First time coming to this location. Went to the other location in Downtown LA. Seating is only bar…read morestyle. Got there around 5pm on a Friday and waited about 15 mins or so. Not too bad considering a long line start forming outside. If you enjoy sushi hand rolls, KazuNori is the place to be. The design inside is very nice. Feels calm and the lighting was just right. Got their 6-hand roll set menu which included toro, yellowtail, salmon, bay scallop, crab, and lobster hand rolls. Can't go wrong with either one. All of them were fresh and delicious nicely prepared. Each bite of these hand rolls was satisfying to say the least. The staff were friendly refilling my water and asking if I needed anything from time to time. Really enjoyed coming here. Price isn't so bad also. Great experience and will definitely come again.

KazuNori is a restaurant opened but the same group as SUGARFISH. They specialize in hand rolls…read moreserved one at a time across the counter. They have multiple locations across the Southern California area including this one near Old Town Pasadena. They do not reservations and you wait in line until there are open seats for your party. We came at around 6pm on a Friday evening and were seated immediately for a party of two. When we left at around 7pm there was a long line waiting so I recommend coming earlier. I recommend coming with a smaller party. They have different presets of hand rolls by count (3 to 6) where 6 is the most popular. The chef hands each roll to you individually and you're expected to eat it immediately to ensure the seaweed is crisp and the rice is warm. I got the 6-hand roll set ($29) which included toro, yellowtail, salmon, bay scallop, crab, and lobster. My favorites were the salmon, bay scallop, and crab. I also got the eel hand roll ($5.75) which was also good. If you want to be surprised, there's The Nozie which is their omakase style 6 hand roll set.

They were very accommodating with our large group for our group gathering. The service was great…read morewith all foods coming in a timely manner. We would come back again with a large group of 9 people.

Such good service! Had a great experience with my friends with the all you can eat! It was very…read moreyum. Thank you Mike!

It was fantastic ! We will go back on the regular! The food was delicious , the service was…read moreamazing! Definitely a must place to go if you are in LA

My first time trying Tendon Tempura! We came here to celebrate my friend's birthday before we…read moreheaded to the Pasadena Playhouse which was down the street. We both ordered the Tempera Special and shared an order of the Yellowtail Hand rolls for an appetizer. The hand roll was generously stuffed and it tasted fresh. The tempera special came with pumpkin, scallops, white fish, shrimp, seaweed, and jalapeños. It also includes an order of rice and miso on the side. Overall the food here was great. I will say the highlight of the night was the outstanding service. The multiple staff members that helped us order/ served us were very friendly and attentive. That alone would make me want to return to Tendon Tempura.

Osawa is a jack of all trades, as comfortable creating amazing sushi and sashimi as they are making…read moreshabu shabu and bento boxes. They also offer some compelling specials that will keep bringing you back to their location in Old Town Pasadena. Shokado Bento Box: This is the ultimate surf and turf. The strips of Angus ribeye steak have a sweet and savory teriyaki glaze. The meat is wonderfully marbled and flavorful. Miso salmon is slightly charred and perfectly cooked, soft and supple throughout. There's some irresistible sashimi. The tuna is ruby red, firm, and minerally. The salmon is rich and creamy. Yellowtail is tender and buttery. For contrast, there's a slippery green wakame seaweed salad with sesame seeds. Pickled cucumbers add a strong briny crunch. The dark, squiggly hijiki seaweed also adds some crunch combined with soft squid. Miso soup offers savory and umami flavors. Parking: You need to hunt for paid sidewalk parking.

I had been a longtime customer here for about seven years, but I stopped going after getting food…read morepoisoning from fish here in March 2025. After more than a year away, I decided to give Osawa another try on May 8, 2026. Unfortunately, the experience confirmed why I had stopped coming. Around 9:02 p.m., my waiter came by to ask for last orders. I ordered chicken karaage. This is a simple dish that usually comes out in about 4 to 5 minutes. For whatever reason, the order did not arrive until around 9:26 p.m. -- almost 25 minutes later. It seemed obvious that the order had been forgotten. When the karaage finally arrived, it looked hastily sauced. Several parts of the chicken were unsauced, which is not how the dish was normally served in the past. Given the delay and the apparent mishandling, I did not touch the dish. A Japanese male manager wearing glasses then came over. He recognized me, and I explained that I had not been back for more than a year because of the food poisoning incident from fish in 2025. Instead of responding seriously, the manager smiled and giggled slightly, then launched into an irrelevant conversation about his connections in the Japanese food industry in Old Town Pasadena. When he asked why I had not touched the chicken, I explained the almost 30-minute delay and the problems with the dish. Rather than comping the item or offering a real apology, the manager asked whether I still wanted to eat it or would prefer to cancel it. He then ended the conversation by suggesting that I come in during weekday lunch for the $18 lunch specials. That response was bizarre and tone deaf. I did not return after a food poisoning incident to hear a sales pitch about lunch specials. I returned as a longtime customer giving Osawa another chance. Osawa's way of doing business has changed a lot. I've seen better customer service at Erewhon.

