Manpuku Tokyo BBQ Dining

To begin with, I have never even heard of this restaurant. Upon walking in, the restaurant was small and had limited seating so if they take reservations I would suggest to. Even though my friend and I walked in, we only waited about 10 mins to get seated!
Since it was our first time dining here, the server suggested we get the premium course for 2 and it was definitely plenty of food! Not only was it plentiful, but the food was delicious! It starts you off with salad, side dishes, soups, meat, and ends with some ice cream! The servers were also very sweet and on top of it! Definitely coming back here if I want Japanese bbq.

I don’t have anything against Manpuku, per say, I’ve just had better.
As a long time fan of Gyu Kaku and Anjin, I wanted to try something different with what I thought would be middle ground between the two. I ended up leaving having paid almost as much as Anjin and not as satisfied as leaving either aforementioned places.
If this were the only option for JBBQ, I’d eat here but since this isn’t the case I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

I visited Manpuku today for my first time for my friends birthday. Based on the Unilocal reviews I was I was highly hesitant, however, I was proved wrong by the quality of service and food served. I have been to competitors such as Gyu-​Kaku and Manupuku is without a doubt authentic Japanese barbecue. I highly recommend reservations as seating is very limited here.
We ordered the Kobe Special for two which included a myriad of options such as spicy cucumber, cabbage salad, soup, crispy rice, and a wide variety of Kobe. The appetizers were soo fresh I loved the spicy cucumbers especially.
As for the meat, it was incredible! Perfectly sliced and seasoned. Once grilled for a few seconds on each side, it literally melts in your mouth. Cannot even emphasis how good the flavor was! The crispy rice and vegetables were the perfect accompaniments to the savory meats. Love love love this place and will definitely be back in the future!

Good stuff! So much good meat! I think I almost like this place more than Tsuruhashi.
Service could be a teeny bit better, but overall satisfactory. The meats were all delish! We came on a Sunday late evening and there was still a wait. Busy busy. But food came out pretty quickly.
My favorite was the raw beef tongue. Nom Nom!

I really like eating here… It’s kind a regular place.
The meat here is alway high quality. I don’t think you need to pay so much extra for the Kobe, you can have a great meal with the premium/​prime meat selection. For first timers you can try a combo plate, it will give you a good selection without having to choose. Please don’t get intimidated when you see organ meat on the menu.
I recommend trying the beef tongue, if you have never tried it. It’s my favorite. I also recommend prom cheeks and outside cap of the rib eye
The service here is outstanding and you don’t leave smelling like smoke. Please see my other review on tsuruhashi for more details
Ps make a reservation

This place is excellent! All of the food has so much flavor. We got the premium course for two which came with delicious little starters, great cuts of meat, shrimp, veggies, soup AND ice cream. $ 78 for all that is a pretty great deal and absolutely worth it. We were full and needless to say, very happy. I would recommend this place to anyone. If you’re coming on the weekend, make a reservation beforehand (they do take reservations) because it gets crowded. Enjoy!

If you’re looking for banchan or ayce this is not the place for you. They have neither.
1 meat dish comes with 7 pieces, they say that 4 dishes should be good for 2 people– I was stuffed, but I’m also not a huge eater so take that however you want to.
Loved the original seasoning… Kobe cuts were lightly marinated but doesn’t over power. Wakame salad was really good-I’m pretty sure they used butter lettuce.
Have reservations, wait for walkins are ridic even at 9pm.

I always love Korean bbq, but this Japanese bbq is sooooo good. Very different on options and taste. The rice is delicious (garlic rice is my favorite) the waiters were very nice and helpful. I like how you can remove your shoes (very traditional) after food is over, they serve you tea!!! Love it and will come back forsure

Ehh not bad Manpuku, not bad. With Anjin at a 2 hour wait (I literally came at 5:30 ugh) and Tsuruhashi at 1 hour, the next best thing was Manpuku with absolutely no wait.
The meats were pretty good — I tried the skirt steak, premium short rib (both had their onions and whatever else it was and the server told us to put lemon on it after it cooked. Didn’t like that too much. I rather let the meat speak for itself like at Anjin but eh beggars can’t be choosers), and premium ribeye cap (their most tender meat aside from the kobe). Quality was there, and it’s definitely better than Gyu Kaku but can’t say it was amazing. The fiery coals made the meat cook way too fast and some got burnt.
Also got the garlic rice (not seasoned at all so I had to pour in the ponzu sauce which makes it sooo much better) and seaweed salad (the butter lettuce was so wilted and it was way too much sesame oil in it).
All in all, it was a good last option on a Saturday night since my first two options had horrendous waits but don’t think I’ll be coming back!
Tip: ask them to turn off the grill! It still cooks SO fast with just the coals burning naturally. Beware: so damn hot it feels like your face is gonna burn!

