This is a nice little spot inside the Mitsuwa food court. I got a 12 piece gyutan yaki a la carte on a Saturday afternoon. 12 pieces for $28 is more cost efficient than 8 pieces for $24, but it is a steep price for cuts of meat. It was super busy at this time but watching the meat get grilled in front of you is entertaining. It took just 5 minutes for my order to finish. This is simplicity at its finest. It's bare bones but tastes really good. It doesn't need a lot of help. The veggies are dressed so it's a bit salty and spicy (in a good way). The meat pairs well with the wasabi and veggies. Overall this is a good spot to eat at if you value taste over sustenance. Additionally since you are in the food court there this can be a side dish or appetizer. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, Gyutan Tsukasa offers charcoal-grilled beef tongue at an affordable price. Staff were friendly, and I got my food 10 minutes after ordering. There is plenty of seating in the food court for a quick sit down meal. I opted for the 12-piece Gyutan set, which cost around $35. They offer a generous portion of rice, served with their gyutan soup. Their pickled veggies were a nice palette cleanser. Onto the beef tongue, it was delicious. I wish the pieces were thicker slices. Whether they give portions by weight or just pieces, it was disappointing when some pieces were drastically smaller than others. Flavors were pleasant with the beef tongue taste, but lacking a touch of salt. Overall, Gyutan was good! Would definitely come back to enjoy quality beef tongue. The meat was tender, and the meal was filling. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A filling and delicious meal from a food court restaurant! This is my second time dining at Gyutan, and I am a fan of their Set A menu option which you receive a bowl of soup, rice, pickled vegetables, and a citrusy green onion topping. You can also choose from 8 or 12 pieces of beef tongue entree. Their beef tongue is very tender and the pieces are never chewy. I'm really impressed because it can be a rather tough meat, but their scoring and grilling are superb. My only complaint was learning that if you wanted to get Set A to-go, you must order Set B and the soup is not included. It is an extra $5 to add on. I assumed this is because of the extra cost to package the food. The set meal is already about $29 and the to-go set is closer to $33 with the soup add-on. Both sets are quite pricey for a lunch meal. The Mitsuwa food court is still busy even dining in on a Monday at lunch time. While less busy than on the weekends, both parking and seating are limited. read more

Cow tongue? Yessssss please!! If you haven't dined here you aren't as adventurous or the culinary expert you may think you are (wink). If you've never tried cow tongue this is definitely the place to try it. Grilled to perfection with the perfect flavor, I had their 8 piece meal served with a pickled salad that was made to pair perfectly with the beef, a soup that makes you feel at home and rice pilaf steamed just right. Come here for a fine dining experience in a food court! read more

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The Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa easily is the best one I've been to because of this establishment. They skipped the formality of waiting until 11:00 AM to open up and just served me outright at 10:45 AM...they must've known that I drove all the way from Santa Clarita to enjoy their delectable tongue goodness! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Oneness with the Universe...achieved! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is our go-to spot whenever we're in Orange County. You can't go wrong with the food; while the wait can sometimes be a bit of a hassle, it's always worth it. The portion sizes are perfect, and I love how systematic and organized the staff is, they really know how to get your food out in a timely manner. read more

Of the many different types of foods and dishes that I've tried over the years, there may not be one thing that I run more hot or cold on than beef tongue. When it's done right, I can eat mounds of it; when it's done wrong, I'm immediately reminded as to why I don't order it more often. So, I guess it makes sense that I'd inevitably find a place that leaves me somewhere in the middle, though, I never would've guessed it'd happen at a spot that specializes in it! Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace's food court, Gyutan Tsukasa is hard not to notice. Not only does it seem to be one of the busiest eateries here, but they're also potentially the loudest (they use a mic and speakers to call out order numbers). As for their menu, it's not very extensive, but, as their name suggests, nearly everything on it is centered around gyutan, which is Japanese for beef tongue. What's more, they offer it in a number of preparations - grilled gyutan, miso grilled gyutan, gyutan curry, gyutan soup, and gyutan balls, along with a variety of sides that are traditional complements, like omizuke and tororo (grated yam). -- (#1-A) 8PCS GYUTAN SET with Gyutan Soup and Rice...$27.52 Not quite as worth it compared to the Tsukasa Set, but solid if all you want is grilled gyutan. While the portion was pretty fair, it didn't take long for our tastebuds to get fatigued from the salt/seasoning on it. I really liked the soup, though - super comforting on a cold night. -- (#3) TSUKASA SET with Gyutan, Gyutan Stew, Tororo (Grated Yam), Gyutan Soup, Salad, and Rice...$27 This was a great way to try a little of several things, but it was kind of a mixed bag. Between the two, the traditional gyutan was better, as the pieces in the stew were a bit too soft. The tororo didn't do much for me either, but I LOVED the dressing on the salad - so good! Considering how so many people seem to be relatively high on Gyutan Tsukasa, part of me can't help but wonder if we just might have come here on an off day. The fact that we both found the gyutan to be a tad salty gives me reassurance it wasn't just me and the pieces of grilled gyutan were pretty tender, which was nice. Perhaps at some point I'll find myself back here again and can give them another shot, but with so many more places for me to knock off my list of bookmarks, that might come later rather than sooner. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - (#3) Tsukasa Set with Gyutan, Gyutan Stew, Tororo (Grated Yam), Gyutan Soup, Salad, and Rice - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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It's the legendary "Gyutan" inside Mitsuwa market food court. Price -wise I really think it should be $$$. Each time I come here and order a set (average $25-30) and if you come with friends or add any à la carte, then it easily goes up to $50! However, it's totally worth the price in my opinion. The best and authentic "Gyutan" you can find here. The curry sauce is equivocally delicious with other fellow restaurants that specialize in making curry. I like the Gyutan soup as well where you will have a lot of Tokyo "Negi" (green onions) in the clear broth. Drawback is that you need to eat in the food court and find your own seats. Take it as deluxe dining experience because of the quality food and devour the superior beef tongues! read more

