TANAKAYA Japanese Soba Restaurant

Best cold soba and udon in SoCal!! Everything tastes so fresh since they made it in-store. The karaage was fragrant and juicy! Perfectly paired with the mayo and freshly made rice. The katsudon was also amazing. The sauce coated the rice evenly and was jam-packed with flavor. Even the side salad was super fresh!

Be careful with the waiting time. We came for lunch first waited for 15 minutes for a table, after sat down and ordered we waited another probably 45 minutes to an hour something. We were so hungry couldn't even remember the taste after. We ordered the soba combos. The soba and the curry was good. Just the waiting time was so long maybe eat something beforehand.

inside is quiet and chill, not loud, so it is good to talk with your friend sitting together. but since the noodle is freshly made, there was about 40 min waitings. There were not many people ahead, but I get it why it takes so long to be sested. their food is decent and savory. Portion is also enough.

Took 2 hours for us to get a table with four tables ahead of us. It’s NOT worth the wait. We waited ANOTHER 40 mins for our food to arrive. They also had more than 5 staff in there making the food. Karaage is delicious. Soba and the rice bowl are great. Don’t get the curry tho it tasted super bland.

Hot duck soba noodles sounded great on a cold evening and tasted even better. The duck was tender and soaked up all the flavors of the broth and the noodles were a perfect consistency. The side dishes like the mixed tempura and karaage were on the pricey side but all the portions ran large and we took a good bit of food home. I recommend everything I had tonight. Atmosphere was nothing special but the service was quick, attentive, and friendly. Plus, I heard it’s a family-owned business and we can always support more of that!

I got the hot soup with duck and udon and it was so good. Very flavorful broth, duck was good quality, noodles were well made. The servers were attentive and nice and patient. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. Would come here many times over. Will report other dishes when I try them.

What a wonderful place to get some quality noodles. They handcraft their noodles daily and your order, all of it, is made only when the server turns in the ticket. I got the soba noodles with karaage and the texture of both was perfect. The broth was devine. We split the assorted tempura and each piece was delectable. Parking is easy and plentiful. If you are going for lunch then get there early otherwise wait 10-15min.

If you love soba noodles, this is your place. They make both hot and cold noodles here as well as other sides. Service is excellent and prompt. Be aware that if it's busy you may need to wait, so be patient. The food is freshly prepared so also be patient when waiting for it. I recommend ordering the cold soba when it's hot. The portions are very generous also, so bring your appetite. They will add hot water to the dipping sauce to make a soup for you to drink so be sure to save room for that too. Overall, it's very neat and tidy here, I haven't needed to use the facilities while here, so I can't say if they're clean or not. Parking is readily available.

If you are seeking truly authentic Japanese soba noodles in Orange County, TANAKAYA is the place to be. The soba here is the undisputed star. What struck me immediately was the exceptional authenticity of the noodles The sauce is just right, not too slaty and it just takes a quick dip to have the right taste. But what truly elevates the dining experience is the innovative option to substitute your soba with their special matcha soba. This isn't just a gimmick; it's a brilliant fusion that works surprisingly well. . It's a creative and delicious twist that I highly recommend trying--it shows their dedication to both tradition and culinary exploration. Beyond the soba, the atmosphere is calm and authentic. The setting is just like a traditional japanese dining place. Definitely worth a try.

Came here for dinner tonight and left pretty disappointed. The restaurant is located in a plaza with plenty of parking, and the restaurant itself is cute and has plenty of indoor seating. The staff are nice, but my goodness this is one of the slowest restaurants I have ever been to. The restaurant was about 60% full when we arrived, and it took over 40 minutes for our food to be served, and not once during that time did the staff check in or apologize for the wait. The food itself was just ok; I had ordered mixed tempura and curry udon. The curry udon had a different consistency than I'm normally used to, and the tempura was your standard affair. I was really hoping this would be worth the wait, but unfortunately it wasn't. Overall, a really disappointing experience, and while I'd love to try their soba noodles, I refuse to put up with these absurd wait times again. Edit: Unfortunately my wife and I both got sick from this meal the next morning, so we definitely will not be coming back.

i have been wanting to try this spot for years, but i was honestly kind of disappointed. the food was only decent, but it isn't worth the long wait. we got the soba sampler + tempura appetizer. the tempura was good but not the best i've had, but the soba sampler basically all tasted the same with different toppings, minimal at that. insta-worthy though! service was great!

