Really enjoyed myself last night. Great friendly service from the young staff - Corkage Fee Reasonable. Loved the scallop - amberjack - snapper - tuna trio.... and many others. Definitions: Sushi is any dish made with seasoned vinegared rice. Nigiri is a specific type of sushi featuring a hand-pressed mound of rice topped with a slice of fish. Sashimi is just raw sliced fish or meat served completely without rice, meaning it is technically not sushi at all. The table next to me didn't know.... probably most people don't. I hope the restaurant sees this - that restroom is outside and really needs a paint job... I might have massive concerns about your operation if I saw that first... I know you can't control who is using it... but you must own it as its your restroom. read more

Unfortunately wasn't too good. The servers talks too loud, and makes mistakes. Menu selection is limited. Could use more a/c. read more

Came here on a Saturday evening at 7:30 and there was plenty of parking available. The restaurant is rather quaint so it's personable but great atmosphere for dates, family occasion, or even business. Server was attentive and food came out relatively fast. We ordered crispy rice for the appetizer and it was absolutely delicious except for the fact that the rice was a bit thick so it was harder to eat. Maybe if it was on the flatter side, it would have been more enjoyable. We got soft shell roll and also a variety of nigiri. The fish for the nigiri was fresh and the rice to fish ratio wasn't bad. The roll was alright. Nothing to rave about. Overall experience here was pleasant and I would come back again if I'm in the area. read more

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Dined in here last night and it was delicious! I highly encourage making rsvp towards end of the weeks. Gets pretty busy! Started off with green bean tempura and the spicy tuna rice cake. So gooood! Great execution on both those apps. I really enjoyed the sauce that went along with the green bean temp. The waitress recommended the halibut carpaccio and this was my favorite of the night. Very fresh. We also ordered a few nigiri's - blue fin tuna, toro, smoked salmon, seared salmon and fresh scallop. Very well prepared and quality was amazing. Side note, seared salmon is top tier if you love salmon. Smoked salmon was decent, should just stick with regular fresh salmon in my opinion. Toro and blue fin obviously melted. Great spot, wife enjoyed it. Def will come back! read more

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10/10 I just came back from Kauai and this was right on par with the fresh fish off the middle of the pacific. YELLOW TAIL SERRANO SASHIMI IS A MUST!!!! The yellowtail sashimi is miles ahead of anything you'll find at Nobu or any other fancy spot for triple the price. Leah is the nicest server around with great reccs read more

Legit sushi spot - I was able to use my Japanese and the servers were super nice! The vibe inside transported me back to Japan. read more

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Decided to not fall for the uber eats trap and get some fake sushi place with BOGO deals and shop local instead! I stumbled upon kakurega down the street from me and had a great experience! We got a crunch roll and two other rolls and they were fabulous. Just what we wanted, nice fresh sushi. I ordered at the restaurant for take out and sat at the bar, the waiter offered me water and tea and was super nice helping me with the menu. The place is small and quiet and makes for a very nice date night, I am excited to get back and try the sake menu and have a nice time with my wife. I am over the delivery app deals that suck me in! Local tasty family owned sushi!! read more

This place has some great people working there the staff are all friendly and engaged. The food is good with probably the best mix of quality and pricing for sushi in the area. read more

Tucked away in a shopping center, you can find this restaurant that seems to have a bit of a off layout with bathroom outside of the restaurant. Came here for the lunch specials and price is very decent. $16.99 for bento box and $22 ish for the more premium lunch combo. Decided to get the sushi lunch. Oh yeah!! The salad dressing is awesome The rice texture was to my liking but the quality of fish was meh... nothing to rave about. Server was great!. Very friendly and attentive. I will comeback in the near future and try their bento box. read more

Kakurega - Sushi lunch combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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What a hidden gem! I've been here twice now, and both visits have left me genuinely impressed. My most recent trip was on a Friday evening: we were seated immediately at one of the open tables, and our server whisked away our drink orders and returned with them in no time. To start, we shared garlic edamame and tempura. For mains, I chose the Three Kings Cut Roll and a spicy tuna handroll, while my friend went with the Three Kings Roll II and the Lollipop Roll. We also both enjoyed a comforting bowl of miso soup. Our waiter was gracious and attentive as he patiently answered all our questions and timed each course to perfection. Every bite was delicious: crisp vegetables, fresh fish, and rolls that melted in your mouth. As sushi aficionados, my friend and I agree this ranks among the best sushi we've found in the area. Although the restaurant was fairly busy, the interior remained quiet, and the dim lighting created a peaceful, inviting ambience. With its exceptional quality and unbeatable prices, this spot has definitely earned its place on my go-to list. read more

