Oyako

Damn good sushi. Even though it’s small, this place has good service and is always dependable place to get great sushi. Fair prices too.

I had the Beef Teriyaki, Shrimp & Veg. Tempura hot plate. The beef teriyaki was prepared with lots of vegetables in a stir-​fry style. It was good, but I prefer the traditional style of terriyaki sauce over grilled steak. The tempura was below average because the batter seemed closer to that found on fish and chips rather than the light panko batter that I’m accustomed.
I also had the Rainbow Roll. The fish quality seemed OK but the rice didn’t seem fresh. It was actually a little dried out and crusty in some parts. We arrived about 30 mins. before closing so maybe that’s the reason.

LOVE the new remodel!
Ok so I used to go to this place before the new remodel and it was just ok 3/​5, BUT now something changed and this place became awesome.
–Awesome yellowtail sashimi
–Fair prices for pretty great quality fish
–large portions, great for sharing
best part…
–BYOB

Awesome! What a find…
UPDATE: sucks! This place was bought out, remodeled, and now is a loud, obnoxious sushi restaurant…

I love this place! Delicious, fresh, great menu and great prices. I think it should have more than 3.5 stars overall. I’ve been coming on and off for 4 years and it is consistently good. I’m actually surprised it doesn’t pack out more.
I LOVE the Agedashi Tofu so much and all the rolls are really creative and delicious.
They have heaps of different teas too which is great.
I’ve noticed that someone has given 2 stars complaining the portions where too big!!! Yes, they serve generous portions which is certainly not something to complain about in my mind! For example 1 agedashi tofu and 1 roll will feed two people, 2 rolls and you’ll have left overs!

It’s not bad, just not very memorable. The few times I have been here was to grab a snack when I walked by and got hungry. If anything… convenient spot.

I went there last night with a friends of mine because he said he’d been there and it’s been good. I’m very particular when it comes to sushi and the fish better be fresh.
First, it was a Wed. night at approximately 8:30 and we were the only 2 people in the restaurant. This should’ve told me something, but I wanted to give it a try anyway.
I asked the server what was their freshest fish. She insisted everything was fresh and that’s why they’ve been there 10 years. Well, you just need to pay your rent in order to stay somewhere for 10 years. Anyway, we ordered a couple of rolls including the dynamite and the Hawaiian. Now, it’s pretty difficult to spot bad sushi in a roll with all sorts of veggies & rice going on, but in this case, it was easy! The chunks of fish in the rolls, were rubbery, tough and odorous. I was going to order a few pieces of sushi, but after seeing that even all the sauce and fixings couldn’t disguise the awful quality of the fish, I decided against it.
I should mention the service while I’m at it. Like I mentioned, we were the only 2 people in the entire restaurant, and every time we needed something (like the water we ordered when we first sat down), my friend had to get up & go to the kitchen to ask for it.
I left incredibly disappointed and unsatisfied.

Stopped by here the other night to get some take out, great sushi and very reasonable prices.

Yum! sushi here’s delicious. I tried 8different plates with my friends and we were satisfied with every one of them ! We finished our meal with tempura Greenleaf ice cream. Although my friends and I chose not to drink tonight, I’m glad to know that this place is BYOB. This place is overall great!

This place is BYOB.
Now onto the food:
Spicy Tuna Crispy rice is delicious and is a great appetizer to share with the table.
Salmon Sashimi was fresh which is huge in my book because salmon is such a common order at a sushi restaurant, so when a place doesn’t have fresh salmon… it really says a lot about the quality of their food.
California roll was good, although maybe they could cut down on the rice quantity… I don’t want to eat a ball of rice when I go to get sushi.
Now the place:
Its a cute small place with not that many tables. Its not too tight of a space but can almost come off a little cold. There is no warmth to the place, where you would consider relaxing and taking your time. Its more of a quick dinner before you move onto the next place.

