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Geisha House

Offering diners modern Japanese fare with American flare, Geisha House in Hollywood caters to those looking for more than the typical sushi restaurant. An ultra modern décor welcomes guests as they enter the restaurant. Providing an atmosphere dripping with sensuality, Geisha House is a great way to start a night out on the town, or to bring a date. The full bar serves up sake infused signature cocktails like the Geisha Kiss Martini. Creative presentation of dishes such as the Sashimi Igloo and Robata World is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the belly, while Fried Banana and Tempura Brownie make for a sweet conclusion to a meal.

Geisha House Helps Restore Flash to Hollywood

At the beginning of the 21st century, Hollywood Boulevard was in the doldrums. One of the most storied streets in the city had become a ragged strip of souvenir shops, paraded with tourists who hopelessly scoured the neighborhood for signs of glamour. Thankfully, visionary entrepreneurs were convinced they could restore the neighborhood’s luster. Three of these people were Lonnie Moore, Mike Malin, and Shereen Arazm of the Dolce Group, who debuted flashy Geisha House in November 2003, helping to prove that Hollywood Boulevard might not be a lost cause after all.

To reach the side-street entrance, we walked past the exterior’s red walls, smoky glass panels studded with pink neon tubes, and a seductive photo of a woman’s red lips plucking sushi from a pair of chopsticks. After walking down a hallway lined with columns of red four-by-fours, we arrived at the hostess station.

Tag Front Design & Scott Oster designed the two-story space to be visually stimulating, akin to a Tokyo street scene. The lounge area features a backlit bar stacked with curved cube shelving, each pod holding a flat screen television or liquor bottles. Grey banquettes line the wall, fronted by candlelit wood benches. On the lounge wall are a row of photos from Japan and a projection screen showing subtitled Japanese movies.

The Omakase Room, next to the lounge, hosts wood tables and a red sushi bar, manned by five black-clad chefs. Omakase normally requires diners to submit to the whim of the chef, but not at Geisha House, where customers can order off the regular menu.

Two sides of the high-ceilinged dining room host light-grey booths with wood-grain tables and walls lined with geisha-patterned cushions. Another wall features a photo of a bustling Japanese street scene. Centering the space is a red tower, with a fireplace on each side, spiraling to the ceiling. Away from the walls, diners can enjoy red tables. Every table holds a glass cube with an orchid, a candle and a corked pitcher of soy sauce. Completing the look are cherry blossom branches.

A black-carpeted staircase leads past a square, glassed-walled wine and sake closet to a sprawling second floor. White tables and chairs ring a circular railing, which overlooks the dining room, great for people watching. Dangling ropes line walls backlit by pink light. The Glass Room, a glass-fronted private dining area, showcases a communal wood table, easily twelve feet long.

An outdoor patio features a retractable roof, rectangular white lanterns that light up red and black booths framed by squared red arches. The patio’s bar encourages special events, like celebrity investor Wilmer Valderrama’s Wednesday night karaoke party.

Early in the evening, Geisha House hosts an after-work crowd and business dinners. Later in the evening, a younger crowd drops in for a meal before hitting nearby bars and clubs. With low light and plenty of spacious booths, Geisha House is conducive to a romantic evening. Tuesday through Saturday, a DJ commands a deck overlooking the dining room, playing lounge music early and Top 40 late.

We kickstarted our meal with specialty cocktails. Geisha’s Kiss was a sweet, lightly sparkling drink combining sake, Chambord, and champagne, served in a cone-shaped glass with a sweet sinker of pitted lychee. On the menu, Hai sounded sweeter, but packed bite. Vodka was flavored with sweet and sour, lemon juice, lime juice, a frothy float of champagne and strawberry puree, served in another cone-shaped glass.

Our Japanese culinary odyssey began with a well-prepared and generously portioned bowl of edamame, served warm and buttery.

Uni Shooters were presented in two shot glasses submerged in crushed ice that was decorated with a purple orchid. Chunks of creamy sea urchin roe were swimming in sake, soy sauce, and drops of Tabasco for spice, then sprinkled with diced green onion. After squeezing lemon juice into the glasses, we each knocked back a shooter. It was an interesting idea, although the oceanic tang of the uni was lost in their cool bath.

Maguro Carpaccio Salad featured sashimi-grade tuna strips ringing a central pile of bitter arugula, showered with crispy Parmesan shavings. The texture of the fried Parmesan whisps was terrific, but overshadowed the pristine tuna.

