Wow! 11/10 highly recommended Mama M Sushi in Old Town Pasadena I knew this restaurant would be good, but I was blown away and was really surprised at how generous the portions are. Fresh, high quality, light and balanced. Really well executed and this husband. All the little details of each roll stood out! What we ordered: - Rainbow Tempura Roll - 7 pieces my favorite - this was really unique - Big Pack Roll - 10 pieces - Salmon Attack Roll - 10 pieces - Cute Devil Roll - 10 pieces - Tempura Don - wow this was an impresssive large bowl of perfectly fried tempura shrimp and veggies! It didn't feel heavy and is one of the best I've had. you'd be surprised that this restaurant doesn't just specialize in Tempura tendon bowls. The quality is so delicious . We actually sat next to a woman who was in town for the week and she ate here 4 days in a row! We understand why! read more

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Really good sushi and the sweetest server. My son dropped his Pokémon card into the crevice between the booth and wall. The server kept offering different tools and strategies in getting his card back. She was so attentive and friendly. Loved their lunch specials. So many options to choose from and the best part - they are on Resy. $100 credit per quarter through Amex! You know where we will be every quarter. read more

OK, so trip #3 to see Mama M and just like the previous 2 it was pretty epic! Everything from the service, to the giant Sapporo draft, to the food itself is amazing. Pictured below is: The Albacore Blossom is a go to roll that comes with a great presentation and it's as good as it looks - Shrimp tempura, jalapeno and pickled cucumber topped with Albacore served with sweet ponzu sauce (eel & ponzu sauce), chili oil, fried onion and green onion. The Crying Tuna - Shrimp tempura and cucumber, topped with spicy tuna and green onion, served with fire sauce. Just enough of a kick and packed with texture and flavor. Crispy Tuna - Spicy tuna and avocado over the deep fried sushi rice served with eel sauce and chili oil. This is a must. it comes 2pcs and you'll want both, so get an order for each person at your table. The service has always been 5* and the perfect amount of attention, without being overbearing. I also like how they sort of bring out your rolls/sushi in a slow roll so it doesn't all come at once and clutter the table or get warm/cold sitting around. They've got it down. I'd imagine it gets very busy but I've only strolled in about 45 minutes to closing and get right in. Bottom line, it's not the only game in town, but so far it IS the best! read more

Mama M Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

A very nice spot for lunch. my friend and I met and sat outside under an umbrella. I really like the restaurants on Holly St. just a really nice vibe off the main boulevards. We both ordered lunch specials with iced green tea. I think it's from the powdered green tea as it's a bit opaque, nice flavor. I had the tempura and sashimi special for, my friend has salmon. Come hungry as the starters will fill you up! The specials come with salad and miso soup. The tempura was a meal in itself too! The sashimi was my "dessert", I ate it last because, you know, it's cold already! Very generous portions and I admit, I ate it ALL read more

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Came for a birthday celebration and the place didn't disappoint. We order part of the happy hours items and entrees. We ordered the chirashi bowl, octopus salad, two hand rolls: spicy tuna and mix sashimi roll. We ordered two more rolls and that definitely hit the spot for two. Place was super clean and lit inside and we chose to sit inside since it was getting chillier outside. Overall the place is amazing and definitely will be back for more read more

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New vibe and still great food! There's now a dj playing jazzy but funky dinner music. My favorite dish was the shitshito peppers roll. It's a main dish but be sure to either get it as an appetizer or include it in your dinner order. The sparking sake is also a must have. read more

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What a cute restaurant! We walked in around 5:00pm on a Sunday and there were plenty of tables. The waitresses were so nice and helpful. We ordered an SCS roll, 911 roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, love at first bite, and crunch roll, tuna sushi, salmon sushi, albacore sushi, a black garlic tonkotsu ramen, gyozas, and a spicy tuna hand roll. There was a Sunday happy hour deal where some sushi were buy 1 get 1. Some hand rolls and special rolls were discounted. Every single dish was yummy! The ramen soup had so much flavor with the chewy noodles, the gyoza was crunchy on the outside and meaty on the inside, and all the fish from the rolls and sushi tasted fresh. They accept inkind app, which can discount your meal even more. Overall, for the price that we paid, food was delicious and well worth it. Definitely coming back to eat here again. read more

