I went to Ilsaka with five friends for dinner. I had just picked up a new watch earlier that day, so I'll be honest--by the time we arrived at the restaurant, I was already a bit deep into the celebration, and my memory of the evening is slightly blurry. What I do clearly remember is that the portions were extremely small. I was hoping to leave full, but instead I found myself constantly ordering more dishes. Even after adding a few rounds of extra orders, I still didn't feel satisfied. The flavors themselves were actually very good--no complaints there. The issue was more about quantity. I just wish I didn't have to order the same dish twice just to fully understand what it tastes like. In short: great taste, but you'll definitely want to order a lot more than you expect if you plan to get full. read more

Great creative izakaya! I tried multiple dishes and it's all very good to pair with alcohol. Chicken Cartilage marined in plum sauce? - 5/5 Pickled Mackerel - 5/5 super fresh!! Corn & Shiso tempura - 5/5 Fried Octopus - 5/5 Bite sized katsu - 3/5 not crazy about this Overall, very good food and I'll be back! read more

We really enjoyed coming here since we usually go to izakayas in OC and this is something different. Smaller plates (like kaiseki) and the quality/selection is better and you'll see items you've never seen at the other restaurants. The beef yukke was our favorite, fried octopus was really good and different since it's served in a thick sauce, chicken cartilage (not pictured) was great also. The server used to work at Kappo Honda, and she remembered us and provided the same great attentive service she has always provided. Their drink selection is also different from other late night Japanese places since they make cocktails. Overall, highly recommend for people looking for good eats outside of the other izakayas in OC that have been around for a while like Shinsengumi/Hondaya/Kappo Honda. read more

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Total hole in the wall restaurant. Iyasaka is in an unassuming strip center literally adjacent to a gas station. Walking in the entire atmosphere, layout, and decor is reminiscent of an actual restaurant from Japan. The best part? The food quality is surprisingly exceptional. The execution of the food here is minimal and high quality. Dishes that look simple are packed with flavors, and it's been such a long time that I've had a mackerel dish that surprised me. The pressed mackerel sushi, Saba Battera, is some of the best mackerel I've had in a very long time. Not a hint of any fishy flavor and the portion of fish is huge. It's worth coming to this place for this one dish alone, but for everything we ordered there wasn't a single bad dish. Our server was really sweet and everything came out in a reasonable time. This is a great spot if you need to grab a bite before going out, or even better if you're done with a night out and you need a place to keep the night going. Closing at 2am, this is the perfect spot to end the night with some beer and great izakaya food. read more

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What a wonderful little Izakaya spot! I was told Iyasaka was just a bar and only recently decided to become an Izakaya in October 2025. The menu is not very extensive but there is a decent selection of à la carte items. We unfortunately happened to order a lot of fried dishes, which felt a bit much, so next time I would try and order a better mix of fried and non-fried dishes. Among what I ordered, I really enjoyed the following: Tori Tsukune (chicken patty) Teba Gyoza (stuffed chicken wing) Saba Battera (mackerel pressed sushi) Corn Ooba Kakiage (corn and shiso leaf tempura fritter) The only dish I'd say was a miss was the fried taro balls. It was on the bland side and needed to be either more sweet or more salty. Service was inviting, attentive and friendly. I would love to return and try some other menu items. The biggest plus is that they are open until 2am, which is kind of unheard of around here haha. read more

HIGHLY recommend eating here!!! The vibes, the service, the food - everything was high quality. We came in on a weekday evening and there was no wait. We tried multiple dishes and each dish wowed us. I felt like I was eating dishes from culinary class wars - that's how innovated and amazing the dishes were lol. The dishes were more elevated compared to traditional izakaya. We started off with the tomato salad, which was so refreshing and had an amazing sauce with a mixture of tartiness, sweetness, and savoriness combined. Next, we had the stuffed chicken wings which were amazing - it was like a dumpling but inside of a chicken wing and chicken itself was nice and crispy. After that we got the fried octopus which came in a soup and the flavor was so delicious and unique. We ended with the braised pork belly which was super tender and melted in my mouth. read more

