Akinori came highly recommended from a friend who lives in South Pasadena and takes his sophisticated eight-year-old for father-and-son sushi lunches. I'm always interested in quality sushi joints that aren't so expensive you can't take a child and stayed alert for a chance to visit. I went with my mom for a quick Monday lunch before she dropped me off for vision correction surgery (which makes Akinori one of the last places I wore glasses). We only had about forty-five minutes, and this was just enough time for a light meal at the sushi bar. The restaurant was small and casual, and we opted to sit at the counter. There were a few other customers, and service was friendly and timely, but not fast. The chefs were skillful and deliberate, and they made delicious sushi. We started with snow crab sunomono, a nice light appetizer of vinegary cucumber and seaweed with a few meaty hunks of sweet crab. Then we got some nigiri: red snapper, black snapper, and tuna sets, which came with akami, toro takuan, ootoro, maguro zuke, and seared ootoro. Every piece was fantastic, the fish fresh, the nigiri delicatelly formed. Finally, I couldn't resist the maximalist Akinori roll, with spicy shrimp and langostino rolled with rice in soy paper, possibly tempura fried, then topped with spicy tuna, eel sauce, spicy mayo, chives, and tobiko. I love an over-the-top spicy-tuna-centric roll, and this one was deeply satisfying. Akinori also does ramen and teriyaki and offers a bunch of reasonable lunch specials. You can eat here pretty cheap, or spend as much as you desire on good quality nigiri. I live almost 20 miles from Pasadena, but I hope to visit this place again. read more

Stumbled upon Akinori one day and we had a great lunch! The chirashi was very fresh and the dry aged kanpachi yuzu truffle oil was delicious! They dry age alot of their fish so it gives it a different texture and taste. Our waitress was super friendly and hope to come back soon to try their omakase. There's also plenty of street parking right outside the restaurant. read more

Akinori Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Excellent place. Reasonable prices. Tom the sushi chef is amazing. My husband can be a snob with sushi but he loved this place... My husband believed that this was a GREAT reasonable place for good sushi. I loved the tempura shrimp, the miso was very good...not salty. I also enjoyed the katsu bowl. Yummy! Excellent place. We will be back again! Thanks Tom and Aiko (hope I spelled your name correctly). Thanks for a delicious time..,,See you soon. read more

One of my go to sushi spots when Kisen, Shinkai or Masamitsu are too busy! My some of my friends say this is a cute date spot. But I enjoy going to the sushi bar and drinking my sake with'em and having the sushi snack here in my peace time. On the North bound side of Colorado Blvd right next to this psychic shop. Closest cross streets are Colorado Blvd & Rosemead. Cute little sushi shop. I am impressed with their food and service though! It's a two way street on Colorado but from my personal experience you can find street parking right in front of the shop no problem. One door is both the entrance and exit so it might feel a bit cramped at first and if they don't greet you and seem busy.. well accept that fact that they are BUSY AF! That's right! Call ahead and see if you can reserve a table. They only have between one to three sushi chefs and one server so patience is necessary here. Like I said.. cute spot inside! Not much space but it is clean and simple. Not many tables, small sushi bar and restrooms back in the hall. You will be passing their aging fish machine in the little hall. Food? Why yes, it is bomb! AND fresh! Think Jack in the Box.. they don't make it until you order it! Haha Well they also special in dry aged sushi in house so some of the raw fish you will be getting won't have that fishy taste and it will be more buttery, more firm and less chewy! Not sure if I explained that right :P They started dry aging about a year ago. It's one of the few spots I know that have warm rice when you order the sushi. Service! When they have time you will get your usual restaurant service. Being greeted, asked for drinks, drinks dropped off, asked for ur order & receiving. All the workers here are simply nice and friendly! Thank you for being so fun & giving good service Eda! Thank you Tom for making really good sushi and being so nice! Klans! Always good chatting with you! Keep working hard bro! read more

