What in the holographic charizard?!? All these photos and check ins but no formal review for my favorite Japanese bbq joint in OC? Okay, fine. I'll do it cus I'm a nice bigback. This is the best in Orange County. Not that there's that many Japanese bbq spots overall, but it's certainly the best one I've had. The fact that it's open until 1am makes this so clutch. Probably one of the best places to eat (of any genre or style) that's available during the late hours. If you haven't tried it yet you're a dummy. 美味しい read more

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From celebrating birthdays to date night this is one of our favorite restaurants . Hands down best Kimchi around, we order 2-3 plates of it... All the food is phenomenal, the beef tongue is a must have. The service is always great here too. I recommend calling in and see how their availability is before just showing up as they can be busy especially on weekends. read more

Anjin is easily one of the most well-known spots in OC for Japanese BBQ, and it's great to see they haven't lost a step over the years. If anything, it feels like they've only gotten better with each visit, both in quality and service. What really sets Anjin apart for me is that it's not just about the meat (which is obviously excellent), but the appetisers hold their own just as much. The kimchi is phenomenal, and honestly better than what I've had at a lot of Korean spots. Their cold noodle dish (not entirely sure if it leans more Japanese or Korean) is also a standout- super refreshing and packed with flavour, very reminiscent of Korean naengmyeon. read more

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Can never go wrong with their beef carpaccio and marble boneless short rib! Been going here for years and this place never disappoints read more

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I've been to Anjin many a time - and have yet to do a review! On a crispy Saturday night, the wife wanted some delicious a la carte JBBQ, and I wanted some warm sake, compliments for a spring evening. We were seated promptly, and Anjin isn't as busy during 10pm to close, so if you're looking for an almost all night eatery with great service, you should stop by. We had: - Marinated Ribeye - Regular Ribeye - Scallops The beef carpacio is a must try, and the scallops were large, great to share as well. The Ribeyes were also very fatty and cooked quickly, so please keep your eyes on them. The ribeye was quite delicious, and if you like a chewier piece of meet, the pork cheek with some sauce was also tasty. Great service, with team members continuously taking finished plates off your table, and always there if you needed anything. A classic JBBQ spot, and a must try in OC. read more

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I've been hearing about Anjin alot, just around -- it being one of the best japanese bbq spots around. I think I'd have to agree! This is not AYCE, but a la carte and it being so made me savor each slice of meat more. Im utterly impressed with the whole experience. Not only is the food good, they go out of thier way to make customer service amazing and the interior was beautiful. FOOD: Price: Kinda pricey but not as bad as u think. ~$50 to make my belly full Pork Cheek - $7.95 (10/5) I didnt think the pork would be so up in my list but goddamn is it good. One order comes with like ~7 pieces but it was sooo delicious. It is so tender no matter how much u cook it. One of my favs and I get this every time. Beef Carpaccio - $7.95 (10/5) YES YES this one was soooo good. You arent supposed to cook it aparently but i didnt know. It tastes amazing both cooked and uncoooked but pls dont cook it. The sauce that was on top paired with the thin cuts of meats meltttt in your mouth Salted Tongue $21.95 - (5/5) Sooo good. It is a bit harder bc tongue is like that but it is wayy more tender than other places Ive tried it at. It is beef so i like it a little rare but the chewyness makes it whole. It comes with lemon and dipping it in there is sooo good. Almond Milk Pudding - (5/5) This was surprisingly so good. I assumed it would taste like the chinese almond pudding. It does but it is slightly sour. Great kick and very refreshing sweet treat VIBES: Amazing interiors. Great parking. Great service. Food came out very fast and staff was very very attentive. One of the best ive seen. They would refill our waters without us even knowing and have food out when they see it running low. Since the space is limited, staff can see all tables at once so its very quick if you need anything. At the end of the meal, you get free green tea!! The green tea was very good. Thick and refreshing. read more

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Oh my goodness.... It was my first time here and I was very impressed! The meat quality, the service, the quality all the ingredients were just top notch. We got the beef tongue, marbled prime short rib, skirt steak, pork cheek, and their kimchi. The beef tongue was so good we got a second order of it! The kimchi was exceptional too! I've never had kimchi with a flavor profile like this one. It was slightly Smokey, it was salty with just a tiny hint of spice. Perfect with the meats or just rice. The rice bowls are pretty big but we ended up ordering another one because we couldn't stop eating.... We also got a bottle of asahi to go with the meal and it was perfect! I will say i recommend getting there around 4pm to put your name on the waitlist to ensure a table because it is a smaller place and it does get busy. There is a 90 minute dining limit but the service is fast enough to where that is not a big concern. read more

