Waka Sakura Irvine

Came on a Thursday in the late afternoon around 3:45 and the wait was about 20 minutes long. Not terrible as you can walk around Tokyo Central as you wait for a text letting you know your table is ready. Restaurant is clean but smaller than I had expected. The servers were attentive, provided instructions and showed us where the call button is in case we needed help. Directions are self explanatory on the pad and you can also order on your phone if you need. You’re allowed to order 6 at a time and the food came out quite fast. The fish tasted pretty fresh. Wouldn’t say it’s the best fish I’ve ever had but definitely above average. The rice was a solid for the most part. One or two of the nigiri I had was a bit hard in terms of rice but I still ate it. All in all, everything was pretty good. I’m not sure I would ever wait more than 20 minutes for this place but recommend everyone to come check it out when there isn’t a crazy wait.

I recently visited this sushi restaurant and was really impressed by the quality of their dishes. The scallop nigiri I tried was fresh, tender, and had that natural sweetness you look for in premium scallops. Each piece was carefully prepared – some topped with a touch of sauce or a light sear, adding just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the scallop itself. The plating was simple but elegant, letting the freshness of the seafood shine. The rice was seasoned well, with the right balance of vinegar, and it held together perfectly without being too dense. Service was attentive and quick, and the overall atmosphere was relaxed and inviting – the kind of place you can enjoy both a casual dinner or a special night out.

Conveyor belt sushi. Fast delivery. Order from a tablet. Rice is made with red vinegar. Tastes amazing. Fresh. Much better than Kura.

Finally made it out to the new high-end revolving sushi spot in Irvine, and it absolutely lived up to the hype—well, mostly. The quality of the fish was top notch—everything was fresh, beautifully plated, and melted in your mouth. You can definitely taste the difference in quality compared to other conveyor belt spots in the area. The service was also excellent—attentive, friendly, and surprisingly efficient given how packed the place was. That said, be prepared to wait. We had a 2-hour wait during opening week, which was a bit brutal. And the parking situation doesn’t help—tight, chaotic, and definitely a headache during peak hours. Still, once you’re inside, it’s a great experience. A fantastic addition to Irvine’s sushi scene, just plan ahead and bring your patience!

Revolving/Kaiten Sushi. This is probably the best spot in SoCal. We are here on the opening day. All the fish are fresh. Scallops lover has four pieces of scallops sushi with original, seared, shoyu, and mayo flavors, highly recommended. Another item surprisingly good is Takoyaki, very authentic just like what we had in Japan. The miso soup is also good, not too salty and the tofu is so tender. Wagyu sushi is the only one I wouldn't recommend otherwise, everything else is good. Expected to line up 1 hour during dining hours but definitely worth the wait. A must try.

Price is rather good. Service was okay, nothing too extraordinary. However the reason for why I gave it a 4 instead of 5 star lies with the fact the tuna lovers dish. The blue fin tuna reeked. Simply put it was fishy, which sucks since I was looking forward to it the most. Salmon lovers plate was fine, same with the scallops/ shrimp dishes. It was honestly just the tuna reeking. Total came out to 39.25 per person after tax and tip.

I would say the fish was pretty good. Overall my experience was just good. Nothing super special, but just overall good 8/10

Came by on a Thursday afternoon and the wait wasn’t too bad about 20-25 minutes. Tokyo Central is close by and walked around while waiting for our table. Its a cute place, our table was big and had lots of space. Good thing because you can order 6 dishes at a time. We used the tablet at our table to order our food, it was easy and had pictures which made it nice to see what you were ordering. The menu was a bit limited but we still were able to ordered quite a bit of food to try everything. The food was good, fresh fish and the dessert was yummy.

Had the most delicious and fun meal ever at Waka Sakura located inside the new Tokyo Central in Irvine. This place is different from your typical revolving sushi bar because everything is SO fresh since it's made to order!! The quality is amazing and I had so much fun trying so many different items. The service was quick and kind and it was super clean inside! I particularly want to rave about their shrimp tempura it is SOOOO CRISPY and so delicious!!! Can't stop thinking about it. Also, hard pass on the salmon skin hand roll but that was the only item we ordered that I wouldn't recommend. What we ordered: Scallop Lovers - 10/10 Salmon Party - 10/10 Squid - 8/10 (wish it was thicker) Seared Red Shrimp - 9/10 Shrimp Tempura Crunch Roll - 9/10 Japanese Steamed Egg - 10/10 Fried Shrimp - 11/10 Negi Tuna Hand Roll - 7/10 (too much rice) Salmon Skin Hand Roll - 2/10 (it's a no from me) Now that I've gotten my favorites a little narrowed down, I'm so excited to go back and get those again and try new items as well!!!

