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Cafe Hiro
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
10509 Valley View StCypress, CA 90630
(714) 527-6090
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
424 reviews for Cafe Hiro
Review Highlights
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"The Uni Spaghetti here is Bomb-diggity." In 69 reviews -
"Panna Cotta - mmm mmm mmmmm mmm mmm." In 61 reviews -
"Seared Chilean Sea Bass - fresh and light fillet." In 59 reviews
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424 reviews in English
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Review from Darren T.
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
What? Never reviewed? Just one check in? I've gone here multiple times and I love this place.
If there's one thing you need to know about this place then listen to the following words:
Uni freakin' pasta.
Again, repeat after me:
Uni freakin' pasta.
Now, when the waiters ask you what you want to order, what do you say? Yes...
Uni freakin' pasta.
Now that we have gotten that straightened out, what else is there to mention? Oh yes, this place has the most amazing risottos. If you have a chance to try it, do yourself a favor and please, do so.
What else? the seafood here is done justice. Whether it is the chilean sea bass or daily specials such as the black cod... try it out. It's given the respect it deserves by not adding too much nonsense flavor and letting the fish really stand on its own.
One complaint i have is that the salad sucks. But that's not enough of a setback to prevent this place from getting a solid five star review from this yelper.
Check this place out. -
Review from Rebecca H.
West Covina, CA
5/23/2012
they would have gotten more stars, if it wasn't for the lack of service. We were placed in the back of the room and i think because of this we were often forgotten and placed on hold. Even flinging my arms around for attention didnt raise any eyebrows! I literally had to stalk the server down to serve us food!
So, after flagging down a waitress to take our order we waited a good 20 minutes before the food arrived..and when it did they gave both my friends wrong orders which means they had to wait an EXTRA 20 minutes..
They however made up for their mistakes by giving both of them free desserts!
I got the eggplant and mushroom pasta, this was good but i think because it was drenched with butter!
my friends both really enjoy their Uni Pasta- they thought it was worth the wait so thats a good sign!
Our two free dessert was the Walnut Creme Bruele - Walnut was too overpowering.
and the Penne Cotta- was yummy and not too sweet, i actually really enjoyed it ! -
Review from Amanda C.
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
If it's your first time here and you're a fan of uni, do yourself a favor and don't even look at anything else on the menu EXCEPT THE UNI SPAGHETTI. No need to dilly-dally with adding spinach to the spaghetti - that stuff is just foreplay. You want the noodles with straight up uni cream sauce. Get a full order for yourself. Don't split the portion with your dining companion. Trust me - not getting your own order will be one of your greatest regrets in life.
I've tried the mushroom risotto with scallops - delicious. Sauteed mushroom salad? Curry with rice? Entire dessert menu? All good. But nothing measures up to their uni spaghetti. Nothing in the WORLD measures up to their uni spaghetti.
Cafe Hiro's uni spaghetti is among my top 3 favorite dishes ever. IN LIFE. That's how fricken' good it is. This is serious business, people.
Warm and slighty starchy al dente spaghetti noodles create the perfect vehicle for that golden uni cream sauce. The sauce oozes with the complexity of that rich, buttery, sweet-salty ocean flavor that can only be found in uni. The dish is rounded out by some light strips of seaweed and a touch of wasabi that adds that last bit of kick at the end. They serve this glorious bowl of gold with a few pieces of bread so you can sop up the last remaining bits of sauce at the end like a civilized person instead of having to resort to desperately licking the bottom of the bowl (which I have definitely done in the past, BTW).
If I could, I would just order straight shots of that uni cream sauce. WHATTUP -
Review from Christopher B.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/23/2012
This was an experience where my wife and I caught each other in a big lie. What wasn't a lie is that I really was looking forward to it. I was excited to try it and when we walked in I thought it was the perfect, quaint experience that tries to make you feel like you are in Italy and where everyone is warm and friendly.
I think this was a place where we both wanted to love it so much that we lied about it. We tried each other's food and nodded in complete acceptance. It wasn't until we were driving home that we both admitted we didn't like our own dishes nor the other's. It was sort of a funny realization, actually.
We started with the Steamed Shao-Mai, which were actually really good. We had similar ones in China and I thought these were almost spot on. I ordered the Seared Crusted Ahi but I thought it was just lacking pizzaz. The bok choy and eggplant helped a bit but it just didn't really do it for me. On top of that, my rice was served cold, meaning colder than lukewarm. My wife had the eggplant and mushroom spaghetti but it was basically like eating noodles with random veggies/funghi. For dessert, I couldn't resist trying the banana mille-feuille, and this was because I've never had it before. It's sort of a custardly with banana chunks in it and I thought it may have been one of the best desserts I've ever ordered from a restaurant. I loved that it was balanced nicely but also that it wasn't sweet. I was almost ready to order a second round.
As you could tell, the appetizer and dessert were great but the entrees really let us down. Perhaps, it was what we ordered but that's what we wanted. I went through other reviews but none of the suggested entrees really were doing it for me. So with a bit of guilt, I have to give this place 3 stars although I hope to give it another chance and maybe a reason to get it on par with everyone else. Or maybe i'll just skip right to dessert! ;) -
Review from Lori I.
CLOSED MONDAY. FREE PARKING. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. MAKE RESERVATIONS. NO KIDS MENU (but my kids loved it anyway). NOW GO!
