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    Sushi Kisen

    4.2 (522 reviews)
    Closed 11:45 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Sushi Kisen Takeout or Delivery

    Sushi Kisen Photos

    SUSHI KISEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Kisen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sides with Deluxe Dinner Set
    Orsolya D.

    Dating back to the 2nd Century BC; sushi was a favored Japanese cuisine far before any methods of refrigeration were yet invented. In order to keep fish fresh; rice was laden with rice vinegar and the fish marinaded in soy rice to keep the fish from spoiling (the rice was discarded and only the fish was consumed). As time went on, the art of sushi evolved to where the rice was eaten alongside the fish and during the Edo Period: this method of quickly fermenting with vinegar preventing spoiling; allowed for sushi to be served as street food without refrigeration even as the nigiri style so popular was born. If you are interested in this quick prep Edomae style of sushi; look no further than Arcadia's Sushi Kisen (which I assume is a play off the Japanese word, 'kaizen' meaning 'better, improved' so "better sushi") being one of the few Edomae sushi restaurants and Arcadia's first. Sushi Kisen offers 30-40 fish weekly shipped in straight from Tokyo twice a week! Located in a small corner shopping plaza on Baldwin Ave near the Arcadia intersection (about a mile from the LA Arboretum); the parking lot can be a bit congested as the plaza is filled with numerous restaurants, a bakery, a tea spot, etc. Crossing the threshold into Sushi Kisen reveals a medium-sized eatery with a sushi bar, wooden slat room dividers, and a dining area with tables and booths. Sushi Kisen eschews any bells and whistles in interior design for simplicity but the lines are still modern and clean to their benefit. My boyfriend and I were initially seated but quickly moved to allow our table to be used for a reservation that just phoned in; and thus, we were moved to a tiny back corner table where my I was two inches from the register and phone. This isn't awful, per se, but I was continuously becoming very friendly (metaphorically) with staff using the register and/or answering calls. It just didn't make me feel wholly welcome. For our sushi feast, my boyfriend and I ordered Mozuku seaweed ($8.00), Assorted Vegetable Tempura ($10), Deluxe Sushi Dinner (chef's choice nigiri and rolls, picked vegetables, miso soup, miso dressing salad - $45), Japanese King Mackerel Nigiri (2 pieces - $14), Unagi Eel (2 pieces - $13), Fatty Blue Fin w/ Takuan roll (12.50), and Glass Shrimp (2 pieces - $21.00). I am just going to get right into the nitty-gritty and say I simply did not like Sushi Kisen, at all. It might just be me (the restaurant was full so clearly people like it) and maybe I just don't gel with Edomae style. My favorites - the miso soup, salad, pickled vegetables and vegetable tempura - weren't even sushi! I love seaweed salad so I made the mistake of thinking this seaweed would be similar but it was a bowl of slop straight from the ocean and I found it putrid and inedible. But again, that may be my fault for not knowing. But what WASN'T my fault were my issues with the actual sushi: the glass shrimp was okay but a super weird texture and not worth $21 and would make more sense at half that price. The Japanese King Mackerel was the worst king mack I have ever had! It was grossly briny and "muddy" and tasted of poor quality even though I know it wasn't (but it shouldn't taste that way!). None of my boyfriend's Deluxe Sushi Dinner was that appetizing either and he didn't seem overly impressed. The Fatty Blue Fin roll was fine... but I truly sensed no flavor of any sort being simply bland. But at least it wasn't gross like much of the others that were not worth their price points. The eel was perfect - I am glad they didn't ruin that because I have quite the romance with eel. Again, I'll take some of the blame that maybe Sushi Kisen just isn't my preference but I think it runs deeper and they simply aren't as great as presented (which I can confirm from all of their recent reviews that share my same sentiment). Coupled with odd seating and a very disappointing sushi dinner; Sushi Kisen is simply not for me and a spot best decided for yourself whether worth a visit. To be fair, my boyfriend and I have had worse sushi so Sushi Kisen wasn't God-awful; but definitely not great, either.

    Gloria C.