I found this because of Yelp and my friend and I decided to try it out for dinner last night Ambiance: 5/5 Very clean and bright Contemporary and nicely decorated The booths are separated by taller plastic to give a more separated (clean? Private?) dining experience but very much like many places in Japan Service: 5/5 Staff was friendly and attentive, given that all the food is ordered from an iPad at your table there is very little interaction. They promptly refilled our drinks (hot tea and cold tea) and bussed our dishes efficiently. But there was no one to greet us after sitting down or get us soy sauce dishes. You have to request wasabi from the iPad but ginger (honestly one of my favorite things) and soy sauce are on the table. Food: 2/5 So I love sushi. Whenever I go to a new place I try the same general items- salmon yellowtail and tuna sashimi, salmon nigiri, scallop nigiri, and I got the surf clam. The brown rice threw me. I prefer traditional white rice with my sashimi and it was just much more rice in proportion to the fish than I prefer but for the price, it was fair. The soy sauce was very salty! The fish- of what I ordered the tuna sashimi tasted the most fresh and the best. Nothing was outstanding and nothing tasted horrible but it was all mediocre. And had my stomach been fine I'd have given it a 3.5. However, about 15 minutes into eating I began to get a small sharp stomach pain in my lower abdomen. I ignored it and kept eating and sipping on hot green tea which I thought could help it. By the time we were ready to get up and leave (90 minutes or so, the food had a very inconsistent time of arrival, some come out super fast and others took 10 minutes), we both had severe sharp stomach pains. I know food poisoning normally takes longer but I'm not sure what else it couldn't have been. It was agonizing and I actually had trouble walking out and driving home. If urgent care wasn't closed I likely would have gone. (Luckily I took Advil and bentyl and was able to fall asleep and feel fine this morning) Drinks: it is weird they have a sign outside about corkage but then say you can't bring in any outside food or drinks. I asked about going next door to Tokyo central to get sake and they said no. So I'm not sure why they have a corkage fee sign outside to begin with. That was confusing. Pricing: 4/5 Overall it's affordable. They don't have alcohol (yet) so for two of us with just hot tea/cold tea our bill was $86. I do think it's presumptuous to prompt for tips starting at 18 percent when there is very little human service and most things are automated via a conveyer belt. I'm hesitant to say I'd return because if it may happen again, I'd rather not. It may have been a one off or may have been just a super weird coincidence that we both had the same time of stomach ache right afterwards. I will say it's a fun ambiance and a nice concept with the iPads and I like conveyer belt styles. If you have a strong stomach I'd say it's great for groups because it's easy to order what you want (rolls are half sizes, 4 pieces and priced accordingly). Again, the taste itself was fine (not great but didn't taste bad).

Located in a plaza right next to the new Tokyo Central that opened up! Parking is not too hard and we were able to explore the new marketplace while waiting 10 minutes during lunch time. It's sushi conveyer belt style but you order off the menu. Place is clean and spacious. We got: 9/10 Albacore Ginger Scallion with Ponzu ($4.49): I love anything ponzu-based. Very fresh and delicious. 8/10 Sea Bream ($5.49): Also fresh and delicious! 7/10 Whelk ($4.29): My boyfriend loved it but not my cup of tea. Texture is hard but chewy and tasted a little funky. 8/10 Salmon ($4.29): We ordered two dishes of this. Pretty standard. 8/10 Salmon Assorted ($5.29): Comes with fresh salmon, onion mayo, and teriyaki sauce. My favorite was the onion mayo. We will be back. Prices are a little expensive but the quality of the fish was good.

New conveyor belt sushi in Irvine! Right by the new Tokyo Central. I stopped by at 5pm on a Thursday and surprisingly there was no wait. I've tried weekends before and there was over an hour wait. The crazy wait is probably due to how new the place is so just keep that in mind! The restaurant itself is clean and simple and you can order everything through the ipad and the sushi swoosh on by. I like the sets as it gives you a little taste of everything for a good price. I recommend the salmon collar which was only $6.99 for a pretty big size. If you're craving some simple nigiri and sushi and there isn't a crazy wait I'd def recommend Waka Sakura!

I finally went to try the new revolving sushi place in Irvine, next to the new market. We had to wait for two weeks for the wait time to go down. It is a very clean and stylish restaurant. Inside it is spacious and beautiful. The staff is helpful and friendly. You sit at booths and order from a touch screen tablet at the end of your table. The food comes to you a conveyer shelf similar to Kura. On the positive side, we loves how clean it is and how fresh the food was. All their sushi comes with brown rice, healthier and tasty. The best items were the crab hand rolls and the rainbow roll sushi. Some items not so great: We had to wait a long time for the food to arrive. Some items took ten minutes to arrive. The prices are not all the same for each item. Each item is priced. Be prepared to spend $20 to $30 a person. The selection is limited. They do not have a crunchy hand roll. It is limited. Overall, it is clean and tasty, but is it worth the price?

