Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hakucho

    4.0 (46 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Hakucho Takeout or Delivery

    Hakucho Photos

    Business Info

    HAKUCHO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Hakucho

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    tteokbokki
    Stephanie D.

    My first time here and it was a fun experience. As soon as I walked in, there was a cool dj playing some very light house tunes in the corner. It was very nice looking on the inside. They had unique upscale booths. The flavors were incredible! I feel as though the prices absolutely match the quality and taste of everything.

    Remon sour
    Jennifer H.

    We were en route from Tampa to central and needed to grab dinner. My my my this was a treat. Has an elevated vibe but with down home service. Very happy with everything. Best thing was the dumplings, everything else was very close.

    Raegan L.

    Hakucho is a fun and unique addition to downtown Lakeland- Japanese/ Asian fusion in shareable plates. The whole idea here is that you're meant to share things with your party. Most of the menu is small plates- there's a few actual entrees on the back but it's sparse compared to the rest of the offerings. We tried a couple of their skewers, and all agreed the wagyu skewer was pretty fantastic. It only comes with one skewer whereas the other types come with 2, which is a little disappointing. We tried some of the dumplings which were unique from other dumplings and I'm not sure how to describe it, but we enjoyed them. I also tried something that basically looked like a sushi sandwich/ small plate with salmon, roe, spicy mayo packed onto a seaweed & rice patty. It was decent but not something I'd probably get again. A highlight here is probably the drinks- even the mocktails were nice and refreshing. We sat outside because it was insanely busy and booked out inside- but it's worth seeing because the inside looks like a whole different place, not like you're in Lakeland, Florida. It does get overwhelmingly loud when there's a lot of people, however, because it's a more compact space that they made the most seating out of that they could. I'd really probably give this a 3.5 stars overall, but we had really great service which upped the experience more. For all the hype this place had I was hoping for a little more "pizzazz", but maybe they'll be like the best wines and get better as time goes on.

    Peppers (gf/df), chicken, beef skewer (gf/df), chili mayo
    Jill G.

    Modern sleek interior Sat at 2 seat high top by kitchen Attentive service Food comes out as it is ready All dietary questions were answered clearly All skewers are gluten free We ordered shrimp also but forgot to take a picture because we were too busy enjoying our food All food was absolutely delicious and we stopped from ordering more so we could have more to try next visit Hot sake coming soon

    Lychee Martini and House Old Fashioned
    Paola C.

    This was our first visit, and it's already one of our favorite spots in Lakeland! The atmosphere is beautiful and such a unique experience. The food and drinks were delicious, and we loved the shared-plate concept--it lets you sample a great variety of the menu without feeling overly full. Our server Jojo was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. We'll definitely be back!

    Vegan chocolate chip cookie (to die for)
    Yurima L.

    Time and time again I am pleasantly surprised! This has become our favorite place in Lakeland! From the ambiance to the service and food has been outstanding, amazing, and every word that can possibly describe an extraordinary experience each time! It's no wonder it has been the hot spot since it has opened! I'd name every server that has helped and whose service we have enjoyed but I'd be naming everyone! Thank you to the whole team!

    Beef skewer pork belly skewer the dumplings
    Lisa F.

    Okay so I just want to say that this place was absolutely outstanding both in taste of the food the ambience was great, The service was very fast. We did get there right at 4:00 and they started filling up pretty quickly after we got here they do open at 4 pm. All of the food was out quickly and was outstanding. Little bit on the pricey side so for all the dishes that we got it was $160 plus $20 tip. See attached pictures it was quite a bit of food we were stuffed. I didn't get a picture of it but I also got a margarita pineapple flavor it was good but strong.

    Dovonna R.

    I forgot to take pictures but everything here is amazing We had a great time here, the staff were very attentive and friendly

    small plates
    Airamiss L.

    Great restaurant located in downtown Lakeland. We came in during their 6 month celebration and it was extremely busy and lively. The restaurant is easy to find and there is a free parking lot across from the park across the street. The restaurant has very nice decor and style in my opinion. The menu is different enough from other Izakaya restaurants that I have been to that it's definitely worth a stop. The drink selection is really really nice as well with craft cocktails and Japanese whiskeys. Food wise- they have some good gluten-free options. The skewers shrimp were my absolute favorite of all the skewered meats/protiens that I had. I did have the wagyu and it was overcooked as well as the chicken thighs. The vegetables on the menu are very very good if you like vegetables there is a large array in that dish and it's enough for multiple people and comes topped with housemate lotus chips. The lotus chips are a MUST TRY and you can order those under the small bites or bar bites section with a garlic aioli. Anyhow, the ramen was also good and we tried a lot of small items and the price point is very fair. I would highly recommend this restaurant. 3 stars because my protiens were overcooked and all of it came out cold which was strange because it is supposed to be served as soon as it's ready because it's all small plates. Service however, was fast so I am not sure why everything was cold.

    Alicia D.

    You pay for ambiance. Food was mediocre and did make me go to the br shortly after eating here...probably would not come back tbh

    Banditas peanut butter cookie with vanilla ice cream and yuzu sake
    Miranda C.

