50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Lake Balboa

“Great service and food💗 There are many alcohol menus and food items that other restaurants do not have, and the restaurant is not too big, so you can enjoy a relaxing, calm and stylish time. There is plenty of space for parking, and I would definitely go back‼︎“

“A great meal to celebrate our 8th grader’s MS graduation and my FIL’s 75th birthday! Thankful, too, for the Katz family’s support of our school’s fundraiser back in April - we were able to use a gift card we had won at that event.

Definitely a “seen and be seen” kind of vibe, but we did not feel out of place at all and the service was warm and welcoming and super accommodating of both our youngest son’s allergies and our large party. Thank you so much, especially Katrina who was patient and attentive throughout our meal.

Rolls were delicious, the whole crispy fish was a showstopper, and the drinks were perfect. All in all, a superb evening!“

“Absolutely love this place! My boyfriend and I live in the area and we love being able to walk to places in our neighborhood. This is definitely a new favorite spot! I rarely write reviews but I had to share my great experience to support this business. The food is fresh and delicious and the staff is very kind.
We ordered the Rainbow and the Spicy Yellowtail rolls for pick up orders through their online website, had a lovely sunset walk during Golden Hour to and from there, and the service was timely and efficient. When we got back home the food was packaged and presented beautifully and it kept well. We thoroughly enjoyed this whole experience and will be happy to order again soon! We look forward to dining in person there as well. Definitely find out for yourself and enjoy this awesome little gem!
Thank you to the entire staff for bringing this spot into the NoHo Arts District!“

“Everything was amazing from the service to the food and sushi and the environment is unassuming and comfortable. Top notch!“

“Andreas Super helpful and knowledgeable about all the foods on the menu the chef always hook it up fresh. Oh my God, cucumber salad stuff. It’s unbelievable delicious number of sauces. You can choose from really affordable and large portions. You have to try this place multiple different choices. Trust me you will not be disappointed.“

“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 😋😋😋😋“

“Salmon Ikura dish is amazing! So much flavor!“

“This is hands down my new favorite sushi place. I will never be going back to Katsuya. Joe is quite an extraordinary chef. I used to frequent a sushi restaurant he used to work at, but it wasn't the same after he left. I'm so grateful that I was able to find him here after a good hunt. Highly recommend!!!

Vegetarian options: You can ask for whatever you want that doesn't contain any meat. Like cucumber rolls, avocado rolls, egg rolls, or just miso and an order of sticky rice.“

“Very romantic ambiance and delicious food... loved all of our appetizers and our sushi was really nice. The salmon was like butter. The black sesame crème brulé is a must. The table next to us had a larger group and ordered a long dragon dish loaded with sushi .... Looked like fun Kelly was so welcoming and sweet!“

“This is our go-to sushi restaurant. The food never disappoints. The service is very friendly.“

“Delicious Japanese izakaya food in a super cute setting with fantastic, extraordinarily friendly service. I can't wait to come back.

We ordered the agadashi tofu, tempura udon noodles, and Daichan beef teriyaki special bento box. Everything was well prepared. The tempura was perfectly crispy, the beef was tender and flavorful, the udon was clean and filling. Pricing was also super reasonable.

Definitely worth a visit!“

“Kindness and care in every. single. bite. That is what it is like to eat here, and it just isn't to be missed. Come when you have a hunger not just for great food, but for a feeling of connection to people—for the feeling that people have been wanting to reach you, and that they care that you're there to enjoy what they've been working so hard to offer. Your joy, your satisfaction, your delight—it really matters to them, and if you come open to having those experiences, they will fill you to overflowing. Happy hour, full dinner...whatever you can make time for, get there. The chefs, the servers (Matt and Uché are stellar examples), everyone—they're all in, and extraordinary at what they do. Seize every chance you can to experience and appreciate it.“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“Amazing fresh old school sushi ❤️❤️❤️❤️. The owner is so friendly and knowledgeable and it’s now my happy place!“

“This is an effortlessly chic sushi restaurant.

Healthy mix of couples, friends and solo eaters.

It’s easy to sink into the dark wooded, close quarters venue with soft jazz as background noise behind the bustling of the staff.

Infatuation will tell you to order the crispy rice with spicy tuna and sushi moriawise, which a lot of folks were getting.

If you have the $200/person (after tax and tip), it’s a special omakase. The ocean trout with kelp is non-pareil, sweet and umami flavors. Worth a visit.“

“Absolutely THE BEST RAMEN!!!! I LOVE THE SPICY TONKASU. YUMMY. I have tried so many ramen places and this is the only one that satisfies. The staff is amazing, too. They even remember what every member of my family usually orders. Personalized, kind and attentive service.“

“Fantastic quality and taste. This is hands down my new fave in LA for sushi. When they get their liquor license it'll be packed non stop. Really nice help and attention from the team. Try the inside out salmon roll, melts in your mouth!!!“

“Huge portions and very tasty. Everything is fresh and made to order. Havent been here in a while but the new owner is awesome and super friendly so ive come back quite a few times. Guarantee you a size large bowl will feed AT LEAST 2 people.“

