California Roll Factory -- knock-your-socks-off rolls

Not to be confused with the California Factory Roll....a great little "dive" sushi bar on Santa Monica and Barry. I've become quite a regular and I've met other regulars. And if you need more proof that you should check it, just drive by on a Friday or Saturday night -- the place is packed before any of the other sushi places on this block. You get great big messy rolls with anything you want. If you can't find something you want on the menu (which is highly unlikely as it is two full pages in 6 point font), you can special order. I've been there at least 10 times, many with the intention of special ordering something just to take advantage of the opportunity and each time finding something interesting on the menu that I try instead.

My favorites:

• Ginger salad
• Tuna sashimi with garlic sauce (if you ask, they'll give you a half order for $6)
• Philadelphia roll (salmon, cream cheese and onion)
• Erika roll (scallops, crab, and something else)
• Yellowtail collar

My new favorites:

• Seared albacore -- absolutely HUGE pieces that melt in your mouth 5 times over
• Chupa Cuba (I knowI got this wrong, but it comes with loads of garlic sauce)
• Lil K (always get it with no spicy, want to try it with cream cheese added)

More favorites--this place just keeps getting better:

• Donut roll (substitute yellow tail for the tuna, you essentially get 4 pieces of yellowtail sushi, some spicy shrimp to pick at, and a bed of rice.) The special sauce accompanies this well.
• Crunchy roll (everyone I know that goes here raves about this, I'm starting to catch on.)

The absolutely low-down: Despite the shared containers ginger and wasabi, you get decent chop sticks. For an added treat, be sure to try something with the "special sauce" -- or just order some on the side. If you're on your own and not REALLY hungry, you might actually have to try to hit the $20 minimum bill for credit cards.