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    Robata Wasa

    3.7 (882 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Robata Wasa Reservations

    Order Robata Wasa Takeout or Delivery

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    ROBATA WASA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Robata Wasa

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    Crab handroll
    Shawn S.

    Superb Japanese restaurant that is set in a modern, elevated dining space. The quality of the food is great and very delicious. They have a large menu filled with classic sushi, sashimi, rolls, and other entrees. The staff are very friendly and helpful. This was the first time I have ever seen double sided chopsticks, which were very interesting and helpful.

    Volcano roll

    Tiff is such a great server. It was our first time there and she gave us amazing service. Thank you so much!

    indoor seating
    Viv N.

    A hidden gem inside Irvine Spectrum for affordable yet upscale Japanese cuisine! Everything was super fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Among the appetizers & entrees, the real standouts were the salmon skin taco and the mentaiko & shrimp pasta. The taco was crispy, savory, and so addictive -- the guac inside added a nice kick. The pasta was rich, creamy, comforting, & not too heavy. With its modern low-lit ambiance, Robata Wasa is the perfect spot for date night or dinner with friends!

    sushi gozen bento
    Winny K.

    Still a solid spot! Crispy Tuna Rice is a crowd pleaser and I feel like I could just eat order after order of this. The texture of the rice is crispy, crunchy, delightful and packed with flavor. Definitely a crowd pleaser of an appetizer! The RW Sushi Platter has nice presentation, and provides a good variety of fish, so it's a nice way to sample Robata Wasa's nigiri offerings if you don't want to order a la carte. Tiff was our waitress and she was very helpful, friendly, and took great care of our table. Ambiance is casual enough for every day, but still feels upscale and a nice place to celebrate special occasions too. We had two birthdays in our group and Tiff made it special with some mochi desserts! Thank you!

    Deluxe Chirashi Don
    Daniel C.

    Good spot for a quick bite. Service was friendly and helpful. Michael gave excellent recommendations and I enjoyed everything we ordered. Scallop crudo - refreshing and nice touch of citrus Albacore tataki - delicious. The crispy onions added a nice texture and sweetness to balance the sauce Chirashi bowl- great deal for the price. The sashimi was fresh and huge portions. Consisted of tuna, salmon, snapper, yellowtail, octopus, ikura, and uni Crispy lobster roll - lightly tempura lobster on top of California roll and tempura flakes

    Nico F.

    Sat at the bar and Michael took great care of us. He was friendly and easy to talk to and gave a solid recommendation on a roll that we really enjoyed. He also made an espresso martini that he created and put on the menu himself, made with cold brew. We're big espresso martini people and this one easily topped our list. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable and made it easy to settle in and enjoy the night. Service was steady the whole time and never felt rushed. Overall a really good experience at the bar and we'd definitely sit there again.

    Mentaiko & Shrimp Pasta
    Kyna S.

    The food here was amazing -- full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Shareable: Albacore Tataki with cilantro sauce (chef's choice) -- fresh, tender, and a must-try. Special Rolls: Hokkaido Roll (chef's choice) -- if you like shrimp and eel, this one's rich, savory, and delicious. Entrée: Mentaiko & Shrimp Pasta -- creamy, flavorful sauce with juicy shrimp. I really liked the twist of squid ink -- it added depth and a subtle brininess that made it stand out. Service: 5/5 -- friendly and attentive. Ambience: 5/5 -- interesting and inviting interior.

    Ruby M.

    This place had some good specialty rolls, I ordered their salmon lemon pepper roll which was so delicious; I did not realize it was gone so fast! We got a big bento box for the table and I was surprised to see how big it was. This is a perfect place to have a family lunch or dinner, and excellent service!

    Natasha N.

    Super overpriced sushi. I honestly do not have a favorite here. I am also not a huge fan of the ambiance. It's not very welcoming and definitely felt out of place. I did like our server though. Attentive and considerate when needed. The restaurant is also on the smaller side. There are other places that have great quality sushi and the price point is great. It's all up to you if you don't mind spending and just want to try for yourself. As Always, NOM 4 LIFE!

    Shareable: Japanese Scallop Crudo
    Jennifer L.

    Haiku: Robata Wasa Fancy sushi spot Generous appetizers Clean and peaceful vibes. --- If you enjoy Japanese food, there's something for everyone--nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, salads, udon, pasta, grilled fish, and chirashi rice bowls. The salad and appetizers are generous in portion and shareable. We ordered a bunch of dishes and did family style. - The Shiitake Mushroom Salad had a great balance of umami and creaminess. It was still light, yet satisfying. If you're a fan of shiitake and miso, this salad is for you. - The Shiitake Truffle Fries are a seasonal item and it should be on their regular menu. It's all sliced tempura-battered shiitake, not potato fries. It was crispy and savory. - I never say no to a Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice. It was perfectly crispy and loaded with spicy tuna, and fancified with tobiko (fish eggs). - I still think about the Japanese Scallop Crudo. It was a thick scallop with a great bite. The lemon, cucumber and sweet salsa brought brightness, crunch, and zest. The food leans more Californian Japanese, but you'll also find the classic comfort foods. Nonetheless, it was delicious and refreshing. The restaurant exudes clean, upscale, and peaceful vibes. Service was sweet and attentive. I would come back, but the dishes are on the pricier side, so it's more of a special occasion type of spot.

