Best Japanese Cuisine In Orange County
Japanese influence in Orange County is quite easily seen with the vast amount of Japanese restaurants within the area. Japanese flavors and ingredients exceed traditional sushi. Ramen, udon and rice bowls are trending big with foodies today, which is reflected in all of the newer restaurant openings in the OC. Chefs are creating interesting and different sushi and sashimi vegetable and sauce combinations, as well as innovative omakase (chef’s choice) menus. Orange County isn’t lean on Japanese cuisine, and here are the five must-visit restaurants.
Gen Kai Sushi
34143 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 240-2004
www.sushiorangecounty.com
A favorite Dana Point spot for Japanese fare, Gen Kai Sushi serves sushi, shabu shabu, poki bowls and more. Lunch, dinner and happy hour at Gen Kai is bustling with locals from southern Orange County who come for traditional sashimi and sushi, teriyaki, Japanese short ribs, steamed clams and the restaurant’s signature Yose-Nabe entrée or Japanese bouillabaisse. Specialty sushi rolls range in flavors and layers of ingredients. Try the Dana Point roll made with spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber and crowned with seared salmon, or the Crazy Gen Kai, a roll creation with crab meat, shrimp tempura, seared albacore, avocado and crispy fried onions. The restaurant offers a curated selection of Japanese beers, sakes and plum wines, and the favorite Ramune soda drink for kids.
Ajisen Ramen
2700 Alton Parkway
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 833-3288
www.ajisencalifornia.com
For classic Japanese ramen, Ajisen Ramen is a best-bet in Orange County. A great local place for families, or for a quick bite, Ajisen Ramen creates a secret “tonkotsu soup base,” which serves as the building block to a great bowl of ramen. Cooked slowly for multiple hours, it is made from meat and bones, and vegetables and spices. What makes Ajisen Ramen so popular is how many flavor and ingredient options there are for the perfect bowl of ramen. Mild, spicy or curry, the options include BBQ pork, fried chicken, seafood, eel, grilled Hokkaido scallop, shoyu, veggie and miso. Ajisen Ramen also serves curry rice bowls with beef, pork or chicken, fried fish entrees, gyoza dumplings, and a highly recommended baby octopus side dish. Enjoy jasmine iced tea, boba drink (milky iced tea) and Japanese imported beers.
Ohshima Japanese Cuisine
1956 N Tustin St.
Orange, CA 92865
(714) 998-0098
Known as the most authentic omakase restaurant in the OC, Ohshima Japanese Cuisine is often compared to restaurants in Japan. Ohshima prepares a wide variety of sushi, cooked meats and other traditional Japanese fare. The omakase menu, which is hand selected by the chef, includes approximately eight pieces of sushi — cherry salmon, horse mackerel, albacore belly, black cod, barracuda, uni and so many more selections. Guests who choose from the main menu will find delicious fresh octopus carpaccio, homemade smoked jumbo clams, homemade marinated uni, braised black pork belly, miso duck, baked mussels and homemade shrimp gyoza. Ohshima gives 21-and-overs an assortment of imported Japanese beers including Sapporo, Asahi, Yebisu and an extensive Sake menu.
Related: Best Beer Gardens In OC
Hamamori Restaurant & Sushi Bar
3333 Bear St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 850-0880
www.hamamorisushibar.com
At Hamamori, Executive Chef James Hamamori carries forth his personal and innovative artistry to both the sushi and hot entrée menus. All ingredients are honored through chef’s elegant presentation, which continues to bring Japanese foodies to Hamamori’s tables. Guests enjoy the chef’s tasting menus (several courses) featuring Japanese mushroom salad, an appetizer trio of okaki asparagus, rissole of kobe beef and a foie gras rock shrimp tempura, chef’s choice sushi, and an option of tamari black cod, petite miso lamb chops or pork ribs … dessert always follows. Other restaurant favorites include shiitake frites, spicy tuna crispy pizza, the freshwater eel rice bowl and hot or cold soba noodles.
Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ
18798 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-8393
tsuruhashibbq.com
For Japanese barbecue, Tsuruhashi is the right destination. This restaurant is named after an area in Osaka, Japan where there are many barbecue-style restaurants. Come ready to cook top quality USDA Prime meat including Kobe beef, boneless short ribs, outside skirt steak and marinated kalbi beef, seafood and vegetable. Each table is equipped with a self-serve barbecue and skewers. Ideal for a bigger group of friends or family, Tsuruhashi also offers soup, rice and noodles on the side.
Related: Best Barbecue In Orange County
