Tried Gozen Shun in Pasadena and was pleasantly surprised! We got the pork katsu bento (which comes with miso soup), the karaage curry rice, and a set of temari sushi--salmon, sesame salmon, and scallop. Everything tasted fresh and well-seasoned. The pork katsu was crispy without being greasy, and the karaage was super juicy with that rich curry sauce pairing perfectly. We also grabbed an original ramune soda and ended the meal with a matcha pudding that was smooth, creamy, and not too sweet--just how I like it. Major bonus: they offer half-off during the last 10 minutes before closing, so if you're nearby, it's worth swinging by for a deal! The location is great, but parking can be a bit tight--just a heads up. Overall, a hidden gem for bento and Japanese comfort food lovers. It was clean and well decorated inside! read more

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I went in around 3pm and there were a few people sitting inside. There's plenty of seating inside and it wasn't loud when I visited. There's paid underground parking around the back of the building, but there's plenty of free street parking nearby. I was on my lunch break and asked them if they could make my food within a certain time and they assured me they could. I ordered the grilled salmon bento and it was ready in what felt like a few minutes. They give me a ridiculously large bag for my single bento box, as well as a utensil set. The lady who helped me was very nice and accommodating. Originally the price of the bento is $20 but I had a coupon so I paid about $12 for it. It was definitely worth what I paid. The salmon is perfectly moist and the glaze is slightly sweet to balance the saltiness. The rice is freshly cooked and fluffy. I loved all the sides. I wish they explained more about what sides they served and what sauces were included. Intuitively, I put the sweet glaze like sauce on the fish and the nutty sauce on the salad, but I think it should be more clear. I think it's worth $20 for how well put together the bento is, but it's still a little higher than my typical budget for a meal. I would probably go back to try some of their other delicious sounding options though as it was a very enjoyable meal. read more

Gozen Shun - Salmon Grilled Plate Bento - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time at gozen!! Food: -chicken cutlet plate with little sides: solid! :) i love cutlets, I'm curious if the pork one would have had that more classic taste (I'm thinking of the katsu that my mom made growing up, a korean twist to it) but this was still delicious! The sides were a lot of pickled things which I love! Service: -very prompt, friendly and helpful! checked in on us here and there! Ambiance: -clean, comfortable, nice set up! For a catch-up dinner, was a great spot Overall: Would come back! I don't know what I'd do differently, so maybe same same :) read more

This hidden gem in Pasadena offers affordable and tasty Japanese set meals starting from $17. Each dish comes with a small salad and miso soup. The Sukiyaki Beef Udon ($19) does not come with the typical broth, but it's delicious nonetheless, especially the beef. The pork fillet cutlet ($23) was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They give you the curry on the side so that you can dip the cutlet in or pour over your rice. My favorites of the meal were the carpaccio appetizers ($14) - both the salmon and hamachi were so fresh and delicious! read more

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It's date night, and I made reservations here via Yelp. I heard they serve affordable & traditional Japanese cuisine, so my bf and I were excited to try this. Parking: There's paid street parking, if you get lucky. We parked in a paid parking lot around the corner of the restaurant. We were parked for about 3 hours, and it maxes out at $12. Ambiance/Environment: This restaurant has a medium sized space with a modern and intimate ambiance. Perfect for large & small groups. Very clean inside. Service: Shout out to our server Jasmine. She was nice and efficient. Throughput took less than 15 min after ordering. What we ordered: 1) Sashimi Assortment Bowl - This came with salmon, tuna, and hamachi. I went with the bowl, so it sat on a bed of rice and served with miso soup, salad, pickles, sauces, quail eggs, and gingers on the side. All the fishes were unbelievably delicious. Very fresh, clean, and slightly sweet. Highly recommend this for all the raw fish lovers! 2) Hitsumabushi Bowl - My bf ordered this. It came in a cute bowl with a generous amount of rice. The unagi sat on the flavored rice and served with the same sides as my dish. Unagi is grilled eel, and it was definitely rich in flavor. My bf described it as "fishy" but the entire dish was sweet & savory. 3) Kara-age - We got these as appetizers. Kara-age is Japanese fried chicken. These were so crispy and seasoned well! 4) Crispy Rice - These were topped with cooked tuna. Fair warning, these are spicy! It's the perfect amount of spice in my opinion. The rice was indeed crispy and had lots of flavor. 5) Kyoto Matcha & Koshihikari Echigo - These beers were bitterly sweet! It came in a bottle and cold glass. Pricing: These prices are considered affordable, especially with the dishes they offer. Usually a sashimi assortment start at $30+. I was very shocked with the prices here. I'd say it's worth it; we left fulfilled and satisfied. read more

