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Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant

Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant

Twenty-one stories above downtown L.A. is Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant and Elevate Lounge. Although over a year old, this hip restaurant is still a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Since Takami is located in a high rise office building, it is definitely a task trying to first locate it, but once you get off the elevator on 21, you will feel like you have completely escaped to a whole different reality.

Takami's Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno

Takami's layout is contemporary and stylish. It is also quite spacious with a separate bar, lounge area, and an indoor and outdoor dining space. The spectacular panoramic views of the downtown L.A. skyline can't be beat so it's the perfect spot for taking out of town visitors who also enjoy an eclectic Japanese meal. I always start off with the Takami Edamame sauteed with butter, garlic and soy sauce and some items from the robata grill. I particularly love the melt in your mouth Chilean Sea Bass. Other favorites are the Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno served with ponzu garnished with sweet corn micro greens and the Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura Purse in an egg wrap. Make sure to save room for dessert and order the ultra-delicious Apple Spring Roll Raft which consist of apple spring rolls covered in cinnamon and a walnut caramel sauce served with a side of vanilla ice cream garnished with sliced strawberries and blueberries.

Takami's Apple Spring Roll Raft

Takami also has a reasonably priced $8 lounge menu, a weekday happy hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m., a generous sake list, and a nice yet pricy wine list, with noteworthy choices such as Cakebread Cellars 06 Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Kistler Vineyards '06 Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena Estate '03 Cabernet and even an Opus One '04 Meritage. 

Next time you are planning a night out, either with friends, colleagues, or a sweetheart, check out Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant. Located high above the streets of downtown L.A., even local Angelenos will appreciate their city from a whole new perspective.

Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant
811 Wilshire Boulevard
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213 236 9600

• Lunch Monday- Friday 11:30 -3:00
• Dinner Monday - Thursday 5:00- 11:00
• Dinner Friday & Saturday 5:00- 12:00
• Dinner Sunday 5:00- 10:00

For Online Reservations, visit Takami Reservations
For More Information on Takami, visit Takami Restaurant and Lounge

Sweet Tooth in Kamakura

After a zen inspired day visiting the historic city of Kamakura and many of the temples in Japan, we stopped at a local neighborhood shop for an afternoon ocha (tea in Japanese) and dessert. I opted for the slightly sweet Gyokuro tea and an anmitsu for dessert.

Anmitsu is one of my favorite traditional Japanese desserts consisting of sliced fruits, agar jelly and azuki beans with a delicate sweet syrup. You will also often find vanilla or green tea ice cream added in making it a Cream Anmitsu. The name anmitsu derives from the Japanese word for azuki beans, "an" which is short for anko, and the "mitsu" means sweet syrup in Japanese.

Anmitsu is served at select local Japanese restaurants and cafes. If you don't anticipate hopping on a plane to Japan any time soon, and your local Japanese restaurant doesn't serve traditional sweets, you can experiment and try the following simple and healthy anmitsu recipe at home:

• Anmitsu Recipe

 

Tan-Etsu in Tokyo Midtown...Wow!

MY DELICIOUS MEAL AT TAN-ETSU

Today I head off to Mid-town which is an uber hip area in Tokyo with cutting edge boutiques, the stylishly chic, and food galore. There are European style cafes, traditional Edo style Japanese restaurants, a Dean and DeLuca shop, and so much more. Today I go to to one of my favorite spots, Tan-Etsu, which serves traditional style Japanese cuisine. Tan-Etsu has the most amazing two layered bento box that arrives with a ceramic bird on top and an assortment of twenty something different delicacies. The presentation of the meal is so stunning that a part of me didn’t want to ruin the visual aesthetic, but I knew that the best was yet to come. The Japanese take great pride in serving food that is not only stimulating to the taste buds, but to the visual senses as well. From the succulent eggplant, to the savory sweet egg, the fish cakes, and the enchanting kuromame (black bean) for good luck, every delicate bite is a mouth watering experience. Another bonus with Tan-etsu is the option of dining on the terrace which offers stellar views of Tokyo both during the day and at night.

 

Tan-Etsu is located in Tokyo's Mid-Town District at the:

Garden Terrace 3rd Floor, Akasaka 9-7-4 Minato-Ku