Kitayama

I went for lunch with coworkers. The place with packed. We had 7 people so made reservation earlier. We got to sit at a private room oversee the garden.
The service was great. Our waitress was nice, smiley and come to check every often. They got set menu for lunch during weekdays. Of course there is other menu available. Food came out quickly and all about the same time for everyone. It was a good experience. Highly recommend this place.

This place is very authentic and a lot of fun to visit. The fish is always a perfect temperature and the Japanese whiskey selections are amazing!

The restaurant has a great atmosphere and great food. I would recommend it for company lunch meetings and I would recommend ordering any of the lunch combo’s. I came during the lunch time and one of the servers name Joseph was rude and kept hitting my chair when he was passing by which made my experience unpleasing. All the other women were very sweet.

I would like to come back here again because I didn’t get to see the garden since I sat at the sushi bar. I don’t recommend sitting at the sushi bar because you don’t get the full upscale experience. I wish I had gotten a table to enjoy the outdoor garden view this restaurant offers. They do offer choice cuts of fish. I had mostly double pieces of nigiri sushi from salmon, tuna, uni, bluefin, etc.
I also was seated at the very end of the sushi bar so I felt sort of cramped in the corner. The service is good although it took awhile for them to deliver our soy sauce. Also, the waiter also spilled a little of the leftover liquid from my plate onto my clothes while bussing the plate. That’s why I don’t recommend sitting at the bar. I came for dinner and it was about $ 74 for two yet I wasn’t full.

I had my valentine’s dinner date with my husband here and we spent $ 200 for absolutely nothing. Everything was overprice. My husband ordered the sushi course for $ 60 and the rice was way too dry and hard. Nothing special on the sushi course. I had wagyu steak and the steak tasted ok. I will come back for regular dinner but not valentine’s dinner.

delicious food, our first time here and Kathy is amazing, loved her service and fresh fish. prefect. thank you Kathy for making it a great experience!

I haven’t been here in a few years and this is one of those times when reality doesn’t live up to the memories. The décor and setup are great fun dates or business meetings and the service was very good. The uni and sweet shrimp sashimi were good but the remainder including toro, yellowtail, snapper etc were mediocre and a bit chewy. The fish was poorly cut and the eel hand roll was stuffed with way too much rice. The cooked items we ordered were all a little odd in the flavoring. The lotus and shrimp balls were kind of bland and oily. The agedashi tofu had an overpowering mushroom flavor. The miso cod was coated with this strange substance that did not taste like miso. The beef was too sweet. The black sesame brulee was the best part of the meal and I’m giving an extra star for that. Especially for the price we paid for two people, I was seriously unimpressed. I don’t know if my taste has changed but I doubt I’ll be back when there are so many other delicious places to eat.

After 25 years and a couple of owners, this is still my fav sushi place for lunch or dinner. It has lost some of its prestige but still keeps the flavors going.

Christine is the best server!!! This place has the best sushi! The best in Newport Beach with excellent ambiance, quality, and service. 6 stars!!!

I went here for lunch with my coworkers and it was very packed and busy! They do take reservations so if you’re in a hurry or want a guaranteed table for lunch, call in and make a reservation.
The service there was great– our waiter was very smiley and always came to check on our table for water refills. Food came out within 5 – 10 minutes of ordering. Quality of the fish was very fresh and delicious! I know this because the uni nigiri I ordered tasted very oceans-​fishy (as it should). Overall impressed with the quality of the food here!
The décor fits very well with the theme of the restaurant. It has a very fresh, welcoming, and classy vibe. Perfect place to eat with a significant other or a group of friends and family!

This used to be the go to spot but sadly things have changed :(
We have been coming here for years but the management changed within the last 2 years or so and since then there has been a notable change in quality. They reworked the menu and things just haven’t been the same.
I will go from time to time for nostalgia purposes and hope that things get better.

Updating my review since it’s been a while and I think people should know more about what Kitayama has to offer.
Kitayama has a great dinner menu that is different from their lunch menu. They offer traditional Japanese dining in a formal setting. They try to offer a luxe experience for those seeking to immerse themselves in the Japanese culture.
Their lunch offerings and quality of cuisine is far different from their Dinner offerings. Their dinner includes traditional Shabu Shabu meals (highly recommended!) and more simple bento set meals, such as a teriyaki Chicken dinner.
They certainly have something for everyone but I highly recommend trying their sashimi platters. Their sashimi platter is offered in levels, ranging from typical sashimi to the exotic and luxe dinners. It’s a pricier option, but it is a simple sampling platter that allows everyone to try a little of everything. The quality is to die for.
Obviously service is great. This is a great spot for a nice birthday dinner, their tatami rooms are a fun and intimate experience for parties 5+.