Blah-blah-blah:
Next time you're at Disneyland and you want to get away for an awesome meal, head straight here! Located just a stone's throw (it's a 20 min drive) from Disneyland and even closer to Knott's Berry Farm is this cute little (30 seater?) place that serves the most amazing 5-star caliber food without the 5-star prices. It was the best meal we had during the week we were in the area! Order the beef tataki appetizer, miso black cod, one pasta dish and that's all you gotta know!
SERVICE was excellent and we even got a smile out of Chef Hiro, which was apparently a rare event :)
ITALIAN-ASIAN FUSION FOOD (entrees include soup AND salad!)
BEEF TATAKI appetizer $8 - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
If you're in to this kind of dish, you must try it! The crunchy garlic combined with the ponzu/daikon suru was deeeeeeeeeeeeelish. At any other restaurant, the same dish would easily cost twice as much!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
FOUR MUSHROOM salad $7.50
Fresh, light, and healthy, this dish wasn't my favorite, but only because I'm not a fan of crunchy daikon in salads. It was on the "specials" board, so it may not even be a regular contender.
PASTA CARBONARA $12
My daughter ordered this and found her first Italian love. What's not to love about bacon drenched in white creamy sauce on top of perfectly cooked al dente spaghetti noodles?!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
KUROBUTA PORK $15 - RECOMMEND
Keep in mind that these prices include salad AND soup! Crunchy on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside! The perfect pork cutlet like this would cost you at least $35 at a famous katsu place in Hawaii.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
HAWAIIAN SEARED AHI w/GINGER SOY SAUCE $16
Don't let the picture deter you, it was ordered "well done" but was still an awesome choice:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
SESAME CRUSTED AHI $16
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
MISO BLACK COD $18 - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
In Hawaii we have a lot of choices when it comes to fish, and I've had a lot of what we call "miso butterfish". This dish rises to the top of my "favorite miso butterfish" dishes.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
LOCATION/HOURS:
CLOSED MONDAYS! Closed between lunch and dinner. See picture for map/exact hours.
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from julie l.
Garden Grove, CA
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Uni spaghetti was definitely an interesting dish....it wasn't bad, but I don't know if I'd ever crave it. I really like uni but there was just something a little off about it yet I can't pinpoint it. We also had the pork bun appetizer. This was a really small appetizer for the both of us. Nothing was significant about it really - it was like eating peking duck with steamed buns the way Asians eat it - with hoison sauce and a little bit of green onion. The restaurant itself had random decor and we couldn't really figure out the theme of it. The plates were a bit on the pricier side than what I would have liked (~$14 for a medium sized plate). The spaghetti wasn't really enough to share for two but we managed. I really am on a mission to try different uni dishes and I am actually glad to have tasted it here. If anyone knows of any other places that serve uni, letta sista know!
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Review from Paul R.
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Looking for sushi????
Well you won't get that here. Try next door. However ,if your looking for something unique and exquisite culinary art then this is the place to be. The place is Japanese, but fused with French and a little hint of Italian. They have many past dishes, with non traditional like sauces and unique concoctions like caviar spaghetti and my favorite and highly recommended is the uni spaghetti. If your a big uni fan then this is definitely the thing to get, however if you haven't tried it before then I suggest you try it at a sushi restaurant. I also recommend the chilean sea and the past carbonara if your not a risk taker. If your a big guy like me then I recommend you start off with some garlic fries.
The place is pretty small and kind of has that French cafe vibe. It's definitely a good date spot if your not trying to get that baller status reaction or tying to look for something unique and want to take a few steps up from The olive garden.
I highly recommend making reservations and if your not trying to get instant booty and want to slow play it, because she's a possible keeper then this is the spot to be. -
Review from Fia R.
Until Fall 2011 Yelp used to have a "Hot on Yelp [Bookmarks]" page, Café Hiro had steadfastly been at the top of these hotties in & around my neighborhood. I've passed by this place countless times, & I would almost habitually order my fish tacos at neighbored California Fish Grill. My foodie wish finally came true when my friends & I entered this unassumingly tiny "café" for my birthday, on the lookout for some Japanese + Italian cuisine that cost similarly to traditional Italian restaurants.
2 things were noticed in Hiro's atmosphere; first, we occupied almost 1/3 of maximum capacity (maybe 30 people max, including the bar seating), so reservations are CRUCIALLY recommended. Secondly, depending on where you sit, you can easily see their hustled-&-bustled kitchen constructing your dish of destiny. Some of my friends decided to play safe by ordering the Arrabiata ($12), Calamari Frit ($6), Pork Cutlet Curry ($??), or the Chicken & Mushrooms with Cream Sauce ($15). Some were down for the considerably "mestiza-ed" Sesame Tuna Salad ($18), Pescatore ($15), "Kurobata" Pork Loin Cutlet ($15), & the Roasted Chilean Sea Bass w/ "Risotto" ($20). I was SO tempted to order that Sea Bass too, but I chose to rely on my hungry intuition by risking my palate towards the incredibly raved Sea Urchin "Uni" Spaghetti ($14).
The rave of this uni-utilized delectable was truly right on the money: generous garnish of roasted seaweed; amazingly PERFECT AL DENTE spaghetti pasta; a tiny, creamy dollop of wasabi that's 100-leveled less aggressive than horseradish; & tossed Uni that's neither weaksauce nor intense--just faintly leaning towards the latter continuum. It's a typically giant portion, but I was profoundly infatuated to finish ALL OF IT. So fear not, my uni newbies: 5 Ft Feel-Ya Frenzy ensures this is one 4.5-starred, exceptional Quail of the Sea that your taste buds cannot pass. If you dislike it, don't mind giving this to me (without the loogey x_x).
