My first Sugarfish experience was back in 2014 and I have never visited this location before. I checked the website and apparently the restaurant does not take reservations and guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. I initially put my name down and requested sushi bar seats at 5 PM. The staff said please expect a 45-minute wait and I actually received a notification text at 5:25 PM. However I missed the text and our party ultimately checked in with the host at 5:50 PM. Luckily the staff didn't reset our waitlist order, but our party ended up with a table instead of sushi bar. [Parking]: Parking is $6 for first 2-hours with validation in the adjacent parking structure located behind the shopping center on Shoppers Lane. A secondary option is South Lake Avenue Parking Lot across from Cordova St (90-minute free & additional hour for $2.00 from 10 AM to 7 PM - free outside specified hours). [Menu]: They are known for their 'Trust Me' pre fixe menu with four options - Trust Me Lite ($25.00), Trust Me ($35.00), The Nozawa Trust Me ($46.00), and Don't Think. Just Eat. Trust Me ($59.00). Please note that this is a no tip establishment with a 16% fee added to the bill. *** The Nozawa Trust Me (Edamame, Tuna Sashimi, Albacore Sushi 2-piece, Salmon Sushi 2-piece, New Zealand Sea Bream Sushi 2-piece, Toro Hand Roll, Japanese Yellowtail Sushi 2-piece, Bluefin Otoro Sushi 2-piece, Hirame Sushi 2-piece, Blue & Dungeness Crab Hand Roll - $46.00): Honestly the fish quality was still undeniably great as all fishes tasted super fresh and tender. *** SUGARFISH food quality continues to remain excellent and this is a great spot for a romantic date night vibe, but I would still recommend sushi bar seats over table seats. read more

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Parking in back makes my car feel safer since sometimes on Lake people may drive a little fast. This place has no reservations. Beautiful spot and Williams Sonoma is there in case you want to wait while shopping. Solid food, every time. You'll love it... raw fish fans only (for the set meals). No Miso soup... which I do love. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - My friend from Bali also loves Sugarfish - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Ate there yesterday. No waiting -- big score! You wouldn't think this was a family-style restaurant but quite a few tables had well-behaved children. Food came out fast, maybe too fast? Literally no breaks in between plates. Bathroom & dining area was very clean. Didn't smell fishy at all. And new shift leads have things on LOCK. I got all the pieces I ordered and didn't have to track my servings. Hokkaido Scallops were sweet, juicy, and SOOOOOOOOO FRIGGIN GOOD. I could've had 10 of those. I also really appreciate that they aren't price-gouging on the à la carte pieces. Thank you! read more

There's a very long wait no matter how early you go so get on the waitlist asap!! The quality of the fish here is really good. For the tuna sashimi, they present it in a shallow plate of ponzu sauce and that kind of overpowered the taste of the sashimi. Hand rolls were good but definitely not the same as kazu nori where you can have it immediately after it's made. By the time it gets to the table, the nori is already getting chewy. Overall, I think it's nice but not worth the wait. read more

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Was visiting CA and met up with a friend for lunch here. They were very accommodating given that we had two little ones with stroller. We did get their famous THE NOZAWA TRUST ME bundle. I haven't say everything that came out was really fresh and paired well with each sauce or condiment. It's a super small and cozy location. When it comes to sushi I'm pretty picky and i would say this was a good choice for lunch. read more

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Friends raved about their omakase sets, something about the bites being so fresh that the sushi rice was still warm when you eat it... the juxtaposition of the cold fish and the warm sushi rice, plus the crispness of the nori. What I thought was a great concept was their menu. It consisted mostly of omakase sets, as well as a la carte. But the best part was the gratuity was included in this menu pricing! (Service was still good) read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Part of the menu - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

This used to be my favorite place to get sushi in Pasadena. But now the service is slow because they're trying to fill too many takeout orders. And don't even think about eating there if you have a party of four or more. The wait takes forever because of the slow service and they're doing shady things with the waitlist, like adding people to the waitlist before you and holding tables. Not worth the frustration anymore. read more

