A small and intimate setting that my bf and I stumbled upon on a weekday night. The front door was unmarked, but their security guard helped usher us inside. Parking is sparse on the street or in the residential areas behind the block. Once inside, we were seated quickly. I overheard a server asking regulars if someone if their usual group didn't come tonight. How sweet! For dinner, we chose the Combo special (~$29) to share: - Miso soup: savory and light. - Broiled salmon collar: I was surprised by the large portion of fish. It was served with lemon, grated radish, and a side of chewy white rice that paired well with the juicy salmon. - Aemono of the day: octopus and vegetables in miso sauce. A bit light on the salt, and the flavors didn't gel. - Sashimi salmon: tasted good, but knife cuts were random and each piece varied widely in thickness. It still worked out for us because I like thinner slices of raw fish, so I ate the small pieces. - Tempura: 2 pcs shrimp, 1 large pc of kabocha, 1 slice of eggplant, 1 slice of green bell pepper, dipping sauce. So yummy! The batter was light and crispy, shrimp was succulent, vegetables were tender. We added an order of Oyako-don ($14), which was massive. Photos don't capture the depth of the serving bowl! I liked that the scrambled eggs were well done, but not rubbery. The pieces of chicken thigh were just okay, neither juicy nor dry, but the mild sweet sauce was on point. Rice was fully sauced, but remained chewy, and the cooked onions retained texture. read more

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This is one of my favorite spots for traditional Japanese dinner. The special is always a good choice but my favorite is still the butterfish. My son loves their sushi set. read more

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This is one of those places that if you know you know. It's my all time favorite sushi place since I was a little kid and it was one of my great grandmas favorite places.. that's how old this place is so you know they're doing something right. This place is a classic Japanese sushi restaurant and it's been around for years it's definitely a little pricy but it's a perfect treat yourself type of meal and you can't go wrong with literally anything on the menu but my favorite is the chirashi bowl with the amaebi shrimp head on the side. read more

I've been going to Tehei since the 80s it's my old bosses sister place, Gushi San , boss is Tsukasa Gushi of Gushi auto , it's the best Japanese food in Monterey park , Montebello, San Gabriel valley . I highly recommend everything read more

I can see why people call this place a hidden gem! Even on weekday evenings, it's completely full. However, the wait times aren't long. I had a short wait before I was seated pretty quickly. The fish is fresh and the bento was delicious. The price is reasonable as well for the number of pieces you get. The staff are very nice and you'll see the owner working as well. Would definitely come again! read more

Taihei - Matsu-sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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OVERALL EXPERIENCE: AMAZING! Quality of fish is fresh! They do not take reservations! AMBIANCE: Casual. Noise level is average. DRESS CODE: Casual ORDERED: Yellowtail Collar, Sushi: salmon, yellowtail, toro, uni, sweet shrimp, tamago, masago, and so much more. Can't go wrong! FOOD OPTIONS: Not just sushi, but they have cooked food as well! They also have beer and sake! SERVICE: Service was good. On a busy night, food can take a bit longer (only two sushi chefs). PRICE: really depends on what you order. ~ $60-100+pp PARKING: street parking and limited parking at the back of the restaurant. Food: 5/5 stars Service: 4/5 stars Venue: 4/5 read more

Taihei - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Small cute mom and pop old-school Japanese cafe. When you walk in, you feel like you've been transported to a simpler time. The dinner combos are great and the sushi quality is good here! It gets quite busy for dinner. Street parking and there is additional parking in the back of restaurant. read more

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If you want pure Japanese food aTaihei is by far best inSGV. Quality of fish is exceptional and excellent nabe.

