If you are in Irvine and looking for some quality sushi or other Japanese food, PLEASE go to Taiko. The food is delicious and always fresh. From what I have heard, this place has been open since the 1980's, and still continues to serve amazing food. I went here with my boyfriend and his family and they have been going to this place for years and years now. We ordered sashimi, sesame chicken, spicy tuna rolls, and vegetable tempura udon. Everything was great and our servers were happy and provided great service. The inside is cozy with wooden furniture and there are a lot of families who eat here. Excited to visit here again! read more

A delicious and authentic Japanese spot with great combos! The tempura and nigiri combo was more than enough food, and I left feeling full sand satisfied. It came with a generous amount of salad, shrimp and veggie tempura, and five nigiris. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the tempura was light and crispy. I also a bite of sesame chicken from another person's combo, and it was tasty and came with a lot! The interior is very cozy and feels like an authentic Japanese restaurant, and the service was great. I will definitely add this spot to my rotation! read more

Taiko - Nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Love these portions! Another day, another salmon collar! This one was huge, nice and fatty, and perfectly charred. The vibes are great here, feels like traditional Japanese restaurant. The service was excellent, the food came out super quick, what a great time! read more

Taiko - Salmon Kama Meal Set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Taiko is a great Japanese spot with a standard menu and generous portions. The service is quick, but that also means everyone gets served at different times. I ordered the sesame chicken and udon combination, which was more than enough food. They're both nearly full-size servings of each meal instead of a half-and-half style combo. The udon was as expected, and I get why the sesame chicken is so popular here. It was well-cooked, had a good flavor, and balanced well with the other veggies in the rice bowl. read more

Taiko - Sesame chicken, udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Taiko is a very cute Japanese restaurant with such friendly staff. It's also conveniently located near other shops for dessert/skincare/makeup shops if you'd like to walk before or after your meal. Portion sizes for some dishes are pretty generous! The salmon nigiri that I ordered was fatttt. The charashi was also very worth the price. We spent about $60 (tad pricy) per person and were both full/had some leftovers. Of everything we ordered the only one I wouldn't order again is the takoyaki just because I'd like more sauce. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Haven't been here in many, many years and recently a co worker wanted to come here for lunch. We were greeted right away, and our attention immediately went to their lunch specials. I got the sesame chicken with tempura and wow. Their portions are HUGE. The other food items we got: chicken rice bowl with udon lunch special, sushi with tempura lunch special, and an eel roll to share. The portions were so big that we all took leftovers to go. Food was delicious - will def be coming back to try more items! At around $20 for their lunch specials, you're definitely getting the most bang for your buck! read more

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This place is so so so awesome!!! Interior AMAZING. Service BANGIN. Food KILLER. ordered the veggie curry ramen, side salad, edamame, jalapeño yellowtail, and green tea between a friend and it totaled to $20/person! Perfect place for friends or family or work outings! read more

Taiko - Edamame - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I was a bit hesitant to try Taiko again after not going for over eight years, mostly because I noticed there's no line anymore. Not that I enjoy waiting in line to eat, but it always seemed like a good sign that this place consistently had one. To my surprise, the food was still very good. We ordered the Chirashi Bowl ($22), Sweet Shrimp Nigiri ($6.75), and Tempura Appetizer ($9.75). The sashimi tasted fresh and the service was great. I know prices have gone up everywhere, but I was a little bummed about the pricing here, especially paying that much for just one piece of Sweet Shrimp Nigiri. Still, Id' come back. The food still holds up, even though the interior could use a bit of an update. read more

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Service was fine. Nothing to rave about. Food was good. The sashimi pieces were a bit too thick for my liking. Feel like they tried to overcompensate with thicker pieces to fill the bowl. 2 pieces of each type of sashimi. Was decent. read more

Taiko - Tempura Appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I've been to Taiko twice recently and love the variety of options here! My favorite items are the unagi kabayaki appetizer, furikake fries, and the beef teriyaki teishoku. I prefer the more mayo forward California rolls and theirs is a bit different than what I'm used to. Taiko is located in a rather busy plaza but I've never had issues with parking. They offer happy hour deals, have a loyalty rewards program, and the option to scan a QR code to pay if you're in a rush. Solid spot! read more

