Local brand Yama Sushi Marketplace is gearing up to open in the San Fernando Valley this year. It will unveil a 7,200-square-foot location at 15300 Ventura Blvd #102G in Sherman Oaks in late summer.
CEO Scott Kohno told What Now Los Angeles that they have been eyeing expansion in the Valley for several years.
“We have a lot of customers in the Valley who would drive to get to Yama in West L.A.,” Kohno said. “We see the whole Ventura Boulevard as ground zero for sushi in Los Angeles.”
Kohno and the team were attracted to having a spot along the iconic “Sushi Row” on Ventura Boulevard, known for its high concentration of sushi restaurants. Yama hopes to bring a fresh grab-and-go element to the current sushi selection in the area.
The brand, known for its fresh sushi, bento boxes, sakes and Japanese snacks, currently has locations in West L.A., Koreatown and San Gabriel.
The new space in Sherman Oaks will provide Yama with a larger kitchen space to allow for more growth, offering support for other locations, catering and delivery. The team also plans to obtain a full liquor license for the location so they can add Japanese whiskey, vodka and gin to their options in addition to sake and beer. Customers can expect to see both nonalcoholic and alcoholic crafted drinks featuring Asian flavors on the menu.
Fish broker Kenzo Yamada founded the brand 42 years ago with the goal of bringing the freshest fish to customers. Now, Kohno is determined to carry on this legacy as a deeply rooted L.A. establishment. The brand also offers Master Classes that aim to educate the local community about Japanese culture, such as Very Happiness Sushi by Chef Ko — a class about traditional edomae sushi taught by a top sushi chef — and Sake to Me by Narumi — a guided sake tasting led by Yama’s certified sake master.
“We see ourselves as a very local brand for Los Angeles,” Kohno said. “We don’t have any aspirations right now for any growth outside of Los Angeles or Orange County. Being a key part of the L.A. culture and community is something that is near and dear to us. The idea is that we’re not just a sushi marketplace or store to buy Japanese specialty goods, but we are active in the city and close to the organizations and customers.”