All my Japanese friends told me that Taihei has better tasting food than other Japanese restaurants in the area. They weren't wrong right off the bat both my wife and daughter said ohhh it taste so much better and that was just the miso soup, Lol We all choose the 3 item combos. Salmon Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki, Tonkatsu, California Roll, Chicken Teriyaki. The taste and superior meat quality is worth paying extra for. The restaurant is quite small waiting time was about 30-45 minutes you walk in and write your name and party size on on list and wait to be called. Service was great and attentive. read more

Taihei - My bill for 3 people - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Very good food and friendly service. Additional parking is in the back. Very reasonable in price

Taihei has been a staple in my family's eating out roster for 25+ years. And the quality has never disappointed. I've came with multiple friends over the years who have pointed out how much better Taihei is in comparison to other spots throughout LA due to the quality of the fish, service and price point. This little hole in the wall is one of my most cherished restaurants in Monterey Park, and I hope it continues to stand for many many many years. read more

Taihei food is always consistent and yummy! Their tempura is definitely one of my favorites of all the Japanese restaurants I've tried in SoCal. The combo plates offer a complete variety of delicious sides--salad, Japanese potato salad, edamame, miso soup, and a slice of orange wedge in addition to your choice of 2-3 entrees. I can never finish my entire combo plate and end up taking part of it home to enjoy later. The service is always polite, welcoming, and attentive despite the usual busy business. This is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with limited seating and not much ambiance, but it is our go-to restaurant for consistently good Japanese food. read more

Taihei is the go to spot for really good sushi in Monterey Park. I've been to almost every other sushi spot in this city, and Taihei has the best fish. What you see here my husband and my go to order. If you don't know what to get, get these three dishes. It's a good balance of textures and flavors. Taihei does get packed quite easily. I always try to go a little early to eat, because this space does not have windows or a door that stay open. The staff is always fully masked. It's the people in the small space that could worry you this makes you nervous. read more

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Came to Taihei for a celebratory date night and was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the sashimi & sushi here! Small restaurant space, clean restrooms, friendly service. Sign-in sheet is by the fish tank, for bar seating I think there is a min. order per person. We ordered the Mastu Sashimi (includes Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Octopus, Surf Clam, and I can't remember what else). Next time I might ask if we can substitute something else for the Octopus because I personally don't like thick cuts of Octopus...Anyway, all of the sashimi was fresh, and their Sashimi sets comes with miso soup and rice. We also got the Uni and Toro Sushi (MP is $21/order atm); Uni was deliciously creamy, but I think their regular Tuna is just as good as the Toro! Also ordered a Blue Crab and Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - both were good, standard. Also ordered a Katsu-Don which was literal comfort food. We didn't realize we'd already have rice with the sashimi set so this was a little overboard and we took this leftover to-go! Noticed a lot of to-go orders for their Tempura, so I'll definitely try that next time. Limited parking in the lot out back...otherwise, street parking around the residential area is fine too. read more

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Food is authentic, fresh and beautifully presented. Waitress and sushi chefs are Japanese. Quality and service is what you would expect from a traditional Japanese restaurant but with reasonable prices. I've been coming to this restaurant for over 50 years and the food and service remains superb. This is one of the few remaining Japanese restaurants that is an institution. read more

Too small tight tables long wait. Very busy but left as it was.very long wait. I'm sure the food is delicious as so many stood outside waiting for an hour. Next time I wlll go early. read more

Don't have time to get on a plane for a 9 hour flight? Fret no more! Taihei brings a lot of that little village sushi vibes to the LA area. Keep in mind, this place is tiny and I wouldn't come here with more than 4 people as seating gets a little cramped. Arrived in the evening on a Thursday night for a friends bday. There was 5 adults and a baby in tow but we were able to get seated but it was a tight squeeze. I've heard recommendations for this place for authentic Japanese style sushi, and it lived up to the hype. If your looking for real sushi and sashima, this is the place to go! All the items we ordered were so fresh, and when I decided to add some Uni to the order at the end of the night--that's what solidified the authentication! Uni so yellow like butter! Taihei is authentic certified by my standards. It is a bit pricey but that is what you would expect for the quality of the sushi here. I would even come here by myself next time and probably sit at the sushi counter just to see what chefs orders would be like. read more

