Delicious and fresh fish! My sister and I really enjoyed every dish we tried. The service was quick, and the staff were super friendly. Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

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Treated us poorly. We did not feel welcomed. As soon as we walked in the lady waiter told us to leave even though we had called beforehand.

Cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Hands down the best sushi in all of Orange County. WAY better than Nobu or any other nice sushi place. HAVE to get the seared salmon nigiri and scallops special. Unbeatable and have yet to find any sushi that can even compare to these two dishes. read more

Kakurega - Special Scallops and Seared Salmon Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The sushi was very fresh and the service was amazing! The chef was so sweet and was very interactive with us. Everything we had was phenomenal it's hard to choose one dish that was a favorite! It was a very calm and friendly environment. Will definitely stop in again! read more

Great sushi !!! They care about their customers and spend time to help you get a great sushi experience!

Stopped here while in town for an event. Staff is so friendly and helpful. Food is amazing!

I absolutely love this place! The sushi is always incredibly fresh and delicious, and the service is consistently top-notch. The sushi chefs are also so friendly and kind, making the experience even better. read more

Kakurega - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

They need to change their closing time, we were not able to eat here due to them closing earlier than their 10pm closing time (showed up at 9:48pm). Maybe 9:45pm closing would be better stated on the hours. read more

Always good service, fresh fish, and simple but good dishes. My husband and I especially enjoy the lunch special and the grilled cheek. We usually share a few rolls or some sashimi and always leave happy. read more

Omg , there food is so great . Its so fresh. And the server "Collin" he was super great very nice and respectfulhe explained then menu to us and recommended such a great food . Definitely recommend this place . Thank you collin! read more

Very good Omakase. Too many good dishes to mention. Just look at the pictures. You'll have a good time and experience read more

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This review is long over due because it's been one of my favorite sushi restaurants in OC since I first came here in 2018. The sushi chefs/owners Sho and Jun have always been there to welcome us back. In the good ole days before the pandemic, we use to sit at the bar and drink with them! During 2020 we always ordered to go with great fish quality and I'm so happy they have stayed open. It's a bit different now, but they have indoor and patio outdoor table seating available. It's a small restaurant with the restrooms located around the corner outside. My favorite items to order: crispy rice spicy tuna, yellowtail cheek, oysters (they usually have kusshi or kumamato which are THE best in flavor to me), seared black cod, seared scallop, seared salmon, salmon belly, kanpachi, yellowtail belly, yellowtail, and toro 3 ways. Pricing is affordable for the quality of fish you are having and is ALWAYS fresh tasting. Don't forget to cheers with the staff if you're having hot sake. It's tradition to do so whenever I come in now! It's also worth mentioning they have a cold sake sampler on the menu that can be fun to do for a fun date night! read more

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Excellent high-quality sushi but mixed customer service experience. First of all, the food here is excellent. The hot foods were okay and I would probably rate them at 3~4 stars. The clams were a little dry and I forgot about the other hot foods that I ordered since they were unmemorable. But the sushi was 5 stars for sure! It kinda sucks you have to order everything a la carte and it ends up being pretty expensive. However, the expensive price is definitely worth the money. $$ is very misleading and it should be at least $$$. The customer service was actually really good except for the fact that the server put in the wrong order for one of the sushi. Instead of Uni, the server put the order in for Unagi. Because I ordered so many pieces a la carte, I wasn't sure which ones I ordered and just ate the Unagi. But I found out the mistake later because Uni never came. I didn't mind paying for the Unagi since I obviously ate it. But it would have been nice for the server to admit his mistake and apologize or something. Anyways, I still love the food and the service. Definitely 5-star experience except for the little incident. read more

Small quaint Sushi restaurant.. must try!!! We ordered a variety of rolls: Crunch roll Spicy yellowtail Eel roll Kings roll All specially made with unique taste Each made to bring out the freshness of each fish Our Sushi was the highlight of our meal Freshly shuck scallops Fresh octopus Amberjack Toro Tuna 3 ways Sweet shrimps Monk liver fish Yellowtail belly Uni So FRESH, so SWEET, MELT in your mouth pieces Service was spot on This is probably my new go to Sushi bar For any newbie sushi lovers... Visit here for GREAT tasting food made by Artistic Sushi Chefs. read more

