50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Duarte

“The workers are all so kind! Especially the woman with the bob. She was very beautiful on the inside and out. You can tell she wanted you to just have a good time eating there. My friends and I came and she was so sweet to all of us. Thank you for being sweet to us and letting us have a good time. :)“

“Went back this week and glad I did. Ordered a bento box, lots of tasty food and definitely worth the money. There was enough teriyaki for two meals. I'm accustomed to a different cut of meat for beef teriyaki so was surprised but enjoyed the flavor. LOVED the super crunchy not greasy tempura! I ordered to go so didn't each for about 15 mins. Tempura was crunchy to the last bite of the last piece! Also had the spicy salmon sushi, which I found quite good. I'll definitely go back and try other menu items. Staff was welcoming and kind. The sushi chef greeted each person as they arrived and thanked each when they left. Great service!“

“I'm impressed. One sushi chef, one kitchen guy and one server is all they need. Decided to try this place on a whim and so happy I did after work one day. Tried the two roll special for $23.50 includes the two rolls and a miso soup. Great deal and guys the scorpion roll is the best thing you will ever put in your mouth. Highly recommend! Friendly service and very attentive. I had to unbutton my pants because I ate every morsel of my food including the yellowfin tartare!“

“Delicious and fresh seafood every time. The platters were amazing and the prices are very reasonable. The shop is filled with all types of snacks and additional sides to complete your meal. All the staff and chefs are super nice and very helpful. We went with Platter F & G.“

“My husband and I are creatures of habit but we decided to try this ramen spot out for the first time. The servers were super friendly and fast. The chicken karaage and ramen came out hot! They also gave us complimentary edamame, which is cool. I'm definitely going to tell our friends and family about this little spot. Plus, the cat robot who runs the food was entertaining to watch.“

“Sushi Kisen continues to punch well above its weight and it is 1/3 the price for the same quality as some of the now outrageously expensive sushi places in LA.For about $120, our omakase today included about 10 courses and 2 additional pieces we selected at the end. The quality of the nigiri is self-evident, particularly with the chutoro and the Nemuro uni. Another particular favorite was shiro-ebi. The chef confirmed that it is from Toyama. It should be mentioned that some pieces are ever so slightly on the saltier side (I confirmed that they do season with a drop of salt on some pieces), which I ended up liking but it might be a surprise to some. Extra points for the shari, which was flavorful on its own without taking away from the fish. I also highly recommend asking the chef if they have any seasonal items. We were very pleasantly surprised by our tsuika orders.When I do not have the time to enjoy an omakase at the bar, I would recommend their chirashi bowls.“

“Robots are distracting and loud at times and I prefer personal service. Food innovative and delicious. New/trainee waitress hesitant and seemed overwhelmed which allowed for more conversation. Things amiss are easily fixable: owner & staff stepped in, generously compensated and cared for us. The food is well worth it and we will return again & again.“

“Decided to try a new place as I’ve been on a hunt for a good local sushi place and wow…….taste, presentation and service get 5 stars from me. Everything we need tried impressed me so much that I can’t wait to go back.The owner is also a seasoned sushi chef and he is there making the sushi which makes a world of difference.Like I said, I found my favorite spot ?“

“Wow! What a wonderful experience! We had an early dinner on a Thursday evening to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was busy, but we were sat almost right away. The ambiance of the restaurant is the first thing that hit me. It was very dark, but in comforting way. It is a very small place. The server walked us through their choices and we were immediately served. We chose their silver level. The bone marrow and toast was crazy delicious. It was full of umami flavor. It was the perfect way to start off. We ordered the spicy miso and the house broth. Both were great. The spicy miso wasn't too spicy at the beginning, but rather rich and flavorful. It did build on the spice level when it became a bit more concentrated. The house was mild and light. These soups were refilled at appropriate times as well. The meats that were served with this were melt in your mouth amazing and only took a second to cook. The veggie platter that accompanied it was a nice assortment. They also had a serve your self rice/ condiment bar. It was very clean and had a great assortment of sauces. My favorite was mixing the sesame with a bit of soy sauce and spicy chilies. It also included eggs, rice and minced beef. We had three rounds of the amazing meat and finished up the veggies. We finished our meal with the green tea ice cream at the self serve station. It is a bit pricy, but worth every penny in my opinion. I can't wait to come back.Parking: Parking in the lot right in front of the restaurant was available for an early dinner on a Thursday. They also have parking around the back of the building as well.“

