After an exhausting night at work past 9, I came home to a delicious meal my boyfriend ordered from Taiko. It was a life line haha. We had a variety of rolls with miso soup (caterpillar, rainbow, spicy sushi, and tempura shrimp). We've eaten here in the past and have had nothing but exemplary service. Also, they're pretty quick about bringing out the meals. I recommend accompanying your meal with their hot tea. It hits the spot. We're always on the lookout to support local businesses, so I recommend you give this place a try! read more

Having lived and traveled extensively in Asia, including Japan, I found Taiko to be authentic, with an excellent sushi selection. The only downside is the long wait to get seated, but definitely worth the wait. read more

I order lunch here every week through the online order, and they are always consistent and timely. Their spicy tuna roll is my favorite - tastes so unique compared to other sushi restaurants! The people working in the front are always welcoming and provide fast service as well. read more

Taiko - Spicy Tuna Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

You don't come to Taiko for the bougie atmosphere. You come to Taiko for the QUANTITY and the QUALITY! The best of both worlds, really. I've ordered something new each time I have come here and everything has been really solid! I've come here 3 times now and the wait varied. Just make sure you check in via Yelp before you come! Lunch time is crazy so I would avoid coming here during that time if you're in a crunch. Weekday dinners are not bad at all, wait-wise. Their combis are where you can find the quantity. My friend ordered the sushi combi and you get an insane amount of food. Not to mention, there's unlimited miso soup and rice! The sushi is where you'll find the quality AND quantity. Their cut rolls are stuffed to the brim with fish. It is spilling out of the rolls sometimes and that's perfectly okay. For two people, you can definitely share a combi and 2 cut rolls. You will be set! Don't skip out on the spicy tuna cut roll or the dynamite cut roll (spicy yellowtail). Just a note about the sushi bar vs dining area: You can't order the hot foods at the sushi bar other than apps! So no combis or udon. I've heard that the sushi at the bar is better, but it's pretty solid in the dining area so no complaints there! I know a lot of people have mentioned that their experiences were just okay, but I think it's worth a shot for how much food you get and how good the sushi is. read more

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Irvine, Ca. We arrived here at 1:00 for lunch and the place was packed, and this is for inside dining. Not sure if the distancing requirements are truly adhered to, it seemed a bit close. They do take temperatures however, and we've both had our shots. The menu posted up on the window was impossible for me to read without reading glasses, which I left in the car. There was a bar code to scan however to get a menu on the phone. The phone menu was not that easy for me to view all the choices, especially since I didn't know what half of them were. It was ok though, I managed. The Miso was great, some of the best I've had taste wise. I ordered salmon teriyaki which arrived as a nicely sized portion of a filet perfectly cooked, along with some fresh greens with a tasty dressing. There were a few blanched green beans too which were just the way I like them, a bit of snap, but not completely raw. I found the small dollop of sauce on the side went well with the fish. The tempura shrimp was another generous portion that included sweet potato's and onion rings with the larger sized shrimp. Light and crispy, but filling, took most of it home. The spicy tuna roll was a bit disappointing. Although it had great taste and was apparently fresh I could not get past the texture of the fish being ground up instead of sliced. The ground up fish just provoked an image in my mind of remnants and other less savory parts of the tuna being used instead of being thrown out. Perhaps I'm overreacting here? Don't know. read more

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I have been going to Taiko for over 30 years multiple times a week and sometimes lunch and dinner on the same day. Standing in long lines was part of the experience. Anytime I had a bad day, I would go to Taiko. During these 30+ years the food was exceptional, portions were large and price was great. in the past few months I have gone to Taiko 3 times and every time sushi bar was empty, even at half the size of the old bar, no lines and food was terrible. Marketing boos should use Taiko in their text on either what not to do when you buy a thriving business or How to run a thriving business to ground. It is a sad day but I will not go back to Taiko again under this management! read more

I'm a bit of a sushi noob and used to AYCE. So the packages they had seemed a little overpriced in my opinion. Sushi was good though. Ambience is also decent and in a nice area. Not bad at all. read more

I've been coming to Taiko for 24 years. The ownership has been changed so I didn't go back until today day and the food was okay. But after my husband and I were done eating our dinner I felt very nauseous. I was trying so hard not to throw up in the restaurant. Once we got to our car I threw up. I'm not sure what didn't settle with me but I won't be coming back! read more

This place is back on track. The food is super good and service is really nice. I am so glad the quality is back up.

