Japonica Redondo Beach

This is a hip Japanese place with outdoor seating and heaters. This would have been a 5 star, but kitchen could not get our food out all together, for 6 people. The food was fantastic we had everything from bowl, soup, and sushi. Our waiter was very attentive as possible, the place was packed with a line outside. Our family would surely visit again.

Made a reservation for 5:45. Didn’t get seated until 6:30. Granted they were busy, a Saturday night. But a reservation. Never got drink refills. Staff kindness was okay, could’ve been better. We were missing lots of our food. I would not recommend their tantans (ramen) sushi was good though, and their house made smoked soy sauce was to die for.

The Slammin’ Salmon roll lives up to its name! It was so good, so fresh! I ate the entire thing and I usually don’t finish my rolls. I don’t know why other sushi restaurants don’t add baked salmon to the menu. I was grateful Japonica offered it!

Very yummy Japanese food. Service is good but there's room for improvement. A bit in the pricey side given that it's not a fancy restaurant but that's just my option. I recommend this restaurant.

Ate here 2 times in one week, the shrimp tempora is absolut perfection or a taste of fried heaven! Go with the sake sampler, it is very fun. I liked 2:3 one was too sweet for my taste but my date drank it. The ginger is excellent, too! Really enjoyed the special sushi. I'm not a fan of white lightning roll, but an interesting concept, very much like scampi as a roll.

Food is very good, ambience is pretty cool but music… loud 1990s KROCK hits does not work for me

Sushi So Good, It Had Me Rolling! As a sushi enthusiast and self-proclaimed “fish-ionado,” I recently ventured to Japonica, where the sushi is so fresh it might just swim off your plate. Upon entering, I was greeted by a friendly staff who seated me next to a decorative koi pond, which I can only assume was the waiting area for my dinner's family members. First up was the tuna sashimi, which was so tender it practically dissolved on my tongue. I found myself making involuntary happy noises that caused the table next to me to glance over in alarm. Next, the spicy salmon roll had the perfect balance of heat and flavor, prompting me to consider proposing marriage to the chef. The pièce de résistance was the Dragon Roll. With its intricate design and tantalizing taste, it was almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. I devoured it faster than you can say “wasabi.” Speaking of wasabi, Japonica’s wasabi had just the right amount of kick to clear my sinuses and possibly my past sins. To wash it all down, I enjoyed a sake that warmed me up more than a hug from a long-lost friend. By the end of my meal, I was stuffed but already planning my next visit. Japonica, you’ve rolled your way into my heart (and stomach)!

Pretty tasty, nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Good variety of menu items; everything we had was super delicious and definitely worth every penny. Japonica also has a pretty good happy hour before 6pm (check if on the weekend too).

Spent my birthday with my wife here for lunch. The food was amazing. The smoked soy sauce is excellently unique that stayed on the palate for hours after our meal. The oolong ice tea was cold and delicious. The service was welcoming upon our entrance into the restaurant. We were greeted with a smile that made sure we were pleased the whole time. The ambiance was quaint but cozy and intimate. Music with a video screen which played Japanese rock videos. Cool! Highly recommend this sushi spot for a special dining experience. Enjoy!

I had pretty good expectations of this restaurant, especially with this location being the most reviewed and still highly rated of the three around the area. I called ahead around 8:30 pm on a Saturday to check the wait time for a table of 2, and I really appreciated the server who picked up since he recommended that I book a reservation through OpenTable. I tried joining the waitlist on their Yelp page but for some reason it was closed already. When we got there, we were asked to wait a few minutes to get our table set up, which unfortunately was in the corner facing a solid wall and out of view from the rest of the restaurant (see photos attached). After we got sat, it took a few more minutes to get a server's attention, so we placed our order as soon as a server came by. Kyoto Kryptonite 5/5 - Honestly really surprised us by how flavorful it was while still balanced enough for its price. My favorite part was the crispy rice, which also provide a nice texture to the roll. Bumblebee Tuna 5/5 - I loved the addition of the yuzu to add some citrus as well as the micro cilantro for some freshness. Shrimp Uni Udon 1.5/5 - For its price, I was admittedly expecting a bit more, but what we got was a pretty bland, watered-down, cheese dish that didn't really feel worth the price tag. Also, I realized on the menu, there was a tag that said "exotic" next to its name, and although we thought it was an unusual adjective, we still wanted to give it a try. We were rather disappointed with this menu item. Overall, I'm not sure why this restaurant has so many excellent reviews, and while most of the food was good, some menu items could be better, customer service could be improved, and that wall would benefit from a wider view if possible.

