Mr. Max is an amazing hole-in-the-wall type place. You wouldn't think it existed in the random corner that is in, but my experience here was truly amazing. Even though we had to wait 1.5 hours to get seating here (the inside is pretty small), it was so worth the wait and I would do it again. The food was so fresh and tasty, and I loved everything that we ordered. Anytime I am back in Dallas I would come back here again every time! read more

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I waited for weeks to to find a good time to write a well-deserved thorough review. Mr. Max is one of my most favorite places in Dallas. A must-go. We've been twice, and so far we've tried the ramen, curry, okonomiyaki, pork belly, karaage chicken, yellowtail, potato croquette, and beef tongue. I loved the pork belly, kaarage chicken, and ramen the most! The ramen was very rich and tasty, despite this not being a ramen-focused restaurant. Would not recommend the beef tongue--a bit chewy and bland. There are specials as well, the crispy rice spicy tuna roll was delicious, but I'm not sure if it's still available. Honestly can't wait to go back and try more dishes! The ambiance is very warm and welcoming although a bit small, so be prepared for a wait time (that is worth it). I've been on a Friday and Saturday evening around 5PM and 7PM, respectively. Both times the wait were about an hour. There's a thrift shop across the street and some boba down the street, which are good ways to kill time. There isn't really room to wait in the restaurant itself. The service is prompt and attentive though. Parking is ample in the strip mall. read more

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

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I recently went to Japan and was missing Japanese food so I had to try out Mr. Max. The whole place made me feel like I was back in Japan. Food came out fast and fresh. The workers were so sweet and attentive. Highly recommend coming here if you want a taste is Japan. read more

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Came here with a large group of 6 adults and 3 kids and even though it was a little tight they were able to fit us pretty well! They even had plastic forks and bowls for the kiddos to use. We came at 5:30 (they opened at 5) on a Thursday and they were super busy and told it would be an hour wait and it was definitely worth it. We really enjoyed all the dishes we ordered but our favorites were the fried squid legs, salmon sashimi, Japanese curry (would recommend getting the pork katsu to pair with it), karaage, and shrimp tempura! Service was great and their food came out so quick yet steaming hot. Can't wait till our next visit back to Dallas! read more

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Nondescript spot named Max serving selections of sushi and cooked food. Looks like I am back in Tokyo.... Tried a few sushi pieces of tuna and salmon and yellowtail. Negiri salmon was good. Fatty but good. The tuna and yellowtail were better. Other items included Sushi Sashimi Squid Negiri Peppers Edamame Grilled smelt I recommend this place. read more

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

Some of the best Japanese food in DFW area in such a hidden low key spot. Heads up, if you want to come by this gem, you will definitely want a reservation to save yourself the pain of waiting, reservations fill up around a 3-5 days out so plan well. 2nd time I've come here and both times just blew me away. The authenticity, tradition, and food is amazing. Some standouts from my most recent visit are the Yellowtail collarbone(first time I've had it, actually so much flavor and meat) fried squid legs(so so so good, my fav item for sure), grilled shishito peppers, and the sashimi platter. The ambience makes you feel like you are not in DFW for sure haha, I will come back next time I'm in town read more

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Best snack-tivity in Dallas. You can't pass up the yellowtail kama, which is like tuna neck. incredibly kind and generous staff, cozy atmosphere, all around amazing experience! They deserve the title of 100 best eating experiences from yelp! read more

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

An absolutely amazing Izakaya spot in DFW! The place is small and always busy. They only take reservations for groups for the authentic Japanese tables where you remove your shoes. If you're only a couple, you'll have a seat at the counter. I recommend coming right when they open to get a seat. I've also placed to-go orders - just be mindful of which foods are the easiest for transport. - 5 kind Sashimi: some of the highest quality sushi in the area (I jokingly think it's due to the proximity to DFW airport) and the price point is unbeatable compared to other sushi spots in the area. It's a spread of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and sweet shrimp. They occasionally have other sushi specials - the scallop we got once was excellent. - Grilled yellowtail collar: One of my favorites! The fish is so tender and the skin is so light and crisp! - Spicy pork rice roll: there is just something so homey about this dish. Other really delicious things include their takoyaki, chicken karage, curry and the ramen! I hardly crave ramen in the Texas heat but we had to try it at least once and it really is outstanding! Definitely do yourself a favor, come early and grab a bunch of small plates to share! read more

