SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

Love sugarfish. I’ve only gotten the «Trust Me» here. Honestly it’s not that much food but it’s just enough to satiate. The pricing is decent for the quality of the fish. The food comes in courses which is nice if you’re trying to have a conversation with friends.
I would suggest coming around 6pm or earlier in order to avoid a long wait. This was my third attempt at coming here before finally encountering no wait. They have comfortable booths as well as regular table seating. Service is excellent.
The «Trust Me» is 8 courses with various types of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and some rolls including blue crab. It’s al delicious and the fish are super fresh. The rolls have warm rice and crispy nori, which is absolutely delicious.
The only downside is the lack of dessert here. They just don’t have it. You can walk over to Tavern or Yogurtland for your fix if you’re so inclined.
There is valet parking in the lot, but there usually is some parking along San Vicente along the VA campus before you make the sharp turn.

Hm hm hm so, the place serves the Real Thing, true Japanese style sushi with excellent cuts of fish. The rice is in a style I don’t terribly like but very Japanese. Menu is short but dense in flavor.
If you like your rolls with blue cheese and jalapeño, this is not the place for you.
Be patient with the line. Don’t walk away, they are pretty unable to handle this.

This review has been a long time coming! As a former Brentwood resident, I was fortunate to have lived two blocks from Sugarfish and, for the last two years, it was my go-​to restaurant for high quality sushi.
At the heart of it all, management truly prides itself in delivering a consistently unique, top experience. For example, this past Friday I decided to dine there one last time before relocating to another state. The manager came over to inform my group that the most recent batch of warm rice was not up to par and would need 15 – 20 more minutes to prepare a new one.
Most other places would not blink twice before utilizing this bad batch, but he made the call to tell us. To make up for the situation, he comped us lobster rolls and other items as a «sorry» for the inconvenience and to send us off properly .
In the end, you can’t go wrong with Sugarfish. Although you can order a la carte or in set packages, I would recommend going with the Trust Me package and ordering an additional role — one that you’d like to revisit or something you haven’t tried.
Also, feel free to engage with your waiter. All of them are very conversational, friendly and make the experience that more upbeat and fun amid all the commotion and movement within the establishment.
Thanks Sugarfish for catering to my sushi needs and never failing to impress!

When I first experienced Sugarfish, I thought I had just eaten some awesome delicacy from Japan.
Well, its not really made by sushi chefs.
After regular visits, I also started to notice that the portions are actually quite small with a poor fish — rice ratio (too much rice).
Does it matter that its thin pieces of fish and mostly rice? Jury is still out.

This was my second attempt to try this restaurant, wait was too long the first time. This time they quoted 45−1hr wait which actually turned out to be around 25. min (on a Monday 5:30)
Positives: great quality fish! But that’s about it
The rest: don’t enjoy the warm rice, I understand that’s their thing but it falls apart. Raw fish on hot plates is a no, no.
Begging staff for our second beer
Cold beer in a warm glass is a no, no.
Rushing patrons through their meal (like taking your plate as you are trying to eat) well that’s just bad.
Wait staff was pretty weak.
Find no reason to return
Tip: try not to get seated at the first table by the door as we did, people don’t seem to know how to shut the door and it’s very cold!

I’ve been to the original Sushi Nozawa served by the great Nozawa himself so you can’t compare at all. The great Nozawa actually kicked out our group the 1^st time we went because my friend ordered her sushi a certain way hence the menu name «Trust Me»
Don’t worry, they won’t do that here! :) Ambiance is a dark mood setting with background music. The trust me menu is an omakase style finished with a warm blue crab hand role. Food is delicious! Sushi is well prepared and fish selection and texture is very good. A modern version far from Mr. Nozawa’s vision himself like his OG resto in Studio City, this one is definitely worth coming back to anytime… and for the price. totally worth it!

