North Park’s Gaining a New Sushi Spot Next Month

The prime corner spot at 30th and Upas that has housed a succession of seafood-based restaurants will continue the tradition with Aburi Sushi, currently slated to open in early August. Formerly Craft & Sea, and before that Zensei Sushi, the North Park space is under a new ownership team that also operates two other restaurants where sushi features prominently — James’ Place on the UCSD campus and Mitch’s on El Paseo in Palm Desert — and is planning to open additional Japanese eateries in East County and the South Bay.

Executive chef/partner James Holder is a sushi master; a native of Japan, he’s had more than 30 years of sushi-making experience including a long tenure as the lead chef at Cafe Japengo in La Jolla. He’ll be joined at Aburi Sushi by “Big Mike”, another Japengo chef alum who is well-known to the local sushi community. Traditional nigiri sushi will be the focus here, with some fusion dishes featured. At James’ Place, Holder serves ahi poke tacos, salmon carpaccio, and lobster tail and shrimp truffle fried rice

The restaurant will be open from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, closing at midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Courtesy photo