    I've been a fan of this restaurant's sushi for a long time, which makes this review especially disappointing to write. During our recent visit, we saw a cockroach come from inside the restaurant and run directly toward our table before hiding underneath it. We immediately alerted our waitress, but her response was dismissive. She suggested that it probably came from outside, even though it had clearly emerged from the restaurant interior. What concerned me even more was how the situation was handled. The waitress tried to shoo the cockroach away using a serving tray. After we requested to move to another table, she used that same tray to collect our dishes. I specifically asked her to make sure the tray was washed before it was used again to serve food. She agreed, but when she returned after we switched tables, I recognized what appeared to be the same tray because it still had the same visible dust and marks on it. It certainly did not look like it had been cleaned. Accidents can happen, and seeing a pest once doesn't automatically make me write off a restaurant. What was most disappointing was the lack of concern, accountability, or professionalism in the response. We never received a sincere apology from the staff or management, nor was there any effort to address the situation or make things right. I genuinely enjoy their sushi, which is why this experience was so frustrating. Unfortunately, the combination of the cockroach incident and the way it was handled has left a very negative impression. I don't see myself returning anytime soon.

    Lunch meal to go.
    Phillip D.

    I've been to Sushi Kaisen many times and the service has always been consistently great. This time I ordered takeout through their app, and the whole process was smooth and easy. The app is simple to navigate, checkout is quick, and the menu descriptions (plus photos for most items) make ordering effortless. The food was just as good as when dining in. I'd definitely order takeout from them again.

    Sushi deluxe
    Shirley C.

    TLDR: Fresh, high-quality sushi with generous portions, perfectly seasoned rice, and buttery uni. Relaxing ambience and delicious sides make it feel elevated even for takeout. Parking can be tight during busy hours, and phone service felt a little rushed during dinner time. Togo orders must be ordered online. We ordered takeout from Sushi Kisen after craving sushi, and it ended up being much more filling than expected. The premium chirashi dinner comes with a generous portion of rice and a great variety of fresh sashimi, while the deluxe sushi dinner is the perfect amount for my husband. The rice is perfectly seasoned, and the fish tastes incredibly fresh. The uni stands out. It was buttery, clean, and not fishy at all, which says a lot because I normally don't order uni. The sides are also delicious and make the meal feel more complete, including pickled vegetables, acorn jelly, and steamed vegetables/sweet potato. Even though we ordered takeout, the restaurant gives off a relaxing and chill ambience that makes me want to come back and try the omakase in person. There's a small shared parking lot with several nearby shops and restaurants, so I can see parking being difficult during peak dinner hours. The lady helping us on the phone also doesn't seem very patient, although it may have just been because we called during the dinner rush. One small complaint is the packaged wasabi, which looks noticeably old and dark green compared to the bright green fresh wasabi included separately. Overall, though, the quality and freshness of the food easily stand out.

    Erikaaa S.

    Went to Sushi Kisen recently (April 25th) for lunch and had a great experience! We were able to sit at the sushi bar and enjoy the omakase, which was absolutely to die for. Every piece tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The service was excellent and our chef was very kind and welcoming throughout the experience. You could really tell there was a lot of care put into both the food and the atmosphere. Honestly, I would definitely come back again.

    Premium Chirashi
    Angela C.

    Ordered the premium chirashi, Spanish mackerel, and hamachi collar. The fish was fresh and good quality, I especially enjoyed the Spanish mackerel which has a delicate and refreshing taste. The waitress was impatient, but the hostess was very nice. Environment was nice but unpretentious. Parking was easy. Overall enjoyed my experience and would come back.

    Sake Flight
    Anto M.

    After my last visit to the sushi bar, and enjoying omakase with Taka San, I can officially say that Sushi Kisen is EASILY the best sushi restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley, and is a very strong candidate as one of SoCal's best sushi restaurants, period. We were one of the first people on this visit at the bar so it was relatively quiet noise wise. HIGHLY recommended. But remember to make reservations in advance!

    Sashimi Lunch
    Rachel W.