Iyasaka - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Izakaya as a word has been kind of co-opted by non-Japanese to mean more or less upscale Japanese food. The actual real meaning of izakaya should be a drinking restaurant with a focus on small plates. This place has a bar that covers nearly all the major forms of alcohol and the small dishes to accompany your drinks here are superb. All the details here are paid very well attention to for discerning gourmets. I think this is the perfect place to eat and drink for a few hours with a friend or two. I will definitely be back. read more

Iyasaka - Seasonal bamboo shoots - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great service and cute spot! Open super late. We ended up randomly popping in because it was one of the few spots open later. Food-wise, my favorite dish was the pressed salmon sushi. I've been thinking about it still and it's been weeks. We also tried the omakase dish which was an assortment of foods such as sashimi, tofu, an edamame based dish. Even with this, I liked the fish dishes the most and want to come back to eat more of this compared to the other dishes. We tried an apple based cocktail and a melon based cocktail but I wasn't the biggest fan of these. I think it's better to get the beer! read more

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We were really impressed by the food quality and taste at Iyasaka. The wife heard about it and I had no expectations, but every dish was so good. We love pressed mackerel and came here just for that one dish. It was our favorite and didn't disappoint. Fish was really fresh and flavors great. Croquette and octopus were delicious, would definitely get those again. Gizzards aren't my thing but the wife loved them. I thought the Hamburg was really good, but it wasn't exceptional where I would order it next time - and that's only because everything was so good and we want to try more. Honestly I would pay more for these dishes as an kaiseki or multi-course fancy meal. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Yummy food and I'd drive out of my way to go here if I was in a drinking mood. This place is an izakaya that specializes in fried, steamed and boiled food. A lot of their menu offerings are very unique and offer a fun twist on classics, like their agedashi tofu that is wrapped in seaweed before fried. I do wish they had grilled skewers though... My favs: Chicken cartilage with plum Chicken gizzards Stuffed chicken wing Agedashi tofu Rice with salmon and roe Pressed (seared) salmon sushi Eihire- grilled stingray fin Pressed Mackerel roll - fishy in the way mackerel is Fun to try but wouldn't repeat: Japanese taro fries Fried katsu bites Shumai Tomato salad read more

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The service was attentive and friendly. The server explained all the small plates carefully. The food was uniquely enjoyable as they were prepared in unusual ways such as the corn tempura and the bamboo sushi! The ambience is perfect for a late night place to hang out for after dinner drinks and if so inclined karaoke!! I would recommend trying Iyasaka out sometime. If you are plant based or vegan there are great options for you! read more

Iyasaka - Bamboo Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My favorite food on this planet is Battera (Saba Mackerel sushi). I haven't found a restaurant in the US that offer a good one. That changed here as they offer one of the best Battera I've ever had. Got me hooked and going back for more tonight. Everything else is also top notch quality good. If you want an alternative to other izakaya and want something authentic, this place is highly recommended. read more

Iyasaka - Battera (Mackerel) Sushi. - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Delicious well presented food. Dishes for two people, small bites. Stewed beef tongue was amazing. Would def make the journey for a second bite (and third, and fourth...) read more

Iyasaka - Seared Beef Yakke - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I've been here a few times now, and I can already tell Iyasaka is becoming my go-to late night spot in Orange County. It's right around the corner from John Wayne Airport on Bristol, only about a 3-minute drive. If you're flying in late or just looking for somewhere to hang out after midnight, skip the fast food and come here instead. This is the kind of place that makes you glad you stayed out. The food is genuinely phenomenal, and you can tell the kitchen puts a lot of pride into every dish, not just in how it tastes, but in the presentation too. It feels thoughtful, intentional, and well executed. What really makes Iyasaka stand out is that it doesn't feel like "just a late night option." It feels like a place you actually want to go to. Good food, good drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy yourself. They stay open until 2:00am and are only closed one day a week, which is huge because there really are not many quality late night spots like this around. The menu is great for sharing, and everything feels like it was designed to pair well with beer, sake, or a cocktail. It has that true izakaya feel where you order a few things, have a drink, and take your time. They also have a full liquor license, which definitely adds to the experience. It's not limited to just beer and sake, you can actually get a proper drink with your meal. Also, be sure to ask about the Higawari Makanai, since it changes daily and gives you a reason to keep coming back. The vibe is relaxed and comfortable whether you're stopping in by yourself or coming with a group, and the staff has always been friendly, attentive, and kind every time I've visited. Really glad this place opened. Orange County needed a spot like this. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been here before. read more

