Yui Restaurant

I was so excited to discover this spot one afternoon in Sierra Madre. We decided to come back that evening for dinner. The food and service was excellent. This may seem petty but I was suprosed by the lack of attention to the lighting. The space is lit up by very bright blue light bulbs and it takes away from the experience. Blue light is not flattering to food or people. If the lighting was warmer it would elevate this place to the next level and it would be even more special, cozy and a place I would come back to again and again.

Can't believe it's taken me this long to discover this sushi spot. Sushi and dishes are on point! It's fresh and creative! Service is prompt and polite. The decor is clean, traditional Japanese. There's a small outdoor area. Would definitely be going back. Next time, I want to try their omakase.

Went here with my girlfriend a few weeks ago. Was given as a suggestion my a close friend. Was able to make a last minute reservation on a Friday evening and they were very accommodating. The ambience of the restaurant was simple, but pleasant with dim lighting. Wait staff was very nice and friendly. They werent able to give us specific suggestions on the menu because everything was too good. Was skeptical to hear that at first, but after trying an assortment of their sushi, sashimi and appetizers, was convinced that this was the truth. The food is savory, and all dishes incorporate three or more flavors to complement the taste. Notably the albacore and salmon sashimi were the most flavorful and absolutely delicious. The seating is quite intimate and close-knit, so would recommend for a date spot rather than taking a party larger than 3. Food - 18/20 Service - 6/10 Atmosphere - 7/10

Bit overrated for my taste. I ordered the OMAKASE to see and taste the expertise selection of the Sushi 🍣 chef. To start with my stress built at the moment I called to make the reservation, they quite strict with it plus you’ll have only 2-hrs for consumption. My friend drove all the way from Santa Barbara, CA and took him over 3-hours to arrive due to the bad traffic on the 210-fwy. 15-minutes after your reservation it’ll be canceled 😬 I was so stressed out that I had to have a beer to calm me down 🤭 time was ticking & my friend was stock on traffic till he finally made it safely. We both ordered the OMAKASE, it finally arrived dish by dish; the presentation was ok but, some of the sashimi had been exposed a bit to long to the elements, at the end we didn’t even receive dessert. Oh, the Sushi bar was empty among with other tables most of the time and since we didn’t receive a dessert we went for a walk ending at the ice cream shop right across from the restaurant so we were able to observe how busy they are but at the same time with plenty empty of tables. I could understand the rush of the servers towards us. Pictures below are in the order we were served.

A hidden gem in Sierra Made that's a must try, especially omakase! My friend and I came by on a random night and we got lucky enough to sit at the bar and watch the magic happen. The chef asked how we wanted to order, either by a certain budget or until full; we chose the latter one. Every single dish that was presented to us was magical and tasted like heaven. The quality of ingredients they used is top notch and you can taste and see the quality. If you do happen to sit at the bar and speak Japanese, you'll have even a greater time with the chefs because they're quite hilarious and will try to get to know you while speaking Japanese. I definitely had a great and amazing time there and will return for another magical meal.

6/20/21: Went back to Yui for their lunch special, ordered chicken Teriyaki and Karaage lunch for $9ea, 3 hand Roll for $15 (Spicy yellowtail, salmon and scallop), and Nigiri Sushi lunch for $24. I also ordered the Lobster Tempura Roll and Spider Roll, total $90ish. It is very worth it, especially all the sushi are fresh. Definitely one of my favorite sushi joint of all times. Craving for sushi, found Yui restaurant on Yelp and decided to give it a try. Wow, their fishes are very fresh, no fishy smell whatsoever. My wife usually doesn't like sushi as they sometimes can be fishy or not fresh. But this sushi joint, it is amazing. We will definitely buy from them in the near future.

If I can give it more ✨ I would. Thank you Katsu for a special dinner and it was great seeing you again after such a long time. Definitely recommend Yui the best and authentic Sushi you'll find in Southern California.

