We came for dinner for the first time. Service is great! I especially liked the speakeasy back room!! It was stealth cool and different ambience. The food came fast and delicious!!! The drinks are good too!! Will definitely come back! read more

We came in for some cocktails and the kitchen was still open so we got all the wagyu don and it was the bomb. Nick and Tyson set us up with some sake bombs and awesome customer service. Made us feel welcome like we were part of the town. So awesome we randomly walked into this place and found this place and this cool place took care of us read more

This was my first time coming here and I had a pretty good experience. While there is minimal seating, the food comes out quickly and is surprisingly filling. My family enjoyed all the dishes and would recommend this restaurant to others! read more

See all

Excellent stop for a bite. Servers very informative to help decide on the best selection for my palate. Food was delicious and prompt service. Yummy food excellant service! read more

Love how good food can come from anywhere. This day and age you would never expect it. My friends and I wanted to let the tie go and start our weekend right. He recommended this yakitori place by his house and swears its the best. While I am aware that his food choices in certain scenarios are not top notch, I have learn to give them credit sometimes because he was on the money with this place. First things first, this place has very limited seating. If you come during busy hours, prepare to wait. We came at the right time where at table was clearing out. Our lovely server, Andrea, greeted us and showed us to our table. Already, I loved the setup. Plates were made out of wood, carved in unique shapes. Not crazy abstract but enough to say, "That's different." Since I've had my fair share of yakitori, I just ordered for the table. You fill out this scantron, that's right.. I said scantron, like slip with the food items listed and you tally how much you want. Thought I went a bit overboard but it was good after the beer kicked in. Andrea helped recommend a few good choices. Glad to have a knowledgable server who knows their items and knows how to recommend it to the audience. Its quite obvious when one just points out the most expensive or just doesn't care. She was a wonderful server as I recalled it. Some of the items I would recommend is the lamb, garlic noodles, and wagyu beef. Think we ordered 6 skewers fo the wagyu. Flavor was awesome. What kicked it up was the three spice/sauce that you can dip it a little for a greater flavor index. One of them is a bit spicy so I would experiment a bit before committing to a full dip. We also ordered the chicken karage. I would be cautious since it can be a bit hot for obvious reasons. The only dish that I didn't care much for was the bacon wrapped tomatoes. I normally love this dish but this place use the larger tomatoes. The ratio would have been better if they used the smaller cherry tomatoes (hint hint*). Garlic noodles were amazing! Get it. Overall, it was a fun night. Food was delicious, love the interior decor and table settings, and service was stellar. Sometimes, its just the right time and place that makes the night. Glad we walked into this spot that night. read more

Oak & Coal - Delicious bites with beer. Flavors awesome! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I was able to walk in on a Friday evening without having to wait for a table. Their service was 10/10 - didn't wait too long for food and the server checked in pretty frequently. The food was honestly better than expected. I loved their agedashi tofu and pork belly skewer. Cocktails were mediocre. I recommend just ordering one of their beers on tap instead. read more

Oak & Coal - Starting top left and going clockwise: chicken wings, agedashi tofu, pork belly skewers and beef skewers - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Overall, a modernized take on yakitori with hints of Korean influences here-n-there (gochujang, kimchi) Dinner came out to about $70 between two people - it adds up quick, but it makes for an intimate date night or special occasion. Not to mention, the service was fantastic. TIP: Reserve before you get there with Yelp waitlist. Restaurant is very small. We waited about 25 min on a Saturday at 7:30. = SKEWERS from fav to least = Chicken thigh w/ Green Onion (6/5) * So good, we ordered two. The onion goes a loong way. Chicken thigh here is a must. Sausages (6/5) * So small but so packed with smokey flavor! The taste and texture was so satisfying and was def one of our favorites. Pork belly (5/5) * Fatty and bursting with flavor, slightly crisped outsode Chicken breast w/ mentaiko and basil (4/5) * CB was on the drier side. Basil tasted a little out of place, but it was still good. Chicken breast w/ Ume and basil (4/5) * Ume has a pickly sour taste, so it's not for everyone but we still liked it! CB was a little dry. Soft Cartilage (2/5) * Eh. Everything else was so good in comparison that sinking my teeth into crunchy soft bone wasn't really doing it for me. Definitely would pass if you don't like cartilage. We avoided the scallop and shrimp per review warnings. = APPS = Kimchi housemade dumplings (4/5) * Wrapping texture was supple and on the thinner side. Inside was great, too! Nothing in particular stood out but it was a solid choice to supplement the saltiness of the yakitori. = DRINKS = Along with our two cocktails, we also got a sake bomb on the house. Yay! Cocktails are good, but nothing out of the ordinary. Sad they removed the dessert checkin.. but it's ok! They were always on top of their customer service game. Food was pricey and a little salty, but still good. Will be back! read more