Food - the food was honestly nothing special and that isn't to say it wasn't good, it's just that nothing really stood out to me. I found this place through the hype on Instagram but that's honestly all it amounted to - hype. Usually I'm fairly attentive with the different flavor profiles of what I eat, but I think the mere fact I can barely remember what each of these tasted like is indicative of the lackluster depth of flavor presented in each dish. I spent as much money as I would at Tomikawa or X-fish, but they are both AYCE and the quality is probably better or the same, which makes this place not really worth it. I would go on to justify the reasoning for calling it mid, but it's honestly too much work, just know that it really isn't worth it. The portions for the appetizers are also kinda small which was annoying. Service - the service was fine, I mean your food is served on a conveyor belt so there's not really much to complain about. The only thing that's crazy is the wait time (we waited 30 mins on a Monday at 4:45 pm) and when we went on Friday they closed their waitlist at 7 pm. Given the immense popularity I expected this place to be amazing but it was honestly mid. Ambiance - it's a nice clean and sleek interior but it's a bit quiet. Not the type of quiet where you're in a fine dining establishment but more of an awkward silence. I personally wish it was a little more lively. Overall not a terrible place, it's just hard to justify the price point with the wait times. The other caveat is that with sushi, there's a wide range of quality and taste and typically people won't go out of their way to have mediocre sushi since it's one of the type of foods that when you eat, you want good quality sushi. I give it a solid 6/10.

This casual sushi spot is located next door to the new Tokyo Central. There's nothing wrong with the sushi at Tokyo Central but if you want a step up above store bought sushi, you can come here. They're still new so expect a wait, but it won't be as bad as the estimated time the waitlist gives you. On a Sunday at lunch time it said it would be an hour and 40 minutes but we got a text after about an hour. The restaurant is clean and simplistic. All the tables are booths with a tablet for ordering. A conveyor belt delivers the dishes to your table and everything is made-to-order. I'm usually more of a roll person but I preferred the nigiri here. The Salmon Party ($12.99) included 6 pieces of salmon nigiri with 3 seared and they were all tasty. The Wagyu Beef Trio ($12.99) was unique and worth trying. The Assorted Sashimi ($15.99) is also a good choice and very fresh. The rolls we tried (Shrimp Tempura Crunch, Rainbow & Spicy Tuna w/ Bluefin Tuna) were okay but not the best in presentation or taste. They also have some hot food options. The Chicken Karaage ($5.49) was good but pricey for the portion size. If you like greasy fried food, the Fried Salmon Belly ($5.99) was super crispy and delicious. If you have some shopping to do at Tokyo Central, I recommend putting your name down on the waitlist here and then going to shop so that by the time you're done you can enjoy some sushi.

This conveyer belt sushi is a made to order sushi place. The interior is very clean and the servers are very attentive. We came on a Sunday around 3:30 and there was still a 30 minute wait around that time! The Salmon Party and the Dragon Roll was definitely a favorite, the salmon cuts were thick and fresh. The eel on the Dragon Roll was good as well. We also ordered the Scallop Lovers and the Rainbow roll. The scallop lovers was just okay, I'm usually a scallop fan but would probably pass on getting this again. Overall 4/5: This place is definitely good to check out at least once but nothing that stood out too much for me

Wish Yelp could give half star ratings, I would probably lean more towards 3.5 stars but rounding up for really good service. I absolutely love the grocery store chain Tokyo Central and have always wanted to try Waka Sakura in Gardena, so when I heard about this Irvine location opening up I was so excited to give it a try. This concept is very common in Japan, it's an express conveyer belt sushi restaurant. So the conveyer belt isn't rotating constantly, you order from a table kiosk (or QR code on phone), and your items will be delivered to you on the belt when they're ready. I went right as they opened and didn't have to wait. Everything was really simple and the staff was always ready to help and readily available. The fish quality is pretty good and their hot / cooked dishes were surprisingly impressive. The price point is interesting because it's certainly way more affordable than going to a sit down traditional sushi restaurant, but also more expensive than you may want for a revolving sushi / AYCE sushi spot. Overall a solid experience and worth going to if you've never been to an express conveyer belt sushi restaurant, but I wouldn't say it's a "must go" spot especially if you had to wait 10+ minutes for it. If the quality was a little better, like leaning more towards the quality of say Sugar fish in CM, it would be a lot more compelling. Still a great place for a quick bite, especially if you have a sushi craving.