I'm so happy I found this place! The food was AMAZING!! We ordered several items and every single one was absolutely perfect. Not only was the quality amazing but the prices were really super reasonable too. Our server was the sweetest!! Super attentive and friendly. Oh, they're also open late. Honestly, this felt like we were eating in Japan while being in Orange County. Amazing food and soooooo worth the visit. read more

Iyasaka - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I love this place!!! I have frequented iyasaka when then first opened up and have been back multiple times with my wife, friends, and colleagues. We have never had a bad experience, the food is always consistent and tastes great. The service is always top tier and the ambiance is cozy. They have a wide variety of cocktails and liquors, but i usually stick with their draft beer. All the food is amazing but I would recommend to save space at the end to order the hot pot. It is soul warming and perfect finish to a meal, you can even leave some broth at the end to make it porridge/risotto style. Enjoy! read more

Restaurant that opened in La Lune's place. Strip mall with limited parking space so could be hard to find parking depending on the time. Complete hole in the wall! Every single dish we had was amazing! A place that I want to, but on the other hand don't want to share and keep it a secret. read more

This hole-in-the-wall bar is like walking into a local dive in Japan. Authentic bar eats but uber creative twists to traditional items. These are small bites so we had fun and tried a handful of à la carte izakaya style items: Corn Shiso Tempura Teba Gyoza Steamed Egg with Matsutake Udon (chawanmushi) Higawari Zosui Nuts Hitokuchi Katsu With a tall glass of Asahi draft beer A lot of menu items have the traditional Japanese names so if you're unsure, ask the waitress for her recommendations and a better description. Even their sauces are homemade and such a good combinations of flavors I grew up with. But if trips to Japan aren't a part of your childhood and you're feeling adventurous, you won't be disappointed. I'm so glad we tried this little spot. The windows are all blacked out and it's in a random strip mall so we weren't so sure but as many good finds, iykyk. read more

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Under new management (?) They had many small dishes and meant to be shared with your party. I visited with my husband and only two of us but we ordered 9 dishes and we finished all. Everything was delicious and right amount of food. All dishes were made from scratch and remind me what my grandmother and mother used to make, of course their taste is more sophisticated I highly recommend. read more

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Hidden gem that also stays open till late. Loved all their small dishes (braised pork belly, tomato salad and braised beef tongue which was tonight's special ) as well as one of their signature mackerel sushi. Would 100% come here again. Great and cozy atmosphere with one party throwing a nice lil bday celebration:) (might have to do my bday here next Friday ) Absolutely loved it. you'll see me again fr. read more

Iyasaka - Beef tongue special - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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such a beautiful space with welcoming and polite staff! there is a small bar area with seats and an open dinner area with about 10 tables, so it feels intimate but the tables have good amount of distance between them. you don't feel like you're being squeezed in at all. the food and drinks were amazing. i loved how it offers seasonal and "daily" items to optimize certain ingredients that may be in season at the time you dine here. i enjoyed the that menu offered more uncommon dishes that you don't normally find at other izakayas. we will be returning here! probably our favorite izakaya we tried in oc read more

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Glad I found this gem on Yelp !! The food was sooo amazing !!! If you enjoy delicious authentic Japanese food I recommend you to swing by. What I enjoyed the most was the love that was put into these dishes which came out picture perfect and how delicious everything was. You don't get presentation like this without someone who really cares about what they do. Everything came out cooked to perfection without anything being overpowering. Nice to taste the combination of ingredients that create the Umami feeling. Thank you for your kind / personal service and delicious food. Definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu read more

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Blown away by this tiny, unassuming place! When we arrived, we thought it was closed bc parking lot was empty and it was pitch black, but they were open!! Everything we ate was absolutely delicious and very well executed. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes!! read more

Great izakaya style experience! Host and staff are extremely friendly and kind. It felt like I was transported to a izakaya/bar in Japan. Highly recommend the zosui and the specials. It's also one of the only places I know of that actually serves great food super late with drinks! read more

