SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa
Sushi restaurant · Studio City ·
Fresh sushi, warm rice, and expertly crafted rolls await
Fresh sushi, warm rice, and expertly crafted rolls await
"OK, real fans (Fish Heads? Sugar Babies? Yes-zowas?) know that Studio City is where the Trust Me empire really began. Back in 1987, when cell phones looked like bricks and my boyfriend’s mother’s favorite movie, Ishtar, was released, Japan-born chef Kazunori Nozawa opened a little sushi bar on Ventura Blvd. called Sushi Nozawa. The tiny, cramped space became famous for its uncompromising values, best demonstrated by the plaque behind the bar that read, “Today’s Special: Trust Me.” Sadly, Sushi Nozawa closed in 2012 when its namesake chef retired, but was promptly replaced by the current Sugarfish location. Legend has it, that if you close your eyes and bite into the blue crab handroll in just the right way, you’ll be transported back to Ventura Blvd. in the ’80s." - kat hong
"For the same reason your family dragged you to Washington DC as a kid, drag yourself to Ventura Blvd: History. Sushi history. What started in the late 80s as Sushi Nozawa is now the birthplace of one of our city’s most iconic sushi empires: Sugarfish. Unfortunately, the place has been retrofitted to the current Sugarfish aesthetic, but that doesn’t diminish the need to go pay homage." - brant cox
"Sushi is another must-have for anyone visiting LA and Sugarfish is the obvious move. No place gives you the premiere sushi and affordable prices quite like Sugarfish and your chronically still-figuring-it-out friend on a budget will appreciate that. While there are locations citywide now, we recommend going back to where it all began: Studio City." - brant cox
"The original Sushi Nozawa in Studio City inspired Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi, but luckily this omakase-only space at the back of the Beverly Hills Sugarfish has dialed back a bit on the craziness (you won’t get kicked out just because the chef doesn’t like the look of you). You still have no choice over what you’re given to eat, and there are only two ten-person seatings a night (if someone is running late, you’re in serious trouble). It’s all worth it for the 22 courses of sushi that runs the gamut from expected to adventurous" - Jess Basser Sanders
"LA is no stranger to sushi empires, but few have achieved the popularity (and accessibility) of Sugarfish. Plain and simple, this is the highest-quality sushi at the best price in town. There are several locations around LA these days, but don’t fear, the quality hasn’t dropped a bit. You can still get your nine-course Trust Me dinner for about $30 (it fluctuates between lunch and dinner) and walk away thrilled. And at the Studio City location, you’re actually eating at the original Sushi Nozawa location. So, take a stroll through sushi history and eat everything you can along the way." - Brant Cox