This have to be one of the most hidden gem of authentic Japanese sushi cuisine restaurant in this area. I am surprised this cute shop in Aliso Viejo delivered one of the best taste in town. Chef Masa have a simple menu but their Premium Omakase sushi is the way to go, I also like their variety rolls including my favorite spider roll. You get most of the good stuffs in one tray including my favorite Negitoro rolls and Fatty tuna. I saw others ordered Sashimi platter which also looks very delicious. Their cook dishes were great too, I like the seafood pot soup especially as well as their monkfish liver appetizer. Service were very good too, ambiance is good for a casual dinner or family dinner or even a date night. Highly recommended. read more

Omg the best hole in the wall sushi with QUALITY FRESH food!!! We were visiting from Dallas. We got there Sunday as soon as they opened for dinner at 4pm so no need for reservations. Within 20 minutes it was packed. I loved that they had a photo album of the rolls! We were happy with everything we got. The prices were correct for the quality of fish. Sorry I was on a date and didn't want to look funny snapping pics The yellowtail carpaccio was sooooo good! I could have ate 2 plates by myself! read more

Sushi Kizuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

So good. Looks like it's run by a group of folks from Japan. Sushi was amazing and service was awesome. Best sushi in the area and I've lived around here for more than five years. Beer was nice and cold. Highly recommended for great sushi as well as other delicious selection from the kitchen. Will definitely return. read more

Had dinner here and had a great experience. Our server checked on us without overdoing it and the food came out pretty fast. Everything we ordered was good. read more

Stopped into Sushi Kizuna for a quick solo dinner while here for work and will absolutely return! I lucked out and visited during a sake tasting night, which was a great way to start off a wonderful meal. The sushi handroll and cucumber sashimi with blue crab roll were both fresh, filling, and tasty. Service was friendly and the ambiance had a community feel with several regulars stopping in to dine in the cozy space. read more

Sushi Kizuna - Scallop handroll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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The last few times we've gone to this place, it felt like the quality was going downhill, so we decided to not go anymore. However, last night (Saturday), we gave it one last try, and we were floored at how good it was! The sushi was extremely fresh (much better than last time), well made, and everything was top-notch. This restaurant can justify the high prices if they keep the quality at the same high standard as it was last night. This place is truly a hidden gem, and I highly recommend it (as LONG AS they keep the quality good, because if it goes downhill again, I'm coming back with a one-star). read more

I've been enjoying their sashimi lunch hundreds of times over the last FIVE years and never been disappointed! The chefs & servers are always gracious. The quality of the fish & accompaniments are consistently fresh. Yes, the ambiance is basic, but the store is always clean and the endless Beatles soundtrack makes for a great vibe... read more

Don't hesitate! No gatekeeping here, this sushi restaurant seriously wowed my husband and me. Everyone is friendly and we came at a good time because it got busy for dinner. It's a smaller place so there's a chance of a wait but it's worth it. We ordered the Kizuna roll, chefs special (mystery), salmon collar, and bluefin tuna and salmon nigiri. The salmon collar was one of the best we've had and was great for our 5 year old. We will consider this our go to sushi restaurant from now on. read more

Kizuna is one of those intimate sushi bar/ restaurants you almost hate to tell others about because it's small and you don't want it getting too popular. Exceptional cut and hands rolls; specialty rolls; delish seaweed salad too. We ordered spicy yellowtail roll; spider rolls- hand and cut; Kizuna roll; vegetable tempura, and a tad more. All very fresh, delicious, not overly sauced- thank you! Balanced service; not inexpensive but worth every penny. Delish; we'll be back!! read more

Food was great. Largest salmon and yellow tail cheeks I've ever had. Sat at the sushi bar and met the owner who prepared our meal. The environment was clean and service staff were very attentive and friendly. read more

This is a neighborhood gem. The food is fresh and homemade tasting, like your Japanese mom is cooking for you. They have a miso soup with clams in it that tastes extra special. They have a platter with 7 sushi rolls (to go only) that is my go to potluck contribution and that I personally cannot get enough of, even though I end up eating it once a month. A delight every time. read more

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It's been a long minute since we've dine here and we forgot how good it is to have an authentic Japanese sushi experience right in our hood. The fish is fresh, the staff is friendly, the chefs will drink beer with you, and we got a free sample of some really smooth saki. Kampai! read more

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Masa-san and Akio-san are the best! This sushi spot, a replica of the nostalgic Taiko, is a gem and I'm so happy we discovered it several years ago. We keep coming back for the service with a smile, the consistently delicious sushi (whether on or off the menu), and the welcoming, accommodating atmosphere. You truly can't beat the friendliness and quality for such a fair price. We will absolutely continue coming back and enjoying the sushi here. read more

