SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

  4.5 – 1,039 reviews   • Sushi restaurant

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SUGARFISH, a food-centric full-service restaurant, features a unique omakase-style service based on Nozawa’s 50 plus years of experience in Japan and the US. The menu features only tradition-based sushi of the highest quality, offered in four Trust Me® options, as well as an array of a la carte sashimi, sushi, and hand rolls made with carefully sourced fish, warm and loosely-packed rice, and crisp nori. SUGARFISH has locations in Los Angeles and New York City. For more information follow SUGARFISH on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Celebrated local sushi chain serving traditional rolls & sake in a chic, intimate space.

✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa 91101

Hours

Friday11:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday11:30 AM–10 PM
Sunday11:30 AM–10 PM
Monday11:30 AM–10 PM
Tuesday11:30 AM–10 PM
Wednesday11:30 AM–10 PM
Thursday11:30 AM–10 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 146 S Lake Ave #108, Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone: (626) 298-8386

Website: http://sugarfishsushi.com/our-locations/pasadena

Menu Photos

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Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

Pasadena – SUGARFISH

Pasadena. 146 S. LAKE AVE., PASADENA, CA 91101. 626 298-8386. We do not take … ©2008-26 Sushi Nozawa Group. All rights reserved. The SUGARFISH logo and …

Homepage – SUGARFISH

An important point about Nozawa-style sushi is his strict adherence to traditional sushi: You’ll find no California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, or teriyaki at …

Daily Menu – Pasadena – SUGARFISH

The menu most similar to what Nozawa served his regulars at Studio City’s Sushi Nozawa. … Uni – Sea Urchin from the Southern California coast, 18. Toro …

Reviews

euigoo kim
Great sushi spot near Malibu!

I visited my second daughter who attends school nearby. Since this is a very popular spot, we expected a wait. My wife arrived first to put our names down, but even then, we had to wait over 40 minutes. It was actually nice to walk around the nearby shops while waiting.

Important: They strictly check that your entire party is present before seating you.

The interior is dimly lit and cozy (a bit tight, but intimate). We ordered the “Trust Me ($36)” course. The sushi is served piece by piece, and it was delicious. At first, I wondered if the portions would be enough, but by the end of the meal, I was completely full and satisfied.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a stylish and tasty sushi place in this area. The evening lighting adds a wonderful vibe!
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Ivan D
Ok. So I have to start out by saying im not a big fan of sushi. Im your typical California roll or fried sushi. Having said that this place changed the way I think about sushi! I always wondered how real Japanese sushi would taste and I have a feeling this place is certainly close to that. I had recently watched a documentary on Netflix and how this one place in Japan you just trust the chef to serve you delicious sushi! Well this is place does the same and boy it doesn’t disappoint. I’ve never had salmon melt in my mouth like that or had sushi rice taste sooo good. And the ginger ! Thats real stuff

I would highly recommend this place. Will certainly be coming back.
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RM
Sugarfish Pasadena is simple, sleek, and all about letting the sushi shine. The Trust Me menu is the way to go — a curated selection of fresh, high-quality nigiri and rolls that consistently hits the mark. The vibe is casual but polished, service is efficient, and while it’s a bit pricey, it’s worth it for a reliable, no-fuss sushi experience.
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G T (Explorer GT)
SUGARFISH isn’t just sushi—it’s a minimalist love letter to fish, rice, and precision. No frills, no dragon rolls drowned in sauce—just clean, honest, ridiculously fresh cuts that make you rethink everything you thought you knew about sushi.

I went with the Trust Me box (pro move), and from the very first bite of tuna sashimi, it was game over. The warm rice melts in your mouth. The albacore? Silky. The toro? Criminal. Every piece lands with that quiet confidence only chefs who really know their craft can pull off.

Service is efficient and respectful—they don’t oversell or interrupt, they just let the fish do the talking. And it speaks volumes.

⚠️ Warning: After SUGARFISH, grocery store sushi will feel like a betrayal.