Every time I come here this place never disappoints! It’s so good. The quality of the meat is really good. And the sides that they pair it with are great as well. Today I went in for the happy hour course. It was different from the last time I went so I’m guessing they updated their menu. But everything was so good. The course came with 4 types of meat, rice, soup, salad, lettuce wraps, and ice cream. It was $ 40 total which is really worth it. This place is a definite must try if you ever come to Costa Mesa! I would recommend it to everyone. The happy hour is only available Monday-​Thursday 5 – 6 and Sunday 4 – 5. It sucks that’s it so early but I don’t really care because it just means after I digest there will still be time for more dessert later!

Solid place for some yakiniku in Costa Mesa. Watch the coals light up and get grilling like a king. Good range of cuts, including tongue, liver, and tripe on top of the usual fare. Clean, well prepared, very tasty. Bibimbap and kimchi were okay. Wasn’t a fan of the beansprout namul.
This place has about 10 tables and each party takes at least 2 hours to finish. Make a reservation.
Parking lot is comically small, almost no option for plan B (no street parking, no other lots within reasonable walking distance). Go in one car or Über.

Finally got to try Manpuku for my boo’s bday. He’s a Valentine’s Day baby, so we had double to celebrate. What better way than indulging in deliciously grilled meats? (There are a few better but I like this way, too.)
It was quite a bit ago, but I still think about it from time to time… Like a promising love story with a tragic ending. Only this relationship ended because we ate all our food and had to leave. Tragic.
We came in fairly late around 8:30PM. I actually remember calling right when they opened for dinner and making a «reservation». Didn’t get a prime time, but by then, it was a lot less busy and we were seated within 10 minutes. Can’t complain.
We went with the Kobe course for two which included: filet mignon, rib finger, short rib and rib eye. They were all amazing, tender, soft and fatty. A luxurious experience. We were careful to sear every side, but not to cook through. With quality like this, doneness if not medium rare is… blasphemy.
By far, my favorite was a simple sear on the filet mignon. They were cut into little cubes, cubes that tasted like fluffy clouds of juicy meat. We savored each piece and chewed very… very slowly.
At first, I was afraid we may not be full, but it was actually a good portion of meat; on top of all the side dishes, the kim chi sampler and the ending fried rice, I was more than satisfied with our entire experience. The service was very good and quick, too, so the whole dinner went very smoothly. The amazing food, perfect service and the calm atmosphere are the best for dates!
Had a great experience here and would love to go again soon! Any more birthdays coming up?

Good Japanese BBQ. Made it in time for HH at 6pm. HH dinner for two included the cabbage salad, kim chi, veggies, assorted meat, yukke jan soup and ice cream. We added the garlic fried rice, sausage, premium beef tongue and ribeye. We ended our meal with lychee and vanilla ice cream. Lychee ice cream was overly sweet.
Everything was quite tasty, but I still prefer Tsuruhashi in Fountain Valley. Although the food is better at Tsuruhashi, the service is actually better at Manpuku.
Parking is horrible here; not enough spaces for the number of businesses in the plaza. However, Manpuku does offer a parking pass at the hotel located behind the restaurant.

Oh gosh. I dream and crave of this place. This is so far the best meal I’ve had this year. The food and overall dining experience are outstanding!
Manpuku is no AYCE bbq place. It’s on the pricier side relative to other BBQ places, but as they say, you get what you paid for. The Kobe beef is excellent here. The perfect marbling and rich texture of the meat leaves you yearning for more. They offer individual beef plates, or you can opt for the «course menu» which comes with a selection of beef, side dishes, and dessert.
My boyfriend and I got the Kobe Style Course for 2, which came with kimchi, salad, Kobe filet mignon, Kobe ribeye, Kobe short rib, and Kobe tongue, shrimp, soup, and garlic rice. The Kobe ribeye was my favorite. Each meat came with about 4 pieces, which was enough to savor the meat. The Yukkejan soup was a hit. I loved the melding of flavors with bean sprouts, spinach, and beef. The garlic rice paired nicely with the BBQ meat as well. We shared a black sesame and green tea mochi ice cream for dessert. Both were delicious, and a sweet ending to a wonderful dinner.
The ambiance is nicer than the standard BBQ places. It seems like a «high-​end» Japanese BBQ restaurant. They also have a nice wine selection of Napa Cabernet.
TIP: RSVP to avoid the long wait.

Not the best Jap bbq I’ve ever had but definitely still very very good and a lot cheaper too. Long overdue review. I came through with my friend Jen who was visiting and we were extremely hungry on this particular night. First off parking is really tough here but we managed to find parking pretty quick… thank goodness because I was starving and the aroma was seeping through my car lol.
I didn’t order as I left that part to my friend to decide since I’m so indecisive at times. I pretty much just ate a bunch of meat. All the meats were so delicious, tender and absolutely flavorful. I was left quite please with my dining experience. The grill is very different, but the other Jap bbq I went to the use the same one so I guess that’s how its done. The service was stellar and the pricing wasn’t too bad either. I will say though that unlike kbbq where they just give you a bunch of meat, jbbq is a bit different. The portions are less but the quality in my opinion has been so much better.
The concept is pretty much the same however, you come and you cook it yourself but you’re really paying for all the delicious tender meat quality. Overall, it was a great experience and my friend and I both really enjoyed it. I’d definitely return.
PS I think they got a nice lunch deal too but I came through for dinner tho

