10/10 experience. We were greeted pleasantly and promptly sat. The menu is tremendous. And the execution on all food was superb. Our waitress Paige was fantastic. The kind of personality I'd hire 10/10 times. Very attentive and on point. Top recommendation!! read more

Beautiful restaurant. Small but quaint. Service was impeccable. Food was delicious. They offer a great happy hour that is offered daily! Menu is huge and offers all sorts of flavors influenced by Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian flavors. Calamari here is delicious! Comes with a very fragrant creamy Vietnamese coriander sauce that I am obsessed with. Thai chicken satay is delicious. Spicy Ahi roll was fresh and flavorful! Candy Dragon prawns are huge! So crisp and flavorful! Black bean scallops were amazing. Very generous portions and so flavorful. Honestly I can go on, and on. Don't think there is any dish that isn't good! Highly recommend! If you do go, make a reservation! read more

Excellent service although the reception and seating is a little "rocky"....we made reservations for 230pm on Saturday and when we arrived the place was empty save two tables. We parked right in front no shortage of spaces. We're pretty short and sitting at high tables leaves us with our feet off the ground. Over the space of a meal that's uncomfortable. So we started out our visit uncomfortable and when we asked for a better table the choices were worse. Also it was a cool day for California...we just finished a rain and we starting to get another and the two front doors were wide open and the breeze was cold blowing through the dining room. We asked for the doors to be closed and they obliged...thank goodness we "won one." I know the other guests thanked us. By 330pm the place was packed and every table filled. The noise is so loud and the music makes it necessary to shout over the others guests...older people with Tinnitus are just not going to make it here...seems like a place for young people. And because the tables are very close together, the problem is even more aggravating. We tried eleven different items for 3 people and shared. Every dish was excellent but we especially liked the Nigiri Sushi, Pork Dumplings, OG Vietnamese Roll, Samba String Beans, Rickshaw Ramen Noodle, and the desserts. The most troubling thing about the menu is the lack of sourcing information. We don't know how they purchase their fish...we don't know how they purchase their meat....we don't know how they purchase their produce...most people trust them to procure the best of everything....I get it. But each of these products have hidden problems and most of the top chefs spend 50% of their time on sourcing....visiting local farms, checking ranches for how they raise their chickens, checking ranches for how they raise their cows, etc. You can save alot of time when you don't feel the pressure to answer questions about sourcing. But as food gets more and more toxic, as fish become inedible, and as protein is attacked by people who want to sell you insects...the sourcing question becomes even more important. This is not a place to have a relaxing meal with feet on the ground and the ability to hear your dinner mate over the soft music. This is a place that serves excellently prepared menus where you overcome the poor reception, seating, and sound level in order to enjoy their food. read more

Starfish - SUSHI & DUMPLINGS - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Classy and Cozy restaurant. First time here with my friend and we love this place. The place is beautiful and very clean. We ordered Sushi and Shrimp tempura roll and it was very delicious. Staffs are knowledgeable and nice. read more

Starfish - Shrimp Tempura Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great food, got pad thai and it was great. Great service and nice atmosphere. Looking forward to coming back read more

Starfish - Pad Thai chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Took my kids there on weekend. No customers when we got in. Service was extremely slow as the server was chatting up a storm with other servers. We waited more than 30 min after I asked for the server AND after the cook waved at the server at two different times lol though by then there were only 2 tables including us need to be served. Food was mediocre. Drinks are good. Not sure if I'd go back. read more

Aaaaaa, I'm so excited this location has finally opened!!!! I've been waiting on what seems like forever! I made reservations and I would definitely recommend it. I always went to the Laguna Beach location because the food here is so damn good, but I would always have to do it on a day where it was going to go for their Happy Hour which is actually a good deal because they offer it everyday from 3-6pm!!!! That rarely happens. But the fact that they are so close to me now and it's actually close to my work, makes this even more exciting. I'll list what we ordered in the end but I'll tell you the good and the bad. First the bad stuff...This place is so small, I was actually expecting them to be in a different area where the clothing shop was going to be so I was surprised that all they did was take up a small corner. Also, going to the bathroom is very odd, you have to walk by the servers and there's only one bathroom so if you are waiting until it's open, you are literally standing to the side where all the servers are standing to wait for the food to come up to the window. It's just in a weird spot I feel like and very awkward if you are waiting for the bathroom to be free. There's mostly high tables and a few spots right in front of the bartender to sit. I just don't really like the set-up in this location. I would still prefer the ambiance and the big space at Laguna, but as for convenience, I would definitely be going to this location a lot more just because I really do love their libations and their food. Here's what we ordered: Island Geisha Maui Water Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Soft shell crab Banh mi sliders Crispy Lobster spring rolls Crab california roll Thai spice beef with basil They share a parking lot with other businesses so parking can be a nightmare. read more