    The sashimi lunch was tasty and reasonably priced given the quality of the cuts. All of the sashimi pieces were fresh and soft, with my favourites being the yellowtail and red sea bream. The picked vegetables on the side were also great. However, the cooked tuna and salmon pieces were overcooked and too dry. The interior was nicely decorated and service was good.

    Regular Sushi (Lunch Only) and Negitoro Roll
    Tiffani C.

    Came here 5 minutes before they opened on a weekday for lunch and there was already a small line for the sign up sheet. I still got seated quickly. It seems like everyone comes for either the lunch omakase, which is only at the sushi bar or the lunch sushi set which is what I got. It was a pretty good deal, 7 pieces of nigiri (Chef's choice, so sad there was no salmon), 3 pieces of cucumber roll and 3 pieces of blue tuna roll. I underestimated how filling it would be so I ended up ordering a fatty tuna negitoro roll also. It was good but there was just a lot of food. The set also comes with miso soup and 3 side dishes. The side dishes were all lacking in flavor and subpar tbh. Service is fast and it's a more modern upscale place so I won't fault the pricing for that.

    Dine LA Dinner Menu from 1/23/26 - 2/6/26.
    Katelyn K.

    I made a reservation through their website and received an email confirmation from Tock. I specifically chose the table for my reservation and not at the bar. Parking is usually easy to find, but they recently opened Molly in the same plaza so now parking is difficult to find. The restaurant is right next to Chef Tony, you can't miss it. I told the waitress about my reservation but she didn't look it up. She just pointed to the table available and we sat there. My husband ordered from their Dine LA dinner menu. It was $65 not including tax and gratuity. See the photo I uploaded for details. I thought both of us had to order from their Dine LA dinner menu but they didn't force me to. I ordered Negitoro Bowl, Shrimp Tempura appetizer, Uni (2 pcs), and alcohol. The table is quiet small for us with all of these plates, smaller bowls and drinks. I would love to sit at a bigger table but I think the place is designed that way if it's two people. Staffs are friendly. When my husband went to use the restroom, I told our waitress that it's his birthday. They gave us sesame ice cream with a candle. There's other flavors too but I chose sesame. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are. Looking around, I only see adults at this restaurant. Overall, I had a great time here besides not loving the small table. I'd love to try other items on the menu next time.

    Kit T.

    Was always curious about this place so I went here with my bf for dinner. I made a reservation weeks before because the restaurant is kinda small so it might be busy. When we got to the restaurant, it was pretty busy so good thing I made a reservation. I ordered the deluxe sushi dinner and my bf ordered the Premium Chirashi bowl. We both enjoyed our meals and the fish was fresh. They have a lunch omakase that I am curious about and will prob go back to try.

    Karage and sweet potato tempura
    Claire S.

    Very excited to get the dineLA lunch at Sushi Kisen! The lunch this time is the kaisen don with sweet shrimp, ikura, scallop, chopped toro and uni. There's a small side of yellowtail? marinated in a sesame paste that you are suppose to mix that in when you about to finish and they will pour hot broth in the bowl to enjoy a different eating experience. The seafood was all very fresh tasting as usual. I enjoyed all the components individually and as a whole. They told us to save the marinated fish at the end to put it in the bowl before they pour the hot broth. However, I liked it just by itself so I ate most of it before the broth came. The disappointing part was after they poured the hot broth in my bowl, I found a short, curly and thick hair that's not mine... They apologized and offered to make me another one but our entire party was almost all done so they took mine off the bill. As disappointing and upset about seeing a thick hair in my food, I commend the restaurant how they handled the situation. But PSA always look carefully before you put food in your mouth lol. We also ordered karage and sweet potato tempura. The flavor is light and subtle for both. The green tea salt on the side is unique. There's a line at the restaurant before it opens at 11:45am. When we finished, there's a line of people waiting for tables as well. Seems like the restaurant is always packed but we enjoy the wooden decor and the chill vibe.

    Wen Wen C.