“All kinds of foods from Akasaka sushi restaurant are always Hugh! Big! more n more foods coming!!! Particularly the Hugh sizes for hand rolls, Big volume for sashimi, even the lunch combinations.... Fish's are so freshly and smell good!! Tasty and delicious are guaranteed.... One of the best sushi shop in the area!! Services are good enough n right on... could be more effective but the restaurant is so busy all the times..!! Simple n classic Japanese style small petite sushi shop designed...“

“Awesome place to get some great tasting ramen! The restaurant was nicely decorated, the staff extremely friendly and of course, the food tasted great. We had the veggie king ramen with an egg add on and spice level 3. Very good. I would definitely add a higher spice next time I go. They have a cool custom menu that you fill out while waiting in line to stream line the process. Big fan of the organization! Highly recommend.“

“Mazesoba Hero's signature Lemon chicken karage is absolutely amazing?! It's crispy and tender and juicy! Every spoonful was a satisfying experience! karage maintained its crispiness even when immersed in the sauce.I recommend trying their Chicken Karage Mazesoba Ramen to anyone seeking a unique and delicious ramen experience.Yum! Yum!“

“Probably the best place I've tried sushi. Large portions and excellent prices. As a fairly big guy, I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't finish two regular plates. The service is top-notch. My best wishes to this establishment“

“Honestly, was amazed at how good the sushi / sashimi was at this place. Didn't expect it from a food hall. WAY better quality tasting food than a more legit mid-level sushi places. Highly recommend coming here just for this. We got another roll to go because it was so good.“

“We came here on a weekday evening at around 6pm and had no wait. They have only one option for dining at this Chubby Cattle location, which is an AYCE menu including Wagyu, pork, seafood, appetizers like Wagyu tartare and salmon carpaccio, rice, sushi and soup. For $65.99 (non-member price) per person, you definitely get what you pay for here!“

“The Bento Box for Lunch was huge! Be prepared with an appetite! Sushi roll was good but not amazing...got the spicy tuna roll with the box and it's was bland. But the rest of food was great! Service was really good and attentive but not in your face or anything. I would definitely go back!“

“After success with the jajiang noodles, I had to try the stall right next door. Inside the fantastic Hmart market, is Kazu Mori. I’d say Katsu is there specialty with pork and chicken. I had the pork tonkatsu with curry. Huge portions and so good. I actually thought I was a bit pricey bit after I saw the quality and portions, I reconsider. Also, not a Bricks and mortar saves a bit.I think the key is to get a bunch of people and order two or three items from each stall. The choice are fantastic.“

“Delicious and Great service. Down to there well kept silverware and Dishes Thank you clean up crew in the Shadows.Kid-friendliness: Anything that lights up a spark on your food makes for a Cool Post.Wheelchair accessibility: Comes with clearance for both,E-scooters and Wheel chairs.“

“The chef is the same from Wahoo Chaya. So long story short- the sushi is phenomenal as it was prior. I bring my wife and son here all the time and also invite other family members. I order the a la cart cut rolls such as the the albacore roll and the yellow tell. Sometimes I will order it either of them spicy. My wife loves the rainbow roll, baked mussels, and fresh oysters. My son who is two mind you like the temura udon and the rainbow roll. Yes he loves sushi. Usually our bill is around 100 including tip. If we invite others it is more. You will not be disappointed coming here. A true gem.“

