The scallop risotto at Cafe Hiro is one of those dishes you keep thinking about long after the last bite. The scallops were perfectly seared...tender, buttery, and just the right amount of caramelized on the outside paired with a creamy risotto that was rich without feeling heavy. Every bite felt balanced and intentional, with flavors that complemented each other instead of competing. I have not had risotto like this elsewhere. That's why I keep coming back. Service is very good which I like. The ambiance feels like a cozy cafe. And the watermelon margarita? Easily one of the most refreshing drinks I've had in a while. Light, slightly sweet, and incredibly crisp it had that perfect fresh watermelon taste without being overly sugary. It paired so well with the richness of the risotto and made the whole meal feel elevated yet effortless. Overall, such a standout combo comforting, refreshing, and definitely worth going back for. read more

Cafe Hiro - The salad dressing is so delicious. - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

Great food as always! Plenty of parking. Cozy quaint decor. Service was off last night, but they did have a larger table of 7 and one of 5; usually tables of 2's and 4's. read more

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This is one of the places I feel reviews don't do enough justice. I've come to this spot many times and it's always a hit. I've had a number of their specialties, my favorite being their salmon risotto. Their Kabuto pork cutlet is good, but a bit tougher than I'd thought. If they double fried (first fry being at a low slow temp) I think it'd be o good. Servers are what made the experience better. Gentlemen (I forgot his name) but was extremely attentive. Respectful and aware could not praise that guy enough. The deco/design of the place is very warm. Clashing colours that match with the type of food you enjoy. Highly recommend. read more

You wouldn't expect a great restaurant in Cypress. I'll be honest. I have a few dishes here, but I really come back for Uni Pasta. I haven't found too many places to eat it and Cafe Hiro makes a great one. They've been here for years and they are consistent. You're gonna have a great meal! read more

Yoooooooooooooooooooooo! I've been coming here maybe 4-5 times a year--not super often, but enough to know how good it usually is. Unfortunately, my last two visits have been pretty mediocre compared to how I remember it. One thing I noticed was that the Japanese chef who's usually in the kitchen wasn't there. The staff mentioned he was on vacation, so maybe that explains why the food didn't hit the same. Service was also really slow. I did see a "help wanted" sign outside, so I get that they might be understaffed--but it still took about 30 minutes just to place our order, and another 35 minutes for the food to come out. We started with the calamari, but it came out without marinara or tartar sauce. When I asked, the server said he had to check if they even had any--which was kind of surprising. They did end up having it, but only after I asked. I ordered my usual--kurobuta pork cutlet with curry--which is normally cooked perfectly, but this time it was overcooked and not tender like it usually is. My mom and sister got the seafood uni pasta, and they also said it didn't taste the same as before. I'm hoping this was just an off couple of visits. I'll probably come back when the main chef is back and give it another shot. read more

Cafe Hiro - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone I know. Worst bowl of spaghetti I have EVER had in my life. I ordered takeaway for mentaiko spaghetti. The woman inside made me wait outside for more than 30 minutes and couldn't have been ruder and more aggressive about it. The actual spaghetti itself wasn't worth the wait, the hostile and racist attitude to put up with, or the $30 price tag. My college dining hall had better tasting over-boiled spaghetti than that. The Mentaiko spaghetti was extremely overboiled and had the wrong flavors. It was soggy, sweet, bland, and downright DISGUSTING. It was coated in sweet milk like sauce and had a bitter aftertaste to it. The noodles had no salt and it was truly the most disgusting thing I have eaten in a very long time. The lack of customer service made the whole experience all that more vile. I highly recommend no one to get any sort of food from there. How someone can charge so much money for so little food with such foul quality is mind boggling to me. I have no idea how this place even stays in business. There are so many restaurants in the vicinity with far better quality of service and food. I suggest going to Unico Tokyo Pasta, Pasta e Allegro, Akane Chaya, just to name a few. Seriously. Anywhere but Cafe Hiro. read more

Cafe Hiro - $30 for so little food. - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

