Sushi Kisen is a must-visit Pasadena gem, serving fresh, authentic Japanese sushi with polite service in a chill, upscale setting—perfect for lunch dates.
"If you don’t live in the SGV, making the drive to Arcadia can be daunting. But strip mall spot Sushi Kisen warrants a trip. A relative newcomer, Kisen is run by a chef who spent years at Sushi Gen and Shiki in Beverly Hills. Dedication to detail is apparent in the balanced vinegar-seasoned rice and pristine seafood that has been aged in traditional Edomae style, highlighting lots of seasonal fish like skipjack tuna and goldeneye snapper imported from Japan. There’s an $80 minimum to sit at the blonde wood bar, but spending that much will get you a kingly meal and the focused attention of whichever skillful chef is slicing the goods that day. Otherwise, opt for the dine-in sushi sets that go for $20 at lunch and $36 at dinner. Both are fantastic deals." - garrett snyder, brant cox, sylvio martins
"This unassuming spot in Arcadia has a versatile lunch sushi set from chef Hiro Yamada (Sushi Gen, Shiki). The $40 lunch special comes with nine pieces of nigiri, a cut roll, miso soup, and a few small bites. There’s also a longer $80 omakase for lunch with up to 15 courses. The price jumps at dinner, where most opt for the more elaborate, Edomae-style omakase." - Matthew Kang
"A Japanese restaurant offering a casual dining experience with fresh fish flown in from Japan twice a week." - Kevin Chau
"If you don’t live in the SGV, making the drive to Arcadia can be daunting. But strip mall spot Sushi Kisen warrants a trip. A relative newcomer, Kisen is run by a chef who spent years at and Shiki in Beverly Hills. Dedication to detail is apparent in the perfectly vinegar-seasoned rice and pristine seafood that has been aged in traditional Edomae style, highlighting lots of seasonal fish like skipjack tuna and goldeneye snapper imported from Japan. There’s an $80 minimum to sit at the blonde wood bar, but spending that much will get you a kingly meal and the focused attention of whichever skillful chef is slicing the goods that day. Otherwise, opt for the dine-in sushi sets that go for $35 at lunch and $50 at dinner. Both are fantastic deals." - Garrett Snyder
"DineLA lunch runs Monday through Saturday at Sushi Kisen. The entire meal costs $45 with three appetizers, miso soup, and a choice of chirashi or a five-piece mackerel roll. Dessert is ice cream that’s made on-site." - Mona Holmes
