50 Best Japanese Restaurants near El Segundo

“I’ve been struggling to find a decent Tonkatsu, but this one is among the best Ive had in the US. I’m not an expert in Japanese cuisine but I have been to Japan a few times an this place is within striking distance of the average tonkatsus I had there. I’ll be back when I’m in the area“

“Saloon Osaka is an exceptional Izakaya.
Highly recommend this El Segundo gem!
From the nigiri, rolls, unique flavorful salad options, even the top grade caviar! Thank you Chef and staff, we had a wonderful experience and cant wait to be back soon. -Arigato Gozaimasu🤍“

“yummmmm so good. highly recommend“

“Sushi Chef-Dion! His Colorful Magnificent tasty sushi will give you a great inner body experience like no other! 🤗“

“Great good and friendly staff🎉🎊“

“I hadn't been back here in 3 years, and I was so impressed! The menu has improved significantly while keeping that same delicious taste I remembered.

The service was top-notch—the gentleman who helped us was incredibly helpful, and the food came out fast. They even went the extra mile by bringing our plates directly to the table instead of just calling our names. I’ll definitely be coming back more often next time I’m in El Segundo!“

“Reason for visiting:
Date/time of visit: Thursday Afternoon lunch, ~12:30 PM
Parking: I parked in the paid parking garage at the Culver steps; paid $2 after dobe with lunch so assume good for ~2 hours. My coworker found street parking 1-2 blocks away if you want to try to find street parking but $2 is reasonable
Party size: 4
Environment/ambience: smallish place with few tables and some outdoor seating. No TVs inside; not too loud inside. Pets allowed but prob outdoor only. Clean restrooms. Lots of things to see and visit around too; downtown Culver City has things within walking distance and outdoor grass areas to hang out around
Service: was great; came around often. Friendly too.
Food: had the W Chashu Ramen with egg; they do not serve alcohol here.
Cost: ~$140 with tip; $2 parking.
Would I go back (yes/no): 80/20; parking can be a hassle but food was great“

“This place is a true gem and I love shopping there for all my sushi and Japanese food and sake amazing selection and excellent service! If you enjoy fresh sushi fish that are reasonably priced then you most definitely must check out this gem!!! Also they teach lessons that sell out quickly so you must sign up for their monthly news email that gives you so much information about all that they do!“

“One of my favorite places, everything they do is well executed, and the staff are equally kind and personable. My last experience in particular where I ate at the bar was oddly especially warm and welcoming, where I got to chat with a really cool staff member named Reed, who apparently not only makes the drinks, but bakes delicious cookies they currently serve with one of their cocktails (The Hot Toddy, if you're curious).

It's also some of the best tongue meet (on the Skewers section) that I've ever had; if you're a fan, I highly recommend getting one of those at minimum!“

“⚠️ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄“

“A friendly waitresses,waiters .“

“The seared salmon and tuna were absolutely unforgettable, just as I remembered. What makes this omakase experience so special is that you can keep enjoying dish after dish until you feel completely satisfied. Truly grateful to Uzumaki for such a delightful meal!“

“Note: This review is part of a Yelp elite experience.

Shoutout to Sarah and the yelp intern for organizing a fabulous event. The westside elites were a wonderful bunch, and its immensely gratifying when everyone shares the love of food.

Wadaya is one of the top places to eat and you can see why. It was my first time experiencing the mazemen, which I had ignorantly ignored for the brothy ramen. However the manager mentioned that there was a dearth of good mazemen places, and the chef from Japan decided to fill that niche. Lucky for us, this is a great option for the noodle lovers amongst us (who isn't?).

I was one of only 2 elites to opt for the vegan experience that included Vegan Tokyo Mazemen, Shishito peppers appetizer and a Yuzu-forward Lemonade.

As with any good ramen, you need to mix in all the ingredients to coat the mazemen noodles with the sauce and all the accouterments. The vinegar table-side was a great addition to add in the umami, as if the brothless noodle experience needed any more umami. The yuzu lemonade was full of yuzu, light on the sugar (compared to so many other lemonades that are more sugarades) and had plenty of lemon (acid) to cut through the richness of the noodleicious dish. I liked the ratio of veggies to the noodles, although when I order takeout (which the manager said is a great idea since the dish holds well) I'd love a more veggies please option.
Tip: This dish is garlic forward, so if you love garlic, you'll be in heaven. Just carry some mints :)

Service was impeccable. The only feedback for the crew would be to jazz up the shisito peppers as they lacked a little flavor, but this may be because of the sequencing of dishes, when your flavor buds are saturated with the mazemen. However adding the vinegar gave it the right pep and it was a great complement to the main dish.