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This place is awesome. I was washing my car at the place on Bristol and decided I was hungry, even though it was late at night and looked on yelp and this place was open. It's small and intimate and a really cool menu. Great service and very delicious food. I recommend it and I plan on going back as well read more

the service and ambiance was on point. was expecting an izakya spot but the food was more of a formal resturant quality. read more

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Wow what a hidden gem! I went with my friends Saturday night at the opening time (6pm). No wait time (yet) as I believe it's a new establishment. I was impressed with a variety of authentic Japanese dishes on the menu. I heard that the head chef is from a famous Kaiseki style restaurant, which makes sense by looking at the beautiful presentation of each dish. It's a bar and I don't drink alcohol, but I truly enjoyed their food! My friends enjoyed alcoholic drinks. My favorite dishes were squid shumai and salmon ikura clay pot rice. Dessert menu had a good deal (choose 3 for $10!) and they were all delicious The service was excellent. I highly recommend Iyasaka and I'll be back for sure! read more

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amazing little cozy spot. i always come here after work since i get off pretty late and if its been a tough day. man probably one of the best japanese spots and a real hidden gem of OC. the people who work here (who i assume are the owners) are super kind and attentive (if customer service is important to you) but to be honest, i go strictly for the food. the buta hitokuchi katsu is probably my favorite. i'm guessing they are like these fatty pork belly cubes they braise/render in advance and fry katsu style and its literally melt in your mouth. actually transcendental stuff. the tako karaage is great too, its served in like this little salty broth that comes out HOT but man it is such a comfort eat. the corn fritter is amazing, just a fried puck of corn and shiso leaf and i always finish it in the leftover tako karaage sauce/broth. the saba battera is crazy fresh and really good quality. one day i have to try the omakase because if the mackerel is that insane... oh man. the matcha cheescake and the rum creme brulee are amazing as well. on the expensive side and i can easily drop 100+ here but with food this good, it could never be a waste. absolute banger lad. cheers read more

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Everything was amazing. Highly recommend. Small and intimate. Legit Japanese comfort food.

One of the best authentic Japanese cuisines in Orange County, Iyasaka is a delightful continuation of the famous Kitayama in Newport Beach, complementing their renowned recipes. It's a must-visit if you enjoy authentic, unpretentious Japanese food. We started with a chef-recommended fried potato, perfectly diced and infused with truffle oil, served in a basket. Our hostess also recommended the Ika Shumai (steamed squid dumpling), which was steamed to perfection and served in a special chef's sauce. Next, we enjoyed corn and shiso tempura along with the Tori Tsukune (chicken meatball) served with egg yolk on the side For our main courses, we chose the evening special: roasted duck, sliced and served with wasabi and a special tartar sauce. You will certainly devour everything on your plate. Our next course was Higawori claypot rice with a fillet of salmon and salmon eggs on top, cooked and served in a special clay pot. All in all, the food was top-notch cuisine served at a very affordable price. I strongly recommend Iyasaka for couples, friends, and even family gatherings. read more

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One of the best authentic Japanese cuisines in Orange County, Iyasaka is a delightful continuation of the famous Kitayama in Newport Beach, complementing their renowned recipes. It's a must-visit if you enjoy authentic, unpretentious Japanese food. We started with a chef-recommended fried potato, perfectly diced and infused with truffle oil, served in a basket. Our hostess also recommended the Ika Shumai (steamed squid dumpling), which was steamed to perfection and served in a special chef's sauce. Next, we enjoyed corn and shiso tempura along with the Tori Tsukune (chicken meatball) served with egg yolk on the side For our main courses, we chose the evening special: roasted duck, sliced and served with wasabi and a special tartar sauce. You will certainly devour everything on your plate. Our next course was Higawori claypot rice with a fillet of salmon and salmon eggs on top, cooked and served in a special clay pot. All in all, the food was top-notch cuisine served at a very affordable price. I strongly recommend Iyasaka for couples, friends, and even family gatherings. read more

The Japanese server and chef were super friendly, and every dish we ordered was delicious. Our favorite was the squid dumpling, so flavorful and unique. We will definitely be back! read more