50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Los Angeles

“We are vegan and went with the Spicy Miso Ramen, it didn't disappoint. One suggestion, if you want the extra spice kick, ask for their chili oil, it really amped up the ramen overall.
Our kid enjoyed the mushroom bao too.

For parking, you can get lucky by finding a street parking behind the restaurant.“

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was delicious. However, the service was disappointing. Our server was condescending and repeatedly interrupted our moment by crossing between us without a word. When I asked about drinks, she was short and even gave inaccurate descriptions. This is my second visit, and both times with the same server have left a sour taste. I hope the service improves because the food deserves better! This is my second visit, and both times with the same brunette server, whose attitude left a sour taste.“

“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!“

“I had Japanese breakfast w/ miso black cod, it was tasty.“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

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

“What!! This is a gem in Midcity. I have lived here since before it opened and shame on me for only getting here now! We came two nights in a row and just love it. Will be on my regular rotation for sure! Thanks to the fab staff. Everyone is just so lovely!“

“Bento boxes are of great quality here. The attention to detail of this curated meal definitely lets your eyes feast first. All the little sides taste amazing, especially the candied sweet potatoes. The vegetables alternate between sweet and salty to balance out the meal. The Scottish salmon and mackerel are cooked to perfection. The little yolk in the rice also adds a nice touch to mix in and eat.“

“Our server Kevin was very nice and understanding towards our needs and questions. He was super nice and making us feel very at home and helped us decide what to eat. He even gave us his honest opinions on a lot of stuff which helped spend the best money on Chubby Cattle. I highly recommend coming here for the food, since all the meat was super good, cooked tenderly by the cooks if it comes pre cooked, the prices are good, and especially, coming here for our server Kevin.“

“Tasty bbq take out outside. Amazing desserts to ans friendly staff“

“Great service and very friendly staff“

“We dined at their SM North Edsa branch. Good food. 👌 Crews were accommodating. 💯“

“Delicious food. Fast service. Get here early to avoid a long line.“

“Super cozy spot featuring a variety of Japanese dishes. While you may have heard about ownership change in recent years, be assured that keeping things the same was important to the new owners. It is still family run, and everything I tried was excellent. The chicken and egg bowl was enough for two meals. The potato croquettes were delicious. I also like the variety of sauces and toppings available at the tables. Street parking was easy to find.“

“The food was absolutely delicious! We came here for lunch straight from LAX, and we were lucky enough to find paid street parking right in front of the restaurant.

We were also dining with a baby and a stroller, and the staff was incredibly accommodating and welcoming, making us feel comfortable from the moment we arrived.

Our server gave us excellent recommendations, and every dish was outstanding. The hand rolls were incredibly fresh, the skewers were packed with flavor, and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for amazing food and exceptional service!“

“Amazing takeout family meal which features the most flavorful and delicious Char Siu Wagyu Short Rib with fluffy bao. All side dishes are well executed and delectable. One of the best staying at home meals I’ve had! Highly recommend it!“

“I was in the area so stopped by for their mazemen. It was delicious and tasty and the portions were very big. I struggled to finish the noodle and had to get the rice to go. Price is a little on the high side but makes sense for the quality of food. If you haven't had this style of ramen before, this is a great place to try!“

“Best Sushi in LA by far !“

“I recently had the chance to dine at Sama Handroll in the Arts District, and it exceeded my expectations. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding, and every hand roll was prepared with great attention to detail. The menu offers a creative mix of traditional Japanese flavors and unique dishes that set it apart from other sushi spots.
The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern, welcoming, and perfect for either a casual dinner or a night out with friends.
A few standout items were the hand rolls, grilled dishes, and the excellent presentation throughout the meal. It's clear that a lot of care goes into both the food and the guest experience.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for high-quality sushi and hand rolls in Los Angeles. I'll definitely be back.“

“Amazing happy hour menu! Our favorites were the chicken heart skewer, shishito with bacon skewer, and squid ink karaage. Really liked the “For Goodness Sake” cocktail too, very balanced and not too sweet. We’ll definitely be back to try more items!“

