We have been going to this restaurant for many years. It is a place where we take family when they're in town. We meet my brother and his wife here frequently. It is so good and authentic and fresh. The staff are very helpful. We were just talking today about our next trip to Taiko which should be next week. read more

Cute place! Really good food. I'm just sad that my favorite roll of spicy tuna tasted a little strange, not like the normal ones at other places. I couldn't really pin point what was weird about it though. But everything else was amazing and the food came out fast. read more

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My son and I went to Taiko around 1pm to eat lunch there. It took us 10 min to see the host to came out and lead us to the table. The restaurant was pretty empty. We waited long time to order because no one was helping us to take orders. When they finally brought us the dish, It was wrong dish and we had to wait more . When we finished our meal, There were no employees to bring the bill. Where all the employees went? I was really annoyed their service. I have been to Taiko more than 25 years. It was first time very frustrated. I had to put low tips. Il read more

Oh my gosh, we ate here today and we absolutely love their food! Large portions great prices! Some of the best teriyaki I've ever tasted! The spicy tuna was great! Their teriyaki chicken appetizer is huge! We ended up taking two to-go boxes home, they served us so much food! Wonderful ambience. We sat by the window in the back and it was just so cute! The Server and hostess were wonderful! We are planning on going here again and again and telling all our friends to eat here! 5 stars! DH read more

Fantastic food and service! One of the best sushi restaurants I have ever been too! Superb!

this place used to be good and families and friends have been coming here for decades. It's under a new ownership and management now and all the experienced sushi chefs have retired. the sashimi is the overpriced and not fresh at all. Very disappointed with how the quality of the food plummeted over the last 3 years. Friendly staff that's about it. Will not return read more

If you are looking for exceptional sushi Taiko is the place you want to try. It's located in this little Asian section of Irvine. It is in a strip mall... but, it delivers big flavors and super fresh fish. We didn't waste our time we went straight for the fresh yellowtail, The fresh Blue fin tuna, A regular tuna, ( which could not compare to the blue fin tuna) and my favorite the barbecue Eel. The cold sake we had was recommended by our server. Otokoyama Sake. Which translates to: "Man of the mountain." And dates back to when the samurais would drink this and party before going to war... " if you can imagine this" it is a sweet delicious sake with dark plum and black cherry flavors... perfect for sushi, or actually any light meal... read more

Taiko - Regular tuna bluefin tuna yellowtail and BBQ Eel... - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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If you get anything, make sure to get the beef Ramen. The broth is so flavorful. The noodles are the perfect texture too. The sushi had asparagus in it, which was interesting but not my favorite read more

Taiko - Salmon aburi yuza sushi roll and namba sushi roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Been coming here for over 30 years. Best japanese food I've ever had outside of Little Tokyo! Still excellent!! Great server; great food!

Massive portions. Great service, and a variety of combinations to choose from! My friend recommended this restaurant and Taiko sushi did not disappoint. I had the combination one that came with sesame chicken-very crisp, big chunks of chicken, beef teriyaki, and tempura. The tempura had a nice crunch factor, and two shrimp and several vegetables. Additionally the combo came with miso soup and salad, which rounded out the meal nicely. The one complaint I'd have was the beef teriyaki didn't actually come with any sauce, not sure if it was accidentally overlooked, so I ended up dipping it into the tempura sauce for flavor. All in all, had a great time and would come back to try other items! read more

Taiko - Dinner combination No.1 Beef Teriyaki, Tempura, Sesame Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Taiko is fine. It is not spectacular nor is it bad. I don't know what the lines out the door are all about. With the plethora of sushi options available in Orange County, people should venture out more. read more

One of the employees saw the spoon was dirty so the employee used her hand without gloves to wipe it of

We've been going to this restaurant for over 3 decades! Despite change of management, food still taste great!

