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    Kiyo Sushi & Sake

    3.9 (730 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Waitlist - Kiyo Sushi & Sake

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    Business Info

    KIYO SUSHI & SAKE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kiyo Sushi & Sake

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chirashi Don
    Tim F.

    It's fine, this is a fine restaurant. It's affordable and gives a lot of value! I tried the salmon don. It was ok. It's not their fault. Salmon flavor across the board in the US has fallen off a cliff. I haven't had amazing salmon anywhere in months. I think I'm done with sushi in general. It's still good with soy sauce! The chirashi bowl was good. I'd never ordered one before and I didn't have any issues with it. The tuna was pretty tasty! It was good with soy sauce, but it's not for the faint of heart. It's quite a lot of sashimi! Karaage was pretty great, like a popcorn chicken. The spicy mayo was good too. Kiyo is a pretty good sushi place, I just think the times have killed sushi. I used to vacuum up raw fish like a fiend, it's not that way any longer. At least we have delicious soy sauce!

    Chirashi Don
    Jocelyn Y.

    Came with my friend for the lunch special. We both ordered the Chirashi Don ($22), and it was yum! I'm allergic to shellfish and they accommodated nicely. Pretty good price for what you get. Interior is comfy, and service was fast. I will say they broke 2 glasses during our meal but accidents happen. The people next to us ordered the lunch special bentos and those looked delish. Would come again to try those!

    premium sashimi lunch
    Jin H.

    How have I never been to Kiyo before? I live super close but finally got around to trying their lunch specials. The best sashimi I've had in a while, the cuts are so thick and buttery. We went all out and got all the premium items- the premium sashimi platter, premium chirashi, and lunch sashimi. Would definitely recommend the premium chirashi the most- feels the most balanced because it comes with rice and the sashimi is literally just the sashimi haha. The quality of the fish is top tier, and there's a lot of cuts in the premium orders that are unique like sweet raw shrimp, uni, and jumbo scallops. Kiyo will definitely be my new go-to whenever I'm craving sashimi, the prices are amazing for what you get, especially for Irvine. I'd also like to try just their regular lunch specials and dinner items to compare them to the premium options.

    Electronic Menu
    Fran L.

    Fat five stars for the BEST, absolutely BESTEST SUSHI restaurant in Irvine ever! There are so many really good Sushi restaurants in Orange County, California; but only very few truly worthy Japanese Original Sushi places with exceptionally fatty tuna that literally meltingly captures my imagination is this place. I am not a huge fan of Sushi and Sashimi, but when your tastebuds act as if they were sleeping vampire thirsty for fresh blood just woke up to the newly collected pint of the Red Cross PRBC, I have to call out to all of my Mukbang colleagues to swarm over to this King of Tokyo Sushi.

    House Miso Soup
    Phoebe L.

    My first time trying Kiyo and it was solid! Easy to find parking, restaurant was clean, and staff were attentive. Best of all, the fish was fresh, and the fried heads of the amaebi weren't greasy. I would've preferred my cucumber salad with more vinegar since it just tasted like sliced cucumbers, but that's just my personal preference and very minor. Would definitely return to try more!

    Alyssa T.

    A great spot for very fresh sushi with very well priced lunch specials. There's a good amount of parking in the parking lot. They're fairly popular for lunch because of their specials. They have sushi bar seating as well as smaller tables available. They have iPads that they give to each party to order, but the lunch specials need to be ordered from their staff directly. The food is of excellent quality and all of the fish is extremely fresh. Their dishes have very appealing presentation and the taste of the food matches the effort that they put into the presentation. They give a generous amount of fish per dish and it makes for a very satisfying meal. I've been several times and the quality is very consistent.

    Sashimi Salad and Kiyo Roll
    Sepideh S.

    Dined in this time and really enjoyed the sashimi salad and the Kiyo roll, which is my all-time favorite. If you're a fan of fresh rolls and high-quality fish, I would absolutely recommend the Kyo roll. I came in for lunch and they were offering a great sashimi lunch special, but since I was craving something lighter, I went with the sashimi salad along with the Kiyo roll. The portions were larger than expected. The server mentioned it's meant for one person, and I agree -- if I had been a bit hungrier, it would've been perfect as a full meal on its own. The service was excellent and the food quality really stands out. As someone who considers themselves a sushi connoisseur with a strong appreciation for good sashimi, I would definitely recommend this place. Their lunch specials are especially worth it.

    Deluxe Chirashi Don
    Ky-Anh H.

