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    Uncle Tetsu

    4.4 (283 reviews)
    ModerateDesserts, Japanese
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Uncle Tetsu Takeout or Delivery

    Uncle Tetsu Photos

    Business Info

    UNCLE TETSU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Tetsu

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    Menu. 1/18/2026
    Sandra L.

    Uncle Tetsu is still the OG when it comes to Japanese Cheesecake, at least that's how I feel. They come out with limited flavors throughout the year and I just missed the most recent one with coffee tart and cheesecake. I love coffee desserts and while I've had their coffee cheesecake in the past, I have never seen it in the tart form and wanted to try. It's a bummer because they just switched over to the pandan flavor for a limited time. Still, I love this place for their Japanese style cheesecake - which is really more of a soft sponge cake rather than the traditional cheesecake. The workers here are friendly and the shop is always clean.

    Nikki Y.

    Stopped by for some cheese tarts! Parking was easy & it wasn't busy either (: if you're looking for dessert I would recommend you stop by here!

    Janney A.

    I haven't had Uncle Tetsu in a very long time. But I finally did last weekend and got to try the coffee one. I loved it. It tastes just like coffee, not too sweet, very fluffy and spongy. I think this flavor is my favorite. We also got the cookies and cream, but it was just okay. They told us it was sweeter, but it wasn't, at least not for me or anyone in the family who tried it. I couldn't really taste the cookies and cream. It wasn't as strong as the coffee flavor. The workers at this location were nice & helpful.

    Family birthdays party for this month
    Crystal G.

    Most delicious airy cheesecake I've ever ! We also had and the Ube just a slight flavor change.. Feels like I was biting into it sweet cloud. It was perfect not too sweet just perfect. Definitely made the birthday party special five stars.

    Burnt top layer

    I visited the store around 7:30 PM about 30 minutes before closing at 8:00 PM and to be honest I've been here a couple of times before and never had any issues so I fully trusted this place. That day I purchased one original cheesecake and one basque cheesecake as gifts for my friend and since I was in a rush I didn't open the box to check and handed the basque cheesecake directly to my friend as she was waiting in the parking lot, my original cheesecake was great just as good as always but the basque was not because the top was burnt completely black with a thick charred layer nothing like the thin beautifully caramelized brown crust shown in other customers' reviews, my friend got upset with me thinking I had given her a bad cake which I genuinely had no idea about and it wasn't until over a week later that she finally showed me the photos and it looked really bad as she had cut a small piece to try but had to discard the entire top half because the burnt layer heavily affected the flavor and tasted extremely bitter and I will attach the photos below I had to apologize to her repeatedly and felt so embarrassed by this experience and I paid $24 and received a cake that was essentially ruined and I understand the name is "burnt" but should a store really be selling something burnt to this extent, I will not be returning and my advice to other customers is to always check your order before leaving the store and avoid shopping close to closing time like I did.

    Leeza D.

    Fluffy cheesy Japanese style cheesecake which is great for get togethers. I like that they usually have samples out and I am not shy to grab a couple. So tasty. Parking is easy during off peak. Please come and create your own adventure.

    Original Cheese Tart
    Amy B.

    I had some pretty high expectations but was ultimately disappointed to the point where I won't be coming back. The food was actually not that good at all and it didn't taste like something made by real Japanese people. The ube cheesecake samples they had out tasted decent initially but quickly descended into tasting like not much more than excessive flour. The original cheese tart had a crust that was too unhealthy and tasted like Walker shortbread cookies, which I'm avoiding, and the cheese part of the tart wasn't impressive at all and also tasted a little too heavy, dull, and unhealthy. The vibe and decor inside was terribly unimpressive and actually looks like a run-down dungeon with the darkness and shiny tiles on the walls. There were no authentic Japanese staff on my visit and I believe Uncle Tetsu in the USA isn't even owned by the Japanese, so that probably explains why my expectations were decimated upon the first visit. I wanted a Japanese experience and this establishment doesn't deliver in any respect so I will chalk this up as part of the costs of trial and error. On the plus side, the Hakata Ikkousha ramen restaurant a few doors down was super impressive!

    Menu 2025
    Tim H.

    If you haven't tried Uncle Tetsu I would highly recommend it! Easy in and out service and delish cheesecake - light fluffy and a subtle sweetness

    Menu as of Nov 2025
    Amy L.

    Light fluffy cheesecake $14. It's not too sweet and you can taste more of the cream cheese.

    Original Cheese Tart
    Gladys P.

    This cheese tart is AMAZING! It's light and airy with a crispy crust. My friends brought this back from Costa Mesa but I was thrilled to find out there's a location in Eastvale which is the next city over from me. Can't wait to bring my family there to try out their other desserts.

    Ube Cheesecake
    Michelle C.