A tasty lunch whether you order small, medium or large. My advice: Order less and add a-la-carte if you are still hungry. Service was very attentive. Waiter spilled a few drops of green tea on my phone case but was very quick to apologize and blot up the tea. Seating environment is cozy but inviting and friendly. Interior decor has warm colors and comfortable seats. Parking garage is only steps from the front door and the restaurant validates half of parking cost. Nice surprise. Recommendation: Go here read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Glad to have a location in Pasadena and their to-go ordering system is efficient. Trust Me Set is good for a lunch occasion and left me feeling content. Their packaging is great and instructs you how to enjoy each fish/piece. Fish tasted fresh and for $30, I was happy to order takeout & would again. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wow!! Impeccable sushi and customer service. Loved all my hand rolls and sushi I got in the Trust Me combo. Would definitely return to try their third tier Trust Me Nozawa. Ambience is casual yet trendy. Inside is pretty small and they have two unisex restrooms inside. read more

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9/10 Got the nozawa trust me. Little pricey but for the quality of fish you get, you really can't complain. Every piece I had was fresh and buttery, especially the toro. Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had. read more

I've been going here for years and it has been nothing but consistent. The food here is delicious. I always get the trust me course on the menu, it never disappoints. The staff here is super nice. Parking here can be a pain. We parked at a metered stall. read more

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I came in for a Friday lunch/brunch with my son after we were recommended Sugarfish by the Kazunori staff just down the street! No outdoor seating. The host was nice but we were faced with a bit of a wait, she explained that the resturant had just opened but there was already a waitlist of about 30 minutes. Thankfully the host managed to squeeze us in a bit sooner, she had come back out to ask if we were open to taking a seat at the sushi bar. I ordered the Trust Me set and my son ordered the Trust me light, I had wanted to do a subsition for the crab hand roll to salmon but it seems like the waiter missed it, however the host came around to our table and offered to fix the mistake. The waiter, though I can't recall his name dismissed us, I tried to call for him multiple times but he never came back. After looking back at previous reviews (though Im not sure the same employee, simply described him as the waiter with the glasses) I noticed there were others who also had a similar expirence. The host ended up helping me again to explain the fish that came out. From the set menu I enjoyed the albacore the most, though after I tried to ask for the ponzu sauce I was denied more. The only sauce option is the soy that comes on the table. Overall the food was great, my son enjoyed it, the service was very mixed with some being helpful but others walking away. The set was about 50 dollars. read more

It was the most overhyped restaurant in the world. I had an absolutely horrendous experience there. I've been to two-star restaurants and had better experiences. First, the host was in a daze. A waiter helped us get into the waitlist, but then he skipped us and the phone clearly had one party in front of us. Then, two parties went in front of us, and he came to the corner and said, "Oh, sorry, your table has been ready. Dude, you looked at us waiting like, 'Come on.'" The water glass was dirty, which was definitely unexpected. The last sushi i got had a bone and felt a stabbing sensation in my tonsil. I had to run to the restroom to dig in my throat in the restaurant, gagging and scared that I had to go to the ER. I couldn't talk to anyone because I was was to upset at this restaurant especially with these prices I had wayyyy better for cheaper. I paid my bill and left. I will never step foot in one of your restaurants ever again. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Dirty water bottle - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Actually ate here by accident, we forgot about Mercado not being open until 4pm on Sunday. I noticed SUGARFISH and decided to stop in a finally give it a try as opposed to some of the other options we were thinking of. The staff were so kind from the moment we walked in and maintained that level of service throughout the dining experience. Coming in with a baby always brings about a little anxiety about where to sit and having enough space, and not being in the way. But the staff set up a nice table for us and even brought the shade down. I frequented the old Nazawa's in Studio City and loved it there so much so I was eager to see if the quality of the food would remain. To my surprise the food was just as good as I remember it. Each dish was buttery and fresh. The textures and the flavor profiles were essentially what I remembered it to be. There's always dishes you prefer over others but the meal was delight from start to finish. Really enjoyed my handrolls. Though it isn't the original Nazawa's I frequented many moons ago, it was such a great experience from the food and service we will definitely be returning! read more

