YUBUYA

Incredibly warm and friendly staff/ownership. The quality of the fish, rice, miso, seasoning and presentation of the food was excellent… there aren’t enough adjectives to explain just how delicious my meal was. 24 hours later I’m still thinking about every bite.

The BEST rice/sushi rice I have ever had. They make really simple ingredients like avocado or seaweed and absolutely elevated it. Cannot overstate how great their rice is. The people are super friendly and also had some great deals. The overall presentation was super enjoyable as well. Come for their rice!!!

This family run small restaurant is great! Support this place! The food is amazing!!

The food was so delicious. I’m a big sushi connoisseur and I loved this place. Everything is so yummy and rich in flavor.

The place is small but amazing! I would suggest getting them all just to see which one you like. They’re roughly $5 each so pace yourself. Service is top notch. I would come again.

Absolutely amazing! This is the spot I’ve been taking everyone. Place inside is kinda small but super cozy and cute. You order at the kiosk and it’s super easy/convenient. They make the food in the front and it definitely adds a personalized touch. My favorites are the seared salmon and unagi yubu! They look small but 3 of them is the perfect amount for meal for me

phenomenal little store on the first floor of the mall. it's like Atoyubu, but with better parking and a homey vibe. not to mention for those in South OC, this is a much closer drive. everything was fantastic. scallops were fresh, soy marinated salmon was soft and sweet, unagi was moist, tuna was still firm but soft, and the snow crab was just incredible. we'll be back!

all of the good reviews are true! this place was FIRE. i had the lunch special with udon and added 2 yubus (unagi, creamy onion, seared salmon, and spicy shrimp). my total with the coupon online ($5 off first order) came out to about $20. talk about money well spent. the yubus are so flavorful, the fish and shrimp were fresh, and all of the toppings complimented each yubu perfectly. even though they’re small, they’re really filling. the staff was also really kind and attentive. 10/10 recommend, i think this may be my new favorite spot. i want to go back and try every flavor!

Was in the nearby area and saw a spot I've had bookmarked was there! We came around lunch on a weekday so it wasn't super busy yet. The store is small, cozy, cute. They have a register or a self order kiosk. The staff is helpful at any question you may have. My partner got the lunch combo with udon, seared salmon, and creamy onion salmon. I got the set of 3 with creamy onion salmon, eel (unagi), and soy marinated salmon. His favorite was the creamy onion salmon. Mine was the soy marinated and the onion salmon. The lot has parking as it's in a little shopping plaza. Will stop by again when I'm in the area.

Stopped by Yubuya for a quick lunch. They have a couple special combos and we both went with the 2 yubu+udon. I loved the flavors of the yubus and the udon! The yubu rice filling was delicious on it's own and paired with the toppings was extremely tasty and balanced. No sauce needed! We got the fresh yellow tail, salmon, tuna, and spicy scallop. All bangers. I loved how hot the udon was and the noodles had a good texture to them. The staff was super friendly and personable as well!

Cute cozy little spot to grab some delicious inari sushi! The sweet tofu skin, with seasoned rice, makes for the perfect base for salmon, tuna, and other delicious topping choices. Love that they offer lunch specials here, and if you order 3 or more inari, they give you a free miso soup! Got the Fresh Salmon, which you can't go wrong with! The Soy Marinated Salmon, which was soo good, I loved the sweet and savory soy flavor! And then the Unagi, which had a sweet smoky flavor which I enjoyed too, good option if you don't want raw fish. The staff here were also the sweetest! Few seats available inside and outside too.

So cute and convenient! Easy parking in this shopping complex. Only has maybe 10 spots max to sit but it's definitely more of a grab and go place. Despite being super convenient and fast - these yubus are made on the spot!! Tofu skins with half rice (at the bottom) and topping (as seen on top). Flavor is amazing and so fresh. It's only lightly sauced and you'd have to buy extra if you need it but i think it's perfectly seasoned. The staff are super sweet and answer all the questions patiently. I can't wait to come back!!

- parking is plentiful in this plaza with other restaurants and businesses situated here - this quaint shop has some indoor and outdoor seating - staff were so kind and briefly explained the menu to us newcomers! - loved both yubus!! the rice itself was seasoned so well and the quality of the fish was fresh. the spicy paste on the scallops were delicious too!

