The last two dine in visits were great. Cheap and delicious fried chicken, who could resist. This recent visit left a bad taste in my mouth and it is not the food. Oh my goodness, the guy behind the counter treated customers including myself like he is doing us a favor. Their sign said "no mask, no service", but the irony is the workers wore masks pulled down style. Not only nose but mouth were out too. Talking while they worked. Sayonara, but then again no one there is Japanese. read more

Boneless thigh karaage w sweet & spicy, and sweet & sour sauces on the side: Omg! This place is so good! I'm honestly not too much of a fan of karaage compared to regular fries chicken but this seriously changed my mind. It's super crunchy and light and there's extra skin pieces that are pulled apart so they are extra crispy. I love it!!! Not too oily either but it's fried so it's still gonna be oily. The sweet and spicy sauce kind of reminds me of a slightly spiced sweet and sour but with a stronger soy flavor. The sweet and sour is super unique and I was trying to pinpoint what flavor I was tasting and strawberry came to mind; it sounds weird but it actually works bc it's not too sweet and has that slight sour zing!!! read more

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One of my favorite causal Japanese restaurants in OC because of the reasonable prices and large amount of food you get. They also bring out your food pretty quickly. It is a pretty small restaurant but I've never had trouble finding seating. They're karaage chicken is especially good, although everything is tasty. I would recommend asking for extra teriyaki sauce for the chicken and rice. I like that they've recently switched to metal plates if you eat there! My only request would be to offer brown rice as well. Overall, I definitely recommend Tenkatori! read more

Tenkatori - 7. BBQ beef, Karaage, Cali Roll, Veggies set 6.Teriyaki Chicken, Karaage, Edamame, veggies Set - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place has super super legit karaage! I got a 7oz soft cartilage and an 8 piece karaage along with a potato salad. I also got two spicy mayo and a curry dipping sauce! The crispy soft cartilage was so so SO good! It was super crispy and perfectly fried! Was amazing with the curry sauce and the spicy mayo! The karaage was super crispy and so freaking juicy! Probably some of the best karaage ive ever had! Was so good with either sauce and went perfectly with the potato salad. The potato salad was super creamy and the potatoes were nice and soft. Some of the best karaage ive had, and im definitely coming back! read more

Tenkatori - Karaage (Fried Thigh) - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friend says this is one of the best... and every time I visit him, I request this as one of our meals. Yum!

Loads of perfectly seasoned Japanese Fried Chicken for just a few bucks! If you're a fan of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) but abhor the long lines to get it at your favorite ramen joint, hit up Tenkatori Karaage on Bristol and Baker (7-Eleven parking lot). The place is tiny (there are barely 4 tables and a 3 seat counter) but you can order to go at prices affordable to the whole family. I opted for the Bento Box #18 which is 3 wings, 3 thigh chunks, 2 Potato Croquettes, 4 California Roll, green salad, miso soup and white rice. A huge amount of food that came out to only $10.99 after tax! If you are only average hungry you could totally split this with two people and maybe order one other side. Wings - First of all you get the full wings not hot wing size pieces (wing thigh and drumstick on each piece). They are fresh fried and perfectly seasoned, no sauce needed. The fried outer was not as crispy as I imagined it might be. Not to compare flavors, but just the texture... You know how at KFC the Original Chicken is not as crispy as the Extra Crispy... Well the crispiness is sort of like the Original Recipe. The wing was cooked through thoroughly (no pink) and tender and juicy inside. Thigh Karaage (boneless) - Huge chunks of thigh pieces coated in the same spices and breading as the wings, each piece way bigger than a golf ball. The thigh cut seemed to come out slightly crispier than the wings. Salad - Average filler. Miso Soup - Average, with some cut tofu in it. California Roll - Imitation crab and avocado, no cucumber. Potato Croquette - These were pretty average, not as thick or crispy as you might find at other places that specialize in croquettes, but an amazing value considering that you get two large pieces with the box combo. Seriously, you can't go wrong if you order anything on the menu that is fried chicken. All the other items I had were not noteworthy, but still worth eating. For the quality of the chicken that you get, Tenkatori is a steal. You get so much food for what you pay. How does it compare to other karaage in the area? My favorite is still at Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai (it's a little crispier, almost seasoned as well) but who wants to labor through that hour long line? Ramen Yamadaya's is crispier but not as well seasoned and the Sesame Chicken at Kappo Honda/Honda Ya is smaller, crispier and great with a lemon squeeze but also not as well seasoned as you would find here at Tenkatori Karaage. I like the chicken at each of these places for different reasons, but just wanted to give you something to compare it to. Great Japanese fried chicken, a quick to go line (fried to order) and gobs of food that a scrappy college freshman can even afford. read more

