The fish was fresh and delicious, and the workers were so welcoming and friendly. You can tell there's a lot of care put into the food and the overall experience. Definitely a great sushi spot. read more

Long time customer at Makoto. The place has been around since the 90s and for the longest time it has delivered in both food and service. My favorite items on the menu are the nigiris, specially the Red Snapper with Yuzu and the cured Japanese Mackerel. If in doubt ask Chef Rin what's the freshest fish of the day and he will never disappoint with his choices! Also I noticed they have renovated the interior, everything looks way more upscale while keeping the prices competitive. I appreciate how the ownership and the staff care about the place and the guests. read more

Such a good late-night sushi find! My friend and I were craving sushi pretty late and loved that this place was still open. The interior is really cute, great ambience, and everyone working there was super friendly. We ordered a few things to share and everything tasted really fresh. The spicy tuna hand roll was good and the fish was super fresh -- I just wish it had a little more spice. The scallop was probably my favorite, so fresh and seriously delicious. We also tried the Laker Roll and salmon roll and loved both. But the miso soup??? Loved loved loved . So simple but so good, especially for a late-night meal. It is a little on the pricier side, but the quality was definitely there. Fresh fish, good service, cute atmosphere, and being open late is a huge plus. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

Makoto Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

See all

I have enjoyed Makoto for many years, both dining in and ordering to-go or for delivery through one of the apps. Their food is very high quality and consistent, which is not something you can say about a lot of places these days. Their prices are medium to high, but you get what you pay for. Some of our favorites are the Yellowtail collar, their garlic pasta and their cucumber salad with crab. Their fried calamari, miso soup and sweet shrimp are also amazing. The items they offer are not only delicious but also creative and original, and they are open to special requests. By far one of the best Japanese restaurants here in the SFV. read more

Hands down one of the best sushi spots i've ever tried. the fish here tastes so fresh and delicious, it literally melts in your mouth!! been coming here for quite some time and i've never been disappointed with the quality of fish or the customer service. each employee is very caring and attentive to whatever it is you may need. tried many sushi places and nothing compares to here!! if you're looking for a new sushi spot this is definitely one you should put on your radar!! read more

See all

Makoto Sushi is hands down one of the best hole-in-the-wall sushi spots in Encino. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, and the quality is consistently excellent. Honestly, every roll on the menu is good, but our favorite is the 420 roll -- so good we order it every time. One thing we really appreciate is that they're happy to customize rolls, which makes it easy to get exactly what you're craving. My husband is a big sashimi fan and loves the king crab, green mussels, bluefin, and tuna belly -- all super fresh and consistently delicious. You can really taste the quality of the fish. Bonus points for being baby/kid friendly, which makes this an easy and stress-free spot for families too. No frills, no hype -- just great sushi done right. If you're in the area and want reliable, high-quality sushi, Makoto Sushi is a must. read more

See all

I had an incredible meal here from start to finish. The fish was fresh, beautifully presented, and melted in my mouth with every bite. You can really tell the chefs take immense pride in their craft and pay close attention to every detail. The atmosphere was welcoming and vibrant, and the service was amazing and attentive without feeling rushed. read more

Wow wow wow Found a new spot. Freshest sushi Best service sit at the bar and order direct. Very cool spot great design for authentic Japanese feel. I'm happy. Coming back with the fellas after the hike and trail cleanup tomorrow to enjoy some more of this great food. Oh yeah the portions are mouthful like milf tatas read more

See all

Enjoyed a nice dinner. While the selection of specialty is limited and a lot with imitation crab (which I'm not a fan of) the one we picked was unique and good. I especially liked the spicy tuna on rice cake. The salmon skin handroll was great as well. The staff were friendly and attentive. Free parking in the back! read more

See all

This is the best sushi spot in the valley solely for their service. Sushi is of course fresh and delicious, but the ladies that serve here make it such a pleasant experience! We love it here, it's our new go to for something cozy, local and feel-good! read more

Great sushi spot in the valley! We ordered several dishes. The salmon carpaccio was out of this world, we ended up ordering it twice. I really enjoyed the yellowtail carpaccio as well, though some others in our group didn't like as much. I liked that it was tangy from the citrus. We got several rolls... the BLCR, Rainbow, Laker, and Jazz Roll. All of them were good, Laker was a bit too creamy. I also got a tuna tataki salad which was really delicious, I'd definitely get it again. The prices are a little steep overall though. The service was good! The waitress was really patient with us as we kept ordering dish after dish throughout the meal. read more

Best sushi and service on Ventura blvd!!!! Chef is awesome and serves up the freshest most tastiest sushi I have ever had !!!

