50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Altadena

“I had the chicken and steak with fried rice! Absolutely delicious! 😋 My son had steak, shrimp, chicken with fried rice and veggies, his gf had the shrimp and chicken with fried rice. The yum yum sauce and garlic butter are the best I’ve ever tasted! All of it was AWESOME! You need to try! ❤️ The owners are super dedicated, kind, and friendly!“

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

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

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

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

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

“Easy 5 stars. Genuinely some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. Everything was incredibly fresh, and I loved that the dishes weren’t overloaded with sauces or unnecessary toppings, the quality of the fish really spoke for itself.

The salmon was buttery and melted in your mouth, the eel was warm, rich and perfectly glazed, and even the cucumber salad was ridiculously good. And if you go, definitely try the fatty tuna, highly recommend it!

This is one of those places that makes it hard to enjoy average sushi afterward. 😂 Already looking forward to going back.“

“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.“

“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!!! 😋“

“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 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.“

“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.“

“Overall 5 stars:

Rationale:
- tons of treats, snack, to choose from
- raw fish quality looked decent and fresh
- sushi quality is superb for being made in advance
- prices : very reasonable

Only suggestions for a better overall customer experience:
- better organization for the refrigerators
- it's too tight and not enough space to open refrigerator doors without bumping people or bothering others while shopping
- the Yama in LA felt like it has a better organization to it, the space size appears to be similar from what I recall, I may be wrong

Having said that:
- this place is phenomenal and you should definitely give it a try
- staff is incredibly nice
- the quality is top notch
- variety/options are decent
- you won't be disappointed and you'll definitely find yourself returning for more“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Absolutely incredible experience! The sushi here is some of the freshest I’ve had — you can really taste the quality in every piece. The fish was buttery and perfectly cut, rice seasoned just right, and the presentation was beautiful without being fussy.

Service was warm and attentive without being intrusive, and the chef clearly takes pride in the craft. We tried the omakase and every course was a little surprise — the fatty tuna and the seared salmon nigiri were standouts.

Prices are fair for the quality, and the atmosphere is cozy but still feels special. Will absolutely be back and already thinking about what I’ll order next time. Highly recommend for anyone who takes their sushi seriously!“

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

“It was Absolutely delicious!“

“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!“

“Absolutely TOP NOTCH homemade gyoza. The fillings were so succulent and well-seasoned, and the skin was lusciously thin and crisp.

We got the pork (so sweet and delicate, packed with chives and onions), and shrimp (literally chunks of it in the mix, none of that paste-like texture you get from lower-quality stuff). The $9 happy hour deal was a bonus.

The staff are also very polite and sweet. The store layout is simple but clean and well-appointed. Couldn’t recommend this place more!“

“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! 🌟 🐄 🥩“

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

“Food was super delicious!! So much variety to choose from, the kaarage and sushi was our fav. Staff super friendly too, we ordered way too much. Will deffo recommend!!! They should create a sushi with kaarage in, that would be so nice !! Also maybe more dessert options please“

“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“

“The best everything…so, Go!“

“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.“

“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“

“Meet quality really nice to me Good service!“

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

“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!“

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

“Qauint and charming sushi place. Reaonably priced for fresh sashimi and sushi dishes. Very pleasantly surprised w the freshness of the seafood!
Service was attentive and sweet even when it got busy.
Definitely a repeat customer!“

“Best sushi on the West Side ❤️“

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

“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!!“

“Was at Santa Anita Mall and it was dinner time. Had seen Marugame Udon many times, but had never tried it until today. Tried the new Bolongese Udon with a potato croquette and sweet potato tempura. Ambience is great and the wall artwork is fabulous. Noodles were fresh and bowl was warmed before plating. I ordered a large size and was not disappointed. Free toppings were nice: tempura flakes, wake, cilantro, grunions. Tempura was nice and crispy. Potato croquet was good but a bit too sweet for my liking. Grabbed a Calamansi Ade to drink; nice Calamansi flavor and not overly sweet. Tempura dipping sauce was excellent. Appreciate the Togarashi and chili oil as well if you want a bit of spice. Free water cups also appreciated.

For the bolognese, please don’t think this will be similar to an Italian restaurant; this is the Japanese riff on bolognese. A boiled egg may seem odd at first, but it gives the dish a wonderful creamy texture when mixed with the cheese. The ground meat rounded out the dish well. Cilantro and togarashi paired really well by providing freshness and a hint of spice (I love spicy stuff). While this dish will not be for everyone, I’d encourage people to try it, as it is quite filling and really good for what it is. If you’ve had Japanese pasta before, you’ll know.

Will be coming back to try other Udon options and tempura. Udon is great comfort food, and Marugame does it well!“

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

“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.“

“I have eaten here a few dozen times now, and it never ceases to amaze me. The food was absolutely delicious every single time. You can tell they prioritize quality because the ingredients are always incredibly fresh. The ambience is warm, cozy, and inviting. What truly sets this place apart is the staff. They are always so warm, welcoming, and attentive.

It is rare to find a restaurant that maintains this level of consistency visit after visit. If you haven't been here yet, you are seriously missing out!“

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

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

“Good food, portions & service...“

“Niku X is definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in LA. The food is incredible—A5 Wagyu, king crab, and even tomahawk steak. Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite because everything was so good🤩 The sea bass really stood out for me—so tender and flavorful. And the desserts? Amazing. The sesame cake, in particular, was a surprise hit. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere is modern and spacious, which makes it really comfortable, and the service was excellent. If you’re into seafood or Wagyu, this place is a must-try. Definitely worth a visit!👍🏻“

“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.“

“I've been coming here since high school and the quality has stayed the same. Everything here is delicious. The staff is so super friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for a good, local hidden gem for Japanese curry ... look no further!“

“amazing food, service and ambiance!“