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We've driven by Akinori many times and finally decided to try it. It's a very small space with about five bar seats and a handful of two-top tables. I wouldn't recommend it for large groups, four people is probably the max. We visited on a weekday for lunch and were seated right away. The two of us shared the agedashi tofu, Brussels sprouts, fresh mountain roll, salmon sampler, and a negitoro roll. To be honest, the portions felt quite small, or maybe we're just big eaters? Because we finished everything almost immediately. We could've easily eaten a second round, but it would have been way too pricey. Service was friendly and parking is street-only. We couldn't figure out what language the workers were speaking, but definitely not Japanese. Overall, the experience was fine but not particularly memorable. read more

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High quality sushi bar that's been open less than 2 years. Akinori has dry aged fish which like beef, is fish with reduced moisture that brings out the flavor of the fish. They have different cuts of tuna which they have aged. We had Dry Aged Toro and ChuToro, which were buttery smooth. Also had Sear Albacore and the Akinori Sushi Roll. We also liked the Miso Cod Dinner and Agedashi Tofu, their version of the latter is less battered than other places. Good service from Quon who was the one server in the restaurant. Sushi bar has room for 10+ diners. Street parking only. Can be pricy depending on what you order. read more

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Great service and sushi was delicious. Trick or treat roll was really good and had a little kick to it. Fried vegetable tempura was also done really well with a good variety. The sashimi combo was good and it came with soup, salad and rice. Overall good place. read more

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Wow, I randomly found this place on yelp and I am so thankful I did because my friend and I had the most awesome lunch today on a Friday around 3 PM. It's a very small petite restaurant very cozy but the fish quality really blew my mind !!! We started off with a salmon carpaccio and a dry aged kanpachi with Yuzu !!! These were so beautiful plated and opposite in flavor profile, but so delicious. The bluefin sampler is out of this world!! Every bite melts in your mouth!!! I will come back just for this! We sat at the bar and the sushi chef just gave us recommendations and we would order through him! It was really lovely I highly recommend this place I am definitely coming back! What a gem! 10/10 read more

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Akinori is my favorite Japanese sushi store if you are craving, oh trust me this is the place to visit. You will enjoy some of the freshness and more satisfying quality dry aged fish. This place is not too crowded lunch dinner weekend weekdays and that one you know what you to do. Come check out and support local small business to keep their great food running read more

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Never tried a sushi place so good since moving to LA from SD. The chiefs at the bar are very talented and sweet! Staff is very welcoming and catering to each customer from what I saw and experienced. Small restaurant, but that only means they're able to take care of their customers 10/10 every time! *update: went back 3 times :) read more

Legendary sushi chefs. Blow me away everytime. Get the trick or treat roll. Been going for a year now, best sushi in Pasadena

Amazing sushi ! The fish is fresh and the menu is very carefully thought out. The service is incredible and everyone was very attentive. Very clean and very pleasant atmosphere. Must try spot!! Can't wait to be back read more

This place was absolutely yummy sushi and sashimi. I hope they stay around. The spider roll was so yummy and delicate. The eel roll was simple it yummy yum yum. The salmon belly sashimi as off the chart. Flavor and texture was so good. They have really good if you're looking for a bargain. They had a roll I am sorry I don't remember the name of it but it was like spicy crab with salmon on the top with some delicious sauce. See my photos. read more

