I first came here because I ran into an old friend I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. Ken was a chef there and has since moved on. We'd come here because it's Japan and in Irvine. Horrible service time and time again! Sushi is mediocre, I've had enough!! Ended up half an hour to Sushi Koto in Fountain Valley. read more

Best sushi place around the corner of the neighborhood! Chef Charlie and Chef Jun are my favorite. I don't always check in on yelp but I'm literally always here. Their sushi and sashimi are super FRESH, try to come earlier on weekend nights otherwise they will run out of their best fish.. if you like pickles you must try their Japanese style pickles.. their grilled mackerel is awesome too! If you come at lunch time just get their signature chirashi bowl... you won't regret it! And if you like sake--try Sui Ge-- I love that bottle.. last tip, get in line on yelp.. you will be surprised how busy they can get for dinner! You would not want to just wait outside.. enjoy read more

Jinbei - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

While visiting some friends, they were excited to share this gem in their neighborhood. A good spot for sushi and other Japanese options. With a little bit of chaos as we arrived on time with a reservation, we were soon seated and ready to enjoy. What my friends REALLY wanted us to try as the uni pasta....gulp, uni? Oh boy, so not a favorite for me. Luckily, there were others in our group who were equally excited about the uni pasta so I wasn't pressured. Whew. I managed to taste a tiny bit and it was delicious indeed. Aside from that, we had karaage, tonkatsu and sushi -- everything was very tasty. I think next time we'll sit at the sushi bar. The folks sitting there sounded like they were having a good time indeed... read more

This is a very good restaurant with good service and amazing food! I will always look forwards to eating here.

This is a very sad review because I personally love supporting Japanese restaurants run by Japanese people. Also I have several friends who run/own Japanese restaurant as it is a very small community overall for us Japanese. However, been in the industry plus having many people in the industry I have high expectations for customer service. ※this review is based on my visit several months ago so it may not be up to date※ I went a little after 5pm with my friend assuming the doors would open. The staff members were inside having a meeting on one of the tables. The doors were locked, and they all looked at us. However, without any acknowledgement they kept on going with the meeting. No sorry, please wait or anything. Once again it was past the opening time at this point. Several minutes later a server comes out and let us in. No thank you or sorry for making you wait. Rest of the experience was just normall. The first 20 minutes or so was only us so it's hard to judge how the service is when you only have to focus on 1 table. Anyways, it was just a sad experience for me. read more

I had the mentaiko pasta. I was hoping that it would have more of a cod roe flavor but the sauce tasted creamier than expected. I remember this dish having a more fishier taste to it in Japan, so they probably made it creamier to appeal to an American palette. I also didn't care for the mushrooms in there as well. I may come back for the uni pasta though. Despite the meal, the service was friendly! read more

The sushi is solid, priced pretty decently considering this is a nice part of Irvine. I will say that my problem comes from my takeout order. After being told it'll only be 20 minutes I do some shopping and return, only for one waitress to go check on the order and not give me any update at all. Assuming it's at least being worked on and not wanting to leave, I stay inside with zero updates for another 25 minutes. Either one of the waitresses could've told me, "it'll be another 20 minutes", or whatever, and I would've gone to my car and wait at least. Not really crazy that they left me hanging and looked through me for such a long period of time. I will not be returning here again and go back to my other spots. read more

We came here on a Thursday night with a group of 5 total. While waiting- I was grill in the people that have been here because I wanted to try everything. Per Yelp and the group- Uni pasta ($20) was brought up! I've never had Uni before and heard that people either love it or hate it. Since I was feeling adventurous, I decided on this as my entree! The menu ranks their dishes and this was #3 on the list! The dish had a good amount of pasta in there AND it was DELICIOUS!! There was little bits and pieces of Uni throughout! Rich and creamy! I was so obsessed- I started looking for other restaurants that had Uni pastas because I need to catch up with the rest of them! My friend told me I had to try their salmon belly... Which.. I haven't tried neither! BUT OMG! It comes with 4 pieces and he gave me a pretty large piece which I didn't want but he kept on telling me to trust him AND IM SO GLAD THAT I DID! It was AMAZING!!!! Agedeshi tofu- was aiiight. I was underwhelming. This is one of my favorite dishes whenever I go to Japanese restaurants so I've had plenty to compare. The tofu was a bite tough so just stick with everything else Would definitely come here again! read more

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Good sushi but not sure why they won't get with the ages and get a written signup sheet or at least have a virtual queue

