Stopped by around 7:30 PM on a Sunday and had a great experience. There was no wait to be seated, and the restaurant has a small parking lot with enough spaces available during our visit. Soft music played in the background, and the traditional Japanese decor gave the restaurant a warm, relaxing feel. Our server was friendly and respectful, and the food came out quickly and hot. We ordered the Pork Loin Katsu Curry and the Cheese Pork Katsu. The pork loin was cooked really well, with a crispy, golden crust and a tender, juicy interior. The curry was flavorful and comforting without being spicy, making it an easy choice if you prefer a milder Japanese curry. The Cheese Pork Katsu was also excellent. The melted cheese added a creamy richness that complemented the crispy pork well. Both meals also came with miso soup, which had a clean flavor, and a side of shredded lettuce with dressing that helped lighten up the richness of the fried dishes. Overall, everything was prepared well, the service was great, and the restaurant had a welcoming atmosphere. If you're looking for a reliable spot for Japanese curry and katsu, I'd definitely recommend it and would happily come back again. read more

We visited Kagura around 6 pm on a Friday and were seated and able to order immediately. The staff was kind throughout our meal. I ordered the Pork Katsu with Curry Meal Set, which came with miso soup, salad, and a few small sides including sweet potato. The curry itself was pretty good, and the katsu was very crispy, which was probably the biggest standout of the meal. The katsu is on the thicker side, and I personally prefer mine thinner. I find thicker cuts a little dense and tiring to eat after a while, although that really comes down to personal preference rather than anything being wrong with how it was prepared. The sides were fine as well, but nothing particularly stood out to me. Overall, everything was solid, but with so many Japanese curry options throughout OC, Kagura didn't stand out enough for me to go out of my way to come back. Nothing was bad by any means, and if you prefer a thicker, very crispy katsu, you may enjoy it more than I did. read more

Kagura - Pork Katsu Meal Set with Curry - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Service was non existence, the waitress in glasses was extremely rude and arrogant, she puts food tray on your table and leaves without saying a word, twice. No water refill, no checking up, and she only greets Japanese customers who leave and come in to the store. Horrile dining experience. read more

Humongous serving sizes and perfectly crisp katsu! Great service. Would definitely return for this comfort meals read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I ordered the chicken chili cheese Katsu. The cheese had a flavor that reminded me of a spicy queso dip. Not sure what the blend was but it worked well with the chicken. I enjoyed the variety of small bites that came with every order. We came in with a group of 10. The staff was very accommodating. Service was good and place gets pretty busy read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Feeling like bento, we ordered chicken and filet katsu. The former is served with a dollop of real wasabi. Beef came with Chinese mustard as well as demi-glace. The sides are rehydrated radish and sliced okra with soybeans. The canned oolong is good. read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Beware, it's very loud in the restaurant if you're sitting on the sides. There's a lot of echos. It's just the way the room was built. Our ears hurt on the way out of the restaurant! Anyways, the food is good. We ordered the Fillet Katsu with Crab Coqet and Pork Katsu Curry Sauce. It was crunchy to perfection! The Crab Coqet is very creamy and good! I wish they had chicken options for people who wanted the Crab Coqet or Shrimp Tempura with their meal. I'm not sure what the little sides were, but I think it's similar to potato salad and sweet potatoes. The cabbage salad did not have that much dressing, so when I asked for more dressing, there was a charge of 50 cents! read more