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Came here for data night. We both ordered the matsu-sashimi and a order of sweet shrimp sushi with the heads fried. First came the miso soup, one of the better that I have had. The sashimi dinner came our quickly afterwards thickly sliced and nicely presented. The sweet shrimp came next. I ate the fried shrimp head first since I didn't want it to get cold and soggy. It was crunchy and tasty. The sweet shrimp was sweet and fresh. The sashimi platter was fresh and came with salmon, tuna, yellowtail, some other white fish (red snapper maybe), octopus, squid and conch tail. The conch tail maid a impression on me cause it was very crunchy and resembled geoduck texture which is my favorite. Service was ok. Had to ask for water refill. Overall a good meal for a mom and pop shop. Will come again. Parking is street parking and they have a few spots in the back. read more

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This place is a nice little restaurant that serves a wide variety of nigiri and sashimi, as well as bento boxes with teriyaki and other dishes. I personally ordered the matsu-sashimi as it is of best value ($33 for 20 pc, 7 kinds) compared to ordering sashimi or nigiri a la carte where 2-3 orders amount to a similar price. It is also a slightly better recommendation to the matsu-sushi as the sashimi also comes with rice as well, just not sushi rice. All the sashimi were fresh, and as usual, I really love the tuna and the salmon cuts. The squid is also excellent, and one of my friends commented it's one of the best - texture wise, I wasn't a fan to fully appreciate it, but it was nonetheless flavorful. This order is more than enough for a filling meal for one person. A miss in this dish is that there was no ginger - I really would have appreciated it if they gave ginger for a palate cleanser like almost every sushi place. I also tried my friend's bento which had beef, chicken, and salmon teriyaki. It was overall solid, with the beef and salmon my favorites. The chicken was good but it was not too juicy and did not have the nice charred flavor that I tasted from the other selections. The teriyaki sauce was also pretty good - not too salty. Service is excellent as water refills are constant and they clear the dishes in a timely manner. Overall, this is a solid Japanese restaurant in the heart of 626. read more

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The food is good n fresh. The waitresses are efficient n friendly. Parking is limited. The restaurant is old, can definitely do an update to enhance the dining experience. read more

Truth be told this restaurant is a favorite amongst locals and Japanese Americans. The food is amazing and I'd recommend almost anything on the menu . As Japanese restaurants go , this one easily gets the stamp of approval. Combination dinner plates and the sushi are highly recommended but due to demand they do occasionally run out of certain items. The Tempura here is super legit so make sure to give that a try. Parking is available behind the restaurant and on the street. Overall Prices are reasonable and food is delish so if you find yourself In the area , you know what to do ! SYOY read more

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Our friends introduced us to this family own restaurant recently and we had a nice dinner. Most entrees around $20-$25 and sushi or cut rolls around $6. You can tell everyone works hard and service with a smile. The phone was ringing off the hook when we visited on a recent Sunday night, and the 4 of us was able to grab the last table for dinner. The 4 of us ordered: Chirashi - variety of fresh sashimi over sushi rice. Combo plate with teriyaki chicken and veggie tempura. Best value! Misoyaki Butterfish - comes with salad and a side of octopus. The fish itself was very salty though. We also added: blue crab handroll, blue crab cut roll, salmon cut roll, spicy tuna rolls, and tempura rolls. They were very busy throughout our dinner, so it was hard to get refill on water or ice tea. But overall the fish is fresh and tasty. Small parking lot in the rear or street parking. I noticed they have a security guard standing outside the door when we left. read more

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Parking: Free, lot and street I ordered sashimi and an eel bowl. Both tasted like great quality but eel bowl was a little basic. The dishes they serve are super simple. The restaurant itself was a small location but it still felt spacious. Good service read more

