Soco Sushi & Gastro Pub

*Business model has changed, service & food still great*
So I was really excited about the concept of this place before but I understand that it wasn’t in their best interests so they no longer sushi.
I would have been bummed if they didn’t have phenomenal food & service. More typical gastropub with burgers, fries, similar creations.
All of their fries were great. Garlic, regular, carne asada. So we’re their burgers, wow. Big, well cooked, well complimented. Both mine & my friends were top notch.
The service is what got me to sit down and write the review though. Everyone went beyond over the top to make sure our experience was awesome. Friendly, polite, and considerate.
I’ll be back for gamedays!

Such a great place awesome staff, great ambience, friendly chefs and amazingly tasting food must come back again

We’ve been here a few times and it’s been good but we recently met MJ, our new favorite sushi chef. He is a master of the craft and a true artist. He creates the most amazing sushi and dishes and we partake in the finest of treats he designs on the fly.
He is a must go see

Went on a Sunday night. Best part they are open late. Close at midnight. Last call to order food 11:15pm. Davis the chef is great company and personal. The food was awesome.

I really didn’t expect much coming here, I read reviews and people were criticizing the confused look the restaurant has, but then there were the reviews who say this place is great, food wise. I had to give it a try. I’m so happy I did!
We sat at the bar, my girlfriends and I. No one was in the restaurant. At this point, I thought I made a mistake coming here. No one, explains a lot about the restaurant. The sushi chef, Davis, asked about our preferences, our likes and dislikes and went to town on the sushi.
We tried everything from poke, to salmon, albacore. I have a few favorites from that night.
Yellowtail belly: oh my god, I don’t even like yellowtail, but that was melt in your mouth delicious!!! I couldn’t believe how good it was.
Albacore: amazing. Fresh. Orgasmic. I don’t like albacore either, every where I tried, it was disgustingly fishy. I would gag while it was going down. But not from here.
Squid nigiri: fresh! Tender, delicious.
The ones I noted were my favorite because he changed my mind about them. I didn’t know they were that tasty. Thanks Davis for changing my mind about it.
The servers were very attentive and friendly.

Friendly staff, yummy sushi and great beer and cocktail selection with decent prices. Sushi rolls are cleverly named and have a fair amount of choices with different variations than your typical crunch roll. I’d definitely come here again and recommend the Fiery Rice Bombs, Cheech and Chong Roll and the Junk In the Trunk Roll.
Also had a cool twist on the snake bite with a blonde beer instead of the regular dark beer which was a great surprise. Definitely ordering that again!

This is definitely a cool place and the service is amazing! It’s kind of small but offers a great atmosphere.
I love pork belly so I had to try their Pork Belly Magic. The pork belly was crispy and delicious. I thought the gravy was a tad bit salty but it’s just my personal taste. It did pair well with the rice though. I would definitely come here again.

If you want good rolls, you gotta come here!
The Junk In The Trunk rolls are a must try. there’s bacon in it!
Overall, food is great. And, the customer service is even greater. Not only are the sushi chefs amazing at their craft, they even throw in a little comedy. My husband and I laughed the whole time!
First time here, definitely not our last. It’s our new favorite sushi joint! :)

Late nite search for a sushi spot and saw soco shushi & gastro pub on Unilocal list. We decided to try it out. i had the double rainbow rolls and hunnie had spicy tuna. both were delish… would recommend spot to anyone on that late nite craving. weeknds they are open till 2am. Sweeeet! Thank u chef minjae bomb plates

Since I’m pregnant and it’s been super HOT HOT HOT, heavy hot foods just turn me off. Rolls has been my go to for something «light» and cold to fill my tummy. Not exactly the healthiest but it’s getting me through the summer! Now I know for a place to carry many variety of rolls, I have to go to non traditional Japanese restaurants. So I found this place near our house to try.
This place gives off a bar and grill vibe, with bright décor, neon lights and they happen to have a sushi bar and rolls (amongst other random stuff on the menu). I ordered the safest, a california Roll, which was a decent size and pretty decent tasting! I also ordered a spider roll (I was trying to avoid anything raw) even though it was only 4 cut pieces, which was not bad either. Hubs ordered two pieces of albacore, a chicken teriyaki bowl that they call a Maui Bowl and a Titan Roll, I can’t even remember what was in it. Everything tasted pretty decent and fresh! Their spicy tuna was spicy (unlike a lot of other places) and they don’t mix it with mayo (like alot of places do too prob to mask the stinky fish smell ech)
The service was great, our waitress was super attentive, filling up my ice tea like 4 times without me having flagging her down! Would come back here for some rolls!!!

