So, a couple weeks ago, a few of us including paparazzi benny and foodie meesh (moi) went to bar hayama. i went in with no expectations and didn’t really know what the restaurant was about except that it has an extensive sake collection. i was very very pleasantly surprised by this eating experience. not only did the sake taste really good (significant because i don’t even like sake), but all the food was on the OMG caliber of food. this eating experience tops all the asian restaurants i have ever been to. EVER!!

ok, here’s the break down. i’ll try to remember the tastes and thoughts that were running through my mind at the moment, but it has been a couple weeks. so, whatever i write today – picture that x 5.

Toshi’s Special yellow tail sashimi with myouga – i don’t know what myouga is, but whatever it is, this was good and fresh and tasty fish. not just yellow tail sashimi, but yellow tail sashimi plus some yummy sauce

Sauteed shishitou – they’re little japanese peppers – again, with the yummy sauce and good veggie

Sauteed black cod fish with mushroom ponzu butter sauce – If i had to pick one dish from the entire night to eat over and over again, this is it. the fish was so tender! it literally melted in your mouth. to top it off everyone wanted to lick the plate because the butter ponzu sauce was so good. so, we did what any other asian would do. we order rice to mop it up! that was gooooooood rice. see picture of rice –>

Main Lobster dynamite – fabulous, and i don’t even like lobster usually because it’s tough. this was tender and scrumptious!
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Crispy rice and spicy tuna with balsamic vinegar sauce – the mixture of textures of this dish was very nice. crunchy rice, spicy tuna and a slight kick and sweetness of the balsamic vinegar sauce

Steak Oscar – tender pieces of steak. TENDER.

Seafood ceviche a la yama – this was the only dish that was just okay. the flavors was just so so. *shrug* perhaps if it was overshadowed by the other dishes, it might was ranked higher.

Tired of reading, yet? Here’s the dessert!

Banana tempura with vanilla icecream – Ever have some sort of tempura dessert and the tempura comes out all soft and fluffy and yucky? well this time was perfect. the tempura was freshly fried, crispy and hot on the outside, and the banana was warm and sweet on the inside, and all a cold bite of fresh vanilla icecream. mmmm mmmm!

Strawberry crepe with custard cream and whipped cream – need i elaborate on this yumminess? i think not.

here’s a couple more pics of the place and the receipt i used to take my food notes on …-

for more good food finds go here. bar hayama featured.
losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/45663604?raid=2881350

Now that i’ve hyped it up too much, go try it and tell me what you think! it’s a bit pricey, but for this omg-experience. worth it… great ambience, good service and amazing food – take your honey on a date!

Bar Hayama
1803 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90025

REVISIT: 11.06.2008 – “Disappointment”