The rest of my friends' dish, including the Sea Bass, induced some wows. I was relieved to forego the Sea Bass's very savory, mushroom-y taste, because that Uni was much more breathtaking to me. Initially service was a bit tense when my friends & I arrived more than 5 min late, but our waitress was constantly jovial, approachable & smiley. She corked out my Chianti for a $10 corkage fee & she--& my buds--had a lovely voice to sing "Happy Birthday" with temporary dim lighting & a free birthday dessert, the (normally $5) gelatinously yummy Panna Cotta w/ fresh fruit.
Despite the vast parking lot but hard-to-snatch spot on a Friday night, I was more than content to finally hit this little fusion hot spot, even after the "Hot on Yelp" page was taken away. I hope you found these indirectly stated advices helpful; I think this time I'll eat up more greens by ordering that same spaghetti but with spinach =). So definitely visit there, birthday or just b/c, & order the Uni Spaghetti--or at least bring a foodie friend with you! -
Review from Lica N.
Café Hiro was an amazingly pleasant surprise!!!
Met a friend here on a Friday night for a casual dinner and to catch up. We got here about 7:30 and the place was already packed. It's in a very busy strip mall with very little parking space. The restaurant is small but open with high ceilings. We didn't make reservation so we ended up having to wait about 20 min or so and then was seated at the bar where we got a good look into the kitchen. We also had a straight on look at Chef Hiro who had a very intense look on his face. Not sure if that is how he normally looks but for those sitting at the bar section it would be nice to see the guy smiling! Anywhoooo I didn't come here to look at the chef but to eat.
So we started off with the Beef Tataki ~ http://www.yelp.com/bi... Damn skippy this was a great starter. Some green onion, grated daikon atop the beef along with a drizzle of their soy/ponzu sauce married all the ingredients together to a very tasty bite. The pieces of toasted garlic chip gave it a little crunch along with the red onion to this very tender beef. It was a very refreshing and satisfying starter.
I heard a lot about their Uni Spaghetti but I have never been much a fan of Uni so I had my other usual Japanese pasta which is the spicy pollock roe.
Mentaiko Spaghetti ~ http://www.yelp.com/bi... This bowl of yummy pasta was Spicy and tossed in something a little creamy with a good balance of saltiness that comes from the roe. Unlike some other locations where they add small pieces of squid this place stayed very traditional with the wafu style spaghetti and allowed for the mentaiko to do its job as the main ingredient. This was a great bowl of hot yummy mentaiko spaghetti.
Uni Spaghetti and Spinach ~ http://www.yelp.com/bi...
This was an interesting looking bowl of pasta. I did get to try a good amount from my friend to taste and I have to say it was really surprisingly good. The tamari being that it's a darker stronger base of soy does a really good job as a sauce. The Uni tossed in the pasta gave it a little creaminess to the dish. If I were to order it I would forgo the spinach as it didn't really do much to add to the dish itself.
To end the night I got one of their special desserts.
Butter Croissant bread pudding ~ http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Seriously everything in the name of this dessert was calling my name! The croissant was buttery and hand the right about of cream to moisten it to an amazing bread pudding that was served warm. Oh man the fact that it was warm just took it up another level. The caramel sauce was also light. This was one dessert that I didn't want to end. It was very sad when I put that last bit into my mouth.
My friend got their Almond crème brulee ~ http://www.yelp.com/bi...
It was just ok for me. Nothing too spectacular to write about.
This is a great alternative to those who may want to try pasta served differently from your typical Italian style sauces. They have a pretty extensive menu from entrée items like osso bucco and curry. The clientele here is both young and old with a great mix as I heard very lively conversation going on in Japanese, Korean, Spanish. The staff here were all very friendly, attentive and just as diverse as those who all flock here to get a great taste of what Chef Hiro is cooking up. I would certainly come back here and try other things from their menu.
Eyes ~ Very cool looking place. Remind me of kisaten (café's) in Japan!
Nose ~ Can't figure out what it is but it smells damn good!
Mouth ~ Oh My Word! I can do another round of mentaiko and the bread pudding!
Tummy ~ So happy to have had dinner here!Listed in: Mangia Mangia!, ANA ~ All Nippon Appetite!, ROTD!
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Review from Christina L.
Fullerton, CA
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ive been here 3 times... and of all the things Ive tried; I can only recommend one item... The Uni Spaghetti.
The curry is whatevers, the Oso Buco was 'good', Pescatore is glorified Chef Boyardee but slightly blander....
The Uni Spaghetti is flavorful and true to the flavor of Uni. Wonderful. I love it.
The service here is spectactular, everyone is always prompt and friendly. I just hate the seating, the restaurant is tiny; so youre very close to the table next to you.
Oh, their Black Bean Soup was actually quite delicious as well. Whoever came up with the menu or is cooking definitely seems to enjoy food and the presentation is great!
I think everyone should try this place at least once, especially Uni lovers... As for myself, I will probably come by once in a while for the Uni Spaghetti during off-peak hours! -
Review from Angela K.
