Such a cute vibe. Didn't have reservations & had no issues being sat. We sat in the back for the bar which I highly recommend. There is a parking lot so it wasn't hard to find parking. Service was fast & friendly. They decorated it nicely for Halloween. I got the chicken skewers & the seared hamachi. Both were delicious. Also for drinks had the lychee spritz & the Japan smash, so tasty. Would definitely recommend to anyone & I will be back! read more

This place was SO GOOD. I went on a whim on a Friday night with my sister and a friend! We waiting a little but that was expected seeing as it was a Friday night. It was so worth it. We walked in and I realized that it's the perfect date night spot. It's dimly lit with little electric lamps on the table. We sat and looked at the menu. We pretty much ordered one of everything and shared! You have to order the spicy tuna crispy rice, the garlic noodles - we did veggie! And honestly... nothing we ordered disappointed. I also had a drink that was made perfectly. Not too sweet, not too strong. I will definitely be going back! read more

I didn't expect such a tiny restaurant to be so good in every aspect. It was super easy to make a reservation for 12 people. The place had cool, interesting decor. The service was great, staff was very attentive. I got the charred elotes, the tofu, and the unagi skewers and all were very tasty. The sauce on the corn had some spice to it. The tofu was comic-ly huge, everyone thought I ordered soup. My friend ordered the ube banana pudding dessert and I must say that I normally don't like ube as I find it way too sweet but this dessert was not too sweet and it was sooo good. I totally regretted getting full from my dishes and wish I saved room to get my own ube banana pudding. I would totally return just for the dessert alone. read more

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

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Your money is well spent here. Everything is amazing - especially the service in the oak room (and the food absolutely). Q and Kellen (sorry if spelled wrong) are the best guys in the house. Absolutely professionals and the kindest people. I come back as often as I can and you should too. read more

Big fans! My husband and I came here on a date and got the Mai tais, which were delicious and strong hehe! We also got the garlic noodles with shrimp, shishito peppers ahi poke and karrage chicken! Everything was delicious, packed with flavor! Service was great however wait was pretty long, but didn't mind since we were on a date. Definitely going back read more

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

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They have the best food! Never been let down with anything I've ordered! And I love the atmosphere and the bar they have in the back. Great bartenders who make great drinks even when asked to wing it. read more

This is one of those little private hidden places that if you don't know it's there you'll miss it. They have a variety of small dishes that are tastie. The service is FIRST CLASS whether you're eating at the bar, table or back room that has a full on bar.Avery J was our server & he greeted us, sat us@ a table, helped us with the menu & checked on us regularly.Great vibes in the restaurant, we felt very comfortable.The parking can be a challenge but definitely worth it. We had mixed veggies, lamb chops, chicken potstickers &a shrimp noodle dish. I had a HOT grandson tea which kept me nice & warm. I'd define come back to try more items on the menu :) read more

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Pricey modern Japanese spot with an oak room "speakeasy" tucked away inside. Service was nice but way too loud to hear each other (this is not the place for intimate date nights or conversation) and also SO slow. Bartenders were rushing to keep up with orders and barely had time to clear plates, get checks, etc. Addison (i think) was really friendly and obviously trying his best to check in on us but they were all just slammed on the friday night we came. Food is not special. Chicken skewers were lightly seasoned .. to the point where I questioned IF they were seasoned. "Not your average miso", their miso ramen, was VERY average. Perhaps even below average with bland broth and overcooked noodles. Also their daily special lettuce wraps came with sauce that I swear was identical to Buldak ramen sauce lol. Which is delicious but that speaks to Buldak and not Oak n Coal.. read more

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Normally when I write a review I start with the food first but for this review I'm starting with the service because the service was OUTSTANDING! Oak & Coal had the best service in recent memory. Not only was everyone nice, helpful and friendly but they treated all of their customers like they were long-time-friends. It really felt like eating a dinner in a restaurant staffed with friends which I haven't encountered in a long time. Now the food also was outstanding! Everything we ordered was delicious, and presented beautifully. Even though it was crowded food and drinks came out quickly and in a progression that made sense (raw first, etc.). The dishes were creative and bursting with flavor! The cocktails were also very innovative and as someone who normally only has one alcoholic drink before switching to non-alcoholic I really appreciated the good selection of non-alcoholic drinks such as grapefruit soda, fresh lemonade, ginger beer, ginger ale, etc. in addition to the normal soft drinks. They also have wine, sake, etc. We ordered a ton of small dishes to share. Our favorites out of all the dishes we ordered are: -Salmon Crudo (my favorite - I actually had to barter with my husband to get an extra piece I liked it so much!) -Garlic Noodles (we just got them plain without protein and they were a great complement to our meal) -Snake River Wagyu Beef Skewers - Also be sure to ask about their specials of the day which are awesome: when we were there it was a katsu sandwich! Next time I want to try the elote and Brussel sprouts and bao buns. We were lucky enough to be seated in the back room - The Oak Room - which has the coolest vibes! Perfect for a date night! We can't wait to return! read more

