Bluefin

This is my favorite go to sushi spot. Amazing service. Great menu. Fresh and delicious fish. My favorite menu items are the tempura crab claws, the toro nigiri and their handrolls. Eating at the sushi bar is the most fun because you can see their professionalism and expertise close up which is a great experience. A gem for Newport and Laguna!

Was working in Newport Beach and decided to take a lunch break felt like some sushi. Found this place on yelp decided to try it. A bit on the pricey side but you get what you pay for especially when it comes to sushi. This sushi was so delicious so fresh. The presentation on the plate was perfect. The sushi itself was soft and buttery and texture and everything I ordered was just excellent. The atmosphere inside and outside was great. I decided to sit in the outside patio with ocean views. If you’re in Newport Beach and looking for delicious sushi spot this is the place

I always come to eat sushi when I eat real Japanese style sushi in LA. This location is amazing. Fresh fish & nice service. You should try this restaurant. 😄

I live in Las Vegas. Any time I'm in Orange County, you'll find me here at least once. This is the finest sushi I've eaten. Period. Bluefin carpacio and crispy rice are in the pictures. The eel was too tempting to waste time on photos...lol

This place is the best sushi restaurant in Orange County. It is located in the Crystal Cove Promenade shopping center. So fresh and exquisite. Every mouthful is so delectable. Must try and worth the drive. Enjoy the beautiful coastline. The sushi chefs here are the best. So friendly and they really take pride in what they do. The staff is attentive and fills your water without asking.

Exceptional!!! Fresh authentic Japanese sushi. Beautiful view. Even miso soup is red miso soup. Haven’t seen that since I left Japan. 🥲

Save room for dessert, and order the mocchi ice cream! You will enjoy clean, fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine at Bluefin. Upon entrance, you will notice the cleanliness of the restaurant and the uniformed, professional sushi chefs. The staff were kind and polite, especially Gregory, allowing us to dine in at 8:30 pm even though they close at 9:00 pm during weekdays. Indoor/Outdoor/Bar seating: Plenty of seating at this location. We sat inside. Delicious Food: Clean, fresh and flavorful. Ordered the mushroom miso soup with shiitake mushroom, grilled salmon with grilled vegetable, teriyaki sauce, wagyu beef carpaccio with onions, chive, goma-soy dressing, sesame seed, albacore dynamite roll, salmon avocado roll, and mochi ice cream. Loved everything. Excellent Service: Gregory, Jason and Raymond were professional, kind and attentive during our dining experience and each interaction. Parking: Free parking in parking lot. Valet parking is also available but it is closer to Javier's, so free parking is the better option. I highly recommend this restaurant for a clean, fresh, authentic Japanese dining experience, and thank you, Gregory, Jason and Raymond for a memorable experience!

Came here for restaurant week and was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the plating and variety of flavors in the dishes for an amazing $45 value. They showed a creativity in using unexpected traditional ingredients to create dishes outside of the typical sushi and sashimi. The sushi itself was pretty average but for the money it was an incredible deal and experience.

Wow, can't believe it took me this long to discover Bluefin. Located right across from Crystal Cove (you can see the water if you sit outside) with plenty of parking in the shopping center. The restaurant itself is decently sized, clean, and has a sushi bar which is where I sat. They have an omakase option for dinner, which I wanted to try but I decided to order a la carte as they had some really interesting specials for the day. The sushi dinner was truly an experience - we tried basically one of everything on the chalkboard and the fish was incredibly fresh and just melted in my mouth. Nothing was bad and I actually ordered some items 2-3 times. They also have really reasonable corkage for $25 which is very reasonable considering the location. If you are ordering sashimi, it can get a little pricey, but the quality of fish is spectacular so it is worth it in my opinion. Will definitely be a regular at this spot!

My first time having dinner there last night. We were seated at 7:15. Didn't have reservations, were in that shopping center and decided to grab a bite. From the minute we sat down our waitress kept rushing us into ordering. To a point that my date and I were rudely interrupted every 5 minutes. So I understand if they wanted to have another seating after us. But that wasn't the case. As they close at 9 or 9:30. They just wanted us to order and be gone by 9:00. Not OK. It's not just the food, people go out to restaurants for the experience ,so they can catch up with one another. This girl just would not get it and I told her more than one in a nice way that we like to take our time. But no she kept coming back 5 min later. The patio was nice so was the heater. Food was good too, if she would've just let us enjoy it.