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Excited to find a Japanese place that has more than just sushi and seems authentic! The menu is very extensive and is a bit overwhelming and they also have a good amount of specials/highlighted menu items. Shared appetizer items: We really LOVED the baked scallops appetizer. Flavor was fantastic and they were super delicious. Also got the regular edamame and I felt it left some to be desired; maybe needed some salt or garlic of some sort. Salmon Aburi Yuzu roll had really unique flavors and pretty good. Not amazing, but good. Shared entree item: one of the special Teishoku items that came with miso soup, rice, a salad, sashimi, tempura vegetables, sesame chicken, and a little savory egg thing that had a very interesting taste. The sashimi had no flavor and I was disappointed with it overall. Overall, it was a good ambience with attentive staff, but some of the items were a miss for me. read more

Taiko - 4 person feast - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is a family style Japanese restaurant - nothing fancy, just straightforward good food. We ordered chicken teriyaki dinner, two orders of hamachi nigiri, one order of dynamite sushi (baked scallops with mayo and mushrooms on top) and chirashi bowl. The reasons why we keep coming back to this place are that their servings are generous, the fish is fresh and thick, the scallops over the dynamite are plenty and the umami flavor of the mushroom is nicely incorporated in the mayo sauce. The chicken is nicely grilled and seasoned but I had to ask for more teriyaki sauce. Food is not cheap, but you get the value of your hard earned money. Service is friendly and on point. If they keep up the quality and quantity as it is now, I'll never tire of this place. read more

Taiko - Chicken Teriyaki (Lunch) - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

came here about an hour from closing on a weekend and was seated immediately. staff here is nice and prompt. inside is clean and there are many tables. they have some of their specials printed on the wall so check them out! got the toro sashimi and chirashi bowls. fish quality was wonderful. their rice also tasted nicely seasoned. cuts were pretty generous and we were pretty full after read more

Taiko - Chirashi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I have been eating at Taiko since my high school days (which trust me..is a longgg time lol) and the quality & quantity of the food has not changed. It's deelish every time and I love the different bento options on the menu. My go-to is almost always the teriyaki salmon (or the beef teriyaki) and the sesame chicken ~ combi E, however their sushi is really fresh & good too! If you are craving Japanese food and want to leave full & satisfied, then Taiko is your place. A must try!!! Heads up, it can get pretty crowded & busy here, esp. for dinners and weekends, so make sure you Yelp check-in or go during lunch time (like me) instead. Also, take note of the time that they close in between lunch & dinner. Lastly, don't forget to sign up for their new loyalty rewards program to take advantage of rewards & offers. read more

Taiko - (E) Salmon Teriyaki, Tempura & Sesame Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was my first time here and I was super impressed! Their staff was so nice and did an amazing job handling my family's request. I tried their Toro don and it was super fresh and melts in your mouth. I found out that it's a limited quantity per day, so don't be surprised if they run out. The Seared A5 Wagyu Roll is Smokey, buttery, and goes well with the veggies in the roll. The Taiko Gozen comes with everything though. It's great for sharing and I love the presentation too. For drinks, the Mango Sunrise and the peach lemonade are my favorites I did a full breakdown of the restaurant on IG @ToshiEats read more

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Although the food is not really authentic or traditional it was very tasty, but most of all, such generous portions, I loved the oyster shooter I started with and the hamachi Kama was probably THE BEST I've EVER had! Even in Japan! read more

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What can I say? We are suckers for this place! Whenever we crave for the best sushi, we end up here! Service is always quick. Servers are always nice and friendly. It can get busy but nevertheless. The food never misses. Uni, Toro, Assorted nigiri, mixed tempura, and even the kids meal were a hit with us! Highly recommended! Will continue to keep coming back! read more

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Dinner at Taiko was pretty good! Our party of 6 enjoyed a smorgasbord of sushi, sashimi, udon and dinner combos. My favorite roll is the volcano roll. Very tasty. The wait on a Friday night was also not bad. If you are within a 10mile radius, you can jump in the queue. Service is good, no complaints. The price is reasonable. We will be back soon! read more

