Sushi/Ramen restaurant in Redondo Beach. Great Happy Hour and best sake selections in South bay. Sake sommelier and chef Taka Sada’s journey began in Osaka, Japan. As a carefree youth Taka always remembers enjoying bargain sake with friends, but his true passion for sake flew into high gear after trying premium sake. It’s Taka’s father who taught him that sake exists for food while educating him on the fine points of pairing. Soon after Taka began his culinary career and in 2002, with his life partner Chika, opened Japonica! Their journey in originating authentic Japanese Izakaya-Sushi advances daily and with the addition of discovering smoked methods to enhance the umami in ingredients, the possibilities are endless.
Cool, casual option offering izakaya fare & a variety of sake choices in a refined space. Based on 343 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.5 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No-contact delivery
Address:
1304 1/2 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Phone: (310) 316-9477
Website:
Hours
| Friday |
11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday |
11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday |
11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
11:30 AM–9 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday |
11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday |
11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday |
11:30 AM–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Reviews
Deni Marie
One word, excellent. Service, food, atomosphere. Excellent. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Our server Craig was super helpful with suggestions on sushi and sake. Plum sake was a delicious aperitif. Try the White Lightening. TRUST ME you will not be disappointed. It’s #1 for a reason. It literally melts in your mouth. The butter sauce is so delicious. The ramen is definitely some of the best I’ve had a while. Outdoor seating is available. Not too long of a wait. Would highly recommend this place. If you’re in the Redondo area, check this place out.
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Green Sea Shells Lifestyle & Travel Website
My daughter liked her food, she ordered ramen and liked it. Noodles were yummy – thick and chewy but they were in fish sauce! As a vegetarian, I didn’t find many options that I liked. Three stars from me because of that. Nice place, good service!
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electro wasabi
I like the hermosa beach location more but this one tends to be less busy and have easier parking. They have really good rolls, unique and made with good quality ingredients. Service is good.
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Andrew Kirkland
My girlfriend and I came Valentines morning and had the restaurant to ourselves. Sushi was fantastic, some of the best we’ve ever had (reasonable prices too). I didn’t get the host/manager’s name but he was awesome, very attentive and friendly. Do yourself a favor and try the smoked soy sauce! 10/10 would come back again
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Vikki Pink
Came here with some friends.
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Kimberly Saldana
Super fresh selection! We started our lunch with the Chicken Gyozas and Miso Soups. Both were really good.
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Sascha
Pretty tasty, nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Good variety of menu items; everything we had was super delicious and definitely worth every penny. Japonica also has a pretty good happy hour before 6pm (check if on the weekend too).
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Gloria Kim
Despite this place being an American owned sushi place, I will have to say that it was a amazing experience. (FYI I critiquing my food with high expectations so just note that I just have high standard) The server and other runners took care of us and were attentive while we were eating. The server also provided us with recommendations on the rolls. The short grain rice that was used was well-cooked and seasoned which complimented the fish. The bluefin samurai roll had a slight char and freshness which made it 8.5/10. For the Kyoto Kryptonite roll, I have got to say that if you like the crispy tuna, then this is the roll to order because it pretty much tastes like it. 7.5/10. Crispy rice was pretty good, but I just prefer it to have less rice so that I have more of the crunch than the mush from the rice. 6/10 The sushi was fresh and good with the rice. 9/10
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Noah
This is my favorite ramen I’ve tried in LA. The standard miso sesame broth is creamy and super flavorful without being too salty. The egg noodles are thick and have a chew that I loved. I got the pork but the beef is also so delicious. The menu doesn’t flood you with options on the menu like most ramen places so you don’t get choice fatigue. Lastly staff was happy to help us and the atmosphere was clean and warm.
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PHOEBE CHEN
My experience at Japonica was a mix of pros and cons. The service was definitely a highlight; the staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure our needs were taken care of throughout the meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant is another strong point – the decor is unique and upscale, creating a pleasant dining environment. The beachy Redondo Beach neighborhood adds to the overall charm, making it a nice place to visit.
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