Shunka Sushi & Japanese Cuisine

Sushi Shunka is our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions and also our fave sushi spot in OC. Located in a strip mall at the corner of E. 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa, the restaurant specializes in authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine. "Shunka" means "Flavor of the Season", so they of course select their fish depending on the season and in addition to customer favorites. The sushi chefs are veterans and the wait staff are polite helping to provide an unforgettable dining experience to their customers. I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar and ordering one of the omakase options. On our recent visit, I ordered the Chef's Omakase which included 10 pieces of sushi including sea bream, Japanese sea bass, mackerel, amberjack, toro and bluefin tuna among others. The sushi is always top-qualify and practically melts in your mouth. I have a big appetite so I also supplemented my meal with a toro hand roll, blue fin tuna hand roll and fried Hamachi Kama. Everything is made to order and is so oishi! Having said that, this is fine dining so expect to pay a high price but know that it’s worth every penny. As I mentioned before we only visit on special occasions, so I’m already hoping we’ll have a reason to celebrate again soon!

Let’s talk about how authentic this place is! Going from service to the food, super authentic to the core! It’s my first time visiting and stumbled upon this place thru google maps. Everyone working here was Japanese and was super polite. Each dish that came out looked so fresh and the taste hit hard. Perfect dinner place for date night or family friendly place! We had a lady greet us into the store and took us to our seats asap and delivered punctual service. Loved it! Highly recommend this spot if you want to try authentic, fresh Japanese food. Worth every second and price.

Definitely some of the best sushi I've had. It was a bit of a long wait, but it was definitely worth it. I mostly tried their sushi and I was not disappointed. Apart from the food the service was fantastic and our waitress was pretty awesome. Great food, great service, honestly what more can you ask for? I'd definitely come back to try out the rest of their menu.

Shunka is hands down one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality that instantly makes you feel at home. The service is absolutely perfect—attentive, respectful, and welcoming without being intrusive. Every detail is thoughtfully executed, and it’s clear the team takes great pride in their work. The food? Exceptional. Fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared with true craftsmanship. Every bite speaks to the tradition and artistry of authentic Japanese cuisine. The sushi melts in your mouth, the flavors are beautifully balanced, and the presentation is flawless. A special shoutout to Tomo and Nubo, whose energy and kindness elevate the entire experience. Their interaction is not just service—it's connection. They make you feel like part of the Shunka family, remembering your name, your favorite orders, and always sharing a smile or a laugh. This isn’t just a meal—it’s a true Japanese dining experience that leaves you feeling satisfied, appreciated, and eager to return. Whether you're a sushi connoisseur or new to Japanese cuisine, Shunka is a must-visit. It’s rare to find such consistency in both food and hospitality. Thank you to the entire team for making every visit so special. Can’t wait to come back!

Good sushi place but I would say it's one level below Nana San or San shi go in terms of the sushi and it's a bit more expensive as well. The king salmon, Spanish mackerel and toro stood out among the nigiri I tried, the rest are just okay/good enough... I feel that the madai, which was highly recommended by our waitress on the "from Japan" menu was nothing special which is why it was masked with a chili flake sauce/topping. Good place but not great.

What makes Shunka Sushi special is their wide seasonal selection of fish from Japan. If you are interesting in trying some new fish that go beyond your neighborhood sushi join, look no further than Shunka. Here you can order an omakase to get the chefs choice of seasonal fish. They are now offering different sizes to fit your appetite. If that doesn't work for you, you can always order what you want, or even get some rolls. If there is truly something you have your heart set on, considering calling ahead to see if the restaurant has it or can set it aside for you. Some of my favorite items like amaebi may get sold out, but oh is it ever worth it.

Came from Vegas with the wife. Had dinner and it was so good we came back the next day for lunch. Haven’t stopped thinking about this place since. Miss you Chefs. Food was Very Mucho Oishi. Top tier.

