Reviews

Great, great, great..........bring lots of money though.

The Happy Hour at Katsu-ya is amazing, great pricing on sushi and drinks, always great fresh food. I love the fresh sashimi and the popcorn shrimp appetizer.

Always good to come back and have some delicious alternative sushi . The place is very busy so I highly recommend to make a booking . Friendly and fast service the food is fantastic and I could eat it every night .

Ventura Blvd has a reputation for being 'Sushi Row' but this restaurant is a couple of grades above. The chefs are charming and willing to come up with terrific suggestions. The fish quality, which is what Japanese food is all about, was fabulous. The toro from Croatia was so mouthwatering I had to order an extra portion.

+ seriously fresh fish, every time. great value on combo meals. takes reservations. -- always a long wait w/o reservations.

Everything we ordered was so good!! The garlic edamame, crispy rice with spicy tuna was excellent. I was so impressed and would definitely go back. The servers were also always on top of everything. We were really happy with the service we received. Check this place out if you're in LA!

We went to Katsu-ya because two weeks ago it was rated #1. It was AMAZING Best sushi EVER!!!! I would suggest getting their spicy tuna on crispy rice, the kiwi scallop one, and the tuna rolled in cucumber one. They were AMAZING! The atmosphere was great it was a tiny little restaurant with a max capacity of 60 people. The service was great too!!!

Some of the best sushi I have ever eaten in my life! The tuna goes down like butter. Delicious all the way around. You can't go wrong with whatever you try. The place is small and unpretentious but the odds are you'll recognize someone there eating.

This place is delicious but overpriced for the amount of food that you get. If you're looking to drop mad G's and impress all them ladies, go for it. If you're looking to not still be starving after you spend a hundred bucks, skip it.

halibut cheeks. nuff said

We attended for a friends Bday party. She and others who attended are Japanese, so that has to tell you something. Delicious interesting food. But pricey. A good place for a celebration.

This is a favorite lunch spot of mine. The Sherman Oaks location is great as well but I slightly prefer this one, maybe because it is your classic in-a-strip-mall-gourmet-sushi. As such it boasts the same no-decor decor, but who cares? Fancy sushi spots are usually not very good (some exceptions, but in LA too often true). DO NOT miss the crab rolls or the crunchy rice, but it's all good. Service is friendly but it is always crowded- reserve, reserve, reserve!

Best Japanese restaurant in town despite the fact that they don't tell you the prices of their specials and it very expensive.

This place is too good. Seriously. They're so good -- and so well-priced -- that it's gotten to the point they rarely answer their phone during peak lunchtime hours. As other yelpers have pointed out, it's strictly a mom-and-pop venture, meaning literally only two people work there, the chef/husband and the cashier/wife. The wife used to always answer my desperate lunch to-go calls, but now I've found I have to drop by to let them know my order, and then come 20 minutes later to pick it up.

Katsuya to me is really overhyped. There are countless excellent sushi places in LA, from tiny and cheap to big and expensive. Katsuya is definitely in the second category and that would be fine if the taste and the service matched the prices. Maybe it's just my bad luck but the rolls were VERY so-so, we had to wait for a long time, we had to hunt for our waitress to order anything else. Perhaps this is the celebrity effect and people trying to justify something but the bottom line is that for me the sushi tasted like decent airport bar sushi, not a tourist attraction.

I have many more complaints than anything. They were busy, however, the service was horrible, the menu does not have pictures or even detailed descriptions. There is not a big selection. The prices are too high and the chefs are not friendly. They don't seem to care much about the customer. The only good thing I could say is the fish itself tasted great, but most of their selections were not creative at all, just basic. Most of their clientele was Japanese which made me think... that is who they are marketing to and really only want to serve.

Inexpensive ... and amazing. Why else would Koi buy their menu?

My wife and I went here expecting the best sushi in LA but were disappointed, It’s good but not great. The spicy tuna on crispy rice was greasy leaving a puddle on my plate. We much prefer Katsuya in Brentwood. Although the menu is basically the same, the specials, sushi, & ambience has flare & is a step above the Studio City establishment. The Brentwood location also has a Robata Bar, which also adds more choices, & is excellent. Service was very good at both places

Creative sushi and it taste really good! However be prepared to wait for an hour to be seated when it's really crowded, especially on weekends. But you know from the crowd that the sushi is really good!

