Had a pleasant experience at Waka Sakura! We ordered multiple rounds of salmon, scallop and tuna nigiries. The fish tasted fresh and was 10x better than Kura. Our favorite were the scallop nigiries. They were soft and super fresh! The sushi rice was also fresh and paired nicely with the fish. They also had a few different cuts that I've never tried before and they were so interesting but delicious! Service was excellent. The servers there were very attentive. There is plenty of seating inside the restaurant but it does get packed during peak dining hours. There is also plenty of parking out in front as it is located inside the Tokyo Central Store. Would highly recommend! read more

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This is the kind of spot where you walk in for "a quick bite" and suddenly you're hypnotized by a conveyor belt that feels like a tiny sushi freeway. Plates zoom by like they're late for work, and you're just sitting there deciding which one has the best life insurance policy before you snatch it. The sushi is fresh, clean, and surprisingly high‑quality for a conveyor belt setup. The salmon is buttery, the seared options hit with that smoky richness, and the rolls are balanced instead of overloaded with mayo like some spots love to do. It can be Dangerous. You'll think you're done... then a dessert rolls by like, "Hey." The staff is friendly, quick, and on top of everything. They're constantly refreshing the belt, checking in, and making sure your table doesn't turn into a plate graveyard. If you order something directly, it comes out fast, like suspiciously fast, as if they knew you were going to ask. Located on the second floor of Tokyo Central, it has that casual Japanese market‑restaurant vibe. Bright, clean, and lively without being chaotic. It's family‑friendly, date‑friendly, solo‑friendly, basically everything except "I'm trying to have a deep emotional conversation" friendly. The conveyor belt steals the spotlight anyway. Watching sushi plates circle around is unintentionally hilarious. It's like a tiny parade of sashimi floats. You lock eyes with a spicy tuna roll as it passes by, miss your chance, and suddenly you're emotionally invested in its journey. And when you finally grab it? Victory. Pure victory. This place is fun, tasty, and easy on the eye to pick delicious plates. Perfect for casual sushi cravings with a side of entertainment. If you're in Gardena or already shopping at Tokyo Central, it's a no‑brainer stop. Miguel C. read more

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The best sushi always have the best and flavorful sushi rice. This place nailed the basic down. Pretty high quality cut of fish on a well seasoned bed of rice. What more can you ask for. The fish has jelly like texture not too soft like other restaurant. An indicator of fresh fish. Their seared fish just top tier cant beat this. Also they are in the biggest tokyo central!!! What best place on earth. Service super fast, restaurant always clean and just a very japan feeling. Cant say enough good things about this place. read more

Love that the restaurant is conveniently located above a large Japanese market. Service is as expected where the waitresses will check in occasionally but you can order everything yourself. Between the parties, we liked the salmon way better! When it comes to both affordable and quality salmon, Waka is high on the list. read more

Waka Sakura - Tuna party - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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First time having revolving sushi outside of Japan and absolutely loved my experience here. Not only was the sushi good but just getting your sushi on the revolving conveyor made it feel like I was back visiting Japan. Be careful to check how much you ordered because it adds up really really fast. We started off with some fatty tuna, salmon nigiri, scallop and squid. All really good quality, the rice had was already marinated with some soy sauce as it looked on the darker side. Obviously the salmon and fatty tuna just melts in your mouth. I tried the wagyu beef with salt sauce and it was good but I thought it was more on the expensive side than the others. A sleeper roll I had was their Rainbow roll! It was so good and better than most rainbow rolls I've had. I ordered two of these and would come back just for this. Waka Sakura was very clean and also the staff was helpful with all of our questions! read more

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Waka Sakura is the sushi place that's hidden inside the Tokyo Central in Gardena. It was so popular that they opened a second location in Irvine. Since it opened in 2024, I've come back several times. I'm not sure if there is still long wait times on the weekends, but I love coming here for weeknight dinner. Sushi quality is quite good, but I also wouldn't say that it's cheap. For a filling meal, I usually like to order their sets, which are costing about $11-$15 for 4-6 pieces. I get their tuna set and their salmon set. If I'm still hungry, then I'll get a roll. Today I got a california roll that was topped with seared salmon. My splurge here is their seared wagyu with salt sauce, which is a great final bite. The added bonus in coming here is that I can buy some great Japanese bentos and pantry staples at Tokyo Central afterward! read more

