Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Takuya Japanese Restaurant in Pasadena

4.3 (68) 694 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States

Categories

Japanese restaurant
Sushi restaurant

Location on the map

Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, US

Phone: +1 626-578-1877
Site: http://zmenu.com/takuya-japa...

Opening hours

Monday:11:30 AM–1:45 PM
Tuesday:11:30 AM–1:45 PM
Wednesday:11:30 AM–1:45 PM
Thursday:11:30 AM–1:45 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–1:45 PM
Saturday:11:30 AM–2 PM
Sunday:11 AM–2 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.3

68 Reviews for Takuya Japanese Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-17 23:11:07

Always great for lunch and dinner! We love coming here - the waitress is the absolute sweetest. The only downside is that it can be a wait to get seated due to the smaller size of the dining room.

Review №2

2023-07-11 05:19:14

The best kept secret in Pasadena and our new casual date night spot. Saturday izakaya style dinner menu is absolutely delicious with awesome service to match.

Review №3

2022-10-20 05:36:26

Home-cooked Japanese food. Attentive service. Good food! Great portion and affordable prices. Small place maybe 4 tables for lunch (2-3 pp max per table). Predicted wait time during lunch peak times. Lots of solo diner :)

Review №4

2023-08-04 02:44:19

Very clean and quiet. Food was good and family friendly. Everything we had was fresh and healthy.

Review №5

2022-12-11 03:01:51

Saturday they do an Izakaya bar. Different menu, very good. Great snacks with Sake Beer or Shochu. The beef Tataki is very luxurious! Also love the fried Aji. French fries with nori! I’m a fan of this place. Grew up in Pasadena and glad it’s still here after many years. It’s cheaper than flying to Japan.

Review №6

2023-07-25 15:49:57

We walked a long way here for Japanese food. When we arrived, the waitress told us they are now a bar and no longer serve dinner, and kids are not allowed. I asked if my 3year old girl could use the restroom. The waitress said, No, its for customers only. I wanted to order a drink then my kid could use the restroom because she really needs to go. However, she still rejected us. Horrible people and stubborn-minded. Not kids friendly at all!!!

Review №7

2023-08-20 18:22:15

Fantastic and authentic Japanese food. Dont worry that its a bar with snacks now, it is really just a la carte and easy to have full meal at a reasonable price.The hostess is so nice!

Review №8

2023-08-23 13:55:18

We drove a long way here because my kid is craving Japanese food. When we arrived, the waitress told us they are now a bar and no longer serve dinner, and kids are not allowed. Disappointed but totally understand, I politely asked if my kid could use the restroom since hes been holding it while on the way. The waitress said, No its for customers only. I indicated that we are here for dine-in, not just for the restroom, and she replied that its her bosss rule. Stubborn-minded. Feel sorry for the boss.

Review №9

2017-10-29 04:35:15

Katsu curry - Surprisingly large portion. Unconventional breading but still nice. Generous portion of pickles.Nabeyaki Udon - A little too salty. Nice bounce to the noodle. Wish they put the shrimp tempura on the side so that I wouldn’t be forced to eat it right away lest it become salty.Spider and Tempura Rolls - Large bites, sour sushi rice was liked by some but not for everyone.Very friendly service.Good crowd at night which speaks to how much people enjoy this place.

Review №10

2018-01-04 02:03:12

My fav sushi place in Pasadena. Its small but good. Staff is friendly and fast. Its not the cheapest but its fair and there are a lot of seasonal daily selections. Parking is in the back with 1 he free validation.

Review №11

2020-08-01 03:43:41

Stay away if you order takeout from this place. While the food taste fine, the way they packed the food ruined the entire meal. I ordered a tofu udon. They packed all the udon, vegetable, tofu into one container. There is barely any soup broth. They might as well call it Yakiudon. My husband ordered the plate combo. The tamura and salad was put together into one takeout container. Needless to say all the tampura is soggy and squished. For $20. It is a very disappointing meal. Will not come back even if there is dine-in. Stay away!

