Incredible service. Sleek wood and clean interior. Well-prepared yakitori skewers. It's 5 stars for Oak & Coal because of its overall well-rounded fun, friendly environment with a delicious flavor. Usually when I go to yakitori is it just alright but here the skewers are cooked perfectly! The filet and waygu beef are to die for. The meat will just melt in your mouth. Careful of the pork belly wrapped tomatoes cause the tomato juice will squirt when you bite into it, but just as delicious. They also had a special of the day: a pork belly bun, but I think it should be a regular menu item cause it was memorable. All in all, this is an R&R place ( meaning would recommend and return) ! read more

Finally made it here to try the yakitori's and I was not disappointed. Wagyu. Melt. In. My. Mouth. Karaage was on point as well. Added bonus? Impeccable service... will be back soon. read more

This place is very small inside but super cute. They have only a few beers on tap so we ordered a couple and the kimchi dumplings to start. The dumplings were so amazing and I would recommend to get the 12 piece and fill up a little bit on these because the skewers of everything else are really small. Everything else we ordered was so delicious. All of the meats and veggies had a completely different flavor profile for each skewer and it was all on point. Everything was SO delicious, but I wouldn't recommend coming here if you have a huge appetite. The portions were so small and we had to order a lot to get full. The service was good. We had a wrong item come out and she let us keep it and just took it off the bill. I would recommend coming here for happy hour! read more

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

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Sooo of all the things it wasn't the yakitori that impressed me. It was the garlic noodles. No complaints about the service. They were fantastic. Unfortunately the bbq was a disappointment. Some of the skewers came to the table cold. They did get me another one though. And then they forgot two more orders. :( luckily I was full by then so I just cancelled the remainder. I would go back for the noodles but probably not for much else. read more

Everything was bomb!!!! Came here for my boyfriend's birthday; it was our first time. The food was excellent and so was the service. We got the chicken and lemongrass dumplings, the, waygu beef, and the seafood garlic noodles, and had no complaints about anything. The beef was so tender, and the garlic noodles are any garlic lover's dream. And our party got a second order of the dunplings. Definitely recommend, and will be going back for seconds. read more

I am so happy I found this place! Great service. Great food. Drea was our waitress today--she was very knowledgeable & quick taking our orders. We sat outside around 5pm, so it wasn't too much. Most times when I decide to sit outside at a restaurant I feel (sort of) neglected. But not here! Everything was amazing! We didn't have a long wait time or anything. This was our first time here so we tried a lot of the menu, but nothing disappointed. I absolutely LOVED the garlic noodles. Definitely recommending! read more

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First time here the other night and thought the food was great. The dumplings were delicious. The garlic noodles were pretty garlicky and could have used more shrimp. The beef skewers with mushrooms were amazing though. Unfortunately I did not like either of the two cocktails I tried. And the Japanese cheesecake was more of a sponge cake with ice cream, definitely not a cheesecake like I expected. I'd for sure go back but skip the cocktails and dessert. Service was wonderful and super friendly. read more

Me and my boyfriend came here tonight for the first time after finding this place on yelp. The atmosphere was great! A super fun vibe, cool aesthetics and fun music. We ordered the chicken lemon dumplings, the pork belly skewer, veggie mix, and the shrimp skewer. All had great taste. I loved the veggie dish-the sauce was so savory! My boyfriend was a huge fan of the pork belly, the meat melted in your mouth and you could absolutely pick up the cooking method they used. Really great restaurant, with a fun twist on japanese food that is unique to the area. We will absolutely be back! read more

Lots of flavor in the meats, some were worth getting again and others were a disappointment. I'd highly recommend trying the short rib, beef tongue, and Kim chi dumplings! The kimchi dumplings sounded pretty basic to me, but I tried it because of a review I read! Very moist dumpling with unique flavors. Came with a nice sauce too which I enjoyed. I would come back just for this!! Everything else was pretty average to me. The chicken skin just tasted burnt and didn't have much flavor to it. The prices were eh for me. Basically all meats were $7 even when the quality of some weren't as good as others. If you want to try the eye catching ones at least once and enjoy seconds of the ones you enjoyed, the prices definitely add up. I believe for 2 people it came out to $120 and I wasn't even full... LOL read more

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Love this place! Everything we had was delicious!! The kimchi dumplings, Kobe tongue, shrimp, pork belly, corn (how can a corn cob be so good?!), scallops, and beer! Great craft drafts that are only $5 during happy hour including selections from another great Costa Mesa business, Barley Forge. Oh, and they have great water from Citizen Water Co next door. There is nothing worse than a cup of tap water with a nice meal. I love the space too. It's intimate yet lively. The owner Jeff stopped by our table to say hi and offered us a shot of something tasty on the house. What a great guy! I can't wait to come back and try the other half of the menu! Excellent addition to Costa Mesa! read more