Kagura - Bottom: Fillet Katsu with Crab Coqet, Top: Pork Katsu Curry Sauce - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I will say I love kagura el segundo. So I was hesitant to try here since it's a different menu. But the food did not disappoint. Katsu are fried really well. Not oily. Great texture. Curry is solid. Food is done right I got a katsu don. Eggs and onions with rice and katsu. Also great. Would order again Parking here I can tell is an issue. Lucky I went early but it's worth the hassle for a great meal read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The pork katsu itself was so crispy and juicy. The dressing on the salad is not too heavy and a bit citrusy which cuts through the fat of the katsu. The sides that came with the combo were interesting. I liked the root veggie thing and the lady liked the sesame paste tasting thingy. Not sure what either were. Miso soup had a nice clam flavor. Fried squid legs were cooked really well. Definitely as for more lemon and I wish there were some sauce to dip it in Parking here is terrible just a heads up. Good service and a smaller interior. wasn't much of a wait though read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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How have I not known about this place? In the area and found this gem in a strip mall on Yelp! Thankfully no wait! Felt like we morphed to Japan. Service was great. Food amazing. I loved the sides and miso soup with the meal. Rice was perfect. Katsu sauce and soy on table. We shared between my husband and 11 yo -an order of the chicken chili cheese katsu set and the pork (no fat) katsu set. I asked for extra salad sauce which was .50. The marinated egg side was delish. Ordered another pork katsu set for my older son to go. He enjoyed it. So so so good! What a gem!!!! Beautiful woodsy ambiance. Staff were Japanese. An authentic experience. Will definitely be back. read more

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Came in on a Saturday, and was seated immediately. Inside is typical of a Japanese restaurant... natural wood and minimalistic. Service was great, very nice and attentive. I really wanted a beef katsu, and they had it on special. As you can see from the picture it was served very rare in the middle. It was delicious! Came with a couple sides (sweet potatoes, and root vegetable + Miso Soup) All in all, a very good serving, leaving me satiated. Worst part about this place is the parking. Its horrendous. Get here early, and don't take your nice car. Costa Mesa needs to figure something out here... maybe Wahoo's can spare some parking. I'd definitely be back...especially if they bring back the Gyu katsu! read more

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Solid spot for katsu and hamburg. Almost everything on the menu is fried except for their wagyu hamburg 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!!! read more

Kagura - hamburg - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Parking: Kagura shares a parking lot in a small strip mall. It was a bit confusing to get into because some of the businesses blocked off certain areas so that I could not drive over directly from Bristol Street. The entrance to the lot is actually on Baker Street. Interior: The interior was spacious and did not feel very crowded. I went on a weekday with some coworkers and it was not very crowded. Service: The servers were friendly. Our food came out relatively quickly. Food: I got the pork katsu with curry sauce. It came with a side of miso soup, pickled radishes, and some sweet glazed potatoes. The breading on the katsu was crispy and not too greasy. It stayed on pretty well and did not get soggy too quickly. Overall, it was a very solid meal and I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you are a fan of Japanese curry. read more

Kagura - Pork katsu with curry sauce - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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After trying the Torrance location, I was happy to find out that there was one closer to me. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, there was a short wait to get seated. I ordered the Fillet and Ebi Katsu. Food came out at moderate pace. Overall the dish was good in terms of flavor profile. I enjoyed the shrimp more than the pork since the pork was a little more tough and slightly fatty. The side dishes were alright. I enjoyed the radish and the miso soup. I believe the potatoes or pumpkin? had a distinct taste to them which I wasn't a fan of. Inside was slightly loud due to it being busy. There were various size of tables for different party sizes. Service was friendly and quick. Parking was alittle bit of a hassle due to the small lot. I had to circle a few times before finding a spot. read more

Kagura - Fillet Katsu with Shrimp - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time visiting and I have to say the food was pretty mid. I had high expectations going in since this place is known to be a popular spot, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype for me. I'm not sure if I just ordered the wrong dish, but I got the millefeuille with cheese and it wasn't good in my opinion. The herby scent and flavor it had wasn't something I personally enjoyed, and it's definitely not something I'd order again. My cabbage lettuce also tasted pretty bland. The only thing I really liked was the miso soup. That said, I'm willing to give this place another chance. The service was great--staff were quick and attentive to my needs right away. The ambiance was nice as well, with plenty of tables and a comfortable place to sit. read more

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The food was amazing to my liking. My only issue is tipping experience here. I paid in cash and prefer to leave cash tips, so it rubbed me the wrong way when they asked me to tip when I didn't select that option on their machine. I'd rather it be my choice than forced to tip. I just hate that behavior tbh. Next time, I'll just pay with my card... read more

Kagura - Pork Loin Shoulder Set Meal - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

