This is personal bias but I enjoy this spot. My girlfriend and I would go pretty often and every time it was consistent and good sushi. The last time we went it wasn't the best, our server seemed like she was really rushing when it wasn't that busy and also barely came to our table. The sushi this time around was good but wasn't as good as the times we came before. read more

We came here on a weeknight to celebrate a birthday, and it did not disappoint. So glad we found this spot! Our favorite was the tuna crispy rice -- absolutely delicious. The tuna was finely minced and well seasoned, and the rice had the perfect thickness and crunch. We've had crispy rice that was too thin and practically jaw-breaking, but this one was just right. Since our family loves sashimi and sushi, we ordered a wide variety. The standouts for us were the salmon belly sashimi, salmon belly sushi, and the sea urchin -- all fresh and satisfying. We also ordered the mentaiko and shrimp cream pasta to honor the birthday "longevity noodles" tradition, which made the celebration feel extra special. Our server was friendly and attentive, and she gave a great recommendation. The gindara saikyo miso was good -- we've had better elsewhere -- but it definitely wasn't a deal breaker. Overall, we were very happy with our experience and would gladly come back again. read more

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Honestly not my favorite. The sushi is meh, not something to rave about and not somewhere I'd return. Everything tasted a bit fishy which threw me off, for the prices and how nice the restaurant looks you would assume it would be good quality. Can't recommend anything we ordered. The shishito peppers were good last time but today they were not very tasty and had a weird aftertaste. The spicy tuna was very fishy. And why do 70% of the rolls have fake crab in them. It's so not good and a cheap filler. Service was great but food not so much. read more

A hidden gem inside Irvine Spectrum for affordable yet upscale Japanese cuisine! Everything was super fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Among the appetizers & entrees, the real standouts were the salmon skin taco and the mentaiko & shrimp pasta. The taco was crispy, savory, and so addictive -- the guac inside added a nice kick. The pasta was rich, creamy, comforting, & not too heavy. With its modern low-lit ambiance, Robata Wasa is the perfect spot for date night or dinner with friends! read more

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Still a solid spot! Crispy Tuna Rice is a crowd pleaser and I feel like I could just eat order after order of this. The texture of the rice is crispy, crunchy, delightful and packed with flavor. Definitely a crowd pleaser of an appetizer! The RW Sushi Platter has nice presentation, and provides a good variety of fish, so it's a nice way to sample Robata Wasa's nigiri offerings if you don't want to order a la carte. Tiff was our waitress and she was very helpful, friendly, and took great care of our table. Ambiance is casual enough for every day, but still feels upscale and a nice place to celebrate special occasions too. We had two birthdays in our group and Tiff made it special with some mochi desserts! Thank you! read more

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Sushi was very good and our server (Tomoko) was very friendly the server can really make or break a restaurant and her service was five stars. read more

Sat at the bar and Michael took great care of us. He was friendly and easy to talk to and gave a solid recommendation on a roll that we really enjoyed. He also made an espresso martini that he created and put on the menu himself, made with cold brew. We're big espresso martini people and this one easily topped our list. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable and made it easy to settle in and enjoy the night. Service was steady the whole time and never felt rushed. Overall a really good experience at the bar and we'd definitely sit there again. read more

Robata Wasa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

This place has good food for a premium price. The deluxe bento is enough for two ppl to share. Volcano rolls come out on fire which is so fun. Service can be hit or miss. Sometimes our waiter was MIA for long periods of time or would just skip our table for some reason. Over the course of our dinner, she probably came to check on us once which is when the food arrived. Overall good vibes though. Important thing to know though which no one told us about, paying with a credit card will incur a 3% charge. It's absolutely ridiculous and really wish we were told about it beforehand. read more

This place had some good specialty rolls, I ordered their salmon lemon pepper roll which was so delicious; I did not realize it was gone so fast! We got a big bento box for the table and I was surprised to see how big it was. This is a perfect place to have a family lunch or dinner, and excellent service! read more

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Good spot for a quick bite. Service was friendly and helpful. Michael gave excellent recommendations and I enjoyed everything we ordered. Scallop crudo - refreshing and nice touch of citrus Albacore tataki - delicious. The crispy onions added a nice texture and sweetness to balance the sauce Chirashi bowl- great deal for the price. The sashimi was fresh and huge portions. Consisted of tuna, salmon, snapper, yellowtail, octopus, ikura, and uni Crispy lobster roll - lightly tempura lobster on top of California roll and tempura flakes read more