“The tuna and salmon sushi rolls that Te and Lisa served me this evening were absolutely fantastic. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned, had firm texture, and was expertly sliced. The sushi rice and vegetables in the roll were tasty. Te and Lisa kindly explained my sushi roll options and obviously put their heart and soul into make awesome rolls for me. I can’t wait to come back here on my next trip to LA— hopefully with my wife so that she can experience this exceptional sushi and service too.“

“Really good sushi and kushiyaki. Rolls were well executed but uninspired. Excellent chutoro, king salmon, and kanpachi which can be hard to find at reasonable prices. Service was good but it was really hot inside and the propped door just wafted in pot smoke from outside. Didn’t see any off-street parking but it’s only steps from the little Tokyo metro station which makes it easy to get there without a car, something Angelenos could learn a thing or two about.“

“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 😋😋😋😋“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“Amazing and thoughtful service from Pierre!
I'm particular about my sushi, especially salmon. But I can say Azai is the best sushi I've had in California so far. The salmon sashimi is juicy and the salmon roll melts in mouth, just like my favorite sushi place in NY. I'm excited to come back!“

“You can’t go wrong with any item on this menu. I’m particularly fond of their chilled soba dishes, which are great on a hot day or after a walk in the neighborhood. The beverage program is also fantastic. We love the little pours of Sapporo.“

“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“

“The food and service was beyond amazing. The sushi was so fresh and melts in your mouth. Every single thing we ordered came fast and did not disappoint. The lychee martini was sublime and not too sweet, the seaweed salad was also a hidden gem. Overall experience and atmosphere 10/10. Will definitely be coming here again!!“

“The best dining experience I’ve had in recent months 👏 Staff were amazing and so friendly—special shoutout to Darren (our bartender), Robby (sushi chef), Chris, and Cornell, they were simply the best.
Food was incredible, the vibe was great, and huge respect to the chefs working hard on Valentine’s Day❤️“

“Great spot! Very discrete on the outside, but cool Japanese aesthetic inside. Food was amazing. Recommend: Cesar Salad, Wagyu Sando, Octopus, Tartare.

Things I would pass: Uni pasta was plain, needed more flavors in it. The duck wasn’t memorable as well.

100% would recommend! Cute for a date spot too.“

“This was our third time dining at Eigikutei and we were just as pleased this time as we were with our maiden experience. We were favored with our personal favorite of the sushi kaiseki Yawaragi (10-piece sushi). All the separate elements of the course melded perfectly for our palette. The service was attentive and on que with our pacing of eating. And the ambience was quiet serenity. We highly recommend dining at Eigikutei for any fine dining connoisseur!“

“We recently embarked on a three-week west coast “foodie” vacation, spanning five states and six major cities. Along the way, we dined at everything from Michelin-starred establishments to small mom-and-pop restaurants. By the end of our trip, everyone in our group unanimously agreed that our experience at Tensho was one of the absolute highlights.

From the warm hospitality and the evident pride in food preparation to the impeccable service and outstanding flavors, everything about our visit was memorable. We left the restaurant on a true “food high,” feeling as though if the entire world could experience what we just had, it might inspire world peace.

Be sure to order the wagyu—it’s an absolute must and a true indulgence!“

“I’ve been hoping a place would come along to give me a riceball fix and this is absolutely it! Delicious & perfect for after school or work bite! Friendly staff clean and chill hip atmosphere. I hope nothing but the best for this place!“

“Atmosphere was impeccable because of the Mario kart games! Got to play against another family, made for some wholesome bonding. The beer is only $1 with a meal.

The food was delicious! Miso, rainbow roll & 10 pc sushi. 🍣

Even the receipt says cowabunga republic 😭 best place in LA hands down. will be coming back

i was so excited to eat i forgot to take a photo.“

“Anzu no longer has its own storefront and is now operating out of Menya Tigre. This also has caused a menu change.

Their karaage remains the main attraction and is a good as ever. Their fries were always inconsistent, but they seem to have settled on some pretty bland French fries. It's definitely a downgrade.

