Truly magical sushi...great atmosphere, servers and Levi the sushi king... chef's kiss!

I often have to commute from San Diego to Los Angeles, and I am always looking for good sushi. Usually, I cannot find it. This is the first time during my commute. I found exceptional sushi. Everything was exceptional! The food, the ambience, the merch, and the service was outstanding. I complimented the owner Levi on their aprons, it turns out that his father used to work for Levi's and it's a tribute to his family. Every single touch of this business is a work of art and has so much intentionality behind it. All the sushi was incredibly tender, and it was so beautifully placed on top of its original taste and feel. As a brand ambassador, I rarely wear brands at all outside of work. Their merch was so cool that I got the beanie and the sweatshirt. I've never done that at any business in my life. The ambience is gorgeous both inside and out, and the crowd are mainly locals. It's such an awesome place, and I would probably go to any of those places outside and try them all. I can't wait to have an excuse to go back to dark magic sushi, it's one of the best sushi places I've ever been to read more

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New(ish) sushi spot in Old Town that's apparently been open since July and OMG... how am I just finding this place?! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was fun and chic, and the staff was fantastic. Total bummer I didn't take any photos because everything looked as good as it tasted. Definitely order the garlic edamame -- BEST ever. You will not be disappointed. Already planning to go back next week read more

Good news: Chef makes great rolls, their Miso is delicious! Bad news: they put sugar in many dishes, including edamme, fancy rolls, and their sauces. Additionally, there are staff members needing to learn how to manage restaurant guests more efficiently. If you want a great sushi dinner, go for miso soup and unfancy rolls. read more

The ambiance was good! The place was really nice and really clean ! I was looking for other sushi places and it lead me here... I didn't know that the old ramen place was gone and was replaced by this sushi restaurant for now 9 months! The service was good and we liked the ambiance it wasn't too loud or anything! It has 4 tables and more outside. It was cold so we ate inside but outside is really nice too! I wish they had more in the menu such as Ramens and Bento boxes. They mainly serve sushi and sashimi but their selection of sushi is very limited to tempura's and imitation crab though the sushi rolls were very fresh they were mostly smothered with sweet sauce. We got the miso soup which was really good!!! The vegetable tempura was also delicious along with the shrimp tempura! Then we had the California rolls, caterpillar rolls and the Omg (Shrimp tempura) rolls which was good as well! read more

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Came here with my family at 5pm on a Tuesday. The indoor area is very small, only about 16 seats. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot inside, easily around 85 degrees. I'm not sure if the air conditioning was broken or if there isn't any, but it made the environment uncomfortable for both guests and staff. While we did enjoy most of the food, the temperature was concerning, especially for a sushi restaurant. The salmon came out warm, which didn't feel safe to eat, so we left it. Overall, the food had potential, but the lack of proper temperature control really impacted our experience. read more

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There is definitely some dark magic going on here because this was the best roll I've ever had in south OC (and for a place with countless amazing sushi spots that is a high compliment). This place is usually packed but even though I came in around 6pm I was dining solo so got seated quickly. I recommend getting here a little before dinner service starts at 5 because it is a small parking lot. I got the delicious sesame dressing house salad to start which was pretty big for one person so it'd be great to share with another person or two. The star of my dinner was the Nine One One roll - a delectable spicy tuna roll with smelt egg, avocado, and green onion. There was soooo much complexity and depth of flavor in this roll it seriously blew me away. Service was so friendly and still attentive even though I was sat outside in a corner! I will be back again soon with friends and family!! What a great spot for a date night read more

Dark Magic Sushi - House Salad (it's big for one so good to share!) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Amazingly delicious sushi, it's obvious why there tends to be a line. Chef Levi is friendly and masterful at his craft--ask for his recommendations and you won't be disappointed! Some of the freshest sushi I've ever had, and the venue itself is small enough to be intimate but not cramped. read more

We arrived at 7:45. 4 tables were sitting open and set. 5 spots were open at the sushi bar. An iPad was sitting out front indicating a wait. Two parties of 2 on the waitlist. We went inside and went to sit at the bar. We were rudely told there is a wait. Poor management or understaffed, essentially both. Plenty of chefs in the kitchen. Don't try to create demand using inefficient systems. This was our second visit. First time we arrived 45 minutes before closing and they rushed our order. Sushi was average at best. read more

Great little spot with friendly chefs. Fresh clean tasting fish every time we've been. The food is good and the atmosphere friendly. Great date spot! If you're looking, just do it. You'll not be disappointed. read more