    What a treat! A mentor friend had bought this for me and my family - a cake that hits the Asian desert palate: it is not too sweet!!! The ube flavor is comforting and light, not overpowering. If you haven't had a Japanese cheesecake before, this is a wonderful place to try on a local level! The service was kind. You can sample whatever cheesecake they have out for the time of day. I got to try the strawberry cheesecake! There is no seating to eat inside - it is more of a place to get a dessert gift for family and friends of which my family has been an incredibly happy recipient! Thank you all, God bless you all

    Mini original cheesecake
    Jasmine N.

    Tucked away in a corner of a plaza. Not too busy in there during the weekday and it's nice to try out the sampler in the front. I tried the cookies and cream cheesecake and it was just eh. I've come to realize I like more of a regular cake than a Japanese cheesecake so this is a review of my comparison of the flavors and the store/staff. I came in for a free mini cheesecake offer with purchase and got myself the popular ube flavor and then a seasonal flavor called summer mango. The mini cheesecake was just the original flavor. All of them are very light in flavor. The cakes are smaller than I remember? The original obviously being like the light Japanese cheesecake taste and slightly spongey. I am missing the extra brown top that adds a little more flavor. The ube cheesecake flavor was very mild. You cannot tell it's ube other than the darker purple color of the entire cake. I also think it's slightly drier. The summer mango had a little more flavor and feels more refreshing - definitely a summer flavor.

    Seasonal Burnt Basque Cheesecake flavor Nov 2025
    Angie L.

    I love trying the uncle tetsu seasonals!! There's usually a sample of a cheesecake in the front too so that usually helps occupy my little one (and temporarily satisfy my sweet tooth) while I order and pay. The service is decent, they get me what I want and I'm in and out super quick. These cheesecakes are so fluffy and not too sweet. The basque cheesecake is the opposite, it's great if you have a sweet tooth and it's quite rich and dense. I like both so I usually pick up both. Don't forget to ask for a stamp card too!!

    Ube Cheesecake

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    Page 2 of 8

    Uncle Tetsu Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Uncle Tetsu

    Would a lactose person be able to have if they eat cheese but not cream?

    Hi Ana, Unfortunately our products contain cream as one of the main ingredients. We apologize for… Read more

    Should the cheesecakes be consumed the same day or is it ok next day? I want to bring some to my family in Hawaii! Would it be fine as a carry on with some ice packs?

    Hi Kristine, no the cheesecakes do not need to be consumed on the same day. They are good in the fridge for up to 3-5 days so it would be fine to bring as a carry on with ice packs!… Read more

    How do you store the original cheesecake? Do you leave it in a cool place or refrigerate?

    Hi Jenny, our cheesecakes are good in room temperature for a few hours. After that, they should be refrigerated.… Read more

    Sorry if this sounds dumb, but is there anything gluten free?

    Hi Francis, No worries! At the moment, our cheesecakes are not gluten free.… Read more

    What time are you guys close?

    Hi Christine, our daily business hours are 11am-8pm. Best,… Read more

    View All 11 Questions

    El Moro Churrería - Pan de muerto milkshake

    El Moro Churrería

    4.4(337 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Churros like no other! I usually ask for no sugar since…read moretheir choux pastry dough is just right- specially when you get the churros with the español coco- perfect nice thick dipping hot cocoa with the right amount of bitterness and sweet. Truly the only way to eat churros- enjoying the simplicity of the light and airy crunch pastry and the rich bitter-sweet chocolate. We stopped by the location at the Mercado Market- the place was amazing and truly worth a visit. The stall was located across the market's bakery. You have a view of the people cooking the churros and preparing your order. Given that the stall in inside the market, it was vibrant and lively. I would pick up lunch at the market, grab churros and hot cocoa or coffee for dessert at El Moro and then shop at the market and bring home more goodies!

    What happened to this place? As a Mexico City native, I was over the moon when I heard that el…read moreMoro was coming to the OC and even got emotional the first time I visited when they first opened, brought me back to my childhood. The people were friendly and the Churros were delicious! Fast forward to today 5/5/26....haven visited for a while but what happened? All the friendly experts are gone. The people working there don't know what they are doing at all, the line was relatively short, about 4 people in front of me, but somehow it took longer than it did before. I placed my order with sugar only, no cinnamon, like I have since I was a child. The person at the window calls my name and hands me a bag, I check the churros they have cinnamon, I explained that I ordered with sugar only. She rolls her eyes and hands me another bag with plain/naked churros, no sugar. I again explain to her that I ordered churros with sugar but without cinnamon. She "dumps" the churros out of the bag into the sugar, breaking one of them, I asked her to replace the broken one, I again get attitude and flips me off when she thinks I'm not looking. This is not the service I am used to from Le Moro or Northgate. I do have to say that every other employee of the store was helpful and friendly, but employees at El Moro need additional training. I wonder if all the good ones were pulled to their new location in LA. I will have to find out, even if I have to drive you won't see me standing in line at this El Moro again. It's a shame that such a wonderful jewel brought from Mexico is not being managed to their reputation. Sad

    Photos
    El Moro Churrería - When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!

