Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Yabu Restaurant

    3.9 (525 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Yabu Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Yabu Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    YABU RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Yabu Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Yabu Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    KAMO SEIRO
    Krisi G.

    First time customer. We got there at about 7 (on a Saturday) and the place was packed. Since we were a party of 4 I was sure we'd have to wait but they had this cute little patio out back and sat us right away. The food was delicious - I only took a picture of the soba I ordered, but friends ordered ten zaru, seaweed salad, veggie roll, shrimp shumai, veggie tempura, and nasu miso. All of it was delicious. And the service was just as good as the food. Will definitely come back.

    Yabu, but the owner working behind the counter
    Pamela G.

    What an incredible hidden gem. This restaurant has been here for over 30 years and yes, they make their homemade soba noodles from scratch. Great place for dinner and you can't beat their lunch. Special is out of this world. The fish is so fresh you think it just came straight from Japan. The tempura is light and fluffy, very flavorful and not at all greasy perfect for dipping into the ponzu sauce. All the staff here are very sweet, super attentive and extreme polite . if you want something that's the real deal extremely fresh, very tasty and authentic. I would highly recommend coming to Yabu restaurant.. It's quite easy to find street parking on pico or on the side streets. They are open for lunch from 12 to 2. Dinner hours are 6-9:30. Weekend hours may vary. You can also park in the back. The ambience is cute basic and authentic.

    Hurjane V.

    Came here with Hurnan and Robert in Sept 2023! This was such a cute little spot. Parking is tough - Robert was able to get a street parking right in front. We each got our own order of soba noodles and then we shared roll (spicy tuna and salmon). Everything was really yummy! I do think I need more food though. So if you have a big appetite, suggest ordering more. Service was great! Nothing wrong. Overall, I would come here for a quick dinner date. This place is better for smaller parties.

    Sashimi platter (partially eaten)
    Sara K.

    YUM!! We ate here for the first time and absolutely enjoyed the cozy small vibe, delicious food and sweet and friendly staff!! The miso eggplant was insanely delicious and we were blown away by the absolutely exquisite sashimi assortment platter we ordered! I had forgotten what real sashimi tastes like.. Cant wait to come back and try more! Great green tea ice cream tea as well. Cheers!

    Tempura and sashimi combo
    Rumi R.

    I went there for dinner with a bunch of friends. It was close to the closing time, but they welcomed us and set the table quickly. My husband and I ordered beef tataki, tempura and sashimi combo, blue crab hand roll and halibut sushi. They were so good and fresh. We would definitely go back there to try some noodles next time.

    Maruko X.

    Ambiance: traditional Japanese restaurant, old fashioned indoor dining and very chic outdoor patio Service: friendly and patient with questions, served food and refilled water adequately Food: numerous items on the menu, with daily special available from time to time, combo items have the best value here Chirashi Sushi - **** Assorted sashimi over a bed of sushi rice, fresh raw fish, recommend Cold Soba - **** chewy noodles with dipping sauce, recommend Salmon Hand Roll - **** smooth texture, recommend Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - *** average Yellowtail Hand Roll - *** average Hot Udon Noodles - *** average taste Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, 10% discount if paying cash, expect $25 per person

    Yabu Soba Combination Plate
    Catie M.

    Love the food at this place. Such a classic the service is always fast and they always have the right game on. They do everything really good love the broth they have here and of course the sushi.

    chirashi bowl
    Skylar K.

    We went here for dinner and the food was absolutely delicious! I loved my chirashi bowl and the presentation was beautiful. The servers were very kind and always there if we needed anything. I have gone many times and would totally go again!!

    Desiree M.

    Love this place for a celebration or special occasion. The sushi is always great quality and the outside patio has the best of vibes. Plants hanging from the over head awnings and scattered all around the corners of the space. This time around my date wanted soba so we embarked on their soba menu. It was refreshing and delicious. I got the duck soba while she got the shrimp tempura soba. We got the picked veggies as an appetizer and a bottle of their yabu hot sake. After we cleared our plates we wanted to try something else. She got the chawan mushi. An egg custard with white fish and ginko nuts. This was so light and flavorful. I would get this for myself next time I go. The texture was so soft. I wanted to try the uni from Japan. This was a beautiful bite of clean uni with a kick of wasabi. I love this place and decided it was time to write a review and share my thoughts.

    Tempura Hot Noodle Lunch
    Derek L.

    Yabu is like a neighborhood Japanese spot serving lots of hot and cold noodles - soba, udon as well as some raw fish. Overall I love soba so I wanted to like this place but it fell really short. This ambiance is a nice grungy Japanese eatery with nice wood paneling. I ordered the soba with tempura and felt that overall the flavor was fine but not special. Soba unfortunately doesn't taste fresh made but rather from a package and they're super soft with little chewiness. Tempura was nothing special to write home about. The tororo soba is interesting, it's inaccurately described as yam but is rather mashed up and stringy Japanese Mountain yam. I had a taste and it was solid but the dish lacked something due to the uninspiring nature of the noodles. The sad thing is that it took 40 minutes after ordering for our food to come and a ton of time after we put our cards down to pay. All in all a 40 minute meal turned into an almost 2 hour affair.