I am a big fan of Sugarfish — I have been to several of their locations. Prior to going to Sugarfish I would only eat «sushi» that was covered in rice and heavy sauces but the fish here is very fresh and very tasty. I recommend the Trust Me menu which gives you a taste of many of their delicious fish. You don’t need soy sauce or wasabi — all of the fish is sauced and seasoned to perfection before it comes out to you. The sushi truly is mouth-​wateringly good. My favorite part of the Trust Me menu is always the handrolls. The rice is warm, the fish is fresh and the seaweed wrap is light. The Trust Me and other pre-​fixe menus are a little different at lunch vs. dinner.
The food comes at an appropriate pace and the staff are friendly. The only downside of this restaurant is that they don’t take reservations but that keeps the restaurant moving. The wait can be a little long but it is so worth it. They do not accept gratuity — 18% is built into your check. If you’re looking for a great sushi place, you’ve found it!
They also have a birthday club where if you check in through their system 2x in a year you get a free dinner on the night of your birthday. A nice little perk!

Such a delicious sushi place. Same amazing quality here that you get at their location in SM. LOVE the handrolls (crab and yellowtail are my favorites). Plus the sashimi is always amazing. Their omakase options are great, and really reasonable for the quality and quantity.
Oh, sometimes they are at SM Wed market. It is a super amazing deal.

This place never seizes to amaze me! Sugarfish is the first thing I eat when I touchdown in LA and the last before I take off. I always go to the Sugarfish on San Vicente (mostly because it is walking distance).
Daniel and the staff are always so welcoming, kind, and efficient.
I already can’t wait to come back here again.
For big eaters and lovers of sushi I would recommend the Nozawa. (Which I usually pair with either a Chardonnay, filtered sake with Sapporo. Definitely depends on the mood and time of day you’re feasting at this fantastic place). However don’t let this amount of food I’m about to list off scare you. The sushi is very satisfyingly light and filling. Customers range from post soul cycle/​workout fiends, to your regular business lunches, to a group of friends meeting up for a quick bite, and the occasional celebrity.
The tuna sashimi is like eating clouds of deliciousness. (If I could have it my way I would probably put away about 7 bowls of it). I always hold onto the bowl with the left over sauce it’s good for dipping later with your other sushi dishes.
Following the sashimi is two pieces of albacore and two pieces of salmon sushi. I usually dip the salmon in the sashimi sauce. The albacore already has a sauce on it so I would definitely recommend diving right in.
At this point I’m already getting a food high from this sushi and I’m not even half way through. Talk about satisfying.
The halibut, red snapper, scallop (the daily special today) and yellow tail are next in line! The scallop has a little kick of spice which really accentuates the scallop’s light and ‘butteriness’. Fantastic is all I can say.
THE HANDS ROLLS—
I’m taking a quick moment of silence for their greatness.
Don’t get too lost in conversation and let these babies sit for a bit on your plate. They are the best while the seaweed is still crunchy. When I say the best I mean the FREAKING BEST!
For those that want a quick bite there is also the Trust Me and Trust Me lite which are derivatives from the Nozawa, just with a little less sushi. Still amazing though.
Common turn offs to sushi is that well it’s fish and fish can have that fishy taste. Well my mom came here with us this past summer and she is not a big sushi fan. She didn’t walk away a new sushi lover but she definitely agreed that it was the best sushi she has ever had.
Sugarfish is a must place to eat whether to live in the area or are visiting from out of town. This is a dining experiences you will not regret and I could almost promise you will come back again… and again… And probably again! Happy eating!

Sushi is good.
(I wanted to make that the end of the review but I also really want to be elite… So, just know… Just think about how hilarious that would have been…)
If you’re a fan of sushi you’re in the right place! This is quality food and let me tell you why: you know when people refer to sushi as, fresh, flavorful, crisp, exhilarating, amazing, perfectly prepared, mouth watering, aggressive, bold, ineffable, carrying a knife, warm, tantalizing? Well if anyone has used at least a few of those, they’re either losing their minds or talking about places like Sugarfish.
I loved the sushi here. I got the yellowtail roll and the blue crab. As simple as the rolls appeared, the flavor was crazy good. The texture was also very pleasing, as was the temperature of the rice! I know! What?! Temperature? It’s like chemistry! Or cooking, ya… The rice was warm and soothing and the protein was cool and fresh. Is your mouth watering yet? Pavlov anyone? Huh? And the flavor! I can’t talk about it enough! Actually I can I’m done.
Get the iced green tea if you want something refreshing and VERY green.
My friend and I had no problem getting a seat, the wait was about 10 minutes. It was loud… I won’t lie, but it wasn’t loud enough for me to give it 4 stars. Our waitress was lovely, polite, and wonderful. If I knew her name I’d give her a shoutout right now. Or I could just take a guess… Alright! Sandra! Ya! Way to go!
I’m excited to come back here in the evening… I feel like it’ll be romantic but I’m not sure. There is bar seating so I can only assume you can get some fermented rice juice. But don’t get the fermented rice paste. I’m guessing that’s not a sexy time. Fermented liquid = sexy time. Paste = paste.