Come to this place early if you dont want to wait. First time we went here; we had to wait for about an hour for party of 7. This place is famous for their soba although i am not a big fan of soba, I actually enjoyed it. I usually order katsudon here which is really good. The interior is pretty spacious. The restaurants is located in a big plaza, which has plenty of parking spots.

Stopped by Tanakaya for dinner last night, and could really tell that the food was super quality. The noodles were made just right and the menu well-priced. The tempura was battered just right to remain crispy while still being relatively light. I'd come back again, but only if I had some time to spare, as the food took longer than expected to come out.

Tanakaya's soba is the only place I go to for soba! Great for your health and so tasty as well!! The soba sampler is cute but a little difficult to eat. I wasn't feeling too hungry so I didn't want to order my regular tenzaru soba and I think this was the perfect amount! We also got some karaage to share and it was soooo juicy. It burned my mouth but idc because it was so good I visited another time and got the kitsune soba and curry combo! It was a good deal and very filling! Both really yummy options too soba sampler: 8/10 karaage: 10/10 kitsune soba: 9/10 chicken curry: 8/10

Parking: Tanakaya is located in a strip mall. I went on a weekday after work and there was plenty of parking. Interior: The restaurant is not very big but it dud not feel very crowded. Everything was neatly spaced out and clean. Service: The waiter was very friendly. He explained the things in the menu and came by to check with us a few times and to explain things that came with our orders. Food: I ordered the Tororo Soba and a side of tempura. The serving size of the soba was pretty big. It took me a while to finish so it actually got clumpy. The noodles came with a hot broth at the end that you are supposed to pour into the remainder of the dipping sauce and drink. It was a bit too salty for my taste. The tempura was okay. It was crispy and not very greasy. Overall, the meal was alright.

We arrived around 12:45pm and luckily we only waited about 10 minutes before getting seated, but we ended up waiting about 30 minutes for our food to come out. Here's what' my wife and I ordered: Vegetable tempura combo w/ cold soba: I loved the batter of the tempura. It was light and crispy and all the vegetables were cooked thoroughly. I would advise everyone to eat the tempura first though. It will lose its crispiness after a few minutes. The soba noodles were unlike anything I had ever had before. I don't know if they make their own noodles, but I really enjoyed the texture and chewiness of the noodles. It's a million times better than the dried store bought ones I always buy. Hot tanuki udon w/ katsu don: Again, the udon soup base was nothing like I have ever had before. The soup had a unique depth of flavor that had me drinking the whole bowl. The katsu was tender but lacking in some flavor so I had to pair it with the soup Overall, if you don't mind waiting, I'd highly recommend trying Tankaya. I noticed that most of the customers were either really excited to try the food or already had positive experiences.

Expect a 20-40min wait during peak lunch time hours! Must arrive in person to put your name down, they don't call phone numbers or send texts. Super friendly and great service! Cozy interior too! They make everything fresh to order so it does take a while for food to arrive after ordering. :( Love their lunch combos! Super great deal! I got the Karaage lunch combo with cold soba. Karaage was perfectly fried and lots of meat for the portion they give! Juicy, tender, and flavorful! Even their rice was well cooked! Of course their cold soba was amazing as well. Soba noodles were not too starchy, perfectly cooked and the sauce was well flavored and not too salty. I prefer the cold vs hot soba since the hot does make the soba noodles a little less chewy and lose its texture a little.

If you're looking for some good quality soba, this is the place to go! They do sell other things here but are known for their soba. I typically like hot foods, but I would recommend the cold soba over the hot ones here. It has a better texture and flavor! My group got the lunch sets, duck hot soba and the special sets. They were all delicious! The karage was nice, soft and juicy and the tonkatsu had a nice crunch. Be prepared to wait when you come as there always seems to be a line here. Even when you get seated, the food takes a while to come out, so don't come if you're in a lunch rush!

Make sure to put your name on the list inside, it can be a wait on the weekends. Food is fresh and can take up to 20-25 minutes. Staff is friendly and attentive to service. The special combo comes with a choice of noodles (hot or cold) and a small side of your entree? Both items were huge and I took home leftovers. They have 2 restrooms which are clean.

