50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Monrovia

“Only Rating on Food and Service since I ordered the food for delivery. Everything was packaged well. The food was all delicious. I was happily surprised to find that even the leftovers were still great the next day. Well done, great quality.“

“Ever since I tried their curry plate, this place has been my go-to—it's honestly delicious! I haven't tried anything else yet, but the staff is always kind and the service is super fast. My only minor complaint is that they recently changed their containers, so it feels like a bit less food, but honestly, can you blame them in this economy?“

“A Delightful Sushi Experience! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The sushi was outstanding—fresh, expertly crafted, and beautifully presented. The chef’s special sashimi, were bursting with flavor. The nigiri was a standout, with perfectly seasoned rice and melt-in-your-mouth fish. Service was impeccable; the staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. They even made excellent recommendations based on my preferences. One thing to note: Fillet doesn’t have a liquor license yet, so if you’re someone who enjoys pairing sushi with sake or wine, this might be a consideration. They said it’s coming soon, I can’t wait to come back here again.“

“Kevin and Eric are the proprietors and they deliver great poke dishes! Love the food. Love the atmosphere.“

“Great food and great service!“

“Fresh and delicious! Great local spot!“

“Very cheap, healthy, quick food that is simple and pretty good. Looks run down but everything is affordable and great value. The bowls you get to choose a meat, and it comes with rice and veggies. They also have udon and sushi. Staff are friendly and there is both indoor and outdoor seating.“

“Just goggled and found. Good parking yummy food good choices. Abd large servings“

“Been here many times before, mostly weekdays during lunch hours, never knew they get so busy on weekends. But lines moved quickly, plenty of various prepared takeout sushis in the cold storage areas. Regular customers often recommend food items to try for newbies. Overall, a pleasant place for fresh sushis.“

“I've been coming here for over 10 years and absolutely love this spot. Hideo has been making sushi ever since I've been going here and he is excellent. Service is always good, the place is a little small, but always busy. They have the best muscles, best albacore capaccio and rolls. Nice vibe in there. I highly recommend as this is my favorite sushi spot in the SGV.“

“Its open and they really made sure its safe , service and food perfect . Happy days“

“Absolutely incredible experience! The sushi here is some of the freshest I’ve had — you can really taste the quality in every piece. The fish was buttery and perfectly cut, rice seasoned just right, and the presentation was beautiful without being fussy.

Service was warm and attentive without being intrusive, and the chef clearly takes pride in the craft. We tried the omakase and every course was a little surprise — the fatty tuna and the seared salmon nigiri were standouts.

Prices are fair for the quality, and the atmosphere is cozy but still feels special. Will absolutely be back and already thinking about what I’ll order next time. Highly recommend for anyone who takes their sushi seriously!“

“Highly commendable service and absolutely stunning set menu! we went here for dinner last night for our Halloween date night! Their wagyu cuts are 100% top-grade and not just random "wagyu" that are below the marks. We tried their A5 and M9 meats, not to mention their salmon carpaccio that is to die for. Their sides are absolutely delicious and smart, one great example is their fried pork buns that is like a spin on soup dumplings. To top it off, you get premium ice cream in the end. Their salad is so good with yuzu and smokey salt, plus you get a chili mix too. They serve the meats fast plus your tablet menu is in front of you so you don't have to keep calling the staff to refill. I give them 9 stars! 🌟 🐄 🥩“

“Meet quality really nice to me Good service!“

“Qauint and charming sushi place. Reaonably priced for fresh sashimi and sushi dishes. Very pleasantly surprised w the freshness of the seafood!
Service was attentive and sweet even when it got busy.
Definitely a repeat customer!“

