Sushi Momo

Sushi Momo is in revived & revitalized Old Town Fullerton which is now a happening hangout for the under 40's set. The old brick building is long & narrow to provide numerous Sushi bar seating which was filled to the gills by 7pm on a Saturday night. It's a casual restaurant w/ huge models of tropical fish swimming on the walls; bamboo stick lattice denoting a loungy space; back door patio dining when the weather is fine. We were seated & taken care of by Chef Shigè (Shee geh) who works here Thursdays through Saturdays. He is an old hand at the art of Edomaè (eh doh mah eh) Sushi/classic Tokyo style, but is also cognizant of the newer sometimes iconoclastic Sushi w/ its epicenter in California. Sushi Momo may be the only Sushi restaurant in all of Fullerton that employs native Japanese speaking chefs whom I particularly appreciate since that many times indicates a more instinctive Japanese rooted knowledge of the target cuisine. We asked for Omakasè (oh mah kah seh) which is equivalent to French Table d'Hôte where the chef chooses the best he has to offer to the customer as well as sizing up the customer to give the best experience possible. 1) Seafood Salad of mixed fresh greens which included Radicchio colored red & white and had chunks of fatty Hamachi/yellowtail, salmon, small scallops, octopus, shrimp, topped w/ Masago roe & sweetened long, neon green seaweed in a richer version of Ponzu (pone zoo) made w/ soy sauce, bonito broth, lemon, Japanese rice vinegar) but also added sugar & nutty sesame oil to produce a more Pokè-like Hawai'ian version which ultimately references itself back to Japanese cuisine. 2) Hiramè (hee rah meh)/halibut which was light, subtle ocean sweet & was dressed w/ Momiji Oroshi/grated Daikon radish & chile purée & finely diced green onion in a light Ponzu sauce. 3) Octopus was for textural contrast to all the other soft, velvety textures of the previous seafood as well as all the other Sushi or Sashimi afterwards. Chewy, clean, neutral w/ just a bit of Shichimi To-garashi/7 spice chile powder sprinkled on to enliven the fibrous subtle flavor of the octopus. 1-3a) Hakutsuru Junmai Ginjo Sakè (sah keh) is a touch sweet, flavours of ripe Japanese pears, touch melon & licorice mintiness w/ a light refreshing bitterness to balance the sweetness. Nice fruity palate cleanser to all the above more delicate tastes. 4) Fatty belly of Shakè (shah keh)/salmon w/ fatty slice of aguacate to create double unctuous richness. 5) Fatty Hamachi looking like the rose colored dawn touched w/ Yuzu Kosho-, a paste of Yuzu citrus zest & chiles, was a nice limey, piquant counterpoint to the rich oily meatiness. 6) Seared Shiro Maguro/albacore had a whitened outer layer from the heat & light pinkish plush meat. Light in flavor w/ sliced onion & green onion in Ponzu sauce. The surprise was a slug of pureed garlic that added an earthy, funky, smokiness to the subtle meatiness of the albacore. 7) "Ceviche" which is served in most Latin American regions was a mélange of East Asian influences in that the sauce took on what looked like thickened Korean Gochujang fermented chile sauce, addition of red Chinese chile oil. Scallops & salmon were swimming in this crimson sea. 4-7a) Taru Sakè is more astringent, dry, woody from Sugi no Ki/Japanese cedar barrel aging & was strong enough to hold up to all the fatty, heavier fishiness. It even took in stride the garlic funkiness. This is my first time to Sushi Momo so I don't know its standard portion of fish to rice ratio, but the seafood was most generous so that by this time, I was stuffed, and had to tell Chef Shigè, "Ko-san", I give up. He cut up an elegant fresh orange dessert drizzled w/ an orange liqueur that emphasized even more the smooth, low acid mellow citrus aromatics. Elegant end to a great meal. Chef Shigè rocks. Satisfying 4 stars, and the price was surprisingly reasonable & did not break the bank.

delicious, every time! Must try a Cowboy roll.

Really surprisingly fresh fish even though what I ate was likely not the market fresh stuff. Sushi and roll was great and the beer was ice cold. Devinn was very attentive and an awesome server! She took good care of me considering how busy she was. Will definitely be back

I have been enjoying sushi momo for ever. Always clean, fresh, fun, artistic, beautifully presented, & most importantly, YUMMY food. Everyone I have suggested this restaurant to has felt the same. Gracious host and courteous associates. Consistent excellence may necessitate time, but I haven't experienced any service unworthy of compliment. Thank you.

This spot is my favored. I eat in a lot of restaurants but to this place I go the most. The stuff is very attentive and the cuisine they serve is so yummy. I never decline to have a decent meal in this place. I recommend this place with pleasure.