Executive Chef
Nozawa Bar, Beverly Hills
Chef Jay Sada, a long-time friend and colleague of Chef Nozawa, presides behind the bar at Nozawa Bar.
Born and raised in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu, Japan, Chef Jay Sada began his culinary journey at the age of 16. By 19, he had fully committed himself to the art of sushi. In 1988, he moved to the United States, making sushi in restaurants in Hawaii, Aspen, Orange County, and Los Angeles.
Chef Sada first met Master Chef Kazunori Nozawa in 2001, often running into him in the early mornings at the fish market. The two connected over their discipline and passion for sushi, with Chef Nozawa sharing his techniques over the years. That same year, Sada opened Sushi Laguna in Laguna Beach, which he operated for over two decades, until its closing in 2024.
Chef Nozawa, Tom Nozawa, Lele Massimini, and Jerry Greenberg personally selected Chef Jay Sada to lead Nozawa Bar into its next chapter as he assumes the role of Executive Chef. Today, he brings his decades of experience and relationship with Nozawa to bear on carrying the Nozawa Bar forward.
