09/07/08

you should find it

by ayame

If you'll seat table, you should find her!!!

I went there with my friends and family on Tuesday dinner time. We usually go Monday or Thursday night but table service is not good at all, especially tall lady ( idon't know her name). Her english was poor and sometimes wrong plate comes wrong amount. But foods are delicious and my boys love Yoshida. On that evening was sooooo crowdy and we were waiting almost 45min. to seat our table. But a waitress who name yako( i don't know spelling) was very very nice to us. She takes care of us very fully and care about my litle son to have kid's plate, tools, and drink. I have never got like this service in this restaurant, no other waitress care about those small things. since that night, we love to go yoshida. You should go there on Tuesday, because she works on that night. may be other waitress is very nice, but she is the best waitress in Yoshida I swear!!!!!

• Pros: good food. good service
• Cons: long line. parking. poor service(sometimes)

01/19/08

Mediocre Sushi, Bad Service

by bomblak

We decided to try this place out based on the Citysearch reviews. After trying out multiple pieces of nigiri sushi (yellowtail, tuna, toro, salmon, monkfish liver and more), we came away disappointed. The cut of fish had much to be desired, with some pieces being overly chewy and with stringy portions (which at better restaurants, the sushi chef cuts away or uses a better cut). Yoshida has mediocre sushi, and I'm not sure what the fuss is all about?

Perhaps it's because it's landlocked in San Marino and there isn't much else around, but it's still pretty mediocre. My SO and I went on a Saturday night and granted, the place was packed, but it's still no excuse for bad service (I had to ask for my bill three times amongst other problems throughout the night). I'd recommend going to any of the superior sushi restaurants in West L.A. (Mori, Zo, Urasawa, Sasabune, Nozawa, Gen, TheHump and others).

I also find it shocking to see such childish behavior on Citysearch with certain "clientele" of Yoshida's (sc2007, sksw) posting attack reviews on someone earlier who posted a negative review of the restaurant (notice how both of those 2 "reviewers" have reviewed just *1* restaurant (Yoshida), LOL). Pretty sad and amateurish. Everyone has an opinion, hopefully the collective result of all those opinions will help people looking for information make good choices.

• Pros: Convenient for San Marino
• Cons: Mediocre Sushi, Bad Service, Crowded

09/22/07

SUSHI (LIKE BUTTER BABY)

by sc2007

THIS IS THE BEST SUSHI IN ALL OF LOS ANGELES BY FAR. FOR THAT LAST COMMENT FROM EXILEKISS, YOU MUST NOT HAVE SAT WITH THE OWNER YOSHIDA. BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GOING TO YOSHIDAS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS NOT ONE COMPLAINT. HATE TO SAY THAT YOU MUST NOT NOW GOOD SUSHI IF IT WAS FORCED DOWN YOUR THROAT. THE SUSHI AT YOSHIDA'S IS TOP NOTCH. THE ALBACOR MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH,THE SWEET SHRIMP IS AWESOME, PHILI ROLL IS TO DIE FOR AND THE AMBIANCE OF EATING WITH THE OWNER (YOSHIDA) CAN NOT BE COMPARED TO THOSE NOT SO GOOD SUSHI BARS, LIKE (A-FLOAT,KABUKI,AI SUSHI). AND FOR THE PRICE WE PAY FOR GOOD SUSHI, IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. GOOD SUSHI IS WORTH PAYING.

• Pros: AWSOME SUSHI
• Cons: PARKING

07/22/07

Best Sushi anywhere!

by sksw

I am laughing at the review that this is the "worst sushi" anywhere. Ha! Not even close. He must own Sushi Roku? ;) I have eaten at some of the top sushi restaurants in L.A. and this is fantastic! You cannot find sushi that is fresher than here. I have been a loyal customer of Yoshi's (owner/sushi chef) for over 17 years. We have followed him from where he started, Kabuki in Pasadena, to his first restaurant in Pasadena and now San Marino. Let me be clear, he has some of the best fresh fish anywhere! His albacore tuna melts in your mouth. The halibut is delicious! You have never eaten a better tiger shrimp roll in your life! Our kids love Yoshida, too. It is their favorite restaurant after In-N-Out! Yoshida makes other sushi restaurants painful to eat at. My husband and I have unfortunately been invited to other sushi restaurants, like Sushi Roku, Pasadena and Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills and they all paled in comparison to Yoshida. We had some sushi at Sushi Roku and my five year old daughter literally said, "it smells like a skunk!" when they placed an order of salmon sashimi in front of us! At Matsuhisa, we tried their version of a spider roll (tempura soft shell crab) and it was three times as much$ as Yoshi's, and half a crab that tasted mealy and like old fish. Now quite honestly, the waitresses at Yoshida can be discombobulated at times, but they are all Japanese with English as their second language and working their tails off to wait on a packed restaurant. They do not sit around and ignore you. The place is PACKED at night and justifiably so. We always get the same thing: albacore and halibut sashimi, tiger roll, jack's special and sometimes the MJ special #10 spicy. The only bad part about Yoshida is that it has grown increasingly popular and it is so crowded. Best bet is to go right when it opens at 11:30am for lunch or 6 pm for dinner. Really, if you don't go, it is better for his regulars, then we don't have to wait! :)

