Waka Sakura Gardena

Yeah, this place is good. Tastes better than kaitenzushi's even in Japan, albeit the cost is not really comparable. Pleasantly surprised with the quality of the sushi and staff. It's more of a "sushi train" than a conveyor belt sushi place. Unfortunately since the opening of this restaurant the weekend parking situation is out of control in this lot - you are probably better off parking across the street and walking. Weekend wait time is easily 2 hours upon opening - get there early or be prepared to do a lot of shopping downstairs!

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.

Came a little after it opened on a Sunday and the wait time was about 90 minutes. The quality of the fish and other food was excellent. Service was also great. For comparison, I would say the cost is ~30% more than Kura, but also ~30% better quality, so this is the spot if your looking for something a little more special.

Was it worth the almost hour long wait? I would say no but I can't figure out a way to give partial stars. The long wait is because of its popularity and for good reason- the food is great. Since we have a small multigenerational family, waiting is just a big deal for us so we never really think it's worth it. Luckily the Tokyo Central market has lots of things to look at/shop for that can keep you busy if you need to get some grocery shopping done or have never been before, otherwise, with a 5 minute weekend grace period which I understand they're strict about, the waiting time is the biggest obstacle for a return trip for us because we just don't have the time/patience for this long of a wait. The service was great: they apologized for the wait (beyond their control) and while initially I was disappointed we were seated so close to the waitstand/register, I realized it was a benefit because the wait staff was very attentive, clearing our dishes very quickly. We did really enjoy the food. The wagyu teriyaki was perfectly seared and the ratio of sauce to the other elements well balanced. Our group was impressed that the soy sauce was smoother shoyu, and the wasabi didn't look/taste like it was from a paste. We read the reviews about the brown rice haters; we were very happy to have the brown rice and thought it worked especially well with the cut rolls like the crunchy california roll. The fried calamari was delicious, served nice and hot - the chicken karaage was average. The miso soup was a hit for those who tried it. The edamame was okay. We ordered the seaweed salad which came out in nori with rice because we didn't order it from the salad section. In general, the seafood was very fresh, the seared food was done well and they even found a roe fan in the kiddo which was likely the most impressive feat of the meal: "it's nice and salty". Her biggest complaint was not getting enough warning that the conveyer built was sending the food so she could capture it IRT on video. We ordered the matcha mont blanc for dessert and while it was good, the dessert was shared between 4 people and we still didn't quite finish. It was our Goldilocks moment: it was too sweet for the adults, not sweet enough for the child but just right for the senior. Tip: you can only order 4 things at a time so we started off with water. You also want to check your 'history' to make sure you got all your items so you can reconcile with the bill when it comes. TLDR: All in all, if there was less than 20 minute wait time and we were in the area, we'd jump at the chance to go again.

Such a hidden gem! Absolutely loved the fresh fish - salmon party, tuna trio, etc. Fun concept where you basically order on a tablet and pick up your food from a conveyor belt. Highly recommend, worth the wait!

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!

An amazing "conveyor" belt sushi restaurant with high quality fish and great vibes. I use quotes because the belt is only used to deliver the food to your table as opposed to the rotating dishes. It's located inside of Tokyo central and there's gunna be a long wait for dinner but honestly.... it's such a great market to wander that you'll find the long wait to be fun. Almost everything we ordered was delicious, mouth watering, and satisfying quality fish. The salmon quality is so butter smooth and I actually recommend the salmon party if that's your favorite type of fish. Most items are decently priced and you can totally get full off of 30 bucks if you order the lower tier stuff. Service was quick and friendly. Tip: You don't need to order on the tablet lol it'll get your arm tired from swiping the fixed screen. Just scan the QR code and order through your phone. Food: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 9/10 Service: 8/10

Conveyor sushi at the upper level inside Tokyo central market. Food can be ordered thru ur Smart phone or provided tablet. Good quality sushi at a decent price. Enjoy...

Yeah, this place is good. Tastes better than kaitenzushi's even in Japan, albeit the cost is not really comparable. Pleasantly surprised with the quality of the sushi and staff. It's more of a "sushi train" than a conveyor belt sushi place. Unfortunately since the opening of this restaurant the weekend parking situation is out of control in this lot - you are probably better off parking across the street and walking. Weekend wait time is easily 2 hours upon opening - get there early or be prepared to do a lot of shopping downstairs!

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.

Came a little after it opened on a Sunday and the wait time was about 90 minutes. The quality of the fish and other food was excellent. Service was also great. For comparison, I would say the cost is ~30% more than Kura, but also ~30% better quality, so this is the spot if your looking for something a little more special.

Was it worth the almost hour long wait? I would say no but I can't figure out a way to give partial stars. The long wait is because of its popularity and for good reason- the food is great. Since we have a small multigenerational family, waiting is just a big deal for us so we never really think it's worth it. Luckily the Tokyo Central market has lots of things to look at/shop for that can keep you busy if you need to get some grocery shopping done or have never been before, otherwise, with a 5 minute weekend grace period which I understand they're strict about, the waiting time is the biggest obstacle for a return trip for us because we just don't have the time/patience for this long of a wait. The service was great: they apologized for the wait (beyond their control) and while initially I was disappointed we were seated so close to the waitstand/register, I realized it was a benefit because the wait staff was very attentive, clearing our dishes very quickly. We did really enjoy the food. The wagyu teriyaki was perfectly seared and the ratio of sauce to the other elements well balanced. Our group was impressed that the soy sauce was smoother shoyu, and the wasabi didn't look/taste like it was from a paste. We read the reviews about the brown rice haters; we were very happy to have the brown rice and thought it worked especially well with the cut rolls like the crunchy california roll. The fried calamari was delicious, served nice and hot - the chicken karaage was average. The miso soup was a hit for those who tried it. The edamame was okay. We ordered the seaweed salad which came out in nori with rice because we didn't order it from the salad section. In general, the seafood was very fresh, the seared food was done well and they even found a roe fan in the kiddo which was likely the most impressive feat of the meal: "it's nice and salty". Her biggest complaint was not getting enough warning that the conveyer built was sending the food so she could capture it IRT on video. We ordered the matcha mont blanc for dessert and while it was good, the dessert was shared between 4 people and we still didn't quite finish. It was our Goldilocks moment: it was too sweet for the adults, not sweet enough for the child but just right for the senior. Tip: you can only order 4 things at a time so we started off with water. You also want to check your 'history' to make sure you got all your items so you can reconcile with the bill when it comes. TLDR: All in all, if there was less than 20 minute wait time and we were in the area, we'd jump at the chance to go again.

