I can't say enough about this spot. Easily my favorite hand roll spot and being born and raised in Gardena it makes me proud to have this place here. Vibes are immaculate and the customer service is as good as it gets. This only sets the perfect stage for the amazing hand rolls and appetizers. We tried so many different hand rolls I can't name them all. But we got pics! Seriously you cannot go wrong with any of their hand rolls. The attention to detail and balance of rice, fish, sauce, and toppings was masterful. Also their appetizers were top notch. We especially loved the Wagyu carpaccio. Man... so tender and flavorful with the pop of the tomatoes and other toppings. We ordered it twice! Everything hit, but what surprised us was their tofu cheese. This was DELICIOUS. you're going to enjoy everything. They also have these fermented probiotic drinks that are healthy and taste amazing. Just come. Check it out. I can keep going forever but you have the see for yourself. read more

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We visited this amazing new Japanese restaurant on our trip to California in May 2025. They were celebrating soft opening. The staff were so kind and passionate about their service and food. Their recommendation was on point and we enjoyed every single dish we had. Place was small but very cozy and intimate which we loved. read more

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Great food, staff & interior - definitely coming back. We aunties were curious - we both love sushi - yet wanted to try the hand rolls & we loved everything about this place. read more

Everything went well. Service was fantastic. Food was fresh, well prepared and delicious. The atmosphere was cozy, the space was clean and the decor was on point. read more

Service is excellent. Food came quick and the servers were friendly and helpful. Plenty of parking as well. No reservations via online but I guess you can call ahead. read more

Oh Banzai - 5 pcs hand roll from selection. Fresh and delicious - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Absolutely the best Japanese restaurant I've ever been! Amazing customer service! Amazingly fast service. Deliciously fresh food! So very beyond satisfied!! Thank you Oh! BANZAI for an amazing birthday celebration! read more

Officially one of my new go-to spots! They have some of the best hand rolls I've had in the area. Super fresh, great flavor, and beautifully made. Friendly service and good prices too. Definitely coming back! read more

This review solely addresses the service at this establishment. According to their website, Yelp, and Google, their posted lunch hours are 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. I arrived at 2:35 PM, relieved to see the "open" sign still turned on, and made it in time. I intended to order something to-go, as I did not want to linger past their closing time. Regrettably, I was turned away and informed that last call was at 2:30 PM. It would have been helpful if this cut-off time had been clearly posted on their website. I rushed through traffic to reach the restaurant, only to be disappointed upon my arrival. read more

Oh Banzai - Outside signage - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Very nice fast & casual dinning place, fresh quality ingredients . Had Waygu A5 capriccio . read more

Oh Banzai - 5 Pcs - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

10/10 recommend this place! The staff was so sweet, attentive and quick. They were so welcoming when we came in and when we left. The food came out minutes after ordering, they would come and check on us to see if we wanted to order anything else, and fill our water. Some of the best service I've ever received. The restaurant itself has limited seating so I would look into getting a reservation. It was a casual but comforting restaurant. As for the food, I loved everything. They do large portions of fish to smaller amounts of rice which is great. The spicy tuna and unagi are perfect, it just melts into your mouth. The toro with ikura might have been my favorite, it was buttery, fatty, and salty. The crunchy onion chili oil is delicious, it's flavorful and went together so well with the yellowtail and scallops. I wish they had a jar of that chili oil, I could eat it with everything! The tuna with kizami wasabi (pickled wasabi) had aspects of what you'd expect from normal wasabi but a more mild wasabi spice it had more flavor overall and we loved it. The yellowtail jalapeño ponzu had that citrusy flavor, a tiny bit of spice and a jelly texture. The negi toro was really good with some soy sauce and the green onions were a nice addition. They have a variety of koso (fermented fruit drinks) that you can drink with soda or water. We tried the kiwi with soda, it was sweet, bubbly and we loved the crunch from the kiwi seeds. We cannot wait to come back! This is my new favorite restaurant and I cannot wait to share it with my family and friends. read more

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Absolutely delicious rolls! The service was excellent and all of the staff were friendly and welcoming. Looking forward to going again.

We got the lunch special 3 for &18 plus a side of miso soup and seaweed salad. We liked it a lot. All the rolls were very good and the service staff were super polite. The space is cute and relaxed enough for a casual lunch but nice enough for a fancier occasion too. The table settings were especially cute. My only minor note the seaweed salad could maybe be a tad bit bigger. But honestly it was fine. We will definitely be back. Next time we go we will review the actual rolls. read more

Oh Banzai - Lunch special - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

The service is good and the ambiance is nice, modern. The food is just ok and on the pricey side. The presentation was very good. The handrolls come on custom taco-style holders and are well assembled and look good. However, despite seemingly quality ingredients, the flavors were imbalanced and the toppings severely masked the flavors of the fish/seafood. The worst part was the seaweed, it has a plasticy texture. The rice underneath lacked flavor and the fish in the center was served far too cold further masking the flavor. The best part of the meal was the real grated wasabi they served on the side. It should be noted this was during the soft opening and they may still be figurings out. For dinner handrolls were $8-$12. We are unlikely to come back. There are far better places to eat in the area read more

