Best japanese food in town. I've been here multiple times and ordered almost everything on the menu. Never once disappointed by anything. Yes there are some dishes better than others, but all are good. Off grilled items menu- i love their beef tongue and beef skewers. Beef skewers come with chopped,caramelized onions, best combo ever. I always get the three side appetizers plus a beer along with the sashimi sampler as well. The restaurant is generous and often include ebi and toro in the platter. Only downside is they dont fry the head of the shrimp. Off the fried menu- i always get squid legs and karaage, which i havent found any place that fry them or season them better. The croquette is good, and wings are good too. Takoyaki is good, and portion is huge. The ramen all have a very strongly pork flavored soup base which tastes amazing. Curry rice never once disappointed. Not watered down at all. Gyudon is good too. My favorite though is the spicy fish row and egg onigiri. read more

Mr Max - Curry rice with chicken katsu (special) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

I could've sworn I had written a review on this wonderful Japanese pub-style food. They have sashimi, but you don't come here for the sushi. This place specializes in small shareable plates of food. 2 people is good, 4 is ideal. Fun atmosphere and even Japanese-style seating (taking your shoes off and all). You need to reserve a few days in advance for those seats. No reservations for 2 people, which usually means a brutal (45min) wait if you show up on the weekend. Rating will start at 4-star for most including me, but after I learned what I like off the menu, it's an easy 5. I feel happy each time, and service is attentive and nice! My go-tos: - Spicy tonkotsu ramen as my starting point - Kobe beef patty - Takoyaki if enough people - Chicken wing or nuggets - Chicken cartilage if you like something crunchy - Cow tongue if you like something chewy - Too many items to try them all in one go! read more

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The atmosphere truly felt like I was in Japan! We called to make a reservation, and the next one they had for 5 people for a Friday was three weeks in advance! It was definitely worth the three week wait. We ordered the takoyaki three times and karaage twice! They are packed with reservations and waits, we were only there for about an hour and fifteen minutes. I highly recommend making a reservation even if the next available is weeks away. Worth the wait!! read more

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This place lives up to their popularity. Don't be fool by the area and the location. This place is a secret gem. Their foods are just amazing. The atmosphere is just so cool. Customer service was great, staff are nice, attending and willing to answer any questions. Since this place is super popular, there will be a wait time, but the food is worth the wait!!! read more

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I have been to a lot of Izakaya places in California. This place definitely reminds me of the Izakaya places in Cali. I had such a great experience here. The food was amazing and the staff were so accommodating. The wait on the weekends is a bit long ranges from 30 to 1 hour or more. Make sure to get there early but I definitely did not mind the wait it was well worth it. It would be nice if they had a yelp waitlist or opentable option to book reservations. We sat at the bar which I really enjoyed because it is right where all the action is, the kitchen! Let's start off with the food we ordered beef tongue, miso glazed salmon, assorted sashimi, agedashi tofu, wagyu beef skewers, and spicy Taiwanese ramen. Honestly all of them were soooo good. Especially the sashimi was so fresh and melted in your mouth. The miso glazed salmon was so perfectly cooked. Also the Taiwanese spicy ramen had such a different unique taste it was delicious. We ordered a bottle of sake to go with our meal it was just perfect. I wish we would of ate more. The waiting area is pretty small so make sure to go inside and put your name on the list. We will be back for sure to try more delicious food from here. read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Love the vibe of this small restaurant. If you have a large party be sure to reserve in advance. The staff was super nice and everything came out without a problem. Food is tasty and menu provided a large variety of dishes & drinks. read more

