Katsuya on San Vicente in Brentwood is our sushi restaurant for every occasion — family dinners where the girls order simple rolls, date nights where Brad and I want something better than basic, and celebration dinners where the spicy tuna on crispy rice is the required opening move. We have been dozens of times. Here is the honest answer to the question I actually get asked: is it kid-friendly?
The Short Answer
Yes, with caveats. Katsuya is a sleek, dimly lit, genuinely upscale restaurant — it is not built around families the way a casual neighborhood sushi spot is. It works well for older kids and teens who already like sushi or are willing to try it. It is a harder sell for toddlers or picky eaters, since there is no dedicated kids’ menu.
What the Girls Actually Order
Edamame to start, then usually a California roll or two, sometimes chicken teriyaki on nights when sushi is not what they are in the mood for. None of it is complicated, and the kitchen has never blinked at a simple order.
Why We Keep Coming Back
The spicy tuna on crispy rice is the dish that gets ordered every single time, no exceptions. It is the one thing at the table everyone agrees on, kids included, which is rare enough that it is basically the reason this is our default sushi spot.
The Bottom Line
It is not the place for a casual, low-key kids’ dinner on a random weeknight. But it is a restaurant our whole family can genuinely eat at together, sushi lovers and simple-roll kids alike, and that is exactly why we keep going back.
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