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    Yubuya

    4.8 (310 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    YUBUYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Quiet

    Recommended Reviews - Yubuya

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    Carrie Z.

    Flavorful Nigiri & Great Service A solid, casual spot whether you're looking for a quick dine-in meal or a takeout option. The staff here is super nice, which makes the experience even better. Flavor Profiles: I really enjoyed that the nigiri and yubu come pre-seasoned/flavored. It adds a nice touch and keeps the flavors consistent without needing much extra. Portions & Pricing: You'll likely need to spend at least $20 for a full meal.

    Melanie L.

    Have been here many times - always here for the lunch specials whenever I can make it in time for that. I eat a lot and usually 4 yubus plus a miso soup or cucumber salad is enough to fill me up for a meal! Great flavor, portion and freshness. The salmon here is my go to and I love that they have many other options.

    Paula H.

    I absolutely love frequenting this establishment! There is a deal that I always get: buy 3 yubus and get a free miso soup. When I'm hungry, I'll get another Yubu! My favorite flavors are the fresh salmon, seared salmon, creamy onion salmon, fresh yellowtail, and seared tuna. The fish is really fresh and when combined with the sweetness of tofu skin...perfection! The workers are really nice and friendly! I always like saying hi to them. There is some searing both inside and outside! It's limited but I've always had a spot to sit when I came. They also have a bathroom to use too. There a large parking lot so no need to worry about parking.

    Seared tuna, unagi, another seared tuna
    Torie J.

    We drove here all the way from LA because I wanted to try this place so much. I even flipped through the menu the night before because I was so excited to try it. Soooo worth it. Everyone was right: the creamy onion salmon was so freaking good and my favorite one. It was the right amount of savory and tangy. I also enjoyed the other crowd favorite, soy marinated salmon, and it was also super yummy. It had a different flavor profile than I would have expected. The seared tuna was also tasty and I really enjoyed the toasty char taste. The people working here were super nice too :) Parking was easy and ample in a strip mall. I also liked the music they played. Hehe

    Seared Salmon Creamy Onion Salmon Soy Marinated Salmon
    Tristen S.

    Got the seared salmon, creamy onion salmon, soy marinated salmon yubu and all really good! Perfect quick lunch option. My favorite was the soy marinated salmon. I liked the vinegar rice too. Buy 3 Yubus to get a free miso soup! The store is small with a few bar tables. The staff were really friendly and helpful. It's located in a plaza with easy parking.

    Victoria L.

    So cute and convenient! Easy parking in this shopping complex. Only has maybe 10 spots max to sit but it's definitely more of a grab and go place. Despite being super convenient and fast - these yubus are made on the spot!! Tofu skins with half rice (at the bottom) and topping (as seen on top). Flavor is amazing and so fresh. It's only lightly sauced and you'd have to buy extra if you need it but i think it's perfectly seasoned. The staff are super sweet and answer all the questions patiently. I can't wait to come back!!

    TOP: Creamy Onion Salmon & Seared Salmon BOTTOM: Creamy Onion Salmon, Unagi (eel), & Soy Marinated Salmon
    Sharlene S.

    Was in the nearby area and saw a spot I've had bookmarked was there! We came around lunch on a weekday so it wasn't super busy yet. The store is small, cozy, cute. They have a register or a self order kiosk. The staff is helpful at any question you may have. My partner got the lunch combo with udon, seared salmon, and creamy onion salmon. I got the set of 3 with creamy onion salmon, eel (unagi), and soy marinated salmon. His favorite was the creamy onion salmon. Mine was the soy marinated and the onion salmon. The lot has parking as it's in a little shopping plaza. Will stop by again when I'm in the area.

    Unagi, Soy Marinated Salmon, Fresh Salmon Inari
    Cindy N.

    Cute cozy little spot to grab some delicious inari sushi! The sweet tofu skin, with seasoned rice, makes for the perfect base for salmon, tuna, and other delicious topping choices. Love that they offer lunch specials here, and if you order 3 or more inari, they give you a free miso soup! Got the Fresh Salmon, which you can't go wrong with! The Soy Marinated Salmon, which was soo good, I loved the sweet and savory soy flavor! And then the Unagi, which had a sweet smoky flavor which I enjoyed too, good option if you don't want raw fish. The staff here were also the sweetest! Few seats available inside and outside too.

    Get some of everything!
    David T.

