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Sawa Sushi

4.2 (310 reviews)
ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
Open • 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

Sawa Sushi Photos

Business Info

SAWA SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Sawa Sushi

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Reviews With Photos

Marilyn A.

Hands down I think the best sushi I have had in the Coachella Valley! To be more specific characteristics of the food, such as aroma, visual appeal, texture, color were 10/10. This place is a small whole in the wall, with only booths and two stand alone tables, I suggest calling ahead of time to plan for a big party. The service was a little different , not greeted or acknowledged until we sat down. The lady just gets straight to business asking what we want, & service was the same throughout the visit. No checking in on us either. I think it's a cultural difference not so much being rude, just a heads up!

Chris D.

We should of know when we walked in that it wasn't gonna be great. Definitely a pass. There's certainly other better sushi spots around the valley. Our server awkward and, perhaps new, I don't know. But it was so uncomfortable to order. Such a weird experience. We got several rolls to share and they looked gorgeous and delicious!! But 2 or the 4 were fishy, which is not what you want when you order fish. The spicy tuna was really mushy and the chicken teriyaki that we ordered definitely wasn't a teriyaki sauce. Bizarre. Also, the inside of the restaurant felt like a diner or just generally run down. Try Misaki or Sam's near by, or Dragon Sushi in Palm Desert.

Picante
Nicole C.

I've passed by this sushi spot 1000 times and so glad we finally tried it. The picante roll was to die for! We came back the next day because it was that good. The inside is very spacious and the servers were very attentive. Definitely recommend as a great sushi spot!

Sheryl L.

We went back a few days later with my son and all three of us were very happy. We loved the yellow tail collar and everything else. Many times we go back to places and it's not as good as the first time but not here! So far this is our favorite sushi in the desert.

Menu
Robert L.

We were in Indian Wells for a dance competition and looking for some takeout Japanese food. Found this place on Yelp. Had pretty good reviews. Decided to give it a try. The facility itself is very underwhelming. Located in a strip mall. Relatively small restaurant space. Also when we went in, it was relatively empty. Could just be the time of year being middle of June. But we went during dinner time. Fortunately, the food was excellent. Sushi was very fresh. Rolls were tasty. We had the Rainbow roll, Tokyo roll, Yellowtail lover roll. Also ordered some tuna and yellowtail sushi. Everything was great. We enjoyed it so much. We came back again later in the week. As I mentioned, the ambience is not too great, but for us, we just wanted takeout and it was perfect.

Quick check in at Sawa
Rick J.

Kind of out of they way location, small indoor seating area. YELP Short answer: Sure, it is okay for a quick sushi or noodle meal, just not very fancy buildout but super fast efficient service. Location: in a sea of cement in a forest of large big box and retail stores. Very small which is fine. Buildout: on a dime, but works. Menu: Pretty extensive, lots of choices not sure how they knock it out when busy. Food Prep: Nicely done. Food Quality: Pretty good, I just had one roll, it was pretty good but not tight, loose and a little hard to eat. Waitstaff: Getting down to business, these people work hard, great service. Value: Yes ok value and glad I visited but for inexpensive and other options are nearby. They seem to have a lot of regulars which is great.

Jessica G.

This sushi spot has undoubtedly secured its place as my favorite in the desert. Tastes amazing and is fairly priced. Not very crowded, allowing me have a more enjoyable experience. Plum wine, edamame, miso soup, and sushi. Each visit reaffirms why this spot holds a special spot in my culinary heart.

Sushi combo

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3 months ago

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30 days ago

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6 months ago

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3 months ago

Small place with excellent fresh sushi. The sushi is delicious better than many in the valley.

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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11 months ago

This was a great experience. High quality sushi, and a fair price. Staff were kind and paid attention to refills and extra plates!

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Food was great! Will order again for take out. The sushi was delicious and the specialty rolls were good too!

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1 year ago

Definitely don't go if you gave food allergies. They won't take precautions. We asked.

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

It was so great. The people were so great and the food was delicious. Smaller restaurant and we actually liked the intimacy. Great spot!

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4 years ago

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Ask the Community - Sawa Sushi

Misaki Sushi & Grill - Tuna Tower & Lemon Drop

Misaki Sushi & Grill

3.9(903 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

Interior was average for a strip mall but the sushi was the star…read more Service was okay. Timing of food was questionable. We ordered appetizers, rolls and an entree. Usually they should bring the appetizers, rolls and then entree... they brought them out in whatever order. One appetizer arrived followed by an entree, 2 rolls and then the soup and salad that was included with the entree. The edamame arrived almost to the end of the meal and I honestly should have sent it back bc who eats that at the end of a meal? Nothing against the chefs but it shows inexperienced wait staff. The food though was amazing! The rolls are HUGE! We ordered way too much so we took almost 2 rolls home! The tuna tower was amazing but I wish it came with some wonton strips or something to add crunch/texture. They use a green and red crispy crunch on their rolls which was sooo good! Overall the amazing food makes up for the average service.

