MOONO

Our first visit to MOONO was a fantastic experience overall. Staff were friendly and accommodating, food service was quick and responsive and we didn't wait long to be seated or for the food to arrive. The quality and flavor of the food was excellent, we especially enjoyed the Katsu burger and fried tempura. Prices are reasonable for a sit down restaurant in south Orange County. They also have quite a selection of alcoholic beverages including sake and wine. They offer dining options like Ramen and Curry, we will have to return to eat our way through the menu. Try this place out as generally South County is a culinary wasteland critically underserved by desirable dining destinations.

A Delicious Lunch Spot Worth Revisiting! We stopped by Moono for lunch and had a fantastic experience. The place was bustling, but the service was still attentive and friendly. We felt well taken care of throughout. We tried the Ramen, Dragon Roll, and the Lychee Pop drink, everything was delicious and beautifully presented. The ramen was rich and flavorful, the dragon roll was fresh with just the right balance, and the lychee drink was refreshing and fun. The ambience was vibrant and modern, making it a great spot for a casual but quality meal. It is a little on the pricier side for lunch, but the food and experience made it totally worth it. We’ll definitely be back again!

We had a fantastic time here for lunch! Our drinks were wonderfully crafted and our food was absolutely delicious! Well ordered the edamame, takoyaki, spicy tuna, and chicken katsu curry, and everything was exceptional! We’ll be returning to this adorable spot the next chance we get!!!

We went for a Saturday early dinner and had a great time. The ambience, service and food are all excellent. We had the Chicken Katsu Curry and Katsu burger. I especially loved the curry and would recommend it. We will go again to try the ramen.

A Culinary Artistry: Dining at Moono - Hidden Gem Nestled in the charming area of Rancho Santa Margarita, Moono is a trendy Japanese fusion restaurant that captures the essence of modern dining while honoring traditional flavors. Situated near the upscale neighborhoods of Coto de Caza and Dove Canyon, this small gem offers an inviting atmosphere that feels both sophisticated and welcoming. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by a beautifully designed space that feels like stepping into a work of art. The ambiance is a perfect blend of elegance and comfort, making it an ideal spot for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. The attention to detail in the decor sets the stage for a memorable culinary experience. The food presentation at Moono is nothing short of spectacular. Each dish is a visual feast, showcasing the chef's artistry and creativity. The flavors are equally impressive, with a skillful fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine and innovative twists that keep your palate excited. Service at Moono is exceptional; the staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the menu. They are eager to share recommendations and ensure that every guest feels well taken care of, enhancing the overall dining experience. What’s particularly fascinating is the background of the chef. As a seasoned Chef, Architect, Director, and Producer, he brings a unique perspective to the culinary world. His diverse skill set allows him to create a dining experience that goes beyond just food—it’s a celebration of art and culture on every plate. Overall, Moono is a must-visit for anyone in the area looking for a unique dining experience that seamlessly blends art, flavor, and exceptional service. Whether you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine or simply looking to explore something new, Moono promises a delightful adventure for your senses.

The best sushi and ramen place in OC! As a sushi lover I was almost disappointed in finding a good sushi place in OC! But Moono was not good, it was EXCELLENT 😍 I’ll be there every week with my friends 🥂

As soon as we came in we were greeted, and sat. Waters constantly filled up and felt the genuine service. There are fun lamps at the table that let you control your own ambiance. Soft music fit the vibe for this. The Takoyaki was unbelievable!

Great food and very friendly service nice to see more asian food options coming into rancho santa margarita! We will be back again for sure !

Enjoyed our first time dining here. The service was great and food tasted amazing. We ordered the black garlic ramen, miso ramen, and poke bowl. All delicious! The calamari was the best. Definitely recommend!

We were looking for a place to grab dinner on Christmas Eve, as everywhere we normally go have closed early. I went onto Yelp to search open restaurants and found this place in doing so. We called and they were surprisingly opened until 9pm! Their menu had a variety of options, but here is what we ordered: Moono Wings: These are considered hot honey wings but they had zesty lemon on top and were not too hot. I really loved things wings! They were piping hot and perfectly crispy. Definitely the highlight of the entire meal, but pretty pricey! Shoyu Ramen: I really enjoyed my ramen! The egg was cooked perfectly and it came with all my favorite toppings: corn, bamboo, egg, and chashu. This was a bit more on the saltier side, but nevertheless very flavorful. I asked for no bean sprouts, but unfortunately they cannot su it out for any other toppings. Spicy Miso Ramen: This was flavorful, but again not too spicy. You can definitely add more spice to it, but I felt like it had a flavorful spice, not so much spice to make it hot. Spirited Away: Pretty good drink! This seemed like one of their more popular drinks, so we decided to give it a try. Did not disappoint. Sgroppino: I got recommended this drink from the waitress and I loved it! It was perfectly balanced and as someone who likes sweet drinks, it was right up my alley! Overall, I am extremely glad we came across this spot. I never knew it was here, but apparently they have been open for over a year now. The place was beautifully decorated! I believe her name was Monica, but she was exceptional. She was very attentive, we loved everything she recommended to us, and she checked in on us several times throughout our meal. Their Happy Hour menu states that they have happy hour until a certain time, but apparently they changed it and did not change the menu. They were still able to accomodate for us, which I appreciated. Will definitely come back to this one. Thanks for the great experience!

