Waka Sakura Sushi Restaurant

Best Japanese food in the United States, hands-down! Worth every penny; the quality of the food is very good in comparison to other states that I’ve been to. If you are visiting California or Los Angeles, totally recommend coming to this place. 11/10 experience!

Its the 2nd time my 2 siblings and I have come here. Just as enjoyable as the first time. Service is quick and attentive. There's always a few staff walking around checking with each table to clear empty plates and ask if youd like a refill for your drinks. I personally enjoy the albacore and scallop options on the menu. My brother loves salmon, so he orders those dishes a lot. And lastely, my sister enjoys the tuna trying out the limited time options.

One of my favorite places to have ever gotten sushi, it takes me right back to Japan. Amazing fish quality and super affordable prices with tons of variety. A small place tucked away inside a supermarket but an absolute masterclass of an establishment.

Great Sushi place. Fish is fresh and the sushi creations are simple yet very tasty. Nothing flashy. No Crouching Tiger Red Lobster Angry Jalapeno names . Definitely must try is there Miso Steamed egg. Perfect umani taste. Prices are very reasonable for the exceptional quality. Definitely would recommend this restaurant.

Very positive and delicious experience at Waka Sakura. I had high expectations and they were exceeded as far as taste, quality and atmosphere. Favorites were tuna lovers plate, scallop lovers plate and yellowtail sashimi. The only major miss was the tuna poke.

Christopher Pratt

Unique sushi restaurant located on the second floor mezzanine of the Tokyo Central grocery store. The service was good and the delivery of the food to our table was super fun to see. The restaurant was very clean. One caveat… the tables in the furthest row at the back wall of the restaurant were too warm, likely because the ac ducting did not reach that row. We asked to be moved to one of the tables in the center area and the temperature was fine. If you enjoy crane games (“wah-wah-gee”) there is a bank of them to play just outside the restaurant while you wait for a table.

Francis Frederick Lacap

Tried Waka Sakura in Gardena and honestly? A solid sushi moment 🍣✨ Fresh fish, great variety, and I love that you can order via tablet so everything comes out made-to-order (no sad conveyor belt leftovers here). The tuna, scallops, and wagyu sushi were definite standouts. It does get busy, especially during peak hours, but the quality and overall experience make it worth it. Clean space, fun vibe, and good value for the quality you’re getting. If you’re craving sushi around South Bay — this one’s worth checking out.

Kody on the Road

This is the third time that I have come here and I am impressed every time. It is an order from a tablet, sushi restaurant, and the quality of the fish amazes me every time I come. I get the salmon party combo along with the miso soup with clams. From there, I kind of order whatever seems appealing to me since everything is so cheap. We also got the eel roll and fried ebi roll. The service is great and it’s a hidden gem since it’s on the second floor of Tokyo Central. 10 out of 10 recommend and every time I’m back in LA I’ll come back.

Nha Le

Affordable and good sushi. Quick and friendly service. The best part is it’s on the second floor of Tokyo Center so we can combine shopping and eating.

Sam Hosein

This conveyor belt sushi restaurant is AMAZING! Located inside the supermarket on the upper level. There's plenty of free self parking. We were quickly seated by the friendly staff. You can use the tablet to place your order. The menu has lots of yummy options. Prices are reasonable especially for the quality. Strongly recommend

Jonathan Norton

I had an absolutely fantastic experience at Wake Sakura in Gardena! It’s located on the second floor of the Tokyo Central market, which is a cool experience in itself. The restaurant has a sleek, modern, and clean atmosphere that feels very authentic. You order everything on a tablet at your booth, and the plates are delivered directly to you on a high-speed conveyor belt, which is both efficient and fun to watch. But the star of the show was, without a doubt, the Tuna Lovers plate. If you are a fan of tuna, this is a must-order. The quality was exceptional, especially for a conveyor belt-style restaurant. It featured a beautiful variety of cuts, from lean, clean-tasting akami to the rich, melt-in-your-mouth fatty toro. Every single piece was incredibly fresh, had a great texture, and was served on perfectly seasoned rice. The quality of the fish here is a clear step above other conveyor belt spots. I was thoroughly impressed and will definitely be back. Highly recommended for any sushi fan, but especially if you love high-quality tuna!

Nicole Chun

best sushi in the area. my go-to. arguably better than other more well known sushi chains and I’m pretty picky about the quality of raw fish. they have a touchscreen menu you order off of with pictures and they send you your order via a conveyer belt, so it’s super easy to order with minimal friction.

regis kwong

First time dining at Waka Sakura after visiting Tokyo Central Supermarket in Gardena. The restaurant is tucked away on the 2nd floor in the back, and we quickly realized why it’s so popular — we waited about 39 minutes for a table. The place is bright, clean, and has a fun modern vibe. Ordering is done on iPads and the food comes out on a conveyor belt, which makes it both efficient and entertaining. Service was friendly throughout. The sushi and hand rolls were excellent — super fresh fish and great presentation. The Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) was a standout for me: smooth, comforting, and not something you find at too many restaurants anymore. The scallop sushi was another favorite — sweet, tender, and very fresh. We were too full for dessert this time, but the options looked amazing, so that’s definitely on our list for next visit. Can’t wait to come back!

Tess

It's a revolving sushi bar and the conveyor belt that brings your food is fast in ordering via their QR code. The service is good and the ambiance is quiet and relaxing. The food is delicious 😋. My favorite is their wagyu sushi 🍣 beef it melts in your mouth. All of their sushi's are so fresh and taste super good. Even their scallops, uni - sea urchin egg sushi, ebi shrimp, mackerel, yellow tail, shrimp tempura, their cream soup like a white jello is also good. It has shrimp, edimame, and mushrooms. The dessert is yuzu cheesecake with vanilla ice cream. It's worth coming here all the time and you can shop downstairs at their Tokyo Central shopping store. Very convenient. As if this this restaurant is NOT inside a grocery store for it's classiness. Highly recommended 👌 👍 👏 💯 🙌

Jacky Lam

Best Japanese food in the United States, hands-down! Worth every penny; the quality of the food is very good in comparison to other states that I’ve been to. If you are visiting California or Los Angeles, totally recommend coming to this place. 11/10 experience!

Jay T (Satsugai)

Its the 2nd time my 2 siblings and I have come here. Just as enjoyable as the first time. Service is quick and attentive. There's always a few staff walking around checking with each table to clear empty plates and ask if youd like a refill for your drinks. I personally enjoy the albacore and scallop options on the menu. My brother loves salmon, so he orders those dishes a lot. And lastely, my sister enjoys the tuna trying out the limited time options.

sid srivastava

One of my favorite places to have ever gotten sushi, it takes me right back to Japan. Amazing fish quality and super affordable prices with tons of variety. A small place tucked away inside a supermarket but an absolute masterclass of an establishment.

James L.

Great Sushi place. Fish is fresh and the sushi creations are simple yet very tasty. Nothing flashy. No Crouching Tiger Red Lobster Angry Jalapeno names . Definitely must try is there Miso Steamed egg. Perfect umani taste. Prices are very reasonable for the exceptional quality. Definitely would recommend this restaurant.

wook kim

Went for lunch on Sunday…arrived at 11:10 to avoid the wait since they opened at 11:00….still had a 20min wait. Once seated the food comes out fast. I would recommend ordering in phases. We ordered at one time and everything came out at once on the conveyor. We were very happy with the quality and taste. Definitely will come back!

== FOOD == I got the salmon assorted and the seared salmon assorted. It had 3 pieces of sushi each. The salmon assorted had salmon, teriyaki salmon, and onion mayo salmon. While the seared salmon assorted had seared salmon, salt sauce seared salmon, and teriyaki seared salmon. Can I just say the salt sauce seared salmon was just the most delicious thing I had?!?! I didn't get the salmon party because I didn't want to eat the salmon roe one. == SERVICE == Our waiter was super nice and very outgoing, talking to him was a pleasure. He got us seated in about 2 minutes, and brought us everything very quickly. == AMBIANCE == On the second floor of the Tokyo Central is where Waka Sakura is. It's tucked away and the stairs are at the back of the supermarket. Even though it's in a supermarket, it's not noisy at all. The decorations and the inside of the restaurant were all very modern and the conveyor belt brought out our food very quickly.

Elizabeth Xu

== FOOD == I got the salmon assorted and the seared salmon assorted. It had 3 pieces of sushi each. The salmon assorted had salmon, teriyaki salmon, and onion mayo salmon. While the seared salmon assorted had seared salmon, salt sauce seared salmon, and teriyaki seared salmon. Can I just say the salt sauce seared salmon was just the most delicious thing I had?!?! I didn't get the salmon party because I didn't want to eat the salmon roe one. == SERVICE == Our waiter was super nice and very outgoing, talking to him was a pleasure. He got us seated in about 2 minutes, and brought us everything very quickly. == AMBIANCE == On the second floor of the Tokyo Central is where Waka Sakura is. It's tucked away and the stairs are at the back of the supermarket. Even though it's in a supermarket, it's not noisy at all. The decorations and the inside of the restaurant were all very modern and the conveyor belt brought out our food very quickly.

