Let me set the scene: It's a Friday evening and you're walking through beautiful downtown Laguna Beach and suddenly acquire a craving for sushi. You ideally want somewhere more quiet, intimate, and low-key, since you aren't dressed up for a "Nobu" style dining experience. You do a quick Yelp search and find that Hapi sushi is conveniently located in downtown Laguna Beach and looks to have the exact ambiance that you're searching for. You plug the address into Google Maps, and keep your fingers crossed that they'll have a table open late on a Friday night! Fortunately, they had a table available, and my boyfriend and I were able to be seated right away! The restaurant is very intimate with dark lighting, and would make for the perfect romantic date night spot. The sushi bar was packed and they had small tables with chair seating on one side and booth seating on the other side. We both sat on the booth as to not impede the narrow aisle between the booth and sushi bar, and enjoyed watching the sushi chef work his magic and create fresh rolls from time to time. We had eaten dinner a couple hours ago, and just wanted something to satisfy the craving. We ordered the Chirashi bowl (off menu) and it came packed with fresh sashimi on top of a bed of sushi rice. We enjoyed the cozy interior and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meal. This felt like a "neighborhood" sushi spot, and we would definitely return should we be strolling through Laguna Beach in need of a sushi restaurant again. As a side note, this is right in downtown Laguna Beach, so parking could be quite difficult! Be prepared to walk if planning to come on the weekend or for dinner on weekdays! read more

As long as the fish is fresh, I'm not particularly picky about my sushi so I've got nothing but good things to say about the sushi offerings here. We got the sashimi sampler, which came with some sliced cucumber that I really enjoyed, and the tuna dream -- which really lived up to its name! The tuna and hamachi were especially good -- salmon was just okay, fresh enough but not great. We also had the hamachi kama, it was slightly overcooked but still buttery and flaky enough to enjoy. The only issue was the wait staff, they seemed a little incompetent and maybe a little confused? Our tuna dream got delivered to the wrong table and it took a while for them to realize and correct the mistake. Luckily, their sushi chef is super speedy and helped make up for their mistake (super fun to sit at the bar and watch him grind out roll after roll so perfectly!) It's a small space and the whole time the waiters were kind of running around haphazardly without any sort of system... Left everyone waiting for food, drinks, checks, etc. much longer than was probably necessary which kind of made for bad vibes. We weren't in a rush, so not a huge deal for us, but we noticed ‍ Ultimately though, all that matters is the chef was super competent and the fish was fresh so the food was good! read more

Jessie, toshi, and Kya give great service, great food my boyfriend and I go here a lot. We're locals.

I'm a total sushi girl at heart, so finding new spots to try is always a win. We were wandering around Laguna and stumbled on this adorable little sushi place. The staff was super friendly and genuinely personable, like they actually enjoy getting to know the people who stop in. The sushi was fresh, had great variety, and hit the spot perfectly. If you're in the area and craving some rolls or just a quick, tasty bite, this place is absolutely worth a visit. read more

Hapi Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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My New Year's Day tradition of exploring a new sushi spot led me to this incredible, historic gem in Laguna Beach! From the moment Jesse greeted us with such warmth, I knew it was special. Chef Toshi recommended the salmon lemon roll (with asparagus) for my favorite fish, and it was perfection! They even made a custom handroll flawlessly. The place is spotless, and the original 1989 murals add so much character (sorry, got distracted, no pics!). This spot has been here 42 years, and I'll definitely be returning for more tranquility in this favorite coastal spot! read more

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Food was absolutely stellar. Everything was incredibly fresh, staff was extremely friendly. If you're looking for quality sushi in Laguna Beach this is the spot. Quiet, tucked away, and just doing things perfectly. I'd have taken photos, but it was too good to wait. read more

Great service. Quick seating for a large party. Nice ambience. Sushi was great. Really loved the 79 special strawberry one. Mochi was incredible too read more

Hapi Sushi - Hapi roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

February 14, 2026 - Happy at Hapi Sushi for so many reasons. Laguna was bustling by 11:30 am. Our favorite sushi place was open and ready for service. AND we found parking right in front! Happy Valentines Day to us. read more

Toshi and Kaya took good care of us. Food and vibe are great. It's a favorite of ours. read more

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such a cute and delicious find!! everything was delicious. we got spicy tuna cut roll, the 96 roll, and edamame. our waitress and the sushi chef toshi was so nice!! definitely gonna be returning whenever im in the area read more

Hapi Sushi - spicy tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We have found great value on this place. Food is consistently good, sushi chef always fun, service always on point. Ambiance is very pleasant, chairs are comfortable, lighting is not too bright. Overall five stars without the unnecessary boujee. Sixth time and doesn't disappoints. I feel that my dollar is worth every penny. read more

Great! First time here and really good. Just came back from Japan and looked forward to having god sushi here. Love it. Toshi-San was so nice and has had his restaurant for 40 years! Highly recommend! read more

