There are two tiers of omakase $120 and $200. We went with the $120 and added a Chawanmushi and a…read moreblue crab roll. I thought the $120 was a pretty good value with the quality of fish you get! And we were pretty full after the meal! They start you off with a very unique appetizer with corn soup, tofu with uni, tuna, and a tomato with a jelly. Loved the tomato and corn soup, very fresh uni as well! Then they get into the meat of the omakase! The nigri pieces were so fresh! Loved the toro, tuna, scallop, snapper, and sweet shrimp! Super fresh! It also came with a tuna hand roll that was pretty good as well! The Chawanmushi came with truffle slices and it was delicious! Some items I thought were just okay was the crab with salmon roe and rice. I felt that it needed some yuzu or something citrusy. The squid nigiri was okay too, a little chewy. I am not a huge fan of mackerel texture overall, so I did not enjoy the eel nigiri, however I did like that it was seared. The blue crab roll was good, but I did not like that they drenched it in a mayo sauce. Ended the meal with a nice clam soup and some good sesame and matcha ice cream sandwiches! Although there were some items I did not enjoy, for the price, I thought it was a great meal!

I used to come here back when Ikko held down this Baker Street spot for nearly two decades…read more Following a local legend like Chef Ikko isn't easy, but the transition to K's Bistro (helmed by Chef Shoji Hijiya from LA's Kanpai) has been seamless. They refreshed the intimate space while keeping the high culinary standard alive. The nigiri was dialed in--pristine cuts, great knife work, and perfectly seasoned rice. A few standout dishes from our order: Seared Engawa w/ Caviar: Engawa is one of my favorite cuts of halibut in general, and this is a must-try. Not every place has it since it's just the fin muscle and there's only so much per fish. Lightly torched to render the rich fat, topped with caviar--it completely melted. Kamatoro: Incredible marbling with a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Oyster with Uni and Caviar: Incredibly fresh, sweet, and clean. Truffle Chawanmushi & Beef Tongue: Silky smooth custard with great aroma, and the beef tongue was crazy tender. Wagyu Yukke & Wagyu Nigiri: High-end marbling, super flavorful, and a great change of pace between the fish courses. Nigiri (Striped Jack, Amberjack, Sweet Shrimp, Red Snapper): Simple, classic, and extremely fresh. Service was attentive, and the meal flowed naturally. Paired it with a cold beer and walked out thoroughly impressed. This location is still in great hands. Highly recommend.

This was our second visit and the location is excellent with large windows looking out over South…read moreCoast Plaza proper. It is located on the third floor of the Crystal Court next to Oliver Peoples and Nike. It has both inside seating and Outside ( which is really inside but an area exposed to the mall at large while the inside seating is a more enclosed and private room. You usually have your choice. The salads are excellent prepared. The service is impeccable and excellent you notice this right away. It has the demeanor of a very fine restaurant but seems to maintain a casual and comfortable atmosphere and ambiance. The sushi is served and exemplifies the great care and detail that is used to prepare every dish. Even Tempura which is very hard to arrange and present with any artful arrangement is delicately cooked - no hint of oils and always very fresh vegetables. The soup is something that is very difficult to excel at - how can you enhance a miso soup? They do - the taste exceeds expectations. We plan to return and explore the menu. Thank you Yoseph for an excellent experience.

