Always so good every time we go. Plan accordingly because of wait times. To go is always a good option too.

I usually don't like Chicken Katsu because the panko bread crumbs can be too thick. In addition, it can be dry and since it is fried... it's also a really heavy dish. However, the Chicken Katsu at Hako is a MUST. It's the perfect amount of breading and it's so crispy and delicious. Plus, the cabbage salad balances nicely with the richness of the Chicken Katsu. I can't say enough good things about that dish. There was a reason there was at least one Chicken Katsu at every table. I didn't care for the other dishes we got. I'd only come back for their CHICKEN KATSU. read more

Hako - 1/25/2024 Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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the food was so damn good it hits every time fresh n flavorful n you can tell they care about what they're making read more

Hako - Gyoza Chicken Katsu Love Roll California Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Good food! I've tried several of their dishes and all have been delicious, even the sushi. Pleasant service. Clean and roomy restaurant.

Cheese Tonkatsu * serving size is smaller in comparison to rest of katsu options but still very filling * cheese pulls every bite * paired with a tangy and creamy sauce * meat was tender and juicy * crispy but not oily batter * all katsu entrees come with radish and jalapeño sides, cabbage salad, miso soup, and rice * super generous with their portions (even had leftovers) * definitely worth the price and wait * curry did not particularly stand out in taste or quality but is a must to dip the katsu in 9/10 read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Large portions that you can split with someone if you aren't as hungry/want an appetizer. The curry pork tonkatsu came with a salad (Thousand Island dressing), miso soup, pickled vegetables, rice, and the curry sauce. Tonkatsu was lightly breaded and not too thick like a chicken nugget. Wait times are usually long, but the service goes by pretty quickly. Will be going again! read more

Hako - Curry Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Good quantity of food, great taste. I eat a lot too and cleared my plate. There might be a good amount of MSG, because I got a headache, but that also might've been my fault finishing it all in one go. There's a high likelihood you'll have leftovers. Clean restaurant with an attentive staff. read more

Hako - Cleared Hako Tonkatsu plate with a California Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm giving Hakon a 5 specifically for one dish. I only ever the fish katsu here anymore and it hits like no other place I've had. It's crispy and the fish is light and the batter keeps its structure. The sesame sauce they have is also pretty nice and the portion size no matter what you get is really solid. read more

Hako - nabe udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Hako is my new official Katsu place. It's so good and the portions are huuuggeee! I love a good deal. The cheese Tonkatsu came with bowl of rice, miso soup, and some pickled vegetables. Cheesey goodness paired with the juicy pork dipped into that Tonkatsu sauce. Yum! And did I mention they also serve sushi? The service was also top notch! Promptly greeted us, gave us the menu and offered water, and food arrived quickly and safely! Checked in on us about 2-3 times. The best part is when I asked for a to go box to take the left overs, they included a new mini container of Tonkatsu sauce. Very nice and thoughtful! Good amount of seats and decor is modern. Will definitely be back! read more

Hako - Love dragon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Good food , good service A little noisy , no wait lists , Sometimes , need to wait a long time read more

This place is popular so expect a wait, but it is worth it!! We ordered the tempura udon, chicken katsu with a side of spicy curry, and hako katsu. All of it was delicious and reminds us of Japan! The katsu was fried perfectly and has the right crisp and crunch, without being greasy. The portions were plentiful! Overall, a great place. Would recommend! read more

Hako - Hako Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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I like sushi and tempura in this restaurant very much. The service is very warm, but there is a queue at the scene.

My boyfriend and I went to Hako around lunch time on a Saturday, we had to wait an hour before we got seated. We ordered the Shrimp Tempura Udon, Cheese Tonkatsu, and Agedashi Tofu. Shrimp Tempura Udon's broth was clean and good. The tempura was crispy. Agedashi tofu was also really good. My boyfriend really likes the agedashi tofu. Lastly, we ordered the Cheese Tonkatsu with a side of curry (+ $3). My boyfriend likes the cheese tonkatsu with the sauce it came with. The curry was really good, to eat with the rice. The katsu is filled with cheese which is very fulfilling. Overall, this place is amazing for the food. I went here before to try the sushi, which was very good too! The service was amazing! Very friendly and fast. Inside of the restaurant was packed but clean. It's very recommended! read more

