50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South Pasadena

“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!“

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

“The food is amazing and they have pictures of every item when you scan the QR code. So if you are not used to this type of food this is a great place to come and know what you're getting. Very friendly and welcoming to westerns like me.“

“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.“

“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“

“Amazing place. A real gem and great find. The mackerel bento tier 2 was amazing. The fish was butter and crispy. All the vegetables were so tasty too. The area it’s in is a bit rough, but this place is worth it. The inside is decorated nicely and it’s a nice atmosphere. The staff was nice and the even gave us cute holiday cookies. Can’t wait to visit again“

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

“The food was excellent. We had the salmon roll and rainbow sushi (highly recommend the salmon roll) as well as the chicken curry and gyoza. The quality of the food was very high and flavorful!

It's very rare that you go to a restaurant and know that the staff loves the restaurant. There was one person running the entire front of the house, but she was always genuinely smiling and at the end of our meal gave us cookies that her and her brother (the cook) had as children!

We especially enjoyed the little slice of history this restaurant is a part of!“

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

“I had Japanese breakfast w/ miso black cod, it was tasty.“

“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!“

“This might be the best restaurant in LA. The service was phenomenal from start to finish. Our waiter was bright, engaged when needed, and provided everything we needed. Great ambiance with this nice, lo-fi synth.
But the best part about this place is the food. This is some of the best food in LA, if not the best. We got the shishito peppers and crispy rice, handrolls, sea bass and steak, eggplant, and cheesecake. Everything was fantastic. Perfectly timed out of the kitchen. Every dish bursted with flavors that complimented each other. The dessert wasn't too sweet. The Kitsune is also an incredible old fashioned.“

“The absolute nicest people run this tiny shop and they have the freshest sushi for the price. It is so clear they care about the food and their customers. I love love love this place and can’t recommend it enough. I got the salmon and albacore rolls at different times and they were amazing. Thank you to this wonderful team!“

“An Arts District gem. This food blew our minds, we stopped in for a quick bite and everything we had was an absolute 10. Will be coming back to try more of the menu but highlights we had:

- seaweed salad
- spicy tuna crispy rice
- lobster pasta (incredible)
- chicken skewer

Friendly, knowledgeable service, great ambiance, definitely worth a visit!“

“Dear Troy,

Your service impeccable, your smile inviting
You made our night and us feel so at home.
Thank you for allll of that wonderful house sriracha and night. Until next time
We will be back“

“Kaminari specializes in Utsunomiya-style gyoza, a pan-fried dumpling that uses a paper-thin wrapper. In Japan, Utsunomiya is a town known for gyoza paired with experimental and non-traditional ingredients

🍽 The first gyoza bar in LA all the way from Utsunomiya Japan!

FOOD 4/5
- Yaki gyoza which is pan fried
- Sui gyoza boiled gyoza in clear pork soup w/green onions = LOVE THIS!

SERVICE 3.5/5
Kinda had a weird vibe from the staff members here. Just wasn't the friendliest or authentic.

PARKING 4/5
Parking in the perimeter of J-twn“

“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!“

“This was our third time dining at Eigikutei and we were just as pleased this time as we were with our maiden experience. We were favored with our personal favorite of the sushi kaiseki Yawaragi (10-piece sushi). All the separate elements of the course melded perfectly for our palette. The service was attentive and on que with our pacing of eating. And the ambience was quiet serenity. We highly recommend dining at Eigikutei for any fine dining connoisseur!“

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

“We dined at their SM North Edsa branch. Good food. 👌 Crews were accommodating. 💯“

“Suehiro Mini review:

Suehiro Mini is a cozy, casual spot known for its authentic Japanese cuisine, especially sushi and ramen. The flavors are fresh and well-balanced, with generous portions. The staff is friendly and helpful, creating a welcoming vibe. It’s a great choice for a quick, satisfying meal with quality ingredients. Prices are reasonable, making it popular among locals and visitors alike.

If you want details on a particular dish or experience, let me know!“

“My new favorite Japanese restaurant. Portions are pretty big and food is flavorful. Try the salmon teriyaki and mixed tempura. Service is excellent, and staff is friendly. They have a wide selection of alcoholic beverages too if you’re looking for that. Family friendly.“

“Food and service were fine; we would consider return visits. However, indoor dining was much to noisy, we could barely hear each other talk over the din...painfully noisy because I had to adjust my hearing aids to the max volume using the restaurant noise reduction setting just to hear bits and pieces of intelligible conversation. Otherwise, I would only be able to hear noise. It took a few hours after leaving for my hearing to recover. We would only return during warmer weather so we could sit outside, where there's not the sound bouncing off of all the hard surfaces.“

“Sushi is delicious here and always fresh - this is our fave spot in Blossom Market Hall! Great quality food, friendly service, and decent prices given the portion sizes and quality.