Oh Banzai - Hand rolls: Uni scallop, salmon w chili crisp, snow crap w ponzu, toro - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

I love the design of the restaurant, minimalist, yet elegant and aesthetically pleasing to eat at. We were a little shy ordering due to us having no knowledge of what to eat here. Koki (and another woman with blonde highlights) our server was great in recommending us dishes and helping us read the menu in terms of popularity and his personal insights. He recommended so many dishes so tonight he tailored our whole dining experience! Everything was a delight and I highly advise ending the night with a sweet treat which we ended up getting the sweet potato brûlée. Creamy and has the right texture. Absolutely filling and satisfying, so don't be afraid to branch out on a whole new experience in your taste palette. We will be returning again, as this had a great atmosphere allowing you to enjoy a partner company. No loud music, a great vibe and hospitality. See you soon and thanks for making my birthday week extra special! read more

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This is hands down my new favorite hand roll spot in South bay! Everything was incredibly fresh! I started with the KOSO Lime drink - it was refreshing, and surprisingly addicting. The eel hand roll with pepper was the star of the night for me -- tender, slightly sweet, and melted in my mouth. The staff was also super friendly and made great recommendations. Highly recommend this place! read more

Amazing hand rolls. We went on march 8th 2024. They were still in their soft opening. The service was amazing. All of the staff working were so nice. The food was incredible. I could eat everything on the menu. 10/10 will go back very soon. read more

Oh Banzai - From the left Negitoro, shrimp with ikura, scallop and spicy mayo, yellow tale w ponzu. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Food was good. But service needs a lot of improvement. We sat down for a good 10min at the bar, no menu, no water. The place was not even busy. When we finally got our order and was enjoying it, server somehow decided to cut thru the middle of our conversation multiple times and ask us if we wanted to order more...? read more

Such great service. They were fully booked and busy but they still made room for me at the bar. Everything I ate tasted great and fresh. The strawberry Koso was very refreshing. I had a wagyu roll, shrimp with ikura, and a yellowtail with onion and crunch chili. The general manager was very kind and so apologetic for the wait. I recommend making reservations if you come. read more

Whether you're a sushi aficionado or new to Japanese cuisine, Oh Banzai offers a welcoming atmosphere and delicious dishes that are sure to impress. The hand rolls are the star of the menu--crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients and presented with care. The scallop hand roll, in particular, stands out for its sweet, tender flavor and perfect balance of textures. Hannah and the team was so cool and fun to talk too! Coming for lunch next time :) read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Enjoyed everything from the Koso drink to the desserts. My favorite bite was the ume and cucumber hand roll. All flavors paired so well with each other. We will be back again! read more

Love the ambiance, fish were fresh the service on point very helpful but overall I going back read more

Came for dinner and was seated promptly during the soft opening. We started with various fruit kosos and complimentary oden. Both were tasty! Koso is a fermented fruit drink. The oden was warm and comforting. The hand rolls were also good. Good quality fish and some unique toppers, like ponzu jelly. The staff were super nice, informative, and asked how was the quality of the food. Overall, the food was good and the staff were attentive, but honestly it was quite expensive. I understand quality requires expenses, but it was really pricey for the portion you get. read more

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Had an amazing lunch here at the bar with the wife and we will be back! The laid back atmosphere was welcoming, the wood tones and cleanliness were a delight, the service was terrific but not overbearing, and the food.... The food!!! We had the chasu pork belly and chili crunch edamame to start which was delightful and full of flavor. The house garlicky chili onion crunch is something I want to put on everything, like eggs, toast etc. It is amazing! I loved the spicy mustard that was served with the pork belly. And then we both had a set of sushi with the crispy nori (seaweed base) taco shell. It was outstanding. I would highly recommend the tuna with the fresh wasabi, the salmon with the chili crunch and the yellowtail with the ponzu jalapeño. But why not try them all? So many options! Also, this place has a great sake selection and iced cold draft beer. If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Amazing service, terrific attention to detail, and outstanding flavors. We are local so this is now in our rotation and I'm already thinking about our next dinner! read more

Oh Banzai - Left to right: Toro, Salmon w/ Chili Crunch, Yellowtail w/ Ponzu jalapeño & Snow crab. Lunch comes w/ salad & miso soup. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Get your expectations in order. This place is not cheap if you are hungry and eat a lot. Their main 3 or 5 piece roll sets are like one appetizer at Chili's. But I highly doubt the type of person who eats at Chili's will ever come here. However, if you want a light meal, have extra money to spend, or want excellent quality Japanese food, then Oh Bonzai is great. The ambience is average. Not romantic, because the seating arrangements are tight from the small interior. Yet, the wood panels make it feel more upscale. The service is fantastic. Food selection is quite small, so this helps if you can never decide what to order. There is currently no alcohol. There is an enzyme cocktail that was tasty. Good alternative to a soda, if you're into that. My biggest criticism is the nori. I personally like my nori crispy and fresh off the burner, but this nori was stiff and a little soggy, so it's harder to chew. You have to force the entire roll into your mouth, otherwise if you bite it in half, the nori will be too sticky to bite through and the roll falls apart. When I was in Japan, all the rolls I ate were crispy nori that allowed me to bite it in half, rather than stuff it all in my mouth. Now if soggy nori is the style of this restaurant, then I guess I can't complain if that's what they are intentionally doing. read more

