Agura is wild, whimsical -- and traditional

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Los Angeles isn’t a city known for its humble design schemes. That’s why diners aren’t fazed when they step off La Cienega Boulevard and into a new restaurant called Agura, which features a sushi bar lorded over by a massive, golden Buddha statue.

This isn’t the smiling, rotund variety of Buddha found on your grandma’s kitsch shelf, either. It’s a noble, beatific Buddha meant to reflect the serious nature of the space. Before its turn as a restaurant, the structure housing Agura was a church. Read more in Jessica Gelt’s Early Bird look at Agura.