Came for lunch with a friend recently. It was a warm day so cold soba was fitting. I have been to this plaza a million times but never come to this particular restaurant so nice to finally try. I got the takuni soba with the katsu don combo. I'm typically used to dipping my soba so was surprised to see that they serve it with the noodles already in the sauce. The soba itself was good. Nice portion and healthy amount of toppings. Tonkatsu was also good. Decently thick with a good crisp on the outside. Tonkatsu sauce was also tasty (not sure if it's made in house). Overall it was a nice lunch. I still prefer to dip my noodles, but this is a great spot if you're craving soba.

We heard great things about the soba so we decided to give it a try. I ordered the tanuki udon and katsu don while my friend ordered the kakitama soba and chicken curry don. My katsu don was the favorite of all of them. It was SO flavorful (a little salty), but nonetheless really good. We also ordered their special cold soba sampler but were left underwhelmed. I couldn't taste the difference between the flavors. I preferred their rice dishes over their noodles surprisingly.

Came here on a sunday afternoon around 1pm. We put our name down on the list and waited around 30-40 min as there were about 4 parties ahead of us. It was then another 20ish min wait to get our food. I would say the wait was def worth it! The soba noodles were flavorful and paired well with the sauce. I also definitely recommend the ten toji don. Definitely a great spot for a casual meal.

My boyfriend and I found this spot since I'm a huge soba lover. We walked in at around 7pm and there was only 1 couple ahead of us. Waiting was not too long. The servers were nice however there was only two from what I can remember. We ordered in less than 10 minutes in which I ordered Oh Zara which was 2 layers of soba noodles (or udon) with dipping sauce. Usually it is recommended to order Zaru as one layer tends to fill up 1 person. My boyfriend ordered the combination special of Kitsune cold udon noodles along with Katsu Don. Ambiance was nice. The interior is simple and clean. Nothing too extravagant and the only sound comes from others having conversations :) We did wait a while for our order and wasn't expecting it to be that long. It took a lil over 45 min . However, I did enjoy my soba and my boyfriend preferred the Katsu Don over the cold noodles. I too tried the Katsu Don and I loved the flavor. It reminded me of a home cooked meal lol. Key takeaways: 4/5 -might wait long for food (make sure you have nothing planned if you're in a rush lol) -choose your layers depending on how much you'll think you'll eat -make use of the combination specials! I'd come back again!!!

TLDR: delicious soba, but the wait was soo long (30 min to get a table, 20-30 min to get food) We ordered the soba combo with katsu don and fillet katsu! The texture of the soba was incredible and it's so incredibly fresh. It paired perfectly with the dipping sauce. The katsu was also great and paired well with the soba for those wanting some protein. Overall would return again on a hot summer day for the cold refreshing soba

Hands down my favorite place for udon and soba in the area. Be prepared for a wait to not only sit but also dine. Service is solid, but turnover is not as fast as some of you may like. It's a clean and minimalist interior. The food never fails. I got the hot tanuki udon combo with the katsu don, and I've probably tried every udon/soba combo, hot and cold haha

8/10 - kitsune soba 9/10 - katsu don Came on a Tuesday evening and was sat immediately (would come on a weekday, since I've heard it gets super packed on weekends). Service was quick and attentive. The interior was pretty minimal, but ambiance is definitely fine for a casual meal. The noodles were good, but definitely preferred the Katsu Don bowl for taste. All in all, worth checking out!

Wow, haven't been here for a few months and they've had a huge 20% price increase. I came in to dine at 6pm which is peak dinner time and there's only 3 other tables. Previously I would have to put my name on the waitlist and wait about half an hour prior to being seated. I think they've priced themselves out. My lowered rating is in regards to the price. Price aside, servers are friendly and attentive. Expect to wait awhile for your food with only one chef working in the back, freshly making noodles. There's a lot of competition here with so many other similar dining options in the area. The noodle soup is good but I don't think it's worth the increased price. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be dining here again in the future

Fantastic food - really great deal on the lunch special. I got the soba noodles and Katsu Don. Broth and noodles were perfect in texture, temperature and taste. Katsu Don had the perfect meat to rice ratio. Great flavors all around. Lunch gets super busy so arrive at opening time. Parking is also tough since it's nestled in a strip mall.

