Honda-Ya

556 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780, United States

Honda-Ya
About This Sushi Bar

HONDA-YA was first founded in 1993 in the city of Tustin. Starting from modest means, HONDA-YA has become a destination for fine Japanese cuisine in Orange County. Developing an extensive menu over the years, we now serve over 300 dishes specializing in sushi and yakitori. Not only have we expanded the menu of HONDA-YA, but our atmosphere has adapted to include seating like the zashiki room. Your constant support has created our history and we look forward to being your choice of restaurant in the future.

Sushi Reviews
Sushi Experience №1

Skewers - This restaurant needs to remove a layer of coal from the coal grill. The fire is too strong making meat not tender. It BBQ like American steak.(without resting period) The fire shouldn't be that strong, it will make meat too chewy. Try grilling the skewers from coal that looks a bit weak.

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №2

Get the onion slice, you won't regret it

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №3

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №4

Visited a month ago

Sushi Experience №5

I love this place so much. I came here 3xs already. I took my family here especially my mom was so excited to have some dishes that you couldn't find at any other resturants like this place. It reminded me of back home in Okinawa. It's so hard ti find a good Okinawa resturant. It took me way back. My mom was even delighted. We ordered so much and highly recommend everything here. The customer service is amazing. Auntie that works here she's super sweet and she's so attentive. Very good hospitality. She just adds to the experience. She ensured we were well taken care of. We sat in the tatami room. So warning to those who have a bad knee or weak back. But it's a pleasant experience. The quality and price of the food is great affordable. And if your looking to have a good time and enjoy yourself whether it be with friends, on a date, or with family highly recommend you will feel like your part of the family coming here. Can't wait to go back because the food just melts in your melt..so delicious.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №6

There is always a long wait here. You cannot make a reservation online or over the phone. You can only add yourself to the waitlist once you arrive. The food is phenomenal though and is worth the wait if you are craving authentic Japanese.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №7

Not friendly. Not authentic. They have a gimmick that people like.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №8

An amazing selection to choose from and everything tastes really good. They also have a great selection of drinks with a very fun atmosphere and great service!

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №9

Although they have a good selection of yakitori, most of the meat is a bit dry and lacks grill flavor. It's probably because the grill fire is too strong. The grilled squid and yakisoba are probably the better ones but overall I still think shinsengumi has better yakitori despite the selection might be a bit limited.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №10

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №11

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №12

It was an ok restaurant but recently they had the worst customer service. They don’t seem to care for the customers. So not going back there for sure.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №13

True Japanese experience. Made me feel like I was back in Kyoto!! Delicious food in the tatami mat room was an authentic Japanese meal!

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №14

It was an awful experience after waiting over an hour (although we were told 45 mins) we were seated in front of the grill and even when I mentioned that my wife is having issues with breathing, they were very rude and didn’t care for accommodations.
Never again, take your business elsewhere

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №15

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №16

My friends and I love to go here! We love to get a variety of yakitori and a few side dishes to share. There’s always a huge line/wait so I recommend going early. As for what to get for yakitori, I like the beef tongue, garlic pork belly, Japanese beef, chicken heart, and the quail egg! You get to do multiple round so don’t order too much cuz they’ll get cold before you get to it. They do run out if you go late but they’ll tell you if anything sold out.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №17

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №18

Super cute seating area where you have to take off your shoes! I felt like I was transported back to Japan. Food was good—I would recommend the Oden and beef tongue! Service was a little slow on a Tuesday late night.

Visited 2 months ago

Sushi Experience №19

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №20

We were a party of 6 who had never been there before. Our server was so patient and answered all our questions even though it was a busy night. He went on his break, and a blonde young lady took over. There was a mistake with our bill, and the veg tempura my friend got was raw in the middle, inedible, so she sent it back. Still, they replaced the meal even though she only wanted the offending pieces replaced and were so nice about it.

I had soba, and the noodles were PERFECT. Chewy and just right. We also shared a crunchy roll which was delicious. Aside from the undercooked tempura, everything at the table was fantastic and a GREAT price.

