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    TANAKAYA

    4.0 (876 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Noodles
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    TANAKAYA Photos

    Business Info

    TANAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - TANAKAYA

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jessica T.

    The food was good. Service was fast. Nice small restaurant. I would definitely come back. :)

    Linh N.

    I've been wanting to try this place for so long but the line is always busy! However, we got lucky on this day bevause there wasn't a line so we got seated pretty quickly! I got the soba 1 layer and it was AMAZINGGGG. They hand pulled their noodles so it did take quite a bit but the noodles were fresh! Their dipping sauce was also very flavorful as well! I enjoyed the noodles a lot bevause it has a stretchy feeling to it. I got to speak to one of the server and he was so nice!! He explained some of the history of the store to me while I was looking at the family pictures on the wall! Would def come back :)

    Ume shiso soba noodles
    Stacy S.

    I've already written a detailed review of this restaurant below, but wanted to add some photos from our recent dinner. I got the Nabeyaki Udon for $23.45 and hubby got the Soba with mixed tempura. I didn't care for the nabeyaki broth. It was a tad bit too salty. I also didn't like the oysters that were in it. It seemed like a strange ingredient to have inside nabeyaki. Last of all, the shrimp tempura had way too much batter. I really enjoyed the udon though! The noodles are perfect. I'd rate this a 3 out of 5. Hubby loved his soba with mixed tempura and would rate it 5 out of 5. We went on a Saturday night for dinner. They open at 5:30pm and we got there at 5:15pm. We were the 2nd in line. An employee came out before they opened up to find out how many each group had in their party. She wrote it on a piece of paper and then let everyone in until the restaurant was filled. My suggestion is to get there around 5:15pm if you want to get seated in the first group, otherwise you'll probably have to wait an hour.

    Tram B.

    Matcha soba? That's all we saw and we knew we had to go here. I went with the soba sampler, which comes with 5 different kinds (ume shiso, nameko oroshi, sansai, tanuki, and 2 matcha). They also come with a small bowl of dipping sauce. Now if you're planning to split this with a friend, I don't really recommend this since the soba stuck to itself and was hard to unravel and split. It's more of a solo dish. We had trouble trying to split it and ended up dipping it and eating with one full bite. What I like about this place is the simplicity of the options and the flavors. None of the dishes are overwhelming, but are light and fresh.

    Menu - May 2026
    Wesley C.

    I'm glad we ordered the cold soba sample for our first time because now I know Ume Shiso is my favorite!!! The flavors were punchy and deeeelicious. I would love to try it with cold udon noodles next time, and would come back again. The tables fill up quickly and like the other reviews mentioned, there's usually a wait. We didn't wait too long for our table, but for all of food to arrive was upwards of an hour, which the owner has mentioned taking longer to make food during rush hour in their business bio because they make everything to order.

    Took 50 minutes for this to come out
    Lam M.

    The soba noodles are authentic and the tempura was fried beautifully. However, this is one of the most poorly managed restaurants I've been to. My husband and I came in on a Sunday. We got seated at 12 pm and ordered within a few minutes. We did not get our food for 50+ minutes. The waiter said it's because the soba is hand twirled... but even then it shouldn't take that long? We each ordered the soba sampler and a side of mixed tempura. After the first rush died down, a couple sat down next to us and ordered the same thing. Their food came out within 10 minutes. The whole experience was very frustrating. Even though the food was pretty good, I am not coming back. There are not that many tables here so for food to take that long to come out, it is not acceptable. We should have known when we walked in 30 min after opening and the majority of tables did not have their food yet, that it was a red flag. Items came out one by one for each table. It was like watching paint dry.

    Katsuni
    Chris G.

    This is my go-to spot for udon and soba. The noodles are always fresh, and every dish I've tried has been amazing. You can really taste the quality and authenticity in each bowl. The wait can be a little long -- as the owner mentioned on Yelp -- but it's well worth it for truly authentic Japanese noodles. The service is good, the restaurant is clean, and the pricing is very reasonable for the quality you get. I highly recommend trying the cold soba -- it's my personal favorite and never disappoints.

    Nameko oroshi soba
    Yurie H.

