This restaurant was amazing! There was no wait when we went for weekday dinner but there are very few tables so I would expect a longer wait on the weekends. The raichi drink was good and the miso carbonara was creamy and the proportion of bacon to pasta was perfect. It is super cute inside as well, but the service was kinda slow because they only had one server for all the tables. I think it's important to compare this to Ini ristorante because I think with this place being new that it is quite similar to Ini especially with the japanese italian fusion concept. I would say it is basically the same price if not more expensive than if you were to go to Ini and I personally think the food, ambiance and service is better at Ini than here. So in the future, I would be open to going back and there was nothing wrong with the restaurant, but I would definitely choose Ini over momonoki just cause I feel like I get more with how much I spend. read more

Momonoki - raichi drink - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

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This resturant was very unique. It is definitely an asian fusion concept. The restaurant is nice and quaint. Great for a date night! Although the interior is nothing special the food is spectacular. Our group ordered more than half the menu. Definitely order the focaccia bread and the gnocchi. I would definitely comeback. read more

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I have long heard that this is an "INI Ristorante dupe." They were also rooted in Japanese and Italian fusion food, but at a lower price point. When we visited, my brother noticed that their menu changed- they had removed his favorite dish! The waitstaff informed us that they are moving in a new direction with a new menu. They are now focused on Japanese and Korean fusion foods! We got their Miso Bacon Carbonara and Kimchi Fried Arancini. The Miso Bacon Carbonara was pretty good! Bouncy noodles, creamy sauce, and crispy bacon. No complaints here! The Kimchi Fried Arancini were essentially deep fried balls of kimchi fried rice filled with cheese. It was yummy, but quite indulgent. Definitely great as a shared plate! As far as the "INI Ristorante dupe" narrative goes, I think they're taking steps to differentiate themselves a bit. There are still some similarities, but lots of new things to come. read more

Momonoki - Miso Bacon Carbonara - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Came on a Thursday during lunch around noon, plenty of tables available, got seated right away. I ordered the Menchi Sando, took about 20 minutes for it to come out. The waiter Tommy was extremely helpful and nice throughout the entire lunch. Ask if I wanted fresh grated parmesan cheese on my fries, Yes please!! He also recommended and gave me some furikake Hot honey for the Menchi sando and wow it was soo good with the Menchi sando. The menchi sando it self was so juicy and flavorful. The caesar salad that came with it definitely lived up to its hype, so good. Overall, menchi sando with the fries, salad, and furikake Hot honey was good. shoutout to Tommy for hooking it ip with the extra furikake Hot honey togo. I do want to try more items on the menu, so for now a solid 4/5. read more

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My first time visit this place after they rebrand and I would definitely say this is one of my new favorite spot! We ordered the miso bacon carbonara and a pork belly gochujang! 1. Miso bacon (5/5) wow this one was so great for me! This is a pretty good dupe of the miso bacon at ini kei concept! Flavors were great, I wish the noodles were more udon noodles instead of skinny noodles. I would definitely get this again tho! 2. Pork belly gochujang (4/5) this dish was SOOO unique! The pork was tender and all the flavors blend together really well :) I enjoy the smash potatoes as well because I thought it has a good texture and a little bit of cheese in it! Servers were amazing and I think we had a pleasure to speak with the owner and he was great as well! Such a nice casual dinner spot read more

Momonoki - Miso Bacon Carbonara - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