I'll definitely go back.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №21

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №22

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №23

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №24

I love Honda Ya.
The best service
Best food
Great staff

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №25

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №26

hands down one of the best yakitori places! highly recommend and will definitely come back again.
menu with prices attached. the food can be pricey but honestly just go for the experience, the vibes, the food is tasty so definitely give it a try. the waitlist can be long at night time, we waited around 45 mins, you cannot waitlist online, must be in person. we spent around $50-70 per person, we ordered a lot of yakitori. the atmosphere is amazing, one of a kind place. the service is good and they take their time. go ahead and try their honda ya beer!

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №27

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №28

Probably because they are busy,Service is really bad.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №29

Pretty good food for a decent price. Usually spend over $400 eating sushi as a group of 4, but it only came out to $250 here, and we ordered a heaping variety of food. Sashimi was meh and sushi rolls were heavy on sauce/imitation crab, but I enjoyed the skewers and much of the misc. items we got (scallops, octopus, etc.). Was an hour wait on a Friday night so likely won’t come here regularly with the myriad of options nearby, but I am thoroughly satisfied. Good service and atmosphere, though wish the seats were slightly larger.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №30

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №31

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi Experience №32

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №33

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №34

Great service, be prepared to wait for seating. It's small inside so even with things flowing as they do, which is quick, there will usually be a wait. Food was quality, quantity is another topic though, the skewers are small, so I'd recommend ordering other items from the menu to go with it, noodles are pretty filling

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №35

Everything is great, but they never pick up their phone calls.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №36

The food was amazing!!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №37

Very dim-lit which makes the environment/atmosphere super warm and inviting. Great selection of sake, especially the Snow Sake, it's very strong but tasty. Food is made deliciously with no complications. Overall, highly recommend for dates and family outings. Fun note: they also have traditional Japanese seating. (taking off your shoes and either kneeling or crisscross sitting on a bamboo mat with a big table which seats probably a family or two).

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №38

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №39

Local staple for izakaya goodness. Great to hang with some friends for some drinks and skewered things. Sushi's not half bad either. Be adventurous and order parts of animals you usually wouldn't eat!

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №40

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №41

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №42

My favorite late night meal. Service is always fast and friendly. Try the vegetable udon and an order of Galbi 🔥

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №43

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №44

Noodles

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №45

Amazing food, amazing service, amazing atmosphere. I’ve been to Japan and this was the closest thing to it I’ve found in OC.

Tons of food options. We had shashimi, skewers, scallops and some rolls. The menu is big, I’ll be back to try some new stuff. I would highly recommend this place.

Visited 4 months ago

Sushi Experience №46

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №47

Great place to eat and drink beer!!!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №48

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №49

This place must be a hit or miss because I definitely did not get 4.5 stars of service or food. Quality on the food was average and service was horrendous starting with the host. Why would you want to eat at a place you wait almost 2 hours for and get an RBF when you get walked in by the host and pay 300$ for 4 people. Will not be back as I’d rather spend the money at shin sen gumi for quality and service.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №50

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №51

Checked this spot out because of raving reviews, but the food is so bad. Ordered all the recommended items too, so I don't understand what happened here...

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №52

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №53

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №54

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №55

I've been coming here for many years and the service is always on point. The food is tasty and the vibe of the place is great. Just be prepared to wait for a table if you're dining on a weekend

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №56

I don't know what happened? The food was not It. Used to be the best. Sadly not anymore 😞

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №57

Always a great option. Highly recommended!

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №58

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №59

We was there after 10pm and the line was still long, so we had a really high expectation. Plus I'm a Japanese food chef myself, so I was looking forward to having this meal.
I'll start with the good parts, the chicken udon and the unagi bowl we're pretty good, the soup was rich in flavor and the eel sauce was not too sweet.
The gyoza seems like to be their signature, and it was decent I'd have to admit that.
However, the vinegar rice didn't have enough vinegar in it. The softness was good, but I'm not sure if they use the wooden container to absorb the steam. On the other hand, the fish had too many tendons, which affects the texture.
The yakitori was good, the taste and smell of charcoal really blended into the meat, would definitely recommend!
Overall I would give it a 3.5 star.

