I discovered Sakae Sushi during the pandemic while looking for takeout places to grab lunch. I love how simple the menu is, how the food is made to order, the easy phone ordering and the value you're paying for quality sushi. You can order a mix if you're not a picky eater or you can be selective and order by the pieces to get exactly what you want. The packaging and presentation of the takeout box is beautifully wrapped and is like a true omiyage (Japanese gift). I love all of the variety so I usually get 8-10 mix and it's just the right amount of food. Saba sushi is really fishy so people who don't like the strong taste definitely won't like it. I do think the strong taste is what makes makerel delicious though. The rice is quite vinegary and a little sweet but it goes so well with the ingredients. The only downside is that it's cash only but this is how they keep the cost down. Definitely give Sakae a try if you're looking for simple good value sushi in the South Bay area. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Take out window is inside not on the street. Parking lot made it convenient. This is CASH ONLY so don't make my mistake. I drove down to Aldi across the street and got cash back there. This is a family owned restaurant and the people are lovely. The sushi was good and everything tasted fresh. The mackerel is salty! The California roll was my favorite. Give them a try. read more

Sakae Sushi - Build your own. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

Nice "OLD SCHOOL" type Sushi restaurant! Better to call in your orders for food and then Pick-Up. Their prices are reasonable and they are so friendly & Nice! You won't be disappointed! That's why Sakae Sushi has been there for all these years. I highly recommend this place! So "ONO" delicious! read more

When I'm in Gardena, this is one of my all time favorite sushi spots. Sakae is a small mom and pop sushi spot that serves very traditional Japanese sushi. They currently only operate by phone order. In terms of what they have, it is a pretty limited menu. I switch up my orders from time to time but my overall favorites are their inari, futomaki and California roll. Their sushi rice is phenomenal. My friend once told me that sushi rice is difficult to get right because you should be able to taste the individual grains of rice in each bite which becomes harder to get right when you are adding additional ingredients to it. For inari, their age is made fresh and is really soft and sweet, not like the kind you pick up in the package from Tokyo Central. Their California roll is made with avocado and shrimp (when normal California roll is with imitation crab, avocado and cucumber). You can either select a mix box or pay per piece. Boxes are always very delicately wrapped and tied in their signature green string. Nothing like Sakae sushi! read more

Sakae Sushi - 8 piece mix box - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Anytime Im craving seriously good quality California rolls, this is the spot I come to. I recommend calling in your order because it can be a bit of a wait and it gets busy. I called in my order and scheduled it for an exact time pick up. Everything was ready upon arrival. What sets this place far from other places is the craft and love they put into their rice. You can definitely taste a difference in the rice and the filling makes it that much better with real pieces of shrimp packets into each roll. This place is CASH ONLY so keep that in mind. There's a small lot in the back and you order and pick up in their little courtyard. Ring the bell and someone will be ready to assist you. I highly recommend giving this hidden gem a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

This place has been around longer than I've been alive! I remember my parents picking up their sushi here when I was a kid. I don't know if they've been at the same location since they first opened in 1962, but I wouldn't be surprised. They're located in an old business building on Redondo Beach Blvd. and Denver Ave., across from Pacific Square. Parking is located in their lot off of Denker Ave. This is a "pick up and go" place only. They prefer that all orders be called in advance to 310-532-4550. They're open Wed.-Sun. 9a-4p (closed Mon & Tues). Pick up is in the back of their building. * CASH ONLY * Regarding the sushi, they only offer several types: 1. Nori maki, Saba (mackerel) & Ebi (shrimp) = $1.45 a piece 2. California roll = $1.55 3. Tamago maki (egg) = $1.60 You can customize your own box or order one of their mixed boxes, which includes everything except the California roll. They charge $1.50 for ginger and .20 cents for a wasabi packet. On my most recent visit, I ordered the 7-piece mixed box and a dozen customized box. They were out of the tamago for the mixed box, so they let me select another piece and I chose Saba. Their sushi rice is moist and tasty. All of their ingredients are super fresh. These boxes are great to take to a potluck or party. They wrap the boxes up nicely in their company wrapping paper and provide chopsticks. I'm knocking off one star because the older lady who was working the front was not friendly at all. The younger girl who answered the phone was much nicer, but she was working in the back when I arrived. They should probably switch places so that the friendly one is interfacing with the customers. read more

See all

Amazing sushi. Simple, super-fresh, and beautifully made. I think it's Kyoto-style pressed sushi, and they make one of few mackerels I will willingly eat and enjoy. The pickle is strong but the texture is good and freshness is key. They also do nigiri with sweet slices of shrimp. The same shrimp go into their California rolls which have fabulously ripe avocado. Inari is always a winner, and both the Tamago-maki and Nori-Maki have a fabulous collection of pickled vegetables. Limited selection, made to order, and packaged pretty. Pick-up only, cash-only, call in advance. Sounds inconvenient but you won't complain once you try the sushi. read more

The takeout window is unassuming to the point of anonymity. The staff is kind and helpful. And the sushi is delicious - simple and satisfying. Highly recommend. read more

Best sushi this side of Japan. Consistently great. Taste just like my mom's. Order ahead for pickup.