This is my go-​to place on a Friday night for last minute spicy tuna cravings. It’s a little overpriced, but it’s tasty and right there on main street.
The service isn’t that great, but they usually only have one server working, so you have to be patient.

my 8 year-​old is a big fan of sushi. true, she only eats 2 kinds (inari & cucumber avocado rolls), but she fancies herself quite the Japanese food aficionado. we happened to be shopping on Main St, had a two hour parking spot & saw this place. so we gave it a whirl…
some creative veggie/​vegan options, along with the standard fare. we ordered waaaaaaaay too much food. it was yummy & pretty affordable for A) sushi & B) Santa Monica.
no liquor license, but you can BYOB. inside is DARK, but nice ambiance– very small. friendly & attentive wait staff. parking is hellish, duh.

From the outside, this place just looks like another hole in the wall sushi joint, but their food is amazing! I went here with my aunt for lunch the other day and we really enjoyed it (although I’ll admit that it would have been out of MY price range as a student). The service was friendly, and the fish was the definition of fresh. We loved everything we ordered! The miso soup is REAL miso, so I recommend that. I also enjoyed the Night Forever roll!
My one complaint is that they don’t have a liquor license! I would have loved a Sapporo with my meal :)

The flower tea (Chrysanthemum, I think?) was fun to watch blossom in front of me while it steeped (Is that a word? or is it stope???) I had never seen it done like that before and I’m easily amused, apparently!
This wouldn’t be your usual fast food sushi spot, nor is it a super upscale place. It’s a comfortable, casual spot to go to when you don’t feel like keeping your elbows off the table, but also don’t want to go to a place that makes Sushi, Chinese, Indian AND Mexican food all in one kitchen. (*ahem… c’mon Venice you know which place I’m talking about!*)
I love the vibe, with it’s spacious and comfortable booths and modern Japanese interior design. I caught a hint of pleasant, modern, non-​mainstream music playing too, which was relaxing.
The waitress was really sweet. It took the food a little longer than I had expected to come out, but it did come out in major eye-​candy presentation,
so I forgive them ;) And it came out on plates I was tempted to steal for my art wall. ;)
As for the eats, here’s what I had the opportunity to taste:
— Spicy Tuna: I definitely recommend! Fresh, fresh, fresh
— Lipstick Roll: This is probably one of their heavier rolls, but the flavor was there. Texture was a bit off.
— Salmon Skin Roll: Good, nice and crunchy.
A bit pricey for my everyday lunch, but I wouldn’t mind going back for dinner… or for lunch on a payday.
BYOB.

I’m really surprised to see the amount of «meh» reviews that the place is getting… I have been going to Oyako consistently for the past year and each time the experience has been stellar.
The fish is fresh, which is a huge plus.
The service is great even though there are only a couple of people working there.
The presentation of each dish is stunning.
The pickled ginger is the good kind… not the pinky silly stuff some restaurants serve you.
Sushi is my favorite food and I know what I’m talking about. My Dad used to live in Tokyo and I visited all the time… I also regularly frequent the more upscale sushi spots like Sushi Roku, Nobu, Hama (downtown), Sugar Fish, Tengu…
Yes, they don’t have alcohol license, but there is a don’t ask don’t tell policy, if you know what I mean, so you can enjoy the full experience without having to pay an arm and a leg… and you get to choose your own.
I’m really surprised more people don’t go… And to the guy how said that Firehouse has better sushi… you must be out of your frekkin’ mind… That’s probably the worst sushi spot I’ve ever been to in my life. Perhaps the lure of a full bar and happy hour menu (ugh) is great for cheap dates, but I’d rather eat Whole Foods sushi any day than that sorry excuse for tuna rolls… Yuck! :(

The food was a little overpriced. I thought the décor was nice, great location on Main Street, walkable from my house, but I was not thoroughly impressed. The sushi rolls took a while to get to us and it was not even that busy.
I did however really like the creative sauces that they served. Specifically the Japanese mustard sauce and the creamy chive sauce. The soy sauce tasted really odd, and I have sushi often so I knew there was something wrong with it. Bleh.
Try another place :-/

This place continues to surprise me every time I stop in. My experiences have been very mixed, but my last dinner here was such a pleasant surprise that I felt this review needed an update.
Here’s the reason for my update: TOFU STEAK! This is a must-​have for vegans, veggies, or just people who like tofu and delicious things in general! The tofu steak dinner is an amazing deal– you get rice, green salad, veggie tempura, miso soup, and a HUGE tofu steak! You’ll definitely have leftovers! As for me personally, I can’t wait to rip into my leftovers tomorrow at lunch!

