When faced with the challenge of picking the best Japanese restaurant Los Angeles has to offer, it can be hard to choose a favorite. Here we’ve pulled a handful of the best restaurants that stand out, be it for their respective dedication to the craft, casual atmosphere, beautiful decoration, or popularity among locals. How many of these delightful Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles have you visited?
1. n/naka
Chef Niki Nakayama presents an intimate kaiseki dining experience at this two-Michelin-star restaurant in Los Angeles. Throughout the multi-course meal, guests will enjoy exquisite offerings such as carefully-balanced aromatic broths, crispy grilled fish, and house-infused sake. Nakayama is dedicated to showcasing the best of California produce with every dish, often harvested directly from the restaurant’s own organic garden.
🍣 Known for: Upscale kaiseki meals
🌐 Learn more: n/naka
📍 Location: 3455 Overland Ave, Los Angeles (Palms)
2. Daikokuya
Daikokuya is a crowd-favorite Japanese restaurant in LA serving unbeatable tonkotsu ramen in a casual, old-school setting. Lean into the nostalgia of the small, no-frills ramen shop and enjoy popular dishes including the flavorful Daikokuya Ramen and Spicy Miso Ramen. These decadent soups and rice dishes are made in-house by talented chefs, but the cozy and unpretentious environment will surely keep Daikokuya in your day-to-day restaurant rotation.
🍣 Known for: Ramen, rice bowls
🌐 Learn more: Daikokuya
📍 Locations:
- Daikokuya Little Tokyo: 327 1st St, Los Angeles
- Daikokuya Annex: 321 1/4 1st St, Los Angeles
- Daikokuya Sawtelle: 2208 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
3. Yamashiro Hollywood
Yamashiro Hollywood is a famous Los Angeles landmark and restaurant with a compelling past. Two German-born brothers developed the property in the early 1900s as a fanciful Asian-inspired estate, which went through various iterations before becoming a popular Japanese-inspired restaurant. Look for the ancient 14th-century pagoda near the swimming pool and take in beautiful views of LA before settling in for a bountiful sushi meal.
🍣 Known for: Sushi and Japanese-inspired cuisine
🌐 Learn more: Yamashiro Hollywood
📍 Location: Hollywood Hills Hotel, 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles
4. Kombu Sushi
This family-owned sushi restaurant in LA has gained a loyal following thanks to its bright, contemporary atmosphere and creative sushi menu. Enjoy an approachable, relaxed environment thanks to comfortable patio dining, dog-friendly service (there’s even a menu for dogs), and plenty of shareable plates that are great for a group. It’s worth visiting at lunchtime to take advantage of the bountiful bento boxes and affordable sushi lunch plates.
🍣 Known for: Sushi
🌐 Website: Kombu Sushi
📍 Locations:
- 3719 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Silver Lake)
- 300 S Santa Fe Ave Q, Los Angeles (Arts District)
5. Marugame Monzo
It’s hard to beat the quality of this udon restaurant in Little Tokyo. Take a seat and watch skilled chefs (trained in Marugame, Japan) as they handcraft traditional udon noodles right before your eyes. The chewy, freshly-prepared noodles range in style from traditional udon to Italian-fusion, and you can choose from a robust selection of Japanese small plates to complement your meal.
🍣 Known for: Udon
🌐 Website: Marugame Monzo
📍 Location: Little Tokyo Hotel, 329 East 1st Street, Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)
6. Kazoku Sushi
Kazoku Sushi is a nice little sushi restaurant to put on your radar next time you visit Hollywood Blvd. They have a great quality-to-price ratio that’s especially apparent with their b, where you can order two items for just $13.95 or three for $16.95, served with salad, rice, and miso soup. Finish that off with $3.50 sake and $3.75 beer during happy hour, and you’re set with an affordable meal at one of the most underrated Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles.
🍣 Known for: Sushi
🌐 Website: Kazoku Sushi
📍 Location: 5259 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles (Hollywood)
7. Daichan
Daichan keeps a low profile online; in fact, its unofficial website is entirely user-generated and it doesn’t have any social media accounts. Regardless, the restaurant has a distinct eclectic character when it comes to its design and decor. The entire dining room is filled with Asian art and collectibles that transform the whole space into a kind of immersive experience. You’ll enjoy a vibrant Japanese menu with delightful dishes including sushi, sushi bowls, poki bowls, noodle bowls, and seafood plates. Although you might be tempted to write off the miso soup as an obvious choice, Daichan’s is a must for its thick broth and rich umami flavor.
🍣 Known for: Poki bowls, sushi
🌐 Website: Daichan (unofficial, user-generated website)
📍 Location: 11288 Ventura Blvd F, Studio City
8. Manpuku
If you’ve never enjoyed a Japanese BBQ experience, you’re in for a real treat at Manpuku. Skilled servers will deliver expertly-prepared raw premium meats and more to your table, which you’ll then grill to perfection at your own mini barbecue grill. Bring a group and indulge in their popular Beef Tongue with Tokyo Negi, U.S. Kuroge Wagyu (black hide Japanese beef), and bite-size cuts of seafood and veggies.
🍣 Known for: Japanese barbecue
🌐 Website: Manpuku
📍 Locations:
- 2125 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles (West LA)
- 8486 W 3rd St., Los Angeles (West Hollywood)
- 1870 W. Carson St., Torrance
- 891 Baker St., Costa Mesa
9. Tsujita
Tsujita’s roots are in Tokyo, Japan, where the business kicked off in 2003 and saw massive success. It’s now grown into an international chain of 18 restaurants, with LA being the first city to open a North American location. Tsujita is known for its flavorful noodle soups including both tonkotsu ramen and tsukemen, a dipping-style noodle where the hot broth is served in a separate bowl. Be advised that they don’t take reservations and seating is first-come, first-served.
🍣 Known for: Ramen, Tsukemen
🌐 Website: Tsujita
📍 Locations:
- 740 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA (Arts District)
- 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles (Sawtelle)
- Pasadena location opening May 2024
10. I-naba
Perhaps the best way to experience I-naba is through its lunch menu, which offers great deals on some of their most popular items. We’re talking hot and cold noodle soups or udon priced between $15-20, big lunch combos ranging between $17-25, and more deluxe lunch specials like the extravagant kaiseki, several sushi assortments, and bento box options. I-naba also holds a hidden six-seat sushi counter called Sushi Inaba, which is helmed by Chef Yasuhiro Hirano and holds a Michelin Star.
🍣 Known for: Sushi, noodles
🌐 Website: I-naba
📍 Location: 20920 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance