Been going to his place for over 10 years. The food is always on point.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Adams
All of the food was simply amazing, but the black snapper and mackerel were the standout items.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Liver, Mackerel
Ruika Kuroba
The best Japanese food ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miki S.
Amazing customer service !All dishes are excellent especially Yakitori If you are in town you have to try these delicious Japanese foods
VYelper Y.
The food here was so tasty and good. I can't eat chicken so I can't comment on most of the skewers, but the tongue was very good. . My friend and I also shared one of their pots. I think it was beef, similar to Chinese clay pot but ingredients seemed more premium- fresh, light, and delicious than typical Chinese clay pot. My friend called to make a reservation, as space is limited. I'm told that once they reach the limit, no more seating for that evening. No walk-ins, at least not when we were there on a weekend. Looking forward to coming back to try the rest of the menu.
Barry T.
I came here years ago and didn't really think about it again. We gave a second chance and found out it is pretty awesome. The vibe is very Tokyo Japanese besides the weird table clothes (I understand they are easy to clean). The selection isn't Kappo, but it is smaller and has a lot less people working there. The sushimi was fresh and good, a little thick cut on a couple pieces. The yakitori was juicy and tasted great, They had Orion on draft which is rare and will heat up bottled hot sake (keeps it warm). The owner was super friendly and the service was pretty fast. I will definately be back and test out other items on the menu!!
Huy P.
This tiny spot was lovely and offered a wide variety of Izakaya dishes! Seating is reservation only and parking is a bit tricky, but the cozy feel and quality of food is worth the visit.Menu includes sashimi, rolls, yakitori, udon- and all are worth trying! Will come back to eat everything.
Terrance P.
I have been here a few times now but never had the opportunity to check in and write a review. I've been to several Yakitori joints but this, by far, has been the best. They take reservations only but it's not because they're extremely busy or their flooded with customers. I think it's their way of controlling how they're able to handle and provide the best service they can. Great concept! They keep the front doors locked so as to avoid walk-ins. I love all their grilled meats and veggies. So simple and plain but so good. Only salt to flavor the meat. If you're looking for ramen or katsu or other Japanese foods, this might not be the place for you. If you want small plates and a few beers, this it it. Service is great and friendly. Can't get any better than this mom and pop place. Will be back and I highly recommend.
We reserved our table a day before by phone call. And we arrived 5 minutes prior to our reserved time & waited for the host to let us in.We ordered:* Fresh sashimi from Japan - was excellent! Love the amberjack.* Nabeyaki udon - was okay for me (udon too soft), but husband liked it* Fried tofu (agedashi tofu) - was okay (we've had better)* Fried oyster - was super delicious!! Creamy inside & crunchy outside. Will order this again next time.* Crunchy roll - was okay (we've had better)* Pork belly yakitori - was excellent! Salty & smoky* Cartilage yakitori - was good! Tasty!There were only 4 occupied tables when we dined there.And only 1 lady who served all 4 tables. She was attentive & fast.
Karen D.
Did they change hands? SO you feel like a VIP when you go. You need to call first to make a reservation and then knock or call to get admitted. I don't even know if they take walk ins. But that's where the VIP part ends. We went on a weekday and there was only one other patron. That;s not a good sign at dinner time. We ordered a variety of yakitori and the karaage, salmon sashimi. The yakitori is $2.50 /skewer ranging from different chicken parts, liver, gizzards, beef and shrimp, fatty pork, pork belly. I have been here before and it was better. The beef yakitori was the worse, chewy and not flavorful. The best was the pork belly. Normally, yakitori has a nice char that creates flavor, these were more similar to what happens when something is poorly broiled. Karaage had a thicker batter that I was not fond of. Waitress was nice, I would try again but only in a pinch.
Yana R.
Love this spot! Friend recommended this spot for dinner, so we called to see if they had any availability for the night. They seat tables by reservation only so I recommend giving them a call before heading over as their front doors will remain locked until your arrival. Small and quiet location, with probably about 15 tables inside. Everything is fairly priced and with good quality! We ordered a few skewers to try and each got our own dish. I went with the udon as my main dish and ordered pork, beef tongue, and heart skewers to taste. Since they limit the amount of tables being seated at a time, the service was quick! Our server was able to check in on our table a few times before we finished our meal. Worth the visit! Definitely call in advance to secure your table for the night :)
Stacy S.
