Great sushi and service! Came with my family for dinner and picked Buddhas because it was right on the water. We loved all of our rolls. Brittany gave us great service, we were shocked to learn it was her first week. Parking is a bit tricky but we're definitely coming back. read more

The food was really fresh and delicious. We ordered the tornado, backflip, and beagle rolls. My favorite was the tornado. We also ordered delicious jalapeño poppers and spicy edamame. The restaurant is very close to Newport water so just be aware that it could be cold depending on the weather and if you have outdoor seating. With that being said, it is so beautiful to sit outside near the boats they do have outdoor heaters, and I even saw a basket of blankets. Very cute for date night or girls night. I can't wait to go back. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Came here on a Thursday night but it started raining so had to eat inside! The inside is a small space. Definitely a spot for locals. And seems to always be busy. Parking is easy either street parking or valet. The sushi was fresh! I got calamari, sashimi & buddhas favorite. Buddha must be a huge fan of cream cheese, if you are too then go for it! Would recommend & come again. read more

What a beautifully located sushi spot! With an outdoor patio right off the water, you get to enjoy a delicious meal right off the water. Very cute decor and wonderful staff. We both shared a Paradise Roll. It is a California Roll topped with Poke and Green Onions. Very fresh and the ponzu sauce is bright. We also got our own weekend lunch special. This is a steal. A lot of food for an excellent price. We were both very full. A great vacation spot. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Good service, it was busy so we didn't see our server often but he was around. We went here on a recommendation from a previous local. I started with Buddhas favorite and subbed salmon for yellowtail. Very good, fresh, loved the chili sauce. Others in my party got the OMF rolls and it was so good we ordered another one. However this is when it got really busy and it took forever for the second roll to come out. Like over 30 minutes. By that time we weren't even still hungry. It's a cute little place right on the water, I'd go back. read more

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Buddha's Favorite Sushi in Newport Beach absolutely blew me away. I've been to a lot of sushi spots throughout Orange County, and this place easily stands out. The quality of the fish was top-tier--everything tasted incredibly fresh, and the variety on the menu makes it easy to find something you'll love no matter your preferences. The Salmon Lemon and Salmon Candy rolls were next-level and easily my favorites. Service was just as impressive. Kate took great care of us--attentive, friendly, and on point the entire time. We also had the chance to talk with Nicole, the owner, and hearing about the restaurant's history was genuinely fascinating. I had no idea this place has been around for decades--it really adds to the experience and shows in the consistency and quality. All around, an outstanding experience. We'll definitely be back soon and I'm already looking forward to trying more from the menu. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Waiting area - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Love the ambiance and setting! The sushi is always great and fresh. Service was fantastic from the tall kid who seated us to the waiter who was on point. Great night and great spot. read more

Amazing sushi. Could be some of the best sushi in Southern Cal. Quaint, amazing service, freshest sushi! Have no idea why this was our first time there ! We will be back often! We drove a Duffy boat there and it was one of the best days ! read more

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We went to Lil Buddahs on accident when trying to find this place. This is the "big sister" to Lil Buddahs! Thankfully, workers helped guide us in the direction to actual main restaurant. Gorgeous little setup they have going on the peninsula. The waiter was a bit blunt, but the service was quick. We did have a group of 6, so we were seated inside. It was quite crammed, so not sure if this is the most ideal place for bigger groups. Sushi was fresh and flavorful. The menu had lots of options and some non-sushi options too, which is nice to see. Appetizers were also quick and tasty. read more

Buddha's Favorite - "I like it raw" (left) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

DON'T, DON'T, DON'T... JUST DON'T! I am still on the quest for great sushi in Newport Beach. Learned this today... It's NOT Buddha's Favorite on Lido peninsula! CAVEAT... BF might be the best sushi this side of Okinawa, but I'll never know. I (literally) couldn't get past the slack-jawed, half-assed, JV attempt at service. Looking forward to date night in OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD... We arrived early for our 4/30, 6:15 reservation (our first AND last visit to BF). No host/hostess to be found... Eventually, we connected with BF staff, who proceeded to seat us at the high-top bar seat (no!... this isn't Stag Bar at 1AM) or the AWESOME SEAT (sarcasm intentional) between the bus tub and the door to the kitchen. (Mind you... the restaurant is basically EMPTY. Who does that?!?!) Seeking a seat change, we sought out the phantom hostess (nowhere to be found). Instead, we approached a bartender/server/manager inside the sushi bar who countered with "We TRIED to seat you over there." (Enter Napoleon Dynamite expression of your choice here.) At this point, we simply lost patience. Date nights are precious and options in my neighborhood are PLENTY. SAVING GRACE... On the (defeated) walk out, another guest recommended: "That's bad! You should say something to the owner. That's his golf cart right there!" If only... Maybe he reads Yelp reviews! read more