Delicious and low cost meal option! I tried the Spicy Tuna Mayo Onigiri, Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri,…read moreSalmon Sashimi and Lychee Lemonade. There was a line when I arrived but the wait wasn't too long. The place was packed but people receive and eat their food pretty quickly. The Lychee Lemonade is smooth and sweet with the drink leaning more lychee than lemonade but I really enjoyed it. It had two pieces of lychee inside the cup. The onigiris were a great size and had a decent amount of filling. The rice is dusted with a sesame seed salt and seaweed seasoning so every bite has flavor. The sashimi portion is small but the pieces are of quality and the dipping sauce is great.I ate inside and the tray presentation was a nice touch with a disposable soy sauce tray provided and a small cup of wasabi. The inside of the restaurant felt clean and inviting with indoor and outdoor seating available. They offer free water in the dining space. There is a parking lot onsite so don't worry about parking.

I used to teach in Osaka, so I really miss having onigiri everywhere. They don't always translate…read morewell in U.S. restaurant settings, so the most reliable versions are usually found at Japanese supermarkets. I love both locations of Rice & Nori, but the Pasadena one wins for the free parking. If you're really hungry, go for the rice balls, their thicker take on onigiri. If you want something lighter, mix it up with a few hand rolls instead. Grab a sake can honoring the Dodgers, and you've got a perfect lunch spot. They used to go a bit heavy on the nori, making it overly salty, but on my recent visit, they nailed it.

Came by the other night on a Friday and wow, this place was packed. We checked in around 7pm and…read morethe wait was close to an hour and a half. Luckily they have a waitlist system where you can track your spot in line, so we just walked around Pasadena and did some shopping while we waited. Once seated, we had a table and were taken care of by Diane, who I believe was the manager. She was amazing and made sure we were well taken care of despite how busy the restaurant was. To be honest, all of the staff were great. The servers and hostesses were friendly, professional, and kept things running smoothly. As for the food, Sugarfish continues to be one of my favorite sushi spots for the price. The rice is always cooked perfectly and the fish is consistently fresh and melts in your mouth. This time I tried the yellowtail sashimi with lemon and it was absolutely delicious. My girlfriend and I usually order the Nozawa Trust Me and the "Don't Think. Just Eat." Since it's just the two of us, we split both meals so we get to try a bigger variety of fish. Some of my favorites are still the scallops and the anago. Those two never disappoint. Overall, another great meal. The long wait is probably the biggest downside, but once you're sitting down and eating, it's easy to remember why this place is always so busy.

Sugarfish is such a gem! I recently visited the Corona Del Mar location and had to have it again in…read morePasadena. My entire party ordered the Nozawa Trust Me: Edamame Tuna and Chutoro Sashimi - ponzu and chives Albacore Sushi - ponzu and chives, 2-pc Salmon Sushi - toasted sesame, 2-pc New Zealand Sea Bream* Sushi - citrus salt, 2-pc Toro Hand Roll Bluefin Otoro Sushi, 2-pc Japanese Yellowtail* Sushi - lemon, 2-pc Hirame* Sushi - yuzu ponzu, 2-pc Blue & Dungeness Crab Hand Roll This location was just as good as the Corona Del Mar one. I think that it is such a great deal for quality sushi! The restaurant is small, and they don't take reservations, so keep that in mind when visiting!

Katsu Jin has quickly become a new staple for me. Their tonkatsu is incredibly authentic -- I love…read morethe ritual of grinding the sesame seeds for the katsu sauce, it makes the whole experience feel so fresh and intentional. If there's a wait, just check in and they'll give you a buzzer. Sometimes the wait can be quite long so I try to go right when they open for dinner. Definitely eat your meal in the restaurant -- the tonkatsu is best when it's hot, crispy, and straight from the kitchen. Service is always very friendly, and the food is consistently delicious. Their tonkatsu is the star, but the furikake corn ribs are a must‑try too. A reliable, comforting spot that never disappoints!

