Ohshima Japanese Cuisine

Social media is one of those tools where you can either be lead astray or shown to some amazing gems. I've had more duds than stars, but I'm so happy to state Ohshima is an exceptional sushi restaurant with an experience close to what you'd have in Japan. Let me take you to an omakase experience at Ohshima. Service Something to note is they do not do any American style rolls. They have a clear sign stating this and it gives you a clear idea this isn't a place with volcano rolls or some other baked California roll. They also do not have soy sauce available. How they prepare and create their dishes have exactly the intended taste they mean to give you. The creation is intentional and is reminiscent of how they make food in Japan. Service was very attentive. The servers were watching each diner so they could quick take dishes away so it wouldn't clutter the space. Even though we ate at the bar it was clear to see how focused the servers were to the diners' needs. The chefs were also entertaining. Of course it depends on who you get but the best experience for omakase is to sit in front of the sushi chef and let them do their magic. Dinner Service As mentioned, we ate here for the omakase. Omakase is when you let the chef create the dinner for you based off multiple types of dishes, in this case sushi. They do omakase here in 10, 12, or 13 pieces. This review is specifically for the 12 piece. Here's the dinner in order: Appetizer - Fish ceviche: nice spice and freshness, could totally see this go well with a tortilla chip haha. 1st - Sea bream with matcha salt: light & delicate with a gentle lingering taste at the end. 2nd - Bluefin tuna: large cut with a beautiful ruby color. The meat is tender and has a nice chew with little resistance. 3rd - Jumbo Hokkaido scallop with a plum paste: pure freshness with a burst of flavor from the plum paste that disappears as quick as it appears. 4th - Amberjack (kanpachi) with marinated jalapeño on top: a more dexterous bite, the jalapeño makes a solo note when first tasted but slowly merged into the flavor of the amberjack. 5th - Seabass with yuzu kosho: a slight spice with the yuzu kosho, the citrus brings out the natural flavors of the seabass which melt gently into your mouth at the end. 6th - Cherry salmon: a vibrant orange hue shimmering in the light, the fattiness of this cut of fish feels rich in flavor. 7th - Japanese butterfish with shiso leaf and onion minced on top: the fishiness is very obvious, but the garnish helps cut the flavor at initial taste before it takes over. 8th - Toro: the most decadent fish of all. Slightly sweet, fatty, and instantly starts breaking down in your mouth, the flavor is closer to a fatty piece of beef than fish in all the right ways. 9th - Opal eye snapper with shiso leaf and spicy sour soybean paste: well balanced flavor with a brightness from the shiso leaf. 10th - Seared black cod with sweet soybean sauce: a sweet cut with a smoky flavor from the sear, a wonderfully composed flavor anyone can easily enjoy happily. 11th - Black snapper with truffle oil on top: the truffle was more restrained than I expected. The snapper was tasty, but was expecting a little more decadence from this piece that I didn't get. Not bad but slightly disappointing. 12th - Botan ebi: fresh shrimp from San Francisco, the final piece of the 12 piece omakase. Fresh, chewy, and slightly sweet. This sushi is meant to leave you with a satisfying last note. Conclusion An amazing dinner service with hawkeye attention to detail, from the sushi chefs to the servers. It was great to have a meal where it felt like we were taken care from start to finish. It was the closest I've gotten to eating as I did in Japan and I'm excited to return when the craving hits me once more.

The best omakase deal in Orange County. The affordable price doesn't mean lower quality. All the fish was fresh, the rice was prepared to perfection, and the flavors were great The sushi chef was mindful, educational, and skilled, too! The uni spaghetti was about too rich for me.

I’ve been coming to Ohshima for years, and even with the change in ownership, the quality has stayed impressively consistent. The jukusei sushi is really well done, the shari well-seasoned and balanced. Their yellowtail carpaccio is a standout, and the kizami wasabi adds a nice kick (it feels housemade) —definitely worth trying. Still one of the most reliable sushi spots in OC

Phenomenal. Best sushi in Orange County. Richard was our chef and he did an amazing job. Recommend sitting at the sushi bar for the best experience with the chefs. Will be coming back here for every future special occasion. Also the sake selection was great!

This small sushi restaurant may not have the luxury fancy interior decor but the food beats out pretty much all the high end sushi restaurants. The fish selection, grade and quality is incredible. Sushi rice is prepared right and very light and perfect compliment to raw fish. Sashimi just melts in your mouth. You don't need soy sauce here as the fish is already marinaded and prepped to be eaten right away.

