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    Nana San

    4.3 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed • 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Nana San Photos

    Business Info

    NANA SAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Nana San

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    Romuel Dave C.

    If this isn't one of OC's best hidden gems, I don't know what is. I almost hate to write about it, but let's be honest, it was packed on a Tuesday night; it's gonna get the business it gets. Came in for omakase style dining....and not omakase in a preset sense, but in a, "I'm hanging out with with my sushi chef, and he's gonna make me what he wants,' type of way. Everything was amazing; right down to the service with Chef David and Judy. Amazing rapport. Inside is dim and intimate. Outside I couldn't even find it. There were no bright neon signs saying open. You can miss it. (like I did!). Their sign was off when I came. Look, if you like Sushi and Japanese food, call it in, see if you can get a table/seat. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but everything is just top notch. It ain't cheap either...you can't get that quality and service at fast food prices.

    Chicken karage combo
    Mandro E.

    This is more like a 3.5 star review. Went here for lunch based on reviews. Sushi was good. Service was good and so was the chicken. Tempura mix was OK. Overall a good experience but can't say I was blown away. Will be coming back to try more.

    The sushi here is good, but the service is far from exceptional. No matter how early you arrive, there always seems to be an excuse about the bar seats being "all taken" and that you should call for a reservation. We called at 4:00 PM one time--no one answered. Another time, we were told to call around noon. Again, no one answered. Today, I arrived at 4:30 PM and was once again told that all the bar seats were taken and that I should call. I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do at this point. I waited until 5:30 PM when the restaurant opened, and they seated me at the hottest table in the restaurant, with the sun shining directly on me. I politely asked if I could move to another table. I was told no because the other tables were "taken." The unbelievable part? The restaurant was practically empty. Good sushi can only go so far. When customers make an effort to arrive early, follow your instructions, and still receive this kind of treatment, it becomes extremely frustrating. Tonight, I'm not just disappointed--I'm angry, upset, and hungry.

    Dave L.

    This time we came for lunch. We had to wait to be noticed. Then we were sat down and left. It was a full five minutes later before I had to ask for a menu. We ordered a Salmon roll and a Combo A with chicken Terryaki, rice, soup, and salad. The roll came right away. The quality was good and the seaweed salad was fantastic. Then came the chicken. I bit into it and there was a cold spot in the meat. The rest was room temp but the cold spot felt like this was taken out of the refrigerator. I asked the waitress to bring me something warm to eat. She left and returned in five minutes. The chicken was like rubber. The ends were not edible. I told the sushi chef to look at the meat. I pressed down on it in front of him. It was like beef jerky. It did not taste fresh, and the small amount was $18. I don't want to be a big complainer and cause trouble for this restaurant, but I will never return to this place or recommend it to anyone I know.

    Arielle T.

    I'm so happy to visit Nana San again! Through all the different sushi spots that I try, I always find myself coming back here to eat all my favorites. It was so special to try the Kanpachi Kama and go back to my favorite dish, Blue Crab Handroll. I ordered all my favorite dishes, including my favorite cut being the Japanese Red Snapper. As always, I was met by the lovely staff that helped place my name on the waitlist, those that greeted me, and others that served me and continued to make my experience special. I was seated at the bar and the sushi chef was so personable. He would create my dishes quick and with precision, never compromising on flavor or presentation. I always order extra pickled carrots on the side and he did not hesitate to present me a lovely serving of this. Coming to Nana San feels like home. With the food, people, and company, it never fails to fill my cup at the end of a long day or week.

    21 items for my son's 21st birthday - 19 piece omakase and 2 desserts
    Tiffany C.

    This has become our favorite place for celebration dinners because it's so delicious! We always sit at the sushi bar and order omakase. Today we had Chef Goro San. He carefully prepared each wonderful piece individually: - red snapper - rock cod - black snapper - European sea bass - Bluefin tuna - striped jack/shimaaji - finger lime on halibut - king salmon - yellowtail - kanpachi/amberjack - seared scallop - Spanish mackerel - steamed abalone - Spanish mackerel fried bones - albacore belly

    Unagi
    Adilene R.

    If I could give this place 10 stars I would! Freshest sushi! I know it gets packed & honestly it's worth the wait. I was lucky I had a reservation & was seated right away. It's authentic & the service is great. I would say it's not too big not too small inside. Every single thing I tried was phenomenal it's the best sushi I have had in a long time! I tried the hand rolls, nigiri, unagi, sashimi, and the lotus tempura with spicy tuna (highly recommend). The scallop nigiri was literally insane just melted in your mouth. The unagi was some of the best unagi I've ever had. I can't wait to return I've thought about this meal often!

    Connie Y.

