I'd been wanting to try Taikun for three years--ever since my friends went and couldn't stop raving about it. It's so special that my previous company even hosted client dinners there. And Adrian has always been incredibly accommodating, somehow making magic happen every time. When my aunt came to town--the same aunt who introduced me to sushi at age 13 in Seattle--I finally had the perfect excuse to book Taikun. After all, I had to show my appreciation to the woman who opened my palate to the wonders of sushi. And at long last, I got to experience it for myself. Adrian, Chef Yasu, and the entire Taikun omakase completely blew me away. Sixteen courses, each one thoughtful, seasonal, and absolutely delicious, made for an unforgettable evening. I even tried rare fish I've never seen anywhere else. Adrian introduced every course with the story behind it--seasonality, origins, ingredients--and even shared photos of the fish to give more context. It truly elevated the entire experience. Don't even get me started on the intimate setting of the experience. It only seats 9 people max which makes it incredibly personal and hands on. You sit right in front of the chef, and he's so nice you feel totally comfortable asking him anything. read more

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I'm obsessed with Taikun and can't stop thinking about my dinner experience here on 9/24/25. There are 2 seatings. We made reservations on Open Table for the 8 pm seating. There were 2 other couples who were very pleasant. The service is exquisite and the ambience is so cool and sushi is a once in a lifetime experience. Literally everything about Taikun is phenomenal. I highly recommend splurging on this beautiful omakase experience!! I will add details as I go through my photos and relive each one! I highly recommend the sake pairing which enhances the sushi flavors. The chef is so skilled and fun to watch which adds to the incredible experience. One of my favorite dishes was Uni with ikura and mochi! What a unique presentation which was a work of artistry read more

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Took hubby here for his big bday. It was an intimate experience. The omakase included a lovely selection of interesting fish that we've never had. We weren't overly stuffed, the 16 courses were just right. Service was personable & attentive. read more

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Dining at Taikun was a wonderfully intimate experience. 8 seats make every night an opportunity to watch Chef delicately prepare each dish. Adrian is an amazing host, personally greeting each guest and making us feel right at home. Plenty of opportunity to get to know your fellow guests and share other local and not so local favorite dining spots. The food lineup was delicious with most of the fish imported from Tokyo on a near daily basis. Fish caught Sunday night and purchased Monday at the fish market arrives here on Tuesday for chef to start preparing. Can't say enough about the sushi you will get to sample here. Nothing run of the mill!! read more

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If you're looking for a truly elevated experience, this place is the place to go. The omakase is $300 per person and seats 8 people. Expectations are high and they nailed it. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was lively and energetic. The host was not only incredibly knowledgeable about each dish and drink, but also kept the vibes upbeat and engaging throughout the entire meal. He explained each course and made sure we knew what we were eating, which added so much value to the experience. The sushi chef was amazing and the quality of the fish was top tier. Every piece was fresh and beautifully placed. We paired the omakase with both sake and wine, and the selections were amazing. Each pairing complemented the course perfectly without overpowering the flavors. Would recommend this place! read more

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Adrian and chef Yasu created an amazing culinary experience. 16 courses of amazing dish after amazing dish created an unforgettable evening. The omakase featured thoughtful, seasonal selections, including rare fish that I had not had the opportunity to try at other restaurants. Visually appetizing and carefully curated flavors ranged from clean and simple nigiri highlighting the delicacy of the sushi to more complex combinations of flavors such as the A5 Miyazaki wagyu with shaved truffle. Each course was introduced by Adrian, explaining seasonality, origins and ingredients of what we were about to eat. We also selected the premium sake pairing and the sales were complementary to the flavors. Each sake was hand selected and curated to enhance the flavors of the course. Bonus at the end was the chef offering to revisit any of the courses. We loved the amadai and even requested to add the Hokkaido uni, which chef Yasu was excited to prepare for us. As this is a pop up at the Ritz, we look forward to seeing the winter menu before they move on. Thank you chef and Adrian for a wonderful, memorable evening. read more

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We had an amazing dinner here last night for my wife's birthday. We were the only people at the 5:30 seating, so had a private dinning experience. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you get a chance to eat here, you'll love the food, the experience and the ambiance. read more

Easily the best Omakase in California. We had so much fun tonight. It's an 8 person Omakase experience and boy did it not disappoint. Adrian the host is freaking amazing. The people who you eat with make the night an unforgettable experience. It was 16 course of the best sushi you can experience. Lots of champagne and Soto and sake to go around. This Wes the best night of sushi I have ever experienced and I've been to Japan three times. Come and make a reservation and meet some new friends and thank me later. Happy Yelping! read more

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There's either valet parking or parking in a lot down the street. Either one is convenient, as long as there isn't a huge wedding or event planned, otherwise the valet can get backed up. Ever since I saw the reservations posted on Tock, I've been wanting to come here. This my second time here. And from what I was told, they change their menu every two weeks. I'm thinking that I'll have to go back again. It's been a minute since I've been there and I've already forgotten what I had. The memorable pieces were the horse mackeral, baracuda, wagyu, uni, and abalone. Honestly, I loved everything that the chef put out and I could eat this every day. If someone has the menu, could they please send it to me. I'd love to remember the names if what I ate, if possible. The quality is supreme, everything was extremely fresh and the details in every piece was AMAZING and beautiful. I feel bad for those who have fish or shellfish allergies because they are missing out! They even had a special little chocolate edible sign that said happy birthday, because I was there for my belated birthday celebration with one of my closest friends. The ambiance is intimate as there are only a few seats and the doors close once everyone is in the room. It's about 1.5-2 hours of non-stop deliciousness. read more