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №60

This place is my favorite place in OC. It's worth it to wait. Lol

Visited 5 months ago

Sushi Experience №61

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №62

Comida deliciosa y excelente ambiente, recomiendo como entrada los takoyakis con queso

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №63

Price is up, and quality & quantity are down. It used to be a fun and tasty place.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №64

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №65

Yakitoris are really nice. Normally there is waiting at least for 20~30 minutes. Reservation is recommended

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №66

Honda-Ya Tustin is one place that is always reliable! Every dish we tried was packed with flavor and authenticity. The soft shell crab that we had was just how we wanted it with the outside being crispy and the inside being soft and non-dry – a real treat. The shiitake mushrooms were nothing fancy but still a very enjoyable dish with their strong, natural flavor.
The Japanese beef that we ordered was very tender and the umami flavor was quite strong in it. Shrimp tempura was a feast-apart, which was smooth, crispy, and not at all oily – just like a traditional tempura.
Besides, the OC roll was totally a sushi fan's best attraction, with the freshness of the ingredients and a very harmonious blend of flavors. Also, the place has a very warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately creates the feeling of being of that place and the service is not only quick but also very helpful and caring.
No matter whether you prefer traditional Japanese dishes or want to try out new things, the place is an absolute must-visit. I am really looking forward to my next visit and cannot wait to try some more of their menu!

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №67

Enable online waitlist. Quit making us physically check in only to wait an hour.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №68

**TL;DR: Terrible service. If I could give this place zero stars, I would. The host named Lina was especially mean and disrespectful from the get-go. Food was mediocre at best and lacked flavor. Some dishes were even served lukewarm. Overall this isn’t an authentic Japanese Yakitori restaurant.**

Before we even got seated, the host, Lina, displayed a haughty attitude and gave us side-eye. We were a group of three and were seated at a shared table near the entrance. Immediately, we noticed that two of the seats were next to an exposed outlet with wires which could be a safety hazard (images attached). We also saw that two other tables nearby had freed up, so we asked our waitress if we could switch to one of them. She told us that one table was for a larger group, but we could move to the other smaller table.

We watched as the waitress informed Lina about the switch, but nothing happened. After waiting a while, another group of three was seated at the table we had requested. We were confused but had no choice but to stay at our original table. Despite several staff members walking by, no one offered us water or took our order. But this is understandable, because it was during dinner time and we understand that things could get hectic. However, when the group that arrived after us was quickly served water and drinks, we realized we were being ignored.

After waiting for a few more minutes and still no one came to our table even though the three of us all had huge menus opened in front of us on the table, I finally got up and told our waitress that we were thirsty and hungry. She noticed I was upset and quickly brought us water and took our order. I didn’t ask about the table switch since the other group was already seated, but our waitress also noticed so she went to Lina to ask why we weren’t moved. Lina shook her head and didn’t offer any explanation.

Feeling disrespected, I politely asked Lina for her name after she walked by again so I could mention her in my review :). She then approached me with a confrontational attitude, demanding to know why I wanted her name. I calmly told her not to worry about it. She then asked if it’s because we weren’t able to switch tables which I told her no. Her self-entitlement is annoying and I don’t owe her any explanation. She continued to claim that the restaurant had a policy against table switches, which was clearly false since no one informed us of this policy, and our waitress said switching was possible. I would understand that switching tables is not permitted if we already had food on the table, however we weren’t even served water! Lina even lied, saying our waitress hadn’t told her about the switch, even though we saw her do so.

After refusing to continue the conversation, Lina angrily spoke to our waitress about us. It’s ironic that once we stood up for ourselves, we finally received the basic respect we should have had from the beginning. This experience was incredibly disappointing and dehumanizing, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №69

The place has a line for a reason! Smoky flavor yakitori, miso flavor shishito, sushi, and onigiri were all great. Wish they were better at filling our water but it was busy so it wasn't too bad

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №70

Hondaya is always crowded even during the weekday. After waiting outside for about a half hour, finally sat down on the sitting area. I ordered promptly starting from some of those grilled skewers and sashimi salads. Waiters were changed few times during dining, but service level was consistent. The food was ok and I enjoyed the most of the dishes.Typical Izakaya style, small portion while Sashimis are fresh.
One of my orders was never placed so had to wait after paying the check.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №71

Too many people, a little noisy bur foods are really good. Their cocktails are awesome.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №72

Update: Came back to enjoy their food again but the service and the food were underwhelming. The yakitori was still pretty good but you can’t really fill up on those pricey bites. If the service was more organized, they would get more customers in and out much quicker and make more money but it’s very chaotic and disorganized.

