I loved how easy it was to make reservations online for dinnertime! It's quite a small and cozy little spot, and there are a good amount of parking spots in the lot. I think they're trying to go for more of a trendy vibe to the place, but because you see straight into the parking lot and the street from the windows inside, it gives a very casual feel. If they had closed up the blinds, I think it would feel more trendy and a little more elevated. Servers were very attentive, friendly, and quick. I ordered an Apple Koso drink and it was delicious!! I would've ordered another one, but it was a bit expensive. Got a few hand rolls, but was unfortunately a bit disappointed. The only one that I really liked was the Wagyu roll. The fish in the rolls weren't as flavorful and rich as I would have liked for the price I paid. I would come back again but only for the Koso drink and the Wagyu roll. read more

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We came here on a whim on a Saturday and it was a very pleasant surprise. We were seated immediately, and food was served very quickly, which was nice because we had our baby with us. The menu is very easy to understand and is just a combination of the same ingredients with different toppings. The food was outstanding and we would certainly come back. read more

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I want to like it but the main star of the show is underwhelming and uninspired. Sake selection is great, they have several non typical sake from Japan including my favorite, Shichida. The side dish quality and variety is on point. Everything was tasty and presented beautifully. My problem is really with the "hand rolls". Don't get me wrong, the staff is as authentic as it gets and quite nice. The fish is fresh. The seasonings are too simple and homogenized. The rolls are really just nigiri inside of an oversized piece of nori. It doesn't really feel like I'm experiencing a hand roll or a piece of nigiri. I love the taste of nori but nothing really feels intentional. That brings me to the uninspired part. The hand roll menu is basically an unnecessarily redundant list of fish/protein options with the same 4 or 5 preparations. I can understand wanting to give the customer the option of preparations, but it just doesn't feel like you can slap the same 5 seasonings on all your rolls and call it a day. No options for yuzu kosho, shiso, konbu, Ume, etc nothing particularly interesting. Nothing feels intentionally crafted to go together outside of being given options to choose from. As a nitpick the rice wasn't particularly warm and the nori is too long and not very crispy. Maybe that expectation is too high for the price so I didn't deduct much because of that. If I'm going to receive simple nigiri with very simple toppings, there is no reason I would pick this place over Waka Sakura which would be cheaper and have more options. The unfortunate part is that everything else here is actually quite good. I can't exactly recommend a sushi restaurant for the side dishes and sake though. Systemically, ordering here could be a lot easier with paper or table side tablets. If I want to order 10 individual and different rolls, it's kind of hard to remember each individual fish and preparation for multiple people. It's very inconvenient to have to memorize so much while waiting for the waitress. The place would also do quite well with a house sampler. Even though most of the options are identical, there is simply a lot to mix and match. Just food for thought. read more

Oh Banzai - Quail eggs, bamboo shoots, pickles - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Oh Banzai is a cozy spot with great attention to detail. The space is small but doesn't feel cramped. They also have colorful jars of fruit syrups lining the shelves that add a fun splash of color. I started with the oden, which came in a light, flavorful fish broth. I personally think purse-shaped fish cake are so fun - theirs came with mochi inside--chewy and soft. The spicy mustard on the side adds a little kick that breaks up the mildness of the dish. Eat a spoonful, and clear your sinuses. Their main offering is handrolls. These are the ones I tried: * Scallop + Jalapeño Ponzu - The scallops were very fresh and sweet. The ponzu came in gelatin form which was interesting. * Yellowtail + Grated Daikon Ponzu - The ponzu came in gelatin form again. The daikon was pretty watery. * Salmon + Onion Crunchy Chili - I tasted a lot of onion crunch, but not a lot of chili. * Negi Toro - Hard to get Negi Toro wrong. No complaints. All the fish were very fresh, and the mix and match toppings added a nice element of customization. The Apple Koso drink was sweeter than expected and didn't have a lot of apple flavour. I would've preferred more tartness or fruitiness. Still a yummy drink overall, and I would be interested in trying the other flavours. With a lot of competition in LA in the hand roll space, I think this spot does a good job carving a niche for itself with the Oden and Koso drinks. read more

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We popped into Oh Banzai on Saturday for lunch with the baby. The restaurant was very clean and a little dimly lit. They were very accommodating to us since we walked over with the baby in the stroller. They came by and took our order very quickly and the food came out within 5 minutes after that. I had the lunch plate with Negi Toro, Onion crunch spicy oil salmon, Eel shichimi, Eel cucumber, and Teriyaki snow crab. The food was fresh and tasted great. We will definitely be back! read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Charming spot with cute deco and great service. We got a few rounds of hand rolls and enjoyed most of them.