Taihei is an authentic sushi restaurant that I've become a fan of. I've only ordered takeout here and have been impressed with their quality of items. Some of my favorites are uni, Japanese scallop, and blue crab handroll. Everything is absolutely fresh and delicious. They only accept takeout orders by phone and sometimes the line is busy during peak hours. My usual wait during dinner time is about 30 to 45 minutes. There's a small parking lot in the back but street parking in front of the restaurant is usually available. read more

Taihei - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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Was it worth every penny I spent here....sorta not really but definitely has good quality sushi I would come back for. This is one of those places you pass on the streets and think it's closed or about to close or sometimes not open - but YES they are open! Its a hole-in-the-wall type place and if you have foodie friends like me, you'll be taken here early on in your SGV visiting experiences. It's a well known place probably because its been around so long, but could also be the fact that all their sushi is always fresh and you walk away thinking "wow that type of sushi doesn't look like it would come out of a place like that". I always get sushi rolls, but my friends love their bento options and donburi bowls. Their sushi roll selection has gotten smaller since the pandemic but it still delivers. You can expect sushi, nigiri, hand rolls, and all your staple fish selection. Be sure to check out their specials written on their small black florescent menu board usually located near the server entrance in the back. Sitting at the bar is always a nice treat but you're also good sitting at the booths. Street parking but you can also find a few spots in the small parking lot in the back. Its usually not crowded so you'll be fine parking and sitting down right away without reservations. It's better for parties less than 4 since it is pretty small inside. But don't go crazy ordering like a regular AYCE place, their plates add up. I went with a girlfriend once and between the 2 of us we alsmot spent $90. read more

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We always drive past this restaurant, and I'm super glad we finally decided to eat here. It's a small restaurant, but we came in time to be seated right away. The servers were all really sweet! We ordered a sashimi plate, yellowtail collar, and natto, which we tried for the first time here. The fish tasted very fresh and delicious!!! It came with hot miso soup, rice, and salad. We'll definitely be coming back here to eat again! read more

Taihei - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

4.4 stars on for my dinner. I had unodon, blue crab hand roll, mix tempura. I didn't get any sashimi nor sushi. The unodon was great. The grilled eel was thick and good amount of pieces. The sauce was enough on top of the eel and seep through the rice with great flavor. The blue ran roll with a few drip of soy sauce and wasabi tasted great. The tempura was just right with the tentsuyu dipping sauce. Having it with some rice was perfect. Overall all i had a great meal. I would come back to have other dishes. The ambiance was nice. Small place with nice cool air from the AC blowing. The waiter and waitress gave awesome service. Highly recommended. read more

So the food here is great, I've been going here since I was a young boy, and even then my life was put in jeopardy when they were robbed at gunpoint, they took everything from everyone and well....last night my life was put in jeopardy again, I was at the local Laundromat next door, (for context: I need glasses and they are in the process of being made, 2 weeks blah blah blah), so I was using my flashlight to be sure I didn't step in anything unpleasant, I was approached by the Security guard which he is in all his rights to do, I explained to him that I was at the laundromat and I was just getting some fresh air, well here is where things took a turn for the absolute worst, mind you Im a father of 3 so conflict is just not ever what Im looking for, but the Security guard tells me "I should go inside the Laundry" and I told him I can be on the sidewalk and thats all I would be doing , it gets hot next to all the dryers. He becomes Irate, starts to get loud and before I could make sense of the language barrier he was reaching for his gun. I of course ran away as any sensible person would, I hurt myself in the process and I called the cops, they cops said since he didn't point the gun at me there was no crime, but I ask myself what is the line between life and death in a situation like this, this man is a loose cannon just waiting to take a life, I just hope things get resolved before he feels the need to feel big by taking anyones life, I understand being any form of authority is a sketchy job, but this was unnecessary and dangerous to the public health. I wasn't looking into anyones vehicle or property and even after I explained I was at the laundry this man just kept escalating for no reason, I was calm talking to the man as there was no need to be enemies, I guess he saw things otherwise. Me and My Family will no longer be supporting this establishment as THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF SASHIMI THAT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE!. read more

