50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Laguna Beach

“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!“

“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.“

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

“This by far the best Poke bowl restaurant in SoCal! The food is always fresh and the staff is really polite and helpful if you want to try something new. It's always clean and has simple and mellow atmosphere. You won't find a better selection and service any where else!

Parking: Underground parking is free when they stamp your ticket. Always space to park.“

“🔥 Must-Visit Cozy Sushi Spot

Loved the cozy atmosphere—perfect for a chilly night! The sushi is top-notch with generous, thick cuts of fresh, soft fish. Service was lightning fast; hot dishes (like the delicious sizzling black cod) arrived with the sushi. The only slight miss was the A5 Wagyu, which was chewy despite its great umami seasoning. Overall: Excellent food, great service, and highly recommended!“

“place is awesome. quick and tasty“

“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 👍🏽“

“Very good“

“Well worth the wait! GREAT sushi, service and quality.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“I lived in Japan my wife is Japanese we've been waiting for a true Japanese style sushi bar and sit down restaurant. This place has all the traditional bento boxes. It also has all the traditional sushi dinner sets.

We are enjoying this place so much that we sometimes go a couple times a week either lunch or dinner.

This place will not disappoint if you know traditional Japanese food.“

“Sushi Town in Costa Mesa was such a nice surprise! It’s right by the I-55 freeway, kind of easy to miss, but totally worth finding. From the moment we walked in, the staff were super friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home.
We started with the yellowtail collar appetizer, which was amazing — perfectly grilled, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Then we tried a few nigiri pieces like fatty tuna, negi toro, and fatty yellowtail, and wow — everything was so fresh and just melted in our mouths. The Edo Mae combo was also fantastic, a great mix of traditional and flavorful pieces that showed off the chef’s skills.
We finished it all off with some nice warm sake, which was the perfect way to end the meal.
Honestly, Sushi Town feels like a hidden gem right off the freeway. Great sushi, amazing service, and a cozy vibe — can’t wait to come back!“

“The vibe and sushi/bento box were fire 🔥 🔥🔥“

“​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.“

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

“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 😊“

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

“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 .“

“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.“

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

“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! 👍“

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

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

“this was me and my husband's anniversary dinner
We happen to stumble across this restaurant
Hats off too this place! Everything was so delicious so fresh, and not only that it was so beautiful the presentation the taste the quality of the food was top-notch“

“Great spot to stop by at & open late! Sushi was fresh and they had plenty of selection to choose from! Overall Value was incredible too

The Spicy Garlic Edamame had a nice kick to it. Would highly recommend this place!“

“Amazing and delicious food. Had the regular karaage and the sweat and sour karaage. Both were juicy and flavorful. Portions were larger than I expected. The miso was also pretty good. Enjoyed the meal with a Calpico but they had beers available.

Best karaage we have had outside of Japan! Karaage was gluten free so that was great. The potato croquettes are not gluten free. Sad we didn't find this place sooner. We will be back!“

“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.“

“Just had late dinner, last minute. I found them open. It’s a nice idea. It’s something different than others. The service was fast was looking better than our picture on the website and was more rich with ingredients for this reason I do rate as a five star.“

“The staff is super friendly and the food is incredible. Best sushi Ive ever had! They also have some of the best whiskey. Will definately be taking any friends that love sushi to this place in the future.“

“My husband and I came here 9 years ago and just hadddd to return (we live in Northern California). We were greeted with warm smiles and treated like family from beginning to end. This place is so clean, has delicious food (try the mussels, trust me) and omg the staff is so sweet and friendly! ❤️“

“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 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“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had the best experience at Tabu Shabu! I sat out on the patio with my dog and it was absolutely perfect—comfortable, welcoming, and such a great vibe. I ordered a glass of wine and started with the cucumber appetizer and edamame, both super fresh and full of flavor. The highlight was the salmon bowl with rice…so delicious, perfectly cooked, and so satisfying. The service was friendly, the food came out quickly, and they made me (and my pup!) feel totally at home. I think everyone came out at some point to visit with me and my pup. Highly recommend if you’re looking for great food, a relaxing atmosphere, and a dog-friendly spot for a drink and apps (cant do hotpot outside, but still worth it).“

“The Best food especially the kimchi and cold noodle soup I’ve ever had. Bring your friends and family it’s a wonderful place to eat I’m going to be a regular here for my first time being here I was in heaven the menu is amazing you won’t be disappointed 😋😋😋😋😋“

“If you’re in Dana Point and looking for something simple, honest, and actually made with care — this little spot surprised me in the best way.

I ended up here in the middle of the day while working in the area. Never been before. I try to avoid chains when I can and pick something new each time. This place caught my eye, and I’m glad I walked in.

It’s a small, family-run vibe — and I mean literally. Looked like a husband and wife running everything themselves. They were both super polite, calm, and you can tell they really care about the food and about every guest who walks in. No rush, no attitude, just warm hospitality.

I went with something safe for me — ramen and salmon sushi. And both were just… really solid. Not overcomplicated, not trying to be something fancy. Just good food made right. The broth had depth, noodles cooked right, and the sushi was fresh with balanced flavor. No complaints there at all.

The place itself is small. Not a big dining room. A few tables inside, clean but definitely more of a takeout–focused spot. They don’t have a restroom available inside, which kind of confirms that they expect people to grab food and go. And honestly — I would.

Not because it’s bad to sit there — it’s fine. But this is the kind of meal that hits even better sitting somewhere by the ocean with the breeze. I’d definitely order takeout from here and eat outside by the water next time.

I paid around $30, which is very fair for the quality, especially in California. They do ask about tip at checkout before you get your food — that part always feels a bit weird to me, but I get it.

Overall — 5 stars for the food and the heart behind the place.
I’ll remember it.
And I’ll be back — probably to pick up a to-go order and take it straight to the beach.“

“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 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!!“

“Hands down best japanese curry in OC! Unique protein options such as pork belly, beef belly. The meats were crispy and juicy, service was fantastic. Loved the bubbling curry in the stone pot with menchi katsu. Kids love the curry udon and strawberry milk. Clean restroom- also open late until 1am on Fridays & Saturdays!“

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

“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.“

“Got take-out from here and it ended up being pretty decent. Went with the kaisen yakisoba which I was worried would be too garlicky given the way it smelled on the drive home but it was really pleasantly seasoned with a good amount of seafood. Also grabbed karaage because it was 50% off the day I went (Tuesdays). I probably didn't need this: it was nicely seasoned but the crispiness was a bit lacking and parts of it were frankly soggy.

The food court itself is pretty solid with a bunch of rice/noodle/etc options. I will say most of the things here, including this takeout and the market itself, are rather on the pricy side. However, the food was made quickly and I got a little buzzer so I could explore the market while waiting. It's overall a pretty lively place and it's nice that they have a parking garage.“

“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’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!“

“Amazing Japanese cuisine in Costa Mesa, CA. This place is one of the best Japanese restaurants in all of Orange County. The interior style resembles what all Japanese restaurants should look like, and most importantly, the food and service was top notch. They have an extensive sushi menu and it has always been very fresh and also Japanese imported. Hands down, my top 5 favorite Japanese restaurants in California.“