We stopped by because the ramen shop had a crazy line. The space is beautiful with a spare, modern…read morefeel, tastefully decorated with light green chrysanthemums and small contrasting flowers. It's a bit more upscale than my usual lunch spots, but overall I'm glad I went. It was quiet with a beautiful view of trees, birds, and people. The service was friendly and attentive. And the food was more authentic than I expected. I ordered the tempura bento. The sesame dressing salad was standard for a Japanese restaurant, accented with raspberries. The miso soup was also pretty good, with tofu, shiitake, and daikon cut into tiny pieces. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sprinkling of furikake seasoning over the rice, and happy to find cucumber pickles and hijiki (black seaweed) with finely shredded carrot. The ensemble tells me that the people running Hamamori care about Japanese food, which is not typical for sushi restaurants. The set came with spicy tuna roll, which was delicious, accented with avocado. The tempura included asparagus, eggplant, shrimp, lotus root, sweet potato, and kabocha. The tempura was nice and crisp, if slightly doughy. My tempura came with salt rather than dipping sauce, as one might find in some tempura shops in Japan. (My mom's came with dipping sauce, but she said that the sauce did not add much. Although she did eat all of the tempura, my mom thought that the eggplant skin was too thick and the lotus root was undercooked.) My mom ordered nabeyaki udon, which came with nearly the same tempura I had. The udon noodles were fresh, but slippery. My mom thought the broth was a little flat, and did not taste like it was simmered with bones or something else that gave it depth. (To be fair, she was comparing the broth with her mom's. And this is a sushi shop, not an udon shop.) My spouse and I thought the broth was fine. And my mom ate most of her food. My spouse enjoyed his plain soba. When I first saw Hamamori a few years ago I didn't think I would ever visit because the prices exceeded what I would normally spend. The lunch specials we ordered today were more reasonable (under $30). Someday I might try the more expensive prix fixe lunch special ($50+) for a very special occasion.

One of the best premium omakase sushi restaurant in OC…read moreAwarded with Michelin one star for serval years. Reservation is required. Sushi bar seating is highly recommended. Plenty of parking space, valet is available during busy hours. . Restaurant serves omakase only with seasonal dishes and signature dishes. Selections of wine and sake are available. . Started with shrimp and caviar Appreciate trio including sea snail uni and seaweed Tempura and abalone Sashimi of 3 kinds of fish Steamed fish Grilled Wagyu beef 6 Nigiri including toro Japanese Uni rice and fish soup Panna Cotta

Special omakase experience at 「Hana re」…read more The multi-course omakase meal is seafood-centric, with just one meat dish (A5 wagyu). It is a wonderful culinary journey being able to see Chef Yokohama meticulously put the final touches of all the dishes in front of us so definitely recommend the sushi bar (chef's table) seats. The omakase starts at $250+ per person, and the menu varies depending on season and available fresh ingredients. I've been to multiple omakase places in OC and sometimes the chefs seem reluctant to socialize, other than simply explaining the dishes. Chef Yokohama stood out because he is professional and yet friendly, making this omakase meal engaging and enjoyable. I lucked out and was treated to this delicious meal by a friend. :) But, if I had to make a comment about the value, this omakase is probably on the pricier end. The high-end ingredients definitely commanded the price tag. However, I think a "shime" (締め) dish after the round of sushi, like a mini rice with pickles or small side dishes or noodle bowl would be a better signal to end the meal. It was a bit "abrupt" going from sushi straight to dessert. Overall, can't complain being treated to such a nice meal here. Thumbs up for quality, presentation and service.

The sushi was so fresh and delicious. Cuts were great and service amazing! Didn't have to wait long…read moreto be seat or for our food to arrive

This place is a gem! We came on a thursday night and the place was packed by 6pm! The fish was…read moreabsolute quality. Super fatty, melts in your mouth. They also have a vast selection of different fish that you may not find at other sushi joints. We enjoyed the different snappers, different jacks, and the classic bellies. Here, you order sushi by the 1 piece, but the prices are super fair, ranging from $2-higher end sushi. We also got the string beans tempura since they dont have a vegetable tempura. At first, I thought the fried batter was too light, but overtime, the light batter made it easy to down the entire dish. It was the perfect texture complement to the sushi. The servers were also super helpful and knowledgable and distinguished the different fish on the plate. The chefs were so kind to give us toro on the house and the flakey salt really paired well with the super fatty melt in your mouth tuna. The inside of the store was dark and moody, however, it seemed clean. The parking situation is fairly easy as it's in a plaza. Note that during busy hours, it may be hard to find a spot. I will definitely return for more sushi dates and recommend Sushi District to you!

