If you're in Dana Point and looking for something simple, honest, and actually made with care --…read morethis little spot surprised me in the best way. I ended up here in the middle of the day while working in the area. Never been before. I try to avoid chains when I can and pick something new each time. This place caught my eye, and I'm glad I walked in. It's a small, family-run vibe -- and I mean literally. Looked like a husband and wife running everything themselves. They were both super polite, calm, and you can tell they really care about the food and about every guest who walks in. No rush, no attitude, just warm hospitality. I went with something safe for me -- ramen and salmon sushi. And both were just... really solid. Not overcomplicated, not trying to be something fancy. Just good food made right. The broth had depth, noodles cooked right, and the sushi was fresh with balanced flavor. No complaints there at all. The place itself is small. Not a big dining room. A few tables inside, clean but definitely more of a takeout-focused spot. They don't have a restroom available inside, which kind of confirms that they expect people to grab food and go. And honestly -- I would. Not because it's bad to sit there -- it's fine. But this is the kind of meal that hits even better sitting somewhere by the ocean with the breeze. I'd definitely order takeout from here and eat outside by the water next time. I paid around $30, which is very fair for the quality, especially in California. They do ask about tip at checkout before you get your food -- that part always feels a bit weird to me, but I get it. Overall -- 5 stars for the food and the heart behind the place. I'll remember it. And I'll be back -- probably to pick up a to-go order and take it straight to the beach.

This quaint location is a mom & pop shop run by the sweetest people ever. Don't expect stellar…read moredine-in service as you will have to order and pay up front before anything. Either way, the staff here will always make sure you have everything you need as long as you ask. You're free to help yourself w/ hot or room temp water at the dispenser in front of the green wall. Plenty of parking and jsyk there is no public restroom. As for the food, everything tastes great! You get a great amount of fresh fish for the most affordable prices in the area. The sushi rice tastes good and I appreciate how the rolls aren't stuffed w/ rice to make up for the lack of fish. I especially like the Aloha roll, Lollipop roll, Crunch (shrimp tempura) hand roll, and the sashimi & carpaccios are all fresh. Love how you can get pickled wasabi (real wasabi) for a reasonable up-charge. All of their salad dressings are made in-house too! Great place for a quick & casual bite to eat. They got treats for dogs and lots of friendly vibes to share. Super accommodating to all, and can confidently say that they treat their regulars so well. Always happy to support a local, family-owned business! Thank you :)

I hadn't been here in an about 6-7 years! Took some clients here today and we had a great lunch. I…read morehad the teriyaki beef, California rolls, Tuna sashimi, salad and rice special. Everyone enjoyed their food. Service is as solid as I remembered! Restaurant is comfortable with some nice booths. This place has been here for a long time and it's because of the good food! Parking lot is fairly small located behind the restaurant, you have to go through a small alley to get to it.

The food was delicious and we were able to taste a variety of rolls so I'm pretty confident in…read moresaying it was all great! The staff were super helpful, friendly and efficient. They kept the plates coming!! The restaurant is nothing fancy - maybe not a date night location - and was busy the entire time we were there - with both eat in and takeout. My one complaint was the noise level - I felt like we were screaming at each other just to hear above the noise. The table next to us had kids that were not only loud but running around. I think next time I would take the food to go and enjoy it in the quiet of my own home.

Sushi Kara is one of those spots that really doesn't get the credit it deserves. It has a very…read morehomey, comfortable atmosphere, the staff is always friendly, and the sushi chefs are genuinely entertaining guys who make sitting at the bar part of the experience. I've been here for lunch, dinner, and even the occasional "sushi, beer, and whatever game is on TV" afternoon, and it's consistently a good time. It's casual enough to stop in whenever you feel like it, but the food and service keep me coming back. The prices are also very reasonable for the quality. If you want good sushi without breaking the bank, friendly service, and a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere, Sushi Kara is an easy recommendation.

I hardly ever give out five stars because I believe there's always room for improvement. I cannot…read morein good faith give this place 4 stars as 4 stars does not do It justice. Realistically it's a 4.8 for me which is saying a lot. Let's begin with the service; the service is great, no complaints. The ambience is nice, the World Cup was playing so win win. Food: Edamame: warm and seasoned well California roll: made to perfection Spicy tuna crispy rice: WOW the cilantro and raw jalapenos is chefs kiss- this is a must Yellowtail roll: elite, every bite felt like a breath of fresh air, I was genuinely impressed Soy paper salmon: a unique roll that taste like a proper Oceanside appetizer I am genuinely impressed. As an LA girly, this place blew every sushi place out the water for me back home. Can't wait to be back.

UPDATE I previously posted a review regarding Dan Kai, which…read moreI have since removed, due to the restaurant having contacted me with a sincere apology. I won't go into the reason I posted the three star review earlier on Friday. The point is, they made it right in principal. Here is the apology I received on Sunday. Sun, Apr 12 at 3:48 PM From Jiun K. Subject: Dana Kai "Hi Michael, First of all, we sincerely apologize for the discomfort you experienced after your visit. We're truly sorry to hear that you were unwell--it must have been very concerning. When you brought this to our attention at the time, we confirmed with our chef that the uni was freshly delivered that day, and we regret that we did not take further action to address your concern. Looking back, we recognize that our response was not sufficient, especially when it comes to a guest's health and safety. We also apologize for not offering a refund or a more immediate resolution at that time. That was a shortcoming on our part, and we take full responsibility for it. Your well-being is extremely important to us, and we would truly appreciate the opportunity to make this right. Please feel free to contact us directly so we can follow up properly and offer an appropriate resolution. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and once again, we sincerely apologize for your experience. Dana Kai"

I love Dana Kai and their sushi is excellent and fresh…read more If they can figure out a way to slow down the food to the tables, I'll give them 5 stars.

