My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new restaurant on our Saturday date night, and we both hoped to find a restaurant that offered seafood based cuisine and a few vegetarian options. After pursuing some options in the Newport/Huntington Beach area, I decided to make 8:30 pm reservations for Starfish in Newport Beach! I have driven past this location so many times, and was excited to finally try it out! Upon entering, I was impressed by the moody interior with beautiful lighting and a gorgeous wooden door. The hostess was kind and quick to offer us a two-top bar style seating table that was close to the kitchen. We appreciated that we were sat so promptly, and we actually enjoy sitting close to the kitchen so we could see all of the deletable food options! We began our meal with two rolls as appetizers - the Buddha roll and the Sushi Nigiri Plate. The Buddha roll was a tofu-based vegan roll with a fun touch of toasted coconut flakes and two delicious sauces layered on top. Both my boyfriend and I loved the roll and would absolutely order it again. My boyfriend loved the sashimi plate and stated that the seafood was fresh and was higher in quality compared to your average sushi restaurant. Moving onto our main course, I ordered the Thai Green Vegetable Curry with coconut rice (which our server mentioned was different from the regular white rice because they cook it with coconut milk instead of water) and my boyfriend was craving another sushi roll, so he opted for the Shrimp Tempura Roll. The Shrimp Tempura Roll was pleasantly different from regular shrimp tempura rolls, because it contained crab meat and shrimp tempura. We noticed at this point, that all three of the sushi rolls that we ordered used rice paper instead of seaweed, and this unique twist to the sushi rolls enhanced them! I LOVED the presentation of the Thai Green Vegetable Curry. Something about a large stem of basil cascading over my food makes it extra fun to eat! In all seriousness, this was one of the best curry's I have had, and the coconut rice enhanced the entree. For our beverage selection, the cold sake that we hoped to try was out of stock, so we requested hot sake instead, which we sipped on through the meal. Pro Tip: the hot house sake was only $10 which is an amazing price point! Finally, it came to my favorite part of the meal, dessert! My boyfriend was leaning towards the Scratch Cheesecake, and I was leaning towards the Mango Pudding. We asked for our server for her recommendation, and she stated that the Banana in Fillo Dough or Scratch Cheesecake were her top two options. Based on this, we opted for the Scratch Cheesecake. It was good, but I probably wouldn't get it again. In my mind, I think of a cheesecake and immediately crave a thick slice of a classic New York style cheesecake. However, this was served in a glass with a graham cracker crumble as the base, and a cheesecake-style mousse layer above, with poached asian pears as a topping. While this wasn't my favorite part of the meal, it was still a fun twist on a classic dessert with a lovely presentation. Next time, I think I'll follow my heart and try the Mango Pudding. Between the food, ambiance, wonderful service, and elevated experience for an affordable price point, we will definitely return! read more

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The hostesses are so welcoming, the bartenders really know how to mix a great drink and the servers are friendly & don't miss a thing. The food tastes as great as it looks. read more

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I came here on Saturday, 03/14, solely to see visiting Chef Lenny Desmarais. He's an amazing chef from Arizona that I've known for a long time. Manager Joe greeted us and informed us that although they had tables of 2 empty, they were reserved already for dinner. It was around 3:30pm, so I did not make any reservations. It made sense when Joe explained it was the last day of OC Restaurant Week. Fortunately got the last seats at the bar, and was immediately helped by Paige. She was incredibly friendly and always made sure we had everything we wanted. She recommended the Korean Tacos (picture attached) and they were amazing ! Really enjoyed the ratio of meat & pickled cabbage. Chef Lenny Desmarais recommended the Black Pepper Cambodian Beef (picture attached), and it was my favorite dish of the day. It may be new as it's not coming up on the Yelp menu when tagging the picture. The seasoning was perfect without being overly peppered, and the meat was tender and easy to eat. The Pork Dumplings were simple, in a good way. The dough was a great thickness giving a nice chewy texture. The Candy Dragon Prawns were really good too. Think Honey Walnut Shrimp combined with giant prawns instead, and the sauce was lighter and didn't feel heavy at all like other mayo-based ones commonly used in Honey Walnut Shrimp. Lastly, the meal was topped off with a Chocolate Cake with slices of Strawberry, was a nice timeless finish. Perla, another server, always made sure we never had to ask for refills or napkins and was super kind too. She was so thoughtful to also help box up my leftovers. Parking was easy even on a perfect mid-70's, beautiful Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is a little crowded space wise, as the tables are close together and the walkways are tight. Personally I don't consider this a negative, it is what it is. I had to move out of my chair a few times for people to get by. However, the intimate nature of the seating lead to a lot of great conversation with other restaurant guests, which reminds me of the organic nature of meeting new people. I look forward to returning. read more