Hapi Sushi - Toshi-San. Owner for 40 years! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Laguna on a Wednesday night. Quiet streets, salty air, the kind of evening that doesn't promise much but leaves room for surprise. We stumbled into Hapi Sushi--not exactly drawn in by the crowd, because there wasn't one. Empty at 7PM. That's either a red flag or the beginning of something great. Inside, an older sushi chef manned the bar with the kind of calm you only earn after decades of slicing fish. A young guy ran the front. No theater. No flash. Just two men running a joint. I'd been here once, a lifetime ago, with my father. It was his go-to sushi spot. Funny how a place can vanish from your life and the memory roars back when you walk in. Started with a Sapporo. Ice-cold. Like, Arctic cold. One of those beers that makes you pause and appreciate it before the food even arrives. We ordered the basics--the sushi sampler for me, sashimi for my wife. No tricks. Just clean, honest cuts laid out with understated artistry. The kind of fish that speaks for itself if you shut up long enough to listen. And then came the shishito peppers. Hot, blistered, dusted with something that looked like it belonged in a Kyoto apothecary. Translucent fish flakes that danced on the heat like ghosts. Sound weird? It is. But it's also magic. Get them. We added a couple of specialty rolls, just to see if the place could still throw a curveball. Turns out, it can. The Laguna Roll was the standout, clean, balanced, just enough flair without tipping into the overwrought nonsense that ruins too many rolls these days. A reminder that when you know what you're doing, less is more. The service was smooth, warm, no pretense. Just people who care about what they're doing. If we lived closer, this would be our spot. No question. Sushi has become a commodity. Shrink-wrapped, pre-sliced, dipped in mediocrity. But here, in this quiet little joint, sushi meant something again. It reminded me of why we fall in love with food in the first place. Thanks for the evening, Hapi. You still matter. read more

Service- 4/5 Friendly and polite staff and prompt service (we were the only people on the restaurant around 8pm Sunday) Ambiance- 3.5/5 Cute and clean, menu on whiteboard is a bit sloppy and hard to read Wish they had a separate nigiri sushi and sashimi menu The straw roofs sort of give it a Hawaiian vibe Food- 3/5 Miso soup- 4/5 Delicious and decent portion, wish it had more tofu and seaweed in it though Got the sashimi sampler- tuna salmon and yellowtail Tuna was the best but salmon and yellowtail were mediocre 3/5 Tekka maki- 5/5 Ikura- 4/5 I'd return, it's a nice casual spot in Laguna beach. Decent quality fish, good service, not amazing but not bad. Good for the overall price point! read more

Hapi Sushi - Sashimi sampler - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Just had lunch. Always wanted to try this place but never got a chance until today. Here is the low down: 1- Service was great. Place was empty though 2- Yellowtail carpaccio was not super fresh 3- Octopus carpaccio was great 4- Spicy salmon skin hand roll which is my favorite roll was not fresh. The salmon skin was not good at all. Couldn't finish it 5- crispy rice was great, crispy and hot and spicy. Loved it 6- scallop was good and the toro was average. The place is cute but they are confused when it comes to music. I like The Rolling Stones and all but blasting at 1:30pm on a Wednesday for lunch wasn't my vibe. The most important thing is freshness of the food when it comes to sushi and Hapi is average. Not bad but I've had much better. Not putting the prices on the menu is also a bit strange and not comfortable. read more

best sushi i've ever had definitely best sushi in laguna! please go if you can everything is excellent ! read more

Hapi Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Very fresh sushi ! The quality and presentation was amazing and we loved the ambiance. We'll be back :)

Excellent in every way. Fresh fish. Friendly, prompt service. My kids loved it! Such a cute, relaxed place with a fun classic rock soundtrack playing. read more

We've been coming here since our daughter was born in 2018 and now we're back with two kids still eating the best sushi in all of Laguna beach. Everything is fresh and presented beautifully. The 49 special is a must order along with the Toro and Hirame 2pcs. Today I tried the new Kaya roll and was amazed by its flavor and perfect sear to the salmon- also a must order! If you're at the beach and craving some amazing sushi at a home style boutique restaurant, please visit Hapi Sushi! The service is a 10/10- they're so accommodating and welcoming from the first step in the door. You will have this place in your monthly rotation like us and we're driving from Irvine. Enjoy! read more

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Customer service was good, but the food wasn't. First of all, we received water that tasted like bleach, we ordered sushi, but the seaweed tasted old and really chewy, the calamari roll barely tasted like anything too, the only good item we got was the edamame which was alright I wouldn't recommend this place read more

Service is always amazing. Every server always stirs up a conversation and it makes the atmosphere feel very hapi. They're also dog friendly which is super convenient because I usually walk my dog around. Sushi is always fresh and always tastes good. read more

Hapi Sushi - Sushi at the bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Today we were exposed to the hole in the wall known as "Hapi Sushi" in Laguna Beach... Wow! The warm greetings, inviting environment, and uplifting music set the scene for a quick, on the go bite. The food is simple but fresh and full of flavor; the service accommodated to all my needs precisely! And as always, Mike Hawk Jr signing off Spicy Tuna Roll + tempura/eel sauce- 8.8 California Roll + tempura/eel sauce- 8.7 Gyoza- 8.4 Miso Soup- 8.0 read more

