At the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles, you’ll find everything from traditional ramen ad exquisite sushi to knockout omakase tastings and innovative fusion dishes. From Santa Monica to West Hollywood, don’t miss out on a best Japanese restaurant Los Angeles for your next night out.
Indulge in a MICHELIN-Starred tasting experience that blends the best of Italian and Japanese cuisines at a Downtown hotspot. Visit West Hollywood for a swanky Texas import and top-tier sushi from a James Beard Award-winning chef. Grab your crew for a made-for-sharing feast of Japanese-Taiwanese dishes in Hermosa Beach.
Reserve your spot at a great table at one of the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles on OpenTable now.
Read on for a guide to 10 of the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles.
For a stylish bistro with French-meets-Japanese influences: Camelia (Arts District)
Located in the Arts District, Camelia offers a refined, seasonal menu that blends French and Japanese culinary influences. Expect a concise menu of elegant dishes like a shrimp pot pie, a Croque madame with ham katsu, and donabe-steamed clams with lobster butter. Linger with one of the restaurant’s inventive cocktails or glass of sakes from the deep list in the stylish, industrial-chic dining room or on the charming, greenery-strewn patio.
For Asian fusion flavors – reserve your table at Wabi on Rose (Venice)
Head to Wabi on Rose for Asian-inspired dishes in a lively setting. Dig into sushi platters, spicy wagyu dumplings, and wood-fired skewers on the lush garden patio dressed with flowers and pink half-moon banquettes. Or go all in on the omakase tasting menu. An excellent drinks list, including a yuzu-based take on the classic Moscow mule and ice-cold martinis, makes the restaurant a great spot for a date night or an evening out with friends.
For stellar sushi at one of the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles: Ōwa (Venice)
Ōwa is a cozy dining spot known for its modern Japanese cuisine. The restaurant’s signature omakase sushi platter features an exquisite array of fresh, seasonal fish prepared and presented with artistic precision. The warm yet minimal ambiance creates a relaxed environment for casual meals or special occasions. This restaurant is a terrific spot for those looking for high-quality Japanese food in a welcoming and stylish setting.
For bold, Japanese-meets-Peruvian dishes at a MICHELIN Plate restaurant: Sushi Nikkei (Long Beach)
One of the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles, Sushi Nikkei is where you go for modern Japanese-meets-Peruvian dishes. Menu highlights at the two-time MICHELIN Plate restaurant include thinly sliced sashimi topped with a zesty Peruvian sauce, tuna tacos, and a bluefin tuna tasting. Enjoy it all in a minimalist dining room with sleek wooden furniture and a lively ambiance.
For some of the city’s best sushi at a best Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles: Leona’s (Studio City)
One of the best sushi restaurants in Los Angeles, Leona’s fuses classic Japanese techniques with modern, global flavors. Choose from top-notch sushi and sashimi, elegant rolls, and ultra-luxe seafood dishes like caviar- and uni-topped oysters and lobster risotto. Dine at the minimalist sushi bar, the dimly lit dining room with a birds nest-inspired chandelier, or in the chic indoor-outdoor space.
For group-friendly izakaya classics with a Cali twist: Shirube (Santa Monica)
Sleek and sophisticated Shirube is the first U.S. outpost of the Tokyo restaurant chain founded by Takashi Uno, the “Godfather of Izakaya.” Except knockout sushi and sashimi along with made-for-sharing Cali-meets-Japanese dishes like corn ribs, udon with cod roe butter, and wagyu meatballs. Don’t miss the deep list of sake and shochu, free-flowing during the restaurant’s lively happy hour.
For Japanese and Italian fusion at a MICHELIN-Starred destination: Orsa & Winston (Downtown)
At MICHELIN-Starred Orsa & Winston, chef Josef Centeno melds the best of Italian and Japanese cuisines. The menu changes nightly based on available fresh ingredients, resulting in a five-course omakase tasting menu that’s largely pescatarian, with past dishes including hamachi crudo with heirloom tomatoes, sweet potato ricotta raviolo, and seared duck with black truffle and tonnato. Plus, an entirely vegetarian tasting menu can be prepared upon request, along with beer, sake, and wine pairings.
For ultra-luxe dishes from an award-winning chef at a best Japanese restaurant Los Angeles: Uchi (West Hollywood)
Get innovative, Japanese-inspired cuisine at the LA location of Uchi, thanks to James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole. In a stylish indoor-outdoor space with wood-paneled walls and a zen garden-like ceiling, feast on an ambitious menu that includes spectacular sushi and sashimi, plus standouts like wagyu you can cook tableside over a hot rock. For special occasions, opt for the 10-course omakase tasting menu and sake from the restaurant’s extensive collection.
For made-for-sharing Japanese-Taiwanese dishes in a chic space: RYLA (Hermosa Beach)
Located not far from Hermosa Pier, RYLA is where you go for Japanese-Taiwanese dishes in a relaxed setting. Dig into refined, made-for-sharing plates like Hokkaido milk bread smeared with tobiko nori dip, loaded potato skins with caviar, and Korean-style spare ribs. Or go all-in on a wagyu striploin or bowl of hearty noodles. Either way, the inviting dining with wooden accents and cozy banquettes works just as well for a date night as a group dinner.
For outstanding sushi and robata grill favorites: Katana (West Hollywood)
For one of the best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles, head to Katana. The restaurant serves excellent sushi and grilled meats, all while live DJ and moody candlelight set the tone for a sexy and sophisticated night out. Grab a seat on the elevated terrace for peak Sunset Strip views.
The Los Angeles area offers plenty of great options for Japanese dining. From Santa Monica to Downtown, find everything from omakase tasting menus to casual neighborhood izakayas and MICHELIN-Starred hotspots at these best Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles.