What People Are Saying About Kitayama
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – Kitayama brings nature inside with panoramic views of its private gardens. Modern Japanese lamps and Breuer chairs juxtapose hip design with the waitress' kimonos in the sushi bar and the three tatami rooms. Traditional Japanese offerings include sukiyaki, teriyaki and tempura. A la carte items include crab chawanmushi, a hot custard with fresh crab and shitake mushrooms, or beef shiso rolls, broiled with Asian bechamel sauce. Green tea coconut mousse, in a martini glass adorned with tropical fruits, is dessert.
07/16/08
A HORRID RUDE PLACE TO GO- NOT SAFE- VERY ANTI AMERICAN- BAD FOOD.
by MICHAELFOODCRITIC
A Horrible Experience. These people there and especially managment are apparently ANTI-American, RUDE, ARGUMENTATIVE AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY MAY SPIKE YOUR FOOD WITH. If you go - do not turn your back on them. No more "Pearl Harbor" style sneak attacks again for me thank you. Twice was enough, as there are so many other fine Japanese restuarnatns and their employees that really enjoy serving people politely, with no attitude - and with much better and fresh food.
THEIR "FRIENDS/EMPLOYEES" CAN WRITE THEIR BOGUS REVIEWS, BUT THIS IS A VERY BAD PLACE. WHY RISK YOUR HEALTH AND DINING EXPERINCE TO THESE HORRIBLE PEOPLE. AND IT IS TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE.
05/15/08
Worst Japanese in Orange County
by kitanohara
Six adults visited this landmark restaurant for dinner. The restaurant has a nice glass walled garden that imitates the famous Ryoanji Temple rock garden. All great. But you cannot eat the gravels from the garden. The food is mediocre to downright poor quality, especially viewed from the high price they charge. For example, their featured Seafood Miso Nabe contained microscopic amount of seafoods. If you want to pay $30 for a bowlful of cabbages, go ahead. The hostess warned us that the kitchen is busy and either Sashimi or Sushi would take 45 minutes. We did not mind the waiting, but when the $60 sashimi arrived, it was a disappointment- you could find another Japanese restaurant within 5 miles that would serve much better and fresher sashimi for probably under $20. Sushi looked very funny- the fish pieces were formed a'la PlayDo, very unappetising! We heard that this restaurant is very popular, and big crowds show up for lunch hour. Let them pay dearly and eat poor food; I will never go back there again.
- Pros: Nice surrounding
- Cons: Bad food for high price
05/03/08
Do not pay with a credit card!! Unless you don't mind fraud...
by missvvorid
My girlfriend and I used to eat here constantly. One day while we were looking over the credit card statements, we noticed a few charges from Kitayama for exactly $280. The charges occurred on days that we hadn't even eaten there. We called the credit card co, they examined the situation and said the credit card charges were for TO GO orders. Needless to say, we never ordered 280 dollars worth of take out. We have never gone back and they lost two very good customers. I don't recommend eating here, but if you insist, make sure that you pay CASH! We have since moved on to Bluefin, which actually has better sushi and is in a way nicer location.
- Pros: They taught me to examine my credit card statements closely
- Cons: God only knows how much they ripped us off for before we noticed
The Details on Kitayama
Where to Sit:
The best views are in the window seats by the garden--indicate your preference when making reservations.
The Extras:
Kitayama has 30 sister restaurants in Japan.
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