First time here today and my wife and I had an amazing experience! We’ve been meaning to give this place a try since it opened recently and we’re locals. (We go to the Whittwood Center all the time.)Service was excellent! Sunna helped us with our order and she was awesome. She gave us food requests for a date idea we were trying out, and she did great! Very attentive, kind, and speedy service here from her and the rest of staff. We felt cozy and welcome as we waited for our take out order.The restaurant has a handful of tables, and was pleasantly bright and very clean.The food here is delicious! We had the Hire Katsu, Ebi Katsu, Kimchi Rice and Yuzu Panna Cotta. All were BOMB. The sauces for the Katsus were full of flavor, the katsu was perfectly crispy and tender, and the kimchi rice had a great balance of spiciness. (A nice little kick, but not overpowering. Perfect.) The Yuzu Panna Cotta is the perfect summer treat: cool, refreshing, citrusy. It’s like someone took an orange creamsicle, mixed it with lemon and lime, and made it into a Panna Cotta. 😋(Tip: the dishes here are meant to be shared. The items we had were a great amount for two adults.)A+ service and food. This is a new local favorite, and an easy recommendation! Very happy to have this new spot join the neighborhood. :d
I decided to visit after seeing good reviews. Unfortunately, I dont think I can give you a good star rating. I ordered a pork cutlet, and the meat looked cooked on the outside, but the center wasnt completely cooked. In particular, the inside of the middle part was hard to chew, and when I looked at it, I could see the red color and it even had the feel of raw meat that had not been torn apart. I think I was probably the first customer to go after the 5 oclock break. They seemed to be using a timer, but I think they cooked after the fryer temperature wasnt fully up. I work in the food industry, so I know that if you dont cook pork perfectly and eat it, you will get a stomach ache or diarrhea, but unlike adult cysts, the larvae of Cysticaria cysts mostly cause symptoms. If they invade the brain, they can cause epileptic seizures and, in severe cases, even death. Please be sure to cook it perfectly. And although the overall store was clean and tidy, the employees should wear hats. If he refuses to wear a hat, tell him to stop touching his hair with his hands. He touches his hair at least once per minute. Im not writing this to defame the store, so I wont post pictures of uncooked meat.
Don katsu meal was great!Except the rice which was a bit more dry/stale than I wouldve liked
Its our 2nd time & it was just as good. Everything is made super fresh to order. Nothing hidden, as the kitchen is open. We had a sandwich, which we shared, the cucumber salad & kimchi fried rice. Again, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs
Best Donkatsu Ive had in a while! Price is really affordable tooPicture is Hire Katsu
Very clean inside, food is very well done and tasty. Beautiful too.
I would never want to harm a local business so still giving 5 stars for food bc that’s what matters the most. BUT I do want to share some feedback to the owners. There is a very unfriendly younger female worker who needs to be trained better. No courtesy greetings. No thank yous. Not a hint of warmth. I understand I went on a very busy Friday and perhaps she was having a bad day? I had my kids with me and I recognize that they can really add onto the stress of the restaurant environment.. but come on, you’re selling katsu.. you’re GONNA get a ton of families with kids. It was obvious she didn’t like the presence of young families and that was such a bummer. There was another female worker that was very kind and accommodating and she made up for some of the negative experience.
The food was delicious, the owner was so polite, and the restaurant has such a nice atmosphere.
We really enjoyed our food here. It was very good and the staff was very friendly. Great to have Japanese cuisine available in our are. Proportions were very good. The food was cooked perfectly. Prices were fair. We would definitely recommend a visit.
After reading the great reviews my wife and I had to try the Lucky Pig. The restaurant really lives up to the 5 star reviews! We both had the Hire Katsu and it was wonderful. We cant wait to go back again and try something new.
This is the reason why you cant trust social media. I will not be going back. The food is overated. The katsudon was very bland. Literally no flavor. I had to ask for more sauce to make it edible. Theres no condiments at the table, no soy sauce, no red pepper powder, nothing. The curry taste like House curry mix you buy at the store. The omelette rice is a kids portion for the price $17 w the ball.Oh they brought our food one at time in 5 minute intervals. So by time people ate, some were finished.Overall its mediocre food. People on social media who posted about this place have baby taste buds.
Cheese katsu and katsu don. High chair available for kid.
Best katsu sandwich in the town! Very delicious source coming with it. People are friendly in the restaurant. It took about 20 min to get the takeout order after it’s placed.
Came for a quick lunch and ordered the don katsu and the omurice. Both were fantastic. The katsu is notable for the thick slices and the crispy breading. The omurice is a perfect all in one omelet stuffed with fried rice. Leave room for the yuzu pana cotta - the size of the serving is perfect for sharing. The owner/chef is hard at work in the open kitchen, but always finds the time to check on his customers.
New Korean tonkatsu restaurant in Whittier. We ordered the Don Katsu meal and it was very good. Nice thick piece of pork loin that was very tender. This is a small restaurant with only 5 tables and some counter seating. You order first and they bring out the food to your table. No name outside of the store but its next to the ups store.
