The food here was decent and hit the spot, a little on the pricier side but we were happy with it! read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Dare I say.. probably the top katsu spot I've been to in the states! They have a variety of katsu options. Our table went with Pork Loin Katsu, Pork Shoulder Loin, and Millefeuille with Cheese. All were phenomenal! The filling portion of meat is juicy and tender. The exterior is light, delicate, and fried to perfection! You'll definitely want to finish this at the restaurant. It's still good reheated at home (air fryer), but it's just not quite the same. I loved that the katsu came with a heaping pile of cabbage with some dressing. This paired wonderfully with the katsu, creating a nice balance of fresh tartness with the meat. The katsu also comes with some miso soup and small side dishes. Overall, a well balanced meal that didn't leave me feeling oily or lethargic after. A win when eating fried foods! read more

Kagura - Pork loin - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

That was delicious. Had to jump on here right after eating to tell yall!! I got the chicken katsu and boy got the pork loin. "Was fire," he is telling me as I write this. "Waitress was surprised I finished it so fast." It was so good!! I loved the cabbage that came with it, curious as to how they shred it so fine. Ugh, yum. I also appreciate the grate that held up the katsu so it wouldn't get soggy sitting on the plate with the cabbage. Plates were huge with a few sides that were all great! Satisfied and happy :). We were seated rightaway when we walked in at around 5:30pm and the waitresses were super nice. I recommend! read more

Kagura - Chicken Katsu and Pork Loin Katsu (back) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I got the pork katsu with curry sauce (9/10) and it was great. The katsu has a nice crunchy texture and the pork was juicy. It came with a lot of sides like cabbage salad, miso soup, and pickled sides. Portion overall was okay. It's a solid meal. But it doesn't beat the value and taste from some places like Hako. read more

Kagura - Pork Katsu with Curry Sauce - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Kagura specializes in katsu. The pork is tender and juicy. It is very crispy. The meal comes with rice, miso soup and shredded cabbage. If you are here for a great katsu, you won't be disappointed. The restaurant is modern and clean. Their service is friendly and the place is fairly popular. The service could be a tad faster but overall I would recommend this for any serious katsu lover! read more

Kagura - Katsu with sides. - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a Message from TONKATSU LOVER. HIRE KATSU was okay but, too big and hard to eat. You have to ask knife and cut it by yourself to eat it. FRIED SHRIMP was good but, NO TARTAR SAUCE !! Mayonaise comes with it but the mayo was not even good flavor. You should bring your own Tartar sauce. Miso soup had no flavor at all with only seaweed in it. Kobachi was not delicious. No taste and funny texure. I tried with soysauce but still not good. You have to ask LEMON for 50 cents extra. Mitsuwa cafeteria even gives you LEMON for free. Service was really good and servers asking me many times, how was tasting of the food. I did not want to complain when I was eating, so it was kind of uncomfortable though. Little disappointed for more than $30 lunch but, I was excited to have a precious Tonkatsu restaurant in OC so, hopefully they will improve quickly all these and keep up with good business. If they have some Lunch special menu will be great too. read more

Personal favorite spot to go for authentic tonkatsu. I've tried the chicken breast, pork loin, curry katsu. All fantastic and delicious. The servers here are cordial and attentive, the decor is chill and easy vibes. read more

Kagura - Katsu with Demi sauce - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Good authentic Tonkatsu! Restaurant is tucked away in a little strip mall area. It may be a little hard to find as it is at the end of a little driveway of the strip mall. Cute, restaurant with several small tables for dining. Noticed they had quite a few takeout orders being picked up as well. Service was quick and very helpful. We order the takowasa appetizer that was very good and fresh. Hubby and I both order the loin which comes with miso soup, rice, fried aburage, okra tsukemono and shredded cabbage. All were excellent. I very much enjoyed the hot mustard they serve with the tonkatsu. The dressing on the cabbage was also perfect, not overly thick, and the cabbage remained crunchy. The katsu was perfectly prepared - nice crispy crunch on the outside and the pork was very tender. The portion size was really good and we will definitely be back. read more

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Came here with a friend at 7PM on a Thursday evening and though it was decently crowded, we were seated promptly. We were both very happy with the food; the batter was crispy and the portions were extremely generous. I got the fillet katsu with fried oyster and it's the best fried oyster I've ever had! The oysters tasted fresh and were juicy and flavorful. Overall, very impressed and will definitely be back! read more