Yubuya is small cafe that specializes in yubus (fried tofu pouches that have vinegared rice and are topped with fresh sushi). It's similar to Japanese inari sushi. The yubus are priced at about $5 when I visited but I saw they had a lunch combo that included 2 and udon soup. Lunch combo ($13) - This came with udon soup, and 2 yubus. For my yubus I went with a salmon and cream cheese topping and the other yubu I went with tuna. I was impressed with quality of the fish in both the yubus, they were both so fresh. The udon noodles, while chewy, were just ok and nowhere as good as the udon at Marugame. Overall the yubus are fresh and taste great. They have a large selection to choose from. Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of fish in the yubu, but it's definitely worth checking out if one is looking for some that tastes great and is fresh!

Yubuya serves inari, which are little pockets of rice and toppings inside a fried, seasoned tofu pouch. Easy snack (or meal if you order a lot) and a lot of different toppings to choose from! Order in-person via kiosk or check online to see if they're still doing $5 off your first order of $20 minimum. Each inari is freshly packed so when there's a lot of people, there might be a small wait but usually it doesn't take long for them to stuff a couple of tofu pouches. There isn't much room indoors to eat, just a couple of tables and counters. I ordered the regular salmon, soy marinated salmon, and ikura. I also got to try a bit of the unagi and the creamy onion salmon. If you purchase 3 yubus, you can also get a free miso soup! Out of all of them, my favorite was the soy marinated salmon. It's a sweet/salty sticky marinade that reminded me of bulgolgi and the fish was actually pretty good quality. Second place would have to be the unagi because of the seared taste from the blowtorch. Each yubu is stuffed but half of it is all rice so don't be disappointed if you thought it would just be entirely of fish. For me, eating three of them filled me up. Highly recommend and can't wait to be back to try other flavors!

I've been wanting to try yubu for SO long (inari lover) and one pic of the yubu here made me route there immediately after getting off my flight. First of all, the individuals working here were super accommodating. We came in half an hour before they closed at 2:30 just to ask if they would still take orders (to-go), but they welcomed us and allowed us to dine in. We were super grateful since we were starving and ordered quickly so they could wrap up in the kitchen. I don't have many words to describe this meal. It was simply delicious, fresh, and completely satisfying. The soy marinated salmon, must-get. I think we tried four different yubu that differed from each other and were delicious in their own ways. Definitely want to try more if I'm ever back in the area! Lastly, thank you to the server that let us order and offered us another miso soup since there were two of us! You were super sweet and as one of our first interactions since landing in Santa Ana, it set the good mood for the rest of our first day here. Def recommend. 5/5

First time having yubus and they were so delicious! They have inside and outside seating and the decor inside is cute :) The girl helping me with my order was so nice and friendly! Fresh Salmon: 8.5/10 yummy and basically what you would expect,, good quality fish! Spicy Tuna w/ Spicy Cilantro Sauce: 10/10 omg their homemade sauce was the winner,, if I go again I would get every yubu spicy w/ this sauce Ikura: 7/10 super fresh tasting and not fishy at all but it was slightly too sweet which was kind of throwing me off because I'm used to ikura being savory,, it was still good though!! I got a free miso soup for ordering 3 yubus (i think normally it's supposed to be for dine in only but they were nice enough to give me one for togo!) I would definitely go again and try more because they have so many options and they're family owned which I love

Went to Yubuya with a friend -- she got two salmon yubus, and I ordered the fresh salmon yubu, spicy tuna yubu, and a salmon nigiri. The fish here is super fresh and tastes great! It's a small spot, but I've never seen it too crowded, and they make everything pretty quickly. If you haven't had yubu before, it's a slightly sweet tofu skin wrap filled with rice and topped with your choice of fish -- really unique and surprisingly good. Definitely something different and worth trying. Highly recommend!

Holy moly the inari here was so yummy. It is a little pricey but there's a combo where you can get a free miso soup with 3 inari. I liked everything I tried, especially the marinated salmon because somehow they got the fish to be so candied and soft in texture. To top it all off, the girl helping us was suuuuper nice and friendly. I'm already thinking about when I can come here again :)

It was my first time here and it's one of my favorite places for a snack or lunch! I got the fresh salmon and unagi yubu and they were both so delicious. The fish is so fresh and there's adequate topping to rice ratio as well. The worker was also super friendly and brought the food out promptly. There's minimal seating so it might be better to get takeout or have a quick meal. The ambiance is clean and small.

