Sakae Sushi

Really nice place! I love it they are all so kind and welcoming plus the food is amazing!!!

The prices have creeped upwards, increasing by a nickel in March. Still one of the best deals around, though.

The place looks like a match-​box inside and out. About 4 – 5 little old ladies run this sushi kitchen and they are strictly business.
Don’t expect a warm welcome or a greet, and be ready to order. They only except cash. I had the California Rolls and they were huge, fresh, and delicious. They put them in these little white boxes and wrap the box with their official seal. Great value with no sizzle…

Been going here ALL MY LIFE! If you live in Gardena or Torrance, you know Sakae Sushi. A staple at any party. I live in OC now, but still crave that distinct flavor I grew up with. Nothing compares. Delicious.

The sushi rice is excellent with just the right balance of vinegar and sweetness. The Saba sushi is my favorite. Be sure to order their Norimaki and Inari sushi.
In general, I’m not a fan of California rolls. However, the ones they serve here have a nice piece of avocado and shrimp instead of the typical fake crab.
Note: It’s best to call in your order beforehand. Take out only.

I ABSOLUTELY love this joint!
I dream about it, I drool about it, I think about it, I can’t live without it.
I discovered this place a few years ago when I used to work in Gardena. unfortunately that company was a nightmare and I quit in less than a year. the only good thing that company has done for me was letting me discover Sakae sushi. I would go there as much as I can during lunch time, and Mondays were always depressing. not only did I get Monday blues, I got double Monday blues because Sakae is closed on Mondays and cannot make my day better in that hell hole.
i live about 30 miles away, i’m sad i don’t get to go to Sakae like i used to. but believe me, whenever i’m in the area, i try my best to go (as long as they’re not closed).
i love the packaging of the sushi, the décor, and just walking in and smelling the rice. I feel like i’m Japan instantly.
food is AWESOME. i mean, it’s not some fancy sushi like other Unilocalers have said, but it’s very, VERY comforting. it makes me feel like i’m in a kimono in Japan, 150 years ago, sitting on some tatami room and eating sushi on my knees.
truly miss this place :(

This place is take out only but who cares. It’s a classic and never changes. It’s just good.

My bff brought me a beautiful mixed box of sushi treats from this place and it is definitely worth all of the stars.
By far the best california roll I’ve ever eaten. So soft (in a good way!) and fresh and made with shrimp instead of crab/​imitation crab as well as big chunks of creamy avocado. So nice to look at and even better to eat.
All of the other pieces were equally tasty, the inari and nori-​maki are tied for second, but I have to say my favorite was the cali. I could probably eat an entire 36 piece box of just those by myself.
I also love how they package each one so carefully and finish by tying a string around the box. So cute! Really shows that they care about their product and how it is presented. Loved all of it.

This is the ‘OG’ of sushi.
You can taste the generations of love passed down in the perfectly seasoned sushi rice.
I like sitting on the 1950s sofa in the little sushiya to wait while they make my order, the cliental they draw ireflects LA’s beautiful diversity. Everyone passes through here. This is authentic, real food.

The BEST california rolls I’ve ever had. I’ve been coming to Sakae Sushi for over 15 years and have yet to find a california roll that’s better. The quality of the ingredients and sweet shrimp are what keep my family coming back. The pieces are generous and there is no mayo or fake crab to be found! I can easily get full off of 8 pieces and love each and every bite. It is a family run restaurant and it’s best to call your order in 15 – 20 minutes before. Only downside is that they only take cash and are closed on Mondays. Parking can be found on the street outside the restaurant or in the back lot. It’s a very small building and can easily be missed. This is purely a take out location– no seating inside or out.
If you’re thinking of ordering some for the holidays, it’s too late! They tend to sell out of pre-​orders months in advance at the end of each year!
Try Sakae sushi at least once. It’ll totally change your perception of a sushi roll.