The wait is atrocious but the food is quite on point and it makes sense why there is so much hype at this restaurant. On a Wednesday afternoon, the line was already forming outside prior to opening time which shows the popularity of this place. There are 3 bathrooms inside and I have to note that one of the bathrooms show a baby changing station, which parents can greatly appreciate. The inside is cool and spacious and the conveyer belts are a really neat / efficient. I love that they even track how long it takes to have the order made and everything is logged on their iPad ordering system. For 2 people the meal came out just over $80 including the cheesecake and matcha Mont Blanc dessert. The dessert was OK but the sushi was quite delicious, including the wagyu trio that was super tasty. Everything was very high quality and the portion and price is very fair, would certainly come back again!

Amazing quality fish and a cool elevated conveyor belt experience! I have seen the Gardena location trend on social media for a while, and was so excited when one opened closer to me. I was worried it would be overhyped, but the sushi was delicious! I ordered the salmon party and tuna lovers plates, and it was enough to make me full (though I still craved more because it was so good). The salmon party came with 6 nigiris for $12, which is pretty affordable for the quality. The salmon melted in my mouth, and the seared ones had an excellent smoky flavor. The tuna lovers plate came with four pieces for $10, and the tuna rivaled the tuna that I've had at more expensive sushi restaurants. Their wasabi also deserves a special shoutout, it tasted very fresh and not artificial. In order to avoid long waits, we showed up at 10:50am before opening on a Monday, and we were second on the waitlist. We were seated immediately when it opened, and our food came within 10 minutes of placing the order on the tablet! A lot of people have complained about the wait times, but since it's a popular new restaurant I think as long as you come prepared to wait it should be fine! You can enter the waitlist on the tablet and explore the Tokyo Central next door for unique Japanese goods.

I came to Waka Sakura during grand opening weekend in Irvine. The wait for one person was 1 hour, which was to be expected since it was their first week and Tokyo Central drew in a lot of people. This place works a lot like how Kura Revolving Sushi Bar works where you order from a tablet and your order comes out in a conveyor belt. I like how they made the sushi by order so there weren't a variety of pre-made sushi moving a conveyor belt beforehand. I tried a number of their rolls and I am so impressed by how fresh the fish was and by the quality of the sushi rice and wasabi. The interior is very simple, minimalistic, and clean. Overall, I would come here again, but hopefully with less of a wait. The prices were reasonable for the quality.

I heard good things about their sister company at their Gardena location but never dined there due to the long waits. Before heading over to opening week of Tokyo Central I checked in on their tablet and they advised me I had 8 parties a head of me. Parking is shared in the strip center and the restaurant is a separate from the grocery store. I didn't realize this was a conveyor belt operation which allowed me to order from my phone, or the tablet located at my table which also included ginger and other condiments. The concept here is efficient and there is little interaction with the staff unless you need something other than what you can request on the tablet. All my entrees were made to order and turn a round was prompt. The quality of all my selections was delicious, and the pieces of sashimi were good sized. The nigiri was portioned perfectly to the brown rice. Overall, I was really impressed with the entire lunch experience here and would definitely return here in the future.

Finally Waka Sakura in OC, right next to Tokyo Central Irvine! A quick, modern, conveyer belt sushi spot! 'Tuna Lovers': Comes with 4 sushi pieces of different tuna variations, but my favorite was the Fatty Tuna! The others were just okay tbh. I did like how the rice they used here for their sushi was already seasoned! 'Salmon Assorted': 3 variations of salmon sushi, salmon quality was pretty good and fresh! 'Salmon Party': , same as salmon assorted, plus other half is seared salmon! 'Takoyaki': such a yummy appetizer! I loved the batter, the exterior was nice and toasted, and the inside was light and soft. 'Miso Soup': classic miso soup, good portion size! Went during lunch on a weekday, and there was a 1.5hr waitlist, but we only waited around 45 min! Staff here were very attentive and nice!!

