50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Pacific Palisades

“Awesome !!“

“The food has a great taste and I can tell the recipe of the broth is thoughtfully designed and flavored. The service was fine but the restaurant felt too crowded and loud. While I understand it’s a ramen spot, their décor and presentation are more refined than most, so the hectic atmosphere detracted slightly from the overall experience.“

“Freshest restaurant quality sashimi and sushi at a reasonable price in the U.S. Their sashimi is top notch. Highly recommend the Hamachi/yellowtail toro (so underrated), the scallops, and the squid/ika, but honestly any of the options won’t disappoint. Also a big fan of their tamago and their Takuan roll (which has fresh perilla leaves inside)!
If you’re a big sashimi/sushi enjoyer and value quality, this place is perfect!“

“My mother and I celebrated her birthday at Nnaka Restaurant and it was a fantastic dining experience. The set menu included 13 courses, with some special dishes. Every dish was beautifully prepared and delicious.“

“A friendly waitresses,waiters .“

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

“What a gem! Small, quiet, refined - here it’s all about quality, not quantity. Food is prepared really well and presented nicely. Staff is nice and helpful without being in your face all the time. The drinks menu could be a bit more inclusive. Otherwise this is an awesome place for a quiet diner for two (they only have bar seating so a party with more than 2 people would have a hard time communicating).

Also, I wouldn’t call this place especially child friendly but we took our 2 year old with us for dinner and he enjoyed most of the food (the cooked items) and the staff and patrons were rather pleased to have him there 😊“

“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!“

“The seared salmon and tuna were absolutely unforgettable, just as I remembered. What makes this omakase experience so special is that you can keep enjoying dish after dish until you feel completely satisfied. Truly grateful to Uzumaki for such a delightful meal!“

“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.“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“I came here for dinner and ordered the Tonkatsu set.
The pork cutlet was thick, crispy, and the meat quality was really good. Everything tasted solid overall.
The only minor downside is that parking in this area can be a bit tough.“

“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!“

“Thursday after working OT, my coworker and myself were planning to have dinner before heading back home, while driving down the street on Olympic I saw this ramen shop and I noticed few fellas outside waiting to be seated , and I realized that maybe the place was good. Once we were there we have to write the name. Anyway after waiting for about 15-20 minutes it was our turn. The restaurant is not huge, but is clean. We have to scan the QR and Start from there. My coworker got spicy miso and I ordered the veggie ramen, short time after, we got our food and mine looked amazing, came with cherry tomatoes, fried eggplant, lotus, mizuna, and broccoli. Broth was perfect and very delicious. I believe shiitake would make a good match to the veggies, ear mushroom and nori and some corn, just my personal opinion. However every place is different and have their own ingredients, and I was very surprised when I saw mizuna in the ramen, never had ramen with mizuna. Highly recommend this shop for ramen lovers or anyone interested in trying it. It's worth the shot.“

“My son and I tried the popcorn, chicken and burger. We love the chicken. It was juicy not dry. The burger was like your standard burger. I will have to add my son. Did not add their secret sauce so that may have made a difference. Seems like a family ran restaurant. They are very attentive and friendly.“

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

“The food here is absolutely incredible! Everything we ordered was so flavorful and it felt like they had taken great care to make every dish. Fantastic service and very friendly staff. I would 1,000% recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood“

“We had a longer wait, but it was well worth it! My sister, her kids, my boyfriend, and I all had great food after a long day at Universal Studioes. The food was authentic and the service was so friendly 🥰 my sister and I are always looking for a good Japanese spot as we get homesick for the food!“

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

“We decided to try out SOBAR as it was close by to our stay while in LA
It was a great chance as the food was great. Everything was excellent to include our communication with other patrons
The food was awesome and we plan to go there again before we leave LA“

“We came here for my boyfriend's bday and order Omakase at the bar. We enjoy the 9 course meal, it was filling and very good. We even did a rating on the school item we tried. The only issue we had is that when the chef will say what the item was, because it was so loud it was extremely hard to hear what he was saying. Other than that we enjoy our experience, I told them it was for my boyfriend's bday we were there and they made us a delicious mushroom meal. We enjoy our first experience there!“

“This is one of the BEST sushi restaurants you will find in LA county. With the fish being so fresh and high quality, the fact that they continue to keep the price reasonable, and the pride they put into every dish they serve. This place is so good, even the miso soup will melt your heart. And here’s my theory, if the place has good quality miso soup, then you know you’re in the right place 👍🏻“

“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“

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

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

“Absolutely amazing vegan food, the staff were so kind and professional, their food is top-tier 👌 Can’t wait to come back for more !!! 🥰“

“Great sushi restaurant with lots of premium rolls and classic rolls. They have a good selection of lunch specials. I came with my family and they accommodated customizing many of the rolls there to our taste. I haven’t been for happy hour, but they have a full bar and happy hour specials as well.“

“Andreas Super helpful and knowledgeable about all the foods on the menu the chef always hook it up fresh. Oh my God, cucumber salad stuff. It’s unbelievable delicious number of sauces. You can choose from really affordable and large portions. You have to try this place multiple different choices. Trust me you will not be disappointed.“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

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

“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.“

“First discovered musabi’s in Hawaii and was excited to find this spot in Santa Monica. The shop is small with no seating, but the food is the real draw. Great selection, fresh and flavorful, and perfect for a quick snack. Love the Santa Monica vibe, a fun place to grab a bite before heading to the beach“

“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!“

“Really loved this spot! Easily top 5 in LA - great food, ambiance, friendly but not imposing staff. Highlights: sashimi, chicken karaage, kabocha squash. Lowlights: mushroom rice, tuna handroll (just not as unique). We also enjoyed the duck meatballs and beef tongue. Impressed with the cocktails and n/a selection as well. Can’t wait to try the duck ramen!“

“Ok this is the first time I write a review before I even start the dinner. As long as I saw the chief ar Japanese I know I’ll give 5 starts for sure at the end!!!!