Excellent sushi restaurant hidden away. Omakase was fantastic. The fish was very fresh and the service was great.

Overall Experience: A cozy sushi spot with a calm ambiance, attentive service, and high-quality fish, offering a well-paced omakase experience at the bar, though first-time guests may benefit from clearer menu guidance. Location/Parking: Located in a strip mall with plenty of parking spots as nearby businesses are not that busy. Reservation: Easy to make a reservation via phone during their open hours. Ambiance: Restaurant isn't big, 13 bar seats and 7 tables that fit 2-4 people. Very calm instrumental music playing in the background. Guests varied from couples to families with kids. Service: If sitting at the bar, your main server is the sushi chef behind the bar. After sitting down, I was asked "Omakase okay?" by the chef but wasn't asked how many pieces(they have options of 10/12/13) or given any explanation on their offerings. It wasn't after scanning the QR and hearing the parties next to me(who sounded like they have been there before) ask for the 13 piece option that I realized there were options. This can be improved as not everyone is a returning customer and may like to know that they can choose. The other servers will help with drink orders and anything from the kitchen. The chef paced the experience well and adjusted to serving the Sweet Shrimp when the Shrimp Miso soup was brought out. He was attentive to refilling the ginger on my plate as I finished it. Servers were attentive to providing me with refills for my hot tea whenever it was empty. Food: Everyone, at least at the bar, seemed to have a "ceviche" for a starter on the house. However, the fish felt fully cooked compared to what is known for a ceviche in other cultures. 13 piece Omakase -Sea Bream -Bluefin Tuna -Scallop -Amberjack -Sea Bass -Cherry Salmon -Japanese Butterfish -Sweet Shrimp(option for the head to be cooked in miso soup or deep fried) -Toro -Big Yellowtail(winter only from Japan) -Black Cod -Striped Jack -Santa Barbara Uni My favorites were the Cherry Salmon, Toro, and Black Cod. The Black Cod is seared and had a great dual texture of crispy on the outside but so buttery on the inside. Value: As of February 2025, the 13 piece omakase with miso soup is $118. The hot tea was $3 and came with unlimited refills. Definitely worth it for the quality of the fish and the service overall provided by the staff. Extras: If sitting at the bar, there is a 10 piece minimum per person and the first 10 pieces will be omakase. If sitting at a table, the servers will give you a sheet menu that you can mark directly on for your order.

I’ve been going here for a decade and a half. It is my go to high quality and authentic sushi place since my college days. Ohshima is as good as you are going to get with Sushi. If you think you can get salmon anywhere else, ohshima offers something different. The cherry salmon they have is heavenly. What you cannot miss is the love orange clam and black cod sushi. I’ll always come back for more.

Been wanting to try out this place for so many years now because of the good reviews but was so hard to make reservations then. Today is my 9 year bf/gf anniversary with my now husband and really wanted to eat sushi. Called yesterday - Friday after 6 PM, got through after the second call and was able to get reservations. We were definitely excited about it. Came 15 minutes before our 6:15 PM reservation and was seated right away, the restaurant was half empty with a nice quiet ambience. We sat at the sushi bar which i love because we enjoy watching our food being made. Our sushi chef was very nice with our small talks each time he handed out a nigiri. We did the 10 pc Omakase ($70/pp) and added 4 more nigiris ($68) after. Every single one was different in taste and texture - we were very pleased with the quality of the fish and the warmth of the rice. Uni is always my all time fave and Toro is never a bad idea either it just melts in your mouth! We wish our dinner didn't end but we came still a bit full from a lunch party. We'd love to try their Uni pasta next time!

So sad. I've been a long time customer. This place has changed with the new ownership. They raised the prices and the quality of food has come down. The quality of the rice has definitely changed. They also changed their sake selection, and have removed affordable ones. Seems like the new owners are greedy. When I asked the wait staff about the change of ownership, I was blown off. Will not be coming back.