Good find excellent service and good sushi Was not a fan of their smoked soy sauce but they do have regular soy sauce if you ask for it. Totally recommend their no rice sushi rolls

The best sushi around the south bay hands down. Sashimi lunch special 8 pieces for $25 sign me up. All of the rolls are great, very fresh and high quality. The prices are fair!! Staff is great. You can tell the owners care about quality. Lunch special ends at 3 pm. Happy Hour from 3-6. You won't be disappointed.

Absolutely loved our experience at Japonica in Redondo Beach! This place has quickly become our go-to spot for sushi in the South Bay. The no rice sushi roll was a highlight - it's innovative, delicious, and perfect for those watching their carb intake. The Hamachi Davidson and Bluefin Bombshell rolls were standout, packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The service was top-notch, with the staff being both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their offerings. The atmosphere is modern yet cozy, making it a great place for a date night or a casual outing with friends. Pairing the sushi with their extensive sake selection was a delightful experience. If you're looking for quality sushi with a creative twist, Japonica is definitely worth a visit!

Very blessed to finally try this place out. There's ample parking on the side and back lot. We came on a Friday night and got seated right away. We really loved the friendly service right off the bat! We ordered: krabby fatty - delicious buttery crab meat wrapped in rice. So good and rich but a bit too much rice, dungeon and dragon roll - we thought it was a bit too skimpy on the eel and add again too much rice, yellowtail sashimi - so fresh and delicious (comes in 5 slices), truffle salmon - melts in your mouth, and crispy rice - I really want to love it but the rice was a bit hard from time to time. Overall: love the music, service, ambient, the freshness of the food. It was a bit on the pricey side but next time when we feel like splurging a lil and not travel too far, we'll be back

I've been here in the past but it's been a while since. I ordered the Citrus Sakura sushi and it was delicious. It had the perfect amount of lemon flavor to it! The only thing that would've made this place better would be the service. We had sat down and were not given menus for 20 mins, so I went up to the host stand to just grab them, and for 2 rolls it took about 30-40 mins to come out. Others who got seated and ordered after us received their food before us. Overall, great food!

This is my favorite restaurant in LA When my out of towners come to visit I bring them here Why? It's a great fusion of traditional Japanese and too cool California. If Cali were personified , it would be this. Just a great vibe , great staff , does it get better than this? Nope. Redondo beach location: Craig and Brandon are stand outs. Having a bad day? These two will make it shine.

Always a wonderful place to dine. I appreciate their attention to detail and customer satisfaction. Waiters are top notch. Street parking is abundantly available. Highly recommend this fine neighborhood restaurant.

Parking: went on a Thursday night so finding parking was easy but I can imagine it's not too bad on busy nights. There's a parking behind and street parking as options. Really loved the ambiance, it was perfect for a date night. We put our name down on the waitlist and was seated immediately when our time was up. We also made it 30 minutes before the happy hour ended so we were able to get a few things off the HH menu, which had some good options like gyoza and the drinks. Food was overall pretty good. Wasn't really blown away by the rolls but the sashimi was soooooo good. If we do decide to go back, we'll definitely just stick to the sashimi.

Food and drink order includes: empty plates. It was that good. Craig is Bangerrang!!!!!!!

