36 Best Japanese Restaurants in Irvine

“This place is a hidden diamond. It was the best sushi me and my wife ever had. I am big with all you can eat sushi restaurants but this place is heaven. I will not go anywhere else moving forward. This is my spot now.
I highly recommended the hostess, and the waitresses are extremely friendly.“

“i came 10 after they opened so i got my food very fast, in about 2 minutes. i got the original steak pepper lunch bowl and it was very peppery but it was still good and filling. i enjoy eating here but it’s usually very busy and about a 5-10 minute wait. i think it’s a bit expensive but a nice place to eat at. staff is always nice and attentive. would recommend coming here if you get the chance“

“I have eaten here twice. Had the spicy miso both times. It was good. Spicy too. This is inside the Hmart. Many other little food shops and a central eating area. Prices seem a little high. I would eat here again though. Wait for food preparation was a little long too but there were at least 3 orders in front of me so to be expected. Overall good 👍🏾“

“Ordered Yasai catering for a work lunch and everyone loved it! The workers are super friendly and they made sure we had all of the utensils&sauces for each dish. The sushi & chicken Katsu was delicious! 10/10 will order catering again 😊“

“Just had late dinner, last minute. I found them open. It’s a nice idea. It’s something different than others. The service was fast was looking better than our picture on the website and was more rich with ingredients for this reason I do rate as a five star.“

“I absolutely love this restaurant! It's my favorite lunch spot – the service is always excellent, and the food is fantastic. Their lunch specials are great value, and the dishes on the regular menu are also delicious. They can even accommodate large groups! Highly recommended!“

“We would give this place ten stars if we could. We ate there last Wednesday and it was our first time there. Food was excellent! We ordered beef teriyaki/tempura and chicken teriyaki/tempura.The house dressing on the salad was amazing! Everything was amazing. Our server Terry provided us with top notch service. Terry was very attentive and regularly refilled our drinks and checked in on us. We will be back there again!“

“Quick and friendly service, food is yummy!.😋“

“Gurume has become a place we go to at least once a week, especially for lunch. Their lunch specials are a great deal, and most importantly, their food is very good. High quality at a great price. They are very accommodating for my son’s diet. Staff and service are always wonderful.“

“I normally don’t enjoy shabu shabu, but I was surprised with how much I liked the the quality of the meats and the ambiance at Miyabi. Maybe I’ve just been cheating myself by not spending a little bit more for higher-quality shabu shabu. I’m a fan of their crispy garlic. Attentive and friendly service from Chris and Alyssa made for an excellent lunchtime dining experience.“

“i like the food, big serving & it’s worth the price, i hope they willnot increase the price or lessen the service.“

“Robata Wasa at the Irvine Spectrum is such a solid spot if you’re craving quality sushi with a fun, energetic vibe. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels elevated but still relaxed. dim lighting, modern decor, and a lively buzz that makes it perfect for a night out with friends or a casual date night.

The fish is incredibly fresh. You can taste the quality immediately, buttery salmon, clean and slightly sweet hamachi, and melt-in-your-mouth toro that doesn’t need anything extra. Every piece of nigiri was balanced and beautifully presented, and you can tell they really take pride in their seafood selection.

Service was also top-tier. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They checked in at the perfect times and gave great recommendations without being pushy.

Overall, Robata Wasa delivers on all fronts, fresh fish, creative dishes, great service, and a cool atmosphere right in the heart of the Spectrum. Definitely a spot worth coming back to.“

“Everything was amazing to the food, the atmosphere and service!“

“What is there to complain about? I always come by whenever I'm in the neighborhood. Still one of the few deals thats under $10 for an actual meal.Their Pork Cutlet Curry ($9.25+tax) is my go-to for its volume and the home-y feeling it gives you.The gentleman at the front gingerly took my order and my food came out ~10mins. Mind you, this was on a Tuesday afternoon (2pm)I prefer this locaction sometimes compared to its sister location in Costa Mesa. The choices here are limited, but you get the quiet and convenience.Tip: There's a parking in the back corner of the mall where you have direct access to the food court instead of parking and walking through the front. If you can find it...“

“Pretty good ramen and sushi. Our group ordered the tonkotsu black and spicy miso ramen. Both were very flavorful and filling. We also order the salmon bento box and chicken katsu with curry. Both the bento boxes were good, but katsu seemed a little dry. It's better with the curry, but I wouldn't order it again. The sushi was great. We got the baked salmon roll and crunch fire roll. Both were fresh and delicious! I would come back to try the other ramen.“

“I love � fukada“

“Such nice service and delicious sushi, udon/soba, sake, yam fries, edamame and tempura! (pictured is the Tekka naki and Unagi and California , crunchy eel roll, and spicy tuna roll!“