I was so excited to try this restaurant because it was rated one of the best. However, it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The sashimi and nigiri were BOMB. All the fish served were good sizes, which we appreciated. We didn't choose the omakase so maybe next time, I'll do that. The shrimp tempura was sooooooo good. Omg. Anyway, here are the things we ordered: Black cod nigiri Bluefin tuna nigiri Tuna nigiri Lobster hand roll Salmon skin hand roll Blue crab hand roll Spicy tuna hand roll Shrimp tempura Negamaki Agedashi tofu - I've had better ones :/ Braised pork belly Miso duck with forbidden rice The rolls and sushi that we tried were great. However, the hot dishes that we ordered lacked flavor, in my opinion. Service, however, was great! The hospitality they showed us was appreciated. This location is in a plaza so there is ample parking. I think it's best to make a reservation rather than to walk-in. Unfortunately, they do not do reservations online - you have to call them. Details about our dinner: - reservations for 3 at 5:30PM on a Wednesday

I've been to Ohshima many times before but ever since the business has changed hands I started noticing a change in my overall experience. Food quality is still high but feel a bit different than my previous experience. I had a selection of nigiri sushi and handrolls. For sushi, I ordered Amberjack, Salmon, and Aburi Engawa. While I do enjoy scores on the surface of the fish (helps give that melty experience when you eat it), I do think that the salmon was cored too much. The aburi engawa was very tasty though. Overall, the ratio of fish to rice also feels a bit off. While I do like having more fish than rice, it feels like there isn't enough rice per sushi to make the sushi balance. The Blue Crab Handroll and California Handroll were very good and so are the other hot dishes they offer on their menu. The ambiance is still the same and I think the service is the same if not a little better than before in terms of the staff's attentiveness. They have also opened up more restaurant hours so people can dine here at lunch instead of waiting in a long line for dinner. Altogether, the experience was good and I might be just being picky about how my meal went. This place is still a great choice to dine at if you haven't been here before (but if you've been to Ohshima, you'll get where I'm coming from).

This place is sooooooo good and needs to be gate kept but I can't help it I'm sorry gotta share the love! You need to wait in line before it opens to put your name down for a table at the bar! But it's so worth it. Went for my birthday and did the omakase, with star pieces like the bluefin, amberjack, cherry salmon, and the black cod.... Those elevate you into another dimensions, and all others are great pieces of fish! Although there's a decent amount of space, it's full the entire night! So just make sure to plan your dining experience accordingly. You might get lucky if you can call right when they open too for a reservation

Haven't been back here in about 3 years, so was excited to go back. But damn, I guess I was expecting too much. Ordered the 13 piece Omakase which wasn't very good. It came out very fast and it showed, sloppy presentation, seems like they just put the same soyu type base on everything. Nothing was exceptional like i remember. Very disappointed, for what they charge, I can name a few other places that are much better and it's not located in the great area. Here's some photos of a lackluster dinner I have to say the staff were very nice and friendly.

Very legit sushi place. Miso Duck is very good! Fatty and chewy. I'm pretty okay with wasabi, but there is WAY too much wasabi for the scallop and Sea Bass. Everything else was perfect. Shrimp is very good, choose the fried option! Recommend asking all the prices first thats not written on paper.

Come with reservation and call to make reservation is very easy! Restaurant fill up very quickly after 6pm for summer time. We tried the 13pc omakases menu, which is $120. We do one sashimi, and one sushi, which is perfect for me and my husband. All the fish are so fresh and fatty.

This place is delicious and they really take the time to make amazing sushi I absolutely recommend. THIS IS 1 michelin star level sushi! (And priced at that level). The sake is also wonderful as is the ambiance. Don't let the outside fool you. Service was also great. There are better sushi places to be sure, but this is among the best in orange county and la county. Cheers

This is quite interesting. I have been here twice, post pics twice, and it's quite similar between the two. Believe the last time I visited this place was in 2015. 9 years later, I'm finally getting around to this review. If you take a look at my picture set between the two, you can clearly see the difference of fish size, prep, and texture. If my memory serves me well, I'm not sure if I prefer my first experience more, or my pallet has evolved over the years and it's not how I remembered. Needless to say, it was a great experience to share this meal with my wife. We thoroughly enjoyed the service and meal. When I'm looking at the stars to award them, its missing something that I can't seem to wrap my head around. I'm stuck at a 4. I see my peers grant them 5s all around but somehow, I can't get there. Inside is quite small, they only have limited of tables so be sure to call in for reservations. Also, you'll need to clarify if you want bar or table. If you opt for bar, you'll also be opting for Chef's Choice (Omakase) so heads up. To sum this up, its good quality and quantity... a balance sorta speak. Its reasonably priced for good quality sushi. Come try it and see for yourself.

