50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Universal City

“Excellent service. Great food!“

“We are vegan and went with the Spicy Miso Ramen, it didn't disappoint. One suggestion, if you want the extra spice kick, ask for their chili oil, it really amped up the ramen overall.
Our kid enjoyed the mushroom bao too.

For parking, you can get lucky by finding a street parking behind the restaurant.“

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was delicious. However, the service was disappointing. Our server was condescending and repeatedly interrupted our moment by crossing between us without a word. When I asked about drinks, she was short and even gave inaccurate descriptions. This is my second visit, and both times with the same server have left a sour taste. I hope the service improves because the food deserves better! This is my second visit, and both times with the same brunette server, whose attitude left a sour taste.“

“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 🐟“

“Definitely worth visiting. The signature ramen is so creamy, mochi noodles are great texture & wagyu mixed nigiri so so worth the price. Wagyu was so buttery & smoky. Uni & ikura are so sweet. So happy now that tummy is full. Will definitely be back to check out other dishes.“

“Our server Kevin was very nice and understanding towards our needs and questions. He was super nice and making us feel very at home and helped us decide what to eat. He even gave us his honest opinions on a lot of stuff which helped spend the best money on Chubby Cattle. I highly recommend coming here for the food, since all the meat was super good, cooked tenderly by the cooks if it comes pre cooked, the prices are good, and especially, coming here for our server Kevin.“

“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!“

“I had Japanese breakfast w/ miso black cod, it was tasty.“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“⚠️ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄“

“Home made tofu - fine not really anything to write home about, really does taste home made and healthy

Milk bread toast - again, fine but not a reorder

Daikon radish - a bit saucy but tasty

Nigiri - they were all good but on the smaller side both fish and rice (id rather order rolls)

Tori negi - pretty mid
Tsukne - great!
Mushrooms - bueno
Saba - fine

Mochi - shrimp shiso mushroom thing was great, forget mochi

Market shrimp tempura - pretty tasty, well cooked

Cocktails - looks great, tastes great if you order correct

Service - servers weren’t very attentive and had to flag down the staff multiple times. Also food came out in inconsistent cadence and was a bit slow too. It was also quite warm till they turned the ac on and the sun was very bright that shot through the sun shade.

For the price this is non-repeater as there’s better options out there surely.“

“Amazing and thoughtful service from Pierre!
I'm particular about my sushi, especially salmon. But I can say Azai is the best sushi I've had in California so far. The salmon sashimi is juicy and the salmon roll melts in mouth, just like my favorite sushi place in NY. I'm excited to come back!“

“Bento boxes are of great quality here. The attention to detail of this curated meal definitely lets your eyes feast first. All the little sides taste amazing, especially the candied sweet potatoes. The vegetables alternate between sweet and salty to balance out the meal. The Scottish salmon and mackerel are cooked to perfection. The little yolk in the rice also adds a nice touch to mix in and eat.“

“I had an absolutely wonderful time dining here. The food was consistently fresh and beautifully presented.

Every roll I tried was prepared with such care. I particularly loved the vibrant colors of the sushi, especially the beautiful orange slices of lemon resting right on top of the rolls. Everything tasted just as good as it looked.

This place is a real gem in North Hollywood. I will definitely be back again soon.“

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

“If you love sushi and robots, Katana is it. Their sushi and robata plates are delicious (my personal favorites are the white lotus roll, fried rice, and grilled avocado). For anyone avoiding alcohol, their mocktails are also very tasty. The vibe is also great, I love the outdoor seating area.“

“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!“

“Great service and very friendly staff“

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

“We dined at their SM North Edsa branch. Good food. 👌 Crews were accommodating. 💯“

“I came here for the first time and it was absolutely beautiful inside and the prices are also very reasonable for the quality of the food. The sushi was soooo good and same with the wagyu gayoza. It was also my dad's birthday and they went above and beyond with a dessert and bringing out a bubble machine it was so much fun and our waitress Corinne was so fun and sweet. I had a blast I would highly recommend this place!!! 10/10“