Lovely little place… it’s quite hidden. Rice was a tad cold and had too much vinegar, and the fish were too pungent for my taste. I’m a fan of Sushi Nozawa’s restaurants (i.e. Sugarfish) so I probably pre-​conditioned my olfactory senses for an expectation that shouldn’t be placed on other sushi restaurants. Loved that they put mushroom pieces in a few of their rolls. The 12-​piece set is just a tinsy bit too much for one person, (they have a 10-​piece set that would do very well for those who aren’t famished) but all-​in-​all, a very efficient and well-​rounded bento box for lunch.
Please don’t forget that it’s cash and take-​out only.

4 stars for the food.
5 stars for taking me back to a different place and time, when food was simple, there were no credit card kiosks, no computerized orders, and menus were a few items long. Throw in the rush of nostalgia as a child living in Japan, and I had to give it 5 stars.
This place makes simple OG take out sushi with very few available items. No seats, tiny storefront where you just order, get the bento (lunchbox) and pay in cash. They even use the old cash register where you punch in the numbers, and it’s so quaint, I love it.
Food wise, I think it’s pretty good, but it’s not the fancy sushi items people are used to in LA. It’s more nori-​maki (rolled in seaweed) or it’s inari (rice wrapped in tofu skin). They do have mackerel, but no nigiris. So don’t expect tuna, salmon, yellowtail sushi types. What they do make, it’s pretty good. Hubby loved the inari, which I’m not a huge fan of, but I did like their futomaki. I feel like there is just too much rice overall, so even though it’s traditional, I wish they would change the rice ratio a bit.
I love that this place still exists amidst all the fancy sushi places, so I gotta show my support. I love these mom and pop places, and I hope they will be around for a long time.
tip: cash only.
tip: parking is available around the corner. The store itself is very small, located next to Spoon House.
tip: if you want wasabi, ask them. They do charge $ 0.15 for a packet.
tip: they close by 6pm, so keep that in mind.

Sakae (sah kah eh) means prosperity, success, efflorescence/​to blossom & from the number of customers streaming in year in & year out, that may be the case of a self fulfilling prophesy. Many of the Japanese Americans like many immigrant groups coming to America came from impoverished rural areas where the custom of primogeniture was prevalent.
Primogeniture meant that the first born son inherited the farm, and all the other siblings lost out. This makes sense since dividing up the farm to descendants equally means that the farm keeps getting smaller at each passing generation to the point there is no farm left at all. So all those who were not the first born son had to leave the farm to make their fortune.
Because of this, Japanese Americans have tastebuds that are more rooted to the down home, more rural flavours than to the sassy, sophisticated, sybaritic cuisine of the big food cities of To-​kyo-​, O-​saka, & the ancient capital, Kyo-​to w/​an haute cuisine tradition that dates back to the 8^th century.
Sakae Sushi caters exactly to the countrified comfort food sought by even Yonsei/​4^th generation Japanese Americans. Though they may have lost the language, food preference are the last cultural vestige to disappear. So Sakae Sushi plays an important role in keeping up a food tradition that has lasted for over a hundred years in the U.S.
I myself am bicultural in my Japanese traditions since my father is descended from ancestors who came from rural Hiroshima, and my mother is citified Yokohama born. Since my mom set the pace for introduction of Japanese food for me, I lean toward the more cosmopolitan, cultivated To-​kyo– style which Sakae Sushi is definitely not.
To me, the Shari/​Sushi rice is too vinegary sweet, seemingly lacking in Dashi/​fond de cuisine of Kombu/​kelp nor subtle touch of Katsuo Bushi/​bonito. The rice itself lacks a bit of Hagotae/​al dente, and because much of the Sushi is Oshi Sushi or pressed Shari, too much pressure is often applied so the rice grains are jammed stuck together which makes for leaden Sushi.
However, I realize this Sakae style generally reflects the Japanese American home style cooking so that I am swimming against the current when many Japanese Americans w/​ancestors from rural Japanese roots rave about Sakae Sushi which reminds them of their Grandmothers who made Sushi very similar to Sakae during Osho-​gatsu/​Japanese New Years.
Yes, for those w/​rural roots, Sakae is 5 Unilocal stars & at minimum 4 stars. For me, I’m not impressed especially when I remember going to Osho-​gatsu fêtes in California and having to eat the unsophisticated Sushi. 3– Unilocal stars or less if you’re from the Daitokai/​big city.
Note: Take Out Only

