Tucked in Downtown Monrovia, this small restaurant has really fresh sushi! We visited on a recent Saturday for lunch. Inside has maybe 3-4 seats at the sushi bar, 3 small tables, and a couple tables outdoors were its pet friendly. I got the salmon don and it was fresh and delicious. It comes with miso soup and the best tasting salad dressing I've ever had. We also shared the lime roll, scallops sushi, ono sushi, albacore sushi and miso cod. The roll was only okay, and I definitely preferred the sushi. The miso cod was tender and soft, I felt very healthy eating all the delicious fish. Our waiter was super friendly and nice, it made for a great lunch experience! read more

Been wanting to try this place based on Yelp Ratings and never could eat early enough to make it before closing at 2pm; but finally made it on this fine sunny WFH Friday with hubby. Let's just say that whenever we crave/think sushi we both look at each other and shout Sugar Fish; however; it was a huge disappointment hence brought us searching for a new "go to" replacement and this is comparatively better for price, taste, quality. We both ordered the Premium Sushi Set and happy we did coz Toro and Uni that you don't get at SF. Perhaps what would make it 5 stars would be if chef would serve like Omakase style (which is really similar) 1 by 1 for those sitting at the bar. Highly recommend and will be back again. read more

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My fiancé and I come here almost once a month. The staff, Chef and the food is always amazing. We normally come and get our normal menu, but tonight we went and got the Omakase. The experience was awesome. We sat at the bar and chatted with Chef. Learned a lot about Japan and the different fish we ate. My favorite was the monk fish liver (Ankimo) was so delicious! We recommend this place for good sushi! read more

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I say this with zero hyperbole and exaggeration, Nakata is one of, if not, the best sushi spots I have ever tried. The blue fin toro was out of this world, it literally melted in our mouths. We ordered 2 orders of the sashimi and I could have ordered more. The blue crab roll was by far my favorite. I have had blue crab hand roll at other establishments, but this place does something special and the crab taste, mixed with the sushi rice and nori was something to die for. If I were to choose anything, I would get the blue fin toro and the blue crab cut roll. I advise anyone to make a reservations, my girlfriend and I walked in after watching a movie and didn't have a reservation, and I VERY lucky with a spot. It's a reservation place for sure, so please make a reservation instead of walking in. read more

Sushi NAKATA - Blue Fin Toro Sushi, Blue Crab cut roll, Blue Fin Toro Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

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So we came here on Sunday noon to have lunch because it was so hot and sushi was the answer. I called in advance just in case they didn't have the space, but surprisingly, they picked up my phone before their opening hours, so I was able to book a table for 7. We were seated outside because they only have small tables inside. Most of us had chirashi and other stuff, and we ordered uni pasta to share. The chirashi, I don't have any complain about because it's so fresh and legit fresh fish. However, the reason I gave them 4 stars because of the uni pasta. I've tried uni pasta at different places before (monzo, pasta e pasta) where they serve the pasta with Japanese twist as well, but Nakata's pasta is too bland, and I didn't taste the boldness of the sauce at all. 7 of us are foodies and we agreed we wouldn't order this again in the future, but their sushi / sashimi dishes are good. read more

Sushi NAKATA - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Sushi Nakata is tiny, so if you have a large party, you can only sit at their outside tables. We came on a Friday and it was quite busy. They only had 2 servers and service was okay for how busy it was. Food was decent but more expensive than I was expecting and all of us still went home hungry. ): Overall it was decent and food is good quality. read more

The food was good but service was pretty chaotic. They came to our table with food we didn't order a few times, and one of the items (uni sashimi which only requires taking uni from a wholesale box and putting it onto a plate) didn't come until we were all done with the rest of the food and were ready to pay. read more

YES! This place is so awesome! My kid wanted sushi for her quarantine birthday dinner. I called a few places looking for a SUSHI BOAT. They didn't have one, but Nari (Sushi chef) said he could get one!! He got one and it was great! What we ordered: Sushi Platter for 4, Yellow tail, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Shishito peppers. Went to pick up my order at the time he said it would be ready and he had the boat and side dishes ready! My kid was so happy! Great customer service, really nice guys, and great sushi! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL eateries!! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Made a special request for a BOAT! (Sushi platter for 4, amberjack sushi, shishito peppers, spicy tuna crispy rice) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Sushi Nakata is by no means a high-profile restaurant but their sushi can certainly compete for a top seat within the SGV. COVID-19 has opened doors to places I never would've considered setting foot in. When a community member shared his beautifully prepared sushi platter from Sushi Nakata, I knew I had to try it for myself. I called in and requested for specific fish (inventory changes frequently so call ahead if you're looking for something in particular) and asked the chef to pick the rest, enough to feed three people. Within 20 minutes, I was on my way home with platter in hand. They delivered on a great array of nigiri and each piece kept its shape on our bumpy ride home. The rice is served room temperature with an ever so slightly sweet and sour flavor that stuck well to each piece of fish. Looking forward to eating more sushi from this establishment! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Spicy Tuna Roll, California Roll and Blue Crab Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