Great food, causal atmosphere, and incredible service. It's rare to experience such a comfortable restaurant with upscale treatment. The level of hospitality exhibited by the server was tangible from the moment of arrival to when the bill was delivered. The freshness and flavors were sensational, and the value is tremendous. The only critique I'd give, is to make the vegetable roll a bit smaller. It was more like a burrito, just look at the size comparison in the photo next to a traditional sized roll. Aside from that, it was a top notch experience. It's easy to see what this place has been here for decade after decade. read more

Taiko - Vegetable Cut and Cucumber Roll (kappa) - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Taiko is my go-to spot when I'm in the mood for some high quality sushi/Japanese food. There's always a long line, which speaks for itself. Be sure to put yourself on their live waitlist in advance - sometimes the wait is around 2+ hours. I usually order a combination dinner (they are HUGE) and my favorite is Combo 6, which includes chicken teriyaki, sashimi, and sesame chicken. Their sesame chicken is literally soooo good and their portions are very big. Typically at other spots, I order a bento/combo and a couple of rolls on side, but one combination plate at Taiko is enough to fill me up. Their service is always quick, friendly, and honest. I say honest, because a couple of weeks ago, my husband accidentally wrote $200 on the receipt for tip (he meant to put $20). The waiter could have easily charged us $200 for the tip since that is what was written...but he came up to us and informed us that we must have written the wrong amount and wanted to confirm. Now, that is an honest business. I haven't ordered takeout yet, but they have an organized line at the front entrance for takeout orders. As of now, their dine-in seating is through their back door entrance. read more

I love taiko. There used to be a lady at the entrance was a cold welcome, but I haven't seen her in a while. I go there often and the food is consistent. Favorites include the sesame chicken, calamari, tempura, crab asparagus hand roll and of course the miso soup!!!! The seating area is large and it definitely gives an authentic feeling. Highly recommended. read more

Food is so great!! Server are friendly and restaurant is clean. They serve fast too. Love the good do much. We go this restaurant at least 2/ month. read more

Japanese food at its best, by Japanese Owner!!! Enjoy their multiple item combos with Fast friendly service. read more

Taiko - Teri-Beef and Sesame Chicken COMBO - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for dinner tonight... the food overall were still pretty good but the quality of the sashimi have definitely gone down! I ordered the combo #5- sesame chicken, shrimp tempura and sashimi. Good portions of food, the chicken and tempura are all very good but they definitely need to work on the quality of the fish being a reputable Japanese restaurant. Restaurant opens at 4:30. We came at 4:10 and was seated right away when they opened... so definitely come early if you can... read more

Taiko - Sesame chicken and shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped by this place for a quick bit during lunch time. Everything tasted fresh. Not a fan of the scallop hand roll because too much Mayo masking the scallops IMO. Great service. Nice atmosphere. read more

Taiko - Bluefin - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was the first time trying out a Japanese restaurant since moving back to Irvine. My wife wanted rolls and I wanted a bento. There were several options but decided to try Taiko since I had been there once long time ago. The interior wasn't too impressive -- a bit of a mess and tight. We were seated right away but had to wait a while to place our order. We ordered two rolls and a combination plate. We loved the portions but the taste was just OK. The rice was a bit too hard and the sauce in the rolls didn't have the right flavor. My "bento" came with the salad, salad dressing, teriyaki chicken and teriyaki sauce all on one single plate. I wish they would serve it in a normal bento box because everything eventually mixed together and got soggy and a bit nasty. Overall, it wasn't bad but we probably won't be coming back -- at least not until we've tried all the other options in Irvine. read more

Food is great. Very good dining experience. Service is excellent. I highly recommend the restaurant read more

We had a lovely meal. Salmon and tako belly was very good. They did something unusual they gave us an order and a half. Perfect for 3. The miso was good. The garlic edamami was so good we ordered it again. The papaya roll was delicious. We also had the fried calamari. Everything was good. The service was good but a little choppy. This is an old haunt. Glad to be back. read more

Amazing food with reasonable pricing and friendly service. This place is my go to but I go early to avoid long waiting line. But you can also add your name to wait list and get text back. read more

Best sushi in Irvine!!! Just wish it was open longer, Definitely recommend the spicy tuna roll and the miso soup :) read more

