Living in Santa Monica, I had heard about an exclusive omakase dinner in the West LA area that served delicious and innovative Japanese dishes with over 15+ courses. I was very excited when I had the opportunity to dine there a few months ago — and it was a night that my stomach will never forget!
Yamakase has changed locations several times over the years but it is currently located on Santa Monica Blvd near Bundy Dr. in an unassuming shopping center. This invitation-only restaurant (don’t worry, you can request an invite here!) is unmarked and seats about 15 people. With just one seating time each night, the dinner lasts around four hours (there are a lot of courses after all!) and guests have the option of bringing their own wine with no corkage fee.
Here’s a course by course breakdown of my experience at Yamakase!
COURSE #1:
Uni and Japanese eggplant
Chef Yama-san serves up delicious uni throughout several of the courses. The uni was complemented with a rich truffle sauce and Japanese eggplant.
COURSE #2:
Dried persimmon and salted butter topped with shaved truffle
Yep, butter. The most delicious fruity yet salty butter I’ve ever tasted! And of course, you can’t go wrong with truffle — a favorite ingredient of Chef Yama-san.
COURSE #3:
Shrimp, scallop, wakayama (baby peach) and junsai topped with sesame seeds in a ponzu sauce
This dish featured two types of shrimp including mantis shrimp and two ingredients I had never tried before: wakayama and junsai. Wakayama, or Japanese baby peach, was incredibly sweet and delicious! Junsai, or water shield, is a gelatinous vegetable with a slippery texture that complemented the other ingredients.
COURSE #4:
Oyster shooter with uni, ikura, caviar and poached quail egg
This bite packs an explosion of flavors!
COURSE #5:
Hokkaido scallop topped with ikura and cured fish egg powder with a side of basil sauce
The addition of basil was unexpected yet somehow worked well with the intense seafood flavors.
COURSE #6:
Steamed ice fish wrapped in shiso leaf
OK, so this one wasn’t for me but with sixteen courses it was bound to happen. My boyfriend on the other hand loved it!
COURSE #7:
Freshwater eel over rice and topped with capers
With a buttery flaky texture and just the right amount of sweetness.
COURSE #8:
Tomato bisque curry sauce with pork loin and squid
I was excited to find that there was a curry dish! It was rich and savory and the beginning of many flavor-packed courses ahead.
COURSE #9:
“The Sandwich”
Definitely not your ordinary sandwich, this one is composed of frozen toro, uni and blue crab on brioche topped with shaved summer truffle.
COURSE #10:
Marinated bluefin tuna
While this looks simple, it was one of the best few bites of tuna that I’ve had!
COURSE #11:
Toro and foie gras topped with a poached quail egg and truffled parmesan cheese
This may be one of the most indulgent things I’ve ever eaten.
COURSE #12:
King crab legs
Simple and steamed to perfection!
COURSE #13:
Ramen with pork and sweet shrimp
As a ramen lover, I was very excited to try Chef Yama-san’s ramen. And it did not disappoint! The broth was rich in flavor and the noodles were perfectly cooked.
COURSE #14:
Wagyu beef cooked with mushrooms and topped with shaved black truffle
With incredible umami flavors and heavy use of truffle, this dish might have been my favorite!
COURSE #15:
Bluefin tuna, Spanish mackerel, sea birch and toro nigiri
And.. my mouth is watering!
DESSERT:
Melon sorbet
Simple and light, this sorbet was a great way to end this decadent meal. Also on offer was a uni, toro and blue crab handroll — however, I couldn’t manage to fit another course!
– My Thoughts –
Dining at Yamakase is an absolutely unforgettable experience. The unique and high-quality ingredients paired with the innovative flavor combinations created by Chef Yama-san are truly unique and unlike any other dining experience I’ve had. The food combined with the intimate setting and the excellent service (two wonderful, friendly and attentive servers for the restaurant) made for an amazing experience. With fifteen or more courses and a price point to match, this is definitely a ‘special occasion’ spot — and one that I hope to visit again one day!
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