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We ordered a huge spread, and every single dish was so yum! Their sukiyaki was loaded with protein, tofu, veggies, and perfectly chewy noodles. It was rich, flavorful, and comforting. The $30ish taiko set was so worth it! All the cuts were fresh, especially the amaebi! We also ordered the baked mussels, and it was creamy and savory. The hamachi kama was tender with crispy skin and the sauce it came with I think it was a miso sauce was amazing paired with it. And the furikake fries were addicting... and yes we finished it all. The service was warm and attentive, even with how busy the restaurant gets. Such a comforting environment :3 read more

Taiko - Furikake Fries, Baked Green Mussel, Hamachi Kama - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of my go to spots for sushi in Irvine that never misses! The nigiri pieces are pretty big and totally worth the price. Quality and taste are always great. The restaurant gives me 80s vibes which always feels weirdly warm and inviting :) read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

We ordered the Namba roll and Assorted sushi plate. The food was okay but I don't think it was anything amazing. The assorted plate had a variety of nigiri. The fish was okay but didn't taste fresh. The roll was decent. The restaurant is pretty spacious inside and lots of seats available. read more

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Have loved Taiko for years and years, truly an Irvine staple! Their sesame chicken is probably my favorite here- can't count the number of times I've gotten their sesame chicken bento combo and I love upgrading to the sashimi or sushi roll side. I also like their sushi and other dishes like tempura. But their sesame chicken is a must must order. read more

Taiko - sesame chicken combo - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I had been looking forward to trying Taiko because it was so popular. However, I was pretty disappointed by my visit. I ordered the shrimp and vegetable tempura lunch ($14.50). The shrimp tempura had a thick coating of batter and were not hot. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but tempura is pretty basic and should have been better. The restaurant was crowded so service was pretty non-existent. When it came time to pay the bill, we had to struggle to find someone to bring the check. I really wanted to like Taiko because I've been looking for an old school Japanese restaurant but unfortunately it was pretty underwhelming. read more

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The freshest ingredients, service is quick and easy, the staff is excellent. Ambiance is warm. It's our 20 years old favorite Japanese restaurant. read more

Taiko is a pretty solid spot for when you're craving some Japanese food. The interior has a decent amount of seating: we went around 1pm on a Thursday and while it wasn't as empty as we expected it to be, we were still able to be seated immediately. I really love the vibe of the inside too! If you're able to get a seat along the entrance of the restaurant, it has a more distinct Japan feel. Whereas the main seating area inside has a more modern feel to it. One thing that pleasantly surprised me eating here, was just how big the serving sizes were! We got the udon lunch combos, expecting they would just give us a little bit of the two items, but whereas the udon size was expected, the rice bowls were huge and hefty! My leftovers were a whole meal in of itself. The udon was delicious, pretty classic and hit the spot. I also got the sesame chicken. And while the chicken itself was juicy and flavorful, I didn't really get any sesame flavors. Maybe it was the sauce that was sesame, but then I would have wanted some more sauce. read more

Taiko - Udon and sesame chicken don - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here with family friends and was pleasantly surprised. Service was great and they checked in on us a few times to make sure we were happy. The restaurant itself is larger than it looks from the outside with plenty of tables though it does get busy. The food portions are larger than you think and well worth the price. I got the 3 item combo with the salmon, calamari steak and mixed tempura. Everything was good and it all came on a GIANT plate. You definitely won't leave hungry. Someone ordered the chicken as their part of the 3 item combo and honestly that portion of chicken was enough for a meal. Parking was busy but I was told it's easier in the back lot. read more

When I'm in an area that is further away from are area and we have time to get something to eat, I will always check my Collections if there is something bookmarked and close by. It turns out that I had Taiko Japanese restaurant bookmarked and it was fairly close. So we decided to give it a try, since we don't know how long it will be the text time we are back in Irvine. I researched their menu to get an idea of what to order and the average prices. When got there, I realized how pricey the sushi were. An average of $8-11 for two pieces of nigiri and basic rolls and a hand roll were about $9.00. We decided to go with the combination (bento) plates. It was still pricey but I ordered a three item plate and it was a lot of food for the price. This is checked off my collections and I can say that the food is ok and the service is very good. read more