My friends surprised me with a birthday dinner here! Since there were 7 of us, we had our own table and our omakase came out all at the same time. The service was quick, and our waiter was thorough with explanations. They are quick to take our plates away once we have finished remove our straw wrapper trash! but towards the end, while we were finishing up it did seem as they were hovering and rushing for us to leave. Sea bream: 10/10+ Sea bass: 10/10 Blue nose: 9/10 Blue fin tuna: 8/10 Amberjack: 7/10 Toro: 10/10 Scallop: 6/10 Young yellowtail: 7/10 Cherry salmon: 10/10 Big yellowtail: 10/10 Sweet shrimp: 6/10 Uni: 10/10

This is a long overdue review. We came here for my birthday dinner and it was a bit of a process to get reservations. You will need to call ahead and I highly recommend getting bar seating. We did the omakase and it was absolutely worth the experience. Our sushi chef was friendly and each fish was delicious and fresh. Honestly, everything tasted great. The restaurant itself is small, which does make it more of an intimate dining experience. Overall, prices are reasonable (you're getting delicious fresh sushi), credit cards are accepted and there's plenty of parking

We made a reservation for bar seating during dinner time. It was busy, but service was great. We got the omakase and the fish were very fresh. The best omakase spot i've been to so far. Definitely coming here again for special dates.

This review pains me because I loved Ohshima, but it definitely is not the same anymore. I got the 10 piece omakase for $68 and uni pasta ($28). Most of the fish was soft, and a few were fishy (particularly the cherry salmon). Notably, the rice is SUPER MUSHY, but it dod get slightly better as the night went on. There is definitely much more soy sauce on the pieces, maybe the conceal the poorer quality of the fish. The uni pasta used to be my favorite uni pasta ever, and it saddens me so much that it just isn't the same anymore. It's watery, and it doesn't have the same strong uni flavor anymore. The chefs and staff are still lovely, and it is still super clean. I likely will not be coming back anymore :(

I have to change my prior 5 star review. After the ownership changed the quality went downhill drastically. Fish does not seem clean or fresh. Service was not as friendly. This isn't the place to be any more. Unfortunate since it was the best place near Orange before.

Ohshima is a small authentic sushi restaurant that serves mainly raw fish sushi, but they have a few entree selections like grilled fish and uni pasta. I would highly recommend making reservations since it is popular and has limited seating. They take reservations up to a week in advance through phone call. The nigiri is super fresh and great quality (which is what you pay for since the price is not cheap). I think sitting at the bar is what makes the experience worth the money. The sushi tastes better when served to you one at a time, and you get to watch the chefs work their magic. The only thing about the sushi bar is that you must get their omakase (which is really good), but be prepared to spend a lot of money. If you already know what fish you want to order and you don't want to do the omakase, opt for a table. This is probably my #1 recommended sushi spot for fancy date nights, but there are other really good sushi spots out there that are almost as good and cheaper.

I can't believe it's been 4 years since I have been to this place. This time I made sure to make a reservation. We got a 10 piece omakase at about $60 each. I didn't care for the ceviche at the beginning. Most of the fish were fresh. After the omakase, we decided to order kinmedai, uni, amaebi, fresh octopus, and crab viscera. Everything on the menu is listed as M.P. So we didn't know what to expect when the bill came out for $110 just for 5 orders of nigiri that's a total of 5 piece per person. This is just way too overpriced. I would recommend to come here only for omakase. P.S. their omakase doesn't come with dessert.

The food was great quality and the service was amazing. My party all ordered the 13 piece omakase and each place looked the exact same for all members of the table. The quality and the taste of everything was delicious, but I feel that the serving would have been beneficial if it were served individually / in smaller plates. The large plate was too big of a pace for the meal. We chose to dine at a table, so that might have changed the serving size as well as the overall experience. The place is kind of small, but it felt very organized and clean. There is the option of the bar or the table, but make sure to reserve a week beforehand for weekend dining. We barely got into their earliest reservation at 4:30 pm on a Saturday.

My son wanted an Omakase for his birthday. I gave him a few choices and he picked Ohshima. I was not happy. I wanted something with hot and cold courses but it was his choice. I think he chose well. We were presented with plates of beautiful fish. I didn't get the names of them , bad me. Every piece of fish had a beautiful color. The taste? Omg. Every piece of fish was soft and tender and buttery and flavorful. It was super expensive but for a lovely dish treat, it was worth it!

