My first time dining here at this new location. This is their second in Irvine and they have another restaurant in Arcadia. The decor is modern, spacious and comfy. I arrived on a weekday, and it was just after the lunch hour so the lunch crowd was clearing out. I was seated by a female who was seating patrons and waiting on customers. She suggested the premium chirashi don which included miso soup, hot tea and was plated on a bed of sushi rice. The entree also included crab, uni and sweet shimp along with the premium sashimi. The quality and taste was outstanding and the entree was filling. I tried to order dessert but they were unfortunately out of product. I would recommend this new location and would certainly return here in the future, read more

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Came here at dinnertime on Friday night just to try it out. The restaurant is fairly small with just a short wait for a table. They are a relatively new location so you can tell they are still working out some things but it's understandable. There was one server for the entire restaurant and she was a trooper. You could tell she was busy but she remained calm and kind throughout our whole meal. I hope the business owners make sure to do a better job of supporting their staff on weekends! No server should have to be alone for the entire shift in my opinion. We ordered the garlic edamame, sashimi set B, and the Kirin roll. The first two dishes came out at a decent time but I could tell the rolls were taking especially long and our roll didn't come out until we were almost done with the rest of our meal. Regardless, the food was AMAZING. The garlic edamame was hot, spicy, and flavorful. The Kirin roll had soft shell crab on the inside with avocado and eel on the outside and it was delicious. Such great value for the amount of fried crab. The absolute star of the show was our sashimi set. We ordered set B for the variety and the fact that there was 2 of each fish. It came with toro, bluefin tuna, salmon belly, yellowtail belly, sweet shrimp sashimi with the fried heads, kanpachi, two types of scallop, and even fresh crab meat. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious with a clean taste. My favorite was the salmon and yellowtail belly. They were so fatty and unique. We were surprised at how thick each piece was cut - meaning you really get a bang for your buck. We enjoyed every bite and will definitely be back. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Kirin Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Lunch specials are good deal and great quality! Came back 2 days after my first time here because I loved it. Been coming back, and will be coming back! The fish-to-rice ratio is chef's kiss, the cut id perfect and soft. All good quality! read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Lunch snack - chef sushi set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is Kiyo's 2nd location in Irvine and they offer fresh sushi as well as bento boxes. I've been here several times now for lunch and have always been impressed with the quality. Japanese barley tea is complimentary and all lunch specials come with miso soup. Chirashi don - $22 - This came with so many fresh cuts of sashimi, including salmon, tuna, yellow tail, and more. It was served with tamago, wasabi, and pickled ginger all over a bed of sushi rice. I was really impressed with the quality as well as the quantity. Premium chirashi don - $35 - This is a step up from the regular chirashi don and includes all the same items plus ikura, scallops, a fried shrimp head and sea urchin. While it was good, I didn't feel the cost was justified. The regular chirashi don is a much better value. Lunch combo - $20 -This is served with mixed greens, sea weed salad, rice, a side and a main. For my main I went with grilled seabass which tasted great and and had a nice char on the outside and a mildly sweet taste. For my side I opted for the mixed sushi, all of which were fresh. Overall this is a great place to go get reasonably priced sushi as well as lunch bento boxes. The quality of all the items tasted incredible and I'll definitely be back here to get my sushi fix. read more

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This sushi restaurant is absolutely AMAZING! The restaurant is very clean and inviting, and the employees were friendly and welcoming. Our waitress, Tran, provided world-class service, was friendly and attentive, and went out of her way to ensure we had a positive dining experience, which we did. Thank you!!! The star of the evening was the sushi. Wow!!! It was delicious! My family and I ordered numerous rolls, garlic edamame, salmon carpaccio, and our beverages. We enjoyed our rolls tremendously and would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area. Free parking is available in both the ground level and underground parking lots. read more

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Reminds me of Ootoro but with less selection and more quieter ambiance. They have another location (forgot the name of their sister restaurant) also located in Irvine. Spacious restaurant. Quality fish-they have the popular ones like ootoro, Japanese uni, etc. Don't expect Japanese authentic style-I believe owner is Chinese. Ordered two don - delux and the one with poor uni and eggs. Both were good. Cut of the fish was thick. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I've always loved Kiyo sushi so I was so happy they opened another location in the DuPont plaza. The premium Chirashi Don and premium sashimi platter were amazingly fresh and thick sliced! The portions are very generous and such a good price for the size. It was grand opening week and there was a special of buy one lunch special get 2nd one 50% off so the meal was very reasonable in price! The place was packed and they were a bit short staffed so service was a bit slow but they were very nice. read more

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Came back a second time, but brought my family this time for lunch. We came on a Sunday and was able to get a booth right before it filled up. There are a total of five booths and a few tables which could be for small groups or could accommodate a slightly larger group if space is available. There were two staff working who were very nice. It did take a while for our orders to be taken and took some time for the food to come out as well. Good thing we ordered a couple appetizers and we weren't hangry. My Chirashi Don fish slices were fresh and a good size. It was delicious! I really enjoyed this bowl. There was a line outside when we left. I'm already looking forward to the next outing to Kiyo. read more