Always get the Trust Me and everything that comes out is so yummy. My favorite is the blue fin tuna toro nigiri, it just melts in your mouth.... I also like that they let you do takeout and it's so neatly organized! read more

If you want consistently good quality sushi, sugar fish is perfect for you! The downside I'm beginning to recognize is that... it's so consistent that it's literally the same things every time lol. Is that a bad thing? No, but it's starting to lose its appeal to me in that way. The Good Stuff: +_service: the servers are always very friendly and they never rush you to finish or close out the bill. +_quality sushi: as I had mentioned, it's consistently good. Hardly ever any deviations unless they ran out of something but in that case they normally let you know ahead of time so there are no surprises. The meh: +_No reservations, walk in only: unless you're ordering take out or you're the first party to arrive when they open, there's usually a wait. This time we went on a Monday at 5:15pm and the wait was estimated to be around 1 hour. It took closer to 45 mins for us to be seated. +_Space: maybe it's because I've always sat at the tail end of the booths but this time I was sat between two tables and WOW I felt squished. Anytime anyone got up, it was an inch by inch type of pace to make sure no one is knocking anything over. I can't imagine being more heavy set or bringing my grandma. I was already feeling uncomfortable like I was boxed in since I had opted to sit on the booth side. I think sugar fish was something my friends and I loved frequenting, especially as college students or someone on a budget, but since I've explore other sushi spots I would say that it's a great place to introduce someone to sushi that delivers quality consistently but not a place to be exposed to a wider range of types of sushi that's available. read more

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Parking in the back that is not covered. They have a certain parking lot that they only validate and it says for SUGARFISH. You get back 2 hours free. Waited about 30 minutes during a Saturday afternoon. We were seated. They don't allow outside drinks so they took our coffee, which we forgot to get in the end. Food was good, but took a long time to come out at a time. Tables are very close to one another that I can literally hear their conversation. And some kid almost knock down my drink trying to get to his seat. Overall experience, I'm okay. read more

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Location is small and can be crowded but inside is always an ambient vide. Service is always amazing - attentive and friendly. Menu is pretty simple, consist of sets, rolls, nigiri. I always go with the Trust Me set and it never disappoints. If I'm feeling a little hungrier, I'll usually add a bay scallops hand roll in after the set is finished. Every bite melts in your mouth - it's amazing. Quality of the fish never misses - always consistent and perfection in every bite. They just get it when it comes to nigiri and sashimi. Love this place and the quality of food they serve. read more

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Whenever I go back to LA I always try to go to Sugarfish. I went with girlfriends and I don't know if it's because I needed a break away from my kids but it was lovely. We checked in at around 1:30pm and had to wait about 30-45 minutes for a table. Once we got the table we all decided to order the "Don't think. Just eat." Every bite was delicious. It was definitely filling- it's totally worth it for the price point. The waiter was so nice and friendly and fun! I've tried almost every single set menu except for Trust Me Lite, DTJE is my favroite ! Street parking around the area was one hour limit so make sure to read the signs. read more

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This place is yummy and always hits but I wish the rice was more consistent. Sometimes it's too mushy and it's not sticking to my nigiri and it's always falling off. Other than that issue. I like this place hehe. Service is always good here (: 8.8/10 read more

Quality definitely gone down since I last came here a few years ago. The fish wasn't as fresh and it just didn't have that umami flavor that it used to have. I went with the Nozawa Trust me and it was a good amount of food however the satisfaction wasn't there. I don't think it is worth the wait either. The rice was falling apart and just not skillfully made. No one should be picking up loose rice with chopsticks at a sushi restaurant such as this one. read more

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I heard a lot of good things about Sugarfish and was super excited to try it out. Parking is confusing and hard to find so park in a nearby plaza. The restaurant itself is really small, but the environment is perfect for a nice dinner. I ordered the "Don't Think. Just Eat. Trust Me" course which includes a sashimi course, two hand rolls, and seven pieces of nigiri. Maybe my expectations were too high after hearing many people rave about this place but the sushi was alright to me, nothing special. My favorite was definitely the sea bream with shiso leaf, I loved the texture and flavor profile. The sushi rice also tasted good. Overall, I wouldn't come back again, but had a pleasant dinner here. read more