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Fresh seafood and the price is decent. Some options were a little pricey, but they offered combo nigiri's that gave you a variety of options which I thought was fun. They didn't have much options for rolls like your average conveyor belt. Their fish to rice ratio was good though. You got to order from either your phone using a QR code or their tablet so it does take a minute to retrieve your order. Overall it was delicious and a fun experience since it's on the second floor of Tokyo central, but if you're looking for variety, I would try a different place read more

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First off, love that it's in the middle of an asian grocery store because you have a built in activity for after you finish eating But also the food was so yummy. Great portions for shareable appetizers - we got shishito peppers and spicy edamame. Especially liked the edamame it was so flavorful but i didnt get a pic. I'd recommend getting the salmon and tuna sampler plates (forgot the exact names) but you get a variety of options and you can share with the table. Also i love that they flavor the rice, it adds a little flair that makes it stand out. The handroll was good but nothing special. Price was SO good for the amount we ordered. About 35 per person and we were stuffed. The service was also great, they were constantly checking on us and we were immediately seated! Vibe was also better than I expected considering its just a revolving sushi bar type place. Nothing special but since it has its own floor in the grocery store it feels more elevated than it is. read more

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This place has become a family favorite. Ordering process is very efficient using their tablet menu. Fresh and delicious food comes quick. What surprised me the most is the price. Very good value for your money. The bonus is it is inside Tokyo Central. You can buy your Japanese products while you wait for your table or after you eat. read more

Memorial Day Weekend and the best part? Tables were available and our tummies were ready!! Located on the second floor of Tokyo Central, it's a IYKYK type of establishment. WAKA Sakura specializes in made to order sushi and high quality sashimi. The conveyor belt stops the order at the right table and you place your order on ipad like screen. From the ginger on the table, the fresh grinded wasabi, to the discount on the salmon, we were feasting good! The table ordered an array of things to try: 1. Salmon Collar 2. Sashimi Platter 3. Eel Sushi 4. Tomago Sushi 5. Spicy Tuna Roll 6. Spicy Tuna Hand Roll 7. Green Dragon Roll 8. Blue Fin Tuna Sushi Everything was so tasty and drool worthy. I love the quality of their rice and the flavors were on point! Highly recommend WAKA Sakura, it's a foodie destination for sure! read more

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Finally got a chance to try Waka Sakura, and it was such a fun experience! We stopped by on a Friday afternoon after 2 p.m. and were pleasantly surprised there was no wait. The conveyor belt dining was entertaining--we kept ordering just so we could watch the dishes make their way and stop at our table. The food was fresh, tasty, and there was a great variety to choose from. Between the good food and the novelty of the experience, we had a great time. We left full, happy, and definitely amused. Looking forward to coming back! read more

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Waka Sakura is located on the second floor of Tokyo Central, and it ended up being a great spot for a quick sushi fix. We came on a Sunday and were surprised that there was no wait at all. We were seated immediately, and the service throughout our meal was excellent. This is conveyor belt sushi, but instead of grabbing random plates, the sushi comes out on the conveyor belt after you place your order. We tried several nigiri including the salmon, whelk, and yellowtail, along with a few hand rolls. The fish tasted fresh and was better quality than I expected for the price point. One thing that caught my attention was the rice since it has a brownish color, but I believe it's actually white rice. Whatever they're doing, it tasted great and paired well with the fish. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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Overpriced, slow, raw chicken and annoying menu screen that'll tire out your arm before getting to see half the menu. Currently writing this while everything i ate is coming out of both ends. Everybody told me to stay away but curiosity killed the cat. Not to mention it took 10 minutes from sitting down to get our drinks. Restaurant was basically empty too. read more

Waka Sakura - Raw chicken karaage - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

Im really disappointed in my first experience here. I was so excited to solo dine :( To be clear, the service was good. My host was nice and helpful. I first ordered the tuna roll, and that had a great, fresh taste. Miso soup was ok, just like what you'd find at your average sushi spot. I moved onto the tuna nigiri combo. The seared one was the only one I liked. The rest of the pieces had a very fishy, bad taste. I didn't expect to find that here :/ I ordered the roll again and a pair of seared salmon hoping I'd find something different. This time the roll had a fishy taste and the seared salmon had a very strong fishy, bad taste despite it being seared! Crossing my fingers I won't get sick. Overall, one of my worst sushi experiences in years. I'm hoping it was just a bad day and I was unlucky but I'm surprised to see how great the reviews are. I won't be spending my money here again but I hope they can improve their quality control and consistency! read more