It's not often that I try a business and run back for seconds the following week. Yubuya breaks this rule for me. I cannot get their Yubu off my mind. These little rice rolls wrapped in sweet tofu are both delicious and filling. I love their lunch special and that they offer free miso soup when you order three Yubus. My favorites so far have been the snow crab, the salmon, and the Philadelphia. They're also super affordable. $5 per yubu has me stopping by on the regular for a quick lunchtime pick me up.

I've seen so many photos of these inari pockets and have been dying to try for the longest time! So glad we finally got the chance to! - PARKING - Plaza lot has a decent amount of parking spaces, so you shouldn't have any problems! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Really small shop, with only counter seats surrounding the edges and a few tables outside. One bathroom available here. Seems like people usually order take-out! The staff here is very welcoming! - FOOD - 3 Combo Deal: If you order 3 and are dining in, you automatically get a miso soup for free! I ended up picking soy marinated salmon, seared salmon, and yellowtail. I loved the soy marinated salmon the most, but they were all good! - OVERALL - A great spot for a quick snack, or if you're like me and have a smaller stomach, this was the perfect casual meal!

Casual spot for inari that I've been wanting to try ever since I saw a picture of the food here! The way everything's presented just gets my mouth watering. The interior of the shop of pretty small, maybe only 7-8 seats total. Luckily it's easy to take the inari to go though! You can order at the kiosk or with a staff member. Lunch combos are also available and if you order 3 inari, you get a free miso soup for dine-in orders. I tried the soy marinated salmon, unagi, and ikura and enjoyed all 3! The unagi was a bit smokier than I usually like but my friends said they actually preferred it this way. Overall, a great spot to grab a quick and casual but delicious meal. Wish it was closer so I could come by more often!

So delicious!! They had a variety of options. We tried eel, snow crab, and seared tuna. They gave us some miso soup as well. The tofu pockets were so good and the rice too! Cute small restaurant and friendly staff.

This place has all our love and support because it's consistently delicious and fresh. Personal faves are the seared ahi and unagi yubus. 10/10 must try spot and the space and service are also great :) Best of luck to Sharon and her dad, David! As a major bonus they let us sample something they're testing out, a spicy salad mix. SO DELISH!

a cute little spot! first time trying these little tofu pockets. so fresh and unique. order 3 yubus and get a free miso soup!! so delicious!

workers were extremely friendly and helpful for me and my friend's first time coming! The food itself was pretty good, i personally loves the marinated salmon yubu :). Would come here agaib

I've been wanting to try Yubuya for awhile so I was excited to pop in today! It's a small restaurant that is set up for a quick bite. You order on an iPad up front and there are pictures for visual. There are also workers nearby to help if needed. Most of the Yubu's are around $5-6 each. We tried the salmon Philly and the spicy tuna. Both were delicious and perfectly seasoned. The only con is there is much more rice than fish so some bites were just rice. Otherwise very fresh and tasty!

My brother picked some up for me on his way home - i asked for a snow crab, scallop, and unagi. I inhaled all of them. I love inari but sometimes the vinegar in the rice is a bit too sour for me. This mostly wasn't the case except the unagi which was a bit on the cusp of what I like. The scallop and the snow crab were great though and i love that the scallop in particular wasn't fishy at all. It has a bouncy lil bite and you really can't go wrong with a mayo sauce. Gone in a flash.

Very cozy mom & pop restaurant. They have a self checkout kiosk but there's someone in the front that can help answer any questions you have. Love the vibe, they told me they have yet to remove/replace any flavors but they're always looking to add more. They do have some unique flavors that are different from other similar locations. Food was really delicious, they also have an order ahead service providing $5 discount on your first order. Will def coming back again.

