ZIP FUSION Opens Second Restaurant in LA’s Westside
May 20, 2005 - LOS ANGELES, CA
PHOTOS BY DAN LEVY
Los Angeles, CA - Award-winning restaurateur Jason Ha is pleased to announce the grand opening of his second Zip Fusion restaurant in Los Angeles. The new Westside location, nestled in the NW corner of Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards in the “Olympic Collection” (11301 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90015), comfortably seats 100, with Mediterranean patio-style dining for an additional 20 guests. Ha’s first Zip Fusion opened in late 2002, and quickly became a word-of-mouth, “can’t miss” hotspot in LA’s downtown Arts District. Now, Ha is creating a similar oasis west of the 405/San Diego Freeway. The newest Zip Fusion has been quietly building a loyal following of its own since its soft launch on April 1st. Ha invites everyone to explore and enjoy some of the tastiest and most innovative fusion dishes in Los Angeles at Zip Fusion’s official Grand Opening Party on Friday, May 20, 2005. The celebration goes from 5:00pm - 2:00am, with an array of complementary samples served from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Accompanying the great food will be the exquisite musical stylings of KCRW’s Raul Campos. For anyone wishing to dine on this busy evening, dinner reservations are required. For reservations, call 310-575-3636, or visit www.zipfusion.com.
Zip Fusion welcomes both reservations and walk-ins. Reservations may be made online as well as over the phone. For lunch, Zip Fusion is open Monday through Friday from 11:30am – 2:30pm. Night owls, harried commuters, and all Angelinos will be happy to know Zip Fusion offers late dinners seven days a week. In the beginning of the week, from Sunday through Wednesday night, dinner hours are from 5:00pm to 12:midnight, with food orders in by 11:30pm. From Thursday through Saturday night, Zip Fusion is open until 2:00am, serving meals from 5:00pm to 1:30am.
ZIP FUSION BAR - PHOTO - DAN LEVY
In Korea, “zip” means “home” and for Ha, home was where he was exposed to great food from around the world. Ha’s father was born in Japan and educated in America, while his mother’s family was from a long line of restaurateurs. Together, they opened Japanese, American, and Korean restaurants throughout Korea. “I learned to appreciate food from all over the place, and that good food, was good food,” says Ha. “I never thought so much about where the food came from.”
With the blessings of his father, Ha came to the United States himself to pursue his personal and professional goals. Ha’s entrepreneurial spirit took him first to import/export, then to the world of high fashion. For over a decade, Ha was behind the creation of seasonal lines for some of the hottest retailers in the country. But his love of food led him back into the kitchen, and in October 2002 the entrepreneur opened his first Zip Fusion in downtown LA’s fledgling Arts District (744 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013; 213-680-3770). Although a stone’s throw from Little Tokyo, the area lacked pedestrian and street traffic, and many people were skeptical of Ha’s choice of location. However, Ha’s vision and focus paid off. Within months, word about Zip Fusion spread, and in 2003 Zip Fusion was voted “Best New Business” by the Los Angeles Downtown News. Recently, Zip Fusion was named, “Best Sushi in Los Angeles” by Sushifinder.com, and Ha was just honored by the Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA) as one of 2005’s Top 15 Movers & Shakers, younger professionals who are “already shaping Downtown L.A. into an exciting hub of commerce, culture and creativity for the new millennium.” “Jason Ha took a dark spot in the city and made it bright,” a CCA member said.
ZIP FUSION LOUNGE - PHOTO - DAN LEVY
Ha’s vision of sensual, healthy creations, warm and friendly staff, and a hip yet comfortable environment, may seem simple, but Ha and An seem to delight in turning restaurant tradition on its head. For example, in most restaurants, an open kitchen means guests are watching the chef, but at Zip Fusion, it is the chefs who are watching the room, gaining inspiration from the energy, and channeling it into their creations. “When guests are enjoying themselves, the whole kitchen feels it,” says An. Beyond food, Zip Fusion’s casual, yet cultured ambience is a blend of candlelight with neon that is as evocative as any of its entrees. Ha’s bold, inspired fashion sense reveals itself in everything from the lights, to the silverware, to the tables themselves. Both locations offer a space where artists, business people, and students gather to indulge in Zip Fusion's inspired dishes, stylish décor, and down-home service. For added enjoyment, the Westside Zip Fusion features Asian-style karaoke rooms, and Ha has recently added Korean soju to complement his selection of wine, imported and domestic beer, and Japanese sake. There is an underground parking lot on the premises. Zip validates guests for one free hour. The rate is $2.00 per half-hour up to $12 but Zip Fusion patrons will never pay more than $6.00 maximum.
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