Thank you to the yelp team for shining a light on a neighborhood gem that many of us passed by but had not noticed. Wadaya know, it's now a solid addition to all of our radars. Cheesy pun unintended, or was it?

Tip: Plenty of 2 hour free parking in the neighborhood, since the lot is small and has only 3 spots for Wadaya.“

“I was searching all over social media for a sushi restaurant to surprise my boyfriend for his birthday. I really wanted to do an omakase experience, but everything in Los Angeles was either extremely expensive or completely booked.

Luckily, I came across this place and I can honestly say it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a while. From the moment we sat down, the staff was incredibly attentive. The sushi chefs were friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable. Our waitress greeted us right away and walked us through the menu. We were a little unsure about what to order at first, but she helped guide us through the options, and we were excited to find out they offered omakase.

The chef’s selection did not disappoint. Every course was delicious, beautifully prepared, and paced perfectly throughout the meal. The entire dinner felt thoughtful and seamless, and my boyfriend loved every bite.

The service was outstanding, and it was clear the whole team knows how to make guests feel welcomed and taken care of. This is such a great spot for a date night and we’ll definitely be back!“

“Was craving soba on a Saturday morning and luckily found SOBAR. Soba made in house - 100% buckwheat, cooked to perfection. Some of the best soba I’ve ever had with strong but clean dipping sauces. Had an extra full serving of soba to polish off the dipping sauces. Service was as good if not greater than soba itself.“

“An adorable, cozy sushi restaurant with INCREDIBLE fresh fish. We got the special and regular omakase, and the special is absolutely worth the extra $20 because it comes with an amazing toro collar and tiramisu, along with more sushi, soup, and a carpaccio. Some memorable bites were the monkfish liver, fresh oyster, toro collar, daikon marinated red snapper, golden eye snapper nigiri, and the AMAZING housemade tiramisu.“

“This was my second time at Shunji and since it was so consistent, I thought I should give it a shout out. You may miss it if you aren’t paying attention, nestled behind a non-discrete door on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, Shunji Japanese Cuisine is a Michelin-starred gem that redefines the art of sushi dining. Chef Shunji Nakao is a legend and this intimate restaurant offers an omakase experience that is as unforgettable as it is refined.

The heart of Shunji’s allure lies in its sushi, which showcases decades of expertise as one of Los Angeles’ sushi pioneers. Each piece of nigiri is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail, with fish sourced primarily from Japan to ensure unparalleled freshness. Shunji’s (somewhat new Santa Monica location) is a departure from its former chili bowl-shaped home on Pico Boulevard, embraces a minimalist aesthetic that keeps the focus on the food and quaint experience. The space is divided into two small rooms, each with a blonde wood counter that seats just seven, creating an atmosphere of exclusivity and intimacy. Soft jazz hums in the background, and a wall of orchids adds a touch of elegance, celebrating the restaurant’s decade-long legacy. The service is impeccable, with staff (one Shunji’s wife) moving gracefully to anticipate every need, from refilling sake glasses to presenting dishes on stunning ceramic plates.

Shunji is more than a restaurant; it’s a destination The sushi is exceptional, the ambiance serene, and the overall experience a masterclass in hospitality.“

“Excelent food ! Great place !“

“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“

“深みのある濃厚鶏白湯ラーメン🍜 つけ麺やカレーも美味しいです 😋😋😋😋“

“Sushi fish was very fish, service was great! Food came out pretty quickly and everything was good, did not have one bite I didn’t like. Our orders included the California roll the spicy tuna roll. The salmon roll, baked salmon, premium roll, tuna and salmon and yellowtail sushi as well as the miso soup and the chicken yakitori. All were delicious. Did feel slightly rushed to leave as the waiters and waitresses kept coming to clean our plates while still eating - but that could also be received as good service so take it as you will. Took no photos because everything was eaten so quickly!“

“Good taste noodle, great customer service! interesting old Torrance neighborhood.“

“蕎麦、日本食　最高 !“

“My son and I tried the popcorn, chicken and burger. We love the chicken. It was juicy not dry. The burger was like your standard burger. I will have to add my son. Did not add their secret sauce so that may have made a difference. Seems like a family ran restaurant. They are very attentive and friendly.“

“LOVE the poke bowl options including the gluten free/lo carb noodles!“

“Overall a solid sushi place. Their hand rolls are uniquely flavored. I do think some are a bit heavy on the salt so getting the sauce on the side made a big difference. The slices of sushi you get is a good amount which is probably what I liked the most about this place. The chili on the salmon hand roll was crispy and I wasn't expecting that so I really liked it!“

