The food was amazing and the service was even better. The owner, Nicole, sat with us and made the night perfect. We had such a great time and will definitely be coming back here again. Thank you so much for the great night! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This has been my go-to sushi spot for almost 5 years! The fish is so fresh and nothing feels quite as amazing as eating on the dock overlooking the water. There was one time I went in and the food just didn't feel as fresh as it always does, but it must've just been an off day because I returned a few months later and everything was fantastic. Staff is always kind and it's definitely worth it to go sit inside at the bar and watch the rolls get made at least once, but for the prime experience I'd say stick to the outside seating if you can! read more

Mediocre is the perfect description for all 3 -- food, service and ambiance. I was hopeful going back with a reservation for the bar after 7 years. But left feeling very "MEH" about EVERYTHING. Probably won't ever go back at this point. I'll stick to San Shi Go for a proper night of sushi & sake. read more

We used to be regulars, we would walk there. We decided to give it another try. After being seated it took about 15 minutes and two requests for our server from the unattentive sushi chef. After that she was kind and helpful. We started to order our sushi and after a few items it reminded us why we stopped going. The miso soup tasted off. My husband didn't like the fact that the roles are semi premaid and the fish is pre-cut. The I Like It Raw roll was disappointing. You definitely don't get what you pay for. I will say the blue fin and the giant scallop where tasty and fresh. We like to eat sushi that makes you take a moment and savor that bite. You're paying for the location, Ocean Breeze, view of the yachts. So the vibe is good. I'm not a bad review type of person, but spending a good amount of money and not enjoying your food doesn't sit right with me. I do have to say that people have different standards when it comes to Sushi.‍ read more

The first time at Buddha's was great, service was awesome & sushi was pretty good. Second time was a little disappointing, my 2 cents: more communication between hosts, so customers don't feel bad when others get seated before them after checking in w.reservation && that is all. I recall from the first time, the spicy tuna crispy rice was good. read more

*Buddha on the Water* Been coming here ever since their Opening Day in 2000 and I'm here to profess & confess it's still a Homerun. Located next to Canary Village on Lido Peninsula, Buddha's Favorite is one of my favorite spots in Newport Beach for fresh sushi, sashimi and Japanese/fusion cuisine. And if you don't believe me, some of my friends who drove & drive all the way from LA to dine with me would vouch for it...and all my family living nearby loves it here too ~ especially my Hamachi Sushi and Salmon Skin Hand Roll lovin' Dad. Through the years Buddha's expanded their seating capacity with a cozy outdoor patio...and back in the beginning, it was simply a small & intimate sushi bar with a only a few tables indoors. Though they haven't expanded the size of the sushi bar, the tables outside provides the ability to service more customers...with a beautiful view of the boat docks & Harbour. As for the fish, there's nothing simple about this joint...the sushi chefs know what they're doing and never disappoints (at least with my experiences) And during my most recent visit, the hostess was so sweet & kind and the wait staff too. I like it here so much I often dine as a solo sushi barfly. I've lost count how many times I've/we've ordered takeout through the years...and they've never made a mistake. My only complaint about this little hidden gem is they get very~very busy from all the locals love & support. But it can also be a good thing too and worth the wait...while dining with all the cool & friendly vibes inside & out. Arigato... Sayonara... ScottoSan *This Review is Dedicated to My Dad/Captain* read more

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The outdoor seating on the water was just what we needed to take a break from work and enjoy amazing sushi, beautiful weather and quality time. Parking was easy, sat us quickly and severed us promptly. It's been years since I first came here and enjoyed it even more this time. read more

Food was great. Server forgot to put in my son's entree but no charged us for it. We will be back next year for sure!

Buddha's is the best!! I've been coming for years and they always have fun new rolls and menu items and the staff is great. The best rolls are hidden gem, Jamie's crying, and backflip! Can't beat the location I have placed multiple orders for pick up on at their dock, and had an amazing experience! Service and food are always 10/10 read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Went here for Valentine's Day, had a reservation at 9 and the restaurant was pretty busy still. Our server was not good, she was distracted and when we asked for an appetizer she goes "ya" and walks away. She completely forgot about us and she hadn't taken our paper for our order when the table next to us had already gotten all their food (they got there at the same time as us) we had to wave down 2 other servers in order to get our food. and our main server was so confused. Very unfortunate experience but the food was good and came out fast once we finally ordered. read more

This place used to be amazing. This past Saturday we had a reservation that was lost, resulting in a very long wait for a table (we had a big party of 10, which is why I made the reservation). Out party was met with the rudest manager ever when our concerns were expressed about first the lost reservation and then the lack of service for our table.. we didn't even get water refills. Empty soy sauce bottles on our table. The food itself was bismal, uneven sushi cuts and just lack of effort all together, and took about an hour to come out. The manager even told our table that her sous chef totally sucked that night... super professional. Won't return. read more

I went to Buddha's Favorite around 2019 and the service was impeccable, but what was better was the food and I truly hope that Covid hasn't changed that as it has w so many restaurants whose quality and services have both declined. Nicole, the owner, was so lovely and made it a point to check on every table and was so kind. This was, hands down, a sushi experience I haven't forgotten in 5 years bc it was THAT DELICIOUS! The ambiance was just friendly and a good time. The view of the marina is perfect and the restaurant is in a lovely part of Newport w ample parking. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Wanted to go for a year now and it was totally worth the wait. Delicious and the staff was amazing.

