We went for dinner tonight. We got the Garlic noodles, bacon wrapped tomatoe/asparagus, meaty mixed plate, chicken meatballs, chicken lemon grass dumplings, an Old fashion and mango cart beer. It was all amazing. Our waiter Q was great and all the staff was super friendly, very helpful and attentive. Highly recommend coming here! Oh, I almost forgot...the homemade churro Bundt cake with whip and ice cream was to die for!!! read more

Best restaurant in Orange County. The flavor here is amazing. Can't recommend this enough. The garlic noodles w seafood and the eel skewer are must haves. 10/10 read more

Oak and Coal has climbed to my top 3 restaurants to eat at. The pork belly wrapped tomatoes with EXTRA MISO PASTE (love the stuff), grilled onions, fresh made dumplings, pork sausages, quail eggs, Golden Road Mango Wheat on draft and an Ozeki one cup gingo sake and I could die happy. I spend all my money here and I don't care at all. The owners and grill masters go above and beyond to make sure every skewer is cooked to perfection and make you feel like family every time. read more

Food is AMAZING! Service was great, everyone was so friendly and helpful. It was my first time dining here and during covid... still highly impressed. They have a cute little parking lot patio set up under a white/ clear open tent with AstroTurf on the ground. Makes for a fun outdoor ambience. I highly recommend this spot if your looking for something cute, especially during covid. read more

I love Oak & Coal! The seafood garlic noodles are a must. My husband and I fight over the lamb chops every time we're there.

I was skeptical at first of the authenticity of a Japanese yakitori restaurant named Oak and Coal, but wow, it did not disappoint! The food was great, and the ambience outdoors was very pleasant. What was exceptional was the attentiveness of the staff! No "That's not my table to service" kind of attitude. I think almost all the crew stopped by our table during our dinner except for the kitchen staff! When they found out it was my husband's birthday, they gave us a free dessert and Tanner sang for us. Special kudos to Hailey, Tanner and Nick. You were all so nice. You all deserve a raise! AND.. guess what? Free corkage if you bring a bottle purchased at Caps and Corks or Hi Time! I think I have been a Yelp member for about 7 years and this is only my third review, so you know I had to be very impressed to write this lengthy review! Date of visit: 8/7/21 read more

My son suggested we try Oak & Coal before a concert at UC Irvine. We enjoy small plates as we are able to try more dishes. That's exactly what Oak & Coal serves, Japanese small plates, what a treat! We had the garlic noodles (our fav), spicy wagyu buns, miso black cod (2nd fav), pork belly skewers, unagi on cripsy rice, and bacon wrapped asparagus (a bit salty with the miso). We enjoyed the food and the service. The servers were very friendly and welcoming. We would definitely go again when we are in the Costa Mesa area. read more

Thought this was delicious! Of you love small plate family style meals, every bite had a different flavor to offer. Happy hour made it even better. Would totally recommend it to anyone in the area! read more

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I was excited to try this place out after reading the reviews. We don't get out much for date nights during covid but were sorely disappointed. Service was decent hence the 3 stars. We've been to a lot of yakitoris/izakayas here and abroad, so we definitely have a point of reference. Ordered the meaty skewers combo, the shrimp skewers, seared hamachi, brussel sprouts, and udon to finish. Everything tasted off, there wasn't the familiar smokiness associated with binchontan charcoal, the udon broth was strangely sweet (?) and didn't have depth of flavor, everything else was just rather mediocre. Presentation was good, but the taste was just not there. About the only thing that was on point was the 18 year spirit that my husband ordered, that alone though will not be bringing us back read more

I came to this restaurant last week with my family and in addition to the great food, our server Steven was an absolute joy. We had never been in before and he made great recommendations for both drinks and food. It seemed he knew the menu inside and out! Our favorite was the wagyu donburi! Definitely will come back here, as the atmosphere, food, and service was impeccable. read more

The BF lives walking distance from here and he'd heard great things, so we decided to come on in for a date night. We were seated immediately (always a plus on a Friday night!) and were given some tips on what to order. We started with the cucumber salad, and kimchi dumplings. To order, we had chicken breast, chicken meatballs, pork belly, and short rib. The short rib is AMAZING!!! It came last and was by far my favorite thing we ordered. The servers are very attentive, and it already seems like they have a cult following. Tons of locals and regulars in the place. Loved it and will be back! read more

