50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Ladera Ranch

“Delicious food, fun and inviting atmosphere, excellent service and the friendliest owners Key and his lovely wife Grace. Our local reliable go to.“

“Fresh, Friendly, Unique!
My sister and I became big fans of onigiri when visiting Japan, and ONIGURU did not disappoint.
Visited last Sunday and ordered a variety of onigiri; they were all delightful.
They were delicious and refreshingly fresh. In addition, the service was fast and extremely friendly.
The lady that helped us was a pleasure and made our visit more special.
Four thumbs up :)“

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

“I recently discovered this gem of a restaurant and I am happy I did. We tried the bento box and all the items were fresh, tasty and leaves you wanting more. It was so good we returned 2 weeks later and had it today. This time we tried a variety of sushi rolls and once again it was delicious. Great friendly staff and quick service to add. Excellent service and great food all around.“

“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!!“

“Delicious chicken bowls, caterpillar rolls and udon. Friendly cashier and someone just came around to the front to bring us an extra needed chair unasked which we appreciated!

Kid-friendliness: Casual. A bar-type counter inside with stools and tables outside“

“Super fresh, smelled clean inside. Owner is quite friendly and really cares about making a nice bowl.

Got the large bowl with brown rice, and a selection of great sides and toppings. Not *too* many, but each one worth considering. Flavors and spice level were spot on, not too salty or sweet, which highlighted how good the fish choices are.“

“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.“

“Really good food

Vegetarian options: All so delicious

Dietary restrictions: Yes

Parking: Very friendly

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“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 my favorite and go to shabu and its for a reason. the quality of meats here are incredible and they offer different types of cuts with different prices. They also offer more than few options for broth which is a huge plus and my favorite here is the yuzu. moreover, the wait time is not long and they have greta service.“

“4.5 stars.

A bit pricy and the hours are a bit odd but have always left full and happy. The hospitality is amazing and each roll or dish is hand prepared with care.

The hand rolls are huge - beware when ordering as they are quite filling (and delicious!). Cucumber salad is refreshing and the yellowtail and tuna are incredibly fresh and light.

Daily specials are “special dishes” not necessarily specials of the day (price wise).

Huge lot shared with other retailers but this location is off to itself with ample parking.

Vegetarian options: Salads and some options but not many

Parking: Huge lot shared with other retailers but this location is off to itself with ample parking.“

“I have ordered sushi from here many times and it’s always the best. It can be hard to find sushi places that are consistent in quality and taste but Maki Yaki is always consistent in both! The staff is also very kind. I absolutely love this place and their food!“

“I ordered the ramen tofu because there normal ramen was a combination of tonkotsu broth with pork and chicken.
Since I don't eat pork, it had to be the tofu one, which is really sad for me. I was expecting them to add chicken to it, but they couldn't, so I had to order a chicken lolipop on the side, which was actually pretty good.
So if you don't like/eat pork it's gonna be hard for you in there but otherwise the ramen tofu was good but I didn't want to eat tofu because I don’t like it but chicken but like I said I had no choice but to order it.“

“I recently discovered this charming little sushi spot right by my workplace, and I had the pleasure of dining here with my daughter. The service was delightful, making our experience even more enjoyable. The sushi we tried was absolutely delicious! If you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by to savor some fantastic sushi. You won’t be disappointed!“

“When we searched for the best sushi place in San Clemente, Malulu Sushi came up first on the list.

Good things come in small packages, right? Well, this is a small place, but it doesn't matter because the food & service are excellent.

To me, service is very important!!! At Malulu, the Japanese hospitality is on full display. Then, the food came, and we realized that we had found our favorite sushi place in SC.

Everything we ordered was tasty. And to our surprise, the female sushi chef made the best spicy yellow tail handroll. It reminded us of a sushi roll that we could only get at a sushi restaurant in Laguna Niguel (sadly, the chef moved to Japan).

We are already planning to go back this week & bring some friends along.“

“We have been there many times and love it! One of the best sushi restaurants I know! I prefer sashimi and the presentation is beautiful and mouthwatering!“

“It is a very small restaurant with about 4 tables inside, 6 tables outside and a small bar. Do make a reservation as they fill up quickly! We sat outside in February but it was fine because they have lots of heaters! You can also get a partial view of the lake from their patio.The service is prompt and friendly and food is delicious.