Overall, dining at Moono was a pleasant experience, and I'd certainly return. The food is good, and the price point seemed reasonable. We started off with a sushi roll, which was fine, but their ramen is the star of the show. We had bowls, one miso ramen and one spicy pork ramen. Each was tasty. My spicy ramen (which was indeed spicy) was perfect (if you can take the heat). Mind you, I needed an emergency Sapporo draft to help manage the heat. The restaurant is nicely designed, and there is a 5 seat counter bar (where we sat). This place is worth trying, especially if you enjoy a good bowl of ramen. Adult beverages are beer and a number of cocktail variations made specifically with sake (and no other types of alcohol). The only beer on tap is Sapporo.

Holy overpriced. I paid $18 for a side salad. Service was nice (only reason this gets 2 stars and not 1) but super disappointed in the food and their pricing. Ramen was super super salty as were the "plain" edamame. My salad was a complete joke for almost $20. There are so many better places to go for similar food (Hiro Nori, Paradise Dynasty, Din Tai Fung, etc.) I would never come back here.

OMG I give this place 100 stars!!!! So delicious! First of all, it has such a great ambiance with a gorgeous bar! It instantly puts you in a great mood as you walk in. I tried the creamy caviar which everyone recommended online and it was absolutely amazing! Flavorful and creamy. I loved the masago and I added scallops too which made it even better. I ordered a mango nigori sake which tasted like heaven! The service was excellent! I highly recommend this place. Plenty of parking and easy to find. I'll definitely be coming back soon to try the chicken katsu burger and the poke bowl!

Came here for date night and wasn't disappointed. Monica was our server and she was so nice and welcoming. She was very attentive and helpful on what to order. The food was amazing and the ambiance was so intimate. I loved the vibe this place gave. I will definitely come back again.

Beautiful restaurant with great service, they make the best of a small space and serve tasty food that really hit the spot. I loved the spicy wontons that our server recommended and the lychee pop paired well with my flavorful black garlic ramen. Will definitely come back to try more of the menu!

Loved the aesthetics and vibes. I want to get the shop list for all their glassware, tableware, and furniture. Unfortunately, the food was mid. I thought it was acceptable at first, but a sip of husband's broth made me rethink how I really felt and whether it would be worth revisiting. We had came to the plaza for ShareTea and saw that there was ramen nearby. We decided to grab an early dinner beforehand and it wasn't very crowded, so we ventured inside. I got the House Ramen ($16.99) which was a tonkotsu broth topped with bok choy, bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, green onions, egg and chashu. The broth was light and had a nice flavor. I thought it was acceptable and wouldn't mind coming here again, but wasn't a big fan of the price and how light the toppings were. However, three slices of chashu was nice. However, husband glared at me and thought I was crazy. He had ordered the Shoyu Ramen ($14.99), which consisted of an umami broth, bean sprout, egg, bamboo, corn and green onions. He was sorely disappointed. When I tasted his broth, it had paled in comparison to House. It lacked flavor or any sense of umami and was just watery. With the price, it was an okay experience to try, but we probs won't be back.

Love the ambience! service is great and the sushi was fabulous. Ordered the salmon in the forest and I loved that roll. Had the moono sushi roll and it was OK. I'm anxious to go back to try more.

Addicted to their Katsu Ramen I wish could order something else on the menu, but I always have the same thing cause it is so good And then the place is so cute

Food & service we're both fantastic! I can't wait to go back and try more items. We went for lunch and the atmosphere was great.

Great ramen,excellent presentation. My friend and I had gyoza for starters and the black garlic ramen as a main. Don't miss this great place. You need reservations for dinner; but lunch you can just walk in! Do it!

The food is beautiful and taste amazing. Also, the staff is very friendly. I highly recommend a dining experience at Moono. They offer everything from ramen to sushi and more:)

I love this boutique restaurant. The hamachi roll was delish the house ramen was perfect we topped it galaxy drink The tuna tartare was exquisite. Try the house desserts! Definitely an experience!