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This place is cute for an average neighborhood sushi restaurant. I probably wouldn't come here unless I was in San Clemente and not overly impressed with the presentation. I don't like sauce or mayo so maybe it's great would have enjoyed it more with all the pizzazz. They are heavy handed with the rice in all the rolls but generous with fish portions and not exorbitantly priced. Summary... The portion sizes are pretty substantial and the fish is fresh, but I thought it was bland probably because I didn't have any sauce on it. They do have gluten-free tamari upon request. read more

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The food- best sushi in town. Ambience- true San Clemente vibe. Service- spot on. It's always great supporting San Clemente! We will definitely be regulars. read more

We've eaten at many sushi places around then world and this whole in the wall is one of our favorites. Amazing melt in your mouth sushi with unique flavors. Friendly staff with a local vibe. Sit at the bar and ask Levi for an Omakase meal. You won't regret it! read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner on a tuesday night and was expecting to walk right in, but to our surprise they were super busy! No problem as they had a waitlist and you can even check in via yelp within 2 miles. We have a tesla so just sat in the car while we waited. We had 7 people ahead of us and waited maybe 30 minutes. It was a bit of a wait but that's not their fault they're busy Ambiance - it is in old town san clemente so the vibes are so cute. i generally don't like that parking lot to begin with but not their fault. they had maybe 4 tables inside, a few bar seats and maybe 5 tables outside. It seemed like it was a mix of locals/regulars and people coming for the first time. Service - personally our waitress was amazing she was so sweet and friendly. I don't think they were ready for it to be as busy as it was on a random tuesday night so service was a BIT slow overall Food - very fresh, large portions of fish AND they make it easy by having "set" platters to order. We got the 6 set which was a combination of 6 hand rolls and the dark magic sashimi platter which was 18 pieces. 48 for 18 pieces of sashimi 35 for 6 hand rolls 3 for a bowl of spicy miso soup (excellent) drinks - huge bottles of beer, i ordered the soju sunrise $16 and it was delicious although i couldn't tell if it was strong or not also ordered a glass of PLUM wine which was a bit on the sweet side but good paired with the fish Overall I would recommend this place. The slow service is explainable and I am a sensible person. I feel that patron's these days have gotten too spoiled. It is also nice they don't take reservations and don't focus too much on take out because according to the waitress, the goal is top tier service for seated patrons. They delivered thanks guys! enjoyed my birthday dinner read more

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Our sushi and sashimi was delicious. The service was excellent and the restaurant has a great vibe. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Both the Diane roll and halibut sashimi were excellent! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Recommended by a friend and it didn't disappoint! Fun vibe. Indoor or outdoor seating. Short wait, but that just means the sushi is worth coming for. Definitely coming back. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - The Krab. 10/10 - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

So stoked to have Dark Magic and Chef Levi in SC - hands down the best sushi in OC - he and his team kill it! read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

High quality sushi, definitely a hole in the wall gem. Trying new sushi spots is something I don't usually do since I stick with my favorites, but after so much talk about Dark Magic, we were pleased to confirm that they had a friendly vibe, great staff and experienced chefs. Beautiful presentation and fresh cuts of fish that melt in your mouth. We went for lunch and it wasn't too busy, and they seem to have a crowd of regulars which is always a good sign. read more

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The sushi here is delicious and such high quality! It is seriously amazing every time. Chef Levi has done such a great job curating the menu! I love love love this local spot. It was an instant fave. read more

Service, sushi, and atmosphere was so on point!!!! Grateful this gem has been added to San Clemente's repertoire of restaurants! It's cozy and not over the top with pricing, yet feels like a lovely intimate date night spot. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Roll, sake, and Kirin - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We arrived at 8:20 PM on a Friday, and the staff from Dark Magic Sushi told us that they were doing last calls and could not give us service even though they close at 9:00 PM. I then kindly asked a lady who works there if we could do a to-go order, and she also refused to take the order. To be honest, this has never happened to me, especially since they had 40 minutes until closing time. I have worked in restaurants, and the #1 rule has always been our clients, and in the restaurant industry, this is unthinkable, especially with the amount of time they had until closing. I hope this gets to the right person in restaurant management. Locals recommended the place to me and my friends, and we were excited to try it, but unfortunately, we had this experience. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

I loved our first dining experience at Dark Magic, it's certainly one of our faves. We luckily didn't have to wait too long to be seated, but as with other reviews, the wait time for service was quite long, however, it was very friendly and attentive when the waitress took our order. We were told that the delay/slow due to a table of the owners being there; I should think of the owners were there, their primary concern should be the customers getting preferential service ‍ This won't hinder us from returning, but definitely only on an evening when we're not already famished. The quality of the sushi was fantastic, the chutoro being our top pick. The sushi rolls were all very creative combinations. Hint: put an order of edamame in as soon as you can in case service times a slow. read more

