Kusano

Breathtaking! Every sushi was beautifully and slowly prepared by the chef. While each piece was made with careful detail, it also brought out the delicate taste of each dish. My husband personally loved the sawara, a Spanish Mackerel caught in Japan.Although a difficult choice, mine has to be the toro. After the omakase was finished, he then served a refreshing yuzu sorbet.Remember, the owner of Kusano is a one-man-operated restaurant. Although he was busy serving the drinks and preparing the sushi, he conversed and entertained all his guests. Overall, for $150, this has to be one of the only omakase in Los Angeles that offers this level of quality for the price. If you are looking for quality sushi, while experiencing the culture of Japan, you have to try Kusano at Culver City.

For omakase in a sleepy little corner of Culver City, Chef Kusano-san does a very good job.He runs a one-man show that has to get a little intense when the counter is full, but you get (at least on this visit) a lovely seared kinmedai (golden eye snapper), an uni-caviar-ika that was an interesting take on the usual uni, and there was a bit of work with both scallions and yuzu that was quite good.Highlight was probably the ankimo in particular was a generous portion that managed to not actually overwhelm in flavor.Interior, by the bar at least, is pretty much what you'd expect. Not as crazy high-end as some of his competitors, which again fits the area. Turn around and it's quite a bit more generic, but really, you're here for the food, not for the decor. And less we forget, the value is quite good for the money. Kusano may not quite match up to the exotic heights of his many competitors, but the value is strong.

Kusano offers a well-executed omakase experience, but for $150, I was expecting a bit more in terms of flavor and uniqueness. The presentation was beautiful, and the quality of the fish was solid, but not every piece stood out. Some selections lacked depth in taste, while others were excellent and had great balance and texture.Service was professional and attentive, with the chef being attentive to service and talking to the guests. The pacing was pretty long as it is a single chef so I applaud the service and care definitely.The ambience is refined but not overly formal, creating a comfortable space to enjoy a higher-end sushi experience. The counter seating adds to the experience, allowing you to watch the chef at work.Overall, it was a good meal, but for the price, I was hoping for a more consistently flavorful selection. Some pieces were excellent, but others felt underwhelming. While I enjoyed the experience, I'd likely explore other omakase options at this price point before returning.

No frills, high quality, good value omakase. Took my husband here for his birthday dinner as we often like to try new omakase spots for special occasions. The restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall and inside is a simple sushi bar setup with 8 seats. While the chef had some help to bus/pour drinks, it's essentially a one-man show as he was doing it all. Chef did his best to chitchat with the group as he could while preparing everything. Overall, the meal was very satisfying, especially for the price ($150pp) which is a good value for Los Angeles. Each piece of fish, and even the rice and ginger, were all very well seasoned. At the end of the meal, we were able to add on additional pieces for a cost.

I went for my birthday with my partner. We've been to a good amount of omakase spots in La and it was one of the best! Chef Kusano runs the whole place by himself but he was still very interactive which made the experience way more fun and special. He also put a 'happy bday' writing on my dessert plate with a candle and sang the bday song for me :) It's a small touch but made the experience so much more memorable.Kusano opened a couple months ago but the service was very smooth. The price is reasonable too. If you're looking for an omakase that's simple, traditional, and where you can actually taste the main ingredients, this is the place!! Highly recommend to anyone.

I went with friends, and we were all impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Each course was beautifully crafted and full of flavor, showcasing the chef's skill and attention to detail. The cozy and intimate atmosphere added to the overall experience, making it a perfect spot for a memorable meal with friends. Highly recommend for anyone seeking an authentic and delightful omakase!

Amazing Omakase in an intimate 8-seat sushi counter with Chef Yasu Kusano. He's a one-man show that delivers a great dining experience with deliciously fresh seafood (several flown in from Japan). I will be going back in the future.

Combining authentic Japanese omakase with a small restaurant feel, 10/10I brought my gf here for her birthday as our tradition of getting omakase and we wanted to try a newer establishment, and we're very surprised with the quality and knowledge of chef Kusano. The fact that he didn't even mess with salmon basic nigiri shows the authenticity. Personal favorites were the Hokkaido uni wrapped with squid, the scallop, the lean and fatty tuna pairing, actually it was all amazing His knowledge of the sake menu was also wonderful, we order a bottle of the Kinka, and tried others from the other diners which just enhanced the mealOff the menu we order tako (octopus, which was massaged for an hour cooked and hour after) and king mackerel which just melted in your mouth Must try before his bookings are weeks out

Best sushi I've ever had. It was an amazing experience. The sushi was beautifully presented. Truly a magical experience.

Fantastic omakase for an incredible price. Chef Kusano runs a one man show and creates a warm and welcoming environment while dishing up some incredible sushi. The space leaves something to be desired, as it is a sparsely decorated hole-in-the-wall in Culver City. If you're looking for a really elegant setting, this may not meet the mark for you. If you're looking for incredible sushi at a good price served by a kind chef, it would be hard to beat Kusano.