50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Foothill Ranch

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

“The freshest fish I’ve ever had in my life. Absolutely fantastic. Is ten stars a thing? This place deserves that many. Epic food. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🙌🏽“

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

“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?!“

“Jerk chicken ELL eggs Tantan udon Kaisendon Everything“

“Family brought us here to celebrate a birthday - even though they stick to bento boxes and don't get the sushi. Worked out, everything was very fresh and tasty. It's a small space inside and very homey. Loved the no rice roll options. The servers were making jokes with us and jumping in pictures, we were the only ones there for awhile. (If you're the stick to yourselves type, you will hate this.)“

“i came 10 after they opened so i got my food very fast, in about 2 minutes. i got the original steak pepper lunch bowl and it was very peppery but it was still good and filling. i enjoy eating here but it’s usually very busy and about a 5-10 minute wait. i think it’s a bit expensive but a nice place to eat at. staff is always nice and attentive. would recommend coming here if you get the chance“

“It's a lovely sushi place. Went on a weeknight early evening and sat by the sushi bar. Had the chefs choice and it was a delight. I find it to be a. Ice gem for a sushi place. It's not a place I would expect to have chef choice sushi but it was a nice surprise. Will go back and will bring friends and family.“

“The sushi is so fresh and everyone is so friendly, It is obvious that there are many regulars in there. So many groups of customers were talking and joking with each other, it is a very friendly atmosphere. It is a small place with only one Sushi chef and it appeared that many customers knew each other, the chef seemed to know most of the customers, the customers knew the chef……you get the picture. Seeing the place full of so many regulars was reassuring on its own but the food spoke for itself.“

“By far one of my favorite sushi restaurants ever. Kathy and Edna are amazing waitresses and provide excellent service. The food here is so fresh with good sized portions. A ton of specialty rolls that are all flavorful. This place is top notch“

“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 .“

“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 😊“

“We visited this place today with our whole family and had a wonderful experience. Even though it was a busy time, they were able to find us a table quickly, and we didn’t have to wait long.

Our server was very kind and attentive — he helped us choose our dishes, gave great recommendations, and answered all our questions.

The food was absolutely delicious, and the entire staff made us feel welcome and well taken care of. Everything was just perfect.

We highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back, especially since we live nearby!“

“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.“

“Oh man where to begin! This place is a hidden gem that I was recently taken to. Ever since going my first time about a month ago, I’ve been back 5 times! The bluefin nigiri is probably the best nigiri I’ve had in Orange County (The bluefin keeps us coming back week after week). If I were to recommend anything, it would have to be the bluefin. The yellowtail and salmon nigiri are just as amazing. You can’t go wrong with anything here—the fish is incredibly fresh and flavorful, and each roll and nigiri is so unique in its own way and flavor profile. They are also incredibly generous with portion size and price! We love sitting at the bar because it makes the experience so much better!

Apart from the food, what also keeps me keeping back is the amazing hospitality and service! Whenever we walk in, we are greeted by the entire staff—the sushi chefs, hosts, and servers. The staff take great pride in ensuring that guests are taken care of, and they genuinely enjoy getting to know their guests on a personal and grounded level. A special mention to Torrance, Jay, and Robbin (The sushi chefs) who consistently put out amazing nigiri and rolls for us! Another mention to Debbie and Diana, who are so incredibly warm, friendly, and hospitable—providing the best service in town!“

“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“

“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.“

“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”.“

“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!“

“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.“

“I am allergic to shrimp, and today I decided to have an udon soup here. My sincere congratulations and endless thanks to the staff who took care of me tonight at the bar. They remade my order from scratch to make sure there was no cross-contamination, and the manager personally supervised the preparation of my udon soup to ensure it was completely safe. Thank you so much, I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

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

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

“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!!!“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

“Great little gem! It’s more like eating Art! The photography is breathtaking Every menu item is a work of Art and tasty! No dish is the same 😋😍“

