I had such a great experience. I went on a weekday in the late afternoon and was pleasantly surprised that there was absolutely no wait or line and I was seated immediately. I was quickly given a menu, offered water, and the service was attentive from start to finish. The entire visit took less than 45 minutes, which was perfect. The food was just as fresh and delicious as any other KazuNori location I've been to. Even though it wasn't very busy, there were plenty of staff members present and ready to help if we needed anything. The atmosphere was clean, calm, and just as nice as the Downtown location. Overall, a smooth and enjoyable experience and I'll definitely be back! read more

I love Kazunori's blue crab. The quality here replicates the other branches (which is good). I'm so glad there's one in Pasadena now! It's the same as the other branches; set orders of rolls. I always get the 6 roll though hahaha :) read more

This is a no frills type of place, but the food is an excellent value and lives up to the other restaurants in the family. Service is polite but they definitely do not encourage any sort of lingering, especially since there is consistently a line of people waiting and there are not many seats. I would not recommend this for a party larger than 2, or for a meal where you want to hang out with someone. We have been wanting to come since before it opened and, since we live close by, have walked past multiple times and seen a line. We thought maybe if we went at an off peak time it would be easier, so we went at 3pm on Saturday and only waited about 10 minutes. We tried six hand rolls total between us. They were all tasty, but my favorite and the one I expected to like the most was the crab. Toro was a close second. I'd definitely come back to try more, though I felt more full than I did at Thanksgiving once we finished. Definitely a great place to get full from high quality sushi at a fair price! read more

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***TIP*** facing the restaurant, the right door is the entrance and the left door is the exit. During my visit every single person tried using the left one including myself. Lines make it long and they will go out the door but don't block the left door This is one of those places where pictures don't really do it justice. There are now several places like this but dare I say, they are still the best. They truly have the best quality and the best part is that it's consistent. You know exactly what you're going to get every single time and you know exactly how it's going to taste. Thrilled that they finally have a location more East. Used to have to go to DTLA and pay a premium for parking next door in a sketchy area. Now in the heart of Pasadena, I'm just thrilled. I always get the six piece roll and at times I add on. The six piece roll comes with: Toro 5/5 Crab 5/5 Lobster 5/5 Yellowtail 5/5 Salmon 5/5 Scallop 5/5 Added on: Sea bream 4/5 Ankimo (They mushed this up a bit and I wasn't particularly a fan of whatever seasoning or dressing they put inside, on the salty sweet side but worth a try) 4/5 Parking in this area is in particularly easy to find. Kind of have to get lucky and try to find street parking or lots that are still open read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Newest KaruNori location. Glad I don't have to drive to DTLA anymore for my closest fix. We drove by and there was a huge line - but they were in line for Matu. We got seated as soon as we got there but there was a line when we left. Free 2 hour parking with validation on their underground lot. Service and food were great as always. read more

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Came on a rainy Sunday and the line is short. Food is excellent. Inside is signature bar seats. So glad Kazunori open one in Pasadena. I'm about to come to this location a lot often. Park on the street. I do see a parking garage entrance from N. Madison Ave. but not sure if there is validation option. Update: Parking is validated for 2 hours read more

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A great spot for hand rolls. Honestly, Kazu Nori never misses. I was able to get 5 rolls for about $30 and each one was delicious. I couldn't help but inhale each roll. We came at a good time cause we were able to be sat right away for a party of two. They have parking in the back which is free for about two hours. Would definitely recommend from anyone craving hand rolls in Pasadena! read more

We tried the new Pasadena, CA location. I had two others dining with me. The place is small and we arrived just before a dinner rush. Service was good during a soft opening week. Food quality was very good. Service was o.k. Decor is understated, and needs a bit more of a Japanese theme. They validate for 2 hours in a nearby lot. We left still a bit hungry. Rating: 4 Stars. read more

