The Yummiest Sushi Bars in Irvine

San Shi Go Newport Beach

★★★★☆ 4.4 (998) • $$$

"Accidentally made it to Newport Beach go late to eat dinner somewhere else in balboa ; THANK GOODNESS . Because we stumbled upon San Shi Go . Their attention to detail. AMAZING! The food 20/10 . The service 20/10 Friday night made perfect with this place. The vibe is so chill and intimate . Perfect for dinner with loved ones, Or a first date. And the dessert chestnut social was out of this world. And if you're contemplating getting ice cream and like savory ice cream ; GET THE BLACK SESAME"

Satoshi Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (903) • $$

"Their menu is extensive and lots of good appetizers.The quality of the fish is superb . The rolls are so tasty, sushi are so amazing, the price are fair. What I got was completely justifies the prices. The only thing last time I was there the oysters not really fresh I like usually. The atmosphere is very chill and comfortable,Service was incredible . A lot of parking! ."

Sake2Me AYCE Sushi - Newport

★★★★★ 4.5 (810) • $$$

"AYCE selection is so yummy and fresh.Service is good and very helpful. Lots of varieties that you can choose.The place is kinda small and they are pack.This is our 1st time visiting this year. Will coma back"

Orange Roll & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (926) • $$

"We ordered takeout and it was really disappointing.We picked up our order, had 5 different rolls and also a seaweed salad.Unfortunately it was all bad and tasted bad.Myself, husband and daughter took a couple bites and we had to toss it.Later we were all nauseous and ended up with an upset stomach.Definitely wouldn't recommend this place.It was our first and will be our last.The individuals that were there and cooks were friendly. I surprised of the individuals making the food.I'm sure there's a recipe they follow but this is just bad.We tossed it and I had to take my daughter and self to doctor.It was food poisoning and we won't be coming or recommending this place.Enter at your own risk."

Roll & Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (806) • $

"Seems like this place is only for take-out. There are plenty of parkings around the area. There are bunch of chairs to sit and wait. The place is loud, the lady misheard the order number and didn't get the correct orders, but the food here is not bad."

Sushi Koto

★★★★☆ 4.1 (863) • $$

"Super authentic Japanese spot with great sushi and bowls. It's very popular and there may be a wait, so I recommend calling in advance. The staff is very friendly and attentive. My boyfriend's dinner chirashi came with so much food! It's a little expensive but totally worth it."

Show Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (701) • $$

"First time at Show Sushi, and wow the service was great and the sushi was fresh!The oysters were freshly shucked with tobiko and sriracha on top. 5/5 don't skip the lemon ;)Sashimi and nigiri combo 5/5 so fresh and tasty. Love the marinated salmon and toro! !Seaweed salad was a bit skimping but it was still good 4/5They gave us two freebies on the house which was awesome and the service always checked in on us consistently. Lovely employees, thank you! For all of this food it was $210 before tip.Will be coming back when I'm in the area!"

Kaori Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (842) • $$

"This place feels just like being in Japan. It's small but feels cozy and authentic. They have an amazing omakase here, and for such great value at only $50. I thought at first it wouldn't be filling enough, but to my surprise I felt even more than content by the end.You get to choose between Uni or TORO part of your set. I wanted both so I just ended up choosing TORO on the set, and ordering Uni on the side since it was cheaper to buy Uni al la carte than the market price of TORO. Also really enjoyed the A5 Wagyu and Anago. Flavors were immaculate.Servers were incredibly nice. They even gave us complimentary salmon collar as well as ice cream (probably since we one of the last people in the restaurant). Of note, omakase is only served on weekdays. We had reservations which was pretty crowded at 7, but by 8 the restaurant was more or less empty."

Tommy's Sushi & Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (841) • $$

"I have been going to Tommy's for many many years. The ambiance hasn't changed in decades. It is what it is. Their sushi is off the charts great. You'll never have a better poke bowl as Tommy's poke is unique. Many of their specialty items are only found at Tommy's. I highly recommend them. And you will always get authentic service here. The staff is friendly."

