Order Hako Takeout or Delivery
Hako Photos
Business Info
HAKO ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Hako
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Getting the food hot and fresh bumped up the stars at Hako! Even though there's always a wait, once you order the food comes out quick. Server was great to check up on us a couple times.
Great price for the quantity and quality of food. Flavors are spot on for the crunch roll. Katsu breading a little dense but fried really well. Dressing was a bit strong and heavy for the cabbage. Katsu sauce also kinda meh. The shining star was the curry. Nice and spicy and great with the katsu. Definitely would come back.
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.
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.
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!
It's been so long since the last time I had Zaru Soba, he brought me here and I dived for it. Everything hits the spot, and brought back good memories from the past 10 years. Little cute spot serves varieties of katsu, sushi roll, and noodle. This place packed up and long line, but worth the wait, I have patience for it :) . The service is very attentive. I would be back whenever I could drive again. Located in strip mall, plenty of parking.
Large portions and fair prices. Service was great too but it is very crowded so get there early. Expect a wait. Rather small interior Sauces and sides were great. Definitely Korean inspired. I wikl say I like the katsu itself better at kagura in Costa Mesa. But as mentioned earlier - basically everything else is better here. Salad had a more creamy mayo based sauce and I typically prefer a ponzu based one but that's just personal preference. Agedashi tofu was pretty standard. Very ginger forward which was nice. Udon came out piping hot and had a lot of umami flavor from the mushroom.
Delicious! Come during off times to avoid a wait, add Curry to whatever you get and be happy because you get to eat the yumminess! Yes, you sit close to other parties, but you have enough room to get in between the tables so not too close. It is close enough to know all about the people's life next to you.... I really hope Tom calls you back btw. The katsu sauce is not a dark sauce that you might be used to, it tastes like a peanut sauce, I prefer the curry to eat with katsu. The chicken and pork are both good, the adjacent table to ours got the cheese katsu and that looked delicious as well. The sushi is skippable in my opinion, but don't let me stop you.
This place is packed. If you can come early, do it. The food is worth it. Been here a couple times and had good experiences both times. Food comes out hot and fresh pretty quickly. Servers check in timely but don't hound you. Only disadvantage is there is only one bathroom. So come prepared or time it right for facility use. Clean and welcoming environment. No complaints and will be coming back again. read more
Great Katsu joint in the middle of Irvine! This place is very consistent, from the service to the food. Typically, you can expect a bit of a wait on weekday nights, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour at the peak. Upon entering and being seated, we were served relatively quickly. The wait staff was attentive to our needs and refilled waters frequently. This restaurant has a lot of seating and is good for small to medium size parties. We all got the curry katsu and enjoyed the dish! The meal is quite filling for the price; it comes with with a large cutlet of pork, curry sauce, katsu sauce, rice, various pickled veggies, and a small portion of miso soup. The food was standard, with the star of the show being the curry sauce! Highly recommend to dip the katsu into the curry and have some rice w/ curry as well. The karaage was also good too! Overall, I would recommend this place for those in the area looking for katsu and who don't mind a small wait. read more
Hako is an Irvine staple and is a must-visit every time I'm in the area. I haven't met a single person who wouldn't be down to get Hako, or had a bad experience here. Knowing how expensive tonkatsu can be, this is a relatively affordable option that nearly halves the cost at some other restaurants. The Hako Tonkatsu comes with an entire pork cutlet, each piece fried to perfection with an audible, satisfying crunch with each bite. The Cheese Tonkatsu is $2 more expensive, and comes with less meat, but each piece is smothered in melty cheese seemingly designed to result in a picture-perfect cheese pull. In my opinion, the Hako is much better value. The tonkatsu sauce had an unexpected tang, and the radishes offered a nice palette cleanser. Comes with rice and shredded lettuce, with are the perfect pairs. All packaged nicely in a portable box with custom engraved chopsticks; even the to-go experience matches perfectly with the clean, minimalist interior. I've been here three times and have never sat inside because of the busyness, which should be expected. We ordered over the phone about 10 minutes before arrival. Checking in, we were able to use the restroom, and by the time we were out, our food was ready! How convenient! Tonkatsu steals the show at Hako, and while they have other items (like sushi and soba), they are definitely overshadowed. Maybe one day I'll get to sit inside. And try the miso soup, which is not offered for to-go orders. read more
