Been here twice now since it's close by to my friends' house. They raved about the fish katsu for months during the pandemic since they often ran out of supplies. Since then, I've tried both their Fish Katsu and their Cheesekatsu (Pork). The Fish Katsu did not live up to the hype, it tasted like what you would expect of battered fish - maybe I was expecting to unlock a whole new palette taste. I LOVE the Cheesekatsu! Rich and wide range of flavor and cheesy goodness, especially if you dip it in the katsu sauce. I would say the cheese and sauce might mask the taste of pork since they are both really strong flavors but the whole combination of the meal was to my delight. read more

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This is the second time I've been to Yoko and it was delicious as usual! Most people come here to try the katsu, which in my opinion, is better than other places because of the crispiness of the katsu without the extra grease! The space isn't too big so if you do want to try Yoko, highly recommend getting there earlier than later. The staff is kind. The day we went, their rice machine broke down earlier in the day but they were super apologetic and efficient with getting a batch out to us as soon as they could. The only sad part is they used to give a potato croquette with the meal and that's no longer a thing. read more

Yoko - Donkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

This is one of the staples in Orange County and a lot of people drive here for this hole in the wall spot. I've been coming here for many years and every single time it's such a treat and consistently delicious. I usually get the combo with a pork donkatsu with some sort of noodle. It's also convenient spot to do to go orders as well. If you have a dog, they have dog treats, but you can only pay with cash $11. read more

Yoko - Katsu combo - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Yoko not go wrong with this spot! The outside and inside of this restaurant honestly don't seem that exciting. The menu is small, and there's not a ton of options. BUT, Yoko has made me like katsu way more than ever I did. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of katsu since most katsu I've had tend to be dry and hard, but Yoko makes really juicy and tender katsu with breading that doesn't rip up the roof of my mouth or tire out my jaw. The few times I've been, there is a wait outside the restaurant to go in. Max time I've waited was about 20 min. Note: it is a very small restaurant, probably seating 25 people max. However, once you go in, it's pretty fast! Servers seat, hand you menus and take your order shortly thereafter. Again, the menu is short but mighty. I don't think you can go wrong with any menu item though. The fun part about Yoko is crushing the sesame seeds for the katsu sauce while you wait for your food. They hand you a mortar and pestle to crush up seeds, and then they pour the katsu sauce over that when you finish crushing them. And as you can see, you get a TON of food for the price! Love the salad and miso soup that their katsu comes with. So with all that said, I recommend you "curry" on over to Yoko! You won't regret it! read more

Yoko - Curry Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The food at this place is super tasty! There are so many options, we ordered the cheese katsu, and the chicken katsu combo, it comes with a side you can choose, we chose udon. The udon broth is flavorful. The combo comes with rice and cabbage salad. The service is excellent and fast! We came around 824pm, which is very close to their 830pm closing time. They still accommodated us. The place is very clean. read more

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Crispy. Yummy. Not soggy or too salty. Service was good. Polite servers. Small space, but Feels good to eat here, like someone's mom and pop place. Price was reasonable and not greedily priced food. I will definitely come back. 5/5 read more

I came here with friends for the first time! It was top tier delicious! It was during dinner time, so the atmosphere was pretty busy; however, service was amazing! You do grind your own sesame seeds, which I find pretty amusing while you wait for your food! Their side dishes were delicious as well! I'm not always a huge fan of kimchi radish but YUM! I could not stop eating the radish. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Yoko - Don Katsu (Pork) , Cheese Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Crispy katsu. The sauce was good because they mixed it with the grounded sesame. Tried the combo but didn't care too much for the udon. It came with a fried croquette / potato ball and katsu shrimp. Ordered rice on the side with the katsu. Quick service. The restaurant was small so it took a while to get seated. Once we ordered, it didn't take long for the food to come out. An order is good to share between two people. Pretty solid spot for katsu in the Buena Park area ! read more

Yoko - Chicken Katsu combo - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I guess a bad economy affects one of my favorite place as well as a lot of other restaurants specially Korean restaurants. Don katsu meat is a lot thinner than before. Don katsu sauce is very salty also other noodle sauce is salty as well. But service is still good and fast. read more