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Horrible Customer Service! Very rude sushi Chef!!, his name is Odon. We sat down at the sushi bar with my family, wife and kids. After a few minutes i asked the main chef what he recommends and he was very rude, he said "Wait! Give me a few minutes". We waited patiently like 10 minutes, and still no interaction from the chef. Then the waitress gave the chef a different order from a table behind us and he made it and still was ignoring us and we were their first. It was very unprofessional. The chef seemed angry, Will NEVER Come back!! Don't waste your time, Trust me go somewhere else !!! read more

Sushi Nakata is a small intimate sushi bar. It's chef is a Japanese born and knows his stuff. I was having lunch there and saw a box delivered from Japan! I've included photos when the chef checked it in! A whole halibut and Haikado uni was what I was focused on! I immediately told them I was going to be back that evening for dinner!! I can't believe it's sitting on Lemon Street in Okd town Monrovia! One the best sushi restaurants! read more

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A hidden gem tucked in downtown Monrovia. Their lunch special is a great deal! It comes with soup and salad too. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. It's a small shop but there was no wait during Sunday lunch. The service was quick and friendly as well. Highly recommend it! There were lots of street parking and free parking lot down the street. read more

Sushi NAKATA - $45 Premium Nigiri lunch special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

I love this spot. It's an old town Monrovia special hidden gem in the alley. Compared to the other sushi spot down the street, Nakata is my preferred spot because they specialize in authentic Japanese sashimi over rolls. read more

Not a good experience and the owner didn't do anything about it... I ordered the $250 Holiday Bento Box and ate a fish bone in my nigiri, I immediately send a message to the restaurant, an hour later, someone replied "I will go ahead and inform it to the chef." That's it! Nothing was done! I didn't get a call asking if I was okay? if I swallow the fish bone? Nope! Nothing! Terrible customer service! Note on the $250 Holiday Bento Box, don't get fooled by their photo, the fish is super thin and the rice is so BIG, the fried sweet shrimp heads have greasy smells. Will never order it again! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Fish bone found in nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

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Delicious fish every time. If you are in the mood for fresh fish, sushi made with care, you gotta go here. Once you taste it, you will know that you got a great deal. read more

Sushi NAKATA - Nigiri set - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

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My go-to sushi spot. I come here at least once a month and occasionally even twice in one week. I've tried pretty much their entire menu and everything is consistently good. Their cooked food is solid (typically not the case at sushi restaurants) and their sashimi is always fresh. The restaurant is situated in old town Monrovia (across the street from the library) which makes it such a great atmosphere to dine outside and take a stroll around the neighborhood afterwards. Restaurant is on the small side so definitely not recommended for groups bigger than 4. Some menu favorites (aside from their Sushi/Sashimi): - Salmon Truffle Roll - Softshell Crab - Uni Pasta - Negitoro Roll - Black Cod And definitely check out the Omakase! It's a great value and even cheaper/better than some of the omakases I've had in the $300 range. read more

Man we've passed by Sushi Nakata a bunch of times but on a cold night in late November we finally stopped in. WOW. The sushi and sashimi was fresh and delicious, the service first-rate and friendly, and the space snallish and warm and cozy. Another reviewer noted this is one of the best sushi spots in the SGV, and I concur, though I'd extend those geographic boundaries--this is one of the best sushi restaurants on the entire east side of LA. We'll be back soon for sure! read more

The service was impeccable. The quality of "neta" (fish items for sashimi/sushi) was top grade! Chef was well versed and provided guest satisfying orders. Going back real soon. read more

Love this place. Fish always so fresh. Never a disappointment. Definitely one of favorite! read more

Had lunch here with one of the kiddos here last weekend. We arrived at 11:15am but they didn't open until 11:30am. The staff graciously told me I could sit outside as she continues to get the restaurant ready. We opted to eat outside since the weather was fantastic. I ordered hand rolls and the kid ordered nigiri. Both came with miso soup and salad. I was very impressed because the kid also enjoyed the salad. He haaaates salad usually! The food was delicious and service was prompt. My son gave this place 10 stars. read more

High quality sushi. Loved the uni pasta, blue crab hand roll and fresh eel. Salmon carpaccio was so flavorful. Definitely returning!

