Hapi Sushi
250 Beach St.
Laguna Beach 92651
949.494.9109

Probably the smallest-sized of our top sushi picks, but even so Hapi Sushi grabs a top 10 spot, delivering delicious sushi and making waves in scenic Laguna Beach since 1983. Try the kalamari temura, tempura squid and green pepper in ponze sauce, the seaweed salad and mushroom stuffed with yellowtail, drizzled in Hapi special sauce, which are more than worth your picks. Reverse rainbow roll of variety fish is garnished with smelt eggs on the outside. Spicier still, is the tuna dream albacore laid on a spicy tuna roll with radish sauce. Another recommendation is the 49 Special that is halibut, mint leaf, lemon on california roll (yum!) and the Japanese burrito salmon of tuna and crab wrapped in soy bean paper. Must-trys are always the Mochi ice cream in amazing flavors as green tea, mango, red bean cappuccino, and strawberry flavors.

by Sarah McClure

Taiko
14775 Jeffrey Rd #K
Irvine, CA 92618
949.559.7190

Not to be confused with the martial art practice of Taiko drumming, (there is a Taiko drumming class nearby), the Taiko sushi restaurant, an American-Japanese style of sushi, sits adjacent to the Oak Creek Golf Club. They have three resident sushi chefs that have been slicing and dicing up divine raw delicacies for 15 years since Taiko opened in 1980. No need to sample Fugi the first time though — the lethal Japanese blowfish contains enough poison to kill you 30 times over if not properly prepared by the chef. However, don’t pass over the toro sashimi or sea scallops that come so fresh they are still in their sea snails shell. The pompano and Japanese sticky potato sweet shrimp boat is as delectable, coming as sweet shrimp sushi, covered in a heap of crabmeat. The fresh abalone is tasty, sautéed in a light butter and panko breadcrumbs. Taiko may push you to eat more ginger to cleanse your palate between bites due to their abundant types of sushi. 

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by Sarah McClure

Wasa Sushi
13124 Jamboree Rd.
Irvine, CA 92602
714.665.3338

1346 Bison Ave.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.760.1511

23702 El Toro Rd.
S-6A
Lake Forest, CA 92630
*Now opened February 2007

This restaurant offers what’s called “new generation sushi” for its twist on traditional sushi, Wasa Sushi boasts a contemporary setting and some of the most premiere sushi in Orange County. Started in 2001 by Chef Bronnie Lee and Chef James Hamamori, their latest and third location recently opened in Lake Forest February 2007. Japan-born Hamamori trained in Tokyo and has quickly become a favorite among his OC clients for his innovative style of cooking sushi. For example, he sears tuna to crunchy style. As a sushi chef in Los Angeles, he served up customers like Cindy Crawford, Dustin Hoffman and Michael Ovitz. Delicious items at Wasa Sushi include the Newport roll of spicy tuna and cucumber and the Wasa rainbow, a rainbow roll with wasabi sour cream sauce.

You have to love their Asian-spun deserts too, which include a banana spring roll with ice cream; a halved banana wrapped in rice paper, fried golden and served with a choice of green tea, vanilla or red bean ice cream. Also check out the watermelon cubes in coconut milk with a side of ice cream.

by Sarah McClure

Mosun Sushi/Club M
680 Coast Hwy.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.497.5646

A sushi restaurant and nightlife club, Mosun gives its clients sushi fusion with a side of Laguna Beach flair. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a 500-gallon coy fish tank. Walk past a cool, manmade waterfall that drops down a marble wall. Expert sushi chefs like Chef Toshi, and trendy and attentive servers make for a satisfying experience at Mosun, whether you’re there to grab a quick Sapporo and sushi after work, dine late with friends or sip cocktails listening to DJs on their second floor until morning. Sushi is displayed in artistic fashions on beautifully-simplistic square and triangle-shaped platters. Try the OC roll; a California roll topped with baked baby lobster (slightly crunchy), and firecracker roll, a tempura roll with spicy tuna and eel sauce. Also worth a taste is the Volcano roll, a halibut wrapped asparagus and scallops baked in homemade aiole sauce. Monday night try their all you can eat sushi for $19.95; Thursday nights is $5 for sake bombs and specialty rolls — choose from over 20 rolls, Wednesdays and Fridays is Orange County locals night with a %50 discount off the menu. Plasmas TVs show the latest skate, surf, and snow videos all night. Celebrate private or corporate parties with guest accommodations up to 800.