We've known of this place but just got around to trying it. AMAZING. I had a yuzu highball that was delicious. I ordered the poke bowl and my husband had the katsu chicken curry. He raved about it. My poke was so fresh. One of the better poke bowls I've tried. The service was helpful and perfect. Such a cute place too. Definitely coming back with friends.

Great ramen, katsu, wings, and calamari. My dad enjoyed his poke bowl and my mom loved her chicken teriyaki bowl. I haven't had anything I haven't liked yet. Great for takeout and very nice inside for dine-in.

We went her for lunch and we disappointed not to experience the sushi. I was bummed because I was craving sushi but I guess for lunch during the week they don't offer it until dinner. I had the tempura shrimp which was very good. The service was excellent-I just wanted sushi.

My husband got the chicken katsu ramen & I got the fried tofu curry rice & an avocado cucumber roll. Food was good & servers were nice. Two complaints: 1) food took forever to come out & 2) I ate very little of my tofu curry rice because I wasn't very hungry. The server asked if I would like him to box it to go, and I said yes. I came home to take a few bites to find out he only boxed the rice! He did not pack up the tofu or the curry I had left!! Idk if he packed it separately and forgot to put it in my bag, or if he legit only boxed my rice! What a waste of money!

This place feels like an upscale LA restaurant with food that tastes like you're in Japan. The quality of the food is top notch, and the staff is very attentive. The meal came out quickly and everything was delicious!

Excellent meal with excellent service! Our first time there. We were a party of 4 & all of us will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend the hot & sour chicken ramen, beef ramen, edamame & takoyaki. Highly suggest making reservations as the place is small & popular. Service was great.

This place has been on my bookmark list for a while and we finally decided to try it out. For introverts, the bar is a great place to have a meal. They are soft alcohol only so definitely try the lychee drink. It's light and refreshing without a heavy vodka taste especially for a hot summer day. The service is warm and friendly. We quickly made table friends with the table next to us as we tried to find the eyes in the artwork. My husband had the poke and he said that it was one of the best bowls that he's ever had. I had the house ramen and yes, it is much lighter than other competitors. It depends on what you like. I liked that the pork slices were less fatty and the broth was less salty and less fatty. I'm sensitive to salt and I'm not able to digest well with fatty food so this was a nice option for a ramen craving. One party table ordered a dish that I was unsure of but it had a lot of ooohs and aaahhs with the glass bell and smoke after removing it. They do close at 8:30pm so get that fix in early!

Went here with a few of my friends and we absolutely loved this place! The decor inside is very aesthetically pleasing and picture perfect. The food dishes we ordered were so so so yummy. My personal favorites were the fried calamari and creamy caviar udon. My favorite sushi roll was probably the salmon in the forest and the spicy tuna roll. The drinks were also super good!! The galaxy drink had star shaped mango jelly in them that was so tasty to eat. The service was also really great. They recommended us good dishes and drinks to try. They were also checking I n on us every now and then to make sure everything was up to par (and it was). Overall a 10/10, I would for surely come back again and I also highly recommend!!

Vegan Review Tempura Mushroom : 8.5/10 Tasty just missed salt but overall good! Vegetable Gyoza : X We sadly both didn't like this dish. The outside has nice crisp but the inside was 100% mush. We were so confused we've never had a gyoza with just mush inside. It tasted like mashed potatoes. Wouldn't order these or recommend. Tofu, cabbage, and mushrooms would be better in here! Vegan Ramen : 6.5/10 This has a strong garlicky flavor and that's all I really tasted. It would be better I think as a clear light broth. This dish was just ok but I think can be revised. I wouldn't order again.

So good!!! Order the rock shrimp skewers. I come here now and always order the same thing.

Moono was horrible! It took them 2 hours tho make a burger and fries with 3 tables to tend to!!! The ramen was so bland and the broth tasted like tap water! Not authentic at all. I do not recommend this place. Also the servers were so lazy!