Ok update. I’m so full and everything is amazing
My friend orders everything double so we two finished 4 yellowtail, 4 tuna, 4 halibut, 8 eel, shrimp tempura rolls,dragon rolls, and a soba 😂“

“I had the best time here! I’m usually overwhelmed by bbq spots like this, but the service made it very easy and fun. Luis, thank you for being so kind and energetic! We loved having you as our server. All of the food was incredible. It’s a great spot for groups especially with the preset menu. Will be coming back again soon!“

“Solid place for yakitori, with a menu that actually is more expansive than it looks at first glance. Chef Yoshi and his staff are excellent.

Just note it's pretty warm inside, which makes sense, considering a grill dominates the interior“

“I dream about their fried rice, it's that good. Their ramen is a clear, light broth that is much different and lighter from the offerings on Sawtelle, but it's just as flavorful and delicious. I recommend it if you're looking for a lighter broth. But definitely get at least a side of their pork fried rice!“

“Best sushi and miso soup we've had so far!“

“Delicious sushi spot! Very high quality and fresh, you can really taste the difference. Service is very good as well, everyone's super friendly, the place is clean and well that great vibe.

It seems like maybe they have shifted management lately so I think this is a good first step, good luck!“

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

“**4.7/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Asuka Japanese Restaurant Westwood (Since 1974): O.G. Sushi Royalty Still Reigns**

Hidden on **Westwood Blvd since 1974**, **Asuka** is the quiet legend where **Nobu Matsuhisa** *and* **Kazunori Nozawa** (the “Sushi Nazi” behind Sugarfish) cut their teeth before global fame 🍣👑. Walk past the unassuming storefront and enter a time capsule: dark wood, paper lanterns, and the rhythmic *thwack* of knives on cedar blocks since Nixon was president 🕰️.

The **omakase ($120)** is a masterclass—12 pieces of pure poetry. Toro melts like butter, uni bursts with briny sunrise, and the **live kuruma ebi** (sweet shrimp) arrives still twitching before becoming nigiri heaven 🦐🤯. Chef Toshi-san (30+ years here) torches binchotan-seared sawara with a whisper of yuzu salt 🔥. Even the **tamago** is silk-sponge perfection.

Classics shine too: **spicy tuna hand roll** ($12) packs wasabi punch, **miso black cod** ($38) caramelizes like Nobu’s signature but somehow *warmer*. Sake list? 20+ premium pours by the glass 🍶.

Service is **old-school Japanese hospitality**—warm towels, paced courses, zero rush. Only quibble? Tiny 30-seat room books weeks out—call early 📞. Street parking is a hunt, but the $12 valet next door saves sanity 🚗.

Westwood’s changed—boba shops, poke bowls—but Asuka remains **unchanged, unapologetic, unbeatable**. This isn’t trendy sushi; it’s *heritage*. Nobu and Nozawa learned here. You should too. I’ll be back for the next 50 years.“

“Highly recommended place, clean, nice decor, excellent customer service, short wait times, delicious food, well presented and at a good price, 5/5 if you are hesitating to go to this restaurant, give it a chance, I'm sure you'll come back just like me.“

“Glad Hurry Curry has reopened after closing their Sawtelle location. if you are new and don't know what to order, try the chicken cutlet curry and the Chicken pasta with Alfredo sauce. The curry is bold and savory. make sure to request picked vegetables for the curry. the chicken pasta is also rich and savory. both dishes complement each other without repeating the same experience. the portions are large so bring friends or bring home plenty of portions for leftovers.“

“I have been coming to Kanpai for over 15 years. They finally opened up a location in Santa Monica. The most important Takeaway about this restaurant is the wide variety of exotic Japanese sushi sashimi. They have incredible seasonal type shellfish, and a variety of fish that you will not ordinarily get at any other sushi restaurant. I highly recommend this restaurant to the real Japanese sushi enthusiast.“

“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!“

“** Important to note: this spot is cash only! **

A superb hole-in-the-wall sushi spot in Sawtelle that deserves a spot in your sushi rotation! I had walked past this spot a handful of times, but never gone in. Oh my goodness, the salmon nigiri might be the best I’ve ever had. Such buttery salmon, we had to order more before we left it was so good. The wait staff were friendly, the food was prepared quickly, and the interior was decorated nicely!“

“Clean, cozy restaurant with a nice selection of food. Extensive happy hour menu and the sushi was very fresh and authentic. We just dropped by because we were looking for a place near our appointment. But it was good; I would go there again.“

“*Delayed post from April ‘25

After traveling Japan for a month earlier in the year, I was craving Japanese food, so we checked out this spot off Sawtelle. 1 hour of parking is complimentary in the underground lot, but the attendant will charge you for any additional time. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor on the right side of the complex.

The atmosphere of the place was nice and I enjoyed the booth seating, but the service was very minimal. We had to ask for drink refills and wave down our server for everything from initial ordering to the check.

The udon I ordered was actually really tasty and came out super hot. It was on the sweeter side and the tempura shrimp on top was well cooked, but was lacking salt. I'd recommend taking it out of the bowl to eat little by little so it doesn't get immediately soggy. Unfortunately the egg inside was cooked weird and still had shell bits on it.

The Carbonara was very creamy, but needed more seasoning. The ham added some saltiness, but it needed more. Maybe they could add dried seaweed flakes on top? Overall however, this meal was too heavy and too large a portion. If the dish had more elements to it that balanced out the heaviness, perhaps half the amount of noodles and sauce and a side salad instead, it would have been a more enjoyable meal.“

“great food and atmosphere!“