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.

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.

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

I saw a Yelp friend post a photo from Waka Sakura in Irvine, the food looked beautiful and delicious, so I decided to check it out myself. The restaurant was clean The servers were attentive, explained the process, and pointed out the call button in case we needed help. Ordering was easy and self explanatory using the tablet, and you can also order on your phone. You’re allowed to order six items at a time, and the food came out pretty quickly. The fish tasted fresh, not the best I’ve ever had, but definitely above average. That said, the portion sizes were really small. Honestly, I felt like I’d need to eat the whole menu just to feel full. For the price, it felt a bit expensive for what you get. The only dish I felt was worth the money was the Assorted Sashimi $15.99 good value . We ended up waiting around 90 minutes to be seated, which set high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to the wait. The conveyor belt service felt impersonal, and there wasn’t much interaction from the staff, which made the overall experience feel underwhelming. There were plenty of parking spaces available when I visited!

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 came here when I'm craving for Hotate and Engawa, these two ingredients are the best which nowhere else can beat them with this price!! -The rest of the ingredients are decent.

I'm skeptical about sushi in the US, having spent a lot of time in Japan. So usually I'm disappointed. I stopped into this place to try a piece or two (my usual toe dip in the pool) and ended up stuffing myself. Not many places even offer chu-toro, melted in the mouth here. Takoyaki and chawan mushi were also tasty. Don't be fooled by the somewhat cafeteria like interior. I read other reviews that said there was "nothing special" in terms of variety, but you are a hard pressed to get anything more colorful than a tuna hand roll in Japan (complex rolls are a western thing) - it's all nigiri and sashimi. The experience felt pretty authentic to me. ご馳走様でした！

I first thought to myself, "self, why am I waiting 40 minutes for a sushi place with a revolver and iPad to order". But something intrigued me when I saw their style of sushi rice soaked in rice wine vinegar red vinegar (something like that) and that they do something very special w their wasabi. I'm glad we waited because this is now my #1 sushi spot. I got the salmon belly, which, melted in my mouth. And the salmon platter which came with 3 different styles of salmon nigiri. Everything I tried wasn't too fishy and were extremely high quality. The only downside for me is that my daughter doesn't eat sushi, but she completely devoured the chicken. They don't offer a side of white rice. Also i couldn't bring in a large group if I wanted because the booths are pretty fixed in size. I wanted to take my party of 6 but felt we'd be crammed in the booths. The quality of food was incredible. It was an amazing find and I'd eat there every week.

This place has become one of my top spots for sushi in Irvine. Our friends recommended this place for dinner so we went on a Saturday night and there was no wait. We got so lucky since typically there would be a 1-2 hr wait. High quality authentic sushi! The rice is also so good! It's different from other spots. It feels like they use high quality ingredients. I like the set up of the restaurant! At first I thought it was revolving sushi where you pick your plates but I understand why it's by order. It is on the pricier side but you get what you pay for. The fatty blue fin tuna was memorable. I didn't get to take a picture because it was the first thing I ordered and I was very excited to try. I'm a salmon girl and I was so impressed with the seared salmon plate. I don't normally get seared but this place seared it so well. I would come back again.

I had high hopes for this place, but it quickly fell short. The fish didn't taste fresh, and I was disappointed in the overall quality. I was also a bit confused by the rice -- it didn't seem like proper sushi rice, which made the rolls less enjoyable. The service was good, and the staff were friendly and attentive, but unfortunately, the food was just mediocre. With some improvements to freshness and rice preparation, this spot could be much better.

Great customer service! The sushi was good. I liked everything I tried. Parking in this plaza was hard when Tokyo Central first opened but now, it's fine. I stopped by Sunday night for dinner and there was plenty of parking. Recommend you check out this place!

