The food was phenomenal! The staff were incredibly pleasant and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved that atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't wait to come back. read more

We had been searching for the perfect place to celebrate my daughter's birthday lunch, and since she loves Japanese cuisine, we had our eyes set on Izakaya Osen for quite some time. We scheduled our lunch on the same day as the FIFA World Cup Bronze Medal match, making it an even more memorable afternoon. The restaurant has a modern Japanese atmosphere with several small private dining rooms, a large bar-style seating area, and an open sushi counter. Each private room is separated by traditional Japanese-style sliding panel walls, giving guests a comfortable sense of privacy. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly and quickly escorted to one of the center private rooms, which overlooked a beautiful shared display of bonsai trees. In my opinion, we were seated in the best private room in the restaurant. The peaceful setting and elegant décor made it feel like the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. For our birthday lunch, we ordered the following dishes: Salmon Skin Salad - (Excellent) Crispy salmon skin served over a fresh salad with a light dressing. A refreshing way to start the meal with a nice contrast of textures. Tuna Pringles - (Great) Crispy potato chips topped with seasoned tuna. A fun and creative appetizer that combines crunchy and creamy in every bite. Seared Scallop - (Excellent) Beautifully seared scallops with a lightly caramelized exterior while remaining tender and buttery inside. Premium Chirashi - (Excellent) An assorted sashimi bowl featuring a generous selection of premium fresh seafood over sushi rice. Great variety and beautifully presented. A5 Wagyu Beef (GF) - (Excellent) Rich, buttery A5 Wagyu that literally melts in your mouth. A must-order for beef lovers. King Salmon Sushi (4 pcs) - (Excellent) Thick-cut king salmon with rich flavor and buttery texture. Fresh and satisfying. Hokkaido Scallop Sushi (4 pcs) - (Wonderful) Sweet, tender Hokkaido scallops with a delicate texture that practically melts in your mouth. Miso Soup (3 bowls) - (Excellent) Warm and comforting traditional miso soup served before the main courses. It wasn't an ordinary miso soup, I feel like the base of the soup has a strong seafood flavor which made it even more enjoyable. Hot Green Tea - (Good) A classic hot green tea that paired nicely with the sushi and sashimi throughout the meal. Amato Special Black Sesame Ice Cream (Black Sesame Ice Cream, Dry Persimmons with cream cheese, and Matcha cake- (Excellent) A rich and creamy black sesame ice cream with deep roasted sesame flavor perfect to finish off a sashimi meal. It also comes with Dry persimmons filled with cream cheese which is not too sweet and the two ingredients go so well together. I love the match mochi cake that can pair well with the black sesame ice cream. Birthday Matcha Cake - (Complimentary) A thoughtful birthday surprise from the restaurant that made the celebration even more memorable. It is topped with matcha ice cream with matcha mochi cake underneath. Overall, Izakaya Osen exceeded our expectations and delivered one of the best Japanese dining experiences we've had in Orange County. Every dish was beautifully presented and prepared with high-quality ingredients, from the incredibly fresh sashimi to the melt-in-your-mouth A5 Wagyu and Hokkaido Scallop Sushi. The unique appetizers, flavorful seafood-based miso soup, and outstanding desserts made the meal even more memorable. Combined with the elegant private dining room, peaceful atmosphere, and attentive service, it was the perfect place to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The complimentary birthday matcha cake was a thoughtful finishing touch that made the occasion feel even more special. We already have several more dishes on our list to try next time, and we'll definitely be returning. Izakaya Osen easily earns a well-deserved 5-star rating from us. read more