    Nanasan's omakase is first rate. Goro is the master. We have been coming here for a decade and it's amazing. Sit at the sushi counter and order what makes you happy. Parking is plentiful. It's in a large strip mall. Everything they make is delicious. This place takes me back to our summers in Japan. The fish is fresh, the dishes are authentic, and you are transformed into a Japanese paradise when you come here. Enjoy! Happy Yelping!

    St240Jo C.

    Important tip: Make sure to call ahead for a reservation. You cannot book online--reservations are phone-only. I called in the morning and reserved for 2 people at 7:30 PM. We arrived early around 6:45 PM just in case and ended up waiting about 30 minutes, getting seated around 7:15 PM. What we ordered: Deluxe Chirashi "J" Combo (tuna, yellowtail, salmon + crunchy roll - 8 pieces) Chicken Karaage Live sweet shrimp x 2 Eel x2 Toro x 2 Because it was busy, ordering took a bit of time--but I placed everything at once so we wouldn't need to keep flagging the staff later. Overall experience: Everything was visually appetizing, incredibly tender, clean, and fresh--exactly what you hope for from high-quality sushi. The fish quality and presentation fully met expectations despite the crowd. Final thoughts: This is definitely a place to save for a special occasion, as prices are on the higher side. That said, the quality makes it worth it. I will be coming back again soon.

    Omakase nigiris ( I literally can't remember what these fish were but they are DELICIOUS)
    Christian L.

    Nana San is me and my girlfriends go to for special occasions. Anniversary? We're there. Valentines? We're there. Girlfriend day? Veterans Day? We don't need any excuses to make reservations here. It's always a rush trying to get reservations for evening bar seating. It reminds me of ticket wars trying to get seats for a Stray Kids concert. If you want omakase bar seating, make sure to call at 10 AM(?) weekdays or 5 PM(?) on weekends. Getting to the food, let me put it this way: Nana San has ruined other sushi for me. Whenever me and my girlfriend try another sushi place, we always end the meal with "we should have just gone to nana San." The quality to price ratio, the selection of fish, the chefs personality are all top notch for a budget price. I can't emphasize enough how much I personally love Nana San, and this is coming from someone who used to not like sushi. The quality, service, and overall vibe of the restaurant is amazing, and I hope you are able to go and experience it yourself.

    Nhu V.

    Nana San is our go-to feel-good sushi spot: Birthday? Nana San. The day after the wedding? Nana San. Feeling sad? Nana San will fix it. Chef Goro and Chef David are always so welcoming and make us feel at home. Their sushi is of highest quality. The rice to fish ratio is spot on. Each nigiri piece is dressed up differently with a variety of condiments/garnishes, so every bite is a surprise and a celebration of flavors. Another highlight for me is their complimentary pickled cucumber, which makes a perfectly balanced meal. As a tradition, we always ended our meal with their homemade flan: black sesame, coffee, matcha, or hojicha - you really can't go wrong with any of them. I highly recommend calling on the day of to make a reservation, or else it will be a long wait because it's a small establishment. What are you waiting for?

    Alex L.

    Update on my review since the last time I was here. We came here last night to celebrate my little cousins birthday and they provided us good hospitality. The waitress and servers were very attentive and always cleared up our dishes. We ordered al la carte this time. I really enjoyed the scallop, red snapper, ocean trout, and European sea bass sushi. Super fresh! We tried the Soft shell crab hand roll and yellow tail hand roll as well, so good! Highly recommend the soft shell handroll. I had to order the shiitake crab meat, that has to be my favorite appetizer. It was delicious!

    Idk the left one but king salmon on the right

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    Page 1 of 34

    Nana San Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nana San

    Can I make reservations by yelp?

    No just call

    How much is the omakase (beginning of 2024)?

    It depends on your appetite. For omakase, they will ask how many pieces you would like to start with. Also, consider that omakase prices will change based on what is served -- it's chef's choice (by definition). Nonetheless expect to pay about $50… 

    How much is the omakase?

    The price varies; it depends on what the chef decides to serve you. I highly recommend trying to reserve a seat at the sushi bar. The service and dishes are more personalized to your liking.

    Is sushi bar open for omakase?

    Yes. In some traditional Japanese restaurants omakase is still only available at the sushi bar.

    Is the sushi bar open for Omakase? We miss Gorosan !!!

    Yes.

    Is the phone number down? Or is it a different one for a takeout order?

    No there's no different number. They're always just very busy. Call early.

    Does anyone know if they are open for dine in yet?

    Yes, they are open with limited seating. No bar seating, table only. (This was as of 6/22)

    Is there a special takeout menu during COVID-19?

    Are they dinner only starting in January 2020?

    I just had lunch couple day's ago .. I don't thinks so

    Do they have vegetarian options?

