End of an era- Angotei in Costa Mesa...SOLD!!

[cdmedici]

After 25 years of making wonderful sushi and kappo dishes, the owners have decided to sell. I credit Ango himself for making me fall in love with sushi and his step-son Goro for keeping this restaurants reputation solid after Ango retired.

Last night was Goro-san's last night behind the sushi bar and thankfully we were there and as always, the food was impeccable. While I have since become more of a regular at Bluefin, I always go back to Angotei for the more traditional style sushi and kappo.

So....where else in the area can someone recommend the same style, vibe and price range as Angotei?

We like Ikko but it is more freestyle modern sushi and the prices are much higher. We also go to Fuji Yama in Newport Beach a lot as bargain sushi (it is walking distance from our house) but they lack many more traditional items that we like.

Help.

[kelvlam]

Just curious... is angotei still a valid and good place in OC for sushi? I'm on a hunt for the list of sushi joints in OC :-)

any hounder been there lately that can chime in?

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Ango Tei
675 Paularino Ave Ste 5, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[kelvlam]

I went there last night, cause I was passing by and I saw this thread of the whole idea of "Angotei era"... I don't think I'll be back again. $$$, and I'm under-whelm by their food.

I only snap a picture of the front of the plastic menu... on the back were the drinks. And a bottle of Kubota Manju is $200?! (they said it's the 1.8L size I think)... I wonder if they have the smaller size. I don't wanna bleed my wallet to death... :-(

http://www.yelp.com/biz/angotei-costa...

[Jettsetter]

I've gone there recently and was disappointed. The new sushi chefs had a pissed off look on their face. Mind you we went on a Sunday and nobody was in that place except my wife and I. The fish was just not the same and while the Softshell Crab was done the same, the bill was ridiculous. Way more than what I used to pay. The plate of Toro Sushi was alone $35... which is definitely not what the old owners used to charge.

I'm likely not going back there. so sad. It was really my favorite.

[Lau]

ate here this week, i thought it was generally comparable to what it was before, but a little worse. I mean it generally was similar, but I thought the cuts of fish were slightly below what it used to be (although its probably been about a year since the last time I ate there)

[lawdog262]

The Angotei era ended for me abuot two years ago when I was introduced to Koi on PCH in Seal Beach. As much as I liked Angotei, Koi is in a different class altogether -- a lot more variety and simply superior fish. We started going there when we lived on the Balboa Peninsula, and it was easily worth the drive.

[justagthing]

So nice to hear the comparison as it is my favorite place by far. I was going to venture to try some others, but it sure is hard when I have tended to be disappointed when comparing to Koi. Taka rules!

[edtoxic]

So sad! Is Goro, Judy, and company opening a new restaurant... perhaps a larger one? We must find out!!

I can't imagine they've decided to just stop - even if they made a fortune with Angotei, what will they do now... everyone there is so young... there must be a new restaurant coming? Anyone know anything?

[cdmedici]

The restaurant is not closing. They sold it to a new owner. Hiro-san is staying on as well. Goro and Judy just had another baby (that makes two) so I imagine she will be be a full time mom. I don't know what Goro-san will be doing in the near future.

[carioca]

We had dinner at Ango Tei this past Saturday and it was the best I've had to date. It was our first time so I'm not sure who the fellow behind the sushi bar was but we left our choices to him and we weren't disappointed.

[cdmedici]

I am curious. Was there the typical hour or two wait on a Saturday? If they are keeping the same menu, I am sure it will do just fine.

[carioca]

We got there at 6:30 and had to wait 25-30 minutes. Not too bad.

[exilekiss]

Hey cdmedici,

Thanks for the 411. Very sad that they are selling.

You should definitely try Shibucho in Costa Mesa. IMHO, THE best traditional Sushi Bar in the OC. Very fresh and Shibutani-san is a master. :)

The last time I went, Omakase for Lunch was only $25 per person(!!!), which is steal.

Sushi Shibucho
590 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
[phone]
http://www.chow.com/places/6159

[cdmedici]

Yet another great choice. I love that place. The only problem is that my wife LOVES kappo style dishes that Angotei would cook. She doesn't go for the raw stuff (yet she loves uni, natto and mountain potato...weird).

Does Sushi Shibucho do authentic cooked dishes as well?

[exilekiss]

Hey cdmedici,

Ah. Well Shibucho focuses on the sushi. If you want Kappo style dishes, my favorite in the area would be Kappo Honda.

They have some great traditional Izakaya dishes, nice Sake Menu, and some of the best cold Soba around (as a nice surprise).:

Kappo Honda
18450 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, CA
[phone]

http://www.chow.com/places/18204

[cdmedici]

Thanks exilekiss,

We really enjoy Kappo Honda and Honda Ya (same owners). What was so great about Angotei is that is was the best of both worlds. Yes I know that Honda Ya has sushi but...it is kind of terrible.

There is of course Izakaya Zero in HB that serves both sushi and cooked dishes and it is very good. Takashi Abe of Bluefin owns it but it is pretty pricey to fill my belly. I would rather just go to Bluefin.

[I got nothin]

here's a review of Kappo Sui on Redhill(Santa Ana)/Bristol in Costa Mesa/Santa Ana Heights:

http://www.ocweekly.com/food/feature-...

[cdmedici]

I went to Bluefin for dinner last Friday and Takashi Abe just hired the chef from Kappo Sui to work the Kappo dishes in the kitchen. All the cooked stuff was super stellar that night.

[1000steps]

Too bad. I used to eat there religiously back in the early 90's. Not so much lately since Costa Mesa is not in my reg. haunts. I remember great sushis and a crapshoot for waiting at the small bar.

[Wonginator]

Never went to Ango Tei, so I'm not sure what it's like, but have you tried Taka Sushi? Was a local favorite when he was located in Tustin, and moved to Costa Mesa a couple of years ago. Just down the street at the corner of Baker and Fairview.

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Taka Sushi
2969 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[cdmedici]

I forgot about Taka. I used to frequent his place in Tustin. I have been to his new location a week or so after it opened. I will have to give it another try. The price point was about the same...I think.

[Lau]

ah damn it...this is one of my reasonably regular spots for good sushi when i go home to see my parents...whats replacing it???

[cdmedici]

It was bought by someone who is going to keep it a sushi bar. Maybe there wont be any change. That certainly was not the case when Osaka Kappo in Tustin was sold though. That place is BAD now.

[carter]

Hisafume Endo bought the place and is keeping it Ango Tei, as of December 19, 2007. Try it and report back on the changes, or not!

[cdmedici]

I was told that the new owner owns revolving sushi bars in OC. Is this the same person?