10/10 . Came here for happy hour and everything was more than amazing. We were greeted warmly and quick and offered happy hour menus. I started off with a lemon drop , bf got a beer. The lemon drop was exceptional. We ordered a few various happy hour items and every single thing was amazing quality and taste wise. They use real crab in the rolls , the fish for sushi is extremely fresh and good quality . I used to work at a sushi restraunt and this is very good quality. I had another lemon drop and an expresso martini to end the night. Bryn was helpful, and kind and a breath of fresh air honestly . I will be back as soon as I am in the area for sure. It's nice to see staff that are passionate about their workplace and love what they do. It can be a rarity nowadays . Will reccomend to everyone I know read more

Starfish - Happy hour - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The food and drinks are delicious, even my toddler thinks so, which makes dining out as a family so much easier. We have gone to both locations and everything on the menu that we have tried, we would order again. read more

Starfish - Toddler-approved chicken chow mein - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I'm a huge fan of the original location in Laguna beach and had to come stop by the new one here in Newport Beach. The ambiance is very similar and on trend with the original location. Is a smaller spot and they do get busy so highly recommended reservations! There is no outdoor seating here and we not recommend larger parties. As always you need to take advantage of the stellar happy hour menu and prices! There is so much to choose from and all the cocktails are amazing! I tried the Chilean sea bass for the first time and it was amazing! I highly recommend giving this a try for your main course. Definitely will be back! Can't wait ! read more

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Date: 4/13/24 Seating: 8:30pm Party: 3ppl Let's talk about Starfish! Menu is asian fusion vibes. Relaxing atmosphere, well selected music (ambiant choices)- subdued calming decor and strategic lighting as well. Uniquely crafted cocktails that pair nicely with savory appetizers and small plates. Entrees are well plated and visually appealing, creations are exotic and bursting with fresh and delicate flavors. Since it was my daughter's birthday-I might add that she was the "star" of the show that night ....however, I would have to give the Seabass equal billing! A noteworthy co-star, is the Chilean Sea-bass! Served wrapped up in a banana leaf boat brimming with a tantalizing creamy coconut butter sauce that pours over a bed of coconut rice! Many excellent dishes to choose from. My photos reflect our selection. Each was equally well plated, creatively made with a culinary intent to surprise-! Casual & warm atmosphere and well trained staff. Our server ***jillian*** was warm, personable and attentive to details! Staff was prompt and effective in keeping table's cleared. All dishes were served hot, promptly and simultaneously. Water refills were consistent and drinks refreshed throughout the evening. I hope those looking for a unique dining experience will try Starfish. It's a wonderful addition to the Orange County coastal restaurant variety. Laguna & Newport Locations. AA read more

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There's nothing bad to say about the food at all. Last time my boyfriend and I went, we tried the Naked Buddha roll, chow mein, and bahn mi beef sliders (all of them were DELICIOUS). The staff was super attentive too; they kept refilling our water and checking if we needed anything. I'd give the place 3 stars though, mainly because I didn't like how cramped the seating was. The tables were so close together that I felt like I was practically sitting with the next table. On top of that, the music was way too loud; even though I was face-to-face with my boyfriend, it felt like we had to shout to hear each other. Because of that experience, I always hesitate when someone suggests going back there. read more

If you love and have been to the location in Laguna Beach on PCH... you will more than likely love this new location in Newport Beach. One thing to keep in mind it is 1/ third of the size of the one in Laguna Beach so basically it seats 42 people. We highly recommend you make a reservation or you can do what we did. We walked in and found two seats at the bar and were as happy as can be. We had the best bartender , she made the best cocktails had the best pours... and made a smile... my favorite was the butterfly samba and the long life margarita, they were both muddled with delicious fruits. We also shared a cantaloupe cocktail just for fun. Unfortunately it was too sweet.. we started off with the lobster roll so delicious and had some of their sushi sashimi , and then finish that off with some of the Korean tacos. Delish! We really love the location in Laguna Beach as there's so much room to spread out , however, we might come back to this location to sit at the bar again.... read more

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Went here for the first time. We went specifically for a happy hour and the food/drinks were great! The ambiance was poppin and a great environment! read more

Takeout was our first exposure. Person taking my order answered call on third ring. She was quick, but helpful and thorough. My order was ready in 12 minutes. Our two sashimi/nigiri dishes were reasonably priced, very fresh and delicious. Paper menu seems very comprehensive; decor is modern; lots of takeout business when i grabbed my order, so i plan to return several more times. read more