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What a fun place to go! So many good things on the menu. If you have ever lived in Japan, this is about as close as you can get to an authentic izakaya. All of the workers seemed to speak Japanese, so I could order in either language. I started with the chef's choice appetizer, which was three small portions of their appetizers plus a Japanese beer. Then I tried their wasabi octopus, kama toro sushi and some grilled mackerel. And of course one more beer. They really nailed the appetizers, so I would strongly recommend them. Overall, this is a fantastic restaurant to get a taste of Japan. read more

Mr Max - Kama toro sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

We were very excited to try Mr Max, we had to book reservations a few weeks out and ended up getting one for a Thursday evening. Ambiance was nice, very small and cozy inside, but you're not on top of the other tables which is good. We tried multiple items on the menu, my favorite was the sashimi we got tuna and salmon. The fish was so fresh and had great flavor. Also tried a Ramon dish, octopus balls, and cheesecake for dessert! read more

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We love coming to this spot with our guests! They have bar seating and floor seating where you're required to take off your shoes and dangle your feet. We usually order tapas style and try a little bit of everything. Our recent fave was the fried rice squares with salmon and jalapeño on top. We always order the chicken karaage (fried chicken pieces), takoyaki (squid balls), and chicken skewers, as well as the fried potato. Everything is delicious and always tastes made to order. I would love to come here more often, but the wait is always so long due to it's popularity. There is not much seating which often contributes to the long wait times. I recommend coming right when it opens to avoid the long wait. read more

This place was absolutely fantastic. I don't remember a small plates japanese restaurant that has had such variety, good food, and reasonable prices. There is a wait and it is hard to get them to answer the phone. That's because it's busy and delicious. The interior is authentic izakaya / Japanese seating where you remove your shoes. It's pretty tight depending on group size but all the menu items on the walls makes it feel cozy. Of the food I liked the takayoki but the real standout was the squid in guts sauce. The sashimi was quite good as were the rice sandwiches. Our waitress was fantastic: attentive and fast, and she brought us free dessert. If I'm ever in Dallas again I'm going to seek this place out. read more

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Loved this place! Everything we ate was amazing. So cute inside too! Usually very popular so plan on showing up at opening or possibly waiting in line for a table. read more

Mr Max - Agedashi Tofu, Potato Croquette, grilled salted salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

A much needed updated review on Mr. Max. I can't believe my last review was 9 years ago :') This place is as amazing and as busy!! as ever. It almost feels busier?? Mr. Max has been around for so long, I think they went through a renovation recently too? If you're looking for authentic, taste-of-Japan type of experience, Mr. Max is the place to go. Their seating is extremely limited and they usually already have a line right before they open. Idk if this is the case every day but every time we've gone, we've either had to wait or we would go right when they open. I absolutely love their tables with little seating mats (floor seating but there's also an opening under the tables too to let your feet hang). They also have a few seats at the bar as well. Food comes out pretty fast so if you're not in a rush, make sure to pace your order out. Every thing is good but our favs are: fried river shrimp, eel omelette, fried oysters, mentaiko cucumber and karaage. We're leaving Dallas soon but Mr. Max is definitely a place we'd come back to whenever we're in town. Pls keep this place thriving for as long as you can!! read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Amazing spot. It was worth the one hour wait. The food was delicious, particularly the yellowtail and karage and squid (pictures below). The ambiance was exquisite. It really felt being transported to a different country. read more

