Nozawa-Style Sushi Has Landed in Little Italy

If you’ve ever made the drive up to LA specifically for SUGARFISH, you already know what this opening means. And if you haven’t – well, now you don’t have to.

SUGARFISH by Sushi Nozawa is now open in Little Italy, bringing its famously focused approach to traditional Japanese sushi right to our neighborhood.

The Nozawa Philosophy, Right Here in San Diego

The whole thing started with Chef Kazunori Nozawa, who spent decades in Japan and the US perfecting his craft before opening Sushi Nozawa in Studio City back in 1987.

That restaurant ran for 25 years and set a benchmark for traditional sushi in America that very few have matched. SUGARFISH carries that same DNA – simplicity, precision, and an obsessive focus on quality from start to finish.

The Menu: Let Them Lead

The experience here is built around four “Trust Me®” set menus – and yes, that’s exactly what you do. Each one features impeccably sourced fish served on warm, loosely-packed rice with crisp nori. It’s straightforward, intentional, and genuinely impressive in the best way.

For those who want to go deeper, the limited-availability menu includes a Toro Tasting with three takes on toro (Otoro, Chutoro, and Gunkan style), plus Santa Barbara uni, sweet shrimp, albacore belly, New Zealand sea bream with shiso, pink lobster, and more.

Where the Fish Comes From

This is where SUGARFISH really sets itself apart. Sushi Nozawa Group actually runs its own wholesale fish company – not something many restaurant groups do – specifically so they can source the best fish from anywhere in the world without compromise.

Hamachi from Japan, salmon from Europe, sea bream from New Zealand, sea urchin from right here on the Southern California coast. Every day, fresh.

Designed with Intention

The 40-seat Little Italy location was designed by architect Robert Tsurimoto Kirsten of A-RTK, drawing from the California ranch homes of Cliff May. Think concrete floors, exposed structural columns, and big windows angled toward the harbor.

The interior palette – toasted ash wood, grays, blues, and greens – keeps things calm and clean. It’s a room that lets the food do the talking.

One Thing to Know Before You Go

Sushi here is served the moment it’s ready – not when your table is ready, not when everyone has ordered. Timing is part of the experience. The balance of texture and temperature in each piece is deliberate, and it’s best appreciated when you lean into the pace rather than rush it.

See you there!

Whether you’re a longtime SUGARFISH fan or walking in for the first time, this is the kind of neighborhood addition that has us genuinely excited about Little Italy’s dining scene.

📆 Open daily | 11:30 AM – 10 PM
📍 2100 Kettner Blvd. #1100, San Diego
ℹ️ See what it’s all about here

See you there, San Diego!