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

FOOD QUALITY ALERT (UN-FRESH FISH & CHICKEN): - Do not eat at this place if you have tasted real sashimi. This place isn't the place for sophisticated diner. This place definitely cuts corners, and the quality is horrible (some of the recent reviews have proved it). I ordered the following: - Sashimi Dinner (Salmon, Tuna, etc.) - Sesame Chicken (supposedly fried) - Eel California Roll - Beef Niko Udon (without egg) - Edamame - Takoyaki - Agedashi Tofu The Sashimis in the Sashimi dinner dish tasted hard, the raw fish did not taste fresh at all. Sesame Chicken was basically microwaved. Within 3 minutes of us putting in the order for Sesame Chicken, it was served to our table and it tasted greasy & mildly warm. I complained to the server and she said (lied) it was "'made-to-order", then she took the plate and came back with a "new batch" within another 5 minutes. We tasted that "new batch"... it tasted the same, just as soft & greasy as before. We told the server we were done with it, but obviously we still got charged for it. Udon tasted like nothing to us... Eel Roll was ok, but Eel was not fresh at all, its un-freshness was covered by the sauce. Takoyaki's inside tasted like pastes. Tofu tasted hot & ok - proving that the fact that Chicken tasted "warm" made no sense. It is very obvious that this restaurant is cutting corners. To all readers all there - please go out there and try some real high-end sushi before coming to this place. You'll sadly realize the difference, and how immorally this restaurant has treated the Irvine people's tastebuds. 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

Really affordable and good sushi spot in Irvine! This place has a lot of seating but it was pretty packed on a Thursday night. I ordered the chirashi bowl and it came with a side of miso soup which was really nice. The chirashi bowl was really good since the slices of fish were huge! There was so much rice at the bottom I couldn't finish all of it, but was still very full from the amount of fish they gave in the bowl. My friends orders also had huge portions and for the price it is definitely worth it! Definitely recommend to satisfy a sushi craving. read more

Thanks for the referral here Yelp! Taiko easily made it to the top of my favorite sushi places to go to even though it was my first time recently! Complimentary cabbage salad (hard pass) and miso soup to start while looking over menu. Their mixture of crab meat inside the sushi rolls is different and delicious, which makes them stand apart from other places. Rolls chosen: tuna roll, rainbow roll, and dragon roll. Can't wait to come back and try other selections! read more

Taiko - Tuna roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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

this is the first time i've gone to taiko in almost six years and it was amazing! we ordered the agedashi tofu, veggie tempura, seared salmon sushi with yuzu sauce, and the chirashi bowl :0 EVERYONE needs to try their yuzu roll, it's one of the best rolls i've ever had and the flavor combination is amazing!! the chirashi bowl was also super great value for the amount and the agedashi tofu was yummy too :-) service was super polite and attentive, and the restaurant is peaceful and has a lot of space. not too crowded and not too many long lines for some of the best value for price sushi in irvine. their other non sushi food is amazing too, this is a japanese food staple in irvine :-) read more

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Sashimi is absolutely delicious!!! The staff is incredibly attentive and always super friendly. The ambiance is nice and warm, usually super busy at dinner time so make sure you join the waitlist! read more

We've been coming to Taiko for over 20 years. The menu/food has been going downhill in the past few years. I waited for about 20 minutes after my family received their orders. I asked and was informed that my food was given to another table. I will not be going back to Taiko in the future. read more

I use to come here all the time when I went to school in Irvine. Came back around over 10 years after graduation hoping that it stood the test of time and it wasn't just a younger inexperienced version of myself overrating it. Very happy to say it's still great. I haven't explored the menu extensively, but if say it's the best spicy tuna roll I've ever had anywhere and all the rolls taste good and are of good quality. I know the picture doesn't look that out of the ordinary, but trust me, it's stands well above almost every spice tuna roll you've ever had. It's somewhere I always recommend when people ask me about a place in Irvine and I always feel strongly inclined to go visit if I'm in the area. Thank you for the memories and still going strong. read more

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

I first had Taiko in the early 90s, and it is still as good as it was then. Can't go wrong with the #1 combo, teriyaki beef, tempura and sesame chicken. The tempura is still crispy and it's just a really well balanced Japanese dinner. The order/pickup process was easy and well social distanced. I'd suggest calling the order in so that you don't have to wait as long. read more