This review is a teensy bit late as I dined here last month, but wow! Moono had me really excited when I discovered it here on Yelp, but the actual experience really blew me away. First off, the ambiance is hard to beat: the interior is beautifully decorated, with fun artwork and all those gorgeous paper lanterns! We loved their water carafes and even the ceramic-ware the food was served in. While the vibe is casual, it felt chic; clean without being devoid of color or personality--basically if I was a character in a Sim game, the plumbob above my head would have been displaying my mood as platinum (as high as it can get based on vibes alone, for those who have no idea what I'm on about). The next thing that became immediately evident was that service was warm, friendly, and absolutely on their A-game! Everyone who stopped by our table was nothing short of wonderful, welcoming, and so happy to have our business, and provide quality recommendations. It was evident they value and listen to customer feedback, really trying to tailor their ramen to the area. Everyone seemed really genuine and our server took exceptional care of us to ensure our first experience here was memorable. Then came the generous bowls of delicious ramen! I have pretty high standards for ramen, as I'm always looking for noodles with a good amount of springy-bite, tasty soup bases and quality ingredients--something Moono succeeds at. I opted for their House ramen and kicked it up a notch by adding some spice, which absolutely hit the spot and was the perfect balance of flavor + heat. I tried a spoonful of their black garlic ramen and I have been dreaming about ordering a whole bowl of it for myself ever since, it was THAT good! They give you a nice amount of chashu pork (more than some other spots that I frequent, even!) and their egg is jammy perfection. I loved the amount of green onions, bean sprouts and other fixings, too; this bowl was so nourishing and incredibly filling. Honestly I can't wait to return and try more of the menu--I really love that there's a variety to choose from, and I'm so excited to sample as much as I possibly can!

Ordered over $100 worth of takeout ramen. Sadly the ramen tasted like a bland cup of noodles with canned chicken. No depth of flavor and overall very unimpressive. My kids said it reminded them of Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup right out of the can, which they like, so I guess that's a silver lining. Could have saved $90 dollars and heated up some canned soup. So disappointed.

Had a great dinner at MOONO. Ambiance was lovely and unique. Staff were very attentive and knowledgeable. We went with the Takoyaki, RSM Roll and Spicy Pork Ramen. Everything was very favorable and came out quickly. We will definitely be back!

What a fantastic find! We stumbled across this place after seeing a concert at the library next door. I ordered the curry dish and my fiance ordered the ramen. Both were SUPER good. The ramen was up there with Hiro Nori. Also, the decor and vibe here is very well done. Kudos to the chef owner.

Not good. First of all, the service was terrible. Took us about 30 minutes just to get water and almost an hour to get the food. Servers constantly ignored us and we had to constantly flag. Granted, they were busy, but not really acceptable. The food was far from worth it. The noodles were SOGGY and it was a very lackluster bowl of ramen. Definitely not worth almost $20 for a bowl.

Great ambience, really mid food... in OC where there's exceptional Japanese options, Moono just doesn't meet the mark. We've been 3 times (we really wanted to like it!) but every time we've had at least one item that was underwhelming or unappetizing. The miso soup is not the flavor you expect, the chicken teriyaki somehow tastes like the chicken was canned or frozen, and the sushi is ok but not worth the price. We suggest the ramen if you're in a pinch and can't make the drive to better options. Sorry, Moono! We hope to try again in the future, but for now it's a pass from us.

Ambiance, food and service is top notch. It's my 2nd time coming here . Will keep coming for again for sure c",)

What can I say, first time to use this restaurant and had a soda while waiting for my $80 takeout. $3.77 for a can of Diet Coke!!! Seriously I've heard of inflation but that is ridiculous. The food took a long time to arrive on an average Wednesday night, and was average at best. There are better choices.

Soooo yummy! Staff was so sweet and the place looks great. Very unique. One thing I would like is more spice options for us spicy lovers.

Intimate Ramen shop with relaxing atmosphere. Brooke was phenomenal and made us feel like regulars on our first visit. Every staff member was very kind. We went with the chicken karaage, black garlic ramen and spicy pork ramen. All three dishes were delightful. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Portion size was large and the smaller sized bites made it easier to enjoy. The ramen was full of flavor. The noodles had a great bounce to them. The pork was soft and had a wonderful smokiness to it. Excited to come back and try more items and check out their Sake.

Best Ramon ever! Excellent service and ambiance. Make a reservation and avoid the wait.

Okay this was one of the best bowls I've had in sooooo long. My best friend and I randomly found this spot on Yelp and 1 the staff is so friendly 2 it's adorable and such a vibey, chill, atmosphere 3 the food is just... chef's kiss ‍ 100% recommend and I WILL be back

By far thee cutest and yummiest restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita! The ambiance inside is like sitting underneath a starlight sky. The waiter we had was named Brooke and she was so sweet and so helpful with the menu recommendations! I was very surprised how good the food was, every dish was presented well and also very delicious. I definitely recommend this place if you live with oc! My fave appetizers were the wonton in red chili oil, and the tuna tartare. I love sushi rolls and all their sushi rolls had its unique del

AWFUL SERVICE! The waiter never once checked on us until the end of the meal when he needed to bring the check. We had to wave him down if we needed anything. I dropped one of my chopsticks at the beginning of my meal so my husband tried waving him down and the first time he actually ignored us. When we were finally able to ask, he proceeded to bus tables or just stand around doing nothing (they didn't even have anyone waiting to be seated). We got towards the end of the meal and he brought an extra napkin, not chopsticks. Finally, when he asked if everything was good at the end and I called him out, he gave the most insincere sorry and walked away. I get being a waiter is not an easy job, but if you're not even gonna try, get another job! The food was decent but I've had better. Needless to say we are never eating there again and I don't recommend this place to anyone.

