Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar

Japanese restaurant · Santa Ana

Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar

Japanese restaurant · Santa Ana

1

1945 17th St #104, Santa Ana, CA 92705

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Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null
Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar by null

Highlights

This laid-back joint serves up top-notch Japanese fare, including mouthwatering sushi, inventive small plates, and a well-curated drink menu.  

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1945 17th St #104, Santa Ana, CA 92705 Get directions

ponzusushibarsantaana.com
@ponzusushibar_santaana

$30–50 · Menu

Information

Static Map

1945 17th St #104, Santa Ana, CA 92705 Get directions

+1 657 231 6668
ponzusushibarsantaana.com
@ponzusushibar_santaana

$30–50 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"A luxe katsu sando spot known for using expensive Japanese A5 wagyu, gold leaf, and black truffle slices. The prime offering is an A5 sando that costs $75 in Texas. The ordering system opens up at 6 p.m. on Sunday for pickups on the following Fridays." - Matthew Kang

Truffle-Topped Japanese Sando Pops Up in Orange County This Month - Eater LA
View Postcard for Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar

Lah Rah

Google
If you find yourself in Palm Springs and craving a sushi experience that’s both vibrant and top-notch, look no further than Ponzu Sushi. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Paul at the entrance, who made us feel right at home. He was incredibly friendly and set the tone for the evening. Our server, Anna, was hands down the highlight of the dining experience. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and always there when we needed her. Her excellent service really enhanced the meal, making it feel personal and special. The ambiance at Ponzu is modern chic, with an energetic vibe that perfectly matches the lively energy of Palm Springs. The décor blends sleek design with a comfortable atmosphere, creating a place that feels both trendy and welcoming. As for the food, every dish we tried was exceptional, but a few stood out as absolute must-haves. The Are You Kidding Me Roll was a showstopper — perfectly balanced and packed with flavor. The Ponzu Roll was equally impressive, with its fresh ingredients and bold taste. And the Palm Springs Roll? Simply delicious, with a beautiful combination of textures that left us wanting more. If you're in Palm Springs, Ponzu Sushi is a must-try. Whether you’re a sushi connoisseur or a newcomer, this place has something for everyone. Trust me, it’s worth checking out!

Mitchell Neller

Google
First time here was a great experience with my wife and I for date night! The staff was very sweet and sat us down right away for our reservation! Welcoming and were consistently checking on us to make sure we were taken care of. Now, the food and the rolls! We picked the Red Crunchy, Pay Day, and the Spicy Atlantic. Appetizers, we got Miso soups and the Tokyo Nacho! The Tokyo Nacho - HIGHLY Recommend! Had some great chili oil and miso sauce on top of the spicy tuna and great flavor! The rolls were also absolutely phenomenal and packed a good punch with the chili oil! Pay Day was tangy and had a good tart to it. The Spicy Atlantic and the Red Crunchy great flavors and sauces as well but not as different from other rolls we have had BUT still great flavor and quality! Dining area is very clean and very nice lighting to set the mood. Would recommend to friends and already have to our group of foodies! Thank you for a wonderful and good time!

jcangeltail

Google
highly recommended by my brother to come here, and I agree with his recommendation. Service and taste is top notch, price is at the right spot. We ordered mostly on items they advertised posted on their boards, however they would not honor their mistake on prices posted on their board sitting outside, thus 1 star is deducted for this review. Would I repeat, maybe if I'm in the neighborhood, but would not go out of my way to come here.

G-Explore

Google
Their sushi sauce had a tart and citrus affect. It was the prefect compliment to the sushi. Oh and the Old Timer Tokyo was an unparalleled success. Equal to any Old Fashioned from professional mixologists.

Vee Dinh

Google
I went to dine here and it was great! High quality of sashimi and pretty plating with edible fresh flowers. I had: 1. Yellowtail carpaccio 2. Baked green mussel 3. Spicy garlic edamame 4. Bluefin carpaccio 5. Sushi 10 pcs: salmon, yellow tail, scallop, uni, albacore, black snapper, halibut, amberjack, tuna, ootoro 6. Are you kidding me roll - soy paper, scallop, snow crab, seared bluefin, fried onion 7. Fried ice cream

Maribel Ochoa

Google
Good quality fish, nice presentation, friendly staff, and reasonably priced. We had the Mr. And Mrs roll. Can't wait to go back.

