Some places you go to eat. Others you go to show off. For me, Azabu is both.
Azabu sits on Philadelphia Street in Uptown Whittier, the city where I live. It's a very unique sushi restaurant, and walking in feels like stepping into downtown LA, New York, Tokyo or Mexico City. Then you walk back outside and you're home, in beautiful Whittier. They bring that luxury nightlife feeling to you, right here in our own neighborhood.
On Thursday night I had the chance to take family visiting from Mexico there, and I did it with a great sense of pride.
Carlos Salas and his family around a table full of sushi, Wagyu and a seafood tower, with Azabu's glowing back bar behind them
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A dinner years in the making
My cousin Salma came up from Mexico. Salma is the granddaughter of my Tía Estela, who is the sister of my grandmother, María Esquivel. Salma's mother, Mary Palacios Esquivel, is my dad's first cousin.
I've always been fascinated by family relationships, and I truly believe it runs in the blood. Even though we didn't grow up together, I feel a real connection with Salma, and with all of my cousins.
I came to the United States when I was five. I was old enough to understand that my family was leaving something behind. For a long time I wished I could have grown up with my cousins.
God is so good. Sometimes those rewards are not taken away, just delayed. Today, as adults, many of my cousins have come to the U.S., or I've gone to Mexico, and we've been able to hang out just like we would have if I had stayed. Sitting around that table at Azabu, with my cousins, my parents, my wife and my kids, felt like one of those delayed rewards. Everyone had a wonderful time.
What we ordered (yes, all of it)
We came hungry. Here's what hit our table, by the names on Azabu's menu:
To start
- Charred Spanish Octopus
- Edamame and Spicy-Garlic Edamame, one of each
- Wagyu Dumplings
From the raw bar and sushi bar
- Premium Seafood Tower, a showstopper that arrives on ice, tier on tier
- Bluefin Tuna & Scottish Salmon Tartare, crowned with avocado and served with a rice cracker
- Keto Roll
Entrées and sides
- Denver Wagyu
- Japanese A-5 Wagyu
- Fried Rice with Wagyu Steak
- Fried Rice with Chicken
From Azabu's menu: the dishes and cocktail we ordered, as Azabu presents them.
Here's something people don't expect: you don't have to love seafood to love Azabu. Their menu has Wagyu steaks, Wagyu dumplings, sliced chicken breast and chicken fried rice, so the friend or family member who "doesn't do sushi" still eats like royalty.
To drink
Azabu calls itself a place for "quality sushi & craft cocktails," and the bar lives up to it. We had a cocktail called Every Rose Has Its Thorn, and I had a Sapporo. Delicious.
Where I take the people I love
Here are pictures from another time I took my mother-in-law and my father-in-law. Azabu is a place I love to take people I love, so they can experience the great ambience and atmosphere and enjoy the quality food.
Upscale, without the upscale headache
For a restaurant that feels this high-end, the prices are affordable for an upscale spot. Booking our reservation was fast and easy, too.
Whittier has noticed. Azabu was voted Gold in the Sushi category of the CommunityVotes Whittier 2025 awards, and a Top Pick among Japanese restaurants.
Perfect for groups and company parties
This isn't my first big night at Azabu. A couple of years ago, Street Smart Insurance held our company Christmas party there, and it was a hit.
If you're planning a birthday, a team dinner or a holiday party, Azabu's website has a party reservation form for groups of 8 to 50. You can request the VIP room, the sushi bar side, the bar side or even the whole restaurant.
A shout-out to Michelle and Jay
Great restaurants don't happen by accident. Thank you to Azabu's owners, Michelle and Jay, for creating such a wonderful atmosphere, and for giving Whittier a place where we can proudly bring the people we love. (More on their other Whittier restaurants below.)
Why it matters
When you migrate to another country, there's a great sense of pride when you go back to visit, or when your family comes to visit you. In today's world, especially here in the U.S., it's easy to get lost in everything that's going on and forget the essential thing family brings, and how awesome it is to just hang out.
Thursday night was a reminder. Good food, a beautiful room, my city, and my family from both sides of the border at the same table.
More from Michelle and Jay in Whittier
Azabu isn't Michelle and Jay's only Whittier spot. They're established local restaurateurs, and they also own two more places worth a visit:
The Street Smart angle: great restaurants need the right coverage
I'll put my insurance hat on for just a minute. I love supporting local businesses, and a restaurant like this has a lot going on: a full bar, a kitchen, a beautiful dining room and private events. If you own a restaurant or bar in California, these are worth a conversation:
- General liability. It can help if a guest is hurt or someone's property is damaged. Get a general liability quote.
- Property and a business owner's policy (BOP). A BOP bundles general liability and property coverage, and food and beverage accounts now have access to higher property limits, subject to underwriting. Read California BOP: higher limits and the top 20 business classes.
- Liquor liability. If you serve alcohol, ask whether your policy covers it or whether you need separate coverage.
- Workers' compensation. If you have employees, California generally requires it. See workers' comp for California businesses.
- Higher limits. Events and landlords sometimes ask for more than a basic policy carries. Commercial excess insurance can help fill that gap.
Every business is different, and coverage, limits and pricing depend on underwriting. That's why we always recommend comparing more than one quote.
Go see for yourself
Next time you want a night out that feels like a big-city trip without leaving Whittier, call Azabu at (562) 789-0881 or book a table. And bring your family.
If you own a restaurant, bar or any small business and want a second look at your coverage, the Street Smart team is here. Call or text us at (714) 736-9048. Text is available 24/7.
Related reading: Community Spotlight: Fresh Pizza on Wheels · California BOP: higher limits and the top 20 business classes · A Helping Hand: Joshua Munguia and Best Deal Insurance
Street Smart Insurance Solutions is not affiliated with Azabu, NYX or The Chicken Koop. This spotlight is for community and informational purposes only. Business details come from each restaurant's public website and public listings, and the dining experience is Carlos Salas's own.
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