    If I could only pick ONE restaurant to eat at every week, it would be Yubuya in Costa Mesa. I love EVERYTHING about this place. The food, the service, the parking, the vibe, and how healthy and alive I feel after eating there. This is my usual order: Seared Salmon Yubu Fresh Tuna Yubu SPAM Yubu Fresh Yellow Tail Yubu You get a cup of warm miso if you order at least 3 Yubus for lunch. Then I get a cucumber salad (the BEST version in OC) I always order two 50-cent sides of yuzu ponzu (I pour some on the cucumber and some on the fresh yubus) I love that you can switch it up between fresh Yubu and seared Yubu, and it's totally different. I also love ordering Unagi as either Yubu or Nigiri. You should also try the Donburi bowl. It's amazing. Both of the artists who work here are so kind, friendly, and they truly add that extra artistic touch to everything. The rice has a unique blend of seasoning, and the toppings are carefully placed with plating tweezers. Nothing is haphazard or rote; everything is there to create the perfect "I'm in my happy place vibe." If you want to wash away a bad day, or celebrate a great day, you should eat pure happiness at Yubuya.

    seared tuna, spicy scallop
    Michelle W.

    - parking is plentiful in this plaza with other restaurants and businesses situated here - this quaint shop has some indoor and outdoor seating - staff were so kind and briefly explained the menu to us newcomers! - loved both yubus!! the rice itself was seasoned so well and the quality of the fish was fresh. the spicy paste on the scallops were delicious too!

    Lunch Combo #1 - $13
    Arshad H.

    Yubuya is small cafe that specializes in yubus (fried tofu pouches that have vinegared rice and are topped with fresh sushi). It's similar to Japanese inari sushi. The yubus are priced at about $5 when I visited but I saw they had a lunch combo that included 2 and udon soup. Lunch combo ($13) - This came with udon soup, and 2 yubus. For my yubus I went with a salmon and cream cheese topping and the other yubu I went with tuna. I was impressed with quality of the fish in both the yubus, they were both so fresh. The udon noodles, while chewy, were just ok and nowhere as good as the udon at Marugame. Overall the yubus are fresh and taste great. They have a large selection to choose from. Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of fish in the yubu, but it's definitely worth checking out if one is looking for some that tastes great and is fresh!

    Bottom Row: Fresh Salmon, Ikura, Soy Marinated Salmon. Top Row: Creamy Onion Salmon, Seared Salmon, Unagi
    Roger P.

    Yubuya serves inari, which are little pockets of rice and toppings inside a fried, seasoned tofu pouch. Easy snack (or meal if you order a lot) and a lot of different toppings to choose from! Order in-person via kiosk or check online to see if they're still doing $5 off your first order of $20 minimum. Each inari is freshly packed so when there's a lot of people, there might be a small wait but usually it doesn't take long for them to stuff a couple of tofu pouches. There isn't much room indoors to eat, just a couple of tables and counters. I ordered the regular salmon, soy marinated salmon, and ikura. I also got to try a bit of the unagi and the creamy onion salmon. If you purchase 3 yubus, you can also get a free miso soup! Out of all of them, my favorite was the soy marinated salmon. It's a sweet/salty sticky marinade that reminded me of bulgolgi and the fish was actually pretty good quality. Second place would have to be the unagi because of the seared taste from the blowtorch. Each yubu is stuffed but half of it is all rice so don't be disappointed if you thought it would just be entirely of fish. For me, eating three of them filled me up. Highly recommend and can't wait to be back to try other flavors!

    Soy Marinated Salmon, Seared Tuna, Ikura, Creamy Onion Salmon
    Kaitlyn L.

    I've been wanting to try yubu for SO long (inari lover) and one pic of the yubu here made me route there immediately after getting off my flight. First of all, the individuals working here were super accommodating. We came in half an hour before they closed at 2:30 just to ask if they would still take orders (to-go), but they welcomed us and allowed us to dine in. We were super grateful since we were starving and ordered quickly so they could wrap up in the kitchen. I don't have many words to describe this meal. It was simply delicious, fresh, and completely satisfying. The soy marinated salmon, must-get. I think we tried four different yubu that differed from each other and were delicious in their own ways. Definitely want to try more if I'm ever back in the area! Lastly, thank you to the server that let us order and offered us another miso soup since there were two of us! You were super sweet and as one of our first interactions since landing in Santa Ana, it set the good mood for the rest of our first day here. Def recommend. 5/5

    Fresh Salmon, Spicy Tuna, Ikura

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    1 month ago

    Was a little nervous with it being a small and unfamiliar shop-WOW was I pleasantly surprised-Great food, service, and staff!!!

