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    Tenkatori

    4.2 (702 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Tenkatori Takeout or Delivery

    Tenkatori Photos

    Business Info

    TENKATORI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Tenkatori

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    Reviews With Photos - Tenkatori

    Vince G.

    Came here on a Saturday evening before they closed and they weren't busy. The restaurant is really small but nice inside. We ordered two bento boxes one chicken karaage and the other teriyaki chicken. The staff were nice and the food took 10 mins to come out. We really enjoyed the bento box and the portion of food for the price was worth it. Would definitely recommend.

    Teriyaki Bowl
    Sharona M.

    Decided on a whim to check out this spot. Parking is limited FYI. The service is ok. I asked for a cup of water he said they don't provide cups because they sell water. Stupid. This spot is also overpriced. The food is ok. I ordered a teriyaki beef bowl. This literally was just regular beef. No teriyaki flavor whatsoever, so that was definitely dissapointing. The rest of it was good though. California rolls were good. It came with this amazing potato croquette, soooo divine. Also came with potato salad which I loved. Overall, I would not return because the main thing was the teriyaki beef and it was mid as fk

    Karaage A la Carte
    Nick C.

    I was craving some authentic chicken karaage and by my roommate's recommendation came in. I ordered the 12 piece karaage. The chicken had authentic Japanese style thick breading using chicken thighs that was juicy and fatty. I ate it as it came out and it was very hot. Definitely good and crispy, but the natural fat and excess fat from the frying oil can be overpowering and give flavor fatigue, needing a sauce to cut through and change the flavor (which you had to pay for). I had to wait a bit since it was made fresh but didn't mind. It's a small restaurant to keep in mind. I would come back the next time I'm craving karaage.

    Combination Karaage Box Meal - Chicken Karaage & Teba Wings over Rice with Tempura, California Roll, and Mixed Green Salad
    Mike L.

    ***Ugh...such a bummer that this place has closed. Not necessarily because it was fantastic or anything, but because I literally just finished writing this! So, apologies for posting something so unnecessary at this point, but I'm selfishly doing it anyways so that I didn't waste my time...ha! After seeing so many Yelp friends review this place over the years, I honestly thought this place was a match made in heaven for me. Between my love for chicken karaage and the fact that this place specializes in it, it felt like a forgone conclusion that I would love this place! The only issue was figuring out an opportunity to come out here just for this. However, where there's a will, there's a way...especially for something that looked so good! Having read that this was a bit more of a to-go spot than an actual restaurant, I knew that this place was going to be small. However, I have to admit that I didn't think this place was going to be this small. So, in that vine, I'm glad we came here when we did, as nearly every other seat filled up not long after we walked in. Despite their small stature, the menu here is surprisingly lengthy, featuring a fairly surprisingly number of goodies to choose from (mostly fried, obviously). Since we didn't want to get too much for our relatively late lunch, we decided to split one of their box lunches where you choose a main item, along with your picks from three additional categories). For our combo meal, we opted to go with their COMBINATION KARAAGE MEAL, which came with 3 Pcs of Karaage and 3pc Teba Wings over White Rice, along with Tempura, a California Roll, and Green Salad ($15). Now, I don't know if it's just because I'm jaded by Bay Area prices, but this felt like a ton of food for the money. As for how it tasted, it ranged from average to good. Unsurprisingly, the highlight was the chicken karaage. Not only were the pieces big and meaty, but the batter was super crispy and well seasoned. The chicken wings were equally large and flavorful, but, for whatever reason, the batter was thinner and a bit soggy. As for the rest, the salad was refreshing, but both the tempura and the California roll were just okay (the latter makes sense, since it's not their thing). While the food itself wasn't bad (I would definitely come back just for the karaage), I have to admit that our interactions with the workers left a bad taste in our mouths. The woman working the register went from borderline annoyed with us to nice to mildly dismissive, but the bigger issue was the guy who mostly manned the kitchen. When I asked him for another tempura sauce after accidentally spilling the first one we got, he started questioning me as if he thought I was lying to get an extra sauce out of them. Kind of weird, but mostly uncomfortable, especially when he eyeballed our table as he walked by to go outside. All in all, while the chicken karaage was as good as I hoped it would be, the rest of the food, comparatively, fell short. Between that and the awkward service, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down feels about right, even despite how they're a great option for a cheap and filling lunch. Still, I'd come back to Tenkatori just for the karaage. What can I say, love is love.

    New menu and prices
    Loser G.