I love this place. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great too. I love the open kitchen concept and the servers are super nice too! I had the Hire Katsu and it was incredibly delicious. I recently tried the Sando and Cheese Katsu, and they did not disappoint. There arent many restaurants that I can think of that caters to just Katsu, its a great place to be. I cant recommend this restaurant enough! It has for sure become a regular place to visit.
I got the don katsu + omurice and holy heck it was AMAZING! the don katsu included, the main, rice, soup, and a side salad of shredded cabbage with an AMAZING dressing! the omurice was delightful! i had never tried it before and have found a new food obsession!i got take-out, but loved the vibe in the restaurant and the staff rock! what an amazing addition to whittier!
This is probably my 3rd time going there already and they barely opened this restaurant. Ive finally got to try Hire Katsu! Im not a big meat eater but this was so good it had me saying omg the meat is so good! and it was probably the best katsu I ever had! Get this if they have it bc they are always sold out. Ive tried almost everything on the menu. besides all the katsus (they all are amazingly good), I love their udon and Katsu sando, and my husband loves their omurice. We always have hard time picking the menu, bc we want to try everything on their menu 😂 My husband is already in love with this place so we pretty go almost every week. The owner is super friendly but they are short staff but its probably bc they didnt expect that they would get so busy already. Im looking forward to see this awesome place to grow and settle!
This place is great, came in with a friend for lunch and everything is made fresh. Since we had to wait a bit for my friends order to come out they gifted us tempura shrimp which were amazing. Would definitely come back again amazing service and amazing food.
I have worked in a Japanese katsu restaurant for more than two years when I was in college students, so my expectation is higher than anybody else. But this place is the best. Literally best katsu I have ever had.
Legit fried pork katsu, I have been looking for this is US for too long, this is authentic katsu like what’s in Japan.
I came here for the kimchi fried rice, and it didnt disappoint!
The katsu was very good, and the atmosphere was nice.
The food is awesome the staff is nice. The cook is back there working hard! They get crowded during peak hours but the food is worth the wait.
Ordered the omurice to go and the food was delicious. The restaurant atmosphere was wonderful and very clean. Well definitely be coming back again.
Good place with authentic Korean and Japanese food. Try just need beef Bulgogi and this place would be perfect!!
Delicious! Definitely will come again! 👍
I expected high-end katsu like Saboten in Korea, but, just not-bad.
Best pork chop Ive ever eaten. Tender, moist, delicious.
Food is amazing. Flavors that you dont regularly get. Im becoming a regular
Best Katsu I have ever had! 5/5! Don Katsu was superb!
Very yummy. Gravy on rice with egg on top was great on the cloudy day.
Finally, I found the best pork cutsu in Whittier area.
This place is a true hidden gem:)I didnt expect the food to be this great. It is a must go restaurant in OC. A hot place for foodies!
Yummy
Good food and good service!
My son took me to this place, good food, and serves . Going back soon
Super delicious
Im happy to finally have a house like this in OC.I ate it yesterday and I was surprised when I took a bite because it was really delicious. The vegetable sauce is also more delicious than other places.Especially since pork cutlet is the main dish, I didnt expect anything like tteokbokki, but the tteokbokki was amazing.Next time, Ill go to try kimchi fried rice and other menu items.Im so happy that a restaurant like this has opened in OC. I had it yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised after taking the first bite; its truly delicious. The vegetable sauce is tastier than other places, too. Especially since tonkatsu is the main dish, I didnt expect much from dishes like tteokbokki, but the tteokbokki is fantastic.ㅠㅠ Next time, Ill go to try kimchi fried rice and other menu items.
ㄹㅇ Really delicious haha Hirekatsu got 6 out of 5 points. Salad that came with it got 4.5 points. The rice was a bit dry.
Total reviews rating 4.7
50 Reviews for Lucky Pig 2024:
Review №1
2024-05-10 17:09:11Wow this place is just like the katsu I’ve had in Korea and Japan! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and amount each katsu set came with for under $20! The pork katsu was sliced THICK and the meat was super juicy! The breading on the katsu was perfectly prepared and seasoned too. Each bite had that nice crunch to it. The restaurant itself has a nice minimalist approach to the aesthetics and really cute just like Korea or Japan. The staff is super friendly and overall you’ll have a good experience here! So many people have found out about this place and it gets busy after 6pm. Be prepared to wait after 6:30pm! But the food will be well worth it. I love their omurice and the yuzu panna cotta which I’ll order again next time! This is top notch the best katsu restaurant in SoCal!!