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Had a lovely four course meal on Valentine's Day. I really liked the ambiance in here, it gives a homely hole in the wall vibe compared to Ini (which has similar food). Uni Pasta was amazing as was their bread pudding. However I was not a fan of the service. I made a reservation and asked to be sit in one of the EMPTY tables available for guests. Whoever the waitress with the blonde balayage was completely gave me attitude and coldly told me that we were getting the booth. I didn't know that a customer making a request was grounds for irritation. If you wonder why you didn't get a tip, there's your answer. read more

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My favorite thing to order here is the shiso ume pasta with seafood mix. The uni pasta is also really good. The salmon with veggies is a lighter entree and come with a small bowl of rice so it's good if you aren't very hungry. The salmon with risotto is on the heavier side cause of the risotto. We like to dine in here once in a while cause they take reservations. It's on the smaller side and quaint but I like the vibe. Service has been good but also slow when they're super busy. I like the sauce with the complimentary crudités they serve in the beginning. read more

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It's been over a decade since I discovered Cafe Hiro and they are as popular as ever. I highly recommend making a reservation as there are scarce availability for walk-ins. I came with my boyfriend at opening time and they definitely asked if we had a reservation. During our time there, we saw each table fill up slowly. I noticed some enhancements since my last visit like the cushions on the seats Nice touch. They had a menu for 2 but we weren't hungry enough for that amount of food, so we decided to order by the dish. My boyfriend had the Seafood Pasta ($28) and I had the Sea Urchin "Uni" Pasta ($28). My uni pasta was as delicious as I remembered it. It was well coated and you can see clumps of uni in the pasta. My boyfriend's seafood pasta had a generous amount of seafood. There was shrimp, scallop, calamari, mussels, clams, and mushrooms. Nice and chunky. The seafood felt like a large portion since the protein it comes with were more hearty whereas the uni pasta is a light coating, but it is sufficient for my appetite. Looking forward to coming back to try more of their menu. Maybe we need to recruit some friends because they have an omakase that requires 4 people due to the large portion size. I really want to try their risotto. read more

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I've been coming here for many years & it's always been consistently good. Service is always kind & efficient. I've tried many items on their menu & I have no complaints about the quality of their food. For my recent visit, my friend & I came here for dinner on a week night. Ambiance is a hole in the wall hidden gem. Place was still packed on a week night but we got seated right away since we made reservations. We had the scallop carpaccio, pork katsu curry, crispy tofu, & bread pudding as dessert. The scallops were fresh, pork katsu was crispy, & tonkatsu sauce had a rich bold flavor which I love. The tofu was soft & the texture on the outer layer had just the right amount of crisp. The bread pudding was delicious & wasn't too sweet. I will continue to dine here as long as they are around. read more

Cafe Hiro - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

Came here with a reservation. Pretty tiny restaurant but the food here tastes so delicious and unique! It's not often that you find an Asian fusion place that does it right. My favorite was the seared tuna dish. The sauce is very umami and light. Highly recommend. And it also comes with rice !! The chicken katsu was also perfectly crispy and juicy inside and the curry had a nice sweet kick at the end, I think from apples in the sauce possibly? I'd say I'd try other options than the seafood spaghetti tho. The flavors were a bit straightforward and it tasted like seafood + tomato with not much else. They give a lot of protein with that though which was nice! I'd love to come back again and try more of their menu. It's a lovely restaurant and everyone here is super nice. read more

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This is my favorite Japanese Italian spot! You honestly can't go wrong with any dish that they have to offer. I've tried such a variety - Peking pork, mushroom salad, uni pasta, osso bucco, hamburg curry, risotto, panna cotta, and croissant bread pudding. Each dish was so good. If I had to choose some favorites to recommend, it would be the uni pasta, risotto and croissant bread pudding. Service is always good. All the servers are super nice and interior really gives off cute & homey vibes. Perfect spot for a date or catching up with friends. read more