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I crave this place often The indoor seating area is a bit small, so it's best if you just pick up to go if you have a bigger group. What's convenient is, you can order beforehand on the phone! I usually get their combos which come with the most moist fried chicken pieces, few pieces of california roll, small salad, and miso soup. Portions are big enough for two. Can't wait to eat it again! read more

We used to come here often, but in the past months things have changed. Service has become unfriendly (2 months ago or so a young woman with curly hair and glasses who works at the counter were not friendly and appeared arrogant). When we went there again on 9/3/2022, someone else was at the counter fortunately. I ordered combo #15 (Karaage with california rolls, green salad and tempura). The karaage wasn't crispy, the california roll was messy and the tempura sause was spoiled and tasted very stale and odd (see pictures). Did the ownership change? The taste, quality and service have changed for the worse. read more

Tenkatori - The california roll didn't look like a sushi roll. - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Actually came into the parking lot for the Hawaiian bbq next door but decided to check out the place instead and was pleasantly surprised to have some of the best chicken I've had in a long time already want to go back :-) read more

Tenkatori - Sweet and Spicy KARAAGE set California Roll - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place has authentic amazing karaage! One of the best i had. But like the other reviews service is not great. Call to place an order and the guy sound rude. Spend almost $50 and they wanna Charges us a $1 for an extra box to split the chicken.. Sigh how cheap can you be. read more

This is for the wings only...... I'm a wing girl til the day I D.I.E!!!!! and I will take a wing any way you'll give me! But my favorite way to have chicken is fried or roasted!!! As soon as this place hit my radar, I had to come. This place is in a FUUUUUUUCKED up 7/11 parking lot. The in's and outs of this place is a clusterfuck! So be advised of potholes, shitty parkers and the craziness of bad drivers on Bristol. I came in and the service was nice and patient. These idiots in front of me didn't know what kind of place they walked in and looked at the menu forever holding us up and then walked out SMFH, the people behind the counter were still nice entertaining this indecisive assholes. I'm easy AF when it comes to ordering especially at a new place. I yelp and Instagram the shit out of a place to make sure they have what I want so I walk in and order effortlessly. This day all I wanted was a half order of original and the salt and pepper wings. Didn't take that much waiting!!! Got out and started tasting in the car LOL. Pretty good stuff. They do an interesting dust kinda seasoning. I can't place it, different but good. The skin was crispy and stay hot and crisp all the way home and that matters A LOT! I was more than satisfied and I can't wait to try their Chicken Karaage and other menu items . I will be back YUM!!!!! read more

Go the 5 pc spicy chicken brown rice and California roll and spicy tuna roll. Nice peeps clean and cheap for what you get overall great bargain for this areas. read more

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Some of the best chicken I've ever had! Beyond delicious! Great service, and tons of gluten free options!

