KAVIAR Restaurants

Japanese restaurant · Downtown

KAVIAR Restaurants

Japanese restaurant · Downtown

1

70 N Raymond Ave #250, Pasadena, CA 91103

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KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
KAVIAR Restaurants by null
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KAVIAR Restaurants by null
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Highlights

Artistic sushi, wagyu, caviar, and happy hour specials  

Featured in Eater
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70 N Raymond Ave #250, Pasadena, CA 91103 Get directions

kaviarrestaurants.com
@kaviarrestaurants

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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70 N Raymond Ave #250, Pasadena, CA 91103 Get directions

+1 626 605 0330
kaviarrestaurants.com
@kaviarrestaurants

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 7, 2025

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Expense Accounts Will Flock to This Baller New Downtown Wagyu Steak Palace - Eater LA

"Niku X is one of the new guard of Japanese restaurants showcasing opulent ingredients, like Kaviar, which has locations in Pasadena and Arts District." - Jean Trinh

https://la.eater.com/2022/11/2/23435847/niku-x-downtown-la-yakiniku-wagyu-beef-the-x-pot-chubby-cattle
View Postcard for KAVIAR Restaurants

H X

Google
A memorable dinner. On this day, we celebrated my son's birthday in advance. We chose this Japanese restaurant, as we had been here several times before. The dishes we ordered were all very satisfactory. Before placing our orders, I ordered a lychee cocktail, which was very delicious and highly recommended. However, this cocktail was given to me rather late. During the meal, the waiter helped us take the birthday cake we brought along to the refrigerator for storage. I was very grateful for his thoughtful service. After the meal, the waiter helped take out the cake we had stored and inserted their store's fireworks candles on it. This was more surprising than ordinary candles. Thank you. The only drawback is that the style of this restaurant is dark, with dim lighting. The birthday photos we took were all rather dark. Even when we used three table lamps on the table to supplement the light, the light effect was rather strange. If you wanted to take photos in the restaurant that night, this is not a good choice.

Rachel Hambartsumyan

Google
This KAVIAR sushi restaurant is immaculate. The best and the most delicious sushi is served here in KAVIAR. Service was excellent and the waitress was very attentive. MUST TRY. Everything was served so uniquely and beautifully plated. Must try the Uni. It’s was out of this world. My hubby and I can’t wait to go back . Thank you KAVIAR and the staff for making our sushi night memorable.

Rebeka A

Google
Hands down, this is the most delicious and the most freshest sushi spot ever, KAVIAR is it. I have been to many many sushi restaurants and Nothing beats KAVIAR SUSHI. They have the most freshest and the butteries Toro ever it literally just melts in your mouth and let me not even get started with the albacore belly sashimi. Everything on the menu is very unique very fresh. It’s very delicious. I highly recommend everyone to try KAVIAR Sushi.

Arus Markaryan

Google
Well, let’s just say Kaviar is one of our favorite sushi spots to visit, if you haven’t been there, I highly recommend for you to give it a try their sushi’s fresh. Their sushi is amazingly yummy. The staff is amazing they give the best service!!! the manager Justin is absolutely amazing. he always goes out of his way to make sure you are satisfied with everything and let’s not forget how fresh the sushi is there. We really really love that place. It’s our families to go place and we always take our friends and family. Overall the atmosphere and the vibe is EXCELLENT, I can’t wait to go back.

Ofelya Asatryan

Google
Amazing atmosphere, high quality sushi the best sashimi I have ever tried! Had an amazing time with the best service! Also drinks were so unique. I highly recommend Kaviar sushi restaurant in Pasadena.

Jacqueline Ortiz

Google
Honestly if you’re trying to enjoy a high end sushi experience this place is not it. The sushi is good, not the best even in the Pasadena area, but pretty good and I have no complaints there. The ambiance is dark, but cool. However, the service really does not meet the expectation for the price point of this restaurant. We waited a very long time for each order to come out despite the restaurant being half empty. After our food finally came half our table did not get soy sauce so we asked for some. The waiter came and gave one person soy sauce then walked away requiring us to flag them down again. Two of our orders were wrong. But on top of all of this, our waitress came to our table at the end of the meal and says she will be adding a 10% fee since not all of our party showed up. For context all 6 people of our party showed up at the beginning of the meal and our reservation was for 6 people. Our bill was about $1100 for everyone, prior to them trying to add a fee. We obviously told her we were not paying this since all of our party was there and it was removed from our final bill, but this made for an unpleasant interaction at the end of our meal. I’ve gotten much better service at restaurants that are much more affordable than this in the Los Angeles area.

Mariah Johnson

Google
Came here for restaurant week and we were pleased! In a cute area and good for walking around after as well.