Disheartened that on Valentines Day, our takeout order (placed around 6ish pm - fully acknowledging that this was maybe a late time to place the order, but they still took the order via Uber Eats) was delayed and delayed until just about closing time. When we called just before closing to ask if the order was still coming (the Uber app kept saying it was delayed, but still happening) we were told by Japonica's staff over the phone that it had been picked up already but could not be given any more details such as when it was picked up. The order never arrived and our first Valentine's Day with a newborn was one without dinner. Honestly, I can't tell where the issue was, with Japonica or Uber Eats, but the experience was a let down from both IMHO. We'll live, but just... ugh.

You cannot go wrong here with anything! I usually travel to Torrance for work and I eat here EVERY TIME! I love their truffle salmon nigiri, the Aburi toro sushi and the hamachi carpaccio...sooo soo good. The spicy edamame has such a kick. My friend loves their Udon and gets it every time. You do also get a plate of chicken gyoza for free with a yelp check in. It's pretty nice too. As I said, cannot go wrong here with anything you order. Service is prompt and they are so good with the recommendations. The ambience is a relaxed chic vibe! Will be back again.

An excellent place to eat! I enjoyed all of the food we ordered. Got the chicken gyoza for checking in on Yelp which was good! There is easy parking in the back, which I appreciated. I enjoyed being able to people watch out the window, and the establishment wasn't too noisy inside. Service was great, our server was friendly and helpful.

One of the best sushi experiences that I've had in awhile! To start..they do have parking on the north side of the building. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The inside is enriched with authentic Japanese decor. Our server (I believe his name was Tony?) and Craig were very nice and had lots of knowledge about the sake that they served. One really cool thing is if you take a look at the menu you notice they have creative little names for each of their rolls, I thought the "Jessica Albacore" was the best We tried the "dungeons and dragons" roll, the "bluefin bombshell" roll, the sushi combo, and the sashimi combo. The dungeons and dragons roll was the best.

Visited Japonica in South Redondo after playing Golf to continue our friend's birthday celebration. Jason and the entire team provided great recommendations and the service was exceptional. Amazing sushi and very, very fresh! Can't wait to visit again, soon! Cheers!

Happy hour deals are great! We ordered beers, Sapporo and the house Lager - both were perfect to enjoy with the sushi rolls. Brussels sprouts - I loved the fun twist with pecans and mandarin oranges. The balsamic sauce is a lil salty, so good to share. Crispy rice - a classic!!! Jessica Albacore - fresh fish with the ponzu dressing was delightful Final fantasia - my personal fav. No-rice means it's LOADED with tuna, salmon and crab. The soy paper and microgreens add a refreshing and light finish. Our servers were quick and accommodating and it was PACKED for a Thursday evening. Will be back for more happy hour deals!

While on a work trip in LA I ordered DoorDash from here for a quick lunch since I didn't have a chance to get away from work to get food. The roll was much smaller than I thought. It was very thin and slid around the box quite a bit in transit. The miso was ok, it did its job of holdin me over until dinner.

Sushi So Good, It Had Me Rolling! As a sushi enthusiast and self-proclaimed "fish-ionado," I recently ventured to Japonica, where the sushi is so fresh it might just swim off your plate. Upon entering, I was greeted by a friendly staff who seated me next to a decorative koi pond, which I can only assume was the waiting area for my dinner's family members. First up was the tuna sashimi, which was so tender it practically dissolved on my tongue. I found myself making involuntary happy noises that caused the table next to me to glance over in alarm. Next, the spicy salmon roll had the perfect balance of heat and flavor, prompting me to consider proposing marriage to the chef. The pièce de résistance was the Dragon Roll. With its intricate design and tantalizing taste, it was almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. I devoured it faster than you can say "wasabi." Speaking of wasabi, Japonica's wasabi had just the right amount of kick to clear my sinuses and possibly my past sins. To wash it all down, I enjoyed a sake that warmed me up more than a hug from a long-lost friend. By the end of my meal, I was stuffed but already planning my next visit. Japonica, you've rolled your way into my heart (and stomach)!