“SERVICE 10/10. There was plastic found in one of the udon, and they replaced the dish with a new dish AND ON TOP OF THAT the whole meal for our family was on the house. We came here multiple times before because of the quality and price of the food but this was crazy. Please come and support this business the food portion for the price the quality its amazing we left a huge tip in replacement because a free meal for a table of 6 is crazy.“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

“grest good service and atmosphere. loved it! will definitely be back soon.“

“Went to Yamashiro for the first time today! I have to say this is probably one of the best sushi places I have ever been to. The fried oysters were delicious! We ordered three different rolls and all of them were just beautiful from a presentation and artistry perspective, but tasting them was even better! The volcano roll was served on grapefruit slices, which made them very colorful and the scallops were cooked perfectly. The Yamashara roll was not only beautiful but it's the first time I have ever had mango with my sushi rolls and it actually added a really nice dimension of tropical fruit to already super fresh tasting tuna and avocado. The crispy roll had fried onions that were somehow not greasy, which was surprising. I'm wondering if they were air fried? But really great addition to texture for the rolls. We also had the yellowtail collar, which was cooked flawlessly. Oftentimes, yellowtail collar can you overcooked so part of it can be fairly dry. This caller was moist all the way around, perfect pockets of fish fat, and a very light unami salty flavor. The last thing we had, which I think was very fortunate because they don't always have it, was the Japanese tuna Ono which was cooked in a wonderful miso sauce.

I know I keep going on about this spot, but these rules were truly unique and I eat a lot of sushi, lol! Did I mention that we had a wonderful server, which I didn't get her name, but she's a Japanese woman that may have been the owner. I'm not sure, but her spirit was so respectful and refreshing and we loved her kindness and attentiveness. Really great service! I can't wait to go here again next time I visit the Redondo Beach area!!!“

“I absolutely love this place. I’m visiting from out of state and was wanting to try some sushi over here on the West Coast. I couldn’t have picked a better place! My friend ordered the Philly and spider rolls and I ordered the crunchy dragon roll and pumpkin carrot soup. We also ordered the fusion bun with imitation crab and plum sake. Everything was delicious and Atko, our hostess, was so very lovely. 10/10 highly recommend.“

“Got off the airplane and came straight here! Sushi was soooo good, costumer service was great 👍🏼 it was tight seating but we loved it felt like a scene in a movie where everyone around us was talking but we were just in our own little bubble 🍣“

“Awesome food , they’ve got great teriyaki bowls too!“

“The restaurant was very nice, the bathrooms were very clean. The server was very nice and made great recommendations. The food was really good, there was a huge variety of different textures. The soy sauce, taro, and uni was the best I've ever had and mixed drinks were super good. I would definitely recommend trying it at least once.“

“A friend who frequents this establishment brought me for lunch today with another friend. Being a vegetarian I was impressed by the selections I would love to try. I ended up ordering the salmon, scallop, spinach cream pasta with capers. It was delicious! My friends ordered the pork katsu and hamburger combo and it looked awesome. The portions are so generous and it comes with soup and salad for the combo and mine came with a small salad and homemade bread. And the family run restaurant is very service oriented, friendly and a very clean and comfortable place. Highly recommended“

“Eat here. Do it and thank me later. The owner/chef was so lovely - I called over about a food allergy and she texted me a follow up. That level of thoughtfulness is nearly unheard of in food service these days. As the other reviews state the food is phenomenal, served HOT, and is inventive, thoughtfully prepared, and comforting.“

“Favorite place to eat quickly. It is affordable and reasonable price w loading amount food. The food here has big serving size w amazing taste. The service was rlly good(we got a free drink lol). The restaurant overall is soo cute, styled w cute cat miniatures. I’ll definitely recommend trying out here!!“

“My date and I had dinner at Wagyu Butcher, and it was a wonderful experience for us both. We were seated almost immediately upon arrival, and the staff welcomed us with exceptional hospitality. Once we were seated, the atmosphere truly made me feel as if I were in Japan.
Both my date and I chose the Butcher’s Omakase course, the appetizers and every cut of meat was absolutely delicious. What really stood out to us was watching the staff cut the meats right in front of us, which made us truly appreciate the freshness and quality. We both upgraded the curry rice to the A5 wagyu sushi, which was incredible.
For drinks, we enjoyed plum wine, a Shochu Calpico cocktail, and Sapporo beer. To finish the meal, we ordered the green tea tiramisu, green tea pudding with honey, and the milk tea pudding all of which were delicious. The complimentary tea they provided to aid digestion was a very thoughtful touch.
The staff were all wonderful, and we even had a few conversations about Japan while dining. We will definitely be coming back soon.“

