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Honda Ya
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- 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
About This Business:
Gyu-Kaku has been awarded the prestigious Hot Concept Award by the restaurant industry's premier trade publication, Nation's Restaurant News! We like to… read more »
987 reviews for Honda Ya
Review Highlights
"the bacon wrapped asparagus made up for it."
(in 78 reviews)
"The best item that I always get is beef tongue."
(in 121 reviews)
"Great mushrooms, great box sushi, AMAZING yakitori."
(in 401 reviews)
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987 reviews in English
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Review from Andrea B.
Costa Mesa, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh, Honda Ya...
This is one of my personal all-time favorite places to eat. When it comes time to choose where I want my birthday dinner, this is it. Also reserved for when fans of Japanese cuisine visit.
My favorite? Tempura Avocado and grilled onigiri with the plum. What else is good? Pretty much anything off the yakitori menu. The veggies are always delicious and the meat is tasty. Pork belly and fatty heart, tongue and mushrooms... they have it all. We don't really stray to the noodle or sushi dishes opting for a more communal sharing of the other items. The last time we were there they even had a Kimchi hot pot that was enough for four or five people and super tasty.
Be prepared to wait. It is open until one but even if you get there close to when they open expect to wait at least an hour. I'm not sure how early you have to get there to get in right away because we got there 15 minutes after opening and waited an hour at least. Worth it. -
Review from STINE C.
San Diego, CA
2/5/2012
My review will probably get lost with the other hundreds of reviews, but I have to comment how bomb this place is.
Usually there's a wait on weekends, especially Saturdays but luckily there were two open seats at the bar. Center spot to watch the chefs grill the yakitori.
Every item that I've tried here passes with flying colors. Anything you order will pretty much be bomb, especially the recommended items.
Here's some of my personal favorites:
-Takoyaki: basically deep fried balls with octopus inside. The outer layer has a creamy mashed potato like texture that is sooo bomb! Can't eat too many though or you'll get stuffed.
-Crab Shumai: These are house-made and steamed. Very simple but flavorful.
-Skirt Steak Yakitori: Meat is tender and juicy!
-Baked Scallop: scallops, onions, mushrooms that's baked with spicy mayo. Definitely on the heavy side but can't go wrong with this one.
The prices are reasonable but they do add up quickly!
Highly recommended :D -
Review from Silly P.
Orange, CA
1/30/2012
I'm in food love *hearts hearts* with Honda-ya
Been frequenting this place since I was a kid :0)
The owner's have updated the menus a bit, for the common folk, but the food it still just as outstanding as I remember.
Make sure to get in early, and don't come starved... because there is usually a wait time. In small groups you will get in faster, but if you happen to have a larger group (because the place is small) you could wait up to an hour in the late evening.
Their starters and sushi is made to order and wonderfully fresh.
Get some and try it! yup, now.
Anyway, If you are hungry enough and can stomach it, their combination meals are well priced and you get a good bang for your buck $$$ large portions IMO
All-in-all, a fantastic place to relax and enjoy some great company.
The atmosphere and authentic dishes are worth the wait... *crosses fingers*
[ ] I promise.
Enjoy! -
Review from DDC C.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
Japanese food for white people (and non-Japanese Asians) who dont know Japanese food but think that good Japanese food is this. It isn't. Only in a place like Orange County would this place be popular.
Service was rude as well. -
Review from Akio S.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Honda-ya in both Tustin and DTLA are slowly becoming my favorite Izakaya. The food is on the authentic side and very good. The atmosphere is fun too which people are starting to forget about. Grab some friends and a bottle of sake and share some food!
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Review from Grace C.
Tustin, CA
1/29/2012
Honda-Ya is always a great spot to enjoy some good food, friends, and atmosphere. The only problem is, everyone else thinks so too. Unless you go at late night hours, their weekend dinner time is usually packed and a long wait. The Tustin location is probably half the size of their City of Industry location - so bigger parties do better there.
Where to start with their menu...
Taco Wasa - my all time favorite chopped up squid soaked in delicious wasabi (i think their portion is a bit bigger at Industry location vs. Tustin)
Salmon Carpaccio - nom nom, slimy salmon fillet with jalepeno and sauce, (their portion is bigger at Tustin location vs. Industry)
Salmon/Yellowtail Cheek roasted - you can't go wrong with this, don't forget to squeeze the lemon and salt
Amaebi sashimi - LOVE LOVE LOVE. Not sure which part is better, their crispy fried heads or the shrimp drenched with wasabi
Off their grilled menu I will always get an order of: BEEF TONGUE, shitake mushroom, chicken cartilage, chicken butt, enoki bacon... etc.
