I love this place so much! I've been here several times over the years and it's never disappointed. The food is always on point and its intimate, cozy setting reminds me of Japan. It's always busy on Friday nights and weekends (expect 1 hour) wait times but you can put your name down on the Yelp waitlist and wander around. Parking can be tight since the restaurant is so popular but you can park in the next lot over and just walk. We ordered sashimi salad, rolls, skewers, and an octopus side dish. The menu is extensive but everything we tried tasted fresh and flavorful. Overall a very authentic experience and highlighted for a good reason. Price point is very reasonable in this economy and I was a bit struck by how affordable it was. It was so busy and staff did seem be running around a lot but we never felt like we were getting rushed out. Overall a great hangout spot and will be back again to this cute izakaya! FYI they also have a sister restaurant called Kappo Honda in Fountain Valley with a similar concept. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

Just want to apologize to the Honda-Ya staff for how loud my group was and if we came off rude. My friends and I just finished a fantasy draft and got squeezed in a small booth and we ordered so much food. We just had some loud members so it was a bit chaotic. Honda-Ya's food didn't disappoint though. Their skewers were so good and I will tell you below what I liked. First of all, they have like every Japanese dish on this menu, they have an extensive range of food options including ramen, udon, sushi, tempura and dinner sets. - Udon 4/5: Very average flavor and it was good - Japanese Beef Skewer 5/5: had a teriyaki glaze to it and very tender - Lamb Chop 4/5: It was good but not a big fan of lamb - Beef Tongue: 5/5 Not too chewy and my favorite skewer - Bacon Asparagus 2/5: Not my favorite with texture and a lil weird mix - Gyoza 5/5: Pan fried greatness. Pair your yakitori with a Sapporo and you are all set! Staff was very helpful and patient, really happy I got to try this gem in Tustin and would come back. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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This is a very popular Japanese place in Old Tustin. As you can see the menu is enormous. They have sushi, skewers, ramen, udon... You name it. I had the salmon and avocado handroll as well as the crab handroll. Both were good. I also had the OC roll and grilled salmon -- also very good. Some Asian places tend to overcook their meat. The salmon was cooked well ... I would have preferred a tad more rare, but it was good and not dry. My son had the salmon sashimi as well as lamb chops. He wanted a little more seasoning in the lamb chops but says they were cooked well. I think Japanese food tends to be conservatively seasoned in general. Other dishes also looked good. I thought everything was good but didn't think anything was amazing. My wife particularly appreciated that just about all of the menu items had pictures! Service was good and friendly even though they all seemed a little harried. read more

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If you're ever in the mood for some late night skewers, an intimate vibe, and delicious drinks, this is the perfect place to get it! I've been going to Honda-YA as a tradition with my friend and we love the meatball skewer here (the sauce is so addicting)! The vibe here feels intimate and there's always people here, no matter if you're there early or before it closes, so you know this is is a local favorite. The service here is spectacular and they are always super attentive and kind! I went for a friend's birthday and they gave us free vanilla ice cream. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Thigh w/ Sauce Skewer, Strawberry Hi Ball, Okonomiyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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I decided to have a team lunch here for all my employees. They were able to sit all of us together and provide exceptional service. I have had yakitori before, but this spot does it way better! Everything that came out the kitchen was fresh, delicious and of really great quality. Our table had many other things like ramen, beer, and other items off the menu. We had such a great time here/ The restaurant itself inside is designed beautifully. You really feel taken somewhere else when you step inside. A huge shout out to the staff as well. Our grup was about twelve people and they did amazingly with our multiple orders through our visit. Thank you again, I will return. read more

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I miss Honda-YA so much when they used to be in City of Industry. That was my late night drinking spot. Fast forward to recently when I visited Honda-YA in Tustin for the first time. The restaurant is huge. I sat by the sushi / Yakitori section so it was awesome to watch them in action while making the skewers. The sashimi I ordered was fresh, the Yakitori tasted great! We ordered a lot of food for the party of 2 and our bill came out to approximately $140. The service was okay. It looked like they all had a long day and was waiting for their afternoon shift to be over. Totally relatable for a Saturday. Definitely look forward to coming back. read more

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The ambiance is like being transported to Japan. Loved the interior design! We had a party of 5 seated at a booth. Wait time on the weekend for dinner was around 45min around 7:30pm. Well worth the wait. Drinks: -Honda-ya Original Beer -Kikusui Perfect Snow (Milky Sake) What we shared: -Garlic Sautéed Clams -Prime Beef Skewer -Ton Katsu 1 Item Dinner (comes with miso soup and salad) -Sashimi Bowl - Vegetable Tempura -Roll de la Familia -Bacon Enoki Skewers -Bacon Asparagus Skewers -Garlic Pork Belly Skewers -Beef Skewers -Kabocha (so yummy!) Plenty of parking in the plaza and surrounding area. Recommend walking around to digest post feasting! read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sashimi Bowl, Kabocha - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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We decided to go on a weekday but still needed top wait 30 minutes. This restaurant is located in a strip mall in Old Town Tustin. The inside is very Japanese with lots of art and artifacts that make it really cool. We liked siting at long tables with other people. They were super friendly and gave us a huge menu loaded with pictures and prices. We didn't know what to order, so she suggested the bbq skewers. They came right away and they were so tiny, each was one or two bites, kind of a joke. If that was it, I would have left the restaurant. We discovered their plates with one or two proteins. This was pretty good. This place confused me. We ended up spending a lot more money than I thought I would. Confusing menu, very small portions, I thought, overly salty, Japanese food. Just okay for me. read more

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I visited Honda Ya and had a mixed experience overall. It is located near old town Tustin. Although it was a weekday, we still had to wait a long time. Food: I got to try some of the sushi,yakitori,yakisoba, and other small dishes. The sautéed clams were my favorite. It tasted delicious. The yakisoba was good as well. We ordered the stinky roll. It tasted okay. The yakitori tasted good,but the portions were very small for the price. Service: Our waitress was very friendly and explained the menu to us. Ambiance: The decor inside is nice, but some of of the seats are very low, like a stool to sit on. The tables are close to each other as well to. You have to sit right to next to other people. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sauteed Clams - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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We came here before they opened and were able to avoid the long wait time we usually see here. We were quickly seated and after my friend asked we were moved to the traditional Japanese style eating tables that are low on the floor. We were asked to take off our shoes (just an fyi for all you guys with stinky feet or socks with holes in them!) We offered a little bit of yakitori and a roll with some other mixed in stuff. I want to say my favorite thing we got what the dumplings that were wrapped in chicken skin. I noticed it on their wall and had to give it a try. It was honestly so good and something I'd order 2-3 orders of. We also got the clams with butter and they were good as well. The wine was a little strong and was a flavor i noticed immediately but not off putting. For desert we got ice cream with i wanna say like sweet potato or something of that sort i can't recall, and it was sooo good. Honestly id they had served it hot with cold ice team i might have give them the 5 stars lol The only thing i do want to point out is that the portions are pretty small so if you're in a big group your bill is gonna be expensiveeee but for a treat every once and a while it definitely worth the drive and the bill! read more

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We were a table for three and were seated quite quickly. The parking lot was crowded on a Wednesday night and it was kind of a tight fit for cars but wasn't too much of problem. The interior is so cool, with lanterns and photos of old school Japanese prints. The vibe was really nice. The menu is huge, but of course I recommend getting the yakitori. Surprisingly, my favorite bite of the night was the salmon carpaccio! So fresh and the onion was delicious! We really enjoyed the pork belly and the scallops. I was not a fan of the jumbo shrimp. We tried a lot but it came out to be around $150. We were full, but that was definitely an expensive meal for us. It was delicious and I recommend going for a birthday! They close the lights and play a loud birthday song on the speakers. I think you get a free ice cream but we didn't get to see, we just heard! Would definitely come again! read more