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Visited last night for a late dinner and had an exceptional meal. Service was super quick and attentive. The interior is dimly lit and vibey. They were out of The Nozie, so we got the regular 6 piece hand roll menu. We also added the shrimp hand roll, sea bream hand roll, and ankimo hand roll (this was a daily special). Everything we got was a hit and was delicious. We also ordered Sapporo light and their house sake (Kazunori Nigori - which was sweet and creamy). Both were lovely additions. We've been to the DTLA location, and this one holds up to that standard (and might even be better because it's not in such a bustling location). We were in and out of there in half an hour so it's a great option for a quick dinner if the line isn't long. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Hand roll - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Had the priviledge of an invitation to the Opening of this store this afternoon and it was absolutely perfect! Such great hosts and the rolls were perfect! Freshest of fish and absolutely delicious! Of course, there is beer and sake, as well as soft drinks. Loved the sake I had. It's cute and sleek, but small, maybe 26 seats at the bar (only seating option), but people were courteous and moved along as soon as they were finished, so the wait time was minimal. As a bonus, L.A. and Sushi Icon, Chef Nozawa was there with his lovely wife, Yumiko, so it was an added bonus to see them and say hello. It brought back great memories of our visits to the original Nozawa in Studio City! read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Decided to do dinner and catch-up at KazuNori with friends. Dinner time on a Monday, no wait and got seated almost immediately after everyone arrived. Got the salmon sashimi and 4-roll set (toro, yellowtail, nz sea bream and crab) which I swapped out for salmon which ended up being the MVP. Toro was rich and soft and the yellowtail was not fishy and tasted great with some ginger. The nz sea bream was slightly sweet and smooth but the salmon was the star of the show, super fatty and melts in your mouth. The salmon sashimi was really good too; nice thin slices that were just enough for one person to indulge in. read more

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Wow. Came here a month ago and there was a long wait, but really wanted try they place. Finally got to try this place and damn it's worth the wait. The bar only sits about 26 people and the menu is small but oh so good. The service was top notch we had Taylor help us and she was great. The food came out fast and it was delish. The vibe has a dark nightclub theme. Will be back for sure! read more

If you know KazuNori, you know the drill, long lines, but totally worth the wait! This spot on Colorado Blvd is easily one of the most popular hand roll spots in LA, and for good reason. The setup is all bar seating and it's pretty limited, so definitely expect a bit of a hangout before you get a stool. Once you're in, the service is great and the rolls come out fast and super fresh. I went with the 6-roll set which included the lobster roll, so good! But honestly, the scallop roll was the sleeper hit for me; the flavor was spot on. I love that you can do the sets or just go à la carte if you have specific favorites. Parking in this area can be a nightmare, but there's a big garage nearby that makes it super easy. Great food, fresh fish, and that signature crispy seaweed. I'll definitely be back (once I have time to stand in line again)! read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Lobster Hand Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was stoked to hear KazuNori finally made its way to Pasadena! Waited in line for about 20 minutes on a Friday night which doesn't seem too bad considering there isn't a whole lot of seating, which all bar style. Hand rolls were delicious, I could eat more if I wanted to. Definitely on the lighter side but sometimes that's just what you need, especially when considering the quality of ingredients. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Crab Hand Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

AMAZING experience!! A friend mentioned this restaurant to me so we decided to try it out! We came on a Friday evening, unfortunately there's no reservations so we waited but it wasn't too bad. This is a cute place for a random date night. It's a little different to other restaurants because it's set up like a bar, but the ambiance is nice because it's dark and has candles set up for your date night! I tried their hand roll set and my husband ordered the nozie. We also shared a salmon sashimi! Delicious and fresh! We got back from Japan just a few months ago and I can truly say the food is very comparative! Don't get me started on the service! We had Chanel as our server. She was very attentive and came to check on us throughout the night. I couldn't even tell you how many times because every time we looked up, there she was tending to us! Thank you Chanel for making our date night so memorable!! read more