    These rolls showed up like the main characters. Zero side-character energy here...
    Joey T.

    Pulled up craving sushi and this place did not disappoint. The sashimi was super fresh.. buttery salmon, clean tuna, no fishy vibes at all. The rolls were stacked and plated like they're auditioning for a magazine cover Flavor-wise they lean rich and saucy, so if you're into bold rolls vs super traditional, you'll be happy here. Service was friendly, chill atmosphere, and everything came out fast. Solid spot for a sushi night when you want something a little fun and dressed-up without going full fine-dining mode. Would definitely come back.

    Sushi Gozen
    Ria A.

    Food - 1.5/5 Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 3/5 I understand the low reviews on this place now. My coworker got the Deluxe Bento and said it was decent with some things good like the teriyaki chicken and other items meh like the croquette. I got the Sushi Gozen Bento and found all the fish except the salmon slightly fishy or tough. The shrimp sashimi piece still had shell and tail on it which was annoying. The ambiance was fine but for a higher end restaurant I think I would have expected the bathroom to be nicer. The outdoor seating area was really pleasant. I do want to say our server Parker was good though! Unfortunately I would not come back here because I'd rather leave Spectrum and find actually quality sushi.

    The awesome Hokkaido scallop roll
    Pearl T.

    New favorite sushi place. The Hokkaido scallop roll is the main reason. The other rolls we tried were also really tasty... especially the seared salmon lemon pepper.

    Volcano Roll

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    Our server Tiff was super nice and helpful about the menu! She made great food suggestions and was attentive throughout the meal

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    Tomoko was our server and she was the best! Very friendly and took care of us well. The food was great and everything was fresh

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    Page 2 of 23

    Robata Wasa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Robata Wasa

    How can we make a reservation, don't see an option online?

    Do I need to make a reservation for lunch?

    It couldn't hurt because the Spectrum does get busy. Staff is also a little snobby so if you are coming in with a big party I would recommend you do. You might get better service that way.

    Will you be open during christmas?

    Robata Wasa is not open on Christmas Day.

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes, there are gluten free options. Please ask a staff member for details.

    Is the beef halal?

    The beef is not halal

    Reservations only? Or can reservations be made?

    Reservations can be made by calling in.

    Is there a cake cutting fee, for birthday cakes brought in for a party?

    There is no fee for birthday cake cutting.

    Is there corkage fee for wine and how much?

    $15 per bottle

    Is the vegetable ramen vegetarian-friendly?

    Yes

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    According to one of the reviews on here no

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes they have it now. Happy hour started on March 4th 2019. From 3:00-5:30pm.

    View All 12 Questions

    You might also consider

    Takumi Sushi

    Takumi Sushi

    4.6(581 reviews)
    10.1 mi
    $$

    i came here on a sunday afternoon for a lunch date, and everything we had was super yummy and…read morefresh! there was about a 30 minute wait, which wasn't so bad for how crowded it seemed inside, and the service was super efficient and tentative. food: - eel, sweet shrimp, madai, & seared salmon nigiri: these were all really good, and you could taste the freshness in each slice of fish! i also appreciated how the rice ball was small hahaha. i was craving eel and really loved the eel they had, which was soft and had a savory and sweet sauce on top. - bluefin tuna & salmon sashimi: these carpaccio dishes were sooo yummy! the fish was soft, and the sauce that came with it had a nice tanginess that didn't overpower the fish. definitely my favorite bite of the meal! - spicy scallop hand roll: pretty standard handroll, and nothing special but still tasty! the scallop wasn't spicy but i never really expect sushi to really be spicy LOL - spicy tuna crispy rice: these were MASSIVE. we underestimated how much rice and tuna would come with each one, so we mistakenly ordered two orders (4 total) LOL ... good but can get heavy quickly. - baked salmon roll: pretty good, and the fish wasn't dry from being baked! this was a nice contrast from the raw fish that we ordered overall, i really liked takumi sushi! it's nice eating at a non-AYCE sushi place every now and then to taste the quality in each slice. it looks unassuming from the outside, but the inside is very cozy and great for a date spot!