Krystine L

Google
I was really excited to dine here, but I feel like we must have been there on an off night. We had a reservation and I really liked the dimly lit modern ambiance. We asked about omakase and they said they offered it, but didn't have a menu for it, and asked that we look it up on yelp, which felt odd for a place in this price range. We decided to do it, 130pp or so, and a few dishes were incredible, but a few were just okay. The food came out super slow, then like 3 dishes at once, their timing was just really off which made for a subpar experience. I heard our first course went to the wrong table and overheard them arguing over it. Drinks were hit or miss, we might return to order a la carte, but I'm not in a rush. 🙃

Aldo C.

Yelp
I was just here for DINE LA. Was pretty crowded but so worth it. The staff were extremely friendly especially the manager who made the night perfect. Not to mention the food is phenomenal, definitely best sushi I've ever had. And the overall environment and atmosphere was very nice and I felt at home. Will definitely be coming back and highly recommend!
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Casey L.

Yelp
Just tried Kaviar for the first time! And for Valentine's Day. It was a bit hectic that day, but the service was very kind and offered us free champagne for the few extra minutes of waiting. I did the prefix valentines menu with my partner and also ordered the uni pasta. Everything on the list was super tasty, light and very flavorful. They did not skimp out on the kaviar in each plate either. The uni pasta had a large portion of uni on it, which personally I really enjoyed. The pasta was creamy and soft, and the kaviar and small egg really brought the dish together. The drinks were tasty and light, it is mostly sake and not hard alcohol based, so it was unique. The ambiance is what really made the experience great. It is dim snd romantic, and they had cool Japanese decorations, samurai suit and a tree! The staircase going into the restaurant makes you feel like you are going to a different destination. Would definitely go back again! And really appreciated the service from receptionist, to management, and to our waiter for trying to make the night a special one!
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Casper L.

Yelp
Went there Friday night with reservations. The decor are nice. The food are nice. The servers are nice and responsive too. But I guess it was too busy that night, every stage of the diner needs waiting. 20 mins to get seated. 30 mins to get ordered( we complained and then got ordered). 30 mins to get first round of dish. Another 30 to get second round. AND I WAS HUNGRY! The manager knew us waited so he offered free desserts. Even desserts are nice. In the right temperature and very tasty. So the deducted 2 stars are for the long wait (poor management, overcrowded seating, whatever the reason is). Food 4/5. I got dineLA menu and get sushi sets. The fish were nice and fresh. Service 4.5/5: I knew they busy.. running around all the time like bees. But still really responsive. Can't complain about it.
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Amby Y.

Yelp
Went to Kaviar to celebrate our birthday month with a friend, and it was a fantastic experience! We opted for the DineLA menu, and everything was delicious--from the sushi to the sashimi, each dish was fresh and full of flavor. The portions were perfect, and the presentation was beautiful. Our server, Nadine was very accommodating The real highlight was when they surprised us with a birthday cake--two huge slices! It was so thoughtful, but we definitely needed a to-go box for those extra generous portions. A perfect end to a great meal. Highly recommend Kaviar for an elevated sushi experience with an extra touch of birthday magic!
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Rubi S.

Yelp
First of all, I'd like to say i give them a solid 5 stars. From the street level entering the gates it feels like we were walking into a historic and iconic Japanese alley with the brick walls, greenery and string lights. We walk up the stairs and enter into the restaurant and the ambiance is on point with a few samurai warriors in the glass case, walls are dark and the lights were dim. The decor was clean contemporary modern vibes with wood accents. We decided to try this restaurant for the first time for my daughter's birthday since Sushi is her favorite food to eat. We had reservations and got seated right away. The service was impeccable and the servers were attentive. We told them that we were celebrating our daughter's birthday and they made it extra special by bringing her out 2 complimentary slices of cakes with sparkler candles! We ordered some sake and a couple of cocktails. Delicious drinks with beautiful presentation. The food was also on point in taste, quality and freshness! It was definitely worth coming here to celebrate a special occasion.
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Steph L.

Yelp
I went here as part of their make your own hand roll experience. Overall the experience was really fun a great activity to do for a date night or just learn some new skills and eat yummy things with friends. There was a group of women who sorta make the experience less enjoyable because of how loud their party was, needy for attention from the sushi instructor and distracting because they would be filming with phone flash lights on but overall the experience was fun. Food - 4/5 Large portions and everything was seasoned nicely and greatly quality of fish. With the hand roll making experience you get a total of 5 rolls (you make 4 rolls and the sushi chef makes a roll for you). In addition to that they serve a piece of crispy spicy tuna and a taco to pair with it and some soy garlic edamame and a glass of champagne and a dessert. Service - 4/5 When we checked in the host had us just hangout to the side while they prepared the room for our experience. We were presented with a glass of champagne but weren't explicitly told what it was for or if they just were giving them out. We got walked into a separate room from the rest of the dining room, to which my friend and I were seated. The experience was a little confusing at first but once the sushi chef started to explain what was happening things started to make more sense. They provide gloves so you don't need to get your hands messy with rice which was also nice. Ambiance - 4/5 Very instagramable spot. The room we were in was kinda dark so they needed to provide table lamps which helped. The space is upstairs to not be confused as there isn't a lot of signage about where it is.
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Angela B.

Yelp
Second time here. Alway an exceptional experience. The two waitresses were very attentive and over-the-top exceptional with their service. Thank you so much Vanessa and Narin for your amazing customer service. Each sushi roll was fresh and the caviar was not only delicious, and the presentation was beautiful. Definitely recommend, and I can't wait to come back for my next birthday
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Anita L.

Yelp
Kaviar is a must-visit for any sushi lover, and their DIY handroll class is such a unique and fun experience! For $79, you get a welcome champagne glass and 3 appetizers to start the night. The chef then walks you through making five different handrolls, using top-quality ingredients like fresh tuna and salmon. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident in their sushi-making skills. By the end, you not only get to eat your creations but also leave with new knowledge about sushi!
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Andrea C.

Yelp
We were pleasantly surprised at how great this place is- didn't even know it existed and found it by chance searching. It's a little too dimly lit for my tastes but each table had little lamps for you to adjust the lighting you wanted so that was a plus, otherwise for the elderly like myself, you basically can't see anything. =) In any event, all of the servers, staff, just everyone in the restaurant was all friendly and kind. A smile goes a long way and for quite some time, I've encountered a bunch of really snobby and pissed off servers who showed impatience and smiles that were forced (I think my bad luck) in Pasadena restaurants. Nick Bryant was my server and he didn't make me feel rushed and made great recommendations. He was ever so pleasant- repeatedly checked in on us to make sure we had everything we needed, the food was coming out correctly, our table had enough space, we had enough beverages. The restaurant ran out of uni and he immediately let me know and recommended great substitutes. (Ah, and he takes great pictures, he's not the guy who snaps one picture and done, he took multiple pictures from different angles so we can get a good picture. He kept going until he felt he got the best shot and that's the first time I've seen anyone do that.) I think service makes the restaurant even better and Nick certainly was quite perfect. The food quality- excellent. The only item we didn't like was the tempura- the oil was used too much and not fresh so the tempura came out brown. The blue crab handroll was excellent. We tried the Caviar (beautiful presentation and the little pancakes, butter with the caviar was a nice touch), mussels, Wagyu tacos, oysters, sunomono wakame, sushi was excellent, lobster roll, baked salmon roll, rock shrimp tempura roll, amberjack bluefin tuna roll, tataki crispy onion, miso glazed black code, uni pasta, spicy miso ramen, bonzai brownies, gojira cheesecake- we tried it all and it was all EXCELLENT. We're definitely coming back and will ask for Nick to take care of us again. It's been awhile since I found a new restaurant that we all loved so much. Thanks Nick and Kaviar for a great night out.
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Sasha R.

Yelp
Best sushi I've ever had. Period. And a killer atmosphere to boot! I went with my boyfriend for Valentine's Day and they had everything arranged beautifully. The food was incredible!! Our favorite dishes were the coconut mango roll and the King salmon sashimi. The salmon truly melts in your mouth and is so full of flavor...I will be dreaming of when I can taste it again!
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Robert H.

Yelp
From the moment you step into Kaviar, you are transported into an atmosphere of refined elegance and authentic Japanese craftsmanship. The ambiance is serene yet sophisticated, with warm lighting, minimalist decor, and a welcoming staff that sets the tone for an extraordinary dining experience. Upon arrival we were greeted by the manager Justin with a warm welcome and were seated right away. Servers knowledgeable and extremely helpful! Every single item we tried was The standout of the meal, though, was the Truffle Toro. The dish was prepared with such precision and care. The freshness of the ingredients was evident on all of the items we ordered and the combination of textures, crispy, tender, and smooth was truly masterful. Thanks for a great experience you all!! We will definitely be there often!!!
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Monika I.

Yelp
I came here for a fun date night activity to learn how to make handroll sushi :) It costs $89/person. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly host who offered us 1 cocktail each as part of the experience so we decided to go with the Lavender Breeze and Lychee Mint Martini that came with a delicate balance of fruity, floral, and strong alcohol taste. The cocktails also came in beautiful presentation that were totally IG worthy :) For appetizer, we got to try their Maguro Crispy Rice and Wagyu Tacos. We were also give 4types of fish, seaweed/soy papers, rice, chopped veggies toppings, 3types of sauce, and a pair of gloves. The chef guided us step by step on how to make a cone shaped handroll vs cylinder shaped handroll. It was a very interactive and fun class. We also ordered the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu sampler that was prepared by the chef in front of us. I gotta say the meat just melted in my mouth like butter!! Please keep in mind that the wagyu isnt part of the handroll making experience and costs extra, but totally worth it!!
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Mike W.

Yelp
Decided on Kaviar Pasadena to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Made reservations via Yelp, and it couldn't have been easier. NOTE: There's a very steep, tall stairway leading from the street level courtyard up to the restaurant, but there's an elevator available for those who need it. SERVICE: On this visit, service was just okay. Our waiter seemed to "phone it in" a little. He wasn't all that friendly, and there were several long waits between table side check ins. When we finally asked for our check and a to go box for one of the desserts, it took forever, and he forgot the to go box. We did run into Justin, the manager who assisted us so well on our last visit, and we had a pleasant conversation with him, as well as him checking in with us a couple times in the evening. DRINKS: We ordered a couple of cocktails to start the evening, a Lavender Breeze and a Dewdrop Martini ($15 ea). Both were well made. We ordered a second round, my wife tried the Spicy Margarita ($15), and I had an Old Fashioned ($15). Again, both were very good. FOOD: We started with a couple of appetizers first, the King Salmon Sashimi ($32), and the Kanpachi Carpaccio ($24). Both were excellent. Once again, my wife and I decided to order the Chef's Tasting for $130/person. I feel that this is a good deal, and a great way for a smaller party to experience a lot of menu items. It's so much food, and everything was delicious. Courses were timed well, so no overlapping of food, or some items changing temperature. I tried to capture the order of the courses in my photos. SUMMARY: Our service experience aside, the food and ambiance were once again fantastic. We'll definitely be back.
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Darian E.

Yelp
Kaviar Sushi Bar is a glitzy, expensive Japanese restaurant that presents itself as a trendy upscale restaurant with club vibes. Compared to other restaurants in its class, Kaviar offers average to slightly below average food, great service, good ambiance, and mediocre value. On our birthday date we began with the Golden Hour ($15), a unique sake, grapefruit, lemon, and tea that was light and refreshing. This was followed by our sushi, Amberjack Bluefin ($29) and Rock Shrimp Tempura ($22) rolls. The Tempura shrimp sushi was fairly unremarkable with a serviceable sauce to stave off dryness. The Amberjack roll, recommended by our server, was spectacular, and the highlight of the evening. The delicate touch of the Amberjack and Bluefin was pierced by a striking, if highly unusual, stab of Yuzu lemon that was at first bite disarming, at second intriguing, and at third, addicting. Resisting the urge to order one of several items featuring 24K gold leaf or served with a dry ice presentation, we splurged next with the A5 Wagyu Tartare topped with some caviar ($39). Perhaps my palate is unsophisticated, but I could not distinguish this from any other tartare I've had, with the seasoning lacking and the caviar adding little to the dish. We then had a selection of several tempura items ($14), which were excessively heavy with twice the tempura coating we're accustomed to. This was followed by the Miso Glazed Black Cod ($48), which was similar to other upscale black cod presentations I've seen elsewhere. We found it tasty, soft, fall-apart-in-your-fork consistency, as it should be, but relatively low in flavor (even for cod) with a somewhat stingy portion. Our server Vanessa was kind, attentive, and helpful. We appreciated her Amberjack roll recommendation, her ability to identify cooked sushi items (which my date preferred), and a generous offer of a free dessert for my birthday. The hostess was similarly kind, calling to check in when we were running behind, and seating us despite a late arrival. The restaurant has a trendy aesthetic which straddles between fine restaurant and upscale club. It is dark, the music at times a little loud, celebratory desserts come with sparklers instead of candles, and gold leaf or occasional fire (see our Cod) makes its way into the dishes. This is certainly a good place to bring a date or group who is into that type of thing. The suits of Sengoku Jidai armor were a nice touch. Overall, the value was mediocre for downtown Pasadena, with prices better suited for West Hollywood or similar; I felt the Tartare and Black Cod were overpriced. Expect to pay around $100/person, not including tip, which I feel is somewhat unjustified for the food quality. Of note, we had a promotion from the inKind app ($50 off a check over $150), which you should look into on your visit. My scores below do not reflect this discount. Is Kaviar kool? Definitely. Is the food as good as the vibes? No. Come to Kaviar if you or your date are looking for something trendy, hip, don't care too much for the details, and don't mind splurging a little. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance/Facility: 4/5 Value: 3/5
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James T.

Yelp
Kaviar is a great place to take a date or to give an elevated sushi experience for you or your small group. The vibe is dark, intimate, and meant to make you feel fancy. Now - onto the review: Service: I managed to snag the last reservation on a busy Friday night here when they were packed (it really tests the restaurant's front of house and kitchen), and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as slow as I expected (although there was still some lag with service and you needed to flag down wait staff if you wanted to interject between courses). Food: good selection, plating was done nicely, and the flavors were bold. Parking: street or structure (and you hoof it a bit). tl;dr - if you're looking for a fun or intimate sushi night - Kaviar is your place! :)
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Desiree L.

Yelp
Kaviar serves a fine dining experience with class-- it's perfect for a special occasion. The ambiance is dimly-lit with chill background music. The popular items like the A5 waygu, toro roll, escolar roll, and waygu tacos were prepared to perfection and were enjoyable! Each plating presentation was classy & modern. The waygu was a perfect texture and I enjoyed the freshness that each flavor brought to the table. The service was spectacular and memorable!
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Kathy Z.

Yelp
Love love love this place. The interior is classy, dark, and bold. You'll find the place upstairs, and I'm almost positive that there isn't any outside or patio seating. The menu is diverse - basically, Japanese fusion - with lots of sushi, carpaccio, rolls and hot/cold dishes to choose from. I was a big fan of the wagyu tacos, gyoza, seared/smoked salmon with ikura, kanpachi, spicy tuna crispy rice, and baked salmon roll. The servers here are just as classy and sleek as the overall aesthetic, and we experienced such great service. Parking wasn't easy, and we ended up with a metered parking spot that gave us so much trouble with paying by app. There's another location in the DTLA / Arts District. I highly recommend giving both a try.
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Shelia D.

Yelp
Caviar wishes and martini dreams. That's what Kaviar in Pasadena can provide. They now offer an omasake option, a chef's tasting menu, and its perfectly curated for an impeccable dining experience. A few things I loved that were off the tasting menu were their uni pasta and the toro tartar which is prepared table side. The Uni just melted away at its first bite and pasta was so creamy. The Toro tartar was sublime and so fresh! So grab your date and head on over to Kaviar.
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Gaby L.

Yelp
I came here with my husband we had an amazing time, the food and service was great vanessa was a doll so nice and so helpful since it was our first time there, I would absolutely recommend kaviar . If you go look for Vanessa she's the best
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Genesis R.

Yelp
Food was amazing, we ordered most of the recommendations of our server NICK. We really liked our food all of them were delicious. Our server Nick was very attentive. Definitely a hidden gem.
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Felicia K.

Yelp
Came here for my significant other's birthday. It was a great experience! The vibes of the restaurant were fantastic. The service was great too. It was our first time and our server Gap, walked us through the menu providing us with great recommendations. He was attentive to us throughout the night so we felt very well taken care of. We were going to order the Uni pasta but they did not have a few items on their menu this night. We had the Maguro crispy rice, Miso Glazed Black Cod, Hotate Sashimi, Salmon Sashimi, Toro Roll, Truffle Toro, and a crème brûlée Colombia coffee flavor I think. The Maguro crispy rice had a good ratio between the crispy rice and spicy tuna. It had the perfect crunch and kick to it. The Miso glazed black cod was seasoned perfectly. The presentation was beautiful as well. The Hotate Sashimi tasted very fresh. I'm not a big scallop fan but the taste was amazing. The Salmon sashimi was fresh and tasted great. Really can't go wrong with some salmon if it's fresh. The Toro roll has many great reviews so of course we had to try it. The toro sort of got over powered by the rest of the roll but the roll still tasted great The Truffle Toro also has a lot of good reviews and I would have to say it tops the Toro roll. The caviar on top was a perfect finishing touch on the flavor of the fish. It melted in my mouth and I just wanted more. The presentation was impeccable. We had the crème brûlée for dessert. The sugar coated nicely on top. It had a nice coffee flavor that wasn't too strong and wasn't too sweet. It definitely satisfied our sweet tooth for the night. To make things better, the dessert was on the house! We were also given free drinks but I wasn't sure of the name of it. It was a little sour, sweet, and had the flavor of cucumber? Whatever it was, it tasted refreshing and much needed. We received the non alcoholic version of it since our server didn't know our age but the quality of the drink and the gesture of our server was very nice. Overall, I would come here again. The price tag is definitely on the heftier side but the experience and quality of food is worth it.
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Doh Yeon K.

Yelp
Please go to Kaviar, if not you are missing out A LOT of joy in life. My friends and I dined in last Friday evening. We heard about this restaurant before but it looked too upscale for us (students), so we were wondering whether it was worth the price. To make long story short, it was definitely worth it!!! And what made our experience so enjoyable was not only the amazing foods but also an excellent host, Narin. She was in charge of our table and all the foods she recommended were all really really fantastic. She had a great taste for foods and we value her opinions. Not only that, she was super friendly and welcoming and it added up to our culinary experience. Here's a few list (not complete) of what we had: uni pasta, tacos ( i forgot which tacos it was but it was among the cold appetizer menu--ask Narin for recommendation, she'll let you know), yuzu summer yellow tail sashimi, albacore rolls, baked salmon rolls, and also the cheesecake!!!! It was so so so nice, incomparable to the cheesecake factory, desserts there are joke compared to the one we had here haha At the end of the dinner time, we all agreed that this was our BEST DINING OUT EXPERIENCE ever since we came to US. (; Although honestly, I can't compare to those in Korea or Japan, because there one can get high-quality foods in a cheaper price unlike in US.) I've been in Pasadena since 2021 fall, and as a foodie, I've been to quite a few restaurants -- including most of the Japanese restaurants in Pasadena area since I looove sushi. I thought the other one in old town was the best near here (the one starting with O...) but now I changed my opinion:) It's never enough to comment about foods and how nice our host was but for those who are curious, I'll also leave a short comment about the ambiance of this place. The atmosphere was also very nice, not a casual place definitely. We saw some couples and a large group gathering. This place seems like a perfect date night dinner place or even a place to bring your parents for a parents' day if you want to impress your loved ones.

