This restaurant has changed quite a bit since my first visit shortly after it opened. I recently met up with some former colleagues here for a reunion of sorts, sharing stories and reminiscing about old times. While many things have evolved over the years, one thing remains unchanged--the consistently excellent food and attentive service at Oba Sushi. It was great to see that the quality that made this place memorable in the first place is still going strong. For lunch, I ordered the Mango Tango Roll and the Healthy Roll, along with an unsweetened iced green tea. The Mango Tango Roll featured salmon, kani, mango, ume paste, sprouts, and oba leaves wrapped in cucumber and topped with a house-made mango sauce. Despite being a rice-free roll, it was surprisingly flavorful, refreshing, and satisfying. The Healthy Roll was equally enjoyable, combining avocado, cucumber, yamagobo, takuan, sprouts, mango, and brown rice wrapped in soy paper with sesame seeds. Both rolls were fresh, well-balanced, and packed with flavor. The unsweetened iced green tea was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. Refills were complimentary, and the hostess thoughtfully brought out a carafe of tea, making it easy to refill our glasses throughout lunch without having to wait. read more

I've been hoping to stop by for awhile now and I'm happy I did so yesterday... Arrived somewhere around noon, there was no wait, immediately seated, and ordered within 5-10 minutes. Ordered the lunch special sushi box, it was fresh and well portioned. Service was good and the overall restaurant ambiance was quiet, in a good way. I would return next time I'm in the area. read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place does Japanese AND Thai food?! So let's see if they're pretty good eh or ew. I got their spicy tuna and imitation crab crispy rice, dragon roll, and chicken pad Thai to try. The spicy tuna was smooth, not fishy, not really spicy, and pretty limey. The imitation crab mixture was mellow, not fishy or stringy, and was a little mayoy. The rice on the bottom was lightly crispity crunchity and chewy. The dragon roll was filled with more of that imitation crab mix and crunchy briney not fishy masago and was topped with a thin layer of creamy avocado, fatty skin on eel, and sweet drizzle. Wasn't the biggest fan of the eel skin. The pad Thai came fresh crunchy iceberg lettuce topped with like a peanut sauce dressing. The pad Thai itself was nicely sweet, savory, and tangy and had chewy springy rice noodles, crunchy bean sprouts and a decent amount of a bit dry chicken breast, egg, and bean curd. They're family owned, everyone here is super nice, and everything tasted really fresh, clean, and not fishy which I like. Overall this place is lowkey pretty good. Crispy rice $8.50 Dragon roll $19 Chicken pad Thai $21.50 read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Instagram/YouTube/TikTok/Yelp/Google Maps: @AC9MOO - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Finally found a restaurant that serves gluten/free tempura and gluten-free noodles! Bring your own gluten-free sauces because the miso soup, tempura dipping sauce and teriyaki sauce have gluten. They do have tamari sauce which is gluten-free. I had the gluten-free tempura and it was delicious! My husband had the regular tempura and he said it was delicious. Lunch specials but they serve sushi and thai tapas too! The owner and server are very friendly and attentive. The dining room is very clean! They also have a cute display of "kaeru" frogs. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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We had an absolutely lovely meal here! We came as soon as they opened and the staff were so fun and friendly. They have a great and diverse menu focusing on both Japanese and Thai food. Both were great. We had the yellow curry, see ew noodles, kumo roll, dragon roll, miso eggplant, tom yum wings and mango sticky rice and I can truly say they were all bomb. Somehow the miso eggplant was one of the best eggplant dishes I've ever had. It melted in your mouth! Unfortunately we don't live close by or I'd go every week! read more

Mixed feelings about this spot. I like the concept and option to have both sushi and Thai food together in one spot. That way I can either satisfy both cravings of mine or accommodate friends who always want one of the options. I thought the best dish was hands down the Pad Thai. It was perfect. I liked the firmness of the noodles and the flavor was right on point. The Sensu Sashimi and Richie Rich roll were pretty disappointing especially for the price. If it wasn't for the price it would have hit the spot enough to satisfy my cravings. The quality just isn't enough to justify the price. The Kee mowl noodle dishes were okay. The semi cooked cherry tomatoes did not go well but at least added nutrients and fiber. The service was friendly....but super slow. We arrived at 6:30 pm. It took a bit to get our order and it was over an hour before our food arrived ... My friend's bedtime is around 9-9:30 pm so she definitely was hungry and tired which made the meal a bit less enjoyable. It makes me concerned to come back to try dishes on their lunch menu even though the prices are quite attractive. read more

