We have been meaning to come here ever since they opened. At first the lines were just ridiculously long. Kind of forgotten about it, on a whim we decided to check it out on a late weeknight and the restaurant was half empty. The restaurant was clean and modern. The staff quickly greeted us when we arrived and sat us at a booth. We ordered water and everything from the tablet at the table. I thought the prices were quite reasonable. For example, a salmon avo hand roll is only $3.99. Some of the other stuff were priced a bit higher but I think everything rounded out to be of good value. The sushi came via the converter but like a bullet grain. I would say it was pretty quick, especially considering it was near closing time so we were happy with how speedy everything came out. I thought the fish was pretty fresh, definitely a step up than your average sushi restaurant. We enjoyed our speedy and fresh meal! read more

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Hoestly, it is OK. Fine even. The sushi us generally OK, the rolls are OK, everything is fine. The concept is cool, You order food on a tablet and it comes zipping to your table. Waiters pop by from time to time to check on you and clear plates, but they do little with your food. The best fish for me was the salmon (which is farm raised and the same as every other place, and the yellowtail. I thought the tuna was sub-par. Again, OK, but not great. There is enough here for me that I could come back, but little to actually draw me back. Dessert was good, but I don't go to a sushi place for the desserts. read more

Was it bad? Not at all. Was it great? Sadly not. Although my understanding is that this place has recently opened, it has the look that it's an older establishment. Among the other revolving sushi options in the area, it ranks lower for me. The service was pretty good. There was no wait on a weeknight. It has good enough variety. I also didn't get sick from the sushi or anything. Yet, the items didn't taste super phenomenal or super fresh. read more

A friend of mine has been raving about the revolving sushi bar at Tokyo Central so I was excited to finally check out the new location closer by to me! The spot is pretty spacious and ordering through the iPad or QR code made the whole experience quick and seamless. What impressed me the most was the quality of the sushi and how generous the cuts of fish were! Everything tasted fresh especially with the seasoned red vinegar rice. I also loved that you can order extras like miso soup and other appetizers to make a full meal. The Salmon Party is definitely worth ordering since it comes with a variety of salmon nigiri and seared pieces. My favorite was the sea bream nigiri because it was firm and had a satisfying texture that I was looking for with a slight sweetness. read more

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Second visit was still pretty good, just that I felt there was less options compared to the first time I visited. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

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I like this place! The rice is different from most sushi places which is unique however, it can be a hit or miss some days. I love the sea bream and their salmon party platter! read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

Updated review: Great place for conveyer sushi that is freshly made and sent to your table. The conveyer belt system and interior reminds me of Japan. One of my favorite spots that is near my other favorite spot Rol. I love coming here after work on a weekday and it is usually not busy, honestly people are sleeping on this place since the hype died down. The scallops and salmon flights paired with a large cold beer, can't beat it. Plus the ordering system is just fun and makes sense and super easy to use. Pro move is once you are done them head over to tokyo central next door to go shopping. I will keep coming back as the quality is top tier. read more

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I came here with a friend back in late November 2025 on a Wednesday evening for the first time - we were promptly seated. We ended up ordering the salmon set and the tuna set. The fish was freshly prepared and the flavors were quite delicious as well. I typically cannot eat too much in one go so I believe that, for the price and amount, this is a fairly reasonable deal, especially for those who crave salmon sushi like I do. I did like the friendliness of the servers and the vibe was nice inside. I hope to come back sometime! read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

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I came here during off peak hour so there was no wait. The sushi was really great quality for Kaiten sushi, you def get a good value for the price. I really liked the wagyu beef trio and the tuna belly was delicious. The place is spacious and you order through an electronic board and the food will be delivered to your table. Service was great, I will definitely visit again! read more

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What I love about this place is that they are very kid friendly. They have cute coloring pages and the food comes out fast. The sushi is fresh and you order on a touchscreen. My kids enjoy seeing the food come out on the belt and they also have signs up saying that you can join their rewards program for discounts. I love places with discounts !!! If I'm going to dine somewhere, I'd rather go to a place that gives me rewards so I'm incentivized to come back. read more