The food is consistently good with a lot of menu options. The oysters were the best I ever had and the rolls were perfectly made. We mostly ordered the “recommended” dishes and it didn’t disappoint.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №73

Get there early.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №74

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №75

Great atmosphere and and friendly staff. Food was just ok. Nothing stood out. The soup with Udon was kind of flavorless. Also my requests for extra spicy Udon, and both yakitori sauce and pepper on my skewers was not taken care of.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi Experience №76

We’ve been coming here as regulars for years. The food is always great. The service has steadily gone downhill. Last time, they completely forgot our skewers on our takeout order so I had to go back and drive 20 minutes each way. Today, they messed up our order (left out items) and we had to wait 40 minutes for our bill. Get your act together and train your staff better, Honda-ya management.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №77

Not bad but over hyped and not worth the wait. Size of yakitori skewers is a joke. Images on the menu make them look much bigger.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №78

There was a line out the door at 11pm and it's because their food is phenomenal. Their garlic spinach is the best spinach I've ever had. The osyters were huge and just perfect. The Matcha Mont Blanc was fantastic. The sushi rolls were so good that we didn't put any soy sauce on them. Beer was served in a frosty glass, but you should get the cup sake instead.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №79

Lives up to the hype! I went here late on a Thursday night. We waited about an hour but the food was worth it. Everything was extremely fresh and the service was great too.

Give the daikon salad a try if you think that sounds good. It was very bright and the standout among some very good dishes.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №80

This place is great. It good reviews are well deserved. I didn’t take any pictures of the food because it just disappears the moment the water places the plate on the table. The prices are reasonable but many of the dishes are small, so you end up ordering more, and it gets reflected on the bill. I wish they allowed joining the waitlist online, without keeping the people waiting on a narrow sidewalk outside.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №81

One of my favorite restaurants in Southern California

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №82

Love the vibe of this place. The food is delish. The service is great. There is no compromise in the quality of their food and prices. Highly recommend eating here.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №83

The sushi was absolutely amazing and very fresh! Highly suggest you get the garlic fries, too! Service was excellent and very fast. Be prepared for loud people if you come late at night! Lol

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №84

This is one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve been to in Cali. It looked like a dive from the outside, and there was a 30 minute wait, usually a good indicator that it’s legit. I ordered a lot of food, all recommendations from our server. I, unfortunately, only took pics of a few dishes… and the samurai suit that greets you as you walk in (just got done watching Shogun on FX, it’s really good, highly recommend it). Anyway, everything I ate was phenomenal, and I will definitely be going back next time I’m in Cali.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №85

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №86

Good food and vibes.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Experience №87

Japan in Tustin

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №88

Big wait time when I went but it's in an area that's nice to walk around even if everything else is closed and totally worth it. Service isn't anything amazing but the drinks are good and the food is even better. The skewers are small so if you're gonna get full on them you gotta order a lot but that's the fun of it! That can totally change how much you spend when you go here so really it's all up to you and your group.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №89

Such a tasty to collaborate with Honda-Ya to create a design of their first original beer label. I was so honored to do the art design for Hondaya Beer, which was released for the 30th anniversary of the Izakaya Hondaya in Tustin, California in 2023! I hope you all enjoy drinking it just like in the picture! I wanted to make a can design that people even want to keep their cans after finishing it. I’m a big fan of beer and am so stoked to be a part of this🍻

And in 2024, I designed the labels for their original wine! For the design, I tried to depict the wine-making process in a winery in the style of old Japanese landscapes and Ukiyo-e art.
There are two types of wine and two labels, blue and purple. The people on the labels are actually Honda-Ya staff!
The design is filled with the joy and fun of drinking wine.
Hope you enjoy the artwork as much as wine and beer tastes!

Thank you very much for amazing opportunities!!

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №90

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №91

So glad we found this place. We have a new late night sushi spot to go to and we tend to be night owls most nights. The food was delicious and the service was amazing. You will have to wait, but really worth the wait. On a Wednesday night at 11pm we waited 30 minutes. But again, so worth the wait. We had the salmon skin roll and it was ok. We also had the sexy roll and 5 mix sashimi plate and both were amazing 🤤. Big parking lot. The place is ♿️ wheelchair accessible, but I can see how some areas inside might be tight for a wheelchair. Outside seating available on certain days.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №92

Not as good as before. Haven’t been back since 2021 and it’s getting ridiculous expensive and narrow space. The bbq was overcooked most of the time. Not tasty at all. Server rushed to kick us out saying we passed 2 hours limit. Not coming back.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №93

Vibes of the place is fun! Makes you feel like you're in Japan? Sort of....