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The food is fabulous. The selection is wide and the service is warm and inviting. We have come to this establishment many times over the past years and we have never been disappointed. read more

Food and service were excellent. They've been around for a while so they have long time regulars. Don't expect too much with the ambiance but everything else was amazing. read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas was just okay. The sushi rolls were good, but nothing particularly memorable or worth going out of the way for. The biggest disappointment was the service. Although the restaurant wasn't closing for a couple of hours, we felt rushed throughout our meal. Our server also wasn't very familiar with the menu. When I asked which rolls included uni or scallops, she wasn't able to answer or offer any recommendations, which was surprising for a sushi restaurant. Overall, the food was decent, but the rushed service and lack of menu knowledge made the experience less enjoyable. I might give it another try in the future, but there are other sushi spots I'd choose first. read more

Oba is my Go To! Food is consistently fresh. You can taste that the ingredients are straight from the farmers/seafood market to the table. Quality is exceptional and prices are reasonable. Owner, Kunche is hands on greeting customers and making sure the food is served hot and delicious. Food, drinks and service are always excellent! read more

Yummmmmm! They have an amazing selection of tapas and sushi. Everything is so fresh and delicious! The service is friendly and prompt. You can make reservations online as well. There is ample parking in their lot or on the street. What a wonderful neighborhood gem! read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Clean, the best service. LOVE THEIR THAI FOOD. Can't get enough. Prices are good! It's my go to. Mark, Chan, Lilly, Cat and Kunji are the best! read more

I've been a customer of Oba for about 20 years and have seen them go through all the transitions and moving spaces etc. I've been there alone, married, married with kids, with friends, celebrations etc. Tonight my kids and I went after a long day and we were treated terribly. There's only one waiter who's always been gracious and kind consistently and even knows what my kids order. There's an employee who was happily giving all the young customers panda cookies. She's been there for years but has never gone above & beyond for my kids. Maybe she's racially profiling or who knows but that's what it feels like because aside from race what makes us so different? As my son points out "we are humans too". Basically an adult behaving like a child because who is comfortable excluding children? The point is my kids noticed and asked me why it felt so terrible to be ignored and it didn't feel good to be there. This was a stab to my heart. They serviced a table that arrived after us and brought out their meal before ours. My kids were tired & hungry and I too am tired and was sitting in my own personal grief and didn't have the energy to make it an issue at the moment. I expressed to 3 different waitresses that our food was taking longer than usual and the excuse we were given was the kitchen was slow but yet the table that arrived after us was served & serviced with no issues. We are heartbroken to say the least. Signed, Lost customer read more

We had a great dinner, enjoyed the food, the staff and the service. I will come back,

One of my go to spots for Sushi is Oba. The sushi is always fresh, and the service is fantastic. Plus, it's one of the few sushi places where you can get a cocktail or a glass of bubbly. My friends were in town and wanted sushi, so I brought them here. We ordered an assortment of sushi and a few dishes. It was a delightful feast. Our bellies were full and we left feeling happy and satisfied. read more

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You know that show Cheers? I realize I'm dating myself lol That's what it's like going to eat there They greet you with such warmth that you can't help but come again. But that's not the only reason we always go back; we've been eating here for years. Sorry, in can't share what I order there cuz they would immediately recognize who the author is, so to maintain my anonymity. When I come, they already know what I want! It's pretty casual which I love; you don't have to get dressed up to get good food and good service. It can get a little loud but that's because they have TVs and when we are cheering for the local team winning the World Series, yay Dodgers, you can imagine it can get loud. There's on site parking that they share with a could of other businesses but we've never had difficulty with parking. I think there's might be parking spots in the back. This is my neighborhood restaurant, they've been there for years, and there's a reason why. Delicious Japanese/Thai selections, adult drinks, dessert, and fantastic service and parking!!! "Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name" but not in an annoying way lol read more

We had an outstanding experience at Oba yesterday celebrating a family birthday. The staff was extremely attentive & accommodating to the point they opened an hour early to seat our large party on their patio in order to provide exceptional service. All of our appetizer, drink & food orders were served quickly & accurately, even though we were milling around & in some cases switching seats. Our party also included young children & teenagers who were entertained and engaged by some staff members. Deserving particular note was our main server, Chan. She did an amazing job of keeping up with all of this & even customizing orders in response to our requests. Very well done & highly recommended! read more

