Tsuruhashi - Fountain Valley

The raw beef was good, didn't taste or feel like raw meat at all. The kimchi fried rice was also good. The quality of the meat is very high, maybe that is the reason the quantity is low. Four of us spent 220+ but felt like just had an appetizer. At least we got beer to fill us out.

Meat quality is so damn delicious! The Short rib and skirt steak were our faves, we also tried the A5 wagyu and it was melt in your mouth delicious as well. Don't skip on the cartilage and sausage, if you're looking for great pairings to go with your beer. The Yukhae (raw beef dish) was super delicious and I'm not a raw beef person in general. I would definitely order that again though. Get here early, about 15min before they open to avoid the lines. It's a small restaurant with mostly 4-tops , I saw maybe 1 table that could accommodate a party of 8-10 max, so if you have a larger party be prepared to sit separately. The service is great, they were on point with water refills and checking to see if we wanted to order any additional items. They have a weekday special for $67 where you can try 2 of our favorite meats their miso chicken thigh, and the veggies it comes with are minimal (1pc pumpkin, couple pieces of bell pepper, and a slice of carrot). I heard their yookaejang (spicy beef and vegetable soup) was good but we didn't try it this time. Also, don't sleep on their black sesame and yuzu ice cream!

This Japanese BBQ has great variety and really fresh cuts! We loved the meats a lot. We ordered the meat set and the assorted vegetable set. The assorted kimchi was the best! It’s a little more expensive but I think the quality is fine for the price. We wished they didn’t chase us out though. It was really annoying when they asked to clear our table 6 times in 10min by 4 different people when we hadn’t finished our food yet. It would have been better if there were a dedicated server for our table so that we wouldn’t be interrupted continually by different people towards the end.

Pretty average spot, not worth the price. We got the Kobe cubes, beef tongue, beef heart, mushrooms and kimchi fried rice. Some of the meats and the mushrooms had zero flavor. I was really disappointed in the Kobe meat. The only thing with flavor was the Kimchi fried rice. Also, their website is filled with so many ads, never seen that for a restaurant. It is not mobile friendly

Overall: 4.1/5 dine in) We were able to get a table upon walk-in on a Friday night. The staff was very professional and pretty attentive. The table was set with 2 dipping sauces which were pretty light. They only a few pieces of veggies with the kobe meat with the amount varying. For the kobe outside skirt, it came with 1 slice of squash. For the kobe kalbi gold, it came with 1 slice of squash, carrot, and green bell pepper. I wish they gave more veggies on the side like Korean BBQ places. I like that they give a piece of fat so we can coat the cooking grates with oil before cooking our food. This really helped prevent any of our meat from sticking on the grill. Fresh Beef Tongue $18.50): OMG, this was too fresh for us. The texture made me feel like I was actually eating tongue so it became a mental block for me to eat it. Kobe Kalbi Gold $32): Not worth it. It wasn't very flavorful and was too fatty. Kobe Outside Skirt $21): This was so much better than the Kobe Kalbi Gold. More flavor and you can taste the superior quality. 1 Bowl White Rice $3.50): We got one bowl if white rice to split between two people. Lemon Sour $8.50): Terrible. Taste like sour lemon soda. At the end of the meal, they offer complimentary roasted green tea. It's actually really good quality and tasty not bitter) so it's a great way to end your meal. Final Verdict: My husband and I agree that this was a pricey meal that wasn't worth it. If you want to try this place once, go during the weekday M-Th) when you came try various meats via the family combo for only $67.