So I have lived in Irvine for 10+ years and I have never tried this place out. I always see it being super busy and a line is always out the door. But this year for my birthday, my friend decided to take me here. She waited in line at around 4:20pm and there was already 3 large parties ahead of her. The door opened at exactly 5pm. You would have a choice of sitting at the bar or the dining area. We got seated at the bar because my friend raved about how the sashimi have better cuts at the bar. We weren't really given a menu and the one that they did give us was mostly just sashimi and a couple of special rolls (the sushi menu) and it wasn't very descriptive either. I wasn't really sure what to order so my friend just ordered for us the sashimi salad that had tuna, yellow tail, and salmon sashimi layered on top of a bundle of onions and thin cuts of salad drenched in ponzu sauce. Next we ordered the white shrimp...not sure what its called but it was 2 big shrimp that were not cooked and layered on top of some sushi rice. It was somewhat slimy but has a very refreshing taste to it. Then we ordered the crunchy, ninja, and rainbow rolls. They were all really good and the cut of the fish were really good! You could taste the fat and freshness of it. My bf also ordered the yellowtail collar...which was basically like boiled fish. Wasn't that great, tasted like boiled fish. We probably wouldn't get that next time....probably just stick with the fresh fish. Not really sure the prices of everything...it wasn't really printed out on the receipt.... read more

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We always enjoy coming here because of the good food and great service! Everyone is friendly and especially Genie, always helpful and really nice to customers!!! read more

I'm Japanese and this is one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants I've been to in the OC area. The food is quality and also comes out SO fast every single time I've dined with them. Atsuko is so kind and all the waiters/waitresses give us such good service. I will always go back here for good Japanese food. read more

Everything, from food to service, has gone downhill since the ownership changed. Our family no longer comes here and has moved on to other Japanese restaurants in the local area. read more

Everything so good tasty and great price and service. I used to come here when I was a teenager and forgot how excellent the food is!

You will never go wrong here. Worth the wait no matter how long or short. I have never had anything here that was anything less than perfect. read more

I came here a couple months ago and was disappointed that the sushi bar was still closed. I'm not sure if they've reopened the sushi bar since but have to say that the quality of the sushi is very mediocre if you're not sitting at the sushi bar. The best part of Taiko was the chefs creations and ability to customize your rolls and unfortunately you can't do that at the tables. Or if you do it just doesn't taste the same. This made me realize how much the sushi chef behind the bar really makes the sushi shine. Sure good quality sushi is a start but the way they cut and season the fish makes all the difference. read more

I have been coming here for 30 years and now that they changed the menu the restaurant has loss all of its charm. I have been getting a pot of green tea every time I come here and now they don't even offer a pot of tea anymore. The value and ease of ordering has completely changed so the portion are now skimpy compared to just a month ago. The quality is still the same. However, it went from being the best Japanese restaurant in Orange County to just another Japanese restaurant. Now I don't have to drive all of the way from Huntington Beach. There is nothing special left. It hurts me to write this after losing my favorite Japanese restaurant. read more

Our friends from Tustin are huge fans of Taiko, and warmly introduced us to their favorite Irvine sushi spot back in 2014. I must admit, the first few times, I had neutral feelings about this place, but over the years as we accompanied our friends more frequently to Taiko, it grew on me. Since no reservations are available, and the lines are very long, I recommend coming earlier to stand in line. What makes Taiko so popular, in my opinion, is the huge portions of fresh fish they serve for every dish. The sushi chefs here do not hold back on portions, which is what I admire about them! For our most recent visit, we enjoy: - Yellowtail Nigiri* - Eel Nigiri* - Japan Scallop Nigiri* - Octopus Nigiri - Sea Urchin Nigiri - Salmon Egg Nigiri - Salmon Skin Handroll* - Toro Sumaki* - Salmon Sashimi with Asparagus* - Tamago Nigiri The items with the asterisk (*) are the items that we truly enjoyed, especially the Salmon Sashimi with Asparagus as an appetizer item. The Salmon Skin Handroll here also explodes with deep fried salmon skin, you really get the quality and quantity you pay for. Taiko is busy, so expect a wait in between each dish ordered. Use the time to enjoy hot green tea and enjoy the conversation with your party. Sit back and enjoy the meal! read more