Waka Sakura has recently opened in Irvine. We went on Saturday night and arrived around 7:05 pm. The parking lot is brutally tight. I'm not sure who drew those parking spaces but there's barely any room for doors to open so watch out where you park. We went to put our names down on the waitlist inside. There is a stand outside but it was not functional when we went so I popped inside and found a working one. There were quite a few parties ahead of ours and we were quoted 1 hour and 20 minutes. We decided to kill time next door at Tokyo Central. After about 40ish minutes, I received a text message stating that we were the next parties to be called and to be close to the restaurant. Sure enough, within 5 minutes, I received an additional text to check in with the hostess. We were seated and given a quick spiel about the ordering process. You can use the iPad at the table or your phone via QR code. We used the iPad and ordered a Coke, iced green tea, tuna nigiri sampler, salmon nigiri sampler, spicy tuna handrolls (x2), bluefin topped spicy tuna rolls, spicy tuna shrimp tempura rolls, unagi nigiri, and yuzu cheesecake. Placing the orders either piecemeal or all at once, the food is prepared to order and delivered via conveyor belt. Other items like drinks and dessert come to you via one of the servers. Everything was streamlined as an experience. The ambiance was quiet and it was an interesting experience. My husband seemed to enjoy it and we liked the sushi that we got. Our favorites were the hand rolls, spicy bluefin rolls, and the novelty of the conveyor belt. It was about $35 per person after tax and tip so not too shabby for a dinner date, but obviously varies on how much you eat. If you're in the mood for conveyor belt sushi and want to chance the parking situation, check out Waka Sakura in Irvine.

I honestly couldn't wait for Waka Sakura to open up here in Irvine! I heard really good reviews about their location in Gardena and it did not disappoint. I came on their grand opening to dine in and we were able to put ourselves on the waitlist. It's super nice inside and had such a modern look. You're able to order through the tablet or from the QR code on your receipt. There were so many options to choose from but today I decided to try the Salmon Party, Blue Fatty Tuna, and Engawa. The quality was so so so good! Every bite I had was to die for- it really made me miss Japan. The food came out super quick and it is a bit more expensive if you compare it to Kura, but imo so much more worth it. The service here was great as well. Everyone was friendly and attentive. Def would be coming back, hopefully the wait won't be so long but I'm already dreaming of when my next visit will be. Such a great addition to the plaza!

The service was great. A kind Japanese waitress brought me sparkling water and a napkin when I splashed soy sauce on my shirt. 重ねて有難うございました！ The sushi rice, Shari, tasted great! They blend red vinegar, traditional ingredients in Edo-Style sushi rice. I prefer salmon at this restaurant.

Really great sushi available very quickly over a conveyor belt. All of the items are ordered on a tablet at your table and sent over to you directly via conveyor belt. Super impressive that they give real wasabi with a strong aromatic profile. Our favorite was the Salmon Party! All kinds of delicious salmon served in different styles with different toppings. Half of the 6 are seared very well, and most include some kind of tasty sauce or toppings like Roe or green onions. That said, I don't recommend getting the Uni; the quality just isn't worth the price here. The ambiance is very clean & natural just like their sushi!

It's "conveyor belt sushi" but there's no sushi going around. Everything comes to you fresh. I like how they have salmon/shrimp/scallop lover so you get a lot of variety. The red vinegar rice sets them apart from other sushi restaurants. The must get for me was the engawa with onion mayo. It's a white fish with crunchy texture and buttery taste. Salmon collar was also very good. Served fresh and all crunchy and juicy and paired perfectly with the salt and lemon. We came on a Saturday right when they open at 11am. The iPad said the wait would be 30 min but we were seated in 10. After ordering the food did take around 15 min to come. Our server was also very nice and the table is always cleaned.

came here 5-10 minutes before opening and put our name down on the waitlist and we're seated promptly at opening. this is hands down the best "conveyer" sushi i've had!!! inside is very clean and they provide a qr code or the ipad to order from. service is prompt and they are so very nice got the salmon party and scallop lovers and they were divine. each piece is salmon was great quality and melted in my mouth. the scallops were also very large and flavorful. their seasoned rice is the best i've had around here. i could eat an infinite amount of these!! their wasabi is also in perfect little single serving containers and was very fresh. loved my experience with the conveyers and will definitely be back!!!

Had an great time at Waka Sakura yesterday with the family. We arrived 15 min before they opened and we waited about 20 minutes before they texted us informing the table was ready. Ordering was easy and straightforward, it was through a tablet. Our server was nice and attentive. The restaurant was very quiet which was my favorite - it's quite rare to find a quite restaurant that serves a delicious meal nowadays. For foods, salmon party was the best-- the salmon cut was perfect. The cut was the right thickness and the rice to fish ratio was perfect. We're thinking of coming back just for the tasty salmon party. Overall dining experience was memorable and I will recommend this restaurant for anyone who wants to try premium sushi offerings.

I'm glad I tried Waka Sakura to satisfy my curiosity but I probably would not come back. Approximately 75 min wait on a Saturday night. Fish is just okay. Thin slices of sashimi for the price. The spicy mayo is on the "spicier" side, compared to most places. I honestly enjoy the take out sushi at Tokyo Central more! The ambience was really nice and love the interior. They have regular soy sauce on the table but you can ask for low sodium sauce.

