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    Taisho

    4.2 (665 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 groups

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    Japanese chicken curry
    Alexandra S.

    Portions here are very generous, and prices are very reasonable. My avocado roll was very well made with a lot of perfectly ripe avocados. The salmon was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, and the sauce was delicious. The Japanese chicken curry was super yummy, and they gave us more steamed rice for free. They also gave us free ponzu sauce for the sushi. Besides the floor being slightly dirty with trash that needed cleaning up, I had no complaints about this place! The service was very friendly and quick.

    Salmon sushi bowl
    Michelle A.

    I only had to come here once to know I am going to be a regular customer! I got the salmon sushi bowl and the chicken beef combo plate with miso soup. There were so many pieces of salmon and it came with dried seaweed. I basically got to make my own hand rolls. The price is affordable and the portions huge. If you go as a walk in, it is packed and quite busy. I highly recommend ordering ahead, it took about 15 minutes for the food to come out. But there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a fountain soda machine. Unfortunately, the bathroom was out of order so I hurried home.

    Curry
    Stanley K.

    Ordered takeout from Taisho in Monrovia and was really impressed. Everything was packaged well and arrived neatly packed. I had the chicken katsu curry with a California roll. The katsu was crispy, tender, and paired well with the curry. Great food, careful packaging, and a smooth takeout experience. I'll definitely be ordering again!

    Amanda L.

    An absolute classic spot. I grew up coming here! I always get the chicken teriyaki plate in a size small & the portion size is great. Reliable spot. Amazing value.

    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!

    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!

    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

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    The food is good, service is quick and the quality is fresh. I have never ate at the restaurant but the to go has been great!

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    10 months ago

    This is my go to place whenever I'm in the area for a quick and delicious lunch/dinner!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This place always is so good. I get the sushi salmon bowl and it's always fresh and fast. No complaints ever!

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The food is amazing! I love the salmon sashimi! We have been eating here a lot. Highly recommend the food here

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Always a great choice. Local business, hard workers. Awesome deal for amount of food. Enjoy!!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    This place is amazing. Hole in wall bomb spot that is clean & legit food. Best prices in town & quality meals

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    2 years ago

    Love their chicken teriyaki plate and their sushi rolls. Everything is so fresh and tastes amazing!

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

    So solid, highly recommend. Overall think you'll be happy. Nothing amazing but always a good meal

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food and prices. Very fresh and quick service. I highly recommend for a quick dinner or lunch. To-go is probably the best option.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 2 of 17

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    Akami Sushi

    Akami Sushi

    4.5
    (408 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Large group friendly

    I love this place!! I've been here twice and the first time was sooo goood but the only downfall…read morewas we didn't have a reservation so we ended up waiting 45 minutes. This place can get PACKED during dinner and for good reason, the ambiance, vibes and fooood. I made a reservation for Friday night at 6 PM and was quickly seated. I love the Akami Don Set ($57) and it's so good and filling! I've also had the sushi deluxe before which is good as well :) My friends ordered the sashimi deluxe and they loved it! Each of our meal came on a tray with little dishes of veggies, tofu, sushi and the main course. My don set came with dashi soup after I was finished and my friends dishes came with miso soup. Service is always so friendly and kind! The first time I came, staff gave my friend and I a free dessert to try out which was super nice of them. There is a small lot out in the front for parking but I prefer parking in the back to avoid the dinner rush. I highly recommend making a reservation on Open Table.

    Food - loved. everything we ordered, we enjoyed very much -…read moremackerel - veggie tempura (loved the green salt served as a dip) - sea trout with ginger lime (looked like salmon) - fatty tuna - blue crab roll - crispy rice spicy tuna Service - attentive, knowledgeable, and very pleasant Ambiance - nice & bright (we came for lunch) nice selection of sake. didn't get to try this time, maybe next time.