    If you're craving sashimi, sushi, or Japanese food in general, Kiyo is a really nice spot to try or dine in at! My girlfriend and I were looking for a place to choose and the chirashi bowl caught her eye, so we ended up here, and were thoroughly surprised! Seating was pretty quick nearing closing and there's plenty of parking, and service is great! Servers stop by often to refill water, ask questions, make sure you feel at home honestly, and that's a big plus. I personally can't handle too much when it comes to sushi, so I only ordered 1 seared salmon roll, and I got full off it quick, but the flavor from the seared salmon was good and balanced the fatty feeling I typically get. Plus the hint of sriracha and spicy mayo added a kick, but in a good way. The mushroom miso soup was so good to have on the side, not too salty, very savory in my opinion which I liked. The salmon carpaccio was amazing, definitely have to order that if you're coming here in my opinion as it's an all around good dish. Garlic edamame was okay, it's just an average side dish to have with everything, just would maybe ask for a tiny bit less garlic overall? But it didn't ruin the dish. Lastly, I had the takowasa, and I was really surprised with this. I've never had raw octopus, but this was very wasabi heavy and the texture was really interesting. It was kind of like really firm popping boba, and tasted mostly like wasabi. The only thing I didn't try from was her deluxe chirashi don, but in her words, it was perfect and so good that she'd be thinking of this place often. So if you're really captivated by the look of it, you should try it! You won't be disappointed ^_^ we'd definitely come back some time and recommend Kiyo!

    salmon don
    Natalie Y.

    I've frequented kiyo sushi a lot and its a go-to for me when i want good quality sushi easily. its super close by and there is usually no wait. my favorite order is a salmon don. though, i have to reduce a star bc the service isnt very consistent. we have had some moments where the service wasnt the best. for example, there have been a couple times where they seated people out of order, as we were 1st in line for a party of 3 and another party of 3 who came later was seated first, and they didnt have a reservation. it was very odd. ambiance is minimalist and clean. can be upscale if you want it to be but also casual too.

    B.S.C roll.
    Jeff L.

    This restaurant is located in North Irvine. The parking lot is large with plenty of space. The restaurant is not busy so I doubt you'll have to wait long. I came here on a Saturday night and I didn't have to wait at all at 6pm. Honestly I was not expecting much due to the lack of guests and they serve a lot of hand rolls. The staffs are nice enough but largely left you alone unless you flag them over. The sushi though is not bad at all. The fish quality is actually decent. They do cut the sushi well to provide a very tender bite. The serving is not very large but it tastes good. My only complaint is the sweet shrimp head is not edible. It was not fried long enough to make it extra crispy. Usually I would eat the whole head but I can't this time. The head turned out to be just for decoration. The bake scallops roll had a generous heap of scallops. The only down side is the scallops are cooked with a lot of onions and no bonito flakes. My wife dislike onion so she barely touched it. The Udon is just meh. You can't even taste any bonito or even dashi flavor. I honestly would give a 3.5 rating if available but decided to round down. The sushi is decent but they do charge premium price so hence my slightly lowered rating. I probably won't repeat since it is nothing special.

    Chirashi don
    Steve H.

    My friend treated me this Japanese restaurant because it's the best in this area. I chose chirashi don, their lunch special. Possibly one of freshest fish in chirashi don and rice tastes great as well. The lunch set comes with miso soup and it's not watered down - flavorful. Service is good and quick. Their menu is actually an iPad. Ambiance is modern Japanese sushi restaurant. It's busy at noon. The lunch is great, if you are hungry - order the premium sets!

    Ordered lunch.
    Grace w.

    The food is great, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the service has been good during my last two visits. However, my experience today was disappointing. When we arrived, we were placed on the waitlist and ended up waiting for about 30 minutes. During that time, there was an open table available, but a waitress placed a "Reserved" sign on it instead of seating waiting guests. We were originally told the wait would be about 15 minutes, but it ultimately took around 40 minutes before we were seated. What made the situation even more frustrating was that no one ever came to use the table that was being reserved. Overall, it was a disappointing experience that negatively affected an otherwise positive impression of the restaurant.

    Ray J.

    Delicious and fresh sushi with a modern touch! We got the new Uni with homemade tofu as appetizer, the creamy uni marry well with the plant based tofu. We also got the lightly marinated grilled abalone; it was full of flavors and our fav item for the meal. For lunch, we shared a steak plate, three pieces of lightly torched toro; it just melted in your month and you can tell it was high quality fish! The steak was cooked to perfection, served with ripe tomatoes, and the dry garlic flakes added a different texture to it, we were surprised to find such plater at the sushi restaurant. It just shows there is something for everyone at Kiyo!