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Stopped into Waka Sakura for lunch and I was not disappointed! The service was fast and friendly in a clean spacious environment. I ordered the salmon lunch set, which came with miso soup, salad, and various salmon sushi - yum! Highlight was the piece with spicy sauce on top, gimme more of that! Also, the side of takoyaki was excellent. Enjoy! read more

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Wanted something hot for the evening and the Tokyo central next door was closed so I decided to try this restaurant after passing by it for so long. Was greeted by friendly staff and the interior was very clean. We were shown to our booth and given an explanation on how to order. The ordering system was simple and easy to understand. Ordered the miso clam soup with a few other sushi bites. The soup and hand roll was fresh, however I noticed a lot of sinew coming out of my tuna roll, which took me some time to remove. Not all of it was shown in the picture. It was interesting that they charge for certain condiments that are normally free. I felt the price was a bit high for the small portions that they give you. But the rice quality really good and had a real unique flavor to it. read more

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I came with a friend on a weekday for dinner and there was surprisingly no wait. You order from an ipad and the food comes out on a conveyor belt. They have somewhat a variety of items such as nigiri, rolls, etc. We ordered the salmon plate and the tuna handroll. I really enjoyed the handroll and the salmon plate. The handroll seemed fresh and paired well with the green onions. They also use seasoned rice which gives it great flavor without overpowering the fish. I believe its seasoned with vinegar and some kind of umami soup. The salmon plate came with 6 different types of salmon variation nigiri. It was actually very filling and was delicious. The service was nice and friendly. I wouldnt say their reasonably priced, it might be on the pricier side but for the quality...its not that bad. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

The prices were fair for the quality and portions. This spot is better than some other revolving sushi restaurants I've been to. I wouldn't say it's top tier sushi quality but definitely worth visiting if you want sushi with good service and affordable prices. The waitresses were friendly which is a plus. The shishito peppers were surprisingly delicious but towards the bottom of the bowl it can get salty. I really liked how they gave us a whole container of ginger rather than just a spoonful. read more

Waka Sakura - Salmon - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

Parking - While there are plenty of parking spaces, it can be difficult to pull into the lot. There is a 3-way stop that gets pretty congested so you may have to wait through multiple signals to get in. Service - The host employee was very nice and explained how everything worked. You order via the tablet and then the food comes out on conveyor belts. Drinks are brought to you by the staff. Food - We tried a few different rolls. They were all pretty decent, but nothing really stood out. It can get pricey, so I recommend pacing yourself to make sure you don't order too much food. read more

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There's something so homey about Waka Sakura. Maybe because every time I've been, staff has greeted me with a genuine smile, there's always no to a low key crowd, and I'm surrounded by great company. It's simplicity at its finest. I'm not expecting more or less, it's just right. Come in, sit, and start ordering. The food comes out decently fast and the menu is stripped down to my core favorites anyways so I'm always a happy girl. Where else can you get heavenly Uni for under $20?! Ive always enjoyed Tokyo Central selections so I knew what I was getting into. I love the hot tea free refills and the music selection sometimes is better than the club. If I'm looking for a slow-paced vibe I'll come here to escape the chaos of Sushi Rev. Hot tip: Waka Sakura is in the same plaza as Auntea Jenny! My fav tea shop. read more

Waka Sakura - Salmon and Scallop Lover - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

