I recently checked out Katsu Bar in Irvine with my husband for dinner, and we loved it so much! We were craving something comforting, and this place totally hit the spot. The katsu was super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside perfectly cooked and not greasy at all. Everything tasted really fresh and high quality. We ordered the Cauliflower Tempura, Katsu Plate, Yubu Pockets, and Original Katsu Sandwich, and everything was absolutely delicious. Each dish had its own unique flavor, but all of them were super satisfying. The portions were generous and such great value for the price, so we left completely full and happy They also have a really nice patio seating area, which made the whole vibe even better. It felt relaxed and perfect for a casual dinner night. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the place overall felt clean and cozy. Definitely one of those spots we'd come back to when we want something hearty and delicious. Also, I love that you can choose your protein for the katsu chicken, beef, or fish which makes it even more customizable depending on your preference. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

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One of our go to restaurants in Irvine for something quick and good! We ordered new items than our usual katsu sandwiches because we wanted to see what else they have to offer + lots of new items as well! Yubu Pockets: tofu pockets filled with rice + your choice of proteins. Loved getting to try all the different flavors! Black Garlic Ramen with Katsu: flavorful, and rich! Curry Katsu Plate: surprisingly not bad! The curry isn't overpowering, and I like that it comes on the side so you can dip your katsu and control how much curry you want with each bite. Spicy Pork Korean Plate: one of their NEW menu items! Don't let the name scare you, it's more flavorful than spicy and the sauce over the rice was SO good. Strawberry Sando: always a favorite! The cream is light and not too sweet, the bread is sooo soft, and the fresh strawberries make it the perfect sweet ending. No wonder it's so popular and viral! Everything we tried was delicious, and service was fast! You can dine inside, sit outside, or grab your food to-go, so there's plenty of ways to enjoy it. Definitely worth adding to your food list if you're in Irvine! They also have multiple locations. read more

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Came here while visiting from out of town because I had heard great things about this place. We arrived at 8:40 PM, but the front-of-house staff told us they were already closed and refused to serve us. The posted business hours clearly state that the restaurant closes at 9:00 PM. If your hours say you're open until 9:00 PM, customers should reasonably expect to be able to order before then. If the kitchen or dining room stops accepting guests earlier, that should be clearly communicated by listing a last seating or last order time instead of advertising a 9:00 PM closing. It was disappointing to make the trip based on your posted hours only to be turned away 20 minutes before closing. read more

i've eaten at katsu bar in the past and really enjoyed their portions, so i was excited to order from them on doordash tonight when the craving hit. i've been to the restaurant a handful of times before and it's always been quick, clean, and easy to order with their electronic kiosk. unfortunately, this order didn't quite match those past experiences. i ended up ordering a bit of everything to mix and match. i got the shrimp sando with fries, macaroni, three yubu pockets, and the shrimp sticks, thinking i'd be able to save some for later. starting with the shrimp sando, i've loved it in the past, but tonight it was honestly almost inedible. i ended up picking off the shrimp because the coleslaw sauce was so watery and overused that it completely soaked the bread. it was just too much and kind of nauseating, which is a shame because their bread is usually so soft and complements the sandwich really well. it honestly felt like a completely different sandwich from what i remembered (and i know this wasn't on the delivery driver since my order got to me quickly after pickup). that same issue seemed to carry over to the macaroni salad, where the sauce was again a bit too much and leaned too sweet for my taste. on the brighter side, the shrimp sticks and waffle fries were definitely the highlight. they were nice and crispy, and the seasoning was really good. as for the yubu pockets, they were alright. they definitely stuff them generously, which is great if that's what you're going for, but three ended up being a bit overkill if you're just looking for a side. overall, i know they're capable of better based on my past visits, but i can't say it was a satisfactory dinner for me tonight. read more

Dill egg salad sando was good. Not a prominent dill flavor. It was a good ratio of bread to egg filling. Not too mayonnaise-y either. The bread could have been a bit more soft. They have a nice selection of other menu items, in case you are dining with others and want more options. It's located in a shopping center, but a lot of parking. Ordered at the kiosk, and employees offered to answer questions and were very helpful. read more

Katsu Bar - Dill Egg Salad Sando - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