    Quiet and small soba shop with tasty noodles! My hubby and I came around 1 pm on a Sunday. The place was around 75% full. They have various soba and udon noodles and couple of appetizers. I got the nameko oroshi soba and hubby got the kitsune soba. (Dishes are $16-$21). The wait was pretty long, around 45 minutes to get both of our dishes (does have a paper in front of store saying dishes will take 30-45 minutes). My nameko soba had decent amount of nameko super refreshing and filling. My hubbys udon was warm and noodles were chewy. I do like Minami soba better counting the quality and wait time. Would love to try the other dishes next time but will consider to go if wait is 30-45 min.

    Katsu
    Krista K.

    Got here at opening and barely was able to snag the last table. There was already a long line waiting to get inside before the doors opened. The food took a really long time to arrive. In my opinion the food is not worth the wait and lackluster. Katsu don- 5/5: I enjoyed this dish. The katsu was very crispy. We got the lunch combo and with soba noodles. Good choice if you want to have rice and taste their soba. Soba sampler- 3/5: The presentation was very nice. Taste was mid. 4/6 tasted almost the same. The matcha is an interesting flavor if that's your liking. To me it was kinda strange to be eating matcha in that form. The noodles themselves had almost no taste even when dipped into the sauce. Hot Udon noodles- 3/5: This dish was okay. Not too much flavor.

    Filet Katsu Don
    Ky-Anh H.

    I've been meaning to try Tanakaya after seeing their soba flight on Tik Tok! I came near opening and 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.

    Wen Wen C.

    If you are seeking truly authentic Japanese soba noodles in Orange County, TANAKAYA is the place to be. The soba here is the undisputed star. What struck me immediately was the exceptional authenticity of the noodles The sauce is just right, not too slaty and it just takes a quick dip to have the right taste. But what truly elevates the dining experience is the innovative option to substitute your soba with their special matcha soba. This isn't just a gimmick; it's a brilliant fusion that works surprisingly well. . It's a creative and delicious twist that I highly recommend trying--it shows their dedication to both tradition and culinary exploration. Beyond the soba, the atmosphere is calm and authentic. The setting is just like a traditional japanese dining place. Definitely worth a try.

    kitsune

    great food! very fresh and tasty. broth wasn't too salty. noodles were chewy. i got the cold kitsune soba. it's a smaller restaurant so there might be a wait if you come at peak time, but i went like 10 mins after they opened for dinner and was sat immediately (but there was already people in the restaurant and it was almost filed already) when we went, they did mention o me and my friend that they are short staffed so the wait for our order may be longer than usual. we probably waited around 20 mins for our food. not a huge deal especially since they did communicate with us. very nice servers!! would come back:)

    Curry Udon
    Rishi C.

    Came here for dinner tonight and left pretty disappointed. The restaurant is located in a plaza with plenty of parking, and the restaurant itself is cute and has plenty of indoor seating. The staff are nice, but my goodness this is one of the slowest restaurants I have ever been to. The restaurant was about 60% full when we arrived, and it took over 40 minutes for our food to be served, and not once during that time did the staff check in or apologize for the wait. The food itself was just ok; I had ordered mixed tempura and curry udon. The curry udon had a different consistency than I'm normally used to, and the tempura was your standard affair. I was really hoping this would be worth the wait, but unfortunately it wasn't. Overall, a really disappointing experience, and while I'd love to try their soba noodles, I refuse to put up with these absurd wait times again. Edit: Unfortunately my wife and I both got sick from this meal the next morning, so we definitely will not be coming back.

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    TANAKAYA Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - TANAKAYA

    This place is marked as having outdoor seating. Is it still available?

    No outdoor seating as of 8/4/23

    Can you order takeout?

    Yes they do, phone or in person

    Does the restaurant take reservations and is there outdoor seating?

    No reservations

    Are any of the noodles & sauces/soups/dips vegetarian? Meaning no fish products either, but eggs are ok. I called the restaurant once & was told there was nothing vegetarian, but the reviews here seem to suggest otherwise?

    Is the curry made from scratch or instant?

    It is their own recipe.

    Are any of the noodles gluten free?

    I'm pretty sure they don't

    Is this restaurant still closed? I've been calling but keeps going to voicemail

    The restaurant is still open. It's closed on Monday and Thursday. It's open for lunch 1130 - 200pm… 

    Are there any vegetarian options? If so, what would you all recommend?