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This restaurant is located inside of Tokyo Central on the second floor. I was surprised that the revolving bar just doesn't have sushi rolling around. Instead you order on the tablet and everything gets made to order. The workers were very nice and provided good service. The sushi quality was solid and quite affordable. We came here for a light dinner and it was perfect. The steamed egg was not my favorite, t's on the fishy/sweet side. We came on a weekend dinner and the wait was about 15-20 minutes. The restaurant looks more spacious than I was expecting. ig: @cravingswithcat read more

Waka Sakura - Spicy Tuna Tempura, Poke, Seaweed Salad, Dragon Roll, Shrimp Tempura, Steamed Egg, Tuna Tataki (ig: @cravingswithcat) - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

While restaurants inside grocery stores are nothing new in SoCal, Waka Sakura stands out with its unexpected location on the second floor of Tokyo Central, and with its curated selection of high-quality sushi and Japanese fare. In the style of Kura, dishes are delivered via conveyor belt directly to your table. However, this is a much more premium experience. There are no rewards for number of plates eaten. Only the reward of extremely fresh and carefully prepared ingredients. Staff are friendly and helpful. Families are welcome; booster seats are available and there is a kids menu. We have been several times, and the experience is consistently top tier. Stop by the Tokyo Central arcade (also upstairs) on your way in or out for some prize machine action. There is elevator access to the second floor as well as the main stairs. read more

Waka Sakura - Salmon Party - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

Honestly, this place wasn't too bad for conveyor belt sushi! It's not one of those places where premade sushi is constantly circling around. Instead, you order everything through an iPad, and the sushi gets delivered directly to your table on the conveyor belt. We ordered a little bit of everything, and the fish tasted good and fresh. One downside is that if you want extra wasabi, you have to pay for it. The complimentary portion they give you at the beginning is also pretty small. I also wish the servers had refilled our waters more often, but it is what it is. I liked that the restaurant is located inside the market because there was a wait when we first arrived. We were able to walk around, browse the market, and kill some time until our seats were ready. Overall, it was a decent sushi experience, and I wouldn't mind coming back if I was in the area. read more

I had a really fun experience at Waka Sakura in Gardena. It's a conveyor-style sushi spot, but you don't actually grab anything off the belt. Everything is ordered from the iPad at your table, and your dishes get delivered right to you on the belt system. It's quick, smooth, and honestly pretty entertaining to watch. It is a bit on the pricey side for what you get but if you're looking for a lighter meal or want to control exactly how much you eat, it actually works really well. Service is minimal since everything is automated, but the system is easy to use and food comes out fast. The place was also clean and well organized. Overall, a fun, modern sushi experience! read more

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This is by FAR my favorite sushi spot in all of Southern California. The sushi is always incredibly fresh and delicious, and the service is consistently top-notch. I also love that it's located above Tokyo Central; it's perfect for taking a break before or after a shopping trip!! Some of my go-to items are the yuzu cheesecake with vanilla ice cream (so good!) and the tuna hand roll. On this visit, my boyfriend and I ordered a variety of dishes to share, and everything was fantastic. The atmosphere really adds to the experience. The lighting is warm and cozy, and the space feels both clean and authentic. They also serve really flavorful wasabi, which is a nice touch. I keep coming back to Waka Sakura again and again bc it NEVER disappoints. read more

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Was visiting my sister in the area and decided to have a late lunch with my husband. We both wanted sushi and needed to go grocery shopping so ended up here. Once we arrived, we were seated right away since there was no wait. We ordered on the tablet and food came out instantly on the belt. We ended up ordering spicy scallop sushi, salmon sushi, california hand roll, salmon california roll, as well as the assorted seared salmon and scallop sushi. The food was absolutely amazing although service was okay. We had to wait for sauce plates and ask for refills quite frequently. Would recommend this place if you're looking for something fast although wait times could be long when it's busy! read more

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Finally found the time to visit the conveyor belt sushi a lot of my friends have been raving about. After a short wait, we were taken to our table and to my surprise, this wasn't like the usual conveyor belt sushi where food is always on the belts. It was more like, use the iPad to choose your items and then they were scurried over to you on the conveyor belt directly. A little misleading from my friends but nonetheless I think I prefer this better. The sushi was freshly made and the quality was really good given the average prices. My favorite things here were definitely the salmon and yellowtail cuts. The fried salmon collar was also to die for and would definitely be back just for that. Overall, a great experience and a not so hidden hidden gem has been found and added to my go to sushi spots. If you are in the area and are looking for some good sushi at reasonable prices, come give this place a try! read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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This place was good. Their sashimi is good. I like that they sell rolls by the six but sometimes it can be dangerous because cost can add up. read more

