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Takoyaki Yamachan

3.3 (35 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

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cheese takoyaki
Catherine B.

TLDR: fix the layout, the attitude, the packaging, and the god awful ad jingle Holy shit, 6 takoyaki took 45 minutes. And I heard their Takoyaki! Yamachan! ad jingle for 45 fricking minutes. There's one small opening in their plexiglass storefront where they both take and give out orders, which is also right next to their only takoyaki grill on the inside and a table for eating on the outside; it's so crowded, it's honestly a safety hazard. I got their cheese takoyaki, in which they they place piping hot takoyaki in a paper to-go box, cover it with shredded cheese, and then torch the cheese in the PAPER to-go box, and then immediately hand it to the consumer by the handles. Why you ask? Because the bottom is so hot that it WILL give you second degree burns - I wonder how I found that out :D All that to get soggy takoyaki that are underseasoned and lackluster in flavor. Yeah, I don't feel a burning desire to be back.

Yakisoba + 8 pieces Takoyaki combo with toppings
Jun L.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and today, after coming back late from exercising, we finally decided to give it a shot. We ordered the Maze Yakisoba and an 8-piece Takoyaki combo with toppings. The Yakisoba came in a stone pot, topped with minced pork, seaweed, ginger, tenkasu flakes, and green onions. The portion felt quite small--especially for a main dish--barely covering the bottom of the pot. I usually enjoy bold flavors, but I found it a bit too salty for my taste. The Takoyaki was decent, with a nice moist center, though I wish the outside had been crispier. I'm torn between giving this place 3 or 4 stars--probably a solid 4 if the portions were a bit more generous. I might return if I'm craving Takoyaki and don't feel like driving far.

Truc T.

Decent Takoyaki Place tucked away in the corner of Mitsuwa! A bit pricier than expected but the pieces are a lot bigger than most places. I'd recommend getting 10 pieces of the same flavor or a mix and match for $14! Takoyaki was very hot, cooked well, & tasty. I would have loved to have a bit more consistent crispiness but it was still good. Parking is the same as Mitsuwa, which is always busy & may get worse as Tokyo Central opens.

Store front!
Jeanne P.

Visited during their grand opening weekend. Everything was 50% off. The first thing I noticed was the huge line. It moved very slowly. Probably took around 1hr total to order and receive. I've been to their San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Honolulu locations before this visit. The maze yakisoba is a new addition to their menu. While conceptionally cool (with their hot stone plate and all), the taste didn't quite impress me. It tasted like a mix of takoyaki ingredients on top of yakisoba noodles, and the pickled ginger was too overpowering. The takoyaki, on the other hand, was much soggier than the other locations. The service however seemed ok and it seemed like everyone was doing their best. I'm happy that they opened their first location in SoCal, but they need to work on delivering a better product (at least closer to the NorCal locations). It is their grand opening week, so maybe it'll get better over time. I might come back after some time.

Willie L.

Ordered some fresh takoyaki. The staff warned me that it may take a bit longer since he just started making the order. He was not kidding it did take a bit long to wait for my order to complete. It was worth the wait. The takoyaki had a crunchy exterior and the soft interior with the chewy octopus . It reminded me of ordering these treats in the streets of Japan. Just be ready to wait for a bit if the food court is busy.

Valentina L.

My stomach was growling as I am writing this review. It's very hard to find a store that just sells takoyaki. It's very crispy on the outside and hot/soft in the inside. Sooo delicious. They served my order really quick. My new go to spot for Takoyaki!

Marivic R.

Tried this place for the first time, disappointing :( the takoyaki was mushy inside and out. Staff were friendly. It's located inside Mitsuwa in a food court.

Takoyaki original flavor
Hailey F.

I just love trying different eateries in this food court, and this is one of them. If you enjoy Japanese street food, I recommend trying the takoyaki at least once--just remember that the inside is very soft, which is normal. If you want to be less adventurous, their yakisoba is delicious too.

Brittany T.

I came by on a Sunday afternoon after getting brunch at Nep (review to come!) and it was pretty crowded at Mitsuwa generally but we only waited about 5 minutes. Check in process was easy and efficient. The staff seemed busy but were still moving the line quickly. We ordered the original and waited about 5 minutes and took ours to go since we planned to eat at home. I don't think these traveled well which was definitely our mistake haha by the time we got home they were pretty soggy. We liked the flavor but unfortunately the texture was just a big goopy mess by the time we were digging in. If we come again, I think we'll eat them fresh and probably try another flavor to get some variety. Thank you, Dia and Takoyaki Yamachan!!

Yuzu takoyaki
Leah C.

So yummy! Love that the glass display allows for customers to watch as the food is getting made. Watching the takoyaki get flipped around in the mold is so cool. Per the employee's suggestion, I got the yuzu mayo flavor and I'm so glad I did! My mom and I were pleased with the generous addition of the toppings, which included fish flakes and green onions. Best of luck to you guys for your business' success!

Jonathan C.