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We've been coming to this establishment for 11 years now and where things have changed over the years, it still brings me back to when my wife and I were dating. The vibes of this restaurant is very much an "drinks after work " vibe and the noise and busy dinner rush really makes you feel like you've been transported out of OC. Coming here with my young one and not drinking for sure is a different experience and I'm not sure if I'd bring my 4 year old again as the noise environment made him a bit overwhelmed after a long day. As for the food, I had some soba to help fight the heat and it hit the spot highly recommend on a warm summer night. Pair it off either a cold one or any of their non alcoholic drinks to really complete the meal and experience. This place will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm excited to continue to support this establishment for the next 11 years read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Yakitori menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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Really good stuff here! I've been here a handful of times now and each time i've been, i've been very satisfied with everything. The skewers here are great. So many of them taste good, but i will say that the butter shrimp and the beef skewers are my favorite. The most recent time i visited, i tried the yakisoba and it was really good! Very generous portion size and had a lot of protein. It's a little oily but it wasnt a problem at all. This place is fun for a late night dinner with friends. The atmosphere on the inside is pretty cool and the service is pretty good here. The staff are attentive and are quick with everything. They have a pretty wide variety of dishes to choose from so i cant wait to come back and try all their other stuff. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Yakisoba - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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The interior and layout were good. Food was passable. Dishes were on par with your local sushi market. Sitting on the floor seemed cool but if you don't have the back for it- opt for the tables. Chairs are a great invention read more

Honda-Ya Tustin is an excellent Japanese restaurant. Everything we ordered was authentic, freshly made and delicious. My favorites were the various chicken, pork, beef and seafood yakitori. Plus the cold soba were refreshing and the matcha mint blanc were a great dessert to round out our dinner. The staff provided excellent service; they were also very attentive. The ambiance is very authentic with every imaginable Japanese decor, including a room with tables on the floor. I love this restaurant and am looking forward to coming back to try more dishes. read more

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This place is a fantastic hole in the wall. We got lucky and walked up with no line. By the time we left there were at least 15 people waiting so plan accordingly. The food here is excellent and very reasonably priced. The yakitori skewers were as good as anywhere I've been and the sushi rolls were great as well. I especially liked their current special tuna roll and the bacon wrapped shrimp skewer. Service was attentive and friendly. Really felt like the value for portion sizes and quality was on point, especially compared to what you get in LA proper. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

A friend of mine raved about this restaurant and it lived up to all expectations. Our food was absolutely delicious, our waitress was fantastic and never let our drinks run empty. Even if they go on a wait this is a well deserving restaurant to wait for. The fish was great quality and incrediby priced. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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Amazing family restaurant with a traditional and modern menu. There is so much food here to enjoy. I recommend the shaved ice at the end of the meal. The restaurant is located in a really quaint downtown part of Tustin. read more

If you're looking for a close-to-authentic Japanese izakaya experience, Honda-Ya definitely fills the void! The cozy atmosphere feels just like the classic spots you see in Tokyo travel videos. Expect a 30 to 45-minute wait given the intimate space, though free parking is a huge plus. We were lucky to get seated right by the yakitori grill, which added to the overall experience. The setup is simple: you mark off what you want on the separate yakitori paper menu and order your regular entrees from the main menu. What we tried: Orion Draft Beer ($8): Served in a glass--a touch on the smaller side for $8, but crisp and enjoyable nonetheless. Yakitori: Chicken wings, corn, bacon-wrapped enoki, meatballs, pork, and beef. Every single item was fantastic. Chicken Katsu: Came with fresh cabbage, and adding extra tonkatsu sauce ($0.50) and ponzu sauce was a great call Service was quick once we were seated. Highly recommend if you don't mind a short wait! read more