I can't believe Oak and Coal has 4.5 stars. Not a single item we ordered was worth the price. The chicken was cold, the dumplings were equivalent to frozen dumplings you buy at a grocery store, the sausages were basically smoked hot dogs, and the garlic noodles were average. This place used to be good. I'm totally bummed that it has fallen to this level read more

This is hands down my favorite restaurant I've ever been to. While down in Newport Beach visiting family we came across this place. Everyone we asked if they'd been had never heard of it, so that meant to give it a try. We were seated at the bar which was nice. Our server/bartender Q was a G. He was very knowledgeable of the food they serve and we went off of his recommendations. We had the dumplings, seafood garlic noodles, Brussel sprouts and gilroy garlic. They have a nice little beer selection on draft as well. The food was AMAZING. The best scallops I've ever had. We will definitely be coming back before we head back home. read more

Oak & Coal - Seafood garlic noodles - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

The food has always been delicious here.... But now there is a very cool bar scene here as well. Great for a date our hanging out with friends read more

Oak & Coal - Cheers ! Love this Shishito Sour! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

We came here on a Saturday evening and it surprisingly wasn't too crowded. We were sat at the bar and the food came out hot and fresh from the grill. They were very helpful with recommending the best choices on the menu and also explained which sauces work well with which proteins. You get 3 rounds of choosing which Yakitori you want so it depends on how hungry you are. Everything we had got us full after the 2nd round but we didn't want a heavy dinner at the time. The wagyu, asparagus + pork belly, unagi and lamb were my favorites! Everything was well-seasoned and delicious. The restaurant is perfect for a cute chill dinner date whether you sit at the bar or tables. They have a bunch of drink options as well. Will definitely come back here! read more

Oak & Coal - Unagi, Scallops, beef, lamb, asparagus & pork belly - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

We went here for dinner yesterday after a visiti to the hospital. Both my wife an I were starving. Around 6 pm and no wait at all walked in and sat down. Good selection of beers. I started with an IPA. We had the 2 tuna specialties and the dumplings. All were great, we also had the shisito peppers. The shisito peppers are a must to pair with the rest of your food. We requested the wagyu but unfortunately it was not available. I had the pork belly and the New York steak. Also tried the bacon wrapped asparagus and bacon wrapped cherry tomatoes. All great stuff I have nothing bad to say. The service was great with friendly staff. read more

Oak & Coal - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I fell in love with Oak & Coal! Cocktails & every dish was incredible. We met the owner who was super kind & all staff were great too. The bar next door they own has a great vibe with lots of people for a Thurs night. I will be a frequent visitor for sure! read more

We all need more Yakitori in our lives and and I absolutely loved this place. I'm still dreaming of all that delectable and delicious wagyu beef sliding sumptuously off the stick. You have to try the kimchi dumplings, garlic noodles, the pork belly rib, spicy chicke (karage), and anything with Wagyu. All served with a nice miso paste! The serving sizes are so nice because you can try so many different things. The prices are pretty affordable, especially for top-notch meats. Grilled meat at its finest. I was impressed by their cocktails and remember them having a solid sake selection as well! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I came here last night for date night. We were sat at the sushi bar immediately upon arrival. The food was delicious! We got the pork belly skewers, wagyu beef skewers and spicy tuna don. A huge shoutout to our server Q, for his amazing recommendations and service. We will definitely be returning soon. read more

Food was so good. Service was great. And ambiance was chill. Not one dish I didn't enjoy. Next time I want to try their garlic noodles! read more

Oak & Coal - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

New favorite restaurant in Costa Mesa! Everything we had was absolutely amazing. Our entire group had so much fun trying everything! We all cannot say enough good things about this restaurant! I could eat here everyday!! read more

See all

I have been meaning to get to Oak + Coal for years now as they have been right across the street from some of my favorite spots on 17th. I finally had the opportunity to check it out a month or two ago and wow was I blown away. I immediately was surprised by the paired sauces + garnish that are provided with each plate, something I feel that most Yakitori spots miss completely. The Wagyu with Tare was one of my favorites by far, and I also really enjoyed their bacon wrapped asparagus. It's conveniently located next to one of our favorite speakeasy's too in case you're out late. Great selection of sake + beers too, makes this Costa Mesa gem one of our favorite spots by the beach. Thanks to the team at Oak + Coal! read more

Oak & Coal - Beautiful Incandescent Lighting - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

One of my favorite spots. My favorites are the lemon grass dumplings, Wagu Bao buns, garlic noodles, and the Wagu skewers are a must