Wake Sakura is a newish Kaiten style restaurant located next to Tokyo Central. Parking can be tricky here, depending on the time. We came on a Saturday around 11:30am and there was no wait. To order, you can use either the QR code or the tablet on the table. The ordering processing is pretty self explanatory. Even though it is a Kaiten Sushi place, everything is made to order, and no dishes were sitting on the conveyer belt, rotating around the restaurant. Personally I prefer this way, for sanitary and freshness reasons. Price is pretty fair IMO. Most nigiris are between $4-7 dollars. Quality is decent and fresh, much much better than another known revolving sushi place (*ahem K**a). This is a list of what we had: Chawanmushi ($5.49) - would get again, but it has corn and peas which is untraditional. It doesn't have the fish cake or gingo nuts. Tobiko ($4.29) Seaweed salad ($3.99) Philly roll ($6.49) Sweet shrimp ($4.49)- I was surprised by how inexpensive this was. Instead of the normal one piece sweet shrimp, you get 3 tiny shrimps. It doesn't tase like the normal Amaebi. I would not get again. Scallops ($5.99) Salmon topped with onion mayo ($4.49) Spicy Tuna roll with seared bluefin tuna ($7.49)- the chili oil drizzle on top is too overpowering. It makes this dish taste like Chinese food, instead of Japanese sushi. Yuzu cheesecake with ice cream ($4.99)- would not get again. Yuzu flavor was minimal, so was the cheese flavor. The cheese cake texture was not smooth or creamy. Diet Coke ($3.99)- free refills Another thing to note is that they use brown rice for all their sushi, which is unusual. I couldn't taste vinegar in the rice. This might be a deal breaker for some, but it didn't bother me too much. Service was very friendly and attentive. They offered to refill the Diet Coke 3 times, we did not have to ask. The restaurant itself is clean. I plan on going back to try other dishes.

We came on a Sunday evening around 6:15pm and waited 20 min only! Service was good, food came out at a decent speed, and everything tasted fresh. The wasabi they use melts into the soy sauce when mixed, its kinda similar to actual Japanese wasabi. My favorite fish is usually salmon but here I think the tuna tastes better. My bf really enjoyed the wagyu beef sushi too. Their hand rolls are also nicely sized and they give a good amount of fish! Overall we loved eating here and will definitely come back! Side note: I tried their Gardena location first and really liked it so I was so excited when this Irvine location opened!! I still think the Gardena location is a bit better tho!

Waka Sakura's second location opened in Irvine along with Tokyo Central. The other location can be found inside Tokyo Central in Gardena. Waits on a weekend are crazy, but I was able to walk in without a wait on a weeknight. When you get seated, you can do all of your ordering on the tablet at your table. Your orders get delivered to your table via a conveyor belt. Their sushi is not cheap (with orders of nigiri running from $5-$10), depending on the fish; however, they do put good sized portions of fish on each piece of sushi. I'm generally satisfied with the quality of their tuna, salmon, hokkaido scallops, and wagyu sushi. The best way to sample the menu is by ordering their tuna, salmon, wagyu, scallop, or seafood combos, which range from $8-$13 for 3-5 pieces of sushi. Preparations are simple and the majority of the options are nigiri. If you are looking for sushi rolls with tons of toppings and flavors, then this place is probably not what you're looking for. Overall, I do enjoy Waka Sakura and I love being able to shop for tons of things at Tokyo Central afterward!

I saw a Yelp friend post a photo from Waka Sakura in Irvine, the food looked beautiful and delicious, so I decided to check it out myself. The restaurant was clean The servers were attentive, explained the process, and pointed out the call button in case we needed help. Ordering was easy and self explanatory using the tablet , and you can also order on your phone. You're allowed to order six items at a time, and the food came out pretty quickly. The fish tasted fresh, not the best I've ever had, but definitely above average. That said, the portion sizes were really small. Honestly, I felt like I'd need to eat the whole menu just to feel full. For the price, it felt a bit expensive for what you get. The only dish I felt was worth the money was the Assorted Sashimi $15.99 good value . We ended up waiting around 90 minutes to be seated, which set high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience didn't quite live up to the wait. The conveyor belt service felt impersonal, and there wasn't much interaction from the staff, which made the overall experience feel underwhelming. There were plenty of parking spaces available when I visited!

Not a true conveyor belt sushi restaurant because no dishes are actually rotating ("kaiten" sushi). Ordering is done via tablet and majority of dishes are delivered on the conveyor belt. Still fun for kids to watch food arrival. Price is a bit high for the quality but acceptable. For a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids), our bill before tip came out to be around $110...and we did NOT stuff ourselves. Not a place that I would come regularly but okay once in awhile. Our favorites were the avocado roll and fried salmon belly. Kids enjoyed the Wagyu beef trio. Other sushi dishes were decent, nothing was bad. Having lived in Tokyo, kaiten was considered affordable eats...we could easily enjoy it for lunch for around $40-$60 for a family with young kids. Unfortunately, the conveyor belt sushi places in OC like Kura and Waka Sakura charge almost the same price as a standard sushi restaurant...minus the service. Again, Waka Sakura is not a bad choice for families but for that price, I would rather eat at a regular sushi restaurant.