Always such a special, delicious treat when in the area. Quality of ingredients superb! Love this place!

We got the sushi set and a California roll. California roll is a must! It has shrimp and avocado in it-- although it's so simple, the simple flavorings make it taste so good. Be warned that the sushi rice has a stronger than usual vinegar taste but it was such good quality rice that it tasted even better! I thought that the rice was the star rather than the insides. It's not groundbreaking sushi but it is fresh and a very filling meal. There's no seating - it's just a pickup window so there's not much service but they're really nice. Make sure to order ahead! read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

Take out only; pickup in the back; phone in order only. Otherwise, nothing has changed. They do like you to wear masks picking up food from across the counter. They are as friendly as they have been; staff is masked. No ambiance; food defines Japanese Torrance's soul. Coming back often. read more

Right now, they only have togo counter facing inside of the hallway. The outside door is locked during the business hours but they are open. Just walk inside of the property and you will see a counter window. They recommend you to place a phone order first otherwise you will wait. But the food and price are still strong! read more

Sakae is a South Bay gem. Classic, high-quality sushi with exceptional rice. Friendly staff, a long-standing tradition, and festive packaging. Cash only, limited menu. Only to go. read more

A treat! Est. In 1962. Sakae sushi does rustic looking, jumbo sized sushi rolls and pressed sushi - only 6 kinds. Nothing fancy;however, your boxed sushi is wrapped up and organized so elegantly. Its only take-out. Great for potlucks, picnics, holiday treats, a gift or just a hardy snack. Their sushi rice is incredibly delicious. So is their version of California roll - made with shrimp instead of faux crab. I personally hate Cali rolls, but the ingredients and flavor are top notch. The Mackerel sushi is salty and fishy (how it's supposed to be), you either love it or hate it. The Inari and Futomaki are addicting as well as the shrimp. Basically everything is good! During holidays this place is a nightmare (BUSY). Currently, they accept phone orders or place an order outside the store. The place is tiny. **CASH ONLY** read more

See all

Sakae Sushi is a hidden gem that looks like a no frills building that is an easy miss, diagonally across from the US Bank building. There is free street parking available and a little lot in the back. Sakae Sushi is best known for their traditional sushi, in which they only offer 6 different types, which include tamago, California roll, inari, ebo, nori maki and saba. Each piece ranges from ~$1.10- $1.25. However you can purchase as a mix or you can customize what you would like to order (and does not cost you extra). I got the mixed box with 10 pieces, which cost about ~$11.15 prior to tax. The mix box does not come with California rolls but you can add it to your box if you wish (which I regret not doing but will the next time I come). In my box, I got: 3 inari- Inari is a rice ball that is stuffed inside a seasoned tofu pouch. I don't normally like eating these type of sushi but this was very good. The rice itself is seasoned perfectly and works well with the tofu skin. 2 pieces of saba- Saba is mackerel. The fish was delicious and I really wished I had more in this box. I believe the mackerel was pickled, which I think went well with the sushi rice, as that has a vinegar-y sweetness. 1 piece tamago- Tamago is a sweet and savory egg. But the way Sakae Sushi makes theirs is by having a thin layer of the egg wrapped around a roll that has cooked mushrooms that also has a small piece of egg in it. I have never had tamago sushi presented in this way and think it looks very fancy. The egg also seems to be a little thicker too but still very good. 1 piece of ebi- Ebi is cooked shrimp. I feel like you could never go wrong with shrimp. This was delicious and wished I had more. 3 pieces of nori maki- Sakae Sushi's version has cooked seasoned mushroom and egg, rolled with rice. I liked the seasoned mushrooms and thought this was good but probably not my favorite of the mix. Each box is served with a small amount of horseradish. And if you do not consume your purchase on the same day, it still taste great the next (which is what ended up happening for me. The rice is so moist, that it was not hard when I ate it the next day so there was no need to reheat the rice to make it soft). I think 10 pieces is a good size for a meal but I think 12- 14 pieces would also be good for a meal for one. This place is open for take out only and prefer that you phone in your orders ahead of time but you can always make an order in person, by going through the back, into the courtyard. Please note that this place is CASH ONLY. Do come early or make your order early because this place does tend to sell out. read more

