Osawa is 100% worth the hype, and if you haven't heard of it, let me hype it up for you…read more The place is small so be prepared to wait if you're trying to go on a Thursday-Saturday, or show up when they open for lunch or dinner. Ambiance is super cute, love the little flags over the sushi/shabu bar and the art on the walls adds to the Japanese restaurant feel. The aroma when you walk in is mouthwatering (I was really hungry) but it doesn't smell fishy like some sushi places can. Staff is unbelievably great, super friendly and helpful if you have any questions about the menu or want recommendations. Don't be afraid to ask what the MP is on omakase, they totally work with what you're looking to spend or based on how many pieces of sushi you want to eat. Now for the real reason to visit Osawa: the food is absolutely amazing!!! Fresh, tasty, perfectly portioned. From the shishito peppers appetizer to the sushi, sashimi, hand rolls, and shabu; I cannot recommend this place enough! They have plenty of sake options to pair with your meal as well as beer or specialty cocktails if that's your preference. They offer to explain your order when it arrives which is great for those newer to sushi or just trying something different. Seriously, some of those fish practically melt in your mouth. I personally haven't ordered any rolls yet but they absolutely look delicious. If you're looking for a good sushi date spot, this. is. it. It's also good for a small group, maybe up to five or so before you feel cramped. Shabu is seated at the bar and their meats and veggie are delicious and fresh, enhanced by the tasty broth. It's even good on a summer day because they have solid air conditioning. Cannot say enough good things about Osawa. Go try it for yourself. :)

3-1/2 stars (bump up for the service)…read more I'd made a lunch reservation during the weekday, and I headed over as soon as it opened. I was seated right away, and I opted for a 10-piece omakase. However, it took a really long time for it to arrive, to the point that other patrons who arrived after me got their sushi before me. It was confusing, but eventually, I got my food. I'd asked to have the omakase come all at once, but for some reason, I got five first, then another five long after I'd finished the first half. In addition, I was not informed of the sushi pieces for the first half, so I didn't know what I was eating. It also took a while to get my complementary fried shrimp head and my black sesame panna cotta (the latter was absolutely delicious, honestly the highlight!). Service was really slow, but the staff were really apologetic about it, given that it was super busy (for weekday lunch)! However, I'd made the reservation for my birthday, and unfortunately, I found the experience disappointing. The sushi was okay, but I've had better; I found Osawa's fish to be a bit tough and the rice was slightly hard. Again, the black sesame panna cotta was the best thing I've had, and I appreciated that it was complementary for my birthday. Having paid over $109 for an average meal with extremely-slow service wasn't in my plan, but overall, I'm glad I got to try this neighborhood staple.

I came here about two months ago when they first opened! I thought I had posted my review, but it…read moresomehow got saved to my drafts. I still wanted to leave a wonderful review based on the experience I had here. When arriving on a Saturday morning, there was a small wait - but it's completely understandable why. I ordered the five piece hand roll. Each hand roll was absolutely delicious and fresh. My favorite would have to be the yellowtail, lobster, & scallop. It's honestly the taste of perfection. My experience was made even more positive with service from Kyle and Eddie. They both were extremely friendly and always made sure that I was tended to. Their upbeat personality only added more my dining experience here. I will definitely be back soon.

Had the pleasure of dining here! Sushi Handrolls are quite the craze. And KazuNori did not…read moredisappoint (well, maybe except for one roll). First of all you're in the head of trendy old town Pasadena. So the vibe is there and this place definitely fits in. Clean, organized, and well lit. No load music or even crowd noise. I opted for The Nozie 6 handrolls. Chef's Choice omakase style. 5 of which were absolutely outstanding: toro, sea bream, monkfish liver, lobster, and the final unagi. The one handroll that was a let down to me was Jamaica with spicy roe. That was the fourth roll of the order and left like that unnecessary dialogue in the middle of an otherwise great movie. Attractive and attentive staff. Adriane (rocking the pink hair) provided great service, clear conversation, serious eye contact. Paying attention to customers with care. Waters and ginger were always full without asking. Clean bathrooms. 2 hour validated parking off Mason St.

Tiny little spot nestled on Colorado Boulevard, but it fills up fast! Fortunately, I came by myself…read moreand was able to sit at the bar. I came specifically for the tempura and I was not disappointed. Literally the crispiest most delicious tempura I've ever had. Large pieces of fish, and tender. 10 out of 10. Fast and friendly service, fair pricing.

small and cozy got…read morethe combo w a tempura bowl and udon and everything was really good! would want to come back to just try the tempura bowl w fish and other veggies

I've been coming to Ichima for over 25+ years since my high school days. My friend ended up…read moreworking here for a few years after high school, and that was one of the last times I was here. I recently visited for the first time in over 20 years, and everything seems to be the same. The service is fairly quick, the food is fresh, and it tastes good. Much better than the other sushi place in the same shopping center.

It's SO good. The Toro Toast lives in my head rent free and I can't believe I hadn't tried this…read moreplace sooner. We ordered Hotate Crudo, Fatty Tuna Sashimi, Salmon Lover Roll, Lobster Roll, Hamachi Kama, and Nigiri. Everything was delicious!!! I'll definitely come back again. New sushi spot, parking is also super easy. Our server was also super kind!

