Yoshiharu Sushi & Ramen — Restaurant in San Clemente

Third trip there, wanting to give them a chance as I promised I would to the manager/owner. They however did not deliver this time either.

The service was way better than it was the first time, and the noodles in the ramen did not taste like top ramen this time which is an improvement. and the Gyoza was good.

However, the rest of the ramen itself lacked, they forgot the bamboo I ordered and I had to add it in afterwards. The pork used on the pork ribs were of lower quality causing the meat to almost pit, giving it less of a smooth taste; as well the meat on it was not cooked properly for the dish, the meat should be able to be pulled from the bone with chopsticks, not have to be taken out of the ramen and eaten with your hands.

The sushi was also disheartening, originally ordering Salmon, Bluefin Toro, and Yellowtail when it was brought the Bluefin Toro was of the darker type which means it lacked the thing that makes it so expensive, the high fatty content.

As a rule if the toro is high in fat content and was freshly frozen it will be a lighter and more marbled cut; I am unsure if this was a choice of the chefs or what the company demands is given out but this is not acceptable when charging 15 dollars for two pieces.

My grandmother whom I took there last time swore to never go back there after the cooked fish she was served had both skin and fish guts still in them which is why I went alone this time.

To the owner/manager: If you read this, thank you for the opportunity to eat at your establishment, however as I have given this three attempts now I will not be returning. Some simple suggestions to help improve: further train your wait staff - While improved no one knew how to smile. Get your fish early from the market and freeze them as fast as possible, this will help preserve the fish, its color and flavor. And for your expensive cuts, serve the correct cuts, marbling is important, also do not include skin on the cuts, this does not enhance the flavor and overall makes it look like the chefs do not know how to cut sushi or sashimi. use higher quality pork, if you are using pork ribs that meat needs to be able to be pulled off with chopsticks, my hands should never have to touch the broth. Vet your noodle distributor, from the package that your staff told me about they ship their noodles in clumped up balls, giving it that wrinkled look that top ramen comes in, this is not a good look and it in fact tastes like top ramen, see out higher quality noodle companies that ship them straight, or if possible set up an inhouse noodle making for more originality.

I really want a good high quality Ramen shop in San Clemente, however this is the third one that has tried and has failed, I would suggest taking a trip to Shinsengumi to see the quality and flavor you are actually competing with.

Thank you for...

What a hidden gem in San Clemente! Not sure why more people don't know about this place, yet.

As you walk in, at first glance, you'll notice the booths, which give the restaurant a diner/fast food vibe. However, as you sit down and look around, you see the beautiful sushi bar and the vibrant art on the walls.

My friend and I decided to try Yoshiharu based on the AI recommendations. It was on its list of best sushi restaurants in San Clemente.

I was eager to compare it to 4 other sushi places that I like. In terms of taste, it knocked off my #1 sushi place in San Clemente and in terms of price/value it knocked off my #1 sushi place in Mission Viejo.

Have not tried their ramen, but their sushi is fresh, delicious and the portions are generous. We tried their huge pitcher of cold Asahi draft beer for $10. Need I say more?

Reasonable prices and the service is always good. The servers are very attentive. Mercedes was one of them.

The location is in the Ralph's complex, so no views, but you are going there for their food & drinks. The ocean is a short drive from there.

I'm leaving this review knowing that once people check out this restaurant, it will become their favorite restaurant. Did I mention that they also have some tasty appetizers, bowls, bento choices and of...

Overall, we had a good dinner! The ramen was tasty, even exceeding my boyfriend’s low expectations (and he’s very picky about ramen). We also split a sushi roll—the red mango roll—but since they didn’t have mango, the waitress suggested kiwi instead. It sounded odd at first, but we loved it; it was refreshing and unique. My boyfriend even said he’d come back just for the sushi. The server was incredibly sweet and helpful, offering free dessert and giving us great recommendations for the sushi rolls since the menu didn’t include descriptions. She also warned me that the ramen was very spicy, even at the mild level, which was a lifesaver—I definitely couldn’t have handled level 2!

That said, they’re still in their soft opening phase, so there are a few kinks to work out. The server was on her own during a rush, which led to delays in getting our food and the bill. Additionally, the lack of roll descriptions on the menu could make ordering difficult without help. But overall, the experience was enjoyable, and...