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Taisho

4.2 (658 reviews)
InexpensiveJapanese, Sushi Bars
Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Taisho Photos

Business Info

TAISHO ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Taisho

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Cucumber roll
Victoria S.

Good, affordable food, big portions, quick service, there's limited indoor & outdoor seating, it was a little hot inside so I recommend ordering to-go. My kids love their teriyaki bowls, udon noodles, cucumber rolls and salmon & avocado rolls. My favorite is the salmon sushi bowls with avocado, it comes with seaweed but I usually order extra seaweed. This a great place to eat when you're on a budget!

Jessica M.

I love coming to Taisho for lunch! They serve the best chicken teriyaki bowls & sushi salmon bowls in the Monrovia area! Their food is absolutely delicious, the rice is so fluffy & everything is always so fresh! If you order the chicken teriyaki plate you get a 4 pc. California rolls which are so good! There is always a long line sometimes out the door so pro tip: order ahead so you just wait in line to pay & pick up! Will save you a ton of waiting time(; There is seating inside but gets a little crowded so I recommend the outside seating!

Kenny W.

This place is small, but has more seating outside. I got the combo plate. Witch tasted pretty good. My only complaint was that I had to wait 30 mins, due to them losing my ticket. I came after working out so I was hungry to the extreme! Hopefully, next time I have speedier service.

Chicken and beef teriyaki combo bowl
Genevie Y.

They have affordable combo plates and the food is delicious. Plenty of parking. They make the food when you order so have some patience and they'll call your number when ready. Very friendly and clean.

Vanna T.

Kept driving past this place but haven't been inside. Finally stopped by to try their chicken teriyaki bowl combo with California rolls. The chicken teriyaki bowl was pretty good, but the California rolls weren't as good. It lacked flavor with cold rice and hard to eat. Quick and decent service. Limited seatings inside, but there are some benches outside.

Salmon bowl - not bad!
Annie T.

I've been venturing out restaurants in the Monrovia/arcadia area and came across Taisho. I was split between the salmon bowl or the beef rib plate and ultimately went with the salmon bowl. It was good, and what you would expect.

Chicken teriyaki bowl (small)
Amber M.

I've been coming here for well over a decade, and it's so nice to see the quality hasn't ever gone down, and the prices have stayed low somehow haha. I always get the small chicken teriyaki bowl and it's the perfect amount of food and only costs $7! The service is always super welcoming and prompt. The food is always fresh, the meat always tender and juicy, and never cold. There's a public restroom, and plenty of seating inside and out. Wheelchair accessible entrance, dining area, and bathroom (one singular gender neutral). Thanks guys for being so amazing!

Christian K.

Was recommended this place from some locals, and they spoke very highly of this place. My friend and I wanted to check it out to see if it was worth the hype. We were caught by surprise on how cheap the food was compared to where we lived, so we ordered a chicken teriyaki bowl and sushi combo. It tasted pretty good and definitely great value. The lady taking our order was very friendly and nice, especially we went during lunch time and it was quite busy inside. The inside of the restaurant is just a regular sit down/ fast food type of environment, nothing too special. Overall, great place and highly recommend checking it out

Chicken katsu curry
Francisco M.

This location has a private parking lot that's shared with other businesses. There's a simple plain cafeteria-style vibe inside. The service is fine and food arrives at a good time. You're mostly going here for some decent and fairly cheap food. The katsu is thin but the curry is already filled with chicken. The vegetables are fine. The curry has a good mild kick that's tasty. This place is serviceable.

Izel V.

I have the opportunity to visit taisho recently and had a good experience. They have a large parking lot making it easy to access. Food- I ordered the eight piece spicy tuna sushi, the role was large and very filling. For $8 I think it was worth it and would ordered it again 5/5 I believe the teriyaki plate was around $13 and was accompanied with a four piece California roll. Very filling and delicious. 5/5 You order at the counter and seat yourself. Turn around is pretty fast. It's nothing fancy, but it's quite tasty and good for the price.

Large chicken plate
Michael 9.

