Finally got to try Mr Max after living here for almost 6 years. I was never able to get into the Irving location as it was just too busy. The stars were aligned correctly and I was able to come to the Richardson location right when it opened. As someone that's a huge fan of Izakaya's - Mr Max did leave a little bit to be desired. Food quality was great, don't get me wrong - however I feel like for the cost, the portions are a little bit on the small side. The menu is also a little limited - this location has been open a while already so I assume they aren't going to expand the menu beyond whatever is already on there. I guess I've just been spoiled with other Izakaya's having pages upon pages of things to choose from. The dining area is quite nice, though I heard the og Irving location has tatami style seating - which this one does not. Not a deal breaker for me. Staff was nice and restaurant was clean, just wish their portion sizes were at least a little more "Texas" sized for the price. Other diners I went with said the noodles are better at the Irving location but I can't speak to that as I've never been there. All in all still a nice dining experience. read more

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Love the new location of Mr Max - since they opened last year we've been at least 5 times and IMO the quality is as good as the original location in Irving (which also happens to be our favorite Japanese spot in the metroplex). The ambience is definitely less classic izakaya style (no taking your shoes off or sitting at the bar watching the chefs work in the kitchen), but all of our favorite dishes that we've tried at the Richardson location have been spot on. We like to do shareable small plates style, even for the "bigger" entrees like ramen and the house curry, and we're always stuffed at the end of our meal. Service is pretty good and personally I love that this location is much closer to where we live and usually also much less busy than the OG location; better for us to walk in whenever we want :) Can't wait to return soon! read more

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Made reservations for a cold super bowl Sunday evening & it was a delicious experience. Here's what we ordered: Karaage - nice batter with tender inside Salmon bowl - fresh salmon, didn't eat much rice, probably should've just ordered sasimi instead Ramen - tender pork, slurpable noodles Takoyaki, mackerel, clams in sake - all these dishes hit the spot Friendly & attentive service as well. read more

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Amazing Japanese Food. Wonderful service with Keiko. The ambiance is sleek and cool (though I liked the ambiance of the original Mr. Max a bit better)! I really enjoyed the tuna poke. The grilled squid was also delicious. It was well priced for the quality of food. read more

Mr Max - Food - Izakaya Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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I usually go to the Irving location, but this the Richardson location recently opened. I visited this place with the same expectation as the Irving location. Overall, this location is very good. It is overshadowed by the Irving location.There was a lot of parking and it was pretty easy to find. We ordered a handful of dishes to share our favorites were the takoyaki and the braised beef bowl. The dishes were delicious, but it wasn't as delicious as the Irving location. The service was very quick. Our server was very knowledgeable and he gave us recommendations. The ambience is very good. It was very well lit and there were a lot of seating areas. read more

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Every turn I come the experience is great! Every dish solid Definitely is a small taste of what you can get in Japan, just slightly westernized. One of the best Japanese restaurants in DFW IMO Highly recommend the Kobe beef skewers So tender and fatty without the chewiness Service is fast and friendly Have not had to wait long when going early! read more

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Still great as expected! Got the curry again this time around and the temperature was perfect. It was a nice hot meal in this cold weather. Service was great, the server cleared the plates as we finished them so that the table didn't get too cluttered. I love this place and will definitely be back again :) read more

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We came here for a birthday celebration on a Saturday around 7 p.m. The place was packed when we arrived. We had made a reservation a whole month in advance, but they didn't have a table ready for us, so we had to wait for an extra 10 minutes before we could get seated. The interior décor is pretty similar to their Dallas location, but it's a bit more spacious and has a less traditional Japanese vibe. Menus are digital (via a QR code at the table), but the wait staff handles the ordering and everything else. We ordered a bunch of dishes, and everything was delicious! There were a few standouts, though. Tako Wasabi, Grilled Beef Tongue, Pan Fried Squid with Salt Butter, and Karaage were all top-notch. Maybe it's because the restaurant can fit more people, but the service and food were a bit slow. It would have been great if we didn't have to wait 10 minutes despite making a reservation a month in advance, and everyone in our party showed up on time. read more