Such a hidden gem! Absolutely loved the fresh fish - salmon party, tuna trio, etc. Fun concept where you basically order on a tablet and pick up your food from a conveyor belt. Highly recommend, worth the wait!

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!

An amazing "conveyor" belt sushi restaurant with high quality fish and great vibes. I use quotes because the belt is only used to deliver the food to your table as opposed to the rotating dishes. It's located inside of Tokyo central and there's gunna be a long wait for dinner but honestly.... it's such a great market to wander that you'll find the long wait to be fun. Almost everything we ordered was delicious, mouth watering, and satisfying quality fish. The salmon quality is so butter smooth and I actually recommend the salmon party if that's your favorite type of fish. Most items are decently priced and you can totally get full off of 30 bucks if you order the lower tier stuff. Service was quick and friendly. Tip: You don't need to order on the tablet lol it'll get your arm tired from swiping the fixed screen. Just scan the QR code and order through your phone. Food: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 9/10 Service: 8/10

Conveyor sushi at the upper level inside Tokyo central market. Food can be ordered thru ur Smart phone or provided tablet. Good quality sushi at a decent price. Enjoy...

So yummy such value This is located in the back of the supermarket and up the stairs -steamed egg was so silky and came with two little mushrooms and a whole shrimp -wagyu was really tender but otherwise kind of bland without the sauce on top, was very smoky -salmon combo was sooo worth it, but tbh I just realized I don't like seared salmon lol. The raw salmon was def better Ebi and scallop was nice and fresh but I was a bit disappointed the scallop wasn't sweet like fresh scallops usually are. Sugar fish is still my go to for scallop Self serve ginger and soy sauce but the soy sauce was overpowering on the delicate flavors. The wasabi is really wasabi and not from a powder.

Waka Sakura, located on the second floor of Tokyo Central, offers a unique dining experience. To access it, you'll need to walk to the back and go up a set of stairs. I visited on a Sunday lunchtime and was pleasantly surprised to find no wait, allowing for a quick and enjoyable dining experience. Once you arrive, you'll be greeted by a beautiful interior featuring elegant woodwork, evoking a sense of Japan's refined style. The atmosphere is clean, sleek, and sophisticated. This self-serving sushi restaurant offers a modern take on traditional dining. Using a tablet to place your order, your selections are then delivered via a fast-moving conveyor belt, adding a fun and efficient touch to the meal. The menu includes a variety of sushi options such as nigiri, sashimi, and hand rolls, along with drinks and desserts. Although the prices aren't the cheapest, the quality of the food is impressive, making it well worth the cost. I highly recommend the salmon nirigi set. Overall, Waka Sakura offers a delightful blend of convenience, quality, and ambiance, making it a standout in Tokyo Central's food court.

We chose to revisit Waka Sakura Sushi today, but unfortunately, we were quite disappointed this time. On our first visit, the fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice was cooked flawlessly. This time, all the dishes except for the salmon had a distinctly "fishy" flavor. The aftertaste in my mouth afterwards is unbearable. The rice was too firm. The sushi plate has the words "Sensen-zushi" which means fresh and selected sushi. The irony of life!! Finding a quality sushi restaurant in the U.S. can be quite challenging. #wakasakura

Super decent conveyor belt sushi spot! I've already been here like 4+ times and every time the quality is the same and very decent. Food comes out fast and their fried stuff is especially good like the salmon collar and the calamari. The sushi is decent quality and fresh for conveyor belt and would recommend here any day over Kura. This place is inside a japanese grocery store and the wait can get long during dinner time so I recommend coming earlier to not wait as they do not take reservations. Overall a solid spot!

Had dinner here with a friend. This is not quite a traditional kaiten sushi or conveyor belt sushi but the plates of sushi do get conveyed to your table via a one-way delivery belt system. So you order via the app or tablet and the plates get delivered directly to the table. The price point is definitely on the lower end considering the quality of the fish. The value is so good that wait times for dinner typically run more than an hour. Try to come for lunch instead if you don't want to wait.

Anytime I miss Tokyo, Japan, I plan to come here. The sushi was sooooo good and the service is superb like Japan. I suggest to go on weekdays when there is little to no wait at lunch. If they have specials, it is so worth it as you get a variety of fish. Everything tastes so fresh. Also, most dishes are delivered via the machine, which is so fun to order. You can order as you eat and not worry about over or under ordering. Perfect for a date. Can't wait to go back.