Stopped by for early dinner with a friend. My other friend recommended me this place. I didn't find good Japanese restaurant in the area but I glad that tired this place. Food(3.5/5)- We ordered salmon belly sashimi, Eel omelette, aji sashimi, Grilled beef tongue, clams steamed with sake, Tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen and dessert for Yuzu cheese cake, homemade custard pudding. Food came out so fast and hot. I could eat sashimi only one place in NY but I ate sashimi here because they sashimi was so fresh without fish smell. Salmon belly sashimi was day of special and it just like soft as cotton candy. Eel omelette was great with teriyaki sauce. Aji sashimi was day of special menu. I felt uncomfortable with fish head but tasted good. When you order whole fish sashimi they will fried your fish after eat sashimi. I would recommend you try fried your fish and you can enjoy different taste of fish. Grilled beef tongue was the best here but I wish they made less salty. I ate grilled beef tongue before but I could tell you must try this!!! Enjoy how their grilled beef tongue is savory. Clams steamed with sake was tasted oily sake with salty. I wouldn't order this again and I would order just miso soup next time when I am here. The point of this place is their ramen!!! Tonkotsu ramen was ok but their miso ramen was amazing. I requested them to spicy miso ramen and it really tasty. The broth was fully flavorful. Ramen came out fast so I recommend you order ramen as last course. Yuzu cheese cake was great! Sweet and sour but it was super small. Homemade custard pudding was ok but definitely not the best. I had better elsewhere. Service(5/5)- if you speak Japanese it would be better in this place. Our waitress was super kindly and accommodating. She knew how to served our table as well. If you have questions about they menus, all the staffs are helpful with that. Ambience(2/5)- this place is casual place and small than other Japanese restaurant. Limited seating area and bar. When you seat at bar, you can see the kitchen because kinda of open kitchen style. Tables area is dadami styles but you have to take shoes off and seat as dadami. It might be uncomfortable to you if you never seat on dadami. This place was busy after at 6:30pm. If you go to this place before 6:30pm, you can seat immediately but you have to wait line around 6:30pm. I would try go to on Wednesday. I went to this place around 6pm on Wednesday but there's not busy until I left this place around 7pm. read more

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You need to make a reservation if you don't want to wait for a long time. Any food here is good, no bad choice, the noodle soup is very flavorful! They have no sushi only sashimi which is perfect for me that I don't like rice that much, less carb, so I don't feel bad to eat so much read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

This small, hidden gem is definitely a staple for Japanese cuisine. Don't let the exterior fool you; once inside, you feel like you're in a very traditional Japanese izakaya style restaurant with Japanese style seating and a sushi bar that overlooks the kitchen. They don't take reservations for parties less than 3 people so be prepared to wait for a table if you get there during their busy hours. Everything I've ordered here has been delicious! -Tako wasabi: Very fresh here and I loved that there was a strong wasabi flavor in the dish. (4/5) -Tonkotsu ramen: The broth is thick and flavorful and the thin noodles are delicious! One of my favorite things here! (5/5) -Mini beef bowl: Rice. Deliciously marinated thin sliced beef topped with green onions. Absolutely delicious! (5/5) -Chashu pork rice sandwich: Pork belly with rice wrapped in seaweed. Another delicious option! (5/5) -Premium beef tongue: Very tender and seasoned nicely with the right amount of sesame oil. One of the best I've had! (5/5) -Grilled yellowtail collar: Pretty good sized collar that was nicely seasoned. I enjoyed this as well. (4/5) -Salmon belly sashimi: Thinly sliced slivers of buttery, melt in your mouth salmon belly. Yum! (5/5) -Stewed beef and tofu: This one comes in a hot bowl and resembled something similar to a soup. The beef was nicely seasoned and the tofu pieces were soft and tasty. (4/5) Very delicious meal and thoroughly satisfied! read more

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Finally made it here...both times it was an hour wait! Be prepared to sit barefoot and at close proximity to others lol. The ramen hit the spot since it was a cold weather kind of night. I expected to get more than one slice of meat though. The draft beer had too much head, meh. I can finally check Mr. Max off my list. read more

Mr Max - Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Dallas. The ambiance feels authentic and the service is superb! Their plates are like tapas - small enough to share and fairly priced for the size of the dishes. Weekends can get very crowded so expect a 1-2 hour wait. They only allow you to make reservations if your party is more than 3-4. It's a very small restaurant so space is limited to sit and to wait. Tip- wear shoes easy to take off Because you could potentially sit at the floor tables. And they don't allow outside cakes (FYI if you're planning to celebrate any birthdays) read more