Very nice Asian themed decor in a relatively small space. There are a lot of menu items and it is a little overwhelming. Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese... they had a little bit of everything. But what this restaurant is a good example of is being a Jack of all Trades but a master of none. Tried the following: Crab Mango Salad - looked fresh but was really bland. Needed more dressing maybe or salt? I don't know, but some kind of additional seasoning. Drunken Noodle - unlike the salad this was like a flavor explosion. Had a kick to it but not overwhelmingly spicy. The noodles were not al dente enough and too soggy. Wild Thai Halibut - average. The flour tortillas were a bit tough. The chili sauce was pretty spicy. Coconut rice was not a consistency I cared for (sticky and mushy). Thai Spicy Beef with Basil - this was probably the best dish out of everything we ordered. Great flavor and there beef was crispy and super flavorful. The coconut rice was disappointing. Same as the one that came with the halibut. Service was ok in the beginning but was slow towards the end. But based on just the food alone probably wouldn't return. read more

Service is good. I was greeted right away and the hostess reviewed the table we reserved that night to make sure we were happy with it. That was very kind. Anyhow, The decor is cute, the food and drinks are delicious & I love the presentation. Everything looked great and also tasted great. Our server was very kind and pleasant too. This seems like a local spot as everyone was dressed Newport casual. It's a nice vibe. Not a big fan of the pretentious Newport crowd, so coming here was very refreshing. I'd definitely dine here again. read more

After much indecision about where to go, we came here to celebrate my birthday and it ended up being the perfectly choice. We were sat outside in a lovely courtyard, which worked out great with a wiggly 4-year old. It was still happy hour so we were able to take advantage of that, as well as many dishes off of the main menu. Everything that we ate was a hit, even with the kiddos so that's a huge win. They brought out a birthday dessert and candle, which was a very nice gesture. Lovely meal and lovely service and just a great experience. I'm thrilled to have starfish in Newport Beach now! As for our dishes: -salmon sushi - the kid's gobbled it up before anyone else tried any. It looked very fresh and the kids approved -chicken wontons - crispy and flavorful without being greasy. Another hit with the kiddos (and the adults who managed to nab some) -Buddha roll - delicious vegan sushi with really flavorful spicy sauce. Yum! -green beans - one of my favorites of the night. Not greasy like so often this dish tends to be at other places -eggplant- again, bursting with flavor without the grease - garlic noodles - my kids split it and liked it a lot. Huge portion! - miso cod - my dad's dish. Very big portion and big on flavor. He liked it a lot - Thai seafood curry- my mom's dish. Chock full of seafood and another gigantic portion. She really enjoyed it - hot n spicy mahi mahi - my husband liked it a lot too Desserts were the chocolate cake and the banana pastry and no complaints here lol read more

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We live a few minutes away , love to stop here on our way home from bike riding. Always greeted nicely by the staff. Food is delicious , love the happy hour and regular menu ! The lychee martini is fabulous with the brandied cherry & lychee garnish! The Szechuan shrimp is great , lil kick to it ! Hamachi ( yellowtail ) fresh and delicious, had the sake sushi ( salmon) as well ! read more

Starfish - Lychee martini ! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Visited with Friends for Lunch. Service was great. We had attention of the waitress when we needed it. We ordered 2 small Plates. Korean Tacos and Wagyu Black Bean Sliders. Both were delicious. Had the Kung Pao Prawns. Prawns were good but missing flavor. Small Plates were the highlight of Lunch. Friends seemed to enjoy their meals. read more

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The espresso martini was delicious and lobster had interesting flavors. I really enjoyed the happy hour here! Would 10/10 recommend a nice happy hour spot read more

Starfish - Lobster roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Where do I start? Our host was very kind to accommodate our 4 person party to find us some tables to push together so we could sit together. It took quite some time for our server to get us our food, forgot half the time to fill our waters and never happened unless we asked. Almost everything we asked for took multiple times to receive our requests. The worst offense is where we were gaslit by our host claiming my sister in law's meal did not have cashews but did. My brother has a severe nut allergy and found himself outside throwing up in the bushes. While the host and our server were nowhere to be found and it wasn't until my brother came back in and told them we just wanted to pay and leave. Horrendous experience and customer service. Where's the positive intent? Where is trying to make the moment right? Do better Starfish. The fortunate thing is the food was mostly enjoyable and we hopefully, in the future, maybe give customers an opportunity to trust that the servers, hosts, and menu can be honest. Brutal. read more

Absolutely delicious. This is our first time here, but it's definitely not our last time. Lauren was our server and she was fantastic. The food tasted great and the restaurant decor is contemporary and chic. And for a restaurant like this in Newport Beach, the prices were so reasonable. No wonder you can't get into this place without a reservation. read more

