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‼︎“

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

“The sushi fish was fresh, and the sushi rice was delicious! As someone who frequents sushi bars in LA for some nigiri and hot tea, Chiba has the best ambiance and best tasting nigiri sushi.

My favorite was the mackerel, yellowtail, and unagi.

I've also ordered donburi here, and it comes very close to the donburi I had in Japan.

Been coming to Chiba for years now. Hands down it's my favorite sushi spot for nigiri in LA.

Excellent service. Totally polite. 💖 There are purse hooks under the sushi counter.

Boom. 5 stars.“

“Uchi is pretty decent. The vibe is cool trendy. Service was polite but felt bit rushed and not as personable.
Food-wise, nothing was terrible, but not mind blowing either. A couple of dishes were tasty, a couple were bland, the sushi rice is left to be desired.
Prices felt a bit high for an experience that screams ‘it’s fine. Not in huge rush to be back.“

“Best Sushi in LA by far !“

“We went to Katana for Dine LA and had a great time! Our waiter was super nice and the vibe was cozy and trendy. The patio has a great view of the street. Food was great too! Definitely recommend for a fun night out in LA. The portions were huge and the quality was great. I can’t wait to go back!“

“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.“

“I really enjoyed dining at Taisho Sushi! The yellowtail serrano was perfectly balanced with just the right spice, and the salmon dry miso was incredibly flavorful and fresh. The presentation and service were both excellent — definitely one of my favorite sushi spots in town. Highly recommend!“

“5 stars for the delicious and high quality sushi. plus i have a gluten allergy and the chef/ server was super considerate and knew exactly what needed to be modified. my favorites were the bluefin tuna nigiri and the yellowtail hand roll (with soy paper), and i don’t typically like yellowtail.

however, i did not realize there was a 16% service fee included in the bill. it says so on the menu so that’s my oversight but at kazu nori, for example, the server tells you not to tip because of the service fee. so on the little screen i tipped 20% on top of the 16% service fee and tax. it’s my bad for not paying closer attention but they don’t verbally tell you either.“

“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 😋😋😋😋“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“Must get sushi, but don’t forget the corn tempura and momotaro tomato (seasonal). Awesome sake selection too.“

“Sooo good!! I tried their yellowtail garlic ponzu rolls I think, something yellowtail the server recommended me and omg it was sooo good!
Also I had their curry it was so good.
The service was so nice they were so kind and the ambience was so nice the open windows were so nice it was a nice chill experience!“

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

“We just happened to be in the area and I heard good things about Jade so I wanted to try this place out. There was a wonderful piano player singing while we were there. I liked her music. We happened to get there around happy hour so we got the Tokyo mule and Beverly blossom. Both were delicious. Many of the items we tried were cheaper than the dinner rush. We ordered spicy tuna crisp and the wagu Gyoza. Both were absolutely delicious. We also ordered the diamond roll which was perfect. All the flavors were amazing. We ordered the mango mochi and meringue desserts to try out after. If you havnt been to Jade yet, you have to try it out. It's a great date night spot or even a girls night out spot.“

“Everything is delicious, made with love❤️ Clean, elegant, and delicious🤩😋 Friendly, helpful staff🌹“

“Loooove this place so much. One of our favorite neighborhood places. Laid back, with delicious food and wonderful staff.

We love the steamed chicken gyoza, the cut sushi rolls, and the sashimi bowls. The chicken katsu Don is AMAZING, as is the zaru soba and the curry katsu rice bowl.

Much easier to get in for lunch, though we usually go for dinner. It’s a small space and you put your name on a list for a table upon arrival, so show up with your whole party to be seated. Street parking is usually easier than trying to valet.“

“If there’s one thing I love, it’s teriyaki plus. This restaurant is so inconspicuous and a sleeper hit of the area. It’s charming and the food is well priced and so flavorful. We got the katsu bowl, the gyoza and chicken kabobs. All perfect. I can’t quite explain why this place is so cute and charming but as soon as you step inside you can feel that you’re walking in to your new favorite restaurant.“

“If you're reading reviews wondering if you should try this place. Waste no more time just go ahead and order, you won’t regret it.

I’ve been eating at Roll Roll since around 2018. They never miss. At least not in my experience. Originally my wife and I found this place on yelp because it already had good reviews and amazing prices. We usually order a Party Tray for special occasions and it’s become a favourite tradition of ours, however we also like dining in because the employees have always been incredibly kind and accommodating Even now in 2026, when everything has gotten so expensive, they still provide good quality food and better quality service for a good price. You can’t ask for more honestly.“

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

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

“I’ve always loved coming here for their teriyaki chicken bowls, but now they’ve also won me over with their new Okinawa Matcha Cloud drinks!

The staff is always friendly and the food is consistently fresh. Highly recommend this spot!! Best matcha I’ve ever had!!“

“Hole in the wall teriyaki place. You order at the counter, you pick up your food, you clean up your own table after eating. Easy free parking lot or street parking. They have a lunch special for $11.95 that includes chicken and rice with salad. They also have specials A, B, C and D that are around the $15 to $20 price range. I had the special C that had white rice, a big piece of chicken katsu, two pieces of chicken teriyaki, salad, two small onion rings and two dumplings for about $15.95. Not a bad value. You get a teriyaki sauce and hot sauce on the side. Their teriyaki sauce is very good here! The serving is very generous. I was not about to finish it in one sitting.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Fresh, Flavorful, and Worth Every Bite!