Hands down the best sushi I've had, ever! Reviews about their salmon and bluefin tuna sashimi are accurate, it is fresh and delicious! The service was impeccable from start to finish, our server was helpful and friendly and seemed to be there whenever we needed him. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This place is such a hidden gem! It is a small place, but very authentic. I came here on a Saturday night with my partner and we decided to try the Shunka omakase. It was out of this world! The chef was super engaged and perfected the omakase experience. The fishes we experienced were: Sea bream: one of my favorites with a light flavor and texture. White snapper: flavorful and come with chili oil Kanpachi: a little chewier and sweet and mild King mackerel: blowtorched slightly and tender Halibut with shiso pepper: this was amazing with a smokey flavor from the peppers. Barracuda: sweet and tender and smokey flavor balanced well with the nori Stripped jack: clean and good umami Blue finned tuna: a classic red tuna flavor And a hand-roll which you had a choice of blue crab or toro. The toro was so tender and the chef let us try both! We will definitely be coming back!

Small sushi joint with tables inside, outside, and counter seating at the bar. Highly recommend sitting at the bar and getting omakase to fully experience what Shunka has to offer! What I like about Shunka is they have a variety of fish to choose from, even those that are not typical, sourced from Japan. It was around $85 for omakase which consisted of: sea bream, striped jack, medai, barracuda, ocean trout, engawa, buri, japanese sea perch, uni, and toro. Very affordable considering that you're getting uni and toro! Besides omakase, I recommend getting the live scallop if it's available. Since it's live, the scallop has a firmer texture and tastes more sweet. This also comes with baked bay scallops sauteed with mushrooms and onions. The chicken kaarage is also a good choice if you want something fried to munch on in between your sushi meal. Service has always been friendly and attentive. They can get busy since it's a popular local sushi spot, but you can always put your name on the list. They'll call you when your table is ready.

Loved this sushi restaurant! My bf and I got the chef's omakase, which is very reasonably priced. Fish was so fresh - we don't usually like uni but it was so delicious. Service was great - very friendly sushi chefs and attentive servers! Will definitely be coming back ご馳走様でした

Came for omakase with my family for my birthday! Ordered shunka omakase and was fun to tasting so many new fish that I'd never heard before. My brother got the chef omakase that included uni and Toro. He doesn't like tuna that much but enjoyed it and I loooooved the uni that was part of the chef omakase. It tasted sooooo refreshing. There was no wait which was amazing! And price was very reasonable!

One of the best sushi spots in Orange County! We love this restaurant and have been frequenting it for many years. The fish is fresh and they know how to make sushi rice the way it should be made! We also really like their rolls, in particular, the Shunka roll and the Sumo roll. The restaurant is pretty traditional and the chefs are Japanese which we appreciate because we feel like they are closer to a mom and pop restaurant focusing on high quality food. Their fish gets shipped from Japan and we like that it doesn't taste fishy. My husband's favorite is the scallop nigiri. We always make sure to order the salmon nigiri, yellowtail nigiri, eel and tamago. This restaurant is on the smaller side and it's in an outdoor plaza with various restaurants so it can get busy, but even if there is a wait, it's well worth waiting for.

Got bento- bento was meh... But the omakase looked good!, but I did not feel want it last time.. crowded place and most ordered omakase.. will try next time.. Japanese chef, and quality is good...

If you're looking for a bargain Omakase experience, this spot is friendly, fast and has an overall great variety of unusual cuts of fish to try. Just don't expect super high quality cuts of fish like from omakase spots that are in the $150-$300 range as you get what you pay for. Definitely upgrade to the more expensive omakase at $85 as it includes uni and toro that is very tasty and good quality. The sushi chef and servers are very nice and the space was super casual.

This was my first time coming here! 10/10 it was so delicious! I ordered the salmon and yellowtail sashimi and sumo roll! Highly recommend!

