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Sushi Ii Enters a New Chapter as Sushi Suhama in Newport Beach

10.20.26

Sushi Ii, the intimate Japanese restaurant on Newport Beach’s Mariner’s Mile, has entered a new chapter as Sushi Suhama.

The new name nods to both the restaurant’s Japanese roots and the coastline it calls home. Suhama is an ancient Japanese term for a beautiful or picturesque shoreline, a fitting echo of the Newport Beach waterfront. Renowned Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto was commissioned to help shape this next chapter and chose the name himself. One of his celebrated seascapes will hang in the dining room.

While the name is new, the restaurant is not starting over. The same intimate setting and culinary team remain at the heart of Sushi Suhama, along with its commitment to seasonality, craftsmanship and traditional Japanese technique. The Michelin Guide has recognized the restaurant six times since it opened, a distinction it carries forward.

Alongside the new identity, the restaurant has refined its omakase offerings into three distinct experiences:

Menus in each course continue to change with the seasons and the availability of ingredients at their peak.

Chefs Norio Izawa and Koji Takahashi continue to lead the kitchen, alongside Director Natsuko Travioli. Izawa oversees the kaiseki program, drawing on his training in respected kitchens in Tokyo and Kanazawa and his experience at Nobu in New York and Bluefin in Newport Beach. Takahashi, who has been with the restaurant since it opened and brings nearly four decades of experience to his craft, leads the sushi program. Chef Tatsushi Wakabayashi, who joined about a year ago from Nobu, Ikko and Oshima, works alongside him.

That attention to detail extends beyond the menu, from the ceramics chosen for each presentation to the intimate counter and the unhurried pace of service. Sushi Suhama remains rooted in the Japanese belief that hospitality is expressed through the smallest of details. 

Sushi Suhama is located at 100 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

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Sushi-Ten USA opens Sushi Blissba in Cypress

10.20.26

Sushi Blissba, the newest concept from SUSHI-TEN USA, has opened in Cypress. The group also operates Sushi Nigiriba in Culver City and Huntington Beach, and it created this latest restaurant with the Cypress community in mind.

The name pairs “bliss,” or great happiness, with “ba,” the Japanese word for place. It reflects the idea of koufuku (口福), which combines the characters for “mouth” and “happiness” to capture the joy of a delicious meal.

Led by Corporate Chef Masaya Minyu, the restaurant offers an a la carte menu and coursed dining experiences. Traditional Japanese dishes sit alongside creative plates that blend Eastern and Western ingredients. Highlights include a sashimi boat, tamagoyaki (a traditional rolled egg dish) and anago, saltwater conger eel torched tableside. The menu also features nigiri, rolls, gunkan, grilled skewers and fish, cold appetizers such as edamame, and desserts such as matcha mochi monaka.

Coursed experiences range from $32 to $58 at lunch and $46 to $128 at dinner. The $82 signature dinner includes an appetizer trio, miso soup, edamame, a choice of nigiri, black cod miso, steamed egg, a temari ball-shaped hand roll, conger eel and a choice of dessert. Drinks include sake, beer, wine, chu-hi, green tea and soft drinks.

The clean, modern space is designed for everyday meals and special occasions alike. It seats 118 guests across the dining room, a 10-seat sushi bar and a spacious outdoor patio. Curved architectural details, wood accents, arched openings and vertical paneling create a welcoming feel, while pops of red and decorative lighting add character.

Sushi Blissba is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.Sushi Blissba opens in Cypress

Sushi Blissba, the newest concept from SUSHI-TEN USA, has opened in Cypress. The group also operates Sushi Nigiriba in Culver City and Huntington Beach, and it created this latest restaurant with the Cypress community in mind.

The name pairs “bliss,” or great happiness, with “ba,” the Japanese word for place. It reflects the idea of koufuku (口福), which combines the characters for “mouth” and “happiness” to capture the joy of a delicious meal.

Led by Corporate Chef Masaya Minyu, the restaurant offers an a la carte menu and coursed dining experiences. Traditional Japanese dishes sit alongside creative plates that blend Eastern and Western ingredients. Highlights include a sashimi boat, tamagoyaki (a traditional rolled egg dish) and anago, saltwater conger eel torched tableside. The menu also features nigiri, rolls, gunkan, grilled skewers and fish, cold appetizers such as edamame, and desserts such as matcha mochi monaka.

Coursed experiences range from $32 to $58 at lunch and $46 to $128 at dinner. The $82 signature dinner includes an appetizer trio, miso soup, edamame, a choice of nigiri, black cod miso, steamed egg, a temari ball-shaped hand roll, conger eel and a choice of dessert. Drinks include sake, beer, wine, chu-hi, green tea and soft drinks.

The clean, modern space is designed for everyday meals and special occasions alike. It seats 118 guests across the dining room, a 10-seat sushi bar and a spacious outdoor patio. Curved architectural details, wood accents, arched openings and vertical paneling create a welcoming feel, while pops of red and decorative lighting add character.

Sushi Blissba is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

Sushi Blissba is located at 5253 Katella Ave., Suite 120 in Cypress. 

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