Kanda Sushi
Authentic, Traditional & Modern
in Westlake Village
By Christy Rosen
Kanda Sushi
3637 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
805/230.0101
Hours:
Lunch
TUE-FRI, 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner
TUE-SUN, 5pm-10pm
By Elyse Glickman
There is no shortage of options for sushi here in Southern California. Pull into just about any shopping center and you will find a sushi place open for business. Upon walking into Kanda Sushi, you quickly realize that this restaurant is different. Approachable enough for the novice but sophisticated enough to impress the most educated diner, Kanda offers an authentic Japanese experience. Their passion is to provide traditional Japanese food with the freshest ingredients available, resulting in a dining experience that is sure to please.
We all have our opinions when it comes to sushi. Sushi or sashimi? Pieces or rolls? Toro, salmon, or yellowtail? While you will certainly want to order up some of your personal favorites, your best bet is to put your dining experience in the hands of Chef Mitsu-san. His commitment to the art form of Japanese cuisine will leave your taste buds wanting more. Sampling over 10 different sushi and sashimi offerings, I was impressed with the fish-to-rice ratio and the freshness of every single piece. One particular standout was the bluefin tuna sushi. Rich and succulent, the fish was so fresh it nearly melted in your mouth. The albacore sashimi was clean, light, and melted in my mouth. While the fish is the star of the plate, Chef Mitsu-san does offer some creative twists like the Japanese snapper that was gently torched and topped with a miso glaze.
In addition to sushi, sashimi, and rolls, Kanda also offers cooked plates. The presentation of tempura white fish with the fish head was inventive and creative. Bone cookies are a Japanese favorite. Simply put, they are good old-fashioned fried fish parts. Pair them with a delicate sauce and somehow fried fish becomes refined.
To complement any of Kanda’s food, they offer the very best cold sake menu. Upon purchase of any sake, they will store the remaining portion of your bottle on-site for your next visit. If sake isn’t your thing, give Echigo a try. A traditional Japanese beer, Echigo is a rice lager. Golden in color and crisp on the palate, Echigo is an ideal pairing for sushi and sashimi.
Before leaving, you must ask about the chocolate and green tea ice for dessert. Not yet on the menu, these bite-size morsels are a secret, perfect ending to a satisfying meal. The chocolate and green tea flavors are intense and luscious, yet not overpowering.
With a commitment to an authentic Japanese experience, Kanda stands out in a crowd of sushi establishments. Their passion for freshness and impeccable service makes Kanda special. Simply put, Kanda sushi is the real deal.
