Hako had truly become one of the staples in this area. It's one of the first meals we had when we first moved to California and to this day, it's still a go to favorite. The cheese tonkatsu is amazing especially when you dine in and it's piping hot. The sushi and udons are very reasonably priced as well. It's a family favorite! read more

I ordered Togo and I must say it's as good as dining in!! They package the food really nicely too. We got the: -chicken katsu 10/10 - crispy on the outside soft in the inside. But the standing out factor has to be their katsu sauce. Super flavorful and somewhat creamy. -fish katsu 10/10 also amazing and it came w tartar sauce which goes perfectly w the fish. The resturant Itself is pretty small so the wait may be long. However do note that if you order Togo you don't get the complementary miso soup as you would get dining in. read more

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There's nothing to complain about this place as food, service, and ambiance was all great. I have been missing the cheese tonkatsu I tried back in Korea, so I was very happy to try it again here. Crispy outside with thick pork cutlet and full mozzarella cheese, a beautiful dish. The variety of side dishes like the agedashi tofu and the mixed tempuras definitely made the meal more enjoyable as well. I highly recommend to order these side dishes together and try it out! read more

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First time coming here. I went on a Saturday night. There was a 40 minute wait. I got the cheese tonkotsu. The curry is good too! It was fantastic! There was a small wait to order after being seated. The food was served immediately. It's a lot of food for the price. It might be worth sharing a plate. The inside is clean. The menu is straightforward. Parking can be a little competitive but there's usually space. I'll be back! read more

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Since my last review, things have been smooth sailing with Hako. My orders have been fulfilled properly, and everything is super fresh and tastes great as usual! I have amended my rating as well. read more

I first came here years ago when they had just opened, so returning after all this time and finding the food still just as delicious, huge applause to them for their consistency! We visited on a Saturday night around 6pm and had to wait about an hour, which wasn't surprising given how popular the place is. Once seated, service was quick; we got our menus and water right away, and the food came out fast too. The agedashi tofu was a standout; crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfectly paired with a slightly sweet, flavorful sauce. Their katsu was equally yummy; light, crispy batter with tender meat, and the spicy curry had just the right kick. Overall, a solid 10/10 meal! read more

Hako - Agedashi Tofu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Had to leave another review after 2 years since this spot does not miss! I am so glad to see the popularity Hako has gained. The only downside is now there is usually a wait, but it is definitely well worth it. Wifey and I stopped by for dinner with some family and it was about a 30 min wait. I opted for the Hamburg Beef Katsu and wifey got the Cheese Tonkatsu. The portions are very generous and you definitely get your money's worth! Everything was delicious and worked so well together. Overall, this spot is up there as one of the best katsu spots in Irvine and all of OC! All of the staff are very attentive and welcoming. There is a reason why they now have over 1,000+ positive reviews! read more

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A small shop in the Zion market plaza but full of flavor. We ordered the cheese katsu and the Hako Tonkatsu. The portions are large, even for me, and delicious. The ingredients used are fresh and the meats are tender, as well. Will return soon and will order the Hako Tonkatsu, definitely worth it. The udon noodles were good but definitely a go-to option on a cold day. Service is quick, friendly, and very attentive. In terms of appetizers, the gyoza were good but fairly standard and the agedashi tofu, maybe because I'm a sucker for tofu, but it definitely hit the spot. Wait can be a bit long if you have a large party, but otherwise, people go in and out fairly quickly. read more

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One of my favorite spots to get katsu! My go-to order is the cheese tonkatsu because I'm a huge fan of cheese and the ratio of cheese to pork is so good. It comes with pickled radish, cabbage salad, and rice so it's quite satisfying. The katsu has a nice crunch to it. They have a good variety of dishes but not too many choices to the point where it's overwhelming. Along with the cheese katsu they also have original, curry, fish, and a few others. They also have sushi and udon here if you're not feeling katsu, as well as a lot of appetizers to choose from. There's usually a long wait during peak hours because the restaurant itself is a bit small but it's definitely worth the wait. You can also order takeout and they'll have your order ready in a very timely manner! read more

Hako - cheese tonkatsu takeout - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