    Photos
    Chanwamushi w/king crab
    Chanwamushi w/king crab
    Omakase ($150) course 6
    Omakase ($150) course 6
    Chirashi set add uni+ ikura

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    Chirashi set add uni+ ikura
    Kyuramen x TBaar

    Kyuramen x TBaar

    4.0
    (832 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    This place has some items that are amazing and other ones that you can just do without…read more I came here for Dine La for lunch and here's what I felt about their menu. First off, the takoyaki octopus balls were full of flavor. I feel that this place does them really well. You don't feel overwhelmed by any seafood tastes and instead, you get well balanced flavor throughout every bite with the combination of the ball itself, the sauces and the flakes on top. Next is the omurice. The egg is cooked to perfection and tastes absolutely amazing. The curry, however, which was recommended by the waiter over the Demi glaze, tasted exactly like the Vermont curry cube you get in the grocery store, so I'm not sure why he recommended that over the Demi glaze. The fried rice within the omurice was alright too. Originally, I wanted to get the tonkatsu omurice but got it on the side as the choice wasn't available for the lunch menu. I would suggest doing without the tonkatsu because it was dry and there's a million and one places that can do tonkatsu better than this place. Honestly, I wish I had the opportunity to cut the omurice myself and choose how much curry I put on it, but the staff did that instead, which I guess made for a good video, but took away from my innate desires to cut the egg on my own haha. Next, the ramen tasted pretty basic like what you could get at any ramen shop. For the chicken wings, I've never had chicken wings in this flavor. They were really really good and I would definitely recommend the wings. For the desserts, I enjoyed both the matcha and the snow globe. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, however. The snow globe is a gelatin and it doesn't really have too much flavor until you get to the parts with the flower. Plus the little clear balls have a nice flavor and texture. For the matcha, it has an interesting texture and then an interestingly light, yet deep matcha flavor. Oh the drinks. The Thai tea tastes exactly like how it does everywhere else. The amazing lemonade is a lemonade with a few slight modifications, like with cucumber and maybe some other things as well. For the service, it's pretty good here. Everyone is pretty attentive. There are three things at the table, such as cayenne pepper and two other bowls you can add to your dishes to add flavor. I forgot the name of the one I liked but it looked kind of like pork floss or loose tea, and that one had a lot of flavor. I think what's most appealing about this place is the ambiance because you can like sit in a honeycomb, there's fancy designs everywhere and you feel like you're in a different place. I think it's a good restaurant but it's kind of weird how some things here are amazing and some are just okay.

    I got their chicken ramen, which I thought was alright. It had really strong chicken flavor, and…read moretheir noodles were pretty standard. The restaurant has different chili powders on each table, which I really appreciated since I love spicy food. I do think the broth was quite salty, but maybe that's just how ramen is. The interior of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. It has plenty of seating, and the restrooms are very clean. Parking is kind of limited, however, so I recommend avoiding peak dinner/lunch hours. Servers were very kind and efficient.

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

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    Sapporo beer
    Izakaya Tonchinkan

    Izakaya Tonchinkan

    4.4
    (355 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    o6.27.2o26 Amazing…read morefood, friendly staff, awesome vibes, great company! A colleague took a few of us to this restaurant. When I got to the lot, it took me a few minutes to locate the restaurant because the name sign was super low-key. The restaurant is pretty small but feels cozy. My colleague already ordered before I got there so I just ate whatever they put on the table! The only one I didn't like as much was the beef? It was too salty for my taste. The sashimi platter was the best! The corn tempura was new to me and it was so good! I think my kids would love it. The grilled whole seabass was amazing. I need to find time to take my family there kind of good!

    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.

    Photos
    The master
    The master
    Sea bass
    Sea bass
    Amberjack collar

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    Amberjack collar
    Sumibiyakitori Kidori

    Sumibiyakitori Kidori

    4.2
    (70 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    We've visited twice in the past two weeks, and both times confirmed this is the real deal for…read moreyakitori. First visit: we showed up late and were still greeted warmly. The food was excellent. Second visit was on a packed Friday around 8 pm. No reservation, so the host kindly took my number and asked us to come back around 9:30. We ran a few errands and returned around 9 pm to wait it out. Over the next half hour, three different staff members came out individually to check on me and reassure me a table would open up soon. We were finally seated close to 9:30, and they apologized again with complimentary liver pâté, a cucumber chicken salad, and drinks on the house. That level of hospitality, on a slammed Friday night, says a lot about how this place treats its guests. The food matched the service -- genuinely great. Do yourself a favor and book ahead, but even the wait is worth it.

