Anjin

Environment🌟🌟🌟🌟 Very clean and well-kept. I’d give it a 4.5. They open at 5pm — we arrived around 4:45 and there were already more than ten parties on the waitlist, so coming early definitely matters. Food🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We ordered beef tongue, short rib, marinated short rib, pork cheek, and beef tartare. Overall, everything was very good. The strong point here is the balance of fat and lean meat, and the marinades were well-seasoned without being overpowering. Food-wise, I’d give it a solid 5 — really good Japanese yakiniku. Service🌟🌟🌟🌟 Service felt a bit overwhelmed. One cut of meat was served incorrectly, and it took quite a while to get the grill changed because the servers were very busy. Conclusion 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great food and definitely worth coming back. That said, if the wait is close to an hour, I might feel a bit lazy about lining up again.

There’s a nice Asian restaurant with good-quality food, and you get to barbecue your own meal, which is really fun. The place is a bit small, but it’s nice overall. Their rice was also very delicious.

We love this place. The meat is exceptional. You know it’s good when they don’t have to drown it in sauces. Wonderful servers. Good choices of Sake and beer. Open late. Easy parking. Super good meal.

If you want to catch a spot here before 9PM, come before opening at like 4PM to put your name down in their lil 📓 waitlist. The meat was exquisite - their cuts of beef were solid. Some better than others for sure. My personal favorites are number 1. Prime Boneless Short Rib and 3. Salted tongue. Cook number 1 to medium rare so that its still soft and not too chewy - try not to get it charred unless u like rubber. For number 3, I like to make this crispier actually because the slices are thinner. The other cuts were marinated well, but I personally don’t like their texture or flavor as much. Service was quick and the servers were friendly. The meats came out within <3 minutes of ordering them and servers would come and swap grills after you finish grilling 2-3 meat dishes. Water was refilled regularly. Tried the pineapple sherbet and it was a great way to end the night! The sherbet was super soft and easy to scoop. The pineapple flavor wasn’t super tart but was a subtle sweetness and I loved it.

I would rate the perfect 5 stars if the price matches the food. The food was good, great condition and quality of meat but I personally it’s overpriced. I have eaten Japanese BBQ in many places but at Anjin, you have to spend at least $80 each person to get full (even I’m a girl). The portion was so small, just 6-8 slices of meat. They even charge for kimchi, and other veggies. I mena they can give us a little free with the plate of meat that we order and they can charge if you order extra later. Overall, it’s a good place for Japanese BBQ but just not totally worth your money!

I recently dined at ANJIN, and it was truly a delightful experience! The Japanese barbecue they offer is simply delicious. Each dish is perfectly prepared, showcasing fresh ingredients and incredible flavors. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great place for both casual outings and special occasions. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our meal. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience with amazing food, I highly recommend ANJIN. I can’t wait to go back!

I’ve been coming here for almost two decades and it’s still just as good as the first time I had it. My must orders are No. 3 Salted Tongue No. 4 Marbled Prime Boneless Shortrib No. 5 Marble Prime Ribeye No. 13 Intestine No. 30 Beef Carpaccio Sausage and Salad are optional 😊 The restaurants gets real busy. Being there at the opening time most likely will not get you into the first round. My advise is to go there about an hour early and leave your name down. There’s a mitsuwa near by, so you could kill your time there.

This place is hands down one of the best Japanese BBQ spots around OC. The meat quality is consistently outstanding, with the beef tongue being a personal favorite that always earns a spot on my list when I visit. The focus on the meat BBQ experience truly sets this place apart. However, I must note that while the meat here is exceptional, other main dishes like noodles or desserts don't quite reach the same level of greatness. Stick to what they do best – the BBQ. It's worth mentioning that getting here early is a must, as there is always a wait line.