*super late* A brand new sushi restaurant at the upstairs level of Tokyo Central, and and amazing one! Upon entering the market, go straight to the back and you'll find the stairs to go up to the restaurant. Fair warning though, this place is known to have quite a wait! Well worth it though. After signing in, you can roam around the market and kill time while waiting. My friend and I ordered a variety of sushi from hand rolls, nigiri, and rolls. It was a lot, and involved a lot of tuna! Upon receiving some of the dishes, I thought the rolls were made with brown rice, but it's some sort of seasoning that's light and brings out the flavor of the sushi. Staff is super nice and the restaurant itself is clean, spacious, and welcoming. Can't wait to come back!

Food: I was slightly doubtful when I first came here since it was located inside a grocery store, but the hyper is REAL yo. Great quality fresh sushi served right to your nose on a conveyor belt when you order on the overhanging ipad. Forget the other stuff cuz the rolls aren't that special, just order from the assorted combos, and keep ordering until you're full! I especially loved the scallop and shrimp lovers, but my boyfriend could not stop talking about the tuna lovers and wagyu trio, we both equally liked the salmon party. Price: another reason why I like this place is because each assorted combo ranges about $5-11 which are super reasonable prices for high quality fish like this! I can stuff myself without having to burn too much hole in my wallet. I think about 3 dishes per person was enough to make us full Ambiance: clean modern interior, like I said before, located inside Tokyo Central market, keep walking straight, go up the big stairway, and that's the restaurant. There is decent number of booths inside, each spot has access to the conveyor belt and feels rather private, great for holding conversation with whoever you're with. One caveat is that, the line gets very long, I highly recommend you just come super early 11AM when the restaurant opens so you can put your name down immediately Service: great service, ipad and belt does its thing quiet nicely, never had issues getting my water refilled. When you're done, the waiter comes and give you the check in person. Parking: the Tokyo Central free associated parking is pretty big and envelops around the market, sometimes may need to circle around once or twice when it gets real busy, but there is a high turnover, and I never had issues findings an available spot.

Wagyu Beef Nigiri Combo!! Literally the best thing I have ever had!!! This was my fifth/fourth time coming to this sushi place in Tokyo Central and it always hits the spot! If you want good quality fish and fast service come here! This place reminds me of the converyer belt sushi in Japan! All orders are done on the tablet above your table and everything comes to your table at a fast speed! This conveyer belt is by order so there aren't sushi plates revolving consistently- limiting those old plates that you may get at those other places! This place is fresh, fast and sooo tasty! The wait can get long so expect maybe an hour of waiting but you can put your name in a virtual queue (that texts you) & while you walk around the super market (:

I saw this conveyor belt sushi restaurant going viral on social media, and from the pictures, the quality of the sushi seemed to be quite good. I decided to come here with my wife for her birthday. We recently went on a trip overseas and we wanted something simple but tasty for her birthday. Many reviews said there would be 2 hour waits on the weekends, so we arrived early, at 5 PM. Surprisingly, the wait on a Saturday at 5 PM was only 15 minutes. The staff are super nice and attentive. The restaurant is usual kaitenzushi affair, casual but spacious. We were seated quickly. We were given a small packet of real wasabi and also complimentary ginger was on the table. We ended up ordering the salmon party (six varieties of salmon nigiri), anago (conger eel), chuutoro nigiri, scallion yellowtail maki roll, and yuzu cheesecake for dessert. I loved the salmon party, especially the seared salmon. My wife loved the raw salmon with ikura. The anago was also amazing, slightly cooked. The chuutoro was not omakase level but still quite good. The yellowtail maki was ok but I loved the rice. The yuzu cheesecake was great and it came with ice cream. It's not the best sushi in the world, but definitely a step above Kura Sushi. I LOVED that real wasabi was provided. I would definitely come again.

This is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant located in the 2nd floor of Tokyo Central in Gardena. It got a lot of hype on social media, so the drawback to this place is that wait times on the weekends can be very long. The good news is that on weekdays, it's quite reasonable. On Friday night for dinner, we waited a total of 5 minutes before we were able to get a table. When you order, you could either order on your phone through their QR code or you could order on their tablet. I feel the best deals are with their "grand opening specials" (refer to my picture). Their tuna lovers special (4 pc, $9.49), their salmon party (6pc, $10.99) and their wagyu trio (3 pc, $11.99) are all delicious. For conveyor belt sushi, this place is not cheap by any means. I do think prices are fair and quality is high, though. This is definitely not Kura (of which, I am definitely not a fan). If you want simple, good sushi (meaning fresh fish over vinegared rice), then I think that this place is a great option. If you are looking for a bunch of specialty, Americanized sushi rolls with mango, cream cheese, and hot cheeto dust (which I do sometimes like), then this may not be for you. I definitely recommend coming here on a weekday if you're in the area! Walking around the grocery afterward is also a lot of fun!

An amazing "conveyor" belt sushi restaurant with high quality fish and great vibes. I use quotes because the belt is only used to deliver the food to your table as opposed to the rotating dishes. It's located inside of Tokyo central and there's gunna be a long wait for dinner but honestly.... it's such a great market to wander that you'll find the long wait to be fun. Almost everything we ordered was delicious, mouth watering, and satisfying quality fish. The salmon quality is so butter smooth and I actually recommend the salmon party if that's your favorite type of fish. Most items are decently priced and you can totally get full off of 30 bucks if you order the lower tier stuff. Service was quick and friendly. Tip: You don't need to order on the tablet lol it'll get your arm tired from swiping the fixed screen. Just scan the QR code and order through your phone. Food: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 9/10 Service: 8/10