Very tasty and a great alternative to your general sushi and poke spots around. The rolls are all creative and interesting, and worth a stop! My recommendation would be to grab a couple hand rolls here and then hit some of the other spots nearby. Primo candidate for bang bangs! The wagyu and the yellowtail were my favorites. read more

Very nice a different approach on sushi. Different way of making sushi . Also a different way of presenting the roll sushi. Definitely a new and different place but be prepared to spend 75 - $100 a piece. The only thing that caused me to say really they charge for ginger read more

Love the concept! Great fresh seafood. So many choices to customize to your liking. Don't miss the premium sake flight and the crunchy garlic chili edamame. So good! Great environment, comfortable clean vibe. I recommend! read more

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I can't say enough great things about this place! The atmosphere is bright, upbeat, and spotless -- the kind of space that instantly feels welcoming. After a round of golf, a friend and I stopped in and tried the tofu with cheese (so unique and delicious!) along with a few assorted sushi rolls that were incredibly fresh and full of flavor. We finished with their lattes for dessert -- the perfect way to end an amazing meal. I first visited during their soft opening, and it's been wonderful to see how far they've come with a full menu and bar now in place. Everything about this restaurant feels thoughtfully done. If you haven't been yet, you absolutely need to stop by -- you'll be glad you did! read more

I stopped by for their lunch special. You get to pick the sushi you want--great value and super fresh. Here's what I ordered: Negi Toro - buttery and flavorful Salmon with Onion & Crunchy Chili Oil - standout combo, a little heat and a lot of texture Yellowtail with Daikon - light and clean Shrimp with Spicy Mayo - classic and well-balanced Snow Crab with Teriyaki - rich and slightly sweet, one of my favorites The staff was incredibly sweet and took time to explain the menu to me, which I appreciated. The space is on the smaller side--tight layout with booths and chairs--but honestly, it added to the cozy vibe. There's a bar area too if you're looking to grab a drink (I didn't try any, but the menu looked diverse). It feels like they're still in the early stages of their business, but there's a lot of heart here. Clean bathroom, easy parking lot access, and a well-priced lunch special? I'll definitely be back. read more

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The food was fresh and delicious. I really enjoyed the wakame (seaweed) between each handball. The place is small, so its gets crowded during lunch hour and service slows down;however, its worth trying. They take lunch reservation and I highly recommend to do so. read more

Super expensive and ordering was confusing. They charge you per slice of sushi not by the roll. I ordered 3 different types of sushi thinking each would come with 4 pieces but no, it was really just the one piece LOL. I told the server it was my first time there and he failed to explain how it worked. read more

We ate here for lunch and it didn't disappoint. The place is cozy and clean. The staff are friendly and helpful. Our order came so quick. We ordered 2 sets of the 3 piece hand roll meals. It comes with a miso soup and a side dish (radish with miso) . The handrolls we ordered are scallops with crunchy onions, scallops with teriyaki sauce, salmon with crunchy onions, tuna with crunchy onions and shrimp with crunchy onions. The fishes are fresh and delicious. Also, I think it is a good amount of rice on each hand rolls not overwhelming. They recommended Kozo for drinks and it is refreshing. We enjoyed are meals and can't wait to come back again. read more

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Quality of fish is very fresh and flavors overall were better than expected. The free oden appetizer that they provide during soft opening is also delicious - light and good umami. Service is friendly and attentive. Small, intimate, cozy spot for quick lunch or dinner. Will def be back read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Oh! BANZAI might honestly deserve a Michelin Star. No joke. I hadn't eaten real food in five days because of a wisdom tooth removal. I saw a TikTok about this place and the second I could chew again, I went straight to Oh! BANZAI. It was so worth it. First thing I had was the uni and ikura hand roll and it was insane. My eyes literally rolled back. Total foodgasm. I got the sake flight too. It came with three kinds: Fukuju, Sawanoi, and my favorite, Suehiro. All of them were super smooth and paired really well with the food. Then I went for it and ordered five more hand rolls: * Toro (aburi) and ikura * Scallop and uni * Salmon and ikura * A5 Wagyu and uni * Negi-toro with uni and ikura Every single one was amazing. I tried to savor them but honestly, I could've kept eating forever. I asked if they had dessert and even though it wasn't on the menu, they brought out vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Simple but hit the spot. Also, shoutout to Misuzu who was super friendly and answered all my questions. I'm already planning to go back. Still need to try the Carpaccio and the Oden. Can't wait. read more

