Asuka

You can't get better service than someone staking out a parking spot right in front of the door and feigning a knee injury to keep other would-be parkers away. But then again, this guy did not work for the restaurant, but he make a good choice in picking it.

Asuka is on Westwood, just south of Wilshire. Friendly sushi bar. We had all kinds of different rolls -- spicy tuna with avocado, spicy crunchy albacore, and (my first time) torro with scallions. I had no idea sushi could feel so decadent. Torro (fatty tuna) is like getting that really juicy piece of the filet of a steak, but it's tuna! Ah!

For true sushi, we had Spanish mackerel--another first for me. The seared albacore could not rival that of En or California Roll, but the young yellowtail was phenomenal. Skip the endame here. Choose beer over wine (like anyone else but me drinks wine at a sushi bar anyway). Complimentary oranges for dessert.

The lowdown: Good place to try some different, yet authentic feeling dishes without breaking the bank.