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Mr Max has been on my to-visit list before moving to Dallas, and I finally had a chance to drop by last Saturday. I tried visiting 2 years ago, but we came at 5:30 PM and it was a 2 hours wait. I was surprised by how busy the place was back then, so I made sure to come a bit earlier this time. We arrived at 4:50 PM on a Saturday, and there was already a long line outside the door to the fence on the left. Judging by the number of people in line, I estimated that we wouldn't make it in and I was right. The group in front of us was the cut-off, so it was an hour's wait. Not bad, but I was set to try it this time. My sister, her boyfriend and I just went shopping around the area for a while, then waited in the parking lot. It was around 6 PM that they called us saying it was ready, and we need to arrive within 10 mins. The restaurant was packed, and there were people coming to add their names to the reservation with a 2-3 hours wait. I wanted to try everything, since who knows the next time I'd wait this long to visit. We got takoyaki, ramen, tempuras, pork katsu, beef tongue, grilled squid, chicken karaage, agedashi tofu, potato croquette, and beef skewers. The food came out one by one pretty quickly. I wanted to take a photo of the entire spread, but we were too hungry to wait for everything. The dishes were all amazing, and I think the prices aren't bad either. Some portions are smaller and more expensive, but it was filling enough if you eat a little bit from each dish. Our total came out to be around $120, plus tips for 3 people. My favorite was the grilled squid, and the sizzling hot takoyaki in the pan was pretty good as well. Overall, I'd visit here again with friends and hopefully get a reservation in place. It's such a popular spot but every time I call for a reservation, it's either fully booked or nobody's picking up the phone. I want to try their sushi dishes next time! read more

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Our go to spot whenever I'm in Dallas. Foods are top notch and great ambiance to grab small bites and drinks and chat with friends. If you want a table without reservations, get there 30 mins before they're open to get in line! read more

This place is like a little Japanese street food heaven. The food is great the decor well not much the entire wall is filled with menu papers but that reminds me of Asia. The service is always great. Only complain is making reservations, too limited. Should consider expanding so you could share your food with more people. Side note this has been my favorite restaurant in the area since 2016. read more

I've been to Mr Max a few times over 30 years and it never fails to impress me. The food is amazing, I specially love the monkfish pate, the fried squid legs and spicy tuna crispy rice. It's a very small restaurant for about 30-40 people, so you need to wait a while and be flexible. read more

Finally was able to visit one of the Top Japanese Restaurant in Dallas, Mr. Max Izakaya! We got: A5 Waygu Scallop sashimi Takoyaki Kobe beef skewer Mentai cod roe & chopped cucumber Salmon sashimi Pan fried squid with gut sauce Udon noodle Everything was so delicious! read more

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I was thinking that this place would be a hyped up machine based on the Yelp reviews, but the reviews don't lie. This is a small place located in the corner of an unassuming strip mall. You can expect to wait a bit because this place is quite popular and rightfully so. What we got: - Fried squid legs: Just enough crunch, not overly oily, and not overcooked - Curry with rice: A simple bowl of curry with a few chunks of meat and some rice. A decent filler but worth trying other items on the menu - Agedashi tofu: A different side of Agedashi tofu in that it's not overly crispy or fried - Pork belly with onions: Delicious slices of pork belly in a delicious sauce - Shishito Peppers: standard izakaya fare but also very flavorfull - Tonkatsu ramen: This is where it definitely stands out. The noodles and the broth are about as true to Japan as can be. Definitely my favorite in the dallas area and I would come here just for this - Chicken Karaage: Deliciously fried, not overly oily, good chunks of chicken Waitstaff is super nice and the prices are pretty reasonable. Overall a win and a +1 to the 5 star reviews on this spot! read more

