Katsuya Uechi to open another restaurant on Ventura Boulevard

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As if Studio City Japanophiles didn’t already have enough dining-out choices, another major player will soon debut on Ventura Boulevard. Sushi chef Katsuya Uechi, who made his name at the original Katsu-Ya in 1997, will roll out a new concept restaurant at 11920 Ventura Blvd. (adjacent to late night lounge Clear), in addition to his flagship sushi spot at 11680 Ventura Blvd., this winter.

The forthcoming restaurant, to be called Kiwami, according to reps at Uechi’s Sushi-Institute of America, will not be just another down-the-boulevard Katsu-Ya (which is still doing brisk business at its original location despite several other SBE-branded Katsuya locations popping up all over Los Angeles recently). Instead, the new small restaurant, formerly Tama Sushi, will serve more-upscale sushi (and more) to serious Japanese foodies.

This stretch of Ventura in particular is now becoming a true late-night option for Angelenos unaccustomed to making the drive over the hill, with no less than five worthy dining (and drinking) destinations all on one block.

Both Sushi-Institute reps and a Katsu-Ya employee at 11680 Ventura Blvd. said Kiwami should be open ‘by Christmas.’ A peek inside the window of 11920 Ventura Blvd. on Saturday evening revealed that construction is indeed in progress, and that a late December or early January debut doesn’t seem out of the question.

A liquor license is in the process of being transferred over to Uechi and his partners from Tama Sushi.

-- Charlie Amter