END OF AN ERA: DOWNEY’S SAMBI OF TOKYO RESTAURANT TO CLOSE OCT. 24
By Eric Pierce
Sambi of Tokyo, a fixture in Downey since it opened on Firestone Boulevard nearly 40 years ago, is closing. The owners confirmed that the restaurant’s last day will be Oct. 24. Employees were notified of the closure last Friday.
“It has to do with so many issues. Basically it’s due to the economy, that’s a major setback for us,” owner Shiho Toyohara said in a telephone interview.
Sambi opened Sept. 13, 1973. It currently employs 67 people, down from more than 100 employees five years ago, Toyohara said.
The restaurant was also facing potential closure by the Downey Fire Department, which said the business was not up to fire codes, Toyohara said.
Bringing the restaurant up to code would cost at least $25,000, she said.
“For us being here so long I thought they would give us more time to comply, but it didn’t work out that way,” Toyohara said.
Toyohara’s father purchased the property in the 1960’s and built the building in the early 1970’s. The restaurant has remained in the family since.
“We appreciate everyone coming to our restaurant for 37 years,” Toyohara said. “Hopefully in the near future we’ll be able to open up another restaurant with the same name, the same food, everything. But probably it will be a lot smaller than this one.”
21 Comments
I am so saddened by this news. This is my family’s favorite restaurant…it is where we go to celebrate all of our special occasions. So many of our family memories are connected to this place. My brother, sister, and I agreed that if we were granted one last meal it would be at Sambi of Tokyo. Sambi, we love you. Thank you for the 37 years of wonderful food and indelible memories.
This was the saddest news Ive heard in a long time:(…. We love going to Sambis and my daughter had her sweet sixteen there. The service was always great and the food excellent! I wish the owners the best of luck and look forward to eating at their new location:)… I can’t believe the city wouldnt give them the time needed to fix their issue after all they have brought to the City of Downey. Sambis is a landmark to this city! What are they going to open another Starbucks, Mcdonalds or some other useless franchise we don’t need:(… Sambis we love u and will miss you greatly! Im planning on taking my family there one last time.
I’m saddened of the news. This is a nice restaurant. They serve delicious, quality food in a great athmosphere. We even had my in laws 50th wedding anniversary luncheon there last year. Good luck and hope another one does open up in the future.
We are so sad to hear about this news because we had major emotional ties to Sambi. We had our first date there, we celebrated our engagement there, and have celebrated every anniversary there. The sushi was the best and the atmosphere was like no other.
My mom just called me with this news. So sad! It was basically the only restaurant she could go to due to food allergies. We also celebrated special occasions there. We’ll really miss the good food and great service (especially Sunny and Yoko).
Hopefully, they open a new place soon!
I was so sad to hear the news. My husband and I have so many special occasions we celebrated there.. We loved the teppan and the Sambi” special hot sause”, like no other. Now were will be get a away from the kids for a quick date? I will def. miss the duet and the pond. I am really hoping they open their doors again. I went on Saturday before they closed, like always I wasn’t disappointed… Thanks for the great memories and food.. OH man I’m craving some right now… ;(
I just found out today and missed out on going one last time to my favorite restaurant. I was planning on making a reservation for my anniversary of when me and my husband first met Dec. 8, 1986 (24 years) I am so sad I wanted to go to Sambi’s we always go for special occasions, I’ve got to break the bad news to my husband. I sure hope they reopen again I will definately be there. Great food.
Worst news I have heard in a long time
. The food and atmosphere was great! There is no other place like it… where to go now? 
Absolutely horrible. They must reopen another restaurant like it!
I learned about the closing today!
There is a grieving process in all of this. We really and truly must begin championing people, their businesses, memories, marvelous traditions, the pain a closing of this type creates, not unlike foreclosing of a home.
Man has unfathomable power. He can destroy decades of quality…blood, sweat and tears, within minutes.
With a second hom in Los Angeles, I can honestly say that Sambi’s enjoyed unmatchable quality and service.
I often contemplate how the Amish put people first. Will we ever, ever learn? Restoring and reconciling are rare in these challenging days.
I was so sad to hear the news. We have been coming to Sambi’s for at least 30 years. It has been a special place for my family and will definitely be missed.
This is sooooo sad, I am actually sitting here with tears in my eyes!! I have my first memories there! My family and I grew up with Sambi’s. I am 32 and have celebrated mine, my sisters, parents and so many birthdays and special occasions there! How could Downey not give more time??!! How could Sambi’s not ask the public for help??!! I was there in September and quite possibly October and had no clue! This news is a shock and it is more than just about the food or the location, which in my opinion were both fabulous, it is about memories and tradition. Sambi’s my heart and prayers go out to you and yours!