Absolutely love Shunka. Shunka was my first omakase experience and I keep coming back (occasionally bc I'm not made out of money). But when I do, I always have a great time here. The chefs are funny, animated and welcoming. I adore the omakase experience because you don't know what you're going to get and they tell you how to eat it - with or without soy sauce. I love when they serve me scallop or white fish with the yuzu salt, uni, cherry salmon and fatty tuna. To me, Shunka is more of a casual dining experience but the service is spectacular. I don't think it's too expensive for what you get. Highly recommend Shunka for your first time trying omakase.

kidding me? Just 10 pieces of sushi for $65?? I am still hungry after spending about $200 for me and my wife. The quality of fish is not even that fresh. Just average... Never trust the pallets of other people. I always learn. It's not worth it. Go to Water Grill across the street. Much better quality n much more quanty. I just love their complimentary warm bread with white salted butter. That melts in your mouth. They provide a whole fish sashimi if it's available. You have to ask about it first. It's much better. Trust me.

Oishi! Every roll we had was fantastic in every way especially the eel. Beautifully presented and prepared. Super friendly staff as well. Can't wait to come back.

In same strip mall as various women's clothing and home boutique shops. I liked sitting in a booth which felt semi private. Good service. Salmon avocado roll- loved the loose rice and fresh salmon. Tempura bowl lunch special- it was ok. I usually get larger pieces of veggies when I order tempura at other places. The rice was plain so I added the dipping sauce to it. The small sliced cucumber salad had little flavor. Miso soup was just right in flavor. Shanku roll- meh. Ordered it based on recommendations, but we prefer sashimi over seared fish so didn't think much about it. It was smooth and creamy w the albacore inside. Red bean ice cream- it was ok. The family liked it as they don't like red beans but enjoyed this ice cream as it was mild in red bean flavor

Japanese sushi done traditionally clean fresh tasty friendly made good suggestions repeat

The best sushi in Orange County and the best service out there. The hostess and the owner are the two friendliest people out there. Order the sumo roll and any of the sushi and you'll be in heaven.

Food: My Picture does not do the justice but their chirashi sushi looked beautiful and tasted really nice. And, their Tempra is really good too. I didn't expect their tempra would be this good. They are even better than restaurants serve tempra courses.. I was impressed.

Sushi Shunka is a great option for omakase in Orange County. It isn't my favorite but it is pretty up there. There are two omakase options both around $80 per person. There's a the Shunka Omakase Option, which is 8 piece with a handroll. Or you can get the Chef's Omakase Option which is a 10 piece option. I usually do the 10 pieces and find that it is barely enough and usually order a few extra rolls after. Each piece is normally very good, fresh and flavorful. The last time I went we ordered sweet shrimp as well. Service is always excellent. The chefs really take care of you and we enjoy sitting at the bar. I came here with my husband on a Friday night and we were surprise there was not a wait at 6:30pm. It was just semi-busy. Waits on the weekend can get bad though. I recommend checking it out for omakase if you have not. It's worth the experience.

Very good food and service: been coming here for years. Omakase is also very fairly priced. The salmon and shima aji were standouts. Also cannot go wrong with Shunka and Sumo rolls

Greeted with a warm welcome and open door service. When we walked in the place was buzzing with everyone enjoying their food and having a great time. I'm currently pregnant so we were offered options to satisfy my cravings, my husband got his options too and everything tasted so good. The sushi chefs were so organized and personable and taking in the moments with all us different parties at the sushi bar. the staff was so attentive, I never had to ask for a refill and when we left we were kindly thanked and asked about my pregnancy. Would definitely recommend

I'm on the fence about this place...food seemed fresh, service appears to be attentive and friendly, but there just seemed to be something missing. We went for an early dinner so it was very empty. That's why I say service appears to be attentive...i wonder how it would be if it was busier. Our server was new and in training. We ordered the omakase and she was so uncertain of what was being served...even after being told what it was before bringing it to our table (we could overhear the sushi chef telling her). It was funny...had a full glass of cold water spilled on me (thankfully not the hot tea she had also brought to the table) and everyone was so apologetic, making sure I was ok, etc. Yet, they were unsure how to react. Should they clean it up? Should we move to another table? We had to prompt it all. I get it....they were probably in shock and maybe even embarrassed that it happened, but this is where you can differentiate yourself from a service perspective. It was also very warm in the restaurant. Not a big deal normally, but I am mentioning given it is a sushi place so makes you wonder how the warmth may impact the freshness of the fish. Messes with your mind a bit. Value is there for omakase...10 pieces for $65. Nice selection of fish. Parking was easy, but can see it being tough on a busier time as there are lots of shops and restaurants in that strip mall. I feel like we need to give it another shot, but as mentioned, I am on the fence.

