Sasaya is a Japanese izakaya a few blocks from my place. An izakaya is a Japanese bar that focuses on sake/beer and small plates. You will NOT find sushi at Sasaya. The menu is extensive and even though I've been many times, there are still a handful of new items that I'd like to try. Tonight was no different.
After a hectic day at work, a glass of pinot grigio made my day. Heather got the sake sampler which includes 3 types of sake that you are advised to drink sequentially from left to right. The sake was served with a note with descriptions of each sake, and a side of seaweed salad.
We decided to start with 4 dishes, none that I've tried before. We also wanted the miso cod but they ran out. They've actually run out of miso cod on at least 3 other occasion when I've been here.
Rock shrimp tempura with green tea salt. Oh, this was delicious. It was perfectly fried and the shrimp was plump and juicy. The tempura was served with green tea salt in a shaker. I really didn't taste the green tea or felt that it added a better flavor to the shrimp.
I ordered another glass of wine while Heather ordered sake. Unfiltered sake Nigori shou Chiku Bai, a creme de sake which is sweet and tastes like rice. It was full bodied, creamy and rather easy to drink. We also decided to order two more dishes.
Sasaya is a lively neighborhood joint with a homey feel and great Japanese comfort food. There is a wise variety of flavorful dishes, most priced below $10.
Hits: Fun & casual atmosphere, reasonably priced, rock shrimp tempura, pork kimchee
Misses: ran out of black cod ;-(
Rate: ****
Sasaya
11613 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Rate: ****
Sasaya
11613 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 447-4404
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