世界上沒有一個人是每天都快樂的，無論處在什麼樣的環境，你都要相信， 真正能治癒你的， 只有你自己～ 今天要介紹好友，也是我們版友Derek帶我去吃在 Costa Mesa 的豬排飯，日式豬排飯, 從chino hills 到 Costa Mesa 應該有兩百家， 但這家不一樣， 好像是從 Torrance 開過來的名店，裏面賣的就是一份份簡單的套餐，等我吃到他們的炸豬排時， 有點像小時候看日本電視節目的感覺，看似平凡無奇， 入口一點都不柴，很嫩，多汁，也太好吃了吧， 我想在美國， 這家的炸豬排應該是數一數二的啦，日式小吃， 每個月都有機會跟不同朋友吃個 兩三次，近期只有這家的炸豬排值得推薦，我點的是還有加點咖喱的，不喜歡吃炸的， 他們也有親子丼，一家也很適合一個人來吃商業午餐的地方！ read more

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This is a somewhat small place and can only seat ~30 people. I called to reserve a table for 6 at 7pm, but that might not be needed since there wasn't a waitlist when I arrived. Edamame -- 7.5/10 just average, nothing special. Cooked perfectly and a good amount of salt Karaage -- 8/10. Juicy and crispy! Nothing stand out as well, but I'd recommend ordering if you're looking for an appetizer Pork katsu curry set -- 9/10. This is my second time trying this set and it's as good as I remembered! I like that they leave the curry on the side so you can slowly add as much as you'd like. The curry has a deep and rich flavor which paired nicely with the lean katsu. I do wish they had some type of pickled side to offset richness. Unfortunately the cabbage wasn't doing enough, but it was still good nevertheless. read more

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Decent food but got forgotten. Came in a party of 3 where everyone got their food pretty quickly but my food didn't come for a while. They admitted they missed the order and offered to comp 2 appetizers, which was a nice gesture. The karaage tasted rubbery and was not crispy at all. Tasted more like chicken nuggets than anything. The pork loin katsu was at least better and somewhat crispy. Ambiance was okay. Tables are kind of close together so hope you don't have sneezing kids next to you like we did, but that's not the restaurant's fault. I'd say the Torrance location has a much nicer ambiance. Oh, also, the parking situation is awful. Wahoo's takes up the core parking spots along the street so you have to go around the entire city block to turn into this small section of the lot if you miss it or come from a different way. Overall, I don't think I'd come back to this location. The food was alright and the fact that my order was missed put a bad taste in my mouth. I will stick to the Torrance location for a much nicer dining experience. read more

Kagura - Pork loin katsu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I can't believe this is my first time at Kagura. It's a little tricky to get to the parking lot. You have to enter from Baker just before getting to Wahoo's in the corner of Bristol. They close after lunch so don't go for late lunch. I loved their katsu. There are so many different ones to choose from. read more

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I happened to find Kagura while on my way to another restaurant and am happy I stopped by. I ordered the chicken katsu curry and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was a thick cut and crispy and the curry itself was rich with umami earthy spice. This is my preference for Japanese curry and the sides that came with the dish also paired well. I think in terms of taste this might be my favorite Japanese curry. My only wish is that they would have larger portion options. It is also one of the more priced restaurant but worth the value. Service was good and the inside was nice. read more

Kagura - Chicken katsu curry - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Kagura is a fantastic option if you're feeling some katsu. Starting with the Karaage, they came out looking potentially a little too fried but I couldn't have been more wrong. The coating was tasty, the chicken was juicy, and the sauce with a little bit of lemon was exquisite. For the main dish, I went a little bold and tried their Chicken Katsu with Umeboshi Sauce and Shiso inside the katsu. May sound kind of odd, but the combination of flavors was both fresh and bold. Service at the restaurant was solid and I don't think there was a moment where my water wasn't full. The restaurant itself was quite big and I was surprised by how many tables/people could be seated. 100% would come back to try some of the other katsu options. read more