Once a year, I’m in town just down the street for a convention. A couple of years ago I found this place and I always… Always come back when I’m nearby. Quality of food, service, and atmosphere is second to none. The lunch specials are reasonably priced, and the hand rolls are super and perfectly made. I highly recommend this small gem! Insider tip… Don’t bother trying to park on the street, there is free parking behind the building.

Best sushi I've had in a long time! I heard about this gem from a friend and had to try it out for myself. I've heard the sushi chef sources a lot of his products directly from Japan and that's what makes this place even more special. It's a quaint little sushi restaurant in the heart of downtown sierra madre that is clean and modern. Cute place for a girls day or date night. Came here for lunch and they have a lunch special menu and the meals are really reasonably priced. Nigiri sushi lunch is only 25 dollars and comes with a miso soup and salad. Not to mention the fish quality and sushi is of impeccable quality. So delicious I wanted to order 2. Hamachi cilantro: so fresh with the herbs, flavorful and light at the same time. And fish was so fresh, melt in your mouth quality. The Portion is on the larger side as well. My friend and I sat at the bar and the couple next to us were having an omakase lunch. I didn't even realize they had an omakase option. It ranges ranges 80-200 dollars so you definitely can choose based on what your price range is. Service is top notch, they checked on us often without feeling like someone was interrupting you throughout your dining experience. Would definitely come back and try their omakase next time!

I don't really like to write negative reviews, but sometimes it's necessary to help others make informed decisions. I wouldn't say this place is terrible--it's not--but their customer service could definitely use some improvement. I ordered the lunch special with three hand rolls and made a simple request: less rice. They refused, saying they couldn't alter the lunch special. I wasn't asking for anything extra, just less rice. Their response was to order the rolls individually if I wanted any changes. So, I reluctantly accepted the rolls as-is. When the rolls arrived, I noticed something concerning: they were cutting the fish for the spicy yellowtail and used the worst parts--the brown bits of the yellowtail. Instead of quality fish, they overcompensated with an excessive amount of spicy mayo, to the point that all you could taste was the sauce. It was overwhelming and honestly unpleasant. While I wouldn't write this place off completely, I now know to avoid the spicy rolls and to not expect much flexibility with menus

Alright, I have to say it, and I'm sure a lot of other people notice it, but this restaurant is the definition of a hostile work environment. On about several occasions, I have seen the chef publicly tear into the dishwasher for making a mistake, I've seen the chef tear into an assistant chef for making a mistake, I've seen what best be described as the maître d tear into a server and most recently tear into a server by calling him "stupid" in front of the patrons. Why am I writing a review about this? It's been part of my dinner experience on several occasions. Probably why it seems there is a turn over rate as well.

If I could, I would give it 3.5 stars. Smells very fishy inside. Food was okay. I feel like the flavors were unique as compared to most sushi spots. Service was pretty good.

Beat Sushi anywhere! Quality of fish amazing. Carpaccio's are always my favorite. Cute place cozy. Always good service.

Wanted to come for a nice omakase lunch special so we got seated at the sushi bar. We asked the chef what were the different omakase tiers $80, $100 or $120. He proceeded to tell us omakase means "chef's choice" so he could decide, can be up to 30 dishes if we wanted. We asked approx how many pieces of sashimi came with the $80 set, he wouldn't tell us, only said the $80 is lower quality fish...um way to sell your omakase. I understand omakase is chefs choice, but usually you can tell us ballpark how many pieces of fish, and if we needed to supplement with appetizers or other things...instead of risking it we decided to get the nigiri set lunch... The nigiri set lunch was so underwhelming! The tuna was such bad quality and had lots of connective tissue in it which was inedible, the skin on one of the fish was also chewy inedible. Also my ginger had a piece of hair on it! When I told the server she just took it away and they didn't even apologize for it! I had heard good things about Yui but we were SO disappointed!!! Would NOT recommend!

This is a great local spot. The menu is simple but has most of the sushi/sashimi one is craving. Quality of their fish is also fresh, the chef sources directly from Japan. Give this spot a chance if you're looking for quality sushi without having to make the trek to LA.