Haven't been in person but it was the first restaurant I ordered from when I moved to OC. I ordered the soba noodles with mixed tempura and a side of spicy curry w/rice. Everything was so delicious, and servings were big. I have ordered this combo every so often since and will be going in person soon! read more
I love tonkatsu, so I was really excited to try this place, and I was not disappointed. The pork tonkatsu is delicious and so crunchy with every bite with the tonkatsu sauce. Every tonkatsu meal comes with a side of miso soup, rice and cabbage salad. The price is reasonable for how much food you get, so definitely come hungry! I tried my sister's hamburg beef tonkatsu and it was equally as delicious. Definitely for those who prefer beef than pork! The service was really good and the wait isn't too bad for a table. The place itself is popping and comfortable to sit in to eat. Come here if you want a great tonkatsu! read more
12 hours ago
Another amazing meal and experience at Hako! Took my husband with me this time and luckily we did not have to wait. He tried the tonkatsu with curry while I opted for a cold soba on a hot summer day. The katsu was juicy and delicious as usual. The cold soba was so refreshing with great texture. The service was friendly and swift. Truly everything that we hoped for! read more
8 days ago
Food and service were really good. The chicken katsu also comes with a very satisfying soup. The cabbage could use slightly more dressing but it doesn't take away from my contentment with the dish. Would come again. read more
1 day ago
2 days ago
Wow, wow wow wow. Ive seen the reviews, youve seen the reviews - but you really gotta just try Hako for yourself!!! Deliciously crispy and served with amazing sauces. My fish katsu was like the best fish and chips you could want, minus the chips, plus cabbage salad and miso soup and fluffy rice! All for a very decent price. I think i paid around $37 for both of these massive meals. They let you take out and you get a little container of the sauce (the brown one next to the miso soup in my pics) with your box! Its delicious, trust. The food comes out piping hot and relatively quickly considering the place was full when we visited. They have a handy yelp waitlist but we only waited about 10 mins. Parking is easy. Serve staff were friendly and helpful. It's a little tight of a squeeze inside the place, but we were sat at a booth on the outside so we had a bit more room. Maybe ask for a booth if you feel you might need some space! read more
This restaurant is suuuuper popular & you can only join the Yelp waitlist in-person (they don't accept any reservations!!) My party waited for a little over an hour to be seated. In complete honesty, it was nice to try this once, but I don't think that it was worth the wait. It's nice that all katsu dishes are served with rice, salad, and miso soup, however, the taste was average. Staff were nice and service was relatively quick considering the entire restaurant was packed. read more
Hako is one of my favorite spots in Irvine all around. It will always be one of my options when I'm thinking about what I want to eat because it's genuinely just so good. It is typically busy compared to your average restaurant here, for good reason. The portions are good, especially for the price, everything is fresh, and the taste is great! This time around I got the chicken katsu and it did not disappoint. The batter and fry doesn't make you feel greasy after eating, which is an issue I have at some places, but not here. You always get miso soup, cabbage, rice, and katsu sauce to dip in no matter which katsu option you choose which I love. It really all compliments each other and helps balance out everything. I would say every item you can try is going to be good as I've came so often and tried a variety of their dishes, such as their hamburg beef katsu, hako tonkatsu, zaru soba (which is honestly underrated), and more. I'll probably continually come back here and will always recommend it to others! read more
22 days ago
