44 Best Japanese Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“place is awesome. quick and tasty“

“One of my favorite sushi bars in CM!!! 2 orders 3 roll Maki special Tuna Lover, White Tiger, Shrimp Super Crunch, Soft shell crab, baked scallops, Newport special Salmon 👍🏽“

“Authentic, great service, fun staff!“

“Very good“

“Sushi Town in Costa Mesa was such a nice surprise! It’s right by the I-55 freeway, kind of easy to miss, but totally worth finding. From the moment we walked in, the staff were super friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home.
We started with the yellowtail collar appetizer, which was amazing — perfectly grilled, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Then we tried a few nigiri pieces like fatty tuna, negi toro, and fatty yellowtail, and wow — everything was so fresh and just melted in our mouths. The Edo Mae combo was also fantastic, a great mix of traditional and flavorful pieces that showed off the chef’s skills.
We finished it all off with some nice warm sake, which was the perfect way to end the meal.
Honestly, Sushi Town feels like a hidden gem right off the freeway. Great sushi, amazing service, and a cozy vibe — can’t wait to come back!“

“this was me and my husband's anniversary dinner
We happen to stumble across this restaurant
Hats off too this place! Everything was so delicious so fresh, and not only that it was so beautiful the presentation the taste the quality of the food was top-notch“

“Marugame is amazing! We love the freshly made udon noodles at a great price! Every location of the chain has been consistently high quality. You can choose tempura as a side at the end, and it is freshly made and there is a good variety! Check out the seasonal special bowl.“

“So good!!! A must when in Orange County!“

“牛たん司美味いです😋Absolutely delicious 🇯🇵🐂👅🥩🍚“

“So happy they finally opened! Always great service! Amazing quality meat and fresh veggies!“

“The service was great and the sushi was delish! Great job redecorating and the music was nice too! 👍✌️🍣“

“Could not ask for a better dinner spot to end the day!!!“

“Amazing and delicious food. Had the regular karaage and the sweat and sour karaage. Both were juicy and flavorful. Portions were larger than I expected. The miso was also pretty good. Enjoyed the meal with a Calpico but they had beers available.

Best karaage we have had outside of Japan! Karaage was gluten free so that was great. The potato croquettes are not gluten free. Sad we didn't find this place sooner. We will be back!“

“This place is located inside the Mitsuwa market in Costa Mesa, a few blocks south of South Coast Plaza and not far from I-405. It's a typical Japanese Donburi fast-food restaurant, with no surprises on the menu. What's surprising is the more-than-reasonable prices, which may indicate that the food quality is mediocre. Not the case here, trust me.

We had Katsu-curry and a combo of Udon+Katsu-don. The meat was thick and tender, and the Udon was delicious. The food was nicely prepared and delivered promptly. I highly recommend this place not because it's the best Japanese food I've ever had (still pretty good though), but because the value for your money is very high here. I'll definitely be back...“

“I really like the sashimi style rice bowls this place has to offer. My favorite is the spicy tuna rice bowl. My daughter loves the regular tuna bowl. The have many different styles bowls to offer, tuna, salmon, etc. there is a nice window display presenting the many different offering.

They are a fair value for what you get. I feel you can spend just as much anywhere else or more but here the fish is fresh and clean. Worth the value to me.

By the way, their Oyako Don Buri is also excellent. The egg omelet cooked just right. It’s a popular dish in Hawaii and Japan. Comfort food“

“Pricey but we ate deliciously.

Left in the picture: belly roll (amazing, soft fish that is so soft it melts in your mouth)

Right in the picture: Yummy Roll. (With a smokey touch, perfect combination of flavors)

I also recommend the crispy rice and the edamame.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had the best experience at Tabu Shabu! I sat out on the patio with my dog and it was absolutely perfect—comfortable, welcoming, and such a great vibe. I ordered a glass of wine and started with the cucumber appetizer and edamame, both super fresh and full of flavor. The highlight was the salmon bowl with rice…so delicious, perfectly cooked, and so satisfying. The service was friendly, the food came out quickly, and they made me (and my pup!) feel totally at home. I think everyone came out at some point to visit with me and my pup. Highly recommend if you’re looking for great food, a relaxing atmosphere, and a dog-friendly spot for a drink and apps (cant do hotpot outside, but still worth it).“

“Hands down best japanese curry in OC! Unique protein options such as pork belly, beef belly. The meats were crispy and juicy, service was fantastic. Loved the bubbling curry in the stone pot with menchi katsu. Kids love the curry udon and strawberry milk. Clean restroom- also open late until 1am on Fridays & Saturdays!“

“The Best food especially the kimchi and cold noodle soup I’ve ever had. Bring your friends and family it’s a wonderful place to eat I’m going to be a regular here for my first time being here I was in heaven the menu is amazing you won’t be disappointed 😋😋😋😋😋“

“Got take-out from here and it ended up being pretty decent. Went with the kaisen yakisoba which I was worried would be too garlicky given the way it smelled on the drive home but it was really pleasantly seasoned with a good amount of seafood. Also grabbed karaage because it was 50% off the day I went (Tuesdays). I probably didn't need this: it was nicely seasoned but the crispiness was a bit lacking and parts of it were frankly soggy.