    They just reopened with new management team. Chicken actually taste lighter and better than before. Taste more like the old recipe from 5yrs before. New phone # 714-760- 4168. Also new menu and price..see attached photo.

    Nankotsu Curry
    Teresa L.

    Little fast food type spot. A quick grab and go or have a short sit and grub. We visited on a Saturday around 12 pm and it looked slow, but suddenly business picked up. Several orders were carry out and appeared to have been placed before we arrived. While we waited for our food, the restaurant tables all became full. Parking could get a little tight as this is a shared complex. However, you could park across the street. We didn't have trouble parking on Saturday afternoon. Once inside we were greeted by a lady who was ready to answer any questions we had about the menu. She was sweet, offered us water with our meal. Inside there are four very small square tables with two seats each and a small bar type table facing outward to the street that seats 3. This is not a big place or a true sit down restaurant. We had the number 8 bowl, sweet and sour with the five pieces of chicken. The bowl cakes with steamed carrots, baby corn, and broccoli on a bed of rice. The chicken meat was poor quality dark meat with lots of fat. I didn't eat any of it. I ended up going to a business close by to eat. We also ordered Nankotsu Curry which is cartilage on a bed of rice with steamed carrots, baby corn, and broccoli. This dish also has a half of a boiled egg on top with curry gravy on the side with a mild taste. We rated that about 2 out of 5. There are no public restrooms in this business. In summary, we would not recommend spending $30 on food that is far less than mediocre.

    Chicken karaage, croquette, and California Roll
    Alisha M.

    I got the karaage, croquette, and California roll. The karaage was crispy and juicy--definitely the highlight. The California roll was fresh and made the bento feel complete. The croquette was just okay, kind of bland and not super memorable. Overall, still a solid lunch spot and I'd come back for the karaage alone.

    Tenkatori Special

    It's all gluten free!! Tenkatori Special is a great deal!! I got this for my lunch but it had a of food that I could save some for dinner. Everything was very yummy. People who work here were very friendly kind. There are some tables n chair plus counter table to eat in, it's very clean. I'm definitely going back again. Great location to stop by to get to-go foods on the way to beaches m, parks or friends get together.

    Bento Box + 2 extra pieces of karaage, edamame, potato salad
    Oscar Daniel R.

    First time dining at this restaurant which is conveniently close to South Coast Plaza if you're shopping nearby. The service was very slow and they were definitely understaffed, only the owners were working. I also noticed that they are quite stingy when it comes to providing sauce packets...you'll have to ask for multiple if that is what you desire. Overall the food was delicious! Great pieces of chicken with amazing flavor. A bento box is perfect for one or possibly even 2 people. Seating inside is quite limited and close to other guests. I would return!

    One piece of karaage. Very large !
    Toni L.

    If you are a fried chicken fan, & haven't tried Japanese fried chicken, give it a try. It is not like your usual fried chicken. I can't explain it but the batter has such a unique texture than your everyday american fried chicken. I wish I knew what the batter is made of, because it is so unique & tasty !!!! This is a tiny cafe like restaurant tucked away in a strip mall by the lab. There isn't much seating inside, I think most of the orders were takeaway. When we arrived it was a weeknight & almost all of the tables were full. I was disappointed to see there are no kids high chairs. My husband did notice they had one high chair tucked away in the back which looked like it was being used for storage which was strange. I have a 9 month old & he can't walk quite yet so while we waited for what seemed like hours for the food, we had to carry him. So I would say this is not a kid friendly place due to the limited seating. The food itself was very tasty !!! We got the 12 piece karaage with spicy mayo & sweet+spicy sauce, & a side of $4.15 expensive rice (note, i wouldn't order rice for takeout, as that was quite the greedy charge for something so cheap !) At first it seemed outrageous to charge $1.50 for sauce. However they are VERY generous in the portion so I can understand why the charge. I like spicy but I wouldn't get the spicy mayo again - just my opinion but didn't want the karaage to taste like mayo. The sweet+spicy sauce was so good ! It had the umami spice asian flavor I was going for. Definitely try that one if you're unsure of what sauce to get. The karaage pieces are also very large, so if you order 5 pieces it's still a lot of food. Each piece was so perfectly cooked & juicy. I could tell it's made fresh & not sitting under a heat lamp all day like it would at a deli. It was worth the wait ! I would eat here again, but probably would get take out. Very delicious !

    Super California Roll, 5 pc Karaage meal (potato salad, California roll, 2 extra karaage)
    Joe N.