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Excellent service, loved the happy hour calamari and pork rice paper rolls. Shout out to the lovely hostesses!! read more

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Hip hip hooray starfish all day. My favorite Asian fusion restaurant. I always start with some sushi rolls then finish off with the stars chicken and a beef dish. The eggplant was good too. You really can't go wrong with anything here. The servers treat you like family and you can tell they take pride in their job. Always clean and good vibes there. read more

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We had dinner last week Was one of the best dinners we have had I can't say enough The food the service was incredible!!!! We will go back when we are in Newport For sure read more

We were craving Peking Duck this evening. I had been wanting to try Starfish for years so we merged the two desires and made plans to get the tail end of "Happy Hour". The reviews on Yelp looked very good and let me assure you we were delighted with the experience! The service was friendly and efficient. The menu is large and exciting, with many Asian fusion options. We ordered the small Plate Peking Duck which comes with three healthy appetizer portions. The buns were toasted but soft the duck was creamy and nestled tasty greens with a wonderful plum sauce. The shrimp tempura roll was excellent, and the Saigon Summer roll was fresh and delicious. There are many custom cocktail Options, and the happy hour prices were really fair. The ambiance is very happy and chill. Kind of hip but comfy! We enjoyed our evening very much. I think you will too! read more

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Glad we made a reservation! Friday night was busy, but they accommodated us well with seating away from the open doors. It's a small, cozy place, but you can still enjoy your company. We went for my wife's birthday, and definitely recommend splurging on apps, and sharing it all! Fun drink menu, good shareables, kind service with great recommendations/insights. DON'T skip dessert! We will definitely be back for more special occasions. read more

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This was our new spot to check out for our Friday lunch date so we set a reservation for noon. We got sat immediately but I will say service was a bit slow and no one came to our table for 15 minutes to even say that someone would be by shortly. When our server came over, we were ready to order with the spicy basil beef, sunset roll and the crab mango noodle salad. The roll came out first and I think I'd give it a solid 4 star. While the flavor was good, the sushi on top didn't taste as fresh and had a bit of a warm temp that threw me off a little. The crab mango noodle salad was refreshing and a huge portion which we appreciated but our favorite dish was definitely the basil beef. The beef was well fried and had a nice bouncy texture which was then coated with flavorful sauce. I did enjoy the ambiance but not sure if it'd make high on my list of favorites. read more

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Hands-down the best happy hour in Orange County. Starfish is an upscale Asian fusion spot serving a mix of Thai and Japanese bites. I've visited a number of times over the years, but recently stopped by after hearing raving reviews about their happy hour. We went a little crazy, ordering the Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls, Korean Tacos, Soft Shell Crab Banh Mi Sliders, and Lobster Macadamia Roll. Highly recommend ordering a bunch of dishes and sharing with the crew. Each of their menu items are so unique, so it's fun to explore the variety of textures and flavors. Personally, I loved the Korean Tacos and the Lobster Roll. The addition of the macadamia nuts to this roll was such a unique twist. I did dock a star because the majority of the dishes came pretty spicy, despite having no spice noted on the menu. As someone who doesn't love spice, it did impact my overall experience. read more

From the moment we walked in, we felt welcome! (We stopped in on a whim and weren't dressed for an evening out..so we were a tad apprehensive) The vibe is so comfortable--unlike a lot of places in Newport Beach. It isn't pretentious at all; it's just warm, inviting, and genuinely friendly. (I've been to their Laguna beach location and also felt super welcomed) The food is fusion with a beautiful presentation. We had the lobster macadamia roll, soft shell crab sliders, wok fire mussels and a lychee martini. All so unique-I feel like sushi gets monotonous..but not here!! The lobster macadamia roll was a tad spicy- but ohh Soo good and fresh. The muscles were a comfort with the coconut soup-so satisfying. Loved the sliders-was a fun take on a bahn mi style sandwich. And the lychee martini is the best in town-wow!! ALL the staff truly made us feel welcomed and we really enjoyed our night! read more