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I really enjoyed the food at this interesting little Japanese/italian fusion restaurant. We arrived without a reservation, but they found a table for us at one of the tables that's in the hallway. It is not at all like a Japanese restaurant, but more like an Italian themed room. There are clouds and Vines painted on the ceiling and a few pieces of art. It is very cozy and intimate. There is a framed copy of the article about this restaurant from the Los Angeles Times. I'm not going to lie, though--where we were sitting I could see that the base of the wall near the could use a really good cleaning. I tried not to let it bother me, but it kind of did. I kept reminding myself of the "pass" health department certificate posted in the window. No worry, though, because the food more than made up for it. There is a Zagat sticker in the window from a past year. Our server was really good and very sweet. She came to check on us often, which is always a good thing. We weren't terribly hungry, so we ordered light. We ordered: *Beef Tataki *Ahi Tartar *Karaage Curry *Chicken Salad The food was delicious, especially the Tataki. Yummmmm!! The portions were generous, too. This place could definitely be on repeat for us. It does look like it's very popular, as reservations are recommended and the place was full when we left. Honestly, it would easily have been 5 stars for me if the walls down by the floors had a good scrub. read more

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Haven't been back here in more than 10yrs! I was in the area and came in for a quick lunch. The food is as good as I remembered it. The uni pasta is still delicious, and this time I also ordered beef tataki. I never had this before so I wanted to try it. It's decent, you can really taste the beef. Adding the ponzu sauce with the grated radish and spring onion made it taste a lot better. If ever I am in the area again, I will stop by again. read more

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Very prompt and attentive service. No wait at noon on a Saturday. Fair prices. Decent option for dates. Inside is very cozy. You can make reservations but I wouldn't come with a huge group, maybe 6 max. Food flavors overall are very light and subtle. You get full, but no food coma. Scallop carpaccio (4.5/5): fresh and has a very slight kick from the curry oil. Overall quite subtle but tasty. Chicken and mushroom curry (3/5): decent, creamy, but wish it was a little more flavorful. The rice was not impressive and was more on the wet/mushy side. Seared sesame seed crusted ahi tuna (3/5): Large portions but the tuna was cooked quite a bit more than a sear. End up being like a looser pork texture. Comes with rice on the side. Wish it was more flavorful, but the bok choy is much more salted, and combined with the sweet snd savory sauce, it offsets the lack of flavor in the tuna. They seem to give kids their own sectioned kids plate, which is nice. read more

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Cafe Hiro is a textbook hole-in-the-wall. You wouldn't think much of the unassuming restaurant at first glance, but the inside is decorated with just the right amount of whimsy and charm that makes you question if you're really still in Cypress. The ceiling is painted to look like the sky, and the walls create the ambiance of an outdoor bistro on a Parisian street. There's even a moody little alleyway strung up with fairy lights and warm lighting where you can sit. Service was great. The workers are very kind and professional. The menu consists mostly Japanese style western food - Hamburg steak, pasta, and the like. Their signature dish is the uni pasta. As someone who isn't the biggest uni fan, it's delicious. The uni flavor is strongly present without the typical uni texture, blending beautifully in the sauce. The rich, creamy sauce is lit up delightfully by wasabi, surprisingly lacking the harshness you would expect from typical wasabi. The pasta was cooked perfectly as well. The Hamburg steak and risotto dishes are also decent choices. The appetizers are also definitely worth getting. I recommend the Peking pork bao buns and the fried chicken. The cook was perfect and the flavors are delicious. The standout dish for me, however, was the bread pudding with bitter caramel sauce. It was genuinely the perfect dessert. The bitter caramel sauce complemented the soft bread pudding. It was not too sweet and the burnt butter taste from the caramel added a depth to the dish. I highly recommend Cafe Hiro. read more

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I've had this place bookmarked for so long because I LOVE a good seafood risotto! I took myself on a solo date here and it was so cute inside. It'd be perfect for a date or a quaint little spot for dinner with friends. I was seated at the bar and the decorations on the walls and fairy lights felt very cozy. The servers were all really attentive and personable and I was extremely happy with the service the whole time! I started with the mango soju cocktail, which was delicious and carbonated! For the main, I ordered the seared scallop risotto. I thought the flavors were incredible and the risotto was perfectly creamy. It was a bit too salty for me, but everything else was perfect so I still finished the whole thing. The scallops were also huge and seared to perfection! The dish came with a side salad, which I didn't really care much for, but the dressing was good. I'll definitely be back to try out some of their other menu items! read more

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Easy parking + no wait time + friendly service + small interior but very cute cafe vibes that was a fusion of Japanese/Italian. We got the ahi tuna tartar ($14), uni pasta ($28), and seafood pasta ($28). Appetizer and pasta dishes were done well, though I wish there were more scallops in the seafood pasta. read more

