Some friends and I hosted a dinner on Wednesday night for our buddy who is getting married soon. 8 of us and we couldn't have been more pleased with everything. I, and a couple of others had the signature catfish, it did not disappoint and was sooo hearty. The other table choice highlights were the black angus filet to the salmon. The cocktails were very good too the service was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. It had been a while since I was at Shiro's...I won't wait as long next time. read more

I've heard about this place from one of my friends.. and it's definitely a local, hidden gem in the South Pasadena area! Ambiance: -Romantic, good date place Service: -Excellent! The hostess was extremely nice and accommodating. I made a reservation on Open Table and she already knew my name right when I walked through the door. The waiter was very friendly and helpful. Food: -Truffle ravioli $22 : AMAZING! 4 pieces of ravioli that just melt in your mouth... -Fried catfish $30.50 : I got the smaller size, which I barely finished myself.. but you literally get a whole catfish deep-fried.. quite tasty -Chocolate tart souffle with coffee ice cream $8.75 : Tasted like a fudge brownie.. was a little disappointed in this one.. not what I expected..however, the ice cream was delicious! Parking: -Found free parking on the side streets near the restaurant Overall, I would definitely come back here either for a date or a small birthday/group gathering. :) read more

In the South side of Pasadena, in a quiet neighborhood, is a local place for a unique blend of cuisine - Asian and French. Offspring? A great combination of flavor that'll get your palette wondering, "what ingredients is in this sauce?" Fried Oysters - I'm more of a raw oyster kinda gal, but this was tasty. oyster sitting on a taste of light cream curry and champagne sauce topped with Roe. Great starter! I had the Salmon. Cooked well with a Dill Mustard Sauce set on a bed of cabbage. Had a taste of the Black Cod. It had a sweetness to it, like miso sauce. Soft and buttery. Dessert - Creme Brulee - nice crisp caramelized shell, soft pudding like custard with a surprise of banana and blue berries. Berry crepes - Special. Went well with the scoop of ice cream. Service was good. Our server was attentive. It's a bit on the pricier end. Portion is a bit small for the amount you pay for. Overall it was a good dinner. read more

Love this restaurant! Went for dineLA, but also tried their signature dish, the fried whole Catfish. Wow. Blew away all my preconceived notions about Catfish. Really clean, juicy, delicious. The lamb chops were the best I have ever had. Our appetizer, the fried oysters on the half shell in a champagne sauce, set the tone! Delicious dinner, interesting specialty cocktails and great service. A must go to! read more

This is a solid 4. The ambiance makes it feel like it should be a 5 star restaurant. I would rank this in the top two in South Pasadena to have a nice dinner with nice surroundings. It can seem very stuffy when you walk in but I was in shorts and tshirts and they still served us. Plus there were little kids there so clearly since this is South Pasadena (family haven) they were used to having the kids in a fine dining establishment. We went in there and tried the Chef's Special Tasting menu. Figured might as well try the dishes he /she picks? Well it was hit or miss. The wine pairing I would skip next time for an additional $45. The tasting menu for two was $85 a pp. Was it worth it? You have to understand that we are from NY we have high standards and I think in a normal world this place would be a stellar find. In no way were we disappointed in the food at all. Just not quite at the 5 star level. The best dish of the tasting menu was the mushroom ravoli! Um like wow! Just had to laugh though at the catfish in a fine dining establishment. Never thought the bottom feeders would actually become such a fancy dish when you can buy those suckers for next to nothing in any random Chinese restaurant. BTW - no sushi here. We were expecting a sushi place so I guess I should have looked it up before hand. Overall - great dishes, great experience trying the Chef's tasting menu and would go back. read more

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We come here pretty frequently and love it. Most recently I had the scallops (perfectly cooked and well-picked--no sand etc.) but the other dishes are excellent as well. Very good steaks and fish dishes. Nice sauces, and that is unusual. read more