“Great rolls. Big selection.... fresh.“

“I’ve been coming to sushi rolland for a while now, and I’d say, I’m pretty satisfied! I’ve been impressed by the freshness of the their fish, especially their salmon. I LOVE salmon, and their salmon is buttery and very good quality. For their price and quality, I’d say it’s definitely worth it. I’ve tried their salmon delight, crunch roll, dragon roll, blossom roll, salmon avocado combo, combo an and combo c. I tried out their new menu today, the salmon crunch, and I really liked it (apologies for the half eaten picture). Might be my new go to menu item. I really the fried onions on there. I always like getting their miso soup, such a good combination with the sushi. Highly recommend their combo plate, especially combo A!“

“This place is a hidden gem. Unpretentious atmosphere and Japanese comfort food. Udons, ramen and my favorite... curry spaghetti! Its so delicious, I get a craving to go here fairly often. They make the curry in house, and its to die for. Staff is great and apart from the strip mall parking being full sometimes, there's really no down side.“

“Was at Santa Anita Mall and it was dinner time. Had seen Marugame Udon many times, but had never tried it until today. Tried the new Bolongese Udon with a potato croquette and sweet potato tempura. Ambience is great and the wall artwork is fabulous. Noodles were fresh and bowl was warmed before plating. I ordered a large size and was not disappointed. Free toppings were nice: tempura flakes, wake, cilantro, grunions. Tempura was nice and crispy. Potato croquet was good but a bit too sweet for my liking. Grabbed a Calamansi Ade to drink; nice Calamansi flavor and not overly sweet. Tempura dipping sauce was excellent. Appreciate the Togarashi and chili oil as well if you want a bit of spice. Free water cups also appreciated.

For the bolognese, please don’t think this will be similar to an Italian restaurant; this is the Japanese riff on bolognese. A boiled egg may seem odd at first, but it gives the dish a wonderful creamy texture when mixed with the cheese. The ground meat rounded out the dish well. Cilantro and togarashi paired really well by providing freshness and a hint of spice (I love spicy stuff). While this dish will not be for everyone, I’d encourage people to try it, as it is quite filling and really good for what it is. If you’ve had Japanese pasta before, you’ll know.

Will be coming back to try other Udon options and tempura. Udon is great comfort food, and Marugame does it well!“

“Every dish was delectable, and great service! We all had a fantastic time there! Definitely will be back, and for celebrations.“

“ABSOLUTELY the BEST ramen I have ever had!!! The service is amazing, the fried pumpkin... off the hook!!! Spring rolls, yaaasssss!! I had the King Ramen...whoaaaaa! Daaaaammnnn!! You will NOT be disappointed. Thanks to the owners for the great experience.“

“Good food, portions & service...“

“Pleasantly and delishly surprised. Place is unassuming. Its quaint and intimate.
Foodwise, its fresh and well presented. Sashimi is served warm temperture and not over ice. Which is how it should be. Rice was not overly sticky. Well balanced in combo with the fresh fish.
Service was welcoming and super friendly. Enjoyed the relax vibe.
Definitley on my list to be back“

“Great food and great service“

“My go-to sushi spot for sure. I’ve been here so many times that they already know my order when I walk in 😂. Great sushi, great service, and they always make you feel welcome. Can’t recommend this place enough!“

“Fantastic. Great service and even better sushi.“

“Their signature soufflé pancakes“

“I recently tried Koki Ku Sushi, a newer Japanese restaurant in Duarte, and came away pleasantly surprised.

I stopped by for their lunch special and found the service attentive and welcoming throughout the meal. The 5-piece chef's choice premium nigiri was fresh and enjoyable, with each piece offering a nice variety of flavors.

I also ordered the Salmon Teriyaki with Spicy Tuna Roll combo. The teriyaki salmon was flavorful, although the slices were a bit thinner compared to what I've had at other sushi spots. The spicy tuna roll was generously portioned and filling enough to make for a satisfying lunch.