Who doesn’t love Sugarfish?
This is the type of place you get fortnightly cravings for.
Whenever I go, if I’m looking to eat light I get a Trust Me Lite and swap the Toro Roll for the Blue Crab Hand Roll (yes you can do that). If I am feeling frisky, I get the Trust Me (and yeah, I still generally swap for the Blue Crab Hand Roll).
Let’s talk about the Blue Crab Hand Roll for a second: sweet, succulent, warm, soft, salty… it’s everything amazing wrapped in seaweed. It’s unreal.
The fish is always fresh and the place turns over tables quickly.
Tax and service is always included, so while the sticker prices may seem high, the bill comes out to be very reasonable for the quality you get.
Avoid peak times if you want to be seated right away (first come first served).

Finally had a chance to try Sugarfish during my last business trip here. I’ve had multiple friends tell me how much they love this place and how their love for sashimi was first triggered by Sugarfish. After trying this place, it definitely falls into my top 5 sushi places (in the United States), among Tekka Sushi (San Francisco), Amami (San Bruno), Shiro’s (Seattle), and Blue Ribbon (NYC).
FYI, there will be a wait for 2 people even at 8pm on a Thursday night which is what time my friend and I went, but you can put your name down and pop into Tavern next door and grab a drink and wait for Sugarfish to call you. Second FYI, if you only like saucy sushi rolls, this is not the place for you.
You can order sushi a la carte, but there are 3 omakase options on the top of the menu that you should just opt for because it turns out to be a better deal. They bring out several pieces at a time for you because they are made fresh on the spot. I chose the Trust Me ($ 32) which consisted of: Organic Edamame, Tuna Sashimi, Albacore Sushi (2-​pc), Salmon Sushi (2-​pc), Yellowtail Sushi (1-​pc), Halibut Sushi (1-​pc), Toro Hand Roll, Blue Crab Hand Roll. I also added on an order of uni ($ 9.50)
Everything was amazingly fresh! Most of the pieces were paired with a light citrus flavor which complemented the fish very well. The consistency was great and it wasn’t fishy tasting. I would say my least favorite was the Blue Crab hand roll because fresh crab tends to be a bland tasting when it isn’t paired with anything else, but still really delicious. Uni had the right touch of sweetness that fresh uni always has.
I can’t wait to go back the next time I’m in LA! Writing this review seriously made me drool thinking about my dinner experience.

After coming here for the past few years almost every sunday, Sugarfish has become a corner piece of my weekends! The service is always great and friendly. Courtney, Mitch, Daniel, and the gang always take such great care of us.
I am always a fan of their engawa (boston variety with the lemon salt more than the korean one with the yuzu ponzu). It is very fresh here and would highly recommend giving it a try.
I am definitely going to miss this place when I have to go back to Chicago!

Sugarfish made me a sushi lover. I prefer sashimi and nigiri… no rolls for me and hold the mayo. I popped into the Brentwood location recently and was mentioning my preference for that and my somewhat aversion (cough/​allergy) to salmon. Normally they do not do substitutions but on this night I found out a few secrets… one, they have a secret no roll trust me for $ 29 that is not printed on the menu– color me sold and two, they will substitute for allergies!
Delish!

Came here at 130pm for lunch on a Wednesday with my co worker. 3 empty booths of 4 seater and thought I scored. Host told Us we couldn’t get those empty booth cuz they are for three or more people. And that we will have to wait 15 mins to be seated .
That make since if there was a waiting list. But it was just me and my co worker waiting to be seated. No one else was waiting to be seated. I ask again can we just get one of those empty booth. Again the host said it was restaurant policy not to seat two people in either of the 3 empty booth. Smh and we had to wait for table to open up.
Funny thing is a table of four open up after waiting 10 mins and guess what… me and my co worker got seated at a table of four. I don’t see the point in waiting for a table of 4 to open when there are 3 empty booth that can seat 4.
Other then the weird justification we received for not seating us at available tables the host today… food was great and so was service .
Minus 4 star for not seating us in 3 empty available booth and having us wait 10 to be seated .
Hopefully they revamp their company policy to actually use their common sense and not lose future hungry customers to something that doesn’t make any sense at all. Or it may cause all your seats to be empty.