Waka Sakura had fresh sushi made to order and delivered by conveyer belt. It felt much tastier and better quality than regular conveyer belt sushi that may be left out for a while. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a grocery store, which made for great shopping and walking while we waited for our table. Most of the sushi didn’t stand out to us, but the fatty bluefin tuna and the scallop sushi were repeat items for us. Everything else was relatively mediocre (though not poor in quality). The service was great, but it was a bit annoying having to order water refills each time we ran out. Overall, for the price, this was a great visit. We left filled up, having had quality fish, and without breaking the bank.

It was pretty standard for a conveyor belt sushi place. I’d say the quality is way better than kura. Sushi were fresh. Wait time wasn’t too bad, went around noon on a Saturday. Totally would come back again.

Sabs A

Waka Sakura had fresh sushi made to order and delivered by conveyer belt. It felt much tastier and better quality than regular conveyer belt sushi that may be left out for a while. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a grocery store, which made for great shopping and walking while we waited for our table. Most of the sushi didn’t stand out to us, but the fatty bluefin tuna and the scallop sushi were repeat items for us. Everything else was relatively mediocre (though not poor in quality). The service was great, but it was a bit annoying having to order water refills each time we ran out. Overall, for the price, this was a great visit. We left filled up, having had quality fish, and without breaking the bank.

bob c

It was pretty standard for a conveyor belt sushi place. I’d say the quality is way better than kura. Sushi were fresh. Wait time wasn’t too bad, went around noon on a Saturday. Totally would come back again.

Jay Rue

A new revolving sushi restaurant in Gardena! Located on the 2nd floor of Tokyo Central Supermarket is a revolving sushi restaurant. At the time of writing this review, they did not have beer/wine license. A clean, sterile atmosphere, where you place an order with a phone app or a tablet. One thing that makes their sushi unique was it's rice - it was soy sauce flavored which made it unique and tasty. I can tell the fish were prepared meticulously, but actual nigiri felt pre assembled where the cut fish just seemed to float on top of the sushi rice, making it fall apart often. No. I was not expecting top-tier sushi making talent at a revolving restaurant, but at the same time, at $4-7/order, I expected a bit more craftsmanship. Another awkward feel was how much to tip the servers.. We had minimal contact with the server, she brought a glass of water and that was pretty much the entirety of our contact since everything is done via app or tablet. I tipped 16% at lunch which was the minimal amount pay option. Overall, I waited about 80 minutes on a Monday, and my dining experience wasn't too bad. For me, I would most likely pay 25% more to go to a sushi bar with personal customizable options where it's crafted rather than assembled. Would I do it again? Probably not. I personally feel it was not worth the long wait. However, I would recommend this restaurant if you Love sushi, but be prepared to wait.

Bryan Takeuchi

Truly a great sushi spot for a good price! The quality of fish was great, the ordering system is a bit awkward, my only complaint would be the salmon skin is way over fried. Already looking forward to my next visit! I'll be sure to take photos next time.

My wife's cousin been hyping this place up to us so finally we had the time to try it out and here we are. It's on the 2nd floor of Tokyo central so there's ample amount of parking. If you don't feel like walking up the stairs, there's an elevator on the side FYI. We got here around Saturday afternoon and was seated right away. It wasn't that packed when we arrived. The first thing I noticed was the lack of AC. It was borderline hot and I can't enjoy my food when I'm sweating. We ordered the steam egg - I thought it was ok but highly recommended by our cousin, the wagyu sushi thought was ok, the beef was a bit tougher then expected, the sashimi was paper thin and served luke warm and my wife loved the mackerel sushi. She said it tasted fresh, Overall: if my wife wants to come back to try again, I'd come with her. But it's def not a place I'd recommend. Service was good and the belt that serves the sushi was entertaining.

Alan B

My wife's cousin been hyping this place up to us so finally we had the time to try it out and here we are. It's on the 2nd floor of Tokyo central so there's ample amount of parking. If you don't feel like walking up the stairs, there's an elevator on the side FYI. We got here around Saturday afternoon and was seated right away. It wasn't that packed when we arrived. The first thing I noticed was the lack of AC. It was borderline hot and I can't enjoy my food when I'm sweating. We ordered the steam egg - I thought it was ok but highly recommended by our cousin, the wagyu sushi thought was ok, the beef was a bit tougher then expected, the sashimi was paper thin and served luke warm and my wife loved the mackerel sushi. She said it tasted fresh, Overall: if my wife wants to come back to try again, I'd come with her. But it's def not a place I'd recommend. Service was good and the belt that serves the sushi was entertaining.

Got there and it said 1.5hr wait time. It ended up being a 45 min wait for a 40 min meal for 2. Saw this place being mentioned on social media. It was not that good. The food came fast. The quality of the sashimi isn't anything to brag about, similar to what you can get from the market deli. They have a unique vinegar blend for the sushi rice. There are other places that have better sushi with less wait time. No alcohol yet, probably at the end of the month. Not going back.