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A Japanese-European fusion restaurant, sign me up! Cafe Hiro offers French and Italian cuisine with a Japanese twist, really the best of both worlds, in my opinion! There is usually a decent amount of parking in the plaza, but the restaurant itself is quite small. It can get a bit tight inside when you have to squeeze between tables. Reservations are recommended! I really enjoyed their Seared Scallops Risotto. It comes with three pieces of perfectly cooked scallops over a mushroom risotto. The citrus yuzu sauce it's in is so tasty! I also like that it comes with a pretty good sized salad. Crisp lettuce, topped with cherry tomatoes and shredded daikon, it's such a refreshing way to start the meal! The Hamburg Steak & Menchi Combo is also good! You can two steaks, one is hamburg steak style, and you can choose either demi-glace or ponzu sauce. And the other steak is the breaded menchi katsu style that comes with tonkatsu sauce. It also comes with a side of potatoes and pasta, which isn't mentioned on the menu. This entree comes with a salad as well. On another occasion, I also tried the Sauteed Spinach and Sea Urchin Pasta, but I don't think I'd get it again. There didn't seem to be very much uni, and the sauce was very watery which I felt diluted the flavor. I'd recommend going for the risotto or hamburg steak instead! Service is good, and they're very helpful when you're making a reservation over the phone! read more

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5/5 service 4/5 food Food - nothing quite stood out, but overall all the dishes were good/decent We ordered: - Sautéed mushroom salad - Seafood & uni risotto - Spicy caviar pasta (mentaiko) - Scallop carpaccio - French fries - Crispy whole fried shrimp read more

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I came for my birthday on a reservation by my brother's recommendation so I looked forward to the food. The service and ambiance inside was really nice. We got their Scallops as the appetizer and it tasted very fresh with a hint of curry. The main food was a bit underwhelming more for me than my brother. I got their seafood pasta and my brother got their carbonara pasta. Both pasta's tasted very subtle. The seafood was fresh as well in the seafood pasta but the noodles and the sauce was underwhelming, I couldn't taste too much of it. The carbonara my brother had was also a light subtle taste but his was more flavorful than mine. To me, it wasn't worth the hype and I'm not sure I'd give it another chance. read more

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I visited Cafe Hiro this past weekend and overall thought it was a nice spot. I ordered the seafood risotto, which was creamy and had a nice mix of different seafood from scallop to shrimp to clams. It also came with a salad which to be honest I didn't really care for (although in fairness I don't like salads in general). For dessert I ordered the panna cotta with berries which I actually enjoyed even more than the risotto. Overall the food was good - just fairly expensive for the amount. Service was fast and very nice. There was also plenty of parking in the lot. Would come back if I were looking for a nice restaurant in the area. read more

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Ughhh... this is one of those neighborhood spots I so badly want to keep to myself, but they deserve all the love (and your money). Japanese tapas? Yes, please. Affordable and absolutely insane in the best way possible. Like, who gave them the right?? Let's break it down: * The tartar? Chef's kiss. Light, fresh, and disappears faster than my paycheck on a Target run. * The uni pasta? Creamy, dreamy, and makes you feel like you're dining oceanside in Japan (but you're really in a Cypress strip mall and loving it). * The chicken curry? Not your average Japanese curry--this one pulled up with a personality. Rich, flavorful, and low-key life-changing. The vibes? Cozy and unpretentious. Perfect for a date night that says "I have taste" or a sake-filled catch-up with friends where you pretend to share but actually eat most of the tapas yourself. Already planning my return like a toxic ex who knows it's too good to stay away. read more

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Intimate spot for homely French/Italian/Japanese influenced dishes. The space is decorated as if you were sitting outdoors at a cute little cafe. The food was as delicious as it looks! We got: Uni Pasta (4.5/5) - One of the better spots to get uni pasta. The sauce is less creamy / milky based and more focused on the actual uni flavor. It's topped with nori seaweed and a dallop of wasabi. Noodles are cooked al dente and absorbs all that delicious sauce. You can also add in additional uni at an extra cost. Osso Bucco (5/5) - The meat is oh so tender! The sauce is on the lighter side and less condense than how this Italian dish is usually prepared due to the Japanese influence. I actually preferred this version more. It doesn't come with rice, but you can add it in which pairs with the dish well. The dish comes with mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. Beef Tataki (4/5) - Tender thinly sliced beef cooked medium. It's paired with a savory soy based sauce, green onions, purple onions, and daikon. I appreciate that the dish wasn't drenched in sauce, and you can add it on your own - so you can truly appreciate the beef flavor. Service was wonderful & friendly! I'd definitely come again to try their other dishes and desserts. read more

