Former Lou’s Sushi chef to open a new sushi spot — ‘The one and only Lou Valente is BACK’

Former Lou’s Sushi chef Lou Valente may no longer be a part owner of his namesake midtown sushi spot, but a new sushi restaurant is opening in north Sacramento with Valente at its helm.

“The one and only Lou Valente is BACK,” the restaurant’s first Instagram post reads. “Southpaw Sushi opening this Spring.”

Southpaw Sushi will be at 1616 Del Paso Blvd. No opening date has been announced, though the restaurant teased a soft opening “soon” in a post on Instagram.

Valente left Lou’s Sushi after a dispute – involving multiple lawsuits – between Valente and some of his business partners in April 2017.

“I’m still in the area,” Valente told The Sacramento Bee in 2017 when asked about his departure from Lou’s Sushi. “I have some money saved, so I’m enjoying my time as much as possible.”

Lou’s Sushi debuted in October 2013 at the corner of 28th and P streets and established itself as a key destination for thoughtfully prepared Japanese food. Valente attended California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and has spent more than two decades of his career dedicated to sushi.

This story was originally published March 24, 2019 at 2:42 PM with the headline "Former Lou’s Sushi chef to open a new sushi spot — ‘The one and only Lou Valente is BACK’."