50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Harbor City

“I’ve been going to 3 brothers since high school and that’s almost 17yrs ago. I’ve since moved out of state back in 2020 but every time I get back to Cali I always have to stop by. Their sweet and sour chicken dinner is always my go to and never disappoints. It’s also nice that the owner still remembers me.“

“Delicious authentic Japanese Hibachi. The most expensive, Filet Mignon Bowl ($18) has a very tender and savory meat with a delicious sauce that pairs with rice. Meal is restaurant level good. Price is reasonable for the portion and quality. Will definitely come here again. Food is from a food truck and you can call to order ahead of time. No seats provided outside of the truck, still worth it.

Parking: Food truck is parked inside of a parking lot next to a gas station. Plenty of parking available.“

“I got the oyakodon set and it was such an elaborate meal, I felt like a queen. The oyakodon was so comforting and I really enjoy the fresh fish and tofu/beef sides!! I was also in a rush but the servers were kind enough to get me in and out in a jiffy :) Will be back!!“

“Finding an authentic sushi spot in the US run by a Japanese chef feels increasingly rare these days. While I don't believe a chef's nationality strictly dictates their capability—by that logic, only French people could cook French food—the scarcity of these traditional spots made me search even harder. That extra effort led me to Toshi Sushi in Gardena, and it was entirely worth it.

I have visited twice now, both times for Saturday lunch. A huge plus was that it wasn’t overwhelmingly busy, allowing for a remarkably peaceful and relaxed dining experience. On both occasions, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, and every plate felt meticulously prepared. They even garnish the dishes with beautiful Hawaiian flowers, which the staff thoughtfully let us know are completely edible.

Sometimes, hyper-traditional spots can be a bit too conservative with their portions of wasabi and ginger, but Toshi Sushi provides a generous amount. It’s a smart, necessary adjustment to cater to the American palate, and it made the meal much more enjoyable without the need to constantly ask for refills.

However, the exact moment I knew this place truly cared about quality came down to a single, overlooked detail: the soy sauce. Real soy sauce should always be refrigerated to preserve its true flavor profile, yet countless sushi joints leave it sitting out on tables at room temperature for weeks, simply topping off the bottles. At Toshi Sushi, the second we placed our order, they brought out a chilled bottle of soy sauce straight from the fridge. Absolute respect. That standard alone speaks volumes about their discipline.

I will definitely be heading back soon, and I'm already planning to feature this hidden gem in an upcoming review video. If you appreciate genuine quality and strict attention to detail, Toshi Sushi is highly recommended.“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

“Excelent food ! Great place !“

“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“

“Wonderful food and service, the Omekase was the culinary highlight of my week in LA. Every course was delightful, varied, and complemented the others. My friend ordered off of the menu directly and the Gyoza was the best either of us had ever experienced. Highly recommended!“

“yummmmm so good. highly recommend“

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

“Ramen is so good I cried.“

“This place is incredible. I’m honestly shocked it doesn’t have more reviews or a Michelin star. My wife took me here for Father’s Day and it was just fantastic food. We eat at places all over the world, and we’re in Japan in March, and this was still a super special experience. Thank god it is 10 minutes down the road haha“

“Kotohira Japanese Restaurant in Gardena is well-known for its incredible udon and hearty combination sets that pair a steaming bowl of noodles with a delicious donburi (rice bowl). It is located in a vibrant plaza alongside popular dessert spots like Honeymee, It's Boba Time, and Northern Cafe. Because the parking lot is massive and spacious, it draws a steady crowd but remains incredibly convenient to visit. 🚗🍜

This was my second visit here, and I went with the Mini Katsudon Set. The menu describes it perfectly: crispy pork cutlet, eggs, and onions simmered in a semi-sweet sauce over rice, paired with a bowl of hot tanuki udon. The udon noodles are perfectly chewy and the broth is exceptionally clean and flavorful. The overall food quality is top-notch, and the portions are incredibly generous and filling.

The rest of the table loved their meals as well. My wife ordered the Nabeyaki Udon with an Ume Onigiri, and their nabeyaki udon is absolutely delicious—packed with flavor and served piping hot. My brother-in-law tried the Unagi Don Set, which was also fantastic. For an appetizer, we shared the Garlic Shrimp, which featured large, juicy shrimp tossed in a rich, deeply aromatic garlic sauce. It was an excellent way to start the meal! 🍤✨

The ambiance inside feels just like a cozy, authentic local restaurant in Japan. It is the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner with a small group of 3 to 4 people. While the layout might make it difficult to host massive parties, they have about ten comfortable 4-person booths available. If you are looking for authentic, comforting Japanese cuisine in the South Bay, this place is highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

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

“I love the quality and quantity of food you get. Their Portuguese Sausage is amazing and their fried rice is always delicious“

“Tucked away with the unassuming charm of a neighborhood spot in Tokyo, this Japanese restaurant in Gardena distinguishes itself through its devotion to temaki, the hand-rolled sushi format that rewards both simplicity and precision. The menu offers dozens of variations, and the kitchen's command of the form lends the room an authenticity that feels less like a dining concept and more like a transplant.