See all

Today was the second time we've ate at this location. We got completely screwed over. I almost had to eat my food running out the front door. (I wished I had now.) I made a reservation online for 2:30 p.m. When I got there as I am walking in the door I get a text that says they close at 3:00 p.m....What!? Why do you take reservations for 2:30 p.m. then? So I asked, "IS this going to be a problem?" The hostess said oh no uh ah and she sat me at the table. I ordered right away because my husband is on his lunch hour. Not even 10 minutes after I put the order in and mind you I haven't received any food yet some man comes over and asks if we're ready for last call. My husband now at the table, looks at him and says, "Last call for what?" The man says, "Food." "What food? We haven't been served any of our food yet." Oh! he says and he walks away. Our food finally comes out and I feel like we are in a race against the clock. 1. The sushi was not good and made me sick! 2. The Bento Box was exceptable and 3. TanTan Nabe was ok. Just okay because there was nothing in it but broth and noodles. Maybe one mushroom and tons of gross tofu and a piece of stringy fat that they are trying to sell as meat! Um no! Sorry. Here we like real f***ing meat folks. I've had it before and it was delicious. This was not it. And all of this slopped together and shoved out the door without even a cocktail came to $109.00!!! Never again! All while two men are standing 5 ft from our table watching us eat. We are pretty sure this is the management and they have no idea how to run a restaurant. Another thing to note, they keep their side dishes and bowls right out in the open in the dining room. They should be in the kitchen & kept away from customers fingers. They are not clean. They have two huge bins on the bottom of the same shelving unit that is full of white, paper napkins. Anybody who's ever worked in a restaurant, a bar or a hospital knows that the bottom bin is for things you don't have to worry about keeping sanitary? GROSS! Those are the same napkins they put on your plates as your table setup as a trifolded white paper napkin. You're going to wipe your mouth with it and it's already all over the plate you're going to eat on! Let's get back to my lunch with my husband. We're trying to eat our lunch and everything feels like we have to eat it quickly. Even though they say pay the billing you can stay as long as you want. This is just not true. The waitress was rude on many occasions and just wanted her tips so she could leave. I will never return to this restaurant. As far as I'm concerned, they need to go out of business. Did you take a food safety course? in California? You might want to retake it. I want my $ back too. read more

See all

Came back again to one of our favorite restaurants for another amazing date night. We always know we're in for a treat here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the fresh, beautifully presented dishes to the cozy ambiance and attentive service, everything was just as good as we remembered.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely one of our go-to spots for a special night out, and we'll be back again soon! read more

We visited IZAKAYA OSEN over the weekend to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We made our reservation three days in advance and were seated immediately upon arrival. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I really loved the private dining room with the beautiful bonsai tree as the backdrop. It created a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere, and the room gave us plenty of privacy to enjoy our celebration together.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food quality was outstanding. We ordered the Premium Chirashi ($80), which was incredibly fresh and absolutely excellent. The Seared Scallop ($31) was perfectly prepared and delicious. The Tuna Pringles ($17) were both fun and flavorful, with crispy wonton skin adding a great texture. The A5 Wagyu Beef ($70) was premium quality and exceptionally tender. We also enjoyed the Salmon Skin Salad ($20), as well as the King Salmon Sushi ($28) and Hokkaido Scallop Sushi ($27), both of which were fresh and delicious. For dessert, we had the Amato Special Black Sesame Ice Cream ($15), which was unique, rich, and a perfect way to end the meal. The service was excellent from start to finish. Our servers were professional, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed throughout our visit. We even had a fun conversation with one of our waiters about the World Cup matches, which made the experience even more enjoyable and personal. It's those little interactions that made us feel like valued guests rather than just customers. IZAKAYA OSEN truly delivers a high-end dining experience with exceptional food, beautiful ambiance, and outstanding service. We had a wonderful birthday lunch, and I will definitely recommend this restaurant to my friends and look forward to visiting again. read more

See all

There are a few good options for vegans here. Eggplant appetizer tasted better than it looks. Wasn't mushy. Wasn't difficult to eat. The flavor and texture was good. The vegan roll was filling but not super flavorful but it is perfect for vegans especially those who don't eat onion and garlic. Appreciate that it's not just a simple cucumber or avocado roll. It's packed with more protein and that's what I loved about it. Ume & S hand roll was different but I actually liked it! Even with a reservation, had to wait a bit but it was chill. Nice play to enjoy good sushi. read more