We came here after 9 holes at lake forest and I was pleasantly surprised. We each got a lunch special, I got the chicken karaage with cold soba. Chicken pieces were huge and very good. Soba was very refreshing after being in the sun all morning. Wait was a little crazy but service was solid. Would definitely come back.

KEEP IN MIND!! CLOSED ON MONDAYS I've been wanting to try this spot foreve, and I finally made it. My friend and I went for lunch on Wednesday. I arrived 30 minutes prior to opening to snug a good spot, and by 11:30, there was a line of 10 people behind me. PRO TIP: CHECK OUT THE MENU ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO. Service was a bit slow with only two servers, so having your order ready helps. The staff were super friendly, though they seemed a bit short-staffed. It was tough to flag them down, but once we did, they were very attentive. We ordered the soba sampler and the lunch combo (tonkatsu and hot udon). Both were very delicious and flavorful! The soba sampler offered a good variety, but the lunch combo my favorite-you get the best of both worlds noodles and a protein. The food took a while, but it was absolutely worth the wait! :)

What I ordered: - Ten zaru Soba noodles had a nice, firm chew to them. The dipping sauce was perfectly balanced, not too salty but just enough soy sauce flavor. I was equally as impressed with the tempura. The set came with shrimp and various vegetables. Each piece was lightly battered and fried, having just enough crisp for a satisfying crunch. My favorite tempura pieces were the shrimp and mushroom. This is definitely the best soba noodle spot I have tried so far in the U.S.

Great soba noodles, about 90% similar to the ones in Japan! If you need meat with every meal, they don't have too many meat options. Karaage 5/5: huge, flavorful, and moist! Highly recommend [Set/Combo] Soba with tempura rice: 4/5 , soba was very refreshing and cooked well. I thought I would dip it but it came with the sauce on the bottom. Rice and shrimp was just okay, I should have just opted for the Soba mainly. We went right when they opened on a Thursday and within 10 minutes they were already full, so go early! Parking: lots of parking spaces but they are a small.

Decent spot for soba noodles but I wouldn't say the best for udon. The restaurant is a bit small so it can get packed pretty easily. Staff didn't really greet us when we checked-in. Wait around 20-30 minutes to get seated on a Saturday. Our waiter was a bit hard to understand, but we decided to take a risk and order dishes that we wanted to try. We tried asking if there was fish in any dishes due to someone being a vegetarian.. I think he assumed that my cousin didn't eat meat. We ordered the assorted tempura which was a good serving. A bit on the pricey side but worth it. The main dishes we ordered was the seasonal soba sampler and karaage udon. The chicken was pretty plain with limited flavor. The udon was good by itself and not worth having the protein as an add on. Overall the food was light and fresh. It's worth trying at least once, to form your own opinion.

Great experience. Granted it was my first time here. We were 2nd in line before it opened and was seated right away. We were given the menus which was very easy to navigate through and ordered our food. I had the hot soba and tendon combo. Good portions and loved the taste of the soba shiru. My friends got the udon curry, side of tempura, and two cold soba noodles set. Such an amazing variety. They even hand make their tempura sauce. Yum. Will definitely come back to try the cold noodles.

A small cute restaurant with tasty soba noodles! I got the Ume Shiso soba and it was delicious!!! If you like that sour flavorful taste highly recommend. The karaage was so juicy and good 10/10. I'd def come here again, unfortunately the wait time is pretty long because it's popular

Hidden gem? People were lining up minutes before doors even opened and after that the line continued to form! Tried their sampler soba noodles and chicken karage and both tasted good. It was refreshing since it's been so hot lately. Servers were attentive and very coordinated, overall a good first time experience

Plenty of parking, small restaurant with big flavors in their udon and soba dishes. Dishes came out relatively quick and they are large so the price you pay is worth what you are getting. The curry dish was hearty. Really good service and again broth was fantastic for the noodles.

Tanakaya is a family owned business that serves authentic Japanese udon and soba noodles. The inside is small and it does get crowded, especially during the opening dinner hours, so be prepared to wait a little bit or stand in line before they open. I ordered the chicken karaage and the special combination with tanuki soba noodles and the katsu don. The chicken karaage was fried perfectly and was huge. I loved the mayo and lemon that you pair it with to create a nice flavor combo. The cold soba noodles were super refreshing and one of my favorites I've ever tried. The broth was flavorful and with the added wasabi it made the bite very unique and something. I've never tried before. The katsu don was also a 10 out of 10 and so yummy. The rice is covered in a sweet sauce that they cook the egg and Katsu in which makes every bit delicious. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Tustin and I come here weekly. Definitely give it a shot if you wanna try authentic Japanese food.