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Finally got the chance to try Gozen Shun, and it was awesome. My boys really loved the Katsu Curry Rice and Teriyaki Chicken Bento. It was very flavorful, and the curry was perfect for my son. It wasn't too spicy and the spices were not too overpowering. I ordered the Ground Pork Curry Udon and I loved it. It was exactly how I pictured it in my mind. I will definitely try others in the near future. read more

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This place is so yummy! The people are super friendly and attentive. The restaurant felt really nice and aesthetic. Their sukiyaki beef plate was so delicious. The portions are huge here and come in an abundance of food. My friends ordered the eel bowl and pork filet cutlet. We all had so much food leftover we couldn't finish it! If you post on Instagram you get a free dessert. We got their black sesame Mont Blanc and I can't say I've ever tried anything like it. Def can't wait to come back! read more

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This unagi bowl is what dreams are made of. The golden, savory but slightly rich unagi had smoky undertones and was incredibly tender and fatty. It contrasted well with the texture of the mochi-like rice, and I couldn't stop eating it. I also tried a bit of the salmon bowl which I've gotten for myself before and the quality of the fish is amazing as always. The only unfortunate part is that the ratio of rice to fish is not the best. The salmon carpaccio, on the other hand, was just alright. Not because of the fish quality but because it was overdressed with garnishes that I could hardly enjoy just the salmon with the sauce. The crispy rice is definitely a better alternative with nicely fried rice as a base topped with a generous amount of minced tuna. The service was great with multiple waiters coming by to refill our waters and serve our dishes. The place was pretty empty on a Saturday at noon but if you plan to come in a large group, I would reserve the middle table because that one can seat a lot. read more

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I give it 3.5 stars! It was my first time at Gozen Shun. I'm not sure if this is usual, but they seemed understaffed. While the servers were nice, the service was incredibly slow. The experience felt disorganized--possibly due to a lack of communication between the staff and kitchen, issues with their system, or being overwhelmed by to-go orders. For example, our first appetizer, the shishito peppers, took 40 minutes to arrive. The food itself was delicious. We ordered Shishito Peppers and Hamachi Carpaccio as appetizers, along with the Pork Fillet Cutlet Curry, Sukiyaki Beef, and Negi Toro Bowl as our mains. The Pork Fillet Cutlet was fried perfectly, with a satisfying crunch in every bite. The curry was savory but a bit on the salty side. The Sukiyaki Beef was good, though it was served lukewarm, which I wasn't expecting. The poached egg on top wasn't runny as I expected. I'm not sure if that's how the dish is typically served. My favorite dish of the night was the Negi Toro Bowl. It comes with soy sauce for mixing, but here's a tip: skip the soy sauce and mix it with the salad dressing instead! Tonight's dressing was a wasabi vinaigrette, and when we mixed it into the Negi Toro, it was amazing. I highly recommend trying that combo! We actually never received the Hamachi Carpaccio, though the server apologized. We still got to try it tonight, and it was good. I'd still recommend it as an appetizer. Would I come back? Yes, I would. The food is worth it, but they definitely need to work on improving their service and organization. read more

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The pork fillet cutlet curry stood out--the katsu was perfectly crispy, and the curry had a rich and flavorful profile. While natto isn't for me, my partner loved it. The carpaccio salmon was incredibly fresh with a buttery texture that melted in your mouth. The yuzu sauce was so good, we used it to dip our kaarage. To wrap up the meal, the matcha yuzu cheesecake was amazing! The combination of matcha and bright citrusy yuzu was refreshing. read more