Oh my goodness.... It was my first time here and I was very impressed! The meat quality, the service, the quality all the ingredients were just top notch. We got the beef tongue, marbled prime short rib, skirt steak, pork cheek, and their kimchi. The beef tongue was so good we got a second order of it! The kimchi was exceptional too! I've never had kimchi with a flavor profile like this one. It was slightly Smokey, it was salty with just a tiny hint of spice. Perfect with the meats or just rice. The rice bowls are pretty big but we ended up ordering another one because we couldn't stop eating.... We also got a bottle of asahi to go with the meal and it was perfect! I will say i recommend getting there around 4pm to put your name on the waitlist to ensure a table because it is a smaller place and it does get busy. There is a 90 minute dining limit but the service is fast enough to where that is not a big concern.

Worth the long wait and the price! This is a small restaurant that gets super busy. The first time I went we waited almost 2 hours for our table. I recommend arriving when they open. They let you put your name down to come back to eat at a later time! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the beef tongue, short rib, pork belly, and spicy cold noodles. We tried the lettuce wrap as well and it's a great pairing! The miso paste has a delicious salty umami flavor

It's been years since I've had Anjin's and honestly, it's still as amazing as I remember. We came to the restaurant around 5:30pm and the wait was only 10-15 mins. Not bad at all compared to the previous 1.5 hrs last time. We ordered the marbled prime short rib, marbled prime rib eye, kimchi, apple salad, and clay pot rice. Everything was amazing. My husband loved the marbled prime rib eye. It just melts in your mouth and was so delicious. I'm sad my meal is over and all I have are memories of the delicious food. Can't wait to go back.

WOW WAS I AMAZED!!! I can never go to any bbq place again, this place was so amazing! Their food and meat quality was delicious. We ordered so many things to try and I could not stop eating. It is not that expensive either, but it is individually ordered. (NOT AYCE) There is usually a long wait (1-2 hours), but it goes by fast. The staff is so kind and helpful, they gave us tips and tricks to cook or even what the best things on the menu was. Everything comes out super fast too, not a long wait for food. PLEASE COME TRY THIS PLACE! You won't regret it and I am so happy I will be coming very often now!!! LOVE ANJIN!!

We spontaneously tried out anjin on a whim and we were so shook by how good it was. With a variety of meat to choose from, we chose the beef tongue, pork cheek, and marinated boneless short ribs. My favorite was the beef tongue it paired so nicely with the lemon! We also got the beef carpaccio- this was good but I would pass next time, I thought the sauce overpowered the beef slightly. We also opted to get the cold udon noodles to carb up and it was SO good!! The noodles were so chewy and the broth had so much flavor and coated the noodles nicely. The restaurant itself was small so I can see it getting busy with long wait times but overall a good date night spot or a place to catch up with friends! The service was nice but we had a hard time finding our server throughout our meal to order more so we opted to just pay out. Nonetheless still a great place to try out!

I've been here now 3-4x over the decade. I would definitely come more but the wait is always too crazy. It's been known to have limited seating, insane parking, and time limit. There's a reason for all the chaos is - the quality of their food is impeccable. This is definitely a Japanese bbq I would highly recommend, but can't come here unless other people put their names down beforehand due to my tight schedule OR they modernize their waiting list. We went last night for a friends dinner. We ordered Saporro, salads, spicy cold noodles (5/5), rice, short rib soup (3/5), kimchi was (5/5!), shiso rice was so delicious as a palate cleanser. We ordered like 4 of skirt steak (#4?) and #8 and pork belly and so much more. We were super full and all the meats were just truly soooo good that I didn't use much of the sauces, but they were also delicious.

#5 are our favorite! #4 and #3 beef tongue. #2 rib eye was our friend A favorite. We put our name jam empat sebelom buka. The salad is also good.

Anjin is one of my favorite Japanese BBQ spots in Orange County. Located close to the South Coast Plaza and also near the Japanese supermarket, Mitsuwa, this place still has quite a following. I have been here plenty of times to enjoy a nice and tasty meal. You have a grill on each table and you get to BBQ different cuts of beef on your table. The service when you get a table is quick but you might have to wait in line. When you first get in you sign your name and phone number onto a book. Then they will let you know how long it will take for you to get a table. There are no reservations. This place still looks like how it has been for many years. And the vibe is just being a small traditional Japanese BBQ spot. Haven't been back since COVID-19 but the only thing that has changed is that you can view their menu on like by QR code and that the sauces are not on the table. But still the same, having a good tasty meal!