Had two item combination. Teriyaki beef and sushi. Sushi is good but the teriyaki beef is the toughest meat I ever had! They asked me how do I want the beef I said medium. What I had is definitely beyond well done which is so tough and chewy it's not edible that I had to throw it away.. such a shame! read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The sashimi quality is mediocre at best. The Tuna sashimi pieces are sliced about an inch thick. I thought they served me slices of filet mignon steak. It tasted bland and the thickness is not appropriate. It took away the flavor within each bite. The cooked food however isn't bad. It isn't very good either. The service is ok. I didn't expect much from service after experiencing the food. Coming from San Gabriel valley, the price point is a little too high for the quality of food. Perhaps it is because it's in Irvine, so cost of doing business could be higher. I don't understand why there's such a long wait for this place. Probably not enough sushi/Japanese restaurants around. I would not come back or recommend it to anyone. Again, it's not bad and it's not great. It's just not my cup of tea. I've had much better food experience at the same price point at other restaurants. read more

Taiko - I ordered tuna sashimi and got a piece of steak! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch and the combos offered at lunch are great! My mom and my aunt were huge fans of the dishes since they love sashimi. Food ordered: - B Combi: 5/5 - Sashimi, Beef Kushiyaki (ordered with medium well), Sesame Chicken The sashimi in all dishes were cut into thick and smooth chunks. Beautiful tuna and tilapia. Although I initially thought that the sesame chicken was going to be average, other Yelpers are right! The sesame chicken is actually really delicious, with the crispy outside and sweet teriyaki tasting chicken interior. - Combination Lunch #5: Tempura and Sashimi There was tempura chicken, kombucha squash, green pepper, and sweet potato. The sashimi fish was the same as the other dish. Fresh and silky sashimi, yum! The service was great and the food was delicious. All combos came with miso soup and rice. I will be back. read more

Taiko - Combo with tempura and sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Ugh. WHY is this place crowded all the time? The hubs and I went here for lunch on Saturday a few weeks ago and it was the worst sushi we have ever encountered. How does ANYONE ruin salmon sushi??? Every single piece of sushi was STRINGY and RUBBERY - Salmon, Tuna, EVEN THE TORO!!! Ugh. How does ANY sushi restaurant RUIN TORO??? I took one bite and could not even bite off a piece because it was so STRINGY! I ended up spitting it out. The Aji (Mackerel) sushi made me gag when I took a bite and I ended up spitting that out too. My husband and I were seriously TRAUMATIZED by the sushi at this restaurant. A friend of ours said that sushi at the bar is different and is a premium sushi experience. I have a problem with this, however. HOW can the same restaurant serve premium sushi at the bar and STRINGY, RUBBERY sushi within the restaurant (at the tables)? This is absolutely unacceptable, especially as there are no signs indicating this. Quite frankly, I will NEVER waste my hard-earned money at Taiko, whether it is the bar or table. Actually, even if someone were to pay me to eat sushi here, I would decline. That's how bad it was. read more

Definitely! Food was excellent and service was outstanding. Taiko is one of our go to places for Japanese food.

Nooooo where did my Taiko go!? I've been a regular here for about 18 years and our last trip was so disappointing. It was immediately noticeable that it wasn't the same place, but we tried it anyways. The sushi was fishy smelling, the rice was dry, and there was an odd smell to things that I can't place. The prices have also almost doubled, and that's okay with inflation and all except it's now almost double the price for 1 piece of sushi instead of 2...wth? And those slices of fish are tiiiiny and thin now. The rolls were subpar at best, and the sesame chicken had almost no flavor. I recognized no one working there, and for the price I could get better elsewhere. I'm SO sad, and I won't be back which breaks my heart. I have so many amazing memories associated with this place, but I guess good (amazing) things can't last forever. read more

This is our go to for special dinners. We love the soup and sushi. Sesame chicken is delicious

Been going to Taiko for years and years and years ... although I'd love some more vegan/vegetarian options, the portions are huge, even with the cost of food going up like it has, somehow Taiko manages to still give us a great deal for our money. Staff are friendly, sake is delicious and unique, being able to add our name to the waitlist on Yelp has been such a big help for us, and we just keep going back. read more

