SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

Absolutely a 10/10! The fish literally melts in your mouth. They take great pride in the rice and the fish cut, and they should, because it’s impeccable! Everything was incredibly fresh, and honestly, I don’t think it’s pricey at all for the quality they deliver. Service was perfect too. Can’t wait to be back!

Impeccable food, as always. The albacore is simply unmatched, consistently fresh, and perfectly prepared. One of those places that never disappoints. Bonus points for easy street parking nearby.

Sugarfish is one of my favorite sushi spots. The nigiri is always fresh and melts in your mouth, and the hand rolls are amazing. The service is great and the atmosphere is calm and modern. The only downside is the wait since they don’t take reservations, but it’s always worth it.

Love Sugarfish! Charming atmosphere and all the staff always make us feel like VIPs. We get the Trust Me menu with sushi flights already decided. Every bite is fresh and delicious. The staff bring each course with smiles and efficiency. Highly recommend - we go every time we are in the area. It is smallish so we usually have a wait of 30 minutes so be sure to budget time for that. Also, I have a serious shellfish allergy and they take great care so I always feel safe.

I’ve always loved Sugarfish by Nozawa — the fish is consistently excellent, and honestly still some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. That part hasn’t changed. What did change this time around was the experience with substitutions and staff communication. My wife and I don’t like eel, and in the past we’ve been able to substitute it with salmon or yellowtail without any issue. This time, however, they were much stricter and simply skipped the course entirely instead of offering a substitute. What made it more frustrating was that the server didn’t explain our options clearly. We weren’t told that ordering the “Nozawa Trust Me” instead of “Don’t Think Just Eat” would have given us the same number of courses without the eel. That information would’ve made a big difference, and it felt like a missed opportunity to actually help us have the best experience. The food itself was still great — no complaints there — but the service felt more focused on rigid rules than on guest experience. As a result, I genuinely felt short-changed for what we paid. I didn’t make a big deal out of it in the moment, but walking away, the experience just didn’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from Sugarfish. Still great sushi — just wish the staff were as accommodating and communicative as they’ve been in the past.

Besides long wait times depending on when you go. It’s completely worth it if you love sushi. It’s our go to for our family with our go to being nozawa trust me option.

Great service and delicious sushi at an affordable price! We love this place and will be back again and again! The Trust Me is plenty of food but if you’re really hungry go for the Trust Me Nozawa.

I don’t consider myself a sushi snob, but I really wanted to like Sugarfish. I had heard many good things about it for years from people who I consider pickier eaters than me, so when I was finally in the area and had a chance to try it, I was excited. Unfortunately my expectations versus what I received fell very short. My wife and I both got the Nozawa Trust Me option. It seemed like a popular choice and a good value for the price. Unfortunately it fell short. I actually want to break down how I felt about each course for you all: Tuna and Chutoro Sashimi - ⭐️⭐️ Sashimi is probably the wrong description for it. It’s more of a poke-style and drenched in ponzu, which was very overpowering and took away from the flavor of the tuna. I felt like I was taking a tablespoon of ponzu with each bite. Albacore Sushi - ⭐️⭐️ Decent flavor and good texture of the fish. Even though this wasn’t drenched in ponzu like the previous dish, it still felt like it had way too much ponzu, which made it too salty and took away from the overall experience Salmon Sushi - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Happy here, though I wish the salmon was bigger and thicker cut. Toro Hand Roll - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Well made and delicious. Eat it right away otherwise the warm rice will make the nori soft. This was easily the best piece in the set, which unfortunately means everything went downhill from here. Yellowtail Sushi - ⭐️⭐️ The fish had good flavor and texture. Unfortunately that was ruined when they put too much lemon on it. Yellowtail already has a natural citrus flavor, and the extra lemon overpowered it. Chutoro Sushi - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was mixed for me. Of the two pieces I got, the first one was bland but the second piece was perfection. I averaged this out to 4 stars. Sea Bream - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Interesting texture but low flavor here. Very different and happy to try something more uncommon, but it was forgettable. Hirame Sushi - ⭐️⭐️ This had the same issue as the albacore. Too much ponzu. Crab Hand Roll - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was hoping to end strong but my nori was not crunchy, meaning it had been sitting for a bit before being served and the warm rice softened it. The crab was good but otherwise it was just okay. Service - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nice, friendly staff. They are slow and did not check in as often as they should have for refills and such. However, once we got their attention ourselves, they would quickly bring what we needed. It took a long time between courses even with the restaurant being not completely full. Overall I would not choose to come back here on my own, but if I was invited by friends to eat here, I wouldn’t be completely upset. It was just okay.

Best sushi for the price...especially love crab hand roll and their warm sweet sushi rice! Love the location, too! Close to Fashion Island and Crystal Cove.

My favorite sushi spot in the OC! Omakase is the way to go. All dishes are fresh and melt in your mouth. Also so reasonable priced! Service is great! The place is small so you might have to wait an hour or so especially for dinner but it's worth it!

Easily 5 Stars. Firstly, if you order any of the treat boxes you will be more than happy with your meal. Every sushi, nigiri, & hand roll was extraordinary. The fish is remarkably fresh & cold, laid on a tasty slab of sticky & flavorful rice. I honestly couldn't help but have an expressive euphoric reaction to every single bite I took. Also, you will surprisingly get full off these small portions. This franchise is clearly very popular as there will always be an hour long wait for a table. Yet, they give their locations this hole-in-the-wall type of feeling by keeping the restaurant very small & dimly lit. This made the whole experience much more personal. All waiters were sweet & didn't give off that stressed out vibe despite the busy & loud environment. Everything worked so well together. I'll be back soon Sugarfish.

As with all the Sugarfish locations (in LA county) this place has it all. The sushi is melt in your mouth - perfect. I always get the Nozawa omakase and a green tea. Sometime I decide for sake too. The service is great and the minimalist ambience is just right. Living in OC, I am so glad I don't have to drive to LA locations anymore. The downside - They don't take reservations so you have to get here before they open if you want to be seated quickly for lunch.

I always come here when I'm in CDM but I have so many complaints!! I hate the music they play so loudly and they don't have gluten free tamari because they don't care about people with food allergies. Plus they charge $10 more for dinner after 3:30 pm!! Today the fish was not great and the cuts were smaller. The staff actually doesn't care. They don't get tips so why should they? Maybe because they have good jobs and this is a beautiful area to live in. They need to be more positive and happy!!!

Where Sushi Dreams and Life Epiphanies Happen Listen, I've had sushi. I've thought I knew good sushi. But then I went to Sugarfish, and suddenly, my life had a before and after. The fish? So fresh I half expected it to introduce itself. The rice? Perfectly seasoned, with just the right texture--like a warm hug but for your taste buds. And the Sesame Salmon Sushi? That little piece of heaven is probably what got Sugarfish its passport to sushi stardom. Now, a word of caution: you will wait. Sugarfish is not fast food; it's life-changing food. They bring out each piece little by little, like they know you're not ready to handle all that greatness at once. It's like sushi therapy--one perfect bite at a time. So if you call yourself a sushi lover but haven't been here yet, are you even living? Go. Wait. Savor. And prepare to question everything you thought you knew about sushi.

Sugarfish is really good at what they do, which is to provide high quality nigiri at an extremely fair price. Their "Trust Me" omakase offerings are one of the best values you will find in the realm of upper tier sushi restaurants. But with that said, their style of using warm sushi rice for all of their dishes is not for everyone, and that is certainly the case for me. First things first, the space is small and they do not take reservations. We arrived on a Friday at 5pm and waited about an hour. Not too bad as it gives you time to enjoy a drink at a nearby restaurant before they text you, and they are very efficient with getting people seated. The efficiency continues with the service, which was fine, but a tad mechanical and rushed for my liking. But what's really hard for me to get over, is using the same warm rice for their hand rolls. Each of their omakase offerings finish with a crab or toro handroll, which is usually a highlight for me. But when served with warm rice, the nori instantly gets soggy and loses all texture, even when eaten immediately. Sure, the warm rice might work for nigiri, but nori plays a big role in the texture of a good handroll. I cannot for the life of me, understand why anyone would want their handroll served this way. If that's you, I don't think we can be friends. But in all seriousness, Sugarfish is a rare breed in a sea of overpriced sushi restaurants in the OC. If you are a fan of good fish and good prices, this place is entirely worth it.

