I used to come to Taiko for decades, not anymore. Sushi used to be excellent, but now seem to be not as good; i was wondering .. Are they made by sushi chefs and fresh? Other items are worse than before, only sesame chicken is the same quality and good. Prices are expensive, well everything id now expensive, but quality should be better or at least the same. read more

After my last review, the Business Manager reached out to me. The kitchen does need more training. I appreciated him responding. It tells me he cares about the customers and their experiences at the restaurant. Because of this, I will frequent Taiko again and look forward to my next visit. read more

So happy to be back here and eat inside. Definitely miss the huge portion they give, much better than ordering takeout. My family ordered some sushi, 3 dinner combi and one udon. One down thing is the sesame chicken is burnt outside, can tell that they DON'T change their oil multiple times a times a day. Note: the front of the stor is for togo only. You have to go to the back in Ofer the be seated inside. read more

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Taiko is consistently fantastic quality and I love the sushi so much. the service is great. Also everyone is always pleasant to deal with ambience is nothing fancy but relaxed and clean. Thank you for consistently great service. read more

Food quality has been declining in the past 12 months. Today we have ordered a bento with chicken and salmon. It costs $25 through uber eats. The fish is dry and no taste. The chicken has not been marinated before grilled, tasted plain. Comparing to the food a couple years ago, I will give Taiko one star (used to be a five star restaurant). Sam read more

A family favorite restaurant. I have been visiting this gem of a Japanese restaurant since I was a child. While growing up, this has been the site where many of my childhood memories were formed--birthdays to momentous events. The food has remained delicious and fresh throughout the years I have been coming here. My favorite is the combi plate with sesame chicken, mixed tempera, and teriyaki chicken. The portions are very generous. Typically, I am able to make a couple meals from one plate. My tip for warming up the chicken is to do it on a frying pan; no oil is needed. It tastes so good! As for the staff and the restaurant, the people are super friendly and the establishment is super clean. Now with COVID, I have doing takeout and the food remains super delicious. I especially appreciate the measures they have taken as it relates to COVID. read more

Taiko - Open for business - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

It's been 10 years since I did my last review of this restaurant so I thought I would update it again. This restaurant used to be my go to sushi spot for over 20 years. Ever since this restaurant was sold to the new owners it's just not the same anymore. They never reopened the sushi bar which is already a disappointment. Some items I used to order such as the seafood salad is no longer available. read more

This has to be one of the best sushi places in Orange County. My reservation was at 11:30 am and I showed up at 11 and there were about 30 people ahead of me. Wow this place is crazy busy make sure you get here really early. The food was so fresh, the service was so great. read more

this is the first time i've gone to taiko in almost six years and it was amazing! we ordered the agedashi tofu, veggie tempura, seared salmon sushi with yuzu sauce, and the chirashi bowl :0 EVERYONE needs to try their yuzu roll, it's one of the best rolls i've ever had and the flavor combination is amazing!! the chirashi bowl was also super great value for the amount and the agedashi tofu was yummy too :-) service was super polite and attentive, and the restaurant is peaceful and has a lot of space. not too crowded and not too many long lines for some of the best value for price sushi in irvine. their other non sushi food is amazing too, this is a japanese food staple in irvine :-) read more

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Very disappointed! I've been coming to Taiko since the mid-80's. Things have gone down hill significantly. The Taiko of today is just a faint shadow of its former self from the earlier days. No more sushi bar. The forner sushi bar is now a messy disorganized (may be even unhygenic) food prep place with stuff strewn every which way. Service is abhorrant. Waiter took our order, dropped off the food, and never came back except to ask for payment. No refills on tea either. Menu has changed to just another run-of-the-mill Japanese food place with over-inflated prices and under-inflated portions. Food quality, especially sushi and sashimi, has dropped several notches. No more good quality fish. Sashimi tuna is not supposed to smell fishy! Gone are the days when Taiko was known for good sushi, clean dining area, and good service. Time to look for a real Japanese restaurant that knows what good quality fish really means. read more

Ordered to go from this place and was pleasantly surprised. The sushi tasted great and was able to be picked up in a pretty decent time! There was a line to pick up, but that's understandable due to these Covid times. I will probably order again from this place, but I hope next time the sushi doesn't fall apart... the rolls weren't wrapped as tight as they could have been. They fell apart as soon as they were picked up with chopsticks. read more

