About

Dr. Watanabe was always intrigued by medicine because his father was a pharmacist who worked with many physicians. He enjoys interacting with his patients, and finds each one unique. He spends most of his free time with his wife and two daughters. He also enjoys swimming, hiking and many other sports.

Dr. Watanabe is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in Family Medicine at UC Irvine.

Languages

English, Spanish

Provider Specialty

Family Medicine, Primary Care

Areas of Care

Education

Medical School

Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara

1984

Internship Program - Family Medicine

Prince Georges Hospital Center

1986

Residency Program - Family Medicine

University of California - Irvine Medical Center

1989

Fellowship Program - Family Medicine

University of California - Irvine Medical Center

1990

Locations & Affiliations

Locations

Insurance

Please consult your health care provider or health plan for the most accurate information about your health plan’s coverage of a particular health care service offered at a MemorialCare facility. Learn more about our Accepted Health Plans.

Patient Reviews

4.9 out of 5
(500 Ratings)
Sep 4, 2026
Erika R.
Sep 2, 2026
Joel C.
Dr. Watanabe is very thorough and asks all the necessary questions in order to assess his patients health and health needs, both physical and mental. He’s also really cool and full of laughs. Laughter is a necessary medicine in life, and Dr. Watanabe is a good source of that healing medicine.
Aug 31, 2026
Deborah R.
He’s your very best
Aug 31, 2026
Erika O.
Aug 31, 2026
Jennifer S.
Dr Watanabe is always right on target. He makes appts entertaining.
Aug 31, 2026
Thomas S.
Aug 28, 2026
Michael M.
Aug 26, 2026
Mario A.
Just keep up the good work
Aug 26, 2026
Jean P.
Dr. Watanabe is a doctor who has a tremendous amount of integrity. He not only has the experience, but has kept up with current knowledge. He cares about his patients and treats you as a person and not just a number.. He has been instrumental in the improvemeny of my health. I am deeply appreciative of the efforts and that he listens to me.
Aug 25, 2026
Lorena E.
Doctor Watanabe is always very informative, and thorough. Easy to talk to for any issues. There’s only one reason I would not recommend him and that’s because he’s always so booked in advance because everybody loves him. Lol.

Source: Reviews are aggregated from third-party review sites such as Facebook, Google, HealthGrades, RepuGen, Vitals, WebMD, and Yelp.