Urasawa Restaurant
Average user Rating: 97
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Chef Hiroyuki Urasawa’s namesake restaurant is an ethereal world class omakase dining experience. Rare high quality ingredients are orchestrated into unique and interesting creations such as foie gras shabu shabu, stone seared toro, and Caluga nigiri. Arguably the best Japanese dining experience (along with Masa in New York) available in the United States. Dinners begin at $250.
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96
Urasawa (Los Angeles, CA) [5]
8/22/2009
Given the length of the meal, I'll simply list all the courses we had here; please visit the link below for the full descriptions and photos. Base price was $350pp, or about $500pp out the door.
1. Toro Tataki
2. Ikura Chawan Mushi
3. Wagyu Tartare
4. Sashimi (Toro, Tai, Uni)
5. Fukahire-ni-Ichigoni (Fukahire, Awabi, Ebi, Uni)
6. Sake-Steamed Beef
7. Anago Tempura
8. Seared Toro
9. Shabu Shabu (Hamo, Hotategai, Kagoshima Wagyu, Foie Gras, Kombu)
10. Shabu Shabu Broth
11. Toro / Fatty Tuna
12. Seared Toro / Seared Fatty Tuna
13. Kanpachi / Amberjack
14. Aji / Spanish Mackerel
15. Tai / Snapper
16. Hon Maguro / Bluefin Tuna
17. Shima Aji / Striped Jack
18. Ika / Squid
19. Shiitake / Mushroom
20. Uni / Sea Urchin Roe
21. Chu-Toro / Medium Fatty Tuna
22. Shiro Ebi / White Shrimp
23. Awabi / Abalone
24. Mirugai / Geoduck
25. Toro / Fatty Tuna #2
26. Kohada / Japanese Gizzard Shad
27. Negi-Toro Maki
28. Gyusashi / Beef
29. Uni / Sea Urchin Roe #2
30. Amaebi / Sweet Shrimp
31. Amaebi Sashimi / Sweet Shrimp Sashimi
32. Aji No Tataki / Chopped Spanish Mackerel
33. Chu-Toro / Medium Fatty Tuna #2
34. Shima Aji / Striped Jack #2
35. Anago / Sea Eel
36. Tamago / Egg
37. Peach Gelée
38. Goma Aisu Kurimu
39. Matcha
40. Hojicha
What can I say about Urasawa that hasn't already been said? Though this is now my fifth visit, I can say that the place never disappoints, and that I look forward to and treasure every meal I have here. One of my dining companions described the experience as a "symphony of food" in terms of a progression of flavors, and I think that the phrase sums things up nicely. During the meal, Hiro-san and I discussed how the vaunted Michelin guide was leaving LA, and the reasons behind the move. Urasawa may never get its third star, but if there's any place in the City that deserves it, this'd be the spot.
Full review with photos: http://www.kevineats.com/20 09/08/urasawa-beverly-hills -ca-5.htm
100
7/9/2009
Located in the heart of Rodeo Drive, you'll see many high end stores, and cars in the area, along with its abundance of tourists visiting the sights and sound of the area.
Upon entering Urasawa, you'll step into an immaculate restaurant. With various fresh ingredients in front of your eyes, we were assured of the great meal ahead.
Read more from their blog
Recommended Dishes
Kani Miso Kora-Yaki
100
If this isn't 100...
4/7/2009
If Urasawa is not what a perfect dining experience should be, then I doubt anything else in LA would be a perfect score. Granted, the cost is prohibitively expensive, and if I were to come back more than once, it would probably weigh more heavily on my review. But for a one-time visit, I felt good dropping $540 for the six-hour dinner. I suppose the cost just didn't bother me because I knew exactly what I was getting into and was fully anticipating handing over my paycheck.
Even if it's not his intention, Chef Hiro Urasawa is an entertainer. The fact that this is dinner and a show helps to soften the wallet show. With your seat in front of the master himself, you are privy to watching the exquisite knifework and attention to detail. Had I not been seating in my prime spot, I wouldn't have enjoyed the experience at quite the same level. He answered our questions cheerfully, and I could tell when he took out his prime sake that his passion is really in his craft.