    Super California roll 5/5: They took a simple California roll to the next level with adding the karaage pieces on top with the drizzle of spicy mayo. Not a lot done to it, but heighten it to new levels. Karaage 5/5: Crunchy, Juicy, Thick. The karaage is absolutely cooked to perfection. The crunch it still has even after taking it home (about a 8-10 minute drive) is insane. The only downside about this dish was the potato salad, it was a little on the runnier side. Not the firmness that I was looking for. I'm thinking it was just because it was in a box that had so much steam, willing to give another try in person! Service 5/5: super friendly and easy to talk to

    Karaage chicken meal
    Graham M.

    Fun little karaage store just west of John Wayne airport. The lunch special was quite large and came with many options so I opted for steamed veggies and cucumber rolls to complement the large hunks of karaage chicken. This is a small chain store that's run by locals, but the service was good and the food tasted fresh. The cashier very kindly gave me a free drink because she noticed I was a newcomer. So if you want a reasonably priced Japanese fast food restaurant, check this place out.

    Large, juicy, and crispy! Jan 2024.

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    Simona T.

    Thank you for five stars review, please come back anytime !

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    1 year ago

    One of the best karaage places in OC. Their fried chicken wings are unmatched in the area. Simply the best!!

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    Page 3 of 18

    Tenkatori Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tenkatori

    Is this place still open? I've tried two weeks in a row to call them. No one answers. I even went to the restaurant in person and everything was closed up!

    Yes. Went there yesterday.

    Are you open Christmas?

    The 12/24 closed at 5 pm And the 12/25 is close

    Are you guys under construction? I've tried to order several times in the last few weeks but every time I try your website doesn't let me order.

    A long time customer to this place and it's open. I recall they had issues with the phone line though.

    Hello, Are the meats still halal?

    Yes sr

    Hi is your chicken and beef halal?

    Thank you for being interested in our restaurant, the answer is yes our meat is halal.

    Approximately, how many pieces of karaage is in 1 kg., is it better to get the 20pc?

    they don't have a 20 pc karaage anymore it's only the 1kg and it has 22 pieces of karaage

    Do they still have the curry sauce?

    Yes

    Do they use egg for coating?

    No

    Is this restaurant Japanese owned?

    Nope cheap Koreans

    Is the fried chicken gluten free?

    I just asked, and they use potato starch.

    View All 11 Questions

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    The Crack Shack

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    Very upbeat place to eat at, and the service is second to none! The food!! Oh my gosh the food is…read moreamazing!! Jerry the manager is very friendly and very sociable, speaking with everyone to ensure their experience is exceptional! The ambiance is fun and lively. And dogs are welcome!! My favorite place to eat!!

    I've passed by The Crack Shack many times when visiting Hi-Time, and I finally decided to stop in…read morefor lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There is a good sized parking lot behind the restaurant. The ordering counter is on the front side of the building. Once parked, you can either walk around the building, or walk through the open-air covered patio. I walked around to get a closer look at the unique chicken-head Beatles' Abbey Road mural on the side of the building. The menu is obviously chicken-focused, and features various sandwiches, wraps, and salads, along with several sides. They also have a small breakfast menu served until noon on the weekend. After ordering, they will give you a number and bring your food when it's ready. I really enjoyed the dining area, which is a covered, open-air space with a high ceiling. I sat in one of the booths towards the front. Each booth has a classic painting on the wall with chicken heads on it. There are also many different types of tables thoughout, and more seating upstairs on the second floor. There is also additional seating in front of their full bar. I had the Coop Deville sandwich (fried breast, pickled fresno chiles, pickles, napa cabbage, lime mayo, artisan brioche bun, $14.50). The chicken breast was thick and piping hot, and had a great crunchy crust on it. All of the ingredients went together well and I loved the flavor. The bun was very fresh, and the sandwich wasn't as messy as I thought it might be. I was still a little hungry, so I went back and ordered the regular sized hand cut fries (regular size $4.50, large size $7.50). They are tossed in schmaltz (chicken fat) and a light dusting of spices. They were hot and fresh, and the regular size was way more than I could eat by myself. They have a self-serve sauce bar with five options on tap including ketchup, Srirarcha T000 Island, Sweet Baby G's BBQ, ranch, and pineapple mustard. I dipped my sandwich in the BBQ and Srirarcha Thousand Island, and my fries in the BBQ, ranch, and pineapple mustard. They have a cornhole game towards the back, are dog friendly, and host trivia night on Thursdays. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere, and would definitely return.

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