Best Sushi in the OC. I am Japanese and have been here a few times over the years. My late grandmother used to take me when I was much younger. Now I am bringing my kids. Just wish you could still sit at the Sushi bar, but I understand the need for more tables. read more

I used to be a regular customer at the Taiko sushi bar for over 25 years. I joyfully waited in line with fellow sushi lovers to be the first seated. I knew every chef's names and they knew mine. All this is all gone, there are no more lines, no more sushi bar, no more skilled chefs and no more sense of community. The new owners have changed our beloved Taiko into just another mediocre japanese restaurant offering over the top cutrolls and overpriced bento boxes. I have so many happy memories of incredible sushi bar meals with family and friends here but sadly thats all I will ever have now, memories. read more

This is a nice family type restaurant. Decent food for decent prices. Nothing extraordinary about the food or anything. But they give good sized portions. It can get crowded and the parking lot can get a little hectic because of all the other yummy food spots around. This is a really okay place! read more

sashimi quality is still poor but the lunch offering is great! i'm also happy to see they have replaced iceberg lettuce with spring mix. i like how they have really navigated the pandemic by shifting the logistics a bit. front entrance is now dedicated for to-go. back entrance is now dedicated for dine-in. they leave the back entrance door open so it has good ventilation. lunch prices are reasonable, considering they have not changed their portion offerings. kudos, taiko, keep up the good work :) read more

This use to be a favorite sushi place, but I have been underwhelmed the last couple of visits. I expected the Volcano roll to be spicy and it was very bland, but it looked great. I like a sushi bar that does creative different sushis and with a bit more taste. I guess it is time for me to find a new sushi place. read more

Taiko - Girls night out! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great authentic Japanese restaurant. It's my third time and it reminded me a bit of my experience in Japan You must try it read more

Anticipation for a tasty lunch was great after reading all these reviews and a favorable news article. My tempura and teriyaki salmon arrived beautifully arranged. My first bite was the narrow piece of salmon. It was well cooked but no teriyaki flavoring. Had to ask for a side of teriyaki sauce. Next I tasted the Tempura, perfectly cooked and yummy. Lastly I dove into the huge salad greens that filled half my plate. Oh no it had no salad dressing atop so I searched to discover a little mayonnaise scrapped on the bottom of the dish. No japanese salad dressing anywhere in sight. I had just asked for my ice water glass to be brought with my hot water cup. They brought the hot water only. I just didn't want to ask anymore. I realized every review written was not true for me. I have lived in Irvine for 40 years. This is not typical. read more

Taiko has been one of our family's go-to restaurants. It is consistent, delicious and always a great experience. Through the years, they continue to have long lines right when they open, which is telling of their business. P.S. the wait is worth it. read more

Taiko food is getting very expensive. In the past there was always a long line waiting for their opening both lunch and dinner. Now I see a lot of empty tables anytime of the day. I don't think I will return anytime soon. read more

For a while I've seen a long line at this restaurant. I happened to be in the shopping center and saw it just opened and the line was short. Why not... If you come to the this shopping center during the lunch or dinner rush parking is a nightmare. You've been warned. To start, this place is large. It can accommodate a lot of people. Whenever I see this alarms usually go off in my head in terms of quality. There's are two seating areas. Sushi bar and table donning. I'll describe table service. This is a general Japanese restaurant. The menu is catered for those that love California rolls and teriyaki bowls. It's perfect for those customers. I did order nigiri from the menu and it was a really short list to pick from. Overall food quality wasn't great. The prices are inexpensive for a Japanese restaurant which explains the long lines. If you are looking for spicy tuna rolls and rice bowls in a sit down restaurant this is your place. If you are picky on the quality of Japanese food I would not go here. read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I believe they changed the owner. As a rule of thumb, once a new management is in place, they want to change things, but not always change to the good side. I was a joyful thing the have unlimited miso soup refilled and unlimited rice bowls for free. It's not that we can eat so much, it was just a surprise that we were treated so nicely with a Japanese tradition. Now they are all gone. Menu items are also changed, too. Sometimes people thought they were intelligent but did stupid things. Change it back, please, we still love you, Taiko! read more

Good sashimi and generous cut if sashimi. The sushi doesn't have a lot of rice and with generous cut of raw fish which is good. Service is good with unlimited miso soup! Restaurant can be really busy so it's better to go around 12:30 noon to avoid long waiting. read more

