Saks Teriyaki

please reopen!!!
please!
please!
did i say please!

Closed!!! I’m a UCLA alum and Unilocaled it to see if Saks was still around. Waaaaa! I wanted to take my kids to have them try the best cheap eats for college students. I am craving their teriyaki sauce. Nothing comes close to it. Soooo bummed!!!

I can’t believe this place closed down! It truly was a hidden gem. So sad us Unilocalers kept it a secret because anyone that tried this place was sure to come back. I’m gonna miss those shrimp kabobs!

Yikes, Sak’s has missed the mark. I had come to compare Sak’s with Gushi’s. At the first bite or even look I knew the obvious winner. The chicken plate is really just deep friend pieces of chicken with rice and an uninteresting salad. I almost felt like the chicken tasted like Panda Express’ orange chicken. Definitely not very healthy and likely not very authentic Korean food. There is a very notable difference between Gushi’s and Sak’s.

3.5 stars. Fantastic food and HUGE portions. Each plate is enough food for 2 people. The cooks are really friendly and it’s an easy environment. I sat here for a while ready and feasting on my spicy chicken and teriyaki chicken.
The fried shrimp is pretty dry, skip that. And tell them not to put dressing on the salad, it was this weird sweet mayonaise sauce… pretty gross. I would’ve liked some veggies with my meat but had to scrap all the salad because of the dressing.

I’m feeling a bit nostalgic since Acapulcos closed and Brewco is going to be closing so I decided to write review on Saks. I’m not going to try to tell you that Saks is high class dining. In fact I will straight up say that it’s cheap, greasy, salty food and sometimes that sh*t hits the spot.
One Menu Item is my go to item: Spicy Chicken! Bam… you can’t beat it. I also combine the Teriyaki sauce with the Salad Dressing and sometimes I add some Sriracha to get it a little kick, otherwise the dressing is kinda gross… actually reminds me of… well you go and put it on your lettuce, you’ll know what i’m talking about.
Just a tip as i mentioned before: $ 10.00 min CC transaction or be ready to bay $ 0.34.
My boss always gets the fried seafood plate which he loves. Grilled Chx is a decent option if you are looking for something healthy… btw it is no longer healthy if you smother it was teriyaki sauce. :)
If you are trying to be healthy you can get all salad or ask for steamed rice instead of fried rice.
Anyway, come here if you’re in the area, hungry, and don’t want to spend a lot of money. It’s a lot of food and it soothes the soul.

In order to find this place, you must stand at the brick wall and tap the corresponding bricks in order. Once you make it through, you’ll find that there’s a big, somewhat eerie sitting area, literally nestled inside the walls of Westwood. The menu consists of fast-​food Japanese kind of food: combos with gyoza, salad, rice, meat skewers. Its definitely cheaper than Gushi’s ($ 6−8ish doolars), with a more appropriate amount of food. If you’re looking for something azn and cheap in Westwood (I’m talking about food here), then give Sak’s out a try.

I love their spicy chicken with the half teriyaki and spicy chicken as my favorite order.
I’ve also had their beef and shrimp and fish. The fish and shrimp wasn’t bad but didn’t impress me as much as the meat dishes.
A few things to note: the spicy chicken is not spicy but it is good. Their plates have a good amount of portions so you might have enough to eat left overs later. For me a small bowl is enough (but then you’d miss out on their gyozas). Also, don’t get confused if you read their menu I guess they changed it at some time so two numbers are missing

This place is okay, depending on what you order. There is plenty of seating, and the guy at the cashier window (the owner?) is very helpful. The menus are posted on the wall, with pictures, which is great. The prices range from $ 5 – 8 for a plate. The best deal I’ve had is the chicken teriyaki bowl with rice. If you order a combo plate for a bit more, you get salad and dumplings. The salad is bland, and the dressing isn’t very good. The dumplings, however, are not bad.
They make their own teriyaki sauce daily. It’s decent, but they charge you extra if you want more (and they do not give you very much).

How have I never noticed this place before?! Well, I guess I haven’t really ventured to this part of Westwood so much when I was a student.
Anyway, I came here with my coworkers for lunch. It’s cheap and plentiful! The food isn’t authentic Asian but it’s ok! I mean, you’re in Westwood. I only got the side of spicy chicken (which wasn’t spicy at all), and my coworkers got the plates/​combos, which were hugeeee (they come with rice, salad, and the choice of meat). I’m pretty sure you get as much food as Gushi’s at like. ²⁄₃ of the price.
It’s nestled next to Skylight Gardens, and you might just miss it, so keep an eye out!