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My wife and I wanted to try this place since its opening few months ago but kept putting it off because it was always packed. We came after 2 p.m. today (Sunday) and noticed it wasn't too crowded so decided to take advantage of it. This is a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant in a casual, yet elegant setting. It's under the same owner as Momoyama two doors down. The owner actually recognized us from the few times we were there last year. I was impressed he still remembered my name. Garlic Parmesan Fries were really good. Sounds simple enough but I loved the detail of having shredded parmesan instead of just some powder parmesan sprinkled on top. Smoked Short Rib Cavatelli was excellent. Really loved the tender short rib braised with red wine and tomato sauce. I definitely tasted quite a bit of wine in this dish. It was topped off with some whipped ricotta cheese and basil leaves. Butokaku, a slow braised pork belly dish with potato puree, was rich with a nice contrast from pickled cucumbers. This dish had some Korean flavors infused with what looked like braised radish, which reminded me of something my mom used to cook. Pasta on both of the entrees were cooked perfectly al dente. Portions didn't look that big but was quite filling. I actually couldn't finish my short rib and had to take about quarter of it home. Miso Brown Butter Ice Cream was excellent. It's kind of hard to associate miso in dessert because of its savory flavor, but it really worked well with the ice cream. It added more of a salty layer than overpowering with miso flavor. My wife and I both thought it tasted like salted caramel ice cream. Service was excellent and attentive. Someone was constantly refilling water and checked on us to make sure everything was good. We even got a dessert of our choice on the house (mentioned above). I'm assuming the owner arranged this since we've been to his other business. read more

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Came back for another birthday celebration, and this time the food was on point. We did have a small setback with the clam chowder being served lukewarm, but the staff quickly took it back and reheated it. Once it came out again, it was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious, definitely worth it. Everything else was flavorful, perfectly cooked, and deserving of a solid 4-star review. The waiters were all very kind, especially Brian. attentive, and very accommodating throughout our visit. We were even treated to a complimentary dessert, which was a nice touch. Overall, we left happy, full, and satisfied. Definitely a much better experience this time around! read more

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I came here at 4pm so there was no waiting. Only 2 other parties were there. The restaurant is small, cozy, and casual. Bathroom was a 7/10 on cleanliness scale. I ordered two dishes for myself and my husband ordered himself a 24oz Sapporo beer. Miso carbonara 4/5. It was creamy, eggy. I love the incorporation of the runny egg yolk. The cheese could be added extra as well. There weren't a lot of bacon though. The flavor was still rather bland. Botukaku 3/5 was an interesting dish that I never saw elsewhere. The incorporation of mashed potato is truly fusion. There are mixtures of daikons too. One thing I didn't like was how fatty these pork bellies were. The cuts were big regardless. But the ratio of fat to meat is too high. After eating two pieces, the next morning, I couldn't even digest them away. Overall I do recommend trying out this place. It's cure and the prices are affordable. Service is good as well as they refill my water constantly. read more

Momonoki - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

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Momonoki delivers a solid dining experience overall, especially when it comes to service. The service here is great--attentive, friendly, and consistent throughout the meal, which we really appreciated. The place itself is minimalist, but well decorated. We especially enjoyed the calamari. It was well prepared, crispy, and flavorful--definitely one of the highlights of our visit. The pasta is good, no doubt about that. It's well executed and tastes great, but the portion size is on the smaller side. While everything is technically done well, it just didn't feel as exciting or memorable as we were hoping for. Overall, Momonoki is a good spot with strong service and well-made dishes, but the portion size and overall excitement factor left us wanting a bit more. read more

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Came here for dinner with my sister around 5:15pm on a Wednesday night. We were sat immediately. They have QR codes for the menu but also offer paper menus which I prefer and appreciate. Our server was friendly and attentive and made sure to refill our water throughout our meal. The place is modern and clean. The food itself reminds me of Ini except it's more reasonably priced. We got: Prosciutto Salad: this salad was tasty and I loved the creaminess of the cheese Bread & Butter: the maple honey butter was tasty paired with the warm focaccia. Uni Vongole: this was good. Perhaps needed a bit of flavor. I thought it was a bit bland Miso Bacon Carbonara: my sister gave me some and it was good. Probably needed a bit more flavor or punch Parking is easy and in a big plaza! read more

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I came here because I saw a lot of reels about it but I thought it was just okay. When we walked in for lunch, majority of the tables were empty. They also slimmed down their menu a lot. I ended getting the miso bacon carbonara and thought it was okay. It smelled really fragrant but tasted underwhelming. The flavor reminded me of melted American cheese. With that said I'd come back to try something different because people have raved about this place. read more

