Buddha's Favorite

Right off the water and great atmosphere for sushi and Japanese beer. Wife’s birthday dinner. Fresh eats and our server Kilanii knew how to beer pour and served our every need. Wonderful, friendly, and timely service. Five stars all the way. Food was delicious!

Buddha’s Favorite is such a great sushi spot! I met up with a friend for dinner and we really enjoyed everything we tried. The atmosphere was relaxed, the service was friendly, and the food was fresh and flavorful. Highly recommend the crispy tuna — it was a standout!

Let me start off by saying the food was really good. The poke tasted fresh and the miso soup was very good as well We had a group of 10 and we all didn’t have any complaints about the sushi itself it was very good. But the service wasn’t that great. They took a long time to take our order and the food took a long time as well, and when we did get our food it came staggered. Some food came and others were waiting for 15-20 minutes for their food after. They weren’t really attentive to our group. We had to get up and ask for ginger because they didn’t come to our table much. But the sushi was excellent and the place itself is nice and next to the water. So that’s pretty neat.

This is hands down the best sushi that I've ever had. I love the fresh wasabi and salmon carpaccio was absolutely delicious. I also like the fact that I got a custom role made the way I want it with salmon skin and gobo. The service is great Nicole her staff get 2 thumbs up

Located on the pier on the Lido Peninsula, the small sushi restaurant is a must. The view is outstanding. The atmosphere is perfect. Reservations are recommended as this place fills up fast. The fish was simply amazing, and the service was perfect. Really can't say enough! Highly recommended!

I’ve never felt the need to write a review until now, but this restaurant left me completely infuriated. I made a reservation for my birthday dinner at 7:30, only to be told to wait when I arrived. Fine—I waited. After 40 minutes, they finally came over to inform me that the only seating available was at the sushi bar and that if we wanted a table, it would be another 20 minutes. That is absolutely unacceptable for a confirmed reservation. To make matters worse, during this time I watched at least three parties of three and two parties of two get seated ahead of us, even though their reservations were at 8:00. The only reason? They seemed to be acquaintances with the servers. That kind of blatant favoritism is unprofessional and shows zero respect for paying customers. We ended up leaving without even eating. This was our very first impression of the restaurant, and it will definitely be our last. If management cares about customer experience, they might consider training their staff on professionalism—or at the very least, honoring reservations instead of playing favorites.

Had dinner on Monday 4/28/05. Food was decent, the tempura veggies were delicious and the rainbow roll was nice and fresh, although pretty small and narrow. The Pacific oyster we ordered was NOT good at all, sadly. Other food was ok. Service was subpar, the young woman serving the outside was inattentive and short with her responses. Needs a chat with management. We talked with the table next to us about how hurried and disinterested she seemed to be with our service; both said they wouldn’t come back. The atmosphere just didn’t seem welcoming last night, sadly. It was freezing and took forever to turn the heaters on. The hightop table we were at was next to the windows for the inside, and halfway through our meal someone shut the blinds inside abruptly cutting off the light by which we could see our food. We had to use an iPhone flashlight to see what fish was on top of the rainbow roll, to see the bill, and to sign the receipt. Just a lame experience from start to finish. The free “I Like It Raw” stickers were cool, though. 🤷

This sushi restaurant perched on the pier of Newport Beach’s Lido Peninsula is a must-visit. The waterfront marina views are stunning, especially at sunset, and outdoor seating comes with heaters. The atmosphere is dimly lit and intimate. Reservations are recommended. The sushi was excellent and surprisingly affordable. Service was a bit slow, but maybe understandable with a large group.

What a beautifully located sushi spot! With an outdoor patio right off the water, you get to enjoy a delicious meal right off the water. Very cute decor and wonderful staff. We both shared a Paradise Roll. It is a California Roll topped with Poke and Green Onions. Very fresh and the ponzu sauce is bright. We also got our own weekend lunch special. This is a steal. A lot of food for an excellent price. We were both very full. A great vacation spot.

Came here on a Thursday night but it started raining so had to eat inside! The inside is a small space. Definitely a spot for locals. And seems to always be busy. Parking is easy either street parking or valet. The sushi was fresh! I got calamari, sashimi & buddhas favorite. Buddha must be a huge fan of cream cheese, if you are too then go for it! Would recommend & come again.

Buddha's Favorite is hands down one of the best dining experiences in Newport. Not only is the food consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, but the service is on another level. A huge shoutout to CJ and Marissa, who took care of us on the dock. Their warmth, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality made the night unforgettable. From perfectly timed recommendations to their friendly energy, they made us feel like VIPs the entire evening. If you're looking for a place where great food meets an incredible waterfront vibe and top-notch service, this is it. CJ and Marisa made the experience 10/10--I can't wait to come back!