Some of the best sushi you can find in the SGV. Never been let down. Everyone is incredibly welcoming. Love this place.

Great food, cozy location. Excellent service. Had happy hour menu last time we visited.

Uni Pasta topped with salmon roe and seaweed is delicious! The pasta is creamy and rich in flavor. Chirashi is fresh and has a great varieties of sashimi. If you're a fan of uni pasta and Chirashi, it's worth the try! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Chirashi and Uni Pasta - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

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I wish I would've taken a photo before I began eating haha but as soon as I finished the first hand roll I realized I should probably write a review on how good this food is! I ordered via phone, and food was ready at the time they said it would be, nice staff. This place is around the corner from Myrtle Ave and you might almost miss it because it's pretty small. It's a cute little restaurant, gives a NY feel when you enter because of how snug it is in there. They also have outdoor seating if preferred, I will definitely be returning to try the sushi next. read more

Sushi NAKATA - 4 piece hand roll set ( lunch only ) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Amazing and fresh seafood that we couldn't wait to eat and forgot to take pictures. The unni was imported from Japan and was buttery, sweet, and perfectly salted. The salmon roll, blue crab role, and toro melted in in your mouth. The restaurant is small and the parking is limited so make a reservation and plan to walk at least 500 feet. The best part was we had a celebrity chef Kenny Yamada who started working at this restaurant one month ago. He has been working on his sushi chef craft since he was 15 years old. Amazing service and great food. read more

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Tried this place on a whim with a friend for lunch. I was not expecting one of the tastiest sushi places I've been to in a long time. You can tell that the menu is sourced fresh by a Japanese run owner, The Hokkaido scallops were buttery soft with flavor imparted by the yuzu kosho flavoring. And the highlight of the meal. More importantly the rice was soft, fluffy, and well seasoned with the light touch of vinegar and salt. Enough that my friend and I agreed the meal didn't need extra soy sauce. But everything was so good, with a large variety that I immediately wanted to come back another time to show friends and family. Thank you for the great meal and I hope to come back soon! read more

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What a hidden gem this place is! My whole family was pleasantly surprised- we came here for Father's Day dinner and every dish we tasted was delicious and executed amazingly. We got one Omakase and ordered side dishes. The most surprising - "knock you out of the park" meals was the Uni Sushi, Crab Handroll, and Blue fin Toro. This place specializes more in fresh fish and less of the westernized sushi rolls - so if you are into sashimi and more authentic Japanese tasting flavors this definitely the place to try! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Brussels Sprouts, Blue Fin Toro and Uni Sushi, Cod, and Tiramisu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Absolutely PERFECT. Literally perfect. Impeccable sushi and cooked dishes, sweet ambiance, warm service - what a gem. What an absolute gem. We especially loved the agedashi tofu, spicy yellowtail roll, and miso cod. read more

Service and food were top notch. Expect a longer wait time during dinner service as there's only 2 sushi chefs. Limited seating. Very cute decor and makes you feel right at home. read more

I have been a regular patron at Sushi Nakata for 3+ yrs. They say "hole in the wall", yes it is that. But I say this with the upmost respect. I visit Japan frequently and my favorite sushi places are the local "hole in the wall" just like Sushi Nakata. 5 star does not make it justice. I give it 10 stars. read more

Sushi nakata is still my favorite sushi spot. Nakata has consistently high quality deliciousness on deck! It was kinda chilly out so I ordered a bunch of fried stuff like the shishamo, chicken karaage, and clam miso. We got a couple rolls in addition to the yellowtail sashimi, toro cut roll, scallop sushi. I just couldn't stop eating its all so delicious. The shishamo i had to order twice, the curry powder for dipping was so unique and the smelt was so clean and fresh, I couldn't resist. read more

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Probably the best sushi I've ever had, and not really even close. The ambiance is amazing with the fastest service in the west. Highly reccomend the katsu ramen, which has amazing broth. The lime roll was also incredible read more