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First and foremost; Kylie, our bartender, was absolutely amazing!! She made it such a great experience. I don't think I've had such good service at a dining establishment in a VERY long time. It's crazy how much service impacts the experience, but it was evident here. She was on it! So friendly, attentive, and made sure we were enjoying our evening. The leche martinis are sooooo good! I've had these at other places and they are the best at Starfish. We also had the garlic edamame, sunset roll, ahi salad and nigiri roll. Everything was very tasty! We will be back!! read more

Parking is in a big shared lot so there was no issue finding any. The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated, love the vibe inside. The service was great, our waitress was sweet & fast. We got the Korean tacos to start which were unique & full of flavor, for my main I had the drunken noodles with steak which were so tasty. For drinks we got the margarita with soju because their liquor license wasn't in yet but it was surprisingly good! Would come back here again. read more

Love this place!!!! Located conveniently on PCH with a very welcoming and beautiful atmosphere. Perla P. from the very beginning was very friendly, inviting & provided the ABSOLUTE best service!!! My girls and I ordered a drink with a side of calamari and a sushi roll and it was pretty good! The strawberry lychee martini was also bomb! Perla is the best, her recommendations were perfect and on point! read more

Starfish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Kylie is amazing!! We came for a quick drink and ended up staying a while and getting food because she was so amazing and attentive. So positive and kind!! I also left my designer sunglasses there and she grabbed them and held them for me to come pick up a couple of days later read more

Starfish - Sunset rolls and lychee martini - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We came in for happy hour. We came in with the anticipation of the best happy hour in the area! Which I think is true, all of this cost $93 minus tax and tip. The selections were a lot for that specific menu. We got two sushi rolls which were amazing. One was a shrimp tempura roll and the other was a sunset roll. Highly recommend, both were great and would order it again. We also had the star nigiri and we ordered salmon and ahi tuna. However, we received hamachi and ahi tuna by accident our favorite was the hamachi! The chicken wontons we got pan fried and was not our favorite, it was a very dry interior if you cut up the wontons and dip it in the sauce it makes it taste better. Korean tacos were good and flavorful with lots of slaw. We will be back next time for main entrees and more sushi/apps. read more

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After having tried Starfish in Laguna Beach and having such a great experience, my husband and I decided to try out the Newport Beach location. After tasting several different rolls and drinks we now know that both locations are fantastic! We shared the Asia De Philly, Lobster Macadamia Roll, Sunset Roll, and Spicy Ahi Tuna Roll. As expected, all of the rolls were incredible. My favorite 2 are the Asia De Philly and Spicy Ahi Tuna Roll. We tried the Long Life Margarita, Cafe Havana, Island Geisha and Butterfly Samba. My favorite drink I tried was the Long Life Margarita, it was extremely refreshing and a perfect touch to dinner. Just as the Laguna Beach location we had an excellent waitress!! Starfish remains an undefeated champion. 10/10 read more

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I just had the Mongolian beef delivered. It was one of the worst Mongolia beef I've ever had. It was like chewing on a stale beef jerky. I had 2 bites and I tossed it in the trash. Don't order this dish! read more

Stopped in for drinks and let me tell you the Lychee Martini was the best ever. Watching the food being delivered to the guest looked very good. Going back soon to try it! read more

遇見是很美的詞， 所有的相遇都是生命的一部分， 因為遇見， 生命才能多姿多采， 對所有遇見的人事物，心懷感恩， 懂得珍惜，自然能接收到更多的善意與溫暖～ 兩個迷糊的大媽，師姐跟我說OC 有像dine LA 一樣的OC restaurant week , 上個禮拜約好了要來探店，結果早來了一個禮拜, 人家這個禮拜才開始， 不過我師姐找的餐廳，環境不管市內，戶外都美， 跟她認識那麼多年， 她找的地方從未讓我失望過，這家有幾家分店， 我們來的是 Newport 這家， Asian Fusion, 改良過的東方菜，三道都不油膩，比ph Chang 好吃那是一定的， 這家也有很多不同的調酒，這個禮拜就是 OC restaurant week, 有很多餐廳有便宜的特價，有興趣的自己上網看看 read more