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I went here for the first time and didn't have super high expectations but this place with their portion sizes and how good the dishes are really blew me away. I got their hako tonkatsu with the 4 pc gyoza combo. The Hako Tonkatsu comes with rice, a couple sides, soup, and a darker color thousand island sesame sauce. I really did not expect the pork cutlet to be that big of a portion. I definitely think you could order another bowl of rice, and share that hako tonkatsu dish. I would also opt in for the curry as the curry is a pretty decent portion for two people and it's also flavorful. The gyoza was okay. It wasn't mind blowing. The curry is the better move here. I also love their cabbage slaw, it was so good. I would definitely go here again considering there was barely a wait when I came in in the afternoon on a Monday. Their portions are huge at a decent price! read more

Hako - Hako Tonkatsu with 4 pc gyoza combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

This place serves some really good katsu curry! My bf and I came in on a Sunday at around 12pm and there were a lot of people waiting outside. We joined the Yelp waitlist and the wait was only gonna be around 30 min so we wandered around Zion Market and the surrounding plaza while we waited to be called back. I ordered a cheese tonkatsu with spicy curry, while my bf ordered a mild curry tonkatsu with 4 piece gyoza. Our food came out relatively quickly after ordering. The tonkatsu was crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside. The prices are extremely affordable and the portions are huge! We got full less than halfway through and took the rest home. One thing I really like about the takeout is they give you an extra container to put the curry in and give you new katsu sauce so you don't have to mix everything in one box. If you're looking for a casual place to eat katsu curry, then this is the place to be! read more

Hako - Mild curry tonkatsu w/ 4 pc gyoza (top); Spicy curry cheese tonkatsu (bottom) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered chicken katsu and takoyaki and shared it with my s/o and the portions were big enough to fill us both up. Chicken katsu was very crispy just the way I like it and I love how it comes with miso soup and pickled veggies on the side. I don't remember what the dipping sauce was but it definitely tasted like a toasted sesame sauce and it paired very well with the chicken katsu. As for the takoyaki, it hit the spot! Every time I see takoyaki on the menu at any restaurant I have to get it! read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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came as a party of 5, around 4pm, was told 30 min wait then after waiting 45 we finally ask about our table, they tell us 15 more minutes, we wait another 30, its been over an hour and a half and instead of calling our party, they call a different party of 5 that arrived barely 10 minutes ago. if it wasnt for the fact that we went up to tell them of their mistake and were conveniently sitting outside, we wouldnt have gotten our table at all. worst birthday lunch ever read more

We came on a Friday afternoon around 11:15am and the restaurant was about 1/3 full, but by 11:45am, the restaurant was completely full so come early if you are not looking to wait. Service is efficient and fast though so tables turn over pretty quickly. We decided to order the Hako Tonkatsu ($14.95) which is their pork loin cutlet along with the Cheese Tonkatsu ($16.95). Both dishes were served with a bowl of white rice, miso soup and a cabbage salad. Service was very quick and efficient and we received our food within a few minutes. I was excited to dig in and both dishes did not disappoint. The katsu was hot and crispy and stayed crispy even towards the end of our meal. The portions are also a decent size for the price. Both dishes were delicious, but I think I preferred the Hako Tonkatsu slightly over the Cheese Tonkatsu. Don't get me wrong, I love cheese and the cheese tonkatsu tastes great but it was a bit too much cheese, even for me. All in all, I enjoyed my experience at Hako and will definitely be back if I ever find myself near Irvine craving for Tonkatsu. read more

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Great little Japanese restaurant nestled in the shopping center in Northwood. Their menu is not extensive but what they do offer up look really good and the prices are extremely reasonable for a party of 4. I ordered the pork cutlet katsu w/ a side of curry as well as spicy tuna roll. Wife and kids ordered pretty much appetizers e.g. california rolls, gyoza, other sushi handrolls. Service is quick as our order came out in less than 10 minutes. Thoroughly filled my belly with the the amount of food i ordered. Definitely worth a visit and you'll be storing small businesses read more

