Nozawa Bar

Nozawa Bar opened in 2013, hidden in the back of the SUGARFISH location in Beverly Hills (initially nicknamed 'Secret Sushi'/'Staff Only' door). Chef Osamu Fujita's official bio lists his Nozawa Bar tenure as beginning April 2013, and a contemporaneous August 2013 review describes it as a newly opened twenty-course omakase counter behind a 'Staff Only' door at SUGARFISH.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “In 2013, Nozawa Bar was opened by Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg in Beverly Hills”
• Nozawa Bar – Los Angeles (Beverly Hills) — Gastronomy (gastronomyblog.com) (2013-08-14) · link
  “Tucked behind a door marked 'Staff Only' at Beverly Hill's SugarFISH, Nozawa Bar serves pristine sushi in sparse and compact quarters... a twenty-course omakase twice a night, Monday through Saturday at 6 and 8:30 PM.”
• Chef Osamu Fujita | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “April 2013 – June 2025”
• The Nozawa Bar Story — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “In 2013, Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg brought Nozawa Bar to life ... tucked behind SUGARFISH in Beverly Hills ... referred to as 'Secret Sushi.'”

Nozawa Bar was founded/opened by Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg — the same partnership behind the Sushi Nozawa Group and SUGARFISH.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “In 2013, Nozawa Bar was opened by Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg in Beverly Hills”
• Chef Jay Sada | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Chef Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg personally selected Chef Jay Sada to lead Nozawa Bar”
• The Nozawa Bar Story — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “In 2013, Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg brought Nozawa Bar to life.”

Nozawa Bar is owned and operated by Sushi Nozawa, LLC (the Sushi Nozawa Group), the Los Angeles restaurant group that also operates SUGARFISH and KazuNori; the group was founded by Kazunori Nozawa and Jerry A. Greenberg, with Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, Cameron Broumand and Clement Mok as additional founding partners.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “He will continue working with Sushi Nozawa Group”
• Co-Founders / Our Team - SUGARFISH — Sugarfish / Sushi Nozawa Group · link
  “Sushi Nozawa, LLC, founded by Kazunori Nozawa and Jerry Greenberg with partners including Tom Nozawa and Lele Massimini, operating SUGARFISH, Nozawa Bar and KazuNori.”
• Bigger, Better, Smarter: How Sushi Nozawa Group Scales Without Sacrificing Quality — Fine Dining Lovers · link
  “Sushi Nozawa Group is the restaurant group behind SUGARFISH, Nozawa Bar and KazuNori.”

Chef Jay Sada became executive chef of Nozawa Bar in 2025, personally selected by Kazunori Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini and Jerry Greenberg. Born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan, he began cooking at 16, moved to the U.S. in 1988 (working in Hawaii, Aspen, Orange County and Los Angeles), operated Sushi Laguna in Laguna Beach for over two decades until its 2024 closing, and first met Kazunori Nozawa in 2001 at the fish market.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “Chef Jay Sada was appointed executive chef to replace Fujita.”
• Chef Jay Sada | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Born and raised in Fukuoka ... began his culinary journey at the age of 16 ... In 1988, he moved to the United States, making sushi in restaurants in Hawaii, Aspen, Orange County, and Los Angeles ... opened Sushi Laguna in Laguna Beach, which he operated for over two decades, until its closing in 2024 ... Chef Sada first met Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa in 2001 ... Chef Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg personally selected Chef Jay Sada to lead Nozawa Bar.”

Osamu Fujita was the founding executive chef of Nozawa Bar from April 2013 to June 2025. He was born into a line of chefs in Japan, studied with renowned chefs and worked under Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa in Los Angeles, was recognized as a Master Chef by the Japanese Chef Association in Tokyo (2003), and was described by Time Out as 'the onetime protégé of Kazunori Nozawa.'

• Chef Osamu Fujita | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Chef Osamu Fujita was born into a long line of prestigious chefs in Japan... studying with some of the country's most renowned chefs... worked for – and became friends with – Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa while working in Los Angeles... In 2003, Fujita received recognition as a Master Chef from the Japanese Chef Association in Tokyo... April 2013 – June 2025”
• Nozawa Bar — Time Out Los Angeles · link
  “the onetime protégé of Kazunori Nozawa”

Osamu 'Fuji' Fujita was the founding executive chef, serving from April 2013 to June 2025 (about 12 years) before stepping down to prepare for a 2026 retirement after more than 40 years as a sushi chef; he worked under master chef Kazunori Nozawa and previously opened Japanese restaurants in San Diego, Miami and Las Vegas.

• Chef Osamu Fujita | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Executive Chef ... April 2013 – June 2025 ... He worked for – and became friends with – Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa while working in Los Angeles ... opening Japanese restaurants in San Diego, Miami, and Las Vegas.”
• The Nozawa Bar Story — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Chef Osamu Fujita led Nozawa Bar for 12 ... years ... In June 2025, Chef Fujita handed over the reins and will retire in 2026 after more than 40 years as a sushi chef, returning to the Tokyo area.”