One of the best Japanese restaurant you'll ever go to superclean perfect amount of food and really really delicious sashimi and sushi and there's soup is amazing read more

Excellent lunch. Great service. Affordable prices in OC standard. We will come back more often. read more

Jinbei - Plate set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Do not waste your time coming here! Staff and management are super unprofessional. I was waiting in line and they denied me entry because I didn't have a reservation and they proceeded to let in everyone else behind me who did not have a reservation either. Don't waste your time coming to this unprofessional establishment. Management does not care about the customer! read more

I honestly can't relate to the bad reviews given to this restaurant. The chefs here know their sushi. Not only are their fish fresh but the way they cut the fish for their sushi is one of the best I've tasted in Irvine. Their uni is really creamy and sweet, the unagi is one of my favorite (they don't kill the taste by dumping sauce), I can go on but i think you guys should just trust the chefs and try the place out. Never once have I had a bad experience with their service either. The chef was willing to feed me until I was full although it was past last call. I'd eat here everyday if I won a lottery. read more

Love the sushi here for what Tustin/Irvine has to offer, but it's close to impossible reaching them on their phone line. It's almost always busy. I just called a few moments ago, and a lady mumbled a few words, not sure if she had put me on hold or if she had accidentally picked up the phone. So I hung up and tried calling them again, and lo and behold, the line is busy - 15 minutes later. Now, I'm convinced she probably asked me to hold- but to put a customer on hold for 15 minutes without receiving a response from me to make sure it was okay is a bit inconsiderate. I want to support this local restaurant but they need to figure out a better system for their phone orders. I wouldn't mind ordering in-house, to-go, but it usually takes them at least 40 minutes to prepare. I've ended up choosing a different place to order due to not being able to reach them, at least 6 times within the past month and I usually spend at least $60-80 each time. Oh well, I guess I'll just drive all the way to Yagi in Anaheim Hills for their omakase...(I live 3 minutes away from Jinbei). read more

Jinbei is a great place if you want decent sushi but don't want the wait. Irvine's surrounding areas are home to many great sushi restaurants, but they tend require reservations or hours of waiting. Their nigiris are fresh and of quality, so they're probably my favorite on the menu. They pack in wasabi under that fish, which is perfect for me because I love the feeling of wasabi punching my nostrils. Salmon is awesome. They have toro, blue fin tuna, and one other tuna I can't remember, and all are good. I still think Nana San's scallop is unrivaled in OC, but Jinbei's scallop is decent. Jinbei's halibut nigiri has a lot of flavor, so I would recommend this as a must try. All other nigiris I tried were good, but I wouldn't say they blew my mind away. Jinbei's chicken wings are amazing by the way!! I would highly recommend. They are crispy and a deliiiiicious sauce is poured over them. I would rate Jinbei as a 4-star restaurant, but I deducted a star because they no longer offer the spaghetti dish. Very atypical for a sushi restaurant to offer, but Japanese spaghetti is amazing. I can't find any other Japanese restaurant in the OC that offers spaghetti like Jinbei's. I would have to go to Spoon House in Gardena to find something similar. Jinbei, if you are reading this... PLEASE CONSIDER BRINGING IT BACK! read more

If you're looking for cuts of fish outside of the traditional maguro/sake/toro, Jinbei is the place to go. Their offerings change seasonally, but I was able to try both the amber jack (kanpachi) and striped jack (shima-aji), both of which were delicious. I ordered the nigiri version of both and appreciated the freshness of the fish as well as the large fish to rice ratio-- there was just enough rice to balance out the fish. I also enjoyed the uni pasta, which was super creamy and nutty. The deluxe bento with tonkatsu was also quite good and filling, albeit less so than everything else. I will caveat this review and say that the menu is a bit disorganized-- I definitely missed out on a lot of delicious sounding food, but if you know what you're looking for, there are quite a few gems here in addition to the typical Japanese fare (tonkatsu, chicken teriyaki, etc.) DEFINITELY will be back again to try the rest of the sushi and the seasonal appetizers. read more

Jinbei is a hidden masterclass of sushi tucked into the hills of Irvine. Fish is flown in from Japan. Authentic Japanese vegetables you've never heard make their way into cut rolls. Their avocado hand rolls literally melt into your mouth. The chefs behind the counter are all authentically trained in their art and they really are all true artists, exemplified by the deep flavor embued into their creations. Try ordering a simple gobo (burdock root) cut roll. Mix the genuine wasabi with the high quality soy sauce in the handmade earthenware before you. Dab the roll, pop it into your mouth and observe the unfolding of an experience your mouth and brain can't quite understand. It will make you inexplicably happy for no reason. You'll see the Zen art on the wall and the kanji on the wooden Sapporo sign that looks like a human being...and you'll understand that there are still true human beings in this world who can send love into their food and into you. Top it off with some real iced green tea and go home to your family a changed person. read more

Love this place! Fresh and so authentic. It does get really crowded but worth the wait. Good combination sets to choose from.