    Yes. Nothing specifically off the top of my head, but you can order rolls with vegetables only, or their salad. They have vegetable tempura as well.… 

    Do you take American Express?

    Yes they do! Just used an AmEx at our visit last week.

    Do they have soy paper?

    Yes

    Is the sushi rice served warm here or cold?

    Warm

    How much is the omakase and how many pieces?

    Their omakase is not a set menu like other places. The chef will prepare specific dishes for you, and possibly get some feedback to determine what to serve. The price will vary depending on what they choose. Great way to get off menu items /… 

    Is this all you can eat? If not know any place close that are?

    it is not. But the quality is much better than all you can eat places. the fish's grade would be way better here, this place is a hidden gem, give it a try :).

    Can u call to put your name in the waiting list?

    No you can't. You have to be present to put your name on the list - at least it was this way about a month ago (August 2017).

    View All 23 Questions

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    San Shi Go Newport Beach - Sweet shrimp sashimi. Shrimp head can be fried or added to miso later.

    San Shi Go Newport Beach

    4.4(1k reviews)
    4.3 mi
    •$$$
    Fine dining
    Romantic vibe

    Updating my review and realizing that it's been 12 years since I first started coming here... and…read moreit still remains one of my tried and true omakase experiences in the area. Nothing fancy and no gimmicks, yet their nigiri is consistently fresh and the appetizers are always surprising and beautifully presented. But what goes beyond the food is the service - the fact that they always remember who we are when we call to make a reservation, that they know which sushi chef is our favorite (Makoto! Of course!) and make sure we are served by him, that they know our sake preferences from our last visit even if it's been a year since we've dined here, that they'll make notes on seasonal ingredients you want to try and make sure to contact you when those ingredients are available... all of these small things really matter and make us as customers feel so appreciated. I will never stop singing high praises for San Shi Go. Coming here feels relaxed and comforting. It's my husband's and my favorite spot for a date night, hands down.

    We were able to get seated immediately without a reservation, which was nice, although it was a…read moreThursday night and not particularly busy. Place is small and now they have small outdoor seating which is kind of nice. I ordered the crispy rice with spicy tuna, and it was just OK, nothing really special or memorable. I also ordered the salmon skin hand roll, which was disappointing. The salmon skin wasn't crispy at all, and there was quite a bit of salmon meat still attached to the skin. I personally prefer a salmon skin hand roll to actually be mostly crispy skin. On top of that, it was extremely salty. My husband started with the soft shell crab roll, and honestly, it was terrible and completely inedible. We actually had to send it back, and my husband NEVER sends food back. The soft shell crab was cold and tasted like it had been cooked much earlier, possibly even the day before. It had that unpleasant taste of old or overused frying oil and was just awful. There was also way too much imitation "crab" meat in the roll compared to the actual soft shell crab, which, after tasting the soft shell crab, may have been for the best. He also ordered the special sushi platter. That was OK, and the fish did seem fresh, but we found the cuts of fish to be rather small and thin. Overall, this was such a disappointing experience, especially because we've been here several times before. We came back because we had enjoyed it in the past.

    Photos
    San Shi Go Newport Beach - Thursday special

    Thursday special

    San Shi Go Newport Beach - My BFF Coco can surely eat!!! Her fav sushi place in the OC

    My BFF Coco can surely eat!!! Her fav sushi place in the OC

    San Shi Go Newport Beach - Sashimi

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    Sashimi

    Anjin - The finest quality meat and sides

    Anjin

    4.3(2.1k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    •$$$

    We had such a wonderful dinner at Anjin. Everything we ordered was delicious, but my favorites were…read moredefinitely the Kainomi, the Anjin Seaweed Salad, and the orange sherbet at the end. The Kainomi was incredibly tender and flavorful, and the seaweed salad was fresh, light, and perfectly seasoned. The orange sherbet was also such a refreshing way to finish the meal. I honestly wanted to try so many more dishes, but since there were only two of us, we could only order so much. Next time, I would love to come with a bigger group so we can try more of the menu. We came to celebrate a very special birthday, and it made the evening even more memorable. We both left very happy and completely satisfied. Thank you for such a lovely experience!

    Anjin has been on my list for so long and I've always heard good things. I just couldn't bring…read moremyself to wait 2 hrs on most days. My wife and I decided to leave our names down and walked around antil mall/the lab. Our wait time ended being about almost 2 hours. The service here is pretty good, they are pretty attentive. You could tell they been around due to the furniture and style. Anyways, we absolutely enjoyed our meal. We ordered three al carte meats: marbled prime rib eye, boneless short ribs and the prime outside skirt. I can assure you the meat was so soft and tender. Quality at its finest. You can cook them either well done or my preference is medium. Very tender and melts in your mouth.. Their side dishes were good, the seaweed salad and the hot stone rice bowl. Make sure you to add those on your visit. I mean this place has 2k reviews, 2 hour waits, not much I need to say. This restaurant speaks for itself. I'm glad I finally had the courage to wait out the hangryness!

