I wished I lived closer!! I would be here more often than I probably should if that were the case…read more My friends and I stopped in for lunch on Saturday afternoon. There was a small wait but it wasn't too bad. The store is in a small strip mall of Tustin. The parking situation seems like it can be chaotic depending on when you visit but it was perfect for our lunch time. The restaurant is very clean, everyone is extremely friendly and quick to respond anytime anything was needed, I ordered the Karaage soba set and it was more than enough food for at least 2 meals. The udon and katsu don combo my husband had was also extremely filling but delicious, everything retained their temperatures for quite some time. I really wished I were closer so I could come here more often

We visited TANAYAKA around 7 pm on a weekday and were seated immediately. There were only a few…read moreother parties dining at the time, and there's plenty of parking available. We love soba, so we were really excited to try this spot and ordered the Soba Sampler along with the Karaage. Unfortunately, the sampler was pretty hit or miss for us. Some of the soba was good, while other portions had a strange, almost soapy aftertaste that made them difficult to eat. The Karaage was where our experience really went downhill. When we cut into it, the chicken was very pink inside and had a soft, almost squishy texture. Both of us believed it was undercooked and weren't comfortable eating it. We brought it to the staff's attention and were initially told that it couldn't be taken back or replaced and that it was supposed to be that way. Regardless, neither of us felt comfortable continuing to eat it, so we set it aside untouched and asked for the bill. After bringing us the bill, the server seemed to notice that we hadn't eaten the Karaage, took the bill back, and returned with a new one that removed it from our total. I appreciated that he ultimately did that, but I still have mixed feelings about how the situation was handled leading up to it. The staff otherwise seemed nice, but between the inconsistent Soba Sampler and our experience with the Karaage, the meal unfortunately left us disappointed.

Closest I'll get to Japan in California. I've tried just about every katsu place in the area that…read moredoes the Japanese style omelette with it and this is as close to Japan as you can get. The curry is aromatic, the katsu is the perfect crunch, and I love their egg preparation. The curry isn't that spicy when you order it spicy but they have extra spices at the table. I'm usually able to stretch the meal into two because of how filling it is. 10/10

Reliably delicious curry. We especially love the Pork Katsu OmmeRice…read more Service is personable. Location a bit cramped, but tables were available.

Hako has become a go-to spot for my family and friends. It is easily one of our favorite spots for…read morekatsu and curry in OC. We've been here plenty of times, and the food has always been incredibly consistent. What really makes their katsu stand out to me is how thin and crispy it is without sacrificing the flavor. I personally prefer thinner katsu, and Hako does it SO well. My go-to is the Curry Tonkatsu. The curry itself is amazing too, with mild and spicy options. Even the spicy isn't particularly hot, so I would recommend that one if you just want a little kick. They're almost always busy, so unless you come during an off time, I'd expect at least a little bit of a wait. Considering how good the food is, I completely understand why, and I'm willing to wait every time. If you don't want to wait for a table, their takeout is a great option too and everything comes neatly packed in its own little box. Overall, Hako is incredibly consistent and still some of the best katsu and curry I've had. If you love this kind of meal and you're in OC, this is a must-try.

order: - fish katsu…read more- cheese pork katsu One of the best katsu in oc! I lovee the mozzarella cheese the pork katsu. fish katsu was also so delish and crunchy, nothing seemed dry. So flavorful with the sauce and nice touch with the sides (pickled jalapeños, onions, and radish). However, I didn't like the miso soup, it was lukewarm and watery. The inside of the restaurant is small so we waited over an hour to be seated for a table of two. It was a Friday night so pretty busy.

My family and I have been patrons of Cream Pan in Tustin for nearly two decades now, even before…read morethe TikTok strawberry croissant craze and even before it opened more locations like in Fountain Valley and Lomita. The quality has just been so utterly consistent. These baked goods truly taste rustic and homemade; I believe the freshness is guaranteed and everything is baked daily. I always buy the shuku pan to make sandwiches my daily lunches and the country bread/sourdough for my avocado toast and breakfasts. The sandwiches made in-house are also recommended especially the chicken katsu and the assorted ham/tuna/egg salad. I like the croquette and egg salad in a bun especially. All of these are savory and flavorful yet subtle. I also recommend any of the pastries including curry pan, melon pan, and of course the strawberry croissants but beyond that I also really like the strawberry banana croissant and blueberry croissant. There is also a selection of drinks made in-house café-style as well as bottled Japanese drinks. The staff are friendly and I really like the space even though it's small. You can find seating outside especially if you avoid rush hours. Of all the three locations, this one is my favorite because it's so rustic and historic and really fits in with the overall vibe and aesthetic of Old Town Tustin and the El Camino Real. Please check this bakery out; it's one of the best in all of SoCal in my opinion.

