Restaurant Review: Sugarfish- Los Angeles

From the outside, the place might seem like your usual run-of-the-mill bougie sushi spot. But make no mistake- Sugarfish is a lifestyle. And it is GOOD. Really fucking good. 

From the moment that Chef Nozawa opened Sugarfish in Marina Del Rey in 2008, we swore there was crack in the rice. We’d never had sushi with rice so warm- how on earth could someone create this incredibly unique melt-in-your mouth sensation? Since then, Sugarfish has expanded all across Los Angeles- adding locations in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Studio City, and Calabasas. In a city as fast-paced as LA, one must put some trust in the fact that Sugarfish has remained remarkably popular for eleven years now- a reign some would argue long enough to make it a classic by LA standards.

Combined with the fact that Sugarfish does not accept reservations, its “trust me” style menu happily keeps the joint off the long list of overly-elite sushi restaurants in LA. That right there is the beauty of Sugarfish- unlike the majority of LA, it desires to stay casual and homey rather than exclusive and sceney. While newcomers walk into Sugarfish and think they’ve entered a luxury haven, longtime goers simply see the buttery rice and complimentary ginger as a coming home.

At first glance, the menu appears pricey. But then you look at the quantity. At $30 for 7 different cuts of premiere sushi and $25 at lunch, this is a hell of a deal. Scour the internet and let me know if you find anywhere else in the city with something comparable. Mhm- didn’t think so honey. And “trust me” when I say you’ll be full for hours.

Food Rundown:

“Trust Me Lite”

Trust me lites for those of you who don’t think you’re that hungry- until the fish even just barely grazes your lips. Edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, yellowtail shrimp sushi, nozawa shrimp sushi, and a toro hand roll for roughly $20. But we promise you’ll want more so save yourself the extra bucks and skip to the next:

“Trust Me”

Edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, yellowtail sushi, halibut sushi, a toro hand roll, and a blue crab hand roll for about $30. Same ingredients as the trust me lite but double the amount. Pairs perfectly with a nice glass of sauvignon blanc. Enough said. This is how we do it.

“The Nozawa”

Warning: only for the hardcore. Edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, snapper sushi, yellowtail sushi, halibut sushi, toro hand roll, blue crab hand roll, and two pieces of the “daily special” for $40. Second warning that you may be in a food coma for approximately 6-8 hours. I personally have never been able to finish a Nozawa, but mad respect for anyone who can. Mad. Respect.

Only amateurs order a la carte, and us LA natives have no time for that nonsense.

P.S. Don’t you dare ask for substitutions or a fork instead of chopped sticks. I didn’t come here to be embarrassed.