The place was clean and friendly staff. I stopped for lunch however it was not what I expected from a Katsu Sando. The meat was soggy/chewy not crispy and the sauce was way too sweet. The plating was nice but won't definitely not go back. I've had better Katsu in other places. read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

LOVE IT! We got the original and curry katsu plate, I just loved it so much! Even my husband who is not a fan of this dish loved it so much. Even though I ordered take out their packaging and service was absolutely amazing, the portions were very generous. The store looks really nice too I haven't got a chance to eat inside yet but I am definitely going there pretty soon to feel the great ambiance :) read more

Great experience, super quick service, freshly made to order & awesome help in choosing what to try here first! For a Saturday afternoon, it was quiet & peaceful to sit & enjoy a late lunch. Tables, restaurant & restroom were all super clean! Looking forward to visiting again & trying something new! read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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The service here was wonderful, the food was delicious, and freshly made with a modest wait time.

We passed by this location and decided to give it a try after seeing they had some deals posted right by the front door. We decided to try the following: Tteokbokki with Katsu: Thought this was pretty decent for the price. The katsu was perfectly fried and moist. The sauce was not too spicy and have a good flavor to it. Curry with Katsu: It simply is just curry and katsu. There was nothing too special about this one. Katsu still nice and crispy on this one! Korean Gang Jung: We got these in the soy garlic flavor. It was fried chicken with panko and tossed in sauce. I would say this would be a great starter if the chicken on this wasn't as dry. Not sure if this was just small strips of chicken they cut up but it seemed really dry. Overall, I think this place was just average. Nothing really stood out about their service or their food. I don't think I would be returning back here since there are a ton of other food options in the same plaza. I know they do have daily deals if you may be interested in some other items. I can't remember what exactly but they do have a sign right inside the restaurant that seemed like a fair price. read more

Katsu Bar - Chicken Katsu with Curry, Pork Katsu with Tteokbokki, and appetizer - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Katsu Bar has a pretty wallet friendly lunch special. Each day of the week has a different special, all at $13 each. I will admit, it is a pretty good deal. We got the curry udon and the katsu udon. Not only is the deal great, but if you're on the go, food comes out pretty fast (about 5 minutes or so). The katsu udon as the name suggest, comes with a crispy hearty katsu sitting on udon and broth. Katsu was on the bit dry side but meaty and delicious. The udon also hit the spot as the day that we stopped by was cold and it had rained earlier in the week. Service was friendly and the interior is a bit small with a self serve drink dispenser. (BTW did I mention that the lunch special comes with a free drink?). Located in the Culver Plaza by 99 Ranch Market, this is definitely a convenient spot to visit if you're hungry and need something fast to satisfy your hunger. read more

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First time here for lunch. It seems like a pretty popular place in general. There was one table occupied inside and majority of patrons from this restaurant ate outside. The inside was very clean and bright. The staff was ok when taking our order. As for the food, we ordered a sandwich with waffle fries and Katsu plate. Even though we ate the food right away, it just seemed like it just wasn't hot enough. Additionally, there was not enough flavor and lack of seasoning on the food. Even with the dipping sauces, it just wasn't that tasty. We both did not finish our entrées. Probably will not return. read more

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I order it from door dash. And I have tried the crispy mushroom and the katsu with udon and it is delicious every time. Def my go to spot for katsu read more

Definitely great quality katsu. Tried their new spicy cold noodles with katsu and although I'm not a big fan of cold thin noodles the spicy sauce and katsu were delicious. Service was excellent with the staff taking the food out to you even if you are sitting outside. Place was clean. read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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TLDR: 2 stars just for to-go The portion size is definitely smaller for to-go orders, their mala tteokbokki has zero spice or mala flavor, and they don't put the katsu separately, which guarantees a soggy katsu. Make sure to dine-in if you want to go here read more