Conveniently located in a plushy little strip mall in Costa Mesa sits this cute little sushi restaurant called Sushi Shunka. My server Kaito was a trainee but he was professional, efficient, fast and a good listener. I'm picky with my food and he was patient and detailed. He recommended Medai ($9) which was so delicious I had to ask it to smile when I clicked on my iPhone's camera. I was referring to the fish, not Kaito, my server. This melt in your mouth delight had a touch of flavorful crunchy garlic on top. Definitely an item I'll order again when I come back. Got here at around 8:00pm on a Saturday night. If you've been following me here on Yelp, you know I recommend new places for you and your Hunny. Yes it was packed with young uns on a "DATE". Seated next to a young couple who appeared to be on their first date. So romantic. The place is pretty small yet intimate. Outdoor seating is available and there are heaters out there, which is huge in the winter. (OK.OK. I m old and frail, prone to those warm Southern California 'chills') Four tiny tables on your right the moment you walk in the front door. There's a cute little fountain that I assume no one notices since I didn't realize it was there until I was done with my meal. Four private booths line up the entire length of this cute venue, and 4-5 sushi chefs with black masks diligently work without too much chatting. The Manager/owner stands quietly on the far corner ensuring everyone is working the way they're expected to. Parking: Huge parking lot in front. Free parking, no annoying structures Food: They serve fresh sushi, but be forewarned, the pieces are much to be desired size-wise...they're pretty small, even smaller than Nobu, Roku, etc. If I'm paying $9 an order, I'd like to see some fish meat. Will I go back? Absolutely. I'm on a new restricted diet as I inch closer to 60, so fish and it's nutritious Omega 6 goodies are always a safe bet. Have you tried this place yet?

Freshest fish in costa mesa. The sushi chefs are all so nice and their rolls are amazing!

Authentic sushi restaurant with all Japanese chefs/staff. Omakase was extremely reasonable offering a great selection of imported fish from Japan. The Japanese Uni was outstanding. The sake selection can be improved by offering larger sizes. Good atmosphere. Great service. The Omakase was only Nigiri but they offer the usual rolls.

I came here not really expecting much because of its strip mall-kinda appearance but was so surprised by the fish quality here. The assorted sushi and rolls were delicious. Every cut was fatty, fresh, and tender--none of that overt fishiness that other stores have. The rolls were also delicious and had lots of filling. I really enjoyed the salmon skin one, in particular. They were a bit messily made though but didn't detract from the flavor.

I have been here a few times now. Chefs omakase 65$/ pp. Wonderful fish quality, presentation, and taste. Got the sushi bar seats upon arrival with no rsvp on the weekends which is a plus. Great customer service. We were pleased with the visit.

I guess this is a follow up to a prior review. The place is just not up to pre Covid levels. Portions are still small and prices are 50% higher. No longer competitive with the other top offerings in the area. I don't do rolls, only nigiri. I hadn't been back for 2 years and hoped things had improved, but sadly not the case. It's good, but there are better places serving high quality sushi with bigger portions at better prices. No longer recommended

The best sushi and sashimi ever!! Chose to eat at Yuki's restaurant 3 out of 4 days of vacation. Just awesome!!

unexpectedly found this quiet, authentic-feeling sushi spot on a street full of other restaurants we've frequented many times before. the omakase was an amazing experience. followed our waitress' order and instructions, enjoying each piece of japanese fish, and was sad when it came to an end. my fav was of course the last piece, uni. ordered a side of their marinade wasabi. reminded me of the wasabi peas snack - so good and nice extra punch of flavor with the rolls. brought our kids with us with warnings to keep the noise level down since it was a quieter atmosphere. they enjoyed their rolls. best roll we had was the shunka roll.