I’ve tried the Dragon Roll and the Tiger Roll and loved them both. The Tiger Roll has plain cooked shrimp, shrimp tempura, crab and cucumber with a lovely mix of sauces over the top. The Dragon Roll has spicy salmon, shrimp tempura, crab, cucumber and onion also with delectable sauces on top.

The Dragon Roll was the winner for sure - the spicy salmon on top was some of the best I’ve had - not surprised it’s one of their best sellers.

Their rolls are quite large - more than enough for one person per roll and the prices are very decent. Their combos are pretty huge and an excellent bargain. We got my FIL a combo C and a Blossom Roll to go on our last visit - I was impressed by the presentation and he loved them both. Will have to try one next time!

Service was efficient and very welcoming. Order at the counter and they’ll give you a buzzer. The vibe in the market hall is lively and inviting - with lots of seating options and promising dessert choices once you’ve finished your dinner. Sushi Rolland is right inside the main entrance and there’s plenty of free parking on site.“

“The flavors of all the food was amazing.... everything on the menu was intriguing , I wish I tried it all!“

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

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

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

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“

“Best sushi on the West Side ❤️“

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

“Really good food. Came in during the SILENT HILL F collab, the line was extremely long but what would you expect. Giving it a 5/5 because regardless the service was quick and efficient! Both treats offered were so good, social media was making people believe they tasted weird but nope. It’s for a certain audience to say in short. Love love love!!“

“The experience was amazing. Husband and I made reservations for Valentine's Day. They had our table ready before we arrived. Service was amazing. Everything was organized. Food was top notch and it's definitely worth it. Will come back.“

“Its a must try experience. Everything is made on the spot.
You can taste how fresh and authentic every bite is. Nothing is rushed, flavors and textures are perfect.
Customer service is exceptional and the ambient is a chill ambient that allows you to talk with some background music without it being over bearing.
10/10 will come back.“

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

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

“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.“

“The sushi was a bit pricy but we still enjoyed it. Duo Yellowtail Roll was my favorite! Ordered chicken meatballs skewers as an appetizer, surprisingly was good considering this is a sushi spot. The drinks were not very strong, tasted almost like juice lol. Loved the ambiance, it was decorated for the holiday with a Christmas tree and lights.“

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

“ABSOLUTELY the BEST ramen I have ever had!!! The service is amazing, the fried pumpkin... off the hook!!! Spring rolls, yaaasssss!! I had the King Ramen...whoaaaaa! Daaaaammnnn!! You will NOT be disappointed. Thanks to the owners for the great experience.“

“Absolutely incredible vegan dishes and top notch service! We stumbled on Rice when looking for vegan options; so happy we did! Dishes we tried: vegan crisp rice sampler, miso soup, garlic edamame, homemade ginger ale and the crispy dynamite role vegan. Everything was so good! The ginger ale was next level - highly recommend! We got homemade pickled ginger with the roll and it was unbelievably tasty and fresh. The miso soup was a nice surprise as most are not vegan; a broth that built upon each sip and the tofu was also homemade. The crispy dynamite vegan roll had such a unique and deep flavor - more smokey than spicy. I can't recommend the food enough. Thank you to the chef and for the exceptional service. What a treat!!“

“Cute homey Japanese vibes. It’s a small restaurant so I can see there’d be a wait on busy days. Luckily we only had to wait about 5 min. The menu is straightforward. Comfort Japanese dishes. Service was great, they’re super nice and very attentive!

The tempura was good, sauce was great too. Katsu was fried perfectly, sauce was tangy and fantastic, just wish the pork was more moist/tender. Karaage was just okay, probably wouldn’t order it again, most of the flavor came from the sauce. My dad loved his eel bowl set, flavored and cooked well. My katsudon bowl was delicious, again katsu was a little dry, togarashi is a must with this bowl. And the cold soba noodles were great, the sauce dip was perfectly seasoned and noodles were perfect texture, very refreshing to eat.

Parking - small free lot! We had no issues getting parking.“

“I've never had a bad experience at Azabu. It's our fave date night dinner so we had to try it out on Valentine's Day. They had 2 pre fix menus available and it was the best experience. Our server, Rashawn (not sure on the spelling) was great. He was very attentive and took care of me since I have a raw shellfish allergy. Drinks and vibes were amazing as always.“

“good recommmend for eveyone“

“The food is excellent. If you are in the area, go eat here. I knew the price was worth it right away when I saw the food. And I did not regret it after eating. For the around same price as other restaurants that give me thin slices of eel, Yume gave me basically the whole eel. I am amazed and grateful. I think this is an honest, authentic restaurant with high quality food.“

“There used to be in a Marugame near my college, but it has disappeared and since then, I’ve been yearning for it. Marugame’s noodles are bouncy and the soup rich in fishy flavor. I love the ability to tempura, but my tempura was a little too soggy in the breading. But overall, loved the experience and the food“