Sakanaya Modern Kaiseki

The omakase was phenomenal. It was a decedent 11 course meal. I was hesitant at first, not expecting to like some things, but it was all an experience to eat. I personally wasn't fond of one item, but others at the table enjoyed it greatly. I went with a large group of 8, and had a great time. The service was exceptional, and could not recommend it enough.

High class Japanese dining. Broiled mackerel and sashimi were excellent. Quiet kitchen and dining experience. Definitely a quality over quantity restaurant.

Quality of food is very good. The service is sound but value for money is poor. We spent over 120 dollars per head and left underwhelmed, the sashimi was the standout. The drinks list is very very good. Good experience overall but be prepared to fork out the cash, the portion sizes do not represent the price. Also the food took a very long time to come out.

spent almost $300 for me and my wife, ordered 1 claypot rice, 1 premium omakase, 2 steam eggs and a jelly fish. servings are very very small, cooking methods were very traditional, can taste the craftmanship. premium sashimi had veins in the fish and neither the waiter or chef comes to explains what the fishes you're eating so you just need to explore. for $300 many Japanese Cuisine we'd get a bit more narrative and presentation, here we were just told the plates and pots were very hot... all night. will not recommend to anyone

Beautiful food and a wonderful experience. The husband and wife team are outstanding and they take great care with every ingredient and how it's prepared and plated. Yes, it is more costly than your average dinner but this is in no way average food!

Small random Japanese place. The food is absolutely 5 star. Totally legit. We were the only non-Japanese in the restaurant. Literally every person speaking Japanese. Small and dimly lit inside. Every dish was prepared with precision. We ordered tons of things. Roasted toro was amazing and fatty. Sea bass was soft and perfect temperature. Honestly too many things to list. Minus point for the very high pricing, could easily be a $$$$ instead of $$$. The dishes are incredibly small. For guys I recommend pre-eating a small meal or snack prior to coming here or the bill will get out of hand quickly.

Excellent service and food. Quality of Sashima was excellent but over priced. Overall, $$$$ restaurant.

All I have to say is $24 for this hardly any snow crab legs....it felt like a hour waiting for this little bowl of rice for 2....disappointed 😟

We have eaten Kaiseki dinners in many places in Japan, including Michelin-starred places. Sakanaya is as inventive, as broad in selection, as beautifully plated, and as delightful as any we've encountered. The service was exceptional; friendly, attendant, informative, and engaged. There are a few reviews here on Yelp that pull the rating down from a complete 5-star rating. Most of them don't understand that this place isn't a "take out joint" or a "get some sushi rolls on the fly" kind of place. This is a place to patiently savor dining at its finest. There's a Wahoo's nearby if you are in a "gobble-and-go" state of mind. It's not inexpensive. On the other hand, you will *definitely* eat things you have tried before and will never encounter again. Even their streamed-music selection, cool-toned modern jazz, was exceptional! I'll tell you how much I like this place: I'm reluctant to post a positive review for fear of having to fight for a reservation once its popularity expands to its rightful position! Any serious and engaged fan of Japanese cuisine should check this out. If you're *not* that knowledgeable about the scope of Japanese cuisines, you have even more reason to try them.

Wow! I love this place! This restaurant is located in a hidden plaza is Costa Mesa, it's a true hidden gem in OC. The restaurant inside deco might need some update but who cares... The chef definitely knows how to cook ;) we tried their omakase a few months ago, we loved it so much and we came back to try their A La carte, OMG...it's sooooo delicious.... I run out of words to describe but trust me...the chef nailed it!