My family and I were looking for a quick bite and stumbled upon this place. It happened to also be happy hour so it worked out! They have pretty good deals on their menu. The food was delicious!the rolls were filling. Super cute inside! They also have tables outside. Service was quick and everyone was very sweet. Plenty of parking in the lot behind the restaurant and on the street. Prices were pretty decent considering the location and quality of the fish. Definitely recommend giving this place a try.

The staff were very attentive and friendly, even though we went on a day where it wasn't busy! The rolls were excellent, but I highly recommend the crispy rice!

Visited Japonica recently and loved it. Ambience is cozy, fit with films projected onto the walls. Service staff are friendly and laid-back which fits the overall atmosphere of Redondo. My friend and I were on the hunt for shrimp uni udon, so that's what we'd ordered. It was beautifully plated, creamy, with fantastic texture and flavor everlasting in every bite. All ingredients blended so well together! I'd come back and order this again.

Our usual go to spot for Friday night dinner after a long work week! Sushi is always fresh and we do enjoy the diversity with the menu - please do your self a favor and order the Ramen- if you like spicy , the spicy tantan is the best! Small intimate setting with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Good selection of sake also- both hot and cold. Hoping to check out their happy hour soon!

My hubby acquired a love of ramen while we were in Japan. Which is ironic because he hates the sound of anyone slurping. A quick yelp search led us here. It was a rainy day, which made it a perfect day for ramen! We visited Japonica on a Sunday, and we had the restaurant to ourselves because we got there right when they opened. I wasn't feeling ramen, so I ordered a couple sushi rolls. Delish! Hubby got his fix! He said the ramen was as good as what we had in Japan. The restaurant is pretty big. I'm sure it's fun on a Friday or Saturday night. The music they had playing was alternative, which was perfect. I checked in on yelp and got free chicken gyoza. It was really good. We will definitely be back!

The ambiance of this place is very nice at night!! I had the sushi with their homemade soy sauce and it was delightful! Their soy sauce is more light compared to normal soy sauce because they add sake, mirin, and dashi to it! Chicken Gyoza 5/5: A very deep fried gyoza. I haven't tasted gyoza anything like this before. It is very crispy on the outside and there is so much chicken filling in the inside which I LOVE! Plain Udon 3/5: The broth of this udon tasted very gingery which I didn't mind. They added a lot of tempura crumbs and udon noodles! Crispy Rice 5/5: The best Crispy Rice I've ever tasted in my life!! The fatty tuna on top with the crispiness on the outside of the rice makes the texture of this dish EXTRAORDINARY! Definitely try their crispy rice! Chicken Karage 2.5/5: The sauce on the chicken Karage made it very sweet. I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. It didn't taste like your typical Karage. I wish they would add citrus because the sauce overpowered the dish. Aburi Toro Sushi 5/5: Their sushi is to die for!! Their sushi tasted VERY fresh and it just melts in your mouth. The fish to rice ratio is exceptional where they add more fish than rice. Highly recommend ordering their "special sushi" when coming here!! Overall, I definitely recommend eating here because the environment and food is phenomenal!! Even though a lot of their dishes don't look or taste very traditional, they were all very tasty!

After a bike ride we decided to stop here for some ramen as it was a cold day (2/3/24). We were greeted and seated right away. It's a small restaurant with tables inside as well as outside. The restaurant is uniquely decorated. Our server was friendly and welcoming. My friend and I both ordered their Tantan Ramen combo. I had mine with a side of chicken. Her a side of shrimp tempura. We also ordered their spicy edamame. Spicy edamame 10/10. Packed with garlic flavor and a hint of heat. Would totally order this again. Their chicken was a 10/10. I enjoyed the flavoring of the chicken especially that sudden sweetness at the end of the bite. Would order this again. Never can go wrong with shrimp tempura 10/10. Definitely would order again. Tantan Ramen 8/10. Although the broth was rich in flavor, creamy, and the right amount of heat I was disappointed in the temperature of the broth. I didn't have to blow, that should say enough. I did appreciate their choice of noodles. If you're into Tantan Ramen I highly recommend this dish.

