I am very picky when it comes to Japanese food, but hands down Kappo Sui is above average and beyond expectation in every way. Try their seasonal food or that day's chef's recommendation and you will not regret it. read more

I love everything about this place. Food is amazing. Service is great. It easily became my favorite japanese restaurant. Will be visiting again very soon read more

Ate dinner here tonight and it was only a mediocre experience. Not sure how this place got 4.6 stars! We ordered: 1) 2 bowls of white rice 2) 2 pc sweet shrimp nigiri, with 1 fried head and 1 shrimp soup, just ok but tastes like it was bought from store, the soup was good 3) 5 pcs of Uni nigiri - seaweed used tasted stale, not the best Uni , would not order again 4) crab croquettes - this was good 5) soba noodles - good 6) udon noodles - good 7) monk fish - good 8) clam in sake soup - decent 9) duck slices - just ok and small portion size 10) chicken wings - decent Service was very spotty because we had to ask them to refill water, get napkins and remove plates from our table. Food came out rather slow too. We don't think we'll be coming back. I ended up having the runs after the meal and makes me think some of the seafood was not fresh... read more

We had a great experience at Kappo Sui! Very kid-friendly, reasonably priced, and the food was delicious--it felt like we were dining in Japan! We loved the chicken and beef teriyaki with sushi, soba special set, karaage, and tofu appetizer. The panna cotta with matcha ice cream, sorbet, and Basque cheesecake were amazing too! Special shoutout to our server, Zuke, for the excellent and accommodating service. We'll definitely be back! read more

I wanted Japanese food for my birthday, but I didn't want sushi and I didn't want Benihana. I just wanted a lunch deal, maybe a bento box. Yelp sent me to Kappo Sui, which was described as a hole-in-the-wall in the city of Costa Mesa. Sure enough, it was tucked at the end of a strip mall. I ordered the lunch special with beef teriyaki. My wife ordered the same with a plate of tempura for the table. My son ordered an udon special. The server was very helpful. (I watched as she wrote our order on her pad in Japanese.) My lunch special combo came with a hot bowl of miso soup, iceberg lettuce salad, and four pieces of a Californian roll. (See pics.) For dessert, I ordered the Basque cheesecake. (When my wife and son mentioned that it was my birthday, the manager brought three ices for us to enjoy.) Parking was typical California strip mall parking with ample spaces on an early Saturday afternoon. read more

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My bf and I came back over the weekend to Kappo Sui, one of my most favorite Japanese restaurants, and we were so happy! So happy to see Zuke again, the owner. He is always such a joy to talk to and he always takes great deal in making sure that his food, desserts, and experience of his guests are a priority. We ordered a variety of items again because this is one of the few places, if not the only ones in SoCal, that offer such authentic home cooked items meals.. For my beloved home-cooked Japanese meals such as daikon with ground pork, nasu with ground pork, and mackerel with pickled veggies, I appreciate these dishes so much and it reminds me of my time living in Japan back in college in Fukuoka. Other favorites are hamachi kama, or any kind of kama, takowasa, the chirashi bowl, agedashi tofu, all so delicious! And, you can't forget about desserts. Zuke makes all of the desserts, and my favorite are the blueberry and green tea pana cotta, and the burnt Basque cheese cake.. Well, actually that is all of their deserts and they are soooo good!!! You really need to order a lot and then save some more room for his desserts. I can't recommend Kappo Sui enough! They are in a very unassuming plaza but they are big on flavor and taste and hospitality! read more