Waitlist is terrible. We had a minor and could not sit at the bar. When our party was called they couldn't sit us. We had to wait for more than an hour until we got a text back. read more

I'm such a fan of Oak & Coal. So much that we drive from Anaheim to Costa Mesa and I'm sure there are plenty of Yakitori joints in between. It's a small space so don't roll in with all the homies. But, it's kinda loud so probably not a great first date place. Try to sit at the bar if you can. The guys that work behind the bar are cool as hell and will chat with you when they can. I think that's one of the best things about this place. You can tell the employees love what they do. There's an enthusiasm and an energy that you feel as soon as you walk in. The food is legit. The short rib was cooked to perfection and had a bit of fat that contributed to the flavor. It melts in your mouth as soon as you bite it off the skewer. The chicken skin is my jam though. The grill it where it's still kinda chewy, but also crispy. Oh, and don't even get me started on the shishito peppers. My bf swears by them and won't order them anywhere else. They also have a pretty cool tap list and a selection of sake. This is definitely a regular spot for me. read more

This place is so, so cool. Absolutely outstanding food, delivered in smaller tapas-like portions. Great for sharing and sampling a bunch of stuff. It's just super expensive, really adds up. Sadly don't go often for that reason read more

The best!!!! Wow! We got a table in the speak easy side. Cool vibe. Service was great. Food out of this world! Wagu beef. House special Noodles. Ponzu NY Strip. Beef carpacchio. Love this little gem! read more

Yum! Great variety in their menu. Everything is small in portion so it's great to pick a few items to sample. We split 8 items and 3 beers between a man and a woman (lol). I recommend the cucumber salad ($5), the Yellowfin Tuna Yukee ($10) and Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl ($10). Sunday night happy hour 20% 5pm-11pm. They have beers, sake, cocktails and dessert. read more

Oak & Coal - L: Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl, R: Yellowfin Tuna Yukke ($10ea) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time here and let me tell you hands down amazing! My friend and I ordered the garlic noodles with shrimp and the salmon crudo and split both items. We both got drinks the Maui mai tai and the tequila feela. Again amazing! Staff was nice. Service was great. DELICIOUS! Will definitely be back! read more

We ate dinner here last night. Everything we ordered was delicious. My favorite were probably the brussel sprouts. The service was great too and all the servers constantly made sure we were okay. Definitely want to come back here again! read more

If you're in Costa Mesa this is the number one spot you have to hit! They upgraded their menu and I feel like it so much better now! Small plates, easy to share, amazing food! Everything is grilled yakitori style- They have fresh fish, poki, garlic noodles, and I highly recommend the wagu or lamb! read more

I honestly dont know where to start... Atmosphere was super nice and the staff was beyond accommodating they went over and above to provide good service. Unfortunately however the food was sub par. I myself usually frequent OC mainstays such as Anjin and Tsuruhashi so maybe my opinion is bias. The good here was absolutely not worth what they charge for it. The meat was not even cooked properly, lacked in flavor, and they were out of several cuts. Honestly if you want good japanese bbq and are willing to pay these prices you are so much betger off trying a more authentic establishment and really get your money worth. I dont usually leave reviews and the only reason I am now is to save other foodies from disappointment and wasting money. No knock on this restaurants attempt at yakitori because they gave it a good try, but fell so short of the mark its not even funny. Maybe if they stepped up their game with the food preparation it would be acceptable, but if you serve "charred brussels" and they come out raw then theres a serious issue. read more

This is my all-time favorite neighborhood restaurant. The garlic noodles with shrimp are hard not to order each time. The pork bao is awesome and the cocktails are great too. read more

Amazing food. Great find!!! Every small plate I tried was delicious. I would highly recommend this place

Okay, Christian kicked butt in serving us and his recommendations. We had 0 clue what to do but he guided us through and gave us bomb recommendations. We tried so many plates and were afraid of what the bill would be.... COMPLETELY reasonable... my friend and I said "damn... maybe we should have tried more".... lol just give it a shot read more

