50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Laguna Hills

“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!“

“This is a great, unexpected treat in a strip mall in Laguna Hills. Some of the best sushi I have had in quite some time. We ordered omakse and each dish was better than the last. The service was prompt and polite. Small store front and not much in terms of atmosphere, but that is an easy trade off for the great food!“

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

“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!“

“Good food and friendly service“

“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.“

“Service is wonderful. Everyone is friendly. It’s like going to my Obason’s to have dinner. Everything about this place is authentically Okinawan. Oishī“

“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 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?!“

“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 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.“

“Really good food

Vegetarian options: All so delicious

Dietary restrictions: Yes

Parking: Very friendly

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“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 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.“

“On Sunday evening, after my son finished his Taekwondo tournament in Tustin, I searched for nearby Ramen restaurants and drove my family to Yoshiharu Ramen.

To my surprise, only one server was attending to 80% of the customers. Since my kids were hungry, we decided not to spend time going to another restaurant. Therefore, we ordered the following items:

• Tonkatsu Black ($18.00)
• Tonkatsu Spicy Black ($18.50)
• Rib Eye Beef Bento ($20.00)

After waiting for 20 minutes, two bowls of Ramen arrived. I almost finished my meal when my wife and daughter realized the Bento had not arrived yet. I asked the server about it, and she apologized, explaining that it was taking longer than expected.

Advice to the Owner: To ensure better business, please consider hiring more servers and not cutting back on labor costs. Customers don’t like waiting.

If the waiting time improves, we will definitely return.

Parking: Many free parking lots“

“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 don’t really live in the area but was craving some fish and this spot sounded real chill. Turns out it was more than chill, it was fantastic! Atmosphere was comfy and the man taking my order was nice. Food was 10/10 satisfied my craving for sure and would def come back again to eat if I come by here.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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 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“

“Sushi
Came here because we were curious and hungry. Not a lot of people which was perfect and got seated right away. The ambiance is a Japanese and Korean vibe. The food and service is so great.

Food. So many to choose from and you only have one stomach. Don’t you hate that.

What my family ordered.
Gurume steak
Salmon

Sushi and a few sushi rolls

Everything is so delicious. Sushi and sushi rolls are so fresh. Would definitely comeback her again.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“First time here and found it to be quite good. Flavor of beef pepper rice was perfectly seasoned. Meal prepared fairly quickly.“

“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!!!“

“What is there to complain about? I always come by whenever I'm in the neighborhood. Still one of the few deals thats under $10 for an actual meal.Their Pork Cutlet Curry ($9.25+tax) is my go-to for its volume and the home-y feeling it gives you.The gentleman at the front gingerly took my order and my food came out ~10mins. Mind you, this was on a Tuesday afternoon (2pm)I prefer this locaction sometimes compared to its sister location in Costa Mesa. The choices here are limited, but you get the quiet and convenience.Tip: There's a parking in the back corner of the mall where you have direct access to the food court instead of parking and walking through the front. If you can find it...“

“Such nice service and delicious sushi, udon/soba, sake, yam fries, edamame and tempura! (pictured is the Tekka naki and Unagi and California , crunchy eel roll, and spicy tuna roll!“

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

“Went for lunch on New Year's Day. Since it's a holiday the price is for dinner instead of lunch special. Not crowded, but if you happen to be the 6th+ party seated at opening time, expect for a long wait (35mins from time of order) to get your food since the kitchen will be busy preparing the first 5 parties. Drinks were served promptly. Sodas are fountain style with unlimited refills.

Parking: Ample parking, located next to Albertsons.“

“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”.“

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

“Amazing sushi-rolls! Service is awesome👍🏻“

“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.“

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

“Food tasted good and healthy, as in no msg i can taste and mildly seasoned. All the ingredients were fresh. This is a hidden gem. I cannot believe this place isn't more busy.

I ordered the tempura crunch roll and wrap. Both were delicious. Also the prices are so ridiculously low, esp for the quality of food.“

“The food is very good and fresh. Ordering child menu you will have a real feast -with MANY dishes, like 2 types of chicken, shrimps, soup, salad and desert. I was impressed. Only one thing I did not like - it's too noisy but it's because everyone wants to eat there!

Kid-friendliness: My kid was happy because kid's menu is really super good there.“

“I love � fukada“

“i like the food, big serving & it’s worth the price, i hope they willnot increase the price or lessen the service.“

“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.“

“Our go to Sushi 🍣 restaurant. Best in town, small, but great friendly, service oriented staff.“

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

“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 😋“