We went on New Year's Eve, and it was amazing. We live 1,000 miles away so we always look forward to going here when we are in town. I had the tonkatsu and soba combo, and it hit the spot!! When we were paying for the meal, my husband paid the lady there a compliment about how good the meal was, and the lady asked if we would like an extra tonkatsu to go! (There might have been a mistaken order or duplicate, perhaps?) Anyway, walked out with an unexpected blessing!! read more

Decorated for xmas! You're served w sesame seeds to self grind before the server pours Katsu sauce over it, which is fun to do. + Katsu combo w Chicken Katsu ($13.95) and Hot Soba ($7): Katsu comes w chicken Katsu, 1 shrimp Katsu and 1 potato Katsu with a bed of cabbage and dressing. Absolutely loved the side of radish kimchi and pickled jalapeños! Hot soba is topped w crown daisy, green onion, fish cake, and imitation crab. Loved the addition of crown daisy, but overall simple. (7.8/10) read more

Yoko - Shrimp Katsu cross section - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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I ordered 3 donkatsu to-go, and when I got there I asked for extra jalapeno & the kkakdoogi. The older lady at the front said I needed to pay first so then when I was paying with my credit card, she saw me "skip" the tip part. I then asked again for extra jalapeno & kkakdoogi and she gives me 1 extra jalapeno. I asked for extra kkakdoogi too and she said, "kkakdoogi too??" So I said, yes I need more of those for my 3 orders. She then looked at me for a few seconds and then gave it to me. What's with her attitude??? This is not the first time I get a dirty look for asking for extra condiments. Geez!! What's up with these dirty look??? I walked out shaking my head thinking I'm not gonna come anymore. read more

Food is solid and great packaging for takeout. We ordered for our family and have been going since they open. Tried and true.

Was here for a very late lunch/early dinner with family. An unexpected effect of baby sitting is I splurge on food rather than make it. Serving generous portions of well cooked crispy pork Katsu, with side of crunchy cabbage salad - I don't call it coleslaw because it's made without the heavy dressing. I got a combo with udon soup on the side. My meal companion got the cold soba with cheese Katsu. Each combo came with a croquette and one shrimp tempura but in the same crusty batter. From the outside it did not seem to be open : the place has floor to ceiling shades to keep out that hot summer heat. There was one young man who was the restaurant host, server and kitchen expediter. Almost all the tables were filled, plus several takeaway customers; it was quite busy. This plaza might have seen better days since quite a few businesses were shuttered closed. You get started with a mortar and pestle of sesame seeds to grind, I worked hard to grind mine to a finer consistency, then it's mixed with the not quite ketchup/ not Worcestershire brown-red sauce. Also a side of pickled jalapeño and fermented daikon cubes. I did not use much of either but asked for more of the red brown sauce. The Katsu was tender inside, while staying crunchy on the outside. Rice was available on request, also ice water or hot buricha or barley tea. Would recommend. read more

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Food: The portion was surprising to me, it was more than enough for one person. Each combo was about $20. It was $15 for cheese Tonkatsu + $6 noodles and $16 for pizza Tongkatsu + $6 noodles. Never had a pizza Tonkatsu before and it tasted pretty good, there's marinara on top with melted cheese, mushrooms, and peppers. Cold soba noodles were fresh and tasted so good with the sauce. Cheese Tonkatsu is a classic, pork was cooked perfectly and although there is a lot of cheese, it wasn't overwhelming. Udon noodles were good, they had a soy sauce broth with some crab meat and tofu pieces inside. Salad was fresh and the dressing on top was the best part of it all. Service: There was no wait when we arrived and were seated immediately. The waiter gave us our menu and came back just in time for us to order. They were straight to the point and even repeat the order for you. Ambiance: It felt like a small Japanese katsu shop. It was such a fun experience to grind up your own sesame seeds and the waiter will pour the katsu sauce for you to mix with your crushed up sesame seeds! Definitely worth giving this place a try if you're around the area! They even have a curry Katsu, like some other popular places! read more