See all

Wow really nice place for japanese cuisine! I tried some skewers and the chicken hotplate. The prime beef skewer was my favorite! The meat was tender, had a nice balanced buttery taste that wasnt too heavy, and was cooked at just the right level of done-ness. The seasoning was just right. The bacon wrapped shrimp skewer was great as well. The shrimp was succulent and it already comes with the shell peeled which was very nice haha. The bacon on the outside had some nice crispy bits to it which added some fun textures to the skewer. Very yummy. The pork belly skewer was good too! Not as good as the other skewers I tried though. As for the chicken hotplate, it was really good! The chicken was grilled perfectly and the meat was very tender. The skin on the outside is grilled such that it's crispy, so that added some nice char flavor and texture. The arugula added some nice brightness to the dish. The lighter colored sauce had a sweet and tangy flavor to it, whereas the darker colored sauce had a sweet soy sauce flavor to it. Reminded me a lot of teriyaki sauce, but in a good way! It comes with a side of white rice and the rice was cooked perfectly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall a nice spot to go to for a special occasion. The ambience felt modern, clean, and kind of fancy. Seemed very upscale to me.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was great. Our server was attentive to us and they took really good care of us. If I ever come back, I definitely want to try their nabe hot pot dishes. read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Prime beef skewer, pork belly skewer, bacon wrapped shrimp - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Today felt like a day to go enjoy myself so I decided I wanted to go to this particular restaurant. I've been here with big groups and decided to go on a little solo date. I came nearly at opening and sat at the bar area. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself has indoor and outdoor seating plus a sushi bar as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've never sat at the bar but decided to since it was just me. Menus come on their iPad or they also have specials for the day on paper. I decided on the omakase bowl and wasn't sure if my appetite was big enough for anything else. The omakase bowl was delicious and came with seaweed paper to make your own little hand rolls. I also treated myself to a lychee martini and it was not too sweet which I liked! My bar server was Hailey and she was super sweet. We talked about her dog and plans for World Cup weekend. Was nice to have a conversation going especially when you're solo. This place is one of my go to places for good sushi and drinks. Unfortunately I got full fast and didn't get to order anything else on the menu but was also given complimentary shishito peppers! It was the second nice gesture I received today and it really made my day. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Whether you're solo, date night or in a group setting, this place is always a vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Omakase bowl, shishito peppers and lychee martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

I only pretty much come here once a year. I choose this place on my birthday every year. This year we celebrated on July 4, and it wasn't super crowded to begin. These are the items we ordered again some of my favorites since I only enjoy it once a year. They missed my salmon miso with blue crab, and I had to ask for it three times. By the end, we never got it and they ended up serving it to us anyway and took it off the bill. They even gave us the free calamari and a free dessert to make it up. I was already writing this review in my head prior to them doing this, but they showed up and came through and this is the level of service that I can always appreciate. I know we're not always Perfect and Service related industry can be tricky at times. But this is how you make it up to your customers. Again, still a fan favorite! As usual, the meal was delicious. No complaints. Everything is impeccably placed onto the dish with all the wonderful taste, aroma's and aesthetic. read more

See all

Location is easy access from the freeway. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is beautiful and very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff were all nice, friendly, and accommodating. The sushi nigiri and roll quality were great . The cooked appetizers were done perfectly. The soft shell crab was crunchy and flavorful. The albacore with crispy onions and the shishito peppers were nicely prepared. The izakaya skewers were also so delicious. Definitely a must if you're in the area. read more