Kagura - Fillet Katsu w/ Fried Oyster - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Been here a couple times already and is by far the best Katsu place we've tried. Small interior with a wait sometimes. Luckily we've arrived a little before peak dinner times and was seated within 5 to 10 minutes. You can also call ahead and let them know you're coming. Lots of Katsu options on the menu. You can't go wrong with pork or chicken! Last time I tried the chicken Katsu with oroshi, which is essentially a daikon sauce on the side and it was delicious! I'll probably get it again next time. The portions are generous and it's so delicious that we finish our meal every time. read more

Kagura - Chicken with Oroshi - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is Kagura in Costa Mesa. It's a wonderful example of how great katsu can be. I know you guys want some of this. It looks like a traditional, wooden Japanese restaurant, and serves up some premium traditional Japanese fried cutlets! Located in a plaza right across from the camp, it can be really easy to miss if you're trying to notice it from the road. Rest assured, it's worth seeking out. To start, we got a tofu salad which was super refreshing before our main meal. Acidic, tender tofu tantalizes your taste buds! Tell me that ten times fast! Katsu always seemed boring to some people, but I think it works as a fantastic canvas for culinary painting and texturework. Following me? Check this out: I got a katsudon, which is a bowl of rice that's topped with a...well...kind of a dashi-omelet with onions and katsu inside? I hope that sounds appetizing, because it smells and tastes even moreso! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but the dashi-soaked katsu is texturally wonderful to me! If you're hesitant, give it a try! I got this fillet katsu with a demi sauce. The demi-sauce is a beef-based gravy that's super concentrated and flavorful! It comes in a boat so you can douse it yourself with however much you'd like! Also, you dirty dippers can definitely dose it doing that too! Delicious either way, I'd say! The crunch is insane, of course. When you give a Japanese person some Panko, there's no limit to how tasty they can make something! We can thank the Germans for this fried fun too! It comes from schnitzel, can you believe that? But seriously, y'all, hop on board this fantastic fare, because it's begging for a bite! Kagura is the one to go to, if you're looking for that wonderfully fried Katsu! read more

Cravings for Japanese food on an afternoon, I had this place on a list to try out. Outside looks small, but once you're inside it's pretty spacious. I was seated right away, got 2 menus. One for the standard offerings and the specials! Ordered the beef katsu special 4/5. The skin was crispy and crunchy, but the beef was tender and smelts in your mouth. It also comes with slaw, miso soup, and rice. The pork katsu and crab croquettes was good 4/5. Pork katsu was moist and crunchy! The crab croquettes cheesy and good. The katsu sauce was yummy , dipped and smothered my katsu with it. Definitely a place to eat if you're craving something in the late afternoon. read more

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Delicious katsu! We ordered the curry katsu, miso katsu, and loin katsu and they were all delicious.

food: one of my fav katsu spots in oc! i love the side dishes and the portions for the price :) service: the food takes a while to come out, but it's worth it in the end ambiance: cute little small restaurant read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I came with my friend/family and we were told there would be a wait, which was completely fine. We simply asked if my friend's 85-year-old grandmother could wait inside while the rest of us waited outside. Instead of showing even a hint of empathy, Ami responded with, "Do you not have a car?" -- said in a rude and dismissive tone. I was honestly shocked. Speaking that way to anyone is unprofessional, but saying it to someone asking for consideration for an elderly woman was beyond disrespectful. It completely soured our experience before we even sat down. Customer service matters, and basic compassion goes a long way. Unfortunately, that was missing here. read more

We were in the mood for tonkatsu and decided to stop by. Here's what we ordered... Fillet Katsu Curry: Excellent Fillet Katsu with Miso sauce: Good, but probably don't need to order it again The restaurant had more people working the tables, so the service was a lot better than our last visit. The ambiance is very relaxed and we felt comfortable. We will go back again. read more

I haven't been back since my last review until earlier this week and unfortunately my impression was not as good as a couple years ago. I ordered the one of the new menu items, the Ume Shiso Chicken Katsu Gozen, and did not care for it at all. This may be completely personal taste - I like plum a lot but had never had pickled plum before, but I thought it tasted almost floral and it was a strange combination with the katsu. I also tried a piece of the tomahawk katsu which i thought was good and why my new rating is still 4 stars. Overall, still a solid spot as long as you avoid the Ume Shiso but definitely on the more expensive side. read more