“This place is super duper delicious. It's clean and staff is nice. Most importantly the food is fresh and great tasting. The portions are big and filling. My favorite is the bento box. The chicken teriyaki is fresh and seasoned to perfection.“

“Popped in here because the Bento photos looked so appealing. They did not disappoint. We enjoyed a ton of tasty food (could easily have fed two a normal meal) served by the friendliest staff! The tayaki were a little gummy in the center but maybe that's intentional? We will definitely stop by again when we are in the area! Limited seating but we easily got a spot for an early dinner.“

“Excellent food! A wonderful family run restaurant. My whole family goes crazy for their crab Rangoon and shrimp and veggie tempura. The golden shrimp dumpling curry is also amazing. They just expanded the menu, very excited to try more dishes. Have never been disappointed, and very friendly staff and owners!Vegetarian options: Lots of dishes can be made with tofu“

“First time here it was really good I will definitely be back!I had the Benito Box Teriyaki BeefIt took a little bit to get my order, but they were busy at lunch ? The Benito Box was enough for my lunch and dinnerParking: Lots of parking in lot“

“Sushi Land has been with my family since young. Staff is the kindest you'll ever meet and the fish is fresher than day. Constant updates with the sashimi . Love this place from the bottom of my heart. Go before the place gets busy. I prefer lunch time personally. I recommend this place completely.“

“I do not eat ramen. This day I ate ramen. Didn't really try the noodles but I enjoyed the broth and pork. Rdawg got his spicy And me and the boy settled for mild which still had a hint of spice. They have huge yummy onigiri. Salmon, radish, stew pork, and tuna We will be back even though Rdawg says the broth is not rich in flavor as hiro nori.“

“On a Sunday afternoon in March, my sister wanted to try the Japanese pancakes so came here for lunch. We parked in front on the street. Inside interior looks nice with tables and cute stuff at the counter. The staff seem nice and we got seated right away. The menu was easy to read so I ordered gyudon beef with rice and my sister ordered the original soufflé pancakes. My dish came first and everything was really good. Then the 3 pieces of pancakes arrived and it was fluffy and light after I took a bite. Next time I will try other items. I hope they get more business.“

“Oh man it's been a while since I was excited for Japanese food. This place definitely hit the spot on a rainy day. The rubber ducky decor elevated the experience to an 11/10. We ordered the chicken karage, katsudon don, and soba noodles with tempura on the side. Lemme tell you, we were STUFFED. They were hecking busy when we went and everyone's food looked so amazing. Had an immediate food coma after this. Will 100% be coming back.Parking: Corner plaza free parking lot. Free street parking is available.“

“Can't believe it's taken me this long to discover this sushi spot. Sushi and dishes are on point! It's fresh and creative!Service is prompt and polite. The decor is clean, traditional Japanese. There's a small outdoor area. Would definitely be going back. Next time, I want to try their omakase.“

“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.“

“Small cozy place definitely a hidden gem, hand rolls are delicious. Don't forget to pair it with a cold beer. Great fun atmosphere, Margaret & Richie are absolutely the best people around.Kid-friendliness: Margaret & Richie are very helpful and will accommodate to your needs.“

“Great place, reminds me of Japan. Very clean and very friendly staff. The Nigiri Sushi was great and very filling. The Miso was great and the actual tofu chunks were a great sight to see. Definitely a must try and if local I'd be a regular.Arigato Gosaimasu!“

“This is an amazing family run sushi spot. The chef creates some high class sushi and the service is wonderful. We usually order take out and not dine in and on the weekend be sure to get your order in online early. We usually get the top 4 sampler plater. Great deal! Super yummy food.“

“Found this spot after going to the Van Gogh Experience.They open late and amazingly, their food is delicious. Service is good too - a bit busy at 9pm but we got our food quickly. One thing I have to note is that there's a bunch of napkins on the floor by the kitchen and the staff just walk around them, making the place look unkept. Overall, they are still my go to when I'm in the area.“

