50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Aliso Viejo

“​I've had a lot of sushi in Orange County, and this spot is one of the best—and the price is right. The high-quality food, the location, and the fantastic staff all make this place a winner. Tom and his wife are an absolute delight.

​I highly recommend the Poki bowl. This place was serving up poki bowls long before they were on every corner. The quality is so much better, and you get way more fish. It's a must-try.“

“Tried their new signature udon and loved it — the noodles were perfectly chewy with great texture, and the broth was flavorful (I wouldn’t mind a bit more of it!). The restaurant is bright, clean, and well-organized with a fast, efficient ordering system. No long lines and an overall great dining experience.“

“Fresh fish expertly prepared by friendly chef with equally cheerful service staff! We will be back“

“By far the best Sushi place in the area! There are two equally good sushi places further away, but I cannot recall any that is better! Food is always delicious, fresh, and very friendly and fast. You can tell that the chef is very experienced and knows how to deliver the experience! I feel lucky to live really close! :)“

“Fast ... very friendly... great foods and great prices... A+++++....“

“A Hidden Gem in Surfer’s Paradise – Super Bowl Express Delivers a Knockout!”

Tucked away in the heart of surf heaven, Super Bowl Express is the kind of place you stumble upon once—and never forget. The staff? Absolute legends. They literally fired up the kitchen after hours just to make me dinner. That kind of hospitality is rare.

The food? Fresh, flavorful, and made with heart. The BBQ with brown rice and vegetables is a game-changer—smoky, wholesome, and perfectly balanced. And don’t sleep on the sushi—it’s ocean-fresh and melts in your mouth.

If you’re chasing waves and crave something real, this spot is your post-surf paradise.“

“We have been there many times and love it! One of the best sushi restaurants I know! I prefer sashimi and the presentation is beautiful and mouthwatering!“

“This place is adorable. We've been here a few times now. Food is good and drinks are great. I mean who wouldn't like googly eyes on their sandwich bun and coconut drink?!“

“Well worth the wait! GREAT sushi, service and quality.“

“Jerk chicken ELL eggs Tantan udon Kaisendon Everything“

“This is truly a hidden gem worth visiting for some great sushi! We went for a date night and instantly fell in love with the cozy atmosphere along with the warm and inviting service.
The rolls were delicious and fish was absolutely fresh and tasteful.
The happy hour specials were the cherry on top! The service was top notch and super fast. Servers were so sweet and friendly.
Will definitely be coming back!“

“I lived in Japan my wife is Japanese we've been waiting for a true Japanese style sushi bar and sit down restaurant. This place has all the traditional bento boxes. It also has all the traditional sushi dinner sets.

We are enjoying this place so much that we sometimes go a couple times a week either lunch or dinner.

This place will not disappoint if you know traditional Japanese food.“

“Super fresh, smelled clean inside. Owner is quite friendly and really cares about making a nice bowl.

Got the large bowl with brown rice, and a selection of great sides and toppings. Not *too* many, but each one worth considering. Flavors and spice level were spot on, not too salty or sweet, which highlighted how good the fish choices are.“

“I have lived in Mission Viejo for 10 years and just discovered some of the best sushi that I have ever had. And, they have been at this location for over 30 years.
They also have a delicious homemade Japanese cheese cake.
If you like sushi you must pay a visit to Shin Sushi.You will not be disappointed!“

“Ordered Yasai catering for a work lunch and everyone loved it! The workers are super friendly and they made sure we had all of the utensils&sauces for each dish. The sushi & chicken Katsu was delicious! 10/10 will order catering again 😊“

“Nice spot! It’s pretty spacious so there’s a lot of seating. I do like how the booths are separated by a barrier so it’s more private. There is a call button to get the waiters attention and we tried to use it but I’m not sure if it worked lol. There are so many sushi options and other appetizers and such too. The spicy garlic edamame was really good!!! 🫛
The presentation of the sashimi was very pretty and elegant! I haven’t seen that before! 🍣
The crazy boy rolls were super delicious. I really enjoyed those! 🤤
Everything tasted really good. The classic spicy tuna rolls were fat and filling.
Would definitely come back here! 👍“

“This is the ultimate sushi spot. We have been coming here for many years for date nights and also nights with the family to celebrate and enjoy a special occasion. Everyone here knows us and we are always welcomed with big smiles and “come in, come in!” The staff and chefs here make this place feel like home, like this is our spot. It’s a very small restaurant, hole in the wall, which I absolutely love. We’ve sat at tables inside, the bar, and the tables outside are great too! They have enhanced the outdoor area with umbrellas and heaters, candles and table lamps. We always ask about the specials - go with the specials! They have sake, beer, sodas, tea - we usually get a large Asahi and share it, or ask for a recommendation on sake. The oysters and monkfish liver, when they have it, are incredible! Any and all of the nigiri is our go-to, can’t go wrong with any of the rolls too (we usually do sushi when dining in and get rolls for take out). I love the uni and unagi, chu toro and buri toro (all the toro), hamachi and kanpachi… I honestly love it all. The kids always get udon and karaage chicken with a side of white rice. This is our special place to celebrate, so grateful to have this kind of spot to go to that’s close to home. We love it here.“