Anjin is an absolute must-visit for me every time I'm in SoCal. The quality here is consistently top tier -- not just the meats, but everything across the board, from their salads to sides to drinks. I always order a few staples: the beef tongue, marbled prime boneless short rib, and pork cheek -- all of which are incredibly tender and flavorful. One standout for me is their red leaf lettuce salad -- it's my personal favorite. The fresh seaweed, apple slices, and the light yet savory dressing make it incredibly refreshing and unique. It pairs so well with the meat. Another item that is a standout for me is the rice with Japanese mint leaf (Shiso leaf). There's thinly sliced shiso on a hot bed of steamed white rice and the portion is huge!! Th kimchi is also a must in my books -- you can really taste the difference of it being made in-house; it's super flavorful and has the perfect umami taste. Okay one last thing is their spicy cold noodles, it's prepared so perfectly. The noodles are bouncy and chewy and smothered in this delicious sauce. The service is consistently fast and attentive, even when they're busy. Pro tip: if you're planning to come on a weekend, make sure to put your name on the waitlist and plan to arrive 1-3 hours earlier than when you actually want to eat. The wait can get long, but it's absolutely worth it. I came on a Thursday night about an hour before closing and had no trouble getting seated quickly. So if you want a more relaxed experience, a late-night weekday visit might be ideal. The restaurant is in a plaza with plenty of parking space. The space itself inside isn't huge, but it's well laid out with plenty of booths and tables. Despite the high volume, it never feels cramped. One thing to note: Anjin is only open for dinner (5 PM to 1 AM), so plan accordingly! If you're a fan of high-quality yakiniku, Anjin is hands down one of the best places you can go!!!

DANIEL IS THE GOAT! Had a great meal here! I know it's all about the meat here (and don't get me wrong ... the meat is great!!!) But I also really enjoyed the salad haha I was with a party of 4 and we all really enjoyed our meal. We ordered a few plates of meat, the salad, and veggies for the grill. The meat was incredibly juicy and marbled with a good amount of fat. Really delicious meat! We also got ice cream at the end of our meal and we tried every flavor (vanilla, red bean, matcha, and black sesame). The service was also great! Everyone greeted us warmly and the food came out so fast. Daniel the manager is the best!!! I'd definitely come back.

The restaurant looked really nice and cozy. The service was great, and the meat was extremely delicious! Recommend getting the 3, 4 and 8 meat selections. Will always go back everytime I am in the area!

Been coming here for years and their price has significantly increased in just a few months alone. Pros: Harami is always a must, even by itself with no side sauces is super delicious. - Staff is attentive. - Sanchu is nice and fresh and helps make it feel healthier. - Kimchi is sweet for my Korean tongue, but it's Japanese style which my husband loves. - Meat is the gukbap is flavorful and a good portion between two people. Cons: - Price is more expensive compared to their cash only price. - They don't have the negi gyutan anymore! - The soup of the gukbap was pretty weak, definitely trying to cut back on some areas.

Service felt rushed, meat quality was okay. I feel like this is more casual sit down place to eat. I wouldn't come back.

My husband made a reservation right when they opened at 5pm (in person) and they were able to hold the reservation for us while he went to pick me up from my appointment about 7 minutes away. They called him repeatedly to ensure he was going to come back, and thankfully they were gracious enough to keep our table for us, especially because it was super busy on a Friday night. Menus are all provided via QR Code, though we ordered with the waitress. Since everything was ala carte and on the pricier side, including the bowls of rice, we only ordered one appetizer (the Cucumber Kimchi), two servings of meat (the Prime Boneless Short Rib & Rib Eye), the Vegetable Soup, and two bowls of rice. The portion of the rice bowl was on the bigger side, so at least the price we paid justified the portion we received. Now onto the things we tried: 1) Cucumber Kimchi - The presentation was great, as expected of a Japanese restaurant. Everything tasted fresh and crisp, and was a great starter to our meal. 5 out of 5. 2) Vegetable Soup - It is definitely a one-person portion, though I shared with my husband to save money. It was warm and savory, full of seaweed and small cut vegetables. For the price, I wish it was a bigger portion. 4 out of 5. 3) Prime Boneless Short Rib - Like typical Japanese Yakiniku, this came unseasoned. We cooked each peace to about medium-well and dipped into the sauce before consuming with rice. It was just... okay. We have had better Short Rib elsewhere. 3 out of 5. 4) Rib Eye - This was tastier than the Short Rib (both my husband and I agreed). We cooked each piece to about medium-well and dipped into the sauce. You could tell the meat was premium as it still tasted moist. 4 out of 5. Mind you, after our trip to Japan where we ate at a Japanese Wagyu Teppanyaki place, we definitely had higher expectations since the place seems to be Japanese-run (all the staff spoke Japanese). However, my husband and I both agree we have had better yakiniku in the city we reside. Nonetheless, service was good and all the items came in a timely manner.