My wife and I really enjoyed the "Nozawa" experience. We both ordered: THE NOZAWA TRUST ME - $46.00 - Edamame - Tuna Sashimi - ponzu and chives - Albacore Sushi - ponzu and chives, 2-pc - Salmon Sushi - toasted sesame, 2-pc - New Zealand Sea Bream* Sushi - citrus salt, 2-pc - Toro Hand Roll - Japanese Yellowtail* Sushi - lemon, 2-pc - Bluefin Otoro Sushi, 2-pc - Hirame* Sushi - yuzu ponzu, 2-pc Blue & Dungeness Crab Hand Roll Why list this all...cause it was all fresh and good and honestly she said the names so fast I can't remember each. Fav was the Tuna Sashimi. We also sat next to a huge S-Fish fan who told us the owners story - which made it extra, extra cool - tip - read menu "rules and see below. Wikipedia... Sushi Nozawa, who operated until his retirement in 2012, helped popularise omakase-style sushi in SoCal. Nozawa's gruff demeanour and reputation for adhering strictly to omakase principles earned him both fans and critics, with customers nicknaming him the "Sushi Nazi", in reference to Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" character. His strict list of rules (no mobile phones, text messaging, loud talking or switching seats with patrons) did not dissuade customers, who could expect waits of hours for a seat at table. PS - I heard he's still picking the dish in the LA Fish market every day. (?) Lastly: fixed tip at 16% but good service. Chef kiss!

First timer! This is one of those places that you go to for a special occasion or get together. My party and I (4) walked up on Thursday evening to request for a table and it was about an hour and a half wait. With us joining the queue to be the 27th party in line. This was expected to be a minor inconvenience, but not docking it off for this reason at all. After all this place is like the real life version of the sushi place from the monster's inc! Expect to walk in to put your name down with a decent wait. The experience. We ordered the Nozawa Trust me, a Prix Mixe style meal that comes with different Nigiri, Hand rolls, Edamame, and Sashimi. I recommend to maybe not come here on an empty stomach. If you eat a decent amount like I do, ordering A la Carte will rack you up a heavy tab. My party and I were quite pleased with most the selection presented within the menu. Fish and seafood quality was pretty top notch, with the Blue fin Nigiri being my favorite (rich, buttery fish). Service was good, just wish our server was a bit more lively seemed like he was a little too nonchalant. Everyone else was great though, the host, food runners and all. Overall- 7.8/10 Food is definitely worth a try, high grade sushi. Small venue, so limited seating. Service is attentive and on par. Nozawa Trust Me Prix Fixe- $46 + 16% (automatic charge, with it being a "no tipping establishment).

After a 1.5 hour wait, I desperately wanted to hate Sugarfish - what with the internet acclaim and Star-studded celebrity guests, I imagined it to be overhyped. Yet, I'm writing this rave review now with only positive things to say. Of course, if you dine in or do a takeout box, you have to order one of their set menu options. The Nozawa Trust Me is one of their more popular offerings and comes with a hefty amount of sushi but you won't be remiss if you settle for the regular degular Trust Me. The portion is more than sufficient to keep you satiated. I opted for the Trust Me, the opener was a small mound of unshelled edamame which was fine. The main attraction, the nigiri and hand rolls, were an absolute steal for the price point. Omakase generally runs for 100+ and for a fraction of the price, Sugarfish's quality is virtually the same as those found at higher price points. The nigiri is a bit atypical, taking on a rounder, stouter shape, but the bed of rice nestled under the fish is delicately and wonderfully seasoned with vinegar and soy sauce. Rarely are 1+ hour waits worth it, but Sugarfish is. 1.5 hours, 2, maybe 2.5? I'd definitely wait the duration for their food.

