50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South El Monte

“To over priced.“

“We had a really nice experience! The side of the restaurant has enough space for a few tables to dine in, and it felt cozy. The service was quick, friendly, and efficient. I liked that they had sauces and water available right at the tables for self-service.

We dined in, and everything came out fast! We spent around $40 for a chicken bowl, two sushi rolls, and two miso soups ,perfect for two adults and a toddler. The food was amazing! My husband said the teriyaki chicken was really good, and I agree. the chicken was juicy, not dry at all. The salmon sushi was good too, just a little warm for my husband’s liking, but overall, everything had great flavor.

The music was a fun surprise, they were playing some techno, which we didn’t mind at all! It actually made the experience more fun. We even found ourselves dancing a little while eating. Definitely a place we’d come back to!“

“Overall 5 stars:

Rationale:
- tons of treats, snack, to choose from
- raw fish quality looked decent and fresh
- sushi quality is superb for being made in advance
- prices : very reasonable

Only suggestions for a better overall customer experience:
- better organization for the refrigerators
- it's too tight and not enough space to open refrigerator doors without bumping people or bothering others while shopping
- the Yama in LA felt like it has a better organization to it, the space size appears to be similar from what I recall, I may be wrong

Having said that:
- this place is phenomenal and you should definitely give it a try
- staff is incredibly nice
- the quality is top notch
- variety/options are decent
- you won't be disappointed and you'll definitely find yourself returning for more“

“The service, the food, the environment and the kindness and efficiency of our server tonight! 😋👍“

“This is one of the best and only place we like to go. They are very friendly and best fresh sushi all around. it really feels like a small family enviroment“

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

“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! 🌟 🐄 🥩“

“Fresh sashimi, cozy atmosphere & friendly staff! A must visit Japanese dining restaurant in Pico Rivera :)“

“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!“

“Salad Dressing is amazing. Parking is horrible. They said 10-15 for my order. 25 minutes and I got a $52 Parking Citation🤬🤬🤬🤬“

“Authentic Japanese food! The chef was Japanese! Not fake Japanese restaurant. People are nice. 😊
Sushi was great! We had Kanpachi, halibut, amaebi, uni, engawa and oysters, agedashi.
Everything was delicious. they didn’t let me down. Thank you for nice dinner 🍽“

“Best sushi on the West 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!“

“Amazing food and amazing customer service!! I shared it on all my social media’s so all my friends would know about this place and be able to have their own experience at home. My whole family loved it and enjoyed it. Definitely recommend this place!“

“Really enjoyed this spot. The sushi rolls were fresh, flavorful, and plated really nicely. The crispy toppings, sauces, and presentation made the rolls stand out, and the edamame was a solid appetizer. The restaurant had a cozy vibe and the meal felt worth it overall. Definitely a place I’d come back to and recommend for sushi. My partner and i really enjoyed.“

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

“The food is delicious!!! The broth for the beef ramen is so flavorful and the gyoza are perfectly cooked! The drinks and water are refreshing. The service is great! Very kind and polite. As a anime watcher, I love the atmosphere, the lights and anime posters with the music make it very enjoyable to be there.“

“It was a great experience We took our dear granddaughter to celebrate her birthday !!!“

“so far everything I've tried has been delicious!“

“Good food, portions & service...“

“Best teriyaki chicken“

“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.“

“I've been coming here since high school and the quality has stayed the same. Everything here is delicious. The staff is so super friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for a good, local hidden gem for Japanese curry ... look no further!“

“Solid ramen, sushi and other dishes. Good portions as well. Service was efficient though a bit impersonal...but as long as my water is getting refilled before having to ask, etc. I can do without friendliness. I'm 99% positive my mom and I had been to the Montrose location a few years back and had a very positive experience as well. Definitely would go back to either location. We went on Saturday of Mother's Day weekend for a later lunch with a group of 6 and there was no wait.“

“Really great poke with a good selection of protein, base and toppings. The fish was fresh and seasoned well, vegetable toppings were plentiful along with seaweed and masago. They have a variety of excellent sauces as well. The large poke was enough for two people with an av“

“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!“

“Really great service the workers are very nice and the food came out very fast though I did pick up and ate there. I got the Vegas roll and it was delicious you guys should definitely come here! They give you wasabi and soy sauce and the rolls are very big. Definitely worth it and I’ll be coming here more😁“

“We tried the chicken katsu and a noodle dish, they were both really good. We want to go back and try some of their other options as they have so many. The service was excellent, the gentleman brought us all the sauces and was so nice. The place is small, with a few tables but very clean. Definitely recommend this place!“

“My bestfriend and I went for happy hour and had a great time! Awesome music, great service, tasty cocktails, and delicious food! We ordered mixed tempura, octopus, ceviche and yellowtail carpaccio! Lovely presentation and everything was yummy! We especially loved the tequila and mezcal options! Will definitely come back and recommend for groups and dates!“

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

“Fantastic. Great service and even better sushi.“

“Wonderful we had lunch here yesterday. This is a clean and tidy restaurant. The service was excellent. The Miso soup was perfectly hot and delicious.
The Bento Sushi box was delightful. Fresh tuna and salmon. The tempura was perfectly battered and the veggies were crispy. I like to recommend this establishment and please leave your review and let us know your experience.“

“Their signature soufflé pancakes“

“This may be one of the best sushi deals in Southern California. I know that once the word is out that it’ll be harder to get in, but they deserve the recognition.“

“The thickest and girthiest sushi rolls I've ever had and it was fantastic.
The staff and service was incredible! Big shout out to Crystal** our server and John the owner for making us feel extremely welcomed and very well fed.

My personal fave was the I LOVE JASMINE roll named after the owner's wife and the Daniel San roll named after the owner's son!

It's a family of great taste forsure!

Also loved how amazing the ambiance was, a GIANT screen to watch the game, plenty of fun decorations that made the space feel fun and alive!

I must come back for the happy hour specials!!“

“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“

“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.“

“Best Japanese Food in Whittier“

“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.“

“Sakura Grill is a great spot for fresh, flavorful Japanese-inspired dishes served in a relaxed, casual setting. The menu has a nice variety, and everything comes out well-prepared and consistent. The grilled items are especially satisfying tender, well-seasoned, and cooked just right.

Service is friendly and efficient, and orders are handled quickly whether you’re dining in or taking out. The atmosphere is simple and comfortable, making it easy to enjoy a laid-back meal. Overall, Sakura Grill is a solid go-to for dependable, tasty food with good value.“

“Came here on a pure whim. Was planning to just get Pollo Loco, but spotted them, immediately decided to get a chicken katsu curry, and it was sublime. Service was pretty quick, and the presentation was excellent also. However, there's not a lot of interaction with staff, they want you to browse the menu and order on your phone, they just deliver the food. And, maybe as a result, there's not a lot of atmosphere either, felt a little fast foodish. But the food itself is well worth the visit.“

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

“Shabu Shabu good prices with great quality meat. My kids and I loved the ribeye, beef belly, and pork belly the most. All of the meat were good but these three were the table fav. Their appetizers were amazing as well. The fried squid legs, shrimp eggrolls, the blue crab, and the potato wrapped shrimp were sooo sosososososo good. you can tell a restaurant knows what they're doing when the fried appetizers are on point. I got one regular house soup and I got the mala for myself. They were bot so delicous. Also, the prices were very 2016 even in this infaltion. A must try. we went to chicha san chen right after. it was only 3 minutes away. Love this spot on the edge of rowland heights!“

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

“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.“