My friend and I were intrigued by the name of the restaurant. I made reservations over the phone about a week in advance. It's a very small intimate set up but it's a nice location for a date or friend date night. Parking is located in a plaza. Service was great. They brought out each dish one at a time omakase style and various options offered. The sushi was so fresh no fishy taste. Honestly really top quality fish. I can't wait to come back. read more

My boyfriend picked this place for our anniversary date and it was amazing. We had the Omakase and probably one of the best meals I've ever had. It was on par with the sushi we had in Japan, probably even better. The quality of the food was excellent and super fresh. Each meal that was served was carefully selected/paired, and you can tell they were in harmony with each other. It was a great experience, and I would definitely come back again. It was a 3-man operation run by husband and wife, but nevertheless, the service was excellent. The wife was our server, and she was very attentive to all of the customers. The place is small, so I do recommend having a reservation. I posted a few pictures, but there were a total of 10 dishes served plus dessert. read more

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Stumbled not this place and was about to be turned away due to the restaurant being full, but they found a place for us to sit. And thank goodness we got a table, delicious sushi I can't wait to go back. read more

Wonderful! Great service and the sushi is perfection. Love this place so much! Very casual but the fish is always prepared in a way that makes it feel like a 5 star spot. read more

This is a tiny restaurant, but the way it situated you have privacy because there's dividers between every table. The food was good & it was pretty inexpensive. read more

This place is a hidden gem! I love the thick cuts and how fresh the fish is. We tried the sushi dinner and it was exceptional. Like all the other reviews have mentioned, the scallop here is hands down the best I've had (and I've eaten at countless Michelin sushi places). The amberjack, red snapper was also delicious. The service is great, very attentive! It is very hard to call and make a reservation so i recommend calling right when they open or near when they close to get a spot. I love that it's a cozy family ambiance feel. read more

This is the best sushi I've had in my life! Every step of the way I was beyond impressed. I came here for my birthday and it was so special. First the miso soup was the best I've ever tasted, even the ginger and wasabi tasted fresher than other sushi places. Service was wonderful - the chef hand delivers everything and explains the rolls, and the hostess/waitress is so kind and lovely. Ambience is great, it's a very small restaurant with about five tables and dividers between each. read more

Sushi Karen - Liver roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came here after seeing all the buzz in Yelp...definitely a local spot in Pasadena and not your fancy Sushi you ll find at some other spots but some amazingly good fish, cuts and really chill service. Owned by an older couple, the restaurant is tucked away in a small strip mall, but was able to grab rezys with a call in. Eating area was small and quaint, but service was nice enough and enough choice on the menu for most peeps who dig sushi. Ordered a variety of rolls and sashimi as well as beers - (sapporo anyone?) cuts were solid and rolls fresh. Tempura was amazing and highly recommended...would most definitely come back as this place was good, affordable and super casual...check em out...the hype is real.... read more

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I called at 4, hoping they would pick up and they did! They open at 5pm. I got the chirashi even though I didn't see it on the menu. It's about $35 but amazing. Everything is so fresh and there's SCALLOPS! There's also like a shrimp avocado mini roll in the chirashi that I enjoyed. I recommend getting the chirashi because there TRULY is a variety of fish! Not like your basic chirashis you can get out there. Next time I'll say no tamago because I'm allergic and feel bad for wasting food but it looked very fresh! Comes with miso soup! (big win for me) The waitress was very nice and super cute! Gave me mom vibes. Would definitely come back!! read more

Sushi Karen - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Best sushi in Pasadena, if not all of LA. Don't be fooled by the store front or the name...the sushi here is top tier AND reasonably priced. It's tiny (only 4-5 tables), so make sure you call ahead for a reservation. I did the Assorted Sushi Dinner ($52). It comes with 9 pieces of Nigiri Sushi, 6 pieces of a cut roll (3 salmon, 3 yellow tail), & miso soup. Everything was delicious, but the stand outs for the Nigiri were the Amberjack & Scallop - they were exploding with flavor! I orderer extra of both. Also, the cuts of sushi are substantial...each bite will completely fill your mouth! I also ordered the blue crab hand roll & the green salad. Everything was so good & tasted incredibly fresh...I was very full by the end of the night. If you're looking for something that feels fancy or has a super romantic vibe, this probably isn't the spot. It's very bare bones and simple. But if you want the best tasting sushi in LA, this should be at the top of your list. This will definitely be my new go-to sushi spot. read more