This place is A-​OK. I want to give it an extra half star just for the unique layout and ambience of this place haha. It seems like it used to be the entrance to an apt complex or something. It feels like I’m in Europe (okay, maybe that’s just me.)
I got the Teriyaki Chicken Plate… it was alright, albeit a little expensive. It tasted fine, though. Essentially I would call this the Eastern Gushi, because it’s basically Gushi but closer to the other side of campus. That being said, I probably wouldn’t come back just because I’m so much closer to Gushi.
In conclusion: This place is OK, it’s just not anything special. Good for touring though — the layout is really really really interesting…

My friend who used to live in the area took me to this place since we were in the area. Very inconspicuously placed, it might be hard to find if you don’t know where to look.
Though there was barely anyone there around noon on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, my friend assured me it was a good place.
After scanning over the menu, I decided to go with the special chicken plate. This included salad, two dumplings, chicken, and rice. The salad was very lackluster and could have used more dressing in my opinion, but everything else was spectacular.
The portion sizes were also very generous, especially since the whole dish cost around $ 6 total!
They even have a nice outdoor seating area that was great in the warm southern California sun.
Definitely a tasty, affordable option in the Westwood area.

Gettho looking, great tasting. When you come to Sak’s looks don’t matter, what really matters is substance. Honestly I’m surprised by the low ratings. The combo’s here are cheap and rather tasty. I’ve had the chicken plates for under $ 6, portions are big enough to feed two people.
Sak’s is hard to find. You don’t notice the restaurant much at first. It could hardly even be called a restaurant, more like a funky looking food– to-​go .
Décor: I don’t know how to describe it, a hodgepodge of too many random elements.
Food: DELICIOUS TERIYAKI CHICKEN. I believe the #5 (maybe it was the #6) comes with fried rice, gyoza, and a salad.
— salad is m’eh
— their fried rice is so tasty !
— the deep fried chicken plate is very tasty as well
Does this place really deserve a 5 star? when your in college and this place fed you a lot, hell yea. It’s not the best, but I really like the food when I was going to school nearby.
Overall
— in the UCLA area must give this place a try
— cheap, big portions
— very hard to find — down the street from Trader Joe’s and near Acapulco
–Cash only — I would actually carry cash in this area for Sak’s

WE LOVE SAK’S!
A UCLA alum told us about this place, and we’re so glad they did. We brave the drive into Westwood (a little dramatic, I know) because it’s delicious, cheap, and they give you really generous portion sizes.
Parking on Glendon sucks, so if you can help it, have one person wait with the car while the other picks up. We always call ahead and do pick up, and usually the order’s ready within 5 – 10 minutes.
It’s kind of hard to see (to the left of acapulco) — you have to go down a little «alley» (or hallway, whatever) that’s really cute — bricks and vines and such. Then go a little to your left and you’ll see a place to place your order. There’s also a bunch of seating, but it’s almost always empty when I’ve been there. I imagine it’s a great spot for a big group of students to come and eat together.
Our usual order: one half spicy chicken (fried, crispy), half teriyaki chicken, and one half teriyaki, half shrimp (fried, tempura style). Every order comes with a huge amount of yummy fried rice, one container of teriyaki sauce, 2 dumplings/​gyoza, and salad. YUM. Go go go go go!

Starving and want a big plate of grilled meat? Come to Sak’s. They offer a much more economical meal than Gushi, without sacrificing the quality by too much.
When I’m craving for a chicken leg plate, I come to Sak’s. It only costs around $ 6 for a filling meal. Note that Gushi recently bumped up the prices of each plate their menu by about $ 1, and their combo plate is now $ 10. Take your pick.
The chicken leg plate comes with a generous portion of grilled chicken leg sliced to small a row of small pieces, vegetable fried rice, small salad, and two crispy gyozas.
Tip: Charge if you use credit card for orders below $ 10 or so.

A few comments before we get to the food. Sak’s has a multitude of seating options — an alley that is covered, a indoor space, and a patio near the kitchen. Also, this has got to be one of the cleanest eating areas that I have seen in a while. It might be basic, but someone is keeping the area neat and tidy, right down to the sauce bottles that are free of drips, runs and dried up gunk. I was paying attention, and it’s not easy to keep all that stuff clean.
Your order in a teeny tiny space near the kitchen, and every plate has a picture, so you have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to get. I decided to get the half teriyaki chicken half spicy chicken, and it’s interesting because the salad has no dressing, and the chicken only has a little sauce. I guess they feel like only you know how much sauce you like on your food, which I can appreciate. The salad dressing is a little timid as far as flavor, but just for fun I put it on my spicy chicken as well as my lettuce greens. The teriyaki sauce is much better, and while I agree that there is definitely a «mall food court» feel to the food, it’s competently prepared and the service is pretty quick, with a number system like Corner Bakery where they bring it to your table. Not a fancy lunch, but not awful, either.

It’s not that authentic blahblahblah but guess what guys? We’re in a recession and they just increased tuition by 9.6%! The food here is decent and filling for the price. For an average of about $ 6 bucks you can get a plate of rice (not really asian/​japanese rice), grilled meat, salad, and two fried dumplings. The rice really makes the food here taste less authentic than it already is.
I usually go for the cheaper combo’s just because I only come here when I want fast, cheap food and I’d much rather go to this other grilled teriyaki place in westwood [ahem] if I wanted to spend $ 8+ dollars. I do have a 15% discount card here (courtesy of the my apartment) and I don’t think the guy even calculates the discount correctly (in my favor); I just show him the card and he says «OK $ 5» (score!)

