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    Sushi Karen

    4.8 (252 reviews)
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Sushi Karen Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI KAREN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Quiet

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Karen

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    Jason Y.

    Awesome sushi spot. Tried it during Covid when dine in wasn't allowed. Very fresh. Will go dine in soon.

    Unagi
    Kristine L.

    I've been wanting to come here forever since I live so close but I always forget to make reservations. I finally was able to snag one with one of my best friends and we came on a Wednesday around 7pm. There's a free parking lot available as needed. It is a really small establishment with approx 5-6 small tables and when we arrived it didn't appear that they utilize the sushi bar area. We got seated at a small table. I thought about the omakase but didn't think I would finish so opted to share some apps and order some sushi a la carte. The soft shell crab was actually served in pieces which I usually don't see but it meant every piece was crispy so that was pretty good. We also split the miso glazed cod which tasted very fresh and had great flavor. The service was decent, nothing too stand out and I wouldn't recommend cominf here if you are looking for an upscale "experience" or trendy ambiance. It is very no frills and I don't mean that negatively. The sushi was good but I don't know if it's anything that was particularly memorable. Since they don't take reservations online I'm not sure if I would make the effort since there's so many other great spots. I also really like the sushi bar experience to chat with the chefs and just have a good time so this was not really the place for me.

    Red Snapper Carpaccio
    Jacky H.

    What a cute family-owned, mom-and-pop shop! The restaurant is small and intimate, with limited seating. The host was incredibly hospitable, and I highly recommend calling ahead to make a reservation. We ordered two omakase courses. One of the courses included sushi rolls and was shareable, so there's no need to order the same omakase course for everyone at your table. We decided to pair our omakase with sake, and the chef recommended the Mizubasho Junmai Daiginjo. It's a dry and smooth sake that paired beautifully with everything we had. The omakase course included kanpachi, red snapper carpaccio, albacore, eel, Spanish mackerel, red snapper nigiri, salmon belly, scallop, sea urchin, sweet shrimp, yellowtail belly, and seared salmon belly. I'm not sure if the sushi roll changes daily, but tonight's roll was blue crab. It wasn't bad at all! Everything was fresh, delicious, and packed with umami. Sushi Karen offers excellent value. I highly recommend it for their omakase course, especially if you're looking for high-quality, top-notch sushi at an affordable price. Unlike many omakase restaurants that require a reservation months in advance or even a deposit, Sushi Karen is much more accessible. The pricing was affordable, no deposit was required, and we were able to book a reservation just a week in advance.

    Salmon skin salad
    Ves S.

    Call ahead for reservations! There are only about 4 tables or so, so they may not be able to accommodate walk ins. We got the omakase for one and a salmon skin salad and salmon shioyaki meal. Based on the price difference we thought the sale would be single but it's quite large! The shioyaki also had generous amounts of meat. The Omakase for one is a good tasting experience, starting with two carpaccios then ten pieces of quality nigiri. We enjoyed the salmon belly and unagi, but all were delicious. Parking available in lot.

    Haena S.

    We always drove by wondering how the sushi was here and finally tried this place after successfully making a reservation. They get booked quickly on the weekends. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the omakase was. My husband was BLOWN away by the muscat dessert at the end.

    Katherine S.

    We made a reservation for dinner on a Thursday around 6pm and got seated right away. It is an extremely inconspicuous place with only a few tables inside so definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time! We ordered the assorted sushi dinner and two oysters. Everything was soooo good that I forgot to take pictures of a couple nigiri. Everything tastes fresh and like what other reviewers said, you do get BIG pieces fish!!! I love how flavorful each piece is but the sauce/dressing doesn't overpower the freshness of the fish. The oysters are AMAZING - must try! You can either get it with rice or just on its own. Service was amazing and there is a parking lot but it might get packed. They also do not offer takeout / to-go currently. Highly highly recommend! Give it a try and you won't be disappointed!

    Yellowtail sushi
    Daniel J.

    Authentic and high-quality sushi and sashimi. While it is a small venue, all the sushi and sashimi were very fresh and delicious. Highly recommend.

    Simple sushi items menu
    Nelson H.

    I was being very lucky without a reservation and able to get a seat on the weekend night!!! Thanks for sushi Karen and Chef!! Best of the best quality fishes so freshly, delicious and mild in the mouth!! Especially Amber Jack, Scallop, Yellowtail and Yellowtail Belly!! Unagi water eel is so incredible good size portion!! All those selections of sashimi cappuccino are so good!!! I picked Amber Jack - Kanpachi spicy Jalapeño Citrus .... Services were quick enough, by looking at the chef making all those sushi n sashimi... it's a Art ... the knife technique skills!! So cool!!! Definitely recommend!! I do and definitely suggest all customers to make reservations before arrival and make some arrangements ahead. This's a small mom n pop restaurant that not really good for a big group, it's best for 2-4 people in a party... Here is running by a older Japanese couple and they are very into Japanese traditional culture, being patient after you ordered and enjoy Chefs knife cutting skills!!

