50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Pacific Palisades

“Awesome !!“

“I’ll probably never have the same excellent experience with sushi again so. They want to.“

“Loved every bite! A bit expensive but honestly worth it ! Best ramen I ever tried.
Group of 4, everyone got the signature ramen. Mine was with no spinach, peas or green onions.
Great vibe, zero waiting time and everything clean. No free Wi-Fi.“

“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“

“A friendly waitresses,waiters .“

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

“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!“

“Alyssa… best service ever!!! Food and the view and the service was amazing. Highest quality of sushi I’ve ever eaten in my life and the drinks were so top tier and well balanced! Thank you will be a regular customer from now on!“

“Love this spot! The fish quality is fresh and tasty, the sushi chefs were quick and friendly. The ambiance was intimate but cozy, the bar seating and outdoor dining are great options to enjoy your meal. Free parking is available in the back, a huge plus!“

“My girlfriend and I have been watching Jade for a year and FINALLY took a leap! I just landed back in LA from a vacay and was determined to go to Jade. My gf and I went, I resy, just decided based on timing. We ordered the DIY Hand Roll, Hamachi Crudo and Spicy Crispy Tuna. This was enough as we took food home. Every dish was fire. The fish was fresh, the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice was unique and the flavor of all the dishes hit! Our server, Soyol was so humble and truly has a servant heart, 5 stars!!!! So glad we can this night as everyone from the door to our server were perfect and the food took the exit the experience to the next level!“

“Our waiter was great. Suggestion: your food runners should take 15 seconds longer to slow down and clearly state what they are bringing to the table and conclude by asking us if we have any questions or if we need anything else. Some did some most did not, and they generally seemed overly rushed, which is understandable given how busy you were on a Tuesday night“

“It is an amazing food, comfortable atmosphere and the service impeccable I highly recommend it“

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

“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!!“

“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“

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

“Must get sushi, but don’t forget the corn tempura and momotaro tomato (seasonal). Awesome sake selection too.“

“Absolutely loved Maki Noho! Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The sushi quality was excellent, and the service was friendly and attentive. I also really liked the table ordering system—it made it super easy to order more food whenever we wanted without having to wait for a server. Everything came out smoothly and quickly. Great food, great service, and a really convenient dining experience. Definitely coming back!“

“We’ve been going to Daichan for decades and they never disappoint. The quirky Japanese decor, the kindness and care of the serving staff, and the quality of the food have all remained constant over the three decades Daichan has been serving Angelenos. They have become part of our family. ❤❤❤“

“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 really love this place! Cocktails menu is amazing, the Lychee Mojito 10/10, always a must for me.
Place was packed, of course it was a Friday night and the Lakers were playing, I recommend making s reservation.
Despite how busy the place was, out server David took care of us, great service and delicious food!“

“This is our absolute go to for sushi, and we love their happy hour. Mon-Sun 3-7, Mon-Thur 9p - close. $1.99 sake! So many rolls to choose from. Full bar. The staff is incredible! 1 big TV above the bar, usually has the most popular game of the night on.“

“Excelente. Servicio variedad. De comida. Deliciosas . Y frescas“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great sushi, great service, awesome experience!“

“Wonderful food and service, the Omekase was the culinary highlight of my week in LA. Every course was delightful, varied, and complemented the others. My friend ordered off of the menu directly and the Gyoza was the best either of us had ever experienced. Highly recommended!“

“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.“

“Had a sushi dinner here and really liked the selection. I tried a few different rolls, and each one had its own flavor. The food was nicely portioned and didn’t take long to come out. The staff were helpful, and the restaurant had a laid-back feel“

“I’m so gobsmacked at how amazing this food is that I’m writing a review while I’m still here.
We had 5 nigiri sushi rolls, the crispy spicy tuna appetizer, and the wagyu sliders. It was the most incredible meal I’ve ever had. You must come here - the server we had (Umida) was insanely amazing and super helpful - she really elevated the experience and made sure we didn’t order too much food!“

“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!!!“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

“Great spot to grab a quick bite. Karaage chicken was super juicy and had the perfect breading to chicken ratio. Our server was super nice and brought out water for our dog totally unprompted. Only thing in this place needs beer! It’s weird having fried chicken without beer.“

“it’s my first time at roll roll sushi and I was offered a free miso soup as soon as I walked in I ordered the salmon lover roll and the baked scallop roll and both were delicious. I had my dog with me so we sat outside under cute umbrellas they have out. I’m so happy I decided to try this place out if you’re in the valley you need to give it a try!“

“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.“

“The ramen 🍜 here is really good and the quality of the food is impressive. Ramen 🍜 bowls costing around $20.