See all

Came here with my sister on a Wednesday afternoon and everything was so fresh! You could really taste the freshness of the sushi. Our favorite was definitely the spicy tuna... it was the perfect choice if you're looking to switch things up. The prime beef was also so delicious! A special shoutout to Philip, who welcomed us and showed us to our room. He was super nice, chill, and made us feel comfortable from the moment we walked in. Thanks, Philip! I hope you continue sharing that same welcoming energy with everyone who visits. We had such a great experience! review video coming soon onIG @povangelaa read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Located on the corner of Main St and Gillette in Irvine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cool vibe inside and very good service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We celebrated a friend's work accomplishment. Excellent cold sake! Ordered a bunch of rolls and nigiri. The presentation and the quality of the fish was great! They will validate your parking. A bit expensive but a great place to enjoy with friends so you can share. It is definitely worth returning again! read more

See all

I loved: Toro Unagi Bowl Premium Chirashi I really liked: Omakase Bowl Beef Tongue Futomaki I liked: Matcha Cake W/ Matcha Ice Cream Izakaya Osen was a really good time and the Toro Unagi Bowl was easily the standout. The unagi is super flavorful and really puts the whole bowl over the top. I also love that the bowls come with seaweed nori so you can make your own mini hand rolls. The Omakase Bowl was almost as good as the Toro Unagi Bowl and came with both organic seaweed nori and regular seaweed nori, which made it fun to try more variety. Some of the fish had a stronger flavor profile, so it may be a little picky depending on what you like, but overall still great. The Premium Chirashi comes with 16 to 20 different pieces of fish and the quality was excellent across the board. My favorites were the salmon and bluefin tuna. It's definitely good to share with two people. My only slight knock is that the fish was so good that the rice felt a little lacking in comparison. It was still good, but I don't think it quite did the fish justice. The Beef Tongue was thick and chewy in a good way with excellent flavor. It's pretty lean, but has just enough fattiness to make it taste divine. The Futomaki was a large roll that tasted very refreshing and clean. The matcha cake with matcha ice cream was also good, and they were nice enough to give it to us for the birthday we were celebrating. We ordered so much that we had a full bento box of leftovers after, which I was very happy about. Service was pretty standard in a good way. Everyone was helpful but not overly in the way, which I always appreciate. I also liked that they came over to ask us about validation without us having to bring it up. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is very clean and well decorated. It's a great spot for pictures and has a nice atmosphere for a birthday dinner or just a nicer Japanese meal in Irvine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, I'd definitely come back, especially for that Toro Unagi Bowl. read more

See all

I came here with family for my birthday and I have to say the food, service, and ambiance were all top notch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]First of all, we got seated in a private room with lovely interior design and our server was extremely welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They helped us navigate the menu and gave their own suggestions of what we might like. They even provided us with real fresh wasabi upon request! Later on when our servers were switched, the second server was also very attentive, checking in on us and making light small talk. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the tuna pringles, wagyu, salmon skin salad, and a variety of nigiri. However, I have to say the premium chirashi was the star of the show. All the fish was high quality and fresh. You could really taste the natural flavors present in each cut. You could also tell there was time taken to make the sushi rice and it all paired extremely well with the fresh wasabi. I was very delighted with the entire experience and I highly recommend this to those looking for the next food adventure! read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Got here at 5pm with reservations. Already 3 groups of ppl here There's small segments rooms for privacy Restaurants has a [[HIGHLIGHT]]modern clean look. BUT Bathroom was not check up and stocked up. :-/[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] really messy and lacked supplies Food was fresh but the veggie in tempura was tough :''-(. Tempura mix is small portion too I had sushi chirasa set. And hamachi sashimi, soft shell crab, chicken karrage, tempura mix Service fast but I'm here at 5pm Miso soup was too salty Everything else was awesome read more

See all

Had a fantastic experience here! We started with half a dozen oysters, and they were incredibly fresh and clean. For the kushiyaki, we ordered the beef tongue, prime beef, chicken gizzard, and bacon enoki mushroom skewers. Every skewer was packed with flavor. The prime beef was especially tender. For sushi, we tried the Blue Crab Uni Bowl and the Premium Sushi Hachi Mori (8 pieces). While the sushi was excellent, the standout for me was definitely the Blue Crab Uni Bowl. It felt like a DIY hand roll experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is beautiful, spacious, and has a great atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There's a parking structure available, and the restaurant validates parking, which makes visiting even more convenient. Overall, everything from the food to the ambiance was outstanding. Service was amazing during dinner rush. I would definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for great sushi and kushiyaki! read more

food was really good and service was nice but tbh it wasn't anything that special to me personally for it to be the prices that it was lol, i've gotten the same quality or better at other places for much cheaper. they're definitely good here and fresh, but just personally think it's expensive for what it is. i tried the eel rice thing, udon soup, salmon nigiri, spicy tuna crispy rice, which were all good tho! read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