For them good deals and some bomb karaage, Tenkatori has you covered. The Thigh Karaage set includes 5 pieces of karaage + 2 karaage (or croquette), rice, salad, miso soup, and 4 pieces of California roll for the very fair price of $11 (keep in mind it's more $$ on Grubhub so I typically call in it or order there in person). If this isn't a crazy deal, then I don't know what is considering I'm never able to finish it all. Obviously the value of the meal is amazing but I can't forget to rave about the fried chicken! Tenkatori's version is juicy in the inside and fried to crunchy perfection on the outside. It has a hint of something in it - some kind of marinade or perhaps seasoning in the batter - so it's also flavorful too, though I'd recommend trying their sauces as the spicy mayo and yuzu aioli are a hit! The meal doesn't come with it but for like $1 or so more, their sauces are well worth it as I'm pretty sure they're house-made, none of that store-bought stuff here! Even though they opened some seating inside, it's not meant for large parties, more like a party of 2. I'd recommend ordering takeout and walking/driving on over to The Camp or The Lab across the street to dine outside! They have plenty of picnic tables and public seating for you to use to take advantage of that! read more

Tenkatori - Thigh KARAAGE set - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Tasty fresh food and friendly service! I used to come here a long time ago and was relieved to see it's open when I'm craving karaage! potato croquettes were so tender and delicious, can't wait to try the other items next time too read more

Tenkatori - #17 combo - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

i've never really had Japanese fried chicken before so I don't have much to compare to but compared to American fried chicken it tastes read tea good. The original karaage rice bowl with spicy mayo sauce is a solid go to item. def better than the sweet and spicy chicken which was pretty average. Feeling #fullasabearlockedina711 thanks Tenkatori read more

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Got the sweet & spicy karaage box ($9.30+tax) with a croquette, spicy tuna roll (extra 1.25), and green salad. My friends got the sweet & sour karaage box (sauce on the side)($9.30) and the BBQ beef box ($8.30). I tried their steamed vegetables and California roll. Karaage thighs were very juicy. A bit too fatty for my taste though and not as crispy as I would like. But probably the best of anything else on the menu. The sushi rolls could be similar to what I can make at home. I throughly enjoyed my meal, overall the meal was at a great price and tasted good. I would recommend for a quick and filling meal. The owner was very nice, helpful and patient with us. My friend and I are very indecisive people, so it took a while to decide what we wanted. There's also one bathroom in the back, you just have to ask. read more

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Food wise, this place is really good. The wings were extremely hot and freshly made. I haven't tried a style of wings such as these before. Although they was great, I thought the cashier was really rude. Her attitude was off-putting. It Seemed like she didn't want to be there at all and she hated everything. Some things in the menu weren't available, like the yuzu coleslaw. And when I ordered it, she just looked at me with a blank face and said, "We don't have that..." Then when i asked her what the 'Original' seasoning for the wings meant, she just said "Original..like original." What does that even mean? No sauce? Salt? Pepper? Every restaurant's definition of "Original" sauce is different. And saying "original is original" isn't explaining anything besides the fact that you shouldn't work in customer service with that attitude. The negative energy of the worker made the ambiance of the place very awkward and uncomfortable to be in. She was curt and I definitely don't want to deal with her again. read more

If you're looking for crispy karaage, you found it. Little shop that has about 2 small tables inside plus a row of window/counter seating. Nicely cooled inside so no worries about being too warm while you dine. I ordered the combination karaage plate (not really paying attention the the description) and WOAH that's a lot of chicken! Nice and crispy, not dry at all (personally thought it'd go so well with some kind of aioli, but you're choices are soy sauce or chili sauce). With the combination, you choose one item from A, B, and C (plus it comes with a miso soup on the side). I chose the California roll and salad. Salad could use a touch more dressing but other than that, I'd say all this food is a great value for 11.80. Parking lot isn't super large but it's definitely not too difficult to find a spot! While it doesn't beat my current favorite karaage spot, it definitely made the list of places to revisit in the future. Loved that they included a little packet of hand wipes for after your meal!! read more

Tenkatori - Combination karaage plate (salad and California roll selected) - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place used to be better, food wise. I was pretty disappointed and probably won't buy karaage from here again. Japanese fried chicken, Karaage, normally comes with skin on. This place used to do that. Now, ordering 8 pcs of boneless thigh Karaage, some comes with skin but most doesn't (only 3 with skin attached and 5 no skin). Where did they go? Crispy fried skin provides texture, moisture and more flavors to chicken. As said, their karaage aren't juicy as it used to be, dry and just oily from the frying oil that's soaked up on the out layer of flower. For alternative, there's a new Karaage place opened up in downtown Long Beach. Not a Tenka Tori franchise. That place, to me, the quality and service is better, even though the area which located isn't nice. You can even preorder online and pick it up. read more