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Service 5/5 - Wonderful service! Both servers were so attentive and I love how the called me by my first name as we were walking out the restaurant. I think they got my name from my credit card. Ambiance 4/5 - Cute little restaurant. The tables were clean but the restaurant was nothing special. No fancy decor or anything. Also, the restroom was outside of the restaurant. A bit inconvenient. Food 4/5 - The Omakase was $100pp. We got an appetizer plate, 12 nigiri, miso soup or shrimp heads, and an egg dish. Amazing value! As for the quality, I've had better sushi. Their rice was a bit stale too, which was a bummer. But overall, it was a fun experience. read more

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This is great sushi. Come midweek to beat the crowds. Dinner starts at 5:30. The waitress is super friendly and attentive. The green tea was smooth and tasty. We ordered omakase and it was great. 4 stars since ohshima is a 5. This is one step below the best I've had; otherwise id give it a 5. read more

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I was craving sushi, and it happened to be near by. It was a small restaurant, so it can get packed. I ordered quite a bit. My favorite were the sushi! The fishes were fresh, rice was good and sticky. Scallop and B. Tuna were so good. I ordered their handroll and appetizer. The appetizer was good, but a tad salty to be eaten alone. So, I packed home for tomorrow lunch. Hand roll was good, but the soft shell crab was not my favorite. It was crispy and savory, but too oily for my taste. I would try other filling. Service was very friendly. This was a plus. read more

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Wow wow wow wow. Absolutely love this place. We found out that the name actually means "hideaway" in Japanese, which is the perfect way to describe it. The sushi and cooked foods are beyond fresh. The service was top notch and this is probably my favorite new sushi spot in all of SoCal! read more

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Great place for lunch (I've never come for dinner before). The fish has quality and is fresh, a step up from a casual sushi shop. All of it is served minimalistic. Just fish and rice, with not a lot of sauce or frills. It's great for people who enjoy sushi as is. My only major gripe is the rice. It's like a little harder than I'm used to? I'm willing to tolerate it only because the price/taste ratio is solid. read more

Patio seating has heaters! So rejoice sushi lovers who haven't had fresh fish during lockdown but looks like Kakurega has what you need to fill that sushi craving of yours with some pretty authentic, legit way of serving sushi. Tried a couple of different nirigis and cut rolls from the sushi bar menu (didn't order any of the hot items but maybe next time!) Scallops and mackerel nigiris were great. They even ask if you'd like your scallops slightly seared! Unagi and anago were good as well, but definitely prefer unagi for a stronger flavor and texture. Loved the spicy yellowtail roll and Three King Roll was pretty good too (the only item here that felt a little more fusion-y like many other sushi joints). I do have to say their sushi rice here is a lot softer than others and it might not be what you're used to so they do kinda fall apart the moment it lands in your mouth (both good and bad I suppose). Service was great and quick! read more

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I've been here 3 times and got different dishes every time, everything is so good here it's my favorite restaurant hands down.

I made a reservation in advance for a weekend dinner. It wasn't that busy, and there is outdoor seating if you'd prefer. The employee gave us menus but I had to ask separately for the omakase experience , which wasn't listed. I was told that you can dictate when to end the omakase, and there is no set pricing. It started off with a few appetizers, my favorite being the oyster. The uni sushi and pieces of toro and scallops stood out. All the pieces were seasoned well and there was no need for soy sauce on the side. I also tasted the soft shell crab appetizer which was lightly battered and very tasty. I ordered about $100 per person and left feeling very full. Everything was fresh. Just make sure to end the omakase a dish ahead of time because the sushi chef usually prepared the next course while you're eating. I made sure to tell them I was there for a birthday and they included a small refreshing birthday dessert. read more

Nice little cozy sushi place serving delectable and nice selection of fish. The uni was super sweet and fresh. We arrived 30 min earlier than our reservation, but the host was very accommodating. Instead of looking at the sushi menu, just have the chef make and serve you all the fish he has for the day. You will be more than satisfied. I'm not sure how things will be if outdoor dining continues through the winter, but it certainly looks like they are prepared for it with plenty of heaters read more

Kakurega - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Kakurega is tucked away in a tiny strip mall right near the 55 freeway in Costa Mesa. It's a hidden gem. Great traditional omakase, impeccable service (everyone who works here is courteous, kind, & friendly), and the prices are quite reasonable. Every time I go, I notice the fish is very fresh, and the sushi consistently good. I've been here a handful of times, and every single one of my visits have been lovely- no complaints. Anyhow, I would recommend this spot to anyone. :) read more

Omakase and a bottle of Kubota is the way to go. Remember to pour a glass for the chef.