A Regrettable Evening at Bluefin: Where Hospitality Was Lost Our dinner plans for a party of four at Bluefin on the Newport Coast quickly unraveled into an evening we'd rather forget. Entering at 7:30 PM, we expected a leisurely and enjoyable meal, given the restaurant's stated closing time of 9 PM. What we encountered, however, was a staff seemingly eager to end their shift, leading to a series of unfortunate events that highlighted a glaring neglect for customer satisfaction and basic hospitality standards. The service was the first to disappoint. Our server's demeanor was far from welcoming; he was brusque, inattentive, and seemingly indifferent to our presence. This attitude was underscored by a failure to take our complete order, setting a tone of disregard that tainted the entirety of our dining experience. Matters escalated when a person, who later identified himself ambiguously as the manager, accused us of berating the server. His refusal to provide his name, alongside his dismissive posture, only added to our growing discontent. This encounter was further soured by a revelation that the real owner of the restaurant was actually present, contradicting the manager's earlier implication of authority and bringing into question the honesty and transparency of the establishment's leadership. Our experience was further marred by an unexpected charge for authentic wasabi, a detail unbecoming of a supposedly high-end establishment and indicative of a broader lack of care and respect for patrons. As the night concluded, the departure was no less distressing. The so-called manager continued to demonstrate a profound lack of professionalism, resorting to verbal harassment and unfounded accusations of low class, stemming from our rightful complaints. The culmination of these experiences left us deeply disheartened. Spending $600 on an evening where respect, professionalism, and basic hospitality were conspicuously absent is a grievance no patron should have to endure. It's bewildering that such an establishment continues to operate in a locale celebrated for its culinary excellence and customer service. In closing, our visit to Bluefin was a stark departure from the standards of dining and hospitality we have come to expect in Newport Coast. It stands as a cautionary tale for those seeking a dining experience that values not just the quality of its cuisine but the dignity and respect of its guests. It is our hope that this account prompts a necessary reflection and realignment of Bluefin's priorities toward the hospitality values it seems to have misplaced.

Small but very nice place with patio dining. We had the ponzu salmon and assorted sashimi. Loved the ponzu sauce. All the fish was very fresh and tender. Also had the salmon, cod and chicken which were beautifully plated. Wish it came with rice. Had ordered sides. Portions were somewhat small but to be expected with this type of restaurant. Ambiance was very serene and coastal. Nice cool breeze but not too chilly with heat lamps. The sushi chefs were very friendly, took me back to Japan for a minute.

Save room for dessert, and order the mocchi ice cream! You will enjoy clean, fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine at Bluefin. Upon entrance, you will notice the cleanliness of the restaurant and the uniformed, professional sushi chefs. The staff were kind and polite, especially Gregory, allowing us to dine in at 8:30 pm even though they close at 9:00 pm during weekdays. Indoor/Outdoor/Bar seating: Plenty of seating at this location. We sat inside. Delicious Food: Clean, fresh and flavorful. Ordered the mushroom miso soup with shiitake mushroom, grilled salmon with grilled vegetable, teriyaki sauce, wagyu beef carpaccio with onions, chive, goma-soy dressing, sesame seed, albacore dynamite roll, salmon avocado roll, and mochi ice cream. Loved everything. Excellent Service: Gregory, Jason and Raymond were professional, kind and attentive during our dining experience and each interaction. Parking: Free parking in parking lot. Valet parking is also available but it is closer to Javier's, so free parking is the better option. I highly recommend this restaurant for a clean, fresh, authentic Japanese dining experience, and thank you, Gregory, Jason and Raymond for a memorable experience!

Clam miso soup, hot tea, and negi-toro hand roll for lunch. I know it's good because I never needed to pour out soy sauce and my child only drank water. My husband was in love within the first three sushi bar orders (because they had ordered Kobe beef and otoro, so it became about $100 per person). Sea bass as well as yellowtail are garnished with yuzu shio. We also received an amuse-bouche of marinated baby squid because it's in season in Japan.