I was surprisingly really pleased with this place! We ordered on the iPad for our sushi and drinks. Each plate of nigiri was about $4-6 and the most expensive being $10 for one uni nigiri. The salmon was my favorite, it was so creamy and had that umami flavor that was noted on their tablet. I read a lot of reviews of the rice being really unique so I was excited to taste it, and I was not disappointed! It was seasoned perfectly and was not dry at all. It's not a revolving bar with premade sushi, so it's sad to see the plates flying by on the conveyor belt to the tables behind you when you're hungry. The ginger was on the sweet side and they use real wasabi here. For 2 of us, it ended up being $90 ish.

Came here because I've been eyeing this place every time I do grocery at Tokyo Central in Gardena. For this weekend, I was around Irvine area and got to try this place. I saw their ads on TikTok that they have better quality than Kura, but I don't think the quality differences are too distinguished. Note that they're not revolving sushi bar restaurant. I got the usual stuff like the nigiris, seared salmon, scallops, unagi. they are good, but they're not like amazingly good. It's just a standard good. Their weight was not too bad. We only waited for like 10 to 15 minutes..

Faves here: Salmon belly Salmon platter Sashimi platter Salmon collar Salmon avocado hand roll Scallops Sweet shrimp Very clean, calm & minimalistic decor. Food was amazing but service is very slow & wait times are ridiculous here. There's often whole rows of open tables here but they still make people wait. -1

Fresh sushi at a reasonable price! Yes, Waka Sakura is conveyor belt sushi, but your food is made to order and delivered to your table by that conveyor belt. Hot food stays hot, instead of slowly cooling down to warm while revolving around the restaurant. We arrived before noon on a weekday and were immediately seated. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and clean. Ordering is done via touchscreen. My faves were the scallop lovers (had to get a second order) and salmon party. The food is nothing fancy, so don't expect to be getting any innovative creations. (I heard that there were two-hour long waits to eat here. It's not worth that long of a wait.)

We've been wanting to come here for some time. We've tried to put our name down and wait at least 3-4x and finally we got in. Unfortunately, the air was out and it was HOT eating conditions. The receptionist always seems kinda unhappy or not welcoming, but we still kept trying to get in. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this place. The sushi was pretty good, but wasn't anything that wow'd me.

First time here and the whole experience was great! They have a tablet in store to put yourself on the waitlist and for us it was a 40 minute wait on a Friday evening so not too bad. The wait time is also pretty accurate as well as we got seated exactly 40 minutes later. Once we were seated we ordered completely off the iPad tablets which was pretty nice and all our food came out in less than 5 minutes through the conveyor belt they have. I love how their rice is seasoned perfectly - definitely don't see that at most places. We ordered the Salmon Sampler, Tuna Sampler, Scallop Sampler, Squid Nigiri, Yellowtail Scallion Roll, Spicy Tuna Handroll, and Salmon Avocado Handroll. This was the perfect amount for two people and all the fish was pretty fresh. Overall definitely will be coming back due to how clean the restaurant is and the good price point for the quality of fish you get!

Great new place with great quality fish! I thought it was pretty affordable too! The salmon party was around $12 I think, which is honestly the price of grocery store sushi nowadays and this is sooo much better quality. The seared salmon and tuna ones were my favorite. Literally melt in your mouth quality. Conveyor belt concept is also super neat and food came out fast! We also ordered the yellowtail and scallion roll, which we did not enjoy bc the yellowtail pieces were soo small and it just tasted like scallions and rice. Their rice is very unique and good. Not sure what the brown color comes from but it's super good and perfect texture.