Went not to long ago for Valentine's Day, food was pretty good service was pretty bad not only did the person who sat us down just stood in the middle of me and my partner while I was pulling the chair for them he stood in the middle of us for about 10 awkward seconds then when we sat down he started to shake his head this really aggravated me but let it go because it was Valentine's Day waiter took our drinks then food, he was ok but needed to speak up. I couldn't hear him so I had to ask to repeat a couple of times he seemed annoyed but I didn't really give it much thought because again didn't want to ruin our dinner. food came out it was honestly really good then we did add ons and I asked for another lemonade it never came. even the food never came the waiter came to ask if everything was good and if we got everything I mis heard and said yes even though we hadn't gotten about 40$ worth of food this was honestly very unprofessional there was only 2 other people eating they shouldn't have to ask if 40$ worth of food was given already we tried to over look and did service was pretty dogshit to be honest food was great well half the things we ordered at least food took long too about 30 mins for 4 skewers and 40 mins for a beef bowl maybe get new people specially that one guy with ear gauges for the seating problem maybe. he was also annoyed when we sat down at a table we wanted, when he literally said sit down wherever and made a face and shook his head I'm just still a little annoyed lol but if things were fine tuned it would be a much better experience read more

Only reason it wasn't a 5 was because getting on the waitlist and getting a table we had some trouble, but once we were in it was great! Had the salmon crudo, pork buns, chicken scallion skewers and Brussel sprouts. It was plenty of food for two and we got some cocktails which were great. Food came out fast and service was great. The food was really fantastic we will definitely be bringing friends back! read more

Was disappointed with our meal here. Some of traditional yakitori meats, like the filet mignon and pork belly, were fine, but not amazing. However, the more exotic yakitori meats, like the chicken gizzard and heart, were not fresh. The chicken thigh tasted a little off as well. I was excited about a yakitori place near home, but would not return for another meal. read more

Lovely place with perfect costumer service and the most important delicious food Everything was perfect I really recommend this place read more

This place is yakitori at its simplest and finest form. I went here with a few friends and was lucky enough to try almost everything on the menu. Their pork sausages was definitely a favorite of mine and a lot of people complain about their portion, but to be honest I value quality over quantity any day. Their jumbo shrimp and fish yakitori is also amazing and fresh. As for service even though it was a busy Friday night when we came in they were quick on refilling my water and asking if we needed anything else. Overall this isn't your typical Japanese yakitori joint, but if you want to venture out and try some modern yet good quality yakitori this is the place to check out! read more

Oak & Coal - Seabass, scallops, quail eggs, and beef tongue! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Yeah, I mean.. it was good. The food overall was high quality, the sauces were very diverse and in fact, a little bit DOES go a long way. The service was great, everyone was super nice. Had a cocktail while we waited to be seated. The only thing I will say is.. they are absolutely small plates as implied so if you're really hungry - this ain't it. read more

Tried this out about 2months ago, and for some reason, never finished the review. Overall, this place is reminiscent of small yakitori places you might find in Piss Alley Tokyo, but cleaner. The dining area was comfortably small. The service was great but the pacing of the food was a bit slow despite that there were only 3 other parties there at the time. I was hoping to finally find a go-to yakitori restaurant. But was deeply disappointed, like how my parents feel about their second born. The shrimp was fresh but not deveined and that gritty texture is just unappetizing. The beef skewers were completely cold in the center and had to be sent back, perhaps they freeze their meats? pork belly -- unmemorable. Chicken wings were the best dish, great seasoning and very tasty-- though, in my opinion, not $4 a wing tasty. Perhaps their Costa Mesa location justifies the high cost. But until they can justify the death of these free range, hormone free, organic meats with the proper preparation, this was just a very expensive experiment. read more

Innovative Japanese food that is more than just a sushi spot. Very tasty and modern, but not worth that five star rating.

This is a quaint new little place with only a few seats, I'd recommend calling ahead. It's all tapas/skewer style. Tonight they just launched their new ramen dish, very good. Added a little of the green hot sauce for some kick. Let me just say all of the beef skewers we fabulous! Cooked perfectly and good flavor. The scallops and swordfish were both good also. The only disappointment of the night was the pork belly. It was way over cooked, instead of a crispy outside and tender in, it was tough. Overall, I can't wait to go back! read more

The food here was absolutely amazing! We went at happy hour which I 100% recommend. We tried almost all of their skewers and I think there was only 1 we did not like. The eel and waygu skewers we're the best. I will absolutely be coming here again. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because it is a bit pricey if you don't go for happy hour. read more