For my girlfriend Bday celebration, I decided to take her to Sakanaya and try the Omakase course out. I love traditional Japanese small restaurants, and I was very excited to try this place out since it's not just a sushi place. The following review is solely based on my tastebud and opinion. Please remember that everyone has different tastes. Food : 3/5 I think I had too high expectations for the dishes. Some of the dishes, the quality, and the taste were just not there yet for me , however, I did enjoy several dishes like the seabass ,sashimi platter, and the wagyu beef. Most of the dishes were very pure , light season, which maybe I was just not used to it. Personally, I just think the value for what I paid for was quite not there yet. Drink menu 5/5 They got very good selection of beautiful wine and sake list Service4/5: Like at most of the Japanese restaurants, service is almost great since the restaurant. Very attentive, and the server was very friendly and ensured we were taking care of. Ambiance4/5: Small intimate restaurant like a typical Japanese restaurant in Japan which I enjoy alot if you want to go somewhere quiet and enjoy your company. Overall based on the omake dinner I was a little disappointed but I would like to give go back and try A la carte menu with them again since they offer that as well beside the omakase.

Wow! I'm not an expert on this cuisine, but I have to leave a review because I really love eating out and this place was unbelievable. I can't tell ya what I had to eat I let the table order and we shared everything, and everything I had was delicious. There was a wagyu sandwich that was my favorite, but honestly I loved it all.

Very authentic Japanese food. Amazing tasting food and great service. This restaurant taste closest to the food we had in Japan.

SUPER-TRADITIONAL JAPANESE new years meals. Osechi dates all the way back to the 700-1000s in Japan and is some of the most primitive and ancient Japanese food that still exists, I'm glad the torch is still being passed so younger generations can experience classic foods. If you like samplers and are OK with experimenting with strange and weird foods this is for you, the Osechi boxes are only for new years but Sakanaya has kaiseki-style boxes year round. For most people there will be something in these boxes you've never had before. Our Osechi boxes had at least 40 different things in it, meant to be eaten by 2-3 people over 3 days. Some of the stand-outs were sea snail, pickled fish roe, crunchy seaweed, and mashed sweet potato with chestnuts. All of this is meant to be cold and is not for the faint of heart.

Reservations only! This is truly a hidden gem with an unassuming (dare I say, shady looking) exterior in a very random plaza near South Coast Plaza. Haven't had a chance to try their Kaiseki set menu, but their a la carte menu is full of wonderfully made traditional Japanese dishes that most people would overlook due to their seeming simplicity, but the flavors are truly mouthwatering and to die for. Don't let the restaurant exterior, old school maroon red table cloths, and poorly functioning ac unit deter you. Must orders: matsutake mushroom rice in clay pot, crab, and uni chawan mushi, and jidori grilled chicken.

First off, this restaurant serves kaiseki, their omakase is not sushi. Kaiseki focuses on the flow and art of Japanese cuisine, don't come here thinking you'll have uni, toro, crab handroll, etc.. it looks like some of their courses have sashimi but I didn't try the omakase since I don't really enjoy kaiseki. I tried a few and just didn't like any of them, it's too much art for me. We came for the a5 wagyu sandwich and it did not disappoint. The wagyu was deep fried to perfect and just melts as you bit into it with a bit of crisp ones from the toast and breading. Definitely try this. We also ordered the pork katsu and it was a very pleasant surprise. It was super juicy and tender and had a light crispy coating. It's better katsu than the katsu specialty restaurant next door. We also got the crab and ikura clay pot rice. It was good. We ordered a few appetizers and sashimi that didn't really stand out to us. The maple ice cream was also another pleasant surprise. Really good. We've already came back for the wagyu sandwich and pork katsu, they were both as good as our first visit. Decent parking lot, there's more spots in the back.

I'm glad to discover this little gem in Costa Mesa. The place is tiny and only has 4 tables for 4 with some bar seating. So reservation is required to dine here. This is the traditional kaiseiki meal, and not a sushi bar. So sitting at the table is highly recommended, unless you're dining by yourself. The kaiseki is an 9-course meal that takes you on a gastronomic journey. Everything was prepared and presented perfectly. Each course and dish is perfectly seasoned. The best way to describe this is not just having a meal but you are immersed in a dining experience. It is a well-deserved alternative where you don't need to be on a 3-months waitlist for a reservation like the kaiseki place in West LA. And this is conveniently located in Costa Mesa! The hostess is also a well-versed sommelier who can certainly recommend the best wine pairing to enjoy your meal with. There are also a la carte items on the menu if you opt to not try the kaiseki. I definitely will return to sample the rest of the menu.

