50 Best Japanese Restaurants near South Gate

“Everytime me and my family.go were always attended fast, shout out to Stephanie we've known her years , she has exceptional customer service and her attitude alone is one of the reasons we keep going back.Golden Bowl give Stephanie a raise lol“

“Si muy buena comida todo mux rico un gran lugar que por mucho tiempo hemos llegado a xomer altameente recomendable gracias !!“

“I had such a great experience here! Danny, the manager, welcomed me right away and even set me up with a perfect corner table—which made the whole meal feel extra relaxed. Alissa, our server, was amazing—super friendly, professional, and on top of everything without ever rushing us. The ramen itself was incredible, full of flavor and beautifully balanced. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the team, this spot definitely deserves 5 stars. I’ll be back for sure!“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“Both dishes were so good! I really liked the way they cooked the Bento- Shio Koji Marinated Norwegian Mackerel. The side dish Side- Chicken Karaage (Mild or Spicy)- had just the right amount of spice (l ordered mild). Overall, this will definitely be my go-to lunch spot now! (Doordash Pickup)“

“Delicious food. Fast service. Get here early to avoid a long line.“

“If you're looking for the best udon soup in town, look no further! This gem offers a delightful dining experience with its rich, flavorful udon soup that keeps you coming back for more. The teriyaki chicken is a standout, perfectly cooked and bursting with taste. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, enhanced by the charming backdrop of Japanese television, which adds to the authentic feel.

The service is exceptional—super sweet and polite staff made us feel right at home, attending to our needs with genuine care. It's rare to find a place where food, ambiance, and service come together so harmoniously. I absolutely love this place and can't recommend it enough!“

“Amazing takeout family meal which features the most flavorful and delicious Char Siu Wagyu Short Rib with fluffy bao. All side dishes are well executed and delectable. One of the best staying at home meals I’ve had! Highly recommend it!“

“To be quite honest, the bowls are a great deal for the quality of food and the amount they give you. Washington roll is really good and the miso soup it's more than reasonably priced as well. This is definitely a go to. Off of Telegraph and where Rosemead turns into Lakewood next to the doughnut shop. :p“

“Dear Troy,

Your service impeccable, your smile inviting
You made our night and us feel so at home.
Thank you for allll of that wonderful house sriracha and night. Until next time
We will be back“

“An Arts District gem. This food blew our minds, we stopped in for a quick bite and everything we had was an absolute 10. Will be coming back to try more of the menu but highlights we had:

- seaweed salad
- spicy tuna crispy rice
- lobster pasta (incredible)
- chicken skewer

Friendly, knowledgeable service, great ambiance, definitely worth a visit!“

“Te Isshoku Sushi is probably one of the only reasons I look forward to going into my office now that I am required to be in my office. Finding this gem has been a game changer.

The sushi is amazing quality. It is always fresh and large portions.

Besides the sushi being excellent, the real star is Lisa. After 1 order Lisa will remember you and little things you like and don’t like. Lisa’s service is impeccable and she will always have a big smile to greet you and make you laugh.

Full disclosure I am biased because I eat there almost 3 times a week because it is that good. It’s the highlight of my work day. I just had to share how amazing this local business is.“

“Tasty bbq take out outside. Amazing desserts to ans friendly staff“

“So strange, when I’m in Hawaii, I plan my hotel to stay next to this place, and plan
Two meals there because I love it so
Much and yet this location is never busy 🤷🏽‍♀️ last time I went in Honolulu, I waited in like for 45 min for lunch . Try this place if you haven’t“

“Everything was perfect, fave drink was lychee martini and in the morning strawberry matcha. For dinner we loved the rib eye, ceviche, tuna tartar and chicken the most. The Caesar salad was unique and I really enjoyed it. Miso eggplant also great! We were so full and didn’t think we could eat any more but The sorbet at the end was delicious, super light and refreshing. Service was friendly, atmosphere very pretty.“

