Sushi Nozawa
Studio City, CA 91604-3149
Phone: (818) 508-7017
- Price:
- $$$
Editorial Review for Sushi Nozawa – by Jennifer Schwartz
The Scene
This stripped-down altar to fresh fish opened in 1987, when black-and-red trimmed, pseudo-industrial chic was all the rage--and not much has changed since then. Industry-ites and fresh-fish fanatics still wait for a coveted spot at the sushi bar, while Chef Nozawa, known as the "Sushi Nazi," schools apprentice sushi diners with a firm hand.
The Food
Legend has it someone was once kicked out for ordering California rolls. So keep quiet and take your pick from the limited sushi menu, which reflects Nozawa's daily finds. Frequent offerings include yellowtail, a velvety mound of subtle flavor; rich and luscious albacore; and a crab handroll loaded with shreds of sweet meat. Whatever you order, Nozawa's masterful technique is evident. Warm rice is slightly sticky, fresh wasabi zings with flavor and seaweed wrappings are delightfully crisp. Want dessert? Go ahead and ask--dare you.
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Insider Tips
When to GoBeat the crowds by showing up by 12pm for lunch or 5:30pm for dinner. Sushi Nozawa is closed on weekends.
Know Before You GoAccording to Nozawa, brush the fish side with soy and pop the whole piece in your mouth. And, please, don't make a mess of the rice.
The ExtrasNozawa's nickname is the Sushi Nazi, so be careful when ordering. Diners who order California rolls may be kicked out.
User Reviews for Sushi Nozawa
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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