I've been to Tenkatori a couple times, and I always order the tartar sauce chicken. Chicken quality is amazinggggggg- very juicy, thick, and tasty. Definitely my go to spot for asian style fried chicken. read more

Overall: In regards to quality, this place is honestly a hit or miss for me. Quantity and price is always great for a quick bite of Japanese food which is rare in the area. My tip for the best quality chicken and california rolls is to go during peak times when it's usually cooked to order and the food is fresh! I still recommend this restaurant, because when the chicken is freshly cooked it really is one of the best kaarages in the area. Price: You can not beat the price here! Other than mitsuwa, Tenkatori Karaage seems like the only fast-food restaurant that specializes in chicken Karaage. In most of the other japanese restaurants, they can run pretty pricey for a Chicken Karaage (usually just for an appetizer size too). For the quantity you get here, this place is definitely worth the bang for your buck! Quality: I noted that they have best quality Chicken Karaage during the peak times (lunch/right after work - usually dinner time) . They are absolutely delicious when its freshly cooked! Warm, crispy and juicy! Although, there have been times when the Karaage was not as fresh. When it's not freshly cooked, its pretty disappointing because it's a bit cold, not as crisp, and a bit tougher to eat. Also depending on the cooks behind, the California rolls can be a bit sad and poorly made. There were a couple times the California rolls just fell apart upon touch and looked a bit old where the avocado was browning and the seaweed was no longer crispy and instead was soggy. Again, there are other times where the california rolls are just perfect. The croquettes, on the other hand, always seem to be amazing! read more

Tenkatori - Kaarage combo with Croquette, Cali roll, and a side salad! - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My coworker regularly orders from here and brought back a menu one time. He said that their fried chicken is the bomb. He was right. I went back the following day after trying it out the first time! Yummy! The only thing that I don't like is their location. You'll see homeless people by 7 Eleven, the back of Memorial Care and the paint store. Parking is tight too. read more

Tenkatori - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The customer service and the quality of the food is amazing! Definitely my favorite karaage place and I plan to come back many more times! read more

Tenkatori is an awesome hole in the wall that will satisfy your Karaage cravings. I discovered this restaurant from adventuring to local eats close by work. They are a small mom and pop owned establishment and specializes in Japanese fried chicken. I usually order just their Karaage and I try to get two to three dipping sauces too. I would recommend ordering and taking this Togo and arifrying at home again if you're looking to take this as a pickup. read more

I LOVE karaage. It's almost a must for me whenever I see it as an appetizer. So when I saw someone checked in a few months back, I immediately bookmarked Tenkatori. It wasn't until yesterday that I finally get to try it. I got the 5 piece for $5ish + tax. I'll start with my little complain and that was that it wasn't piping hot as I want it to be, it was more luke warm and that was rather disappointing to be honest. I didn't try their sauce so I will have no say in that but they have lemon on the side so make sure you get that(if you getting it to-go). Anyway, besides the first karaage piece which wasn't that crunchy, the other pieces were crunchy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. The taste was there and I'm looking forward to my next visit already. #Ilovekaraage read more

Tenkatori - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

If you like chicken karage, this is the place to be. Their chicken karage are well seasoned, tender and crispy. I like to order from their bento box menu. It's has everything you want on their menu. Service is excellent. Ambiance is nice. I recommend this place for a nice meal. read more