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One of our friends had this spot bookmarked for the longest time, so when we were in the area we decided to finally check it out! - PARKING - Shares a large parking lot with other businesses, including an H-Mart, so there's plenty of spots! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - They have a Yelp Waitlist tablet for when you arrive at the restaurant - they don't seem to have it available online, but at least you can put your name down and be pinged when your table is ready even if you walk away. The restaurant itself isn't extremely large, but it does fit a good amount of customers. Most tables seem to fit parties of 4 comfortably, although I did see a party of 6 fit snugly into a booth. Once we ordered, the food didn't take more than 10 minutes to come out. - FOOD - Chicken Katsu: All of the dishes come with Rice, Miso Soup, Salad, and pickled veggies. The Katsu is HUGE! I had leftovers for another meal! The Katsu itself was crispy and the meat inside was juicy still. Curry Katsu: My fiance ordered this to try out their Curry, and it was pretty yummy! However I think the Pork Katsu is a bit drier than the Chicken. The portion size is just as big though! Potato Croquette: Really generous portions for this as well, although I did wish there was more flavoring to the inside. We ended up dipping this into the Curry sauce for more taste! - OVERALL - I'd definitely come back to eat more of their Katsu dishes! Would love to try out their Soba one day too! read more

I've been to this location over two dozen times and always had great food, great service without the feeling of any sort of prejudice. Even though there were empty tables in the restaurant, I was rushed and given a check/tab as soon as my appetizer salad arrived. I was like what the heck?? I wanted to order more? Perhaps an entrée perhaps some katsu that I had many times before? But I was just looked at bewildered by the waiter, presenting the check/tab named Will - vs. my waiter at the since the beginning of my entry and seating named Ryan. Mind you when RYAN served me mine normally wonderful seaweed salad. It was missing two of the main ingredients, the fresh avocado, and the sprouts; after wondering why the salad didn't taste the same, I called him over and asked him what happened to the avocado and sprouts. He said he didn't know. He brought me three slivered slices of what appeared to be very spent avocado --- versus the six thick slices normally placed on top of the seaweed. Not to mention, RYAN said he had no idea what happened about the sprouts??? The fact that I had to ask about the two main ingredients listed on the menu! I then immediately got the check from Will and told him I wanted to order an entrée so why was he bringing me the check already?? I ask him to send over RYAN, who eventually came over and I ordered a mix tempura - from RYAN, who had a very confused look on his face. I have no idea why. I finished my lacking seaweed salad, and Ryan brought me the mixed tempura which was excellent, however, when I ordered it, I requested a side of the spicy curry and also soy sauce and wasabi. He just brought the spicy curry side, said enjoy with no soy sauce and wasabi, as he hurried away. Mind you, again there is no waiting line and there were more than two empty tables in the small restaurant. Heaven forbid, I had to wave him down (as he hurried away) to bring those two accompaniments. After he brought a two thimble-fulls worth of soy sauce and a small Hershey-kisses size of wasabi, I thought I probably won't be back... and to think, I'm very simple and not demanding whatsoever. Besides, I've been back to this restaurant at least two dozen times. When getting the final check, I asked the receptionist, Miko, if I could speak to the manager. I told her I wanted to talk to him about the service that evening, which is disappointing among the prior many times I had been there. She pointed out a guy in a gray T-shirt, who was the manager of the evening (named Tony). I could see he looked over the table where I was sitting, and because I was a Caucasian, apparently so, she came back and told me that he was so busy he could not stop by my table. I noticed he dodged himself in the back room for a few minutes. I mean come on? What the hell? So with that said, I paid my bill and did not leave a tip for poor RYAN. As I headed out, I saw the manager Tony in the gray T-shirt, standing in front of the prep bar, and I walked over to him, and I said I was so disappointed he could not even drop by as I had some concerns about the service and the food that evening that we're totally beyond my prior experiences. He told me he did not care. I told him I did care. I told him I did care. What was funny as I was telling Miko at my table of my displeasure, clients on both sides of the table I was at, simply looked at me and nodded their heads... one gentleman was African-American with his Caucasian girlfriend and the other couple to my right were Asian. Let me just say this, I've never experienced a reverse prejudice in Irvine and all of my life, but this manager, named Tony, pulled a fast one on me and told me he would call the police if I did not leave the restaurant! So I left. I told Miko on my way out that she was the one redeemable value of my Hako experience that evening! And she really truly was she was very apologetic, and although I was not looking for any apology, I was simply looking for the on-site manager to take accountability. As I walked home, I thought to call the restaurant, and when they answered, I asked for Miko. I explained to her I was the gentleman who left on my own, very unhappy with the service and the condescending attitude. She again apologize, but I said, no need! I said you were the redeemable factor of the evening. I asked her for the name of the manager Assigned that evening and after Son, pausing, she told me his name was Tony. I don't know who would ever hire and put Tony in charge as an on floor manager, but that was a huge mistake. His attitude was horrible; the fact that he hid in the back room after I requested of Miko that I speak with the manager in charge, was totally pathetic and unacceptable. But thank God for good, earnest people like Miko! I will not be back unless Miko is there --- and waiting tables. While I left a zero tip for RYAN, I left my phone number for the owner to call me on the line where the tip would go on the receipt I signed... I heard nothi read more