One of my fave restaurants! This time we went with our pup and ordered few rolls. The food and service were great and our server went above and beyond to make sure us (including our pup) are taken care of.

Good service, it was busy so we didn't see our server often but he was around. We went here on a recommendation from a previous local. I started with Buddhas favorite and subbed salmon for yellowtail. Very good, fresh, loved the chili sauce. Others in my party got the OMF rolls and it was so good we ordered another one. However this is when it got really busy and it took forever for the second roll to come out. Like over 30 minutes. By that time we weren't even still hungry. It's a cute little place right on the water, I'd go back.

Service was good with a super pretty view of the harbor, but the sushi was nothing to rave about. It was pretty basic.

I visited Buddha's Favorite recently with some friends, and we were all so surprised by how disappointing the experience was. The hosts were lovely when we arrived, and that ended up being the only positive interaction we had with the staff. Once we were seated outside, our server took our order, jotted it down, and then walked away without saying a single word. No acknowledgment, no warmth--just nothing. Every server we encountered had the same cold, unfriendly attitude. It felt extremely entitled and unprofessional, the kind of "Newport Beach vibe" that gives the area a bad reputation. One server in particular kept walking by in an outfit that was just far too revealing. Her skirt was so short that it made our entire table uncomfortable, and she seemed scattered and out of it. It came across messy and inappropriate for a restaurant setting. At one point, we asked a very simple food-related question, and the server just stared at the dish for an uncomfortably long time--maybe thirty seconds--without responding. We all looked at each other like, What is going on? The food itself was just okay. Not terrible, but definitely nothing special, and certainly not worth dealing with the attitude or the lack of professionalism. We had to send one dish back. After reading some of the owner's responses to other one-star reviews, I can't say I'm surprised. The replies come across defensive and extremely rude, which unfortunately matches the culture we experienced from the staff. Beautiful view, but service this poor ruins the whole evening. We won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for a pleasant dining experience.

This is my new favorite restaurant. There is a beagle roll. That rocks. also, saw jellyfish so that's pretty cool

We got sushi,chicken yakisoba, miso soup,chicken yakisoba & SOFT SHELL CRAB(Tempura fried Maryland blue crab with sweet soy sauce) Sushi was just OK.Other dishes were horrible.There are better sushi spots in area EDIT Updated the menu item(confirmed it was crab)No idea why 3 top mentioned,actually liked sitting there next to harbor .Must've been another review.Wow,never been gaslighted from business owner on Yelp before lol!With that attitude we won't be returning.Understand you're a small business but no excuse for poor quality food(or gaslighting reviews)

Just tried this spot for the first time and wow -- I totally get the hype. We ordered 3 rolls and my Favorite was the Rock and Roll sushi, the 3 amigos was ok not my personal favorite. The vibe was super chill but still had that nice date-night feel. We sat in the patio outside but the warmers felt really good. The service was attentive. Overall it was a good sushi spot

First time here and it was amazing! From the moment we walked in, the experience was top-notch. Katie was our server, and she was absolutely wonderful--super sweet, gave great recommendations, and was refreshingly honest about what she personally liked (and didn't like), which I really appreciated. All the servers were friendly and made us feel so welcome. The food was fantastic, and the ambiance was adorable--such a cute spot! I had such a great time, and I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!

Sushi quality is good but cant make up for the routinely horrible service and rude "management". I feel bad for the kids they hire who are subject to poor leadership. Most seem burned out by the owners. It is on the docks, so if you are ok watching the boats while you wait a long time at every step of the process then it may be a good fit. Seems to be mostly be frequented by tourists and friends of the owner. Smart diners go elsewhere. So many good options nearby with same quality food and professional management. Update: See owners responses to negative reviews which validates all the negative feedback. At least she's consistent.

Came here on a Tuesday evening with my honorary dad, who's a vegetarian. Thankfully was able to get a reservation online same day and were seated quickly in their outdoor space, which is fitted with heaters so we weren't too cold. We started off with their garlic spicy edamame and a miso soup - both pretty standard and yummy. We also got the black cod "saikyo style," which was a fairly small portion but honestly quite delicious! Roll-wise, we ordered the Buddha's favorite alongside the vegetable and veggie crunchy rolls. I did really enjoy the cream cheese and salmon combo of the Buddha's favorite, but I think the size of the roll was a bit too small. The veggie options were surprisingly robust and quite fresh and yummy, especially the veggie crunchy! Overall, a good experience. I wouldn't say the strongest in terms of sushi options and amount for the price, but a fun place to drop by for the lovely ocean view and good service. And, of course, if one of your party is vegetarian and can't eat fish, it's great that this place had other options.