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What I Ordered: Chicken Yaki Udon Rosemary Katsu Sando with Waffle Fries * multiple locations around Southern California 7/10 read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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Delish delish delish!!! Katsu is super crispy and well cooked and they have so many options to pair it with. This was also the BEST strawberry Sando ive ever had. Been having dreams about it!! read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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Their food is especially comforting during the colder weather that's approaching and they have so many options!! (including some solid veggie options too ;)) You honestly can't go wrong with anything- their menu has a decent variety, and everything is so delicious!! What I got: Japanese Curry Chicken Katsu Plate Rosemary Katsu Sando w/ Waffle Fries (+ Curry Dip) Strawberry Sando Curry Udon with Beef Katsu Bulgogi Beef Yubu Pocket Garlic Butter Shrimp Yubu Pocket I loved all of these tbh The curry is sooo good and these dishes were so flavorful. If I HAD to pick only a couple to recommend, I'd say the Katsu Sando and the Curry Plate + the Strawberry Sando for dessert It was my first time having a Strawb Sando and it was delicious!! The cream was so fluffy and perfectly sweet. Again, all the dishes were really good, so you couldn't go wrong with anything They have some seating inside, but there's plenty more seating right outside! The staff is also super kind I've been once before this time, and it was great, so I was thrilled to be back read more

Katsu Bar serves a comforting and flavorful katsu curry. The cutlet was crispy and the curry was rich. If I were to return, though, I'd stick to the curry and skip the sandwich; the combination of flavors with the rosemary felt a bit off. Service was great, and I enjoyed dining outside in the patio area. Overall, still a solid place when you're craving something warm and hearty. read more

Katsu Bar - Curry Katsu Plate - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Service was great, the staff and Chef were very welcoming! The food had tons of flavor, made to a crisp and we got to try different things just to say we had it. Hands down the Rosemary Sando sandwich was on point! There's tables inside and plenty outside. Tons of parking space as well in this plaza. Menu is very simple, I would definitely come back here to try other things off their menu for sure! read more

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Whether you're craving classic favorites or want to try bold and new flavors, Katsu Bar has it all. With so many variations of katsu, sandos, and Korean fusion dishes, it was hard to decide what to get as we wanted to try them all! What we tried: Yubu Pockets Rosemary Katsu Sando Curry Katsu Plate Shrimp Katsu Rice Bowl Calamari Katsu Tteokbokki- (love the added noodles) Cheesecake They offer daily specials and have indoor and plenty of outdoor seating available. read more

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Quick service! There are two screens you can order from which I liked, then you can sit and wait for the food to come out which they bring out to you. There's also outdoor seating. I got the curry chicken katsu udon and it was quite delicious. The chicken was crispy, I wish I had more! I wish I added an egg as I felt there was something missing from this. read more

Katsu Bar - Black Garlic Ramen with Katsu - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Overpriced Sandos. Not worth the price honestly. I'd get the katsu plate before the sandos. Better value I think. Got to eat the sandos asap before the bread get soggy. The egg sandos was prob the best thing I had. I tried all the sandos. Shrimp was good but not worth the price tag imo. read more

The food is great ! I got the spicurry katsu plate on Monday for the Monday special! They were fast and super helpful with the questions I had regarding the menu. Place is quiet and super clean. Aaaaaand their pineapple cream soda is smacking !!!!! read more

Katsu Bar - Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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OVERALL : The one stop shop for all kinds of katsu, fried appetizers, curry, tteokbokki, sandos, and more! I've had Katsu Bar before a while ago, but they added some new items to their menu since my last visit and I think that I liked the items I got this time even more than my last visit. They have plenty of seats inside, self-order kiosks made everything easy, and the food comes out fast. Casual vibe, good for a quick lunch or easy dinner when you don't feel like cooking. Service was kind as well, with the staff member I interacted with being happy to answer my questions, provide togo containers, and keeping the tables / eating area clean. PARKING : Plenty of parking, big parking lot for the Culver Plaza FOOD/DRINKS : Tteokbokki w/ Pork Katsu -- I added an egg and made the sauce Szechuan style -- loved the thick chewy noodles in this dish + the rice cakes ofc and fishcake. The Szechuan style added some additional chili peppers etc that I saw in the sauce, but not too spicy or numbing. On the sweeter side though! Original Chicken Katsu Plate - I upgraded to a large and got another big piece of katsu! Juicy chicken with crispy exterior, rice, cabbage salad, and Mac salad. Plus tangy katsu sauce Yubu Set - garlic butter shrimp, cheese buldak spicy chicken, bulgogi, and spicy tuna -- rice + protein of choice all packed into a little sweet tofu skin Curry Udon w/ Beef Katsu - I got the spicy version which was actually spicy! Thick udon, not mushy at all. Beef katsu was super tender Shrimp Sticks - super crispy on the outside and bouncy, juicy flavorful shrimp on the inside -- think shrimp patty battered and deep fried! Served w a creamy tangy sauce read more

