Hapi

We came to Hapi after a glowing recommendation from a couple that we
met while in Laguna. They told us that they've been driving from the
city of Orange to Laguna to eat at Hapi every Sunday for years. With
that kind of recommendation we were sold and went the very next day.
Open since 1983, it's practically hidden between shops on a side street.
It was a tiny little place with a half dozen places to sit besides the sushi
bar. It's tropical decor with an inkling of an oceanview down an
alleyway fits right in with this beach town. They don't have a menu, per
say, and reading the few daily specials can leave you feeling lost if your
shy. When the chef gives you his attention, just speak up and let them
know what you're craving. Our friendly chef, Sota has been at Hapi now
for 7 years, and has served us well on both of our visits here. We gave
him free reign to conjure up some adventure for our pallets. He
suggested one of his favorites the Stuffed Mushroom Special with spicy
yellowtail stuffed into mushrooms, tempura battered, cooked till golden
and served with a killer sweet curry sauce. This is a great one for those
afraid of raw fish since the deep frying cooks the yellowtail. We ordered
the Spicy Yellowtail Roll which was nice enough with the sprouts,
scallions and carrots, but we absolutely liked the best Sota's own
summer creation, the Alaska Roll. It was an amazingly light and
different roll filled with Alaskan Salmon, chopped crab, avocado, radish
sprouts, cucumber, a bit of rice, then dotted with Sriracha (a spicy red
sauce) and a sweet sesame sauce and finally wrapped in soybean
paper. We were in awe of this roll, excellent job Sota! Another
refreshing roll was without rice, stuffed with crab and wrapped in
cucumber peel. I asked Sota what it was called and he really didn't
know what to call it, finally saying it's a Cucumber Especial. The Y2K Roll
had seared albacore, salmon, carrot, cucumber, a little rice and the
interesting addition of asparagus. Finally we tried the most unusual of
rolls yet, the 79 Roll. This roll had tempura battered tuna, eel, avocado,
a sweet sesame sauce and get this.....STRAWBERRY! I love funky stuff!
Hapi is open for lunch until 3 p.m. and open again for dinner at 5 p.m.
and closing when everyone is done feasting, this could be 9:30 p.m. or
even 1 a.m. The average price for the rolls were about $8. They also
served Japanese Noodles, Miso Soup and other non-sushi items which I
paid no attention to. Oh and by the way, before you assume like I did
that they didn't know how to spell "happy", "Hapi" is the half-kimono
that Japanese chefs wear. Aren't I just so full of information?

Located at 250 Beach in Laguna Beach.

Telephone (949) 494-9109