Ok my girl Liz is truly wonderful and got me situated three times in a row on the beautiful patio in a pinch! It must have been my lucky night tonight - she assigned me to Gregory, Jason, and Kyle who provided warm and friendly service. Read on for the most wonderful food review and adventure... I had inadvertently skipped lunch so I was hungry enough to order the Chef's omakase (chef's choice, the specialty at Bluefin - with small plates, appetizers, sashimi course, fish course, nigiri sushi course, beef course, and dessert (of course!). It was literally one delicious taste experience after another! My server Gregory thoughtfully asked for any food allergies and suggested a zero alcohol Asahi (who knew they made one? It was delicious). The food was almost too pretty to eat, plenty to feast your eyes on, with thankfully small portions to allow you to enjoy multiple tastes. First off was the stunning ankimo (monkfish liver, which was served with a garnish of caviar and gold flakes, a chrysanthemum and a backdrop of a crisp lotus chip, all in a dab of shiro miso and a pinch of fresh seaweed. The miso was a bit too strong, but did not detract from the superb creaminess of the ankimo. Second up was a beautiful appetizer plate with a perfect kuramoto oyster, freshly shucked, served with lemon; a steamed savory egg brick (not the usual slightly sweet egg/tamago; a konbu wrapped delicacy fish which I couldn't remember, another fish I couldn't remember but tasty with the shiso leaf and snipped chives, and a burdock root garnished piece of fresh mackerel. Each so pretty, tasty, unexpected in the flavor construction and definitely unusual for omakase creations. The next two courses really upped the ante with a sashimi and fish course: sashimi was ultra fresh, and featured my favorite o-toro and buri (wild yellowtail flown in from Japan, likely Hokkaido by the taste of it - this is among the best buri sashimi I have had - definitely order this a la carte if you haven't had it yet); and the fish course was the star of the cooked courses: a gorgeous piece of grilled Chilean sea bass topped with a quarter grilled shiitake mushroom, and two gorgeously pan seared pieces of foie gras. This dish was exceptional - the foie gras with the crispy edges, lightly caramelized with a creamy center was a reverie on its own. I'm partial to Chilean sea bass and this was perfectly grilled, with slightly crispy skin and melt-in-your-mouth tender pristine white flesh, superbly fresh seabass - firm yet flaky, tender from the healthy fish oils cooked just right and not overcooked or oxidized. The presentation was gorgeous too, a deep fried translucent shiso leaf with a dusting of gold flakes. I've only had such a perfectly constructed and plated dish just a few times before, it was visually stunning and equally delicious! It was garnished with the most beautiful ruby-colored berry ume plum - lightly fermented, still sweet and tender, a little astringent to clear the palate. This dish alone deserves an award. Nobu who? By this point I was starting to get full, but the nigiri sushi (hand made sushi, with sushi rice on the bottom and fresh raw fish on top) course arrived in its glory - including my favorite of all time, uni (this time from Santa Barbara, their Hokkaido uni is amazing also), the sweetest hotate (scallop) nigiri I have ever had, and the namesake bluefin tuna among others. I was literally needing to make space in my digestive tract when they brought out nothing less than A5 wagyu beef, beautifully seared on a sizzling plate, with a crisped shishito pepper garnish on a bed of grilled mushrooms and onions, three kinds of sauces (the yuzu one was the standout for me). All this for $200 - impossible for this gorgeous visual and gastronomic feast! What a steal for the sheer quality, artistry, and craftsmanship! This would be the perfect place for a romantic date night on their cozy patio, with the fresh air of the Pacific Ocean in the distance, a perfect place to commemorate a special occasion, with friends or by oneself in peace and gentle solitude. Just when I was sure I could not take another bite, the dessert came, and with it the pièce de résistance: the poached pear, which was literally perfection in dessert form: simple fresh juicy pear half, poached in what tasted like a berry reduction resulting in a lightly sweet, fresh taste that defies description-but which outshone the other four micro desserts - olive oil cake with pecan butter; fresh berries and raspberry jam; raspberry sorbet. The pear was deceptively simple, but exquisite in taste and execution. What a perfect ending to a beautiful dining experience. Hats off to the Bluefin Chef Abe and wonderful waitstaff! Save this place for a special occasion, and most definitely order the Chef's omakase! The perfect ending to a perfect day, love this place!

The sushi and tempura for its lunch menu were excellent. The sushi was delicious with a variety of fresh raw fish. The tempura was nicely done with the right crisp. The set lunch came with miso soup and salad. For a set lunch of $30, it was worth it. The restaurant was nice and bright with outdoor seating. The service was lukewarm. The hostess wasn't too welcoming. It seemed she was ready for her lunch break.

Food was alright, service was decent and the atmosphere was average. In all I would not eat here again. Way over priced for sushi that you can find at an all you can eat sushi bar. I ordered a soft shell crab roll, the crab was dry over cooked and the roll tasted very fishy. I also ordered yellowtail and salmon sushi which normally comes as 2 pieces each. This place it is individual so I had to order 2 yellowtail and 2 salmon. The sushi was good, but worst of all I had a coke. I get it, like almost all the sushi places I've eaten at the Coke came in a can with a separate glass with ice, but the can of Coke was at room temperature, it wasn't even chilled. For such a high end area I was completely disappointed by the quality of the food. Gave this place just because the service was decent. Will not waste my time with this place again.

