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It's been so long since the last time I had Zaru Soba, he brought me here and I dived for it. Everything hits the spot, and brought back good memories from the past 10 years. Little cute spot serves varieties of katsu, sushi roll, and noodle. This place packed up and long line, but worth the wait, I have patience for it :) . The service is very attentive. I would be back whenever I could drive again. Located in strip mall, plenty of parking.
Large portions and fair prices. Service was great too but it is very crowded so get there early. Expect a wait. Rather small interior Sauces and sides were great. Definitely Korean inspired. I wikl say I like the katsu itself better at kagura in Costa Mesa. But as mentioned earlier - basically everything else is better here. Salad had a more creamy mayo based sauce and I typically prefer a ponzu based one but that's just personal preference. Agedashi tofu was pretty standard. Very ginger forward which was nice. Udon came out piping hot and had a lot of umami flavor from the mushroom.
DE-FRIGGIN-LISH and generous portions. Got the chicken katsu and upgraded to a combo with a 4 piece california roll and it smacked. Table for 2 on a Friday around 6pm and we were seated right away! The food also came out super quick. I really liked the katsu sauce too, it had a little kick to it kind of wasabi-like?? Only complaint is that my rice was a bit mushy. I will definitely be coming back!!
Delicious! Come during off times to avoid a wait, add Curry to whatever you get and be happy because you get to eat the yumminess! Yes, you sit close to other parties, but you have enough room to get in between the tables so not too close. It is close enough to know all about the people's life next to you.... I really hope Tom calls you back btw. The katsu sauce is not a dark sauce that you might be used to, it tastes like a peanut sauce, I prefer the curry to eat with katsu. The chicken and pork are both good, the adjacent table to ours got the cheese katsu and that looked delicious as well. The sushi is skippable in my opinion, but don't let me stop you.
Solid katsu spot with big portion sizes!! Great for sharing or taking home leftovers. We ordered the curry tonkatsu and the hako tonkatsu which were both delish! Love the peanut sauce as it reminds me of the one my mom makes for spring rolls. Each set comes with miso soup, white rice, peanut dipping sauce, and a side of jalapenos and radish. For reference, the hako tonkatsu was around $14 while the curry tonkatsu was $17. There usually is a crazy wait so I've been avoiding coming here but luckily, my friend and I came before the dinner rush. We had a 10-20 minute wait for a 4:30 pm arrival on a Friday. Also, there's no time limit per table but I noticed we got a few stares or glances from the owner/manager. It seems they're anxious to seat customers due to the limited seating...but we were only there for an hour which I think is pretty reasonable. Just something to be aware about!
Great place for katsu. Get there and be prepared to wait. Unless you arrive during off time- even so just be prepared to wait :) We waited a good 25 minutes on a Saturday at 2pm thinking it was an off time. We tried curry tonkatsu and salmon sashimi salad. Both were very good! The katsu is perfectly cooked and crispy- topping it with curry sauce and it also comes with a side of rice making it a perfect bite. The portion is huge! Definitely can be shared amount 2 people. The salmon salad was also very good- salmon sashimi was fresh too.
Adding to the numerous 5 star reviews, this place is one of the best restaurants in the area and hands down one of the best katsu restaurants I've visited ever. Highly recommend the chicken katsu and tonkatsu. Portion sizes are huge and you will get full! The sets come with miso soup, shredded cabbage salad, and 2 small sides (yellow radish and marinated jalepeno). The katsu was so crispy, and the chicken katsu was still juicy and tender in the middle. I love that you can add a 4 piece California roll or curry to make it a combo. Service was fast and quick, with our server checking in for more water or if there was anything else we needed. The only downside is the wait, especially for Sunday lunch. Our party of 5 probably waited close to 45 minutes to be seated. The restaurant is small and the tables are meant for parties of 2-4. Anything more than 4, and I would recommend going to another restaurant or visiting during off hours. Katsu isn't usually top of my list when I'm hunting for places to eat, but man, I know I'll be back here multiple times over. 10/10 highly recommend.
