Los Angeles: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours

If you are from anyplace other than Japan, you will be really impressed with our sushi. Great sushi joints grow like weeds in crappy looking strip malls on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, the heart of the San Fernando Valley. They're not cheap, but they're all worth it. Asanebo is my favorite, but Katsu-ya with its seared albacore with crispy onions has blossomed into a mini-chain here. The chef at Sushi Nozawa is a genius, which is good because he does only omakase — he decides what you'll eat, and he doesn't care what you like. Another solid option: Teru Sushi. The competition is so intense that you can't go wrong here. Plus, you get to go to the Valley, which is our version of suburbia but has become oddly cool.

• 1. Asanebo
  11941 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604; 818-760-3348 34.143268-118.392055
• 2. Katsu-Ya
  11680 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604; 818-985-6976 34.141166-118.387367 More Info
• 3. Sushi Nozawa
  11288 Ventura Blvd., Suite C, Studio City, CA 91604; 818-508-7017 34.140293-118.375575 sushinozawa.com
• 4. Teru Sushi
  11940 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604; 818-763-6201 34.14299-118.392179 terusushi.com