I haven't gotten to their udon or lunchboxes before because their tapas and other small dishes always seem to fill me up.
OH YES, their half liter of plum wine is absolutely worth your buck and gets you a great buzz with all that food.
ENJOY! -
Review from Michael W.
La Verne, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
MICHAEL AND CHING FOR ELITE 12!
Angela MADE me come here.
I mean...its only what 45 miles from home?
Sigh....women.
Anyways no pics stupid phone died.
First off I am just going to say I am adding points for the pure experience of this place. Its defiantly something you should experience at least once.
That said I think I am opening a Yakitori place. The profit margins must be eye boggling.
I got a pork belly skewer (2.00) and a spicy chicken skewer (2.75)
Both were good. Nothing amazing but good.
If you haven't been to a Yakitori place its bits of meat grilled over charcoal.
In the end its a cool place to meet up with some friends.Listed in: Getting Lost in the OC
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Review from Tuyen T.
Westminster, CA
2/7/2012
I have been meaning to write a review for this place for such a long time! Not like they need it because everyone seems to get that this place is pretty much heaven on earth. I have not tried a single thing here that I didn't like and for such a large menu with everything from sushi to yakitori to ramen you really can't go wrong. I'm only sad that I can only eat so much that I'm stuffed from the sashimi salad and can't order much else. I usually will try to split that so that I can order their awesome rolls and appetizers because I cannot leave here without ordering that addicting salad! IT does get pricey but totally worth it! Try ordering a little at a time to prevent ordering because once your eyes skim through that menu you simply don't have a chance.
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Review from Angela D.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
The last time I had yakatori was in Japan. That was in 2008. I have been deprived!!!! D:
After hearing about this place, of course I had to try it for myself. The yakatori is pretty good! Also tried their sashimi, crunch roll, and stewed pork belly. The pork belly was really tender and was paired with spinach and a spicy mustard. The crunch roll was good though all the crunchy stuff fell off!
The service was nice. One of the male waiters reminded me of a Japanese movie star with his long hair. Hehhee. I digress.
Anywho, come check this place out! It was packed when I went on a weekday so make sure to get there early or make a reservation. -
Review from Eunice S.
Irvine, CA
1/23/2012
Wow, this place was packed! A friend and I dropped by for a late dinner at around 8 pm. We waited and weren't seated until almost 9:30!
Our server greeted us and was very attentive throughout the night.
Not as many sushi rolls to choose from compared to other Japanese places, but still a good hand full of selection! Their menu was very extensive though and seemed to have a lot of authentic Japanese food.
But we played it safe and ended up ordering (for 2 people):
-Super crunch roll (very filling)
-Rainbow roll (not bad)
-Chicken zosui (I really liked this! I thought it was delicious.)
-Tonkatsu dinner combination (huge portion of tonkatsu with side salad, fruit, miso)
We left very satisfied despite the long wait.
Good: service, nice decor, delicious food, nice portions
Bad: long wait, a bit noisyListed in: Southern California Food…
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Review from My N.
Stanton, CA
1/21/2012
Came here at exactly 5:30 & there was already a line waiting outside. Sign in first so they can call your name. I love that you have an option to sit on the floor, although I sat at a table (haha).
Decor is very cozy and homey, I like that a lot. I feel really comfortable so that's a plus too.
Food, I wasn't feeling like sushi much so i got the beef tongue, liver, & gizzard yakitori (which were really good by the way)! Also got the rainbow & crunch roll which were both delightful. Nothing too spectacular.
Overall, I would come back again to try the rest of their menu since there were trillion of items on there. -
Review from Joe V.
Irvine, CA
Been coming here for years. And every time I come here, the food is consistent and satisfying.
There are too many good items on the menu, but the ones that stand out to me are the buta kaku, stinky roll, and most of the yakitori.
The buta kaku is best described as a chunk from a pig, but definitely more satisfying than it sounds. Its got a little bit of a gelatenous texture (which I assume is skin) attached to some very tender and flavorful meat.
