"Sometimes, the best meals are the ones you weren’t expecting to have. My wife and I had hoped to check out a new all you can eat sushi place, but both it and the existing AYCE spot had lines out the door. After placing a call to Little Tokyo to confirm they too weren’t filled to capacity, we headed there for our sushi fix, and it made me regret not having visited sooner. Little Tokyo boasts a pleasant, relaxing ambiance that made it a welcome refuge from the night’s rather intense rain. The menu here is Japanese (sushi, sashimi, hibachi, etc. albeit with some Korean and Chinese influences. The selection of sushi rolls is extensive, and quite a few of them sounded intriguing. Admittedly, the Italian (a California roll topped with white fish, tomato sauce, and cheese was a bridge too far even for me. My wife and I came hungry and went with two apps (steamed dumplings and vegetable gyoza , four rolls, and two misos. The food was, across the board, quite good. Whereas some miso can blast you with salt, Little Tokyo’s broth benefitted from an underlying richness. Our sushi was beautifully plated and tasted fresh. Of the rolls we tried, the Bulgoki (beef, crab, cucumber, and eel sauce was my favorite. Prices here are reasonable for the quality of the food (rolls in the low-mid teens, most apps under $10 , and severs are polite. The kitchen isn’t lightning fast, but we didn’t find the wait unreasonable. Based on ratings, I expected “good,” and based on hunger levels and a desire to be out of the rain, I would have settled for “OK.” Little Tokyo, however, ended up being surprisingly great."