Came here for a late lunch on a Saturday and ordered the bento box special and shishito peppers. The service was a bit slow, but my fiancé and I enjoyed our lunch and plan to return.

Loved the vibes of this place!! Very Newport-esque with it being right on the marina people driving up on their boats. The sushi was good!! Not the best I've ever had but it's a fusion place. We got the blue crab roll, oh snap roll, hidden gem roll, and tornado roll. All pretty good but the oh snap roll stood out to me - so yummy. We also got the chicken yakisoba noodles which were just okay. A lot of their apps looked yummy so I would try those next time. FYI - the bathroom is a literal shack in the parking lot so I would keep that in mind.

Wow the service, ambiance, & food were all top notch. The location was right on the water & so cute. Each seat had a heat lamp too which I appreciated. Service was fast & super friendly. Loved our server. We got the drunken whale for sake which was great. For dinner we got the crispy tuna rice and a ton of nigiri which were all amazing. Would reccomend to anyone. Parking was not bad either!

If you are looking for a spectacular sushi spot on the water in Newport Beach, this is the place to go. They have very unique rolls that are catered specifically to what type of sushi you like. The service was a bit slow, took a while to get the rolls and the appetizers, but our server was very nice and apologetic about the wait. The restaurant has lots of valet parking in the back or street parking free of charge.

Maybe Buddha likes it but we didn't think it was worth mentioning, let alone a favorite. Cramped inside. They seat 3 people at 2 tops so plan on feeling like a lobster that has been caught in a trap. Service is rushed and not authentic. Drinks came in large glasses which usually means size over flavor and this is not an exception here. My margarita was too sweet and the Moscow mule was the same. As for food- the firecracker and the lobster roll were pretty good. But they fell apart with the crispy rice spicy tuna which was a soggy disappointment and the poke nachos that were are a mixture of whatever they had left in the kitchen- no thank you. I thought they would be assembled as nachos with a sauce over them but no such luck. Prices are high for what you get.

Absolutely loved my service with Marissa! She's so skilled and made the whole experience amazing. I'll definitely be back!

This is my second time here at Buddha's and I have enjoyed both times coming here. We had friends visiting from NY/NJ, and a few had never been to California. Our reservation for 7 last night and service was fast! We got served drinks, apps, & food all within a reasonable amount of time for a decently big group. I was not raised on fish so sushi is still new to me. Staff was knowledgeable, and my Rock N' Roll was SO delicious! Heat lamps and blankets were available being that it was a little cold once the sun went down! Excited to try new rolls!

I wanted to love this place! But it just didn't blow me away. The location is cute and right on the water, but I was disappointed a bit with the food and staff. There were only a couple vegetarian rolls on the menu, but at least the appetizers had a decent amount of vegetarian options. I liked the flavor of the garlic edamame, they just weren't spicy, and I liked the tempura green beans and shishito peppers. I ordered a mojito and it barely had any mint and wasn't sweet/felt watered down. This restaurant is loud and very busy, so staff checked on our table pretty infrequently. Parking for this restaurant is valet ($7) so if you don't want to valet, you have to park on the street or somewhere else.

Beautiful playing! sushi is good, taste fresh. great views. a fun place to visit with friends. tables are so tiny though!

My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner on Saturday night & sat outside on the cute little patio. Every thing was amazing, food, service, ambiance. Nicole, the owner took time out of her busy night to sit with us and chat about life. Truly a sweetheart. Definitely recommend making a reservation as it was quite busy. We definitely will be returning. We got the Jamie's crying roll 10/10 & the golden toro which was absolutely amazing

5/5 Location 3.5/5 Food - very heavy on the sauces. Couldn't tell quality or freshness if fish 3/5 Service - mostly high school or early college kids serving Overall, you pay for the location. The rest is nothing special.

Cute small place right on the water. Very busy but we had good service and the food was fresh and amazing! We sat at the sushi bar because we didn't have a reservation- we will def be coming back!