Honda ya is best experienced with a group of friends and some sake bombs. -
Review from Choy L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ended up here for a Yelp UYE.. Well, that and I'm addicted to Yakitori!!!
They have a pretty big menu here so I'm sure you'll find something for everybody. I stuck with the Yakitori this night due to the aforementioned addiction, duh'?! Here's what we tried listed on how memorable it was.
Enoki Bacon
Beef Tongue
Sausage Bacon
Pork Belly
Asparagus Bacon
Okra Bacon
Chicken Liver
Chicken Heart
Fatty Heart
Gizzard.
Prime steak
Lamb chop
I'm sure there's a couple more I'm forgetting, but hey, If i've already forgotten about them, mustn't be worth remembering right?! Overall a great place.. good food, location, ambiance and service. one thing i might suggest tho' is that maybe they should color code or tag their yakitori sticks, as our servers had a little confusion on which was which they were bringing us. or could be we just ordered too much.. Either way, try this place out, I highly recommend it! -
Review from Mischa W.
Irvine, CA
2/9/2012
What I would image it would be like walking into a restaurant in Japan. Great atmosphere! Wonderful, diverse menu. Open late, we usually show up after 11pm to avoid the crowds. Food comes out quickly, and always tastes delicious. They have Hana Lychee flavored sake which my girlfriend loves. I'm a big fan of the Nasu Miso (eggplant with miso glaze), pork belly and okra on a stick, and the stinky roll.
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Review from Vicky N.
Garden Grove, CA
2/7/2012 8 Check-ins Here
My boyfriend and I love this place! We are currently banning ourselves from this place. Last month, we went here 10 times! TEN TIMES! And we're poor college students. They have okay service. There's one lady in particular that we really like but we always forget to take down her name. But either way, good food, good atmosphere, sometimes a wait, and plenty of parking.
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Review from Mai N.
Goodness, why is this place so freaking packed? Luckily my cousins and I only had to wait about 45 mins for a table because 7 groups bounced. We ended up sitting on the floor in the corner. Next time I'm asking for a table because it was just so cramped. We are small asian people, but dang, we ain't THAT small. haha.
We ordered the chicken katsu/chicken teriyaki dish, potatoes gratin, 2 rolls, fried calamari, bacon wrapped scallops, udon.
The good:
-Chicken katsu/chicken teriyaki was worth it the most. It came with a salad, miso and rice for about 12 bucks. Everything was tasty
-Potatoes gratin was delicious. Can't go wrong with potatoes and cheese. For the price, the dish could've been a little bigger
The decent:
-The 2 rolls (can't remember the names) were decent. I'm not a big fan of fancy rolls because they're expensive and drenched in mayo
-Udon was just a typical bowl of soup. Nothing special or spectacular but it was still good. I definitely could've made the same soup at home for way cheaper
The bad:
The most disappointing dish was the bacon wrapped scallops. It neither tasted nor looked like bacon or scallops. It just tasted like chicken. I had to ask the waitress again what it was. Expensive and totally not what I had in mind when I ordered it
The service was horrid. I had to ask for straws 4 times and when she did bring it, she brought 1. There were 5 of us... Our waitress never came back except to drop off food and when she did she would turn around a leave so quickly we could never order more. The bill took forever as well, so we took half the tip away. She's lucky we still tipped her for crap service. -
Review from Andy H.
12/27/2011
Dude... what didn't I have here that wasn't exotic?
I had my share of beef tongue, neck, pig tail, cartilage... you name it! Everything I had was skewered to perfection and had the right amount of texture and taste that I was expecting. It was my first time trying all this thanks to my illustrious neighbor. He gave the down low of what's good here.
In particular, the beef tongue and sea urchin were superb. The tongue had a burst of flavor and had a soft texture to chew on. The sea urchin melted in my mouth. I never tried anything like it and wish they were cheaper..... haha!
ALCOHOL ALERT!
- The cold and hot sake weren't bad. I liked the cold better just because it went down a little easier but I can't complain about the hot since it tasted almost as good. -
Review from Dominic L.
San Diego, CA
Place gets busy, if you have an hour to spare waiting it's worth the wait, unless your lucky. Apply yes to all seating on the waiting list if you want to be seated faster.
They don't do reservation.
Food is awesome for sushi, but you need to try the grill food. The lamb chop is fun to eat! -
Review from Eric M.
1/29/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I freakin love this place.