This is currently my favorite sushi/sashimi restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area. This restaurant is very-very good! To find this restaurant you walk in into Tokyo Central and head towards the back. You go up the stairs, and to the left, that's where the restaurant is located. You then go inside and they will seat you. From there, you can either scan the QR code and order your dishes from your phone or, the way I like to do it is, they have a touchscreen that you can order the various dishes on the wall next to your table. Then what happens is that they quickly arrive by a conveyor belt type of apparatus. It is really fun! A couple of things to think about when you come here... First of all, everybody complains about how long the lines are on Saturday and things like that. If you don't want to wait for two hours, don't come here midday on Saturday, because all you will experience is a very long wait. My suggestion is you come here on off-hours during the week. Then, you can walk straight into the restaurant and you'll be seated immediately. The next thing you need to think about this restaurant is that they don't serve alcohol. Which, kind of surprises me??? But, that is just the way they do it. They also don't bring water to your table as is commonly the case with many restaurants. You will actually have to order your water off of their touchscreen menu. This is no problem, this is just something to think about. The other drinks they have are soft drinks and green tea. So, they do have other options for you to drink if you don't want to just drink water. One of the main things to keep in mind is that they will not allow you to bring your own drink into this restaurant. So, don't try it. I've seen them actually make people leave and get rid of their drink before they could actually dine in this restaurant. In other words, don't walk in with your commuter mug or anything like that, as you will be turned away. In terms of what they offer in food, it's all great! They have great sashimi, sushi, wraps, rolls, salad, you name it, they've got it. And, it's all really good and very well prepare prepared. Plus, they only use brown rice. No white rice. That's great! This restaurant is very reasonably priced. For example, when I go here with my wife, we generally spend just a bit under a hundred dollars to have a great meal. That's including the tip. So, compared to many of the other sashimi and sushi restaurants around the area, this one is a great bargain. Overall, if you want some truly great sashimi and/or sushi, and you wanna have some fun eating it, this is your place to go.

What can I say, but love it! This restaurant is on the second floor of Tokyo Central market. Walk through the store to the back staircase and turn left at the top of the stairs. I came during a weekday, before 4pm and was seated right away. Clean. It's a real sit down restaurant. You can either order from the iPad or your phone. I ordered from the iPad. You can order up to 4 dishes at a time. Once you place the order, the dishes are placed on the conveyor belt, stop at your table where you take the dishes and place them on your table. Really fresh, tasty sushi and sashimi, served with brown rice. Enjoyable experience. When you're done, you check out on the iPad or phone and the wait staff deliver the bill. You pay at the table. Free parking.

My new favorite sushi place! Located on the second floor inside Tokyo central, this place has grown so quickly in popularity. I am not sure how they manage to offer such quality fish at such a fair price point, but the instant frenzy of people willing to line up for hours is a testament to the food. I have been able to walk in immediately on weekdays, but have needed to wait 1-2hrs on the weekends. I didn't mind, as I can walk around Tokyo Central and get some grocery shopping done while waiting. Once inside, you order food off a tablet, and dishes arrive by conveyor belt directly to your table. The food arrives quickly and each plate has always been meticulously plated and prepared. Every dish has been delicious, and I appreciate that they don't put too much rice with the nigiri. Aside from the nigiri/sashimi options, some standouts were the chawanmushi and yellow tail collar! Inside is clean and modern, and staff are very friendly and attentive to quickly help with refilling drinks and clearing plates. Can't say enough good things about this place!

Waka Sakura is a conveyer belt sushi restaurant located on the second floor of Tokyo Central market. There are two flights of stairs to reach the restaurant, and I spotted an elevator for people who need assistance. Reading the restaurant can get very busy, we arrived during the weekday lunch hours, and had almost no wait time. We were cordially greeted and were immediately seated upon arrival. The restaurant's layout is similar to a large office with individual cubicles with comfortable seating. The industrial atmosphere is bright and yet calming. The white surfaces show everything is very clean and attended to. Everything is ordered on the built-in tablet or on one's personal cellphone after scanning a given QR code. Special requests are available. Wait staff delivers the utensils and drinks, but all foods come directly from the kitchen via a conveyor belt directly to the customer's table. We chose a couple of roll items (4 pieces), gyoza (3 dumplings), ikura (1) and tobiko sushi (2 count), hamachi kama, and chicken karaage (3 pieces). The portions are small compared to many sushi restaurants, but the cost per plate cost is appropriate. Everything was well prepared and delicious and the service from the staff was good.

I LOVE Waka Sakura! It's so clean and sleek inside, service is great, and the food is amazing. It just tastes so fresh and of good quality, but with reasonable prices. The salmon especially just seems like it melts in your mouth. It's easy to get carried away and over order. You may have to wait, but it's always fun walking around the store to see what goodies they have.

Plenty of parking because it's on the second floor of the Tokyo Centeal market We went on a weekend around when it opened and the wait was about half an hour but they text you so you can just walk around the store Each dish came out super fast and the fish and meat were so good, way better than Kura sushi LOL would definitely come back

Looking for an affordable yet delectable sushi option? Here are our 5 Star FAPS: Food (F): Loved all the sushi! It was one of the best affordable sushi places that we had in California. The miso soup is huge, so you could potentially share it with two people. Also, the shrimp lovers were a pass (still good). Would definitely recommend the salmon lovers though! This is all just preference of what we like. Ambience (A): Intimate/ family booths for all the enjoy! Parking (P): lots of free parking! Service (S): Friendly staff and fast conveyor belt! Bonus: We had no wait when we arrived at 4:00 PM on a Saturday. Overall, we are definitely returning to Waka Sakura!

Best place for sushi and appetizers! Nice clean look! And who can't beat ready at your table food- conveyor belt service!