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A very clean Japanese restaurant! We went during dinner and ordered chicken cutlet udon plate and sashimi plate for our main dish. For appetizers we ordered salmon carpaccio and crispy rice. I love how the plate comes with a little salad, miso soup, and tofu. I think it's one free refill of them. The chicken cutlet is not too oily, fried to perfection - crispy on the outside and soft inside. The sashimi are fresh - melted to your mouth. Inside decoration are clean and give a warm vibe. We also ordered matcha mint blanc for dessert - it's not too sweet & yummy. Parking is a little difficult but I think there's paid parking lot - we street park so it's good too. read more

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Two words: Sushi. Dog. This is my current hyperfixation, and I'm in love with it. They're like sushi handrolls STUFFED with salmon, eel, spicy tuna, or karaage chicken. Such a genius idea, and so well done. Theirs are the most aesthetic bento boxes I've ever seen. Get either grilled salmon that they brine for one hour or the thiccc pork loin cutlet, but my favorite is the grilled chicken which is something I thought I'd never say! And then to end things on a sweet note, I got the GIANT tamagoyaki. This sweet egg omelet is usually served as a dessert course at the end of omakase, but honestly is like a bar of gold with egg prices these days. Thanks for reading! ^-^ read more

Gozen Shun - Grilled chicken bento -- the most tender, juicy chicken - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Not only is it peacefully, beautiful inside, but the food presentation is spot on, gorgeous! We started with the crispy rice appetizer, which comes with tuna on a bed of crispy rice divided into five pieces. The salmon sashimi bowl had generous proportions of salmon with real ground wasabi and a "flower" made of ginger. Miso soup seems easy to make, but it's hard to get it quite this good. The house sesame salad dressing has a subtle warmth. The chicken cutlet plate is their specialty and I can see why. It's deliciously juicy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and pairs well with the cool crisp shredded cabbage. The new owners took over around June, '24. Parking is in the back, but they do not validate. read more

Gozen Shun - Perfect presentation! - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Went to Goken Shun for dinner on a Tuesday night. There was no problem getting seated right away. There is underground parking with plenty of spaces and you need a credit card to pay. The restaurant itself is quaint and simple. It felt comfortable and modern at the same time. Service was excellent and made us feel right at home. Now for the food: Iced Green Tea - definitely matcha powder based and was cool and refreshing. Tuna/salmon carpaccio were both amazing. The sashimi was fresh and delicious. The accompanying sauce, vegetables and jalapeño added to the complexity of flavors. Pork Fillet Cutlet Curry - and beautiful presentation. I love the separate curry to pour as much or as little as you want over the cutlet and rice. The cutlet was massive yet moist and tender. The curry was hearty, warm and filling. I loved that the miso soup is served in a cup. I loved the variety of tsukemono. The seaweed salad on top of tofu was light and refreshing. The small salad with the sesame based dressing was fabulous. The dressing needs to be sold because I would buy a bottle or two. Tempura Curry - another beautiful presentation and the only difference is the large and crisp Tempura pieces. My friend ate all of it. She loved the large shrimp and all the tasty vegetables. A fantastic dining experience with even better service. I cannot wait to go back again. read more

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There's public parking attached to the building. Credit Card only just in case anyone needs to know that. This restaurant is so pretty! I'm in love with the decor inside! Service is wonderful! I love the staff here! Music is so much fun inside as well! Food! Tuna and Salmon Carpaccio: It's so fresh and delicious, the bit of heat you can get from the jalapeno on top is great! Tempura Curry Bento: Like, the shrimp you get for it are MASSIVE! All the veggies and shrimp have the perfect coating on it! Curry is perfection! And oh my goodness the sides. The miso soup in a cup is wonderful! I love sipping on it! The salad is simple and amazing! The pickled veggies are a great addition! The seaweed and tofu salad is also a wonderful addition to the dish! If you want amazing Japanese food, come to this place! I promise it's a wonderful foodie experience! read more