I have been to Japan. I've eaten at New York restaurants like Kanoyama and Bar Masa, restaurants whose sushi has earned them Michelin stars. I've even been to Sukiyabashi Jiro - yes, THE Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza - sitting in the seat Barack Obama once occupied, eating sushi exquisite enough to be the subject of a documentary. I have eaten a lot of sushi. And the sushi at Mr Max is perhaps the best of them all. It is certainly, and by miles, the best I've eaten outside Japan, and only Jiro's own comes anywhere close. It is a special place that replicates, without parallel in any other American restaurant I've visited, both Japanese cuisine and the deep cultural traditions that complement it. It is a mandatory experience for any true lover of sushi. read more

I'm a food critic. If you wan't an authentic Japanese restaurant, you have to taste this "awesome" place. Very attentive and yet very professional. The atmosphere was superb. We ordered lots of food, it was delicious and very flavorful. I wish to give a 10 stars . Thank you very, very, very mucho. Definitely I recommend, make sure to wear socks, you need to removed your shoes, something very nice. read more

My first experience at Mr. Max Izakaya was unbelievable. I had counter seats so I could peak at them working together smoothly to pop out these small plates with drinks. I also had great company that could make great food recommendations and say it in Japanese. We got a crap load of food without any regrets. I will say vegetable tempura was crispy. The burdock salad was fun to try. Agedashi Tofu was fried but had a chewy yummy texture. Iburigakko was amazing!!! I heard that iburigakko isn't commonplace so definitely give it a try while you are there. If you happen to dine when I'm there, then don't get them because I'll call dibs on them. I would like to come when I can take off my shoes to sit at the table. Can't wait to explore more! read more

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Hmm. The restaurant was grimey to touch, didn't feel clean. Tonkotsu was saltier than usual. The appetizers we tried were putrid. (Chefs choice 2 slice zucchini with food coloring and bonito flakes, preserved*? Salmon and some seaweed salad which I didn't like as much as the stuff from Costco) the funny thing about the chefs choice was his choice to serve the starter at the end of the meal. Avoid the deep fried shumai. Got curry also. No meat in it. Watery. Not unpleasant. Hardly restaurant quality- I can buy a pack of msg curry sauce myself as I've done many times when I'm feeling lazy. Nobody checked in with us during the meal. In retrospect it wasn't a good meal. I really wanted to love this place. read more

I came here with a group of Chicago friends after a Dallas friend highly recommended this place, and I can now see why. This place is GOOD. I love the ambiance, even though the restaurant is small. But that's okay. If you make a reservation, you'll be golden. They do require you to take off your shoes, and there's foot space under the table to sit normally (not cross legged), which adds to the overall Japanese restaurant experience! Overall the food is CHEAP. Think tapas-style sharables and cheap prices. Unfortunately, they don't have a menu online so I can't give you solid pricing, but most items were in the $4-10 range, depending on the item. _ Grilled Yellowfin Tuna This is one of my top favorite things. The tuna was perfectly grilled. It melted in your mouth and was so flavorful. It was a decent sized portion, enough for all four of us to have a bite or two. I would say the actual fish they brought out was maybe 3-4 oz. _ Karaage One of the best karaage I've had in a long time. It was crispy, and SO JUICY on the inside. The batter was so good. And did I mention crispy? Squeeze some lemon and enjoy it! I was also surprised that the pieces of chicken were BIG. I'm used to karaage being bitesized. Not the case here, but I don't mind it. _ Shishito peppers These are addicting, but could've used a little bit of salt or pepper. They're good and addicting, but probably the least "exciting" of all the things we ordered. _ Takoyaki These were absolutely delicious. The batter was great, however, the amount of octopus in each was really small, which was the only disappointment. It was probably one or two small chopped pieces of octopus. _ Fried Shu Mai I've never had a fried shu mai quite like this. But it was good and hot. Another addicting dish that I wish I had more of haha. _ Kobe Beef skewers This is technically meant for 1 or 2 people - they give you two skewers, but luckily each skewer has two slices of beef, so you could technically split it among 4 people if you're okay having one bite. VERY flavorful and very tender. It melts in your mouth. _ Kobe beef fried patties This was another top favorite at the table. The Kobe beef is ground and shaped like a hamburger patty, then dipped in batter and fried. Very flavorful, hot, and another melt in your mouth dish. They give you two patties, each cut in half, so perfect for 4 people as well. A must try dish. Tonkatsu Shoyu Ramen (half size) A half size is actually quite a nice portion for one person. I tried the noodles and broth from my friend's bowl and I loved it. Since it was a pork + chicken broth mix, it felt a lot lighter. So not quite as rich as if you were to get a straight up tonkatsu ramen. But you still get the nice smooth flavor from the pork broth. Highly recommend if you love ramen. Lastly, and this is what I do remember in terms of price. A glass of wine is $5.50. Very cheap and a nice decent pour! If you need to get your drink on, the wine is probably the best option for the price point. Overall, I think it was $25 per person, which is incredible for the amount of food we had! read more

