Taikos is going downhill fast. It's barely recognizable as the place we've enjoyed eating at for decades. No more complimentary miso soup. No more complimentary green tea. Smaller portion sizes. Plastic cups. Sub-par iced tea. Removed items from the menu (i.e., seafood salad), because our server flat out told us "they could not make a profit off it." It's heartbreaking to see the tradition, culture and legacy of this restaurant diminished. It's literally decades of heritage destroyed. Very sad. read more

Visited Taiko in June 2021! The service was very quick and efficient; all the staff were very diligent and happy to be serving the customers, making the whole experience feel just as incredible as it was pre-pandemic. The quality of the sushi and sashimi were just as astounding as I remembered and the portions were so generous, my friend and I were feeling as full as we could be! Taiko is and has been an icon in Irvine's Japanese food repertoire and I highly recommend all who are sushi enthusiasts to enjoy all that Taiko has to offer! read more

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What?! I can't believe I don't have a review for Taiko! this used to be our go to for Japanese dining in Irvine. I remember coming here in the early '80s! If you haven't been lately, it's changed quite a bit to accommodate more take out in this Covid / post-Covid / Covid again era. The back door by the pond is now the main dine in entry and the front door is now for takeout! We got takeout and the food is still good. We will go back for dine in again soon. read more

As a regular at Taiko for over 25 years, it's heartbreaking to see where Taiko has gone. I visited this last weekend on a Saturday, right when they opened. The first thing I noticed was the new menu. It's an attractive new menu in terms of the outlook but, all prices have gone up. The combos I was used to have been altered and while they still offer combos, it's just not the same. I came in wanting to order my usual sesame chicken with tempura and beef kushiyaki. They no longer had a combo that included beef kushiyaki so I settled for just sesame chicken. I knew looking at the pictures that the once giant portions for affordable prices would be reduced to a fraction of what they used to be, for a higher price... and I was right. While I'll admit, the taste was still there, the portion sizes were greatly reduced. My food arrived on this giant (and completely unnecessary) plastic tray that took up way too much room on the table. I also ordered what I think is a new creation, the sweet shrimp hand roll. It was appealing to the eye and the sweet shrimp was yummy but the crab meat had an odd flavor that I didn't care for. I wouldn't order it again. I was very sad to hear that the once endless miso soup is no longer endless. Also, only certain menu items would get an included bowl of miso soup. If you want more it's $1. They also charge for the hot tea now which (I might be wrong) but, I don't remember them doing that before either. I ended up sharing my little bowl of miso soup with the person I was eating with so we wouldn't have to pay extra. The person I was eating with ordered a Taiko bento. It seems they've updated the menu to include more customization options for people who want them but, the person I was with said that they've also downsized some things in the bento. For example: they used to give two green muscles and now it's just 1. Things like that. This person said the food still tasted good so at least there's that. The waitress we had was nice. She kept admitting it was her first day working with the new menu and kept apologizing. I honestly wouldn't have noticed if she didn't keep admitting it. I gently voiced my opinions regarding the new menu and how I'm sad that they've changed things. Throughout my meal, I noticed some things regarding the other customers and other workers. There were several tables that definitely seemed unhappy with the changes. I heard them discussing the changes with their waitresses and the table next door went as far as to even talk to the manager about it peacefully. It seems I'm not the only one very disappointed with these changes. I also noticed some of the waitresses looked really disorganized. They seemed lost and didn't know which table had ordered what. This one waitress seemed to be struggling to understand what her customers wanted. While these points aren't necessarily going to affect my review, I do think it created a rather unprofessional and unpleasant air in the restaurant and it honestly did take away from the overall experience (which really wasn't going well to begin with). I kept hearing what I thought was the manager repeatedly telling customers "you'll get used to it" when told that they didn't like or were surprised by the new menu. Really? That's what you tell your customers? Throughout the meal, I noticed this really unpleasant chemical smell that would come and go. It was revolting and I had no idea if it was some chemical they were using to clean or somebody's cheap perfume. Whatever it was, it made me want to leave as soon as possible. I was very saddened to walk in and find out the Taiko I knew for my entire life was no longer there. It was actually very sad to me as I've made many memories here. While I'll probably still drop by from time to time, I don't think I'll be coming nearly as often as I was before. read more

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Prices were reasonable, food was delicious!! Definitely coming back. Quick service and friendly staff.