Becky Celeste

Google
I thought I've had the best sushi until I tried Ponzu!!! Every dish I had was exceptional!!! Super fresh, creative, and beautifully plated! -SPICY GARLIC EDEMAME - Super garlicky and addicting! Served warm. Yum! -WAKE ME UP - Who would've thought fried Brussels Sprouts would go well with Seabass?! The spicy lime sauce is addicting! -SALMON CARPACCIO - It had real truffles!!! 😱 -YELLOW TAIL CEVICHE- Thick cut yellowtail slices with a citrus sauce. Yum! -SNOWFLAKES ROLL - I can't stop thinking about it. 🤤 Never had anything like it. Salmon, tuna, and yellowtail on the inside and Halibut on top. The touch of sweet yuzu and sea salt made perfect! The service was great! Staff were friendly, and food came in a timely manner even though the place was a bit busy. Maybe the only one negative for me was that the music was a little too loud for my liking. I guess I'm getting old 👵🤣 but other than that, I'd eat here again in a heartbeat!

Gtruen

Google
It is with a very heavy heavy heart that I write this review. Food was excellent but that is about it to describe my experience today. The staff served everyone at my table at different times so that the first person's food was cold when it we finally got to eat. I asked for a fork - took 10 to 15 mins for them to bring it to the table. This place use to be great when the lady owner was there, everything was spot on but since her leaving to open the one in long beach? This place has seriously taken a nose dive. This is the 2nd time I've had a similar experience in these most recent months. I get they are busy, but the staff is just so much in shambles and barely keeping it together. Time to find another spot for sushi which breaks my heart. If the owner reads this - you need to come back and see what's going on.

Mitchell N.

Yelp
First time here was a great experience with my wife and I for date night! The staff was very sweet and sat us down right away for our reservation! Welcoming and were consistently checking on us to make sure we were taken care of. Now, the food and the rolls! We picked the Red Crunchy, Pay Day, and the Spicy Atlantic. Appetizers, we got Miso soups and the Tokyo Nacho! The Tokyo Nacho - HIGHLY Recommend! Had some great chili oil and miso sauce on top of the spicy tuna and great flavor! The rolls were also absolutely phenomenal and packed a good punch with the chili oil! Pay Day was tangy and had a good tart to it. The Spicy Atlantic and the Red Crunchy great flavors and sauces as well but not as different from other rolls we have had BUT still great flavor and quality! Dining area is very clean and very nice lighting to set the mood. Would recommend to friends and already have to our group of foodies! Thank you for a wonderful and good time!

Israel C.

Yelp
I'm sorry but service can improve dramatically. Decided to have sushi with my wife Saturday night. We've been here plenty of times before and service has been declining. Checked in and we were skipped luckily i was inside the restaurant waiting and called them out on it. Some server said she had called but which was a lie i was literally in front of her the whole time. Upon being seated we waited over 10mins for someone to finally offer to take our order, which of course they forgot two of rolls( one of them was on the counter for sometime). At this point we were already regretting going to dinner there with the poor service. But wait there's more! Servers kept passing by while our drinks were empty, our last roll i was about to cancel it and ask for the bill and that's when they finally decided to bring it to our table. Yes we ate it and paid for it. Didn't want a scene but for sure i wouldn't be going back after the horrible service we were giving. Taste wise it was my favorite place to go to. But unfortunately bad service is unacceptable to me.

Kelly S.

Yelp
Found out about this sushi place through social media and the food was overhyped. We ordered the salmon truffle sashimi, sunrise on 17th street, sushi, and a quail egg shooter. The quality wasn't consistent across the items. Points for good service and food presentation.

Cinthia S.

Yelp
This place really gets busy but it's more than obvious of why. Food is great quality and love that chefs are making everything in front of you. Not a place to go quick for lunch, as it will probably be a little longer to get serviced and food. Good spot if you're looking for sushi!

Charlene S.

Yelp
One of my favorite sushi places! Great tasting food! The spicy edamame is definitely great in taste, I will say it's not actually spicy but rich in flavor ! A must try ! Staff is very attentive and welcoming !

Amanda C.

