Michael Y.

Hako has got to be one of the most popular spots in Irvine to grab a plate of katsu. And with a 4.5 star rating and over 2K reviews, I wanted to see whether the place truly lives up to the hype. Friends have told me about how great the food is here, so the expectations were definitely high coming in. I came by around 7PM hoping to have dinner. But to my surprise, the wait was very long. So much so that the people were waiting over an hour to eat inside. Determined to have my fill, I decided to join that wait and was seated closer to 8PM. Now inside, the restaurant was loud and packed. With just about 13-14 tables, the turnover was infrequent and I could see why the place was so busy. Nonetheless, I decided to order their Chicken Katsu with California Rolls (4 pieces) which was $17.95 at the time of this review. The quantity at this place is no joke. The big tray came with a bowl of steamed rice, a bowl of miso soup, three different kinds of sauces, the four California rolls, and the plate of katsu with half shredded cabbage and eight pieces of chicken. And after having all of these items, I was definitely stuffed. Each piece of katsu was thick and had lots of meat inside. Because of this, the $17.95 combo was definitely worth it. Frugal diners might also enjoy the price without the combination at $14.95. Just remember if you choose to order this to go, the katsu items do not come with miso soup. The flavor of the food was overall pretty good, but there were some hiccups here and there. Starting with the rice, it was very fluffy and had a great amount of moisture to it. The miso soup had just the perfect amount of miso paste and the tofu and green onions inside helped maintain the savory broth base. The California rolls that came with it had mostly imitation crab inside. And with a good mayonnaise to meat ratio, they paired well with the avocado and tasted melty. So what went wrong? The katsu. Now by no means was the katsu bad. In fact, the moisture to breading ratio was spectacular. The big problem here was the katsu itself had no flavor to it. While there were a few different dipping sauces on the side, they didn't interact with the meat at all. Instead, the food tasted like the sauce with a crunchy texture. If there was just a tad more flavor either in the meat or in the panko breading, it would have been a perfect katsu. After this experience, I can see why so many people line up out the door for the katsu at Hako. But rather than it being for the taste, it is definitely more for the quantity of the katsu. For that reason, I'd give Hako a solid 4 star rating. Is it the best katsu you're ever going to have? No. Is it the most authentic katsu you're ever going to have? Also no. Is the restaurant on the overrated side? Potentially yes because of the very long wait time and the overall good, not great food. But for the quantity alone, it is a solid spot I would be open to trying again. Wondering for yourself? Get here early to secure a table, it can get VERY busy on weekends.

Karen N.

LOCATION: Northwood Town Center, Irvine Blvd/Yale PARKING: Lots WHAT WE ORDERED: * Curry Tonkatsu ($17.95) * Cheese Tonkatsu ($16.95) I'm way overdue for this review! I first tried Hako probably 2-3 years ago and finally made my way back recently. It definitely wasn't as busy back then as it is now. I arrived around 5:30 PM on a Friday, joined the waitlist, and was seated about 30-45 minutes later. The restaurant is quite small, so expect a wait during dinner, especially after 6:00 PM. Despite how busy it was, the service was efficient, and the food came out in a timely manner. The portions are hefty. Our meals came with pickled veggies, a side of rice, a generous portion of cabbage with Thousand Island dressing, and a bowl of warm miso soup. The curry tonkatsu is a classic staple, and I had absolutely no complaints. However, something about the cheese tonkatsu caught my eye, and I knew I had to try it. The cheese pull was phenomenal. The cheese wasn't too heavy and paired perfectly with the tonkatsu. The tonkatsu itself is a standout. It's perfectly crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside, and not at all oily. The entire meal was delicious and incredibly filling. Definitely a spot worth revisiting.

Linh N.

The line can be a bit long even on a weekday evening!! But line moves relatively fast, we waited about 30 mins to be seated. We order the pork katsu and potatoes croquettes! Pork katsu: 4/5 wow! So crispy and perfectly seasoned. I've visited hako before and I briefly remember their katsu being bigger; however, on this visit, the piece was slightly smaller but breaded bigger. However, it was very good still and good enough to share between 2 Potatoes croquettes: 5/5 my favorite ever!!! I love potatoes croquettes and I was so happy we ordered this dish. The pieces were big and come piping hot so be careful! I thought it was really fresh and I would definitely order this again Service: servers were great and attentive. It was very fast tho, we didn't finish our meal yet and they already brought out the check LOL

Cindy T.

The curry tonkatsu here is so good! The meat is perfectly fried and crispy , balanced by the cabbage salad, and complimented by the miso soup. The curry sauce is delicious and goes so well with the katsu. Loved it! We went on a Saturday afternoon, and had a wait time of about 30 minutes.

Catthy H.

Hako has become a go-to spot for my family and friends. It is easily one of our favorite spots for katsu 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.

Mandro E.

Skip the sushi. sadly you can find better at grocery stores... fish was not fresh, taste was poor, no chopsticks or napkins provided. Super cheap ingredients and small portions. Threw 2/3rds to trash. Wouldn't not order again and do not recommend.

Grace K.

I've had this restaurant bookmarked in Yelp for the longest and finally got to try them out for the first time! Arrived on a Friday night around 5:30 PM and there was already a pretty decent line waiting to be seated. The interior dining area is fairly small, seating about 20 people total. We waited about 20 minutes for a party of three so not bad at all. The service was great, and the staff was super friendly and attentive. The interior dining area was a bit loud which was expected with how many folks were sitting in there eating and talking in addition to the music above, but it's manageable and nothing super overwhelming. Their menu is simple, but at the same time you have plenty of options. The go to order is obviously the Katsu combinations, which comes alongside a cabbage salad, miso soup, white rice, pickled daikon, and jalapeños, and don't forget their addictive katsu sauce. We tried their Hako Katsu, Hamburg Katsu, Cheese Katsu, potato croquettes, takoyaki, and shrimp tempura. Everything was well executed simple yet with a depth of flavor. Check out my photos for these items! We will absolutely be back and so glad that we finally tried this little hidden gem of a Katsu shop!

