International Japanese Izakaya Chain Zuma Expanding to Downtown LA’s Arts District

Zuma, the high end Japanese izakaya and grillhouse based in London, is plotting a new Arts District location in Downtown Los Angeles. Located on 249 S. Garey Street, the swanky restaurant takes over 8,000 square feet just behind Manuela and the Hauser & Wirth gallery, placing it right in the heart of LA’s most active development area.

The chain already has a massive space inside The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, with specialties like black truffle-topped ribeye steaks, sashimi platters, and miso black cod in banana leaf. There’s also a robata selection plus tempura on the expansive bill of fare. It’s very much in the vein of Nobu, with chic environs, pricey small plates, and the kind of the vibe that celebrities and scenesters appreciate.

The tip Eater received indicates that Zuma might launch a new kind of restaurant here rather than bank on their proven name brand. No word on when it would open, but a 2017 seems unlikely at this point. Zuma was founded by Rainer Becker and has locations in New York, Miami, Rome, and Hong Kong, among others. A bit of trivia: Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate, who opened Picca and now runs Rosaline, trained at Zuma in London.

• A First Look Inside Zuma [Eater Vegas]