43 Best Japanese Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“Sushi Shunka is our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions and also our fave sushi spot in OC. Located in a strip mall at the corner of E. 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa, the restaurant specializes in authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine. "Shunka" means "Flavor of the Season", so they of course select their fish depending on the season and in addition to customer favorites. The sushi chefs are veterans and the wait staff are polite helping to provide an unforgettable dining experience to their customers.

I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar and ordering one of the omakase options. On our recent visit, I ordered the Chef's Omakase which included 10 pieces of sushi including sea bream, Japanese sea bass, mackerel, amberjack, toro and bluefin tuna among others. The sushi is always top-qualify and practically melts in your mouth. I have a big appetite so I also supplemented my meal with a toro hand roll, blue fin tuna hand roll and fried Hamachi Kama. Everything is made to order and is so oishi! Having said that, this is fine dining so expect to pay a high price but know that it’s worth every penny. As I mentioned before we only visit on special occasions, so I’m already hoping we’ll have a reason to celebrate again soon!“

“Unit shots and Madai with yuzu kosho“

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

“Authentic, great service, fun staff!“

“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 👍🏽“

“I love sushi, and out of the amount of sushi places I’ve gone too, this one has blown my mind. They have a wide range of rolls, I came with my bf and got the crispy rice and spice tuna, and then was later recommended hot night by Sean, one of the cooks, he was phenomanal, the art in the roll pares the food as well as the look at an out standing 10 stars if I could. 🔥👏👏👏“

“Visited Curry Do in Costa Mesa!.
Our go to location is Tustin on Newport Avenue. But we decided to try this new location as we were in the area!
Had a couple of Japanese Orion Beers and ordered the delicious Chicken Katsu with JapaneseCurry! If you've never had Japanese Curry before, you should definitely give Curry Do a try!
Freshly cooked and Crispy! Asked for the Chili Powder and a double helping of pickled radish. Have it with a side of Egg!
Try having the Curry on the side. That's my preferred way of having it!
Curry Do is definitely a place to check out when in Costa Mesa! Don't forget to visit the Tustin location too... Hi Nori!!!
Socalweekendwalkarounds definitely recommends Curry Do!
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Parking: Depending on what time of day you come, parking lot may be crowded. Lots of food places here...“

“Very good“

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

“place is awesome. quick and tasty“

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

“I came to Tabu Shabu on a Friday right before happy hour ended, and they were kind enough to still honor it—great service! This spot has been hyped a lot, and I’d say it’s worth the visit, especially with the happy hour discount. Without it, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality makes up for it.

I ordered the lamb and beef, both of which were flavorful and satisfying. The highlight was definitely the service of turning my leftover hot pot into porridge—it made for a delicious and hearty late-night meal. It’s a lot of food, so you definitely get your fill.

Overall, a solid spot for hot pot if you’re looking for good quality and unique offerings. Definitely recommend catching happy hour if you can!“

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

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

“I would like to start off that this place is a takeout place, with that being said, this place is some of the highest quality sushi/poke places around. They have a very good poke bowl that I have order 5 times in the past month. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that needs a quick fill for poke. The fish is high quality and fresh, the toppings taste amazing, and the portion makes sense for the price.“

“Marugame Udon has become one of my absolute favorite spots to eat! The moment you walk in, you can smell the fresh broth and watch the chefs hand-craft the noodles right in front of you—it feels like a mini trip to Japan.

I ordered the Nikutama Udon, and it was perfect: the noodles were chewy and fresh, the broth was rich and comforting, and the soft-boiled egg took it to another level. I also love that they let you customize with tempura on the side—my go-to is the shrimp tempura and sweet potato tempura, both always crispy and never greasy.

The cafeteria-style line makes everything quick and easy, which is great when you’re craving something fast but still high-quality. Even during busy hours, the staff is friendly and efficient.

