You have to try this place for an unforgettable sushi experience. There are rules. No reservations. When you get inside, it’s a hole in the wall, not a whole lot of decor. You know people come here to eat and that’s it. It’s just sushi, sashimi and hand rolls. No noodles, no rice dishes, no miso soup, no edamame. Just straight up sushi. If there is a wait, you line up. There is no special star treatment, and there are a lot of celebrities that come here. Each time we’ve come, we’ve eaten about $50 – $60 worth of sushi each person. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the sushi.

When you come in, you have choice to at the bar or at a table. If you sit at the bar, you only get to eat the “Omakase” or Trust Me special. Remember there are rules. You have to have at least 4 of the chef’s specials before you get to make your own requests, or when he asks you “Are you done?” or “Want some more?” If you eat at the table, you may order off the menu or eat Omakase. However, if you order off the menu, you may not order the uni or other special items. If you break any of these rules, you’ll feel like hiding under the table.

So now that we’ve gotten the structure of your visit out of the way, let’s get to the food. It’s amazing. Another unique thing about the sushi. It’s served over warm rice. Some people have a hard time with that, but for some reason the cold sushi and warm rice make a great combination; everything just melts in your mouth. He usually starts with the baby tuna sashimi followed by an albacore tuna. In the usual list is also the yummy fatty tuna roll and lobster roll. You have to eat it right away while the seaweed is crunchy. My personal favorite that you usually have to request is the uni. It’s really fresh uni, and I would know because my cheeks swell up like a chipmunk if it’s not. My husband and I fight over the ikura too. Most places serve ikura that is too salty, not fresh or preserved in sake or something. This is just fresh ikura.

Don’t let the rules intimidate you. I didn’t really know about them because I usually order Omakase and just eat way more than the minimum required. I only found out about the different rules because I took people with smaller appetites.

so after years and years of wanting to try out the “sushi nazi” and see what he is so famous for, we finally made our way in. the restaurant is TINY! it is very plain – reminds me of a pizza parlor with the typical red chairs, plain tables, plain plain plain tablewear, etc. we arrived pretty late, around 9:15pm (the place closes at 10pm and is not open weekends) and there was no one there.. we sat down and proceeded with the “TRUST ME”

the chef sent over tuna sashimi in ponzu sauce, albacore, toro sushi, yellowtail, halibut, blue crab handrolls, toro handrolls, freshwater eel.. everything was reallly reallly really good. i can definitely say that i am now completely spoiled. the fish was amazing and the rice was soft and warm. i guess when i heard all the “trust me” stuff from other people, i thought that chef nozawa would give us more exotic sushi.. but instead it was just good cuts and quality of the regular stuff i order anyway. i would definitely return!

very fresh fish, but the begging question is – must one eat in fear?

Great sushi, very plain location in a strip mall, and a very touchy owner who orders for you and will boot you if you sit in the wrong chair. Yikes! But it’s oddly fun anyway and the food is great.