I crave Japanese food sometimes but don't want to go sit somewhere. So I decide to check this place out. Ohhhhh man, I'm glad that I did. I got the large chicken plate which came with broccoli and I think cucumbers. Now mind you I looked at the price and decided to get the large because I thought it would be small, NOOO it was a good size. Large is ONLY $8.60, These prices are insane for good food. I added brown rice which was $1.50 more, not bad at all. The food was yummy. I'm still in shock about the prices lol but not complaining. The place is a bit small but I think they have patio seating, it was raining so I took it to go. There is a parking lot but they share it with other businesses. I am a fan and will be back.

Salmon bowl

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6 years ago

Salmon sushi bowl love the warm rice and cold salmon combination... Also appreciate that they use yamasa soy sauce packets :)

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

I really like their teriyaki chicken, very reasonable price and always on point. Small place but definitely worth trying.

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4 years ago

I came across this place and I'm glad I did. Food is delicious and always fresh. Service is great friendly stuff. The portions are great.

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Tasty food and good service. I miss the actual bowls they used to put the chicken or salmon entrees in.

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7 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

Chicken katsu curry - as delicious as you can imagine. Great deal and value for $8.75.

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Love the food, love the staff. Food is delicious and fresh. The staff is always friendly (even over the phone too!).

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Page 6 of 17

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Do you serve brown rice?

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Kyuramen x TBaar

Kyuramen x TBaar

4.0
(784 reviews)
2.4 mi
$$

Came across Kyuramen on my way to work! Definitely made the…read moreright choice to stop by and check it out! We've been back a few times now and never been disappointed! We tried the deep fried gyoza and pan fried gyoza 10/10 recommend! They have a few unique ramens like the Korean kimchi ramen and yin yang bowl! A must try if you love kimchi! Tbaar never disappoints as well! A lot of yummy drinks ranging from milk teas and smoothies! Whenever I stop by the amazing black milk tea is definitely my go to! Can't wait to try some of the other items on their menu!

Kyuramen x TBaar brings together a Japanese-inspired ramen restaurant and bubble tea café under one…read moreroof, offering a menu that extends well beyond ramen. We walked into a space that stands out for its modern interior, featuring private wooden booth seating that creates a cozy, semi-private dining experience, the kind of setup that makes the meal feel more intimate than a typical ramen shop. The atmosphere feels contemporary and social, with a clean, thoughtfully designed layout that works well for both casual dinners and group outings, and the attached TBaar makes it easy to finish the meal with a specialty tea or dessert without leaving the restaurant. While ramen is the restaurant's signature, many of the menu's standout dishes are actually found elsewhere. The omurice is one of the most popular items, served with a fluffy egg and rich demi-glace or curry sauce that makes it one of the restaurant's signature comfort dishes, and the presentation, with the egg split open at the table, adds a theatrical element to the meal. Other highlights include yakitori, bao buns, katsu, takoyaki, and appetizers that give the menu plenty of variety. The ramen itself is solid, with options ranging from traditional tonkotsu to the Yin Yang Ramen that lets you sample both spicy and non-spicy broths in one bowl, though the quality of the ramen can feel less memorable than some of the restaurant's other specialties, the broth lacking the depth and complexity that defines a dedicated ramen shop. The attached TBaar also adds another layer to the experience with milk teas, fruit teas, and desserts that pair well with the meal. Matcha tiramisu, Japanese cherry blossom jelly, and other sweets help round out the menu, making it easy to stay for dessert instead of stopping somewhere else afterward, and the drinks are well prepared, with the tea flavors coming through clearly without being overly sweet. The restaurant's design is one of its biggest strengths. The wooden booths provide a semi-private dining experience, and the overall space feels clean, modern, and thoughtfully designed, creating an environment that encourages lingering over a meal rather than rushing through it. Service is generally friendly and welcoming, though it can slow down during busier periods as the restaurant fills up, with the team handling the steady flow but sometimes taking longer to check in when the dining room is at capacity. The overall experience remains positive, and the pace of the meal stays comfortable even when the service stretches. Kyuramen x TBaar offers more than just ramen. The inviting atmosphere, diverse menu, and combination of savory dishes, drinks, and desserts make it a well-rounded dining destination. While the ramen may not be the strongest reason to visit compared to some dedicated ramen shops, the omurice, appetizers, desserts, and unique dining experience make it a place worth trying, especially if you are looking for variety rather than focusing on a single dish. The balance of creativity, comfort, and a polished setting makes it a versatile option for a meal that feels more like an experience than a quick stop.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Demi sauce for omurice
Demi sauce for omurice
Sapporo beer