Great food. We tried different sushi, salads and udon noodles. All were really tasty and perfect. Service was really good, our food came really fast and our waiter was really good. Will be back for sure. read more

Service was a bit chaotic due to the large crowds of guests but once seated the servers were very attentive, courteous, and prompt. The dining room remains almost the same as it was since I have been coming here. It is a bit dated but comfortable and familiar. The food menu has changed and it is not the same as it was before but quality was good and tasty. I miss having the original unagi Kabayaki with the sashimi side. The other thing I miss is dobin mushi. Overall a good experience for a restaurant that has served Irvine since the 1980s. read more

They don't take reservations unless it's a party of 8, and they are firm on that. We tried to make reservation for Mother's Day for 7 and was refused. Also don't bother to use Yelp wait list, they don't honor that either. You have to put your name on the actual list at the restaurant. After 40 minutes of waiting, they asked if we were ok with 2 tables back to back, that means that we don't sit together. By then everyone was so hungry that we took up the offer. We ordered several bentos, sushi, Mother's Day special $27, several other ones that I can't remember them all. Our waitress, Jenny was good, friendly and sharp. Staff is friendly. Overall service was good. Food came out pretty fast. The fried chicken was really tasty, but sushi was average, not memorable. We come here several times over the years since the 90s, and my brother insisted on taking our Mom here for Mother's days this time. But the dude really has to get with the times. There are so many new, good sushi places nowadays that Taiko has stiff competition. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Sushi and rolls for late lunch today were good rice needs to be better but the fish was fresh and good cuts for the sushi Service was very good and the prices are reasonable read more

Fresh special is always a good choice. Try the bluefin sushi or seared nigiri, seaweed salad the rainbow sushi cut roll is a good sample plate read more

Taiko - Welcome cat for Oct - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Hidden Gem is No More. Food quality and quantity are going downward with this price hikes!!!! I haven't been back here for a year but it was a horrible experience when I did pay a visit few weeks ago on Sat noon time with 5 minutes waiting. Taiko was my go to place when I used to live near by. Unfortunately, the new ownership and Covid-19 have negative impacted them which including service, quality, variety and quantity when I compared the previous Japanese ownership before Covid started. I came here often even it has the worse parking condition in Irvine when ppl park illegally in the fire truck zones but I don't believe I will ever and never come to visit it again if it's parking is widely available. Bento and hot items getting substantially worsen because I didn't what I were eating a sukiyaki or hotpot item. Quantity is less than it used to be. Food in the bento is lower quality and mostly is salad green and canned beans at the bottom. Sized of the California roll is substantially reduced from 8 to 6 slim pieces. I bet the new owner values the business than the customers and I don't really see any human touch and love under his management. If the food and quality are not your priority why you need to take over this hidden gem restaurant and ruins its reputation built by the previous owners and let go all of the lovely Japanese sushi chefs. Dragon Special Roll - Used to be 8 big piece when I fill me up easily. Currently, price is around USD 15.00 but it only has 5 tiny thin pieces but I can tell the quality is way below the sushi from Tokyo Central and Mitsuwa when they only charge half of its price. Compared to past, the size has is 50% reduction. I have nothing say for those ppl giving out 5 stars and willing to pay for a restaurant price for below Tokyo central quality but I m definitely laughing at yours face. I hope they can shine again but the chance is slim when it is under a Chinese ownership. Recommendation: zero star because ........ Eel was not fresh and not in a completed piece, a thin slide of fish slabbed on top a piece lose rice is called good craftsmanship. Also, it looks like an internship sushi chef making a sushi by using a machinery at the Chinese own Buffet chain but in premium price. 1 good thing, hot green tea is free all you can drink and unlimited sauna experiencing when enter the back door entrance. It was a 60 - 70 F Sat afternoon and the room was barely full but the only AC they had was by opening the back door for the air circulation. I bet their intent to make sure patrons leave as soon as you done with your meals. You really did a good job because I will never come back again for this cheapskate practice. read more

Taiko - Crunchy Cut Roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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

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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Taiko was my top choice Japanese restaurant in-person for the past 10 years, but I'm worried based on my latest delivery. I began ordering a frequent amount of delivery nigiri from them in 2021 with an occasional dine-in, and the quality seemed to justify the expensive rates. After an extended absence, I ordered delivery and was confused that the nigiri portions were cut in half? $5.75 for one salmon nigiri, $10 for one bluefin nigiri, and $11.30 for toro. Suddenly receiving one piece for an order of nigiri feels deceptive (and apparently, this would be unusual to see in Japan as well). If fish prices are high, then adjust your prices higher (and do your best to prepare customers/publicize for the change) - customers will decide when looking at the delivery menu. But to change the quality without notice or change proportions is disappointing. Additionally, the beef Udon was underwhelming (which had been my feeling in the past as well). The beef quality didn't seem too great, I enjoyed the broth however. I'll stay away for a few months, and perhaps return later to understand how Taiko progresses. read more

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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Terrible service Food came out at random times. My wife ended up finishing her whole meal before I was even served. Drinks were forgotten food was mediocre read more