I had such a great experience at Hako! The katsu curry was incredibly crispy and flavorful -- honestly one of the best I've had. The restaurant itself is cozy and cute, creating the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing meal. The staff were so attentive and checked on us frequently to make sure we had everything we needed. Overall, amazing food and amazing service. Definitely worth a visit! I would love to come back next time! read more

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We arrived at Hako at around 1:30PM on a Saturday. They use the Yelp waitlist system - once you're on the waitlist, they text you a link where you can view your spot in line, and they send you another text once your table is ready. Our estimated wait time was 26-41 minutes for a party of 2, and there were 15 parties ahead of us. We ended up waiting 30 minutes, which was not bad at all considering there were a few bigger parties ahead of us. There are other stores in the same plaza that you can check out while waiting. There is also a lot of parking available. The inside of the restaurant is on the smaller side, which is why the wait can be a little long sometimes, but the food is worth it! I ordered the cheese katsu (mozzarella cheese wrapped in pork cutlet), and it was delicious! The cheese pull was sooo good. My fiance ordered the curry tonkatsu (pork cutlet w/ house made curry on the side), and you can choose mild or spicy for the curry. Each katsu plate is served with cabbage salad, rice, miso, and house made katsu sauce. The portions are generous, the katsu is crispy, and the servers are attentive. This is one of my favorite katsu restaurants in the OC! Definitely a bang for your buck with how yummy the food is & how much food you're actually getting. read more

Hako - Cheese Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Katsu is my favorite Japanese cuisine to eat and although this isn't Japanese owned, it still is an amazing spot to fulfill your katsu needs. The line here is always long and you need to jump on the Yelp guestlist in person. They usually get through the line pretty fast though. One thing that stands out about Hako is that the pricing is pretty affordable. It's $14.95 for a katsu meal with rice, soup, cabbage and let me tell you, it's super filling! Not only can you get katsu but also appetizers like sushi, edamame, kaarage and more. To get your bang for your buck you can add another side to your katsu combo for an extra $3. Choose between their Curry, California Roll or Gyoza! read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Hako is super popular thanks to their variety of katsu options. Ate here for dinner on a weekend. Waitlist was ~45 minutes so my partner and I went around the corner for hot tea and sit down. Crowded and packed elbow to elbow. Noisy from all the hubbub, plus the road noise since they keep the front doors open. After we were called and sat down, we ordered from their menu. It's not a big one but it's well-sectioned into appetizers, mains, noodles, rolls and drinks. My partner got the pork tenderloin katsu (hire-katsu) while I ordered the nabeyaki udon and the Agedashi tofu appetizer. The katsu were small tiny pieces, breaded well but fried a dark color. It was crunchy on the outside but not so tender on the inside. My udon was ok. Very soupy, with lots of toppings but not enough noodles. Overall, it's a decent katsu spot after shopping at Zion market next door. We will likely revisit our favorite katsu / udon spot in Laguna Hills. read more

Hako is a Japanese restaurant located next to Zion Market in the Northwood area of Irvine. Hako means "box" in Japanese but they are actually Korean-owned and you can see that in some of their side dishes. We ordered the spicy tuna roll ($8.95), tiger dragon roll ($13.95), shrimp tempura udon ($12.95), and chicken katsu ($14.95). The rolls were just okay and pretty standard. The shrimp tempura udon had a sweet broth, pickled veggies for a nice balance, and togarashi on top for some spice. The chicken katsu was crispy but so light; they used chicken breast but it was still so tender. The dipping sauce was good and overall this was my favorite dish. We had a pretty filling meal and the service was good and quick. read more