Absolute favorite sushi place in Orange County. I love this place. The staff are so friendly and sweet. There can sometimes be a wait but it's totally worth it. The quality of sushi is great. I personally love their omakase. Everything is always clean and fresh and consistent. There is a very traditional style to this place that makes me feel like a little piece of Japan landed in Costa Mesa. Try it, it will soon be your favorite, too.

Went here for an early Saturday Mother's Day at lunch and surprised it wasn't crowded. It was comfortably little over half full and we were served immediately. They do close 2-5pm so make sure you come before or after. Very nice staff and sushi came out quick. Very straightforward menu and I had the 10 piece omakase. If you sit at the regular table booths, the omakase comes on one big serving dish instead of one at a time like the bar. Everything was fresh and they had both fresh and saltwater eel. Plenty of variety and included imported Japanese fish too. Surprised this place wasn't more popular. Not much parking in the front but the back had plenty. No complaints at all.

A great place in Costa Mesa for sushi, fresh and so many rolls to choose from. We met a few friends for some sushi and saki and as always it was perfect

We've been going here for 6+ years and cannot get enough! The fish grade is amazing, service is even better, and best of all- very dog friendly on the patio!! Get the sumo roll and medai- you won't be disappointed.

First time omakase , have gone back 8 times. Absolutely love it. Recommend all the time, miss living in oc

Had a chance to practice my 日本語 in an authentic Japanese restaurant so I'm pretty happy about that! When I visited, sushi bar is still closed, but they have tables both inside and outside. I decided to get Omakase and was recommended to get the 12-pcs since I would love some uni. The nigiris are fresh and good, though small. Although served at the table, they comes 2-3 pcs at a time, very well paced. I was told which pieces to eat as is and which pieces to eat with soy sauce. As the size of the nigiris, after the 12pcs, I feel like I can eat more lol so I get 1 hotaru ika (firefly squid) and 2 amaebi (sweet shrimps). They prepared the shrimp heads in 2 ways for me, miso soup and tempura. The tempura shrimp head is perfectly executed and I like it a lot. Overall, omakase is good. Restaurant is well located in a shopping plaza with parking lot. Staffs are friendly.

Shunka is by far some of the best sushi I have had. Nobu has nothing on this hidden gem. Their cuts are fresh, melt in your mouth wonderful. My favorites is the Akamutsu, Medai and Black Cod. I could also recommend the Toro Fatty Tuna, Salmon Belly and Aji. Their Omakase is affordable and does allow you to really venture the best of what they offer. I an so grateful to have this top notch restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Friends have been recommending this place, and we finally got to try. It definitely lived up to the hype! Their sushi bar isn't open yet (and hasn't been open) during the pandemic, so we sat at a booth and ordered omakase. You can choose from 8 piece, 10 piece, or 12 piece omakase, or just keep going until you are ready to stop. Their omakase prices are super reasonable and their fish amazingly fresh. There wasn't anything I didn't like! The parking lot is a pain though and really small and crowded. After circling around a few times, my husband parked in an adjacent lot.

The Omikase here is phenomenal. I think this is one of the best places in the area. I will miss this place!

Really delicious omakase for a very reasonable price (about $100 pp). There were about 10 pieces of nigiri included, and I added a live scallop and ikura order at the end. No reservations - I came here around 7pm on a Wednesday and there was no wait for the bar (omakase only) but a 45 min wait for a table! I wanted to get omakase at the bar anyway, so this worked out for me. They definitely deserve their popularity! Everything is delicious, staff and chefs are friendly, and the whole place is very authentic. Can't wait to come back!

The sushi here is still really good but the quality in the nigiri and rolls are not the same. I understand the prices rising because the prices have risen everywhere but the portions are extreme small. This used to be my go to spot but now sad to say, not so much.