“I love coming to this place for their combination fried rice. The people tending the place are very friendly. They have other menu items that I would like to try, but I always get the rice because is easy to eat on the go and even cold it retains its flavor. I highly recommend this place.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“Really liked this place. It offers quick prep moderately priced sushi that tastes good for moderately priced sushi. The only weakness was the shrimp nigari which was skimpy on the shrimp. My meal included miso soup, salad and roll, wrap & funnel sushi. I had 2 bites of the roll and drank some soup before I took the picture. I was hungry!“

“The first time I tried this place i never thought I would return. The chicken was for some reason tasted too much like charcoal and was rather unpleasant. I was very saddened but figured it was a bad batch and was hoping to return for a retribution batch and I’m so glad that I gave it another chance. Torisoba, when done correctly, is a knock out out the park.

Last night left me in awe, from sampling my friend’s ramen to multiple appetizers my mouth was celebrating each bite. You could tell the food came out fresh as it was warm and took some time to prepare. The chicken soup that gets served with the fried chicken tartar and sweet and sour options is one of the most hearty and savory soups your taste buds will ever meet.

The variations of fried to charcoal chicken will leave you pointing your chopsticks and knowing your head in agreement with friends. They don’t cheap out as the bowl is filled with plenty of goodies. Top it off with some Yuzu kosho (green chili peppers and yuzu zest) and blast off into the best chicken meal you could have.

They have vegan and other options as well and their menu seems to be expanding. Try it all and I’m so glad I ventured back for this meal was truly out of the park.“

“This place is awesome! I’m so confused as to why there’s not more people in here right now. The staff is so friendly and were welcoming from the moment I walked in! The food was incredible, and even rivals what I have had in Japan. Stop here if you can!“

“Family had (2) chicken katsu set & (1) Pork Curry Katsu set. The meat was quality and the panko done right 🙌🥰🙏
The shredded cabbage with the onion/daikon sauce was very good. The miso was good as well...
The brunch hot the spot👍“

“I saw this place while driving and saw a line waiting for their food, so I decided to give it a try.. Ì asked those in line, what was good there.. The answer was either the teriyaki bowl or plates, and the teriyaki burgers.. I got the teriyaki chicken bowl.. it looked and smelled great driving home.. After eating it, I didn’t understand the line of people waiting.. It was okay, but in my opinion, no big deal.. I’ll be honest, I did eat it ALL, and the serving size was BIG, so by no means was it bad.. To be fair though, I’m gonna have to try again, and see what I missed the first time..“

“We reserved the restaurant for a private party to celebrate a birthday. The food was so good! We had the award winning chili, pineapple chicken, steak Teri, chicken salad, Mac salad, miso green beans, Kim chee, and more
Cherrystones is the perfect place for all occasions. The staff was wonderful and the atmosphere festive.“

“** Important to note: this spot is cash only! **

A superb hole-in-the-wall sushi spot in Sawtelle that deserves a spot in your sushi rotation! I had walked past this spot a handful of times, but never gone in. Oh my goodness, the salmon nigiri might be the best I’ve ever had. Such buttery salmon, we had to order more before we left it was so good. The wait staff were friendly, the food was prepared quickly, and the interior was decorated nicely!“

“Best sushi and miso soup we've had so far!“

“I absolutely love this place. Marugame Udon is delicious, fresh and affordable. The only thing I'd change is that it isnt comfy but guess what. Me who rarely goes tp a place with not the best seating and ambience goes with excitement. The staff is wonderful and if you go after 3 there is almost no kne there and it is my favorite time to go between the usual mealtime. No wait and ample seating. Parking and even so.e outdoor seating and a cute area for kids to play. As for the food, I always get the beef and at least one tempura sweet potato. If im splurging I load up on the shrimp tempura some gyoza and other assorted goodies. Oh and add the hard boiled egg to your Udon. I dump the leftover tempura dipping save into my bowl. I always get the large and I always have enough for the next day lunch.
If you are visiting friends or family at Little company hospital it is an easy walk across the street and you do t have to lose your parking spot.
Wonderful wonderdul place. Im an island girl and KNOW yummy UDON and Marugame Udon delivers. I love it.“

“Really loved this spot! Easily top 5 in LA - great food, ambiance, friendly but not imposing staff. Highlights: sashimi, chicken karaage, kabocha squash. Lowlights: mushroom rice, tuna handroll (just not as unique). We also enjoyed the duck meatballs and beef tongue. Impressed with the cocktails and n/a selection as well. Can’t wait to try the duck ramen!“