I'd like to make high-quality sushi at home.  Where and when is the
best sashimi-quality fish sold in LA?  The ideal answer will be
someplace close to Culver City or Downtown LA.

I am already aware of these markets, and am looking for something
fresher: Matsuwa, Marukai, Nijiya

Hello aiannaccone-ga,

My research consistently came up with three fish markets as the best
sources for sushi/sashimi grade fresh fish. Only one is in downtown
LA. The other two are in Glendale and Santa Monica.

Since you?ve found that the fresh fish offered by the Japanese
supermarkets don?t meet your standards, I?m reluctant to mention some
high end markets that were mentioned by several reviewers as a
possible source for the fish you seek. These are Bristol Farms, Whole
Foods and 99 Ranch Markets. You might want to try them so you can draw
your own conclusions about their offerings.

In reviewing the long lists of fish markets and wholesalers in the
various directories I discovered that many of them are clustered in
downtown Los Angeles. Several restaurant reviews mentioned that the
chefs did their shopping at the downtown fish markets. You might find
it interesting to check out the wholesale district fish markets for
yourself even though it?s in an unsavory ?skid row? area.

I trust that the assortment of resources I?ve found will provide you
with some excellent fish for making sushi at home.

Bon Appétit!

~ czh ~


====================================
FISH MARKETS -- DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
====================================

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/19396
http://yellowpages.superpages.com/profile~SRC_portals~LID_Q%2FRI8jdfupXaO8dH%2BLtjfg%3D%3D~lbp_1.htm
Los Angeles Fish Company
420 Stanford Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90013-2121
(213) 629-1213

Hours of Operation: 
Mon-Fri: 06:00am-03:00pm 
Sat 06:00am-11:00am

==

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/list/499/losangeles/spotlight_los_angeles_butchers_and_seafood_markets.html
Spotlight: Los Angeles Butchers And Seafood Markets

==

http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Seafood/S-CA/T-Los+Angeles/
Phone Book  Locations  California  Los Angeles Seafood

==

http://irv.yellowpages.com/sp/yellowpages/ypresults.jsp?t=0&v=3&s=2&q=Fish+Seafood+Retail&ci=los+angeles&st=CA&_requestid=597872
Fish Seafood Retail in los angeles, CA area


==============================
FISH MARKETS ? OTHER LOCATIONS
==============================

http://www.glendalecourtyard.com/merchants/fishking.html
Fish King
720 North Glendale Avenue 
Glendale, California 91206 
Phone: (818) 244-2161

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/249578
Fish King
Citysearch Editorial Profile 
Editorial Rating: Highly Recommended
Reviews (3): Highly Recommended

==

http://www.santamonicaseafood.com/
http://www.santamonicaseafood.com/contactus.htm
Santa Monica Seafood Co.
18531 Broadwick Street
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
ˇ  Retail Inquiries: ezequiel(at)smseafood.com

--

http://www.redcoatpublishing.com/spotlights/sl_12_05_SantaMonica.asp
Corporate Spotlight -- Santa Monica Seafood

--

http://www.smdp.com/article/articles/1587/1/Business-Briefs-June-8,-2006/print/1587
Seafood operation expands
Santa Monica Seafood announced it has acquired the customer base,
corporate name, receivables, inventory and other assets of Fish
Warehouse Corporation, a Los Angeles-based seafood distributor that
has been in business for the past 23 years.

==

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/32739336
Fishland Seafood Market
9150 W Olympic Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-3540  
(310) 271-2553

Editorial Rating: Highly Recommended



=========================
FRESH FISH MARKET REVIEWS
=========================

http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/06/21/best-of-glendale/
Fish Market

Sources mentioned:
Fish King, Glendale
Ralphs
Whole Foods

==

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/311530
Los Angeles Area -- Best fish market

Sources mentioned:
99 Ranch in Roland Heights
Bristol Farms
los angeles fish company on stanford downtown
main fish market is downtown at like 4 AM.
Fish King in Glendale
Westside, Santa Monica Seafood at Euclid (13th St) and Colorado

==

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/22775
Where do I buy the best sushi-grade fish in Los Angeles?

Sources Mentioned:
try to find an Asian supermarket with a sushi counter.
Marukai supermarkets
Costco
Mitsuwa chain
Nijiya chain
Santa Monica Seafood
Ranch Market
Fish King in Glendale is the other place to go and get yourself top grade fish.

==

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/list/499/losangeles/spotlight_los_angeles_butchers_and_seafood_markets.html
Spotlight: Los Angeles Butchers And Seafood Markets

Sources Mentioned:
Fish King, 722 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA
Los Angeles Fish Company, 420 Stanford Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Fishland Seafood Market, 9150 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
United Foods, 736 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA
Marukai Corporation, 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA
Mitsuwa, 3760 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Pico Seafoods, 4100 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 

==

http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles/lawalk/skid/
Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour -- Wholesale District/Skid Row 

To the east of the Historic Core lies the Wholesale District and Skid
Row. This area is characterized by a mix of warehouses (mostly fish
and produce), light retail (mostly toys) and an extensive cluster of
missions, shelters, drop-ins and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels,
the largest service-dependent ghetto in the nation.



===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

"fish market"  "los angeles"
fresh sushi "fish market"  los angele
best "sushi OR sashimi grade" "los angeles" "fresh fish" market OR
retail OR wholesale
best "los angeles" "fresh fish"

---

Request for Answer Clarification by aiannaccone-ga on 27 Jul 2006 21:55 PDT

I see repeat mentions of Santa Monica Seafood Co, Fish King, and Los
Angeles Fish Co.  Just to confirm, are these the three you saw
consistely best-rated?

---

Clarification of Answer by czh-ga on 28 Jul 2006 01:19 PDT

Hello aiannaccone-ga,

Yes. These three were mentioned most frequently by name both in review
articles in the local press as well as on a variety of online review
sites. The other suggestion that came up repeatedly was going to the
wholesale fish market downtown. These comments did not name specific
companies but rather suggested that you can find the freshest fish at
the various wholesale vendors that sell to the trade and various
restaurants. If you show up early enough in the morning, you too can
shop there.

There were also repeated reviews and comments about 99 Ranch Market,
Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. All of these are supermarkets that sell
fresh fish and ready made sushi. The reviews for these stores were
somewhat mixed.

Since you mentioned downtown LA in your question, I think the
wholesale fish markets downtown are worth a look just so you can
evaluate them for yourself. The other three mentioned in your
clarification definitely seem to be the best known and most highly
rated.

Best wishes for your sushi feast.

~ czh ~

Great answer.  Lots of info and very helpful summaries.  Thank you.

Hello aiannaccone-ga,

I'm glad the information was useful. Thank you for the five stars and generous tip.

~ czh ~