“Excellent authentic Japanese izakaya restaurant. The biggest saba (grilled mackerel) I've ever seen! Huuuuge. I had the katsu - excellent. My daughter had the BBQ beef skirt teriyaki and I tried a piece and it was delicious. Service was awesome too. The couple who I believe own/run the place were super nice and gracious. A big TV with NBA basketball on - what more could you ask for?“

“This was my very first visit. I am so upset that I have not been here before. I've been depriving myself of their food for so long! The sushi was immaculate. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is very comfortable and has great vibes.“

“I came here on a Sunday lunch and the vibes are great if you want to hang out with a small group of friends or on a easy, casual date. It's not too loud so you can hear your friends. The lunch menu is more limited compared to the dinner menu. I got the Chirashi Regular which came with 8 fat cuts of sashimi, 2 sweet eggs, 1 piece of fried chicken, masago, and seaweed salad all on top of a bed of sushi rice. I loved the sashimi, they were generous cuts. The fish didn't taste as fresh as I would've liked and the fried chicken piece wasn't crispy. The restaurant was clean and the staff were nice and accommodating.“

“Excellent local favorite that offers happy hour every day until 8 p.m. My family loves the fact that it offers some tasty veggie options, including spicy edamame, brussel sprouts and at least three veggie rolls; the Greenie, Crunchy Veggie and the Glendora.It's family owned and all the staff is friendly.Vegetarian options: It offers at least 3 rolls and other items.Parking: Parking is available on the lot for free.“

“As many times as I've eaten here and for take outs, it has been consistent with the freshness, flavor, and service. I had foods for take out for my mum's birthday. She doesn't like to leave for many places so I'm bringing the food to her. I got her the ichima roll, rainbow roll, and the yellowtail delight. And for myself I got the agedashi tofu, baked green mussels and the baked salmon roll. Everything was packed very well and it was still warm when I got home. Everything was delicious!! I would highly recommend their food. It's fresh and delicious!! Service was excellent. They got it all right!!“

“Passed by this several times. I decided to go in last night and I had a great time. I ordered the mixed tempura, shumai and the ribeye with spicy broth. I loved everything. The service was on point, as soon as we were about to enter, the waiter was getting our settings ready. The waitress made sure we had everything we needed.“

“Went for lunch Wednesday. Order a C9 which is sukiyaki and tempura combination. Not many Japanese restaurants offer sukiyaki and this place is one of the best around. A big bonus is the exceptionally nice wait staff. Can't wait to go back again. Forgot to mention that my first time at Sakura was more than forty years ago. I love this place“

“The food is amazing for a very reasonable price, but I think the service differs depending on who's working. The first time I came with my Latina friend and the staff person also appeared to be Latina (she was speaking Spanish to some other customers while we were there); she noticeably treated my friend preferentially and was short with me when I asked questions about the menu and how to order since it was my first time, which ended up making me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Then when I tried to pay, my payment failed the first time so she told me to insert my card again, but she "helped" by tapping on the screen for me and selecting the highest tip for herself without giving me a choice. I told her that wasn't the tip option I wanted to select but she gave me a dirty look and told me I couldn't go back, so I just had to pay the amount she selected or risk making a big fuss. Then she didn't offer me a receipt, which I think is just bad service considering she overcharged me, but maybe it's because she didn't want me to find out her name (since the server name is usually printed on your receipt). When our food came out, my friend's meal was neatly packaged so that she could take it to go, but my poke bowl didn't have a lid on it even though I was also taking it to go, and I had to ask for one, which she also treated like I was being an inconvenience. It was a really off-putting experience.My second time here, I came back with a different friend and ordered the exact same thing because the food quality was great, it was just the service that sucked, so I figured I'd give the place a second chance. Thankfully my second time was a lot better. The server (Michelle, based on my receipt) was very sweet and I didn't experience any problems. So I will probably keep eating here in the future, but I would not like to encounter the rude staff person from my first time again.“