Sushi is one of those things that is either really, really good, or just crap. Honda-Ya is on the really, really good side of that equation.
You walk in the door and your instantly hit with an authentic, old school Japanese vibe that makes you feel like this place means business when it comes to the food.
They have your typical sushi bar and dining tables, they also have classic Japanese dining where you take your shoes off and sit on the floor. Im too lazy to actually figure out what its called, im assuming your going to take the time and do the research haha. Anywho, the menu is big with lots of specials on it. They also have a lot of the menu options posted on the walls around the tables and bar. Ive had a lot of different items on the menu and they are all good. I have yet to find one i dont like.
I recommend trying the popcorn shrimp and the sexy roll, they are my two favorites. They are kind of middle of the road, but i always seem to end up ordering them.
As i keep writing this review, i realize that i am now rambling. Drinking and reviewing is a dangerous thing to do ladies and gentlemen. I will leave you with this. The sushi is great, the atmosphere is classic, the waitresses are hot in a very traditional Japanese way and its reasonable priced. If thats not enough, im telling you its a cool place, and really im kind of the go to guy for that kind of advise so i suggest following it. -
Review from Sarah H.
Irvine, CA
1/11/2012
Beef Tongue, Pork Belly, Porridge. YUM YUM YUM.
This place is completely authentic, and judging by the huge line of people forming before they even open everyday at 530, you know it's good.
Service is always great, and it's a nice place to drink hite and sake while enjoying a ton of small plates on a date or with a small group.
I'd also recommend the gyoza and the miso soup! -
Review from patrick t.
Long Beach, CA
1/2/2012
As aforementioned, I'm not the biggest fan of Asian food. Sit me down at a Pei Wei and I'm a happy man. I don't go for Japanese places that strive to be 100% authentic. I just want my rice and my meats, or sushi, and you can pretty much keep the rest of the menu away from me.
Honda Ya was alright, and I did have a good time, but I feel that was more due to the atmosphere than the food itself. I think it's a great place to meet people and share a bite. I would not consider it my go-to Japanese place if someone were to ask me for a recommendation. -
Review from Ann Y.
Irvine, CA
1/5/2012
One thing I really liked about this place was that it was different. It was cute and cozy with nicely dressed servers. Their food was good too! I had their ramen, salad and couple of other items on the menu which all tasted the way it should have. Would definitely come back for more.
All in all, quality restaurant. -
Review from Sarah N.
Long Beach, CA
12/28/2011
I guess raw food takes longer to prepare? My boyfriend's dinner came a whole 25minutes before my sashimi....he ordered grilled beef and some cutlet, so the cooked food seems to be on time and better tasting.
We didn't get to eat dinner together so, next time I'll order cooked food instead.
excellent meat quality***** -
Review from paula m.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Every time I come to Irvine, I have to come to Honda ya. Get a few standard goodies and try a few new things. That's always my method.
One of the standards is takoyaki. It's a dish that's more widely available but it never fails to provide comfort in my belly!
We also get the tomato bacon. Bacon wrapped cherry tomatoes on a stick! We know better to let them sit for a minute first. If eaten too early and the tomato bursts in your mouth, the burns from the hot juices make for an unpleasant experience. Trust me. It's worth waiting a minute or two.
Enoki butter is also another regular. If you're not a big fan of potentially chewy foods, this may not be the dish for you.
The yakiniku was fine. Nothing remarkable.
The garlic spinach was fine too. Not worth getting unless you're really craving it.
The crunchy shrimp roll was tasty but with eight large pieces, we didn't finish it.
The buta-kaku was delicious. Would have liked a bit more spinach to go with the pork, but the pork was super delicious with a bit of hot mustard.
One of the specials was Osaka-styled yakiudon. This was really tasty but I would have preferred more yaki on the udon.
As for the food on a stick:
The meatball was fine (three to a stick), but I'm not a fan of meatballs so I probably wouldn't order it.
The beef tongue was more chewy than I like.
The chicken and scallion was good as always.
The restaurant is located in a small strip mall so parking can be a bit limited. We've never had an instance of not finding a space, but sometimes you have to circle the lot a second time.
The restaurant opens at 5:30. We arrived at 5:40 and there were about 12 people waiting outside. I was afraid that the entire restaurant was already full and we had to wait for over an hour.
For those that don't know, they hang a clipboard outside the front door for you to sign up with your name, number of people and seating preference.