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Found this place on the InKind app and this "Cute Devil" roll was probably one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had! All the staff was super friendly and very attentive. Me and wife also tried their black garlic ramen with pork belly and that was also really good. 10/10 highly recommend Mama M Sushi! read more

Mama M Sushi - Cute Devil - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

If you've been following me here on YELP, you already know I'm on a never-ending quest for date spots that feel like a first kiss...exciting, a little mysterious, and worth dressing up for. If you just realized you haven't followed me yet... fix that. I'm basically your love life's location scout. Now, Mama M's? Well, for starters, she's got that "I'm not like other girls" energy. The moment you walk in, it's giving romantic dinner vibes with someone who actually listens. Each table has its own sleek little lamp, kinda like a modern-day candlelight situation that whispers, "Tell me your secrets." Your vinyl seats in the back need a little refresher but other than that, the dining area looks inviting. Let's talk food. Would I come back? Oh, absolutely YES, even if it means driving 1 hour and 45 minutes like I'm chasing down an ex I should've never let go. Hah! The sushi's fresh, the vibe's intimate, and the whole place feels like it knows how to treat you right. Dear Mama M's Management: IMPORTANT Please don't touch that Happy Hour menu. It's the kind of thoughtful, emotionally available gesture we wish more people made. It's priced like someone who understands that not all of us are dating hedge fund managers. Keep up the good work, keeping it generous. Keeping it real. We'll be back. read more

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This was a great experience. We were able to walk in on a Friday night and were seated right away. The service was great and the servers were so sweet. I got a sake and my husband got a Kirin light bottle. We shared a veggie tempura appetizer. Mostly carrot but one giant broccoli, onion and a couple of green beans. The dipping sauce was excellent. I got the gyudon with a poached egg. So good. Also came with broccoli and carrot so not so meat heavy. My husbands spicy tuna bowl came with salad, soup and edamame. Great deal. Will be back for the delicious food and service! read more

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Due to a credit card benefit, I was able to try out Mama M sushi. There are street parking and a park age garage close by. Surprisingly, they have a happy hour menu for Sunday evening. We wanted 8 pieces of salmon sushi and thought we need to order 4 orders with 2 pieces each. But since it's BOGO free, we only needed 2 orders. The server was nice enough to cancel the extra one. We ordered a variety of rolls and they are delish. We ordered gyoza and edamame for appetizers and they were great. For dessert, we had mochi ice cream, one mango and one green tea. Since plenty of people were here for the happy hour, the servers were quite swamped, but understandable. We will come back for this amazing restaurant! read more

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Dined at Mama M Sushi for the first time and would come back again. I enjoyed the nigiri we ordered and also the crispy rice. I wasn't amazed by the roll we ordered, but it wasn't bad either. I will say it's just because I'm super picky when it comes to sushi! We ordered a couple pieces of Toro, and for the roll we had the Albacore Fever. The Toro was the perfect cut and I liked the fresh wasabi that was put on top. The Albacore Fever roll wasn't anything special to my husband and I, but I did enjoy the sauce it was paired with and that it was wrapped in soy paper. We wanted to order this trio of different Tuna nigiri cuts, but they were out. I asked the waitress for a recommendation and she recommended the Black Snapper - it was sooo good! It had a little sear on it which my husband and I both enjoyed. My only complaint was it was pretty warm inside of the restaurant which makes me kind of weary since they're serving raw fish. The restaurant is small as well so I would recommend coming early or making reservations! The staff were very attentive and kind as well. Will come back again to try other things they have to offer! read more

Mama M Sushi - Toro sushi and Albacore fever - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great lunch spot. Lunch meals serve more than enough food and service is always great! Download the app for quicker orders. read more