Yoko - Pizza Tongkatsu Combo with Soba noodles - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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This place has been around for ages and is the OG spot for delicious authentic Korean Katsu. It's located in a random strip mall plaza in the very back corner. It's directly behind Steroscope Coffee if you have trouble finding it. There's plenty of parking but this place is super tiny! So its not good for large groups bigger then 4 people. During peak hours there is always a wait but at least the lines move fast! They do offer online ordering now for pickup and even UberEats! The menu is super small and straightforward. You have your Donkatsu menu with choice of protein, combos, udon, and rolls. The best value is definitely the Combos which come with either a roll or udon/roll. You can't really go wrong with any of the protein choices for katsu. The classic chicken and pork are still the OG favorite though. They are fried perfectly and super tender. Note if you order a katsu combo you don't get the bowl of rice but instead you get your choice of roll along with a potato croquette and fried shrimp. All katsu come with there signature sauce with fresh self grounded sesame seeds. You also get served traditional Korean banchan with pickled jalapeno and daikon radish. The portion sizes are LARGE but just enough to fill you up. There isn't much service here since its so busy but they do serve pretty fast because of how busy it gets here. Definitely highly recommended as an OG Korean good eats place if you're feeling like katsu. read more

One of the best donkatsu places around! I've been coming here for years and I always come back. It's located in the corner of a plaza and there's plenty of parking. The restaurant is a bit small, but they have a good amount of tables. The price is great for what you get. Most of the donkatsu's will come with rice, soup, and bite sized banchan. They give you the sesame for katsu sauce prior so you can crush it yourself. It's a fun time killer while waiting for your food. Their donkatsu always comes out nice and crispy. The cabbage salad is nice and refreshing with their delicious sauce. Their soba is best on a hot day and udon for a cold day to warm you up. Great combo prices! I've introduced many family and friends to this place and they all love it. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Yoko is a nostalgic place for me. My parents used to take me here a lot as a kid. I revisited Yoko today and I'm happy to see that they've kept their portion size just as generous as it used to be in the past. I love their unique Kimchi cheese katsu. The combo set I ordered also came with a substantial amount of udon. The accompaniments like the radish cube kimchi, pickled peppers, and salad complement the fried katsu well. It also comes with a fried shrimp and potato croquette. My husband had the chicken curry katsu, which comes on a bed of rice as well. You really do get your money's worth here as I left here sooooo full. You could definitely take leftovers home and make two meals out of it. Salad dressing is yummy, udon is decent, the katsu is crispy. Getting to grind your own sesame seeds in a tiny mortar & pestle is a nice touch as it's fun to do (lol) and also adds a nutty taste to the tonkatsu sauce. read more

Yoko - Grinding your own sesame seeds :) - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Yoko was really good! The katsu was so crispy and tender. Salad is good too. The crunch roll and Beuna park roll was also really good! I would come back and recommend this place to others. I would say that the combo could feed 2-3 people. Service was good, employees were really nice and apologized for the wait. Inside is nice and spacious! Felt really clean (-: read more

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I don't typically crave katsu but have seen so many great reviews of Yoko, I thought I'd give it a try! My husband and I shared the Cheesekatsu + Udon Combo, which also came with cabbage slaw, two pieces of breaded shrimp and breaded potato, and some pickled sides. The katsu was hot, crispy, cheesy - overall delicious! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! Service is fairly quick and straight forward, though it can be slower if they're busy. We came on a rainy day (late review) and so the meal hit the spot perfectly! read more

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

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If you are looking for the best, freshest, most delicious, tonkatsu and authentic Japanese food, this is the place. No matter what you order, every single thing on the menu is amazing. My mom and I came here multiple nights in a row and each time, the food was so tasty! My family is pretty picky and they were also raving about the food too, which is a difficult task! I dream about their tonkatsu. All their side dishes are so good too, their cabbage salad is fresh, soba is cooked to perfection, their sauces are such a satisfying compliment to the food, their fried crust on anything fried you order is so fresh and clean. Their pickled and fermented sides perfectly cut the fried foods and you do not feel heavy after this meal, but so full and satisfied. The quality is as amazing as the taste. Highly recommend Yoko! read more

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Today a friend took me to Yoko and I felt welcome right away. The restaurant is not that big and is now decorated according to the holiday season. The portions are generous and tasty. I believe the owners were the ones who served us, so thank you for your hospitality. read more

This is the spot. Went with my friend and we got 2 pork tonkatsu. They first give you seeds to grind up, and then they add the sauce. It comes with a side of miso soup, rice, pickled jalepenos and radish kimchi! The pork has that crisp factor and it's so delicious! Everything was sooo good and tastes very authentic. Restaurant is very clean and was packed will many older Korean people so you know it's a good spot! Must try if you're looking for donkatsu in OC!! They have chicken, beef, and other protein options as well! Can't wait to come back to try their udon. read more

