Wow! I've been to some of the top sushi spots, and this one really stood out. Everything from the service to the ambiance was exceptional. Our waitress was incredibly attentive, always making sure the table was cleared, our drinks were refilled, and that we had everything we needed. I ordered the Karatsu Omakase, which included a starter, soup, eight pieces of nigiri, and dessert. The chef even surprised us with an extra piece of tamago. Uni is my favorite, and the quality here was outstanding. Every bite was perfectly seasoned, and you can really tell the chef takes pride in his craftsmanship and pays close attention to every detail. There are three omakase options to choose from. I went with the Karatsu at $165, and I thought it was absolutely worth it. If you're looking for a memorable omakase experience, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try. read more

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My boyfriend and I had the Kaiseki here and it was amazing! The server staff and the chefs were all very polite. It's a nice balance between traditional and modern. Their green pea mochi duck was the most unique and tasty meal I've had! The sushi was amazing and fresh. Loved the wasabi it was freshly made! I had to order another round of the tamago it was that good. We would love to try their lunch menu next time! read more

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Okay, this is clearly a 5. It's worthy of a 5/5 on yelp It's like a 9 or 9.5 / 10 for even a strict grading. This is an A level restaurant. But I have to start the review focusing on the extremely high cost of the dining experience. I know everything is expensive nowadays, and this economy hasn't recovered from the fucked up inflation we experienced in the past couple years. Something just doesn't feel right about the high cost of food, restaurants, rent, and just about everything in California. The last year and a half or two has really worsened. I have eaten at 2 1 star Michelin sushi joint and one 2 star Michelin sushi joint that were overall less expensive than here for a party of two. (One of these places was Q sushi in Los Angeles, which was better overall) Okay. I've made my point. I've never starter any review talking bout bread $$$$ but it must be said. Especially since a lot of the best offerings of the night were fish from Mexico. But Mexican tuna at Hokkaido prices? Interesting. Alas, The experience was pretty phenomenal. I mean, the Mexican Otoro has to be the absolute best most delicious nigiri I've had in at least 2 ish years. It's ridiculous. The blue fin was just rock and rolling on all cylinders. I just expected a slightly more complete and elevated tasting menu for just shy of a grand (with essentially only 2 alcoholic beverages that weren't even fancy or high cost bottles) Anyways, glad I finally tried this place as it had been on my bucket list for years. Excellent quality fish! Just a bit limited as I stated many times. read more

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My bf booked this omakase experience for me and it was such a romantic date night spot. They greeted us at the door and the chefs were right in front of us prepping the meal. The sushi was high quality and I saw that they won a Michelin. The flavors and textures were great. The service was top notch, they refilled our drinks several times without us asking. My favorite was the cheesecake at the end. SO DECADENT. read more

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Came with high expectations given the $215 omakase price tag, and left extremely disappointed. I hate leaving negative reviews but my partner and I were so upset with our experience that we couldn't stop talking about it even the day after. For a $215 price and the title of an omakase dinner, we were expecting better quality presentation, better sushi, something with a culinary twist or aesthetically pleasing, or at least more in quantity. For starters, we had a toasted scallop that tasted... just okay? The oil these used to garnish it was honestly the highlight, which should not be the case. The assorted dishes they gave us were all mediocre and bland, with the exception of the oyster which had a clean taste and texture. The tuna in the wonton skin was overpowered by the cucumber, which is saying something... The first nigiri plate was honestly a slap in the face because what do you mean we're paying $215 per person to have absolutely normal nigiri that we could get at any other sushi joint?! The only exception was the scallop, which was excellent in quality, but that's not enough. The uni my partner had was slightly stinky, which is unacceptable for a establishment of this price. The next nigiri plate was actually about the quality and taste we were expecting--no complaints there. The o toro and squid were our favorites. After that, a simple eel and tamago sushi followed... so disappointing. The highlight of our meal was the milk panna cotta with red bean on top. This was honestly quite delicious, but seriously? The fact that my partner and I liked a simple milk dessert more than the entire sushi meal speaks volumes about the value of this meal. This was not my first omakase so I'm not having any unreasonable expectations. I would stay away from this place and save your money for a different omakase. Despite the lackluster meal, I would like to applaud the service. Our waitress was kind and attentive. But the atmosphere of the restaurant was very casual, loud, and it felt rushed, which is not supposed to be the case for an Omakase dinner. I will not be returning and would caution others to stay away until the restaurant makes improvements. read more