“Highly recommended place, clean, nice decor, excellent customer service, short wait times, delicious food, well presented and at a good price, 5/5 if you are hesitating to go to this restaurant, give it a chance, I'm sure you'll come back just like me.“

“Loved every single element of the experience with“

“First time coming here and it was delicious! Tried the short ribs, chicken kebab, beef kebab, and shrimp kebab. All of it was really good, but the short ribs were my favorite, then the shrimp. The hot sauce on the shrimp works really well together. The plates come with plenty of rice, small salad, a potsticker, an onion ring, and some sort of sweet crispy wonton. We ordered in person to go and the order didn't take too long, a little less than 10 minutes I think.“

“I recently visited the PokiTomik in my neighborhood, and I couldn’t be more impressed! The experience was delightful from start to finish. The staff greeted me with warm smiles and were incredibly helpful in guiding me through their menu options.

I decided to try the poki tacos, and they were absolutely amazing! The combination of fresh ingredients and flavorful sauces made each bite a delicious experience. The tacos were perfectly crafted, showcasing the vibrant and fresh flavors that this restaurant is known for.

The atmosphere was welcoming and clean, making it an ideal spot for a quick lunch or relaxed dinner. It's wonderful to have such a high-quality, healthy dining option so close to home. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of their menu!“

“Easily one of the very best sushi places I have been to here or in Japan. We went for a birthday dinner and chose the Omakase (option 2). It was an incredibly well balanced meal including many of our favorites. The quality is just perfect. Temperature, freshness, taste, everything from the fish to the rice, toppings and soy sauce.

The service is super good, such a friendly staff. chefs and owner. Highly recommended, we will definitely be back.“

“Great service and delicious food 🍱“

“Sushi 1 block from our hotel, sweet.
Even sweeter was the food. Good fresh quality sushi (if you know sushi you know what I mean) Enjoyed every roll. Salmon Belly nigiri, yes please! It was yum. Cuts are good and rice is spot on. I’d go back.“

“Since my last review of this restaurant about 2 or 2 1/2 years ago, this is the 1st time I went back.
I should also say that we used to go to Katana literary every week at the very least, 1 time and i experienced a very unprofessional behavior from the hostesses which I wrote about and to the management's credit, they wrote back to me and askex me to go back with my guests as their guest, which i didn't do but I appreciated it. Thank you, management, for reaching out to me.
So this time, my experience was very different than my last time there. The 2 hostesses, although they didn't know who I was since reservation wasn't under my name,
*Arica & Rushil were super professional and very nice as well as the young lady bartender "Maya" who was super nice and extremely charming. Anyway, thank you to the management for looking into it and being very professions.
Now, to tell you about the food, honesty, if you want it all, great ambiance, great service and servers as well as the boss boys, and especially the food and it's presentation is fanatic.
So again, thank you for a wonderful evening.

Vegetarian options: I think that they have plenty of dishes that a vegetarian person can enjoy

Dietary restrictions: Yes, absolutely. The waiter literary asks whether you have any dietary restrictions

Parking: So parking is a bit challenging but your best bet if you couldn't find street meter parking, they have valet

Kid-friendliness: Pretty kid friendly

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible“

“I come here often and it never disappoints. Giselle made our visit this time! She was so sweet and very attentative. Kaliah was also amazing and so helpful. Thank you ladies for making our experience a great one! Oh… and the food always fire!“

“Great food , great prices and great people. This place is my go to sushi spot throughout the whole valley, nothing beats the flavor and the portions. The staff is also very kind hearted and welcoming as well as insightful in case you don't really know what you're looking for. Sometimes there can be a wait on food but only because they're incredibly popular and I'd even say a valley classic at this point. Make sure to try the baked shrimp crunch roll, baked salmon roll or the udon noodles!“

“I love this family owned place! Great food and a great place to go on my lunch break“

“Brothers Sushi is a must. Make a reservation and you can’t go wrong with anything you order.“

“I had the chicken katsu for lunch and the portion size was so large I couldn’t finish it in one sitting but it was one of the best restaurants I’ve tried since being out here. I had to take my husband here for dinner and he got the chicken teriyaki, shrimp and steak and finished his entire plate. This place definitely deserves to be on your review board.“

“We loved Sachi Sushi! We stumbled across it as we were searching for a sushi place that was open on the fourth of July, we were hungry and exhausted from a full day and we all agreed the delicious food we had was healing :)
We HIGHLY recommend the miso soup, if it doesn't come as a side with your meal you've got to add it to your order. My spicy bulgogi was filling and flavorful, and my friends finished off every bite of their multiple sushi plates.

The service was very friendly! We didn't catch her name but our server was so kind and attentive even being the only one on the floor that night. We loved the chill atmosphere of this little sushi spot so much that we returned three days later for a goodbye meal to celebrate the end our trip. Thank you Sachi Sushi!!“

“I had an amazing experience at Beto’s Tepanyaki! The service was top-notch—friendly, attentive, and fast. The chefs are truly skilled.