Best sushi I've had in a long time! Loved the variety of rolls. The ingredients were soooo fresh and the presentation was top tier! I want to return ASAP.

Food 3 Service 3 Value 2 Ambiance 2.5 Portions are small considering how much they charge, They have a good location, hopefully price/quality improve

Excellent selection and quality! Small spot, best to go on a weekday. Really enjoyed this place. Prices are on the higher side, but quality was top notch and they have some interesting/unique options. Demerit recommend! Stay Cheerful

Discovered this gem in quaint, cute area in Sierra Madre. We ordered both types of omakase--sushi only and sushi+appetizer and both were delicious. The food and fish is high quality and some of our favorites were the goldeneye snapper, Spanish mackerel, and kampachi. The restaurant is small but they also offer outdoor seating, which is nice as the area and view was pleasant. Service is great and little wait on a Sunday evening.

Amazing food! So unique and delicious. We had the Hamachi Cilantro, Salmon Yuzu and Asian Roll. The Hamachi and Asian roll were OUTSTANDING. Servers were very attentive. Small area for inside seating so definitely make a reservation. We would definitely come back!

Staff insisted that it was the chef's choice when I asked "where was the sashimi ?" I asked for the itemized cost for what was served, $90 in appetizers + oyster $15 + hirame w/ ponzu $17 = $120 sashimi Omakase? $120 sashi omakase and Non of the tradition sashimi. No uni, No tuna, no salmon, Not even tamago. Staff kept on insisted that's what omakase is. The chef gets to serve you whatever he chooses. Even when the customer orders or sashimi , they will only serve you a bunch of cooked appetizers a few ponzu drenched pieces of fish and charge customers $120 for the sashimi omakase!

Cute restaurant, however the fish doesn't seem too fresh. Not sure if it was an off day as some other chirashi bowl pics others have posted look better than the one I got, in that case could be very hit or miss.

Definitely make reservations. Quaint little place and very popular Friday and Saturday. No dogs allowed, even in the patio seating. A bit on the pricier side but a nice dinner out.

Experiencing this hidden gem in Sierra Madre is a must! As a sushi lover, I can confidently say it's one of the better options in the Pasadena area. Their menu offers a fantastic selection of specials, allowing you to keep it simple or venture into flavor town. What truly impressed me was the freshness of their fish--it was simply delicious. This place is a must-try!

awesome restaurant!! service was top notch and food was also very delicious :) environment was great as well. overall very pleasant experience!

Yui sushi restaurant included authentic sushi items and kitchen cooked foods. I like the combination both all selections and various items. I've ordered chicken meat ball yakitori... sea bass, grill shrimp with Wagyu oil!! So tasty for kitchen foods!! My appetizer was Akimo monk fish liver and this one is very different than other sushi restaurants... Akimo was using a deeply tasting of ponzu sauce with sautéed monk fish liver!! Even though there's much portion but so tasty!!! Sound liked French cuisine... the Real California Rolls was so different than most others sushi places that Yui is using real Crab Meat!! At last, I usually nowadays ordered thé Chirashi bowl!!! So much authentic traditional sashimi over the rice!! At the end, having a miso soup and mochi green tea and chocolate ice cream!!! It's the best to finish the nice dining. I would recommend to make reservations especially on the weekends since Yui only have +20 seat available... it's a very authentic traditional small sushi restaurant!! The design of the restaurant is so much traditional and there are not much room... 2-4 people in a group is the best way to dine over there...

The people are terrific at Yui and the food is very good. This place is classy yet intimate and the Sierra Madre town center is always pleasant for a walk after a meal. A+

Really pleasant service, good food (we especially enjoyed the shrimp tempura roll), and the menu has a lot of really interesting things on it, more than just the run-of-the-mill sushi rolls. Of course, I really like the run-of-the-mill sushi rolls. Also, just the fact that Yui is here in Sierra Madre is a good feature; I really enjoy having them here!