I finally got the chance to try Hako and all I can say is wow! Wish I had started coming here sooner. I tried to their cheese tonkatsu plate which also came with a side of cabbage salad, rice, pickled veggies, and miso soup if you dine in. All in all, it was about $16 before tax/tip. The cheese tonkatsu was very delicious. It had a good ratio of cheese and meat, and the pull from the melted cheese was just right. Perhaps what stood out to me though was actyally how it was perfectly fried on the outside. Each bite had a clean, crisp finish without it being greasy at all. Inside the store, there are only a handful of tables and booths, so during peak times, there may be a little of a wait. However, service here was super efficient and friendly. I will definitely come back yo try all the other tonkatsu on the menu! read more
6 months ago
Rating: 7/10 This place is overrated for how popular it is. There's a line basically every day. We waited about 40 minutes for a party of two at 6pm on a Thursday. Pork katsu was decent, but nothing special. It feels like quality has slipped over time as the restaurant has gotten busier. Still solid, just not worth the hype. Shrimp Tempura was okay, but the shrimp pieces were pretty thin with not much meat. Spicy Curry was probably the best part of the meal. Really good flavor and works well as a dipping sauce with the katsu. Dragon Roll was not bad, but if you want quality sushi go somewhere else. So my fault for ordering this lol. Note: Their katsu sauce is blended with peanuts, so definitely check if you have any allergies. Overall, not a bad spot, but doesn't live up to the hype. read more
Hako gets a little forehead kiss and a goodnight every night. We've been to Hako more times than I'd like to admit over the last year, and we've never had a bad experience. The positives about Hako! They're quick. Once your order is in, your food will be out shortly after. The quality of the food always feels fresh. Portion sizes are huge, so come hungry or be ready to leave with left overs. Only downside is the location size. We've only been sat immediately once, and that was around 1:00pm, so be prepared to join the wait list once you arrive. However! We've never waited longer than 35 minutes. They close at 9:00pm, and will cut off the wait list around 8:00 if it's busy, so give yourself ample time to visit. Main plates: - Chicken Katsu is the best. Perfect crisp, chicken is juicy, and I love the katsu sauce. My girlfriend enjoys getting spicy curry on the side with it. I always want to try their others, but it's hard to stray from the chicken. - Nabeyaki Udon is soooo yummy. Broth is flavorful, noodles perfect chew to it, I definitely get lost in it a bit when I have it. Sushi: - Tiger Dragon Roll is my go to if I order sushi. I've had many of their rolls, but this is the best in my opinion. Appetizers: - Potato Croquette, I dream of you every day and constantly think of the next time we meet xoxoxo please order these - all their tempura!!!!! - Gyoza is gyoza. I feel it's the same at most places, but if you want a familiar and comfortable appetizer, get yourself gyoza - Miso soup my beloved, so full of sodium, but so full of happiness! I love their miso soup. read more
6 months ago
So delicious!!! Sometimes the wait can be long but the food is worth it. Plenty of seats inside and the food comes out in a reasonable time. The restaurant is super clean and employees are very friendly Cheese tonkatsu 4/5 wish it had a little bit more protein but other than that very solid. I love the katsu sauce it comes with Nabeyaki Udon 5/5!! So yummy! Kind of reminds me of sukiyaki broth. The soup is pretty big and you could share the dish between two people Hako Tonkatsu 5/5 crispy and delicious. The protein is a bit thin. Flavors are great read more
4 months ago
guys... my fiancé loves katsu and he says he would truly d word for this place bc he loves it SOOO much!! like WOW. and ofc i mean that as the highest compliment!!!! hako is tucked away in an irvine center that has tons of parking, but it can still be pretty packed so keep that in mind! the restaurant itself isn't too large either, so the wait times can be high if you don't get there outside of peak hours. they do have a yelp waitlist though, so utilize it!! the restaurant is always clean and in order, and service is always so quick, kind, and on top of it. here's what we tend to order: - hamburg beef katsu: my meat of choice will always be beef, and the beef katsu here is SO juicy and flavorful. it's my favorite and i dream about it LOL - hire katsu: my fiancé's choice! a nice pork katsu, it's always cooked to perfection, nice and tender, and just wow.. NO NOTES. on top of the katsu itself, the salad is always delicious (love the dressing!), miso soup is heartwarming, i love the pickled onions/jalapeños and radish, and the DIPPING SAUCE??? i need the recipe!! ok i'm done but pls just know: LOVE THIS PLACE DOWNNNN. will be back soon!!!! :-) read more
