Katsu-ya

Sushi Katsu-ya opened in 1997 in Studio City, California, as Chef Katsuya Uechi's first restaurant, and still operates at its original location on Ventura Boulevard.

• Sushi Katsu-ya – Katsu-Ya Group — Katsu-Ya Group · link
  “Born in Studio City, California in 1997”
• Sushi Master - Inside The Valley — Los Angeles Business Journal · link
  “It was (opened at the) end of 1997 in Studio City on Ventura Boulevard.”
• Sushi Katsu-Ya - Review - Studio City — The Infatuation · link
  “His first restaurant, Sushi Katsu-ya, opened in Studio City in 1997.”
• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “Opened in 1997, Katsu-ya is still going strong at its original home on Ventura Boulevard.”
• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “his first restaurant, Sushi Katsu-ya, opened in Studio City in 1997”
• The Japanese Art of Cuisine with Katsuya Uechi — Haute Living · link
  “Opening my first restaurant, Katsu-ya in Studio City, in 1997, was one of my biggest joys.”

The founder is Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi, an Okinawa, Japan native who trained in Japan (Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka and the Harbor View Hotel in Okinawa, with sushi-bar experience in Osaka, Tokyo and Okinawa) before immigrating to the United States in 1984.

• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “The restaurant is named after Katsuya Uechi, the CEO and owner of Katsu-ya Group Inc.”
• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “Okinawa native Uechi mastered sushi-making in his home country before immigrating to the States in 1984.”
• The Japanese Art of Cuisine with Katsuya Uechi — Haute Living · link
  “Article confirms Uechi's move to the US in 1984, his work in Okinawa for six years, and opening his first restaurant Katsu-ya in Studio City in 1997.”

Separate from the Katsu-ya Group restaurants, Katsuya Uechi partnered with Sam Nazarian's SBE and designer Philippe Starck to launch the upscale 'Katsuya by Starck' chain (locations including Brentwood, Hollywood, L.A. Live, Century City, and international sites); the Brentwood location opened in 2006.

• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “The restaurant is named after Katsuya Uechi, the CEO and owner of Katsu-ya Group Inc.”
• Sushi Katsu-ya – Katsu-Ya Group — Katsu-Ya Group · link
  “the foundation of what would become the Katsu-ya Group family of restaurants”
• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “In 2006, he teamed up with the restaurant group SBE to open a second Katsuya, in Brentwood.”
• Katsuya by sbe: Innovative Japanese Dining Experience — SBE · link
  “Katsuya is the dream of Master Chef Katsuya Uechi ... mixed with design icon Philippe Starck's sleek and sultry interiors; the concept was conceived by sbe, founded and led by Sam Nazarian.”
• Katsuya Baha Mar Opening Press Release — Philippe Starck (starck.com) · link
  “Katsuya by Starck — collaboration of Chef Katsuya Uechi, sbe and Philippe Starck”
• Katsu-ya Group, Inc. Los Angeles, CA - filing information — BizProfile (California Secretary of State data) · link
  “Document Number: 3221226; Filing Date: July 16, 2009; Status: Active; Entity Type: General Corporation; Chief Executive Officer: Katsuya Uechi; Secretary: Tsugiko Uechi; Chief Financial Officer: Hisashi Q Miyamoto; Principal Address: 15819 Stagg St, Van Nuys, CA 91406”

Katsuya Uechi was named Chef of the Year by Angeleno Magazine in 2006.

• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “he was named chef of the year by Angeleno Magazine in 2006”

Signature dishes associated with Katsu-ya include crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, miso-marinated black cod, and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño.

• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “miso-marinated black cod, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna”
• Sushi Master - Inside The Valley — Los Angeles Business Journal · link
  “Crispy rice with spicy tuna. Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño. Miso-marinated black cod.”
• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “Crispy rice remains Katsuya's best-selling dish by far, with over two million bites served.”

Sushi Katsu-ya Studio City is located at 11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604, phone 818-985-6976, on the Ventura Boulevard 'Sushi Row' corridor.