Taiko - Sushi Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great sushi, excellent customer service, nice atmosphere, and a healthy portion of ponzu, which never happens. A really nice touch is the bowl of miso that they serve before the meal. Try the Japanese scallop roll, and the yellowtail sushi, very very good! We'll keep coming back for sure. read more

Taiko - Scallop roll - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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So I visited taiko one time very very long ago maybe 4 years ago and it was delicious! I went back last night and I can say I was so disappointed! Would not recommend this place nor would I come back . I'm unsure if they have different chefs now but the food was blah. I wasn't impressed what so ever specially for the price they charge. Not even the crunchy roll was tasty sadly read more

Taiko - Seafood Salad Crunchy Cut Roll Fried Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Be prepared to wait. They do have an online waitlist through Yelp where you can join, which is definitely a plus. Food is pretty authentic here and the portions are huge! Our server was very knowledgeable and recommended a lot of off-menu items. You can tell a lot about a restaurant for their quality of miso soup. The miso soup and rice are unlimited!! And the quality is so good. The combis are the best bang for your buck as you can also mix and match for an extra $2. I got the salmon, grilled chicken, and sashimi combi with an order of eel sashimi because I am not eating carbs. It's definitely super filling! My friends ended up helping me finish because there was just too much. read more

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My family and I have been going to Taiko almost every Saturday since 2016. We must have filled out at least 20 stamp cards by this point! Yes, prices have gone up (as with every restaurant since COVID-19 hit) but in my book Taiko still boasts the best bang-for-your-buck sushi in Irvine, especially if you choose to dine-in. During the height of COVID, my family opted to continue our tradition via their takeout option, which has a noticeable drop in quality compared to their dine-in food. So if you want the best food they have to offer and are vaccinated and comfortable to do so, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DINE-IN. After years of trying out different menu items, my go-to selection is always the Sushi and Sesame chicken combo. I like to alternate bites between the golden fried and savory-sweet sesame chicken and sushi, which include salmon, tuna, yellowtail, hokkigai (a type of clam), and 6 little tuna norimakis (the type that is rolled in seaweed). If it is your first time, I highly recommend you try this item. If you order either the sushi lunch or sashimi lunch, you will get a greater selection of fish, but you won't get salad or a side selection such as sesame chicken or tempura. Don't worry though, the sushi and sashimi lunches WILL fill you up. If you have tried the combination meals and the sushi and sashimi lunches already, then I recommend the Taiko Bento (not pictured) it has a nice selection of a variety of items including sushi, sesame chicken, baked salmon, mussel, and more. Overall, Taiko is a pretty good restaurant if you're craving sushi and you will get your money's worth. For lunch it's about $20/person. read more

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Been going here since I was a child and as an adult, this restaurant will always have a place in my heart. It's quite tradition Japanese food with high quality sushi. There's places to sit in either the main dining area or the sushi bar - so be careful it becomes heavily packed at opening both at lunch and at dinner. If you are ordering off of the dining room menu, the Scallop Tempura boat is a generous meal if you're looking to split with someone else. The item comes with a side of steak kabob, miso soup, and tempura as well. I usually come to Taiko for their sushi bar, as it's absolutely as fresh as it can get. Their Sashimi salad is my all time favorite, as well as their salmon skin salad, fried calamari, and don't forget to try their Yellow Tail collar and sweet shrimp sushi. These are all sold at different price points so be ware of how much you end up eating. Love coming here! read more

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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

Update: 01/04/2022 Still haven't been reimbursed by the manager who said he will reimburse for price of food when I told him that I found a dead fly in the sushi! Havent went back ever since finding a dead fly in the sushi. Now because of finding a dead fly in the sushi squeezed between rice and sushi piece, I now check every sushi I eat for the dead fly in all the sushi restaurant I go. Terrible that I have to check sushi for a fly all because of one bad experience but I dont want to eat a dead fly. Still waiting for over a year for the refund. read more

First time here. Was a great pick up process. Everything was ready on time. The food was good. The serving size was good for the rolls but small for the miso cod. Will be back read more

This place use to be great. Now it is terrible. The Bar has been closed since 2020. The Sashimi use to be 8 pieces. My wife ordered me yellow tail and salmon sashimi. She brings it home and its 3 pieces each for $20 each. What a JOKE. Not going back ever again. read more