    Super modern and cool addition to the Lakeland area best suited for date night or small groups. Very pleased with our server, Jojo who was spunky and provided excellent recommendations. We've dined at a few tapas style restaurants, but the Asian flare here was unique and executed well! We were disappointed that a few menu items were not available during our visit. However, we are already talking about visiting again after the official grand opening. The Eggplant & Tofu was one of the most surprising dishes, tried something different and loved it! At this time there is not an official dessert menu, but the staff is ordering cookies and treats from local bakeries around Lakeland (such as Born and Bread and Banditas, YESSSS support small!!!!) and topping them with vanilla ice cream.

    Hakuchō-Abura Soba Ramen
    Andrea P.

    Hakuchō has amazing food, service, and ambiance. Their Japanese inspired cuisine with a twist is just what Lakeland downtown area needed. Amazing flavors.

    partial
    Deke M.

    I went for lunch and had an excellent outside experience with a great server. They have inside and outside seating. Hakucho is essentially the word for ordinary or working class pub in Japanese. It was definitely elevated in the modern interior. They mostly serve "small plates" meant to be shared but there are definitely some entree-sized options on the menu. Everything I ordered was perfectly cooked and well-executed, artfully, for the eyes. They do a nice Japanese curry, a chicken katsu, some great sandwiches, both udon & ramen, several lemon-flavored dishes, fried chicken (karaage). You can add a poached egg or a tasty potato salad to any order or as a stand alone item. I will be back again and again. Lunches are around $15-20, depending on your add-ons and more if you buy drinks. This place will be habit forming for flavors alone. Service was prompt & friendly.

    Sake Steamed Clams

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Awful customer service! Food is the worst! Do not come, these people treat you awfully!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C B.
    0
    72
    5

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Hakucho Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hakucho

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Izakaya 192 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Peach House

    The Peach House

    4.3
    (59 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    We recently had lunch at The Peach House. Here is what I thought…read more Atmosphere: The Peach House is located inside what looks like an old home. It is cutely decorated on the inside and outside. It has a beautiful covered front porch with lots of plants. The inside was quaintly decorated. I loved the atmosphere. Restrooms: It had two single use restrooms. The restrooms were nice and clean. Service: Our service was great overall. I gave four stars because it was a bit slow at moments, but the waiter apologized for the wait times. Food: I loved my food and drink. I got their 'Tropic Thunder' mocktail which was delicious. It is such a fun drink for the summer! I had their 'Whipped Ricotta Toast' as my lunch entree. I wanted something cool and not too big to eat for lunch. It was the perfect portion size and very flavorful. Everything was beautifully presented. If I'm back in the Lakeland area, I will definitely come back here! It seems like a great spot for brunch or lunch. I did see someone bring their dog, so it must be pooch friendly!

    We stopped in because it was within walking distance of our Airbnb and ended up having a great…read moreexperience. It was our first time trying gator bites, and they were so good that we ordered a second plate. Everything came out fresh and full of flavor. The cocktails were just as impressive. There were so many unique options that we couldn't help but try a few different ones, and every drink was excellent. The service really tied everything together. Both the bartender and our server were friendly, attentive, and happy to share local recommendations, which we really appreciated as visitors. Great food, great drinks, and great people. We'd definitely stop by again.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Grouper Sandwich
    Grouper Sandwich
    The Peach House

    See all

    Smiths American Tavern

    Smiths American Tavern

    4.1
    (99 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    This is a great location in an old federal building. Nice decor for this Smiths American Tavern…read more The bartender met us at the door, due to it being the middle of the day, and business being a bit slower, and we opted to sit at the bar. He was very social and answered all our questions and socialized about personal life as well. We ordered the Cuban eggrolls, and they were quite good but had smaller cubes of ham as opposed to pictures showing slices in some older pictures posted to this establishment. The drinks were spot-on. Although I may sound disappointed, I'm looking forward to trying more on the menu that they have to offer. I plan to return to try more. Recommended!

    Smith's American Tavern is in historic downtown Lakeland and located in a converted post office…read more It is spacious inside, has a nice size bar area and plenty of TVs to watch sporting events. The atmosphere is dive bar friendly and there are so many cool niche areas for photos. Really loved the raised unfinished ceiling and the naked white brick wall which covered the side wall of the tavern. When you enter there is a hostess to great you. And our server almost appeared immediately. She explained the menu to us and the specials. What a great first impression. Unfortunately, there was a key piece of info we missed. There is a full bar, draft beer options and a decent wine selection. I ordered a draft beer and a flight of Mimosas. The beer was good, the mimosa flight not so much. Oh, and they have brunch specials on Saturday and Sunday, including unlimited mimosas at a 2 hour limit. For food, ordered the classic breakfast plate and a breakfast burger. Food was pretty good, but the burger was from a frozen patty, so not the best. Unfortunately they have some policy where they charge an extra $1 for the eggs. It is posted in the front, but nowhere on the menu. Suffice to say that experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Pun intended. They did remove the $1 but it took more effort that I would have liked and unfortunately the review and the server's tip suffered as a result.

    Photos
    Smiths American Tavern
    Steak Frites. (Churrasco)
    Steak Frites. (Churrasco)
    Peach smash

    See all

    Peach smash

    Hakucho - izakaya - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...