Service was slow (it was super busy) but extremely nice!

What we got (drinks): suntory draft, honda-ya canned beer -- the Honda ya craft was much more complex and the winner of the two, but draft beer has always a crispness to it. So enjoyed both

What we got (food): sushi rolls - cholesterol and stinky, sashimi salad, yellowtail sashimi, lots of skewers, uni
- I liked the cholesterol roll more than the stinky
- the servings of sashimi were vvvvvv generous! Yellowtail was reallllly good
- HARD pass on the uni; maybe it was time of year, but it was slightly brown and not v good at all
- chicken skin skewers were surprising delightful, so the prime beef skirt over regular beef, okra over asparagus (but that could be a preference), others were just as you'd expect (beef tongue, chicken heart/gizzard) from an izakaya place

Went to another Fullerton Izakaya Takasei after this, and Honda-Ya is MUCH better

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №94

We wanted to try one of everything and only made it half way through the entire menu before having to tap out on being way to full nothing would fit

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №95

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №96

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №97

Edit: my mother got food poisoning from this meal. Never coming back.

If they say 1 hr wait, expect 2 at minimum. They are incredibly inefficient at moving tables and will seat a later party despite there being multiple parties ahead. Go bother the host constantly. You'll get seated marginally faster. It shouldn't work, but we saw it work. There were multiple empty tables ready, but not being seated inside. Sashimi and hand rolls were not fresh. Yakitori are fine, but not worth waiting 2 hrs. Parking lot is small.
If you want Yakitori, go to oak and coal for better skewers with a shorter wait. Or go down the street to Chaak for better service and food. You can drive to amazing sushi restaurants during the 2 hr wait.
We have been here a handful of times over the years, but we will never be back.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №98

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №99

The mabodofu was 10/10
I need to go back there again.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №100

Amazing selection of Japanese food. Everything tasted fantastic. Service was quick and all staff was friendly.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №101

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №102

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №103

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №104

Poor host service ever. Will never come.
We wait in line for one hour, when our name shown on the second waitlist for long time, we went inside the door to ask somebody. We stood in side the door for less than 5 minutes, a lady told us to wait outside, then we went back outside, clicked the checklist and saw our name in the first one on the waitlist. So we wait around 5 more minutes. Now the host came out and call the name after us. I told her my name is in front of “Ian”. She just skipped us to let us wait. And Ian was not here, she called the one after Ian, and back for Ian AGAIN. We tried to communicate with her few times but she tried to stop and ignored us every time. She tried to told us there was no table but led two table of people inside. She also kept telling us it’s our fault because we stand inside and miss her call,but never gave us a solution even we wait outside for a whole hour. When we said we want to talk to your manager, she said she is the manager, WOW! That’s the service quality of a manager in this restaurant?

Today is 5/26/2024 Sunday night at 22:30. I hope the restaurant can find out who’s the host and give her a job training on how to be a host. She must stop LOTS OF customers out of your door.

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №105

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №106

Visited 8 months ago

Sushi Experience №107

Excellent food and service 👌😋☺️

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №108

It’s perfect for my family. Sushi, ramen, or rice bowls, everyone is happy when we come here. It’s one of those places where nothing is best in town, but everything is good or great. Quality and variety is this restaurants main strengths. Atmosphere and decor are the perfect Japanese countryside vibe.

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №109

Muy buena comida y servicio excelente solo que para mi edad .. sentarme en el piso como lo hacen los asiáticos es muy incómodo pero para eso cuentan con sillas regulares.. lo recomiendo

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №110

Delicious food and great service!

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №111

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №112

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi Experience №113

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №114

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №115

This place deserves a better over all rating. Yes there is a wait on the weekends but once you are in the service is exceptional, super fast, good prices and amazing. Jay was our server and he was amazing. Def my favorite Japanese spot in Tustin and surrounding areas

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №116

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Orange County since I've moved here. I can't speak highly enough of my experiences. Food and atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. Service is great and I appreciate how late they are open till. Love love love this place!