Sankai Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (908) • $$

"Everything was so delicious! Sat at the sushi bar for referance...Every piece of fish was clean and beautifully presented and the flavor was excellent, in every bite. Loved the use of edible flowers and fresh cut vegetables. On top of the excellent food, the service was also good! My husband and I eat slot of ginger and usually have to ask for more, but without even asking, the waitress brought us more ginger and wasabi. (I know maybe it's a small thing but I was super happy about it) Was impressed with their wonderful sashimi recommendations! Stoked to have found such a great sushi restaurant so close to home! Will be back :)"

Sumran Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (699) • $$

"Passed by the center and saw the signs for Thai food and Sushi and decided to gove it a try. Came here after volleyball for lunch and was happy they had dine-in lunch specials available everyday (including weekends!) from 11:30am-2:30pm. Got the Sashimi Lunch Box with 7 pieces for $20. It includes Chef's Choice sashimi served with cucumber and seaweed salad, gyoza (3 pieces), miso soup, and California Roll or Tuna Cut Roll (5pcs). It was a good spread and variety of food and filled me up. Service was prompt and friendly. Ambience was pretty nice with comfy booth seating (see pics below). Overall content with the taste of the food and plan to put this restaurant in my rotation thanks to the lunch specials."

Koisan Sushi & Japanese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (842) • $$

"Loved it here. Our server (Ryan) was great and had some very good suggestions on the menu. Will definitely be coming back here for some more happy hour options and to explore the menu more."

Sushi Ryokan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (671) • $$

"My brother-in-law from Missouri was in town for business. He texted "is my office anywhere near your house?". Turns out he was 5 minutes away. I picked him up after work and asked what CA cuisine he wanted. He picked sushi. I was trying to find somewhere cool and this place was near the beach and had great reviews. We walk in the door and a stench punches us in the face. It smelled so bad in here I was instantly embarrassed and whispered to my wife "lets go somewhere else". My brother-in-law said "nah, it just smells like somebody burnt something" so we stayed. Unlike every single other person who walked in the door we were ignored and stood there until somebody realized we weren't leaving and sat us. Our waiter didn't seem interested in serving our table either. Every other customer they yelled out greetings and treated them like stars. This is why I can't give the place 5 stars.Food though was 5 stars all the way. For being from Missouri my brother in law was a sushi pro. He ordered a sashimi bowl. He was very specific on what type of fish he wanted and the waiter kept arguing saying "it's chef's choice" he said "well, this is the choice he's going to make". Again, service was very odd here compared to the treatment other tables were getting.The bowl that arrived was a work of art. Beautiful presentation of different fish. We were all amazed. He loved it.I ordered the happy hour special. The description was you picked three different rolls and got a smaller portion of them, miso soup, salmon skin salad, and a drink. The waiter carries out this gigantic wooden structure and I'm thinking "wow, that must be a family platter". He then sits is down in front of me, it's my happy hour special! Damn! This was HUGE. Three beautiful rolls and all three tasted totally different. Most places these days everything tastes like a CA roll slathered in sauce. These all tasted distinct. The glutton I am I devoured my entire family platter. The salmon skin salad was the best I've had and I'd come back just for that! Other tables were getting these giant wooden staircase looking things that sushi was placed on. Presentations here were works of art. My wife ordered a salmon philly roll, some gyoza, and veggie tempura. She also enjoyed her meal.Besides the initial stench and the really bizarre service we all had a great time and enjoyed our food. I would definitely come back to try more things. The beautiful presentation alone is worth the trip."

Kobe Steakhouse & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.6 (956) • $$$

"Saturday night date night led us to Kobe Steakhouse, and it was the perfect spot for drinks and a little something to eat. The restaurant offers a variety of dining options--a bar area, a lounge, regular dining tables, and the fun experience of a chef cooking your food right in front of you. We made a reservation for the lounge but arrived early and started at the bar. Despite being busy, the bartender quickly got our drink order in.When it was time to move to the lounge, we were impressed by the two waitresses who managed the area--they were fantastic! They took our food and drink orders promptly, ensured we always had water, and were attentive throughout the evening.The music was lively, and the vibe was energetic. People were up and dancing (despite there not being an official dance floor), and we happily joined in! The atmosphere was so much fun, and we had a great time.We'd definitely come back. While the prices are comparable to most places these days, sharing a plate, enjoying a strong drink, and soaking in the lively energy makes for a great night out!"