This place offers a handful of unique dishes, but nothing to make you give your money away for. Was invited to come here to celebrate a milestone in someone's life. Saw the reviews and was pretty excited to go to try out the Chinese ravioli and their fried catfish. I will let you in a little secret: Beside the ambience, Chinese Ravioli, Black Cod in Japonaise Sauce, and their french bread, this place offers very little. First off, the Chinese Ravioli was good... NOT great. Basically a wonton that has shrimp inside in a light alfredo type sauce. 4 pieces for $10. This place is a little pricey. The spring roll with sea bass and lobster was bland. You only get one, so technically, it should be called "Spring Roll" on the menu, but since they cut it in half, this makes it plural. And for $17 dollars (for one bland spring roll), this is a MUST PASS item. The house specialty, the fried catfish, was a huge disappointment. I'll save you $33 dollars: Go out to 99 Ranch Market, get yourself a 3 lbs catfish, tell the butcher to gut and fry the fish, and while they are doing that, grab a bottle of ponzu sauce and fresh cilantro. Go home, put the fish on a plate, drench it in ponzu sauce and put the cilantro on top. I did have a bite of the Black Cod with Japonaise which was actually a lot better. That shoud've been their house specialty. But for ~$20 dollars for a small filet, I'd pass on this dish too. These are the only 3 dishes that I have tried over at Shiro's. Nothing really impressed me, and the ones that did are not worth the money that they charge. I am really shocked to see a lot of 4/5 stars here. Unless they were just rating the service (which was far superb), or the ambience, this place didn't offer much. If you want seafood fusion, I would highly recommend you spending your $35/person at Nobu (or Matsuhisa). read more

Blew our minds, and our taste buds. Asian fusion and French cuisine? Yes please! We had the wonderful chance to celebrate Valentine's Day here. The service is great, they were all very personable and talked to many customers who seemed to be regulars. They also had a violinist and a pianist for the occasion. - Chef's Assorted Appetizer - AMAZING! I'm not a fan of small fancy food, but every part of this appetizer was extremely refreshing and tasty. Just the right size to not fill you up for the main course. - Barron Point Oysters on the Half Shell - Saffron migonette, salsa fresca - Must I say more? I wanted more... - Truffle Ravioli - spinach & ricotta cheese mousse filling basque cheese sauce, fresh perigold black truffle - packed with flavor. - Pan-roasted Prime Black Angus Filet Mignon - shallot sauce, vegetable medley - cooked to perfection - Shiro's Whole Deep-fried Catfish - fresh cilantro, house ponzu sauce - Very popular dish and delicious. - Dessert: Grand Marnier Backed Peach - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, sugar crisps - AAAAMAZINGGGG ;D Wine pairings available, but not necessary. We just ordered what we wanted. Probably the best complete meal I've ever had, where every dish rocks your taste buds in a different way each time. Thank you for the great experience! read more

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Friends were planning to get together for NYE and suggested this place. The name Shiro suggested a Japanese restaurant but the website didn't reflect that. I went in not knowing what to expect. There were two pre-fix menu sets. The 6pm crowd was slowly dissipating but we didn't get seated until 8:15ish (our reservation for 6 was at 8pm). When we walked in, we couldn't figure out where the lobby was. It's right at the front but there were two small tables of people waiting for their reservation. It was awkward since I wasn't sure if we were intruding or if it was actually the lobby. There wasn't a hostess anywhere for a while. Short-staffed? There's a strange wall that cuts through the middle of the restaurant as well as a wall going into the kitchen. They need to knock those walls down. I think an open kitchen with just a door and a wall with a window would be better. Luckily the food was wonderful. We had an "amuse bouche" of three appetizers. They should not have called it an amuse bouche. It's translated to one bite. We continued with a delicious bowl of soup of cauliflower. There was also warm bread as well. We had appetizers of ravioli. Some ordered oysters as well as scallops. For the main course, I ordered the duck. The guys ordered the rib-eye and the other two girls ordered the catfish. We did NOT expect a WHOLE fish. It was perfectly fried. It wasn't even oily. They also had pieces of ginger stuck in between the sliced pieces. The super-silky cheesecake didn't even taste like cheesecake. It was so soft and thinner than a cheesecake. The food was excellent. There were a ton of loyal customers and the staff really had a great camaraderie with them. There were also jazz musicians entertaining the 8pm crowd until New Years. I just wish the interior would reflect the ambiance of the people and the food. PLEASE REMODEL! The loyal patrons and new customers would love it. I've got some great ideas. read more