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Came here on a whim on a Friday evening during their soft opening, and luckily there wasn't much of a wait. The restaurant is brand new, beautifully decorated, and has a welcoming atmosphere. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable and helped guide us through the menu, making it easy for us as first-time visitors. The rolls were fresh and delicious, and the premium chirashi was easily a standout. Great food, great service, and a fantastic first impression. Definitely will come back! read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I come to Kiyo every week and for good reason! The lunch specials are top quality, super tasty, and consistently amazing. The hamachi collar, spicy yellowtail, and gyoza are my absolute personal favorites. Huge shoutout to Tran and Khloe--they deliver ridiculously fast service with the friendliest smiles, and the space is always exceptionally clean. If you haven't been to Kiyo yet, you're missing out! read more

First time here & we're planning to come back already! Service has been great! Rice to fish ratio has been good- not too much rice. Oysters were surprisingly yummy with radish and sriracha topping. We ended up ordering more sushi. Edamame was little more saucy than I would want but had good garlic flavor. Thank you for the yummy experience. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Kiyo seared set - Salmon belly, yellowtail belly, and tuna belly. - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Ordered for takeout! Wow beyond impressed. Food was delicious. Super fresh! To go packaging was pristine. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Stopped by Kiyo for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the food was outstanding, especially for the price. The sushi was fresh, the sashimi was perfectly cut, and everything tasted incredibly clean and flavorful. The restaurant was spotless, and the staff was genuinely friendly. They made us feel welcome without being overly attentive, which made for a very relaxing meal. We'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. It's easy to see why so many people recommend this place! read more

Amazing food, price, and service. I used to go to the other location in Irvine but this one happens to be closer. Both locations are excellent! read more

Sashimi platter and deluxe sushi plate were so good. I will definitely come back for another round.

Kiyo had a promotion and I've been waiting for them to open since I've seen their sign while driving by. So glad I came as it did not disappoint. Food was super fresh. Looked beautiful on the plate and we were happy with both premium sushi choices. Go at 11:30 when they open as they already had a line when I arrived at 11:45. We got seated on the bar side and I enjoyed watching the chefs make sushi. Location was clean with simple decoration. Their server was friendly but also very busy. If you like thick cut sushi for a reasonable price this is the place to go. read more

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Stopped by on a Friday at 1:30 PM during their BOGO 50% lunch special. The restaurant wasn't busy, but after getting our miso soups right away, we waited over 30 minutes for our food, only to be served the wrong order (chirashi instead of the premium sashimi sets). That led to another round of waiting. To top it off, the shrimp heads didn't come out until nearly an hour after we ordered. For now, I'd stick with the other location and let them work out the kinks before coming back (if ever). read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake offers variety of fresh, high quality seafood and Japanese dishes. I love all the dishes from Takoyaki, clam miso soup, grilled salmon, unagi don and sashimi platter B. The food was incredible, large portion and delicious. The staff were welcoming and attentive. The ambiance is comfortable, cozy and bright. I can't wait to come back again soon to try to their lunch menu. Highly recommended! read more

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This is an amazing Japanese Grill. The chicken Katsu curry is very authentic spicy yummy good cuts of chicken. We order this once a week from this really good Japanese grill we'll continue to order for them. read more

We came during their soft opening and I was blown away by the quality of their fish. I honestly preferred their sushi than their rolls, and that's saying a lot. We also ordered their tempura and chicken karrage, both which came out fresh and crispy. The service was definitely on point! Kiyo is an excellent addition to this plaza and we'll definitely be back! read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Premium sushi set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food/Amazing large and fresh portions. Service/They greet you warmly and are always very attentive and appreciative. Ambiance/Climate is always comfortable. Always clean and the music is relaxing. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Premium Chirashi Don. AMAZING!! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Love this place! First time here and everything was excellent from start to finish. Very much, enjoyed their nigiri and was surprised they offer the traditional Japanese teapot soup. Great choice of beer and sake and priced just right. We felt very welcomed by Tren and great service! Will be back soon! read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I hate to leave such a bad review (I think this might be my lowest review ever), but this was one of the most disappointing restaurants I've ever been to in my life. The food we got looked nothing like the pictures on their menu. We got the following: maguro, Chu-toro, o-toro, Uni, ikura, mushroom miso soup, Uni pasta. Starting with the Uni pasta: I have no idea what flavor they were going for. It tasted like instant noodles cooked in unflavored butter or oil. And the Uni on top seemed less fresh than the ones they used for the sushi. My partner and I struggled to eat it. You can see how much we left uneaten in the pic I attached. The sushi: while I can't say the sushi was inedible, it was quite mediocre. If the prices were cheaper, I'd be less justified to critique them, but they're charging premium prices, so I have to critique it at that standard. The sushi in the pic is supposed to be Chu-toro and o-toro, but as you can see, the visual difference is barely discernible. There was minimal marbling and the fish was dry. The fish quality was on par with cheaper sushi places like Kura Revolving Sushi. I was hoping the rice would compensate but unfortunately both the flavor and texture was mediocre. The one thing I can't critique is their Uni. Price was fair for the quality, but not exactly the freshest but edible enough. Can't say the same for the Ikura. My partner and I wanted to treat ourselves to nice dinner after a long work week. We left having wasted both money and time (and an empty stomach). I don't know how they thought it was ok to serve this food at this price. At best, the owner and chefs lack taste and judgment. At worst, they are intentionally serving subpar ingredients at a premium price. If you're gonna spend this much, I recommend going to places like ROL or Izakaya Osen. They're about the same price for much higher quality. read more