Musashi Sushiya

★★★★☆ 3.8 (849) • $$

"Had a lovely quiet Christmas Eve dinner here. The service was excellent. Definitely passed the vibe check.My favorite was the uni shots and sushi. The miso soup was also very pleasant. The Underdog Burrito roll which has salmon, krab, and avocado wrapped in soy paper with ponzu sauce was fresh and delicious."

U Sushi & Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (579) • $$

"Convenient location, easy to order.I hear their sushi is good, but I love their Korean wings! Unfortunately, the wings do not love my stomach! They are so saucy that I just can't handle them. I might be back for sushi though!"

Bear Flag Fish

★★★★☆ 3.7 (894) • $$

"I have loved Bear Flag since my cousins first introduced me to them in Newport Beach. This location in Huntington Beach is on PCH with their outside patio facing the beach. Totally got them beach views, but you're paying the view tax on your food. Order at the counter and seat yourself outside. The inside seating and bar area seemed to be reserved for those ordering at the bar. My boyfriend and I shared a New England Clam Chowder ($9.25/16oz), Ahi Poke ($21.95/lb), and a Large Seafood Plate ($18.95) which comes with 1/2lb fish which we opted for the Wahoo and 2 sides which we opted for the black beans and sauteed vegetables. The sizes remain consistent since they measure out their portions, but pricing has significantly increased since my last visit to a Bear Flag. The clam chowder was nice and chunky with a lot of clam and potatoes. The ahi poke comes with tortilla chips. The chips for the day were a bit salty for me, but the poke was still as good as always. The large seafood plate was a good portion but I found the wahoo to be on the dry side for my liking. I think Bear Flag makes a good snack, but I'll pass on getting an entrée here again next time. Would only come back if I was already in the area and craving clam chowder or ahi poke."

Sushi Boom

★★★★☆ 4.3 (655) • $$

"I absolutely love great sushi, especially when it's always fresh! If you're planning to stop by, make sure to check their hours first. If it's close to their closing time, I'd recommend ordering your sushi to-go rather than dining in. That way, you can enjoy it at your convenience without feeling rushed.As someone who enjoys sushi hopping, I often keep my portions smaller when I'm trying multiple spots. It makes it easier to enjoy on the go, whether I'm eating in my car, at work, or saving it for later in the evening or even the next day. The best part about sushi from quality places is that it stays fresh, so it's just as delicious when enjoyed a little later!"

AYCE Sushi SCM

★★★★☆ 3.7 (875) • $$$

"This was a great find. We were driving around looking for a place to eat and this place came up. Although it had some bad reviews (one being particularly recent), we decided to give it a shot anyway. We were very surprised by a few things:- the thickness of the sashimi cut (see photo)- the lack of rice in the nigiri (generally at AYCE, they'll pack on rice to get you full quicker)- the promptness of service (one of the recent reviews highlighted the terrible service)- the quality of the fishWe're looking to come back and this time with more people and a bigger appetite."

Oji Sushi & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (661) • $$

"For AYCE sushi this is the place to go! The fish quality compared to other AYCE places is truly top notch here. They have a limited on sashimi but otherwise all of the nigiri is unlimited. The actual size of the piece of sashimi on top of the rice is good sized; some places barely give you a piece and load it up with rice. The fish quality over all was good. The appetizers were amazing. We love a good crispy rice and garlic edamame and YUM! The cucumber salad is also delicious. Again for AYCE sushi this is phenomenal. Some of the staff were friendly/helpful and the restaurant itself needs some help. The bench cushions were split, the ceiling looks like somebody took a chunk out of it, and the bathroom.....oh boy it needs some love. The toilets were leaking so please get that fixed asap!"

Crazy Rock'N Sushi Alton Square

★★★★☆ 3.8 (756) • $$

"Everything was delicious! Salmon/cucumber rolls in picture. California crab rolls and chicken salad enough for 2 people. I've been here a few times and will continue to come again."

Ise Sushi Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (643) • $$

"We have eaten the Bento Box many times. Every time it has been wonderful and plentiful. The service is great and efficient. We enjoy the location and never had to wait. We recommend ISE."

