SUSHIZANMAI LA
Sushi restaurant · Koreatown ·
Fresh sushi & sashimi, tuna specialties, tempura, rice bowls
Fresh sushi & sashimi, tuna specialties, tempura, rice bowls
"A masterclass in affordable Japanese food from “Tuna King” Kiyoshi Kimura, this Koreatown Chapman Plaza outpost channels the Tsukiji Outer Market original with under-$50-per-person pricing and a broad, crowd-pleasing menu. More than 20 cuts of nigiri include five kinds of tuna — fatty otoro, leaner akami, medium-fatty, and seared toro — plus yellowtail; start with the otoro and at least two other tuna nigiri ($4 to $7 per piece). Rolls abound: the rainbow roll layers yellowtail, salmon, tuna, and shrimp, while the salmon skin hand roll delivers crunch with julienned cucumbers; grilled mackerel is a satisfying hot option served with salad, rice, and miso soup. Starters and shareables range from edamame, shishito peppers, and spicy tuna crispy rice (topped with a thin slice of jalapeño) to agedashi tofu, sunomono cucumber, chawanmushi, karaage, and miso black cod. The room isn’t fancy — tightly packed tables and traditional Japanese furnishings coexist with bright lights and TV screens recounting Zanmai’s history, which dulls any date-night appeal — and street parking is tough enough that the $10 Chapman lot is the move. As ever, Kimura marks a new opening by expertly breaking down a several-hundred-pound tuna for the crowd, a showy prelude to a straightforward, satisfying meal." - Matthew Kang
"With great fanfare, the “tuna king” arrived in Los Angeles on August 2 as the Japan-based Sushi Zanmai opened in Koreatown’s Chapman Market, taking over the former Sake House by Hikari. Launched in 2001 and famed for around-the-clock hours and affordable sushi, the chain’s lore includes Kiyoshi Kimura’s 2019 record 333.6 million yen purchase of a single bluefin; on opening day here, he carved a 500-pound tuna. The menu stays straightforward and crowd-pleasing with hand rolls, cut rolls, and nigiri, plus starters like edamame, shishito peppers, and spicy tuna crispy rice topped with a thin slice of jalapeño." - Mona Holmes
"The famed “Tuna King” of Tsukiji Market in Tokyo (who sort of looks like the Japanese Danny DeVito) has opened the first U.S. location of his popular Japanese chain. The minimalist sushi bar in Koreatown has big white lanterns, wood booths, and iPads on every table for quick ordering. The menu sticks to affordable staples like cut rolls, nigiri sets, chirashi bowls, udon and soba, and bento boxes. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Cathy Park
"A Tokyo-based sushi import just landed in Koreatown’s Chapman Market, where the grand opening turned into a scene as owner Kiyoshi Kimura carved a 500-pound tuna and handed out slices of ruby-red fish. A day later it settled into a steady flow of customers digging into plates of sushi, sashimi, karaage, and more; it’s nice to have a more casual sushi spot in the neighborhood with late-ish hours that run until midnight. The price point works for a low-key meal, the fish is exceptionally fresh, and I make sure to say hello to the statue of Kimura on the way in." - Eater Staff
"Tokyo’s “Tuna King,” Kiyoshi Kimura, brings his Japan-based chain to Koreatown’s Chapman Market with a first U.S. outpost that opened August 2, inaugurated by a dramatic 500-pound tuna butchering with a katana-like sword before a hushed crowd; since then, servers eagerly recommend the tuna while retelling that origin story, and a smiling statue of Kimura with outstretched arms greets diners. The room mirrors the Japanese locations with a casual, minimalist look: a pergola-like wood structure over a long, room-spanning sushi bar, iPad ordering at each table, and plates arriving quickly on black stones. The straightforward menu covers hand rolls, cut rolls, nigiri, and more, from starters like edamame, shishito peppers, and spicy tuna crispy rice with a thin slice of jalapeño to shareables such as agedashi tofu, sunomono cucumber, chawanmushi, karaage, and miso black cod. Rolls range from salmon, yellowtail, spicy tuna, natto, and shrimp tempura to signatures like the Tsukiji (seared crab on a shrimp tempura roll) and the Hokkaido (seared salmon on a California roll). Nigiri comes one piece at a time with cuts like toro, salmon belly, and whitefish, plus combination sets priced from $8 for three pieces to $55 for a deluxe set; four chirashi bowls run $28 to $35 with toppings like toro, soy-marinated tuna, and albacore. Beyond sushi, there’s hot or cold udon and soba, tempura, salads, and toban cooked in ceramic ware (salmon, tuna, oyster, tofu steak, vegetables, or mushrooms) for $13 to $22, as well as $32 bento boxes that include three pieces of sushi, six pieces of sashimi, tempura, edamame, and a choice of proteins such as grilled mackerel, chicken teriyaki, grilled salmon, or karaage. Open daily from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. to 12 A.M., it nods to a brand long known for affordable sushi while establishing an immediate sense of occasion around the fish." - Rebecca Roland