OGAWASHI PRESS KIT

BUSINESS PURPOSE:

Freshest Quality Food, Fun Venue, Incredible Value

CONCEPT:

OGAWASHI means “Hand-Made”

OGAWASHI BACKGROUND: Opened in fall 2012, Ogawashi will be anchoring itself as the latest dining establishment in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a centralized commercial area in downtown San Diego. Owner, Suyong Yi, chose this location on 5th Avenue and C street after a long search for the perfect space to serve quality, affordable sushi and drinks in a lively atmosphere. Inspired by the busy and urban surroundings, the highly acclaimed Basile Studio was brought in to do the build out for the re-vamped space. Basile has been responsible for some of the most sought after design elements in San Diego’s most popular restaurants and bars, and Ogawashi may be the best yet. Along with the contemporary design, Ogawashi provides a fun ambiance and serious bar program. Anchored by local craft beers and filled in by Asian and international offerings, Ogawashi offers a unique beer list to compliment the sushi and modern Asian offerings. Hand-crafted cocktails and an impressive sake list make this an immediate hot spot for creative libations. Ogawashi is the only sushi restaurant in San Diego offering quality sushi along with a serious handcrafted bar program and craft brew list in one of the sleekest designed spaces, and all at an incredible value. Ogawashi is definitely “sushi new school”. OWNER BACKGROUND: Suyong Yi is a successful restaurateur who, over the years, has introduced San Diego to such well respected establishments as P.B. Sushi and WA Sushi. After arriving in San Diego in 1977, Yi quickly noticed the lack of sushi offerings. What was then exotic to San Diegans was also ridiculously expensive, and if you were not an executive of Sanyo, Sony or Samsung, you likely weren't going to be eating what is now a trendy cuisine. In 2002, he started the popular P.B. Sushi, a vibrant “locals” restaurant in Pacific Beach. In 2007, he followed with WA Sushi in Kearny Mesa, which features sushi paired with more of a Korean hot food set. Yi is passionate about offering neighborhood sushi restaurants open to the masses, without pretention and without the hefty price tag. Ogawashi promises to have the same concept, but also offers a place endowed with a hip style and aimed at the sophisticated drinking palates of local eaters. Yi has been embraced by the San Diego community for nearly 30 years and is a proud husband and father.

MENU: Ogawashi delivers the highest quality traditional sushi and sashimi alongside contemporary Asian inspired dishes at an affordable price point. Sushi/Sashimi Must-Haves: The Chef Specialty Sashimis, Chirashi Bowl, and Nigiri selection are a few of our house favorites (especially the live local uni). We also offer an impressive menu of traditional and contemporary rolls, or try a bit of everything with the Ogawashi Omakase starting at $45. Heartier high temperature favorites: Start with a house favorite like the fried softshell crab before moving on to our renowned Kin Tara Misoyaki (broiled black cod) or Kalbi short ribs. We also offer a number of Tempura, Yakisoba and Udon based dishes. Healthy options: At Ogawashi you can feel good about treating yourself while dining out.and we believe in providing fit friendly options without sacrificing taste. Much of the menu is comprised of lighter fare including lean protein rich cuts of Sashimi, Seafood Kushiyaski with grilled vegetables, various entrée salads, and more. Vegetarian/Gluten Free: We offer many vegetarian options, and want to accommodate our gluten free diners as well; please check with the kitchen ahead of time to ensure that items be prepared to your specifications. Specialty desserts: We offer the traditional mochi as our specialty Ogawashi tempura ice cream - green tea or vanilla ice cream, wrapped in pound cake with a fried tempura shell. LIBATIONS: Anchored by local craft breweries and small production wineries, Ogawashi will accommodate the most discerning of drinking palates. San Diego's meteoric rise on the craft brewing scene has made it easy for Ogawashi to offer stellar products from some of the most creative breweries on west coast like Stone, Ballast Point, Alesmith and Julian. Besides 12 taps(4 rotating), Ogawashi has a large selection of bottles, with specialties such as Schneider’s Edel Weisse, Ommegang Witte, Avery White Rascal, and Russian River’s Damnation. We boast one of largest Japanese craft beer lists in Southern California, including selections from Japan’s Yo-Ho Brewing Company, Coedo, Echigo, Orion and more. Each of our cocktails is carefully made by hand, including the use of muddled fruits, fresh squeezed juices, and premium liqueurs. We also offer a variety of top choices in Sake and Soju as well as an international variety of red and white wines.

