Kansai

The food is very mediocre here. The owners are not Japanese, yet they pretend to speak the language phonetically while not understanding a word of it. The original owners were Japanese, and the food was very good and authentic back then. The service is OK for a diner-type restaurant like this. I only go because it's the only Japanese noodle restaurant in the Pasadena area. more

place is tiny but is cozy. only place in town that i could find decent ramen. i frequent here a lot when im in need of my ramen fix. their shoyu ramen and miso ramen is good and come in these huge bowls. i like how they have those plastic japanese food displays that look super real. makes me wanna grab them and take a bite. they have pretty convenient parking in a structure right next to them and its free for the first hour or so. more

This place served my husband food with chicken in it after he verified that what he ordered would not contain chicken. (My husband is a vegetarian, so we like to frequent places that normally would present a variety of dining options for vegetarians, like Thai). When the food arrived and my husband tasted it, he knew immediately that it had chicken in it. They apologized and brought him a different dish, which required everyone at the table to wait to eat until his food arrived - which normally would not have been more than a slight inconvenience - but then they put BOTH entrees on our check and refused to take it off, so we had to pay for both! I would never go back to a place that does that to their customers! Cons: Rude, inconsiderate of their customer's dietary needs more

Kansai serves simple, delicious Japanese food in a charming environment. When I went to pick up some food for lunch, the host was so polite and gracious, offering me tea while I waited and making me feel quite welcome. I had a cold noodle dish with tempura flakes and fishcake, it was really quite tasty, light yet filling. I would definitely eat here again. Pros: Tasty food, good service and value, very cute and cozy interior more

Kansai has been put under new ownership and I say AVOID IT! I have a coupon from the Entertainment book for a buy one get one free entree and upon arriving at the restaurant I had asked the waitress if I could use it. She brought it to the owner and came back saying that it was okay to use. After ordering two not so great bowls of udon and a terrible plate of california rolls I went up to pay my bill and they refused to let me use it! So after standing there a good 20 minutes arguing with the man we payed for the bill and are filing a charge back. Do NOT go to this place because the new owner is not one to be trusted! Pros: No seat wait Cons: Everything else more

Cold Soba with Wasabi is awesome. Nice down to earth family restaurant. Won't bust your wallet. I liken it to a rare hole in the wall. Authentic Japanse fare. more

This is the place for no-nonsense, down to earth japanese food. And they are actually run by real japanese people, which is rare these days. more

kansai has never let me down. it fills up fast but has pretty fast turnover due to the efficient service. i go regularly for their udon tokyo style and the quality of the food is great and fresh. it's authentic, comforting, and satisfying. everyone is friendly and nice, too. kansai is right next to the schoolhouse lot on fair oaks ave so it's convenient, too. Pros: awesome udon, friendly, efficient more

If you are looking for authentic and satisfying family-style Japanese food, then Kansai is really the place to go. Not only are the portions generous, the food arrives promptly and is delicious. Amazing rice and noodle dishes...and appetizers...You must try their Aji Fry..! Pros: prompt service, rice, noodles Cons: modest environment more

Kansai has the best udon (try the Tokyo Style broth) I have had in a long time... and perhaps ever! The broth is rich and tastey. The noodles and other ingredients are fresh. The service is friendly and attentive. In short, it is a great place to get a cheap and healthy meal while you have a beer or two with some friends. more

My experiences with Kansai have been great. The noodle is made by hand, so the taste is very fresh and natural. The broth is just right (I usually prefer Tokyo Style Broth). The owner is very very friendly. It's not a fancy place, but very easy and a good place to go for family and friends. For the Pasadena Area, and for a place to go without breaking the bank, this is the best noodle shop PERIOD! Pros: Healthy, Inexpensive, Friendly Service Cons: Needs better ambience more