    I recommend you check these at the restaurant, but there are many options I believe if you can accept the fish soup. The sauce to dip cold soba or udon and the sweet soy-sauce-base soup should contain fish soup. (fish soup is made by boiling the… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining

    Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Loved this place. The staff is so nice…read more The food was delicious can't wait to come back. The shell crab was so sooo good and tasty. The corn fritters also delicious, with the white truffle salt. Ao unique. Also had the margarita, that was a fun experience shaking the lime into the glass, Pork belly ramen! OMG- melted in Your mouth. Overall 100/10. Get there early, long waitlist, but well worth the wait. Thank you for a great dining experience.

    Habuya Okinawan Dining is one of those rare places that isn't just about the food--it's about…read moreexperiencing Okinawan culture. Mama (Mayumi) has poured so much of herself into this restaurant, from the artwork on the walls to the warm hospitality that makes it feel like you're being welcomed into someone's home. (Oishii Desu "It's Delicious"⁠) If it's your first visit, don't skip the Okinawan specialties. The mountain yam dishes, rafute (braised pork belly), Okinawan soba, and an ice-cold Orion beer served in a frosted glass are all part of what makes Habuya so memorable. It's a place to slow down, share plates, and enjoy the experience. I'm genuinely happy to see Habuya getting so much attention on social media because it's well deserved. My only hope is that as more people discover it, they also help preserve what makes it special. This is a small, family-run restaurant, so please be patient during check-in, be kind to the staff, and remember that many guests have been waiting for the opportunity to enjoy the experience as well. Come to appreciate the food, drinks, and Okinawan culture--not just to snap a few photos and leave. One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't drink alcohol or follow a vegan diet, the menu may feel a bit more limited. But if you're open to experiencing authentic Okinawan cuisine, Habuya is truly one of Orange County's hidden gems.

    Photos
    Izakaya Habuya Okinawan Dining
    Chicken wings
    Chicken wings
    Purple Yam

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    Okidoki by Meiji

    Okidoki by Meiji

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    My wife took me here for my birthday and I was overjoyed with the selection. I recommend getting a…read morereservation to avoid major wait times. Interior is quite the Japanese vibes, it's not very spacious but spacious at the same time? We were seated near the counter and next to us were a table of two basically right beside me. Staff here is very efficient. They're quick and attentive. Orders were taken quickly and food came out in moderate speed. Around 20 minutes or so which is a bit slow but I heard that they take their time preparing the food, hence the higher quality. I'd say it's worth the wait for sure after trying our menu items. My wife ordered the Inaka Hot Soba and I ordered the Beef Curry. Both are presented very beautifully. We also got a Crunchy Sushi Roll to share which was super delicious and a perfect appetizer before the main entrees. The Inaka Hot Soba was very delicious, it's similar to a mazesoba mix + bibimbap which both are one of my favorite dishes. Soba noodles were not tough at all and very savory. Many flavors mixed all in one bowl was the perfect dish overall. The beef curry was absolutely delicious as well. Filled with curry flavoring on the beef, it was not super overwhelming and it was very fulfilling overall. Absolutely love the portions as well. Overall, a amazing spot in Tustin that's lowkey hidden. Food is high quality and definitely made with care. Staff is fast and professional. Absolutely coming back in the near future to try their other menu items. They have more than just soba, sushi rolls, and curry. Excited to try their other sushi rolls + udon as well.

    We were craving Japanese udon and/or soba, so this spot was perfect for us. They offer plenty of…read morehouse-made udon and soba dishes as well as ramen, rice bowls, sushi rolls, and more. I ordered the Inaka soba, which was very savory and flavorful. The bowl included tororo, mushrooms, bonito flakes, shredded nori, green onions, and an egg. I enjoyed the nutty buckwheat flavor from the soba noodles and the clean taste from the light dashi broth. My husband had the curry udon with beef. The curry was aromatic and came as a silky, soup-like consistency that coated each udon noodle nicely. It had a deep umami flavor. The udon was the ideal texture - thick and chewy. As for the beef, it was very tender. We shared a crunchy roll on the side. It was cut into 8 pieces. Every piece was super crispy and delicious. The main flavor came from the eel sauce, so it tasted very sweet and savory.

    Photos
    Spicy Beef Udon (Rice Ball)
    Spicy Beef Udon (Rice Ball)
    August Monthly Special: Prime Beef Steak & Garlic Udon
    August Monthly Special: Prime Beef Steak & Garlic Udon
    Okidoki by Meiji

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    TANAKAYA - japanese - Updated August 2026

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