I'm so stoked to have found an authentic Japanese restaurant in Costa Mesa that makes a killer nabeyaki udon! If you follow my reviews, you know that nabeyaki is one of my favorite dishes, and usually the only time I get my fill of it is when I'm in Hawaii. That's because I haven't found many places in OC that make a really good nabeyaki... until now!I found Takaya on Yelp and after reading the reviews, I was concerned that we wouldn't get in same day since we didn't have reservations. The good news is that they answered the phone 1/2 an hour before they opened and said they could seat us right when they open. Hallelujah!Upon arrival, they weren't very crowded at all, and there were only 2 people working inside - the server and the cook. They may have been a husband-wife team. I believe they don't overbook their tables because they want to provide good service and food. And they certainly did!The nabeyaki included all of the usual suspects, but we all know that the secret is in the broth, and they definitely make a delicious one! It came out piping hot, just the way I like it. Hubby got the grilled saba (mackerel) dinner and raved about his meal as well. Prices are on par with other Japanese restaurants in the area.They're located in a small shopping plaza off of Baker St., with limited parking available. The interior is also small, with only 10 table tops or so.Their menu is vast and filled with authentic Japanese dishes. This is a must stop if you love Japanese cuisine as much as I do!
peeceeh7
Our dinner here was so disappointing that I'm not sure where to start. At the entrance they have a sign that its by reservation only; a phone number is provided but they will not open the door if you knock. Of course, you can call and make "reservations" for 5 minutes later and there you go. The system is silly and makes no sense at all when all the tables were empty. Other than one item, all our yakitori sticks were over-cooked and dry. The liver was so dry that it was uneatable. How can a bowl of noodles be so bad? Our simple dinner totaled over $90 with tips. Way over-priced for the poor quality - cannot recommend since we will never go back.
Yammy yammy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yakitori was great. Good stuff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Bacon Asparagus, Skewer
Been going to his place for over 10 years. The food is always on point.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
All of the food was simply amazing, but the black snapper and mackerel were the standout items.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Liver, Mackerel
The best Japanese food ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing customer service !All dishes are excellent especially Yakitori If you are in town you have to try these delicious Japanese foods
The food here was so tasty and good. I can't eat chicken so I can't comment on most of the skewers, but the tongue was very good. . My friend and I also shared one of their pots. I think it was beef, similar to Chinese clay pot but ingredients seemed more premium- fresh, light, and delicious than typical Chinese clay pot. My friend called to make a reservation, as space is limited. I'm told that once they reach the limit, no more seating for that evening. No walk-ins, at least not when we were there on a weekend. Looking forward to coming back to try the rest of the menu.
I came here years ago and didn't really think about it again. We gave a second chance and found out it is pretty awesome. The vibe is very Tokyo Japanese besides the weird table clothes (I understand they are easy to clean). The selection isn't Kappo, but it is smaller and has a lot less people working there. The sushimi was fresh and good, a little thick cut on a couple pieces. The yakitori was juicy and tasted great, They had Orion on draft which is rare and will heat up bottled hot sake (keeps it warm). The owner was super friendly and the service was pretty fast. I will definately be back and test out other items on the menu!!
This tiny spot was lovely and offered a wide variety of Izakaya dishes! Seating is reservation only and parking is a bit tricky, but the cozy feel and quality of food is worth the visit.Menu includes sashimi, rolls, yakitori, udon- and all are worth trying! Will come back to eat everything.