Sushi Dake

★★★★☆ 4 (659) • $$

"Been a minute since I went but nothing has changed. Staff is still friendly, atmosphere is still chill and quaint, and food is still great. I need to remember to go more often like I used to. I wish they had late night happy hour."

J Sushi Orange

★★★★☆ 4.3 (565) • $$

"The Sushi is 10/10 in my opinion. I got the Gold Dragon Roll, Iron Monkey, Salmon Lover, and Super Crunchy. The service was ok. They need to work on people skills. The Ambiance is weird too because they just stare at you while you eat lol. The reason is because the place is tiny. My suggestion is just order to go."

O Fine Japanese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (562) • $$$

"We came here to celebrate an important birthday. Thank you for the service and staff at " O Fine Japanese Cuisine" for making tonight special. The food was fresh and brought out at a fast rate. We ordered everything from edamame, seaweed salad, to lobster rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, chicken teriyaki and spicy dragon roll to name a few. Would definitely come back. It's one of my favorite sushi places. Parking is free and ambiance inviting.! 10/10Protip: i would reserve on open table to be sure you have a spot. Its a small venue and they can get busy with the summer starting and patrons coming in from the beach and montage beach hotel."

Kiyo Sushi & Sake

★★★★☆ 3.9 (664) • $$$

"The food is amazing ... and only topped by the service from the waitress (Tran). Highly recommend and will be back soon."

Samurai Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (627) • $$

"One of my fave local sushi spots! BOGO 50% off happy hour all day Monday-Thursday! I love the interior decor with old photos of past guests. The staff is always super friendly with very quick service. The sushi itself is very good-- not exceptional but very well worth the price (esp if you go for happy hour). This time, I ordered the volcano roll and spider roll. Both were very good, the volcano roll is slightly spicy."

Sushi Box

★★★★★ 4.7 (452) • $$

"They are super friendly and the food is delicious.The salmon burrito is so good(sorry, forgot to take picture), they use soy paper so don't worry about your carbs. perfect protein for the day"

Ikeda Japanese Dining

★★★★☆ 4.3 (530) • $$

"I'm so happy that my usual sushi spot was closed on Sunday afternoon, because it led me to find Ikeda. The lunch specials were a great deal. They came with miso soup which was flavorful and had plenty of tofu pieces, 5 pieces of sushi or 6 pieces of sashimi, and a roll. I recommend choosing the sashimi - the pieces were large and the fish was clean and fresh. The dragon roll (california roll topped with eel) tasted amazing. I also really liked the garfield roll, which was a california roll topped with baked salmon. Lastly, we ordered a surf roll and I loved the seaweed salad on top! My husband said it was like a dessert roll. All the rolls were thick and well portioned. I will definitely come back and recommend to others. Service was friendly and efficient and there was nice ambiance. I think they still had their romantic Valentine's Day Playlist on because there was a lot of Bryan Adams and Celine Dion playing."

Kanji Japanese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4 (596) • $$$

"Want to start off by saying we had great service from Kyle. He was very sweet and attentive! Under some pressure as it seems he was being trained but he was great.Now, the food:I always check reviews before trying a new place especially sushi but this time I didn't because we were in a rush so I just looked up ayce and this place came up. The food was good some of the sushi tasted very buttery but I have to say I will not be returning. I ordered a baked crawfish dish and the topping tasted like mushed up whole wheat bread, it was disgusting! My husband couldn't eat it either. Never tasted something like that before so I recommend someone at the restaurant to try it themselves. Additionally, upon getting home I had a really bad stomachache! Thankfully, my family was fine it was just me but man it was not fun! You can imagine the shock I felt when I read other people felt this way soon after eating here which was really disappointing! Was excited to have found an ayce near us but until this place determines what aspect of the food handling process is being done incorrectly that is getting people sick, I will remain far far away."

