A new restaurant coming straight from Tokyo will contend for a spot on our list of best sushi in L.A. in the near future: Udatsu, a Michelin-starred omakase destination, is set to debut in Hollywood at 6630 Sunset Boulevard in mid-September, according to Eater, the first outlet to report on the news.
The new eatery, an eight-seat counter, will be led by Shingo Ogane, referred to by Eater as a protege of the original restaurant’s founding chef, Hisashi Udatsu. “Ogane hopes to include ingredients and produce from Southern California as well,” reports the outlet.
Food-wise, expect traditional nigiri prepared with a modern spin—think a hay-smoked tuna, for example. The chef will also reportedly serve a vegetarian omakase, a nod to changing palates and trends on this side of the Pacific.
Our counterparts at Time Out Tokyo consider a meal at Udatsu “textbook perfect sushi that still manages to sneak in a few surprises,” with a flavorful, creative mix of fat and char.
A note about the decor: You’ll find L.A.’s iteration of Udatsu hidden behind an imported, wooden safe door, and the interior, as designed by Gry Space, will call out to the restaurant’s original counterpart.
Udatsu will share its address with yet another Japanese import, the 34-seat Rokusho, which will debut right next door. Offering patrons a “modern interpretation of Japanese comfort dishes such as Wagyu aburi sushi and tuna katsu sando,” the space will be managed by chef Naotaka Ohashi, who will also oversee a cocktail menu heavily reliant on Japanese-style mixology.
Basically, visiting the two restaurants, which will reside just down the street from Gwen and open in partnership with Boulevard Hospitality Group, will bring some of Japan’s best to L.A.—sans the half-day flight.