34 Best Japanese Restaurants in Irvine

“Everything was amazing to the food, the atmosphere and service!“

“Our meal was delicious and the service was amazing“

“Pretty good ramen and sushi. Our group ordered the tonkotsu black and spicy miso ramen. Both were very flavorful and filling. We also order the salmon bento box and chicken katsu with curry. Both the bento boxes were good, but katsu seemed a little dry. It's better with the curry, but I wouldn't order it again. The sushi was great. We got the baked salmon roll and crunch fire roll. Both were fresh and delicious! I would come back to try the other ramen.“

“I love Miyagi Shabu!! had the half and half with ribeye and wagyu....so delicious! best of both worlds and the porridge they make at the end is the bomb!!“

“This is my favorite and go to shabu and its for a reason. the quality of meats here are incredible and they offer different types of cuts with different prices. They also offer more than few options for broth which is a huge plus and my favorite here is the yuzu. moreover, the wait time is not long and they have greta service.“

“Sushi
Came here because we were curious and hungry. Not a lot of people which was perfect and got seated right away. The ambiance is a Japanese and Korean vibe. The food and service is so great.

Food. So many to choose from and you only have one stomach. Don’t you hate that.

What my family ordered.
Gurume steak
Salmon

Sushi and a few sushi rolls

Everything is so delicious. Sushi and sushi rolls are so fresh. Would definitely comeback her again.“

“Great place for some light and fresh food. Enjoyed the plate as it came with a dressed greens and cabbage salad. Cutlet was a little greasy and the teriyaki sauce tasted like A1 steak sauce. Still worth another trip next time I'm in town.“

“Quick and friendly service, food is yummy!.😋“

“Pleasantly surprised by how good the AYCE sushi was. There was a bit of a wait when we arrived right before they opened on a Friday, we added ourselves to the waitlist and it took about 20 minutes to be seated. The sushi and hot foods is of good quality, but there isn’t a lot of variety when it comes to nigiri. Still, it’s a very good option if you want AYCE sushi.“

“Very clean environment and fresh sashimi. Good service too👍“

“What is there to complain about? I always come by whenever I'm in the neighborhood. Still one of the few deals thats under $10 for an actual meal.Their Pork Cutlet Curry ($9.25+tax) is my go-to for its volume and the home-y feeling it gives you.The gentleman at the front gingerly took my order and my food came out ~10mins. Mind you, this was on a Tuesday afternoon (2pm)I prefer this locaction sometimes compared to its sister location in Costa Mesa. The choices here are limited, but you get the quiet and convenience.Tip: There's a parking in the back corner of the mall where you have direct access to the food court instead of parking and walking through the front. If you can find it...“

“1. The onigiri was delicious and satisfying!
2. The spot has fun casual vibes since it is located inside a food hall!
3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! It took less than 10 mins!
Note: The food hall does have restrooms available nearby!

Photo: Salmon Onigiri“

“We come here often because it’s a dog friendly restaurant outside the patio. We love to take our fur baby here. Closer to home. And we can walk around after for digestion since it’s located in Irvine Spectrum like an outdoors mall with many restaurants, shops. They offer happy hour but drinks only and from Monday to Thurs.“

“Such nice service and delicious sushi, udon/soba, sake, yam fries, edamame and tempura! (pictured is the Tekka naki and Unagi and California , crunchy eel roll, and spicy tuna roll!“

“i like the food, big serving & it’s worth the price, i hope they willnot increase the price or lessen the service.“

“With a charming and intimate atmosphere, Taiko Japanese Restaurant is ideal for romantic dinners or special occasions. The comfortable interior design and beautiful views create a pleasant dining atmosphere. Taiko is impressive with its creative and innovative Japanese cuisine. Dishes are carefully prepared with fresh ingredients, demonstrating authentic flavours and culinary expertise. Famous dishes include exquisite sushi and sashimi platters, as well as delicious teriyaki chicken and miso cod. Despite being a high-end restaurant, Taiko is reasonably priced and offers excellent value for money food quality and service.“