Every college town seems to have a couple of no frills fast food places that are not spectacular but have a strong student following given their history of eating there. Sak’s is one of these places along with several others that shares the common threads of selling large meat plates and rice bowls for cheap. Cheap in this case is defined by Westwood standard which by appearance the large portions may lead to the perception of good value but it’s still considered expensive with the quality you get. I was running errands at the Village and decided to return to Sak’s after a few years of hiatus.
This hole in the wall is sizable comparing to others in the area. The walkway that follows the entrance leads to the dining area and then the kitchen in the back where the orders are taken. The décor is very minimal and subdued, and the most exciting thing you’ll see is their poster menu filled with pictures of their foods.
I had the chance to try their Teriyaki Chicken and Spicy Chicken Combo ($ 6.40) that came with two deep fried pot stickers, salad, and mix of charbroiled and deep fried chicken smothered on top of steamed rice that had been seasoned with frozen peas, corn, and chicken fat. The salad was fresh but the wrapper on the pot stickers were way too thin. The rice was one greasy spoon and the mix of chicken was tasty, not spicy, and not in the best shape. Not sure how many times these pot stickers and chicken were fried and refried. The only thing that looked remotely healthy on their menu was their udon with teriyaki chicken, but otherwise my greasy meal was a good reflection of what you’ll likely get here.
Overall, it was a passable meal comprised of large portions and a decent price. I’m trying to avoid Westwood restaurants as much as I possibly can these days, but Sak’s is still a viable option for those looking for something quick and easy and don’t mind the zero thrills experience. 2.5 stars for the overall experience.

Random note: I wrote this review while I was visiting family in China, and unfortunately, China has blocked off a lot of information accessing websites, including Unilocal.So I couldn’t log in and post my review while baking in the humid heat, but fear not because I have return for some more Unilocal action.
Anyways, on to the actual review one of Westwood’s hole-​in-​the-​walls. Andrew L. suggested that me and Chung W. should go grab a bite to eat before our RA duties began, and told us about this place that I’ve honestly never heard of until after my UCLA undergraduate years were over… Saks Teriyaki! I must say that I am a bit disappointed that I did not know about this joint earlier! Similar to Gushi, this place offers large combo portions with their meats, all of which are at an affordable price.
Saks Teriyaki is hidden between two larger restaurants, but with a little bit of exploring, is easily found. The restaurant structure is quite interesting because there is a large space where you can dine in, but in order to actually get your meal, you need to go to the back where someone behind a counter will take your request. The actual spot where you order is quite hidden, but once you find it, it is quite cool. There is a large menu of offerings here– mostly meats, and all of the prices ranged from $ 5 — $ 10.
Luckily we were there on a Monday, where their chicken teriyaki combo was only $ 6. I decided to order just that, as well as a side of fried oysters (comes in four pieces). The food took a little over ten minutes to prepare, so the wait was not too long. Once I received my bag, the first thing I noted was how heavy it was! I was eager to sink my mouth into this deal breaker.
Inside a combo contains a heaping portion of black bean rice, salad, two gyozas, and your primary meat. The chicken teriyaki I had was delicious, flame-​broiled to a taste that even Gushi can’t beat. The two gyozas were also a welcome addition to the meal, and there was plenty of rice to go around. As for the oysters, they were decent at best, and will do enough to get your cravings out of the way. I barely finished all of my food in the end, and am pleasantly surprised at how good everything was.
I now know where to go when I need a quick meal fixing for cheap. Highly recommended if you enjoy Gushi. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots.

Sometimes you just want simple Chicken Teriyaki.
I love Sak’s. It was my favorite place during my college years. I loved it so much, when my family asked me where I wanted to go for my undergrad graduation dinner, I told them Sak’s. Yes, it’s no venue to hold a fancy dinner but I’m low maintenance and economical. Substance over form!
But they gave me dirty looks. I insisted but they won. It was too bad that Sak’s wasn’t open.
The past weekend, Saks and I had a 5-​year reunion. I showed up with J in tow so that he could be the unbiased judge to see whether I’m crazy or if Sak’s is awesome for cheap Japanese food. Chicken Teriyaki and the Spicy Chicken are my favorite. A plate combo typically comes with fried rice, salad, and cripsy gyozas.
The judge’s ruling? I’m not crazy. The sauce, man, it’s the sauce!
Every time I think of Sak’s, I’m reminded of the team t-​shirt from the saxophone section of my high school marching band. On the back of the t-​shirt, there was a picture of a saxophone with a condom inflated and covering the bell of the sax. The text on the bottom read: Blow Hard, Finger Fast, We Love [Sak’s]!
Completely appropriate for high school kids and super parent-​friendly, of course.
Anyway — 5 stars for tasty, cheap Japanese food.