Host was very considerate in taking our Take Out order. We ordered the Yakiniku Beef bento box (bbq beef, sautéed bean sprouts, rice, salad, Home Made Kimchi, 2 types of japchae, & sautéed spinach.) It was very good. 4.2 out of 5. Wish the beef portion was 0.5 oz more, as it was made to appear like a larger amount, due to being raised by a bed of stir-fried bean sprouts. The kimchi and japchae were great. The salad dressing was delicious. And the beef had a great flavor. Might return in the future.

Just moved to irvine from west la and I made a list. Anjin was on it and highly recommended by locals and by shunji-san himself. I came here expecting something special given the line. But to be quite frank, it was just fine. Reminded me of a little scaled down man puke or woo lei oak before it became genwa. Meat quality was ok. Liked the marbailzed short rib. The normal short rib and skirt steak were just fine. All in all, it was fine but nothing special. Don't think I will be coming back.

Anjin was SOOOO GOOOD. The meat melts in your mouth and I was truly amazed. We ordered the short rib, beef tongue, cucumber kimchi, rice with vegetable and egg in soup, prime outside skirt, and pork cheek. My favorite was the beef tongue. It was so chewy and juicy. Every bite for each meat was so good. Honestly cannot be explained in words. I would highly recommend this restaurant. This restaurant may get packed so I would recommend going early when they open. I will definitely be back to try more of their different dishes!!

There's a reason Anjin remains so highly rated while it's been established for a long time. My party of 2 arrived on a holiday weekend to put our names down at 4:30pm (they open at 5pm for dinner). We were already 6th on the waitlist but were seated promptly at 5pm. For those who didn't catch the first round of seating, their estimated wait time was 1.5 hours. - Red Leaf Lettuce, Cucumber Salad: Large bowl of fresh greens which added freshness and paired well with the meat we ordered. - Seasoned Mix Vegetable and Ground Chicken on Rice in Hot Stone Pot w/ Soup (with Crispy Rice for +$1): Great for crispy rice lovers. Has a bit of heat. A unique carb to have with the meal. The soup was an individual bowl of seaweed soup. - Pork Cheek (6 pieces): Solid protein that's not too fatty. Great additional if you want variety outside of beef. - Salted Beef Tongue (6 pieces): Delicious and tender. Served with lemon juice for dipping. - Marbled Prime Boneless Short Rib (8 pieces): Realllly nice and fatty. This may have been a bit TOO fatty for my preference. If you like fatty meat, this is for you. - Kobe Style Beef/Rib Eyes (7 pieces): Highlight of the meal. Melt-in-your-mouth soft and tender while not feeling overly fatty. Ambience was nice and the booths give you privacy and space. Their ventilation is also solid so while you do smell a bit like BBQ afterwards, it's not as strong as if you had KBBQ. Would absolutely go again!

Best Japanese BBQ in Orange County! There is always a HUGE wait and they do not take reservations. Their waitlist opens before the restaurant opens, so come early and put your name down, then stay in the area and come back when they call you. The small restaurant is very full and relatively noisy. You have 90 minutes to dine so they can plan out timing for their waitlist. The parking is a disaster outside with an entire section taken up by a complimentary valet which adds no value. Prices are high with a plate of approx 7 thin and small slices of meat starting at $20+. Each order comes with one piece of veggie (corn, onion, zucchini, bell pepper). You can request a specific veggie if you want. Each person should order 2 or more plates of meat, plus any sides such as rice (large bowl that can be shared) and kimchi (the best ever...cannot compare to regular Korean kimchi). They will bring you fresh cups of hot tea at the end of your meal. Overall delicious and worth the wait and the money.