This is such a cute shop! The service was amazing & the food was fantastic. The fish was so fresh & delicious. We were really glad to have stumbled on this place & will definitely be back!

this place is uhh interesting... i now know why they have lunch specials. i wanted to eat here but the place was crawling with some couple and their 5 obnoxious screaming children. oy. easy to use ipad. i order my food its like $30. man nothing is affordable anymore. my food comes: no sauce! ok great i guess i didnt ask for it or id have to pay extra for it? the inaris are ok but the rice isnt the typical rice its like black with seeds or something im not a fan. i also ordered udon: THEY GAVE ME SPICY UDON!! did i ask for spicy? no it was unbearably hot. ugh. i got a cucumber salad i would have liked more dressing. all in all this place has disappointments. i may try another place. good luck.

First time trying these Yubus (inari sushi) and they were so cute and delicious! I got the creamy onion salmon, avocado crab, and soy marinated salmon. They are the perfect size and all had a good amount of fish. My favorite was the creamy onion and soy marinated salmon. Both had great flavor and the fish tasted very fresh. They had great customer service as well. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come back to support this family owned business!

I came back today to try the salmon donburi and it was super good as well! The portion sizes were enough to get me full & the rice was so well seasoned (it's literally so delicious). We got the soy salmon donburi + miso soup combo and the fresh salmon donburi + miso soup. The fresh one came with ikura (salmon roe) and mayo on top, and I thought I didn't like salmon roe, but theirs was so fresh and sweet that I'm honestly craving it. The soy salmon was super well marinated and sweet too, but I preferred the fresh one! I definitely recommend, as every dish they have here is immaculate. The service is also amazing, they recognize their regulars and are so kind!

The food here is delicious, unique, well priced, and such lovely staff! Love coming here.

My favorites were the soy salmon and seared salmon! I liked the variety of flavors they had and I wanna try the nigiri next time I'm in the area.

such delicious fish, every bite is jam packed with flavor. I highly recommend to get their sauces to add more flavor (got spicy house and spicy mayo). not super spicy but def has a kick. Yubu is around $5 each but I think I can get full off like 3. they have multiple flavors of tuna and salmon. I really enjoyed the philly salmon and seared salmon! but they were all really good. Also comes with free miso if you buy 3 or more yubu. inside is a bit small but they also have tables outside. workers were really nice and friendly and even gave recs. would def recommend this place & would come back!

It's been well over a year since I've been here, but the quality and service has not changed a bit i haven't had a chance to come to my favorite lil mom n pop shop but UGH im so happy i got it!!!! I never have to worry about the food being a hit or miss bc it always hits. If you want something in your life to count on going right all the time, stop by Yubuya! You won't regret it :-)

I give this one 5 big booms. Workers were super kind and friendly, didn't hesitate to give us suggestions! Super tiny shop with limited seating, recommend getting to-go if it's peak lunch hours. The yubuchobap/inari was DELICIOUS! May seem a bit pricy for three, but each one is pretty massive. All of the fish was superrrr fresh, and the yubu and rice had the perfect amount of vinegary seasoning. My favorite by far was the unagi! Broiled to perfection, with the perfect sweet/salty balance from the glaze. But honestly, every flavor was a banger!

I love this place! I crave it all the time! There is just something delicious about those warm pockets filled with fresh seafood. My favorite are the creamy onion salmon, the seared tuna, the soy marinated salmon. Everyone is always very friendly and your order comes out quick too.

Found this place on Yelp while in Costa Mesa. We arrived a little after they opened. The place was clean and organized. I ordered three Onigiris through the automated ordering system. The onigiris came with miso soup since I ordered 3. Plates nicely on to a tray. The fish tasted fresh, avocado was perfect creaminess and the rice was seasoned well. I would definitely come back.

Was in the area and found this place for some extremely fresh, tasty and affordable inari sushi. We picked up the seared salmon, Philly salmon, unagi (eel) & avocado crab which was all very very tasty. Personally our favs were the unagi and seared salmon, but we're excited to try other items upon the menu, as it's hard to go wrong. The service was very fast, as we called in our order ahead of time. The staff are very friendly and we're definitely excited to be back with others to this very neat little store front. Great ambience and ample parking!

Found this gem it's right by my moms house. All the Yubus are around $5. I got the fresh tuna, soy sauce salmon and seared tuna. The best one by far is the soy sauce salmon You can 3 and it's a filling meal or 2 for a snack. You get free miso soup if you buy 3. My daughter got the seared salmon , soy sauce salmon and scallops. She's going to get all 3 soy sauce salmon The place is tiny so more of a To go kind of spot.

