If you have lived in Venice for any amount of time, chances are you have been to Hama Sushi on the Windward circle. Well, today we will get to know Esther Chaing, also known as “Hama Mama.”
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Screen-Shot-2015-04-05-at-4.20.41-PMEsther, a familiar face around town, is the owner of Hama Sushi, which is the west coast’s first sushi restaurant.
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Esther likes hoola hooping, hiking, watching classic movies and reading all sorts of books.
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Esther first came to Venice in 1977 while she was earning an A.A. in textiles at L.A. Trade Tech.  Here she met her future husband, John, who was working with the artist Robert Graham at the time.  During their courtship, Esther and John would take long walks through the canals, beach, and boardwalk, forever endearing Venice in their hearts.
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During her 27 years in the garment industry, Esther employed a staff of over 80 full time employees,  many of who worked for her for over 20 years. To this day the former employees stay in contact and have an annual party to catch up.    As well, Esther founded a preschool in Harbor City called My First School.  The school still operates today.  Most of the kids who went to the school  were children of Esther’s employees.  Now, they are fully grown and attend the annual mixer themselves.  Among them are policemen, teachers, college students and more!
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In 2004 she bought Hama Sushi, and moved back to Venice, the town where she met her love.   For two years she ran both Hama and her garment business, then in 2006 sold her factory and became a full time Hama Mama.  Esther is very active in the community and supportive of a wide variety of causes.  Every Wednesday for over 10 years, she has gone to the boys juvenile camp in San Bernadino to run a Bible study and counseling class.  As well, Hama Sushi has organized and hosted the Venice Japanese Memorial Marker  event for the last four years and is set to do it again in 2016.
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Her son is a firefighter in Watts, and her daughters are a pharmacist, house wife and manager for an architect company.
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She says her favorite item on the Hama menu is the green devil roll.
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Esther loves being outside and says living near the beach lets you taste nature.
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Speaking of tasting, if you have not tried the soft shell crab app or spicy  scallop roll on Hama’s happy hour menu, you should.   Happy hour is from 4-7 p.m. daily.  And, they are open for lunch M-F at noon, and offer free 2 hour valet.  Woohoo!  Off to Hama for saki and brew!
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Hama_SuShi_CardAbout Hama Sushi:  Located on the former Grand Canal in historic Venice Beach, California, Hama was founded in 1979 and was one of the first authentic Japanese sushi restaurants in the United States. A decade ahead of the sushi craze, many Southern California residents can trace their first sushi experience to a table in our restaurant. Today people from all over the country travel back to Hama to eat at our sushi bar once again.

From our closing night theme song, to our birthday traditions, both regulars and first-time guests feel right at home the second they sit down. Attracting a large and diverse clientele, at Hama you are as likely to have an A-list celebrity seated next to you as you would an area local surfer right off the beach.

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Hama Sushi

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Hama is also about more than great food with fast and friendly service; it is about treating you, our customers, as honored guests and making your dining experience a cherished memory for years to come.

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Click here to view lunch, happy hour and dinner menu!   While at Hama Sushi, check out “Hama-Wood” in the patio and their “Venice History” Dining Room & Sushi Bar!
Gift the gift of Hama Sushi!  Sushi and Sake makes ’em smile!  Purchase $100 gift card from Hama Sushi and get $20 Hama Gift Card with your purchase for your next visit!  Treat yourself and friends!  310.396.8783
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Hama Sushi!  213 Windward Avenue – “on the circle”Venice, Ca 90291. www.hamasushi.com

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