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Wasn't it Freud who said there were no such thing as accidents? We wonder what sort of analysis he'd have for our love (bordering on obsession) with sushi, and the happy accident that brought us to Sushi Roku in Pasadena, when our previous dining plans didn't pan out. Actually, we don't care what anyone says; Sushi Roku is an affordable, fun, and delicious restaurant tucked in among the bigger name chain eateries in the ever-popular One Colorado enclave in Old Town.
Stepping inside Sushi Roku's dim interior is like stepping into a cavelike haven from the brightness and bustle of the streets outside. The staff is enthusiastic and friendly, shouting traditional greetings, and, in our case, seating us promptly at the long, elegant sushi bar. There we could drink in the restaurant's cool and soothing stonework; we remarked that it felt as though we'd somehow been transported to a sushi bar in some beautiful Tokyo hotel. Beneath the glass of the bar we saw the piles of colorful, fresh fish and shellfish, awaiting the masterful touch of the lightening fast sushi chefs. We placed our initial order: Salmon, Tuna, and Mackerel (Aji) sushi, Canadian Rock Shrimp and Asparagus Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Spicy Scallop Roll. Soon the chef was presenting our dish over the rim of the bar, pausing to point out each item on the plate. The sushi pieces were gorgeous cuts--flavorful and fresh. The rolls were simple, well made, and not so packed with bells and whistles as to overwhelm the palate. We ate slowly, enjoying the ambiance and the food, and, with a nod of agreement from our dining companion, ordered just a little more: Halibut sushi and the Albacore and Garlic Roll. A bit of whitefish is a nice alternative in flavor in texture to the thicker, standard pieces of tuna or salmon, and the Albacore Garlic roll was phenomenal, with its tangy burst of garlic. Our dining companion cited the last roll her favorite, calling it "A fancy sushi version of a tuna sandwich." No matter what you call it, Sushi Roku is a moderately-priced, pleasant, and delicious haven in the chaos of Old Town Pasadena. Domo Arigato, Sushi Roku!
Sushi Roku: 33 Miller Alley at One Colorado, Pasadena (626) 683-3000. Locations also in Hollywood, Santa Monica, and at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.
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Wow! That just reminds me! I just discovered this AMAZING little hole in the wall Italian place in Brentwood! I think it's new! It's called California Pizza Kitchen! Has anyone ever heard of it!? Wow! You should go there!! The food is so amazing and so affordable! What a great concept in dining!
I recall LA's best restaurant critic expressing a desire to firebomb the Third Street Roku location. Plus it's rightfully mocked in Sideways.
Please, when I think about "gems" in Pasadena, Sushi Roku is about the last thing that comes to mind.
first grand lux cafe and now sushi roku. you seem to revel in mediocrity and poor taste. is it possible to review a restaurant that isn't a corporate-run, garishly-designed, mega-menu travesty?
Sushi Roku is good, and compared to some (not all) of the other options in Old Town, it's fantastic and less-corporate. But I think the derision comes from the fact that it's not exactly news that Sushi Roku is in Padadena, and that it's a tasty spot. With so many tiny, out of the way, amazing spots in this vast city, it does seem a bit pedestrian to review Sushi Roku. It was very well written though!
Okay, normally I ignore the clamoring voices of dissent, but I must say something here. Considering that I take very little seriously when its source is the vastly overrated film "Sideways," and considering that I agree that CPK is puke on a plate, and that, for the most part, chain restaurants are a blight on the dining landscape, I think it would be a little off to say that 1. I have no (or questionable) taste, 2. I am touting the glory of the chain restaurant, 3. I eat at (and subsequently review/mention) nothing but chain restaurants, 4. by eating at Sushi Roku I am neglecting or disregarding the many other (sushi) places in town (of which, by the way, I have been to or would like to go to, many), or that 5. I seem to be under the belief that the location or the experience of dining there is "news" or new.
Instead of posting semi-insulting, self-indulgent comments that reflect your apparently inflated senses of cultural superiority, why don't you suggest some other places I go?
Shameful! Sushi Roku is, in my opinion, the "Denny's" of sushi restaurants, as are many other Americanized sushi spots.
Before you allow yourself to review anything (no matter if it's food, a product, a lifestyle, sport, etc.), you have to span the gamut...find the best, try the worst, do as much research as you can. And only then, can you form an opinion worthy of sharing to the public, whether they agree with you or not.
