AZA SUSHI & BISTRO — Restaurant in Lake Elsinore

My boyfriend and I go out for sushi at least once a week. And I'm not talking about a roll or two, we usually drop close to $100 every meal. We travel quite a bit and are always exploring new places in addition to our tried and true favorites. Sushi Zen was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had, sushi or otherwise.

We went when they were running an all-you-can-eat special. Sounded like a great deal for us since we eat a TON!! We know how it works, you can't have any leftovers otherwise you pay extra for them. We've eaten enough sushi to know exactly how much is prefect for us, even if it seems like a lot for most people.

When we first sat down the server suggested the all you can eat but we soon realized that most of the rolls we wanted weren't on that limited menu, so we decided to just order off the regular menu instead. When we placed our order the server once again told us it would be better for us to order the all you can eat but we explained that the rolls we wanted weren't on that menu so we were happy to pay for the normal rolls we wanted. He argued a third time but we insisted and he finally placed our order, commenting on how much food that would be and that we weren't going to be able to eat that much. I was a little taken aback at his response, I didn't think it was a server's job to judge or argue with customers, especially when they were about to spend a lot of money.

We asked for one alteration in our order, we wanted a salmon avocado roll instead of a tuna avocado roll. The prices were the same for most of those types of rolls but the server said they would have to charge us an extra dollar for the substitution. I thought that was a bit strange but we agreed. Once he left, we realized there was a roll on the menu that had salmon avocado and cucumber for the same price, so we asked if we could just order that roll without the cucumber and not get charged the extra dollar but he told us he had already placed the order and couldn't change it.

A few minutes later he came back and told us that if we wanted to do special orders we should sit at the sushi bar and ask the chefs ourselves next time. So that was TWICE I felt scolded before I even got my meal!

While waiting I went to the restroom which was through a door then down the hallway. As soon as I open the door I was hit with the extremely unpleasant scent of bathroom odor. When I got into the restroom it was 10 times worse, like it hadn't been cleaned for days and they were out of toilet paper. Afterward I was almost too sick to stay and eat sushi.

Our order finally came and we realized there was an incorrect roll. We told the server and he was somewhat apologetic but told us he wasn't going to put in order for correct roll since we didn't need it anyway with everything else we ordered. We were so offended at his condescending attitude but at this point were over it. Even if we would have insisted on the correct roll and didn't finish everything we could have taken it home since we didn't order the all you can eat. We were paying full price for all our rolls.

We ate the incorrect roll anyway and for the most part the food itself was pretty good. A little too much rice but at least the quality of the fish seemed decent.

During the meal there were also tiny flies around the food which we had to constantly shoo away. Then later when the crowd was thinning two servers were having a loud argument right beside us, we could hear them talking bad about other customers.

When we got the bill they did in fact charge us the extra dollar which I though was ridiculous since he even messed it up, but my boyfriend was so mad by that time that we paid our bill, left a portion the tip we normally would (and we ALWAYS tip at least 25%) we just left knowing we'd never step foot in that place again. One or two issues are absolutely forgiveable, but to experience that many problems AND be treated so poorly is unacceptable. I'll never go back and either will my...

Thank you, Aza Sushi and Bistro, We appreciate that you took on the challenge of opening this restaurant to be yours, and becoming the most welcoming, and kindest soul to know.

We enjoy every dish that we order, today we’ve had three signature rolls, the AZA, No Way Out & the Cherry Blossom. We also received a complimentary appetizer, a dessert, the appetizer was gone before we knew it so there is no picture detailed below but just know it was the perfect tasting appetizer I could’ve gotten. I also ordered a ramen to go and a few other rolls not pictured here. We have always loved communicating with your staff about questions we have, the owner is especially accommodating and incredibly kind and genuine.

Inside the restaurant is upgraded, and has comfortable seating. We always recommend a booth seat. I love the interior design, it has a natural cozy and home feeling. The environment where the chefs make the food and the staff are incredibly kind and knowledgeable about everything we ask. We appreciate both of you Joy & Zach. I will be here again with my family, and this review is long overdue because I’ve been here three times before.

See you...

A few nights ago I took my kids to Aza Sushi, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. Not only was the sushi fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious, but what really made our visit special was our incredible server, Trinity.

Dining out with kids can sometimes be a challenge, but Trinity went above and beyond to make sure everyone was happy and entertained. She had such a natural way with the kids—whether it was chatting with them, making them laugh, or engaging them while we waited for food. Her kindness and energy turned what could have been a hectic meal into a relaxed and memorable evening.

The atmosphere at Aza Sushi is welcoming, clean, and family-friendly without sacrificing the authentic sushi bar vibe. Even the music selection was great. My kids even tried a few new rolls thanks to Trinity’s great recommendations!

If you’re looking for a place that offers great food and makes families feel right at home, I can’t recommend Aza Sushi enough. We’ll definitely be back especially if...