The vibe here is a bit New York, and a smidge of the Los Angeles night club scene. It is elegant and sassy, either casual or hipster sheik, you will just love the experience. Sushi Palace, hails from Germany, and opened its doors at this location – in April of 2024. The group behind Sushi Palace has expanded quickly across Germany thanks to a hybrid model that prioritizes takeout and delivery as well as in-restaurant dining. This restaurant leans into a more modern dining environment with a mix of elegance and style. There is a push to open more locations in SoCal as well as in the East Coast.
The main star of the show here is their food. They do not have a sushi bar. This is not a typical sushi restaurant in Los Angeles. From the moment you walk in you feel it is upscale; with its beautiful textures and lighting, but no matter what the ambience is the food at Sushi Palace will really knock your socks off.
Here’s What I Tried:
Signature Cocktails:
Strawberry Martini with Vodka Soju, strawberry syrup, lime juice, soda water, and fresh strawberry. If you’re someone that likes their cocktails on the sweet side, then this would be for you.
Sake -Tini, with Sake, lychee, and club soda, this by far was my favorite cocktail. I would order this every time. It’s sweet, but very thirst quenching, and goes down easily.
Yuzu Margarita, with tequila, Soju, lime juice, Yuzu, agave syrup and salt. Even though this is made with Soju and not real tequila, you get the essence of the margarita flavor, and it is a very special cocktail.
Happy Hour:
Yuzu Avocado Crispy Rice, with avocado, yuzu, and micro cilantro. If you are a vegetarian, then this would be the menu item for you. It’s just that good. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, sesame chili oil, cilantro, and nori. Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice, chives, and spicy mayo. I just love the flavor of this one, with the chives that hit the spot. This is part of the Happy Hour menu, called a Crispy Rice Trio. All three are super flavorful and filling, a great menu item.
For The Table:
Dumpling “German Dumpfnudel”, German specialty served with nut butter. This is kind of like their bread, but it is delicious and very specific to their take on German food, which they marry into some of their menu items.
Small Plates and Salads:
Truffle Edamame, with truffle oil, truffle foam, and truffle salt. This edamame is very unusual, it has a foam on top that has the essence of black truffle oil. They give you a very big portion, it is truly amazing.
Signature Menu:
Scallop Kiwi Sashimi, with scallops, ume paste, kiwi, umi ponzu, and micro greens. I am a true scallop lover and always order scallop sushi. This menu item is super light and flavorful, and the kiwi brings out a nice texture and a tangy flavor.
Hamachi Mango, with hamachi, mango, toqorashi ponzu, micro greens, and sashimi. The Hamachi paired with the mango is otherworldly. You too will feel the same.
Salmon Sushi Spoon, with spicy tuna, salmon ponzu, crispy onions, micro cilantro, ikura, and 3 spoons. I loved this dish. The sauce in each spoon is in incredible. Another must have menu item.
Surf & Turf with shrimp tempura, cucumber, steak, truffle aioli, salt, and eel. If you’re one of those people that just love surf and turf at any restaurant, this sushi roll is for you. It is very yummy with all of its great ingredients, including the truffle aioli – makes for one stupendous sushi roll.
Lobster Roll, California Roll, with lobster, spicy mayo, eel sauce, crispy onion, and green onion. The lobster is very plump and placed on top of each roll. It’s a magnificent presentation, and a fanciful menu item.
Entrees:
Miso Black Cod, with a miso lime sauce. This cod is super tender and flavorful. I would order this every time.
Shrimp Fried Rice with egg, mixed veggies, green onions, and shrimp. The flavor of this rice is outstanding with big, huge pieces of shrimp that has been cooked to perfection. The vegetables, the egg, the onions, all make for one great fried rice dish.
Dessert:
Matcha Crème Brulee, with matcha, raspberry sorbet, and fresh berries. It’s a unique crème brulee with its matcha flavor, so save room.
The interior was created by the owner’s – Anatolij Dejneko – business partner – Veton Thaqi. Veton did an amazing job! It’s got pink lighting accents, beautiful super plush bar stools. It’s more like being in someone’s living room then a sushi bar dining room. The music is trance, with a bit of jazz thrown in. The vibe is super friendly and exciting.
Chef Alex Quintama made me feel very welcomed. He told me about his history as a chef and how he got his start, and then his amazing feat of taking over the kitchen at Sushi Palace. But he really believes that it is a group effort, and he relies on his team every day to make this place a success. He says the menu will be seasonal, and some things will change every 4 months. Alex says, “Being a chef is part being crazy and the other part being creative, kind of like a mad scientist in the kitchen”. Alex is very ambitious; he is very young and has lots of new culinary ideas for making Sushi Palace a go-to spot for many Angelenos and beyond. He hopes to get rewarded with a 3-star Michelin rating in the very near future. Veton Thaqi has left all of the major menu decisions up too Alex. He is in very good hands. Each dish has Alex’s signature flavors written all over them. The only thing that you might find that is similar in some of the dishes are the micro greens. Other than that, every menu item had its own unique spin, and profile. You too will be surprises by all of this great cuisine. Their humble mixologist Seana Balderrama likes to create unique fun cocktails, using only Soju and Sake. He has is work cut out for him, but this limitation does not affect his innovative choice of ingredients, and how they will delight your tastebuds.
I really just scratched the surface with my tasting. There is so much variety within their menu, you could come back 10 times and still try things new. I was very satisfied with all of my delicious menu items. They serve nice size portions, so you will not be left hungry.
Their happy hour is wonderful and very affordable as well. Daily Happy Hour Specials from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with 50 % off on sushi, and cocktails being extremely discounted. They also have a super fun event, called, Roll the Dice – Every Tuesday – Thursday, 8 PM until closing. You roll the dice for a discounted cocktail price.
I would tell my readers that if you’re wanting to try a new inventive sushi spot then come here first for happy hour to be introduced to their astounding cuisine, then come back and try the whole menu, you will be glad you listened to me.
Sushi Palace
6535 Melrose Ave #102
Los Angeles, CA 90038