Mama M Sushi is such a great little hidden gem in Pasadena. The space itself is pretty small and cozy, but the service is fast and efficient. I definitely recommend making a reservation, but even if you walk in, the line moves fairly quickly since the kitchen is constantly sending food out to tables. We came here for DineLA, and I'm so glad we did--everything was incredibly tasty. The A5 Wagyu Nigiri was hands down my favorite: rich, buttery, and full of flavor. It honestly just needed a tiny touch of salt to be absolutely perfect. The sushi overall was super fresh, flavorful, and clearly high quality--you can really taste how good the fish is. I also loved the vibe of the place. They had a DJ spinning some really good jams, which added to the whole experience and made the ambience feel fun, lively, and welcoming without being overwhelming. Definitely worth checking out, and I'll for sure be back again. read more

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Overall, it was a good experience. We ate some tempura shrimp, the sushi lunch special, and my parents had one baby back rib tonkatsu ramen and a sushi lunch. It's a cute, well-lit, and quick place. Overall, the service was great and prompt, attending to all our needs. read more

Mama M Sushi - Lunch special - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had high hopes for Mamma M Sushi. It had decent ratings and was just around the corner from a meeting so it was the perfect place to grab a quick lunch. We were greeted warmly and shown to a table. The ambiance is nice and the menu is loaded with impressive pictures of their food. We went with two of the lunch specials. Our meal started with a delicious bowl of miso soup. Next uo for me was tempura. It was nicely cooked with a crispy exterior. My only complaint is that the container of dipping sauce was about 1-1/2" across so it was difficult to dip any of the tempura pieces in it. I also had to request a second dipping sauce as there was not enough in the little cup. Our main courses arrived quickly. I was impressed with the plating but not as impressed with the fish. The slices were so thick and many of them were chewy, not the tender, soft, melt in your mouth sashimi I've received elsewhere. I had to leave some partially chewed pieces on my plate. But other than that, we enjoyed our meal and the service was very good. Before we left, I needed to go to the restroom. And that is where things went downhill. I could not believe how disgusting and filthy the bathroom was. The light switch was covered in nasty fingerprints and stains, the top of the urinal had not been cleaned nor had the mirror which had visible stains and splatter marks on it. It made me sick to my stomach and I will not be returning due to the pack of cleanliness in the restrooms. That was a complete turnoff and unacceptable. read more

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Mama M Sushi has been around for a while, even before the pandemic, and I've always wanted to try it. I finally got the chance recently since they accept inKind app payments. I ordered the $35 tempura and sashimi lunch, while my friend went with the $34 chirashi bowl. I have to say, the tempura wasn't freshly fried--it was clear from the breading that it was store-bought and frozen. The taste was decent, but for a $35 meal, I expected better. On the other hand, the sashimi was delicious and came in a generous portion. That said, I thought my friend's chirashi bowl was the better choice. Overall, I'm still giving them 4 stars because it's a small, family-run spot with attentive and friendly service. Just skip the tempura. read more

Mama M Sushi - Chirashi lunch special - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It's been a few years since I last visited Mama M. I last remembered it being mediocre, but decided it give it another try, especially with a decent overall Yelp rating. For sushi aficionados, this restaurant will be disappointing. One of my go to orders at a sushi restaurant is the chirashi bowl. These are usually a decent size bowl with a variety of chef choice fish. I was EXTREMELY disappointed and unhappy with their chirashi bowl (and the rest of the food for that matter) Their prices are at least as much if not higher than comparable restaurants, but quality and quantity are BOTH lacking. The size of my chirashi bowl was probably about 1/3 the size of the same dish at other restaurants. Sorry, I was pretty hungry and started eating before remembering that I should take a picture of my dish. My daughter got the salmon ikura bowl and same small size as the chirashi with I think 4 or 5 pieces of thinly sliced salmon and SUPER fishy ikura! My partner and son both ordered ramen, and although this actually came in a decent size bowl, the broth was REALLY sweet! Like they added a lot of sugar to it. The broth is really important for ramen and this didn't cut it. We also ordered a couple extra dishes to try out, but everything was a disappointment. Service was fine, servers were friendly. The restaurant itself has indoor and outdoor seating. We sat at a table where one side was booth seat. It was really old and cracking, uncomfortable to sit on. Overall I DON'T recommend this restaurant and wouldn't come back again. read more