Kitayama– oh yeah, my wife & I love this place. Great service, and we always ask to be seated by the garden because it’s bright and airy. If you plan to get the sushi lunch box, I recommend getting here early because they will run out fast. I’ve had their barbecued fish collar lunch, Friday steak special, and sashimi special. I’ve never had anything I didn’t like here. I’m a regular here, and I can’t believe I haven’t written a review until now!

Everytime that I have been to Kitayama, the service, food and the atmosphere has been just great.
For large paties, they have these private rooms that are sooo fun to be in. It is exactly as you are dining in A restaurant in the heart of Kyoto.
The last time that we visited there was no exception. Our waitress was Christine. she was sooo attentive in bringing us our food (in a timely manner) along with making sure that our drinks/​water cups are full at all time.
As a ginger Lover, I warned her upon our arrival that I Love pickeled ginger and I expect a big portion of that with my sushi… She did exactly as I had asked her. She brought me a big plate full of pickled Ginger… Yum!!!
I can’t say good enough things about the sushi itself. It is fresh, tasty and is brought to your table fast!
One thing that it is worth mentioning which is why I deducted one star is that the restaurant itself smelled weird. Upon walking into the restaurant I felt like it smelled funky and gross… I hope the owner/​management would fix the problem soon.

Kitayama… I’ve changed my mind about you.
Besides Nana-​San, there are no sushi restaurants within a mile radius of my office, and when a craving hits, I want sushi as quick as possible.
I had been to Kitayama once before for lunch and was not impressed with their quality of fish; I ordered the lunch nigiri combo, which at the time was $ 13 for a few pieces of nigiri and 4 piece california roll. For the size, it was a great deal, but the quality just wasn’t there.
I ventured back last week during lunch, taking out a coworker for lunch and was excited to see their other lunch specials. Unfortunately, they had only one lunch special on Friday, and I wasn’t feeling like beef. Instead, we both opted for the lunch combo #5 and #6, which is chicken teriyaki bento box with tempura (#5) or nigiri and rolls (#6). Each combo was $ 18, which was not a bad deal for what we received.
I’m glad I tried it out again because the nigiri was good, definitely redeemed itself from my first visit. The fish looked fresh and had the appearance of a jewel; it sounds silly, but if you have seen fresh fish, you get me… The chicken teriyaki was also pretty great. Not drenched in thick sauce, cut in big pieces, soft, not over cooked. The side salad dresssing was actually pretty good; I know salad usually is an after thought for many, but it was the first to go for me.
I gave it a four because it is not the best sushi or teriyaki I’ve had; however, you really can not beat the ambience here. We were seated at the bar for full menu, since lunch time can have a pretty long wait. There are a lot of businesses around here that keep this place very busy, so be sure to make a reservation. They have great service so it’s a great setting for business meals, or an intimate dinner with a date.

Located between a bunch of business buildings in Newport Beach. We had dinner here with a group of 7 in one of their tatami rooms in the back (we had reservations). There’s a minimum you have to order to be able to dine in the tatami room. Service is a little slow, the food takes a while to come out and the server is no where to be found sometimes.
Some of the items we ordered:
Tofu & Seafood Salad — refreshing and the tofu is silky.
Crunchy Spicy Tuna — delicious, I love the leaf that they have under the tuna, it has a unique taste and really brings the dish together.
Smoked Duck Loin — Not one of my favorites, kind of bland but duck is tender.
Chicken — Very tender, good with the dipping sauce.
Premium Sashimi Selection — really fresh fish, I like the different options that are included.
Beef Sukiyaki — Sweet broth, not one of my favorites.
Omakase: Red Snapper with marinated shisto peppers — very good, interesting flavors with the marinated shisto peppers.
Overall, I like the food but the service is a little slow especially when you’re in the tatami room. I would come back again for the fresh sushi.

