50 Best Sushi Bars near El Monte

“It’s a pretty good place to grab poke for quick bite. I will not say it’s the best I ever had, but it’s above average. Got the “Happi Salmon” which you get to choose the base white/brown rice, or salad, Come with miso soup. The salmon if definitely on the small side but pretty good.“

“I went here for the first time on a Monday evening. The service was really good and on point on this day. Staff was always checking on us, always making sure our stove was clean or removing finished dishes. I got us the Deluxe meal. The spicy baby octopus was good. The gyōza dumplings and egg rolls were really good. They have sushi as well. Their menu can be accessed by QR code or you can ask for a physical menu.“

“I am not a big fan of mariscos. This is one of the best mariscos spots I actually enjoy. I highly recommend the shrimp and fish tacos, the camarones dinamitas, camarones de cucarachas, Coctel de Camaron, the aguachiles is actually one of the best sauces I've actually tasted, not to mention there other Mexican dishes they have on the menu. I also rented the hall for events and the menu for their catering services are good as well and the hostility from dining in and renting the hall has been phenomenal. Anyone wanting to eat good mariscos I highly recommend this place“

“Great food and great service“

“Excellent place. We tried the crispy rice, rattle snake roll, and sunset roll. Everything was delicious and perfectly prepared. The service is great, and the restaurant has a nice dining area with large TVs. Lots of parking, which is always a plus.“

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

“One of my fav sushi spots in Pasadena & I’d say we only have about 3 or 4 of them. I’ve been in 3 times so far and I’ve always had the same server, she’s really friendly and attentive. The Chirashi lunch special (in photo) is spectacular! The fish is so fresh and when you open up the bottom compartment, there are pickles and some other fish bits bits (?) inside. It really is so good and if you love fish, you CANNOT go wrong w this order. It’s also a very generous portion. This is probably something I’ll stick to because when I tried their rolls I wasn’t nearly as impressed. Their rolls were good but nothing memorable. I’ll continue to go back and order sashimi and the chirashi bowl though.“

“This may be one of the best sushi deals in Southern California. I know that once the word is out that it’ll be harder to get in, but they deserve the recognition.“

“First time here and I am blown away. Sushi is so fresh. They have the special rolls and real tasty and fresh nigiri. Service was excellent and patient with questions. Will be back soon for sure. Prices are good for the quality you get. There is also plentiful parking. Can't recommend enough.“

“Great food, portions are bonkers good. Food quality is top notch and well worth the price. Staff are super friendly as well. I got a combo plate and unlike other Japanese restaurants I actually got beef that was properly cooked. After seeing the portions of the sushi rolls I will try those out next time because they were giant. Will definitely return.“

“Absolutely loved this sushi spot! The fish was incredibly fresh, and the salad was light and tasty. They had a Christmas salmon special that was such a great deal--5 pieces of salmon sashimi, 2 pieces of salmon sushi, and a classic salmon roll. Perfect for salmon lovers!

I also tried the shishito peppers, which were nicely charred with just the right amount of spice. The spicy tuna rainbow roll was another highlight--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully made.

The service was awesome too. Chrystal was my server and she was so cool, funny, and made the whole experience even better. She was so professional and down to earth! Definitely a place I'd come back to again! You should give it a try if you're in the area!
The decor was super cute too. The decor reminds you of being in Japan!“

“Out of this world omakase. Yum!“

“Ok. So I have to start out by saying im not a big fan of sushi. Im your typical California roll or fried sushi. Having said that this place changed the way I think about sushi! I always wondered how real Japanese sushi would taste and I have a feeling this place is certainly close to that. I had recently watched a documentary on Netflix and how this one place in Japan you just trust the chef to serve you delicious 😋 sushi! Well this is place does the same and boy it doesn't disappoint. I've never had salmon melt in my mouth like that or had sushi rice taste sooo good. And the ginger ! Thats real stuff