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We had the pleasure of getting to try yakitori with this vendor at the Sake Fest Phoenix yesterday. We got the Yakitori Combo which included Chicken thigh, beef tongue and pork belly and it was delicious. The staff were very friendly and the service was fast. My husband and I shared all 3 and it was the perfect complement to the sake tastings. Delicious and tender. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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Honda-ya is delicious, isn't it? And the prices seem reasonable, making it look like such a great value. But is this what being ripped off looks like? First, be aware that there is a two-hour dining limit that is not clearly visible or communicated upfront. I strongly recommend keeping this in mind before placing a second order. We placed a second order, but aside from the udon, not a single item from that order ever arrived. Instead, we were suddenly informed by our server that our two-hour limit was up, and we were left scrambling to leave without receiving the food we had ordered. For some reason, our card apparently could not be processed, so we paid the maximum amount they would allow by card and covered the remainder in cash. Three employees then came over to check whether we had paid a tip. The change was returned with the tip not included, which, in itself, was not an issue. However, after getting home and thinking about what had happened, I realized that almost our entire second order had never been served. We were three women dining at a restaurant where food is supposed to be the main part of the experience. We ordered two 750 ml bottles of sake at $70 each and spent the rest of the evening eating. Yet, nearly all the food we ordered in our second round never made it to our table. So, what exactly are we paying for? If we were charged for food that was never served, I consider that unacceptable and a serious reason for concern. I had genuinely hoped to see this Honda-ya location succeed, but after tonight, that goodwill is gone. I don't want to waste my time arguing over this, but I am posting this review to warn others: PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Whether this was intentional misconduct by the staff or simply extremely poor service, the experience left us feeling cheated, disrespected, and deeply uncomfortable. What makes this even more disappointing is that I brought a friend here who had never been to Honda-ya before. I sincerely regret choosing this restaurant for our evening together. A restaurant should be honest and transparent with its customers. If there is a two-hour dining limit, communicate it clearly before customers order. And if customers place an order and pay for their meal, they deserve to receive the food they ordered. Tonight was an incredibly unpleasant experience, and I will think twice before ever returning!! read more

Very Japanese place, cosy and unique. The food is delicious and may satisfy different preference. My family loves Japanese cuisine, but we all have our favourite dishes. I prefer simply prepared fish and seafood and veggies, my mom - specialty rolls, my son and husband are fans of ramen. We all found perfect dishes for dinner and enjoyed them a lot. Ramen, specialty warm rolls, yellowtail collar, greens with garlic, savoury egg soufflé, and assortment of grilled seafood skewers -everything was cooked to perfection with bright flavors. Fast service and authentic atmosphere added to the nice evening out. read more

I absolutely love this place, and have been coming here now for about 27 years. Some of the best, if not the best, yakitori I've had in the US. The sushi and the side dishes are really good too. Oddly, I hadn't come here in about 8 years, so this review is based on my most recent visit. They don't take reservations, but they have a very efficient check in system as you walk up to the restaurant. It's almost always crowded when you come here, so bear that in mind. However, it's really worth it. Since I was alone, they were able to seat me right away at the sushi bar. Overall, I'm giving this experience a 4.5 stars. Knocking them down half a point because I was never checked on. However, they were fairly prompt in getting me whatever I needed when I flagged them down. Looking forward to my next trip out here, which will be very soon. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Yellowtail and salmon hand tools. Delicious and filling, - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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Food - I order the oden hot pot, meatball, meatball w/cheese. Not in the picture garlic pork belly, pork belly, beef, prime beef, Japanese beef and beef udon, As you can see in the picture oden hot pot what you see in the menu is what you get. It is 6/10 for me soup was very bland, hard boiled egg yolk had a very strong scent (which maybe boiled it for too long) didn't really get full from this. The skewers are always good and delicious. I think they have changed their menu also? There were some food items I was looking for but it seems to be discounted. The server were nice enough to explain each items in the menu but we weren't assisted that quickly as it was a very busy night. The decorations are very cozy and felt like you were in a authentic Japanese restaurant they also have a place where you can sit on the floor but that takes about 40 - 2 hours. Overall experience was great! Will go back and try other items. read more

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Love coming here when we're indecisive and want a variety of food to choose from. This time we got the Sashimi Bowl, Mixed Tempura, Bacon Asparagus skewer, Prime Beef skewer, and Garlic Pork Belly skewer. Everything came out fresh and delicious. We ordered more of the garlic pork belly and the prime beef as these were so yummy, hot, and fresh off the grill. Service is really friendly! It's a smaller restaurant so there can be a long wait at times, especially with larger parties. read more