Saw this on instagram and wanted to give it a go. Feels similar to ini but I personally enjoyed the dishes here more! Fairly empty for Thursday night around 6pm so got seated immediately. There is a yelp check in. Calamari was meh. Porky belly, skirt steak, miso carbonara and yuzu cocktail was great! Noodles were cooked perfectly al dente on the carbonara. read more

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I found this gem on Yelping in the area. Definitely was a great hit! The food was delicious. Currently they are offering a pre-fixed meal which comes with appetizers, entree, and dessert. Ordered one with Parma fries, miso bacon cabbonara, and panna cotta...solid. Second order was crispy calamari, dashi pesto, and matcha ice cream with drizzled honey. The crispy calamari came with a cocktail sauce with yuzu peppers taste. All the food was delicious and definitely would come back for the items on the menu! Not sure how long the pre-fix menu will be going on, but if you are craving Japanese fusion Italian food, try em! Service was attentive and good. Our waters were refilled. read more

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Second time at Momonoki and continues to be a good pasta spot. In the recent visit, I went on a Saturday at around 4:00 pm. It wasn't busy at the time so I was able to easily get a table for two, place the orders, and get the food quickly. Service was very attentive with filling water, clearing the table, and bringing out the check. My girlfriend and I got the Dashi Pesto, Smoked Short Rib Cavatelli, and the Spiced Pear Panna Cotta. Both pasta dishes were good! I lean towards the Short Rib Cavatelli, mainly because the pesto pasta didn't have any protein in it. Panna Cotta was refreshing with the mint and the walnut as a crunchiness to the dessert; it wasn't too sweet! The portion felt just right for two people. The prices are more on the reasonable side as well. American Express is accepted as a payment option. Parking is shared in a large plaza with lots of other businesses. I was able to seamlessly get a spot. read more

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Ordered for pick up and food was ready on time Ordered: Miso Bacon Carbonara 3/5 the flavor of this was a little funky i'm not too sure why :/ Cacio E pepe 4/5 - decent nothing mind blowing Butter Pasta (kids) 5/5 - honestly simple but really good my favorite of the night. Overall pastas were okay (besides butter pasta) I waver between a 3 and 4 for this place so really it's a 3.5. I would say though the prices here are very fair and lean towards more bang for your buck vibe. read more

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1. The dishes were delicious and well-presented! I I really like the smoked short rib cavatelli! 2. The spot has chill casual vibes! The interior has high ceilings! 3. The staff was friendly and timely with our order! They were very attentive! 4. The spot only has indoor seatings! There were a good number of tables! 5. Parking lot is huge! Very easy to find parking! Note: There is a bathroom available for customers! Photo: Crispy Calamari, Uni Vongole, and Smoked Short Rib Cavatelli read more

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I'm so happy I was able to try this place, specifically, their dashi pesto udon! I was able to go in at an off time so I was only one of three customers there and the service was quick! My waiter was attentive, helpful and kind too! The dashi pesto udon was one of the best dishes I've had in a long time! The pesto sauce was flavorful and perfectly balanced with a bit of citrus, nori and nori oil. I had never seen the nori and pesto combination before but it works so well! The udon was cooked perfectly too, not overcooked but instead had the perfect chew! The tomatoes helped to cut the heaviness, the basil strips were strong and the panko breadcrumbs were a perfect savory texture addition! Overall, a chef's kiss dish, and for only $13, it was even better! read more

Momonoki - Dashi Pesto - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Underrated newer restaurant in the OC! I came to Momonoki after learning that the wait at INI was close to two hours, and I'm SO thrilled that I landed here for dinner. The restaurant is small but the space is used well. Not a great option for larger parties though. The food is fantastic and priced pretty fairly compared to similar restaurants. I'd prefer it if the portions were a little larger, but that could be a personal preference. The texture of the pasta is al dente and has a nice bite to it! The steak and branzino is cooked with a nice dry sear. Will definitely be back next time I'm craving pasta. read more

