50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Laguna Hills

“Today was first time dining here with my wife and what a surprise very nice place with very delicious food , great service and some charm to it . We were in the area shopping in Trader Joe’s and went on google maps to see if there was any food near by . Kotobuki came up and we just headed straight there . We ordered bento boxes and everything I mean everything tasted fresh and amazing. We will be back !“

“Needed a healthy option for my daughter and this is her favorite.

Super fresh ingredients and tasty quality I expect of sushi and bowls. The teriyaki chicken bowl is very tasty and enjoyable.

We generally get to-go. The eat-in option are basic tables and chairs.“

“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+++++....“

“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“

“Such a cute spot next to UCI! The interior decor is gorgeous — such a vibe! They have beer, sake, and COFFEES! Everything on the menu looks soo good. Many of the rolls use the same ingredients so that’s an area for potential improvement, but didn’t take away from the experience.

Service was great, our server was very kind and attentive. I didn’t love that water for the table was already sitting on each table when we arrived, it looked like it had been there all day. The ginger and wasabi was a similar situation, it didn’t look fresh, but when we requested more the server immediately replaced it!

It was so quiet and chill in this area, and they have outdoor seating as well where families were hanging out. Very mellow and cute.

We were in the area for a concert, but would definitely return for Botan Sushi! Thank you!“

“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?!“

“You need to make a reservation which is $50/person. You wait till your time opens and then you go. Small room with 1 tabletop.

Lunch omakase deal is great for $68. Friendly servers and chefs. The one we had today was very friendly and engaged in conversation. All the fish tasted fresh and loved the pairings that went with them.

They put a candle in the dessert for the birthday person which is a nice touch. Would totally go back!“

“Jerk chicken ELL eggs Tantan udon Kaisendon Everything“

“Pretty good sushi place, fish tasted fresh. The rolls are on smaller side but tastes good. They have bento lunch specials. I would recommend they invest in a better menu book with photos. It will help their business and make it more enticing for customers to purchase more menu items. I was recommended to try the Romeo and Juliette Roll and it was light and delicious. Bonus, there’s a huge Tesla Charging Station on the other side of the strip mall.“

“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.“

“Bro they have really good food and such a big potential to remodel that spot for a spot of culture with outside cozy spot, big parking lot and location is perfect. Just a little hand and marketing can make this place so great. Although it’s great as it is“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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 😊“

“We had a wonderful dining experience at Ootoro Bar! The sashimi and sushi were incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared. The Umami truffle pasta was rich and flavorful, and the sea bass was perfectly cooked 👍 I also really enjoyed the avocado & seaweed salad — so refreshing and delicious.

Great food, relaxing atmosphere, and plenty of parking spaces available — definitely a place we’ll come back to again!!“

“Had a really good experience at GU Ramen Taps & Tapas recently. The ramen was flavorful, the tapas were perfect for sharing, and the drinks selection was solid too. We went during happy hour and the atmosphere was super fun and relaxed, definitely a place we’ll be coming back to.“

“Craving some udon while we were passing through the area so we decided to stop here for a quick early dinner on a weekend. It was quiet and service was quick.

Set up like a Chipotle and Subway. You order your main dish and you move along to customize it by adding tempuras (extra fee), vegetables (extra fee), green onions, or tempura flakes.

The udon soup base and noodles was good. The tempura batter on my shrimp tempuras was too thick and not light and flaky. I wanted to add vegetables to my udon and wish they were cooked first or cooked with my soup. Dumping uncooked vegetables into my soup just cooled everything down right away.

There was a lot of seating inside and on their large outdoor patio. The place was very clean.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“Kanpai Sushi in Aliso Viejo is one of those reliable neighborhood spots that just gets it right. The fish is consistently fresh, the rolls are generous, and the menu has enough variety to keep things interesting without trying too hard. Standouts like the Godzilla Roll and spicy calamari hit every time, and the sashimi quality is solid for the price point. 

The vibe is casual and relaxed, making it an easy go-to whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or sitting down for dinner. Service is fast and friendly, and the staff actually makes you feel welcome instead of rushed. It’s the kind of place locals keep coming back to because it’s dependable, affordable, and consistently delivers a good experience. If you’re in Aliso Viejo and want solid sushi without the hype or crazy prices, this is a strong choice.“

“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!“

“We’ve walked by this place many times and finally decided to try it! The food was delicious, some favorites were the chicken karaage, kureji toro roll, and the lemon pepper roll. Our server Kaho was very friendly and attentive. Will be back!!“

“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.“

“I’ve been coming to Miyabi Shabu Shabu in Irvine every week for the past 7 years, and it has never disappointed. That kind of consistency is rare, and it’s the reason this place has become one of my absolute favorites.

The food is always incredibly fresh—especially the meats, vegetables, and sauces. You can really taste the quality in every bite, and the presentation is always clean and inviting. It’s the perfect spot if you’re looking for a healthy, satisfying meal.

What truly makes this place stand out is the service. The staff is consistently friendly, attentive, and efficient, even during busy times. They make you feel welcomed every visit and ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality shabu shabu experience in Irvine, I highly recommend Miyabi. After 7 years of weekly visits, it’s safe to say they’re doing everything right.“

“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”.“

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

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

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

“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.“

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

“Discovered this gem while on the search for lunch! Amazing sushi 🍣 sashimi options, and the tempura was fried to perfection (very crispy)! Also tried the non alcoholic Sapporo and it was light and foamy. Miso soup was okay! Loved the restaurant ambiance, very quiet and clean/nice decor, attentive and friendly servers (more upscale than a casual place). I think we found our new sushi 🍣 spot in Irvine 🥰 highly recommend!“

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

“Server terry was great, food was delicious i tried the new beer they have from japan they serve it to you with mint leaves 🍃 and it tastes phenomenal, the Mexican roll, stuffed jalapeños and the Jeffrey roll and the miso soup are the best 👌“

“AMAZEBALLS! Japanese A5 Wagyu For The Win!“

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

“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...“

“DELICIOUSNESS! healthy, tasty and great prices“

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

“I love � fukada“

“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 food was so delicious.“

“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!!!“

“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!“

“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.“