Yoko - pork dontaksu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The food here was amazing. I feel like the curry has a unique taste compared to the typical curry one gets at other places. The combos are a good deal. We got the curry katsu with udon and the curry katsu with soba. The broth for the udon was very tasty. I even enjoyed the dressing on the salad. Food came out very quickly and the workers were very helpful. Inside of the restaurant is clean and you can tell everyone there enjoys this place. read more

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I've heard great things about yoko, and finally got the chance to try them out firsthand. First off, if you are visiting the Buena Park location, it is tucked away in the far back corner of the parking lot so if you have trouble finding it, you just gotta circle around and really look for their sign. Also, from the outside it looks like they're closed but I can assure you they are not lol Interior is very homey, no glitz or glam, a small dining area that seats about 30 with about 10 tables. As soon as we sat down, we were provided with water and menus. I of course opted for their Katsu plate, and with that they brought me my bowl of sesame seeds to grind for the Katsu sauce. Now this is the "hype" of Yoko. The freshly ground toasted sesame seeds is meant to make your sauce more savory but, I honestly couldn't tell the difference. If anything, it's a fun kitchy activity prior to your meal The Katsu itself was good, and it came with your classic thinly shredded green cabbage salad with thousand island. Side of miso soup, white rice and mini radish kimchi and pickled cucumbers. Overall a solid meal, decently priced ($15) and in a super casual environment. Next time I'll be trying their cheese Katsu and also their beef Katsu! If you're it the area and looking for a meal idea, definitely check them out. read more

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First time here was over 8 years ago, I remember it was very good. It is still great, prices are reasonable for today's economy, and the katsu is so crunchy!! sesame + katsu sauce is perfect with the katsu, and the portions are generous. The lettuce and dressing is a great pairing with the katsu, and the spicy tuna roll is actually spicy! Would love to try the cheese katsu next time. Staff is very attentive and friendly! read more

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Best pork cutlet in OC! I love salad and soba as well. Lunch and dinner time always busy! I prefer togo! read more

OMG! This place is amazing. It is the best katsu you will ever find in OC! I highly recommend the donkatsu. The food and portions are consistent every time as well as the service. I'm pretty sure it's family owned because I always see the same servers. The menu is clear and concise. They have a cool twist on Asain American culture inside the restaurant. There is usually wait but it is never that long. Don't even question it come here! I've never been disappointed. read more

this place has been around for yearssss and is def the OG korean katsu place in the OC area. i remember coming here when i was in elementary and im about to graduate from college LOL! this place is very nostalgic to me HAHAA. i would recommend coming at a reasonable time since its pretty small and gets packed quick! the korean lady server is so sweet and kind. absolutely adore her. if you order any katsu plate, a grinder with some sesame will come out for the sauce. you gotta work ya arms, it's pretty fun/ cool if it's ur first time here. the katsu here is literally perfect and comes with a shrimp and potato ball. the sides are pretty limited to two but that's honestly all you need and again... its perfect. my boyfriend and i both got a combo order and its was more than enough. i got it with the soba combo and lordddd it was fireeee especially after a hot beach day. the katsu plate it self it worth the most bank for ur buck too!!! read more

Yoko - donkatsu + soba combo - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Yoko is a local legend. It's cemented as a hot spot for over two decades. Donkatsu is comfort food, like how fried chicken is to many. Pros The food is delicious Prices are great Love the sauce, I always need extra Love how they pile on the salad Great individual catering box options Cons Small space, not good for large groups Always a line during peak hours Ask any Fullerton or Buena Park native about Yoko, and they'll know it right away. read more

I came here with a friend on a Friday night and surprisingly, it took less than 10 minutes for us to get seated, likely because the other parties were large. The portions here are massive and justify the price. I got the donkatsu which is pork and comes with a bowl of white rice, and my friend got the donkatsu combo with soba. The donkatsu was hot, crispy, and juicy. It wasn't soggy due to the rack beneath it. I rarely enjoy slaw but this slaw tastes good due to the dressing. The ambiance is interesting. The walls are lined with old Hollywood photos and the music they play are trending TikTok songs or popular kpop songs. One thing that I find inconsistent is that the servers gave a cup to sesame to grind to certain tables. Other reviews have mentioned that their party were provided the sesame after being seated. In the following visits, I haven't been given any sesame to grind, so I wonder if you have to ask for it or if they're just picking and choosing who to give it to. read more