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To celebrate our 32nd anniversary, my husband took me to dine at Sushi Ii. I have been to many omakase places before, but Sushi Ii is easily my new favorite. We ordered the Oribe Signature Course, which consists of a starter, appetizer, 10-piece nigiri, miso soup, and dessert. For dessert, I ordered the matcha tiramisu, my husband got the lychee sorbet, and they even brought us a complimentary peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream! Every single piece we had was superb and delicious. I highly recommend this place! The staff was incredibly welcoming and friendly. I truly hope this restaurant thrives so we can keep coming back. read more

sushi ii - Oribe omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I enjoyed everything about this visit. The food was flavorful, well presented, and made for a memorable dining experience.

I cannot say good enough things about sushi ii. I've been here quite a few times before and it has ALWAYS been top quality and the staff are also top quality! I know that they made the Michelin Guide and I have to say that it is very well deserved. The entire dinner is an experience from when you walk in to when you leave. A bit on the quieter side but sometimes I enjoy it because I can't be distracted by noise at all. It is truly special and the staff are very kind and warm. On top of that, the food taste and presentation is amazing! It is truly worth every penny. This is great for a special occasion or even just a date night! And don't forget to ask for the red bean cookie at the end of the meal - it's not on the menu but it is a dessert option! read more

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Everything is so delicious! Service is great, chef is very polite and pleasant. MUST try. read more

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Service was very good, it's a small place and the wait staff have a central station to clearly see meal progress and drinks, etc. Unfortunately we did not particularly enjoy the meal, and had a bit of buyers remorse. The intro appetizer was maybe the best part, which I don't think you want to hear. Have had omakase before. Have had very nice omakase before. This was just OK. Primary issue is that every piece we got had about 4x too much wasabi and overwhelmed the flavor of almost every piece. Secondary issue was it was just kind of boring. Cool appetizer. 10 pieces of fish with too much wasabi. Nice soup, nice dessert. The main event was not eventful. Fish quality seemed very good. Prep all seemed good. The dessert was nice. The (red?) miso soup was also nice. Yeah, this was just very very OK. Last thing I'll mention is the interior is very sparse, simple, which is nice BUT they have a big MICHELIN GUIDE sign as the only thing behind the bar. That should be in the front window to attract customers, right? We're already seated... are you trying to convince us it's good as we eat? read more

This is hands down the best sushi I've had in Orange County. Everything is incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. You can really taste the quality and care in every bite. The ambiance is minimal, elegant, and gorgeous. Every detail feels meticulous and thoughtfully designed, which makes the whole experience even more special. I've been there twice, and both times were outstanding. You definitely need a reservation ahead of time--it's popular for a reason. It's on the expensive side, but in my opinion, it's absolutely worth it for the quality and overall experience. read more

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This place is absolutely gas. If you wanna pay a good high price for the best food you'll ever eat come here. nothing more to say then this is the best sushi you'll eat, and the Japanese chef is a master read more

sushi ii - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Recently revisited Sushi ii and found out that the original chef, Susumu ii and his staff are no longer here due to his retirement etc. (?) However, the new team did a great job in accommodating us and served us a wonderful set course meal that we enjoyed in a leisurely manner. Excellent and well paced meal in a quiet setting with great service that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking first class sushi. read more

My friend and I got omakase. It was interesting with varied flavors and good but not great. Most of it was over-seasoned. There was lots of different and unusual fish just not very good fish. I did love both bluefin items I had. One was complex with many items and flavors that blended well but not excessive seasoning. The other was a more simple nigiri with light seasoning. The sake from Heavensake we had was very good too. I should also mention that I mean these comments and start rating would hold at any price since I think that got lost in other reviews complaining about the price. There are many regular sushi places I've enjoyed more. read more

I had a 5/5 experience. This was my first time getting real omakase where I sit at the bar and they serve each nigiri to you. I was amazed by each dish. They had a special for Valentine's day and I was blown away. Each dish was art. We were amazed by all the flavors once it entered our mouth. It was like an explosion of flavors. The sashimi literally melted in your mouth. I was blown away and was very satisfied at the end of the meal. So worth!! read more

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Second time here still amazing but somehow keeps getting better!! Can't wait for next time!