I had to try this spot out because like 4 friends from the bay recommend me to check out SUGARFISH. The nigiri met up to my liking. I love how fresh the sushi was, the hand rolls tasted great, and appreciate the consistency of my courses coming out in a timely manner. It was my first time here so one of the servers gave me a brief overview of the menu which was very helpful. The ambiance was cool, I came here around 7:30pm and the interior was dim and gentle on the eyes. It was pretty romantic ngl, but it could have been a little brighter so I can take pictures of the food lol. My favorite from the course were the Japanese yellowtail sushi and the blue and Dungeness crab hand roll! Tbh I forgot the name of everything I ordered, but if I had to change one thing, it would be to give less rice, but that's just my preference. I would come back if I was around the area, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Nice favorite sushi place. I finally understood why this place is so popular. No reservations but walk ins welcomed. Fishes are fresh, and food was nicely seasoned and garnished. Definitely recommend the chef's special. No tip but 16% fee. Service was good. Vibe is casual and lively

Excellent dining experience and I highly recommend visiting if you're working with a higher budget! They do not offer reservations which means you'll have to wait upon arrival. On the weekend evenings, you'll find that there is a long waiting time--we waited approximately 50 minutes and it would've been great if there was a better way to mitigate the wait time, especially for people who would like to plan in advance. Upon arrival, however, the staff were very friendly and took the time to explain the menu options to us, being very authentic/honest in their recommendations rather than trying to sell us all their options. The food, overall, was incredibly delicious. I ordered the Nozawa Trust Me Combination Set and I initially thought that I would not feel full at the end of my meal. However, they served the nine food items one by one so we were able to space out our eating while enjoying conversation. It's definitely on the pricier side so I do slightly wish there was a few more pieces of sushi included with the serving. The ambiance was very wonderful. I do wish that it was a little more spacious, especially since our table for three felt a bit tight. This makes sense though since they served the plates of food one by one. Thank you for the wonderful experience, SUGARFISH!

By far the best sushi rice we've had in the US! Perfect temperature and softness. Really good value and delicious! Way better sushi than Nubu just not the atmosphere. So, if you want great sushi, this is much better choice. We went on Wednesday for four people and the wait was less than 30 minutes.

Let's just say I've always heard about Sugarfish from colleagues and folks and NOW I understand! From service to ambience to food, everything was amazing. Staff were kind and walked us through everything we needed to know, were attentive to details, and I can tell everything they do were done with intentionality (I mean my table candle light went out and they immediately relighted it for me before I could even get to it!). My partner and I each got The Nozawa Trust Me set and everything was FRESH, DELICIOUS, and FILLING! Like we were FULL full. We also appreciated the flavorful sushi rice. I say the value is definitely there. Also their Nozawa Sake was a great pairing so I recommend it if you enjoy a good sake. I totally understand why this place is popular and would 100% be coming back here.

I ordered the Trust Me box for to-go and for someone who eats sushi/seafood 1-3 times a week I really wasn't impressed. The salmon was good but everything else didn't really taste the freshest. The service while taking my order was great, and was quoted 30 mins but got my order in 15 mins. I'm not opposed to trying their dine-in menu but since there are a ton of other amazing sushi restaurants I probably won't be going anytime soon.

I wish sugarfish took reservations! We came on a sat night and waited around 90 mins. It was worth it though because sugarfish always tastes so yummy. We got the don't think, just eat combo and everything was yummy! The tuna sashimi is always an excellent starter. Some of my favorite pieces were the toro and scallops!

Everything here was amazing. SUGARFISH has high-quality sushi at reasonable prices. My partner and I came for my birthday and spent about $90, which left us decently full. Considering the general price of items, the ambiance and service were excellent, making the restaurant feel accessible despite its quality. My favorites were the Otoro sushi and the tuna hand roll; you could truly taste the freshness and care in every item. If you enjoy sushi in any capacity, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try.

