Joe is very friendly, professional and quick. Spicy Chichen katsu, tonkatsu, Takoyaki , house salad…read more, Chichen wings were delicious and plentiful. We arrived 2:30 pm & got the lunch special for $13.50.

Used to eat at the Tustin one all the time but now since it's closer to me in Costa Mesa, even…read morebetter Service was great and they're open late so we were able to stop by Saturday night without having to wait. The spicy chicken katsu is new (to me) and had a spicy paste they cook into it. Would highly recommend. Pork belly is incredibly crispy and juice too. Got the small size and probably should've gotten the regular. Also tried their agedashi tofu which was great. The crisp/coating on it was so good. Need to trying wings next time.

Got the katsu omelet curry. It was very good! If you're a fan of coco ichibanya you'll like this…read morespot. Biggest thing to note: the restaurant and the parking lot is small. I wouldn't reccomend going if you have a group bigger than 4. Can't wait to go back.

Curry is so yums! It definitely on the sweeter side but I think it balanced well with the spice and…read more"curry essence" powder they provide you. The price for the portion was really good and the chicken/pork was crispy and juicy. I didn't have any complaints! The restaurant was pretty empty when we went in on a Friday night so it was a good place to yap haha. I would definitely come again to satisfy my curry cravings :p Ratings Pork katsu curry: 4.8/5 Chicken katsu curry: 5/5

Had an amazing meal at Kagura--easily one of the best katsu spots I've been to in the area…read more The quality really stands out. The pork was incredibly tender and juicy on the inside with that perfect crispy, golden crust on the outside. You can tell a lot of care goes into the preparation, from the precise frying to how everything is plated and served. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of the katsu I had in Osaka--simple, focused, and done really well. No unnecessary extras, just high-quality ingredients executed properly. The sides and sauces complemented everything perfectly, and the whole meal felt balanced and satisfying without being too heavy. If you're into tonkatsu or just want something done right, this place is absolutely worth it. Definitely a 5-star experience for me.

Solid spot for katsu and hamburg. Almost everything on the menu is fried except for their wagyu…read morehamburg and the pork ginger set. I do wish they had some more non fried options, but the fried stuff, they do well. It comes with the side dishes traditional to Japanese meals, and the katsu is veeeeeery crispy crunchy. Their curry flavor is pretty flavorful too but not mindblowing or particularly memorable. The wagyu hamburg was tender, juicy, but definitely salty. The gravy was alright because it was just salt forward. I loved the salad with it because it cut through the salt, but it got drenched in the gravy because it was put on the same plate. The rice was perfect and the miso soup was good, and I particularly liked the sweet potatoes. I liked the okra side but it was a little slimy for me and a little awkward to put in one's mouth with the goo. But once it was in my mouth it was great LOL. The service was great; they filled up our waters extensively and got everything perfect. Quick, efficient, accurate service is always amazing! And the restaurant itself is very cutely decorated in the Japanese style and I was pretty impressed with how cute it was since the outside can seem like an unassuming strip mall. Yummy food!!!

I didn't know I could love katsu this much until I tried Hako! This is the best katsu I've ever had…read moreand I wish I had tried it much earlier since attending school in Irvine. Each katsu plate comes with a side of rice, cabbage salad, pickled radish & jalapeños, and katsu sauce. BIG portions- you might even question if you'll finish it all. Spoiler alert, you'll most likely not have leftovers because it is that good. With the cabbage salad and pickled radish on the side, it made the meal feel a little bit healthier...at least to me LOL!! The pork wasn't too thin and the coating wasn't too thick either. Crispy and not oily! Service was quick despite being lunch hour! The waiters checked up on my party every so often asking if it was delicious and if we needed extra water. The restaurant is fairly small yet gives off a home-y vibe.

The food here is solid and the portions are extremely generous. Small place, but feels solidly cozy…read morewith extremely friendly staff. They serve their food in trays, which helps keep everything together. Also, love the chopsticks since they're nice and smooth so I won't fear getting splinters. I will say, if you come with friends and everyone wants curry, you only need to order a few curries on the side since the serving of curry they provide is... abundant. The cheese tonkotsu was honestly pretty heavy, lots lots of cheese. Honestly, I wouldn't get it again since I didn't feel like I got much meat simply because of how much cheese there was. I'm sure there was pork, it just felt like an extension of the breading. Every order off the main course section of the menu (fried things) come with miso soup, a side salad, and pickled side dishes that are extremely refreshing. Pork over Chicken for sure.

