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    Sushi Shunka

    4.3 (893 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Sushi Shunka Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI SHUNKA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Shunka

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    Denise S.

    The food is delicious. Very fresh tasting and melts in your mouth. Service is efficient and polite. I like the dragon painting behind the sushi bar. The only thing I didn't like is that I think it is a bit pricey.

    In my experience, a restaurant review system has 4 levels: Bad, Good, Nice, and Wonderful. · Bad = I'd never go back. · Good = It's fine, but nothing I'd miss. · Nice = Better than good -- I'd return someday. · Wonderful = Everything is excellent -- I'd love to come often. This one? Excellent! We like to have omakase here every week -- it's $65 for 10 pieces, not too heavy but filling enough. And I really love craft beer.

    10 piece omakase
    Lily T.

    Not just your local family owned sushi restaurant, it's a gem. From the very best quality fishes, attentive service and excellent experience from start to finish this is my favorite go to sushi. Please be aware they get locals lined up to put your name on the list, expect to wait because it's very good.

    Chicken teriyaki
    Harsimran s.

    Eek really wanted to love this spot but it wasn't that great! Service was nice, quick on a random weekday lunch. A very cool dragon painting hanging behind the sushi chefs, but the tables felt sticky and dirty. We ordered crispy rice with spicy tuna (I did like that it offered single options to add on) and a simple salmon and avocado roll. Both were very chewy and not exciting. The miso soup was crazy salty and made me feel sick. The chicken tempura was made with very fatty meat.

    Cody L.

    Had such a hard time writing this review because Shunkas been my go to sushi spot for the last decade. Ive constantly raved about it to friends and after taking a small hiatus, decided to go back last night. Im not sure if it was just an off-night but the experience was disappointing to say the least. Pros: - shunka has the best selection of raw fish out of any restaurant ive been to in socal as they fly a lot of fish over from Japan. In fact, I dont think ive been to a restaurant that has the variety of fish shunka does. Highlights include the ishidai, medai, mejina, kanpachi, and scallop. Cons: -I dont want to say the service was bad because the servers were friendly but it seems they would keep forgetting to bring us items we had requested, even after asking a second or third time. Ie we had to ask multiple times for napkins and sauce. -multiple dishes we ordered weren't even rung up- either that or they were sold out and didnt notify us or they were rung up and just didnt get brought out. Unfortunately theres no way to validate what we actually paid for either since the check isn't itemized. -again, not sure if it was off night or not but the rice was a little too warm for sushi rice and would fall apart pretty easily. All in all, not sure id go back given the above items but hope they use this constructive criticism to improve.

    Sushi Sunka in Costa Mesa, CA
    Cece C.

    If you've been following me here on Yelp, you know I love trying new restaurants. But plot twist, I didn't even remember I'd already been here. Turns out this was my second or third date with this place. Classic case of sushi amnesia. But hey, sometimes even great relationships need a reintroduction, am I right? Or am I right again?! Hah! As a Life Coach who specializes in dating, I couldn't help but experience this restaurant like I would a first date...with curiosity, high standards, and a mental checklist of red and green flags. Ready? Let's break it down, coach-style: PARKING Ladies, there's tons of free parking right in front of the restaurant. Green flag: Shows up with zero stress and makes your life easier. Like a guy who offers to pick you up and actually knows how to parallel park. SERVICE The chefs are like emotionally available partners--warm, attentive, and genuinely interested in your experience. They greet you, engage with you, and make you feel seen. Green flag: Active listening and eye contact. If they were on Hinge, I'd swipe right and send a rose. FOOD The salmon belly sushi? Melt-in-your-mouth magic. Yellowtail belly, halibut, freshwater eel, albacore--they all delivered like a partner who knows your love language and remembers your coffee order. Just a heads-up: at upscale spots like this, each sushi order is one piece, not two. Green flag: Quality over quantity. Like a relationship that's low on drama but high on emotional intelligence. Red flag (for the unprepared): If you're expecting a sushi mountain, you might be disappointed. But hey, that's why we manage expectations--just like in dating. As someone who's in a committed relationship with sushi (we see each other weekly), I can confidently say this place is top-tier. Worth every dime and every bite. AMBIENCE This is a date-night dream. Intimate booths that feel private but not isolating--like the perfect partner who gives you space but still holds your hand in public. Green flag: Cozy, connected, and no weird lighting that makes you look like a vampire. Red flag: Honestly? None. Unless your date talks with their mouth full. That's on them. WOULD I GO BACK? Absolutely. Maybe next week. Because just like a great partner, when you find something this good, you don't ghost it--you keep showing up.

    Nigiri - Hirame, shrimp, yellow tail belly, salmon, higesori, toro
    Christina T.

