Asanebo

Asanebo opened in 1991; one restaurant-affiliated write-up gives the specific date as September 26, 1991.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “Both brothers helped open the celebrity chef's iconic Beverly Hills sushi bar before starting Asanebo together in 1991.”
• Old-school charm and impeccable nigiri meet at Asanebo — The Infatuation · link
  “Opened in 1991 by two brother-chefs who helped launch Matsuhisa.”
• Inside Asanebo — All Things Andy Gavin · link
  “'Asanebo' opened in September 26, 1991.”
• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “Chef Tetsuya Nakao and his brother Shunji helped to open Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills prior to opening Asanebo in 1991.”
• Two Valley Eateries Get the Coveted Michelin Star — Ventura Blvd (ourventurablvd.com) · link
  “Chef-owner Tetsuya Nakao opened it in 1991.”

Asanebo was founded by brothers Tetsuya Nakao and his younger brother Shunji Nakao, both of whom had worked at Matsuhisa (Nobu Matsuhisa's Beverly Hills restaurant) before opening their own place.

• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “Chef Tetsuya Nakao and his brother Shunji helped to open Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills prior to opening Asanebo in 1991.”
• From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style' — Yahoo Lifestyle · link
  “They worked together at O-Sho, and then at Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, before the Nakao brothers left to begin Asanebo.”
• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “Both brothers helped open the celebrity chef's iconic Beverly Hills sushi bar before starting Asanebo together in 1991.”
• Old-school charm and impeccable nigiri meet at Asanebo — The Infatuation · link
  “Opened in 1991 by two brother-chefs who helped launch Matsuhisa.”

Tetsuya Nakao is the current chef-owner of Asanebo; his brother Shunji left in 2000.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “Currently overseen by chef Tetsuya Nakao.”
• Asanebo — Wikipedia · link
  “Head Chef: Tetsuya Nakao.”
• From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style' — Yahoo Lifestyle · link
  “Shunji departed in 2000, while Tetsuya remained; Nakao is a 62-year-old chef-owner.”

Head chef Tetsuya Nakao was among the original chefs who helped open Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills before launching Asanebo; one restaurant-sourced account adds that he came to the U.S. in 1982.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “Both brothers helped open the celebrity chef's iconic Beverly Hills sushi bar before starting Asanebo together in 1991.”
• From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style' — Yahoo Lifestyle · link
  “He began as a dishwasher at O-Sho in Marina del Rey, where he met Nobu Matsuhisa ... they worked together at O-Sho, and then at Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, before the Nakao brothers left to begin Asanebo.”
• Inside Asanebo — All Things Andy Gavin · link
  “Chef Tetsuya Nakao came to America in 1982. Him and his younger brother, Shunji, were the original chefs that helped start Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills.”
• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “Chef Tetsuya Nakao and his brother Shunji helped to open Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills prior to opening Asanebo.”

Shunji Nakao, who co-founded Asanebo and left in 2000, later opened his own Michelin-starred restaurant, Shunji (established 2012, now in Santa Monica), establishing an Asanebo-to-Shunji lineage.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “his younger brother Shunji's eponymously named offshoot.”
• Shunji (restaurant) — Wikipedia · link
  “Shunji was established in 2012 located in West Los Angeles. ... It received a Michelin star in 2019.”
• Shunji Nakao (tag) — All Things Andy Gavin · link
  “Chef Shunji Nakao was an opening chef at Matsuhisa in the day, then opened Asanebo, then The Hump.”

Asanebo was awarded one Michelin star in the inaugural and second Los Angeles Michelin guides (2008 and 2009) and did not retain a star afterward.

• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “The restaurant received a Michelin star in both 2008 and 2009 when the gastronomical guide recognized Los Angeles-based restaurants.”
• Asanebo — Wikipedia · link
  “The Michelin Guide awarded Asanebo one Michelin star from 2008 to 2009.”
• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “the Valley standby once earned Michelin stars in 2008 and 2009.”

Claims that Asanebo holds 'two Michelin stars' are not supported by the credible Michelin record, which shows a single star (2008-2009) and a current 'Plate.'

• ✗ Asanebo — Wikipedia · link
  “The Michelin Guide awarded Asanebo one Michelin star from 2008 to 2009.”
• ✗ Two Valley Eateries Get the Coveted Michelin Star — Ventura Blvd (ourventurablvd.com) · link
  “Unfortunately, we didn't get any stars this year, but people still recognize this restaurant as having a star. -- Asanebo manager Kunio Kaji”

Signature/notable dishes include nontraditional omakase plus items such as the 'halibut truffle' (halibut sashimi with sweet ponzu, pickled cherry tomato and black truffle) and seared toro with fresh seaweed sauce.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “Once known as the 'no-sushi sushi restaurant' ... a wonderfully nontraditional omakase.”
• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “The 'halibut truffle,' the restaurant's bestseller, consisted of halibut sashimi dressed in a goopy sweet ponzu along with a pickled cherry tomato and black truffle shavings.”

Asanebo's bestselling signature dish is the 'halibut truffle' - halibut sashimi with sweet ponzu, pickled cherry tomato and shaved black truffle; other notable plates include yellowtail jalapeño sashimi.

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “a deep-fried tempura 'seafood stick' served in a martini glass, a flaming conch filled with bubbling hot broth ... yellowtail jalapeño sashimi.”
• Asanebo - Los Angeles (Studio City) — Gastronomy Blog · link
  “The 'halibut truffle,' the restaurant's bestseller, consisted of halibut sashimi dressed in a goopy sweet ponzu along with a pickled cherry tomato and black truffle shavings.”

Asanebo is located at 11941 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, Los Angeles, CA 91604, on the 'Sushi Row' stretch of Ventura Boulevard.

• Asanebo — Wikipedia · link
  “11941 Ventura Boulevard, Los Angeles - Studio City, California, 91604, United States.”
• Asanebo - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews — Tripadvisor · link
  “11941 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91604-2607.”
• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “11941 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles 91604.”

Asanebo remains open as of 2026, serving dinner daily from 5:00 PM at its Studio City location.

• Asanebo - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews — Tripadvisor · link
  “Closed now / Opens at 5:00 PM ... 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM daily.”
• MICHELIN Guide California 2025 selection — Michelin · link
  “Asanebo is a restaurant in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide USA, located in Studio City, California.”
• Asanebo — Wikipedia · link
  “Wikipedia presents Asanebo as a currently operating Japanese restaurant at 11941 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City.”
• From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style' — Yahoo Lifestyle · link
  “the 34-year-old Studio City standby.”

Tetsuya Nakao came to California in 1982 (flying to San Luis Obispo, initially to work on a ranch), began as a dishwasher in Marina del Rey before working under Nobu Matsuhisa, and Asanebo evolved from a 1990s late-night kappo-ryori/karaoke spot into a destination known for creative, nontraditional 'no-sushi sushi.'

• Studio City's Asanebo has stood the test of time — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “The restaurant spent the '90s as a purveyor of late-night karaoke and kappo ryori (Japanese drinking fare).”
• From cowboy to sushi chef to social media star, Tetsuya Nakao is doing it 'Asanebo style' — Yahoo Lifestyle · link
  “Tokyo-born-and-raised Nakao flew to San Luis Obispo in 1982 ... He began as a dishwasher at O-Sho in Marina del Rey, where he met Nobu Matsuhisa.”