Both the kaiseki and the a la carte menus here offer a great selection of traditional meals. Its a true kaiseki experience and a rarity to find in the area. Kaiseki is one of those structured, organized, meals that are seen as one of the pinnacles of Japanese dining. I think its often difficult to judge, as the breadth of what is offered likely goes beyond what most of us can comment on with any sort of certainty. Sakanaya's setting, however, was a surprise compared to what you would find at a typical kaiseki restaurant in Japan. More informal, located in a strip mall, with dated-but-not-traditional decor. But when the first courses arrived, any doubt that this would be a proper kaiseki were washed away. My only qualms with it would be the pricing. While an increase in pricing is expected comparison to Japan, I think the scarcity of comparable restaurants in the area allows for a steeper markup relative to categories such as sushi. Despite that, its a restaurant that I'm glad exists, even if I will not visit more than twice a year.

One of our absolute favorite restaurants in the surrounding area. Last night, we ordered the $150/person omakase dinner on our date night without the kids. Oh my god it was spectacular! Paired very well with my Alpha Omega Sunshine single vineyard cab. They've upgraded their presentation by using beautiful Japanese plates and bowls. Gives added color to their dishes. Highly recommend here as I let my pictures do the talking. Whenever we want a very satisfying meal that is unrushed and where we can enjoy sipping on some fine wine, this is the place where we go.

What a gem located in a non-descript retail center. It has been difficult to find a good Kaiseki restaurant in Southern California but I think my search is finally over! There was no dine-in available since OC went back to the Purple Tier during the pandemic so my wife and I ordered the Kaiseki Omakase and Takikomi Gohan with snow crab legs and Ikura for takeout. The Kaiseki was beautifully arranged and plentiful. Love how they incorporated the whelk into the box and how sweet and tender the octopus and giant clam was. The duck was also very tender and flavorful as was the scallop ikura rice. Everything tasted just so delicious! The Takikomi Gohan was good but I do miss it being in a clay pot. The snow crab legs were very sweet and it could have been even better with a little bit more ikura and crab. There was just a tad bit too much rice. I can't wait to come back here for the true Kaiseki dine-in experience! Service was spectacular! We called them when we parked and they brought out our meal and we were able to make contactless payment as they do accept Apple Pay. After they found out we would be eating in our cars they came back out and gave us two complimentary bottles of Perrier. At that point, they just completely won me over. It is also worth noting that when their phone system went down we tried social media to contact them and they were very responsive on that platform as well.