The staff here are incredible!!! They are all so helpful and welcoming towards their customers - the menu is extensive and everything I've tried tastes incredible. The atmosphere is only brought up by everybody's sunny dispositions. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Pasadena! read more

I came here years ago, and to be honest, I don't remember much from that visit. But the wife and I were in the area recently around dinner time and figured why not give it another shot? We were one of the first ones in right when they opened, so we got seated right away. The menu was pretty extensive, but everything sounded amazing. We leaned into the 'Tapas' part of the name and ordered a bunch of small plates, along with a couple orders of sushi. EVERYTHING and i mean EVERYTHING was delicious. I was genuinely surprised at how good it all was. So much so, we came back the following week to try the dishes we didn't get to the first time. Oba is officially in our night-out rotation now, and I'm really glad we gave it another chance (even if it took a few years)! read more

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Oba Sushi is our local restaurant. We love the friendly atmosphere where they actually remember her name and remember your order every time you come in. We really don't eat a lot of their sushi, but we do enjoy their Thai food tremendously. They're pad thai and yellow curry is to die for! Also their gyoza is epic. It's a great restaurant with a great and friendly staff. Here's to many more enjoyable meals at Oba! read more

Great sushi and Great service, fantastic family owned restaurant, you won't be disappointed!!!!*****

Great selection of Thai and Japanese items, great for meeting (I went for business meeting), family, or casual date. Plenty of options to choose from with a variety of food preferences friendly for vegetarian (may need to ask for gluten-free sensitivity). Quiet but not empty, and staff was overall friendly with quick service. read more

Each time I make my way out to Pasadena, my boyfriend proposes we try Oba and I'm so glad we finally did! Upon entering, the staff greeted us and we were quickly seated. This homestyle restaurant was beautifully decorated. Our servers were friendly and frequently topped off our waters. We ordered the Thai dumplings and (not pictured) a cucumber salad. The dumplings were savory while the salad was crisp and fresh. We shared the (not pictured) crab fried rice, which included our choice of a side salad or soup. For our main course, we ordered the salmon sashimi as well as the yellowtail belly, red snapper, and bluefin tuna sushi. The yellowtail belly was melt-in-your-mouth good. The snapper was topped with chili powder and yuzu. And per the chef's recommendation, the bluefin tuna was rubbed with garlic, wasabi, and soy sauce. I'm so glad we found our new sushi spot! read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Thai Dumpling - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Walked in during lunch menu time. The place was neither slow nor busy. I pretty much was able to sit wherever I wanted. The setting is cute enough inside. I didn't notice any outside seating. Service was fast and very friendly. I had a Kirin on draft and the teriyaki beef with spicy tuna roll combo from the lunch menu. It came with miso soup, rice and edamame. That beer was ICE COLD and sooooo good! The food was not hot. Rather, it was kinda lukewarm. The beef was tender. However, it kinda reminded me of frozen and microwaved beef. Nonetheless, I was hungry and enjoyed the meal overall. The spicy roll was delicious. As was the miso soup. The portion was pretty average but that was PERFECT for a mid-day meal. I wanted to love this place. However, I can definitively say that I like it and will give it a try for dinner at a later date. read more

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More of a 3.5 rating overall. My husband and I have been curious to try Oba Sushi & Thai Tapas but never got around to it so I came with a gf instead for our monthly dinner - I'm not sure if they have a happy hour, but they do have a pretty extensive drink menu that I would like to try in the future (if I get to). It does seem like Oba is frequented by a lot of regulars, which does give it a homey feel. My gf and I ordered everything to share since we were curious about both their sushi and Thai offerings: -Thom Yum Wings, while the wings themselves were good I probably wouldn't order these again. The flavor was a bit sour and sweet, I would have wanted more salty. Maybe I'll get their Oba Wings next time. -Crispy Pork Yum, a light lemon-ey salad with crispy pork bits and Thai flavoring. I actually really liked this dish. -Salmon Sushi, salmon was fresh and decent, but each order only comes with 2 pcs so I think their sushi actually adds up quickly price-wise...this is partially why I knocked off a half star is because I feel like there's other places with better price point or bang for your buck when it comes to sushi. -Donburi with Chicken Cutlet (other choice is Chicken or Beef), comes with miso soup and salad. They were kind enough to give my gf and I a second bowl of miso soup for free and told us it was refillable! Though, one bowl for each of us was plenty. I thought the donburi was filling and decent! Service was fair, and the servers were great. Always quick to check if we needed refills on our hot water, etc. They do close early on the weekdays, so it was a little bit of a bummer since my gf and I were chit-chatting and catching up. Parking is shared with other stores & restaurant in the same plaza. Restrooms were clean. read more

