One persons idea of the best, is not everybody’s idea of the bestess’ess’sess (that is a word), so I compiled a list of the best of the best broken down into a number of categories.
You might start off a search by “best (rating),” than by “reviews (popularity), and eventually places “open late” because you took so damn long to decide. If that is you, you’re on the right page because I’m going to save you time by breaking everything down by category, but I just left out “best place to get food poisoning.”
Best Omakase Sushi
Come for the food, minus the sushi bar chit chat and pretentious prices.
SUSHI MURASAKI
2901 W MacArthur Blvd #108
Santa Ana, CA
(714) 241-1000
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 6-9:30pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sat: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sun: 5:30-9pm
Mon: Closed
Friendliest Service Sushi Bar
Walking into Nana San after it has been about 3 years? What, you still remember what I like?!
NANA SAN
3601 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 474-7373
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9:30pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sat: 5:30-10pm
Sun: Closed
Mon: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm
Best Variety of Fish
That school field trip you took as kid to the aquarium is nothing compared to Shunka because they at least let you eat the fish here.
SHUNKA
369 E 17th St #17
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 631-9854
Tues-Mon: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Best Sushi “Bar”
Just remember how to say “kampai,” “sake bomb,” and “biiru o mou ippon onegaishimasu“
JIZAKE SUSHI RESTAURANT
30001 Crown Valley Pkwy, Ste C, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 363-9779
www.jizakeoc.com
Tues-Thurs: 5-9pm, 5:30-9:30pm
Fri: 12am-1:30pm, 5-10pm
Sat: 5-10pm
Sun: 5-9pm
Mon: 5-9pm
Best Value Sushi Bar
It’s a good value when it is not only affordable, but they don’t come up short on quality.
IKEDA JAPANESE DINING
18900 Beach Blvd #112
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 861-2125
Tues-Sun: 4-9pm
Mon: Closed
Best Sushi Bar for Large Groups
The sushi bar, dining room, garden, the bar, tatami room, to the outdoor patio, they got you covered for your family and lover(s).
KITAYAMA (CLOSED)
101 Bayview Pl
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 725-0777
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9:30pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sat: 5:30-10pm
Sun: 5:30-9:30pm
Mon: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm
Best Sushi Bar Kitchen Menu
Twice on the list for good reason.
MURASAKI
2901 W MacArthur Blvd #108
Santa Ana, CA
(714) 241-1000
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 6-9:30pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sat: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Sun: 5:30-9pm
Mon: Closed
Best Sushi Bar Ambiance
Where best can you take selfies and valet your yacht.
NOBU
3450 Via Oporto #101
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 429-4440
www.noburestaurants.com
Tues-Thurs: 12-10pm
Fri: 12-11pm
Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: 11am-10pm
Mon: 12-10pm
Best Service
Don’t worry about having to lift a hand, they’ll do everything for you except feed you (well, maybe for the right price).
SAN SHI GO
205 Main St
Newport Beach, CA 92661
(949) 673-3724
Tues-Thurs: 5-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5-10:30pm
Sun: 5-10pm
Mon: 5-10pm
Best Family Sushi Bar Restaurant
Go get gramps and gam gam’s because you can also do hibachi and sushi night here.
MATSU RESTAURANT
18035 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 848-4404
www.matsugood.com
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Sat: 5-10:30pm
Sun: 5-9:30pm
Mon: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Best Fusion Sushi
The fusion will rock you (sing it, everybody, alright).
SUSHI ROKU
327 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
www.innovativedining.com
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-9:30pm
Fri: 11:30am-10:30pm
Sat: 11:30am-10:30pm
Sun: 11:30-9:30pm
Mon: 11:30-9:30pm
Best AYCE (All You Can Eat)
Eat up fatass, go feed your tapeworm.
SAKE 2 ME SUSHI
13951 Carroll Way
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-6980
www.sake2mesushi.com
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-10pm
Fri: 11:30am-10:30pm
Sat: 11:30am-10:30pm
Sun: 12-10pm
Mon: 11:30-10pm
Best Kaiten Sushi
It’s like you walked directly into a slice of Japan minus the drunken salarymen.
KURA SUSHI
2700 Alton Pkwy #133
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 553-0747
www.kurausa.com
Tues-Thurs: 11am-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-12am
Sun-Mon: 11am-11pm
Best Chirashi
Why would you not come here for it, it’s the go to item (check out the pic at the bottom).
KOTO SUSHI
18120 Brookhurst St #25
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
www.kotooc.com
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-1:45pm, 5-9:15pm
Fri: 11:30am-2:15pm, 5-10pm
Sat: 11:30am-2:15pm, 5-10pm
Sun: 11:30-2:15pm, 5:30-9:15 pm
Mon: 11:30am-1:45pm, 5-9:15pm
Best Ready-Made Sushi
Mitsuwa sushi beats a lot of sushi restaurants.
MITSUWA
Multiple locations:
Torrance, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Monica, San Joe, to New Jersey.
www.mitsuwa.com
General Hours
Daily: 8am-9pm
Best Lunch Specials
You just can’t beat the quality and price, I just hope the service is quick.
SUSHI WAZEN
22641 Lake Forest Dr
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 855-8330
Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-2pm, 5-10pm
Fri: 11:30am-2pm, 5-10pm
Sat: 11:30am-2pm, 5-10pm
Sun: 11:30-2pm, 5-10pm
Mon: Closed
Best Late Night Sushi
Not strictly sushi, but they are open till 1 am with an expansive menu and bar.
TOKYO TABLE
2710 Alton Pkwy #101
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 263-0000
www.tokyotable.com
Tues-Mon: 11:30am-1am
This “Best of” List is Based on the “Best Authentic Japanese Sushi Bars in Orange County”
This is only my short list of sushi restaurants in Orange County, and if you are looking for the top 10 best sushi restaurants for authentic edomae-sushi, I also have that list.