Pork or chicken katsu place that is crispy on the outside. I think it could be more tender on the inside but it comes with a pile of rice and small radishes and a side. The small radishes are really good. I recommend eating inside and no to go becuase it tastes better. read more

There are plenty of parking spaces. Inside is small, so they do have limited seating. After you order, they give you sesame seeds where you grind them. At first, I was confused about what to do with them, but you grind them and they'll come by and pour some type of sauce on it. I assume it's sauce for the katsu. I ordered the Pizzakatsu and it comes with rice, cabbage, and miso soup. The Pizzakatsu tasted like pizza and was cheesy and delicious! Recommendation(s): - Pizzakatsu Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of parking spaces - Inside is small, so limited seating - Restrooms available read more

Yoko - Pizzakatsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Our family visited last weekend as we were craving for katsu (just came back from a trip to Japan). The restaurant was very small, like a hole in a wall, with friendly staff, but the overall experience was somewhat lackluster. We needed to wait for a bit but since it was a Saturday evening and the place was small, the wait was understandable. The pork katsu itself was average--crunchy and well-cooked, but it lacked that wow factor that sets great katsu apart. The meat was tender and lean, but it was a little underwhelming as we personally prefer the juicy and moist pork cut, wished they had that option for the pork. The accompanying sauce was good and it helped elevate the katsu, and we loved that we got to grind the sesame seeds ourselves. The sides were pretty standard: a mound of cabbage with the typical dressing, and a miso soup that, while warm and comforting, didn't stand out in flavor. All in all, Yoko offers a decent meal if you're craving katsu, but don't expect to be blown away. It's a solid choice for a casual bite (especially if you go during off-peak hours). For us, Kagura in Torrance would still be the best katsu restaurant, but since that is a bit of a drive for us, this can satisfy that craving. read more

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Good Tonkatsu and has Udon or Soba as well. Korean style Japanese food, but the Katsu is done well. Tasty food, simple ambiance, you'll leave with a happy belly read more

Located in a strip mall on Beach Blvd and Rosecrans Ave, Yoko's DONKATSU (PORK) is one of the BEST IN TOWN. Their quality and food can be compared to Wako, a katsu restaurant in LA, where they provide a mortar for grinding sesame seeds before pouring the katsu sauce. The fried meat on a metal rack also resembles Wako's. There are many similarities in taste, and the dish even comes with a side of Kimchi Radish, Pickled Jalapenos, and Miso Soup. Overall, the katsu entree was AMAZING, and it's something I would definitely order again. We also ordered a separate entree of BUCKWHEAT NOODLE SOBA to cool down from the heat. They also sell this as a combo with the Katsu, but we wanted a larger portion of the noodles. This dish also came with Kimchi Radish and Pickled Jalapenos. We added ground radish and wasabi into the dipping bowl. The taste was REFRESHING with a minor kick from the wasabi. Honestly, much praise for this restaurant for offering great food at a reasonable price. read more

Yoko - Buckwheat Noodle Soba - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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This place is yum, Yum, YUM! Yoko is a one of a kind katsu spot. They are known for their donkatsu but all of their katsu items are delicious. Besides just katsu, they also have udon, soba, and rolls. All of which were good to us. We came in on a Friday at an odd time so there wasn't a wait. We both got a combo katsu dish. You can choose from udon, soba, california roll, spicy tuna roll, or a crunch roll. I got soba and the person I came with got the tuna roll. We really enjoyed our meal. My donkatsu was fried perfectly and tasted flavorful and delicious. The person I came with got their katsu with curry and rice. I tried it and it was pretty good. I love that both our katsus came with a sesame sauce. That sauce was bomb. Both our meals also came with a cabbage salad and some pickled items. All of which were good. My cold soba noodles came with a soy dipping sauce and it was enjoyable. Honestly, it was the perfect chill dining experience. The service was excellent. The guy working was really nice and made sure to answer our questions. The pricing was super affordable. The portion was more than enough. I didn't finish my food and I liked they gave me extra sauce with my box to eat at home. The inside of this place is chill, small and casual. There was a wait when we left that Friday. Cannot wait to come back. read more

