Sushi Nozawa

09/23/2008 Posted by LaBock

For a few years now I've read about Nozawa with fascination. I finally decided to find out if 1) the chef is as scary as everyone says and 2) the fish is worth the intimidation. Well, it isn't the warmest welcome I've ever received in a sushi place. I arrived at 5:30 p.m. on the dot per Citysearch instructions, and I was the only person in the restaurant. Nozawa was behind the bar with an assistant, silent. I asked to be seated at the bar, and the guy who greeted me asked me if I knew the rule about Nozawa choosing everything for me. I said I knew the rules, and sat down. I ordered green tea, and was then given a succulent pile of baby tuna right off the bat. Yum! It was followed by some of the freshest, most delicious fish I've ever had. Say what you will about the N-man being intimidating, but DON'T knock the sushi. It's delicious, and obviously expertly selected every day. The warm rice was a change for me, and it does fall apart quite easily, but after a few tries I kept it together. The hand rolls of fresh crab and toro were nice accompaniments, quickly made and loosely bound. Crunchy and tasty, nonetheless. I wasn't sure when the meal would be over, but lo and behold after 12 pieces of sushi his assistant told me the set was done and asked me if I would like any more. I asked him to give me one more selection. Nozawa looked at me and said "YOU CHOOSE." Yikes! I chose to have one more tuna appetizer, which was given to me before I could blink. Then the meal was over. I unceremoniously paid the bill, got up, walked out the door, and entered back into the lowly world of California rolls. So here's my suggestion: go to Nozawa with a full wallet and make sure you savor every bite, because otherwise it will be over too soon. I would go back as a very special treat, but next time I would FORCE myself to take my time. There's nothing to be scared of. Sit at a table if you're scared, and to save money. And then enjoy! As Nozawa's sign says "Don't think, just EAT."

Pros: Divinely fresh fish, amazing baby tuna, expert sushi chef who only cares about the food! And it shows.

Cons: Expensive, slightly intimidating attitude from the chef.

04/22/2008 Posted by jdtinla

I must write to contradict some reviews and corroborate others... Sushi Nozawa does truly deliver perfectly prepared sushi. Hype? Well, if fusion/Americanized rolls smothered in eel sauce are your thing, Nozawa is not. I even like some of those concoctions, but they're not traditional and they lack the subtlety of truly fine sushi. If you want a big meal of cooked dishes along with your sushi, or to be a group of loud, hard-drinking, boisterous folks, this is not the place. What Nozawa offers is the freshest, most delicious, delicate sushi you will find, with beautifully prepared rice which, yes, should be slightly warm and not overly packed. The service we received was very friendly and gracious. We ordered omikase, meaning we let the chef serve what he chose. Every single item was delectable (tuna sashimi, albacore, red snapper, yellowtail, blue crab maki, scallop maki). I could have sat another hour and eaten through it all again, and then some, but such gluttony would have detracted from the experience.

Pros: truly perfect, traditional sushi, wheelchair-accessible

Cons: a bit pricey, limited menu

03/03/2008 Posted by snowy44

I totally agree with the comment from “what’s the hype”. I just went there last Friday night. That was worst sushi I ever had. The quality of fish was awful. It was not fresh, and very oily. I got hurt burn afterwards. The sushi rice was not put together right, and it fell apart before I picked it up. With that bad quality, bad service, and no selection of drinks, the charge was too much. With only water, they charged $50 per person for an appetizer, toro, yellowtail, snapper, and albacore. They served sushi with plastic plates, ginger was too dry, and no taste in green tea. No wonder Japanese don’t go there. I gave them a benefit of doubt but it was my mistake that I went there. I will never ever go back there again. I rather buy tuna rolls from local grocery store.