Yelp
Above average sushi for above average price lol. Not cheap, but good quality fish. I was especially impressed by the salmon. The texture of the fish was very good. The spicy tuna items were just okay though- not bad, but nothing special above other sushi restaurants. Very attentive staff, had my water refilled plenty of times

Erick G.

Yelp
This place never disappoints! Their food is amazing along with their service! We've been here multiple times and their sushi is always fresh. It's a relatively small space but if you call ahead they usually can reserve a table for you.

Lauren B.

Yelp
Tasty sushi and good service in an intimate setting. We were in the area and saw how good the reviews were for this place and decided to check it out. The sushi is clean and fresh, and the rolls were packed with different textures and flavors. The highlight dishes for me were definitely their Ponzu roll and Long Beach rolls. We also ordered the Super Octopus roll which was just okay to me, and the special salmon truffle sushi which I liked but my boyfriend loved. Needless to say, their specialty is their ponzu sauce, which is delicious!

Jasmeer O.

Yelp
A great find. Food is pretty good quality and service is also good. They get very busy but now they have reservations. It's a nice little spot. Give them a try.

Svetlana S.

Yelp
We went there for my birthday and had reservations, but for some reason had to wait 20 minutes to be seated. For Friday night, they had a full place and just two servers, so unfortunately we did not get much attention and had to chase our waiter for pretty anything we needed or wanted. The food was quite good. The sashimi plate was fresh and flavorful, the oyster shots were pretty unique and fatty tuna melted in our mouths. The biggest disappointment was the pineapple sake, which was regular sake mixed with... pineapple soda! Who would ruin sake this way?! The waitress was surprised we did not know it would come out this way and did not offer any substitutions. She also did not know where the fish was sourced from nor could she confirm that the fish used for sushi was fresh... So perhaps getting some basics training there would be beneficial. The food was good, but service was just not up to par, unfortunately...

Debbie W.

Yelp
OMG the food, service and atmosphere is amazing! Friendly and welcoming. The food never disappoints. We've been here twice to celebrate our birthdays. Will definitely return.

Vy D.

Yelp
I went to dine here and it was great! High quality of sashimi and pretty plating with edible fresh flowers. I had: 1. Yellowtail carpaccio 2. Baked green mussel 3. Spicy garlic edamame 4. Bluefin carpaccio 5. Sushi 10 pcs: salmon, yellow tail, scallop, uni, albacore, black snapper, halibut, amberjack, tuna, ootoro 6. Are you kidding me roll - soy paper, scallop, snow crab, seared bluefin, fried onion 7. Fried ice cream

Jordan D.

Yelp
highly recommended by my brother to come here, and I agree with his recommendation. Service and taste is top notch, price is at the right spot. We ordered mostly on items they advertised posted on their boards, however they would not honor their mistake on prices posted on their board sitting outside, thus 1 star is deducted for this review. Would I repeat, maybe if I'm in the neighborhood, but would not go out of my way to come here.

Nathan E.

Yelp
Wife and I have seen this place a couple times but hadn't tried it till yesterday. It did not disappoint. The quality, service and freshness made our experience amazing 10/10 would recommend

Ian C.

Yelp
I was in the mood for sushi today and decided to finally check this place out solo! If you look at the ratings you can see how hyped the place is and I'm proud to say... it definitely lives up to it! I was greeted by the chefs and the servers once I walked in and was offered to sit at the bar which I happily obliged. The menu features many items from rice bowls to sushi! I opted to go with my usual crispy rice with tuna which is my go to if the sushi place serves it. I also ordered the snowflakes roll. The sushi chef, Bee left the roll on the sushi bar for me to grab and I decided to dig in. I have to say without a doubt this is the best crispy rice I've had in a long time! The rice was still hot and crunchy and paired with the tuna it was delicious! Next up the snowflakes roll and what a treat! It was light and delicious like eating an actual snowflake haha. Bee asked if I wanted to order anything else and also asked where did I hear about this place and also offered recommendations for next time I visit. I think it's really cool that you can have a conversation with the chefs at this place when you're at the bar. Just adds to the overall experience! I opted to order some sushi which included yellowtail belly, salmon belly, and jumbo scallop. The fish to rice ratio is immense! The fish cuts are huge and all tasted fresh and delicious! Overall I did overspend for being a solo customer but what can I say... good conversations, amazing good, and overall an awesome experience at this place! Would highly recommend getting your sushi fix here!