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Great quality and good service great simple rolls that were fresh and tasty We will be coming back! read more

Very nice staff and great parking on a Wednesday night. No wait and we were seated immediately. They have a nice outdoor patio too. Everything was very fresh and they have a great Santa Barbara sea urchin. I've had a lot of bad Santa Barbara sea urchin that was very fishy so I was starting to think the city was cursed. Their sweet shrimp, otoro, blue fin tuna and amberjack were my favorites. Great chawanmushi too. Not a lot of places offer it. Perfect for a quiet dinner evening or date night. read more

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Talk about a hidden gem!! I've been gatekeeping this place for so long but I'm finally ready to share my favorite sushi spot lol. This is a Japanese owned sushi restaurant, where the owner works there himself. He actually came to our table and spoke with us one time and he is so friendly and kind. Kakurega serves great quality sushi for an unbeatable price. It's a small, unsuspecting restaurant right off the 55 freeway in a super random tiny plaza. Driving by, you'd never notice it but IYKYK! I mentioned it is on the smaller side, there are about 10-12 tables so it's a pretty cozy ambiance. They encourage making reservations but every time I've been here I've been able to just walk in. The sushi here is fantastic quality and generous serving sizes. Service is always great, the staff here is very attentive and our food comes out quickly. I always get the crispy rice with spicy tuna appetizer, crunchy roll, baked eel, and seared cod! Unfortunately they don't have a formal website or anywhere with their menu online, but as of March 2025 cut rolls are about $11-$13 each. Very reasonable prices for a casual, intimate dining experience that's great quality. read more

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Good sushi for the price! Was a pretty quiet place, easy for some conversation over some cheap and cheerful food. Had a few things - bluefin tuna, toro, yellowtail, red snapper, uni, salmon eggs, albacore, and a spicy tuna roll. Everything was pretty good - ended up getting seconds of the salmon eggs and red snapper (they put a little yuzu pepper paste which made it worthy of a second go at it). Would have done another toro and uni piece but was pretty full at the end. If I'm around the area and craving some sushi at a casual spot, this is definitely a contender. read more

Kakurega - Sushi spread - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is an authentic Japanese sushi's restaurant serve very good food and freshly sushi's plates Nice and enjoy while eating here

There were several points I took off starts but big reason was workers attitude. One keep forgot order and one showing not respectful attitude. Sushi itself was ok but rice collapsed really easily. Do I try to come here one more time? Prob not anymore read more

Hidden gem. Neighborhood go-to. Non Pretentious. All that is true so expect good Japanese style food in a low key atmosphere with solid service. I really liked the Rainbow Roll and the Seared Salmon and Seared Scallop. Gotta order a couple of those. Yumm. read more

The service from the staff was excellent, the chefs were clearly very skilled, and the fish tasted incredibly fresh and well cared for. It made for such a wonderful dinner date. Even though it's a small place, you can really feel the care and dedication put into each dish. After the meal, I hope that this restaurant continues to thrive and do well. read more

great in all aspects. fresh ingredients, experienced chef, amazing staff. had a slight mix up/misunderstanding over the phone but they were incredibly kind and accommodating. Nice ambiance (pretty small place though, id recommend you make a reservation for indoor seating) everyone enjoyed the handrolls, crispy rice with spicy tuna, rainbow roll, etc Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for good quality for a good price :) read more

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I saw this place on other yelp suggestions. The service was amazing. We went for dinner & was early enough to get seated quickly. I absolutely love this place and respect mom & poo shops. Their uni was exquisite, we got their seared salmon/ a roll and calamari. Their price is great for the quality. I can't wait to come back this is definitely one of my new favorite sushi spots! read more

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This place is authentic and so good! One of Costa Mesa's secrete gems! Service is absolutely fabulous as well!