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This place is really great! A casual, tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot, but amazing food inside! They have a really good beer and sake selection. Don't come here with large groups. There's minimal seating inside, so this spot is good for groups of no more than 4 people. For yakitori, I highly recommend the short rib, shrimp, pork sausages, kawa (chicken skin) and scallops. The garlic noodles are also a great shareable item read more

Excellent Service! Excellent Food! Worth the trip! Don't be put off by the fact that this restaurant is in a strip mall next to a Pancake House and a Laundromat. This was an all around good experience. Q took good care of us as did all of the other staff members that visited our table. Go with friends so you can try more items. We were not disappointed by anything that we ordered. The updated menu doesn't include many traditional Yakitori items that are featured in the pictures. You won't find Hearts, Liver, Gizzards and Skin. The menu options they have now should appeal to all. read more

Small space but great food. Servers are nice and even though the place is small, not very crowded inside.

Great food. Small place. We sit outside since we bring out pooch. We usually order 2/3 plates each since they're small like tapas. But my favorite is the wagyu donburi. read more

I LOVE it here! Jeff Chon has done a remarkable job creating an intimate and enjoyable environment. Come prepared to try all sorts of new dishes. The yakitori is unique and flavorful and everything is locally sourced. I can't wait to come back and try it again and again. Great for kids also!!!! read more

Oak & Coal - Yummy dumplings! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Beautiful and delicious local business. Been here a couple times and never had anything bad. Staff is hit or miss depending on the day but usually very nice and professional. read more

Everything was excellent. Glad we were seated right away as the place looks small but we were absolutely wowed with the skewers & garlic noodles plus amazing ube banana dessert omg! read more

Absolutely phenomenal meal and that's an understatement. We ordered, then ordered more and didn't stop ordering and every single item was delicious. The wagyu skewers and NY strip skewers were fantastic, also the chicken meatballs and lamb chops were awesome. The absolute highlight of the meal was the seafood pasta, I would tell you more but you need to go there and find out for yourself. This was our first time here but will definitely be back in a week or sooner read more

A+ service, food, and people. The first time trying Oak and Coal and it was phenomenal! We were seated right away and it was still busy until closing. This place is young and alive, and the food was fresh and delicious. They have the same owner as Tabu Shabu. Another great place to try. I will become a local here in the near future! read more

This place was fantastic. All the yakitori was excellent, dumplings delivered a nice hit of lemongrass, and the garlic noodles were life-changing. I am now on a quest to figure out how to replicate that flavor - so much umami! The matcha cheesecake was awesome too - great handmade crust. read more

If I had to choose one restaurant to eat at every single meal for the rest of my life it would be Oak and Coal. Every bite of any dish is like hearing colors and seeing sounds, I cannot speak highly enough of this place + the staff!!! read more

I seriously just pigged our. A friend of mine asked me what I ordered...I ordered everything! No joke, I'm pretty sure we ordered everything on the menu. Not one thing was disappointing. Jeff the owner, and fantastic human, often frequents the establishment. Do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to him. Marvel at his perfect hair. Jeff was smart enough to hire a young man by the name of Nick. Nick makes your food, pours your beer and tells you jokes. Nick is money. Essentially it's meat and veggies on a stick. I think they call it Yakitori (yakaroi?) anyhow, various meats and other things are skewered then grilled. You are then provided with a bevy of condiments that you dip into said condiments. The raw ingredients including beef, chicken, fish and lamb are all high grade ingredients. Classics such as tongue, cartilage and quail eggs are there for the taking. Asian beverages such as sake, tea and craft beers are in rotation. Big note on the wall says liquor license coming soon ( should be interesting). The servers were all very friendly and polite. The decor is kitchy and cool. Bathroom was clean, ample parking. It can get busy on a Friday/Saturday night but you will be surrounded by many Costa Mesa locals. You can thank me later read more

Overpriced for just OK food and blah service. Noodle dish and bowl of elote was not good. Chicken skewers were good. Wanted to chill and have more but was disappointed so quickly so we just wanted to leave. Also the mgr/owner standing around looking frustrated didn't help. read more

If you've never had Japanese Yakitori, you might not realize what you're missing out on. Otherwise, for those that have been to one of the numerous Yakitori restaurants around Orange County, don't waste your time. There is a serious lack of complexity and flavor in all the meats we tried here. The service was friendly, the atmosphere is OK (not nearly as cozy as traditional izakaya places), but the food was really disappointingly bland. This is the Olive Garden of Yakitori, except it's not cheap. I really wish it was better as its close to home, but it was really disappointing. read more

Finally got around to trying this place last night and boy I've been missing out! Food is absolutely delicious with tons of flavor. The vibe and staff are wonderful... super friendly and helpful. Can't say enough good things about my first visit. Will be back soon! read more

