The widening controversy erupted publicly after Paris-based Leslie David Studio accused hospitality group SBE of failing to pay the remaining balance for the enormous artwork that now defines Katsuya KO's Westfield UTC dining room. The studio recently launched a social media campaign titled "The Unpaid Project," alleging it was commissioned in 2024 to create the large-scale artwork specifically for Katsuya KO. According to the studio, the project was approved and delivered, SBE signed an agreement and paid a deposit, but the remaining balance was never paid.
"The work was delivered. The work was installed. The client signed an agreement. The restaurant is still using it. The fee was never paid," the studio stated.
Leslie David Studio says it spent nearly two years attempting to resolve the matter privately through emails and follow-ups before paying for both a debt collection agency and legal counsel, yet the remaining balance allegedly remains outstanding.
Premium West's case isn't the first construction-payment lawsuit associated with Katsuya KO. On May 5, Dorado Enterprises filed its own complaint seeking foreclosure of a mechanics' lien, naming Katsuya KO UTC LLC as a defendant alongside SBE, SBE/Katsuya USA LLC, SBE Restaurant Group LLC, SBE Entertainment Group and UTC Venture LLC, among others. The case, Dorado Enterprises v. SBE et al., is pending in San Diego Superior Court as Case No. 26CU024855C.
The existence of two separate mechanics' lien-related lawsuits is particularly notable in light of Leslie David Studio's unrelated allegation that it too completed work for the restaurant but was never fully compensated.
Then there is the restaurant's landlord. On June 23, UTC Venture LLC filed a verified commercial unlawful-detainer complaint against Katsuya KO UTC LLC, seeking possession of the restaurant premises. Court records identify UTC Venture as the property's owner and lessor and Katsuya KO UTC LLC as its tenant. The case is UTC Venture LLC v. Katsuya Ko UTC LLC, Case No. 26UD034110C.
SanDiegoVille had the available docket reviewed by an attorney, who determined that Katsuya KO failed to respond to the action, after which UTC sought a judgment for possession. That request for judgment was subsequently rejected by the court as incomplete. Accordingly, SanDiegoVille has found no evidence that a judgment for possession has been entered or that Katsuya KO has actually been evicted. The restaurant remains open.
The underlying complaint should ultimately provide greater clarity about what allegedly prompted the eviction proceeding. The filing confirms, however, that UTC Venture brought the action against the company operating Katsuya KO at 4545 La Jolla Village Drive and expressly sought relief through a verified unlawful-detainer proceeding.
The cluster of disputes comes remarkably soon after Katsuya KO's long-delayed debut. After nearly two years of anticipation, construction delays and shifting opening dates, the restaurant finally opened at Westfield UTC in February. By May, Dorado Enterprises had filed its mechanics' lien foreclosure action. In June, the landlord sued Katsuya KO for possession of the restaurant. Now, in August, Premium West has filed another lawsuit containing allegations of unpaid contractual obligations and seeking foreclosure of another mechanics' lien.
At the same time, Leslie David Studio says it has spent nearly two years unsuccessfully attempting to obtain full payment for artwork that remains prominently installed throughout the restaurant and featured in its promotional materials. The accumulation of independent disputes raises new questions about the financial circumstances surrounding one of San Diego's most heavily promoted restaurant openings of 2026.
Katsuya KO is SBE's more casual evolution of the internationally recognized Katsuya brand, developed in collaboration with celebrated Japanese chef Katsuya Uechi. Uechi, who helped shape Los Angeles' modern sushi scene and was widely credited with popularizing spicy tuna crispy rice, died in June at age 67. The UTC restaurant marked a return of the Katsuya name to San Diego after SBE previously operated Katsuya by Starck inside downtown's Andaz Hotel from 2012 until 2014.
Now, only months after Katsuya's return, its San Diego operation finds itself facing an eviction proceeding, multiple contractor payment disputes and a highly public campaign from the creative studio responsible for one of the restaurant's most recognizable design features.
SanDiegoVille has contacted Leslie David Studio, Katsuya KO, SBE, Westfield UTC and and UTC Venture LLC seeking comment and documentation concerning the artist's allegations.
This story will be updated with any responses or additional court records received.
The accusations have generated an extraordinary online backlash. Katsuya KO's social media pages have been inundated with comments demanding payment, some attracting more than 1,000 likes, while numerous Yelp users posted similar criticism. At least 20 reviews connected largely to the controversy subsequently appeared within Yelp's "not currently recommended" section, and the location is listed with an "Unusual Activity Alert" when visiting the Yelp page.