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

“I got in pretty much as soon as they open, so I got the special opportunity to get to talk to Kristine. After a lovely conversation and delicious food, I left feeling so full and at peace. The tempura was crispy and airy, the rice was perfectly cooked, the fish in the sushi tasted fresh. I cannot recommend visiting here enough. I am sure it can get busy, as the place is small, but I think that is part of its charm: meeting with a group of strangers for a good meal and a moment of peace before heading back into the world.“

“okay i could write an entire novel about my experience here, but i will keep it brief. my sister and i came to the WeHo Uchi to celebrate my birthday after hearing lots of buzz about it. When we entered, we were immediately greeted warmly and had a lovely exchange with the host. The ambiance was beautiful, everything was pristine and curated, and everyone member of the staff were friendly and comfortable to speak to. Our waiter—whom i sadly cannot remember the name of— truly went above and beyond with his service. We ordered the omakase for two and a few other small dishes, but he threw in two on the house— one being wagyu as a “birthday present” and the other being nigiri. We were choosing between the nigiri and a roll, and when we ultimately chose the roll, our waiter brought us both dishes anyway. Everything felt incredibly thoughtful and personal; there was even a little handwritten card wishing me a happy birthday. The food came out very swiftly—and speaking of the food, it exceeded our expectations. Everything was fresh, beautiful in its presentation, and very unique. This is one of the few sushi places in LA that I think truly lives up to the hype surrounding it. thank you for a great birthday dinner; we will be back again, again, and again!“

“This was easily some of the best sushi I've ever had in the U.S. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, high quality, and full of amazing flavor. Yes, it was on the pricier side, but honestly, every penny felt justified. It's rare for a meal to leave such a strong impression, but this one truly stood out. From the first bite to the last, it was an unforgettable experience that I would happily pay for again.“

“The food was absolutely delicious! We came here for lunch straight from LAX, and we were lucky enough to find paid street parking right in front of the restaurant.

We were also dining with a baby and a stroller, and the staff was incredibly accommodating and welcoming, making us feel comfortable from the moment we arrived.

Our server gave us excellent recommendations, and every dish was outstanding. The hand rolls were incredibly fresh, the skewers were packed with flavor, and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for amazing food and exceptional service!“

“A Michelin recognized restaurant that’s just perfect for a quiet evening. The atmosphere is chill and the playlist vey ear pleasing and well as the decor. Modern style design that’s chic and comfortable at the same time. We ordered the Wagyu Cheeseburger and Uni Pasta. Both of the dishes were good with flavor but the Uni pasta could’ve used a little more sauce but it’s a preference I guess. The cheeseburger came out looking like a hot mess but it delivered with flavor. The Basqu Cheesecake was the dessert we ordered and it was perfect with flavor and the presentation. Service was attentive and on point most of the time. So if you’re looking for a nice place to have a delicious bite or drinks then definitely check out this place, especially the gorgeous looking bar.“

“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“

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

“Wow! I’ve been enjoying Japanese food for years, but this place really got me to sit up. Simple ordinary dishes like udon noodles or a hand California roll were unusually good. Meanwhile, the lamb chop skewer, and the nacho poke combo were unusual, and also scrumptious.“

“Best Sushi in LA by far !“

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

“I recently had the chance to dine at Sama Handroll in the Arts District, and it exceeded my expectations. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding, and every hand roll was prepared with great attention to detail. The menu offers a creative mix of traditional Japanese flavors and unique dishes that set it apart from other sushi spots.
The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern, welcoming, and perfect for either a casual dinner or a night out with friends.
A few standout items were the hand rolls, grilled dishes, and the excellent presentation throughout the meal. It's clear that a lot of care goes into both the food and the guest experience.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for high-quality sushi and hand rolls in Los Angeles. I'll definitely be back.“

“I actually wasn’t planning to come here but i saw this cute patio area of this restaurant and wanted to check out.