I have been this place many times. I loved their sushi as always. My friend said their rice taste much than before As Asian myself, I care the quality of rice for my meal. And they deserved my review. Their service was great too. Friendly and prompt. I recommend this place. read more

As an Irvine native, this is one of the best sushi spots in Irvine! They quality of their sashimi, chicken, and rolls are great. If you dine in, the portions are larger than to-go. Before COVID, it was difficult to find parking in the small lot (but theres usually more spots in the back, closer to the residential area behind Taiko). Now, it's not difficult to find parking though. Highly recommend the sashimi combo, sushi plates, or sashimi plates! read more

Taiko - Tuna Sashimi, California Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Taiko food is great- one of the highest quality Japanese bentos around, love getting takeout here. Menu is big as well, not like the nu hip places with tiny amount of options. The only thing is- take out seems to take a while! Sometimes I go and have to wait another 15 at least to get my food. So maybe budget that into your take out timeline. read more

I do remember writing a review for Taiko before but pretty sure that was under the former management... still a great place and our friends who moved earlier from Texas were impressed with food, food quantities and service. Thankfully our old favorites, sea food salad, #4 special, California roll and spicy roll are still on the menu. Stiff competition from Minato in Lake Forest but that's quite a different restaurant altogether. Still, highly recommended. read more

I was craving sushi. I can't believe I've never been to Taiko. I heard about this place from a friend and decided to give it a try during this COVID-pandemic era. Masks are required to enter, but not at the table. They are accepting reservations via the Yelp Waitlist. If you go for dinner, I highly recommend making reservations in advance as there was a line already formed outside. First of all, I love sushi and I consider myself a sushi connoisseur :) The sushi here is fresh. I highly recommend the toro. Yes, it's Market Price, but it's so worth it. The salmon, albacore, and tuna are also really good. What I like about Taiko is that it has a very traditional Japanese sushi ambiance. The sushi is fresh and the service is on point. I'm looking forward to coming back for more sushi and trying their highly touted sesame chicken. read more

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Delicious and great service! They also have great to-go options for 4+ people. Definitely recommended!

What can I say about a place with 1560 reviews that hasn't been said? Well I don't really know but I will tell you this, Taiko is one of the best sushi bars I've ever been to. Between the quality of the fish and the masterful preparation you are in for a delight. Oh and the size of the portions is unbelievable, the rolls are too big to fit in your mouth and the sushi cuts need to be taken in two big bites. Here's what we had: Rainbow Roll - The biggest most flavorful rainbow roll I've ever had! My friend ordered and customized it, a lot. But the point is you can ask for anything you want on & in it so go crazy. Albacore - Huge cuts with ponzu, onion & bonito. This is my favorite sushi and the one I judge sushi bars by. Taiko = 10/10! Toro - The thickest, most tender pieces I have ever had. Any place else would have made six pieces out of two I had. The texture was buttery and the taste I can't even describe. If you've had good toro you know, if not you must try it! Crunchy Roll - If you think you've had a crunchy roll you haven't, not until you've tried this one. My only crazy complaint is the pieces are so big you can't fit them in your mouth. They open at 11:30 am but the line is forming by 10:15, and this was on an average Thursday. So be warned! Nice and clean - Check! Friendly attentive staff - Check! The parking lot gets full and is very congested so come early and drive carefully. Why are all the best sushi bars in South Orange County??? read more

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If you're in OC and you're craving sushi, Taiko is the only place you need to go. Sure, it's not fancy schmancy like sugar fish or a niche restaurant like kazunori but it has the same quality sushi and that is what matters in the end. Their nigri is superb, especially the toro and sweet shrimp. Their baked hamachi and karage chicken are also great sides to get. I would describe the ambience as family-friendly rather than a spot to go on your first date. This plaza is usually hectic with parking so go early and line up as early as you can. I believe they only take reservations now judging by other recent reviews which makes sense during covid. I used to have to line up way before their doors open to get in. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Best Sushi in Irvine. Hands down! There is always a wait here and it's definitely worth the wait! Super delicious and fresh seafood and the service is great! My husband and I had a fantastic meal and we definitely will be back! Parking in this plaza can be hard due to how busy it is. read more