Cream Pan never fails to deliver! Not only when it comes to fresh, delicious bakery items but also…read morefor savory meals at reasonable prices. The portions across the board are generous, high-quality, and worth every penny.  As you can see from my previous review, their chicken katsu is one of my faves. It is crisp on the outside, and tender on the inside. It's a generous portion with plenty of Japanese curry sauce, and I love the pickled red ginger. There is a kiosk available from 9:30 to 5 pm, where you can now order and pay for their katsu items. I believe the Chicken Katsu Curry was around $17.99. You need to show the receipt when they call your name. I also picked up a couple of sandwiches. The Tuna Butter Roll hits the spot for a quick, comforting lunch. It is packed with creamy tuna, cucumber, and tomato slices--at just around $3.50, it's an incredible value. The Sandwich Box assortment (egg, ham, turkey, tuna) gives you a little bit of everything, making it perfect for a satisfying light lunch on the go. If you're looking for hearty portions at reasonable prices, Cream Pan continues to hit the mark every single time.

Food is always amazing! I love all the combos you can do with toppings…read more The only complaint is the cups. The plastic cups leave a bad taste to any drink you order and they smell. This is consistent in my last 5 visits. I wish they brought back glass cups for all drinks.

We are regulars here, but this particular time it was very hot! I know the weather has been warm…read morelately but we were sweating in there. Not sure if the AC is broken or we got sat at a very warm part of the restaurant but we were melting. Food is very consistent! I cycle between chicken and pork cutlet, usually with the omelette. This time I tried the fried chicken! It was boneless and very meat-y, not just flour! I recommend everyone to try that!

Delicious but unique you should definitely come here. Fantastic burgers, fantastic fries, fantastic…read morecurry very good quality bathroom the service was very good in the atmosphere was also very good.

We were the only people there at 5:30 on a weekday. Fast…read moreservice and good food. Serving size is enough for one adult.

brittney served me so well it made the food taste twice as good servuce was great. I liked the good…read moreand how the servers were nice and how well kept it was, it was all delicous and the place was very pretty

JHANZ JHANZ JHANZ!!! This guy is my new hero he was such a good server he really made my night we…read morehad a huge party and he was so accommodating! If you want a good time pray you get Jhanz as your server. The food was also really good.

Hands down one of our new favorite spots! What I love most is how approachable the menu is--it's…read moresimple without being boring, and the food quality is top-notch. Finding a spot where the food is great and the kids are completely happy is a win in my book. We'll definitely be coming back!

Quick Take: I'd recommend! The curry is really flavorful and amazing, with their combo being nicely…read morevalued for what you get at that price point. Vibe: This Japanese curry spot is relatively new compared to the Chipotle, Blaze Pizza, and Chick-Fil-A neighboring it inside the UTC plaza. The interior is very clean, nice, and simple, but I opted to eat outdoors with my friend since it was a warm summer night and the AC inside was actually blasting. The tables inside that aren't bar seating are directly underneath the AC vents, which make it feel colder than inteded by staff members most likely. Food & Drinks: The chicken was fully-cooked but still juicy, and the outside was golden brown and crispy. The curry was so delicious, and for the price of a combo, the value you get with the entire set (chicken katsu + rice + ginger + green onion + miso soup + curry + soda can) was great. I already said it, but it needs to be said that the curry was really delicious haha! Work-Friendliness: No outlets or wifi was available. However, bar seating looking out into the greeneries of UTC is nice. If you have a book to read or can do offline work for a little bit, then the bar seating is doable. Be warned that at night, however, you might see big rats roaming around UTC (which is not really within Kare Japanese Curry's control, but still worth mentioning if you want to dine outside at night). Getting There: Moderately busy parking lot, with the parking lot immediately next to Kare Japanese Curry being shared with Chik-Fil-A, Target, and Chipotle -- so it might be busy. If you're a UCI student, it's easy to walk over to Kare via an overpass from the flag poles. There's also an Anteater Express shuttle stop closeby for you to take. Service: Really kind staff! I was a bit confused with their combo deal. I misunderstood and thought that their combo deal would be the same price regardless of the protein that you get with the combo (chicken katsu is not your only option). So when I was going through the self-service kiosk they have up front, I took a little bit longer than expected. However, there was a staff member at the counter that was really nice and kind enough to patiently explain to me what the combo deal was. I really appreciated them since I felt a bit slow that night.

Decent place for katsu curry items and service is simple and fast…read more Tried both the fried shrimp and chicken katsu...nice texture. Curry was average, not memorable... got the regular this time, maybe the spicy would be better. Overall, an easy place to enjoy katsu or curry.