    The sushi was good and the fish was very fresh. I wish I could have been able to eat more to try more things on the menu. My personal favorite were the handrolls. They weren't skimming on the amount of fish and there wasn't a lot of rice which I appreciate when it comes to handrolls. The service was friendly, they offered to explain the menu since there are options to do an omakase vs just ordering a la carte. The price for the quality was worth the experience. The interior was not very big but there was a few booths and bar seating for if you wanted to have the omakase experience. My friend and I didn't have to wait too long for a table, despite coming on a Friday night. Parking wasn't an issue as it's in plaza with many food and drink places.

    Lunch special Chirashi bowl
    Sophia P.

    Came in for lunch and honestly expected more. I ordered the chirashi bowl for the lunch special at $35, which felt really overpriced for what it was. The presentation looked great, but the fish didn't taste very fresh and had a fishy smell, which was disappointing. We also ordered the wild yellowtail. It was okay, but nothing special. Overall, the quality didn't match the price. I wanted to like this place, but the freshness just wasn't there.

    Andrew L.

    For the quality of omakase sushi they offer, the sub $100 price definitely felt like a steal. The place wasn't particularly boogey or anything, but everything tasted just as good as the $300+ omakase restaurants. We had alcohol and extra sushis cuz 10 wasn't enough lol. That still came out to be less than $150 per person. Damn. I loved everything that was served to me. Will be back again for sure.

    Grilled Hamachi Kama
    Alan S.

    Sushi Shunka is our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions and also our fave sushi spot in OC. Located in a strip mall at the corner of E. 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa, the restaurant specializes in authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine. "Shunka" means "Flavor of the Season", so they of course select their fish depending on the season and in addition to customer favorites. The sushi chefs are veterans and the wait staff are polite helping to provide an unforgettable dining experience to their customers. I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar and ordering one of the omakase options. On our recent visit, I ordered the Chef's Omakase which included 10 pieces of sushi including sea bream, Japanese sea bass, mackerel, amberjack, toro and bluefin tuna among others. The sushi is always top-qualify and practically melts in your mouth. I have a big appetite so I also supplemented my meal with a toro hand roll, blue fin tuna hand roll and fried Hamachi Kama. Everything is made to order and is so oishi! Having said that, this is fine dining so expect to pay a high price but know that it's worth every penny. As I mentioned before we only visit on special occasions, so I'm already hoping we'll have a reason to celebrate again soon!

    Omakase (from top to bottom): sea bream, stripe jack, medai, barracuda
    Cindy H.

    Small sushi joint with tables inside, outside, and counter seating at the bar. Highly recommend sitting at the bar and getting omakase to fully experience what Shunka has to offer! What I like about Shunka is they have a variety of fish to choose from, even those that are not typical, sourced from Japan. It was around $85 for omakase which consisted of: sea bream, striped jack, medai, barracuda, ocean trout, engawa, buri, japanese sea perch, uni, and toro. Very affordable considering that you're getting uni and toro! Besides omakase, I recommend getting the live scallop if it's available. Since it's live, the scallop has a firmer texture and tastes more sweet. This also comes with baked bay scallops sauteed with mushrooms and onions. The chicken kaarage is also a good choice if you want something fried to munch on in between your sushi meal. Service has always been friendly and attentive. They can get busy since it's a popular local sushi spot, but you can always put your name on the list. They'll call you when your table is ready.

    Sea Brim

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    3 years ago

    Freshest fish in costa mesa. The sushi chefs are all so nice and their rolls are amazing!

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    2 years ago

    This was my first time coming here! 10/10 it was so delicious! I ordered the salmon and yellowtail sashimi and sumo roll! Highly recommend!

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    Sushi Shunka Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Shunka

    Have you permanently stopped offering takeout? I stopped by on 4/20/2022 and was told by the hostess that takeout is no longer offered (but Yelp still shows takeout is offered).

    They temporarily terminate taking togo orders for now, since they have sushi bar opened back up. It would take a little while for the togo orders to be back.

    Do they take reservations?

    No.

    Have they started indoor dining at the sushi bar?

    As of December 2021, they do have indoor seating in the booths but not at the sushi bar.

    How much is omakase?

    $45/person for 8 pieces of fish from Japan. Another one, price unknown but the chef serves you until you are full.