The food here is always consistently good which I'm glad because most places aren't consistent on their quality. I definitely recommend getting the spicy curry over the regular curry since it's not too spicy and just more flavorful. The service is amazing, always refilling our waters without asking, and asking if we needed anything else. Overall, I would come here again and this will definitely not be the last time!
This Japanese-Korean restaurant gets pretty busy during lunch, and there was a line when we arrived. Service was okay--they were clearly busy, so things felt a little rushed. The restaurant was also quite loud, and the tables are placed pretty close together, so it's not the best place if you're looking for a quiet meal. On the plus side, parking was easy and convenient. Food-wise, the fish was fresh and probably the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, the noodles were overcooked for my taste, and the dipping sauce was way too sweet, which took away from the dish. The salad was just so-so and nothing particularly memorable. Overall, fresh fish and convenient parking, but the rest of the meal was pretty average.
We ordered the Curry Tonkatsu ($17.95) and the Tonkatsu seemed impressively large, but it was pretty flat. Not sure if it was an off day, but I've heard their Tonkatsu is not dry, but I felt the pork was pretty dry. It was crispy though! We asked for the curry to be spicy and it actually was! Surprisingly, the curry was the highlight over the Tonkatsu. I should've went with my heart and ordered the Hamburg Beef Katsu, perhaps it wouldn't be so dry. This place gets busy! We showed up before opening on a Saturday and there was already a line.
Hako instantly brought me back to my trips to Tokyo. The katsu here is crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and cooked perfectly. You can tell they focus on quality ingredients and don't rush the process. I opted for double cabbage instead of rice, and it paired perfectly with the rich, crispy katsu. Every bite reminded me of the specialty katsu restaurants I visited in Japan. Just be prepared to wait--during peak hours, the line can easily exceed an hour. My recommendation is to come right when they open or during off-peak times if you don't want to spend your meal waiting in line. If you're craving authentic Japanese katsu without booking a flight to Tokyo, Hako is absolutely worth the wait. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm craving an amazing katsu fix.
I got it to go and it was still AMAZING. The packaging is great and the Hako katsu is such good quality. The sauce it comes with is perfect. I was able to order online and pick up within 20 minutes. The service was quick and easy. They have dine in seating too which looked very nice as well. The cabbage and the sauce it came with paired really nicely and added a freshness.
We waited 30min for a Saturday lunch, which wasn't great, but the food quality kinda deserves it. The menu items aren't very cheap but the portion is very generous. Their tonkatsu sauce is very different and I like it a lot, tastes like peanut butter mixed with thousand island, just my guess not sure what their house recipe is. Tonkatsu wasn't dry and hamburger beef katsu really worth a try. Definitely would come back, very nice katsu restaurant, if their katsu is a bit juicier I would give a five star for sure!