The best place for Sushi in L.A. took a group of business associates. Attentive, yet not intrusive service, excellent experience. We will return again soon.

Luckily I have a wonderful son whom works in this area, so when the family choose Sushi, off we went. While the normal presentation of small pieces is available, go for some of the special dishes, and I DO NOT MEAN CA rolls. The chef here is famous for his selection of fish and the presentation. Really enjoyed and looking for another visit

This place is a little gem, is super affordable and the quality is to die for. The highlight of the nigh was the scallop hand roll which we got because we asked (JEFF)one of the chefs to recommend us something. This place also has BLOWFISH which I really wanted to try. But unfortunatly there was none.

Make a reservation, if not its easily a 45 minute wait. Everything is good especially the specials, but they do tend to rush you to leave since they want to give your table to the many waiting patrons! Excellent sushi, excellent value, worst kept secret in town.

best sushi on the planet. i'm sure of it. must experience. i can't explain a true God like experience. it's impossible.

new fav. must try the super toro

This unassuming hole in the wall packs great sushi options with very reasonable prices. The staff is friendly and responsive. Everything the table ate was great. Definitely try the appetizers

Ate here with a friend a couple of nights ago. It was obviously popular as it was very crowded and we had had to make a reservation. The food was superb and was served quite quickly. The crab rolls were delicious as was the crispy rice dish. We also had a great dessert of tempura ice cream. A great meal and I can recommend it if you like good Japanese food. Best to book in advance though.

I've been to Katsu-ya in Encino several times. It's a long drive for me but oh so worth it. The fish is fresh and abundant and there are excellent options for non-raw fish eaters as well. The Dynamite Shrimp is to die for. I have dreams about it and usually order more than one order it's so good. I judge all sushi restaurants on the quality and portion size and Katsu-ya's is top notch. You can't find a better reasonably priced sushi restaurant in the LA area.

The best Sushi Chef always welcomes you and prepares dishes the way you like them amazing Crab Rolls and Salmon Skin Salad Reasonable prices in this particular original Katsuya had reservations for 7.30 they sat us right away

Lunch time Patrick the Sushi Chef happy go lucky prepared the meal for us Sashimi on crispy spinach Unagi and Hand crab rolls the best ever

Katsu-ya is one of two sushi spots I rock. All these other sushi spots are just average. Katsu-ya has a great selection of unique rolls, sushi and appetizers... like their Lobster Dynamite which tastes great and looks awesome, served in a halved lobster shell with one claw on the side. Delicious!!! You have to go there several times to try everything. Most everything there is great. Make a reservation if you're going Friday or Saturday night, it gets packed. Sushi Agoura in Agoura hills is another place I rock that is just as good with their own unique rolls and appetizers. If you know your sushi, you'll know these two spots. ---- the rest. Booyah!!

Good sushi, pricey

simply go... i really recommend it... paparazzis standing outside the door waiting for celebs to go in!!!

This is my favorite local sushi spot. it doesn't get better than this. I have been coming to Katsu-ya since its grand opening, and i keep coming back for more. Everything is so fresh.. the special rolls are outstanding! I have never walked out of here disappointed.. and I have never had that "one bad piece" - NEVER.

Good but the wait is always long

It's been FOREVER since I have had west coast sushi so there was a lot of pressure for Katsu-ya to deliver... I was not disappointed. Everything was amazing. We had one roll with albacore tuna, lettuce, avocado, and something else and it tasted like SPRING. no kidding. We also had the spicy tuna on crispy rice and I swear it was better than donuts! In addition we had mushroom tempanyaki and it too was perfect. We had a few other items, they were fantastic, but I've recalled the best ones. And for the quality, I would say it's not too badly priced.

