Top 10 Japanese Restaurants In Pasadena, California

japanese restaurants in pasadena
Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 5 min read

Japanese cuisine is famous for dishes that are beautiful to look at and even more beautiful to taste with every tempting morsel. Lovely presentation, fresh ingredients, skilled chefs and impeccable service make Japanese restaurants a popular choice with many. Undoubtedly, the Japanese restaurants in Pasadena, California, are a gastronomical delight worth checking out. In fact, Pasadena, affectionately known as the Rose City is renowned for its New Year’s Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Just as amazing are their shopping destinations, museums, gardens, Victorian and art deco buildings, and dining pleasures of every kind. Hence, scroll down to discover the enticing delights of the top Japanese restaurants in Pasadena, California.

1. Takuya Japanese Restaurant

Posted by Benjamin Page on Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Step into a little corner of Japanese Zen at Takuya Japanese Restaurant located at a small yet attractive place with a patio for outdoor and indoor dining in a relaxed ambience. What’s delicious on the menu are their superb sushi platters, rice bowls and udon noodles served piping hot. Look out for their daily specials and new dishes as you enter the understated, modestly appointed restaurant with friendly staff to attend to your needs. Bestsellers include grilled squid, grilled salmon, beef and curry plate, plus the simple yet delish edamame and miso soup.

Takuya Japanese Restaurant

Address: 694 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States

Website: Takuya Japanese Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon & Wed: 11:30am - 5:45pm; 5:30pm - 8:30pm; Fri, Tue & Thu: 11:30am - 5:45pm; 5:30pm - 9pm; Sat: 11:30am - 1:30pm; 5:30pm - 8:30pm (closed on Sun)

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2. Noda Restaurant

Yum Yum

Posted by Cindy Barrios on Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Welcome to an elegant yet casual sushi bar that will likely transform you into a sushi-holic at Noda Restaurant. Simplicity is key to a pleasant dining experience as this restaurant features modest settings with sidewalk seats for guests to enjoy no-frills sushi platters and Japanese delights. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced so guests are tempted to eat more of their fresh sushi, speciality rolls, tempura and specially created bento boxes that offer great value for money. After all, guests love the taste of home-made dishes made by this well-loved family-run restaurant.

Noda Restaurant

Address: 546 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States

Website: Noda Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sat: 5pm - 10pm (closed on Sun)

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3. Matsuri Restaurant

Posted by Fatty Eat World on Friday, 5 July 2019

Good food is sweeter when shared with good friends, and Matsuri Restaurant serves plenty of good Japanese food to be shared with family and friends. Enjoy casual dining at its finest in a traditionally styled restaurant with modern interiors, where menu items are reasonably priced and food quality has remained consistently good throughout the years. Popular for its sushi variety, guests also love their noodles, appetizers such calamari and grilled mackerel, salmon teriyaki, tempura and authentic Japanese fare. Coupled with a friendly chef and crew, this restaurant scores high on the list of favourite Japanese cuisine in Pasadena.

Matsuri Restaurant

Address: 1065 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91106, United States

Website: Matsuri Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm; Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sun)

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4. Osawa

Osawa Pasadena sushi
Source: Photo by Flickr user JoVe DX used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Love shabu-shabu and sushi? Then, you’ll love Osawa, the chic and classy restaurant that serves fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine in old town Pasadena. Be impressed by the team of sushi chefs stationed at the long sushi bar surrounded by luxe, wood-accented spaces that present an elegant dining environment. Just as impressive is the delicious menu of delights that include chirashi bowls, shabu-shabu, roe tempura with greens, and colourful sushi platters. Not to be missed is their signature, heart-warming sukiyaki, a flavourful rice dish with beef and egg for a hearty meal.

Osawa

Address: 77 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States

Website: Osawa

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)

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5. Mama M Sushi


Head for the mum-loved and mum-owned restaurant in Pasadena that’s called Mama M Sushi and you’ll discover lovely sushi platters and Japanese dishes curated by master chefs. What’s spectacular is undoubtedly the sashimi made daily from fresh-caught fish and the all-time fave nigiri and maki dishes. For the health-conscious, there are low-carb choices such as rice-free plates comprised of sushi rolls wrapped in cucumber and sashimi with lettuce. Further, the contemporary and colourful interiors offer a comfortable dining ambience and friendly staff provide excellent service.