Such a fun and laid back experience enjoying Sushi at Hapi. Service is great, very laid back and extremely friendly small staff. Love their rolls and always enjoy their garlic edamame! read more

This place so authentic and delicious I can't believ we just found this place in Laguna ! Really delicious , small and very intimate !!! Love this place read more

So the food was good, the sushi chef was cool. But the server was a completely absence of common sense. The guy spills all over my daughter, then has this cavalier attitude "accidents happen." No compassion, no empathy, didn't offer her even a dessert. She's a teenager and was upset. The dude could care less. Maybe a bit of training, maybe don't carry saucy plates over people. Maybe customer service and show some empathy. Re-train this guy or this won't be the last time it happens. They forgot items that we had ordered that we overlooked, just made sure they didn' charge us. We were fine until his lack of care over the spill. Sucks to have to write a review when the food was decent, a bit pricier than the service and ambience would justify. Had to change the review to one star based on response that showed the lack of discipline and accountability from the ownership. read more

This has been a staple Laguna Beach Lo-cal go to place for decades. Not many Sushi bars with an ocean view in Laguna Beach. This group has made it through thick and thin. We have been going here for over 30 years now it is part of our family. We have never been disappointed. You will meet a slice of Laguna Beach Life here the kick back unique atmosphere is what we were famous for not the trendy . Try it . read more

My wife, mother and I had lunch here the other day and it was a terrific meal. We ordered the Rainbow Roll, the 69 Special, and the Japanese Burrito. All 3 dishes had very fresh fish that was well prepared. The 69 Special is baked eel on top of California rolls and it was wonderful --- top quality eel. Same with the unique Japanese Burrito, which is salmon, tuna and crab wrapped with soy bean pepper. The Rainbow Roll had a generous amount of fresh fish. The ambiance of the restaurant is very low key and relaxed with a casual, earthy decor. We went on a Monday lunch so it was on the quiet side with only a few tables occupied. The waitress was very pleasant. The prices, especially for Laguna Beach and given the high quality of the food, were incredibly reasonable. I would definitely visit here again. read more

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The sushi we had was all fresh and delicious! We had the Rainbow Rolls, variety of fresh fish on California Rolls; Baked Eel on top of California Rolls; and the Japanese Burrito, salmon, tuna, and crab wrapped in soybean pepper. Service was excellent. The restaurant feels like in Tokyo, small and casual. read more

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You come in and there is calming and fun music playing. So many different types of sushi and fish to try. You can watch the chef make it in front of you. You do not have to wait too long to get the sushi. Very homie feeling to it. Lots of Bob Marley music. read more

Hapi Sushi - Sushi and edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Delicious food, amazing staff, great ambiance. Highly recommend visiting Hapi sushi in beautiful Laguna Beach!

Love this place, been here since I was a kid! Try the Keke roll and the salmon sashimi is so good.

Great service! Good quality fish. I ordered the halpi roll and the Yellowtail Carpaccio, right off the bat they looked well prepared. Thank you. read more

We ordered a special 97. Was given a special 96 and they didn't ask for the plate back. Husband ate it. They wanted to charge us for both, but we refuted. Gave us a percentage off the two plates, while did the same to another customer and tried to scam both of us. Bad business. Poor food. The waitress and chef both speak poor English but I assumed they used that to their advantage from my point of view. Laguna Beach deserves better. read more

Hapi Sushi - They have many specials, be careful. They will make you the wrong order. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Loved it. Went to a pottery class down the street and they recommended it. Staff was great and the sushi was amazing. We will be back.

Food was great and service was quick, the people there seem really proud of their work. While we were there we saw some regulars come in excited to see the staff and the sushi chef greet them happy and loud hello. Such a good atmosphere, I would recommend going to grab a bite :D read more

Hapi Sushi delivers top-notch service, delicious sushi, and a friendly staff. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted warmly. The chef was entertaining and created an environment that felt like I was in a small town in Japan. The sushi is fresh and flavorful and delicious with every bite. Highly recommend! we will definitely be back! read more

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The service is great here ! It's small inside so one sushi chef and one server . She was right there when we sat down even before we sat down handed us Menus . She wasn't overbearing though -just eager to serve ppl I think and get meals started ! Nice energy here !! I liked the decor -it was low key vibe .all of a sudden. A family and others came in. The fam a bit loud but that's ok -I wonder if they could expand and make place bigger ! Btw I ordered albacore crunchy roll it tasted good at first but there was a weird after taste -next time -Japanese burrito !! read more

We have eaten at pretty much every sushi spot in Laguna at this point. This one is a gem! The menu is simple yet everything tastes really good and has a unique flair! I also liked that the atmosphere feels like a real and authentic little sushi restaurant! A nice change of scenery from the other places in Laguna Beach. We came on a Wednesday evening and were the only ones dining in! It was a pleasant experience and I would come back. read more

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Was such a welcoming environment! Very quick in sending out our food and was so delicious. Saw the general reviews were 3 stars and was happily surprised to get such great service. Would absolutely come back, hit the spott read more

Food was very good and fresh, service was quick and very nice. Overall great experience