Now that Yamabuki is closing

[LovelyLocks]

is there any good, and relatively cheap, Japanese restaurants in the area?

[Coheteboy]

I hear there's one in the Garden Walk but I haven't gone over there to check it out.

[RobotMirror]

Benihana is not too far... also, Adami in Anaheim, Shiki, and Chomp in Fullerton.

[surffnutt3000]

This is a good thread, as a number of us will need to find a new place to call home once Yamabuki closes.

In Anaheim GardenWalk, both Roy's and San Sai have sushi on the menu. Roy's is a higher-end Hawaiian fusion restaurant, while San Sai is a quick service location. Neither has a true sushi bar scene, however.

Although I've yet to dine at Roy's, the place definitely has great atmosphere. I haven't been to that particular San Sai, but I've gone to other locations and have been impressed. Although their menu consists primarily of "plates" (i.e., chicken, shrimp, beef), they do a good job with basic sushi rolls. In my opinion, their food tastes much fresher, and has more flavor, than almost any other quick service chain I've been to. Not a replacement for Yamabuki, but good for a "quick fix" in the area.

Of the other places mentioned so far, I'll probably check out Shiki in Orange sometime soon.

[DisneyIPresume]

There are a couple of good places in Irvine. One place is called Taiko. It is on the corner of Jeffrey and Walnut.

Another I like is Fujikan. This is on Culver near the 5 freeway.

Edit -- I forgot to add Kitayama in Newport Beach on Bayview Place. Although this can be more pricey than the other two the sushi is really good and it is the best I've had in OC. Here is a link to their site. http://www.kitayamarestaurant.com/

[PirateChick]

Have you looked into the Koji's at The Block? I am not a sushi eater, I usually go for the shabu shabu but it looks as if they have an extensive sushi menu.

[princedalton]

See I like sushi, but it's the actual Japanese food that I like most. Like teriyaki, agedashi tofu, tempura, yakitori, etc. All that good stuff is what I am going to miss about Yamabuki. I did like their shrimp tempura rolls though. Man I'm gonna miss it!

[jagass]

I need to get info about this too...I'm looking for a good japanese resto too...

[surffnutt3000]

Originally Posted by jagass

I need to get info about this too...I'm looking for a good japanese resto too...

As I noted in another thread, it'll be hard to find a place with the type of ambiance, quality of food, or level of service of Yamabuki. Doesn't mean we're not going to try, though, to get as close as possible!

Here's my nomination for ambiance, in terms of theming/atmosphere...

Sambi of Tokyo in Downey http://www.sambi.com

What I like is that the restaurant has four sections - traditional dining, teppan, cocktail lounge, and sushi bar. I like the decor - there's a pond, with fountains, in the middle of the dining room. It has a 70s vibe, which makes sense since it's been around since the 70s.

What I don't like is that the menu has become far too "Westernized", probably in order to accommodate local tastes. They do have the basic Japanese items, just not a comprehensive enough selection for many of us.

Now, I'd definitely appreciate thoughts from others who have gone there; I've been going for years and years, but do know it's far from the perfect Japanese restaurant.