This might be my favorite conveyor belt sushi! I've been meaning to head to Waka Sakura located on the 2nd Floor of Tokyo Central in Gardena, CA to try their conveyor belt sushi! We went on a Thursday night around 7pm, and had around a 30-45 minute wait since I heard the weekend wait can get up to two hours! You order off a QR code or the iPad and get your sushi delivered on a conveyor belt. I was really shocked with the freshness of the sushi and how affordable this place, and my favorites were the wagyu nigiri and scallop nigiri, along with their tempura octopus legs. They do not have a alcohol license yet, but their do have other soft drinks to pair with your meal. I highly recommend checking this out if you're in Southbay Los Angeles area! Tokyo Central is my favorite Japanese store to go to, and this location is HUGE! I loved shopping around the store while waiting for my table to be ready. It's definitely a great spot to check out if you're craving great quality and affordable sushi in the area!

This place is amazing! Originally super busy when they opened but now it's a bit more manageable. Really enjoy just about everything they make. Seems to always be fresh and super tasty. So many options and even for kids (toddlers). I would recommend this place! It's little hidden inside of Tokyo Central but just walk back and go upstairs. Staff is also always very nice and attentive!

The wait was about 45 minutes around dinner time. We wandered around the market to kill time. Once we were finally seated, wow, high quality fish! The bluefin toro and Hokkaido scallops were my favorite ! The handrolls were great, nothing too out of the ordinary. The tuna sampler was amazing. I have been thinking about this place since we went. I need to go back!

Hands down one of the best sushi restaurants in all of the OC/LA area!! Super convenient and reminiscent of Japan as they utilize the bullet train sushi concept and you order on the tablet at your table. The sushi is so high quality and they have so many different varieties of fish and even wagyu! Also, do not miss out on the shishito peppers!! Service is super quick! Wait times can be a bit longer on the weekends as this spot is pretty popular, but it is inside the Tokyo Central in Gardena so you can pass time quickly walking around the huge store!

Pretty good place for sushi! I'm impressed for a conveyer belt sushi style! It's located in Tokyo Central in Gardena on the 2nd floor in the back. You walk up the stairs and put your name on the waitlist. It was about an hour wait since it was the weekend. Wanted to try it out because of all the rave reviews. Quite a bit of tables and booths for a small restaurant. Staff was nice and helpful and told us how to order. I thought using the QR code was faster than using their touch screens. Sushi came out pretty fast and fish was fresh. We ordered multiple combo dishes like their salmon, wagyu and toro lovers. I also ordered 4 tuna nigiri , sashimi, and uni. Prices weren't too bad either. Ended up paying $150 for 3 adults and 2 little kids. Will come back again...on a weekday. Didn't take pics of everything we ordered, we were too hungry.

This restaurant is upstairs of the Tokyo Central and the way to reach is either through the stairs at the back of the grocery store near the Vegetables or an elevator at the home goods/make up section. There is an incredible long wait time of at least an hour. The pricing is a bit lower than other sushi restaurants like the roll but in reality it costs just as much if not more because most sushi rolls are about 6-8 pieces and here you only get 3. The food itself is a bit off, the sashimi is really thinly sliced - Even thinner than an AYCE place. The avocado they used is either bruised or old because the avocado is brown on the edges for my rainbow roll. The inside is nice and well designed. The convey belt system is pretty quick at getting the food to you. It's not like a typical rotating sushi belt where you just grab something you want off the belt. They just use it to send the food to you instead a waitstaff. There is essentially no service since your food comes through the belt and everything else is on the table. The only thing you can really ask for is a drink refill or more napkins. Overall, it's a place with a really long wait, a cool belt feature, and not much service. Portion sizing is a bit weird since the fish are really thinly sliced. It's a decent place but I wouldn't put it really high on my must try list.

I really enjoyed dining at Waka Sakura. The restaurant is located upstairs of the Tokyo Central Market in Gardena. I heard there were long lines but we went before they opened and put our name on the list. We didn't wait long before our table was ready. The sushi and appetizers are ordered either by the screen next to your table or by QR code. There's very little interaction with staff except for taking drink orders and removing plates from the table. Food is served by conveyer belt which stops at your table after ordering. The sushi came in small portions, which gave an opportunity to try more dishes. Prices were fair, not outrageous. My favorite dish was the grilled salmon belly, which was nicely prepared and not overcooked. Also enjoyed the kid's assorted non-raw sushi. The wagyu beef torio was very good too. We had to split our group into 2 adjacent booths because there are no large tables. Each booth can seat 4 adults comfortably. I'd go back again. When we left, there was a line waiting.

My husband and I have tried this place twice! We first went on a weekday lunch time thinking the wait time wouldn't be as long. It was still 3 hours on Thursday afternoon haha. The second time we went was 3 hour wait right at opening on a Saturday. So crazy! Definitely your name in the list as soon as you get there. The menu can be quite overstimulating at first! Your order on the tablet then the belt brings it over. Our favorites were: the salmon lovers & the wagyu trio! We love how each salmon piece tasted different and so flavorful. The wagyu literally melts in your mouth! We also noticed they use brown rice for the sushi! The environment reminded me a lot of Japan! Small booths. The servers were very nice and attentive. I asked for a couple of requests (soda and more ginger), and they told me to put it in the tablet- which was a little odd. We really liked the food, but I don't think I would wait 3 hours again.

Pro Tip: come here on a weekday lunch and there is little to no wait! I have come here a couple times during normal weekday lunch hours and there is no wait! You can just stroll right in and be greeted with a seat. Scan the QR code for the menu and order away! There is a photo for every menu item which gives you a really good idea of what you are ordering. Here is the best part: after you place your order, the food comes in what feels like minutes! If you want to be in and out because you have somewhere to be, this is the place to go. I can easily have my whole lunch in under 15 minutes. (Lol again, this experience is for weekday lunch!) The seating is nice and clean. The venue looks new and is new.

