Choya Japanese Cuisine

Choya Japanese Cuisine
By Bonnie Small

So you think you know sushi? Choya Japanese Cuisine has launched in Dana Point’s Ocean Ranch and its goal is to heighten American-style sushi to its pinnacle in addition to introducing authentic Japanese-style sushi to an eager South OC audience. Chef S.B. See personally selects the fish each day and offers only the finest that the waters of Boston, Hawaii and Japan can offer – no lesser varieties are ever substituted.

After noshing on an order of piping hot Garlic Edamame, we dove into an amazing selection of fresh Kumamoto oysters, sweet shrimp, tuna, and yellowtail sushi, each of which were textural perfection. We then tasted the Mexican Roll which exceeded every expectation – each component was perfectly executed, beautifully presented and unbelievably delicious.

Traditional Japanese sushi has little to do with the multitudinous variations of the California Roll that are synonymous with American sushi. Chef See is introducing South OC to Donburi, which literally translates to “bowl.” We opted for the Chirashi Don, a bowl of über-fresh salmon, tuna, octopus, eel & scallop sashimi beautifully arranged atop a bed of sushi rice and garnished with a quail egg. In a word, it was transformative.

I could not resist trying the red snapper sashimi, which was flown in from Japan that morning, sliced Carpaccio-thin, and dressed with a lightly vinegary sauce – it just melted in my mouth. The landlubbers in our party were thrilled at Choya’s non-fish options which are prepared with equal attention to detail – a favorite at our table was the free-range chicken breast with balsamic teriyaki sauce.

Looking for a little something sweet to finish off the meal, we were delighted with our richly colored and velvety smooth green tea ice cream and rumor has it that red bean ice cream is arriving soon!

32545 Golden Lantern • Dana Point

949.488.0933 • ChoyaJapaneseCuisine.com