Monterey Park, CA
5/6/2012
I have been to this japanese cafe a few times...very nice and cozy environment. I normally order the chicken with risotto or seafood pasta, they are both good. Today I just decided to order the uni pasta with spinash...........it was really good.....very rich uni flavor and really appreciated it! The dish has a pretty big portion and the next thing i knew i ate up the whole thing...just felt very satisfied! Their meal always come with soup and salad, range from $14 to $18 per dish.
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Review from Mindy N.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
good food makes my insides sing. great food make me daaaaaaaance. after my dinner at cafe hiro, my tastebuds were doing variations of the samba, tango, and lambada combined. so good. so so sooo good.
1. beef tataki. raw meat. noms. the delightful part of this dish was that everything on the platter was very well thought out. the minced radish, green onion, ponzu?, red onion, and lemon, all played significantly in defining this dish. miss one thing, and you wouldn't have gotten the samba of flavors that made this dish so exquisite.
2. uni spaghetti. holey moley frijoles. where has this dish been?? it's true, you can throw uni on everything and it will taste good. the best part, though, was the wasabi. elevate! elevate! elevate! my tastebuds may have been screaming in ecstasy.
3. chilean sea bass and mushroom risotto. perfectly crusty, crispy crust on the sea bass, perfectly salted, perfectly contrasted with the soft flesh of the fish. and the risotto was all kinds of deliciousness. earthy mushrooms. win!
4. panna cotta. i was afraid for this dish. the red sauce made me worry it would taste like cough syrup, but i was delightfully corrected. melty in my mouthy. THIS is how you make panna cotta
5. croissant bread pudding. this was the only non-home run of the night. it tasted good, but after everything else, it was hard not to expect more.
Cafe Hiro, my Hero, why are you such a drive, but I think about your uni spaghetti so much, no distance could ever keep us apart. -
Review from Seung Eun C.
Los Angeles, CA
Seriously wish one of these were in our neighborhood. I would be eating here all the time!
The uni spaghetti is exactly that: uni spaghetti with thin slices of roasted seaweed. It's light and makes for a delicious lunch..
Comes with a green salad and an asparagus-type soup.
The sesame dressing was delicious... I could eat it everyday!
We also had the curry chicken katsu. It was a huge piece of chicken and the sauce was a bit too mild for my liking.
As with most Japanese joints, the service was great.
Prices are affordable.
Nice place to meet a gf for some dinner and a nice glass of wine!Listed in: In my perfect world
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Review from Gigi M.
Aiea, HI
This is my uni spaghetti place cuz I know no other place that serves uni spaghetti! Love that stuff!!
I have to say the service at lunch time on my recent visit totally sucked!! Never once did our server come by to ask us how we were doing, and I had to wave her down to get a box and the bill! And it wasn't like she was busy with other customers, it was 25% full! They were busy taking care of their own crap (like setting tables) instead of attending to us! That was annoying; therefore, 1 star GONE!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2008
Food was great, loved the ambience, service was a little slow bc they were really busy for a Sunday… Read more »
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Review from Angela A.
1/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Cafe Hiro made me an uni lover. I am now an official sea urchin advocate for those who are weary of sea urchin. Maybe if someone had told me that it was the butter of the sea I would not have been so apprehensive. And honestly, looking back, I don't see what the big fuss was about. It's smooth and creamy like butter and doesn't taste any different than a sweet sea scallop.
Having that said, the sea urchin spaghetti and the sea urchin risotto are to die for here!! Now when I come here, I pretty much ignore everything else on the menu and immediately order one of the two. Although the menu does offer pretty amazing dishes. The BBQ beef salad, Albacore Tuna salad, Ossu Bucco, and Sea Bass risotto are major contenders.
Always looks to see what lunch/dinner specials they have. One night they offered tempura uni and that's the dish that won me over! -
Review from Stephanie F.
Cypress, CA
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cafe Hiro is an amazing place cute and romantic but also fun with close friends.
Whenever I come here I always get something with risotto because the risotto is awesome here... Cooked to perfection.
Recently my fiancé and I went for dinner and I got my usual and he tried something new which was sea urchint spaghetti. I have a new favorite now and it is that!
You can't go wrong with anything here and I recommend you call in for reservations first because like I said it is a small place. -
Review from Michael R.
La Habra, CA
2/12/2012
After years and years of hearing how good Cafe Hiro is, I finally got to eat dinner here last night. The hype is true, this place is good.
Fried Tofu - lightly battered, soft, and came with a very addicting sauce.
Peking Pork - Wow...I know Momofuku started the pork belly bun trend but it was my first time actually trying something comparable. Pork was tender, moist and flavorful. I could scarf these bad boys down all day.
Kurobuta Pork Cutlet - This was probably the highest quality tonkatsu I have tried. The meat was spot on perfect. My only gripe was that I would of enjoyed this dish more with tonkatsu sauce instead of the ponzu/demi glaze sauce.
Uni Spaghetti - Had a really nice uni flavor to it but I feel that it was a bit over salted.
Definitely a 4 star joint. -
Review from Dee C.
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I recently moved to the area so I'm trying out all the eateries in town. With solid reviews, I said "Why not Cafe Hiro, why not?" And within all the reviews, all that was raved about was the uni spaghetti. Well, so I tried it. I have to say it is very unique. It's not bad by any means but this what was going through my head throughout the meal.
1st bite: "Wow! This is Amazing"
3rd bite: "The wasabi really brings out the taste of this dish!"
midpoint: "um... the taste is a bit overwhelming now?"
2nd bite after midpoint: "I can't do it".