    When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!

    El Moro Churrería - Moritos packaging

    Moritos packaging

    El Moro Churrería - Menu

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    Menu

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - Biscoff Cookie Butter. Gingerbread cake with biscoff cookie crumble and powdered sugar on top. Delicious!

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

    4.4(5.2k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I usually love coming to sidecar because of their delicious donuts but I was very disappointed…read morewith the service I received today. It was 10 min before closing & idk if the girls were just rushing to close down but one girl in particular had an attitude. There was a miscommunication / misunderstanding with the girl who took my coffee order (I had assumed the seasonal banana latte came with the foam as pictured & because she didn't ask if I wanted the foam, I didn't ask for it more-so bc she asked if I wanted the brittle on top). When they handed me my drink it was a plain banana latte with no foam or brittle. I was ignored when I tried calling for the barista until another girl followed up - however this girl had an attitude. She told me that I must not have ordered it since they ask at the register if I want foam with brittle. Explained they didn't ask. Instead she just said "sorry I'll let them know for next time". And walked away leaving me with my drink as is. Didn't offer any sort of resolution. I walked in and asked they could charge me extra for the foam. The same girl with the attitude remade my drink and handed it to me. No thank you, no sorry, nothing. First time experiencing this kind of service. Not sure if the girl is new but saw someone else share a similar experience couple days ago. Wish I would have asked for her name!

    Sidecar never ever misses and they have me hooked with their seasonal flavors. They have the best…read moredonuts, and I'm not even a donut person. I specifically LOVE their cake donuts. I could go on and on about them... seriously. This time we had to come try their collab with Cake Picnic, which was the golden hour grey donut. Let me tell you, it was bomb.com. The orange flavor was phenomenal and I have no notes. We also got the strawberry donut and hot chocolate with almond milk, both obviously very good as well. It was my first time getting the hot chocolate and I was honestly surprised with how yummy it was. It was not too chocolatey and not too milky. It was the perfect balance and the perfect pairing with the donuts.

    Photos
    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.

    Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - The Apple Pan Pie. Filled with apple chunks in a spiced compote. Topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.

    The Apple Pan Pie. Filled with apple chunks in a spiced compote. Topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - White Chocolate Banana Bread. Moist banana bread cake with chocolate chips inside & white chocolate glaze. Toasted walnuts on top.

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    White Chocolate Banana Bread. Moist banana bread cake with chocolate chips inside & white chocolate glaze. Toasted walnuts on top.

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Ube Pandesal Toffee

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

    4.6(492 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Yuzu Matcha Cloud (seasonal) is so bright and zingy. Love the yuzu pop! The strawberry oat crumble…read moreis nice to pair with the yuzu matcha. The little hidden oat crumbles make you feel like you're eating a slice of crumb pie. And the best part is you can get a single scoop but split with two flavs... all the better Thankful to have V & Gf options. Service was commendable. I do wish that an ingredients list were available as well as nutrition facts. Allergens information is available though.

    I've tried a lot of ice cream spots--it's one of my favorite desserts--and I can honestly say this…read moreis some of the worst ice cream you can get in Orange County. I've been here twice now and tried about five different flavors total, and every single one was gross. The Experience: * Bad Flavors: On my last visit, I actually had to ask the worker to swap my flavor because I was convinced I just got a "bad" one. The second flavor was somehow even worse. I didn't even finish it; I just threw it away because it was that nasty. * Texture & Taste: It tastes like watered-down diet ice cream. It lacks any of the richness or flavor you'd expect from a specialized shop, especially for how expensive it is. I wouldn't even go back if the ice cream were free. The Location Trap: This place is right on 17th Street next to Sidecar Doughnuts and Pop Pie Co., which is a great, convenient location. I think people only go here because it's a "cool-looking" spot to stop at while driving to the beach or grabbing a donut next door. If it weren't for the location, I don't see how they would stay in business. Final Verdict: Don't be fooled by the convenient location or the surrounding shops. The ice cream is truly disappointing and definitely not worth the price. I won't be coming back ever.

    Photos
    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint

    (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5

    Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Yummy goodness!

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    Yummy goodness!