Good price point for lunch omakase and bento! It's located in the Crystal Cove shopping center. There is plenty of parking, though limited cell phone coverage. There's WiFi available for the whole shopping center. We came for lunch omakase ($60) and the lunch bento ($45). It's actually plenty of food! We ate inside the dining area but it seems most people rather sit outside on nice days.

Bluefin is a nice, semi-hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant located in a strip mall along Newport Coast. In other words, it's no run down strip mall, but rather a clean, refined shopping center in Orange County. The restaurant itself is pretty small. It's a narrow room, with half the restaurant being bar seating and the second half consists of a few tables. We decided to sit outside to enjoy the California ambiance. Service was good, standard wait service. Everyone was friendly. We ordered the omakase for dinner. The first part of the course comes with 4 small dishes: steamed egg with king crab, some type of brain? (with ponzu sauce to balance the creaminess), bean curd, and a sashimi. Kelp/cucumber salad: much larger than I expected. It was dressed in a rice vinegar, which gave it a tangy and citrusy flavor. Topped with lotus root to add a crunchy texture. Nigiri: 14 pieces. Beautiful flavors, ascending from lighter, white fish to more bold, creamy pieces like the uni. Overall, I was very satisfied, and stuffed! We loved the food here. The only reason for 4 vs 5 stars is because it wasn't over the top with its ambiance or service. Everything was good, but nothing memorable.

Took my wife and kids to Bluefin for mothers day yesterday. The fish tasted good. Unfortunately we did find a half dead cockroach trying to move around below the sushi bar we were at. I notified staff quietly and asked to have it removed. I assumed (hoped?) this was a one-off issue so we finished our meal. Our server seemed so nonchalant about the whole thing, that in hindsight we worry this might be a normal occurrence. I suppose one is not necessary, but I did find it weird there wasn't even an apology.

Wonderful lunch today at Bluefin which is located in the Crystal Cove Shopping center. I ordered the Chirashi Sushi lunch special which was as wonderful as the last time I had it a year ago on a previous visit. All of the pieces of seafood nigiri (cooked/raw) were delicious, fresh and high quality. A seasoned rice box, salad and miso soup were part of this lunch special. It is priced well at $30. My hubby ordered crab udon and he enjoyed it as well. The service was fine...adequate, though not friendly or personable at all but interactions were okay, which is why it's not a 5-star rating. 4.7 overall. The sushi chefs behind the counter were smiley though and thankful as we left. The ambiance was casual and it was full of diners both inside and outside when we arrived after 1:00. Lunch service is only from 11:45-2:00 so plan accordingly. Next time I'm ordering the Bento Box. So many were ordered during the time we were there! It's definitely a very popular menu item. We'll be back!

The selection of sashimi is pretty impressive as well as the sake menu. The service was great. Plenty of parking outside. It's a great spot for a casual date. So why the three stars? Because I had food poisoning right when I got home.

parking was a huge consideration, free parking in the lot. we went when it opened and service was good and not over the top which is what you get when dining with a good tipper. Unagi was fantastic but we have vastly different eating habits so we shared nothing. prices are high, where's the baked scallop dish and why no tamago on ur sushi menu

The Best Sushi bar in OC Always fresh and professional sushi men work hard there Highly recommend it!!!

A very nice patio table with ocean views, on point service, and upscale food presentations made for a lovely first time lunch experience. The lunch specials are fairly priced considering the freshness and beautiful platings. $30 for salad, miso soup, sushi plate, $60 for an amazing five course decadent omakase. We also ordered fresh wasabi [as we typically do] which was excellent, but be aware that they charge $18 for a bit over a tablespoon of it. Next time we will try their king crab roll & lobster roll.

JENNIFER was an amazing waitress! I was celebrating my birthday. She was so personable and made my day feel extremely special. The food was an A++, though pricy so worth it! Sitting outside was lovely and extremely accommodating with the ability for asking for heaters once the sun set. Would recommend to any person for the experience Jennifer gave alone; any questions we had about food or drink were personalized for our preferences not just for price point.

My favorite restaurant and everything so good There have great service! I recommend Sushi Omakase yummy.

Very solid sushi spot in Newport coast. Came here with my wife for dinner. The service was good and efficient. Ambiance was clean and upscale but not over the top. The fish quality was great, our favorites were the O-toro and Uni. Definitely pricey due to location, but less than nobu. Worth coming here for a great date!