Buddhas doesn't just have great food but also amazing service. The dock service is also a major plus. They are all so attentive and friendly. Nicole is the owner is a true gem. Beyond friendly and so accommodating. Can't recommend this spot enough

Newport Beach. In a previous life, you'd find me on the peninsula almost every weekend and some weekdays. Skip to 2024, prior to visiting Buddha's Favorite, I couldn't tell you the last time I was anywhere near here. So, parking hasn't changed. Can be challenging. However, valet is offered and though I don't remember the exact price. I know it beats driving around, hoping and praying you find a spot. I pulled right into the valet lot and handed over my key. Service was great! The team from the get go was awesome. I arrived early and was offered the opportunity to be seated and wait. Since adult beverages are available, didn't take much arm twisting. The team still checked in on me even while I waited for my friend to finally arrive. The server, don't remember his name, was attentive, friendly and informative. Knew the menu and offered suggestions that all panned out. I'd say see pics but Yelp for some reason doesn't do well with posted videos. Go find me on IG if you wanna see. I enjoyed everything I ordered and ate and didn't share. I had Sushi and a two Rolls. And there wasn't an item that I wouldn't order again. If ya know me, I normally do Sashimi but this time I went for Sushi and Rolls. And I'd do it again. The vibe was fun. Learned that I could drive my boat up to the docks and be served on the water. There's some indoor seating along with the Sushi bar but you should dine outside. Especially when the sun is setting. Was a nice setting for a great Sushi experience.

Perfect Neighborhood Spot! Buddha's is our favorite local gem in Lido. Everything is incredibly fresh and tasty, and they always have creative rolls that keep us coming back. The casual vibe is perfect for a quick dinner or hanging out with friends, and being right on the water makes it feel special without being fancy. The staff here are amazing - always smiling and genuinely happy to see you. They remember your order and make you feel like family. It's that kind of warm, neighborhood hospitality that makes this place so special. The sushi is consistently delicious and reasonably priced. Buddha's has become our regular spot because it's exactly what you want in a neighborhood restaurant - great food, friendly service, and a relaxed atmosphere where you can just enjoy good sushi by the water. Lido is lucky to have this little treasure.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This place always gives me the warm home-y vibe of local people! I very enjoyed the casual vibe near the port with an incredible yatch view! The food is standard in a fusion way! I love their decorations in every dishes! Very unique and beautifully well-crafted! We arrived on the weekend so it's very hard to get an outdoor seat and the valet parking could be a challenge since this is the local-fave! However, the warm welcoming from the staff immediately takes away the negative thoughts from us! I would prefer get a table here for the sunset catch rather than Nobu for an affordable meal and way better service! By the way, as a Buddhist/sushi-lover, I freaking love the name of this restaurant!

Ahhhh! Can i give them 6? Get the hidden gem roll for sure! Get reservation through yelp to make sure you have safe spot! We sat on sushi bar and it was THE experience! The chef is really professional and every single plate we tried was incredible! Parking might be challenging but everything else will make it up for you. Get the hot sake and enjoy your fresh rolls lf sushi! Its more intimate place for party of two , for more bigger parties it will be hard to find a right table!

We used to eat here frequently but haven't been in at least a year. It was our anniversary so we thought it would be a great choice. What a huge disappointment all around! The staff was unprofessional and disengaged. They ignored us for 20 minutes after they sat us, then took a drink order and when we asked another 20 minutes later where our drinks were, she blamed it on the "bartender" who she said sometimes "misses" orders. Strange. It was very loud and didn't feel like the same place at all. We left and celebrated with better food and higher quality staff elsewhere.

I can not wait to go back to this place!! The parking is valet only, unless you can find parking on the street! The inside/outdoor seating area is so perfect and on the water! We got to watch the sun set over the harbor. This sushi was such good quality! And tasted amazing. Our waitress was so nice and helpful knowing that was our first time there! All the questions we had, she had an answer.

I've only been to this impeccably-located gem a handful of times, but have yet to be disappointed. Location is definitely Buddha's biggest draw, making its romantic right-by-the-water setting ideal for dates and celebrations. Perhaps even more exciting than the view itself is the feeling of being PART of the view. Solid service and tasty food. Quality-wise, Sugarfish might be the slightest bit better, but Buddha's still holds its own. Must-order items include: -Black Cod "Saikyo Style" -Salmon Candy -Yellowtail Jalapeño roll -I Like It Raw roll -Lollipop roll Bonus points accommodating my dairy allergy without fuss; pescavegan-friendly.

This place serves some very unique cut rolls that are just delicious with very beautiful presentation. The rock shrimp appetizer is really tasty as well. Great location!

The first time at Buddha's was great, service was awesome & sushi was pretty good. Second time was a little disappointing, my 2 cents: more communication between hosts, so customers don't feel bad when others get seated before them after checking in w.reservation && that is all. I recall from the first time, the spicy tuna crispy rice was good.