Came here around noon on a Saturday, and waited around 30 minutes for seat, once seated the food came out fast. Probably one of the best pork katsu I had. I got the the curry tonkatsu, it's a classic tonkatsu meal that comes with rice, miso soup, curry on the side, some slaw and two giant pork katsus. I thought the portion sizes were very decent for the price and what you get. I was really surprised by how thin and crispy the tonkatsu was while still being tender and juicy inside. I like that they had the curry on the side so that the katsu doesn't get soggy, and acts more like a dipping sauce. The other dipping sauce for both the katsu and the salad was also delicious and tasted like an extra tangy thousand island sauce. read more
Wowwww. This is such a great spot for quality, fresh food that's fast and affordable. Great cute spot to eat at too. Got in and was seated immediately. Granted, it was at 2p. Order was taken immediately. I ordered the Curry Tonkatsu. The food came out so quick! Within 5 minutes. Large portions and with a wide variety of sides. It actually reminded me of what a typical plate looked like when I ordered katsu in Japan. The katsu was large and crispy. The crunch was thin and satisfying. The curry is a great addition to dip the katsu in or pour over your rice. The salad was fresh and crunchy. Overall, it was a great experience. I'd highly recommend. read more
8 days ago
It's been so long since the last time I had Zaru Soba, he brought me here and I dived for it. Everything hits the spot, and brought back good memories from the past 10 years. Little cute spot serves varieties of katsu, sushi roll, and noodle. This place packed up and long line, but worth the wait, I have patience for it :) . The service is very attentive. I would be back whenever I could drive again. Located in strip mall, plenty of parking. read more
Large portions and fair prices. Service was great too but it is very crowded so get there early. Expect a wait. Rather small interior Sauces and sides were great. Definitely Korean inspired. I wikl say I like the katsu itself better at kagura in Costa Mesa. But as mentioned earlier - basically everything else is better here. Salad had a more creamy mayo based sauce and I typically prefer a ponzu based one but that's just personal preference. Agedashi tofu was pretty standard. Very ginger forward which was nice. Udon came out piping hot and had a lot of umami flavor from the mushroom. read more
DE-FRIGGIN-LISH and generous portions. Got the chicken katsu and upgraded to a combo with a 4 piece california roll and it smacked. Table for 2 on a Friday around 6pm and we were seated right away! The food also came out super quick. I really liked the katsu sauce too, it had a little kick to it kind of wasabi-like?? Only complaint is that my rice was a bit mushy. I will definitely be coming back!! read more
Delicious! Come during off times to avoid a wait, add Curry to whatever you get and be happy because you get to eat the yumminess! Yes, you sit close to other parties, but you have enough room to get in between the tables so not too close. It is close enough to know all about the people's life next to you.... I really hope Tom calls you back btw. The katsu sauce is not a dark sauce that you might be used to, it tastes like a peanut sauce, I prefer the curry to eat with katsu. The chicken and pork are both good, the adjacent table to ours got the cheese katsu and that looked delicious as well. The sushi is skippable in my opinion, but don't let me stop you. read more
Solid katsu spot with big portion sizes!! Great for sharing or taking home leftovers. We ordered the curry tonkatsu and the hako tonkatsu which were both delish! Love the peanut sauce as it reminds me of the one my mom makes for spring rolls. Each set comes with miso soup, white rice, peanut dipping sauce, and a side of jalapenos and radish. For reference, the hako tonkatsu was around $14 while the curry tonkatsu was $17. There usually is a crazy wait so I've been avoiding coming here but luckily, my friend and I came before the dinner rush. We had a 10-20 minute wait for a 4:30 pm arrival on a Friday. Also, there's no time limit per table but I noticed we got a few stares or glances from the owner/manager. It seems they're anxious to seat customers due to the limited seating...but we were only there for an hour which I think is pretty reasonable. Just something to be aware about! read more
Great place for katsu. Get there and be prepared to wait. Unless you arrive during off time- even so just be prepared to wait :) We waited a good 25 minutes on a Saturday at 2pm thinking it was an off time. We tried curry tonkatsu and salmon sashimi salad. Both were very good! The katsu is perfectly cooked and crispy- topping it with curry sauce and it also comes with a side of rice making it a perfect bite. The portion is huge! Definitely can be shared amount 2 people. The salmon salad was also very good- salmon sashimi was fresh too. read more