    Toro sushi
    James L.

    Great food. Got seated at the sushi bar and ordered all my sushi dishes directly to the chef. It can get filled fast on a Saturday night so you should call ahead to reserve a table or come early. When it gets full they have very few wait staff so it can take a while to get orders in or the check. Food was great though

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    This was my go to place for lunch, over the years, quality has declined somewhat, but still enjoy going for lunch

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pamela G.
    60
    83
    97

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Very good authentic Japanese food, great fish quality for sashimi compared to most places especially at this price point; soba is great too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hurjane V.
    2057
    1406
    9092

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sara K.
    0
    30
    52

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg T.
    214
    461
    1589

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rumi R.
    30
    65
    101

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Donji Y.
    668
    18
    8

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Desiree M.
    290
    25
    26

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Derek T.
    783
    1365
    3480

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maya L.
    136
    85
    21

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Susan T.
    70
    77
    162

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K Y.
    0
    8
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Akiko I.
    1435
    1796
    17194

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Daniel O.
    381
    21
    14

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of N L.
    120
    51
    10

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina Y.
    0
    10
    11

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Yabu Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Yabu Restaurant

    Can I bring my own wine? If so, how much is the corkage?

    Do you accept walk-ins or prefer reservations? Thinking of a party of 4-6 people

    Yes, we do accept walk-ins, but we recommend you make reservations to avoid waiting : )

    1) Is their patio dog-friendly? 2) Do they have a happy hour?

    Yes, we have dog-friendly patio : )

    Are there heat lamps outside?

    Yes

    Are there any vegan options?

    Are the udon/soba hand-made?

    Restaurant explicitly says they make soba in-house, nothing about udon.

    View All 10 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Sushi Bars 200,086 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles - Sushi Enya Pasadena & Los Angeles Downtown

    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    12.0 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$

    Visiting LA! Amazing Uri and Blue Fin Tuna! Service was quick! Quiet location! I will definitely be…read moreback there!

    I adore this quaint spot in Little Tokyo! The interior is modest and cozy with very friendly and…read moreattentive service, some of the best service I've ever had. The Assorted Sashimi was fun for the two of us to each try 6 premium pieces. Everything tasted fresh and high quality with a different garnish accompanying each piece! The cucumber salad was refreshing and crunchy to munch on in between sushi bites. Their Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice surprised me with an arrangement of flavors and textures that went together magically. I would have gotten a second order if stomach space wasn't a concern. Next we had the Yellowtail Sashimi, which of course had sliced jalapeño on top. I don't care how many restaurants put that out, it's always fantastic. The only roll we got was the Cherry Blossom roll, I was intrigued by the menus indication that it didn't have rice. A large roll with 11 pieces came out that was 95% fish, the remaining 5% being bits of avocado and two sauces that paired exquisitely. It tasted excellent. Our server recommended their Kid Season sake which was exactly what I was looking for: filtered and semi sweet. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles - Chef Jeff adding the truffle on our special handroll. Stop by Sushi Enya in Los Angeles for the freshest best tasting sushi!!

    Chef Jeff adding the truffle on our special handroll. Stop by Sushi Enya in Los Angeles for the freshest best tasting sushi!!

    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles - Sushi Enya Pasadena & Los Angeles Downtown

    Sushi Enya Pasadena & Los Angeles Downtown

    Sushi Enya - Los Angeles - Sushi Enya

    See all

    Sushi Enya

    Oomasa Restaurant - Chicken teriyaki and tempura

    Oomasa Restaurant

    3.8(1.6k reviews)
    12.0 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$

    Absolutely delicious! First time trying this place and the service and quality of food was…read morepleasantly surprising. When we entered, we got seated right away with a very personable waitress who shared stories with us and made the experience enjoyable. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. We ordered the Sashimi Combo C, Gyoza, and White Fish Sashimi plate, all of which were a 5/5. Thank you so much!

    Saw many good reviews on yelp so figured I decided take my family here to try for the first time…read more As soon as I walked in, first thing I immediately noticed was a stench inside the restaurant. It was definitely not what I've expected or ever experienced in a Japanese restaurant. We were quickly greeted by the staff and be seated by the wall. The upholstery of our seats were torn. The area where we were sitting was a bit too dark and could definitely add more lights for customers to see their menus. After giving a look at the menu, our server asked if we were ready. I said it's our first time so we need some time to look through the menu. She replied ok and left. We mainly ordered sushi items. Servers brought over each item one at a time. When I almost finished mine, my family is still waiting for theirs. You do see the staff walk by the tables constantly. However, I would hope the servers would ask how is everything and if we need anything else. Overall, sushi tastes fine. I probably won't be back given the experience that we had.