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Spent the day in Irvine with my siblings. I've seen this spot all over socials, so I was excited to take them here for lunch. Parking: Free parking lot. Ambiance/Environment: It's very clean inside. They have a small indoor space with limited seating. There's plenty of outdoor seating. There's two self ordering kiosk. Once you walk in, place your order, take a seat, and a worker will bring out your food to you. Service: We didn't catch her name, but she was courteous and attentive. Throughput was under 10 minutes after ordering. She brought out our food and surprisingly knew where we sat. Foods: We ordered all chicken Katsu! 1. Caprese Salad Katsu - If you're going for something simple and light, then this is the dish for you. The sauce with the arugula was delicious. They're generous with the Katsu, and the tomato and mozzarella were fresh. 2. Strawberry Sando - Perfect dessert to end off our lunch! It wasn't too sweet or heavy. The strawberries were fresh, and the cream was light. 3. Nashville Hot Chicken - The burger is big! My siblings and I looove the sauce! It was sweet then the spice creeps up on you during the aftertaste. The chicken was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. We also enjoyed the fries. 4. Katsu Plate - Another simple yet delicious dish. It came with a lot of Katsu, a scoop of rice, coleslaw, radish, and mac salad. We absolutely enjoyed this dish too! 5. Mala Ramen w/ Katsu - Wooo the Mala was spicyyy! Now this is what I call mala haha. The bowl was larger than expected. I appreciated the generous amount of Katsu and noodles given! 6. Yubu Pockets: buldak, egg salad, spicy tuna, bulgogi - These were over-filled to the top! It had a thin layer of tofu with rice on the bottom and filling on top. 7. Caprese Katsu Sando - The sandos were cut thin and filled with katsu and vegetables, and served with fries. This tasted like the other dishes but in a Sando. Pricing: Definitely worth it! My siblings and I loved everything! Presentation and plating was on point. read more

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So far my family is first time 1-food is good 2- The restaurant is clean 3- Service is the best Definitely, we will come back read more

Katsu Bar - This my husband's order is good too - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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I got the rosemary katsu sando with the berry katsu sauce and waffle fries. I asked what was recommended and they were really helpful on giving suggestions on what was most popular! There's plenty of outdoor seating when the inside is full. For this order, you can choose the chicken katsu or the pork katsu; I ordered the chicken one as that was recommended. The sandwich comes with yuzu salad inside and if you don't like it, you can order without. There's a few sauces to choose from and I got the recommended berry sauce. There's a strong berry flavor in it that goes well with the katsu. For the sides you can choose between the waffle fries or the curry sauce. I choose the fries, but i thought the fries were a bit harder than I like them to be, I'll probably try it with the curry sauce next time as I feel the sandwich would go better with a sauce! read more

Katsu Bar - Rosemary Katsu Sando W/ Sides - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Ordered the katsu sandwich with waffle fries and a soda as part of their Friday daily special. It was both tasty and a great deal! The chicken katsu was actually massive, and the fries were seasoned well and crispy. I had half the sandwich saved for the next day! There is plenty of parking, the interior is simple and clean, there's some indoor and outdoor seating, and the folks behind the counter were nice and provided quick service. I recommend! read more

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Highly recommend! Ordered the curry katsu plate ($19) and I loved the presentation, which is clearly something they put thought into. The katsu was perfectly cooked and paired well with the curry. The cabbage and macaroni salad were perfect compliments to the dish. Would order again. read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Went here for the first time the other day and I ordered the Rosemary Katsu sandwich and the Yubu 4 set. The sandwich was good and the katsu sauce I got with it paired well. The problem I had was with the Yubu set, namely the shrimp one. I typically don't have an issue with smaller sized shrimp still having the vein, especially if they are fully cooked, but I feel like this is noticeably unhygienic. The entire tract covers the side of the shrimp and almost 60% of the shrimp on my Yubu looked like the one in the photo. Just wanted to bring attention to anyone wanting to order the shrimp here to just be cautious. read more

Katsu Bar - Yubu Set (choose 4) - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

