How small can a sushi restaurant be and still create a huge reputation?
Ask Hama Sushi.
Located on East 2nd Street in Little Tokyo, Hama has been part of Los Angeles' sushi landscape since 1980. The restaurant is deliberately focused: sushi and sashimi are the stars, and the compact counter puts diners directly in front of the chefs.
Current local restaurant data places Hama around 4.6 with hundreds of reviews, and it continues to be highlighted among notable Los Angeles sushi restaurants.
THE RESTAURANT DOESN'T TRY TO DO EVERYTHING
Hama is refreshingly specific.
This isn't the place to order teriyaki chicken, ramen, tempura and a dozen specialty rolls.
The focus is sushi.
That narrow approach is part of the restaurant's appeal because it allows the chefs and the kitchen to concentrate on the thing diners came for.
THE CHEF COUNTER IS THE EXPERIENCE
The restaurant's compact sushi counter puts the chefs almost directly in front of the guests.
Two or three chefs can work the counter simultaneously, preparing individual pieces and placing them directly onto diners' plates.
There is something wonderfully old-school about that.
You aren't watching sushi being assembled from across a giant dining room.
You are sitting close enough to see the knife work.
THE FISH COMES FIRST
Hama's appeal is built around traditional sushi and sashimi rather than heavily sauced specialty rolls.
That makes the quality of the fish particularly important.
Popular choices include yellowtail, albacore, snapper, tuna and other seasonal selections, while diners can also explore combination sushi and sashimi offerings.
SOME PIECES DON'T NEED SOY SAUCE
Part of the education at a serious sushi counter is learning when not to add anything.
Certain fish are already seasoned or prepared by the chef specifically to be eaten as presented.
That is one of the pleasures of counter service: the chef can explain how a particular piece is intended to be enjoyed.
THE SPACE IS TINY—AND THAT'S THE POINT
Hama is not a restaurant designed for a large party.
The room is intimate, with the sushi counter accounting for much of the seating and only a few tables.
That means the restaurant feels personal rather than expansive.
And because space is limited, arriving early or planning around the restaurant's service schedule is worthwhile.
LITTLE TOKYO'S SUSHI HISTORY
Hama belongs to a generation of Little Tokyo restaurants that helped establish the neighborhood as one of Los Angeles' great Japanese dining destinations.
It sits within walking distance of other Japanese restaurants, markets, bakeries and cultural landmarks.
For anyone exploring Little Tokyo, Hama can be the centerpiece of a very Japanese LA afternoon or evening.
A RESTAURANT THAT DOESN'T NEED A BIG MENU
In today's restaurant world, bigger menus often mean more choices.
Hama takes the opposite approach.
It has spent decades becoming very good at a smaller number of things.
That restraint is exactly what makes the restaurant interesting.
THE SOCALEAT TAKE
For anyone searching for traditional sushi in Los Angeles, Hama Sushi offers an intimate experience that feels increasingly rare.
Sit at the counter.
Watch the chefs work.
Order the fish.
And let the sushi be the event.
VISIT HAMA SUSHI
Hama Sushi
347 E. 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-3454
Current restaurant listings identify Hama as a long-running Little Tokyo sushi restaurant focused specifically on sushi and sashimi.
DISCOVER MORE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOD WITH SOCALEAT.COM
SocalEat.com is a Southern California online food magazine created for people who love discovering great places to eat, visit, and experience throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
From neighborhood restaurants and hidden local favorites to food brands, destinations, and things to do, SocalEat brings together the people and places that make Southern California's food scene so diverse.
Looking for your next place to eat? Discover it on SocalEat.com.
SocalEat.com — Discover. Eat. Explore Southern California.