The food here is outstanding and the locals clearly know it. I rarely give 5 stars. This deserves 5 stars for the price point and the miso broiled fish, will make your eyes twist. The sushi is of great quality for this price point. I've definitely had better, but that's usually for a multi course $100+ omikase. Eat this deliciousness. Of note the teriyaki chicken and katsu are average. read more

This is one of my favorite Japanese old-school owned sushi restaurants in the SGV. It's not really noticeable from the streets but has been a fixture in the community for awhile. During COVID 2020 lockdown we frequented this place doing pickup. It's best to call ahead to place your order for dinner or catering. I've tried pretty much everything on the menu and I can vouch that the seafood they use is very fresh. My absolute favorite dish there is their miso cod. It's delicate, flakes off, and has the best umami flavor! Their sashimi plates are also delicious and if you do decide to dine-in they have a sashimi bar area. They send you home with complimentary miso soup with to-go orders. Sometimes they have fresh uni on their menu and it's a treat! Easy parking on the side of the streets. If you drive too fast you may miss the location. read more

Loved this tiny hole in the wall. I came here on a Friday night at around 5:45PM and the place was packed. Most people were there with their families who wanted to sit at the tables. If you wanted to sit at the sushi bar, it's sashimi and appetizers only. That was fine by me because I came to a sushi bar for sushi. I ordered what I wanted directly with the sushi chef, a friendly Japanese man named Nabe from Yokohama (that's how you know a sushi spot is legit). The restaurant is old but very clean. They still have an old corded wall phone with one of those bells as a ringer and even a defunct (unfortunately) pay phone by the front door. It really embodied the Japanese way of buying something forever. Americans are so quick to throw things away in our consumerist culture of materialism. This place is a blast from the past. Opened in the 1980s, this place hasn't changed much. The decorative fish tank, wall calendar advertising a trading company, phones with mechanical ringers, even the path to the bathroom was through the kitchen. A hole in the wall. A time capsule. A sushi restaurant at a reasonable price. Taihei is all of these things. 10/10 would dine here again. read more

If you're looking for old-school, no frills sushi and sashimi in MPk, this is the place for you. Their service is impeccable and top-notch. The ladies there are attentive and very accommodating. They are super nice too. They deserve 5-stars for the service alone! My only complaint is that I just wished they would slice the sashimi a little thinner. The pieces of fish I got were a little too thick. But other than that everything was delicious. Oh, and there's a pay phone inside. It looks like it's still functioning. Although I didn't pick up to test it out. read more

Taihei - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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I recently paid a visit to Taihei for a weekday lunch. They were very busy but luckily my friend and I got the last table. I ordered a sashimi lunch that had seven different types of seafood. Their quality of sashimi is still great and each piece is very large. The lunch comes with rice and miso soup. It was delicious and satisfied my sashimi craving. They also serve bento box lunches, have various rice bowls and some cooked fish options. Service was great as usual and there's a small parking lot behind them. read more

Taihei - Sashimi lunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

When craving sushi this spot hits every time. Fresh and definitely a top choice to satisfy all cravings. The staff is always friendly and very accommodating, offering their suggestions with your best interest in mind. The place is small and does get crowded, so expect somewhat of a wait. The ambiance is simple, and the menu is straightforward. Nothing complicated here, just a delicious experience. read more

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This is an icon Japanese restaurant in Monterey Park! This restaurant has survived basically everything, as many places didn't survive the COVID shutdown. The dining room is small, so it might take several minutes to get a table. For those craving sushi, they have an excellent bar with chefs eagerly waiting to create mouth watering treats. The staff are always hustling tending to diners with delicious food in tout. Especially my favorite, tonkatsu and temperature combination plate. Although the dining room is small, you can still enjoy conversations with your friends and family while dining. Meaning, the dining room isn't loud, just comfortable. read more