Honestly i was so impressed of the friendliness of the staffs and the quality of the food!

My boyfriend and I ordered the Sachi boat, assorted sushi and sashimi and a specialty roll on this cute boat and everything was delicious!

Will definitely come back here. So glad to find a cute date spot to come back to. :)“

“This place is SOOO GOOD!! My friend and I got the spicy tuna and California rolls to split. They come with 12 pieces each and theyre such a good size. We also got the spam musubi and its DELICIOUS! So flavorful and the staff were very very lovely. I recommend ordering before you get there, so the staff have enough time to put love and care into your meal!!! :] I highly recommend this place!!! 😋“

“I came in for lunch to grab a quick snack and get some editing done on my phone. I just ordered a sake cocktail that they made delicious! And i also ordered the chicken meatball skewer, which came paired with egg to dip and I loved that sweet with salty combination so much! I would say I couldnt really get any work done on my phone as I don’t believe its a work friendly place although the tables are great to do so. They dont have outlets anywhere near the tables so if you need to charge your laptop or phone here is impossible to do unless behind the bar.
I just ready a book for a bit and enjoyed my cocktail and snack. I do think the atmosphere is more of a come in with friends and share a meal and gossip a bit. Or for dinner I think its also a great spot. I loved what i tried although it wasnt much. I would come again with a friend to have some cocktails and some snacks as the food and drinks were really delicious!“

“深みのある濃厚鶏白湯ラーメン🍜 つけ麺やカレーも美味しいです 😋😋😋😋“

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

“I was in the area so stopped by for their mazemen. It was delicious and tasty and the portions were very big. I struggled to finish the noodle and had to get the rice to go. Price is a little on the high side but makes sense for the quality of food. If you haven't had this style of ramen before, this is a great place to try!“

“This place oozes character and craft. An excellent assortment of dishes all with unique elements to surprise you. The sashimi specials we tried were all unique and delicious. Feel free to go with staff recommendations, you won't be disappointed. A laid back atmosphere with excellent punk decor, superb service, and food I'm still thinking about.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“If there was an option to give 100 stars I would give this place all of them. Food 10/10 buffalo wings , miso soup, crispy tofu miso soup, avocado crisp rice, yam yam sushi.. all so good, great ambience and our waiter and waitress so kind and helpful . Thank you“

“I came back for lunch for the first time in nearly 25 years, and it felt like stepping back in time. Since moving away, I hadn’t visited this area at all. The interior is unchanged, the service is warm and welcoming, and the homemade Japanese comfort food is just as delicious as I remembered. You’d be hard-pressed to find another place in the Valley that serves hijiki (seaweed) rice so casually and authentically.“

“A hidden gem Japanese creative bar near Hollywood. The uni was very fresh and paired pretty well with the scallop, and the toro was rich, fatty, and honestly so good. We ordered a bunch of hand rolls too, and they were all pretty solid. The food came out a little slow, but the service was very nice. Great quality for the price, definitely a place we’d think about coming back to.“

“Food and owner (s/o to my girl Hazel! 🫶🏼) = immaculate vibes. If you do delivery or pickup, order directly through their website not a food delivery app!! 🙏🏽 BEWARE: THE SPICY WONTONS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“my friend and I stopped at this cute lil sushi spot because we wanted a more intimate vibe than a full on restaurant. it was quaint and cozy and the sushi was absolutely AMAZING!!! Vivian and her husband were the absolute sweetest couple that treated us like long time friends. we had fantastic conversation and it is clear that they both are extremely passionate about what they do. i’m so grateful we visited during our time in LA. we will SO be back !!!! 😊😊“

“Just stop here and eat you won’t regret it . Did not disappoint one bit . The noodles were cooked just right , the flavor was great and the prices were reasonable for the serving size . Try the kimchi ramen 🍜 . Thank you for making our day more enjoyable. We are happy we stopped here to bad we only came to Hollywood for mini vacation.“