Sushi?

My cousin showed me this restaurant a couple of weeks ago, so today I decided to take my friend for her first time.

Good Meal.

Name: Akasaka Japanese Restaurant.

Location: Hacienda Heights, CA.

What are they known for: HUGE ROLLS. I'm talking 2 inches in diameter rolls.

Price: It's not the cheapest place to go, but if you're in the mood of fresh sushi, this is it.

Having done her research, my friend was set on ordering the chirashi bowl. I had no idea what it was until it arrived. First they brought out a bowl of miso soup and salad. My friend & I devoured the salad, the dressing was amazing when the salad was so simple. Anyone who knows this Japanese salad dressing recipe is required to tell me. So after that the chirashi bowl came. Just one look at it my mouth began to water: salmon, tuna, albacore, etc. So for those of you who don't know what a chirashi is, it's basically a bowl with sushi rice at the bottom then covered with all different kinds of sashimi. We shared this bowl (although it looks like a meal for 2 or 3, I saw this small woman sitting alone with her chirashi bowl in front of her, kudos).

What was in this bowl? Salmon, tuna, albacore, eel, octopus, monkfish liver, sea urchin, scallops, shrimp, salmon eggs, and I think that was it. It was my first time trying the liver, sea urchin, and eggs. The liver had a dense texture with a taste of seafood (I might hesitate on eating it next time). Sea urchin had a squishy texture and once you take a bit it's like BAM fish flavor. (First and perhaps last time). The eggs were little so they didn't really pack a punch until I ate a spoonful (not as bad as I imagined). Then during the meal, the waitress gave us a small dish with a friend shrimp head. At first I was thinking, we didn't order this, but then I noticed each table was given one too. My friend showed me how to eat it: break off a piece of the whiskers, then dip it in the ponzu sauce (that was new for me), and then enjoy.

The price of the bowl was $35 with tax so my friend and I each payed $20 including tip. The service was good, nothing bad or great. Speaking of service, one thing that is cool about this place is that all the workers are women, even the sushi chef which was a first time for me seeing a female sushi chef. The place is a little small and got crowded fast so I recommend getting reservations if you're going during a busy hour. The location is also pretty neat, it's hidden in a neighborhood and blends in with the homes so I think it's a favorite among the locals. I hope you get to enjoy this delicious hidden restaurant in the future and have a good meal.