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This is a good conveyor belt sushi restaurant located inside the Tokyo Central market. The food is freshly made and service is great.

i've had this spot bookmarked forever but never tried because i'm not really in the area too often -- but my boyfriend and i tried recently because we were near LAX. even before closing it was still pretty packed! had high expectations. we ordered salmon, tuna, yellowtail (our fav), wagyu, and other varieties with different sauces. all in all, affordable and fresh. it wasn't mind blowing or anything, but i did love it read more

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Cool little spot inside the market for som decent sushi. Once you get over the gimmick of the food being delivered right to your booth, you realize the sushi isn't anything special and the prices are a little high for what it actually is. I do really appreciate that they use legit wasabi, but other than that this place doesn't do much for me. The staff is friendly enough and it's a good spot for a quick lunch, but there are plenty of better sushi options in the area. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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I've been to Tokyo Central Gardena many times before and usually I eat at their food court area. I wonder if I've just missed the stairway upstairs to the second floor where Waka Sakura is located. I have shopped in grocery many times, but I don't ever remember a second floor. I only learned about it when my niece told me about it. We were in the Lomita, Torrance, Gardena area, so I figure to finally try Waka Sakura to get some sushi. TBH I didn't get to do my usual Yelp research, so I didn't know what to expect of this sushi place. I did like that besides the tablet on top at the table, you can scan the code and use your phone which personally I found it easier to use instead of the tablet because it was a hard reach for me to place orders on the tablet. I have to say the service was really good. You would think service should be good at a conveyor sushi restaurant especially since you order on the tablet and it comes directly to your table. As that is true, the orders come quickly, but the servers were very attentive to refilling drinks, clearing plates that were empty and great to answering questions. I have a food allergy, do when I asked the server, she quickly went to verify to double check before I placed the order. The one complaint I have is that they do have a variety of options, but if there is something you want that is not on the menu, they cannot make it for you. For example if I was at my sushi restaurant where I can communicate with the chef, I can ask if he can make a certain handroll or make a cut roll into a hand-roll. I asked the server if they could make an eel hand roll for me since they have a similar cut roll. She said no. If it's not offered on the menu, then it's not available. The nice stand out feature of Waka Sakura is the quality of ingredients, the quality of the fish and seafood, the the high end options that you would not usually see in a restaurant style such as this The big question is, would I eat here again? My honest answer is yes I could, however I would rather try other Japanese Sushi restaurants in the area that might accommodate my cravings. read more

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I was really excited to try this since I had a great experience at the one in Irvine. They have an extensive menu ranging from rolls to sashimi to nigiris. I love how they have mini party packs (salmon, tuna, & wagyu). I brought my friends here since everyone was picky about the type of fish they wanted. My friends liked how the market was right outside too, allowing us to get a sweet treat from here afterwards. I got the salmon party while my friends ordered some hand rolls, nigiris, salmon and eel rolls, tuna set, and shrimp. Everyone enjoyed every piece and even ordered more of their first order! We were all quite happy and satisfied. It was so good that I brought my boyfriend back the next week! He was also very impressed with the quality and freshness of each piece. He preferred this location over the one at Irvine. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend this to others who want to experience a "revolving sushi bar." read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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The food was great! Fresh! The service was good- they kept picking up empty plates. The wait was not long. The wagyu was okay, but tuna, salmon, and yellowtail were all great. Dessert was also good. read more

Waka Sakura - Wagyu - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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2nd floor of Tokyo central market. Nigiri was fresh and delicious, will def be back. All the items came out on the belt without too much delay and our server was very kind. I love the chili oils on the rolls, something you don't see very often in sushi places. Their nigiri is preseasoned which is interesting. The fresh wasabi they give you does elevate the taste as well. Waited around 20 minutes on a Sunday night, sign up for their waitlist only in person unfortunately. Ambience is good for casual outings or dates, the interior is wood heavy and minimal. The only inconvenience is having their order tablet so high up. Thankfully you can just order in your phone with a QR code but the tablet is annoying to look at and lags when you scroll. read more

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Such a fun place, made me feel like I was in Japan again! The digital ordering screen is easy and the conveyer belt is fast, great prices all around. The fish was really good, very thick slices, and so many options. There was a short wait, but it's fun to walk around the Japanese grocery store while you do wait. Will definitely come back again! read more

