oc rewind: December 2011

James Hamamori is a sushi god. There. I said it. Fans of sushi in Orange County have been going to Wasa Sushi in Newport Beach and Tustin for ages, and when James opened Hamamori Restaurant and Sushi Bar in South Coast Plaza at the old Bangkok Four location, devotees followed. Sleek white wall with bubble chandeliers and white leather chairs made this the prettiest sushi joint in OC.

James goes extremely early most mornings to the fish market in LA to get his seafood offerings. But despite the fresh flavor of his fish, it's his homemade sauces on his "sushi gems" that will make you a loyal fan. His ponzu, made with no less than 12 ingredients, is the star. If I could bottle it and take it home, I'd slather it on everything, from fish, chicken, noodles, rice, to pancakes! (Okay, maybe not pancakes, but I was wondering if you were still paying attention. hehe). No less tasty are his wasabi sour cream, miso sauce, or simple sea salt with yuzu zest.

Sit at the sushi bar in front of James if you get the chance, and just tell him to give you the freshest offerings of the day. Do NOT order Americanized sushi rolls from him though; it's like asking Monet to fill in your coloring book. Try new things that you normally wouldn't. I became a fan of uni and Spanish mackeral because of the quality of products used here. Buy him a beer during dinner and you'll probably make a friend too. :) Happy eatings!