Surf and Turf was the most compelling selection from a non-traditional but intriguing list of sushi rolls. A 14-point compass rose of banana leaf was topped with a circle of eight pieces of cut sushi, each cradling cuts of cooked filet mignon and lobster, wrapped in soy paper and drizzled with sweet caramel-like sesame miso sauce. The plate was decorated with purple orchid petals, four slices of lemon, and central piles of faux wasabi and pickled ginger.

Sommelier William Edward North, a fourth generation wine and spirits professional and a comedian who goes by One Take Willie, suggested we pair the sushi with a glass of Kamouzumi KomeKome (Happy Bride). The sweet sake from Hiroshima had apple hints that played well off the filet and lobster meat.

For one hot course, we opted for a Chef’s Selection, courtesy of Chef Paulo Soares, twin fillets of Black Cod that had been marinated in miso paste and laid on a diamond cut of banana leaf. The nearly caramelized fish came apart in sweet sheets, plated with a decorative orchid and twin towers of orange gobo root that looked like carrots but tasted pickled. The white plate was decoratively dotted with four drops of miso.

North paired the rich fish with Dewazakura DewaSanSan (Green Ridge) – Junmai Ginjo - pure sake from Yamagata that was crisp and clean tasting.

For our other hot course, we again trusted Chef Soares by ordering the 10-ounce Grilled Kobe Rib Eye Steak, sliced into two-inch bites and served on a sizzling platter, each tender slice dabbed with a pea-sized dab of wasabi. In the middle of the platter was a dish of teriyaki like “Asian barbecue” dipping sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and smoky three-inch spears of asparagus.

Since North and Dolce Group Wine & Beverage Director Kell Wimmer pride themselves on populating the wine list with boutique wines, we managed to pair the Kobe with a glass of 2005 John Alan Petite Sirah from Paso Robles. North claimed John Alan only produces 70 cases of Petite Sirah a year, and Geisha House gets them all. It was a good get. The red wine was excellent, smoky and a little spicy.

For dessert, our waiter presented a rectangular black box, removing the lid to unveil Molten Chocolate Cake. The dark chocolate cake with the oozing center was dusted with confectioner’s sugar, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and two enormous blackberries. It was a respectable cake, but could have used a twist to separate it from dozens of other versions in town.

The more Asian-inspired dessert involved a quintet of Crispy Wontons filled with tropical fruits and cream cheese, plated on another diamond cut banana leaf. The fried pockets contained oozing cream cheese and a different fruit per wonton, including pineapple and blueberry. They were served with dishes of clear sugar syrups flavored with ground vanilla bean and mango-passion fruit, designed for dipping but ultimately unnecessary.

Dessert wine is an uncommon treat, especially after such a hearty meal, but since North promised to deliver the “world’s best,” we couldn’t resist. Marchesi di Grey Moscato d’Asti, from La Serra, Italy, was lightly sparkling and sweet, but not overpowering. Was it the world’s best? Doubtful, but it was a nice finisher.

While a couple of dishes could have used more pop, Geisha House managed to deliver a fairly well balanced sensory experience that hints at the viability of Hollywood Boulevard Version 2.0.

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Restaurant Info

  • Address: 6633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90028
  • Cross Street: North Cherokee Avenue
  • Location: Central / Downtown LA | Hollywood
  • Cuisine: Sushi | Japanese |
  • Cost: $$$ | Moderate | $50 - $75
  • Category: Fine Dining
  • Star Rating:
  • Reservations: Recommended
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Meals Served: Dinner |
  • Parking: Street | Valet Parking |
  • Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard |
  • Corkage Fee: N/A
  • Phone: (323) 460-6300

Business Hours

Monday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Tuesday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Wednesday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Thursday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Friday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Saturday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Sunday
Main Dining Room | Dinner 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Features

  • Full Bar
  • Late Dining
  • Live Entertainment
  • Private Room
  • Smoking Area
  • Working Fireplace
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Valet Parking
  • Personal Wines Allowed
  • Lounge / Bar

Occasion

  • Romantic Dining
  • Meet for a Drink
  • People Watching
  • Special Occasion
  • Trendy / Hip
  • Celebrity Spotting

 


F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana and Atlanta
No, but reservations are recommended.
The average cost of a 3 course meal is $50-$75.
Keeping Japan’s rich history and traditions alive, the Geisha House presents guests with fully costumed geishas who walk the dining room.
Yes, you are allowed to bring in your own cake but please note that there is a $25 cake-cutting fee.