Food: Overall, the food was just okay and nothing really stood out, especially for the price. It felt a bit expensive for what you get, and the selection wasn't very wide. I wouldn't say it was bad, but it just wasn't memorable. My favorite was the salmon party since I love salmon, and I appreciated that some of the pieces were nicely seared. The takoyaki and calamari came out hot and crispy. I especially enjoyed the calamari because it had a great crunch and paired well with the spicy mayo. There weren't many roll options, but the crunch roll was a solid choice. It was pretty basic but had a nice crisp texture. The sashimi tasted relatively fresh, though nothing was particularly mind blowing. The steamed egg was interesting and had a shrimp hidden in it. Tuna lovers was also decent. Service: The service was attentive. The staff consistently cleared used plates and are helpful whenever needed. The food on the conveyor belt comes out pretty quick Ambiance: The inside is super cute with a calm atmosphere. It has a very chill and relaxed vibe. read more

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Rating: 7.5/10 You order directly at the table kiosk and the sushi gets delivered to you on a belt that shoots the plates out to your seat. Pretty fun setup and everything arrived quickly. They have a full range of options from hand rolls, to cut rolls, to nigiri, to sashimi. Overall fish quality was solid for the price. Nothing ultra high-end, but the fish was fresh and the portions were fair. Overall, a good value sushi spot. Not the place for premium omakase, but a fun and convenient option when you want decent sushi without spending too much. read more

Waka Sakura - Salmon combo - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

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I have been eyeing this place ever since the Torrance location opened. Overall friendly and attentive service. There was a bit of wait when I arrived on a Saturday night. It was roughly 45 minutes at around 7pm. You can signup for the waitlist on the kiosk near the entrance when you walk in. The fish was very fresh and flavorful. Definitely liked the flavor profile of the rice. I would definitely recommend getting the yuzu cheesecake it was a very good way to end the meal. It is typically more expensive than other revolving sushi places like Kura. However the quality is a little bit better so I think it's worth the price if you factor that in. The one roll I felt was alittle too heavy with its execution was the Spicy Tuna topped Seared Bluefin Tuna. Inside was pretty clean and modern looking. Alittle bit more upscale in the appearance of booths and tables. Overall not too loud inside. There were about three sections of tables. Parking can be alittle difficult in this plaza since it is near multiple restaurants and supermarkets. There is more parking on the other side near the Mitsuwa but it is a bit of a walk if you decide to park there. read more

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Some great choices here. The egg custard was great, as was the scallop lovers roll Miso is a bit pricey but large and with it. The only downside is that they don't offer sides of white rice, which is a must for my kiddos read more

While this isn't a traditional conveyer belt sushi spot, it's still fun to see your food delivered to you on the train. We arrived around 8pm shortly after landing at SNA and there was no wait on Sunday evening. We were immediately sat and started ordering right away. We really enjoy the selection of fish and meats with all the various toppings plus the way they treat their rice. You do need to pay attention to their item as some of them are only for 1 piece such as the wagyu, uni or ikura. Overall, it's not super high end, but it gets the job done if you're looking for a quick sushi dinner with minimal interaction. Will be back again! read more

Trash....no exaggerating not good. Stopped in yesterday as it's been awhile since I've had sushi and was excited at first. Walked in pretty empty no wait only one other set of people sitting at a table. Waiter sat us and explained how to order. Began to order I ordered 2 items to start tuna handroll and Spicey scallop roll. Food came out within 5 minutes so assuming some pre made plates. Ate the hand roll it was ok less than $4 so wasn't disappointed by price. Then I get my chopsticks ready to dig into the roll and eww hair! All wrapped in the rice. I immediately hit the call button for the waiter he didn't apologize just took the plate quickly and without hesitation walked away and said he would replace it. At this point my appetite was ruined I didn't want another roll I just wanted to not pay for that item and leave and was not given that option. I won't be back not good food or service. read more

I was really excited that a Waka Sakura opened in OC. It's a solid spot, but I was disappointed that it didn't live up to the high standards that the Gardena location placed. Parking is relatively easy, but it's a bit difficult to get inside the plaza Food/Drink- 4 stars The food quality was decent and fresh, but a level below the Gardena location. We noticed the menu is also smaller than the Gardena location. It's still a great spot to grab my favorites, like the salmon bellies and yellowtail collars. Service- 5 stars Food came out quickly and servers were attentive Bottom Line Pretty solid conveyor belt sushi spot that offers good food and pricing. However, it falls short of the high expectations created by the Gardena location read more

