Asanebo

11941 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 818-760-3348

Description: STUDIO CITY. This appealing eatery is a regular and constant choice for folks looking for the best sushi around. A great menu offers both cooked and raw items, and excellent service makes the experience that much better. Sashimi is a specialty, but you'll find everything from salmon skin rolls and eel tempura to abalone and sea urchin.
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Asia de Cuba

8440 Sunset Blvd, Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, CA 90069 323-848-6000

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. Its monochromatic white decor and model-beautiful clientele render Asia de Cuba a trendy, of-the-moment kind of place. Festive atmosphere, a playful waitstaff, and chic ambience lend appeal, and customers relish the mouthwatering Cuban-Asian fare. Fried calamari salad, a house specialty, makes culinary waves, and you can't go wrong with yucca-crusted mahi mahi or lime-and-garlic chicken. Desserts, naturally, make a splash on their own. An outdoor patio, glimmering with candles, affords incredible views ­ a nice change from the austere interior.
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Beacon

3280 Helms Ave, Helms Building, Culver City, CA 90034 310-838-7500

Description: CULVER CITY. With a dining area that's on the small side, Beacon makes the most of its limited space with modern, Zen-inspired decor and two streetside patios. The pan-Asian spot keeps busy thanks to upscale fare and friendly prices. Try a small plate of black edamame before sampling dishes like chicken pad thai (which arrives with rice noodles and tofu) and yaki udon, both quite affordable. Should you choose to indulge, a decent by-the-glass wine selection gets raves for the way it enhances the food.
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Chinois on Main

2709 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-392-9025

Description: SANTA MONICA. One of culinary superstar Wolfgang Puck's many SoCal restaurants, Chinois on Main is a perennial LA favorite. The menu features Asian-inspired cuisine prepared with French flair and California sensibility. Notable menu items include roasted squab with pinot noir-huckleberry sauce, wonton-wrapped sea bass with Riesling sauce, and Shanghai lobster with ginger-curry sauce. Enticing desserts include a caramelized apple spring roll with ginger ice cream, lemon tart with lemon gelato and blueberry compote, and macadamia nut tart with roasted pineapple and rum raisin ice cream.
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Crustacean

9646 Little Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310-205-8990

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. Bon Appetit meets Town & Country at this trendy Euro-Asian seafood restaurant and bar. A two-level re-enactment of a Vietnamese dinner club, it's where beautiful people meet beautiful food. Dungeness crab with An's secret garlic sauce or sake-simmered crab will make you salivate on the spot. Garlic noodles are justifiably famous, and every Asian tapas is carefully prepared and presented. For dessert, try the Music Box or the special trio of sorbets ­ they're a perfect ending to a memorable meal. The trendier you look, the better your table.
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Katsu-ya

11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 818-985-6976

Description: STUDIO CITY. A favorite with close-by industry types, this restaurant enjoys a loyal patronage that the chef-owner much appreciates. These folks won't settle for sushi anywhere else, and have become accustomed to the eatery's impeccably fresh fish, inventive rolls, and prompt service. A popular lunch spot for business people.
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Mako

225 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310-288-8338

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. The "small plate" concept is quite popular here. You could call it Japanese tapas (tapa-nese?), but the restaurant calls it ippin-ryouri. However you label it, it's a fun way to sample different items, especially with a group. The menu, while largely Japanese, ventures into other territory as well, and the final results are almost always successful. An Italian-influenced tomato and tofu salad is seasoned with shiso leaf-plum vinaigrette ­ a sort of Japanese salad caprese. Asian-style seafood risotto is a favorite, as is foie gras, artfully paired with lychee fruit.
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Matsuhisa

129 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-659-9639

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. Matsuhisa is first-born sibling to the internationally trendy Nobu restaurants and is the chef-owner's original endeavor. It's not so given to fanfare as the others, and the relative quiet of the place is incredibly appealing to folks who prefer that the focus be on the cuisine. And what sublime food it is, thanks to an excellent sashimi salad, delectable tempura, and "new style" sashimi that gets a kick from Latin American flavors. Cooked items are also terrific, as is the omakase menu. And yes, it's a great spot for stargazing ­ no, not the celestial kind.
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Max Restaurant

13355 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 818-784-2915

Description: SHERMAN OAKS. An oasis of elegance, Max offers a decidedly unique, upscale take on Asian cuisine. Flavors and preparations from several cultures, including more than a hint of California style, find their way to Max's tables, creating a melding that customers love. Ahi Towers ­ literally, a stack of gorgeous, carmine medallions of ahi tuna ­ is one of the most popular appetizers. For a main course, have miso-marinated broiled black cod in mushroom sake broth, or try other beef, poultry, and seafood choices. Jasmine tea crème brûlée makes for a delectable after-dinner treat.
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Miyagi's on Sunset

8225 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046-2413 323-650-3524

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. This rock-and-roll sushi house has three floors catering to every taste. On the first floor are big-screen televisions and pool tables where sports fans can eat and watch the big game. Floor two is a quieter, more traditional dining room. The third floor is decorated with waterfalls and televisions playing rock videos, and after midnight, tables are pushed away to make room for a dance floor. In all, Miyagi's boasts seven sushi bars and six beverage bars. Crowds come to see and be seen. Other regular events include comedy performances, acoustic shows, karaoke, and poetry readings.
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Mori Sushi