Took my mom for lunch here on a rainy day. It was easy to put my name on the waitlist from the Yelp app. The servers are super nice here, but the food is unfortunately very mediocre. We ordered vegetable tempura udon and shrimp tempura udon. The food came out very fast, but the tempura was soggy and the soup was lukewarm. I think they probably prepare the food beforehand and have it sitting there waiting for people to order it. Our food was definitely not cooked fresh. Prices are reasonable and they have lunch specials that include a lot of food, but our experience was meh and I won't be returning there for another meal. read more

Diamonds are forever... this is not a diamond --------------------- Ever since moving to Southern California, this has been our go to recommendation for great sushi at affordable prices. It was so good that this place was worth the drive from LA - over 50 miles! We even recommended the restaurant over multiple options in Little Tokyo / over Sugarfish! It's been a bit over a year since we made the trek, but my extended family and I decided to take a day trip to San Diego. On our way back from San Diego, we decided to stop in for dinner. The dinner service itself was ok, but there was just something... off. The first tipoff was uni sushi - good, but at $15/2 pieces; that is bordering on highway robbery. The fish was ok, but not great. The salmon, for example, was a bit less fatty than we remembered. The spicy salmon roll had some thin white lines (what we hope are veins... right??). The seafood udon was heavy on the umami (Ajinomoto variety), light on the udon. The beef teriyaki combo dinner put new meaning on medium well - it was incredibly tough, like shoe leather, and we actually had to grab it out of our son's mouth after watching him struggle for 10 minutes. Crisis averted. My wife and I couldn't understand what happened. My brother in law picked up the tab, but I could see a disappointed look on his face. Now having read several regulars' reviews, it all makes sense - higher price, lower quality. Would not be surprised if indeed there is new management / new supplier. So sad; can no longer recommend, and certainly not worth the 50+ mile drive from LA. At least we saw Disneyland fireworks coming back on the 5. read more

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Revisit: No All the fried things are so bad, it gives me a headache. It is way too oily. There is not much good options on the menu too. Super fair. read more

The sushi is always fresh and is delivered to the table quickly. The servers are very friendly and attentive.

This restaurant is located at the same plaza as A&J. The wait here was only about 20mins when my party and I came last weekend. I had their sushi combo with chicken kaarage and sesame chicken. It was delicious and worth the money spent. The chicken was moist and was not dry at all. The fish was also of great quality and their service was spot on. They also still seat ppl past their closing time as long as you put your name on the list early enough, what a great restaurant! read more

This is a great place if you're in college and like sushi in large size rolls and a chicken appetizer to feed a family of 6. It's also great if you're old with bad eyesight bc the fish really lack color and they keep the lighting dim so you can't see how dull all the sushi look. I really don't understand what the hype is and why there's always a line but definitely come here if you like the Subpar sushi. read more

This place put mayonnaise in pretty much almost every sushi rolls and did not mention in the descriptions until it's too late to cancel - and it's not even the Japanese Mayonnaise. Just globs of mayonnaise. Rolls are OK, nothing spectacular. read more

I LOVE this sushi restaurant. This is one of my go to sushi restaurants when I am hungry and craving for sushi. The restaurant is always busy so I recommend you to use their Yelp Waitlist feature. I notice the sushi bar is more popular than the tables. I choose the table because it cuts my time of waiting. I believe the pricing is really good. As someone who loves sushi, but is on a slight budget, this is a perfect fit for me. The phrase "bang for your buck" probably originated from this restaurant. For what you pay, you definitely get your money's worth for some really good sushi. The quality is exceptional. Granted, there are other higher tier sushi restaurants probably in LA or Newport area. But nonetheless, I highly recommend everyone who likes sushi to give this place a try. I much prefer Taiko over fancier places. I feel like I am in a very casual and comforting Japanese sushi restaurant which is a good vibe. Service is great. There was no problem with the server whatsoever. Water was refilled, order was taken, check came out fast, appetizers came out before main entrée, etc. Every time I come here, I start off with the sesame chicken. The sesame chicken is so good. I tried their fried calamari which was good too but their sesame chicken will always hold a place in my heart. Chicken is fried and covered in delicious, slightly sweet sauce. It's really addicting and so juicy. Highly recommend everyone to give it a try. For the main portions, I ordered the rainbow roll, crunchy roll, spicy hand scallop roll, and salmon hand roll. All of the food tasted fresh and clean. They have very good ratio of sushi rice to fish. Every single dish was amazing. I was so full at the end!! I'll definitely be back for more! read more

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