Some people consider sushi master Kazunomi Nozawa the "sushi Nazi" of Los Angeles, thanks to years of his giving customers at Studio City's Sushi Nozawa sushi as he sees fit. Now, as Squid Ink reports, it seems the reign of "tyranny" is coming to an end: Sushi Nozawa will close on February 29. more ›

MOCA's annual gala was Saturday night, and it apparently caused some ruffled feathers. Curated by performance artist Marina Abramovic, the event, entitled "An Artist’s Life Manifesto," started off typically enough, with cocktails, mingling, and polite, art-y conversation. But according to a write-up in the New York Observer by Susan Michals, when guests moved into the fancy dining portion of the evening, they were greeted with a few unwelcome surprises. more ›

If ever there was a Wednesday to go see a film you've already seen (and seen and seen) at The Egyptian Theater, it's tonight and that film is Groundhog Day considering that it is, ahem, actually Groundhog Day. Roll your eyes if you want, but consider this: at least spring is on its way soon and The Egyptian is always a classy spot to hang out for the evening. The movie starts at 7:30 p.m. more ›

LA Weekly's nightlife columnist Lina Lecaro presents her work, Los Angeles' Best Dive Bars, in person for a signing at Book Soup tonight at 7 p.m. Lecaro's book includes info on "the city’s liveliest, lowlife n’ liquor-soaked landmarks. This essential booze bible has the lowdown on which bars serve free food, which have great—and not so great—karaoke, bars that appear in your favorite movies and much, much more." Meet Lecaro, get your copy autographed, and then see what's nearby on a Sunday night and put that book to work for you! more ›

The Santa Monica restaurant found to be serving endangered whale meat sushi could find themselves off the proverbial hook, according to an AP report published on cbs2. Federal prosecutors are moving to dismiss the charges against Typhoon Restaurant, Inc., the parent company of the now-closed The Hump, and 45-year-old chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto. more ›

One of the major talking points in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove" was that Japan continues to hunt whales--under the auspices of scientific study--with the meat sold across the country. It's still illegal to sell to the U.S. or South Korea, but DNA tests have confirmed that the meat from The Hump, the shuttered Santa Monica restaurant caught serving the meat, was from a scientific catch some three years ago. more ›

Now that The Hump, the sushi joint that was caught serving illegal whale meat, has closed, the municipally owned space is empty and possibly up for a new tenant. And who's in line vying for it? Ady Gil, the millionaire owner of American Hi-Def and animal rights activist and philanthropist who most recently donated a boat to the Sea Shepherds (the boat was soon damaged when a Japanese whaler boat crashed into it). more ›

There are some great lunches to be had in this town, and we want to celebrate the midday meal. So, let's do lunch, shall we? more ›

The sushi restaurant that was exposed for selling endangered sei whale meat will be closing its doors today after 12 years of business in Santa Monica, according to MyFoxLA. The Hump will close permanently--and voluntarily today in a move described as "a self-imposed punishment" on the restaurant's website. more ›

Posted to the restaurant's website today, The Hump apologized and admitted guilt for serving endangered Sei whale, which prompted a federal investigation followed up by charges: more ›

The investigation of Oscar-winning documentarians and federal officials has prompted the U.S. Attorney's Office to charge Typhoon Restaurant, Inc.--the parent company of The Hump restaurant--and Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, a 45-year-old chef who resides in Culver City, for the illegal sale of a marine mammal product, specifically, Sei whale, for an unauthorized purpose. “Someone should not be able to walk into a restaurant and order a plate of an endangered species,” said U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. in a statement. It is illegal to sell any kind of whale meat in the United States. Sei whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and they are listed as endangered in Endangered Species Act of 1973. The misdemeanor offense carries a maximum statutory penalty of one year in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000 for an individual and $200,000 for an organization. more ›

The sushi restaurant at the center of the controversy and investigation over selling whale meat leases its space from the city of Santa Monica, which announced last night that it will also investigate accusations that came to light yesterday. The Hump leases space from the city for its airport location and the contract includes termination if illegal activity is proved. The news came after Heal the Bay's Mark Gold e-mailed the City Council urging them to take action. He also notes that his brother, the famous Pulitizer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold, calls the place “gimmicky and weird." Jonathan explains that “restaurants resort to gimmicks generally because their chefs just aren’t very good,” more ›

So it was the week before the Oscars and for the team that put together the documentary The Cove, which highlights mass dolphin killing in Japan (see a preview of it embedded below), it wasn't a week of getting prettied up and schmoozing--it was about what they won an Oscar for: undercover and investigative journalism. more ›

Upscale dining at an elegant restaurant like Nobu West Hollywood may seem unrealistic for some of us, especially these days. But as we have learned, the frugal diner's secrets for eating beyond their reach is to arrive for lunch and/or to eat from the bar menu. Nobu's new "Chef's Tasting Tapas Menu," or Omakase, for those of us who like to sound cool, allows us a taste of pure heaven for only $40 a person. We are talking about pure heaven. Your palate will grow little wings and fly around the room in ecstacy. more ›