We made a reservation for Friday night 7pm and there was quite a lot of people already for an Izakaya joint! Although, it's funny everyone mainly comes for the sushi rather than the izakaya food. Love the interior! Modern, sleek, and minimalistic. The restaurant was a lot bigger than I thought since there's patio seating. Parking here is shared with a business complex, which they offer your 2 hr free with validation. If over, it would have been $1.50 per 15 minutes (from what I remembered). Service was also friendly and efficient! We got to order the rock shrimp tempura, omakase bowl, miso crab salmon, maguro kajime, and the soy garlic edamame. Orders came out pretty quickly! We actually got the rock shrimp tempura first, which this one was pretty nice for the first few bites. Then it was me realizing that the batter was really hard, which I feel like this should be called rock hard shrimp haha. The flavors were good though! The soy garlic edamame came next, which this one was really nice! The soy garlic gives it a nice sweet touch. They also give a good amount. Then came the maguro kajime, this one was really good! Fish was really fresh and everything was so soft. Then came the miso crab salmon, this one was my favorite! Flavors tasted really good fused together, also very soft and fresh! The omakase bowl came last, which definitely was pretty nice. Everything was really fresh and it was nice they offer you seaweed so you can make your little hand rolls with it. The sea trumpet seaweed was really unique, although, I wasn't really a big fan of it after having so much it because it's tasted very oceanic. Actually, the whole omakase bowl tasted really oceanic, which is pretty nice, but personally for me it was too much haha. Everything was really good though! My least favorite may be the rock shrimp tempura, but my favorite was the miso crab salmon. read more

See all

Found my new favorite sushi spot in Costa Mesa. We did the $100 Mother's Day omakase and I was blown away by the value. Every course was delicious and the fish quality was top-tier. Beyond the freshness, I loved the creative touches--they clearly put a lot of thought into the garnishes and sauces. The service was attentive, and the restaurant has a great energy. For $100, this felt like a steal compared to other high-end omakase spots in OC. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. read more

See all

Elevated sushi dining experience. Got an order of the chicken karaage and garlic edamame. Server came by with on the house miso soup. We ordered shared a premium chirashi for our main dish. Fish was fresh. Would recommend. read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Premium chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Izakaya Osen in Irvine is my go-to spot to kick off my Disneyland vacations. The reservation system on Yelp makes it easy to book a table and the parking validation makes parking a non-issue. The ambience is pretty cozy. We've sat at the sushi bar and it was cool watching the sushi chefs assemble rolls and nigiri. The tables offer more space for food and the patio has heat lamps so seating outside isn't an issue. There's small private rooms for larger parties that looked great. I'm not a big omakase/nigiri fan so I stick to the rolls and appetizers but my friend frequently orders the raw fish. My go-tos are either the Fresh Roll (if I want something lighter) or the Rainbow Roll. For appetizers, the tuna pringles are good but a bit pricey. The only dish I've tried and wasn't a big fan of is the Japanese Rib-Eye Steak Tobanyaki (sauce was too sweet and the steak was a little overcooked). Service is always pleasant. This last visit, our waitress (unfortunately I forgot her name!) was particularly awesome. When my friend asked her about the 6 piece omakase, she admitted that she normally doesn't recommend that people order it because of the portion size. We appreciated her honesty and her recommendations. We decided to try the pork belly kushiyaki per her suggestion (it was delicious) and my friend went with the 8 piece omakase (it ended up being the perfect amount). The food came out at a nice pace though there was a bit of a wait for the omakase (we were told ahead of time that it would be around a 20 minute wait). Everything tasted great and the waitress even threw in a free matcha cake dessert since "she was feeling nice." I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a nice dinner and fresh, high quality sushi. This was my third visit and I'll continue to support this establishment. I'll have to be more strategic to make sure I'm hungry enough to order their hot pot rice bowls next! read more