Minimalist decor, quick pacing, and consistent execution. Perfect for date nights, solo indulgence, or anyone who believes sushi is a lifestyle, not a trend.
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S H
We came to Sugarfish Pasadena to celebrate my daughter’s birthday since she had been wanting to visit after trying the LA location. When we arrived, they told us the wait would be 30 minutes, but we were pleasantly surprised to be seated in just 15 minutes.

From the moment we sat down, the service was amazing. Our waitress Kat, server Paul, and the entire team were attentive from start to finish. They promptly brought out waters and took our orders with care.

We all decided to go for the omakase and ordered:

1. TRUST ME ($30)
2. THE NOZAWA TRUST ME ($39)
3. DON’T THINK. JUST EAT. ($59)

Everything was absolutely delicious! The Tuna Sashimi with ponzu and chives was a highlight, as were the Albacore Sushi with ponzu and chives, Salmon Sushi with toasted sesame, and the rich Toro Hand Roll. Other standout pieces included the Lobster Sushi, the melt-in-your-mouth Toro and flavorful Eel, Japanese Yellowtail Sushi with lemon, Chutoro Sushi, New Zealand Sea Bream Sushi with citrus salt, Hirame Sushi with yuzu ponzu, and the Blue and Dungeness Crab Hand Rolls. Each bite was incredibly fresh and flavorful.

The restaurant was cute, very clean, and the restroom was well-kept, which added to the overall great experience. The service truly elevated our time there, and the attention to detail made our celebration even more special. If you’re looking for top-notch sushi and impeccable service, I definitely recommend Sugarfish Pasadena.

My Personal Rating : 4.72
Food 4.8/5
Service 4.8/5
Price 4.6/5
Ambiance 4.6/5
Cleanliness 4.8/5
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Oscar Cheung
Food are still good for this type of fusion sushi. However the service is significantly worse than before. Staff are carrying huge stack of plates and constant bump into people. Instead of clearing the plate between dishes, staff simply just push the new plate/ stack the new one on top. This is not the sugarfish I liked and enjoyed
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Howard H
Very good sushi, and the service is excellent. Only downside is walk-in only. The ordering is easy with 3 different sizing (and price) menu. Excellent place
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Wes L
For the price I’m paying, I was thoroughly disappointed. This place is consistently getting raved as a go to premium sushi spot but I honestly can’t see why people, who have had good sushi would consider coming here to eat after trying once.

First, due to it being hyped up for being a good spot, the wait time, if you missed the opening for the day, is long, as it is a small restaurant with an omakase dining style. You cannot make any reservations ahead of time, so if you really wanted to try this place out, either wait roughly an hour or two, or order to go.

I believe this place would rather consider itself as a rendition of sushi, as it breaks a few conventional norms. The sushi rice is overly warm, to the point it was separating from itself. If I picked up a nigiri, I don’t expect the piece to disintegrate when grabbing it.

The service was mid at best, given their positioning in the market. I would never expect for an omakase style set course, to have servers come up and ask, can you finish the last piece up, so that they can just take the now empty dish up. This gave a feeling of, I’m being rushed to eat and go.

Also, as shown in the pictures, I somewhat expected some form of plating, or at least nicer looking plates, given the price tag. Everything was just a generic white square/rectangle plate, it really degraded the experience.

Overall, after finally trying this place once, I can now say I am pretty reluctant to come again on my own accord. For the price you’re paying here, you can get better quality of handwork and sushi with little price variance.
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Kelli Monkawa
The sushi here is always amazing- ” like butter”, it melts in your mouth. Wonderful tastes, which are well presented and friendly and attentive service. You can enjoy a meal that will leave you satisfied and not stuffed and groggy. I wish the seating wasn’t so close together, bit I like space. Thank you for your wonderful food and service. Will be back soon.
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Sam Lee
Sugarfish is always a solid choice. They don’t take reservations so there is always a bit of a wait but the Pasadena location is great because there is a nice courtyard you can wait in! We did take out today and their take out box is so cute too! Fresh sushi and they have a little sauce guide on the box. There is a paid parking garage right behind the restaurant but you can find free street parking on green street or cordova if you’re willing to walk a little
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