Delicious and worth the price for the quality that you receive. My favorite omakase in LA is Sasabune. Sugar Fish is very comparable. This Pasadena location charges a mandatory city tax, but no tip. Both the Newport and Pasadena location offers the same great quality and service. The restaurant is small and they do not take reservations. We came on Sunday at noon and surprisingly there was no wait. HAPPY FISHING!! read more

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Big fan of SUGARFISH. The sushi here isn't like S-tier sushi, but for a chain I'd definitely put it at A-tier. They consistently put out above-average sushi and I've always had a good experience here. This Pasadena location can get pretty busy, so sometimes the wait can be a while. I came the other day for my birthday because they offer a free meal if you've had two check-ins prior to your birthday. I work nearby, so I stopped by during lunch and was able to get a single seat at the bar immediately. Perks of solo dining lol. Once you order, the sushi comes out pretty quickly and I like how they space everything out so you never have a bunch of sushi just sitting on your table. Everything tasted fresh as usual. I'm also happy to see that they now have daily specials, which gives you something different to try instead of always ordering the same thing. Always a fan of SUGARFISH and definitely can't wait to come back! read more

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Very disappointing experience for a gluten-free customer. 1. Zero accommodation for gluten-free guests SUGARFISH does not offer gluten-free soy sauce. Apparently, their gluten-free option is simply to serve the sushi without soy sauce -- with no salty substitute whatsoever. We asked if the kitchen could provide salt, miso, or anything else gluten-free to add some flavor. We were told they had none. So the solution was basically: eat the sushi completely plain. For a sushi restaurant, not having gluten-free soy sauce is already surprising. Having absolutely no alternative -- not even something as basic as salt -- made the experience even worse. 2. Zero problem-solving What was more frustrating was that no one seemed interested in helping us find a solution. After we repeatedly asked about alternatives, the first server finally said they would look for some salt, but never came back with it. When a second server brought our food, we asked again and were simply told that the kitchen had no salt and no miso. No alternative was suggested. No other option was offered. Just "we don't have it." I completely understand that restaurants cannot accommodate every dietary restriction. But there is a big difference between not having a specific ingredient and making no effort to help a guest find a reasonable alternative. If you are gluten-free, I would not recommend this location. read more

I went to Sugarfish for lunch with my friend, and it was great. Simple menu. You basically choose from a set menu and everything was fresh and delicious. You can also order à la carte if you want. read more

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Years later, Sugarfish is still my favorite non-AYCE sushi spot that I keep coming back to. I introduced this restaurant to my husband and it has become his favorite as well. I am proud to say that we have become regulars here. There are many reasons why I love Sugarfish, with one of the reasons being that it has a modern, food-focused ambiance. I love the restaurant's aesthetic and interior layout, with counter seating available. The whole place feels casually sophisticated. I always recommend "The Nozawa Trust Me," set, which gives you a great bang for your buck. The assortment of sushi is just spectacular. Each item is very neatly presented and has a distinct taste. The flow and pacing of every piece of food being served is always perfect. The quality here has been consistent across every visit. I love tasting the clean, fresh flavor of the fish and seafood, especially the salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and toro. Even their warm rice is perfect for enhancing the fish flavors. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I really enjoy this sugarfish location because of the amazing service and delicious fish. Always greeted walking in and out of the restaurant, love the extra attention. The servers are always prompt brining each dish, cleaning out plates, and checking on refills. The salmon is my favorite, the texture and flavor is just excellent. I usually go for the "Trust Me", enough food and variety. Parking is conveniently across the restaurant, quick walk. Don't forget your ticket to ensure validation which gives you 50% off posted rates for the first two hours. read more

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I had another wonderful experience at Sugarfish. A big thank you to Diana and the staff for making my visit special. I came with a group to celebrate some milestones, and Diana came over to check in on us and made sure we had an enjoyable experience. The pacing of the dishes and the service was perfect. The dishes were fresh and flavorful. The only dish that was a little off that day was the eel sauce. The eel sauce at Sugarfish normally has an amazing slight bitterness from the caramelization, but there was no caramelized bitterness this time and it was instead on the salty side. Despite that, the eel was still phenomenal and the difference in sauce taste is a testament to how freshly made everything is. read more

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First time was in August and first time dinner, amazing atmosphere. We got the one of the samplers. It came with an amazing selection of very fresh fish. The fish was so fresh. The servers brought fish one at a time, it was part of the experience but it was timed very well. read more