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Upon arriving, it was easy and inviting. Staff greeted us in, and they were so nice. They brought us water without us even asking, which is a plus! The store was nice, small, and clean. The food and its portion were huge! I wasn't expecting sych a huge portion, and it's worth the money for it. We got the combo, and it didn't have a price next to it. I Hopeing it wasn't super expensive. Our total cam out to be $60 after tax and tip. We had 6 since its qas a huge order. We would definitely go again and try the other items on the menu read more

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Excellent food. Nice atmosphere. The staff is very accommodating. Try the chicken Katsu, it's the best! read more

This place is so dank. I've been coming here for years. They only sell donkas. Try cheesy kimchi or pizza donkas. Make it a combo for $7 more and add a sushi or soba. 5/5 I eat this all the time. read more

Yoko - Kimchi donkas - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

If I could give this meal negative stars, I would. I recently tried the "Donkatsu Combo with Spicy Tuna Roll" as to-go. First off, the "spicy tuna roll" barely deserved the title. There were only FOUR rolls and not even remotely in the shape you'd expect from something meant to look like sushi. They were misshapen, uneven, and just... sad. The tuna had no flavor, and the "spicy" part was laughable. The entire combo felt like a mishmash of low-effort, reheated leftovers, with no care taken in presentation or taste. Honestly would NEVER order from this place again. Total waste of money and appetite. read more

Yoko - Spicy Tuna Roll - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I've been here twice already and both times were so good. This is the perfect spot to come to if you're craving crispy, juicy katsu! I came on a weekday so there was no wait and got served immediately. It's pretty spacious with tables and booths throughout the restaurant, and Stereoscope is in the same plaza so perfect place to grab a drink after. The donkatsu was mouth watering and the sauce they provide is really nutty and flavorful. The pizzakatsu was also surprisingly really good as it had pizza sauce, cheese and mushrooms on top of the katsu. The cabbage slaw and miso soup they give on the side is the perfect palette cleanser as well. read more

Yoko - Donkatsu (pork) and Pizzakatsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

first time here plenty of parking restaurant is in the corner of the plaza ordered the chicken katsu combo and the pork cheese combo both were good, quantity was fulfilling, the side were better to have then without them the udon and crunchy roll were good udon hit the spot because when you have a lot of dried fried food, the udon helps push it down your stomach and smoothes it out with its warm umami flavor, the miso was so plain compared to the udon, must have the udon pork cheese katsu was good but if you ate too much of it, you may get too overwhelmed, it does have kimchi in the center the chicken katsu was good, but the katsu sauce was not in sync with the katsu because the sauce flavor was more acidic, more like vinaigrette with bbq sauce than the traditional warm, settle, thick, non burning throat sauce (if you have a lot), be advised. the dipping sauce makes a difference, just didnt feel it was up to par with the katsu imo I enjoyed the udon the most from the entire dish read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Got to stop by YOKO last night for dinner! We went on a Monday night around 7:10 pm. The dining space isn't too big and was mostly filled but they were still able to seat and serve us right away! It was nice that they were open for MLK day as other places were closed for the holiday. I got to try their new Kimchi cheese Katsu and my friend got their Katsu + udon combo! The CHEESEPULL was so good! And to my surprise, it didn't get cold and hard like other places tend to but the Katsu was warm enough that even when I came to my last bite, the cheese was still soft. Mine also came with a side of miso soup which was a nice balance with the fried katsu. There were also two sides of pickled honchon and they gave lots of cabbage as well. I tried my friend's combo and they give good portions of a full serving of katsu and udon--what a deal! The udon broth was perfect, and I loved all the toppings it came with; shows that they can do udon as well as they do their katsu! We also love that they give a little mortar and pestle to grind up sesame seeds (I think) for extra flavor when they pour in katsu sauce! Love Yoko and keeping this one as a regular favorite. Service was kind, quick, and efficient ... so fast I didn't need to use the bathroom! read more