But a SanDiegoVille review of court records reveals the artist's accusation comes amid multiple other payment-related legal disputes surrounding the months-old restaurant. On August 18, San Diego-based contractor Premium West, Inc. filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court naming Katsuya KO UTC LLC, landlord UTC Venture LLC and Dorado Enterprises as defendants. The five-count complaint alleges breach of contract, violations of California's prompt-payment statutes, account stated, foreclosure of a mechanics' lien and quantum meruit and includes a demand for jury trial. Premium West identifies itself in the complaint as a licensed California contractor. The lawsuit is Case No. 26CU044101C.
Premium West's case isn't the first construction-payment lawsuit associated with Katsuya KO. On May 5, Dorado Enterprises filed its own complaint seeking foreclosure of a mechanics' lien, naming Katsuya KO UTC LLC as a defendant alongside SBE, SBE/Katsuya USA LLC, SBE Restaurant Group LLC, SBE Entertainment Group and UTC Venture LLC, among others. The case, Dorado Enterprises v. SBE et al., is pending in San Diego Superior Court as Case No. 26CU024855C.
The existence of two separate mechanics' lien-related lawsuits is particularly notable in light of Leslie David Studio's unrelated allegation that it too completed work for the restaurant but was never fully compensated.
Then there is the restaurant's landlord. On June 23, UTC Venture LLC filed a verified commercial unlawful-detainer complaint against Katsuya KO UTC LLC, seeking possession of the restaurant premises. Court records identify UTC Venture as the property's owner and lessor and Katsuya KO UTC LLC as its tenant. The case is UTC Venture LLC v. Katsuya Ko UTC LLC, Case No. 26UD034110C.
SanDiegoVille had the available docket reviewed by an attorney, who determined that Katsuya KO failed to respond to the action, after which UTC sought a judgment for possession. That request for judgment was subsequently rejected by the court as incomplete. Accordingly, SanDiegoVille has found no evidence that a judgment for possession has been entered or that Katsuya KO has actually been evicted. The restaurant remains open.
The underlying complaint should ultimately provide greater clarity about what allegedly prompted the eviction proceeding. The filing confirms, however, that UTC Venture brought the action against the company operating Katsuya KO at 4545 La Jolla Village Drive and expressly sought relief through a verified unlawful-detainer proceeding.
The cluster of disputes comes remarkably soon after Katsuya KO's long-delayed debut. After nearly two years of anticipation, construction delays and shifting opening dates, the restaurant finally opened at Westfield UTC in February. By May, Dorado Enterprises had filed its mechanics' lien foreclosure action. In June, the landlord sued Katsuya KO for possession of the restaurant. Now, in August, Premium West has filed another lawsuit containing allegations of unpaid contractual obligations and seeking foreclosure of another mechanics' lien.
At the same time, Leslie David Studio says it has spent nearly two years unsuccessfully attempting to obtain full payment for artwork that remains prominently installed throughout the restaurant and featured in its promotional materials. The accumulation of independent disputes raises new questions about the financial circumstances surrounding one of San Diego's most heavily promoted restaurant openings of 2026.
Katsuya KO is SBE's more casual evolution of the internationally recognized Katsuya brand, developed in collaboration with celebrated Japanese chef Katsuya Uechi. Uechi, who helped shape Los Angeles' modern sushi scene and was widely credited with popularizing spicy tuna crispy rice, died in June at age 67. The UTC restaurant marked a return of the Katsuya name to San Diego after SBE previously operated Katsuya by Starck inside downtown's Andaz Hotel from 2012 until 2014.
Now, only months after Katsuya's return, its San Diego operation finds itself facing an eviction proceeding, multiple contractor payment disputes and a highly public campaign from the creative studio responsible for one of the restaurant's most recognizable design features.
SanDiegoVille has contacted Leslie David Studio, Katsuya KO, SBE, Westfield UTC and and UTC Venture LLC seeking comment and documentation concerning the artist's allegations.
This story will be updated with any responses or additional court records received.
Katsuya Ko is located at 4303 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2105, inside Westfield UTC in San Diego’s University City neighborhood. For more information, visit katsuyako.sbe.com or sbe.com.
Originally published August 19, 2026.
Originally published August 19, 2026.