Budget-friendly Omakase, but not quite what I hoped for…read more My friend and I were looking for a budget-friendly omakase in Orange County on a whim during this heat wave, and found Sushi Shaka because they don't require reservations. It's a quaint, casual sushi spot with booths and a sushi bar -- definitely nothing fancy, but cozy and laid-back. While we waited, my friend ordered shishito peppers. I had one when I arrived, and somehow every single one was spicy! We ended up ordering edamame to help with the heat. We all ordered the 10-piece omakase for $65, which is a reasonable price for Orange County. I was hoping for more of a traditional omakase experience, with each piece served individually, but all 10 pieces came out at once. The server did explain each piece, which I appreciated, although it was hard to remember all 10 descriptions at once. The sushi itself was just okay. I was not particularly impressed with the fish quality, and the pieces were warmer than I personally prefer. I know sushi is traditionally served around room temperature, but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been slightly chilled. The service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, and not overly busy during our visit. We also enjoyed some cold sake, which was especially refreshing on a hot afternoon. Parking was the biggest challenge. The shopping center is very popular, and finding a spot on a busy Friday afternoon was tough. Overall, I'm glad we tried it, and $65 for 10 pieces is a decent price. But if you're looking for a more traditional omakase experience or standout sushi quality, I'd probably keep exploring. I will not be returning.

Great sushi and even better quality fish. I was on a date and was talked into trying sashimi, and…read moreI'm so glad I did because the fish was incredibly fresh. The rolls were amazing too. I wish I had more photos than just the menu, but what's a girl to do on a third date? You can't exactly stop to photograph every plate. I'll definitely be back!

Thank you to Chef Edy for a wonderful first experience at Momoyama!…read more Making reservations are made easy online with plenty of choices to select from. There are options to eat at the chef's counter or at a table if you prefer. We opted to sit at the counter for a more intimate experience. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the attentive staff. Our counter seat was already set up with the menus to select our dining experience. We opted for the lunch omakase starting at $58. There are also nigiri sets to choose from for 10 or 12 if you prefer to focus more on nigiri for your meal. We also chose to add a toro nigiri for an additional $9, but you have a choice between uni, A5, or toro for this add on. Chef Edy perfectly spaced out our meal and was keeping a close eye on our pace to send out the next dish or piece. It is clear that each course is intentional and thoroughly curated for not just a meal, but an experience! At the end, you can also add on any additional pieces to finish off. We will definitively be coming back soon to try more of their menu! I appreciate the staff that made our time at Momoyama memorable!

I had an extremely disappointing experience at this restaurant, especially because I had chosen it…read moreto celebrate my mother's birthday. What should have been a special evening was completely ruined by the behavior of one staff member, who appeared to be either a server or manager. I had made a reservation, but when we arrived, he could not find my name. We wanted to order omakase and sit at the counter, but he insisted that counter seating required a reservation. We explained that we did have a reservation. Although the situation was confusing, I remained understanding and we were eventually seated. After sitting down, I politely asked for both hot water and ice water. My mother needed the hot water to take her medication. The restaurant is relatively small, but this employee appeared overwhelmed and repeatedly went in and out of the kitchen without bringing the water we had requested. When it was time to order, I ordered two omakase meals along with the $100 set. He told me that it was "too much," followed by several comments that did not clearly explain what he was recommending, and then simply walked away. Because my mother needed to take her medication, I politely reminded him again about the hot water. Instead of simply helping us or explaining that he needed a few minutes, he responded impatiently and told me that he was busy and that I should stop rushing him. At that point, I told him that I understood the restaurant was busy, but providing water and communicating with guests are basic parts of restaurant service. Customers come to spend money and share meaningful moments with family--not to be lectured for asking for something as simple as hot water. His response was shocking. He became confrontational and told us to leave. What made the situation even more disturbing was that he began recording us on his phone without informing me beforehand. Because I felt I needed to document what was happening, I then recorded the interaction as well. There were other customers present who witnessed the situation. We were simply waiting for hot water, yet the situation escalated into an unnecessary confrontation. I understand that restaurants get busy, and I have no problem waiting when employees communicate professionally. This was not about waiting a few extra minutes for water. It was about the attitude, the lack of basic hospitality, the confrontational behavior, and the way the situation was handled. The food at this restaurant may be good, but hiring or allowing someone to interact with customers this way can seriously damage a restaurant's reputation. No customer celebrating a family member's birthday should be treated this way. I sincerely hope the owner reviews what happened, speaks with the employees who were present, and takes this matter seriously. This experience ruined my mother's birthday dinner, and I intend to follow up with management regarding what occurred. A special occasion that we were looking forward to became one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had.