Lunch is where the value shines. Set menus arrive with the expected miso soup and a modest side, grounding the meal without overreaching. I opted for the five-temaki selection at $26 and, rather than navigate the extensive list myself, deferred to the server's recommendations. All five arrived together, cones standing at attention, each one thoughtfully composed, the seaweed still crisp at the point of eating. It was the right call: a spread that suggested a kitchen confident enough to let its own judgment do the talking. This is my new special Japanese place.“

“One of the best restaurants in Long Beach for Peruvian, style, seafood, ceviche, and Sushi. Family owned and operated with a friendly vibe and amazing service.“

“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!!!“

“蕎麦、日本食　最高 !“

“Food, 5 stars; ambience; 1 star; service, mixed. I asked immediately about dairy-free options. The red and brown sauce are dairy-free, so I ordered the brown. The dish came with its non-dairy sauce covered in cheese! Staff was apologetic, replaced the meal, but it took a long time. Pasta, sauce, meatball were all delicious, though! It is not really a restaurant, just one large round communal table with stools; take-out seems to be the way most people use it, but we ate on the stools. THEN, as we were leaving, staff gave us two popsicle-style desserts by way of apology--but they were fruit-dairy desserts.“

“It’s the best sushi in San Pedro hands down. If you want a night of culinary adventure sit back and let Yoshi guide you through one. I’m a man who appreciates variety, so you can’t go wrong when everything on the menu is outstanding. I don’t know what else to say except that I’ll be there tonight. After typing this review and imagining it, I am not gonna try to fight the craving. Chirashi, Aji, Unagi roll, edamame and the best miso soup ever, I’m on my way, I’ll see you soon. 😘🌊🍣🍶🍻✌🏽 I ❤️ Tashiro Sushi + the entire staff. Your faithful lifetime customer/friend~Mario Franco“

“AFFORDABLE AND YUMMY!!!! In an age where a ring pop costs the same as a freaking sashimi piece, ya know you'd 1000000% rather get the freaking sashimi piece!

I'm a broke college student so YOU KNOW I live for affordability! This place is both soooooooo good at slicing their fishies AND making it affordable fr fr!

ALSO, keep in mind that this plaza is PRICEY but this place AIN'T!!! If you're ever stranded in Torrance, GET YO FISH PEOPLE!!!“

“Indoor👍🏼👍🏼we opted for it but was surprised when they ushered us to the back portion of the restaurant. It makes you feel like you really are in an authentic Japanese Izakaya restaurant.“

“Our experience was amazing all around. Food was solid for the price with an amazing array of flavors. Our server ✨Dennis ✨was attentive and very friendly.

The pasta wasn’t over cooked and the flavors well rounded. We ordered the Caprese and Bread to start then got some Vodka Pastas and the Curry Bolognese. Finished it off with a dessert trio along with some fun drinks. Out played came out fast and overall had an enjoyable time. The atmosphere was lively and the restaurant itself was very spacious.

Would definitely recommend and will be coming back in the future. :D“

“We don’t visit the South Bay often but when we do, it’s a must to Yelp and find someplace new to eat. In search of a Japanese restaurant that offered a menu loaded with options and was both fast and affordable, we lucked out when we discovered Hoka Hoka Express. This place is everything Japanese wrapped all into one - food, beverages (leaded & unleaded), snacks, porcelain teacups, tote bags, cute collectibles, you name it!

I can’t say I’ve ever been to a restaurant that offered a menu item like the Normandie - salmon, spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, spicy ponzu, spicy mayo and served over your choice of base. I went with the Half & Half which was a mix of sushi rice and spring mix. So good! The only reason I didn’t award a five star was due to the service. The woman who was working the counter was not overly friendly, so maybe she was new or was having a bad day. Regardless, I highly recommend a visit to Hoka Hoka Express for all things Japanese!“

“So fun! love the HAPPY FISH! Going to see him tonight!“

“The staff are friendly. We enjoyed the Kitchen boat. The garlic fried rice with chicken was very good and tasted similar to hibachi fried rice. Brought my young nephews and they enjoyed the beef and chicken teriyaki. Will definitely come again and will try other sushi and noodles dishes.“

“They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from traditional Chinese cuisine to creative Western cuisine, and there are many surprising combinations. In addition, the restaurant pays attention to the selection of raw materials and the innovation of cooking techniques to ensure that each dish can bring you the most extreme taste experience“

“Luis and the staff did a great job. They provided great service and recommendations. The banana seasonal beer was definitely different, but it was really good. Overall, from visiting out of town this is the best quality Japanese restaurant around. Thankful for the team you have!“

“Cherrystones catered my brother's celebration of life memorial last Sunday at the Toyota Meeting Hall in Torrance. We were about 120 people. The food and presentation was excellent. We opted for the Kalua Pork and the Teriyaki chicken, both delicious. Loved the broccoli salad and Mac salad. Our guests raved about the food. Cherrystones catered my dad's memorial in 2016 and the food was excellent then. I would not hesitate to use them again if I needed a catering service. Thank you Cherrystones for doing my brother proud.“

