Mall Dinner Is Cool Again at Century City Japanese Lounge Katsuya | Eater LA

"Among upscale Japanese lounges, this celebrity-frequented spot ranks just under Nobu, with food quality on par, if not better. Recently opened in a prime slot inside Westfield Century City, it occupies a high-ceilinged room dominated by floating lamps that resemble the alien ship in Arrival. Chef Katsuya Uechi—whose famed Studio City restaurant became an empire through a partnership with SBE and who invented spicy tuna crispy rice—keeps the classics unfussy. Order the king crab motoyaki, a whole leg topped with panko and minced chives that you scoop and dip into creamy miso aioli; the lighter tai uni “maki,” a shareable sashimi of mild sea bream laced in ume shiso dressing; and the signature spicy tuna crispy rice, with thick cubes of seared, buttery rice paired with quenelles of spicy tuna, hamachi, wagyu, or avocado. Miso black cod is as delicious and balanced as the Nobu original, served with blackened broccolini for contrast, and the tomahawk short rib with yakiniku sauce eats like Korean barbecue on a plate, coated with a dense soy sauce. For the best experience, ask for a table in the center, where the energy from the sushi and cocktail bars is most palpable." - Matthew Kang