Nana K.

Yelp
Updating 2 new items we tried tonight at Ponzu (worthy of picture update): Trust Sushi Special: 10 piece premium sushi. SO good! Definitely worth a try Uni: again, SO good. Always a great time at Ponzu! Thanks again for another great evening

Pseudo I.

Yelp
It's easy to miss this gem in the strip mall next to LA fitness but you will be rewarded if you venture inside. It's hard to miss as most of the people parked here are coming to Ponzu for the amazing sushi. Great decor, delicious sushi, sashimi and fries rice. My kids loved the udon noodles.

Todd R.

Yelp
Fresh fish, excellent flavor, will be coming back again in the future. Quick service and Gluten-free soy sauce are bonuses.

Anh H.

Yelp
Quality is much better. They offer the more quality types of fishes. (Toro, Amberjack, Uni, etc.) Brussels Sprout Chips 4/5: Great flavor and crunch. However, some pieces were a bit burnt. Fish: Overall the fish was very fresh and evenly proportionate to the rice. - Salmon - Amberjack - Toro - Hamachi - Scallops Pricing is more on the pricey side for a hole in the wall place.

Nhi D.

Yelp
Came back after a long while. Unfortunately, not as good as before. First, price increases as expected. Portion is expensive + smaller. Second, server was rude about the tip. she didnt do much and expect more tips? when my husband said "thank you" when we were walking out, she didnt say anything back and walked pass us. entitled :))

Angelica P.

Yelp
Ponzu sushi bar is my go to sushi spot whenever I'm crazy sushi because I love how fresh and consistent my food is when I come here. The service is always on point whether you're visiting for lunch or dinner. They have great lunch specials and happy hour. The vibes are great, very welcoming and a modern, clean sushi spot. They have a great menu whether you like fresh fish or cooked sushi rolls. I love the Vegas baby roll and the beast roll but you really can't go wrong with any of their sushi rolls or nigiri and sushi.

Sean K.

Yelp
One of my favorite sushi spots in the Santa Ana as well as Orange County in general. Decent location off both the 5, 55, and 22 freeway all close by. Ample parking and a very well lit and spacious interior. Sushi is so fresh and the rolls are made well. The rolls are all very unique and tasty. However, the star of the show is their triple belly sashimi consisting of 2 pieces of blue fin Toro, yellowtail Toro, and salmon Toro! A must order at this restaurant. Service is quick and attentive! I can tell this place gets busy on weeknights. Also have a happy hour so take advantage of that!

Behnood B.

Yelp
Amazing food and service!! The best sushi place I've ever been to with everything fresh and delicious!

Jaclyn M.

Yelp
Love this place. Very fresh fish, delicious sushi. We had great service and very friendly staff.

Jennie C.

Yelp
First time visiting this joint guided by Yelp. We ordered sashimi platter with side order of sushi rice, Are U Kidd 'n Me roll, and mixed tempura. Tempura was so crispy and batter was thin, which is how I like tempura to be. Their sashimi was very fresh and ponzu sauce on top was delish. I didn't expect this place to be this good, but yes, their food were all fresh and delicious! I will bring my family next time. Great quality of sashimi, customer service, and ambiance. We will come again!

Becky C.

Yelp
I thought I've had the best sushi until I tried Ponzu!!! Every dish I had was exceptional!!! Super fresh, creative, and beautifully plated! -SPICY GARLIC EDEMAME - Super garlicky and addicting! Served warm. Yum! -WAKE ME UP - Who would've thought fried Brussels Sprouts would go well with Seabass?! The spicy lime sauce is addicting! -SALMON CARPACCIO - It had real truffles!!! -YELLOW TAIL CEVICHE- Thick cut yellowtail slices with a citrus sauce. Yum! -SNOWFLAKES ROLL - I can't stop thinking about it. Never had anything like it. Salmon, tuna, and yellowtail on the inside and Halibut on top. The touch of sweet yuzu and sea salt made perfect! The service was great! Staff were friendly, and food came in a timely manner even though the place was a bit busy. Maybe the only one negative for me was that the music was a little too loud for my liking. I guess I'm getting old but other than that, I'd eat here again in a heartbeat!