Overall not a bad experience. Just some nuances that need to be worked on. Service was quite slow…read morefor a place that wasn't that busy. We got our drinks and took a while to put the order in. Once we got food there was no check ins to see if everything was ok if if more drinks were needed. We had to flag down a person that was not our server. While the presentations of our dishes were fun the flavor was just lacking in the fish. The music was a bit loud and playing 80's pop like Madonna and Michael Jackson. Little odd for a sushi restaurant. Side note there tempura rolls we saw that were coming out looked fun. The rolls were quite big for each of their cuts, makes it hard for a one piece bite. I'd say if you like big rolls for filling purposes give them a go. May try again if we are back in La Quinta for the previous reviews on the place. Maybe we're were of a night (Friday night BTW).

Photos
Misaki Sushi & Grill - Mamacita

Mamacita

Misaki Sushi & Grill - Fresh water eel roll, $15.

Fresh water eel roll, $15.

Misaki Sushi & Grill - Bbq eel yummy

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Bbq eel yummy

Torakichi Ramen - La Quinta - Karaage Bowl

Torakichi Ramen - La Quinta

4.2(328 reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$

Finally, a desert ramen spot that gets it right! Torakichi delivers legit bowls without the drive…read moreto LA/Riverside. The spicy chicken broth is where it's at. Rich, complex, and seriously flavorful. Word to the wise: stick with level 2 spice and order extra on the side. I've tried level 3, and unless you're looking for a serious heat challenge, level 2 gives you all the flavor without destroying your taste buds. Best part? They include a full egg in every bowl at no extra charge. Most places upcharge for that. They also offer variety beyond standard pork broth, including a solid vegetarian option. Service is attentive without hovering, prices are fair for generous portions, and the modern vibe with newer music beats the typical ramen house atmosphere. This spot fills a real gap in the desert dining scene. Definitely adding it to my regular rotation!

The chicken karage was so good! It came out hot, moist and with a good coat of a nice crunch batter…read moretop. So yummy! Big pieces, just wish they gave more! Big juicy fried chicken pieces :) would def get again, we actually did order another 9/10 Shared a bowl of mild spicy tonkastu ramen with thick noodles (which aren't that thick?) I liked it. Good soup and noodles were cooked right. Only 2 slices of pork. Not bad! 8.5/10 Service is good people were nice and we got seated immediately

Photos
Torakichi Ramen - La Quinta - Inside

Inside

Torakichi Ramen - La Quinta - Tonkatsu Miso Ramen

Tonkatsu Miso Ramen

Torakichi Ramen - La Quinta - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

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Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Hibachi2Go - Dynamite Roll & Rainbow Roll

Hibachi2Go

4.2(179 reviews)
3.6 mi
•$$

Been here a few times and just had one of their poke bowls made by koko who by the way is always…read morekind and courteous! Fresh and worth every penny! Live close by and they take pride in what they make. Very generous with their portions too! My fav is their steak and shrimp. Check it out as I highly recommend this place! J

Palm Desert seems to be a little skimpy with really good food options but we came across…read moreHibachi2Go. Thought it might be a nice option considering most options are chains or fast food. We ordered too late so takeout was the only option. We tried the ribeye and salmon combo as well as the chicken and shrimp hibachi combo. We also ordered a Dynamite roll, California and a Shrimp Tempura roll. The hibachi items were okay. We were hungry and it seemed to fit the bill. The salmon was a bit salty and the ribeye was a little dry. The shrimp was fine but the chicken was a little bland. You get a white spicy sauce with it, unsure if you drizzle or dip. It didn't add much more flavor, just a little kick. The rolls were standard. The Dynamite sounded so appealing with the soy rice paper, but overall it was average. The white spicy sauce was drizzled over it plus the Dynamite is already a spicy roll to begin with, so be forewarned. For the chef to have lived in Japan and have extensive experience in Japanese restaurants, the expectation was a bit higher. Our whole order was $82 but they do add a surcharge which is the cost to pay with your credit card. Side note: It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when businesses charge you this fee bc to me it's their cost of doing business. Businesses never used to do this, but seemed to have pivoted to this after covid. They should just build it into the cost of the food. Anyway, overall this place was a good change of pace for the offerings in Palm Desert, but unsure if I would return here.

Photos
Hibachi2Go - Dinning area.

Dinning area.