I ordered the New York Steak and Chicken Bowl, cooked medium-rare, and it was absolutely delicious! The steak was tender and juicy, while the chicken was flavorful and perfectly grilled. The portion size was generous, and every bite was packed with amazing flavor.

If you’re looking for great food, excellent service, and a fun dining experience, Beto’s Tepanyaki is the place to go. Highly recommend!“

“Tatsuki never disappoints! It is my all time favorite sushi bar...Always fresh and delicious. Love Hector, Chris and Manuel!“

“The food is AMAZING. I do feel a bit cheated out of the overall experience. The joint is inside the supermarket and they don’t have a seating area. Something the previous reviews neglected to mention. For a $100+ order and two have to take it to go, it’s definitely not what I expected. We did a picnic nearby to adjust. The food is a culinary trip. I highly recommend them. It is by far one of the best sushi joints in the San Fernando Valley.“

“Unexpected find in a quiet little plaza in West Hollywood—easily the best unagi don I’ve had in SoCal. Two styles, both incredible, but the hitsumabushi stole the show. Could’ve eaten three more bowls without hesitation. 😋“

“I usually come here for lunch, but I must say that my experience has been nothing but stellar every time visited. Food comes out quick, ramen is cooked perfectly, and the establishment is spotless. I've been to Kopan Ramen in different locations, but I would rate this place the highest. I'm not sure if this place can handle large parties, but groups of 1-4 are perfect.“

“Masa-san serves chef's choice, and the food is fresh and delicious. Eating here is an extremely delightful experience. The sweet shrimp with eggs is one of my favorites. Always finish your meal with at least 1 (maybe 2 or ...) of his blue crab rolls. The crab is carefully hand-pulled, the rice is warm, and the seaweed is crisp. You won't find that combination of quality and easy dining experience anywhere else in the Valley. Please try it!“

“Always amazing genuine food! I always order from here and they always get it right. The #2 special is always my go to and they make it so good every single time. A little older of a building but don’t let the looks scare you away, their food is wonderful and so are the people behind the counter!“

“Exquisite cuisine- chef was formally trained in Japan and his expertise shines through in every dish. Particularly the lightest, crispiest tempura once could ever hope to enjoy. Attentive, perfect service. Only knock is that it’s quite expensive, making this a once-every-five-years kind of culinary experience. That being said, we will be talking about this meal for weeks. It was *that* good. Life is short: treat yourself!“

“This was our first time at Leona’s Sushi House, thanks to a friend who suggested we meet there—and honestly, we fell in love with the place right away. The vibe was just right—relaxed but lively—and we scored the best seats in the house, right by the open-air window on Ventura. Couldn’t have asked for a better spot to people-watch and soak it all in.

Our server was very friendly and made us feel at home. She even joked about losing her voice at the Beyoncé concert she’d just taken her daughters to—definitely a fun icebreaker.

We all went for the Omakase, and it was such a treat. It kicked off with a mushroom miso soup, then halibut sashimi topped with truffles (so good), followed by a couple of trays of assorted nigiri, and then a crab handroll. Even though we were stuffed, we couldn’t resist dessert, so we shared the chocolate lava cake, and banana puff pastry, and brought the caramel flan home.

All in all, it was an awesome night—great food, great company, and a place we intend to visit again.“

“Not sure why this place doesn’t have 5 stars. Found this place about a year ago and every time we are in LA we make a point to come during happy hour and get their mountain roll & crispy spicy tuna. Service is wonderful and attentive. Sushi never misses. Always so fresh. 10/10 recommend!“

“This is place is fantastic! It is such a unique experience, the food is delicious, fresh and so satisfying. We ate our food so quick that i didn't get a chance to take pictures of everything else we ordered.My husband and I have been coming here since late 2000's and so happy to support his business for many more years ❤️“

“The sushi was on point. I had a caterpillar roll. The ingredients were fresh and I was full from the size of the roll! Also, it was quite a deal too as I had dinner on a Wednesday. Currently, Monday through Friday the restaurant is offering 20% off.“

“Excelente...muy buena atención y la comida muy buena, lo recomiendo...“

“Excellent food Excellent service“

“The food is so yummy. We ordered the chicken and steak with veggies and rice plate and the tofu with veggies and rice bowl. Similar to Wa$a with better quality meats and much better customer service.

Kid-friendliness: My kid loves it.“

“Little Izaka-ya is my go-to neighborhood sushi spot, and it never disappoints! The servers always remember me, which adds such a nice, welcoming touch to every visit. It feels like a place I can count on for a great time and delicious food every single time. The sushi rolls are consistently fresh and full of flavor, but my personal favorite is the white fish roll—YUM! It’s always a treat. I also love how easy it is to make a reservation, making dining here super convenient. Whether it’s for a casual night out or a special dinner, Little Izaka-ya always delivers. Highly recommend!“

“Really good food fresh and the ramen is soooooo yummy“

“Who thought that classic American fare and Japanese cuisine could mesh so well??!!“