Opens at 11am. 4th in line to order, didn't get to order until 20mins in due to what looked like some big orders ahead of us because of the 50% of deal. We ordered the garlic shoyu yakisoba combo with 5 piece regular takoyaki, sukiyaki maze gohan and spicy miso chicken maze gohan. Took maybe 10-15mins to get our food. The sukiyaki was a little dry but not bad. Garlic shoyu yakisoba was the best out of the things we got. I would prefer my takoyaki a bit crispier but I'm sure the rush factor came in there. The spicy miso is spicy which I think if we can eat everything there it's probably tastier vs in the to go container. Overall not a bad addition to the food court and I'm sure they'll get quicker as time goes on. Also, I think there's just way more people than normal due to the deal.

Grand Opening Promotion 50% Off
Suzanne X.

Grand opening weekend where all menu items are 50% off from 6/27 to 6/29! Great chance to check out all the different takoyaki flavors which come in 5 different choices: regular, negi-mayo, cheese, kimchi and garlic soy source. There are also stone pot maze yakisoba: original and garlic shoyu, as well as combo options with takoyaki in 5 or 8 as regular or with the special toppings. As well as stone pot maze gohan that comes with miso soup and sides. Since there was a long line for the opening weekend, the service was on the slower end but the workers were working as fast as they can to move along the orders - taking about 15-20 minutes after you order. Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court, the ambience is pretty casual and fast food service.

Right before closing time.
Geri G.

This is going to be my "go-to" place for tasty takoyaki and garlic yakisoba. I got the combo that comes with 8 pieces of takoyaki (several choices but I got the original-octopus) and yakisoba (2 choices). The takoyaki was super hot (heat) coming right off the grill and the yakisoba was pretty with the ground chicken, carrots, red ginger, green onions, cabbage and seaweed on top (you mix it all together). What I really liked was that the noodles they use were like thin fettuccine (not the usual noodles you get in store-bought yakisoba kits). I will have to try their other dishes ie. spicy chicken maze gohan in the stone pots. Service was friendly and polite. This place will do well (inside Mitsuwa's Food Court)!

Negi-mayo and Garlic soy sauce

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3 months ago

Their yakisoba ain't that great to be honest. Lackluster and a bit salty. I wasn't too impressed and would want a bigger portion as well

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3 months ago

Pleasantly surprised by how good their takoyaki is. Not too salty like other places.

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7 months ago

terrible service, long wait even without a line or crowd. The lady there was rude and was impolite

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Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining

Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining

4.4(1.1k reviews)
2.7 mi
$$
Healthy dining
Hipster vibe

Can't believe this was our first time eating at Habuya -- such a hidden gem and totally worth the…read morewait! We joined the Yelp waitlist about 30 minutes after opening and waited around an hour to be seated. Since it was prime-time Saturday dinner and the restaurant is tiny, the wait made sense. Pro tip: come 30 minutes before opening or join the waitlist early if you can! White Corn with Truffle Salt -- 5/5 A must-order. I wasn't expecting much, but it was absolutely perfect and so good with drinks. Pork Cutlet Curry -- 4/5 Classic katsu curry flavor, but the breading was a little on the harder and darker side. Maybe just a bad batch, but still really good. Bluefin & Salmon Sashimi -- 5/5 Order it with the pickled wasabi. It melts in your mouth -- SO good. Purple Sweet Potato Fries -- 4/5 A great appetizer and perfect for snacking with drinks. Beef Sukiyaki -- 5/5 Served with a soft-boiled egg, tofu, mushrooms, and kimchi. I usually don't love sweet beef with kimchi, but this was perfectly seasoned. The BEST. Saving the best for last -- the owner and her team are the sweetest ladies. They work fast, check in often, and you can really tell they care about their customers becoming regulars. Best izakaya in OC! Thank you, Habuya, for a wonderful dinner.

Authentic, super delicious izakaya food!! Totally worth the wait. Wife and I had a great time. We…read morestuffed our faces. Service was great. Quirky music. Small space. Will absolutely come back! Our absolute favorite dishes were the Atkin Mackerel and Shrimp Curry. Highly recommend them. The only dish that was mid was the Chicken Karaage - we'll skip this dish next time.

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Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining
Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining - Chicken wings

Chicken wings

Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining - Purple Yam

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Okidoki by Meiji

Okidoki by Meiji

4.0(1.2k reviews)
3.2 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Takes reservations

Spicy Beef Udon here is the best I have tasted. You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu…read more Handmade noodles, authentic seasoning, bursting with flavor. There will always be a long wait and for good reason. A must try if you are in the area.