Adding to the numerous 5 star reviews, this place is one of the best restaurants in the area and hands down one of the best katsu restaurants I've visited ever. Highly recommend the chicken katsu and tonkatsu. Portion sizes are huge and you will get full! The sets come with miso soup, shredded cabbage salad, and 2 small sides (yellow radish and marinated jalepeno). The katsu was so crispy, and the chicken katsu was still juicy and tender in the middle. I love that you can add a 4 piece California roll or curry to make it a combo. Service was fast and quick, with our server checking in for more water or if there was anything else we needed. The only downside is the wait, especially for Sunday lunch. Our party of 5 probably waited close to 45 minutes to be seated. The restaurant is small and the tables are meant for parties of 2-4. Anything more than 4, and I would recommend going to another restaurant or visiting during off hours. Katsu isn't usually top of my list when I'm hunting for places to eat, but man, I know I'll be back here multiple times over. 10/10 highly recommend. read more
The food here is always consistently good which I'm glad because most places aren't consistent on their quality. I definitely recommend getting the spicy curry over the regular curry since it's not too spicy and just more flavorful. The service is amazing, always refilling our waters without asking, and asking if we needed anything else. Overall, I would come here again and this will definitely not be the last time! read more
12 days ago
This Japanese-Korean restaurant gets pretty busy during lunch, and there was a line when we arrived. Service was okay--they were clearly busy, so things felt a little rushed. The restaurant was also quite loud, and the tables are placed pretty close together, so it's not the best place if you're looking for a quiet meal. On the plus side, parking was easy and convenient. Food-wise, the fish was fresh and probably the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, the noodles were overcooked for my taste, and the dipping sauce was way too sweet, which took away from the dish. The salad was just so-so and nothing particularly memorable. Overall, fresh fish and convenient parking, but the rest of the meal was pretty average. read more
We ordered the Curry Tonkatsu ($17.95) and the Tonkatsu seemed impressively large, but it was pretty flat. Not sure if it was an off day, but I've heard their Tonkatsu is not dry, but I felt the pork was pretty dry. It was crispy though! We asked for the curry to be spicy and it actually was! Surprisingly, the curry was the highlight over the Tonkatsu. I should've went with my heart and ordered the Hamburg Beef Katsu, perhaps it wouldn't be so dry. This place gets busy! We showed up before opening on a Saturday and there was already a line. read more
Hako instantly brought me back to my trips to Tokyo. The katsu here is crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and cooked perfectly. You can tell they focus on quality ingredients and don't rush the process. I opted for double cabbage instead of rice, and it paired perfectly with the rich, crispy katsu. Every bite reminded me of the specialty katsu restaurants I visited in Japan. Just be prepared to wait--during peak hours, the line can easily exceed an hour. My recommendation is to come right when they open or during off-peak times if you don't want to spend your meal waiting in line. If you're craving authentic Japanese katsu without booking a flight to Tokyo, Hako is absolutely worth the wait. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm craving an amazing katsu fix. read more
13 days ago
I got it to go and it was still AMAZING. The packaging is great and the Hako katsu is such good quality. The sauce it comes with is perfect. I was able to order online and pick up within 20 minutes. The service was quick and easy. They have dine in seating too which looked very nice as well. The cabbage and the sauce it came with paired really nicely and added a freshness. read more
We waited 30min for a Saturday lunch, which wasn't great, but the food quality kinda deserves it. The menu items aren't very cheap but the portion is very generous. Their tonkatsu sauce is very different and I like it a lot, tastes like peanut butter mixed with thousand island, just my guess not sure what their house recipe is. Tonkatsu wasn't dry and hamburger beef katsu really worth a try. Definitely would come back, very nice katsu restaurant, if their katsu is a bit juicier I would give a five star for sure! read more
16 hours ago