I love this place!!! The meat quality is excellent and they have a large variety of meats to choose from. I always get the Kobe combo special. It comes with 4 types of Kobe beef and every meat cut is good quality and marinated. Think: hot sizzling Kobe literally melting in your mouth! Mmm… so tender, flavorful, and moist. It also comes with salad, garlic rice, soup, and dessert. The meal is definitely worth it and is enough food to fill you up. I also like to order the beef tongue which is very tasty.
Honestly, everything here is spectacular. Definitely get the Kobe combo! You can order a bottle of sake or soju, and they will keep it for you until your next visit if you don’t finish it. It’s easy to make reservations and the service is always great! What’s not to love about this place? Ok, maybe parking because the plaza is small, but there’s parking in the back for the restaurant.

Manpuku is located in a busy plaza and normally has a wait, but it’s worth the hassle of parking and having to wait to be seated. They have the same type of grill that the gyu-​kaku chain of restaurants use, but the meat quality is better. I’ve been here twice so far and loved it both times. Don’t ask me what we had though, cuz both times… I. Did. Not. Order! BUT, everything was great! I’ll try to recall what we had…
First time here I dined with a group of 6 and we had beef sashimi, pork cheek, and a BUNCH of other meats and beer. Just a tip… Don’t get drunk with a stranger in your midst! Yikes! Don’t say I never warned you. Kidding tho. All in good fun. No harm, no foul… Well, maybe a little foul ;p
Second time here I came with a friend who can’t seem to get enough of me lately ;p The only thing I ordered was the pork cheek since it’s the one thing I remembered from my first time. My friend who doesn’t normally like pork said it was good enough to order again! Quality over quantity my friends, works every time! Screw it, calling you out Brian (since you did it to me) :p ALWAYS choose quality over quantity! Doesn’t matter what the subject is, if you know what I mean ;)
If you’ve never had yakiniki (Japanese BBQ) or KBBQ (it’s pretty much the same thing, sort of), first of all… What?! What rock have you been living under? LOL, kidding! You will be grilling your own meat, yes, you’re coming to a restaurant to cook your own food. Get over it! It’s really good, just do it! Trust me, you’ll enjoy.

Fell in love with this place instantly.
If you’re a fan of Japanese style bbq, I highly recommend this place.
Gyu is a more popular place, I think mainly because there are quite a few locations. But if you’re in OC, I one million percent recommend this place over gyu.
Right away as you sit down you notice the real mesquite coal in the grill. Classy move! Next you notice the higher end and exotic meat choices over gyu. Oh man were all the meats I had amazing!
Service was great too. Although I feel they brought stuff out we didn’t order. I’m not complaining because we ate it all haha.
This place is a little costlier but we’ll worth it.
Take note all you stinky footers, this is one of those places where you take your shoes off before you seat yourself. =p
Until next time

Manpuku is my number one spot for Japanese bbq. Granted it is a little more expensive compared to others? My bill here racks up quite quickly. Maybe it’s just so good I keep ordering hahah. The cabbage salad and the garlic rice is delicious! There’s a variety of packages to choose from or a la carte. Manpuku is different from the other local Japanese bbq places because they have different types of meat flavors: original, salted, marinated, and spicy miso. The meat quality here is a lot higher with more options to choose from as well.
They take reservations here! Parking is horrible but I usually park at the Marriott’s lot and walk over.

We were in the neighborhood and decided to grab an early dinner. Manupuku didn’t have a wait and wanted to try this place. This restaurant is a Japanese bbq restaurant where you grill the meats yourself at your table. We opted for the premium prefixed dinner for 4 which included 4 different meats and shrimp, salad, garlic fried rice, shortrib soup, and ice cream.
At first we were overwhelmed. They sent out the salad course and 3 courses of meat all at once. With limited space, we figured we’d grill the meats. The part that was annoying is that the garlic fried rice didn’t come out. With the burning coals cooking the meats quite fast, we ate the bbq as it came off the grill. At the same time, the shortrib soup came out. The soup was great which was a bit spicy and with tender meat.
The meats here are good quality and a lot better than what you’d get at an AYCE. As our first 3 courses of meats were on the grill, we were served with shrimp and a large course of short rib for grilling. Honestly, I didn’t thing this place was anything special. Genwa is still my go to place for bbq.
Best part of the meal was the lychee ice cream that had a good amount of lychees in it. Probably the best I’ve ever had. Service here was average but friendly. We felt a bit rushed in the beginning. It would be proper to serve the salad and soup first with the meats served thereafter as we finish grilling each. It didn’t help that the tables were small and cramped.
With many Asian bbq restaurants in the area, I don’t think I’d come back. Not bad, but not great.