This is my 3rd attempt to go to this restaurant and I probably lt won't go back. We had reservations when we got there were told our table wasn't ready. We watched multiple people get seated that had the same amount of people we only had 3. When I asked the host he said there wasn't space yet but there were a couple tables wide open. I brought it to his attention he said ok I'll have to get it set up. 30 minutes later we were crammed into a space and it took another 15 minutes for someone to wait in us. read more

We got sushi,chicken yakisoba, miso soup,chicken yakisoba & SOFT SHELL CRAB(Tempura fried Maryland blue crab with sweet soy sauce) Sushi was just OK.Other dishes were horrible.There are better sushi spots in area EDIT Updated the menu item(confirmed it was crab)No idea why 3 top mentioned,actually liked sitting there next to harbor .Must've been another review.Wow,never been gaslighted from business owner on Yelp before lol!With that attitude we won't be returning.Understand you're a small business but no excuse for poor quality food(or gaslighting reviews) read more

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One of my fave restaurants! This time we went with our pup and ordered few rolls. The food and service were great and our server went above and beyond to make sure us (including our pup) are taken care of. read more

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I love Buddha's favorite, it's the best sushi restaurant in Newport Beach. The ambiance is incredible. When you walk in you feel a familiarity because of how well the host/hostess greet you to start your dining experience. The owner is impeccable with making sure you feel comfortable and at home. The food is outsourced from the best quality sushi you can have in Newport Beach, 10 out of 10 would come here again. :) read more

It was alright. Overpriced and not the best. Won't be back. Very visually pleasing. We were also offered free edamame that was then on the bill and had to be taken off. read more

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Just tried this spot for the first time and wow -- I totally get the hype. We ordered 3 rolls and my Favorite was the Rock and Roll sushi, the 3 amigos was ok not my personal favorite. The vibe was super chill but still had that nice date-night feel. We sat in the patio outside but the warmers felt really good. The service was attentive. Overall it was a good sushi spot read more

Buddha's Favorite - Rock&roll , Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This is my new favorite restaurant. There is a beagle roll. That rocks. also, saw jellyfish so that's pretty cool read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

First time here and it was amazing! From the moment we walked in, the experience was top-notch. Katie was our server, and she was absolutely wonderful--super sweet, gave great recommendations, and was refreshingly honest about what she personally liked (and didn't like), which I really appreciated. All the servers were friendly and made us feel so welcome. The food was fantastic, and the ambiance was adorable--such a cute spot! I had such a great time, and I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Baked Salmon Roll + Golden Toro Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Buddha's Favorite is hands down one of the best dining experiences in Newport. Not only is the food consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, but the service is on another level. A huge shoutout to CJ and Marissa, who took care of us on the dock. Their warmth, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality made the night unforgettable. From perfectly timed recommendations to their friendly energy, they made us feel like VIPs the entire evening. If you're looking for a place where great food meets an incredible waterfront vibe and top-notch service, this is it. CJ and Marisa made the experience 10/10--I can't wait to come back! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Patio seating overlooking the water. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Don't bother making a reservation they won't hold the table and you will wait for 45 minutes Edit: No, nicole. we arrived 2 minutes before our reservation. We waited at the host stand for 10-15 minutes before someone came to "check us in". Then we ended up waiting 45-50 past our reservation time. read more

Came here on a Tuesday evening with my honorary dad, who's a vegetarian. Thankfully was able to get a reservation online same day and were seated quickly in their outdoor space, which is fitted with heaters so we weren't too cold. We started off with their garlic spicy edamame and a miso soup - both pretty standard and yummy. We also got the black cod "saikyo style," which was a fairly small portion but honestly quite delicious! Roll-wise, we ordered the Buddha's favorite alongside the vegetable and veggie crunchy rolls. I did really enjoy the cream cheese and salmon combo of the Buddha's favorite, but I think the size of the roll was a bit too small. The veggie options were surprisingly robust and quite fresh and yummy, especially the veggie crunchy! Overall, a good experience. I wouldn't say the strongest in terms of sushi options and amount for the price, but a fun place to drop by for the lovely ocean view and good service. And, of course, if one of your party is vegetarian and can't eat fish, it's great that this place had other options. read more

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Great place, food was amazing and great location. Would go back again. Why do I have to have so many characters in a review read more

Great food and even better staff! Our whole family found something excellent on the menu!

most probably the worst sushi and most expensive restaurant i have ever eaten at. You are better off getting sushi at the gas station. The fish is all frozen the rolls you better take your magnifying glass with to find them on the plate the size of the portions are for people with eating disorders bulimia who cannot eat more than 2 ounces of food. i wort rebrand it to death by Buddha and expensive as a rolls royce hood figurine. Most probably the worst dinning experience i have ever had besides the beautiful view !!! Overpriced frozen fish great view waste of good money much better choices in newport beach Why would i come back to eat frozen fish i would go to albertsons and buy fish fingers Nicole read more