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This has been on my bookmark list for ages and I finally got to try it this past week. For a Wednesday afternoon it was full of people! Parking is very easy as there's a big lot in front, and it's right next to Smoking Tiger, which is a plus if you want something sweet afterwards :). Right now they have the place decorated in Christmas lights with a big tree at the front of the store. It's so warm and cozy inside. I was feeling like eating something super bad, so I ordered the Cheesekatsu ($15.95), which is a pork katsu filled with gooey cheese! Each dish comes with rice, shredded cabbage, fermented pickles, daikon kimchi, and miso soup. They also give you a bowl with sesame seeds in it, which you grind up and later they had the tonkatsu sauce to. My husband got their katsu combo with their crunch roll. This came with everything that I described above, but with an added crunch roll for $19.96. Their cheesekatsu was very interesting - It was like the meat was pounded super thin, and a ton of cheese was stuffed inside of it. Or the meat was wrapped around a cylinder of cheese. I don't know how they made it, but it was cheesy and it was delicious with the sauce and rice. My husbands tonkatsu was thicker than I've seen at other restaurants and it was juicy and flavorful. The crunch roll was good too. Very fresh and flavorful but it easily fell apart when handling it. No biggie. It would be hard to have a large group because there's not a whole lot of seating inside. I would prepare to wait if you go during their peak dinner and lunch hours. read more

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I love the quality of the food here. While the prices are on the higher end, you definitely get what you pay for. Since the restaurant has limited seating, there's often a wait. The plaza doesn't have many shops to browse while you wait, so we usually just relax and watch TV in the car. read more

This message is for the owner of Yoko. We are in the middle of an unbearable heat wave and your AC is broken, and you don't have the consideration for your staff and customers to at least buy a few fans to place inside the restaurant?? RIDICULOUS. Please get some plug-in fans if you can't get the AC fixed. read more

I've been to this restaurant twice now, and both times were great experiences. The food is fantastic, and the sauces are amazing. The ambiance is okay, tho the place is just small. The staff is super nice and accommodating. The prices are reasonable, and I think it's definitely worth it for the quality and service you get. I can say this is the best katsu restaurant in the area. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Pricing: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Food: 10/10 There is a reason this small restaurant is the last one standing in that plaza. We visited on a cool Saturday night. The first thing we noticed is all other business in the same plaza are closed. Yoko is the only business with the lights on. After our visit, we can see why. The offering is unique. The pricing is competitive especially being in 2023. The server was attentive and quick on his feet. Once we were seated, we received our food within minutes. The Tonkatsu and pairing feel spot on. I know it is a korean owned business but damn this feel authentic. My mother ordered hot noodle and it was warmed and tasty. It was a memorable meal. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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My to-go box of pork donkatsu looked so neat. Upon opening it at home, I was greeted with sliced pork cutlet, a mountain of finely shredded green cabbage, a smallish portion of white rice, pickled jalapenos and kimchi veggies packaged separately, and two types of sauces also packaged separately. For $14-$15, I think it's comparable to other katsu shops. I did wish the katsu was thicker and juicier, but eh, maybe I'll go to Japan for those haha. Breadcrumb coating was crispy without being greasy. I wasn't a fan of either of the sauces because they were too sugary (one looked like a creamy sesame and the other a dark-colored sweet 'n spicy). I tried my sister's kimchi cheesekatsu, and it was very tasty! I was surprised since I don't really eat kimchi, but the cheese pull and overall flavor were lovely. However, my sister mentioned that the oomf from the kimchi was lacking, so maybe the ratio of kimchi to cheese was off. Seating is available indoors but none are outdoors. Service was ok - neither friendly nor welcoming, but they get the job done. The restaurant is located in the corner of the plaza, right across Stereoscope Coffee. read more

Yoko - Pork donkatsu takeout was a solid meal. Cutlet wasn't greasy but could've been juicier. - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Great service. Food was delicious. Cozy restaurant. Overall we had a great experience read more

Yoko - Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

This is my go-to spot whenever I'm craving udon and katsu! I always order the combo (udon + chicken katsu), and it never disappoints. The udon soup is super comforting--perfectly warm and flavorful--and I always end up leaving with leftovers. My boyfriend got the udon combo with spicy tuna and loved it too. Definitely worth the price for the portions and quality. Consistent, cozy, and hits the spot every time. The service was also good. read more

Yoko - Udon and Spicy Tuna Roll - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Service was fast and efficient. The lady serving us was very kind and efficient. She was the only server and able to take care of the whole restaurant well. Nice simple ambiance. The food was delicious. I loved the grounded up sesame seeds for the katsu sauce. The radish kimchee and pickled jalapeños were great banchan. read more