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This food stall is located inside Mitsuwa Costa Mesa food court and it's bomb.com. I usually get #1B which is the large portion (12 pieces) of the beef tongue with soup and rice. The meat is sooooooo tender and flavorful. Service is friendly and quick! The food court is usually packed but we can usually find a table for a quick bite. And because it's inside a food court we usually get a variety of dishes from the restaurants inside and share. It's clean and brightly lit. Parking can be tricky at times. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Beef tongue combo - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wow...their beef tongue is amazing!! Super tender and marinated perfectly. It pairs very well with the pickled veggies. Be sure to also ask for some chili flakes on the side. This was such a delicious meal. The set comes with rice and soup as well. The soup was really good and the meat inside the soup was very tender as well. They are located inside the Mitsuwa food court. Service is friendly and pretty fast. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Beef Tongue - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've only recently heard about what gyutan is, and have been wanting to try it since the first time seeing it at this Mitsuwa. There's always a long wait for this dish, and honestly, I can understand why. I already enjoy Japanese bbq, and this beef tongue was a whole experience. Got the 12 piece, which came with rice and soup and was one of the best meals I've had recently. The smoky and charred bbq flavor on the beef tongue was perfect with the right amount of saltiness. Texture is pretty much what you'd expect from cuts of beef tongue but not too chewy. The rice and soup really balances out the meal. Would definitely get this dish again! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

As of 4/17/26, they no longer do take out orders. Every time we've visited Mitsuwa and the food court, we never got a chance to try Gyutan Tsukasa USA until last month. Gyutan Tsukasa USA is always busy and we were intrigued by the hype since the cost was higher than others. #1-B 12 pcs Gyutan Set The motto on their website "Once you try the oxtongue offered by Tsukasa, you don't want to go to the other oxtongue restaurants for Tsukasa's unique taste!" - and we agree! I've tried ox tongue at a few different restaurants and also even in Japan, but the one here at Tsukasa is most definitely different than the ones I have had at other restaurants in the U.S. The charcoal grilled ox tongue pieces were very thick, and of very good quality. They were easy to bite and chew, which is a huge plus in our books. Yes, the meal is simple, but sometimes a simple meal is the hardest to prepare. The soup was not oily at all and there were plenty of green onions and the oxtail pieces were so soft. Everything was fresh and delicious, from the main entree to the rice and the veggies, and not overly greasy in any way. Yes, the price is higher than others in the food court, but there is a reason why it is also one of the busiest. read more

The service was fast. Rice was interesting because it was not plain white rice. Beef tongue was delicious though but I'm not sure if I would pay $28 again for the set menu of 8 piece when I can have it at other korean bbqs. Food court setting! Look for your own seat! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Set menu 1A Gyutan Bento Box (8pc) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I got the volcano bowl to go! The beef tongue was solid and flavorful, but the portions are pretty small given the pricing. It came with soup as well, which had some meat at the bottom. The volcano bowl... it's some kind of ground meat that's a little spicy. The bowl came with some pickled vegetables, which I enjoyed. I think I wouldn't get the volcano bowl again, and I'd instead try other things on the menu. The order came out quickly! I ordered on a Wednesday around 5, and I got my order within 10 minutes. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Volcano bowl - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Sad because starting May, they no longer allow togo order for #1 set which is the one with the soup and rice. If you want the soup, it's $5 each. It's kinda ridiculous. read more