See all

Sakae Sushi is truly a special place. This hole-in-the-wall, no-frills restaurant serves some of my favorite sushi in all of LA. I got 2 pieces of all 6 of their menu offerings (Tamago roll, Calirofnia Roll, Nori-Maki roll, Inari, Ebi, and Saba) and it was just over $1/piece. The wait that day was about ~20 minutes--I highly recommend you order over phone before arriving. The sushi here tastes so comforting because it is such simple food that is rich with so much flavor. The Inari reminds me just like how my grandma makes it, and the Tamago is delicious. I also loved the Saba (mackeral) because of how balanced the flavor was with the salty fish and the sushi rice. Sakae Sushi is definitely worth visiting no matter where you live in LA! read more

Sakae Sushi - Top row: inari and tamago Middle row: saba and ebi Bottom row: california roll and nori-maki. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

**July 2021 Visit ** *LA reinstated a county-wide mask mandate for all indoor gathering Japan's been on my bucket list for ages and with the Olympics in Tokyo this year my desire to enjoy the food and culture has grown exponentially! Over the weekend my friend and I were volunteering for a charity event in Gardena and decided to support some local Japanese small mom n' pop shops in the area. I did some research before-hand and it was highly recommended to call in an order in advance to secure a box as they are currently running as a take-out stand with possibilities of selling out before the end of the day! Basics -Review the menu. They serve 6 types of sushi: Tamgo (egg), California Roll (with shrimp instead of imitation crab meat), Nori-Maki (mushroom and misc ingredients), Inari (fried tofu skin with rice inside), Ebi (cooked shrimp over rice) and Saba (Pickled Mackerel over rice). Call (310) 532-4550 when you're ready to order and inform them on the pickup time. -They have box arrangements based on the different sushi type, but I didn't want mix box with the Saba so I opted to customize my box instead (it's the same price) -Sushi range in price from $1.10 - $1.25 a piece but each piece is double the portion of a typical sushi piece served at most Japanese restaurants -Smallest box size is 7 pieces; soy sauce packets not included -Does come nicely gift wrapped with chopsticks -CASH ONLY Experience My friend and I each got a box of 15 each and our total was $35, although honestly I think I was satisfied after 8 pieces. My friend was full after 11 pieces. While you'd probably never hear these words from me, the California roll definitely was my favorite. Something about them using shrimp instead of the imitation crab meat really gave it a different texture that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Tamago and Norieven were also very good. While soy sauce was not include I honestly didn't miss it. I think the vinegary rice with various combined ingredients were very flavorful and I absolutely love the presentation! This is the perfect lunch on the go meal. I will definitely be back! Enjoy and support small! read more

See all

The best California roll you'll have in Los Angeles. This is the definition of a hole in the wall. Family owned place has been here since 1960 something. This isn't a sushi restaurant, there is no place to sit, strictly a take out place, you need to call your order in before going otherwise you'll have to wait a long time. When you call they will tell you what time to pick your order up. I've tried most of the items there but the California roll is the best, full of avocado and real shrimp. No fake crab meat. So tasty. The packaging is so cool, like a gift wrapped bento box with a chopstick. Inside the box it's basically some ginger and that's it. No soy sauce or wasabi is given those are upon request and additional cost. You call, order then pick up at back of the store, there will be a window to pick up and pay. REMEMBER THEY ONLY TAKE CASH!!!? read more

See all

A gem in this old LA/Japanese neighborhood, no fuss, no bs, thoughtful and simple. Go and get your box!

