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?!“

“This is the unicorn my Obaachan searched for! I only regret finding it late. Delicious authentic Japanese food made with the best ingredients by native Japanese who care. Tomoko-san, the co-owner, made sure I was aware of the City of Lake Forest Shop and Dine Card to get 50% off at this restaurant and many other LF businesses. I had the Hamachi and Salmon Donburi. The serving size and quality was perfect. I've already been back with friends and look forward to many more meals here!“

“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!“

“First time eating here and it did not disappoint. I ordered the sexy roll and it was delicious 🤤 . A great combination of crunchy and spicy. I also ordered miso soup and so far one of my favorites , so savory definitely recommend this restaurant. Wonderful service, i will definitely come back.“

“​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.“

“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!“

“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! 👍“

“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 .“

“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.“

“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 😊“

“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.“

“I’m glad Uoko survived the pandemic and still in business since the 80s.“

“The best AYCE sushi we have had. This IS our go to sushi spot in OC. The food is superbly fresh and clean and has you wanting to get more and more. Try everything they have to offer. Or, don't bother with the generic appetizers and head straight for the sushi. The staff is generally good, but it can take some time to get their attention. But that is because they are ALWAYS so busy! But the food here is absolutely the star of the show. I think it is OC's best spot!“

“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”.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“I love Miyagi Shabu!! had the half and half with ribeye and wagyu....so delicious! best of both worlds and the porridge they make at the end is the bomb!!“

“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!“

“Robata Wasa is one of the best Japanese spots I’ve tried. The rolls were fresh and flavorful, the Makunouchi Deluxe Bento and Beef Don were both unforgettable, and the Shiitake Mushroom Salad was such a unique touch. Add in their delicious drinks, cozy modern vibe, and friendly service, this place is definitely a must-visit!“

“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!!!“

“Very clean environment and fresh sashimi. Good service too👍“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

“I love � fukada“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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….“

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

“Oh My Sushi is a hidden gem tucked away in a strip mall in Laguna Niguel. They serve incredibly fresh fish, beautifully presented in both classic and creative sushi rolls. The Toro Tasting is amazing. The décor is modern and inviting, the drinks are inventive, and the dessert selection is a sweet surprise. Their sake list is impressive — don’t miss the sake flight, it’s a must-try!”“

“It's one of me and my fiancé Denise's favorite place. We go there all the time and it's always awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone that lives in the area. We absolutely love it and they take care of you like family.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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! :)“

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

“We sat at the sushi bar and Joe-san was our sushi chef. He was fast, efficient and everything was tasty. We chose the Oh My God roll towards the end and honestly folks? It is OMG spectacular! And so was the Queen Imperial with yellowtail and mango. Great service!!!“