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I have been wanting to try this place ever since they opened. I finally had the opportunity with three other people for dinner. We did not have reservations but they were able to sit us right away when we came even though it was busy. The staff gave us great recommendations and answered any questions we had. They were knowledgeable and I liked that they told us what the specials were as well. For starters, we got their crudo, meatballs, Cesar salad, croquette, and calamari. Honestly everything was good but my favorite starters were the crudo and calamari. The crudo was drenched in a delicious sauce. Yum! The calamari was fried perfect. For dinner, we shared their miso bacon carbonara, Bolognese, and pesto pasta. Although all the pastas were perfect, my favorite was the carbonara. It's a must get in my opinion. To end the night we shared their matcha cheesecake and the miso brown butter ice cream. I highly recommend the miso brown butter ice cream. The service was excellent. The staff was warming and the chef came out as well. The inside of the place is cute and great for large or smaller groups. I can't wait to be back and try all their other items. read more

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My girlfriend brought me here for a dinner and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Parking is great around the area since it's a big lot so that is nothing to worry about Make sure to use the Yelp Wait list so that you're able to get seating a little bit faster. Luckily my gf did and we got there right at 630pm on a Friday night. However, if we got there a little bit later you would have needed to wait as there are only about 14 tables. Service was fantastic. Everyone was very attentive and gave their recommendations on what we should try. We were constantly checked on. Pricing was very fair. Although they don't have their liquor license since I know it takes a long time usually. Ambiance made it feel like you're in a Japanese Zen Garden. It was very minimal and modern. Food: - Amberjack Crudo - 5/5 - MUST ORDER - Usually at Omakase Amberjack I feel like can be kind of tough but this one was actually so tender and melt in your mouth! - Fennel Sausage Croquette - 5/5 - When I think of croquettes they're usually very small and cute. However, this two were actually HUGE! We loved that it came out PIPING hot with a huge bed of the yuzu salad. We thoroughly enjoyed the spice in it. - Steak Chimichurri - 5/5 - It has a little bit of a kick but it's nice with the chimichurri. Very tender and asparagus was cooked to perfection. No complaints here! - Uni Vongole - 4/5 - I was thinking about getting the Branzino but the server actually told me to get this because it was better. Uni was very fresh, Clams were fantastic. Although I thought that the shrimp was a little bit overcooked but overall it was very good! Thank you so much for the Momonoki Staff and my girlfriend for a delicious meal! My recommendation for Momonoki: -Possibly get a little stand or barrier in front of the first table! :) Could be good to block the wind coming in and even show some specials or menus! read more

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Highly recommend this little neighborhood gem. It had a casual modern vibe with reasonably priced dishes and friendly service. Came here for brunch and they offered a prix fixe menu for $28 that came with your choice of appetizer, main dish, and dessert. Not bad at all! The amberjack crudo was the choice of appetizer made - it was fresh, refreshing, and a decent portion. Their miso bacon carbonara was very tasty with a nice kick of heat, and lastly for dessert, I think they did a good job with their panna cotta. I most especially loved the Uni Vongole with the udon cooked perfectly chewy, slathered with a flavorful yet light sauce. I ordered this a la carte. It was served with clams, shrimps, and one piece of uni - all tasted fresh. The only thing I would do next time is have them remove this herb thing with a really distinct flavor. Not sure what it's called but it's not my favorite even in Korean dishes where I've had it before. All in all, a great dish. When I come back, I'll definitely check out their cocktail list and potentially try the yuzu drink. Cheers! read more

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Finally got to try this place on my checklist - and on Valentine's Day too! Looking back it actually ended up being such a great pick, the restaurant was busy for the holiday but not overstimulating, service was great, lighting and music made the perfect vibe for a more intimate date night. A girlfriend and I shared the Valentine's Day set - Beef Tartare, Lobster Vongole, and Chocolate Came. Everything was spectacular, I'd say just the right amount of food and I wouldn't have changed anything about each of the dishes. I also had a Raiza which was dangerously good and came with two perfect Lychees. Didn't wait too long to be seated at all, and though we ordered a set it didn't feel like we were waiting too long in between each app, entree, and dessert. While this place is compared to Ini often I'd say it offers a different charm which makes it stand out. Will definitely be back, looking forward to trying more items off the menu! read more