I have driven by this location a few times and I always wanted to try it, but was a bit hesitant because it looked very simple. While the options here are very simple, they have absolutely perfected their recipes. Every item received in our box was made to perfection. They unfortunately had run out of tamago by the time I had ordered, so I have not tried that one, but the Nori-maki and saba were the highlights of the mix box for me. Definitely recommend to call and order ahead, but you can still order at the window and they are very friendly. Will definitely come back. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

I have been coming here for years! My family and I usually like to order their larger party trays whenever we have a potluck. I really love the variety of sushi. We usually order their mix box which comes with Inari sushi, Saba, Ebi, Nori-maki, and a few others. I love their portion sizes and they are all super flavorful and delicious! Note: If you are planning to place an order during the holiday I would recommend placing your order in advance, they usually get pretty busy during the holidays. They are located right across from the Pacific Square Market and they are right next to the Golden Spoon restaurant. closed on Mondays and they are opened from 9AM - 4PM. -They are a small restaurant and only offer take out only. -There is a few parking spots available. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

I love coming here! I always get their 16 pieces mix box. It comes with the following. 2 pieces of Saba Nigiri (Mackerel sushi) 6 pieces of Futomaki rolls ( seaweed wrapped rolls filled with pickled radish and egg) 5 pieces of Inari (Tofu skin covered rice) 2 pieces of shrimp sushi 1 piece of egg omelette futomaki Everything is so yummy! And I especially love that an actual Grandma makes your rolls and hands you the box! Maybe next time I'll the California roll that everyone raves about. I'm just such a creature of habit! Cash only! Cheers! read more

See all

My favorite place for sushi. Perfectly cooked and seasoned Rice, every item made with thought and care. Presentation is beautiful and I love how they wrap the box. I usually get the Mixed Box and California Rolls. It's always delicious and the owners are so nice. Call ahead to order. To go only. Cash Only. read more

See all

It's a must visit when you're in Gardena! I love getting their mixed box, definitely call the order ahead and bring cash. It's take out only but a perfect grab to take to a small party or picnic. My family has been coming here for 3 generations. I hope they keep on going! read more

This is a great mom and pop shop for sushi bento boxes! We ordered the mix box, which comes with nori-maki, inari, ebi, tamago-maki, and saba. Oh man, the saba (pickled Atlantic mackerel) is so good! Everything tasted fresh. You don't need soy sauce for dipping because the rice is flavored well. I highly recommend calling in your order before coming because they can get busy. They're available for takeout only. Cash only, guys! There's also a small parking lot close by. read more

See all

Wowow, this place is such a gem. My stepdad used to bring back sushi from this restaurant, and I always recognized it by the box and size of the sushi. Beautiful packaging and ginormous pieces of sushi. My husband and I were in the area and this place popped up on my search for lunch. I'm so glad it did! Thanks to all the reviewers who said to call ahead and bring cash, we came prepared. During the busy lunch hour, the order took about 30 minutes to prepare. We ordered 14 pieces of mixed sushi, and 14 pieces of California roll. We clearly overestimated how much food there'd be for the two of us. For a hungry couple, one box of 14 pieces of sushi is enough. We kept the second box for leftovers, and it was still delicious the next day even after being refrigerated. Everything was delicious and filling. The California rolls were not what we were used to (the typical crab meat and avocado filling), but instead, they were filled with shrimp and big cubes of avocado. We loved their take on the California roll. Everything else was as expected, but better than what we've had at other Japanese restaurants. The prices were reasonable for the size and quality of the sushi, and the woman serving us was so polite and kind. Overall, we'll definitely be back! read more

Excellent Sushi. Fresh every time I've purchased. Presentation is excellent. I recommend. Thank you.

I got the Bento box and loved it. The reason I give it a four-star is because the amount of chicken that comes in the box. It is a very small piece, cut, and thin slices to make it seem as though there's a lot. I do recommend it. read more

Orders some take out sushi for potluck Ordered ahead and paid cash It was so easy and delicious!! read more

Sakae Sushi is a low key sushi take out spot that takes up residence in a simple commercial building on the first floor. You can order inari/nori or California rolls here for about $2 a piece. Ordering ahead is recommended though we ordered at the window. Took about 5 min. Cash only. The quality here is great for the price. Fresh ingredients. Fish was thinly cut so lots of rice in each bc it's but it was good quality rice. Would come back. read more

Located off S Denker Ave and Redondo Beach Bl in Gardena. Back in the day before Yelp I would come here a lot and order a box of Inari sushi. Every year my parents would order a couple of boxes for New Years Day to take to our family dinner. We haven't had this since the pandemic. Now they only do pre orders you have to call no actually going in to place your order. Once you call in your order you pick up in the back now instead of going in from the entrance. They do get busy on orders during the holidays so prepare to order way in advance especially the Christmas and New Year holidays. I ordered a box of 20 mixed Inari and Maki sushi. Still yummy as always that hasn't changed. Overall a great place for Inari and maki sushi I highly recommend. read more