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Best authentic Japanese restaurant! They open at 5pm, try to be there early or you will wait for an hour. We're from Houston and every time we visit Dallas we make sure we go to this place. Good spot to drink and hang out. read more

such a nice authentic restaurant! you will have to take your shoes off before sitting down so be ready. there's pretty limited seating, so be prepared to wait if you have a large party. service was quick and easy! we ordered almost 11 dishes (most of them the starters) and we spent around 90$ for three people. we will be returning! read more

Best local little hole in the wall little gem of amazing delicious sushi! Go check it out and judge yourself! It has been crowded when I have gone on weekends so maybe during the weekdays might be a better options for some folks. Enjoy! read more

Delicious and authentic! I highly recommend calling ahead. This place is small but packed. Prepare to wait approximately 30-45 mins for a seat. However, the wait is well worth it and the prices are great. Make sure to bring an adventurous appetite! read more

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I've been here twice and have conflicting feelings for Mr. Max. If you ever decide on eating here, I would definitely recommend making a reservation as the restaurant is very small and cozy. They have a strict reservation policy as well, more than 15 minutes late and your reservation automatically gets cancelled. When I came here for the second time yesterday, my party and I ordered about 7 dishes. All came out one at a time, which was a bit frustrating as we would all pick at it, finish it, then sit awkwardly for the next dish. I think we waited almost 15 minutes for two small pieces of salmon to be grilled. There were no other people at the restaurant at the time we ordered, and there were only two small tables mid way through our meal. The portions are small, it's really more like bar food. But what we did order was really tasty. If I came back again and had a better experience with getting food in reasonable times, I'd give it a 4 stars. read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

One of the most memorable dining experiences. Always a long wait to get a seat, I waited for my single seat at the bar and enjoyed every minute! The pan fried squid was a great appetizer. I also enjoyed the grilled tongue lightly and wagyu skewer. Food was fresh and uniquely seasoned this was a great experience in Japanese dining! read more

Mr Max - Sushi bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Really great hole in the wall Japanese place with lots of small plates great for sharing. They've got some great traditional Japanese options here! And for the price?! Honestly not that expensive. I think it's a great deal. If you wanna try some authentic Japanese cuisine that's not just sushi, I highly recommend this place. However, be prepared to wait in line. It's a tiny tiny place! If you don't get here right when they open you will be waiting, on the weekends at least. read more