Updating my review because this place has become quite frustrating. My partner and his mom have a tradition of dining at TANAKAYA on New Year's Eve every year, so we always arrive early enough to get in line. If you're not seated in the first round, expect a long wait due to the restaurant's refusal to adjust its operations despite being consistently understaffed. It's unbelievable how many customers this place attracts, yet they choose to continue this way. From what I can tell, there's only one chef and maybe two other staff members working at a time, trying to manage at least eight tables--it's just not practical. This year was particularly disappointing. We were first in line but were only ordering takeout since we weren't feeling well. However, you can only order in person and wait outside, which isn't efficient at all. We watched a staff member get overwhelmed almost instantly, unable to handle seating people while another staff member was helping us with our takeout order. It was highly unprofessional. Also, it seems another patron entered the restaurant under the impression they had a reservation? This restaurant does not take reservations at all, so the fact that staff looked confused and didn't indicate to her that this wasn't valid until she tried to enter before us was also not a good look. The only reason I'm giving this place two stars is because the food is decent. The noodles are great, but honestly, they aren't worth the wait or the hassle. By "hassle," I mean the long wait to be seated and the race to get your order in, which then takes forever to arrive. The ambiance is unextraordinary and quiet. I wish this restaurant would staff properly because it has so much potential to be amazing. I'll probably update this again next year and hope to see some changes.

I know their soba and udon are their main dishes but I actually really enjoyed their karaage Their chicken pieces were HUGE, crispy and juicy on the inside. The matcha soba was not worth the extra $2 tbh because the flavor of matcha was pretty light but the tempura assortment had a nice variety of vegetables and a big shrimp.

We've been to Tanakaya multiple times, but this is my first time leaving a review--because they truly deserve it! Tanakaya never disappoints. Their soba is absolutely amazing, with the perfect texture every time. This visit, we both ordered the lunch combo, which includes a small soba along with a side. We chose the veggie tempura and karaage, and both were fantastic--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The combo also comes with a bowl of rice and a fresh salad, making it a well-balanced and satisfying meal. The soba here is hands down my favorite, and I'll definitely be coming back again! Highly recommend to anyone looking for authentic and delicious soba.

Got here a bit before 530 meal service started, and got cut off when every seat was filled. So we had to wait to be seated by 620. Within 10 minutes, we were able to place our order and have water at the table. The assorted tempura veggies came with shrimp and squid. This was the star of the evening, and was well worth the $19.95 price tag for its simplicity and crispness. We also tried their kake udon, anikake udon with veggies (this one had a thickness to the soup, maybe corn starch for thickening?), and cold soba sampler. The winning items were the assorted tempura and the cold soba sampler. I'm not sure what the one with the pink-red radish on top was for one of the six sobas in the sampler, but I'd come back to order that in a bigger portion. I'd totally skip on the udon because it was waaaaayyy tooooo salty. The noodles tasted like they have been soaking in the broth for way too long. I've had better at other places. Don't get udon, just get soba and tempura! We finished and left by 650-7pm. Not too shabby for first impression, but definitely not worth the wait unless you line up before they open for each meal service!

If you are hungry, go somewhere else or come right when they open. We waited probably 40+ minutes on a Sunday. For the price and the wait, we were severely underwhelmed. There isn't much protein on their menu and for their entrees with protein, the portions are extremely small. The cold soba sampler was aesthetic, but once you are done taking pictures, you realize that it's hard to eat and it's just soba. Why did I order this?? The tempura was decent but I've had better elsewhere. The service was also terrible. They had only two wait staff and they constantly forgot things we asked for and there were no water refills until the end of our meal. So keep in mind, if you just want aesthetic food that doesn't really taste that great, this is probably the place for you, but if you're a true foodie that values good tasting food, go elsewhere.

