After carrying around a $150 gift certificate for sushi for over a year, I finally found the right restuarant it was supposed to go to! You wouldn't believe the problems I have had in trying to use this card!
You have probably heard of Katsuya as a popular sushi joint in Los Angeles but did you know there is actaully two seperate sushi chains one called Katsuya and another called Katsu-ya?
Well, I am here to tell you there is a difference, a big difference in the two chains. Not only did I find out the hard way that one of these restaurants would not accept the $150 gift card but I had to pay $150 of my cash for some pretty meatiocre sushi. What was the problem? I was told I could go to any of his restaurants and the person who bought it for me said I could use it for the one by my house. Wrong! After eating at the one by my house I was told they couldn't accept the card. Pissed off I did some research and found that Katsuya (minus the hyphen) is owned by a corporation who bought Mr. Katsuya's recipes who uses these recipes at their chains in Hollywood and in Glendale. The original restuarant, the one that made the name popular and the restuarant that gave birth to the American sushi roll is called Katsu-ya. When you are looking for some darn good sushi make sure to go to the hyphenated restuarant chain because it is by far the best sushi you will have (in my opinion of course)! Tonight I hit up Kiwami Katsu-ya with two girlfriends and boy was their sushi melt-in-your-mouth good! Their sushi rolls were so light and so delectable. My absolutel favorite is the 
is the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. Another amazing roll was the Spicy Tuna with Baked Crab Roll. Oh my goodness was that ever good! All this yumminess got me thinking about this man who started it all, Mr. Katsuya. And here is what I found.
You have probably heard of Katsuya as a popular sushi joint in Los Angeles but did you know there is actaully two seperate sushi chains one called Katsuya and another called Katsu-ya?
Well, I am here to tell you there is a difference, a big difference in the two chains. Not only did I find out the hard way that one of these restaurants would not accept the $150 gift card but I had to pay $150 of my cash for some pretty meatiocre sushi. What was the problem? I was told I could go to any of his restaurants and the person who bought it for me said I could use it for the one by my house. Wrong! After eating at the one by my house I was told they couldn't accept the card. Pissed off I did some research and found that Katsuya (minus the hyphen) is owned by a corporation who bought Mr. Katsuya's recipes who uses these recipes at their chains in Hollywood and in Glendale. The original restuarant, the one that made the name popular and the restuarant that gave birth to the American sushi roll is called Katsu-ya. When you are looking for some darn good sushi make sure to go to the hyphenated restuarant chain because it is by far the best sushi you will have (in my opinion of course)! Tonight I hit up Kiwami Katsu-ya with two girlfriends and boy was their sushi melt-in-your-mouth good! Their sushi rolls were so light and so delectable. My absolutel favorite is the 
is the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. Another amazing roll was the Spicy Tuna with Baked Crab Roll. Oh my goodness was that ever good! All this yumminess got me thinking about this man who started it all, Mr. Katsuya. And here is what I found. Katsuya was born in small Miyako island, a part of Okinawa, Japan. He grew up in Naha, capital city of Okinawa. After graduating from Osaka Tsuji Culinary School, went on as apprentice in Osaka and Tokyo as well as working at a first class Okinawa restaurant. In 1984 he moved to U.S. with his wife. After working as a chief chef in Los Angeles local restaurants, decided to become independent. Ventura Blvd in Los Angeles is called "Sushi Ginza" otherwise known as "Sushi Corner" and is highly competitive. Katsu-Ya received high praises for his original Sushi creations. By word of mouth, the reputation spread all over the city. Hollywood Celebrity such as Cameron Diaz and professional athletes became his many regulars. In 2006 Katsu-Ya received highest score from professional restaurant critique publication Zagat. He analyzed eating habits of American public and stepped outside of what is considered to be Japanese cuisine, mixed with California style cuisine. He is responsible for setting a fire to a new Sushi Trend which many other restaurant followed suit. Katsu-Ya is respected among his peers for this accomplishment. In 2007 he was invited by CIA in Napa, CA to give demonstration at their "Rise of Asia" event. Katsuya not only is an accomplished chef but possess keen sense as a business man. Starting in local Los Angeles area, he has an expansion plan to develop other states and Japan.
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