50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Valley Glen

“Absolutely amazing menu and very accommodating people, and it’s very affordable and mostly delicious 😋.“

“One of the very best Japanese restaurants in the city. Reasonable prices and home style Japanese food. Worth the wait. Come early.“

“Rápido y rico sabor económico y limpio“

“best rolls in the Valley don't go anywhere else“

“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!“

“Not a big fan of sitting on the side of street where people walk by and you intake that fumes coming from all these traffic. Got to sit inside by the bar, the food here is okay, but a bit pricey for what it's worth. Been to many affordable to very expensive sushi places in the U.S. and in Asia, this place is more IG/social media friendly picturesque place than an actual sushi/sashimi place. Not much nigiri/sashimi choices. Not a big fan of places that sell pre-made canned alcohol with an extreme markup.“

“I was craving a kaiseki meal for my birthday and discovered UKA. It is very hard to find a traditional kaiseki restaurant in Los Angeles. Everything was amazing, with incredible attention to detail in every dish. I truly appreciate the chef Mr. Mitsue and service for this exceptional experience.“

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

“This is hands down my new favorite sushi place. I will never be going back to Katsuya. Joe is quite an extraordinary chef. I used to frequent a sushi restaurant he used to work at, but it wasn't the same after he left. I'm so grateful that I was able to find him here after a good hunt. Highly recommend!!!

Vegetarian options: You can ask for whatever you want that doesn't contain any meat. Like cucumber rolls, avocado rolls, egg rolls, or just miso and an order of sticky rice.“

“I really enjoyed dining at Taisho Sushi! The yellowtail serrano was perfectly balanced with just the right spice, and the salmon dry miso was incredibly flavorful and fresh. The presentation and service were both excellent — definitely one of my favorite sushi spots in town. Highly recommend!“

“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 😋😋😋😋“

“My granddaughter and I were in a rush to an appointment but were so hungry. We stopped in, mentioned we were in a slow hurry and they delivered the Sushi in a flash Fresh great customer service and easy to express our likes. We will be back! Thank you so much.“

“Great service and food💗 There are many alcohol menus and food items that other restaurants do not have, and the restaurant is not too big, so you can enjoy a relaxing, calm and stylish time. There is plenty of space for parking, and I would definitely go back‼︎“

“Delicious Udon and other Japanese specialties“

“Sooo good!! I tried their yellowtail garlic ponzu rolls I think, something yellowtail the server recommended me and omg it was sooo good!
Also I had their curry it was so good.
The service was so nice they were so kind and the ambience was so nice the open windows were so nice it was a nice chill experience!“

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

“Great service and very friendly staff“

“The food here is absolutely incredible! Everything we ordered was so flavorful and it felt like they had taken great care to make every dish. Fantastic service and very friendly staff. I would 1,000% recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood“

“We had a longer wait, but it was well worth it! My sister, her kids, my boyfriend, and I all had great food after a long day at Universal Studioes. The food was authentic and the service was so friendly 🥰 my sister and I are always looking for a good Japanese spot as we get homesick for the food!“

“This was the most incredible experience! I have only the best things to say about Uchi and wish I could dine here every night!! We had Quan as our waiter and he was absolutely PHENOMENAL!! He went above and beyond, gave us the BEST recs, and was so personable! Highly recommend this restaurant - for the food and the service. You will not be disappointed!“

“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.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

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

“Amazing fresh old school sushi ❤️❤️❤️❤️. The owner is so friendly and knowledgeable and it’s now my happy place!“

“Those of you who know me aren’t surprised I ended up here. This place looks sketchy and the ac isn’t enough to cool the covered patio.
I have passed by this place many times and yes I was a little hot while I ate but honestly the food was great!
I had chicken and steak skewers over rice with a small green salad.
The skewers were tender and very flavorful. The rice was perfectly steamed and the salad was lightly dressed like Cole slaw.
This is not some place you want to go if you're not into hole in the wall spots. This place is perfectly suited for people like me who value flavor over frills.“

“Great sushi restaurant with lots of premium rolls and classic rolls. They have a good selection of lunch specials. I came with my family and they accommodated customizing many of the rolls there to our taste. I haven’t been for happy hour, but they have a full bar and happy hour specials as well.“

“Ramen were super good and excellent customer service.“

“Andreas Super helpful and knowledgeable about all the foods on the menu the chef always hook it up fresh. Oh my God, cucumber salad stuff. It’s unbelievable delicious number of sauces. You can choose from really affordable and large portions. You have to try this place multiple different choices. Trust me you will not be disappointed.“

“The sushi was on point. I had a caterpillar roll. The ingredients were fresh and I was full from the size of the roll! Also, it was quite a deal too as I had dinner on a Wednesday. Currently, Monday through Friday the restaurant is offering 20% off.“

“The Japanese, who have lived in the United States all year long, love to make friends“

“Exquisite cuisine- chef was formally trained in Japan and his expertise shines through in every dish. Particularly the lightest, crispiest tempura once could ever hope to enjoy. Attentive, perfect service. Only knock is that it’s quite expensive, making this a once-every-five-years kind of culinary experience. That being said, we will be talking about this meal for weeks. It was *that* good. Life is short: treat yourself!“

“This is an effortlessly chic sushi restaurant.

Healthy mix of couples, friends and solo eaters.