Such a disappointing experience I have been looking to try this place for a long time and I will not be returning. Came on a Sunday and waited about 30 minutes which was to be expected on a weekend. We ordered right away and the food took over 30 mins to come out. There is a warning on the menu that food can take 30-40 mins during rush hour. Despite the warning the wait time is absurd. Even with an hour of waiting hungry the food was not worth finishing. I got the ai Zaru which was just soba and udon noodles with dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was mediocre and flavorless. I would compare it to the pre made bottled sauce you can find at the Asian market; it's not good enough to be spending $20 on. The udon felt undercooked but the soba was fine. With the sauce being the main component of the dish I would except way more. On the other hand our second dish was good. Our second dish was the katsu don. It was very flavorful and a hearty portion size. It was worth the wait and the price. But I would not return just for that. The service itself was also pretty bad. Our server didn't check on us one time after dropping off our food. He also dropped off I'm assuming the wrong food and took it back after mumbling something. He seriously needs to speak up the few times he came he would mumble something and walk off super fast before we could even ask him to repeat himself. We had to get someone else to bring the bill for us he was never around. If you want bad service and mid food this is the place for you.

I'm not the biggest fan of soba noodle but objectively, this place is a solid spot for soba noodle! I got the combo set with the chicken curry. The chicken curry was basic but solid. The soba noodle was fresh with the perfect texture and the dipping broth was refreshing. One of my friends got the soba noodle flight and we didn't think it was worth it. The different flavors all tasted the same. The portion size is definitely generous! I couldn't finish all the noodles. I appreciate that they provided extra broth for the dipping sauce when you togo the leftovers! It's a thoughtful touch.

Luckily there wasn't much of a wait on a Thursday evening. We were seated immediately. Our orders took a while to get because they make them to order but it did take a really long time and my friend and I were constantly keeping an eye out to see when we could eat. The food was delicious! The tempura came out piping hot and crispy. There also was a lot of soba it ended up being an incredibly filling meal.

We went right at opening and there was a small line. I ordered the Oh Zaru Soba, which is the same thing as Zaru Soba just double the portion. It definitely wasn't necessary though because we didn't even get to the second tray before getting full. The noodles were cold and refreshing and had good bounce. I liked the seaweed on top. I wished there was some meat because I personally can't eat too much of just noodles. Maybe we should've gotten the karaage too :(. The dipping sauce for the noodles was basically just soy sauce. Overall if you are craving soba, this is a solid place to go to.

Damn, I did not get a picture of the vegetable tempura-- as stupid vegetarians, we couldn't get anything with broth as it contains fish. So the soup-craving on a cold night was instead fulfilled with cold udon- which don't get me wrong were VERY well made udon and you can taste the handmade love in the bouncy-ness of the noodles. But their vegetable tempura plate was so yummy! Lightly battered and it all stayed airy and crispy through the meal. Perhaps the most memorable thing was how this one adorable waiter fills the hot tea, he's the Japanese version of Salt-bae and I would watch him refill teas all day long. Can't wait to try their matcha soba after a warm day- maybe they'll change my mind about how I feel with these buckwheat nonsense.

I came here on a Saturday morning and there was a decent wait time. I think we waited about an hour so I would recommend coming early or once they open to avoid a long wait time. The restaurant has a nice casual ambience that can be great for a hangout with friends or a date. Service was relatively efficient and we got our food pretty fast. My sister and I shared the karaage and soba sampler just to have a light brunch. We really liked our dishes and had fun tasting the different soba options. Overall, we would come back again to try their other dishes as well :)

Tanakaya in Tustin is a hidden gem for anyone looking for authentic Japanese soba and udon. It's a simple, unpretentious restaurant without much decoration, but the focus is clearly on the food, which is top-notch. I came here for Sunday dinner, and although most tables were full, I didn't have to wait to be seated. There's plenty of parking outside, which is convenient. The menu boasts fresh, homemade noodles, and there's a disclaimer that it might take a while since the noodles are made to order. I waited around 30 minutes, but it was well worth the wait. I ordered the Cold Soba Sampler ($17.95) and the Hot Kitsune Udon ($14.40). Both dishes were incredibly delicious, hearty, and simple. The portions are generous--especially the soba sampler, which looked massive on other tables as well. I also appreciated the small touch after finishing the meal--they offer complimentary warm water/broth to dilute the cold soba broth so you can drink it, which is a nice way to finish off the meal. It's a small restaurant but has a decent number of tables, and the overall vibe is cozy and welcoming. The prices are very affordable, especially given the quality and the filling portions. If you're a fan of authentic Japanese noodles or just want a wholesome, satisfying meal, I highly recommend Tanakaya!