Authentic yakiniku in the OC. Prices have gone up significantly over the year. One order of the marbled prime boneless short rib is now $22.95 and one order of the beef tongue costs $21.95 as of April 2025. While the prices may be a little steep, I think the quality of the meat is worth every buck. Everything in this restaurant screams Japan to me. The grill, the Japanese servers, the service, and the fact that it opens late. If only we have something similar in the Bay Area, I would definitely be a regular. One can only dream!

delicious & amazing quality meats!! came at 10pm on a sunday & we still waited about 30 minutes before getting seated. service was lacking unfortunately, had to flag down a server to order & she didn't answer any questions or give any recommendations when we asked for an opinion nor ever checked on us throughout our meal, had to always flag down someone different the homemade kimchi is so delicious & all the meats tasted great, everything here is on the pricier side, but you can taste the quality i also really enjoyed the beef carpaccio, some items do sell out before the end of the night, so if you want to try everything, come earlier in the day!

One of our favorite spot when we are down in Costa Mesa area. The place can get busy but it's worth waiting. Service is great. Food is always good. One of our date night favorite

Finally tried after having this on my bucket list for years. Arrived around 5:30 on Monday night (memorial day) to put my name down for 2 people and got seated around 6:30! Walked to second street in the meantime and they just called me when my table was ready. Food: Salted beef tongue!!!! I could just order this and be satisfied LOL. They had such a good chew to them. The pork cheek and short rib were good but nothing too special. After seeing so many rave reviews over the kimchi, I felt like I had to try it. It was very underwhelming for me. Don't get me wrong, it was good and definitely helped cut the meats but I've had better. I would probably go for one of the salads instead next time. Service: There's a 90 minute limit and the waiters made sure that we didn't forget LOL! The second we sat down, our server asked us if we were ready to order yet. After asking for a few more minutes, she continued to swing by every other minute and asked maybe ~4 more times before we were ready. I understand that they're trying to get us in and out but it felt a little too much at one point. Ambiance: A small restaurant with not too many tables. It was pretty clean though considering that it's an older spot. They served us hot tea and candy at the end of the meal which was really nice!

Always amazing food & great staff, pricy but worth it! The wagyu, kobe, & crispy rice are my favorite.

Still simply amazing. Everything (foods, services) was just fantastic, except the bills...but worth it!

I used to love anjin and regarded it as one of my favorite Japanese bbq places. However, after dining tonight alone, I don't think I'll ever come back here again. The service is absolutely terrible. I tipped as much as I could afford and my bill came out to be around $200. As a college student, I don't have much money to spare but wanted to treat myself out after having been hospitalized a week ago and will be starting school again soon so I wouldn't have much time to go out. Unfortunately, one of the male staff who only took payment and never brought me food or anything demanded that I tip more. I was embarrassed, offended, and felt extremely uneasy. He made me feel like I could not leave until I tipped more, but I had already maxed out the only card I had. I told him I'd tip more next time but he threatened to not let me come back again. Overall, it was a very unpleasant and awkward experience and I hope they change this greedy, demanding attitude.

I have been here many times. I love everything I've ordered, especially the bacon wrapped asparagus. Service has always been great. Very popular restaurant. Ambiance is ok & they have a large parking lot.

Anjin has been my go-to spot for Japanese BBQ in Orange County for years. The quality has always been consistently good and it's one of the few places that stays open late, until 2 AM, which I really appreciate. Some of the must-order dishes for me are the marinated short rib (number 1), salted beef tongue, pork cheek, and the house salad (number 33). The salad is on the pricey side at $14, but the portion is large and it's honestly one of the most refreshing salads I've had. You can choose between ice water or hot tea to go with your meal, which is a nice touch. That said, I've noticed that the prices have steadily gone up over the years. The portions, especially for the meat, feel a bit smaller compared to the price you're paying now. It's definitely a place that will make you splurge, but if you're coming for quality and flavor, Anjin still delivers.