Visited Yui for lunch and dinner, as I was attracted to the Japanese patrons who run the restaurant. Yui is small and intimate, but I feel they could put a little more effort into the interior design to make it a little more cozy. At night for dinner, I really wasn't a fan of the fluorescent lighting. It was way too bright for a fairly pricey dinner, and it didn't feel very "Japanese". The food here is pretty good, and fish tastes fresh. I enjoyed my nigiri lunch ($25), as it was delicious and reasonably priced. However the dinner items are way overpriced for the ambiance (ambiance is important to me as it sets the mood). I got the cheapest chirashi for dinner ($30) but the other chirashi options were $50, $70, and $100 (!). Man, for $100 chirashi it better come with gold flakes and a foot massage while we eat! I would recommend this restaurant for a causal mid-week lunch to get some good quality sushi. I don't think it's worth the drive outside of the Pasadena area.

Little gem in sierra madre! Delicious sushi, friendly waitstaff, and cozy ambiance, will definitely be returning for more! Couldn't get enough of their sashimi and sushi, specifically the fatty tuna roll. They were very accommodating when I asked for space for my stroller (and baby). Love this spot

I unfortunately no longer live in the area. However, this was one of my favorite places to visit, and I think it is a great fit for a sushi lover!

owner was unfriendly, food overpriced and nothing to write home about. Don't bother. They don't bother either

So good! We didn't have a long wait at 6pm on a Thursday. Very interesting twist on some classic dishes too!

I love here that they give you the option to choose the level and quality of sashimi by price and ask which fish you'd like to omit in the chirashi bowls. Quality of fish was very fresh and everything tasted amazing except the dark meat in there -- not sure what it was, but it was a bit too fishy for me. Additionally the sushi rice was so dry! What a sad night it was for me! Im a bit nervous to come back if the most basic and also my favorite thing--sushi rice was a bit weak, but I'd be open to give it a try on some of their nigiri options. *note: I don't come to a sushi place and just eat rice, but I do think it's key to have good sushi rice to complement the fish.

Best Sushi I have EVER experienced... Authentic Japanese staff never faltered with recommendations and attention... First off... I begin with their iced green tea.. Best iced green tea EVER Then we ask for fresh catch recommendations... careful ... some of these can run up to 22 but if you're on a budget stick to the salmon and salmon toro... same with yellowtail and yellowtail belly... so fresh and tasty... as they go to market every morning... Didn't get a chance to try their ikura or uni ... although they recommended the Santa Barbara uni ... they also fly in Japanese uni ... waaa?! Gonna have to come back for that... Their specialty nigiri is for those that can appreciate finer cuts of sushi... and trust me... nothing disappoints... Grab an Orion bottle... or some house sake... if you like... Move on to some rolls... The crunch eel roll was delectable... don't be fooled by the eel... it will shock you!! But In such A surprising way... I'll leave the surprise for you!!! Must try this... Lime Jalapeño roll; Shrimp tempura roll; and many others ... finely done... and garnished... Now lets stop yakitoring so much about this ... Yes jump in on some yakitori... We tried the shiitake and scallop ... Melt in your mouth goodness... freshness abounds... detail abounds... service abounds... Had to tip 30 percent ... Cause I was moved beyond belief... If YUI don't come and try this place... YUI don't know Sushi This was a lesson in Sushi art

Came here on Sunday night with a group of friends. We were mesmerized with the quality of the food and the service they have. It's a true hidden gem where we would come back again and try different stuff on the menu! We ordered bunch of chirashi bowls, and they were so kind that I requested for all salmon chirashi bowl. Their sea bass soup was a must order in my opinion. Along with their rolls. Their negitoro is okay, could use more negitoro in it but it's reasonable for the price as well. They don't have big table inside the restaurant so we were seated outside, but they have heaters around it, so I was warm all the time. It's located in Sierra Madre downtown where my fave ice cream shop is. There's plenty of parking as well. Definitely will come back!