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I did take out so I can't speak too much about the service, but the people that I did interact with were super nice! Older lady with shoulder length hair felt so friendly and reminded me of the women in Japan. I tried the miso ramen, tonkatsu ramen and got the udon hot. Flavors were good and deep, but broth is a little salty. The chasu piece I had wasn't very good but the other prices in the other bowls were good. The udon does have a broth ish... not quite a soup but not dry. It has not topping which I find odd (I think it should have meat or protein of some kind). The sign in front is quite confusing and their current layout isn't the best imo (front desk is in the back of the restaurant??). Inside is cute though. read more

Mr Max - ceiling in front of - Izakaya Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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We visited on the first cold day of 2025. Ramen hit the spot. We started with the tempura. Nice and crispy. All the food came out very quickly. One son got homemade Japanese curry with katsu chicken. His was gone before I looked up. The rest of us got various versions of ramen. All were good. I appreciate that it wasn't too hot to eat. I recommend getting a reservation especially if it's cold (hot). We were right by the door & the air gusted in each time someone arrived. read more

Mr Max - Mixed Tempura - Izakaya Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Went to Mr. Max on a cold night. We were warmly greeted and sat quickly. Asahi draft and crispy fried chicken was so good and perfect start. Taiwan ramen hit the spot. It was hot, spicy and flavorful. Just what I needed. Small space but it comfy. read more

Had an amazing time at Mr Max newest location. We came right as they opened and the place was super packed! Staff greeted us kindly and sat us immediately. We sat at the bar area and experienced that service like water took a bit longer than the other tables. Once the food started to come out, everything came out fast. Sashimi was good and the curry was amazing. The shoyou tonkatsu ramen was ok compared to the original location. Karaage was a bit soggy too but the tartar sauce was great. Can't wait to see how this place grows and develops as staff gets used to their busy crowd! This location is definitely larger than the Irving location but still has similar vibes. read more

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I was not a fan. I was so excited when this place opened I could not wait to try it. I was excited that a new sushi place had opened, but boy was I disappointed. The service was pretty decent, a bit slow, but not bad. Ambiance was overriden by a terrible smell in the place that permeated our entire experience. read more

Mr Max - Izakaya Near Me - Richardson, Texas

I went there last night. I arrived at around 7:30 and waited for about 20 minutes. The new store is much larger than the old store of Irving. It is cleaner and decorated in a very izakaya style. There is a Japanese menu on the wall. It is very suitable for friends to drink and chat after work Recommendations: Beef tongue (must order - eat while hot), tempura (eat while hot), octopus balls, various grilled birds! read more

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Mr Max finally got a 2nd location and both times I've gone it has been every bit as good as the first location. For those who are not familiar with Mr. Max, it is one of the best izakaya spots in DFW and probably in the country. Some of my favorite items are the takoyaki, tonkotsu ramen, beef tongue, and salmon sashimi. But the entire menu never disappoints me. I have never really ordered anything I didn't like here. Service is good as well. The restaurant is more spacious than the original one, but still not massive, so expect to wait a little if you come at peak days/times. read more

Mr Max - Izakaya Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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Amazing service food and ambiance with plenty of free parking out front. I tried their sashimi platter which was good for the price. My husband enjoyed the shio ramen, and my daughter loved the beef tofu stew with burdock root broth. They also had kid utensils which was a nice surprise. All the servers were super friendly and patient. read more

I've been looking forward to trying the Mr. Max Izakaya at the Richardson location! We had the grilled beef tongue, takoyaki, beef tofu stew, grilled octopus, and yellowtail collar. The grilled beef tongue and beef tofu stew stood out as my favorites. It's a great spot for small bites, with a menu that's decently priced. The place wasn't too busy, but that might change once more people hear about it. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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I'm an out of towner and was meeting up with family. Reviews said that it's hard to get a table but it was dead. They had said that the larger Mr. Max is amazing and also were trying it. Chicken was dry, tofu was a little off (both taste and texture), fish was average, I think the two things we agreed were good were the potatoes and the ramen. It did take forever to get the check. read more

Food was good service was good But seating is so not comfortable Not worth the time to visit Saddddd read more

It's good! My friends love their Irving location, and we were excited to try their new location. For the price of each dish and the portion, I would totally come back. The quality is great and everything came out pretty quickly considering it was a bit busy. The place is small and the tables are very close to each other. Service is friendly but they were not attentive and almost felt ignorant. Pretty casual spot and I recommend! read more

