50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South Pasadena

“Tried the Spicy Miso Ramen. The broth was rich and the noodles were nice and chewy. Although, the portion seemed a bit smaller end for the price.

Please note they use QR codes as a menu. So you have to scan the code and order on your phone.

The interior is very cute and clean. The staff are friendly. Overall, a good experience.“

“This restaurant was amazing! The food was well cooking and seasoned lots of flavor in the Ramen broth and noddles, everything was prepared fresh. The staff was very attentive and kind, my friends and I had a great time there definitely will be coming back!“

“The reviews are right, the onigiri and hand rolls are delicious. The service is super quick as well.

The seasoning is perfect and the rice is molded well, as in you can taste each grain of rice rather than places that crush the rice to death. They make it perfectly here. The nori does get soggy if you take out, but that's to be expected and unless you want a crispy bite, it's perfectly fine.

The crab handroll was amazing, by far my favorite. I would definitely go again.“

“It was a great experience We took our dear granddaughter to celebrate her birthday !!!“

“Food is outstanding. Been a fan since the late 90's. Their Nabeyaki Udon is the best I have ever eaten. If you want it the way it is served in Japan, ask them to use a fresh, rather than hardboiled, egg. To go food can be frustrating. If they say 30 minutes, figure at least an hour.“

“My experience with the Pokeball was great the only thing that was missing was Ginger for my salad I didn't ask for any but I would have assumed that they would give me at least one to two small packages to go.

Service West okay did they didn't acknowledge me as soon as I got in but it looked like they were a bit busy my visit was about 15 minutes and I took my food to go.

Overall the young lady that was helping me was very kind and attentive.“

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“Not a big fan of sitting on the side of street where people walk by and you intake that fumes coming from all these traffic. Got to sit inside by the bar, the food here is okay, but a bit pricey for what it's worth. Been to many affordable to very expensive sushi places in the U.S. and in Asia, this place is more IG/social media friendly picturesque place than an actual sushi/sashimi place. Not much nigiri/sashimi choices. Not a big fan of places that sell pre-made canned alcohol with an extreme markup.“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“Both dishes were so good! I really liked the way they cooked the Bento- Shio Koji Marinated Norwegian Mackerel. The side dish Side- Chicken Karaage (Mild or Spicy)- had just the right amount of spice (l ordered mild). Overall, this will definitely be my go-to lunch spot now! (Doordash Pickup)“

“NIKU X delivers an impressive seafood & A5 wagyu steak buffet. The quality of the meats and seafood is top notch. The wagyu is tender and rich, and the seafood bar has good variety. The decor is stylish and the service attentive.

A few drawbacks: some items are a bit slow to be replenished, and the price is steep but for a special occasion it’s worth it.“

“If you're looking for the best udon soup in town, look no further! This gem offers a delightful dining experience with its rich, flavorful udon soup that keeps you coming back for more. The teriyaki chicken is a standout, perfectly cooked and bursting with taste. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, enhanced by the charming backdrop of Japanese television, which adds to the authentic feel.

The service is exceptional—super sweet and polite staff made us feel right at home, attending to our needs with genuine care. It's rare to find a place where food, ambiance, and service come together so harmoniously. I absolutely love this place and can't recommend it enough!“

“Delicious food. Fast service. Get here early to avoid a long line.“

“We ordered the Dine LA omakase sushi lunch which consisted of 3-course appetizer (jelly fish, steamed veggies (edamame, carrot and clam), okra, 10-course sushi, Chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard), miso clam soup and matcha mousse dessert. Presentation was exquisite and the sushi was of the highest quality. This was our second time to Eigikutei and we look forward to many more dining experiences at this very fine and peaceful establishment.“

“Amazing takeout family meal which features the most flavorful and delicious Char Siu Wagyu Short Rib with fluffy bao. All side dishes are well executed and delectable. One of the best staying at home meals I’ve had! Highly recommend it!“

“Te Isshoku Sushi is probably one of the only reasons I look forward to going into my office now that I am required to be in my office. Finding this gem has been a game changer.

The sushi is amazing quality. It is always fresh and large portions.

Besides the sushi being excellent, the real star is Lisa. After 1 order Lisa will remember you and little things you like and don’t like. Lisa’s service is impeccable and she will always have a big smile to greet you and make you laugh.

Full disclosure I am biased because I eat there almost 3 times a week because it is that good. It’s the highlight of my work day. I just had to share how amazing this local business is.“

“Everything was perfect, fave drink was lychee martini and in the morning strawberry matcha. For dinner we loved the rib eye, ceviche, tuna tartar and chicken the most. The Caesar salad was unique and I really enjoyed it. Miso eggplant also great! We were so full and didn’t think we could eat any more but The sorbet at the end was delicious, super light and refreshing. Service was friendly, atmosphere very pretty.“

“So strange, when I’m in Hawaii, I plan my hotel to stay next to this place, and plan
Two meals there because I love it so
Much and yet this location is never busy 🤷🏽‍♀️ last time I went in Honolulu, I waited in like for 45 min for lunch . Try this place if you haven’t“

“I was really craving some fresh sushi one night and this place did not disappoint! Everything was so flavorful, fresh, and delicious.
Definitely one of my favorites was the Sama Hand Roll. I was savoring every bite. I’ve already come back here 3 times and I can’t wait to bring my friends and family to try this place. This is definitely a resturant I recommend.“

“This place is a true culinary delight. The dishes are flavorful and beautifully plated, using fresh ingredients. The staff is friendly and attentive, providing excellent service. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it ideal for any occasion. I highly recommend this restaurant for a memorable dining experience.“

“Absolute perfection. The food, the service and the atmosphere are outstanding. The most buttery, delicious salmon I’ve ever had…couldn’t stop eating the salmon hand rolls. Every single thing had incredible flavor and melted in your mouth, staring with the garlic edamame. Try it out, you won’t be disappointed.“

