We’ve rounded up the best sushi restaurants in Orange County, from traditional to innovative and beyond.
Chef-owner Takashi Abe has some serious street cred, including honing his skills under chef Nobu Matsuhisa. We suggest ordering the sushi omakase to taste the best of what chef Abe has to offer at this hot spot tucked within the Crystal Cove Shopping Center. For $85, the chef will select an inspiring menu featuring an amuse bouche, 12 pieces of sushi and soup. 7952 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Coast
Surrounded by a hazy blue ambiance and the lingering aroma of grilled Maine lobster tail doused in miso truffle butter, Hamamori oozes over-the-top chic. Sushi chef extraordinaire James Hamamori takes you on a tasting whirlwind of sashimi, kobe and sake decadence. Stop by for lunch and dinner daily at this South Coast Plaza favorite. 3333 Bear St., Ste. 320, Costa Mesa, 714.850.0880
Hana Re chef Atsushi Yokoyama prepares delicacies like tsubugai. PHOTO COURTESY OF HANA RE
Orange County’s sole Michelin-starred sushi restaurant is tucked within The Lab Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa. Opened in 2015 by chef Atsushi Yokoyama and restaurateur Fred Fukushima, the intimate Japanese concept consists of three small dining rooms and a sushi counter with 10 seats. The draw of the menu is the omakase, during which Yokoyama presents dishes teeming with foie gras, uni, Japanese A5 wagyu beef, caviar, abalone and lobster. Guests can toast the experience with sake and end on a sweet note with panna cotta. 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.545.2800
Founding chef, CEO and owner Damon Cho brings more than 18 years of experience from his time at Nobu, Four Seasons and Tao to this new fine dining Japanese restaurant that bowed in October 2022. Cho is joined by corporate chef Don Yoon, an alum of Momoyama and Irori, in creating a delicious menu highlighted by sushi and sashimi brushed in signature nikiri shoyu sauce. Don’t miss the omakase bowl, toro uni bowl or miso crab salmon. 2000 Main St., Ste. 100, Irvine, 949.308.4290
Chef Taiki Kuramoto is fresh off one of his best years yet. In 2022, he took home a win on Hulu’s Best in Dough with his to-die-for sashimi pizza and his Fountain Valley restaurant earned a spot in the Michelin Guide. Dive into his new omakase menu featuring dry-aged and smoked Hokkaido scallops with Japanese river crab sawagani and miso poke. 18906 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 714.714.0514
Newport Beach’s Back Bay Court is home to Nana San, a charming Japanese eatery that often has a line out the door for gourmands pining for its red snapper, sweet shrimp and king salmon. Stop by for lunch or dinner for the chef’s specialty—simple yet expertly crafted tastes of nigiri. 3601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, 949.474.7373
Pull up a seat at the waterfront Grand Cordon bar at Nobu Newport Beach to enjoy a five-course cocktail omakase during two seatings Thursday through Saturday. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOBU NEWPORT BEACH
This two-story restaurant at Lido Marina Village pairs waterfront views with wow-worthy cuisine from chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The Newport Beach location is home to Nobu’s one and only Grand Cordon bar, where a cocktail-driven omakase awaits. Round out the experience with Nobu favorites including the black cod with miso, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce, and monkfish pate with caviar. 3450 Via Oporto, Ste. 101, Newport Beach, 949.429.4440
Discover Tokyo-style sushi and authentic Okinawan cuisine at this quaint yet charming restaurant in Orange’s Tustin Square. Opened in 2007, the eatery is led by sushi chefs Shige and Shigenari Kimura who draw patrons to their sushi counter with cherry salmon, black cod, sea bream, sweet shrimp and more. 1956 N. Tustin St., Orange, 714.998.0098
The artful shima aji nigiri from Omakase by Gino, PHOTO COURTESY OF KNIFE & SPORK PUBLIC RELATIONS
Experience an exquisite symphony of artful seafood and sushi dishes at Omakase by Gino, a hidden gem in Santa Ana where chef-owner Gino Choi showcases a 17- to 18-course prix fixe menu at his intimate 10-seat sushi bar. With only two seatings per night Wednesday through Saturday, the dining adventure sells out months in advance, and for good reason—Choi utilizes fish flown in fresh from Japan. 304 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 657.231.6008
Chef Masa San brings 40 years of culinary experience from his native Tokyo to Irvine, where he delights sushi lovers with curated bento boxes, hand rolls, sashimi and nigiri. Don’t miss the four omakase menus, including the ultimate chef’s choice priced from $300 to $500. 2222 Michelson Drive, Ste. 246, Irvine, 949.222.0688