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Sapporo beer
Sushi Kisen

Sushi Kisen

4.2
(518 reviews)
2.2 mi

Absolutely the BEST sushi in the SGV! The lunch sushi was so fresh and delicious. The smell of the…read morenori wrapped around the negitoro roll were just irresistible. The yellowtail collar was baked to perfection! What a wonderful enjoyable meal. Service was very attentive. Several staff came by to fill our water glasses, remove empty dishes, and to check on us. This place filled up very quickly. Dining room capacity is probably 40 people and the sushi bar could probably seat another dozen. We will definitely come back! Thank you chefs and staffs for a wonderful dining experience.

Whaaaaa. Where has this place been all my life?? My uncle and I came by after the first sushi spot…read moregave us horrible service. I've had this place bookmarked a while so it was the perfect time to try it. It was not so busy for a Tuesday night. There is plenty of seating, bar seating and the place looked super clean. I wasn't sure what the special dishes were so I ordered the Premium Blue Fin Tuna and Negitoro Bowl, Premium Chirashi Dinner and an order of halibut and salmon. Our favorites was the Blue Fin Tuna and Negitoro Bowl. The tuna paired with the rice as soooo good. I was in absolute heaven. I love tuna and negitoro and this dish did not disappoint! The Chirashi dinner was decent. It had a little of everything which was nice. The fish were not too thick which was nice and the rice was flavorful. The dinners both came with a salad and miso soup which were both pretty good starters. The halbut and salmon nigiri pieces were also really good. :) Overall, the vibes inside were nice and the service was great. Parking is easy since there is a big lot out front and this place is tucked away in a plaza. I will definitely be back :) ALSO, I thought the prices were quite decent for the quality of the food!!

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Inside
Inside
Blue crab handroll
Blue crab handroll
Anniversary Special

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Anniversary Special
Izakaya Tonchinkan

Izakaya Tonchinkan

4.4
(354 reviews)
2.3 mi
$$$

Came here on a Wednesday around 5:35pm thinking we could just walk in... nope The place was…read morealready mostly full with a lot of reserved tables. There are limited booth seating (about 4 booths), one larger table, and roughly a dozen counter seats. We were a party of 4 with another group of 3 expected at the counter, so we were told next availability would be 7pm. But the owner (also the sushi/master chef) stepped in and offered to squeeze in an extra chair for us at the bar. We happily said yes, and that pretty much set the tone for the night. The ambiance is a cute, homey Japanese-style spot. It's calm and quiet enough to actually have a conversation, which I really appreciated. The owner was also cracking jokes throughout the night and kept everyone entertained, which made the experience feel even more personal. Food highlights: * Eihire (seared stingray fin) - 9/10. Great drinking snack, just wish there was more. * Grilled Angus beef tongue - 9/10. Tender with a really good jalapeño sauce. * Hokkaido uni tray with roasted nori - 10/10. Favorite dish of the night, easily. * Chicken liver, gizzard, and hearts in sweet soy - 10/10. Super rich and flavorful. * Whole grilled seabass - 9.5/10. Perfectly cooked, but could've used more ponzu. * Sous vide + grilled duck breast - 8/10. Solid, especially with salt and hot mustard. The mashed potatoes and roasted veggies on the side were . * Deep fried eel with ponzu - 7/10. Decent, but didn't stand out compared to the other dishes. * Sashimi (amberjack, hamachi, toro, sweet shrimp) - overall great. The sweet shrimp and fried head were 10/10, but the hamachi didn't quite match the rest. Also wish they gave more ginger upfront. * Roasted 5 kinds of vegetables - 7/10. Tasty but a bit pricey for the portion. * Sea snail - the only dish we wouldn't reorder. Not bad, just not our preferred style. Service was excellent. Our server gave great recommendations, kept our water filled, and checked in often without being overbearing. This is a 5-star spot largely because of the owner. Super down to earth, funny, and clearly passionate about both the food and the experience. Parking is free in a shared lot with other businesses. It's a decent size, so should be manageable. Definitely recommend making a reservation (they only take phone reservations)... but even if you don't, there's a good chance they'll still find a way to take care of you. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.