Kappo Sui is owned by pastry chef Zuke, who also seats and waits tables. (Respect.) His demeanor is the definition of accommodating, and the intimate vibe of the restaurant is refreshingly human. Service was exceptionally attentive -- we ordered the crab dumplings, which come as three. Zuke had the kitchen plate four so we could share evenly. Michelin-level front of house service. MONKFISH LIVER: 5/5. Dense and silky richness was perfectly complemented by the bright sauce and fresh onions. SHISHITO PEPPERS: 5/5. The char on these was so good. PORK BELLY: 4/5. The fat was well rendered, the meat could have been silkier. CRAB TOAST: 5/5. Something about Japanese tartar sauce does it for me every time. CRAB DUMPLINGS: 5/5. Surprisingly large, delicate in flavor. SIMMERED KINKI (ROCKFISH): 5/5. Wagyu of the sea, in my opinion. Clean, sweet, and SO fatty. This dish is a rarity on any menu because sourcing is difficult and expensive, and Kappo Sui definitely did it justice. CHAWANMUSHI: 5/5. Absolutely THE softest egg custard I've had to date. It was hard for me to save half for my friend. SUSHI: 5/5. I am 1000% getting the omakase the next time I come here. Everything was fresh, clean, and balanced. BASQUE CHEESECAKE: 5/5. Airy, delicate, custardy, tart. I took an extra slice to go. BLUEBERRY PANNA COTTA: 5/5. I don't know what kind of magical blueberries these were, but these blueberries had the most concentrated blueberry flavor I've ever had. The panna cotta was silky and soft and really elevated the blueberry. MATCHA PANNA COTTA: 5/5. The bitter and earthy matcha, the rich and creamy vanilla ice cream? Not a combination I would have come up with, but a combination I WILL be making in the future. YUZU ICE CREAM: 5/5. Literally tasted like fresh squeezed yuzu juice that was frozen. Everything was delicious, and their menu has something for everyone. Zuke (and the rest of the staff, honestly) was such a pleasure, I'm already planning my next visit here... read more

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Everything was phenomenal!! Super fresh and delicious, duck soba is a must try. When stopping by ask for Zuke, he is incredible!

This place is so good and is as close as you can get to authentic Japanese food. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone! The service and staff is extremely friendly too. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have taken my friends and family here multiple times. Everyone is always looking forward to come back. Great drinking spot to enjoy ice cold draft Sapporo or casual meal! Lunch or dinner is always perfect here. I've always ordered sushi, rolls, soba, tempura, and appetizers. All the food is very tasty and fresh. You cannot go wrong with what you choose here. They have literally the best dessert too. I don't order dessert often but their cheesecake, cakes, ice cream, and panna cotta are a must have read more

My family and I had the best experience at Kappo Sui! We were able to get a last minute reservation for my dad's birthday. Everyone was very kind and helpful and the menu was very extensive with authentic Japanese food! We got the sashimi platter, agadashi tofu, uni, and the silkiest chawanmushi. The fish was extremely fresh and melts in your mouth. Their dessert was very delicious as well! The cheesecake was baked fresh to perfection, and was truly the best way to end the dinner. You can tell they put a lot of care into baking it. They made my dad's birthday dinner so special. We were very happy with the overall food, attentiveness, and atmosphere and can't wait to come back again! read more

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Kappo Sui is hidden in a small strip mall on the intersection of Bristol and Red Hill. As a solo, I got seated at the bar right away but they were busy, and it took a while to get orders in. Fried oysters ($14) Small and bready. I'm really looking for the briny flavor here and it's absent or minimal. Yummy dressing on the side salad though. Stick with the raw fish and rolls. Blufin Tuna Nigiri ($12) Deep rich flavor. Smooth and fresh texture - there's also more expensive toro options but I don't like too much fatty flavor. This was amazing already. Yellowtail Nigiri ($9) Nigiri cuts are more substantial than expected and the flavor is definitely all that. Golden eye snapper ($15) Generous gorgeous cut with the red criss crossed skin. Flavor levels more mild than a maguro and certainly less than hamachi so I'm not sure I would order this again at this price point. Japanese mackerel ($9) Fancy cut and no mistaking the mackerel flavor. The texture is a little tougher than the maguro standard. Salmon skin roll ($9) Instant smokiness of the charred skin on nose and palate. An excellent crunch that requires some chewing at the end but that just makes for a longer delightful finish. This is an everytime order. Fire grilled chicken thigh ($11.5) They have several meats that they grill in a high temp oven. Not quite hibachi but pretty darned close. The particular chicken breast is on the dry side but then got more tender with the inside cuts. While it comes with a spread of yellow wasabi, it really needs some kind of sauce or au jus. Who doesn't love the charred skin though. Service is somewhat scattered but earnest and I get the feeling that it's a family run operation that somewhat mitigates the higher prices. This looks like a great place for group gatherings but you should probably come early as it fills up fast. That's all. read more