Please open a branch in the San Gabriel Valley! Love, love this sushi place. Have never been disappointed, and almost always a stop we have to make when in the South Bay. A perfect place to pick up sushi for a snack or a later meal.
Out of all the offerings, my three favorite items at Sakae Sushi are the Mackerel, Nori, and California Roll. For all three, the vinegary rice works perfectly with the accompaniments: salty goodness in the mackerel, sweet and savory goodness in the Nori, and yummy fatty goodness in the avocado in the California Roll!
Sakae Sushi takes orders over the phone to save time. Also, the family always take a week off in September and closes the store, so get your sushi before they go on vacation!

My montra has always been, I would rather have 10 restaurants that do 1 thing with vision and passion that 1 restaurant with 10 mediocre dishes…
Sakae does what it does, it does it unapologetically true to itself. If you don’t like what they do… you dont go… if you do, you line up with the other japanese grandparents, with great anticipation for your wonderful box of rolls, wrapped carefully, and deliberately with love.
Do not expect Urasawa…
Opened by Tani family since 1962, This cash only take out counter deserves a spot in the broad history of Los Angeles dining — It has been quietly making its wonderful pickled mackerel, ebi and an iniri.
I don’t care whether I am hungry or not — if I am in thes end of town I will stop at this walk in shop and enjoy a box of their special sushi on my way home (or save it for my family if they are lucky!!!). They open early so you can pick up a box before most sushi chefs even wake up from their sake hangovers!
Great for party catering, great for kid friendly take out, great for everyday chomping!!!

To-​go Sushi?
The establishment is tucked in between S Denker st. and Redondo Beach Blvd. Hidden in plain sight, but yet this may be or could be the center of all sushi lovers out there.
The outside décor is merely inviting, and yet people are leaving with boxes and more boxes of daily nourishment. The Inside décor is almost untouched by it’s the modern surroundings, it is small and rustic, almost like the sushi vendor similar to an old black and white Japanese movie. Making it really hard not to fall in love in this place.
Here you will find a sushi that is neatly wrapped in a white beautiful package, tearing it apart almost feels agonizing.
Nonetheless, of its iconic packaging, the real super star of this place is the rice. The rice here is sweet and delecate, and melts in your mouth. The sweetness almost reminds you of candy. Most of all the combination of the sushi fillings compliment each other very well. The variety is simple, but exciting at the same time. Most of all the food is very filling after a few bite. This is what makes this place special.
Plenty of new costumers expect extravagant assortment from this sushi place, but they have kept their ingredients simple and harmonious. You will not find, fancy avocado, tuna or salmon in their menu, because those toping doesn’t really matter. The true super star of this place is the rice. Yes, the rice!
the 24 piece mix seems to be very popular. Nori and Tamago sushi is my fav. Very reasonable. Popular for guest on a rush!
«To go» only.