Visited 10 months ago

Sushi Experience №117

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №118

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №119

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №120

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №121

Went on a Saturday right at open at 5 PM. There was already a line and it was too late for the first round of seating. Had to wait about an hour for a table. I'd recommend going on a weekday if possible.

The restaurant offers several types of cuisines. The yakitori was great. The sushi was standard like most places. I really liked the Osaka style yakiudon.

I would come back to try the miso soup as they had several flavors I've never heard of before. I would also like to try their grilled dishes as well.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №122

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №123

Extremely popular for good reason. This place is the nicest high-quality izakaya I've been to in a while. The only negative is that it's so popular. I advise you to show up before it opens so you can put your name in.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №124

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №125

Chef’s kiss!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №126

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №127

Definitely overrated. Super crunch sushi has soggy tempura shrimp inside. Salmon skin is overcooked and dry. What up with the ridiculous amount of rubber like cabbages in the hotpot ? I found more chicken than udon in the udon dish and these chicken are so bland that I suspect they were randomly thrown into the pot. Tempura is up to standard. Good service because during the extreme busy hour your order comes in fast. Attached a very lifeless udon photo.
It is a three star mostly because I have high expectations both for this highly regarded restaurant and for Japanese food. But today it is a big disappointment.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №128

Food was very good, the service was ok. Not much for drinks. If you have a big crowd they only take 2 credit cards.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №129

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №130

30 years going Strong! Very authentic Japanese pub, IZAKAYA♡ Truly appreciate Your business♡

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №131

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №132

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №133

Extensive menu. Excellent food. Yakatori is my favorite, but the sashimi is fantastic.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №134

What a fantastic rabatta and sushi restaurant.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №135

Still one of the top two izakayas in Socal. I drive down from LA for this place because it's a true gem.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №136

Food has gone downhill! Host

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №137

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №138

Back in the day this restaurant was outstanding! Not last night! Our order was taken, took more than 10 mins to get our drinks and about 20-30 to get our soups. We had ordered pork belly and bacon wrapped asparagus, not sure if the waitress didn't put the order in or the cooks mis-placed it, however we never received until we asked our server. Then about 5 min later, if that, both items came out. They were super under cooked and not tasting good. We were not happy at all!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №139

Definitely will be coming back. Definitely feels like we are in japan again. Skewers are amazing. Everything we ordered was top notch.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №140

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №141

The place has really dropped on quality and service. Seems they overloaded the place. Food arrived lukewarm. Drinks never came. No water after asking 3 times. Food tasted like cafeteria food. Three stars because it used to be pretty great but we had a one star experience.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №142

Very delicious and authentic Japanese restaurant that opens to 12 am!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №143

Didn't quite understand the hype. Decent drinks. Yakitoris were good, but I've tried better. Their sushi roll was mediocre, and the grilled squid was overcooked and dry.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №144

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №145

数多くの日本食をここで楽しむことができます。

焼鳥は塩が薄く、決して美味しいとは言えなかったが、提供スピードは早かった

あっという間に満席になり、ウェイティングもすごくかかってて、人気店なのが伺えます

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №146

Awesome izakaya! Love coming here regularly. Great yakitori and beers.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №147

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №148

I guess it’s a good place to hangout. Don’t expect too much from food. Just enjoy and chill. Yaki onigiri it too salty.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №149

spent 30$ on skewers but they were really small. Making one really miss Japan oddly enough because the portions are huge for way less money.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №150

Love this place! Be prepared to wait for a table, but always worth it. Sometimes I order to go and it’s quick and easy.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №151

A couple friends and I have had a recent mixed experience at Honda-Ya. When we first arrived we were excited because of the authentic atmosphere and good reviews. However, the server was quick to come off strong and not in a good way. We all felt uncomfortable at one point in asking questions or for something because every time we did we received an attitude from her. She didn’t know how to answer simple questions about the menu and was clearly unhappy with us when we sent a bad tasting sushi plate back. She continued to speak with the manager and other coworkers, then laugh as they looked at us like there’s something wrong with sending that back. We tried to give feedback kindly but they didn’t want to hear it. The customer service and attitude of the waitress reflects on managements willingness to care for their customers. Be careful with what you order as well since it’s the type of place to serve everything, know nothing about the menu because there’s too many options, and only have specific things that are of quality. I’m sure if you came here and ordered the right things + had a caring waitress it would be a different experience though. We just personally wouldn’t come back from the lack of respect coming from the workers. I also asked if it’s possible for a side of greens for my ramen and if not it’s totally ok. She said next time to ask when ordering the first time because it holds up the chefs. Then another woman quickly dropped it on the table with a stern look on her face and said nothing. The spicy ramen and some sushi was good but make sure to have your order 100% ready or expect an attitude.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №152