I had been looking to try this place out! Location is a bit hard to reach, and parking is really difficult too. I'd definitely recommend going at a time where there isn't a lot of traffic. However, once you get inside, it's a really cute ambiance, featuring seats and windows for natural light. Their menu focuses on what I would call the "classics", and showcases a simple omakase style menu. Their simple but classic menu only features high quality fish, which I could definitely taste. I really enjoyed their tuna ponzu sashimi, and felt that was the best item on their menu.

Worth all the hype! If you want high quality sushi I recommend you to go here. This is my first time going with my friend and fortunately there was no wait when we went. I ordered the blue and dungeness crab hand roll and salmon roll. We were told to eat the crab hand roll as soon as it's served. The texture of the crab was very soft and filled with lots of flavor. It paired well with the crispy nori and warm sushi rice. The salmon roll was also amazing! It didn't have a fishy smell and was so fresh. I love the interior of the place. It was dimly lit with actual candles on each table. Our waiter was also very friendly and very attentive to our needs. I will be coming back soon and I hope to buy the to-go box next time!

Yes! Finally an amazing sushi place in Orange County. I have been searching for a high quality sushi restaurant for years and I've found some great ones but never the one. Sugar Fish is the one!!!! I fell in love with their LA location and I'm beyond happy that they've opened a location in Orange County. The fish is out of this world! Extremely fresh and high quality. But what sets this place apart from others is their sauce. They use this lime sauce that I seriously could drink like juice. It's so good! We sat at the bar during our visit. The service was great. It's a small restaurant so it gets busy but we didn't have to wait too long. I was happy to find parking nearby. They don't take reservations and they won't sit you until your whole party is physically present. I highly recommend this place and their other locations as well!

My favorite location and so delicious ! Arrived 15 minutes before opening on a Tuesday and there was already a 15ish person queue outside which moved pretty quickly. Ordered the Nozawa Trust Me and a few extra nigiri and apps.. everything came quickly and tasted great.

We got the to go lunch. The perfect amount of sushi along with some edamame. As expected, service is a little slow at lunch time but worth the wait. The packaging is amazing. It includes instructions on which sauces to use with which sushi. All the condiments are included but if you like a lot of soy sauce make sure to ask for extra. Since we ordered to go I can't comment on the ambiance. Excellence sushi!

Tasty sushi. Got to love the warm sushi rice. Great service. Wait time is reasonable with decent seating. Nice decor; like the grey cement walls. Only wished they had beer on tap.

Very minimalist vibe. Sushi is excellent so are the omakase prices - very affordable. We've dined here a couple of times and I really enjoy their iced green tea with my lunch/dinner. Staff is fast and very attentive.

I was so happy to find out that there was going to be a SUGARFISH in Orange County. I use to live in Downtown Los Angeles and was walking distance to Sugarfish and KazuNori. My husband picked up two DON'T THINK, JUST EAT orders. It was my first dinner after having my third baby and it didn't disappoint. Everything was so yummy! It definitely hit the spot and satisfied my sushi craving. It was worth waiting nine months for. My favorites had to be the Tuna Sashimi, Salmon and Sweet Shrimp. So fresh!

This is my favorite sugar fish location so far. The food, experience, ambiance, everything was amazing. We had just gotten back from Japan, and this food was almost as good and definitely comparable to some of the amazing fish in Japan. Service was great. - Nozawa trust me (5/5): My favorite was the albacore, literally melted in my mouth. The tuna sashimi was also so yummy; their ponzu sauce is to die for. The blue crab handrail is another favorite. I love this place.