Oh Banzai - Sake Flight: Fukuju, Sawanoi, Suehiro - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Sushi handrolls; although sushi tacos is more descriptive. But great value! Very fresh fish; and good portions. Price is reasonable. The only improvement would be switching to a different nori that is easier to bite; the nori was a bit thick and hard to bite off. Overflowing ikura was very descriptive and really awesome. Delicious! read more

Oh Banzai - The five piece handrolls! Scallop with spicy mayo; hamachi ponzu; teriyaki salmon; negintoro; hamachi teriyaki.... - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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I was so hungry that I completely forgot to get a photo (sorry). We got the lunch special for $45 and it came with 6 hand rolls, simmered beef, a desert, and a koso drink. Everything on my plate was delicious. I had a grapefruit koso with sparkling water. It was lightly sweetened and really refreshing. The simmered beef with tofu was absolutely delicious (like dream worthy). I had all 3 tuna rolls, eel, crab, and albacore. Every single roll was fresh, flavorful, and tasty. The zenzai dessert made of sweet beans and baby mochi was so good. It's super cute inside but it's cozy, so it might be tough with kiddos. But it's perfect for a date night. We will for sure be back! read more

Pretty underwhelming for what it is. The nori had the texture of leather, the sushi rice did not have enough vinegar, and the fish wasn't thawed properly so it had a "watery" texture and bland flavor. They also overcooked my grilled yellowtail roll. I tried very hard to like it but I'm struggling to. Honestly, if they had grilled the nori a little to help it crisp up, added more vinegar to the sushi rice, kept the rice slightly warmer, and thawed the fish properly, it would've brought it to the next level. I love the concept, but the execution just wasn't there. The koso drink, uni roll, and the A5 Wagyu roll were the only things I liked. read more

We tried out this new trendy local sushi restaurant. They specialize in hand rolls. They apparently only have omakase during lunchtime so we had to order a variety of rolls a la carte. The hand rolls were very different with sauces and toppings which are not traditional. It was more like fusion sushi. We sat at the bar and the service was quick. There were some appetizers and salads on the menu. It had a modern feel to it. The food was moderately priced and you can have different amounts of rice (single or double portion....we opted for the low carb option). We started with a carpaccio appetizer which was small and a variety of sashimi. My favorite hand rolls were the tuna Yamakake with wasabi, eel with egg, , salmon with crispy chili pepper, and Ikura overload. The yellowfin with jalapeño was not bad either. It was an interesting experience and takes on sushi. If you enjoy traditional sushi, this might not be your cup of tea. read more

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We stopped in here to check out their soft opening during date night. Service was super friendly and the hand rolls were super tasty. We'll definitely stop back in! read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

I found my new favorite place in my neighborhood! The free oden was so good!! There were so many choices of hand rolls that it was hard to decide. Definitely try the eel & egg and lemon koso! I'll comeback for lunch time soon. read more

Oh Banzai - Eel&egg - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

I went here after work with my sister and we sat at the bar. They asked if we had reservations so keep that in mind! We got lucky! Everything was so good and fresh and the service was good too! Stand-out hand rolls were the tuna and snow crab! Yummy! We also loved the Waygu carpaccio! I want to come back already and try more rolls but probably during their lunch special! read more

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Dear Me, Finally we made it here. We ordered 6 handrolls, next time no need. Maybe u can try the specialty ones, but they look really expensive. On another note, sunomono was good but no need to get again. But definitely !must! get the Kagoshima A5 Carpaccio, it's 6 big wonderful bites worth the money . Maybe try the other non-hand roll items instead. read more

I love the menu, the ambiance and style in the restaurant, and the service! Another gem in the South Bay.