IMHO, the best sushi outside Japan. Crab roll is a must! As well as crispy rice tuna... And many more! This place is very popular so it's a bit noisy inside. For the same reason, if you wanna have dinner there, save your time and make a reservation beforehand :)

We were in LA on vacation and heard this was one of the best sushi places around. It was close to our hotel and so we'd decided to try it out. We arrived around 6 pm on a Saturday, after calling at 530 for reservations and we were informed they don't take reservations that late in the day, and therefore had to wait about 30 minutes. ( by the way on Saturdays they close for a few hours in the afternoon so that is why we couldn't call earlier for reservations) It is a small gem in a strip mall area with valet parking and the service and sushi are out of this world. We sat at the bar and the sushi chefs were very nice,attentive and seemed to enjoy their job. We ordered all sorts of sushi..everything from the spicy tuna to the spicy tuna with tempura shrimp...which was awesome. We also tried the crispy rice with tuna and it was great. My husband ordered regular tuna rolls and said they were fantastic. I think he ordered three of those rolls. We ordered edamame and the tempura corn as appetizers. The tempura corn was awesome. We are big sushi fans and have had sushi in many different cities. We have always loved NOBUs in our home town but I have to say...this place had much better sushi. It was fresh and we loved their specialty list! if you are a sushi lover and don't mind a small! cramped , loud , unpretentious place , the go here !

After traveling throughout the state of California, this is by far the best kept secret in LA. Fresh, tasty and superb service. Highly recommend.

It's no longer the worst-kept secret, it's now an empire. But it's still amazing sushi. If my wife and I had to pick only one place to eat a meal this would be the place. LOVE IT.

The sushi is amazing!

We arrived at Katsu-ya, knowing we would need to wait for a table. We ordered a pitcher of beer and contentedly watched people while we waited for our table. Once seated, our waiter was friendly, efficient and very helpful as we ordered our sushi. It was worth the wait!

Located in sushi row of LA's studio city very close to an entrance to Mulholland Dr. Dishes here are more artisan; do not expect much standard rolls or nigiri. My favorites were the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the yellowtail sashimi with kumquat yuzu dressing. Beware that the seared albacore dish is comprised of 90% crispy garlic covering up the fish. No star sighting for us on this trip, but others have been known to spot a few folks. Wait can be long, but they take reservations. Good parking is available across the bridge in the residential area. Overall not super expensive- dinner for three was $120 inclusive of everything.

My faves were the albacore, sea bass, bluefin tuna, and yellowtail with jalapenos. For the price, this is the best sushi in the area. We've been going to this Katsu-Ya for years and it never disappointed us!

This place is the real deal when it comes to sushi!!! Melts in your mouth sushi. We ordered a variety of sushi and a roll and popcorn shrimp. Everything was delicious and fresh. Service was fast and friendly however there is a wait for a table but its worth it!!!

I was pretty skeptical when my friend raved about this place when I saw the restaurant's strip mall location and no frills decor but my skepticism was quickly erased when I tasted the food. This truly is the best sushi I've ever experienced!

nice crunchy roll and mix sushi plate

very yummy.. just so hard to get in

We expected to go to a very fancy restaurant, well it isn't. After putting the adress in the GPS we arrived on a parking spot in front of a dry cleaning shop (there is valet parking). Next to that shop is the restaurant, looking a bit shabby. But once inside it's just perfect. Delicious and very originals sushis and especially different rolls. Nice crowd and a perfect service. We had made reservations so no waiting. unfortunately we had to stop eating because we weren't hungry anymore!

Arrived in time for their early evening special--maybe by 6? but you'd have to check--and we were amazed at the reasonable prices. Ordered from both menus and everything was really fabulous. It's a little unpretentious restaurant with really fresh, really high quality sushi. We even spotted a Hollywood celeb leaving the restaurant as we walked in. Friendly wait staff who were very cooperative since we had a one year old with us who loved throwing food. It is definitely a must stop for me next time I visit from NY. If you live nearby, lucky you.

I have eaten at three Kaysu-ya locations and have had the same take from all three - fun atmosphere, nice service but very average sushi. They have some good specialty items but if you go to a sushi restaurant for the sushi/sashimi and NOT the rolls, like to sit at the bar versus a table (you know who you are) this is definitely NOT your place. The sushi selection is seriously lacking. Example: no selection of white fish other than hamachi. Again, if you are with a group and want to have a fun time this is a good choice but its not for the serious sushi fan.