“This place is a true culinary delight. The dishes are flavorful and beautifully plated, using fresh ingredients. The staff is friendly and attentive, providing excellent service. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it ideal for any occasion. I highly recommend this restaurant for a memorable dining experience.“

“We came here for our anniversary and had an absolutely perfect tonight! The staff was wonderful, very friendly, and the restaurant is new and beautiful. We got the Shabu Shabu and sushi combination and every single dish they brought was fantastic. We just got back from Japan a month ago and were missing it, and this entire experience was so authentically Japanese and the quality was absolutely five stars! Highly recommend and they have a ton of menu options for vegan, no fish, etc. The cocktails and dessert were great too! We will be back!“

“The food was amazing! Meat was high quality, service was fast ,and all the servers were so kind! From the meats to side dishes and drinks it was delishhh!
We had a party of 6 and we got seated quickly on a busy weekend!
Our first time here but won’t be our last time! We will be back more often! Thank you Andy and all the servers who made our experience so wonderful!“

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

“Umaya LA: Elevated Japanese Cuisine by a Legendary Chef!!!

Chef NaO Sugiyama, known for his 50 +years of culinary mastery, specializes in kaiseki – the traditional Japanese multi-course dining experience that focuses on seasonality, balance, and artistry. While there are other talented chefs at Umaya, Chef Sugiyama’s expertise truly sets the tone for the restaurant’s elevated approach to Japanese cuisine.

Umaya LA – an upscale Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of Koreatown, Los Angeles – offers an ambiance that perfectly blends elegance and comfort, making it the ideal setting for a memorable meal.

We enjoyed a beautifully curated 6-course kaiseki, featuring mostly exquisite seafood dishes. Each plate was not only delicious but presented with impeccable attention to detail. Highlights included the fresh uni, the melt-in-your-mouth black cod, delicious wagyu, lobster tail with uni and Chef Sugiyama’s signature dashi seafood broth, layered with deep umami flavors. The dining ended on a high note with delicious desserts, transformed into flavorful and refreshing masterpieces.

Service was impeccable and attentive, adding to the overall experience.

This is a must-visit for anyone in LA or OC looking for authentic, refined Japanese dining.“

“We live around the corner and for the first noticed this spot so decided to try it.

Everything was excellent from phone etiquette to ambience to service and most importantly food.

Everything was incredible and they were very accommodating to my dietary restrictions without any hesitance. The prices are also so good especially considering how overpriced mediocre food is priced in the neighborhood.

Highly recommend this, definitely our new neighborhood spot. Special thank you to Brendan + the Chef.“

“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“

“Perhaps my favorite meal of the year. We had dinner here the other evening. There is ample parking available in the parking structure. The ambiance is ultra-modern.

We went with the tasting menu. You get their favorite items for $55 a person. And many of these will become your favorite items as well.

Even though they have a full bar, we decided upon a mocktail. They have a seasonal one and it was nice and refreshing.

The miso corn soup begins the tasting menu. The sweet grilled corn balances nicely with the salty miso soup.

The tuna tataki handroll is a thick cut slice of tuna. The tomato and shallot salsa pairs perfectly.

Next is the miso beer spare rib. The rib is marinated in Sapporo and the mest just falls right off the rib. I could have eaten a full rack of these ribs.

Their most popular item, the squid ink karaage is next. The best tasting karaage I have ever had is taken to another level when you add a squeeze of the fresh lime and dip it into the black garlic ranch dip.

The yakitori skewers are next. The ahi tuna yakitori is thick cut and absolutely delicious. The mushroom party yakitori is so flavorful. The chicken meatball yakitori needs to be mixed in the perfect sous vide egg yolk for another level of flavor.

The crispy on the outside onigiri is the perfect ending to the tasting menu.

If you still have room, get the grilled Fuji apple. It is a baked Fuji apple with ice cream, fresh berries and a sesame butter cookie. If they sold the cookies, I would buy a dozen.