Menus

Lunch Menu

Soups and Salads

Bowl (Don)

Combinations

Cold Dishes

Hot Dishes

Geisha House

Geisha House Cold Dishes

Geisha House Hot Dishes

Edamame & Salads

Gyoza

Udon Noodles

Geisha House Special Hand Rolls

Robata-Yaki

Agemono (Tempura)

Soup & Rice

Sushi and Sashimi

Light and No Rice Rolls

Geisha House Sushi Rolls


Map

Restaurant Address: 6633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90028

User Reviews

Great Experience  

My wife and I enjoyed the exquisite food, the friendly service, and DJ music (which adds a nice touch to the already comfortable environment). We're coming back soon.

Geisha House very yummy  

LOVED IT!!! Can't express it enough you have got to go for yourself. Super nice waitress and very delicious food and you don't have to worry about being to pricy some plates are just ten bucks, and the restaruant is beautiful.

"!!!!  

Lovvvvvvvvvve

this place!

Loves it!  

I came here for the first time this Valentines Day! It was great! great atmosphere, great food, great service. The Geisha girls are a plus! I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves sushi or Asian Fusion!

Client Meeting  

I had a client in town a few weeks back and wanted to take her to a place that was very LA and that had good sushi. Decided on Geisha House, which ended up being a good choice. Sushi and service exceeded my expectations and I could tell my client was impressed as well.

Best of LA  

I was quite excited to dine at the well-known Geisha House in Hollywood last weekend from all the hype I've heard about it. Everything I had heard prior to visit was definitely on par with what I experienced. From the furniture to the lighting to the live DJ music, Geisha House is tastefully designed from inside out. As for the food, it simply speaks for itself. Geisha House does a remarkable job at mixing authentic Japanese cuisine with a touch of American fusion. The professional staff makes the restaurant a very inviting and warm atmosphere. My server was friendly from start to finish. The live upbeat music combined with the trendy décor and grade A service and food makes Geisha House one of L.A.'s hotspots for all the right reasons.

GREAT!!  

The Geisha House is a good place to go for sushi! they have the best! The lighting and furniture were amazing placed to make the restaurant look fantastic! The Live DJ put a fun spin and fib throughout the restaurant and everyone seemed to be having a great time! the food was amazing and i suggest that everyone go try out the Geisha House because you will not be disappointed!

Great Food! Great Environment!!  

The Geisha House is a restaurant that is almost as renown as the city in which it resides. Tailoring to all sorts of customers, the Geisha House attracts people looking for a warm and cozy environment as well as those searching for a fun and lively atmosphere. Its setting is unique and it brilliantly infuses traditional Japanese architecture with the contemporary city feel. The lighting and noise level that I encountered in the restaurant was, for lack of a better term, inviting. The food is a different story all by itself. Served sizzling hot, the Kobe rib eye helped seal the deal. Despite being aesthetically pleasing, the meat was also delectably good. Cooked to perfection, the point between well-done and bloody, the steak left me satisfied and it also made me a returning customer. I had the chance to try different dishes as well, and they all featured aspects of traditional Japanese cuisine, while also adding innovative tune-ups. The service was excellent and the waitresses proved to be both visually pleasing and helpful by, refilling drinks before being asked and by being approachable.

Beautiful experience  

I had an awesome time. Took my boyfriend for his Birthday and he was very impressed. The cocktails were divine and the food was excellent. The service could be better , but the atmosphere makes up for what the staff lacks.

Great For BDay Gatherings!  

Overall experience was good! Loved the chef!

Sushi  

A bit over priced for what we received for food and drink. The service was great and our server was well educated about the menu.

Near to bad exerience  

Geisha Restaurant advertized itself having Geisha performers, but they only perform from Tuesday to Sunday, a bommer if you go on Tuesday! The food is excellent, with great presentation and effort to be top 1 of the Asian scene. The waiter service is poor and non-existent, be patient if you go...they are slow servers with little memory due that they do not have a technique to take good notes on orders.

Disappointment  

I reserved for 2 and went to the restaurant and I was shocked! This is not a Japanese restaurant. the bright red brick building looked like a Chinese restaurant and the ambience was terrible. I and my date decided to walk out and went to Yamashiro.

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