This was my first time dining in at this place. The interior was spacious, but it was really warm inside (maybe because it was raining outside). The food was really good! My curry pork katsu came out so crispy, and it was soooooooo good. The staff were really friendly and attentive. read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Kagura in Costa Mesa is hands down one of my favorite spots for Japanese comfort food! The chicken katsu here is amazing. I love both the regular katsu and the katsu with cheese which they're both equally delicious. The ambiance is really nice, with a cozy yet modern feel that makes it great for dining in. Most of the time, there's no wait which is such a bonus, especially when you're craving a quick meal. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the service is fast without ever feeling rushed. Whether you're grabbing a casual lunch or a relaxed dinner, Kagura never disappoints. If you love well prepared katsu and a pleasant dining experience, this place is a must-visit! read more

Kagura - Regular katsu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'm so whatevs abt katsu but this was amazing. Irrelevant but I saw a cute bby here too read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Kagura is one of the most authentic katsu experiences I've had so far! Came here with a craving for tonkatsu curry and I was not disappointed. There's a parking lot just outside the restaurant, though can get crowded depending on time of day. The inside of the restaurant is small, cute, and decorated on theme with Japanese cuisine. The service here is extremely friendly and attentive. I got the Tonkatsu Curry. Tonkatsu Curry 10/10 - One of my go-to's for tonkatsu curry! The meat is juicy and tender without being too fatty. The breading is crunchy but still light and airy providing a nice contrast per bite. The curry is savory and deep with flavor. One of the rare places where the katsu and curry and excellent. I appreciate how you can also choose the fattiness of the pork to your preference. Highly recommend checking out Kagura if you're in search of a more casual spot with great food and service! read more

Kagura - Curry Tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is hidden gem located in Costa Mesa that serves authentic Japanese katsu. Maan does this take me back to when I was in Japan when I tried Kagura. We got the pork fillet and shrimp dish along with the pork fillet dish. Each entree came with veggie sides and miso soup. The katsu here is like no other-- insanely crispy and light at the same time. The meat was so flavorful and tender, and the shrimp was super fresh as well. The staff here are very friendly and on top of their service, one glance over and they're already at your table asking if there's anything you need. The price is great for their big portion sizes, I had some leftovers for my next meal and it was still great even if it wasn't as crispy. A great 10/10 spot!! read more

Kagura - Pork fillet with shrimp - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Katsu was delectably crunchy and did not get soggy even when the curry was on it. Both the miso soup and curry were hearty and complemented the katsu very well. Cabbage slaw was a nice freshness amid the meal set. Loved the wooden panels that divided the space and added a more private atmosphere. read more

Kagura - Curry Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Service is incredibly bad. They have a "Dogs Allowed" sign, but still kicked us out. The dog was in the carrier the whole time and never even touched the floor. Then they made us wait at the door in 88°F heat when the store was basically empty. If you're not actually dog-friendly, don't pretend to be. read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great tonkatsu quality, comparable to those in Japan. Their service is really great. I will definite come back in the future read more

Kagura - They have 3 choices of pork fatty levels . I ordered the medium choice. Very juicy. Will try their lean choice in my next visit - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is a hidden gem. You walk in, and it's only japanese people eating here. Japanese servers and cooks in the back. Food is authentic, TASTY, and hearty portions. We've tried a variety of katsu options - shrimp, pork, beef - and everything was delicious. Small strip mall with parking. Apple pay available. read more

The food here is great! The katsus have a nice crisp while still making the meat quite tender. The sets usually comes with a bowl of rice, miso soup, small side and cabbage salad. The cabbage salad comes drizzled in their housemade sauce which qas slighty tangy and refreshing. We got the pork loin katsu, chicken breast with oroshi katsu, and the pork curry katsu. They were all delicious and had its own unique flavor. I was worried the chicken breast may be too tough, but it was nice and soft and the addition of the oroshi (grated daikon) sauce was a nice refreshing balance. The service here was great! I was surprised at how quickly we were seated for a Sunday lunch since it usually was a long wait the previous times I've come. Would definitely recommend! read more

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I've been craving a beef sando since I came back from Japan and this place totally came through for me. The pork loin katsu was so rich, fatty but not chewy at all. Perfect crispy and cabbage gave the right balance. The beef sando was the star of the show, cooked perfectly and with a light sauce to bring out the flavor. Beer and shochu options were an excellent way to round out the meal. This place serve high quality food and quick to serve their customers. I can't wait to come back read more

