Mr Max Izakaya Restaurant

Absolutely amazing and authentic Japanese izakaya. I’ve been to Japan and here they have same dishes with no rolls, just real Japanese recipes. It feels like short travel to the small izakaya in the fisherman’s village near Osaka. Thank you and highly recommend ❤️🥹

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful hole in the wall but not a hole in the wall. Mr max pushed out incredible food. Fun spot to come with friends but be prepared to wait. I think I waited about an hour to get a bar seat for one. But this type of place is best enjoyed with friends where you can share a meal. The fatty tuna was delicious. The chefs choice for the appetizers was great. The rice sandwich, seemed like a giant onigiri was excellent. The Taiwan ramen was perfect even on the hot summer day. If I could do it again I’d probably swap out the ramen with something smaller. Portions were right on and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Next time I’m in the area I definitely have to come back. Must try if you’re in the area. Plus the chef wears a Starbucks!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Like being in Tokyo! Awesome!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Despite the wait, the service and food were phenomenal. We tried to make a reservation but only parties of 3 or more can make a reservation. Tight space with very little room to move around. I had the delicious ramen. For a one time experience, I highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Been going here for years and their food and service has always been consistent for a nice night out. I highly recommend trying any of their grilled fish. The salmon I tried recently was very flavorful and juicy. It can get pricey if you buy a lot of appetizers and sides as the portion sizes for those are pretty small.

The servers are all very friendly and despite how busy the resturant is always making sure your experience is good. The resturant has a traditional Japanese style with low-tables creating a very cozy atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The full izakaya experience. The atmosphere, food, drinks, and service were excellent.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I honestly hesitated to write this because I don’t want the place getting even harder to get into, but Mr. Max Izakaya in Irving is just too good to keep quiet about. It’s a small spot, nothing fancy, but the food is incredible and the prices are super reasonable. We waited about 45 minutes for a table, and it was totally worth it.

We had Tonkotsu ramen, squid legs, takoyaki (my personal weakness), karaage, and the uni omelette. Every single dish was good. No misses, no “just ok” plates. It all tasted like something the kitchen actually cares about.

If you’re in the area and craving Japanese comfort food, this place is absolutely worth it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tonkotsu Ramen, Karasge

Mr Max is our favorite izakaya in the Dallas area. Always yummy and interesting. However very popular and sometimes difficult to get a seat

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent Izakaya quality place--both in terms of food and atmosphere.

Everything comes out hot and fresh, and it's all cooked right. No more, no less. There's nifty appetizers, such as the unagi tamago and seasoned raw octopus. But, even the classic dishes like the chicken karage, shishito pepper, and ramen are knocked out of the park. All of the dishes taste exactly as good as you would imagine them in your head before ordering.

And, the unbelievable cherry on top is that the food is very affordable for the quality that you get. The highlight is the ramen coming in at a reasonable $12.
The tonkotsu ramen itself has all the classic toppings; jammy boiled egg, woodear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and chashu. It comes with buttery slender thin round noodles, like an exquisite angel hair pasta. However, the best part is the rich salty broth that manages to balance the richness with other lovely flavors in order to offer multiple dimensions of flavor. It's rich, yet garlicky and a satisfying creamy. It's one of the best ramen bowls in DFW, but somehow only $12.

Beyond the food, the Izakaya atmosphere is unmatched. It's a spot with a nice bustling energy to it, and the service from the Japanese staff there is friendly and homely.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First time for dinner. Had a delightful mix of food. Next time I will try the milk pudding for dessert.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hidden gem in Irving. Everything was great. Bring your appetite. Me and my wife had the 5 Kind Sashimi platter, Otoro sashimi, Unagi Tamago omlette, Chicken Karage, Agedashi Tofi, Pickled veggies, Grilled Squid, and the Potato Croquette all for $150. The fish was exceptionally fresh. Make sure you come early because the seats fill up fast.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

100% authentic izakaya, just like you are in Japan, this is my must go restaurant in Dallas, their ramen even better than other professional ramen restaurant, but it is izakaya, just feeling like an amateur chef better than a pro chef. You will come back again and again.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tonkotsu Ramen, Agedashi Tofu - Fried Tofu with Dashi Broth, Assorted Tempura, Tako Wasabi

My wife and I loved this place! Worth the wait as they don’t take reservations. From the apps to the ramen, we were very impressed, and the staff was incredibly hospitable.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

To say we love this restaurant is a COMPLETE understatement! This is our second visit to Mr.Max and we’re already wanting to go back, even after only leaving the restaurant 5 minutes ago! My boyfriend grew up in Japan as a kid and we just got back from two weeks in Japan. We’ve tried so many Japanese restaurants in the DFW metroplex and Mr. Max is by far the best place we have come across. The quality, taste, and price of the food is to die for. The atmosphere and service is absolutely exceptional. There is a reason that reservations are always booked out a month in advance. However, they have ALWAYS been able to get us seated as a party of two right away. We will continue to come back here and try new things!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely phenomenal experience. Food is amazing. Mr. Max is a small restaurant. It's going to be crowded. There's going to be a wait. Prepare for it and it's worth it. The beef tongue is amazing, the spicy beef ramen to die for.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4