Amazing sushi and team here! Chef Levi is super personable, and goes above and beyond to make sure you are pleased. We tried the Crispy Tuna Rice which had a generous amount of tuna on top. I was surprised the tuna had a good spice level to it! The special for the day was a Tuna Truffle Carpaccio which was amazing! The tuna was so fresh and the sauce had so much flavor. My favorite sushi roll was the Sunrise in Heaven. The cocktails are sake/soju based, so I tried the Love at First Sip, which was similar to a strawberry margarita. For seating, there is a sushi bar to sit at, as well as indoor and outdoor tables. Highly recommend coming here and trying some daily specials. I'm looking forward to returning! read more

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Amazing spot!!! Good service, the staff was so sweet and engaging. The ambiance is perfect for a casual date night or quick solo bite. It really speaks for itself in the food how much the chef has put into this restaurant. Get the hand rolls if you can, the sake menu is also great. Going into the rotation for weekly sushi night, definitely recommend. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Kanpachi sushi (baby yellowtail) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

THE BEST EXPERIENCE! I had the dark magic sashimi special "Chef Levi's Selection" and it was the best sashimi I've had in a while, no soy sauce needed. The staff and Levi were also welcoming and hospitable, it made my girlfriend and I's trip for my birthday memorable! read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Dark Magic Sashimi Chef Levi Selection - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

CHEF LEVI IS THE BEST! He's back everyone, and we missed him SO MUCH! Best sushi in town! Plz get the magic hand roll, dark knight roll, omg roll, bluefin.. just get it all! We had the best sushi tonight and I can't wait to go back once a week lol. The plates were so cute and although the restaurant is small, it's adorable and perfect. Thank you for opening this spot!!!! So so happy! read more

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Very nice outside patio. Service was friendly and fast. Delicious sushi and creative menu!

We've been a few times, including on Valentine's Day, and the servers and hosts are super attentive and wonderful! Definitely recommend the "Night in San Clemente" roll. read more

The sushi was amazing!! One of my new favorite places to go to! Thank you Jamie for being so great and making sure our experience was memorable! I'll definitely be back! read more

The best sushi place I've had in San Clemente!! Fresh fish, amazing drinks and even better service!! Mai and Dana took very good care of us. Felt like vip. The sushi was amazing. I had the Batman roll, fresh bass on top. Also had gyoza and cucumber salad. Big portions. To top it off had sake cheers for boyfriend's birthday. 100% will be back again. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

One of my favorite sushi places like everrrrrr I love the spicy tuna crispy rice and the OMG roll! The yellowtail sushi is so yummy and softttt and i love the hirame with the ponzu sauce. Yum! Love the service read more

Quality fish, good service, very early on a Saturday Good attitude from staff , generous read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Albacore - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Impossible to place an order online and no one answers the phone? Confused and very frustrated.

The sushi was amazing! We typically drive to Sea Butter in Laguna and are so happy to have something amazing here in town. We ordered the tuna crispy rice, yellowtail, salmon and tuna sashimi, salmon handroll and the magic roll. The sashimi with serviced with nuanced sauces that brought out the flavor and texture of the fish. The service was excellent and the chefs were very inviting. We accidentally stumbled in on their soft opening night and even though it was special reservations only they offered to seat us. We will definitely be returning soon! read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great addition to San Clemente and nice new build out. Rolls were fresh and good value for the quality of food. This will be a regular stop for us. Have the 911 roll if you like just the right amount of heat. read more

Sashimi platter outstanding . Fresh wasabi... yummy! Service was a bit slow but once we ate the sashimi our mild annoyance with the slow service vanished! read more

Best sushi in town!!! Levi is such an amazing chef and the kindest man ever. Walking in the door feels like home, and the sushi is nothing short of the best I've ever had. The dark knight roll is my favorite! Such great quality fish and service. Bonus points for the amazing playlist they play. read more

Dark Magic Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Amazing experience at Dark Magic Sushi this evening. Omakase at Dark Magic was beyond better than expected from start to finish. The buttery mackerel was unreal, and the sea urchin was absolutely delicious-- easily surpassed higher priced restaurants. Every course looked & tasted intentionally and expertly executed. I will bring my friends and colleagues here because of the ambiance, energy, service, and overall dining experience. Levi, the owner & head sushi chef, along with his partner, made the dinner even more unforgettable by checking in with us throughout the evening. Best sushi in San Clemente! Can't wait to come back. read more

Excellent! Treated like family, delightful food! Its difficult to find places like this. dont rush perfection read more

Delicious FRESH sushi and good service. Super cute presentation and truly good menu. Only thing they are missing is highchairs but we were able to borrow one from the next door restaurant We can't wait to come back and try more sushi! read more