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[IN A NUTSHELL] great katsu, yummy soba, excellent taste [VERDICT] - APPROVED [RUN-DOWN] Found this place while looking for a dinner spot and I was not disappointed. There was a long wait to be seated but I it was worth it. Overall, the katas was crispy and there was a cheese pull on the tonkatsu one. If you come here, the items that I got would be recommendation. The katas was good as a crispy protein and then the soba help cut out the fat. The dish also comes with some pickled jalapeño and daikon. [SCORE & ORDER] OVERALL: 3.91/5 Spicy Curry Tonkatsu $17.95 (4/5) -Pork Loin Cutlet with House Made Curry on the side -This was a really good dish to get and I would recommend getting it. The curry was also really good with this and I used it for the cheese one as well (worth the extra cost). The pork was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. There is also the sesame dip (I think) that comes with it but I preferred the curry. It also comes with two spice levels and I think the spicy was a good kick but I can handle spice. Cheese Katsu $16.95 (4/5) -Mozzarella Cheese wrapped in Pork Loin Cutlet -This was the first time that I had this and it was so good! There was a cheese pull on it and the combination of the pork and the cheese made it super delicious. The cheese was also really gooey which means that it was great. The sauce that comes with it was also super good and I am assuming it was a sesame blend. The pork was also crispy and crunchy on the outside. Zaru Soba $12.95 (3.75/5) -Cold Buckwheat Noodle, Nori Seaweed, and Hoe Made Soba Sauce -The soba noodles were delicious. I have not had a bad soba but this was especially good because it was soft and chewy. Overall would recommend this if you don't want something too fatty. [SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE] (not reflected upon review score): Atmosphere was super cool. We had a big party and they could seat us. The wait was about an hour long but to me, it was worth. The waiter was super nice and the food came out relatively quick but not sure if it's because it was close to closing time. [TIME STAMP] APRIL 2025 read more

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After ordering from Hako via DoorDash too many times, I finally made my way to the restaurant. We stopped in on a Sunday a little after 12pm and the wait wasn't too bad. Unlike the last time I tried to dine in, there wasn't a wait to add your name to the iPad. I do wish they offered the Yelp waitlist option so you could join from the car on your way over. The food was delicious and came out real quick! We ordered 3 chicken katsus (one with a side of curry), 1 fish katsu, and 1 roll. The food here is so good that I will still continue to pay the upcharge and have it doordashed but glad I got to dine in this time! read more

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Hako is a local Japanese restaurant specializing in tonkatsu. This well known spot always has a long wait, so make sure to get here early and get on the waitlist as soon as possible. But there is definitely a reason why this spot is always so crowded because wow is the food good. This spot serves some of the best tonkatsu I have ever had, as the breading is not too heavy and the meat remains juicy and flavorful. I enjoy getting a curry but it definitely isn't necessary as the sauce that comes with the set is flavorful enough! The service is always friendly and quick while the inside is always clean but has people constantly streaming in and out. Overall, Hako remains one of the best tonkatsu restaurants, and I highly recommend it to everyone! read more

Hako - Hako Tonkatsu with Curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Solid food as always. Very busy, highly recommend to come early to get your name on the waitlist. Always very popular spot and a fairly small size restaurant. Worth the wait, love the food here. Service was good. They definitely have enough staff/servers to run the restaurant even during peak hours. Came for dinner on a Friday night and they were fully staffed and had no issues. read more

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Been here twice and the first time was a miss. I got their udon combo and the udon broth was salty and weirdly sweet. I did not enjoy it at all. Decided to give it another try and had their signature katsu and that was a hit. Katsu was warm and crunchy with a nice flavor. It feels a bit overpriced and the service for both times weren't great. You feel rushed and it's like you're "bothering" the servers to ask for anything. read more

Came on a friday evening and got seated right away at around 5:45pm. Definitely would recommend coming early because there were a lot of people waiting by the time we left. Both the udon and katsu we ordered were delicious. Service was very quick and vibes were good for a casual sit down meal. read more

Hako - Nabeyaki Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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The food here is solid and the portions are extremely generous. Small place, but feels solidly cozy with extremely friendly staff. They serve their food in trays, which helps keep everything together. Also, love the chopsticks since they're nice and smooth so I won't fear getting splinters. I will say, if you come with friends and everyone wants curry, you only need to order a few curries on the side since the serving of curry they provide is... abundant. The cheese tonkotsu was honestly pretty heavy, lots lots of cheese. Honestly, I wouldn't get it again since I didn't feel like I got much meat simply because of how much cheese there was. I'm sure there was pork, it just felt like an extension of the breading. Every order off the main course section of the menu (fried things) come with miso soup, a side salad, and pickled side dishes that are extremely refreshing. Pork over Chicken for sure. read more