“Hey I have many years eating in this restaurant the owner and his wife are so nice, especially went I order my lunch I added avocado plus ginger and please don't forget your mitso soup ,
All food deserve 1000 % good
Even eating there or to go 100 healthy .“

“When we searched for the best sushi place in San Clemente, Malulu Sushi came up first on the list.

Good things come in small packages, right? Well, this is a small place, but it doesn't matter because the food & service are excellent.

To me, service is very important!!! At Malulu, the Japanese hospitality is on full display. Then, the food came, and we realized that we had found our favorite sushi place in SC.

Everything we ordered was tasty. And to our surprise, the female sushi chef made the best spicy yellow tail handroll. It reminded us of a sushi roll that we could only get at a sushi restaurant in Laguna Niguel (sadly, the chef moved to Japan).

We are already planning to go back this week & bring some friends along.“

“Great spot to stop by at & open late! Sushi was fresh and they had plenty of selection to choose from! Overall Value was incredible too

The Spicy Garlic Edamame had a nice kick to it. Would highly recommend this place!“

“GREAT food! Some of the best ramen I've had.
Vegetarian and vegan options - if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions definitely let them know when you're ordering so they can accommodate. One of the included ramen toppings is narutomaki (fish cake) even if you get the vegetarian/vegan broth; so if you tell them what you can/can't have when you order they can relay it to the kitchen :) . The service is great and everyone is friendly and happy to help! It's a busy, cute, place but the bar seating is comfortable and they are quick to get you taken care of.
Shoutout to their yummy matcha ice cream cone as well <3“

“Love this place. I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed it as I’ve been probably 60 times since I found it! I will say here and there sometimes it is inconsistent with the amount of sauce you get based on who is serving you, but otherwise the team is always really friendly and super quick!!!

The fish/ingredients are always fresh and flavorful.

So they earn all five stars.“

“The service was very good, and the overall taste was impeccable; the food was delicious and well-balanced, but it lacked the authentic and refined Japanese flavor. It was also unusual that the rolls fell apart. They gave us two eggs with the oden... The bonito broth tasted exactly like the one from Lawson convenience store, haha. The sake-steamed clams really tasted strongly of sake! The sukiyaki was quite impressive, a huge bowl! The only downside was the lack of a raw egg accompaniment, which felt like something essential was missing“

“Just had late dinner, last minute. I found them open. It’s a nice idea. It’s something different than others. The service was fast was looking better than our picture on the website and was more rich with ingredients for this reason I do rate as a five star.“

“The staff is super friendly and the food is incredible. Best sushi Ive ever had! They also have some of the best whiskey. Will definately be taking any friends that love sushi to this place in the future.“

“I absolutely love this restaurant! It's my favorite lunch spot – the service is always excellent, and the food is fantastic. Their lunch specials are great value, and the dishes on the regular menu are also delicious. They can even accommodate large groups! Highly recommended!“

“Delicious food, fun and inviting atmosphere, excellent service and the friendliest owners Key and his lovely wife Grace. Our local reliable go to.“

“If you’re in Dana Point and looking for something simple, honest, and actually made with care — this little spot surprised me in the best way.

I ended up here in the middle of the day while working in the area. Never been before. I try to avoid chains when I can and pick something new each time. This place caught my eye, and I’m glad I walked in.

It’s a small, family-run vibe — and I mean literally. Looked like a husband and wife running everything themselves. They were both super polite, calm, and you can tell they really care about the food and about every guest who walks in. No rush, no attitude, just warm hospitality.

I went with something safe for me — ramen and salmon sushi. And both were just… really solid. Not overcomplicated, not trying to be something fancy. Just good food made right. The broth had depth, noodles cooked right, and the sushi was fresh with balanced flavor. No complaints there at all.

The place itself is small. Not a big dining room. A few tables inside, clean but definitely more of a takeout–focused spot. They don’t have a restroom available inside, which kind of confirms that they expect people to grab food and go. And honestly — I would.

Not because it’s bad to sit there — it’s fine. But this is the kind of meal that hits even better sitting somewhere by the ocean with the breeze. I’d definitely order takeout from here and eat outside by the water next time.

I paid around $30, which is very fair for the quality, especially in California. They do ask about tip at checkout before you get your food — that part always feels a bit weird to me, but I get it.