I would highly recommend this place. Will certainly be coming back.“

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

“amazing food, service and ambiance!“

“Great food and service. Been going there over 7 years. Get there early. Leía and Lily are awesome. Luis is the sushi master!“

“Food was delicious!!! We had our two great granddaughters with us, they treated them so nicely, gave them extra tofu and attention!!! We will be visiting again soon!!“

“Best sushi in LA! Everything melted in your mouth! The fish is fresh, the price is affordable, and the service is great! It looks like a hole in the wall - but wow :)) We eat there once a week and love it! Drove all the way from Studio City to have dinner there - 2 hours each way in traffic - so that's obviously what it says :)) Haha Just love it!“

“We came out here from LA and this place was better than a lot of LA sushi spots! Such delicious creative rolls! I’m allergic to imitation crab meat and they had a lot of rolls without it, which is a good sign because that means the chef gets more creative with ingredients for rolls. Fish was great quality, sauces were amazing. Service was lovely. I can’t wait to come back!“

“My friend Salvador opened a sushi restaurant called Niko Sushi Chefs in La Habra, so I visited with my sister.
Salvador is a sushi chef with over 30 years of experience and is already a well-known sushi chef in North Orange County.
Salvador makes special sushi dishes for his regular customers, and I especially love his ”Salvador Special Roll.“
The Salvador Special Roll, featuring salmon and mango on top of a spicy tuna roll, is simple yet mucho delicioso. It’s been a while since I‘ve had it, but it was still tasty! 😋
I hope Niko Sushi Chefs continues to prosper.“

“Quality food & service at reasonable prices 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻“

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

“The building and location are a little sketchy, but everything else is excellent. Small, very intimate atmosphere. Not much privacy. Menu options are simple. Food is fresh and worth the price. Even the sides, like house salad, miso soup, and hot sake, are quality.“

“If you are in the San Gabriel Valley area you must stop here if you want amazing Sashimi. Started with fatty Tuna that melted in my mouth so fresh delicious then moved on to giant Clams (Mirugai) it was sweet & crunchy I could have gone for second order not many sushi restaurants have (Mirugai)The fatty belly Salmon was buttery & the spicy Tuna hand roll sashimi was perfect coz I’m a spicy food addict it was just heavenly for me. Yum yum 🤤 ended with Kumamoto Oyster 🦪 it was so sweet like cotton candy in your mouth made me wanting more which I did order more. Lol 😂 The house hot Sake was good for a cold night paired so well with my amazing Sashimi! Great way to end my Friday night here! Thank you Chef!“

“a minimal seating and parking area; but amazing service, great atmosphere, and top-notch food! Sushi, soups, bento boxes, you name it! everything is fresh and made to order. I love this gem of a restaurant.

Parking: parking is limited due to it being in a small center.“

“Top tier sushi experience. They have limited seating in a confined interior, so there will be a long wait during weekends. I waited 45 minutes on Saturday night but it was worth the wait. The sushi premium set was filled with lots of high quality options and perfect for variety and quite filling. Staff are all very friendly and the interior is beautiful and clean.“

“Came based off the reviews and wasn’t disappointed!
Solo diner on a Sunday late afternoon and the place was busy! Got a great table and had mixed tempura, Philadelphia roll and coconut roll. All of which was super delicious. I took half home in a to go box for snacks later.
Would highly recommend & be a regular if I was local.“

“Great food and great service!“

“The service was professional and great. The staff are very friendly. Covid protocols are adhered to at the door. Temperature checks are required prior to entering the dining area. The food is excellent. If you love sashimi and sushi then you must visit.“

“Neighborhood’s Japanese Restaurant with good Value !“

“Amazing joint To eat celebrate enjoy company“

“Azabu Sushi – Whittier, CA
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ (I docked half a star purely out of spite because I can’t afford to eat here every day)

I walked into Azabu expecting the usual Whittier sushi experience: decent fish, questionable rice, and a lingering fear that the “spicy tuna” might just be yesterday’s salmon wearing hot sauce as war paint. Instead I was immediately hit with a vibe that says, “Yes, we know we’re in a strip mall next to a boba place, but we’re about to ruin you for grocery-store California rolls forever.”