Mr. Max is amazing!! I've been here three times, and the food and service is as good every time. My last visit was on Wednesday, and it was a 30min wait for two at the bar. I've had half of their menu so far. Our last visit we got the 5 kind Sashimi special, tako wasabi, takoyaki, grilled pork, grilled squid with guts and garlic, and Yuzu ice cream. The sushi came with 21 cuts of tuna, medium fatty tuna, salmon, yellowtail, octopus, seated tuna, and mackerel. The $35 you will not get this amount of fish for its quality. We felt extra lucky because our mackerel cuts had fish eggs attached to it, while other parties did not get the same cut. The takoyaki is the best takoyaki I've had in Texas. We've gotten it every time we have come. Takowasabi is tiny raw bits of octopus marinated in a fresh wasabi sauce. It's so refreshing me and will be an item we will continue to get. The squid was good. However, the guts made it a very strong flavor. I got tired of the taste and had to power through to finish. The first time I came I had the plain grilled squid, and it was the best squid I have ever had. The grilled pork was our least favorite. It was too salty, and I felt like I needed rice to mellow it out. The Yuzu ice cream is a great way to end the meal. The first time we had it here it was extremely sour which I loved! It could be too much for some people, and that is probably why it was different this time around. It was more light but still very refreshing. read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

I came here with some friends / coworkers a couple of weeks ago and loved it. We had some takoyaki , squid legs , ramen , and salmon sashimi ! It was delicious ( especially paired with beer haha). There's only four or five tables excluding the bar so recommend getting here around 5. Service was good! read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

I went there last Thursday for dinner. I learned that the restaurant was very busy, that was why I selected a week day to avoid the crowds. But it still took me 30 minutes to wait in line even though I arrived at 5:50pm. Foods were great but pricy. Definitely will go back and try something different next time read more

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This is the best meal I've had in awhile. I was having an anniversary dinner and we decided to come here. She had been here previously but it was the first time for me. She already knew the biggest tip: GET HERE WHEN (IF NOT BEFORE) THEY OPEN. Unfortunately we had underestimated traffic from FW to Dallas and arrived just 10 after. Even then, we were already given a 30-40 minute wait time as the party just before us took the last available seats. Most of the reviews you'll read already cover what you should get. I'll offer my own opinions on those and add my own suggestions. The lowkey favorite of the night: the Agadashi tofu. This dish surprised me the most for the immense flavor of the soup it soaked in and the delicate smooth texture of the tofu. Do not pass on this. The highkey favorite that I did not see suggested often: the 5-Kind Sashimi plate. We almost hesitated due to how pricey it is but after having tried it myself, I heavily recommend it. Every piece of it was a delight (except one still partially frozen shrimp, too fresh I guess). The karaage is excellent; juicy and crispy wish a spicy aioli on the side. The takoyaki IS the best I've had but there's also a ceiling to how good takoyaki gets without changing up the ingredients. I would have rather spent the money towards another dish. The tonkotsu ramen was solid as well, but Ramen Tatsuya in Austin, TX still holds #1 for me. Another heavily recommended crowd favorite: the beef tongue. Again, it's pretty good, but perhaps a grilled fish may have been better. Dessert. Pass on the green tea ice cream. It honestly taste just like Maeda-En from the grocery store. The flavor and gummy (stabilizers that indicate low quality ingredients) were the same and I wouldn't be surprised if it was this. Don't sleep on the Yuzu flavor though. As far as I can tell it is homemade, and has this amazingly refreshing citrus flavor and delicate sorbet texture. At least half the restaurant at a time seems occupied by Japanese-speaking customers. If that's not a sign of authenticity I don't know what is. This isn't a true five-star restaurant, but it's the best I've had in the DFW area so far. read more

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Food is good, but don't bother ordering ahead. They will wait until you get there to prepare the food. I ordered my food 20 minutes ahead and I still had to wait a long ass time to get my food. read more

If you want an authentic, delicious Japanese meal, look no further and come to Mr Max! Every time we come here I can't help but go out of control and always order around 10 different dishes between the 2 of us to share. The restaurant is pretty Izakaya style (Japanese pub type), but without the loud music and drunk people or the dim lights. It's a bit small with about 3-4 traditional tables where you'd have to take off your shoes to step onto the mat and sit on the floor, plus 8-10 seats around the bar. We have only come here for dinner and never had to wait more than 15mins to be seated, so don't get discouraged if you see the place being too packed. Their menu has plenty to choose from. Even tho we always order double digit dishes, I have a feeling I'll never get around to try everything on the menu. There are many delicious dishes that I have to get every time: grilled beef tongue, ramen (any ramen!), mackerel sashimi, grilled miso salmon, etc. We really haven't had anything bad from here, just might like certain dishes more than the others. If you can't narrow things down, definitely HAVE to try their RAMEN! It's one of the best if not the best in DFW. Not only the outside of the restaurant doesn't resemble much of what most people are used to see when it comes to a Japanese restaurant (nice looking, located near other Asian establishments),it could also be a bit hard to find. Look for the Shell gas station, Mr Max is behind and to the left of the strip mall. read more