While there were several dishes I've never encountered before, most of the menu was pretty familiar for a regular Japanese food consumer. Of course, it was the highest quality examples of said items. I didn't mind that there was nothing so rare I would find no where else. The saga beef was unique enough by itself. I'm certain that the menu would be quite different coming here at another time during the year. For our early Spring dinner, the variety was not quite as extensive.
Decor was oddly calming and smoothing. I found myself rubbing the daily sanded Cypress bar constantly. It gave quite a tactile experience of elegance that I haven't found anywhere else. We got to walk behind the bar after dinner and witness a huge kitchen for such a small front. I was somewhat dumbstruck by the massive mechanism behind the scenes, pushing forward 26 dishes or so to ten anxious diners.
Come to Urasawa with an open mind and ready body. The experience is for all your senses--taste, sight, sound, feel, smell, and wallet.
Recommended Dishes
whatever Hiro decides to serve you
96
4/4/2009
What can I say that hasn't already been said? This meal is more than a meal, it's an experience. From the moment you're seated, it seems like you're transported to another time and place. The somber and serious mood, in part attributed to the building expectiations of an impending palate altering experience, is gently set aside as the meal gets underway and Hiro san's smile and warmness come bursting through.
To sit at the sushi bar is more than just a show of meticulous preparation and care of the finest ingredients. It's a lesson on what food should be, could be...is. It's a showcase of what Japan truly has to offer. There are no spicy tuna rolls here, but you'll find Japanese hairy crab brains, served in shell, over individual charcoal grills. You'll find sashimi served on a sculpted block of ice, adorned with beautiful leaves and flowers.
Hiro san played super host, welcoming us into his home. Although some questions were ignored due to his concentration on the work at hand, he was extremely friendly and gracious. His skills are phenomenal, as he executes his cuts with precision and ease.
With such great food, Hiro san has garnered much attention. The meal is talked about in reverent tones all over LA. So how can I say this without being offensive? Please understand, I thought the food was great, the service was perfect and I enjoyed the decor. Going into the meal, I've been talking about Urasawa for years. I'd heard that mainly Japanese ingredients were used. I'd heard that after the meal, the chef asks if you want anything more and he'd keep serving until you were full. I'd heard that crazy ingredients I'd never heard of would be prepared.
I guess I was a tad bit dissapointed. The uni and live prawns were sourced from Santa Barbara. The bluefin from was from Spain. Hiro san did not ask if we wanted anything else. Many beautiful ingredients, but nothing that shocked me. Corkage was high, at $50 a bottle and $70 for our magnum of champagne.
Was I expecting too much or am I jaded or spoiled? Perhaps. My thing is, for the $350 entrance fee, I would expect to be full. I was satisfied to a degree, but I really could have used a few more dishes. I know...we had 25 courses, or so, but the majority of courses consisted of one piece of sushi. Beautifully executed sushi, but still, just one piece.
I also realize it's a chef's job to provide the freshest ingredients, but once again, for that kind of money, I would expect all Japanese ingredients. I've had Japanese bluefin and uni, and they were out of this world. That was in Tokyo, though.
Once again, there's not much I can say that hasn't been said. This restaurant is truly a dining extravaganza with a lot of great ingredients from Japan. I did feel it necessary to point out those things that bothered me. Perhaps my expectations were out of this world, so it was important for me to say something to temper all of the wonderful things that have been said so that I could help someone else temper their expectations. Hiro san was such a great host that I feel guilty for even being the slightest bit negative. He deserves all of the attention and praise. I just hope that in this economy, he can perhaps consider lowering corkage and reinstating the 'eat til your full' policy(or legend) that I'd heard of. It was one of the best meals I've ever had, but my soul wasn't quite touched. Only my wallet was!