Two part review. For day to day food, I had their salmon teriyaki lunch. It came with a few different sides including salad, miso soup, vegetables, rice. The salad was topped with a delicious thick ginger sauce that looks homemade. The side vegetables were some sesame lotus root(I think called kinpira renkon) a generous serving of Japanese pickles(which I appreciated because some places only give a few slices) as well as pickled radish. The rice was fluffy and had some seasoning sprinkled on top. you can definitely see the care that was put into making and plating the entire meal, and at such a reasonable price this is definitely my favorite Japanese spot in the area. I've never been to a restaurant at this price point that feels quite as traditionally Japanese as this place, and I mean that in both the flavors and the way they present their food. Boyfriend and I wanted omakase for our anniversary($100/person) and It was a five course meal Appetizer: Oyster, jellyfish, monk fish liver, and baby squid Chawanmushi: small egg custard with mushrooms. I've never liked chuwanmushi before because the contents can be a mixed bag but I enjoyed this one Sushi of the day, our waiter instructed us which pieces were pre-seasoned, and they were all very fresh tasting Soup: clam miso soup, had a full flavor and went well with the clams Protein: miso cod, absolutely heavenly. The miso was perfect and the pickled onion and veggies complimented it so well. Dessert: green tea tiramisu, but I believe their dessert changes read more

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This place is not Monrovia good, but LA good! I feel so lucky that this place is in my little home town. It's hands down the best restaurant in Monrovia. I love how small the place is and how great their service is. I mostly eat Nigiri, but my girlfriend doesn't so i've had a big variety of their dishes by stealing from her. The garlic edamame is so good. The Blue fin Toro, Halibut Nigiri and salmon skin hand roll are some of my favorites. They have specials written on the door. I highly recommend you indulge in those. I've had nice surprises. Great Japanese beer and Sake selection as well. read more

Quarantine has been tough. Being pregnant during COVID-19 while having mad sushi cravings has been even tougher. Thank goodness for Sushi Nakata! Their Uni Pasta hits the spot each time and is extremely satisfying. The pasta is cooked perfectly and the delicious uni cream sauce is exactly what I wanted. Plus the fresh and nicely portioned sushi fills me and baby with delight. If you are going to risk eating sushi while pregnant, make sure its of great quality. Sushi Nakata definitely fits the bill. The Omakase is wonderful and very filling. You'll be stuffed by the end of the meal. Basically, you can't go wrong with any of the options here. The chef and hostess are really kind and accommodating. I can't wait to go back to eat here in person after all of this chaos is over! There is a good amount of street parking near the restaurant and if that is full there is a parking lot just a skip away. read more

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Last review of the year. The food was great, but the customer service was even better. I called the day before to order their sushi box (that Christmas one for 2-4ppl). When I got to the restaurant at my pickup time, they didn't have it. Turns out they forgot to put in my order. After I expressed my disappointment and annoyance, the chef offered to make the box for me, but they ran out of uni. They said they could substitute wagyu or toro instead. I asked for toro. They also gave me a discount for the inconvenience. That's nice of them. I went to coldstone's while waiting and came back to a line. The lady in front of me had 2 toddlers and a baby with her. When it was her turn, the owner's wife (I think) insisted on bringing her order all the way to her car parked at the park a block away. Superb customer service right there. Anyways, I get home with my sushi box and they replaced the uni with wagyu (maybe they ran out of toro too?). Well, as you can see in the pic, the line of wagyu looks amazing. Everything was great. I did think they could've put less rice. That's just me though. It came with a few side dishes too and those were yummy. And now I have a pretty bento box to use. It'll most likely be a snack box really. Even tho the food was great, it would've been even better if we could dine in. Hope we can dine in soon. I'll definitely be back when they offer dine in again. read more

Sushi NAKATA - Sushi box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Ordered pick up for their premium chirashi set $38 came with miso soup & spring salad in ginger dressing. Great value & fresh seafood!! The soup was well wrapped to prevent leakage. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Sushi NAKATA - Premium Chirashi bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monrovia, California

Best fresh sushi around. Good service with friendly people . Can't go wrong with whatever you choose. Or be surprised by letting them pick k for you read more

If I had to do a one liner- freshest sushi in Monrovia! This is a little shop owned by the nicest Japanese couple. They serve based on what's available. Everything is made to order. I tried them for the first time during the quarantine and it's delicious. The portion may appear smaller but it's really the quality you're getting. And the service! I ordered the negihama and negitoro sushi. Both were delicious but petite. You'll need a few rolls to get full if that's all you're ordering. I also got the agedashi tofu and shishito peppers- good appetizer to pair with the sushi. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes! They have some lunch specials- check out their menu online. read more