Went on a weekday for lunch and it was pretty busy. Checked in for the waitlist and you'll be able to receive texts (you also get a 5-minute grace period when they text that your table's ready). Aesthetic is very much like the location in Gardena except this one is not within Tokyo Central but rather a restaurant next to it, which in my opinion, makes it feel more casual and less intimate with all the windows compared to Gardena's. It's not a constant stream of sushi like Kura Revolving Sushi, but it does come out via conveyor belt when you order. Service was very attentive and kind (personally, better service than Gardena's). Got their Salmon Party and Tuna Lovers. Great quality overall, but I prefer Gardena's quality for the tuna more. It's not a big difference though. While their menu selection is more limited, it makes up in quality for a very fair price, especially if you get the sampler plates. Overall, Waka Sakura is my favorite chain for conveyor belt sushi in America! Service is good, prices are appropriate, and perfect for a date or more casual but intimate hangout. I highly recommend this as a stop if you're craving sushi in the area!

Details.. .. Came here exactly at open on a Sunday. There was already a crowd of people (as we should've expected) & we were quoted about 45mins to an hour. Nbd as we killed time next door at the new Tokyo Central. prOs.. .. Sushi quality was good. .. Restaurant was clean. .. Food came out very quickly after we sent our order. .. Their sushi rice was not the norm & brought more umami to the dishes without overpowering the fish. .. Their wasabi is fresh. cOns.. .. Prices are decent, but adds up quickly. .. There isn't much service except for when you're being seated or when they bring you something from your order that cannot be sent via conveyor belt like a drink. .. The wait seems inflated because they were not at full capacity & had empty tables before, during, & as we were leaving. .. Some of the sushi we ordered was not well constructed & fell apart as we were trying to eat it. final thOughts.. .. Worth trying if you want a unique dining experience, but not worth a wait more than 20 ish minutes. .. While their sushi quality is good, for the price we spent I could've gone to a higher quality sushi restaurant, so you're definitely paying for the novelty.

Enjoyed the sushi & sashimi combo. Excellent service. Ambiance was busy. Will definitely be back again soon.

This was our 2nd time getting conveyor belt sushi in the area. The long wait would normally be a deterrent, but we were able to kill time in Tokyo Central among other nearby places. It helped to be aware of this before, but at least they have a waitlist to sign into when you arrive. Staff were friendly, checked in to ensure a good experience. Once seated, you just get right to it ordering up to 6 items at a time from the tablet. Food arrived pretty quickly, and honestly the quality was a little better than expected for conveyor belt. Good selection. Overall, given the decent quality and fair prices, I would definitely visit again with friends or family for the fun conveyor belt experience and just plan ahead for the long waits.

Saw this place when I went to Tokyo Central's grand opening and wanted to try but the first time the wait was pretty bad so I decided to come back another time. This time I finally came back and while the wait was still long it wasn't as bad and it was worth the wait! Came on a Friday around 6pm and from their tablet it said the wait time would be around 2 hours. Thankfully, we didn't need to wait the full 2 hours but it did still take about 1.5 hours. It wasn't as bad as I thought since I have used some of the time to go into Tokyo Central and just walked around the big plaza. It made sense though because the space inside is quite small with only a few booths, I thought being a party of 2 would go faster but it didn't make a difference since all the booths mostly had 4 seats. Once we got seated, ordering process was easy through the tablet while there was also staff around if you needed anything. Service was great, the staff were attentive and welcoming. Me and my sister ordered a few items from the nigiri combo selection to share as well as a 2pc bluefin tuna nigiri: scallop lovers, tuna lovers, shrimp lovers, salmon party, and wagyu beef trio. We also got a steamed egg since we actually saw many people order it and it was shown as a popular item on the tablet. We were both able to try every nigiri by eating half of each one. It was also pretty cool that this is a conveyor-belt style restaurant, though not your traditional conveyor-belt with all the options coming through in a circle but it was a cool experience just seeing each plate go through the conveyor belt. Everything we got tasted really good and most importantly, fresh. Also liked how unique their rice is, they don't use your typical sushi white rice and they blend the rice with red vinegar which I surprisingly really liked. Me and my sister both agree the wagyu beef trio was our favorite, while I also personally enjoyed the scallop. While the steamed egg was on the smaller side, it was hot and good. The egg itself was fluffy and soft, and I liked how it came with mushroom, edamame, and corn. Overall, such a nice and fulfilling dinner experience as we enjoyed everything and left feeling full. Definitely on the higher end in terms of price but it was well worth the money and it's a good spot for special occasions like a date night or birthday celebrations or even just somewhere to eat with friends. I probably wouldn't wait over an hour again but I will be back!