I rarely eat in the OC as I live in Los Angeles but this is the best Asian inspired casual dining spot I've been to in OC. It has completely changed the bar for me when it comes to dining in OC! read more

WOW! Mind blowing yakitori! These small plates were perfect for sharing with a group. Order lots of different dishes and go for it. Everything was elevated in quality cuts of meat, presentation, fresh, vibrant flavors and seasonings. I loved that each skewer was served quickly and came to the table HOT! I won't list all the great selections we enjoyed, but the kimchi dumplings were unforgettable and the jumbo scallops were the BEST. We had several vegetarians in our group and they were delighted with all the options. The service was excellent! Our waiter was helpful with selections, explaining what some of the popular plates were and we felt very special with extra love from Nick, the manager. This little spot runs so smoothly and efficiently and the staff is amazing. It's hard to imagine how they keep up with all the orders coming Fast and Furious. Come casual and relax. It's definitely got the trendy, campy vibe for casual dining. Can't wait to come back and so glad you are so close. THANK YOU for a fun and memorable evening. read more

It is almost midnight and you are suddenly hungry? This place is for you. Yes it is the most premium delicious late night snack I have ever had. You have 3 rounds to order and believe me, those tiny skewers will fill you up real fast. Don't be like me and come for just the late night. The menu is for dinner as well. So if you are hungry like a normal person around dinner time. Come lol Food is amazing. Ambience is pretty trendy and romantic. Self seating and there is a bar. What can be better than this? However there is only one big table for group. So if you are planning to come with all your fiends in the world, better call and check read more

Such great food and friendly staff. Our food arrived hot and tasted so fresh. I'd never had little skewers like these before and living GF often means I must miss out on fun menu items. Not so here! We had the pork wrapped asparagus, zucchini, wago beef, pork belly, chicken, and unagi. I ate way too much, which I only mildly regretted. Cozy and comfortable, it was the perfect date night local. Highly recommend! read more

All I have to say is that this small restaurant packs a big punch. We arrived around 6pm and didn't have to wait to sit outside next to the heaters. The food and drinks were absolutely amazing. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We finished up around 7 and by then there was a 45 minute wait for walk ups so use the check in feature to get in line. Next time we go even if they say there's an hour wait we will be waiting.....it's worth it. read more

I really wanted to like this place. Service was pretentious without any knowledge of the food. Drinks were subpar and staff seemed overwhelmed. Ambiance is cool but the service killed the vibe. An ok spot for those local to the area but this is not a destination restaurant. Wouldn't suggest for groups. read more

I would 10000000% recommend this place for anyone that wants to try something a little different! They have the best servers/cooks/staff + fast service + the most delicious food! If you go you NEED to get the garlic noodles and try the meaty mix for a little bit of everything! This is a great casual dinner spot or date night!!!! 10/10 would go again! This is one of our usual spots in Costa Mesa! read more

Absolutely amazing ! Great for tasting multiple things with the mini skewers . Cool sauces . And great flavor ! read more

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Really cool spot in OC. We tried variety of Japanese dishes. I loved the shrimp and the chicken skews but I also enjoyed other dishes. We ordered almost half of the menus. Definitely worth visiting these guys and will sure come back again. read more

Wow. This place rocks. First time, sat at the bar, served by Nick who helps run the place. Started with the California Grizzly = top shelf whiskey, yuzu, ginger syrup, lemon and topochico. I'm a massive whisky, Old Fashion, Whiskey Sour fan and this was the....very best whiskey drink I've ever had. Then the food. Had the Yellowtail,, Wagu, Sausages, and Dumplings. Everything was epic and it was a great vide as well. Massively recommend!!! read more

Excellent yakitori, ok beer selection, not so great cheesecake. My friends and I took advantage of the 1 hr happy hour from 5 to 6. Great: wagyu beef, chicken skins, pork belly, and pretty much everything we got off their Yakitori selection. Service was on point! OK: kimchi dumplings sorta hit the spot but not the best i've had. The chirashi handrolls had good flavor but the nori wasn't the greatest and was hard to chew through, so they fell apart a bit. Meh: Japanese cheesecake was like a Twinkie with green tea iced cream and strawberries. read more

Amazing food! Amazing staff! Had a great time dining here! Recommend it 100%. Cheers!

I came in for lunch a few days ago and was completely charmed by this spot! Although the restaurant is small the decor is very cool and makes the atmosphere fun. There weren't many people there which made the experience even better since we got great quick service. I can't remember the servers name but he served, bartended, food prepped, and was even working off the fryer. Hats off too him! Drinks and food were great. The only reason for only 4 stars is because the lunch menu had less options than the dinner menu seemed to have. read more

Look up dope AF in the dictionary, you'll see this places photo next to it. Undisputed delicious food. Garlic noodles will blow your mind. Boa buns are fire. Can't go wrong. read more

Never disappoints and a favorite of my family's! We will be frequenting this place as often as possible!