The restaurant itself has a clean, modern design and is conveniently located in the Target plaza, where parking is plentiful and easy. Overall, Koki Ku Sushi is a nice addition to the Duarte dining scene, and I'll be back to try more items from their menu.“

“Umebana has amazing food! I'm currently pregnant and I have been looking all over for a sushi place to make food accommodations for me when I have my cravings. Umebana is always so kind to me, the atmosphere is clean and enjoyable, and the food is always made exactly how I requested it, so delicious! Thank you for taking such great care of me“

“The best-quality sushi I’ve had. Honestly, it’s on par with Nobu. I’ve had sushi at Nobu that wasn’t even that great, but this place is consistently incredible. The sashimi literally melts in your mouth.“

“Always wondered about this restaurant as there's always a line outside the establishment. My wife and I were seated with our friend group pretty quickly, a nice perk to the staff that handed out menus to choose your order to improve efficiency.

I love that the ramen is very customizable, from the amount of salt, oil richness, ingredients mix, sauce, and even noodle style. (Thin/Thick) There's moderate seating inside, some for large groups, duos, and some wall seats as well. It definitely has the vibes for a ramen shop, lights are a bit dimmer inside which highlights the kitchen staff (open kitchen). working on orders.

My wife and I both ordered the Original King Ramen and shared some appetizer (Chicken Karaage) with our group.

Orders came out pretty quickly and the portions are pretty decent size, a bit deceiving I'd say for the size of the bowl you receive.

1. The ramen is very flavorful, can't go wrong with either thin or thick noodles. In my opinion, the chashu is a must because it mixes the broth flavor with the meat, creating the savory flavoring, super yummy. A little side note is that the ramen is priced nicely, however the extra add-ons can accumulate in total.

2. The Chicken Karaage is a classic must try, Japanese styled fried chicken, super crispy coating, very flavorful meat, and bite size. The karaage is marinated very well & comes with some lemons for that sweet flavor if preferred. Highly recommend.

Overall, Ramen Nagi has very delicious ramen and is very much affordable. Huge plus for the ramen being very customizable & even has chefs recommendations for first timers. Only downside is that the shop is not super big, and long lines but it moves moderately fast if you don't mind waiting a bit.“

“Everything about this meal was fantastic. I loved the variety of textures in the baked sushi, especially the contrast with the crunchy fried items.

The baked mussels were perfectly prepared and seasoned just right. It is rare to find such a consistent experience, but this place really delivered. I will definitely be back soon.“

“this place is bomb.!! and the service is incredible..“

“This is a delicious Chinese restaurant! Staff were really friendly and helpful. Parking is very limited because it is on a tiny lot but I came early so parking wasn't an issue. It appears there is free street parking. The food was amazing and reasonably priced. I had the Cheung fun with peanuts, Cheung fun with egg, shrimp fried rice, this green dessert, and tofu wrapped around rice roll. Everything was delicious. Cheung fun and tofu wrapped around rice roll were my favorite. The Cheung fun was thin and the sauce was so delicious! The tofu was crispy and it had some garlic inside and it was so delicious. The waitress brought out an extra sauce for my Cheung fun without me asking. They were very attentive. Restaurant was also really clean. I live in Thousand Oaks but needed to come into this area for business and decided to give this place a try. Well worth it and I will be back again next time I am in town. I also purchased another Cheung fun with peanuts to go and my daughters loved it and they are picky eaters.“

“This japanese AYCE bbq place offers 3 tiers pricing options. I chose the cheapest one which is $49.99. Quite pricey but comes with top class quality of meat. Also you can have few choices of ramen, fried rice, and soup. Only the steamed egg a little bit off. You have 90 minutes time limit but when it hit 70th minute, you are no longer able to place the order. Very good service as well, the waiters routinely come to your table. Overall, it was a very satisfactory dinner experiences. Will be back for sure !!!“

“Give it a 5 1-5 great customer services great food“

“I had such a wonderful dining experience here. Every dish was prepared with obvious care and attention to detail.

