Post #1 – Nozawa Sushi

I’m bored with very few classes and lots of free time, so i’ve decided to do a food blog kind of thing… and so, here’s my first post:

I’ve been looking for quality sushi in Los Angeles for quite some time and I think i’ve found a great spot.

First, let me tell you about what the Chowhound consensus holds as the “best” place for sushi in LA– It’s this place called Urasawa on the corner of Wilshire and Rodeo, on the second floor of that new complex they’ve built. That place is also the most expensive restaurant in Los Angeles with the average cost for food per person at about $300. I’ve never been there, and i don’t think i’m quite ready to eat there.

So i’ve been looking for something more affordable………
Welcome to Nozawa, home of the “sushi nazi” as he is known–Chef Nozawa. This guy is a true master of sushi; this guy is also a true asshole according to legend.

Nozawa is a dinky little place on Ventura blvd between the blocks of Vineland and Tujunga. It’s in a crowded little shopping center next to a nail salon. They have a fairly ugly restaurant setup with a couple cheap-looking tables and a bar with room for six. One thing you will notice when you walk in is the lack of decor and an abundance of signs all over the wall that have the words “TRUST ME” inscribed. Why? What does this mean?….. Well, first and formost, there are no menus and prices are not listed anywhere. If you want to eat at the bar, you will have to order “Omakase” which is Japanese for “it’s up to you.” This essentially means you have no choice in the ordering process. The sushi chef decides to give you whatever he wants, at whatever rate he wants, and will charge you however much he wants for it.

There is no salad here, miso soup served, and the fish is limited to maybe six or seven different kinds. Rumor has it that if you order a california roll here, you will be kicked out immediately. [A couple months back Charlize Theron was said to have been kicked out of this place.] To add to the excitement, this particular sushi chef isn’t exact the world’s friendliest person. He tells you exactly what to eat, and how to eat it. He tells you how much soy sauce to use, or not use at all. Nozawa will dictate your every move while you are sitting at his bar, and if you fail to follow his instructions, you will be told to “GET OUT”. Yeah, no joke..

So I walk into this place to be stared at four men in their traditional chef apparel. I ask to sit at the bar, at which point one of the men informs me that if i decide to sit there is “no choice”…. I agree and get seated, eagerly awaiting whatever is to come….. mmm

i’m with my tag-along, the brother, whom i have informed about the place and its associated etiquette…. (we try to remember that no food–not even rice–should be wasted and that soy sauce should be used sparingly on the master chef’s courses….)
first course…. a big bowl of tuna sashimi with green onions in ponzu sauce ……. this was excellent… some of the freshest fish i’ve had in a while…
even before we devour this, the second course is handed to us…… a plate of toro (fatty tuna) and hamachi (yellowtail) sushi…… great
next up, a plate of albacore which we are instructed to eat without soy sauce, followed by a pair of hand rolls with real crab… …. it is pretty unusual for a sushi place to serve real crab in their rolls, but Nozawa is dedicated to freshness
next up, a toro (tuna) hand roll, with the softest tuna i have ever had in my entire life… this fish melted in my mouth almost immediately….
next up, a rather unusual preparation of halibut sushi….. he had sprinkled fresh curry power and poured sweet ponzu sauce over the fish giving it a very spicy yet semi sweet flavor…. being a big fan of halibut, this was probably the highlight dish…
he then hands us some sort of sushi i had never had… he mumbles something to me along the lines of “black cod” although i’m not sure if that’s what i ate… it was quite good with a slightly chewier texture…. i wouldn’t want to upset the sushi nazi by asking too many questions, so i just shut up and eat it… quite tasty

finallly, he figures we’re getting full and asks if we want more…. we ask for one more order, which was an order of japanese eel…. it was a little different from the usual freshwater eel that i get, as it was a bit lighter in color and extremely soft…. this, again melts in my mouth….
i pound my asahi and ask for the check…. it came out a little pricey at about $70 a person, but it was sure as hell worth it
as we walk out of the restaurant, we say thank you, and Nozawa himself reciprocates with another “thank you” and a tiny nod….. This is a good sign, which means that you gain his approval… if he feels as though you are there to waste food, he will either kick you our or ignore you as you step out..

This place is quite possibly the most NO-BULLSHIT, straight-out-quality-sushi place in los angeles. He takes his sushi very seriously and expects his customers to do so as well…. It has a Zagat rating of 28 of 30 under the food category which is higher than any other establishment in Los Angeles….. this is quality food.