See all

Food was so delicious! We got there with a reservation and were seated right away. Appetizers were mostly good, but the Miso Black Cod did not have much flavor. We had a party of six, and got a private seated area which was nice. Overall, would definitely come back to this restaurant!! read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Yellowtail Avocado Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped in for a solo dinner. The restaurant is beautiful and the staff couldn't have been nicer! Uni was super fresh and can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

izakaya osen is a beautifully decorated restaurant with a modern look and feel. however, the positives just about end there. note that if you make a reservation, you're not guaranteed your preferred (indoor or outdoor) seat per the text reminder i got before my reservation. also, the reservation was made through yelp but essentially put me on a waitlist to be seated at my desired time. a bit strange to be honest! i really wanted to like this spot since i came here with my family, but i was underwhelmed and disappointed by nearly every overpriced dish we ordered. to start, it took longer than expected for anyone to take our order. we were seated for at least 10-15 minutes before the manager came by and asked if we were ready to order so he could find someone to help us. when our order was finally taken, there was no introduction, and we were left confused about who our actual server was. there were plenty of employees walking around, but many seemed to be doing very little. they also appeared relatively untrained; when bringing dishes to the table, they simply handed plates to us instead of helping clear space for the food. for starters, we ordered the soft shell crab, chawanmushi, and agedashi tofu. i was disappointed by all three. the soft shell crab came with only two pieces and was paired with a strange gochujang-like sauce that didn't work. the chawanmushi was small, lacked much flavor, and the salmon roe topping felt like an odd pairing. the agedashi tofu was especially disappointing, as it seemed undercooked and had a mushy texture inside. for kushiyaki, everything was decent but overpriced for what it was. the best skewers were the bacon asparagus (which is hard to mess up) and the prime rib. the rolls were all solid, but the portions were surprisingly small. the futomaki was probably my favorite, with a generous amount of fish inside. the baked lobster and soft shell crab rolls were also quite good, but each came with only five pieces. the menu does not indicate how many pieces come in each roll, and most were priced in the mid-$20 range, which feels expensive compared to similar restaurants in the area. lastly, we were still hungry after everything else, so we ordered the nippon jidori chicken hot plate. this ended up being one of the better dishes of the meal. the chicken was well-cooked, flavorful, and nicely charred. it also came with a generous portion of crown daisy and two sauces. overall, izakaya osen feels like a restaurant that is trying to be upscale without delivering the food quality or service to justify the price. i left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed, and i will not be returning. i genuinely do not recommend it and was honestly surprised to see so many positive reviews. read more

See all

OMG Hands down the best sushi I've had in OC! I've had this place bookmarked for years and finally got the opportunity to go -- it did not disappoint. We came on a Sunday for lunch and there was no wait. The restaurant itself had ambient and dim lighting. The fish here is so fresh and the flavors of each dish melded perfectly together. The seasoning on the rice was so good too, it had the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and saltiness. And the temperature of the rice paired well with the raw fish. Every dish we had was 10/10 and I would 100% come back!! It is totally worth the price. This might be my favorite restaurant in OC now! What we ordered: - Osen roll - Miso crab salmon - Omakase bowl - Premium chirashi read more

See all

Finally tried out this place after friends' recommendations. It's tucked in an industrial plaza with an attached parking structure. So parking was easy to find (at least on a Tuesday during lunchtime rush) and they do validate. Ambiance is 100: modern, clean, upscale. Staff was friendly and helpful and food came out in perfect timing. We all ordered the sashimi and sushi Hachi Mori and it did not disappoint. First course was miso soup, and maki roll (option for hand roll too), then the main course of 6 sashimi pieces and 6 nigiris. Fish was fresh and seasoned well. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars because the pieces and flavoring didn't wow me. Portions could be bigger too. Lychee martini was on point, coulda had 3 more of those if I didn't have to drive. read more