Review №12

2018-04-16 21:02:21

Was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to this by a coworkerReasonable prices on lunch specials, albeit with a short window of time they are open for lunch.Everything we tried was delicious, especially the Japanese Curry.

Review №13

2023-08-20 18:53:03

A great hole in the wall, its more like tapas than bar snacks. Attentive service and authentic food!

Review №14

2018-01-14 03:10:16

This restaurant is not friendly for 4 people. We waited for about 30 minutes from 6:15 pm. Two parties of 2 people arrived behind us were served ahead of us. There were tables outside but they just didnt want to use them! Our final solution was placing to-go order.

Review №15

2022-04-21 21:30:42

Great prices, good portions, lovely service, delicious food. Super local little nook, really recommend.

Review №16

2022-09-09 18:37:40

Its a small restaurant owned by Japanese. The atmosphere is very quiet surrounded by classic music. The server was very attentive and kind.Its good place to go to eat alone during lunch.I ate Katsudon(Pork) because it was recommended by my friend. It takes a while to get a food but it feels like its being made with heart and care. *So if you are in hurry during lunch time, skip here.*However, while you wait, they give the salad and miso ahead (included with the Katsudon). The portion was good enough so I couldnt finish the bowl. The katsu was thick and firm and the sauce was sweet and savory with soft egg.I would definitely come back to try other menu.

Review №17

2019-12-08 01:59:39

Cozy joint serving authentic, well portioned, and well priced, staple Japanese dishes like donburi, karee, and udon. Cant go wrong with anything on the menu.

Review №18

2023-04-25 06:50:49

Good ambience, simple place, welcoming staff and small menu . Quality was good . I ordered something without realizing it will be sweet . Next I’ll try something spicy .

Review №19

2023-11-18 03:47:07

Excellent food, drinks, and the waitress is the best.

Review №20

2022-02-19 19:00:02

If youre into Japanese foods but cant enjoy sushi, this place is for you. Great portions, awesome service, and everything on their menu is delicious. When I was a student in Pasadena I would visit every week

Review №21

2019-04-28 17:40:20

Excellent service and delicious food! Lets go!

Review №22

2018-01-06 05:14:22

Weve been coming here for 3 years. Honestly, the sushi is good, but the service is not. We stopped by for a quick to-go order (one California Roll) at 8:25pm. They had just sat two parties at the sushi bar and the server made us wait. Then she changed the sign after we were inside and said they were closed. Who does that? I grew up in the food service business and that is horrible business etiquette. We wont be coming back.

Review №23

2022-05-27 16:16:17

Fresh fish, good wine, great service. My advice after that is to use their garage right next to the restaurant vs what we did which was a park down the street and had to deal with after an hour of walking and paying extra.

Review №24

2020-03-05 23:27:06

This is a very family style restaurant in a business district. I had lunch three times in the last 4 weeks, having udon, curry rice and bento box. It looks to me I can always find an available table during lunch time; that is convenient to me while I do like their family style food, the cozy feel of sitting area and the extreme courteous service.

Review №25

2018-11-06 15:02:40

These guys have strange hours so be careful and check before you go.After living in Japan for two years, we were hoping to find a place that filled the void in our hearts. The reviews here looked promising, so we jumped in the car and drove over.I ordered the beef curry, and my wife had the oyakodon. Id describe both as good not great. The beef needs something; it wasnt very flavorful. The egg in the oyakodon was a little overcooked.The decor is more than understated; it looks like they just opened. It definitely could use some artwork or flowers or something.Well come back and try the sushi next.

Review №26

2020-10-10 02:31:46

Call your order in ahead of time if you are in a hurry, but if you don’t, it’s worth the wait. Ordered the Pork Katsu and was in heaven when I got it home. Great serving size and great tasting. You won’t be disappointed.