I have no words to describe the incredible lunch experience we had at Meiji Seimen. It's in an…read moreunassuming strip mall and a true local, hole in the wall restaurant with only a few tables and always a long wait. I recommend checking the current wait time and getting on the Yelp waitlist before heading over. Staff was all so friendly and accomodating and as soon as they noticed I had a purse with me, provided me with a bag hook I could borrow while we dined! That seems like such a small thing but it was truly so considerate and I appreciated it so much!! My fiancé and I shared their delicious fried chicken appetizer (this is a must get - incredibly crispy large pieces and perfect ratio of meat to batter), he got the pork katsu curry udon set which he loved and said was so flavorful, and I got the tempura udon with extra fish cake. The broth was so light and perfect! Absolutely delicious. This is now on our date night rotation. Thank you for the amazing meal and service!

First time here and thoroughly enjoyed it. Came on a Friday evening and the place was crowded. A…read morequick 5 min wait so not bad at all. I have always been a fan of soba and this place gives you a decent portion. We each got one soba and shared a few other dishes. The good came out relatively fast and it was delicious. We also got a sparking sake - which was a little sweet for my taste and pretty low abv. Chicken karaage - big pieces and crispy. Pork cutlet - crispy and juicy. Soba with tempura - nice portion. Flavorful broth and the tempura was light. Overall I would come back here

great food, great service, great vibes! really loved the sampling portion of our dining experience…read moreand the staff is very friendly :)

My bf and I were missing this from our trip to Japan last summer and we decided to finally try this…read moreout. I kept my expectations low because I didn't think it was going to the be the same but oh man I was wrong. This Japanese curry always hits the spot! And it definitely was nice to reminisce our trip. We got the udon and the regular chicken katsu curry.

Miyabi-Tei inside Mitsuwa Marketplace is an absolute hidden gem that has stood the test of time…read more This spot has been around for years and still serves up one of the best Japanese katsu curry dishes in Orange County. The curry is rich, comforting, and full of flavor, paired perfectly with crispy katsu that hits every time. It honestly feels like someone's grandma is in the back cooking with care, and you can taste that homemade quality in every bite. On top of that, the value is unbeatable. The portions are generous, and for the price, it is hard to find anything else that comes close in terms of quality and quantity. If you're craving traditional Japanese curry in OC, this is a must visit. Simple, authentic, and consistently delicious.

Landed in SNA and Miyabi-Tei never disappoints as first stop for meal. The food is consistently…read moregood, the prices are great, and the portions are generous even with how expensive everything is these days. We usually order the chicken katsu curry with salad, and it's always a hit. The chicken is juicy and tender, and the curry sauce is rich and full of flavor. It's such a comforting and satisfying meal. I also tried the mackerel set, which comes with rice, salad, and miso soup, everything was well-prepared and really enjoyable. There can be a line when ordering, but it moves quickly, and the service is super efficient. We got our food within about 10 minutes, which is impressive. Definitely a go-to spot for a delicious and affordable meal!

so delicious!!! i never knew beef tongue could be this good!! a little pricy but i think it's worth…read moreit. the tounge is cooked perfectly where it's chewy and has a bite without being too much. these are packed with flavor and are perfect topped with some wasabi. i liked the soup that also came with our meal service is nice here and prompt. inside can get packed during lunch and dinner hours but seats will eventually open up. can't wait to come again!

As of 4/17/26, they no longer do take out orders…read more Every time we've visited Mitsuwa and the food court, we never got a chance to try Gyutan Tsukasa USA until last month. Gyutan Tsukasa USA is always busy and we were intrigued by the hype since the cost was higher than others. #1-B 12 pcs Gyutan Set The motto on their website "Once you try the oxtongue offered by Tsukasa, you don't want to go to the other oxtongue restaurants for Tsukasa's unique taste!" - and we agree! I've tried ox tongue at a few different restaurants and also even in Japan, but the one here at Tsukasa is most definitely different than the ones I have had at other restaurants in the U.S. The charcoal grilled ox tongue pieces were very thick, and of very good quality. They were easy to bite and chew, which is a huge plus in our books. Yes, the meal is simple, but sometimes a simple meal is the hardest to prepare. The soup was not oily at all and there were plenty of green onions and the oxtail pieces were so soft. Everything was fresh and delicious, from the main entree to the rice and the veggies, and not overly greasy in any way. Yes, the price is higher than others in the food court, but there is a reason why it is also one of the busiest.