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8/10 Overall: I was craving some katsu with curry and this place definitely satisfied my cravings! The dishes here are plated so beautifully and the servers are super attentive and kind! I especially enjoyed the thick and flavorful curry, the huge pieces of karage, and both desserts we got! I also loved the ambiance of the place, perfect for a date night! Pork fillet cutlet curry $23: 5/5 I loved the thickness and flavor of the curry! It went so well with the crispy katsu which had the perfect breading to pork ratio! I also loved the sides it came with! Sukiyaki beef udon $23: 4/5 they really didn't skimp out on the amount of beef! Not only was it so flavorful and tender, it paired beautifully with the savory broth and chewy noodles. The portion was also very hefty. Kara-age $7: 5/5 I loved karage and the pieces are huge! The breading is perfectly seasoned and you have to get the spicy mayo to dip it in! It comes with 5 pieces and is the perfect appetizer to share with the table. Salmon carpaccio $14: 3.5/5 paired with crispy garlic, fresh veggies, and their signature sauce, the fresh salmon melted in my mouth. Next time I'm definitely trying their tuna carpaccio! Black sesame mont blanc $9: 5/5 I love black sesame and this was the best sweet treat with the perfect flavor and texture. The cream was light and fluffy and everything about it tasted like home. A must get!!! Matcha & yuzu cheesecake $9: 5/5 the flavors were so strong which I loved! The matcha was high quality and the yuzu was a delightful sweet and tart combination. The cakes were thick and creamy and overall wonderful. read more

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Now open for lunch, @gozenshun serves beautiful and delicious tasting Japanese Lunch Sets and amazing street snacks as appetizers. You can taste the freshness of each of the plates served and where everything is made inside the restaurant. The restaurant is modern & sleek and it's great that I am always welcomed with smiles as their service is wonderful! This is what we enjoyed for Lunch. Taiko Yaki Chicken Karage Carpaccio w/ Yellow Tail Shrimp Tempura Udon Pork Cutlet Curry Set Unagi Rice Box Jumbo Fried Shrimp Plate Beef Sukiyaki w/ Soft Boil Egg (my fav) By the way, the plated dishes was served with soup, salad with sesame dressing and Japanese pickles. Duo of Cheesecakes Black Sesame Monte Blanc It's refreshing to step into an authentic Japanese Restaurant because you and I know that most of the Japanese and sushi restaurants in the US are run by Korean, Chinese or Thai. read more

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Gozen Shun has been around for awhile and gone through some changes. They used to serve prepared cold dishes in a display case up front. It was a great way to add some small dishes to hot entrees. Now, they only have food off the menu. This works as well, but they seem to have fairly limited vegetarian/vegan options with this iteration of the restaurant. That being said, I am still giving 5-stars for the following reasons: 1) The quality of the food is beyond reproach. A simple lettuce salad is elevated by a creamy, sesame ginger (I think) dressing. Miso soup is rich, perfectly concentrated, and piping hot which I like. (Can't stand lukewarm soup!) The salad and miso soup are refillable by the way!! just learned this! Tempura is very lightly coated, still crispy but allows the flavor of the unique items - like fresh shiitake, shisho, Japanese yam, and shishito peppers - to shine. Oishii! 2) Service is wonderful. Serving staff are cheerful, friendly, and attentive. They check in enough but don't disturb. 3) Presentation. It is said we eat with our eyes before we place food to mouth. The dishes are always so nicely arranged. I love the simple elegance and beauty: white dishes against a bamboo tray. Ambiance of the restaurant is pleasing: bright and sun-filled during the day, dim and moody at night but still uplifting. Minimalist, monochromatic decor with warm tones, live palm plants add a pop of green and life. It's very soothing. Parking is easy, underground structure. No validation, but none of the stores there offer it. You can also try for street parking. *I would suggest / request that they make more vegan/vegetarian options, especially plant-based proteins. There are the traditional soy-based products like pressed tofu, baked tofu, beancurd skin, etc. And now there are minimally processed options like Meati or Unlimeat. read more