Some of the best sushi in Costa Mesa! Such great service and such a comfortable vibe. Sushi is always so fresh! Always great options of fish. Love !

Really fast service. Not a lot of options for kids here but we ordered teriyaki chicken and it was good. My favourite sushi was the kimani so fresh so light great piece of fish. The cucumber salad I wasn't a fan of I don't recommend it and it's such a small portion for $9 Their miso soup didn't have a single seaweed in it so it lost a star for some of their underwhelming food items

Perfect dumplings and miso soup. Loved sushi. Love service it's my favorite sushi place in CA so good. 200% recommend! The inside is beautifully decorated 5 stars

This is a disaster of Japanese restaurants in Southern California.as; 1) cups that serve water has fishy smell 2) soy source for sushi is too old that smells so bad 3) sushi rice seems to be a day old judging from the texture 4) most importantly fish is not so fresh From a point of view of sushi expert like myself, this restaurant is very disappointing for those who love sushi. Do not order Omakase ($60 pp) if you know sushi. If you don't know, who cares?

Fabulous service and some of the best and freshest fish in Cali. Imported from Japan. Yuki - the owner can guide you through a fabulous meal.

OMG OMG OMG...you must unlimited Omakase at least once! Trust me!!! The most amazing array of sushi crossed in front of us tonight. Here ya go: Black cod, Sea perch (my absolute favorite), Belt fish, Striped jack, Golden eye snapper, Japanese hirame (halibut), Toro, Sea bream, Bonito, Medai (butter fish), Suzuki (sea bass), Kampachi (amber jack), Ocean trout (looked like salmon), Japanese scallop, Chiro tuna. Our waiter, Sota, could not have been more amazing. He fully briefed us on each fish and was an amazing embassador for the entire event. Interestingly, we closed with Uni which I'd had four or five times before in other restaurants and generally despised. This Uni was aaaaaaaaaamazi g!!! I feel like I should go to all the previous places I've eaten Uni at and demand a refund. If you've eaten Uni and disliked it then try it here and learn how it's supposed to taste. It's delicious!

The food was great, service was good, however the restaurant for the last few weeks or so doesn't seem to have AC, hopefully they'll fix this soon especially since it's summer.

We went to Sushi Shunka for the first time tonight. We walked in at 6:30 pm and we were able to get two seats at the sushi bar immediately. That was awesome. We started with the soft shell crab appetizer, then the 10 pieces of Omakase and they were really fresh and good.. We loved the Sea Bream and Black Cod. After the 10 pieces of Omakase, we ordered couple of cut rolls and other sushi. And we proceeded to order the Live Scallop. OMG, they were out of this world. They presented the Live Scallop in 3 different ways. Loved all 3. By far, that was the best. This meal was quite pricey, but well worth it. We would come back any time!

This place was highly recommended by my sister and her friends, and now it's one of my favorite omakase place to go! I highly recommend getting there early because you may end up waiting for hours to be seated. We both enjoyed the ocean trout and fatty belly tuna the most! Everything was good... except now I know I'm not a fan of monkfish liver. It has an interesting aftertaste and texture. Overall, great service, friendly staff and amazing nigiri!

My fiancé and I came here for the Omakase and were not disappointed. This is an authentic Japanese establishment and the sushi quality is top notch. The service here is impeccable. The staff were all very attentive from the time we stepped foot into this place to the time we left. We sat at the sushi bar for the omakase. Chef Jiro was fantastic and everyone who came in seemed to know him. If we lived here we would be coming here every week.

Special occasion or feeling like splurging on a extravagant sushi experience $$$? Ever wonder what sushi place has good quality almost as good as eating in Japan. Shunka does. Why? They are importing fish from there! My friend and I ordered 5 different sushi rolls from their menu and we were definitely blown away with at least two types of fish. Their other traditional rolls are good too. My favorite hands down with the Shunka Roll. Perfectly cooked Salmon that melts in your mouth. Shunka also has an extensive Sake menu. I would recommend saving your money on the $230 Bottle that comes with a bow or box and ordering something about $20 for a quarter of the size.