My mom stumbled upon this restaurant randomly and we came back the next day to order more food…read more Their service was great and gave a lot of meat in each bowl.

They never disappoint me with their monthly special udon…read more What impresses me most is how the udon tastes great no matter what ingredients, sauces, or cooking style they pair it with. March‑only Crab Tomato Cream Udon -- The best of all the specials. A rich, slightly cheesy tomato‑cream sauce, plus a whole deep‑fried soft‑shell crab you can eat shell and all. The crab is the highlight. May‑only Omukatsu Udon -- Soft‑springy noodles and a nicely fried pork cutlet, but the curry sauce leans salty. A few hidden meat slices in the noodles are a fun surprise. June‑only Spicy Sesame Sukiyaki Udon -- The star is the broth, not the beef. A sesame‑fragrant, mildly spicy (about 1-2 out of 10) sukiyaki broth that's rich without being overly salty, perfect for dipping the beef slices. July‑only Sea Urchin & Creamy Udon -- Sea urchin with a thick, creamy broth. I finish every drop. The noodles stay bouncy even after 30 minutes. One bowl fills small eaters; big eaters like me barely reach 50%. August‑only Prime Beef Steak & Garlic Udon -- A bowl that's both refreshing and hearty. The steak is about 20% fat, 80% lean, with soft, springy tendon that adds texture. Comes with a small bowl of pickled jalapeños--very California. September‑only Cheese Curry Udon -- The chef torches the cheese for about 20 seconds. The udon absorbs a slightly sweet curry sauce and comes with sliced aburaage and a bit of beef. Shabu Shabu Udon -- Sukiyaki‑style sliced beef with a lightly sweet, clean broth. They give plenty of meat. Shigure Soba -- Perfect for this scorching SoCal summer. The chilled noodles come topped with minced meat that has a refreshing bean‑like aroma. Other small dishes worth trying: Homemade Sesame Tofu -- A dense and silky tofu, served with wasabi and the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. Homemade Dashimaki Tamago -- The omelet soaks up a lightly sweet sauce at the bottom of the bowl. Soft, thick, and layered, best enjoyed with grated daikon. 他們的每月限定烏龍麵從未讓我失望。 最厲害的是，烏龍麵不論搭配任何食材、醬料、和做法都美味。 三月份限定酥炸軟殼蟹奶油番茄烏龍麵：所有品項中最美味是這道。濃郁且帶點芝士感的奶油番茄醬汁。整隻可連殼食用的酥炸軟殼蟹，是這道菜最棒的部分。 五月份限定歐姆蛋豬排咖哩烏龍麵：炸豬排和麵條夠軟彈，但咖哩醬汁有點過鹹。麵條內藏有幾片肉是意外的驚喜。 六月份限定香辣芝麻壽喜燒烏龍麵：最棒的不是肉片而是湯頭！帶有芝麻香的微辣（約一到兩分辣）卻不過度鹹膩的濃郁湯頭，蘸壽喜燒牛肉片食用。 七月份限定海膽奶油濃醬烏龍麵：搭配海膽和濃郁奶油湯汁好吃。湯汁被我一滴不剩的喝光。麵條放超過半小時依然口感彈勁。食量小的一碗下肚就飽，食量大如我全吃完不到五分飽... 八月份限定極上牛排蒜香烏龍麵：整晚麵同時擁有炎熱消暑感 和 牛排飽足感 。二分肥，八分瘦，帶點Q彈軟筋（是口感加分的軟筋，不是難咀嚼的硬筋）。附上一小碗醃漬墨西哥辣椒切片，嗯，很有加州風情。 九月份限定炙燒起司咖哩烏龍麵：主廚用火槍將表面起司炙燒約 20 秒。吸飽微甜咖哩醬汁的烏龍麵，搭配油豆腐切片，和少量牛肉片。 涮牛肉烏龍麵：類似壽喜鍋的涮牛肉和微甜甘醇湯頭。肉片給很多。 時雨肉燥蕎麥冷麵：今年南加州夏天熱到爆，這碗冷麵來的真是時候。麵條上的肉末，嚐起來有股清爽豆香。 其他值得一試的小菜有： 自家製胡麻豆腐：口感綿密細勻的豆腐，搭配山葵醬和碗底醬汁食用。 自家製高湯玉子燒：煎蛋吸收碗底微甜醬汁，搭配蘿蔔泥食用。煎蛋嚐起來柔軟厚實有層層疊加感。

super yummy! love…read morethat there's so many different options of udon and soba. there's also rice dishes if you don't want noodles. the staff is super fast. there aren't too many tables inside so there might be a bit of a wait.