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Akinori is a small, cozy store front on a not too busy section of Colorado Boulevard just east of Rosemead Boulevard with street parking. Interior is a clean Japanese minimalist style that provides a serene appearing environment. Sushi bar and small tables that can be put together for a 6-8 person group. Huge selection of Californicized Sushi rolls with the usual suspects of Sriracha, mayonnaise, "eel sauce ". But there is a good selection of traditional Japanese Èdo Maè Nigiri hand molded Sushi and Sashimi sliced seafood. There are cooked foods like Teri Yaki's, Miso marinated Black Cod. The standard Japanese apps are also cooked for those who must have everything irradiated by infrared. 1) Calamari Fritti: Fried rings of squid and tentacles are thinly battered in corn starch. Really light crispy crust surrounds the delicate, lightly ocean sweet chewy flesh. 2) Ika Nigiri Sushi: The slice of white flesh Squid is an artistic exercise in Muki Mono, art of Japanese food carving. It is cut and feathered to look like frilly flower petals. Dark pink, ornamental Shiso flowers which are unusual to find in late winter contrasts to the whiteness of the squid along with a touch of green Yuzu Koshō paste made from fermented, salted Yuzu citrus zest & piquant green chiles. The squid has overall very excellent knife skills, but the squid itself was a bit mushy and lacked Hari, a toned, muscular firmness. Perhaps a short salt brine would have firmed up the squid. Shari, Japanese rice vinegar sprinkled cooked rice, was competently done. 3) Tonkatsu: Ton refers to pork. Katsu refers to Cutlet. The thick slice of pork is breaded with Japanese Panko to achieve excellent crunchiness. Pork is a bit fatty to add richness. Sweet porcine meat that will satisfy carnivores. Nice touch was placing a metal net under the Tonkatsu so the bottom of the Tonkatsu can breath out moisture without getting the crust soggy. Accompanying shredded Daikon radish provides a refreshing, cool, watery cleansing of the palate. Salad, Japanese Cucumber and yellow Daikon pickles, white steamed rice rounds out this pleasing all in one set meal. Akinori may not be the best that L.A. has to offer, but it is a great neighborhood find. There is something for everyone. I was particularly impressed with my Tonkatsu. 4- stars read more

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We've been to Akinori many times, and honestly, I was a little hesitant to post a review -- only because I didn't want this place to get too popular that we'd have trouble getting seats! But this restaurant truly deserves recognition. This sushi spot is absolutely amazing -- they serve some of the freshest fish for both sushi and sashimi, and everything is always beautifully prepared and presented. The restaurant is spotless, which makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. We actually stumbled upon Akinori earlier this year since we live nearby and thought, "Why not try it? It's just a stone's throw away." Ever since that first visit, we've been back many times and have enjoyed every single experience. Their sushi always looks incredible, tastes even better, and never has that overly "fishy" smell or taste -- you can tell it's top quality. There are too many great dishes to name because we've tried so many, and all have been consistently excellent. Chef Tom and his team are wonderful -- friendly, welcoming, and they always make us feel right at home. Akinori has definitely become one of our favorite sushi spots. FOOD: SERVICE: AMBIANCE: read more

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I think the sushi here is comparable to much more expensive locations. I've been to sushi Zo in downtown Los Angeles, which originally cost $300 per person. Now it's even more. I think the sushi here is equivalent for a fraction of the price. Small location. Weekends get busy. Suggest weekdays. read more

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Food on pricier end but I suppose thats how all sushi places are. Most of the food tasted good though. The pork have some fat so its not just all dry. Maybe sashimi would be better next time rather than rolls. read more

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Still my favorite spot ever . Soo fresh and tasty also friendly service. I love to come here. read more

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Great food and service. A solid sushi experience for anyone who cares are the craft. Nice assortment of dry aged fishes. The wife, who does the cooked items, enjoyed the tempura. A nice option to the food scene in Pasadena. read more

10000% yes! The vibe, the staff, the food. A very small a cozy sushi place that gives Japanese vibes. There's plenty of street parking. You know they take their time with their rolls because it does take sometime for them to come out but they are worth the wait! We had the OMG roll which was phenomenal, fresh mountain roll and the 210 roll. I'll be dreaming about this place until my next visit. read more

Akinori Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We went on a whim to this cute hidden spot off Colorado. The outside is nicely decorated as well as the indoors. We were welcomed on a Sunday at "linner" time and it was quiet and lovely. Later, more customers arrived and sat at the sushi bar and near the windows. Appetizers such as the cucumber salad (simple but yummy) and the chicken karaage were all delicious! The regular edamame was fine. We ordered the sashimi combo and the 210 roll-- all lovely portions. Clean and succinct services throughout our time there! Highly recommend and the rates were decent! read more

Akinori Sushi - Front of menu - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Small excellent sushi restaurant in Pasadena we would have never have found if it wasn't for Yelp. Great sushi, great service, and overall we had a good time there. We ordered various sushi, rolls, and gyoza (I had the lunch special). All were good. We went during a later lunch during the weekend and it was not too crowded. Since the place is small inside, if you go during primetime seating might be a issue (if you don't get reservations). Not too sure about their parking since we found street parking almost right in front of their store. read more

