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Kingyo Sushi
Category: Restaurants Sushi Bars Sushi Bars [Edit]
21135 Newport Coast DrNewport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 721-5884
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Kingyo Sushi
Review Highlights
"The Sashimi was artfully arranged and looked remarkably..."
(in 7 reviews)
"Amazing spicy tuna rolls."
(in 4 reviews)
"It's really fresh and that's the most important thing with..."
(in 3 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Jeena E.
Great Sashimi, good rolls and subpar service.
Last night I got my hair cut at Christophe and as always, Marc worked his magic. To celebrate my rejuvenated and elegant mane, we decided to try the Japanese fare at Kingyo Sushi. It is close to home and I have been waiting to put it to the test so here goes:
We stepped into the restaurant and it had a real "mom and pop" sushi joint feel to it, absolutely no pretension and the vibe was decidedly kicked back. We grabbed an open booth, ordered Sapporo and looked at the menu and decided to share a Sashimi dinner, a Spicy Rainbow roll, a California roll and a Philadelphia roll.
Miso soup and edemame covered in rock salt arrived at once and we dove in. Standard issue Miso, nothing notable and the same could be said of the edamame.
It took a long while for the entree's to start to arrive considering the volume of customers and this is about the point we both noticed that the service was getting spotty. The waitresses were friendly enough, but they seemed aloof.
First came the Sashimi dinner, delivered in a large Bento box. The Sashimi was artfully arranged and looked remarkably fresh. The portion size of the Sashimi cutlets were substantial, about twice the size of what I was expecting and a nice surprise. I tried the tuna first (naturally) and the taste confirmed the freshness of the fish. No "fishiness" detected whatsoever. Just the fabulous, super clean umami laden flavor of my favorite fish for Sashimi. The Halibut, Albacore, and Yellowtail were equally impressive.
I have a bizarre love affair with Salmon. I adore it on rolls and even as a small Sushi, but as Sashimi I find it too oily and the mouth feel of the flesh turns me off. This was the case again, and I certainly can't blame the restaurant for for my idiosyncrasies. The Sashimi gets 5 stars.
The spicy Rainbow roll showcases the same excellent Sashimi atop of a spicy tuna roll, however the Chef may have been in a bad mood because the roll itself was astonishingly spicy! Too much so, even my husband mentioned that it was unapologetically fiery. After 3 pieces we resigned to just eating the Sashimi off of the top. 3 stars and a "calm the F down" for the spicy Rainbow roll.
The California roll was very good and quite thick. Your run of the mill (I mean, it's a California roll, I have a hard time getting too excited about them...) 4 star roll.
Lastly was the Philadelphia roll, which was pretty good. Decent sized chunks of Cream Cheese complements the smoked salmon and offsets the snap of asparagus. The Chef did a great job keeping the roll tight, often I have Philadelphia rolls fall apart and become little islands of debris in my soy dish. 4 stars.
I think we ordered a roll too many as we couldn't finish (a common past time for us at Sushi restaurants) and the check came to about $70.00 which is reasonable for this quality of fish. The service was a bit gruff, as it always tends to be in Asian restaurants but we wholeheartedly enjoyed ourselves and will likely return.Listed in: What kind of Chinese are you?
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Review from Miguel R.
10/11/2011
Mere circumstance can define your first and only impression of people and events in places you may or may not ever return to. Such is the case for Kingyo Sushi.
To be nice I will start with the only outstanding news I have regarding this place. They make really superior Chicken Teriyaki. The chicken was grilled to perfection. Nice taste and very soft. So many places make it too crispy and dry. The teriyaki sauce was really good too. Kingyo can thank my BF for convincing me to mention this and for being lenient on the stars I will give this place.
Service and ambience are two things that can make or break a dining experience. This time circumstance played a huge role in whether or not the dining experience was a good one or not. We came right between the moment it was still very slow and the moment it got really busy. The place was empty to the point we had second thoughts when we got here. Then shortly afterwards it got really really packed.
Let me start out by saying that the waiter seemed dejected that we did not order more items. To be honest I was not too hungry. I was just craving a philly roll, miso and hot green tea. Strike ONE! for Kingyo.
Strike TWO! The decor on the left hand wall as you come in doesn't look good for a sushi restaurant. Golden fish. More like for a tackier Chinese restaurant maybe.... Plus right in the center of the dining area there is a table devoted to storing chopsticks placemats and other such items. Ambience RUINED! I must, however, say that on the right hand side of the restaurant there are really nice golden Japanese style waves hung on the wall. Very nice arrangement.
Strike THREE! I never got a tea refill in a timely manner. Come to think of it this was an indicator the waiter had forgotten us. The waiter never asked me if I wanted more tea even after I had flagged him down for my first refill. I love my green tea and thanks to him I didn't get as much as I like this day.
