242 Cafe Fusion Sushi

My wife and I are true sushi snobs and we rate 242 as one of our top 5 sushi restaurants ever! Miki and Lizzy are amazing and have created some of the most flavorful dishes I have ever tasted. Their use of beet infused truffle oil is masterful. The fish is fresh and every roll, nigiri or sashimi is bursting with flavor!

An amazing approach to sushi. Not your traditional dishes. Love the Laguna Canyon roll. This is healthy sushi meets healthy salads. The result is fantastic. Thumbs up!

This place was recommended by a friend from out of state. She said it was a MUST and one of the best sushi places she’s ever been to.
Before heading there I did some research so we can have a heads up. Yes, the place is tiny. Yes, the wait can be long. Yes, the food is amazing. Yes, no soy sauce!
We had the Stadium which was to die for! Another dish was the mozzarella appetizer. I would never imagine having mozz at a sushi place but it turned out good. The flavors were different and mixed together brought a great experience. We also ordered the M45 which is a roll. No soy sauce/​wasabi mixture is necessary with the one of a kind flavors that the sushi chef mixes together.
Finally, we decided to add on tuna and salmon sashimi before walking out. Let’s just say it was the most amazing sashimi we have ever had. Very fresh and served on ice! What is better than ice cold sashimi?!?
All together we were totally satisfied with this place and want to share it with everyone we know. We did wait 45 minutes but it was totally worth it and we knew it would be a wait going into it so maybe that’s why it felt like 5 mins instead. Lol
Kudos to the chef and all her staff!

Overall:
This place is awesome! The restaurant was created by a woman and run by women only as well. If you’re looking for sushi fusion, this place should be on your next place to check out. The restaurant has ton of choices to select from including raw, cooked or vegetarian options along with subtle flavoring you never imagined would go well with sushi.
Food:
Cappuccino soup — This reminds me of a miso soup mixed with plum flavoring. It’s not as creamy as miso, but it’s definitely very flavorful. It comes with a cup of the soup and a spoon with the plum flavoring (it is a white jelly texture). Inside the soup has bits of green onion, a type of clear tapioca ball, and other surprising delicious items. One of my favorite items to get here!
Oyster Trio (I believe it was called the moon night or moonlight) — it had three shucked oysters with a raw quail egg and ponzu sauce and green onions. It was very flavorful and yummy. Only one of my oysters has a quail egg, so I was a bit disappointed because I was sharing with my boyfriend and he didn’t get to try it with the egg. I wasn’t sure if it only came with one egg or if it was late and they forgot to add it on the other two or maybe that’s why it’s called moon light to represent one moon?
Sweet shrimp with truffle sauce — If you love truffle oil, which is a VERY strong taste of mushroom — than this is the item for you. It was raw shrimp with a mix or truffle sauce and a sour sauce (I’m assuming vinegar mix). It also comes along with the fried head of the shrimp, which is also edible and delicious.
Scallop with truffle oil — It was prepared the same way as the sweet shrimp above. Definitely another one of my favorites. It was so good that I forgot to take a photo!
Calamari with plum paste — I liked this one. It was unique with the plum flavoring. My boyfriend thought it was a little too chewy.
Toro prepared 4 different ways — originally I was going to get Toro with sauce ($ 11) but the waitress recommended that I get the 4 piece prepared differently for $ 14. The Toro was so soft that it just melts in your mouth. A must try!
Sweet pepper — My boyfriend picked one of the vegetarian option. It was a sweet yellow pepper that was prepared one in a furikake seasoning, while the other one had a ginger seasoning. It wasn’t bad but not my favorite.
Foie Gras sushi — I love Foie Gras. It’s fatty and buttery and it just melts in your mouth. Another must try if you don’t mind liver. It’s not as gamey as regular liver either.
Uni with Koji sea salt — I love Uni and this was buttery, creamy and salty — yum! Definitely a must get!
Service:
Everyone seems really nice. The service is quick and the two times that I’ve ventured to this spot, there’s only one waitress and she’s super nice and friendly as well.
Environment:
This restaurant is located by the beach! What else could you ask for? It’s an awesome spot to eat at first and then walk around to the local shops to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks or grab some ice cream at the local dessert parlor nearby. If you’re too full afterwards, it’s also in a great location where you can just take a stroll on the beach as well.

amazing… sushi will never be the same. redefined. sauces are remarkable and you will never miss the soy sauce or wasabi. the place that we now measure all other sushi experiences against.