When we first came to Oh! BANZAI, we were blown away -- everything was amazing. The wagyu literally melted in my mouth, and the toro and uni were super fresh and delicious. But honestly... after that first time, things just went downhill. Every time we came back, the quality dropped more and more. The wagyu got tough and chewy, the toro wasn't fresh anymore, and it just didn't feel worth it. I gave it another shot today and only ordered wagyu, toro, and eel à la carte -- what a disappointment. The wagyu was so hard to chew and even had a bit of a gamey smell, and the toro was just plain bad. For such high prices, the quality is nowhere near what it used to be. Service doesn't help either. The staff changes almost every time I visit, and once a server even asked me if I wanted the check while I was still chewing. Super rude. It's really sad because this place used to be so good. I really hope one day they can get back to the standard they had in the beginning... but for me, I won't be coming back. read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Came with my husband. Amazing hand sushi. Order one of each and didn't disappoint. They have this sparkling fermented drink that went very well with the food. I felt like I was at a Michelin star restaurant with the amazing food and service they provided. Will def come back with friends. read more

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The quality of the food here is HIGH QUALITY. The fish tasted so fresh, there was no fishiness at all, and everything was soooo yummy!! I came here for my birthday. It's a small but cute and cozy spot and the workers are all very sweet:) the drinks were amazing too. Must try!! read more

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my ring was stolen within 15 minutes in this restaurant -- staff refused to provide camera footage, refuse to help despite active police report. I lost my Vivienne Westwood ring in the restroom on April 11th. It was a very meaningful ring for me.Within just 15 minutes, it was already gone -- clearly taken by someone. I immediately informed the staff and requested they check the surveillance footage, which would have easily identified who entered the restroom during that time. They refused to cooperate. I filed a police report that same night (case number provided to the restaurant in writing) and was promised the owner would call me back the next day. On day 4, I called again and was told the owner was in Japan and would definitely call me back that evening. That call never came. It has now been 5 days and despite multiple follow-ups, I have never received a single callback. Something that could have been resolved so easily with basic cooperation has been met with complete indifference and broken promises. I strongly caution others. read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Love it!!! Came here twice in the same week with different friends for their lunch special. It's such a deal, $25 for 5 rolls with soup and a little side veggie. You get to pick from so many options and I really like that you can upgrade for some more premium rolls if you'd like. Super fresh. You can make a reservation. Can't wait to come again read more

Great place to eat, great quality food, great service, no long waits and they're open late what's their not to like about Oh Banzai. Highly recommend!! read more

Food. Service. Presentation. 5 stars! I've never had sushi this fresh. 6 of us came in with little notice. We were all impressed by the quality of the food and the attentive service by the staff. We came in hoping for a nice meal and left with a wonderful memory. Thank you so much for a very enjoyable dining experience. Also, the Gozenshu Bodaimoto Nigori is my new favorite sake: what a treat! Thank you so much!!! read more

You can pick your own during dinner. I thought it was a good dating place. A little bit loud and service could be better but they were nice. I think the ambiance is good and clean. read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Honestly food was bland, and cost too much for the portion sizes given. Some waiters were nice and respectful however some were not. Overall, bad experience, the ramen taste like Maruchan noodles. read more

Well, I hesitated for a few days to consider leaving a Not so good review. But let's just say if you don't have a corporate business card to expense or you don't a have huge budget for eating out this will help a bit. So here we go: Way too expensive!!! Rolls are very small and basically a one bite size. Dinner for two. 5 rolls each and the sashimi salad, was a whopping $111.00 incl.tip. sorry but I think it'd still be expensive even with a Japanese budget for fancy little hand rolls. You have been warned. PS: we left still hungry... read more

Last week was my first visit to Oh Banzai restaurant. The food, ambience and service was amazing. 10/10 This evening I stopped for miso soup which the best I ever had. I will bring my daughter with me next time. read more

When we first visited Oh Banzai, we really enjoyed the food--but this time, it was the complete opposite. The place didn't even seem busy when we went. They seated us, and while we were still looking at the menu, another couple sat down next to us. The staff took their order first, and we didn't even get a glass of water in the meantime. No apology, nothing. It was a really unpleasant experience. As for the food: the hand rolls were soggy read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

I went today for lunch. The lunch menu is amazing, 5 hand rolls, a miso soup, and a little side for about $28. It felt almost like a choose your own omakase. The inside was clean and light and airy. The staff was very courteous. I sat by the bar and it was very comfortable. read more

2nd time here and it did not disappoint. I had spicy tuna, negi toro and cucumber with ume. I opted for the special roll of A5 Wagyu with salt - delish and had to have a lemon sour (that was just ok).. service was quick and efficient. Will be back it's a nice change of pace for lunch. read more

Absolutely delicious! Bought a few handrolls and then had a hard time stopping because every bite was so good. The place is small so be prepared to wait in line. Pro tip - they do allow you to make reservations or call ahead (which is what we did). The star of the show is their Koso drinks - fermented fruit water. I could come here JUST for that! read more