人跟人之間的緣分很奇妙，會讓你跟意想不到的人在一起，只不過我比較相信事在人為，緣是老天給的，分是自己爭取的，很多時候都在你自己，愛與不愛你最清楚，願 與不願只有你知～ Costa Mesa 的這家日本料理，就是典型日本老闆開的那種小小間的日料， 店裡豪不起眼，可是送上來的每一道生魚片， 都新鮮無比， 我跟朋友兩個都不是很會點日料， 就跟老闆說，今天有什麼新鮮的魚片， 就上來吧， 歐，還有點了日本來的生蠔， 我喜歡的魚肝， 最後朋友問有珊瑚蝦嗎？ 他們也有， 但是珊瑚蝦很貴，一隻20 元， 我們各來兩隻， 四隻就80 元了， 不過，東西真的都灰熊好吃，如果不亂點這蝦， 兩個人150 左右，就非常滿足了， 介紹這家OC的小日本料理店給吃貨們，在附近的可以試試歐！ read more

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Cute cozy place, great friendly service, & extremely fresh tasting fish! I am picky about sushi spots, and I can't wait to come back to this one. 10/10 read more

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This is our fave sushi place in SoCal! The fish is always fresh, great portions, amazing service, and just a really wonderful spot. Their rolls are large and fish is delicious. We also love the shishito peppers and the chicken karaage which is delicious. You will love it! read more

Excellent sushi place. The fish were fresh. The ratio from fish to rice is amazing. The hotate was super fresh & shucked from the shells. Everyone was super friendly. I would definitely come back here when in town. I was so hungry & forgot to take pics of all the beautiful, colorful plates of sushi. read more

Kakurega - Salmon & tamago - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Did I just eat in Japan!?!? Wow! This place is just WOW! We ordered a so many dishes and not one of them is one we wouldn't order again. There was no weak link. Everything is so fresh and the flavor profiles remind me of how I ate in Japan. The staff is super friendly and the place is exactly what it needs to be. Kakurega translates to hideaway and this is exactly what it feels like. It's a little getaway hidden in plain sight. The attention to detail on every bite was superb. Hands down the best sushi I have had in all of socal. read more

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If your looking for an authentic Japanese spot this is the one. Very fresh fish and super tasty. Favorites: the caterpillar roll, snapper fish and the potatoes with the NY steak were delicious. Great place for a date or just dinner. Plates take a little longer than usual but it's all freshly prepared. The Karaage is good def ask for a side of spicy mayo or the eel sauce. read more

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I've been here 3 times in the last month and a half and I can't get it out of my mind. Everything tastes so fresh and delicious, the service is awesome, and the environment is cozy. I have yet to bite into something I didn't like here. Truly a hidden gem. Our favorite appetizers are the agedashi tofu (comes with a delicious little eggplant and shishito pepper) and crispy tuna rice (best crispy tuna rice we've ever had). For the sushi, you can't go wrong but my personal favorites are the seared salmon, yellowtail belly, red snapper (get it seared for their popular version of this), orange clam, and uni. The uni is so sweet and clean, it melts in your mouth and doesn't leave even an ounce of a bad aftertaste. My eyes naturally close on their own after eating each piece of uni... and I always get multiple because it's only $8 each! The servers and chefs are super sweet and always make sure to give you a warm welcome. I mean that quite literally too, as for our first time our server made sure to fix their heat lamp on their patio so that we weren't chilly outside. We really appreciated the extra effort and consideration!! I'm so in love with this place and hope to keep coming back for a long time. Please check this place out the next time you're in the mood for sushi!! read more

Kakurega - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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For the price, this place serves some seriously good-quality fish! You can get two pieces of salmon for just $5, which is an incredible deal considering the freshness and flavor. The toro was absolutely amazing. I was surprisingly impressed. This spot is definitely one of those hidden gems you'll want to keep to yourself, but the quality and value are too good not to share. read more

Since this review we have come in multiple times and they have got us in without a issue. Maybe they were just having an off night or the person who told us this was in training. We are happy to see our local spot is what we have come to expect! read more

This is a hidden gem with exceptional sushi, cozy atmosphere, and attentive service. It offers an intimate dining experience with expertly prepared seafood, tapas, and sake. The menu includes standout items like nigiri, sashimi, and creative rolls. This has to be the best sushi I've had in OC. The flavors of the pieces are fresh and flavorful. The pork belly was delicious without being overwhelming. You must try the fatty tuna! It will melt in your mouth in seconds. This is the closest sushi that has reminded me of Japan in the states. The ambiance is welcoming and unpretentious, making it a great spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. The service is quick and attentive. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food and service. I highly recommend this spot for sushi lovers in the Costa Mesa. Book reservations in advance, as there is very limited seating. read more