The saying «Don’t judge a book by its cover» certainly applies to Kitayama. On the outside, the restaurant doesn’t look like much. It’s a pretty plain building and easy to overlook. However, once you enter the restaurant, it almost feels like you are transported to a different land. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. The restaurant is fairly large, but the décor and layout makes it feel intimate and romantic.
The service here is very friendly, but sometimes a little bit slow. We had a hard time tracking down our server, but she was very nice and accommodating.
Food here was on average good. We ordered the blue fin toro and sweet shrimp to start. The toro was disappointing. It wasn’t as fresh as I hoped it would be, but the fish was very tender and fatty. The amaebi (sweet shrimp) was much better. The raw shrimp was really sweet and very fresh. The fried shrimp heads also did not disappoint. The sashimi platter we ordered was also tasty. The fish was fresh and the portion was pretty big. We also ordered the cod, and it was by far the yummiest thing we ordered that night.
Overall, a good Japanese restaurant with wonderful ambiance. It’s a great place for a romantic night out or for a special event.

Chilean Sea Bass… becoming one of my new favorites recently and just had to order this.
If you are planning to come for lunch, definitely consider coming towards the end of their lunch hours around 1:30 pm. Right after they brought out my order of the sea bass, even the waiter recommended coming towards the end of lunch because usually, it’s one of the last orders their chef prepares so they’re likely to give you the prettiest, biggest cut portion!
The Sea Bass was perfectly cooked! Texture was just right and the glaze worked very well with this fish. They also have little sides like salad and tofu as well as a bowl of rice. This whole meal was very complete that didn’t cause a food coma. My friend’s Sashimi Lunch also looked reaaaally good.
Lunch here isn’t on the cheap side, but just by splurging a little, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good and fresh the food is here :) Also, make reservations and sit in the private booths!

I was in town on business and my business partner made reservation at this place for dinner. I wasn’t told the name of this restaurant ahead of time so I didn’t read reviews before my visit like I normally do.
Décor was very interesting. First glance, they display kimono, obi, plates, kabuto… Many what seemed to be Japanese without a common theme. It seemed to be decorated by non first Japanese generation.
The area they reserved for us was semi private. Typical of nice Japanese restaurant in Japan. Waitress was wearing kimono and I though it was very nice. Semi private room was nice as we were able to have our conversation without raising voice.
Not knowing what to expect from menu, I just ordered omakase course menu. They served seven different dishes for $ 60. For the amount of food I was getting, I thought it was very reasonably priced. See all the pics I posted for seven dishes came with an omakase course meal on the day I visited. Some of the dishes were just okay like dobin, I think it would have been better if I could have enjoyed the more smell of mushrooms. Most food was very good.
Kurogoma brûlée was very good. Be sure to save room for desert.
We were talking in Japanese during the dinner, and ambiance was very much Japanese, it took me a few minutes to remember where I was after dinner. When I saw a street sign in English, that’s when I realized I was in California.
I don’t come here often enough to compare with other Japanese restaurant but I thought this place was good.

Kitayama scores high on its Sushi and maintains its status as one of the go to Japanese restaurants for the Newport/​Mesa area.
Kitayama has been a stalwart in the East Newport area for quite some time now and offers a great Happy Hour, outdoor deck (complete with water fall & rock garden) and noteworthy service in both the restaurant as well as the bar area. The menu is expansive but offers no surprises as Sukiyaki, Sushi and Yakatori can all be found. I always seem to come for the Nigiri and Sashimi. If you are new to Sushi or Japanese fare in general, this is a great restaurant to start off with as the service is both accessible and very friendly which isn’t always the case with Eastern Asian in general.
I last visited Kitayama for NBRW as they offered a Sushi Assortment meal for the ridiculously reasonable $ 12.99. The included Miso Soup was a great start as it was bold and flavorful. Actually, it may have been one of the best bowls of Miso I have had in retrospect. The Assortment includes 7 pieces of Nigiri along with a generous 8 piece roll. All of the Sushi was fresh and delicious and the Tuna, Salmon and Yellowfin were clearly the stars of the show although I found myself quite happy with the Octopus as well. The roll was standard fare in the taste department but the pieces were rock solid thanks to the perfectly sticky rice that seemed to absorb Soy Sauce like a sponge.
Some would scoff at some of the prices that Kitayama charges a bit too much for their flagship Nigiri and Rolls but considering its location and the fact they are literally across the street from Nana San, I found their prices fair, if not reasonable. Will I be back? Most certainly. Sooner than later I hope!