Once.

Once.

Something to keep in mind about LA is it hates fish. I'm not sure why; there's an ocean right there! that has all sorts of delicious critters in it. I've hooked 'em myself.

Perhaps it has something to do with the tiny, tiny kitchens that are common in LA, and the fact that we like our food to come from trucks. Whatever the reason, the sushi here is notably inferior. More than that, you pay $50 for $20 sushi.

Nozawa was in a strip mall on Ventura Blvd. in the valley. You'd walk in there and sit down at a counter. Then you'd notice that you could order by your choice, but it was strongly discouraged. And then you'd get a bunch of nigiri, which was okay, but no ginger or wasabi, and if you asked for soy they'd kick you out (I never saw it happen but when I asked for ginger I was castigated). And then you'd decide you'd probably eaten enough sushi and then they'd hit you with a $300 bill.

Thing of it is - all the fish used in sushi comes from one depot in J-town. So really - you're paying for Nozawa to cut it up and put it on rice.

He's got a bunch of Sugarfish restaurants now. You can pay $25 for 4 pieces of nigiri, they pick.