Came here for a late lunch on a Saturday and ordered the bento box special and shishito peppers. The service was a bit slow, but my fiancé and I enjoyed our lunch and plan to return. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Bento Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Loved the vibes of this place!! Very Newport-esque with it being right on the marina people driving up on their boats. The sushi was good!! Not the best I've ever had but it's a fusion place. We got the blue crab roll, oh snap roll, hidden gem roll, and tornado roll. All pretty good but the oh snap roll stood out to me - so yummy. We also got the chicken yakisoba noodles which were just okay. A lot of their apps looked yummy so I would try those next time. FYI - the bathroom is a literal shack in the parking lot so I would keep that in mind. read more

The food was tasty! Bento box was a good amount of food and the crunchy roll was delicious. I didn't care for the salad dressing and the spicy edamame needed more garlic. Good service. Nobody rushed us. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Bento box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Service was good with a super pretty view of the harbor, but the sushi was nothing to rave about. It was pretty basic. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Service was immaculate. Our server Jason was great and made sure we were taken care of. We also happened to forget something after we left and Nolan helped us so much getting it back even after the place had closed. Lovely people. read more

Service was a bit slow on a busy weekend. Went for my wife's birthday, but the food and drinks were fantastic. Server did well to acknowledge how busy it was and helped us out with a drink on the house. Highly recommend for outside dining and intimate meals when you have longer times to spend. read more

Buddha's Favorite is a fantastic date night spot! The sushi is super fresh, and I highly recommend any of their rolls. But the hidden gem for me was just so unique and my favorite, it's a sushi roll with a hint of truffle flavor--absolutely delicious! read more

Jason and Nolan! Amazing service and perfect birthday dinner to celebrate my bestie! Food was delicious, and they were quick to make the birthday surprise so special. Thank you for making it such a great night for us. read more

Maybe Buddha likes it but we didn't think it was worth mentioning, let alone a favorite. Cramped inside. They seat 3 people at 2 tops so plan on feeling like a lobster that has been caught in a trap. Service is rushed and not authentic. Drinks came in large glasses which usually means size over flavor and this is not an exception here. My margarita was too sweet and the Moscow mule was the same. As for food- the firecracker and the lobster roll were pretty good. But they fell apart with the crispy rice spicy tuna which was a soggy disappointment and the poke nachos that were are a mixture of whatever they had left in the kitchen- no thank you. I thought they would be assembled as nachos with a sauce over them but no such luck. Prices are high for what you get. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This is my second time here at Buddha's and I have enjoyed both times coming here. We had friends visiting from NY/NJ, and a few had never been to California. Our reservation for 7 last night and service was fast! We got served drinks, apps, & food all within a reasonable amount of time for a decently big group. I was not raised on fish so sushi is still new to me. Staff was knowledgeable, and my Rock N' Roll was SO delicious! Heat lamps and blankets were available being that it was a little cold once the sun went down! Excited to try new rolls! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Rock N' Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Wow the service, ambiance, & food were all top notch. The location was right on the water & so cute. Each seat had a heat lamp too which I appreciated. Service was fast & super friendly. Loved our server. We got the drunken whale for sake which was great. For dinner we got the crispy tuna rice and a ton of nigiri which were all amazing. Would reccomend to anyone. Parking was not bad either! read more

Great sushi and amazing location on the water. Service was quick and efficient and everything we ordered was great...especially cod

The Restaurant is buzzing with people. The vibe is very positive and happy. The food is the best sushi I've ever had. There is such a variety of tastes and so many different things to try. Everything tastes delicious! read more

If you are looking for a spectacular sushi spot on the water in Newport Beach, this is the place to go. They have very unique rolls that are catered specifically to what type of sushi you like. The service was a bit slow, took a while to get the rolls and the appetizers, but our server was very nice and apologetic about the wait. The restaurant has lots of valet parking in the back or street parking free of charge. read more

Service and sushi are 10/10! We made a reservation for 9 for our friends visiting and everyone had the best time and meal. Can't wait to go back. read more

I wanted to love this place! But it just didn't blow me away. The location is cute and right on the water, but I was disappointed a bit with the food and staff. There were only a couple vegetarian rolls on the menu, but at least the appetizers had a decent amount of vegetarian options. I liked the flavor of the garlic edamame, they just weren't spicy, and I liked the tempura green beans and shishito peppers. I ordered a mojito and it barely had any mint and wasn't sweet/felt watered down. This restaurant is loud and very busy, so staff checked on our table pretty infrequently. Parking for this restaurant is valet ($7) so if you don't want to valet, you have to park on the street or somewhere else. read more

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