Tip was not an option on their screen and that makes me want to come more…read more Tonight was my first time visiting Kare in Irvine. I've been to their Rodeo 39 location before and loved it, so having one at the UTC is perfect for me because of how close it is. The Irvine location is very nice with a clean dining room and good music. The employees at both locations have always been helpful and courteous. I've now tried the Chicken Katsu (on Monday) and the Pork Belly (tonight), and honestly, I still can't decide which one I like more. The chicken was incredibly juicy with the perfect crunch, and the pork belly... omg. So good. The curry was another highlight--super flavorful and tasted just like the curry I enjoyed during my time in Japan. And here's a tip: the best value is to make every plate a combo (+ miso & drink). You get more variety for the price, and it's absolutely worth it. Next time, I'm going for the beef belly plate, and I think this place will be on my rotation.

It's been cold lately, and today it finally started drizzling -- the perfect weather for comfort…read morefood. I decided to try a new spot in the UCI Center on Campus Drive called Karē Japanese Curry, and wow... I'm officially obsessed. This place just opened (it replaced Slapfish -- if you know, you know), and the inside is really cute. It's small, simple, and cozy, which honestly fits the vibe for a curry shop. I ordered the Beef Belly Curry, and let me tell you: this was amazing. I'm so glad I chose it for my first visit. The beef belly was sliced super thin and literally melted in my mouth. And the curry sauce? Now that is curry. A lot of places claim to serve Japanese curry, but the flavor ends up mild or watered down. Not here. This is the rich, warm, savory curry flavor I've been craving. The sauce comes on the side so you pour it over yourself. I was a little worried it wouldn't be enough, but it ended up being the perfect amount. I couldn't finish everything, so I took the rest home -- and honestly, the leftovers were even better the next day. Overall, 10/10 would recommend. Now that rainy season is here, I will definitely be coming back. Karē, buckle up -- you've got a new regular.

Randomly decided to try this place with the wife last night…read more I remembered there being a spot called mogu mogu here prior and confirmed with the waitress that it's the same menu! Spicy miso ramen: 9/10 Actually one of the better ramens I've had lately. The broth is creamier and isn't overpowering with chicken/beef flavor. The chashu was nice and tender as well. I really liked that their noodles were al dente and not too soft Deluxe mazemen: 8/10 Taking my first bite, I was instantly greeted with an explosion of umami. There's a LOT of flavor packed in this bowl and the noodles used are actually a bit thicker which is right up my alley. My only drawback on this dish was that I wished it came with some sort of veggies to cut through all the flavor. They also give you a small serving of rice at the end for you to mix into the bottom which was a nice addition Kurobota sausage: 7.5/10 We've recently been on a kurobota craze. Don't get me wrong, these were great but we've only had them charred and grilled before so I was taken aback when I saw that these were only steamed. Flavor was spot on but I'm a sucker for a nice char or crisp to my meat Overall, loved the service and small restaurant vibe of this spot. We were seated very quickly and the food came out even faster. Definitely come try this spot, I know we'll be back

Never had Mazemen before which is basically broth-less ramen with various of toppings. We were on…read morethe way to Kitakata, but after finding this place on Yelp, we had to check out the hype. The interior is cozy and small with authentic Japanese decorations/setup. Kinda felt like we were eating in Kyoto or something, lol. The lady who served us was friendly and gave us good recommendations. I think she was handling the whole operation to be honest. To start it off, we ordered their specialty chicken karaage and it was very delicious. It has a nice crispy and crunchy texture. The batter on the chicken was good and once you bite it, the meat is juicy and tender. Doesn't really need dipping since it's so good. As for the Mazemen, we ordered the Deluxe and Veggie one, both is a 5/5. Very flavorful and it tastes just like ramen, but without the soup. The presentation of the dish looks like a work of art. Very picture pretty. I ate that shit up within ten minutes. After that they give you a scoop of rice so you can mix it up with the leftover sauce. Lots of umami for sure. Definitely will come back again to try the other flavors. People, trust me and come through!