Let’s start with the Salmon Carpaccio (the flat pizza-looking thing in the photo). Imagine if salmon had a glow-up, went to Coachella, and came back wearing citrus ponzu as body glitter and microgreens as a flower crown. It’s so pretty I almost felt bad eating it. Almost. Then I inhaled the entire plate in 45 seconds like a savage who’d never seen raw fish before. Zero regrets. The texture is silkier than my ex’s lies.

Next up: the Shrimp Gyoza in that dark, mysterious broth. These dumplings show up swimming in what I can only describe as “umami bathwater.” One bite and I involuntarily whispered “oh daddy” — which was awkward because I was on a date with my actual father. The wrappers have that perfect pan-seared crisp before collapsing into the sauce like they owe it money. I’d bathe in that broth if it weren’t socially unacceptable (and if the staff weren’t watching me like I’m one impulse away from grabbing a straw).

Portions are annoyingly civilized — translation: you’ll want to order three of everything and then lie about being full so you look refined. Pro tip: don’t. Just commit to the food coma. Your jeans will forgive you eventually.

Service is ninja-level attentive without being obnoxious. Our server knew the menu like he personally caught the fish at 4 a.m. while doing CrossFit. When I asked what was good he just smirked and said “everything,” which should’ve been arrogant but was 100% correct. Rude.

Ambiance? It’s dark, moody, and sexy in a way that makes you want to use chopsticks seductively even though you still hold them like a toddler with crayons.

Only complaint: the bill. It arrives looking innocent, then you realize you just paid Beverly Hills prices in a city where the biggest landmark is a 24-hour donut shop. Worth it? Absolutely. Will I be eating cup noodles for the next week? Also yes.

Verdict: Azabu is the sushi spot Whittier doesn’t deserve but desperately needed. If you’re still going to the conveyor-belt place down the street after eating here, I’m afraid we can no longer be friends. 9.5/10 — would sell a minor organ to come back tomorrow.“

“Hidden gem of an authentic Japanese sushi and sashimi market. The entrance is located in the back of a side driveway. Though this market is small, I carries fresh sushi, sashimi trays ready to eat. Plus they have a kitchen made to order & ready to cut sashimi at your request. I'm also amazed to see the varieties of different raw fish, uni from Santa Barbara and raw scallops; all at reasonable prices.
They also carry cute Japanese stationary, frozen and regular food items. Definitely this is a place I heartily recommend.“

“thee best Japanese food in Whittier hands down. my family loves visiting Dakara weekly. so many favorites like crispy rice with spicy tuna, avocado fries and sweet shrimp. love this family owned restaurant.“

“Excellent sushi. Creative menu. Great wait staff.“

“Best sushi, ever! Style and quality is excellent!“

“Sora Sushi at Parkwest Bicycle Casino is a hidden gem.
Given its location in Bell Gardens—tucked inside a card room—I didn’t expect much. But I was genuinely impressed. The quality of the sushi is top-tier for the area, and it has consistently delivered fresh, well-prepared fish every time I’ve visited.

What really stands out is the value. Compared to high-end spots like Blue Ribbon at The Grove, Sora Sushi offers nearly the same quality at about half the price. It’s a no-frills spot that over-delivers, making it a great find for sushi lovers who care about freshness without breaking the bank. The most crazy part about this place is how there’s literally usually no one there!

Service was good but not great, it took a little while to get some food out and they gave us some food that we didn’t order, which I actually didn’t mind because it was still super great.

