50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Bala Cynwyd

“My family had a wonderful time here for my son's 11th birthday! He wanted to try out the hibachi experience, so we reserved a hibachi table. There was another family at the table across from us enjoying a meal as well. The food was incredible (though not one of us managed to catch a piece of it in our mouths), my husband said it was the best meal he's had all year. The hibachi room is decorated with murals of video game & cartoon characters like Mario & SpongeBob, which was great because my son is a gamer. We brought a birthday cake in with us, and the other family joined in to sing "Happy Birthday" & shared his cake with us. The service was great. It was an all around wonderful time, & we will definitely be returning!“

“Awesome menu, great vibes and really tasty food. Must try this place.“

“Delicious food, attractive atmosphere.“

“What is the specialty of this sushi restaurant?“

“Awesome experience!!!! The freshest fish I’ve ever had. Shipped from Japan daily. Great place!!!“

“Everything was so good. No fishy or stale flavors. Staff were very friendly and very informative on all the different types of sushi. Will be coming back. The A5 Wagu Uni hand roll was amazing!“

“Came with a friend of mine who had been here before and thoroughly enjoyed. She was not wrong! Truly a fantastic recommendation. I wanted some chirashi and it was divine here. I loved the presentation and the fact that the egg was not in a big chunk (as it usually is at other establishments) but cut into small pieces for a hint of sweet flavor throughout. I sat at the bar and demolished the chirashi (which I didn’t even get a picture of because I ate it too quickly). Will definitely be coming back to try other things on the menu.“

“We happened upon this gem purely by chance. We had an amazing meal from A-Z (!!!) The sushi is phenomenal; sit at the newly designed sushi bar in the back and enjoy unique daily catches that come in through the connections the owner has with local fishermen. The restaurant is also known for their aged steaks, and Kobe prime rib, which we will try next time. I had the miso black bass and it was one of the best flavors with fish I have ever had. The broth had such a delicate shiitake mushroom flavor, which I loved. I literally couldn’t have had enough of this delicate, delicious dish. I could have had two orders and eaten it all! I think this dish epitomizes what the word UMAMI means. I also had the sautéed mushroom extravaganza, a treat for every taste bud of incredible flavors melted with a delicate sauce. My husband had their unique collection of sushi and sashimi choices that were all enjoyed at their stunningly beautiful sushi bar, complete with two young, passionate chefs who love what they do, and treasure their personal designs of the fish and rolls. All the rolls are presented in this great wooden cradle design, which I thought was so unique and functional. The owner was all smiles and genuinely happy to have had us try his new restaurant. I recommend it highly for either an exceptional steak meal (all are btw, so reasonably priced so order them for sure), or the traditional sushi. You won’t be disappointed. This will be our weekly go-to restaurant and we are counting the days until we will return, which actually will be next Tuesday the 9th! Bravo to the whole team at Umami and thank you for your passion for Japanese food, and for doing it right from A-Z. We will see you soon! Debbie and Gene“

“Ordered five different rolls alongside an avocado salad. My girlfriend praised the salad, saying it was one of the best she's ever had. I was the one mainly eating the rolls, and I've got to say that the fish tasted very fresh and of high quality. Great food and service. Highly recommend!“

“Came in close to closing time and I genuinely felt bad about it, but the staff was so gracious and got our orders in super fast. The inside is small, maybe 20 to 25 people max. We ordered a salad to share and five special rolls. The fish was super fresh and really plentiful in each roll, and everything was filling and delicious. Vegetarian options are available too which is always a plus. Huge thank you to the workers who took care of us and stayed a little past closing. Will definitely be back and plan to BYOB next time. Highly recommend!!“

“Always love this place. I try to visit every time I’m in Philly.“

“A gem in south philly and definitely the best sushi in the area. Super friendly service, always easy to get a table, and BYOB is a plus. The salmon lover's sushi entree is my go-to and is accompanied by a salad and soup. Haven't been disappointed with any of the rolls - always the perfect rice-to-fish ratio and all of the ingredients are super fresh.“

“Dinner is always excellent here, but I especially wanted to recognize Alicia and Zack for making our visits truly memorable. We had them as servers on two separate occasions, and both provided outstanding service from start to finish. Their drink and dinner recommendations were spot on, and their friendly, engaging personalities made the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. We’re already looking forward to coming back and seeing them again!“

“Spicy Seafood Udon! Udon cooked perfectly, tender but still a bit chewy, generous shrimp, squid, fish cake, and a bit of lobster in a well-balanced broth that's just a bit smoky and just a bit sweet, with enough spice to leave my lips tingling.“

“Amazing food and service!

I ordered the mushroom gyoza (steamed), crispy rice, single sashimi, treasure roll, and crispy chocolate wonton.