The tempura was perfectly fried, and I really enjoyed the fresh slice of orange that came on the side. The fish was incredibly fresh and vibrant in the bowl. It is rare to find such high quality and consistency in every single plate.

I will definitely be returning to try more of their menu soon. Highly recommended for anyone in Pasadena.“

“Mixed tempura was delicious (they gatekeep that tempura dipping sauce like nobody's business). Bento box was tasty (salmon was cooked perfectly). The salmon skin roll was well liked by the wife. Loved the fact that Mikomi had Pacifico Beer on tap!!!

Highly recommend this spot, especially for lunch.“

“I loved the ambience here! The space was very clean and minimalistic, and the service was amazing as well. You can really taste the quality of the fish here, and you can’t beat the prices either! I definitely will be coming back very soon!“

“WOW! This might be the best and most authentic sushi i’ve ever had in California. The sushi isn’t like anything you would have at your average sushi restaurant. This fish tastes so fresh. And don’t even get me started on the rice. The sushi rice they have is AMAZING. I could eat an entire bowl of it. If you don’t come at least once in your lifetime you’re missing out.“

“Quality food & service at reasonable prices 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻“

“How does this place have no reviews? Probably the greatest hot pit in Houston. Different levels of Wagyu. Includes many sides seafood drinks desert it’s just awesome. Great service. Great vibe. Amazing place. Keep up the good work.“

“I had such a wonderful dining experience here recently. The quality of the food was impressive and everything arrived fresh and beautifully presented.

We ordered a massive spread that included a variety of sushi, tempura, and grilled meat bowls. The large sushi platter was definitely the star of the show. It was packed with generous portions of tuna, salmon, and shrimp nigiri that tasted as good as they looked.

I also really appreciated the fun selection of bottled sodas to go along with our meal. The atmosphere was welcoming and perfectly suited for a relaxed dinner. I will certainly be coming back again soon.“

“WOW! got a lot of food for the money paid! we ordered the chicken and pork combo 3 pieces of katsu , a cabbage salad , a soup, a side of rice and 4 dipping sauce/ dressing!! easily 2 people can share this dish. food was really good can't wait to go back!!“

“This place is such a hidden suprise in Pasadena! I've only gotten takeout so far, but it has been great the few times I've ordered. I'd love to have the time to dine in as the restaurant itself is very quaint and staff very nice and polite. Their lunch specials are a great deal, with sizable portions. The fish quality is amazing and presentation beautiful. Highly recommend.“

“The food is very good here. It's way more than a notch above fast food. Prices are more than fair. I could be wrong, but the interior looks almost the same as Shakas did. ... My salmon was cooked to perfection. We'll definitely be back.

Lots of Dodgers love in the place! 💙⚾🧢“

“This is a no-frills simple traditionally Ramen. The interior is clean. The atmosphere is very minimalistic. The surf surf great, including just the flavored water that’s given. Not a fan of the fusion items. However the Ramen is solid. Grape flavor, not too oily. Would highly recommend for those who’ve been to Japan and want to have traditional Ramen. Is a smaller location, it cannot accommodate more than 40 people. They do have to go options. They also have vegetarian and vegan options as well.“

““Oh wow” the first words that I could come up with when my wife asked me how the food was.
We ordered: Japanese ceviche, Y-not roll, Salmon roll, California roll, yellowtail sushi and halibut sushi.
Everything was absolutely fantastic, fresh and full of flavor.
I highly recommend the yellowtail sushi if you want raw sushi
I recommend the y-not roll if you want a specialty roll, it is a little spicy so beware.
If you want to try something new we recommend the Japanese ceviche, it has the perfect mix of sweet and salty.
Overall you could tell the fish are fresh and not old mush, and even the plating of every dish was admirable.
The service is also fantastic, we were checked on regularly by our servers, had all of our questions answered and even got solid recommendations.
This place is definitely worth traveling for, decent prices too!“

“Well worth the drive from Palm Springs! Excellent food and service!“