Fion L.

Hako is a local favorite in the OC, gaining viral popularity for serving up Japanese classics. After seeing the hype surrounding this spot, we finally decided to give it a try. Our order arrived quickly and was neatly packaged in a beautiful bento-style box, making for a great first impression. **Curry Tonkatsu: 5/5** The tonkatsu was the highlight, with golden, crispy breading and a pronounced crunch in every bite. The curry had a bold, deeply savory taste that complemented the cutlet exceptionally well. Steamed rice cut through the richness, while the crunchy cabbage salad provided a light, refreshing contrast. A side of pickled radish and jalapeños added a bright acidity, with the creamy, tangy katsu sauce pairing perfectly with the fried cutlet. Portion sizes were impressively generous, leaving plenty to enjoy later. We also upgraded to a combo with a California roll and gyoza, though both sides were fairly unremarkable by comparison. **Tanuki Udon: 5/5** Simple yet incredibly comforting, the tanuki udon featured a warm broth with a delicate sweetness and plenty of umami depth. The noodles were thick, chewy, and bouncy, making them especially satisfying to eat. An assortment of toppings further elevated the dish, layering in complex flavors and contrasting textures. Overall, Hako absolutely delivered with its delicious, well-executed dishes and is a must-try for anyone craving a hearty Japanese meal.

Deb G.

Oh man, this place was awesome! My mom wanted to try it, as the last time she had visited my aunt in Irvine they tried to go and found a line out the door. I was kind of shocked because my mom is not an adventurous eater, but for some reason she wanted to try it. I put my name on the Yelp-powered waitlist (go Yelp!) and we got in after only a 15 minute wait. We had an excellent server. She took great care of us and answered my mom and aunt's many questions. We started with the mix tempura, which was great. The breading was light and crispy - my fav was the kabocha squash. We also got a veggie roll for the table, which was fine. My mom got the chicken Katsu, I got the nabeyaki udon, and my aunt got the zaru soba. When they came out, it was obvious we had ordered too much food. The katsu was huge! The udon was huge! The soba was huge! You get my point. Let me tell you, I now know why this place does such a brisk business. Not only are the portions huge, but they are delicious. The Katsu was fantastic - crispy, perfectly breaded and cooked, with a barbecue mustard sauce that was to die for. And my udon was simply amazing. It was stuffed to the brim with noodles and vegetables, as well as fish cake and shrimp tempura. The broth was amazing. It comes in a sizzling, hot pot, so the presentation was fun too. I also liked the broth that came with the buckwheat noodles. We walked out with so many leftovers, which were actually pretty fantastic the next day. I'm so glad we stopped in and tried this excellent restaurant.

Laura J.

Came here around noon on a Saturday, and waited around 30 minutes for seat, once seated the food came out fast. Probably one of the best pork katsu I had. I got the the curry tonkatsu, it's a classic tonkatsu meal that comes with rice, miso soup, curry on the side, some slaw and two giant pork katsus. I thought the portion sizes were very decent for the price and what you get. I was really surprised by how thin and crispy the tonkatsu was while still being tender and juicy inside. I like that they had the curry on the side so that the katsu doesn't get soggy, and acts more like a dipping sauce. The other dipping sauce for both the katsu and the salad was also delicious and tasted like an extra tangy thousand island sauce.

Hailey T.

Wowwww. This is such a great spot for quality, fresh food that's fast and affordable. Great cute spot to eat at too. Got in and was seated immediately. Granted, it was at 2p. Order was taken immediately. I ordered the Curry Tonkatsu. The food came out so quick! Within 5 minutes. Large portions and with a wide variety of sides. It actually reminded me of what a typical plate looked like when I ordered katsu in Japan. The katsu was large and crispy. The crunch was thin and satisfying. The curry is a great addition to dip the katsu in or pour over your rice. The salad was fresh and crunchy. Overall, it was a great experience. I'd highly recommend.

Amy N.

Great place for katsu. Get there and be prepared to wait. Unless you arrive during off time- even so just be prepared to wait :) We waited a good 25 minutes on a Saturday at 2pm thinking it was an off time. We tried curry tonkatsu and salmon sashimi salad. Both were very good! The katsu is perfectly cooked and crispy- topping it with curry sauce and it also comes with a side of rice making it a perfect bite. The portion is huge! Definitely can be shared amount 2 people. The salmon salad was also very good- salmon sashimi was fresh too.

Viv N.

Solid katsu spot with big portion sizes!! Great for sharing or taking home leftovers. We ordered the curry tonkatsu and the hako tonkatsu which were both delish! Love the peanut sauce as it reminds me of the one my mom makes for spring rolls. Each set comes with miso soup, white rice, peanut dipping sauce, and a side of jalapenos and radish. For reference, the hako tonkatsu was around $14 while the curry tonkatsu was $17. There usually is a crazy wait so I've been avoiding coming here but luckily, my friend and I came before the dinner rush. We had a 10-20 minute wait for a 4:30 pm arrival on a Friday. Also, there's no time limit per table but I noticed we got a few stares or glances from the owner/manager. It seems they're anxious to seat customers due to the limited seating...but we were only there for an hour which I think is pretty reasonable. Just something to be aware about!