Hibachi2Go - Sushi

Sushi

Hibachi2Go - S.rainbow roll

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S.rainbow roll

Nobu - Indian Wells

Nobu - Indian Wells

4.1(148 reviews)
1.4 mi
Takes reservations
Fine dining

If you're going to Nobu, Nobu Indian Wells is the location that really stands out…read more I've been to multiple Nobu locations, including Coronado, and this one just feels more dialed in. The atmosphere is clean, focused, and elevated without trying too hard. From the moment you walk in, everything flows the way it should. The food is exactly what you expect from Nobu. High quality, fresh, and consistent. The fish is clean, the flavors are balanced, and everything is presented the right way. You can tell there's attention to detail across the board. What makes this location better for me is the overall experience. It feels more complete. Service, timing, energy in the room, it all comes together better than other locations I've been to. Coronado has the ocean and the historic setting, which is great, but Indian Wells just executes at a higher level. If I had to rate it, this is a 5 out of 5 for me, and the one I'd choose to go back to first. If you're in the area, don't overthink it. This is the Nobu to go to.

Bit pricy but glad we got to try the experience at Indian wells…read more My hubby and I walked in and only waited 30 minutes. We were seated outside the restaurant was super packed. We got the new sashimi style, miso cod, spinach salad, couple of sushi and sake. Service is fast and food came out within 15 minutes. New style sashimi (7/10)-fresh but nothing special don't think it's worth $30 Spinach salad (9/10)-super refreshing best thing we had on the menu, the dressing is very flavorful. Miso cod (5/10)-pretty disappointed being the top item ordered. Bland and overall nothing special Sushi (7/10)-not the best we have had but portion was good fish to rice, liked the yellowtail the best. I think it's worth going once but probably not multiple times. Overall a good place to try for a first timer at Indian wells.

Photos
Nobu - Indian Wells - This was the lobster special that I can't even describe but was flavors we've never experienced. Wow!

This was the lobster special that I can't even describe but was flavors we've never experienced. Wow!

Nobu - Indian Wells
Nobu - Indian Wells

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Sams Sushi - Highway 111 Roll

Sams Sushi

3.5(390 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

An average sushi spot here in the desert. Honestly while it was okay overall, I don't think I'll be…read moreback. Would rather hold out for better sushi options than settle for someplace that's just average. For context solid sushi spots in the desert are hard to come by, understandably. La Quinta actually has two of my favorites BUT they are only open for dinner hours. So I've been on the search for solid sushi spots that have lunch hours. Being that Sam's Sushi was open for lunch and has moderate reviews, thought that they were worth a try. The ambiance of the spot is basic. There was a proper sushi bar which I could appreciate and the restaurant was spacious. My biggest issues were cleanliness and freshness. The tables weren't clean enough for my preference (soy sauce containers were sticky and the plate they sit on hadn't been cleaned for a while). Also I found the temperature inside to be a little too warm, which is always a red flag to me when dealing with seafood. The reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of 2 stars is the staff were friendly. Despite being busy they had me seated quickly and also food was at a good pace. One of my drinks was forgotten by the server but he was kind and apologized about it, so not a big deal. As again, they were busy. Overall the reason for the lower review is primarily for the food and quality. I ordered a $25 bento box (not quite trusting or committing to larger sushi rolls) and was still underwhelmed. The best part of my meal was the miso soup and California roll. The California roll was average but tasty. However, the other two box options were meh. The mixed tempura had hits and misses. Tempura shrimp was decent. However, the veggies were too thick - so the batter to veggie ratio was off. Still edible though. The bummer with the bento box was the sushi and salad. Salad had barely any dressing, and not the tasty ginger or sesame dressing that most have - the dressing was so minimal I couldn't even tell you what it was. Also the sushi just didn't taste fresh. The ebi was fine but usually I wouldn't choose this for sushi. The salmon was edible but not super fresh and the yellowtail was stringy and I couldn't eat it. For $25 the plate looked appealing but lacked good flavor/execution. Overall, the place was busy so I'm hopeful they have a good following with locals and I saw a lot of professionals here for a quick lunch break. I just think there are substantially better sushi spots in the desert...I'm spoiled and have lots of good sushi spots at home that this spot wouldn't be one I'd be eager to come to again soon.

Fire hole in the wall. Great sushi. Have tepanyaki if you want that instead of sushi. Great food…read more Highly recommend! Great quality food! We got seated right away. And food came in great time despite being a busy Friday night. Delicious sushi!!!! A must go

Photos
Sams Sushi
Sams Sushi - Shrimp Tempura Crunch Roll at Sam's Sushi.

Shrimp Tempura Crunch Roll at Sam's Sushi.

Sams Sushi - Nice interior space

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Nice interior space

Sawa Sushi - sushi - Updated May 2026

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