Sushi chef Davis was a very pleasent dude. Sushi was great. Generous size sushi rolls. Kudos young man.
I’m one #happymexican
Cheers!

— Locale Destination —
It’s on Commonwealth Ave and between S Harbor blvd and S Malden Ave in downtown Fullerton.
It’s in the center of downtown Fullerton. Good location.
Ambiance: A little cheesy, modern «fusion“decors. Music is more like the ones for college kids, which I’m not fond of. Welcome to DTF!
Service: Very friendly staff.
Menu: Cut rolls, appetizers, sake, craft beers, and cocktails. I think the menu is a little too big. Too many choices on rolls and very overwhelming. I gave up looking at the menu in the middle of scanning it, and just asked chef Davis to make something interesting. They got good varieties on craft beers, too.
Parking: Good luck! Maybe park at the station and walk? There’re a few parking spots within walking distance.
— Gluttony Expedition —
Salmon sushi: truffle oil and some citrus — nice and interesting flavors. As I expected, this isn’t so much of a place you cloud enjoy straightforward sushi. Instead of melting, more like a bit chewy salmon. But the flavor of seasonings were unique.
Cut roll: I rarely order a cut roll at (proper/​authentic) sushi bar — It’s sorta embarrassing to me (not to enjoy the skills of the sushi chef). Davis said he was properly trained, but the cut roll was rolled way too soft and corrupted crazily. It might be good for people have a big mouth to swallow it all once, but I got a killer small jaw that makes my dentist cries. I’ll pass cut rolls here for reasons. It was tasty. But nothing crazy about it.
California Tan roll: Baked salmon on the top of California type cut roll?! Check my pic! I’m sorry I forgot the details. It was tasty but I only remember how loose the roll was. Hard to eat without making a mess.
Pork belly bowl: gravy and all, it’s very unusual flavor combinations. Lot lighter and complex flavors. Interesting.
— Conqueror’s Deduction —
3.5 stars.
I wanted to go to my favorite «Nana San» in NB for my birthday. But they were closed by the time I got there after work. Sad. So I just came here because it was nearby my work.
Don’t expect authentic straightforward Japanese sushi here. Chef Davis got some Japanese blood in him and said got trained by Japanese. However, it’s not like «sushi» at «Oshima» (Orange) or «Nana San» (Newport Beach) in any means. He seems to be creative and adventurous on flavors — Fusion by Davis is the way to go here.
I never order cut rolls at sushi bar, and always check the fish quality in the little glass fridge in front of me (I’m a hardcore sushi snob). I wouldn’t come here for straightforward sushi. Go cut rolls or other unique appetizers! It’s enjoyable to sit in front of Davis. If I wanted straightforward one, I’ll go to «Momo’s» nearby. It’s very casual one, but surprisingly decent sushi for the $$.

I am a fan of sushi and am used to local haunts that have a few good rolls and sashimi with a few misses on the menu as well…
This particular spot was five stars all around! It’s worth taking a moment to give a shout out where one is deserved!
This place boasts that it is the perfect place to start an evening in downtown Fullerton but I must say it is THE place to be to enjoy fresh fish, a lively atmosphere and a great selection of cocktails to perfectly compliment the menu.
Why start here when you can just make this the destination for your evening? They have it all, good music piped in, entertainment via the sushi chefs, great drinks, and can accommodate a party of two or a party in general (seriously folks, consider hosting an event here!!)
The cut rolls are large but the size in no way compromises the integrity of fish or the flavors added to make the roll unique. The food is delicious and the staff is personable.
I foresee this place being a hot spot for locals in the area and a destination for those looking for GOOD sushi ( Unilocaler friends give this place a visit)!