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It might look like a small hole in the wall at the corner of a nondescript line of stores, but the long line of hungry customers outside, waiting right at opening, betrays its popularity and charm. Indoors, Mr Max isn't large by any means, but can fit small parties with Japanese style tables (you remove your shoes as you sit on benches) and bar seating. The menu is scannable via QR code on each table, while menu specials are plastered all over the wall in Japanese and English. The prices here should jump out at you. It's extremely cheap here, as most of the entrees are half of what they usually cost. For reference, our party of 8 had a bill lower than $200, and that was even after about 8 appetizers and entrees each, along with drinks, tip, and tax. It's incredible value. Yet the food's price doesn't reflect the wonderful quality. The Japanese curry was simple but delicious and Mr Max is generous with portions. Most of the fried appetizers were tasty too, and I'd say the restaurant mostly caters to bar food and appetizers like this. The servers are understandably busy, but are very, very efficient in clearing and serving tables and most importantly, are polite and friendly. Just as a tip, they do allow reservations (which they highly recommend especially on weekends), but only for parties of 3 or more. Highly recommend this place if you can get a spot! read more

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A reservation is highly recommended! If you walk up be prepared to wait about an hour to be seated. My party was forunate was we arrived at 07:15ish and was the last table to be seated at 08:25. Talk about a lucky day! The waitresses tried their best to get us seated and were glad we were able to get a table. The ambiance is everything over here as it's an authentic Japanese izakaya with Jpop playing in the background and wooden-tatami like seating. Last call is 08:30 so we ordered everything at once. My favorite was the sashimi platter upgraded to toro for a $5 additional charage. The fish was super fresh and the texture was a nice balance of firmness and tenderness. I was impressed that they used real wasabi to pair with thier sashimi, a very rare find in any restaurant in the US. They were also kind enough to deep fry the sweet shrimp heads for us! Despite being so busy, Mr. Max maintains their high level of Japanese hospitality and treats all their customers with the same respect. They answer the phone courteousily and make an effort to call each party on the waitlist when it's their turn. It's my pleasure to give Mr. Max my business and looking forward to doing so regularly. read more

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Every city should have an izakaya like Mr. Max... So it's ones of those places I wish I can go on a weekly basis after a good day of work to celebrate or to vent. Order a few beers and some meat on a stick dishes and hang with friends. There are so many reviews that I don't think I can add anything that would be a surprise to anyone, so I will just support this place by giving it another 5 star review amongst all the other fans. I've been to a lot of Japanese izakayas and Mr. Max' atmosphere / ambiance is definitely the kind that I'd love to frequent. Service is super fast and friendly as well and food is great. The biggest challenge is how to get in due to its popularity. read more

What an amazing Japanese restaurant! I can tell it's loved by locals because people were lining up outside before it even opened. The restaurant was packed within minutes of opening. Everything was so delicious. Takoyaki was so crispy and fresh. Kobe beef skewers were so tender and juicy and paired well with the sauce. Miso marinated salmon was cooked perfectly. Hamburger patty was filling and comforting. Blue fin tuna was so fresh! Friendly servers as well. Cute Japanese decor too. I miss this place already, will definitely be back next time I'm in Dallas. read more

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Place is small, and so you'll have to wait an hour to get seated. I think they take reservations online but not via telephone. If you order take out, it takes only 20mins. The food is just average. But I'm from the NY area, where there's a lot of Asian food. read more

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Was pleasantly surprised with how great Mr Max is! We came by on a Saturday. They open at 5pm but people start lining up around 4:30pm. We tried to make a reservation same day but they were already booked up. The reservation process is a little unclear as each time I've called I've heard different things, but last I heard was they only take reservations for 3 or more people and it's more likely they won't take your reservation same day. We were still able to get a seat for our party of 4 on Saturday when we arrived at 4:40pm to line up. They have bar seating and tables on the side, tatami style where you take your shoes off. The menu is a QR code. They have mostly tapas style food where it's small dishes you order to share. We ordered the sashimi platter which was super fresh and amazing. A lot of the orders came with fresh grated ginger which I also loved. We also ordered the beef skewers - one order comes with two skewers. Delicious and soft and came with lots of green onions and dipping sauce. We also ordered tofu, octopus balls, grilled octopus, and the karaage. All amazing and you really can't go wrong with what you order here. We ordered the pudding and cheesecake for dessert which was very small serving, so I might skip it next time. I'll definitely be back to try the ramen and grilled yellowtail collar. Food comes very quickly. Only thing to note is they definitely rush you a bit while eating, so don't expect to come here and spend 2-3 hours sitting at your table. Your whole party must be there to seat in the beginning and they're eager to have you leave once you pay. It's a small space and the wait is usually long so they are trying to turn over tables quite fast. We were in and out in about and hour or so. Can't wait to be back for an authentic Japanese meal! read more