“Some of the best food ever!!“

“Delicious, great value, and great service. Katsu Bar is an Asian fusion fast-casual restaurant with a bunch of well-priced options for lunch and dinner. We had the chicken katsu curry udon, the tteokbokki, and the rosemary pork katsu sando. Portion sizes were solid as well.“

“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..“

“Two things that indicate this is a true Japanese cuisine . They serve real grated wasabi and the head chef looks like Mr Miyagi. 5 stars all around . Food is flawless and is freshly prepared so there is wait and gaps between dishes . Prepare to drink up. Wagyu skirt steak is incredible.“

“Food is amazing and the prices are actually very good for the amount of meat you get. Love that they are healthy conscious, they had a list of some menu items and their protein and sodium content as well as other measurements which made making a selection so much easier. Will return, staff is very friendly and the food was made fresh and quick“

“I've been to several Marugame locations, and I like this one because it is very spacious and in a great location. Service is always consistent.

That said, I'm glad that I came back to a lovely surprise. For a very short period of time, the Nikutama Curry Udon, a huge customer favorite was taken off the menu. I'm happy to say that it has returned after much customer feedback. Thank you to the CEO for listening to the uproar and for reverting the menu to include this dish again. There were enough fans of that udon bowl who were ready to choose violence, so I hope it returns permanently.

If you haven't tried the Nikutama Curry Udon, it's a must-try at least once. You will not regret it.“

“Have eaten here about 10 times . This restaurant doesn’t disappoint. I’ve tried all there’s sushi roll which are always fresh and delicious.“

“A joy to be at Rice, the staff so attentive, a celebration of small plates filling our table for three. A perfect sunny evening shared.“

“We love Yanagi. Fabulous and fresh sushi, great service and there always seems to be a table for us. My tiny humans, age 10 and 7, love their sushi. At Yanagi, they are always well taken care of.“

“Authentic, high quality yakitori restaurant with a large Japanese clientele. We arrived at the restaurant at 6:45pm on a Sunday and the restaurant was full except for the 1 table we had reserved. We tried most of the chicken yakitori selections, and a few of the beef, pork and fish ones as well as the vegetables. They were all good and comparable to the high end yakitori restaurants in New York City. The service was friendly and efficient, considering there were only 2 people covering the entire restaurant. Overall a good yakitori restaurant.“

“Always friendly staff and great food.“

“I visited this restaurant with my date for dinner, and we were welcomed with a pleasant attitude and seated immediately. The atmosphere was nice and inviting. We were fortunate that there weren’t many guests that evening, which made the experience very peaceful and enjoyable.

We started with two Asahi beers while deciding what to order. We chose the A5 Wagyu Set, which included tongue, ribeye, short rib, chuck flap, and tenderloin. The set also came with a salad, kimchi, and bean sprouts, and we ordered a few bowls of rice on the side.

Our server was very friendly and even gave us helpful tips on which cuts of meat to start with. Although there was a button at the table to call for service, she would occasionally check in on us to see if we needed anything or were enjoying our meal, which we truly appreciated.

All of the meats were phenomenal, and the portion size was very satisfying for both of us. To end the evening, we ordered Wagyu sushi—one piece served raw and the other cooked—and both were absolutely delicious.“

“I recommend everything, thank you for lunch...“

“it was yakitori and izakaya place. it was sooo nice and good. it's pricey though, but that's what fine dining is right..!? so i think it is pretty good, to come with famz or colleagues 😃👍🥰“

“Why Kagura?
- Affordable and quality
- Grab it after visiting Tokyo Central

Food 4/5 = Solid choice not to mention always busy
- Katsu sando $12
- Loin Demi tonkatsu set $16.50

Not dry perfectly cook and no issues for a simple quick bite.
Tonkatsu Marushichi is still #1 though pricing but AMAZING!

Service 4/5
- Quick ordering and moves pretty fast

Parking 3.5/5
- Free parking but can get really busy during peak hours due to ppl shopping.
- Parking lot is the entire perimeter of complex

Try Go Go Curry next to Kagura is you're open to trying curry!“

“Absolutely loved Sushi Akito! The service was incredibly quick, and everything we ordered was fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared. There can be a wait, but it is 100% worth it! Definitely one of those places I would come back to again. Highly recommended!“

“muy sabrosa y delicious la comida lo recomiendo y sobre todo El servicio muy bien“

“Excellent in every way. Perfect!!!“

“Very satisfied great friendly service“

“Great place to hang out with friends! It’s our first visit so didn’t realize it’s more like a bar than restaurant -.- we ordered too much… the roasted chicken is soooo good! We ordered garlic rice as a side of roasted chicken. And all fired dishes are highly recommended! People at next table order grapefruit drinks and smells so good! Already plan to go a second time and order the grapefruit drink!

2nd review: Add one more pic for grapefruit drink & orange soda! Yes we went there again“