Review №2
2024-06-04 20:37:57Lucky Pig in Whittier is truly a hidden gem! Their hire pork katsu meal blew me away. The katsu was thiccc with 3 cs but super tender, cooked perfectly all the way through, with a flaky, crunchy exterior that was just right.Their starter specialty, the ball katsu, is also a must-try. Its a mix of ground beef and pork with the same amazing crunchy exterior as the hire katsu, served with a delicious sauce that complements it wonderfully.I was lucky enough to try their secret menu drink, the yuzu matcha. It has a unique sour citrus-y taste that surprisingly pairs well with the traditional matcha flavor.The omurice was another highlight of my meal. The rice was so flavorful, with bits of mushroom(?) embedded throughout, and the tomato sauce was simply to die for.Thanks for reading! ^-^
Review №3
2024-05-05 19:11:59Lucky Pig, nestled in Whittier, offers a fusion of Korean and Japanese cuisine for both brunch and dinner seekers. As I stepped into the quaint eatery, I was greeted by a cozy ambiance and friendly staff. The menu boasted an intriguing blend of flavors, promising a unique dining experience.While the food at Lucky Pig was undeniably good, it fell short of greatness. The flavors were enjoyable but lacked the wow factor that distinguishes exceptional dining experiences. One disappointment was the miso soup, which arrived lukewarm instead of piping hot as expected. However, the katsu was a pleasant surprise—it wasnt as crunchy on the outside as I had hoped, but the juicy interior made up for it.Parking was a breeze, thanks to ample space available nearby. However, the restaurants interior felt a tad cramped, especially during peak hours like Sunday brunch. This lack of sufficient seating might deter diners seeking a leisurely meal, especially on busy days.Despite these minor flaws, Lucky Pig earns a solid 4-star rating from me, primarily due to its standout dish: the omurice. This Japanese comfort food classic was executed flawlessly, with a perfect balance of fluffy egg and savory rice—a true delight for the taste buds.In conclusion, Lucky Pig offers a charming dining experience with its Korean-Japanese fusion cuisine. While not without its shortcomings, the restaurants strengths, particularly its delectable omurice, make it a worthwhile destination for those craving a unique culinary adventure in Whittier.
Review №4
2024-02-10 03:53:15Let me start off with the food here is really good. I would say it isn’t traditional Katsu that is served from other places, but it has its own style, and I can def say it was pretty tasty. I would just like to mention a few things that I think could have been better. I believe the place didn’t have any sign outside, so you just have to know that it is next to UPS. I didn’t know if I parked at the right place but noticed some small signs that indicated it was indeed the right place. One thing to note is that the place seemed to splurge on everything, to your experience a great experience. The napkins they use, the plates, the decor, even in the restroom was made in a way that it seemed more “premium”The food we ordered was the omnirice, as well as the pork donkastu. I was worried at first that the pork may have been undercooked, but it is made fresh, so I saw overtime that it was still being cooked. The cuts of donkatsu were a thick, so just know that, but it was nice. I liked the mustard, and the salt they had with it, so it was definitely like I said a different experience eating katsu.The only other thing I would note, is to please let customers know if we order first or do you sit and order. It was quite confusing but I found out that we needed to go up to order first, and they will bring your food to you. They also had a really nice high chair for kids. If I was in Whittier, and was looking for a place to eat I would stop by. Until next time
Review №5
2024-02-21 03:13:43Lovely lovely lovely! Owners are fantastic people and very humble. They offered free rice after a misunderstanding on my part. Cozy atmosphere, great music, wonderful family-owned business. Definitely coming here more often!
Review №6
2024-06-02 03:45:29Great place for Katsu. We had all the Katsu dishes here and the Kim Chi Fried rice. All delicious definitely will be back
Review №7
2024-02-10 09:01:33So glad to have Japanese style katsu locally now! The restaurant is right next to UPS and didn’t have a sign yet when we went, so it might be easy to miss!The vibe is casual with a few tables that you seat yourself. You order at the register and someone will bring your food to you.For 2 we had the omurice with katsu ball and the pork loin tender katsu! It came out to around $40 but it was more than enough food for us with omurice leftover.Looking forward to trying more menu items!
Review №8
2024-02-28 21:28:08I love this place! I’ve been craving omurice and I can’t find them anywhere in SoCal until this place! It’s a tomato sauce base so def not the kind I’m used to but it still filled my cravings.Katsu isn’t the best I’ve tried in the OC area but still good!It seemed very popular and looked that it normal has a waitlist.
Review №9
2024-01-13 00:37:14Finally a place that serves Japanese style katsu!! There are plenty of regular thin katsu but it doesn’t compare to the juicy thick pieces of perfectly cooked pork katsu. They also have few other entrees if katsu isn’t your thing.
Review №10
2024-05-01 13:46:14Very delicious katsus!! The meat portions are very generous, and the pork itself is quite flavorful, which was huge for me. The “curry” sauce was very mellow.Salad went a bit heavy on the dressing for my taste but the dressing itself is quite good; creamy, slightly tangy, and sweet.The pana cotta was also really good! Great silky texture, and the yuzu syrup is fruity and not sickly sweet.Thank goodness my friend and I came in early, since the dining room filled up by the time we finished eating.