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Nothing beats fresh, handcrafted sushi rolls and delicately made nigiri! And I believe Sugarfish has the value and taste to mimic some of the finest even in Japan! I typically get the "Taste Me" menu, which includes premium cuts of fish including yellowtail and salmon. The freshness of these cuts are unbelievable, and the portion is quite fair for the prices. Highly recommended for any night out in LA! read more

I really like Sugarfish and everyone has always been super kind and wonderful to us. Sushi is always spot on delicious and the rice is always warm like a hug. It can get packed on weekends and they don't exactly have designated free parking but there is a 90 minute parking lot across the street that we generally park in. Establishment and restrooms are generally clean. Be sure to sign up for their birthday program! One con though, they used to be able to let us take home the Birthday Trust Me, but now it is required to dine in in order to receive it. read more

The food was good. The quality of the fish was exceptional and I have been to Japan where the quality is top tier and fresh. It was very comparable to eating sushi overseas. I got the Nozawa Trust Me Set priced currently at $40. The toro and chutoro sashimi was the star of the set and the handrolls were my favorite part! (Eat them before they get soggy). The rest of the set was quality fish, but not memorable. Unfortunately, the service was not the best. It may have been a new waiter, but they constantly kept messing up our order or giving it to the table next to us! I expected a nice time out with my sister who I haven't seen in a while, but the chaos of the staffing hindered that experience. Although the vibes in the restaurant were nice, it felt a little too chaotic. The talking back and forth with the waiters made me forget to take pictures of the food which I was pretty upset about. Hopefully the next time the service will be better! Food: 4/5 Service: 2/5 read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Toro and chutoro sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Do you ever go to a sushi spot and love the food and you come back and the next time around and it's not the same? SUGARFISH doesn't have that issue. When you want consistent and delicious sushi this place doesn't disappoint. The same great quality no matter the time or day. Price might be a bit more than your other sushi spots, but well worth it when you want the same great taste. read more

I don't think you can go wrong here! The sushi is so fresh and delicious "trust me" or trust them ;) The ambience is beautiful and service is great! read more

Dine in or take out, it doesn't matter on price because they will automatically charge you 16% in tip either way! Also, they will not take to go orders over the phone unless you are physically there to place one. Besides this crazy rule, the food is excellent. This place is about quality over quantity. The sushi is amazing and fresh and there is always a line to get a table no matter what time of the day it is! The portions are small so remember that you're paying for quality. Even their green tea is amazing. They will even offer you to go cup if you ask. All in all, it is worth it but I wish they serve you a bit more considering the prices read more

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A classic sushi spot and one of my GF's favorites. The fish is always fresh and service predictable. This location like the others have mid and great servers/service and you usually experience all of the above as they share responsibilities. On this occasion, the mediocre service was overcome by the manager who greeted us and remembered that we have been there before on several occasions and treated us like treasured return customers. Really wasn't expected or required, but it's nice when you left standing and waiting for a table with a ton open to have someone turn that all around with a greeting. Will always be on our list and make sure to stop by more than once before your birthday to earn you free birthday Trust Me! read more

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Came in for lunch and got the Nozawa Trust Me--everything was super fresh and melted in my mouth. The bluefin otoro and hirame were my favorites. When I mentioned the crab hand roll was a little salty, our server (who noticed I'd finished all my water) insisted on bringing me a new one on the house. He even let me pick, and brought out toro hand rolls for both me and my date. Super generous and thoughtful. Great sushi, even better service. I'll definitely be back. Trust me, and order the Trust Me. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Bluefin Otoro Sushi (2-Pc), Hirame Sushi* (2-Pc), and more... - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sugar fish is probably one of my favorite sushi spots! I take all my friends and family here. The set menus are the perfect right amount of food every time. If you are still hungry you can always add on a hand roll or two. The staff are always super friendly when we visit. It's super cute inside and perfect for girls lunch or date night. read more