Their Sicilian rice was a highlight of their previous menu that is no longer present.“

“Best sando ever! I got the spicy sansho pepper pork sando and it was fire! So good! Highly recommend!“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“A great spot in Little Tokyo that specializes in gyoza! I really enjoyed the food here and it’s at a good cost as well. The service is friendly and kind too. The dumpling soup was my favorite especially when the temperature drops at night. You get to choose your filling and can either get steamed or pan fried. The bento box is a great deal here too. Good spot for sharing food with friends!“

“Food is delicious! Really liked the sushi, everything was super flavorful. My favorite so far is the red dragon roll on the bottom of the picture. It’s spicy, savory, a little sweet from the eel sauce and all the fish in the roll is super fresh.“

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

“I ordered for the first time from this place tonight via Uber Eats, and I got the chicken yakisoba. It was amazinggg. I was able to customize my order... It was a great portion, the noodles tasted fresh, the veggies were cooked well, and the chicken was seasoned really good. I choose the medium spicy level which was perfect. I will be ordering again🔥“

“Amazing food and service, everything gluten-free. I couldn't find celiac-friendly sushi while I was in Japan a few months ago, so it was even more pleasing. Cannot recommend enough.

I ordered a set and after trying some food ordered an extra sushi roll to-go.“

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

“Great for a quick bite to eat. I bought 2 Classic and 1 Californian($22 total). I was gonna try to eat all 3 throughout my work shift, but stuck in 101 traffic back to the valley, they were devoured before I made it to universal city. There's so many flavors to try too. I found a metered Parking across the street, I had 25cents on me.“

“I couldn't be happier with the service and the quality of food as well as the cleanliness and open air atmosphere with all their gorgeous and delicious selections prepared at a central kitchen within view of every table.

Thanks to our server and bartender for their intimate attentiveness and suggestions.

I was so enamored with the food that I didn't take any more photos after the salad! Guess I'll have to go back and take plenty more...“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“My first time sitting at a sushi bar and I absolutely loved it! The atmosphere was great, and watching the chefs prepare everything right in front of you made the experience even more fun. I got to try all kinds of sushi, from fatty tuna and yellowtail to raw shrimp, and everything was fresh and delicious. The server was funny and that made the experience even better. 🍣😊“

“Overall, the food is clean, not overly salty or heavy, which makes it perfect for both adults and kids. One thing that really stood out was the open kitchen, where the Japanese owner-chef cooks everything himself—it definitely adds to the trust and experience.
We ordered chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu, beef fried rice, cold udon, and a beef bowl. The beef bowl was especially impressive—generous portions of tender meat and fresh, vibrant vegetables made it both satisfying and well-balanced. It was also very kid-friendly, which I really appreciated.
The chicken teriyaki and chicken katsu were both excellent, and the beef fried rice was flavorful and hearty—my child loved it. And especially my favorite, the cold udon, tasted even better than what I’ve had in Japan. It’s one of those dishes that you start craving again the very next day.
In my opinion, the Japanese owner-chef has an exceptional ability to transform simple, everyday dishes into high-quality meals that feel like something you’d get at a fine dining restaurant in Japan.
Another thing I loved was that the food didn’t leave me feeling thirsty afterward, which usually tells me the seasoning is well-balanced and thoughtfully prepared. If you prefer stronger flavors, you can always ask for extra sauce or seasoning on the side.
The portions were generous enough that we took leftovers home, and even the next day, everything still tasted great after reheating.
It might be a little hard to find at first since it’s tucked away, but it’s absolutely worth it. Parking was easy when we visited for a Friday lunch, which is always a plus when dining with a little one.
Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a casual but high-quality meal, especially with kids👍👍“

“Good Japanese foods , many varieties of dishes . The fish grilled sea bass is cooked just perfectly fine . The salad is kinda american Japanese fusion but still good . The carbonara noodle - I don’t really care (It doesn’t really fit with the rest of the dishes) - overall is a great place to enjoy Japanese foods“

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“