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    JAPADOG California

    4.0 (353 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    JAPADOG CALIFORNIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Touristy
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Kurobuta Okonomi Dog IG: @ammysalamii
    Angela G.

    My bf and I were craving a little something to snack on but nothing too heavy, honestly we just wanted a regular hot dog but came across this stand! This was like the only hot dog stand along the Pier too which was very odd. Haven't been to the pier in years so it felt different than before. They have very limited seating but that's always been the case. But the view of the ocean and all the open air smells is great! We ordered the Kurobuta Okonomi Dog which is inspired by Okonomiyaki which we absolutely love! Food took a bit but also it was busy and line was kind of long. The size of the hotdog was good and they loaded and sauced it up nicely. I think I would've enjoyed it much more without the bonito flakes because it made it a bit too fishy for my taste. Otherwise it's a great hotdog stand and very unique Japanese fusion! IG: @ammysalamii

    Austin D.

    The snap on the hot dog is very good with lots of juice from the Japanese pork sausage. The toppings are simple, but pair well together. One of the best boardwalk hot dogs you will find. Give it a try!

    Chris J.

    We had to try Japadog in Santa Monica because the Food Network said it was good and they were right. We ordered the Wagyu Beef Terimayo (because who doesn't love Wagyu, especially by the ocean?) and the Wagyu Bacon & Cheese (because who doesn't lover bacon + Wagyu). After finishing both, we immediately went back and ordered two more. Don't judge me :) The first bite is everything, you hear and feel the snap of the casing, and the flavor that follows is absolutely magical. It does take a few minutes to cook, so don't show up hangry. Grab your hot dog and take a walk to the end of the pier. Sit on the steps, look out at the horizon, and enjoy what might be the best hot dog in California.

    Karen T.

    I love me a good street dog!!! My friends and I were starving walking around the pier and kept walking by the hot dog stand and couldnt help but to try one out! The smell of the hot dogs really reel you in! Even though we had plans to get dinner elsewhere that was pricier, I am glad we made our dinner plans here! We all got the kurabuto terimayo and I wasnt sure what to expect out of it. The hot dog itself was snappy and juicy! The toppings complimented it as well and I loved the mayo on top. Sometimes hotdog buns are too bready- but the buns were soft and tasted fresh! Not super heavy or salty! Highly recc to grab one as you walk around!

    #1 Kurobuta Terimayo Dog
    Larry Y.

    I love hot dogs and I love Japanese food, and JAPADOG is a perfect blend between the two. Poised as an unassuming hot dog stand on the Santa Monica pier, I was drawn in by the unique blend of cuisines and boy did it not disappoint. Each bite of the hot dog is deliciously savory and not too salty, creating bursts of flavor with every munch. Although it was a little expensive ($11) for one hot dog, it felt worth it to try something so unique. Looking forward to trying the other options next time!

    Ariana M.

    My friends and I were craving and LA street dog until we stumbled upon this by the pier and my goodness, HOW LUCKY WE WERE TO FIND IT. The japadog that we all got was the Kurobuta Pork Hot Dog. This was a SNAPPY pork sausage topped off with kewpie and nori. It was honestly the perfect mix with the perfect amount of umami. I'm pretty picky with hot dogs but this was thick and snappy perfection. We also got takoyaki's which were good but nothing that stood out. The person grilling was so kind and fast. Everything seemed pretty clean for it being a street dog. I def recommend to anyone on the pier. It's right next to the entrance of the park so you can't miss it!

    Japadog
    Emmanuel T.

    I had the Wagyu Bacon & cheese which was pretty good! Cool little convenient spot on the pier. I would get another one if on the pier. The worker was nice.

    Menu
    Zarifa A.

    I tried Japadog during my trip to Vancouver and absolutely LOVED it, so I was ecstatic when I found out there was this location in California. The store is moreso just a cart on the pier that's really small and easy to miss. When I went, there was only one employee working so things were moving really slowly and I felt bad because he seemed overwhelmed with the amount of orders to be cooked and by the people who were waiting to order. I ordered the wagyu beef tarimayo which is what I had before in the Vancouver location. The hot dog itself was really good and the flavors in it complemented each other really well. Although I enjoyed this, I wasn't blown away like I did at the Vancouver location. It is also over $11 for a hot dog and I feel like the price doesn't justify the food. If you're on the pier though, I'd still say this is a solid option to try but I wouldn't go out of my way for this.

    Kurobuta Terimayo Dog
    Ginger P.

    If you like hotdogs and Japanese street food, you'll love Japadog. We got the kurobuta (pork) terimayo hot dog and it came with a juicy hot dog topped with teriyaki sauce, mayo, grilled onions, and nori on a soft bun. It was sweet and savory and delicious! I thought it was reasonably priced for being on the pier in a popular tourist spot, and the employee we talked to was friendly. I recommend the terimayo dog, but there are a lot of other options on the menu including takoyaki.

