Top Noodle Shop in Tustin
Oki Doki Izakaya Tustin
13681 Newport Ave Ste 9, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
Ive had two decent experiences here and, more recently, one very bad experience, maybe my worst one ever. I have detailed it below. Ill average my rating out to 2 stars for all the times Ive been combined.We arrived at 7:30PM on Dec. 26th. They were understaffed and extremely disorganized. We were the last party waiting outside and I asked if we could be seated; we could see three open tables, one cleaned and two uncleaned. The waiter said it would take a few minutes to set up the table and he would seat us. Okay, fine. He places the menus on the table and sets it with napkins and utensils. And then proceeds to forget about us for ten minutes. Were staring at the clean and set table and two dirty tables, just sitting there for 10 minutes. I had to walk back inside for the waiter to remember us. A sign of things to come.They ran out of udon noodles by 7PM and did not inform the patrons waiting outside (like us) until we tried to order those dishes. Udon is half their menu and is used in some of their most popular items. Their spicy beef udon was the reason I was coming back. I realize it was the day after Christmas but it was the restaurants decision to be open that day. They should have done the proper prep work. We were bitterly disappointed but were not dissuaded. We continued to order other items. The ramen is distinctly below average, would not recommend when there are so many good ramen places in Orange County. Grilled squid and side skirt are some of our favorites and, to their credit, were delicious. It would turn out to be the eye of the storm.At this point, the restaurant is maybe at 70% capacity. Certainly not bustling and full as it was before, service couldnt get any worse, right? Challenge accepted by Oki Doki, they would outdo themselves.It took an hour to come out with hot pot which didnt even come out hot, all ingredients and broth were cold. There was raw chicken. Every hot pot Ive ever had at least comes out lukewarm. They didnt even have all the ingredients that was supposed to come with the hot pot, we had to substitute for their missing items. Wow. It came out so late that only one person in our party was left eating.The table next to us didnt even receive their food for an hour. The waiter gave the excuse that the order was inputted into the computer but never sent to the kitchen. Uh, what? Why isnt he checking with the kitchen constantly for his patrons orders? Hes probably serving four tables total at this point in the evening. Severe lack of communication between the floor and the kitchen. To add insult to injury, that table also received their check before they even got their food. Half an hour before closing time. The older female waitress told them Its okay, take your time! Uh, youre asking them to pay before they even have their food? The unprofessionalism was astounding.At the end of our nightmare of an evening, management thought a free dessert would assuage our anger and disappointment. No offer to comp a single item. We had lost our appetite an hour ago and could not stomach even free dessert. We just wanted our check and to be out of there ASAP. That didnt happen since it took them another ten minutes for the check.Almost everything that could have went wrong did go wrong. It makes me very sad to post this because I truly love the food at Oki Doki and would have returned at least monthly for the grilled squid, side skirt, and spicy beef udon alone. This experience will leave a bad taste in all our mouths. This review is more for the eyes of the restaurant than for other customers. I hope they see this and realize their mistakes so they can improve and other patrons will have a better time than we did.
TANAKAYA Japanese Soba Restaurant
654 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
I cant add much else to what everyone else has already said except that good food takes time and thats definitely what youre getting here. Take a deep breath and just enjoy the moment.For those not familiar, Udon noodles are thicker and thus more chewy. Theres a nice substance when you bite into these noodles. Soba noodles are much thinner and closely resemble what you find in Ramen. On the day I visited Tanakaya, I was really craving a nice hot bowl of a clear broth soup. I really enjoy Ramen but being sick and not wanting to eat something fatty and rich like my favorite Tonkotsu ramen, I opted to explore and look for a new restaurant. Thanks to other Google reviews I found Tanakaya in my backyard!I had a difficult time choosing from the great variety of udon/soba they had. After talking with the waitress, I decided on the Kamo Nanban (Duck meat) with udon and it was perfect. Incredible umami flavor and a very generous portion of noodles. I was really hungry and ordered the half-sized serving of their curry rice which was good as well. Not as flavorful a curry compared to dedicated curry houses but a nice side dish to go along with the bowl of udon if you find yourself particularly hungry.Itching to go back! If youre looking for delicious, authentic Japanese soba or udon, Tanakaya will be a great addition to your places to eat.