This place is quite a disappointment. We waited 10-15 minutes to get seated.. It was busy.. Took me a while to figure out what to order because of the 20 combo options they have on their menu... They can really simplify the combo sections.. So after 10 minutes looking at it i asked the waitress I would like to make my own combo because what i want is not in the 20 combo options they listed. After 5 minutes.. Fried calamari came so I went to wash my hands and when I'm back my combo was waiting for me. Food came out so quick that gave me a doubt about the taste.. Next the appearance of the combo was not even appealing... Looked at the miso soup and sashimi.. I knew it's going to be another of those days I will be dissatisfied with my dinner and gain weight on a meal that is not worth it. Looking at my hubby's chirashi and the tamago... I'm confirmed this be the first and last visit. Sashimi - its the frozen kind.. It's not fresh from the market. Miso soup - salty.. strong seasoning. Beef teriyaki .. I asked for medium rare.. The beef is a little thin so came out to be medium.. Meat is chewy Fried calamari... Thick Batter.. Found a piece or two still need to fried a little longer.. It's not very cook yet. Shrimp tempura - thick Batter and skinny shrimp.. Even the Marugame Udon tempura taste better! Not sure how this place got good reviews.. Very misleading... read more

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I felt like I needed to go to my favorite places to do some good for my tummy during Covid-19. It has been aWhile since I came back. Food quality: Awesome food! I ordered sesame chicken. The chicken is freshly fried and stirred. I love how lunch is served with salad and rice. Also, i am happy that the chicken is not burnt. Crispy out and juicy inside! Portion: Good for 2 people. maybe for some people it will be 1.5 Price: very good for what you are getting! I paid 10.78 Parking: spacious parking lot! Before Covid-19 this mall was packed with cars but now its lot more spacious. Staff: i love the energy here. Hard working! Kind! Awesome!! Hope everyone stays safe :) i love their sushi and sashimi combo! I will be back soon for them! read more

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This place used to be awesome. One of my favorite places. I believe the owners have changed and the quality has drastically gone down. The sushi was so awful that we had to spit out a few of the things and return a couple of others. I'm never going back again. What a shame read more

I used to come to Taiko for decades, not anymore. Sushi used to be excellent, but now seem to be not as good; i was wondering .. Are they made by sushi chefs and fresh? Other items are worse than before, only sesame chicken is the same quality and good. Prices are expensive, well everything id now expensive, but quality should be better or at least the same. read more

After my last review, the Business Manager reached out to me. The kitchen does need more training. I appreciated him responding. It tells me he cares about the customers and their experiences at the restaurant. Because of this, I will frequent Taiko again and look forward to my next visit. read more

Taiko is consistently fantastic quality and I love the sushi so much. the service is great. Also everyone is always pleasant to deal with ambience is nothing fancy but relaxed and clean. Thank you for consistently great service. read more

Food quality has been declining in the past 12 months. Today we have ordered a bento with chicken and salmon. It costs $25 through uber eats. The fish is dry and no taste. The chicken has not been marinated before grilled, tasted plain. Comparing to the food a couple years ago, I will give Taiko one star (used to be a five star restaurant). Sam read more

It's been 10 years since I did my last review of this restaurant so I thought I would update it again. This restaurant used to be my go to sushi spot for over 20 years. Ever since this restaurant was sold to the new owners it's just not the same anymore. They never reopened the sushi bar which is already a disappointment. Some items I used to order such as the seafood salad is no longer available. read more

This has to be one of the best sushi places in Orange County. My reservation was at 11:30 am and I showed up at 11 and there were about 30 people ahead of me. Wow this place is crazy busy make sure you get here really early. The food was so fresh, the service was so great. read more

Very disappointed! I've been coming to Taiko since the mid-80's. Things have gone down hill significantly. The Taiko of today is just a faint shadow of its former self from the earlier days. No more sushi bar. The forner sushi bar is now a messy disorganized (may be even unhygenic) food prep place with stuff strewn every which way. Service is abhorrant. Waiter took our order, dropped off the food, and never came back except to ask for payment. No refills on tea either. Menu has changed to just another run-of-the-mill Japanese food place with over-inflated prices and under-inflated portions. Food quality, especially sushi and sashimi, has dropped several notches. No more good quality fish. Sashimi tuna is not supposed to smell fishy! Gone are the days when Taiko was known for good sushi, clean dining area, and good service. Time to look for a real Japanese restaurant that knows what good quality fish really means. read more