*disclaimer - I'm not a huge fan of uni to begin with"
I would give the uni spaghetti 3/5 stars. I tried their mushroom salad special that I thought was pretty good. Just wished they would ease up on the sauces so that I can actually taste the mushroom more.
I gave this place 4 stars because the food that I did try were a bit more than decent and the venue had cute decor with friendly staff members. All the other dishes I saw on other tables also enticed me to return again one day too. -
Review from Beryl C.
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Kudos to the new friends that brought me to Cafe Hiro. Japanese-Italian fusion? Whaaaat?!
Tried the beef salad with some corn chowder soup. Both were yummy. Never tried sea urchin before? The uni spaghetti is a great introduction. Save room for the bread pudding. It's killer. -
Review from Jay A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012
I had lunch at Cafe Hiro today with two business associates. I used to frequent this place often; however, due to a job change have not been here for 2 years. Hence I was excited to be back.
The food was good and the service decent. However, it was just not special and/or memorable. The salad starter was fair, the complementary soup should have been hotter; however, the soup was served in an ice cold bowl so we know what happened!
I had the mushroom curry. It was ok and a good lunch, but nothing great. I had some banana dessert special which was also fair to ok. My two business associates enjoyed their meals but just were not impressed enough to want to return.
I will be back as I have fond old memories of this place. I am hoping that I just picked an off day. -
Review from Eric S.
Irvine, CA
2/16/2012
I think this place is great. It's small and intimate - perfect for a date. Most of the entrees come with a salad and soup of the day. The day we went it was black bean soup, which was pretty good if you like black beans.
The crab cake appetizer is good, although it tastes more like a croquette. The inside was very creamy like a croquette, with crab meat mixed in. The outside was crispy and crunchy, and came with a tomato-based sauce. It's an interesting combination, but it works.
The mushroom risotto is fantastic - rich, creamy and flavorful. It's like People magazine's 50 most people beautiful crawled into your mouth and had an orgy. The special that day was a grilled swordfish on top of the risotto. The swordfish was a little dry and bland, like salmon when it's overcooked. I'd go with the sea bass or duck breast next time.
The osso bucco is very good. The meat is very tender, and when coupled with the broth and sticky rice it tastes like a rich, meaty stew.
There's no barrier between the seating area and the kitchen so you can see the kitchen staff working from most of the tables. The only thing that's a little weird is the head chef/expeditor is this older Asian guy (Hiro?) who wears a chef's jacket and backwards baseball cap, and stands looking out into the dining area all the time. I understand he probably wants to see how the diners are doing, but every time I look to the kitchen or at the window (which had a reflection of the kitchen), I'd see him looking back out and it was a little unsettling.
All in all, this is a great little restaurant - ideally for a date or friends. Get the risotto if you come. Seriously, it's really good. -
Review from Renee P.
Kapolei, HI
2/22/2012
Oh man, this place is so good! Started off with mesclun salad with ginger dressing and corn soup. The soup was so sweet and creamy. I was tempted to lick the bowl clean, it was so tasty. As for dinner, I got the uni spaghetti and it was absolutely divine! It was salty and creamy and just perfection! I want to go back and get it again. That dish was just plain amazing. My mom got the scallop risotto and my sister got the sea bass risotto. Those dishes were also extremely tasty. Every plate was finished and all the sauces were sopped up.
Along with having amazing food, Cafe Hiro has the best servers. Our waitress (I forgot her name, sorry!) was so nice and helpful. She was the sweetest person! We were happy to talk to her after our meal.
Overall, I was 100% completely satisfied with our evening at Cafe Hiro. If I lived in the area, I would go every weekend. What I will do is recommend everyone to go and try this place. You will leave full and happy! -
Review from Scott A.
Santa Monica, CA
12/15/2011
I'll give this place 4 stars, but the service gave it the last .5 star.
The setup doesn't match the food since it's looks like a casual Italian place, but the food is a bit classier.
I'll just hit the highlights. Peking pork & calamari are great appetizers. The peking pork is very tender, comes with greens, hoising sauce & a bun. The calamari is lightly breaded, but the cheese on top makes it. If you've ever been to Blue Marlin in W.L.A., it's very similar to theirs.
For an entree, I tried to the Kurobuta pork, but I have to say it wasn't the "black" version that I've had before. I'm not saying it's false advertising, but it didn't taste different.
The portions are average here and the prices are alright. The place was packed on a Saturday night, but it wasn't out of this world. My analysis is that we're spoiled on the Westside, because a place like this is a dime a dozen. Not bad, but not great. -
Review from Thuy Lien N.
Tustin, CA
3/24/2012
When it comes to pastas, I'd think of the Italian, the godfather, and acres of wheat field. Well, cafe hiro showed me that Japanese can do pasta, and it's amazing. Eggplant, bacon, creamy creamy sauce...when can I go back
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Review from Rose K.
Yorba Linda, CA
1/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Two Words: Uni Spaghetti.
I've been coming to Cafe Hiro for over five years and I can say with the utmost confidence that you will not be disappointed. Although I've tried other things on the menu, nothing comes close to the deliciousness that consists of uni spaghetti. It sounds a bit strange, but the perfectly al dente noodles are mixed with a deep but delicate and creamy uni sauce that I literally want to rub all over my face. I'm not a big fan of pasta or carbs, but every time i come here, i get the bread and sop up every last bit of the sauce.
