This place is hands down one of the best Japanese BBQ spots around OC. The meat quality is consistently outstanding, with the beef tongue being a personal favorite that always earns a spot on my list when I visit. The focus on the meat BBQ experience truly sets this place apart.
However, I must note that while the meat here is exceptional, other main dishes like noodles or desserts don't quite reach the same level of greatness. Stick to what they do best – the BBQ.
It's worth mentioning that getting here early is a must, as there is always a wait line.
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Overall: 3.9/5 (dine in)
We came around 11:30 PM, and there was still a wait. We didn't get seated until ~12:10 AM. Service was a bit slow too so we had to flag people down. Our table was set with 2 types of sauces. The left side was like a thicker sesame forward flavor which I didn't use too much while the right side was a bit lighter and paired well with the meats.
I wished they gave us a piece of fat to coat our grill grates. The meat was sticking to the grill a bit and was burning quicker.
The veggie choice was also very interesting. The boneless short rib came with one huge slice of green bell pepper (1/4 of a whole). I would have like it if came in smaller slices. The beef rib eye came with 2 slices of squash and half a corn cob.
#4 Marbled Prime Boneless Short Rib ($19.95): This was okay. We don't understand the hype over this. Can get much better short rib elsewhere.
Special Premium Beef - Kobe Style Beef Rib Eye ($45): Big thick slices that were so juicy and delicious!
Pineapple Sherbet ($8): The sherbet seems to be made out of fresh pineapple but our's wasn't very sweet.
Green Tea: They offer complimentary green tea to end your meal. It's of good quality and tasty as well.
Congratulations if you made it here that means you have found a gem of a restaurant. The food is great. Service is ok.
They sit people after you on the list with the same number of guests so it is insulting specially since the hold the table for the person after you on the list but this service is the price you have to pay for the food which is great
One of my favorite dining experiences I’ve ever had. So delicious! The Kobe beef is incredible and extra crispy rice is a MUST!
The BEEF TONGUE here is the BOMB!!
It’s super thin and sleek. Super super tasty after a quick grill.
The beef tartar is also yummy yummy in yummy! Comes with thin apple cucumber slices and plant plus egg. Lovely cold dish, make sure to make everything together to get a mix of taste and texture!!
The beef selection here is also premium grade.
The soup is also smooth and savory, a must!
The veggie platter is so so… only the corn, shiishito peppers, and shiitake mushroom were flavorful. The rest burned easily.
The staff is quick and swift as there are SO people here even late at night! Expect a 15+ min wait anytime before 11pm. It’s wild how crowded this place is.
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Anjin is a small Japanese BBQ restaurant sitting in a busy plaza in Costa Mesa, serving good quality meats in diet friendly portions.
With dinner service starting at 5pm, you can always count on there being a wait a little after the restaurant opens. The later into the evening you go, the longer the wait, until peak hours settle down (past 8:30/9pm). The good news is that they're open late for folks that don't mind a late dinner or are hungry for a late night meal.
Some of their best cuts of meat include the beef tongue, short ribs, and prime rib eye. They've got other proteins like chicken, sausage, and even asparagus wrapped in bacon. Their marinades are mild but flavorful (as is characteristic of Japanese food), but they'll seve you sesame oil with salt for dipping if you're more used to Korean bbq.
The uncooked meats are also a treat here with the beef carpaccio and raw marinated beef (yukke, a personal favorite). They even have kimchi and similar pickled vegetables, which I find very tasty. Just don't expect the level of kick you're used to at a Korean place! They're all about umami here.
There are decent soups and side dishes like bibimbap as well if you want variety. I've yet to try their soju drinks, but they've got an assortment of fruity options, including red grape soju, that look colorful and promising. Their almond jelly dessert is a really refreshing way to end your meal.
The restaurant is cozy and warm with red booth seats and grills built into the table all around. Service is also usually pretty fast moving as they're trying to keep up with their neverending wait-list. One of the better Japanese BBQ places near Irvine, but expect to pay a premium that you may not be used to with other types of barbeque. If you're more about volume over quality, you'll want to go elsewhere. With that said, Anjin a good option to switch things up for a date night or hangout with friends.
This is the best Japanese BBQ in town! just mouth watering meaty goodness - absolutely amazing and I love everything on the menu.
Last time I went we ordered all the oddities - intenstine, tongue, liver... And did not disappoint! Everything was just so savory and well balanced. The kimchi combo is a really good mix and don't forget to ask for romaine lettuce!! So so good.
Fantastic grilled meats Japanese style! Super tender cuts of ribeye, beef tongue, and short rib await you. The short rib beef soup is also delicious. Pair your meal with a delicious seaweed and apple salad to balance out your protein-heavy meal with some veggies!
Service is great. Just be aware that the wait can be very very long. The wait on a Saturday night can be upwards of 2.5 hours!
The long wait can be avoided by visiting later at night (but not too late to rush your experience). Stopping by at the 7 Leaves Cafe next door is what I like to do. You can taste the quality in every bite off of their menu. Expect high prices for high quality. I recommend dining for flavor rather than sustenance (don’t go on a very very empty stomach unless you are expecting to pay upwards of $150 for 2 people). Delicious flavors and a wonderful spot to celebrate a special occasion with loved ones.
It’s the JBBQ spot of OC. The OG. It’s a tight ship inside run smoothly by the owner and manager with great service and nice ambiance.
Meats are great (though I think it does vary from time to time) in general, soups are great, veggies are fresh, good sauces, and overall just a nice spot to eat quality meats. The kimchi is a hidden gem here! So tasty.
Food here tends to lean towards the sweet side (soups, kimchi, etc) so just be aware. You can order the meats with no sauce if desired but I personally like the sauced in style. My fav would be the short rib here.
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