Overall — 5 stars for the food and the heart behind the place.
I’ll remember it.
And I’ll be back — probably to pick up a to-go order and take it straight to the beach.“

“We have been going to Niko Niko for 10 years now. We love the restaurant and the community and the friends we made there I would definitely recommend this place, the food is amazing and the owners are very accommodating to the costumers needs. Love you Niko Niko family. My youngest daughter was so in love with their miso soup that they named an specific to go order with her name. “Christiana style”.“

“I normally don’t enjoy shabu shabu, but I was surprised with how much I liked the the quality of the meats and the ambiance at Miyabi. Maybe I’ve just been cheating myself by not spending a little bit more for higher-quality shabu shabu. I’m a fan of their crispy garlic. Attentive and friendly service from Chris and Alyssa made for an excellent lunchtime dining experience.“

“Love our little sushi spot. Best sushi! We get no rice rolls and we cannot find the selection elsewhere. They r fantastic with kids“

“i like the food, big serving & it’s worth the price, i hope they willnot increase the price or lessen the service.“

“I’d rate Soba Izakaya Minami one of south OC’s best izakaya. Their small portion (Japanese tapas) are delicious and served very fast. Don’t forget to order the Orion beer draft if you’re a beer lover!“

“Quick and friendly service, food is yummy!.😋“

“Gurume has become a place we go to at least once a week, especially for lunch. Their lunch specials are a great deal, and most importantly, their food is very good. High quality at a great price. They are very accommodating for my son’s diet. Staff and service are always wonderful.“

“We would give this place ten stars if we could. We ate there last Wednesday and it was our first time there. Food was excellent! We ordered beef teriyaki/tempura and chicken teriyaki/tempura.The house dressing on the salad was amazing! Everything was amazing. Our server Terry provided us with top notch service. Terry was very attentive and regularly refilled our drinks and checked in on us. We will be back there again!“

“A favorite restaurant for our friends and family. Food is always consistently good and the atmosphere is fun!!!“

“Food: Sushi rolls were excellent and pretty competitive prices. My favorite was the caterpillar. Fish quality was excellent. Avocado and cucumber was fresh and sushi didn't taste like it had sugar in it which was excellent.!

Service: Sucks. They are impatient, rude, and quick to walk away and pretend they didn't hear you. For example I asked if a waiter could remove a plate. He ignored me and signaled at the busboy to pick up the plate instead. Even the busboy realized that was odd.“

“Hatch made my entire experience five stars. He was personable, enthusiastic, and brought great energy to the table. His vibe genuinely elevated the meal and made the food taste even better. Outstanding service… exactly what great hospitality should feel like. Love the ambiance here, scaled to look classy but casual. Food selection is always restocked which is a plus. Don’t forget to finish off with their egg custard tart. Trust!“

“Robata Wasa at the Irvine Spectrum is such a solid spot if you’re craving quality sushi with a fun, energetic vibe. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels elevated but still relaxed. dim lighting, modern decor, and a lively buzz that makes it perfect for a night out with friends or a casual date night.

The fish is incredibly fresh. You can taste the quality immediately, buttery salmon, clean and slightly sweet hamachi, and melt-in-your-mouth toro that doesn’t need anything extra. Every piece of nigiri was balanced and beautifully presented, and you can tell they really take pride in their seafood selection.

Service was also top-tier. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They checked in at the perfect times and gave great recommendations without being pushy.

Overall, Robata Wasa delivers on all fronts, fresh fish, creative dishes, great service, and a cool atmosphere right in the heart of the Spectrum. Definitely a spot worth coming back to.“

“I recommend the AYCE. All You Can Eat for a great price. The Sushi was very fresh and flavorful, the service very good and the Price was very reasonable. I would try the Jalapeño Poppers if you like a bite of spice and uniqueness! The Melon Soda was really good. Enjoy!!!“

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

“Small place. Reservations recommended. Pricey but fish is fresh and delicious.“

“What is there to complain about? I always come by whenever I'm in the neighborhood. Still one of the few deals thats under $10 for an actual meal.Their Pork Cutlet Curry ($9.25+tax) is my go-to for its volume and the home-y feeling it gives you.The gentleman at the front gingerly took my order and my food came out ~10mins. Mind you, this was on a Tuesday afternoon (2pm)I prefer this locaction sometimes compared to its sister location in Costa Mesa. The choices here are limited, but you get the quiet and convenience.Tip: There's a parking in the back corner of the mall where you have direct access to the food court instead of parking and walking through the front. If you can find it...“

“Everything was amazing to the food, the atmosphere and service!“

“I love � fukada“

“The food is amazing!!! Knee is the best waitress ever👏👏👏👏🥰🥰“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

“Such nice service and delicious sushi, udon/soba, sake, yam fries, edamame and tempura! (pictured is the Tekka naki and Unagi and California , crunchy eel roll, and spicy tuna roll!“