Sushi Kara - Long Beach

I'm not a vegetarian, but my wife is vegan, so we were really excited to find an udon shop with a vegan option. We went to the restaurant, confirmed that they could make a fish-free, meat-free broth, and had a great meal. We returned again and, this time discovering some kamuboko (fish cake) in the broth, but they apologized, swapped it for new soup, and everyone was, once again, very happy. Yesterday we went for visit number 3, and the vegetarian waitress informed us that they do not have a veggie broth option. She checked with the kitchen, and as she suspected, we've been eating fish broth the whole time. This is really unfortunate, because the previous review and the assurances of the staff had billed it as a rare vegan-friendly standout. My wife opted for some veggie sushi, edamame, and tempura veggies (apparently, there's no egg in their batter), and we still had a great time. The owner is a really attentive, nice man, and the staff is great. For you carnivores out there, the sushi is also excellent. Just watch out for the broth if you're a vegetarian/vegan.

This was our second visit to Sushi Kara, and it was just as delightful as we remembered. We ordered the Udon noodle soup with tempura vegetables (they were happy to substitute the shrimp for tofu) and a grilled vegetable salad. The flavors of each dish were outstanding! The owner, Song, is incredibly friendly and gracious, which made our evening even more special. He even surprised us with a unique vegan vegetable roll made with asparagus, squash, and some secret ingredients, all wrapped in rice paper. Each dish is presented in such a beautiful and artistic manner that it almost feels too stunning to eat. Please consider supporting Sushi Kara and giving them a try—you won’t be disappointed!

Yesterday, on our third visit, a vegetarian waitress informed us that they didn't have a vegetarian broth option available. She checked with the kitchen and, as she suspected, they were still serving fish broth. This was disappointing, as we had previously been assured that the restaurant was a rare vegan-friendly find. My wife ended up choosing vegetable sushi, edamame, and tempura veggies (apparently with no ice in the batter), and we had another enjoyable experience. The owner is a genuinely attentive and kind man, and the staff is fantastic. For those carnivores out there, the sushi is also excellent. Just be careful with the broth if you're vegetarian or vegan!

This was our second visit to Sushi Kara, and it was just as wonderful as we remembered from our first experience. We ordered the udon noodle soup with tempura vegetables (they typically replace the shrimp with tofu) and a grilled sweet salad. The flavors of each dish were fantastic! The owner, Song, is incredibly friendly and gracious, making the evening truly special. He even surprised us with a special vegan sweet roll, filled with asparagus, squash, and other secret ingredients wrapped in rice paper. Each dish is presented beautifully and artistically, making them almost too lovely to eat. I highly recommend supporting Sushi Kara and giving it a try. You won't be disappointed!

Yesterday, we returned for a third visit, and the vegetarian waitress informed us that they don't have a vegetarian broth option. After checking the kitchen, she confirmed that they primarily use fish broth for their dishes. This was quite disappointing, especially since previous reviews had highlighted the restaurant as a rare find for vegan diners. My wife ended up ordering Veggie Sushi, Edamame, and Tempura Agedashi (which, as the staff confirmed, does not contain any eggs in the batter), and we still had a great experience. The owner is very attentive and friendly, and the entire staff is fantastic. For those of you who enjoy sushi, it's excellent here as well. Just be cautious about the broth if you're vegetarian!