Akinori Sushi

Amazing sushi spot. The dry-aged edge fish here is truly unique and absolutely delicious—deep flavor, perfect texture, and something you don’t find just anywhere. You can really taste the quality and care that goes into it. Everything else we tried was just as impressive: super fresh fish, excellent rice, and consistently high-quality dishes across the menu. It’s clear they take pride in their craft and ingredients. Highly recommend if you’re looking for top-tier sushi and something a little special. Will definitely be back!

The dry aged sushi is orgasmic. Across the board, incredible quality of ingredients and service. Unassuming joint- you wouldn‘t guess how great the food is. Among the best sushi I‘ve had in NELA/Pasadena area.

Everything was amazing, would especially recommend the chirashi bowl, each piece of sashimi was fresh and of great quality. Eel bowl and sushi was also better than your average Japanese restaurants. I can tell each item was designed thoughtfully and made with care, never had better sushi rice, it was soft and not overwhelmed by the vinegar. Also loved the environment, it’s a cozy restaurant and being able to sit at the bar while watching the chefs do their magic was an experience in itself. Would definitely go back!

Akinori Sushi is my new favorite spot—hands down. The quality of the sushi here is exceptional—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared with real care and precision. Every bite feels like it was made just for you. The atmosphere is intimate yet welcoming, striking that perfect balance between laid-back and refined. Tom, Nat, and the entire staff are truly wonderful people. You can feel their passion not just in the food, but in the whole experience they create. Friendly, attentive, and always making you feel right at home. If you're looking for top-tier sushi with a personal touch, Akinori is it. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

such kind staff and chefs. incredible attention to detail, and interesting use of unique fish selections and flavors for each dish. incredibly delicious. we got the sashimi combo and the 10-piece omakase. they must opened 3 months ago, and the nice thing is they also like all of their neighbor businesses as well. another group dining there said they had the best sushi experience they had ever had before, and really appreciated the attention to detail on each dish.

Newly open sushi restaurant located in Pasadena. Since this is our first time here, we mostly went with what the chef recommendations. The food doesn’t disappoint. The rolls were great! The chef did not held back on the ingredients and the size was generous; they also weren’t overly sweet like many other places. However, our favourite had to be Chef’s Omakase dishes. It has a good mixture of white fish right up to the fatty Japanese Uni. If Uni is not something you want, the yellowtail belly is something that you cannot miss. If you are not having sushi, they also have ala carte items. We tried the miso baked BlackCod and it was simply wonderful! It could almost melt in your mouth. Overall a very pleasant experience! The food was fresh and delicious. The chef and staffs were very welcoming and accommodating. I would definitely be back.

We've been to Akinori many times, and honestly, I was a little hesitant to post a review -- only because I didn't want this place to get too popular that we'd have trouble getting seats! But this restaurant truly deserves recognition. This sushi spot is absolutely amazing -- they serve some of the freshest fish for both sushi and sashimi, and everything is always beautifully prepared and presented. The restaurant is spotless, which makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. We actually stumbled upon Akinori earlier this year since we live nearby and thought, "Why not try it? It's just a stone's throw away." Ever since that first visit, we've been back many times and have enjoyed every single experience. Their sushi always looks incredible, tastes even better, and never has that overly "fishy" smell or taste -- you can tell it's top quality. There are too many great dishes to name because we've tried so many, and all have been consistently excellent. Chef Tom and his team are wonderful -- friendly, welcoming, and they always make us feel right at home. Akinori has definitely become one of our favorite sushi spots.

Was pleasantly surprised by the taste and especially the freshness of the fish for reasonable prices - will definitely be returning. Everything we got was delicious across the board: crispy rice, agedashi tofu, salmon belly nigiri, Wake Me Up roll, Fresh Mountain roll. The agedashi tofu was a standout, and these specific rolls are perfect if you want refreshing sushi that highlights the fish's freshness without being drowned in sauce. Looking forward to trying the other menu options!