We’re delighted to find Wakasan, an authentic Japanese joint on the westside more likely to be found in Torrence or Lomita where most cliente are Japanese. I really like the earthy texture and the dim-lit paper lamps. There is no menu as every day a prix-fix 11 course ($30 per person) is prepared. Once you sat down and ordered sake, the small plates would keep on coming. Though I saw people ordering extra oysters and grilled seafood.
First 2 were cold dishes: assorted veggie, shellfish with bamboo and seaweed. Both are good but I find them a bit too cold to eat in winter, even with warm sake.
Cold Crab Claw with a light sweet and vinegar sauce.
Pan-fried Salmon with plum-flavored gourd. Very good! The salmon was well cook, the meat was moist and tender and the saltiness was just right (a lot of places made them too salty). The gourd was pickled with plum flavor so it taste just like plum. It went really well with the salmon and lemon juice.
Simmered Pork with quail egg. Good but still not as good as Sasaya‘s. The first 5 dishes came almost at the same time. Since we got a bit too busy eating those 3 cold dishes that the hot salmon and pork dishes gotten a bit cold. So better eat the hot dishes right away when they’re served.
Sashimi: Halibut, tuna, amberjack. Very fresh!
Clam and Egg soup and a small bowl of fried rice, very home-cooking feel. Fried chicken and shrimp, crispy!
Chawanmushi, good but I’ve had smoother and juicier ones. Red bean ice cream.
Even though the dishes were small, we were still full by the end. We ordered sake from an extensive menu. I think $30 is a fair price for all the food and quality, though I heard that it used to be $25, which would have been a great deal! I also wish they have more hot plates for the winter season.
Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90025
(310) 446-5241
$30 is really good value! I would have wanted to have my rice together with the grilled fish and the pork though~. Should go for shabu-shabu in winter!
I guess the cold dishes allowed them prepared a lot ahead and able to serve more easier for more customers. Definitely shabu-shabu Korean BBQ season ^^;;
$30 per person????? Seriously??? Do they offer this on weekends as well?
Yes they offer the $30 for 11 courses menu everyday. The dishes might vary from day to day though.
This is one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in town, if not the best! I’m Japanese and have been to a lot of Japanese restaurants in town.