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!“

“GREAT food! Some of the best ramen I've had.
Vegetarian and vegan options - if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions definitely let them know when you're ordering so they can accommodate. One of the included ramen toppings is narutomaki (fish cake) even if you get the vegetarian/vegan broth; so if you tell them what you can/can't have when you order they can relay it to the kitchen :) . The service is great and everyone is friendly and happy to help! It's a busy, cute, place but the bar seating is comfortable and they are quick to get you taken care of.
Shoutout to their yummy matcha ice cream cone as well <3“

“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.“

“🔥 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 👍🏽“

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

“Very good“

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

“Jerk chicken ELL eggs Tantan udon Kaisendon Everything“

“Family brought us here to celebrate a birthday - even though they stick to bento boxes and don't get the sushi. Worked out, everything was very fresh and tasty. It's a small space inside and very homey. Loved the no rice roll options. The servers were making jokes with us and jumping in pictures, we were the only ones there for awhile. (If you're the stick to yourselves type, you will hate this.)“

“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.“

“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 😊“

“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.“

“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 .“

“This is an amazing restaurant with fantastic food and truly incredible owners who give back to the community. I recently learned that they’re one of the diamond sponsors supporting Tzu Chi USA, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that has provided significant disaster relief here in the U.S. — including over $2.5 million in cash aid to wildfire survivors in Los Angeles and ongoing support efforts for Maui wildfire survivors and other disaster-affected communities. Thank you for your generosity and leadership.🙏🙏🙏“

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

“By far one of my favorite sushi restaurants ever. Kathy and Edna are amazing waitresses and provide excellent service. The food here is so fresh with good sized portions. A ton of specialty rolls that are all flavorful. This place is top notch“

“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“

“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!“

“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!!! 💛 Sushi spot, beautiful people with awesome personalities! Food is DELICIOUS! Super clean restaurant. We came from Arizona and everyone was very attentive as well, price is very good compared to other spots. Will definitely be coming back! Thank you for the wonderful experience.“

“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 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).“

“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“

“The service was very good, and the overall taste was impeccable; the food was delicious and well-balanced, but it lacked the authentic and refined Japanese flavor. It was also unusual that the rolls fell apart. They gave us two eggs with the oden... The bonito broth tasted exactly like the one from Lawson convenience store, haha. The sake-steamed clams really tasted strongly of sake! The sukiyaki was quite impressive, a huge bowl! The only downside was the lack of a raw egg accompaniment, which felt like something essential was missing“

“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.“

“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 absolutely love this restaurant! It's my favorite lunch spot – the service is always excellent, and the food is fantastic. Their lunch specials are great value, and the dishes on the regular menu are also delicious. They can even accommodate large groups! Highly recommended!“

“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 😋😋😋😋😋“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“