Kagura - Beef sando - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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If you are craving katsu, but are not extremely hungry, then this is the place to go. IMO this restaurant focuses on quality of the katsu vs quantity of the katsu. It's by far one of the best places I have eaten at for donkatsu, but I will say I left the restaurant satiated but not full. This restaurant has a different take on donkatsu where they do a more thicker slice chicken than thinning out the chicken. BE WARNED, the wasabi here is also extremely dangerous, it's such a wild experience once you taste it, but do only take a nib of wasabi per katsu. The service was absolutely wonderful, always ensuring my water was topped off, it was just sad the water refill was warm lol. The ambiance here reminds me of a classic Japanese restaurant, with the wooden interior. It is a bit dim in resturant, but it adds to the experience :). read more

Kagura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We went to this small joint on Sunday evening. When we entered the room was not that crowded. We were seated after waiting for a couple of minutes. The outside Temperature was about 94 F and It was scorching hot. I could feel the AC was not working properly! Because the room was getting warmer! They turned on a small fan; trying to cool down the room full of people! But the fan didn't help at all!!! I was sweating as I tried to eat my dinner! It was such an awful experience!!! The owner was supposed to call the emergency AC repair as the outside temperature was 94 F. It was too dangerous for older customers; which I noticed many elderly customers! They might be having heat stroke! It's liability on their part. This is a classic case of an operating safety violation!! After we ordered our meals and the food came out around 15 minutes later. We had to ask the server (Amy) multiple times to give us forks, straws and napkins. She was not attentive at all! She was just went back and forth trying to adjust the thermostat that was not working! Another server had to give us the requested items! The flavor of pork katsu was not good (below average). The mackerel fish katsu was just average! The sauce was not good either. The raw cabbage was not properly seasoned with the dressing. This place is a total turned off! I will not recommend anyone nor will I ever return to this terrible mediocre restaurant! read more

Great service and food came out quickly. The staff checked on us often and no wait on a Tuesday evening. Plenty of parking. Everything was cooked well. The beef katsu was tender and not chewy. Green tea was a little weak but everything else was very nice. Furikake for the rice would've been great. read more

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I've been on break from Yelp for a while but had to come back and give this place a review. When you go to an establishment, you expect them to have at least a little respect or understanding when it comes to their costumers. They didn't let my grandma wait inside where it was warm. They insisted (in a rude way) to have her wait outside. The lady was inconsiderate. This was by far the worst costumer service I've experienced from any business. read more

The Beef Chateaubriand and the Pork Millefieulle are my absolute favorite here! The meat is tender and juicy, and then you pair that with some Japanese curry.... Yum! I love how it's all a well balanced meat. You have your protein, rice, veggies, miso soup, and the little sides. I love this place and can't wait to come back! Thank you Kagura! read more

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Good atmosphere. Great service. Good katsu (on the fattier side). Kinda pricey. I'd come back when I'm craving a very standard katsu meal. read more

Kagura - Pork Katsu w/ Curry Sauce - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Making your way to this establishment is a bit tricky. Seems like there is only one way into the plaza from Baker. The other business entrance in Bristol is blocked off from the establishment. In short, follow your Apple or Google Maps directions. It will save you countless U-turns. Food! As simple as a sandwich goes (Sando is the name), it's pretty darn tasty! The sauce inside can come across a bit salty, but with the salad pairing, it strikes the right balance in terms of flavor. Texture, hands down, is awesome. The soft bread and the light crunch from the pork katsu are superb. Love this dish. Wifey got the pork katsu meal, which came with pickle sides, miso soup, salad, and rice. For light eaters like us, this was a feast! The server was nice and attentive in providing us with an extra bowl to share. Inside, you'll find a Japanese-style decor that is simplistic and simple. I enjoy the exposed wood style. The ceiling needs work though. Doesn't influence the food or overall experience but seeing warped ceiling paper up top takes away from the overall experience. Details that go the distance scenario here. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and service. Can't wait to visit again with a larger group to try other items. Note: I ask for lemon for my water, and they charge 50 cents, fyi. I can see why they would do this, but it would have been better if they baked the fee into the meal. read more

Kagura - Pork Katsu Meal - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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