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Great selection compared to places 3 miles away, quality for what it is, would be average. Don't bother going here since Tokyo Central is next door. Biggest peev is 50 cents for wasabi read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

Came in on a Saturday afternoon and surprised to see no wait. Just walked in and got seated. We were able to quickly order on the ipad tablet. Our first order of the tuna sampler came within 5 minutes of ordering and fish was very fresh. Our second order came within 3 items at once and all were good quality as well, nothing tasted fishy. The quality of the rice and vinegar that they use definitely makes a difference. Even though you order most items on the tablet, the staff seemed very attentive to check on how we were doing and quickly gave us water upon seating and offered a straw as well. When we were done eating, requested the check and the server came quickly. He asked us to review the bill to make sure everything was correct and was able to use the device to pay on the spot. Overall surprised that it's not as crowded anymore but glad that there isn't a wait. There was an ipad tablet to sign in during busy hours. Will definitely come back since the quality and consistency seems to be always great! read more

Waka Sakura - Salmon party, scallop party, unagi - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

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Super yummy! The wasabi is great. As a vegetarian I found it hard to get good sushi options but they even had a corn role! read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

This was a very quick and easy place to eat! Came in here not too hungry but wanted to try it out. We ordered a few things including their tuna, salmon, shrimp, and my gf tried their yellowtail. Their rice was different and added a different kind of texture to the sushi that definitely is different from other places. Their tuna was actually really good, it was soft and tender and wasn't fishy. Their shrimp was my personal favorite and was super flavorful. The salmon was okay, nothing too special about it so it didn't stand out. My gf said the yellowtail was good as well though! We also ordered 2 miso soups on the side along with edamame. Edamame was fine but the miso soups felt underwhelming. Not much flavor was found and once it lost its heat it became more like flavored water than miso soup. The price wasn't all that bad compared to what I thought I was gonna pay. They don't bring you waters right away as well which I found strange, we had to order it on the tablet. The spacing is nice too because you aren't staring at other people and it gives a decent amount of privacy towards each table. Overall wasn't bad by any means, I would come again but it didn't stand out as much as I hoped for. read more

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The sushi is so fresh & I love it. I've always went to the Gardena location so I wanted to try Irvine I still love the food but the ambiance is different. The service is decent but mainly working with the machine. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was my first time here and it definitely won't be my last! I'm usually a little bit hesitant about all of the conveyer belt sushi but honestly this has been the best one so far. I know everyone has had Kura and all of that but the fish is very fresh. I like that it is made order where as at Kura you don't know how long the fish has been sitting there. Parking: It gets a little bit crazy in this plaza especially with Tokyo Central now next door but if you can find a spot it is worth it. Service is very quick and everyone is super attentive. It makes you really feel like you're in Japan with all of the music and wood decor. Food: - Salmon/Tuna/Wagyu/Scallop Combo - 5/5 - I love the idea of these since you are able to get variety of different things. They were all very delicious I would recommend for big parties and for individuals. - Tuna Crunch - 5/5 - Similar to above I like that you are getting 4 pieces rather than an entire 8 so you are able to try more things on the menu - Salmon Collar - 5/5 - I love the DEEP FRY AND CRISP. Usually most places broil it but this made the outside extra cronchy and inside succulent. I've never had it like that before. - Yellowtail Nigiri 3/5 - It was okay. Standard but nothing crazy - Garlic Albacore 4/5 - Solid! Overall, everything about this place was wonderful. All of the staff was very nice. Everything was very efficient. Fish was all very fresh. Can't complain one bit! read more

