Brentwood, Los Angeles is known for its trendy, high-end eats like Baltaire, Jon and Vinny’s, and Pizzana, but Imari in the Brentwood Town Center is definitely going to be the new hot spot. After my morning workouts at Platefit in the Brentwood Town Center, I occasionally grab a coffee downstairs from Blue Bottle. I noticed a new restaurant to the right of Blue Bottle called “Imari” and thought to myself that I had to check it out. As time passed, I would forget about the restaurant, and only be reminded when I would go to Blue Bottle. It wasn’t until my friend suggested “We should really try this place” while walking by that I became adamant about going there. Oddly enough, that same week the restaurant manager reached out to me because they were hosting food influencers on a Friday night and thought I would be a perfect fit with the crowd to give the restaurant feedback. 

Upon arriving at the restaurant, I got a free parking spot on the street right in front of Imari. My friend and I walked up to the hostess, and she asked if we would like to be seated right away at a table near the entrance or wait five minutes for a booth in the back to open up. Since we were in no rush, and just ready to experience the authentic Japanese cuisine, we decided to wait for an opening at a booth. We stepped outside for a bit, where several parties were dining, and we kept overhearing positive comments about each new dish brought out: “Wow, this is incredible!”; “I’ve never had anything like this!”; “I never knew raw fish could taste so good!” These remarks made me even more hungry than I already was. After five minutes, we were sat at an adorable booth table toward the back of the restaurant. 

Let me tell you, the ambiance of this place is one hundred percent aesthetically pleasing. Considering the architecture, the mural on the back wall, and even the two-seater booths, everything was so unique and well-done. 

We were first served the shaved daikon salad with celery, mizuna, nori, and micro sardines. This salad was exceptionally fresh, light, and tasted amazing even with no dressing. The fresh factor can definitely be attributed to the fact that the chefs insist on using the best of the best farmer’s market products, going as far as to shift their menu to conform to what produce is in season. This seasonal aspect is exciting because you could dine two weeks in a row and have several different options on the menu. Next up, we ate the maitake, also known as mushroom tempura. I had never eaten something like this dish, but it was absolutely delicious! The salt and sauce are excellent extra touches, but honestly, this dish can be eaten by itself and be just as tasty.

Then we were brought the fish of the day: cod. This was my favorite course because the fish was perfectly cooked as it melted on my tongue, and seasoned to perfection as it wasn’t too buttery, but had more of a zesty flavor. Their fish is particularly fresh because they do not use freezers, and they serve the fish on the same day that they receive it. This dedication to freshness distinguishes Imari from Katsuya or Nobu.Afterward, we tried the Big Eye tuna handroll and the West Coast uni. Both were extremely fresh and flavorful. I had never had uni before, and I think it is safe to say that the bar is high for my next time having it. Lastly, we ended with the miso soup and smoked chicken soup. I preferred the miso soup, while my friend enjoyed the smoked chicken soup more. The flavor of both broths was perfection, and the smell alone had me wanting more. 

Imari received my first 10 out of 10 rating of 2022 and this is undoubtedly attributed to the friendly staff who made the experience personable and enjoyable. Philip Camino has done an incredible job with this restaurant as the food is top-tier fine-dining. His chefs were trained at Michelin restaurants in Japan for several years and you can certainly tell.  

I highly recommend visiting this spot. Undeniably, the location and vibe are ideal, but the food is life-changing. Once you walk through the door of Imari, you are not only immediately transported to Japan, but your opinion on good Japanese cuisine will forever change.