Nice place，，the food looks beautiful, but it tastes pretty average and is very expensive., Everything is over priced especially the tips. read more

The most authentic sushi experience in Newport Beach! Recognized in the Michelin guide 3x, it truly shows. The chefs are so skilled, the staff is so kind, and the fish is so fresh! We watched Chef Susumu Ii slice up a fresh delivery of tuna and we knew that everything we ate would be amazing. My favorite (beside the tuna) is the freshwater eel! It's warm, and slightly sweet from the sauce, and I could probably eat 14 of them! The miso soup is delicious, too! We went for lunch and had Chirashi, which is the same high-quality experience, but at an affordable price- starting at $35/person. The space is intimate but modern and beautiful! Add this to your must-try list! read more

sushi ii - Lunch Menu (as of March 2025) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We had the Valentine's Kaiseki Course to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. The food was fresh and delightful. And the service was very attentive. I actually did not make the reservations telling them it was his birthday. But when I mentioned it in conversation with the chef preparing our meal (we sat at the counter, which I recommend, b/c part of the fun was watching him masterfully prepare all the food) that it was my dad's birthday, a candle appeared on the last course adn they sang happy birthday to him. I think it was his favorite part of the day! The Japanese staff were all WONDERFUL and provided excellent service. We all wish we lived closer so we could come more often. Lots of Japanese clientele also confirmed to us that this place is the real deal. Highly recommend! attached are about half of the courses. read more

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Best sushi's I've had. Service is prompt. Ambiance can be a bit loud and lively. If you are looking for a quiet, intimate dinner, this is not the place. read more

Classic keiseki, great ingredients, great execution, and great sake selection, I can see why he's earned a Michelin star

The space feels elegant and upscale but still very warm and cozy. The staff made our first visit truly memorable, as every team member was attentive and incredibly accommodating, making us feel genuinely welcomed. We had the signature/oribe set and every fish we had were exceptionally fresh, and the toro was absolutely unforgettable... so rich and fatty it practically melted in your mouth. The appetizers offered a creative twist on traditional seafood dishes. A special shoutout to Chef Nario for making our first experience so special; his intentional attention to detail was evident in every dish. This was definitely a "for special occasions" place for us, but we can't wait to return. read more

Clean looking place. The service staffs were wonderfully attentive. We were seated right at the bar and got the full view of the chef at work plating up the beautifully kaiseki set. Everything was wonderful, except for one main item... And that is the food. For $275 pp for kaiseki, I was expected to be wowed, and unfortunately, my palate's response was a lukewarm of... meh...nothing to really be impressed. read more

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Excellent quality sashimi & sushi combo. Great & very friendly service and servers try very hard to please. Will definitely be back read more

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Went to their Kaiseki experience for a friend's birthday. The courses were amazing with good pacing. They kept an attentive eye on us. We didn't feel rushed but they were very fast at giving us the next course once we finished our previous one. Food - delicious food with the sushi chefs preparing it in front of you. They were super nice and explained each dish to us. Their tuna, just, wow! Service - very attentive staff. Very efficient. Courteous staff. They always made sure we had our water filled and if we needed more drinks. Ambiance - very chill with soft music in the background. Minimalistic decor that really matched with the overall vibe of the place. read more

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Came here for lunch around 1 pm on a Thursday. The interior was very modern and neat. We ordered two omakase sets. It was near closing time, so the chef rushed to make all courses. Although he rushed, you can tell he's experienced based on how clean the preparation was. I was also pleased that the staff seemed to be entirely Japanese and I was even offered a box to store my purse in. Every piece tasted clean and my favorite was definitely the tuna or toro. The red miso was also new as most restaurants don't offer that. The price is a bit high, especially just for a simple lunch. However, I do appreciate how traditional and simple the menu is as there are much more modern omakase places that put unnecessary condiments with the fish. Staff was also attentive in terms of clearing dishes and keeping our tea filled. read more

