Kuramoto — Restaurant in Tustin

This is what a 15-course omakase looks like in Tustin, California.

Ok so like I didn't know I would be walking into the presence of a superstar. Chef Taiki is a Michelin guide-recognized chef and won a freakin' cooking competition on Hulu! Our seating was only 6 people so it felt like an intimate dinner party. The atmosphere is super cozy while being luxe, and Chef Taiki was kind of sassy, love it.

Now let's get back to it. We started with a few seasonal appetizers, like a Vietnamese-inspired rice paper roll. The chawanmushi was so silky and heartwarming on a winter day.

Then we started to get into the sushi, which is what we've been waiting for. Each bite just kept topping the last one. Some highlights had to be the seabream and uni topped with ossetra caviar and 24 karat gold, SO decadent.

I'm a seared sushi lover, so when the chef handed us the A5 wagyu with foie gras, I was in heaven.

BUT my favorite bite of the night had to be the smoked scallops which almost had the consistency of cheese but so full of smoky flavor, and it came with a mini whole fried crab!

If you're looking for good sushi AND a good time, definitely check out Kuramoto.

Thanks for...

Made a reservation for lunch since I had business nearby. It's located in a large-ish shopping center with a decent amount of parking. The space is clean, somewhat minimal, and intimate with only bar seating. I feel like the bar top is a little high which obscures the view of the chefs working, but NBD.

Lunch moves at your pace of choosing unless you linger. Service is nice enough, pretty typical. The lunch Omakase starts with a sashimi salad which was just average. Chawanmushi was solid with a mild flavored stock, smooth egg and pieces of seafood. Sushi followed and though it was pleasant, there was nothing memorable, out of the ordinary, or hyper seasonal. The Tamago was really light and ate almost like a cake. The cup of dashi before dessert was a treat.

A solid lunch for the price point, but nothing really stood out. I'm sure dinner service will offer more highpoints but of course comes the equivalence in price. I'd come back for lunch if I was in the area, but it's not worth a...

Kuramoto delivers A great experience with a chef known for Omakase

This plaza seems to familiar. A sushi spot back in the early 2000's once sat here... but that is now a faded memory now that Kuramoto and Chef Taiki have taken over.

Inside is beautiful and modern. Natural elements of wood and stone work well to bring everything together.

All courses were phenomenal that its hard to choose a favorite. Omakase is the perfect way to try fish you never even thought you would have tried, and to ruin your idea of good tasting fish. Sake and Toro? Nah bro, that's not it.

It is on par with the other "REAL" Omakase spots in OC, and they are serving the same great cuts of fish. However Chef Taiki introduces some of his own flair with dishes that I've never encountered before (see pics) and he knocks it out of the park.

Lunch looks very affordable if you want to dip your feet in. I think this is definitely a place to add to your list.

Reservations on TOCK required to...