I love Honda-Ya. I am sad they no longer have the seafood ramen, which was my absolute favorite, but the nanban ramen was still terrific. Inside the restaurant, tables are close together, and it is always packed, so do not expect a cozy, quiet date night atmosphere. If you are looking for a great selection of sushi, yakitori, and delicious ramen, this absolutely a go-to. If you are looking for a date night experience, I recommend requesting to sit in the tatami room. In this room, no shoes are allowed, and you will be sitting on the tatami mats on the floor eating at a low table. Tatami rooms are part of traditional Japanes culture, so it is definitely an experience I recommend trying at a Japanese restaurant. Please expect a long wait to be seated. This restaurant is ALWAYS busy, so a 45-90min wait time to be seated is normal and to be expected.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №153

I heard about this place through friends and decided to give it a try finally. One of my friends was hungry and also wanted to come here last minute, close to closing time.

There was at least a 30 minute wait and it was freezing. Luckily, the patrons walk in and out quickly. The venue was small and dim. We sat by the chefs with their small sized seats. They have a purse hook under the table if you need to hang your bag. If your purse is long, it'll touch the floor like mine did.

When it was our turn to order, my friend seemed like she ordered everything on the menu. I wasn't picky, and I let her order. Most of the items were the yakitori and a couple bowl items. I don't think you can wrong with ordering anything on the menu. Everything was delicious! I especially loved their yakitori menu. The gizzard and heart were delish. I think we blew over $100 in 30 minutes... wow! lol

If you're in the area, you should definitely give this place a try. I can't wait to go back!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №154

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №155

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №156

An amazing place with a super good asian food

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №157

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №158

One of my favorite spots to go anytime I’m in town. Really great service and amazing food. Highly recommend the avocado tempura and mushroom zosui. The yakitori are so good, definitely give the bacon wrapped enoki, garlic butter shrimp, and pork belly a try. Highly recommend!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №159

EDIT 6/5/2023:
Just revisited one of my favorite izakaya spot for many years and I am totally bummed. I am not sure if there was an ownership/management change, but Hondaya's magic - its fresh robata skewers pretty much grilled to order is gone. All of its food is Luke warm and felt pre-cooked. Also, not very common to see dim sum type food offering at what used to be an authentic Japanese izakaya.

Original:
I just visited after a long shut down for covid. Outdoor seating only, and while I was there it rained. Outdoor canopy can definitely be worked on for it to be water resistant - lots of leaks in many places.

As for food, we ordered our usual: pitcher of beer and bunch if different skewers. All 10 skewers or so came out together at once which made it cold almost immediately. I would recommend on ordering few at a time so it doesnt get too cold.

As for food, most of it is casual Japanese comfort food. It's pretty authentic and is good.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №160

Fantastic food and service

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №161

Great place for beer if you like that. The food is really terrific.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №162

Food and team/workers were awesome!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №163

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №164

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №165

This restaurant is overrated. I with my friends ordered various sushi and other meals. In all of them, rice was too salty. Rice is the base of almost all meals in Asian kitchens and it gives the right to put 3 stars in this place. Also, want to mention that in onigiri was too much rice and too little salmon.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №166

Long wait but efficient. Food is delicious but a bit pricey. Service was professional and prompt.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №167

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №168

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №169

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №170

Some of the worst chicken katsu and service I have ever had in my entire life

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №171

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №172

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №173

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №174

It's a little pricey, but the food is delicious and the whole place has a really good vibe

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №175

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №176

Food quality has suffered here recently. This used to be our go to spot but this most recent trip will probably be our last. We were served sashimi, that any one with half a brain could see wasn't good. The rest of the food was meh at best, and meh doesn't cut it at the prices they charge.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №177

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №178

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №179

Overrated and overpriced. A yakitori restaurant pricing >$3 per skewer should easily be able to provide much better food than this. Most of the skewers on offer are worth about $2 at most. The value lost compared to just any AYCE BBQ is insane.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №180