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What's up with all the negative reviews? Came here last with my boyfriend, Billy, and it was excellent. I've been looking for a decent Yakitori place ever since moving from LA and I'm happy to have found my new spot. Let's break it down, shall we? First and foremost, yakitori is Japanese cuisine that is primarily entirely skewers, delectable, simply seasoned, and tasty with some beer and sake to wash it down. There's not a lot of fuss when it comes to skewers; it shines in its simplicity. That said, the skewers here were delicious. They were seasoned perfectly and I loved that each table setting came with soy sauce and three different dipping sauces/mixtures to get the seasoning right according to your palate. Some favorites: Kurobota sausage, Okra, Tongue, Beef, Cartilage, Heart and the Prime Filet. Also, LOVED the Japanese spices and furikake on the side -- such a nice touch and speaks right to my heart. It elevated the taste of the skewers even more! Service was wonderful. They checked in with us often and even offered to reheat our skewers once they got cold. Jeff was incredibly warm, humble, and welcoming. Jeff, if you're reading this, it was very nice meeting you last night. Atmosphere was warm and cozy. And the decor? Beautiful. I loved the modern vibe with the huge mural, and Japanese contemporary art all around. Bathrooms were clean too! I could stay here for hours, chatting, sipping on that amazing sake and enjoying that wonderful Yakitori. Will be back. read more

These guys are on the right track. I love the vibe. Great, friendly service. They are using quality ingredients. Nice small beer selection. 1) Chicken wing meat is sort of tasteless. Needs to be brined. 2) Chicken meatballs had great char. Maybe need a bit more salt. 3) Sausages were great. 4) Liver was overdone and dry and maybe cooked on too low a heat. 5) Chicken thigh was good. 6) Loved the cucumber salad. With a bit more attention to seasoning, this place could be a great (and more central) place to get Yakitori for Central OC residents. read more

Came early for lunch and enjoyed a lightly breaded Chicken Kaarage which was really good, and also the miso soup was so tasty, when at most places it's just a glorified hot water with some broth. Service was equally engaging and refreshing, with nice explanations as to how they do things with their own personal touch. read more

Menu is pretty limited compared to other yakitori places and prices are steeper... My bf and I met some friends here and between us 2, we spent nearly $70 for a few skewers and a beer. We were still hungry after, but nothing was amazing enough to justify ordering more. Chicken wing ($4) - 2 chicken wings per skewer, seasoned with salt and pepper. these were a little too burnt for my taste; i'm okay with a little char, but this was a bit much. Wings were juicy, but nothing extraordinary. Spicy Chicken wing ($5) - 2 chicken wings, didn't taste spicy and we couldn't tell it apart from the regular wings; also a bit on the -too charred- side. Pork belly ($4) - fatty, juicy, delicious pork belly goodness. you can never go wrong with pork belly at yakitori places. kurobuta sausage ($3.5) - tastes like hot dogs. kobe short rib ($7) - the favorite of the night! tender, juicy, melt in your mouth goodness...but at $7 a skewer, I'd rather go to Anjin. prime rib eye ($7) - good, but not as good as the short rib. I LOVE that they have furikake at the tables for you to season your stuff with --- i dumped this all over my rice, love the flavor it adds. Service was stellar, and location was this random little plaza you could easily miss. Bottom line: Food is decent, but not worth the price tag. There are definitely better yakitori places in the area. read more

***Please read the owners very professional(sarcasm) response to my review*** Not sure why the reviews are so high for this place but this is NOT a 4+ star restaurant. My biggest gripe was that the portions are very small and completely overpriced. Just to give a few examples, its $2 for each flat part of the wing, $7 for 1 jumbo shrimp, and $3.50 dollars for what tasted like 3 oscar meyer weenies. All the grilled stuff we got -tomatos/porkbelly, asparagus/porkbelly, wings, sausages, ribeye, shrimp were grilled in the most elementary way you can imagine, nothing special about the taste whatsoever. I will never come back to this place, it sucks. The staff is very polite tho, that's the only positive i can think of. read more

Christian and Team are excellent hosts and they are serving up some unique food combos. The tap beer selection is great as are the sake choices and all at very reasonable prices. I would suggest a sweater if sitting at the counter as they generally have the AC cranking to compensate for the grills. read more

This place is awesome. First time here and guy was great about explaining everything and making recommendations. Cool vibe with sushi bar style seating plus big community table seating. Ordered a couple of rounds and the second one they even brought something out and one of the guys didn't think it was up to par and said we could keep that one and he'd bring out another. The second looked better, not that the first was horrible, but appreciate the attention to detail. Definitely recommend and will be back. read more