Bluefin

★★★★☆ 3.9 (622) • $$$

"While staying at The Resort at Pelican Hill I was craving sushi at 6pm on a Friday. My local friend recommended we come here, which was spot on. We got a table immediately, and my husband ordered the rib eye while I had the 10-piece sushi selection. The nigiri was very fresh--some pieces were customized with delicious special sauces--and included a choice of a full simpler roll. The rib eye was excellent--very flavorful and juicy, as good as it gets. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, great with an added bowl of rice to soak up the sauce. Considering how much dining costs in this area, this is a great value and under the radar. Our friendly table neighbor recommended the duck confit as well (next time!)Being able to see the sunset and sky afterward from the outside tables was a nice bonus. Plenty of parking at the shopping center and friendly staff make this an easy choice."

Wafu of Japan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (501) • $$

"Hidden Gem!Place is Great! Staff was super friendly and food was amazing! Definitely coming back, and if you around these parts and craving sushi,Must stop by!"

Oh My Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (457) • $$

"You've got to try this place! Sushi is some of the best you can get anywhere.Try the Crown Valley Roll, indescribably tasty!!!"

Daimon Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (630) • $$

"12/28/23 This was my second time here. Both early dinners. Last time I was here, we did the teppanyaki, but this time, we just sat at a regular table. It's a must to try both. The teppanyaki chef was very entertaining! Food was delicious. I believe my share was around $80. Looking at the menu, I'm sure I ordered the filet minot but we had many drinks that night so that explains it. All I remember was that the service/chef was amazing and the food was so delicious. Today's order was more simple. We ordered the shrimp tempura, Nigiri/sashimi special, and the Friki Tiki, which is crunchy roll topped with seared albacore and 2 bottles of Kikusui sake. Everything was simple but perfect. We made it on time for happy hour so the food items were a little cheaper. Parking lot is limited. I'm sure you can find a spot on the street. If you're using gps, slow down before you come up on the restaurant because it's on pch - a very busy highway. You might miss it! Overall, 10/10. Great food, great service and love the hole in the wall type of vibes. Will definitely be back to try all their other sushi's."

Kaigen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (489) • $$$

"My gf and I like usual were craving sushi and searched out a spot near by work. I had Kaigen bookmarked so we made a reservation at the bar. Parking is in an open lot, and it was pretty empty when we went inside. The menu is pretty standard, along with their specials on the board and their omakase options. They also do have yakitori which is a plus. We could not figure out what we wanted so we both decided on the sushi omakase. _Sushi Omakase ($42) Comes with 9 pieces nigiri sushi, and yellowtail hand roll or blue crab hand roll, miso soup and salad. The order is as follows;+Bluefin Tuna. The tuna is fresh and although I am not a big fan of bluefin tuna, this was simple and good. +Amberjack. A solid nigiri. It did not need much soy sauce as it was already dressed in a ligtht sauce that seemed like a ponzu sauce.+Sea Bream. A very light fish, and often can be a bit bland. It was topped with a bit of yuzu koshu and salt, that gives a light salty flavor to bring out the fish and a bit of spice from the yuzu koshu. +Scallop. One of my favorites. Fresh and meaty. Topped with a bit of black salt.+Cherry Salmon. Different from a regualr salmon and salmon belly. Less fatty than the belly, and a bit more sweeter. This was good.+Sea Bass. This was mild and light. The sauce and garnish on top was great. +Toro. The toro was fresh and slighty fatty. Melts in your mouth. +Black Cod. This is what I kept seeing on yelp and I was happy that it was included in the omakase, otherwise I would have ordered it a la carte. Slightly fatty and oily, but in the right ways. The char marks were beautifully done and had that nice depth of flavor to it. +Blue Crab Hand Roll. Pretty solid, I thought it was baked but that was my fault. Good amount of fresh crab meat to rice ratio. +Uni (off omakase) This nigiri was not the typical wrapped in nori nigiri. Just a big slab of fresh uni on top of the rice. It was fresh, not the best I''ve had, but enough to hit that uni craving. _Kiss of Fire Roll ($18) Spicy tuna, fresh jalapeno, cucumber and avocado inside, cajun peppered seared ahi tuna on top with chili ponzu sauce. This roll was a bit spicy but more of a peppery taste than a slow burning spice. A pretty good roll. I will say, I was not a fan of the sushi rice. I find that the rice can be more important than the fish itself, and I was not a fan of the texture. Overall very fair price for the quality. Great service. Will be back to itch my sushi cravings and try their yakitori as well."