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“

“Great little gem! It’s more like eating Art! The photography is breathtaking Every menu item is a work of Art and tasty! No dish is the same 😋😍“

“The vegetarian rolls are so flavorful and the staff is super friendly! Definitely going back.“

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

“The staff member that helped me (purple hair and a nose piercing) made my first visit to Poke Tiki so pleasant that I want to go back. Their communication was clear and they helped me make such a delicious poke bowl! We need more customer service and kindness like this person—they made me feel welcomed. The bowl was tasty with fresh fish and great toppings. 10/10 would recommend if you like a relaxed food spot with nice people around.“

“🔥 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!“

“Been coming here for 2yrs. Always fresh, clean and delicious. James is a Master.“

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

“This place is a hidden diamond. It was the best sushi me and my wife ever had. I am big with all you can eat sushi restaurants but this place is heaven. I will not go anywhere else moving forward. This is my spot now.
I highly recommended the hostess, and the waitresses are extremely friendly.“

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

“Very good“

“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.)“

“Simple, delicious, and healthy. This place species in beef pepper rice and have mastered their craft. The menu is nice and simple which makes it easy to order. The beef pepper rice is affordable and delicious, but the toppings at $2 each is pretty absurd. You order at the tablet and the staff bring out the food to your table if dining in. The staff are very friendly and the interior is clean.“

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

“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.“

“The sushi is so fresh and everyone is so friendly, It is obvious that there are many regulars in there. So many groups of customers were talking and joking with each other, it is a very friendly atmosphere. It is a small place with only one Sushi chef and it appeared that many customers knew each other, the chef seemed to know most of the customers, the customers knew the chef……you get the picture. Seeing the place full of so many regulars was reassuring on its own but the food spoke for itself.“

“It's a lovely sushi place. Went on a weeknight early evening and sat by the sushi bar. Had the chefs choice and it was a delight. I find it to be a. Ice gem for a sushi place. It's not a place I would expect to have chef choice sushi but it was a nice surprise. Will go back and will bring friends and family.“

“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.“

“Great food, you get a lot of food for your money! Had the Chicken Katsu, came with the chicken, rice, some vegetables and broth. A great amount of food for the price. Great Customer Service. Located inside the WestPark Plaza. Lots of options to choose from and this is a sure bet.“

“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.🙏🙏🙏“

“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 food and great staff“

“all of it was delish! great service as well.“

“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!“

“We visited this place today with our whole family and had a wonderful experience. Even though it was a busy time, they were able to find us a table quickly, and we didn’t have to wait long.

Our server was very kind and attentive — he helped us choose our dishes, gave great recommendations, and answered all our questions.

The food was absolutely delicious, and the entire staff made us feel welcome and well taken care of. Everything was just perfect.

We highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back, especially since we live nearby!“

“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!“

“Best poke! So much variety, tuna, salmon, spicy tuna, albacore, octopus, shrimp. tamago, and tofu. Delicious add-ons and lots of toppings!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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...“

“It's my favorite lunch spot the service is consistently great, and the food is absolutely fantastic. Their lunch specials are a steal, and the regular menu items are delicious too. Plus, they can accommodate large groups! Highly recommended!“

“I’ve been to this store quite a few times, and it’s definitely one of my favorite places to grab a bite. The food is fantastic, especially the Ishiyaki—whether it’s pork belly or beef, it’s simply the best. I always try to get the rice extra crispy at the bottom. The service is top-notch and the staff are so friendly and attentive. They really listen to what customers suggest, which makes it even better. I highly recommend it!“

“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.“

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

“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 😋😋😋😋😋“

“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.“

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

“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!“