I also tried the curry chicken 🐔 rice. The portion was a bit small, and the chicken was quite shredded, but the flavor was still pretty good.👍

The restaurant is clean and pleasant🥰. My only complaint is that the air conditioning wasn’t strong enough, especially in the hot🔥 LA weather. Overall, I enjoyed the food and would consider coming back.“

“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.“

“Brothers Sushi is a must. Make a reservation and you can’t go wrong with anything you order.“

“Food, 5 stars; ambience; 1 star; service, mixed. I asked immediately about dairy-free options. The red and brown sauce are dairy-free, so I ordered the brown. The dish came with its non-dairy sauce covered in cheese! Staff was apologetic, replaced the meal, but it took a long time. Pasta, sauce, meatball were all delicious, though! It is not really a restaurant, just one large round communal table with stools; take-out seems to be the way most people use it, but we ate on the stools. THEN, as we were leaving, staff gave us two popsicle-style desserts by way of apology--but they were fruit-dairy desserts.“

“First thing first, the sushi is really fresh. We got the toro, salmon belly, and the yellowtail belly. Saba is a little fishy. The rice is a bit mushy but good enough.

The cooked food is not as great. The agedashi tofu has too much breading and taste average. Kaiju tar tar is okayyy.

The service however took forever, and they never come to check up on us. Servers reach over to get dishes for other tables. Maybe they are short staffed but they should still handle us probably.“

“Fresh, healthy food w generous portions. I had the hana salad w chicken and the iced matcha cloud latte. The salad was fresh and their sauce/condiment bar made it extra tasty. The matcha was super yummy, on par or better with any specialty coffee/tea place. The Okinawa sugar made it elevated, though I ordered it less sweet. Will def be back!“

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

“The food was amazing!! Great experience.“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“I’ve come to Kanpai since they opened and never had a bad meal. It’s our go-to Japanese comfort food place in Santa Monica. Love the selection of freshest sashimi and sushi. Excellent cooked dishes and best yuzu ramen in LA. Servers are really friendly and attentive. Happy Hour menu and 50% hand rolls are a great deal. Also love the plenty parking spaces in the rear.“

“Excellent ramen with a unique chicken-based broth! The Japanese BBQ chicken ramen was rich, smoky, and incredibly flavorful, with perfectly chewy noodles. The charcoal-grilled chicken was tender and delicious. The cozy ambiance makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a little ramen shop in Japan. Definitely one of the best ramen spots I’ve tried!“

“I’ve lived in Mar Vista for years and somehow never knew about this place. Let me tell you… the fish is SO fresh, the rolls are delicious, but the spicy garlic edamame is on a whole different level of amazing!!!! Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and efficient. Definitely found my new favorite restaurant.“

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

“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!“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“We had dinner reservations at 7:45. On a Friday night. We were sat immediately but at the most inhospitable table in the restaurant. They should be ashamed of themselves to put a table inline of the waitstaff that literally went past us the entire time. I've never been sat at such a terrible table in my life. Normally I would have just said I'd wait for another table but my daughter was really hungry. In addition to that, they were incessantly grabbing plates off our table when I was still literally eating my food. I had to stop them several times. And then they came with the machine in hand to ask if I wanted anything g else and then proceeded to give me the bill. I didn't ask for the bill but they decided when I needed to get it. Mind you, there were no more people waiting for tables so the rush to move us off of our table was unfounded. Every table around us were still sitting and enjoying each others company except for us. I am more than livid at the waitstaff's pushiness and they need to be trained better.“