The food was amazing and the service was even better. The owner, Nicole, sat with us and made the night perfect. We had such a great time and will definitely be coming back here again. Thank you so much for the great night!

If I could give this restaurant 10 stars, I would! Nicole has made out it a memorable experience every time we come! We've been here every few months & always choose to spend our anniversary at Buddha's Favorite. The host, staff, & especially Nicole are very accommodating & welcoming. No matter what food we order, everything is so fresh and quick! We try something new everything we visit, but our absolute favorites are: Jamie's Crying, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Stinky Roll, Back Flip, & the spicy garlic edamame! My boyfriend & I have been coming for the last 5 years and can't see us ever going anywhere new in Newport! Thank you Nicole & thank you Buddha's Favorite staff for making our anniversary one to remember. This restaurant is such a Newport exclusive! If you are ever in the area, definitely check this place out!

Amazing sushi and ambiance! No better place to have sushi on the water than Buddahs! I recommend making reservations because it gets busy but totally worth it!

Ambiance is nice, sunset dinners are so lovely at this establishment. My favorite dish is the crispy tuna rice, the rice is so crispy and they give such a generous amount of fish! Great and delicious options. Love that there's no rice options as well!

Too crowded, too cramped, feels chaotic. if you want a relaxing dinner, this is not the place. we're like sardines insode. And the service it slow, the food is meh, not good not bad. just meh but overpriced .

Brought my brother in law here who was visiting from out of state. He enjoyed the view! I personally appreciated their Sunday kids meal! Dining with a toddler is never easy but knowing I could order a steak teriyaki bowl with mushroom and onion for $6 was a god send! I definitely had to take a few bites because it was so mouth watering good! The staff was so patient and kind. The waiter recommended the 3 amigos roll and it was perfect!

After eating here several times and reading other reviews, customer should consider the owner Nicole P, puts real time into addressing issues and takes the ridiculous criticisms with stride. Before you consider anything below a 5, try to visualize yourself as the owner and how badly customer words will damage a business that many local truly enjoy. This place isn't run down, beautifully set on the canal, you can eat in a boat docked. The food hasn't ever been bad and they cater to reasonable requests. Ask!

Server was really helpful accommodating gluten free allergy! When we were being sat they also asked for our preference of where we would like to sit which was really nice.

We used to be regulars, we would walk there. We decided to give it another try. After being seated it took about 15 minutes and two requests for our server from the unattentive sushi chef. After that she was kind and helpful. We started to order our sushi and after a few items it reminded us why we stopped going. The miso soup tasted off. My husband didn't like the fact that the roles are semi premaid and the fish is pre-cut. The I Like It Raw roll was disappointing. You definitely don't get what you pay for. I will say the blue fin and the giant scallop where tasty and fresh. We like to eat sushi that makes you take a moment and savor that bite. You're paying for the location, Ocean Breeze, view of the yachts. So the vibe is good. I'm not a bad review type of person, but spending a good amount of money and not enjoying your food doesn't sit right with me. I do have to say that people have different standards when it comes to Sushi.‍

This place used to be amazing. This past Saturday we had a reservation that was lost, resulting in a very long wait for a table (we had a big party of 10, which is why I made the reservation). Out party was met with the rudest manager ever when our concerns were expressed about first the lost reservation and then the lack of service for our table.. we didn't even get water refills. Empty soy sauce bottles on our table. The food itself was bismal, uneven sushi cuts and just lack of effort all together, and took about an hour to come out. The manager even told our table that her sous chef totally sucked that night... super professional. Won't return.

Mediocre is the perfect description for all 3 -- food, service and ambiance. I was hopeful going back with a reservation for the bar after 7 years. But left feeling very "MEH" about EVERYTHING. Probably won't ever go back at this point. I'll stick to San Shi Go for a proper night of sushi & sake.

This has been my go-to sushi spot for almost 5 years! The fish is so fresh and nothing feels quite as amazing as eating on the dock overlooking the water. There was one time I went in and the food just didn't feel as fresh as it always does, but it must've just been an off day because I returned a few months later and everything was fantastic. Staff is always kind and it's definitely worth it to go sit inside at the bar and watch the rolls get made at least once, but for the prime experience I'd say stick to the outside seating if you can!

Super sweet waitress, but she was slammed. The place is on Newport Beach Back Bay so can't beat the location. Cool vibe for sure. The unagi was too dry and cold. The rolls were ok. Since my daughter loves the place & our waitress was fabulous, I'll give it another try. I'm hopeful.

Food was great. Server forgot to put in my son's entree but no charged us for it. We will be back next year for sure!