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So yummy but also so busy so make sure you come early to join waitlist and find parking! There's options to sit at a table, bar, or tatami mat which I think is nice. Skewers are the star of the show here, especially the chicken skewers!! So nice and juicy! The side dishes look bigger on the menu pictures but they were pretty good. I think a good strategy is to come and just have skewers to get the most bang for your buck. Definitely coming back read more

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Not just the yakitori--every item on the menu is solid and above average. It really feels like you're experiencing authentic Japanese flavors and atmosphere, just like dining in Japan. The draft beer is also fresh and pairs perfectly with the food. On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable for the quality you get. The only downside is the wait during dinner hours. The system feels a bit inconvenient and confusing, and it seems like the staff managing the waitlist isn't always clear on the order. Updating to a more modern system would definitely make the experience smoother. That said, when it comes to the food, it's absolutely excellent. read more

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It's very popular and the wait is very long. Luckily the food is good enough so it kinda deserves it? But you have to go with good friends who don't mind waiting for a good long wait and chat. Inside is packed and not so big, also there's a time limit since it's too popular, seems a little under staffed. Sashimi are very fresh, skewers are mostly good. Good spot to hangout. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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Forever a go to on a late night I've been here like 20+ times and the service and food quality is always top tier All staff is extremely nice no matter how busy they are. read more

Loved the skewers! Every bite made me drool. There was something about the way they smoked the meats and vegetables that had a unique taste. I honestly just want to eat skewers the entire time. The sushi on the other hand was not good. Kind of tough to chew. Otherwise has so many menu items that it feels everyone could find something they want to eat. The location has alot of parking and the place has a cool japanese pub vibe. Definitely great for groups or dates. read more

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Tried this place while in Tustin. We got on the waitlist which on a Friday night was about 40 minutes. Not sure if they take reservations. The restaurant had ample seating and it was busy. The food came up pretty quickly. They have so many options it's hard to know where to start, since it was my first time. Next time I'll be more prepared. Everything looked amazing and smelt delicious. We had the garlic chili cucumbers. I was disappointed they weren't crunchy and didn't have much flavor. But I did love everything else. We had the Sexy Roll for sushi, mixed tempera, Hoi-Ko-Ro, Breast w/Ohba & Yuzu peppers, thigh with sauce, miso pork belly w/green onions, prime rib skirt, Japanese beef, kabocha & bacon asparagus. The portions are small but filling. The peppers in one of dishes was so hot. The waitress said it's a 50/50 chance it 's beyond hot. We enjoyed everything we had. The table we sat at was pretty small but the waitress pulled empties off the table very quickly. Waitress was great and it looked like everyone inside were pretty regular and having a great time. So definitely a plus. It does get loud inside. Yes, I'll be back. It was delicious. And yes I agree with their FOMO. It's true!! read more

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A true 10/10. Been here several times and I plan to keep coming back. Food is excellent!! There's a huge menu and I haven't had anything yet that was subpar. It's a great late night place to grab a variety of skewers or sushi. Service is always wonderful. They're so kind and attentive. The interior is also beautifully designed. Loved this place so much my husband bought a t-shirt and wears it at least once a week haha. Only downside is that there's always a line because it's SO popular, but definitely worth the wait. Highly recommend!!!! read more

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We waited about 30 minutes to be seated on a Saturday at 8 pm. We sat a long table that was divided into sections depending on the number of people in your party. We ordered the pork belly and beef tongue skewers which were both pretty good. We also ordered fresh wasabi on the side to pair with it. I also tried the bluefin tuna toro sashimi which was tender and not stringy. My favorite dishes were the yaki udon, since it came on a hot plate and the noodles were al dente, and the chicken skin gyoza, a current special they were offering. I appreciated that the waitress came by often to fill our water and clear our plates. read more