Kakurega - Pork belly - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Based on the reviews, we expected to have our socks knocked off. Instead, the overall experience was just OK. I know that businesses are hurting with increased food costs these days, but the sashimi was cut very thin, much thinner than what the pictures show. I had 8 or so pieces and am nowhere near full (though that's probably not a bad thing). The service was fine--the place is small so you're always within view--but I felt like they hovered a bit. A nice touch was the free ice cream as part of our anniversary dinner, so there's that! read more

One of my favorite sushi spots! The service is amazing and the quality of the sushi is incredibly fresh. They have great secret menu options so ask about those. Simple and good! read more

Amazing service, delicious fish & rolls and the restaurant had a great vibe. Can't wait to come back next time i visit! read more

Kakurega - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A small, intimate restaurant that was a little difficult to get to. Had to drive around the block to get into the parking lot. Sushi was very good!! We got a mix of nigiri- smoked salmon, ahi, snapper, tuna and toro and washed it down with a couple sake flights. My favorite was definitely the toro and salmon. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Kakurega - Smoked salmon, snapper, toro, tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious sushi and rolls. Owners and service were super friendly We got Rainbow roll - 5 stars Spicy yellowtail roll - delicious Salmon roll - delicious but a bit small Karage - 4 stars - wish it came with a dip but it was perfectly fried The setup and menu seems more geared for omakase (which we did not have time for). Did wish the sushi roll menu had more descriptions ...we had to look up yelp to figure out what to order. read more

TL;DR - solid spot but a little pricey, would be my go to if eats had a long line FOOD/DRINK: *agedashi tofu - pretty solid! liked the eggplant that came with it. the crunch on the tofu was nice and light. it wasn't the best agedashi tofu ive had though and i don't think i would get it again here. 3.5/5 *salmon nigiri - super good! fish was fresh and fatty. 5/5 *crunch roll - the shrimp tempura was made fresh so it was still warm and crunchy when it came out! super yummy and one of my favs that we got here. 5/5 *salmon hand roll - fish was fresh but the seaweed was not as fresh and crunchy as i would've liked it. it def doesn't compare to the one at eats. but still not bad. 4/5 *plum wine - this was surprisingly our fav thing we got here lol. it was basically two huge shots worth of this wine and it was sweet and really easy to drink. would definitely get again. 5/5 SERVICE: the people we interacted with here was sooo friendly! gave us recs and were very attentive. never had to flag down anyone. 5/5 WAIT: when my partner and i came, there was no wait so we got seated immediately. the food came out relatively fast after we ordered too. 5/5 PRICE: this is where this place loses a star for me because for everything we ordered (2 people), the total came out to around $110 including tax and tip. it's almost double compared to our fav sushi place (eats) and even though the food was solid, i don't think the price matches. if i was craving sushi and didnt want to wait for eats line during a date night, i would go here though. 2/5 read more

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Being a big omakase fan as myself, I am so surprised I haven't been here before. Came right at opening, it was quite crowded, but we were still seated right away. Ambiance was decorated like a typical izakaya and very clean. The hostess and our waitress were very friendly and would explain each course to us. Honestly, I wouldn't be able to recite any of them but ALL of the pieces of sushi were mouth watering, buttery, and prepared to perfection. Two I do recall were the blue fin tuna and toro, and my goodness were they the stars of the course! The pictures truly don't do justice as I was just way too amazed to take better pictures. Definitely my new favorite omakase spot, and was very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get, we were stuffed by the end of the course! read more

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Food: we came here for omakase and it was good , not too special but not that bad. We still can enjoy. Other than that , Kids love all of the rolls. Service: nice and attentive enough Inside is small and surprise no one seat at the bar. read more

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Still our local lunch destination for sushi. Sho and Jun used to work at Kitayama in South Newport years back. They've remodeled Kakurega since my last review long ago, our favorites now include Bluefin Tuna, Albacore, Ankimo, Ama Ebi when in season, heads deep fried. Uni if it's from Santa Barbara, though they sourced some good Peruvian and Mexican uni. Jun's marinade for the Gizzard Shad is excellent. We leave room for the Chawanmushi - we've had it in Japan, at Adi$$on in San Diego, Rebel Omaka$e in Laguna, this is both more rustic and on a higher level. read more

Kakurega - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California