We signed up and sat down to wait. They called a party every minute or so. Turns out, the restaurant wasn't full at that time and they were just trying to stagger the seating so the servers weren't overwhelmed. We were seated within a few minutes.
By the time we left (~7pm) the place was packed and there were people doing the real waiting outside. If you don't like waiting outside in colder weather, I would highly recommend arriving at opening. -
Review from Poachedeggs g.
Orange County, CA
12/11/2011
Yays
Yakitori
Sushi
menu selection
hours (open till 1am)
restaurant decorListed in: Good Food With Good Friends
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Review from Brian C.
Riverside, CA
1/13/2012
Great atmosphere, great food, ice cold beer. Friggin magical and what not. Pretty much everything on the menu is good so just try out what you think might suit you. Seriously, you like mushrooms? Order some shimeji shrooms, they'll blow your mind. You like pork? Order the garlic pork belly, it'll make you squeal with delight (seewhatididthere?). Just make sure you get the bacon wrapped asparagus though. Its fantastic,...just fantastic!
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Review from ginny g.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011
Finally made it out to Honda Ya. A really good standard Izakaya. They have really great sushi and nigiri. While they don't have a ton of specialty rolls, everyone I have tried has been great. What they lack in roll selection gets made up with all of the other items like skewers, rice balls, noddle dishes, etc.
The inside of the restaurant is comfortable and quaint. The service and waitstaff are great.
We got a few hot sakes, ordered a couple skewers, sushi, the stinky roll, and a rice ball or two. Everything was super tasty and all in all it was a really nice evening. I'll be returning for sure.
The restaurant usually has a wait so sign up on the clipboard by the door! -
Review from L S.
Tustin, CA
1/24/2012
This is a nice place to get a bite of the exotic (in a small town like Tustin, I think this qualifies as pretty exotic, haha).
My biggest pet peeve is the long wait, as many have mentioned, and one of the biggest reasons I'm not giving this place 4 stars.
Second biggest turn off: small portions. Yes, I know that's how it works with sushi and Japanese restaurants but you seriously have to order 4 or 5 things to get full (especially if you're having your main meal of the day and/or are starving/haven't eaten).
However, their dinner specials/combos are nice and so is their baked fish. The sashimi salad was to DIE FOR! The ice cream always hits the spot.
Overall: I like this place and love going from time to time. Just not a fan of the long line OR the feeling like a SARDINE while having my meal. -
Review from Connie L.
Where to start? With 900+ reviews, I'm sure my fellow yelpers covered all the bases. But I want to make sure Honda Ya gets all the cred they deserve.
Place gets packed so be ready for a wait. This place is known for their yakitori but their sushi is also really good.
Must get items:
*Yakitori-tongue, chicken leg, shrimp, gizzard, and moreee tongue. I LOVE TONGUE!
*Garlic stems-sauteed with bacon. Amazing
*Beer
*Sake
*Oyster shooters
Those little yakitori sticks add up but it's worth the price.
Happy Eating!! -
Review from Phuong T.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/3/2011 4 photos
Prepare to wait before being seated............. it's worth it.
A traditional Izakaya. Great food and service. -
Review from Amy L.
Irvine, CA
12/19/2011
MY FAVORITE SUSHI PLACE! usually there's a line unless you go at odd hours but it moves very quickly so you can't really complain unless you're literally starving like an african child. my favorite is the crunchy roll as well as the super crunchy roll. I love the udon and gyoza there as well but buying potstickers probably isn't worth it. It always comes looking very presentable.
Their singing to birthday people = a little creepy though... Thoughtful but the recorded woman over the speaker is a little too much. i don't care though, they have AMAZING food! -
Review from Caleb F.
Diamond Bar, CA
12/8/2011
I love the floor seating. Very cozy and comfortable.
GOOD:
The servers are kind. The place is quaint. The meats are good. There are lots of choices on the walls. The ice cream is well priced. I tried the sweet red bean and it was good.
BAD:
The wait. The roll selection was very limited. The fish was mediocre for a fancy place like this. The blue fin tuna belly was expensive for very little fish.
FAV:
$6 Blue Crab Handroll
$2.25 Beef Tongue
$2 Sweet Red Bean Ice Cream -
Review from Ammara E.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012 1 photo
Love this place. There are so many awesome unique specials at any time, it's hard to chose what to order. The standard menu item (stinky roll) is very good as is the sea weed salad. But i would suggest reading the many specials on the wall and be adventurous. You wont regret it. Only negative : It gets pretty busy there and they don't take reservations :(
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Review from Jack C.
