Chef/Owner Tom Sagara has managed to make a hole in the wall into a West Hollywood/Beverly Hills staple for locals. The man behind the sushi (The Boss), with his bleached blonde hair & cool exterior, is the quintessential reason that Boss Sushi puts out what I think is just about the best sushi in all of Los Angeles. With over a dozen original sauces, he makes traditional Japanese sushi, completely unique & innovative. His signature eight sauces are “addictive” say the regulars and are labeled on the menu as the “Boss’ Treasures”. Some of the very best include his citrus Koji, black sesame, Wasabi sour cream, & basil Ponzu sauce. The balance of East & West (particularly South American influences) is really well-executed and makes the flavors of the menu constantly surprising.

What really stood out for me was how fresh the seafood was. The scallops, mackerel, albacore, salmon, tuna, etc…literally tasted like it had just jumped out of the sea and into my mouth. The Boss himself goes to the LA Fish Market and personally picks the freshest & most seasonal catch of the day (that means no oysters till winter). The presentation is quite elaborate for such simple cuisine. Each display exhibits expert knife skills, clean lines, & ripe colors. The Boss’ protégé Kaz (he’s been studying under him for 10 years) has made his own name for himself with his own signature dishes. My personal favorite is the sushi roll ‘Fire de Kaz’ which is an even hotter version of the spicy tuna roll with a slice of jalapeno to top it off.

Best Suggestions: I would definitely go for the scallop sashimi in a Yuzu citrus sauce because it is one of the few places you can get rare scallop and not fear losing your life, and it is ridiculously scrumptious (my favorite thing on the whole menu). I also suggest adding a quail egg to top one of your sushi rolls….it gives a nice contrast to the fish; it’s filling, & quite delicious. Other special sushi roll favorites are the ‘Red Dragon’, ‘Popeye’, ‘I Love Tracy’, and yes, there is a roll called the ‘Beverly Hills 90211’. You have to taste it to believe it! From the hot kitchen, the best picks are the Black Cod Saikyo & Mushroom Tobanyaki….but please don’t forget to pair these favorites with a nice cold Sapporo or Asahi beer, and of course a large hot or chilled sake.

Décor is nice, minimalist though. Lighting is a little too bright for an intimate setting, but if it helps them assemble rolls more precisely, then I won’t push for a dimmer. Service is friendly and fun (very casual) and occasionally the Boss will shout out little anecdotes (or make everybody sing Happy Birthday). Best is that it's really reasonably priced...I don't feel cheated at the end of the meal. All in all, I implore you to give this place a try, because you may think you’ve had the best sushi in LA….but I know who’s Boss.

Author: Erin Landsberg

Operating Hours:
Lunch – Mon thru Sat 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner – Mon thru Sun 6-10pm

Located:
270A S. La Cienega Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Ph: 310-659-5612