    Sushi Kisen lives up to the hype! I was lucky enough to try their omakase after making an essential advance reservation (note: people line up before the 11:45 AM opening!). The $90 Lunch Omakase is a great value, featuring an appetizer, 12 stunning nigiri, a hand roll, and a fish soup. The sushi is truly fresh and delicious, and I loved the slight flavoring in their rice--a sign of a meticulous chef. The sushi master was professional and incredibly attentive, enhancing the quiet, clean, and beautiful atmosphere. Highly recommend! I can't wait to come back for their hot menu.

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    First time customer here and the food and service were great. Cute little spot that I would definitely come back to!

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    Sushi Kisen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Kisen

    How do you make a reservation for lunch?

    Thank you for reaching out to us. Good News is we are on TOCK now. In order to make a reservation at Edomae Sushi Kisen. Please visit a reservation App called TOCK or visit… 

    What are your new lunch' and dinner omakase prices?

    We offer " Omakase " Lunch and dinner service only at the SUSHI BAR. We do not offer a prefixed " Omakase " at a certain price at Sushi Kisen, and therefore the price changes… 

    Are you open on thanksgiving day? If yes, what's your hours? Thank you!

    Hi Thank you so much for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, we will be closed on Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.… 

    How much is the omakase?

    $80 or around that

    How much is your omakase cost?

    See answer to question above

    How can we make reservations? Do we call your number the day before or can make it the same day for lunch or dinner?

    I wouldn't expect same day or even the day before. The venue is small, so I had challenges even a week before. It's as easy as a phone call though and they'll work with you...

    Does the Hairy Crab need to be order in advance in order to guarantee avaibility? Price for half vs whole? Thanks!

    It is market price item. For my weekday dinner in August, $80 for half and $140 for whole.

    How much for the corkage?

    $50 for 750ml or greater. $25 for anything smaller than 750ml.… 

    What is the price of Omakase?

    There's an 80 dollar per person minimum to sit at the bar and order your own choices to reach that 80 per person mark or have omakase. from my experience once you've hit that mark having omakase they'll ask if you'd like anything that you'd like… 

    Do you do corkage for sake?

    Yes, only for the sake that we do not offered.

    Do you take reservations?

    Yes, we do take rsvp.

    Do you accept American Express?

    Yes, we accept American Express.

    View All 16 Questions

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    4.8 mi
    $$

    Came here with my friends and my son this past Wednesday for lunch. We arrived about 10 to 15…read moreminutes after they opened at 11 a.m., and it was the perfect time to avoid the lunch rush. I've been wanting to try Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. for a while since their original location is in Torrance. I'm really glad they opened a Pasadena location because we're lucky to have one here in the 626 now. Parking was easy since there are spots right in front of the restaurant, but they are metered and cost $2 per hour. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the staff. Since the weather was nice, we decided to sit out on the patio, which was cool and comfortable. To start, we ordered the fried tempura mozzarella sticks ($5.99), onion kakiage ($2.99), and edamame corn kakiage ($5.99). Everything was delicious, but the mozzarella sticks were the clear favorite. They were fried perfectly with an amazing cheese pull and plenty of cheesy flavor. We decided to share all of our entrees family style. For my son, we ordered the plain hot udon, which was simple and perfect for him. For the rest of us, we ordered the Premium Tempura Bowl ($32.97) and added ikura ($4.98), the cold soba with dipping sauce and tempura ($19.99), and Carlos's Jewel Box ($31.99), which came with chopped salmon, toro, yellowtail, and popcorn shrimp over rice. We also added extra toro for $8. On top of that, we ordered a side of five slices of chu-toro for $15.49, which honestly felt like a great deal. The Premium Tempura Bowl was definitely the star of the meal. Every piece of tempura was light, crispy, and fried perfectly without feeling greasy. The fried tempura egg was absolutely chef's kiss, especially once the yolk mixed into the rice. The tempura dipping sauce was also excellent and brought everything together. The Carlos's Jewel Box was another standout. The fish tasted fresh, and the rice with their house sauce paired perfectly with everything. The added toro made it even better. The cold soba was well prepared, but it just wasn't our cup of tea. That's more of a personal preference than anything because the quality was still there. The restaurant has a modern look while still feeling like a cozy mom-and-pop shop. I really liked the decor and the welcoming atmosphere. Since we were the only table sitting outside, I can't really comment on the noise level inside, but the patio was peaceful and relaxing. The service was great. The staff brought out a booster seat for my son and even helped secure it to the patio chair. They also brought us all the condiments, including ginger and pickled vegetables, without us having to ask, which I appreciated. Overall, I would definitely come back. The tempura was some of the best I've had in the 626, and the rice bowls were just as impressive. If you're visiting for the first time, I highly recommend ordering one of the tempura bowls. You really can't go wrong. It's great to see a restaurant that started in Torrance expand to Pasadena because it's a welcome addition to the 626 dining scene.