The omakase experience here is truly something special. Each dish was a work of art, meticulously crafted by the chef, who clearly has a deep passion for the ingredients and the tradition of Japanese cuisine. The whole vibe of the place is cozy and inviting, perfect for an omakase experience. The staff were great too, they were super attentive and timed everything perfectly the whole meal flowed smoothly. My glass was never empty, and they were happy to answer any questions we had.

Best omakase as it has the best vale. Long line before they open. We went half hour early and there was at least 10+ people in front of us. We were lucky to get the last seat at the bar otherwise we have to wait for another hour.

Came back to Ohshima to celebrate our Anniversary. Since they are closed on Sun and Mon, we decided to go on a Thurs night. We know the Sushi Bar filled up quickly, we decided to get there by 5:30 pm and we took the last 2 seats. Since this Sushi bar only serve the Omakase style Sushi, there is no soy sauce on the table. The first 10 pieces are selected by the Sushi chef, you don't have a choice on what you will get. It's $72 for the first 10 pieces. We had Amber Jack, Blue Fin Tuna belly, Sea Bream, Black Cod, Cherry Salmon, Sea Bass, Scallop and a few more items. They were so good. They melted in my mouth. Service was excellent and the decor was simple elegant. This is definitely the best Sushi restaurant in OC.

Decided to stop by today since I've been curious about the new ownership changed to see if the quality is still superb. It did not disappoint me, the service was great and attentive fish quality was still amazingly fresh. Definitely coming back again and glad quality is still the same as before.

my bf made a reservation for us on (06/13) and we had the 10 piece omakase. chef started us off by serving us ceviche with different assortments of fish. then he prepared each individual sushi piece by hand. i loved sitting at the bar and watching him work his magic. the servers were very nice. my favorite nigiri of the night was the japanese halibut.

Finally got to try this spot the other night for our anniversary. My husband was able to get a reservation and I'm so glad he did! We didn't get to sit at the bar, but table was still great. When we arrived at 5:30PM (when they open), there was a line of about 30 people already. We both ordered the 13 piece omakase (about $105-$110 each). For the quality of the fish and how much you get, the price was reasonable. I've been to other omakase spots that charge double that. The bluefin tuna, toro, mackerel and cherry salmon were among some of our faves. The uni was ridiculously buttery and just melted! The uni is served without nori and it was just perfection. The fried shrimp heads were also perfectly fried. The ambiance is simple, dim lighting, clean. Service was spot on too. Highly recommend! Parking lot is free and huge since it is in a large plaza.

Ohshima is simply incredible. It's one of those hidden gems that only the insiders seem to know about. Tucked away in an unassuming old plaza, the restaurant may look like just a hallway with eight tables and a sushi bar, but appearances can be deceiving. When you dine here, you absolutely must go for the omakase sushi experience. Take a seat at the bar, and you'll be treated to the most authentic and mouthwatering experience. Ohshima sources a lot of their fish from Japan, and you'll immediately notice the difference in quality. Make sure to try the wagyu sushi and O-toro - it's a must for any sushi lover. Enjoy this culinary adventure!

A must in Orange County. Food: Omakase is the way to go. Super fresh fish with fresh wasabi. Highly recommend the 12 piece. The best miso soup with a prawn. Service: I recommend making a reservation or getting there ahead of opening to get a table. Very busy but worth the wait. Location: busy shopping center so parking is limited. Very clean bathroom and location.

The best omakasé in Orange County! Although since their recent changes, the value for their omakasé is not the same. Ten years ago, you can get a 10-piece omakasé for like $55. I also heard that their chefs have changed and aren't as good as they used to be. Honestly, everything pre-covid was better. Still, good luck getting a reservation because the restaurant still tries to make this place very exclusive as it's a small hole in the wall. Highlights of the omakasé include cherry salmon, amberjack, and the black cod.

Came here with a friend a few months ago and we made reservations a week in advance for omakase at the sushi bar. When we arrived, we still had to wait for about 15 - 20 minutes to be seated. We paid $125~ per person for the 10-piece omakase and felt the experience was a bit underwhelming as it was not as unique as other omakase experiences we've had elsewhere. Realistically, I felt this experience was worth closer to $75~ per person based on what we received. The sushi was good and fresh, but we were expecting more than just nigiri for almost every dish. I also wish they served each dish on a new plate instead of placing it on the same plate each time. I would come back for fresh fish, but don't know if I would book their omakase again.