For those of you who don't like uni, their kurobuta pork cutlet is pretty damn delicious too. i would get this every time if it weren't for their uni spaghetti. don't wave it off just because it's pork cutlet. the thicker cut of pork is juicy and delicious on the inside and is perfectly crispy on the outside without the breading being too oily or thick.
their beef tataki appetizer is pretty money as well...my only complaint is that the garlic chips they put on top can be hit or miss.
again, i'm not a big fan of cake, carbs, sweets etc. but i've tried all their desserts and my favorite would have to be their croissant bread pudding.
lunch time is a great time to come because the prices are cheaper and you get free soup and salad (which may not be a big deal, but the dressing is http://bomb.com and the soups are delicious).
waiters/waitresses are also very sweet and prompt with their service.
the only 2 complaints that i can think of:
1. they are closed on mondays (so sad)
2. it's tiny, so it's not the best place to go for groups...unless you make reservations in advance
not really complaints, but there you go -
Review from Shaun S.
Cypress, CA
1/23/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Cafe Hiro is such a wonderful little restaurant and I can't help but comment on how much I love the atmosphere of this little gem. And when I say "little" I mean it - this place is tiny! But if I owned a restaurant, I'd want it to be as quaint and personal as this one. I love everything about the setup and decor from the childlike paint on the east wall to the front bar peering into the kitchen (my personal favorite spot to eat).
The food here... oh the food here! To preface, it's worth mentioning that I typically write very short and sweet reviews mostly because I'm just not that into writing them, but to do so here would be an injustice to the grandeur of Cafe Hiro. Two words: Uni Spaghetti... it's freakin' phenomenal! Bits of sea urchin dancing in it's own broth accompanied by perfectly al dente noodles, seaweed, and a touch of wasabi make this the ultimate Japanese/Italian fusion. I usually start off with an appetizer of either scallops, ahi tartar, or peking pork and I assure you that they're all nothing short of spectacular. For an entree, the osso bucco, sea bass over risotto, and the crusted and seared ahi tuna are all exceptional, just to name a few. And do get desert, you'll be glad you did. To top it all off, the service at Cafe Hiro is impeccable.
Do yourself a favor and eat at this restaurant!!! -
Review from Beginning P.
Fontana, CA
Updated - 3/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Excellent. Delicious. Japanese fusion food. Try the uni pasta. Order the panna cotta.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2011
Japanese fusion style restaurant. We enjoyed the uni pasta and uni risotto. Also liked our… Read more »
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Review from Rose Marie A.
Cypress, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow! A nice little find in the most unlikely place....seriously the food is amazing! Ordered the BBQ Beef Salad, my daughter order the Spicy Garlic Spaghetti, also ordered the Crispy Fried Tofu.
Description from the menu:
Crispy Fried Tofu
Four pieces of Tofu, deep-fried with Onion in a Spicy Apple-Ginger Sauce
- WOW! This is the best Crispy Fried Tofu I ever, had the pleasure of eating! The sauce was such a beautiful contrast with the lightly crispy tofu. Very impressive.
BBQ Beef Salad
Mesclun with Tender USDA Prime Beef Short ribs, Potato Salad and Asian Herb Mix with a Sesame Miso Dressing
- sounds amazing, well it tastes just as amazing in my mouth. I never loved a salad so much lol
Spicy Garlic Spaghetti with
-Spinach & Mushrooms *Tomato Sauce Available
- very yummy and good, however not spicy enough for my daughter. Believe her tolerance is very high when it comes to spicy foods.
I wanted to try the dessert but my daughter wanted something else....I'll have to revisit this place and re-review :) ....to be continued... -
Review from James L.
Updated - 10/3/2011 10 photos
Another year has passed and still, Cafe Hiro has been a consistent favorite of mine. There isn't much for me to say that I haven't already mentioned before. I made reservations ahead of the time and was seated promptly (even a little bit before the time I made them). Rather than venturing off into the unknown, stuck with the solid choices:
- pork bun appetizer
- fried calamari
- scallop and mushroom risotto
They all tasted delicious just as I remembered. I also got to try a friend's spaghetti uni which is highly recommended if you like the taste of uni. He even made the awesome discovery of ordering a side of white rice to add to his dish after all the noodles are gone. PURE GENIUS!
I tried the dessert special for the day which was croissant bread pudding. This was also a pleasant surprise though the portion was a little smaller than I had hoped for.
All in all, a GREAT meal and I am tempted to come here soon again! You are my 'HIRO' in the culinary world.Listed in: Current Top 5 Restaurants
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/28/2010
Party of 2 on a Wednesday night at 7:00pm - we got seated right away.
Went straight to business: got… Read more »
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Review from Lisa H.
Cerritos, CA
12/23/2011
This is one of my favorite restaurants as it is one of the few places whose master chef has mastered the art of doing Asian fusion right.
Cafe Hiro is a quaint little restaurant tucked away in an unassuming strip mall but lo and behold, it presents the most wonderfully crafted food. For example, the delectable Uni spaghetti. I'm a fan of uni so this was absolutely ambrosia. I can eat bowls and bowls of this. Their carrot soup is also, amazingly, one of my absolute favorites. And you think, carrot soup? But with the silky smooth texture and on point flavor, I love it. The salad is excellent also; clean, crisp and lightly dressed in a house-made salad dressing that's creamy but not rich. Sadly, the portion of the soup and salad is disappointingly small considering how wonderful they taste. Actually, the portions of all entrees are on the petite side and the prices are a tad higher than expected hence the 4 star review.