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Momonoki is an intimate Japanese-fusion spot where food, service, and ambiance are all excellent. Service: 5/5. We were seated immediately, and my water glass was never empty for more than a minute. Waiters were incredibly forthcoming about dishes, explaining flavors and textures so we could make decisions tailored to our preferences. FOCACCIA: 5/5. Crrrrrisp on the outside, fluffy inside, and paired perfectly with the delicately whipped honey butter. PROSCIUTTO SALAD: 5/5. This dish presented a first for us, which was panna cotta in a salad, but it worked. This was also the silkiest panna cotta I've ever had; the texture and slightly tangy flavor contrasted the richness beautifully. Texture eaters, YMMV with this one. CRUDO: 4/5. Another unexpected pairing, this time with avocado and apple (maybe pear?), adding a nice layer of crisp sweetness. STEAK: 5/5. Tender, and the chimichurri was bright and deeply flavorful. PAPPARDELLE BOLOGNESE: 4/5 solid crowd-pleaser, balancing tangy tomato with savory beef and pork. UNI VONGOLE: 5/5. Absolutely the star of the show for me. Chewy, bouncy udon noodles in a tangy white wine emulsion that made every bite feel light and refreshing. BRWN BUTTER MISO ICE CREAM: 4/5. Lovely blend of sweet and salty! Definitely leans a little more savory over all. MATCHA BASQUE CHEESECAKE: 5/5. The texture was a perfect melt-in-your-mouth velvet. Initially subtle, but a pure matcha flavor grows as lingers. Not sweet, which I appreciated. The space itself is clean comfy enough that my friend and I yapped for three hours without noticing the time. Not that anyone was waiting for our table, but we were never rushed by staff, making the calm atmosphere to easy to linger in. Would absolutely go back. read more

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They have a chef's special menu along with their regular menu. We ordered the fennel sausage croquette, amberjack crudo, skirt steak, and uni vongole. The fennel sausage was evenly fried and paired with a creamy yuzu dressing. The amberjack crudo had great flavors and paired with pear and avocado, this fish quality was good too. I would order this again. The skirt steak was cooked medium rare as ordered and paired with asparagus. Their chimichurri was too sweet for me, but the spicy sauce had a kick. The Uni Vongole made with udon noodles could use a bit more sauce or umami flavor. My boyfriend says the shrimp was overcooked, especially since they were smaller cut pieces. Overall, it's a busy restaurant, but seems like they don't compromise on quality and efficiency. Their layout has more tables for 2 or 4. Our table was right in front of the open door, so we felt the wind draft. It would nice if they added a partition to either block or advertise their chef special menu. I would love to return and try more dishes and their matcha basque cheesecake. read more

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Review 4/365 Day Challenge Long overdue review. Came here for dinner w a bunch of girlfriends. Spontaneous night out but 1st dinner Saturday 8.24.25. Had reservations, we were about 10-15 mins late so called to let the associates know. Right when we got there, it was a full house. Had to wait 10-15 mins for our table. Came almost close to end of day along soft opening so their menu was out with a lot of stuff. Understandable since they did have a full house meaning it was pretty successful for soft opening weekend. It's a Japanese Italian fusion restaurant. I'm not too big fan of pasta so i was ok with all the food along w my girlfriend did say it needed more seasoning on majority all of their food. Not sure if it was just that night we went in to dine. But i felt it could've had more flavor to each dish. I'm familiar with Italian food especially it's somewhat suppose to have a Japanese kick to it. Why i deducted 1 star since i didn't love the food. Customer service was top notch. We received our items in a timely manner. The restaurant itself was really simple w nice green artificial greenery hanging from the ceiling lights decor. Restaurant isn't too big and can get pretty crowded easily. Located next to Eastern Tales Thai tea shop with a lot of parking available. Idk if this would be a restaurant I'd return since I'm not a fan of Italian food but would come if my friend's choice to celebrate an occasion here. Wishing much success to the restaurant though, looks like since I've gone there. A lot of foot traffic, Just not really my cup of tea. read more