    This authentic Japanese yakitori omakase restaurant had a very cool, intimate atmosphere. Everyone…read moreworking there spoke Japanese, which made the experience feel reassuring and genuine. I had a lot of fun talking with the staff and learned many interesting things about Japan during the meal. The restaurant was extremely clean, quiet, and comfortable. I sat at the counter, where I had a clear view of the chefs carefully grilling and preparing each skewer right in front of me. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. I did not expect to eat chicken heart and liver, but trying them was a fun experience, and they were much more approachable than I expected. The entire menu focused on different parts of the chicken, with no other meats served, so this is definitely the place for anyone who loves chicken and wants to experience traditional yakitori. The set omakase menu included more than enough food, and I left feeling completely satisfied. A unique, enjoyable experience with excellent food and a peaceful Japanese atmosphere.

    Photos
    The beautiful space
    The beautiful space
    Mountain Yam
    Mountain Yam
    Chicken gizzard with daikon / daishi chicken and broth

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    Chicken gizzard with daikon / daishi chicken and broth
    Ramen Nagi

    Ramen Nagi

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Ok I've been to a lot of ramen places but I gotta say I don't think anything beats Nagi. First of…read moreall, they cater to all types of food eaters by enabling you to have full control of oil, noodle, thickness, salt, etc. Essentially, you are building your own perfect ramen bowl that meets your own standards. The best part of all, I think this might be the first ramen restaurant that is doing this so that's a plus in my book. Some other ramen places, albeit good and rich, may sometimes be too heavy for some people like me. That's where Ramen Nagi differs. They have the ability to cut down that "heavy after eating" feeling. Service was extremely on point and will come to you if you need help with anything without hesitation. It's a family friendly environment and has good lighting for those instagram photos which makes the food even more appealing to eat. I definitely recommend 1000000% if you have never eaten ramen this is like THE PERFECT place to go.

    I don't go out for ramen anymore since finding the tonkotsu broth concentrate in a Japanese market…read more(Try it it's almost like the real thing!) But when a friend invited me to lunch here yesterday, I happily obliged. Ramen is cheap, what's not cheap are the piles of add-ons that cost extra: eggs, charsiu, scallion, corn, etc. etc. Pretty ridiculous really (another reason I make it at home and add my own seafood, vegs, shrooms, etc. etc.) Two ramen + chicken karaage = $50 The food is 5 stars, but value maybe 3 at most, averaging 4 stars total. At least the black pepper bean sprouts in a red jar is free. Located right next to Macy*s entrance by the 99 Ranch Market parking garage. Lines may be long but move fast.

    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
    (209 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$
    Romantic vibe
    Fine dining

    This is hands-down the best and most exquisite sushi (and desserts) I've had in a long time and I…read morefeel so grateful to have a place of this caliber so close by in SGV! Prices are a bit high but the quality and service make up for it. Their sushi rolls are a highlight- fresh and deliciously seasoned. The flavor profile of the salmon truffle roll is complex with a nice citrus note while the wagyu roll is tender and umami. Can't wait to come back and try some more of their rolls! The desserts blew me away. That honey toast is the best I've had anywhere in the world. The crunchiness is perfect and while there is a crust to the toast, it's so thinly baked and so well flavored with honey that it tastes just as good as the center pieces! The croissant pudding was amazing as well; the light whipped cream and matcha ice cream were perfect complements. Free parking is plentiful on the streets, lots, or surrounding neighborhoods. We came on a Wednesday night with no wait. Our server was extremely nice and welcoming with super helpful suggestions! The restaurant itself is clean, spacious, and beautiful. This is officially my new favorite Japanese restaurant! Planning on coming back to try their Dine LA omakase special Aug 14-28!

    We had come once before, and I didn't write a review because I wanted to wait until I had come at…read moreleast one more time before deciding. We enjoyed our initial visit and was impressed with the food. We decided to come back for DineLA week to see if what we had last time was a one-hit wonder. Not surprisingly, we were just as pleased as our initial visit, and this place will now be on rotation for us! Sushi quality was excellent and innovative. We selected the Signature Omakase, and the sashimi and nigiri were simply prepared so as not to detract from the true fish flavor. Miso soup with clams and simmered abalone were also on point, and not over cooked or overly salty. The only weak point of the menu was the lamb lollipops-this menu would have totally been elevated with a wagyu dish. Finally the dessert was such a delightful surprise- I DEVOURED my soy sauce ice cream and pudding. Service was great- our server was attentive but truly, the whole staff was!

    Photos
    Chirashi
    Chirashi
    Sashimi set
    Sashimi set
    Koji miso salmon dish

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    Koji miso salmon dish

    Taisho - japanese - Updated August 2026

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