17 Best Japanese Restaurants in Fountain Valley

“Very good environment and food!“

“I went there for the first time I ordered 5 piece sashimi was very good and fresh ordered twice and delicious oysters omg 😳 and sashimi scallops was outstanding I give this restaurant 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Tony knows how to do it right... will recommend“

“This restaurant has a a minimalist clean, white decor. The staff was kind, and the sushi chefs at the counter seemed very friendly and engaged with the guests.
I went on a weekend for their lunch set tasting menu. Everything was executed well, though the dishes followed a very consistent flavor profile throughout the meal. While it was all very good and high quality, don't expect anything experimental or wild.
You will probably want to order a few extra items a la carte to feel fully satisfied. At around $225–$300 for lunch for two, the price tag feels a bit steep for a midday meal, but you are definitely paying for quality ingredients and a tasting experience.“

“The best ramen you will ever eat anywhere. Great service. Great prices. Worth the wait.“

“Absolutely loved it here. The food was amazing. ❤️“

“So good and server are very friendly“

“I tried Tsuruhashi for the first time, and everything was delicious. The meat was high quality, especially the wagyu, which melted in your mouth. I really liked the sauce that they gave to dip the meat; it went really well together. Service was nice and attentive. I'd highly recommend this place.“

“There is a sublime, almost religious satisfaction in sitting down in front of a live fire with a plate of raw, heavily marbled beef and a freezing cold beer. It’s an interactive theater of fat, smoke, and instinct. And if you want to experience this ritual at its absolute peak, you don't look for white tablecloths or corporate steakhouse polish. You look for a place that feels a bit tucked away, cozy, and smells instantly like caramelized soy, rendered fat, and sweet wood charcoal the second you open the door.

This is world-class Yakiniku.

You start with the yukke—the raw beef tartare. In lesser hands, raw beef can be a texture game with no payoff. Here? It’s seasoned with precision, rich, clean, and spiked with an egg yolk that ties the whole beautiful mess together. It’s a declaration of intent: we know meat, and we know how to treat it.

Then, the main event. Plates of A5 Wagyu, Kobe outside skirt, and prime beef tongue arrive, sliced with the kind of geometric reverence usually reserved for fine tailoring. The marbling on the Wagyu doesn't even look real; it looks like a geological map of some frozen, beautiful landscape.

You drop a piece onto the grill. It hisses. The fat hits the element, flares up, and perfumes the air. You don't leave it on long—just enough to get a quick sear, a bit of char, while keeping the inside beautifully rare. You dip it in the tare, put it in your mouth, and it simply ceases to exist as a solid. It melts. It’s an absolute explosion of umami that makes you want to close your eyes and laugh out loud at how absurdly good it is.

Even the sides here aren't an afterthought. The kimchi fried rice has that deep, fermented funk and spicy kick that cuts right through the luxurious weight of the beef, waking up your palate just in time for the next round of short rib.

It’s not a cheap night out, and it shouldn't be. This is a celebration of the animal, handled by people who deeply respect the craft, served in an atmosphere that strips away all the pretentious nonsense of high-end dining and leaves you with what matters: incredible food, good company, and the smoke in your hair. It is, quite simply, perfection.“

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

“The best ramen you will ever eat anywhere. Great service. Great prices. Worth the wait.“

“Everything was excellent! Service was top notch as well.“

“Hi guys I went to the sushi place, I haven't eaten sushi for many years I I decided to try a sea food soup, that was so delicious my daughter and me went to the beach there we enjoyed our food she likes, sushi, we spend the rest of the day on the beach,that restaurant the food is very good.“

“Sushi Koto is always a treat for me. I love to come here for what I feel is the next best thing to eating in Japan. There is always a wait for Sunday brunch, but they do take reservations. Excellent service and friendly staff. This is definitely not your ordinary neighborhood Japanese restaurant. Highly recommend it!“

“I think I just found a hidden gem sushi spot! Since the new owner came in, this place has completely leveled up in the best way. The interior got a fresh makeover and feels way more modern and cozy.
The sushi and sashimi are super fresh, and you can really taste the upgrade in quality. The rolls are next-level good now — seriously so much better than before!
On top of that, the staff and owner are all super friendly and welcoming, which makes the whole experience even better. Definitely giving good vibes all around.
This is officially my new go-to hidden gem sushi spot — I’ll 100% be coming back again and again! 🍣✨“

“My friends and I tried this place for the first time and everything was SO delicious! We started with the cesar salad, and it was one of the best I've ever had.
We tried the branzino, and we loved the lemony sauce that complemented both the fish and side of brocolini!
The pork jowl dish was so tender and packed full of flavor, and it came with lettuce that made each bite refreshing.
We also got the miso carbonara which was creamy, perfectly seasoned yet not too heavy.
Service was very nice and fast, so overall we had an amazing dinner!“

“Tasty food and nice place and very good price 😋“