See all

Love the elevated vibe of this place, went for a birthday celebration. All the fish was so fresh. the Toban yaki was the star of the show, we loved the ribeye cut that came with it. The cocktails were strong but very refreshing. The service was on point with checking in and refilling waters. read more

See all

This was my first time trying this sushi spot, and I was a little unsure at first, but I'm glad I gave it a try. I came in for dinner and was told the wait would be about 20 minutes, so I sat at the bar and ordered a quick appetizer and a beer. The bartender, Steeve, was great. He explained how everything works and recommended some popular items on the menu. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere is quiet with a nice, dim setting. I will definitely be back read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Cool bartender - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Never thought I'd come back for the miso soup, but here we are. It's easily the best miso soup I've ever had. A rich, seafood-based broth with an incredible depth of umami. It was so good that I found myself trying to decipher the recipe and figure out how to recreate it at home. You really can't go wrong with any of the nigiri selections here, but the toro was the standout of the night. If you were looking for a sign to order it, this is it. Rich, buttery, and incredibly tender. While this particular cut wasn't the melt-in-your-mouth smooth toro you sometimes get, it had a slightly more fibrous texture. It was still packed with flavor and didn't take away from the overall experience. It was also my first time trying the miso black cod, and unfortunately it was a bit underwhelming. I even checked with a friend who had ordered it here before because I was expecting the usual crisp, caramelized exterior with a delicate, flaky center. This version felt more baked than seared, which left it lacking some of the texture and contrast I was hoping for. What truly elevated the experience was the service. The staff was exceptionally attentive throughout the meal. One detail that stood out was our server remembering a preference we mentioned while our friend had stepped away, then thoughtfully bringing it up again when she returned so she could make her selection. Small touches like that make a lasting impression and show a genuine level of care that's hard to find. read more

See all

Was able to return to another one of my favorite sushi spots for OC restaurant week. They had a special 8 course menu for $150 that looked too good not to try. It did not disappoint. The premium sashimi and nigiri course were outstanding. They have the fresh grated wasabi if you need it but honestly, the fish stood out by itself. Loved the ankimo/uni/scallop with truffle too. They were busy on this Friday night but it gave the ambiance a good energy. They also gave us a fried calamari to apologize for one of our courses running behind. Wasn't necessary but it was delicious. Servers were efficient read more

See all

Delicious delicious sushi bowls. Their fish is SUPER fresh and fairly priced. Got both the Toro Uni bowl and Uni Sashimi on the side, my friend got the ebi uni bowl. Both were fantastic! The uni sashimi portions were much more generous than I expected, especially for the price. Service is friendly and receptive even when they were busy. Ambience is a bit low lit and slightly upscale, definitely good for dates. Been to a lot of sushi places in Irvine and OC, and this definitely definitely ranks up there. Don't forget to get your parking verified! read more

See all

Came here cause I was craving skewers and wanted to try a new place. The cuts of meat were pretty big, but I thought the overall yakitori skewers were bland and a bit dry. The soft shell crab was crispy and cooked well. It didn't come with the typical ponzu sauce, which I think is better. The rock shrimp had extra crunchy bits to mimicking rock texture I think, I would thought it would taste better with more sauce. Flavor was great just not enough. Service was okay, but they're busy. And it's a pretty casual spot to hang out with friends. Kind of small restaurant so better to booked ahead online just in case. Parking lot is small, so might take sometime to find street parking on a weekend. read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Beef tongue - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