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant. It's a laid back and casual place but it's a hidden gem (which I think the name refers to!!). The owner/chef is from Japan and the sushi is delicious and good quality. I love the three kings roll and you can write in a Negi Toro Roll. I also love the sashimi!!! I definitely recommend this place to anyone who appreciates good sushi! read more

Went on a Friday night as part of my omakase project. They offer 10 pieces omakase for $80. Its quite fair, among all others I've tried. First thing I notice is their Wasabi and ginger. Wasabi is hand grind. What's special about it is they might also season it., possibly with soy sauce. Initial taste was a bit savory and sweet, then slowly the spicy taste comes. Ginger was averagely marinated. I was quite hyped at that point. Not many places actually pays effort on these details. Then the first 4 appetizers were very impressive. Their Shikoku Kaki oyster was seasoned perfectly. Shrimp cake was also perfect. The shrimp was very crisp and fresh. Seasoned very well. In a way it was one of the best shrimp dishes I've tried. Even in non Japanese cuisines. Then the other two appetizers: Tempura set and agedashi tofu are disastrous: Tempura was over fried and greasy, its batter was thick and brown . The highlight was still their shrimp. The agedashi tofu, which I use to measure how good a chef is, is different in almost every metric from all other places I've tried. They are just not my cup of tea. The sushi overall are below average, with some on par. The reasons are rice and seasoning: rice texture was hard, almost like barley, and seasoning were either too vinegary or soy saucey. Not recommend their Uni. Their ama ebi was okay but the fried shrimp is whole another level, in a good way. Their chawanmushi though, is a must try. I think they either put in yuzu skins in it or use it in the dashi. Fish, shiitake, elegantly sweet dashi with a hint of yuzu, and the silky egg pudding texture. It's definitely in the top 2 in all I've tried. After all, they are a tapas restaurant. Some of their small dishes are much more impressive than their sushi. If I rate the non-suhi dishes, their score will be much higher. read more

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Wow, this place is excellent! My gf from Japan actually liked this spot after various failed attempts to take her out for sushi! I enjoyed every dish. Hats off to the chief! Everything is presented beautifully, tastes fantastic, and a bit unique! This is a hidden gem for-sure and a must try!! Update: we just tried SUGARFISH in Newport Beach, though delicious, this place (Kakurega) is better! read more

Overall Kakurega is a great place for Omakase! If you're looking for traditional fare sushi, this place is perfect for that. I think this place has more minor tweaks that could use improvement. //CONTEXT// I came here twice recently the past 2 months, one as a party of 2 and as a party of 5. Both on a Sunday evening. Making reservations is fairly easy, I called about 5 days in advance to reserve something. //ENVIRONMENT// The environment is a little bare here, or I guess the seating is a bit strange and there's a lot of empty space and bare walls. Sushi bar isn't open yet. I don't care about this stuff to be honest but just a note. There is outdoor seating. //OMAKASE EXPERIENCE// their Omakase comes in pairs of 3, and for example when we did a party of 5 they grouped it all on one board. The weird thing is wasabi here. If you tell them you don't like wasabi, they don't put wasabi on the entire thing and they tell you it's easier that way, which I think is a bit lazy since I wanted wasabi on mine but my friend did not. And then of course some rounds there was wasabi on all which my friend does not like. It's a small thing but I think if we're talking attention to detail then it's important. The fish quality here is really good! It taste really fresh, but I do think some of the pieces are lukewarm. And there isn't a whole ton of seasoning but some people don't like that. Their toro three ways and uni is a standout here to me! For some reason the white fish doesn't make the mark for me here, might be the warmth of the fish. //PRICE// Ranges but is about $70-$80 per person //SERVICE// good! But again see above! //OVERALL// this is a great place for traditional Omakase! Could use some improvement but hits the spot! read more