i understand why there's a line all the time Hako is fyeeeeee omg i got the cheese tonkatsu, pork katsu w curry, chicken yakiudon and a spicy tuna roll the spicy tuna roll was rly good, the tuna was spicy and yummy, cucumber added the perfect crunch and freshness the chicken yakiudon was aight, really sweet for my liking but packed w chicken and veggies. the udon noodles were perfectly cooked, super chewy and stringy the cheese katsu was FIRE. so much cheese and perfectly ooey and gooey, cheese pulls went hard everytime bru the panko crust was soooo cronchy and crispy dipping sauce was so sexy the pork katsu was so good with the curry too all the sides that came with the katsu meals were fire; white rice, cabbage salad, miso soup, pickled radishes, SOOOOO good service was good, servers are attentive and quick. the space inside is not that big but definitely can accommodate small or big groups, as they have booths and stand alone tables read more
Begrudgingly giving 3 stars. I came here on a weekday for lunch at 1pm. The place was packed, but luckily, one table was available. It's a small place and the tables are crammed together; you practically touch elbows with whoever is sitting at the table next to you. I ordered the Hako Tonkatsu. The amount of food is a great deal for the price. Along with a large serving of tonkatsu (pork katsu), you get miso soup, rice, salad, and banchan (some sort of radish and jalapeños). The quality of the pork was superb and the crunch of the panko was right on point. I've had many, many plates of tonkatsu over the years, both here in the U.S. and Japan, and this rates highly, made perfectly. I'm not usually a huge fan of miso soup but this one was really good; I loved it. The rice was excellent and the salad was standard but bright & fresh. As a sauce guy, the importance of a good katsu sauce is imperative in making a tonkatsu meal perfect. When I tried the sauce served with this meal I thought - they've got to be kidding. It tasted like a version of Thousand Island dressing. I looked at other tables (2 inches away) who had the same meal and they were dipping into the same container so it was no mistake. Apparently, this is their version of katsu sauce and it was nothing like any katsu sauce I've had in my life. This was an embarrassment to the world of katsu sauce. It disappointed me and honestly destroyed the entire tonkatsu experience. I guess the five-star reviewers like this sauce but just don't know what proper katsu sauce is. I don't want to be a crybaby and give too low a rating as everything else was exceptional, but I'd never ever go back here nor recommend it. Would easily been 5 stars if they had any clue. read more
This place is packed. If you can come early, do it. The food is worth it. Been here a couple times and had good experiences both times. Food comes out hot and fresh pretty quickly. Servers check in timely but don't hound you. Only disadvantage is there is only one bathroom. So come prepared or time it right for facility use. Clean and welcoming environment. No complaints and will be coming back again. read more
Came on a Tuesday night and the wait was about 20 mins even though we were quoted 40 so not too bad. There's plenty of parking as well. There isn't a lot of seating inside but it is clean and doesn't feel too cluttered. Food wise, the gyoza is good but tastes like it is from a Costco bag. The chicken katsu was good but a little too thin for my taste. Wish it was a bit crispier. Overall, good spot with huge portions so I would come back. read more
3 months ago
I never really craved katsu until I ate at Hako and now it's a regular in the rotation (expect a wait because it's a go-to option for a lot of other folks)! I always get the Hako Tonkatsu and if I feel like splurging, I'll upgrade to the Curry Tonkatsu. The katsu is fried to perfection and the set comes with rice, salad, radish, and soup - just an fyi that they don't include the soup if you order takeout, which is kind of a bummer. read more
1 month ago
Wow. Just wow. The hype is real and deserved. Hako serves some of the freshest, juiciest katsu I've ever had, and they have such a diverse menu to pair with them. Plenty of options ranging from katsu to tempura, karaage, and noodle dishes. I ordered the chicken katsu, which came with katsu sauce, rice, seasoned cabbage, and pickled radish/jalapenos. The katsu was crisp, fried to order, and a generous portion. It paired well with the katsu sauce. Their curry katsu are also very good, very savory. I'd definitely return to this gem. read more
Haven't been in person but it was the first restaurant I ordered from when I moved to OC. I ordered the soba noodles with mixed tempura and a side of spicy curry w/rice. Everything was so delicious, and servings were big. I have ordered this combo every so often since and will be going in person soon! read more