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The place is very small which could be good but the people at a large table were screaming over each other. The selection is limited, tapas only. And the price is high. That said, the food was really really good. I. The end we enjoyed ourselves, but this is a try it once place. read more

A hidden gem that has a cozy ambiance, excellent service and food that flavor is exceptional. read more

Oak & Coal - Lobster Hand roll special and Oak Fashioned - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Interesting speakeasy in Costa Mesa with amazing drinks! I tried: 1. Shishito sour 2. Smokey tokey - toki whiskey old fashion 3. Ice cream read more

Great food.tasty.yummi.lots of drinks..Strong dranks.bring friends and family..order everything and try read more

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Amazing food and drinks. We got multiple different entrees and shared. Full bar with handcrafted cocktail. Staff and service is very good!

Oak and Coal has been on my list for a while, thanks to TikTok. It was also on my husband's list to try. Finally made it out with my husband and toddler one Monday evening in October, and we were not disappointed! There was no wait, but the steady foot traffic showed we were in for a treat. Here's what we tried: * Chicken Karaage: Perfectly cooked with a crispy, flavorful batter. The hint of lemon zest in the batter was a great touch, so we didn't even need to add extra lemon. * Chashu Bao Buns: Delicious, fluffy bao buns with pork that was tender and flavorful. Everything in it was perfectly balanced. * Kurobuta Sausage Skewer: The sausage was juicy and flavorful. Can't go wrong with it. * Snake River Wagyu Beef Skewer: Cooked to perfection. The flavor was fantastic, and the beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender. * Seared Hamachi: Good, though we've had slightly better. The grilled asparagus was a nice addition, pairing well with the fish. For drinks, my husband tried a bartender's choice cocktail, which was deliciously refreshing. I went with the lychee spritz--light, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Overall, Oak and Coal was an awesome dining experience, and we can't wait to return and explore more of their full bar in the back (reservations only). Highly recommend! read more

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We have been meaning to try this place for a while, and honestly it wasn't really worth it. My favorite thing was the yellowtail poke and the light crispy wonton chips paired so well with it. The pickled cucumbers had such a strong acidic taste that I loved, that I feel like many other places are too afraid to get this vinegary so yay! I didn't have high expectations for the ramen based on the description.. and this was a skip for sure. Like a super bland miso soup with ramen noodles in it I wasn't that hungry so I snacked on a couple of items with one other person and the bill was almost $90-100. This isn't your typical izakaya so keep that in mind. read more

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

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Improv date night is the best! We didn't have our kid and decided to check this place out and came as soon as they opened. The place is small but cozy and they had a bar side and we got seated at the bar and were able to order anything from the menu. Service here was excellent and the food was amazing...we got some yakitori to share and a beef donburi. Our favorites were the homemade chicken balls with osen egg and tare sauce and lamb chops. read more

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This place is a tapas style restaurant with yummy cocktails and japanese type food. They have a back bar area which is more dimly lit and vibey and a front area that's more casual. Overall the portions are pretty small but it was nice to try different menu items. Both cocktails we got were solid and food was good. Definitely good spot for date night! Service was quick and everyone was nice! read more

Oak & Coal - lychee cocktail, Steamed Chicken Lemongrass Dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First, we have been coming to Oak & Coal since they opened. Ahhhhmazing food, ambiance and customer service. Every, single, solitary item. 10/10. My personal Faves are the Garlic Noodles and Chicken Karage. The Bau Buns are to delicious. The banana pudding, although we didn't really have room, lol, ahhhhmazing! Oh and the drinks. Yum! Must go! read more

I definitely had a preconceived judgment about this place because it has that aesthetic that many new restaurants adopt when they want to sell you mediocre food for a lot of money. But I am happy to find out that I was wrong. Everything we ordered was tasty and amazing. We ordered a few of the skewers and the wagyu was one of my favorites. The meat just melts in your mouth and everything was juicy, even the shishito peppers. I highly recommend pairing the skewers with a carb like the garlic noodles. There wasn't one dish that disappointed us. Even the miso paste that came with the skewers was so good, they can probably sell that by itself and I'd buy it. Our servers were great and the service was prompt. The only con was that we couldn't talk very well amongst ourselves because the group next to us was basically yelling at one another and since the restaurant is pretty compact, there isn't much distance for all that noise to spread and distribute. Overall, a good find and I recommend and hopefully the quality of the food remains consistently stellar. read more

