the way to go - they pour sake into glasses held in wooden lacquer boxes until they overflow... and then you drink what has spilled over into the box.
The ambience is it's own draw. The dining room is not extravagant, but looks like a little Japanese cabin. You watch little single-engine jets quietly take off and land right outside the window. Very Casablanca. At night, the combination of mind-blowing sushi, premium sake, and lights from the tiny ascending planes, all help make this one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. -
Review from Rich U.
Buffalo, NY
4/13/2011
After a long weekend hunting baby seals, nothing hits the spot like The Hump's signature dish: whale served with veal gravy sauteed in the tears of deported children served in a sea turtle shell tureen flanked by authentic ivory tusks.
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Review from Charles K.
Mountain View, CA
5/23/2007
Everything extraneous about hump was great...service, ambience, location. However, I was not blown away by the meal, especially for the $600+ price. We got the omekase and I did enjoy the freshness and inventivness of the meal.
However, the first few dishes were a tad underwhelming in regards to taste. The japaneses kobe-esque beef was amazing but then the sushi to finish it off was not that great.
If the price was ~$200-250, I would have given it a 4stars, but for the sheer price of the meal, I expected an amazing culinary experience. However, I was not as impressed and thought the other sushi meccas in west LA, sasabune and masu, were better in taste and price. -
Review from lexi l.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/16/2007
The food is really good. Especially their seafood is very fresh and tasty. Nice place to go on a date.
However, Price is kinda high. I once paid $350 plus tips for two. -
Review from Lola J.
Los Angeles, CA
3/29/2010 1 photo
The Hump was my favorite Japanese place for years. Their dishes were always delicate and delicious. The setting was beautiful, and you could just sit there enjoying your sashimi as airplanes took off on the runway.
I hadn't been there for a while when I heard the news of their illegal whale. I'm very sad that they served this whale meat and that such a big deal was caused. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be one of the workers at the Hump, after being disgraced and embarrassed and guilty for such a thing.
I hope you visit their website:
http://www.thehump.biz/
Take into consideration their apology, and don't think "good riddance", because this was once a truly great restaurant. -
Review from Miki T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/7/2008
I love it here! Totally not cheap but good sushi rarely is. I am Japanese and from Hawaii so I have had some pretty good sushi in my days... I think this might be one of the best places in Cali! My dad is super picky and every time he comes to visit me from Hawaii he hates the places we go to eat. I took him to the Hump and he LOVED it. The kanpachi we had was to die for and all of their fish/seafood is super fresh!
I also love the fact that it is on the SM airport runway. Its a great place for a date... Small and special:)Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Danielle C.
West Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2007
Fuck.
I mean that in the most over-the-top-knocked-my-socks-off-fireworks-explos ions kind of way.
I am definitely a sushi snob, as I previously pondered in my review of another good sushi establishment. The Hump goes above and beyond anything I've ever had. Believe the other reviews: the fish is FRESH (the sweet shrimp heads on the table next to us made the couple squeal. awesome.), it is cut to perfection to MELT in your mouth, and our hostess was EXCELLENT. She checked up on us throughout the meal and made us feel right at home. AndI got to top off my birthday with the best Toro I've ever had. If I were a rich woman, I would've said "Fix me up with a $1,000 worth of Toro and call me done!"
If you need to kill time, you can go downstairs to Typhoon's bar and have a cocktail. The owner walked around chatting up everyone to make sure all was ok and made sure we had been handled ok upstairs at Hump.
But, Fuck. The price.
So if you are a person of informed and discriminating taste, i.e, a connoisseur, it's worth checking out at least once.Listed in: High Fives!
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Review from Alvin S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/14/2009
I LOVE this place. Hands down my favorite sushi restaurant. This is a place for traditional sushi lovers. If you are looking for teriyaki chicken or california rolls I suggest you go somewhere else. As many have mentioned, you want to do Omakase at the bar. Then you can watch them work their magic. Some of the items are so exotic I need to do a google search when I get home to find out what I just ate. And I can't stress enough how fresh their fish is. Fish that you 'thought' was normally cloudy is clear when they serve it here. I really can't say enough about this place.
And, yes, it can be pricey. So if your idea of expensive is Olive Garden then this might be a little over your budget. -
Review from Amber K.
San Diego, CA
8/18/2008
I have been here only once, but I was so pleasantly surprised and pleased that I HOPE I get to go back again. The Hump is tucked away in a private location at the Santa Monica airport. I had absolutely no idea where I was being taken as we approached the runway. Seriously, who would have known there was this hidden, AMAZING sushi restaurant there all this time! I lived in LA for at least 3 years before I had even heard of this place!
The restaurant was on the smaller side, but in no way was it too small. It's a cozy place. Found it interesting that I had to leave the restaurant to use the restroom though.
My date did the ordering and paying, so I can't add much on that end, except that everything I tasted was so fresh and so memorable! I wish I knew what I was eating so I could recommend it, but I have a feeling everything at The Hump is the right choice! -
Review from Night H.
Los Angeles, CA
3/22/2010
We had one of the best sushi meals (of the 100s of sushi meals we've had) at The Hump last month for our Valentine's celebration. We also had many great lunches there; in terms of quality for value, their fixed lunch menu was one of the best in town. The toro was some of the best in town. The chefs take very good care to slice and serve the high quality fish very carefully. It was also fun to sit above the runways and watch the air traffic of SM airport. It will be missed.
I don't support the practice of whaling, nor would I have ordered whale, but I'm appalled at the hypocrisy of people here and their rage about The Hump. The place employed many people and provided a good service for the community. Did a few people make bad decisions? Yes, and no one is arguing those people shouldn't pay the price, legal and otherwise. But to whine that this place should be shut down entirely is ridiculous. It's cutting off your nose to spite your face. The city needs thriving restaurants. Punish the offenders, and move on.