I recently visited this sushi spot, and I was blown away by how fresh everything tasted. The fish practically melted in my mouth — you can really tell they use high-quality ingredients. The rolls were beautifully presented and perfectly balanced with flavor and texture.“

“I love eating here! The service is always so awesome. I love that it's tucked away, and every time I've brought someone to eat here they don't expect that the restaurant is here. As for the food, it's DELICIOUS! My son is picky, and even he couldn't deny how good the food is. The ramen is amazing, it's so good and the portions are hearty. I usually end up getting a ramen combo with a chashu bowl. Now, I get to eat there AND have delicious leftovers. My family have tried other ramen places around and we keep coming back to Futaba because it's number one in our eyes. The flavor is always on point. Definitely recommend.“

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

“I am extremely loyal to our local sushi restaurant gems all along Ventura blvd and have my staples saying that none compare to this most amazing sushi spot we've discovered and many have already known about and it is Sushi Tomoki! Wow! Paradise for sushi lovers and I must say from the moment you enter this most authentic of joints it takes your heart and you fall in love with the chefs, the ladies and gentleman serving you and guiding you along the way is next level. We absolutely have found our local spot for good. Magic!“

“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 is just an all around great little sushi spot - emphasis on little! Be aware, there are very few tables and only a handful of bar seats.

That said, the food is delicious! Their happy hour is a killer deal. They have so many options, most under $10.

It's located within walking distance to the Academy Museum and LACMA, so it's perfect spot to eat at it post-museum visit. I couldn't give this place any more praise.“

“This place for years has been my all time favorite. The service is unbelievably fast, welcoming and of top notch and respectful. The food is always fresh and the chefs you
Can tell are very passionate on what they do and the hold the Japanese craft to a high regard. I spoke to the manager he carries himself with his culture and pride very high. He is so incredibly kind and respectful. The restaurant really is a sight to behold and truly a gem in the United States. I drive an hour there without hesitation. As far as I’m concerned there is no place like it. Until next time 🙏“

“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!“

“Love Jo&Go Sushi. They saved me when we first moved to LA and while the house was being remodeled.

4 years later... it's still as good as first discovered. It's a neighborhood gem inside the Korean Greenland Mrkt, which btw, is also awesome.

Must try is the salmon bowl, the salmon slices are so tender and buttery... they give you a crazy amount of salmon over the rice and seriously it's enough to have a 2nd meal! One note about the bowl... I'm not a fan of drenching really good cooked rice with sauce, so I always order without the sauce. The rice is not sushi rice which makes it even more delicious... the rice is always perfectly cooked. You get a miso soup and a cute little container of pickled radish (delish). I would love to know where they source the fish... it's like being in Japan, it's so fresh.

I'll be catering with them soon and happy to update the review post order.

The kind woman who takes the order is so sweet and cute, always smiling...says hi and bye all the time.

If you're in the area, definitely give it a try for takeaway.“

“Best sushi anywhere! Been going to Sasabune for decades.“

“Hadasa (sorry if I spelled it wrong) made our first impression wonderful she was patient during the rush and went over the menu with us
We will definitely come back if there’s service like that ! We loved the Birria ramen! Thank you“

“We were both super tired after a week of travel around the country. Decided to give the hotel restaurant a try. Super happy we did. Waitress/hostess was very friendly, fun and attentive. The food was much better than we expected. Really nice meal at the end of a tiring trip.“

“Been coming here for decades still my favorite.“

“Traditional Japanese izekaya. Daily specials. A definite must try.“

“The food was amazing!! Great experience.“

“I found out about hungry ninja on door dash a few months ago and have been hooked ever since. Portions are great, food is made with love and tastes amazing, and most of all the customer service is great. If you are in the chatsworth area and looking for good teriyaki this is the place I would go to!“

“Reall bomb sushi rolls were the yellowtail and spicy tuna roll. Wow. Our waiters suggestions didn't disappoint and only impressed us with the high quality of flavor from this restaurant. Would go here again and ambience is very romantic“

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

“OMG. I cannot believe I only went there last week after going to so many other places over the last 25 years
This place is a cut above the test!!
Fresh fresh fresh. And delicious
It’s at the top of my list. There are only a few other for quality like this !!!!“

“One of my favorite places for bento boxes! Everything is so fresh and delicious. The staff is very friendly and you can tell they care about their customers.

Please be patient, sometimes they get a little busy but always worth the wait! I will definitely keep coming back.“

“This chain is amazing! Food is always super fresh and serving is good size there are a lot of options especially great for lunch those who want to eat light or be full. If you are vegan or pescatarian this place is great for you too We have options for everybody.“

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

“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!“

“A new Japanese restaurant, “Soma Suisan,” opened summer in 2025 in West Hollywood. The mural of the dragons that I painted while ago is still there even though the restaurant is under a new ownership. I’m so grateful for that. The food is also very delicious and beautiful, so please everyone, check it out!“