Yoko - Katsu curry - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Came here for lunch on a Friday and the wait was about 20 minutes. The service was fast. Chicken Katsu w udon combo- 3.5/5: This combo was shared between 2 people and we still had leftovers. The portion size for that price was a really good deal. The chicken katsu tasted good however the curry sauce was more sweet than my liking. It tastes a bit different from your usual curry sauce and it comes on the side rather than in the dish. The udon was good and came with a lot of noodles. It also came with some sesame seeds you can crush to put into the curry sauce. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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We came on a weekend for dinner and there was plenty of parking in the lot. The restaurant was in the corner and it is small spacing inside. While waiting for our order, we were given sesame seeds to grind since we ordered the katsu. Afterwards, they will come pour the sauce onto the sesame. I would definitely recommend getting the combo selections (more bang for your buck!) Curry Katsu with Soba- The portion was very generous and definitely shareable. The katsu was crispy, but the curry was a bit watery. The soba noodles also did not taste fresh, but it still tasted okay. Katsu with Udon- The udon came out hot and loved the broth to it. With the katsu, there was a piece of shrimp and potato. The plate also came with cabbage salad. The meat was crispy and tender! read more

Yoko - Pork Katsu with Udon combo - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Crispy katsu, good service and value. Good spot for a casual dinner with family or friends. read more

On arrival there were groups of people waiting outside to be seated. It was my first time there so I wasn't too sure what to expect inside, it's a small shop packed to the door. Luckily all the parties waiting were large so they were able to seat my party of 2 right away. Menu isn't too big which in my opinion is a huge plus. I ordered the kimchi cheese katsu and my wife had the donkatsu. As soon as we ordered, a small mortar and pestel were brought to us with sesame seeds and other ingredients inside. We ground it up and as soon as our food came, the server poured what I imagine is katsu sauce in to mix with the seeds, and it was simply magic. The katsu was flavorful and crispy, the kimchi radish and jalapeños paired perfectly with it as well. Calling this place a hidden gem is an understatement. read more

Yoko - Kimchi cheese katsu, don katsu(pork) - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Food: We ordered the Pizza Tonkatsu Combo with Soba Noodles and a Cheesekatsu Combo with Udon. Both combos were great and had really generous portions which is an extra plus. The sides consisted of pickled jalapeños and kimchi radish which were flavorful and complemented the dish. The katsu was pretty good, the only thing is I can see it being a little on the dry side but flavor and everything else was great. Personally, I enjoyed the soba noodles as my side dish because it also felt refreshing with the tonkatsu. Service: Quick and prompt. It's very clean inside and the food didn't take too long to come out after ordering. It gets consistently busy but we didn't have to wait for a table which was nice. Parking is ample. read more

Yoko - Cheesekatsu Combo with Udon - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Best katsu in OC! I love coming here when I make trips to Disney from LA. This hidden gem will always have a special place in my heart, and stomach. read more

Came on a Wednesday at 4pm and were the only ones there. It was empty, but as time went on the restaurant started getting more crowded and lively. Please keep in mind it is very small in there with limited seating. The food was nice and light and there are great combo meals if you want to try something other than the tonkatsu. The food came out very fast. My patty and I got one tonkatsu, udon, and a cheese tonkatsu with soba combo deal. We wiped our plates clean and again, it felt really light. There was a good portion of salad and the radish kimchi paired very nicely. If I'm ever in the area I would go back. read more

Yoko - Cheese tonkatsu, soba - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I love Katsu so my friend and I decided to find a spot. Good that it was just 10 mins away. We walked in and got sat immediately. We were greeted and got our menus plus water. Nice, now the hard part...What to order? I went greedy and got the Katsu combo (Curry Pork Donkatsu with rice and Udon). Yes, I want it ALL. The Curry sauce could have been stronger but it was still very good. The broth for the udon was very tasty. The place was cute, small, and clean. I noticed they have a lot of regulars, they were all greeted and basically ordering their usual. read more

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And back again almost a year later, still a 5/5! Portions are huge and the price is amazing. Food is delicious and still tastes the same after all of these years. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California