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    Waka Sakura

    4.3 (687 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Waka Sakura Photos

    Business Info

    WAKA SAKURA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Waka Sakura

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    Nick C.

    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.

    Agnes N.

    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."

    Miso Soup with Tofu and Seaweed $3.99
    Rangie T.

    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.

    Seating
    Hawnii S.

    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.

    Yellow tail, albacore and sweet shrimp
    Ginna S.

    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.

    Ready to drink sign
    Paul C.

    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.

    Rachel Z.

    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.

    Miso
    Jim E.

    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.

    Hope L.

    I went wakasakuraa and it was crowded but service was quick and friendly I liked salmon and scallops I will come back again and will be regular customer

    Kayla U.

    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!

    John C.

    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

    Ginger and squeeze soy sauce
    Kimmi C.

    Clean and quick service on a weekday. Much better than Kura revolving sushi but still not my first choice. The rice it red due to the red sushi vinegar they use. The food was good but nothing stood out. I would give it another try to try other items but I was not too impressed my first time.

    Salmon party
    Coco V.

    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.

    Shishito peppers and edamame

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    Page 1 of 18

    Waka Sakura Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Waka Sakura

    Do they have high chairs for babys?

    They might have...not so sure. Pls call them

    Do they take reservations?

    They do not. The wait isn't long if you go slightly before lunch or dinner rush hours.

    What kind of salmon do they use?

    Idk. It's hard to say nowadays for Sushi restaurants because fresh wild caught Atlantic salmon is expensive and tastes a little more fishy than farmed. So if I may speculate I think it's farmed because I make sashimi out of the Atlantic farmed… Read more

    Does this sushi restaurant offer gift certificates or gift cards?

    Unfortunately they don't for now. Hopefully they will in the future.

    Is there beer and sake now?

    Yes

    Thinking about going on a Saturday around 12-12:30pm, 2 people. Are wait times, on average, still crazy? Thank you to those who respond.

    If you're going on the weekend, I recommend going an hour before it opens and wait. The lines are still crazy long.

    How do seat if you have a party of 5 people?

    The booths only have space for 4 medium sized adults. The only way you could have a larger party is to seat seperately.

    Does all the sushi have wasabi or is spicy?

    IIRC, none have wasabi, you add it on your own. There are some spicy dishes, but you order what you want. If you don’t like spicy, then order something else.

    Can you order take out?

    Only dine in

    Can u dine in solo?

    Yes

    Does anyone know typical time for the lunch rush on a Tuesday?

    Shouldn't be rush on typical lunch time, even during busiest, wait time was only about 20 min. : )

    Do they serve alcohol or can you bring your own?

    At this time, they can not serve alcohol. They have applied for a license to do so. Check back soon!

    Can you modify the sampler sets? I.e. ask for things without spicy mayo?

    You can always flag down a server and ask. Im sure they can do that.

    Do they have Gift Cards?

    No they don't have it . Also they can't accept reservation

    Is there bathroom upstairs?

    yes, there were 3, one was handicap size. But i think the two were unisex? But yes, just right of the counter where you check in are the bathrooms.

    Is the fish wild or farmed?

    Some for sure farmed fishes nowadays is the salmon, yellowtail, ive seen some tuna species succesfully farmed, shellfish, oysters, uni. The better places are selective and order fresh fish from around the world but no matter what sushi place you… Read more

    When are the slowest times to dine here? Days and times?

    Weekdays after 2pm before 4 pm

    Do they do takeout?

    No..they only have dine in

    Do you accept reservation?

    There is no phone reservation or online waitlist. To place yourself in the queue there is an iPad on the second floor right infront of the entrance where you put your name, number of party, and phone number.

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    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Umami Oil Seared Beef Nigiri #yummy

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

    3.7(1.5k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Sometimes, I don't feel like going to a fancy Japanese restaurant to eat spectacular sushi…read more Sometimes, I just want to grab a quick bite to eat of good sushi. That's where Kura comes in. I've been to this particular location multiple times. My experience has been consistently good. Today was no different. My favorite sushi items on the menu include: the bluefin tuna, salmon, umami oil seared beef, and crispy rice with snow crab and mayo (if you want it to be most tasty, order it fresh from the tablet, don't grab it from the conveyor belt). It's been a while since I've been here, so I was pleasantly surprised to find o-toro (super fatty tuna) on the conveyor belt today. Even at traditional sushi restaurants, they often only serve chutoro (medium fatty tuna). Needless to say, I pounced on it, and enjoyed it very much. My absolute favorite item of the day was the strawberry cheesecake parfait. It came with ice cream, strawberry sauce and a cheesecake at the bottom of the cup. It was so good, I had two of them. I used to think revolving sushi was a gimmick, but it's not. You don't need to wait for a server to bring the food to you. It's completely automated except for the part where they bring you the drinks. You can even pay for your food through the touch screen tablet in front of you. The only downside to visiting this place is that there could be a line when you show up, which means you may need to wait a little to be seated. To avoid the lines, my recommendation is to try to get here right when they open. Don't let the lines scare you. It's popular for a reason. They serve up good sushi at reasonable prices in a highly efficient manner.

    Food - went by to experience Kura Reserve LTO. All the variety of bluefin tuna and toro were tasty…read moreand melts in your mouth. I also enjoyed the wagyu. For the first time tried the float and enjoyed the coke and vanilla ice combo. Helped me change up the flavor in my mouth as I ate other food items. I only wish there was a longer spoon so I could reach the ice cream when it went to the bottom. Service - Martha is always so kind and sweet. Love seeing her there and always enjoy dining when she's there. Vanessa was also kind and attentive. Ambiance - I went at 11 am on a Saturday. It's actually a good time to go! Not crowded. A few family with kids, elderly, and other calm diners. It's nice to be able to eat at your own pace right when you sit - you can grab from the sushi belt right away or place an order. Love the mobile ordering option too - I don't have to reach high and get a sore arm going through the menu. It's also easier to view the menu on mobile.