Food was yummy!!! Especially loved the mixed tempura. Cool and varied sushi menu. Barely received any service, but it was a busy night. A little pricey. read more

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Food was good, service was also very good. Definitely recommend the shrimp tempura: very fresh and deliciously light! Also, I don't think there is a better late night happy hour with $2 beers from 8- close! read more

Taiko - (D) Sushi & Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My family's favorite Japanese restaurant! We always order the Combi dishes (combination plates) with my favorite being the Salmon, Karaage, Tempura Combi plate. Their tempura always comes out hot and crispy. You get so much food in any dish that you order from Taiko. Ingredients, esp the fish, are great quality so you know that they're only serving you the best. Staff here are really wonderful. There was one older waitress that we used to see all the time, and she always remember those who visit making each visit here so sweet. It's been a while since my family has dined in since we've started ordering take-out here since the pandemic. The restaurant is located in a plaza with other businesses. The parking situation can be tough only if you come during peak dinner time, but you'll always be able to find a spot. read more

We are a party of 7( one child). Only review selected dishes. Service: good and well mannered front desk and servers. Salmon Kama: fresh and soft. Great dish. Soft shell crab: ok dish. Wish it's a bit more crunchy. Calamari: ok dish. A bit small but taste ok. Tofu: good dish. Good aroma. Crunch roll: the rice is overcooked. Taste ok. Chirashia bowl: rice is good. Fish are fresh as we can expect it from them as usual. Ambiance: family gatherings ok. A bit noisy and casual but friendly. read more

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I just wanted a normal, old school bento box and I got just that, which was great. The food was good and served in large portions, which we took home for another whole meal the following night. The food was reasonably priced. The kids enjoyed the dining experience because there was something for everyone. There was no line Friday evening, but then again, we got there at 5:30 p.m. Overall, we'd come here again. read more

I've lived in Irvine for 5 years and normally frequent this plaza for A&J and 7Leaves, but it's only recently did I discover Taiko. I've heard so many things from friends/coworkers, so boyfriend and I finally decided to try it out. We read the reviews on Yelp and it's highly recommended to get their early. We arrived about 10 minutes before opening on a Saturday and there was already a line. The front entrance is reserved for takeout only, so the line for dine in begins at the back of the restaurant where the doors lead to the dining room. The dining room is quite spacious and has way more seating than I thought. Menus are provided and they also have picture menus along the walls as well. We ended up trying their combination entrees since it was such a good deal + Eel California Special Roll ($17.00). We got the No.1 Beef Teriyaki & Tempura ($12.00) and No.5 Sashimi & Tempura ($12.50). The sashimi was tuna and I think a halibut or yellowtail. Portions for the combination meals were pretty filling that we packed leftovers and added a to-go order for the chicken teriyaki & tempura meal to complete our meal for dinner. The cut roll ended up being too much food! We basically ate Taiko for lunch & dinner. And now every weekend, my boyfriend suggests going to Taiko if we wake up early to wait in line. read more

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First time back in a long time for a casual dinner. We had rainbow roll, salmon boat, triple hand rolls and toro sashimi and our experience here is always supreme. The owner and the staff are so welcoming and service is always great. I enjoy the atmosphere every time i go there. read more

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Sesame chicken lunch is pretty worth it. The amount of chicken is very generous, and the meat is tender. Some pieces were a bit over-fried, depending on how crunchy you like your fried chicken. The rolls were decent, but the imitation crab mix was a bit too sweet. The aloha roll was just average considering it was $18.50, which is pretty pricey. The crab asparagus roll was very similar to a California roll, but with asparagus subbed in for the avocado and cucumber. The rainbow roll was pretty standard, but the fish portions were pretty small. Just FYI: pickled ginger didn't seem like it was made with young ginger root but rather older ginger. read more

Taiko - Top left: Rainbow Cut Roll, top right Crab Asparagus Cut Roll, bottom: Aloha Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My family and I have been coming here for over 10 years for celebrations and it has always been amazing. We always order the combination plates and they are always top tier. Came today to celebrate my grandpa's birthday and it was his first time and he loved it. Love coming here! Our waitress was also very friendly and attentive. read more