I had heard so many great things about Kawamata Seafood, so I was really excited to finally get the…read morechance to try it. We arrived around 12:30 pm on a Sunday and there was already a line of people waiting to order. Despite this, it only took us 10 minutes to receive our food, including the time waiting in line. The parking lot is extremely small, but there's plenty of street parking nearby, so we had no trouble finding a spot. Kawamata is a tiny operation where you order at the window and find a spot outside to eat. We ordered Salmon and Ahi bowls with various toppings, and I really liked how many options they give you. I enjoy poke both the simpler, more Hawaiian-style way and loaded with extra textures and flavors, and Kawamata gives you the option to do either. The poke itself was delicious, and the portions were very generous. I especially liked how all the toppings came together without taking away from the fish. Just keep in mind that the extras are individually priced, so your bowl can get a little expensive depending on how many you add. Overall, I really enjoyed Kawamata Seafood and can see why it gets so much love. The poke was fresh, filling, and flavorful, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I can come back.

The best poke in town and probably the closest you'll get to Hawaii-style poke!…read more We love coming here and grabbing poke bowls to take to Pines Park to enjoy the beautiful ocean views and sunset. There's usually a line, but it moves quickly. You order and pay at the door, and they call your name when your order is ready. The staff are always so friendly and helpful. It's a little more expensive than some other poke spots, but we think it's worth it. You can really taste the freshness of the fish, and the flavors are delicious. You can build your own bowl or choose from one of their preset options. It's a cute little hole-in-the-wall spot with a few picnic tables if you want to eat there, but we love taking ours to the park. If you're craving fresh, Hawaiian-style poke in Dana Point, definitely give this place a try!

ZEN SUSHI DANA POINT is under new ownership and is currently operating as normal. The new menu has…read moremore options than previous owners but still keeps most of the same items for everyone

Zen Sushi is one of your typical neighborhood Japanese restaurants, serving sushi, noodles and…read morebowls. Their rolls seem to be the thing to order - every table seemed to have a selection of their signature rolls, ranging in price from $14.50-$18.95. They also have bento boxes. If you come on the weekend, the lunch bento pricing is not available, only the dinner ($3-$5 extra). I would not go out of my way to go here, but it's perfectly decent for the neighborhood. Lots of parking in the lot.

Can't beat the view if you have a window seat or better yet, an outside seat... I sat at the sushi…read morebar as they were very busy. But that was fun as the sushi chefs are engaging. My server was very good - she and another lady covered the entire place and they were both moving constantly - hard workers!! I started with a sunomono salad with octopus added. It was very good! I ordered a Negi-Hama and negi-Toro roll plus a rainbow roll. All of the rolls were delicious - the small Negi rolls were my favorites. They have a great menu and will even make custom requests, which all looked fantastic. Prices were extremely reasonable, too. Friendly and very good food!

Slightly off putting staff. Tried to get a patio table for dinner but was told none were…read moreavailable. No way to make a reservation online but yet was told all patio tables were "reserved". Mind you we were there in person looking at 3 open tables & 4 high-top seats. All which remained empty during our experience at the neighboring bar. Enjoyed cocktails & food at the bar next door that shared the same patio. Was welcomed right away & offered great service.

We ate here for our anniversary and it was truly a special experience. Ryan and the chef both did…read moreincredible work contextualizing each dish and the intimate 8 person setup is wonderful. Highly recommend.

I'd been wanting to try Taikun for three years--ever since my friends went and couldn't stop raving…read moreabout 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.

Excellent food Excellent service…read moreDecent pricing The view is spectacular Would love to dine here again

I'm confused as to why this place has such high ratings. The only redeeming quality is the view…read more Came here for lunch during the week and it took 15 minutes before our server took our order. Once the food came, it wasn't until it was almost time to pay the bill did he check in on us. Food wise I was not impressed. The scallop was bland and flavorless. While our food was room temperature. Considering the slow service our meal probably sat for some time in the kitchen vs being served right to us once made. The value paid for what was offered on food and service was sub par. I expected more from the Ritz Carlton

My hubby and i dined here for our anniversary dinner. It was our first time here. It's across the…read morestreet from Dana point harbor (which is currently under construction ). There is ample parking around the restaurant. The place has a lot pf seating both indoor and outdoor dining. We opted to dine outside to enjoy the cool breeze. Our server Carlos was very friendly and accommodating. We ordered the mussels and calamari for appetizers and it was delicious. For our main, i had the scallops and my hubby ordered the seared mahi mahi and both were delicious! We emptied our plate we later found out from Carlos that Chef used to work at Montage Hotel. Overall we enjoyed our dining experience and would definitely come back.

I had really high hopes for Glasspar. I will say that the service was good and the oysters were…read moregreat! We came here for girls night. The patio was lovely. I am an oyster girl so I knew what I wanted, which was something not too creamy. Usually this time of year they are but I asked anyway. The server made a suggestion and went off to place the order. He came back and let me know that the oyster shucker suggested a different one that was not creamy at all. I really appreciated that and was very happy with the oyster selection. We did a lot of small plates for happy hour. They were very small plates and still relatively high prices. We felt like all the dishes were missing seasoning. We also had cocktails that were fine but not exceptional. Overall it was an enjoyable experience but not mind blowing.