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    Waka Sakura

    4.1 (270 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Waka Sakura Photos

    Business Info

    WAKA SAKURA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Waka Sakura

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    Salmon Lunch special
    Arnold T.

    Waka Sakura gives you the hankering for fresh and delicious sushi when you're on the go. We stopped by for the lunch special but ended up ordering more since the quality got me wanting for more. We got the traditional lunch and the salmon lunch, both came with soup and salad. We also ordered the chawanmushi, the salmon lover plate, and dried salmon. The chawanmushi melts in your mouth, with the delicate egg full of mushroom flavor. The lunch special is definitely worth the price. Each piece tasted fresh, flavorful and light. What I can I say, it persuaded us to get the salmon lover plate. Service was quick and the food came out on a conveyer belt, about 7-10 min after ordering. Situated next to the relatively new Tokyo Central in Irvine, parking can be a challenge during peak hours so be aware. Will return soon!

    Sushi lunch special
    Mai T.

    I came to try the sushi here for lunch. After being seated, I used the tablet at the table to order. I opted for the traditional sushi lunch special, which was approximately $20. The food is delivered via a belt that stops at your table. Only the miso soup was hand-delivered by a staff member. My sushi consisted of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, squid, tuna tataki, albacore, boiled shrimp, inari, and egg omelette. The sushi was alright but it didn't exactly change my life. When wasabi shows up in a little plastic condiment cup with lid, it gives off a specific vibe that does not exude premium presentation. Going to a conveyor‑belt sushi spot where you order everything from a tablet but then can't pay at the tablet seems odd, doesn't it? That was the bottleneck - having to wait for a person to pay my check.

    Krys N.

    We have been meaning to come here ever since they opened. At first the lines were just ridiculously long. Kind of forgotten about it, on a whim we decided to check it out on a late weeknight and the restaurant was half empty. The restaurant was clean and modern. The staff quickly greeted us when we arrived and sat us at a booth. We ordered water and everything from the tablet at the table. I thought the prices were quite reasonable. For example, a salmon avo hand roll is only $3.99. Some of the other stuff were priced a bit higher but I think everything rounded out to be of good value. The sushi came via the converter like a bullet train. I would say it was pretty quick, especially considering it was near closing time so we were happy with how speedy everything came out. I thought the fish was pretty fresh, definitely a step up than your average sushi restaurant. We enjoyed our speedy and fresh meal!

    Inside
    Rick S.

    I was really disappointed with the traditional sushi lunch special at Waka Sakura. The rice was seasoned with soy sauce and pressed into a rectangular shape. The salmon and tuna were not fresh (tasted as if they came refrigerated from the supermarket next door). The miso soup was bland and lack flavor. The staff did not interact much as we were able to place the order in the tablet. The ambiance was casual and the food is delivered via a straight track from the kitchen to your table. I really want this lunch to be great but it was not. So disappointed.

    Yellowtail and seabream
    Janine K.

    A friend of mine has been raving about the revolving sushi bar at Tokyo Central so I was excited to finally check out the new location closer by to me! The spot is pretty spacious and ordering through the iPad or QR code made the whole experience quick and seamless. What impressed me the most was the quality of the sushi and how generous the cuts of fish were! Everything tasted fresh especially with the seasoned red vinegar rice. I also loved that you can order extras like miso soup and other appetizers to make a full meal. The Salmon Party is definitely worth ordering since it comes with a variety of salmon nigiri and seared pieces. My favorite was the sea bream nigiri because it was firm and had a satisfying texture that I was looking for with a slight sweetness.

    amy h.

    I like this place! The rice is different from most sushi places which is unique however, it can be a hit or miss some days. I love the sea bream and their salmon party platter!

    Michelle K.

    I came here with a friend back in late November 2025 on a Wednesday evening for the first time - we were promptly seated. We ended up ordering the salmon set and the tuna set. The fish was freshly prepared and the flavors were quite delicious as well. I typically cannot eat too much in one go so I believe that, for the price and amount, this is a fairly reasonable deal, especially for those who crave salmon sushi like I do. I did like the friendliness of the servers and the vibe was nice inside. I hope to come back sometime!