Rakkan Ramen - Tustin
2427 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92606, United States
We ordered Amber and Spicy Garnet ramen. First, the portion is quite small, I could've probably finished in three mouthful.The broth on both were nothing remarkable, it tasted simple and clean, somewhat blend, but lacked depth in taste profile expected from the Japanese Ramen broth. Other Japanese ramen places take much pride in crafting their broth, they usually ask if we want to take the (if any) remaining broth home.But the critical issue with Rakkan is the the way ramen noodle is cooked, an equally central component to the dish, the ramen noodle itself was very much undercooked, it was doughy and missing the bounce and the tension. I can assume the chef didn't have much experience as the kitchen staff appeared to be very young, if not part time students for the summer. I let the staff know about the undercooked noodle and they thanked us for the feedback but no adjustments were offered. As I took another bite, I was wishing for an instant ramen, able to make consistently great taste and texture without culinary training as long as instructions are followed.Lastly, base toppings were very very basic, tiny bit of onion, bamboo shoot, garlic slices maybe? And two slices of Chashu on the lean side but very thinly sliced.Overall, I don't think this is an authentic Japanese ramen place and will not be returning personally.
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Top Canvas - Claw Machine City - Tustin
2477 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782, United States
Visiting the claw machines at this arcade has quickly become my favorite pastime. The prizes offered are of exceptional quality and always worth the effort of trying to snag. I appreciate how accessible it is to win, making each play both thrilling and rewarding. The excitement of walking away with a unique and high-quality prize is unmatched. I highly recommend giving these claw machines a try - you wont be disappointed!
new york slice deli oc
2138 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705, United States
We were looking for a place to get pastrami on our way to the beach, and Im so glad we took a chance here. I saw from the reviews they were new and wasnt sure. Well, let me tell you, I am a fan! Not only were all the sandwiches phenomenal, the staff was so warm and inviting. You can tell they take a great pride in their shop and product. We had the pastrami on a baguette, the suga Mama (chefs kiss ?, my favorite), and the Italian grinder (also fantastic). This will definitely become our regular spot to stop in and grab a sandwich on our way to the beach. The only bad thing, but not a reflection of the owner because I dont think these are made in house, was the black and white cookie. These were so disappointing, they tasted off, very off. Other than the sad cookie, the experience made me want to be a regular! Try it, youll love it.
Tustin Self Storage
550 W 6th St, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
Where do I start! I never expected my search for just the right storage unit to be so easy. I walked into Tustin Self Storage which is right down the street from me ... the perfect location for me. I met V.K., a most friendly and charming gentleman. He was very helpful but, sadly, there were no units available. Crushed! He said he would put me on waitlist and keep in touch with me. He called a couple days later, but it was just touching base telling me I was still on waitlist. He called again the next day and, wow, someone had just come in and emptied their unit so it was available. V.K. said he would hold it for me while I made a quick decision. I rushed right over and V.K. greeted me by name. He remembered me! Thats not normal! At any rate, he walked me through the whole process, showed me the unit, and then let me put down a small deposit to hold the unit for 10 days while we got our trucks loaded up for the weekend, several days off. Everything V.K. told me about the place was plus, plus, plus. If I would say there was any negative it would be that there is no light inside the unit. But when V.K. explained to me the safety issues, I had no problem with it. There is sufficient light from the hallway anyway. Thank you, V.K., for making a business deal so easy and, dare I say it, fun. We shared some good stories, didnt we!?! I am so grateful this is where Ill be safely storing things.I need to add that when I went back to sign all the papers to make it official, Gilbert was so helpful. He was very thorough and did a great job filling out all the paperwork. He made something that isnt always fun, very tolerable. He kept giving me percentages of how close we were to being done and I loved that.Kudos to whomever does the hiring for Tustin Self Storage. Ive met two staff and I give a 10 to both. Well Done!
Tabi-ji Japanese Cuisine
665 N Tustin St Suite E-F, Orange, CA 92867, United States
My wife and I tried Tabi-ji on a whim tonight. We both left very happy and wondering why we hadnt been sooner. The prices seemed reasonable at first. We were pleasantly surprised when we tasted the food. It was very apparent that we were getting MORE than our moneys worth. So good! The combination plates are fantastic! The happy hour specials were phenomenal! The atmosphere was great! I would have to say my absolute favorite part of the whole dining experience was talking with a gentleman we believe was the owner. So nice and fun to converse with! If you have ever been to or lived in Japan, he will take even more interest in you. But he also took special care to take a moment to speak with every table. To me, thats a sign of a truly great restaurant.Now for the technical stuff:Seating is spacious and comfortable.Dinner for two (no alcohol) will run you about $50. Not too bad at all.Food was delicious with some really true authentic flavors.Tepan tables get crowded quick so be sure to get a reservation!Sushi bar was spacious and just starting to fill up when we finished. (Approx. 6:30 pm)2 sushi chefs preparing, so service is very fast.Wait staff is attentive and quick.Atmosphere is really welcoming and friendly.Overall, one of the best, relaxing, casual (but also great for a fancy night out) dining experiences weve had in a long time. We will definitely be returning!