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A quiet standout in Costa Mesa. We ended up at Kappo Sui after considering a few other spots during a local staycation. First visited a few months back, came back again--and it holds up. This time we kept a couple favorites but added some new dishes, which made for a really balanced, traditional spread. What we ordered: * Braised daikon with minced meat -- soft, deeply flavored, very comforting * Nasu (eggplant) with grated daikon -- silky with a light soy/dashi finish * Agedashi tofu -- crisp outside, delicate inside, clean broth * Chirashi bowl -- fresh cuts (uni, tuna, white fish), no filler * Grilled fish collar -- rich, slightly smoky, easy highlight What to expect: * Food leans traditional--simple dishes, done well * Flavors are clean and layered, not heavy or over-sauced * Service is warm and personable without being over the top * Portions are moderate; pricing reflects the quality The whole experience feels thoughtful and unforced. Nothing flashy--just consistent execution across the board. Easy place to overlook from the outside, but one you'll likely come back to once you've been. read more

Kappo Sui - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We were the first party for dinner and told we could sit anywhere. After we sat down, we were asked to move to a smaller table, which was not good form. The grilled black cod was great and melted in our mouths. We were pleasantly surprised when the server brought us yuzu sorbet for dessert. Conversely, we were disappointed to be charged for tea that we did not order. in summary, this is a borderline expensive restaurant that serves diet size portions. I have put this on my list of restaurants not to return to for dinner. read more

This was our first time here (Shawn & Mark), and it exceeded all our expectations. Zukesan, the manager, welcomed us so warmly, and Ritsukosan provided exceptional service, taking care of our drinks (beers and hot sake) right away. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, and the food, atmosphere, and unmatched hospitality made this an unforgettable evening. A special highlight was chatting with Okasan, the sweet owner, and learning about the restaurant's 30-year history from Zukesan. Ending the night with Oyasuminasai and Mata ne felt like saying goodbye to old friends. We can't wait to come back. 100% a 5-star experience! read more

Absolutely a great little gem! So glad I dropped by and gave this place a try. I got their chrashi bowl, squid nigiri and albacore nigiri. All were delicious and well prepared. The waistress was quick and nice. Definately give this place a tr! read more

Came here on a Monday night and the ambiance was so nice! A few of us were running late but they seated us and didn't rush us to order at all. I don't eat raw fish, so I was pleasantly surprised that they had SO MANY options for me! The eel box was my favorite item! So delicious- will be back for that alone. They are more of a traditional restaurant, but they were trying to expand and make rolls (spider roll was yum!) which I appreciated. The business feels family owned, and you can tell that they really care about their customers and want you to come back. Zuke chatted with us while we ate, gave us recommendations on what to order when we weren't sure! They had a variety of dessert and you can never finish a meal without a sweet treat so we tried it all! We will be recommending this place and returning! read more

Kappo Sui - dessert - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Delicious authentic Japanese style hotpot. A bit pricey for hotpot but absolutely delicious. Very courteous staff and attentive service. Need to try their sushi next time. read more

Kappo Sui - Remaining soup made into congee with some eggs. Delicious - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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What an absolute hidden gem! My mom's coworker recommended Kappo Sui, and we couldn't be happier. They're a traditional Japanese restaurant, so don't think of "sushi rolls" here, think more like izakaya in a traditional atmosphere. The menu is small, so they really stick to what they do best. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. There's some seasoned Japanese chefs and cooks in the partially open kitchen making some of the best Japanese food you haven't found in OC yet. What we loved: egg custard (chawanmushi), yellowtail collar, eel box, crab dumplings, black cod, soft shell crab, and simmered eel with egg. Thank you Zuke for being such an amazing server & pastry chef! read more