    Jenny P.

    Second visit was still pretty good, just that I felt there was less options compared to the first time I visited.

    Nancy L.

    I came here during off peak hour so there was no wait. The sushi was really great quality for Kaiten sushi, you def get a good value for the price. I really liked the wagyu beef trio and the tuna belly was delicious. The place is spacious and you order through an electronic board and the food will be delivered to your table. Service was great, I will definitely visit again!

    Scallops, salmon and wagyu assorted sushi
    James W.

    Updated review: Great place for conveyer sushi that is freshly made and sent to your table. The conveyer belt system and interior reminds me of Japan. One of my favorite spots that is near my other favorite spot Rol. I love coming here after work on a weekday and it is usually not busy, honestly people are sleeping on this place since the hype died down. The scallops and salmon flights paired with a large cold beer, can't beat it. Plus the ordering system is just fun and makes sense and super easy to use. Pro move is once you are done them head over to tokyo central next door to go shopping. I will keep coming back as the quality is top tier.

    Vanessa T.

    I came with a friend on a weekday for dinner and there was surprisingly no wait. You order from an ipad and the food comes out on a conveyor belt. They have somewhat a variety of items such as nigiri, rolls, etc. We ordered the salmon plate and the tuna handroll. I really enjoyed the handroll and the salmon plate. The handroll seemed fresh and paired well with the green onions. They also use seasoned rice which gives it great flavor without overpowering the fish. I believe its seasoned with vinegar and some kind of umami soup. The salmon plate came with 6 different types of salmon variation nigiri. It was actually very filling and was delicious. The service was nice and friendly. I wouldnt say their reasonably priced, it might be on the pricier side but for the quality...its not that bad.

    Kami H.

    Parking - While there are plenty of parking spaces, it can be difficult to pull into the lot. There is a 3-way stop that gets pretty congested so you may have to wait through multiple signals to get in. Service - The host employee was very nice and explained how everything worked. You order via the tablet and then the food comes out on conveyor belts. Drinks are brought to you by the staff. Food - We tried a few different rolls. They were all pretty decent, but nothing really stood out. It can get pricey, so I recommend pacing yourself to make sure you don't order too much food.

    inside | tiktok & insta: @trinhiesworld
    Trinh T.

    Food: Overall, the food was just okay and nothing really stood out, especially for the price. It felt a bit expensive for what you get, and the selection wasn't very wide. I wouldn't say it was bad, but it just wasn't memorable. My favorite was the salmon party since I love salmon, and I appreciated that some of the pieces were nicely seared. The takoyaki and calamari came out hot and crispy. I especially enjoyed the calamari because it had a great crunch and paired well with the spicy mayo. There weren't many roll options, but the crunch roll was a solid choice. It was pretty basic but had a nice crisp texture. The sashimi tasted relatively fresh, though nothing was particularly mind blowing. The steamed egg was interesting and had a shrimp hidden in it. Tuna lovers was also decent. Service: The service was attentive. The staff consistently cleared used plates and are helpful whenever needed. The food on the conveyor belt comes out pretty quick Ambiance: The inside is super cute with a calm atmosphere. It has a very chill and relaxed vibe.

    Salmon

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    7 months ago

    This is my go to for sushi! The ambiance is so inviting and the waitresses are so nice and attentive! I leave satisfied every single time

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    Page 4 of 7

    Waka Sakura Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Waka Sakura

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    Sushi REV

    Sushi REV

    4.2(729 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    Minority-owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    We had a great experience at Sushi Rev! LaLa was great! She was so welcoming, sweet, personable,…read moreand helpful! The sushi was sooooooo good. The salmon with onion and avocado was just heaven. We really enjoyed all of the food we got! The restaurant was very clean, organized, and had a nice layout. There was a good amount of seating and we went for lunch at 12:30pm and there was no crowd. There's lots of parking and lots of shops and treats nearby. We'll definitely be back!