    Photos
    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Sushi on a conveyor belt!

    Sushi on a conveyor belt!

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Spanish Mackerel --just delicious!

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    Spanish Mackerel --just delicious!

    Sushi Zanmai - Tokyo Tower Roll. 5/5

    Sushi Zanmai

    4.6(196 reviews)
    13.3 miWilshire Center, Koreatown

    Incredible meal that was made even better by the attentive and friendly service! My boyfriend and I…read morecame for dinner on a Friday night and had made a reservation for 7:30 PM. After finding parking in the residential area, we walked to the restaurant and got seated right away. Note for parking: there is a lot available for all the restaurants in the complex ($10/car) but it may be difficult to find parking here during peak meal times. If you're willing to walk a bit, park up the street near the apartments. We chose to seat at the bar and had a wonderful experience talking to our sushi chef and Tiger, the manager. We were told that our sushi chef was one of the best chefs from their Japan branches, and that was evident in all of the sushi we ordered. Every cut of fish was consistently thin and crafted with expertise. We ordered quite a spread (spicy tuna crispy rice, albacore with crispy onion, eel nigiri, sweet shrimp nigiri, agedashi tofu, wild cod nigiri, etc.), and every dish was on point. The fish quality is unlike anything I've ever had before. In fact, Tiger told us the tuna is brought in from Japan. After ordering from our iPad, we started asking our chef and Tiger what their favorite dishes were, leading us to try all these different, off the menu customizations. Overall, such a fun dining experience and really solid sushi. We will absolutely be back.

    Stopped by Sushi Zanmai for an impromptu dinner late on a Friday night, and I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the quality of food and service -- I will definitely be back! The hostess and server were friendly and attentive, explaining how to order via the tablet. I knew Sushi Zanmai was best known for their tuna, so I ordered the 5-piece tuna set, an oyster nigiri from the daily special, miso soup and warm sake. If dining with a group, you're able to order for multiple people through the tablet and stagger the delivery of the dishes. My order came out quickly, presented beautifully. The oyster was fresh and briny while the tuna was buttery, so tasty I ordered another 3-piece tuna set, complemented with a salmon set. The fish was high-quality and nicely priced. The menu has many options, and I finished the meal with a water jelly mochi. Yum! There is metered street parking along Sixth and nearby streets, as well as a paid lot in Chapman Plaza. Enter through the door from the lot and you are greeted by a smiling statue with open arms. I was seated quickly at a table facing a flatscreen TV showing an NBA game, but I imagine there could be a brief wait at peak times. The interior is light and bright, with bar and booth seating, very different from the eatery that previously occupied this space.

    Photos
    Sushi Zanmai - Sushi chefs are here from Tokyo.

    Sushi chefs are here from Tokyo.

    Sushi Zanmai - Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. 5/5

    Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. 5/5

    Sushi Zanmai - Tuna zanmai + creamy rock shrimp

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    Tuna zanmai + creamy rock shrimp

    Kaisen Kaiten Sushi Bar

    Kaisen Kaiten Sushi Bar

    3.4(2k reviews)
    27.2 mi
    $$

    Finally a place on par with Japan!…read more We arrived a little before 530pm and it was a bit busy. By 6pm there were people lining up outside. Everything we tried was fresh and tasty. I could not pick a favorite! Definitely try the oysters!

    I used to really enjoy this divey old school conveyor belt sushi bar. Sometime between the last…read moretime I came in and now, they revamped their entire ordering system. Gone are the charming slips of paper where you write in your seat number and tick off your orders and slip it into the order cylinders that rotate its way to the chefs while also having the waiters available for the incidental things you require like beverages and condiments. In its place is you holding your phone and desperately tapping it, whether you're trying to get a cup of water or a hand roll. Neither will come out very fast and it's completely frustrating. Walking in, I noted how easy it was to get a seat this time. Now I know why. The food remains mostly basic and mid level quality. Random dishes roll out on the conveyor belt so that's accessible as soon as you see something you like but the items you really want, like the daily specials, you have to order. And that's going to take a long time, you'll be forced to pick up things you only half want just to have something to eat. Adding up the bill is another trial. Four of us sat at a booth table. They had no way of offering us separate bills even though that is standard when you're sitting at the individual seats. Why don't they just add a letter to your booth number for each person?? Anyway it took the waitress at least 15-20 minutes standing there to figure everything out and even then it was messed up with things being left off some bills, wrong items added to wrong bills and double charges for others. When told of these mischarges, she told us to work it out amongst ourselves. I wish I could have but I didn't even get a receipt, just told an amount to give her as she walked away. There must have been a change in ownership. The entire wait staff is now Vietnamese and the chefs are Mexican. Nobody Japanese left in sight. That's not necessarily a requirement but the restaurant sure ran better with the previous Japanese owners and staff. I will probably go elsewhere for my conveyor belt sushi fix from now on. Maybe wait for the next owners to show up.

    Photos
    Kaisen Kaiten Sushi Bar - 7/23/22 (sat): Entrance to bar seating area. Only 3 table seating to the right

    7/23/22 (sat): Entrance to bar seating area. Only 3 table seating to the right

    Kaisen Kaiten Sushi Bar - Salmon Sashimi (x2) and Yellowtail Sashimi (x2). The Yellowtail was really good!

    Salmon Sashimi (x2) and Yellowtail Sashimi (x2). The Yellowtail was really good!

    Kaisen Kaiten Sushi Bar - Sashimi salad

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    Sashimi salad

    Waka Sakura - conveyorsushi - Updated May 2026

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