LOVEE THIS PLACE, I think it's affordable because of the quality, fish is fresh and rice is a perfect amount. I waited about 40min on a Thursday around 4:30 so I went to shopping at Tokyo Central. I think the menu selection is okay, they have variety of fishes, the nigiri combo is worth the money. The ambiance is very cozy and welcoming, service is great and friendly.

A new Converyor belt sushi place has arrived. This place didn't disappoint with real wasabi and quality sushi. Getting into the parking lot is a crazy crowded because the Tokyo Central just open but eventually parking should settle down. Ambiance is modern. You can order either through your phone or the tablet found on your table. Price point is higher than the other conveyor belt sushi join in Diamond Plaza but the quality here is much better. The only complaint I had was that wrong order of Salmon came to our table. It was quickly resolved and I am sure the restaurants still has some bugs to work out. Overall promising place to try and I love that we now have another option for sushi. Would I recommend it, Heck yea, you can order one item see how you like it.

I stopped by the newly opened Waka Sakura next to Tokyo Central right when they opened. We put our name on the waitlist and ended up waiting an hour for a table. What was confusing was that there were several booths available when we were finally seated. The staff were quick to pick up dishes and keep the table tidy. All of the ordering was completed on a screen at the booth. Some items like condiments and drinks are brought out by staff while the food comes out on a conveyor belt. The food was good but the flavors weren't always there. Some rolls were great and flavorful while others were dull. We ordered a variety of items off of the menu and ended up spending $70-80 for two people. Which isn't too bad for a sushi spot. I might give it another shot once they settle in because it felt like they weren't ready to be open yet.

I recently visited this Revolving sushing bar next to the Tokyo Central Market. The decor inside the restaurant is very nice and modern. The restaurant is very clean as well. The employees are very friendly and attentive. However, the selection of sushi is not as wide as Kura. I wish they had a bigger selection of hand rolls and regular sushi rolls. They also use brown rice on all of their sushi which I did not enjoy. I prefer sushi with white rice.

Quick, affordable, and delicious spot to satisfy your sushi cravings. Join the waitlist via the tablet in front of the restaurant. Everything is made fresh to order and served to you on a conveyor belt. Orders are placed either from the tablet at the table or your phone via a QR code. Atmosphere is relaxing with a clean, modern, and minimalist aesthetic. Service was friendly and attentive. They have great variety of nigiri, rolls, sashimi, and side dishes/appetiziers. They also use real wasabi and red vinegar in the sushi rice which we enjoyed. Salmon Party (5/5): Best value for salmon lovers. We enjoyed each piece and salmon tasted fresh and buttery. The different toppings and sauces were all fun to try. Chicken Karaage (4/5): Well-seasoned, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Came out hot and fresh from the fryer. Assorted Sashimi (4/5): Good value for the quality for salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. Fish was fresh - there was a clean and smooth taste and texture with each piece. Dragon Roll (5/5): California roll with avocado, eel and eel sauce. It was a delicious mix of sweet, savory, and creaminess. Seared Wagyu Beef w/ Sea Urchin (3/5): Overall, we were most disappointed with this given the price ($10.99). Lacked in flavor for us. Uni was missing that sweet buttery texture we were looking for. There was also nothing special about the wagyu.

Staff was nice. Sushi was tasty. Wait times are long because it's new and interesting. Theres a tablet that you can use to add yourself to the waitlist. Note for parents: As of 7/28/25 they do not have high chairs or boosters. They are expected to be available maybe next week so.. plan accordingly.

I thought I was there for a fast food sushi place but it was over my expectations. Foods are fresh and delicious. There is line of waiting but sign up with waiting list is convenient. You can always walk around next door market. This place is clean and neatly organized. I will visit again definitely.

Finally made it out to the new high-end revolving sushi spot in Irvine, and it absolutely lived up to the hype--well, mostly. The quality of the fish was top notch--everything was fresh, beautifully plated, and melted in your mouth. You can definitely taste the difference in quality compared to other conveyor belt spots in the area. The service was also excellent--attentive, friendly, and surprisingly efficient given how packed the place was. That said, be prepared to wait. We had a 2-hour wait during opening week, which was a bit brutal. And the parking situation doesn't help--tight, chaotic, and definitely a headache during peak hours. Still, once you're inside, it's a great experience. A fantastic addition to Irvine's sushi scene, just plan ahead and bring your patience!

The service was very good,and the steamed egg was good and the sushi was delicious. Would return.

