Wasa Sushi & Teppan Awards

Wasa Sushi & Teppan Restaurant Review:

This casual venue, located in Newport Beach's upscale shopping center The Bluffs, has a knack for luring the city's affluent residents at dinner and the local business people at lunch. However, don't expect a stuffy atmosphere, as there’s also likely to be a lively group of hungry sushi lovers seeking out well-crafted modern Cal-Japanese fusion fare. Start by ordering a cold appetizer like the hot sesame oil halibut carpaccio with shiso and red jalapeño, or a hot starter such as the shrimp dumplings accompanied by a chili ponzu. The menu features innovative sashimi dishes that come with signature sauces, as in wasabi sour cream atop delicate ahi or a ginger sauce dancing around thinly sliced albacore. Expect a lengthy list of specialty rolls, too, ranging from basic California rolls to more complex sushi expressions, such as a baked eel avocado roll. Need a little sweetness? At meal's end, the whole table can share a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by caramel sauce and several fried-crisp banana spring rolls.