Ponzu Japanese Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Santa Ana

Yikes...did I go to the same Ponzu as everyone else?!

First of all, the sushi was just okay--fresh enough and decent, but nothing to rave about. Not Sugarfish quality, and Eat's Sushi is also better. My date felt just as underwhelmed by the place (and unlike me, he identifies as a people-pleaser, so for him to articulate his disappointment is significant).

We ordered the Ponzu, 17th Street, and Submarine roll. Out of the three, the Submarine roll was probably the best due to the mango.

The service was exceptionally bad. While I'm all for cultural diversity, it is important for staff to speak English while in an English-speaking country (just like I speak other languages while abroad). This was not the case. I told our waitress, and then multiple other servers, that I was "deathly allergic to dairy, and will die."

Yet after much communication confusion and them pretending to understand me, they still served us the 17th roll. Halfway through consumption, our waitress came up to inform us that the roll did actually have dairy, so, would we like a different one?

Le sigh.

Does "deathly allergic" not mean the same thing it did when I worked in restaurants? We would even flag reservations with allergies, to make sure no one was poisoned. Customers did not even have to identify their allergies as fatal for us to provide food that met their needs.

I could have died last night.

Although death by sushi isn't the worst way to go out, Ponzu...

If you find yourself in Palm Springs and craving a sushi experience that’s both vibrant and top-notch, look no further than Ponzu Sushi. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Paul at the entrance, who made us feel right at home. He was incredibly friendly and set the tone for the evening.

Our server, Anna, was hands down the highlight of the dining experience. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and always there when we needed her. Her excellent service really enhanced the meal, making it feel personal and special.

The ambiance at Ponzu is modern chic, with an energetic vibe that perfectly matches the lively energy of Palm Springs. The décor blends sleek design with a comfortable atmosphere, creating a place that feels both trendy and welcoming.

As for the food, every dish we tried was exceptional, but a few stood out as absolute must-haves. The Are You Kidding Me Roll was a showstopper — perfectly balanced and packed with flavor. The Ponzu Roll was equally impressive, with its fresh ingredients and bold taste. And the Palm Springs Roll? Simply delicious, with a beautiful combination of textures that left us wanting more.

If you're in Palm Springs, Ponzu Sushi is a must-try. Whether you’re a sushi connoisseur or a newcomer, this place has something for everyone. Trust me, it’s worth...

UPDATE: what a bummer, their quality in food deteriorated. We used to buy from here at least once a week but haven’t in months. The last 4 chicken bento boxes we got, the chicken was straight rubber! Called and spoke to them about it but they didn’t care. I get it, they aren’t a chicken place but it used to be SO GOOD and now whoever is heating it up is defrosting it in a microwave. You can tell because it’s so tough you can’t even tear the chicken apart. It’s a par-cooked chicken so when they defrost so quick like that in the microwave, it’s not even editable. Apparently management doesn’t care if they lose their neighborhood business.

OLD REVIEW: We just absolutely love this place. We live in the neighborhood and order at least once a week. Their bento boxes are the best. Comes with fresh salad, gyoza, sushi, chicken etc SO YUMMY!! Never disappoints us. I wouldn’t recommend the beef bento box however beef is not the best option here.

Friendly service and have great lunch specials during the week. Call in and take home, perfect take out packages to enjoy your meal.

Why bother going to fast food. Their prices are so high now and you can get a high quality meal here for about the same price.

Ponzu rocks!! Definitely give this...