Hailed by local food critic Jonathan Gold as a most "unusual" sushi bar, Shunji takes a vegetable-centric approach to sushi in a former barbecue and chili joint in West L.A. The former founder of the Valley's Asanebo, Shunji wields incredible fish and produce in a way that's only possible in L.A.

The temple of this city's greatest sushi and kaiseki restaurant, Urasawa stands alone. The master trained under Masa Takayama in this space, formerly Ginza Sushi-ko, though Urasawa has perhaps taken it to higher heights with an otherworldly experience, with no expense spared. Reservations required, no photography allowed, but an incredible level of satisfaction is to be expected. Note: the place recently closed temporarily but seems to be back in action.

The esprit of Nozawa lives on at this smaller, more intimate sushi bar behind the Sugarfish in Beverly Hills, where a fixed omakase gets served with extreme precision. While the creativity might not be there compared to some of the other high-end spots, the quality of the fish is top notch.

A refined sushi den in the heart of Downtown's Financial District, this ambitious new player in the L.A. sushi scene is out there to conquer it all, and the quality of fish speaks for itself. The price is quite high, but the more affordable lunch might be a worthy splurge for those working in the area. [Photo: Yelp]

Though chef Morihiro Onodera is no longer preparing sushi here, the quality still remains at this ultra high-end sushi omakase restaurant, with an extreme dedication to quality in every ingredient, including housemade soy sauce and tofu. The portions can be a little small and the prices are consistently high.

This popular West LA spot gets a second location in the heart of Downtown's Historic Core, where sushi chef Keizo Seki brings his ultra-fresh sushi in an omakase-style counter. Reservations required.

This pricey West Hollywood sushi spot stands against the roll-tempura-centric places in the area. The blue crab hand roll, unagi, toro, and uni are excellent. A purist sushi restaurant in a most unlikely location.

This Sawtelle nook of a sushi bar presents some innovative dishes alongside the omakase sushi, though the nigiri is excellent by any standards. The quality is consistently high, making it an ideal stop for Westside sushi hunters and those looking to find a "regular" spot.

This Brentwood omakase restaurant highlights a rundown of the best of the ocean's offerings, with all the classics choices such as Yellowtail, Red Snapper, and Uni served alongside the likes of Spot Prawn sashimi and Baby Red Snapper.

The original Sushi Nazi, Nozawa, has created a mini-empire of top-notch sushi restaurants that strip away some of the common elements of a sushi experience and encapsulate them in a simple multi-course meal, depending on how much you "trust" Nozawa. The rice is seasoned perfectly and the fish, hand-selected by Nozawa, might be as good could be at this price point.

With chef Yoya Takahashi at the helm of the omakase counter, the level of sushi gets a major upgrade from the more roll-centric offerings on the menu (that are nevertheless insanely popular with celebrities). With relatively affordable omakases from $55 to $75, some of which include hot items, it's a steal for this part of town, especially with the unique cuts and fish that Takahashi finds for you.

This Pasadena standout makes very high-quality sushi in a pleasant environment just next to the Metro train tracks. The omakase here yields bluefin toro, uni, gizzard shad, and yellowtail. Chef Ike-san carefully crafts nigiri and other dishes right before diners, leading to a better than expected experience in this part of town.

An iconic L.A. sushi restaurant, this small spot in Little Tokyo is constantly filled to the brim, with a unbelievable lunch sashimi special packing the crowds in. However, ordering directly from the menu or at the bar yields an even better experience, with an expansive selection of nigiri sushi and sashimi that's sure to satisfy. [Photo: Yelp]

The newest high-end spot to open in West L.A., Sushi Tsujita has some intense fans, and some that aren't really into the exorbitant prices. Either way, it's an ambitious, if delicious, undertaking that is just beginning to establish itself on Sawtelle.

This classic Little Tokyo restaurant has the appropriate look and feel of a Japanese sushi joint. The value is high, with serious chefs putting out fresh sushi of great variety. The spicy tuna roll is a must-order item.

The simple strip mall sushi joint in L.A. is probably best exemplified at Hiko, where one master chef prepares all of the omakase meals before your eyes. The rice is warm, and the sushi is achingly fresh, though selections are a bit more straightforward than other high-end places. To get beyond the set menu with special items, just politely ask the chef for what's available.[Photo: Yelp]

This high-end spot in West Hollywood has fantastic quality in their omakase, but also has some more "affordable" chirashi bowls that make this an ideal place to stop by during lunch.[Photo: Yelp]

"Trust Me," declares chef Nobi Kushuhara, at Sasabune, a West LA institution where quality trumps all, including the bland decor. The omakase menu includes classic nigiri pieces such as maguro and toro, in addition to butterfish, albacore and yellowtail. Prices are high to match the quality, upwards of $200 a person. [Photo: Yelp]

Certainly a drive for many people in L.A., this specialist in a rather unrefined location still manages to produce some of the most unique and adventurous sushi in the city. Not a classic Edo-style place, but rather one that tries to push the envelope with creative preparations.

Arguably the best value omakase in town, for around $45 dollars, receive 15 pieces of terrific sushi that'll impress anyone. The varieties range from the familiar cuts to things one won't likely see at a local roll shop. It's a bit of a hike from L.A., but it's well worth it for price.

Sometimes all you need is a cheap bite, and this affordable chirashi bowl spot on Melrose has lunch offerings for around $15 a person.

One of the best bang-for-the-buck deals in LA, Miura does an intimate omakase for around $55. The parade of incredibly fresh sushi and deft service makes this a true find for sushi lovers, even if it's deep in the South Bay.

One of the most highly regarded sushi places in the South Bay, this versatile sushi spot has everything from massive sashimi platters to multi-course omakase, all at pretty reasonable prices.

The highest of the high end sushi restaurants has arrived in Los Angeles via Tokyo (and Hawaii), which serves just one ultra-expensive omakase menu with some of the best products flown in daily. For the ultimate sushi experience not named Urasawa in LA, Sushi Ginza Onodera is the spot.

A Westside offshoot of the Chaya chainlet, this redone dining room along Main Street has excellent quality fish and some creative non-sushi items on the menu. It's like a more affordable version of Nobu, with equally good sushi.

The original location of Nobu Matsuhisa's sushi empire is still running, with a prime spot along La Cienega Blvd. While the worldwide empire spans everywhere from Dubai to London to Melbourne, it all started here, at a humble restaurant with the same classics, like miso black cod to a $100 sushi omakase menu.