It’s easy to sink into the dark wooded, close quarters venue with soft jazz as background noise behind the bustling of the staff.

Infatuation will tell you to order the crispy rice with spicy tuna and sushi moriawise, which a lot of folks were getting.

If you have the $200/person (after tax and tip), it’s a special omakase. The ocean trout with kelp is non-pareil, sweet and umami flavors. Worth a visit.“

“I love eating here! The service is always so awesome. I love that it's tucked away, and every time I've brought someone to eat here they don't expect that the restaurant is here. As for the food, it's DELICIOUS! My son is picky, and even he couldn't deny how good the food is. The ramen is amazing, it's so good and the portions are hearty. I usually end up getting a ramen combo with a chashu bowl. Now, I get to eat there AND have delicious leftovers. My family have tried other ramen places around and we keep coming back to Futaba because it's number one in our eyes. The flavor is always on point. Definitely recommend.“

“This is our go-to sushi restaurant. The food never disappoints. The service is very friendly.“

“This is just an all around great little sushi spot - emphasis on little! Be aware, there are very few tables and only a handful of bar seats.

That said, the food is delicious! Their happy hour is a killer deal. They have so many options, most under $10.

It's located within walking distance to the Academy Museum and LACMA, so it's perfect spot to eat at it post-museum visit. I couldn't give this place any more praise.“

“Delicious sushi spot! Very high quality and fresh, you can really taste the difference. Service is very good as well, everyone's super friendly, the place is clean and well that great vibe.

It seems like maybe they have shifted management lately so I think this is a good first step, good luck!“

“**4.7/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Asuka Japanese Restaurant Westwood (Since 1974): O.G. Sushi Royalty Still Reigns**

Hidden on **Westwood Blvd since 1974**, **Asuka** is the quiet legend where **Nobu Matsuhisa** *and* **Kazunori Nozawa** (the “Sushi Nazi” behind Sugarfish) cut their teeth before global fame 🍣👑. Walk past the unassuming storefront and enter a time capsule: dark wood, paper lanterns, and the rhythmic *thwack* of knives on cedar blocks since Nixon was president 🕰️.

The **omakase ($120)** is a masterclass—12 pieces of pure poetry. Toro melts like butter, uni bursts with briny sunrise, and the **live kuruma ebi** (sweet shrimp) arrives still twitching before becoming nigiri heaven 🦐🤯. Chef Toshi-san (30+ years here) torches binchotan-seared sawara with a whisper of yuzu salt 🔥. Even the **tamago** is silk-sponge perfection.

Classics shine too: **spicy tuna hand roll** ($12) packs wasabi punch, **miso black cod** ($38) caramelizes like Nobu’s signature but somehow *warmer*. Sake list? 20+ premium pours by the glass 🍶.

Service is **old-school Japanese hospitality**—warm towels, paced courses, zero rush. Only quibble? Tiny 30-seat room books weeks out—call early 📞. Street parking is a hunt, but the $12 valet next door saves sanity 🚗.

Westwood’s changed—boba shops, poke bowls—but Asuka remains **unchanged, unapologetic, unbeatable**. This isn’t trendy sushi; it’s *heritage*. Nobu and Nozawa learned here. You should too. I’ll be back for the next 50 years.“

“Great good, Great service“

“We moved a street over and were excited to try. The $80 omakase left us full and content! The perfect amount of food. The black cod, seared salmon, and otoro were huge highlights. As a ginger lover, I was thrilled with how good this was and ate my entire pile mostly plain with just with their high quality soy sauce. We couldn't help eyeballing the huge 12 piece rolls that were going out past us and can't wait to try next time.“

“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!“

“My favorite place to eat! Miss coming here and today I stop by before coming in to the office for the first time since pandemic.“

“This chain is amazing! Food is always super fresh and serving is good size there are a lot of options especially great for lunch those who want to eat light or be full. If you are vegan or pescatarian this place is great for you too We have options for everybody.“

“Great service awesome food A+“

“Tranquil spot with various omakase options. Came here with my family for an early dinner and made a reservation online beforehand. We opted for the Sushi Bar Omakase for $109 which came with 8 courses (including dessert). A couple of courses had multiple pieces, and we left very full. The blue crab hand roll was my favorite part; it was huge, hot, and the sauce that accompanied it was delicious. The fish was super fresh and the pieces kept coming. It was fun to watch them being prepared right in front of us at the bar (there are table seats as well). We enjoyed our meal and I would recommend this for special occasions or a way to treat yourself.“

“Super great experience!! Love it here:)“

“Always amazing genuine food! I always order from here and they always get it right. The #2 special is always my go to and they make it so good every single time. A little older of a building but don’t let the looks scare you away, their food is wonderful and so are the people behind the counter!“

“The food is AMAZING. I do feel a bit cheated out of the overall experience. The joint is inside the supermarket and they don’t have a seating area. Something the previous reviews neglected to mention. For a $100+ order and two have to take it to go, it’s definitely not what I expected. We did a picnic nearby to adjust. The food is a culinary trip. I highly recommend them. It is by far one of the best sushi joints in the San Fernando Valley.“

“My very first time at Jinya Ramen Bar in Studio City and everything was beyond fantastic, from the service from our waitresses Juliana and Sophie, and the food. I can’t say anything bad about this place and my experience.
I’m definitely coming back“

“Who thought that classic American fare and Japanese cuisine could mesh so well??!!“