I have been here a few times now but never had the opportunity to check in and write a review. I've been to several Yakitori joints but this, by far, has been the best. They take reservations only but it's not because they're extremely busy or their flooded with customers. I think it's their way of controlling how they're able to handle and provide the best service they can. Great concept! They keep the front doors locked so as to avoid walk-ins. I love all their grilled meats and veggies. So simple and plain but so good. Only salt to flavor the meat. If you're looking for ramen or katsu or other Japanese foods, this might not be the place for you. If you want small plates and a few beers, this it it. Service is great and friendly. Can't get any better than this mom and pop place. Will be back and I highly recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
We reserved our table a day before by phone call. And we arrived 5 minutes prior to our reserved time & waited for the host to let us in.We ordered:* Fresh sashimi from Japan - was excellent! Love the amberjack.* Nabeyaki udon - was okay for me (udon too soft), but husband liked it* Fried tofu (agedashi tofu) - was okay (we've had better)* Fried oyster - was super delicious!! Creamy inside & crunchy outside. Will order this again next time.* Crunchy roll - was okay (we've had better)* Pork belly yakitori - was excellent! Salty & smoky* Cartilage yakitori - was good! Tasty!There were only 4 occupied tables when we dined there.And only 1 lady who served all 4 tables. She was attentive & fast.
Did they change hands? SO you feel like a VIP when you go. You need to call first to make a reservation and then knock or call to get admitted. I don't even know if they take walk ins. But that's where the VIP part ends. We went on a weekday and there was only one other patron. That;s not a good sign at dinner time. We ordered a variety of yakitori and the karaage, salmon sashimi. The yakitori is $2.50 /skewer ranging from different chicken parts, liver, gizzards, beef and shrimp, fatty pork, pork belly. I have been here before and it was better. The beef yakitori was the worse, chewy and not flavorful. The best was the pork belly. Normally, yakitori has a nice char that creates flavor, these were more similar to what happens when something is poorly broiled. Karaage had a thicker batter that I was not fond of. Waitress was nice, I would try again but only in a pinch.
Love this spot! Friend recommended this spot for dinner, so we called to see if they had any availability for the night. They seat tables by reservation only so I recommend giving them a call before heading over as their front doors will remain locked until your arrival. Small and quiet location, with probably about 15 tables inside. Everything is fairly priced and with good quality! We ordered a few skewers to try and each got our own dish. I went with the udon as my main dish and ordered pork, beef tongue, and heart skewers to taste. Since they limit the amount of tables being seated at a time, the service was quick! Our server was able to check in on our table a few times before we finished our meal. Worth the visit! Definitely call in advance to secure your table for the night :)
I'm so stoked to have found an authentic Japanese restaurant in Costa Mesa that makes a killer nabeyaki udon! If you follow my reviews, you know that nabeyaki is one of my favorite dishes, and usually the only time I get my fill of it is when I'm in Hawaii. That's because I haven't found many places in OC that make a really good nabeyaki... until now!I found Takaya on Yelp and after reading the reviews, I was concerned that we wouldn't get in same day since we didn't have reservations. The good news is that they answered the phone 1/2 an hour before they opened and said they could seat us right when they open. Hallelujah!Upon arrival, they weren't very crowded at all, and there were only 2 people working inside - the server and the cook. They may have been a husband-wife team. I believe they don't overbook their tables because they want to provide good service and food. And they certainly did!The nabeyaki included all of the usual suspects, but we all know that the secret is in the broth, and they definitely make a delicious one! It came out piping hot, just the way I like it. Hubby got the grilled saba (mackerel) dinner and raved about his meal as well. Prices are on par with other Japanese restaurants in the area.They're located in a small shopping plaza off of Baker St., with limited parking available. The interior is also small, with only 10 table tops or so.Their menu is vast and filled with authentic Japanese dishes. This is a must stop if you love Japanese cuisine as much as I do!
Our dinner here was so disappointing that I'm not sure where to start. At the entrance they have a sign that its by reservation only; a phone number is provided but they will not open the door if you knock. Of course, you can call and make "reservations" for 5 minutes later and there you go. The system is silly and makes no sense at all when all the tables were empty. Other than one item, all our yakitori sticks were over-cooked and dry. The liver was so dry that it was uneatable. How can a bowl of noodles be so bad? Our simple dinner totaled over $90 with tips. Way over-priced for the poor quality - cannot recommend since we will never go back.