Culver City Beat

Located on the border of Palms and Culver City is a tiny sushi restaurant with a big reputation.  If you're a fan of Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network, then you'll know which restaurant I'm talking about: Sushi Central.

The seating area of the restaurant may be small, but don't let that deter you.  Grab a seat at the small 5-seat bar if there's an opening and watch the action happen on the other side of the kitchen.

Philip Yi, the owner and chef of the restaurant is amiable and has a lot of sushi knowledge to share.  Since I was a bit tight on time, I ordered a chirashi ($13) as well as a nigiri of his choice. That way, I could taste the usual slices of fish that most restaurants have, as well as a small sampling of what the chef has to offer.

The chirashi was smaller than I expected, but actually the perfect amount for lunch. The pieces of fish were decent -- the standout pieces being the white fish and salmon.  The rice was a little over-vinegared for my taste, but I did enjoy the interesting texture of the rice.  The rice had a subtle different texture than the usual sushi rice I've had and some pieces almost tasted like broken rice.

The highlight of my meal was the nigiri chef Yi made me: Hawaiian ono specially flown in through FedEx. It was so good, I ended up ordering another order of it.  The fish was slightly torched and had such a buttery, rich feel in my mouth that if price ($8 an order) weren't an issue, I'd just order ten plates of this.

Sushi Central may be priced a little higher than other sushi restaurants of the caliber, but if you're a fan of ono, this is certainly a good place to fulfill your craving.  I read that Yi's spicy tuna roll is what helped him win in the Throwdown, but I didn't get to try it yet. Perhaps it's a reason for another visit?

Sushi Central
3500 Overland Ave
#100
Culver City, CA 90034
(310) 202-6866