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Wow. Just wow. I'm throughly impressed by this place. If you're looking for a great Japanese Bento box place, this is it. They serve high quality food, and it's so pretty. Even the boxes are pretty. These bento boxes definitely reminds me of Japan. The presentation of the food is beautiful. Plus, the price is also very good!I love how you get a variety of dishes and it's pretty healthy! I got the crispy pork katsu and it was prepared well. The katsu was crispy and the pork wasn't dry. My bf got the Kara-age box. I don't think I've been to a place where they prepare kaarage like this place. It comes out huge and in a perfect ball shape. The outside is crispy, and the chicken inside is tender and juicy. They use Japanese rice and you can see how great the quality is. The temari sushi was also very good. The bento boxes also come with a side of miso soup. You get a complete balanced meal. The restaurant is also super clean and tranquil. Service was also quick. There's street parking available. read more

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Very yummy Japanese spot in Pasadena! Came here to celebrate something and was delightfully surprised that it was completely empty on a Friday evening. I ordered the beef gyudon dinner and my friend got the katsu dinner. It comes with pickles, miso soup, salad, and a bowl of rice! The gyudon has beef and onions and it's savory and sweet. Pairs well with the rice! The salad comes with a peanut dressing and it's really delicious! We also got a cheesecake to share for dessert but I'm not the biggest cheesecake person. The total came out to about $35 per person. There's restrooms and tables for large parties. Plenty of parking all around- street parking is metered mostly and there's also some lots. For a comfort Japanese meal, I think I would prefer Ducks but it was great to try Gozen Shun! I will definitely come back if I'm craving something here :) Service is really friendly and quick. They're definitely a little more on the pricey side - but I think it really shows in the quality and service. One thing I didn't love was that my entree came out significantly quicker than my friends did so there was a good 10 minutes where I was just waiting haha not ideal but it is what it is read more

Gozen Shun - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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If there is one thing that the management of Gozen Shun should work on is service. Although nice and friendly, the servers during our visit did not understand the concept of checking back to see how everything is going, refilling water glasses, being attentive to see that no one had napkins...Restaurant 101. That being said, it all starts there. If the food is lack luster, then sometimes the service will make up for it. I will say that the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Pretty much, normal, run of the mill Japanese food that really didn't "wow" me at all. The next thing they should work on is the ambiance of the restaurant. I like that they had Japanese music playing, but the decor didn't fit. Empty bottles of wine on the wall doesn't help. And the hallway to the bathroom HAD pictures or something hanging on the wall, but it's now empty. Ambiance 7/10 Service 5/10 Cleanliness 8/10 Bathrooms 7.5/10 Food 7/10 Value 7/10 Will I return? Most likely not read more

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The Kara-age was the best thing we ate here. 5/5 Would come back just for the Kara-age. Came in on a Friday for lunch with the family. It wasn't very busy. I've been wanting to check this place out ever since I saw people talking about it on Instagram. Unfortunately, the food doesn't taste as good as it seems in the photos. I gave this place a strong 3 out of 5. Although I don't blame them, the service clearly required improvement. My questions about the menu were not answered by the inexperienced personnel. Since they were being taught while we were eating, I knew they were new. Although the personnel was pleasant and helpful, as mentioned by another reviewer, they neglected to replenish our water glasses or napkins. One had to wave them down. The food was decent, not outstanding. It was average. We ordered Hamachi sashimi bowl, pork fillet cutlet plate, sukiyaki beef bowl and Kara-age. Might come back over time. They may improve in the future. read more

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The waitstaff was pleasant and helped us make our choices for dinner. Our servers were kind and attentive - they always seemed to know when to refill our water glasses. I appreciated that a great deal. The space is mostly done in black. It's not intimidating but it is a vibe. I loved how intimate it made dining there feel. The price point was a bit off. The wagyu tongue slices were very small portions, nestled in a bunch of sautéed onions. For that, they charge $31. It was tasty but extremely chewy. Gozen Shun gets so many flavors right, though. Their takoyaki is worth writing home about, because their version has a crunchy, super crispy exterior that once sliced into reveals a soft and chewy interior. I loved the mouthfeel of this. The clams stewed in sake was a revelation. We slurped the broth down till there was nothing. This place is walking distance to Lake Avenue, where there are a lot of shops and trendy boutiques you can visit as you do your after-dinner walk. It's wonderfully located and one of Pasadena's better-kept secrets. read more