2 months ago
We live in San Diego but this is our 4th time eating at Hako, as it has been our favorite tonkatsu spot in SoCal since we tried it just over a year ago! There is always a waitlist (even on monday afternoon) but we have never waited longer than 15-30min. Service is efficient and friendly. The crowd generally seems to be young and vibrant and makes Hako a nice lively place to have a filling lunch. Cheese Katsu (with curry) (5/5): this is always a hit with us. The cheese pull goes crazy and it is a large reason we always return! We love the curry as well! Hire Katsu (2/5): sad to say this one was a bit of a disappointment. I wish we had taken a picture but the pork had been pounded extremely thin to the point where i only really tasted the panko. To my knowledge, this was supposed to be a more premium cut since it's more expensive than the other pork katsu. I never judge anything based off of value, but this was dry and burnt to a crisp ): From the side profile of the cut, it appeared that one layer of batter and panko was thicker than the meat itself. So far, we have had more good experiences than not at Hako, and prefer not to let this particular experience deter us from returning again. We hope future trips will prove to us otherwise, but until then, as for the quality of our meal, I hope this can be looked into. read more
I had high expectations for this place, but for me it was just okay. The food is mid -- not bad, but nothing that really made me say "wow" either. We ordered the cheese tonkatsu, fish tonkatsu, crunchy roll, and beef yaki udon. The cheese tonkatsu was just okay, but the fish tonkatsu was better. The crunch roll tasted like your typical sushi roll. The beef yaki udon, however, was good -- the flavor was well balanced, and the beef in it was really good. The service was nice. As soon as we were seated, they gave us water right away, which I appreciated. The place does feel a little cramped though. The tables are very close to each other -- it honestly felt like one wrong move and I might spill my food onto the next table. Overall, it was just okay. read more
I went to Hako in Irvine while trying to find a place for a friend who loves katsu, and we came across this spot. It was actually a place we had all been wanting to try for a while, but every time we thought about going the line was always super long because of the TikTok hype. Since the hype has died down a little, we finally decided to go try it. We ordered the Fish Katsu, Cheese Tonkatsu, Hako Tonkatsu, and the Love Dragon Roll. The food definitely lived up to the hype. Everything tasted really good, and the fish katsu was probably my favorite. It was crispy on the outside and really tender inside. The restaurant itself was pretty busy, and seeing all the other dishes coming out to different tables made everything look so good. It definitely adds to the excitement of trying the food. One thing that was a little concerning though was when I mentioned that I have a peanut allergy. The waiter who helped us was super nice, but he accidentally forgot about it and brought me a sauce that had peanuts in it. Luckily I asked again just to double check, and he said he forgot. It was a little scary because I could have eaten it without knowing, but he quickly apologized and substituted the sauce for me right away. Aside from that situation, the food was great and the overall experience was still really good. It's definitely a spot I would come back to again. read more
7 months ago
We came here around 5:00pm on a weekday and were seated instantly, which was surprising since they are always super busy. Our server was really nice, attentive, and patient with us, checking up on us very often. The restaurant itself is really clean, but also pretty small, so I would suggest coming before 5:30pm to avoid the wait. The food itself was soooo good. I ordered the cheese cutlet and added curry for $3, and the food came out within 10 minutes. I was surprised by how good the house sauce they give you was, to the point where I felt like I didn't even need the curry. The cheese cutlet was delicious as well, with a good amount of cheese, but also a good amount of meat. It came with rice, miso soup, salad, and some sides. The miso soup was also noticeably very good, and so was the salad. I didn't expect to like it so much, but the sauce on the salad made it good enough to take home! Overall, I would definitely recommend Hako. It's all around very good and the portions are great for the price point! There was so much food on the tray they brought out that it could've been enough for two people to share. read more