Chef Tom, who is also the owner of this place, had made my sushi experience simply outstanding. This place had been recently opened and not busy at all. Here you can have a conversation and enjoy your meal without being rushed. I was sitting at the bar and could see how Tom grated wasabi root and prepared fresh wasabi in front of me. I had never kanpachi that good. It's was dry aged, which was very tender and full of flavour. I typically not the biggest fun of mackerel, but it was perfect and not fishy. Blue crab hand roll had a twist with yuzu, which was new to me. All fish was fresh and tender. Definetely high quality. Now that I had discovered Akinori, I will definetely be returning with my family and will recommend it to all my friends. read more

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Tried this sushi place again. Sat at sushi bar. 5 STARS last night for food & service. Enjoyed different items and tried some DRY AGED sushi which was excellent. We eat at a lot of different sushi restaurants in SGV and Pasadena, but this has become our favorite. The quality of the fish is very very fresh and the pricing is fair. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

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Stumbled upon this small cute little spot with a handful tables and about 10 bar seats. Staff and chef were super friendly and welcoming. Food was surprisingly delicious and fresh. We ordered a few chef's special rolls to share. The Akinori roll was a must get since it's named after their restaurant. It was warm and perfect texture of crunch on the outside. But the Baja roll was my fave. Forgot what was inside exactly but it was so good that we ordered another one. The rolls were generously packed with fish. The rice to fish ratio was perfect. Also, they're currently in their soft opening phase and gave us 10% off our bill. What a pleasant surprise! And not sure if they have a parking lot but it didn't look like there was. There's plenty street parking right outside though. read more

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Akinori Sushi...a new spit in East Pasadena on Volorado just east of Rosemead Blvd and conveniently next door to an old watering hole: R Place bar. It's been about a month and much welcomed choice to the venerable Jack in the Box and taco stand pop up a block away on Rosemead. Small, quaint, affordable. I'm glad they're here. Nice sized menu. My order was good. I'll certainly order again. Businesses like this are rejuvenating East Pasadena. I wish them continued success . read more

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In a nondescript area along Colorado blvd a tiny sushi restaurant dares to open. We were served with fresh pieces of fish, all quite tasty. It's classic Japanese fare although the chef and staff aren't. Clean decor inside- a nice place to have a date or good spot to eat. Nice that there's a 10% off soft opening special. read more

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So cool and delicious all at the same time. Parking in the front, back or around the block is no issue. That's the last thing you'll remember after having, likely the best sushi experience you've ever had at a sushi bar in Pasadena. If you're looking for that "home town, modern vibe, don't break your wallet but want to feel like a baller" Experience at a Sushi Bar. . . You want to check this spot out. Service was excellent, quality of food was fantastic but the experience is what I really want you to focus on. 10/10 this sushi specialist assassin will show up cut your next serving and present it to you like you're accepting an award. But the real truth is that Tom at Akonori Sushi is really the one that deserves the award. With Thai roots and Japanese disciplines, you can only expect friendly hospitality with a smile. read more

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Wonderful food and amazing staff. They let you order off the regular menu even if someone from your party does the omakase.

Everything about this place is perfect. It was my first time here, and boy, did it quickly rise to my top favorite sushi spots. The service was impeccable, from the hostess to the person cleaning the tables. Our waitress was so sweet. The sushi melted in my mouth. Everything I had was so fresh and high quality. It's a perfect date spot for sure. read more

I am not sure why these people have such a high rating. I think I was bamboozled. The environment was nothing to write home mom about - white walls with some decor (pictures and posters). The food was just OK for the most part. The Tempura was like KFC Extra Crispy, probably thick batter, not light and fluffy, and was left in hot oil for too long - it was even quite greasy, to be honest. Service was decent, but it did take a while to come out. Probably because of the extra time for the tempura in the fryer. Pretty disappointed. If I am ever in the neighborhood, this is not a place I would return to. read more