Makoto is one of those rare restaurants that feels like home the moment you walk in. The food is incredibly authentic and consistently delicious, but what makes this place truly special is the people. The owner is always so pleasant and welcoming -- all smiles every time I arrive -- and the staff is just as cheerful. My waitress even remembers my favorite table, which makes every visit feel personal. The food is outstanding. Their hard‑to‑find tempura soba is my absolute favorite -- perfectly cooked, comforting, and full of flavor. I'm also a huge sushi lover, and Makoto never disappoints. The fresh tuna sushi, salmon sushi, and rainbow roll are always top quality, beautifully prepared, and incredibly fresh. Even the oysters are consistently fresh and tasty. Makoto is the kind of place you keep coming back to because everything -- the food, the atmosphere, the people -- is just that good. I'll always eat here. Highly recommend. If you want a shorter version, a more emotional one, or a punchier, more energetic style for Yelp, I can shape it however you like. read more

Makoto Sushi - salmon egg sushi ikura - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

See all

As someone who truly loves dining out--and who spent years working in restaurants myself--I don't say this lightly: Makoto Sushi in Encino is everything hospitality should be. From the moment you walk in, you are treated with genuine warmth and respect. Ren, the owner, consistently expresses sincere gratitude for his customers, and it shows in every detail of how the restaurant is run. His appreciation is not performative--it is felt, and it sets the tone for the entire experience. The wait staff are impeccable--attentive without being intrusive, professional, kind, and incredibly consistent. You never feel rushed, you never feel overlooked, and your dining experience is always handled with care. As a former waitress myself (including my early years working at Rosti in the late 90s), I know how demanding restaurant work can be, and I make it a point to always tip generously in cash as a reflection of that respect. Makoto's team exemplifies the kind of service that deserves that appreciation every single time. And of course, the food is outstanding--beautifully presented, fresh, and consistently excellent. It's a place where you can relax, enjoy, and trust that you will be taken care of. After 30+ years of dining out all over Los Angeles, I can confidently say that Makoto Sushi is one of those rare establishments that truly values its guests and delivers an experience to match. After 30+ years of dining out across Los Angeles, I am proud to support businesses that genuinely care about their clients--and Makoto Sushi absolutely does -- Maureen Delaney read more

See all

It was overpriced and they overcharged me. I ordered a spicy salmon hand roll (just one) and they charged me 16 bucks for it. I paid it not wanting to seem cheap but now I'm upset I did. I should have spoke up. Be careful there. I went with my 10 year old son and we liked the fact we could walk from our house to it but they ripped me off. read more

Makoto is the best Sushi in the valley! Their sushi is so delicious and fresh. Their hospitality as well is amazing. They are so very attentive and want to make sure you enjoy your meal. looking forward to the next time! read more

Makoto Sushi is the best! We've been "regulars" for over 15 years. The extensive menu has something for everyone. Food is so fresh, creative and delicious. Very welcoming hospitality and exceptional service. The newly remodeled decor is beautiful. The owner, Rin, is so kind, we feel like family. Our go-to favorites are Hanabi, albacore sushi, Pendejo roll, White Ninja roll, salmon skin hand roll, soft shell crab and many more. Great for date night, special occasion or with a group. Fun to dine in, but also great for takeout. Check out their new website! We highly recommend Makoto! See you there! read more

I was in the hood and this cute unassuming sushi house stood out! I think they just repainted the outside to this bright Lucious red! Once inside we were warmly greeted by the sushi chefs and serving staff. We chose a high quality cool saki, Junmai Ginjo. It was light and refreshing. Great find! I wanted a teriyaki Steak combo and really loved it. Stand outs were the miso soup and the super crunchy veggie tempura. My GF loved her yellowtail carpaccio and her special tuna roll. All together it was a fun date night! read more

See all

Been coming here for 20 years. Specifically for the 4-21 roll! Sushi is always fresh and Wren always takes pride in his sushi creations. Best sushi in Encino! read more

Best sushi on Ventura Blvd!!! Hands down!!!! Service is always on point too.. Chef always serves up the freshest of the freshest and the tastiest of the tastiest!!!! 10 out of 10!!!! read more

