Bar Hayama

Bar Hayama Restaurant Review:

This restaurant, located on Sawtelle Boulevard in a commercial district sometimes referred to as “Little Tokyo West,” has turned a no-frills sushi bar (the former Sasabune) into a modern, attractive setting with a comfortable sushi bar, linen-clad tables and a landscaped patio. The sushi is first-rate --- not a surprise considering owner Toshi Sugiura also founded the California Sushi Academy. However, Hayama is as much an izakaya (Japanese pub) as sushi bar, where small plates referred to as kozara dominate the menu. Items such as deep-fried zucchini, grilled soy-marinated squid with spicy mayonnaise, shiitake mushrooms stuffed with spicy tuna, and black fin crab cakes with a spirited mustard sauce are great for sharing. They pair well with a selection from one of the city’s best saké lists or a cold Japanese beer (there is also a short but nifty selection of global white wines that work well with sushi). Larger plates include Wagyu steak with wasabi-sesame sauce, or a French-inspired filet mignon with peppercorn sauce. Bar Hayama, despite its pristine raw fish, shows us there is more to Japanese cuisine than sushi.