“Every dish was delectable, and great service! We all had a fantastic time there! Definitely will be back, and for celebrations.“

“Tasty bbq take out outside. Amazing desserts to ans friendly staff“

“Salad Dressing is amazing. Parking is horrible. They said 10-15 for my order. 25 minutes and I got a $52 Parking Citation🤬🤬🤬🤬“

“Exceptional Yakiniku experience! Ben's knowledge and attention to detail made our visit memorable. The premium meat selection is remarkable, particularly the marbled wagyu cuts. The contemporary atmosphere and high-end grills create an elegant setting.“

“Loved the yakitori. The standouts were the pork belly, bacon wrapped shishitos, chicken breast, and the seaweed salad. The pacing of the dishes was inconsistent and it felt like servers were spread too thin. Everyone was running small plates, and no one focused on offering more drinks. Overall a good meal.“

“Azabu in Whittier was 🔥! Food was fresh and delicious, service was amazing—shoutout to Yuli for taking such great care of us. The ube cheesecake was absolute gas. Only heartbreak? No chocolate cake… guess I’ll have to come back for it. 😉“

“so far everything I've tried has been delicious!“

“Its open and they really made sure its safe , service and food perfect . Happy days“

“Yes. Very nice servers etc. clean. Yummy food. Usually get beef teriyaki with tempura. Good batter on tempura snd lots of food“

“good recommmend for eveyone“

“Good food, portions & service...“

“Best sushi on the West Side ❤️“

“This restauraunt serves really yummy salmon handrolls and custom poke bowls. The salmon and tuna taste pretty fresh, they don’t have any weird fishy taste. They offer a variety of toppings to choose from as well. However, the amount of sauce added can be a little overpowering sometimes. I’d suggest putting a note/request to add a little less! And even though it slightly adds to the price, I would also recommend checking off “Extra Salmon” when ordering, because without the additional it feels like there is not enough.

The service is good, but it can take quite a bit of time waiting for orders to finish in person because there aren’t too many people behind the counter. I think best way to order is for pick up or delivery.“

“Very enjoyable visit. I spoke with one of the head chef Moe and he was very polite and helped me and my wife in deciding what sushi to get. He even recommended some Burmese dishes that were amazing. The environment was very welcoming and understanding of someone who had no prior knowledge to the food. Will definitely be coming back soon!“

“my experience here is always great, it’s my go to spot for sushi and even though i usually order for delivery, the dine in experience today was amazing with great customer service and equally as amazing food; can’t wait to order from here again!“

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“

“The sushi here is solid. You get lots of pieces and thicker pieces of fish for a good price. My favorite roll was the sunset roll!

My family and I also ordered the tempura ice cream for dessert. It wasn’t the best tempura ice cream we’ve ever had. It could have had a crispier exterior and the ice cream didn’t have a strong matcha flavor.“

“Great rolls. Big selection.... fresh.“

“Chinchikurin was my first ever Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. I've had the Osaka version in Japan many years ago, but haven't had okonomiyaki of any kind in the US since. So this experience was definitely fun. The food was very tasty and well built. I ordered the Loaded Kaisen, which was the seafood okonomiyaki as part of the 11-layer savory pancake. It was very filling. After the cooks make the okonomiyaki at the main teppan grill, you eat it at your own personal grill at your table, which keeps your order nice and warm. Be sure to put a lot of the mayo and otafuku sauce atop it to make the flavor even bolder and more exciting. If you've never had okonomiyaki before, Chinchikurin is a great place to start. There are very few of these kinds of restaurants in LA, so Chinchikurin is a very unique Japanese cuisine in Little Tokyo worth scoping out. I did a YouTube video of my eating adventures here, which can be found on my channel called Rockstar Eater“

“Came here after a Dodger game and was very happy with the food, service, and quiet atmosphere. All the food was delicious and came out quick. It was exactly what we needed.

Staff informed us right away there is no bathroom in the restaurant but directed us to the nearest one if needed.“

“It was very nice. Loved the hellos and thank you for coming. I can’t wait to come back next time I visit the area.“

“Just stopped by here for lunch for my kiddos and I and I’m so glad we did it was delicious! I got a teriyaki bowl with veggies. I’ve been to different teriyaki places and this has to be my top favorite now! Very fresh and flavorful the place is very clean Inside, and the employees were very sweet. Definitely give this place a try if you’re craving a teriyaki bowl.“

“Fantastic. Great service and even better sushi.“

“The Japanese, who have lived in the United States all year long, love to make friends“

“A hidden gem in Montrose. Very good food, attentive service, reasonable price.“

“Solid ramen spot, got the classic ramen recommended by chef as well as their limited time curry ramen. Both options were filling and delicious. I personally prefer the pork belly over charsiu but was surprised they didn’t cut it in half to make it easier to eat this time. Still delicious and would come back when craving a bowl.“

“Delicious food at a reasonable price. I ordered one of the options with multiple handrolls and chefs were attentive enough that they never stacked up, but I somehow always had one in front of me. I'd passed by it without trying it before as we were meeting up with family at another place, but I'm glad we made it back here.“

“We recently embarked on a three-week west coast “foodie” vacation, spanning five states and six major cities. Along the way, we dined at everything from Michelin-starred establishments to small mom-and-pop restaurants. By the end of our trip, everyone in our group unanimously agreed that our experience at Tensho was one of the absolute highlights.

From the warm hospitality and the evident pride in food preparation to the impeccable service and outstanding flavors, everything about our visit was memorable. We left the restaurant on a true “food high,” feeling as though if the entire world could experience what we just had, it might inspire world peace.

Be sure to order the wagyu—it’s an absolute must and a true indulgence!“