We would never have found this place but got a great tip from a local who was at Universal with us, really the best sushi we have ever had, really nice staff on top of it. Highly recommend this restaurant

The best sushi, ever! Different from your everyday sushi places. Innovative dishes and there is always something new to try.

One of my favorite restaurant in LA Very good service! :)

If I had a choice this would be the place I would have my last meal! This is what I would order: Crispy Spicy Tuna Albacore with Shaved Truffles Tuna Steak w/ Japanese Salsa Baked Crab Handroll Albacore with Garlic sauce Yellowtail w/ Jalapeño Albacore with Crispy Onions Honey Rolls I am in Heaven!

SPICY TUNA OVER CRISPY RICE, ENOUGH SAID.

Some of the best sushi in the valley.

The best sushi! Just excellent. My husband and I won't eat sushi anywhere else. Freshest fish and exquisite specalites.

Not being a huge seafood guy, I went along to Katsu-ya with about 20 friends for a birthday celebration. The service was excellent, they handled our large party with style and grace. The food was delicious, a lot better than I was expecting. Plus, we saw a few celebs that frequent the restaurant as well, which is always exciting. Go check it out!

Not very romantic, pretty loud atmosphere and the prices are ok. The spicy tuna on crispy rice is very good but it does not come close to the best version in town which goes to Koi (although Koi is much too pricy)

Both spots are awesome. The location next door that just rolls and ramen is spectacular. Quick, easy and great little rolls. I could eat 20 easy! Love!

Just sit at the sushi bar and tell them to surprise you. If you have any price or dietary restrictions, tell them and they will abide by it. You won't be sorry.

We sat at the Bar to enjoy dinner and it was great. Made me come out of my "sushi eating" comfort zone and I ordered something different after watching the chefs make all these different types of sushi. It was all Delicious!

My wife and I were at the Getty Center and found Katsu-ya on the Trip Advisor phone app when looking for a restaurant nearby. Given it's high rating we decided to head there for dinner. We were incredibly disappointed by the standard of the sushi and still can't understand the positive reviews. Having both lived in Japan and California for a number of years, we have a pretty good handle on good sushi on both sides of the Pacific. We ordered a mixture of nigiri and maki (roll) sushi which arrived densely packed onto worn out plates. The maki sushi was poorly wrapped and stuck together due to the way it had been arranged on the plate. The rolls came apart immediately when we picked them up. The nigiri sushi was hit and miss, a few of the cuts of fish were good (the salmon in particular) but the shrimp and a few others were average, all-you-can-eat quality. The restaurant itself, as is mentioned elsewhere is essentially a unit in a strip mall, along with a dry cleaner, pet store and pizza delivery. Definitely not a first-date location. Inside, the only enhancements to make it a sushi restaurant are the sushi bar itself, some cheap wall hangings and a kimono. The tables were old and one of the laminated menus had dried food on it. The serving staff were nice and attentive although only a couple are Japanese, if that is important to you. I definitely wouldn't recommend to anyone who is looking for good sushi or a nice restaurant. I could see it being the best sushi on its block but LA must have better sushi places than this.

My husband and I came here for lunch one day after reading online that it was voted as one of the Places To Go in Los Angeles. The food was great. We scarfed down Shishito pepper, Crispy Salmon, Nabe Udon and sushi items. It’s a happening place at 1:30 pm on a Tuesday afternoon. All the tables filled with hungry and loud talking people in this rather small restaurant that serves traditional Japanese food. They have another location in Encino, Ca which is closer to us, so next time we’d explore there hoping the food is same good but perhaps quieter…

This place was recommended by a local and it lived up to its reputation. It is on "Sushi Row", Ventura Blvd, Studio City (sometimes listed as Hollywood). The service was very good, willing to make recommendations and very willing explain what was in some of the dishes. It was very busy, always a good sign, and reservations were recommended and necessary. I suggest some items but I don't want you to limit your experience, read over the menu, take a look at what the other patrons are ordering, what ever looks good go for it! Enjoy!

