Linni Eats L.A.: Mia Sushi

Eagle Rock, a modest neighborhood in northeast L.A., wouldn't immediately strike you as the place to go for a glamorous sushi experience. That's the beautiful thing about Los Angeles, though--like a tree that grows in Brooklyn, you can always count on the city of angels to sprout elegant eateries in the most unexpected parts of town.


Enter Mia Sushi, nested between a liquor store and law office on the Taco Truck-laden Eagle Rock Boulevard. The place is soaked in swank, with a water fall in the outdoor seating section, chrome and wicker seating arrangements, and warm orange lamps that add an irresistible glow to the dark red and tan walls.

I came with a large group of 8 people and we were late, but the hostess was nothing but pleasant as she seated us. The equally agreeable wait staff brought out drinks and edamame in a timely fashion, considering the large Friday night crowd they had. The bar offers all the regular nigiri and sushi, but also has an extensive list of specialty rolls, all paying homage to local attractions and street names. From this list, we sampled the Colorado, Oxy, Highland Park, and Eagle Rock rolls. The Colorado, named for one of the town's main boulevards, featured salmon, cream cheese, and avocado, fried with a crunchy tempura exterior and drizzled with creamy lemon sauce. The crunch of the tempura was fantastic, as was the presentation. The roll itself was a little bland and the lemon flavor was almost nonexistent, but it was almost too pretty to notice those things.

The Oxy roll, named for nearby Occidental College, showcased salmon, shrimp, white fish, avocado, and cucumber baked in Mia's special sauce. I don't know what that special sauce involved, but this creamy masterpiece basically exploded in my mouth, with the perfect combination of ooze and flavor. (There was some argument over who got to finish these.) The Highland Park roll was a basic California roll topped with baked scallops in eel sauce. This tasted great, but the scallops did not hold together or stay on top of the roll and not even the best chopstick users at our table could eat one successfully.


We also sampled the octopus, which had great texture and was plated beautifully. The last of the specialty rolls we tried was the Eagle Rock roll, made up of spicy tuna and asparagus with a fried tempura coating and lemon sauce. This was more flavorful than the Colorado, probably due to the spice of the tuna and the crunchy asparagus, but the lemon flavor was still missing in action.

For dessert, we were given their Strawberry and Banana Tempura on the house for a birthday in our group. It was served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce and despite the odd appearance of the fried fruit, it tasted incredible. Be careful, though--the strawberries have maximum tongue-burning potential.


The ambiance was great--everyone at nearby tables seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their dining experience in this misplaced oasis of laidback trendiness. It manages to exude a vibe of modernity without going over the top, and while the sushi may not be the best I've ever had, Mia certainly provided a pleasurable evening--the hostess even hugged our birthday girl on her way out. This place has a lot of promise and I can't wait to try some more of their specialty concoctions.

4741 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
323-356-2562
Open Tue-Sun 5:30-11pm