Since its opening in 2021, Rebel Omakase has found a warm spot in the hearts of sushi lovers in Laguna Beach and beyond. Chef-owner Jordan Nakasone offers diners a rotating selection of seasonal fish in an omakase menu served during two seatings per night. Dishes go big on flavor and presentation—elements that have earned the restaurant a nod from the Michelin Guide. 361 Forest Ave., Ste. 103, Laguna Beach, 949.664.3186
Trendy and gorgeously appointed—complete with an eye-catching sake bottle chandelier—Robata Wasa has made a name for itself at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Offering more than just humble skewers of meat and veggies, the modern izakaya showcases impressive culinary prowess with dishes such as Uni Meets Crab and delectable Hokkaido sea scallops that are buttery and beautiful. 926 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.536.5064
Situated on the second story of the Village Faire Shoppes in Laguna Beach, Seabutter prides itself on offering top-notch sushi and sashimi dishes prepared with the finest ingredients. Counter or table seating is offered, and popular plates include the Rainbow pressed sushi (blue crab and avocado topped with salmon, yellowtail, tuna and albacore) and the Sunset roll (spicy tuna, asparagus and avocado topped with yellowtail sashimi, cilantro and sweet yuzu sauce).1100 S. Coast Highway, Ste. 303, Laguna Beach, 949.942.6042
Sushi and sashimi are the stars of the show, whether in a traditional cut roll style or tucked within a hand roll. More than 50 types of fish are flown in from Japan to craft chef Yuki Takishima’s tasty menu—which is best served at the charming counter where you can take in all the action front and center. Just be sure to save room for green tea cheesecake, a custard crepe or tempura ice cream for dessert. 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.631.9854
Sushi Ii's master chef Susumi Ii, PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTSHINE PR
Master chef Susumu Ii began his journey when he was 18 and hasn’t stopped since. At Ii, his omakase-style menus include three experiences: Oribe, Bizen and Karatsu. Each omakase is carefully curated to reflect chef Ii’s dedication to achieving absolute perfection. A la carte sushi options are also available for diners wanting to choose their own adventure. 100 W. Coast Highway, Ste. 202, Newport Beach, 949.287.6268
Since 2007, chef-owners Tsutumo Saito and Daisuke Tamake have been enticing patrons to indulge in fresh sushi selections at this Santa Ana gem. Pull up a seat at the 10-seat counter to watch the masters at work as they craft an omakase of your liking. Pair those small plates with a sip of sake or wine. 2901 W. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 108, Santa Ana, 714.241.1000
Head to Yorba Linda for award-winning omakase menus by chef-owner Hiro Noguchi, who can be found hand-picking fresh fish flown in from Japan at Los Angeles’ fish markets at least four times per week. Jun’s Omakase will score you five to six dishes while the premium nigiri omakase includes 10 pieces of premium sushi and one hand roll, each priced at $70 respectively. If more indulgence is what you’re after, opt for Hiro’s Omakase, a traditional-style omakase, priced at $110 to $160, where the chef will serve you the best seasonal selection of the day—until you say stop. 18507 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, 714.777.6789
This Fashion Island staple, where DJs spin by night, is dedicated to serving contemporary sushi with high-quality ingredients. Order the deluxe sushi plate to feast on yellowtail, tuna, salmon, shrimp, albacore, and baked crab or spicy tuna cut rolls, plus scallop, sea bream and toro jalapeño cut rolls. Wash it all down with a vodka-spiked Roku’s Fusion cocktail or the tequila-tinged Heat of the Dragon. 327 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.706.3622
Discover Taikun's fresh fish offerings at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAIKUN
This new sushi pop-up at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is only open through Nov. 5, 2023 so book now. Executive chef Kei Yoshino and restaurateur Ryan Chadwick have teamed up to bring sushi lovers an intimate 16-course omakase dining concept straight from New York City. Known as Taikun, the pop-up restaurant is housed inside a transformed private dining room and offers two seatings Wednesday through Sunday. Enjoy a culinary adventure at an eight-seat counter highlighted by A5 Japanese wagyu and toro tartare paired with Osetra caviar. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000
An expansive menu of nigiri and specialty sushi rolls is found at this sleek spot in The Bluffs in Newport Beach. While happy hour and dinner are divine, we suggest stopping by for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30AM to 2PM. The sushi lunch special will allow you to enjoy assorted selections of sushi and sashimi plus a chirashi bowl. 1346 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, 949.760.1511
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