There is no Sushi like this. Hands down the best
I have ever had! The wait was 1 hour and well worth it. If you are ever in Laguna– this is a must!!!

A little costly. A tiny place and can be a long wait. Small prices to pay for this wonderful sushi experience.
No soy sauce is the policy. You won’t miss it. Chef Miki’s unique sauces are paired perfectly with her unique creations. Try the Hawaiian Open Sea, a mixed green salad with seared tuna. Sounds boring, tastes amazing. Or the Hug Me Roll, made with tuna, and banana. Sounds horrible, tastes delicious. The extensive menu features all sorts of these surprising dishes. My wife’s favorite is the Tomato Balloon, my son’s is Sun and Cloud. To find out what they are, go. Oh, and don’t miss the Frozen Crème Brulee for dessert.

In from out of town. Staying at the inn at Laguna. Saw positive reviews here so since we were drinking we walked across the street.
Not a clean first impression but the food was great. Miki was nice but Susan was our sushi chef. Friendly and polite and made awesome food!
Definitely a place to eat at. Susan will create some great sushi for you.

Discovered this little gem on a walk around my new neighborhood. Stopped in with my boyfriend that same night and we are SO glad we did. Where to begin!
We started out with the live scallops (special for the night) which were absolutely amazing. We then tried a few different types of nigiri specials (my boyfriend loved the Uni) and had the sweet shrimp as well. The BBQ eel hand roll was AMAZING — probably my second favorite thing we tried that night. I love that everything came with its own sauce, no soy sauce needed. It is a true labor of love from the chefs who carefully pair the sauces for each dish.
Top favorite was a recommendation from our waitress, black snapper with cherry blossom. It was amazing.
It was so much fun discussing the different flavors of everything over dinner, and the organic Saki was a delicious way to wash everything down.
The menu is HUGE — we will definitely be back to explore some more options soon!

I’m all the way in Paris and I’m dreaming of you guys and your most amazing sushi dishes. I especially love the specials and suggest anyone who has never given this spot a try to do so immediately. My most favorite sushi spot ever found to date — lucky me its in my favorite town — Laguna.
Can’t wait to come back home and visit you guys for an artistic sushi orgasm (sorry for the reference but it’s true)!

Oh my goodness… This place is great! It’s so small, but we were able to sneak into a corner spot at the bar on Sunday afternoon. We ordered hot sake. Mmm. And the beef carpaccio was delicious. Mmm Mmm. Since my husband is not so adventurous, we had the California cut roll and also asked for a salmon cut roll– not technically on the menu, but they made it all the same. I did spy a salad someone else ordered that looked just beautiful, but I can’t comment on the taste. I was overall very pleased with the interior décor, the service, and the food! The menu is extensive and everything is very meticulously explained. I also didn’t think it was any more expensive than any other sushi I’ve had. Not sure why they’re listed as $$$ when other places with similar prices are only $$, but I’d rather pay the extra $ because I feel like it was well worth it.

I’m visiting and my über driver let know how this place was the current rage. It was great. Amazing sushi but not intimidating or fancy. It’s just good food and creative. There’s a lot on the menu so that’s overwhelming but only in the best way. Super small but I hope they stay this way. I also hope I get to go back while in town.

This place is amazing in flavors! Fusion wise, it’s one of the best fusion I’ve ever had that is also non-​offensive. Everything was so aesthetically crafted and bold in flavors. A lot of sashimis are very bland in general and the places would include wasabi and soy sauce to cater to your taste, but this place is making soy sauce taboo, and I can see why. There’s no need to use it! In fact, to use it would offend the quality that the chef has put out.
Honestly for the price they charge, it is outrageously cheap for the things they produce. 20 $ for a place of sashimi that is crafted and seasoned so beautifully. Its like eating art. I had their rolls 16 $ a plate, the cherry blossom, but it was a miss for me. Nothing out of the ordinary and a bit of a let down. But their sashimi is well known, the Snow White and PG is amazing. Try it, you won’t regret it.
The place is family owned I believe and it has a very homely interior. But if you find a necessity to have soy sauce and gonna complain about it, don’t come here to get angry and down rate base on soy sauce. Check it out! It’s a great sushi joint. Definitely one of the best for sashimi!