Sakanaya Chef Tetsuya is a well trained Kaiseki Chef from Shizuoka, Japan. He has so much experience with the Japanese cuisine and coming from Japan he is a loving person that wants to share his love for his culture and the way of Kaiseki he has learned in Japan. His level of cooking is undeniably detailed, delicate and executed with the most natural execution. It is really interesting how he prepares his menu and shares his philosophy in his restaurant Sakanaya. The decor is very undecorated but decorated. Its very comforting and not anyways that it feels like you are in some three michelin starred restaurant. Rather more comforting home restaurant that is a country of its own. When you are in the restaurant, you do not feel like you are in Japan or even America. It's like you are in the story book of Chef Tetsuya as he is about to give you a poetry of Kaiseki that is redefined to his imagination as to how it should be represented out of his culture. The most difficult part of Kaiseki is that it's very hard to describe even to a real local Japanese people. If you ask them, it's just very hard to put it into a sentence. Maybe nature, or flow of a nature, or zen. Some kind of poetry or testimony to how the nature is flowing and we are getting essence of that nature. It is not suppose to be the most amazing sensual experience but rather more of a full movie that will make you happy, cry, sad, uplifting again and making you passionate again. Its almost like a ritual or a ceremony. Think of a Native American dancing ceremony. It's some what spiritual and feeling the story of nature. Big part of Kaiseki dining is another Japanese philosophy Ichigo Ichie. This means that this exact moment or this time or this sensual experience or story telling from Kaiseki, will only come once in the life time. Its that moment that we are trying to capture, remember or memorate in the most ritualistic ways. The last part kind became out of track for the restaurant review but this is some what what chef Tetsuya is trying to do or passionately trying to create. Its not the greatest tasting food or good time, Its more of a unique story telling time that he wants you to remember. His tempura and appetizers are always changing and it's a surprise. If you dine often enough or at least few times each season, you will see he will have some of the rarest ingredients that the most skilled chef can carry or do. I'm astonished at the simplicity but the complexity the chef Tetsuya does, which has many layers and depthness. He is an artist and painter with food, you are there to enjoy the story the chef has for you that night. Please try the restaurant omakase more than once, if possible even his premium omakase. I can say that this is one of the best places to enjoy the Kaiseki presentation but to really enjoy kaiseki, should be less critical but more listening and absorbing the materials. Its a rhythm that you want to groove with not go against, like surfing the waves.

One of the best Authentic Japanese restaurants you can find in OC. Their Omakase beyond my imagination every time I stop by. Highly recommend. Must try the Omakase. True gems in the area.

This is an amazing restaurant, the foods are So good! We ordered three dishes, a salad, sashimi for two, and a pork tonkastu. All the foods are top quality with affordable prices. However, I forgot to take the picture of the tonkatsu because it's too slow. It took us one hour and thirty minutes to eat three courses of meal, and we have to skip the dessert, because the dessert would take another 15 minutes or more. But overall, I REALLY recommend this restaurant, but make sure you are not in a rush.

Best tonkatsu....really really the best. Special order is good. Gyutan w tomato is really wonderful.

I had my birthday dinner with my husband at this place, and we ordered omakase for the night. It was $150 per person and we were disappointed. The atmosphere wasn't welcoming, and chairs weren't comfortable. Even we made reservations ahead of time, and business was slow that night, they didn't seat us at the bar, so we didn't even get the real omakase experience, where the chef prepare the food in front of you! We never got to meet the chef, we saw him came out chatting with one customer who was sitting at the bar, probably his friend? Then he left. The server who brought the food to our table, she could barely tell us what was on our plates. It would be nice if they could have a print out of what they were serving us. Apparently what they served us were pretty much the same everyday anyway. Food wasn't even that good, much overrated. I still posted pictures of the food just so you know what to expect, not because they were one of a kind.

Awesome omakase. The Wagyu beef and uni are absolutely heavenly. The fish are all very fresh and delicious as well.

Felt incredibly lucky that my friends, Marie T. and Derek M. introduced our other friend and I to this hidden gem!!! What an unforgettable omakase dinner!! This place is traditional Japanese and is situated along the strip in an old plaza on the corner of Bristol and Baker. Easy parking in the open lot. I didn't get to examine the menu thoroughly, since Marie and Derek ordered for the 4 of us - THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS for treating us!!! Every dish was beautifully presented and soooo delicious!!! Loved every bite of everything I had. Extremely fresh!! The restaurant is small, cozy, has limited seating with the intention to remain exclusive and to ensure that it is difficult to attain reservations. Must schedule way in advance!! I really can't wait to come back again!!

Very long wait time. Don't come here if you're looking for a quick meal, I think they specialize in Omakase and will prioritize omakase customers rather than walk ins. Their ala carte dishes were so-so, Tastes okay (not bad but not great despite how hungry i was). I think their Omakase option is better

Omasake dinner in full force. Loved every single course of this meal. I'm not used to eating chilled duck, but it was pleasantly good. Total 12-13 courses including a soup and a few desserts. Small but good selection of wine.

