Sushi Wazen - Wowza!

I know, I know ... Dopey description, but this new Lake Forest spot was such a pleasant surprise, that's the best I could come up with in one word - that also has a W and Z in it :)

Just look at the fish:

... so fresh and flavorful, it coulda been swimming just minutes before owner-chef Nobu-san expertly sliced it and served it up. This lovely, blushing young thing is the kanpachi, from the yellowtail family - obvious in its mellow, buttery, smooth flavor.

And here's Nobu-san's kohada, a relative of herring and mackerel, seasoned with salt and soaked in vinegar, but oh, so much more light, delicate and refreshing than its strong-flavored cousins:


Nobu-san worked as a sushi chef at Ten restaurant in Newport Beach (of Tentation Ultra Lounge fame) before he opened Sushi Wazen in the strip mall at Muirlands and Lake Forest Drive (behind the Mimi's Cafe) in November 2007.

Not even a full 5 months old, Wazen - and the comically friendly Nobu-san - are already getting 5-star reviews from local Yelpers. This warmed my heart, that even occasional sushi diners recognize the quality here.

The small details confirm the authenticity: the diverse, melt-in-your-mouth cuts of fish that smother the properly thumb-sized nuggets of rice; the Japanese-speaking customers outnumbering the non-Japanese at a rate of 6 to 1; a short but impressive sake list topped by a 720 ml bottle of Dassai Junmai Dai Ginjo for $90; a mouth-watering menu, aside from the sushi, that includes soba, a shabu plate, light and crunchy tempura and a nice selection of broiled fish. (On my next visit, I must try the udon or soba as Nobu-san suggested.)

By the way, the bill for two women enjoying nine orders of mostly premium fish, one order of tempura and four beers was a shockingly reasonable $86.

More photo highlights from our meal ...

The snapper and the salmon

Toro! Toro! Toro! (like buttah)Tuna on Crispy Rice

This last offering is a somewhat gimmicky sushi that I've seen pop up in recent years at local sushi bars, but it's sure tasty, an untraditional guilty indulgence. The rice is quickly fried, providing a nice crunchy base for the minced tuna; Nobu-san's exceptional version is topped with a paper-thin slice of jalapeno. The crispy rice is similar to my favorite rustic-style rice crackers from Japan.

Sushi Wazen: 22641 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 855-5330

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