Hands down the best sushi hand rolls ever. Every roll was incredibly fresh, perfectly balanced, and made right in front of us so you could taste the quality in every bite. The fish melted in your mouth and the nori stayed perfectly crisp. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Unfiltered and sweet sake - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super simple handrolls. If you like sushi and you like to hold it come here. You have sets to choose from and you can swap any handrolls you'd like from your set. You get a new roll when you're finished with your current one. I would say I wish the rice wasn't so hot compared to the fish. The seaweed starts to get warm which makes it harder to bite off the roll towards the end, so the fish and rice start to fall out the other side. However the service is good they are attentive. It definitely feels intimate bc of the lighting and the seating. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Crab Hand Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I been to too many kazunori for me to make this review, and im not type of people who often make restaurant review. The rice of this kazunori is way too sour, they put too much vinegar, and to me, all the material taste the same today, which there's no different seasoning/ sauce marinate to fish, if you would like to try the real flavor of kazunori, I strongly suggest you to go to sugar fish which just 0.5 mile away, or you have to go to downtown for kazunori. Very disappointed experience:( read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love you very KazuNori I've ever been to and this one is no different. Beautiful bar, friendly service, deliciously warm and perfectly seasoned rice, fresh fish and very affordable prices. The only negative is that (and this may be my imagination) they seemed to have a larger rice to fish ratio than they used to. It wouldn't be surprising since the prices have stayed the same for many years while everything else has definitely gotten more expensive, but the result is a bit of an overly rice-y roll with not enough fish. Will definitely be back, but will be on the lookout. read more

I was so excited that a new location opened in Pasadena. On a weekday night, there was a line and we waited about 30-45min. The inside is super dark and intimate with about 15 seats. The menu is very intuitive and we opted for the 5-handroll set. What I liked is that you can customize it and replace certain fish due to allergy or just preference. My personal favorite was the scallop! Due to the nature of this concept, you have to eat the handroll almost immediately so the seaweed does not get soggy. However, I realized that my seaweed still got soggy from the warm rice. Also, the chefs are very proactive to deliver the next handroll, right as I inhaled the previous one. Although I wish there was more time in between handrolls, I guess it's their way to keep turnover rate high. Overall, Kazunori was an excellent experience with some delicious food!! read more

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Cute place, quiet atmosphere. Nice place to go if you plan on eating alone, very intimate but also group friendly. Very similar to restaurants in Japan, quick spot to eat and leave with a good experience. The food was high quality, a little bit rice-heavy so I got full very fast with just 3 handrolls. The only "problem" was that my server opened asking if I wanted hot tea or water and I opted for hot tea but when the check came they charged me $3 for the tea. There was no tea pricing on the menu either so I had no idea. Not that big of a deal but it definitely left a slight impression. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Toro Hand Roll (4-Hand Roll Set Menu) - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Honestly such a great spot no matter what day you're going but if you're planning a weekend visit, heads up: it's bar seating only, so there's usually a wait. We got there on a Saturday around 6:30 and waited about 30 minutes, which honestly wasn't bad at all. The menu has a ton of roll options, but do yourself a favor and order a set, they'll even let you swap out rolls to customize it, which is a nice touch. The Staff was genuinely sweet and on top of everything the whole night.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Love that I can get KazuNori without having to drive to LA proper. The hand rolls are amazing, as expected. Service is also great! The wait can get a bit long and there isn't a waitlist so I recommend coming early with a charged phone to keep you from getting bored lol. I do wish they had umbrellas or a small tent outside for those waiting in line outside under the sun. It gets pretty hot! read more

Right door is the entrance, left door is the exit. There's a queue to get seated. It was pretty busy but luckily, the line moves steady. I love Kazunori and I've been to other locations so I wanted to check out the Pasadena location. It feels a bit rushed but overall, it's a similar experience to the other locations. We tried the Nozawa Special with 6 hand rolls. I tried rolls that I normally don't get like the Ankimo, Yamaimo, and Eel. It was nice to try but next time, I'm definitely getting my favorites which are the Bay Scallops and Crab! It's a bar set up and the seats are very close together. I would suggest only coming with a small group. Or a plus one. read more

The day I went, it seemed like they were having issues inside, and weren't seating people until 530pm. Once opened, we were seating quickly and the room for up real fast. Service had some efficiency snags here and there. Mostly timing things, but I'm sure that's because staff was still very green. Ordered the 6 set. Toro and salmon were my personal favorites of the group. Rolls were biggest that I've had at an OC handroll spot, and very soft when you bite in. Would definitely come back and try their specials! read more

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10000000/10 When we lived in Ktown, we used to go to the Wilshire one every week. It had better parking than the ktown one. Now that we've moved back to Pasadena, I'm so happy this place opened up the street from me. We've always loved the freshness of the food and the service. Also love that they can accommodate shellfish allergies. The place looks exactly like any Kazunori, which is very aesthetically pleasing. I wish the seats were more comfy but besides that, everything is great. They share a parking lot with Star Leaf and Tender Greens. Don't forget to validate! read more

