Cute little gem located on balboa Ave, there's a hidden speakeasy when you walk into the entrance and swing right. You can dine/ hang out for a drink. We opted for the main dining area. You can order your food from the app and also pay at your convenience. The Takoyaki is one of the best I've had in a while! Ramen portions are a little small but I guess I understand due to food prices?

This will always be one of our favorite spots. Love the many options on the menu. Jellyfish Salad -- Since our last time coming here, they've made this dish bigger! We used to get a tiny amount and were super excited with how much more they give now. Love the textures and flavors of this dish. Spicy Tuna Roll -- A bit more expensive compared to other places but the roll is pretty big. The spicy tuna flavor is great. Gizzard Yakitori -- LOVE. The reason we even started coming here. We always have to order at least three orders. Must eat fresh and with salt. Black Garlic Ramen -- We recently got the double portion and the bowl was HUGE. We got a good laugh. Love that they even have that option. The soft boiled egg in the ramen is perfection. Curry Tonkatsu -- Their curry is pretty good here. The tonkatsu was juicy which I appreciated. No one likes dry pork. Portions were big. Our server was great. She was attentive and sweet. Checked in on us even though we were ordering through the QR code. The smell outside of the restaurant from the yakitori grill will have you drooling!

The katsu don was fire, i definitely wanna go back and do the karaoke room. The yuzu kosho was pretty good with the ponzu sauce. Would recommend the sayuri nigori

Tucked away in the back of Hinotez, the speakeasy section was a pleasant surprise. We didn't expect to have access to the full restaurant menu at the bar, but it was a great perk. The pork katsu was the star of the night--massive, perfectly crispy on the outside, and incredibly juicy on the inside. It's definitely a must-order. The inner tongue skewer was another standout, impressively tender and packed with flavor. On the other hand, the pork skewer and scallop skewer were just okay--not bad, but not memorable enough to order again. That said, the overall experience was solid, and we'd definitely return for the speakeasy vibe and that amazing katsu. The bartender was great and helpfully and I really liked the matcha sour. It was strong and flavorful. I would definitely want to go to try his other drinks. If you're looking for a unique spot with quality food and a cozy bar setting, Hinotez is worth checking out.

Hinotez is honestly my favorite Japanese restaurant in town! Food is always delicious and so much variety. Last night we got two curries, the crunchy roll, and gyoza. Def recommend going during happy hour for good deals on the apps and drinks. Waiters were really nice and checked up on us often. The place is a great spot to hangout and have a beer with friends. Open late night. The only thing is their parking is very limited so carpooling is good, or finding street parking.

Wow! Super pleased with what I ordered. I love how they are open late, and the food I got was exactly what I was craving. I ordered the pork cutlet with curry and gyu don. Man were they good! Flavorful and rich. The pork was so tender and juicy too. The gyu don is hearty and taste exactly how I expected. Generously portioned. It was so good, I already can't wait to try more food from their menu. Service was fast and efficient, I called in my order and they texted me about 15 minutes later to tell me it was ready. It was still hot after my 20 minute drive home. Definitely recommend!