Came to LA more than 2 weeks ago and I am still dreaming about the albacore sushi. SOOOOO GOOD.
This place doesn’t take reservations and coming during dinner time, the estimated wait time was 1.5 hours, however, i ended up only waiting about 35 minutes! You can leave your phone number and they’ll call you when a table becomes available which is great. You can park in the lot for 2 hours as long as you get your ticket validated.
I ordered the trust me box ($ 30) which contains edamame, tuna sashimi, 2 pieces each of albacore, salmon, yellow tail, and halibut. Lastly it comes with a toro hand roll and a blue crab hand roll.
The tuna sashimi was sooo good. Full of flavor! The albacore has to be the best piece of sushi I have ever had. For this sushi, they recommend not dipping it into any soy sauce or add wasabi because it is already prepared ready to eat. IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I don’t even know how to describe it but the texture and taste of the albacore was PERFECT. It literally melts in your mouth. The rest of the sushi pieces were very good as well but the albacore definitely stood out. The rice was cooked and seasoned perfectly which is why it made the sushi so much better and different from other places. I wasn’t too crazy about the hand rolls as i felt the fish in it tasted too «fishy» if that makes sense. LOL it was good but the taste was a little overwhelming.
The meal is pretty pricey for the amount youre getting so it definitely isn’t something I would recommend getting often but definitely worth the splurge here and there! If youre visiting LA, definitely a place to check out. They have many locations throughout LA so it shouldnt be hard finding one!

The good and the bad…
1. Sushi is really good here. Even though they don’t have any rolls that are really eye /​taste catching, all the fish tastes very fresh. The rice is cooked a little poorly and all falls out when you dip into soy. It’s also a little too sweet.
2. They do not take reservations and this place is like a cult, so you may expect to wait up to 2 hours or more for a table.
3. Staff is very pleasant and seemed to be on their shit.
4. Ambiance was a little too contrived
3 you sit extremely close to the table next to you, kind of uncomfortable. I believe in boundary space when eating dinner.

The tip is always included in the bill, woohoo!
This is the best sushi in LA. I just wish there wasn’t the wait. On weekdays, plan on waiting 30 – 45 minutes. On weekends, the wait is up to 2 hours.
ENVIRONMENT
Very small, but beautiful and intimate. There’s a sushi bar and a mix of tables and booths. Lots of outdoor seating for waiting.
SUSHI
Trust Me — $ 30
Includes:
Edamame — Cool and fresh
Tuna Sashimi — bright red freshness
Albacore — Topped with chives and ponzu. The rice here is sweet and delicious.
Salmon — So soft that it melts. Cool sashimi on warm tasty rice.
Red Snapper — THIS IS MY FAVORITE. It’s incredibly unique tasting.
Toro Hand Roll — Amazing warm meat with that rice.
Blue Crab Hand Roll — MY SECOND FAVORITE. The crab meat is incredible.

Yum!
Maybe this should go under tips, but the only things that I would like to remind myself are.
— 2 hour free validated parking
— No wait if you arrive right at 6PM on Monday
— The cheapest sake is the tastiest
Very filling and magical with each bite. Eat slowly to savor the flavor!

Talk about a place that’s all about the sushi! Sugarfish delivers on so many levels! Came here with 3 friends around 4:30PM and it was quite easy to grab a booth and we avoided any crowds. Our server was very knowledgeable and great in getting us newbies acquainted to the menu and the way in which to eat the sushi THE RIGHT WAY!
We shared two Nozawa Trust Me’s as recommended and it was AWESOME! Such a variety of different fishes and it’s really all about the fish. As it’s made to order, the warmth of the rice paired with the fish just melts in your mouth. The beauty is really in highlighting the tastes of the fish and accenting with sauces when necessary.
My favorite out of the given menu was the Halibut, Albacore, and Toro (Fatty Tuna). I loved the Toro so much that I ordered an extra hand roll!
In an age of fusion and thinking more is better, Sugarfish is refreshing in providing an authentic dining experience echoing the notion that less is more… and it’s damn DELICIOUS!