There are too many choices for sushi in the South Bay.
Nozomi is yet another hole-in-the-wall, just one more joint buried in a strip mall...or so it seemed.
Nozomi is not "yet another" or "just another" anything. The quality is crazy-high, the flavors and skill are manifest, and this "just another joint" is treasure-trove of truly great sushi, each piece is its own hidden gem.
The Sushi Dinner cuts to the chase, a full plate that is, simply, everything. Start with the cold fat droplets of toro that unfold in glistening gristle inside a scallion roll. Move on to the fat strips that glow ruby-red on the nigiri Toro. The Amberjack is a delicate, buttery pearl, and a bit of garnet Bluefin is a meaty chaser. A Goldeneye Snapper shimmers with a rosy glow, and a freshly-shucked Snow Crab finished wispy and sweet.
The Orange Clam is a pleasing brine, the citrine Salmon satisfies, and the Spanish Mackerel shoots rays of fishy, silver sheen. The Ikura bursts into liquid goo, and the Uni is a perfect cream.
So satiated but still wanting more, we revel in a Uni & Unagi bowl. The eel peels off in soft slices of sweet flesh, and the velvety uni rests, sinking its encircling embrace around each grain of smooth sushi rice. This is a bowl you can delve into and get lost in for days.
Nozomi is a small space, but their dishes feel bigger than that. A deal at that price, a steal for skipping the LA traffic and parking. Four years and hundreds of restaurants later, I still feel like I haven't unearthed all that the South Bay has to offer, but if there are more places like Nozomi, I sure will enjoy the digging.
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