This place has been bookmarked for awhile now and my coworkers wanted to try it so we came here during lunch. The place is very small and not much seating was available. I got the box which came with miso soup, rice and kaarage, plus your choice of tempura or more kaarage, plus salad or blanched veggies, plus sushi. The whole box was only $9!!! That is a steal!! So I had the rice and kaarage, salad, miso soup, and california roll. Everything was really good! The kaarage was light and crispy. Every piece had such tender meat. I wish it came with a sauce though. It was lacking a bit of flavor so I kept dipping it in the tangy salad dressing. I'm not a fan of rice, so I wish they had another option where it can sub for rice. The parking sucks here. And there's no seating. Definitely a to go place rather than dining in. Prices are fair and many different options on their menu. read more

I came here for lunch, and was quite surprised at how good the fried chicken (karaage) tasted! You can order big large portions to take home, and they sell a variety of more interesting fried pieces, such as some chicken organ meats, but I stuck with mostly the regular thighs. I ended up getting a combo, which came with even more chicken, some flavored spicy chicken, and salad and California roll pieces. The karaage was excellent, especially the normal flavored one. The hot and sweet one was okay, it was more salty, and only mildly sweet. I think it would have tasted better as a hot, sweet and sour flavor though, or anything with a bit more sweet and sour. Still, the fried chicken was excellent, and I was quite impressed at how well it was cooked, and how juicy and tender it was. The rest of it was just whatever, nothing too spectacular, but if I'm coming here I'll be coming for the fried chicken, not the California roll. read more

Tenkatori - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

It's such a shame. The chicken is delicious and moist but the customer service is terrible and we found two pieces of hair which were much too short to be mine or my friend's. The lady working the cash register was rude and acted as if she didn't want to be there. That would have been fine until I overheard her altercation with another customer. This customer, who said he was a regular patron, was stating how something used to be available even during the pandemic and how it is odd they don't offer it any more. While he may have been pushing the topic too much, he was speaking in a calm and neutral manner. She immediately responded horribly, talking back to the customer and acting as if she didn't care if they lost him as a customer. I think she fails to realize that businesses only stay in business if they have customers. Immediately walking in, she creates an unwelcoming atmosphere. After that and after finding two pieces of hair, both my friend and I concluded we will never come here again. It doesn't matter how good the food may be if they can't treat customers well and can't bother keeping hair out of the food. read more

This small little storefront has a strong and loyal following and for good reason. The food is EXCELLENT! I ordered #19: the tartar karaage combo with tempura, a california roll and a green salad. Everything was delicious and was devoured in minutes. We also tried the sweet & sour karaage as well as the sweet & spicy, and the pork sukiyaki bowl. All of it was delicious. Trust these 4.5-5 star reviews. This is like a magic chicken shop! Asahi on draft, accepts credit card, small parking lot. Very limited seating, most are take-out orders. read more

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This place by far serves one of the best chicken karaage I've ever tasted. Chicken karaage aka the cooler version of fried chicken. What makes this karaage different was 1. They used chicken thighs and 2. The size. Forget about bite sized pieces! The chicken was fried to perfection (not overly crispy where it hurts your jaw) and sooooo juicy. I ordered the bento box (~$9.50) where you're able to pick other items such as tempura or California rolls. Next time, I'll order just the chicken karaage along with a nice cold beer. read more

Tenkatori - Chicken karaage bento box - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Been coming here since 2015, and it was the best bang-for-your-buck chicken. I recommended it all the time. However, I think there was a change in ownership at some point. I've noticed the quality of food and attitude has worsened notably. They once forgot part of my order, so I called them and asked when I could come by to pick up the forgotten portion. They said I never ordered anything and hung up. They ignored my calls a few times. Eventually, they picked up and said they were too busy with customers and I should come later. I ask when and they hang up again. Won't pick up. So I came back about a half hour later. Place is empty. They said they were out of chicken. I politely said that's okay, and I'll just take a refund then. I hear the guy in the back grumble and yell a little. Suddenly I get my order of chicken. It was super bizarre. With the food getting worse and the staff being kind of nuts, I no longer recommend this place and won't be returning. There's a ton of chicken in the area, and it doesn't come with this baggage. Hopefully wherever the old staff is at, they're doing well. It's a shame. read more