More like 3.5 stars but I’ll round up. Small restaurant along Main street with simple food and good service. The food is not amazing, but it’s definitely not bad. Service was extremely nice and polite. Décor is somewhat modern and clean.
— Chrysanthemum Tea: good and caffeine free!
— Sashimi Lover: good variety of sashimi, freshness = okay
— Spicy Tuna Roll: not spicy, lacked flavor
— Spicy Hamachi Roll: orange sauce is good and spicy, pretty good
— Unagi Nigiri: teriyaki sauce was watery and too much soy sauce
One weird thing is that you have to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom. Kind of cool to see who’s preparing your food and how the environment is, but I think it’s best to leave that portion as a mystery to your patrons.

I don’t understand what all the people, who have bad experiences at Oyako, are experiencing.
This is the spot to go get sushi on the bar drag of Main Street; between Santa Monica and Venice. Every time I have been here I don’t feel like my pocket has been picked, and each time the service has been excellent and the food has been fresh, seasoned perfectly, crafted well, and timely.
I have been here for lunch and dinner both and have never spent more than 100 dollars for two without tip. No matter the time, the weather, or the crowds, there has never been a single thing I have experienced that I would complain about. I recommend dining for two and picking items to share.
The Appetizers:
I have had The Stuffed Jalapeño, Beef Gyuzo, and The Shrimp and Veggie Tempura. All are perfect for starters. I didn’t sit longer than 5 minutes after ordering, and I had my appetizer in front of me, each time tasty, fresh, and well seasoned.
The Nigiri:
Choices are a matter of personal taste. I have had the Shrimp, Tuna, Yellow Tail, and Mackerel. All of which are classically presented with ginger and wasabi, each time fresh, nicely cut, and well formed on the rice. If you want to see bad hand sushi go to Hama Hama in Venice.
The Special Rolls:
I recommend the Lobster Popcorn Roll, Night Forever, The Spicy Lobster Tempura Roll, and The Tempura Shrimp Roll. Each time I have had these Items they have been tasty and well crafted– the only thing not the same, was how they were plated. What can I say the chef likes to present his food creatively.
The Udon:
All of which come with a roll, is perfect if you are looking for a light meal. A bowl each, add a few pieces of nigiri and a special roll to share with another person, and you will leave content, and surely with a bill under 100 for two.
So this is half of my point about this place: Good Food. My second point is: Great Service. I have been to eat here twice for lunch and three times for dinner. Each time with my boyfriend and each time ordering something different and there has not been a single time that I have not been greeted with a genuine smile. Three times I have been treated with a complimentary taste of dessert, and twice the chef has come by the table to personally ask me if everything is enjoyable.
I have eaten good and bad sushi in Seattle, Portland, Boston, and South Padre. Out of all the sushi I have eaten in LA, most of which I believe was mediocre at best, and truly overpriced, this is THE spot I will continue to frequent.

It was raining the day we went to Oyaku. We had just finished final exams and took a break for lunch before going back to our offices and grading.
The restaurant is small and dark. There are some modern neo-​Asian accents, but the darkness makes any sense of style seem muted. Some of the «chairs» are just upholstered cubes. However, the cubes were comfortable and sturdy. Along the wall, the benches were not connected to the back, allowing for different cushion styles for the backrest part of the benches.
Service was slow. The waitress didn’t want to be helpful. She fulfilled our requests, but not willingly.
The food was presented beautifully. I got an udon noodle dish with chicken. It has a thin, slightly sweet sauce. If I had put something like sambal oelek chili paste, it would have been pretty damn good. It was only ok. It did come with a side of California roll. They had a good flavor and seemed dense for their size.
The fried lobster looked good. The sashimi looked fresh.
The dishes were overpriced for what you got, unless you’re looking for a pretty presentation.
We ordered some edamame and the shells stayed on the table. We had to ask for the busboy to take them away. Since there wasn’t much room, it did make a difference.
It wasn’t busy when we came, but that may have just been the result of the rain. Although, I can’t imagine this place being crowded or a hotspot of activity.