Sushi is arguably Los Angeles’ favorite import from Japan.  It’s a matter of pride when any Angeleno can say they’ve graduated from California rolls to more adventurous pursuits in the world of raw fish – blowfish, anyone?  As a result of our citywide obsession, we can easily boast more mouth-watering sushi spots per capita than any city outside of Tokyo.  (Note: that statistic was not fact checked.) Here, we present the 5 most haute sushi restaurants in LA.

Urusawa

By now this restaurant has been enjoying its status as the height of dining for sushi-inclined locals and visitors for years.  Set conveniently across the way from Tiffany’s in Beverly Hills and on the second floor, Urusawa is known far and wide for the unparalleled freshness and flavor of their fish, the inviting, serene dining room, and their 2 Michelin stars.  An impeccable dining experience to its core, Chef Hiroyuki offers only omakase – or a chef’s menu, and the dishes differ per party.  This is sushi at its most personal, creative, and divine.

Located at 218 N. Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (310) 247-8939

Matsuhisa

If you live in Los Angeles and fancy yourself a sushi-lover, this is the chapel at which you now worship.  On La Cienega just north of Wilshire, you will find this temple of raw fish that Chef Nobu Matsuhisa presides over with pleasure.  (He is also famous, of course, for another eponymous establishment – Nobu, with outposts in Malibu and West Hollywood.) However, Matsuhisa is the sparkling gem in his lineup.  Order the standards (Tuna, Hamachi, Uni, Rock Shrimp), but while you’re here, you may as well experiment – the Chef will take very good care of you.

Located at 129 N. La Cienega Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211  (310) 659-9639

Katsuya

We in this city are often fond of restaurants that not only please our palates, but that simultaneously tease all of our other senses.  Designed by the omnipresent Philippe Stark in his signature sleek, modern style with large-scale images of geisha’s eyes and lips, Katsuya (with locations in Brentwood, Hollywood, Downtown, and Glendale) is a definitive sensory experience.  Their Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna and Spicy Albacore with Crispy Onions are both not to be missed and you’ll also want to try their Crispy Soft Shelled Crab and their Salmon Sashimi with Caviar.

Multiple locations across Los Angeles, click here for a list.

The Hump Sushi

When someone tells you that some of the best sushi in LA can be found at an airport, don’t assume they’ve gone mad.  The Hump Sushi at the Santa Monica Airport, located above Typhoon, is an off-the-grid outpost of authentic, fresh Japanese cuisine in a most welcoming and calm environment.  While they do offer an a la carte menu, we recommend sitting at the sushi bar and conversing with the chef over your omakase menu – he will take your dining experience to the next level by encouraging you to go places you never thought you’d go.  In sushi, that is.

Located at 3221 Donald Douglas Loop, 3^rd Floor at the Santa Monica Airport  (310) 313-0977

Koi

When you want to escape from the busy, social, pulse-quickening life of Los Angeles, don’t come to Koi.  A restaurant that infuses Japanese food with the glitz and glamour of LA, Koi offers a level of food that surpasses even its scene.  Located on La Cienega in West Hollywood, you’ll want to sit on their covetable outdoor patio.  With dishes sure to please any level of sushi lover, from their Baked Crab Roll and Baked Scallops on California Roll for the flavor-curious to a long list of fresh sashimi for the purists, Koi has got it all.

Located at 730 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90069  (310) 659-9449