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Food here is delicious!! This has been on my list for a while. We came on a Monday night so wait was only 10 minutes for dinner. They gave us really good recommendations for each section of food. Would recommend family style as everything is pretty shareable here. The snake river wagyu beef skewers were so tender and really delicious. Yellowtail and salmon poke was really good however portion was a bit small and a bit fishy. We really enjoyed the kbbq wraps and unagi crispy rice. They forgot the chashu bao buns in our order but would like to try that next time. read more

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

A Japanese yanitori want to be place. I think the target audience for this restaurants are for different type of crowds than myself. I was excited to give this place a try, but the experience was underwhelming. First, the restaurant is super tiny. So if you have a large party (more than 4), you may want to make reservation ahead of time. For the portion of the food, it's definitely hella overpriced. But, given it's located in Newport Beach, I can see why. The food is not authentic Japanese izakaya type. It's mix of American, Japanese and Mexican food all mixed together. I wouldn't come back here again. read more

We started off with the Maui Mai Tai and the Shishito Sour -- both were excellent. The Maui Mai Tai had great flavor, and the little lilikoi foam put a smile on my face. The Shishito Sour had just enough shishito flavor, and the rest of the cocktail was very well balanced. We ordered the agedashi tofu, but that one was pretty underwhelming. I wouldn't order it again -- felt extremely overpriced at $18, and the broth it came in was just meh. The chashu buns were also pretty disappointing. The chashu itself was low quality, and they seemed to try to mask that with ginger and other toppings. On the flip side, the seared hamachi was a highlight -- super fresh, vibrant flavors. The eel was good but could've been served a little hotter. The Wagyu skewer was very delicious and high quality. The Kubota pork sausage was also a standout -- incredibly flavorful and served very hot. For my second drink, I tried the Cocoguava Sour -- very mezcal-forward and smoky. I personally enjoyed it, but if you're not into mezcal, it might not be for you. We ended with the ube banana pudding -- hands down one of the best desserts I've had this year. Served cold with nice pieces of wafers and banana -- perfection. Service was overall good -- the staff was friendly and attentive, and the hospitality definitely added to the experience. Overall, I give this place 4 out of 5 stars. Not every dish was a hit, but the standouts -- seared hamachi, Wagyu skewer, ube banana pudding, and the cocktails -- definitely make it worth a visit read more

7:00pm Friday night Definitely be prepared for a long wait. Not crazy annoying but you'll be waiting after you check in. It's first come first serve. The bar in the back is seated by the host as well the front dinning. You're able to request which room. The staff is exceptional from the minute you walk in. Even with a busy crowd. We ordered their take on chocolate espresso martini. It was pretty delicious. We were sat in the back bar. Which we requested. The menu you couldn't really order anything wrong. I personally don't think it's ideal for large parties even though I saw a few tables of 5-6 people. The space is so small the bigger tables basically take up the restaurant. What we ate: Brussels sprouts Garlic noodles with mushrooms/ shrimp Tuna tar tar - wish there was more egg. Didn't realize it was on the bottom. Chicken skewers Ube banana pudding - could have had more banana and wafers. Was more pudding than anything. The flavors were on point with every dish that came out. Perfectly portioned. Drinks We had the bartender makes us something as a surprise and it was amazing!! Bar staff were super nice and engaging. You can tell They enjoy working there and the people that come in. Definitely a cute date spot or just grabbing a casual dinner. You can go in jeans and a sweater. Definitely don't need to over dress. Will be back to try a few other things that caught my eye. I would say it's kid friendly definitely during the week in the front restaurant. Not so much during the weekend busy hours MOM APPROVED DATE NIGHT OR NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS. read more

Oak & Coal - Chocolate espresso martini - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Went there for the first time on a Wednesday night. Food was ok not over the top. Was loud but service and overall ambiance was good. Unfortunately we were asked to vacate our table minutes after paying the bill and there were empty tables in the restaurant. Sorry will not be back .... read more

We had the most fantastic dining experience at Oak and Coal. First time and didn't know what to expect - sit in the speakeasy! Good ambiance, great staff, excellent food. Q is a wonderful host and bartender if you need recommendations. The owner Jeff is oh so gracious and undeniably talented. Every dish was outstanding - Bao bun special, lemongrass chicken dumplings, Korean bbq wraps, garlic noodles with shrimp, crispy rice, and the Japanese sweet bread dessert !! Absolutely recommend 10/10 read more

First time here was incredible. Skylar served us at the bar and the drinks were AMAZING! I loved the hamachi and pork bao buns. The salted caramel gelato was also to die for!!! Great vibe in the bar area, will definitely be back! read more

So good. Service was excellent. The special desserts were amazing. We came for my wife's birthday and they took such good. Are of ur

Oak and Coal is a house favorite. The chicken skewers, the veggie noodles, the steak, everything is delicious. Love love this place. read more

