50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South Pasadena

“Solid ramen, sushi and other dishes. Good portions as well. Service was efficient though a bit impersonal...but as long as my water is getting refilled before having to ask, etc. I can do without friendliness. I'm 99% positive my mom and I had been to the Montrose location a few years back and had a very positive experience as well. Definitely would go back to either location. We went on Saturday of Mother's Day weekend for a later lunch with a group of 6 and there was no wait.“

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

“I recently tried Katsu Jin and was really impressed. The cheese katsu was super aesthetic when it came out—crispy on the outside with that perfect cheesy pull, and just as good as it looked.

The tempura had an ideal crunch—light, not greasy, and fried perfectly. You can tell they pay attention to the details.

I also ordered the soba noodles, and they were spot on. The texture was perfect, and the soba dipping sauce was delicious—light, refreshing, and balanced everything really well.

Overall, a great spot if you’re craving quality Japanese comfort food with solid execution across the board.“

“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.“

“Rice and Nori is truly a gem of a spot! Staff are always friendly with their counter service and food wait times can vary, but is worth the wait. They have indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy. They have a wide variety of rice balls and handrolls. I have tried almost all the fillings and you honestly cannot go wrong with any of them!“

“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.“

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was delicious. However, the service was disappointing. Our server was condescending and repeatedly interrupted our moment by crossing between us without a word. When I asked about drinks, she was short and even gave inaccurate descriptions. This is my second visit, and both times with the same server have left a sour taste. I hope the service improves because the food deserves better! This is my second visit, and both times with the same brunette server, whose attitude left a sour taste.“

“Our server Kevin was very nice and understanding towards our needs and questions. He was super nice and making us feel very at home and helped us decide what to eat. He even gave us his honest opinions on a lot of stuff which helped spend the best money on Chubby Cattle. I highly recommend coming here for the food, since all the meat was super good, cooked tenderly by the cooks if it comes pre cooked, the prices are good, and especially, coming here for our server Kevin.“

“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!“

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

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“Bento boxes are of great quality here. The attention to detail of this curated meal definitely lets your eyes feast first. All the little sides taste amazing, especially the candied sweet potatoes. The vegetables alternate between sweet and salty to balance out the meal. The Scottish salmon and mackerel are cooked to perfection. The little yolk in the rice also adds a nice touch to mix in and eat.“

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

“I got in pretty much as soon as they open, so I got the special opportunity to get to talk to Kristine. After a lovely conversation and delicious food, I left feeling so full and at peace. The tempura was crispy and airy, the rice was perfectly cooked, the fish in the sushi tasted fresh. I cannot recommend visiting here enough. I am sure it can get busy, as the place is small, but I think that is part of its charm: meeting with a group of strangers for a good meal and a moment of peace before heading back into the world.“

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

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

“This was easily some of the best sushi I've ever had in the U.S. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, high quality, and full of amazing flavor. Yes, it was on the pricier side, but honestly, every penny felt justified. It's rare for a meal to leave such a strong impression, but this one truly stood out. From the first bite to the last, it was an unforgettable experience that I would happily pay for again.“

“Wow! I’ve been enjoying Japanese food for years, but this place really got me to sit up. Simple ordinary dishes like udon noodles or a hand California roll were unusually good. Meanwhile, the lamb chop skewer, and the nacho poke combo were unusual, and also scrumptious.“

“I recently had the chance to dine at Sama Handroll in the Arts District, and it exceeded my expectations. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding, and every hand roll was prepared with great attention to detail. The menu offers a creative mix of traditional Japanese flavors and unique dishes that set it apart from other sushi spots.
The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern, welcoming, and perfect for either a casual dinner or a night out with friends.
A few standout items were the hand rolls, grilled dishes, and the excellent presentation throughout the meal. It's clear that a lot of care goes into both the food and the guest experience.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for high-quality sushi and hand rolls in Los Angeles. I'll definitely be back.“

“The tuna and salmon sushi rolls that Te and Lisa served me this evening were absolutely fantastic. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned, had firm texture, and was expertly sliced. The sushi rice and vegetables in the roll were tasty. Te and Lisa kindly explained my sushi roll options and obviously put their heart and soul into make awesome rolls for me. I can’t wait to come back here on my next trip to LA— hopefully with my wife so that she can experience this exceptional sushi and service too.“

“HATCH is a fantastic place that combines a welcoming atmosphere with high-quality food and excellent service. The space is modern, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, creating a great environment for a relaxed meal. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, with every dish prepared with attention to detail and quality ingredients. The staff was friendly, attentive, and professional, making sure that every part of the experience was enjoyable. Service was efficient, and the overall atmosphere felt warm and inviting. I was impressed by the consistency, hospitality, and care that went into every aspect of the visit. I would highly recommend HATCH to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience and look forward to returning again soon.“

“This place oozes character and craft. An excellent assortment of dishes all with unique elements to surprise you. The sashimi specials we tried were all unique and delicious. Feel free to go with staff recommendations, you won't be disappointed. A laid back atmosphere with excellent punk decor, superb service, and food I'm still thinking about.“

“If there was an option to give 100 stars I would give this place all of them. Food 10/10 buffalo wings , miso soup, crispy tofu miso soup, avocado crisp rice, yam yam sushi.. all so good, great ambience and our waiter and waitress so kind and helpful . Thank you“

“One of the freshest—if not the best—sushi marketplaces in town! Yama Sushi Marketplace is a small shop that is always packed with locals looking to satisfy their sushi cravings, and after my first visit, I can definitely see why.