We made a reservation super last minute since we were craving sushi and didn't realize it's a…read morepretty fancy omakase place! It was about $220 but every fish that came out was so tender and delicious. The chef had items that paired so nicely like a black cod and black truffle, uni and caviar, and some fun foods like a fish filet sandwich. I like that this omakase bar isn't too serious where everyone's quiet and staring at the chef.

Food is disappointing They literally kick you out lolz…read morenever come back again Ambiance terrible Don't come here

My fiancé and I picked this spot to celebrate our engagement with an intimate date night, and we…read morewere so happy with our choice! We were curious to try this brand new omakase experience inside Lido House, apparently they'd only been open for 7 weeks and actually used to be a coffee shop. The space is intimate but very lively, I'm not sure if it was because it was LDW but it was definitely a bit chaotic inside but in a fun way! The chefs are all SO friendly and happy to chat about the food. He even noticed us eyeing the dry aging fish and brought out the massive sawara to show off! It's not your typical traditional nigiri, most all the fish is dry aged, which gives it a softer texture and flavor. On top of that, every bite comes crafted with a little surprise - a crunch, a pop, a tartness, or a flavor I've never had in the context of nigiri (you can see from the menu). The ginger is also so different than I've had, they're bigger pieces and their in-house pickling is just a perfect balance with the ginger spice. The pacing is pretty fast, you won't be waiting long between pieces. For only being open 7 weeks, I was impressed with how well-coordinated they already are. My only feedback is that the bar is quite crowded, we did feel a bit close to our neighbors, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't have room to breathe. Overall a VERY unique and fun omakase experience!

We really wanted to love Kaiya…read more The venue itself is beautiful and has so much potential, so we were excited to try the sushi/omakase experience for a date night. Unfortunately, the food just didn't live up to the setting or the price point. Our server mentioned that the omakase and tasting experience were almost the same, and at around $19+ per piece, we were expecting something memorable. The presentation was definitely nice, but the sushi itself was missing that "oomph." We're not sushi snobs by any means, but for us, great sushi comes down to three things: the quality and freshness of the fish, the rice/texture, and the balance of seasoning and sauce. Unfortunately, all three felt lacking. There wasn't a single piece where we looked at each other and said, "Wow, that was amazing," which is something you should experience at least a few times during an omakase-style dinner The cocktails didn't save it either. I ordered an Old Fashioned and was disappointed with that as well. (The one at Mayor's table after is 100% better!) I do want to give major credit to the manager, who was extremely gracious after realizing we weren't enjoying the experience. He took the time to talk to us and genuinely tried to turn our night around. His hospitality probably took our night from a 5 to a solid 7.5 , and we really appreciated how he handled everything. But strictly speaking about the sushi, there is a LOT of room for improvement, especially at this price point. The funniest part is that we ended up at Mayor's Table afterward eating a pretzel because we were still wanting something satisfying. At that point we were joking that maybe we should've just stayed there for dinner! If you're specifically looking for great sushi in Orange County, Ohshima in Orange is an absolute gem. And if you're willing to make the drive to LA, Sushi by Scratch is the kind of experience that really gives you a run for your money and shows what a memorable omakase can be. Kaiya gets points for the beautiful space and genuinely great hospitality, but unfortunately, the sushi experience itself was a major disappointment for us.