I enjoyed my meal so much that I came back again! The hype must have died down a little, I went at 6:30 on a Wednesday and there was no wait. As usual, I had to get the salmon party, which comes with six delicious salmon nigiris, with the seared ones being my favorite. This time I tried the Wagyu trio, and while it was good, I don't think I could justify the price for only three nigiris. I also tried the steamed egg, and though the portion was small, it was surprisingly flavorful and smokey. The spicy tuna roll and chicken karaage were also pretty standard. All the dishes feel very upscale, but the restaurant itself is still casual that I would come back for a quick bite.

I'm not sure what the hype about this place was. Upon arrival, the restaurant had a fish stench when walking in - which was off putting. We waited 30 mins to be seated on a Friday evening around 5:45pm. I personally thought the sushi was just like any other sushi and nothing was too special. All of the dishes here were a bit pricey for what it was. We got the wagyu trio platter twice, the first time around it was really good. The second time we had it, it was not as good, and there parts of the meat that was hard to chew.

I have had my reservations about revolving sushi (not that this is necessarily that, everything is made to order), but I was quite excited to try this place! It seemed very beautifully decorated and laid out on the interior, prices seemed fair, and the portions were decently sized and had quality fish. Upon coming around 12 pm on a week day, I was seated immediately. There would definitely be a wait during night time or even on a weekend, so that is something I would factor in to trying this place out (since they're still pretty newly opened). Everything that I ate was absolutely delicious. You can tell that this place is focused on delivering an excellent dine in experience while still being pretty affordable and tasty. Something that I found very cool was that they actually use real wasabi and it comes sealed in a tiny packaging. I ordered a decent amount of food and my bill came out to around $50 with tip. I ordered mainly nigiri and tried their wagyu nigiri (the meat was pretty delicious, but don't expect the highest quality melt in your mouth wagyu.) Everything was well portioned and the rice was tinted a slight red hue (they use a special red wine vinegar to dress their rice and they have a whole thing you can read about it.) I ordered one special roll (their selection of special rolls is actually pretty limited) and it came with melted american cheese on top. I thought this would be an odd tasting roll but I was actually blown away from how much I ended up liking it. They do everything generally pretty well here, so coming with friends to try as many items as possible is recommended. I would definitely come back here, though the wait can be up to two hours since they only have a couple tables where the bullet train delivery system works. Hopefully as they progress the service will be even more efficient and more people can try this place!!

I was so excited to try this since I've heard so much about the location in Gardena. We came on a not so busy Wednesday at around 6 and were sat right away. My SIL was really excited about the wagyu ones and ordered so many of those. We also ordered the miso soup, chirashi egg pudding, tons of the salmon and tuna sashimi, and honestly everything was so so good. For $105, we were just the right amount of full after so much food. The only thing I would skip is the miso soup. Yes, it has clams, but it honestly wasn't that worth it for a miso soup since the clams didn't add too much extra flavor to make it unique enough. If you like clams, go for it. Overall, I liked that everything was sent by conveyor rather than it being grab and go like at Kura. The fish is also just super high quality compared to Kura, so spend a little extra and go here. Well worth it.

This is the best affordable sushi spot that is no frills. Rolls and nigiri are simple just like they make it in Japan. Prices are not bad considering the freshness of the salmon and tuna. The wasabi is real here too. You order on the tablet, and a the conveyor belt shoots your sushi when it's done. The servers were quick to refill the unlimited green tea. Definitely get the tuna lover, salmon lover, and wagyu here

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.

Tucked away on the second floor of a Japanese market is a pleasant surprise -- a conveyor-belt sushi spot (not to be confused with rotating sushi). Here, your order is placed through a tablet at your table, and the food arrives via conveyor belt right to you -- efficient and fun to watch. Good selection of sushi combos, and I appreciated the little details -- the wasabi seems freshly ground rather than the usual powder mix, and the sushi rice has a darker hue, likely from a richer vinegar blend. You can really taste the difference. Service was quick, and the whole experience felt seamless and modern. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area and want a solid sushi fix without the fuss.

100 stars to this place!!!! I loved everything about it. It was so much fun to order on the iPad and watch our food being delivered on the conveyor belt. Every time I heard the bell I got excited about seeing our food travel to our table. The sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful and the price is very reasonable! Loved the experience and the ambiance.

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?