Strike FOUR! The sushi order list mentions that the Philly Rolls have asparagus and not avocado. I was OVERJOYED by this since I hate avocado. Well, guess what. Regardless of this fact. They put avocado in my rolls! I had to point it out and it seemed that the waiter was unaware of what it says on the list. He couldn't believe I was complaining about the avocado. I'll give Kingyo this though: I got my replacement Philly Roll quick and the waiter apologized several times.
Strike FIVE! The waiter did not clear our table of straw papers or empty miso bowls quickly.
Strike SIX! It took eons for us to get attended when it got really busy! The waiter absolutely forgot about us! It took even more eons for us to get our mochi ice cream and eons upon eons more to get the check and an eternity full of eons to get our credit card back! UGH!!!!
Some of the people that had gotten there after us were leaving already when we were still waiting for the mochi ice cream! BAD SERVICE!
BTW the food here is pretty good but PRICEY. Your dining experience here is a gamble though. If you are deemed worthy of good service expect to leave happy but if you are destined to be forgotten it will be the worst service ever!Listed in: Best and Worst Sushi
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Review from Danae A.
Redlands, CA
3/21/2011
It's a small place so the atmosphere isn't great for a birthday party, but it's certainly great for a dinner-for-two casual dining experience. The service is always awesome and the food really is superior to the average place. It's really fresh and that's the most important thing with sushi. Not only that, the don't use the "american-style" fake crab; it's very authentic and they even have fresh shaved real wasabi.
Their rolls are creative and they also have awesome saki selection. What an amazing place for such a good value. Very reasonable prices. Love it! -
Review from Ray N.
7/27/2010
Came here for a birthday dinner. I ordered the eel box, it could have been better and bigger for $13. However, my friend's cucumber special roll seemed amazing! Very nice decor-- simple yet elegant. Overall, I would come again if I had more $$$ in my checking account.
High lights:
- Great environment for sushi.
- Special rolls are decent.
- There's a weekly special deal menu.
- Attentive customer service
Low lights:
- More on the pricy end-- but hey, it's Newport Beach...
- Not much of a selection on sushi. -
Review from Raymond S.
Irvine, CA
12/17/2008
A relatively unknown spot, I wanted to try something new outside the usual Japanese hotspots of Irvine and discovered Kingyo. I had my initial reservations about this place after reading that it's not Japanese-owned, but the few reviews seemed promising enough so why not try?
First up, the interior decor is really nice and upscale. Not Tokyo Table status but far classier than the typical understated simplicity of many Japanese restaurants. The restaurant sits in a relatively new shopping center along Newport Drive along those $1mm+ homes.
Overall the food was good - just nothing wowed me. Looking at the dates of the reviews, perhaps the quality has gone down since as I wasn't getting the same orgasmic sensations of those yelpers from almost a year ago. It was the prices that threw me off and set high expectations for me... ~$5 for a pair of yellowtail sushi?? Damn, that better be some really fresh fish or a large piece of sashimi over rice! A lot of the sushi orders were hitting the $6 mark.
The fish was fresh no doube, (well, you wouldn't want to be eating raw fish if it weren't) but I was disappointed at how small of a slab of fish they gave us. Maybe it was just my own personal experience but the sushi looked nothing like that tantalizing photo shown above. We also ordered the sushi dinner as we felt it would be a better value ($20) for a select choice pieces of sushi. Again, the portions of fish were less than what I was expecting and they almost seem like the last parts of fish the chef decided to serve up. You pretty much get 4 or 5 different pieces of sushi and some tuna and cucumber cut rolls. Wow. Really?
Disappointment hit. For the rather pricey menu, it just didn't seem worth it to me. Then it dawned on me - we weren't in Irvine... This is Newport! Oh yeah, that makes more sense now. $5 to the Newps is more like $2.50 to them. You can get more value going to any other authentic Japanese restaurant. But hey, the service was nice and friendly. -
Review from Anna B.
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing spicy tuna rolls! My mouth is still ringing. Decent prices and amazing food. I'll definitely be heading back.
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Review from John H.
Newport Beach, CA
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small portions for price
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Review from Hayoung K.
Simi Valley, CA
1/24/2008
This place is amazing~ first of all, the interior decoration gives relaxing atmosphere.
I went to Kingyo with my family and friends and the waitress were so nice and friendly.
The sushi men were so full of energy~! It was entertaining to see them serve beautifully presented sushi plates.
Now about food: Great sushi~!! I heard from the owner that they get their fish five to six times a week~
Well, overall I really liked this place. I am so going back~ -
Review from adam b.
5/8/2011
Mediocre Fish. Enjoy the udon soup and the spicy tuna cut rolls (both safe at an avg sushi restaurant). Only go here since close to my home.