The servers are kind and seem to help each other which is nice! The restaurant is decorated cute. The food was not great in my opinion. The spicy garlic edamame was the best thing on the table and it was slightly undercooked. The crispy rice spicy tuna had extremely hard rice that was white in color and the spicy tuna was not spicy. :( the white ninja roll was drowned in sauce making it unable to taste the fish or any ingredient of the roll. And the avocado roll's nori was not chewable (I did send this back and they took it off the check). read more

See all

Don't get turned off by the decor... Makoto decor is stuck in the 90's sushi diner atmosphere. Now that I go that off my chest... the sushi exceeded our expectations. We ordered the albacore/ crispy onions, yellow tail hand rolls and two other rolls. The sushi was so fresh, the service was fast and friendly and a last minute Saturday night sushi craving this place was perfect. read more

Makoto Sushi - Inside the restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

The food and staff here are OUTSTANDING. Ariel is the best chef in the world. We were looking for somewhere new one night and now we are loyal customers. Yellowtail, golden eye snapper, and tuna are awesome. So is the salmon collar. We found out new favorite place! read more

Been going there for about 10 years. Great food, great vibe, and great service. They always make me feel welcome every time I'm there

I had a very disappointing experience. I ate sushi from this restaurant and became extremely sick afterward with symptoms consistent with food poisoning. Beyond that, the quality of the food did not seem as fresh as I expected. Given my experience, I don't feel comfortable returning and would not recommend this restaurant. Food safety should always be a top priority, and unfortunately my experience left me concerned read more

This place is truly one of the best sushi places I've ever been to! The staff is amazing and super kind, the food quality is exceptional, and bonus; their thai tea is the best . Great atmosphere as well, everything looks very authentic read more

A favorite sushi spot of mine in the valley. Attentive service, excellent food. Low key vibes. Loved everything I ordered. Highly recommend. read more

Makoto Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

See all

Nice presentation on the rolls! This restaurant is cute and cozy, it's a skinny narrow restaurant with tables and seats at the bar. They get pretty busy which is a good sign- they've got fans! The food is delicious. The restaurant is clean. The bathroom is clean. Parking is limited but there's street parking. Sometimes that prevents me from returning to a business as often, but not for thus place. I recommend it! read more

Makoto Sushi - Casanova Roll - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

See all

One of our favorite sushi spots! Get the edamame! The sauce they use with it is amazing! Highly recommended.

Amazing food for the right price, great service and ambiance. Try the rolls and the hand rolls and the carpaccio.

I've never had a bad experience at this place. I try to make it a point to come here at least twice a year. I feel like I'm in Japan because it's our own little spot that never doesn't have a space for us. read more

Makoto Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Encino, California

We've been here a few times now and haven't had a bad experience. Food is good as is the customer service. Small location, nothing fancy but consistent. There are a couple of TVs so we were able to enjoy the basketball game while we dined, which was a pleasant surprise. read more

Went there for early dinner Food was great and service was nice as well. The restaurant is clean and designed in old school way which always fells comfy read more

Very cute hole in the wall sushi place! Nice staff and the food was good. Pricey for what it is though.

Prices are very high Does not match the food or experience Would not recommend unfortunately read more

Fire, one of my favorite spots in the valley. Everything is fire and their garlic pasta is the bomb!

My girlfriend has been dying to show me this place for the longest and she did not missssss!!! We ordered a few rolls but the rolls I posted were by far my favorite , this 420 roll is a blast in your mouth, the shrimp tempura is soft and not too crunchy, amazing roll Service is very friendly and fast Small to medium place , so I wouldn't recommend going with a big group Only downfall is that they're Kinda pricey, and for a person that can down several rolls then the check can start piling up !! read more

See all

I'd driven by this restaurant a few times and finally decided to try it on a recent Saturday night. Everything was delicious- spicy garlic edamame, oyster shooters, white ninja roll, salmon sushi and unagi. We sat at the bar, and the chef was so friendly and fun. We found the tv's a little annoying, as they were just showing depressing Spectrum news, not sports or anything fun, but overall we had a great time and look forward to returning. Great quality for the reasonable prices, too. read more

Some of the best sushi in town. The tuna Tataki is delicious. The Shishido mushrooms are also delicious. Some of the best albacore I've had.

ive been to a lot of sushi places, even some of the best spots vary a lot in quality based on time of day, customer load, etc. but this cozy spot tucked away on a little corner is far and away one of the best. salmon that melts in your mouth, bold flavorful albacore, and enoki mushrooms in the miso soup, my favorite little touch. sure, it's a little pricy, but you get what you pay for. this is a place ill always come back to read more