This was the place a decade or so before the owners changed, decided to try it again. Great service crew. As for the fish, Bluenose, Grunt , Ami Ebi with the fried head - excellent. Absolute failure on standards like Otoro, near catfood. Other nigiri, have had better, the texture and forming of the rice was amateur level. Santa Barbara Uni, we were served absolute catfood, worst we have ever had amongst hundreds of places over decades, others at the bar were served proper looking uni, we inquired why in Nihongo. They just argued. That was a rude slap in the face, and will never return. Prices are beyond ridiculous. Couple more sushi places opening nearby them soon from regarded chefs, again prefer a local legend 10 minutes away from us, where local fishers go. A suggestion, get the fish you desire from one of many excellent Japanese markets in the area, the rice, the nori, hone whatever knife, all that, spend half a day to try it. 7 years to become a sushi chef is a media myth. It's the quality of sourcing the fish. This place is an overbloated, past award plaques on the wall failure.

This is my all-time favorite traditional sushi place in OC. Kenji-san is the head chef here and I always try to sit at the bar for his service. I recently came back from Japan and Ohshima is the closest thing I have to sushi from Japan. Their fish cuts for their nigiri are very generous and always fresh. I would definitely be here more often if getting a seat was easier.

Too expensive and omakase is not special, just common fish. 8pc charged $42+ tax without miso soup and salad. The owner thinks the more expensive it is, the better it sells. Never recommend, save your time and money.

What a fantastic sushi spot in Orange County. I had their Omakasa and every single piece of sushi was so unique& so delicious. The service was great, sushi rice was the perfect amount, and I loved how all of the pieces were perfectly flavored. It's definitely on the pricier side, so I recommend this as a great spot to celebrate something or meeting with some special friends.

I haven't left reviews in soooo long and bc I had such a bad experience today and my last visit that I feel it's only fair that I share it. I've been coming here as a regular for years and oh boy, with the new ownership it has gone terribly downhill. The price has doubled and the quality isn't the same. The fish is super small compared to before and to top it off, the chefs don't even bother to cut off the dark red blood spot that isn't edible. They just leave it on the fish bc they're so cheap. None of fish was seasoned with any sauce, they literally just sprinkle salt and wasabi on every piece. The presentation is sloppy and the fish was cut uneven, thick on one side and thin on the other where it was flopping over the dish when they brought it to our table. My uni pasta didn't taste like uni, it came super watery and cooked in heavy cream. We usually get free hot tea refills and they charged us now without telling us. My monkfish liver barely had any orange monkfish, it was mainly the brown part of the organs! Fresh live prawns used to be $25-30 depending on the season and we're talking about LIVE with eggs and still moving, today they charged us $20 EACH for a dead sweet shrimp which tasted like f* iron! Our bill for two people was $250 for lunch without tip!! Shame on you guys for a terrible lunch sushi experience. I thought I was the only one feeling this way but nope, all my friends who used to come here also said the same thing. We're all disappointed and won't be returning. It's understanding that the new owner probably paid a lot to buy this spot and he's trying to make his money back but this is def not helping by cutting cost and charging more. He's seriously going to end up with a vacant sushi spot in the next year. I used to come here and there was always a wait, makes a lot of sense now why it's always half filled inside compared to before. Do yourself a favor and go to Ozen sushi in Irvine, its good, fresh, great customers service and quality is superb and won't cost you much compared to Oshima. I will not be coming here anymore.

Probably one of most unique sushi joint. Many rare fish are available. Where can you find black marlin or pike?

Arrived on a Tuesday night for 2pp approximately 5:45pm, no reservation, just walk-in. Initially I was fine to wait or take a table since I didn't have a reservation. I was lucky to arrive to see 2 seats open at the bar, however, requesting a bar seating requires the diners to do Omakase, which I'm totally a-okay for! ~~~~~Service: Accommodative as it should be. Upon seating at the bar, the chef asked us for any dishes/ingredients we don't like. As a result, all the omakase dishes that appeared were all in my favor. Servers were attentive at clearing empty plates and refilling our waters. After the 10pc sushi omakase, I still ordered more dishes that's on their white board behind the Chef's. Undoubtedly, the chef was very attentive and diligent to prepare each piece. ~~~~~Food: Complementary Salmon Ceviche was served prior to the start of the omakase. Although the classic ginger and wasabi was served. You can still request fresh grated wasabi from the chefs, in which flavor wise i highly recommend. 10pc Omakase may include: - Sea Bream - Bluefin Tuna - Japanese Scallop - Amberjack - Sea Bass - Cherry Salmon - Blue Nose - Chutoro - Chicken Grunt Fish - Black Cod (No picture, i ate it too fast) Additional dishes ordered: - Abalone nigiri - Uni (from Santa Barbara) - Fish Milt (both Tempura & Sushi) - Pen Shell - Crab Viscera (guts) - Sweet Lip - Abalone sashimi ~~~~~Advice/Miscellaneous: - Arriving at 5:45pm on a Tuesday night was nearly a full house, I highly suggest making a reservation. Unless you plan to arrive at the time they open for Walk-in. - Ask for fresh grated wasabi. It gives a good kick and elevates the flavor of the sushi. - Due to the small counter space, seating at the bar only accommodates omakase diners. - The sushi to rice ratio is excellent, thick pieces with barely any rice.