Long wait time, but I did grocery shopping in the store below and had an appetizer from one of the food places downstairs to whet my appetite. The quality of items is better than day Kura Revolving Sushi. There aren't too many items though and I would say the combo plates are the best deal. My favorite was the clam combo. I really enjoy finding items like the wagyu, whelk and fin meat. Quality over quantity with this restaurant but service is not as attentive as you need to use your touchscreen to get staff attention to get refills on drinks.

Spent the day with a friend and they suggested we check out Waka Sakura for dinner. Waka Sakura is on the 2nd floor of Tokyo Central so there's ample parking around the building. You'll need to head straight to the back from the entrance and go up the stairs on the left -- there are plenty of signs along the way! We came in on Sunday evening around 5pm and put our names on the waitlist -- we had an estimated wait of 45 minutes. While waiting we walked around Tokyo Central to see what goodies we'd pick up after dinner. Check-in was easy and we were seated quickly. Everything is electronic, either via the tablet at each table or by QR code. Make your orders -- 4 items at a time -- and items come out via the conveyor belt or by a helpful staff. If you don't get all your items in one order, don't worry! You can send another order right after. The sushi was so tasty! The tuna practically melted, but the salmon was my favorite. My friend ordered a hot tea and the staff were so helpful with refills! We spent around $65 total, which was perfect for two of us without getting overly full.

Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Wait Time: OUCH! 1 hour Sunday at 1pm. Ambiance: 10/10 The place is so very clean. Everything seems to have an order. The servers were on point and very friendly. Food was fresh and quality seafood. I absolutely loved the gyozas. They had the perfect crunch and great taste. I try gyozas wherever I go and this is the first place that I can say I am in love with their Gyozas. I can't eat rice but I did eat it here on the Shrimp Tempura Crunch. I feel that this can use some imitation or real crab meat on here. This did not beat Sushi Sumos flaming joy roll. The tuna and salmon were so fresh. You can taste the great quality and the difference between a good restaurant (Waka Sakura) and a bad one. They had a variety of sushi and nigiri. The wasabi and ginger were fresh and delicious. The belt was clean and fast. Everyone was on point. The pricing was very reasonable. I am definitely coming back. There is so much more to try

So thankful this place opened! I live in Carson, and I will say that there's not a lot of good sushi places over here. Decent ones maybe but nothing that sticks to me. Until this placed opened up and now I can get sushi without it being too far. When you first arrive I feel like I arrived in a lowkey sushi joint in some random alley in Tokyo. For context this place opened inside Tokyo Central on the second floor and the design of it is modern and traditional at the same time. It's very dim and very quiet. Very demure activities going on there for sure! You sit down and once you sit down you look through the screen and order everything through there. You also call your servers with the screen as well. The servers attend to your needs pretty fast. it's not that big of a restaurant to begin with. We ordered damn near a little bit of every nigiri that we like personally, which i will say is a lot. The quality for such a peace isn't omakase quality but you're getting some very good quality fish for cheap. So price is definitely a factor that helps. My personal favorite was the jumbo scallop. I order 3 for myself at the end. my bill came out to $80 for 2 after tax and tip!!!

Walk in Tokyo Central, go all the way to the back and walk up the stairs and you will find this little slice of heaven! We loved everything that we tried! The wait was only 5 minutes on a Saturday around 3 pm. The space inside is plain but we didn't come for the views, I heard raving reviews about the fish and it did not disappoint! I loved the seared teriyaki wagyu the most but everything tasted fresh and came out in just minutes after placing the order! And of course the conveyor belt is such a cool way to get your order!

great conveyor sushi belt restaurant located on the second floor of tokyo central :') the interior is very clean and there's ample space for seating. i'd say since it is booth seating, the best would be 3-4 people in a party. for more people, you'd have to split tables but if you don't mind that then this place works for you! they have pretty good assorted combos. no need to worry about your dish being out for too long since the conveyor is only for ordered items. the sushi was fresh and it was good quality!! way better than kura and it's only a little bit more pricier but so much more worth.

Wow this place has amazing sushi. The quality is top notch (and I am very picky about sushi quality) for the price. We came on a Friday evening and waited about 20 minutes, which isn't bad considering we had heard the wait can be crazy. What I liked about this place is that even though it's a "conveyor belt" spot, everything is made to order. I appreciated that they were VERY generous with the fish and everything we ordered was delicious. I don't think they have their alcohol license yet, so we didn't order any alcohol, but our bill came out to just over $100 for two people. Considering the quality, it's a pretty decent deal. The one complaint I have is that the iPad was absolutely trash and pretty unresponsive. Not enough to dock a star since they have a QR code that you can scan and order on your phone.

High quality sushi that's affordable. This place is incredible, and is able to maintain such high quality at boggling low prices likely because of the ability to get their ingredients at low prices via the Tokyo Central affiliation. We've been here twice in a month, and tried almost everything on the menu, from the karaage to the miso soup to the wagyu and sushi. Everything it so fresh, of such high quality, delicious, and priced low. The popularity is evident because they don't take reservations. You need to go to the restaurant itself to be put on the waiting list, and if you go during peak hour it'll be packed (for good reason).