Fantastic service and easily my favorite meal of the year will make this a place I want to come back to time and time again.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“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!“

“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??“

“The staff are friendly. We enjoyed the Kitchen boat. The garlic fried rice with chicken was very good and tasted similar to hibachi fried rice. Brought my young nephews and they enjoyed the beef and chicken teriyaki. Will definitely come again and will try other sushi and noodles dishes.“

“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“

“Really good food. Came in during the SILENT HILL F collab, the line was extremely long but what would you expect. Giving it a 5/5 because regardless the service was quick and efficient! Both treats offered were so good, social media was making people believe they tasted weird but nope. It’s for a certain audience to say in short. Love love love!!“

“Our whole experience was amazing I love how well the staff treated us how clean and fast serves I highly recommend to my friends and family the only thing I can say that wasn't to my liking was the king crab where over cooked but every else was delicious thank you again definitely will be returning.“

“The food is all excellent, the service exactly what it should be (neither intrusive or absent), and a wide variety of price points that should satisfy any budget. Highly recommended - We’ll definitely be back! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“good for romatic and I recommend here for everyone“

“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“

“Very satisfied great friendly service“

“Ramen is so good I cried.“

“Have eaten here about 10 times . This restaurant doesn’t disappoint. I’ve tried all there’s sushi roll which are always fresh and delicious.“

“Came here after a Dodger game and was very happy with the food, service, and quiet atmosphere. All the food was delicious and came out quick. It was exactly what we needed.

Staff informed us right away there is no bathroom in the restaurant but directed us to the nearest one if needed.“

“It was very nice. Loved the hellos and thank you for coming. I can’t wait to come back next time I visit the area.“

“Gardena’s gem of a restaurant. Great food, atmosphere all with authentic food with a Hawaiian flair. I enjoyed a kalbi bento (it’s not on the menu but they will gladly make it for you with double Mac salad). I also had the famous chili which is THAT good. Not pictured is the somen salad which is a family recipe and is always a must. Leonard and his staff are friendly and engaging like our server Nancy.“

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

“I just randomly stopped in for an Asahi beer.Then I decided to try the RISING SUN ROLL. OMG.super delicious and mouth watering. I'm coming back with my friends“

“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.“

“Absolutely incredible vegan dishes and top notch service! We stumbled on Rice when looking for vegan options; so happy we did! Dishes we tried: vegan crisp rice sampler, miso soup, garlic edamame, homemade ginger ale and the crispy dynamite role vegan. Everything was so good! The ginger ale was next level - highly recommend! We got homemade pickled ginger with the roll and it was unbelievably tasty and fresh. The miso soup was a nice surprise as most are not vegan; a broth that built upon each sip and the tofu was also homemade. The crispy dynamite vegan roll had such a unique and deep flavor - more smokey than spicy. I can't recommend the food enough. Thank you to the chef and for the exceptional service. What a treat!!“

“We recently embarked on a three-week west coast “foodie” vacation, spanning five states and six major cities. Along the way, we dined at everything from Michelin-starred establishments to small mom-and-pop restaurants. By the end of our trip, everyone in our group unanimously agreed that our experience at Tensho was one of the absolute highlights.

From the warm hospitality and the evident pride in food preparation to the impeccable service and outstanding flavors, everything about our visit was memorable. We left the restaurant on a true “food high,” feeling as though if the entire world could experience what we just had, it might inspire world peace.

Be sure to order the wagyu—it’s an absolute must and a true indulgence!“

“They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from traditional Chinese cuisine to creative Western cuisine, and there are many surprising combinations. In addition, the restaurant pays attention to the selection of raw materials and the innovation of cooking techniques to ensure that each dish can bring you the most extreme taste experience“

“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 😃👍🥰“

“Muy amigables todos y la cómoda esta deliciosa .“

“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.“

“good recommmend for eveyone“

“service and the food was excellent our waitress Sherry bear was awesome“