takami sushi & robata restaurant

dining review+recommendation

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant
811 Wilshire Blvd 21ST Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
www.takamisushi.com
213-236-9600

lunch hours
Mon-Fri 11:30 am- 2:30 pm
dinner hours
Mon-Thurs 5 pm-10:30 pm
Fri & Sat 5 pm-11:30 am
Sun 5 pm-9:30 pm
happy hour
Mon-Fri 4 pm-7 pm
Sat & Sun 5 pm-7 pm

Takami's Kimono Room

cuisine: Japanese fusion/sushi/Asian
atmosphere: trendy/upscale
features: penthouse 360 panoramic view with options of outdoor patio seating/accommodates large parties, private parties, & special events/convenient club Elevate Lounge next door
attire: dressy casual
payment methods: major credit cards
price range: average lunch $30/person/average dinner $60/person
fees: $20 corkage/ $3 cake cutiing
reservations: highly suggested but do except walk ins
eating preferences: vegetarian/vegan/gluten free friendly
alcohol: full bar/specialty cocktails/extensive list of wine & sake
parking: valet
delish facts: do you know it took the owners 4 years to find the perfect, prime real estate location of what is Takami Sushi & Elevate Lounge?!? (wow! well worth the wait, might I add, the view is breathtaking!!!)/Tag Front created the beautiful interior design (they also designed Boa, Geisha House, Blue Velvet, insert amazingly designed popular, upscale, restaurant/club in L.A., etc.)

Takami's Lounge

delish dining
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Takami, Happy Birthday to you! 3 year old Takami, meaning heightened or elevated place, is a Japanese influenced restaurant located on the 21st penthouse floor in Downtown Los Angeles. In honor of their Birthday celebration, they have invited everyone to join them by offering an extensive $3 Anniversary Menu! (now that's what I call a Birthday celebration!) Although the Anniversary Menu looks mouth watering everything delish has decided to cover items that are always guaranteed available ;)

Bellini Cocktail

Happy Hour (they call it Sunset Hour here) 7 days a week? Amazing! You've got to check this place out! 1st thing's 1st, I'm starting out in the lounge for Sunset Hour. $5 wine & beer specials, deals on sake & specialty drinks like the Bellini Cocktail: nice pour of de valier prosecco with peach schnapps & pama liquor. (love the floating berries) Going through the menu, I continue to get more & more thirsty, & 1st instinct is the Absolute L.A.: healthy shot of Absolute Blueberry-Acai, splash of St. Germaine & Pama Liquor topped with fresh lemon juice. (check mark) Now for a snack (1/2 off food Lounge Faire, score!) I munch on Shishito Poppers: tempura shishito peppers stuffed with spicy tuna, drizzled with sweet soy (yummy yummy in my tummy, dangerously delish) & how about Takami Bruschetta: buraata cheese, roasted tomato, on a crisp wonton. (nice Japanese take on the Italian classic)

Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice

Warmly greeted with "Irasshai!!!," by the hostesses, staff, & sushi chefs, I am officially welcomed to a spectacular view. (& the sensation as if I'm floating in mid air) I'm now seated in the dining room, excuse me, Kimono Room. So what should I order from th 3 separate kitchens: sushi, robata, & hot? Well of coarse sushi, duhhh! But what is Robata? Robata is the wide selection of fresh vegetables, savory seafood, & meat on bamboo skewers marinated & grilled over an open flame served with sauces like the Truffle Sauce & Champagne Yuzu (it's basically Japanese bbq & very tasty) It compliments other Seasonal Favorites & Apps like the pretty much a given Takami Edamame: soys beans sauteed in a garlic butter soy sauce (soy pod party in my mouth), Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice: crispy rice cakes stacked with avocado, spicy tuna, & jalapeño (i'm addicted & definitely a must have!), & Crispy Eggplant: lightly tempura eggplant tossed in a garlic soy reduction. (finger lickin delish)

Yellowtail Jalapeño

Sake sparks interest! The Oyaji Gokuraku Junmai Ginjo: refreshing aroma of grapefruits & strawberries, elegant acidity pulls all the other elements together, it has a long finish & the taste changes along with the temperature changes, very interesting. (funny thing, very interesting is actually printed on the menu! & I concur that it is very interesting indeed) Now time for pairing sake with sushi time; under Specialty Dishes are most of the creative sashimi plates. Yellowtail Jalapeño: yellowtail sashimi served with ponzu sauce & sliced jalapeño. (delish) Under Signature Rolls, which are eclectic collabs of sushi rolls I skip right to the Lemon-Albacore Roll: spicy tuna roll with cucumber wrapped with albacore & fresh lemon slices (so refreshing, light & sensational) & the Penthouse Roll: spicy tuna roll on soy paper, tempura crunch inside, topped with avocado (the surprise crunch inside is delightful). P.S. ba da ba ba ba.. I'm lovin the Fresh Made Wasabi, compliments of the sushi chefs, Wow! This definitely beats that pasty stuff.

Lychee Mojito

Lychee Mojito: nice pour of Bacardi Superior Rum, fresh splash of Hanna Lychee Sake finished with fresh mint & lychee fruit, here I come! (such a fan of the sugar cane stick & the overflow of fresh mint aroma) It makes a perfect pairing with my entrée, the Seared Tuna: takami soy vin blanc sauce served with rice & sauteed vegetables. (announcement: the sauce on this is absolutely amazing, I could drink it like a bowl of soup, easy)

Molten Chocolate Yuzu

Now what puts the delish in delicious is desert & most of the times it's my favorite part of the meal. Molten Chocolate Yuzu: warm chocolate center served with vanilla ice cream & raspberry sauce (ooo definitely opt to have the green tea ice cream! with the rich silky smooth chocolate melting in my mouth.. heaven on earth) Japanese Tiramisu: homemade tiramisu with ginger creme anglais & vanilla ice cream. (I've never tasted anything like this, the creamy sweet flavors of the custard & bold taste of finger ladies bathed in green tea are magnificent) Finally, cuddling my warm cup of authentic Green Tea @ hand, I should down it pretty soon because the night is still young. I have Bottle Service reservations @ Elevate Lounge next door (open Fri, Sat, & occasional Thurs nights 10 pm-2 am) & I plan to dance the night away with my friends, total strangers, & the dj. What a night, what an unbelievable dining & entertainment experience!

indulge..