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Food was a 90/100. Super fresh and they were accommodating to make a roll not on the menu. Reason for the missing stars is how GROSS the bathroom was. Invest in a new trash can, clean the stains off the walls, light switch and toilet flusher and maybe hide the toilet bowl brush. It was pretty grimy before eating. Also, kitchen visable outside bathroom and made me want to leave. Food on floor and looked like a tornado blew through. If it's that messy and stacks of dirty dishes in the hallway how am I to feel about the food I'm eating? The ambiance has definitely improved. Super cute romantic lights and a dj. Also suggesting tips at such high amounts was presumptuous, but I am always a big tipper. read more

This is the best Sushi spot I've ever been to considering I've been to 50+ different places. Their menu is the best, I am a sucker to photos of the various food options. I absolutely loved the spicy edamame, the roll that had garlic and truffle, the salmon hand roll and couldn't get enough of the pickled wasabi (a must try). Joy was our server and treated us so well-loved her energy. I can't wait to come back and highly recommend this spot to all. read more

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Dine LA experience with a couple add ons. The nachos would taste a lot better with wonton crisps. I don't think they went well with the chips that they served. read more

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It's pretty hard to find a good sushi restaurant that isn't fancy. What I mean by that is there's a couple of good places in Pasadena that have really good sashimi or Omakase but there's not a place that I feel like I can have a good take out Dragon Roll or Rainbow Roll. Sometimes I just have cravings for those. I stumbled across Mama M Sushi via the toast app. The toast app wasn't working, so I called in my order and the order actually linked automatically to my toast account, which was nice. The woman took my order and told me it was going to be ready in 20 minutes and then call me back shortly to tell me it would be ready in 10 minutes. That was nice of her to update me. I ordered a Big Pack, Crazy Albacore Roll, and a Spider Roll. I can't speak much for the ambiance for the restaurant because I did take out, but the rolls were packaged nicely. The size of the rolls were pretty good and I like that they kept the sauces separate so the rolls wouldn't get soggy. All the rolls overall were fairly decent. Nothing that got me super excited but overall it satisfied my roll craving. I'll add this to the rotation of takeout sushi roll places. read more

Mama M Sushi - Big Pack and Crazy Albacore - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Getting together with some friends on a Sunday evening . We Made our reservations and our table was waiting & ready for us. warm , welcoming hostess . Relaxing ambience and dim lighting . The food we ordered were all very healthy . Over all experience was pleasant. Great place for conversations while enjoying some good , fresh & healthy Japanese food . read more

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Cosy ! Hospitable! Delicious food . Friendly staff . There happy hour menu is amazing read more

The sushi was fresh, location cute, and most of all, the service was so great!! Thank you for making our evening delectable and lovely! read more

Mama M Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love this place! Super fresh sushi. Playboy roll is a must! They also have the best riceless rolls which are my favorite, and the garlic edamame is to die for. Staff is super friendly and ambiance is cozy. One of the best sushi spots in Pasadena! read more

Food was great. My favorite was the rib ramen. Sooo flavorful. Great amount of meat. Service was wonderful. Our yellowtail collar did come out undercooked, they took it away and made us a new one. Nice small little shop. read more

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I've had this spot saved in my must try collection for a new months now because of the gorgeous pictures against that pretty floral wall. Finally got to try it today for a late birthday celebration and the sushi here's got looks & taste! The service was nice despite the lines since there's a Yelp elite experience going on at the same time. We were able to joke around a bit with the waitresses and give compliments to the food. The spicy edamame was one of the best I've tried in a minute, the ocean wrap was very nicely marinated, and the truffle in the M in Holly street was perfectly balanced. That sushi deluxe omakase was perfection. I'm considering changing my Mother's Day plans tomorrow to come back here again! read more