if you know me you know that meiji is my favorite udon spot in oc. a bit ago they opened a sister…read morerestaurant in tustin so i finally got to check it out! it had a lot of the same items as meiji seimen but with more. it was still delicious but i will say i still prefer the costa mesa spot more, personally! parking gets pretty busy but it's free! Shrimp Tempura for this price you get 5 pieces of tempura accompanied with the tempura dipping sauce. the tempura is perfectly crisp and flakey while staying soft inside! Tuna Roll simple, fresh and clean, this 6 piece roll was not too filling but acted as a nice add on to our appetizer. Spicy Beef Udon served in a boiling hot pot, this udon is spicy, hot and sizzling. the standard level of spice is free but to make it spicier there is an additional fee. the flavors of this udon were delicious and i liked the greens that came in it. there wasn't much beef inside and due to the sizzling pot my noodles got really soft faster than i could eat them. it also comes with a cheesy rice ball on the side that you're supposed to mix into your soup once you've finished the noodles. i personally didn't love it. i felt like it didn't really match the flavor of the soup and the outer crust of the ball was way too hard and crunchy for my liking, but my boyfriend thought it tasted good together so to each their own. Cold Spicy Egg and Tororo Tsukemen if you're a fan of the cold, dip ramen (tsukemen), then this dish is for you! the cold noodles are served perfectly chewy and al dente and it pairs well with the egg and tororo dip. the boy added a side of meat for an additional charge because it isn't served with any on its own!

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Okidoki by Meiji - Spicy Beef Udon (Rice Ball)

Spicy Beef Udon (Rice Ball)

Okidoki by Meiji
Okidoki by Meiji

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TANAKAYA - Matcha Soba

TANAKAYA

4.0(868 reviews)
3.3 mi
$$

Super good! Got the lunch karaage soba combo and my boyfriend got the soba sampler. Decent…read moreportions. Service is a tad slow. One thing to note is that the karaage comes on top of a small salad with dressing? It should come in a separate plate bc after I had the karaage I was left with warm salad. Great place otherwise though ! Would come back

I've been meaning to try Tanakaya after seeing their soba flight on Tik Tok! I came near opening…read moreand got seated right away, and by the end, it was pretty full, so I can see how waitlists might be long during busy hours. Plenty of parking and staff is attentive! Everything is a bit expensive for what it is, but overall taste wise, everything was amazing regardless! We got the assorted tempura, filet katsu don, and cold soba flight sampler. The assorted tempura was good, they had a lot of variety and I enjoyed the mushroom, asparagus, and potato! The shrimp tempura portion is very generous in size and was good. A little overpriced for what it is, but if you love this assortment of fried tempura, it is overall good to try! The filet katsu don was amazing, and I like that it came with a small bowl of miso soup! It's always nice to have that as a complimentary side dish. The katsu was crispy and complimented well by the sauce! I'd highly recommend this dish! And now for the star of the show... the soba flight! This was so fun to go through and I highly recommend it just for the experience! My personal favorite was the one that included enoki mushroom on the topping. Definitely would recommend trying Tanakaya if you haven't already! I'd definitely come back.

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TANAKAYA - Inside

Inside

TANAKAYA - Assorted soba special

Assorted soba special

TANAKAYA - Assorted tempura ($20.95)

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Assorted tempura ($20.95)

Cream Pan - Azuki creams  IG: @chow.witme

Cream Pan

4.5(7k reviews)
3.3 mi
$

Gotta get here early to get the full menu options. The strawberry croissant pastry is a given but…read morethe azuki cream is another home run! Their egg sandwiches are great as well with friendly and fast service! They also have regular bread options as well!

We have made pit stops at this OG branch of Cream Pan in Tustin over the years. The location of…read morethis well-known Japanese/French bakery was unusual in that it's isolated in a corner of the El Camino Plaza. I had expected the business to be in a more high volume area, however a benefit of their corner spot was that the parking lot had plenty of spaces. There's no indoor seating, but outdoor tables were set up along the north and east perimeters of the building. I was by myself at this latest visit, and it was close to the end of the day so the inventory was quite depleted. There was no line at all which was not a surprise. The famous Strawberry Croissants and prepackaged items were on refrigerated display to the left when you walked in. As the service counter rounded a corner, there were more fresh baked goods on display before you reached a register. Across from the registers were shelves containing bags of fresh bread products. I bought a Strawberry Croissant, a Sticky Bun, a Ham and Cheese Croissant, and an Apple Croissant. The quality of the pastry dough was very good, and I could see why the Strawberry Croissant was a favorite with the customers. The croissants were light and flakey, and the powdered sugar added a delicate topping to the strawberry version. If I were to rate on just the Strawberry Croissant, then it would be five stars. My overall rating was downgraded because of the customer traffic flow. The lines can be optimized so that if you wanted to buy a six-pack of the Strawberry Croissants and/or anything prepackaged, then a separate queue should be arranged for those customers. The cafeteria trays were of limited use if you were not getting a large number of items. As you advanced in the queue, other products had to be requested from a worker behind the counter and then those were not placed on the tray. Ultimately, I think they can configure the operation to more efficiently handle the higher volume periods of the day.

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Cream Pan - Raisin bread ($4.80). 8/11/2024

Raisin bread ($4.80). 8/11/2024

Cream Pan - Strawberry Banana Croissant, Strawberry Croissant

Strawberry Banana Croissant, Strawberry Croissant

Cream Pan - It's called epic

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It's called epic

Takoyaki Yamachan - japanese - Updated May 2026

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