Sushi in Irvine

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Trustafarian_IHB

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I'm looking for good sushi restaurants in Irvine. My wife is craving sushi after recently giving birth to our new twin boys. She wasnt able to eat it during the pregnancy. My wife and I recently moved here from Costa Mesa, so we are relatively clueless to what sushi restaurants are around here. We want to keep close to home so that the grandparents dont have to babysit too long. Any recommendations would be great.
 
Tommy's in Tustin, Newport and Brian, always fresh and great portions, try the Poke bowl.



It's the definition of a hole in the wall, blink and you'll miss it.
 
[quote author="Trustafarian" date=1211510105]I'm looking for good sushi restaurants in Irvine. My wife is craving sushi after recently giving birth to our new twin boys. She wasnt able to eat it during the pregnancy. My wife and I recently moved here from Costa Mesa, so we are relatively clueless to what sushi restaurants are around here. We want to keep close to home so that the grandparents dont have to babysit too long. Any recommendations would be great.</blockquote>


Hello Trustafarian,



Of the Japanese restaurants in Irvine that I've tried, I only like specific items and not the whole menu.



At Niko Niko in Woodbury Town Center, get the "Sakura Blossom".



At Maki Maki in Irvine Spectrum, get their "cooked" cut rolls. The Iron Monkey roll is quite interesting.



I've heard good things about Ayame at Orchid Hills Plaza, but never eaten there personally.



I prefer to eat Sushi in Costa Mesa (your old town). Angotei, Ikko, & Shibucho are my favorites. At Angotei get the "shrimp boat" & tataki. Sometimes they have toro at very good prices, but if you ask "give me what's good today" you might get seared fish bones @_@. At Ikko get normal sushi dishes. Ikkou has some interesting appetizer items but I consider them distractions, call ahead for reservation.



Shibucho is at border with Newport Beach and rarely packed, go there for dinner, if you're on a budget sit at the regular tables (not the sushi bar) and order the $32 Omakase. If you can afford to splurge, sit at the sushi bar and order Omakase (will probably cost you $50/person). Order regular sushi items here, their uni is really good and save the over-sized tamago for last. Either I'm lucky, or the elder sushi chief taste-test every board/container of uni, I've had it many times there and each & every piece tastes nice and fresh.



I also read that Bluefin in Newport does $35, 5-course Omakase Lunch specials. I've not had their lunch, you can try it out. Be warned that dinner bill can be expensive there.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. Back in Costa Mesa we really liked Fusion Sushi (on 17th next to Americas Cup, frozen yogurt for dessert!), Sushi Wave, and 949 Sushi. I've always read raves about Shibucho but never mustered up the courage to try it. I've been to Taiko before but was not a huge fan, especially with the wait. I think we are going to check out Wasa, I read some good things on Chowhound, and it is close enough that we can head out between baby feedings. We are right by Goro in the Alton/Culver shopping center, so we will probably try that one too at some point since it is so close.
 
We must be neighbors, we live very close to Goro in Westpark Plaza as well, and go there often rather than driving to the many other Irvine Sushi places --- of which we have probably tried most. We were just at Goro last night as a matter of fact. It is not world class, but there are some things they do very well and the portions are good sized for the price. While their raw menu is decent, IMO their cooked dishes are excellent. Great service, not that busy, and it has a nice ambiance. Full bar, too.



The 50% off 2nd entree coupon from the Val Pac also makes it a very reasonable night out.
 
[quote author="Trustafarian" date=1211524537]Thanks for the recommendations. Back in Costa Mesa we really liked Fusion Sushi (on 17th next to Americas Cup, frozen yogurt for dessert!), Sushi Wave, and 949 Sushi. I've always read raves about Shibucho but never mustered up the courage to try it. I've been to Taiko before but was not a huge fan, especially with the wait. I think we are going to check out Wasa, I read some good things on Chowhound, and it is close enough that we can head out between baby feedings. We are right by Goro in the Alton/Culver shopping center, so we will probably try that one too at some point since it is so close.</blockquote>


Mama-san and Papa-san at Shibucho are the nicest people I've meet in Costa Mesa. They both speak English well. Omakase meal includes tea, miso soup, a "cooked" side dish, large plate of sushi, then home-made tsukemono with odd taste.



Irvine sushi restaurants often have coupons in your mailer, so you can save some $$.



Kura Sushi in Costa Mesa (on 17th street) is a kaiten sushi bar that uses really bad rice for their sushi. But their chicken karage is really, really good with spicy dipping sauce. Go there and order miso soup, chicken karage ($4.50), and bowl of rice. Then drive down the street to 17th & Santa Ana and get desert at Cafe Blanc.