Taihei - Restaurant hours and contact info. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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Japanese family owed local spot. Great tempura combos at very reasonable prices. They not have people waiting on line when they open. Small place with maybe 5 booths an 3 tables. Small parking lot in the back read more

A hidden gem? Absolutely. With an inexpensive menu that's delicate and fresh, the food at Taihei that reflects a much higher standard than its trappings suggest. Bentos usually sacrifice for the price, but Taihei has turned me around. Their $17 bentos are inexpensive and come with modest-looking sides that are actually really, REALLY delicious. Salted, firm (not soggy!) edamame, mashed potato salad with cucumbers (with no chunks of raw potato!), sweet salad with a freshly made ginger sauce to pair (no store-bought dressing! no icey chunks of lettuce!)-- I ate EVERYTHING. Oh, and the meat of the bentos-- the tempura set and the mackerel? Chef's kiss. Tempura is sweet and NOT GREASY, and the vegetable tempura is tender as well (eggplant and Japanese squash). Fish had a delicious char. It's clear that Taihei's food is prepared with love and care. They provide homey and healthy meals that are my new favorite-- and yours, too! Don't let the restaurant's unassuming setting fool you. Taihei's lunch bentos could very well be the best in the 626-- don't walk, RUN! (Their sashimi is not bad, either, but do try the lunch specials). read more

Cool little spot somewhat the corner, in between a barber shop, cleaners, and Japanese bbq. The menu isn't stacked like other places, and they do not offer and spicy options. Which for me was a bummer but I can see why this place is so popular. My sister and I had good timing, when we arrived on a Tuesday around 12:30, there was only two people. By 1pm the place was full and people were waiting to be seated. I recommend the lunch special as I'm sure that's why this place is popular around this time. For $17 I got teriyaki chicken, rice, soup, and orange, salad, edamame, and some sashimi. Great deal. They're quick and nice and the food was delicious. Parking is in the back. Recommend coming for lunch. They seemed genuinely happy to have us when we walked in, and they all said goodbye as we left. It's places like this, with good vibes, and a happy crew, that make it a good experience. read more

Taihei - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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Introduction: Been coming here for awhile and frankly this place is one of Monterey Park's hidden gems. I got their black snapper, sea bream, and unagi nigiri along with a salmon skin handroll. Food: Black snapper: The fish is fresh and smooth in its mouthfeel: love the aftertaste of pepper and yuzu. Both compliments the fish's delicate flavor(s). The rice is of good quality and tightly packed. Sea bream: Delicate in its flavor(s) and clean in taste. The citrus garnish on top highlights the fish's flavor profile. The presence of pepper and salt teases and perks up the palate which I enjoy. Unagi: Typically, I'm not a fan of eel but the freshwater eel here is really good. It is buttery and fatty, making it a delight to eat. Eating the unagi nigiri here allows me to understand why eel, as a fish, is prized and holds a prominent place in Japanese cuisine. Salmon Skin handroll: The salmon is fresh and the skin is aromatic while bearing a slight crunch at the end of each bite. The pickled radish and cucumber compliment the smoky aftertaste of the salmon's skin. I've had salmon skin handroll at other establishments but the salmon skin handroll here is the best I've had to date. Atmosphere: Casual, small Mom and Pop shop. Service: All the staffs are polite and accommodating. Price: Affordable and reasonable in terms of the quality of the ingredients and culinary execution that's offered here. read more

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I am so glad we discovered Taihei! We love this traditional Japanese restaurant and all the dishes we've tried. The raw fish is fresh and buttery, cooked items are prepared with love and waiters and waitresses are always so kind--what more could one want? I highly recommend the sukiyaki udon, sushi combo sets and bentos--we normally opt for the sashimi and salmon teriyaki. read more