Really awesome sushi and wonderful service Nice feel to the place good ambiance They have a sushi happy hour with really great specials read more

Best sushi hands down. Found this place on yelp based on reviews and boy am I glad we came here. The sushi was delicious. We got the omakase and it was amazing. With every plate we were told to add soy sauce or not. The spicing/flavors were on point. Pretty small place, probably 6 tables total. Did not make a reservation but was able to get a spot because we showed up right as the place opened. Super nice people running the place. Prompt service and very kind. It's in a small shopping plaza so has parking. read more

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I can't say enough good things about Sushi Karen. I was a regular when they were in Culver City and try to make it there whenever I'm in Pasadena. It's a very small location and really at this point it's run only by Toshi and his wife. They do such incredible things... I miss being able to go here all of the time... If you live anywhere nearby... Call and make a reservation and Go. To. Here. read more

Love that is it run by a sweet and kind Japanese couple but it does mean that it is completely possible to be turned away if there are no seats available! You're looking at 15 seats max in there and a little slower service though still gracious. The cuts of fish are indeed huge and we had some delicious salmon belly and yellowtail but do be aware that it is 1 piece of nigiri per order so it is "pricy". The amount of rice to fish to little which some people may like but this rice was completely under seasoned for me and if you've enjoyed enough sushi in your life, you know it's the rice that makes it. The "on-the-board special" toro was not toro. Not fatty or flavorful or bright enough in color to say that it was toro in my opinion. I did a double take upon receiving the special. The spicy tuna hand roll had tobiko mixed in so that was different and it was too seasoned? This wasn't the place for me but if you like large cuts, this will do for you. 3.5 stars for Sushi Karen. read more

The food was really delicious, especially the Eel, Salmon Carpaccio, Seared Salmon Belly & Tuna on Rice Cake

Hidden Gem, one of the most genuine hospitality experiences I've experienced in Los Angeles

I've had some really good sushi before, but Sushi Karen was outstanding! Don't let the less than glamorous storefront fool you. This mom & pop restaurant is the real deal. If you're looking for fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi in a cozy atmosphere, look no further. Be sure to call ahead for reservations! read more

Phenomenal sushi dinner. Best we've bad in LA county. Limited tables, reservations required.

Tiny place run by adorable older couple. Always great. The bargain is salmon skin salad which is frankly underpriced by 2x bc there is so much grilled salmon (not just skin). Usually 2 of us share. Reservations are highly recommended (call them) read more

What a special place. Very intimate sushi restaurant with some of the best fish around. Very kind staff (I believe a husband and wife team?) and they make it fun. Lovely sake selection as well. We come here for special occasions. read more

This whole in the wall place is worth every penny for their Omakase. Run by a Japanese couple who are very sweet, make sure to call ahead and get a reservation. I took my husband for his birthday and we were blown away by the quality and taste of each of the dishes. Can't quite afford to go here every week, but definitely a great special occasion kind of place. read more

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Delicious food very fresh. .. small restaurant, which is fine , however An improvement on the interior decor would be helpful. Very traditional, but gracious service. read more

Wow. On point. So good. I forgot how amazing beautifully prepared sushi can be. Never going anywhere else again. read more