What more could you want? I had the teriyaki salmon and it was excellent. Came with salad and miso soup. Here's the only flaw for this restaurant -- there's no parking, and they want you to pay $6.50 to valet your car! But if you're willing to walk, you can park on a side street to the east or off Colfax. Get a reservation and allow parking time because they are really mobbed around 7 o'clock.

Upbeat, friendly staff offering delicious fare, nicely presented. Went twice while visiting Encino; dinner was superb - sushi far superior at dinner to the sushi at lunch. Lunch was a disappointment. I'll give it another try because the management is so welcoming. Kids keep the noise level high but manageable.

The BEST sushi in town. The Kobe beef is amazing! The Price is a tad high but the quality and quantity of all dishes worth every little penny.

There are a whole number of really excellent sushi places in the San Fernando Valley, of all places. I can't say if Katsu-ya is the very best of them, but of the ones that are open on Saturday, for lunch, it seems like the most creative, freshest sushi for the price. I happen to be in the area on a particular Saturday every year, and it's becoming a ritual for me. Even before they open the doors, there's always a bunch of locals waiting to get in, so you know this place has to be good. Nothing I've had there has been a disappointment so far.

What can I say except this place is the best sushi I've ever had anywhere in the world.

The sushi served here is top quality and always fresh and tasty. The service is exceptional and worth the wait.

In the valley near CBS

Unique, fresh, awesome! Aren't those things what make a sushi spot?

A great restaurant provided you can tolerate the sound that almost makes conversation impossible. Our party of four enjoyed two sake, Sunomono (excellent), Edamame, Salmon Sushi, Hamachi Kamak, Spider Cuty, Shrimp Tempura Roll a Vegetable Bento Box, and 2 Sukiyaki.......For all of that food the bill came to $93.30 plus tip. Very reasonable. The Sukiyaki was very enjoyable. Service was excellent.

I always visit Katsu-ya on Ventura Blvd in Studio City when in LA. The Brentwood and other locations don't compare to Ventura Blvd. The honey hand rolls, the albacore, the sashimi specials - portions are large, quality always stellar, service excellent. Kudos!

Loved this place. Great atmosphere great service great sushi. J.d. was a great server...we had robert roll sunet roll kaysuya jumbo and baked crab roll all yummy

It is more like a family restaurant but the Sushi is definitely worth the value in most of the places. Do make a reservation even on weekdays.

My wife and I went there expecting the best sushi in CA and it really wasn't. I was dissapointed with the amount of sushi specials and the food was so so. There was a couple of good dishes, but I wouldn't go out of my way and pay that kind of money for that experience. Service was excellent.

Yummmy

Katsu-ya STUDIO CITY (in particular) on Ventura Blvd x Colfax is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. It may seem like a hole in the wall of an older strip mall, but do not be fooled! This is not a spot for ambiance - just a place for great sushi with friends. It's totally low key, and the wait is worth it. They have some of the freshest fish in town! Reservations are highly recommended. The food is truly 10 stars out of 5... Service and atmosphere are just average My favorite items on the menu: *****baked crab hand roll (cannot get enough of these!) ****spicy tuna on crispy rice ***baked scallop roll ***sauteed peppers

I went to the location on Ventura Blvd and ate at the sushi bar. It was the best sushi, very fresh and flavorful. The service was quick and the pricing was great!

My son has eaten here several times and to be honest, if he hadn’t been with me I would have never gone in judging by the rundown look of the strip mall it is in. But what I found inside was top notch food in an understated atmosphere. We ordered several of their unique signature items: garlic edamame, creamy shrimp, spicy tuna on crispy rice and the baked crab hand roll. And we had a couple Sapporo’s to wash them down. It was a wonderful surprise.

Collar, yellowtail, and Japanese ceviche - amazing and you're welcome for the recommendation! Look wise not the best looking katsu-ya but it's all about taste vs decor

Great Sushi.. by a master... but expensive and hard to get into.. Fish quality is fabulous.. .technique amazing.. .selection small but who need too many choices when every one is wonderful.

Family took us here while visiting LA. We love sushi but always struggle with what to order. They have a great lunch combo for $20 with different types of sushi, a crab roll, and sticky rice (?). Great variety and very tasty. Also some good combos on Bento boxes. Would definitely go back!