What a tragedy! I miss all the old sushi chefs that used to work here. The vibe is completely gone. My friends and I used to come here weekly and now we have no where to go for good sushi. The worst part is they no longer seat people at the bar which was the highlight of this restaurant. Please bring the old Taiko back! read more

Came in to celebrate my boyfriends birthday with friends. This place was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. All the food was delicious and our server was very helpful! We will definitely be coming back soon! Near the beginning of our arrival we mentioned to our server that we were celebrating a birthday and he told us we would get a complimentary dessert and they would come sing but that never happened. I understand that it was nearing closing time or maybe our server forgot but it didn't make the experience any less great. Can't wait to come back! read more

Taiko - Combination dinner #2 - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

UPDATE: Owner replied and said issue was due to short staff from long weekend with Valentine's Day. Will try again to see if service improves. Pre paid take out. Waited 30 minutes outside with 20+ people. Got to the front and order was there for 30 minutes. Worst take out system ever. All food is cold or stale after long wait. Will be one star until I revisit after covid... IF I revisit Even worse, this was true for everyone on the takeout line. Person in front of me had their order sitting there for 40 minutes. The take out table had lots of food sitting there also getting cold. read more

I ordered via Uber Eats. The tempura and miso soup were good but the sushi was absolutely terrible and expensive. There were bones in several of my eel rolls and the dynamite roll filling tastes like clay. Couldn't finish the sushi and ended up ordering from another place because I was still hungry. It wasn't cheap either :/. read more

Can't be disappointed every time I order to go. I ordered again today some sushi and rolls for my Mom's birthday and my parents enjoyed the, very much! read more

This was my second time at Taiko...and I have declare it as my favorite Japanese sushi spot in OC. Both times I've been here, we sat at the sushi bar with sushi Chef Aiko...he's definitely the best and always super attentive! He serves up thick cut sashimi and nigiri. Everything is super fresh and delicious...especially their uni, sweet shrimp, and yellowtail! I even brought my aunt that is a pretty picky eater and she said she definitely wants to come back with us next time we come. This place is a gem...so if you like sushi as much as I do...you gotta check this place out!! read more

Taiko - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Good Quality sushi, very clean. We had reservation and sit right away. Server was professional. I asked for sashimi salad, it was not in their current menu but chef made it with reasonable price. Their price and service was good not excellent. But considering inflation and labor market today, they earned their 5 stars. I probably will go there again. read more

First time I heard this place 5-7 years ago haven't had a chance to visit till last weekend. The order was sushi and chirashi. Both came with almost identical ingredients which is very convenient to restaurants but not exactly impressive to customers. The quantity was great but not so much for quality. Tastes are just little better than boxes sold in Tokyo central or mitsuwa. Sure it's better than korean made fake Japanese restaurants but if this place is in Japan, it won't survive. read more

Taiko is really excellent, especially for their fair pricing and huge amounts of food, especially for their dinner Combos. Great date night spot. read more

Taiko - Chicken & Beef Combo - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Hands down, one of the best sushi restaurants I have been too in Irvine. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it doesn't break the bank either. Just get there early ~4:30-4:45, before it opens at 5:00 so you are able to get a seat at the bar area. If you can't it's fine, you can grab a booth or table. 11/10 would recommend read more

We went during lunch hour. Parking will be very difficult to find because it's so packed. Wait time will probably be between 20-30 min but you can join with yelp too, which is very convenient. You don't really have the choice of choosing the kind of sushi you like during lunch, as there are mostly combos and will come with certain kinds of sushi (shown in the pictures) even if you don't like those and can't exchange them with a different kind. The miso soup is really good though and unlimited which is nice. The service was also really nice and friendly. But based on the food and it's taste I have to give it 2 Stars. The sashimi was so hard to eat because the slices were so thick. I had to eat it in one bite cause I couldn't bite it off unless i was ripping it off with my hands lol. And the taste of the sushi itself was just okay and nothing spectacular. I really like chicken teriyaki but this one disappointed me as well. The skin was left on the chicken which made it very chewy, there was so little teriyaki sauce on it or was probably watered down. The lettuce was fresh. We came here based on the many good reviews but sadly had a different experience. read more