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Ordered takeout. Service is friendly and food is neatly packaged. Loved their mackerel katsu which also came with two thick slices of pork. Rice was perfectly cooked and I also liked the assortment of pickles on the side. The set came with a miso soup as well. The inside was cozy and they have a clean restroom. Would love to come back for dine in. read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The best tonkatsu on the West Coast. No question. Always crowded. Very small. Totally worth the wait. We usually get there around 2 in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Service is great but they make everything to order so expect a 10-15 minute wait for your food. But again totally worth it!!! Curry is legit read more

Kagura - Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Kagura is definitely one of my favorite spots for katsu in the OC area! You walk in and you notice an authentic Japanese vibe immediately. Everyone is super welcoming! FAVE ITEMS: - Ume Chicken Shiso: I just recently tried this one but this is definitely my favorite item on the menu. The chicken is so juicy and tender, with perfectly crispy breading -- the shiso and ume create the perfect balance of flavors that pair well with the katsu. PARKING: it's in a small plaza, usually okay to find parking unless you come at a busy time. PRICE: it's a bit pricey, but it comes in a full katsu set so around $20. It definitely will keep you full so at least it's value! Overall, this is the spot I recommend to others when they ask me where to go for katsu. I've been here twice now and both times have not been disappointing at all! read more

Kagura - Chicken Breast Ume Shiso - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Atmosphere - Clean, lots of indoor seating. No wait on a Monday at 11:45 a.m. Food - We ordered the Tonkatsu (pork loin cutlet). The Tonkatsu was crispy, juicy but not oily. The side dishes were flavorful. Customer Service - We arrived about 15 minutes early and were happy to see the "OPEN" sign on and the front door propped open. We walked in and told, "We're not open yet. 15 more minutes." While a man yelled out, "Close the door!" Not very welcoming. read more

Kagura - Side dining room - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Best Japanese donkatsu in Orange County. Their pork tenderloin is so good! Need to pay more but recommend ordering a side of curry. (Flavorful and deep/rich) that compliments the donkatsu. Comes with rice, cabbage salad, and 2 side dishes. Parking lot is small so be prepared. Friendly service and has a decent amount of tables read more

Best tonkatsu I've had in Socal, Norcal, and NY. I can't eat gamey well, and pork will usually get me (especially thick cut tonkatsu), but Kagura's tonkatsu had no gaminess at all. I also did not feel heavy at all after the meal, which was nice. We had the Pork Loin Katsu and Special Beef Fillet Million Chateaubriand Beef Katsu. The beef fillet was good, but tbh the pork loin was more than satisfactory (in fact, I even liked it more). Next time we go we'll both be ordering the pork! read more

Kagura - Pork Loin Katsu (top) and Special Beef Fillet Million Chateaubriand Beef Katsu (bottom) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The Japanese BBQ across the street was over an hour wait so our party settled for Kagura since there was no wait and it was a great decision. I was hesitant between the pork loin(medium) and the pork shoulder(fatty) katsu because I know the fatty one would be tender, but the fattiness could also be overwhelming. I decided on the pork shoulder loin, and the meat was so moist and flavorful. The beef Katsu was also extremely tender and thick. The only disappointment for me was the ikageso, which was a bit oily and overcooked. I would skip the appetizer and focus on the set meals next time if I come back again. It's so hard to revisit restaurants in LA because there's just too much good food. read more

I've visited Kagura about five times, but today's experience was by far the worst. We ordered the shoulder and tenderloin (hire), but were served shoulder and loin instead. It seemed odd, so I asked another staff member, and they said the previous server had just misspoken and that the correct items were served. However, I love tonkatsu and have tried it at many places both in US and abroad--I could clearly tell from the cross-section that there was no tenderloin. I asked again, and this time they took the plate back to the kitchen to check. In the end, it turned out the order was indeed wrong, and after a long wait, the correct dish was finally served. By then, my companion had already finished his meal. It was frustrating enough that I was almost made to eat the wrong dish due to a misleading explanation, but the taste of the shoulder cut was even worse. The meat was literally rubbery and impossible to chew. It was listed as a recommended menu item and described as "fatty," but it had none of the tenderness you would expect--in fact, I could barely even bite into it. Honestly, tonkatsu from a Japanese market food court would have been more tender. I came here because I was told Kagura serves the best tonkatsu in OC, and I brought a friend along based on that recommendation. Seeing their reaction made me feel embarrassed. This is a Sunday lunch I'd rather forget. read more

