I luckily get the pleasure of traveling to Los Angeles about 2-4 times per year to visit beloved family and friends. Having lived here for about five years a decade or so ago, I know my way around LA pretty well. When I first moved to LA, I lived with my sister for about a month in Tarzana, CA. Tarzana is in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. During that time I found my love for Cho Cho San sushi as it is right around the corner from her apartment.
Cho Cho San is a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and teppan-yaki. It’s pretty small and quaint and resides in a nondescript strip mail with other ethnic food options, a nail salon & a small grocery store. Inside you will find no tables, only a counter around the oval perimeter of where the sushi chefs create their masterpieces. They’re friendly and even accommodate special requests.
The star of the show for me is the albacore sashimi. Cho Cho San serves thick cut slices of their buttery albacore sashimi on a beautiful platter topped with crispy fried onions and tangy ponzu sauce. It hits all the senses with the rich albacore, tart ponzu and crunchy onion bits. I almost ordered two platters it is that damn good! I also like that Cho Cho San leaves out bottles of ponzu on the counter to add more sauce if so inclined.
The garlic edamame is another must have at Cho Cho San! Edamame sautéed with Cho Cho San’s rich garlic sauce and topped with their crispy sliced garlic cloves. The edamame is served perfectly warmed and oozing with garlic – this is for garlic lovers only! I like to squeeze a little lemon on top for added tartness.
Next up we tried the shiseto peppers appetizers. These are Japanese chili peppers that are very mild in heat level. They’re served blistered to perfection. They’re soft and tangy with just a touch of tang and heat. I really enjoyed these and for me, they come in as a close second to the addictive garlic edamame. After having this dish the first time, I decided to plant a shiseto pepper plant in my garden. I’m hoping to recreate this dish at home!
We finished our night of appetizer sampling with the jalapeño bombs. These were the perfect ending to our meal. Deep fried jalapeños filled with mixed crab, spicy tuna and cream cheese topped with sweet eel sauce. They’re sweet, meaty and the light breading to the pepper is the perfect indulgence. I honestly didn’t notice the cream cheese which is good because I often find it overpowering in sushi.
If you’re in Los Angeles and looking for an excellent meal in the valley, check out Cho Cho San Sushi. I’m only here a week on this visit but I’ve already been twice! They’re consistently friendly, delicious and the place is perfect for a sushi night out!
