Incredible food for reasonable prices! It's hidden away in a little strip mall in Tustin. Well worth the search

Been to Tanakaya a few times, and every time is fantastic! The soba is freshly made and the broth has the perfect amount of umami. Super authentic and great quality, service is great too. Recommend the soba sampler and tempura!

This spot is really good for soba noodles and udon. I loveeee the katsudon it has the perfect sweetness and salty. The soba noodles is perfect and pairs so well with the dipping soup. The wait time was about 30 min but we couldn't join the waitlist on Yelp bc have a paper waitlist. Service was really good and ambiance was cozy.

As many other reviews will tell you, the wait for the place is indeed long. I thought I could avoid it by coming a bit later in the afternoon, but even coming around ~1PM, I still had to wait till after 2PM (for which if you are on their waitlist prior to their lunch closing time, they will still seat you if you prefer so there is no need to worry about not making it if you are there prior to their lunch close). There are two main things that I heard that I had to try from this place, their karaage, and their soba. Unfortunately by the time I had gotten there, they said that they were sold out of their karaage, so opted to just go for their soba sampler set. This comprised a total of six soba servings that included 5 different soba types that they sell (their Ume Shiso (pickled plum), Nameko Oroshi (Nameko Mushrooms), Sansai (Veggies), Tanuki (Tempura flakes), and Matcha x2). Other than the matcha, the soba were all the same type of soba with just different toppings. In regards to the toppings, they were definitely a bit more traditional in a sense, and in my opinion require a certain palate to appreciate, eg. things like the Ume Shiso was a bit too sour for me, the mushrooms had a strong bitterness to them that was difficult for me. However, I did really like the Tanuki and Matcha soba, and the soba by itself with the sauce was very good. Overall, the soba itself is very good and something to go check out, but definitely trying to figure out what the best topping for it is something I would have to figure out.

I finally got to try out Tanakaya out! I've been eyeing it ever since I saw the soba sampler on Yelp. Service/Ambiance: The servers are relatively friendly and the food came out at a reasonable time. This place is very casual, very simple. There's not much decor but it's well kept and clean. I would come here for a casual lunch or dinner. Food Consensus: I got the soba sampler and a 2 piece side of shrimp. I thought the soba sampler was good! I love trying different flavors and deciding which one is my favorite, so this was up my alley. The dipping sauce was a little bit salty towards the end but overall it paired with the soba nicely. The soba sampler includes ume shiso (pickled plum), nameko oroshi (mushroom), sansai (vegetable), tanuki (tempura flates), and matcha soba. My favorite was the umo shiso. I don't have pickled plum often but I thought the tartness gave a kick to soba. My second favorite was the matcha soba. I was a bit skeptical at first but the matcha flavor is light. I thought it was surprisingly tasty. Also, something to note is that the soba sampler does not come with any protein. I ordered the 2 shrimp separately. The quality of the shrimp was great but the batter was too thick for me. It was also quite pricey at $5 a piece. Overall, I would come back again. I personally love soba noodles because it's relatively healthy and refreshing. This meal would be perfect on a hot summer day.

Stopped by Tanakaya a few weeks ago but the wait was a bit too long so we decided to go elsewhere. This time, we made sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to opening to secure a seat. A staff came outside prior to get party size so they could get the tables set up appropriately. Once doors opened, staff directed you to the table and our highchair was already there. Special Combination ($19.95): Selection of hot or cold soba/udon (3 options each) + a half size donburi bowl (4 options available). Opted for the hot kitsune udon noodles and the filet katsu donburi. The udon is rather simple with the broth, noodles, and 4 pieces of deep fried tofu. Dashi stock was delicious in the broth. The filet katsu don had 2 pieces of deep fried pork katsu on a bed of white rice and sliced cabbage. I asked for sauce on the size so it wouldn't be overly drenched for my liking. Each combination set comes on a tray with sides of green onion, togarashi (in a mini packet) and side salad. Service was attentive and quick - servers came to each table shortly upon being seated to start getting orders into the kitchen. The food only took about 10 minutes to prepare after ordering. We were also provided with a kids bowl and utensils. Definitely get here prior to opening on the weekends to avoid waiting! Great spot for Japanese food - will definitely be back to try the soba! Located in the same plaza as Cream Pan. No issues finding parking in the shared lot, even during peak hours.

My group found this restaurant on TikTok, which can mean one of two things: it's either going to be really good or really disappointing. Luckily, Tanakaya is a big hit! First things, first restaurant itself is situated in a large shopping center with plenty of parking -- always good! The location is a little inconspicuous, but not hard to find. We went for dinner as a large group, however, we were seated immediately. The interior of the restaurant is very minimalistic, but I enjoyed it because it felt very clean. They have a pretty straightforward menu but with lots of options. Although soba is there, a specialty, they also serve udon noodles. I got to try the soba sampler, which came with five different types of soba in six little piles. This is a great option. If you are unsure which type you would like...Plus it's really pretty! After trying the sampler, I have to say that my favorite was the matcha noodles. Next time I'm going to order just the matcha flavor! You can really taste the matcha, but it's still perfectly subtle. I also got to try the combo plate. The curry came with potatoes, carrots, chicken, pickled vegetables, and rice. It was so delicious, a nostalgic Japanese curry. And not too salty at all! We ordered a hot starch-based soba dish, but I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's really flavorful, but the thickness of the broth definitely threw me off. on the bright side, the thick broth had no trouble clinging onto the noodles with each bite! The service was great. The food was amazing. I'm definitely coming back!!

Been wanting to come here for a while now, but every time we come, there's a long line so I'd go eat somewhere else. This time, we made it a point to come when they open. There was already a small line outside when we arrived at 11.20am for their 11.30am opening. Luckily we were seated in the first go-around. We ordered some appetizers: Chicken Karaage: was quite fantastic really. Very nice flavor and chicken was moist. Mixed Tempura: enjoyed this as well. Nice mix of veggies including eggplant, lotus root, asparagus and shishito peppers. Cold Tofu: pretty basic, but I liked that they gave you several accompaniments including toasted buckwheat (nice contrast in texture). As far as the noodles go, we got one regular Zaru Soba (basic), Matcha Cold Soba (also kinda basic), and the Soba Sampler. I loved the presentation of the Soba Sampler, but it was also kinda basic. The Soba was all the same (buckwheat and matcha) with just a few added toppings, which didn't really alter or enhance the experience too much. Service was awesome even though they were busy!