Gluten free friends: The menu is half-way labeled. The potato salad IS gluten free, but not labeled as such. The green salad is labeled gluten free, but the dressing included is NOT so it's literally just lettuce/tomato and they don't mention the sauce has gluten (I spilled it and when I tasted it realized it had soy sauce - I called to confirm and it's not gluten free). read more

If you like chicken karaage, this is a simple and easy joint to access it. Most of the time, I find this dish part of a larger menu or in restaurants where it's not the highlighted item. While it's nice to have it as an appetizer or addition to your meal, it's good to know that this can be the hero once in a while. Here, you can place an order to go and enjoy the busting flavors of karaage within minutes. While dinning in is an option too, they do have limited seating. Parking is also limited so you'll have to be weary on when you plan your visits. I would call in ahead with your order if it's just a pickup. Faster and no one would mind if you pop in and out with the hazards on. On my last visit, we both had their bento box combo. Came with miso soup, side rolls, greens, and your choice of chicken variation (nuggets, breast, wings, and things). I opted for the nuggets since it was easy to eat. Bones can be annoying depending on the situation. Food is delish! Wouldn't mind stopping and picking up for dinner if I'm in the area. read more

The box comes with a lot of food. Like, a lot. I got rice, sweet and spicy chicken, California roll, steamed veggies, tempura, and miso soup for a great price. I was happy because the sweet and spicy chicken karaage tasted kind of like orange chicken from panda express. And I'm a huge fan of that. So it was no brainer that I liked this. Their California roll was surprisingly delicious, small with not too much rich and full of crab flavor. The steamed veggies though, which was why I had ordered the box in the first place, were mediocre. There wasn't enough to eat alongside the meat and rice, so I couldn't eat much more food after I finished my vegetable serving. The tempura was bland, but I like it that way. They gave you a lot of different types of vegetables and shrimp, so that alone would have been enough to satisfy a tempura craving. I also sampled the cartilage karaage, which was too salty for me. The sauce does a lot to mask the saltiness and I wouldn't order the karaage without any sauces. Will be back when I'm feeling cheap and wanting a ton of food! If they do not raise their prices, this place could easily become a favorite for many people. read more

Tenkatori - Gluten-Free Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So good! I first had Tenkatori in Gardena, and had no idea they were in Costa Mesa. This location has a different vibe especially with the presence of sushi burritos, but the chicken is every bit as good. The karaage is the star of the show, and I'm not sure you really need to order anything else. It's boneless chicken thigh and is a testament to why dark meat is the best meat. Warning: it is served piping hot. The juices will easily scorch your skin or tongue, but it's totally worth it. I would absolutely order a ton of these for a gathering. Maybe during the annual celebration of the Superb Owl. read more

The best Karaage restaurant in the OC. This is where you come to fill your hunger with Japanese lil salty fried chicken!! The meat is really juicy on both Karaage and Sunagimo, the gizzard. Man... The gizzard is fresh. It's chewy and crunchy at the same time. I love getting 7oz of it and chew on it on the way home. As for the Karaage, I usually order a box set menu. There are many options and I go with adding two more Karaage, 4 California rolls, and steamed veggies. It comes with miso soup. I totally love the portion. It's awesome! I take the spicy sauce so if the saltiness kinda dies out as you are eating all these chickens, then apply the hot sauce for the kick! Staffs are all very nice. The Caucasian lady is super nice, and the Latino girl is super nice. I love this restaurant. read more

I got to try this restaurant 1st time a few months ago, and have been back almost every week. This restaurant is super clean and their foods are so fresh and delicious. They have the best karaage chicken. Their homemade dipping sauces are a big plus. I will definitely be one of their regular clients. read more

As a first time customer, we were very satisfied with that food tastes perfect and its ingredients are very fresh. Most of all, we love the way how they made the california roll (actually, it was a way beyond our expectation: how they finished the roll was much better than any other authentic sushi restaurants) It was also plus that staffs were kind and timely mannered. Definately would come back again. read more