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Authentic Japanese Food. Delicious! They've changed it to a bar style tapas restaurant. I liked the full menu before. read more

I still find Max to be a good place for eating sushi and other dishes. Would I say I would eat my fingers along with that spicy tuna roll? Probably not but I still find it to be yummy and the atmospheric vibe makes this unassuming place to be a nice hole in the wall joint. I have no idea who Mr Max is but the wait to be seated can max out your time. Still worth the wait if you have the patience. My rating scale: 1=Stay home and fast or eat dirt 2=I am psycho hungry and someone is paying 3=Average and I am hungry 4=Tasty yum yum! 5=OMG, I ate my fingers too! read more

I invited a few friends here on a whim and I was blown away by this place. They ended up getting stuck in traffic, which worked out in our favor because the wait took 30 minutes or so before we could find vacant seats. The servers were warm & attentive, and the food was promptly delivered. We ordered various sashimi plates & ramen bowls, then washed it down with some cold beer. The yellowtail & tonkotsu were my favorite, but there were so many great options to choose from that we will back again for more. read more

Mr Max - Yellowtail Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

This has to be my favorite Japanese restaurant! The food is worth having to wait outside in the heat/cold. They should open a new location because waiting times are ridiculous. But again, the food is worth it. You will not regret it! read more

Mr Max - Interior photo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

I never leave a review but wow, just wow, from the food to the service to everything in between this place will not disappoint. Obviously with almost 1k reviews you don't need mine to be validated but this place was amazing. I will be back because I feel like I have to try everything on the menu. Everything came out fast and I bet the only complaint about this place is that it's too crowded because it's too dang small and everyone wants to eat here. Thank you for a great experience I will be back soon. read more

A strong Japanese restaurant where all the food there is solid. When we went there wasn't much of a wait, but we also snagged the last 2 seats at the bar which was pretty awesome. Highlights from our meal were definitely the Fried Squid Legs and the Beef Bowl. Each dish just packed such a powerful punch that my mouth was dancing with the different textures and flavours all battling for supremacy in my mouth. read more

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Great place to eat. Very authentic food, you are in for a treat. We rec'd appetizers and got noodles and ramen.

This place is amazing. Get a reservation! If you are a walk-in you will likely have to sit at the bar. You won't be able to get the full experience of the floor seats! The OK: The mackerel sashimi. The flavor profile is pretty simple- just very fishy. The monkfish liver. The sauce and garnish are good but the liver itself is bland. The Good: The eel omelette. Very delicate but pleasant texture. The Amazing: the fried tofu, the beef tongue, and the Kobe beef patty. The cook on these is perfect. If you like Japanese food or sushi, this is a must-try. Mr. Max goes above and beyond. The authentic experience is a whole other level from other Japanese restaurants. I hope they expand or open a second location because this one is not equipped to accommodate the line out the door! read more