Nozawa Bar sits within the Kazunori Nozawa lineage: master chef Kazunori Nozawa ran the legendary 'Sushi Nozawa' (opened 1987, 11228 Ventura Blvd, Studio City — a Ventura Blvd 'Sushi Row' fixture; closed February 29, 2012), then co-founded Sushi Nozawa, LLC with Jerry Greenberg in 2008, which created SUGARFISH, KazuNori and Nozawa Bar; founding Nozawa Bar chef Osamu Fujita worked under Nozawa and successor Jay Sada is a longtime Nozawa friend/colleague.

• Where to Eat on Los Angeles' Sushi Row — Visit California · link
  “Sushi Nozawa ... 11228 Ventura Boulevard ... the chef who carved the path for the Valley's renowned Sushi Row.”
• Sushi Nozawa — SUGARFISH (Sushi Nozawa Group) · link
  “the legendary sushi chef and creator of Sushi Nozawa in Studio City ... Sushi Nozawa closed its doors on February 29, 2012.”
• Chef Osamu Fujita | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “He worked for – and became friends with – Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa while working in Los Angeles.”

Nozawa Bar has retained one Michelin star through the 2025 MICHELIN Guide; as of mid-2025 it was one of two Michelin-starred restaurants in Beverly Hills (alongside Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura).

• Nozawa Bar – Beverly Hills - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant — MICHELIN Guide · link
  “Nozawa Bar is a One Star: High quality cooking restaurant in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide USA.”
• How Many Michelin Star Restaurants in Beverly Hills — OysterLink · link
  “As of August 2025, Beverly Hills has two Michelin-starred restaurants: Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura and Nozawa Bar ... Nozawa Bar ... proudly holds a Michelin star.”
• · Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura — Wikipedia · link
  “Gucci Osteria Beverly Hills closed in November 2025.”

Nozawa Bar was awarded one Michelin star in the inaugural statewide 2019 MICHELIN Guide California (announced June 3, 2019), and has retained one Michelin star through the 2025 guide.

• First Statewide MICHELIN Guide Includes 90 California Restaurants with Stars — PR Newswire (Michelin) (2019-06-03) · link
  “the 2019 MICHELIN Guide California, the first-ever statewide MICHELIN Guide ... Nozawa Bar serves omakase in a hidden room at the Beverly Hills location of Sugarfish.”
• MICHELIN Guide California 2019 Announcement Recap — MICHELIN Guide · link
  “The stars of the inaugural MICHELIN Guide California 2019 were announced via a live revelation on Monday, June 3rd ... in Huntington Beach, California.”
• Nozawa Bar – Beverly Hills - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant — MICHELIN Guide · link
  “Nozawa Bar is a One Star restaurant in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide USA (page returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch; one-star status confirmed via Michelin Guide search result snippet).”

Nozawa Bar serves omakase only — a roughly 20-course Nozawa-style menu focused almost exclusively on nigiri sushi, with some sashimi and hand rolls, at a 10-seat counter.

• The Nozawa Bar Story — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “a 20-course omakase experience built on the Nozawa-style of sushi that focuses almost exclusively on sashimi and nigiri ... an intimate 10-seat sushi bar.”
• How Many Michelin Star Restaurants in Beverly Hills — OysterLink · link
  “omakase is the sole dining option here, served as multiple courses of nigiri along with some sashimi and handrolls.”

Nozawa Bar is located at 212 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, accessed through the SUGARFISH Beverly Hills location but operated as a separate restaurant.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “212 N Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, 90210... a 10-seat counter”
• NOZAWA BAR - 212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills — Yelp · link
  “212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, California - Sushi Bars”
• The Nozawa Bar Story — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “212 North Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 ... tucked behind SUGARFISH in Beverly Hills.”

Nozawa Bar is open and operating as of mid-2026, under executive chef Jay Sada.

• Nozawa Bar — Wikipedia · link
  “Chef Jay Sada was appointed executive chef to replace Fujita.”
• NOZAWA BAR - 212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills — Yelp · link
  “Updated June 2026 ... 212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, California”
• Chef Jay Sada | Nozawa Bar — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Chef Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg personally selected Chef Jay Sada to lead Nozawa Bar.”
• How Many Michelin Star Restaurants in Beverly Hills — OysterLink · link
  “Nozawa Bar ... proudly holds a Michelin star (as of 2025).”
• Nozawa Bar (official site home and reservation) — Nozawa Bar (official site) · link
  “Home page links to 'Chef Sada' and an active 'Reservation' page (reservation-tock), indicating the bar is operating under Chef Sada.”

The operating entity is Sushi Nozawa, LLC (Sushi Nozawa Group), founded in 2008 by Kazunori Nozawa and Jerry A. Greenberg, based in Los Angeles; its first SUGARFISH opened in Marina del Rey on June 23, 2008.

• Co-Founders / Our Team - SUGARFISH — Sugarfish / Sushi Nozawa Group · link
  “the Sushi Nozawa Group, the restaurant group behind SUGARFISH, Nozawa Bar, and KazuNori ... founding partners of Sushi Nozawa, LLC.”
• Bigger, Better, Smarter: How Sushi Nozawa Group Scales Without Sacrificing Quality — Fine Dining Lovers · link
  “In 2008, Kazunori Nozawa and Jerry A. Greenberg founded Sushi Nozawa, LLC ... On June 23, 2008, the first Sugarfish was christened in Marina Del Rey.”