My husband and I won a gift card to Oak & Coal at a golf tournament, so we decided to check it out. Went on a Friday night and knowing they don't take reservations, we got there right after they opened. We were seated in the front section but after realizing there was a bar area where we could still be seated for dinner, we asked to be moved. The hostess was very gracious and got us a seat at the bar. Bartender Nick welcomed us and was very attentive despite the growing crowd. We tried the Steamed Chicken Lemongrass Dumplings (hot and tasty), Oak's Famous Garlic Noodles (just the right amount of garlic), Salmon Crudo (the bomb!!), Snake River Wagyu Beef (tender and perfectly grilled) and seasonal veggies in sake butter. Everything was GREAT! Nick was awesome in timing our food so that everything didn't come out all at the same time. Cocktails were pretty tasty, too. Though we live in Orange, we'll definitely be coming back to try other items on the menu! Thank you Nick and Jeff for a great time and wonderful dinner! read more

To be frank, being the only Asian people there, I was a bit hesitant about how the food was going to come out. But everything was great! The lamb chops were my favorite - super tender. They put miso on the side with their pork belly skewers which which is similar to how Koreans eat Samgyeopsal and it was so good! The servers were overly attentive so I wished I got less attention but otherwise, I enjoyed the food a lot. Would definitely come back! read more

Reason for 3 stars: The meat quality and preparation was a let down. I've been on a roll recently going to a bunch of Robata/Yakitori/Skewer restaurants and this place was a big disappointment. I've read reviews and was so hyped up to come here and try it out, since it has premium meats and they use only Japanese charcoal. When we received the plate of skewers, they weren't piping hot or even warm. I felt like our dish was sitting for awhile because maybe they had to wait for our entire order to be done cooking...it was a such a let down because Skewers should be eaten piping hot right off the grill to help enhance the flavors and there should be some crispness on the edges. (The restaurant wasn't packed yet when we arrived, still a few empty tables) We ordered the New Zealand lamb chop, prime filet tenderloin, Kurobuta pork belly, wagyu beef, and king trumpet mushroom. Also had the special which was the Tarako pasta: mentaiko pasta with mushrooms and salmon roe. I ordered the Matcha Hi Ball cocktail, which was delicious. For the price of the Skewers.....it wasn't worth it for the extra quality and how it was served. I've had better wagyu beef, pork belly, and mushroom elsewhere. I did enjoy the lamb chop very much! It was my favorite, but could've been better if it was served hot. The Tarako pasta was too salty for my personal taste, but the mushrooms were good in there! I wish it was just mushrooms and no salmon roe in there lol This meal cost about $84 for 2 people with 10 Skewers, a pasta dish, and one cocktail. I've had better meals at other establishments that cost only about $65 (20 Skewers, 2 noodles dishes) one place and $69 (26 Skewers, one noodle soup dish, a soju carafe) at another. Oak&Coal did not win over my heart with their "better" quality of meats and ingredients. Service was excellent though and the servers were kind. read more

See all

Wow. What an excellent meal. I sat at the bar and was treated very well by the staff. Cucumber Salad and dumplings to start. I recommend both. Beef and chicken wings were very flavorful. You hate to put any of the (delicious) sauces on them, but do. The green one was my favorite. Second round was chicken with plum sauce and the sausages. Both great!! If I sit here any longer, I'll never leave. Hope to come back with some coworkers heading here now. Wow!!!!! read more

See all

Sat in there new bar area at the bar top the bartender's were amazing super friendly with amazing suggestions and recommendations I loved everything I got can't wait to go back read more

We really loved this place and the vibe here. The portion sizes were generous for a yakitori joint and we were pleasantly surprised. We had a little bit of everything and loved the dipping sauces that were served with the meats- mainly yuzu or miso based. I am now obsessed with the combo of bacon + miso and am pondering how I can incorporate it into a thanksgiving appetizer. Everything was on point, from appetizers to the raw items and yakitori we loved it all. The unagi is the perfect dish to end on-its like a little dessert in itself. Can't wait to come back. read more

That Unagi will knock your socks off! Drinks were good, but will definitely return for that eel.