Absolutely one of our favorite Sushi restaurants! The food is so delicious , so many different rolls to choose from along with a great menu of other items. The staff are fabulous, service is quick and always with a smile! Such a great atmosphere too, being on the water is just beautiful! An amazing night out for a celebration or just a fab dinner! read more

Our favorite sushi restaurant hands down! We love the salmon candy, crispy rice with spicy tuna, garlic edamame, toro sashimi and the BIGMF, Lollipop and I'm always down for a California Roll. The service is friendly, fast and efficient. The ambiance is so relaxing, it's right on the water and we love sitting outside. read more

Quality sushi with solid flavor profiles in their rolls. I would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Buddha's Favorite is a trendy sushi bar right on the water in Newport Beach and while it was alright, I'm not sure I would come back. One of the biggest positives is the ambiance. Sitting on the water during sunset makes for a special meal regardless of the other factors. As for the food itself, it was just okay. Considering this is Newport Beach, the menu catered to its audience and a lot of things kind of ended up tasting like variations of a California roll. It took over 30 minutes for our food to arrive because there were several big parties at the time we were there. This probably is only a big problem on a Saturday night which is when we went. Parking also sucked and was $6 for valet but also to be expected by being on the water. Servers were super nice though and none of the food was bad by any means, just kind of eh read more

Buddha's Favorite - Waterfront view - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Nice location. Nice selection of fish. Good service. But the quality of fish was pretty average. You're paying for the location. Don't go for the fish. The chicken was the best thing I got. I won't be back. read more

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I've been to this restaurant a couple times now and it never ceases to amaze me! The sushi is so fresh and you can't beat the views at sunset! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Yummy and fresh sushi! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I was in town looking for nice sushi and Nobu was booked. Decided to try this place out and it unfortunately missed the mark. I waited over 20 min despite having a reservation to start. Once finally seated, waited for over 25 min for the waiter to even take our order or look in our direction. Once food was finally ordered, waited another 25-30 min for our food. A lot of waiting with minimal care from the staff. Furthermore, they got our order wrong and when we tried to exchange it for what we actually wanted they stated they needed to charge us for the partially eaten plate despite it even not being what we ordered. Somehow we needed to pay for their mistake? Thankfully, they had ONE male worker who seemed kind and took care of us more than our actual waitress. Overall, the food was decent. It's unfortunate the customer service was terrible. Won't be returning. read more

Buddhas is one of our favorite Dock & Dine experiences! The best atmosphere and the staff is always incredibly helpful & quick! It's such a great experience to come here & their food is some of the best in OC! Also, I have celiac and they are very cautious and aware of gluten free alternatives and options, specially for their sauces. read more

Buddha's Favorite was a nice hidden spot right near the water. The food was good but not great. I liked the touch with the orchids on each plate which made the presentation so nice. The proportion was smaller than what we have seen. Everything tasted fresh. Service was good but they were short staffed so we didn't get drink refills, so we just shared our drinks. Everyone was really friendly. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Salmon sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Came here on my birthday vacation and it was so good we had to go twice. Service was okay. but the quality of the sushi makes up for it LOL. I will definitely remember this place when I visit again. read more

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Great spot for sushi! I definitely recommend making reservations in advance on yelp! With our reservations we got seated quickly and they are dog friendly. We brought our two frenchies with us. And they have dog water bowls which was wonderful since it was hot and sunny. Their outdoor seating is great and by the water and boats. Such a fun place to be! Especially during the summer. As for the food it was really good and fresh! They have gluten free options too which I was happy about. Just make sure to let your server know. Gluten free soy sauce available too! I ordered the Salmon Lemon roll but replaced the vegetables with spicy tuna and it was soooo good! The Back Flip Roll and the Philly Roll was amazing too. I would definitely come back here for sushi! read more

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Sushi was really good here, but service was super slow which was pretty frustrating. Oyster sake shot was unfortunately not good, but could've just been based on personal taste. The toro roll was a fave and tasted super fresh. Would've liked to come back here but with it being so slow I'm not sure I will. read more

Stopped by today for some lunch with my boys before heading over to the beach. Buddha's has a nice quiet location in the harbor but is not far away from the Newport Beach Pier. Had the garlic edamame for a starter before diving in to some rolls. Everything was great but particularly liked the Back Flip and Oh Snap. Definitely will be back to try more. read more

Buddha's Favorite - Oh Snap! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Absolutely loved my service with Marissa! She's so skilled and made the whole experience amazing. I'll definitely be back!