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I was so excited to try this since I've heard so much about the location in Gardena. We came on a not so busy Wednesday at around 6 and were sat right away. My SIL was really excited about the wagyu ones and ordered so many of those. We also ordered the miso soup, chirashi egg pudding, tons of the salmon and tuna sashimi, and honestly everything was so so good. For $105, we were just the right amount of full after so much food. The only thing I would skip is the miso soup. Yes, it has clams, but it honestly wasn't that worth it for a miso soup since the clams didn't add too much extra flavor to make it unique enough. If you like clams, go for it. Overall, I liked that everything was sent by conveyor rather than it being grab and go like at Kura. The fish is also just super high quality compared to Kura, so spend a little extra and go here. Well worth it. read more

I had really high expectations for this place because there was a huge line when it first opened, so I was excited to finally try it. I came on a Saturday night around 8:30 PM and was surprised to see it completely empty -- I honestly expected a wait, but there was no line at all. Ordering is done through a tablet at your table. You can select up to six items at a time, and everything comes to you on a small conveyor belt. Since the restaurant was so quiet, service was quick and efficient. As for the food, the quality was just okay. The fish was decent, but nothing stood out as amazing, and the rolls lacked flavor overall. I was pretty underwhelmed. One highlight was the fried pork belly -- that was actually very good! The wagyu, however, didn't really live up to the hype either. Overall, I probably wouldn't return. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't live up to my expectations. Sorry, guys. read more

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Super yummy sushi spot in the Tokyo Central plaza! The salmon party and tuna lovers plates are insanely fresh, melt in your mouth, and affordable. Love their soy sauce and fresh wasabi as well. Staff are friendly and food comes out pretty quickly. Great spot for a quick lunch or dinner. read more

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Waka Sakura, Part of Tokyo Central, owned by Pan Pacific International. I've heard great things from my husband about the Gardena location, so I was excited when the Irvine location opened since it's much more convenient for us on weekends. Unfortunately, our experience this past weekend fell short. Ambiance (4/5) Spacious with plenty of booths, but it's hard to flag down your server since they're spread out across different rows. Service (3/5) Mostly self-service. Our server came by to refill water only a couple of times. Food (3/5) The spicy scallops and scallop nigiri were the highlights. The chawanmushi was okay, as were the other appetizers like karaage and takoyaki. However, the tuna was a major letdown. From the Tuna Lover plate to the bluefin and chu-toro, everything tasted less than fresh that day, which was quite disappointing. We're not sure when we'll return to the Irvine location. Hopefully they keep the freshness as part of consistency. read more

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We enjoyed dinner here! No rush at 6:30 pm on a Thursday, busy by 7 pm. The highlight was the savory Japanese steamed egg with mushrooms and a shrimp. We also had the salmon party, negi tuna hand roll, three gyoza, matcha daifuku, and hot green tea. Everything was high quality, even simpler dishes like edamame. They had real wasabi! Ordered from a terminal at each table. Most food arrived via a two-level conveyor belt. Waitresses brought the liquid items and the daifuku read more

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This is a brand-new spot in Irvine that I'd had my eye on, so I was excited to try it. The restaurant itself is very clean, bright, and modern, and the staff was kind and attentive. You place your order on an iPad, and the sushi is delivered to your table via a conveyor belt. There isn't sushi continuously rotating around--it's simply the method they use to deliver your food, which is a fun and efficient concept. We ordered the Salmon Lovers set, the Scallop Lovers set, an eel roll, and miso soup. While I loved the idea of the set menus, the sushi itself was fairly mediocre. The salmon had a noticeably strong fishy smell, which stood out to me--especially since I eat sushi often and this didn't feel typical. On the positive side, the scallops tasted fresh and were the highlight of the meal. The miso soup came in a large bowl and was priced at $3.99, which felt a bit overpriced considering the flavor was just okay. Overall, the concept is cool and this is a decent option if you're looking for a quick lunch with minimal interaction. read more