My first experience with a 242 fusion sushi was quite epic, a little corner spot looking across the street from the beach, all women who work and run this hot spot. Susan the chef de cuisine was like a ninja working side by side to the owner Miki, the restaurant had a great vibe, music selection of 80’s and the Food was very visual and flavorful, Rico the bartender and server was equally working her tail off but was very knowledgable with the sake, food and was very helpful, Susan made me the omakase which is a tasting menu of sorts5/​8 course depending on your appetite and price your willing to go. Usually $ 60 to start. But as a chef myself I was sold and ready to tell my friends about this place ! I’m looking forward to my next visits and fusion sushi experiences !

This place was recommended to us by a family friend and it was a great recommendation small little place but the sushi was unbelievable. I can’t believe people would wait an hour and a half just to eat but once we have the food we understood why. There was a beautiful waitress her name was Rico and she busted her ass she was the only server in the place but she made it seem like we were the only customers there. The level of service was A+ if I could give 7 stars I would but you’re up on the last five I’ll definitely be coming back

The most unique and amazing sushi combinations. i recommend ordering off the specials plate menu– sexy truffle is to die for! Note, there is no wasabi or soy sauce. I was bummed about this but you don’t miss it and everything is so flavorful it would ruin the sushi. Atmosphere is laid back and super fun!

The best way i can sum up Café 242 is through this analogy… Pretend café 242 is the Matrix, I’m Morpheus and you reading are Neo. Now, in the first movie Morpheus asks Neo if he wants to take the red pill or the blue pill. The blue pill (the Matrix) signifies every sushi joint you’ve ever been too, even your favorite spot that you swear is the best sushi ever. The red pill signifies Café 242, once you go eat here you can never go back to anything else, I’m serious! This place is no joke, your eyes will be opened, so much so you’ll be pissed to eat at any other sushi restaurant after coming here. The Sexy hand-​roll, Laguna Canyon roll, and the assorted sashimi with truffle oil and shaved truffle heaven on each piece is to die for!!!

I have been going to another sushi restaurant for years until a friend of mine raved about the Laguna Canyon Roll served at 242 Café Fusion Sushi. I reluctantly went out of my usual sushi routine to try this roll.
I am not easily impressed because I have been eating amazing sushi since I was 12yrs old but when I sat down in the cozy one room restaurant with a unique and earth-​like «artsy» aesthetic I knew I was in for something different. The waitress was very nice and I told her I had come to try this infamous Laguna Canyon Roll. Within 10min an understated roll arrived with salad camouflaging it. I forked my way past the leafy greens dressed in a citrus like olive oil to the main roll. I took one bite and was sold! It hit my tastebuds like I have never experienced with sushi before. The roll was filling and words cannot describe the amazing flavor – you must try yourself to understand!
I’ve been back for that roll 3 times already.
I told the friend that had recommended it to me and they said «oh you have to try the Sexy Hand Roll»
Now I will go back to try the Sexy Hand Roll which I’m sure I will love. I am looking forward to the exciting creations that come from 242 because as I have learned, they are one-​of-​a-​kind!
Please go, for the sake of amazing sushi.

Amazing food.
They should replace the sub-​par eastern european waitress, because she sort of taints the experience of this otherwise amazing restaurant. I can’t say enough about the quality of the food. It certainly is sushi art, and the quality of the food is good.

Sushi chef Miki is my hero! We surprisingly got seated rather quickly around 6pm on a Sunday. It took some time to get our orders of sushi & rolls, but you can see there are only 2 ppl making the sushi for the restaurant. Every item was thoughtfully crafted, made with care, & creativity. I was very impressed with Miki’s style of combining so many unique ingredients. (I am a daughter of a retired sushi chef too.) It may get pricey, but it is well worth the work/​skill & ingredients that go into the dishes!

Café Fusion never disappoint me. I’m a sushi lover and I have to admit this quaint places is lot of fun when you finally get seated. I’m normally not a patient person to wait to be seated at a restaurant, but this place totally worth it. Service was great, very attentive waitress, plate were being taking away quickly, water was refill often.
It’s the food that definitely makes this place #1. All the sashimi we had were amazing, great quality fish and good portions. I would love to do Omakese on my next visit.
Parking is very easy and convenience, you can park right in front of the restaurant on PCH.
It can get pretty hot inside, so dress very light

We finally decided to try this place after everyone has raved about it. (We live down the street) We went on a Friday got there about 6pm. Our wait for two was about 45 minutes. Not terrible. Others after us waited much longer. The place is small so it wouldn’t be accommodating for large parties, this place probably seats 25 people. Service was excellent, our server was very patient and friendly considering how busy it was. Food was amazing! We ordered sushi rolls that were unique to the restaurant starting with a sashimi plate, I think it was called Snow White. Very refreshing. The Herb Ripper (not sure if this is right) was not on the menu but was my favorite! It’s a rainbow roll piled with greens and tomatoes. Laguna Canyon Roll was also amazing. The Lava Roll was delicious, especially the sauce The roll was wrapped in chard. Food is served on a slower rate so don’t expect the majority of your rolls at once. Maybe they were short on staff. I will definitely be going back.
Be ready to wait in a line.