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I was so excited to finally try this place now that they have a location closer to us! We got there a little before opening on a weekend & there was a short line waiting for doors to open. But I think if you get there right around opening, you should have no problem getting in on the first wave. They do not take reservations. The small plates were all pretty good--the beef tongue was the best! You can skip the fried oysters. The ramen was all pretty good, although my mom thought the Taiwan ramen was a bit salty. All in all, this place lived up to the hype! read more

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Yay for the 2nd location of Mr Max. Grand opening was July 25 so expect to wait a bit. I don't think they have reservations yet. Ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, Grilled Squid, 5 Kind Sashimi, Agadashi Tofu, Pan Fried Pork Belly. All were hits but next time I'll have to try the other squid dishes. Too many choices! Ambient music was good too. (Mrs Green Apple, King Gnu, Higedan, etc) read more

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We had high hopes for this place. We are regulars at irving location. First off the ambience is off. Feels cold. Unlike any izakaya I've been to. The kitchen is way in back. The space behind the counter is confusing. This feels like an old ramen shop that went out of business. The food - first dish been tongue. 1of 5. Signature Mr Max but this one was hugely disappointing. Room cold. I doubt they even tried grilling it. Second was friend oyster. Not bad 4 of 5. Tempura 3 of 5. Pretty basic. Kara age 5 of 5. Just and piping hot. Spicy tuna on grilled rice 3 pf 5. Braised beef. 5 of 5. Would wish it came with rice. Fried squid 2 of 5. Again. Not grilled. Tasted microwaved. Whoever is grilling in the kitchen needs to be let go. After the bar grilling - we decided. It to order anymore grilled dishes. Miso Ramen 2 of 5. Super oily. Served cold. Fat was already hardening. My boys didnt finish which is a first for me to see. Tonkotsu ramen 2 of 5. Again too fatty. I'm writing this review and the fatty grease taste still in my mouth. All in all - I hope the best but I doubt this will last. Stick with the basics and focus on irving. As for menu - why the QR code. This is so easy to have printed menu. Why go digital. So cheesy and shows how little the owners want to invest in this place. This place needs a major makeover and a staff reset of the staff. They are not in sync and it shows. It's a hot mess read more

We enjoyed Mr max. The food was great. The atmosphere was great and we would definitely dine in again

Having have been to the original, this one falls short by a little. Best bites were the pork belly and sashimi sampler. The udon took a long time to prepare, overall solid meal, attentive arrive, fair prices and easy parking just not my favorite sushi/yakitori in town. read more

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This place was more than I expected very traditional hole in the wall Japanese style restaurant. The service and the food were fabulous. I just got back from Japan and made me miss that I ever left Japan.. read more

This place is amazing! The Richardson location just opened so if you're not there when they open at 5pm, expect to wait a little. The dining room is smaller versus the Irving location so just a heads up there. Does anyone remember SushiYama in Dallas? Mr Max gave me a more polished SushiYama vibe. I enjoyed every second of it! You can request a physical menu or use the QR code to see what you want to order. The menu has several ramen options mixed in with lots of shareable dishes. We ordered the edamame, potato salad, assorted pickles, 5 kind sashimi, fried pork belly, rice, and the spam and omelette sandwich. For me, the star of the show was the 5 kind sashimi! The shrimp/prawn was amazing! It had a sweet flavor and was super fresh. So were the tuna and salmon; very fresh! My other favorite was the seared bonito. I've never had bonito before tonight, but now I can't wait to try it again. The fried pork belly was amazing! Very flavorful and filling. Their potato salad was also great! You get two nice scoops. Make sure to leave room for dessert! We both ordered two scoops of matcha ice cream. Beware when you order though! I'm so used to getting little scoops of ice cream that we did two scoops each, and they are HUGE! So make sure to leave room or just order one scoop. Overall, dinner was fantastic. Our server was very sweet, and all of the wait staff will come over and make sure plates are taken and cups are filled. read more

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There was no octopus meat in the takoyaki Funny smell to it Ordered fried smelt and they served us 3 pieces and not crispy. Don't go here they are trying to cheat you. read more