I hav e been here three times. The menu changes every time. Wonderful food. Seasonal ingredients. Love it.

I wish they make a 10 stars system, this restaurant is absolutely fantastic for the quality and compassion of the chef and his spouse, the fish is fresh and glowing, the side dishes are out of this world, the service is absolutely impeccable, you can see how much they care in giving you an outstanding experience for your dollar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND a must go to place. A little thought to find the entrance from the street.. minor details for what to expect. It's worth it.

Come for the sashimi, tempura and takikomi rice! Better yet, go all in for the omakase if you're eyeing several dishes on the menu! The server did say that everyone at the table (just two of us at the time) had to get the omakase if only one of us wanted it, about $100 per person. I'm glad that we went with it though, because the dishes I was interested in trying were all included. We started with an appetizer of raw oyster, cooked fish wrapped in seaweed and a piece of crab/egg cake, all good but not mind blowing. The tuna carpaccio was topped with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, capers and grated cheese, which was nice. The sashimi plate, which came third, was such a highlight!!! Most Japanese restaurants get amaebi, sweet shrimp, frozen, but you can clearly taste the freshness of theirs as soon as you sink your teeth into them! The toro and uni were also divine. The clam cake soup may look simple and basic, but the second you take a sip of that broth, you'll taste the aromatic house-made fish stock while the cool jello-y lotus greens slither into your mouth. I was looking forward to trying the eggplant with uni, but was a bit disappointed with the execution. The sirloin and quail were a bit tough and under-seasoned respectively as well. I always love white fish wrapped Shiso tempura and they made this dish just right. Didn't care too much for the corn tempura though. The grand finale: crab and ikura takikomi!!! They must've used their house made fish stock and the best quality rice, because every ingredient in that dish were in such harmony. Yes, the place is small, quiet and the server may not be the friendliest, but if you're looking for some authentic, fresh, high quality ippin ryori, sashimi, and rice dishes, give this place a try.

My wife found this place and wanted to give it a try. We first called to find out how long the wait was. A female answered and told us they are reservation only. She asked if we wanted to come in now and she could get us in. We said we couldn't make it till 7:00 pm and she said she could do that. Seemed strange that we needed a reservation but they had openings whenever we needed it. She asked if we would want omakase but it was a little more then we wanted to spend. We arrive to see we were one of three tables there. We looked over the laminated photo copy menu and saw plenty of expensive food like sashimi dishes for $50 but know clue how much it included. We wanted sushi anyway and passed on the sashimi. We saw the different levels of omakase but did not see individual orders of sushi on the menu. We asked the waitress about a sushi menu and she told us they don't serve sushi. So if you are willing to go with the chefs choice sushi (omakase) you could eat sushi but if you want individual sushi they all of a sudden don't serve sushi. The most amazing part that caused us to walk out was when she came to take our order and we asked for sushi and she told us they don't serve it and walked away from the table without asking if there was anything else we would like. She was unbelievably rude. Don't try to act fancy with your "reservation only" policy, your expensive menu options on a laminated paper and only serve sushi if you are willing to get omakase. We have had omakase at other places and spent more on it but usually after we know the quality of the sushi. There is a reason that there was only two tables of two at 7:00 on a Saturday night. Don't waste your time with this place and if you are willing to pay top dollar to be treated like crap just send me a message and I will be rude to you for free. My gift to you

It's our second time visiting this place. It's a small place with a few tables but the food is so good, in comparable standard to the Kaiseki courses we had in Tokyo and Kyoto. All the food are very fresh, well prepared and the spice and favor is very unique and tasty. Definitely worth multiple visits! Not to mention that they change the menu often so each visit is a brand new surprise!

Saw the menu on yelp and wanted to try every dish. The reviews were all positive so it was worth a try. The place is kinda small, I believe 4 or 5 tables and a small bar. It was not busy when we dined on Thursday night. All the dishes were good and you could tell they were carefully and thoughtfully prepared. Will have to come back and try the kaiseki menu.

