Where to find the best sushi in Little Tokyo

Sushi is literally making the rounds at this Japanese Village Plaza kaiten sushi spot. Kula's conveyor belt sushi goes beyond gimmicks with solid, quality pieces. The prices are cheap—each plate stacks up to $2 each—and the pickings are extensive (spicy shrimp tacos, crispy rice with spicy salmon, shrimp avocado rolls and Godzilla rolls, oh my!). While you'll most likely have to queue up, the line goes quickly and nearby shopping and dining options are aplenty (nothing works up an appetite for sushi like mochi or red bean cakes).

Shojin is the dining destination for both sushi and animal lovers. This Little Tokyo Shopping Plaza gem is not only vegan but also macrobiotic and gluten-free. But you'd never notice you were eating faux meat or grazing on veggie and grain substitutions from the tasty (and creative) takes on the Dynamite and Dragon rolls, crispy brown rice with spicy "tuna" and baked "crab" roll with tempeh and enoki. Add a cup of miso soup and an order of sake (bottles range from $22 to $65), and it's a dinner that anyone can get behind.

This neighborhood fixture inside the Little Tokyo Shopping Center (park in the structure and make your way to the third floor) is where locals and those in-the-know drop by for great sushi that won't break the bank. Sit at the long bar for chirashi—try upgrading to an ikura and uni–topped version—and other raw fish plates prepared with care and skill. Cooked highlights from the kitchen include grilled whole amaebi (sweet shrimp, head and all) topped with uni, deep-fried oysters and steamed red snapper head served with ponzu sauce. A daily happy hour (5:30-7pm) gets you $4 beer and half-priced sake.

Tucked in next to the Japanese American National Museum, Komasa Sushi draws sizeable attendance for its fresh ingredients and outstanding sushi. While there can be a wait, you'll be given a menu to mark down your order, helping the time to pass by more quickly. Combination bento boxes are available, which you can fill with yellowtail, Spanish mackeral, tuna and more. Specialty rolls, like the spicy tuna roll, are enjoyable enough, but you'll want to concentrate on invididual sushi and sashimi pieces, which showcase the top quality fish from around the world.