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Location easy to find. Second floor parking. Easy to get reservation. Accommodating to my change of time. The fish was good quality. I really enjoyed the 5 set appetizer. read more

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The food was premium quality. We ordered the lowest tier of the omakase set because we weren't that hungry, yet the service was still excellent. My friend has a tiny appetite so the chef noticed it by the second nigiri so he cut each sushi in a half before serving to her. My friend was really happy they did such gesture. Also the chef made sure to wait till we finish our last bite of the food to start making the next nigiri. Very attention to detail service. The place has nice and peaceful ambiance maybe because we are the first guests of open hours. At the end of the dinner we were greeted all the way to the outside of the door. I feel like I went back to Japan for their service lol. Highly recommend. read more

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We walked in today to the restaurant and it was half empty. The waitress asked if we were how many people and I said too and then she said do you have reservation? We said no. Then she asked the sushi gentleman who was making sushi behind the bar, speaking to him in a different language and he kept shaking his head no and then she said sorry, but we're not gonna be able to serve you today and then that was it. This is terrible service and I don't know how anyone would want to go to a restaurant to be treated like that when there was 2 1/2 tables empty and there was six stools empty at the sushi bar there was only two family sitting in there at the tables horrible service our first time and our last time. read more

5+ for food, service, ambiance, and authenticity. Have been to Tokyo many times. Sushi ii has all the hallmarks of a high quality Tokyo, Japanese sushi restaurants. Quality, presentation, course service, etc...all classic Japanese high standards. read more

The food is so good. The service is so good. The ambiance is very calm. But gosh, the sushi is insane and the chefs are famous for making sushi so how isn't that good. 5 read more

OVERPRICED!!!!! We chose the Kaiseki set, $275pp, ended up with a bill over $700 without beverage, including a mandatory 20% service charge. But what did we have? We had two courses of salmon, tempura shrimp, chawanmushi, and etc. All regular and cheap items that we can have in a random Japanese restaurant. They are not what I am supposed to have in a fine omakase experience. There is also another dish, the tiny baby squid. I remember I had it in an Omakase in NYC, that one only charged me $95pp. But why I am having the same thing with a triple price? The only wow pieces for me are the uni from Hokkaido and the Toro. That's it. Unlike other Omakase places that offer 1-2 time slots per evening, this one allows reservations every 10 minutes. So the chef ends up serving multiple groups with different progressions and menus simultaneously. This disrupts the pace of serving; sometimes, the next dish arrives before you finish the current one, while at other times, you have to wait several minutes. The service was just average, akin to a typical Japanese restaurant. The food is not bad, but it wasn't worth the money at all. LA and OC have much more places can have better food with half price. read more

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3.5. The fish was very good. But very expensive for lunch and they really kinda rush you. The second you finish a piece the next one is there waiting. I think we were out of there in 45 minutes which didn't feel great when I paid the $300 bill. Its a nice place and maybe dinner is different, but I'm good with the other high end options around town. read more

One of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in South Orange County - hands down. We love it for the quality and 10/10 service. Of course you're going to pay for omakase, don't trust the reviews who are complaining about quality. Chef Ii is the owner / operator and master sushi Chef and takes very good care of his customers and strives for perfection. Treat yourself and enjoy a meal at Sushi Ii! read more

sushi ii - Chef Susumu Ii taking precious care of his fish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Pacing of the Oribe omakase was a bit too fast, maybe because we were their last reservation for the night. (Though we still left a full hour before their closing time.) The food was delicious -- fresh and prepared well. Only criticism re taste is too much wasabi in some nigiri, particularly because the "wasabi" they were using was a mix of horseradish and actual wasabi and thus stronger. They did have real wasabi on display, but the color was definitely lighter than the "wasabi" they were using to construct our nigiri. I expected nicer establishments like Sushi ii to use only real wasabi, especially for the dinner omakases. Parking was a breeze with a free parking structure. Reservations are easily made online. read more