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Consensus: Long wait time but always worth my time and money Sugarfish is my favorite non-AYCE sushi spot that provides plenty of value for what you pay for. I have gone plenty of times and I always get the "Don't Think. Just Eat. Trust Me." and it has always been worth it. For $60, you really cannot go wrong for what they offer. I recommend trying to choose dine-in over their to-go option if you have the time because the difference is night and day, but both options are good. Every time I go the consistency is pretty on par. Every piece melts in your mouth and should be enjoyed slowly. My favorite side-orders are either the Bluefin Otoro or the Bluefin Chutoro. It is very complimentary to "Don't Think. Just Eat. Trust Me." You can never go wrong with any order. I would say just limit yourself based on how much you can eat and what your wallet can support. The lighting is dark and the space inside can be small, so be prepared for that. read more

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Revisited SUGARFISH with my lovely wife and we were just as amazed as we were the first time around. We had a whole process of visiting as a guest and regardless if we were guest or not, the experience was fantastic as a whole. I'm big on sushi bars/restaurants presenting their dishes in a certain pattern/style and the speed matters as well. SUGARFISH does a great job at this as their set menus are the way to go although I see plenty going with a la carte which is also a great choice. My go to menu set here is the "Nozawa Trust Me" which has Edamame, Tuna/Chutoro Sashimi, Albacore, Salmon, & Sea Bream Rolls, Toro & Blue Crab Hand Rolls, Yellowtail & Hirame Sushi. Love their selections overall and can get you super full. They're all very delicious but my favorite has to go to the blue crab hand roll which is presented last on the menu set. Best for last as it's just super savory, melts in your mouth and has a great aftertaste, love it as a whole. Overall, a wonderful experience once again and it's say to safe that SUGARFISH is on top of my list when it comes to all time favorite restaurants. Interior is always clean and the lighting is perfect for a date. They do such a wonderful job at presenting and making their dishes. Vibes are always great and it's such a good spot for any occasion. Special shout out to the General Manager Joshua and their staff team for making the experience extra special, excited to visit again soon! read more

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Sugarfish is such a gem! I recently visited the Corona Del Mar location and had to have it again in Pasadena. My entire party ordered the Nozawa Trust Me: Edamame Tuna and Chutoro Sashimi - ponzu and chives Albacore Sushi - ponzu and chives, 2-pc Salmon Sushi - toasted sesame, 2-pc New Zealand Sea Bream* Sushi - citrus salt, 2-pc Toro Hand Roll Bluefin Otoro Sushi, 2-pc Japanese Yellowtail* Sushi - lemon, 2-pc Hirame* Sushi - yuzu ponzu, 2-pc Blue & Dungeness Crab Hand Roll This location was just as good as the Corona Del Mar one. I think that it is such a great deal for quality sushi! The restaurant is small, and they don't take reservations, so keep that in mind when visiting! read more

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I don't eat sushi too often but I had a great meal at Sugarfish. The "Trust Me" selection is pretty filling and everything tasted fresh and not too "fishy". My favorite part of the meal was that THE SEAWEED AROUND THE HAND ROLLS BREAKS CLEANLY WHEN YOU BITE INTO IT. Normally I expect the seaweed to crumple under the pressure of teeth and refuse to break, so I end up pulling a huge chunk of seaweed off, and the filling falls out.... But not here! Each one of our hand rolls had seaweed that broke away cleanly with each bite. It's such a small detail, but it was probably the most memorable and enjoyable thing to me. They have a good birthday deal, where you check in (with the restaurant staff) twice before your birthday, and you get your bday meal free! read more

my favorite sushi restaurant !!! anytime i go to a diff sushi spot i find myself thinking about sugarfish. call me basic or whatever but i think it never misses!! i LOVE the hand rolls but if im craving those specifically i'll go to kazunori for it. my favorite here are the salmon nigiri topped with sesame seeds (so good), albacore belly topped with ponzu and chives. and the toro sashimi that has extra fatty chutoro pieces sometimes. i wish they would give more of the ponzu on the side but they dont like to serve you extras on the side bc of the chef's intent on how to serve it or whatever, a trick is to save the sashimi plate with the sauce on it and don't let them take it away from you!!! i love their loyalty program where if you dine in twice or place a pick up order before your bday they'll give you a free trust me set on the day of your birthday. read more

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For the price point, hard to beat. Good quality fish at very reasonable price points. Love that they're doing well as a small chain -- their omakases are good and well-priced and love everything about it! read more

Free Trust Me on your birthday! You have to dine-in twice prior to your birthday and make sure to write 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. read more