Mama M Sushi

Address: 29 E Holly St, Pasadena, CA 91103, United States

Website: Mama M Sushi

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 9:30pm; Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 10pm; Sat: 11:30am - 3:30pm, 4:30pm - 10pm; Sun: 12:30pm - 3:30pm, 4:30pm - 9:30pm (closed on Mon)

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6. Sushi Roku

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Known as a pioneer of contemporary sushi that blends non-traditional ingredients to create edible works of art, Sushi Roku is a sophisticated destination to explore gourmet Japanese cuisine. Classy interiors with decorative lamps and plush, cushioned seats provide a romantic setting for couples or stylish dining for families. Evolving the traditional sushi bar experience to a gastronomical affair to be enjoyed, the innovative menu includes fresh sushi, luscious salads, speciality appetizers and exotic entrees. Better yet, servers make recommendations to guests on the freshest fish available and signature dishes to try.

Sushi Roku

Address: 33 Miller Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103, United States

Website: Sushi Roku

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9:30pm: Fri: 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 10pm; Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sun: 11:30am - 9pm

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7. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant


With over 27 years of serving great Japanese cuisine to communities around the world, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant in Pasadena is famous for its culinary creations that stand out in quality and presentation. The elegantly styled restaurant offers spaces for private and group dining in a contemporary setting. Guests love the generous portions served that offer good value for money and tops on the menu include their variety of sushi rolls, traditional teriyaki meats and fish, tempura dishes, soups and signature Tokyo seafood paella. Best of all, the menu has specially curated kids’ meals that comprise of little morsels of sushi for little appetites.

Kabuki Japanese Restaurant

Address: 3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107, United States

Website: Kabuki Japanese Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10:30pm; Sun: 11am - 10pm

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8. Sushi Ichi

Posted by SUSHI ICHI on Monday, 7 November 2011

Listed in the Michelin Guide 2019, Sushi Ichi is reputed to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in Pasadena that serve the finest quality sushi. Despite its modest facade and decor, this restaurant located at Arroyo Plaza shopping mall is exceptional when it comes to the freshest seafood. Customers return for the quality sashimi platters that include sea eel, shrimp, yellowtail, salmon belly, tuna, halibut and barracuda. Equally amazing is their menu of authentic Japanese fares such as sushi rolls, beef tataki, chirashi, oysters and heart-warming miso soup to accompany your meal.

Sushi Ichi

Address: 633 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105, United States

Website: Sushi Ichi

Opening hours: Sat - Wed: 5pm - 9:30pm; Thu - Fri: 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sun)

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9. ICHIMA

Have you tried our Crispy Rice W Spicy Tuna? So~Gooood!! ICHIMA #N.Rosemead #Pasadena #sushibar #sushi #sashimi...

Posted by Ichima Sushi on Thursday, 18 July 2019

Let the good times sushi roll when you dine at ICHIMA, a popular restaurant in Pasadena with modern interiors for a cosy and family-friendly dining experience. What guests gush about is their extensive menu that presents traditional sushi and innovative sushi creations that offer a burst of flavours with every bite. Moreover, other impressive dishes include tasty salads, sashimi, bento boxed meals and boat combos that are perfect for sharing. Even the desserts are impressive as they serve ice cream sandwich macaroons and customers keep coming back for their affordably priced meals.

ICHIMA

Address: 325 N Rosemead Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, United States

Website: ICHIMA

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10:30pm; Sun: 11:30am - 10pm

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10. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Happiness is a barbecue date at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, the traditional themed restaurant with contemporary settings for a delightful dining experience. Heralded as one of almost 700 Gyu-Kaku restaurants worldwide, this place offers an extensive menu that includes mouth-watering Japanese barbecue with a selection of meats grilled on a roaster at the table. Servers guide guests on how to cook the food themselves which can easily transform into a family-fun activity. Best of all, the restaurant has an all-you-can-eat menu with choice of pork, chicken, beef, green salad, gyoza and miso soup at very reasonable prices.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Address: 70 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105, United States

Website: Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11:30am - 10:45pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 11:45pm

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Explore the best Japanese restaurants in Pasadena

Japanese noodle and sushi platter
Source: Pexels

Say “oishii” every time you dine on the scrumptious array of Japanese food at these fabulous Japanese restaurants in Pasadena, California. From sushi, sashimi, hot pots, grilled meats, ramen to teppanyaki and more, there’s plenty to whet your appetite and satiate any craving. So, share this amazing culinary journey with family and friends in Pasadena.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Meet Melanie, a budding wordsmith and a full-time Trip101 writer with a penchant for weaving tales that transport readers to far-off lands. With five years of jet-setting experience as a travel...Read more

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