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This place really hits the mark. The menu has a great variety, whether you're a seafood lover or not, so it's super easy to bring a group and know everyone will find something they like. The beef teriyaki was a standout for me personally, perfectly cooked, flavorful, and honestly one of the best I've had in a while. I later found out that the restaurant uses premium Angus beef, a cherry on top. They also carry a solid selection of imported Japanese alcohol, which definitely elevates the whole experience. But what really makes this place special is the vibe--the head chef has a great sense of humor and, if he's not too busy, will even come by to share a shot with you. It adds such a fun, personal touch that you don't get at most places. The restaurant staff also keeps the restaurant tidy and clean and you cannot find the usual fishy smell that you would otherwise find at other Japanese restaurants Great food, great drinks, and even better energy. read more

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Simple dishes, done exceptionally well. The uni was pristine! creamy, sweet and incredibly clean. Easily one of the better ones I've had. The agedashi tofu was just as impressive! light crisp outside, silky inside, with a perfectly balanced dashi. Understated, but very well executed. Would definitely come back. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Agedashi tofu - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Just tried this newly opened Japanese restaurant (they opened on April 15), and it's a really solid spot. The food was fresh and well-prepared--especially the sushi, which tasted great. Service was friendly, and the place has a clean, comfortable vibe. You can tell they're off to a good start. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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Came in on a Wednesday night for dinner and had a really easy experience--no wait at all, which was a nice surprise. We ordered the premium chirashi and Set A. The chirashi looked great when it came out, and for the most part, the fish tasted fresh with a nice texture. A few pieces leaned slightly fishy, but nothing that completely took away from the dish--it was still enjoyable overall. The Set A was pretty similar in terms of fish selection, just without the rice, so it felt a bit like a deconstructed version of the chirashi. The ambiance is calm and low-key, with jazz playing in the background, which made it a good spot to relax and have a quiet meal. Overall, solid experience. Not perfect, but definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for a casual sushi dinner without the crowds. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Premium Chirashi Bowl and Sashimi Platter A - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Amazing food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and the overall experience exceeded our expectations. We'll definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal! read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Premium Chirashi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Great ambiance and a very enjoyable dining experience. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the thick cuts were very satisfying. The service was attentive throughout the meal, making us feel well taken care of. Overall, a wonderful dinner and I would gladly come back again. read more

Kiyo Japanese Grill & Sake - Premium Chirashi Don - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

First time at this location. The sashimi is very fresh. We ordered sashimi platter, 2 rolls, 2 hand rolls, udon, beef tongue, and ika yaki. Everything is delicious. read more

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So glad to find this wonderful new Japanese restaurant! The fish quality is so fresh, everything was delicious, and food came out very quickly. The customer service was spectacular! Venue is convenient with lots of parking. Will definitely be back! read more

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I love the service here and the ambiance I come every week on my lunch break for the lunch special.

mannnn what a disappointment. first i wanna say, the waitresses were so sweet!! but the food... like the fish was fine, quality was fine. but for the price?? not worth it at all. i expect premium nigiri for premium prices. & they have a 2pc minimum which means at least 10-24$ for 2pc for most fish. i will say, the only thing priced correctly was the uni & their cheapest maguro tuna. cuz that tuna was thickkk & meaty. BUT... don't get me started on the uni pasta. before the plate hit the table, i smelled something "processed". i immediately knew i wasn't gonna like it. before taking a bite, i smelled it a little more just in case my nostrils weren't playing tricks on me... yeah no something was definitely off. finally, i take a bite & omg it tasted completely like an instant noodles packet topped with house made sauce (that was mostly oil?). what's sus to me is that these noodles came out 3 minutes after ordering. 3 minutes??? i expect my $28 pasta to take longer to prepare. i just finished the uni on top (which was also okay) & left the noodles. also, mushroom miso soup lacked flavor & depth. i hate to leave such bad reviews but $135 bill (including tip) for one pasta, one miso, & 10pc of fish. yeah crazy.. i honestly wish i didn't order the uni pasta & miso soup bc those were just so bad that it kinda ruined the fish for me. but if i'm being fair... i still don't think the fish deserves those prices. read more