Celine C.

To start off, kuramota is located in a plaza with ample parking. However the store itself has no sign except for a marked door. Therefore, I would park first and enter second. The service was quick and the chefs are a bit on the quieter side since they're focusing on the food. The ambiance inside is incredible. It's so intimate and perfect for a date or a night out. I went for the lunch omakase and it ended up being around $85 pp. This was actually a very good price considering the amount of food I had and the quality of the food. We went right as it opened and celebrated my friends graduation, hence the special candle on top of our dessert. Overall, I would easily come back. However I would also want to try the dinner menu.

Carmen L.

My husband took me and my daughter here for Mother's Day dinner and we had a wonderful time. The food was so fresh and delicious! The service was also professional...

Amy N.

From the moment you step into Kuramoto, you're treated like royalty. The service is very attentive, creating a seamless dining experience from start to finish. The restaurant itself feels upscale and intimate, with moody lighting and a refined atmosphere that elevates the experience even more. We came for the lunch special, and it ended up being one of the most delicious and affordable omakase experiences I've had! The fish cuts were unique and had great sauce pairings, and I got to try new dishes that weren't just nigiri like most omakase places. Can't wait to go back!

Chris G.

Booked a reservation about three weeks in advance and was glad we planned ahead. The restaurant is tucked away in the corner of a small shopping center, so it has a more hidden, intimate feel. Every dish was well presented and tasted great. The atmosphere was relaxed with mostly couples and a few families. My favorite dishes were the selection of sushi's. The service was attentive throughout the night, and our server quickly cleared the plates as we finished. Overall, it was a really good experience and definitely worth trying if you've never been before.

Brian F.

Kuramoto is a small Japanese omakase restaurant located in a plaza in Tustin. The storefront was very unassuming and there was only one small sign on top of the door. The restaurant is led by Chef Taiki Kuramoto and opened 1.5 years ago. We made reservations and they don't take walk-ins unless you're able to take a spot if another party cancels. When we walked in there was only counter space in a very sleek and minimalistic interior. We found out about this restaurant on social media talking about the lunch omakase ($68). That is a great deal for an omakase so we wanted to check it out. The meal started off with sashimi salad and we really liked the sweet shrimp and dressing. Then we moved to the soup with shrimp, mushroom, and steamed egg. Next was the variety of nigiri including sea bream with yuzu (good), ocean trout (really good), amberjack with dashi soy sauce and red yuzu (good), stripejack with pickled wasabi and puff rice (really good), black cod with lemon and truffle salt (really good), bluefin tuna (really good and my favorite), and toro with pickled radish (good). At the end of the meal we had Santa Barbara uni and salmon egg, dashi soup, and chocolate mousse. I liked the faster pace of the food coming out because I personally don't want to be waiting long periods between meals and sitting for a long time. Overall it took a little more than an hour for our meal. For the value the meal was great. There were fewer courses than other omakases but we left feeling satisfied and it was way more inexpensive. And of course, the food was delicious.

Becky C.

Such an intimate omakase experience! We had the best time and every bite of food was amazing. We booked online, super easy but they do charge $100 pp deposit but you get it back once you show up. The email said show up 10 mins early so we did that but they were kinda closed until the time of our reservation. one of my faves was the toro with uni miso, I ate it super slow to savor. The whole experience is about 1.5 hours and well paced. I was super satisfied after the meal. Total cost was a little pricer like $220 pp but worth the price based on freshness and experience as a whole. Also fun fact the toilet is heated!!

Kris T.

And I'm back! But with my japanese born mom & my sushi loving step-dad. My mom has mobility issues so they were able to accommodate her with lower than counter height chairs which was nice. I made the request when I made the reservations. We appreciated the attention to detail for providing a positive experience. The food lived up to the hype I created for them. My mom kept asking me how I knew about such delightful restaurant.

Fuyme J.

First time visitor Open parking Reservations yes highly recommended as it is very limited seating available! Also note busy and quiet time of the year that may impact your experience with the chef and choice of food. There is a lunch service but much more condense and sounds to be quicker while dinner there is a 6pm and 8pm. Bar dining only one main room only Authentic Omakase experience with Chef Taiki Kuramoto There is no menu, the Chef sets the adventure! The menu is rotated every 2 months! Dress code not sure but it very appears up scale but also pending the occasion can vary. Essentially there is not a set dress code that was stated. Service was wonderful. We were fortunate to have the dining room to ourselves. The Chef was very personable and passionate for his craft! Ingredients were locally sourced or directly from Japan. Each dish was explain and even his head server was very pleasant between all transitions of service and providing explanation of what was being served. Though can be seen as a pricey experience, very worth the once in a treat / celebration / try something new adventure. Each dish offer a different taste, fresh delicate flavorful that was not overwhelming and in the form of hot, cold, a hint of spice, utilizing multiple proteins both high end and simple along unique ingredients - was able to taste multiple combinations that involved 2 types of yuzu uni caviar duck liver There was also a flavorful broth that was comforting and cozy and reminded me of a palate cleanser and the dessert simple chocolate mousse that was not overly sweet to close off the experience. Very much would return again for curiously of next seasonal menu. Wouldn't recommend for young children. Very thankful to have the opportunity to dine with good company, high quality service and dishes, and a passionate Chef.