My most fav Omakase place hands down. I'm in food & bev industry for over a decade, and I'm from Japan, I find this place the best. Cozy, relaxing and clean family owned neighborhood restaurant, not pretentious. Food: Omakase is amazing because you get to eat not only sushi but other fresh seasonal fish that is grilled, fried, simmered depending on the day. And steamed custard or grilled meat etc. So seasonal, great quality food like no others. The owner chef, Katsu-san is simply the best! He explains about each dish. If you wanna eat authentic top quality fish along with traditional Japanese dish, this is the place. Parking: Everywhere free Sake selections: Amazing. Service: Excellent Ambient: Family friendly Reservation: for Omakase at the bar, I would or call for availability. Would I come back?: I'm a regular here!

I've tried countless sushi restaurants throughout Los Angeles, and Yui is one of my favorite go-to sushi spots. It's located in a charming little spot in Sierra Madre, relatively unknown (which I like), with no more than a 30-40 person capacity, inside and outside. The service is top-notch, but the food is the real MVP. Also, their takeout is fantastic. They package everything well and the food stays super fresh, as if you're eating it at the restaurant. These are some of my favorites: - Snow crab sushi (A MUST) - Crispy rice with spicy salmon - Crispy rice with spicy tuna - Tuna lettuce cups - Scallop sushi - Salmon belly sushi - Albacore sushi - Yellowtail belly sushi - Black throat perch - Uni (ask them whether Santa Barbara or Japanese is better that day) - Spicy scallop hand rolls w/ soy paper, easy on rice - Salmon yuzu sashimi - Hamachi cilantro sashimi - Albacore special sashimi - Lobster tempura roll w/ soy paper (A MUST) - Sweet crunch roll with soy paper

Amazing food and every dish was delicious! The BEST sushi I've had and the BEST seasoning/sauce is the Hamachi Cilantro. I couldn't get enough of that sauce. Salmon Yuzu is also very flavorful and not too heavy as opposed to its looks. Small restaurant but they took forever to bring out the orders so I would order it all from the beginning. You can only call in for reservations but for the most part it fits perfectly with the neighborhood.

This is highest quality, and most authentic sushi I've ever had, outside of Tokyo. It's so authentic it makes me nostalgic, and I'm surprised to find it in Sierra Madre of all places.

Spectacular. The service was warm, and the fish is flown in from Japan. I highly recommend the KISU tempura. The little bones are removed with utmost care, so all you get is heavenly tender fish inside an airy fried cocoon. The albacore with garlic chips and ponzu was also memorable.

Fish quality was great. Service was fast and friendly. The Asian Roll was bomb! Highly recommend

(+) Hamachi cilantro (+) Green Roll Yui is a small, Japanese restaurant that specializes in most things sushi. They do serve a few non-sushi items, but for the most part, they serve raw or cooked edible creatures that live in the ocean. Since there are literally only 5-10 tables inside and outside, I highly recommend making reservations. Food: I have dined here twice already and have tried quite a few items on the menu. The dishes that stood out to me are the Hamachi cilantro and green roll. The Hamachi cilantro dish is thin sliced Hamachi covered in a garlic ponzu sauce with chopped cilantro and tiny jalapenos. I enjoyed this dish for the tenderness of the Hamachi and garlic ponzu sauce. The jalapenos gave the dish a kick of spice. I really enjoyed the green roll, which is tempura Chilean sea bass in a roll with a bed of arugula tossed with olive oil, sliced bell peppers, and salt. One thing I enjoyed about this dish is the crunchy tempura that adds texture to the arugula salad. I recommend eating the rolls with arugula in every bite. My wife ordered the $30 chirashi sushi, and it was quite a bit of fish. She seemed to enjoy that. Service/Ambiance: The service both times was pretty good. The food is delivered in a timely manner and had no problems to relay. They do offer take-out, and it seems like many people order take out from here. Yui is a small restaurant, so the space inside is limited. It is nicely done for the space that they have to work with. I felt comfortable with the noise level and ambiance as a whole. There is a parking lot located in the back of the restaurant. There are parking spaces in front and across the street as well. Parking isn't much of a problem. Overall, I would recommend Yui for your sushi desires. The pricing is on par to the quality and overall experience.