We tried Japonica while traveling to SoCal. This is primarily a sushi spot, but we were in the mood for noodles. My wife got the ramen, we have tried many places, and it was good, but not our favorite. It had a unique flavor profile, I can't find the words to describe it, but I can say it's not the traditional ramen broth I've had at other places. The karaage was good, not in my top 10. We also got the ginger pork, it was too gingery for me, but if you like strong ginger you will probably like it. I would go back for the fun atmosphere and try the sushi. The service was awesome. Try their smoked soy sauce that was very unique.

We drove in from 2 hrs wanting to visit a highly-reviewed restaurant as part I of date night, and Japonica did not disappoint. Right on PCH, the immediate lure was the amount of people either waiting for food or a table. Definitely make reservations if you can, though the food is worth the wait. Quick service, extremely fresh fish, and if it wasn't for Dry January I'm certain the premium sake flight is top notch as well. Don't skip on the truffle salmon--so good we ordered it a second time.

Stopped by here for lunch and their lunch combo is a great deal. I got a sashimi combo and a ramen combo. Each one comes with its own side and I chose karaage. The sashimi combo also comes with miso soup and rice. Service was amazing and so friendly explaining their lunch deals for their Japanese beers and sake. Inside seating is beautiful with its decor and very spacious room inside with also outdoor patio. Will definitely be back to try out more things on the menu!

The sushi here is really good, but not great. They do have their own spin on their sushi offerings which I appreciate. But while there are some definite enthusiastic hits (the Jessica Albacore), there are a couple of misses as well (e.g. The Hasselhof). The noodles here are amazing, with exactly the right amount of chewiness to actual noodles. But what keeps me coming back are their Brussels; IMO they are some of the best I've ever had anywhere (those hits of citrus are incredible). Anyway...two thumbs up for Japonica.

My boyfriend and I love japonica the slamming salmon is my Fav. They are always super sweet and accommodating. Space is near everything and the decor doesn't hurt either

Lovely food and great service very nice intimate setting def recommend One of best sushi experiences I've ever had the bumblebee tuna was the best so delicious will def come back

Came during happy hour and had a great time. Sat outside on the front patio with our little dog. The happy hour selections were great and the specialty rolls were really fantastic-- not too saucy or sweet, but well thought out and balanced. The service was friendly and quick. It's walking distance from a beach parking structure and from the beach itself.

Haiku: Japonica Sushi and sake A girl's night out together Great, friendly service. --- Tip: Free Chicken Gyoza for Yelp check-in. Dine-in only. My girlfriends and I came out for sushi and sake at Japonica and boy, we had a great time. The specialty sushi rolls were gorgeous and delicious. I like that the inside of some of the rolls had actual raw fish and not the imitation crab filler. I really enjoyed the Crispy Rice Tuna. It was crunchy and satisfying. The only downside of this place is that it's noisy and makes it really hard to hear our conversations.

Every time I come here it's a 100/100 experience. Take advantage of their online waitlist so you don't have to wait for a table on the weekends! The service is PERFECT and the sushi is literally the best ever. Every single roll they have is SO delicious. I always come here for their 3-6 pm happy hour. This is a great girls night and date night spot. This is my favorite spot to dress up and have some drinks with dinner because I know my experience will always be great. I absolutely love this restaurant. The vibes are 10/10 too.

This is a hidden GEM! Hamachi Davidson and Braveheart were my favorite rolls. Service was top notch. They had a great vibe and playlist as well. For celiac or gluten free they just left the sauces off and they did have GF tamari which is much appreciated. They had endless types of Sake and knew which ones were GF. Absolutely loved this place.

I was in Japan last year and this is some of the best Japanese food I've ever had. The menu is super inventive, nothing like your regular Japanese restaurants. You will taste flavors you've never had before. We had a sushi roll with smoked soy sauce that was incredible. And the staff are great. We had Roy as our server and he guided us expertly through the menu, recommending great dishes. Someone should give him a raise cause he's fantastic! I say go today to eat there!

