Chiba Restaurant & Sushi Bar

The best! When we visited from northern California, my son insisted that we try it. He goes there every payday and as often in between as he can. I see why! Everything Yoshi made us was WONDERFUL! This is the place we will judge all others by- perfect sushi, excellent service and friendly establishment. Thank you, Chiba!

WOW! This place rocks! My good friend is from Japan and she turned me onto to this "Jewel of the Valley"! I have had excellent Sushi all over Southern California and CHIBA just blows them away. I was hoping to be served by the renowned "Shig" but we were sat with a young gentleman named "Yoshi". He was incredible! My fiance' and I were pleased to find out that they will wrap most cut and hand rolls in cucumber and will serve them with out rice (I'm on low carb diet so this was great!). First, we went off the menu and did some straight sashimi. I find that it's a good way to gauge the quality and freshness of the fish. We began our meal with succulent yellow tail. So fresh....just like butter! Generous pieces, not big but just right. Next we had the albacore sashimi......it was the best I've ever had! Chiba serves it on a platter, where each piece has thin slivers of garlic laid on each piece....and then ponzu is poured over the albacore with just a few sprouts over the pieces! I've had it served with ponzu on the side and with it poured over. I prefer the ponzu poured. But as I let the albacore seduce my taste buds I realized that what makes the food great at Chiba is the excellent quality and freshness of the fish. It was so good I could've eaten albacore all night. Then we decided to have some Octopus Sashimi.....it was very, very good! It was tender and not chewy at all. So the sashimi was out of this world. Then it was time to try some rolls. So here is where we looked at their menu..... they have a very extensive selection of sushi, traditional rolls......cut and hand rolls and at least 40 different types of appetizers and salads! My fiance' loves Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls so we ordered one for each. They use prime pieces of Tuna, whereas other places use the unused pieces from what is used for sushi and sashimi. Mixed with their spicy ingredients, it was creamy & spicy but not overdone. Yoshi blended some tiny diced veggies (I think cucumber).....Oh my God! It was a generous and wonderful roll. Very unique. If you try the lobster roll, which we did...it is blended the same way and is also incredible. For the guys next to me, Yoshi made a "Rufus Roll" which is an off menu item and a Chiba favorite. It is blended like the Spicy Tuna and Lobster Roll.....except they blend Spicy Tuna, Lobster, Crab and I believe Baked Salmon!!! We didn't order it but the regulars swear it is the ultimate in Sushi Roll Dining! I'm definitely ordering it next time. Finally My friend said to try the Roasted Shishinto Peppers appetizer (yeah I know I went in reverse with the appetizer at the end). They are small Chile Serranos, roasted and served with a special soy sauce blended just for dipping. The peppers were not "Holy Crap Hot"! But were tasty and tangy and nice vegetable to munch on....much like an Edamame appetizer.....just tastier. I drank some excellent cold sake recommended by Yoshi. Overall the dinning experience is second to none. The place is spacious, with ample and plenty of sushi bar seating as well as plenty of table seating. It has a great vibe with a diverse cross section of diners from all over the valley and L.A. in general. This place is definitely comfortable and not uptight! Everyone is talking, laughing eating and drinking. The way good dining should be! The only negative thing is the parking is not good. It's in a tiny strip mall shared with other businesses. But they have a parking attendant. I'm not sure how it works....we got lucky and found the last space available. I'm sure that people will say that there are other little jewels and I agree...However, I usually eat in Little Tokyo and Pasadena....and baby.....this puts them in check! CHIBA I will be back! to tear up that menu!

THE FOOD EXCELLENT AS WELL AS THE SERVICE FROM SHIG'S SPECIAL TECHNIQUES TOMAMA SAN'S GRACIOUS AND FRIENDLY SMILE.CHIBA'S IS THE BEST SUSHI BAR IN SOUTHERN CALI.YOU NEVER HAD SUCH SUCCULENT FISH IN YOU LIFE,IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE I RECOMMEND YOU GET THERE ASAP,I GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE BACK. THANK YOU SHIG CHIBA FOR EVERYTHING.