The sushi chef is a master of his craft, and the large variety of soba and udon dishes are made with the kind of care you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. The atmosphere is so cozy, this place is hard to beat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DAISUKE OKAMOTO (OKAINA IMAGE)
Yabu’s owner and sushi chief, Okyo makes delicious sushi and presentation of sushi also pretty and beautiful. They also have soba noodle and tempura. Try here!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Spencer Sugimoto
Very authentic! I especially love the gindara black cod and the appetizers like goma ae and pickles. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tofu, Saba, Tempura
James L.
Great food. Got seated at the sushi bar and ordered all my sushi dishes directly to the chef. It can get filled fast on a Saturday night so you should call ahead to reserve a table or come early. When it gets full they have very few wait staff so it can take a while to get orders in or the check. Food was great though
Steve Gorson
Sushi King is so, so, so much better for the same price. Don’t waste your money here!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
W.D. Sniffen
Since my cousin's sushi spot closed, my wife and I have been hard-pressed to find a new, go-to sushi joint. Stop looking, Yabu is the jam!!!I'm a big fan of unagi (eel) and tako (octopus) and their two-piece orders always deliver. I would also suggest the sashimi platter. You get a bit of everything. The bluefin tuna and tempura dishes are also on point. For some non-California roll style offerings, try the beef tataki. Think steak tartare but cured in a vinegar-type dressing. There's also fried chicken! Crunchy, not greasy pieces of white meat chicken. For old schoolers, their soba noodles are also good (plus, you can get the broth from the noodles separately!).
The street is coin parking.A lot of meter were broken.No credit card accepted and one hour only.Our order took 30 mins and when food came My stomach was full of beer and could not eat finish so I asked waitress if they can change a dollar to quaters. They just said they don't have any quaters.Now 5 min left I rushed to eat .So we quickly checked.Total was $95 and my friend left a really good tips $25 because he said he often come this place.But I thought they are not nice.One quarter could save us butwhen I was upset and eating in a hurry but nobody care. They knew are predicament but they didn't care.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Cheryl T.
Yabu has been around for a while, and I finally got to try it yesterday! Came on a Friday night with reservations. They do accept walk ins, but it isn't too big in there, so reservations are recommended. We actually ate right at the sushi bar. We couldn't decide what to order, so the solution was omakase! The sushi chef was amazing, and is very well trained in his art. Our omakase was AMAZING! I love the element of surprise with omakase. We started with monkfish parfait, which I had never tried before. It was creamy and citrusy because of the ponzu. This was followed with two plates of different sushi pieces, two hand rolls, and two bluefin Toro pieces. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Every dish worked together so well in the order they were given to us. There was only one sushi chef making sushi for the entire restaurant! He was truly amazing. Service was great! Parking can be tricky, especially because it's located right on Pico. There is parking in the neighborhood behind, and a few spots behind the restaurant. They also have outdoor seating. Although the restaurant is small, it does create a cozy ambience. This old school japanese restaurant is a must!
Joon L.
Yabu is our go-to spot for lunch, and for good reason - their lunch specials are a real treat. The combination of quality and value is hard to beat. Whether you're in the mood for sushi, sashimi, or a hearty bento box, Yabu delivers with fresh and delicious options. The service is consistently prompt and friendly, making it a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying midday meal. We keep coming back for more!"
Mika M.
Great, authentic Japanese food The sushi is as authentic as it gets. Family owned and been around for decades. My go to is the cut Cali roll
Used to be one of my favorite places for soba, but this last visit was rough. Some issues submitting our order (even after we confirmed what we ordered with the server) and with the bill. Maguro was also kind of fishy, not so great.They used to be amazing, hoping this was just a temporary glitch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Charlize T.
Old School Japanese restaurant specialized in soba and udon. As soon as you step in the restaurant, you will know that this place has been here for a long time with the way it looks. There is also an outdoor seating which is newer and cool too. In a place like LA, I feel like I experience less and less of that so I immediately appreciated the restaurant. I think they have sushi but I've been busy with eating their udon with Kansai broth, which is the style I grew up with. I'm glad I found this place. Oh, actually, I did try a little bit of their lunch special that did have a bit of a donburi and that was excellent. I imagine the sushi is equally wonderful too. Dishes came very fast for work nights and I appreciate it very much. Been here like 3 times in two weeks so I imagine I'll come again soon. Lol.
Maruko X.
Ambiance: traditional Japanese restaurant, old fashioned indoor dining and very chic outdoor patioService: friendly and patient with questions, served food and refilled water adequately Food: numerous items on the menu, with daily special available from time to time, combo items have the best value here Chirashi Sushi - **** Assorted sashimi over a bed of sushi rice, fresh raw fish, recommend Cold Soba - **** chewy noodles with dipping sauce, recommend Salmon Hand Roll - **** smooth texture, recommend Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - *** average Yellowtail Hand Roll - *** average Hot Udon Noodles - *** average taste Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, 10% discount if paying cash, expect $25 per person
Sean Wilson
Their sushi is amazing! The way they plate their sushi is beautiful. I really liked their smokey eel and the sushi tasted so fresh! Family owned Japanese restaurant! Very cool place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eunice N.
Great! Yabu is like a neighborhood Japanese spot serving lots of hot and cold noodles - soba, udon as well as some raw fish. Overall I love soba so I wanted to like this place but it fell really short.This ambiance is a nice grungy Japanese eatery with nice wood paneling.