Always a great spot for quality meats! It's a pretty popular spot so essentially you need to show up like 15-30mins before to put your name down on the list to get in on the first seating. Yes, the portions are not the healthiest but it's the quality you're coming to Anjin for. For me I'm okay going ayce instead for a comparative price but my wife LOVES this place and of course it's not as big of an eater. Parking can get tough later but they do have that communal valet option.

anjin is a very good japanese yakiniku place with quality meats. expect to wait a little bit, but it feels a lot like dining in japan, with great service and a warm environment.

Amazing! We waited 2 1/2 hours to be seated but it was worth it. Everything we tried was real good. First time trying beef carpaccio and it just melts in your mouth. The marbled boneless short rib was very tender and such good flavor. Their skirt steak was my favorite. And Best kimchi I've ever tried and want more! Definitely going back

Food was good, not great but it was good. I was expecting a bit more from a pricier bbq spot so i was left a lil disappointed. Got an order of beef tongue, prime short ribs, diced beef tongue, and their beef carpaccio. Everything tasted fine, but felt like I could have gotten the same quality at a highly rated ayce kbbq spot like gangnam station or mr.bbq. Good food, but portions are small and pricing does not match up. Not sure if i would come back.

I came here on a Friday evening and was looking forward to a great experience enjoying Japanese BBQ. However, I left feeling stressed and disappointed. One major area for improvement is their waiting list system. They don't have a proper way to notify customers 10 minutes before their table is ready. Instead, I received multiple calls, even after answering the first one, which made me feel rushed and anxious. When I arrived at the plaza, there was no parking available. While dealing with that and being called again, I became increasingly frustrated which definitely impacted my experience. I'm not sure if this is typical, but the waitstaff kept slamming plates of meat and soup down on the table, which felt very aggressive. I also felt that they weren't very mindful of the 90-minute dining limit. For example, we wanted to enjoy the meat at our own pace, but at one point there was one piece of salted tongue left on the plate, and without asking, the waitress took it and put it on the grill. Honestly, it felt like we were being herded through the meal like animals on a farm. Maybe they were just having a bad day, but for the price, I expected much better customer service.

Many of my friends had recommended this place to me and because it's a bit of a drive, I was always hesitant to try it out. And I'm glad I did for my birthday this year. Learning from my friends that the line can be as long as 3 hours, we (party of 2) came and arrived at 4:30pm on a Wednesday. Around 4:45pm, I went into the store to put my name down and realized that there were already 4 tables ahead of me. Not an issue, because we were one of the first wave to get seated. We ordered the pork belly, short rib, Kobe beef, dry cold noodles, miso paste salad and later added pork cheek. Everything was very very good. Of all of the meat, I think I liked the Kobe the most, and it was the most expensive meat ($53 per order). The meat just melt in your month! I've read that the wagyu also melt in your month, but it was hard to justify $80+ dollar for an order. Maybe next time too. The pork belly was nothing surprised. I would say I can go elsewhere and have similar quality, but it was only $9 an order, so you can't complain about that. My next favorite was the the pork cheek! Amazing and very cheap compared to the other meat. Surprisingly the dry cold noodles was also amazing. We were never big on cold noodles. I always thought noodles should be eaten in a soup and hot. But this cold noodles surprised me. It was super chewy (in a good way) and flavorful. Next time we come back, will definitely order that again.

Omg this place is amazing. Cozy little place with super friendly service, and great quality food! Love that it's open late. I almost don't want to right the review, because I don't want to share this gem, but alas. They deserve it!

Went there and as usual food was great. Prices were a bit higher than I remember from my last visit a year ago, but it's higher everywhere. Quality of food was good, came out at different times, which is also okay. All the food came before our drinks, was just tea and a beer, so that was weird. The issue I had was paying the bill. I usually tip minimum of 20%, rarely so I tip less unless the service was really bad. But I I also tip on the pre-tax total. Well, they have tip options of minimum of 20% AFTER taxes and even an option of 30% tip, again after taxes. I ended out tipping 20% after taxes, which for us was more like 25%. There was no option for custom tip. For this and slow on drinks, I rated them lower. I mean, we cook the food ourselves, so little they have to do. Tipping system is so deceptive and greedy. They stand there too and wait for you to sign your tip. Will stick with my go to Manpuku and other Japanese bbq places in OC.