Had a great time here celebrating my husband's birthday with our neighbors. All the food was fresh and delicious. We were seated on the beautiful patio, with heaters, but it was a bit chilly, so make sure to take a jacket. The service was friendly and attentive. We ate mostly sushi and sashimi dishes and tried 3 of their desserts. No hating. (see photos) One thing stands out though... and you'd never guess that their edamame is over the top. It truly seems to be cooked in a broth vs water and what a great idea! They denied that there was anything special in the way they prepared this, but trust me because I make edamame at home all the time. I also hardly ever order edamame at a restaurant. Get this!

Food was great. The Lunch Omakase was excellent. Service was great and there was no wait. The ambiance was very relaxing and calming. I will definitely return!

Fantastic Omakasa lunch & lunch bento box - fresh , fresh ,super fresh sashimi & nigiri. Must try with kizami wasabi.

Came here and sat at the sushi bar. Had wonderful service from my sushi chef. Ordered ofcourse authentic sushi. Started off with blue fin taco. So good but needed something so added soy sauce to it and lemon. Crispy tuna was amazing, wish i ordered more. The amount of flavor and all the sauces it came with made every bite burst with flavor. It was my favorite. Ordered uni from Santa Barbara it was very sweet but it wasn't as expected. The golden eye snapper was delicious. I am sure i ordered nonstop. The ikura was food, not to fishy. The chutoro and toro was as expected incredibly fatty and buttery in a texture way. The blue fin sushi was as fresh as could be. Loved the food. And loved the service.

We were initially planning to eat at Bear Flag for our wedding anniversary, but this outfit was closed for their remodel. Oh well...knowing there should be plenty of seafood options in a city like Newport Beach we found this fantastic restaurant some 50 steps down. Availability at the sushi bar which we typically appreciate as we can chat with the creators. Bluefin roll, crispy tuna and the yellowtail kama were all to die for... OK we do know a little place called Minato whose crispy tuna is crispier but in regard to seafood quality this is top shelf material. Ube cheesecake is highly recommended as it looks like a small art piece. No alcohol as we were meeting with clients right after. Bill was a bit over $100, very reasonable knowing it's Newport Beach and a quality place. 5/5.

As many other reviews have mentioned, the Lunch Omakase is an excellent choice and I highly recommend it. This option is essentially a tasting of all of their highlights. This isn't the typical omakase experience where they provide one nigiri at a time and customize the experience, but the food was delicious. Tip: If the host who answers the phone or greets you seems a bit gruff, please don't be deterred! The overall experience is good, and the chefs at the sushi bar were very pleasant.

The sushi is world class. Seriously. I have had sushi nearly every place I have ever visited. It is fresh (as you would expect) and delicious. The service was wonderful and I noticed several local. Sit outside and enjoy the sunset!! Visit Bluefin!!

Food: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Environment 9/10 The food was great and they give you big pieces of sashimi. The portions on other dishes beside sushi/sashimi were fair for the price tag. Ideally this is the perfect sushi spot, if sashimi or sushi is what you came for. The service was average. There were a few request we had to ask for multiple times, but understand it was a busy Sunday afternoon. Other than that, the waiter checked in on us to make sure everything was good. The environment is nice. The shopping center is small but it's located right across the street from Crystal Cove. You're within walking distance from the beach, a bar, and a few shopping places. : $$-$$$ : A lot of parking but busy on weekends

The sushi here is so good! The service was great and they remembered us before so knew how we liked our things. It was a nice outdoor area on a beautiful Christmas Eve day. Not much to complain about here. It can be pricey but worth it if you have the money to spend!

I've never had Omakase with different depths of flavor. It just kept getting better and better from the initial appetizers to the sashimi. They definitely took me on a journey. Although, they did forget my cup of green tea...wish I had it a little bit earlier to cleanse my palette and get ready for the next dish. My god that uni... was gold. Buttery and melts in your mouth. Absolutely! Delicious!!

