50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Marina Del Rey

“A friendly waitresses,waiters .“

“We come to Enya often, and love the food and vibe. The rolls are creative, the fish always fresh, and the chefs and staff are welcoming and attentive. One of our fave spots in Venice/MDR!“

“5 stars. Best hand rolled sushi. Great atmosphere and customer service. Beautiful view of the Marina.“

“The man inside was nothing but kind to me. Im not from LA and my phone died trying to find my way back to my hotel. I went into Jersey Mikes and he refused to lend me a charger for a couple minutes. I decided to try here and he let me use it, offered me candy, and was so nice. I didnt try the food but with with their hospitality alone I will come eat here on my next visit. Thank you again!“

“Pleasantly shocked by the amazing quality of the fish , I've been to two star Michelin omakase spots that don't hold a candle to the fish quality this place provides and for the prices they charge it's actually wild. Whoever there fish guy is they must have some really good connections lol“

“Casual dinning atmosphere“

“this place is great. i found it my searching “impossible burger near me”, and i know that’s not their claim to fame by any means, the patio was amazing. my husband got the shelled shrimp and was super satisfied with that as well. plus, they allow dogs! i don’t have one, but always enjoy other people’s at restaurants. highly recommend.“

“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.“

“Definitely worth visiting. The signature ramen is so creamy, mochi noodles are great texture & wagyu mixed nigiri so so worth the price. Wagyu was so buttery & smoky. Uni & ikura are so sweet. So happy now that tummy is full. Will definitely be back to check out other dishes.“

“Fantastic sushi for a great price, hence the queue! Luckily the line moves quickly. I would first go to the shelves to grab some rolls, then take a number for the fresh sashimi before jumping in line to pay.

Limited seating outside so also consider having a friend grab a table while you collect all your sushi bits 🐟“

“⚠️ 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!“

“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!“

“Very tasty sushi spot with great service! The Uzumaki Plus is lovely and has many delicious pieces of nigiri. Every piece melts like butter in your mouth and they all have distinct flavors. The service is also delightful and very efficient! Definitely recommend!“

“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!!“

“I came here for the first time and it was absolutely beautiful inside and the prices are also very reasonable for the quality of the food. The sushi was soooo good and same with the wagyu gayoza. It was also my dad's birthday and they went above and beyond with a dessert and bringing out a bubble machine it was so much fun and our waitress Corinne was so fun and sweet. I had a blast I would highly recommend this place!!! 10/10“

“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“

“okay i could write an entire novel about my experience here, but i will keep it brief. my sister and i came to the WeHo Uchi to celebrate my birthday after hearing lots of buzz about it. When we entered, we were immediately greeted warmly and had a lovely exchange with the host. The ambiance was beautiful, everything was pristine and curated, and everyone member of the staff were friendly and comfortable to speak to. Our waiter—whom i sadly cannot remember the name of— truly went above and beyond with his service. We ordered the omakase for two and a few other small dishes, but he threw in two on the house— one being wagyu as a “birthday present” and the other being nigiri. We were choosing between the nigiri and a roll, and when we ultimately chose the roll, our waiter brought us both dishes anyway. Everything felt incredibly thoughtful and personal; there was even a little handwritten card wishing me a happy birthday. The food came out very swiftly—and speaking of the food, it exceeded our expectations. Everything was fresh, beautiful in its presentation, and very unique. This is one of the few sushi places in LA that I think truly lives up to the hype surrounding it. thank you for a great birthday dinner; we will be back again, again, and again!“

“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!“

“I actually wasn’t planning to come here but i saw this cute patio area of this restaurant and wanted to check out.

Honestly i was so impressed of the friendliness of the staffs and the quality of the food!

My boyfriend and I ordered the Sachi boat, assorted sushi and sashimi and a specialty roll on this cute boat and everything was delicious!