I'm confused about the whole meal. I don't understand how can a dish taste like SEA WATER and nothing else. The price obviously does not match its quality at all. It's a good experience to remind me that life is full of unpredictability. You expect to get decent food for this price but all you get is a profound lesson to reflect about life. It's a wonderful restaurant for people who's allergic to sodium

I had the fortune of finding this place while searching for omakase in Yelp. I called to place my order and I was glad that I decided to wait for my appointed time. I called around 5:30 p.m. and my pickup was at 7:30 p.m. Of course they still need time to prepare and had other orders in front of me. So I waited before I head out to pick up my Omakase. And I have been a regular in different Japanese owned restaurant so I was surprised when the lady handed me 2 boxes and said one box for your cold food the other one for your hot food and here's the dessert. Excitedly, I went home with my precious cargo and opened my boxes like my presents and I decided to eat the cold ones first. I just wished I had a guide or a reference to the different flavors, because they were delicious, fishes were fresh and combination were spectacular. The hot food was also quite delicious. This place is truly a hidden gem and I agree this should have a Michelin plaque to display.

i'm going to side closer with the 3* reviews than the 5's; we ordered some to go for dinner a few nights ago and everything was a bit underwhelming and expensive for what it was that being said this was during pandemic and we didn't get the full kaiseki experience, so it could be night and day in terms of dining in or out we will definitely be trying this restaurant again but only after covid restrictions have been lifted -- so until next time!

What a gem. After the originally planned dinner spot turned out to be impossibly busy, a quick search resulted in a visit to Sakanaya. Sakana, meaning "fish," and Ya being the suffix to a word to imply "house," Sakanya gives the impression that it is purely seafood, which is not true, though there is an emphasis on it. This is sort of an izakaya style restaurant so don't expect large entrees on the menu. You'll be presented with a limited but selective list of carefully balanced dishes that you'll have to take a moment to appreciate since they are lighter than what you might find in the surrounding businesses. Not all the dishes were winners, but the ones that won me over made the others fade away. Fried alligator nuggets (yeah, you read that right) were light and pleasantly chewy. If you've ever had alligator, then you'd appreciate this dish. If you've never had it and choose to try it here for the first time, I suggest that you not because it's not a good first experience for alligator meat. Stewed ox tail was very rich with a reduced stock smothered over bok choy leaves. The meat was delicate and the bones begged to be sucked dry of their marrow and the broth that was hidden inside. Karaage was hot and tender though not much in terms of presentation. Scallop and Asparagus rice pot was very pleasant and I didn't want to eat it with anything else because the flavors were so delicate. Slow cooked pork (kakuni) was good but probably not the best of the dishes ordered. Depending on your taste preferences, this might not be flavorful enough for you. I prefer the Kakuni at Habuya in Tustin (Okinawan cuisine), but this was still very good. Other dishes were ordered but I don't recall them; what I do recall is leaving there in a bit of a haze wondering where I had just come from. Looking over my shoulder as I walked back to the car, I saw a quiet, old store front with almost no indication of what lies inside. I felt like Alice just before waking, floating between consciousness and doubt of what I was thinking, feeling, tasting was real. I didn't think places like this existed in Orange County. Typically I'd have to to San Diego or Torrance to find these restaurants that almost seem like they don't want to be found. The dining area was quiet when I went, and I wondered if they were like this all the time. I fear that this place, with its odd location and surrounding competition, might not survive, but it deserves to be seen and I hope that its hidden quality lends itself to its discovery. Thank you, Sakanya. Thank you.

Ok uni fans -- this is the place to get your uni fix! We did the omakase meal last night and uni was grade A, creamy texture, non-cloudy amazingness. Uni aside, the dishes were unique and so so good! A non-fish standout was the pumpkin wagyu dumpling. Added bonus is that the chefs wife is a sommelier so there wine selection looks superb. We ordered a bottle of sake and followed it with Sparkling Brut which I was expecting to be subpar but it was just the right balance of dry with a hint of sweet -- a perfect bubbly finish to our night. We will definitely be back.