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Super overpriced sushi. I honestly do not have a favorite here. I am also not a huge fan of the ambiance. It's not very welcoming and definitely felt out of place. I did like our server though. Attentive and considerate when needed. The restaurant is also on the smaller side. There are other places that have great quality sushi and the price point is great. It's all up to you if you don't mind spending and just want to try for yourself. As Always, NOM 4 LIFE! read more

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The food here was amazing -- full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Shareable: Albacore Tataki with cilantro sauce (chef's choice) -- fresh, tender, and a must-try. Special Rolls: Hokkaido Roll (chef's choice) -- if you like shrimp and eel, this one's rich, savory, and delicious. Entrée: Mentaiko & Shrimp Pasta -- creamy, flavorful sauce with juicy shrimp. I really liked the twist of squid ink -- it added depth and a subtle brininess that made it stand out. Service: 5/5 -- friendly and attentive. Ambience: 5/5 -- interesting and inviting interior. read more

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Pulled up craving sushi and this place did not disappoint. The sashimi was super fresh.. buttery salmon, clean tuna, no fishy vibes at all. The rolls were stacked and plated like they're auditioning for a magazine cover Flavor-wise they lean rich and saucy, so if you're into bold rolls vs super traditional, you'll be happy here. Service was friendly, chill atmosphere, and everything came out fast. Solid spot for a sushi night when you want something a little fun and dressed-up without going full fine-dining mode. Would definitely come back. read more

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Haiku: Robata Wasa Fancy sushi spot Generous appetizers Clean and peaceful vibes. --- If you enjoy Japanese food, there's something for everyone--nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, salads, udon, pasta, grilled fish, and chirashi rice bowls. The salad and appetizers are generous in portion and shareable. We ordered a bunch of dishes and did family style. - The Shiitake Mushroom Salad had a great balance of umami and creaminess. It was still light, yet satisfying. If you're a fan of shiitake and miso, this salad is for you. - The Shiitake Truffle Fries are a seasonal item and it should be on their regular menu. It's all sliced tempura-battered shiitake, not potato fries. It was crispy and savory. - I never say no to a Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice. It was perfectly crispy and loaded with spicy tuna, and fancified with tobiko (fish eggs). - I still think about the Japanese Scallop Crudo. It was a thick scallop with a great bite. The lemon, cucumber and sweet salsa brought brightness, crunch, and zest. The food leans more Californian Japanese, but you'll also find the classic comfort foods. Nonetheless, it was delicious and refreshing. The restaurant exudes clean, upscale, and peaceful vibes. Service was sweet and attentive. I would come back, but the dishes are on the pricier side, so it's more of a special occasion type of spot. read more

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New favorite sushi place. The Hokkaido scallop roll is the main reason. The other rolls we tried were also really tasty... especially the seared salmon lemon pepper. read more

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When I say, this is one of my favorite sushi spots in Orange County, believe it! They have the best assortment of sushi, having the presentation being no less than amazing. I always sit on their patio, they have long booths that can accommodate party of six. The service is always top-tier, everyone is so kind. My favorite sushi roll to get is the volcano roll, the presentation speaks for itself. The sushi is bursting with flavor, leaving me to want more every single time. This is a great place to take a break while shopping at the spectrum, or coming here for a date night. I'll be dreaming of the next time I get to come back! read more

Robata Wasa - Volcano Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food - 1.5/5 Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 3/5 I understand the low reviews on this place now. My coworker got the Deluxe Bento and said it was decent with some things good like the teriyaki chicken and other items meh like the croquette. I got the Sushi Gozen Bento and found all the fish except the salmon slightly fishy or tough. The shrimp sashimi piece still had shell and tail on it which was annoying. The ambiance was fine but for a higher end restaurant I think I would have expected the bathroom to be nicer. The outdoor seating area was really pleasant. I do want to say our server Parker was good though! Unfortunately I would not come back here because I'd rather leave Spectrum and find actually quality sushi. read more