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Some of the best beef tongue I had. Even compared to one in Japan. It is pricy but the quality is there. I ask for the spicy pepper flakes too to sprinkle on everything read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Beef tongue?? Don't run away before you try it and it was my first time..it won't be my last! One of the few popular spots in the Mitsuwa Market. There was a line when I went but it went by quick. Plenty of seatings as this is located in a food court. I got the 8 piece bento box ($27) to go. It's best if you eat this hot but I microwaved it when I got home and it was still good! Tongue definitely has a different texture than regular beef but it's good. It has a good bounce to eat, not overcooked. Just right. I'll have to go back to try it fresh once it comes out! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - 8 piece 1-1. Gyutan Bento Box (8pc) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Really tender delicious beef tongue. No pics this time because we were hungry and demolished the set quickly. Tried the #1 8 piece set. In Mitsuwa food court. read more

One of the most popular beef tongue bbq grilled in Mitsuwa market. I have been to the place for the past 10 years and this spot still remains great service and delicious food. After the renovation, more spaces and precious ambiance. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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so delicious!!! i never knew beef tongue could be this good!! a little pricy but i think it's worth it. the tounge is cooked perfectly where it's chewy and has a bite without being too much. these are packed with flavor and are perfect topped with some wasabi. i liked the soup that also came with our meal service is nice here and prompt. inside can get packed during lunch and dinner hours but seats will eventually open up. can't wait to come again! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - 1-4. Bento (12pc) with Large Rice - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My sister was raving about Gyutan Tsukasa so we brought our parents. to try. The restaurant is located in the food court of Mitsuwa. We came on a weekday so no lines and plenty of open tables. We each got the Gyutan 8 piece set which also came with sides, rice, and a bowl of soup. Each slice of tongue was nicely cooked - Tender and flavorful. Some slices were a bit salty but tasted just fine when eaten with rice. We left with happy and full bellies. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The beef tongue is always consistent. Taste is there. After 6 or 7 years it still tastes the same, prices go up but that's understandable. Depending on time of day and day of the week you go there may be a long wait but it's worth it if you're a beef tongue lover. It's a food court so go order and then find a seat. Food court has been renovated recently so if you haven't been in town for a few years it's freshened up, brightened up and clean all the time. Once you finish eating you can shop at Mitsuwa as well. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Beef Tongue - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Every time we're here we rush to order before parking since it takes a while for the food to be ready. This is EXACTLY like what we got in Tokyo and it's amazing flavors. From the charcoal meat to the delicately seasoned vege sides to the soup to the rice. It's an absolute perfect meal every time. The consistency in the food is amazing. Best time to get here is right before closing time. Super fast service! read more

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One of my favorite spots in OC and a perfect stop after shopping at South Coast Plaza. It does get busy during peak dining hours, but you can almost always find a place to sit while waiting for your order. The gyutan is incredibly tender and juicy-- it melts in your mouth. I usually get the combo so I can enjoy it with the soup, which is simple, hearty, and comforting. I also love ordering an extra portion to go since I'm not in the area often. Hands down my favorite place ever! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I got the gyutan set (12 pcs) was around $35. It came with rice, soup, beef tongue, and some wasabi. I do see the hype since it's probably the most tender beef tongue I've had here. It's in like a food court where you order, find a seat, and wait till they call your number. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Charcoal-Grilled Gyutan that tastes like the one I had in Japan. This spot in the Mitsuwa food court is the real deal--just look for the line, because it's usually the longest! I waited about 20-30 minutes, and finding a table in this crowded spot was a mission. The star is the beef tongue. It's grilled over charcoal, which imparts a wonderful, smoky aroma and a desirable slight crispness to the edges. It was incredibly tender and perfectly cooked (zero chewiness!). The flavor was authentic and matched the quality I enjoyed while in Japan. The set meal complete with rice, soup, and a side of pickled vegetables--is a little pricey, but for this level of quality and flavor, it's a total splurge I recommend. read more

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Number six seven, GYUTAN. Go-to spot when I'm in South Coast area. Almost as good as ones in Tokyo. Hits the spot when you're craving a beef tongue bento box style. read more

I'm not sure why this place has such great reviews. The service I experienced was not that great. I ordered at the counter with a staff member who didn't want to take a second to explain anything on the menu. Tipping culture is completely ridiculous in the US and this place is right in target with requesting at least an 18% tip when I'm already paying for overinflated prices. I got 4 pieces of beef tongue, mind you, that they cut pieces in half already, for $30. This is a food court restaurant. Patrons hunt for and bus their own tables, so asking for a tip seems weird. Back to the food. It was overpriced. Rice portions were slim, minimal meat in the soup and curry that comes with the set. Flavor-wise, very salty soup and curry and unimpressive beef tongue. It was overly chewy. Again, this place is in a busy food court, so be forewarned that seating can be difficult to find and the ambiance is more night market than fancy dinner. I think you can get a lot more service, better quality food, and better ambiance at other dining locations. read more