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When you can't decide between Thai or Japanese is where Oba Sushi Thai Tapas comes in. I've always passed by the sign on the way to the 110, but never fully explored until last night. Here's what we tried: - Eggplant Delight: Basil eggplant stir-fry is my favorite. Simple, piping hot and well-flavored without being overly salty. - Assorted Sushi: Yellowtail was my favorite by far due to its smooth texture. Jumbo scallop was fresh and well-seasoned. Unagi was perfectly charbroiled albeit a bit smaller than other places. There is an assorted 8 pc selection under "Entrees" if you know where to look. We will try that next time. - Thom Yum Wings: Piping hot and served with crispy kale. I loved the tangy, sweet and sticky, pungent sauce on top of the drumstick only wings. These were cut lollipop style. Service was good as they kept checking on everything. Overall, we could have done without the wings but we were so hungry! read more

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Had this place for the first time recently after driving by it for years and I am so mad at myself for not trying to sooner. The food was so great and the service was amazing! The severs, managers, chefs, and owners greeted every single customer. The atmosphere was top tier! I enjoyed everything we ordered, the Don buri was huge! Definitely enough to share. The tempura was so crispy and light it was perfect. I'm definitely coming back to try their lunch menu. read more

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This has become my GO TO sushi spot. I've been here several times. Once with two friends seated outside, second time as a solo diner, and third with my cousin. I loved the menu options, both sushi and Thai! The pictures don't do it justice. Sushi was fresh and flavorful. I've never been disappointed with any selections. I also trust their suggestions. In addition to the food, service was impeccable. This is a place that remembers your name. After my second stop, Lily remembered me! Customers come in and everyone knows to greet and ask about family. Pro tip: call in a reserve a seat/table. EVery time I've gone, they've been busy. read more

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For a long time, I have been owing a five-star review to Oba Sushi Thai Tapas in Pasadena. They offer an amazing selection of sushi and tapas. It's hard to define what my favorite is. We have probably tried about 60% of their extensive and exquisite menu in no fewer than 15 visits- it is hard not to repeat once you try something-, and we always have the same level of satisfaction. All the food is super fresh. The flavor of everything is unique, and the staff is unbeatable. They always receive you as if you were visiting your close family. It looks like it's not a coincidence that the name is Oba. In Japan, Oba is used for close aunts--an affectionate suffix that reduces formality--and that's the way they make you feel. The staff is professional and warm; all of them at some time come to your table and friendly ask you how everything is. Lily is beyond lovely; she is able to remember even your name and your preferred dish or drinks, like what happens with my Calamari Fritti, which is the best in the entire Los Angeles area--just in case you are a fan like me. The rolls are hard to choose from, but if you haven't tried the Oba Roll, that is a must. What truly sets Oba apart is their impeccable attention to detail in fish selection and knife skills--each piece is cut with precision. Additionally, their rice is perfectly seasoned with the ideal balance of vinegar, temperature, and texture, which any sushi connoisseur knows is the foundation of great sushi. This is my favorite sushi place ever, and I consider myself a sushi lover and, let's say, kind of a sushi connoisseur. It's hard to go wrong with anything at Oba Sushi. Just try it, and you will never be disappointed. read more

Went here a few weeks ago and just remembered I had to post a review! AMAZING. Service, food, ambience, everything!! Everything we ordered had so much flavor it's insane. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner any day. Here's some pics below of just some of the things we ordered read more

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Came in to Oba for a little dinner after a long weekend. Ordered a cocktail. Nothing special. We ordered the tom yum soup. It was limey and not much else. We also ordered some sushi rolls, salad and some wings. We sipped on our not "get againable" soup and waited. Then we waited. No one cleared our soup bowls. No one came with water. Wait people walked right by us. It was about 40 minutes. Finally we put enough cash down and walked out. No one seemed to notice or care. It was weird. Would never go back. read more

Tasty Japanese food and sushi. Good specialty rolls. On a previous visit, I had the pad thai and pumpkin curry, very good. I had the chicken katsu and miso eggplant. Food is good and conveniently close. Good job Oba! read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Eggplant Miso - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Really enjoy Oba, we only ever go maybe a few times a year but every time we've gone we're never disappointed and always say to ourselves Why don't we come more often!! Highly recommend! read more