Parking: Lots of free parking available in the plaza lot.“

“Best sushi I have ever had“

“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!“

“Great place for some light and fresh food. Enjoyed the plate as it came with a dressed greens and cabbage salad. Cutlet was a little greasy and the teriyaki sauce tasted like A1 steak sauce. Still worth another trip next time I'm in town.“

“Delicious ramen , broth was amazing . Sushi rolls very fresh and creative, looking forward to trying more things !“

“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.“

“Awesome place, great prices and amazing food, I love getting the Deluxe Bento plate, it comes with chicken teriyaki, tempura shrimp, Edamame, California rolls, crunchy rolls, and salad, plus the miso soup.“

“Great food and excellent customer service
Highly recommend
Yaki Udon noodles were great and all of us enjoyed our dinner
Excellent service and food
The employees were attentive if we needed anything
This place deserves more than 5 stars“

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

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

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

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

“I was able to make it here early last month after just walking around and exploring and I was pleasantly surprised at the portion sizes. I also really enjoyed the toro and got the largest portion. I sound at the bar. All of the sushi chefs were very friendly as well as the servers. If you’re chasing good Toro this is a solid spot for sure.“

“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”.“

“Ordered sushi take out from Gen Kai later in the evening. It was ready in 20 minutes - service was also very friendly. The food was very fresh and so delicious. California rolls, tuna rolls, salmon rolls, and cucumber rolls were all hearty and had plenty of fish/stuffing. The tuna and salmon came with cucumber and avocado, something that is often an add on other places. The portions were very good and 2 rolls felt like a real meal not just an appetizer!! The rice was tender and, again, it was all super fresh. Thank you for a wonderful take out meal to eat at a scenic overlook!!“

“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 love � fukada“

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

“My go to order is Salmon and Spicy Tuna handroll and there's avocado in it too. The salmon is really yummy as well as the spicy tuna.
The restaurant is big but I don't see a lot of customers when I come at 1:30pm-ish. I usually call my order in so it's ready by the time I pick it up.“

“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.“

“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!”“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

“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.“

“Nice atmosphere and the food was very tasty 😋“

“RECOMMENDATION - We have been here too many times to count and will keep coming back.
(5:30pm Monday night)
(2 adults)

VALUE - $28 - 3.5/5
- Bento Box dinner - teriyaki with a side order of vegi tempura - 4/5
We really like the dinner. We get it To Go and then eat it at home. It's nice for the two of us to split.

PORTION SIZE- 4/5
We add an extra portion of tempura and then split the whole meal. So, portion sizes are good.

SERVICE- 4/5
Their service is always great. Happy people. The whole place says, 'Welcome!' when you enter and, ' See you tomorrow!' when you leave. :)

ATMOSPHERE - 4/5
Typical small sushi place. Friendly environment. Not loud. We've eaten here many times, in the restaurant and To Go. They even have a few tables outside when the weather is nice, which is most of the time.“

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

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

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

“Great food! More like a "Sushi to go" restaurant. You order your food at the counter. There are only a couple of tables inside and out the restaurant and they will bring the food to your table if you are dining in. It is family owned and you often see Father, Mother, and Daughter working behind the counter. But every time I've eaten here, I've been very pleased with the food and service.“

“We love it here! Super good food and nice employees. We went the other night for dinner. My husband got the chicken and beef teriyaki plate with white rice, California rolls, edamame, tempura, and Crunchyroll. They put a great variety of items on the dinner plates and it's so delicious! I got the Chashu ramen. It was delish. It was like a bowl of comfort. The only thing I would suggest is on the ramen there are green onions on top and I wish that they were chopped up instead of in strips. I feel like I always have a hard time chewing strips of green onion, but other than that, everything is so good.“

“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.“

“Yukino is one of the kindest, most hardworking people I’ve ever met. She and the team at Sea Butter Laguna Beach treat me like family every time I visit. The quality of the sushi is amazing, but it’s the warm, welcoming atmosphere that keeps me coming back.

Yukino goes above and beyond for every guest—she’s attentive, gracious, and genuinely cares about the experience. Sea Butter is lucky to have her. Highly recommend this spot—not just for the food, but for the heart. ❤️“