I was duly wow-ed as was my kid. We shared a ramen and several yakitori (the two chicken specials,…read morethe meat special, oyster, kuboto pork ori, shishito, and tried the fried unagi appetizer afterwards. Loved sitting at the bar where we could watch the yakitori being meticulously grilled and also a little more cozy feeling with the lighting. Our first two nights our hotel offered a light dinner in the club so we didn't bother to venture out, but had I discovered Gokumi sooner we would have gone multiple times. Wonderful place.

Foods are little above average, service is good and lively atmosphere. Chicken broth ramen is good…read morebut bit pricy. Yakitoris are good but nothing special. Many sake choices but very little choice of shochu/Japanese soju Are you going back? Yes, maybe.

This place was SO delicious! I'm actually sad I forgot to take a picture of the kimchi because…read moreWOW... it was one of the best I've had. It was super flavorful, perfectly fermented, and honestly one of those things you keep thinking about long after you leave. The meat was excellent too. You can definitely tell they use high-quality cuts, and everything tasted fresh and flavorful. I also ordered the peach soda cocktail, and let me just say... it's dangerously good! You can barely taste the alcohol, so drink it with caution because it'll sneak up on you. We also had the sake, and I loved that they kept it warm by placing the bottle in hot water. Such a nice touch! Just a heads up, this isn't an all you can eat BBQ spot. Everything is à la carte, which I personally didn't mind at all because the quality of the food made it worth it. The service was fantastic. Everyone was friendly, the food came out quickly, and they were always on top of taking our orders. Even though this place stays busy, everything runs so efficiently that you're in and out without feeling rushed. The wait to be seated wasn't bad at all. I also loved the ambiance. It has that old-school Japan feel that makes the whole dining experience even better. The restaurant felt warm, welcoming, and just overall a really enjoyable place to eat. Thank you, Anjin, for such a great experience! You definitely gained a regular customer. I'll be back very soon!

make sure to get here early and put your name on the list! we came very close to opening and still…read morehad to wait 45 mins for a table. inside is small but very clean and staff were all welcoming and nice food was delicious. meat here is top quality and melts in your mouth. we loved the thick cuts of tongue. pairs so nicely with their house sauces. the crispy rice dish was also delicious. make sure to pay the extra dollar to make the rice crispy! it makes a difference :)

Nice spot for delicious Japanese food! We came early for dinner, so it wasn't crowded. It was…read morepretty calm inside. The workers were nice and friendly. We got the following: Tempura combo (average and good) Fresh cucumber in spicy soy dressing (loved this!!) Pork cheek with green onion sauce (really good!) Chilled soba with dipping sauce (delicious and filling) Garlic edamame (average and good)

Disappointed with our experience. Most of the yakitori came out burnt and the meat was bland and…read moredry. The chicken skin was super salty! The restaurant is quite small and the service was extremely slow. It was uncomfortably hot and stuffy inside since the AC wasn't working that day. Overall, not worth the price.

Where do my boyfriend and I go for a romantic date night? K's Bistro…read more Where do we go to celebrate a monumental milestone? K's Bistro. Where do we go when we're craving high-quality sushi late at night? K's Bistro. We absolutely love the ambiance, dim lighting with jazz playing softly in the background. The staff is always warm and welcoming. A special shoutout to the sushi chefs for consistently providing the best service and sushi experience. And the sushi, wow. The fish is always fresh, and the sushi rice is perfectly prepared every time. Whether you're craving sushi, planning a cute date night, or celebrating a special occasion, please do yourself a favor and visit K's Bistro.

Came here with the family to celebrate our wives and they didn't disappoint…read more We had the omakase weekend special and every dish was fresh and exciting. Their presentation, explanation of each piece of art was well delivered and they really elevated our Mother's Day event. Awesome staff, extremely professional and cleanly restaurant provided a wonderful dining experience!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to try Gurume Sushi. It has been on my Yelp list for…read morequite some time. I recently suggested Gurume Sushi as a lunch option to some friends. We had a few birthdays in the group and we were all craving sushi. After looking at the menu, we all decided to try the lunch special chirashi bowl and it did not disappoint! It was served with thick cuts of fish and was absolutely delicious! I'm planning to go back just to have more! Our server brought us ice cream to celebrate the birthdays and we all had a great experience.

I recommend coming during lunch to take advantage of their lunch specials. I ordered the chirashi…read morebowl and it was a great value for both the quality and portion size. The restaurant is spacious and clean which makes it a nice spot for a casual lunch. Service was friendly. Looking forward to coming back and trying more items on the menu!

Kagura is a fantastic option if you're feeling some katsu…read more Starting with the Karaage, they came out looking potentially a little too fried but I couldn't have been more wrong. The coating was tasty, the chicken was juicy, and the sauce with a little bit of lemon was exquisite. For the main dish, I went a little bold and tried their Chicken Katsu with Umeboshi Sauce and Shiso inside the katsu. May sound kind of odd, but the combination of flavors was both fresh and bold. Service at the restaurant was solid and I don't think there was a moment where my water wasn't full. The restaurant itself was quite big and I was surprised by how many tables/people could be seated. 100% would come back to try some of the other katsu options.

How have I not known about this place?…read more In the area and found this gem in a strip mall on Yelp! Thankfully no wait! Felt like we morphed to Japan. Service was great. Food amazing. I loved the sides and miso soup with the meal. Rice was perfect. Katsu sauce and soy on table. We shared between my husband and 11 yo -an order of the chicken chili cheese katsu set and the pork (no fat) katsu set. I asked for extra salad sauce which was .50. The marinated egg side was delish. Ordered another pork katsu set for my older son to go. He enjoyed it. So so so good! What a gem!!!! Beautiful woodsy ambiance. Staff were Japanese. An authentic experience. Will definitely be back.