    Service started out really wonky with our server deciding to seat us at a conveyor that stopped…read moreserving food, and we were only approached by a lead about 10 minutes into our meal that our lane was closed for service. They moved us to a new table but the server or lead didn't even take over our waters and we had to go and grab them. Something I also noticed was that plates kept piling up on other tables and waiters weren't really going around to clean up or keep count, so table space becomes limited. The environment is EXTREMELY loud with sounds from the kitchen since there's no barrier between kitchen to dining area so keep that in mind. The food is basically Kura Sushi but they don't offer miso soup on the menu, and we decided to come about 3 hours before closing and at least 20% of the menu wasn't being offered. Good choices on the menu though were the Ultimate Salmon roll and the seared salmon nigiri. Respectfully, your dollar is better spent at any other competing revolving sushi bar in the area.

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    Sushi Bear

    Sushi Bear

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    3.2 mi
    •$$
    Discounts available
    Casual dining

    My friend and I came here on a Saturday at 1130am when they opened. We were the only customers for…read morenearly an entire hour which allowed us to have attentive service by the staff! We each ordered a Combo B bento box, and also shared a Final Fantasy specialty roll. We only waited like 10 minutes for our food. All of the food was standard of what you'd expect in Japanese cuisine. No complaints! The interior of Sushi Bear is clean, and the staff is very kind and hospitable. The last time I ate at Sushi Bear was 7 years ago, so I anticipated they would continue serving authentic Japanese food which they certainly did! There's usually sufficient parking in the plaza.

    We were actually at Ayer next door when we wanted to try something new to eat. We aren't the most…read morefamiliar with the area, but we noticed this sushi place next door and decided to give it a try when we saw they had lunch specials. We ordered the following: Agedashi Tofu: This was honestly the highlight of the meal. I have been craving this appetizer, but not many places around here actually offer it. The last place I tried this was at Haku, and I was not impressed by it. However, the tofu here was really good! It was hot, crispy, and the sauce was perfectly sweet and salty. It comes with 4 larger sized pieces of tofu, which I thought was great, but could have been more for the price. Stir Fry Udon: This dish was advertised outside on one of their stand up signs by the front door. This is part of what brought us in, but upon receiving it, I was not too impressed. The sauce was extremely dark and it already looked salty. When I actually tasted it, I was not surprised that it tasted exactly how it looked. It was way too salty and saucey to the point, we were eating one bite then drinking water right after. It was a pretty simple dish with what looked like frozen carrots and peas and some cut up chicken. Lunch Bento Box Option 2: We opted in for the teriyaki salmon, gyoza, and salmon roll. It came with a side of salad and miso soup. The salmon was cut very thin and it did not have enough teriyaki sauce on it. It was on the dry side. The gyoza was nothing too special. Just felt frozen then dried with gyoza sauce. Miso soup and salad were also just decent. The best part of this meal probably had to be the salmon roll. I liked the big portions of salmon and the little rice on the outside. This was the perfect balance instead of just getting a mouthful of rice each bit like most other sushi places do. I think this place was decent, overall. The prices were definitely on the higher side for what you get. Nothing too much to rave about other than the agedashi tofu, so I will be by for that again, but not sure if I would necessarily get anything else. Service was attentive and great. Just know, not all their offerings are actually listed on the menu, so we did not even know how much the stir fry udon was until we got charged for it.

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    Sushi Bear - Flying Rainbow (New addition by Chef Alex)!!

    Flying Rainbow (New addition by Chef Alex)!!

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    Sushi Bear - King Dragon - one whole eel used for a roll!!! Oh my

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    King Dragon - one whole eel used for a roll!!! Oh my

    Uroko Poke

    Uroko Poke

    4.3(2k reviews)
    6.2 mi
    •$$

    I probably won't order on the app again. You're allowed 6 toppings like avocado and crab meat, but…read moreyou can't double up on anything and they don't really make it up to you by increasing the portions of the toppings you did choose. I ordered 2 of the the same bowl and only chose one topping for one of them and asked if they could just give me more crab meat in order notes. My second bowl I added 6 different toppings. When we got the orders, the second bowl was jam packed while the first with only one topping looked skimpy. In any case, the fish is always fresh here. It's my daughter's favorite poke ever so we keep coming back. Just have to make sure we order in person next time and fully maximize the 6 topping rule.