Review №27

2018-02-04 15:46:58

Best sushi in Pasadena that isnt omakase. I wouldnt say this is a destination restaurant but if you are in the Pasadena area this is as good as it gets. Fairly small dining area and sushi bar has about 10 tables inside and additionally, several outside. Service can get a bit overwhelmed when busy but servers are very nice. Ive been eating Japanese food in So Cal for almost 50 years. Not flash, just a great local place to get a reliable meal. Chef Takuyas sushi rice isnt perfect but his fish is beautiful. We come at least every 2 weeks for a sushi fix and more Hot dishes are done well too. His miso soup is one of my favorites! Love his chicken karage. His sunomono is both beautiful and delicious with several types of seaweed in both color and texture, I wish I took a picture. I would suggest a reservation in order to not be disappointed.

Review №28

2018-01-02 23:39:21

Excellent food, better variety than many Japanese restaurant. The roasted sanma for lunch was great - a welcome dish not often encountered at Japanese restaurants in socal. My only nitpick with them is the sushi bar has seating only for two. Tak is a creative sushi chef and if like to share my experience with more than one person at a time.

Review №29

2019-03-09 07:03:43

My husband and I used to eat at Takuya a lot and the food was excellent. Tonight we were greeted with a sign saying they no longer serve sushi or sashimi and there was a screen where the sushi chef used to work. There was only one lady doing all the service which was different than in the past. Service was slow and I watched her bring wrong food to people and return to the kitchen with the food she brought out, or perhaps they rejected the food. The menu was very different and small. The miso soup tasted like it was made from a powder mix, not fresh. She brought the entrees out the same time as the powdered miso, unlike in the past when the soup was the first course. The food was very different and items (side dishes) that used to be on the plate were now missing. Then the food, it was inedible. The tempura was cold and soggy, the shrimp tempura tasted as if it had been frozen then deep fried which was mushy in result. The teriyaki chicken was cold, lacked sauce and lacked flavor. I sent my food back. When she returned with what I thought would be fresh food: the chicken was now unevenly heated and dry and stringy, it must have been microwaved not made fresh. The tempura was just as soggy but now the veggies inside were rock hard and difficult to bite, it seems the cook (hard pressed to call the person a chef) must have re-deep fried the tempura. I was sick after one bite of the tempura. Also, the rice was hard and had the consistency of day old rice (or older) that had been reheated. My husband and I put down our chopsticks, and told her we were not eating the food (in a very polite manner) and that it was not edible. She then brought us a bill for $35 and we paid and left not having eaten. The service F, the food FFFF - I assume this restaurant has changed ownership and its now the worst restaurant in Pasadena. Very sad to see a once fantastic restaurant reduced to a horrible and I fear the food is probably not fresh, who knows what bacteria is growing in their kitchen. If you value your health, stay away. We will never return again.

Review №30

2017-07-04 05:10:52

Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere, a local Japanese restaurant that offers more than just sushi and teriyaki. Love the staff and the food. They have outside seating and a small bar in front of the chef house sake and a small selection of beer.

Review №31

2018-05-14 02:39:46

We enjoy dining at this little Japanese restaurant. I like their oyakodon and also their saba dish. We sometimes try their sushi too. The servers, especially the female servers are nice and attentive. We also like the sushi chef too.

Review №32

2018-01-12 16:29:08

I have been coming into takuya for 5 years. I dont go often maybe three or four times a year. In all honesty the sushi here is very good. The customer service though is awful. I attempted to walk in a little before closing with the idea of ordering it just a California roll to go for my daughter. We were eating at a nearby restaurant and she didnt really enjoy the food and asked for a California roll. I walked into takuya at about 8:25. As I walked in to other people sat down at the sushi bar joining some friends. The server in the restaurant walked by me and put up the closed sign. She walked past me once again in order to deal with a customer who had been seated probably moments before. The sushi chef pointed at me and said something to the server. She came over to me and informed me that the restaurant was closed. I said that I walked in before and she said so sorry. I will never be into takuya again. I will take my hard-earned money around the corner to Sushi of Naples for future sushi and sashimi purchases in the neighborhood. While their Sushi is not as good, at least I know I wont have a door closed in my face.

Review №33

2018-05-30 10:20:45

Traditional Japanese menu in a tidy modern place. Had the karaage curry, it was done perfectly and came in a large plate with modern curvature. Karaage was fried just right, crispy and peppered. Curry was spicy to the right amount. Very filling. Every time I pass by, I want to go in.