First of all, I love Taiko. Great food and service. Always. I am a very frequent visitor. And yes I intend to come back. But today's visit was just handled wrong by the hostess that I felt compelled to write a review. This review is regarding their Yelp waitlist and seating policies only. Taiko always has a long line. So we've always put our name on the waitlist and show up at the restaurant when our name is nearing the top of the list. We diligently wait in line. Never had a problem with this! There was usually a gentleman host that we dealt with. He was fair and seated people in order. Always!! Today however we were greeted by a different female hostess that I've never dealt with. I wish I got her name. Anyways, we put our name on the Yelp waitlist and then went to the restaurant. I was surprised that, although we were first in the Yelp waitlist, the first available table was given to another party because they physically arrived at the restaurant before us EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER PARTY WAS NOT ON THE LONG YELP WAIT LIST AT ALL. Excuse me? Why have a waitlist if you're not going to honor it? The hostess explained to me that the other party showed up at the restaurant before us and therefore should be seated before us. I told her we didn't come to the restaurant until our name was closer to the top of the Yelp waitlist because we didn't want to just sit there and have nothing to do. She said they seat according to who shows up first, not the Yelp waitlist. Ok... what's the point of having a waitlist then?! We had to then wait another 20+ minutes to be seated. Pretty aggravating if you ask me. I understand why, as a business, you want to seat people who are waiting and not count on people on a waitlist who may or may not show up. I get it. But when you have two families waiting outside your restaurant and one followed the rules and is on the waitlist and has been waiting, and the other family just cut the line and showed up, I would think you'd want to reward the family that followed the rules? Why post signs up at your restaurant encouraging people to join the Yelp waitlist if you're not going to honor the list? That's a recipe for angry customers. So... pro tip! If you want to eat here, just show up! That's how you can skip the line and the very long Yelp waitlist. As long as you're there first, you'll be seated before the other people who were waiting longer than you, via the Yelp waitlist. read more

Sashimi is absolutely delicious!!! The staff is incredibly attentive and always super friendly. The ambiance is nice and warm, usually super busy at dinner time so make sure you join the waitlist! read more

I've been going to Taiko with my family for years, and it's probably one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the area. The service and food are both outstanding. Whenever we visited, my family would always get the Special #4, Seafood Salad, and the combo dishes (my favorite is the sesame chicken though all of the options are pretty good). I always found the portion size in-restaurant to be decent (and even the to-go portion pre-COVID). A week ago, we decided to order from here again since we had a Seamless gift card. The portion size seemed to be a bit smaller, and sadly, the Special #4 isn't offered on Seamless. We gave the Fish Misoyaki a try instead, and while the fish was delicious, it was a tiny square piece of fish that cost over $10. Other items we got were the Baked Scallops, the Pick 3 Combo (with Sesame Chicken, Tempura, and Salmon Teriyaki), and an additional side of Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura. The process of picking up the food was really easy and quick, though if I order again, I'll definitely opt to see if ordering directly might be better! read more

We've been coming to Taiko for over 20 years. The menu/food has been going downhill in the past few years. I waited for about 20 minutes after my family received their orders. I asked and was informed that my food was given to another table. I will not be going back to Taiko in the future. read more

My family has been eating at Taiko for over 30 years. My children, grandchildren and their friends now go there at least once a week after sporting events and for celebrations. Taiko always makes room for a big group. Their fish is always fresh any day of the week. Service is fantastic and fast. They've stayed consistent with flavors after all these years! I've had sushi all over the world even Japan and Taiko is still our favorite! some of our family favorites include: spicy tuna, California roll (real crab), calamari, sesame chicken Japanese family style at its best! read more

Wednesday night we finally visited this restaurant after quarantine. We ordered many dishes but they didn't have the giant clams, but only Uni. I don't know much about sashimi because of the smell of raw fish. However, I do really like their uni. It's very fatty and sweet, similar to crab meat. Their cut of sashimi is very thick. If you believe it's too pricy then don't come here because the quality is worth its price. My scallop didn't taste as fresh though because the texture is mushy and the taste was not as fresh. We ordered a lot of dishes so we got tired of the food. Don't forget to order sake with sashimi. Our dinner was relaxing. We will visit again but probably won't do so until a while because we were so full from that night. Thank read more

I was really looking forward to dining at Taiko when I was in Irvine a few months ago for a vacation. The restaurant was pretty packed. Judging from the reviews and the pictures, I was hoping this would be a great experience. I had ordered a sashimi plate which came with a side of rice and a bowl of miso soup. Everything had tasted great in the moment, but unfortunately the days following my experience here at Taiko were not good. I had horrible food poisoning that left my stomach so sensitive to everything I ate and drank. I'm not sure what went wrong but the raw fish I hate here was not good, and I was able to pin point this as the place that gave me really bad food poisoning. Everyone's body is different I guess, but my body did not take the food here well. read more