Sarah L.

Yelp
This place lacks ambiance, like I would just come here to eat and bounce. Not a place I wanna open a bottle and have a nice dinner with friends. It's a super casual and loud place. The service is lacking; the staff are friendly but they're understaffed. The food was pretty good for what it is- a neighborhood sushi spot. You're not coming here for Ginza Onodera grade sushi so keep that in mind. Would reorder crispy tuna with toro and 17th street roll. Ponzu roll was good but it was too heavy on the ponzu sauce and could not taste any of the fish. Overall it's comparable to eats sushi (pricing wise) but I think quality of fish is better at Eats.

Cecilia E.

Yelp
They forgot my toddler's California roll but other than that everything was fresh. Staff were friendly.

Nick C.

Yelp
Went there 3 times in about 1 month. Very consistent. Good selection of offerings for a range of sushi cravers. Extensive and diverse roll list, fresh sushi of the day, omakase option, etc. friendly staff. It's quite a small place considering, and was full every time I went, so highly advise even on a weekday, try to make a reservation. Glad to find another quality sushi spot.

Erlyne S.

Yelp
Went on a Friday night and had to wait for 1.5hrs, the inside is not that big and i imagine would not be able to take large groups. The service wasn't also the best but perhaps because it was just a busy night. Despite the wait and service, we really enjoyed the food. They had a nice selection of rolls and they were all good. My favorite would have to be the Red Crunchy. If you are into the spicy mayo and tempura type of roll, choose the Long Beach roll. If you love truffle, you might like The Cops with truffle sauce. Although I thought this one lacked texture and the truffle kind of overwhelmed the roll. I wasnt a fan of the Vegas Baby because it was fried. The Sunrise on 17th which doesn't have rice and comprised of many different types of fish was really good! It was bursting of flavors. My favorite appetizer was Tokyo Nacho, with its crisipy wontons and fresh tuna. It was like a deconstructed poke. I would say this place had really good signature rolls, appetizers but is on the pricier end.

Natalie C.

Yelp
Delicious! We were passing through on our way from San Diego to LA. Wanted a light lunch. Perfect order: Albacore Mediterranean Long Beach Roll Are You Kidding Me Roll Quick service, friendly, clean cute ambiance

Kristelle B.

Yelp
Dined here with my friends for my late birthday celebration. Yelp says there usually no line but we had to wait more than an hour to be seated on a Friday night and they only have a manual listing system when you get there (not sure if you can make reservations in advance.) It's a busy night and we didn't get the warmest customer service when we asked to just be seated inside instead of outside since it was chilly that evening. However, the food and the change of tone in their service made up for it as we were already dining. Everything we ordered was amazing. Can't really pinpoint which of the sushi rolls we got at this point but this is the spot if you're craving some good ol' flavorful rolls that are decent in size and price. Flavors and textures are also balanced and not sauce-heavy. I also got an order of their salmon belly nigiri which was so soft and fresh. I just wish it's a tad bigger. The Tokyo nachos was also good--kind of reminds me of deconstructed poke bowl. The karaage was not the best but it will grow on you, especially with how crispy it is. Overall, food was amazing. Thumbs down for the long wait. Decor is inside is actually slick except those decorative signages with quotes have to go haha

Elizabeth K.

Yelp
Always delicious! We've been here four or five times at this point, and it's our favorite local sushi spot. Sky's Special and Snowflakes are always part of our order. Tonight we added the shrimp yakisoba which was delicious and the sunrise on 17th. Thanks guys! Great as always!

Kayla Y.

Yelp
My friends and I absolutely love coming here! Theres never really a long wait and the food is delicious. It's a pretty small restaurant, however the ambience is perfect. Staff are extremely attentive and my waitress was constantly checking in for refills and if we wanted to order any other dishes. The sushi is delicious and the quality is fresh! It's a must try. Ordered: Blue fin toro tartar Long Beach roll Crispy rice with spicy tuna

Emi O.