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Always a delightful experience coming to Sugarfish by Nozawa be ready to wait at least an hour if not more during peak times the trust me is deceivingly many courses but super yummy. Really enjoyed the Seabream. read more

Sugarfish has been an LA institution since they burst onto the scene a decade ago. This Pasadena location just happened to be nearby and we decided to pop in for a late lunch after visiting the Norton Simon Museum. We parked on a side street but they have parking at the Commons structure and validate too. We walked in and asked for seating for 2 and were shown to the bar. No problem with us. We ordered the Trust Me and Trust Me Lite options, plus one order of unagi nigiri. I also ordered the sustainable sparkling water, which happened to be soda water from their soda dispenser. We were handed plates of edamame which was served cold. My husband is not a fan of soybeans so more for me. Our first plate of tuna and chutoro shashimi was the perfect start to our meal. Then came out the nigiri in rapid succession: tuna, yellowtail, salmon, sea bream, etc. The toro handroll was tasty. His blue crab handroll came out around the same time as my unagi, which was perfect. We loved that the rice was warm and that the fish was thickly sliced. The fish was so fresh! We enjoyed it immensely. Lunch was on my boss since I received a On Me gift card from the company and Sugarfish just happens to be one of the locations listed as a restaurant that accepts it. We had a lovely lunch and went in search of dessert. This location of Sugarfish is located in the Commons near Williams Sonoma in Pasadena. read more

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My party of 4 walked in and were seated right away on a Thursday evening. We all did the Trust Me set. I was able to sub out the crab hand roll for a salmon hand roll. My favorites in the set were the tuna and chutoro sashimi, salmon sushi, and toro hand roll. One thing was that the rice was pretty hot which warmed up the sashimi. I've had Sugarfish in the past and the rice was never this hot before. I definitely prefer a more room temperature rice that keeps the sashimi cooler. Overall fun experience though and service was great. Would come back! read more

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The Nozawa Trust Me, easily really filling for those that usually eat a lot. Edamame: very standard, lightly cold, lightly salted. Tuna and Chutoro Sashimi: soft paired with soysauce Albacore Sushi, ponzu with chives: My favorite between the three options. Soft and buttery. Salmon Sushi: Fresh and soft. New Zealand Sea Bream Sushi, citrus salt: Little tough and texture is like shrimp. Toro Hand Roll: Warm, seaweed fresh but not crispy. Bluefin Otoro Sushi: Buttery and so so soft. Japanese Yellowtail Sushi, lemon: buttery as well and refreshing tang with lemon. Hirame Sushi, yuzu ponzu: was a bit drenched with ponzu so it was slightly salty and sour than usual. Blue and Dungeness crab hand roll: texture is more like canned tuna. read more

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Always great experience at SugarFish !! A very fancy place. Top notch quality ingredients are used. That sushi is going to melt in your mouth. Will definitely be back for more. Thanks Evelina !!! read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had Sugarfish delivered and it was delicious. While I prefer dining in to enjoy the warm rice and fresh nori hand rolls, their delivery has been consistently solid and always hits the spot. I ordered the albacore sushi with green onions and ponzu sauce, a few orders of the fresh salmon sushi with toasted sesame, and a lobster cut roll served with soy sauce and wasabi. The albacore with green onions, ponzu, and fresh lemon was perfectly balanced. The salmon with toasted sesame and soy is my favorite here; it's so simple and absolutely delicious. Feels yummy in my body. And the lobster cut roll was a treat with its natural buttery richness. What keeps me coming back is the attention to detail. Sugarfish knows how to pair simple, quality ingredients for a totally awesome experience. The fish is excellent, and I love the clean cuts and texture of the fish along with the flavor. Everything just works together beautifully read more

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My all time favorite sushi spot. Ambiance is casual and always bustling. Service is always attentive despite being always busy. Nozawa Trust Me is always the way to go. Every single time I visit I'm blown away with their consistency. Fish is always fresh and melts in your mouth all the time. Parking can be a pain. Paid public parking across the street and if you get lucky or don't mind a longer walk, there is free street parking deeper in the neighborhood. read more

I really had a great experience here. The sushi is great and the ambience, as well as the service was really spot on. I would recommend especially for a date. read more

Let's talk about the best stuff... the food. 11/10... the "trust me" dinner option offers a wide variety of fish that are all incredibly fresh and tasty. Plates come out one by one which is helpful for digestion and making room for more (lol) So why 3 stars? Because we waited over an hour on a Thursday evening after we were told it'd be a 15 min wait. Fine.. but the hostess mentioned many tables had closed their check and were chatting.. also fine, I do that often. But at an establishment that does not offer reservations, not capping time at the table means no one will be sat in a timely fashion. We had to ask her for updates at least 3 times. Next time I rather be told up front the wait will be an hour, not 15 min. read more