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This place used to be awesome. One of my favorite places. I believe the owners have changed and the quality has drastically gone down. The sushi was so awful that we had to spit out a few of the things and return a couple of others. I'm never going back again. What a shame read more

Came here in a Saturday around 1pm with a party of 5 and we got seated right away. Our server was quick to take our orders and the food came out within the next 5-10 mins. I ordered the combination A and everything tasted excellent! The tempura was cooked to perfection ! The chicken was the winner of the dish! How do they fry it and keep it moist, juicy, and tender?! The beef skewer tastes amazing. I loved the salad and their dressing! The bean with some kind of mayo was also delicious! The serving of this plate was ginormous that I took the rest In a to go box and it looked like a full order. The order also comes with unlimited rice and miso soup but no need since this dish fills you up. I recommend sharing if you don't eat that much. If you take a survey (use the QR reader app) that is advertised on the table, you get 10% off the next time you dine in with them. They also have stamp cards as well so I'm sure I will be coming back again. Service was excellent as well read more

I used to be a regular customer at the Taiko sushi bar for over 25 years. I joyfully waited in line with fellow sushi lovers to be the first seated. I knew every chef's names and they knew mine. All this is all gone, there are no more lines, no more sushi bar, no more skilled chefs and no more sense of community. The new owners have changed our beloved Taiko into just another mediocre japanese restaurant offering over the top cutrolls and overpriced bento boxes. I have so many happy memories of incredible sushi bar meals with family and friends here but sadly thats all I will ever have now, memories. read more

Anticipation for a tasty lunch was great after reading all these reviews and a favorable news article. My tempura and teriyaki salmon arrived beautifully arranged. My first bite was the narrow piece of salmon. It was well cooked but no teriyaki flavoring. Had to ask for a side of teriyaki sauce. Next I tasted the Tempura, perfectly cooked and yummy. Lastly I dove into the huge salad greens that filled half my plate. Oh no it had no salad dressing atop so I searched to discover a little mayonnaise scrapped on the bottom of the dish. No japanese salad dressing anywhere in sight. I had just asked for my ice water glass to be brought with my hot water cup. They brought the hot water only. I just didn't want to ask anymore. I realized every review written was not true for me. I have lived in Irvine for 40 years. This is not typical. read more

Great authentic Japanese restaurant. It's my third time and it reminded me a bit of my experience in Japan You must try it read more

Taiko has been one of our family's go-to restaurants. It is consistent, delicious and always a great experience. Through the years, they continue to have long lines right when they open, which is telling of their business. P.S. the wait is worth it. read more

Best Sushi in the OC. I am Japanese and have been here a few times over the years. My late grandmother used to take me when I was much younger. Now I am bringing my kids. Just wish you could still sit at the Sushi bar, but I understand the need for more tables. read more

FOOD QUALITY ALERT (UN-FRESH FISH & CHICKEN): - Do not eat at this place if you have tasted real sashimi. This place isn't the place for sophisticated diner. This place definitely cuts corners, and the quality is horrible (some of the recent reviews have proved it). I ordered the following: - Sashimi Dinner (Salmon, Tuna, etc.) - Sesame Chicken (supposedly fried) - Eel California Roll - Beef Niko Udon (without egg) - Edamame - Takoyaki - Agedashi Tofu The Sashimis in the Sashimi dinner dish tasted hard, the raw fish did not taste fresh at all. Sesame Chicken was basically microwaved. Within 3 minutes of us putting in the order for Sesame Chicken, it was served to our table and it tasted greasy & mildly warm. I complained to the server and she said (lied) it was "'made-to-order", then she took the plate and came back with a "new batch" within another 5 minutes. We tasted that "new batch"... it tasted the same, just as soft & greasy as before. We told the server we were done with it, but obviously we still got charged for it. Udon tasted like nothing to us... Eel Roll was ok, but Eel was not fresh at all, its un-freshness was covered by the sauce. Takoyaki's inside tasted like pastes. Tofu tasted hot & ok - proving that the fact that Chicken tasted "warm" made no sense. It is very obvious that this restaurant is cutting corners. To all readers all there - please go out there and try some real high-end sushi before coming to this place. You'll sadly realize the difference, and how immorally this restaurant has treated the Irvine people's tastebuds. read more

Taiko advertised Veterans Special Meal, but to our disappointment entire crew didn't know about the event. Paid our meals with our friends & hopefully will get a future voucher. Food & service is great. read more

