ミナト
MINATO
SUSHI
Fresh sushi at neighborhood prices in Lake Forest.
Order direct and skip the delivery-app fees. Same food, same prices, more for our kitchen.
“Great prices, amazing food and the staff is wonderful and the restaurant is very cozy feeling.”
“The food is consistently excellent, and the service always exceeds our expectations.”
“Amazing service, been coming here for 8 years… servers always give you extra surprises, like a dessert hand carved out of an orange.”
OUR STORY
Over two decades behind the same counter
Minato Sushi has been a Lake Forest fixture for over two decades, run the whole time by the same owner, James. Stay somewhere that long and you watch a neighborhood grow up: kids who first came in with their parents now walk through the door on their own, and a lot of the faces at the bar have been regulars for years.
That continuity is the whole point. It's why the fish is cut fresh, why the prices have stayed fair, and why eating here feels less like a transaction and more like being welcomed back. Great sushi at honest prices, from people who have been doing it right, the same way, for a long time.
Dine in for the house special, buy two rolls, get one free, every day, or order pickup and delivery online through Toast.
Hand-painted and gifted to us by a longtime customer.
OVER TWO DECADES OF REGULARS
Three generations of Lake Forest families, first dates, birthdays, and Friday-night regulars. This is who we've been cooking for since day one.
SIGNATURE ROLLS
The house favorites regulars come back for. Tap any roll to order it on Toast.
Lake Forest Roll
Assorted fish, crab, and avocado inside, topped with ponzu sauce. 5 pc, no rice, cucumber wrap.
Minato Roll
Crab and avocado inside, topped with baked salmon, baked spicy tuna, and eel sauce.
Jalapeno Roll
Assorted fish, crab, and avocado inside, topped with jalapeño slices and spicy mayo. Soy paper wrap.
Fire Fighter Roll
Crab and avocado inside, topped with cooked shrimp and spicy crab.
X-Man Roll
Crab and avocado inside, topped with sautéed scallop, salmon, vegetables, and eel sauce.
Sashimi Roll
Assorted fish, crab, and avocado inside. No rice, soy paper wrap.
SIGNATURE
Minato Roll
The roll we named the place after. Crab and avocado rolled tight, then layered with baked salmon and baked spicy tuna and finished in eel sauce. Warm, rich, and a little indulgent, it is the one a lot of regulars order before they have even sat down.
ORDER NOWFeatured Sakes
POURED WITH CARE
A short, considered list of premium sakes to pair with your meal. Ask your server for a pour.
Kubota "Manjyu"
Junmai Daiginjo · Niigata
Kubota's flagship premium sake — a lesson in harmony. A refined, floral aroma balanced with a clean, silky-smooth texture, with notes of dried strawberry and nuts. A tanrei-karakuchi (dry and crisp) style with complex flavor that balances umami, sweetness, and tartness.
Wakatake Onikoroshi
Junmai Daiginjo ("Demon Slayer") · Shizuoka
An ultra-popular, aromatic Daiginjo — look for plum, melon, and peach notes with a semi-fruity profile and a unique dryness. Good acidity with peach and tangerine character; as it warms, rich semi-sweet hints of honey and citrus emerge.
Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto
Junmai Kimoto (still + seasonal draft) · Nagano
Showcases the natural character of the traditional kimoto brewing method — full-bodied and earthy, yet surprisingly light and exquisitely balanced, delivering rich, satisfying flavor served hot, cold, or at room temperature. The seasonal blue-bottle Draft is a vibrant limited edition, left unpasteurized (nama) to preserve its liveliness, with bright acidity and gentle sweetness.
Otokoyama
Junmai Daiginjo · Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Brewed with premium sake rice milled to a high polish, giving an elegant, mild taste with a purely harmonious aroma, long finish, and velvety-smooth, delicate flavor. Otokoyama was the first sake in the world awarded a Monde Selection Gold Medal (1977) and has kept winning gold at Japanese and international competitions since.
GIVE THE GIFT OF SUSHI
MINATO GIFT CARDS
Digital eGift cards delivered instantly, perfect for any sushi lover in Lake Forest.
BUY A GIFT CARD
Visit Us
COME SEE US IN LAKE FOREST
We're open every day for lunch and dinner, right on El Toro Road. Walk in, call ahead, or order online, however you like to eat sushi.
LOCATION
23505 El Toro Rd
Lake Forest, CA 92630
HOURS
Sun–Thu 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Fri–Sat 11:30 AM – 10 PM
CONTACT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you take reservations?
We're primarily walk-in to keep tables turning fast for the neighborhood. For larger groups, call ahead and we'll do our best to fit you in.
Do you have vegan or vegetarian options?
Yes. We have a vegan creamy ramen, a vegetable roll, an avocado roll, and can build a custom poke bowl around most diets. Just ask your server.
Do you cater private events or parties?
Yes. We do sushi boats, platters, and full catering spreads for parties and events. Call us or visit our Catering page to get started.
Is parking available?
Yes, there is ample free parking in the plaza's parking lot.
Why order directly from your website instead of a delivery app?
Ordering through our site or calling us directly means more of what you pay goes to the food and less to app fees. Same food, same prices, just better for both of us.
FOLLOW US
@minatosushi.lakeforest
Follow along on Instagram for the latest dishes, specials, and behind-the-scenes at Minato Sushi.