Kappo Sui - Simmered eel & egg - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Our fancy foodie friends rave about this place . True appreciation of food only need a restaurant that simply says " Japanese restaurant " on the marquis and no fancy furniture. Just clean good unique menu items to try with regular fair Japanese food . Loved the Herring Roe and Kinki . All the fish were high quality, albeit cooked or uncooked . The sashimi was fresh and crunchy. Very nice service from waitress and waiters . read more

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I was invited to Kappo Sui for a group dinner about a month and a half ago, and wow, was I impressed! The menu here offers highly authentic Japanese cuisine--exactly what you want when you're craving the real deal. I had the Grilled King Mackerel, the Agedashi Tofu, and the Homemade Crab Cream Croquette. All three items were delicious and incredibly well-made. While the restaurant had the classic Japanese decor, it remind me more of an izakaya; the chefs/cooks are out in the partially open kitchen so whether you sit in the front or at a table, you'll be well taken care of. Parking is pretty spacious given its location and easily miss-able when driving by. It's tucked away in its own corner. It's not always easy to find a spot that nails that authentic taste so well, but Kappo Sui absolutely delivers. I highly recommend checking them out! read more

Great service. Very tasty grilled fish, would definitely go back for the grilled fish. The side salad is very simple but I like the dressing on it so it's a fave here for me. read more

I'm grateful my stomach survived this place, but I will never return. We came for dinner over Memorial Day weekend. From the moment we arrived, the first impression was poor. The host asked us to wait five minutes while he cleaned a table, except the table we ultimately sat at was already empty and ready. We waited for him to clean a completely different table. (And it was well over five minutes, but who's counting.) For food, we ordered hot sake, sushi, cold soba, and more. The hot sake was memorable, though not in a good way. After I poured it into my cup, a bug appeared. (See the photos I took, upper right corner.) I brought it to the host/server's attention. He acknowledged seeing the bug after taking my cup, but seemed uncertain what the problem was, so I had to spell it out: the bug appeared after I poured the sake. Only then did he take the sake bottle away and bring a replacement. There's a bug in the drink, shouldn't that prompt an immediate apology and remedy? Why was I the one explaining what was wrong? The food itself was fine, but I couldn't bring myself to touch the sushi after that. The restaurant was crowded, and between that and the service, the atmosphere felt anything but welcoming. We had also ordered clam soup, which the host later told us was unavailable, completely understandable. What wasn't acceptable was finding the $15 clam soup still on our bill. I asked to have it removed. The host reviewed the bill and it remained. It took a second request to finally get it corrected. By the end of the night, I was simply exhausted by the experience. read more

Kappo Sui - Hot sake with bug in the cup (top right) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tried Kappo Sui and it honestly exceeded my expectations. The fire-grilled duck was insane, super juicy and cooked almost medium-rare, like a steak. I've never had duck like that before. The veggie tofu was also really good: perfectly seared, great sauce, umami from the mushrooms, and a nice crunch from the carrots. Everything tasted clean, intentional, and very authentic. 10/10 if you're into legit Japanese food. Would 100% come back. Service is excellent even though they can get busy! read more

Kappo Sui - Veggie tofu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came in for the lunch special and was seriously impressed. The food was really good across the board. My dad got the sushi combo (around $37) and it was awesome, and I had the chicken with a California roll lunch special which was just as solid. Service also great. Great quality, good portions, and the place has a nice authentic vibe. Would definitely come back. read more

Came here with my son while dropping him off at UCI. Amazing food, authentic, local favorite, tucked away in this unassuming shopping center. Came back three times and will definitely come back whenever in Irvine! read more