Visited on a Thursday evening and waited about 15-20 minutes for a party of two. We were seated in a small table that, despite their multiple best efforts, kept rocking, which made the dinner experience a bit uncomfortable. We ordered quite a bit because it was our first time there, and we wanted to sample as much as we can. - Fish katsu combo: Served with a side of miso soup, rice, and cabbage salad. The batter had such a satisfying texture, and the fish was so flaky and tender. My only complaint was that it needed a tad bit more salt. - Potato croquette: Crispy exterior with creamy potato inside. Not really a fan of potatoes, but it was nice to try. The tartar sauce that was served on the side was a flavor bomb - it also paired very well with the fish katsu we had ordered. - Takoyaki: The other party enjoyed this dish, albeit not my preference of appetizer - Rainbow roll: We both agreed that the rice ratio was a bit too much. Despite this, the rice was well-seasoned and it was a nice option to have a dish that wasn't fried. - Cheese katsu set: Served with a side of miso soup and cabbage salad (I omitted the side of rice, and they served me an extra bowl of miso soup). When it arrived at the table, the cheese was already set, unfortunately, but it tasted good. Definitely benefited from the katsu sauce that was given. The service was lightning fast. I'm not sure if they paced it that way because our table was quite small, but we would clear one dish and next thing you know, the next one is served, like it was on idle (may explain why the cheese in my cheese katsu was already set when it had arrived). The restaurant is very cramped - you see a single guy running up and down the aisles with a bin to clear tables that ends up bumping into things. I do want to highlight that the price point for this place was fair and reasonable. I would visit again if I was in the area and it wasn't so overcrowded. read more

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I love their fish and miso soup employees very nice and fast service their price is reasonable only down it has long waiting on Sunday lunch which proves their quality read more

A family member had Hako catered for a party and I couldn't wait to try out the restaurant in person. It tasted good even for take out so I knew it'd have to be even better fresh. And it sure was. It was like having Thanksgiving dinner, that's how content I was after stuffing my face. Service was good and very accommodating. Presentation is superior and most pleasant. I hope they open more locations cause the restaurant is very popular and wait times can be long as it's not a very big restaurant. It was so good that I even took an order to go. read more

Hako - Chicken Katsu with curry. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

This place was actually really yummy! From the undo to the katsu, me and my boyfriend shared. The space was nice very fast paced, they seem to get a lot of to go orders. They have a lot of workers so I feel like they're constantly checking on you making sure you're good. I'd definitely be back read more

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Had another great experience here. A bit of a wait HOWEVER once you're in, it's wonderful. Jennifer served us and gave really good recs. She was really friendly and attentive. It's evident the staff as a whole work together harmoniously. Food was awesome and affordable. Quick service. Til next time! read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here to have Discipling time with my Sister in Christ, we ordered a Tiger Dragon Roll and Chicken Katsu with spicy curry and it was all delicious! Service was quick and they were very nice, location was busy and the ambiance was nice! Would definitely come back and recommend! read more

The best katsu in OC hands down. Hako is a very popular restaurant that specializes in Japanese food. They get very busy during dinner so there may be a small wait time to get seated. They are most known for their different katsu which is priced fairly and comes in huge portions. The pork katsu was crispy and tender and dipped with the thousand island like sauce was an extremely satisfying bite. Everything I've had on the menu was fantastic so you can't go wrong with anything. This is becoming a weekly place to eat at! read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

I love hako, best katsu in oc! They are always welcoming and accommodating. It feels like a homey vibe in the restaurant that reminds me of home, everything is so clean as well read more

