50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Laguna Hills

“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.“

“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 .“

“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+++++....“

“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.“

“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!“

“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?!“

“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“

“Jerk chicken ELL eggs Tantan udon Kaisendon Everything“

“I recently dined at this small, intimate Japanese sushi spot and overall had a pleasant experience. The space is simple yet classy, with a clean, understated décor that creates a relaxed atmosphere. Service was attentive and professional throughout the meal.
I understand the chef previously worked at Hamamori, which set certain expectations for me. The food presentation was beautiful — each piece was plated with care and elegance. The omakase was good and thoughtfully prepared, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. The flavors leaned very plain and subtle, and I found myself wishing for a bit more depth, seasoning, or contrast to really elevate each course.
That said, it’s still a solid and enjoyable sushi experience. I’ve been fortunate to travel and try many omakase spots around the world, so my standards may be on the higher side. While this one didn’t “wow” me, it’s good, clean, and simple — and worth checking out if you appreciate a more restrained, minimalist style of sushi“

“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.)“

“i came 10 after they opened so i got my food very fast, in about 2 minutes. i got the original steak pepper lunch bowl and it was very peppery but it was still good and filling. i enjoy eating here but it’s usually very busy and about a 5-10 minute wait. i think it’s a bit expensive but a nice place to eat at. staff is always nice and attentive. would recommend coming here if you get the chance“

“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.“

“I have eaten here twice. Had the spicy miso both times. It was good. Spicy too. This is inside the Hmart. Many other little food shops and a central eating area. Prices seem a little high. I would eat here again though. Wait for food preparation was a little long too but there were at least 3 orders in front of me so to be expected. Overall good 👍🏾“

“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 😊“

“This is the ultimate sushi spot. We have been coming here for many years for date nights and also nights with the family to celebrate and enjoy a special occasion. Everyone here knows us and we are always welcomed with big smiles and “come in, come in!” The staff and chefs here make this place feel like home, like this is our spot. It’s a very small restaurant, hole in the wall, which I absolutely love. We’ve sat at tables inside, the bar, and the tables outside are great too! They have enhanced the outdoor area with umbrellas and heaters, candles and table lamps. We always ask about the specials - go with the specials! They have sake, beer, sodas, tea - we usually get a large Asahi and share it, or ask for a recommendation on sake. The oysters and monkfish liver, when they have it, are incredible! Any and all of the nigiri is our go-to, can’t go wrong with any of the rolls too (we usually do sushi when dining in and get rolls for take out). I love the uni and unagi, chu toro and buri toro (all the toro), hamachi and kanpachi… I honestly love it all. The kids always get udon and karaage chicken with a side of white rice. This is our special place to celebrate, so grateful to have this kind of spot to go to that’s close to home. We love it here.“

“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“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“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“

“A friend if a friend recommended this place so we decided to give it try. We couldn't get through by phone for reservations but were able to get a seat at 11:30 Friday without a problem. We got the $69 sushi set B and all of it was delicious! The fish was soft and fresh and the size was generous. Albacore is not one I usually like but theirs was quite good. The amount of soy sauce was just right too. The staff were all super nice too. I wanted to try the rolls but I was full already. I will definitely be back.“

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

“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!“

“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 the service. Amazing quality in food and service. Our server Hatch was really welcoming accommodating and nice. He helped us out with everything that we need. I got the tonkatsu broth and it was very yummy. Very good selection of meats veggies side dishes and hot plates. Will be coming here again and again and again.“

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

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

“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 am allergic to shrimp, and today I decided to have an udon soup here. My sincere congratulations and endless thanks to the staff who took care of me tonight at the bar. They remade my order from scratch to make sure there was no cross-contamination, and the manager personally supervised the preparation of my udon soup to ensure it was completely safe. Thank you so much, I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant!“

“Gurume has become a place we go to at least once a week, especially for lunch. Their lunch specials are a great deal, and most importantly, their food is very good. High quality at a great price. They are very accommodating for my son’s diet. Staff and service are always wonderful.“

“Quick and friendly service, food is yummy!.😋“

“Food: Sushi rolls were excellent and pretty competitive prices. My favorite was the caterpillar. Fish quality was excellent. Avocado and cucumber was fresh and sushi didn't taste like it had sugar in it which was excellent.!

Service: Sucks. They are impatient, rude, and quick to walk away and pretend they didn't hear you. For example I asked if a waiter could remove a plate. He ignored me and signaled at the busboy to pick up the plate instead. Even the busboy realized that was odd.“

“We would give this place ten stars if we could. We ate there last Wednesday and it was our first time there. Food was excellent! We ordered beef teriyaki/tempura and chicken teriyaki/tempura.The house dressing on the salad was amazing! Everything was amazing. Our server Terry provided us with top notch service. Terry was very attentive and regularly refilled our drinks and checked in on us. We will be back there again!“

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

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

“Robata Wasa at the Irvine Spectrum is such a solid spot if you’re craving quality sushi with a fun, energetic vibe. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels elevated but still relaxed. dim lighting, modern decor, and a lively buzz that makes it perfect for a night out with friends or a casual date night.

The fish is incredibly fresh. You can taste the quality immediately, buttery salmon, clean and slightly sweet hamachi, and melt-in-your-mouth toro that doesn’t need anything extra. Every piece of nigiri was balanced and beautifully presented, and you can tell they really take pride in their seafood selection.

Service was also top-tier. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They checked in at the perfect times and gave great recommendations without being pushy.

Overall, Robata Wasa delivers on all fronts, fresh fish, creative dishes, great service, and a cool atmosphere right in the heart of the Spectrum. Definitely a spot worth coming back to.“

“I recommend the AYCE. All You Can Eat for a great price. The Sushi was very fresh and flavorful, the service very good and the Price was very reasonable. I would try the Jalapeño Poppers if you like a bite of spice and uniqueness! The Melon Soda was really good. Enjoy!!!“

“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...“

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

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

“Pretty good ramen and sushi. Our group ordered the tonkotsu black and spicy miso ramen. Both were very flavorful and filling. We also order the salmon bento box and chicken katsu with curry. Both the bento boxes were good, but katsu seemed a little dry. It's better with the curry, but I wouldn't order it again. The sushi was great. We got the baked salmon roll and crunch fire roll. Both were fresh and delicious! I would come back to try the other ramen.“

“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 😋😍“

“I love � fukada“

“The food was so delicious.“

“Fresh fish expertly prepared by friendly chef with equally cheerful service staff! We will be back“

“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!“