Yoko - Donkatsu combo with soba (above) and donkatsu with rice (below) - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The food was absolutely perfect. It was an amazing traditional japanese meal. The service was also spectacular. They never fail to impress. The ambiance as well was very quaint and fitting for such a restaurant. read more

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

I came here after a spa day with my girlfriend. We timed it so it was after the lunch crowd but before dinner service. There's a sign up sheet just outside the entrance. We got seated right away on a Saturday at 4:15pm. (This restaurant usually has long wait times since it is a smaller establishment). Not a fancy place but good food with speedy service. One page menu with various combinations of donkatsu , udon and sushi rolls. We ordered the the same thing donkatsu w udon combination with a side of spicy tuna roll. Ample portions are served that we even took take home container for our husbands... Next time I'll bring my husband in person! read more

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After the sad disappearance of Curry House (RIP), there's been a big curry-katsu sized hole in my heart. Stumbled upon Yoko one night when looking for a dinner spot and came to try it out. FOOD: - currykatsu - big portions, i liked the katsu, but the curry itself is not quite japanese style, a bit more tart than what I'm used to. Comes with salad and a couple of pickled dishes. - beefkatsu - hubby wasn't a huge fan of this one. The meat itself is very thin and not very juicy. Again, portions are very generous. SERVICE: Food comes out quick! When we were there, two people were single-handedly serving the whole place, including the to-go orders. Prices are reasonable and parking is easy. Would come back to try other things! read more

Yoko - Beef katsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Honestly for the price we pay and what we get: Overall 9.25/10 Ambience: 8/10 Food: 9.5/10 Service: 9/10 We wanted to get wako donkatsu in ktown LA but figured it was way too far. We yelped and found this place and I'm so glad we found it. We ordered the kimchi cheese and pork cheese cutlet katsu and they snuck in an extra piece of fried potato and fried shrimp. My girlfriend and I loved everything and the food came out extremely fast. The combo of getting the katsu with sushi, or in my girlfriends case, the udon was worth it. It was so much food that, together, we had exactly 1 order of katsu to take home. I would recommend checking this spot out but just be warned that there is a constant line (goes by fast) and the resturant was pretty small but people finish and dip. read more

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I love the Japanese dish tonaktsu and so I was defintely looking forwarding to eating here at Yoko as Yoko specializes in Donkatsu; the Korean take on the popular Japanese dish. It was time ever to try Donkatsu and was pleased to see that Yoko had nine different Donaktsu offerings. Among the offerings were original Donaktsu, Chickenkatsu, Fishkatsu, Beefkatsu, Shrimpkatsu, Cheesekatsu, Kimchi Cheesekatsu, Pizzakatsu amd Curykatsu. Each of the Donaktsu dishes comes with rice, cabbage and miso. The dishes range in price from $13.95 to $16.95. One can also choose to get a combo and pair with udon, soba or various rolls.For each Donkatsu dish; they also give a small bowl where you can grind your own sesame seeds for your Donkatsu sauce. I chose to get the Kimchi Cheesekatsu. As I wanted to see the Korean take on the Japanese tonkatsu; I thought trying a Donkatsu with kimchi would make for a good choice. I thought this dish would be spicier due to the kimchi but the kimchi spice was just subtle. They did put in a fair amount of cheese and so did quite enjoy the "melt in your mouth" feeling with all the cheese filling. I also did like the outer crisp layer of the Cheesekatsu. It was a nice first try of Donkatsu here at Yoko. I did think the kimchi flavors could have been more abundant in my dish but overall was still a nice meal. read more

I had this place the other day on a sunday afternoon, it was definitely packing as they're pretty busy. A good restaurant that serves some good katsu options, probably more known for the cheese katsu that a friend got. I got a curry katsu and it was still good and crispy haha. Parking is inside a big lot with cafes nearby so definitely s good experience read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I've been a loyal customer for a long time because your food is great. But good service is just as important as good food. Even for small requests like extra pickles, please be kind to your customers. It's the best way to keep this place successful read more

Chicken katsu is one of my favorite meals, so it was interesting to given the Korean version a try. I ordered the chicken katsu curry, and it did not disappoint. Service was great as well and we were able to enjoy a nice meal out as a family. read more