my boyfriend and i decided to go during our lunch break...good thing we went early to put our names down before clocking out for lunch since the wait was about 55 minutes on a monday but once we were seated and ordered our food, it came out in about 10 mins which was really fast! both the chicken and pork katsu were so yummy and cripsy and i really enjoyed their homemade katsu sauce! it had a nice tangy flavor to it. the sides were also really good my only complaint would be that my rice seemed to be overcooked or had too much water since it was pretty mushy. other than that everything was delicious and if you order dine-in you get a free miso soup which is nice! would definitely come again (but make sure to come before ur hungry because there will be a wait) read more
The food was delicious. The hostess was beyond accommodating. Our server was not friendly or it seemed like she wasn't happy. We laughed it off but her work attitude could use some adjusting. The curry tonkatsu was so good! The spicy curry had a great spice level. Not unbearable. Gave a good amount of heat. For our party of 7 (2 toddlers included), we sat comfortably in a booth in the front. The portions and price point were of great value! Super delicious food. Parking was super easy. We arrived a little after 12 pm. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated. read more
Best katsu ive ever had!! My friend and I came on a Saturday afternoon and my was quite busy. We waited for around 20 mins, so not too bad but would reccomend joining the waitlist thru yelp so you dont have to wait. We ordered two cheese tonkatsu which came with a salad, miso soup, and a bowl of rice which is lowk a steal for $16. The katsu was so nice and crispy and the cheesy was so yummy and gooey. The katsus that ive had before were quite dry and soggy but this one was so tender and crispy! The salad and sides were also so delish I actually devoureddd. Will be comin back read more
8 months ago
Oh my gosh I am so happy that I stumbled upon this restaurant on yelp. I was intensely craving a good-quality chicken katsu curry, and I left satiated and with leftovers! Apparently Hako can get pretty busy, but there was no wait when I came by for a late lunch on a weekday. Staff was nice and took my order right away. The chicken katsu was super crispy, tender, flavorful, and not dry at all. Perfect texture. Of course, the katsu paired so beautifully with the curry sauce which was about $3 extra which I thought was a fairly reasonable price. The portion was an amazing size too. I enjoyed the addition of miso soup, shredded cabbage, and radishes too as they helped to cut the richness of the katsu. But don't get me wrong, the chicken katsu didn't even make me feel that heavy or bloated unlike other spots. Overall, service was fast and organized. The food quality amazed me. I'm already planning my next visit to Hako. read more
3 months ago
5/5 If you ask me if I want to go, I will say yes. Always. I can never pass up the Hire Katsu. The pork tenderloin is so tender, moist, flavorful and the crunch of the katsu is so perfect. Everything down to the katsu sauce is just so tasty. It can get busy, so plan accordingly. read more
Hako is a restaurant that specializes in katsu. They have various plate options like pork, curry, chicken, fish, cheese, etc. I just got the original Hako Tonkotsu, and it's honestly one of the best katsus I've had in OC. Katsu is not greasy/heavy at all. Portions are large. I highly recommend this place. Place does get really busy, and sometimes, waitlist gets long to the point that I think it may be more worth to get katsu at the Hmart food court for very slightly worse quality but better value. read more
I love coming to Hako for takeout, especially when I'm craving their spicy tonkotsu curry. It's consistently flavorful and one of my favorite comfort meals in the area. That said, it can get very busy, and today was a good example. There were people waiting outside, and it took quite a while before my phone call was answered to place an order. I really wish they offered online ordering, as calling in during peak times can be frustrating. Once the order was placed, everything else went smoothly. The portions are very generous--one order of the spicy tonkotsu curry easily lasts me two meals. My food was ready by the time I arrived, neatly packed, and still hot, which I appreciated. Despite the ordering challenge today, the food quality and portion size are why I keep coming back. read more
