Sushi Zo, Los Angeles, CA

I've passed this place so many times, and I never think to eat there. First of all, if you know anything about my area, asian food does NOT abound. Secondly, how much should I really trust a sushi restaurant that's neighboring a Mexican Taco Plus and shares a shopping center with Papa Johns and Vons. How snooty am I being?

Sushi Zo. So I don't really have words to describe it, except to say it's the best sushi I've ever tasted. Each piece is served alone (one piece per place per person), and can be as crazy as uni & noodles to something as ordinary as salmon. But what really blows my mind is how fresh the fish is. They must've JUST killed each fish as they were serving it because there was not even a hint of age in anything that we ate.

Another interesting twist in dining- Omakase-style (chef just busts out whatever he feels like). they tell you how to eat the fish. And for those of you who hate taking direction on your foods..trust me it's HELLSA worth it this time. I think I used soy sauce maybe twice through the entire meal. Most of the fish was so fresh or so perfectly matched with another flavor (lemon, ponzu, pepper, etc.) that there was no need to use soy sauce. Lastly, they top off the evening with THE MOST AMAZING blue crab roll I've ever tasted. Seriously. THE BEST. (MAN I wish I sucked up the embarrassment and took pictures. Now I have reason to buy a new camera)

one con- Now, I was fortunate enough to go for business, but I hear that it can be quite pricey, especially if you make it full circle around the menu of fish.

valuable learnings (as we call them at work!)- Did you know the correct way to eat sushi is fish side down (rice side up) so that you get the full flavor of the fish on your tongue? BRILLIANT.