    I was craving poke and this place definitely hit the spot! Shoutout to my friend for introducing…read moreme. Everything is customizable, so you can build your bowl exactly how you like it. I went with rice, salad, salmon & tuna, mild sauce, spicy mayo, and almost ALL the toppings! The employees were super efficient and kind, even offering to help my friend and me carry our food to the table - the sweetest! Everything tasted fresh, which was perfect for the hot weather we've been having! I got the 2-scoop fish bowl and left completely stuffed. The portions are generous and fairly priced. Delicious, casual lunch if you're ever in the area!

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    Uroko Poke - Ordering line

    Ordering line

    Uroko Poke - 3 scoop 2 salmon and 1 spicy tuna - eel sauce, sesame oil, spicy sauce

    3 scoop 2 salmon and 1 spicy tuna - eel sauce, sesame oil, spicy sauce

    Uroko Poke - Same time!

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    Same time!

    Oishi Shabu & Sushi - Hot and sour Tom yums broth

    Oishi Shabu & Sushi

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    4.9 mi
    •$$$

    We chose the all-you-can-eat option, and everything was fresh and delicious. The highlight for me…read morewas definitely the Wagyu beef, premium beef, and lamb. The meat quality was amazing--tender, flavorful, and melted in your mouth after just a few seconds in the hot pot. We kept ordering more because it was that good! Besides the meat, they also have a great selection of fresh seafood, vegetables, sushi, fruit, desserts, and drinks all included in the price. Everyone in our family found something they loved. The service was friendly and attentive, and food came out quickly throughout our meal. This place is cleaned and nice vibe. Another big plus is the free garage parking, which made the whole experience even more convenient. Great food, great service, and great value. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quality AYCE hot pot and sushi spot in Irvine!

    Ambiance was big restaurant but pretty empty for Sunday at 5pm. It's buffet style so you get your…read moreown veggies, seafood and noodles. You order your meat using your phone with a QR code on the table. Veggies had lots of options, but label wasn't great. Sushi is only 4 roll options prepared on the side. No more ordering sushi separately, and sushi made is warm. Service is where the low rating comes in. When you order meat, they stack plates on top of each other. So, the top of your meat is touching the bottom of another plate. Then your plates will touch the table. Seems unsanitary. Service never checked on my table, or refilled my water, and took awhile to clear my plates I had stacked on the side. Had higher expectations but not coming back.

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    Marugame Udon - IG: happyfoodieoc

    Marugame Udon

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    6.2 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    I saw advertisements about the Clam Udon and I was SO EXCITED to try it. I am happy to report that…read moreIT WAS SUPER GOOD. The broth was super clean and light, but still flavorful enough that it didn't taste bland at all. There was also a decent amount of clams, which I appreciated because sometimes seafood udon can feel a little stingy. The clams added a nice briny sweetness to the broth without making it taste overly fishy, and everything felt really comforting and balanced. Definitely one of those bowls that tastes simple in the best way. I'd absolutely order this again, especially if I wanted something warm and satisfying without feeling too heavy afterward.

    One thing about me: I love noodles, and I especially love udon. I'm very particular about my udon,…read moreso I can confidently say Marugame is one of my favorite udon places to visit! I love every udon bowl I get, no matter the broth, but my favorite is definitely the curry udon. I love that you can add so many different toppings to your bowl, and the noodles are always cooked perfectly, never too soft and never too firm. If you're like me and tend to eat a lot, there are also different sizes to choose from, so sometimes I'll go for the larger bowl. You can truly customize your bowl to however you like which is great! If you've never been to Marugame, it's a little different from a traditional sit-down restaurant. You go through the line, tell the employees what you want and then choose your toppings, so your food is ready almost immediately. I'll usually stop here before going shopping, so I love how convenient it is while still receiving excellent customer service. The staff is always super quick about cleaning tables, and I think the inside is super cute and modern. You definitely have to try Marugame if you're an udon lover like me!

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    Waka Sakura - conveyorsushi - Updated September 2026

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