The food court itself is pretty solid with a bunch of rice/noodle/etc options. I will say most of the things here, including this takeout and the market itself, are rather on the pricy side. However, the food was made quickly and I got a little buzzer so I could explore the market while waiting. It's overall a pretty lively place and it's nice that they have a parking garage.“

“This place is one of the best Sushi place I've ever been to. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone because everything here tastes really good. The service is really nice, too.“

“Amazing Japanese cuisine in Costa Mesa, CA. This place is one of the best Japanese restaurants in all of Orange County. The interior style resembles what all Japanese restaurants should look like, and most importantly, the food and service was top notch. They have an extensive sushi menu and it has always been very fresh and also Japanese imported. Hands down, my top 5 favorite Japanese restaurants in California.“

“Chef Stanley and the staff served what has been hands-down, the best sushi experience. I’ve had the United States so far.

Words cannot express absolutely delightful. This entire meal was the atmosphere the freshness the choice of ingredients execution absolutely top notch! Not to mention, I have quite a few allergies and they went above and beyond to take excellent care of me and serve me some of the best sushi I’ve ever had“

“Impressive array of the best ingredients unavailable in most Japanese restaurants in the US prepared in different styles“

“Probably the best tonkatsu in socal. You can get different cuts of pork which usually only happens in Japan. The prices are extremely reasonable considering the quality of meat. Amazing quality and value, and really the go-to spot for quality tonkatsu outside of Japan.“

“Found by accident great food and service excellent. Patio and in four dining. Had beef teriyaki with tempura and miso soup and salad and California roll. ReAsonable priced too“

“The striploin was so great! but i was not able to taste the other meat because they didn't sent my entire order due to holiday rush. No worry,mistake can happen the Customer service was great, and i will definitely order again!!“

“Fresh and authentic. An amazing delight and will be back!“

“Unit shots and Madai with yuzu kosho“

“Nice place, clean and friendly staff. Most importantly, the food is so awesome. The owner takes pride with his food! Not only the plating looks nice, but it’s so tasty. I don’t even understand those 1 star reviews. Will definitely come back for more!“

“Absolutely amazing! This is the spot I’ve been taking everyone. Place inside is kinda small but super cozy and cute. You order at the kiosk and it’s super easy/convenient. They make the food in the front and it definitely adds a personalized touch. My favorites are the seared salmon and unagi yubu! They look small but 3 of them is the perfect amount for meal for me

Dietary restrictions: They prepare the food by the kiosk and you can ask them any questions directly“

“Tried Uncle Tetsu’s cheesecake and it absolutely lives up to the hype! Light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced — not overly sweet, which lets the rich cheese flavor shine through. It melts in your mouth and feels more like a cloud than a cake. A must-try for anyone who loves Japanese-style desserts.“

“The house made udon was super! The texture of the udon had a lightness and springiness which really was a delightful surprise. The soba was also very good. The restaurant also serves izakaya dishes. Fried chicken and beef tongue were good. The duck broth with the soba was excellent. The restaurant itself is a small space and was crowded when we dropped by. There wasn't a long line to wait, but the tables were full. The staff was helpful, but we were looking to order to take away.“

“My favorite Shabu place. Great selection of broths.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Best of the Best Dining at this restaurant is nothing short of an exceptional experience. Every plate is crafted from scratch by highly talented chefs whose creativity and attention to detail shine through in each bite. The flavors are refined yet original, making this the most exquisite and memorable sushi I have enjoyed in my entire life. Over the past six weeks, my family and I have returned five times, and with each visit the quality has remained consistently outstanding. The menu demonstrates an extraordinary balance between authenticity and innovation, and every dish feels both comforting and inspiring. Equally remarkable is the service. From the warm welcome at the door to the attentiveness of the servers and the seamless support of the runners, every member of the team embodies professionalism and genuine hospitality. Their care transforms an excellent meal into a truly unforgettable experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking world-class cuisine, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that makes every visit special. It has quickly become our favorite destination, and we look forward to returning again and again.“

“We stayed at the Hilton in Costa Mesa and had coupons for complimentary Continental breakfast 2 mornings. The first morning we upgraded to hot buffet breakfast that included scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, oatmeal. The eggs were powered, the sausage tasted like cardboard and bacon was so-so. The oatmeal was homemade and was good! This breakfast cost $18.00 + tax. The second morning we ordered off the menu and was better choices getting fresh cooked food. My wife had omelet with hash browns and toast and I had eggs Benedict with hashbrowns and tomato slice and coffee. We both enjoyed these menu options!“

“Nice little sushi restaurant located in a plaza. Food is good and reasonably priced. We ordered a few rolls a spicy tuna bowl as well as a chicken teriyaki plate. All had good flavor and I feel the portions are reasonable. Recommend you give them a try.“

“VERY generous portions. One of the best sushi places to go to. Staff is very courteous and you feel like you're eating right out of their home kitchen. We come here when we want great sushi and can not handle an AYCE offering. Clean, fresh food. Very limited variety of drinks, but they have what you would need at a simple sushi place. Though there really is nothing simple about the food.
Place is small, so you might have to wait if in a party of more than four.“

“Will be coming back! Food and service are great. If you're not sure what to order, the Premium is a great starting point, though a bit pricy. Now that we have a better understanding for our faves, we'll order items separately and pick our top choices.“

“Awesome place for sushi 🍣“

“Great service, My friends and I come from Germany, and our English is so so, most of this I had to use Google Translate. However, there was a kind young lady who was able to help us in German with a name something along the lines of Jessi, and she was very helpful, especially for my friends who can't really speak English well. So I wanted to give credit, and the food was great.“

“Good food & good service highly recommend no waiting time“

“great food at a good price I would recommend this place to anyone“