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Mr. Max is an authentic Japanese restaurant in Irving. It's a hidden gem in an area you would not expect. Reservations recommended, you'll need a plane ticket to Osaka if you want anything more authentic than Mr. Max. My Overall Rating - 5 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Food, Return) Atmosphere - Mr. Max is hidden. Seriously. It's like they intentionally made it hard to find. Once you find the strip mall it's located in, you'll park in a beat up parking lot with barely functional lighting. But find the door and you'll walk into a packed house. There is beautiful distressed wood everywhere. It's really pretty starting with a sushi bar on the left side and traditional Japanese "floor" seating on the right. You'll need to remove your shoes so you can sit down on the tables. It's really cool and only a few other Japanese restaurants in Dallas have this type of seating. It's also small. Plenty of seats at the bar but I think there are only 4 - 5 tables. 1 Star. Service - Let me first state that my first visit to Mr. Max was without reservations. They were packed and we left due to time constraints. The second trip with reservations still had a short wait, but once we were seated we were good to go. The staff is friendly, the menus are all hand written daily, and they'll translate the menu for you. 1 Star. Food - You can order a sashimi plate. We did. Yawn. If you've sought out Mr. Max, you've come because you want to order something unique. Here you can order squid guts. You can, you should, and you will. It is tender squid tossed in a dark sauce - the guts I believe. Not everyone will be a fan but it's fun to eat. Surprisingly, the real star is the ramen. Mr. Max has several types of ramen you can order, and they are half orders that cost around $5. You can order multiple types and share. The ramen is silky smooth and miso/tonkatsu fans will not be disappointed. However, the best ramen dish was the dry ramen. The ramen is served without broth, but its tossed with spicy sesame sauce with chasu. It was awesome and I could have eaten two bowls. 2 Stars. Will I Return? - Yes. The best thing about Mr. Max is that it's not in a trendy Dallas neighborhood. In other words, the menu prices are very reasonable considering how authentic and unique the menu is. Mr. Max is like the anti-Uchi. For some that's a good thing. For me it's a great thing. No doubt I will be back. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five-star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Food - I'll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the food. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score. read more

Mr Max - Dry ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Love this place! A literal hole in the wall where you'd miss it if you're driving in the dark and don't have your GPS guiding you. You might have to call in a few days or maybe weeks in advance because this place gets packed and within a good few hours, some of the apps will already have run out! Parking: It's located in a small plaza area so there shouldn't be that many issues with parking since it opens at 5pm anyways and most people in the area are gone by then. Ambiance: If you have ever been to Japan, and are looking for something in the DFW area to help curve those nostalgic Izakaya feelings (especially with Covid right now and not being able to travel) this is your spot. I've been to Japan countless times and have yet to find a decent ramen place that will at least detour me from my Ramyun stash in my pantry. This gem is like a dream spot for Japanese Izakaya lovers. And walking in gives you that feeling that you're back in Japan with all of the menu items on the wall and the staff who are by the way Japanese (from what I could tell) and are amazing at what they do! Customer Service: A++++ they're always willing to serve you if you just give them a look or raise your hand just a bit. There's 2 main servers and there's one girl who always seems to remember me and greet me hello and tell me she'll see me next week (yes I go that often please don't judge). She's amazing and so is her co server! They're always so kind to let you know if they run out of something and give you another option to make up for it-Tip: ALWAYS take their advice. You'll never know if you'll get to try something new and fall in love with it! read more

It's like stepping inside of izakaya in Japan. When I learned I needed to be in the area, I contacted one of the yelpers in the area for recommendation and he suggested here. I read some reviews and suggested for reservations. I called them but they won't accept reservation for one person. So I just decided to come early to beat the dinner rush. I came as soon as my work was done for the day, when I walked in, they had a few counter seats available but tables were full already. They do get busy here! Stayed busy the whole time I was there. I started my dinner with nikujyaga (potato and pork hot pot). It's not on the menu. When I asked for a vegetable dish recommendation, she recommended that I tried this dish that's not on the menu. I wouldn't necessarily considered this as a vegetable dish but the broth cooked potato was so good. They cooked for a long time while maintaining the shape of potato. Broth came from soy, sake, perhaps some sugar and pork belly created such a homey feeling dish. I also tried mentai cucumber. Love slightly spicy mentai since my first try in Fukuoka over 15 years ago. I wished I was able to pair with hot sake or shyotyu with this dish. Too bad I was driving.. Grilled hokke fish was cooked to perfection. I was sitting at the counter seat, I watched the chef cook my fish. When I walked in here, I remembered eating here about 6-7 years ago. I was told the original owner back then passed away since then. Food tastes what I remember from those time. I guess the new owner kept the charm of this restaurant. I am looking forward to coming back here again at my next visit to Dallas area read more

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