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Plenty of parking available. We added ourselves to the Yelp waitlist on our way just in case. When we arrived, the restaurant was fairly empty and we were able to get seated right away. We tried: - Fennel Sausage Croquette - Butokaku - Smoked Short Rib Cavatelli - Dashi Pesto. The food was overall fine but the Dashi Pesto tasted a bit off to me. I couldn't quite pinpoint what part of the flavor, but there was something that I didn't enjoy. This place reminded me of Ini Restaurant. Overall, the food was better than I expected, but not quite as tasty as Ini. The servers were attentive and I would be open to coming back to try more dishes. read more

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My friends and I been wanting to try this place out! After seeing the hype all over the media, this place is just okay. Service is great but the food wasn't something I'll ever crave for. We left underwhelmed with the quality & taste. Bread and Butter (maple honey) - Star of the appetizer Proscuitto Salad - just okay, love the grilled grapes but not wow. Miso Bacon Carbonara - was hoping it would be saucy like ini but the noodles were undercooked Uni Vongole - i didn't like this one at all because the uni didn't taste fresh and overall very fishy aftertaste as a dish. Desserts: Miso Butter Ice cream & spiced pear panna cotta which were just okay and not overly sweet. read more

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Not too shabby - food was good, service okay, date night vibes. Really cute ambience. Was really excited by the Chef Special Udon dish with their pesto, but it came out pretty flat. It was creamy but the udon was a little over, and the sauce had no flavor. The cheese made it more bland somehow. Could've really used a little salt or something. The chef special croquette was delish. It came with coleslaw and sauce that made it heavy but overall still a good call. My favorite was the starter hamachi crudo, definitely recommend, great balance with the fruit and sauce. Would come back for that. read more

Momonoki - Udon and Pesto; croquette - chef specials - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Sadly this restaurant wasn't that good, the calamari and the meatballs were actually really good which gave us optimism that the other dishes would be good but sadly no. The pappardelle was terrible, the pasta itself was bland and a little too al Dante for me. The carbonara was average, the butokaku was weird, the branzino itself was excellent but the risotto that came with it was bland. The restaurant is nice and clean and the service was excellent but I wouldn't come back for the food. read more

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I ordered from the prefix menu which you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $28. It was a really good deal! Really surprised with the portions. Everything we tried did not disappoint. I really liked the spiced pear panna cotta. Had great texture and not too sweet. The place was cute and bright inside. Friendly employees who helped make recommendations. read more

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We came by on a sat night around 6:30am and waited an hour for a table. The place is very small so the tables are packed very closely. We ordered right after we sat down. We didn't get any water for a while. The food came out in about 20 mins. We ordered a soup, fried calamari, beef pasta and the uni with clams udon. They all came out at once which was kind of odd. We were hoping to eat the appetizers first. We tried to eat fast before the food got cold since we were sitting by the door. Our drinks didn't come until we reminded our server. The clams chowder soup was very good. The fried calamari was very salty. The beef pasta was delicious but portion was very small. The uni udon with clams had a strange taste to it that I cannot really describe. Also the portion was very small. The server gave us a box and a check without asking if we would like dessert. The prices here are not cheap for the portion size. We prefer eating at a more comfortable setting if we have to pay this price for dinner. Plenty of parking. read more

Momonoki - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

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All I have to say is wow. Momonoki really hit it out of the park for my family when we visited! I found out about this restaurant after seeing it pop up on Instagram last year and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to try it myself. They really did Japanese and Italian fusion properly. The vibe was giving fancy date night while the prices were giving accessible in the best way possible. I was honestly shocked by much more affordable this spot was compared to others in this fusion space. We ordered a large variety of dishes ranging from branzino risotto to pork belly to short rib cavatelli to clam chowder. Everything I tried was pure magic, especially the clam chowder. The shredded carrot (???) added a delectable crunch that was surprising, but not unwelcome. Parking was in abundance and we were so thankful that Momonoki uses Yelp Waitlist. There was also a Grocery Outlet in the same plaza, so we were able to walk off some of the carbs after dinner. We'll be back soon to try the rest of their menu! read more