It's five stars, I'm sorry I gave you anything less, pls forgive me bby :P Apparently I can't post this unless it has 85 characters so I might as well say that I wanted to change my previous review to give 5 stars bc it's very good quality meats and the service is always spot on. and I can't think of a better place than them.

Came in on a Saturday evening, and only waited 10 minutes for a table. We LOVED the sausage and short rib. We reordered both of them. We also had rib eye and marbled short rib. I'd come back for the sausage and short rib alone! They were fantastic. Service was nice and friendly and we were given complimentary green tea at the end of our meal. We'll definitely be back.

Japanese BBQ experiences you'll find in OC. The quality of the meat is unmatched -- melt-in-your-mouth, fresh, and seasoned perfectly so you taste the richness of the cut without anything overpowering it. The star for me? The garlic paste. I don't know what magic they put in there, but it's truly addictive. It takes every bite to the next level, and honestly, I'd buy it by the jar if they sold it.

The food was amazing. I went by myself and ordered the A5 Wagyu Steak and it was very soft and tender. The grill in the middle of the table was a fun experience. The servers were a well oiled machine, there to make sure my drinks were full and really took care of their customers. Highly recommend.

This place is quite popular! It's pretty hard to get seating since there's always a 1-2 hour wait. They also do not take reservations in advance. You can only get reservations on the same day by putting your name down on the waitlist at the restaurant and put a desired time. They are super busy!! But I can see why. The meat quality was great and delicious. The prices were pretty fair compared to other Japanese yakiniku restaurants. The staff were so kind and attentive. This is a smaller restaurant so I wouldn't recommend having bigger than a party of 6.

Anjin - Japanese BBQ Gem in OC If you're craving late-night Japanese BBQ, Anjin is easily a top 5 spot in Orange County. Open until 1:00 AM, it's perfect for satisfying those late-night wagyu cravings. The quality of meat here is next level--Japanese beef cuts are incredibly marbled and rich, and the flavors speak for themselves. Must-order items include: * The Kobe-style ribeye (tender, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth) * The prime short rib (perfectly marbled and juicy) * The sausage, which always surprises with flavor * The intestines--a sleeper hit with a perfect balance of fat and that satisfying, textured chew * And the homemade kimchi--arguably the best I've had in the U.S., with a bold fermented flavor and just the right touch of sweetness The staff is friendly and quick, even when the place is slammed--which it often is. Expect long wait times unless you go right when they open, but it's worth it. Anjin nails the trifecta: late hours, high-end meat, and consistent service. Just make sure to show up hungry.

Haven't been here in 10 years, just went back last night and nothing has changed! Food is still as amazing as I remember and I enjoyed everything we ordered. Ordered a few items to share; - Short Rib Soup - great flavor and nice big chunks of meat - Stone Plate Fried Rice - ORDER EXTRA CRISPY! Must try if you've never had it - Salted Beef Tongue - Very good quality and love the fresh lemon juice given on the side with it - Marinated Short Rib - Very tender and my favorite cut of meat they offer - Mixed Kimchi - Fresh and a nice variety of pickled veggies Service is on point here and it is a small place, expect a wait if you're visiting after the initial rush when they open!

If you want to catch a spot here before 9PM, come before opening at like 4PM to put your name down in their lil waitlist. The meat was exquisite - their cuts of beef were solid. Some better than others for sure. My personal favorites are number 1. Prime Boneless Short Rib and 3. Salted tongue. Cook number 1 to medium rare so that its still soft and not too chewy - try not to get it charred unless u like rubber. For number 3, I like to make this crispier actually because the slices are thinner. The other cuts were marinated well, but I personally don't like their texture or flavor as much. Service was quick and the servers were friendly. The meats came out within 3 minutes of ordering them and servers would come and swap grills after you finish grilling 2-3 meat dishes. Water was refilled regularly. Tried the pineapple sherbet and it was a great way to end the night! The sherbet was super soft and easy to scoop. The pineapple flavor wasn't super tart but was a subtle sweetness and I loved it.