Sushi Kizuna - Uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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Everything was good! Excellent service, taste, and ambiance. Definitely will be back soon when I crave sushi. The spanish mackerel was especially great. read more

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Perfection! Local hole in the wall sushi joint serving up the best most high quality fish at an amazing price point. I've been coming here every week since I discovered it and will be for years to come!! It's a small no frills restaurant and feels super cozy inside. Dining in is perfect for a date night or dinner with family and friends (or if you're like me, a to-go order to accompany binge watching your fave show at home on a Friday night). Parking is ample but can get busy during peak hours and the service is wonderful. Super kind and accomodating staff! Love this place would highly recommend read more

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Got the chefs special roll, which was topped with a lightly seared fatty tuna, and it blew my freakin mind. So good. Salmon collar was also extremely tender. Would definitely recommend. read more

This is a nice little hidden gem in Aliso Viejo. It's very small so either make a reservation or expect to wait a bit, especially on a busy night. The staff is always very friendly and we really enjoy the sushi here. You won't be disappointed, but make a reservation. read more

Wonderful sushi restaurant with an assortment of sashimi, nigiri and rolls. Make sure to try the Angel roll. Try to get reservations because they can get busy. read more

I am not sure why this sushi spot has so many good reviews. We made reservations because this place is VERY small and we had a party of five. Service was okay, they were friendly but took awhile to come around asking if we needed anything else. The sushi was not good at all. The portions were decent, but it tasted fishy and had a funky texture. Why I really came here to write a review is because I got food poisoning! I ordered a softshell crab handroll. This is my go to at every sushi restaurant. The first bite I took I knew something was off. It was filled with masago (fish eggs) instead of rice. It was VERY fishy and the softshell crab wasn't cooked all the way and had a funky flavor. I ate half and was disgusted. Later on that evening I started experiencing food poisoning symptoms. It's been 24 hours and I'm still not feel that great. I will be calling them and complaining. read more

Super authentic cozy hole in the wall sushi spot in Aliso Viejo catering to locals and frequented by Japanese families. The chefs and servers are super friendly and every dish is fresh and delicious! read more

The food is of a very high quality, especially the sushi. Usually order tekka maki (tuna rolls), tuna and amberjack nigiri and finish the meal with their beef steak served with some great mustard and soy-based sauce. The staff is very friendly and always makes sure that your ocha (green tea) cup is full. Their miso soup is also very special and served nice and hot. Eaten there about ten times and never disappointed. Need to go again before they close for the New Year break. read more

Absolutely amazing. The outside building looks just like a normal building, and there is a bad stench around that building center. However once you go inside, it's like you're transported back in Japan, the vibes are great, all the waiters and chefs are fluent in Japanese. The rolls and sushi are really some of the best I've had and I've been to Japan several times. Favorites are definitely the salmon nigiri, yellowtail, and the blue fin tuna. The rolls are also extremely good. One of the best spicy tuna rolls I ever had. Crunchy roll and salmon rolls were also extremely good. Hot green tea was also very good. Extremely glad I found this place and will continue coming here for many more times in the future. Overall this is a 10/10 sushi restaurant I was pleasantly surprised by. I would have never suspected such a good sushi restaurant in the middle of Aliso read more

Sushi Kizuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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This is by far one of the best sushi places I've tried! I have tried some great fresh sushi but theirs bit them all. The ambiance is very casual and not a huge place so I recommend making reservations in advance. The service is good and they have the option of rice beer as well which is for those who can't have gluten. All their sushi, sashimi and rolls are fantastic and fresh. read more

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Grabbed takeout from this place. For $19 I would have at least expected a full roll, did you run out of seaweed or rice? Never been so disappointed. Cuts fall apart as you try to grab them because they were never wrapped in the first place read more

Sushi Kizuna - Spicy salmon lover - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

I am so excited to review Sushi Kizuna in Aliso Viejo. The restaurant is a tiny place with a sushi bar that can sit eight to ten people at most. There are five or six tables for diners. The decor is simple, and the place is well-staffed and clean. We are greeted by very friendly servers who directed us to our table. The menu has pictures on it, which is something I really appreciate. The sushi chefs are Masa San and Aki o san whom I know from Taiko in Irvine. They greeted me with Seinse or "teacher" in Japanese. I'm going to tell you a secret: these sushi chefs are two of the best in Orange County and have done their time as far as training in the craft over long periods of time in a high pressure restaurant. There is a big difference between a guy that learns by just watching someone, and a professionally trained sushi chef. These two are pros. Two items on the menu that we found exceptional were the Miso Clam soup and their crunchy roll. Everything else was good. I'm hoping this place will flourish and grow into the new hot spot in OC for sushi. read more