Omg! Love this place! Came for the first time for DineLA and loved it! This place got full pretty fast so it has a loyal following. It wasn't as Asian/Japanese as I thought it would be and I forgot to look at the regular menu, but this place is to die for. Starting with the shrimp wonton ravioli with mushrooms and some sort of gravy sauce and I ate the leftover gravy with bread. Then came the scallop and shrimp entree which came with a side of veggies and the sauce on the entree was also soooo good I ate it with the veggies and even more bread. The sauces alone were on par with food at Bestia, Republique, The Bazaar. Dessert was also sweet, but not too sweet. Light, but filling enough to satisfy your sweet tooth and also just the right portion. Not tiny and not obnoxiously huge. I wish I lived closer. All the dishes were the right size. The food was rich so not too much was needed. Not so miniscule in size that you felt like you wanted more. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

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Unforgettable mastery of haute cuisine - it comes at a price but it is a worthwhile feast for a special occasion. Elegant fusion of flavors and food textures in a comparably simplistic decor with a relatively quiet ambiance are the perfect setup for a relaxing evening with people you enjoy to interact with. read more

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Took a cab to come here with a reservation made ahead of time. And they failed to provide a table and the lady manager was actually rude about it. Would never come here again. read more

We picked this oddly placed Japanese fusion restaurant to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting. I read Japanese/fusion food but I think I was in denial and was expecting it to be a little more "Japanese-y" than "fusion-y". We like variety and sharing, here's the panoply of dishes that we tried: Mixture of Baby Greens with a Vinaigrette Dressing - it's a salad, nothing surprising or unusual. Chinese Ravioli filled with Shrimp Mousse served with Shiitake Mushroom Sauce - nice al dente pasta, mouse was a little bland. Might have been nice to have a few chunks of shrimp for texture in the mousse. Shiitake sauce was pungent. My friends enjoyed the sauce a lot. It was a little over powering for me. Whole Sizzling Catfish with Ponzu Sauce and Fresh Cilantro - love this! It reminded me of a dish my grandfather used to make. Fish was cooked with perfect tenderness and sauce was flavorful enough to dip those flaky morsels in. Sweetbreads Sautéed with Shiitake & Shimeji Mushrooms - give me sweetbreads anytime! Although I don't like mushrooms, this sauce did not overpower the sweetbreads. Baked Figs with Vanilla Ice cream & Balsamic Vinegar Sauce - perfectly sweet and acidic. I would have liked the figs caramelized a little more. However, the ice cream with the figs and balsamic was very tasty. I'd order this again. Profiteroles - cream puff....is a cream puff, is a cream puff. How do you set your cream puffs apart from another? The hostess and the wait staff were EXCELLENT. They were attentive, informative and polite. There is a lot of open street in the evening. Even if you have to park a little down the street, it's a pleasant stroll. read more

Have been coming here for years! Can't believe I haven't written a review. I can never get enough of their Shrimp Mousse Wonton Ravioli! Their menu have stayed relatively the same, except the specials. I really miss their John Dory fish dish. If fish is your thing though, I highly recommend the deep fried catfish! Succulent and delicious! Prefectly fried to perfection. You can just taste the salt and Ponzu sauce. Probably the best entrée! Other things are hit and miss and portions can be a little small for some people. But they are all a decent size to me. Now, Shiro's desserts might sound average, but they are so freaken good! I highly suggest the apple tart and/or the crème brûlée. Happy eating! read more

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I have been going here for 10+ years. Food is always amazing and the service is just as good. The wonton ravioli and whole fried catfish is a must. And the perfect way to end the meal, with their apple tart. read more