Aikan is my go to place in the Pasadena area for AYCE sushi. My waitress tonight was Cate and she…read morewas great! Thanks Aikan

Food was great but the standout was our waiter Kevin. He was great and made the whole meal worth…read moreit. Environment was great along with the music but Kevin was the best waiter!

Service is great, food is just typical American-Japanese ramen, sushi's hand roll and sashimi…read more Price is on par with Pasadena range. Beer isn't bad.

This place has amazing food and a great atmosphere I absolutely love coming here. The service was…read moreexceptional and the servers in general were very sweet making sure that we (my family) was well taken care of. I've heard people saying its pricy but the quality is better than any other places I've been especially the sushi.

This is my second time at Yakiya, and I think it was better than the first time! I'm not sure how…read moreit's even possible. Food: AMAZING. The cuts were perfection. The first cold dish is so beautiful. I do not usually eat raw meat, but my experience is pretty pleasant here. The beef tartar tasted very fresh. The cooked cuts melt in your mouth! My favorite dish was actually the miso cod! It's sooooo flavorful. I dream about it still. It's comparable to the black cod dish from nobu. The bone marrow fried rice is just as great as the first time I had it! I want to come back everyday to eat it! Service: Our server is amazing! He cooked everything so well. He made small talk with us and was pretty attentive. Parking: FREE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE! Overall: Their restrooms bring me back to Japan. The seats automatically open up when you enter a stall. All the courses were definitely unforgettable. For the price, everything was unbeatable. It's a wonderful celebratory meal or a regular date night meal. I will definitely be back in the future!

Yakiya offers a refined and modern take on Japanese BBQ, with an atmosphere that feels intimate,…read moreelevated, and perfect for a special night out -- whether it's a date, a small gathering, or even a celebratory dinner. The highlight here is definitely the quality of the Wagyu. The experience leans more toward a curated meat tasting, with beautifully presented, juicy cuts that are satisfying without being overwhelming. Even with two 16-year-old boys at the table, everyone left full -- which says a lot. That said, I took one star off because the setup feels more like a traditional restaurant than a true omakase experience. Since you're seated at tables, there's a bit of passing plates and bowls back and forth with the server throughout the meal, which slightly interrupts the flow and intimacy you might expect from a classic omakase. If you're looking for a sashimi-focused experience, this isn't that -- it's much more Wagyu-forward. Service was a highlight. Jamie was attentive, warm, and made the experience feel smooth and well-paced. Overall, if you go in expecting a high-quality Wagyu tasting rather than a traditional omakase, this place really delivers. A great Pasadena spot when you want something a little more polished and indulgent.

I everything was good and came out well prepared. We did go during the weekend so service was a…read morelittle on the slower end but the staff was friendly. The restaurant itself has a clean, welcoming atmosphere that makes it a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy your meal. Overall, a solid choice for good Japanese food and a pleasant dining experience. I'd definitely come back!

Their food is good Portions are great / service it's weird…read more Few days ago we had a birthday our server was ( I think he's name was Ausencio) was nice and everything but we felt that he was trying to flirt with our friend totally inappropriate / uncomfortable and awkward. I think we have seen him at Shohun or Benihana. Unprofessional no morals.

Fresh food, fast and friendly service! Plenty of room to spend a nice time eating a meal with…read morefamily or friends Post a photo of your food and get a free Green Tea Ice Cream!

Very nice restaurant with good food and big portions. No…read morewait on a Sunday afternoon. Nice and pet friendly patio and roomy inside siting and easy parking. We will be back often. They have free ice cream with yelp checkin too. Very nice! Thank you!

Came here for lunch on a Saturday. There was a line before opening so I would recommend coming…read moreearly, especially if you are coming with a group. The meal was a fun experience! It was clear that the chef put a lot of thought into each bite. The ones that stood out the most to my group were the salmon sushi with toasted sesame (the nuttiness of the toasted sesame was incredible), unagi (the eel sauce was the best that I've ever had and I've been to Japan!), and the lobster hand roll. I would recommend parking The Commons so that you can get validation at Sugarfish.

Free Trust Me on your birthday! You have to dine-in twice prior to your birthday and make sure to…read morewrite down your information on their check-in papers that usually come with your bill. There's a few parking lots that are surrounding the place but they all require payment. I came here on a Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and there wasn't a wait fortunately! We were seated instantly next to two tables and I will say, it's an uncomfortable few seconds (for both parties) squeezing in between to sit down since the tables are so close together. I will say that the restaurant has a dark/intimate ambiance since it's lit by the candles at your table. My table ordered 2 trust me's and 1 nozawa trust me. You're served with a plate of edamame and then each fish one by one. They wait for the entire table to finish eating the plate in front of you before going back to the kitchen to let them know when to prepare to following dish. The fish literally feels like it melts in your mouth. You get a chance to chew but then everything else melts in your mouth. The sushi rice they use is magnificent. When the sushi comes out, the rice is so warm and the fish on top is cold and it's honestly an amazing experience in your mouth.