Fresh delicious sushi, extremely busy restaurant, quite popular. Comfortable, clean, though expensive but oh so worth it. Great staff. A little load. All types of groups eating there on a Tuesday night, couples, families with kids, singles, girl friends. We loved it, sushi orders came at just the right pace. Don not forget dessert, the chocolate lava cake was better than we had a Roy's.

I go here regularly, and have never had a bad meal. Sit at the sushi bar, though - it's a much better experience than at the tables.

Not much atmosphere but that's eclipsed by the calibre of food. Best sushi. Not one bad mouthful. Highly recommended

Came here last night with some friends, as it had been recommended as one of the best Sishi places in LA. We had to wait for around 20 minutes for a table, which was fine as we had some beer and Edamame. The place is fairly small inside, but has an excellent buzz to it and the staff are friendly. Eventually seated and we ordered the Miso soup was lovely. Then came Ozeki, Salmon Sashimi and Sweet Shrimp - all of which were particularly fine. Alongside them came a dish called Lobster dynamite, which allegedly was lobster, but tasted and looked like shrimp - not sure what happened to the lobster - perhaps blown up? All in all, this place is very good, just be aware of what is being served, as it might not be what you think it is?! I would recommend this place, but do try and make a reservation, or get there early.

Super atmosphere and very good sushi, good service all in all a good experience, so if you are in LA and like sushi go you must visit.

This is the real deal. If you love sushi this place will spoil you. Melts in your mouth. I did the mixed sashimi and a couple rolls. Friendly staff and quick service.

My friend is a big Katsu-Ya fan of their Brentwood and West Hollywood locations, and so while we were in the Valley, she suggested we try their restaurant in Encino. She called in advance for reservations, but we were kept waiting for 20 minutes or more. The noise was quite loud and it was hard to talk to each other. The staff was very nice and even a bit overly attentive for my taste. It felt a little like we were being rushed. Anyway, my friend has her favorite dishes she orders and was happy to see the menu items were the same as in other locations. Everything we had was delicious....crispy rice with spicy tuna, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, the paper wrapped crab rolls, and my favorite was the broiled cod... It was a perfect amount and mix of tastes to share...she had hot sake and I had a glass of wine and the entire bill came to $62. I guess all the Katsu-Yas are noisy, which for some people adds to the whole vibe of a buzzy place, but it was uncomfortably loud and not a place you should go to if you'd like to have a conversation without shouting at one another.

This is my favorite place in LA and have spent 5 figures $$$$$ here over the years! This is a Katsu-ya owned by the chef, not corporate licensed (like Hollywood) and the quality really shows. Besides having amazing and fresh fish, the rolls, such as the Robert and 4.5 are things you won't find anywhere else (including the corporate Katsu-yas). We took people here over the years who had been resistant to trying sushi and left the restaurant waning to come back the next day. The service has always been perfect, especially for such a busy place. I can't wait to have my next meal here!!!

Overall great time! Service was amazing and left more than 20% because they really work as a team, loved our waiter Joshua! He really took the time to show us the menu and explained all the goods! It was our first time there and it was my bf bday and they made sure to make it special. The chef tasting was awesome it is $75 and it is small but everything melts in your mouth. The sushi rolls were avg but everything else was worth the price for the experience.

best sushi in LA: Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna; creamy rock shrimp tempura; Honey Roll; Yellowtail w/ Jalaeno; oyster spoon; Garlic Albacore + Truffles

Amazing sushi and hot guys!

Here's what I can't stand most about this restauant. You never know what items cost and then are surprised wtih an enormous bill. If they would just be forthcoming about the prices of what is on the menu this would be a more relaxing place to eat. It is always loud and constantly a wait because the food is quite good but truthfully, you can get the same great quality at many places in Los Angeles for less money. Of course, I do have my favorites and order out here frequently but it's not for the budget minded and I would never take a large party here as the price gets out of control. They still hand write the orders and present the bill total but not an itemized bill...who does this any more...but in general people don't seem to mind so much or they'd stop going. OH well. Know before you go.

awesome sushi...great place!

Amazing baked crab handrolls!