There are chalkboards above the small bar seating area that lists the many specials so don't forget to look up towards the kitchen. The warm mushroom salad is a favorite. I love dessert but have never ordered any here because the portions are tiny and considering I just licked my uni pasta bowl clean, I should refrain from ordering anything else I can finish with just one bite.
The servers are quiet with few words but I believe this the custom of polite Japanese service, which is very pleasant for a romantic candlelight dinner. Some of them don't speak fluent English so a little patience is a must. It's an adorable place for a first date and with reduced lunch menu prices, not a bad choice for a business lunch either. I recommend everyone to try Cafe Hiro at least once. I know I won't ever stop visiting to fulfill my insatiable craving for Uni Spaghetti, which I have yet to find anywhere else! -
Review from Angela D.
9/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Tofu salad!! YUM!
Their ahi tuna tartare was pretty good as well.
The mango terrine I could live without.
Overall, it is kind of pricey but the ambiance is awesome.Listed in: Nor-Cal Native seeks best OC…
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Review from Kat S.
1/9/2012
yes, yes i am going to dedicate my 100th yelp review to cafe hiro, that is, under the condition that Yelp Headquarter does not get anymore bitch complaints about my reviews being offensive then remove it automatically.
so Cafe Hiro.. what am i going to say about you? that you are the the only one i can think of as a good date place with decent kimochi? that you offer the tastiest chilean sea bass with risotto? that your panna cotta is heaven made on tongue and i usually order two at the time and finish all? and your most reasonable price that can kick all the overpriced japanese fusion restaurants to the curb?
yes, i favour you, Cafe Hiro.. like i favour the nice girl living inside of me all my life.
i'm indeed, a nice girl. i put myself in other people's situation and try to be thoughtful, i take my friend's side and stick through thick and thin, i give up seats for the elderly and volunteer for abused women, i try to be considerate even when someone is inconsiderate.
now let's be honest. cafe hiro, as nice as you are, i will not choose to spend the rest of my life with you, i will not think of you the first thing when i have my face in the toilet throwing up my liver from half bottle of beer, i will not think of you when its time to demand a fancy anniversary dinner, and i .. will definitely not think of you when friends put the request to pick a spot for crazy gossip and smashing function....
cafe hiro, you are nice, and you are nice just like the nice me, people find us boring, people find us hard to maintain, and people, usually with the brain size of a peanut, cannot appreciate the niceness until you put on the façade of a bitchy and demanding attitude. you and me, we just do not appeal to the average population.
its okay, we don't want the average population anyway!
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HAPPY 100TH REVIEW (or 99th, or 98th, depends on how many more of my reviews get flagged by you bloody imbeciles out there).Listed in: Nostalgia and Melancholy
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Review from J'aime K.
Los Angeles, CA
10/27/2011
This is a fusion Japanese Italian / continental cuisine in a strip mall.
- The food quality was fabulous, use of high end ingredients and excellence in the kitchen
- The pricing was on the higher end; per person you will spend about $25-$30 min, almost everything you have to buy alacarte
- I enjoyed the mussels w/shallots and white wine $7.50, the mini mussels were tender and perfectly cooked in broth, it is accompanied with 4 small pieces of rosemary foccacia
- After that I had a house salad* topped sparingly with their miso dressing (a bit more and I would've been happier) and spicy caviar pasta (aka Tarako Spaghetti), that was made more on the creamy side, and topped with finely sliced nori; I would've preferred more spice, for $13, it was a decent portion (nothing on the generous side)
* I had a little bit of a miscommunication with the waitress. When I was about to order a mesculin salad for $4 and wanted everything to come out at once, she said it comes with soup and salad already. So I ordered the mussels instead. During my meal it was revealed, that the soup and salad combo add on were offered for $4. There was some back and forth, where they tried to charge me, finally she accepted responsibility and delivered the salad.
- The fact that I had to insist that they honor her words, left a bad taste in my mouth
- The waiter was gracious and just trying to do his job, and the waitress was somewhat cooperative, when she realized I was firm, and not happy
It's the small things, that downgrade a place. "It's the little foxes that ruin the vineyard."
The ambience is good, it has a good crowd, strong following. Unfortunately for the location, interior decor, charging $18 for most of the entree specials, puts this at the premium end of strip mall dining.
- Personally when paying more, I expect to be in a more upscale setting rather than a neighborhood cafe / bistro
FOOD - 4 stars
SERVICE - 2 stars
AMBIENCE - 3 stars
PARKING - 2.5 stars (it is tight and crowded)
VALUE - 2 stars
Would I go back? No, I don't think so. -
Review from Won P.
Cerritos, CA
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a quaint little restaurant that is asian, italian, and french inspired. when u first walk into the restaurant, u immediately think italian but when u look at the food, u think asian :-) an awesome little fusion restaurant.
the dining area is a small little area so make sure to make reservations b4hand to ensure a seat.
my friends and i shared the uni (sea urchin) pasta, the scallop risotto, and the chilean sea bass.
UNI PASTA: i LOVED this dish simply because i love uni (if you dont like uni though, i would not get it). i love this pasta because when u bite into the dish, the sauce really has that uni taste. one thing about uni though is that if its not fresh, it can be really fishy and taste gross but this pasta was perfect. just enough uni to taste it but not overwhelm you. they're not stingy with the uni either which i love.