Robata Wasa - Sushi Gozen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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I wouldn't come here for nigiri sushi. Ordered a bento box with sushi and sashimi pieces and I was not impressed with the quality or cuts. Lots of the same fish too. The salmon skin salad is a huge portion and really good. The agedashi tofu was ok but I've had better. Maybe the shareables and rolls are better. But definitely don't order the bento. Service a little slow. Patio is dog friendly. read more

Was super thrilled we were able to get last minute reservations for this cute little spot at the spectrum. Food was really good, and our server Tiff was such a sweetheart. She really made sure to go above and beyond for us. Everyone was super nice, and it was overall a great first experience . I'll definitely come back for special occasions. read more

Robata Wasa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Upscale Japanese restaurant at Irvine Spectrum! The Beef Don was super flavorful, lots of beef, borderline too much rice, and healthy greens on top! Service was nice, checking in on us often! read more

Robata Wasa - Beef Don - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

The food has very nice quality, and thank you Tiff so much for the excellent service. Nice environment too :) Will definitely come back. read more

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We stopped by Robata Wasa for a quick bite after shopping since my wife was craving some Japanese food. We ordered the edamame, baked salmon roll, and the makunouchi bento to share. The interior of the restaurant was very nice. It was clean, spacious, well-decorated, and we were seated in a comfy booth. Service was friendly and attentive and the food arrived at a decent pace. Regrettably, the food itself was overpriced and very mediocre. The salmon roll came out so soggy that it fell apart when we tried to pick it up. The edamame was okay and the bento was passable but not memorable. To add to this, the restaurant also charges an extra 3% surcharge for using a credit card (I didn't even realize until the server starred it for me on my receipt). I could understand this at a small mom-and-pop shop or some place with a cheaper menu but at a restaurant of this size in a high-traffic area, it didn't feel right...especially with already high prices. Between the mediocre food, inflated pricing, and extra fees, I'd recommend skipping. read more

This hidden gem at Irvine Spectrum is worth a stop! The restaurant is clean and beautifully decorated. I started with the lychee martini -- so refreshing and easy to drink. We ordered the Uni meets Ikura, scallop crudo, miso cod, and chirashi bowl. Everything was fresh and flavorful, but the miso cod was the standout -- perfectly cooked and so delicious. The chirashi bowl was packed with fish and super satisfying. If you're shopping and craving Japanese food, this is the spot! read more

Robata Wasa - Miso cod - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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This place is one of the best sushi places in OC. I love that they haven't changed their menu in years and that they still have my favorite items on the menu. My personal favorite is the truffle salmon carpaccio, yellowtail jalapeno, rainbow roll, shitake salad (which you cant find anywhere and is out of this world) and the lobster roll. I wish they would add few other fresh rolls (non tempura or baked) without spicy tuna or crab to their menu. The shitake salad is a must have and they have good house sake and miso soup as well. Note: images are from various visits read more

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Service was very pleasant. We went when it was raining super hard that day so I figured So Cal residents wouldn't want to go to an outdoor mall that day. I've always wanted to try this restaurant and have seen their ads on IG. We were seating immediately and given a menu with an interesting selection of entrees and appetizers. I ordered primarily sushi this day - it's very good. Arguably some of the best I've had in Southern California. Shocking I know. You can't go wrong with their selection of both nigiri and rolls. Pricey but very good. Ambiance here - acceptable for date night. Wood and Zen feeling. read more

I wanted to get sushi but also had my dog with me and they were able to seat us outside and were dog friendly. The outside area was very comfortable and even though it was hot outside it felt really nice to sit outdoors. Our waitress took our drink order immediately and was very attentive throughout the meal. She was very knowledgeable about the sashimi we ordered. I was very impressed with their sushi selection as i had never seen a lot of their menu items before. All the fish was melt in your mouth delicious and we just kept ordering more things. Again i was very impressed with the fish quality and was very happy with all the selection they had. The price for the food was definitely worth the money. I would definitely recommend this spot to everyone I know and will be coming back soon! read more

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The food taste good and both came with miso soup. Good portion and we shared each other's lunch. The eel is soft and melts in the mouth. The sushi bento box also has a good amount of sushi and sashimi. I think it is a bit too much for me but to share with my husband it is perfect. The price is alright because it is inside the Spectrum. We sat in the back corner which was a little dark. The outside seating is probably a better choice. I am not sure if I would come back just because there are so many options out there. read more