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    Page 1 of 8

    Yubuya Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Yubuya

    Yoo's Place - Soonduboo, spicy tofu soup

    Yoo's Place

    4.3(574 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Came here around 5:45 PM and it was busy but no line -- always a good sign. The interior is super…read morebright and welcoming, and most of the staff are ajummas, which honestly gives it that comforting, homey Korean diner vibe. You can tell this place has a strong base of regulars too, I saw a mix of friend groups and families casually walking in like it's their go-to spot. We ordered the cold noodles combo with jokbal (pork hock) for $30.95. Portion wise, it's SOLID for two people. The cold noodles were refreshing and really hit the spot, especially if you like that clean, slightly tangy flavor. The jokbal was very decent. Not bad, but if you've had it in Korea, you'll notice it doesn't quite hit the same level still totally "usable," just not standout. Value, this is where they win. We got full off just one combo, which is rare these days. Plus, all the usual Korean side dishes are complimentary, and they also served a warm bone broth at no extra cost. I've honestly never had that offered like this before, and it made the whole meal feel extra comforting and homey. Small detail, but I also appreciated that the table was already fully set up with bowls, utensils, and water which makes everything efficient. Overall, really solid experience. It actually gave me a bit of that Seoul nostalgia, which is hard to replicate. Definitely coming back to try more dishes.

    First time at Yoo's Place and I felt like I stumbled upon a hidden gem. There are so many items on…read morethe menu here, but I was really wanting naengmyun after a beach day. The restaurant wasn't that busy when I went. Super clean, the server was so sweet, and the food came out so fast. The banchan was on the sweeter side. I really enjoyed their kimchi and bean sprouts. My naengmyun came out shortly after the banchan, and I was so surprised by how big the portion was! It had a good amount of meat and cucumber too. It was so much that I was able to take home half. I look forward to coming back and trying more dishes out!

    Photos
    Yoo's Place - Nice set up - super convenient.

    Nice set up - super convenient.

    Yoo's Place - 56. Jajang Myun

    56. Jajang Myun

    Yoo's Place - 25. Kalbi

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    25. Kalbi

    Myung Dong Tofu House & BBQ - Spicy pork

    Myung Dong Tofu House & BBQ

    4.6(131 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Food was delicious and incredibly fresh! My husband and I were very impressed with both the…read morepresentation and flavor of everything we ordered. Each dish was seasoned beautifully, and the side dishes were absolutely marvelous. The service was also wonderful from start to finish. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately, and I truly appreciated the calm and welcoming atmosphere. It was such a refreshing experience compared to another place I had been visiting for over three decades. The restaurant itself is open, spacious, and very comfortable. I also noticed how clean and well-maintained the restrooms were, which I always appreciate. Our waiter even informed us that the food is MSG-free, which made me especially happy. This is definitely our new favorite spot for soft tofu soup!

    From the first moment to the last the experience was awesome!…read more We came as a clan of 18, 8 adults, 4 teens and 6 wild children. From the first moment their staff sat us quickly, suggested dishes for not only the kids and the teens but also us adults...and the craziest part it was all spot on. Just the right amount of food, the right kind of soups and protein options to their appetizers all the way down to the banchan. The place is also immaculate to boot! Their galbi was one of the best we've had and the owner told us the special marinade which I'm surely going to try at home. Their pork and kimchi soup was great. Their korean pancake dish with this dipping sauce and onions was perfect! It's rare to have a really perfect dining experience with a decent sized group, but to have one with a crazy wild bunch of kids and very hungry pack of teens and adults too is amazing to me. Great job by the family that runs this place. We will most definitely be back and very soon!

    Photos
    Myung Dong Tofu House & BBQ - Bright and plentiful seating. Indoor only.

    Bright and plentiful seating. Indoor only.

    Myung Dong Tofu House & BBQ
    Myung Dong Tofu House & BBQ - Bulgogi bibimbop

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    Bulgogi bibimbop

    Wadaya - WADAYA is now OPEN

    Wadaya

    4.6(1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Randomly decided to try this place with the wife last night…read more I remembered there being a spot called mogu mogu here prior and confirmed with the waitress that it's the same menu! Spicy miso ramen: 9/10 Actually one of the better ramens I've had lately. The broth is creamier and isn't overpowering with chicken/beef flavor. The chashu was nice and tender as well. I really liked that their noodles were al dente and not too soft Deluxe mazemen: 8/10 Taking my first bite, I was instantly greeted with an explosion of umami. There's a LOT of flavor packed in this bowl and the noodles used are actually a bit thicker which is right up my alley. My only drawback on this dish was that I wished it came with some sort of veggies to cut through all the flavor. They also give you a small serving of rice at the end for you to mix into the bottom which was a nice addition Kurobota sausage: 7.5/10 We've recently been on a kurobota craze. Don't get me wrong, these were great but we've only had them charred and grilled before so I was taken aback when I saw that these were only steamed. Flavor was spot on but I'm a sucker for a nice char or crisp to my meat Overall, loved the service and small restaurant vibe of this spot. We were seated very quickly and the food came out even faster. Definitely come try this spot, I know we'll be back