I would definitely come back and get the mushroom gyoza again. If you love mushroom, definitely order this! The crispy rice was also amazing.
All the fish melted in your mouth. The chocolate wonton wasn’t my favorite but it was an innovative concept and nice to try something new.“

“Very good“

“Toyosu offers attractive, delicious sushi, sashimi, and poke, with a focus on take-out customers—if you opt to eat at one of the few tables available, you will still receive and consume your food in plastic containers. However, you probably won’t mind because you’ll be too busy devouring crisply presented morsels of fish, prepared by aces with big-league experience.“

“Fiancé and I stopped by because our other meal plans fell through. He’s had ramen before I have not. For my first experience it was absolutely fantastic! Tiny out of the way place which was cozy, sushi and sashimi were excellent and fresh, spicy miso ramen was unbelievable!! Portions were large as well so come hungry!! The young man that served us was very courteous and friendly! We will definitely be back!!!“

“Just visiting Philly for the weekend and stopped by to try this place, as it was on my way to the subway. Had the vegetable bao and it was AMAZING! I don’t know how or why it was so good but it was and I felt compelled to leave a review. We were the only ones in there and it took a few minutes for them to make the bao but it was totally worth it!“

“Tuna Bar is one of my favorite restaurants! Especially love that cocktail with the gin wasabi & cucumber 🍸😍🍣“

“If you’re looking for delicious Japanese comfort food, this place is definitely worth a visit. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and the spicy crab inari, and both were absolutely amazing. The tonkatsu ramen had a rich, flavorful broth with perfectly cooked noodles and tender toppings that made every bite satisfying. The real surprise, though, was the spicy crab inari—it was the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy, and quickly became my favorite dish of the meal. The quality of the food, attention to detail, and great flavors made for an excellent dining experience. I can’t wait to come back and try more from the menu. Highly recommend!“

“My husband and I come from Atco nj and will not go anywhere else! We get the California rolls they are amazing!and the fried rice out of this world. and the bartender is right there getting you anything you need at an instant! Our very happy date night♥️“

“The food was so delectable I could feel the flavors on my mouth bouncing through my mouth. Every piece of fish were cut so thinly and precisely they spent so much hard work and time making sure everything is perfect. I loved the interior design, as a future interior design major this inspired me. I will be coming back for some more fun! - Dylan Lam III“

“"Kumanon 3 is awesome! food was very good & great service! Can't wait to be back"! Bubble Tea Mango Delicious“

“I had the opportunity to visit Uchi Philadelphia and decided to try the tasting menu. The food was exceptional, but I’ve always believed that great food tastes even better when it’s served by people who genuinely care—and tonight was a perfect example of that.

Our server, Bre, was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without ever being intrusive, she made the entire experience feel personal and effortless. Every course was explained with enthusiasm, and her positive energy elevated an already incredible meal.

A special shout-out as well to the managers, Kinsey and Ashlyn. It’s easy to see that they have built a culture where hospitality comes first. When the leadership sets the right example, it shows in every interaction with the guests.

The tasting menu was outstanding, but what I’ll remember most is how the team made us feel. That’s the difference between a great restaurant and a truly memorable dining experience.

Thank you, Bre, Kinsey, and Ashlyn, for a wonderful evening. Experiences like this are why I look forward to coming back—and why I’ll continue recommending Uchi Philadelphia to friends and family.“

“Great selections, best sushi I've ever had! Highly recommend.“

“clean, friendly staff, good food, good selections, and fast service“

“Went to Uni Sushi Last Week, food comes out fast and the taste is perfectly good. My child also like to eat there.“

“Perfect choice for my first arrival to Philly. I love the vibe of the restaurant and the fusion dishes. Easy to reserve and late open helped come eith easier parking on the middle of the downtown. The restaurant located on the perfect streets with all the shopping. Great place to hang out. Highly recommended“

“This place is incredible!! From the fantastic service from Chole, to the amazing food, & the price point is just right! I loved that I was able to customize my ramen & I tried boba for the first time & it was great. The atmosphere was a vibe. I cant wait to go & dine there again :)“

“Great food , must have the tea cold tea .“

“The ambience was very lovely and the food was very delicious.“

“Had lunch there yesterday. The pork gyoza were delicious and so were the three rolls we ordered. The AAA roll is one of my Ooka favorites. Food arrives quickly and the wait staff are so friendly and polite.“

“thanks so much for taking great care of us we very much enjoyed everything! everything was very fresh !! loved it and will definitely be back“

“Sushi was great, miso was great. Steamed Gyoza was ok.

They did forgot our salad but after eating the food we aren’t even too upset. The sushi was good and fresh. Rice was perfect.