I came here on a Sunday afternoon to use the $ 10 off of $ 30 Unilocal special. I really liked how on their online menu that they had a section for «bacon wrapped everything.» However, when we arrived at the restaurant, that portion of the menu was nowhere to be found, and our waiter told us that they are no longer serving that portion of their menu. Regardless, there was still a lot to try.
I ordered the Honey Boo Boo (Yes, they seriously have the best roll names!) which had salmon, crab meat, and bacon inside!!! The roll was deep fried then topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo. However, when I arrived, it didn’t have salmon and instead had shrimp tempura on the inside. Regardless, it was still a great roll. On second thought, I’m pretty sure they brought us the Junk in the Trunk Roll and not the Honey Boo Boo roll because this roll didn’t have the spicy mayo, but whatever, still great.
I also tried the Atkins which had shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crab meat, avocado and radish sprouts. It was wrapped in lettuce and soy paper, had no rice and came with a side of spicy mayo. This was a very stark contrast from the first roll I had, but it was just as great. The flavors of the fish really shined through, and the fish was all very fresh. I was really impressed by this roll, and I would order it again… many times.
For dessert, we tried some deep fried oreos with vanilla ice cream. They were definitely the best deep fried oreos I’ve ever had. The inside cream filling melted inside of the oreo, and the batter was light and complimented the oreos and the ice cream well.

When you first walk in it looks nice but once you sit down and take a closer look it’s sorta confusing. I’m not exactly sure what’s the theme here. It’s a sushi bar & gastropub playing house music with families, toddlers, plastic tables and paper table cloths? I’m so confused! And the black and red color scheme for the table settings and all around? Ouch, so harsh on the eyes!
Anyway, food is a bit overpriced for what it was both in taste and quality.
My chirashi bowl aka plate (?) had residue on it. Very unappetizing because that was the first thing I noticed when the server set it in front of me.
The raspberry-​watermelon fish bowl I ordered tasted like sugar with a hint of cough syrup. Skip it! A lot of beers to choose from. Opt for a beer instead.
Service was really great though I have to give it to them. Our server was very friendly and helpful.
I don’t see myself coming back here, even if I’m in DT Fullerton.

For all the Cal State Fullerton people out! This sushi place is amazing! The head sushi chef is funny and great at his craft.
Me and my boyfriend came here out of a whim and did not regret it! We ordered the South Beach, California Tan, Payday, and a couple sushi pieces. The rolls were fresh and great. The snake bit is a definite must as for drinks, if you’re into a sweeter taste.
Over all the vibe is cool and modern/​up beat. There is a great selection of alcohol and food.

We had an amazing experience at Soco Sushi. Davis, the sushi chef, was extremely friendly and even offered to make our baby a little snack. He made us the rolls: «About Last Night», «South Beach,» and one that he created on the spot called «Mambo Italiano.» The fish was extremely fresh and the dishes were plated beautifully. Awesome customer service and ambience too! My husband and I would definitely recommend this place for a date night, birthday party, or for a late night snack.
Bonuses: great beer selection and other non-​sushi Gastro Pub foods available. Go there today!

For right now, this review is a 4 but very much has the potential for a 5. I May edit this when I re-​visit.
My current recommendation is to have a kids menu.
Make no mistake though, the food is excellent. The waiter we had is super friendly and was super nice to our kids. High chairs were clean. I think parents out there will appreciate that.
The ingredients they use is truly fresh and you can tell by the way it tastes. I had the shrimp tempura roll and the spider roll. The soft shell crab was the best I have tasted in a roll. It wasn’t so crunchy that it was brittle. It was a good piece and I could taste the meat and it tested fresh. Shrimp tempura was of course good. I also had the grill on grill. That piece of skirt steak was cooked perfectly! And it just melted in your mouth. Wasabi mashed potatoes were unbelievably good.
I was able to meet the owner and he was very nice and very active in his restaurant.
I look forward to returning and trying different things

Richie was great! He interacted with us the whole time we sat at the bar. We tried three rolls and they were all incredible. I wasn’t sold on the Junk in the Trunk since it had bacon. But with some convincing I gave it a try and I’m glad I did.
Everyone was so attentive and amiable. It matched our food and drinks perfectly.

First time at this great new sushi bar. Red carpet entrance for photo opps, various dining rooms/​areas, lovely décor, large bar and sushi bar, great atmosphere, music, and pleasant staff.
I chose to sit at the bar. The bartender was awesome! Recommended The «About Last Night «roll. Yummy!
Ordered two rolls, pictured here. Yup, I ate both! The presentation was beautiful and both were delicious and perfectly rolled.
Definitely recommend trying this place. I’m very picky, but this place won my vote. Great experience, great food, great people. 5 Stars!