It took me so long to finally dine here since I've always heard about the long wait times. Finally made it here on a weekday 15 minutes before opening. Even though we were the first ones there, I didn't realize there was a sign up sheet as parties were getting seated before we did when they opened at 5pm. So lesson learned, make sure you sign in when you arrive. Once seated, they took orders and brought food out very quickly. The two of us ordered the #2 Ribeye ($17.95), #4 Marbled Prime Boneless Shortrib ($19.95), Pork Belly ($9.50), #30 Beef Carpaccio ($9.95), and #43 Seasoned Mix Vegetable and Ground Chicken on Rice in Hot Stone Pot with Soup ($12.00). To start off, the carpaccio is a must. It was so thinly-cut and easy to eat with the dressing on top that gave it some good flavor. The rice was delicious too where they split it into two portions for us before serving. Now onto the meats which were all delicious in their own ways. The ribeye was super buttery but the marinade in the shortrib made it so good that you didn't need any sauce --both great in its own ways, wish they could be combined. The pork belly wasn't anything special though, not bad nor good. I'd say stick to the beef options here. The food is delicious, but definitely on the pricey end. It's a nice spot for Japanese BBQ for a special occasion though. Definitely come early to avoid the wait times.

The quality of meat is not bad. My girl friend and I order 3 plates of meat and a cold noodle and a stone rice, and we are still starving. So we ordered another plate of meat... so we left with half stomach full with $150 bill. I guess the quality of the food does not match our expectations.

To be fair, most of the food (meat and noddle) we ordered were good, but I have to give it a two stars because 1) their seafood is in poor quality; and 2) which is what bothered me the most, how their manager handled the complaint. We ordered their mixed seafood plate that is $27. The quality of the seafood was really poor, definitely not fresh at all, and in particular the scallops, as you can see in the photo I posted, they fall apart on the grill as soon as we touched it. For a $$$ restaurants if you cannot guarantee the quality of certain food, you should take it off from the menu. It was disappointing that the seafood was not good, but what really ruin our dining experience at Anjin tonight is how their manager handled the complaint. We told the waitress that she should let her manager know that the scallops are not fresh, she then asked her manager to come over and he did not apologize once for the quality of the food. The first thing came out of his mouth is "you should use a spatula". Now, first of all, we did use it but it made no difference, as the food is NOT FRESH, second of all, if it is essential for your customers to know they have to use certain tool on certain item, why it was not communicated to us by the waitress? We have been to many different Korean and Japanese BBQ restaurants, they always let us know if certain item needs to be handled in a particular way, but not at Anjin, the feeling we got is that they are rushing for turnovers. The manager saw we are not taking his nonsense about the spatula, then he went on to offer give us more scallops instead, so we asked will it be in the same quality, and he replied that they can put more oil on it. How is that logical? We complained that the food quality is poor, and in response to that you offer me more of the same poor quality stuff? If the Anjin management is reading this review, I hope you understand that all we were looking for is a sincere apology for the quality of the food, and offering a real solution, for example "sorry, the scallops is not good but we can replace it with squid." Please actively listen to what your customers are complaining about.

I've been wanting to try anjin for a long time because I heard good things but I was very disappointed with the food. The beef tongue did not have the normal beef tongue flavor. I basically tasted nothing from the beef besides the sauce that was on it. I thought I was going crazy the first bite but I kept on eating and I still didn't get any of the meaty flavor. Did we just get a bad batch? Idk... The beef tataki tasted odd and was probably the worst dish we ordered. The meat tasted like it was slightly going bad and the pieces were so small compared to the picture. We definitely did not enjoy this. The prime short rib was the only good thing we had. Prices are very high, wait is super long and the food was quite bad. I wouldn't come back here. Idk if I got unlucky with bad quality meat but I'm confused why anjin is so popular. Sad that we didn't have a great meal after waiting almost 2 hours.

It's perfect Japanese restaurant Great food nice place and good staffs Delicious food smell back Japanese Real Tokyo Best service and welcoming quick and fast delivery