We made a reservation two days earlier and when we called them before we come they told me I reserved for pickup. Am i stupid or are you stupid? Who make pickup reservation two days earlier??

Comfort Japanese food. Sashimi is fresh. Everything is flavorful. If you enjoy a home cooked meal then this is the spot. It's a Japanese couple whom has a mixture of dishes that is a spin of your typical restaurant expectants and mom/dad homemade dishes. Price is a bit high for a hole in the wall type of restaurant but quality of the food is phenomenon. Beware, if you're a first timer, the owner (wife) may not be as friendly and accommodating. If you become a regular, she will make great recommendations, even items that are not on the menu.

Sakanaya has quite some famous dishes. The price is fair and quality of food is good. Here are some of my favorite from their menu. For starter, I highly recommend their tofu salad. i usually don't order boring stuff like tofu salad, but first its dressing is tasty and refreshing, and the chef also enrich the texture and flavor with salmon eggs which balance the soy bean tofu very well. For main course, its duck breast is something i will come back for again and again. Tender, flavorful, and juicy. I have been to Paris and dine at some world known hundred years old restaurants for their famous french duck breast. but still, none of that is comparable with the one at Sakanaya. Don't miss out their sashimi as well. I would say price is decent for really good quality of fish/uni. If you want to have some yummy Japanese rice, make sure you order kinki fish stew. the portion is big. It can feed two people if you don't order any other main dish. As for dessert, since I don't like something too sweet, so I always have their soybean pana cotta. Also its cold green bean noodle with brown sugar and kinako(soy bean powder) is a great way to end a happy dinner too. This place is not big but relaxing and cozy. you can also find great selections of wine, sake, beer to bring each dish to the next level- or just simply to relax. The owner is a knowledgeable sommenlier. Ask for her recommendation.

Heard it's a good restaurant for premium food but the food is just above ok and the service is terrible...

The best of the best, to bad that Michelin's don't know about them, greatest food that your palate will enjoy, the freshest ingredients and respect for the ingredients is definitely exercised there. Just the best service and culinary exprience ever.

Food is elegantly prepared and tastes delicious. Service is very personal. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you want to try genuine Japanese food.

Food is authentic, and not the typical Japanese restaurant in America. A hand written sign outside says " we don't have noodles". You can't see inside the restaurant because the windows are blacked out. Inside there are about six tables and a bar. It is a small plate restaurant. They have a large sushi selection but we didn't order any. We had Rice in clay pot with snapper which was delicious. Black cod was the best we have ever had. It was grilled with a light teriyaki sauce. Home made tofu- soft, & creamy with scallions and shallots. Wonderful seaweed and daikon salad. The server was attentive and prompt. The ambience was simple, clean and a bit lacking but the food made up for it. Large wine selection and beer. This is a must try restaurant and we will be back.

Would have been a 4 but the sashimi and the general overpricing of items killed it for me. If you're going to charge that price, the level of customer service should be at another level. The ambiance/interior shouldn't look like a cheap Italian restaurant with white table clothes, wines, and random paintings with a ramen shop counter... Everything about the interior was off. Only one guy in the kitchen so dishes will take time... You call yourself "Sakanaya" and you really don't know how to slice fish. We ordered the Shima-aji special sashimi... they were 3 huge cuts on sashimi. Each one was like 1.5 inches thick. The fish itself was fresh and good but the cut killed the entire thing. Shirako Ponzu - Very creamy and very good. For those of you who do not know what this is... its fish sperm. Literally. Tai Snapper Takikomi - Favorite dish. Taste is so gentle and subtle. So good though. Yuba - Very dry. Our least favorite dish. Seemed like it was sitting outside for a long time. Crab Shinjo - Very different from what I expected but good. The presentation was extremely lacking though... Sakura Ebi Kakiage - Very good. Kakiage mix with carrots, burdock roots, and sakuraebi. One of my favorites. Warabi Mochi - Was superb. One of the best I've tasted. Overall, the dishes were decent but wasn't great due to the lack of presentation, portion, and how they were cut/served. For this price point, I would much rather go to Hachi and get the whole experience.