Taiko has been part of my family's story since the 1980s, so writing this is honestly bittersweet. We've been coming here since I was a kid -- long before Irvine had the food scene it does now. One of the original sushi chefs even branched off and opened a spot in Anaheim Hills that my family went to religiously for decades until it closed. We eventually came back to Taiko and have been regulars again for the past 20-plus years. So this place isn't just a restaurant to us -- it's tied to memories, milestones, and generations of meals. That's why it's hard not to notice how much things have changed. Pre- and post-change of ownership, there is definitely a difference. The menu has shifted, prices have gone up (which is understandable), but unfortunately the food quality has also declined over the past couple of years. The new rewards system, rotating specials, and promos are honestly kind of distracting -- it feels less focused on the food and more on upselling. To be fair, the service is still very good. Food comes out quickly, the staff is always friendly, and the waitlist system is efficient. It still feels welcoming and well-run from a front-of-house perspective. Where it really falls short now is consistency and execution -- especially with anything that isn't fish. Any meat dish (chicken, beef, etc.) is almost always overcooked. They used to have a genuinely great beef teriyaki, but every time I've ordered it in recent years it's been so dry I've had to send it back -- I've just stopped ordering it altogether. The sashimi that comes with the combo plates is also clearly frozen, which wasn't always the case, and I don't bother with it anymore. Even the calamari, which used to be one of my favorite items here, has gone downhill. Just a year ago it was flavorful and satisfying; the last few times it's been bland and forgettable, which is honestly disappointing because it used to be such a solid menu item. I still come here -- but mostly for nostalgia. Taiko is a fixture in Orange County and will always have a place in my heart. I just wish the food quality and care had kept up with its legacy. It's sad to watch a place with so much history slowly drift away from what once made it special. read more

Food was yummy. I love the big print receipt. Senior friendly. The food that comes on the tray had a generous amount. You might want to share with someone else. I had lots of left overs. The matcha cheesecake ice cream with dessert was delicious. read more

Taiko is definitely not what it used to be. It used to be a gem in Irvine with high quality seafood and fresh ingredients, but with the change in ownership, the food tastes somewhat old and stale. The spider handroll had cold soft-shelled crab rather than hot and the tempura was mostly batter. Service was not that friendly. Overall it's a miss for me unfortunately read more

Taiko - Handroll spider - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Good food. The service here is always very prompt and friendly. The lunch specials are always a good call.

This was my first time having lunch here. My wife has raved about this place for years and I was excited to finally try it. When you first walk in, you smell immediately fish and good food. The place has ample seating with booths, tables, and a bar area. The servers were all nice and helped answered questions. The build your lunch with 2 or 3 items is a great deal. I got the 3 item lunch bento ($24) that included chicken teriyaki, shrimp and assorted vegetable tempura, and California roll. There was so much food so I was really excited about the portion size. The lunch came with miso soup, rice, and dips too. I liked the cooled green beans with the mayo sauce and the side salad. The chicken teriyaki was tender and flavored well. I really liked the fried tempura, it was crispy and tasted good with the sauce. There was a good size bowl of rice. It definitely exceeded all my expectations and I walked out feeling satisfied with lunch. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was one of my favorite Japanese places since college and it's still the best. It's been years since I've been able to come back and it brought back a lot of yummy memories. We arrived around 11:45am and were seated right away. The menu has been updated and it was pretty easy to follow. There's plenty of seating at the sushi bar and tables inside the dining area. We got the bento lunch specials, which has a lot of variety. The sesame chicken is still delicious as ever and the crispiness of the tempura was wonderful. I love that the portions are huge and really filling. The miso soup was tasty and went well with the meal. The salad and veggies with the sauce was a great pairing. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. We didn't even need to go boxes because we finished our delicious meal. Highly recommend this gem of a place! read more

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Great food and service..............................................mmm....................................