Shopped at the new Tokyo Central and put our name on the wait list at Waka Sakura. Originally told that the wait was 4o minutes, but got seated a bit earlier. Sorry, but not my kind of place as most patrons are young and ordering rolls. Even what we ordered as nigiri pieces were thin and not to our liking. Waka Sakura needs to correct their tipping procedure. Our printed receipt shows an amount different from the bill that was handed to us. The difference is due to calculating the tip based on the pre-tax or after- tax amount.

Came in on a weekday right after opening weekend. It was almost noon and it was a 45min wait. Was worth it. Compared to other conveyor belt sushi it's 10/10 better quality. Fish was fresh and from cooked to rolls and sashimi was good. Yes you may be paying a couple bucks more than the other places, but you will know the quality is there. From the seasoned rice and the wasabi they use. I really hope it stays that way for a long time. I know it's new but sometimes after I while it maybe go down in service or quality. It it stays constant everyday and everytime, then I will be coming back weekly. Service is quick too and ambiance and vibe is chill. Once you enter you can feel how it's more quiet and pleasant. Which I prefer to eat my meals instead of feeling rushed out.

Refused to let me add myself to the waitlist, we were the cutoff but allowed another guest to put their name in???

Finally, another option to go for a Japanese restaurant. The interior really feels like you are in Japan. Food serving comes on a conveyor belt via table designated number. It's generous and delicious-- from the sashimis to the hand rolls. Just a piece of advice, order wisely as it is very easy to get carried away with a lot of good choices. Enjoy!

For the price, the fish is great. Never going to KURA ever again. Waka sakura also is part of Tokyo Central so they have connections to import quality fish so the sushi prices can be cheaper. Yeah way better value for price and quality compared to the other conveyor belt sushi options for sure. Bye Kura! Sticky floors, old fish, and no service!

We used to go to Cora all the time this place is actually better. You pick the dishes you want. The fish quality is better. My kids loved it too and love love love the beef.

I've always gone to the location in Gardena so it was nice to see that they open a new location here in Irvine. The food quality was still great and the nigiri combos were super delicious. It wasn't too loud and the sushi came out fast. The scallop and the salmon party combos are always my go to! The service was fast since we were ordering quick and they check up on us. The staff is super friendly and the restaurant is next to a brand new Tokyo central.

Food: 5 stars. tuna lover, scallop lover shrimp lover is good Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 5 stars. clean and comfortable

Do not go here. food looks mid as fck. inside of the store is soulless and not even busy. Yall told us our wait was 45 minutes, so we went to kill time. our table was ready within 15 minutes. we rushed back but was 2 minutes late... because we're weren't expecting such an inaccurate wait time? Hostess at front desk with blondeish hair was like "u missed ur turn, i'll put you at the back of the list." the back??? why not just the front??? we were 2 minutes late! u were the ones that said 45 minutes..???? yall suck. never coming here or recommending to anyone. and ur hostess sucks Lol

I went there and noticed that the rice is not white but yellow. The service was really good because the employees were constantly walking by to check how things were. The foods are pretty pricey and I got sick right after eating eel with cream cheese. I don't know what it was but I had a bad stomachache until midnight on that day...... I still have some residue pain I don't know if I want to go back there with that experience and with the high price.

We had a very pleasant dinner. The food was above my expectation and so was the service. Very nice place because it's been opened for around a month? Not for everyone as the bill does add up so it is not a "normal dinner" but special occasion type of restaurant. Give it a try on your next celebration!

Sushi tasted pretty good and came out pretty fast thanks to the ordering system and service was good once seated. But, the wait to be seated was less than ideal. We came on a Friday for lunch 10 minutes after opening and the waitlist was already an hour and a half long. Ended up getting seated in about an hour and twenty minutes. What irked us was that it seemed like a third of the tables were available the whole time. Don't know if it was due to understaffing or other technical issues that they didn't fill up the whole restaurant with customers. Hoping things get better as they work through their teething problems.

I rely heavily on reviews when searching for new places to eat. The staff was very nice so I feel bad about a three star review but wow was this a letdown. The vibe is a bit sterile and sleepy inside. What really surprised me though was how they sent out my salmon skin hand roll. It was not fresh salmon skin. It looked like fried onion bits you sprinkle on a green bean casserole for thanksgiving. It tasted like old, prepackaged bits of something but it didn't taste like salmon. The fact that they would pass that off as a salmon skin role is what solidified this as a one-timer for me. One of the fresh salmon pieces from the Salmon Party dish also tasted fishy. That's was it for me. The 2 hour wait must be because of staffing because half the tables were empty when we got seated.