Review №34

2022-05-30 18:25:20

Perfect place for a cold sakes wine and delicious food, me and my wife love this small cozy 居酒屋 for many years, foods are great and fresh!! Service excellent

Review №35

2017-06-19 00:12:10

This is hidden gem. Great service and delicious food. We ordered oyakodon and the dinner special with kaarage and tempura. I would love to come back to try their curry.

Review №36

2018-12-16 02:16:13

I remember the quality of food used to be better. Our tempura is soggy. Katsu curry is just okay. They dont serve sushi anymore.

Review №37

2017-05-30 03:05:01

This place has literally the worst service ever for a food place. 6 minute wait for luke warm tea, 15 minute wait for food with zero other customers in the place. Oh also, they WILL run out of a specific dish, then not tell you they ran out of it. Until you ask them about it. 34 minutes later.

Review №38

2018-11-18 05:32:50

Great Japanese comfort food. Feels like being in a mom and pop shop in Japan. Delicious curry, bento and donburi. Would recommend 10 out of 10.

Review №39

2018-11-27 03:59:34

Very authentic. Hidden Japanese gem in Pasadena. No more sushi, but still have a lot of Japanese comfort food.

Review №40

2017-01-11 04:13:06

Great service and staff here. Sushi selections were limited but everything tasted very fresh.

Review №41

2016-07-13 02:51:45

Been here for over 15 years (one change of ownership), freshness getting better and better, reasonable price and super sincere chef, this place has been my best sushi spot.

Review №42

2018-03-23 02:33:36

Very nice food and the owner is super nice!

Review №43

2020-11-06 20:52:25

Really friendly staff and delicious food. Can’t recommend the sukiyaki beef udon enough

Review №44

2015-11-18 07:06:12

Great, cozy restaurant offering quality Japanese food including sushi, udon, and a mean katsu-don.

Review №45

2019-05-09 03:30:24

Great Japaneses homestyle food with reasonable price. One of my favorites!

Review №46

2018-06-06 19:26:00

Love this. All the chef and waiters are Japanese so they make very authentic Japanese food.

Review №47

2017-07-22 00:24:52

Very good food. Nice service. This place makes Japanese people happy.

Review №48

2019-01-16 07:18:48

Fair price and good quality meal. Clean and comfortable place. Come many times !

Review №49

2016-06-20 20:22:09

Good, more authentic Japanese food and sushi. Quality is usually high.

Review №50

2018-04-25 23:33:12

Really good sushi. The location may not look the best but food is great

Review №51

2019-04-08 02:23:24

This was once a great place to eat, but something is wrong here! Service and food are poor!

Review №52

2017-08-15 18:13:23

Very nice people with great Japanese home cooking like curry!

Review №53

2019-04-20 10:05:45

Amazing place, good food, great service and great atmosphere, RECOMMENDED!

Review №54

2019-11-15 21:44:31

My best Japanese restaurant

Review №55

2022-03-07 20:55:52

This small place has good food.

Review №56

2018-03-13 20:16:04

Great food great service great prices great vibes great job!

Review №57

2019-05-27 13:35:06

The food is good and the place is quiet.

Review №58

2017-01-13 17:59:52

Takusan is a great guy and awesome chef!

Review №59

2022-01-08 19:18:15

Salmon too salty. Service terrible

Review №60

2022-08-08 00:52:44

Great atmosphere and food.

Review №61

2017-07-12 00:47:10

Great Japanese curry dishes.

Review №62

2020-05-04 21:55:35

The Best Miso Soup & food Combos

Review №63

2020-03-20 00:47:15

Best katsudon ever!

Review №64

2018-12-06 20:29:41

Not open when it says its open

Review №65

2017-07-07 02:29:12

Really great options

Review №66

2018-03-31 17:21:15

Very friendly

Review №67

2018-03-13 07:52:17

Great sushi.

Review №68

2023-11-30 11:54:16

Thank you very much for your help during my time here. I especially liked the sea urchin and udon. Long-term business travelers from Japan always used Takuya to recover their stomachs.