We chose Sasaya, a sleepy storefront with a traditional facade and a dim interior. I'd come here on a previous occasion for a pitcher of beer and a slew of delicious small japanese bar dishes. I was hopeful that we'd get similarly good dishes.
Since Christine was craving the takoyaki, we had an order to start the meal. Dusted with bonito flake (one of my favorite toppings - "bacon of the sea" as I call it), warm, gooey, yet still slightly crispy on the outside, the pieces of octopus weren't the freshest, but overall the little spherical packages were good to eat. It was covered with lines of Japanese mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce (thick & sweet).
Then we had the crab porridge, a watery jook-like bowl perfumed with tender crab. It was hearty and warm, the perfect remedy to a chilly evening and a hungry belly.
Next we had the miso cod, a sweet, luscious fish doused with a sweet miso sauce. It was addictive and we even spooned some of the sauce into the crab porridge to kick it up a notch. All of it was so flavorful and the perfect satiation to our famished appetites.
We washed it down with a large bowl of sukiyaki udon, a beefy broth with well-made udon noodles and thin slices of beef. It was topped with small heaps of sliced scallions and bonito flake. The portion was definitely large enough for all of us to share.
We didn't order any beer because we were planning to hop to a few other places. While we weren't extremely full after this meal, it definitely kept the hunger pangs at bay until our next stop, which was Benito's Taco Shop across the street. This side of West LA could be a barren food wasteland in the middle of the night, but I would say that during day it's better. Western Bagel's across the street and Il Grano is also nearby. But on a chilly, sleepy evening, sometimes only an izakaya will do the trick.
Sasaya
11613 Santa Monica Blvd
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 477-4404
5 comments:
my stomach just growled :( that sukiyaki udon seriously hits the spot EVERYtime :)
I was wondering where you guys headed after Zocalo. Sasaya's a good late-night spot. I came here with the FoodDigger staff, a couple of bottles of wine and sake. Good times
Matt, I still haven't tried this place. When I was living in West LA, my friends and I would frequent the place a few doors down, Terried Sake House. By no means an outstanding restaurant, it was the kind of izakaya that was neighborly and offered everything i could possibly want – very homey. Did you try any of the yakitori at Sasaya?
christine: I want that udon for lunch today. too bad it's like 15 miles away.
Aaron: yeah, it's a solid place. can't wait to go back.
EDBM: funny, I was JUST reading your blog...Christine's at New Kamara right now getting the awesome bowl of noodles you customized. Anyways, I haven't heard of that spot, and I don't recall any of the yakitori at Sasaya. I might have had it my first time there, but I don't remember...christine would know better
That was a fun night.
You should have put up that picture of that pecan pie you devoured in the end at Apple Pan!
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