Justina H.

Truly consistently amazing. This place is a GEM. Came here again for lunch and was once again blown away. Random Thursday, but Chef Taiki was at the head once more. The nigiri was perfect this time. The fish is beautifully cut, each piece uniform in texture and chosen with care. Just look at it!! The chefs do not just make food, they create art. The rice this time was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The temperature of both the fish and the rice was a perfect contrast. If this place was only a sushiya I would still be happy. Thoughts on other dishes - salad dressing a bit on the sweeter side, just how I like it personally. Steamed egg was wonderful, with lots of umami. Dessert this time was some sort of chocolate pudding, with what looked like Meiji sandwich cookies added in. Service was perfect from beginning to end. Very thoughtful and meticulous. Admin notes - lunch and dinner are both reservation only. It is all bar seating. The lot has free parking and is shared with other businesses. I have eaten omakase for a very long time (three decades) in the Irvine/Tustin/Santa Ana/Costa Mesa region and this is indisputably my current favorite post-COVID.

Yau-Ru C.

Finally got to try Kuramoto after couple of failed attempts at last minute Friday lunch seating requests. Booked it for party of 3 online with no issue a couple of weeks ahead ($50/person deposit required). Got the omakase lunch, and every dish of the meal is well executed. My favorites were the sashimi salad, seafood chawanmushi, and uni and ikura bowl. The nigiri sushi (7 pieces, chef's choice) were tasty, but the cuts of fish are smaller compared to to one of our favorite sushi omakase restaurants, Sushi Murasaki. The chefs here are friendlier and talkative than Murasaki though. Overall a wonderful meal experience. If you prefer a more "well rounded" meal, then I recommend Kuramoto. If you prefer more sushi-centric meal, then go to Sushi Murasaki.

Angel L.

Omakase was great. Fresh seafood and perfect amount of rice. Nice ambiance. Service was ok. Waitress was not very friendly and bumped into my shoulders few times when clearing plates. Also not very attentive, are we suppose to pour our own drinks and still tip? I'm a bit confused lol. What am I tipping for? Just so she can clear my plate? Expensive plate clearer lol At the end of the meal, sushi chef rudely told us to leave because next batch of resy were coming. Wish they had told us in a nicer way.

Joyce A.

This is our second time at the restaurant. Came for Omakase lunch ($68/person). I overheard the chef say the lunch menu is not changed very often, and depend on what seafood is available. Prix Fixe lunch menu started with a Sashimi salad (shrimp, raw fish, greens in a delicious refreshing dressing. Steamed egg dish (smooth velvety chawanmushi had scallop, shrimp and gingko nut, topped with a very deeply flavorful broth). The next chef's choice nigiri seemed to try to outdo each dish that follwed in succession, each piece delicious, and topped with various kosho, yuzu or other pickled relish. Sea bream - topped with green Yuzu Kosho and kelp salt Ocean trout - fatty and smooth mouth feel Amberjack - topped with red Yuzu Kosho (slightly spicy) and such a nice bite A fun piece was striped Jack with Yuzu pickled wasabi topped with rice puffs Black cod topped with truffle salt Bluefin Tuna with nori paste Chopped toro with pickled radish After the nigiri, we got a bowl of Santa Barbara Uni with salmon roe (ikura) The last dish served was tamago (slightly sweet egg that was more of a cake feel and texture). In between the last course and dessert was a warm bowl of fish bone dashi (with tofu and kombu bits). Finale was a strawberry mousse dessert topped with a dolop of sweet cream and a white chocolate coin. I followed chef's recommendation to have the Tenbu Junmai Ginjo to round out the delicious meal - refreshing, fruity and crisp - smooth and light finish. Chef Taiki Kuramoto was serving everything today with his chef partner (I forgot to ask his name). Servers are exceedingly polite and efficient. Japanese bathroom fixture has a warmed toilet seat and automated open/shut/flush functions. Highly highly highly recommend.

Shiny C.

Visited for my birthday and I can confidently say this was one of the best omakase experiences I had. The space is small and very intimate, and it made me feel like I was a special guest. Chef Kuramoto is a very lighthearted chef who conversed with us and joked around several times throughout the night. It was so fun talking to him about the different types of fish and his background! Each dish and piece of nigiri was so thoughtfully made and I was excited for each bite. Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water. This was such a great experience and I think every sushi lover should visit at least once!