Taiko used to be the spot! (Heavy emphasis on USED to be.) Packed every night with food that actually made you feel something and an atmosphere that just wrapped you up. It had that spark, that something that made you want to come back again and again. But now? Walking in feels like you're stepping into some weird time capsule--and not the cool kind. The service? What service? QR codes are everywhere, but no one is around when you actually need something. And the food? That was the whole reason to go! But now, it's barely edible. Last week, I ordered the Tuna Carpaccio. After one bite, I had to send it back. The overwhelmingly pungent fishiness was unbearable. Not fresh at all. It's a heartbreaker because Taiko was special. These days, it's just... there. It's existing, sure, but not really living. And unless they can pull off some miracle, the crowd's only going to get thinner. People are already talking about new spots that remind them of what Taiko used to be. What a shame, really. It's tough to watch. read more

Food is still good as I remember. Service is quick...... Great value & they have double points on Monday/Tuesday, happy hour appetizers & drinks. read more

Great service and affordable good quality Japanese food. This establishment has been here for decades. Looking forward to going again! read more

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Put myself in Yelp waitlist before going to the restaurant on Sat. Service was good. I ordered the two items dinner bento with teriyaki beef and sesame chicken. I asked to cook the beef medium but it came out well done. The beef was tough and chewy. The sashimi was ok. My son likes their udon. read more

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人生如夢，歲月無情，生命的意義是在於過得多充實，而不是在於活得有多久，就像我的小孩常跟我說的～ we're here for a good time , not for a long time, 今天來落兩句英文， 證明偶也是有在美國唸書，有唸大學的歐～ Taiko, 這家從我在 UCI 唸書時，就有的日本料理，30年的老店了，相信也是很多讀UCI學長學妹們的回憶，以前同學聚餐，一天到晚選這家，那時候我還不敢吃生魚片但一天到晚會跟去吃，大家都愛，當窮學生時，價格差個一兩塊，都差很大，現在常常外食，再看看他們的價格，真的只能說～阿娘喂呀，這種時代居然還有這麼佛心的老闆，有很多套餐低於十元， 這種deal 去哪找呀，生魚片也新鮮， 每道菜份量也很大， 講這麼多，其實就四個字～ 俗又大碗～還好吃呢， 難怪能開30年屹立不搖，各位勤儉持家，一塊錢打12個結的朋友們，可以來吃這一家， 是物超所值的. read more

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This is difficult for me because an end to an Icon has arrived, we have been going here for over 30 Years and unfortunately, things have drastically changed. This used to be the Hole-in-the-Wall that we loved coming to weekly because the food was just so good, the portions were amazing, the quality of fish was excellent, and the staff was like coming home. It didn't matter what day of the week it was, there was a 30 minute to 1 hour wait it get into the sushi bar. The funny thing though is there is not longer an operational sushi bar, they are still holding on to covid! The world has put covid behind them but not these guys, get with the times already and reopen the sushi bar. I cannot remember how many great times we have had a Taiko over the years, the relationships that sprouted and grew. The families we would see weekly, the excitement we all had having another amazing meal here together. We saw family, friends, neighbors, people would move and still come back, children would grow up and start bringing their families, occasionally we would even have celebrities drop by. When you had a bad day, Taiko could always raise your spirits, it had such a great energy with all the amazing people coming and going. The fish portions were always huge, the rea; crab meat for the rolls was always fresh, and the prices were great. Now, what can I say, you come to the entrance, and it is a mess outside, there is crap all over the floors, cheap signage all over the front entrance, and you follow the signs to the back door. Go to the back of the house because you are not welcome at our front door, it is now dedicated to the to-go orders. They have completely changed the menu, it is no longer Taiko, it is a Hole-in-the-Wall with highly overpriced smaller portioned food. Granted the sushi is decent / pretty ok but it is nothing like what Taiko use to be, the Taiko sushi dishes are now gone, the rolls and sashimi are under half the size, it is fake crab meat now, and they do not even serve exactly what is pictured on the menus. Why would anybody in their right mind take a place that was so successful and had such a huge client following change everything? I can understand raising prices a bit to offset the increased purchasing prices but to double the prices or more is not right. They increased the prices, and cut back the portions of everything by half, at least on the fresh fish size and that is what matters. I am also sad to say after coming in near opening and guess what there are no longer lines, and I am sure they wonder why? Well, I can tell you, what something isn't broken don't fix it, unfortunately you have changed it and people are no longer coming. For a first timers it will be ok, maybe ever good because they have nothing to compare it to, but the bread and butter of the restaurant are leaving or have gone. There are many higher-end beautiful sushi places in Irvine so what go it a Hole-in-the-Wall that charges so much for nothing special. I hope you can bring back the old Taiko food, quality, and portions and you can be a success again. read more