Shiro apparently had its heyday a while ago and they still appear to have many of their local clientele intact; throughout the dinner hours, groups of people walked in and were greeted happily by the host and servers. So I guess that speaks to the restaurant's staying power. The food is great. Their signature sizzling catfish is huge but light enough that one person with a big appetite can finish it off easily. It probably bears repeating that the same thing can be found at many Asian restaurants for cheaper, but it's a safe bet for dinner here if you're unsure of what to get. The salmon was also great, but slightly undercooked for my taste. Unfortunately it also seems like the decor had its heyday a while ago and hasn't been revisited too many times since. But maybe the regulars like it that way. ;) Service is very good and the location and parking cannot be beat. I personally feel like it's slightly pricey for what you're getting but aside from that, it's a solid four stars from me. read more

This review is over due. I been a patrons of this restaurant for over 20 years and the food and services have been consistent or above. I highly recommend anyone to try this restaurant and not fall in love with this restaurant. read more

I was mistaken, the corkage fee was $17.50. And I was charged $35 for the wine... initially. I reviewed the bill and showed it to our waiter. He apologized and fixed the error. Sorry for the negative review, the food wasn't horrible. Just a big letdown after having high expectations. Lesson learned: review your bill. read more

Service is good, music is warm and romantic added a classy tounch it makes the food taste even better. Among all dishes 90% good price point reasonable as well I would definatrly be back. read more

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Although we live in the area, it took us a long time to return to Shiro with a couple friends. The service was excellent and the ambiance was nice. All of our dishes were chosen from their special offerings. We ordered the ravioli with black truffles and it was disappointing. The raviolis were thin and flat with too much of the cream sauce and very little flavor of black truffles. We ordered 2 dishes of John Dory and 2 dishes of Chilean sea bass. The John Dory was okay. It sat on top of what was supposed to be mashed potatoes, but it was so soft that it melted into the soy base sauce around it and could not be scooped up. We were also expecting a thick piece of Chilean sea bass as explained by the waiter, but it was only 1/2 "to 3/4" thick and the texture was soft uncharacteristic of Chilean sea bass...so disappointing. The apple tart was okay, but the whole meal was so disappointing especially for what we were charged. read more

Excellent food. Had a great time for Valentine special. Will come back for future dinner

Came to check out Shiro for a late Valentine's/curiosity diner since the ratings were so high. Liked the kind of hidden little place feel. Walked into an ordinary place looking old, part of the past. Lots of grey hairs around. Host sat us right away (had a reservation. Greg was our server, nice but nothing leading to surpass my expectations. Ordered a $100 burgundy, asked to decant the wine. Glassware/décanter part of the past too. Wine sitting on the table, no coaster. Asked about the $45 ribeye special. Is it prime? Dry aged? Oups, let me ask the chef. Big no, no when you are in a top rated restaurant. You must have your stuffs together. Overall an average experience. Not an over $300 amazing night. When the bill came, I understood, Shiro is still in the year 1982...It is nice to be able to keep on going for so long when the older locals with low expectations keep you alive. read more

Shiro - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

My family was invited by a family friend who frequents this establishment often. I entered with hesitation because I was under-dressed to a relatively fancy restaurant. Didn't matter what I wore, the service was immaculate. Drinks were constantly replenished. Food came out on track. The steak was my least favorite but still good. Pork loin was my favorite. Don't forget the apple pie dessert. TO diiiieeee for! I don't know where they get their bread, but I asked a few times and they shared it wasn't a secret, but I walked away not knowing where their bread is from. That bread really was the highlight of the night because it was just that good. read more

Average food. Service was good. Ambiance was average. Whole experience was average to me.