Growing up, my family would always come to Taiko for Japanese food, specifically their teishoku. Over the years, I've noticed small changes here and there, but this is still a restaurant that my family frequents because of its location and quality of food. Service can be hit or miss, sometimes we are attended to really well, and other times they'll get our orders mixed up or wrong. The staff are always friendly, smiling, and doing their best to help which I appreciate. For their teishoku, I will usually get sesame chicken and chicken teriyaki, but have also had every other option on their menu. Taiko gives a large quantity of food, especially with the sesame chicken and chicken teriyaki. It can easily last another meal. The chicken teriyaki is grilled and topped with a nice teriyaki sauce that isn't too sweet, while the sesame chicken is lightly fried, juicy, and flavorful. I love the dressing they use for the salad and the rice and miso soup are pretty standard. Sushi-wise, Taiko isn't necessarily the highest quality, but if that's what you're craving, it is a suitable option to select. Both the seafood and sukiyaki nabe udon are shareable options that are hearty, with clean broth, a variety of vegetables, and hit that noodle craving if you want that. I have to say that part of coming to Taiko is the nostalgia, the big plates of food topped with whatever combination of items you selected, and knowing that you'll have leftovers the next day for lunch or dinner. Even with the changes over the years, Taiko is still a solid Japanese option in Irvine that may not excel at one area very well, but does a decent job across the board. read more

Taiko - 2 Item Teishoku - Sesame Chicken and Chicken Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I have been going to Taiko since I was a kid in the 1980s. I no longer live in Orange County, but when I am back in town, I inevitably always go to Taiko, and it never disappoints. The fish is very fresh-- I particularly like the Yellowtail sushi/sashimi. I also really enjoy the #4 Special, a unique dish-- I think Taiko is the only restaurant that serves this particular recipe. Recently they have added some excellent items on the menu, including a wonderful Wagyu beef topped roll. The restaurant itself is humbly decorated, and really hasn't changed much since the 1980s. A true gem of a place, hidden in an Irvine strip mall. A few days ago, they were able to accommodate a last minute reservation change from 10 people to 17. My family and I really appreciate their fantastic service and willingness to accommodate our large group! read more

Tried taiko for the first time on a weeknight. The good: quick seating/lots of seating, relatively quick services and serving of food, would be good for families or bigger groups. The not as good: food prices were pretty high for the corresponding quality of the fish. We set our expectations for sushi and don't expect top notch for quick family/neighborhood sit down spots, but this just didn't match up with the price. The sushi kind of fell apart as there wasn't a bottom sealed by rice. The combo plate was lack luster. Overall, if you gotta get in somewhere quick or with a group or maybe want to take advantage of some happy hour deals this could be appropriate, but the price just didn't match the quality here for us. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Taiko used to be our go-to Japanese food spot. When we moved to Irvine during the pandemic, we'd come often to get chirashi and sushi takeouts. The fish was always fresh, and the food was solid. When things started opening up in the last few years, we saw that folks would actually line up before the lunch hour so to get a spot. We continued to do take-outs for awhile though the food became more of a hit or miss -- sometimes the sashimi pieces were tiny, and other times it didn't taste the best. To be honest, we eventually shifted to another spot in town as our favorite given the price and lack of quality stability at taiko. But I remained on their mailing list for the occasional promotions should we wanted to give them another chance, and I've noticed a change in their menus and even the way they market. A few months ago we saw this promotion that coincided with my birthday, so we decided to go in person to check it out one more time. Let's just say... the food was ok, nothing too spectacular. I got the sashimi which met "minimum expectation" but did not wow me in quality or quantity, particularly given the price. Maybe the management had other things in mind? But really, quality sushi at a reasonable price point is what sushi restaurants should strive for... read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Fabulous food! We had a huge portion of food for the price! My sangria was delicious..filled with fresh fruit! I had sesame chicken, it came with salad, green beans, miso soup, rice, shrimp tempura and vegetable tempura! We also tried a couple of their sushi rolls made fresh to order..at the sushi bar..We all had the same thing...We had a Matcha dessert at the end that was heaven! Service was excellent. Loved the vibe...I will be back! read more

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Great assorted Japanese dishes. Decent sushi, great curry, noodle dishes, cooked fish, appetizers, beer/ sake. Servers were quick, friendly and attentive. I have gone back multiple times to try different dishes. I recommend giving Taiko a go. read more