However, just by the fact that you are writing about Sushi Roku out of all the good-to-great sushi places in Los Angeles, shows that you honestly know nothing of the worst and the best, and you are definitely not qualified to be writing this review.
Honestly, this review is shameful and it discounts the reputation of this site as a source for good information.
Sushi Roku!?
ok, i'll step up to bat with the first suggestion - el taquito #2, it's a mexican lunch counter mere blocks away from old town on 467 n. fair oaks ave. skip the hustle and bustle of old town and head there instead. if sushi's what you're after, i can't help - but i'd say this one is much more worthy of being called a "gem" than sushi roku by a long shot...
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/98/49/counter-gold.php
I knew this was gonna get smacked with negative comments as soon as I saw the headline. This post is kind of asking for it.
I can only speak for myself, but I wasn't making fun of you, personally, for liking Sushi Roku. There is a time and a place for higher-grade chainlets, and Sushi Roku certainly fills the void (as, in my opinion, the downmarket Koi with the same decent sushi and so-hip-I-could-puke-all-over-those-Ugg-Boots attitude). I even like, every once in a while, a quick visit to CPK.
What I am -- and I think what many people here --are deriding is, indeed, the "newsworthiness" of it. You admit you know there's nothing newsworthy or new about the fact that Sushi Roku is in "chaotic" (!!) Pasadena, or that it's been there for years. Why is this the subject of a review on LAist? What does this bring to the table? My guess is 75% of LAist readers have heard of Sushi Roku, and not too many less have actually tried the food. LAist should strive to be a bit more, well, with it.
I hate to sound the alarm bells at the downslide that LAist has been on recently, but come on, folks. Try reviewing either something new, or something hidden, or something quintessentially "L.A." (no one, I doubt, would be bristling if the LAist did a candid review of the food at Polo Lounge -- an LA institution, but is the food good? is it worth it? -- e.g.). Roku should hardly be the subject of an absurdly gushing review that was WRITTEN as if the author had never heard of Roku in her entire life and wow! what a discovery!
So, once again LAist, try to figure out what your readers would want to click through... not reviews of ubiquitous chains or "solved mysteries" about Arclight membership discounts (did ANYONE care about that article besides the author??).
Ooooh.
I couldn't let this day go by without addressing ND's disdain for the Arclight post! I must say, that if you never go to Arclight or have a membership there, it won't much pertain to you nor will you care.
But the day you lose all your points and must whore yourself out on the Boulevard just to see The Pacifier, then you'll care. The day you realize all your hard-earned money has been carelessly pissed away by people who are thieves, you'll care. The day you are carted away in a paddywagon due to your own revenge and subsequent stealing of bonus points is the day you'll care.
Zoiks! Looks like the sushi thing touched a nerve.
Personally, I've never considered Sushi Roku to be in bad taste at all -- quality-wise, I think it's some of the best in the city. Yeah, if you're Downtown, Hamakawa (on 2nd & Central) is better, and they're open 'til midnight...and on the west side the choices are more varied; I've always been a fan of U-Zen (Santa Monica & Brockton), and am not above a hit of Asakuma now and then, although they're a chain, too. And when in the valley there's Tama Sushi in Studio City, which is awesome. But there's nothing inherently wrong with hyping Roku. Contrary to popular opinion elsewhere, not everyone in this town is born a sushi snob, and there are plenty for whom a place like Roku may make a much easier starting point than a full omakase at Tama.
It seems some people read this article looking for an expert sushi review, when I think it was meant quite harmlessly to express surprise and as a general restaurant review.
Besides, I think it'd be awesome if someone around here reviewed a Denny's. I'm gonna get on it as soon as I can face the prospect of actually putting that crap in my mouth.
I still can't believe Los Angeles can support all these sushi places
then again, I don't like fish :)
Ah! I hadn't realized you'd (Paul) actually gotten Arclight points stolen... I thought it was merely foreshadowing the "what if" factor. Is Arclight Point Theft that huge of a phenomenon?
I guess my skepticism there was that Arclight theft isn't much different than reciting someone's phone number at a video store to check a video out or at Ralphs to get club card savings. Though I guess if other people piggyback on your club card, no harm to you.
And I am an Arclight aficionado... just didn't think the post re: point-stealing had that broad of an audience. But I see your point now.
I've had dinner there, and I have to agree with the 'Denny's' argument. It's more fusion then Japanese food... the prices are okay, but if you're going there expecting superior Japanese fare you're going to be disappointed.