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Haiku: Honda Ya Grilled yakitori A long-time establishment Get the chicken skin. --- Honda Ya has been a long-time and popular izakaya establishment in the OC area. It's common to see businessmen, college students, and families waiting in line to dine. It's sacrilegious if you don't get what they're known for--yakitori. Yakitori is charcoal-grilled meats or veggies on sticks and usually finished with a brush of a sweet and savory sauce. My top picks for yakitori: Chicken meatball (juicy, savory), Scallop (succulent, tender), Chicken skin (crispy, umami), Chicken thigh w/ sauce (meaty, perfectly glazed). On my recent visit, I ordered the Mixed Sashimi and add-on the set deal to include rice, miso soup, and house salad. The sashimi were thick-cuts of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and white fish. Although I enjoyed this, I didn't have much room to try more yakitori dishes. Next time, I'll focus on trying more izakaya yakitori dishes like miyazaki beef, Japanese beef, tail, and veggie skewers. This izakaya is bustling with young professionals and college students enjoying shared appetizers and beer. This place is so lively and inviting. Bring your next date or group of friends here, and they'll be impressed! Just come early to avoid the lines and crowds. read more

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Took the drive out to Tustin as I've heard many fantastic reviews for Honda-Ya and I was not disappointed! I arrived at 5 PM on a Friday and was able to get a table for two. It truly gives off a Japanese atmosphere, along with a tatami room. The menu is expansive, with skewers, sushi, rice porridge, soups, and dessert. I was surprised at the bill at the end as it was reasonably priced for all the delicious food ordered. Huge shoutout to Isaac who was attentive and friendly. I definitely plan to return if I'm in the area! read more

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first time visiting this Japanese yakitori place while visiting Southern California. The food here was awesome. It was recommended to us by a friend who went on the trip who used to go there with her family while visiting. The service here was great, the ambience is a sitdown Japanese restaurant with a lot of great delicacies read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - special roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

I came to celebrate my birthday; we mistakenly thought they close 2am but they actually closed at 12am, quite the surprise when our party of 8 showed up at 11pm. Yet, they were so welcoming and sat us immediately and let us order while waiting for our other friends. The last two showed up with the cake and they immediately took it to the back. All the food came out with extreme speed, but also accuracy and freshness. Everything, from the salmon belly with mushrooms, to the mackerel ponzu, to the gyoza, to the skewers, to the sashimi bowl was genuinely delicious; the fish was so sweet and fatty! The favorite of the night was definitely the salmon belly for us. We kept burning our tongues on the delicious fattiness, the piping hot juicy mushrooms. The mackerel ponzu was so chilled and refreshing, yet so tender! I thought the yuzu shio ramen and the gyoza was quite salty though. The brisket wrapped enoki was seriously juicy. Right when my mouth was stuffed with enoki mushrooms, they turned off the lights and I had to chew furiously while they sang to me. It was incredibly kind of them to cut the cake for us and there wasn't an additional fee for it either. Thanks to their beautifully efficient service, we were out the door by 12am sharp. It's been my third time coming here and I look forward to coming back very soon. Everything is reasonably priced and the service has always been impeccably thoughtful. read more

HONDA-YA Tustin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

The ambiance was really cool. This place has all sorts of things to choose from! The beef and eel skewers were my favorite items I tried. The chicken meat ball skewers were also good. Personally I liked them without the cheese. The service was quick and tentative. The skewers do add up fast though! read more

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This is a very popular skewer spot but all of the food they have here is delicious. I love the noodles they use for their ramen and would highly recommend checking it out. There is almost always a wait though so try and get there early if possible. There's plenty of parking though so you don't have to worry about that. read more

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Between three of us - my unnies and me - we got to be blessed by delicious ramen, refreshing cucumber appetizer, and savory skewers. There's so much to choose from! Service is also kind and speedy. I'm grateful for the team that works here especially because I can only imagine how fast paced everything can be. As soon as you walk in - there's a buzz of excitement in a not overwhelming way. It can be a bit dark inside but still strangely soothing? There's plenty of parking and if you also wanted to walk around to check out other places, I really like this whole plaza. God bless you all. read more

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