KazuNori is the handroll-centric sister of Sugarfish. I am so glad it has arrived in Pasadena. I dined here on opening day and even then, service was good and the meal was fast. I ordered a 6-roll set and the sushi rice was warm, the nori was crisp, the fillings were cold and flavorful. I discovered a new technique of ordering "light rice" and they gladly accommodated. It is bar seating only but it fits a good number - 23 lucky patrons. The handrolls are well-made and I love the delicious, efficient meal. read more

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My fave go to lunch spot is now in Pasadena and I couldn't be happier! I went on the day they opened around 4:30 to beat the dinner rush and was seated immediately as a party of 1. Glad to see the quality and consistency of this Kazunori along with all the others is the same. I love that you always know what to expect in taste and the design is just as minimalistic and clean as other locations. The price and quality of the fish is just perfect here and i will be here on at least a bi weekly basis. I love that you can dine here alone comfortably and arguably it's even better than coming with someone else because you will be seated quickly! Highly recommend only coming with one other person max. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Very happy to see KazuNori in Pasadena, great addition! We went on opening night, which I usually would never do, but we were close by. Line was long, but in total took about 30-40 minutes. Ordered the usual 6 hand rolls, salmon sashimi and a hot water w/ lemon. We had a huge piece of shell in our crab roll, not tiny lol. They handled it perfectly. The toro handroll was particularly buttery that night. It was all exceptional. Majority of the specials were sold out, but nothing we were planning to order anyways. ITS JUST GOOD! No other way to say it. I love it. read more

This is my favorite hand roll spot hands down. The toro handroll is to die for and I wish they didnt have a one toro roll per person limit the night i went because I wouldve eaten 20 of those things! The other rolls were good as well but the toro handroll I would come back for that alone read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Toro Hand Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I definitely preferred this location of kazunori and save myself the drive to LA. I came with a friend on Saturday evening around 6:30 and we waited in line for about 30-40 minutes before getting seated which was not bad at all. We both ordered the 6 roll set. It was delicious and on par with my experience in the past. The staff were super friendly and helpful when we asked about the specials of the day. Our waters were constantly tended to which I appreciated. Of course it's pretty dark in there and a lot people were using their phone flashlights to look at menu. Parking is going to be tough since it's old town Pasadena. There are a few spots in the front and around back but we didn't get lucky. We ended up parking about a block or 2 away by Target. We were told they are putting in valet soon. I can't wait to come back soon! read more

Anything by sushi nozawa is a hit. Always such consistency at kazunori - fish is cold and fresh, rice is warm, and seaweed is crisp. I used to go to the studio city location but so glad we have one in Pasadena now! Service and the vibes of the whole place is always top notch. There's also plenty of street parking in the surrounding streets. read more

What a unique and amazing experience. KazuNori is a hand roll bar with exactly 24 seats in all of their locations, and the menu is super simple and easy to order. The sets are the way to go to try different types of hand rolls. You can see them made right in front of you and are made with top tier quality ingredients. They are a no tipping establishment, but there is a 16% surcharge to fund all of their operations. The washroom experience was also incredible, I have never seen a faucet with 2 different types of soap, one for before eating and one for after. Dark and intimate setting. read more

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Happy that Kazunori is closer to me now! The DTLA location was where I first enjoyed the concept many times but parking in the sketch lot for $$ was never fun haha. This location is brand new and I had the pleasure of visiting around 9pm on a Saturday. For two people we were seated quickly but the bar was already full. The fish was fresh as always! I enjoyed the sea bream and yellowtail a ton today. They also allow swaps for any allergens as long as they match or is less in price (ie sometimes I swap blue crab because I'm just not feeling it). Seaweed is always so crisp when eating at the restaurant. but whenever they run out of rice, I find that the new batch used for my handroll is too hot. I'd prefer they let me know and for my rice to get a chance to cool down to warm before they serve it. This happened for my scallop handroll today in the 6 roll set I ordered. That said, service was great at the location. I got extra ginger without having to ask, regular water refills, bathrooms were clean. Will def revisit for my handroll cravings! Kazunori is a classic. read more