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

We were trying to figure out what to have for dinner and stumbled upon this restaurant. There aren't many places that can make katsu the right way. For a Friday evening, we didn't have to wait to be seated. Yoko is located at the corner end of the plaza off Los Coyotes Dr. next to a hair salon. The interior is small and bit cramped. Before your meal, you are given sesame seeds and a mortar set to grind at your table. Then they added the house dipping sauce. The sauce is a game changer. We ordered the katsu combo and the curry katsu. The combo comes with an entree and a choice of one more item. We opted for the udon. The katsu entree was crispy and delicious. But, the udon was not that good. The broth was pretty bland. I would skip curry katsu. The sauce was tasteless. The food and service were decent. I'm not sure if there will be a return visit. read more

Yoko - The katsu combo + udon - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Really good food & quantity for the price! This place had fast & friendly service. I came with a party of 6 for a Friday lunch and we had a wonderful dining experience! We waited 5-10mins for our table and after we ordered, the food came out pretty fast. The space inside is pretty small but it's cozy! I ordered the pork cheesekatsu and many others in my party ordered the curry katsu. The portions were so generous!! It was a lot of food and it was all yummy. I really appreciated the meal deal and a couple of my friends said they had their favorite katsu. Overall a really solid spot for a great valued katsu meal! read more

Yoko - Pork CheeseKatsu - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I love this place!! Such a good find! Katsu is always good! my favorite combo is donkatsu and the cold soba noodles! Brought family and friends here at different occasions and they all love this place. Staff is very attentive and very accommodating!! The place seats many but on the small size but honestly I love the hole in the wall feel of the place! read more

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decent place to get donkatsu, just not my favorite. i did like grinding the sesame for the sauce, but i wasn't a huge fan of the katsu itself. the texture isn't crispy and light, and the meat is not tender. the curry was very light in color and was too starchy. just my preferences! the service was attentive! the interior is small but there's lots of seating. be prepared to wait on the weekends. there's a parking lot, but it gets crowded on weekend nights. read more

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

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Love the beef katsu here and all the different sides they serve. Everything goes so well together and tastes even more delicious when eaten as a whole - from the shredded cabbage with the creamy dressing to the pickled jalapeños and spicy radish, all the way to your tonkatsu sauce with hand-ground sesame seeds that you put your elbow grease into grinding with provided mortar and pestle. Their udon and soba isn't the greatest, but I don't go to Yoko for that so to me, it doesn't matter that much. With all that being said, Yoko is officially my favorite place for katsu. Service could be better but the place is pretty busy and the waiters are really young so it's understandable that it's not top-notch. It still doesn't change the fact that I would come here much more often if it wasn't so far from where I live. But when I'm really craving katsu and I don't want to settle for less, I'll make the drive because it's worth it. read more

Yoko - Beef katsu + udon combo (front) Curry katsu + soba combo (back) - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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i ordered the chicken katsu and it was really fresh! the chicken was soft and tender without being too dry. the breading was also crispy to my liking. it was served with some crunchy radish kimchi and jangajji, as well as a cabbage salad topped with a tangy sesame dressing. it was about $17 for this meal, but they have pretty large portion sizes that very well satisfied me. we got there around 12:30pm and we were able to get a seat immediately for a party of 6, but the place started to get busy around 1pm so i suggest going early if you have a large party. service was decent, didn't have any trouble overall, i would definitely come back to try their other items! read more

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Great local spot. Got the chicken katsu combo with the California roll and it was delicious. Light, crispy, perfect with that freshly crushed sesame seed sauce. So delish. Great service and the place is real quaint and cute. Couldn't recommend enough. read more

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

It was below my expectation. I ordered Cheese Katsu combo with cold soba. Cheese Katsu came with cabbage and pickles but no steamed rice! Cold soba served with grazed Raddish only although if it's hot soba, you get a tempura and meat, Kamaboko, etc. Lol. read more

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Ordered takeout and one of my donkatsu was obviously picked at or at least missing. Food itself is good but definitely not a great takeout experience read more

Yoko - Don Katsu (Pork) one is much smaller doesn't connect symmetrical - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

A late night meal that never disappoints. My friend and I went in at 8 pm on a Thursday and was seated right away. My friend got the cheese donkatsu and it was really cheesey without being overwhelming cheesey. It was nice her meal came with miso soup, a bowl of rice, and little side dishes. I wanted something soupy because it was a cold night so I got the tempura udon. For the price, you get a lot of food and three shrimp tempura (which other places would only give one) My only qualm was that my food came out so much earlier than my friend's that by the time I waited for my friend's to my, my noddles and tempura were all soggy. Other than that, quiet atmosphere and ambiance with quick service. read more

Yoko - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

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