How To Make Sushi With Chef Yoya Takahashi

To my right, Chef Yoya Takahashi of Hamasaku fame and Umi of Hamasaku, where we are right now.

I'm Leslie Robbins.

This is Young Hollywood and I am so excited to be here and eat your food.

Thank you, Umi.

So this is Yaya.

I'm excited today.

Let's go make sushi.

Let's go make sushi.

Okay.

Chef, your food has to be some of the best sushi in Los Angeles, but not just LA, the country.

Okay, thank you very much.

Everybody talks about it.

What makes your sushi, your fish, your dishes so special that makes people, celebrities, executives keep coming back to you.

I think I'm just keep trying to do simple in sushi, in my food, my kitchen food too.

Well, this doesn't look simple.

This is a very big fish.

What is this?

What are we doing with this?

This is a Kama tuna type of fish.

kind of say pokey balls

Now, you're not going to serve it like this.

No, no, no.

No.

I see knives here.

No.

We going to work?

Yep.

We can fish this.

Like this.

Beautiful.

Slice, nice.

See?

This is a Wahoo.

That's tuna.

So where is this tuna from and where did you get it?

Uh, this is from New Zealand.

I just got it two days ago.

Sushi chef always use the finger to measure.

We don't want to waste fish.

Each sushi chef making different things and different flavors.

Of course, yeah.

Do you think that's what sets you apart from all of the other sushi restaurants in Los Angeles and the country?

Yes.

I mean, they, I know, I know a few people doing well, but we always talking, fighting, you know, making together.

mixed the whole things.

This is Japanese pickles.

We call it uh takuan.

The this is eggs like a sushi eggs.

Okay.

And this is uh Shibazuke.

This is same as cucumber.

This is sushi rice.

I mix up with wasabi tobiko, put on the rice.

Okay.

Salmon roe.

dry seaweed.

This is micro red sorrel leaf.

I haven't had anything as fresh as this.

Right.

Ever.

Wow.

I'm going to keep eating this.

And we're going to cook something else?

Yes.

Uh we do a yellowtail and cut sandwich.

I want to grill the breakfast.

Wow.

This is Hawaiian bread, Hawaiian King bread which is from Gardena with Jack cheese on the top.

pick it up.

Then this is yuzu mayonnaise, nice cucumber.

Now I'm throwing the this is spicy tuna and only throw it.

You know why?

I just wanted to keep the middle part still long.

Yuzu vinaigrette a little bit.

Okay.

Yeah.

And then this is chopped gem lettuce, just on the top.

put in a paper.

It's a sushi sandwich.

You cut it for me.

Thank you.

So it's easy to eat.

Yes.

I've never had a sushi sandwich before, but it's not really sushi.

It's just a fish sandwich, right?

It's a fish sandwich.

It's light, crunchy, got a kick but it's not too spicy.

Of course, you are a staple in Los Angeles.

Celebrities flock to see you.

We have Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel.

Is there a celebrity that you haven't served yet that's on your radar?

Amber Heard.

Amber Heard.

Yeah, I keep saying almost three years ago the other video, but I haven't seen yet.

Come to the restaurant, Amber Heard.

So please help me.

Amber Heard.

Look what you're missing.

Come on down.

Now because you have such a huge celebrity following, you've started to name rolls after the celebrities that come in.

You have a Twilight roll for Robert Pattinson, a Christina Aguilera roll.

I have an idea for you.

Okay.

A Young Hollywood roll.

Now what's the key to making good sushi at home if you want to try?

Edamame.

Equal.

Grab a rice, but you don't grab like crazy.

Okay.

I'm just excited.

I want to keep grabbing.

So left to side, and then move, push, slowly move.

See here.

What are you going to have?

Oh, no.

Don't waste rice, okay?

You're going to make a wall here.

Yeah.

Stretch down.

Damn.

We need a flat line.

you know.

The thin the thin asparagus throwing.

You like avocado, huh?

Love avocado.

You say spicy tuna, right?

You like crab too?

Sure.

Just go rolling down.

like this.

Oh, it's cold.

Bamboo mat.

Kind of secret technique.

You have the whole side.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Yeah.

Push there.

I'll do avocado and yuzu.

Yeah.

Let's go.

We wrap again.

Okay.

So slice cut here.

People like this.

They said it's going to be smashed.

Oh, I don't want to ruin it.

Just middle, middle, middle here.

I don't want to ruin it.

I'm going to freak it.

Oh!

I'm going to leave the cutting to you.

You're you're the pro.

Yeah.

Beautiful.

This is one of the best rolls I've ever had.

And it's called the Young Hollywood roll.

Yeah.

Chef.

So much I say you right.