    Appetizer shrimp tempura 12.00
    Toma C.

    This place has really fresh fish and make their sushi rolls to perfection. The spoiler and tempura roll was delicious. It was a good ratio of rice and filling. Not much wasabi if you like that ask for more. The shrimp tempura is light and crispy. One of my favorite places for tempura. However today may be a bad day for them it was slightly greasy tasting. See my photos for what we got. My favorite is the scallops and eel.

    Heidi B.

    Love this place. We had such an amazing experience here and do plan to come again soon. If you can order their chef's choice. It's so worth it. I don't even want to tell you the dishes that we had because it should be a surprise. If you are a foodie and love to try new this, you will love it. The money is well worth it for the quality of the food alone. I just really love local places like this. Our waitress was adorable and personable. We had a little running joke at our table where she would let me know if it was ok to put soy sauce on the dish or not. Which, I greatly appreciated! This place is not meant for large groups however. I think 4-5 people max since this place is a bit on the smaller side. With how small it is, the owners know how to utilize the place, and it was quite intimate and private. Friends on the larger side may have some issues with navigating, it's not impossible, just takes a bit. Overall. Take the time to make an appointment here. Sushi Karen is amazing and deserves it for all the time and effort they put into their business!

    Some of the courses from the omakase dinner

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Call ahead to make reservations for weekend. Arrived with a fully booked sign posted.

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    1 year ago

    This is a small place. Only one server and one chef. I think they are couple. The food is authentic n fresh

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    8 months ago

    Absolute perfection, no notes. Call ahead to reserve since the place is small they don't really do walkins.

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    1 year ago

    Great quality! Would recommend sushi or sashimi so you can taste that quality fish. Don't forget to make a reservation.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Sushi Karen

    Can you do gluten free a la carte or omakase? Thank you so much!

    The chef has prepared his own way, double check when you order

    How much is the omakase?

    96.00 omakase , the food and service is great . The chief is super nice . Also top notch .

    What are the hours/days are they open?

    It varies and as of today (9/3/22), this place is reservation only. We tried to walk in and there are signs on the door stating as much.

    Is this place still open?

    Yes. They are back. The restaurant is open again. Please visit the restaurant. Thank you.

    View All 6 Questions

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    This place is worth your buck !!!…read more The staff was very attentive and pleasant. Feels like the customers were mainly locals. The fish to rice ratio was insane. We ordered just a few things to try. The hamachi collar was super yummy. I would order it again. Shrimp tempura roll was very good. Not overly saucy and very filling. The yellow tail that came in the sushi combo A was the star of the show. I would order the yellow tail without any hesitation over and over again. The tuna was equally as delicious. I'm not one for salmon or the other options but my boyfriend says they were equally as good. The toro: super fatty. Solid portion we would order it again. We'll be back. I know South pas has a solid sushi selection I highly recommend giving this place a try!

    The staff in this place is so kind, polite, and just lovely. I live down the street and have such a…read moregreat experience every time I walk in. I haven't dined in yet, though on my list to do just because the positives vibes this amazing restaurant has. As for food, 10 of 10 recommend. Orders are always correct. We're ordering different things all the time and I've yet to dislike a single thing. The sushi is soooooooo yummy. For door dash, they sort the food by the group order. My daughter's name is Lotus and they always draw a flower on the top. It's little details like this that tell me the people preparing this food care about it and the customers they serve. If you haven't eaten here, don't hesitate. It will become a staple you order over and over again and tell all your friends about.

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    Sushi Enya - Pasadena - Enya's Special Hand Roll

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    4.1(954 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Downtown
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    Grab-and-go

    The quality of the fish is exceptional. The selection is amazing…read more Laura is very knowledgeable and friendly. We went there without any reservations, and waited outside before they opened. Parking wasn't too difficult. Overall a great experience, hope to visit this place again once we are in the neighborhood.