• Sushi Katsu-ya – Katsu-Ya Group — Katsu-Ya Group · link
  “11680 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, CA 91604 / 818-985-6976”
• Sushi Katsu-Ya - Review - Studio City — The Infatuation · link
  “11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604”
• Sushi Katsu-Ya - Studio City (1,432 reviews) — Yelp · link
  “11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, California”

Katsu-ya Studio City remains open and operating at its original Ventura Boulevard location.

• Sushi Katsu-ya – Katsu-Ya Group — Katsu-Ya Group · link
  “The brand that started it all”
• Sushi Katsu-Ya - Review - Studio City — The Infatuation · link
  “this laid-back strip mall spot on Ventura remains packed every night”
• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “Katsu-ya is still going strong at its original home on Ventura Boulevard.”

In 2006 Uechi partnered with SBE to launch the separate upscale 'Katsuya' brand, first opening in Brentwood; SBE's restaurants were designed under a 2005 exclusive agreement with designer Philippe Starck. This is distinct from the original Sushi Katsu-ya.

• Sushi Master - Inside The Valley — Los Angeles Business Journal · link
  “We did it first in Brentwood, (and it was) busy. Hollywood, busy.”
• How Katsuya Invented Its Most Iconic Sushi Dish: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice — Resy (blog.resy.com) · link
  “In 2006, he teamed up with the restaurant group SBE to open a second Katsuya, in Brentwood.”
• The Story — Katsuya Restaurant (official) · link
  “In 2005, he signed an exclusive agreement with sbe for the design of its restaurants and lounges in North America”

Katsuya Uechi's restaurant operations grew from the Studio City original into the Katsu-ya Group, with brands including Sushi Katsu-ya, The Izaka-ya, Little Izaka-ya, Kiwami, and a Seattle (South Lake Union) location; press has described roughly 25 restaurants worldwide across his group and the SBE-partnered Katsuya brand.

• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “Master chef Katsuya Uechi's sushi empire now includes a total of 25 restaurants worldwide.”
• Katsu-Ya Group (homepage / restaurants) — Katsu-ya Group (official site) · link
  “Sushi Katsu-ya, Sushi Katsu-ya Seattle, The Izaka-ya, Little Izaka-ya, Kiwami”

The brand's own narrative describes Sushi Katsu-ya as the foundation of the Katsu-ya Group, founded by Katsuya Uechi, and frames nearly three decades of 'honoring tradition and embracing innovation' with signature dishes 'now celebrated worldwide.'

• Sushi Katsu-ya – Katsu-Ya Group — Katsu-Ya Group · link
  “the foundation of what would become the Katsu-ya Group family of restaurants”
• About Us | Katsu-yagroup.com — Katsu-ya Group (official site) · link
  “honoring tradition, embracing innovation ... signature dishes—now celebrated worldwide”

Katsu-ya Group, Inc. is reported as registered with the California Secretary of State, document number 3221226, filed July 16, 2009, status Active; registered agent Gerald Kitano (Culver City, CA).

• Katsu-ya Group, Inc. Los Angeles, CA - filing information — BizProfile (California Secretary of State data) · link
  “Document Number: 3221226; Filing Date: July 16, 2009; Status: Active; Registered Agent: Gerald Kitano, 10824 Bernardo Road, Culver City, CA 90230”

Katsuya Uechi is recorded at the USPTO (via Justia) as owner of the trademarks SUSHI KATSU-YA (Serial No. 77399808) and THE IZAKA-YA BY KATSU-YA (Serial No. 77399818), both filed February 18, 2008.

• Uechi, Katsuya Trademarks — Justia Trademarks (USPTO data) · link
  “SUSHI KATSU-YA — Filed February 18, 2008 ... Serial Number 77399808; THE IZAKA-YA BY KATSU-YA — Filed February 18, 2008 ... Serial Number 77399818; Owned by Uechi, Katsuya”