Katsuya Restaurant
Katsuya Restaurant is a privately-held upscale Japanese sushi brand operating 13+ locations across the US, Middle East, and Bahamas, combining Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's cuisine with Philippe Starck-designed interiors and serving affluent diners, celebrities, and corporate event clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLos Angeles (Brentwood), United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Katsuya Restaurant does
Katsuya Restaurant is a privately-held Japanese sushi restaurant brand founded in 2007 and operated under sbe Licensing, LLC, the hospitality entity founded by Sam Nazarian. The brand fuses Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's California-influenced Japanese cuisine with interiors designed exclusively by Philippe Starck under a 2005 design agreement with sbe. Katsuya operates 13+ dine-in locations across Los Angeles (Brentwood, Hollywood, L.A. Live, Glendale), Miami (South Beach, Brickell), Nassau, and the Middle East (Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar), with additional sites listed as coming soon. The core product is full-service dine-in supplemented by Social Hour programs, Katsuya2Go takeout and delivery (via DoorDash and direct online ordering), and private events and catering for parties of 12 to 400 guests.
The underlying operating technology combines traditional Japanese sushi preparation methods with California-style fusion cuisine, including signature dishes such as Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna and the Burning Mandarin cocktail. Digital infrastructure consists of integrations with OpenTable and SevenRooms for reservation management and DoorDash for last-mile delivery, with no proprietary technology platform disclosed. Revenue is generated through dine-in restaurant service, takeout and delivery, and private event and catering contracts, with the brand operated under a licensing model in which sbe controls international expansion and brand operations.
Katsuya's customer segments are horizontal: affluent consumers and celebrities seeking upscale Japanese dining, corporate clients hosting business entertainment, and buyers of private events and celebrations. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across company-owned locations, with earned media and celebrity endorsement serving as primary marketing channels. The brand has accumulated recognition including Travel + Leisure's Best New Restaurants of 2007, LA Times Reader's Choice 2011 Best Sushi Restaurant, and Haute Living's L.A.'s #1 Sushi Spot in 2012, anchoring its positioning in the upscale celebrity-chef dining category.
Katsuya Restaurant firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Katsuya Restaurant
- Legal name
- sbe Licensing, LLC
- Website
- https://katsuyarestaurant.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Katsuya Restaurant is a privately-held upscale Japanese sushi brand operating 13+ locations across the US, Middle East, and Bahamas, combining Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's cuisine with Philippe Starck-designed interiors and serving affluent diners, celebrities, and corporate event clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Katsuya Restaurant industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Upscale Japanese Restaurant / Sushi Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke) (AFANALAI)
Keywords
Where Katsuya Restaurant is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles (Brentwood)
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Katsuya Restaurant business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dine-in Restaurant Service: Full-service Japanese restaurant dining with lunch, dinner, and happy hour service across all locations
- Catering and Private Events: Off-site catering and full service event production for parties of 12 or more, accommodating up to 400 guests
- Takeout and Delivery (Katsuya2Go): Takeout and delivery service via DoorDash and direct online ordering
- Licensing Agreement with sbe: Brand operates under sbe Licensing, LLC with expansion through licensing partnerships in international markets
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Katsuya Restaurant product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Katsuya Restaurant operates a chain of upscale Japanese sushi restaurants founded in 2007, offering full-service dine-in, takeout and delivery (Katsuya2Go), private event catering for groups of 12 to 400 guests, and happy hour/Social Hour programs. The brand combines Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's traditional Japanese cuisine with California-fusion influences, served in Philippe Starck-designed interiors across 13+ locations in the US and Middle East.
Product overview
Katsuya Restaurant is a Japanese sushi restaurant chain offering a unified dining experience centered on Chef Katsuya Uechi's traditional Japanese cuisine with Californian influences. The restaurant operates multiple U.S. and international locations, each featuring Philippe Starck's distinctive interior design. The core product is the dine-in restaurant service complemented by Katsuya2Go takeout delivery, Social Hour programs, and Private Events & Catering services. All locations share the same brand identity and menu philosophy while adapting to local markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Katsuya2Go: Takeout and delivery service offered by Katsuya locations, allowing customers to order food for home delivery.
Products and services
- Dine-In Restaurant Service Full-service Japanese sushi restaurant offering dine-in experiences at 13+ locations across the US and Middle East, featuring Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's fresh takes on Japanese classics with California-fusion influences, served in Philippe Starck-designed interiors. Includes lunch, dinner, and happy hour service.
- Katsuya2Go Takeout and Delivery Takeout and delivery service allowing customers to order Katsuya's Japanese cuisine for pickup or home delivery. Available across multiple US locations via DoorDash and direct online ordering with dedicated curbside pickup menu.
- Private Events & Catering Off-site catering and full-service event production for parties of 12 or more, accommodating up to 400 guests with customizable event menus. Available for corporate events, weddings, and large group dining.
- Social Hour Program Happy hour and social hour programs at various locations featuring discounted drinks and appetizers, available daily at Brickell (4pm-6pm) and South Beach (6pm-8pm at Dragon Lounge).