This establishment is quite small, but we were able to get seated right away since we arrived right…read morewhen it opened at 5 PM on a Saturday. By the time we left around 7 PM, there was already a small wait. On the bright side, parking was easy, which is always a plus. The mango matcha was surprisingly good. You could really taste the mango flavor blended with the matcha. I ordered the cheese katsu, and it was definitely very cheesy. The only downside was that there wasn't much meat in the katsu itself. Service was fast and attentive throughout our visit.

Place is amazing, the food taste was on point, I had an Unagi Sushi (Best I've had), and the Sushi…read moreBowl. I would definitely come back again.

Mill's Alley was a gem found on resy. I had a post Japan trip depression and knew Japanese food…read morewould be the remedy. My friend made a reservation for a party of 7 on a Saturday at around 6:00 pm. For parking, there was a structure right across the street. It was packed at the time and I needed to circle around a few floors before I could grab a spot. Upon checking in, I was a bit early and was prompted we couldn't sit before the entire party was there. Once ready, we were seated at a large table near the back. It was spacious and we all had ample room for our dishes. One of the things I liked the most about the menu was the variety of items. Some of my friends got ramen, while another got handrolls, skewers, etc. Personally, I got the chirashi donburi. This took the longest to make but it was well worth it. Everything from the rice to fish were seasoned well. This was the perfect dish for someone that's super indecisive like me! Furthermore, the vibes of the place was great. We had a server that frequently came to fill out waters. He had a great sense of hype as well. Highly recommend Mills Alley for the delicious food and ambiance!

Decided to stop by my local sushi place but decided to actually get sushi. I normally go with the…read moreBulgogi Beef Deluxe. Absolutely love that this place gives you everything you get at a place like Benihana (and more!) for less just without a performance. I ordered the NEW tornado shrimp appetizer (8/10) which was a crispy shrimp wrapped in potato as opposed to tempura. I also had the Spider-Man Roll pictured below (9/10) the fish was fresh and delicious and the whole roll felt balanced not rice or crab heavy so A+ ratios and what a great presentation. Affordable as well for a huge bento box, an appetizer, and a huge sushi roll. The service is lightning fast I was seated instantly for a 5:30 dinner and order was ready to be taken almost instantly as well. The great part about my experience was a shared waiting system it seemed like the whole wait staff of 4-5 waiters were helping clean and refill drinks. The ambiance is great if you decide to go in the evening. I went around sunset so it was very bright. The ambiance inside is nice hardwood floors and dimmer lighting a good spot for a casual date or just a regular dinner. I had a great experience as always at Tokoro and will continue coming back. I highly recommend you try.

If you're looking for an affordable place in the Pasadena area to get decent sushi, Tokoro is a…read moregreat place to go. There is plenty of street parking which is great. It's a cute little place with friendly and attentive service and quick service. My favorite was probably the spicy tuna crispy rice. It was flavorful and came in pretty big pieces, and also had a flood eel sauce that I loved! Overall, this was a decent spot and I'd definitely come back here again!

Food was amazing. Felt like in Japan! The host are lovely…read moreand everything was 100%. Would definitely go there again.

Sushi Karen in Pasadena is a hidden gem you absolutely need a reservation for--trust me, I learned…read morethat the hard way. There's no waitlist and no walk-ins, so plan ahead or you'll be sushi-less and sad. It's worth the call to reserve, trust me. The moment you step inside, the smell hits you--in the best way--like a warm, smoky aroma that instantly makes your mouth water. I could not get enough of how good it smelled inside the whole night. The vibe is cozy and homey, with dim downlights that spotlight each table like your own little sushi stage. It's a small place, but each table feels like a private nook, perfect for an intimate dinner or low-key celebration. The fish portions are very generous, whether you're ordering nigiri, a hand roll, or a cut roll. Everything comes out with beautiful presentation that makes you pause before devouring it. The salmon belly nigiri melts in your mouth--it's buttery in the best way. The yellowtail cut roll was fresh and flavorful, and the spicy tuna on crispy rice was a standout. They pile on the tuna, so it's definitely not a one-bite situation, and I loved the added crunch from the fish eggs in it. The spicy tuna hand roll had great flavor too, but I wish the seaweed had a bit more crunch--still, I appreciated the smart little flap at the bottom that kept all the fishy goodness inside. Honestly, every dish we tried was a hit. The vibe, the flavors, and the generous cuts of fish make this place feel extra special. Sushi Karen isn't trying to be flashy--it's just good, honest sushi done really really really well. I'd happily come back again any time (with a reservation, of course).