Izakaya Restaurants near Santa Ana, CA

“Soooooo good. I can still get in here with no line, however, there will come a time…….when there will be a long wait!“

“A small izakaya in the OC area that's well worth a visit. The food was excellent and stood out compared to some of the more well-known izakayas nearby. With warm hospitality and a well-executed menu of classic izakaya dishes. It’s a place you really can't go wrong with.“

“This place is perfection. We've eaten here so many times and it just keeps getting better and better. Wonderful friendly attentive staff, and lovely lo-fi chillout music to relax to. Honestly one of my favourite dining experiences is at this restaurant. Long May they reign.“

“Absolutely loved it here. The food was amazing. ❤️“

“We have been to this wonderful place several times and every time we come it is great! It can get very busy because it is great and because it is small. They have used their space strategically to get as many tables as possible. The staff is always friendly, welcoming and helpful. Tonight our server was Tang (not sure of the correct spelling) and he was exceptional!! Fantastic energy, super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! They have a separate vegan menu which is really awesome! Now the food…absolutely delicious and quite filling! We always leave with leftovers for the next day. Today we got (all vegan) Veggie Tempura Plate, Vegan Crispy Rice, Caterpillar roll, and CA Crunch roll. Our server also brought us the Salmon roll. All were SO good! We were also given a scoop of green tea ice cream which was also really tasty! This is a fabulous restaurant that we will continue to frequent and highly recommend!“

“Amazing food the server tonight was great he was very busy but he took great care of the whole room and was very nice. We wish we lived closer we would be here all the time. The pork and Chicken katsu are delicious as well as the ramen. Great prices too!!“

“Service is wonderful. Everyone is friendly. It’s like going to my Obason’s to have dinner. Everything about this place is authentically Okinawan. Oishī“

“Incredible food, service and atmosphere. We'll be back next week for the sea urchin udon.

Made it back for the sea urchin udon and the pork and radish soba. Both fantastic. Only 10nportions of the sea urchin so get there early. We got order number 9 of 10. Going to try our luck again next week before they stop serving it Tuesdays and Wednesdays, dinner only, in July.“

“Food is excellent here!! Must make reservation to enter. But if they tell you that tables are filled, ask for next available time frame. You won’t be sorry. It’s so good.“

“What a wonderful restaurant! The food here is incredible! We especially love the California Rolls and Japanese soda. When they prepare tuna it's quite a show and so much fun! What's best is how kind they are to children. My son has become friends with the owners/ staff over the years, and always leaves with a huge smile on his face. 5 stars!!!“

“Service was phenomenal, very attentive and friendly. Stopped by Izakaya Ichie Tuesday night on the first floor of The Source mall in Buena Park for drinks and small bites the dragon fruit soju slush and peach mango slush were super refreshing, and the Jinro strawberry added a nice kick. We loved the baked dynamite tuna roll so much we ended up ordering it twice, and the dragon roll was delicious. Our server made the slushies so pretty we couldn’t resist ordering more, she was also really good at recommending their new menu so we got to try some of their best items, and there was only one server working who was still very attentive to all the tables.

Definitely coming back again!!“

“An Evening at Kin Izakaya: Where Tradition Meets Ambiance In the culinary haven that our city embodies, Kin Izakaya emerges as a sanctuary of authentic Japanese flavors combined with the convivial spirit typical of Japan’s iconic gastropubs. It’s here that tradition and modernity collide to create not just a meal, but an experience worth savoring. The moment you step through the doors of Kin Izakaya, you’re greeted by an atmosphere that’s both lively and intimately comforting. The ambient lighting, coupled with rustic décor and understated oriental motifs, offers a welcoming reprieve from the city’s hustle and bustle. The soft murmur of patrons engaged in animated conversation sets the backdrop for an authentic izakaya experience. Kin Izakaya’s menu is a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese fare and innovative culinary creations. The tapas-style dishes, perfect for sharing, encourage a communal dining experience. From the delicate flavors of their sashimi to the robust, savory notes found in their yakitori selection, there’s a delightful complexity in each dish presented. The agedashi tofu, with its perfect crispy exterior giving way to silken tofu within, is a testament to the chef’s prowess in honoring traditional flavors while serving contemporary palates.“

“Really nice place with some yummy food! Especially the avocado volcano!!“

“Cute place, great sushi, very fresh.
This is our favorite local spot, they even have a decent happy hour menu if you can get there before 5:30p. And a good deal with 99 cent Saporo (first one, after that it's still only $2.99).
Our favorites are the sashimi roll - no rice with the best sauce, and the truffle salmon carpaccio - with another delicious truffle oil sauce. We love the baked lobster roll, their ramen and udon are both good, and in the end it's not too pricey.“

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

“the best sushi🍣 and service we been going there for years 😃“

“Super friendly staff and very attentive. Wonderful selection of Japanese small plates which are perfect for sharing while having a beer - Asahi of course. Went with my servers’ recommendations which did not disappoint.“

“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!“