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I have come here twice in the past month. This has been in my mind to go to since I saw their to go boxes trending online, but I did not expect to be so blown away by the Trust Me tasting menu. There is a bit of a wait, make sure to check in with the host before the dinner rush, I've waited 30 minutes and 1.5 hours the past two visits. Lighting is dim, there is a candle for ambiance for dinner, tables are small but fit one dish and a drink at a time. Onto the food, my pictures do not do these dishes justice but please know as someone who EXCLUSIVELY eats Yama/grocery store or AYCE sushi, the quality AND pricing of this tasting menu is insanely valuable. Tuna and Chutoro Sashimi- 10/10 perfect no notes, maybe my favorite, perfect way to start the sauce is acidic and a little sweet and cuts the fattiness of the fish well. I find it hard to not eat everything as fast as I can and savor the moment Nigiri- overall 9/10, was not a fan of the sesame on the salmon and the yellowtail wasn't exceptionally better than anything I've had before. The scallop maybe changed my life, my favorite sashimi piece and a surprising highlight Handrolls- Toro handroll 10/10 no notes wish this never ended Blue crab roll 8/10, very good but im not a big crab girl Bay Scallop Handroll 10/10 i love scallops I swapped the blue crab roll for this and ordered an additional one because it was so good "Best melt in your mouth sushi I've ever had" "Sensational" -quotes from my friends after we dined read more

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This sushi spot was quite small and had limited seating but there was indoor and outdoor seating, as well as seating at the bar Parking was challenging since they don't have their own parking lot but there was a nearby parking lot which was shared with many other businesses Service wasn't too good and not too attentive but it could be because I went on Tuesday around noon so it was pretty busy. However, I felt that service could have been better. I'm not a fan of their built-in 16% tip because I feel like service could be disappointing but I am still forced to pay 16% tip Menu had a good variety of Nigiri, hand rolls, and set meals and they were reasonably priced. Most the Nigiri were $6-$8, hand rolls were $6-$9, and cut rolls were $10-$18 Sushi sets had 4 options - - Trust Me Lite ($24) - Trust Me ($32) - Nozawa Trust Me ($40) - Don't Think, Just Eat ($60) I got the Nozawa Trust Me and it came with 10 dishes! 1) Edmamame - this didn't taste fresh and was nothing special so I just ate a few and saved room for the sushi! 2) Tuna & Chutoro Sashimi was not bad. It was a little too salty since it was drenched with soy sauce so I couldn't really taste the fish much unfortunately so this was 6/10 3) Albacore Sushi was so delicious! The fish was so fresh and didn't taste fishy. The rice was so soft and cooked perfectly. This was 9/10 4) Salmon Sushi was so good! The Salmon was so fresh and buttery. It literally melted in my mouth so this was 10/10 5) Toro Hand Roll was decent. The Toro was not bad but it didn't stand out either. The seaweed was very crispy and delicious so this was 6/10 6) Chutoro Sushi was pretty good. It was very fresh and rich in flavor! This was 8/10 7) Japanese Yellowtail Sushi was yummy! It was super fresh and buttery so this was 8/10 8) New Zealand Sea Bream Sushi was tasty. It had a subtly sweet flavor and very fresh so this was 8/10 9) Hirame Sushi was ok and was a little too salty because of the yuzu ponzu on top. The sauce was a little overwhelming so I couldn't really taste the fish so this was 6/10 10) Blue and Dungeness Crab Handroll was amazing! It was so fresh and stuffed with plenty of crab meat! The crab meat was so flavorful and delicious! This was definitely my favorite! This was 10/10 Overall, the food was incredible but the service could use some improvement! read more

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Absolutely amazing! This is our family favorite sushi joint. We love this place. No brainer sushi

The food at SUGARFISH isn't bad--it's okay--but the customer service really ruins the overall experience. The staff often seems confused, there's very little communication with customers, and they're constantly running late. You come in excited because you're craving sushi and looking forward to your food, but by the time you deal with the delays and poor service, it honestly takes away from the whole experience and even ruins the craving. read more

Tried to eat here -- they said it be 30 min to an hour so we just ordered food to go, which they said would be 10 min. 15-20 min later bar cleared up, still no food, told me it would be coming soon as more and more ppl grabbed to go food. There's like 8 open seats at the bar. Since the food hadn't arrived i asked if we could just eat at the bar -- since it still hadn't been made -- they said no lol. These guys suck. read more

