Maru Restaurant Video Review

Check out West LA's delicious Japanese restaurant featuring fresh ingredients and amazing omakase.

Maru 
12400 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Phone number(310) 820-7240

Hot Pot on Sawtelle: Morinoya

With the current chilly weather that LA is enduring, it's quite fitting that this review is for hot pot. 

Hot pot is usually associated with Chinese restaurants, but Morinoya serves up individual hot pots that hit the spot. 

You wouldn't know this restaurant exists since it's pretty much hidden on the second level of the Olympic Collection plaza, but if you're up for trying a new place, get yourself there asap.

They used to be open for lunch, but unfortunately have now made themselves strictly a dinner establishment. (boo)

On every occasion that I've been here, I always order the hot pot, either kimchi or the soy milk. Both are delicious, yet very different in taste.

Opt for the kimchi hot pot if you want more flavor and a bit of spice. There are small pieces of pork as well, so this would be good for meat lovers. 

kimchi hot pot

The soy milk hot pot is one-of-a-kind and I highly recommend it for fish lovers or those who prefer a milder flavor. It's more of a savory soy milk, so don't be scared off by the soy. It comes with bits of fish, mushrooms, and napa cabbage. 

soy milk hot pot

veggie tempura

Both hot pots come with a small salad, rice, and an appetizer of your choice. 

salmon + yellowtail sushi

I've tried the sushi here, but it's just okay. If you're here, take advantage of the hot pots and forgo the sushi.

Service ranges from good to just okay. I guess it depends on how busy they are, but the only complaint is having to wait for long periods of time if you are more than a group of 2.

They provide free parking validation for 1.5 hours, so feel free to park underground.

Morinoya
11301 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 473-3960

Scarpetta Brunch- Fit for Kings and Queens

If you're looking for a spectacular brunch on Sundays, Scarpetta is the place to be. Located at the posh Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, this buffet will satisfy all your cravings from savory to sweet.

We came here with hearty appetites and left waddling out like happy ducks.

The kitchen has all sorts of food including bread, croissants, meats, veggies, appetizers, sliders, mac n cheese, the famous spaghetti, ravioli, oysters, king crab legs, sushi and fruit.

In the dining room area you will find a cheese station and a dessert station filled with all sorts of goodies such as macarons, cakes, creme brûlée and panna cotta.

You can also order off the menu for items such as french toast, hash browns and poached eggs. 

Must try list:

Spaghetti - get a couple servings because this is seriously one of the best pastas I've had. Simple yet refined. 

spaghetti, veggies, fruit, breads, oysters, desserts

Oysters- need I say more?

Poached egg with polenta- Orgasmically fulfilling. Good lord! I've never had an egg so good, and the polenta balances it perfectly. 

poached egg with polenta

Desserts: Get them all! Highlights are the creme brûlée, macarons and tapioca pudding in a small glass.

Service is excellent on all levels. Everyone was accommodating, friendly and on point.

Price- not for the faint of heart. $68 per person. It's well worth it for a special treat!


Scarpetta
225 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Asuka Restaurant

Service- 1 star. Food- 3 stars.

Came here for lunch the other day because I had 2 hours to kill. Man, what a mistake!

It took a while for someone to greet me and seat me. Since I was eating alone, she seated me at this table behind the wall, next to the door. Shitty table, but it was either that or the sushi bar. I didn't feel like sitting at the bar.

I get the menus and it takes another 15 minutes for the ONE waitress to come over and take my order. Meanwhile, she's just running around taking orders to other tables. The busboy came over to ask me what I wanted to drink and when I told him I wanted to order and that it had been a while, he said that the waitress would have to take my order. Well, get her over here! Geez.

When she finally showed up, she didn't even apologize, just asked me if I was ready to order. Yeah, like 15 minutes ago. I opted for the lunch special for $13.

Grilled salmon, rice, miso soup, iceberg lettuce salad and 2 pieces of white tuna sushi. The sushi came out first and it was pretty damn good! Surprisingly. Then, 10 minutes later the rest of the food appeared and I dug in. I liked the grilled salmon but it was lacking in flavor. The salad was a generic salad but what do you expect for a lunch special?

grilled salmon lunch special

white tuna sushi

I asked for the check and it took another 10 minutes to arrive. But, once I paid in cash (they only take credit card for bills over $20), she was pretty quick to bring me my change. 

NO, I would not go back. I don't think it's asking for much to get decent service.


Asuka Restaurant
1266 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024(310) 474-7412

Jinpachi - Toro Heaven

If you're looking for authentic Japanese food and sushi, Jinpachi is the way to go. I came here a couple weeks ago for dinner and I still fantasize about the amazing toro they serve here.

Located on Santa Monica Blvd in the heart of West Hollywood, Jinpachi is an unassuming restaurant that you can easily miss walking by. But, it's so worth the visit, even if you just get a few pieces of sushi.

Service was great, polite and on par. The sushi chef really knew what he was doing and each piece of fish was very fresh.

Here's what we ordered:

Sweet shrimp - I would skip this one. It tasted ordinary, not like the really amazing sweet shrimp at Sushi Go 55.

sweet shrimp & toro


Toro sushi - OMG. We ordered 4 pieces to start with and got 4 more because it was THAT delicious. Both of us took a bite and were in toro heaven. It literally melted in our mouths. I swear, I've never had better toro elsewhere. Definitely a must get item, but it's not cheap. It's still worth it though!

close up of toro goodness


Salmon sushi - Delicious and fresh as well. Like butter. Highly recommended.

Yellowtail sushi - Pretty good, but not outstanding.

Tuna sushi - Good, but not our favorite.

salmon, yellowtail, tuna


Spicy tuna, toro, salmon


Unagi - Very good, nicely grilled.

Blue crab hand roll - Yummy, but the blue crab hand roll from Sugarfish still holds my heart.

unagi, blue crab


Chawan Mushi - Loved it! Soft, silky, flavorful and packed with mushrooms and seafood. Simply delicious.



Mixed tempura - Came with white fish, shrimp, and assorted veggies. Kiddo liked it and it's a notch above the mixed tempura at other restaurants.



In a nutshell, I'd come back here just to eat toro. Mmmmmm. I'm drooling thinking about it now.

Save up because it ain't cheap. Just remember, toro!

Jinpachi
8711 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 358-9134