Visited Izakaya Tonchinkan on a Saturday night, around 8:45 pm after a long day spent at the nearby…read moreSanta Anita Horse Track. Restaurant is located in a small strip mall, with a fair amount of parking. There isn't a flashy restaurant sign in front of the building, and once you step in, it truly feels like you are in a small, homey Izikaya in Japan. The restaurant only has a few booths, a few tables and bar seating inside, so reservations are highly recommended on a busy Saturday night. My boyfriend and I got lucky that they were able to accommodate us within 10 minutes, because there was seating available at the bar. There is a physical Drink menu (sake, beer, etc.) and the food menu can be viewed by scanning a QR code with your phone. The waitress made suggestions about which dishes she personally liked & we ordered whatever she suggested, along with some of the things we thought looked good. *7/10 Toro w/ seaweed *8/10 Moriwase (chef's selection of sashimi) 2 each of 5 different sashimi. There was one cut I did not particularly care for. *7/10 chicken wings *10/10 Beef tongue-- Tender, but firm. Delicious, a must try! *10/10 Ankimo-- creamy and paired well with the ponzu and fresh seaweed *10/10 Fried Seabass-- they served the entire fish, which is rare. *10/10 Sous-vide Duck breast-- must try! *10/10 Nikomi stew--simple, but delicious! *10/10 Matcha Oolong Panna Cotta-- subtly sweet with a smooth texture. It was so good, that we ordered two! The only reason that I only gave it a four out of five stars is because the service was slow. All of our dishes, came out in time, but no drink refills were given and the server never came back to collect our check for payment. So we had to walk it up to them ourselves. For a small space, with three servers, it shouldn't be hard to attend to all the customers. The menu can be pricey, but food is delicious! Along with exceptional service, eating here is worth it.

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The master
The master
Sea bass
Sea bass
Amberjack collar

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Amberjack collar
KIYO Arcadia

KIYO Arcadia

4.0
(516 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$$

Our family has been to Kiyo a handful of times, and it's become my favorite sushi place…read more Fish is sizable and fresh, prices are reasonable. We love that they do weekend lunch special, and we specifically come for that. The sushi lunch combo always includes generous, thick slices of fresh fish and a good variety. This last time, we even got a huge scallop nigiri in our combos! We also ordered a roll and an order of takoyaki to share this time around, and both hit the spot. Interior is classy, clean, and comfortable. Service can be a little slow depending on how busy it is (on a Saturday during lunch, our 3 sushi combos arrived like 15 minutes after my grandma's chicken udon), but that speaks to the made-to-order quality, so I'm not too bummed. Overall, as a sushi fanatic who doesn't like to break the bank each time we go out, this is my go-to and we'll be back every time we're in town.

After a long and busy day, we were really tired and decided to stop somewhere just to grab a bite…read more We randomly found this café -- and it turned out to be such a wonderful discovery. From the first moments, we were impressed by the atmosphere, the beautiful menu presentation, and the great variety of dishes. When our food arrived, we were absolutely amazed The rolls and sushi were incredibly fresh, delicious, and beautifully served. You can really feel the attention to every detail and care for the guests. We will definitely come back again and recommend this place

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IG: happyfoodieoc
IG: happyfoodieoc
Chirashi Don
Chirashi Don
Mixed Tempura

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Mixed Tempura
Ramen Nagi

Ramen Nagi

4.4
(1.1k reviews)
1.9 mi
$$

My favorite ramen spot, hands down. From the bean sprout side dish on the table to the ramen…read moreitself, everything here is delicious. I always order the Original King with extra firm noodles. I also love that they give you a customization sheet so you can personalize your ramen exactly how you like it. The pork gyoza were a bit small, but still really tasty. There's almost always a line, but it moves pretty quickly, and the service is fast and efficient. The decorations and seating style inside also adds to the overall ambiance and dining experience.