I got the lunch special of the tempura udon and crunchy roll. The price was about average of $12.95 for it. The udon tasted pretty good to me although the tempura in it got extremely soggy real quick. It would've been nice for them to put the tempura on the side or something. The crunchy roll was ok and I actually kind of liked it but other than that, nothing really stood out during the entire meal. The service wasn't bad but it wasn't particularly amazing. If you were in the area and didn't have many choices, you could come here and give it a try but if you have other choices, I'd prolly try to go to the other places first. read more

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My favorite sushi restaurant!! I come here quite frequently and am always satisfied by the amazing Japanese cuisine! The quality of the fish is always so fresh and clean, I suggest the halibut sushi if you haven't tried it. The uni pasta is always a specialty I love, it has that salty essence of the sea and so creamy. And the rolls, the spicy tuna is a definite classic and it has a nice spice to it, I always eat that and sushi with the ginger and wasabi. Their tabakara wings (not entirely sure how to spell it) is also delicious with its sweet yet savory sauce on the tender chicken. The service is a little slow, especially during dinner time but it is a busy time in the evening. However, the waiters as well as the chefs are always considerate and very welcoming, I encourage everyone to visit! read more

This place needs some serious management change. I usually try not to write bad reviews because most restaurants are still struggling after the pandemic but this place really needs to change. After reading a lot of the reviews about their customer service and the way they treat customers, I went against my better judgment and thought I give it a try since it's close to my house. First of all as of May, they are basically open 5:30-8:30 with bunch of other rules posted on the window. My husband and I walk in and there's an iPad with a sign that specifically says to get on the waitlist. So before I can even touch the iPad the host runs up and before he asks us, how many or inside or to go or even barely greeting us and says "this table u see (we couldn't even see the table because it was behind the hostess stand) is reserved and there's 7 people on wait list (literally none one was waiting around, inside or outside) and there's at least 30 mins wait" like all in one breath! Didn't even give us a chance to say whether or not we were fine with the wait. His entire behavior was so shocking that we just said "no thank you" and walked out. I can't believe this place is still in business. Absolutely trust the horrible reviews left about their customer service i don't obviously know about their food since we were basically turned away. Hopefully they will either change their ways or replaced by something better. Just be aware... read more

Try Chrashi!!! It's best as I had around here for the price of around $25. Thick juicy succulent sushi and some miso

Second review I've written about jinbei (on my original account), but I can't help it! Charlie-san, Ken-san and Jun-san are true artists and great people, not to mention the amazing service from Stacy and the other women of jinbei! Freshest, diverse sushi we've ever had. Our Friday night date spot and we're going again tonight!!! read more

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I'm pretty sure this is as close as it gets. The food was delicious!! Was recommended to me from a friend that is only in town for business here and there. Glad I came around to try it out with the family. read more

Excellent. Sit at the sushi bar and chat with Charlie. Get any sushi you like and try the karage and salmon skin salad and tacowasa with some sake and .. well uni pasta.. you can't go wrong here. Have fun. read more

great place and reasonable pricing. Love the Uni pasta, and the omakase is legit, and done with japanese attention to detail. I would put this japanese restaurant on the authentic side of japanese cuisine served in the USA. Small interior restaurant but expanded by outdoor seating. read more

We were told this place had excellent sushi and we believe this to be true! My teenage daughter and I went there this weekend and enjoyed a quaint restaurant with excellent food and service. We loved everything we ordered. We had some sushi rolls, miso soup, salad, and a tempura bowl. So good! Everyone from the host to the chef was attentive and friendly. We will definitely come back! read more

Jinbei - Spicy Tuna Albacore Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of my favorite restaurants in Irvine. Food is authentic and of high quality. I especially enjoy the uni pasta and spicy chicken wings. The sushi here is great, with Toro and Yellowtail being some of my personal favorites. The desserts at Jinbei are crafted to perfection and always bring a smile to my face. I can tell that the gentleman who usually brings the dessert out is passionate about what he does. Such a nice guy! Why 4 stars? Please update the menu handed out to your customers. Chocolate Cake and Crepe were both on the menu but when I ordered one, the waitress found out they no longer served it. The dessert they changed it to was apple pie, which is not even on the menu. read more

