Meet Jimmy Clegg of Hollywood Shin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Clegg.

Jimmy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for creating experiences that bring people together. Before getting into the restaurant business, I spent years building my construction company, Oakmont Builders, working on custom homes and development projects throughout Los Angeles. While construction was my primary career, food and hospitality were always something I loved personally, especially Japanese cuisine and the culture surrounding it.

Hollywood Shin actually started as a ramen concept years ago and evolved over time into the restaurant it is today. About a year ago, I took over ownership of the restaurant with a vision to elevate the brand, refresh the experience, and create something that felt exciting, welcoming, and authentic to Hollywood. Since then, we’ve remodeled the space, expanded the menu, and focused heavily on hospitality, quality, and consistency.

My approach has always been very hands-on. I’m deeply involved in the day-to-day operations, from the guest experience to marketing to developing the overall culture of the restaurant. We’ve worked hard to create an environment where people can come for a casual ramen night, sushi dinner, birthday celebration, date night, or to watch a Dodgers game with great food and drinks.

Today, Hollywood Shin has become a growing neighborhood destination at the corner of Hollywood & La Brea. We’ve built a loyal customer base of locals, tourists, and regulars who continue to support us, and that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been seeing people create memories at the restaurant and watching the business continue to grow through word of mouth and community support.

At the end of the day, my goal has always been simple: create a place where people feel welcomed, have an amazing experience, and want to come back again and again.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. When I took over Hollywood Shin, the restaurant had actually been closed for over a year, so we were essentially bringing a dormant business back to life. That came with a unique set of challenges because we weren’t just opening a restaurant — we were reintroducing a brand to the community and rebuilding momentum from the ground up.

One of the biggest goals was preserving what people already loved about Shin while elevating the overall experience. We brought back many of the same menu items that longtime customers remembered, but focused heavily on improving the atmosphere, hospitality, consistency, and presentation. We wanted it to feel familiar to returning guests while also feeling fresh and exciting for new customers.

Rebuilding the team was another major challenge. Hiring and training the right staff, especially experienced kitchen employees and sushi chefs in Los Angeles, takes a lot of time and energy. Creating a strong culture and getting everyone aligned on the vision for the restaurant was critical.

There were also challenges with simply getting people to realize we were back open again. We invested heavily into marketing, social media, community engagement, and creating an experience people would want to talk about and share with others. In today’s restaurant world, you really have to earn every customer visit.

At the same time, those challenges have made the journey incredibly rewarding. Seeing former customers come back and say they’re excited Shin returned — while also attracting a whole new group of guests — has been one of the best parts of the experience. It’s been amazing watching the restaurant regain energy and become a neighborhood destination again.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hollywood Shin ?
Hollywood Shin is a Japanese restaurant located at the corner of Hollywood & La Brea in the heart of Hollywood. We specialize in ramen, sushi, rice dishes, Japanese appetizers, sake, and beer, with a focus on creating high-quality food in a fun, approachable, and energetic atmosphere. One of our biggest goals has always been making Japanese cuisine feel welcoming to everyone — whether you’re a hardcore ramen fan, a sushi lover, or someone trying it for the first time.

What really sets us apart is the overall experience. We’re not trying to be overly formal or intimidating. We want people to come in, relax, have great food, enjoy drinks with friends, celebrate birthdays, watch Dodgers games, or just have a great night out. We put a huge emphasis on hospitality and creating an environment where guests genuinely feel taken care of.

We’re also very proud of the balance we’ve created between quality and accessibility. We focus on premium ingredients, flavorful dishes, and presentation, while still keeping the restaurant approachable and neighborhood-driven. We’ve worked hard to build a place where locals come back regularly, not just somewhere people visit once.

Brand wise, I’m most proud of the energy and community we’ve created in a relatively short period of time since reopening. A lot of people remember Shin from years ago, and being able to bring the restaurant back with an elevated experience while still honoring what made people love it originally has been incredibly rewarding.

I also think our authenticity sets us apart. We’re very hands-on, very involved with our guests, and very connected to the community around us. We’re constantly evolving, improving, and finding new ways to make the experience better, whether that’s through the menu, events, social media, or the overall atmosphere.

At the end of the day, we want people to think of Hollywood Shin as more than just a restaurant. We want it to feel like a place people are excited to come back to — somewhere that becomes part of their routine, their celebrations, and their memories.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency matters more than almost anything else. In the restaurant industry, it’s not enough to be great once in a while — you have to deliver a great experience every single day. The food, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, and hospitality all have to consistently meet expectations because people remember how you made them feel.

I’ve also learned the importance of being adaptable. No matter how much you plan, challenges are always going to come up, whether it’s staffing, operations, customer feedback, or changes in the market. The businesses that survive and grow are the ones that are willing to evolve, listen, and improve constantly.

Another major lesson has been how important team culture is. A restaurant can only be as strong as the people behind it. Building a team that genuinely cares about the guest experience and takes pride in what they do makes all the difference.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that authenticity matters. People connect with businesses that feel real and personal. Being hands-on, engaging with customers directly, listening to feedback, and creating a welcoming environment has been a huge part of what’s helped Hollywood Shin grow. At the end of the day, people may come in for the food, but they come back because of the experience and how the restaurant makes them feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Hollywoodshin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodshin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodShin/
• LinkedIn: http://orders.hollywoodshin.com/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hollywoodshin