This probably the best dinner you'll have all month. My current faves are the veggie mix, snake river wagyu and the bacon wrapped asparagus Do yourself a favor and stop in with a date. You can set reservations on Yelp before arrival read more

This place is our favorite! Staff is so welcoming and friendly. Dining with a toddler never easy, in fact you may never eat but here service is quick, hot and DELICIOUS! So many great items on the menu: the buns, Brussels, poke, wagyu, garlic shrimp noodles....heck even the cucumbers are DELICIOUS. The bar is the icing on the cake, the gimlet so refreshing and their craft cocktails never disappoint! Jeff, has even been known to hold/entertain our child so we can eat. Get there early but if you have to wait it's worth it! Thank you JEFF, Christian, Nick and Q for the great service over the years and the being the true definition of hospitality! read more

Pretty good, but probably won't come back. I was disappointed with the quality especially for the price, which was surprising considering the reviews. It's not authentic, it caters to the local crowd, and is Americanized Japanese. My husband and I each got the Meaty bbq trio, which was supposed to come with a lamb chop, wagyu beef, and NY steak. They were out of the wagyu so we just got another lamb chop. The meat was good just very small in portion-size, again, for the price. We also got the seafood garlic noodles, which was good in flavor but the noodles were definitely overcooked. The garlic noodles were $22, which I felt was pretty steep. We spent around $70 total in the end. It was worth a try, but there are other amazing, legit Japanese restaurants in the Costa Mesa area that I'd rather go to. read more

My friend and I went to Oak & Coal for dinner for the first time last night (3/3/21) and let me just say, IT WAS AMAZING. Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less as Jeff Chon, who is also the owner of my absolute favorite shabu shabu spot, Tabu Shabu, also happens to own this place. Everything we ordered was delicious and unlike anything I've ever had before, particularly when it came to the combination of flavors/sauces that made everything exceptionally good. The staff, the atmosphere, the food and drinks were all amazing and I'll definitely be back again! Thanks to Hailey, "Q" and of course Jeff for being so wonderfully amazing! read more

See all

Update after my 2nd visit: Food and Service were outstanding! Salmon sashimi, yellowtail, lamb chops and pork belly were all fantastic. Agedashi tofu broth was a wonderful surprise. This place just puts a big, warm smile on my face. I don't understand how this restaurant doesn't have a line that wraps around the block every night. read more

Surprisingly really amazing food and drinks! The seafood noodles were actually to die for and cheesecake was amazing. Funnily enough my bf and I preferred the appetizers to the meat! We also got the Brussel sprouts which were so good. The patio is pretty cute too and service was superb Fun date night dinner option! read more

Oak & Coal - Ube Cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The lamb is orgasmic. Service gives male brothel vibes. Been coming here since they opened and have enjoyed every single visit. Addison, Will, and, Gabriel can make a "drink. " overall worth coming. So don't come, otherwise I won't be able to get a table. read more

Oak & Coal is like a modern day Japanese Cheers...the kind of place where everyone knows your name. Honestly, it's a really nice feeling but atypical. I know that sounds nit picky but maybe I don't want to have Sake bombs with the chefs on a week night. Maybe I just want to eat the meat sticks, catch Pokémon and dine in comfortable obscurity. It's hard to fault them for trying, so I would give the service rating a healthy 4 stars. Where Oak & Coal falls a little short is in the food. Yakitori is best served right off the grill and hot. Most of the skewers were lukewarm and slightly undercooked. We ordered: Kim Chi Dumplings $6 - good flavor, but the tops of the skin were hard. Pork Belly Wrapped Okra $4/skewer - the Okra was more grainy than expected and cut a little too large. Pork Belly Wrapped Asparagus $4/skewer - the pork belly needs to be more crispy and wrapped a little tighter. Spicy Chicken Wings $3.75/skewer - pretty tasty and probably the best thing we tried. Jumbo Hokkaido Scallops $7/skewer - tasty and tendor but needed more time on the range. Shiitake Mushrooms $3/skewer - a little chewy and undercooked In short, Oak & Coal is A-Ok and could be rated higher with a few menu tweaks and selective customer engagement. read more

See all

Great service, cocktails, and food! We had the garlic seafood noodles, pork belly, wagyu, wild Mexican shrimp, tuna sashimi, and lemongrass chicken dumplings. Loved everything except the pork belly was just okay. Great shareable sized portions. read more

Go to spot. Flavors in cuisine are on point, the bartenders are another level. 10/10 recommend to everyone.

Quiet hidden away spot. Small restaurant with a bar out back like a speakeasy. Great space nice staff great food and drinks

Decided to pick this place for dine-in since it was first come first serve place and was able to make it there right when they opened. Friendly staff and good food. However, garlic noodles was a bit too soft and mushy for my liking. Everything else was well seasoned and mouth watering. read more

Oak & Coal - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The food was mediocre. There was not one dish that I thought was great. The cabbage salad and cucumber was probably the best. The snake River was okay, nothing special. The crispy rice wasn't good. Pork belly wasn't good. Also, I had to ask for my drink 3x from 2 different people until I finally got it at the end of my meal. Wouldn't go back. The back bar seemed to have good ambiance but we were sitting in the front. read more

Great spot for Valentines day. We've wanted to try it for a while but haven't been able due to covid. It's a great spot with great food. I definitely recommend coming in. read more