Been coming here for about 10 years and my father in law who introduced us to the place even longer. Came to have dinner with the family ( 7 people) with 5 adults and two children. Called and made a reservation and mentioned one high chair and room for a stroller. If they don't want children at their restaurant they shouldn't offer reservations or accommodate a stroller off the batt. My 9 month old squealed a few times, not back to back but a couple times in excitement. The manager or owner, not sure who she is but she's always there. She came to the table and said that there had been "complaints" so if we could maybe step outside and take a walk with the baby. WHAT?! If someone complained, which I doubt someone actually did because the restaurant was full for the night and there was plenty of noise to begin with and there wasn't constant crying or screaming... you don't come and address us that way. You could tell the "complainer" that you'll ask us kindly to try to keep it down or not say anything at all because they're our guests as well and because it's a child. If it was constant screaming or crying I understand. I would get up and step outside considerably but don't tell me to go walk my baby. Their food is otherwise consistently good but when you spend $4-500 and have been going for so many years you don't appreciate that kind of service. Unfortunately, we will not be going back because I'd hate to be on constant high alert if my child makes any noise. read more

We have been coming here since the beginning and have enjoyed anniversaries graduations birthdays dinner with friends throughout the years Always a great meal The Catfish is fantastic Great staff food and atmosphere what more could one ask for read more

Appetizers are excellent. Definitely try the wontons. The stuffed squash blossoms are different and flavorful. Entree: The catfish is huge, large enough to share between 2-3 people. It was crispy on the outside and perfectly flaky on the inside. The ton of cilantro piled ontop gives it a needed brightness. The only critique is that though the sauce is delicious it was overly salty. The only miss of the night was dessert: creme brûlée was very disappointing. The fruit was spead over the bottom and likely attributed to why the brûlée was underdone and watery. The staff was non pretentiousness and very cheerful throughout the evening. Overall, a great place in south pas for a delicious meal. read more

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We were wandering around So. Pasadena, and called up my relatives to find a place to go eat. They recommended getting the deep fried catfish as Shiro's. So we look up the address and proceed to follow the GPS (fail #1), and follow it to the dark abandon bldg looking place with the empty lot next to it. Although from the website picture the place is very lively looking when they don't put down the shades. Open the door and presto, a lot nicer than I thought from the outside. Sorta the magic-box, nice plush fuzzy warmness inside the dented Chinese takeout box look maybe? (and yes I know they aren't Chinese, but bento box visuals are too nice looking :p ) They asked if we had a reservation (reservations are an extremely good idea at this place, as they are not very large.) We did not, but they staff was very attentive and helpful even while we waited. We tried various appetizers, and the recommended deep fried catfish. This dish took a little longer, but was definitely worth the wait. Crunchy, non-oily fish munchies, yum! Definitely will go back and see how consistent it is next time we are down in LA area. read more

Located in South Pasadena, Shiro has been a prominent establishment in the community for 35 years. For the past 25 years, our family and friends have enjoyed this as a staple for any gathering, and I have had the privilege of sharing this experience for my entire life. They serve a unique cuisine that's predominantly French with Asian influences. The environment is upscale and classy, yet I feel at home whenever I'm there. The soothing jazz music and dignified mannerisms of the guests and staff create a perfect atmosphere for fine dining. The owner, Sherrill, and our family have become very close, often stopping by our table to update each other on our lives and welcoming us every time we're there. The waiters, especially Alfonso, have been there my entire life and have seen me grow up; at this point they know my order by the time I walk into the restaurant. Shiro's menu every so often changes, but for the last decade, my order has been the same. I start with some of their amazing bread, which is always served piping hot and crisp on the outside but soft on the inside. Then, I order the Wonton Ravioli, which almost every guest orders, as an appetizer. It's filled with shrimp and coated in a traditional French sauce, and to this day, no other restaurant has replicated this dish. For my entree, I choose between a whole sizzling catfish, their signature dish, or a special Red Snapper in tomato sauce, something I've eaten since I was very young. Finally, I always make sure to get Shiro's apple tart for dessert, which is the best one I've had. As I've grown up, Shiro has become my go-to whenever I want to eat out or take my friends to a restaurant because I know I'll have an excellent dinner and Sherrill will take care of us! Truly a home away from home. read more