Fresh, authentic, and delicious soba noodles! All the plating is beautiful too. Their kaarage was juicy, hot and delicious. Their soba was very flavorful and had good texture. The only downside was the wait to get our food. But I attributed it to the time needed to make everything fresh. Their seems to always be a wait at this restaurant too which tells you how good it is. Would come again!

Wanted to try an authentic Japanese restaurant and the reviews pointed in this direction. Restaurants is somewhat tucked away in a larger strip mall, and was fairly standard without any distinguishing features or decor. At the server's suggestion, I ordered the karaage and the gomoku hot noodles, wanting to try dishes that were specialties of the restaurant. Unfortunately, neither dish stood out. The Kara-age, while large, was the same as any other karaage you could find anywhere. The gomoku noodles dish had a slightly bitter taste that didn't sit well on my palate. First and only visit

This is some of the best soba in Orange County. The noodles are handmade in the green tea. version is the best in the county. Their attention to detail really shines with their food. Their tempura is meticulous and serves as a perfect contrast to their chilled noodles. Even the tea they're high-quality. The wait can be long because the place is small in the front of house isn't nearly as skilled as the masters in back, but not a big deal.

LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THE FOOD HERE IS GOOD. But nothing special so I wouldn't wait for it if I was you. However, I didn't like that one of the staff kinda judged and warned me that if I order 2 dishes, it would be too much. I understand he means well and doesn't want food waste. If I couldn't finish the food, I would've just asked for a to-go container... I felt pressured and uncomfortable that he was so adamant about prepping one of my dishes as a to-go in the first place and just bringing out one dish for me to eat there. I ended up just ordering the soba sampler. It wasn't filling but definitely tasty. He means well but lemme eat how I want to eat?! Also, please modernize and streamline your waiting system because y'all just have a sign-in sheet and call out the door. It works if your wait time isn't long but there have been times where I stopped by and the wait time was 1hr+ Cute ambience and delicious food, along with friendly staff. Definitely would come back :)

Tanakaya is a long time established and well loved soba restaurant- in a place with lots of parking and inside with moderate seating. Its very charming but it takes a verrryyy long time to get your food out. Seats fill up quickly as it seems everyone wants for it to open and immediately take a seat. I don't blame them, wait time is like 2 hours long. Took us about 1.5 hour to get our food after seating at around 11:40am on a Friday morning. I was feeling pretty hangry. My dad liked his hot duck soup with soba- I got my cold soba with vegetable tempura and my mom with the soba sampler. Feels very much more soba heavy than anything else... so if you want more things like meats, and tempura, you def gotta order more on the side. I felt it was pretty pricey considering the wait.... At least they had sobayu to finish off your soba sauce. Charming place if you're chill.... otherwise, I'd look elsewhere if you want speed.

Was excited to try but food did not reach my overwhelming expectations. To be fair tho I'm not a fan of soba but my soba fan girl friend felt the same about it. Tried the following dishes: 1. Soba sampler: six versions (two matcha soba, soba with enoki mushrooms, soba with Korean bean paste with greens, soba with tempura crisps, and soba with veggie toppings). It was beautiful but not worth it. 2. Pork Katsu don with eggs: very good. The best dish of the three 3. Assorted tempura. Beautiful and good. Nothing special tho.

If you're craving authentic Japanese soba and udon in Orange County, head to TANAKAYA. This family-owned gem has been open for over 75 years focusing on Japanese soba and udon and donburis. With over 30 hot and cold noodles options, you can also select between soba or udon. The cold option is a dipping broth, whereas the hot noodles is a soup. I ordered the ten zaru that came with cold soba and a plate of tempura, including shrimp and various vegetables. The soba was refreshing, where as the tempura batter was light and clean. I enjoyed the variety of vegetable tempura, including kabocha pumpkin, okra, eggplant, and sweet potato. Sticking with tempura theme, I also tried their special combination with a hot or cold noodle dish with a smaller donburi aka rice bowl. I opted for the hot Tanuki soba and a Ten Toji don, which includes battered shrimp, onion, and fishcake in a slightly sweet sauce served on rice. Both dishes had a good balance between noodle and tempura.