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Took my GF here for birthday dinner because she suggests it randomly all the time. Got to restaurant at 5 and the wait was two and a half hours. Got some boba and streamed Tulsa king in the parking lot which gave me neck pain. Food and service were solid, had a lot of trouble cooking the meat with green onions so I'll never order that again. Tongue, short rib, and ribeye were bomb. The raw meat thing with egg was weird. We got a salad after we were halfway through the meal and it helped me feel less gross and oily. Would consider coming back but would never wait two and a half hours again. read more

It's been years since I've had Anjin's and honestly, it's still as amazing as I remember. We came to the restaurant around 5:30pm and the wait was only 10-15 mins. Not bad at all compared to the previous 1.5 hrs last time. We ordered the marbled prime short rib, marbled prime rib eye, kimchi, apple salad, and clay pot rice. Everything was amazing. My husband loved the marbled prime rib eye. It just melts in your mouth and was so delicious. I'm sad my meal is over and all I have are memories of the delicious food. Can't wait to go back. read more

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We spontaneously tried out anjin on a whim and we were so shook by how good it was. With a variety of meat to choose from, we chose the beef tongue, pork cheek, and marinated boneless short ribs. My favorite was the beef tongue it paired so nicely with the lemon! We also got the beef carpaccio- this was good but I would pass next time, I thought the sauce overpowered the beef slightly. We also opted to get the cold udon noodles to carb up and it was SO good!! The noodles were so chewy and the broth had so much flavor and coated the noodles nicely. The restaurant itself was small so I can see it getting busy with long wait times but overall a good date night spot or a place to catch up with friends! The service was nice but we had a hard time finding our server throughout our meal to order more so we opted to just pay out. Nonetheless still a great place to try out! read more

Anjin - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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WOW WAS I AMAZED!!! I can never go to any bbq place again, this place was so amazing! Their food and meat quality was delicious. We ordered so many things to try and I could not stop eating. It is not that expensive either, but it is individually ordered. (NOT AYCE) There is usually a long wait (1-2 hours), but it goes by fast. The staff is so kind and helpful, they gave us tips and tricks to cook or even what the best things on the menu was. Everything comes out super fast too, not a long wait for food. PLEASE COME TRY THIS PLACE! You won't regret it and I am so happy I will be coming very often now!!! LOVE ANJIN!! read more

Anjin - Prime Boneless Short Rib - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I've been here now 3-4x over the decade. I would definitely come more but the wait is always too crazy. It's been known to have limited seating, insane parking, and time limit. There's a reason for all the chaos is - the quality of their food is impeccable. This is definitely a Japanese bbq I would highly recommend, but can't come here unless other people put their names down beforehand due to my tight schedule OR they modernize their waiting list. We went last night for a friends dinner. We ordered Saporro, salads, spicy cold noodles (5/5), rice, short rib soup (3/5), kimchi was (5/5!), shiso rice was so delicious as a palate cleanser. We ordered like 4 of skirt steak (#4?) and #8 and pork belly and so much more. We were super full and all the meats were just truly soooo good that I didn't use much of the sauces, but they were also delicious. read more

Anjin - Omgsoooooo good - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Seriously the best. The meat is super high quality, the service is excellent. I recommend the crispy rice along with any of the meat.

Food is always great, but line is always too long and they don't take reservation, so be prepared to wait for an hour

Anjin is one of my favorite Japanese BBQ spots in Orange County. Located close to the South Coast Plaza and also near the Japanese supermarket, Mitsuwa, this place still has quite a following. I have been here plenty of times to enjoy a nice and tasty meal. You have a grill on each table and you get to BBQ different cuts of beef on your table. The service when you get a table is quick but you might have to wait in line. When you first get in you sign your name and phone number onto a book. Then they will let you know how long it will take for you to get a table. There are no reservations. This place still looks like how it has been for many years. And the vibe is just being a small traditional Japanese BBQ spot. Haven't been back since COVID-19 but the only thing that has changed is that you can view their menu on like by QR code and that the sauces are not on the table. But still the same, having a good tasty meal! read more

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Worth the long wait and the price! This is a small restaurant that gets super busy. The first time I went we waited almost 2 hours for our table. I recommend arriving when they open. They let you put your name down to come back to eat at a later time! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the beef tongue, short rib, pork belly, and spicy cold noodles. We tried the lettuce wrap as well and it's a great pairing! The miso paste has a delicious salty umami flavor read more