Loving Hut - Orange
237 S Tustin St, Orange, CA 92866, United States
From wonderful employees to delicious food! This was one of my first vegan restaurants when I first started my journey! Everything is completely vegan. My top favorite entrees are their crispy chow mein. Soy protein, veggies, and sauces all sit on a bed of crispy noodles, as you eat the sauce will start to soften the noodle and the entree is so big I always have left overs! If their pandan cake is available PLEASE TRY IT! The owner of the shop makes it and I fall in love with it every time I take a bite! They also have a variety of things from burgers, fajita tacos, philly cheese steak, and even pho! Definitely a gem here in the city of Orange!
Habuya Okinawan Dining
14215 Red Hill Ave, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
Quick SummaryFantastic and unique Izakaya spot, as it serves Okinawan style Japanese food. Ordered a little of everything, and enjoyed almost every dish. Recommend calling beforehand for reservations, as its a small restaurant that only seats 19 guests. Plaza parking available. My favorite dishes were the scallop and uni truffle carpaccio, chicken wings, Habuya pork belly soba, their desserts and the Orion draft beer!Food- 5 starsUni truffle carpaccio- this was very good. Great balance of sweetness and umami with the 3 ingredients. I couldve eaten so many plates of this3 kinds of sashimi- toro, salmon and yellowtail. They were all good, but I liked the yellowtail the most (very fatty and fresh). All the pieces were very freshHabuya soba- the noodles were more similar to a ramen, and everything was delicious. Broth was filled with flavor and pork belly was delicious and fattyChicken wings- this was my favorite of the fried foods. Very great flavor and sweet. They didnt use much flour / batter, so you really taste how good the chicken wasYellowtail collar- this was good as well. Certain areas were salted better than most, but it was deliciousFried clam chowder- this was unique and well prepared. I did like the above dishes more thoughSautéed bitter melon- came with egg and sausage. It was more bland than the other dishes. Would be good as a healthy / daily optionGreen tea waffle ice- this was fantastic. Great flavor and not overly sweet. Great end to the mealRed bean mochi- this was fantastic as well. Great texture and flavor, without being too sweetOrion draft beer- They iced the glasses well and the beer was so smooth, creamy and delicious. Great way to wash down the mealService- 5 starsWe got really lucky and was able to get a table without a reservation. Servers were helpful and got food out fast. Communication couldve been better regarding wait time on a table, but we were just happy they were able to seat us (multiple parties without a reservation were turned away after us)Ambiance- 5 starsIts a small restaurant with 19 seats, including their bar area. Cool lighting and hanging notes from the ceiling (you can add to the collection if you want). Greeted by the servers in Japanese. The whole experience made us feel like we transported to an Izakaya in Okinawa. Great experience!Bottom LineFantastic food, drinks, dessert, and ambiance. Make sure you call ahead to get a reservation as its a very small restaurant
Christakis Greek Cuisine
13011 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
This is one of my favorite greek restaurant in Orange county. I did miss the hostess of the restaurant in this visit. She made a big difference as in the past she offered a glass of greek wine and that would do it to have me order one. They have this fish caviar spread that is on the menu but have not been available for a while. The waiter explained that he suggested to management to remake the menu but havent done it yet. Everything was good .calamari and lamb on skewers.. somehow though i felt they dont have a head chef anymore. My greek coffee was terrible as 1,/3 of the cup was grounds. I expect some grounds as my friends coffee had much less. Again the waiter made excuses that there is one pot to make and sometimes it come out uneven between the two cups. Really..i make bialetti to siphon coffee at home...never would do this. After showing him how much ground i had..he did not even offer to take it off the bill. I will make one more visit in the future. Hopefully they improve in all points stated or will look for another greek restaurant..