Jeong P.
Yelp
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.