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There's been a lot of hype around Momonoki. I'm here to report that it is not bad! What I got: Carpaccio - this was good. It was clean, fresh, and the thai basil was a great addition to make it interesting and asian inspired. Focaccia - this was good, but the butter it was served with was interesting. It was like a sweet butter, which I didn't expect or hope for for an appetizer bread. It was fine, nothing special for a bread honestly. Linguine with Clams - This was fine. It was very one-noted, even with the squeeze of the lemon. It was just a very lackluster experience.  Sweet Corn Cavatelli - this was my favorite dish of the night. It was very sweet and creamy, and the cavatelli had a perfect chewy texture. Ice Creams - These were fine. Boring though. I think with the rise in popularity of Asian fusion restaurants, there are many that aim to do it in theory, but cannot execute it in an innovative, interesting way. Yes, these are Italian dishes with Japanese inspiration, but where is the innovation in cuisine? Where is the intrigue? This place is Instagrammable for the local high school student, but not great enough to be your next casual date night spot. read more

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I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Momonoki at its soft opening and months later for my friend's birthday, with pleasant dining experiences both times! As a frequent consumer of pasta and lover of anything seafood, I was so excited to hear about a new Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant in town. While there is Ini in Fountain Valley, I find myself disappointed with the quality and selection of pastas at times. After visiting here, I feel that Ini has some serious competition. Momonoki doesn't have as broad a selection, but I believe their quality of food per price range is far superior. What I Ordered: - Uni Vongole: This was my all-time favorite of the night! I've had it around twice now and quality has been consistent! The creamy white wine sauce paired perfectly with fresh, chewy udon noodles and garlic-infused mussels and shrimp. However, one thing that could be improved is the portion of the uni (it's only 1 piece!). As other people have commented, this is not uni-based--they should increase the portion size if they're going to call it Uni Vongole, or change it to Seafood Vongole. - Bread and Butter: This was also a surprise heavy hitter! Savory focaccia bread that was fresh and soft, paired perfectly with maple butter for a flavor explosion of both savory and sweet. - Calamari: This was a miss for me. The pieces were way too small and the marinara sauce provided was too vinegary for my tastes. Ambiance: This is a very small establishment with limited seating. Even though it doesn't look like there's a wait, I still recommend putting yourself on the waitlist as spots can fill up quickly. However, the ambience is still beautiful with dimly lit candles and faux greenery--perfect for a date night or birthday celebration. Service: Service was quick and professional. When I mentioned it was my friend's birthday, they provided a complimentary dessert with a lit candle, which is always a plus in my book! Final Thoughts: Highly recommend coming here with great quality and price range for affordable but elevated Japanese Italian fusion! read more

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Finally a great spot for italian that's affordable and easy! I shared the night with 6 people and it ended up being a little over $30 per person! We got there at 7 and waited about an hour to be seated. To start, we shared meatballs and calamari. The meatballs came out with three per serving so it was easy to cut it into halves so each person could try. The calamari was nice and crispy and topped with lemon, it hit the spot. I think that I have tried better but calamari is always a nice appetizer to share. For entrees, we tried the uni volgole, skirt steak chimichurri, smoked short rib cavatelli, miso carbonara and from the holiday menu, dashi pesto pasta and hamachi collar. My least favorite dish was the steak. While it was cooked well, the flavor missed the mark for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the uni volgole and pesto pasta on the other hand! Both dishes were bursting with flavor and it was such a nice twist to be able to slurp up all the flavor with udon noodles. These are must tries for me and will keep me coming back again for future visits. The food came out quickly and portions were great. It was sparse sharing with 6 people but would be perfect to share with 2 or 3. Overall, I'd definitely come back and recommend this spot to anyone looking to try classic Italian flavors but with a twist! read more