Ambiance: The place is really cool! I recommend sitting near the bar because the area is dimly lit which gives it a really classy feeling Food: FOOD WAS 10/10 I went with one friend and we finished everything!! Our favorite by far was the salmon sashimi (think it's called something else on the menu) it is izakaya like so portions are smaller and a bit more expensive but we liked it! Service: the staff are really nice and chill! They have tattoos so that means they are cool! Rec for like a date if you are trying to impress or you have a lot of money! read more

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This review is for vegetarian friendly options only. I know. It seems idiotic to come to a sushi place and eat nothing but greens. But I do not regret a single bite. Even if I wasn't eating all veggies, I would still love and consume all of their edamame hummus. The drizzle of the soy sauce reduction was perfect and the airy-fried wonton sheets. Damn. The miso soup had generous amounts of adorable Japanese mushrooms. Whatever they're called. The plumper cousin of Enokis. Nice and solid miso flavor with tons of fresh veggies mixed in. The roasted broccolini's are so addictive. Though it's a little greasy and dabbed with fish sauce, the flavor and crunch were certainly not lost. And the cabbage salad was adorable and flavorful. Any Asian ginger dressing would perk up a salad like this but with the pre sliced cherry tomatoes, nightly ritual please! The service was also tentative and the girl who took our order and sat the table was just a cute little exchange. I would definitely return. read more

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I'm a full carnivore and this place is my go to whenever I'm craving a good mixture of delicious cuts of meat straight off the grill. The lamb lollipops are amazing, the sausages, the beef, the chicken, and whatever other skewers they have available are all great choices. It's a Japanese type grill with a great bar speakeasy type room and the main entrance is a typical open shared seating typical of Japanese restaurants. The prices are reasonable and a good value for the experience. The staff are all friendly and welcoming. The place gets packed during the busy hours so it's recommended to book ahead, even if it's just a part of one. Definitely give this place a try, you won't be disappointed and most likely bring your family and friends, or a date next time. Cheers read more

What a gem in Costa Mesa! It's one of my fave go-to places and every time I bring a friend here, they always say they've never heard of it! But they all loved it! I always get the Bao buns which never disappoints. Honestly, the whole menu is good. Some things can be a little salty but I rather it be a little overly salty than bland. There's also a speakeasy bar in the back read more

I have been the biggest fan of Oak & Coal since I moved to OC 3.5 years ago. The servers, the owners, and the bartenders are all so friendly and make the overall dining experience very enjoyable. The food is the best food in all of OC. I love how everything is shareable so when you go in with friends or family, you can order several dishes and get a taste of everything. My favorite is the Oak Room in the back which gives off a speakeasy feel and allows you to watch the bartenders create their magic. I will never stop raving about Oak & Coal! read more

First time here, went to the speak easy bar part of the restaurant. The bartender and the servers were amazing. The food was so good. We had the wagyu skewers, salmon sashimi, karage and the udon soup. Everything was amazing and the service was good. I would come back again. read more

I have been coming here from day 1. Ya'll were cutting your teeth, and I had some sloppy experiences, but stayed loyal. Tonight we came up from the peninsula on a 30 minute uber ride to celebrate, after calling and verifying that we would be served when we arrived at 10:30. We arrived at 1030 sharp and were denied service. I believe I interrupted someone's vanilla latte, Payless cowboy boot regerts(yep), which I feel absolutely terrible about. But ya'll can be absolutely certain after I have sung your praises for ten years I will be doing of the sort moving forward. read more

Great food and good lookin dudes, cool art through dim light and many unique drinks for a nice long night.

this place offers a variety of japanese and seafood cuisine but yakitori skewers aren't as authentic as you think they are. i believe this place is best when you are having dinner with a group rather than a table for two. chicken and pork belly skewers just taste grilled with only salt and pepper seasoning. however the cucumbers were soft and crunchy where you can taste the brined flavors in it. the stars of the show were the brussels sprout and chasiu pork buns as they are heavily seasoned and melt into your mouth. the price range is heavily high but visiting this place is a one time thing with a group of friends. read more

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Decided to try something new and different for date night. We love Asian food, specifically Japanese, and thought this place would be so much fun! Definitely make sure to add yourself to the waitlist on Yelp. The back room is the cute intimate area. We were served by Nick at the bar who is an institution here but sadly will be moving soon. He served me the Bitter Bitch drink which is a perfect drink to balance out the wagyu or pork belly skewers. The Wagyu skewers was the best thing ever! I also loved the garlic noodles and the Japanese elote which is such a fun twist on a classic. The only thing I would skip next time is the miso soup appetizer which didn't have much flavor to me. If you can come while Nick is there he will show you a good time. Be sure to try as much as your wallet allows! read more

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First time at O&C. Great ambience with the speakeasy vibe, amazing food (try the Charred Unagi Skewers), and awesome service. Everyone was very friendly! The drink menu is also really nice with some great cocktails in the lineup. read more

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

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