Taiko - Chicken Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Taiko what happened to you?!? Higher prices, smaller portions, new menu that sucks, and no more seafood salad?! I dont recognize you anymore! Coming here for 16 years - the end of an era :( Sadly no more japanese ownership means Taiko is not Taiko anymore - wont be coming back. So sad! read more

I've been eating here for over 30 years. I love the food here and the portions are great. read more

Taiko - Baked Scallops - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is pretty good and tasty. Service was a bit rushed and which didn't help to provide a relaxing experience. Ambience was good but could be quite a crowded place. read more

Bomb fresh sushi. Premium even. And staff was so good and service spot on. Will come back for sure!

Domo arigato gozaimasu. Thank you for the excellent service!!! Even though we didn't have a reservation they treated my wife, granddaughter and I as if we were special and opened a table near the entrance for us. It was extremely busy on Friday when we arrived, but I could tell they worried about us until we were seated. I noticed the same thing during the eleven years that I lived in Japan. The Japanese are such gracious and nice people. Anyway, it was our first time at Taiko and the food was absolutely delicious!!! I knew what to order because I studied the menu on Yelp prior to coming. The Unagi Kabayaki and the Baked Scallops were to die for and the Sashimi and Shimp Tempura Teishoku was a nice combination. I had the Taiko Bento with Sashimi which was great and I really enjoyed the variety. Kudos to the chef, everything tasted fantastic!!! Taiko is a great resturant and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!! Dan Suzuki, Retired USAF and Vietnam Veteran read more

Idk what's wrong w/ 2016?! Unfortunately, its Heibon Getsuyōbi (Mediocre Mon) again!!! (6 in a row to start the year - palm to forehead). I haven't been here in a long time, but back in the day I remember Taiko was worth arriving @ 11 am or earlier. This way you almost always assured yourself a seat at the sushi bar when it opened @ 11:30. However, now the place is also ran. Taiko is in Irvine, and is located on Jeffrey & Walnut in the same mall as A & J and Bambu. We just missed sitting at the sushi bar, despite me arriving @ 11 am, so we ordered entrees. I had the B Combo ($12.95 | Sashimi, beef yakitori & sesame chicken - inc rice, miso soup & tea). My pal Wild had salmon teriyaki & tempura (forgot the price, but both entrees were $26.95 w/ tax). My entree was very mediocre. The sashimi wasn't that fresh, the beef was bland, and the sesame chicken while moist, didn't have any sesame flavor. In addition, the color of the chicken indicated the oil needed to be changed. Likewise, Wild's plate wasn't any better. The salmon was small & bland, and the batter of the tempura was too thick. The chef needs lessons on how to use colder water when making the batter, and to drag the items in fresh oil to minimize the thickness of the batter when frying: All items 3 Stars. Regarding the ambiance, there is a small sushi bar to your right and the main dining room to your left. The dated restrooms are in front: 3 Stars. On the other hand, the service was friendly and efficient. The only downside was the staff started staring at us after 45 min. It seems like they wanted to turn the tables 3X at lunch: 4 Stars. Taiko is all about the portions now, because the food is mediocre. Its a good neighborhood place, but pales in comparison to places w/ really good sushi in OC like Angotei, Ikko, Ohshima, San Shi Go, and Shunka. read more