    Salmon Skin Salad

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    A little bit dark inside the restaurant but the lunch special is awesome- so fresh and such generous portions!!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Kiyo Sushi & Sake Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kiyo Sushi & Sake

    How much is your omakase?

    Thank you for your inquiry. Since our omakase menu is made from seasonal ingredients and price may be adjusted by the time you visit us, please feel free to contact us at 714-389-7999 for the latest update information.

    Can you accommodate for a gluten allergy?

    Thank you for your inquiry. Can you please specify what kind of gluten allergy you have? We would like to do our best for you.

    Will you be open on 12/24, Christmas Eve? What about Christmas Day?

    Thank you for your inquiry. We will be close on 12/24, Christmas Eve, and return to normal business hour on 12/15, Christmas Day.

    Do you have sake for take out?

    Yes we do. Please feel free to check out our menu below and contact us at 714-389-7999 to place order. Thank you.… 

    Have you opened for in dining services?

    Hi Eileen, currently we only provide takeout and deliver order service. Thank you.

    Is the Chirashi Don the same amount of food for lunch and dinner? It just costs more during dinner?

    More

    Where can I find actual descriptions of the specialty rolls? All I see are the names but nowhere telling me what I would actually be getting.

    Thank you for your inquiry. Please check out our menu at https://fndn.mn/kiyo-sushi-and-sake-1. Feel free to contact us at 714-389-7999 for any questions.

    Are you guys open for dining in now?

    For health and safety, we only open for takeout and delivery now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

    Do you guys open dine in now outside seat?

    Hi Eric, we do have outdoor patio for public. You can order takeout and enjoy the food at the outdoor patio. Thank you.

    Are they open tomorrow for pick up?

    Yes. We are open for pick up. Our current business hour: Everyday 11:30 am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

    When is the next bluefin tuna live cutting show?

    If you follow them on Instagram they usually post when the next one is!

    Do you take reservations?

    Hi Sarah, thank you for your inquiry. Yes, reservations are always recommended especially for weekends. Please call 714-389-7999 for more information. Hope to hear from you soon.

    Do u have happy hour?

    Dear customer, we don’t have happy offer. However, we offer daily lunch special and chef special :)

    Will there be any other similar events to the bluefin event that occurred a couple of weeks ago?

    Hi Tiffany, thanks for your interest. We will announce on our social media(Instagram &Facebook). Stay tuned for more details and updates! Thank you :)

    How many pieces are there in the deluxe sushi set?

    12 pieces. Thanks for your questions:)

    Any options for gluten-free eaters (eg, gluten-free soy sauce, clearly identified gluten-free dishes)?

    Most the sushi, sashimi and sushi rolls are gluten-free dishes. Noodles are not gluten-free dishes. Thanks again for your question :)

    How is the omakase?

    We serve 3 kinds of Omakase, $88 for lunch special Omakase, $118 and $158 for dinner. Each Omakase serves about 10-12 courses depends on the daily chef choice. Reservation is required one day ahead. The whole meal may take at least 1.5 to finish, so… 

    Does the leaf symbol next to the veggie and zaru udon mean they're actually vegetarian and don't use bonito broth? At most other Japanese restaurants, even the veggie udon uses fish broth so I want to make sure.

    Hi M.T. We use dashi soup base for all udon which is similar to bonito. If customers don’t like it, we can use soy sauce base as an alternative for the udon. Thanks again for your question :)

    View All 22 Questions

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    I've had this restaurant bookmarked in Yelp for the longest and finally got to try them out for the…read morefirst time! Arrived on a Friday night around 5:30 PM and there was already a pretty decent line waiting to be seated. The interior dining area is fairly small, seating about 20 people total. We waited about 20 minutes for a party of three so not bad at all. The service was great, and the staff was super friendly and attentive. The interior dining area was a bit loud which was expected with how many folks were sitting in there eating and talking in addition to the music above, but it's manageable and nothing super overwhelming. Their menu is simple, but at the same time you have plenty of options. The go to order is obviously the Katsu combinations, which comes alongside a cabbage salad, miso soup, white rice, pickled daikon, and jalapeños, and don't forget their addictive katsu sauce. We tried their Hako Katsu, Hamburg Katsu, Cheese Katsu, potato croquettes, takoyaki, and shrimp tempura. Everything was well executed simple yet with a depth of flavor. Check out my photos for these items! We will absolutely be back and so glad that we finally tried this little hidden gem of a Katsu shop!