Very quiet sushi spot. It really is a hole in the wall spot but that's part of its appeal. There's probably 4-5 tables and a spacious sushi bar. Got the langostine roll and 201 role. Both rolls complimented eachother really week. The langostine roll was slightly crunchy with the slight kick from the spicy tuna ontop. The 201 role was more "zingy" and whatever ponzu-like dressing they used on the roll was delicious. The rolls are evenly cut and there is a good amount of QUALITY fish inside and on top. We destroyed the shishito peppers (grilled) because they had a slight citrus taste to them (which is different from how we normally enjoy them at other restaurants). The yuzu sake we got recommended went well with our rolls and kind of acted as our "dessert" for the meal. Definitely will come here if we want to go to a quiet and casual sushi spot. read more

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We came here on my wife's birthday (I had mentioned it in passing, and later was very cool!) The sushi was amazing... I had the tuna sampler, which has the dry aged fish... really amazing flavor and texture. The place w very small, and, surprisingly to me, very conductive to strangers having a rowdy great time together! It became loud with all happy faces. I think that first experience there was memorably great! The only thing that my wife had a very small complaint, was that she wanted her white fish to come out first, but, truly, not even a thing to take a point off! The wait staff was very friendly, and helpful with smiles all around, just like the patrons! It ended with a happy birthday song. And ALL of the staff and patrons joining in with sake cups in the air. Epic. read more

Our favorite local sushi spot. The fish is always delicious, the staff friendly and attentive to their guests. The dry aged options are to die for, and the team makes my hand rolls Thai spicy! I can only hope they're around for many years to come. Do yourself a favor and stop by for some bomb fish. read more

Our new go to Japanese restaurant in Pasadena. Food is fresh and delicious. I was never a sashimi person, unless I ate it in Japan..but at Akinori, I will eat their sushi and sashimi, so yummy! Service is friendly and she continues to check on us throughout our meal. If you live Japanese food , try them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

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I have driven past this place so many times in the past and hadn't even noticed it was there. It's located next to a dive bar, and so it's easy to miss, but the humble locale is so misleading. I was pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of the food, and the couple of times I've been there, the service was so friendly and laid back. I solo dine a lot, and the staff made me feel like I was eating dinner with family. First of all...dry aged sushi--a must try for any sushi fans. After my first couple of pieces, I was hooked. I immediately loved the red snapper and had to order more at the end of my meal. And then there's the garlic edamame, the kama, karaage, and so many other items I have yet to try. They also have a simple selection of cold sake that is a right on the money pairing for their menu. My new favorite spot! read more

so amazing and fresh!! Really quaint and quiet restaurant with delicious sushi. Staff was friendly:)

This is a small sushi bar/ restaurant on Colorado. We were able to find parking on the street. It felt like a mom and pop shop. We got 2 tuna hand rolls, yellowtail sushi, dry aged tuna sushi, and a couple rolls. The hand rolls were on the smaller side but they closed the back so the filling wouldn't fall out. We've had better yellowtail. The dry aged concept was new and interesting to try. The rolls were standard (tried rainbow and crispy chili). Most had eel sauce which I don't like so couldn't try them. I would try this place again given all the great reviews. read more

Solid place for omakase in pasadena area. A nice option to have besides sugarfish (though I love sugarfish). Parking was convenient (right out front in street). Service was phenomenal and so was chef. They are so sweet here! Took all of my preferences and wishes into consideration. They're so adorable! I believe it's a Thai owned sushi restaurant and they do a great job! It's in their stellar cuisine culture Great for solo dining. Could definitely see myself returning for omakase in the future if I want another switch-up from Sugarfish. Great work Akinori read more

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First thing you notice is the ambiance. You feel the intimacy of the restaurant. The space is tight neat and you kind of feel like you're joining a small family gathering. Unto the food. We got the sashimi combo and presentation was beautiful, which made it very appetizing. Part of their concept is their dry aged fish, I personally never had it even as a sushi lover, but I am now a fan of dry age fish. Thank you for introducing me to this new way of eating sushi! Now the service. Tonight was almost a full house and There was only one server. So hats off to her for working so hard. I do plan on coming back to try their other dry aged fish options. I am very curious now. read more