今天是金恩博士的生日， 也是31年前Northridge 大地震的日子， 有些事情會讓人一輩子刻骨銘心，這天也應該算其中之一， 當年我家在震央，清晨大地震時是「上下」大力的晃，根本不可能離開那個床上的， 幾十秒過去後，一片死寂， 街邊車子的Alarm此起彼落， 家裡所有的杯子， 酒，醬油... 全破了，無一幸免， 樓梯也斷，毀了一半，連後院的檔土牆也是傾斜的，還好家人全都沒事，當天不用上班，我們那裏的freeway, 斷掉時，路上的車子很少， 才沒造成更大的傷亡，我也記得整個valley 都沒電，沒瓦斯好幾天，真的是與世隔絕的感覺，連要買個水，只能拿現金去 liquid store 跟很多人擠，那些恐怖的經歷，沒遇過的人是無法體驗的，所以後來當台灣921 大地震，我在台北睡覺， 跟男友被震醒時，我非常鎮定的跟他說，這裡不是震央，別擔心，待會兒可能會有餘震，不用怕，然後又繼續呼呼大睡了. 我好像比較少機會吃到日本料理， 但今天這家我覺得要拍拍手，東西做的非常好吃跟精緻， 每道出來， 我的表情跟認真拍照的模樣，應該讓站在對面的師傅們很滿意， omakase 一道是150 一個人， 很划算，每一道都很好吃，就是那杯酒， 可能我退了第一杯後，調酒的師傅不開心？ 不小心多撒了兩倍？三倍？的酒量進去，我的媽媽咪呀， 第一口就知道什麼叫酒濃～ 喝完一杯後，我覺得沒在那唱江蕙的～我沒醉我沒醉～沒醉，就已經是意志力很強的處女座了在撐著了，所以，當晚是標準的吃飽喝足後，就回家躺平睡覺了! -- eating dinner at Bluefin.

My best friend and I came in for her birthday dinner yesterday, and we had an amazing experience! Most of this was because of JENNIFER'S outstanding service! She was so attentive, kind, and an overall angel. If you come here, make sure you are served by her. She had great suggestions whether it was for food or drinks. She made our experience that much better with her positive attitude/energy! She deserves a raise! As for the food - the sushi was absolutely incredible! Everything from the albacore tataki to the scallops and crispy rice spicy tuna, nothing disappointed. Our favorite bite of the night was the wagyu. The food is pricey but you can definitely taste the quality.

This place is okay. Nice thing was they had availability right away on a busy Friday night and the outside seating with the lights are cute. Spicy Garlic Edamame--yummy Salmon Ponzu--I enjoyed it but wasn't my favorite ponzu sauce Crispy Tuna--good not great Spicy Tuna Roll--this tasted bad I don't know if the spicy tuna wasn't fresh or what, but I didn't eat more than 1 roll. Service was awesome! I asked for ginger and they brought me large amount. Refilled my hot water. I think it was fine for what it was, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Best sushi in all of Orange County! Difficult to get in but well worth the wait! The sashimi special was super fresh and tender. Great setting on the coast with outdoor seating.

I definitely would NOT recommend the bento box lunch. The yellowtail was completely flavorless and the chirashi bowl was also lackluster.

Overall: Came here to eat before I move out of California. We ordered omakase and were blown away how superior their quality is. Service was perfect; we didn't wait that long to order drinks, plates were cleared very quickly when we finished, drinks never ran dry. They were all attentive that we never felt the urge to call them over. The dessert was also top notch. All the fruits were perfectly ripe with the right sweetness and firmness. I would definitely come back again. They had a huge selection of alcohol (beers, wines, tequila, vodka, Japanese sake) and would like to try the rare ones when I come back

A friend from Laguna Beach recommended this place and we loved it!! The crab salad is spectacular. The service was amazing and the sushi was the best we have ever had. Highly recommend a patio table.

Back again for the lunch omakase ($50), still as good as ever. We got the bento box for the kids and it was a beautiful variety of foods, definitely worth $30. Also, they have set up a nice outside dining area. See my pictures below.

I've been to most of the sushi restaurants with high reviews, but this is the finest and most authentic sushi restaurant in Orange County. The sushi is always fresh and melts in your mouth, and the dishes are beautifully prepared and presented like works of art. The lunch omakase is an especially good deal at $60 and includes premium sushi, some sophisticated amuse bouche, a hearty sashimi salad, a fancy miso soup, a cooked fish delicacy and a special dessert accompanied with fresh fruit. The best part is that you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the meal with an ocean view.

Been here a few times for omakase and each time it never disappoints. $85 for dinner for 12 pieces! The fish were super fresh and each piece melted in my mouth. There is indoor seating and outdoor seating. Omakase is best at the bar though! A lot of parking available in the plaza and staff were attentive! Never been here during lunch to try omakase, but that's on my to do list!