For better kaiten sushi bar, visit Kaisen on Bristol. Not far from there is Blue Fish, their sushi sucks but the baked rolls are OK.



Hana no Ki on Baker offers decent sushi, but parking is difficult. I usually go there for Manpuku BBQ at that center.
 
For sushi, CM is where the action is. Sushi Shibucho if you can get a table or spot on the counter has great sushi. It's a small hole in the wall, but great food. My parents know the owners from way back when they used to own a restaurant in Little Tokyo. It all depends on how picky you are about the sushi. Having grown up eating it and in Japan, if the rice isn't good, I can't eat it, no matter how good the fish is. Then I'd rather just get sashimi. Angotei is good too, Maki Sushi on edinger and redhill is decent when they have toro specials. Just avoid the trendy cholester-rolls, mello-rolls, and whatever else they can come up with and stick to the basic nigiri sushi.



You'd be amazed how bad the rice can be in many sushi places. Either it's too much rice, note enough rice, too salty, overcooked, undercooked, etc.
 
If you don't mind price, Kotobuki by the Laguna Hills Mall (near Trader Joe's on El Toro) is by far the best tasting sushi I've had.
 
[quote author="CK" date=1211526312]We must be neighbors, we live very close to Goro in Westpark Plaza as well, and go there often rather than driving to the many other Irvine Sushi places --- of which we have probably tried most. We were just at Goro last night as a matter of fact. It is not world class, but there are some things they do very well and the portions are good sized for the price. While their raw menu is decent, IMO their cooked dishes are excellent. Great service, not that busy, and it has a nice ambiance. Full bar, too.



The 50% off 2nd entree coupon from the Val Pac also makes it a very reasonable night out.</blockquote>


Goro? I like it, but the few times I've been it has been sloooooooooooooow. Even if it wasn't crowded, it took a long time to get our order taken, get the food, etc.



I agree that CM has better sushi, and the places inside or around Mitsuwa and Marukai are a good indicator.



One thing about lots of sushi places around OC is that they are not actually run by Japanese or Japanese-Americans. When you hear the greeter speak worse Nihongo than I do and then hear the chefs speak in Korean, that kind of diminishes it a little for me.
 
Oooh, if you are looking for sushi and other authentic Japanese food, go to Honda-Ya in Tustin. I believe they are only open for dinner, but are open until midnight or later. Its always busy, but good food!
 
Honda-Ya has another restaurant in Fountain Valley "Kappa Honda".



They're more izakaya than sushi restaurant, but food is good never the less. Hmm... might go to Honda-ya tonight and get some yakitori. ;p
 
<blockquote>Try Taiko off Jeffrey/Walnut. They are next to Yogurtland. Can?t miss it.</blockquote>


If you go to Taiko you HAVE to eat at the sushi bar. You'll get much more generous portions versus table service plus you get to socialize with the friendly chefs.
 
I like Uoko, it is near the Peppinos in Lake Forest near the intersection of Lake Forest Rd and Rockfield, about 1/2 block from the 5 freeway. They also have a location in Tustin off of 17th.
 
We just had lunch here for the first time in the company of someone who LOVES Mitsui. She goes for the Poki bowl. Here is a good write up on the place:



http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/2006/07/mitsui-irvine.html



It was not cheap but it was wonderfully fresh. We went for the Poki bowls and were NOT disappointed. Someone did order the "heart attack" roll and it was deep fried. It was interesting, but i'd try the Crunchy/spicy roll next time -it is one of their specials. The bento boxes looked good. Service was efficient & courteous.



My suggestion: try the poki or the Oh!baby salads/bowls. Both full of fresh raw ingredients. Both have a distinctively different taste and presentation. Best Poki I've had in OC.
 
[quote author="25w100k+" date=1213678177]I'm a big fan of Goro off of alton and culver. Its small, and not exactly a 'hip' sushi bar, but the sushi is fantastic.</blockquote>






Should?ve hit RA then checked out STRIKE.

Audrina was there.

<img src="http://irvineretail.freedomblogging.com/files/2008/06/strike1.jpg" alt="" />
 
I go to two places...



1. the place at Edinger and RedHill



2. the other sushi place is by Opah on the corner of Jamboree and Irvine Blvd??



we kinda need a quiet place since my wife is hearing impaired and its diffiuclt to understand what i'm saying if the background noise is too loud.



good luck

-bix
 
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