Sugarfish is a sushi lover's paradise that consistently delivers fresh, high-quality sushi in an elegant yet casual atmosphere. Known for its "Trust Me" menu, where you let the chef select your sushi for you, it offers a unique and thoughtful dining experience. The fish is always incredibly fresh, with the perfect balance of delicate flavors, from the buttery tuna to the melt-in-your-mouth salmon. The rice is warm and slightly vinegary, adding a great complement to the fish. One of the standout aspects of Sugarfish is its simplicity and attention to detail. Rather than flashy rolls or gimmicky sauces, the focus here is on pure, clean flavors that allow the ingredients to shine. The dining experience is seamless, with courses arriving at the perfect pace. The service is generally excellent--friendly and attentive without being intrusive. However, some locations can get crowded, and waits can be long, especially during peak times, as Sugarfish does not take reservations. But for those who appreciate authentic, high-quality sushi, the wait is worth it. Overall, Sugarfish offers a refined yet accessible sushi experience that impresses both sushi enthusiasts and newcomers alike. If you're in the mood for fresh sushi without the frills, this place is a must-try.

Sugarfish always hits the spot. So happy that they have an OC location now. Trust me nozawa is the way to go, you can add a la carte items after too.

This relatively new location to the Corona del Mar restaurant scene was much needed. I've been to the Studio City and Santa Monica locations and this one is on par in regards to the quality of the food and service. It's Sugarfish. Super high-quality and premium all-around. Never disappointing. The only thing I need to say about this location is that it's a relatively small space, so prepare for a short wait. Although, they're pretty efficient in getting tables turned. Yet the biggest negative would probably be how loud it can get at this location. We were 5 at a small table and I was on one end. I couldn't hear the person at the other end unless she directed her voice towards me. Maybe we needed to speak louder. Whatever the case, the food was and is incredible. Will return soon.

I love how the OC always gets our sloppy seconds compared to LA. However, this place is still the bomb. Get it to go. You're welcome!

This location does not accept reservations so there was quite the line on a Saturday morning before opening. They also do not seat you unless everyone is present, even if you tell them they're parking so make sure you have your people. There's an underground parking lot or the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the interior design isn't as nice as their LA locations but their staff is just as nice and checked on us often. I wouldn't recommend sitting at the bar since it's not a view of the sushi chefs but actually a view of where the servers get the drinks and dump the dirty dishes. The sushi chefs are in the back. It's very loud inside so having conversations is a bit difficult. No outside dining. I ordered the Don't Think omakase and it was decently filling for the price. The rice texture is as good as I remembered it but I feel like the assembly was definitely rushed. The rice was loosely put together. Fish to rice ratio was still good and I enjoyed their newest addition, the pink lobster. It was similar to sweet shrimp. No dessert option for lunch. Overall, it's nice that you don't have to drive to LA for Sugarfish, but unless you're craving Sugarfish specifically, I think there's plenty of other great sushi places to eat at without having to wait in line.

Sugarfish is a restaurant that has had my respect from the initial visit I had in Santa Monica. My saying for Sugarfish is "You can't find the quality for the price anywhere else". I'm not saying that their food is top of the line, but its quality for the price range. The staff is very attentive to your needs and accommodates allergies correctly. I state that as my sister has a soy allergy and they made sure that none of the items would contain any soy products. For first time visitors, I always recommend you to try "The Nozawa Trust Me" which consists of a step course menu if I remember correctly. They take you through different nigiri and rolls and allows you to find out what items are your favorite there. It's fun and for $40 a person, usually this would cost over $100 at other restaurants. My favorite item on the menu is the Tuna Sashimi which is sat in my favorite ponzu sauce. I recommend you to keep the dish after you're finished as I dip other items into the ponzu. I say that because they don't allow you to get a side of ponzu, if you'd like more, they make you order another Tuna Sashimi. Sugarfish is a great spot for a date, dinner with friends, or eating alone. The staff is always super nice, but the courses may come out quicker than you'd like. If that happens just let your waiter/waitress know and they will slow it down. My rating is a 8.5/10.

I've ordered takeout from here a few times, and came in for lunch today. The food is fantastic whether you're dining in or taking out, but the service at this location is probably the worst out of every location I've been to. I did their toro tasting menu and a salmon nigiri, and both were excellent. Sugarfish is consistent when it comes to the food, and I certainly appreciate that. The service on the other hand, was severely lacking. To start, the restaurant was half empty, but the staff was difficult to get a hold of or didn't really attend to us until we flagged them down (there was probably more staff than patrons). Then, the pacing of the entire meal was horrible, they would serve one member of our party and then make the rest of the table wait 10 minutes, then would clear the table and make us wait 10 minutes before another dish would come for one person while the rest of us waited. This would go on for the entirety of the meal, and when we would ask about the status of our final dishes and shared feedback, the staff dismissed us and simply didn't care. In summary, great food, but don't expect good service. I'd probably only order takeout from here since it's the only location near me, and save my in-person dining experiences for other locations (especially since this location is so tiny and has the worst seating layout of any location).