So happy to have KazuNori in Pasadena! Came for lunch with a friend and we both really enjoyed our first time here! The hand rolls were delicious and fresh. We ordered the Nozie set which is essentially "Chef's Choice" of 6 handrolls. We were surprised to try some handrolls that we didn't see in the other sets. We got the toro, lobster, eel, ankimo, a vegetable one, and sea bream. They were all very good. The service was attentive. The bar seats around 20 guests so the restaurant is small. Best to come alone or with 1 guest as seating is tight & may take longer wait times with a bigger party. Will definitely be back! There is limited street parking. read more

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KazuNori finally made its way to Pasadena. It's about time. I've been to their other locations many times and also frequent Sugarfish pretty often. I love that you can get your handroll fix at an affordable price. The only complaint is that I ordered albacore sashimi and it came with this yellow thick citrus heavy sauce.. what the heck?! It should be ponzu with a sprinkle of green onions like how usually albacore is served. That was such a bummer. I didn't like the taste of that so I wouldn't recommend ordering that unless you like your albacore served oddly with a thick sauce. read more

KazuNori | Pasadena - Albacore sashimi... with this sauce that I didn't like. - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

My brother is kind of a sushi snob and recommended KazuNori to me so I was excited to try it while I was in town. We came for an early dinner around 5 pm and we were seated right away. About 15-30 minutes afterwards there was a line forming and it was out the door by the time we were done eating. It's counter style seating and there are ~20 seats if I had to guess. Hubby and I both ordered the 6 hand roll set which came with the following: toro, yellowtail, salmon, bay scallop, crab, and lobster. I shared half of two of them with my child and also got her a salmon hand roll which was plenty for the two of us. Her favorite was the salmon while mine was the toro. The rolls are reasonably priced and everything tasted fresh. The bathrooms even have soap for before (unscented) and after (scented) meals. read more

So, I liked the low light ambience, the casual mixed crowd (no kiddos), fresh hand rolls, and the very attentive and friendly staff. Would I stand in line again for 30 minutes? Probably not. Will I come back? Hmm, yeah sure, because the rolls were yum, but only if there is zero wait, for a girl night, or date, cause you are literally rubbing elbows with the person next to you. The super tight space and uncomfortable seats are obviously the restaurants way of making sure you eat quick, and get going. read more

Soooooo happy they opened one up in Pasadena. The BEST hand rolls ever! Prices are good and the service is quick. Seating is limited but you don't end up waiting very long so it's worth it. Highly recommended!! Free street parking or park behind Vromans. Can't wait for Hiho burger to open as well!!! read more

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Ah, KazuNori! You've come to Pasadena. In case of need of background, this has been a go to place for Japanese hand rolls at their older LA locations for quite a while so there is definitely a following for this and now it is outside pretty far east of Los Angeles. Parking, it's near Urth Cafe and Target sandwiched in between on Colorado. You can structure or find some street parking around the block. Parking is actually ok being near downtown Pasadena. The space is lively intimate. Bar seating and the place is narrow but goes deep to the back. 24 seats from my count. Minimalistic but clean and effective. Service as with any new opening they are still figuring it out. It definitely seems like they have a few things to work on especially with the line situation at least with communication but otherwise it's good and almost great. Rolls come to the table in an order to the party depending on what was ordered. It's a nice touch. I don't have too much to complain about. The food.... Now should I even review this. If you come to KazuNori there is a good chance you already know what you are getting into. They specialize in hand rolls. Bare bones, higher in quality. I love the Toro. If you love Japanese food, you can appreciate the details in the rice, the wrap and the cuts that they want you to eat right and with that said, unless you have a shellfish allergy everything is good. The main thing is this is accessible to anyone without having to figure out how to get this level of food. Value: With inflation we have to talk about pricing. Currently it ranges $5-$6 bucks and change for a roll. You can order a menu set for about $25-$30 or you can à la cart. It's a small meal at 4-5 rolls I recommend and lets you have the experience. Overall it's fine, they are in the spot in my opinion between fine dining and fast casual pretty well. So four stars! Well earned! Possibly 5 if the minor issues get fixed as a dining experience in the future. It's a great addition to Pasadena. Advice: So currently you might want to eat there during the off meal hours. It's the difference between waiting in line for 30-60 mins or just walking in. Like if you can eat 4pm, do that. The line gets somewhat long at dinner hours. Not a part of the review but just saying. read more

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