Came here with my family and my cousin's family. Our family was craving for Ramen and my cousin…read morerecommended this place. The restaurant is in a large mall and while there were lots of parking stalls it was quite busy and challenging to find a spot. When we got in there was a line already and so we entered the queue. All parties need to be present before they seat you. When finally it was out turn we were seated and the inside was nicely decorated. I liked the condiments and sprouts in the middle of the table. I used the sesame grinder a lot! Most of the table ordered the Original King Reamen but I had the Red King and wanted to try the Chicken Karaage. The chicken was so good! Probably one of the best I've ever had. The ramen was super flavourful and the noodles were cooked perfectly QQ. This place was bustling but felt that the service was good. Love the decor. They even give you a branded bib in case of soup splashing. Food is a bit expensive than other Ramen places but I probably would be back.

Photos
Line at Ramen Nagi in February 2023.
Line at Ramen Nagi in February 2023.
Their pork gyoza are a tad smaller than I'm used to - but def homemade and absolutely delicious!
Their pork gyoza are a tad smaller than I'm used to - but def homemade and absolutely delicious!
Their pork gyoza are a tad smaller than I'm used to - but def homemade and absolutely delicious!

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Their pork gyoza are a tad smaller than I'm used to - but def homemade and absolutely delicious!
Fillet Sushi

Fillet Sushi

4.8
(192 reviews)
1.1 mi
$$
Romantic vibe
Fine dining

I love this place! It's good for a date night. The food was really good and innovative. They make…read moretheir sauce homemade and the fish are high quality. This restaurant focus on fresh, premium sushi with unique combo flavors and authenticity. I am not a fan of veggies and they made the arugula salad and okra crispy and it made it more enjoyable and very tasty. The tori nori taco was super delicious as well. My favorite is the fillet sashimi sampler, everything tastes sooo soo good with unique flavors. The honey toast It's my first time trying soy sauce ice cream and it did not disappoint. The bread pudding was delicious and the whole combo dessert was not too sweet just like what I wanted. The service is amazing! I met LIN! she was very attentive and the chefs are very nice, talented and explained everything in detailed. I would definitely comeback here and recommend this place to my friends.

Here's a polished version that keeps your opinion intact while making it flow better and sound more…read morelike a detailed review: Let's start with the positive: the service. Honestly, that was the highlight of the entire experience. We visited on a Friday night around 7 PM while the Monrovia Street Fair was happening outside. Surprisingly, the restaurant was nearly empty. The space itself was clean, modern, and well-maintained. Our server was excellent--friendly, attentive, and genuinely went above and beyond throughout the meal. Easily 11/10 for service. We ordered the sashimi set, skewer platter, yellowtail collar, white roll, and dragon roll. Sashimi Set: The fish was sliced quite thin, and it didn't taste particularly fresh. To be fair, I'm not the most adventurous when it comes to raw fish, so I was only really able to enjoy the toro. That's more of a personal preference than a criticism of the restaurant, but overall the dish still fell short of expectations. Skewer Platter: This was easily the best item we ordered. The portions were on the smaller side, but the skewers had good flavor and were cooked well. Yellowtail Collar: I order yellowtail collar whenever I see it on a menu, so I have plenty of points of comparison. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst versions I've had. It was very dry and lacked seasoning. If you've ever had the yellowtail collar at Kisen, the difference is night and day. White Roll: This was a miss for us. The fish had a mushy texture and didn't taste particularly fresh. The roll itself was extremely tart, to the point where it overpowered every other flavor. It was also topped with crunchy knafeh, which felt unnecessary and didn't add much to the dish. Dragon Roll: A dragon roll is one of the most common sushi rolls out there, but somehow this version still missed the mark. The flavors were underwhelming, and once again it was topped with knafeh. At that point, I was genuinely confused as to why it was being added to everything. Overall, I'm honestly not sure why this place has such high ratings. Aside from the exceptional service, the food was disappointing across the board. Considering the quality and portion sizes, the prices felt hard to justify. Looking back, the empty dining room on a busy Friday night should have been a sign.

Photos
Fillet Sushi Recommended on Restaurant Guru 2026
Fillet Sushi Recommended on Restaurant Guru 2026
Fillet Sushi
Fillet's sashimi sampler

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Fillet's sashimi sampler

Taisho - japanese - Updated July 2026

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