44 Best Japanese Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“Authentic, great service, fun staff!“

“place is awesome. quick and tasty“

“Was looking forward to trying their Noodles & Tempura and finally did yesterday for the first time. And I’m back today. Marugame Udon has created a new raving fan. I’m a a big fan of the food and the people that work there. Jensen was super helpful guiding me through the menu options. His cheerful smile was only topped by his knowledge and willingness to help his customers get the best meal and help his coworkers provide great service. I enjoyed my experience and came back today to try the #5 on his recommendation.“

“Been coming here for 2yrs. Always fresh, clean and delicious. James is a Master.“

“Very good“

“Super solid sushi spot. The fish tastes really fresh, everything is well-prepared, and you can tell there’s real care behind the food. Nothing feels rushed or overdone just simple, high quality sushi done right. Definitely a go to if you want something reliable and consistently good. Thank you so much sushi sho!! & The lovely host tonight.“

“I had a light dinner of super delicious, fresh sashimi salad and miso soup. Both were wonderful. Good food must make you happy, because all of the staff and the customers at the sushi bar were very sweet and friendly. I will definitely go 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“

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

“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.“

“This is an amazing restaurant with fantastic food and truly incredible owners who give back to the community. I recently learned that they’re one of the diamond sponsors supporting Tzu Chi USA, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that has provided significant disaster relief here in the U.S. — including over $2.5 million in cash aid to wildfire survivors in Los Angeles and ongoing support efforts for Maui wildfire survivors and other disaster-affected communities. Thank you for your generosity and leadership.🙏🙏🙏“

“Great food and great staff“

“The last hidden gem in Costa Mesa. This easily tops waiting for chick fil a down the street. I let the cashier guide my order because I was too tired to come to a decision. He suggested the special which was wise of him because it includes 4 karage (tender fried chicken thigh) a potato croquette, 3 cali roll pieces and a salad with potato salad, excellent for a post 9 hour work day meal. My pregnant wife got the 5 piece karage and said it changed her life for the better. I didn’t take pictures because I was so in awe and in the moment. It was photo ready. The food comes out RIPPING hot. Which made us so comfortable eating there, especially pregnant knowing they make everything actually fresh to order, cooked to appropriate temperature to ensure food safety. Not just marketing fresh, there is nothing siting here waiting for you to order, this is not fast food. They tell you it’s going to take a few minutes and it’s worth the wait because they do not compromise on quality here. With that being said it’s not even that long and I will no longer be visiting chick fil a when this place is open and it’s much healthier.
Props to the owners/ cooks/ and cashier for getting us right.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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).“

“At Mitsuwa Market, there’s a big food court with a lot of good spots where you can eat tasty food without spending too much.

I went to Miyabi Tei because I wanted a proper meal, something with meat and a side and not a soup based.
The staff were super friendly, they even swapped the fish in my dish for beef, and it came with miso soup, so everything was really delicious.“

“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“

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

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

“Food was good, we got the beef belly curry and the pork belly curry. The restaurant was nice and clean, it was a little cold for me but overall clean and simple. Service was good and relatively quick. We went during the week so kids 12 and under get a kids meal for free with a purchase of an entree.“

“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.“

“So glad I found this little gem. I had their omakase. Every course was beautifully presented. The clam soup had a hint of orange peel that felt so fresh. It was also my first time trying musk melon, which was such a lovely way to end the meal.“

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

“A small izakaya in the OC area that's well worth a visit. The food was excellent and stood out compared to some of the more well-known izakayas nearby. With warm hospitality and a well-executed menu of classic izakaya dishes. It’s a place you really can't go wrong with.“

“Unit shots and Madai with yuzu kosho“

“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.“

“If you’re looking for a place to eat, please check out Yubuya! They have the absolute best yubu ever! Not only is the family that runs the business absolutely incredible, but the food is to die for!

I typically order online and pick-up in-store. Everytime I order, they make sure to wait until I arrive to pack up my udon to ensure that it stays hot. The dedication and care that goes into making the food and packaging everything is beyond incredible!

My go-to order is their Soy Marinated Salmon Yubu and Creamy Onion Salmon Yubu. I also always grab Udon with my order as well. It is perfectly sized so that you have enough room in your stomach to enjoy the udon and yubus!!

If you’re looking to support a small, local business, please please please stop by Yubuya! They deserve all the support in the world 🫶“

“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!!“

“Everything about our meal was absolutely fantastic. We had such a wonderful time grilling our own dinner right at the table. It is always a fun experience, and the quality of the meat was top-notch.

I was especially impressed with how fresh all the side dishes tasted. The grilled corn and zucchini paired perfectly with the savory beef. Every bite was packed with flavor. We left completely satisfied and cannot wait to come back again soon.“

“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“

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

“This place is perfection. We've eaten here so many times and it just keeps getting better and better. Wonderful friendly attentive staff, and lovely lo-fi chillout music to relax to. Honestly one of my favourite dining experiences is at this restaurant. Long May they reign.“

“We stopped in on a recent vacation to California. Growing up in Okinawa, I hadn't had Japanese cheesecake in over a decade. I appreciated the quick service and the cheesecake hit just the right spot. I appreciate that they are not overly sweet like many other places I have tried. We got a stamp card from them too which was pretty cool. I even got a cake as a gift and it traveled well back on a plane. I will definitely be back when we visit again!“

“One of my favorite family-owned, hole-in-the-wall sushi spots! 🍣 Been eating here for over 10 years and the quality has always been amazing! I usually get the rolls or combination specials (which comes with a lot of food). The owners are very kind and provide great service! If you’re craving sushi, definitely check out this authentic, yummy restaurant!“

“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!“

“I am in town visiting from across the country and this is one of the best sushi places I have ever been to. I say that as a person who worked for seven years in a sushi establishment. The service is so fast and the employees are so kind. Our sushi was delicious and even their desserts are great. We went back twice and it is truly just an exemplary restaurant. I know I have their staff to thank for my experience, so thank you guys! Keep it up 👍🏼“

“Excellent sushi with incredibly fresh, high-quality fish. Every visit has been consistently outstanding; the quality, flavor, and presentation never disappoint. I've tried so many sushi spots in OC and Yuzu easily tops the charts if you're looking for exceptionally fresh sushi and unique exciting cocktails.“

“It's a very honest katsu shop. Pretty much on par on what you would get in Japan...just again without the Japanese prices lol.

I have tried their beef and pork katsu and I honestly have no complaints. They were all filling and the portions were generous too.

This shop has become a staple in my regular lunch outings.“

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

“Please go support this business. The sushi always turns out very good and the lady who works in the front is the sweetest she’s very patient, we wanted sushi and came in but we were recovering from the flu but we wore masks and we ordered baked spicy lobster roll & popcorn scallop sushi and she ended up giving us two miso soups for free 😭 ❤️ and also a 4.13 discount!
Thank you so much.“

“My family loves this place. I came here for the umpteenth time tonight with my 85 year old Japanese mom. We had the Manpuku Traditional Omakase and we had leftovers to take home, there was so much food. All the meat (chicken shrimp and beef) all 5/5 star quality. We were there at 5 pm on a Monday and it was very busy. Service was still super fast. Super pleasant evening.“

“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“