11500 W Pico Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-479-3939

Description: WEST LOS ANGELES. This understated spot doesn't even have its name on the sign ­ look instead for a rustic sketch of a fish. The minimalist interior features simple table and bar seating in order to place focus on the exquisite food. In fact, presentation of some of the city's freshest seafood is so breathtaking that diners have been known to comment that they didn't know whether to eat it or frame it. Try octopus carpaccio, broiled prawns, or fabulously fresh sashimi. Order a Kirin beer to highlight the flavors.
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Mr. Chow

344 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310-278-9911

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. This popular Chinese eatery is a celebrity hot spot, thanks in no small part to the delicious menu. Peking duck is legendary, as is the owner, Michael Chow. Traditional ambience and great dining options prevail.
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Orris

2006 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-268-2212

Description: WEST LOS ANGELES. Striking that rare balance of casual, inviting atmosphere and delicious, upscale food, Orris is a natural choice for a relatively quick but high-quality dinner. Headed by Hideo Yamashiro, the same chef behind popular (and more formal) Shiro in South Pasadena, Orris boasts a menu based around small plates, reasonably-priced and filling portions of items like smoked chicken and walnut salad, shrimp mousse ravioli in shiitake cream sauce, and prime filet mignon skewer with Roquefort butter. A decent selection of beers, wines, and sakes increases the restaurant's cachet.
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Sushi Masu

1911 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-446-4368

Description: WESTWOOD. At Sushi Masu, the rolls are as unique and pretty as they are flavorful. Regulars return frequently for melt-in-your-mouth raw fare, including delectable sea urchin and white tuna. For diners who prefer cooked cuisine, an array of dishes awaits, including teriyaki and soft-shell crab with vegetables. While the restaurant's decor is nothing to write home about, the incredible food and very reasonable prices are enough to pack the tiny spot on most nights ­ be sure to call ahead for a reservation.
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Sushi Nozawa

11288 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 818-508-7017

Description: STUDIO CITY. At this storefront eatery, you'll be treated to fresh, delicious sushi and good service. One quirk, however, is that the chef, although a master at his craft, has a reputation for being a bit demanding ­ both of himself and of diners. Folks are expected to order from the menu only and to obey arbitrary rules of dining, like eating a piece of sushi in a single mouthful. It's not unheard of for rule-breakers to be asked to leave. Your best bet is to sit at the bar, not request anything extraneous, and let the chef dole out what he deems appropriate. If you accept such idiosyncracies, you'll find traditional Japanese cuisine at its absolute best.
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Tengu

10853 Lindbrook Dr, Westwood Village, West Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-209-0071

Description: WESTWOOD. Trendy is definitely the name of the game here ­ the adjective applies to decor, waitstaff, customers, and food. Great sushi and tempura are served to an appreciative crowd, and desserts like coconut sorbet are not to be missed. A hotspot for hip Californians in the mood for terrific Japanese food.
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The Hump

3221 Donald Douglas Loop S, Santa Monica Airport, 3rd fl, Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-313-0977

Description: SANTA MONICA. Known for an exceptional selection of sakes and an award-winning sushi bar, The Hump rests above its sister restaurant, Typhoon. The establishment's name honors WWII supply pilots, who crossed over the Himalayas and called Mount Everest "the hump." Diners can choose from a wide assortment of fresh sushi and sashimi; folks who shy away from raw seafood can take advantage of the menu's handful of cooked dishes. Contemporary decor and great views of airport take-offs and landings complete the experience.
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Thousand Cranes

120 S Los Angeles St, Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens, Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-253-9255

Description: LITTLE TOKYO. This elegant Japanese restaurant looks, feels, and tastes authentic. Overlooking the hotel's third-floor Japanese Garden, it offers sushi and tempura bars and private tatami rooms. An extensive menu and delightful service make even newcomers comfortable, and steak and seafood join traditional fare to broaden the dining possibilities. Try, for example, miso-marinated deep water cod, a Kobe beef steak, a yellowtail filet, or grilled Alaskan king crab. In addition, a substantial Sunday brunch may be the only meal you need all day; its quality matches its quantity.
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Urasawa

218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310-247-8939

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. True connoisseurs of sushi gladly fork over $250 for much sought-after omakase-style meals from renowned sushi chef Hiroyuki Urasawa. Only a reservation grants entrance to this intimate, zen-like space, where you'll experience course after course of the freshest, most painstakingly prepared fish. While the menu changes often, past dishes have included seared toro (a prime, fatty cut of tuna) served on a hot stone, tataki-style Kobe beef with wasabi and sea salt, and a perfectly-textured slice of tofu topped with caviar and gold flakes. A decent sake selection is on-hand to accompany blissful culinary journeys, but take note ­ alcohol is not included in the price of dinner. Also, diners can choose the number of courses they would like ­ typically, it's 25 to 30.
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Vegan Glory

8393 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 323-653-4900

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. Sunny and bright, this vegan/vegetarian restaurant attracts diners from across the metro area looking for tasty, healthy, non-meat-based dishes. While plenty of menu options feature only vegetables, you'll also find soy and wheat versions of chicken, pepper steak, and fish; tofu features prominently as well. Combination meals ­ a staple at lunch and dinner ­ include an entree, steamed brown rice, a spring roll, and salad. Coconut ice cream with palm seeds and banana spring rolls are two of the superb dessert options.
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