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For over a decade now, Taiko still remains strong for Irvine locals. This neighborhood gem is well-loved that never a day passes by without a crowd waiting outside to get seated. It's ridiculous, really. So how to beat the wait? We came here on a weekday lunch right when they opened and immediately got seated. I hear you can do the same for dinner but by 430PM there is already a line for the 1st seating. Try your luck, who knows! One of the things I like about this place is their combos. You can mix and match quite a variety of items all for under $15. And it's huge! Our group decided to share their SEAFOOD SALAD ($11) for starters. It's mounds of fresh salmon, tuna, and yellowtail sashimi atop a bed of refreshing cucumbers and shredded radish, then finished off with bonito flakes at the very top. A little drizzle of lemon and we got ourselves a pleasant palate opener. I wouldn't mind getting this next time by itself. It's a sweet deal that does a fine job at giving you a quick sashimi fix. Filling yet healthy, what's not to like? SUSHI and SESAME CHICKEN ($12.50) was the combo I had. Unfortunately it's chef choice only for my sushi plate but I did get 5 nigiris and 6 pieces of sushi. Not bad at all. Did I mention the sesame chicken yet? These are big chunks of chicken fried to a golden brown and seasoned to perfection. It's hot and juicy inside so careful on your first bite. I like dipping this with the mayo on my plate and my table mate's teriyaki sauce. Not that it needs any but it just heightens the deliciousness. Too bad I was already maxed out from the salad and sushi plate. I took 3/4 of my chicken home and had a mighty tasty lunch the next day. Service was amazingly quick and friendly. We even got a free green tea ice cream for my friend's birthday to end our meal here. I totally get why Taiko is popular. I'd be here often if only I had the patience to wait. read more

Taiko - Sushi and sesame chicken lunch combo - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Taiko is one of my go to places for Japanese food in Irvine. Since they opened in 1980, they've sought and succeeded to revolutionize the way people eat in Irvine. From the classics to the innovative, a variety of options including sushi, sashimi, tempura, noodles, they've got it all read more

Taiko - Combination with shrimp tempura and beef teriyaki. - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is currently my favorite sushi place in Irvine!! The sashimi is so fresh, I can't get enough of this stuff!! I came here for dinner with my friend and we were lucky enough to beat the dinner crowd. We came in and scored the last booth before things started to get packed. Since it was our first time, we pondered over the menu and didn't know what to order. So many things sounded ideal. However when we tried to ask our waitress for help... she said the restaurant was too busy for her to give us any recommendations -_- That statement prevented them from hitting that 5-star from me. Eventually my friend and I were able to come to a decision. She ordered the Sushi Dinner ($17) and I ordered the Sashimi Dinner ($17). We also shared a baked scallop and mushroom dish since we saw the table near us order it and we just asked for whatever that was... HAHA :D The food came out within a reasonable amount of time. The portion was a decent size, I just wish I had more salmon in my Sashimi Dinner. There was more tuna, which I prefer less. Nevertheless the quality of the sashimi was great. Overall I would definitely come back to try some of their combinations!! This is probably my go-to sushi place in Irvine now, but I'll just avoid coming during peak hours to avoid bad customer service. read more

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Came by for lunch the other day and the wait for a table was ~30 minutes. The restaurant seems to be Japanese owned and the portions are very generous. Combi A - Seasme Chicken was a mix of white and dark meat chicken that came out very dry... - Beef tataki was also very dry. - Tempura was over-breaded...eek! Rainbow Roll - Okay, nothing too special. Service was friendly by the staff. Tip: Split an entree with someone else! ~$14/head lunch after tax and tip. read more

Taiko - Combi A - Sesame Chicken, Beef Tataki, Tempura - $11.25 - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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We had this last evening on 3/3/23, and was definitely a regrettable decision as my wife spent most of the night in the restroom due to food poisoning. I always am anxious about sushi that is delivery but didn't expect this at all. To top it off, it wasn't even that good and cost $120.00. Very upset read more

This was the most expensive, fast paced, sushi meal I've had ever. If that's what you're in to... As others have mentioned the entrance is now in the back and this place has changed in the past couple years. You used to have an hour wait but we were immediately seated no wait. Not a complaint but just an observation of what it used to be. A complaint is that the parking lot is chaotic AF. Just do yourself a favor and park on the other side of the lot where there's typically spots. Not in front of the restaurant. No fault of theirs just a fyi. The servers are ON IT. They greet you immediately, they take your order within minutes, they are friendly, and the food comes out like 5 minutes later. I was FLOORED at how fast our sushi came out. They even apologized for the wait and I was thinking.. what wait?! The down side- It didn't seem like the rolls were made upon order. It seemed like they had them ready to go out (and for how long I wondered). Also they were room temperature and I prefer my sushi freshly made & cold. The rolls are huge here. Generous portions. It's decent sushi just not what it used to be back in the day also for a pricey meal like this you want a little more of a dining experience. The ambiance is family diner chic. The place is a little run down. Could do with a little renovation. read more