— Locale Destination —
It’s on W Redondo Beach Blvd and Denker Ave in Gardena.
It’s right next to «Spoon House» (Japanese pasta place). Across from the big shopping center, where «Marukai» is located.
Ambiance: Very eclectic, very old school, classy atmosphere. Very small family run type cozy & warm place. I felt like tripping to my childhood, which is loooong time ago. I had one of those nearby my house. To-​go only, so it’s super small. Very skinny place has a table for Japanese magazines, and small window for order.
Payment: Cash only.
Service: Relatively quick. Everyone call ahead for order since the place is small, no place to eat and cut the wait time.
Parking: It is sorta behind (on the right side of restaurant, but it’s behind the establishments). You passed the store and you’ll see the parking. Plenty.
Menu: Very old school sushi. «Inari» (sweet rice sushi in deep fried tofu package), norimaki (sushi roll w vegetables. ‘Nori’ means seaweed, maki does «to roll» in Japanese), CA roll, ‘tamago’ roll (roll wrapped by sweet egg), oshi-​zushi (molded & pushed sushi) like saba (mackerel) and ebi (shrimp). Since the items are very limited, you can mix & match them any amount you want in the box (under «Mix»), which is cool. You can see all the items with pictures on the menu, so it’s easy to see what they have and how they look like. They’ll charge you condiments (ginger, soy sauce etc.) for 15 cents or so.
— Gluttony Expedition —
They look very pretty. The box will definitely impress your friends and family.
Saba (mackerel): The mackerel wasn’t stinky (not good one tends to be stinky). The rice was very soft for this type of «oshi-​zushi». Not bad. It’s not as good as the one at «Kasen» in Fountain Valley, but this is more «homey» version.
Ebi (shrimp): Shrimp was light and tender. The rice was soft for oshi-​zushi.
Inari: Rice was sweet but not as sweet as I used to. It shouldn’t be too sweet but I prefer a little sweeter. But I’m from Tokyo, not from KANSAI (around Osaka areas). Maybe our side of «inari» might be a little sweeter than theirs. The rice was kinda harder side for ‘inari’. I prefer a bit softer one.
Nori maki: Very old school. Old people eat those in Japan. I’m surprised this is popular here in CA. «kanpyo» and some vegetables were stuffed. Very simple. OK.
Tamago maki: Tamago was a bit sweet, which is normal for this. Nothing special.
— Conqueror’s Deduction —
3.5 stars for me — they are better than usual. Good quality, homey good, very inexpensive. I just don’t crave for those food, but it’s just my preference.
I’ve grown up with those. I used to eat those when I was a kid all the time. So I prefer a little sweeter and tender rice for inari. It was good but a bit too light as «inari».

Awesome sushi to go! The ingredients are so fresh. This sushi is made to order so call in before you arrive if you are in a hurry. I love the California roll and the Nori-​Maki roll. Both are delicious. I usually get 10 pieces. The prices are very reasonable, the quality is on point and the ladies who run this joint are friendly and professional. They charge a small amount for soy sauce and Wasabi so make sure to tell the lady ringing you up how many you want of each. Thanks, Sakae Sushi, for being my go to lunch spot when only sushi will suffice!

Super traditional and SO DELICIOUS. To-​go oriented no seating. Very helpful and nice people.
We got 4 of each kind they offer.
My favorites HANDS DOWN the tamago and vinegar hamachi.

~~~Box Me Up Some Comfort Sushi, Please!~~~
During the holidays, I remember there would always be a box of sushi from Sakae Sushi at the table. To be honest, I didn’t like the strong vinegary taste as a child. The only sushi I would touch from Sakae Sushi was the ebi. I use to make sure I got to the box before the rest of the children in our extended family.
This family-​owned business has been around since the early sixties. They are well-​known for their inari (football shaped, fried tofu skin) sushi. I would say, for the most part, that the type of sushi here is known as oshi-​zushi, block-​shaped sushi. They’ve kept their menu very simple by offering a few selections of sushi and accept CASH ONLY. They only offer Take-​Out with a few seats available while they prepare your order.
Here’s What They Offer:
–Inari Sushi: (Age) Fried Tofu Skin wrapped around rice
— Nori-​Maki: Shiitake mushroom, spinach, kampyo, oboro, and egg, wrapped in seaweed
— Tamago-​Maki: Shiitake mushroom, spinach, egg, kampyo, and oboro topped with sweet egg
— California Roll: Avocado, shrimp, and roasted sesame seeds, wrapped in seaweed
— Ebi: Cooked shrimp with sweet vinegar marinade
— Saba: Pickled Atlantic mackerel
There’s plenty of parking in their shared lot and also street parking. It’s best to place your order ahead of time, especially during the holidays. If you’re looking to impress your chickie-poo’s family of Japanese descent… esp, the grannies, look no further. A box of sushi from Sakae Sushi will definitely up your scoreboard.
I am a fan here! Happy Grubbing!