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Finally, a top of the chart's contemporary restaurant in Newport Beach, alive with beach style overtones, yet elegant and sexy. I was there the second day of opening, and it was smooth sailing in this packed reservation only venue! The hosts and server were nothing but kind, cool, and professional! The service was outstanding which is unusual with a new restaurant, however this was the exception, and telltale sign of the experience, and passion behind Starfish Newport Beach. If the ambiance and drink selection doesn't bring you back the food certainly will. Only the freshest hand picked ingredients were chosen for this offering, healthy flavor filled choices for any guest. From vegan to omnivorous! read more

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A great addition to Newport! I just wish it was open a little later since they're positioning it more as a wine bar than the Laguna location. I also hope they have outdoor seating in the summer because there is a beautiful courtyard in the front. The restaurant of the restaurant itself is pretty small. Favorite dishes: Wok Fired Edamame (the crispy garlic was delicious!!), drunken noodles So-so dishes: wild thai halibut in banana leaf (some in our group loved it, some didn't), Thai Spicy Beef with Basil (this was good but we didn't realize the beef was coated or pan-fried) Least favorite dishes: sunset roll, banana in filo dough (dessert) read more

Food here is really good! Great service! Attentive staff! Our waiter was extremely nice and made the best drinks.

Had a wonderful bday party at this venue yesterday. Katie Joy was the manager and she and her team were EXCEPTIONAL!! Food was amazing. What an amazing time thanks to this amazing staff and KATIE is extra special! read more

Very nice with cozy ambiance. Food is prepared and served in a timely fashion. Good food.

We came here to celebrate our anniversary. We've been here multiple times since this place has such great foods, but Chandler really set the bar high tonight. We had such a great experience with her as a waitress. She was so knowledgeable about the menu, had such a bubbly personality, and made our night so enjoyable. I HIGHLY recommend trying the chili fire wontons (ask for a glass of ice.. trust me) and the wagyu burgers. Best sushi spot by far. Nobu doesn't even compare. This place is way better. read more

Love both locations!! Fabulous food! We go multiple times every time we are in the area!

Food and drinks were delicious. Moo Shu with pork was tasty. Would definitely get again. Sunset Roll tasted fresh. It's a small place so likely to get busy fast. Sat at the bar. Same service as at a table. Glad this place is down the street now. read more

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The daughter's reservation for early Celebrate of Her father's Day comes. This restaurant is pretty small, in the same location as Ces't is BON. I like the decorative wood door, the Buddha, and the status...at the entryway Services were ok, food was quick, and the side of food was a little pricey, but...Newport Beach location! read more

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First if all the food was excellent although it took sometime to arrive at our table. It's also an extremely loud environment to enjoy dinner, i.e. "The Quiet Woman". Alcohol always arrived in a timely manner, but water was always the last to arrive. Following several years of sobriety I notice things like this in restaurants all over the county. read more

I have been here twice now and I have enjoyed my meal both times! They have a great happy hour and you can make reservations which is always a plus! I've tried a variety of items and everything has been fresh and tasty. I have to say the salmon salad I had today was my favorite so far! Light and refreshing and the salmon just melted away! The candy prawns were also huge and had great flavor! Their drinks looked really good too but couldn't partake at lunch, lol. Definitely worth a try! SYOY! read more

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Very accommodating. Food is either amazingly delicious or needs a little work. We loved the spring rolls (have ginger but not listed on menu). The wagu beef sliders were scrumptious. The calamari was chewy but good panko batter. We tried 90% of the hapoy h our food and loved the margueritas. Enjoy! read more

connor was so sweet! he gave perfect recommendations and conversed with us when we sat at the bar! 5 stars!!!

The service at Starfish Newport is excellent! The staff, ESP. JESSE, is polite and attentive, going above and beyond to provide a wonderful eating experience.Great Opium hr. Bring back service night Archie! Much love read more

Great that there's now a Starfish in Newport Beach. The good - Everything. The whole menu. Appetizers, entrées, sake, mixed drinks, dessert, service, vibe, parking and location. The not good - The solo unisex bathroom is very nicely done but could be a wait if many need to use it. The ugly - absolutely nothing. Though it is smaller than the Starfish in Laguna Beach. It is a great place for a party of 2 or 4. We were fortunate to get a table for 6 for a late weekday lunch. Maybe they can also open a larger place down the street at the corner of PCH now that CPH restaurant is no longer there. Or expand in their current space. read more

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I give them a five star cuz their food and service is so good. The only suggestion that I would make is that their booths have some kind of foot rest. Your legs just hang and I found my legs falling asleep. They need something to put your feet on read more

Seated promptly at a nice table. Food tasted delicious . The service was excellent.