    Stop here for great Japanese inspired hotdog creations
    Peter N.

    Almost forgot to write this one. We stopped at the Santa Monica Pier on the way to the airport. I'm so glad we did! I really enjoyed Japadog! I've heard about Japadog before but never tried it. None in Hawaii...yet?? It's hard to miss Japadog while walking on the pier. Especially, if you're hungry. The smell guided me right to the stand. Friendly English/Japanese speaking staff greeted us. Easy ordering and the hot dog was prepared quickly. The Japanese inspired flavors on these hotdogs work so well! The Wagyu Terimayo hotdog was amazing. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The flavors were well balanced and delicious. Wagyu Beef, Seaweed, Teriyaki Sauce, Japanese Mayo and Fried Onions combined to make for a really tasty dog. I've thought about the Wagyu Terimayo dog a few times since returning home. If you like Japanese flavors and quality hotdogs, Japadog is for you.

    Kurobuta Terimayo Dog
    Ciera T.

    Such a great fusion of flavors. Super tasty, fast service, great amount of toppings and can't beat the boardwalk and beach environment. Only down side is it's a little pricey and you'll definitely want more than 1!

    Japanese number 1
    Skai B.

    The price for the hotdog was semi reasonable costing 11 dollars. But I think it was definitely worth it. Tasted great with the onions the white sauce and the brown sauce all mixing together. The dog was also massive. The staff very helpful and kind. It deserves another come back if you are in the area.

    Wagyu Beef Terimayo Dog
    Belldandy O.

    I have been wanting to try Japadog for some time and we finally got to at the Santa Monica location! It is a small little hotdog stand on the pier. If we ignore the fact that we are on the Santa Monica Pier, then woohoo it was a great experience! However, I will admit it is a pretty convenient to have the stand on such a tourist heavy attraction. I normally am not the biggest fan of hotdogs since they are pretty boring. With Japadog, it adds different flavors from your traditional hotdogs. We got the Wagyu Beef Terimayo, which has onions, teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and seaweed. Definitely not your typical hotdog ingredients. The gentleman that was working the stand that day was patient with us as we decided on what to get and made sure we were aware of where the napkins were if we needed.

    Wagyu Beef Terimayo Dog, Kurobuta Terimayo Dog, Bacon and Cheese Dogs

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    10 months ago

    Good hot dog better then expect med keep it up I got a regular hot dog it was really good

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    1 year ago

    Love me some japadog. Authentic, greasy, delish street food! Don't go at lunch because the line can get a little long.

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    Sunny Blue - Miso beef and spicy salmon

    Sunny Blue

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$

    May 31, 2026 | Santa Monica | After arriving back from Catalina Island, friends, and I stopped at…read moreSunny Blue for dinner! My Bento Box included two rice balls of my choice, and I selected the edamame & Japanese pickles as my two sides! Spicy Salmon Omusubi | Delicious, filling, includes chili seasoning, & lightly spicy! I can handle the heat, so it depends on your spice tolerance! The rice ball is also topped with furikake seasoning & sesame seeds! Tuna Mayo Omusubi | Delicious, filling, includes albacore tuna, sliced cucumbers, chili seasoning & red onions! I opted for the spicy mayo, though you have another choice of wasabi sauce! Mainopoly Event | While at the event, I tried the Salmon Omusubi, which was quite memorable & ended up being one of my favorite dishes! Inside | Standing room only! You order food to go inside at the counter! Since it's a narrow space, people tend to wait outside or near the door! Customer Service | Friendly & helpful with the menu! Overall | Yes, please! Food is delicious here & I'm looking forward to returning and exploring more of the menu!

    No dine-in space, so enjoying the omusubi fresh meant eating at the pathway right in front of the…read morestore while people-watching on Main Street. Everything's made fresh to order but the waiting time was relatively decent. They did serve plenty of choices including for vegetarian options. We got their Spicy Salmon and Sunny Blue Curry. The first one was bit more tomato-ey flavor to my palate than spicy. The rice was perfectly cooked and moist coated in crunchy nori wrap. The salmon was pretty generous as well. I would recommend the latter more though as the curry flavor was so bold and delectable, well elevating the tender chicken.

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    Sunny Blue
    Sunny Blue - Spam misubi and ebi mayo

    Spam misubi and ebi mayo

    Sunny Blue - Cod roe onigiri?? I think

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    Cod roe onigiri?? I think

    Shirubē - Sashimi 3 kinds

    Shirubē

    4.3(222 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I loved this place, what a gem. I went here 2x in the same week when visiting. From the corn ribs…read more(9/10), to the pork belly taco(8.5/10), the yuzu ramen (10/10), and the small sushi tacos (9/10), every thing was fresh, well made, well balanced, and fairly priced for the quality and taste. The happy hour is a deal and would come during those hours. My servers were super kind each time and attentive on our meals. Every thing came out as it was made and we could tell they weren't sitting around. Ambience is a bit dark and on the more intimate side but can hold pretty large groups. Would definitely recommend to a friend and come back. Yuzu Ramen was my favorite next to the sushi tacos and my boyfriend loved the pork belly taco that literally melted in our mouths.