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I come here about 1~2x a month and they've been very consistent. My favorite meal there was a lunch set with chopped tuna over rice... AMAZING. I got lucky and it was basically fatty toro. Typically for dinner I get the Chicken Karage... also delicious. I especially love the egg plant side dish that comes with it. Another fav are the fried soft shell crabs, either as a roll or a la carte... mmm drooling now. The service can be a little hit or miss at times, but never really had a problem. Definitely my local go-to place in Irvine. read more

I don't know if it was because it was lunch time, but there was barely any noodles. The price is pretty hefty too, being $22. It tasted great though, but I didn't feel full off of it. read more

Jinbei - Uni Spaghetti - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came back again for some sashimi Very fresh and Charlie san is very nice Hot appetizer are excellent as well read more

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This is my fav local lunch spot! Fish is always fresh and the chefs and staff are awesome. Our favorite lunch combos are Chicken Karaage, sushi roll combo, and the chirashi bowl. Today I had their sashimi salad off the regular menu and loved the yuzu citrus dressing. I'm also a huge fan of their yellowtail sashimi and salmon sashimi. read more

Jinbei - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

My husband and I love it here. We are here once a week spending all our money lol. The scallop sushi is so dang good- Haven't had it better anywhere else. We come around 5:30-6:30 and there's never a wait. Sushi always taste so fresh and quality. Don't know what the negative reviews are about...We've always only had a good experience with the food & service. read more

Jinbei's a lovely restaurant. Nestled away near the foothills, it's located in a quiet plaza. Now the food on the other hand is quite the opposite from unassuming. They insist that you should try their specials, dishes that feature less popular fare, like squid and sea escargot. Dare to be a little daring--not a bad way to live when you're in the burbs and need a little extra excitement. They also have a nice assortment of fish as sushi or sashimi (yes, toro too), as well as more regular options like udon and bento boxes. Well I tried the uni spaghetti special. One of their "top" items, and I gotta say that it was pretty awesome. This also coming from someone who's not afflicted by/deathly in love with uni. Somehow the creaminess of the sauce and the fresh oceany taste come together for quite a refreshing pairing. So yeah, try their specials! You won't be disappointed. read more

Jinbei - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Jinbei WAS a gem of a restaurant with great quality Japanese food. It WAS a great neighborhood restaurant. Again it WAS... this restaurant has gone downhill. About a month ago, they forgot my udon. This time, they forgot about out sushi. We had to ask two times for it and then the sushi chef came out and said he forgot. As this restaurant has gotten popular, they have not been able to maintain their service and food quality. Don't plan on coming back again. read more

Can't believe there aren't a lot of reviews about Jinbei. BF and I came here twice now and loved it both times. It has become our go to sushi place in Irvine. The service is great. Food can take some time, but I don't mind because the food is great too! A lot of more traditionally Japanese style dishes on the menu if sushi isn't for you. We've tried a LOT of things. And practically loved everything. Sushi, uni pasta, omelette, sake. Loved it all. The restaurant is fairly small so I wouldn't recommend going with a large party! read more

Jinbei - Uni sushi, beer, sake, and more sushi :) - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here on a Sunday night at 7 they took our phone # and called us when ready 40 min. We sat outside under heaters in plaza area so pretty with lighted trees. We were a party of 4 and got Kirin pitcher of beer $18 got sashimi platter (5) types of fish $30 and teriyaki chicken box and $13 and 2 udon noodles $4.50 The freshness was incomparable to any other sushi places we have been ... I think Taiko has meet their match by far. This is quaint and service is outstanding ... I will be back very soon! Also plenty of parking and brand new center comparable to Newport Coast. read more

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Great service and high quality sushi for reasonable prices. Only issue is it's hard to find a seat so you have to go off hours or be sure to make a reservation read more

The food was good. Went for lunch on a Wednesday at 12:45 and there was no wait. Got seated right away. Ordered the sashimi lunch. Came with a salad and miso soup. Nothing special there but the sashimi was very good. I would definitely come here again. The service was great! The bathrooms were clean!! read more

2 Price Way over for the quality 1 Service Just terrible, not sure how they manage this place 2.5 Food It's whatever. I mean whatever read more