Overall, Marugame Udon delivers amazing food, fair prices, and a fun atmosphere. It’s the kind of place I can come to for a quick solo meal or bring friends to share a bunch of sides. Every visit reminds me why I keep coming back!“

“Parking is pretty difficult in this lot. A lot of it is reserved for other businesses in the same vicinity. However, the fried chicken is juicy, crispy, and has the right balance of fat vs meat. The bento order i got was also very filling, and can definitely serve two people for 15 dollars.“

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

“It’s a treasure: a Chinese/Japanese place that provides actually safe guten free options. Many thanks to Kazu for guiding me through my choices and even having my my fried rice remade without imitation crab.

Vegetarian options: Seems to be some stuff

Dietary restrictions: They actually make gluten free work I am pretty sure. Kazu actually listened to my explanation and did his best to get me safe food. I bet it would be that way for another allergy too.

Parking: Lot gets full, but there’s a garage

Kid-friendliness: I mean, it’s tasty

Wheelchair accessibility: Looks pretty good“

“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“

“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.“

“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“

“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 liked this place. It is so yummy. The rolls are perfect. Not too large but lots of flavor.

The assorted tempura was so crispy and delicious. A good portion too.

Popcorn shrimp roll was so crisp and flavorful. The spicy yellowtail roll was great too.

I definitely will return.“

“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.“

“Woooowww very rarely do you find a Japanese restaurant that is truly Japanese in flavor, authenticity, and hospitality! Our waiter Setsuko was so kind to us and took her time to explain all the foods with detail. We got 3 meat platters and the beef tongue was amazing! Service was fast, efficient, and very very friendly, just like the ones I had in Tokyo.

Most authentic Japanese restaurant I’ve been to on this coast highly recommend!! I cannot wait to come back here and enjoy myself at Anjin. What a gem to find a slice of Tokyo in Orange County🔥🔥🔥“

“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“

“This place is AUTHENTIC! If you can’t spare a trip to Japan, make a trip here! They have your standard menu items (salmon, tuna, eel) but also some exotic items (Hokkaido uni) and even off menu specials (flounder cheeks). I didn’t get a chance to try many items, but the ones I did, were extremely memorable.
I highly recommend the steamed egg (Chawanmushi). It is full of well seasoned seafood that compliments the truffles and steamed egg, leaving a lasting memory that begs you to order again.
Another recommendation is the monkfish liver (Ankimo). While not for everyone, if you enjoy foie gras (duck liver), you will definitely enjoy this dish. The flavor profiles is unique, as the ankimo is prepped in-house with a chef’s special blend of seasonings and spices. It is also served with a special blend of sauce and seaweed that compliments the firm, yet creamy texture of ankimo that melts in your mouth.
UPDATE: Having visited this establishment again, I have modified my review. The consistency in both food quality and flavor was not there. I ordered salmon collar and it smelled foul upon arrival; tasted that way too. The Chawanmushi was lighter in flavor as well.“

“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!!“

“We had such a great experience at Yuzu Sushi! The service was outstanding—Ann P. was an incredible host who truly took care of us with kindness and attention. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making the whole dining experience even better.

The sushi itself was absolutely top-notch—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. What I loved most is that it wasn’t greasy at all, just pure, clean taste that makes you want to keep eating more.

Highly recommend this spot to all sushi lovers—you’ll definitely leave satisfied!“

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“The quality of US wagyu is really good. Differs from Japanese A5 but not as greasy and still tender. Recommended for the quality of meat. Try the beef sukiyaki where the thin slice of beef wrapped with rice ball and raw egg yolk as dressing; it's like the taste of heaven!“

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

“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.“

“Growing up my grandfather frequent Niko and ordered the Superman sushi burrito! 06/06 it was soooo nice to be back and to taste the delicious sushi burrito and then some… the cashier was so nice and chatty I loved it! They were doing renovations so that a why l gave it 3/4 but overall loved it“

“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!“

“Awesome place for sushi 🍣“

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

“good food on the go. plenty of seafood options.“