Good sushi we've sat at omasake one time which was cool different sushi cuts and it was great kind of $$$ but the quality was good...we came back a few months later and sat at a table service started great food was good and i wanted to give 4 stars for thenoverall experience until there was a bone in our simple yellow tail cut roll then we had to wait kind of a long time for our other sushi to come as we ordered but it was a long wait for the size of sushi place. Be prepared to wait in your dishesh at least 15-20mins in betwen which was crazy to me. Not sure if we'll come back for a 3rd try or not.

My family and I love Yui. The fish is always so fresh and the service is great! The albacore special sashimi is our favorite, it is to die for... We recommend this place to everyone, definitely try it out if you haven't already

Quite an insulting experience. 15 pieces of nigiri for $130+tax left hungry. No drinks. Avoid unless you don't mind being shafted. Two thumbs down. No value here. Sushi tasted like plastic.

Still my favorite sushi spot in pasadena. Where else can you get yamakake or natto rolls? I noticed they now have a variety of rolls to choose from. Just had dinner there and when we first entered I thought I heard one of the waiters call me a 'fake Japanese'. That's the first time I've ever been called that despite being second generation Japanese. I'm was a bit puzzled by that but I hoping I heard wrong. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and blame it on my old age. But if that's what he said, then he needs to know that's offensive. Being Japanese and eating at a Japanese restaurant is the last place you should feel discriminated at. Aside from this, their sushi and rolls are always on par. Rice is not mushy and unlike other places and you can the marinade. Portions are about average size.

Very fresh fish from Japan and prepared meticulously. It is located in the small town of Sierra Madre. Our server provided prompt service. We always enjoy dinner here.

On my top 3 sushi spots. They provide quality authentic sushi with a changing variety of fish depends in what the best fish is for that day.

Having eaten at many great sushi spots in LA and Pasadena this is up there with the best. Very lucky to have this quality of restaurant in Sierra Madre.

I went here tonight with two friends for a celebration. We reserved a table in advance to make sure we could get a table. This tiny restaurant only has two tables capable of seating up to four people, so I strongly recommend reservations for parties of three to four people. We found easy parking in the large lot behind the restaurant. This restaurant offers different price levels for chirashi. Each order of chirashi has the same amount of fish. The chef chooses the best fish for each order, but the price paid determines the types of fish. An order of chirashi starts at $30. I opted for the chirashi with the next-highest price: $50. I also ordered miso soup and hot green tea. Everything we ordered tasted amazing. I enjoyed my chirashi. Lovely, delicious and filling. Service was excellent. I hope to come here again soon.

Omakase for 1. Eat until full. Wasabi is super strong. Fish pieces weren't the freshest... very fishy taste overall and quite dry... Good pieces: salmon nigiri, Japanese uni, Hokkaido scallop. Easily ate $180 worth by myself... definitely not worth it. Never returning. Don't recommend. Sushi Kisen is better. Sugarfish, Ichima are all better and more affordable.

I've been here now 3 times; consistently delicious and just all around wonderful. The fish is incredibly fresh, the chefs are always laughing with anyone sitting at the bar and the waiters are on it with service.

This is a hidden gem, with an amazing Mountain View. Affordable prices with a high class feel. Their quality of fish is fresh and delicious. I recommend this place for a perfect day night. Can't wait to come back

Must try! Best sushi in town, authentic and delicious! Small place hard to get in cause of limited space.

Amazing restaurant and food , fresh and delicious sushi and very nice staff. Would definitely recommend to anybody that loves sushi.

A hidden gem in Sierra Made that's a must try, especially omakase! My friend and I came by on a random night and we got lucky enough to sit at the bar and watch the magic happen. The chef asked how we wanted to order, either by a certain budget or until full; we chose the latter one. Every single dish that was presented to us was magical and tasted like heaven. The quality of ingredients they used is top notch and you can taste and see the quality. If you do happen to sit at the bar and speak Japanese, you'll have even a greater time with the chefs because they're quite hilarious and will try to get to know you while speaking Japanese. I definitely had a great and amazing time there and will return for another magical meal.