What really sets them apart is their fish katsu. It comes in a generous portion, and the fish is soft and pairs well with their tartar sauce. Service still excellent as always, but again, always be prepared to wait as you can only wait list in person and they're always busy! Since it's gets busy, it can get quite loud inside so may be difficult to hear conversations. They also clean up the table right when you're done so they can try and promptly seat the next party. They aren't rude about it though, just don't be alarmed! read more
This is my new favorite place for a tonkatsu meal!!! Tonkatsu was huge, perfectly crispy, and not dry at all. The meal came with rice, salad, pickled veg, and miso soup. The sauce for the tonkatsu was deliciously savory. We waited about an hour and a half on a Wednesday night. The food came out fairly quickly after we ordered and was so worth the wait. Casual ambiance. I wish they had a larger space though as it would help alleviate the long wait times probably. I'm no stranger to waiting for food though, and this place definitely lives up to the hype. read more
1 month ago
3.5/5 Cheese Pork Katsu - Very yummy and cheesy. Chicken Katsu - Good but a little dry Spicy Curry - Flavorful but not very spicy All of the meal sets are served with miso soup (tasty), cabbage slaw (dressing similar to thousand island), tonkatsu sauce (not my favorite version), pickles and rice. It is very hearty and filling. Expect a wait. We went Friday at lunchtime and waited 30 minutes for a table. read more
We ordered takeout from Hako for dinner and I loved it! The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable, and it was also high quality. I had to call in my order (they are on Doordash but the prices are lower if you call). It would be nice if you could order through their website, but it's not a big deal. We got shrimp tempura, chicken katsu with a side of curry, and an Alaskan roll. The food was all delicious! My daughter could not get enough of the Alaskan roll. It's simple and classic, especially if you love salmon. The chicken katsu was really good and I enjoyed dipping it in the curry. They don't offer potatoes or carrots in their curry sauce like some other Japanese restaurants do, which was a small disappointment, but I still really liked the curry. It had that "spicy" but not spicy flavor that comes from all the flavorful spices like ginger that are in the curry, but it wasn't hot (we ordered mild). The chicken katsu was a good portion side and it came with a side of rice and angel hair shredded cabbage. Cabbage isn't the most exciting vegetable, but I'll take it. The shrimp tempura was great too. The takeout bag was packaged really nicely and the katsu came in a fancy little box, so even though we were eating at home it felt a little more upscale. But the prices were pretty on par with other sushi restaurants around here, so it's definitely affordable! read more
Hands down best katsu spot in Irvine! Their portions are huge at reasonable price, food is flavorful and meat is tender. Cheese katsu has the stretchiest cheese pull. The salad and dressing that pairs with the katsu is light and gives the perfect balance between the fried katsu. Sides like pickled cucumbers and takuan are great as well! There are plenty seating but wait time gets busy during dinner hours (5-6pm) so avoid those times if you want to get in quicker! However, it is not long of a wait. The interior is simple and vibes are great, staffs give great service too! read more
Hako is one of the best restaurants in Irvine, hands down. The quality and quantity is consistently amazing whether dine in or takeout. Prices also can't be beat here. You could easily feed two people with one katsu portion - I opt for the chicken every time. Always so crispy, thin, and tender! The sushi here is pretty solid too; while nothing fancy, the fish is tasty and is of good quality. Takeout never takes longer than 15 minutes no matter how busy the restaurant gets. Everything is always packaged so nicely. The dine in wait can run pretty long but it's definitely worth it to eat everything as it's nice and fresh! read more
More info about Hako
4790 Irvine Blvd
Ste 103
Irvine, CA 92620
Directions
(714) 389-4202
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.hakoirvine.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Hako Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Hako
Is this place Japanese or Korean owned?
It is Korean-owned. I once interviewed here and the owner was Korean.
I was wondering, what type of dressing is used on the cabbage salad? Thanks!
I believe thousand island
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
84 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
1 year ago
2 years ago
11 months ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
8 months ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