Anjin is an absolute must-visit for me every time I'm in SoCal. The quality here is consistently top tier -- not just the meats, but everything across the board, from their salads to sides to drinks. I always order a few staples: the beef tongue, marbled prime boneless short rib, and pork cheek -- all of which are incredibly tender and flavorful. One standout for me is their red leaf lettuce salad -- it's my personal favorite. The fresh seaweed, apple slices, and the light yet savory dressing make it incredibly refreshing and unique. It pairs so well with the meat. Another item that is a standout for me is the rice with Japanese mint leaf (Shiso leaf). There's thinly sliced shiso on a hot bed of steamed white rice and the portion is huge!! Th kimchi is also a must in my books -- you can really taste the difference of it being made in-house; it's super flavorful and has the perfect umami taste. Okay one last thing is their spicy cold noodles, it's prepared so perfectly. The noodles are bouncy and chewy and smothered in this delicious sauce. The service is consistently fast and attentive, even when they're busy. Pro tip: if you're planning to come on a weekend, make sure to put your name on the waitlist and plan to arrive 1-3 hours earlier than when you actually want to eat. The wait can get long, but it's absolutely worth it. I came on a Thursday night about an hour before closing and had no trouble getting seated quickly. So if you want a more relaxed experience, a late-night weekday visit might be ideal. The restaurant is in a plaza with plenty of parking space. The space itself inside isn't huge, but it's well laid out with plenty of booths and tables. Despite the high volume, it never feels cramped. One thing to note: Anjin is only open for dinner (5 PM to 1 AM), so plan accordingly! If you're a fan of high-quality yakiniku, Anjin is hands down one of the best places you can go!!! read more

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DANIEL IS THE GOAT! Had a great meal here! I know it's all about the meat here (and don't get me wrong ... the meat is great!!!) But I also really enjoyed the salad haha I was with a party of 4 and we all really enjoyed our meal. We ordered a few plates of meat, the salad, and veggies for the grill. The meat was incredibly juicy and marbled with a good amount of fat. Really delicious meat! We also got ice cream at the end of our meal and we tried every flavor (vanilla, red bean, matcha, and black sesame). The service was also great! Everyone greeted us warmly and the food came out so fast. Daniel the manager is the best!!! I'd definitely come back. read more

Service felt rushed, meat quality was okay. I feel like this is more casual sit down place to eat. I wouldn't come back.

Been coming here for years and their price has significantly increased in just a few months alone. Pros: Harami is always a must, even by itself with no side sauces is super delicious. - Staff is attentive. - Sanchu is nice and fresh and helps make it feel healthier. - Kimchi is sweet for my Korean tongue, but it's Japanese style which my husband loves. - Meat is the gukbap is flavorful and a good portion between two people. Cons: - Price is more expensive compared to their cash only price. - They don't have the negi gyutan anymore! - The soup of the gukbap was pretty weak, definitely trying to cut back on some areas. read more

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Japanese BBQ experiences you'll find in OC. The quality of the meat is unmatched -- melt-in-your-mouth, fresh, and seasoned perfectly so you taste the richness of the cut without anything overpowering it. The star for me? The garlic paste. I don't know what magic they put in there, but it's truly addictive. It takes every bite to the next level, and honestly, I'd buy it by the jar if they sold it. read more

Absolutely loved this place! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. The service was attentive, friendly, and never rushed. Every dish we ordered was beautifully presented and full of flavor -- you can truly taste the care and quality in the ingredients. Portions were generous, and everything came out fresh and perfectly cooked. What really stood out was the overall experience -- great food, excellent service, and a relaxed vibe that makes you want to come back again. Whether you're here for a casual meal or a special occasion, this restaurant delivers on every level. Highly recommend and can't wait to return! read more

Love coming here. The quality is something else. The only problem is the wait time but it doesn't matter because the Marbled Ribeye is one of the best tasting things I have had. read more

Anjin - Marbled Prime Rib Eye - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

#5 are our favorite! #4 and #3 beef tongue. #2 rib eye was our friend A favorite. We put our name jam empat sebelom buka. The salad is also good. read more