Will definitely come back here. So glad to find a cute date spot to come back to. :)“

“Best Sushi in LA by far !“

“katana is a must-go every time i'm in la. the food is always wonderful, the atmosphere is beautiful, and the staff consistently goes above and beyond. BELLA was such an amazing and friendly host during my most recent visit, and EMMA was equally wonderful the last time i came. everyone made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. incredible service, great food, and an overall fantastic experience. can't wait to come back!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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 😋😋😋😋“

“Excelent food ! Great place !“

“A hidden gem Japanese creative bar near Hollywood. The uni was very fresh and paired pretty well with the scallop, and the toro was rich, fatty, and honestly so good. We ordered a bunch of hand rolls too, and they were all pretty solid. The food came out a little slow, but the service was very nice. Great quality for the price, definitely a place we’d think about coming back to.“

“A play on the Japanese Izakaya bar and Ramen Bar, Great Food all freshly prepared the same day at time of order, serving Lunch and reopening for dinner menu, full Sake selection and Wine Beer Mixed Drink selections, Freshly made by hand Buckwheat Soba noodles, an all around great Dinning Experience.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“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“

“When visiting Santa Monica, this fascinating place at all times would wait for you. Best quality beer and dishes based on fresh sea ingredients would be served by very kind employees. I would like to recommend here to all my Korean friends.“

“Ramen is so good I cried.“

“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 my second time at Shunji and since it was so consistent, I thought I should give it a shout out. You may miss it if you aren’t paying attention, nestled behind a non-discrete door on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, Shunji Japanese Cuisine is a Michelin-starred gem that redefines the art of sushi dining. Chef Shunji Nakao is a legend and this intimate restaurant offers an omakase experience that is as unforgettable as it is refined.

The heart of Shunji’s allure lies in its sushi, which showcases decades of expertise as one of Los Angeles’ sushi pioneers. Each piece of nigiri is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail, with fish sourced primarily from Japan to ensure unparalleled freshness. Shunji’s (somewhat new Santa Monica location) is a departure from its former chili bowl-shaped home on Pico Boulevard, embraces a minimalist aesthetic that keeps the focus on the food and quaint experience. The space is divided into two small rooms, each with a blonde wood counter that seats just seven, creating an atmosphere of exclusivity and intimacy. Soft jazz hums in the background, and a wall of orchids adds a touch of elegance, celebrating the restaurant’s decade-long legacy. The service is impeccable, with staff (one Shunji’s wife) moving gracefully to anticipate every need, from refilling sake glasses to presenting dishes on stunning ceramic plates.

Shunji is more than a restaurant; it’s a destination The sushi is exceptional, the ambiance serene, and the overall experience a masterclass in hospitality.“

“Saloon Osaka is an exceptional Izakaya.
Highly recommend this El Segundo gem!
From the nigiri, rolls, unique flavorful salad options, even the top grade caviar! Thank you Chef and staff, we had a wonderful experience and cant wait to be back soon.“

“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.“

“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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“My favorite sushi place in LA!! Such a hidden gem. Been coming here for 3.5 years, and it’s still my favorite sushi spot I’ve been to in LA. Perfect balance of price and quality. The food is super fresh and the price and service is really good. I take all my out of town guests here. Sometimes it’s a bit of wait, so factor that in beforehand. An absolute must to try!!!“

“Ugly Roll is freakin fire. Don't tell anybody! It's a small place. Ice cold dollar beer, ice cream mochi, huge salmon plate, tempura and fried shrimp Roll, all incredible beyond the rest and for a reasonable price. Our new go-to place.“

“蕎麦、日本食　最高 !“

“The service was really good and fast. The staff was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. The food tasted great and the portions were worth the price. Overall, it was a nice experience with good food at a decent price. I would definitely come back again.“

“The atmosphere inside is a great homie and warm feeling! Takes me back to Japan in a nostalgic way. ORDER THESE 2 DISHES IF YOU COME:

1. Scallop kiwi - super refreshing and smooth. Great for summer
2. Miso black cod - Amazing flavor with the miso. Super tender fish and great assortment of vegetables with it.

Only knock is the sushi bar was a bit slow to make the sushi, but it was also packed… for a Monday night, which was also impressive in its own right“

“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.“

“We found this place by of chance needing to use the bathroom whilst walking around Venice and what a great find. Staff are lovely and welcoming and attended to us well. The place was very clean and the food was just right and so tasty. I will be returning when I visit again.“

“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“

“First time here and me and my husband loved it! We tried the beef and chicken teriyaki plate and a chicken and beef fried rice. Both were very good. I also loved that the music that was playing at the time was like a Justin Bieber Pandora radio station lol“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

“The food was amazing!! Great experience.“