Seabutter, the Los Angeles-area sushi chain, is rolling into Playa Vista’s Runway shopping center later this year, lining up what will be its fifth Southern California location. The move brings another full-service sushi spot to the complex’s food roster and hands nearby residents and office workers a fresh option for dinner and takeout. For a neighborhood that swells with daytime traffic and quiets down after dark, the new arrival could help stretch those evening dining choices a bit later.
Runway Playa Vista currently flags “Seabutter Coming Soon” in its online directory, while What Now Los Angeles has reported that coming-soon signage is already up at the center. Taken together, those public breadcrumbs amount to the first on-the-record confirmation that Seabutter has locked in a lease at the Runway.
According to the brand’s website, Seabutter already operates in Beverly Hills, Glendale, Laguna Beach, and Westlake Village, staking its reputation on fresh fish and a tight, seafood-focused menu. On its About page, the restaurant writes, "Our tireless search for the right ingredients helped us be able to create a menu with intricate flavors that aim to accentuate what matters most: the fish." Seabutter notes that its offerings center on sushi and sashimi.
Permits and plans show seating, hours
Documents for the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa board agenda show Seabutter presenting a request (ZA-2025-5682-MPA) for a Runway location that calls for about 47 indoor seats and 16 outdoor seats, with proposed hours running from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The council agenda and the project’s Department of City Planning application packet, which includes site and floor plans, are posted online. Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa materials and the city planning packet lay out the filings in detail.
When it might open
Runway Playa Vista is teasing the new restaurant as arriving in the “coming weeks,” although neither the center nor Seabutter has put an exact date on the calendar yet. What Now Los Angeles reports it has asked for more details on the buildout and timeline, but those questions are still awaiting answers.
The Runway functions as a neighborhood hub that mixes retail with community events and a farmers market, and Seabutter is set to join an expanding slate of restaurants catering to residents and the daytime tech-and-media crowd. MapQuest and the center’s own directory describe the Runway as a blended shopping-and-dining destination, which soon will come with a side of sushi.