    Matcha Ren - Matcha Mont Blanc Soft Serve

    Matcha Ren

    3.3(270 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I finally got the chance to checked out this matcha soft serve spot that's tucked inside Mitsuwa's…read morefood court. Since I wanted more of a chill experience, I came on a weekday around 4pm. I highly recommend if you're not into crowds. There was only one person ahead of me and ordering was super easy through the kiosk. I went with the matcha and the hokkaido milk swirl on a cone. First bite, I tried the milk side on its own, and I loved how light it was. Not overly sweet. Then I tried the matcha by itself. It tasted earthy and had that matcha flavor. When I combined the swirl together , the matcha definitely took the spotlight. It kind of overpowered the milk swirl but I didn't mind it because I'm a matcha lover. It still balanced out nicely. Just more on the earthy matcha side. Oh, and let's not forget about the waffle cone. It was perfectly crunchy and tasted so good with my soft served. Also, shoutout to the employee who handed me my order. He was super friendly, welcoming, and all smiles which always makes the experience better.

    I went here today and saw the poster of the Sakura stuff. I decided to buy the Sakura and the…read moreflower on top almost tastes like medicine. But the strawberry and red bean were delicious. I love all things matcha, but I don't like how this place makes you pay by card or tap-to-pay if you're using a phone. Please try out this place when you're in Costa Mesa.

    Photos
    Matcha Ren
    Matcha Ren - Matcha Mont blanc soft serve

    Matcha Mont blanc soft serve

    Matcha Ren - Matcha cream mochi

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    Matcha cream mochi

    Salt & Straw - Tacolate (Taco Bell x Salt & Straw): cinnamon-ancho ice cream, a crunchy waffle cone taco, dark chocolate & studded w/puffed quinoa. | $7.95

    Salt & Straw

    4.5(320 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    This location is wonderful! The sweet server who helped us was so incredibly patient and…read morethoughtful, suggesting so many flavors because we didn't like any of them... She helped me narrow it down to the safe lavender and honey, which is so delicious! Of course salt and straw is known for their crazy flavors, but chewing bread in chocolate ice cream was a new one for me. The inside is super clean and minimal, but there is no seating inside or outside. It's great to stop by after dinner or before an event!

    My friend and I came here after dinner at Fashion Island--they're super close, so we were really…read morelooking forward to having ice cream in the cold weather. We got there around 10pm, and the line wasn't too long. I got their sea salt and double fold vanilla ice cream, which was the perfect combo, and let me tell you why! The sea salt ice cream itself is pretty salty because of the Guatemalan salt they use, but the caramel is strong and has the perfect sweetness, giving it that sweet-and-salty balance. Since I found the ice cream a bit more on the salty side, I wanted something sweeter, which is why the vanilla was the perfect addition. This is hands down one of the best vanilla ice creams I've had because I could really taste the vanilla bean flavor (it's called "double fold" for a reason). Their ice cream doesn't disappoint--it's rich, creamy, and really lives up to its flavors.

    Photos
    Salt & Straw - Arbequina Olive Oil and Double Fold Vanilla

    Arbequina Olive Oil and Double Fold Vanilla

    Salt & Straw - Tonight's delights

    Tonight's delights

    Salt & Straw - Single Scoop

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    Single Scoop

    Milk & Cookies

    Milk & Cookies

    4.6(362 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    Friends and I weren't craving donuts while in Newport, so we decided on Milk & Cookies to satisfy…read moreour sweet treat cravings. You could tell the cashier was ready to go home, but I found her endearing. She was very helpful and provided descriptions of some of the cookies they had displayed. My friend got the cowboy cookie and I got the M&M cookie. We both opted out of enjoying our cookies with milk, which I guess defeats the purpose.. but the cookies were warm and tasty. They were a great size for a decent price.

    I've been coming to this spot since 2020 during the COVID days, and the cookies remain great. They…read moreoffer a wide variety of flavors, and the best part is that the cookies are always served warm. The Order: * My Go-To: I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. * Variety: They have every flavor of milk, ice cream, and cookies you could want. Timing & Atmosphere: * Avoid Weekends: I would not recommend coming here on a weekend. The store is tiny, and because it's right next to all the bars, the area gets crowded with a lot of drunk people. If that isn't your scene, stick to a weekday visit. * Rewards: It is quite expensive, but it's a nice treat. Plus, you can sign up with your phone number to get discounts for future visits. The Parking Situation: * Virtually Non-Existent: There is no parking lot, so you are stuck looking for small spots along the side of the road. * Accessibility: There is no designated handicap parking, so keep that in mind if you aren't prepared to walk a bit from a side street. Final Verdict: It's a perfect weekday spot for a warm dessert, just be prepared for the peninsula parking struggle!

    Photos
    Milk & Cookies - Inside

    Inside

    Milk & Cookies - Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream

    Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream

    Milk & Cookies - Cookies

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    Cookies

    Uncle Tetsu - desserts - Updated May 2026

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