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I had no idea there was a revamp and new management. The new menu is so good. Wagyu beef tongue slice. 5/5 Kushi katsu: I got the mountain yam, shrimp, and chicken thigh. Chicken thigh was my fave. The Hitsumabushi eel combo was my favorite dish. It hit all the marks for me. Follow the directions to get the best taste. 5/5 Wagyu beef tongue steak also 5/5 Really happy with the new menu. Highly recommend. Park across the street and walk over for free parking. read more

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This establishment is right out of a Hollywood movie as it fits the image of a pretentious, high-ceilinged, big windowed, modern-industrial vibe restaurant that would befit a Pretty Woman scene. Yep, dark tones and sparsely decorated walls just make you feel cold like the architect's house in the Joyluck Club. I guess I eat too much Japanese food as I expected warmth and comfort from familiar food but the atmosphere and the slightly higher prices just made me uncomfortable. I hope this restaurant survives but the atmosphere is a downer and especially when the table next door didn't finish their Salmon Rice dish, boxed it up, paid and left but forgot the box. The server or busboy was quick to clean the table, leaving the box on the table and did not make any effort to go out the door to flag down the diners on the sparsely populated Pasadena Street. This lack of effort really turned me off. We had: - Katsu Skewers of Onion, Shitake Mushroom, Chicken Thigh, Pork Filet, ranging from $3 for a small piece of onion to $8 for the pork filet. Check out the sliver of onion that went for $3. OMG. - Takoyaki for $6. Reasonably priced and worth it. - Miso Clams for $14. Also worth the price. - Salmon and Salmon Roe over Rice at $28; good but pricey - Butter Soy Sauce Scallops for $24 was overcooked and a bit chewy - Hitsumabushi Eel over Rice for $31 was around half of a grilled eel, pricey - Braised Short Rib Special - couldn't remember the price. Reminded us of ox tail stew. The food was all tasty but not memorable knock your socks off. Service needs to be stepped up to make diners feel comfortable in this spartan like techno ambiance. read more

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This place is under new ownership within the last few months and it seems they have rebranded a bit. Atmosphere is a bit on the darker side, more like for date night, even had a small lamp on each table. The food experience is different, food came out one by one and portions were smaller. These are my thoughts on the must tries. Wagyu Tongue Slice - I'm not a tongue person but this place does it right. It's a bit chewy but not that much and flavors complimented each other. Its delicious. (4.5/5) Takoyaki - Thought this was one of the best takoyaki I've had in America. Dough had a lot of flavor, octopus was super soft and nothing was overpowering. Solid pricing and a must try. (5/5) Edamame - This was basic but was as good as it could be. It's just steamed edamame but it comes in a bamboo basket. (4/5) Wagyu Beef Tongue Steak - They precut beef steak into many little easily cut pieces. The pieces were perfectly cooked and dipped in the many sauces they came with (matcha salt/soy sauce/special wasabi) paired for the perfect bite. Even if you're not a tongue person, this is still delicious. (4.5/5) Wagyu Beef Stew - This was my favorite dish. The beef was so tender and the stew itself had a strong beef flavor. It wasn't overly salted and I easily drank/ate everything. (5/5) Onion Whitebait Swirl Roll - This was a unique roll and not what you may expect. It seemed like a roll with sushi eggs on top or something. It was good but it was also pricey for 6 pieces. (3.5/5) Pork Loin Tonkatsu - I would say the pork loin was a bit on the more cooked/done side, the meat was fairly white and it's not as tender as you may expect. It was good, flavors were on point and they gave you a bunch of sauces to dip it in. Overall alright. (3/5) Hitsumabushi Eel Rice - Make sure to read the menu about how to eat this because there is definitely an ideal way! It comes with some broth you can mix with the rice to make a soup. Eel was super tender and presentation was great coming in a box. It's pricey and portions aren't that big but the food experience is there. (4.5/5) We came on a Friday at 6 pm and it wasn't crowded. People with reservations started coming at 7 pm though and the restaurant was pretty full at that time. Parking -You can easily get parking at the parking structures nearby (kind of pricey) or there was plenty of street parking on the nearby streets about 2 minutes walk from the restaurant. (2 hour limit but unlimited after 6 pm) Overall, I'd come here for a special occasion. Food portions are small and prices are high so you can easily expect to spend anywhere from $50 - $75 per person. Service was on point and attentive. Restaurant was dimly lit and they were blasting anime/japanese music, certainly a vibe. read more