Gave this place a shot twice. Did the take out during the pandemic. Presentation of the box wasn't bad, but some of the fish wasn't my favorite and rolls are cut big. I'm not sure if it was a specific style, but nonetheless it wasn't as good compare to other bentos I got through the pandemic. Went for outdoor dining this time around. Had the omakase quality was good, but for the price you didn't get much and again not sure if it's due to the pandemic, but the service and course is rushed. I guess I'm used to piece by piece at an omakase especially at this price point, but food was brought out almost all together and there wasn't much time between course which is ok, but not for an Omakase. I would like to pace myself more and enjoy each piece. Maybe it's different when it operates on a regular scale and dining at the bar bs outdoor. Inside is simple and nice like a traditional sushi restaurant and there was a piece that I enjoyed marinated in kelp, but I had to order that a la cart and it wasn't part of the chef choice. Unfortunately it doesn't hit the spot for me and left me wanting a little more read more

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I was extremely disappointed in the food here. Found this sushi bar on Yelp and it was within walking distance of Balboa Bay Club so I thought I would walk down and try it out. They offer a set menu with 3 options and also a limited a la carte menu. After sitting at the sushi bar and scrolling the menu I decided to go with their set menu. The middle choice was $180 which is definitely the higher end but I was thinking it would be awesome at that price point. It wasn't. The appetizer they served was just weird. The taste was off and the servings were extremely small. I ate about half of it and wanted it away from me. Then came the actual sushi. The first piece was like an albacore and I literally almost threw it up. Was room temperature and tough. I gagged when I ate it. Then the rest of the sushi was so average. Fish didn't taste fresh and the sushi chef kept telling me and the group next to me that he already put soy sauce on it and we don't need to put more. Well, I needed more soy just to choke it down. By this time I just want my bill so I can take this $200+ loss and just move on with my life. They bring the bill and automatically added a 20% gratuity to my bill. I was a party of one at the sushi bar and you automatically hit me with the gratuity? Bill was $240+ for just me and it was terrible. I have been to some of the most high end sushi spots in California and this place is nothing like those. read more

I don't understand how I haven't heard of this restaurant until recently and there isn't more of a buzz around it. Sushi ii is spectacular. From the moment we walked in, it is apparent that this restaurant offers a special experience. With a handful of tables and a sushi bar that accommodates about a dozen seats, it's an intimate and elegant dining space. Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar and watching the skilled chefs bring together a beautiful meal. The procession of courses was like a symphony, different dishes like a delicate crab with pickled vegetables or soy marinated toro that melts in your mouth. Every element of every dish was clearly thought out including perfecting the temperature of rice, the beautifully saltiness of miso soup, and the most intense pear flavor in the pear sorbet. Like a symphony, everyone that worked their played a roll in the wonderful experience we had. Everyone was so attentive and checking to make sure we were enjoying our meal. Can't wait to experience this place again. It was perfection. read more

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I found this spot through an LA times article about the newest chirashi spots and decided to try it out. Finding out that they served Battera was even more so a plus, since not many places serve Battera regularly. I've got to say Newport Beach from LA is a bit of a drive but the article made it seem as it was worth a try. Tucked away on the second floor of an upscale "mini mall" on PCH the restaurant was easily accessible with lots of parking, as with pandemic times this was great for access and was quickly greeted by their staff. I ordered food before they opened so my order was already waiting. Now the food, the packaging was very impressive and well done. Both the chirashi and Battera was very pleasing to the eyes. For the most part the fish in the chirashi was fresh however I was a little disappointed by the Uni. The uni started to run a little which meant it was not as fresh as one would want, it tasted very fishy and didn't retain its texture. The Battera was good but had a little too much rice. Overall it was a decent experience but overall I wouldn't drive 60 plus miles to go again. read more

sushi ii - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Comfortable and pretty place to come for sushi! Easy parking, Good service, quality of the food, reasonable omakase prices, and the portion is just right! read more

sushi ii - Appetizers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California