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Went here during their soft opening and there was a wait but overall not too long. Got their bread, uni pasta, and some other dishes that they recommend. Service was great. Ambiance was modern and chill. Small restaurant so seats aren't much. Food came out quickly and pasta, according to our server, was made fresh everyday. Would come back to just eat their pasta when I'm craving for some Japanese fusion Italian/japanese pasta. read more

Momonoki - Japanese Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Overall, a decent experience here! The staff are kind and the interior are simple. The portions are quite small, but fairly reasonable to the pricing. Worth checking out!! If you like a strong wine flavor in your bolonese, the Pappardelle Bolognese is great option! The ribbon-like pasta are cooked aldente and they don't skimp on the meat sauce. The Cream Corn Cavatelli impressed me! A very simple dish, but the flavor was yummy. The corn was sweet and the cavatelli was cooked perfectly. This portion was good for the price! P.S. the garlic parmesan fries and caesar salad were sooo good... read more

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Came on a weekday lunch for the $28 prixe fix menu which came with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. We got seated pretty quickly, there wasn't much people there. The ceiling is cute! Calamari: so crispy and well seasoned Miso bacon carbonara: My friend really liked this pasta bc it was very saucey and the noodle was good. Personally, I kept comparing it to the spicy miso carbonara from Ini- which I prefer. This one had more sauce and the noodle was thinner, this noodle was perfectly al dente tho. I still prefer the Ini one bc it has tobiko and spice. Skirt steak chimmichurri: I asked for medium, it came out medium rare (more rare). So I asked to get it refired after eating two pieces. They refired it but it was still super chewy. Gochujang glaze was just okay. Chimichurri could've used a little more seasoning. Idk, this was just kinda bland imo Miso brown butter ice cream: star of the show!! I'd come back just for this! It had a deep brown butter flavor. The sauce on top was nutty and a little sweet. $28 is worth it for the three items. $26 not worth it for that steak... read more

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Momonoki has been on my list for a few months so my girlfriend and I decided to venture off onto this part of Fountain Valley. Visited on the night of September 26, 2025 and it was quite a busy night. Seems that it was the hot & new trending place, parking was a bit difficult so give yourself a good 30mins before your desired dine-in time. I'll be adding more towards the end of my review but let's get to the food! Miso Bacon Carbonara We both ordered the same dish but I think both my girlfriend and I thought it was enjoyable, nothing we haven't tried before from other restaurants that utilize the same dish style and ingredients so there's some room for growth when it comes to achieving a restaurant signature. Definitely their go-to item and crowd-favorite as a lot of other customers ordered the same entree. Matcha and Cafe Sua Da Ice Cream The selected dessert after our meal. I'm a sucker for ice cream and coffee so had to get a scoop of the Cafe Sua Da. Girlfriend loves Matcha so that was her scoop but have to say it was pretty darn good. Honestly tasted like the real iced coffee. If you've got some room in your belly for some ice cream, highly recommend some Cafe Sua Da or Matcha Ice cream! Overall It's quite the hype, at least in the month of September 2025. Not sure how it is now as it's near the end of the year but I think we wouldn't mind visiting again if we're around the area. I'd probably say it's not worth the drive from where we're located since we're a little closer to another restaurant similar style and food selection as Momonoki. I do have to say, given the size of the place, interior isn't half bad. Very lively so it will have a higher volume of noise if you're ok with that. Again, keep in mind of the parking. Especially on a Friday night. You'll most likely be waiting up to an hour depending on your party size and who's ahead of you so be prepared for that. Aside from the food and restaurant itself, customer service was decent. Felt a bit rushed as they quickly removed our plates as soon as we finished but I get it, they're preparing for the next party. Let me lick the plate clean at least lol. Momonoki has been added to my list of a potential revisit but maybe on a different day to see if there's any differences from our first experience. Thank you again Momonoki! read more

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- highly recommended. The service was great and the food was delicious. Love the cozy and quaint ambiance as well. We ordered so many amazing dishes. For appetizer we had the homemade focaccia with maple butter and the prosciutto burrata salad. For our main course(s), we shared 2 pastas and the chimchuri steak. Dessert was the brown butter ice cream. Our fave - bread and butter and the prosciutto burrata. read more

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