Loved our experience here! We sat at the bar and every hand roll was amazing -- yellowtail, salmon, tuna, shrimp, uni with caviar, and snow crab, all so fresh and delicious. The chefs make them right in front of you, which makes it even better. We ended with the cheesecake and strawberries, the perfect sweet finish. Can't wait to come back! read more

The food was incredible, especially the Grilled Pork Cartilage and Cheese Tofu--they made the sake taste even better. The staff was super friendly, and it was an all-around great time! read more

Oh Banzai - Sake flight - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Waited over an hour for food in a non-air-conditioned space. Service was slow. Would not recommend.

We enjoy the food and service! Definitely will come back again next time. Keep up the fresh and quality food!

Good sushi spot if you don't want to eat too much, each sushi's are big! Good service and clean! read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Old man is great with the sushi n sashimi good tempura good service n c ost is reasonable

Pretty good hand rolls here. Lunch menu is a bit cheaper than the dinner menu the other reviewer posted. If you don't have a large appetite, then the five piece hand roll lunch is probably a decent meal. I would say the hand rolls are basically like a large piece of nigiri (or 1.5x normal nigiri) in a small piece of seaweed. I had the scallop aburi, eel tamago, yellowfin jalapeno, negi toro, and tuna wasabi from the standard menu, no special pieces and liked the pieces in that order. It came with a miso soup (tastes good) and a small side dish of stewed egg, daikon, etc. Came out to $32.50 or so per person taxed and tipped. read more

Oh Banzai - Lunch Menu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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From food to staff, it's worth coming here anytime of the day. I'd recommend this place to everyone read more

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The best hand roll place I've ever had. A sincere low key no chills Japanese establishment with amazing service and quality of food. The flavors are out of this world with amazing desserts brings you back to Kyoto. Ambiance is modern simple with amazing bathroom handsoaps! read more

Finally a hand roll joint in my hood! I came by for their first day of soft opening. My friends and I were lucky enough to reserve for dinner. Although the restaurant was small, the ambience of the entire place was very cozy. I ordered the Dashimaki Tamago (4/5), Burrata Salad (5/5), and the 5pcs of the Hand Rolls (4/5). As for drinks, I was curious of their Koso drinks, so I ordered the strawberry flavor with sparkling water. This was surprisingly super delicious. When I first saw fermented drink I was expecting a sour taste, but this was super sweet and refreshing (5/5). They also had a soft opening promotion of free oden and their daikon was my favorite! Very flavorful and soft, just how I like it. The appetizers came out very quickly, but then for the hand rolls we experienced few issues with what was ordered and what was not. It did take several tries but the servers were nice and helpful with getting what I ordered. Since it was their first day opening and dinner can be pretty busy, I don't want to dock off points for their service. However, I do wish the servers were more aware of the menu and the dishes they were serving. I also wish the hand rolls were prepped a little better as they had some hand rolls that were inconsistent with the toppings and the nori was soggy due to the wait time until the food was served. Overall, I enjoyed the place very much and so did my friends! I hope they get better as they go and can't wait to come back again. read more

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Had this place last night and ordered 3 sets of 5 hand rolls for 3 of us, and 2 out of 3 yellowtail had bones in it. Very disappointing especially when my daughter had one of them. Also it would be better if rolls came out one at a time because as the rolls sit on your roll holder the seaweed paper gets soggy. I always give new spots a try but with being my first time here and the experience we had Not sure if I'll go back read more

Oh Banzai - 2 bones from each yellowtail hand roll - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Love this spot, the service/atmosphere is perfect and the sushi is amazing, especially for the money - highly recommend. read more

Oh Banzai - the lunch special + one extra roll, total $31 which is a steal - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Lovely little spot with great food and great service. Attentive staff with a slew of options! Even caters to the gf diner.

It's a new & trendy Japanese restaurant in town. The lunch menu is not bad. The nori gets soggy if you take your time. I think they should grill the nori which will give the nori a more crispy taste. If also get kinda messy when you eat and the toppings falls off as you are trying break off the soggy nori with your teeth. This place also provides a wide selection of alcohol. It is not exactly a kid friendly restaurant unless your kid is into raw food. read more

Oh Banzai - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Amazing fresh and authentic hand rolls here! I also got their omelet, miso cod and sunomono with shrimp and scallop. There is an in hour non alcoholic drink called lisp which is an enzyme tasty drink. Picked the pineapple one as there are many flavored varieties. read more

Oh Banzai - Lose - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Simply amazing. The hand rolls are exquisite. Service is amazing, and the interior is nice. I have recommend the dessert. The dripping of the sweet potato on the cake is great to look at and taste delightful. Not too sweet and sweet enough for my taste read more