Must haves: Shishimi with Jalapenos The Robert Roll THE 4 1/2 ROLL You'll thank me in the morning!!!

love the sushi and fresh clean and no need to say more. not cheap

My family has been going here for 10+ years and it is our go to Sushi place. The service is always great and the quality of food is second to none. Although they have very "today" locations around the city this strip center original is our first choice.

This is an amazing place if you want to eat good sushi. The staff is amazing, the food is even better just ask them what to eat and trust them! If you sit at the sushi bar ask for Patrick and he will not let you down. The things we get every time: (every) Baked crab hand roll Crispy rice spicy tuna Rock shrimp on tuna roll Albacore crispy onion We have had friends come to town and order the chicken, and they were not impressed ( you can see why ) the fish is fresh, it's one of the only 3 places my OB allowed me to eat sushi while pregnant because they get their fish daily... and it's not a place you have to dress up. I go wearing sweats or buisness outfit, people go for the food and that's about it! And if your visiting you may catch a celeb or 2. Pretty popular place! If your debating one of the other locations or have been and think this will be the same it's not! The chain locations are NOT even close to this location, less of a scene but cheaper and better!!! We were so disappointed trying the other locations, we were charged more and got less food.

Fresh, consistent, affordable, and creative. I love it! It can get expensive when you order from the special menu, but I've never left disappointed.

I have been here over the years while visiting family. It is an expensive treat! We usually eat at the sushi bar and order five or six dishes to share. It will always be a special place because it is so incredibly fresh and beautifully presented. This last trip went at 6 on a Thursday night and it was actually not full! Time to go!

go immediately

If you love sushi, then this place is for you! It is a low key place which makes for great casual dining on delicious sushi! For the past couple of years, everytime I'm in LA, we stop at SK for lunch, dinner or take out sushi! Dining in can be noisy but it's all part of the experience, the hot saki, the people watching, the traffic outside, the totally packed restaurant with endless turning of tables...it's a great place for food, service and vibe! You will not be disappointed!

Can not recommend this place enough, sushi is always delicious! Service is always friendly & fast. The hot tea is free which is a nice bonus and they top it up for you too -the green tea is great. Prices are overall very reasonable for good quality sushi. Would recommend the 'combination choice of 3' as you get a good mix of items (e.g. sushi, tempura, salmon teriyaki) and the California Rolls are amazing. Book a table for busy evenings as this place is popular!!!

Fish is best quality, the specials are beautiful well thought out flavor combinations, the chefs agreeable and the place has a neighborhood feel. If I were to pick one sushi spot in Studio City to try for a traveler who wants to experience top quality sushi,..this is the place.

Katsu-ya's best location is on Ventura in Studio City. The others are not up to the same standard. If you are looking for great sushi the Ventura location is the only choice.

Got recommended to come in by jessica romo. And got to agree, the food was amazing! Everything was on point and very good. For the sweet lovers I recommend the donuts, so good!

darn good sushi but tough to get in w/o a ressie.

Went to dinner at Katsu-ya last night. With reservations, we were seated promptly. As it turned out, whatever we asked for (halibut, tuna, salmon, etc.) was fresh and tasty with just the right amount of rice. The Robert Roll was my favorite. The service was also very good. It got very crowded so I suggest coming early and making a reservation well ahead.

Crab hand-rolls. Amazing!

This is a very trendy, busy restaurant. The service was good and it seemed clean but the food was not at all what I was expecting and I can't say I enjoyed any of the fish dishes. The beef was excellent but still won't be returning.

The sushi is amazing here and I love the fun combinations of flavors!