Please do yourself a favor and come here. If you're looking for a hefty, delicious lunch or dinner for a great bang for your buck, please come here. My bf's little sister suggested this place after a long day of moving, and everything was fantastic. I ordered the hako tonkatsu with spicy curry on the side as was recommended by our really nice waiter who told us we'd save a little bit by doing so. With the combo, you get a side of soup, shredded cabbage salad which was really refreshing and a side of radish and marinated onions and jalapenos on the side. I was only able to eat about half of it before getting extremely full. Even the next day, it was still delicious. I'm literally ready to come back. This was a great place for a big meal that was so needed. Great place to come with an empty stomach. read more

Hako - Tonkatsu Combo w/Spicy Curry on side - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Pretty solid katsu spot. Chicken was crunchy and serving size was good i opted to not ordering the curry and i did not regret it, the sauce that comes with it was sweet and tangy. The 2 rolls ordered were xaterpillar and rainbow roll also tasted pretty good considering it is not a sushi spot. Smaller restaurant but good atmosphere and the service was fast. read more

Hako - Rainbow roll, caterpillar roll, agedashi tofu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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The curry katsu made me birth children mmm yum. It was so FREAKIN yummy. MMMM and the service was amazing

Our family favorite katsu place in Irvine. Wait is about 30-40 minutes during busy business hours. Their food is delicious and portions are generous. Our kids love this place! read more

A solid restaurant to visit for high quality katsu! Came here with a group of 4 pm on a Sunday at 12 pm. We got seated within 25 minutes at a very spacious table. Restaurant layout is cozy and comfortable. We ordered - fish katsu, hamburger curry katsu, chicken curry katsu, and chicken katsu. Portions are large, and each dish had a side salad, sauce, and miso soup. The katsu was very crispy without tasting too oily. Even the curry sauce was flavorful. My overall fave would have to be the fish katsu because it was flaky and well-seasoned. The horseradish also complemented the fish. They also have sushi rolls on their menu, but I probably would rather order that at an actual sushi restaurant. My group and I left feeling satisfied with our food. read more

Hako - Fish katsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for lunch and it was very delicious! The wait was not that long as well. However, there was a small water leak that fell at our table.. We informed them and they said it was due to the heavy rains. The food was very delicious. The meal was very filling and even had leftovers. The sauce that came with the katsu was soooo good. I will definitely be coming here again! read more

Hako - Curry Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Met with a friend for lunch. Decided to go family style and we each chose something to share. This was a good idea as the portions are quite large at Hako. Salmon sashimi salad is served in a giant bowl and contained much greenery containing mesclun, romaine lettuce, slivered daikon, red pickked ginger, and burdock, all lightly dressed in a subtle tangy dressing. The salmon was enough for 3 slices each. Tasty. Avocado slices were a nice addition if somewhat skimpy. The tonkatsu was quite large in surface area but pounded thin which resulted in it being a bit overcooked. The panko crust was substantial and almost overwhelmed the protein. The katsu is served on a grill platform over a bed of raw thin sliced cabbage dressed in thousand island (ketchup+mayo) type dressing. There was a lot of cabbage but the crisp crunch was refreshing paired with so much fried food. Tonkatsu sauce served on the side with a sprinkling of ground sesame seeds on top, appeared housemade and definitely tasted better than the usual bottled stuff. Takuan (yellow pickled daikon) and pickled jalapeno/onion accompanied, along with a bowl of rice. Gyoza was frozen quality, not bad but nothing special. Service is attentive and eager, I guess they're trying to turn over tables quickly as it's pretty limited capacity seating inside. Overall food and service were good, will return. read more