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I went back to Kappo Sui/Sazu Sushi for the first time in a long time today. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they now serve lunch. My mom ordered the miso eggplant lunch set, and I ordered grilled mackerel lunch. We also got cabbage salads. The cabbage salad was light and refreshing, just like what one might get in Japan. It nicely complemented our lunches. My mom is picky about her miso soup, but she gave Kappo Sui a thumbs up. She also noticed that the rice is genuine Japanese short grain rice. We learned it's Koshihikari Hitomebore ("love at first sight") rice. It's rare to see rice cooked so perfectly--no brown bits, no mushiness. The eggplant was tender and covered with a sauce of old-fashioned chunky miso, reminding me of what a rural Japanese grandmother might make. I also enjoyed the mackerel. It was tender and nicely cooked, served with grated daikon and soy sauce. I was also pleasantly surprised to see the lunch sets come with hijiki, a black seaweed simmered with carrot bits. It's a nice bit of home cooking that you rarely see at most Japanese restaurants these days. Kappo Sui is now under new ownership, but the first two owners are still involved with the restaurant. One of the co-owners served our table. He was very nice, and patiently explained things to us. The space has the same awning as before, but the flooring is new. It's a bright, well-lit space, and at lunchtime it was easy to have a conversation. The current co-owners understand that the original menu is something special for which their customers will return. Come here if you care about authentic Japanese food. Now that I know they serve lunch, I'm definitely taking my mom back here next time I'm in the area. read more

Fresh frozen authentic Japanese food really good manager and owner really takes pride in the customer service It was so delicious. I slammed everything I ordered. Thank you so much for the authentic vibe. read more

Kappo Sui - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We found an authentic Japanese hidden gem! The food was outstanding. I've never had wasabi quite like the one served here--it had the perfect kick and paired beautifully with the delicious yellowtail collar. We also tried some new dishes, including takowasa, which was incredibly tasty. The crunchy roll was delicious, and the ginger eggplant was absolutely fabulous. The restaurant had just installed new flooring, which gave the space a fresh, updated feel. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, and I can't wait to come back! read more

Dined here for the first time tonight and loved it! The food was delicious, my favorites were the grilled black cod (really tasty), the sashimi platter (melt in your mouth fresh), the cheesecake for dessert (light but luxurious). Seems very authentic, like your favorite neighborhood spot if you lived in Japan. Will definitely go back. read more

Excellent food and outstanding customer service! Everything was fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. Highly recommend, and I can't wait to come back! Thanks Zuke!!! read more

Kappo Sui - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Menu has wide selection and includes Japanese dishes that I don't usually see in other Japanese restaurant. Service is very good considering we were a group of 10. The desserts were very good too. We tried their cheesecake, Panna cotta, and sorbet. Shout out to our server Zuke. read more

Kappo Sui - Matcha Panna Cotta - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

If you've been on the hunt for an amazing sushi spot, this is the one! Fresh sushi (and I'm picky) that melts in your mouth. Make sure you take their recommendations - sake flight (first time for everything!) was a great way to try different sakes! (now I'm a sake lover lol) Amberjack - had no idea what it was, we wrote it down and crossed it off. They came back and said "we think you'll like this more than yellowtail" and they were right! Amazing! Service is spot on! Excited to visit again soon! read more

Kappo Sui - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We took my stepson here to celebrate him getting his PhD. First the food. I highly recommend the simmered black cod, the simmered eel with egg, shishito peppers, veggie tempura and ginger egg plant. The crab dumplings, agadashi tofu, soft shell crab and sushi were okay but I've had better at other restaurants. The service was good, our waiter, an Aussie was very attentive. One of our dishes didn't arrive - we mentioned this to our waiter and it was corrected promptly. The ambience and decor are fine but nothing flashy. Overall the experience was decent and good value. We'll visit again soon. I've given the review 5 stars, but really, 41/2 would be more accurate. read more

Great tasting food and best service ever. Staff took really good care of us. Will definitely come back as there are more good food to try. read more

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My friend had brought me here for a business lunch/meeting but I was way too distracted with how amazing and fresh the Sashimi was. I'd praised how good the food was and I told myself I'd be back with my girlfriend and today was the day. She loved it so much she said it was the best sushi she's ever had and I confidently agree with her. It was only lunch time, I can only imagine what dinner is like so this means.. WE WILL BE BACK. We met Zuke the owner, and he was so attentive to everyone's needs and potential wants for food. Service gets a 10/10 from us. Ambiance is peaceful, and serene enough to whip our laptop to put a little work in until our food arrived which was pretty a short wait. We've found our favorite restaurant in Costa Mesa! read more

