Kinokawa Japanese Restaurant

Reviews

• Richen B.

  star star star star star_border 27 August 2026

  Yelp needs to update their business hours. It's 11:15am, not 11:00 am opening.
  
  Otherwise food is worth the wait !

• Megan K.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 14 August 2026

  Went here with the family since we drive by it all the time. Based on the name and the interiors I guessed it was opened by a Japanese family about 20-30 years ago. Searched online and it seems to be true, if the Yelp comments are true (since everything on the internet is true). Currently it's run by very polite Korean folks, based on my eavesdropping and a sign over a doorway. The service was nice and relatively quick. We came by on a weekday at 5:00pm and were one of three parties there. Props to having the only Tatami dining room that I have seen in Long Beach or Lakewood so far. Also they win for "most authentic Japanese dining environment" in my book.
  
  If you're looking for authentic Japanese food, this is not the place for you. The soft shell crab was a bit undercooked and over battered. The avocado on top of another roll was not ripe yet. The udon was under whelming and could have used some dashi and daikon in the soup base.
  
  I would agree with other reviews that it's probably the best "Japanese" place in North Long Beach/Lakewood border area compared to Kiku Roll & Sushi, Ramen Hub or California Sushi. These places are owned and run by Chinese and Korean entrepreneurs I think. Don't get me wrong, I love me some non-Japanese owned places sometimes too! Octopus in downtown LB and Aburi Premium AYCE Sushi North of the Traffic Circle are places I enjoy!
  
  If you want Japanese managed spots, I recommend Sushi West for fast food type Japanese. Bamboo Teri House (or whatever they rebranded as) as quick rolls and bento boxes. For a bit more moolah and time try Kashiwa in Signal Hill; their yellowtail is ridiculous.
  
  If you want really really good Japanese food, head over to Torrance or even a few spots in Santa Monica! Traditional Japanese food in general is pretty tame, with limited saucy-ness or spice. I think for me it is why freshness and flavor are so important. It takes mastery to make simple food excellent.
  
  Note: I am Japanese American so my review is totally reflects my racist viewpoint.

• Nathan O.

  star star star star star 13 August 2026

  The wife and I use to live here in Bixby Knolls when we first got married. We had been going here since they first opened and even after moving to different areas throughout the state of CA we always came back here (if we had business in the area) because Kinokawa had flavor that was just right! What do I mean by that? I mean it was (and is) just like the flavors I experienced at places with my Good Japanese American Friends in High School and College. Going to places including Gardena, "J" Town in LA and WLA.
  The quality of the meat is still top of the mark and not processed. The sashimi is quite fresh but the price has gone up a bit and the cuts are different.
  For me and the wife our favorite here at Kinokawa is the traditional Bento Boat "B", with a side of Hamachi, or Unagi and a drink (Saki, Kirin, Ice Tea, Tea, or Sapporo) followed by one Green Tea Ice Cream.
  Yup we love this place and we are loyal to it even when it went through different ownerships. Even though the place has become a little run down over the years the flavors still remain true in taste as when it first opened.It is just a very quaint Local Neighborhood Japanese Restaurant that only the locals know about. One regret is that I miss the times when the servers use to wear the traditional attire like Kimonos it really added to the ambiance. (Sigh) Oh well.

• Israel G.

  star star star star star_border 8 August 2026

  I've been coming to this restaurant since 2005.  Great sushi, fresh all the time.  Don't order the Toro, not good at all.  Service from the sushi good but sometimes better.  Sometimes very slow even when we've been the only ones sitting at the sushi bar.  Sometimes service is on point.

• Leslie Y.

  star star star star_border star_border 4 August 2026

  A few years later, I visited the restaurant again, and while it's a decent experience, I was equally underwhelmed by the average good.
  
  I ordered the chirashi again, and eating it only made me miss a much better chirashi I had somewhere else.  It filled my empty stomach, but it left a gaping hole in my soul.