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!“

“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. ❤️“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“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!“

“Authentic, great service, fun staff!“

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

“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 👍🏽“

“I love sushi, and out of the amount of sushi places I’ve gone too, this one has blown my mind. They have a wide range of rolls, I came with my bf and got the crispy rice and spice tuna, and then was later recommended hot night by Sean, one of the cooks, he was phenomanal, the art in the roll pares the food as well as the look at an out standing 10 stars if I could. 🔥👏👏👏“

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

“Very good“

“Visited Curry Do in Costa Mesa!.
Our go to location is Tustin on Newport Avenue. But we decided to try this new location as we were in the area!
Had a couple of Japanese Orion Beers and ordered the delicious Chicken Katsu with JapaneseCurry! If you've never had Japanese Curry before, you should definitely give Curry Do a try!
Freshly cooked and Crispy! Asked for the Chili Powder and a double helping of pickled radish. Have it with a side of Egg!
Try having the Curry on the side. That's my preferred way of having it!
Curry Do is definitely a place to check out when in Costa Mesa! Don't forget to visit the Tustin location too... Hi Nori!!!
Socalweekendwalkarounds definitely recommends Curry Do!
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Parking: Depending on what time of day you come, parking lot may be crowded. Lots of food places here...“

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

“place is awesome. quick and tasty“

“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 came to Tabu Shabu on a Friday right before happy hour ended, and they were kind enough to still honor it—great service! This spot has been hyped a lot, and I’d say it’s worth the visit, especially with the happy hour discount. Without it, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality makes up for it.

I ordered the lamb and beef, both of which were flavorful and satisfying. The highlight was definitely the service of turning my leftover hot pot into porridge—it made for a delicious and hearty late-night meal. It’s a lot of food, so you definitely get your fill.

Overall, a solid spot for hot pot if you’re looking for good quality and unique offerings. Definitely recommend catching happy hour if you can!“

“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.“

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

“I frequently walk here to grab sushi. Always tasty and fresh. My favorites are the Hawaii roll (less jalapeno), the mars roll, and the ichi roll. The salads could be better but I like the miso soup. Also like the botan milk tea with boba :) quick friendly service and cute atmosphere“

“Great place! Hole in the wall with limited seating, but the food was fresh and delicious. Price was not much more than lower quality sushi restaurants.
it gets packed very quick, so reservations is recommended. We didn't have reservations and had to wait about 10-15 minutes.“

“Love this lil place. Service is amazing and love the waitresses -they are always so friendly and welcoming! I really appreciate and am grateful they have a gluten free menu! It’s limited and wish they had more options but it’s so great because I don’t need to worry about getting sick from gluten! Not many sushi places have gluten free menus!“

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

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

“06.12.25 update: Some places are just worth visiting even with the extra drive. Maki-Yaki Express here in Laguna Hills is definitely a very good place for sushi. Same owners - very nice and humble two-team folks! Excellent array of dishes on their menu. I'm picky when it comes to pricing but if the quality and freshness are top notch, then I'm good with paying the price. Deeleeciousness on food for sure! The atmosphere inside fits with the adjacent stores. People come for the food anyway. Huge plus if owners are nice to customers👏👏👏

Reasonable prices and fairly quick service. A few of my favorites are salmon-mango roll, mango-avocado salad, shrimp tempura udon, jessica roll, shrimp tempura. Very accommodating on platter orders. Place is small in size, although not a place to impress your girl. This is one of THE places to go for good food!“

“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“

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

“WOW, this place is a hidden lunch gem. My first time here. The chicken teriyaki rice bowl is delicious. I normally don’t - never - eat the little side salad at food places but this salad was fresh and light. Definitely recommend getting lunch here.“

“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.“

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

“Best sushi I have ever had“

“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.“

“Everything was amazing to the food, the atmosphere and service!“

“Came here for dinner with my mom to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my dad’s passing. The fish was fresh, the miso soup was delicious, and the staff were so hospitable! We loved that it was quaint inside and easy to walk to from our Inn. Definitely recommend Maki Yaki!“

“Parking is pretty difficult in this lot. A lot of it is reserved for other businesses in the same vicinity. However, the fried chicken is juicy, crispy, and has the right balance of fat vs meat. The bento order i got was also very filling, and can definitely serve two people for 15 dollars.“

“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!“

“​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.“

“It’s a treasure: a Chinese/Japanese place that provides actually safe guten free options. Many thanks to Kazu for guiding me through my choices and even having my my fried rice remade without imitation crab.

Vegetarian options: Seems to be some stuff

Dietary restrictions: They actually make gluten free work I am pretty sure. Kazu actually listened to my explanation and did his best to get me safe food. I bet it would be that way for another allergy too.

Parking: Lot gets full, but there’s a garage

Kid-friendliness: I mean, it’s tasty

Wheelchair accessibility: Looks pretty good“

“Absolutely amazing! This is the spot I’ve been taking everyone. Place inside is kinda small but super cozy and cute. You order at the kiosk and it’s super easy/convenient. They make the food in the front and it definitely adds a personalized touch. My favorites are the seared salmon and unagi yubu! They look small but 3 of them is the perfect amount for meal for me

Dietary restrictions: They prepare the food by the kiosk and you can ask them any questions directly“

“Small place. Reservations recommended. Pricey but fish is fresh and delicious.“

“Fantastic sushi and great service! Thank you chef for welcoming my family and providing a great experience and the best sushi I’ve had in the OC! Baked Green Mussels and miso soup were well done appetizers…glad you’re back in business and definitely our sushi place at the beach!“

“After my daughter’s basketball game in Mission Viejo, we drove about 12 minutes to Marugame Udon in Aliso Viejo for lunch. The food was great. My kids really enjoyed the noodles and everything tasted fresh. The restaurant was clean, spacious, and had a nice setup for families.

The only downside was how hot it felt inside. There was no air conditioning, and with the temperature outside at 88 degrees, it was uncomfortable eating the hot udon noodle soup. My kids even said the restroom felt cooler than the dining area.

Overall, we liked the food and the space. If the AC were more powerful and consistent, it would definitely elevate the entire experience and make dining much more enjoyable.“

“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.“

“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 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 really liked this place. It is so yummy. The rolls are perfect. Not too large but lots of flavor.

The assorted tempura was so crispy and delicious. A good portion too.

Popcorn shrimp roll was so crisp and flavorful. The spicy yellowtail roll was great too.

I definitely will return.“

“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!“

“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...“