Hako - Hako Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

04.16.2025 (6:30 pm) *TAKE OUT ORDER* I was excited to finally try this place! We didn't get the full sit down eat-in experience but I just wanted to taste the food. We did a take out order from here so I didn't get a chance to review ambiance and service. Though when we arrived there were people waiting outside and it was busy. I ordered online and pick up via DoorDash at 6:00 pm. It gave us an estimated 17-22 minute pick up time. We arrived at 6:30 pm and my order was already packed nice and neat. We ordered the chicken katsu and an order of the potato croquettes. We were impressed by packaging and presentation of the chicken katsu. All items were separated and sauces were in containers. It was a 10 minute drive to our next stop where I had a chance to sample the food. It was DELICIOUS! The katsu was still crispy and cooked perfectly. The breading was light and stayed on the chicken. The chicken was tender and moist. It had the right amount of rice and cabbage salad. The chicken portion was pretty filling and could be shareable. The potato croquettes were mashed potatoes formed and fried. They were fried well but lacked seasoning on the inside and out. I'm not too sure if it's supposed to be that way. It was served with what looked and tasted like tartar sauce. Overall, food quality was excellent. I would come back to eat here again. This is your place for your chicken katsu fix. read more

Hako - Chicken Katsu and Potato Croquette - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Hako is my go to spot for Japanese tonkatsu! I went for lunch on a Saturday, and although there was about a 50 minute wait, the food made it completely worth it. I got the Hako Tonkatsu, which comes with yummy miso soup! My friends and I also shared the mixed tempura and gyoza appetizers, and everything was fresh, crispy, and full of flavor. Definitely one of my favorite spots for comforting Japanese food! read more

Hako - Mix Tempura and Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here on a random weekday for dinner, the place was very busy and there was still a 30 minute wait! But I'd say the food was worth it! I ordered the curry katsu. The portion size was HUGE (I had enough to take home for another meal)! The meal came with miso soup, rice, and a side salad. The katsu was crispy and delicious. I recommend ordering it was the curry-- the katsu pairs a lot better with curry compared to the hako sauce in my option. read more

Hako - Curry Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Hands down my favorite restaurant of all time. If I was going to die tomorrow and had to eat one last thing it would be this. The spicy curry alongside the tonkatsu is to die for and the rice with it is cooked to perfection. The miso soup is a great addition and it takes amazing. Everything is cooked fresh and also super fast, it does get very busy but the service is still impeccable. Cannot recommend this place enough even for takeout as they have amazing take out boxes as well. 11/10, favorite place to eat read more

I went to Hako with a friend on a Wednesday night and had to wait about 30 minutes to get in, but it was definitely worth the wait! Checking in is easy, as they have an iPad stationed outside the restaurant where you put in your name, number, and party size. You receive a text when your food is ready. I got the curry tonkotsu, a salmon roll, a miso soup, and a seaweed salad and felt that the price was definitely worth what I got. And the food was also commendable. The curry didn't taste too salty and was flavorful and rich. The tonkotsu had a nice crunch to it, and the appetizers were a nice touch to the meal. I live in the Bay Area but would definitely come back here for a second, or third round. read more

Great tonkatsu! Reminded me of being in Japan. Perfectly cooked and not oily. The miso soup was was a big miss. It was served luke warm, more bonito flavor seasoning wouldn't hurt also. read more

I can't believe how good this place is!! I wasn't sure if it would be hype, but no- this place is legit 5 star! The place is small and I've heard the wait can be really long but we only waited maybe 15-20 minutes and it was worth the wait! The portions are huge. The food is cooked perfectly and flavored perfectly. The staff was friendly. I also really liked the presentation- clean and beautiful! I'll be back and can't wait! read more

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Went back again, still slaps!! This time arrived in the afternoon and was seated and served quickly. read more

Hako - Curt - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

One of the best places for Katsu and Sushi. I came here based on other friends wanting to go here and I was not disappointed. The Katsu was crunchy and flavorful, while the sushi had lots of texture. The service was fast and efficient so we ended up getting our food within 15 min. If you want to eat here then come a little early to put your name in the waitlist! read more

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I went to Hako for the first time and tried both the Curry Katsu and the Cheese Tonkatsu. Wait time was quite long, around 40 minutes, but we received a text when our table was ready. Both dishes are a solid 10/10 - the breading is extremely crispy and the meat is cooked perfectly. The curry is very rich and flavorful as well. I liked the tray presentation, and I appreciate how much you get for the price. Staff was quick and friendly, and the interior was clean and comfortable. read more

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This review is overdue since this is my go to lunch. Highly recommend the cheese tonkatsu. Chicken katsu is also good.