Chef of the moment: Akira Back at the newly-opened Yellowtail Sunset

Akira Back is the chef and partner at the new Yellowtail Sunset, the Los Angeles outlet of the Las Vegas sushi restaurant that opened in the former Mirabelle space on Sunset Boulevard. Back, who was born in South Korea and raised in Colorado, worked with Bryan Nagao (Alba) and Masaharu Morimoto (Japonaise, Morimoto) before opening Yellowtail Restaurant and Lounge in Las Vegas in 2008. He also worked as executive chef at Matsuhisa Aspen in 2003. At Yellowtail Sunset, Back is turning out his signature Japanese dishes with Korean twists, including jeju domi Korean red snapper, chojang sweet and spicy chile pepper sauce and orange masago; rock shrimp with Korean chile aioli; lobster carpaccio; and Kobe beef tataki. Back is also working on opening his own restaurants, called Akira Back, in Dubai, Shanghai and Mumbai, India.

Latest ingredient obsession? I love the fall season and the ingredients that start to appear at the farmers market, like pomegranates, pumpkin and other seasonal squash.

What restaurant do you find yourself going to again and again, and what do you order? I’m always going out and trying new things. I try and visit the newest restaurants and openings to stay on top of what’s happening. The one place I visit again and again is my own kitchen. I enjoy cooking at home! Roy Choi is also a friend of mine, and I’ve been meaning to check out some of his recent projects while I’m here in Los Angeles.

The one piece of kitchen equipment you can’t live without, other than your knives? Honestly, the one thing would really be my knives. My Suisin Inox knives are what I couldn’t possibly live without.

What’s your favorite breakfast? When I wake up in the morning, I have a green juice made with whatever I have in the fridge, which is normally lots of kale, spinach, citrus and seasonal fruits.

The last cookbook you read, and what inspired you to pick it up? The last cookbook I read was “Origin: The Food of Ben Shewry.” I had the chance to try his food and really thought, “Whoa, this might be the best meal I’ve ever had.”

8768 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 360-0366, www.yellowtailsunset.com/.