I loved the ambiance inside the store and the waitress was attentive and efficient! I got the fillet katsu with demi glaze sauce and it came with two veggies, rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage, and horseradish! It was so fun to assemble each bite and enjoy the different combinations I could make. I haven't had such good katsu in OC in a while since my favorite place is in SD :)) read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Basically the southern California standard for Japanese tonkatsu. Breaded, deep fried goodness, whether for pork, millefeuille (layered cheese and pork), or wagyu beef tonkatsu! The sauce has that satiating balance of tart, tang, sweet, wrapping that umami essence. Crisp! Juicy! The tasteful thickness of it, that offwhite coloring, and oh my god... that textural delight offset by gooey sauce. The only thing better would be reservations to Dorsia on a Friday night. I'd mostly stick to tonkatsu. I did try the wagyu chateaubriand katsu sandddd--OOOO! Its okay (especially at the current price point). While juicy and tender, I really just prefer this kind of beef in steak form, rather than 2 pieces of white bread with crust cut off. Nice to try once, but it's got to be the katsu through and through. Logistically, parking lot can be a nightmare, if you don't come early enough to beat out the weaboos and Japanophile otakus. read more

Kagura - Chateaubriand gyukatsu sandooooo(wich) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great food, the service was prompt, & ambiance was nice. It gets busy pretty quickly! read more

Kagura - Yummy! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Catching up on my reviews and this one was from 7/20. Came here with some good friends for dinner. Parking could be an issue, when we came for a 5 pm resy there were only 2 spots available. Kagura specializes in "expertly fried katsu" and they definitely lived up to it. I'd have to say this could be one of the best (if not the best) katsu I've ever had, and large portions too. I was able to make 2 more meals out of my leftover. The premium tonkatsu set came with: miso soup, rice, cabbage and a small dish. They have 3 cuts of pork to choose from: (pork loin, shoulder loin and fillet) depending on how fatty and tender you'd like your pork to be. Highly recommend! read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place was incredible!! Fantastic chicken katsu and curry - great service that was very helpful and great ambiance that was quiet though busy - very cozy decor - I would absolutely recommend this place for anyone looking for good Japanese fried chicken or fried pork in the area - the parking lot is a little small but well worth the effort read more

I dined in for dinner and enjoyed my visit. Parking is tight and the outside has construction going on. Wasn't sure if the place was open or not because of it. Service was prompt and the dining area not too overly crowded. Contrary to the exterior situation, the interior is bright and spacious. We ordered pork katsu curry teishoku, demi glacé sauce pork katsu teishoku, and 2 piece crab crouquette. Both came with shredded cabbage, miso soup, and rice with otsukemono (pickled vegetables). I saw that the kaki fries and crab crouquette are available as part of other teishoku. It's not offered as a la carte menu item. The server will let you order it as a 2-piece small plate item if you ask. I hope in the future, it will become available to purchase under appetizer offerings or as separate lists of la carte menu items. I would totally buy ebi fry too separately if it's available under such offerings. The food was extremely filling and I was overstuffed by the time I attempted eating everything. Next time, I will try eating half of everything. Maybe finish the miso soup but not the entire portions of cabbage and tonkatsu on top of curry and rice. Overall, the food quality and portion, as well as the speed, attentiveness, and the service quality was excellent. I look forward to returning again in the future. read more

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Deliciously fried chicken Katsu. I got mine with a divine curry sauce- not too spicy, robustly flavorful. My husband got his with miso sauce- very interesting- nice contrast to the fried Katsu. The sides were nice- cabbage salad, miso soup, pickled. Efficient service, no wait. read more

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I was looking for a place close to Costa Mesa to take my parents out for dinner. To be honest I have never heard of Kagura until today. Granted the first impressions may have not been to their advantage as the entire building was under construction. Overall the staff were friendly, but the food took a bit more time than expected. For my parents the noise level was a bit hard for them to hear as they both wear hearing aids. As for our dinner, it was quite pleasing. The meat was tender and flavorful. Both of my parents enjoyed their meals as well. When asking if they would come back they said yes despite the noise level. Portions were a bit on the smaller size but I'm sure normal serving sizes for most. If you are ever in the mood for some tasty Katsu and want to try a new place, I would recommend giving Kagura a try. In fact it turns out they have a few locations. Enjoy!!! read more