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Visited this place for the first time on a Saturday night and my favorite spots had long waits. I was surprised when I called and heard that there was no wait on a Saturday at 7pm. This made me a little skeptical about the soot but decided to try anyway. I am so so glad that I did. Staff was super friendly. The blue fin tuna and the octopus was amazing. I was a little worried about ordering oysters since its the middle of summer but we ordered six because we really wanted to try. Best oysters ever. They were so good that we ordered six more. Also, I think it was the owner that came up to us to ask us how things were going and we let him know that everything was amazing. Great spot for beer and fresh sushi. read more

Brought my family here for their first omakase and for my mother's birthday! Having been to the top omakase spots in NYC, I was very pleasantly surprised to find this one on par with those. All of these pieces we had were incredibly fresh - I could really tell with the taste and texture of the ankimo and the sweet shrimp. This place is a hidden gem, and a steal, for ~$90/person omakase. read more

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A solid authentic Japanese restaurant serving sushi and sashimi! Sushi is well made - good ratio of fish to rice, sticky vinegar rice that holds together, fresh room temperature fish. The sea eel still had some bones inside. The kanpachi sashimi had smaller and thinner cuts of fish than your usual sashimi. My favorite dish was the crispy rice with spicy tuna since it had a balance of flavors and textures. The spicy tuna on top tasted like negitoro, much fattier than regular tuna. Seared salmon and seared scallop were also spot on. The price is reasonable for the area. read more

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Came in around 7:25. They had me and my boyfriend stand for a couple minutes and then asked if we had a reservation. We said no so they said we would have to sit outside. We said that's fine and then waited for another couple minutes. Finally, the owner asked the server to seat us outside. We went outside and sat for another few minutes before leaving. I get that they're busy and don't have many servers. But they should just not take customers if they don't have the capacity to. We won't be coming back. I'm sure their food is good but not even curious to try anymore because of their horrible service. There's plenty of restaurants with good service and amazing sushi. Wouldn't recommend this place. read more

The sushi was absolutely delicious! Melt in your mouth delicious! They have a limited menu but everything we had was fantastic. Service was great. The lighting and decor is a bit dark and the restaurant is small. However, the quality of food and reasonable pricing outweighs the ambiance. We will be back again. Highly recommend! read more

Sorry but this place lost a returning customer tonight. It is 9:23pm and their Google hours are posted open till 10. On here 9:30... so, here's the problem: Their OPEN sign was on. I walked in with my spouse and the staff looked at me like I was crazy and said awkwardly, "our last call was at 9:30pm". I replied "it's not even 9:25", and left. As I'm writing this, they turned another couple away. Hundreds of dollars lost, that could have been made in 15-30 minutes. I hope the owners read this cause every time I've been here, it's empty. No care about income I guess. read more

Kakurega - Posted hours on Google. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is one of the best sushi restaurants jn So Cal. Service is warm and friendly, and there is easy parking in the strip mall. I highly recommend the seared salmon nigiri and crispy rice tuna. Everything we has was fresh and delicious, but the seared tuna was like a waking dream in your mouth. read more

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

Great vegan options. Great secret local spot. Real sushi looks amazing too Definitely going to be coming back a lot read more

The best Omakase in OC! If you are craving authentic sushi in Costa Mesa, the is the best place to go:) read more

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Ever since Kitayama closed we've been looking for a sushi bar that could match our experiences there, so we were excited to hear that two of their former sushi chefs are now at Kakurega. Our experience dining there tonite was excellent. We ordered numerous different sushi items and each one was carefully prepared and exceptionally fresh. My only frustration with the dining experience was that the sushi bar is currently closed and we ended up at a table too far away to watch our sushi being made. The wait staff were attentive and everything was served efficiently. We will be back soon! read more

Hidden Gem! Wow we didn't think this place was open anymore for years . We went bye 2 weeks ago & it's our new fav go to! Sushi is awesome & staff is great. Perfect neighborhood place to walk to! read more

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