    Hako is a local favorite in the OC, gaining viral popularity for serving up Japanese classics…read more After seeing the hype surrounding this spot, we finally decided to give it a try. Our order arrived quickly and was neatly packaged in a beautiful bento-style box, making for a great first impression. **Curry Tonkatsu: 5/5** The tonkatsu was the highlight, with golden, crispy breading and a pronounced crunch in every bite. The curry had a bold, deeply savory taste that complemented the cutlet exceptionally well. Steamed rice cut through the richness, while the crunchy cabbage salad provided a light, refreshing contrast. A side of pickled radish and jalapeños added a bright acidity, with the creamy, tangy katsu sauce pairing perfectly with the fried cutlet. Portion sizes were impressively generous, leaving plenty to enjoy later. We also upgraded to a combo with a California roll and gyoza, though both sides were fairly unremarkable by comparison. **Tanuki Udon: 5/5** Simple yet incredibly comforting, the tanuki udon featured a warm broth with a delicate sweetness and plenty of umami depth. The noodles were thick, chewy, and bouncy, making them especially satisfying to eat. An assortment of toppings further elevated the dish, layering in complex flavors and contrasting textures. Overall, Hako absolutely delivered with its delicious, well-executed dishes and is a must-try for anyone craving a hearty Japanese meal.

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    3.9(3.1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    Minority-owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    If you have a craving for sushi--and quite a lot of it--Tomikawa is a very easy place to recommend…read more We have eaten here several times and, so far, have never ventured into the à la carte menu. We always choose the all-you-can-eat option, which gives you three rounds of ordering and, in our experience, presents a considerably greater risk of leaving with the top button of your trousers undone than of leaving hungry. Tomikawa is popular, and deservedly so. The downside is that waits of 30-45 minutes for a table are not unusual. Once you make it through the door, however, the experience is pleasantly efficient. The welcome has always been warm, friendly and genuine, and once seated, service moves at a remarkably brisk pace. The waitstaff may not always have the polish of career restaurant professionals, but I almost hesitate to mention that because what they occasionally lack in refinement, they more than make up for in attitude. They are friendly, attentive and genuinely seem interested in making sure you have a good experience. Special requests--gluten-free soy sauce, seemingly inexhaustible quantities of ginger, and the like--have always been accommodated quickly and without fuss. The sushi itself is consistently good, particularly considering the volume this restaurant produces. An all-you-can-eat operation has to balance quality, speed and quantity, and Tomikawa manages that equation quite well. The restaurant is clean and well maintained, and either relatively new or cared for well enough to give that impression. It is not, however, a quiet or particularly intimate dining experience. When the restaurant is busy--and it frequently is--the noise level can be fairly high. I would happily recommend Tomikawa to anyone who enjoys sushi in generous quantities, appreciates quick and friendly service, and doesn't mind waiting a little for a table or having some lively background noise once seated. Come hungry. Very hungry.

    I've been here multiple times and have always liked the food and service but on my most recent…read morevisit, another customer became confrontational while I was using the waitlist tablet at the check-in counter. He repeatedly pressured me to move out of the way, even after I told him I'd only be a second. I eventually stepped aside because he would not stop. After that, he followed me outside and continued confronting and insulting me. The host was present while this was happening at the counter, and I would have appreciated them addressing his behavior before it escalated.

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    Affordable, delicious, great service!…read more The cons are the wait times and packed parking but you can always add yourself to the waitress online and arrive happy instead of hangry. The fish is fresh and tasty and the service is swift and comes with a smile.

    Rol Handroll Bar in Irvine has become a regular stop for my wife and me -- we've been back a couple…read moreof times, and it keeps earning the return trips. The ambiance is intimate by design: the bar seats only 20-30 people, wrapped tightly around the sushi counter. It's not the spot for a date night or a family outing, but for a quick lunch with one or two people, it's ideal. Service is speedy and consistently kind, which matters given the counter's close quarters -- everything moves efficiently without ever feeling rushed. Drinks are what you'd expect from a sushi bar: a solid rotation of Japanese beers and sake. Nothing adventurous, but a good, reliable selection. The food is where Rol shines. My wife and I always order a variety of rolls -- this visit, she loved the blue crab and scallop, while I couldn't get enough of the spicy tuna. The wasabi sauce and truffle soy sauce elevated everything, and are reason enough to keep coming back on their own. I've also had the truffle nori roll twice now, and while it's genuinely very good, I don't think it justifies the extra cost over the standard rolls -- the regular menu is strong enough that the upcharge doesn't feel necessary. Expect to spend around $50 per person for a satisfying lunch or dinner. All in, Rol Handroll Bar is a great go-to for an elevated casual, satisfying meal -- just don't expect it to double as a date-night destination. Ambiance: 3.5/5 Service: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Consistency: 5/5 --- Let me know if you want any tweaks.

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