I am so devastated about the closing of Sambi’s. I can’t stop thinking about it. I was planing to celebrate my bday there in March. I heard rumors they were closed but i didn’t believe it. It wasn’t till my mom went last week to celebrate her bday with her girlfriends and seen the closed sign, then it came to reality it was gone. My family members we’re always there and everyone i introduced to Sambi’s loved everything about it and would continue to take their family there. I
please try to bring it back!!
was just there in July 3 months before it closed if i would have known so i could ask The owner if he had any possiblities to bring it back. There will never be another Japanese restaurant like Sambi’s excellent food, atmosphere and those two guys singing im gonna sure miss it all!!
My husband, John, and I had our first date at Sambi’s in 1975. He worked for Reisner Metals. We spent countless hours enjoying the food, the atmosphere and the gracious staff. The original manager even shared an apartment with John and his best friend and co-worker, Charlie McCoy. We were fixtures there. Every out-of-town guest we had, we took to Sambi’s. We celebrated our parents 35th wedding anniversary there. We danced to the band. We ate raw oysters and drank Ginza After Dark! Great memories. Twenty years living in Texas hasn’t diminished our strong memories of the best times of our lives at Sambi’s. True friends forever.
My husband, John, and I had our first date at Sambi’s in 1975. He worked for Reisner Metals. We spent countless hours enjoying the food, the atmosphere and the gracious staff. The original manager even shared an apartment with John and his best friend and co-worker, Charlie McCoy. We were fixtures there. Every out-of-town guest we had, we took to Sambi’s. We celebrated our parents 35th wedding anniversary there. We danced to the band. We ate raw oysters and drank Ginza After Dark! Great memories. Twenty years living in Texas hasn’t diminished our strong memories of the best times of our lives at Sambi’s. True friends forever.
WOW! Im absolutley heart broken. My husband & I have been going to this special place for over 25 yrs! We go once a yr for the past many mnay yrs to celebrate our anniversary and missed last yr Valentines Day our 30th wedding anniversary because of the closure I looked forward every year to eating this delicious food, my favorite were the bread/fried mashed potatoe balls with the yummy side sauce from my teriyaki chicken. The sunday brunch was also a favorite & what a great deal it was for the selection your got! At least we have our memories & some pic’s of one of our anniversaries we spent there. SAMBI’S you were a HUGE part of our past & we hope to be a HUGE part of your future if you plan on opening a smaller location as said in your interview. GOOD LUCK TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY & THANKS FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL & DELICOUS MEMORIES!!!
i am saddened by this news, i have only visied sambi’s once because i am a british citizen and went here for a meal six years ago the restaurant was beautiful and clean the food was heavenly and all cooked infront of us on an open surface, the waiters and chefs were very friendly and the atmosphere was really special, the piano player also made it feel a good place to eat… i am returning to norwalk on october 24th to visit and this was going to be the first place i visit but sadly i cant as it is no longer going to be there, what a shame i will never forget the new york steak and lobster meal i had my mouth is watering thinking about it, sad very sad.
Up until the closure I was still driving to Sambi from Malibu after moving there from La Habra Heights in 2005. I had been going to Sambi for 35 years and have so many good memories including seeing Karen and Richard Carpenter of the “Carpenters” dine there along with so many special events I attended over the years!
I am looking forward to the family opening another restaurant with the same epic food!
- Randy Reyes
Malibu
REOPEN SAMBI@!!
Bringing the restaurant up to code would cost at least $25,000!!! ON 25,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REOPEN SAMBI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I moved out of California in 2004 and would make a couple visits a year back to California in part to visit Sambi’s. Ever since it opened I visited at least twice a month. I celebrated my first wedding anniversary there in 1991 and every year thereafter throughout the marriage. I visited there often in between anniversaries. I have been unable to travel over the last year and was recently planning a trip and when I read this news I was devastated. I can’t believe it’s true and hope Sambi’s will reconsider and reopen. PLEASE!!! It is my favorite restaraunt of all time.
Well thank you Downey Fire Dept for making all of our lives much safer! I just passed by it today and it hasn’t burned down yet so I guess we’re still ok! Wait a sec…how many years has Sambi been up and running without burning down? WOW! Since 1973! Woooohooo! Again, THANK YOU DOWNEY FIRE DEPARTMENT for sticking that dagger right into the rest of us and twisting it real good! ; )