50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Palos Verdes Estates

“Great sushi and rolls. Also, do not forget to look at the specials board.“

“What a neat experience in the south bay. We came across this restaurant thanks to Infatuation's 2025 list of best new restaurants to try.

We made a very last minute call to the restaurant to see if any spots opened up, and we were very fortunate to nab two seats. Parking is a little tight in this small strip mall area but not too bad in the evening.

Coming in, you're immediately greeted to a really neat setup - bar seating that surrounds an open kitchen with grills per every tea seats. Loved the modern decor with classic wooden Japanese items throughout the kitchen and fun, friendly chalkboards.

We were seated and given a tour of the menu. There are two pretty competitive omakase style beef walkthroughs. We opted to go with the $50 option as we didn't want to go with the wagyu sushi (that and a couple items were the main difference between this and the $70 option). We also had the ability to order more specific cuts of meat or go straight to the a la carte option as well.

The drink menu for non-alcohol items are a bit limited but for sake lovers, there are some great competitive options like a $30 5-sake cup flights.

Going into the $50 omakase, the options for the most part are super solid. We really enjoyed the multiple sauces that came out with the meat. The beef tongue trio was also fantastic all-around. Meats were cut right in front of you as well as marinated/seasoned. The butcher's cut curry also is oddly fantastic. It's a clever way to close out the meal using parts of the ends of meat. The grill in front of you also uses side vents so makes it a much more enjoyable experience.

I think the only bits of feedback we had (and something it seems like they are actively trying to address) is getting more helping hands. There was a bit of a chaotic energy as the tables were full and not enough hands on deck with things like front of house having to be done by the chef.

I think the servers were still superstars amidst everything going on and super kind in keeping us updated as to the situation.

They also do run out of some items of food so would advise to try to get an earlier time than later. Getting there after 8PM also means that you usually aren't able to go the omakase route as a heads-up.

Can't wait to come back and see how they continue to improve and refine a great idea.“

“Excellent Japanese food. I got takeout: the Gindara Saikyoyaki Bento. It was delightful. Excellent service.

I'm going to have to come back because it's a lovely spot, and I want to actually sit and enjoy in the establishment next time.

Highly recommend. And El Segundo is a very pleasant, calm downtown to visit if you're waiting around for a flight, like I was. It can be fun to go up to Venice where all the excitement is, but I'm grateful that I had a nice calm afternoon in El Segundo this time. And my fantastic supper here was part of it.“

“We went to try out the new menu and what a great idea, We had the happy hour sushi and beers and everything was so delicious and the presentation was gorgeous!
We will make this our new spot for sushi, and can’t wait to try the Ramen and all the other choices on the menu. PS outdoor seating is wonderful during the summer months, plenty of umbrellas to go around. Fabulous service to boot“

“LOVE the poke bowl options including the gluten free/lo carb noodles!“

“Stumbled across Oh! Banzai on an IG ad….stopped by for lunch because I was in the area. What a gem! Had the eel sunomono (light and delicious!), and a few hand rolls. Really lovely place, great service, food is fresh and feels like a higher level dining experience than the price suggests. Definitely coming back“

“Favorite place to eat quickly. It is affordable and reasonable price w loading amount food. The food here has big serving size w amazing taste. The service was rlly good(we got a free drink lol). The restaurant overall is soo cute, styled w cute cat miniatures. I’ll definitely recommend trying out here!!“

“Good taste noodle, great customer service! interesting old Torrance neighborhood.“

“A friend who frequents this establishment brought me for lunch today with another friend. Being a vegetarian I was impressed by the selections I would love to try. I ended up ordering the salmon, scallop, spinach cream pasta with capers. It was delicious! My friends ordered the pork katsu and hamburger combo and it looked awesome. The portions are so generous and it comes with soup and salad for the combo and mine came with a small salad and homemade bread. And the family run restaurant is very service oriented, friendly and a very clean and comfortable place. Highly recommended“

“Unico Tokyo Pasta is a nice spot for a date night or a casual hangout with friends. The vibe and decoration are modern and relaxed, so it’s a comfortable place to sit and enjoy dinner. The pasta dishes are decent and taste good, but nothing really stands out as memorable. The staff is super friendly and gives good recommendations, but overall this is the type of place you try once and probably won’t think about going back again. The pasta prices are on the higher side, and the portions are just standard.

Quick tips:
You can make reservations through Google Maps, but the restaurant usually isn’t very packed at night.

There’s plenty of parking shared with the pizza place and nearby shops behind the restaurant, plus street parking.“

“First time.coming down to this one. Usually hit up the one in Little Japantown.

The soup here tastes just as good!
Only gripe... Not nearly as many of the tempura options or musibis like Sawtelle. But they do have the main dishes here and it was fast on a Friday night to order.