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For appetizer we got the crispy rice and hamachi carpaccio. The crispy rice had 5 big pieces, very crispy and flavorful. The hamachi carpaccio was fresh and I liked the crispy onions with it added a good texture. For the main we ordered the sukiyaki beef plate and sashimi assortment plate. The sukiyaki beef was flavorful and a great portion size with sides to form a balanced meal same as the sashimi assortment and it was fresh and great quality. read more

Gozen Shun - Outside - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My friend and I were looking for restaurants in the nearby area on Sunday afternoon and came across Gozen Shun. I had seen reviews of the restaurant and heard from friends that it was pretty good, so we decided to head over. This restaurant is located right across from the Trader Joe's on the corner of Lake and Cordova. There isn't parking, but if you're fine with walking, you can park at the lot across the street or use the 90 minutes free parking area. Apparently a ton of people had the same idea as we did because the restaurant was packed. It is, granted, a smaller restaurant - but we were asked if we had made reservations. Luckily they did have open seating outside so we braved the minor drizzle and sat outside for lunch. Menu is fairly simple. They offer curry, udon, and gozen sets. I wasn't too into the sets, so I ordered a curry udon with chicken for $21. This also came with a soft-boiled egg. I personally enjoyed this dish, although the price point was a little steep for $21. The chicken seemed like breast-meat and was a bit dry; however, I enjoyed the curry flavor and the chewiness of the udon. I also thought the egg was especially nice. My friend ordered sukiyaki beef gozen which came with an egg as well as some side dishes. For about $26, she thought the flavor was pretty on-point and comparable to Japan. Workers were friendly and efficient. Overall, we enjoyed our lunch at Gozen Shun! read more

I had such an amazing experience here. The food and service were so great. Everything from the crispy rice, salmon carpaccio, beef udon and curry katsu were all delicious. The pricing is also very reasonable. The interior is modern but I love how their plates and dishes are traditional style. This place is perfect for lunch time or a nice dinner out. Parking is street parking mostly. I would highly recommend. read more

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Went here on a random Friday night and it was pretty empty (which was nice bcus I love a quiet restaurant). The service was great. And I loved that we get to pick our own sake cups! Tbh I think this place is a 3 but the takoyaki was sooooo good I would give this place a 5 just for this dish! The takoyaki was so big and crispy and flavorful! I would come here again and just get takoyaki. We also got the chicken wings which was solid. The salmon rice w/ roe was super disappointing. It didn't have much flavor also lacked salmon. It was mainly just rich w/ little tiny bits of salmon. For $30, I wanted a bit more protein. We also got the eel dish. It came with a soup that also lacked flavor and a lot of rich! Maybe our bad for ordering two rice dishes but the proportions were a bit off. Too much rice, such little proteins! For $120+ for two ppl, I probably wouldn't come here again for a full meal but I may just for takoyaki!! read more

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Perhaps you can describe this restaurant as a hole in the wall ! Good Quality Food, good service and Value Pricing ! read more

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Clean interior. Choices of sushi combos and plates of katsu. You can get top ups of rice and miso. And bonus free side dishes for posting on social. . Street parking only read more

Gozen Shun - Pork loin udon $19 - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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:: Food :: We wanted to order two Salmon and Salmon Roe Rice, but they only had one portion left which was a blessing in disguise because we then opted to order the Hitsumabushi, which was better in my opinion. The grilled eel was so tender and just the right amount of sweet! The salmon rice, on the other hand, was a bit dry and there were clumps of dried rice it seems, I'm not sure if that's normal. The karaage fried chicken was good though, even though it did not come with any sauce. :: Service :: Customer service was great, the servers were nice. Their credit card machine wasn't working that day and thankfully we had cash. :: Parking :: There's a parking garage near the restaurant where you'd have to pay or you can park behind Veggie Grill and it should be free for the first 90 minutes. read more