This review is 3.5 star. We tried the taste of Shiro which was a good price for 3 dishes. The tomato soup was good. The waiter who brought the lamp chop entree spilled the sauce over the plate and did not apologize. It made the dish looked messy and unappetizing! The lamp chop was a bit gamey. The chocolate souffle tart was underwhelming as it did not have a rich chocolate flavor. My son ordered a salmon entrée a al carte. It was rather bland except loaded with dill and was cooked more like medium vs medium rare as explained by the waiter. We asked for more bread and it never came. For the prices Shiro charges, the services are bit disappointing. read more

Shiro is an awesome experience different from trying our normal steakhouse for a birthday. This being asian fusion/french really took most of my family for a bit a nice different option, maybe somewhat unsettling. The overall experience was great! *Shrimp Ravioli - A nice change of pace with this item. It was delectable. **Poke Hard Shell Tacos - Awesome appetizer. I wish for more. I love poke and I love tacos. I wanted the whole appetizer to myself. ***Prime Rib Eye - Very rich taste of awesomeness. That and scalloped potatoes are awesome. If it weren't for the seafood, this one would be #1. ****3 POUND Catfish - This thing was as huge as it will describe in the menu. Yo have been warned. It is almost in every table and with good credit. This thing is good. The only thing I gripe about it that I am born eating fish with rice and they don't have rice in this place. When the asian fusion happened, the rice was left out. What a bummer. I serious ate this thing with rice at home afterwards. I think this place deserves to have rice with this thing. It's doing itself a disservice really. I think they should really evaluate having rice here because having that one item changes the game. I would have given everything 5 stars for service and everything, but it just drops down a little because they disservice themselves for not having rice in a fish dish. Might be just me, but I wanted me some rice. read more

We've been going to Shipp for almost 13 years now and this is by far the most consistent restaurant I've ever been to. Super attentive service by knowledgeable and professional staff. The signature catfish is exquisite but know that all items on his short and well done menu are as good. Steal, fish, lobster at times and with quite amazing appetizers such as the mushroom wontons or the stunning endive salad - what sauce!! This restaurant has tons of parking attached to it and it's on a small quite street in South Pasadena. No flashy couples here but people who appreciate food and experience hat is next level. Enjoy!! read more

It's my birthday week, so we tried the price fixed meal at Shiro tonight. It was wonderful in every way. The staff is very gracious, friendly and attentive. The meal is served on Wednesdays and is $45. It includes soup or salad, an entree, and dessert. The goat cheese salad was fresh and well balanced. The Scottish salmon was cooked perfectly and was complimented by a lovely sauce. To complete the meal, a chocolate torte with coffee ice cream was presented with a birthday candle. To top it all off, we were given complimentary glasses of dessert wine! The ambiance is perfect for a romantic date. We will definitely go back and highly recommend it. read more

Shiro - Celebrating in style. - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

It was just ok had the famous catfish meh overfried I thought the Parkway Grill version is better The steak was good but again good not great The service however was phenomenal The read more

This place looks very classy. Therefore the prices goes up. The food itself tastes amazing. The food presentation needs to improve. Service was good as well. The desserts were ok. Wasn't WOWed by anything. read more

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Just started going here and I can't believe their consistent excellent service and delicious food. The first time we went there, everyone was super nice and the waitress was wonderful. Second time I went there with a different group and had the same waitress and I ordered the same salad, she turned around and asked if I wanted the salad the same way, dressing on the side? There's places you go for years and they don't even pretend they've seen you before. Third time she was not out waitress but came to say hello and even told us the specials. Her name is Hana! I would go back here again and again.... read more

Have been going to shiros for many years. THE FOOD IS ALWAYS TOP NOTCHFrom start to finish.If I may start with wontons ,catfish,and apple tart you will not be disappointed...and the cat fish is ti die for... read more

We went to Shiro using Dine LA! Couldn't have been better! Everything was perfect!! We'll be back soon!!!

So delicious! I know everyone loves this place because it's always packed and everyone wants a taste!!!! This place is great!!!!!!!!!!

Food was good but a bit over priced for the serving size. Staff was friendly. I might return, but nothing really grabbed me as this place being a "go to" spot read more