I'm sure I've spent over a thousand dollars at this place over the years. Yes, the price has gone up tremendously, but I don't think you can find as good quality beef tongue anywhere else. Especially if you're looking for that smoked/charcoal cooked taste. Still happily coming back here to eat. read more

The meat dishes are excellent - super flavorful beef tongue whether grilled or in stew. Don't miss out on the wasabi with the grilled tongue. The sides were not memorable except for the soup. read more

Location is inside the Mitsuwa food court. I got the Gyutan Curry Set. Excessively large portions. The curry was excellent lots of flavor, soup was pretty good, rice was average, the salad was fresh but the dressing was bad. I would just order Ala Carte if I were to go again. I feel like the menu would be significantly better if you could select smaller sizes at a lower price. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We came for lunch after 9 holes of golf and split 1b. Tongue was bomb, I like it with the wasabi. I also like the pickled veggies. Would definitely come back. read more

Gyutan in English is Beef Tongue, which explains why they only serve beef tongue here, so I would say that it might not be the restaurant for a lot of people. If you like beef tongue and/or you like trying something different, you should try Gyutan Tsukasa USA located in the food court of the Mitsua Japanese Grocery store in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California. This location has many authentic Japanese offerings that it brings me back to my visit to Tokyo. Gyutan Tsukasa is not any different from how the Japanese perfect their craft. I ordered the Tsukasa Set which included grilled Gyutan (beef tongue prepared the Japanese way over charcoal briquettes slowly grilled) to a perfect doneness which was very tender. The set also included a soup with beef tongue and a stew of beef tongue. Everything was Oishii (delicious or tasty). I must say it's a bit pricey for how much you get, but beef tongue is not an inexpensive cut of beef since there's only one per cow. It would be nice if they offered other types of beef cuts prepared the same way, because I am sure it would be amazing. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - #3 on the menu Tsukasa Set - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

小事看格局， 細節見人品， 世間本無事，一切在人心～ 感恩節在帶孩子去南海岸買衣服，人山人海呀， 順便帶來吃全南加州最最好吃的牛舌飯， 小孩以前都是吃媽咪Togo 回去的，他們第一次自己過來，挑嘴的女兒超愛的，吃這牛舌飯是會上癮的，今天媽咪又過來吃了！ read more

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I visited Gyutan Tsukasa U.S.A. and used a gift certificate to try their beef tongue bento box (normally $26.50 + tax). It was absolutely delicious -- tender, flavorful, and totally worth the hype. I loved it! We also ordered the Volcano Bowl, which was fresh, tasty, and full of great flavor. The shop is inside Mitsuwa, and it was pretty busy. It took about 20 minutes for our food to be prepared, but we went on a Saturday night around 7:30pm, so it made sense. Honestly, the wait was worth it. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Gyutan Tsukasa is a must-try for anyone who loves grilled beef tongue. The pieces aren't always consistent though with some being a bit more chewier than others. I usually get the 12 piece set which comes with rice, pickled veggies and a beef tongue soup/broth that's pretty tasty. It's also served with a bit of wasabi. It's a casual spot that's located inside the Mitsuwa food court. Parking can be a bit of a hassle but the service is quick and they call out your number when it's ready. It's a quick and tasty meal that hits the spot every time. read more

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so expensive for how much they give you. if you pay a little more, i'm sure you could find a decent ayce beef tongue place with similar quality. definitely not worth the price, especially for a food court grocery store restaurant where people just want a quick and simple meal. read more

The food was sooooo good! The beef tongue was sooooo tender and flavorful. The soup was perfectly seasoned and the meat was so tender. The service was good. The ambiance is clean as it is in a food court. I will definitely be back for more food. read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Number #1-1. Gyutan Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

What I ordered: - Gyutan set If I'm craving high-quality beef tongue, but not in the mood for a sit-down Japanese BBQ meal, this is my first choice! Gyutan (beef tongue) is juicy and grilled excellently, on par with actual Japanese BBQ spots like Tsuruhashi. The sides of omizuke (pickled veggies) and spicy-miso nanban (marinated veggies) add bitterness, saltiness, and spice to the meat. Gyutan soup is a light broth that is immensely rich in flavor, and the cubes of meat are tremendously tender! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've heard about this place for a while now, and I can't believe I've been missing out on such high-quality beef tongue right around the corner from South Coast Plaza after a long day of shopping. We've tried some excellent beef tongue at high-end Japanese izakayas, as well as some subpar versions at more affordable spots. But here, for just $20+, you can get really good quality beef tongue--12 generous pieces for a satisfying feast! I'm so glad we've discovered this gem at Mitsuwa in Irvine. I just hope they open a location at Mitsuwa in Torrance in the South Bay soon! read more

Gyutan Tsukasa USA - No. #1-4. Bento(12pcs) with Large Rice - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California