    View All 15 Questions

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    Meiji Seimen - Nabeyaki Udon Food IG: @nomswithsabs

    Meiji Seimen

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

    first time coming here and glad we came before they opened! the place was packed thirty minutes…read moreafter they opened. the place was cute and small. the servers were kind and helpful the udon did not disappoint i got the katsu curry udon with level 2 spice and it was so delicious! the soup wasn't thick and heavy and the udon noodles were perfect! for the spice level i could've gone spicier but level 2 was enough to give it a little kick. for desert we got their green tea ice cream on a wafer and it was the best thing ive ever tasted. the flavor of the ice cream and the wafer complemented each other really well

    This place is the real deal. I came here in the middle of a gnarly sinus infection so my throat was…read moreincredibly scratched up. There is a bit of a wait but that is NO problem for a restaurant so small with such quality. Upon walking in, the wood frames and large poster signage boasting of their handmade noodles will entice you, but it's really the smell of their dashi broth in the air that gets you. Of course we got the karaage; I was JUST thinking about the best karaage I had in Japan as I ordered it, wondering if it would compare. It did. Piping hot with juices that exploded in your mouth and burned your tongue. It was perfect. I personally loved it just with a squeeze of lemon on top and the seasoning was also... just amazing. Everything about their shabu shabu soba blew my mind. I personally was craving soba so they substituted it for a dollar. Definitely worth it because WOW their soba was tender, slightly sweet, and seriously was on par to the same exact dish I had in Japan, a niku soba. I also tried their udon noodles. It was so bouncy and chewy and not at all overcooked. I kind of liked the very firm and chewy bite to them, slightly slightly undercooked because as you eat it, the noodles will become softer. That is my preference and they did it here. Their dashi broth was slightly sweet and very umami, yet light at the same time. I couldn't get enough. They also do not charge for hot barley tea here! I wanted to eat more, but my stomach was quickly expanding and I had to take the rest home and it healed me just as much as it was fresh. I will be back very soon.

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    Chobop - Uni and Toro

    Chobop

    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$

    David Ben and Shuri helped our large party out and we're so accommodating and kind!! Good food and…read moreenjoyed our experience thoroughly. Also has gluten free tamari and shuri was very helpful on what rolls were gluten free or not

    Had a fun, casual lunch date at CHOBOP AYCE Sushi! We went with the Premium menu, and there were so…read moremany options to choose from! We started with the seaweed salad and yakitori, which were both tasty and made great appetizers. As nigiri lovers, we were excited to try all the different selections. My favorites were definitely the toro and yellowtail, and the uni was sweet and delicious! One thing I really appreciated was the fish-to-rice ratio. The nigiri had a small amount of rice, so you could really enjoy the fish without feeling too full too quickly. The fresh rolls were also yummy, with a good amount of fish and nicely balanced seasoning. Overall, it's a great spot if you're looking for good AYCE sushi at a great price. The staff were also super kind and friendly, which made the experience even more enjoyable! What we ordered: -Seaweed Salad -Yakitori -Nigiri (tuna, toro, salmon, salmon belly, sweet shrimp, scallop, yellowtail, albacore, uni, salmon egg) -Pepper Me Crazy (in: spicy tuna, cucumber, top: yellowtail, jalapeno, sauce: mustard, hot sauce) -Salmon In & Out (in: spicy salmon, cucumber, jalapeno, top: salmon, jalapeno, sauce: spicy mustard, hot sauce) -Kaboom (in: spicy tuna, cucumber, jalapenos, top: albacore, jalapenos, green onions, sauce: garlic ponzu, hot sauce) -Tuna & Salmon Temaki (hand rolls)

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    Wadaya - WADAYA is now OPEN

    Wadaya

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Very delicious mazemen small restaurant with easy parking. 8ish tables and bar seating. It was very…read morebusy on Saturday afternoon. Service was wonderful and the servers were very knowledgeable and helpful. Got the popular karaage and it was so delicious. Small app with 5 pieces and a spicy mayo and their house made sweet chili sauce. Saitama and Kyoto were amazing and so flavorful. I think the saitama had more flavor to it than the Kyoto but both were so yummy. Great spot to go for lunch

    We have a party of 9 people from my company and we are always pressed for time so we called ahead…read moreand placed our orders ahead of time so that food came out right away. Service did not disappoint. It was fantastic. The food is spectacular. I had the Saitama (ground chicken) and it was so darn good. They give you a nice bit of rice, which is actually the perfect amount, to finish up the sauce at the bottom of your bowl. Their vinegar is infused with umami or something. It was good to mix the Mazeman with. I recommend this place. My only complaint is that auto-gratuity was 19.39%. That's honestly on the ridiculous side of things. We realized that they include sales tax into their gratuity. Sales tax is the responsibility of the business, not the customer. Please re-adjust your setup so that gratuity does not factor in sales tax. We'd love to come back and be a regular, but that gratuity setup is not a bright spot.

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    Sushi Shunka - sushi - Updated September 2026

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