Always enjoy coming to this little courtyard, such happy vibes all around here! Sugarfish hits the spot today! Everything was delish and service was great. 16% fee added to your checks for better wages = same difference as tip but as long as it goes to employee =) we're ok with that. Park in the structure and remember to validate. I think we still paid $4 parking. read more

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By far my favorite sushi restaurant EVER. Service is always great and the waiters are very attentive. I really like the mid tone lighting day or night inside. My favorite thing to order is the 'No Roll Trust Me' with salmon sashimi. I also cant have my meal without a delicious bottle of Nigori Sake. This place is my absolute favorite and I can't say enough great things about it! No other sushi restaurant can beat this one for me. I would highly recommend coming here. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Edamame - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been a loyal Sugarfish customer for years and placed a pickup order after a long day of travel. Upon arriving at home I realized that I had only been given half of my order yet was charged full price. Because I ordered through the sugarfish app, the only two support options that were available to me were calling the restaurant directly or going through ChowNow support. When you attempt to call the restaurant correctly, you just get sent to an automated phone service that doesn't allow you to connect to a real person and ChowNow support takes 3-5 business days. This is incredibly disappointing, seeing as Uber Eats and Postmates support is nearly instant. For a restaurant that makes so much money, this level of service is incredibly unacceptable read more

I brought my family here and did not have a pleasant experience. Almost the entire time we were eating, the manager was conversing with the table next to us not having any consideration for those around her. She was standing right next to my daughter where her butt was literally next to her face speaking to the guests next to us for thirty minutes. It got the point where we had to tell the manager to move because she was not aware of her surroundings. Unfortunately the manager was not apologetic either. It ruined the experience because we were not comfortable being able to just eat and enjoy our food. We have not came to this location since last year and only go to the Studio City location now. read more

Visited on a weekday evening and there was a small wait. We tried the The Nozawa Trust Me $40 and the Don't Think. Just Eat. $60. Both menus were very good! It is very dark in the restaurant and limited seats. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. If you fill out the card and visit 2x before your bday you can get a free meal on your bday! There is a mandatory service fee. There is parking validation. read more

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I think about the salmon and albacore everyday. The portions are perfect and the time between each course that comes out gives me enough time to eat! read more

Ordered Trust Me set for $36. Sushi was pricey, but fish was very fresh. They validate parking, not free though. Limited meter street parking. read more

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I've been to Sugarfish Pasadena many times, and it has never disappointed. The quality is incredibly reliable and consistent--every visit feels just as good as the last. The sushi is always fresh, beautifully prepared, and the service is consistently friendly, attentive, and efficient. It's also one of my favorite places to celebrate birthdays or other special occasions. The only downside is that there's often a long wait since they don't take reservations, but it's absolutely worth it. Once you're seated, the experience makes you forget about the time spent in line. If you're looking for consistently excellent sushi with outstanding service, Sugarfish is hard to beat read more

Sugarfish is our go-to casual sushi spot! When we lived in Orange County, the Sugarfish in Corona Del Mar was our weekly go-to. When we moved to Pasadena, we were so happy that there was a Sugarfish so close! Over the years, we've made so many great memories and fallen deeply in love with each other over many dinners at Sugarfish. We hope to always live near a Sugarfish. We love sharing with friends and family, it truly is a special place for us! read more

This was my first time at this location & the ambiance is much smaller than the other locations I've been to. Luckily, the 3 of us didn't have to wait so long. I ordered the "trust me" which is what I usually order & the price is very reasonable. The quality of fish is always fresh & the rice to fish ratio is small & perfect. I like that they serve their rice warm. I love their hand-roll. The seaweed is crisp & crunchy when you bite into their roll. It's never soggy like some of the other places I've tried. Service was great. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Trust me, you'll love this place. Haha get it. Anyways I first came here in January of 2023 and have a ritual of coming basically once a month with my best friend and sometimes I stop in more or get it to go! The warm rice and quality of the fish is unbeatable for this price in my opinion. The sushi is just good quality fish and no crazy sauces or rolls made, which honestly is why the meal feels so light and filling in a great way. I do wish you could make reservations though, but you know thankfully I'm not opposed to getting early dinner at 5 pm to not wait and thankfully the soulcycle is right next to it so you can plan it right! My personal go to order that I've gotten more times than I can count is salmon nigiri, unagi nigiri, and a yellowtail cut roll with a hot green tea! read more

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