• Pros:  Yoshi is the best! Low-key place with fresh sushi
• Cons: crowded -

05/01/07

Best Sushi Ever!

by ratas911

I was lucky enough to be invited by my friend to sit by Yoshida son last month. Let me tell you, it is a out of this world, purely magical experience! Oh my gosh, just think about the blue fin tuna, uni, sweet shrimp...etc, my mouth is starting to water again. The taste!!!! It was as if every cell of my body started dancing! Now maybe I have not been to too many sushi places but this is so far the best sushi I have ever tasted. Anyone who believe there are better places out there please recommand them to me. Until then, Yoshida all the way for me!

• Pros: Two big thumbs up for uber sushi
• Cons: I have yet to try their regular meal, so I can't really recommand it yet.

01/13/07

Yoshi: The Fresh Prince of San Marino

by nativelagirl

Before you conclude that nothing is going on in San Marino, you have to pay a visit to Yoshida Sushi Bar. This is by far the best sushi I've ever had, and the restaurant is a hidden gem amidst the sleepy, million dollar suburbia of city. But don't let the real estate values food you - the cost of a meal here is still fairly reasonable for a sushi bar. All of the chefs are friendly, and the wait staff does their best to seat patrons asap. Come early for a weekend dinner, since locals and fans from far will flock in (and are willing to wait) for a delicious meal. Keep in mind that the restaurant follows typical sushi bar hours, so they are closed during the afternoon. Mr. Yoshi himself ensures that customers are served only the best of everything... you can count on the freshest of sashimi/sushi selections every time you dine. Also, if possible, try to sit at the bar for some one on one attention (and comedy) from Mr. Yoshi himself.

• Pros: EXCELLENT sushi; pleasant dining experience; pleanty of parking
• Cons: Hard to find at night: look for the small neon blue sign; gets packed for weekend dinners

10/26/06

Fantastic Sushi!

by alexrv1

The sushi is awesome! I'm no sushi purist, so I eat what taste good, even though some people say that's not "real sushi". I love the eel avocado roll, the white tuna and the Philadelphia roll. The chefs are friendly, and you don't have to be a regular to get good service. The table service is kind of spotty, but if it's not too long of a wait, sit at the bar for the best sushi and service. Weekends do get a little packed, you have to write your name down on a list, though I've never waited more than 20 minutes. Plenty of free parking in the lot next door.

• Pros: Best sushi rolls around!
• Cons: Sometimes a wait, table service can be slow at times

08/07/06

Best Sushi in the San Gabriel Valley

by italianmn23

Yoshida is simply one of the best sushi restaurants there is. The roles are amazing and original; the sushi is so fresh i wonder if it can move. The location is perfect, San Marino - with good parking and always the safest area. The service on the other hand is not great and you question whether or not your server speaks English. All that aside its great, A+, Ive tried Matsuisha, Nobu and all the greats. This place is friendly, easy and great. Try the Philadelphia role, its amazing and the white tuna tempura is AMAZING. Dont listen to this other reviews about how the regulars know the chefs name and thing they are getting authentic sushi, thats ridiculous. They are just bitter that such a great small sushi restaurant it is in San Marino does so well. BEST SUSHI, MUST TRY!!!!

• Pros: Great Sushi, Great Location, Friendly chefs
• Cons: Service isn't the greatest

12/20/05

From memory

by pklin

Yes, the owner/sushi chef does often add it from memory. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. More often than not, works out in the customer's favor. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh, and the albacore -- like butter!

09/08/05

Decent, but not that great

by biggdave7

I've been going about once a month for the last couple of years. I go because it's the closest sushi place to my house. Sometimes it's fresh, sometimes it's really not so fresh. One of the things that bothers me the most is how the owner doesn't tally your bill, he just scribbles the total from "memory." Sometimes I swear it's too much -- but who knows, since he wasn't keeping track! Locals love this place and think they're having a Japanese experience since they know the owners name.