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №181

Finally, I got to try this place ( always long lines). Skewers were small but tasty!
Sushi options were ok. I would definitely recommend trying the skewer options and skipping the sushi.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №182

If I can give a 10 I would this placed killed it. Made my day.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №183

アナハイム近辺の数少ない,居酒屋、味噌ラーメンまあまあ食べれる。日本的な居酒屋 9/12に行ったが,タムケンが来るようだ。座るのに意外に待たされた。人気あるのかもしれない。日本人スタッフも多い。

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №184

Used to love this place. Service seems younger and indifferent, borderlline grumpy.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №185

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №186

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №187

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №188

The best authentic Izakaya outside of Japan. Yakitori is good. Chicken skin and Taco Wasabi are must

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №189

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №190

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №191

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №192

Amazing place to get yakatori and sushi. The food is amazing you have to try it and explore the menu.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №193

Great food, great experience, 10/10 recommend

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №194

I’m a OC local for more than two decades but only come here occasionally because of the long wait, which in my opinion isn’t worth it at all (only went yesterday because my daughter wanted to try it). People come for the skewers, which they do have many options but every single one we’ve tried are quite salty and sometimes overdone. The salmon skin salad we had was quite disappointing because the salmon skin was oily and chewy, didn’t feel like freshly made. They also have a seating policy that’s kind of unfair: after waiting for 70 minutes we were led to bar seats (narrow table, small stools) even though there were two table seatings available, only because we were a party of three. When asking if we can seat at a table we were bluntly refused although I saw earlier parties of three seated at tables. The host who manages the waitlist was the most indifferent and hostile I’ve ever met, answering questions in a very sullen, arrogant, and annoyed manner that made one felt unwelcome. I understand that it was busy and stressful but the nature of the job does require some basic courtesy to customers. So my bottom line is that the quality of the food and service of this restaurant doesn’t justify the long wait and I won’t visit it again under normal circumstances.

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №195

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №196

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №197

The worst service in the world. The staff here are very rude and entitled. This was our first time here and our last time. The food tasted horrible. The quality was horrid. The sushi rice was old and disgusting. They stuffed a lot of rice and very little fish. All around the worst sushi restaurant. Their shrimp tempura is scrawny. Save yourself a trip. Go elsewhere!

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №198

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №199

Visited a year ago

Sushi Experience №200

Visited a year ago

Sushi Details
  • 21 sushi photos
  • 200 sushi reviews
  • 4.5 Sushi Rating
  • Menu Website: http://www.izakayahondaya.com/
  • Sushi Address: 556 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780, United States
  • Sushi Map: 33.740362999999995, -117.82392879999999
Specialties
  • Japanese restaurant
  • Izakaya restaurant
  • Ramen restaurant
  • Sushi restaurant
  • Yakitori restaurant
Sushi Hours
  • Sunday: 4:30–11 PM
  • Monday: 5 PM–12 AM
  • Tuesday: 5 PM–12 AM
  • Wednesday: 5 PM–12 AM
  • Thursday: 5 PM–12 AM
  • Friday: 5 PM–12:30 AM
  • Saturday: 5 PM–12:30 AM
Service options
  • Delivery: Available
  • Takeaway: Available
  • Dine-in: Available
Highlights
  • Fast service: Available
  • Great tea selection: Available
Popular for
  • Dinner: Available
  • Solo dining: Available
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
Offerings
  • Alcohol: Available
  • Beer: Available
  • Cocktails: Available
  • Comfort food: Available
  • Healthy options: Available
  • Late-night food: Available
  • Small plates: Available
  • Spirits: Available
  • Wine: Available
Dining options
  • Dinner: Available
  • Counter service: Available
  • Dessert: Available
  • Seating: Available
Amenities
  • Bar on site: Available
  • Toilets: Available
Atmosphere
  • Casual: Available
  • Cosy: Available
  • Trendy: Available
Crowd
  • Family friendly: Available
  • Groups: Available
  • Tourists: Available
  • University students: Available
Planning
  • Usually a wait: Available
  • Accepts reservations: Available
Payments
  • Credit cards: Available
  • Debit cards: Available
  • Credit cards: Available
Children
  • Good for kids: Available
  • High chairs: Available
Parking
  • Free of charge street parking: Available
  • Free parking lot: Available
  • Parking: Available