Little Izaka-ya By Katsu-ya

This tiny spot in Sherman Oaks couldn’t be less like the clubs pretending to be restaurants also called Katsuya. Instead of people wearing bandage dresses eating $20 rolls, there are couples on casual date nights having a quick meal at the sushi bar before a movie. The sushi here is not only better than what you’d get at the Hollywood Katsuya, but also about a third of the price. It’s a great spot to get a mix of things - some crispy rice with spicy tuna, the gyoza, a few nigiri, and a roll or two - before heading to Arclight down the street.

photo credit: Jakob Layman