Rating: 8.5/10“

“Very good service and good food!!“

“Great restaurant, nice to be back . Love the food, the atmosphere and the staff“

“Tozai is a lovely neighborhood Japanese supermarket. The store may be small, but they carry everything from your essentials for cooking (soy sauce, mirin, soba dipping sauce etc), soba/Udon (both packaged and frozen - tip, get frozen udon not packaged for the best taste, it will taste like what you get at restaurants), to ready-to-eat meals (onigiri, Japanese chicken (karaage), rolls, sushi and sashimi). Small selection of veggies and fruits. I always go to Tozai for routine Japanese grocery items and find that it suits my need 99% of the time. Sure, once or twice a year I go to Tokyo Central or Mitsuwa in Downtown to go crazy at the snack selection, but besides those rare times, Tozai is my place.“

“Clean and modern. Sushi bar.“

“I've gotten sushi here a few times via Doordash. The quality of the sushi rolls is good overall, but the portion has gotten very small. The vegetable tempura is subpar considering the price they charge. (The pumpkin is sliced so thin and the taro is cut like the size of a pinky!)“

“Loved everything about this place. Inviting and warm atmosphere with good service. We tried their signature curry of chicken katsu and shrimp tempura, it was perfect. Their salmon roll and their Go Go roll were delicious. Price was very reasonable. Will go back to try their other menu items or sit by the sushi carousel which looks fun.“

“Glad to find a hidden sushi gem in Hacienda heights. I have been living in HH for 10+ years and we have been lacking authentic quality sushi. Theres a few Japanese restaurants in the area but unfortunately they are pretty westernize in terms of quality and options.

I have visited Sushi land a few times with my wife and the quality of the fish are great for the price and staffs were nice.“

“Still great since they moved next to 99 Ranch. Same big slices of sashimi in the classic bento. Same fresh shredded daikon (love it- I eat every shred). Same little side dishes (ocean salad. Salad, ginger, and a little Hi- chew candy). Keep it up guys!“

“The food is so fresh. The presentation is very nice. Service is outstanding. pricing very reasonable. Best Sushi around for miles.“

“This place is amazing! Great food and service is excellent. Thank you Mikomi“

“todo está muy bueno lo recomiendo mil%“

“The sushi here is solid. You get lots of pieces and thicker pieces of fish for a good price. My favorite roll was the sunset roll!

My family and I also ordered the tempura ice cream for dessert. It wasn’t the best tempura ice cream we’ve ever had. It could have had a crispier exterior and the ice cream didn’t have a strong matcha flavor.“

“Yes, I already have a review of Sushi Fire (and I stand by it), but I am compelled to add another review, here’s why.

My wife and I come here quite often these days. In fact, it is one of the very few restaurants we are still willing to spend our money at. (The dismal state of cuisine in Southern California is a topic for another day.)

Why? Because the food is good. It tastes good. It looks good.

No, they do not serve $30 per piece Bluefin Otoro, nor do they serve $400 a box Akatsuki Uni. Don’t get me wrong, they’re probably amazing (I will never know), but I don’t live in Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos world, nor do I live in Robert De Niro’s world, for that matter. I live in the real world, where $40 for one meal is a heck of a lot of money, but I’m willing to pay it, if it is good.

And Sushi Fire is definitely good.

In the past year that we have been frequenting Sushi Fire, I have gotten to know Winston. I started asking him to make me something different, something I have never had before. This is how Winston came up with the “Chef’s Special”.

The Chef’s Special is nothing more than Winston’s creative imagination. Almost every time it is different, but it is always good. I’ve uploaded a bunch of pictures here of Winston’s Chef’s Special, so take a look and see how creative he can be. (I call them all “Chef’s Special”)

I invite you to stop by and put yourself in Winston’s hands (it helps if you sit at the sushi bar). Ask him for a Chef’s Special (let him know if there’s anything you don’t like). Then, all you have to do is sit back and let him amaze you.

Definitely my favorite place right now. Way to go Winston! Way to go Sushi Fire!“