50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South Pasadena

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

“The restaurant has a beautiful interior and a pleasant atmosphere. Everything looked clean and well-kept, making it a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a meal. I really liked the space and how inviting it felt.
For the food I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. The ramen was a little too rich and greasy for my taste, which made it feel heavy. I would have enjoyed it more if the broth had been lighter. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere more than the food, but it’s a lovely setting for a meal.“

“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.“

“Came here on a pure whim. Was planning to just get Pollo Loco, but spotted them, immediately decided to get a chicken katsu curry, and it was sublime. Service was pretty quick, and the presentation was excellent also. However, there's not a lot of interaction with staff, they want you to browse the menu and order on your phone, they just deliver the food. And, maybe as a result, there's not a lot of atmosphere either, felt a little fast foodish. But the food itself is well worth the visit.“

“Food is great. My kids love Rice and Nori. The service is Meh, what little there is of it. You wait in line to get to the register, place your order (only one register so not much patience from staff or other patrons if you are not a regular and know how to order - lol, I'm a regular now, so I'm safe now), then you're asked for payment and a tip (normal these days, I guess). Then you go find a seat somewhere, inside or out. But the tables are usually a but dirty as there is not much in the way of staff outside the preparation area. They provide Baby Wipes for you to bus your own table (thankfully most of the patrons are considerate and don't leave big messes). Then you better have someone near the counter to listen for your order, because they don't come find you.

Anyway, only explaining why I gave 3 stars for Service and Atmosphere, but 5 stars for the food. They food is yummy, and the kids liove it. I will say that the rice balls are a bit RICE heavy, but its a solid snack, and again, tastes great, and the kiddos love it.“

“I visited once and had a great experience. The shrimp was fresh, the ingredients tasted great, and the poke was really flavorful. The portion was generous, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I'd definitely come back to try it again.“

“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!“

“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.“

“I highly recommend this restaurant. Great food and great service.“

“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.“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

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

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

“Exceptional food! Hamachi collar, red snapper soup! And sushi. Authentic; which is why it was so good!“

“Sushi Gen is simply the best sushi spot I’ve found in California and honestly, the only place in the U.S. that has ever reminded me of the sushi I’ve had in Japan.

I discovered this place a few years ago, and I still remember how happy I was after my first visit. I had been looking for that same freshness and quality I loved so much in Japan, and Sushi Gen was the first place where I genuinely felt like I found it.

I’ve been back many times since, and it has never disappointed me. The quality is consistently exceptional, the fish is incredibly fresh. One of those rare places I can recommend without hesitation.“

“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.“

“Tench is a gem of a restaurant. The shabu shabu experience is a unique culinary experience and Tensho does it right. The dishes that are part of the meal are delectable and always different. It is always a special night at Tensho. There is no place quite like it in LA - it is very special. An evening in Japan!“

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

“Service is amazing and the reason to get here. Big shout out to Miss Angela!! Attentive and such good energy! We ended up making late night 10:30pm happy hour. Sushi is yum. Wished they had just ref yellowtail vs spicy. And maybe different apps that are more traditional izakaya kind. Parking near by at the $4 lot or train it! Clean and inviting and just all around ppl who love their jobs. Ya feel their good vibes. For an izakaya, that’s definitely what makes the experience!“

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

“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 best Japanese curry in LA, and we have tried a lot of places, believe me!!! Has options for vegetarians and vegans too! The miso soup comes with a lot of the meals and it's so good too. The staff know us now and they are all lovely! It's pretty small inside so probably not the best for a super big group but great for a more intimate night out and of course take out as well!“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“Yama Sushi Market Place has many locations in LA, tried all different locations, love them all. I usually do not give five stars for rating, but for this one, they deserve the 5 star. The fish is extremely fresh with reasonable price. It will cost three or four times more if you order the exact same varieties of fish from restaurants . They also have a very good variety of sake to select from. The Otoro, the fatty tuna melts in your mouth. Hamachi was extremely fresh. Salmon was exceptional. California roll was so yummy with soft rice. Definitely recommend.“

“The best everything…so, Go!“

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

“I came in for lunch to grab a quick snack and get some editing done on my phone. I just ordered a sake cocktail that they made delicious! And i also ordered the chicken meatball skewer, which came paired with egg to dip and I loved that sweet with salty combination so much! I would say I couldnt really get any work done on my phone as I don’t believe its a work friendly place although the tables are great to do so. They dont have outlets anywhere near the tables so if you need to charge your laptop or phone here is impossible to do unless behind the bar.
I just ready a book for a bit and enjoyed my cocktail and snack. I do think the atmosphere is more of a come in with friends and share a meal and gossip a bit. Or for dinner I think its also a great spot. I loved what i tried although it wasnt much. I would come again with a friend to have some cocktails and some snacks as the food and drinks were really delicious!“

“This place is SOOO GOOD!! My friend and I got the spicy tuna and California rolls to split. They come with 12 pieces each and theyre such a good size. We also got the spam musubi and its DELICIOUS! So flavorful and the staff were very very lovely. I recommend ordering before you get there, so the staff have enough time to put love and care into your meal!!! :] I highly recommend this place!!! 😋“

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

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

“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“

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“

“first impression; wow!
service was nothing but attentive and top tier.
food was brought to our table as soon as it was ordered. every intention of returning to try the specialty rolls I was too full to try this time.

the jalapeno bomb roll was everything I could've dreamed of.“

“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.“

“Needed something easy to eat for the road trip back to the Bay Area, so I thought a Japanese sando would be perfect—especially craving a tamago sando with whole soft-boiled eggs.