Great food, great service, and great music too :) I love their old fashion and Ikura caviar!

This ramen is delicious! Wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff - will definitely return. Must try the Crispy Nori Tuna Tartare.

First time here since they remodel and name change from Kyoto Poke & Ramen. I placed a to go order and it was packaged nicely and tasted as good as I remembered. The interior is very fresh and more modern than it used to be. Nice bar area inside too. The hostess was very polite and friendly and thanked me for waiting for my order. It was early and they just opened and I wasn't expecting it to be done already. I'll definitely like to return and eat in the restaurant next time since it's such a Cool vibe now.

although very tasty curry for $20 the portion is small. maybe 1 cup of rice? there were 4 medium shrimp. the house ramen's chasu was not tender but they made it right by bringing out some additional slices that were better. the interior is nice but the music is loudly annoying for me. the service was fine. very polite soft spoken waitress.

The Ramen is great. The only reason I gave 3 stars is the time it takes to get your food. I ordered to-go and they told me 15 minutes over the phone. I got there in 20 minutes and had to wait another 25 minutes for the order to be completed. If they would have told me the accurate time from the beginning, I would have had a better experience.

Been wanting to try Moono for a while, but they were only open for dinner. Recently noticed they are open for lunch. Every detail in the dining room is beautiful. Definitely upscale for what you usually find in RSM. Service was very friendly and prompt. The house ramen was very good. Standard bowl came with chashu that look seared with a torch, half an egg, wedge of bok choy, bean sprouts, woodear mushroom, and scallions. I didn't get any additional add ons. It was a little empty while I was there, but the waiter explained that it's slower in the summer. Guess normal people don't enjoy a steaming hot bowl of ramen during the hottest part of the day in the summer like me. I will definitely be back though.

Was hungry and saw this place recently opened. We got there at the end of lunch, and welcomed us in, no rush. We got the chicken karaage and gyoza appetizer. Well seasons well and very crispy. The black garlic ramen was good, but a little greasy, other than that, the flavor and portion size was great. The chicken katsu Burger was good, I believe they used thigh meat, very crispy and tender. Small gripe is that it looks like the panko fell off during the frying. Tasted great, and good crisp, but the texture wasn't the best. The service alone is worth 5 stars, great staff.

I'd drive to Little Tokyo just for this Chicken Katsu Curry, but it's right here in RSM! If you're local, and even if you're not, and you haven't been here yet, you seriously need to check it out. Everything was fantastic! Great service, with smiles and attentiveness the whole night. All the food was delicious, and they have a nice variety of classics to scratch your Japanese itch. The drink menu was great, with a wide variety of options. Only downside was the evening sunset blasting certain seats. One or two more shades in there and they'll be good. Try to grab a table out of the path of the sun. Check it out, and enjoy!!

Cute outdoor and indoor seating, great ambiance, friendly staff, and delicious food!! Will definitely be returning!

Where should I start....service - the best, food - delectable, ambiance - perfect, prices - surprisingly lower than we expected, it was a great night! Just got back from having dinner at Moono with my husband. We arrived at 6:45 on a Friday night with no reservation. There was a 45-50 minute wait. We were willing to wait it out. Then we realized there were 5 small round tops on the patio that were empty. Decided we would sit there and start our experience. The heat lamp closest to us was out of propane but an employee rushed to get another one to accomodate us immediately. Within 5 minutes the heat lamp was up and running. We started with a glass of wine and the spicy dumplings. Food came out fast but with so much attention to detail! Our waiter kept coming over to check on us but we were having a great time dining on the patio! We also ordered the black pepper ramen, beef bowl and the Moono sushi roll. Each item was appealing, beautifully plated, and tasted amazing. The food was so good that we came home and ordered more from Uber Eats for our kids to try (I am not joking). Upon leaving the owner came out to apologize for our patio dining but we were more than pleased. So excited to see this incredible restaurant here in RSM. Can't wait to go back.