I always get the toro flight as an add on when I go to Sugarfish... their tuna is just so yummy. I chew so slowly, savoring the richness and fattiness of the chuutoro and ootoro, letting the delicate fish melt on my tongue. Another favorite I have is the blue and dungeoness crab Handroll. I like the Corona Del Mar location in particular because it feels more spacious.

This sushi restaurant is located in Corona Del Mar and it's quite small and intimate. We were there before 5:00 pm and the interior light was adequate. However, at 5:00 pm the lights were dimmed so much that there were people using the light from their cell phones to read the menu! The food in general was okay for the following reasons. 1. All of the sushi rolls had no taste. It was just a piece of thinly sliced small fish over sushi rice. There was no wasabi in between as they should. 2. The sushi rice was not properly prepped and most would come loose and fall apart when picked up with a pair of chopsticks. 3. The sushi pieces were small and thin. 4. The hand rolls were round with open ends and not conical. They were wrapped in seaweed but the inside contained only rice and mushy fish/crab filling without any other vegetables or garnishes. Because both ends were open, the stuffing would fall out before the last bite was eaten. A couple of positives are that this is one of the few No Tipping restaurants around but they do charge a 16% fee even for take outs; and the staff were courteous.

No reservations at this place but we got seated within 20 minutes of walking in the afternoon for lunch. There's a private parking lot in the back attached to the restaurant building which was really helpful. The service was okay, it was really busy and the restaurant is so small. The tables are super close together but the food was delicious. The omakase menu was a lot cheaper than what I was used to and I was afraid I would be leaving hungry. I did not in fact leave hungry, the fish and quality was great, but I was bummed that there was SO much rice in the nigiri. It was like 75% rice and 25% fish. I was really full off of mostly rice.

Food is ok - it gave me food poisoning the last time I ate at Sugarfish. But what's worse is the BS charges they tack on to their orders in the guise of helping the community. No sugarfish, this is not helping the community. Spare us the corporate BS - it's a way to wrangle more cash out of you with nonsensical fees. What the heck is a local fee? They state it helps reduce the menus costs but it's just backloaded into your order anyway. Between the average sushi and ridiculous high fees - which obviously capitalizes on the location - I cannot recommend this place. There's other, much better sushi spots in OC that is cooked right where it won't give you food poisoning and violates your wallet.

really great quality fish and a special experience for sure. i came for lunch and got the Nozawa Trust Me. everything was delicious and clean tasting. the albacore was my favorite, it was so creamy. the rounds came out pretty quickly given that they were getting orders out on a busy sunday. all of the servers were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. parking is on the street and there's a lot. we really enjoyed our experience and would return for another special occasion!

Sushi is one of my favorite foods to eat, and Sugarfish does sushi amazingly well! I love the tasting menu(s) they offer, and I of course got the option with the most dishes (I think it was called Nozawa Trust Me). Fresh and delicious handrolls, sashimi, and nigiri made me a very satified gal. An edamame to start and a Sapporo to pair was the cherry on top. If you love sushi, you should runnnn to Sugarfish. Service is very fast too! Can't wait to go again when I'm in OC/LA next :)

Me and my partner are huge fans of the sugarfish in downtown LA and was stoked to hear that they opened one in Newport! Parking is a little difficult, but thankfully they have an underground parking lot with easy access to the restaurant. The restaurant was packed and we were expecting to wait a while, but was seated shortly to our surprise! The restaurant is quite small, but still seats a large amount of people. We ordered the Dont Think Just Eat and the Toro Tasting. The Toro Tasting tasted amazing, but i feel like we were so full after the Dont Think Just Eat Selection. We definitely underestimated how much they were gonna give us! Each piece tasted amazing and they give you a good amount for the price point! Will definitely be back!