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This is a hidden gem, tucked upstairs the Tokyo central market (the elevator is on the left side of the market). As pictured, we ordered a little bit of everything- sushi, hand rolls, and sashimi. It's not the cheapest place but definitely fair and worth the quality. Between the two people, we spent about 85 dollars. Our favorite was the yellow tail, sashimi platter and handroll. Would definitely come back. read more

Waka Sakura - Yellow tail, albacore and sweet shrimp - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

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The best value for quality and price of sushi. I can get high quality sushi and leave stuffed with a $50-60 bill pp. My go-to place for a nice treat-yourself-meal. It's quiet, neat, and service is courteous. read more

This trendy sushi bar has a conveyer belt. That's it's big hook 1- food Top tier sushi, very fresh BUT they use brown rice and the portions are a bit small and the prices are a bit high and they charge for extra wasabi 2- ambiance Who doesn't enjoy watching the conveyer belt? BUT it's not a true Japanese Kaitenzushi as you order individually as opposed to pay by the plate It is on the second floor of the Tokyo market. Fun for the novelty. Would I go again ? Meh. read more

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I come here multiple times each month, and have been since coming here for the first time. I absolutely adore it and love that it can fill two of us up for only about $60-80 for great quality fish. Among my many visits, only one has been a little disappointing which was the one time we went as soon as it opened ~ it may have been leftover cuts which weren't as fresh/nicely presented. However, we knew that all the previous visits were more than enough to prove their quality since the taste was still pretty much the same. This will continue to be my go-to spot for satisfying a sushi craving that is affordable for its quality and just beyond great on the usual. Genuinely, I have not found a spot with such consistently buttery, generous, and delicious fish as nice as this one. My number one. Wait times used to be longer but if you miss the meal times, we are typically seated immediately. If you are faced with a long wait time and don't really know what you can do while waiting, it's a perfect spot to walk around in the meantime. The albacore garlic chip nigiri, scallop nigiri, and spicy tuna topped bluefin tuna rolls are my absolute favorites. read more

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Located on the second floor of Tokyo Central market, this is a small location. Ordering is by the tablet over the conveyor belt or on your phone. Using your phone is much easier than the tablet. Staff is very friendly and attentive, food is delicious and comes fast. Prices are average for the area, quality of the food is very high. Dinner for 2 with tax and tip $67.00. No wait for seating on a Tuesday evening. Highly recommend. read more

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Are conveyor belt sushi places still a thing? This place is kinda like it. The difference is you order on the iPad or scan the QR code on your phone and it's sent to you once it made on the conveyor belt. This place has been around about a year and it sits in the second floor of Tokyo Central. It's kind of cool because you really don't need a server. But there is someone that seats you and checks in on you. Anyway, the food here is good. I think it's good quality. The fish is fresh and the Wagyu beef melts in your mouth. I love the yuzu cheesecake because it's not overly sweet. I'll come back here for sure. read more

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One of my favorite go to sushi places to eat at. The brown rice is soft, moist & delicious here. The wasabi is of great quality & very subtle, it doesn't go straight into your nose as the others do. This location is the newer location vs the one in Gardena (OG location) Favorites here: Eel Salmon Roe Sweet shrimp Seaweed salmon assorted Scallop lover Salmon hand roll Very kid friendly place. Service can be slow at times just use the service button on kiosk / app. Tip: don't go during rush hour, go in between so you don't have to wait like crazy. read more

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I don't normally love revolving sushi bars, but I was impressed by the quality and taste of this one! I believe their sushi was cooked with vinegar or soy sauce to give it some extra flavor, which it did! The Wagyu Nigiri came in a 3 piece for only $14! That's impossible to beat especially for how good the taste was. The mixed salmon nigiri was also a great deal and generous with portion size. I ordered a sushi roll that was similar to a spicy tuna and crunchy roll combined. This was amazing and I'd definitely order again. The overall human interaction was very minimal as you order on a screen and the revolver brings your food around. read more

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Tried Waka Sakura for the first time and absolutely loved it! We went early on a weeknight so we were sat immediately but I can imagine on a weekend needing to be patient. It's on the second floor of the Tokyo Central market which is impressive in of itself. Servers were still attentive even though it was conveyor sushi. Sushi came out fresh and delicious, I love the unique rice they use. Great value as well! I'd be back here more often if I lived closer. Absolutely worth it! read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California

This isn't a place you stumble into. It's a place you're meant to find. Upstairs, past the aisles of pure Japanese ingredients, there's a table waiting. And it's worth the climb. The sushi is the real deal. Profoundly fresh and you can taste the quality in every piece. It's Japanese preparation that doesn't need to announce itself; it just read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Gardena, California