While most of the Dot Com Lunches at held at Pho Ba Co in Irvine, I do like to mix it up once in a while, and try a new restaurant.
Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill started in the Silicon Valley back in 2008, and quickly became one of the most highest rated restaurants in California. Mizu’s second restaurant, opened in Tustin in the fall of 2014.
Like many high-end Orange County restaurants, Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill in the Tustin Market Place is huge. It is much bigger than the San Jose location. The room features a main dining room, a sushi bar plus regular bar, a private dining room for up to 20 guests, and a big outdoor patio dining area. I can only imagine what the rent is like.
While Mizu is marketed as a sushi restaurant, it’s actually a fusion of Japanese and Korean flavors. The restaurant reminds me a lot of Miku in Vancouver. The sushi is uniquely prepared with their own sauces, like the citrus-seared salmon sashimi (pictured below). The sauce was made with Yuzu soy, garlic salt, dill weed, and micro cilantro. Our table didn’t have any wasabi or soy sauce in sight, nor was it needed.
Other stand out dishes include the crispy rice with spicy tuna and the Wagyu Tataki. The flavors were amazing. A very unique dish was the honeymoon special. It was made with spicy scallop, dungeness crab, tobiko, spicy mayo, and salmon. What made it unique was it came to the table on fire (flambé if you want to get technical). It’s best to let the flame burn out before eating it.
Overall, Mizu has became one of my favorite sushi restaurants. The menu is extremely extensive, so I plan to dine there a few more times to sample some of the other offerings. With tax and tip, lunch for two came to $87 for our six dishes. A bit on the high side as lunches go, but just right when you live the Dot Com Lifestyle.