    Got the premium tempura bowl, and it was kind of disappointing. The batter was not sticking to the…read moreshrimp nor the squid after biting into it. It kind of fell apart. There was also no crunch to it. I remember the Torrance location tempura had a very nice crunch, batter was light and airy, and it stuck to the food. The sauce is the same, as they put it in the rice instead of you dipping it into a sauce. I also got cold soba on the side since they can't substitute the rice for soba. Soba wasn't anything special. The noodles at the Torrance location is better I promise! The miso soup was okay, didn't really enjoy it that much. It's not your typical miso soup. It has mushrooms in it. The mushroom flavor was too strong for me. Service was meh since we sat down first, but they took the order from our neighbors before us. Their food came out first too. Most likely won't come back to this location again. Not sure if they just had an off day when I went, but I had a disappointing experience.

    Photos
    Front Entrance
    Front Entrance
    Uni Hand Roll
    Uni Hand Roll
    Mixed tempura

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    Mixed tempura
    Tokyo Soul

    Tokyo Soul

    4.3
    (73 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I had probably the best restaurant experience I've ever had this past Monday evening at Tokyo Soul,…read moreand it wasn't just cuz of the delicious fare, but also because of [& overwhelmingly so] the abundant hospitality that was shown to me and my friend. (: How it started: I showed up a couple min prior to their 5:30pm opening time and got welcomed in. Before I even sat down, a stranger at the corner table asked if I liked beer, to which I said yes, so he recommended the Suntory premium malt draft beer. I decided to go ahead & order it and liked it quite a bit & let the table of friends know. Before I knew it, I'd be introduced to Stan, one of the sunniest people you'll ever meet. He & his friends pretty much make the big decisions for the mall and are somewhat more involved w/ a handful of places like Tokyo Soul. It was such a privilege to be on the receiving end of their warmth, generosity, and openness. My friend & I ended up getting to try some of the items they're planning to introduce the following week (which I won't post pics of, just to keep it a surprise :P) as we continued getting to learn s'more about our new friends, interspersed by the continuation of my & my friend's own convos. We felt lucky that we got to be served by Edward too (a mentee of Stan's), who usually doesn't work that shift, but his friendliness was definitely one of the first things I noted as I got seated. The hospitality that night outshined the food only because it was like nothing I've experienced in LA. However, the food can hold its own, and though my conversations w/ my friend + Stan & co. meant I was eating my pork katsu curry rice way past its prime state, the dish was still so flavorful that it was a delight to eat even cold. What a Monday night to remember. Thank you Stan & co. for taking care of us so well!

    I always pass by the spot but with a toddler, the hours of operation never really worked for us…read morewhere I can sit down to eat a meal inside or it's closed when we are here in the mall. Only option was finally to get takeout today. A little pricey for what it is. Not much rice or curry. Didn't really fill me up after paying almost $50 for sharing beef curry rice medium spice and hayashi rice. It came with miso soup on the side and bc of the cyclospora outbreak, they weren't serving salad so refunded me $4. The beef in the curry rice was too beefy and chewy. The medium spice didn't really have a kick to it. The meat in the hayashi rice tastes like hot pot meats and the flavoring in that didn't have enough OOOMPHH if you know what I mean. Since it's located in the mall, there's plenty of parking available. This restaurant is on the 2nd floor right next to Nordstrom.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Karaage
    Karaage
    Suntory The Premium Malt's Beer (after the foam was gone)

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    Suntory The Premium Malt's Beer (after the foam was gone)

    Sushi Kisen - japanese - Updated July 2026

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