Robert H.

Yelp
Food was decent. But we didnt come here for the food. I can get the same dishes at a cheaper restaurant. I came to get a lil bit of a higher premium vibe and service. Except I got the opposite. I'll make it quick and list out what you did wrong: 1. I waited 45min for my first roll of sushi. 2. No one checked in us to see if we were doing fine. Had no water for a good 40minutes. 3. The servers kept serving the wrong tables. 4. They "lost" my order. 5. My Third roll of sushi came out after 2hrs. 6. As they were cleaning the table next to me, they smacked my head. 7. My same waitress decided to give more care to the table directly next to us; they got their food before us when we arrived 45minutes earlier. They even comped them a whole dish because the last dish was running 10minutes late? But when I voiced out about how it took 2hrs for the dish to come out, she just said "sorry about that"? I make more money than that dish in an hour. You guys made me wait 2hrs for a single $30 item? Thats how you know this place isn't premium. 8. Ruined my Valentines Day... thanks for wasting my time and money. If youre looking to take your special person out for some nice dining, choose the sushi spot in the next block. At least you made the server at an actual premium restaurant happy the next day. I was itching for actual good service, which I received from the other restaurant, and tipped my waiter big. Im a big tipper. You missed out on an easy tip Kaviar. Disappointing.
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Robert E.

Yelp
Just had my birthday dinner there. Every dish was great to exceptional. Seriously. Our server was Narin. She provided terrific service, start to finish. I would sit in her service area again, the next time I eat there. The only negatives for me: the room was a too dim, and the background music a touch too loud.
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Brian A.

Yelp
The food and service provided was absolutely amazing. The food was delicious. I would recommend the baked salmon roll. Not only was it delicious, but the presentation was great! They used a small blow torch to make the salmon crispy, so have your phones ready for the video! I'll definitely be returning.
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Rachel M.

Yelp
Came here for my birthday celebration & it was the best! Definitely a $$$$ dinner spot! But worth it! The ambiance was a moody lighting with a warm welcoming. Food was excellent & service was top tier!
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Claire M.

Yelp
I went with my best friend to a hand roll class that was offered through Fever, and we had an amazing time making the hand rolls. The teacher was funny and kept us entertained throughout the whole class. The atmosphere and decoration is super upscale and vibey. My best friend had visited before just for sushi and also enjoyed it. I'm not in the Pasadena area so I probably won't visit unless I just happen to be there, but if you are its a good place to visit.
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Li Z.

Yelp
5/5 garlic edamame. The highlight of the meal. Savory, delicious. 3.5/5 ramen - noodles were undercooked, with noodles still stuck together. However, broth was solid, and the pork was generously portioned. Soft shell crab was a nice touch. If they could improve the noodles, would be a great dish. 3/5 agedashi - more acidic than I would have liked. The breading/coating was thick, and unfortunately did not let the underlying tofu 4/5 service. Our server was Greg who was great, but the place seemed a bit understaffed (probably because it was a Monday evening we came). 5/5 ambience. Very good date spot. Dimly lit, luxurious chairs. The left side of the dining room has better views but the right side has better seating and ambience. Take your pick. 3/5 - toro roll. It was fine, not a standout. Not sure if it has asparagus or some other vegetable, but the texture was not great. 4.5/5 - very good brownie with ice cream. Brownie was soft, warm. Not the biggest portion. Overall, wins points for ambience and the garlic edamame, and chocolate brownie for desert. What we had for mains were nothing to write home about, but Would consider coming back for a date.

Claudia S.

Yelp
Was looking to eat something light. Stumbled into this gem. Peaceful ambiance. Great service,food and drinks.
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Vera L.

Yelp
What a beautiful and classy place. I came here for a birthday and boy did it not disappoint. All the raw dishes were fresh and tasty, presented very well. Service was great as our waiter was very attentive, and explained all the dishes as they come out. The place has valet options in front as it's located in downtown Pasadena. We were able to find nearby street metered parking for 2hrs max.
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Connie L.

Yelp
This place surprised me. The dim ambiance gave off a very romantic vibe, definitely an ideal date spot. The best part is the food was delicious. We ordered the caviar platter for $109. That was a great starter, I enjoyed all the toppings like chives, onion, and butter for the caviar. It came with crème fraiche, mini hard toasts and blinis. The toro roll along with the crab & toro sashimi had caviar on top of it. Very good combo. My favorite was the miso black cod, it was sweet & so delicious. Service was amazing, top notch. Will definitely be coming back. My rating scale: 5: Crave for it. Will go out of my way to come back. 4: Very good, will recommend it to my people. 3: Decent. Glad I tried it but won't make it a trip to come back unless someone drags me here. 2: Ehhh. 1: Hell no! Never again ever!
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Barbara G.