This place is bus your own dishes after.“

“Wonderful experience! When my party of 5 got here the entire couple of blocks were experiencing a power outage and they told us they could only serve sushi since the gas was also turned off. Luckily that is exactly what we came for and we decided to stay. They were very accommodating, really nice, and the sushi was delicious. We ordered the yellowtail roll, spicy tuna roll, sushi combination, and the red dragon roll. Prices are reasonable for sushi as well. Definitely coming back here again!“

“Excelent food ! Great place !“

“My boyfriend and I took our sushi to go. We ordered the crunchy spicy California, Torrance roll, and teriyaki chicken roll. They were AMAZING. We both absolutely loved them. The service was quick- they were quiet but very friendly and happy to see us it felt like. I definitely recommend. Good pricing also!“

“A hidden gem! Very fresh and tasty“

“4.5 rounded to a 5 - came here around 9pm after a round of golf in pv. This place had been on my bookmarked list, and their late (ish) hours led us to give the place a try, and boy, it did not disappoint. We ordered the mascarpone and black beans with crackers app, and it was delicious!

Their main chicken entree, garlic fried rice, and their udon were also all very good (would pass on the rice next time). We ended the meal with the matcha tiramisu and left super stuffed and satisfied.“

“We were just passing through and looking for something close to our hotel, and so happy we found this spot! Because it was our first time, we got complimentary chili - definitely see why it’s 7 times award winning! Very flavorful and just the right amount of spice. The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming, and very accommodating to make sure our order is to our liking. We had 2 bento boxes, Kaula pork and bbq pork. The portion sizes were perfect and the meat was very flavorful. The sides of macaroni and cucumber salad were just as good. We also had one of their many specials of the day, fish tacos, which were incredibly fresh and simple, exactly what I want for fish tacos. Next time we’re visiting LA, we’ll be sure to be back!“

“I came here with a friend expecting to eat salmon belly sashimi as it one of the only few places in the area that has it. And wow, it didn't disappoint. We were planning to have a plate of salmon belly each, but unfortunately they ran out. Makes sense as it's hard to get. The other dishes we ordered were good as well. The server was nice and the atmosphere was welcoming. If you didn't pay attention to the sign, you would miss this place driving by. I would recommend this place.“

“Genuinely exceptional from the warm welcome, the unique and beautiful atmosphere, and the attentive above-and-beyond team service. The Spicy Tuna Lemon roll was incontrovertibly the most uniquely mouthwatering sushi I’ve ever had the pleasure of savoring. I cannot recommend this place enough“

“Friendly service, everything is yummy!“

“So fun! love the HAPPY FISH! Going to see him tonight!“

“yummmmm so good. highly recommend“

“Sei-Ko-En is a Japanese yakiniku restaurant in Torrance, Los Angeles. The restaurant is simply decorated with promotional menus and posters. Ventilation is not the strongest, so expect to be smelly after the meal. Servers are friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Food is reasonably priced and of good quality. The crunchy Bean Sprouts (USD 8) and Minced Raw Beef (USD 12.50) are both refreshing. Highly recommend the silky-smooth Raw Beef Liver (USD 12.50), which will rock your palate! Don’t forget to order the Mega Mug Sapporo Premium Beer (USD 12) to go with the juicy Kobe Style American Wagyu Prime Rib (USD 22) and flavorful Kobe Style American Wagyu Tongue (USD 22)!“

“Great quality meat and wagyu. You need to get the wagyu plates to try all the different meats. Beautiful Yakiniku place with veggie options and they change out your stove promptly. Oxtail soup and wagyu sushi plate was delicious as well. Staff was so nice :)“

“I had the mini Katsudon combo (bottom) and my boyfriend had the Nikuyasai Soba (top) and as our first time here we were very impressed! Everything had so much flavor, our waiter was very attentive and kind. Definitely worth a try if you’re looking for an authentic experience. Would definitely come again“

“muy sabrosa y delicious la comida lo recomiendo y sobre todo El servicio muy bien“

“it was yakitori and izakaya place. it was sooo nice and good. it's pricey though, but that's what fine dining is right..!? so i think it is pretty good, to come with famz or colleagues 😃👍🥰“

“This place is really good. 1st time at this place. Have driven by this place many times. Menu is very simple. Plates are very generously portioned and sauced meat. You get a toasted hamburger bun as a sided bread it's good. Customer service was good as well. The hamburgers are good as well however the meat patties are thin Incase your a super meat lover you might want to add a patty or two. Will be returning.“

“Don’t let the exterior deter you from what they serve. Crazy to think Umemura has been around for 45 years!

CHINESE x JAPANESE FOOD (FUSED TOGETHER)

FOOD 4/5
UMANI YAKISOBA うまに焼きそば was awesome!
Pork and veg cooked w/oyster sauce glaze on pan fried noodles

GYOZA 餃子 - fresh, soft and delish!
6 pieces, pork and veg fried dumplings

MABO RAMEN マーボーラーメン
Diced tofu & ground pork cooked with spicy sauce on soy sauce flavored ramen

PARKING 4/5
Tons of parking in the back, side, or on Redondo Beach blvd off hours.