Came here again for the 4th of July weekend. Best service, food, ambiance. Never disappoints!! Got the surf and true roll, avo roll, and 3 amigos read more

Buddha's Favorite - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The best sushi experience in Newport Beach. Nicole (the owner) is the sweetest woman ever. The menu is so deep you could get lost in it. 10/10 experience all around. My girlfriend and I come here once a week. read more

This is my favorite sushi place. Service is amazing and fish is so so fresh!!! I'm never disappointed coming here, the atmosphere is the best. I recommend coming here with friends and having a few drinks ! read more

Buddha's Favorite - Spicy tuna crispy rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

When a friend who lives 90 minutes away (in typical CA traffic) recommends you try this place on your business trip to the area, you listen & make a reservation, even if just for one! (That she would've met you there for dinner if she wasn't traveling out of town herself also says a lot!) I then pushed my reservation by an hour so I could enjoy a 2 mile beach walk after work, so I didn't get seating outside on the deck overlooking marina as I hoped. Instead, I took a seat at the sushi bar, which while always interesting was a little cramped. I found a comfortable seat & settled in with my Chardonnay, perusing the menu. I love sushi, and my rule when I'm overwhelmed by a menu is to order the roll the place has named after their restaurant. In this case, the NEW "Buddha's Favorite" which was excellent. I added a couple pieces of Tuna & Yellowfish sashimi to round it out. All very good. The place is a little difficult to find; I was walking & felt like I located my geocache when I found the entrance across a parking lot behind Bluewater Grill & on the marina. I'd love to return with at least one more person and HOLD my reservation for the deck overlooking the Marina, next time! Great spot. read more

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Loveeee this place. Their sushi is so fresh and delicious. You have to get a reservation on the weekends. They fill up super fast. They are dog friendly too!! read more

Sushi never misses. Literally the best people, vibes and place I love it so much. Buddhas is honestly the reason I decided to come to school in OC, I needed access to it weekly read more

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Buddha's Favorite delivers incredible fish quality with a great selection of rolls to choose from. The service is excellent, and the waterfront location makes for a unique dining experience. Just be sure to make a reservation in advance, they get packed! Definitely a spot worth visiting! read more

I came here for a date and the food I'd say was alright. Only 1 out of the 5 hand cut sushi rolls we got was really good the rest were not as notable. For the location, the sushi just did not match the vibe. Our servers were very helpful to ensure the date went well. read more

Server was really helpful accommodating gluten free allergy! When we were being sat they also asked for our preference of where we would like to sit which was really nice. read more

I know this place has a reputation as a local favorite. It's been a few years since I've visited and I took a friend who really enjoys sushi for an early dinner on a Sunday. Our overall impression is that this place is hit-or-miss. Most customers looked happy but our experience wasn't great. We made a reservation because the last time we went it was a 3 hr wait on a Saturday night. Signage warned us that they were short-staffed that night and asked for patience - no problem. They showed us to a two-top by the door - I know restaurants maximize every square inch of available space for tables but I'd strongly recommend 86ing this one. The floorboards shake every time someone walks by - it's heavy traffic and servers move fast (sometimes at a run!). In the evening hours, the sun shines brightly on the seat facing the water and there are no shades to block it - my guest had to lean against the wall the whole time. It's also right under a speaker so very loud, and away from servers' focus so we were easily missed. Staff are clearly trained to be very gracious when a customer asks for something (bravo!) but don't show any initiative unless asked directly. Our server took our order and never checked on us again. We had to ask for one of our drinks after two of our plates had already been delivered. One server, Candy, stood out for her great attitude and jumping in to help us close out the check. Food quality - hits and misses. Best pick by far was the spicy crunchy rice...oh so good. Garlic edamame was yummy. Rolls were good - nothing special. We finished with 2 pieces each of unagi (mushy and lukewarm), seared salmon (lukewarm), and masago (ok). Wish we could have done all of that in reverse order and ended on the best dish. Overall, I would have given it a 4 if the service was outstanding. But too many things made the dining experience underwhelming and at $90 for two including gratuity, we'll try a new spot next time we have a craving for sushi. read more

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Ambience is cute because it's right by the water but they had no shades so during the day there's no shade and you're in the sun which sucks. The sushi was really good but it is a bit pricey. Our favorite sushi was the wagyu and lobster roll it was so good! Everything else was good they were understaffed but it was slow so they attended properly. The miso soup was not good it was cold and wish I didn't order it. Other than that good date spot during sunset. Also make sure to order the garlic edamame!!! read more

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We ordered five foods, but three foods, one by one, waited for the food in 1:30 minutes, and after more than two hours, we came out saying we would not eat the last food. The food was bad, the employee service was not good, the water cup smelled fishy, and the family trip had an absurd experience read more

I really wanted to like this place because the customer service was great and they have free valet but the omakase quality was okay. Some of it was fresh and some of it was a bit older, especially the albacore. I also would've liked a list of what I was eating even though I could recognize most of it from past experiences. However, their tempura, black cod, and poke nachos were decent. The hot tea was very watered down so I wouldn't recommend it. You're mostly paying for a view of the water/boats and they have outdoor heaters for when it gets chilly. Overall, I would recommend San Shi Go for a more classic omakase style in Newport Beach. read more