Coronavirus Has Closed One of the South Bay’s Best Japanese Restaurants

Three-year-old Umi by Hamasaku has closed in El Segundo. The restaurant, located at the Point shopping plaza, jumped onto the scene in the fall of 2017 as an upscale casual place for lots of seafood from star chef Yoya Takahashi. The restaurant turned out everything from rolls to sashimi to a $50 omakase when it first opened, drawing in South Bay fans eager to check out Takahashi’s techniques. Now the restaurant has quietly gone away as a result of the ongoing pandemic, reports Toddrickallen, marking yet another closure across greater Los Angeles.

The Point specifically has struggled to keep some of its restaurant tenants of late, even losing all-day cafe Superba not long ago — though that one will be replaced by Vietnamese restaurant Little Sister.

And in other news:

• The Eastsider’s ongoing profiles of local restaurants has come around again, this time turning a lens on the long-running Giamela’s in Atwater Village. The family affair is still going strong more than 50 year in, though obviously times are currently tough for everyone.
• Los Angeles Magazine is switching up its annual Burgers, Bourbon + Beer festival, making this year’s pandemic event a drive-in burger crawl instead. Much like Resy’s recent drive-thru event or the current Dodger Stadium viewing parties for the World Series, the idea is to use everyone’s car as a way to naturally socially distance while still enjoying food food. The end-of-October event will offer cocktails by way of take-home kits, so no drinking and driving.
• Angler, the upscale seafood-focused restaurant from star chef Joshua Skenes, has reopened at the Beverly Center. The restaurant is doing a covered outdoor patio in the former entryway area, and has rejiggered its menu to be slightly more approachable given the uncertain times. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Bodega Wine Bar in Pasadena has closed after 18 long years, though the Westside outlet remains in business. As a result, the San Gabriel Valley spot is auctioning off everything inside, right down to the furniture.
• The folks from Mutt Lynch’s in Newport Beach are opening a side project called simply Mutt’s, aimed at an even more casual all-day crowd and serving fare from pizza and wings to breakfast and lunch salads.
• The legendary Pink’s hot dog stand is going blue again this year to support the Dodgers. Check out the photos here from ABC7.
• Dave’s Chillin’ N Grillin’ has closed its location in Highland Park, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. The restaurant is popping up at Abby’s Diner in Eagle Rock this week, doing fish and chips today through Saturday.