It's casual done very well, imo. It was good for a lil-big birthday dinner. Probably deserves a full five stars, but... on the other hand... -- You know, the stars mean different things to different people. It's a five star; it's a simple three star and yet in a way also a perfect 10. ($$$ - It's really meant for a different wallet than mine, so keep in mind that the price does not reflect any sort of grand finale level of innovation and wow, back-to-back, dish-after-dish. It's a fair experience if you know what to expect.) Longer Story: We've been here before. I wanted try to do a repeat experience, but the memory was fonder than the reality, I guess. Still good. I requested we have vegan food for my birthday, but the response from my party was disbelief and dismay. Not feeling prepared to try a new restaurant, I decided to revisit the restaurant we did in February for another birthday. Everything was good today... Just... a little surprised by how tough the wagyu was. I remembered it being perfect in February. This evening, it was not especially soft or buttery imo. It actually tasted most like garlic powder. Only one piece, the last piece-- By a stroke of luck! Only the last piece of mushroom tasted like how I remembered it. Everything else we ordered was chosen by my "party". I only really wanted the mushroom miso, some salads, and a dish we didn't order for some reason even though I told my party that it was what I wanted... I just wasn't interested in being pushy. The salmon with basil oil. I liked that dish in Feb. As far as the sashimi roll goes, my first reaction was humor, and I prefer my sashimi plain on rice to be lightly dipped in soy sauce or spread with the usual horseradish "wasabi" paste. The gentle texture is much more appreciable that way. This roll was awkward thru and thru. Of course, it still tasted alright! It just felt a little silly to me. I had to eat what the table ordered. Lol. I think it'd be great to share between a larger party before or after a long hike. Protein on protein roll, like a blue fin turducken. Lol. OKAY, but the matcha crème brûlée saved the day for me! I was expecting to order the chocolate cake. I tasted a bite last time, and it's my favorite basic restaurant dessert. So happy to have noticed the matcha crème brûlée instead. Wish it had a more thickness for a definite fracture with the spoon (iykyk) and more of a rich burnt sugar flavor, too. Only the edges had the burnt taste! It's so luscious with the also malty/umami, green matcha! Ambiance: We sat outdoors, so that comes with the chance of car alarms. There are effective heaters, so it was actually more warm in the patio than cold, tonight. (I'm not an expert, and I did not inquire about how they source their "ingredients". Not sure if someone more discriminating would have anything to say about it as far as whether it's organic, wild, and/or ethical.) Thank you! THANK YOU!

Learned not to drive all the way to Crystal Cove for sushi. Manager who presented the sushi was very lackadaisical and perfunct. Sushi itself was weak- bland and not exciting. Omakase? Seriously? Just "neighborhood sushi" with some hype. My standards are high, but so is the price. Should have gotten pizza next door instead.

I normally go for lunch and order the Bento which is delicious and a great value. I went for dinner and ordered the Wagyu Shabu Shabu. This meal is delivered to tables only (not allowed at the sushi bar probably due to scalding concerns). There was a large metal pot over a flaming sterno fuel puck to keep the broth hot during cooking. You are supposed to do your own cooking of the mushrooms, vegetables, noodles and meat. The broth is very lightly seasoned, to the point of being tasteless. The quantity of food is on the sparse side. There was still little taste after cooking, but the yellow dipping sauce provided the only flavor. I would say that the meal is a low-carb dieter's dream since there was no rice and the noodles were a minimal serving. My CGM (continuous glucose monitor) showed a small rise post-prandial response. At $70, you are not getting satiated so plan accordingly.

Was disappointed to hear that San Shi Go closed down in Laguna Beach so decided to try Blue Fin in Newport. As a long time loyal San Shi Go customer my expectations were high for Blue Fin and let's just say my expectations were exceeded. We went here on a Friday at 6:30 and were able to walk in and get seats at the sushi bar. We started with the toro sushi, wagyu sushi and salmon sushi. All were fresh and worth the expensive price tag. We then proceeded to get a couple of cut rolls. The signature blue fin roll was an excellent balance of flavors with the fresh tuna melting in your mouth and the various sauces not overwhelming the flavor. We also tried the eel roll which was also fresh and tasty. For the finale we tried the blue crab hand roll which was also on point. For dessert we ordered the green tea Creme brûlée which was unique and tasted just as it sounds. Service was also professional and on point. The sushi chefs were pros and masters of their craft. We will definitely become regulars here and will go back to try more dishes. Went back to try the omakase and would highly recommend it! We went with the $85 option which includes some small bites, a miso soup and 12 pieces of sushi. Fun experience letting the chef pick the freshest sushi.

