LAReview
A tiny space in a Lake Balboa strip mall, Bar Uerukamu feels like a neighborhood spot in a small town in Japan - and not just because the majority of the customers are speaking Japanese. There are five or so tables and some seats at the bar, and while it’s less rowdy than an izakaya, Uerukamu is still a lot of fun. At lunch, they do entree-sized dishes like Japanese-style pasta (which isn’t ramen, but a Japanese version of spaghetti with things like soy sauce thrown in) and fried chicken, plus a $16 sushi platter that’s great value for the quality. At dinner, there are a bunch of small plates, plus a longer a la carte sushi menu. You won’t get any fish you’ve never heard of here, but you will get great quality food, super-friendly service, and a never-empty sake glass.