Chef Miki creates delicious art. Must utilize all five senses to fully appreciate each dish.
Not only delicious, the ingredients are all healthy.
My recent favorite is Panther Meadows — inspired by the vortex in Mount Shasta.
It’s been a while since I became speechless and put down my chopsticks to savor the flavors to that extent. AMAZING

Frankly hearing the word «fusion» immediately makes me skeptical but this place does it RIGHT. I had a beautiful meal here last night with a group of 5. The place is definitely on the cozy side but we enjoyed the intimate setting.
I think the word «unique» best describes this restaurant. From the painstakingly descriptive menu to the dioramas on the walls to the lovely plates and jaunty presentations, I have never really been to a restaurant quite like this before.
I enjoyed everything we ordered (and we ordered a few «chef’s surprise» rolls too, which I recommend doing). But the standout dish was the «Iridescent Clouds» — slices of sashimi with 3 or 4 beautiful delicate pastel-​colored sauces (we tasted coriander, pink pepper, and curry notes).
It’s annoying that a customer below gave this place a 1-​star review just for slow service when she specifically said the food was quality. What an entitled attitude. The service was certainly not fast for us, but it was reasonable and similar to the pace of a meal you might have in Europe. Perfect for a group of friends not in a hurry who appreciate the time, thought, and artistry that goes into every plate of food here.

Love this place. The menu is always changing to use to ingredients of the season. They are always innovating combining textures and favors that always go together. The wait can be long on the weekend owing to its popularity.

The service is painstaking slow, to the point it really ruins the dinner experience. They are not run efficiently at all, and in my opinion are inconsiderate to customers. They charge enough for their rolls, Hire help!
Anyway, the rolls are amazing. It’s just too bad the service is below par.
This review is based on coming here for a few years.

To die for … Never going to any other sushi place … These chefs are talented and make yummy art. Worth every penny … The Laguna canyon roll and the wholly holy and not to mention dessert crème brûlée that’s a must.

I love the sushi here! And you can’t beat their tiny little spot. Park anywhere near and you’ll have a nice walk. What I LOVE doing is hiking one of the many awesome trails in Laguna, then coming here to get a good fix on sushi. The first time I did that, I parked in the canyon, hiked up to Top of The world, walked down Park Ave, then to here and walked back to the car parked in the canyon. Definitely a rewarding night!
The first time I ate here, I didn’t get an authentic vibe, but that’s only because it’s different than the standard sushi places. If anything, Fusion is probably MORE authentic than what we’re used to.
They put crazy fresh flavors together and everything just explodes in your mouth.
Recommended!

So disappointed. I was looking forward to coming back here and have let friends from all across the country know about this hidden gem. I am never coming back after last nights visit. The wait was not long. There was a gentleman who arrived at the same time. A spot at the bar opened up and also a table was clearing. He grabbed the bar seat we got the table.
We started off with some sake and beer. Ordered cherry blossom, give me/​you energy (sashimi) a tiger roll, a baked roll and the moth whatever which was the mozzarella bites app.
Took about 30 min to get the app and the first sashimi plate. Mind you the place was half empty and no where near as full as it was during my last visit where we received great service and incredible food. I asked the man at the bar if he had gotten any food yet and he responded with «oh yeah, I’ve had two rolls already. Over two hours later we still had not gotten our full order. No checking in, no «your food will be right out», nothing. She was busy chatting up another table and was talking about how she’s from Lithuania or something. At this point I walked out, told my husband to pay for what we consumed and leave. She asked if we wanted the last roll to go, to which the answer was no but we did pay for it. Over two hour wait in a half empty sushi restaurant where most of the food is RAW is unacceptable.
The food is quality the service was horrendous.

I’ve been to many sushi places but this places is definitely on top of all!
Their rolls are unique and not like regular rolls you eat in any other place! The chef is very skilled and talented. The way she creates the rolls is amazing and every piece tastes amazing.
Whenever my friends come over for visit I bring them here since don’t want them to miss this amazing experience !
Overall i highly recommend everyone to check this place out!