“Huge portions I got the Fried Noodles and Rice combo (not on the menu, small extra charge) and the steak and vegetables. It came in two boxes - one for the noodles and rice and the other just stuffed full of steak and vegetables (cabbage, zucchini) Only 14 dollars I think - with a can of soda The service is great - just one guy, and he's super friendly. Makes the food, gives it to you. I think he's making a lot of stuff to order so that's good - you can hear him chopping stuff fresh. Ambience is non-existent - but you don't care cause you're there for good food for a good price. All in all, a great, fast, inexpensive meal. Just so you know - it's just one guy taking orders and making it, so be nice and be patient. It didn't take very long“

“For the price, the sushi, sashimi, hand rolls and specialty rolls are very good. I wasn't impressed with the Chinese dishes. Many are mainland Chinese style where bones and bone fragments are normal in these dishes, making these hard to eat for someone not used to bite carefully and then spitting out bones in front of guests, etc. It may be acceptable in China and in front of Chinese guests.Parking: May have to park further away during busy meal times. I think it's owned by the same people running the Red 99 Grill bistro on the same block that also draws many customers. Shiki buffet also draws customers and parking close to the restaurant may be difficult during meal times.“

“Tucked in Downtown Monrovia, this small restaurant has really fresh sushi! We visited on a recent Saturday for lunch. Inside has maybe 3-4 seats at the sushi bar, 3 small tables, and a couple tables outdoors were its pet friendly. I got the salmon don and it was fresh and delicious. It comes with miso soup and the best tasting salad dressing I've ever had. We also shared the lime roll, scallops sushi, ono sushi, albacore sushi and miso cod. The roll was only okay, and I definitely preferred the sushi. The miso cod was tender and soft, I felt very healthy eating all the delicious fish. Our waiter was super friendly and nice, it made for a great lunch experience!“

“I came here with my family that lives in San Marino. What a gem to have in the neighborhood. Lunch for 7 and everything was consistently delicious. My favorites were the salmon skin salad, regular chawanmushi, and the uni pasta (a special). They have lots of big booths that can fit 8 people.“

“Delicious and thoughtful dishes. I mainly stick to sushi and wasn't disappointed here. The premium charashi gave generous slices and I appreciated the small chopped ginger and mushroom added to the rice.We tried a variety of fish and it was consistently melt-in-your mouth. I highly recommend the hamachi belly and sea bream - these really stuck out.The veggie tempura was light and balanced (unlike some places that either over batter or cut too thickly), and the agedashi tofu was something I didn't want to share with my partner.This place has an excellent price point for the quality of the fish. I usually eat at a couple spots in Pasadena, but this rivals them. The service was quick and our server was attentive. We will be back!“

“Their Japanese cheesecake is like biting into a piece of heaven - it's fluffy, light, and just the right amount of sweetness. PROMO ALERT: Until the end of Feb, tag them on social media, and you'll receive a free cheese tart! I chose the matcha flavor.“

“Super bowls ?? delicious ?? good foodVegetarian options: I just didn't feel like gettingMeat productsthat day but they have different dishes with chicken and meat & fish ?Parking: Plenty ?Kid-friendliness: Very nice attending waitress ?Wheelchair accessibility: Is very accessible to wheelchair.“

“Great little local spot for a quick delicious sushi fix. Quick kind service and great sushi. 5 stars in our book.We tried the miso soup, the spicy garlic edamame, energy roll, papa roll and albacore. The only one we wouldn’t get again was the papa roll it was just okay, but everything else was amazing.If you’re local or in the area definitely recommend.“

“Had a great experience picking up a last minute gift for a friends birthday! Jackie helped me pick out the green tea cheesecake and was super helpful and friendly. The cheesecake was really delicious, really light and perfectly sweetened with the right amount of that matcha flavor.Definitely coming back!“