Uoko Japanese Cuisine

During my work trip I decided to dine at Uoko which was located in Irvine near the TownePlace Suites I happened to be staying at. There were so many restaurants to choose from but I'm so glad I decided to try this for sushi. Very cozy vibe. The entire staff was Japanese and I really appreciated going to an authentic Japanese restaurant. So many are owned and run by Chinese these days. I ordered the Toro for $15 (2 pieces). It was so so fresh. I also got the albacore tuna which also was so fresh and yummy. I ordered a crunchy tempura crab roll which was also delicious. I especially enjoyed the spicy tuna hand roll. It was very nice that many of their signature rolls can also be made as hand rolls. Overall this was a solid sushi restaurant and the prices were very reasonable. I would come back again if I'm ever visiting the Lake Forest/Irvine area.

Uoko is a great sushi place in the area. That being said there will be a wait. We had to wait around 30mins on weekday night. They are on the smaller side so there are not as many tables, but they do offer bar seating. There is plenty of parking in the lot! The meal itself was satisfying and fulfilling! The miso soup had noodles in it, which I enjoyed. The rolls were very filling and the fish was fresh. I was very satisfied with my experience and would come back to try other things on their menu.

I first ate at Uoko in 1985, almost 40 years ago. It was my first time trying it and I was hooked. At the time, their lunch special was 10 orders for $10.95. I was a regular customer for the next 15 years, until I moved to San Diego. I moved back to Orange County and yesterday went back for the first time in many years. It was if nothing had changed (other than the price, which is fully understandable). The quality was just as good as I remembered, and I even recognized one of the sushi chefs. There are fancier, more expensive sushi bars in South Orange County, but I still consider this the best. It is the most authentic, with always the freshest fish. I work two blocks away now, and will be coming here often.

Great food, good sushi. Authentic experience, can be a little of a wait but great food so far.

Uoko is a hidden gem in Lake Forest for great Japanese food. I came at 5 PM without a reservation, and I was able to sit at the bar. I opted to not try their omakase, and instead, I did a la carte. I did a sashimi platter with a variety of fish that the chef chose, and they were all so fresh and so good. I also got fresh abalone that the chef pulled out of the tank. I am not a huge abalone fan, so this wasn't my favorite of the night, but if you like abalone, this would be for you. My favorite fish of the night was the oysters with quail egg. The oysters were huge, so fresh, and so utterly delicious. The chefs are so kind, the service was amazing there. If you order hot tea, they will always make sure that your tea cup is filled with hot green tea at all times throughout your meal. I definitely will be back!

Came for lunch on a weekday, and service was fast. They have a sushi bar area, regular seating, and booth seating near the entrance. We opted for two lunch combos to try, and both were good. Loved that their raw fish and sushi were pretty fresh, and the owner was super friendly and nice. The only suggestion would be the portions, the pork chop sashimi combo was so tiny (like a kid's meal) Overall, love the freshness. Relatively reasonable prices compared to LA sushi places, but we do wish the portions were larger. Worth a visit!

Great service, great prices, and great food! Classic Japanese restaurant ambience which is nice when most new sushi restaurants are modern (nothing wrong with modern restaurants but nice to have a variety). Ordered a sushi roll and it was delicious. Tasted fresh. Also, the Boat! Haven't had a boat since the early 2000s at Shogun. Plenty of tempura, which is rare to see! Will be back.

I was so happy to have found this place moreso cause two of the old sushi chefs were from an older restaurant i used to love before they renovated. Suzuki and Masa are such talented chefs who truly appreciate the art of sushi. I enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant and food!! Highly recommend

My first time visit is my last. The hostess/waitress who may have been the owner was condescending and rude beyond belief. Never again.

It's unfortunate the rudest treatment I ever experienced in a restaurant was from the older of the two waitresses. Rude enough that my family and I walked out before ordering. Reading the other 1 star reviews, rudeness is a common experience.