Kagura - Potato - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Our experience with Ami was so unpleasant that we ended up leaving before ordering anything. We had an elderly person in our party who simply needed to sit and wait inside for a moment until a table was available. Ami was incredibly rude and refused to let her wait indoors and instead said we should wait in our car. We explained that it is cold and it would be a lot for her to walk back outside/wait outside. Ami's tone was extremely rude, dismissive and unaccommodating, and she made us feel like we were inconveniencing her by asking for basic courtesy. It was shocking and honestly upsetting to see a restaurant treat guests, especially an elderly person, with such disregard and so rudely. Good food means nothing if the staff can't provide even minimal hospitality. We decided eat elsewhere, and I hope management takes a serious look at the way guests are being treated. Definitely not returning. read more

One of my favorite tonkatsu spots in OC! I've tried the pork loin, shoulder, and fillet, and my favorite is the fillet because I think the meat is really soft and doesn't have fat but is still super moist and easy to eat. read more

This is my favorite place to get Katsu in OC. I love the katsu here. It's thicker than the katsu at Hako, and I like that you can select the fattiness of your cut of meat. I got the Pork Shoulder Loin katsu, which is the fattiest cut. This was my first time getting it since when I have gone in the past, they've sold out. The Katsu was fatty and juicy and very flavorful. the batter was crispy but not overwhelming or heavy. My one gripe was that the bottom of the batter was a bit soggy, but this might have been because of the juice from the pork spilling out. It's great with the katsu sauce they serve on the side, but I like the miso sauce(not pictured) that comes with one of the katsu's on the menu even more. read more

Kagura - Pork Shoulder Loin Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Delicious! By far the best pork katsu I've had in LA or OC area. I usually go for the chicken katsu at places because the pork tends to be chewy and over done. This was soft/tender and perfectly crispy. For chicken, I'd go to wako donkasu in LA but I'd go here for pork. The servers are super friendly and accommodating with our baby. He spilled water and they were very nice about it and quickly brought us napkins. The place is a smaller but decent size. Maybe 15 tables ish. Don't be fooled by the awkward narrow street and construction out front. They are still open! read more

Kagura - Signature pork fillet katsu with extra miso soup - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

my friend and i came here because it was the closest with a katsu sando, which was quite good! no complaints, but is a tiny bit on the plain/basic side, still good though the chicken chili cheese was good but the way it's made is a tiny bit difficult to actually hold any of the chili cheese flavor, so it just tasted like chicken katsu with a tiny hint of chili cheese - overall decent, but was much better dipping in the sauce provided was pretty decent value for coming with small sides, a bowl of rice, salad, and miso soup! the chicken karaage was very mid, just tasted like chicken that was deep fried LOL, not special at all with essentially no seasoning. the sauce it comes with is quite literally just mayo with the same salad from the other dishes, but we also dipped it in the provided sauce on the table overall an okay experience, just wish i didn't have to turn down and flag them each time to get anything bc they never came by to check - they also didn't come by to refill water, or take away our finished plates, they just gave us our additional order and we had to ask them to remove the other one LOL not sure if it's just me, but would also be nice if a spoon or knife was provided to cut the thick chicken katsu or eat our miso soup - not a big deal though, just another thing we had to ask for hahaha personally, i probably wouldn't go back, but didn't hate the experience ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

Add a 1/2 star to make 3 1/2 stars. We liked that the Katsudon was served still hot. The kitchen was busy but food came out at a reasonable time. Service was attentive. A bit loud when we came. Lots of big groups, perhaps coworkers having lunch together, talking amongst each other from one big table to another. Sauce in Katsudon can still be improved. Needs more body and flavor. read more

I discovered a hidden gem--a traditional Japanese tonkatsu house. They specialize in golden, crispy, tender pork cutlets. The menu also offers simple, delicious combos like jumbo shrimp tempura and stir-fried ginger pork. The service is excellent, though the place can get busy. Finally, an escape from Americanized Japanese restaurants. I'll be returning for a long time. read more

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