Located in a bit of a hole-in-the-wall spot in LA Chinatown, and it was surprisingly hard to find due to the lack of signage. I actually walked past it twice and had to ask a street vendor before realizing I was basically right in front of it.

Turns out they no longer offer the tamago sando (used to be a breakfast special), so I went with the egg salad sandwich instead and luckily got it on BOGO since they were clearing extra inventory.

I also ordered the chicken katsu, which took about 10 minutes to prepare—but it was worth the wait. Super tender and moist, with a great ratio of cabbage, sauce, and bread. It was a bit large, so I had to flatten it slightly to make it easier to bite into.

I do wish I had asked for extra katsu sauce on the side since I prefer mine a bit sweeter and more saucy.

Not sure why they don’t offer online ordering coz the 10-min wait was a bit awkward with no one else in the store and nowhere to sit“

“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!“

“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.“

“Came here for lunch and got their lunch special cold udon + mini (beef) curry rice set.

Starting off with the curry. It was very tasty and flavorful, rice was cooked well. The beef was also very tender and juicy. However, I wish the flavor of the curry permeated more into the beef as the beef tasted a little underseasoned.

I love cold noodles on a hot day, and I tend to prefer my noodles a little softer. The cold udon was served at the perfect temperature, but texture wise was a little on the al dente side. It was chewy but bordering a little too chewy/ hard. I wish it was cooked for 30-60s longer! Other than that, flavor of he broth was good.

The lunch set was a good amount of food and I left feeling full (couldnt finish my rice as it was too much carbs). Service is good and the restaurant was not too crowded when I was there. Would love to come back again to support a local restaurant and try out other stuff on their menu!“

“Second time here and the food and service were just as good as the first time!

We literally just left, but the service tonight was so top notch that I had to leave a review and give the staff a shoutout. We brought our kids this time and everyone was so nice and attentive. Even my son said, “Everyone there is so nice!” which pretty much says it all.

We tried a bunch of things we didn’t get last time, and the Katsu Caesar Salad was definitely our favorite this time. Everything we ordered was so good.

My husband is vegan and the rest of us aren’t, so we love finding a place where he has plenty of options and the rest of us can enjoy everything too. Such a great spot and definitely one we’ll keep coming back to! Worth the drive for us“

“It was Absolutely delicious!“

“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.“

“Protect RICE at all costs!!! As a celiac it’s amazing to have a GF sushi option, especially a high quality one. I would happily eat here even if I didn’t have to avoid gluten. Their food is delicious and the staff is very accommodating. Have been twice already and will be going back again very soon.“

“Service was amazing. The owners were there and served us personally. The spicy tuna roll was amazing and they were able to make it Gluten Free for me. It is a smaller place inside so seating might be limited. The butterfish nigiri was to die for! We will be back.“

“Such a great sushi spot in San Gabriel! Everything we tried was fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend the Six Flags Roll and the gyozas both were so good! The service was great, the staff was super friendly and the ambiance was really nice. Definitely a place I’d come back to! 🍣✨“

“Best Japanese Food in Whittier“

“I've visited this restaurant four times now, and the experience has consistently been great. The food and service quality are excellent, and the staff is incredibly accommodating. When one of us mentioned not eating raw fish, they prepared several complimentary cooked dishes to ensure we left satisfied. While I have noticed that portion sizes seem slightly smaller than before, I still left feeling full. The kaiseki and shabu are must-tries, and I am already looking forward to returning for their sukiyaki.“

“The atmosphere and the people were very nice. The food tasted very good. I tried the shrimp tempura udon the udon itself was very delicious and I enjoyed the fish flakes used in it only thing that I’m docking a point from food is it only came with two pieces of shrimp tempura.“

“Food is legit!
We tried the pan fried and deep fried pork gyoza and both were fire.
Don’t miss out on the daikon and gobo.
Noodles tasted home made.
The staff and owners (I think) were super friendly and attentive. They were amazing!“

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

“Amazing! Will definitely come again! The food was so good and customer service was so amazing! :) the decoration of this place is so cute and amazing to look at the person who attended us was so sweet and definitely treated us so kindly and kept up with us making sure we were always doing well. I would definitely recommend coming here for the vibes, food, and sweet service.“