Comments on: Katsuya.Hollywood

By: Viable

Viable — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:38:13 +0000

Katsuya has incredible food. I recommend the baked crab roll, the peppers and the ahi with crispy onion. This is not the best location to visit though. It gets a little cheesy. Brentwood is better. The same owner also owns Izakaya on Third Street — same food, less scene.

The original Katsuya that inspired it all is in the Valley (two locations). One is in a strip mall in Studio City, the other in Encino. Much better ambiance, still a little sceney but less cheesy Hollywood.

By: Eason

Eason — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:30:11 +0000

looks delicious - great photo too!

By: Will

Will — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:59:35 +0000

Adam - you should read this sushi etiquette site from the author of “The Zen of Fish” (or whatever its new title is) if you haven’t already.

http://www.trevorcorson.com/sushi/eat.html

I don’t eat fish, but the gf suggests visiting Kiriko or Sushi Karen (and letting the chef make you what he wants).

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:26:15 +0000

Those aren’t carrots? Well slap me silly and call me frank I never knew! Thanks Jake! Thanks Louise for the ‘loose sushi’ update. It must just be a preference of mine. I LOVE eating with my hands yet always felt a comfortable formality with chopsticks. I’ll be dining at the Geisha House soon so I’ll keep these new tidbits in mind.

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:45 +0000

Carrots? I’ve never seen a carrot in any sushi roll even if a vegetable roll. It is yama gobo also known as pickled burdock root. I could see why one may confuse it with a carrot since it is orange, however, the taste is definitely different. You can ask them to leave it out its an acquired taste.

By: MaxMillion

MaxMillion — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:14:45 +0000

^ Yes, I agree with Louise. Nozawa goes so far as to serve warm rice, which really falls apart when you eat it. (BTW - I tend to use my fingers for sushi, too - something I picked up while dining informally with the natives in Tokyo, many moons ago, but I probably would use chopsticks for rolls — although I tend to order hand rolls, anyway!)
But the warm or at least loose rice is something you can get used to.
Also - did you realise you are supposed to dip the fish, not the rice, into your soy sauce?!

Nice write up, Adam. I enjoyed reading it. As someone who (a) lives within walking distance of the original Katsuya and (b) currently lacks the discretionary income for lavish meals such as this one - and also lacks a generous friend who would be willing to pay for me! — it was nice to have this vicarious experience of the swanky Hollywood venue. I’d love to go there and just experience the room an a light snack and - of course - some cold sake.

I agree wholeheartedly — no carrots in sushi rolls thank you!!

“As much as I hate to admit it, it was very well prepared sushi. (I hate myself for leaving two ‘it’s next to each other) ”

Perhaps try using ‘this’ in place of your second ‘it’.

By: Louise

Louise — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:20:26 +0000

I’ve never tried Katsuya, mostly because it does seem like a place to be seen and not a place to get good food. And $10 valet for sushi?? No thanks! I’d rather find my own parking and spend that $10 on an extra dish.

“The sushi didn’t not stay firm and unified between the chopsticks. I think the chef was just lazy.”

I think that’s actually something that people look for in good sushi. The rice shouldn’t be so firmly packed that it’s a giant block. It should fall apart easily in your mouth. Try using your hands next time and see if the sushi still falls apart. Also, too much soy sauce might make it fall apart too.