Hako - Hako tonkotsu combo with gyoza. Huge serving! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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On our way back home Labor Day from San Diego. Stopped here for lunch. Well worth the 30-min wait. The food was excellent! Freshest ingredients and huge portions. Great prices as well. We'll definitely be back! read more

When we got here, it was packed but super clean! We were greeted and sat pretty quickly which was a big plus. Once sat down I had no idea what i wanted, when it came to order I had so many choices I just couldn't pick, that's where Jaden, our waiter comes in play, he described every dish very nicely and broke it down to me, and we were able to narrow it down to what I felt like having the most. I ended up having the shrimp tempura udon, and it was sooooo sooo good! I have been planning on coming back more to try more of Jaden's recommendations! Amazing food, with FANTASTIC service, Jaden made the visit exceptional for me! read more

Hako - Shrimp Tempura Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

The food here is so good! I love their katsus and sobas and there are so many options to try! Portions are large and shareable. Great service and ambience as well. Wait times can be long but be patient because it's definitely worth it :) read more

Food is always delicious when my family comes here! Good variety and generous servings! Make sure to come early before the lunch rush! read more

Hako - Hako Plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

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Arrived at Hako around 6:10PM on a Friday night and there was already about a 40-50 minute wait for a party of 2! However, the wait was so frickin worth it because the food was *chef's kiss*. This is one of the only spots for a solid tonkatsu in OC, so I'm not surprised the wait is so long. We just walked around Zion market while we waited lol. Tonkatsu 10/10 - both of our tonkatsu's were delicious and crispy. the dipping sauce it comes with is full of bold, vinegary flavor. the cheese tonkatsu came out melty and rich. the spicy curry when poured on top of the hot rice was S tier!! Love Dragon Roll 10/10 - this baked salmon roll seems to be broiled or torched on top, so the smokiness of the burnt edges really adds such an amazing depth of flavor. The rice to fish ratio is surprisingly good and for only $13.95. The service was also great! Seems to be a super quick service restaurant, but they were really attentive and nice. The interior of the restaurant is updated, clean, and modern, and a little small which contributes to the wait time. Overall, would definitely come back for a tonkatsu fix. read more

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The food was delicious and the portions are very generous considering the affordable pricing. Our waitress was very friendly and took our order immediately after being seated. We arrived on a Thursday night around 8pm and it was busy with multiple groups standing outside waiting to be seated (we waited about 40-50 minutes). But we didn't mind the wait because we knew the staff was working hard to make sure everyone was taken care of. Definitely recommend trying this place! read more

Hako - Hako Tonkatsu (front) and Chicken Katsu (back) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Irvine! The chicken katsu is amazing!! One of my go to comfort meals! It is so much food for the money! Definitely recommend!!!! read more

PEANUT ALLERGY WARNING! Their main Katsu sauce contains peanuts, but this in not stated anywhere on the menu. Management should really post this warning on the menu and website for those with allergies. read more

We went on a Friday night and only waited 5 minutes during dinner time! The price was really good for the portion size. I could barely finish. The katsu was perfectly fried and crispy, the sauce is tangy, sweet and compliments the katsu. It's a good bang for your buck. I would go back if i'm craving katsu around the area! Overall solid place read more

Hako - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

This was my first time coming and food was great, but unfortunately I have to give this a 1 star because it affected my health. I ordered the cheese katsu and once I received my order everything looked and tasted great, until I tried their sauce and it had peanuts which I have a severe allergy to it. I even doubled checked to see if there are any warnings for food allergies but there wasn't on the menu and it was not notified from the servers beforehand. Luckily I'm okay but it was unfortunate to find out that the restaurant does not give a notice for their foods ingredients for their customers who have allergies. read more

Hako - Cheese katsu and hamburger katsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Such good food! Presentation excellent and even on Togo boxes. The cheese katsu was delicious and all the little side dishes are fantastic. read more

Delicious and large portions with good service. Definitely 10/10 for those who like katsu and curry!