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Review from Sean M.
Burlingame, CA
11/28/2007
Outstanding sushi, period.
A local friend invited me there while visiting and, quite frankly, I was blown away. The place scream upscale sushi with its decor and it didn't disappoint.
The toro was sublime. Probably some of the best I've ever had.
It was the blue fin variety and there was a more traditional maguro cut of the same fish on the menu as well. Given the fact I've fallen out of love with maguro, this was a pleasant surprise.
The real standout from the more traditional sushi eaten was the halibut. Adding chiso (sp?) leaf was a great touch.
Throw in a large sake bottle - which we shared with Sushi chef Shin and company - and this was a perfect time out to eat some sushi. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/3/2009
Very fresh fish, hospitable service, and I've never had to wait.
The atmosphere is quiet and it's a great place for a romantic dinner or a more professional environment to hold an important conversation.
It's pricey though, so be sure to bring your wallet. -
Review from Eydie C.
Irvine, CA
4/13/2009
We checked this place out last Friday night... A sushi place in a strip mall always puts me on the defensive, but we were hungry and Kingyo is close to home.
There were plenty of people having dinner, which we thought was a good sign... But maybe they were in our same position: Hungry and too lazy to drive anywhere else for a quality meal.
We sat down, placed our order, and our happy little waiter scurried into the kitchen. Never to be seen again... OK, obviously not never... But a couple was seated AFTER we ordered and got their food BEFORE we got our drinks. What kind of crap is that?! I'm a big believer in the "I was here first" golden rule, and this place disobeyed it. Tisk, tisk.
We could actually see our waiter behind the curtain in the kitchen, standing there, doing nothing. So sad.
He finally brought some of our food, we dove into the albacore sashimi, which is always a pretty safe "Go to" item... It looked and tasted like Yellowtail. We asked "Is this yellowtail?" And waiter-boy said "Did you order yellowtail?" Us: "No, we ordered Albacore." Waiter-boy: "Then that is Albacore." I am not making this up.
The Kingyo Rice Ball appetizer looked so promising on the menu... But was so hard I was afraid I'd break a tooth. Not to mention, it was almost too small to mention!
The rolls were tasty, but by the time we ate them we'd already been so disappointed in Kingyo Sushi, they could've been the best rolls in the history of rolls and it wouldn't have saved this review.
If it wasn't for the large Asahi and bottle of Nigori, the night would've been a complete waste. -
Review from Michael B.
Newport Coast, CA
12/12/2009
I love this place.
I come here often, and I have never been disapointed. The waiters and owners are very friendly and gracious. The atmosphere is very calming and simple, but still homey. The menu is optimal. I love their crunchy rolls, butter fish, eel box, and kingyo spicy rice. Their sushi comes in very generous portions so make sure you don't order too much! They recently have redone the way serve the meals and their menu, and it has never been better. The price is a little high for a sushi bar, but I think it is definitely worth it! -
Review from sarah g.
Brentwood, CA
5/6/2008 1 photo
Kingyo's menu has all the fare to be expected from a Japanese restaurant -- small hot plates, sushi and sashimi, noodles. My tuna sashimi starter was well plated, and the fish was a gorgeous ruby red, but I was slightly put off by how the flesh was falling apart at the seams. Literally. I am not sure if that is any indication of the quality, but it didn't taste too bad.
Kingyo's tofu salad overall was nothing special in either appearance or taste, but I did notice that the tomatoes were remarkably sweet. I couldn't eat much of the salad, but plucked up all the tomatoes. My niece mashed cubes of tofu between her tiny fingers.
I didn't touch either order of nigiri sushi because I was already feeling full. My sister liked the salmon, and if I didn't have a mental block against salmon sushi (not worth explaining today), I probably would have tried it for how gorgeoous glossy it was. -
Review from Karina K.
Newport Beach, CA
7/28/2011
The shushi is so good, so fresh! Love this place. Great customer service! Clean environment.
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Review from Grace C.
Newport Beach, CA
8/14/2009
We came here on a Friday night, and it was empty around 7pm but got busier as the night progressed. My parents ordered sushi, while my boyfriend and I shared the butterfish and some rolls. The butterfish was amazing... it was very tender and flavorful, and as for the rolls, well how can you go wrong with rolls?! We ordered a crunchy roll, cucumber roll, and cucumber avocado roll... all which were good but didn't differ from any other restaurant. The service was very good and our waitress was very friendly. Good sushi and reasonable prices!
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Review from Hiep N.
Newport Beach, CA
4/13/2009
I recently checked this place out for lunch, since I had friends visiting from the East Coast who were craving sushi. It was close to home and I've heard great things about it. The sushi and sashimi were fresh and the service was attentive. However, this place was extremely over priced. Especially since it was lunch. I could have gone to dinner at Bluefin down the street for what we paid at Kingyo.