    Never had Mazemen before which is basically broth-less ramen with various of toppings. We were on…read morethe way to Kitakata, but after finding this place on Yelp, we had to check out the hype. The interior is cozy and small with authentic Japanese decorations/setup. Kinda felt like we were eating in Kyoto or something, lol. The lady who served us was friendly and gave us good recommendations. I think she was handling the whole operation to be honest. To start it off, we ordered their specialty chicken karaage and it was very delicious. It has a nice crispy and crunchy texture. The batter on the chicken was good and once you bite it, the meat is juicy and tender. Doesn't really need dipping since it's so good. As for the Mazemen, we ordered the Deluxe and Veggie one, both is a 5/5. Very flavorful and it tastes just like ramen, but without the soup. The presentation of the dish looks like a work of art. Very picture pretty. I ate that shit up within ten minutes. After that they give you a scoop of rice so you can mix it up with the leftover sauce. Lots of umami for sure. Definitely will come back again to try the other flavors. People, trust me and come through!

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    Wadaya
    Wadaya
    Wadaya

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    Kagura

    Kagura

    4.2(453 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Had an amazing meal at Kagura--easily one of the best katsu spots I've been to in the area…read more The quality really stands out. The pork was incredibly tender and juicy on the inside with that perfect crispy, golden crust on the outside. You can tell a lot of care goes into the preparation, from the precise frying to how everything is plated and served. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of the katsu I had in Osaka--simple, focused, and done really well. No unnecessary extras, just high-quality ingredients executed properly. The sides and sauces complemented everything perfectly, and the whole meal felt balanced and satisfying without being too heavy. If you're into tonkatsu or just want something done right, this place is absolutely worth it. Definitely a 5-star experience for me.

    Solid spot for katsu and hamburg. Almost everything on the menu is fried except for their wagyu…read morehamburg and the pork ginger set. I do wish they had some more non fried options, but the fried stuff, they do well. It comes with the side dishes traditional to Japanese meals, and the katsu is veeeeeery crispy crunchy. Their curry flavor is pretty flavorful too but not mindblowing or particularly memorable. The wagyu hamburg was tender, juicy, but definitely salty. The gravy was alright because it was just salt forward. I loved the salad with it because it cut through the salt, but it got drenched in the gravy because it was put on the same plate. The rice was perfect and the miso soup was good, and I particularly liked the sweet potatoes. I liked the okra side but it was a little slimy for me and a little awkward to put in one's mouth with the goo. But once it was in my mouth it was great LOL. The service was great; they filled up our waters extensively and got everything perfect. Quick, efficient, accurate service is always amazing! And the restaurant itself is very cutely decorated in the Japanese style and I was pretty impressed with how cute it was since the outside can seem like an unassuming strip mall. Yummy food!!!

    Photos
    Kagura - Tables interior

    Tables interior

    Kagura - Sauce Katsu Sando | $14.95

    Sauce Katsu Sando | $14.95

    Kagura - Misokatsu

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    Misokatsu

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Yuk gae jang with ramyun

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine

    4.2(491 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Cannot say enough about this place. Yuk dae jang with noodles is probably one of my go to foods I…read morewill never say no to. Insides are clean and service is always on game. The mandu and bossam are great choices too and are lowkey slept on

    Ironically I went out for soup because it was rainy weather but instead of getting bone broth or…read morekal-guksu, I randomly decided to get the spicy blood sausage soup. Best decision of my late night misadventures in a long time! It was very filling (you could probably order one item and split it or have plenty of food for leftovers the next day), it's not inexpensive but it's great value (but then again $20 for a meal out is kind of going rate standard so maybe it is inexpensive or comparable to most anything else you could choose?), and it's great quality. The soup is a combo meal that comes with rice, glass noodles, fish cakes in sauce, and kimchi. You can also modify the spice level to make it more mild or spicy depending on your preference. I don't know why I am so obsessed with the soup but I'm going to think about it for a while because I was 100% lost in the sauce while eating it - after you get halfway you can put the rice, part of the kimchi, and (maybe) the fish cakes in the soup so it gets closer to porridge and break up some of the blood sausage to mix it throughout. Service is friendly and can recommend different things to eat. I got my order as takeout but the dining atmosphere is really good for how close each table is to one another. Everyone still has enough space to be on their own but because you're closer together it kind of feels communal.

    Photos
    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Inside

    Inside

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Bossam Large

    Bossam Large

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - 육대장매운쭈꾸미만두 Spicy Calamari Mandu (6 pcs)

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    육대장매운쭈꾸미만두 Spicy Calamari Mandu (6 pcs)

    Yubuya - japanese - Updated May 2026

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