🇺🇸 LA’s Best Conveyor Sushi… But Is It Worth It? 🍣🤔

Waka Sakura Gardena 📍 1740 Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248 🕙 Mon–Sun: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM I always check reviews carefully before trying a new spot — didn’t wanna fall for a hyped-up letdown! 📲🧐 After scrolling through tons of posts, the consensus was: “Worth a try, but expect to wait 1–2 hours.” ⏳😅 This place is inside what used to be the largest Tokyo Central — the upstairs sold household goods before closing for a long time post-pandemic. 🛒🛑 Following a 🍠 tip, I went right after school pickup 🚸🚗 — arrived around 4:30 PM and got seated immediately! No wait! But by 5:30, the line was already packed. 👥🔥 The staff are Japanese — super polite 🎎💖 — and the restaurant is clean and tidy. Not all seats are open, which probably explains the long waits. And yes — the chefs are Japanese, not the usual “Mexican sushi” setup. 👨‍🍳🇯🇵 They’re not running the conveyor belt right now — you order everything via iPad 📱✅, even free ice water! The fish is fresher and tastier than at Kura Sushi Bar (my former go-to in Little Tokyo, which went downhill post-pandemic 😔📉). Highlights: 🐟 Salmon 🐠 Tuna 🌊 Uni 🐚 Scallop 🔥 Engawa (flounder fin) All delicious and fresh! But the sushi rice has a bit too much vinegar — it overpowers the fish’s natural sweetness 🍚🍶. And even though we’re not big eaters, it came out to $40+ per person (for two adults + two kids) 💸👨‍👩‍👧‍👦… Not the best value. For that price, you’ve got plenty of options — I’d rather go to Ootoro for better quality. Final thoughts: Worth trying once — the fish is fresh and the prices look low on the menu, but the total adds up 📊💔. Not amazing enough to rush back (my kids prefer saucy rolls anyway — they vote for Sakana Sushi in Las Vegas, AYCE lunch for $25.95 🎰🤣). If you have to wait super long — maybe not worth it. Best to go on a weekday, off-peak! 🗓️🌤️ #WakaSakura #ConveyorSushi #LAEats #SushiReview #GardenaEats #FoodieNotes