Yelp
one of my favorite sushi places for rolls! this place is similar to yuzu sushi (may be by the same people ) so they seem to have somewhat similar menu items. we came on a friday at 7pm and waited about 45 min for a table of 4. the restaurant is not that big so prepare for a wait if u come at peak hours. the cops was my absolute favorite. add the truffle sauce for $2 extra bc it's totally worth it. such good flavors!! the thousand island was also really good. the sauce in the middle was soo flavorful with what i thought was a mix of chili oil, ponzu and something creamy. this was nice to have with the cops bc this one has a crunch from the shrimp tempura while the cops had no texture, just all soft ingredients. my boyfriend liked the snowflake as well. it was a refreshing roll with yuzu as the primary flavor. overall loved dining here and would come back!

Vanessa C.

Yelp
My husband and I want to try a new Sushi restaurant for my birthday. So we picked Ponzu Sushi Bar. We arrived at 6 pm and the restaurant was about half full. We sat at the Sushi Bar, so we could interact with the Sushi chef. The restaurant decor is simpleton, minimalistic. The service was very good. The servers were attentive. We ordered Salmon sushi, Jumbo scallop sushi, Black cod, blue fin tuna, Yellowtail carpaccio, Blue fin tuna capacious, Triple Belly Sashimi, and the 17th St roll. My favorites were Triple Belly Sashimi and the Blue Fin Tuna carpaccio. They both were amazing. The sauce for the Blue Fin Carpaccio was delicious and the Triple Belly Sashimi was a good value dish. This is a good found for us, we plan to come back here again. I highly recommend this place.

Angela C.

Yelp
The $6 cucumber salad left a terrible first impression (it was the amount of maybe 1/3 a sliced cucumber) - please don't get this it's a terrible value and overly sweet. We could've looked past that but then it took another 23 minutes for our first real entree to come out... meanwhile we sat and sat while the table behind us kept getting roll after roll after roll. They need a better system here and balance it out so everyone's getting their orders within reasonable timeframes. I hope our experience was a one-off. We ordered these items to share: - Sashimi platter (18 pcs for $70) - 2 negitoro handrolls ($10/each) - The cop's roll ($18) Food is not bad for an all around sushi + roll type sushi restaurant, but the service was just so disappointing. They didn't check up on us and it took forever to get our food when we only ordered three things.

Andrea B.

Yelp
Stopped in here with my daughter for a much needed Sushi date while in Santa Ana for a doctors appointment. Everyone was so friendly and we had fun sitting at the bar to watch the rolls being made. May need to make this a tradition when we are in the area again!

Khoa H.

Yelp
Great quality sushi and great service. Wife and I just came back from Japan and we had a lot of high quality fish there. The fish from Ponzu was just as fresh and high quality. We got 6 rolls and some appetizers. I recommend the miso soup, the bomb, sky special, yellow tail carpaccio, ponzu roll, and Philadelphia roll.

Joy P.

Yelp
9/10 food + experience. Adding to one of my favorite sushi spots! You know the dishes are solid when you don't reach for the soy sauce + wasabi! The raw fish quality is so fresh and melts in your mouth. Ordered 1. Sunset on 17th street: 9.5/10 SO SO GOOD. If I had to order 1 dish, this is the one! No rice sushi 2. Oyster half shell: 7.5/10 very tasty but sauce was overwhelming the oyster flavor 3. Long Beach roll 8/10 4. Nevada roll 8/10 5. Yellowtail carpaccio: 8.5/10 6. Salmon sashimi: 8.5/10 super fatty, fresh, and slices were so big! Servers were super helpful and checked up on us often.

Wendy L.

Yelp
Didn't wait too long for wait, quick service and got the Philly roll with the baked mussels and cream cheese wonton. Surprised the Philly roll didn't come with seaweed?,

Alex C.

Yelp
One of my favorite sushi spots in OC - criminally underrated. They've got an amazing variety of fish and even have fresh wasabi. All of their dishes are jam packed with flavor - its less traditional but much more tasty. Can't go wrong with any of their rolls here, and all the carpaccios are also amazing. Ponzu is one of the only spots I know that serves escolar, and I come and get the chirashi bowl just for that. Their chirashi bowl varies with what fish you get, but I asked for some escolar and they were happy to accommodate! Only thing I would note is that service and food is quite slow, but the quality of food you get is amazing.

Christian R.