“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...“

“Pretty good ramen and sushi. Our group ordered the tonkotsu black and spicy miso ramen. Both were very flavorful and filling. We also order the salmon bento box and chicken katsu with curry. Both the bento boxes were good, but katsu seemed a little dry. It's better with the curry, but I wouldn't order it again. The sushi was great. We got the baked salmon roll and crunch fire roll. Both were fresh and delicious! I would come back to try the other ramen.“

“I love � fukada“

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

“We came here to use a coupon we got in the mail for a BOGO tonkatsu bowl. We were told this item was not on the menu but we could order it. We decided to get this mystery item and it was delicious! The menu has a very large selection and is reasonably priced. Service was fast and friendly.“

“The vegetarian rolls are so flavorful and the staff is super friendly! Definitely going back.“

“With a charming and intimate atmosphere, Taiko Japanese Restaurant is ideal for romantic dinners or special occasions. The comfortable interior design and beautiful views create a pleasant dining atmosphere. Taiko is impressive with its creative and innovative Japanese cuisine. Dishes are carefully prepared with fresh ingredients, demonstrating authentic flavours and culinary expertise. Famous dishes include exquisite sushi and sashimi platters, as well as delicious teriyaki chicken and miso cod. Despite being a high-end restaurant, Taiko is reasonably priced and offers excellent value for money food quality and service.“

“Amazing sushi-rolls! Service is awesome👍🏻“

“Restaurant is clean and open. Their sashimi bento box lunch special [includes miso soup, cucumber salad, tempura, half CA roll, and seven slices of quality sashimi served with real wasabi!] is the best and it was only $20. Thank you to sushi chef Obi for his recommendation. Now if they only served Kuronama or any other Japanese dark beer, they'd be perfect.“

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

“Sashimi is a sushi restaurant located at the corner of Lake Forest Drive and Dimension Drive. It appears to be run by a Korean family and is a popular spot among the locals. They have a sushi bar, but we opted to dine at a table. Steve greeted us and was not only friendly and helpful, but his service level enhanced our overall dining experience.

We tried a number of dishes during our visit. Among my favorites were the Veggie Tempura, Salmon Nigiri, Lake Forest Roll (I appreciate that they allow substitutions so I subbed spicy yellowtail in place of the spicy tuna) and Special Carpaccio S. The Spicy Salmon cut roll was nothing special and tasted more like a California Roll. The Yellowtail Cheek was good, but it was more meaty and less tender than I've enjoyed at other Japanese restaurants. My wife ordered the Pink Lady, but I prefer my sushi with rice. All in all, we enjoyed our Sashimi experience and I'd recommend checking it out if you're in Lake Forest and in the mood for raw fish at a reasonable price.“

“There are 3 locations in Orange County but my favorite location is Irvine. The second location would be in Costa Mesa because they do serve outdoor I can bring my fur baby. I love hot pot in general but I must say Mokkoji hot pot still my number 1 hot pot place out of all. I love their Fire Crab Soup Base which no other hot pot has this flavor. I normally ordered the Surf & Turf which they offer a large beef plate but you would pick your beef choice of cuts and the price is different as well depend on what cut you choose. Beside the beef plate it came with seafood plate contain half lobster, scallops, salmon, white gulf shrimps and shrimps paste. As for appetizer you can pick between garlic shrimps or something else. But because I always get garlic shrimp so I wouldn’t remember what are there other choices. Come with drinks and desserts as well. But this time I just ordered the combination of beef and shrimp since that’s what I felt like at that moment. Also they offer unlimited greens, but not Enoki Mushrooms or Tofu, ect….“

“The service here is so nice and fast. You can’t beat the lunch special deals! ($10-13 for entree with soup and salad) I love coming here for lunch, I want to try all their deals haha. If I didn’t make it for the lunch specials I would definitely try one of their specialty rolls!“

“We ate dinner here last night. Probably the best sushi we’ve ever had. The staff was great as well.“

“Best Pokee in the Irvine location. I highly recommend this place.“

“Delicious Japanese food & sushi! 😋“

“Ramen was delish, it was pretty busy and took awhile to get a table for 8, but if you have a smaller party and aren’t starving, for sure get some!“