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Had dinner last night. Changing of seasons menu. It was a 10 rating. This restaurant continue to evolve into a top notch food experience. A show, A performance for those who understand. Cheers! read more

Taikun Omakase - Perfect smoke and seasonal fish. Not kidding this is good! - Japanese Near Me - Dana Point, California

What is this? Why am I the first one here? Well, they say a photo is worth a thousand words so I'll just make a video :-) This is truly one of those IFYKYK type of places. A small, unlit sign, one foot in length off to your left as you approach the ocean bar inside the Ritz Carlton says Taikun. Taikun, Taikun, where do I know this name from, sounds familiar. Oh yes! I had bookmarked the famed spot in NYC. Ironically I didn't go there when I was there in December due to the $100 price tag for Omokase, but now, this short-term pop-up in the Ritz Carlton is twice the price (albeit local to me!). Could this be why I'm the first review? They say Taikun might end in summer with talks of extending the contract for one more year. Inside the small space, there are eight seats, all in front of the chef who works his magic creating raw fish into mouthwatering bites. Host Adrian is warm, inviting, kind, and helpful when pairing wine, sake or beverages. Also very attentive to guests needs, surprising me with an extra dessert when an allergy challenge presented itself. The space is absolutely perfect for Omokase. Focus on the food and chef, with no distractions. Good ambient music, lighting and hosts who appear and disappear magically as needed. This is a true five star experience and I can not wait to try the original in NYC now. read more

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Food and service were excellent! Do I need to say more? The restaurant seats 8 people at a time, perfect for an intimate dining experience. Yasu-san, Adrian, and Joy, great job! I will definitely be back again. read more

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My first omakase experience so can't compare to anything else but the experience was everything I expected and more. The fish were so fresh and the flavors were paired exquisitely. read more

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An amazing omakase experience! Service was one of the best I've experienced at any omakase and I've eaten at many different Michelin starred omakases in the past. Every dish that was served was fresh and excellent as well. Two dishes stood out to me the most: the fish roe appetizer served with uni, mochi, and caviar, along with a Hokkaido scallop nigiri. Both were phenomenal and rivaled bites I've had at omakases in Japan. This is a pop-up and they are leaving the Ritz at Dana point at the end of the year so if you're an omakase enthusiast in the area, I would highly recommend checking them out before they leave! read more

Taikun Omakase - Uni caviar fish roe mochi - Japanese Near Me - Dana Point, California

Date night with my son! Everything about it was phenomenal! Food, service and ambience all top tier. We will definitely be back soon. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thanks again for everything, Adrian read more

We went for the first time in September 2023 and have returned a few times. The small space is limited to 9-10 patrons at the counter where you can observe the sushi chef doing his magic. Adrian is the host and explains the history of Taikun which originated in NY with pop-ups in Aspen, Miami and at the Ritz. If you crave fresh and unique fish slices, you will find it here. The service is impeccable and you will leave here thinking you were in Japan. read more

I've been to Taikun 4 or 5 times now. It's the best omakase experience in southern Orange County. It has private feel, which is nice. Like 8-10 people at the bar. 1 chef preparing everything. The food is outstanding! What really separates Taikun from anything else is Adrian, the host. He's otherworldly! He takes care of his people. I love the food, I love the ambiance, I love the service... but I keep returning because of Adrian. Love you, pal. If you're looking for a 5+ star sushi experience... look no further. read more

Amazing experience. Brilliant setup. Best host! Omakase at Taikun is a very intimate dining experience with only 8 seats per seating. The host Adrian is super knowledgeable and entertaining and guides you through about 2 1/2 hours of dining bliss. The food is outstanding and you have the option to order any repeats at the end of the meal (for a surcharge, of course). The sake paring is spot on and I would suggest not to drive after the meal with pairing :-) If the Ritz is a bit too pricey (and it sure can be!) look into the Waldorf across the street to spend the night. It's a nice walk or a very short cab ride. Taikun's pricing, IMHO, is fair. The experience and the quality of the ingredients are top notch and I have had no regrets dropping about $700 on dinner for two (all in with tip, taxes, and add-ons.) I am glad that the Ritz-Carlton extended the lease for another year and we will be back another few times. read more

Excellent food and service. All sashimi, cooked dishes and soup were great. Will go again. Definitely an A+.

Tucked away in a luxurious hotel, once the doors shut, it feels like you're transported to a totally different world. The service is always top-notch, especially Adrian, who is both knowledgeable and a fantastic host. Chef's selections were spot on, mixing both traditional sushi with some modern twists. Being able to interact with Chef right in front of you made the experience that much better. Sake pairings were perfect. Absolutely worth a splurge read more