Incredible sushi with amazing value and outstanding quality. I usually go for the bar. However, they are always busy and the wait time for dinner is an average of one hour. Due to the COVID-19 they have been doing take out only and they do not offer outside seating. The food is incredible, and quality is profound. What I really like about Taiko is the value and the size of their portions which are enormous. I usually get salmon sushi and toro. They are known for their spicy tuna roll which is a must try. Moreover, customer service is great and fast. read more

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Good sashimi and generous cut if sashimi. The sushi doesn't have a lot of rice and with generous cut of raw fish which is good. Service is good with unlimited miso soup! Restaurant can be really busy so it's better to go around 12:30 noon to avoid long waiting. read more

Taiko - Sushi Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I believe they changed the owner. As a rule of thumb, once a new management is in place, they want to change things, but not always change to the good side. I was a joyful thing the have unlimited miso soup refilled and unlimited rice bowls for free. It's not that we can eat so much, it was just a surprise that we were treated so nicely with a Japanese tradition. Now they are all gone. Menu items are also changed, too. Sometimes people thought they were intelligent but did stupid things. Change it back, please, we still love you, Taiko! read more

Really affordable and good sushi spot in Irvine! This place has a lot of seating but it was pretty packed on a Thursday night. I ordered the chirashi bowl and it came with a side of miso soup which was really nice. The chirashi bowl was really good since the slices of fish were huge! There was so much rice at the bottom I couldn't finish all of it, but was still very full from the amount of fish they gave in the bowl. My friends orders also had huge portions and for the price it is definitely worth it! Definitely recommend to satisfy a sushi craving. read more

I realized that to get the quality sashimi and sushi, you need to sit at the bar. A few months I went with my sister and everything was delicious. I have been ordering takeouts during Covid19 and service is good. Food is ready by 30 minutes. Been loving the seafood salad which includes lots of sashimi. The spicy scallops handroll is also delicious. Just make sure to tell them you want the raw scallops or they will give you the cooked scallops. Looking forward to dining in soon. read more

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Thanks for the referral here Yelp! Taiko easily made it to the top of my favorite sushi places to go to even though it was my first time recently! Complimentary cabbage salad (hard pass) and miso soup to start while looking over menu. Their mixture of crab meat inside the sushi rolls is different and delicious, which makes them stand apart from other places. Rolls chosen: tuna roll, rainbow roll, and dragon roll. Can't wait to come back and try other selections! read more

Taiko - Tuna roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Taiko food is getting very expensive. In the past there was always a long line waiting for their opening both lunch and dinner. Now I see a lot of empty tables anytime of the day. I don't think I will return anytime soon. read more

Took my mom for lunch here on a rainy day. It was easy to put my name on the waitlist from the Yelp app. The servers are super nice here, but the food is unfortunately very mediocre. We ordered vegetable tempura udon and shrimp tempura udon. The food came out very fast, but the tempura was soggy and the soup was lukewarm. I think they probably prepare the food beforehand and have it sitting there waiting for people to order it. Our food was definitely not cooked fresh. Prices are reasonable and they have lunch specials that include a lot of food, but our experience was meh and I won't be returning there for another meal. read more

I use to come here all the time when I went to school in Irvine. Came back around over 10 years after graduation hoping that it stood the test of time and it wasn't just a younger inexperienced version of myself overrating it. Very happy to say it's still great. I haven't explored the menu extensively, but if say it's the best spicy tuna roll I've ever had anywhere and all the rolls taste good and are of good quality. I know the picture doesn't look that out of the ordinary, but trust me, it's stands well above almost every spice tuna roll you've ever had. It's somewhere I always recommend when people ask me about a place in Irvine and I always feel strongly inclined to go visit if I'm in the area. Thank you for the memories and still going strong. read more

Taiko - Spicy Tuna and Salmon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This place use to be great. Now it is terrible. The Bar has been closed since 2020. The Sashimi use to be 8 pieces. My wife ordered me yellow tail and salmon sashimi. She brings it home and its 3 pieces each for $20 each. What a JOKE. Not going back ever again. read more

The sushi is always fresh and is delivered to the table quickly. The servers are very friendly and attentive.

I first had Taiko in the early 90s, and it is still as good as it was then. Can't go wrong with the #1 combo, teriyaki beef, tempura and sesame chicken. The tempura is still crispy and it's just a really well balanced Japanese dinner. The order/pickup process was easy and well social distanced. I'd suggest calling the order in so that you don't have to wait as long. read more

This place put mayonnaise in pretty much almost every sushi rolls and did not mention in the descriptions until it's too late to cancel - and it's not even the Japanese Mayonnaise. Just globs of mayonnaise. Rolls are OK, nothing spectacular. read more