    Overpriced and unprofessional. The shop was empty, and we should have taken that as a warning…read more The fish quality is not good enough to warrant these prices; the ootoro in particular was especially disappointing. We ordered multiple nigiris, rolls, and appetizers for our table. The servers and staff seemed to not communicate with each other, leading to slow and sloppy service. The nigiris came out much later than the rolls and the bowls, to the point where half of our party was done eating before the first nigiri plate came out. In fact, the service was so slow that the servers started to clear our plates while we were waiting for them to bring out our food The servers were awkwardly clashing plates at our table and being difficult about refilling the water and tea. After dropping $800+ as a table, we were waiting on one last nigiri (Yellowtail Belly) to come out. We asked our waiter to check on it for us, and he came back to us saying it should have been on the plate that had the other Yellowtail Nigiri on it. The reason why we brought this up in the first place is because the two didn't come out together. He then brings another waitress who tells us it should have come out already, and then another who tells us completely different information (i.e. it came out with different fish). Overall an unpleasant experience. Would not be back again nor would I recommend this place to anyone, especially since they made such a big deal out of $10 nigiri on a $800 bill.

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    Can't take my eyes of you!

    Sushi Enya - Pasadena - Omakase at Sushi Enya Pasadena / Los Angeles with the best fishes we get from Japan

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    KAVIAR Restaurants - Salmon Carpaccio

    KAVIAR Restaurants

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
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    •$$$$

    An unforgettable dining experience from beginning to end!…read more Our little one woke up one morning and announced that she wanted to try caviar, so we found Kaviar in Pasadena because they offer a true caviar service complete with all the traditional accoutrements. Chris was our server, and he was absolutely fantastic. He made us feel genuinely welcomed, anticipated everything we needed, and turned our daughter's first caviar experience into such a special memory. She especially loved the dramatic cold fog rising from the ice, and needless to say, she is now officially in love with caviar! We ordered the: * 50g caviar service (ten out of ten, no notes) * shishito peppers (the sauce is out of this world) * uni pasta (the heavy cream is divine) * Wagyu strip loin steak (melts in your mouth) * baked lobster roll signature roll (pure decadence) * blue crab and salmon signature sashimi (rich, silky, and incredibly fresh) * albacore crispy onion signature sashimi (fireworks in every bite) * garlic albacore signature roll (so good, we forgot to talk) Every single dish was outstanding. We honestly couldn't choose a favorite or even rank them. The flavors were so fresh, balanced, and beautifully executed that we didn't even reach for the soy sauce. Before we left, we also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Tigran. He took our family photo, personally walked us out, and made us feel incredibly special. That level of hospitality stayed with us just as much as the food. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, chic, stylish, and perfect for a special occasion, while still feeling warm and inviting. We were still talking about the meal the entire drive home. Exceptional food, exceptional service, and an experience our family will always remember. We cannot wait to return!

    I've been meaning to try Kaviar for a while and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more The first thing I noticed was just how fresh everything tasted. The sashimi was easily the highlight of the meal. Every piece had great texture and clean flavor, and you could tell they weren't trying to hide the quality behind heavy sauces. The shishito peppers were another surprise favorite. Super addictive and probably one of the first things I'd order again. I also had the hamachi kama. The fish itself was cooked perfectly and stayed incredibly moist. My only small complaint is that I wish the skin had been a little crispier. I always end up picking at the crispy bits, so I was hoping for a little more there. The presentation was beautiful without feeling over the top, service was attentive throughout dinner, and the atmosphere made it easy to slow down and enjoy the meal. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Overall: 5/5

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    4.7(421 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    The ramen is crreamy and rich w beautiful juices thst stick to the spoon. Yum. The hand rolls are…read moresimple but taste amazing. The fish is really fresh like its swimming in the mouth. Best japanese flavors in pasadena for sure.

    This "sniffs in" at 4.5 stars…read more.. Helpful and kind STAFF. Restaurant also has the name "Izakaya" per indoor signage. Very open and spacious authentic Japanese design without being overly traditional. They have small art pieces for sale on the walls. SALMON SASHIMI: -- big thick fat slices of pristine salmon -- wedge of lime gets utilized; nice touch -- $17 for 4 pieces is no bargain but the slices are thick enough to be two pieces at some sushi joints and this quality is "A" grade -- very tender, not next level tender RATING = A- The wife got the HAMACHI KAMA COLLAR FISH (yellowtail?) and was a fan. It looked good. The yellow thin creamy sauce was great. Citrusy? Familiar taste of sorts. SEARED SCALLOP SUSHI: -- good smoke, not great smoke -- nice texture -- $7 for one piece is hefty for sushi RATING = A- GARLIC SALMON HAND ROLL: -- garlic pop errs on underdone but that is safer RATING = A CHIARASHI DON BOWL was a wife order. Very appealing visually and she downed it. REAL CRAB HAND ROLL: -- A little simple and flat but solid RATING = A- or B+ GARLIC SEARED SALMON SUSHI: -- creamy wasabi sauce on it; visually appealing and equally delicious RATING = A+

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    Spacious interior

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