Great small Mama and Papa sushi store. Friendly service and atmosphere. Great for all ages. read more

Taiko - Udon & Sushi + Iced Green Tea - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

We had forgotten we had been here before but ended up going by accident! We got different things than last time that were better than before. service was amazing our server was super attentive and got us everything we asked for. We were sat immediately and everything around us was clean. We got a couple rolls handrolls and nigiri, and a baked scallop. Its just an average sushi place but is very overpriced for what it is. I felt like the salmon texture isnt how i normally have it. The handrolls are not normal they are pretty big and overfilled making it harder to eat. The rolls were average as well, i did like the softshell crab in the spider but it was inconsistent throughout the roll. The baked scallop was definitely a hit for us, the sauce was super good and i dipped some of my rolls in it! Overall its a decent sushi place and clean but i just felt like it was overpriced for the quality. read more

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Taiko was our go to Sushi in Orange County for 12 years. Some time around 2019, new owners took over - they gradually raised the prices, and started saving costs by sacrificing the quality of the food. Several of the sushi chefs that had worked there for many many years are now gone. I would no longer recommend eating there. There are better places to eat. Here is a good expanded review I found about the same subject: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32530-d341590-r744159919-Taiko-Irvine_California.html read more

My friend had warned me that this place used to be good but isn't good anymore. I didn't listen. I thought, but there's always a line. Some of our food was average and the rest wasn't good at all. The beef Kushiyaki (beef skewers) was tough, dry, and tasteless. Our crunchy roll was so big that no human being could eat without taking a few bites which defeats the whole idea of a roll. The shrimp tempura had too much batter and wasn't light the way tempura is supposed to be. Our eel sushi tasted stale. And the rest of our sushi was grocery store quality sushi. And even though it wasn't good, the prices were high. I will never go back and I won't recommend this place to anyone. read more

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

Food was average. Nothing spectacular. Udon noodles came soggy, and broth tasted a bit soapy. Rolls were heavy on rice and sometimes fell apart, indicating it wasnt well rolled. But not bad. Seems like it's now korean owned so be mindful of that. read more

I do t understand why this place has less than 4 stars on YELP. We were craving Japanese food so though so we went for the first time on Sunday night. The place was warm and welcoming! It was full of families. The food portions were huge! I had to bring half my food home that I am now enjoying for lunch! The flavors were traditional Japanese restaurant like. The tempura was crispy and hot and light. The California rolls were fresh and yummy. All the sushi that went by our table looked fresh, appealing and appetizing. The service was quick and the server was super nice and sweet! I'm glad we went and we are certainly planning on going back! read more

Taiko - Delicious tempura appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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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

I would die for Taiko. Huge portions, AMAZING sesame chicken, & their sushi just melts in your mouth! Service is always on top of their A-game, dinner and lunch specials never disappoint. Please visit! read more

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Great ambiance to the place and the service was exceptional. Good food and was quick to serve.

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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Our extended family has long-term fondness for Taiko and it's been a favorite for decades. Tonight we has the seafood salad, which was huge, the chiarashi bowl, again, huge, and a variety of rolls made to order. We have a few food allergies and the restaurant is very accommodating. Portions were fresh, large and service was fast. It's not fancy, but if your goal is to be well fed, this is it. read more

Taiko is the go-to OG Japanese spot in Irvine. Typically people get the large combo plates with the sesame chicken which is bomb. Some izakaya type foods on menu as well. Sushi is decent with typical selection of fish/shellfish. Service is good. In recent years following COVID, I believe they are short staffed so they are not as speedy as before, but we give them grace for these trying times. Ambiance is typical for Japanese restaurant. Wait can be long on weekends. Their happy hour times is extensive. Recommend! 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

Consistently delicious food with large portions. The staff is very friendly and efficient. Lots of seating with many comfortable booths. We are regulars customers for all the above reasons. Thank you Taiko! read more

Another sushi spot suffering from shrinkflation. High prices for low quality. Our server was... nice, but hella weird.

It's been a long time since I last left a review for Taiko. Since then I've come to appreciate Taiko a lot more for what it specializes in - fresh, tasty fish. That's it. No fancy schmancy rolls, just great tasty, super fresh fish. Well, I guess they do have some new rolls which are surprisingly good now. In any case the quality of the fish is hard to beat at any other sushi restaurant. So I do like coming here. It's not the cheapest but for the price and the quality of the food I think it's actually a great deal. 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

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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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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Customer service is bad And the quality of food is getting worse. Price went up so much. Will not coming back for sure read more

This is definitely not the Taiko of old, but they are trying to improve things. The menu is still way too big, but the food is good. Improvements suggestions: 1. Servers need to be more attentive by refilling drinks and asking if customers need anything else? 2. Do a better job bringing food out at the same time. read more

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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