Went here with my mom and sister because we wanted to get some sushi. They had been here before and were raving about the quality of the fish. I can say with confidence that Bluefin did not disappoint. The quality of the fish was definitely one of the best I have ever had. I ordered the Bluefin bento box because it seemed like a good combination between non fish food and sushi. However, after tasting the nigiri I would recommend just sticking to sushi. I had no problems with the other food in fact they were also quite good. However the fish is definitely what you need to prioritize. Being a big fan of sweet shrimp as well I would say that it was absolutely amazing. Could not have asked for a better lunch. I'll definitely come back again when I feel like treating myself out or other people. This is NOT a casual place to eat.

This is currently my favorite Japanese spot since the pandemic. I've eaten here several times and almost everything I've had is really good. I don't normally give 5 stars. I save 5 stars for places with excellent food, service, and cleanliness. I have to be honest, I haven't loved every single dish we've ordered but it's been overall good enough to keep me coming back over the past 2 years. The restaurant itself is small but there is a nice patio with fantastic ocean views. It can be casual but also a great date spot especially if you time it to watch the sun set. They have Japanese chefs prepare the sushi with counter seating. Have fun trying out their specials! I like that it offers more than just sushi.

With the continued rise in inflation and shortages, I'm surprised this place did not go crazy and price gouge their entire menu. In such a bougie location, you would think they would charge an arm and a leg just to freakin' eat. For a bang for one's buck, go there during lunch hours (make a reservation) and get their $55 omakase lunch special (see my pic). Overall quality is a thumbs up! Everything was tasty and gently-crafted. Service is pretty good too. Zero complaints about our server with that fancy Gucci belt. Well-done, young man! Hope to come back soon!

My new go to for Sushi in Laguna Beach and here's why; Stopped in for a coffee next door and realized I need some healthy food. Saw Blue Finn Japanese Cuisine and poked my head in asking Elizebeth the hostess if they had any Lunch Specials? She kindly opened the brochure that listed numerous lunch specials. I asked if she had any sashimi specials and she gladly chimed in pointing to the top one, sharing the assorted sashimi is very popular. She was so accommodating and helpful. I said I'll take it and pointed to my car outside in the pickup lane. I said I'll be back in 10 minutes as my dear dog was in the car... That's when she blew me away by saying she will bring it out to my car- Who does this anymore? BlueFin gladly does!!I .. Twice blown away at the intriguing presentation in Japanese ramekins with delicate designs on about 6 or 8 separate ramekins. I fell in love at how each different dish was unique and thoughtfully plated with such quality sashimi and vegetables. I would say there was easily 6-8 generous high quality sashimi pieces and one ramekin was a rice dish ..one a seasoned pickles dish and seaweed. I literally thought I died and went to heaven. But then there was hot specialty soup w various mushrooms and yet another green salad. WOW! I live close to the montage in South Laguna.. AND..after all nothing but the best is what I seek. I will now only be attending BlueFin regularly because they truly serve Quality, Kindness, Generous Portions which are Tastefully & Artistically Plated. Glorious Meals for a Tremendous Value. Today I'm taking my customer here for a "Can't Wait' luncheon. Kyle was equally helpful and I love the smile and kindness the staff reflects of this Outstanding 20 years+ Long time Business. So Blessed & Grateful to have you all our dear Bluefin

One word: Omakase I've lived in CA for what seems like a lifetime and have always wanted to dine at Blue Fin. Today was the day... it was a lunch date and I was thrilled to see their lunch specialty- Omakase for $50. My typical sushi lunch runs about $50 so I was skeptical that I'd get full and was prepared to order some additional items. Yet this was more than adequate and I left pleasantly satisfied. There were 5 courses and all paired well with my FivePawns. The plating and variety were 5 stars, the service was efficient and staff were friendly. Completely satisfied. Tottemo Oiishii desu!

Shinya & Abe San... I love you! Ty to the lovely night hostess & server Jason for always being so sweet!! Keeps me coming back the freshest sushi selections in OC New outdoor heated seating is a vibe, but always gonna be a sushi bar gal. Ordered: - Wakame Seaweed Salad - Cucumber Sunonomo Salad - Iwashi (Sardine) Sushi - Pike Sushi - Barracuda Sushi - Salmon Skin Handroll yumm - Sweet Shrimp- Head in miso soup- My Fave!! - Mushroom Tobanyaki - spicy tuna avocado cucumber roll topped w salmon - I usually hate things like this, but shockingly one of the best rolls I've ever had! And I usually hate raw salmon, but this had me in awe yum! Love you all, Cat :)