Really good sushi place. Traditional Japanese food. Good quality, fresh and delicious.

If you are looking for Japanese spot that gives huge portions then this is it. The price is really good for the size of the tempura and karaage set. Everyone was really nice and Taiko is a good spot to practice your Japanese! I'll be back for more real soon! read more

Taiko - Tempura and karaage set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

ever since my dad and i found this place, we've been eating here occasionally! the grilled mackerel was tasty and came with soft bean sprouts. (i usually hate bean sprouts but these ones were that good) the teishoku was very delicious, my favorite from it being the sashimi. it made a nice, refreshing contrast from the warm, savory chicken. although, i would not get the beef teriyaki medium rare again since it was really chewy. staff were very kind and i can tell they prioritize customer service here! read more

Taiko - grilled mackerel - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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First, we were greeted in Japanese and seated immediately (Tuesday night ~7:30 pm)! My friend had the tempura udon. (tempura on the side), and I had the Jumbo Yakitori 4 skewers for $16 and a small beer. The Yakitori was okay; it was nothing too special, and it was not really jumbo either. The udon was interesting. I had a few bites of my friends, and the broth tasted sour. It was an odd sensation. I probably would not order it again. Also, we asked our waitress what a mango sunrise included/was made of, and she asked if we wanted to see a picture. If only we could tell the base alcohol from the picture... We asked what was in it, and she told us, "Little mango, soda, and alcohol." we thought it was funny. We didn't end up ordering it since we only knew there were mangos, soda, and mystery alcohol in it. Otherwise, it's friendly and clean, and I might try again to come to see if they have more info on their mango sunrise--the mystery drink. lol read more

My first time here. Never visited prior to the pandemic. So my first experience was takeout. I got the Crunchyroll + edamame. The food was delicious and fresh, prepared in time, well-packaged. No complaints. When you walk in, you are greeted by a friendly host/cashier. Behind him, there is a bustling operation of a team of people preparing the yummy food. They seem to be doing well. Lots of to-go bags waiting to be picked up. Come check them out. Glad I did. The one tough point is the parking, but hey, just park far and walk to get some extra steps in so you can eat extra! Hehehe. read more

Taiko - Welcome! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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The wait was only about 10ish minutes on a Sunday evening. Parking is usually horrible in this plaza, but we got lucky today. My boyfriend and I split the 10 piece assorted sushi (Take), the Salmon Aburi Yuzu Cut Roll, the eel cut roll, and the fried mackerel. I was pretty impressed with the size of the fish for the sushi, and for the most part it tasted fresh. I enjoyed the salmon and albacore sushi the most. The salmon aburi yuzu was also unique and delicious. The sauce was a little spicy. The eel cut roll was disappointing. Barely any eel, and it wasn't warm. The fried mackerel was super tasty. This place is definitely on the pricy side making me question if AYCE sushi would have been a better option. Quality was a step up from most AYCE sushi spots. The food amount we got this time was enough to not be hungry anymore. read more