The store offers an impressive selection of Japanese goodies, including ramen, condiments, fresh sashimi, and a wide variety of sushi rolls. There are so many options and combinations to choose from. If you are looking for sashimi, head to the back of the store where they have conveniently packaged fish sold by the pound, and they will happily slice it for you. Or, if you are in a hurry, you can grab their freshly made sushi rolls from the refrigerators.

On my visit, I picked up ahi tuna, salmon, and yellowtail sashimi, along with California rolls and tuna rolls. Every piece of fish was incredibly fresh with a buttery texture and amazing flavor. The quality of the fish and the perfectly seasoned sushi rice were so good that I barely needed any soy sauce or wasabi.

I only recently discovered this hidden gem, but it has already become a place I will be visiting regularly. The sushi is high quality, reasonably priced, and absolutely delicious. If you are a sushi lover, Yama Sushi Marketplace is definitely worth checking out!“

“The service, the food, the environment and the kindness and efficiency of our server tonight! 😋👍“

“Just stop here and eat you won’t regret it . Did not disappoint one bit . The noodles were cooked just right , the flavor was great and the prices were reasonable for the serving size . Try the kimchi ramen 🍜 . Thank you for making our day more enjoyable. We are happy we stopped here to bad we only came to Hollywood for mini vacation.“

“Came in for a conference and had lunch at Momi Sushi after checking into our hotel. We tried the sashimi sampler, miso soup, fish of the day nigiri and the tamago nigiri. Everything was incredibly fresh, accented with light complimentary flavors. I loved the dine-in ice bowls for the sashimi. Well worth it. If we have time before we have to go home, we will definitely be back.“

“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“

“Our favorite sushi place. We make the drive to come eat here. It’s always so welcoming and delicious. Every burrito I’ve tried was so good and they have so many options. I love the owners. They are so nice and I love seeing them when we come in!“

“A great spot in Little Tokyo that specializes in gyoza! I really enjoyed the food here and it’s at a good cost as well. The service is friendly and kind too. The dumpling soup was my favorite especially when the temperature drops at night. You get to choose your filling and can either get steamed or pan fried. The bento box is a great deal here too. Good spot for sharing food with friends!“

“I ordered for the first time from this place tonight via Uber Eats, and I got the chicken yakisoba. It was amazinggg. I was able to customize my order... It was a great portion, the noodles tasted fresh, the veggies were cooked well, and the chicken was seasoned really good. I choose the medium spicy level which was perfect. I will be ordering again🔥“

“Highly commendable service and absolutely stunning set menu! we went here for dinner last night for our Halloween date night! Their wagyu cuts are 100% top-grade and not just random "wagyu" that are below the marks. We tried their A5 and M9 meats, not to mention their salmon carpaccio that is to die for. Their sides are absolutely delicious and smart, one great example is their fried pork buns that is like a spin on soup dumplings. To top it off, you get premium ice cream in the end. Their salad is so good with yuzu and smokey salt, plus you get a chili mix too. They serve the meats fast plus your tablet menu is in front of you so you don't have to keep calling the staff to refill. I give them 9 stars! 🌟 🐄 🥩“

“Fresh sashimi, cozy atmosphere & friendly staff! A must visit Japanese dining restaurant in Pico Rivera :)“

“Best sando ever! I got the spicy sansho pepper pork sando and it was fire! So good! Highly recommend!“

“Meet quality really nice to me Good service!“

“I’ve been hoping a place would come along to give me a riceball fix and this is absolutely it! Delicious & perfect for after school or work bite! Friendly staff clean and chill hip atmosphere. I hope nothing but the best for this place!“

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

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

“It was Absolutely delicious!“

“Excellent service, great food, too bad there wasn't extra room in the parking area.😊😊“

“Delicious and freshly prepared food 🥘“

“Amazing food and experience, servers were helpful and friendly especially because I had NO IDEA how to do this. You get water and spices/ sauces, meats and proteins and veggies, and make your own dish. So cool and the food was just incredible.“

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

“Authentic Japanese food! The chef was Japanese! Not fake Japanese restaurant. People are nice. 😊
Sushi was great! We had Kanpachi, halibut, amaebi, uni, engawa and oysters, agedashi.
Everything was delicious. they didn’t let me down. Thank you for nice dinner 🍽“

“Wa is a lovely restaurant with excellent service and delicious sushi. My girlfriend and I come here pretty regularly and are always treated wonderfully by Hara, whose got an amazing memory. We come for date nights , work lunches, birthdays and especially when it’s raining and you need some udon. Reasonably priced, quaint ambience and now that the in n out fixed their parking, it’s easier to get to.“

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“

“I’ve been coming to sushi rolland for a while now, and I’d say, I’m pretty satisfied! I’ve been impressed by the freshness of the their fish, especially their salmon. I LOVE salmon, and their salmon is buttery and very good quality. For their price and quality, I’d say it’s definitely worth it. I’ve tried their salmon delight, crunch roll, dragon roll, blossom roll, salmon avocado combo, combo an and combo c. I tried out their new menu today, the salmon crunch, and I really liked it (apologies for the half eaten picture). Might be my new go to menu item. I really the fried onions on there. I always like getting their miso soup, such a good combination with the sushi. Highly recommend their combo plate, especially combo A!“

“Best sushi on the West Side ❤️“