Sushi Karen - Look at those thick, buttery slices! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Nestled in the outskirts of Pasadena, there's a little sushi restaurant hidden in a strip mall. A hole in the wall Sushi-Ya that is chef owned and operated. Traditional nigiri with some small dishes for a quick lunch (terriyaki chicken, grill fish, etc). Chef Toshi-san really cares about his craft in this traditional-esque Sushi-Ya. Fish is decent, nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary. Your standard cut of hamachi, tuna, aji, etc. Sushi menu is per piece as well a dinner and lunch sets. Place is reminiscent of Noshi-Sushi in its heyday or to the likes of a Japanese diner with a decent quality sushi bar. Seating is extremely limited. In the 45-50min of my lunch service, they had to turn away a few parties. Be early or come before they open. RSVP is recommended. Quality of fish was good. On par for this price point. Nigiri rice was well seasoned, but a bit firm. I ordered individual nigiri was was decently surprised: Hamachi nigiri (slightly gamy) Chu Toro (was good) Amaebi (decent, nice firm texture but slightly fishy) Unagi (nice thick cut, savory and sweet) Ikura (was crush, but possibly missed more mirin and sake) Tamago (nice thick cute, lacked a bit of flavor) Total came to $75.00 with tip and a ice cold Echigo. Overall, not a bad choice to get your sushi fixing. But, do expect a longer than usual service due to the limited wait staff. A nice hidden gem in Pasadena's ocean of sushi frills and fancy hand rolls. Truly a neighbor sushi place that is dependable, good quality and friendly staff. Wish you all the best Toshi-san. read more

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Sushi Karen is an unassuming GEM in Pasadena. It's very traditionally run-a super small intimate space with limited tables for service. Husband and wife Aiko and Toshi are wonderfully hospitable, genuinely excited for you to be eating at their restaurant. The fish is incredibly fresh, the teriyaki chicken is oishii (tasty)-as the sauce is the perfect balance and not overpoweringly sweet like lots of places. Everything on the menu is made to order, so if you're in a hurry this may not be the spot for you. It's a great date place for an intimate conversation with delicious dishes, made by expertly skilled hands. If you want to come here, be sure to call and check if there is space, as they almost nightly get fully booked and do not take walk ins or take out orders. This is a place that has loyal, repeat customers and for good reason!! read more

Sushi Karen - Chicken teriyaki (breast meat) and tempura...YUM! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

My absolute favorite place to get sushi! Super fresh melt in your mouth fish. Always recommend to get the carpaccio and if they have yellow tail, get that but if not, any fish available would be good too. read more

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You will quickly realize the 88 for omekase is one of the best omekase deals around. Love that it is a small shop and run by legit folks where the focus is on fish. read more

Probably the freshest best sushi I've ever had. Be prepared to spend a lot because It was also the most expensive sushi I've ever paid for. Owners were so very nice tho, service was excellent. The crab inside the rainbow roll was actually real crab not imitation. Definitely worth the price would go again! read more

Girlfriend treated me here for my early birthday. Boy oh boy, she spoiled me. When it comes to mouthwatering nigiri, this place is it. Probably one of the best mom and pop type of restaurants in general when it comes to sushi. It's a pretty small restaurant; we reserved via phone for dinner at 7pm on a weekday. After dining in, it realistically looks like there's only room for 2 parties, no bigger than 4. Maybe 6. Server was polite, attentive and patient with us, as we had lots of questions. We started off with the amberjack carpaccio (kampachi). I don't normally eat amberjack. This was delicious, not to mention the presentation in the pics posted. It was a great way to get our tongues ready for what was to be a journey of mouthwatering fresh fish. Next was the omakase dinner. I believe there is one that isn't on the menu that's a few $ more with the more premium cuts and that's what we asked the server for. Think of it as a secret menu item ;). I don't do omakase often. I must've been missing out on life because I loved every single bite and question why in the world have I never had omakase in the States before. I don't have any other omakase to compare it to but I can sense that the bar for Sushi Karen is HIGH; capital H. I'm a sucker for tuna and salmon so those were my favorite nigiri of the set. Scallop is delicious too. Ask the server when you get served if it's to be dipped in soy or not. Although we were pretty full after the omakase, gf and I really loved the salmon belly so we yolo'd it an ordered two more orders of the salmon belly nigiri (4 total pieces). It was a great way to end the meal. I love salmon (belly) so much that next time I will forego the amberjack just to have more of that orange/white fatty piece of art. Also, we didn't know which sake to choose while having dinner. Server recommended Ozeki Dry. We chose cold instead of hot. Each sip paired well with mostly all the nigiri. Having a nice buzz was a plus. I don't have sake often and noticed about 20 mins into the meal, the flavor of the sake changed. I'm guessing it's due to the dry flavor over time mixed with the food. Definitely will come back here in the future. Save those extra dollars for the $$$ omakase! Come hungry and enjoy! Ozeki Dry cold - 4/5 stars Off-menu omakase - 5/5 stars Salmon belly nigiri - 5/5 stars Service - 5/5 stars read more

