Quick intel. I love sushi, and I've tried a lot of sushi around southern California. But sometimes local is best. Tonight I ate at Wafu of Japan on Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, and was again stunned by how yummy their food is, despite the fact that I've eaten there once every month or so for twelve years.
Tonight I had... best unagi anywhere (eel), tuna sushi (good), sashimi roll (amazingly good -- salmon, hamachi, tuna, crab, and very yummy sauce in soy paper, very pretty arrangement), ikura (salmon eggs, again, the best place for them, and they're my favorite), mochi.
Their salmon is always buttery and delicious.
My dad doesn't like sushi but seems happy with their tempura and gyoza.
They've got a great selection of different kinds of sushi, and the fish is really fresh.
Wafu of Japan is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant with maybe ten tables and a bar, 1-2 waitresses.
Harry the owner is friendly and funny, so is Fuji whose English is a little harder to understand. They're usually working the bar. I like sitting at the bar, but you gotta speak up! Otherwise just grab a booth.
Tell them Ellen-san who likes the Dodgers and ikura recommended them, and you'll probably get extra good service!
Directions: Basically keep circling the airport clockwise until you cross the 73 freeway, then turn into the first driveway on your right, and there you are. :)
Or, to be more specific, assuming you're exiting the airport:
- right on MacArthur
- right on Campus
- right on Bristol
- go up and over the 73 freeway which makes a sort of T with the end of the airport runways
- right into the first little shopping center driveway past the airport. Turn right again in the parking lot and look for the sushi sign.
Address/phone:
Wafu of Japan
320 Bristol St Ste G
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (714) 641-7321
