Saijo Handroll & Kushiyaki has filed for a liquor license at 7901 W Sunset Blvd, Unit 102, in Los Angeles, according to state records. The filing is held by La Brea Dining California Inc, with Tomonori Takahashi listed as president. Takahashi is also the founder and CEO of JINYA Ramen Bar, and this marks Saijo’s second Los Angeles area location, following its original Culver City restaurant, which What Now previously covered ahead of its debut.
Saijo pairs handroll style sushi with kushiyaki, grilled skewers cooked over an open flame, served at an intimate counter where diners can watch the process unfold in front of them. Takahashi has described the format as treating each handroll like a small work of art, built in the moment to highlight the ingredients at their peak. The Culver City location has drawn a strong community for dishes like its seared bluefin toro roll and A5 Miyazaki wagyu skewers, building enough momentum to justify expansion.
Takahashi built JINYA Ramen Bar into a 60-location chain across the U.S. and Canada before launching Saijo as a smaller, more intimate concept, a different pace from the fast casual ramen format that made his name. That contrast, a 24-seat counter experience compared to JINYA’s higher volume dining rooms, has become part of Saijo’s appeal.