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Kappo Sui feels like an OG neighborhood spot - if you know you know. A friend in town found this on Yelp for an impromptu group dinner. None of the eight of us locals who were invited to dinner had ever heard of this spot. Considering the location in the heart of OC, prices are quite friendly. Barebones decor, with an L-shaped sushi bar that seats maybe a dozen and banquette seating for maybe twice that amount along the wall. There were perhaps four or five personnel working the whole restaurant on our visit, which made for a space that felt severely understaffed. Refills, questions, and order updates were difficult to come by on our visit, as staff would dart by without even a glance towards our general direction. There were three or four orders of the $40 chirashi box at our table and somehow, one box arrived over thirty minutes later than the others. My orders of Fire-Grilled Yellowtail Collar ($13.50) and Fried & Grilled Eggplant ($8.50) arrived in reasonable time and offered some exceptional value but an order of Cold Soba with Yam ($16.00) never arrived, forcing a cancellation about 80 minutes into our seating. While both of the items received were expert preparations of flame-coaxed umami indulgence, the utter lack of ability of staff to tend to tables would likely keep Kappo Sui low on the revisit list. read more

I've loved this place for ages, and it's just as delicious as ever--now with desserts on the menu, it's even better. So happy to see it keep evolving! Especially the simmered kinmedai (金目鯛の煮付け), agedashi tofu, grilled eggplant, croquette, and lotus root tempura were all absolutely delicious. read more

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Wow, they will be open during all of the upcoming holidays! My only gripe about this place was that it was a little smoky inside due to poor ventilation, but we liked everything we ordered. The pictures on the menu seem big, but portion sizes were small which is normal for Japanese Izakayas so we ordered a lot and it added up. My favorite thing we ordered was the braised kinki cod. It was unique, very flavorful, and a meatier fish. Their udon was very QQ and bouncy and broth was salty but had umami. The mountain yam and cod was the most unique dish I've had lately. It was slimy because of the mountain yam, yet slightly salty because of the soy sauce, and a little spicy due to the wasabi. It didn't look like much on the menu and when it arrived at our table but I would order it again. I wouldnt order the konjac again. It was a little spicy and mostly chewy. The eggplant was good but not a very good value and VERY hot when it came out, so be warned. Shishito peppers were a good veggie option. They weren't very busy on a Tuesday night but I also called in to make a reservation so our table was ready for us. Food came out relatively fast and service was good. The nice waitresses entertained our toddler twins when they weren't too busy. read more

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Our group of 3 arrived around 9 PM, ahead of their 10 PM closing time; I attempted to call ahead, but they did not answer (at approx 8:45 PM). Please note their voicemail box is full and you cannot leave a message as of August 2025. I was concerned that we'd arrive after the kitchen's last call, which ended up being 9:45 PM! Quite late, which I appreciated. We ordered the simmered eel & egg, grilled mackerel, and fried/agedashi mochi soup. The entrees themselves were approx $14 each, +$2.50 to add miso soup, or +$4.50 to upgrade to a dinner set, which includes miso soup, rice, seaweed, and pickled cucumber. All three of us immediately updated to dinner sets, and I believe my iced tea was $2.75. The restaurant is reasonably large, with plenty of seating. Although the dishes look small, the dinner sets are reasonably sized and filling. The final bill was approximately $26 per person after tax and tip. The staff was very friendly and attentive (the owner himself served us!) and the sushi staff has apparently been working at the restaurant for 30 years! We passed on dessert but the options looked great - blueberry panna cotta, matcha ice cream, and basque cheesecake. I'll have to come back and try them :) This restaurant is part of a plaza with its own parking lot, and there were plenty of parking spots when we arrived on a Monday night. read more

Kappo Sui - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The sushi was super fresh and honestly really good. The cherry salmon and regular salmon were so soft and basically melted in my mouth. The bluefin was top notch too -- you could tell the quality was there. The agedashi tofu was really good, and the grilled cod was cooked perfectly. Everything we ordered felt fresh, clean, and well made. Nothing felt rushed or average. The ambience felt intimate and comfortable, which made the whole experience even better. Service was excellent from start to finish. Also, the owner Zuke makes the best Basque cheesecake in Orange County. I have to say this top 5 sushi experience I've had. read more