A sushi restaurant atop a grocery store?!? I mean... why not, right?!? Hubbers and I (+2 others) came through maybe a couple of months ago, but the wait was so long, our hAngerism wasn't having it! (Yeah, we ended up somewhere else.) However! Hubbers and I vowed to return. Some few weeks later, we finally got the chance to come through, and like the last time, there was a wait - 50 minutes, to be exact. We expected this, so we didn't mind it at all. Although I shop at Tokyo Central downstairs often, I got to walk around and found products I would someday like to try. We were delighted to get the text way less than the 50 minutes projected. So there's the option of ordering through the pad or from your phone (via QR code.) We opted for our phones which we ended up wasting a lot of time on because no one told us we can only order 4 items at a time. Once we settled that, through, it was easy street from there. We felt like we ordered too much food (we have that tendency) but it really wasn't if shared with two. We started with the salmon skin salad which was surprising: more salmon skin than greens! Never had we experience this kind of generosity on this salad. Good starter. The calamari was nothing to call home about, but we really liked it. Good crisp and thinly battered delicious. The steamed egg came out hot-off-the-steamer. It's not something I normally have at home but something about it reminds you of such. There's something really hearty and homely about it. The miso soup was full of depth and also a good starter. We were curious about the grilled salmon belly and it looked like it was fried because it felt oily - our bad, the oil is from that delicious salmon belly fat! And the skin was crispy! Seasoning was perfect and adding a splash of lemon added a bit of umph. We shared a lot of plates: albacore sashimi, salmon sashimi and bluefin tuna sashimi all tasted incredibly fresh. The seared plates (bluefin, yellowtail and both wagyus) all seared perfectly and had their individual flavor profiles. The anago and hiramasa (specials for the day, maybe the week) was a good experience as well. FOOD: 5. There was nothing we didn't like. SERVICE: 3.5. Very little interaction but above average. VALUE: 5. It's almost bargain pricing for the quality. PARKING: Private lot shared with Tokyo Central. It's gotten busy since this place opened up. Looks like they're working on opening up more spots. It gets busy - allocate a bit of time. OVERALL: 4.5. TIP: Sign in providing your celfone number immediately at arrival. Assume about an hour wait. Might be worse on the weekends. ANOTHER TIP: You can only order 4 items at a time. Most likely so the kitchen doesn't get inundated... and possibly avoid overstuffing yourself. It's not that big of a place and we noticed they had a whole section empty. We attributed it to lack of staff. They are very popular, so expect a wait when you come through. (They don't do reservations.) But all good: the experience was worth the wait! Looking forward to that next run!

1st visit Party of 7 @ 5:30p: Great selection on their menu but what really caught my attention at first glanced was the "Salmon Party" that includes 6 kinds of Salmon: Fresh Salmon, Onion Mayo, Salmon Roe, Seared Salmon, Teriyaki Sauce, Spicy Mayo all for $10.99 (Oct 2024). Modern-day sushi conveyor type of dining where you order from the virtual menu so there's not much interaction with staff unless there's an issue with your order (i.e. missing sushi roll) or when it's time to closed out the tab. Definitely will be bookmarked for future visits! And not to mention, since it is located inside Tokyo Central, it's a one stop for dining and grocery!

I had such a good experience here. The prices are extremely reasonable and the sushi comes out so quickly. I haven't seen prices this low for sushi in a while. The quality of the sushi is pretty good as well. I love the vibe of the restaurant. It reminds me of an exact sushi restaurant I've been to in Japan. I also love how it is inside a Japanese grocery store so you can get some snacks on the way out!

Finally got to try out this popular new sushi restaurant located in Tokyo Central! I came on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm and the wait was about an hour which wasn't too bad cuz we ended up just walking to Sunright for a drink and coming back. The estimated wait time was pretty accurate and we were seated around 5. There were many empty tables around us but I'm assuming there aren't enough chefs to meet the high demand. The two of us love salmon so we each started with the salmon party which is 6 kinds of salmon nigiris, 3 raw, 3 seared. The salmon was fresh and tasted great with the different flavors. We also tried the salmon sashimi which was very fresh and tender. The salmon California roll was pretty interesting with a crunchy chili oil topping but I liked the kick of it. We also tried the bluefin tuna nigiri and the wagyu beef trio which were my favorite! The bluefin tuna was so tender and the wagyu was so fatty and melted in my mouth. I didn't really enjoy the texture of the rice they used since it wasn't the traditional white sushi rice, but was instead a more firm brown rice. But I did like the light vinegar seasoning of it which gave it a nice flavor. Overall the fish here is fresh and the nigiri combos are a pretty good value, but I don't think it was anything spectacular that I would wait an hour for. I definitely enjoyed it and was glad I got to try it though. I would recommend trying their salmon party, bluefin tuna, and wagyu trio.

I have seen Waka all over lately and really wanted to try. I made an attempt a few weeks ago, but they closed off the line. It was about 6 PM when I got there the first time, so I would definitely get there earlier the better. This time around, I got there around 4:30 PM. Waka is located upstairs to the market. There is a kiosk where you put your name down and they give you an estimated wait time. When I got there on Sunday, it was about an hour wait. I wandered around the market for a little bit and then there is a medium size waiting area. They will text you when your table is ready. I would wander too far off because you will have to report back in about 5-10 minutes (they seem to be pretty strict with that). Also, as an added plus, the wait time is pretty accurate. The restaurant itself is super sleek. I really liked the ambiance. Once you get seated, you just order from the tablet. The fish comes out pretty quickly. I will say that the fish is pretty fresh, but everything tasted the same (I think it was not aged long enough). So, all the sushi (although really fresh) started tasting the same to me. Some of my favorite suhsi were the yellowtail, toro, and salmon. Aside from that, because the sushi all sort of tasted the same, I did venture out and try a few other items, which ended up being really good. Their waygu was good and their yellowtail collar also super good. All in all, had a pretty good meal. I am not sure if this is worth the long wait. I would probably come back if someone else wants to try it, but don't think I would go on my own again.