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Wake Sakura is a newish Kaiten style restaurant located next to Tokyo Central. Parking can be tricky here, depending on the time. We came on a Saturday around 11:30am and there was no wait. To order, you can use either the QR code or the tablet on the table. The ordering processing is pretty self explanatory. Even though it is a Kaiten Sushi place, everything is made to order, and no dishes were sitting on the conveyer belt, rotating around the restaurant. Personally I prefer this way, for sanitary and freshness reasons. Price is pretty fair IMO. Most nigiris are between $4-7 dollars. Quality is decent and fresh, much much better than another known revolving sushi place (*ahem K**a). This is a list of what we had: Chawanmushi ($5.49) - would get again, but it has corn and peas which is untraditional. It doesn't have the fish cake or gingo nuts. Tobiko ($4.29) Seaweed salad ($3.99) Philly roll ($6.49) Sweet shrimp ($4.49)- I was surprised by how inexpensive this was. Instead of the normal one piece sweet shrimp, you get 3 tiny shrimps. It doesn't tase like the normal Amaebi. I would not get again. Scallops ($5.99) Salmon topped with onion mayo ($4.49) Spicy Tuna roll with seared bluefin tuna ($7.49)- the chili oil drizzle on top is too overpowering. It makes this dish taste like Chinese food, instead of Japanese sushi. Yuzu cheesecake with ice cream ($4.99)- would not get again. Yuzu flavor was minimal, so was the cheese flavor. The cheese cake texture was not smooth or creamy. Diet Coke ($3.99)- free refills Another thing to note is that they use brown rice for all their sushi, which is unusual. I couldn't taste vinegar in the rice. This might be a deal breaker for some, but it didn't bother me too much. Service was very friendly and attentive. They offered to refill the Diet Coke 3 times, we did not have to ask. The restaurant itself is clean. I plan on going back to try other dishes. read more

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I truly enjoyed every moment here at Waka Sakura sushi restaurant in Irvine. The service was amazing and the quality of sashimi and sushi did not disappoint one bit. No Robots but they have motorized conveyor belt system to deliver each item as you select them from the menu. However is this truly better than an Omakase experience at a fine dining restaurant in Japan and the answer is not really. The Human experience with a master chef is quite possibly one of the most unforgettable experience you will ever have in fine dining world. Good luck and enjoy your fast delivery experience here in Irvine. But for the truly discerning client experience I would recommend a different location. However you do get what you pay for less than $100 dollars total cost including tip. Have a great weekend everyone. The real Xfactor is in your hands and how you handle the human interaction. read more

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So happy Waka Sakura is in Orange County! This is one of the best conveyor belt sushi spots in OC. Just like their Gardena location, this one is also very clean. The servers and hosts were friendly and attentive, and the food was solid overall. My favorite was the fried yellowtail collar--so good. I'd definitely come back again. read more

Waka Sakura - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Irvine, California

This place has become one of my top spots for sushi in Irvine. Our friends recommended this place for dinner so we went on a Saturday night and there was no wait. We got so lucky since typically there would be a 1-2 hr wait. High quality authentic sushi! The rice is also so good! It's different from other spots. It feels like they use high quality ingredients. I like the set up of the restaurant! At first I thought it was revolving sushi where you pick your plates but I understand why it's by order. It is on the pricier side but you get what you pay for. The fatty blue fin tuna was memorable. I didn't get to take a picture because it was the first thing I ordered and I was very excited to try. I'm a salmon girl and I was so impressed with the seared salmon plate. I don't normally get seared but this place seared it so well. I would come back again. read more

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Let me tell you guys, they hype has died! There are no lines! Came in during prime lunch hour and was seated IMMEDIATELY with plenty of tables available. Tables are mainly booths style with you sitting right next to the conveyor belt to see your food zoom on next to you. Easy peasy the iPad was there for you to pick and choose what to order. The sushi gets delivered through the revolving belt. It was pretty quick too! Watch out because you wanna try everything and it really adds up. The pieces we got were pretty good no complaints. The standouts were the party trays cuz you got to try all the different preparations of the fish. read more

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