This is on my list of top three places to get a bite to eat in Costa Mesa! No thrills or frills - just straight up good food. Parking is easy (although I only go during off hours). Service is friendly. They were patient with me trying to figure out what I wanted as I got there. I would recommend anything with salmon, including their ikura (salmon eggs). My personal favorite is their soy marinated salmon. I would 3 is perfect and filling for a lunch portion for me. They also have lunch specials if you want a better deal. I believe they have a table or two outfront and maybe a couple chairs inside. I recommend getting your food to go and eating somewhere else. Highly recommend!

I'm pretty picky about fish because I'm not great with fishy taste. Satisfied here because the fish here was fresh :) I ordered the spicy yellowtail and the fresh salmon. Both are delicious though I liked the spicy yellowtail best. The medium spicy house sauce (you can pick the levels) definitely had a bit of gochujang in it and it was very well balanced. I do think the fresh salmon could use a touch for lemon for a more distinct taste. But overall ver satisfied. It's a comfortable and casual spot, and service was very nice, so all in all very satisfied for a quick bite. I'll be back!

The balance between the sushi and rice was just right, not too much, not too little. Each piece was incredibly fresh and seasoned to perfection. Of the three, the soy-marinated salmon was definitely my favorite. The miso soup was also delicious and complemented the sushi really well.

Well, well, well! We have a winner! We visited Yubuya and arrived just after it opened. The place is cute and clean. The chef behind the counter was helpful as we used the kiosk to order. He answered any questions we had before ordering. Please know I don't give 5 star reviews unless I've been to a place a few times but this was my first visit and it was worth a 4.8 for sure! We got the avocado crab yubu, the salmon yubu, the yellowtail yubu and the spam yubu, this came with a free miso soup when you order 3 yubu. The flavors were amazing! The rice inside the Yubu was outstanding! Our favorite was probably the spam but they were all super cravable! The hardest part about eating them is getting your mouth around these amazing pockets of deliciousness! I would recommend Yubuya and after it's good a second time (fingers crossed) it will get that 5 Star Review!

Love this place. Had to come back! Food, service is always great. Zen decor, modern, natural.

My fiancé and I love eating here and probably come at least once a month. The seafood is high quality and tastes fresh, and the staff are always smiling and very kind. I highly recommend trying their spiciest and second spiciest sauces. They are made in-house and taste super unique and delicious. We love supporting this small family-owned business and hope they are here to stay!

This place is pretty good. The yubu are smaller in size than places like atoyubu but their rice in certain yubus like seared tuna and onion salmon are flavored with lemon and seaweed which is very refreshing and tasty. They even come with miso soup if you order 3 yubus and the miso soup is pretty solid. I'd say is worth trying because I'm sure some people will like this place more than atoyubu just because they like the more flavorful side of these yubus.

This was my first time trying yubu. It's very similar to Japanese inari except it comes with fish on top. We ordered the soy-marinated salmon, spicy salmon, creamy onion salmon, and seared salmon yubus, and they were all delicious. They had a generous amount of fish in each one, making them a bit difficult to eat because the fish would spill out with each bite. My favorite would definitely have to be the soy-marinated salmon. It was perfectly sweet and savory, and I wish I had ordered more. We also ordered the udon, and the broth was unlike any I've ever had before. The spices made it extra flavorful, and it definitely hit the spot on a cold day. Plus, if you order three yubus it comes with a free miso soup, which was a pretty good deal since each yubu is around $5. The service was excellent and the food comes out quickly even if they're busy with other orders. There is a lot of bar-style seating in the restaurant with a few tables, and it's very easy to find a place to sit since people usually don't stay very long. Parking also isn't a hassle at all because it's located in a large plaza. Overall, I would definitely try this place again so I can order a lot more soy-marinated salmon yubus!

