I really don't want to say it but... it was so mid and overhyped. Here's what we ordered: 1) Salmon sashimi (10/10) 2) Grilled squid - (if you never had squid you might like it. As someone who has this for lunch very often in my Asian household, skip this dish 3/10) 3) Tonkotsu Ramen - super water down ramen. Worst dish we had despite the glowing reviews online. Idk what went wrong...(-2/10) 4) Takoyaki - mid (3/10) 5) Beef Bowl: 9/10 would order again 6) 3 assorted appetizers chef's choice: one of the better dishes (8/10) 7) Karaage Chicken: don't be basic, skip this. Nothing special here (3/10) Service: food came out quick and the waitress were attentive After waiting for 2 hours from 5:30pm-7:30pm, my boyfriend and I were starving and at this point anything would have been good BUT we were still disappointed. That's how overhyped this place was - major lacked of seasoning... read more

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The food here was decent and the portions were fair. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service and atmosphere were pretty average nothing bad, but nothing that particularly stood out as exceptional either.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A solid, middle-of-the-road experience overall. read more

Arigatou amigos! I loved the experience by dining here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I felt like I was in Japan.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff was friendly. The wait was shorter than expected. Will definitely be going back! read more

This authentic Izakaya is a gem tucked in an unassuming strip mall in Irving, Texas. With cozy tatami seating, you slip off your shoes, step up, and settle in for some seriously good eats. Known for its top-notch sashimi and flavor-packed takoyaki, this spot has earned the No. 72 spot on Yelp's national list--and it's well deserved! The grilled yellowtail with teriyaki is a must-try: tender, juicy, and just the right amount of sweetness. For something a little adventurous, the Tako Wasabi offers a punch of wasabi with raw octopus; it's a small portion but delivers on flavor. My favorite? The pan-fried squid with gut sauce--massive, bold, and deeply satisfying. Service is quick, prices are fair, and it's packed even on weekdays. I'll absolutely be back for more! read more

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Plan for around an hour wait if you go without a reservation - this restaurant has a really cozy atmosphere so there's not as many tables available to seat everyone at once. My sashimi was fresh and the ramen was good, too. Next time, I'd add a spice bomb for some extra flavor! read more

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

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Tiny restaurant in a mixed neighborhood of Irving opens its doors at 5pm on Saturdays. My husband and I went at 4:50pm determined to have dinner there. The restaurant already had a line wrapped around. By the time we went to the hostess, we were told the wait would be over 1.5 hr. Fast forward 2 hrs 10 mins, we were finally seated at the bar. We ordered and the food came one at a time, quickly. And every item we tried were absolutely delicious!! I would go more often if it wasn't as busy, but I'll definitely keep this place in mind for any occasion. 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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This is one of the few spots I always have to visit few times a year. Once you step into the front door, it transports you to Japan. The atmosphere and food is amazing and can't wait to come back for more. My personal favorite is their eel omelette! If you like unagi sushi, this taste way better :) read more

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Food was good, and served hot. However, I was given a chipped plate! I didn't want to spoil the mood of the group so I let the waitress know as I was leaving. To me, it is insulting - that you just don't care about your customer. A paying customer. This was my first visit and as It ruined my experience, it will be the last. read more

Mr. Max, tucked away in a nondescript strip mall in Irving, Dallas serves up authentic Japanese cuisine. The unassuming exterior might fool you, but inside, the food is anything but ordinary. The cozy, almost dive-bar atmosphere adds to the charm, making it feel like a secret spot known only to those in the know. Absolutely get a counter spot to watch the show. We decided to order a little of this and a little of that to sample the variety they offer, and every dish was delish. The izakaya-style menu invites you to try a bit of everything. We got the salmon roll, shrimp tempura, edamame, shishito peppers and ramen! If you're looking for an authentic, no-frills Japanese dining spot, Mr. Max checks those boxes. read more

I finally got to go here after constantly hearing about this place for the last 3 years since I moved to DFW. I was so excited to try out but I think my expectations were too high. All the food tasted good, but not amazing. My favorite was their udon which I forgot to take a photo of. Everything else just felt like just okay. They don't have a lot of seating inside which explains the long wait. Their service was great and the ambience was great. Just wasn't sure if it's worth the 40 min drive. If I'm in the area I would be down to go again for sure. read more

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A transportation of an experience. All food options were delicious, I highly recommend the cucumber starter.

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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Best dishes BY FAR 1. Grilled Yellowtail collar 2. Otoro Blue Fin fatty tuna 3. Taiwan Ramen We also had the fish egg & cucumber, beef tongue, shishito peppers, Kobe beef skewers and Spam & omelette sandwich (all were good) Waited an hour for a seat. When they offered us a bar seat we asked for a table seat. So we waited an additional hour for a seat. Our fault for not specifying a table up front. Good overall service and vibe. Staff was super friendly helping us make decisions. It's worth the wait. Put your number down and grab a drink at El Viejon across the street. Or you can order a drink at Mr. Max while you wait. read more

I had a really frustrating experience here. The restaurant closes at 9, so we called at 8 to confirm they were still open, and they said yes. We got there shortly after, well before closing, only to be told by the hostess that our party of three couldn't be served. There was no clear explanation, and it felt really unprofessional and dismissive. If you're not going to seat guests that close to closing time, that should be communicated upfront--not after confirming you're open and having people show up. Definitely disappointing. read more

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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Wonderful service, delicious food, affordable price, will come back again and again and again! 美味しいお料理とおもてなし、本当にありがとうございました！ 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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Their ramen sucks so bad I had better ramens in Dallas. Would never come back. Overpriced read more

Mr Max - 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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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 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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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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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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If you want a hole-in-the-wall, authentic experience, you've come to the right place. Mr Max has been a OG spot for Japanese food in DFW for the past 30 years. It's a small restaurant so make reservations to guarantee a spot! Even on weekdays. We came here on a Tuesday and it was packed. We had a group of 6 and ordered a bunch of appetizers and sashimi to share. A classic favorite is the chicken karaage. Takoyaki is great as always, and sashimi was so fresh. We tried their aji sashimi and it was so delicious! It was a special for $29 but I thought it was worth it. They will fry the head for you if you ask. Aji is Japanese Jack mackerel. Their 5 kind sashimi is a beautiful spread of mackerel, salmon, tuna, octopus, yellowtail and sweet shrimp. Service was incredible as always and the food comes quicker than you think. Highly recommend coming here with a friend or a small group! 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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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

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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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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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

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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Our go to spot whenever I'm in Dallas. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Foods are top notch and great ambiance to grab small bites and drinks and chat with friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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

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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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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a very small restaurant for about 30-40 people, so you need to wait a while and be flexible.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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