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Tasty food, cute ambiance, and great service! We pooped in for lunch today and were greeted by Chandler who explained the menu and eagerly took our order. To start we enjoyed the Lychee martini and the rose froze. Both were tasty. For starters we loved the green beans. They had a great flavor and were cooked perfectly. We also had the spicy tuna roll which was good- the spice was a bit over the top and had our tongues burning for a bit longer than we anticipated. We also had the Korean tacos which had a nice flavor and were loaded with meat and cabbage. No skimping here!! We also had the cucumber salad which had a very strong fish flavor- we didn't love it but I'm sure many will! For our entrees we enjoyed the Mongolian beef, and the kung pao shrimp. We enjoyed the Mongolian beef but didn't love the shrimp. Overall the service was good, the food tasty, and the ambiance nice. We would come back to try more. read more

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This place is so cute and invítame! It's not too spacious so definitely make a reservation if you want to grab a bite. We were immediately greeted by the host and taken to our table. Our server was amazing and super attentive. We ordered 2 drinks (not pictured) which was the lychee martini and the blackberry mojito which were delicious! Now for the food, we started off with edamame and it was some of the best we've ever had! Great amount of garlic and seasoning. Next, we had the calamari which was also amazing and would definitely recommend. For entrees we shared the Lobster Macadamia Roll which was different from your regular rolls and amazing! The Grilled White Miso Black Cod literally melts in your mouth and is one of the top 5 I have ever tried. The shrimp dumplings were not too bad, but it was missing more flavor. Overall, I would definitely return and recommend this place! Lobster Macadamia Roll-8/10 Grilled White Miso Black Cod- 9.5/10 Shrimp Dumpings-7/10 Edamame- 9.5/10 Calamari- 8.8/10 read more

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My husband and I were driving in the area and wanted to get some lunch near the beach. We noticed Starfish and decided to try it out. We were happy to get seated very quickly outside, in a nice, shady area. The interior of the restaurant was a bit dark and intimate, while the seating outside was a bit more relaxed and open. We were quickly served some water along with a pitcher we could use ourselves to refill. Our server was very attentive and even gave us some tips about our plan to head up the PCH to visit Solvang. She was very kind and gave some great recommendations! We got our food very quickly and were happy with our meals. I love curry, and the seafood curry had a nice kick to it while having a good salty and umami flavor. The coconut cream of the curry helped keep the kick low so it wasn't overwhelming. The drunken noodles were also very delicious with the stir fried vegetables complimenting the light sauce on the noodles. This also had a slight spice to it, which was very tasty! Although the meals were a bit expensive, we both came out with leftovers, making it feel worth the price. It also helps that we had the ocean breeze outside during our meal. If we're in the area again, I'd definitely have this after a beach day just so I'm not stuffed while getting in the ocean! read more

Starfish - Seafood Thai Curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Wow. I need to come back and try a lot more dishes. This place has definitely made my top 5 sushi spots in Orange County! This is one out of 2 locations (Newport/laguna beach) RSVP were made easily on open table. Located right by the Whaler across Billy's at the Beach. Tacos were amazing, my favorite roll was the lobster macadamia. I also had the chance to try the sunset roll and spicy tuna. All had unique flavors and the restaurant has great Asian fusion dishes for folks who aren't into sushi. Service was fast and great. There are high tables, booths and bar seating. Looking forward to coming back and splurging ! read more

Starfish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Small venue. Parking was fine. Hostess was rude (3/11/26); said we needed to leave our table by a certain time. Who does that??!! Nice selection for Happy Hour; drinks and items start at $11. Spicy tuna and calamari were great. Spicy wontons were WAY too spicy. Martinis were also good. Would not recommend basil mojito. Servers were friendly and accommodating. read more

stopped by for happy (opium) hour before our dinner reservation and we were seated almost immediately overall, starfish offers great ambiance with its bright lighting and delicious food. would definitely be back ~Food / drinks~ frose: 10/10 so delicious and refreshing! alcohol taste wasn't strong but i could feel it chicken lettuce wrap: 9/10 so flavorful and portion was large. loved the amount of vegggies but it was a bit on the saltier side lobster macadamia roll: amazing! love the crunch from the mac nuts and just the right amount of sauce ~Service: host was very accommodating and service was quick ~Cost: HH prices aren't the best (~$11-17 per dish) but food and ambiance is much worth ~Parking: free parking on site read more

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came for opium hour yesterday, definitely will be coming back! got the spicy tuna roll, crab rangoons and chicken satay. all very good but favorites were the first two their lychee martini and cantaloupe martini - to die for. super tasty and so cheap. the Bellini was good too but i prefer martinis service was great. the hostess and the server was kind and attentive. good vibes all around :) read more