Well executed! Rice with furikake and sweet tofu topped with salmon. The marinade soy was the best so I ordered 2. Service was quick and I ordered online. Seating is limited. I believe the deal at the time was spend $20 when ordering online and got one free.

yubuya's pockets are tiny but packed with flavor--super fresh and beautifully presented. we got: soy-marinated salmon - buttery, clean, and our favorite soy-marinated shrimp - sweet, silky, and underrated hamachi - bold, smooth, and satisfying torched spam - salty-sweet and smoky in the best way snow crab - creamy and delicate without being too rich came with miso soup on the side (when you order 3+ yubu), and we added the soy-marinated salmon don--seasoned rice, scallions, onion, seaweed, and thick cuts of fish. super balanced and filling clean space, chill service, and a nice lunch spot when you want something lighter but still satisfying

The workers were very nice and the interior is minimal and clean but small. The yubus are pretty simple, so I highly recommend the Soy Marinated Salmon since the amount of rice lends itself to needing more flavor. The udon wasn't anything special, but nice and warm. Water cups are available if you ask for them, and can be refilled if you need.

I find myself back at Yubuya over and over again and with good reason... I can't find a single fault with anything here!!! To start, the yubus are to die for and at this point, I've tried almost every single yubu offered on the menu (sorry for not getting pics of some of them! I literally couldn't wait to dig in and eat sometimes). My favorites have been the unagi, seared tuna, soy marinated salmon, ikura, and masago yubus. But you can't go wrong with any of the options, I've enjoyed every single one so far and that's including the vegan options Special shoutout to the unagi and seared tuna yubus because the flavors of these two are ‍ and always draw me back. The unagi is drizzled with delicious eel sauce and overall the unagi yubu has a nice contrast between the fattier eel and the tang of the rice. Similarly, the seared tuna yubu's green onions and yuzu provide a fragrant balanced brightness This goes for all yubus, but the tofu pocket has such a nice texture and it's paired with perfectly vinegared rice (sweet, salty, slightly acidic; and sticky, moist, but firm). The fish has always been fresh and for the cooked / seared options, the char is jussssttttt right The miso included with the lunch special is pretty fire as well! Honestly, I like it so much that I sometimes specifically order an extra bowl of it Ordering is super simple: you can schedule pickups via online order. If you're ordering in-person, there's an iPad kiosk as well as SUPER (and I really do mean super) friendly staff In fact, the huge smiles and bubbly kindness of everyone at Yubuya is such a highlight, the family-run vibes are immaculate and the welcoming energy and environment is sure to make Yubuya a happy place for anyone enjoying a lunch or dinner here Parking is a breeze with a large shared lot for the plaza. Inside the store, you'll find yourself in a spotlessly clean and cozy space with seating along the walls. There's also some outdoor table seating! Portions are generous and each yubu has plenty of fish / topping. If you're coming here for lunch, the lunch special will leave you pretty full and in a very good mood haha. Bring a friend who's willing to split and share yubus if you want to taste more options in one visit (but you're bound to want to come back) Overall: a huge win for my tastebuds and dopamine receptors. Between the exceptionally friendly service (which by itself is a driving factor behind why I keep coming back), Yubuya's food speaks for itself. The textures and flavors hit the spot every. single. time. I can't wait to visit again!

Well, it's been a year since my first review. Guess what, everything is still awesome. This time I ordered through ChowNow for pickup. I got yellowtail don, albacore nigiri, and tuna nigiri. The yellowtail don was amazing and my favorite. The fish was so good, thick cut, and the little slice of chili added the perfect amount of spiciness. The cucumbers were crunchy and lightly pickled. The rice was flavorful. The nigiri's were so good but the yellowtail don was my favorite of the 3. Let's not forget to mention Sharon is still the best and I didn't see her Dad this time but he's obviously awesome too.

After visiting this store for the first time, I came back that same week with my mom. I love inari and I find it difficult to find a place that has different flavors. Most sushi shops only make plain inari -- just the marinated tofu pocket and rice. This place has it all! I've tried about half the menu, with my favorites being the fresh salmon, unagi, and avocado krab. I wasn't the biggest fan of the masago but it's not on the shops fault. While I love masago, they load it up more than i'd like which is a better problem to have than having not enough. I highly recommend getting their lunch combos as its generously portioned and comes at a good price for what you're getting. The service has always been good, the staff are friendly and very quick. It truly is such a cute little shop and while there's not a crazy amount of seating, I've never had an issue at all finding a place to sit and eat. As for parking, there's plenty so that shouldn't be a problem for you.