Another amazing meal and experience at Hako! Took my husband with me this time and luckily we did not have to wait. He tried the tonkatsu with curry while I opted for a cold soba on a hot summer day. The katsu was juicy and delicious as usual. The cold soba was so refreshing with great texture. The service was friendly and swift. Truly everything that we hoped for! read more
Nothing but great things to say about this place, quality of food, and service! It gets quite busy so make sure to have a resie, show up early to get in the waitlist, or be prepared to order to go. Cheese tonkatsu - fried but airy, not too greasy, cheese compliments the pork loin without being to overpowering, pork loin was juicy, sesame sauce was delicious, cabbage salad had ample yet flavorful dressing, miso soup and rice were great pairings aging with the pickled veggies. I would get this again and again read more
Expectations may have been a bit high due to the popularity and good word about Hako, but I regularly am on the hunt for good Japanese katsu and curry, so have tried some pretty good katsu in my days. First off, it's a pretty great value. You get a set meal for a very good price these days, since the katsu meals come with their homemade katsu sauce (tastes like a slightly sweet and sour peanut satay), cabbage salad, rice, miso soup, and pickles. If you're looking for value only, this is great. Even the appetizers and sushi rolls are reasonable. I like that you can add on extra curry or some pieces of sushi or gyoza with your katsu or udon meal, and can add more than one. We saw a lot of takeout orders going out, though you don't get the soup. - Agedashi Tofu A light, popcorn crisp fry with sturdy cubes of tofu with enough dashi to cover them all. Respectable appetizer if you like tofu. All the pieces are very hot inside. - Hako Tonkatsu The pork cutlet is pounded so flat and enormous. I added a side of mild curry, which tasted like a good normal Japanese curry, and the additional gyoza were standard grocery filling (seemed to have more of a baked than fried texture on the skin). The nutty satay-like sauce went well with the katsu, but the curry was better. The rice was good and fluffy, and the pickles added an acidic balance. The miso soup was on the salty side. I liked how light and refreshing the cabbage salad was, though I prefer other dressings over this Thousand Island-like creamy one. The katsu itself was a bit disappointing, as it was devoid of moisture and the crisp could have been better. - Chicken Katsu The chicken was slightly better than the pork, as it retained a little more moisture and was just a bit more tender. However, all other aspects were the same. We tried the spicy curry for this plate, and it had the same taste as the regular curry, but with a bite. If you like pain more than taste when you eat spicy foods, I guess that'd be why you choose the spicy here. Considering it took nearly an hour for us to get a table on a random weekday night (seated close to 8pm), I definitely was expecting the food to taste much better. The tables are situated very close to each other, too, so you'll probably have a neighbor within your elbow space. It's not even a contender for a majority of katsu places in NorCal or Hawaii. But if you're in the area and have a craving and want a lot of food for the price, it's fine. If you have leftovers, they will give you an extra new side of their sauce, which is sweet. read more
3 months ago
Nice place but be prepared to wait when going, almost at all times. Store is pretty small but cozy, nice staff as well. As for the food, I understand why the line is long. It's definitely very good food and worth the wait once in a while. Food is always consistently good. Katsu has a really good breading on it and flavor as well. Sauce puts it over the top. Meals are also pretty big and well priced which really adds the chefs kiss for an already great meal stand alone. Would recommend! read more
Great Katsu joint in the middle of Irvine! This place is very consistent, from the service to the food. Typically, you can expect a bit of a wait on weekday nights, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour at the peak. Upon entering and being seated, we were served relatively quickly. The wait staff was attentive to our needs and refilled waters frequently. This restaurant has a lot of seating and is good for small to medium size parties. We all got the curry katsu and enjoyed the dish! The meal is quite filling for the price; it comes with with a large cutlet of pork, curry sauce, katsu sauce, rice, various pickled veggies, and a small portion of miso soup. The food was standard, with the star of the show being the curry sauce! Highly recommend to dip the katsu into the curry and have some rice w/ curry as well. The karaage was also good too! Overall, I would recommend this place for those in the area looking for katsu and who don't mind a small wait. read more
