Manpuku

Manpuku Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Located within a perpetually packed Costa Mesa strip mall, this sleek yet unfussy venue provides a satisfying alternative to the fine dining establishments located at nearby South Coast Plaza. Earth-toned hues, black and white accents, and an open dining space create a casual vibe, while tables with sunken seating, slatted partitions, and a place for removed shoes are available for a more traditional dining experience.

Likes: Traditional seating areas to enhance ambiance.
Dislikes: Poor parking.

Food & Drinks: The house specialty is grill-it-yourself Japanese barbecue, or yakiniku, and they keep it special by serving up rather lovely cuts of beef. We recommend ordering the Kobe course, a multi-course prix-fixe meal featuring kimchi appetizers, spicy beef soup, garlic rice, and four different cuts of well-marbled American Kobe Wagyu. Those looking to build their own dinner can wrangle up appetizers like roasted seaweed and seasoned bean sprouts, hot spicy ramen, or adventurous fare such as Wagyu tongue sashimi. Desserts are highlighted by ice cream, and there’s a compact list of beers and wines to choose from to pair with your food. Parking can be tough, so locals may wish to use a ride-sharing program.