I've had this restaurant bookmarked in Yelp for the longest and finally got to try them out for the…read morefirst time! Arrived on a Friday night around 5:30 PM and there was already a pretty decent line waiting to be seated. The interior dining area is fairly small, seating about 20 people total. We waited about 20 minutes for a party of three so not bad at all. The service was great, and the staff was super friendly and attentive. The interior dining area was a bit loud which was expected with how many folks were sitting in there eating and talking in addition to the music above, but it's manageable and nothing super overwhelming. Their menu is simple, but at the same time you have plenty of options. The go to order is obviously the Katsu combinations, which comes alongside a cabbage salad, miso soup, white rice, pickled daikon, and jalapeños, and don't forget their addictive katsu sauce. We tried their Hako Katsu, Hamburg Katsu, Cheese Katsu, potato croquettes, takoyaki, and shrimp tempura. Everything was well executed simple yet with a depth of flavor. Check out my photos for these items! We will absolutely be back and so glad that we finally tried this little hidden gem of a Katsu shop!

Hako is a local favorite in the OC, gaining viral popularity for serving up Japanese classics…read more After seeing the hype surrounding this spot, we finally decided to give it a try. Our order arrived quickly and was neatly packaged in a beautiful bento-style box, making for a great first impression. **Curry Tonkatsu: 5/5** The tonkatsu was the highlight, with golden, crispy breading and a pronounced crunch in every bite. The curry had a bold, deeply savory taste that complemented the cutlet exceptionally well. Steamed rice cut through the richness, while the crunchy cabbage salad provided a light, refreshing contrast. A side of pickled radish and jalapeños added a bright acidity, with the creamy, tangy katsu sauce pairing perfectly with the fried cutlet. Portion sizes were impressively generous, leaving plenty to enjoy later. We also upgraded to a combo with a California roll and gyoza, though both sides were fairly unremarkable by comparison. **Tanuki Udon: 5/5** Simple yet incredibly comforting, the tanuki udon featured a warm broth with a delicate sweetness and plenty of umami depth. The noodles were thick, chewy, and bouncy, making them especially satisfying to eat. An assortment of toppings further elevated the dish, layering in complex flavors and contrasting textures. Overall, Hako absolutely delivered with its delicious, well-executed dishes and is a must-try for anyone craving a hearty Japanese meal.

This is a great place to eat once, the umami flavor hits great. But after a bit it's gets old…read more Service is fast and setting is calming.

The food was phenomenal! The staff were incredibly pleasant and helpful. Loved that atmosphere…read more Can't wait to come back.

Menya Hanabi did not disappoint I got the mazesoba and it was SO flavorful. The noodles had the…read moreperfect chewy texture, and all the toppings came together really well. I loved the savory, garlicky flavor and how everything mixed together with the sauce. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving something rich, comforting, and different from your typical ramen. 10/10 would recommend!

The Original Spicy at Menya Hanabi was really good. The noodles had a great texture, the sauce was…read moreflavorful, and the spice level was balanced without being overwhelming. Mixing everything together made each bite better. The portion was filling, and the ingredients tasted fresh. I'd definitely order it again.

I've been going to this place for over a decade now (wild to think about!). Seen it go through…read moredifferent ownership and a renovation. It is definitely much busier now because of the AYCE menu. Definitely get on the waitlist when you arrive. Past few times we have been it gets busy during the lunch hours, and thus service is a bit slower. Nice seating inside with booths. Menu QR code will show you some pictures of what you want to order. We have been going down here for a while, so we have our favorites. The appetizers here are surprisingly very good! Garlic edamame and sesame chicken are our favs. I even have a soft spot for the house salad because the dressing is just yum. I rarely order salmon nigri, but for some reason this place is pretty good! The pieces I receive are always nicely portioned and soft. We never bother with the other rolls anymore because we know our favorite is the VEGAS ROLL! It's been my favorite roll since I started coming here. Literally no other sushi or Japanese restaurant has this combination of ingredients. Crunch from unagi, spicy tuna on a CA roll with eel sauce and spicy sauce. *chefs kiss* Lots of textures, flavors, sweet, salty, spicy. Just come in with a purpose. We noticed that other tables tend to a bit longer because they were never ready when the server came by.

I've been here multiple times and have always liked the food and service but on my most recent…read morevisit, another customer became confrontational while I was using the waitlist tablet at the check-in counter. He repeatedly pressured me to move out of the way, even after I told him I'd only be a second. I eventually stepped aside because he would not stop. After that, he followed me outside and continued confronting and insulting me. The host was present while this was happening at the counter, and I would have appreciated them addressing his behavior before it escalated.

Ordered online…read more Cucumber rolls came in looking like a roadkill nothing like the ones on the menu , but they tasted good.

Was satisfied with our dinner meal and orders. Thought everything was fairly priced for the portion…read moresize. Quality of meat for the sesame chicken - (not really juicy) and sukiyaki beef - was okay (beef slices over cooked) but the flavor for the sukiyaki was tastyyyyy i really liked the sweet/umami broth. Beef Kushiyaki - was good but would have been even better if the meat was marinated longer- good glaze outside but didn't really taste it throughout the piece. For the price, i'd get the kushiyaki again i think it was cooked well and it comes with a yummy onion and mushroom on the skewer. I would come back I like how cozy and comforting it feels. Nothing super special though, next time will try sushi/sashimi and bento with tempura.