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Super helpful to make a reservation before coming as this place gets busy! And keep in mind that they are only open for select lunch and dinner hours. Staff were helpful but a little reserved. I got the Japanese eggplant and mushroom pasta. The soy sauce sauce was plain but garlicky, tasty and good! The bonito flakes added a good flavor and texture. And they don't skimp on the eggplant or mushroom which I appreciate! Overall, a tasty dish which could even be eaten over 2 meals! Just wish there was a little more spice (they have 1 chili) read more

Cafe Hiro - Japanese eggplant and mushroom pasta - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

Cafe hiro is such a gem! I came here with a group of 5 and decided to share the family course, which was about 49$ a person. It came with 3 apps, 1 salad, 2 pastas, one entree, one risotto, and one dessert per person. It was such a great deal and the perfect amount of food to share. The portions were generous and the speed at which the food was arriving on our table was good. For the apps, we got the smoked salmon burrata, scallop carpaccio, and beef tataki bites. The beef was cooked well and I enjoyed eating it with the soy dip and the grated radish. The scallop carpacio was fresh and the daikon rounds on top have it a refreshing crunch. Smoked salmon burrata was also good as well. For the salad, we got the mushroom salad and it had great umami flavor. The truffle dressing was so good that I wish I had bread to dip in. For our pastas we picked carbonara and uni. The uni pasta came with wasabi on top and it helps to cut the creaminess down. Carbonara was also solid. For entrees and risotto, which was chefs choice, it was the NY strip and scallop risotto. Risotto was cooked perfect and the NY was a good medium rare. We finished our meal with an assortment of desserts and my personal favorite was the bread pudding. Service was attentive. It feels like a cozy little mom and pop shop. We stayed till closing because we lost track of time catching up with our friends but they didn't rush to kick us out which was very nice. I would love to come back and try more on the menu read more

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Went here for lunch and decided to go meatless. I got the fried tofu appetizer, mushroom salad, and mushroom curry. The fried tofu was a bit chewy instead of crispy, and the mushroom curry tasted more tomato-based than I expected. But the star of the show was the mushroom salad! The daikon added such a great crunch and the tangy flavor was amazing. I literally finished it lightning speed. It's cute a spot, and I'd definitely come back just for that salad. read more

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Went during the limited lunch hour window on a weekday and there was quite a crowd. The restaurant inside has a nice vibe casually laid out with nice artwork on the walls. The workers always greet u and check on u frequently. Menu has variety and specials too. Ended up getting a pasta with clams and enjoyed the umami of the broth. The free panna cotta dessert was a nice refreshing way to end the meal. This would be a nice date night dinner experience as well. read more

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Ordered lunch for work today through their website. It was easy and their staff were nice when they called to let me know our order was running late for delivery. Dined here once maybe 2 decades ago and i remember enjoying their food. I love anything uni so i was super excited for their uni pasta (added mixed seafood) and it didn't disappoint. Uni/seafood was fresh and noodles were al dente. Everyone at the office enjoyed their meal and we were definitely satisfied. read more

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I've been coming for years but hadn't been in a couple years as it's not very close to me Friendly and prompt service Love that it comes with a salad but could use half the amount of dressing it comes with It's refreshing and always fresh ingredients though Got the uni spaghetti, my go to favorite here. It doesn't come with large uni pieces unless you get the extra uni for $9 Still creamy and flavorful and delicious read more

Cafe Hiro - Nori came on the side (not pictured) Asked for no wasabi - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

Everything tasted so flavorful and amazing. The steak was cooked perfectly along with the salmon risotto. I did not necessarily like the hamburger patty and rice or the cold pasta. If I came back I would order the steak and salmon. Inside is cute. It's like a hole in the wall with an artsy painted vibe. They were quick to serve us and it was not too crowded. read more