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this is my favorite restaurant in OC honestly! i highly recommend the spicy thai beef but everything i've ever had from cocktails to small plates to dessert (hello flourless chocolate cake!) has been phenomenal. also the service has always been on point and the food arrived quickly! i also love the vibes it's such a great setting for either a casual dinner or more dressed up. 10/10 read more

10/10 for my happy hour experience. Our server, Paige, was so helpful and gave great recommendations and stayed attentive. I didn't dislike a single thing on our table!! my roll was originally with tofu, but paige recommended tuna which absolutely sold me!! the shrimp lettuce wraps were incredible, and my friend got the roll with cream cheese ( i normally don't like cream cheese in my sushi) but this changed my life, and then my other friend got the spicy tuna roll which was also delicious. definitely coming back for this menu and the prices. read more

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Fantastic spot for yummy Asian fusion We had poke and a sunset roll Brin was our FABULOUS bartender. Impeccable service, great vibes read more

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Wanted to come to starfish for a while and wound up coming for my bday. Not too big and a huge menu w. Options for all. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

Cute place for a good happy hour menu. It's small restaurant but it's a pretty atmosphere. 3/5 stars because we experienced slow service and my friend's wine came in a cracked glass. Super surprised no one noticed it. read more

AMAZING Hidden Gem! If you're a foodie like me and love discovering places that overdeliver, this sushi spot is an absolute must! Not only was the sushi fresh, beautifully plated, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious -- but the real surprise was the Mongolian beef with coconut rice. Yes, you read that right. This dish alone is worth the visit! The beef was perfectly tender, packed with flavor, and paired with the most fragrant, creamy coconut rice I've ever tasted. The sweet-savory combo was next level. I honestly didn't expect a sushi place to serve one of the best Mongolian beef dishes I've had in a long time, but here we are. The staff was friendly and attentive, the ambiance was cozy yet modern, and everything from start to finish was spot on. Whether you're craving high-quality sushi, something a little different, or both -- this spot hits the mark. 10/10 -- I'll definitely be back (with friends)! read more

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Natalie our server was amazing! First time there been wanting to visit for some time. I came in early for the happy hour menu and it's my new favorite place. Food was outstanding, atmosphere and all of the staff were so nice and accommodating. read more

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First things first- the service at Starfish is some of the best. Perfect timing when checking in, willingness to handle any questions, the servers here are on their A-game, especially with larger parties. While the food may not be my typical cuisine type, there were options for me that weren't the seafood or sushi focus. The ribs were so tender and easily fell off the bone. There was however an issue with another person in my party where the meal was spicier than it seemed to be on the menu. Staff offered to change this for them if they wanted. read more

Starfish - Ribs - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

4/4/2026 Returned to this restaurant after a few months. Still the same excellent food and service. Thanks to Paige for making my BD even more special with her professional, courteous and outstanding services. I recommend this restaurant for the food and services. read more

A seemingly endless menu of mostly small plates and sushi rolls, plus an entree menu. So many good things...so hard to choose. Had the Banh Mi Beef Sliders, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, Mint Thai Chicken Roll and Mu Shu Pork...all fresh, delicious, nicely plated. Service was excellent. Ambiance is very pleasant...a bit loud, but conversation was still not an issue across the table. Looking forward to returning soon. Went during the 3-6pm happy hour. All that food plus 2 cocktails was less than $100 for two of us...and we had plenty for lunch the next day! read more

Great service yummy tasty food will definitely come back for more and referrals to family and friends read more

Starfish - Beef sliders - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We had an absolutely wonderful dinner last night at Starfish! Everything from the service to the food was excellent. Our server, Serenity, was warm, attentive, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We tried a few different sushi rolls and nigiri, all fresh and beautifully prepared, along with the pork bánh mì sliders and shrimp dumplings--both packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. I also had a lychee martini that was delicious and refreshing--definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun cocktail. We'll be back again for their happy hour! read more

Starfish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Since it was OC Restaurant week we decided to try a new restaurant. Food was outstanding! Our server, Matt was very attentive. For cocktails, I had a lychee martini and my husband had the Thai me down which arrived pretty late since we were almost done with our appetizers. For appetizers we had pork dumpling and banh mi sliders. For entrees we had Mongolian beef and candy prawns with coconut rice. Noise level seemed moderate although we were seated between two tables who were loud. We will totally be back at Starfish.. read more

Starfish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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