I have been fortunate enough to eat at Ohshima a few times at this point and am always so impressed with the quality of the food at a reasonable price. The overall setting is nice and intimate, and the service is usually very attentive. The omakase is definitely the way to go, you can always ask what fish is being offered that day because it may vary sometimes. I am always a huge fan of Scallop, Bluefin, and Otoro. On my most recent visit I had Cherry Salmon and that was definitely one of the standout. Would highly recommend.

We went on a Thursday night and was surprised that the bar seating was almost completely empty. We had the 10 piece omakase ($68 pp). We enjoyed about half of the fish, the other half felt chewy, fishy, and slimey (one of which was the salmon that felt unfresh). We loved loved the the Toro, Black cod, and scallops. I would give the food 3.5 overall but the service was always top notch so I rounded up to 4 stars. I think next time I'll just order a la carte because we didnt enjoy at least half of the fishes. I also wished they had offer uni. First time having omakase here without uni.

i can't believe i did not write a review for this place!!! this is by far my all time top 2 favorite authentic japanese sushi place ever, ever, ever!!!!!!! (the other one is murasaki but it's also with nostalgic reason mixed in). so happy to have come back here today and found that it still tastes soooo freaking goooood! this place isn't fancy fancy and it does NOT need to be bc usually that jus inflate the prices lol. it's true and tried, established and very very solid! you don't need any soy sauces and when you eat each piece of fish, you can really taste the sweetness and the essence of the fish meat, gawd, my mouth is watering as im writing this!!! some reviews said uni pasta changed and yes it did, its a little creamier now but it still taste so bomb and full of uni flavor!!! we also got our usual miso duck with forbidden rice and ankimo, they still taste soooo yummy! duck is tender and the rice is also so flavorful itself! ankimo is just out of this world too! this place is really no frill and no smokes and mirror, its simple and straight to the point and the price point is very reasonable!

I was craving for some simple omakase today so came here with friends! Love Ohshima :) Compared to other omakase places in OC, theirs is only half the price but similar in quality. It's a no frills establishment with the 10 pc being only $90/pp incl tax & tip. I srsly savored every single bite as I've been thinking about sushi since breakfast :) Service today was neither quick nor slow. During peak hours, I'd say it's on the slower side. Ambiance is calm & cozy. So glad to have yummy sushi close to home :) just make sure to reserve before you come on weekends!

Fresh! The quality is worlds different from any ayce or Japanese restaurant I've been to. Sushi is my absolute favorite food and the quality and taste was amazing - no words could describe how sublime it was. Definitely make a reservation. I called in the morning and was able to make an afternoon reservation that same day (weekday). If you like chatting, you can sit at the bar and chat with the chefs, they'll hand you your order one piece at a time as they make it! Be ready to spend $$$$ as each nigiri or dish is expensive! The bill racks up pretty fast.