WOW mind blown. It was a random evening and everything was closed except this restaurant so we ended up here. Small restaurant in a random parking lot away from all the "cool stuff " in Costa Mesa. They specialize in izakaya style omakase. 6 of us went and shared what felt like the entire menu (best way to go so you can eat everything!) Every dish transported me back to Japan. It was fresh quality dishes that knocked my socks off (if I was wearing any!) the staff was so adorable and you can tell they put a lot of love into each dish with their attention to detail.

We tried the duck, oysters, chicken, rice with snapper, sashimi, octopus, sake, beer and dessert Everything was amazing !!! Didn't stop to take photos everything looked like the photos in Yelp. Will return!

Wow, I was very surprised by the bad service here, since I was looking forward to coming. No greeting when we walked in, just a dead stare. And the first thing the lady said to us was "Move your chair, people can't sit behind you!" (we were the only people in the whole tiny restaurant...) Then after we said we would just be having a few drinks, she gave us a lecture about how this is "a restaurant" and "next time you come, be prepared to buy food!" So we decided to quietly leave, since we clearly weren't wanted. But then the lady said "Again, how many times do I have to say this, this is a restaurant! So we only take card orders over $20.00" Anyway, after convincing her we weren't carrying cash, she finally let us pay her... Oh yeah and of course not a word to us upon leaving. $19.00 for 2 tiny beers, and a horrifying experience. We then walked across the plaza to angotei for a much better experience. I'd recommend you do the same.

Excellent second visit. Food continues to excel in quality and texture. Nice service and relaxing atmosphere. Not suitable for vegans or vegetarians however as most most dishes contain fish.

They make all dishes from scratch. I hope people know how to appreciate their real Japanese cooking. This place is a real hidden gem!

Just ordered to go. Amazing Kurobuta Tonkatsu and Sakanaya Bento. This restaurant is one of OC gems. Very understated restaurant front but the food is prepared with utmost details & quality. Menus is rich with appealing selections. Must try!!

I'm rooting for this place. Small modest family owned spot but they execute well on their menu Items. I ordered a variety of their tempura - okra, shrimp, uni wrapped in shiso, sweet corn, gobo..chicken karaage...and their clay pot rice that comes with crab (supposed to have ikura in it but I told them to omit as I'm not that big a fan of ikura). The rice comes with some slices of ginger and a piece of kombu (sea kelp). I added some soy sauce for a bit more flavor and some shichimi for a bit of heat and it was on! The tempura had good batter and was fried perfectly as all the items were fantastic. I just wish they had salmon-yaki here.

The best word to describe Sakanaya is PHENOMENAL! Atmosphere is great, wine is great, and food is amazing. They did a great job with the interior. You can taste the freshness in the food. I felt honored having the owners help with food choices, they recommended great items and are very knowledgeable with wine and champaign. I strongly recommend chefs choice, they always pick the right items to eat there. P.S. best, crab cakes I have ever had in my life.

My Japanese mom who lives out of state and I went here two years ago. She's visiting in March and shes making me drive from LA to Orangge County to go back. It's extremely inconvenient, but I'm excited to go back and genuinely think it's worth the drive. Great if you want Japanese food that's not just sushi.

This place is like a hidden gem. I love the restaurant so much. Please don't judge when you just come and see the outside of the restaurant. All the food here is so amazing. We have tried lot of food here: beef tongue with whole grain mustard, toro, sea urchin, oyster, bamboo, and a kind of snail,... We were busy with enjoying the food so much that we forgot to take pictures to write a review for it. Also, there are a variety of wine here. Just a small restaurant, but it seems like it has the whole world. Everything is wonderful. We will definitely return here to try more