SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa
Sushi restaurant · Downtown Los Angeles ·
Celebrated sushi chain serving traditional rolls & sake
Celebrated sushi chain serving traditional rolls & sake
"This really should be lower on the list, but it’s ultimately subjective and my editor said I could write whatever I want. So, what can I say about Downtown LA Sugarfish? I worked here for a few months. It was hard as hell (that power broker lunch rush is no joke). The people wearing aprons here are some of the smartest, most efficient, and determined human beings on the planet - they can balance eight trays of tuna sashimi on each arm and won’t even blink when you say you dropped the wrong food at the wrong table for the third time that night. Parking is impossible, lines will be long, and the trash bin was always so far away from the building. Seriously, like a five-minute walk and you had to get buzzed in by some random building security person. Lame. But the move here is to come at around 2-3pm on weekdays, and at 11am sharp on weekends. Which might seem obvious, but at this particular location, means the difference between a two-hour wait and none at all." - kat hong
"Sugarfish has had a location Downtown since 2010, and even though the surrounding neighborhood has filled-in substantially since then, the iconic sushi chain is still one of the best options for fresh, affordable fish in the area. At $27 during lunch, the Trust Me gets you nine different courses ranging from tuna sashimi to a blue crab handroll. If you don’t have time to dine-in, you can reserve a parking spot on their website and have the lunch carry-out situation of your dreams. It’s also a great way to make your coworkers very jealous." - brant cox, brett keating
"Note: As of February 2024, current “Trust Me” options range from $37-$72 at lunch, and $43-$72 at dinner. On the west coast of America, there’s a mysterious city you may have heard of, called Los Angeles. You may know some things about this land’s strange and unusual ways: its citizens own automobiles, and for recreation they enjoy walking up dusty hills with the companionship of a canine. At mealtimes, the residents typically place avocado on top of a bowl filled with other green vegetables, and frequently speak of their fondness for a hamburger restaurant and its “Animal Style” dishes. Whether they actually frequent these “In-N-Out” establishments regularly is uncertain, but mentioning this burger seems to be code for establishing one’s connection to the city. There is another place that restaurant-going Los Angeles residents also speak about frequently, and actually eat in frequently as well. This restaurant is called Sugarfish. The reason we are taking you on this anthropological journey is that Sugarfish, which is known for its relatively affordable sushi menus, has arrived in New York. Sugarfish’s formula is simple: there are three set “Trust Me” menus, and almost everyone goes off one of these, because they’re a pretty damn good deal. Each of them starts out with edamame and a small cup of tuna sashimi, and then follows with sushi and handrolls - for $28 you’ll get four pieces and one handroll, for $40 you’ll get eight pieces and two handrolls, and for $52 you’ll get 12 pieces and two handrolls. The $28 “Trust Me Lite” is indeed very light for dinner, so we usually go for the $40 regular “Trust Me.” Whichever you opt for, you’ll get high-quality pieces of sushi that lean on the large side, and are made with rice that’s noticeably warm and very vinegary. It’s slightly different from the more delicate sushi you’ll find at top sushi places in New York, but still very satisfying. To answer the inevitable question, it is pretty much exactly the same quality as what you’ll find in LA. It costs slightly more here, but so does your apartment and, well, everything. The setup - a clean, modern room with a closed kitchen rather than a sushi bar - is the same too. The one key difference is that the lines at this New York location are, frankly, f*cking insane. With 10 locations in LA and some of the novelty having worn off, you can get into a West Coast Sugarfish with relative ease. Here, plan to get there before 6pm for dinner, and then expect to wait another hour or so until they text you. That “Los Angeles” place doesn’t sound so bad, actually. Food Rundown Edamame Your Trust-Me meal will start with edamame. They come cold, which is a little strange, but they’re good to snack on while waiting for your next course. Tuna Sashimi Always-fresh tuna in a tangy ponzu sauce. Always a nice way to start the meal off. Sushi Depending on which menu you order, you’ll get a different selection of sushi. Albacore, Salmon, and Yellowtail are always included, and come in twos on the larger options. The rice is hot and sort of loosely packed. Handrolls With the Trust Me Lite, you’ll get a toro handroll. With the Trust Me or Nozawa Trust Me, you’ll get a creamy blue crab handroll as well. It’s rich, and sort of tastes like a non-fishy tuna melt, but it’s a must-try for Sugarfish virgins." - Hillary Reinsberg
"Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Sugarfish is offering a special 15-course menu for 15 days from November 29 through December 13 at all Los Angeles locations; the $80 tasting includes signature dishes and new creations such as pink lobster sashimi, sardine nigiri, ikura, sea urchin, sunomono-style salmon sashimi, and more." - Cathy Chaplin
"Sugarfish has had a location Downtown since 2010, and even though the surrounding neighborhood has filled-in substantially since then, the iconic sushi chain is still one of the best options for fresh, affordable fish in the area. At $27 during lunch, the Trust Me gets you nine different courses ranging from tuna sashimi to a blue crab handroll. If you don’t have time to dine-in, you can reserve a parking spot on their website and have the lunch carry-out situation of your dreams. It’s also a great way to make your coworkers very jealous." - Brant Cox