Some of us have a longstanding love affair with sushi. For many that means loyal repeat visits to a beloved spot, and for others its a never-ending quest to taste and try new places. One favorite way to enjoy a sushi meal is to hand yourself over to the chef and to say "omakase," which translates into "it's up to you." This is how LAist Featured Photos pool contributor djjewelz approached a recent dinner at Sushi Toshi in Little Tokyo. He left us some images to ogle, and we had to follow up with him to learn more about what appeared to be a beautiful meal. He explains: more ›

This past Sunday afternoon the Japanese Restaurant Association hosted the 10th annual Japanese Food Festival at the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens in Little Tokyo. The event was a big draw for Japanese food and drink enthusiasts, and offered unlimited sushi, more ›

Tonight at 7:30 pm Writers Bloc presents British mystery novelist Dame Ruth Rendell (who also writes as Barbara Vine) in conversation with April Smith, creator of the Ana Gray series. Rendell will talk about her latest book The Monster In The Box. The event will be held at the MGM Building in the ICM Theater. Park in the Westfield shopping center directly across the street. Tickets: $20. For reservations, visit writersblocpresents.com more ›

This morning it was Vietnamese-fusion and now we're talking Japanese-fusion. After a soft-opening in October that ended last night, Grub Street gives a heads up to this Saturday's opening of Agura in West Hollywood. more ›

Have you ever gone to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, walked around for hours and then afterwards, go out for dinner, you know, to get sushi? If so, maybe you used the aquarium's handy wallet-sized Seatfood Watch pocket guide. more ›

The food truck trend has hit almost every culinary delight. Take your pick: korean, chinese, Vietnamese, BBQ, cupcakes, ice cream, (see a full list here). One of those choices includes sushi from Fishlips Sushi Truck, who we caught at the recent Buff Monster signing. more ›

The Nobu chain of sushi eateries is global in its reach, and undeniable in its popularity, particularly among trendy Hollywood-types. But what's also trendy is eating what isn't on the verge of extinction, which is what is prompting some celebs to put the screws to Nobu to stop slicing up bluefin tuna. more ›

Okay, so it's not Nobu -- but who has the bank account to handle $200 sushi fests nowadays? Wokcano offers good happy hour prices in convenient locations for your after-work bitch fests -- the menu will make even the sushi-shy happy. And hey, if you don't have a job, then you can get to happy hour that much earlier! From 4-7pm, sneak in a cocktail or two and some creative rolls like The Black Pearl and the Late Night Party Roll (crabmeat, avocado, scallops, and lobster). Yeah, maybe you sushi purists should show yourselves the door, but who's going to argue with lychee martinis and Asian bloody Marys? Not this girl. more ›

delicate snowflakes rest on warm, sweet rice beds flavors intertwined. more ›

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant in downtown LA is trying to get into the holiday spirit by combining its fusion motif (Japanese Tacos, Deep Fried Cheese on a Stick with Shrimp, anyone?) with Thanksgiving. more ›

I was invited to dinner at Sashi by the restaurant's PR firm. I was very excited to try executive Chef Makoto Okuwa's sushi, who worked under Chef Morimoto of Iron Chef fame and was executive sushi chef at Morimoto in both D.C. and NYC. Now, I've found that people's standards about sushi vary greatly, so here's my disclaimer: I'm by no means a sushi connoisseur, but I've been to a few great places around our delicious city. I don't mind an occasional venture out to some creative rolls but will largely judge a sushi place by the quality of its traditional nigiri (fish on rice) sushi. more ›

Because an ex-convict told police there were weapons in his car after he was arrested for having a gun, which he accidentally left inside his jacket at a sushi restaurant at Hollywood & Highland. The bomb squad was deployed, but after a search, the scene was cleared. Earlier in the evening, the restaurant called police when they found his jacket with the gun in it. Officers were waiting when he came back to pick up the jacket. He was arrested and that's when he triggered the investigation inside the parking garage. more ›

I am a big fan of Sushi Nozawa. It was the first place I ever had sushi (I know, I'm lucky!) and I've always thought that his reputation as the "Sushi Nazi" is unwarranted. Now that Japanese style Omakase (where the chef prepares what he thinks is best from the day's catch) is more widespread, I've hoped that he would lose the reputation, but it hasn't been the case. Fortunately, Nozawa also has a well deserved buzz about making great sushi. When in his mini-mall digs in Studio City, he's never steered me wrong, but I've always found brother shop, Sasabune, to be problematic (though I haven't tried it since it moved to its new location) as the sushi seems curiously pre-made. more ›

It stands to reason that sometimes a good Happy Hour is hard to find in this town. But give us one that combines drink bargains with sushi and you've got our attention. If you're either coming or going on (Big) Santa Monica between the beach and WeHo or those general environs after a hard day's work, Century City's KULA Sushi Bistro's Happy Hour would make a worthy stopping point. Between 5-7 Monday-Friday evenings, the restaurant has discounted drink specials and half-price high-quality sushi at the bar in a comfortable and unpretentious environment. more ›