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The best kept secret around Pasadena. The sushi is always so fresh and the omakase is so worth it. Call to make a reservation. It is a very small place, so the reservation will guarantee sitting and no wait time. They do not do to go orders, it's stated in their door as you enter. They guide you on which sushi's to eat with soy sauce or not, which I personally love since I really enjoy tasting the sushi as it is intended to be enjoyed. They are very kind and sweet. The ambiance is very zen like and a perfect place for a date or solo eating. Parking is available in the little plaza it is at. read more

Sushi Karen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Truly a hidden jewel in Pasadena, I love the sushi and the owners. It's a small place, so make reservations.

Super unexpected and intimate mom&pop sushi enterprise in Pasadena! Reservations are required bc there are basically only 4-5 tables and the entire restaurant is run by the owner and his wife. The owner is the sushi chef and the wife is the server :) both very pleasant and considerate. The chef will come help serve tables when his wife becomes busy or perhaps is on break. The sushi here is very delicious with large fish pieces on the sushi/sashimi! Fyi 1 sushi order = 1 piece :) so slightly pricier but it's worth it! The bf ordered the sushi dinner ($55?) and felt extremely full. There are two omakase options for $95 and $119 but I think a few items were sold out so I opted to do a la carte. Need to return to try both omakase courses :) There is a private parking lot for the block and plenty of street parking around :) read more

Expensive but exquisite. But expensive. Merely 5 tables in this owner-operated authentic sushi restaurant. You won't find banal Americanized "rolls" with cooked fish and boring sauce. You WILL find the world's best mackerel and scallop nigiri. The pieces are on the large-side and seasoned & flavored with masterful care. Reservations are mandatory, and no large parties. The owner's wife spent much time on the phone turning away hopeful diners. Watch the master owner prepare your sushi - the experience and heritage are evident and satisfying. read more

Small Mom-n-Pop Japanese sushi restaurant. We had Omakase. Price was reasonable $65 and the cuts were thick and of high quality. Service was prompt and they had a good selection of Japanese beer!! Reservation required for indoor dining. Kampachi (Amberjack) carpaccio Spicy tuna on crispy rice read more

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The sushi experience was phenomenal! My husband and I got the assorted sushi dinner (1 for each) and each nigiri piece brought over was better than the next. Lovely service and you can tell the owners care about their customers. The space is in a mini mall, but it is well decorated for an intimate dinner between couples or close pals. We will be returning for sure! read more

Sushi Karen - Baked eel - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Sushi Karen is phenomenal! The fish is so fresh and delicious and the sushi chef is so sweet. Very intimate place that definitely requires a reservation. Highly recommend! read more

The most amazing sushi experience I've ever had run by a mom and pop who are making the sushi and serving you, and it's true authentically. Japanese manor highly recommend worth the money read more

We enjoyed this omakase to go. It was very reasonable. We will definitely come back. I wish the meal would have included a key of what fish I was getting. I mean, I can identify much of it, the yummy ama ebi, with the freshly tempura-Ed head, salmon, uni, some toro or maybe chu toro, possibly snapper and albacore, but having a little chart would be nice. I enjoyed this place a lot. It's nearby and economical. I will be back. It's a great value, for sure. Very fresh and nice people. read more

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Best fish ever. The fish on the sushi was so perfect, so well cut, delicate and delicious. One of the best sushi places in LA for sure. The sushi rice was also cooked perfectly. Wonderful miso soup. This is a mom and pop restaurant owned by an older Japanese couple. Only the two of them and one cook in the back kitchen. Small place with limited seating, reservation required. The wife(waitress) is very accommodating. Food gets to you quickly. It isn't the prettiest restaurant and it's very unassuming but if you are looking for quality sushi at a great spot with great owners this is it. read more

Don't let the strange sign and dark windows scare you - this is one of those rare places that delivers high on quality. The Sushi dinner is the way to go - the seared salmon belly melts in your mouth - even the cucumber salad was dressed with perfection. Sweet mom and pop place - service with a smile. Can't wait to go back. read more