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This place is the absolute best. I came in last weekend to try some of their sashimi and chicken cutlet that looked great on pictures and let me say, everything was spot on! Flavors were excellent and fresh. Service was also very good, the entire staff kept an eye on me for all my needs and the place looked phenomenal as well. I would see myself coming back here for sure! read more

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I came by here again last night with my husband after seeing that they restructured their menu. It's a great menu - super simple. You pick which dish you want and then how you want it - plate, bowl, curry, or noodles. We both got plates. I got the sukiyaki beef plate which comes with a poached egg (I LOOOVE Sukiyaki beef with some creamy egg yolk), miso soup - perfect for a relatively chilly night, rice (PERFECTLY cooked), and two kinds of pickled vegetables as well as a salad with dressing on the side. I have a thing for pickled vegetables to be eaten with Japanese food. It just adds that crisp salty, tart bite that acts almost as a palate cleanser. This is the perfect bento style meal and I intend to come back to try the different variations. It was well priced and the staff is super nice. read more

Recently been enjoying their mackerel bento a lot! Food is fresh and the rice is cooked perfectly every time! read more

Gozen Shun - mackerel bento - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food here was very healthy fresh and yummy. We loved their bento boxes I ordered the katsu chicken that was delicious. The service here was very friendly and fast. The place itself is clean and decorated cute with plushies for sale. My favorite dish had to be their udon noodles, can't wait to be back (: read more

Gozen Shun - Matcha pudding, Chicken Cutlet Plate Bento - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Been wanting to try this place for awhile! Let's just say that as soon as we walked in, the place was a little future dining room inspiration. It's modern and tranquil which really set a good first impression of the restaurant. Okay, the prices are on the higher end but what isn't anymore? What I came to determine was the quality of the food and how it justified the price. I believe for what I ordered and tried so far, it did just that. I have been craving to go back to Japan and for what is less than 10 min away from me.. this is a good little nudge that I will go and have their food again but for the mean time, here is Gozen. Gozen let's me pretend for a very quick second that restaurants are getting closer to a more authentic Japanese feel without being in Japan. However, there are a handful of places in LA that already does that so Gozen is against a lot of strong competitors. Why does it leave me impressed? Because of how conveniently close it is to me in comparison.. A win is a win when it comes to shorter distances, slightly better quality, and overall feel-good atmosphere than your usual. As for the food, the spreads were as aesthetically pleasing as you hoped. We started with a sake flight. Fruity and crisp. Bubbly and delicious. Then we had a salmon and ikura bowl. It definitely could've been more in quantity. Finally, we shared a seasonal tempura Gozen. Colorful, blended flavors, and well-balanced. Unfortunately, I've only had very few Gozen experiences but if this place can inspire me for even greater out there in the world.. Then it did it's job to make me enjoy enough for so much more right? The orderliness of the Japanese-styled restaurant just felt so satisfying even for how Los Angeles it still feels. So if you're looking for a little quick travel elsewhere than your usual eats and a treat for yourself, try this place out. Enjoy something different! We all deserve to once in awhile. Will come again. read more

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A nice healthy Japanese meal! I like the set gozen meals! The protein (so far I tried chicken and cod) were cooked well. The poached egg is fantastic. Make sure to add it to your meal. It is a pricey meal but for the quality, I recommend it. I say skip the sashimi which is too pricey for what you get. Dessert was ok. Not highly recommended. The rice set meals are the way to go! read more

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Gozen Shun's menu changed. No more sushi and bento box style meals. Everything is a la carte, but delicious. Excellent service and the servers were very patient and knowledgeable. Ambiance is modern and classy (good date night or meet-up with friends). I decided on the tofu salad with my sesame dressing on the side with 2 chicken thigh skewers cooked to a crispy perfection. My husband who's not too fond of eel ended up trying the Hitsumabushi, which is fresh grilled eel over rice. Pleasantly surprised he truly enjoyed it! Dessert is a must and he got the Matcha cheesecake while the kitchen surprised me with Sesame Mont Blanc Cake! Both light and fluffy and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect way to end dinner. Definitely a place to come again! read more

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