“I love � fukada“

“Amazing sushi-rolls! Service is awesome👍🏻“

“Mokkoji is more than just a shabu spot—it’s dinner and a live drama show. The food is solid, with nice broths and super thin shabu meat (seriously, it’s like dipping tissue paper). But hey, unlimited veggie refills make up for it! The real star of the night? The tea-worthy gossip. The young Asian couple next to us casually revealed they were both cheating on their original partners—spicy, right? Who needs Netflix when you have Mokkoji? Come for the hot pot, stay for the unexpected reality show.“

“Delicious Japanese food & sushi! 😋“

“Came here twice and food is really good. Seems to be kind of quiet which is nice. Really liked the dinosaurian egg and Mars roll, might try the ramen next time. The sashimi was fresh and well prepared, which is super important! Recommend :)“

“Ramen was delish, it was pretty busy and took awhile to get a table for 8, but if you have a smaller party and aren’t starving, for sure get some!“

“Busy. There was a line before the 11 am open time and there are very few tables in this tiny space. If you are physically disabled maybe call ahead if they can accomidate you.
The food is good. The takoyaki is amazing and the cutlets are crispy. Large portions so come hungry. Went a bit out of my way to come here but absolutely worth it.“

“Cute shop with unique matcha drink flavors. We tried banana matcha and Sakura latte. Although there are places with banana matcha in OC it's still an unusual offering. The strawberry sakura latte was perfect with less coffee. The server was very nice & accommodating. Would definitely go back and try different flavors.“

“It was excellent! We’re big fans of sushi rolls, and this place was recommended to us by friends — we loved everything! Especially the Los Angeles Roll and the Bluefin. The fish was incredibly fresh and just melted in our mouths. Highly recommend to everyone!“

“Best Pokee in the Irvine location. I highly recommend this place.“

“Respectable and humble shabu place with great choices as presented but no wagyu beef options. The broths however are expertly made and are the highlight of the meal. Would like to see increased variety with cooked options but overall, they have a great selection already and the atmosphere is calm and peaceful to enjoy a meal at any time.“

“Houston Location: We arrived at our reservation and waited 10 minutes for the hostess. Once seated, we were uninstructed on how to order. Sushi chefs explained the process. Our waiter arrived 10 minutes after, taking our drink order. The app arrived before the waters, followed by the drinks after we ordered and received the sushi. The manager noticed us looking for our waiter but was often in the corner on his phone or socializing with the hostess. The sushi chefs were also on their phones while making the sushi, which was unhealthy. Despite the germy seasoning, the food was amazing.“

“Menu: Omakase Sushi and Sushi 9 pcs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

The sushi here is absolutely fresh and beautifully presented—each piece melts in your mouth and has a delicate, authentic flavor. The quality of the fish is outstanding, and the attention to detail makes every bite feel like a true omakase experience. The plate was vibrant and elegant, with garnishes that elevated the overall presentation.

However, the restaurant seems to be understaffed. There was only one waitress handling the entire floor. She did an excellent job—friendly, attentive, and very professional—but it’s clear she was stretched thin. Service took a little longer because of this, though her effort and attitude were commendable.

If the staffing issue gets resolved, this place would easily be a 5-star experience. Highly recommended for sushi lovers looking for fresh, high-quality dishes!“

“First time here and thought the selection was varied and fresh. Very friendly staff. I like that you build up your own selections and they are generous with the portions. The seating area is a bit drab.“

“MY FAVORITE POKE PLACE EVER 😻😻😻“

“Good sushi, good service and good prices. Perfect and right around the corner.“

“I've been here dozens of times since I was a kid, and I am incredibly attached. the katsu chicken and udon are absolutely delicious. staff has always been helpful and friendly. I have a lot of good memories from this place. I hope they stay open forever <3“

“el sushi es bueno la comida de Alex es asquerosa“