Hako is an Irvine staple and is a must-visit every time I'm in the area. I haven't met a single person who wouldn't be down to get Hako, or had a bad experience here. Knowing how expensive tonkatsu can be, this is a relatively affordable option that nearly halves the cost at some other restaurants. The Hako Tonkatsu comes with an entire pork cutlet, each piece fried to perfection with an audible, satisfying crunch with each bite. The Cheese Tonkatsu is $2 more expensive, and comes with less meat, but each piece is smothered in melty cheese seemingly designed to result in a picture-perfect cheese pull. In my opinion, the Hako is much better value. The tonkatsu sauce had an unexpected tang, and the radishes offered a nice palette cleanser. Comes with rice and shredded lettuce, with are the perfect pairs. All packaged nicely in a portable box with custom engraved chopsticks; even the to-go experience matches perfectly with the clean, minimalist interior. I've been here three times and have never sat inside because of the busyness, which should be expected. We ordered over the phone about 10 minutes before arrival. Checking in, we were able to use the restroom, and by the time we were out, our food was ready! How convenient! Tonkatsu steals the show at Hako, and while they have other items (like sushi and soba), they are definitely overshadowed. Maybe one day I'll get to sit inside. And try the miso soup, which is not offered for to-go orders. read more
I love tonkatsu, so I was really excited to try this place, and I was not disappointed. The pork tonkatsu is delicious and so crunchy with every bite with the tonkatsu sauce. Every tonkatsu meal comes with a side of miso soup, rice and cabbage salad. The price is reasonable for how much food you get, so definitely come hungry! I tried my sister's hamburg beef tonkatsu and it was equally as delicious. Definitely for those who prefer beef than pork! The service was really good and the wait isn't too bad for a table. The place itself is popping and comfortable to sit in to eat. Come here if you want a great tonkatsu! read more
23 days ago
We live in San Diego but this is our 4th time eating at Hako, as it has been our favorite tonkatsu spot in SoCal since we tried it just over a year ago! There is always a waitlist (even on monday afternoon) but we have never waited longer than 15-30min. Service is efficient and friendly. The crowd generally seems to be young and vibrant and makes Hako a nice lively place to have a filling lunch. Cheese Katsu (with curry) (5/5): this is always a hit with us. The cheese pull goes crazy and it is a large reason we always return! We love the curry as well! Hire Katsu (2/5): sad to say this one was a bit of a disappointment. I wish we had taken a picture but the pork had been pounded extremely thin to the point where i only really tasted the panko. To my knowledge, this was supposed to be a more premium cut since it's more expensive than the other pork katsu. I never judge anything based off of value, but this was dry and burnt to a crisp ): From the side profile of the cut, it appeared that one layer of batter and panko was thicker than the meat itself. So far, we have had more good experiences than not at Hako, and prefer not to let this particular experience deter us from returning again. We hope future trips will prove to us otherwise, but until then, as for the quality of our meal, I hope this can be looked into. read more
This restaurant is suuuuper popular & you can only join the Yelp waitlist in-person (they don't accept any reservations!!) My party waited for a little over an hour to be seated. In complete honesty, it was nice to try this once, but I don't think that it was worth the wait. It's nice that all katsu dishes are served with rice, salad, and miso soup, however, the taste was average. Staff were nice and service was relatively quick considering the entire restaurant was packed. read more
Wow, wow wow wow. Ive seen the reviews, youve seen the reviews - but you really gotta just try Hako for yourself!!! Deliciously crispy and served with amazing sauces. My fish katsu was like the best fish and chips you could want, minus the chips, plus cabbage salad and miso soup and fluffy rice! All for a very decent price. I think i paid around $37 for both of these massive meals. They let you take out and you get a little container of the sauce (the brown one next to the miso soup in my pics) with your box! Its delicious, trust. The food comes out piping hot and relatively quickly considering the place was full when we visited. They have a handy yelp waitlist but we only waited about 10 mins. Parking is easy. Serve staff were friendly and helpful. It's a little tight of a squeeze inside the place, but we were sat at a booth on the outside so we had a bit more room. Maybe ask for a booth if you feel you might need some space! read more