THE SPACE: Our 3500 square-foot location at the corner of 5th Avenue and C Street in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego features elegant design details by Basile Studio. The oversized swivel doors, custom metal furnishings, and handcrafted woodwork provide a sleek and open space that is both urban and contemporary. Various styles of seating are available for up to 100 guests at booths, communal tables, sushi and bar counters, and an outdoor patio for the always permitting San Diego weather. PRIVATE EVENTS: The second level mezzanine lounge can be reserved for everything from business and corporate events to parties and bottle service. The space can comfortably accommodate 40+ seated guests or 75+ for a standing cocktail reception. We offer HDTV’s for use in presentations or for other multimedia capabilities. Please contact the manager if you are interested in booking or for more information. PRICE POINTS: Weekend Brunch: $9 - $18 Lunch: $9 - $21 Dinner: $10 - $25 Beer: $4 - $16 Wine: $6 - $10 (glass) $25 - $40 (bottle) Sake: $5 - $350 Cocktails: $6 - $10 OGAWASHI PROMOTIONS: Our daily lunch specials include entree salads, sushi platters, and specialty roll combinations. The regular and roll menus are also offered at a 20% discount excluding drinks and desserts. Happy Hour is Monday thru Friday between 3 pm - 7 pm and from 12pm – 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. Please visit the website for these menus and updated Happy Hour. HOURS: Open Monday through Saturday from 11:30am – 11pm and Sunday 11:30am – 10pm LOCATION: 1100 5th Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 Ogawashi is located at the corner of 5th and C Street, in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. It is conveniently accessible by trolley at the “5th Avenue” stop on the Orange and Blue Lines.

PARKING: Free Street Parking as well as metered parking is available. RESERVATIONS: Ogawashi accepts reservations for parties of 6 or more. Seating is otherwise on a first come basis, and we seat only when a complete party is present. PAYMENT: Gift certificates available; Visa, MasterCard, Amex accepted. INTERNET: WEBSITE : http://www.ogawashi.com EMAIL : info@ogawashi.com TWITTER : @Ogawashi5thC FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/ogawashi5thC

CONTACT: John Park General Manager 619.358.9170 Bobby Fitzgerald Media Contact 858.220.2380

9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OGAWASHI

1. HOURS : Open Mon - Sat from 11:30AM - 11PM, and Sun 11:30AM - 10PM. But we can get you in and out for a corporate lunch, can set you off with a few cocktails before a night on the town, and help you recover the morning after with our weekend brunch. Whenever you need us, we’ve got you covered. 2. STYLE : We aren’t like most craft beer or mixology venues you know, and we’re not trying to be the oh-so-traditional Japanese Sushi spot. Ogawashi is all of the quality, a fraction of the price, and none of the attitude. We have the perfect atmosphere for creating the experience that you want. So yeah, don’t be afraid to do a sake bomb...maybe even do one with a Belgian Wit, if you aren’t above that... 3. KITCHEN : We don’t have a celebrity chef with an ego to promote. Instead, we have an experienced team of itamae and kitchen team who are only concerned with providing the highest quality dishes, and making sure your experience is the best it can be. 4. MENU : We use local/regional produce, and whole unprocessed ingredients whenever possible. It’s simply fresher and better. Ogawashi means “hand-made”, and that name extends to our dishes and drinks which are created with the utmost care. 5. SEAFOOD : We seek out wild caught and local fish whenever possible. We won’t serve anything that’s not fresh or in season. Our sea urchin comes exclusively from San Diego, or not at all. We’ll put our quality up against the best of the best – because that’s exactly what we are. 6. DRINKS : We aren’t like most Japanese or traditional sushi places. We aren’t afraid to break from tradition on drink menus because we know there is something better to offer. So expect great local craft beer as well as an extensive list of imports, original hand-crafted cocktails, and a sake selection that is sure to impress. 7. HEALTH : We’re very familiar with the health benefits of fish consumption, and we proudly serve many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. Please notify the kitchen to ensure that your dietary needs are met. 8. SERVICE : We want to make sure your visit to Ogawashi will be one you want to repeat. So please let us know your needs, and share your feedback. Owner, Suyong Yi prides himself on personally ensuring his guests enjoy themselves. Don’t be surprised to find him at the table next to you, or be too shy to introduce yourself - he certainly won’t be. 9. COMMUNITY : We care about the environment, our community, and our customers. We know you will have fun here and we want you to get home safely. So we encourage public transportation, which is convenient with our proximity to trolley and train stops. Mother earth will be happy you chose to take it as well!