Pros: None

Cons: All of it. Food, Service, Ambience, and Parking

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02/01/2008 Posted by SimplyHonest

Honestly...i've had better...and i want that hour of my life and my 80 bucks back. Dont get me wrong...fresh fish?? YES...is the best and freshest fish i ever in my entire life?? NO ... i actually talked to a guy before walking in and he stated " yea ive been all over the world..and even japan...and this has to be the best place i have ever gone.." Yea... after trying it..i thought to myself..not really..and if anyone honestly think its the freshest fish have ever had..THEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TO MANY GREAT SUSHI PLACES AND DONT KNOW WHERE ITS REALLY AT... thats all i gotta say... better than japan?? HA...try not even the best in LA... It was good fish...but it wasnt the best..and to top it off with an overly quiet atmosphere and the head chef who tends to give you an evil eye as if ur being analyzed and judged and he is waiting to kick you out...that makes it worse... I wanted to be able to enjoy good food and my beer and relax..but was not able too..there is better and dont believe the hype.

Pros: good fish...not great..not the best..good...and the fact they at least had alcohol

Cons: The service and the cold atmosphere and doesnt live up to hype

01/04/2008 Posted by mpr86

What is it that really keeps me wanting Nozawa? The Sushi was fresh and excellent, the rice was warm and pleasant, and the Sushi 'N a z i' experience just added to the experience. I opted for the bar, which was chef's choice. I had numerous pieces, including some hand rolls. No alcohol, the bill came out to about $60 a person including tax and tip. The snapper, baby toro, albacore, yellow tail, and halibut were all excellent! The only somewhat odd tasting was the salmon, although I'm personally not a fan of it anyways. The waiter also mentioned the wasabi was fresh, which added to the delight. The decor of the place is fairly bland, but I go to places for the food, not the decor.

Pros: Great fish, fresh wasabi, the experience

Cons: Nothing really.. Limited parking?

11/30/2007 Posted by famousblueraincoat

i dont' feel the need to be nervous or insulted or threatened with any of the above just be entering a sushi bar. the chef here is infamous for his antics. i'd rather just eat fresh fish w/out any drama. there are better sushi restaurants in LA where you don't have to worry about people being mean to you.

11/28/2007 Posted by fundamental4

Forget about ambiance, forget about decor. Forget about you cellies too! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the best cut, best tasting fish, and rice you have tasted in a sushi spot. Nozawa has raised the bar to another level. No other place that I have gone to after this restaurant equals or surpasses. Just trust me!!!

Pros: Fish cuts served on warm rice

Cons: too good to think about a con

11/21/2007 Posted by crimsons

Wow. This was the sloppiest sushi I've ever had, either in the US or Japan. It was good fresh fish, but created poorly. The rice was still hot, and not of good enough texture to stick together. When you picked up a piece, it just fell apart. The fish was also cut sloppily, and very much aesthetically unpleasing. The whole place revolves around the theme of "trust me." It means that you are serves what the chef deems. However, there are multiple choices in the sushi cooler over the sushi bar that are not served. What happens to all that fish? Anyway, I don't want to go back. It was fairly unpleasant on all levels, but not awful. I don't understand how this chef earned his good rep.

Pros: No wait for a table. Hmmm.

Cons: Bad food, unpleasant service, neon ambience, bad parking

11/18/2007 Posted by cletessier

If you are looking for a gloomy sushi restaurant, with a strong smell, a rude owner and NO service: this is a place for you! Stay away from Nozawa. We have been fed some (rather good) sushis on cheap plastic plates as fast as humanly possible and then asked to leave because some other people were waiting for a table. Especially in LA, were choices are immense, why go get insulted in that ****hole??

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11/08/2007 Posted by menelaus

Yes, the atmosphere is stale and yes, you can't order anything you like but for anybody who really likes the sushi served in a more traditional way, eAT here. The fish might be the best I have had, but more importantly, THE RICE! The texture, temperature, and sweetness of the rice reminded me that there is more to sushi than just the fish. The rice here really adds to the taste of the fish instead of simply acting as filler. The price is reasonable considering I have spent just as much at similar sushi restaurants and received less quality and quantity. If you are in the mood for elaborate rolls and a relaxed atmosphere, considering going elsewhere.

Pros: Fast service - Great sushi - Fairly priced

Cons: Not a conventional sushi experience