96
1/7/2009
What can I say? This is a meal like you've never had before. At $275++ per person I came out feeling like it was well worth it.
Outstanding quality of ingredients and preparation, this is a multi course meal that will change you - or your sushi eating habits at least!
All the photos of this .. oh what was it, like 13? course meal is here: http://gourmetpigs.blogspot .com/2008/02/urasawa-splurg ing-once-every-3-years.html
Service from Hiro san himself is impeccable. The service from the waitress is good - although nothing of note.
100
9/19/2008
Urasawa isn't a meal so much as an experience. In a semi-private setting 10 guests can enjoy watching a master perform his craft. The meal begins with the Kaiseki portion, small courses brought out one after another. After 10 or so courses, the sushi portion of the meal begins. Perfection does not come cheaply, the food is $300 per person plus tax and tip.
Detailed reviews with photos:
http://tangbro1.blo gspot.com/2008/04/urasawa-1 1042006.html
http://tangbro 1.blogspot.com/2008/05/uras awa-05292008.html
Recommended Dishes
Everything
100
7/14/2008
100
The best restaurant in LA. Period.
6/26/2008
There's nothing quite like Urawawa in Los Angeles. True Japanese style kaiseki + sushi, first class all the way.
The experience isn't like a Michellin 3-star. It's not formal dinner theater in that same way. Instead, it's more intimate, more casual, and you feel much closer to the food in a sensory sort of way.
Everyone sits at the sushi bar. OK, there's one small table away from the bar, but everyone basically sits there. But it's not like a typical sushi bar. Imagine sitting right in front of a master chef, like Alain Ducasse or Thomas Keller, and having him cook right in front of you.
The food comes in multiple multicolor courses, each of which are seasonal. We have live local lobster sashimi, and so many other courses that I can't remember. Last comes the sushi. And of course, it's out of this world. If I was a billskonaire, I'd even come here just for the sushi.
And believe it or not, for the price, this place is a good value. You'll eat stuff you've only heard of, and you'll remember the experience for the rest of your life. Save up for a month and give it a shot.
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100
The final destination in Los Angeles
4/18/2008
Urasawa serves the omakase tasting menu exclusively starting at $275. I actually went to this restaurant when Chef Hiro Urasawa was assistant to Masa Takayama and it was called Ginza Sushiko. Takayama-san has since relocated to New York and opened his eponymous restaurants Masa and Bar Masa in the Time Warner Center.
I arrived when the restaurant opened at around 6pm located just above Tiffany’s on Rodeo Drive. We brought a vintage Champagne, a red Burgundy, and a Sauternes to accompany the meal. The environment is classic Japanese minimalist accentuated by natural woods. It is neutral so that the senses can focus on the tasting experience. The restaurant has a counter and one solitary table that seats 12 total for the entire space. There was only 1 seating for the entire evening.
The cost of admission is not inexpensive, so one way to view it is not unlike travel. It cannot be framed as a meal, it must be conceptualized as an experience, a very unique experience.
There were approximately 30 different dishes representing the rarest and finest ingredients flown in from Japan. One memorable appetizer was Fugu (blowfish) intestine filled with a fresh Japanese mountain vegetable. The foie gras shabu shabu was amazing because of the conceptual reframing of 2 seemingly non-related ingredients indigenous to locations that are diametric opposites. Caluga caviar gently blanketed over a nigiri sushi was an unctuous and unfortunately ephemeral texture sensation.
Another component that shouldn’t be overlooked, but very well could be is the seamless and near invisible level of service. So incredibly thoughtful and anticipatory that I never really noticed the staff.
Ethereal is the only appropriate description that comes to mind for what is arguably the finest Japanese restaurant in the United States. The closest facsimile that comes to mind is a first kiss with the girl of your dreams. This is the only restaurant in Los Angeles that I will award a 3 digit score.
Recommended Dishes
Omakase
96
7/28/2009
80
6/17/2009
93
3/5/2009
96
9/25/2008
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