    The restaurant is located in a typical strip mall tucked away from the main plaza entrance. The…read moreinterior is decorated very well that sets the mood and vibe of being in a local sushi joint in Osaka. For a Sunday dinner, the place was certainly packed. I would definitely recommend putting your name on the Yelp waitlist before arriving to reduce the wait time. By doing that, we were promptly seated right after checking in with the hostess. Even though if you are seated at the bar, you won't interact with the chefs as they only process the order through the servers. So I would recommend to forego the sushi bar and get seated at the table which is more comfortable. As for the food, the place offered the usual fare and your typical nigiri and rolls. The fish was ok, with nothing to really wow you. The uni (sea urchin) nigiri is a little dated and was not that fresh. If your preferences are rolls instead of nigiri, then there are quite more selection with the majority of the rolls are the typical california rolls, topped with various types of fish, shrimp, crawfish, etc. and an abundance of mayo sauce. Overall, I would say it's a decent place for a regular night out for sushi, but nothing to really wow you. One note... I did not realize the server accidentally overcharged the dinner bill until I went home and took a look of the receipt. I did call the following day to inform them, and the manager, Daniel, was happy to adjust the bill to the correct amount, and in addition, gave me a $20 gift card for the inconvenience. That is top-notch customer service.

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    Takumi Sushi
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    Tomikawa Japanese Restaurant

    Tomikawa Japanese Restaurant

    3.9(3k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$
    Minority-owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Food was amazing!!! The service was good but the food took a while to come out. The ambience is…read moregreat but it can get noisy. Overall I totally recommend the food taste amazing, the best sushi spot in OC.

    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.

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    Tomikawa Japanese Restaurant
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    Yuzu Japanese Sushi Bar

    Yuzu Japanese Sushi Bar

    4.5(770 reviews)
    10.3 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Gluten-free friendly

    Finally tried this place and everything was soooo good…read more Started with the Oyster Half Shell: super fresh, clean, and just melted in my mouth. The Crispy Rice with spicy tuna was definitely a favorite. The rice was perfectly crunchy, the spicy tuna was packed with flavor. Next was the Mad Man roll, which has filet mignon on top. The filet was tender, flavorful, and paired surprisingly well with the sushi. But the highlight for me was the Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. The miso glaze added the perfect amount of sweetness and umami without overpowering the fish. Also, shoutout to our server! I feel bad because I forgot her name, but she was incredibly sweet, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. She checked in at all the right times and was just genuinely warm and welcoming.

    May 2026 and I'm honestly shocked at how much the food quality has gone downhill. The miso soup was…read morecompletely flavorless, and the fish honestly looked questionable, almost like food coloring was used just to make it appear fresh. For $160 for just a few rolls (no appetizers, no drinks, no dessert), the value simply is not there. The only redeeming quality was the staff. They were genuinely very kind, attentive, and helpful. Unfortunately, good service alone can't justify the quality or price. I won't be returning. I'd rather spend my money at places like Pacific Catch in Tustin or restaurants that prioritize and certify the quality of their seafood. As consumers, we have to support places that deliver real value.

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    Yuzu Japanese Sushi Bar
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    Hako - Fish Katsu

    Hako

    4.5(2k reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Nothing but great things to say about this place, quality of food, and service! It gets quite busy…read moreso make sure to have a resie, show up early to get in the waitlist, or be prepared to order to go. Cheese tonkatsu - fried but airy, not too greasy, cheese compliments the pork loin without being to overpowering, pork loin was juicy, sesame sauce was delicious, cabbage salad had ample yet flavorful dressing, miso soup and rice were great pairings aging with the pickled veggies. I would get this again and again

    Begrudgingly giving 3 stars…read more I came here on a weekday for lunch at 1pm. The place was packed, but luckily, one table was available. It's a small place and the tables are crammed together; you practically touch elbows with whoever is sitting at the table next to you. I ordered the Hako Tonkatsu. The amount of food is a great deal for the price. Along with a large serving of tonkatsu (pork katsu), you get miso soup, rice, salad, and banchan (some sort of radish and jalapeños). The quality of the pork was superb and the crunch of the panko was right on point. I've had many, many plates of tonkatsu over the years, both here in the U.S. and Japan, and this rates highly, made perfectly. I'm not usually a huge fan of miso soup but this one was really good; I loved it. The rice was excellent and the salad was standard but bright & fresh. As a sauce guy, the importance of a good katsu sauce is imperative in making a tonkatsu meal perfect. When I tried the sauce served with this meal I thought - they've got to be kidding. It tasted like a version of Thousand Island dressing. I looked at other tables (2 inches away) who had the same meal and they were dipping into the same container so it was no mistake. Apparently, this is their version of katsu sauce and it was nothing like any katsu sauce I've had in my life. This was an embarrassment to the world of katsu sauce. It disappointed me and honestly destroyed the entire tonkatsu experience. I guess the five-star reviewers like this sauce but just don't know what proper katsu sauce is. I don't want to be a crybaby and give too low a rating as everything else was exceptional, but I'd never ever go back here nor recommend it. Would easily been 5 stars if they had any clue.

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    Hako - Seating

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    Rainbow Roll

    Robata Wasa - sushi - Updated June 2026

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