Cafe Hiro - Italian Near Me - Cypress, California

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A great casual dine-in spot that also worked well for a belated Valentine's date. This spot came highly recommended by a local, and it did not dissappoint. They were ready for us on arrival with our 6pm reservation on a Sunday. I am a fan of Japanese pasta, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese eggplant and mushroom pasta. The sauce though slightly creamy was also light. I always enjoy watching the bonito flakes crinkle with the steam. Hamburg steak must be popular, since it was listed twice under the entrees. It came with creamy spaghetti and ?potato. My bf liked it. Choya sparkling plum wine was sweet as expected. The mango shoju cocktail was like a mango creamsicle drink--I want to come back fo this one :) Service was attentive and polite; they seemed to be trained well. The restaurant has several 4-seaters and 2-seaters and can accommodate larger parties on the booths as well. It is more compact like what you might expect to find in LA. Delicious and unique flavors! In addition to the food, the drinks were tasty and resonably priced. Will come back and would recommend! read more

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Cafe Hiro is a hidden gem! Getting there took a bit of a drive from Fullerton... but it was well worth the wait. The prices are not the lowest, but the food is delightful. I had Carbonara pasta. I love bacon, and to my surprise, it had bits of bacon all over it. It's really creamy~ I love it! My mom got Uni pasta, and it has a perfect balance of savory and creaminess. My dad got the chicken cutlet curry. The chicken cutlet was just like regular tonkatsu, but with the curry sauce it was good! For dessert we had the walnut creme brulee. It was my first time having it and I love it! I am a fan. The interior decor feels like a happy town in the morning. I love the design! I recommend Cafe Hiro all around. Will definitely come again. read more

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Great food. A very welcome surprise. Chef owner keeps quality excellent! You will love their menu.

We came at 6PM on a Friday night and didn't have to wait. There is also a choice to make a reservation. The food was great. We ordered the tuna tartar, Osso Bucco, and the uni pasta. Everything exceeded our expectations. The short rip was super tender. The uni pasta tasted so fresh and umami and the tuna tartar was very complex. The interior is also very cute and has a lot of charm. It's on the pricier side but portions are large and I would come back. read more

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Came for dinner 12/20/25. We got the dinner for 2 family course meal. Tempura shrimp salad was just ok, we'll try a different salad next time. Osso bucco and carbonara were perfect. The bread pudding was to die for, and thr cherimoya sorbet was so refreshing. Service was impeccable despite it being a very busy night. We love this place. read more

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Please go and try their risotto!! scallop risotto was It's a small cozy restaurant with awesome food. Will definitely return! read more

Haiku: Cafe Hiro Cozy and quaint spot Japanese comforting foods Service is friendly. --- I always enjoy Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine. I came for lunch and apparently they only serve their popular Seared Scallop Risotto dish during dinner only. I was terribly disappointed, but pivoted to trying the Seared Sesame Seed Crusted Ahi Tuna. It pales in comparison. The complimentary salad and the dressing are still delicious as I remember. Service is friendly and attentive. I'll have to return for dinner and get my seared scallop risotto fix. read more

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The scallop risotto is where it's at!! Scallops were large and seared to perfection and the risotto was very flavorful! Would definitely return for this! While I liked the Peking Pork Bao and the Beef Tongue Stew, I would probably not get them again. Servers were friendly and attentive. The restaurant is on the smaller side and very loud inside, especially when there were children repeatedly throwing heavy objects around during my visit. Why the parent(s) did not stop them, I don't know. Without some sort of acoustic dampening, I would hesitate to come back. read more

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This place is a great little hole in the wall family style restaurant. Been around more than a decade which is awesome to see small business booming. It was packed last night on a sunday evening. We got a bit of everything uni pasta, scallop carpaccio, tonkatsu chicken and pork. everything delicious! supposedly they were one of the first to do the uni spaghetti wasn't too fishy either just right. Definitely go back if I was in the area, its one of those spots no frills just good tasting food. Intimate setting great for small families. I don't recommend more than 7 people I think we were the only large group and it was bit tight setting. Love the kitchen how it was open, they dont even need my review to tell others. its good! read more