Yelp
Decided to come here for a date with my gf. Place has a nice ambience and super friendly staff. This place was recommended by a friend and social media. The food is quality, I've eaten at a ton of sushi places but this one is one of the best. Not to mention it's close to home haha. If you're in the area and want some fresh, tasty sushi... I highly recommend ponzu.

Korbi K.

Yelp
Yikes...did I go to the same Ponzu as everyone else?! First of all, the sushi was just okay--fresh enough and decent, but nothing to rave about. Not Sugarfish quality, and Eat's Sushi is also better. My date felt just as underwhelmed by the place (and unlike me, he identifies as a people-pleaser, so for him to articulate his disappointment is significant). We ordered the Ponzu, 17th Street, and Submarine roll. Out of the three, the Submarine roll was probably the best due to the mango. The service was exceptionally bad. While I'm all for cultural diversity, it is important for staff to speak English while in an English-speaking country (just like I speak other languages while abroad). This was not the case. I told our waitress, and then multiple other servers, that I was "deathly allergic to dairy, and will die." Yet after much communication confusion and them pretending to understand me, they still served us the 17th roll. Halfway through consumption, our waitress came up to inform us that the roll *did* actually have dairy, so, would we like a different one? Le sigh. Does "deathly allergic" not mean the same thing it did when I worked in restaurants? We would even flag reservations with allergies, to make sure no one was poisoned. Customers did not even have to identify their allergies as fatal for us to provide food that met their needs. I could have died last night. Although death by sushi isn't the worst way to go out, Ponzu ain't worth it.

Alex N.

Yelp
Rude staff. Terrible experience. Not my first visit to this restaurant. I was seated and ordered over 8 dishes. After ordering I had asked to be seated at the larger table next door us due to the amount of food. We were a party of two so we were seated at a smaller table. The amount of rolls ordered were not going to fit on our table no matter how we rearranged the plates. The server told me to wait so she could ask for the table I requested. Right after, she walks over to the new party (Caucasians)that walked in and sat them at the exact same table I had just requested. I asked her why she did that and she stated they had a reservation. "Was that specific table requested?" She stated no. After asking why she sat them there after my request she proceeded to ignore me, shake her head, look around, and said told me I could be seated in the back. Mind you the restaurant was not even half full and she could've sat the new reservations in the back or at any other table available. There were only 4 other parties in the restaurant. Honestly, I don't know what to think about that interaction. I wouldn't say they're racists but they definitely are willing to favor and accommodate white people over anyone else. Afterwards I spoke to the lady that seemed to be in charge and she didn't seem to want to acknowledge what I was saying. I ended up cancelling my order and leaving. 8 different items at $20+ per item, yeahhh I can overlook a lot but customer service is a big determining factor for me. I don't believe because this place is blowing up online and they're currently having a rush, excuses the mistreatment of certain customers. Sad this happened because previous visits were pretty good but no more.

Genesis B.

Yelp
Trying to find my go to sushi spot since I moved close by and tried this place over the weekend. Place was pretty busy small place, all tables were used up and only 2 servers were working. Service was not good. They did not come check after our food was brought out and we still wanted to order more but finally decided not to. The food was good but sometimes the lack of service is not worth it. Probably won't come back there are plenty other sushi places around.

Linh T.

Yelp
First time here, the display was nice, omakase option was pretty good, the fish are fresh; however wish they would cut back the sauce, most of the dishes come out sweet due to the marinades. Recommend to inform the customers regarding the price before hand, not saying it's expensive, just didn't know about the price until we got the bills but it was pretty reasonable.

Deb H.

Yelp
I'd had Ponzu Sushi bar bookmarked for a while now after seeing it get good reviews from my Yelp-Elite-Friends and I was so glad I finally tried it myself! The quality of the sushi is outstanding and my favorite thing about the restaurant is that they have great Nigiri AND great Rolls - which it's not easy to find a sushi restaurant that excels at both! The nigiri is super fresh and I love how they put fun toppings on each piece. They gave a huge variety of creative sushi rolls and all the ones we ordered were top notch. You can eat inside at tables or the sushi bar or outside with heaters. Service was attentive and they also do to-go orders. I can't wait to come back to try more of their expansive menu!

Arlene Y.

Yelp
A great addition to the Palm Springs dining scene. Super friendly staff, the sushi is sooo fresh and the dishes creative. Can't wait to go back!