    Photos
    Anjin - Inside, small but neat. Come early or late if you want to get a table without waiting

    Inside, small but neat. Come early or late if you want to get a table without waiting

    Anjin - Kobe beef, so good

    Kobe beef, so good

    Anjin - Sanchu with bean paste! the best sauce ever!

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    Sanchu with bean paste! the best sauce ever!

    Meiji Seimen - Nabeyaki Udon Food IG: @nomswithsabs

    Meiji Seimen

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    •$$
    Casual dining
    Kid friendly

    Our whole family absolutely loved Meiji Seimen Costa Mesa! The adults loved it, the kids loved it,…read moreand we're already talking about coming back. Their noodles are made in-house, with a wonderfully chewy texture, and their Kansai-style broth is made with Hokkaido kelp and bonito flakes. Here's what we ordered: Sesame Tofu Silky, smooth, and creamy with a rich sesame flavor. A light and delicious way to start the meal. Fried Squid Leg Crispy on the outside and wonderfully chewy inside. So addictive and perfect for sharing! Kakuni - Braised Pork Belly Tender, juicy pork belly with a savory-sweet Japanese flavor. It practically melts in your mouth. Cheese Curry Udon One of our favorites! Thick, chewy udon covered in rich Japanese curry and creamy melted cheese. Warm, comforting, and SO satisfying. Shabu Shabu Udon Tender slices of beef with chewy homemade udon in a warm, savory broth. Simple, comforting, and delicious. Tempura Zaru Soba Refreshing cold soba noodles served with crispy tempura. I love the combination of cool, chewy noodles and hot, crunchy tempura. Nabeyaki Udon A steaming bowl of comfort food! The flavorful broth and chewy udon make this such a cozy and satisfying dish. Suki Beef Curry Bowl Savory-sweet sukiyaki-style beef with rich curry over rice. Every bite is packed with flavor! Katsu Bowl Crispy, tender katsu served over rice--simple, hearty, and definitely kid-approved! Honestly, we ordered so many different things and there wasn't much left on the table! This is definitely a great family-friendly spot. Free Parking!

    There was a line when we went around 7pm on a Saturday but it's a pretty small place. The karage…read morewas well priced ($10)for the giant juicy pieces! The curry udon ($17) was classic, well made and I loved the texture and chew of the udon it was perfectly cooked. I thought the udon broth itself was a little runny since I personally prefer thicker curry udons but this was still really yummy and I highly recommend supporting local businesses!!

    Photos
    Meiji Seimen - Mochi and Red Bean Food IG: @nomswithsabs

    Mochi and Red Bean Food IG: @nomswithsabs

    Meiji Seimen - Cheese Curry Udon

    Cheese Curry Udon

    Meiji Seimen - Egg and Tororo Udon Food IG: @nomswithsabs

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    Egg and Tororo Udon Food IG: @nomswithsabs

    IZAKAYA OSEN

    IZAKAYA OSEN

    4.3(2.2k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    •$$$
    Outdoor seating
    Full bar

    this might be one of my new favorite sushi spots in OC!…read more i've heard so many good things about izakaya osen, and after finally trying it, i completely understand the hype. everything came out beautifully presented, but more importantly, there genuinely wasn't a single dish we didn't enjoy. the uni scallop carpaccio and spicy tuna crispy rice were such a good way to start - both were super flavorful. for nigiri, i'd honestly recommend leaving it up to the chef and letting them choose the best cuts for you! also, don't overlook the skewers!! the wagyu and seabass were two of my favorites of the night. and of course we had to try their fan-favorite toro roll and omakase bowl, which definitely lived up to the signature must have. there's a really nice variety here if you want more than just sushi, which makes it such a good spot for sharing and trying a little bit of everything. and the service was very attentive and warm. this definitely earned a spot on my OC sushi list

    Had such a great experience at Izakaya Osen! Everything we tried was fresh, beautifully presented,…read moreand full of flavor. My absolute favorite was the uni scallop carpaccio -- the combination was so delicious and definitely a must-try if you visit! We also enjoyed the Hachi Mori, toro roll, spicy crispy tuna rice, Omakase bowl, and the pork and beef skewers. The lychee martini was also so good and paired perfectly with the meal. Definitely a spot I'd come back to for a date night or dinner with friends!

    Photos
    IZAKAYA OSEN - Sashimi Omakase

    Sashimi Omakase

    IZAKAYA OSEN - Omakase Bowl

    Omakase Bowl

    IZAKAYA OSEN - Fresh Roll

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    Fresh Roll

    Nana San - sushi - Updated September 2026

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