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. :)

I had been a longtime customer here for about seven years, but I stopped going after getting food…read morepoisoning from fish here in March 2025. After more than a year away, I decided to give Osawa another try on May 8, 2026. Unfortunately, the experience confirmed why I had stopped coming. Around 9:02 p.m., my waiter came by to ask for last orders. I ordered chicken karaage. This is a simple dish that usually comes out in about 4 to 5 minutes. For whatever reason, the order did not arrive until around 9:26 p.m. -- almost 25 minutes later. It seemed obvious that the order had been forgotten. When the karaage finally arrived, it looked hastily sauced. Several parts of the chicken were unsauced, which is not how the dish was normally served in the past. Given the delay and the apparent mishandling, I did not touch the dish. A Japanese male manager wearing glasses then came over. He recognized me, and I explained that I had not been back for more than a year because of the food poisoning incident from fish in 2025. Instead of responding seriously, the manager smiled and giggled slightly, then launched into an irrelevant conversation about his connections in the Japanese food industry in Old Town Pasadena. When he asked why I had not touched the chicken, I explained the almost 30-minute delay and the problems with the dish. Rather than comping the item or offering a real apology, the manager asked whether I still wanted to eat it or would prefer to cancel it. He then ended the conversation by suggesting that I come in during weekday lunch for the $18 lunch specials. That response was bizarre and tone deaf. I did not return after a food poisoning incident to hear a sales pitch about lunch specials. I returned as a longtime customer giving Osawa another chance. Osawa's way of doing business has changed a lot. I've seen better customer service at Erewhon.

Kazunori is always a consistent hit and my go‑to spot whenever I'm craving hand rolls. The quality…read moreis unbeatable for the price -- truly the best deal around -- and everything is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Service is friendly and attentive. They keep your water filled, and they're quick to refill wasabi and ginger without you even having to ask. It's bar seating only, which can be a little tricky for a shorty like me to hop up and down from, but the food and service make it worth it. There are no reservations, just walk‑in, but the service is fast and I've never had to wait. Plus, they offer free parking validation for 2 hours, which is a huge bonus. Always reliable, always delicious -- Kazunori never disappoints!

KazuNori is a restaurant opened but the same group as SUGARFISH. They specialize in hand rolls…read moreserved one at a time across the counter. They have multiple locations across the Southern California area including this one near Old Town Pasadena. They do not reservations and you wait in line until there are open seats for your party. We came at around 6pm on a Friday evening and were seated immediately for a party of two. When we left at around 7pm there was a long line waiting so I recommend coming earlier. I recommend coming with a smaller party. They have different presets of hand rolls by count (3 to 6) where 6 is the most popular. The chef hands each roll to you individually and you're expected to eat it immediately to ensure the seaweed is crisp and the rice is warm. I got the 6-hand roll set ($29) which included toro, yellowtail, salmon, bay scallop, crab, and lobster. My favorites were the salmon, bay scallop, and crab. I also got the eel hand roll ($5.75) which was also good. If you want to be surprised, there's The Nozie which is their omakase style 6 hand roll set.

Hands down, one of the best Tendon you can have in LA...and I don't usually look for Tendon!…read moreTempura is freshly deep fried and once it came to my tables everything was crispy and taste was phenomenal. Great customer service by the staff, caring, and fast service. Very cozy ambiance, they have both inside and outside seating. For a smaller restaurant like this, it has a good amount of table/seats. Not to mention that their sushi rolls were spot on as well. Would come back several times.

I was looking forward to trying this place out this past Saturday for Mother's Day, but…read moreunfortunately, the food and service disappointed me. I understand they are busy, but there is no reason to swing the door at my face when I simply asked where I can put my name down on the waiting list. No answer, just rolled eyes and door in face. We really should've left because from that moment, it definitely felt like it was a mission for the two servers to make it a miserable experience for my family. I later found a small post holding up a chromebook outside of the restaurant with a paper with very small print explaining waitlist rules. It would be a lot better if the restaurant made a larger print sign that just says, "Sign In Here," and then have your small print letter to the customers about the rules. We put our name down at 12:30pm, it gave an estimated seat time of ~1pm. But because of the terrible service and mismanagement of the waiting list, we didn't get seated until 1:30pm. They seated 4 parties of 2-3 before our party of 4 when the open tables were side by side. On top of that, after we got seated, they still gave water and took the other tables orders that were seated after us before they came to us. Food took another 20 minutes to come out. I asked for the bill three times, but it didn't come until the other tables that were seated after us left and it was just empty tables next to us. In terms of the food, it was fine and the tempura was cooked well but I do not need to eat their tempura to be treated this poorly.

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.

Walking into an all you can eat spot usually means accepting your fate: questionable fish, mystery…read moresauces, and at least one regret. But Tomikawa actually impressed me? Their selection is legit, and the Spicy Albacore and Seared Garlic Tuna were so good I briefly forgot I was at AYCE place. Pricing was fair, quality was solid, and I didn't leave wondering why I did this to myself. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in Pasadena!

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.