This was our first time trying this location. We had the wagyu sampler at the Gardena location - which we highly recommend here too, along with the salmon sampler. I really enjoyed the chawanmushi (silky tofu like steamed egg with a couple mushrooms and a shrimp) - make sure you get there early if you want to try it bc it sells out. The poke was not our favorite. The miso soup is bigger than expected. I'm a fan of the veggie hand roll just bc I love veggie rolls. You order most items from your table through the tablet. I like the brown rice they use for the sushi. This is a fun conveyer belt authentic sushi restaurant with quality food and service. This is a 4.5, if they had more quality non-sushi maybe more izakaya options it would be a 5.

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!!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

Came here when they opened for lunch. Service was quick and efficient. Did not have to wait to be seated. Modern decor. Music was good with some city pop mixed in with American popular music. Food is not cheap for kaiten style sushi but the quality met my high expectations. I like their take on sushi rice. Quantity is also generous. If you know what nigiri/sushi you already enjoy and dont need some chef to impress you with an omakase this is the place to go to. I just personally would not wait more than 30 minutes to be seated here.

Shockingly the rice is so good . I am addicted to their beef sushi . It was tender and flavorful. The steamed eggs was also my favorite too ! The nigiri were pretty big but needs some work on the quality .

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.

This place is a must-try! Such a cute spot, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out it's a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant (I hadn't read the reviews beforehand). We loved everything we tried -- from the clam miso soup and edamame to the yellowtail collar, scallop lovers, salmon, and even the poke salad. The waitresses were so sweet and attentive, and the food came out incredibly fast. I can't wait to come back and bring friends and family to enjoy this delicious place!

With this place next to Tokyo Central, there was a ton of hype. When this place first opened, you couldn't get a table, but now on a Monday night there's no line, and it's clear why. The store smells fishy, which is not normal for a sushi spot, indicating the fish is not fresh. Prices are way too high for what you get: three tiny pieces of sashimi for $8, hand rolls with nothing special (just brown rice and minced fish) for $4 each - u are better off going to ROL handbar in the same lot for better quality To make things worse, my water cup had a crack in it and was leaking all over the table. We kept wiping it down thinking it was condensation until halfway through the meal when we realized the cup itself was broken We tried an array of rolls, sashimi, handrolls but it was really nothing special unfortuantely. If you're looking for a deal, the salmon party is six pieces for $12--and while that's decent, you're honestly better off walking next door to Tokyo Central and grabbing your own sashimi. Irvine has many great sushi spots. Unfortunately this is not one of them

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.

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!!

-I came here when I'm craving for Hotate and Engawa, these two ingredients are the best which nowhere else can beat them with this price!! -The rest of the ingredients are decent.

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!

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!

I must start off and say I'm not a very big sushi fan. I can enjoy sushi but will not ever crave it. Waka Sakura has changed my mind. Their menu is small, and pricier than other sushi spots in the area per plate, but the quality and taste makes it worth it. You order off an iPad and it comes on the conveyer belt. Side items are delivered by the severs (who are all incredibly nice and attentive). The only issue is the wait time, it's roughly a 10 minute wait for each dish from when you order to when you receive it. The best words to describe Waka Sakura is simple done right. Definitely recommend!

I heard about waka because or their gardena location and promptly came here once it opened. I was able to come here during lunch time and there were plenty of seating with little to no wait. Environment - the restaurant is fairly large and clean with sounds kept to a minimum. It felt very light and airy inside. I can't say entirely this is a revolving sushi bar as opposed to a belt that being you your ordered dishes haha so if you're expecting to stare at dish in a merry-go-around status you're not at the right place Service - workers were great and answered any of our questions promptly. Food - the price is decent and it varied according to what we dish you for. It's moderately priced and the freshness is okay. I didn't opt for any of their non fish options and will probably not be back to try them. All in all, I would say I would get my fish from inside Tokyo central than here

Waka Sakura is connected to the Irvine Tokyo Central store and is part of the Tokyo Central umbrella. Plates are not revolving. You order from a device at the table. It does take longer to come out compared to its competitors but pretty sure there's a human making the nigiri versus a machine plopping out rice. FYI It's not brown rice. It's red vinegar rice, not made with traditional rice vinegar. Prices are affordable. I wish there was more variety though.

For some reason I like the Waka Sakura better at the Gardenia location. Came here for lunch on a Saturday and only waited for 25 minutes. The parking spaces are all so narrow. Friendly staff.