Yelp
From the moment you enter Kaviar, you feel like you have entered into the twilight of luxury. The decor is superb showcasing a Samurai glass case. The service was amazing from begging to end. We ordered the Toro Tartare which is to die for. This delicious fish is deliciously covered in truffle oil, garlic oil, lemon, Himalayan salt and top with gold flakes and caviar. We finished our night with some baked mussel which were delicious. I only gave 4 stars because our Lychee Martini and Old Fashioned, unfortunately were pretty light and not much flavorful. Besides that, it was an amazing culinary experience.
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Trudy A.

Yelp
The wonderful food and food presentation made for a wonderful experience!! Our service from Jess and support staff made certain we were well taken care of as we enjoyed a marvelous dinner! From the time you walk in the front door, the decor and ambiance make for a welcoming and elegant evening . We particularly enjoyed the detail in the presentation of the dishes! We'll definitely be back!

Sarah C.

Yelp
Amazing Sushi, Exceptional Service - Worth the Drive! My husband and I have made Kaviar our go-to sushi spot, and for good reason! We celebrated both last Valentine's Day and this one with an incredible dinner, and every time, the food is just as amazing as we remember. The quality, flavors, and service are consistently top-notch, which is why we gladly drive 40 minutes--even though we have plenty of sushi places much closer! This time, we ordered: * Spicy Tuna & Avocado * Salmon Lemon Roll * Maguro Crispy Rice * A beautiful Tuna Sushi Heart topped with Kaviar and gold--the perfect touch for our Valentine's celebration! We ended our meal with warm brownies and ice cream to celebrate our first baby, who is now 2 months old! This was our first dinner out as a couple since I gave birth, making it such a special evening. I had gone almost a year without sushi (pregnancy cravings are real!), so I wanted my first bite back to be at the perfect place--and Kaviar did not disappoint. It was absolutely worth the wait! A huge shoutout to our wonderful server, Nareen, who was so sweet and welcoming with a beautiful smile. All the staff were incredibly friendly, and we even had the pleasure of meeting the owner--he personally checked in on us to ensure we were enjoying our experience. Such a humble and kind person! Between the exceptional food, warm hospitality, and elegant ambiance, Kaviar is truly one of a kind. If you haven't been, you NEED to try it! We can't wait to come back.

Laura G.

Yelp
Overpriced. Quality of sushi totally lacking. This place is trying to be like Nobu but totally misses the mark. The lobster hand roll tasted like cat food. They charge over $40 for two small pieces of Toro with the tiniest amount of caviar on top. Yellowtail and salmon sushi quality was below average. Service was also a joke. Waited 20 mins to get our drinks then all of our orders were brought out at one time. There are much better sushi places for less. It's outrageous to charge these prices and have such poor quality. A total disappointment.
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Denzel L.

Yelp
Came here for a date night. The ambiance is dimly lit, the aesthetic is very modern from the plates to the lighting fixtures. The service was 10/10 our server was attentive, knowledgeable and efficient. We ordered the Wagyu Tacos (20/10), the Unagi Sushi, (20/10), the Garlic Albacore Roll (20/10), the Blue Crab n' Salmon Roll (20/10) and the Shrimp Tempura Roll (20/10). Each dish was fresh! The presentation and playing was immaculate. I didn't take any photos because I promised to just be present and not do any "foodie stuff" lol but we'll definitely be returning.
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James H.

Yelp
Simply amazing!!! Vanessa knew all the great dishes!!! Order the following: Miso cod Toro with Lime Amberjack blue fin tuna Crispy rice Smackin!!!!! My new high end Sushi spot for sure
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Vivienne R.

Yelp
This is a top-notch sushi restaurant that offers impeccably fresh fish, masterful preparation, and an unforgettable dining experience. Every detail, from the rice to the service, reflects excellence. PS: Our server Gap was very knowledgeable and had wonderful food recommendation.
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Sunny S.

Yelp
Kaviar is located in old town Pasadena. They have valet up front it's $10 to park. You walk up the stairs to get to the restaurant. The place has a nice vibe and the dining room to the right when you enter is really nice! The service is fast and efficient and the food comes out fairly quick! The sushi rolls at Kaviar are some of the best in LA! Highly Recommend: *Garlic Edamame (Some of the best edamame I have ever had) *Wagyu Sushi (Nigiri) *Snow Crab Hand Rolls *Baked Salmon Roll *Lemon Roll * Toro Roll *Spicy Yellowtail Roll If you want sushi in the Pasadena area this is the place to go!
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S W C.

Yelp
We checked in and got our free glass of wine, you got to pick red or white wine too. The server is very nice, the uni pasta came late and the portion is pretty small. But they did a complimentary birthday cake at the end of our meals. Which is very nice and sweet. A Very nice restaurant for adults, but I think it is not for little kids.
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Mary B.