We came to this restaurant with high expectations because it was recommended to us by several people we know, but I would say that while it is one of the better sushi restaurants in Orange County, it wasn't as amazing as I expected. The fish quality did not seem as fresh, but nevertheless it was good and the rice was good. The restaurant is somewhat small in size, but nice and cozy with bar seating as well as private party seating. We ordered the following sushi and other menu items and would give the ratings to each as follows: Big Yellowtail Nigiri: 4/5 Sockeye Salmon Nigiri: 3/5 Yellowtail Nigiri: 3/5 Japanese Scallop Nigiri: 5/5 Spanish Mackerel: 4/5 Cherry Salmon Nigiri: 5/5 Freshwater eel: 5/5 Saltwater eel: 5/5 Cod nigiri: 4/5 Tamago: 4/5 Yellowtail with scallion roll: 3/5 Blue crab handroll: 3/5 Mixed Tempura: 4/5 Uni Pasta: 4/5 The mixed tempura batter was good, but the actual vegetables (e.g. pumpkin) and shrimp weren't super high quality. The uni pasta was slightly watery and not that rich. I'm used to seeing an actual piece of uni on the pasta, but this one was just uni sauce. I would also say that their yellowtail is not the best quality since we don't like to see that super pink-colored nigiri. The service is good enough. They are nice, but reserved. The sushi was a bit higher priced than I would expect for this type of venue and they also charge for hot water. Overall, a good experience and thankfully we had reservations. I don't think I would wait hours long (as I've read/heard others do) to dine here.

Ohshima is a fantastic spot for sushi enthusiasts! The fresh fish selection is like a sea-to-table dream. We opted for the 10-piece omakase, and it was a flavor fiesta. Each ngiri piece was a taste sensation, showcasing a variety of flavors that made the experience unforgettable. The scallop ngiri, in particular, stood out - fresh, succulent, and bursting with deliciousness. Ohshima not only wins in the sushi game but also nails it on the service and ambiance fronts. The servers were super attentive and accommodating to our group, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The quiet ambiance was a pleasant surprise, allowing us to have uninterrupted conversations. Bonus points for the ample parking, making our visit hassle-free. If you're looking for top-notch sushi with a side of excellent service and a cozy atmosphere, Ohshima checks all the boxes!

Fun date night dinner spot. It's very small and cozy on the inside. We made a reservation a couple days in advance but I saw people who were waiting 30 minutes before opening and they got seating right away. Ohshima is one of my friend's favorite restaurants and he's comes here often. He said the fish is fresher during lunch time but I thought it was still ok for dinner time as well. We had the omakase which came with 10 pieces. My favorite had to be the scallop and cherry salmon. For an omakase, the price was fair. Maybe I'll come back for lunch and compare the freshness of fish.

I go often before to this restaurant. But now the food quality drops a lot and the price is high for the quality. The fish tastes watery and not much flavor. The rice not enough rice vinegar and it's hard like took out from the refrigerator. Also the servers took away your soup bowl or plate even it's not completely finish. Finish the meal in a hour for $3xx We will return anymore.

Where's your favorite sushi place? Ohshima Japanese Cuisine is one of my favorites in Orange County. It's hard to make reservations here. You have to call exactly when it opens at 5:30pm and you only have a fifteen minute window to do it. Once you're there, you must be early for your reservation and your entire party has to be there in order to be seated. If you sit with three people, and the fourth person comes late, they're not allowed to dine with you at your table, even if there's an open seat. If you insist for that person to sit, they will not serve the entire table. This sounds ludicrous but we had this happened to us. But because the food is so good here, I guess it's worth it to deal with their unique rules to say the least. I highly recommend the 13 piece omakase. It's worth it. If I could, I would go here every month.

Great fish portions and a variety of fishes to choice from. I don't eat wasabi so make sure to let them know since their nigiri all have wasabi in them

We came and did the 12 pierce omakase for $95. Definitely noticed the fish quality wasn't the freshest and there was a fishy aftertaste to many of the pieces. Also will say this place calculates their tip after tax. 18% before tax of 284 is roughly $52 dollars. Their machines showed the after tax amount of 57 something for our bill after tax which was roughly 317. Shady of this place to do that.

Was able to nab a 8:15 reso by calling in right at 5! Interior is dim and intimate. The bar seating is my personal preference vs the tables. Omakase was delish but it wasn't necessarily an experience. Courses were served far too quickly and even with apps, our party of 2 could have been done in 30 min. As far as the apps go, you must try the jellyfish. Super delish! Portion was really small though. The octopus suckers were also a pass - portioned too small to be worth it. Pro tips - order the "fresh" or "pickled" wasabi for a spicy bite. The sweet shrimp sushi + FRIED option is sooo yummy! Get this if you're a shrimp lover. Our favorite sushi was the blue nose and toro.. words can't describe it so just order it. Source - TRUST ME. Overall, I would come back for a simple, straight forward experience. I would pass for any special events since it will end way too fast. Come here for a casual experience instead. For the price, you can't go wrong with the quality and freshness. I'm getting hungry typing this & thinking about the toro again so I'll def be back soon!