- Katsuya Curbside Pick-Up Menu Curbside pickup menu launched in Los Angeles in response to COVID-19, offering contactless pickup options for Katsuya customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Named LA's #1 sushi spot by Haute Living (January 2012)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Katsuya Restaurant
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Katsuya Restaurant technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Katsuya Restaurant partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Philippe StarckcoreWorld-renowned designer Philippe Starck signed exclusive agreement with sbe in 2005 for design of restaurants and lounges in North America, expanded in 2006 to include hotel properties. Starck's sleek, sultry interior design is a core differentiator for Katsuya restaurants.
- sbe (sbe Licensing, LLC)coresbe Founder Sam Nazarian partnered with Chef Katsuya Uechi to launch and expand the Katsuya brand globally. sbe handles licensing and brand expansion including international markets.
- DoorDashminorThird-party delivery partnership allowing customers to order Katsuya for delivery through DoorDash platform at US locations.
- Hyde Lounge/SLS HotelsminorSouth Beach location operates adjacent to Hyde South Beach and SLS Hotel properties, part of sbe's integrated hospitality ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Katsuya Restaurant competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Katana: Upscale Japanese robata and sushi restaurant in West Hollywood with celebrity following and design-driven ambiance. Direct competitor in the LA celebrity-sushi dining segment.
- Matsuhisa: Nobu Matsuhisa's original eponymous fine-dining sushi restaurants in Aspen, Beverly Hills, NYC, and Las Vegas. Operates in the same celebrity-chef Japanese fine-dining space serving affluent guests and entertainment industry clientele.
- Sugarfish: Kazunori Nozawa's traditional edomae sushi restaurant chain in Southern California, also extending to New York. Competes directly with Katsuya in the premium casual sushi segment with a multi-unit LA footprint.
- Nobu: Globally scaled celebrity-chef Japanese restaurant brand (Nobu Matsuhisa with Robert De Niro) operating full-service sushi concept with licensing/franchise model. Direct competitor in the upscale Japanese celebrity dining space across the US, Middle East, and beyond.
- Catch: Trend-driven, design-forward seafood restaurant brand with locations in NYC, LA (Catch LA), Las Vegas, and Miami. Comparable to Katsuya in celebrity appeal, Starck-style design, and affluent-celebrity client base.
- Sushi Katsu-Ya: Actually owned and operated by Chef Katsuya Uechi himself (Studio City, Encino locations). Most direct brand-level peer: shares the same founding chef, similar menu framework, and overlapping LA customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Hyde Lounge: sbe's nightlife and lounge brand co-located with Katsuya South Beach. Comparable in belonging to the same sbe luxury lifestyle portfolio, sharing customer base and brand-equity halo.
- The Bazaar by José Andrés: Adjacent sbe-owned/located restaurant brand by celebrity chef José Andrés. Comparable in being a celebrity-chef, design-forward restaurant within the sbe portfolio sharing distribution and marketing infrastructure with Katsuya.
- SLS Hotels: Parent sbe brand's luxury hotel collection. Comparable in operating model and shared real estate (e.g., Katsuya South Beach is adjacent to SLS South Beach), sharing the same Philippe Starck design DNA.
Emerging players
- Rokusho Restaurant: Premium omakase sushi concept in Los Angeles targeting a similar affluent clientele. Represents the newer generation of high-end sushi operators challenging legacy celebrity brands like Katsuya.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Katsuya Restaurant social profiles
Digital presenceKatsuya Restaurant financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Katsuya Restaurant leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Katsuya Restaurant funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Katsuya Restaurant M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Katsuya Restaurant
What does Katsuya Restaurant do?
Katsuya Restaurant operates a chain of upscale Japanese sushi restaurants founded in 2007, offering full-service dine-in, takeout and delivery (Katsuya2Go), private event catering for groups of 12 to 400 guests, and happy hour/Social Hour programs. The brand combines Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi's traditional Japanese cuisine with California-fusion influences, served in Philippe Starck-designed interiors across 13+ locations in the US and Middle East.
Is Katsuya Restaurant a public or private company?
Katsuya Restaurant is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Katsuya Restaurant founded?
Katsuya Restaurant was founded in 2007. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Katsuya Restaurant based?
Katsuya Restaurant is headquartered in Los Angeles (Brentwood), United States, in the North America region.
How does Katsuya Restaurant make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Restaurant Service is the primary driver. The others are catering and Private Events, takeout and Delivery (Katsuya2Go) and licensing Agreement with sbe.
Who are Katsuya Restaurant's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Katana, Matsuhisa, Sugarfish, Nobu, Catch and Sushi Katsu-Ya. Broad incumbents are Hyde Lounge, The Bazaar by José Andrés and SLS Hotels. Rokusho Restaurant is listed as an emerging player.
Does Katsuya Restaurant have an API?
No public API is recorded for Katsuya Restaurant.
What industry is Katsuya Restaurant in?
Katsuya Restaurant's product category is Upscale Japanese Restaurant / Sushi Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAD, Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants, with a secondary code of AFANALAI, Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke). Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5812.