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We enjoyed the place, food, and experience. My kids want to come back and eat again! どうもありがとうございます。 read more

This is such a cool hidden spot that you would never know was there. It's a literal hole in the wall that is in a little strip mall behind a corndog stand. Inside, it is a VIBE. It's tapas style portions, so get there early and order in bulk so the food keeps coming. The sushi is some of the best in the area and prices are super reasonable. The service is really quick and attentive. Come by yourself and sit at the bar or with a group and enjoy the food with a bottle of sake! read more

Mr Max - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Always a long line. The door opens at 5 and be aware to come before 4:45 and wait in line. You can call to make reservations for party of 4 or more. But call at least 2 weeks in advance. Food is always solid. Service is good and quick. It is my daughter's favorite Japanese restaurant but unfortunately we are not able to make it frequently due to the popularity read more

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

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A mutual friend recommended this spot and it delivered! The food was delicious. The flavor of the agedashi tofu was light, but amazing. I would recommend getting the 5 kind sashimi since there's a variety of fish and each kind comes with 3 pieces, so very worth the price! I would just be ready to wait a long time if you don't have a reservation. We had to wait almost an hour after arriving when doors opened. There were many people coming in later and having to wait 2-3 hours. read more

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Not enough tables, over priced, low CP value, save ur hard earn money and go AYCA buffet is better choice IMHO

Mr Max is a DFW favorite and I definitely understand why. The small, cozy interior resembles a true Japanese Izakaya and the food does not disappoint! They have many different dishes from classic bar foods, like takoyaki and karaage, to fresh sashimi. All the food is reasonable priced but high quality. My personal favorites would have to be the kobe beef skewers and the 5 kind sashimi. As many people have stated before, the hardest part of eating here is trying to get a table. The restaurant is small so you have to show up early, even on weekdays. The first time i tried to com here, I came at 5pm and there was already a 2 hour wait. I came about 20 minutes early this time and got the last table but if you have a part of 3 or more I would suggest making a reservation. Overall, Mr Max has truly earned its reputation and I will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

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Well if you're a regular here you know the routine, come here early. And if you're not a regular come here early. lol Small but beautiful Japanese Izakaya restaurant. Great service here fast and quick sometimes only 2 ladies serving this entire restaurant here so please friends be nice and patient you'll understand when you dine here. Food is phenomenal and perfect for wanting to order small plates. Had never once sent something back. However I've had wrong items delivered to my table and to took to try something different oh so good hahaha We love this establishment in the DFW area. Great place it's just tough though to wait for a table. So please get there early or try to have reservations done a week out. Thank you to all who keep this place going. read more

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The restaurant setting is amazing. There is either a bar area to sit at or tables which you have to take off your shoes and sit that's on the floor. The server was very nice and attentive to us and even gave us great suggestions on food. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, Takoyaki,, toro and the homemade custard pudding for dessert. The egg, pork, and broth were all great in the ramen. Toro tasted fresh, and the Takoyaki was amazing as well. The pudding was good too just a small serving. The price is definitely reasonable for the quality of the food. read more

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

Ambience was a vibe. This was my first time in and I got more than I was expecting. The place is a bit small so service was very attentive. Food was amazing flavorful and spot on. Everything was fairly priced me and my two kids shared Edamame and chicken Karaage.to start. Both items came out, hot and steamy. The chicken Karaage was very fresh.. Then we tried the Ramen OMG great portion size. Everything about this place was spot on did you ask you to take off your shoes so be sure to wear that pair of clean socks L O L we can update. We will definitely be back soon. read more

