A hidden treasure trove of Japanese grub


Taking a lady to a hidden sushi spot often means convincing her that its white-walled dumpiness somehow means "authenticity", as opposed to "former Little Caesars". For undercover sushi with class, check out Irori.

Irori's a traditional Japanese resto buried in a sprawling Marina Del Rey strip mall, behind a supermarket and next to a Radio Shack -- raising the possibility of sharing wasabi via the dump of a Shelcore Shake 'N Bobbles Rock 'N Rumble Remote Control Truck. But the dimly lit interior's supremely date-friendly, with dark wood floors & paneling, silk-pillow seating, and sunken tables with leg recesses underneath, saving you from exposing your shocking, just-another-inch flexibility. The ridiculously fresh seafood comes out as classic Nigiri (salmon, scallops, red snapper, etc) and modern staples like Yellowtail Sashimi w/ Jalapeno, crispy-seaweeded Blue Crab hand-rolls, and the Albacore News -- which includes sprouts and a hint of garlic, and is considering endorsing Chris Dodd.

To honor the aforementioned traditionalness, shoes must be removed and placed in cubbyholes -- because even though there's no more Pizza Pizza, Ball Pit etiquette lives on.