Eat’s Sushi

Orange County has an astounding number of sushi options, historically spanning low to high price points, ultra-traditional to California-style recipes, and every service style from omakase and all you can eat to conveyor belt service and pure a la carte. There’s no single, one-size-fits-all sweet spot, but Eat’s Sushi in Costa Mesa is at the center of all these options: mid-priced, largely Japanese with some American influences, and a la carte ordering of omakase-quality fresh items.

Despite inflation’s significant impacts on all restaurants, Eat’s balance of quality and pricing remains impressive, and there are some standout items on the menu: excellent Japanese-peppered tuna and salmon, a similarly superb Fire Island roll (shrimp, two tunas, onion and jalapeño), and “new style sashimi” taking after Nobu classics. Yellowtail with yuzu, ponzu, and jalapeño, jumbo scallops, and Japanese snapper (madai) all arrive in a thin pool of sauce so you needn’t worry about dipping in soy or wasabi yourself.