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My husband made a reservation right when they opened at 5pm (in person) and they were able to hold the reservation for us while he went to pick me up from my appointment about 7 minutes away. They called him repeatedly to ensure he was going to come back, and thankfully they were gracious enough to keep our table for us, especially because it was super busy on a Friday night. Menus are all provided via QR Code, though we ordered with the waitress. Since everything was ala carte and on the pricier side, including the bowls of rice, we only ordered one appetizer (the Cucumber Kimchi), two servings of meat (the Prime Boneless Short Rib & Rib Eye), the Vegetable Soup, and two bowls of rice. The portion of the rice bowl was on the bigger side, so at least the price we paid justified the portion we received. Now onto the things we tried: 1) Cucumber Kimchi - The presentation was great, as expected of a Japanese restaurant. Everything tasted fresh and crisp, and was a great starter to our meal. 5 out of 5. 2) Vegetable Soup - It is definitely a one-person portion, though I shared with my husband to save money. It was warm and savory, full of seaweed and small cut vegetables. For the price, I wish it was a bigger portion. 4 out of 5. 3) Prime Boneless Short Rib - Like typical Japanese Yakiniku, this came unseasoned. We cooked each peace to about medium-well and dipped into the sauce before consuming with rice. It was just... okay. We have had better Short Rib elsewhere. 3 out of 5. 4) Rib Eye - This was tastier than the Short Rib (both my husband and I agreed). We cooked each piece to about medium-well and dipped into the sauce. You could tell the meat was premium as it still tasted moist. 4 out of 5. Mind you, after our trip to Japan where we ate at a Japanese Wagyu Teppanyaki place, we definitely had higher expectations since the place seems to be Japanese-run (all the staff spoke Japanese). However, my husband and I both agree we have had better yakiniku in the city we reside. Nonetheless, service was good and all the items came in a timely manner. read more

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Host was very considerate in taking our Take Out order. We ordered the Yakiniku Beef bento box (bbq beef, sautéed bean sprouts, rice, salad, Home Made Kimchi, 2 types of japchae, & sautéed spinach.) It was very good. 4.2 out of 5. Wish the beef portion was 0.5 oz more, as it was made to appear like a larger amount, due to being raised by a bed of stir-fried bean sprouts. The kimchi and japchae were great. The salad dressing was delicious. And the beef had a great flavor. Might return in the future. read more

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Just moved to irvine from west la and I made a list. Anjin was on it and highly recommended by locals and by shunji-san himself. I came here expecting something special given the line. But to be quite frank, it was just fine. Reminded me of a little scaled down man puke or woo lei oak before it became genwa. Meat quality was ok. Liked the marbailzed short rib. The normal short rib and skirt steak were just fine. All in all, it was fine but nothing special. Don't think I will be coming back. read more

I've been meaning to leave a review for this place for a while. It is FANTASTIC. Meat is perfectly season and of great quality. The space is comfortable read more

A very cool, limited seating spot that my wife and I were thrilled to stumble upon. The food was phenomenal and very well thought out - so much so that they even had various types of wasabi, which I've seen in only one other place up in San Francisco. I'm shocked this little gem isn't more popular - cool vibes, wonderful service, chef's and food - definitely will be returning. read more

Anjin was SOOOO GOOOD. The meat melts in your mouth and I was truly amazed. We ordered the short rib, beef tongue, cucumber kimchi, rice with vegetable and egg in soup, prime outside skirt, and pork cheek. My favorite was the beef tongue. It was so chewy and juicy. Every bite for each meat was so good. Honestly cannot be explained in words. I would highly recommend this restaurant. This restaurant may get packed so I would recommend going early when they open. I will definitely be back to try more of their different dishes!! read more

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There's a reason Anjin remains so highly rated while it's been established for a long time. My party of 2 arrived on a holiday weekend to put our names down at 4:30pm (they open at 5pm for dinner). We were already 6th on the waitlist but were seated promptly at 5pm. For those who didn't catch the first round of seating, their estimated wait time was 1.5 hours. - Red Leaf Lettuce, Cucumber Salad: Large bowl of fresh greens which added freshness and paired well with the meat we ordered. - Seasoned Mix Vegetable and Ground Chicken on Rice in Hot Stone Pot w/ Soup (with Crispy Rice for +$1): Great for crispy rice lovers. Has a bit of heat. A unique carb to have with the meal. The soup was an individual bowl of seaweed soup. - Pork Cheek (6 pieces): Solid protein that's not too fatty. Great additional if you want variety outside of beef. - Salted Beef Tongue (6 pieces): Delicious and tender. Served with lemon juice for dipping. - Marbled Prime Boneless Short Rib (8 pieces): Realllly nice and fatty. This may have been a bit TOO fatty for my preference. If you like fatty meat, this is for you. - Kobe Style Beef/Rib Eyes (7 pieces): Highlight of the meal. Melt-in-your-mouth soft and tender while not feeling overly fatty. Ambience was nice and the booths give you privacy and space. Their ventilation is also solid so while you do smell a bit like BBQ afterwards, it's not as strong as if you had KBBQ. Would absolutely go again! read more