    Parking: Easy metered street parking or Santa Monica public parking garages have reasonable rates…read more Reservation: Easy to make online using Tock but walk-ins also doable Service: Really on top of it - menus provided right away, no long waits for food, friendly servers and hostess, my water was always refilled, and plates were taken away as soon as they were done Ambiance: The front is a nondescript black door right next to the Chevron along Wilshire and inside is a nice atmosphere with a Samurai in a display case, bar seating along the side, and dark minimalistic interior. Food: Really appreciate that there are plenty of non alcoholic and mocktail options since very few places have such a variety. The poppin' lychee with mint was delicious. Mentaiko udon - very light, subtle flavor; wish it had a stronger mentaiko presence though not too creamy which I liked Toro sushi taco - good amount of quality toro though wasabi is mixed inside which wasn't my preference Sunomono cucumber salad with wakame seaweed - not bad though even with the HH price, the portion was small and not worth it in my opinion Aburi shime saba - seared cured mackerel that was torched tableside was fun and the searing to order gave a freshly smoky flavor while the fish itself was cold so it had good contrast Sashimi mori - thick portioned cuts of good quality fish served on ice to keep cool and they're able to accommodate the amount to the number of people sharing; fish changes depending on availability but salmon, scallop, and yellowtail were good, wasn't crazy about the sweet soy sauce for the chutoro, sea bream not bad, bonito was smoky Kakuni pork belly taco - not overly heavy and really good flavors Corn ribs with shoyu butter - such a delicious glaze and crisp texture outside, super unique in flavor Hojicha creme brulee - really love hojicha and they infused it so well into the creme brulee with solid tea flavor that balanced really well so it wasn't too sweet Wagyu meatballs with onion soy reduction - personally love caramelized onions and they did such a good job getting the rich, sweet flavor out; it wasn't overwhelming since I broke down the meatball to soak up the sauce Edamame - sea salt and lime gave it good seasoning and portion was worth it for HH Honmaguro salmon - sashimi was good but pricey for the small portion Honmaguro bluefin tuna - sashimi was good but also pricey for the portion, though the cuts were thicker than the salmon so slightly preferable Poke taco - good amount of poke on a seaweed "tortilla" which was really worth it for HH Bluefin tuna nigiri set - good flavor and quality though toro chewier Premium nigiri set - absolute favorite from here though sadly was only a seasonal special; toro with caviar was amazing, sweet shrimp melted in my mouth with how tender it was and ikura was great, and the seared scallop was smoky with uni on top Negitoro with garlic bread - solid though prefer without cream and wasabi personally Karaage - super juicy and flavorful with dark meat used so it didn't need sauce Garlic shrimp - good with garlic chili crisp on top and great size Wagyu curry - good curry with a spicy kick that's not overpowering though the wagyu is ground beef so hard to distinguish the quality Dan dan noodles - prominent peanut flavor Omakase - Caesar's salad was great without cheese or heavy ranch and crisps on top for texture, seared cured mackerel always good, sashimi was thick cuts of sea bream, bonito, and bluefin tuna which were good, mussels and clams had great flavor from sauce, corn rib in shoyu butter and tempura battered shrimp with chili mayo was one of my favorite courses since the shoyu butter flavor and texture on the corn is so delicious and the shrimp was well cooked, the black cod was subtle in flavor and I was pleasantly surprised that it came with a sweet potato puree and roasted tomato as well as crispy skin and had that smokiness, wagyu meatball was great as usual, wagyu curry was super filling, miso soup great palate cleanser, and mango sticky rice sorbet was a bit too hard in texture for me personally and not enough mango Skip: mentaiko udon, sunomono cucumber salad with wakame seaweed, honmaguro salmon and bluefin tuna, dan dan noodles Would order again: HH edamame, HH poke taco, HH kakuni pork belly taco Must orders: hojicha creme brulee, aburi shime saba (seared cured mackerel), corn ribs, wagyu meatball (if you love caramelized onions), karaage I've been here four times now and have to say the $70 happy hour omakase (typically $80) was my favorite experience here so far although my favorite bites were from their seasonal special when the $20 nigiri premium set was offered. They have all day happy hour on Sundays and Mondays which is really nice to not worry about a cutoff and late night on Fridays and Saturdays from 9-10:30pm in addition to Tuesdays - Fridays 5-6:30pm and Saturdays 4-6pm. The omakase does end 30 min before happy hour does though!!

    Photos
    Shirubē - Side bar

    Side bar

    Shirubē - Aburi Shime Saba

    Aburi Shime Saba

    Shirubē - Sashimi Mori (best I've had in a long time!)

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    Sashimi Mori (best I've had in a long time!)

    JAPADOG California - japanese - Updated September 2026

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