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Review from Girl O.
Anaheim, CA
8/6/2010
I'm sorry Kingyo, but you're competition provides way better quality, variety, quantity, ambiance, service - and, their prices are justified it. Your prices simply are not justified. Rolls are nothing special; sushi is mediocre; nickel and dime already overpriced food; service is unwelcoming.
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Review from Nikki I.
Irvine, CA
9/6/2009
The sushi here is always fresh and though the prices might be a bit high for sashimi, the friendly faces and great menu make up for it. Check out the lunch specials or try the hot sake at night--I was surprised to find it was much tastier than the nigori sake I usually have. My friends and I got a great deal considering we had live fresh shrimp and scallop volcano rolls! Highly recommended.
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Review from Irene P.
Fullerton, CA
2/14/2008
With kids, though you yearn for peaceful restaurant environments, you know it will never happen. Food will be smashed into your shoulder, sometimes they want to feed you and miss, so food will also be smashed onto your cheek. No way can you enjoy a lovely meal in a peaceful place without pissing off the servers or other guests. I recognize it. I understand it. I accept this reality. Frankly I myself, B.K. (before kids), was horrified and offended when little Tommy would yelp and scream at a nearby table and then, disgusto-incarnate, the mother or father would eat the food flung at them. Parents seemed so desensitized to others and themselves, honestly. Now, with kids, I get it. We're desperate for good food and because we're sleep-deprived and frequently starving, we really don't give a spit any more who we offend on our way to sustenance and not having to clean up after dinner. My husband and I simply accept that our tips are larger than we ever gave B.K. and deservedly so. We walked into this charming little Japanese restaurant after visiting Roger's Gardens one Saturday and were so excited at the gracious reception by the owner. She gave our kid a handy chopstick holder so he could practice and the waitstaff was attentive and at the ready. The fish quality and cut were excellent. The toro was buttery and fat and toothsome, not too soft. I'm weird in that I like the crunchy, slimy jicama-esque mountain yam nagaimo, which they prepare deliciously in a crisp, fresh salady way. Their miso-based salad dressing is perfect -- tangy, but rich-tasting and light, if you can imagine. My husband got the butter fish and loved the buttery, rich flavor in that incandescently light saucyness. The presentation is gorgeous, the fish is extraordinarily fresh and impeccably-prepared. The ambience is elegant, but accessible. The table linens create a ritzy atmosphere and match the large gold sculptured fish, but the staff and servers are nothing but warm graciousness. Midway through the meal, here comes the owner with a shockingly low-tech game for my boy, an origami puzzle that changes patterns when he folds it this way and that. Their lunch specials are a great deal, too. Of course, after the meal, I end up eating some of the rice off my shirt or shoulder, where the sticky hands land hugs, but you know, it's worth it. And the kids are definitely getting a toy at Toy Boat around the corner afterwards.
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Review from Michelle S.
Laguna Niguel, CA
9/25/2009
It's been difficult finding a tasty and reasonably priced Sushi place near work (UCI). No trouble finding a good bento box, but fresh, and modern sushi, especially Ono is impossible. Not anymore! I'm so happy with Kingyo. First off, the middle aged Asian woman (owner?) that served us was such a pleasure. I started with a side salad and the dressing was this unique blend of miso and peanut dressing. Sounds odd, but delish! Personally, I'm starting to really like the technique where the chef slightly sears the edge of the fish. It adds just a hint of smoke and another dimension and texture I find very appealing. They do that here. The Ono was like butter! Almost as good as Kanpai. Albacore, pretty standard, and fresh. BFF, Amie and I split a Kingyo roll (spicy tuna in, albacore on top) and boy did it have a big togarashi kick. I like spice, so it worked for me. BFF and I decided Kingyo is our new lunchtime go-to for sushi. Will definitely take the hubby there for dinner. Reading the reviews, I'm curious to try the butterfish. Sounds delightful!
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Review from C K.
Newport Beach, CA
1/24/2009
The fish is always really fresh and impossibly delicious, and everyone is so nice here. The sushi chefs are actually Japanese which earns HUGE points in my book since a lot of the other 'trendy' Japanese restaurants that seem to be popping up all over the place are missing this most crucial feature. This is a chill place where you can actually enjoy your food and have a conversation without yelling to be heard.
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Review from david l.
Fullerton, CA
5/10/2010
Good fresh sushi. Bit pricey but it is located in Newport :) Sweet shrimp was great ($16!!!), they were not the sleeping shrimp, but the live ones. I had salmon, toro and yellow tail sashimi- all very fresh. Uni was fresh and they served it on rice with very thin piece of seaweed in between- interesting never had it like that. 4 stars because of price.