Hako is one of my favorite spots in Irvine all around. It will always be one of my options when I'm thinking about what I want to eat because it's genuinely just so good. It is typically busy compared to your average restaurant here, for good reason. The portions are good, especially for the price, everything is fresh, and the taste is great! This time around I got the chicken katsu and it did not disappoint. The batter and fry doesn't make you feel greasy after eating, which is an issue I have at some places, but not here. You always get miso soup, cabbage, rice, and katsu sauce to dip in no matter which katsu option you choose which I love. It really all compliments each other and helps balance out everything. I would say every item you can try is going to be good as I've came so often and tried a variety of their dishes, such as their hamburg beef katsu, hako tonkatsu, zaru soba (which is honestly underrated), and more. I'll probably continually come back here and will always recommend it to others! read more
2 months ago
guys... my fiancé loves katsu and he says he would truly d word for this place bc he loves it SOOO much!! like WOW. and ofc i mean that as the highest compliment!!!! hako is tucked away in an irvine center that has tons of parking, but it can still be pretty packed so keep that in mind! the restaurant itself isn't too large either, so the wait times can be high if you don't get there outside of peak hours. they do have a yelp waitlist though, so utilize it!! the restaurant is always clean and in order, and service is always so quick, kind, and on top of it. here's what we tend to order: - hamburg beef katsu: my meat of choice will always be beef, and the beef katsu here is SO juicy and flavorful. it's my favorite and i dream about it LOL - hire katsu: my fiancé's choice! a nice pork katsu, it's always cooked to perfection, nice and tender, and just wow.. NO NOTES. on top of the katsu itself, the salad is always delicious (love the dressing!), miso soup is heartwarming, i love the pickled onions/jalapeños and radish, and the DIPPING SAUCE??? i need the recipe!! ok i'm done but pls just know: LOVE THIS PLACE DOWNNNN. will be back soon!!!! :-) read more
I finally got the chance to try Hako and all I can say is wow! Wish I had started coming here sooner. I tried to their cheese tonkatsu plate which also came with a side of cabbage salad, rice, pickled veggies, and miso soup if you dine in. All in all, it was about $16 before tax/tip. The cheese tonkatsu was very delicious. It had a good ratio of cheese and meat, and the pull from the melted cheese was just right. Perhaps what stood out to me though was actyally how it was perfectly fried on the outside. Each bite had a clean, crisp finish without it being greasy at all. Inside the store, there are only a handful of tables and booths, so during peak times, there may be a little of a wait. However, service here was super efficient and friendly. I will definitely come back yo try all the other tonkatsu on the menu! read more
5 months ago
Rating: 7/10 This place is overrated for how popular it is. There's a line basically every day. We waited about 40 minutes for a party of two at 6pm on a Thursday. Pork katsu was decent, but nothing special. It feels like quality has slipped over time as the restaurant has gotten busier. Still solid, just not worth the hype. Shrimp Tempura was okay, but the shrimp pieces were pretty thin with not much meat. Spicy Curry was probably the best part of the meal. Really good flavor and works well as a dipping sauce with the katsu. Dragon Roll was not bad, but if you want quality sushi go somewhere else. So my fault for ordering this lol. Note: Their katsu sauce is blended with peanuts, so definitely check if you have any allergies. Overall, not a bad spot, but doesn't live up to the hype. read more
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More info about Hako
4790 Irvine Blvd
Ste 103
Irvine, CA 92620
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(714) 389-4202
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http://www.hakoirvine.com
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Ask the Community - Hako
Is this place Japanese or Korean owned?
It is Korean-owned. I once interviewed here and the owner was Korean.
I was wondering, what type of dressing is used on the cabbage salad? Thanks!
I believe thousand island
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84 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Hako - sushi - Updated August 2026
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