Mr Max - Karaage Crispy Fried Chicken 10/10 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Irving, Texas

This place transports me right back to Japan! From the menu spread all around the walls, to the low tables. The service was great. Food came out in a timely manner, everything was seasoned perfectly and all the workers are so friendly! This is definitely on my list of places I have to come back to when I'm back in town! read more

Mr. Max is in an unassuming strip mall off of a busy intersection of Irving. As people who refuse to eat anything we can get at home when we travel, we were excited to try this izakaya restaurant. We assumed we could try sushi and sashimi in addition to izakaya, but we were only partially correct. The first disappointment was that, though they claim you make reservations, no one ever answers the phone for you to do so. It wasn't a big deal, but they already had a waitlist when we arrived at 5:14 (14 minutes after they opened) on a Thursday evening. We were second on that waitlist and were looking at a 30-45 minute wait. It turned out to be 45 minutes, which we waited in our car in the parking lot. The interior looks like a Japanese house or a large izakaya. Seats are lining the bar which runs the length of the dining room and overlooks the kitchen. There are also traditional Japanese low tables, where you remove your shoes, climb up, and sit in a shallow well area. I can't imagine how easy it is for disabled persons to manage this, but I'm sure, with a good amount of help, it's possible. The other disappointment with this restaurant was a younger server who was very cold and curt. We greeted her, thanked her, and bussed for her, but she never broke a smile, gave us a "You're welcome," or engaged other than to ask us what we wanted and drop off food. An older lady was a lot nicer and we wished she would've come by more often. We ordered quite a few things that were on the menu: -Blue Fin Fatty Tuna: absolutely amazing and melt-in-your-mouth tender. -Grilled Miso Marinated Salmon: a bit overcooked, but well flavored. -Grilled Beef Tongue: thinly sliced, great caramelization, and tender. -Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna Sashimi: amazing in texture and flavor. This was a special, so I don't know if they always offer it. - Edamame: basic with salt. Nothing special. -Grilled Squid: devoid of flavor except char, but nicely tender. -Tako Wasabi: raw octopus in a pungent wasabi dressing. It was addicting. -Grilled Shishito Pepper: charred and pleasant. More than half had spice. -Grilled Mackerel: meaty and well-seasoned with perfect caramelization. -Grilled Yellowtail w/Teriyaki: meaty and juicy. Exceptionally flavored. -Fried Chicken Wings w/Nagoya Style Seasoning: the meat wasn't seasoned, only fried and topped with seasoning. It lacked flavor. -Takoyaki: Husband really enjoyed these octopus balls. He said they tasted like a delicious seafood meatball. I had the Lime Chuhai (very refreshing) to drink, and my hubby had a Sapporo. There was no sushi, only sashimi, and for our very large order, we paid $176, which included tax. I recommend you visit Mr. Max, but be prepared for a worthwhile wait. read more

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Nice place for dinner. Authentic Japanese food. We ordered few dishes with white rice and miso soup. I really enjoyed experience here. We ordered fried oysters, takoyaki, fried chicken, shrimp tempura, and kobe beef skewers. If it was in our area, I would definitely come back. I recommend for anyone looking for true Japanese food in Dallas area to try. Overall happy customer. Wait time can be little long, it can be about a hour, but well worth it. read more

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Mr. Max's: Worth the Wait (and the Shoeless Struggle) This place is the real deal for authentic Japanese food. Be prepared to wait (mine took an hour, but some reviewers say 3!), but it's SO worth it. Just be sure to loosen up your legs beforehand because you'll be sitting on the floor, Japanese-style (think comedy contortion trying to take off your shoes). The food? Amazing. I devoured the Tonkotsu Ramen, the beef skewers, and a perfect portion of rice. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend! read more

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