This place was super interesting so I had to try it. Thai and Japanese? Their entire menu looks really good. They have all the fixings of Thai and Japanese dishes. They are located in a plaza so easy parking! So far it's still outdoor dining for them even though their are places that does indoor dining. My boyfriend and I ordered yellowtail jalapeño, papaya salad, and wonton soup. Yellowtail was fresh love the hint of a light yuzu sauce, simple yet delish. Papaya salad was pretty good as well ( you can adjust how spicy you want) but it was too saucy for me the whole salad was drenched in juice. I prefer mine with less juice in the salad. The wonton soup was super light and comforting which we loved Overall this place is pretty good, fresh and great quality but I feel hesitant to come back because of the price, it's to steep for what it really it is that's why we didn't order that much. 3 appetizers turn to 35$ which wasn't worth it in my eyes. read more

Oba Sushi Thai Tapas - Papaya Salad, Wonton Soup, Yellowtail Jalapeno Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came here with my friend to try out their Tapas! Their lunch special was very tasty! We tried the mochi ice cream for desert and really enjoyed that as well. Price is amazing and the team was very nice and attentive. This is a very cute family owned business. I will definitely be coming back here again. There is a very diverse menu, excited to try out the other dishes next time! read more

2.5 stars Customer service is good. Indoor and outdoor dining available. I should have known better. I hate fusion food restaurants. But I went... for the cause. To get this review. Besides the fusion concept, why the low stars? The real reasons I won't return? Food is overpriced, portion is small, and food overall lacks real freshness. It's pretty clear that they're catering to a more general palette here. When an Asian food establishment literally gives you one cooked scoop of rice for your side of rice, not only are they being stingy but often times their food is not authentic either. So, if you're just looking for some basic, subpar, typical Asian fusion food then sure this place will do... I imagine this restaurant is a hit amongst the average non-authentic Asian Cuisine and food diner. But for us, it's definitely a miss. It's the first and last time. If you're in the area, there are some good Asian restaurants in Old Town Pasadena (no not Enya Sushi). Better to try your luck over there. Other than that, back to San Gabriel we go... read more

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I'm not a huge fan of Thai food but I really enjoyed every dish we ate here. We ordered their papaya salad, larb, green curry with brisket, and eggplant delight. You can adjust the level of spiciness for each plate. We asked for medium heat for most but that was a bit spicy for some of us. Service was fast and friendly. There is plenty of parking in the lot. read more

I see you, Oba! My take-out experience with them was nothing short of fantastic. My husband and I were getting tired of eating our quarantine non-perishable food and were craving sushi. Put in an order online with Oba to pick up. Order was ready on time. They were running with a skeleton crew, so I was impressed with their timing. One waitress double checked the order. The owner brought it to me and set it on the table for me to pick up and take home (she did not hand it directly to me). They looked like they had their system down. They got the order perfect- we had plenty of garlic, soy sauce, wasabi, chopsticks and napkins. Quality is a given at Oba. We ordered the garlic ribs appetizer, sushi combo, and the Red Sea roll! All the pieces of nigiri had its own special flavoring and was so fun to try. The Red Sea roll is very unique, especially with the acidic green sauce which was a nice touch. And those crispy ribs were an great hearty starter to a lighter sushi meal. The food was so cute and made me feel like I was at a fancy dine-in restaurant! When we opened everything up, the sushi was looking picture perfect, so I had to take a few photos :) I loved the minimal packaging too! One of my least favorite things about take out is all the packaging you have to toss, and Oba does a great job of keeping it sanitary and eco friendly, too. I think during these times you have to be very careful with how you're exchanging goods, especially food. The way my owner handled and delivered the food to me made me feel very safe and confident that they use the most hygienic methods possible to deliver quality to their guests. Two thumbs way up, Oba! I hope you guys thrive in all this madness. read more

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A neighborhood Thai/Japanese restaurant. I come here for only one dish. The sukiyaki. It's done to my satisfaction with the owners cooperation. Good service and ambiance is good. read more

This restaurant used to be called Oba Sushi Izakaya. It must have changed ownership. Now they serve thai food as well. It has been a very long time since I have eaten here with the original restaurant name. From memory, I usually order chirashi and order nigiri. The food is descent, not anything to get excited about, and the service is good too. Now, the menu prices are pretty pricey, and I'm not a fan of having two different cuisines in the same building. Anyway, if you live nearby, try it out and tell me what you think. read more