Yelp
Sushi, but elevated! This is where we eat any time we are in the mood for sushi and want to indulge. Some of our favorites here are; salmon carpaccio, truffle bluefin toro, lemon roll, few different sushi's. Every single item was so fresh and delicious! The staff was very attentive to my gluten allergy indicated when making the reservation. We love the romantic, sexy ambiance here which is perfect for a date night. Dim, candle-lit and chic!

Buddha B.

Yelp
I'll say there are a lot of good things about Kaviar, but I suspect most of the reviews here are fake/paid for (as another previous reviewer stated). I came on a Saturday night at a time when the local streets are crowded and other restaurants were packed. Kaviar was mostly empty. I personally don't mind that, but there's no way it can be nearly as popular as its Yelp reviews make it seem compared to other local restaurants with far fewer reviews (with lower ratings). Overall, it seems like Kaviar is trying to go for a modern sushi-fusion type of restaurant in the direction of Nobu vs. a classic sushi experience. While that's not everyone, I'm definitely okay with that. I enjoy both types of experiences. The restaurant is beautiful and has a great vibe. It's also quite large. Aesthetically, I wouldn't change anything about it. Service is also very good, but not close to Nobu good, while there was far more than enough staff members around to make it excellent if they were trained to that level. The food and drink menu options _look_ phenomenal (assuming you're not looking for classic, plain sushi/sashimi). And, certain dishes are presented with cool tricks such as dry ice and flame "moats", which adds to the experience. The major issue is the flavor of pretty much everything. Cocktails Drinks - 1 star. The cocktail menu looks great. What they don't tell you is that all of them are made with sake, not the original liquors. I didn't realize that until after I had finished a third of my seemingly watered down drink and I saw another yelp review mention it. I asked a waiter and they said it was work around for not having their liquor license. I appreciate that, but they should be more transparent about it. The only redeeming quality is that it was "only" $14, which is cheap for a restaurant that looks like this place. Also, they don't offer sake by the glass. You can't be a sushi restaurant that doesn't offer that. Get a Coravin or something! Food We had many of the dishes on the menu. While the descriptions of the food looked good, each dish consisted of a mediocre quality fish that was waaaay overdressed with whatever sauce that dish came with along with caviar and additional salt placed on top to cover up any flavor of the fish. This happened on EVERY SINGLE DISH. It's like a non-chef took a bunch of cool things they saw at other "cool" restaurants around LA or NY and told the cooks to slap together X ingredients and neat tricks (e.g. dry ice, flames, caviar, gold flakes), but doesn't have a basic understanding of how flavors and textures should come together, especially with sushi, where lightness and understated flavors actually win the day. It could simply be a training issue where the top chef's vision isn't being executed properly, but something's gotta change here. In summary, this place is good if you're trying impress someone (date, business meeting) who isn't a foodie (or even close to one). $250/person (including tip, but with only 1 $14 cocktail)
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William R.

Yelp
Food is amazing and the ambiance too. The summer hamachi and Wagyu tacos were delicious. Thank you Nick for an awesome service.
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Lixa A.

Yelp
The ambiance and food was delicious. Everything recommended was delicious, the Wagyu literally melted in your mouth. Pics attached oysters were delicious, appetizers and main dishes all excellent!
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Mei Z.

Yelp
Justin Sandon really went above and beyond to make the experience for my client and me memorable. I'm grateful for the experience and would come back again. The chefs were also warm and personable. Despite being the last to leave, we were not rushed. It's a beautiful setting and dimly lit spot, perfect for a date as well. It was quiet enough and easy to have conversations.
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Jess Q.

Yelp
Just recently discovered this restaurant and I had such an amazing time with family. My server Vanessa was so attentive and amazing. I will definitely be back soon.
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Gisette L.

Yelp
The food was absolutely exquisite. All of the staff were very attentive and they made my birthday extra special. Would definitely recommend anybody whether you have an event or just for dinner. in. My server Vanessa was so kind and amazing I most definitely will be back.

Sean G.

Yelp
Good food will only get you so far. Don't get me wrong the food was delicious. Ordered caviar, A5 and beyond. Server went missing half way through our meal, drinks were forgotten, and service was very slow. If you want to be upscale your service must be to notch they go hand and hand.
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Edmond G.

Yelp
We've been coming to Kaviar Sushi in Pasadena for a while now, and it never disappoints. The sushi here is always fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Whether trying something new or sticking to our favorites, the quality is consistently top-notch. The Oysters, Caviar, and Wagyu Steak plate presentations are always a must-try. The service is also fantastic. Nick, in particular, is a standout server. He's attentive, and friendly, and perfected our dining experience. It's clear he cares about his customers and enjoys what he does. If you're looking for amazing sushi and excellent service in Pasadena, Kaviar Sushi is the place to go. Highly recommended!