Sushi Nozawa Closing

SushiNozawa-RobertAugustOlding.jpg
Robert August Olding
Kazunori Nozawa at Sushi Nozawa
Sushi Nozawa is not known for its customer service. Many call chef Kazunomi Nozawa a "sushi tyrant," our critic once wrote. The L.A. Times dubbed him "imperious." And the restaurant famously features a sign that reads: "Special of the Day: Trust Me." So it wasn't a huge surprise that the Studio City restaurant answered only one of our dozen calls yesterday. And that the person on the line said to call back later. (We did, to no avail.) But we did learn this: The rumors are true; Sushi Nozawa will close Feb. 29.

The Weekly's Jonathan Gold has written that he's been dining there for more than 20 years. According to Gold, Nozawa "made his reputation almost as much for what he refused to serve (California rolls; spicy tuna) as for his influential aesthetic of warm rice and lightly sauced fish, for his rigor in sourcing seafood, and for the tuna nuta and spliff-size crab rolls he actually deigned to prepare."

In 2008, Nozawa opened Sugarfish in the Marina del Rey -- a stylish, less-expensive version of the original. (Less-intimidating, too.) Branches followed in Brentwood, Downtown and Santa Monica. All serve the omakase "trust me" menus that Nozawa is known for, along with a small a la carte selection. As far as we know, the Sugarfish spots will remain. Check back for more details soon. Probably after another dozen or so phone calls.

Location Info

Venue

Map

Sushi Nozawa

11288 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA

Category: Restaurant

3 user reviews
Write A Review
Save to foursquare
Powered by Voice Places
My Voice Nation Help
11 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Blah
Blah

he sucks. you can get better sushi from edi at sushi iki.

Michaelctc
Michaelctc

Alaways treated me with love and respect. Still the freshest best sushi I have ever had. Nozawa has spolied me and I can't eat the crap that most places serve. A huge, huge loss to the LA culinary scene. Tragic news.

Jeremy Cunningham Green
Jeremy Cunningham Green

I will miss Sushi Nozawa. Thank you for all the really great food over the years, I first went to Sushi Nozawa in the late 80's. I've taken people just off the plane from Japan to see Nozawa San, they said the Sushi was the best they'd had. I've also had my up & down with friends been thrown out & I went back in disguise just in case he was made at me as well as my friend... 

Carl Freer
Carl Freer

Couldn't even find better in Tokyo!....

Pauline Adamek
Pauline Adamek

I never thought that place was all that... The stark lighting scheme was especially off-putting, as was lining up for sushi at midday in order to get in.

Big Bomb
Big Bomb

Pauline -- it wasn't about the lighting.  The space is horrid, it's in a dippy mini-mall.  The reason that one year it was rated the No. 1 place in all of LA by Zagats is -- the food.

McAttorney
McAttorney

Say it ain't so, Kazunomi, say it ain't so!!

Donna Cohen
Donna Cohen

love Nozawa went there for years. Turned many people on to the place. This place will be missed.

Now Trending

From the Vault

 

©2013 LA Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Los Angeles

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city