“With a charming and intimate atmosphere, Taiko Japanese Restaurant is ideal for romantic dinners or special occasions. The comfortable interior design and beautiful views create a pleasant dining atmosphere. Taiko is impressive with its creative and innovative Japanese cuisine. Dishes are carefully prepared with fresh ingredients, demonstrating authentic flavours and culinary expertise. Famous dishes include exquisite sushi and sashimi platters, as well as delicious teriyaki chicken and miso cod. Despite being a high-end restaurant, Taiko is reasonably priced and offers excellent value for money food quality and service.“

“Amazing sushi-rolls! Service is awesome👍🏻“

“There are 3 locations in Orange County but my favorite location is Irvine. The second location would be in Costa Mesa because they do serve outdoor I can bring my fur baby. I love hot pot in general but I must say Mokkoji hot pot still my number 1 hot pot place out of all. I love their Fire Crab Soup Base which no other hot pot has this flavor. I normally ordered the Surf & Turf which they offer a large beef plate but you would pick your beef choice of cuts and the price is different as well depend on what cut you choose. Beside the beef plate it came with seafood plate contain half lobster, scallops, salmon, white gulf shrimps and shrimps paste. As for appetizer you can pick between garlic shrimps or something else. But because I always get garlic shrimp so I wouldn’t remember what are there other choices. Come with drinks and desserts as well. But this time I just ordered the combination of beef and shrimp since that’s what I felt like at that moment. Also they offer unlimited greens, but not Enoki Mushrooms or Tofu, ect….“

“Delicious Japanese food & sushi! 😋“

“Ramen was delish, it was pretty busy and took awhile to get a table for 8, but if you have a smaller party and aren’t starving, for sure get some!“

“We were a party of 12 lunchtime
on Dec. 06, 2025 . Exquisite
Ambiance , Superior Menu, and
Outstanding Customer Services
delivered by Emma, Tiffany and Ali.
Rest assure to return for more memories !!!
Thank you Owner & Staff .“

“Our meal was delicious and the service was amazing“

“It was excellent! We’re big fans of sushi rolls, and this place was recommended to us by friends — we loved everything! Especially the Los Angeles Roll and the Bluefin. The fish was incredibly fresh and just melted in our mouths. Highly recommend to everyone!“

“Best Pokee in the Irvine location. I highly recommend this place.“

“Joe Biden sucks here too!“

“Phenomenal food, extremely fast service. Always busy, but usually you don't need to wait long because their service is super fast and the food comes out very quick. Great efficiency and well run establishment with excellent quality food.“

“The taste of fresh fish with warm rice and crispy nori is unbelievable! If you want to try something different from hand rolls, try cryspy rice tartar, it's good. And my own lifehack for those taking care of calorie intake: I eat miso soup before my meal so I'm not that hungry anymore. Green tea is also a great drink because of its health benefits. Sometimes you have to wait for about a half of an hour to be seated, I believe you can check in on the website prior to arrival.“

“Came here twice and food is really good. Seems to be kind of quiet which is nice. Really liked the dinosaurian egg and Mars roll, might try the ramen next time. The sashimi was fresh and well prepared, which is super important! Recommend :)“

“Houston Location: We arrived at our reservation and waited 10 minutes for the hostess. Once seated, we were uninstructed on how to order. Sushi chefs explained the process. Our waiter arrived 10 minutes after, taking our drink order. The app arrived before the waters, followed by the drinks after we ordered and received the sushi. The manager noticed us looking for our waiter but was often in the corner on his phone or socializing with the hostess. The sushi chefs were also on their phones while making the sushi, which was unhealthy. Despite the germy seasoning, the food was amazing.“

“Oishi Shabu Shabu in Irvine is a great spot when you’re craving a comforting hot pot experience with plenty of choices. They offer a wide variety of meats and other proteins, so it’s easy to customize your meal exactly the way you like it. The broths are flavorful without feeling too heavy, and there’s something for everyone, whether you prefer something rich and savory or lighter and more refreshing.

One of the things that really sets Oishi apart is how fun the atmosphere is, especially for families. They use a few robot servers to bring items to the table, and it adds a playful touch that kids absolutely love. It keeps the experience entertaining while still being efficient and well-run.

Overall, Oishi Shabu Shabu is a solid choice for anyone looking for a casual, enjoyable meal with good food and a bit of novelty. Whether you’re going with kids, friends, or just stopping by for a comforting solo dinner, it’s an easy place to enjoy fresh ingredients, good flavors, and a laid-back vibe that makes you want to come back.“

“They were super busy, as in slammed, NYE with to-go orders but still maintained friendly and personable service. Best of all the FOOD turned top tierrrr!! Them being busy didn’t affect or impact the quality of my order, which I was kind of worried about. Best wagyu Ever and the jalapeño bombs are the BOMB!! Honorable mention the spider roll, always a hit. Can’t miss, everything I’ve had so far is good.“

“el sushi es bueno la comida de Alex es asquerosa“

“Good sushi, good service and good prices. Perfect and right around the corner.“

“I was a patient at Hoag Irvine. For lunch I decided to have delivery from this Japanese restaurant.
All I can say was that I'm glad I did.
The sushi was very tasty and fresh with nice size portions. I'll be back with friends minus the hospital stay.

Cheers“