The sushi chef is a master of his craft, and the large variety of soba and udon dishes are made with the kind of care you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. The atmosphere is so cozy, this place is hard to beat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yabu’s owner and sushi chief, Okyo makes delicious sushi and presentation of sushi also pretty and beautiful. They also have soba noodle and tempura. Try here!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very authentic! I especially love the gindara black cod and the appetizers like goma ae and pickles. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tofu, Saba, Tempura
Great food. Got seated at the sushi bar and ordered all my sushi dishes directly to the chef. It can get filled fast on a Saturday night so you should call ahead to reserve a table or come early. When it gets full they have very few wait staff so it can take a while to get orders in or the check. Food was great though
Sushi King is so, so, so much better for the same price. Don’t waste your money here!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Since my cousin's sushi spot closed, my wife and I have been hard-pressed to find a new, go-to sushi joint. Stop looking, Yabu is the jam!!!I'm a big fan of unagi (eel) and tako (octopus) and their two-piece orders always deliver. I would also suggest the sashimi platter. You get a bit of everything. The bluefin tuna and tempura dishes are also on point. For some non-California roll style offerings, try the beef tataki. Think steak tartare but cured in a vinegar-type dressing. There's also fried chicken! Crunchy, not greasy pieces of white meat chicken. For old schoolers, their soba noodles are also good (plus, you can get the broth from the noodles separately!).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eel, Chicken Wings, Tempura, Tuna, Assorted Sashimi
The street is coin parking.A lot of meter were broken.No credit card accepted and one hour only.Our order took 30 mins and when food came My stomach was full of beer and could not eat finish so I asked waitress if they can change a dollar to quaters. They just said they don't have any quaters.Now 5 min left I rushed to eat .So we quickly checked.Total was $95 and my friend left a really good tips $25 because he said he often come this place.But I thought they are not nice.One quarter could save us butwhen I was upset and eating in a hurry but nobody care. They knew are predicament but they didn't care.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Yabu has been around for a while, and I finally got to try it yesterday! Came on a Friday night with reservations. They do accept walk ins, but it isn't too big in there, so reservations are recommended. We actually ate right at the sushi bar. We couldn't decide what to order, so the solution was omakase! The sushi chef was amazing, and is very well trained in his art. Our omakase was AMAZING! I love the element of surprise with omakase. We started with monkfish parfait, which I had never tried before. It was creamy and citrusy because of the ponzu. This was followed with two plates of different sushi pieces, two hand rolls, and two bluefin Toro pieces. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Every dish worked together so well in the order they were given to us. There was only one sushi chef making sushi for the entire restaurant! He was truly amazing. Service was great! Parking can be tricky, especially because it's located right on Pico. There is parking in the neighborhood behind, and a few spots behind the restaurant. They also have outdoor seating. Although the restaurant is small, it does create a cozy ambience. This old school japanese restaurant is a must!
Yabu is our go-to spot for lunch, and for good reason - their lunch specials are a real treat. The combination of quality and value is hard to beat. Whether you're in the mood for sushi, sashimi, or a hearty bento box, Yabu delivers with fresh and delicious options. The service is consistently prompt and friendly, making it a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying midday meal. We keep coming back for more!"
Great, authentic Japanese food The sushi is as authentic as it gets. Family owned and been around for decades. My go to is the cut Cali roll
Restaurantji Recommends
Used to be one of my favorite places for soba, but this last visit was rough. Some issues submitting our order (even after we confirmed what we ordered with the server) and with the bill. Maguro was also kind of fishy, not so great.They used to be amazing, hoping this was just a temporary glitch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Old School Japanese restaurant specialized in soba and udon. As soon as you step in the restaurant, you will know that this place has been here for a long time with the way it looks. There is also an outdoor seating which is newer and cool too. In a place like LA, I feel like I experience less and less of that so I immediately appreciated the restaurant. I think they have sushi but I've been busy with eating their udon with Kansai broth, which is the style I grew up with. I'm glad I found this place. Oh, actually, I did try a little bit of their lunch special that did have a bit of a donburi and that was excellent. I imagine the sushi is equally wonderful too. Dishes came very fast for work nights and I appreciate it very much. Been here like 3 times in two weeks so I imagine I'll come again soon. Lol.
Ambiance: traditional Japanese restaurant, old fashioned indoor dining and very chic outdoor patioService: friendly and patient with questions, served food and refilled water adequately Food: numerous items on the menu, with daily special available from time to time, combo items have the best value here Chirashi Sushi - **** Assorted sashimi over a bed of sushi rice, fresh raw fish, recommend Cold Soba - **** chewy noodles with dipping sauce, recommend Salmon Hand Roll - **** smooth texture, recommend Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - *** average Yellowtail Hand Roll - *** average Hot Udon Noodles - *** average taste Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, 10% discount if paying cash, expect $25 per person
Their sushi is amazing! The way they plate their sushi is beautiful. I really liked their smokey eel and the sushi tasted so fresh! Family owned Japanese restaurant! Very cool place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great! Yabu is like a neighborhood Japanese spot serving lots of hot and cold noodles - soba, udon as well as some raw fish. Overall I love soba so I wanted to like this place but it fell really short.This ambiance is a nice grungy Japanese eatery with nice wood paneling.