AMBIENCE 4/5
Small tables and bar seating throughout restaurant“

“Ramen is so good I cried.“

“Every so often you come across one of those restaurants, where you know the owners and general manager's sole purpose is to send people home absolutely full and satisfied.

This is one of those places.
This hits the mark on Japanese soul food. The noodles good. The super good. The bowls and plate sizes are just insane. Have you ever eaten at a Japanese restaurant with a dinner plate? Was the size of a medium pizza?

The food was so tasty. Fact. I love this place so much that I came back two nights later. And the cool thing is they are open until 10:00. I rolled in after 9:00 on both times and I was able sit down immediately. The place is extremely cozy. Very casual and a very homely feel from the staff to welcome you in. I'm coming back... Again and again.“

“Friendly environment. Fast service, Fresh food, clean. love the Poke there.“

“Yamaya Japanese Wagyu & Grill is a Japanese yakiniku specialist in the Torrance area. Ventilation is not bad, but expect to get smelly. The dimly lit dining room is clean and tidy. Servers are friendly, professional and accommodating. Corkage is US$ 25/btl. Food is fresh and of great quality. While side dishes such as Moyashi Namui (US$4.8) and Green Salad ($5.8) are refreshing, the different cuts of wagyu are simply delicious! Highly recommend the crunchy Chef’s Cut Tongue (US$42.8), the juicy Premium Short Ribs (US$ 34.8) and Outside Skirt (US$ 29.8).“

“蕎麦、日本食　最高 !“

“The best sushi I had in my entire life.

The baked Salmon Roll is absolutely delicious ?.
After about 10 minutes of waiting this wonder was in front of me ready to be my late lunch (3 PM ish)
Wonderful service as well.

Next time (maybe today) I'll try the Tiger Roll.
Thank you!“

“Located in the food court of Tokyo Central in Gardena, this Japanese Tonkatsu restaurant is an authentic hidden gem for Tonkatsu lovers?

Tried their pork Katsudon set (you have a choice between pork or chicken also) and the pork upon first bite was juicy and meat was very tender. Outside katsu was crunchy, the pork is lean and didnt have any fat too. Miso soup and cabbage salad was fresh and not instant, I would visit this place again. 5 stars??“

“Excellent in every way. Perfect!!!“

“I organized a dinner with my daughter.
We wanted to try something new and ended up at WA Dining Suya.

The restaurant delivered a great meal and great service. My daughter and I will definitely come back.

The Kakuni was my favorite — very homey. Honestly, that appetizer with rice could’ve been my whole meal.“

“We ate here on Friday around 1pm and it was perfect. The Ramen was delicious. Most everyone got the Shoyu chicken or pork ramen and I had the Tan Tan chicken.

Our server was also so nice, we had four young kids with us, and they all had different variations. They wanted no chicken, chicken on the side, egg and noodles only etc lol. She got everything correct and was very friendly.“

“This is a favorite of mine! Service is very friendly and accommodating. The food is plentiful and delicious! I highly recommend!!“

“This is my ~5th time coming since I first went back in April. I live 40 minutes away on a good day. It is SO. GOOD. I think about Red Rock constantly, I even dreamt about it already. I always get the #2 special, the steak don with an egg and cheese. The most recent time I went, they took out the cheese and I was so sad. Bring back the cheese, please!!! Medium rare is the best! I also get the croquettes and those are to die for! The service is always impeccable, my water is always full! I love the cozy little atmosphere inside the teeny tint restaurant. It's worth waiting in line for. 5 stars every single time I've been. 6 stars if I could because this is one of my favorite restaurants!“

“I highly recommend this place for great tendon and sushi. Some of the best yellowtail I’ve ever had. The tendon was cooked beautifully and was flavorful. The soba was so so. I’d come back again for more sushi and to try other menu items.“

“been coming here for 23 years! great service and great sushi!“

“No dress code, friendly staff and good food.“

“Indoor👍🏼👍🏼we opted for it but was surprised when they ushered us to the back portion of the restaurant. It makes you feel like you really are in an authentic Japanese Izakaya restaurant.“

“Absolute gem. It can be a little hard to spot in the plaza (it's in the same plaza as candy massage and the smoke shop). The food is lovely and the staff are quite nice. I ordered the black pork steak with stamina sauce and it was wonderfully made. I would highly recommend going. The prices are very reasonable for what's included.“

“A joy to be at Rice, the staff so attentive, a celebration of small plates filling our table for three. A perfect sunny evening shared.“

“Best place in town! Thank you Yoshisan! 💙 he’s BIG DODGER FAN LIKE ME! DODGER MEMORABILIA GALORE IN SMALL RESTAURANT!💙⚾️🤙“

“First time trying shabu shabu and it did not disappoint!!!“

“Just had a great experience with Diago. I’m in Studio City, and had been having issues with my gate sticking halfway when closing. Martin came out, quickly found the issue, and made the repair without pushing me to replace anything unnecessarily. Super professional guy.“