Robata Wasa - Sushi Gozen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Vibes and service were great.. But not the place for quality sushi. Fish is mid and not good quality honestly... Maybe cause we went later at night?? But its what you would expect to find at a sushi place in a mall! read more

Robata Wasa - RW Sushi Platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Best sushi I've had in a long time! Sure, I have the usual sushi spot I typically go to, but I happened to be invited to a work dinner here and we couldn't stop talking about how fresh and delicious the food was. The Yellowtail & Jalapeño app was melt in your mouth perfection. The Salmon & Lemon Pepper roll and the Spicy Yellowtail Tataki roll were also amazing. Our server Tiff was super friendly and made our experience that much better. I'm looking forward to bringing my family here soon! read more

Our group of 7 really enjoyed our meal here, unfortunately I didn't take ANY pictures of our food because I was too busy getting drunk LOL but we got seated outdoors with lots of heat lamps so it was rly nice We ordered: Scallop carpaccio, grilled shishito peppers, salmon carpaccio, 5 different sushi rolls (all of them were amazing), deluxe chirashi bowl, unagi don, squid ink mentaiko pasta, bento box and tempura udon. Everything was FIRE. We did family style and shared everything and nobody had anything to say but good things! We also ordered a ton of beer and 2 bottles of Kikusui and ofc it only made our meal sexier Service was good! our server, GOD BLESS HER, was soooo sweet and funny. I forgot her name but she's Thai and she was teaching us some words in Thai. She was really attentive and super personable. Definitely am going to come back because this joint is great! Perfect spot for date night or group dinners because they have lots of tables indoors and outdoors read more

Had a really nice experience here for our first visit. We went in for drinks and small bites. The restaurant is really pretty. We loved the ambiance with the decor and dimmer lights. We sat outside on the bar and had great service. Our bartender was so kind and attentive. I ordered a lychee martini and my boyfriend had beer. We shared the sashimi roll and the tuna crispy rice. We really enjoyed both. read more

The food was good the only issue was the waitress. Tiya was extremely rude and unwelcoming. Towards the end of my meal as I was putting a piece of sushi in my mouth she removed a plate right from out under me. I was simply shocked. I have never encountered a more rude waiter she even brought the check 15 minutes after my table got our food. I cannot express how rude she was read more

I've been here three times. Food is always amazing, it's cleanly and hygienic. That being said, service is hit or miss unless you get Marvin or Alex. They put me on the Lemon Pepper role and it was phenomenal. They both have the perfect balance of being personable, conversational, but also efficient and servicial. If you come here and want to guarantee a good experience, ask for Marvin or Alex. read more

Had amazing service from @tiff and everything came out perfect (and quickly) would recommend. The house salad is the bomb as is the spicy tuna crispy rice read more

The food here was do good and the service was even better. Our server tiff took great care of us. We ordered our appetizers and shareables and came out with 5 minutes. 10/10 would come again read more

TIFF was an amazing server.we were pleasantly greeted by the hostess Kylie. The sushi was fresh and delicious. We also had the very flavorful garlic edamame. read more

We had a party of 7 with family to celebrate my son's birthday. Our family is not too familiar with Japanese food. Tomoko was excellent in her recommendations and my family raved about the delicious food the rest of the day. She was so attentive and handled our table perfectly. Thank you Tomoko for your excellent service! We'll be back read more

The food was wonderful but the service was terrible. Our server never gave us wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce which is SO strange. With a party of four who each needed some, the server only gave us ONE little tray for all of us to share?.. It was clearly meant for one person. She was nice but we were hardly given attention here. We got the gyoza, spicy garlic edamame, fishnet roll, spicy hamachi hataki roll, and albacore hataki- all delicious. HOWEVER- DO NOT GET THE ICED MATCHA GREEN TEA . It tasted exactly like BAD water. It was so diluted and whoever made it definitely got the measurements wrong. The cup with the YELLOW liquid is this drink. read more

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Excellent vegetable udon & chicken teriyaki! Terrific service from Jay. Wonderful patio to sit outside on a beautiful So Cal Day! Had salmon sushi & Spicy tuna handroll too everything was fantastic! Highly recommend! read more

Robata Wasa - Chicken Teriyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Our server Tiff was super nice and helpful about the menu! She made great food suggestions and was attentive throughout the meal