I went here to catch up with my friend for lunch, and Japonica did not disappoint at all! We ordered the Kyoto Kryptonite and the Jessica Albacore rolls, as well as an order of fried chicken to share. The Kyoto Kryptonite was a lot tastier than the Jessica Albacore as I really enjoyed the crunchy fried texture of the rice in contrast to the cold, spicy tuna and cucumber. The Jessica Albacore was yummy, but next time I would probably try something else as I think the ponzu sauce overpowered the light tuna and albacore. The fried chicken was crunchy and not overly greasy, which I appreciated as well. The service was good, the restaurant was clean, the food was good, and the prices were relatively cheap, especially as we're a 10-minute walk from the beach, making Japanoica a wonderful place for lunch or dinner.

Decent food & ok service. Nothing special. Sushi was overpriced for the quality. Food: Ordered 5 different rolls (with one being a no rice roll). They were good fusion type rolls, but not worth the $18-20 value/price. The fish was higher quality and fresh, but there was such a small amount compared to the amount of rice. The no rice roll was actually the best one in my opinion. Thick cuts of fresh fish & wrapped nicely. Service: The servers were nice, but super slow. We waited 10 minutes to be seated even though half of the tables were unoccupied. Also, we had to ask for a straw 3 times because our server kept forgetting. Service was definitely slow and unprofessional, but at least our server was nice and apologized for her mistakes! Ambiance/Environment: Clean, fairly spacious, cool interior. I really liked the wallpaper and decor of the restaurant. Overall, it was a 5/10 experience. Location was nice and close to the beach and ample parking nearby for free. Food was just ok, but definitely not worth the price. I don't see myself going back to this restaurant willingly, but not a bad experience.

We visited this cute restaurant in Redondo Beach for the first time today. At 2 PM on the day after Christmas, it was busier than I expected. The food was all pretty good. I had the Jessica Albacore. My wife had the Sashimi Trio, and our daughter got the Tantan Ramen, which I found a little too sweet.

Paid $18 for 5 pieces of sushi. At least indicate it on the menu on Doordash so people know what they're getting for the money they spend. Shrinkflation has never been this bad.

Got the Vegetable Roll (Left) and Bluefin Samurai (right). The veggie roll had something that was overwhelming and did not harmonize well with the rest of the rest of the vegetables. In contrast, the Bluefin Samurai was delicious, would definitely go back for it. They had optional smoked soy sauce, which was really good and paired well with the Bluefin Samurai. Service was great! Ambience was nice except they should replace or get rid of pillows or replace chairs.

The food never disappoints and the ambience is nice on the eyes but not too distracting (if that makes sense). Service was great especially from Krystal and Garret who were very attentive to me and my family the whole time. Will be back!

Lunch special is an amazing value -- generous serving of delicious sashimi with miso and side salad. Service was attentive and made us feel at home even though we had a toddler and baby in tow!

I ordered to go, and there was hair in the food, which was very gross and I lost my appetite immediately after seeing that I usually order from the El Segundo location and such a better experience first time ordering from this location and very disappointed the roles were made very heavy and the rice and small amount of filling on the inside I paid extra for avocado, and it was a barely even there it seems like the person making the rules made them for the first time and they were just completely falling apart.

The food was really good. Went there for lunch and ordered the lunch special. The server was very friendly and the service was excellent. Why not five stars? The place could have been a little cleaner and there was a lot of wear and tear overall in the restaurant. With a refresh to the dining area, this place would be 5 stars all the way.

Parking is the only downside to this location. The food was so filling and delicious. I normally eat 2 rolls but was satisfied with one from here. My coworker and I went during a slow lunch so we got excellent service by our waiter who gave great recommendations. The place is a little small but it makes you feel like you are in Japan!

Our favorite sushi spot in the South Bay. Great atmosphere. Super creative and delicious sushi options.

food was just okay, nothing impressive and pretty bland. Spent about $100 and the only good thing was the truffle salmon. Aside from that, the service was good, ambiance was nice, the food was just bad. There's plenty of other places to choose from. it's just disappointing in how mediocre it was. Meh.