Great and fresh food, fair price, beef was tasty and Hatch was super helpful!!!! Definitely worth a…read moretry

Food is great beef shabu, Dimsum , dessert variety favor and Best service by the guy (Hatch)read more

Favorite chicken ramen in the area - i haven't found any other ramen place with chicken ramen that…read morecomes with chicken breast this good in OC! I love the chicken paitan DX as it comes with a grilled chicken leg which is also tasty, and it's a really good deal. Just gotta make sure to get there either for lunch or really early for dinner, as they tend to run out of the chicken legs by dinner time, especially on the weekend. The gyoza here is also decent. The only down side I have is that their bowls are good but not great. The servers here are usually pretty attentive and nice. Haven't had a bad experience so far (:

Good ramen. Especially if your on a quick lunch and need fast service and piping hot food…read more Enjoyed the tantan ramen, which is chicken based (not pork) and slightly salty. Dish is spicy by default, but honestly its pretty tame in terms of heat. Inside is colorful, clean, and air conditioned. Parking can be hectic on weekday lunch hour. Do expect to circle a bit. Servers are friendly and attentive.

If I had to describe Gurume Sushi in one word, I'd say "underrated"!…read more It's located in a prime plaza that gets quite a lot of foot traffic and the restaurant has appealing exterior + interior decor. Despite all this, the place is half empty on a Sunday evening! It definitely deserves more, but until more people discover it, I'll happily enjoy the low-stress, no waitlist seating. The restaurant has a good assortment of items: nigiri, appetizers, bowls, soups, but the main thing I want to highlight are their specialty sushi rolls! Admittedly they are priced quite high, averaging in the low $20s, but it certainly meets its price in quality. We haven't tried them all yet, but the top 2 highlights are most definitely the OMG roll and the Hokkaido Gurume roll. Both of these are magical flavor bombs - ORDER THEM. Good sushi, no wait times, and Omomo boba right next door - what's not to like?

Came here on a Saturday for late lunch. We were seated straight away…read more We ordered an assortment of dishes and loved the food. It was fresh and crisp. The only dish I personally didn't love was the soft shell crab. It was made well but lacked flavor without the sauce. Service was great and quick.

Affordable, delicious, great service!…read more The cons are the wait times and packed parking but you can always add yourself to the waitress online and arrive happy instead of hangry. The fish is fresh and tasty and the service is swift and comes with a smile.

Rol Handroll Bar in Irvine has become a regular stop for my wife and me -- we've been back a couple…read moreof times, and it keeps earning the return trips. The ambiance is intimate by design: the bar seats only 20-30 people, wrapped tightly around the sushi counter. It's not the spot for a date night or a family outing, but for a quick lunch with one or two people, it's ideal. Service is speedy and consistently kind, which matters given the counter's close quarters -- everything moves efficiently without ever feeling rushed. Drinks are what you'd expect from a sushi bar: a solid rotation of Japanese beers and sake. Nothing adventurous, but a good, reliable selection. The food is where Rol shines. My wife and I always order a variety of rolls -- this visit, she loved the blue crab and scallop, while I couldn't get enough of the spicy tuna. The wasabi sauce and truffle soy sauce elevated everything, and are reason enough to keep coming back on their own. I've also had the truffle nori roll twice now, and while it's genuinely very good, I don't think it justifies the extra cost over the standard rolls -- the regular menu is strong enough that the upcharge doesn't feel necessary. Expect to spend around $50 per person for a satisfying lunch or dinner. All in, Rol Handroll Bar is a great go-to for an elevated casual, satisfying meal -- just don't expect it to double as a date-night destination. Ambiance: 3.5/5 Service: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Consistency: 5/5 --- Let me know if you want any tweaks.

Plenty of parking spaces. They have some indoor seating. They only do to-go, so once you order, you…read morecan sit down and eat inside the restaurant. I ordered Spicy Tuna Don, and it comes with a side salad, miso soup, spicy tuna, and a side of rice. The Spicy Tuna was super delicious with the rice. Recommendation(s): - Spicy Tuna Don Service: 4/5 Tip(s): - Only to-go, but you can sit down and eat after paying - Accepts Apple Pay - Plenty of parking spaces

So... I've traveled all over Japan and one of my favorite dishes on the planet is Katsudon. It's…read moreessentially fast food... healthy fast food in Japan, and you can find it everywhere there... EVERYWHERE! It's a katsu style pork cutlet or chicken fillet over rice, served with an egg over top and simmered in a savory and sweet broth made from dashi, soy, and mirin. Will someone... ANYONE... tell me WHY... not a SINGLE Japanese restaurant in California can make it correctly? WHY? Fukada is yet ANOTHER place that does NOT know how to make it. ZERO broth! NO, NOPE!, NADA! That is NOT Katsudon!!! Without the broth, it is dry and difficult to eat. FAIL!