Great place w/ solid daily specials. Staff is super friendly and greeted us upon arrival. Everything was fantastic and we were able to choose our table. Got a variety of items and the prices weren't outrageous. $2 miso soup, $12 rolls and $18 ramen (the garlic broth was so yummy) read more

Mama M Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came with a reservation at 6pm on Friday and got a table inside. The menu is quite extensive so it took us awhile to decide on what we wanted. In the end this is what we got. Love at first bite roll - This was delicious and is larger than many rolls you see at other places. They load up on the crab and sauces were well balanced. Delicious (4.5/5) Playboy - A unique roll that is sour and savory. They literally put lemon slices on top and the sauce is pretty tangy. It's weird but I actually like it. Playboys are wild I guess. (4/5) 15 Mixed Sashimi - This is a must get if you're trying to spend. $59 but the fish is high quality and super fresh. No fishy taste and tasted like melty butter. It is presented very nice on its own bowl in the shape of a tree trunk. You get like two of each piece so it's sharable with someone else. It's delicious. (5/5) A pretty nice spot for a romantic date night (ambience is dark and it has a small lamp on each table) or if you want solid sushi here in old town Pasadena. In total for the rolls and sashimi we spent $100 without tip so it's on the pricey/ higher end side. Fresh eats, literally! read more

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Good food, prices can be steep on the lunch boxes (28-30). Friendly servers , we will come back to try other dishes.

Very solid place! Not exceptional sushi BUT if you're craving sushi this should definitely satisfy it!! Overall good place. The waitress was nice and attentive and they were accommodating - I didn't want ikura on my Salmon donburi lunch special so they added extra pieces of salmon which was sweet. Pretty great with price too compared to other sushi places near this area. read more

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Caught them during happy hour! You can order discounted items on their special menu. I got the cucumber salad for an app which was just alright. I got the spicy California which was pretty good, but wish there was more. Service and ambience is great. It's a nice little spot! read more

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Excellent, kind, warm, and friendly service! Everything my friend and I ordered were DELICIOUS!!! Also, M overheard me tell my friend to order whatever she wanted since it was her birthday and M came out with Mochi and candles! We had the best time here and will be back! I've also spread the word about this restaurant which I found through the InKind app. Thank you M and family since it's a family owned business. We love you!!! read more

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Had a late lunch here today for my husband's birthday and absolutely loved it! This was our first time here and so glad we picked this restaurant. Service was great and everything tasted so fresh. It's a smaller restaurant, so it feels more intimate. We 100% will be coming here again. read more

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Quality of fish is not very high. Tried chirashi n sashimi. I would not go back personally.

I stopped in here for a quick dinner while staying at a hotel around the corner. They are pet friendly so my dog and I sat on the outside patio. They also have a great happy hour selection with different options every day. I ordered the edamame and a 911 roll. My server was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu, making wonderful recommendations. She also brought my dog a small bowl of water which was very thoughtful. Everything was delicious and the perfect amount of food. I could've eaten more but I saved myself from slipping into a serious food coma! I will definitely return to try out more on their menu. read more

Mama M Sushi - 911 (Nine One One) - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

We came to sine at 8:15 and they close at 9pm. The hostess lied and said they were closed and we usually come here often at the same time due to working late. Will not eat at this place again. Horrible service! read more

If you're craving sushi in Pasadena, Mama M Sushi is an absolute gem. The rolls are fresh, creative, and beautifully plated, while the nigiri is very good. The waitress was attentive while my boyfriend and I sat outside to dine with our dog. We will be coming back soon. Thank you. read more

Mama M is such a cute find in Pasadena! It's small but cozy and the staff are so sweet. We got rib tonkotsu ramen, Amazon roll, and a few pieces of toro and blue fin sushi. Everything was so delicious and the egg in the ramen was one of the best I've had! My Amazon roll was the perfect size and felt filling in addition to the sushi pieces. The sauce added so much flavor and the fish here is absolutely delicious - definitely tastes high quality. They also don't skimp on the size when you order sushi/sashimi so I'd say this is a must try here. Would recommend for a date night! read more

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