Will definitely be back soon!“

“Although it’s named “to-go” there are actually 2 tables inside for dine in with 4 chairs each. I got the lunch special and they brought my food out and gave me iced water with it! The sushi was fresh and delicious. The man who brought my food out even turned the fan on and put it in my direction. They are all super friendly! Would definitely recommend for the food and service.“

“This place was great!! We had the pork and chicken katsu and it was delicious especially with a side of the shrimp tempura and melon soda. The service was also great along with the calm and cozy atmosphere. Can’t wait to come back again!! (Friend’s pic)“

“Will definitely be coming back soon when I'm in Chinatown. The place was nice and clean and super attentive. The sashimi was super fresh and just a welcoming place with so many options of sushi to choose from. Me and my boyfriend got their Valentines course and it was beautiful. I got a rose when I was leaving out from one of the servers which was so sweet!! Thank you guys for the amazing experience.“

“Came here by myself shortly before 5pm on a weeknight. Opted for the All-You-Can-Eat Sushi menu ($29.99 per person, before tax) and had a great time. Not very crowded, service was fast, the sashimi and tempura was fresh and delicious. Friendly staff. Overall calm atmosphere. All the seating are booths fit for 4 people, so keep this in mind for larger parties.“

“Me and my sisters are visiting and we stopped by. Amazing customer service. EVERYTHING was delicious. Really good recommendation (the man recommended the shrimp fire and it was DELICIOUS) and they gave us something on the house which was very sweet. LOVEDDDD and good pricing as well.“

“อร่อยทุกอย่างเลยค่ะ ชอบสลัดอร่อย บริการเร็ว พนักงานบริการดี อาหารอร่อย 🫶🏻🥓🥢🥙“

“I'm shocked I do not have a photo of the Salmon Bento that I have gotten at least 20 times already. I usually have it delivered via Uber Eats and it's so good that I dive right in when I get it! It comes with perfectly cooked salmon on a bed of sauteed broccoli and onions in a yummy teriyaki sauce. The sides are shrimp and veggie tempura, gyoza, California rolls, and white rice. You know when you find that one go-to restaurant that eases even the worst day at work? Sakura is that restaurant for me!

If you want the bento at a cheaper price - try the lunch specials; it's equally delicious!

I highly recommend this place and will continue to order hopefully for years to come!

Thank you Sakura owner and employees for bringing joy to my day!“

“Ramen was excellent. Fish was not top quality but priced appropriately for what it was. I did find either a blood vessel or worm in a cut of tuna so I didn't eat that piece. I think the chef is supposed to cut that stuff out but must have missed it. It is sushi, after all, so always a risk. Not the end of the world and I'm always careful to check my fish before eating it like anyone should.

What was more upsetting than that though, was the way the ginger is kept on the table like a condiment. I dont think it's appealing, safe, or aesthetically pleasing so I'm not sure why they do it. Just provide an option on the order menu for your food to come with ginger or not. Ginger is one of my favorite parts of a sushi meal but I wasn't going to eat communal ginger that had been on the table for anyone to touch, cough on, etc. Gross to be honest.“

“It was clean the waitress was nice and the food was soooo good“

“We stopped in after doing some sight seeing and the other sushi restaurant we had been recommended was unexpectedly closed. This turned out to be a great turn of events because Koto Sushi did not disappoint. We ordered the salmon sushi entree and the toro nigiri. The salmon was absolutely delicious and fresh, the rice was also some of the best sushi rice I have ever had. The toro was excellent and beautifully prepared. We were sad to have missed out on the uni, but the very kind owner explained to us that the order had not yet come in which is understandable and not at all his fault. The atmosphere was impeccable with fun music playing at a comfortable volume. The restaurant had soft lighting and comfortable seating. We would absolutely love to come back!“

“I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant! The sushi was very fresh. The Philadelphia roll was great - not fishy tasting like some other restaurants are. Other rolls we ordered and enjoyed thoroughly were the volcano roll, shrimp tempura roll, and California roll. The spicy kani salad and mochi were great too. The service was great. Very kind and thankful staff! Would love to come back again.“

“I've been coming to Tampopo for nearly 20 years, and it still holds a special place in my heart. The spicy tofu bowl is my go-to, and the veggie gyoza never disappoints. So many great meals here over the years. Miss when it has multiple locations. If you're ever in UCity and haven't been yet, it's definitely worth a visit!“

“Excellent food at reasonable price, good service, cozy and so close to home!“

“Great service and excellent food!“

“honestly this place is great. i’ve been here twice, once for dinner and once for lunch. the prices were really reasonable for the such fresh food. i loved the staff, really sweet and considerate.“