Izakaya Masa is the spot! Bomb-ass ramen with rich, flavorful broth that hits the spot every time. The sushi? Absolutely top-tier--fresh, delicious, and perfectly crafted. On top of that, the space is so cozy and cute, making it the perfect vibe for a relaxed meal. This place never misses. Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Japanese comfort food!

This place is buried in a small neighborhood, and thought it would be nice to check out this area for some comfort food. We decided to get a small roll, a grilled fish of some sort and serve with our dipping noodles, something I thought would represent a nice spread of comfort foods. The mackerel was good but we learned that the other baked version would take about 25 minutes of waiting. So keep that in mind for the fattier savory upgrade. The softshell crab appetizer was great, I would highly recommend that! The noodles were fresh and was exactly what we expect for a blander base. You can also order the curry version or add protein on the side. The roll we had was just average. I think the panko crumbs didn't have the intended feel, and the bits of fish in the roll felt more like diced fish than pieces of fish. I think this restaurant has a nice all purpose menu but it has limited options. It's probably a good spot for a date or a group with different tastes.

Another great night here! Everything we ordered was delish! We waited a good 30 mins which was fine. The staff were friendly. We sat at the bar area which was perfect!

I recently visited this small, authentic sushi spot in Hillcrest, and I'm so glad I did! From the moment we arrived, the smell of delicious food wafted outside, instantly building excitement. It was a Friday evening, and though we were a party of three, the 30-minute wait wasn't too bad. The interior had a charming Japanese aesthetic, which added a nice touch to the overall experience. I started with the edamame, which was simple but perfectly done. I ordered two rolls--the Alaskan and the tuna avocado. Both were incredibly fresh and flavorful. Each bite was balanced and tasted as if the fish had just been caught. The highlight, however, was the dessert. I tried the pineapple sorbet, and wow--it was easily one of the best sorbets I've ever had! Refreshing, light, and bursting with natural pineapple flavor, it's a must-try. I will absolutely be coming back, not only for the sushi but also for that amazing dessert! Highly recommend this spot if you're in Hillcrest and looking for fresh, authentic sushi.

They have the best dessert menu! I love their ice cream w/spring roll (matcha & red bean paste filling). Kara-age is really juicy and delicious, and takowasa is a go-to choice for appetizer! Ochazuke is a must try. They also have quite a few selection of sake. Server is pretty nice and gives good recommendation. Decoration is pretty fun and cute! Has a small booth table for a small group of people.

Never been to this side of town before and stumbled upon this izakaya as it nestled in the neighborhood. I knew this place was a great find as there was already a few parties waiting outside on an early evening. Interior looks just like a Japanese izakaya with traditional decors. Have to say that portion size is a bit small but it's also appropriately so as it's an izakaya and that I just have a big stomach. A good spot for hanging out and will have to visit again to try other items on the menu!

Was visiting the area and was craving for some sushi and decided to try this place. Immediately greeted and seated. The servers were nice and attentive. I ordered edamame, a Cali roll, the fireman roll, and the caterpillar roll. All tasted great!

After being in Japan I was hesitant to even want to eat Japanese food back home in cali but I definitely picked the right restaurant to eat at when I landed today!!!!! The decor, the service, and the food were all 10s. I washed everything down with shochu. The ramen was bomb, I forgot what the name was but I got the first one out of the two and the cherry blossom roll was as beautiful as it was delicious. Tuna carpaccio was so fresh and bombbbb omg I wanna come back! I'm glad I didn't come while it was super busy because of reading everyone's review saying they had to wait at least an hour to get in. I arrived around 830pm ish on a Tuesday. Anyway I cannot wait to come back!

There was a line when we arrived but it wasn't a long wait. I enjoyed how fresh the sushi was. The ramen broth was lighter and alittle more oily than what I normally have fun it was very tasty. I loved the roasted garlic, it was fantastic. The service was quick and nice. I would recommend trying out this restaurant!