This is my go-to place for a katsu sandwich. The katsu is perfectly seasoned and perfectly crispy, perfect with their waffle fries. The portion sizes are good, the service is fast, and the interior of the store is clean! Everything I could want for a quick lunch break. My go-to order with a friend is a katsu sandwich with fries, and my friend gets a katsu sandwich with curry. If you share, you get the best of both worlds! read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

Been ordering from here regularly. The calamari and the shrimp sticks are my usual. But on July 3rd I saw a couple new additions to the appetizer section. They added Shrimp Tempura and "Katsu Only". The Katsu only allowed you to choose from their various Katsu and just get that alone. I saw they had Fish Katsu which I LOVE. Both the Shrimp Tempura and the Fish Katsu were fantastic. I went to order them again the next week and saw that the Katsu Only was removed... Boooo!!! Please add the Katsu Only appetizer option back to Grubhub! :) read more

Experience (1/5 stars): *Food: Mushroom tempura and Tteokbokki with Katsu were both too watery. Tempura was crispy but didn't have much flavor. The sauce for the tteokbokki tasted fishy and weird so we ended up just eating the katsu. *Price: ~$20 Overall, I would not come back here. read more

Katsu Bar - Japanese Curry Near Me - Irvine, California

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Located in the Culver Plaza, this restaurant offers a variety of dishes focused around katsu (e.g., sandwiches, burgers, rice plates, and noodles). Consider this place a casual dining experience that you can come to after running errands or post-work meal. Exterior: A large parking lot is available though you may have trouble finding parking on busier nights. There are a few tables for patio eating. Interior: If you had to describe it in three words: clean, small, and bright. The place has a couple of self-checkout kiosks and utensil holders at each table. For best experience, come with small parties of about 4-6 people (but try can accommodate more people). Service: By 8:20-8:30PM, food is only available by takeout. Overall, they are nice. Food: Pretty fresh and came out within 10-15min. They seem to be consistent with quality of food. 1.) Rosemary Katsu Sando with Berry Katsu sauce (5/5): If you buy this option, you 2.) Curry Katsu Plate (Beef) (5/5): If you buy this, they give options for different meats (pork, chicken, beef, and shrimp). read more

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I'm seriously hooked on the chicken katsu rosemary sando. The Japanese milk bread they use is so soft and just pairs perfectly with the crispy, juicy katsu. I had it once and found myself craving it again just days later. I've been coming up with excuses to go back ever since. My kids really enjoyed the black garlic udon--it had a rich, garlicky flavor and a great texture. My husband liked the spicy rice cakes, though they weren't my favorite. A bit too fishy for me and not quite as spicy as I expected. Service was friendly and smooth, and prices were totally reasonable for the quality. I'm looking forward to trying more of their sandos next time--we'll definitely be back read more

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Food is decently good but you have to order the special in the special section in order to get the deal. I ordered the same meal & got charged extra because I didn't go to the specials section. Worker's response was underwhelming & did not care. Just an fyi if you choose to come here during a "special" day. read more

Stopped by Katsu bar to try their katsu sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. The bread was a nice and soft white milk bread with Yuzu cabbage, wholegrain mustard aioli served with waffle fries. The katsu chicken pieces were breaded and crunchy. Delicious overall as were the waffle fries that accompanied the meal. The store also sells ramen and noodle dishes as well as curries. read more

I hadn't heard of this place until I made a Yelp search to find a place where I could meet a friend after work for a bite. Located in a classic Irvine shopping center, there was plenty of free parking. The place also has both indoor and outdoor seating. When you go inside, you can order at a screen. At first, I was taken aback at the prices. However, when you get your food, you realize the quantity of items, quality of food, and size of the plate. I ordered to-go, and the box was so nicely sectioned-off and packed. The Shrimp Curry Plate was DELICIOUS. I daresay this place tastes better than Coco Ichibanya? The shrimp tempura was succulent. The sauce was homogenous and had a nice balance of flavor. The rice was nice and dry the way I like it for curry. They did not skimp out on the sides offerings. There was super fresh salad and pickles. read more

This is our go to when we can't think of what else to get. I love the fish katsu plate with great curry, extra crispy fish, creamy macaroni n salad, and crunchy cabbage salad. Nothing was off and everything was on! read more