Ok, I guess I love finding new places to try and this Waka Sakura popped up on one of those social media apps so I decided to check this place out. Located in Gardena inside the Japanese supermarket on the second floor is where this cool Japanese sushi place. Overall the food here is super fast it comes on a conveyor belt to your actual table. You order through the iPad on top of the conveyor belt. It is a little high but not too bad. The green tea also tastes pretty delicious. I would come back here again and again if I lived a little bit closer. The fish all tasted super fresh! I love the scallops and salmon those are my favorite and I think you will love it too!

Seriously never knew this was at Tokyo Central until I kept seeing reels about it and seriously it was delicious! I enjoyed the most the wagyu, tuna, and scallop items. But the red vinegar rice was fantastic and flavorful and almost sweeter. I loved the sushi more than the fried items (karage and tempura). I seriously think we ordered all the sushi, all the fried items and we ended with the yuzu cheesecake and the matcha mont blanc which I enjoyed all. Wait can be a bit but you can shop while waiting and they will text you when your table is ready.

Put my name down at 1:30, eat at 3. It's fine since I'm not hungry anyway. Quality exceeded my expectations: fresh thick cut of fish. Uni so sweet. Fatty tuna that melts in your mouth. Thing is: it isn't fun. Like it's not conveyor belt sushi where you're inspired to take something cuz you see it. You order it off a tablet or your phone and the food zips to you thru the conveyor belt. There's nothing to see. It's the fastest food experience I've ever had at a sushi restaurant. 13 items is about $110: I got the good stuff tho - uni, toro, toro with uni (don't get this: the uni is so little and it doesn't add to the toro), sashimi, sweet shrimp. What surprised me was the roll is hella good. Like I got shrimp tempura with spicy tuna. Spicy tuna was slightly over pulverized.

This is quite frankly some of the best conveyor belt sushi I have ever had, including kaitenzushi experiences I had in Tokyo. The salmon party plate (see picture), which includes 3 fresh salmon pieces and 3 seared salmon pieces, was only $11. My other favorites were the Wagyu with uni ($10 per piece but I had to order another one immediately after trying this!) and the hiramasa (a type of yellowtail). I was pleasantly surprised to see the fish offerings here, which included hotate (scallop), engawa (flounder), anago (saltwater eel), and other more expensive fish. Since we had dinner pretty late at 8:45PM (note that last call is 9:30PM), the hamachi kama and grilled salmon belly were both on sale for $10 and $5, respectively. We routinely make these at home but at Waka they're able to grill the fish so that the skin on the outside is perfectly crispy while the meat inside is moist and tender. Mind blowing! Our daughter eats everything so it was no surprise she loved the food here and the novelty of the dishes teleporting over to our table via the belt. Our son is the pickier one but he scarfed down roll after roll and even loved the raw salmon. Finally, I also cannot rave enough about the rice. High quality rice is typically what distinguishes an excellent sushi restaurant from all others (since in LA it is not hard to get access to Santa Barbara uni or fresh fish in general). Every nigiri we ordered had seasoned rice, which added incredible flavor. You could taste each rice grain. Mind blowing! Truly, you cannot find a better conveyor belt sushi experience. The only potential drawback I could see is if you have a large party, since the seating seems to be designed for couples or families of 4. And I'll bet the wait time is long during peak dinner times. But as it is located within the Tokyo Central mart it is fun to kill time shopping for more amazing Japanese things!

Torrance might just be the closest you'll get to an authentic Japanese dining experience in the mainland U.S. It's a bold statement, but with the variety of Japanese restaurants in the South Bay, Waka Sakura certainly contributes to that reputation. My friends and I (party of four) arrived around 6:30 PM on a Thursday and waited about 20-25 minutes to be seated. The wait flew by thanks to Tokyo Central's endless window-shopping delights. Stepping into Waka Sakura, the atmosphere immediately transports you to Tokyo--from the jingling bells to the delightful aromas. We had the option to order via tablet or our phones using a QR code. While I can't recall everything we ate, the salmon nigiri stood out as a crowd favorite, as expected. Waka Sakura uses azaku, a type of red vinegar that has been making a comeback lately. This seasoning adds a rich depth to the nigiri, and I hope more sushi restaurants in the U.S. adopt this. My partner particularly loved the wagyu nigiri platter, describing the smokiness as something that 'tasted like Japan.' One small critique: my friend and I were hoping for saba (mackerel) nigiri, which they didn't have. Jack mackerel isn't quite the same, so we skipped that. Overall, Waka Sakura delivers a fantastic sushi experience for those craving a taste of Japan in the South Bay. I'm excited to see what new additions they'll bring to the menu hehe

This place never disappoints. One of my favorite sushi joints! The service is great, family friendly, and overall great ambiance. Plus, you can't beat the fact that it's inside Tokyo central. So, if there's a long wait - you can always go grocery shopping.

Waka Sakura is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant located on the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Central Market in Gardena. There was a short wait when we went and they have seating indoor with a restroom available. The market itself is a great place to shop, with high quality fish and Japanese food as well as a beauty section. The restaurant is modern and clean. The service was standard since you order on your own. Food We ordered the salmon party for $11, the assorted sashimi for $16, and the scallop lovers for $9. The orders came pretty quickly on the conveyor belt. The rice was warm and had a nice balance of vinegar and oil. The fish was great quality and our favorite was definitely the salmon party. Overall, the price is a little more expensive but the food is delicious. Definitely check them out for sit-down or grab some fish from the market. Overall | 4.5 The ambiance + service: 4.5/5 The food: 4.5/5 The price: $$