We ordered their signature dish, eventhough I am not a fan of Japanese curry. The cooking and…read morepresentation are very executed and most importantly, tasted great!

guys... my fiancé loves katsu and he says he would truly d word for this place bc he loves it SOOO…read moremuch!! like WOW. and ofc i mean that as the highest compliment!!!! ‍ hako is tucked away in an irvine center that has tons of parking, but it can still be pretty packed so keep that in mind! the restaurant itself isn't too large either, so the wait times can be high if you don't get there outside of peak hours. they do have a yelp waitlist though, so utilize it!! the restaurant is always clean and in order, and service is always so quick, kind, and on top of it. here's what we tend to order: - hamburg beef katsu: my meat of choice will always be beef, and the beef katsu here is SO juicy and flavorful. it's my favorite and i dream about it LOL - hire katsu: my fiancé's choice! a nice pork katsu, it's always cooked to perfection, nice and tender, and just wow.. NO NOTES. on top of the katsu itself, the salad is always delicious (love the dressing!), miso soup is heartwarming, i love the pickled onions/jalapeños and radish, and the DIPPING SAUCE??? i need the recipe!! ok i'm done but pls just know: LOVE THIS PLACE DOWNNNN. will be back soon!!!! :-)

Last night, my wife, daughter, and I celebrated my wife's 37th birthday, and what an incredible…read moredecision this turned out to be. While searching for reservations, I came across Manpuku Japanese BBQ. I honestly didn't know much about it, but a handful of photos immediately caught my attention. Something about the presentation, atmosphere, and quality of the food made me curious enough to give it a shot. I was fortunate enough to secure a reservation the day before and sent the restaurant a message letting them know we would be celebrating my wife's birthday. Right away they were accommodating, responsive, and excited to help make the evening special. Parking was probably the most difficult part of the entire experience. We happened to get lucky and grabbed a spot just as another car was leaving. If not, I believe there is additional parking available nearby, but thankfully we didn't have to worry about that. Walking into the restaurant was my first surprise. For some reason, I expected a large bustling dining room. Instead, Manpuku felt intimate and welcoming. The soft lighting and wood accents created a cozy atmosphere that felt perfect for a special occasion. The restaurant was also spotless, with clean and organized dining areas and grilling stations. Instead of seating us at a traditional table, we were escorted to a private-style dining area where we removed our shoes before stepping into the seating space. It immediately made the evening feel unique and added to the intimate atmosphere. Now let's talk about our server. Hannah was outstanding. Since it was our first visit, she walked us through the menu, explained the different cuts, discussed preparation methods, asked about allergies, and provided recommendations throughout the evening. She was knowledgeable, professional, and personable, making us feel genuinely welcomed. Her attention and care helped make my wife's birthday dinner memorable. For our meal, we selected the A5 Wagyu Omakase. The experience started with beautifully presented appetizers, including Uni and Beef Sashimi, Seared Beef Sushi, Japanese salad, kimchi, and several small bites. The seared beef sushi was rich and buttery, while the Uni paired wonderfully with the beef. The A5 Wagyu selections were the highlight of the meal. Chuck short rib, culotte, chuck roll, and inner skirt each offered distinct textures and flavors, all showcasing the richness and tenderness that make A5 Wagyu special. The quality was evident in both the presentation and taste. And then there was the A5 Umami Rice. Despite being part of a Wagyu-focused meal, it stood out as a flavorful and comforting dish that kept everyone reaching for another bite. The drinks were refreshing and paired well with the meal. One thing that made the evening even more special was being able to share the experience as a family. Between the intimate atmosphere, attentive service, and excellent food, it felt like more than just dinner. To top everything off, the staff surprised my wife with a birthday dessert presentation complete with a candle and thoughtful decoration. Seeing the smile on her face while celebrating alongside our daughter made the moment even more meaningful and reflected the hospitality we experienced throughout the night. For anyone considering the A5 Wagyu Omakase, come hungry. While the presentation is elegant, the experience includes multiple courses and a generous amount of food. By the end of the meal we were completely satisfied and felt that the experience justified the price. Exceptional service, quality ingredients, excellent food, and an intimate atmosphere made for a memorable celebration.

Quality of this place has gone down, which makes me sad because I liked coming here and enjoyed the…read morepre-set and meats they have to offer. For those who say the marinade is too sweet, you can request to have it without the bbq sauce or perhaps sauce on the side. We opted for all of our meats to not be marinated with the bbq sauce since it is way too sweet for us, taking away the quality and actual taste of the meats. We opted for a light salt/pepper which is perfect. Out of the meats we tried, the short rib would be our favorite. The others were not as memorable. What baffled me was the $30 cake fee.. which is the price of a birthday cake itself. We were surprising our friends with a cake and were told it would be $30 to hold and serve the cake.... If we said no, then we wouldn't have been able to cut the cake and surprise our sweet friends. I'm shocked. I would've been fine with $10-$15 but $30?! The cake fee included 1 candle, a serving cake knife, serving plates and plastic forks... I saw a group come with a cake and they ended up not cutting it and just carrying it back home. If you plan a birthday or celebration here, don't bring your cake unless you want to pay $30.. kind of ruined the ambiance especially if you plan to surprise someone.