New sushi and Japanese BBQ joint opens at Long Beach Exchange

“Purity and quality” are the name of the game at Sosogu Sushi & Japanese BBQ. The new restaurant at Long Beach Exchange is now serving up A5 Wagyu and sushi made with wild-caught fish, among other sophisticated foods.

Sosogu was founded in 2022 by Wallflowers’ original guitarist Tobias Miller and his business partner Richard Gottlieb as an elevated concept to complement the pair’s first venture, a poke joint called LemonShark, which took the Hawaiian dish a step beyond its fast-casual roots beginning in 2017.

While the Japanese concept was founded in Redlands three years ago with an emphasis on ramen rather than sushi, the new Long Beach location will serve as the flagship, the company said. The new location has refined and expanded on the original vision by “bringing together premium Japanese cuisine, expertly sourced seafood, and a dynamic full bar, setting a new standard for modern Japanese dining,” according to an announcement.

The menu highlights natural flavors of its high-end ingredients, including wagyu and other specialty cuts of beef as well as fresh seafood, including bluefin tuna, seabream nigiri, albacore, ora king salmon and blue crab. The restaurant also features house-made noodles along with small plates and desserts such as Hokkado Scallop Carpaccio, Nagoya-Style Wings, Brick Toast and more.

“Japanese cuisine is an art form that transforms simple, high-quality ingredients into an unforgettable dish,” Miller said in a statement. “At Sosogu, we uphold this tradition by meticulously sourcing every element. Our goal is to create a dining experience that truly honors Japanese culinary craftsmanship.”

Located at 3860 Worsham Ave. #300 in a space formerly occupied by Plancha Latin Kitchen, the 3,500-square-foot restaurant features a modern design with Japanese aesthetic, including state-of-the-art infrared grills for guests to cook the premium meats tableside.

With a name that translates to “pour it up,” the restaurant could not phone in its booze collection. With that spirit, Sosogu boasts the largest curated sake collection in Southern California, including limited-edition bottles such as Katoukichibee Born “Chogin,” Noguchi 01 Limited Edition, and Noguchi 01 Special Edition. The full bar also offers hand-crafted cocktails and a wide selection of Japanese whisky, which can be sampled in a flight.

A grand opening celebration is slated for March 22 and 23 from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. each day, including 25% off all sushi coursings, half-off all signature cocktails and other exclusive offers, according to the company.

“Our Redlands location was embraced with such enthusiasm that expanding felt like a natural next step,” Miller said. “LBX offers the perfect setting to elevate our vision. We can’t wait to welcome Long Beach to the world of Sosogu and ‘pour it up’ together at our grand opening!”

Sosogu is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, click here or call 562-421-5166. For more information, visit sosogu.com.