    Photos
    Oomasa Restaurant - Inside of restaurant

    Inside of restaurant

    Oomasa Restaurant - Ika geso (fried squid legs) with spicy mayo.  Delicious!

    Ika geso (fried squid legs) with spicy mayo. Delicious!

    Oomasa Restaurant - Oomasa Sushi Counter

    See all

    Oomasa Sushi Counter

    Chubby Cattle

    Chubby Cattle

    4.9(3.9k reviews)
    11.9 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$$$
    Free WiFi
    Wheelchair accessible

    We came to Chubby Cattle to celebrate my husband's birthday, and we couldn't have asked for a…read morebetter experience! From the moment we arrived, our server, Kevin, was absolutely wonderful. He took the time to explain the menu to us, answered all of our questions, and gave us excellent recommendations on how to cook and enjoy our meats. His knowledge, attentiveness, and genuine care really stood out. Kevin even brought out a special cut of meat and personally cooked it for us, and it was absolutely delicious! The quality of the food, the cuts of meat, and the freshness were all top-notch. Every bite was amazing! What truly made our visit extra special was the level of service. Kevin went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, enjoying our meal, and having a memorable birthday celebration. His attention to detail and friendly personality made the entire experience even better. Thank you, Kevin, for making my husband's birthday so special and for giving us such an amazing dining experience! We truly appreciate you and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Chubby Cattle, especially if you're looking for delicious food, high-quality meat, ambience and exceptional service! We came to Chubby Cattle to celebrate my husband's birthday, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! From the moment we arrived, our server, Kevin, was absolutely wonderful. He took the time to explain the menu to us, answered all of our questions, and gave us excellent recommendations on how to cook and enjoy our meats. His knowledge, attentiveness, and genuine care really stood out. Kevin even brought out a special cut of meat and personally cooked it for us, and it was absolutely delicious! The quality of the food, the cuts of meat, and the freshness were all top-notch. Every bite was amazing! What truly made our visit extra special was the level of service. Kevin went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, enjoying our meal, and having a memorable birthday celebration. His attention to detail and friendly personality made the entire experience even better. Thank you, Kevin, for making my husband's birthday so special and for giving us such an amazing dining experience! We truly appreciate you and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Chubby Cattle, especially if you're looking for delicious food, high-quality meat, ambience and exceptional service!

    Chubby cattle is back and here to stay. Our server ESTHER was awesome and provided great service. I…read morerecommend the Gold combo with my personal favorites being the Beef tongue platter and the A5 Brisket. Don't forget to get some Shitaki mushrooms and let those babies cook until they create a gentle oasis of deliciousness.

    Photos
    Chubby Cattle
    Chubby Cattle
    Chubby Cattle - A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Short Rib

    See all

    A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Short Rib

    Bar Sawa - Aji

    Bar Sawa

    4.6(128 reviews)
    11.9 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown

    Hidden away in the basement of a nondescript building in the streets of downtown LA, Bar Sawa feels…read morelike a comfy speakeasy vibe- the moment you walk in, the wall of Japanese whisky gives it a moody 8-seat vibe. The monkfish was luxuriously rich, while the uni paired with squid was deliciously fresh, with that perfect ocean sweetness and incredible texture. One of the most memorable bites was the sushi "taco"--a crisp shiso leaf wrapped around a vodka martini-inspired creation that somehow captured the essence of the cocktail in a single bite. The scallop nestled inside a squash blossom was another standout. The cocktails take it to a different level. One mention: the staff is essential and truly makes the experience more inspiring.

    3.5 stars. I've been here twice because I wanted to give it another try and see if my experience…read morewould be different the second time, but I walked away feeling pretty much the same, and my friend agreed. The atmosphere is great if you love intimate bar seating, the service is warm and cordial, and the drinks are very good. I also really liked the amount and variety of dishes served outside of the nigiri, so the meal felt substantial and well paced. The food itself was good and well executed, but for the price point, I was hoping for something more memorable or distinctive. A lot of the dishes and flavor profiles felt very familiar and similar to what I've had at many other more traditional omakase experiences. Nothing was bad by any means, but there wasn't a particular bite or flavor combination that surprised me or stayed with me afterward. The second time I came here, they had firefly squid (in season) which was a delight. If you're newer to sushi or omakase, I think this would be a great experience. But if you eat omakase frequently, there are other places around this price point that I think offer something a little more unique or memorable.

    Photos
    Bar Sawa - The beautifully lit alcohol selection

    The beautifully lit alcohol selection

    Bar Sawa - Blue Crystal Shrimp

    Blue Crystal Shrimp

    Bar Sawa - Sawa Highball

    See all

    Sawa Highball

    Yabu Restaurant - sushi - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...