Been three times since they opened. Food has been consistent and tasty every time! The fried pork belly with soy ginger sauce was incredible. The pudding is the closest I've had to Japanese conbini pudding that I've had in the US so far. I haven't had any problems with service; everybody who I've had has been friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very enjoyable to eat in. Not loud but also an atmosphere of being able to hold a conversation without worries. Plan on coming back often! read more

Love this spot as well as their other location. Great food and a really laid back vibe, fair prices for the quality of food as well. Staff was also incredibly kind. read more

I always go here when I crave Japanese food. I am a Japanese from Tokyo, and if this place is nearby my office in Tokyo, I would come here every week. It means that the overall standard here is higher than other "Japanese" restaurants around this area. This restaurant has amazing hospitality and service, and the overall cleanliness of this place is great. Karaage is good, the 5 kinds sashimi assortment is a good value for the quality and amount of sashimi. Ramen is the best in town! read more

Great sharing plates, enjoyed the eel omelette. Enjoyed having a somewhat small selection of sushi sashimi to choose from, seemed to encourage good quality rather than quantity read more

The service was amazing. The nicest staff, everyone was helpful and happy. Would definitely recommend.

Get the Yellowtail collar and the beef tongue. You won't regret it. Shishito peppers were also a good side. And the tempura is light and airy. Karage was ok. read more

My opinion and experience here at Mr. Max! I would say 2 out of 5 stars. Today is a Saturday and we waited in line around 4:30 before opening. Got seated pretty fast! Our food and drinks on the other hand not so fast. We got half of our apps prior to our ramen and server forgot apps after. Service was average. Was not a busy time for them. Wabi house, Ramen Hakata, Marufuku Ramen, Ichigoh Ramen Lounge, and Omi are my favorite locations. I will try this place again but as of now they didn't make my list. Roe cucumber was my favorite appetizer! Vegetable & shrimp tempura was a 3 out of 5. It was not that crispy and inside was soggy. Kara-age chicken was a 4 out of 5! Very juicy dark meat chicken and lightly battered. Miso ramen - was salty. It was soo salty (similar to soy sauce) that I used it as dipping sauce for the tempura. Don't ask for the spicy sauce on the side. Ask for the chili oil instead. Once you put some in the broth it'll make it saltier. Their spicy sauce is similar to Korean spicy ssamnang sauce. 1st time is my fault because I put a table spoon of the spicy sauce in my ramen bowl before tasting it. I am the type of person who eats spicy soups and always ask for spicy chili oil. I asked for a separate bowl of miso soup so I can try to transfer the noodles and fixings so they don't have to remake my bowl. That bowl of miso broth was already salty even before I put the spicy sauce in. Even my friend who got their bowl of miso said it was salty too. I tried my friends to Tonkatsu ramen and I would definitely get that next time! It was not salty at all. Not even close to what the miso broth. Overall 0 stars. If you want miso Ramen in my onion one of the worst experiences in DFW. Tonkatsu 3 out of 5 stars. Grilled Tongue 5 out of 5! You can taste the grill favor and melts in your mouth. Squid legs 2 out of 5, Batter falls apart and chewy. Chop sticks alone won't help you break the squid from your mouth. read more

Mr. Max is the best izakaya I know of in DFW area. Very glad they finally opened a new location closer to us here in Richardson. Same menu, same quality, same attentive service, minus the wait and 15-mile drive to the original location in Irvine. read more

Good food and nice enough people. Everything has kinks to iron out when first starting and this place is getting there very quickly.

New place with good sushi. Was sad they ran out of the eggplant broth dish. The sushi is fresh that it melts in your mouth. So far the best one in Texas. Pricey but delicious sushi read more

The was ramen was delicious but the agedashi tofu was not the best. I'm not sure if it was because it was forgotten, but the fried skin was soggy and the tofu was cold. We had to remind the staff about the tofu appetizer order since it wasn't out when our ramen came out already. Otherwise the service was great! They're super friendly and great at explaining the menu items. I would come back again! read more

The service here was amazing. We ordered the sweet shrimp sashimi, and the waitress offered to deep fry the shrimp heads for us. It was very good. The space is bigger than the Irving location, did not really have a wait. Lots of parking available. read more