Absolutely love the tasting menus. My favorite is the don't think, just eat. Super simple, good quality sushi. This new location in cdm is so cute and service is good.

We came here on a Saturday and there was no wait and was seated immediately. (We tried to come here back in February and there was a 2-3 hr wait so we decided to return another time). This location is pretty small so I can see why there would have been a wait when it first opened. I selected the Trust Me and my husband ordered the Nozawa Trust Me (the menu is preset if you haven't been before). Each one comes out as it's made. It was all tasty as the other locations. There is street parking and parking around the back (which we didn't know until we saw the sign when we entered the place.

Visited with friends for a birthday, food here is good but not somewhere I would regularly come back to. Ordered the Nozawa trust me as it gives Nigeria options, sashimi, and hand rolls. Best think I had was Yuzu scallop ngirri which isn't normally available with the Nozawa but they were out of another fish. Some of the fish rolls were just ok, very bland and flavorless. Ordered the lobster cut roll as well, could not really taste the lobster. If I'm craving sushi this would not be my first pick but a solid option.

3.5 Stars Sugarfish still has a lot going for it. The staff was wonderful--attentive and friendly--and the ambiance remains as inviting and stylish as ever, which keeps the experience enjoyable. However, I hadn't been back in a while and was disappointed to see that they took ikura off the menu, which used to be a favorite. The prices have also gone up, so it feels a bit less of a value than it once did. The sushi is still good, but it's missing a bit of the magic it used to have. Worth a visit, but longtime fans may notice some changes

Value 5/5: definitely good pricing for being in CDM and serving omakase style. Food 4/5: super fresh and good fish quality, every piece of fish was fresh. I'm normally not an albacore person but their albacore was so fresh and sweet. One point off for the rice, rice could've been better. Some rice pieces were falling apart as picking up. The handrolls were amazing, my fav was the blue crab hand roll. A must try here. Service 5/5: I had excellent service, super attentive from all the servers. I came in on a Tuesday afternoon lunch and luckily they weren't packed. I love the simplicity of the menu from set menu options or can order a la carte. Don't expect to get rolls like your typical sushi spots, but expect just straight up good fish and rice.

Like the uniqueness of serving in courses rather than your standard sushi house that sends it all out as it is ready sometimes all at once. Quality is very good. Felt a little underwhelmed on some of the presentations. The pink lobster sashimi for example. It was literally just this on a white plate with nothing else no garnish. Therefore tried it dipped in soy sauce. Way too overpowering for this delicate fish. Don't get me wrong it was a great piece of fish. Would appreciate a slice of lemon and maybe a sprinkle of coarse sea salt on the side. Felt like it needed something but definitely not soy sauce. The tuna sashimi was my favorite item of the day. The sauce was excellent. Service, everyone was friendly. Seemed to be left hanging in between courses a few times. Be ready to spend time for this place. Long wait times and then once you're in the door expect to be here for an hour at least (even at the counter). Parking is limited in this area but luckily there is free parking in the underground garage behind the building but is a bit hard to find if you're not looking for the sign.

This place is only been open since January. It's a tiny little sushi restaurant.. we decided to go around 2 PM on a Wednesday it was still packed, they don't take reservations, so if you want to try to get in just go when it's not peak time which would be the weekend probably. We tried the " Trust me." One for each person for $30 each. It was the perfect amount of food honestly for lunch . You are served very cold edamame, which I think should always be served warm . The fish is very fresh , I love their yellowtail and fresh ginger. Unfortunately, the crab roll at the end was masked with too much mayo. Service was good. However, I did have to flag down our waitress as we believe she had forgotten about us. They have parking in the back along the street and I believe also in the front .

A top contender for a sushi night. Good food, good service, and I love the cadence the food comes out. Unfortunately tonight my sister got a large bone in her crab hand roll, but we still will be back.