We live in the bay area and took a week long trip to LA. Ate at the "best" sushi places we could find in Santa Barbara and all over the LA area according to tripadvisor and yelp. This was our one "maybe" place only because it seemed out of the way for our itinerary. Oh my gawd are we glad we went!!! As soon as you walk in, all of the chefs and front desk people welcome you which is a nice start to a great meal. We sat at the sushi bar and Jon was our chef. He recommended some of the specials and what he thought we would like and it was all so good, we wished our stomachs were bigger. Every dish was incredibily good with a creative twist on the traditional sushi. Our last roll we had the first day was the baked crab roll and it was nothing like I thought (tinfoil dish?) but rather a warm hand roll wrapped in soy paper. It was mouth watering good and two other people were eating it as well. With all the oohs and ahhs, another group ordered it as well because they wanted to see what they were missing out on. All of the food was excellent but that roll just sent us over the edge and with one day left on our trip, we cancelled Catalina Island just so we could figure out a way to eat here again (took a great studio tour right down the road instead). We again sat with Jon and he didn't disappoint. In all between our two times there, we probably had 8 or 9 dishes plus a great woman who eats there 3 times a week graciously shared several of her favorite dishes (a bite here and there) so we got to try several others (thank you and I'm still jealous you live close enough to eat there!). My only word of caution that Jon and our generous friend gave was to arrive at 11:30 when they open otherwise the wait can get up to an hour long (yes, it's THAT good). Jon said that dinner was crazy there so not sure if I'd recommend going without reservations. It's a hole in the wall location in a small strip center and not large inside with valet parking so they don't tick off their neighbors. The other stores there all had signs saying "no Katsu-ya parking!!!". One last thing...I'm not sure how much each dish cost (didn't see that on the board behind Jon) but it was very very reasonable. We eat at sushi quite often in the bay area and ate more food here for the same or even lower price. I think our second day was $53-54 range and we had 5-6 items that day. Tell Jon hello for us!

The restaurant is truly great: unique dishes and flavor that is unsurpassed. I rated it as the best sushi in all of LA. I recommend the albacore sushi with its special coverings and sauce. It literally melts in your mouth. I have never found anything like it. There are many other special dishes that are wonderful. Check the special board additional treats. I always eat at the counter/sushi bar so I can watch them prepare the food. I just enjoy the visual and being close to other customers who can recommend dishes I have not tried. On the weekend, i recommend being there waiting at the door at opening at 5:30 pm. Otherwise you will need a reservation. It gets busy but the food is never slow in coming. This is the original of a series of Katsu-ya restaurants. This one is next to Rusty's pets in the corner of a small strip mall at Colfax and Ventura. Do not be confused by 3 other restaurants with the same name on Ventura blvd. It is not inexpensive and this tempers my frequency of visits but I have never been disappointed. It is the only Japanese restaurants I know of that believes in diversity in its help staff.

If you’ve ever been on Ventura Blvd you’d know there’s a sushi restaurant on every block, so when it comes to deciding which one reviews or pictures usually help. This one was the closest to home and supposedly new. We went for lunch, there’s free parking around on side street otherwise there’s metered or pay parking lot. It was busy that day but we got right in. All three of us ordered rolls. So my opinion being a frequent sushi eater. The plain one fish rolls were flat, deflated. The two specialty roll were ok taste wise, but for the price they were very small. I wasn’t excited about any of it and we left kind of hungry. With all the competition out there, I feel this restaurant needs to step it up and make some amazing unique rolls. The service was just ok too. Too many servers at our table, wasn’t sure who to connect with. I won’t be back because there are so many other sushi places. I gave it two stars for cleanliness and one of the rolls was pretty.

excellent cuisine

Delicious sushi. Does not have the pretense (or the decor) of fancy sushi palaces but the food is quite creative and delicious. Service is so-so. We had to ask 4 times for water, it took 15 minutes after we got our menus for a waitress to even come to take our order. But the sushi was worth it.

Unbelievable. I've heard raving reviews about this place and finally went - the place was SO DIRTY and FULL OF FRUIT FLIES, I couldn't even finish my food. I told the waitress I would never come back, and she didn't care in the least. Disgusting.

Good sushi bar and good service sushi.

I should not spread the word and ruin a good thing...but I must... Forget the SBE restaurants that pay to use the Katsuya names, the restaurants that Chef Katsuya runs himself are much better and far more affordable. A fantastic selection of sushi, and all sorts of other great items that will not blow your budget. I cannot figure out how they keep the dining room so calm when it is that packed but they manage to do it even at peak times. All in all, a fantastic sushi restaurant.

Then this is the place for you...I've actually had many meals here....great sushi for sure! Lots of different rolls to choose from even though I prefer the sashimi, yellowtail is thee best!!

Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. Food excellent. Service efficient. Everyone happy. Job done.