Sushi Kizuna - Casual interior - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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Very mediocre sushi restaurant in Aliso Viejo that I probably won't be eating at again since it's out of my way and very ordinary. We sat at the sushi bar and the chef was very nice. My cucumber salad and garlic edamame were lacking in flavor. The sashimi was fresh so 3 stars for basic sushi. Nothing bad, nothing great. read more

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We are so lucky to have Sushi Kizuna! Cozy Japanese neighborhood sushi restaurant serving fresh and delicious sushi! The perfect balance of just the right amount of rice to a perfectly sliced fish! Omakase is the way to go! Can't wait to go back! read more

Had a bad experience on my first visit and never came back. More of a quick stop and go spot as opposed to a traditional sit down experience location. Additionally, fish selection was minimal at best the day I was there. Regular Tuna, salmon , semi looking yellowtail.... read more

As always, the food was delicious! The combination dinners are generous, the tempura and sashimi are excellent. We also love their udon and gyoza. We love this neighborhood gem. Prices are reasonable, service is friendly and attentive. Can't find a better Japanese restaurant in South Orange County! read more

Great place! Sushi taste amazing! The chef puts a lot of care into making them. Highly recommend and would be definitely returning again soon! Nice small place to dine and enjoyed. read more

First off miso is so good, I got the lemon salmon roll and the cuts were amazing and the quality is so good. 10/10 would recommend, red bean ice cream is nicely priced and so yummy read more

Sushi Kizuna - Dragon roll, Lemon Salmon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Delicious. Clean. Friendly. This was a delight to find. Highly recommended. Note: it is a small place, so table space is limited. Reservations suggested. read more

The best sushi in OC. Expensive for the location however the chefs and service is excellent.

Been living in Aliso since 2000 and had no idea Kizuna was in the shopping center. The authentic hole in the wall look and name piqued my interest to give it a try over the devoted loyal sushi customer I am to my favorite spots. Which I will leave unnamed. Read up on Masa and decided to give it a go with my old man since we'd lived in Japan back when I was 4 or 5 years old for a couple of years. I loved the food, the service, and the quality of the fish coupled with the style of sushi that has their special DNA imprinted on it. Just a great spot for your true sushi connoisseur. It is a bit more pricey. But you get what you pay for and it's well worth it if you want authentic Japanese style sushi. Fantastic. I'll be back often to try out the rest of the menu. read more

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I really enjoyed the sushi and rolls -- everything was exceptionally fresh. The restaurant has a small, cozy atmosphere, and the service was attentive and excellent throughout. read more

Easily the best sushi in the Aliso Viejo area. The Angels Roll and Chef's Premium Sushi are favorites of ours. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the restaurant has a great vibe. read more

We love Sushi Kizuna. Authentic delicious Japanese food and super friendly owners and staff.

Great tasted, good price, friendly service. Great deal on combination bento box. Lots people daily, you will need make a reservation

Did not like this sushi - it was too mushy ! I paid extra for real crab and there was hardly any crab but a lot of mayo! Also the baked scallops tasted like they were just slightly warmed and the mayo was runny not puffed when it bakes! I will not be returning ! read more

I cannot praise this place enough! I have now been to this restaurant many times during lunch and dinner time. Parking is a little bit harder during lunch time, but I never had any issue. Downside is that the restaurant itself is a bit smaller, thus more intimate. So, if you are looking to go during a rush hour, be sure to make yourself a reservation prior. Other than that, I've never had an issue with just walking in. Service is exceptional and the staff is so friendly. The fish is always fresh and quality. Reminds me very much of being in Japan. The main sushi chef was previously working at Taiko (if that means anything to you). So just know, this place would be packed with experience. Obviously, the prices would reflect this. What I have gotten here: - Chef's Premium Sushi (5/5): To be honest, you essentially get like 6 of the negi tuna rolls and chef selection of nigiri. Like I said before, quality and value of this meal. - Chef's Premium Chirashi (5/5): Always one of the best chirashi bowls I have gotten. I am a sucker for ootoro, so it never disappoints. Just melts in your mouth. - Various selection of Nigri (5/5): We have gotten amberjack, ootoro, red snapper, conch clam, and salmon. Conch clam might be a little too chewy if you're new and not used to it. - Popcorn Lobster Roll (4/5): I mean exactly what you'd expect it to be for this type of roll. Unfortunately not as great as their other selections so order this if you are craving it! - Fried Squid (5/5): Great starter to try if you wanna try something other than tempura. Pro tip: Pay an additional price to have fresh wasabi with your meal. You won't regret it. Unlike American wasabi (that green paste), you can have more of it without adding tears to your eyes! I will definitely be back as a regular. Very glad and lucky to be living so close now! read more

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