The worst omakase experience ever! The service was bad, I had to wait for my table for over 25 mins with a reservation. Turned out they were not setting my table, gave it to other people to where we ended up having to sit at the bar. Additionally, no one came by to see how we were doing. Not once were we asked if we need anything or if our food was good or any attention to us. Then comes the food: the worst omakase ever. The hot food was not hot, and over cooked dried single lamb chop was so salty. The miso soup was salty as well. Nigiri was dried up pieces of fish that was not fresh, very mushy in texture, and as small as my pinky finger of a size. Not one single bite was memorable or worth nothing we had eaten. To pay $150 per person on omakase you figure you would experience some kind of orgasm in your mouth but instead we had a big flop of a disappointment that was the worst wasteful $1000 spent on dinner ever! Never coming back and definitely stirring friends and family away from checking this place out! read more

I had a fantastic experience at Izakaya Osen and would absolutely give it 5 stars. We went for their Restaurant Week / omakase-style offering, and overall it delivered serious value. In Orange County, spots operating at this level of quality and presentation are usually priced noticeably higher, so the cost here felt very fair for what you're getting. It's one of those places where you leave feeling like you didn't get ripped offwhich is rare in the high-end sushi scene around here. The meal itself was excellent across the board. Everything was fresh, well-executed, and thoughtfully plated. The standout for me was definitely the salmon belly and the otoro--both were incredibly rich, buttery, and just melted in your mouth. Those bites alone made the experience memorable. I ended ordering an extra Otoro after the fixed menu had concluded. The tuna was from Spain and it was absolutely delectable. Aggressive Italian HAND GESTURE worthy. If I had one small critique, it would be that I wish there was a bit more variety in the sashimi or nigiri portion of the omakase. It was high quality, no doubt but a slightly broader selection would've taken it to the next level. That said, the overall experience, flavor, and value easily outweigh that minor note. Great food, solid pricing for the OC market, and a spot I'd confidently recommend to anyone looking for a quality sushi experience in Irvine. read more

See all

Excellent sushi and sashimi dishes. Love the great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is pretty busy as usual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

Izakaya Osen is the best spot in OC for sushi and elevated Japanese cuisine! Their service and freshness of their food is absolutely UNMATCHED. The prime beef skewers are so tender and their nigiri is DELICIOUS. But the BEST ITEM IS THEIR TORO! They also validate parking and have a giant covered lot in a structure with lots of spaces. Great for casual lunch or occasion celebrations! read more

See all

We tried the Osen Omakase during O.C. Restaurant Week. Since we ordered two omakase sets, you'd assume everything would come out perfectly matched, right? Enter: the chawanmushi plot twist. One arrived noticeably taller and fuller than the other... like, very noticeable. After a bit of back-and-forth, the staff did replace it, but it definitely took some convincing. That aside, the omakase itself was not bad, but definitely pretty bites. Nothing felt especially unique or wow-level memorable. Still, the sushi bar has a cute, intimate vibe that makes it a nice pick for date night or a cozy outing. Tip: make a reservation. The place gets packed, even on the weekdays. Overall, a pleasant experience with a small hiccup. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cute interior and decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came with a large party and a reservation and we were seated immediately. We got the edamame, omakase bowl, and toro uni bowl. - Edamame: good seasoning. They gave a second bowl for empty shells which was nice. - Omakase and Toro Uni Bowl: fish was fresh, but I didn't love this type of seaweed. read more

IZAKAYA OSEN - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Went here for my friends birthday, and the decor/service was amazing! Wait staff was very on point, and came over thoroughly during dinner for our every need. A higher end izakaya, filled with all the normal things you would see (skewers, shareable) with more refined sushi dishes and boxes. While the food was indeed tasty, I felt like the value for price was a bit lacking. That would be my only gripe, but overall my experience was great :) read more

See all

This is a cute restaurant in a business area. We got the miso soup and edamame to start. Both were ok. We also tried the spicy tuna crispy rice and that was delicious. After that, we wanted to order more food but no one came around for about 30 minutes. We had to flag someone down. We tried the yellowtail scallion roll and the osen roll. Both were light and very fresh and delicious. I thought the sushi was great, but the service wasn't amazing. read more