See all

This is the best sushi ever! They have been here in this little small hallway of a store for over 25 years. I remember coming here as a kid now that I'm adult there's no other place like this for Sushi. You just call it in and pick it up in the window and it's there. It's fresh. It's well-made. It's the best and the people there are so sweet, so nice professional, courteous family that's what I like about this place and nothing else is close to it Sushi like it's supposed to be! read more

Our family has been coming here for years. I'm so glad that this is one of the very few Japanese establishments that still exist from my childhood. My Mom would order sushi for Oshogatsu (Japanese New Years) and family holiday get togethers throughout the year. For New Years you had to call in your order on a certain date in November. And if you forgot to call in your order, you'd be out of luck to get sushi for New Years. You're not going to find the Asian Fusion sushi and fancy sushi here. It's traditional Japanese sushi, other than the California Sushi they make. The sushi is always fresh. My favorites are the inari, maki, shrimp, tamago (egg), and California roll. Cash only. There's a small parking lot in the back. read more

We rediscovered this place during COVID since they do takeout and have been doing it well. There's only a small menu but everything is good traditional home style sushi. We like the California Roll here which gives you two chunks of shrimp and two chunks of avocado! My guy can usually eat 14 rolls and get full. I'm good at 7-8 rolls. Right now, They're open tues-sun 9-4. Closed on Monday. Cash only. Pick up window is at the back of the store. read more

Sakae Sushi - California roll - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

Small hidden spot that a friend recommended. Cute packaging and it was great for lunch. If we lived closer we would probably frequent this place for potlucks, picnics, and gatherings, too. read more

Sakae Sushi - 20 piece of the Mixed Sushi plus 6 pieces of California Roll. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

This place is definitely a traditional sushi place and I'm glad I stumbled upon it. The sushi was very reasonably priced and also very fresh. This a limited number of sushi and rolls to choose from, but they were all delicious. There is not seating inside, you'll have to eat elsewhere since it is takeout only. Place is also cash only! So remember your bills. read more

Sakae Sushi - Sushi Box (20 pieces) - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

This is literally a hole in the wall place. The store front is kind of remote. But there are a few things I like about this place. First of all, I appreciate that they open as early as 9am even on a Sunday. A lot of places open at 11 or 12 on the weekend. What if people want to eat earlier? I was recommended to this place by a friend and when I called someone picked up the phone almost immediately, another welcoming sign. The lady who took my order was honest because she recommended the 21 or 24 pieces box for a party of three and wasn't trying to sell on the bigger boxes. The pricing was decent and it came out to be about $1 per piece of sushi. No tips needed it seemed. The downside is they're cash only. I ordered the mixed box and they were relatively big each piece. The box wrapping had a cute and traditional presentation (see pic). The sushi were organized neatly and pretty colorful. In terms of taste, although they were nothing super spectacular but I'd have to say the vinegary rice was one of a better quality than many sushi places I had tried. It was soft and gluteny. The quality was fresh. It was my first time here so I didn't expect the box didn't come with wasabi or soy sauce. I'm not sure if they'll supply those items upon asking. Overall, for the price, the quality wasn't bad. And it'll take an hour from placing the order until pick up. read more

Sakae Sushi - 24-piece mixed box - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

See all

Sakae, you are forgiven. I see that the two ladies working at the counter and answering phone is either an older grandma that is hard of hearing and ESOL, or a young gal. Recently the mackerel, while usually fishy, was unusually fishy and disgusting but I've learned that you can apparently substitute pieces. Menu prices have gone up about 30% overall. Not open on Mondays and Tuesdays anymore. My favorite thing to get is the 7 piece + 2 california rolls. There's just something so nice about the packing, the perfectly seasoned rice, and the absolutely delicious simmered shiitake mushrooms. A meal here always feels healthy and nourishing, and despite being bites of rice never leaves you feeling like you've had a billion carbs. You still really need to phone in orders. There's a lot of paper signs on their window that seem to strongly advise to phone in orders, and there's still a lot of backrgound noise when calling so it's annoying to call. I cannot deny that Sakae has great, timeless food. They are the definition of a hidden gem, lunch boxes of days past. I find that I think about Sakae for lunch all the time and hope that they won't close anytime soon. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

My family of 5 shared the 30 piece mix. We placed the order at the store and waited about 20 minutes. I knew the sushi was going to be really fresh because I could see workers bringing fresh fish into the kitchen!!! The mix comes in a preset amount of each sushi type. I was very pleased with all the sushi, all were generous sizes, very fresh, and authentic. PARKING: There is a parking lot located right next to the restaurant that was nearly empty when we came around lunch time. read more

See all