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anjin is a very good japanese yakiniku place with quality meats. expect to wait a little bit, but it feels a lot like dining in japan, with great service and a warm environment. read more

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Best Japanese BBQ in Orange County! There is always a HUGE wait and they do not take reservations. Their waitlist opens before the restaurant opens, so come early and put your name down, then stay in the area and come back when they call you. The small restaurant is very full and relatively noisy. You have 90 minutes to dine so they can plan out timing for their waitlist. The parking is a disaster outside with an entire section taken up by a complimentary valet which adds no value. Prices are high with a plate of approx 7 thin and small slices of meat starting at $20+. Each order comes with one piece of veggie (corn, onion, zucchini, bell pepper). You can request a specific veggie if you want. Each person should order 2 or more plates of meat, plus any sides such as rice (large bowl that can be shared) and kimchi (the best ever...cannot compare to regular Korean kimchi). They will bring you fresh cups of hot tea at the end of your meal. Overall delicious and worth the wait and the money. read more

Authentic yakiniku in the OC. Prices have gone up significantly over the year. One order of the marbled prime boneless short rib is now $22.95 and one order of the beef tongue costs $21.95 as of April 2025. While the prices may be a little steep, I think the quality of the meat is worth every buck. Everything in this restaurant screams Japan to me. The grill, the Japanese servers, the service, and the fact that it opens late. If only we have something similar in the Bay Area, I would definitely be a regular. One can only dream! read more

Anjin - Salted tongue - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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super good Japanese bbq. You order à la carte. They are pretty quick with getting the items out but we ordered the marbled short rib and it took the longest to come out. Staff is tentative to fill your water but you do have to ask for grill changes. If you order the clay pot rice, they offer to split it into multiple bowls if you are sharing but I wouldn't recommend it. Unfortunately, the waiter didn't make it clear she was doing that and took it and split it so we didn't get to see how it looked on its own before she mixed everything together in the kitchen. It seems like the place gets crowded but if you come right at 5 pm opening there is no issue getting seated. read more

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The food is delicious, the service is fantastic, the prices are great and I love that they are open late. if there is a line, it seems to go quickly. The restaurant atmosphere is excellent. read more

The restaurant looked really nice and cozy. The service was great, and the meat was extremely delicious! Recommend getting the 3, 4 and 8 meat selections. Will always go back everytime I am in the area! read more

Anjin - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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delicious & amazing quality meats!! came at 10pm on a sunday & we still waited about 30 minutes before getting seated. service was lacking unfortunately, had to flag down a server to order & she didn't answer any questions or give any recommendations when we asked for an opinion nor ever checked on us throughout our meal, had to always flag down someone different the homemade kimchi is so delicious & all the meats tasted great, everything here is on the pricier side, but you can taste the quality i also really enjoyed the beef carpaccio, some items do sell out before the end of the night, so if you want to try everything, come earlier in the day! read more

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Finally tried after having this on my bucket list for years. Arrived around 5:30 on Monday night (memorial day) to put my name down for 2 people and got seated around 6:30! Walked to second street in the meantime and they just called me when my table was ready. Food: Salted beef tongue!!!! I could just order this and be satisfied LOL. They had such a good chew to them. The pork cheek and short rib were good but nothing too special. After seeing so many rave reviews over the kimchi, I felt like I had to try it. It was very underwhelming for me. Don't get me wrong, it was good and definitely helped cut the meats but I've had better. I would probably go for one of the salads instead next time. Service: There's a 90 minute limit and the waiters made sure that we didn't forget LOL! The second we sat down, our server asked us if we were ready to order yet. After asking for a few more minutes, she continued to swing by every other minute and asked maybe ~4 more times before we were ready. I understand that they're trying to get us in and out but it felt a little too much at one point. Ambiance: A small restaurant with not too many tables. It was pretty clean though considering that it's an older spot. They served us hot tea and candy at the end of the meal which was really nice! read more

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Still simply amazing. Everything (foods, services) was just fantastic, except the bills...but worth it! read more

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