Tustin, CA
12/12/2011
This little restaurant is LEGIT! Although it is a small restaurant, but it definitely feels like a Traditional Japanese Izakaya.
The food is pricy, but good!
Service is great!
Opens til 1 am! Great for late night snack! -
Review from H A.
Orange, CA
1/9/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Greatest Sushi Place in Orange County!! Love this little Japanese restaurant in the middle of Old Town Tustin. The Food is Great!!! The staff is friendly. The Crunchy Tuna Rolls are amazing!! try the bacon wrapped cherry tomatoes, Wow!! I have never tried that before. they were so good! Everything they make here is Full of Flavor and always Clean. The atmosphere is very casual and relaxing. I like the fact that they stay open till past midnight. Its perfect for a little romantic dinner of a fist date. You will not be disappointed.!!
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Review from K J.
Irvine, CA
12/8/2011
Hondaya.. daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
suki.
This is my "go-to" place for weekends, and even during week days when there's nothing else open late. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, service, and atmosphere. I've traveled to Japan and I can safely say that Honda Ya is a 100% legit Japanese style pub. From their delicious dinner combos (I recommend beef ponzu) to their wholesome Udon (try their tanuki udon) to their small appetizers (such as crab shumai and takoyaki)- Honda Ya has it all. Their yakitori is also very good and matches well with their sushi, but most importantly... their beer! AHHHHHHHHHHHH OH HEAVENLY KIRIN ICHIBAN BEER FRESH OFF THE TAP AND SERVED IN FROSTED MUGS.. heaven.
Long story short- you want to go on a culinary adventure in Japan? Just turn on El Camino Real and you're already there. -
Review from alexis b.
This will be a short one. I like their sister (Kappo Honda) restaurant much better for the simple fact that the wait is not as insane as Honda ya! Come to find out, place isn't even full but yet you still wait about an hour WTF part of the game is that! Honestly I could have driven to Kappo in Fountain valley, wait a lil, grub, leave and I'd still be waiting at Honda ya to be seated. Thats a party foul Honda!!!
So finally after about an hour of waiting and starving we sat down. The size of this place compared to Kappo is much larger , thats another reason why I don't get why they make you wait your whole life to be seated. Oh well. The menu options here I won't lie are better than Kappo. They have spare ribs and man oh man are they gooooood. My mom wants to come just for those. I said naw, I'll get them to go for you.
We tried all types of stuff. All very good. DON"T order one of their special yakitori sticks, it was the garlic pork belly. Usually the pork belly alone is awesome, but adding the garlic salt, made it so dry it tasted like jerky! Don't get the white meat chicken with cheese and jalapeno. They use that government cheese melted on top of that BLAH.The service was good and I'd come back if I feel like waiting my whole life LOL. -
Review from Chris K.
9/25/2011 1 photo
Honda Ya, I love you. But it's a love that cannot be. You're Japanese, and I'm Korean. My grandmother who lived through the Japanese occupation of Korea would not approve of our forbidden love. Neither does my wallet. I've never dropped less than $30 per visit and I always leave wanting more!
But you are delicious. Thin Japanese pork belly wrapped around okra and scallops, lightly grilled. Pitchers of beer with insulated ice capsules to ensure optimum beer drinking temperature. Traditional Japanese architecture. Great service. Open til 1am. You're an addiction. You're bad for me. But I can't quit you...Listed in: Good food, good drinks, good…
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Review from Tommy H.
Irvine, CA
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
an all around Japanese food place.
if you can't decide on sushi or noodles or yakitori, come to Honda Ya and get it all.
good for:
- Udon
- Yakitori: there's a Mix Yakitori platter with 5 types of skewers for $10 (chicken leg meat, chicken breast meat, gizzard, meatball, and bacon wrapped asparagus).
- sesame chicken
- beer/sake: late night drinking is great especially with their 1am closing hour.
bad:
- grated yams: i have no idea why anyone would order this dish. no taste, displeasing texture, just don't order this; unless it's part of a dare or a cruel joke. -
Review from Matt B.
Cedar Falls, IA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Despite the loss of power for 5 minutes I highly recommend the place. I'm full, I'm full, I'm fucking full.