SCALLOP RISOTTO: the scallops are fresh and delicious and u can tell that the risotto is made with love (as risotto) should be. it has this really good buttery taste to it as well.
CHILEAN SEA BASS: delicious, flaky fish. YUM! i hate when fish is tough and this fish is not. the asparagus that comes along with the dish is also excellently cooked.
SIDE DISHES: when u order enterees here, it comes along with a salad and a soup. the salad is just salad with dressing on it but what i loved is the soup. im not 100% sure what it was but i know for sure it was a corn soup with something mixed into it that made it green. im pretty sure it is a corn green pea soup. the soup is nice and creamy, has that corn taste, and to top it off, they add small strips of tortilla chip to give the soup some crunch. after all, too much creamy can be too much at times.
we also ordered the beef tataki which is basically seared beef that is still left pretty much raw in the middle. they slice it up for u and basically u eat it with strips of red onion, minced green onion, minced garlic paste, and this brown sauce. SO good!
so if ure looking for a quaint little restaurant that features different food than u would usually get, def. come here :D -
Review from Liezl S.
Long Beach, CA
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch for the first time. Pretty good asian food for the price! The wait can be long so be prepared. Small restaurant but they have very flavorfull dishes for a great price!
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Review from Monelle P.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm typically not a fan of fusion restaurants. I'm a firm believer that a restaurant cannot master two widely different cuisines and merge them into a cohesive, well executed menu. How Cafe Hiro was able to marry the fresh, seasonal cuisine of Japan with the carb-heavy, creamy cuisine of Italy BOGGLES my mind. Came here on the recommendation of Ron E. and left a believer.
I had the "Sea Urchin" Spaghetti with Toasted Seaweed - I LOVE Uni. I LOVE pasta. I was in heaven with this dish. The subtle essence of briny Uni in a light cream sauce was perfection. Complimented by the roasted seaweed, the uni cream sauce coated the pasta. After I finished the pasta (which, btw, was a very large portion), I asked for a side of bread to sop up all the uni creamy goodness at the bottom of my bowl.
Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Mushroom "Risotto" - Hearty. Satisfying. Comforting. The chilean sea bass was lightly roasted and an ideal compliment to the rich, creamy, cheesy risotto.
Carbonara: I have mixed feelings about carbonara ever since I tried to make it and ended up with pasta, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Cafe Hiro's carbonara was excellent. Tons of smoky, salty bacon tidbits in a light, creamy egg-based sauce.
Ended the meal with walnut creme brulee. Wasn't blown away by it, but the walnut flavor was unique and the creme was a light ending to a heavy, satisifying meal.
I cannot wait to return to Cafe Hiro on my next trip to LA. Ron E., you've made me eat my words! -
Review from Isaac F.
Long Beach, CA
10/21/2011
So I'll have to say, do not eat here unless you're willing to try new things, in this case flavors. Japanese/French cuisine makes for quite the attraction. Best of 2 of the most popular cuisines.
Uni Spaghetti w/ seaweed - Fabulous. Pasta properly cooked, Sea Urchin very flavorful, hints of saltiness but very well meshed.
Peking Pork - tender meat, hot buns. Roll, dip, eat.
Kurobuta - Fried to perfect crunch. Pork still very tender. Double dip it in both demi glace and ponzu sauce, get them both.
They will serve you a small portion of soup to start off. The kitchen is an open kitchen. You can see the staff working and the chef orchestrating from the front. Very clean, BTW.
The place is small. If there is a large reservation they won't sit anyone in those tables. Gives us walk-in fans less room. But you have to respect their willingness to satisfy those guests.
If you have kids who are not used to eating out other than Mc D's, don't go. Place is pretty quiet and small enough that a fussing child will bother most of the tables. I've taken my boy when he was 7, 8 & now 9 and he has always enjoyed his meal.
If you've gone and think its ok, go again. You'll become a fan. -
Review from Maggie N.
9/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I roamed to streets of cypress looking to try something new.. and what did I find? This little gem tucked inside a dark plaza.
I was initially confused on the cuisine, but ultimately decided its a fusion of Italian & Japanese, my favorites! I ordered the roasted duck w/ mushroom Risotto. The duck was cooked perfectly swimming in a rich reduction. My dish came with soup & salad which were quite tasty. Prices are slightly high, but the food did not disappoint. It's a great atmosphere, nothing fancy, but definitely not dingy. My fellow foodie ordered the curry and was beyond pleased with the size of the portion, it looked like it had its own zip code! -
Review from Bee Y.
Garden Grove, CA
2/10/2012
One of the best restaurants I have eaten at in years. The service is great and the food is even better. The risotto is so delicious and melts in your mouth. The uni spaghetti is different, but definitely worth trying. The price is a little high for me, but when I am in the mood to splurge, this is the place! Cute decor too!
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Review from Ms EatAlot S.
Fullerton, CA
9/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is amazingly decadent.
I ordered appetizer after appetizer because I wanted to sample everything, along with one main course (The table next to me, full of middle-aged 'high maintenance' ladies, gawked at all the plates brought to the table one after another, lol).
To my surprise, every appetizer... was made to perfection in every way. I could not find anything wrong with it. Every dish seemed to be personally made by the chef himself.
The salad was good, tuna was seared, beef was great with all the right toppings, soup was deliciously garnished, and the pasta was great as well.
I recommend trying everything, because they're all good! (if you fix yourself on just one dish, you might lose taste after awhile - this place is a good place to have your taste buds everywhere)