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Who doesn't love sushi!? This has easily become our favorite sushi spot. The place is fairly small and tables are tightly arranged but who cares! The food makes up for that. I always get the 'Trust Me', it's just the right amount of food. I'm not one to eat tuna BUT the quality of tuna at Sugarfish made me change my mind! Their cuts are always perfect and fresh, never fishy. The restaurant is nestled in between a few shops where you can walk around to digest your food afterwards. I'll never get tired of this place! read more

Perfectly fine, (relatively) affordable omakase menus. We ordered the don't think just eat menu. It came with three rolls and a nice set of onigiris. The sashimi came in crudo form with a nice citrus base. My faves were the rolls and the lobster nigiri, as well as the fatty tuna. I disliked the sea bream. Whatever herb or leaf they put on it threw the flavor and texture off. Least favorite was the eel. Just too sweet. Vibes are great and upscale-y casual. Great for dates. Reliable good quality sushi, overall, though often with long waits. Service is great and attentive. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We've been to many of the Sugarfish locations in California and we are never disappointed. The service is always great, the food is always consistently delicious and fresh, and ambience is always casual chic. We can't get enough and will always make a special drive to satisfy Sugarfish specific cravings! See you soon! read more

Sugarfish is always a solid choice. They don't take reservations so there is always a bit of a wait but the Pasadena location is great because there is a nice courtyard you can wait in! We did take out today and their take out box is so cute too! Fresh sushi and they have a little sauce guide on the box. There is a paid parking garage right behind the restaurant but you can find free street parking on green street or cordova if you're willing to walk a little read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Trust me box to go - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Our favorite sushi spot! We always order the Trust Me. We love everything but our faves are the blue crab hand roll, toro hand roll, New Zealand sea bream with that citrus salt and the hirame sushi. Chef's kiss. Service is great, attentive. Great ambiance. read more

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This Sugarfish location is absolutely top tier. The fish is truly unmatched. The quality and consistency are second to none. Special thanks to Billy, our server. Billy was attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming. He made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. Huge shoutout to Cameron as well. Cameron went above and beyond with exceptional service. Both of them elevated an already amazing meal. Making it an overall perfect experience. Hands down one of the best. Highly recommend this location. GET THE HOKKAIDO SCALLOP KANPACHI CHU TORO SHRIMP AND PINK LOBSTER NIGIRI read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had high expectations for this sushi spot, and it did not disappoint. They do not take reservations. You have to get there in person and leave your name and phone number. We arrived on Friday at 2 pm, and the expected wait was 30 minutes for two people. In reality, it was about 25 minutes. There are shops nearby to kill time and chairs in the courtyards to chill and wait. I ordered the "Trust Me" which was a perfect portion for me. It doesn't look like a lot of food, but because they serve it at a very slow pace, I was satisfyingly full at the end of the meal. Edamame Tuna Sashimi - ponzu and chives Albacore Sushi - ponzu and chives, 2-pc Salmon Sushi - toasted sesame, 2-pc Toro Hand Roll Japanese Yellowtail* Sushi - lemon, 1-pc Hirame* Sushi - yuzu ponzu, 1-pc Blue & Dungeness Crab Hand Roll My favorite was the Dungeness Crab handroll. The flavor is incredible. The seaweed was still crunchy. I loved that the rice was served warm in the nigiri and just melts in my mouth! So good! My son had "The Nozawa Trust Me" which had everything in "Trust Me" with 4 extra pieces of nigiri. If you're still hungry, you can order anything in a la carte menu. I think this place sets it apart from other sushi spot is that each dish is made from the chef's table directly to our table while it's still warm and fresh! Friendly and attentive staff. It was a great dining experience. read more

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on top of online ordering being a little difficult, i had to wait an extra 20 minutes after my order was supposed to be ready. i ordered the nozawa trust me, but would probably just order the regular trust me if i were to come back. other than the salmon and scallop, i couldn't really tell the difference between the fish. i substituted the crab roll out for the scallop sushi roll, and i'm glad i did because it was my favorite out of everything. the box that the set comes in is pretty cool, and it was fun to follow the directions and try the different fish with different sauces. but, the fish itself was no better than any other sushi restaurant, so i feel like this place is a little overhyped. read more

SUGARFISH | Pasadena - nozawa trust me - Japanese Near Me - Pasadena, California