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Dinner Combination 1 (Beef Teriyaki, Shrimp Tempura, Sesame Chicken) Crunchy Cut Roll Sushi (Shrimp Tempura, Asparagus, Avocado, Cucumber, Masago) Overall rating: 8.5/10 Taiko is always a solid go-to place for Japanese food in Irvine, especially with their large portions for their lunch and dinner combinations. My boyfriend and I always default to dinner combination 1 during dinnertime, with beef teriyaki, sesame chicken, and shrimp tempura. It also comes with rice and salad, and miso soup when dining in. The sauce on the salad is a great balance between creaminess and nuttiness and pairs perfectly with the salad. I typically order the crunchy roll for a great combination of a cut roll and crunchiness from the shrimp tempura. I would recommend coming in early, or joining the Yelp waitlist because the line can get long at times. They also have a Toasttab for pickup and delivery if you want it to-go! Follow me @hippo.eats on IG for more food reviews and pics! read more

Taiko - No.1 Beef Teriyaki, Tempura, Sesame Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Time & Date: Saturday, Sep 18th @ 8pm Waitlist: joined at 5:30pm, got seated at 7:45pm Crowd: busy, all tables were taken + a long wait Note: combo dishes are absolutely massive Based on my Yelp searches, it seems like Taiko is one of the few popular authentic Japanese restaurants in Irvine (at a decently affordable price with a casual ambience at least). The wait time was LONG like 2+ hours long, so make sure you join the waitlist early & plan accordingly! I ordered combos from their dinner menu and was not expecting it to be so massively big. For reference, I ordered the sushi, sashimi, sesame chicken combo ($22) & it consists of 2 whole plates. There actually wasn't enough space on the table because the plates were so big LOL. Of all the pieces of sushi & sashimi, I found that the salmon was the most fresh. I couldn't finish my food, honestly 2 people can share one combo if you're not that hungry! Fun side note: the miso soup & rice is unlimited! read more

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One of our favorite spots in Irvine. My favorite thing to get here is a combination meal, usually with tempura and sushi. The combination meals are a bit pricey ranging from $20-35 give or take, but the meal can be enough to make two meals. read more

Greta spot for sushi! Some of our first roles were a little bit too fishy for our taste but still ate everything! You do need to walk around the back of where the restaurants name is. That is for pickup only, dine-in is in the back. You get a starter of miso soup which was so warm and tasty. Highly recommend the eel California role and crunchy shrimp role. Tip: join the Yelp waitlist prior to showing up!! This will spread up the wait. read more

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I've always saw long lines for this place and finally got to try it out. We were thoroughly impressed! Portion sizes were huge so great value for the price especially with the cost of food nowadays. The restaurant was packed and lively and looked so much bigger on the inside. Our waitress was lovely and invited us to join their rewards program. We can't wait to come back again. Yelp waitlist also for the win! read more

What the heck happened to this place? We've been coming here for over 10 years and used to be the best Japanese sushi restaurant around. Friendly services and overall great food. Recently came back here with our kids to celebrate one of the children's birthday because they all love sushi. What a mistake that was. The staff made us feel as though it was a burden on them for us to dine there. No smiles, no friendly greetings, no water, nothing. I guess they changed the way they service orders, you order through a QR code and you pay online as well. When we asked for little things like napkins and utensils, staff seemed annoyed at us. How dare us ask for such requests! Service with an attitude is their slogan I guess. Food was mediocre at best, total waste of money. The vegan rolls were horrible, terrible, don't bother. The rest were nothing to rave about. I regretted coming here after 5 mins of seating. Husband said he felt nauseous after eating here, luckily for me I didn't eat much. A bag of ramen from home was a better meal. The only thing I enjoyed was the agedashi tofu, pretty hard to F that one up right? Never coming back. Pretty sad how this beloved place has gone downhill. Pretty evident maybe the staff hates working here that's why they are no longer friendly like they used to be. I think Covid times messed them up, I saw they have new management and the menu is completely different from what we are used to. I hate writing negative reviews but maybe if enough people are saying the same thing, they will make a change. read more